Ford/Berg presentation
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Hildegard Berg's family history is more complicated than originally understood. Records show she married James Moles Nelson in 1901 and had a daughter, Sybil, who died around 1905. However, stories say Hildegard married W.B. Ford in 1905. This is difficult to reconcile as the 1905 census still lists her as divorced in Iowa with Sybil. Additionally, W.B. Ford was married to Mary O'Neil in 1900. More research is needed to resolve inconsistencies between stories and facts regarding Hildegard and W.B.'s marriages and children's births.
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Ford/Berg presentation
- 1. Ford/Berg Genealogy Family Reunion June 3, 2017
- 2. Hildegard Berg and William Bruce Ford
- 3. Hildegard Maria Berg • Hildegarde 1876 in Stora Tuna, Sweden to Carl Magnus Berg and Maria Svendotter Asplund. • Another daughter, Alfreda, was born in 1878, and a son, Charles in 1880.
- 4. Karl Magnus Berg & Maria Asplund Svensdotter abt 1860
- 6. • These dates are only estimates as Joseph was born in Iowa 1883 and Selma was born in MN in 1884. This is confirmed by the MN state census in 1885. • However, David George was born in Grant South Dakota in 1889, placing the family there until the 1900 census when they were back in Iowa.
- 10. • According to the 1900 census, the entire family is living in Madrid, Iowa. Alfreda married Charles Soderstrom in in January 1898 and gave birth in April to Ralph. Edna, the daughter was born in 1899. Alfreda had 2 kids by this time, Ralph and Edna. • Hildegard is listed as single. As are the brothers Charles, David George and Joseph Emmanuel. Aside from a few missing documents, this is pretty solid information. • The decade from 1900 to 1910 is the decade of misinformation and speculation. 1900 Madrid, Boone County, Iowa
- 11. Based on what Grandma Velma was told… Bonesteel , Gregory County South Dakota Hildegard married William Bruce Ford around 1905 in Bonesteel, South Dakota and then they moved back to Madrid, Iowa a few years later.
- 12. Madrid, Boone County, Iowa • Violet was born in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1906. • Viola was born Madrid, in 1907. • Followed by Velma in 1909 and Billy born in 1913.
- 13. Ford’s Blacksmith Shop, Madrid Iowa ~1910
- 14. W. B. and Hildegard Ford family around 1915 • Wm. B. died in 1916, after being kicked in the head by a horse. This photo was taken shortly before his death. • Hildegard also reached legend status by holding the funeral for W.B. on the front lawn of their house after the local church refused to perform a funeral. • Afterwards, Hildegard and her children eventually moved to Des Moines, IA and worked and eventually married C. Wesley Grant in 1925.
- 15. Hildegard’s Time Line From 1900 • Lived in Madrid, Iowa with her family and was single. • Met William Bruce Ford and married him around 1905. • Violet was born in 1906 in Norfolk, Nebraska • Viola was born in 1907 in Madrid, Iowa • Velma was born in 1909 and Billy was born in 1913. • W.B. sustained an injury from kick to the head and died a few months later in 1916. • Hildegarde eventually moved to Des Moines, IA and then married C.W. Grant in 1925. He died in 1929. • Hildegarde died in Princeton, Illinois in 1947 from cancer and buried in Madrid.
- 16. Hildegard’s Time Line From 1900 con’t • W.B. sustained an injury from kick to the head and died a few months later in 1916. • Hildegarde eventually moved to Des Moines, IA and then married C.W. Grant in 1925. He died in 1929. • Hildegarde died in Princeton, Illinois in 1947 from cancer and buried in Madrid.
- 17. Researching Hildegarde and Wm. Bruce Ford • Genealogy research starts with what you know (or think you know) and then confirm those facts with public records such as vital records, federal and state census data and other research. • Hildegarde and Wm. B’s story didn’t quite line up with the facts starting in 1900.
- 18. Misinformation and Secrets! 1900-1910 First problem: Hildegard’s 1925 marriage certificate with CW Grant. Indicates there were 2 previous marriages for Hildegarde.
- 19. Iowa Marriages Boone County 1901
- 20. • Evidently, Hildegarde had a marriage in April 1901 to a man named James Moles Nelson. • In addition, there is a headstone in the Berg family plot indicating there was a child named Sybil Lila who lived from 1901 to 1905. • Sybil was the daughter of Hildegarde and was not fathered by W.B. Ford and the family rumors speculated that Sybil was born out of wedlock.
- 21. Sybil is mentioned with the last name of Nelson. Hildegard is also listed as a Nelson but her card indicates she is divorced. Census are usually taken in the spring, so as of spring of 1905, Sybil was alive. 1905 Iowa Census
- 22. Story or Fact Hildegarde meets and marries Wm. B. Ford in about 1905. • 1905 Iowa Census has Hildegarde divorced and living in Madrid, IA with her daughter Sybil. No record of a divorce in Iowa, marriage in South Dakota or birth record of any of the children including Sybil and the others. • For the story we were told to be true, Hildegarde would have to be present in Iowa for the State Census in the Spring of that year, bury Sybil (no birth or death record exists), meet and marry Wm. Bruce Ford, get pregnant give birth to Violet in Nebraska in March of 2006. This would all have to occur in the span of 10 months.
- 23. Facts that have supporting evidence • Hildegarde reports she is single in 1900 in the Federal Census • Hildegard marries James M. Nelson in April of 1901 • Hildegard is in Madrid, Iowa in spring of 1905 for state census. Reports herself as divorced. • Sybil Lila Nelson is alive in the spring of 1905. Headstone in family plot has her death sometime during 1905. • 1910 Census has Hildegarde and W.B. living in Madrid, Iowa with the four children, Violet, Viola, Velma and Billy. • W.B. Ford dies in 1916. • Hildegarde marries C.W. Grant in 1925.
- 24. • W.B. Ford is the 2nd child born to John Jackson Ford (1849-1906) and Sarah Haney (1852-1919) in Pennsylvania. • 1900 census has W.B. listed as single living in Ohio with his parents. • 1905 South Dakota Census has W.B. living in Bonsteel, S.D. since 1904 and he is listed as married. William Bruce Ford’s Story
- 26. William Bruce Ford’s Story W.B. Ford has a record in Pennsylvania for April of 1900 marrying a Mary O’Neil
- 27. 1910 Federal Census lists Mary O’Neil Ford as a widow in prison.
Editor's Notes
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