1. Maria Larsdotter Larson Palmqvist Dahlberg

2. The Larsson Family Saga The story of Maria Josefina Larsson Palmqvist Dahlberg (1883-1959) is strictly a Wermland’s Saga occurring over 300 years in the same small region between Nysund (Wermland side) and Karlskoga. Maria was born with surname Larsdotter, the 7th child of Lars-Magnus Larsson (1840- 1903) and Anna Stina Ersdotter (b. 1845). Other children were Oscar Wilhelm, Carl Johann, Axel Victor, Johann Alfred, Emma Christina, Gustav Adolph and Elisa Maria (Elin). Axel Victor appears to have first adopted the surname Palmqvist, although both male and female children also used Larsson at one time. Carl, Axel, Johann, Maria and Elin also used the surname Palmqvist in some documents.

3. The parents of Maria’s father, Lars-Magnus Larsson, are unknown (his father’s given name was likely Lars). Lars was born in Nysund, Wermland. In 1860, "dräng" (farm laborer) Lars-Magnus moved from Rudskoga to the Degernäs agor estate, Karlskoga. He apparently came with Anders Gustaf Ersson, the brother of Lars' future wife Anna-Stina. Lars probably met Anna-Stina, who was a maid ("piga"), on the Degernäs agor estate. In 1862 Lars moved from Degernäs to Karls-Åby where he was listed as a "Los. Arbk," one who was available as a worker. Lars and wife Anna Stina appear together in Gräsholmtorp in 1865 where Lars is listed as an "Inhys." which means one who was allowed to live in the home as an available worker. After marriage in 1865, Lars took over his father-in-law Erik Ersson's "torp" Karshagen (also written Carlshagen). Rättare (foreman on a larger farm, probably Degernäs agor and then at Hallunda), Lars Magnus and family moved to Hallunda, Nysund, Wermland, and in 1887, Lars and family moved from Hallunda, Nysund to Karlskoga. The complete family was in Norrhult through 1895. In his obituary, his occupation was "bergsmannen", administrator of an area of land containing farms and forest, possibly minerals.

5. Maria Larsdotter Larsson Palmqvist

6. Almost all lines of the ancestors of Anna Stina Ersdotter (b. 1845), Maria Palmqvist Dahlberg’s mother and wife of Lars-Magnus Larrson, can be traced to the early 1700's. Her ancestors and descendants have been Wermlanders in the region between Nysund and Karlskoga for the entire 300 year period. Anna Stina was the daughter of Erik Ersson (1813-after 1883) of Rotebäcken, Nysund, who was a dräng and moved from one farm or estate to another frequently within Karlskoga town. In 1845 he appeared on Degernäs agor after marrying Johanna Andersdotter of Elfsgraftorp, Nysund, (daughter of Anders Ersson of Rotebacken, Nysund, and Cajsa Jansdotter in Elgkarr) in 1840. Between 1856-60, Erik became a “torpare,” a person who worked on the estate, but had a cottage (a torp) with usually enough land for a garden. In 1859, Erik and family moved to Carlshagen Torp in Degernäs, also listed as Karshagen. In 1865 son-in-law Lars-Magnus Larsson took over the "torp" after marriage to Erik's daughter Anna-Stina. In 1881-83, Erik was noted as sick and a "fattighjon" which means he was a pauper and probably a ward of the parish.

7. Maria Larsdotter

8. Erik Ersson was in turn a son of Erik Ersson of Olsdalen, Karlskoga, and Maria Olsdotter of Rotebäcken, Nysund. He was in 1813-1816 in Rotebäcken, Nysund with his family as a "bruckerer," one who rented and ran a sizable farm. Seven other "drängs" and "pigas" were living on the farm. 24 Oct 1819 Erik Ersson and family was permitted to move to Karlskoga from Nysund where he had lived 14 years since 1805. Nils Jansson put up a bond of 100 rdr. (riksdaler) security to insure that he and family would not become wards of the parish. On 28 Jan 1827 and 1 Mar 1835, respectively, the parish paid for two months of breakfast for sons, Erik and Karl as schoolboys. Priest noted Erik was weak and sick looking in later years. He died of "nervfeber" which is thought to mean typhus. Erik Ersson’s father was Erik Larsson of Olsdalen, Karlskoga, who married Lisken Larsdotter.

9. Maria Larsdotter & Friends

10. Seamstresses Hulda Eriksson’s Kappäffar Karlskoga Maria Larsdotter (4th to right)

11. Sömmerskor fran Karlskoga

12. Johann Alfred Larsson Police Officer b. 1875

13. Johann Alfred Larsson & Family

14. Gustav Adolph Larsson of Filipstad 1879-1979

15. Ture Herbert Nilsson (1912-1993) Hedvig Sigrid Edgren (1910-1994) Herbert Nilsson was son of Elisa (Elin) Maria Palmqvist & Oskar T. Nilsson