
By Sue Sylvester
In Part I of the Holmberg story, the reader was introduced to the first two generations of Holmbergs who immigrated from Sweden to Chatham Township; Eric and Mary Christina Holmberg and their son Lars Eric and Caroline (Soderman) Holmberg. In this series I will continue the story of Lars and Caroline’s son Alfred Holmberg. The following people were instrumental in adding to the Holmberg history: Pat and David Holmberg and Christy Olson Harshman. I have also relied on obituaries, birth, death, census records, plat maps, and property abstracts to gather information on the Holmberg history.
Alfred and Annabelle (Robarge) Holmberg
Alfred was born December 10, 1871 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Looking at the census records and Holmberg family history, this family moves back and forth between St. Paul and their Chatham farm. Since Alfred’s dad was a master carpenter, this is not surprising. I imagine it was a way to earn extra money and make it more affordable when starting out on a new farm. Alfred spent his whole life working on the farm. He was the only male child in the family. He met his wife Annabelle Robarge when she came to work at the farm and care for his mother. Christy Olson said Alfred was very shy and when he married Annabelle Robarge there was twelve years difference in their age.
Alfred and Anna were married September 2, 1908 in Chatham, Wright County. Anna’s parents were Napoleon and Octavie Robarge. Annabelle was born October 25, 1883 in St. Paul-De-Chester, Quebec, Canada. Their family had immigrated to Minnesota in 1900. While her father had been a farmer in Canada, the family was living in Maple Lake Village and he worked odd jobs. I could not find Annabelle on the 1900 census record so probably at age 17 she was already working outside of the home. Annabelle’s obituary stated she was living with her sister Mrs. Victoria LeFave in Buffalo at the turn of the century. In 1905 I found her in Albion Township with two of her siblings Arthur and Mary. They all worked as farm laborers. She may have been employed by the Fred Raiche family.
After their marriage, Alfred and Annabelle settled into farming with his dad Lars Holmberg on the Chatham farm. His mother Caroline died in 1909. Lars died in 1924.
Alfred and Annabelle had six children. Two died in infancy.
1. Carolina Mae was born in Nov 13, 1909 at the Holmberg farm in Chatham. She will later marry George R. LaPlant on November 28, 1928 at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake.
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