John A. Torgerson

Was married in 1898 to Marie Randi Golie Torgerson (1880-1962). This family is well documented on the Dove Family Tree (RobDove) on Ancestry.com

Children included:

• Elenora S Torgerson 1901–
• Pearl Torgerson 1904–1991 (Arizona)
• Roy G Torgerson 1906–1985
• Ernie Torgerson 1909–
• Mabel Torgerson 1911–
• Joseph Kenneth Torgerson 1916–2000
• at least two others

John Torgerson in the 1906 Canada Census, 22A Assiniboia West, Saskatchewan, Canada, taken June 27, 1906.

• John Torgerson Head M 31 (b. 1875) United States Of America
• Mary Torgerson Wife F 25 United States Of America
• Elenor Torgerson Daughter F 5 United States Of America
• Pearle Torgerson Daughter F 2 (born bef. June 1904) Saskatchewan

Re Norwegians' (and others') immigration to the Northwest Canadian Provinces see Scandinavian Migration to the Canadian Prairie Provinces, 1893-1914] by Kenneth O. Bjork, online: "For the Scandinavians, heavily concentrated in those [U.S.] states faced by rural depression and agricultural crisis after 1893, the prairie provinces [of Canada] seemed the best, perhaps the last, great source of free or cheap land. By the late nineteenth century, the main hope for many young men in large families living in the established settlements of the Midwest lay in working on farms belonging to others, in renting land under conditions that made farm ownership increasingly difficult— or in migrating to cities, to cut-over areas in the Great Lakes region, to semi-arid or heavily forested regions in the American West, or to highly advertised locations in the South. Before and even during the rush to Canada after 1896, a goodly number of such persons made the move to the Pacific coast or to mountain states like Montana and Idaho. But far more went to the Canadian Northwest. To a people accustomed to farming in the Upper Midwest, the prairie provinces, almost within arm’s reach, exerted an almost irresistible appeal—a means of breaking out of a social and economic trap.

most of the Scandinavians he escorted to the Northwest were from Minnesota and the Dakotas, and that they remained in Assiniboia and Alberta. He emphasized the fact that, as a group, they preferred to settle in colonies. In making inquiries about Canada, he said, "one of their questions is, what are the chances for schools, churches, etc.?" Most delegates purchased Canadian Pacific land, selling in 1902 at from $5 to $10 per acre; those who refused to buy gave as their reason that they would have to settle at great distances from a railroad. His latest party had bought land or taken homesteads 60 to 70 miles from the nearest line. He stressed the need for railroads "through the vacant lands of Assiniboia and Alberta, north of the mainline of the Canadian Pacific," so that he could "go into the large Scandinavian settlements in the different states and tell [the people] they could get land within a reasonable distance from a railroad."

Swanson also maintained that American Scandinavians of ample means were now interested in investing their money in large tracts of land. "I don’t think that I would be far out of the way in saying that half of the names booked by some of the English agents . . . are Scandinavians." He noted, too, that immigration from Norway and Sweden had doubled over the past year.

In the spring of 1903 the influx of settlers was so great that for a time transportation companies were unable to cope properly with it. All immigrant trains were accompanied by officials who met the needs of the travelers and aided them in settling. Not all arrivals came in this manner, however: the commissioner of immigration estimated that 25 percent simply crossed the border in their own wagons at remote spots—or otherwise remained unrecorded. He noted that of the total number of Scandinavians—11,751—no less than 7,982 were from the States. "It is gratifying to observe," he remarked, "the very improved character of the people comprising this nationality"; often they had as much as $12,000 to $15,000 in cash, together with their effects. Most of the Scandinavians from across the boundary line were experienced farmers who were doing well on their Canadian acreage. Others, of more limited means, now had no difficulty in finding work on farms or railroads. The commissioner conceded, however, that his office had had little success in detaining Scandinavians passing through Canada to the United States.

Swanson, while noting that the fiscal year 1903—1904 had been a good period for Scandinavian immigration, also remarked that real estate was not as salable in the western states as it had been earlier; as a result many farmers were unable to migrate. In addition, reserves of land had been opened for settlement in the United States. But the greatest obstacle remained ignorance of Canada. Nevertheless, he expected an increased flow of immigrants, a movement that would be aided by new railroads in the prairie provinces. His hopes were justified and his efforts great. In 1904—1905, he made ten excursions on the Soo Line from the Twin Cities, and sent many other Scandinavians via Emerson over the Canadian Northern Railway. The majority of the Scandinavian settlers took one or two carloads each of effects and equipment. The most recent parties had settled as far as 100 miles from a railroad, hoping that rail construction would come their way.

The number of Scandinavians arriving in the fiscal year 1904—1905 was 4,118, exclusive of 1,323 Finns; for 1905— 1906, the figure was 3,859, not counting 1,103 Finns. No less than 75 percent of these immigrants settled on the land, and many bought quarter sections to add to their homesteads. In the nine months ending March 31, 1907, the flow of Scandinavians had "kept up fairly well," in the words of the commissioner, "but the increased cost of transportation is likely to militate against an increased immigration from Europe." The flow fell off somewhat during the fiscal years ending March 31, 1907, and March 31, 1908, but the deputy minister of the interior noted an increase in the number of free land entries in 1908—1909. The government had opened to preemption and homesteading all available odd-numbered sections of land in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta on September 1, 1908, and by then the administration of land within the department of the interior had been simplified.

After 1907 there was less mention of the Scandinavians as a separate group in the reports of the department. We learn from them, however, that 3,976 Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes arrived during the fiscal year 1907—1908, and 2,047 in 1908—1909. (In these years Finns numbered 1,212 and 669, respectively.) Comments made about settlers in general, however, applied also to the Scandinavians. They were bringing increased amounts of machinery and other property; many lived 60, 70, even 100 miles from a railroad, and they introduced into the provinces farming techniques learned in the States. People were timing their arrival carefully, usually securing a crop—often flax—the first year. They built houses, sent for their families, became Canadian citizens. The farmer from Minnesota was followed by a merchant or tradesman. In time manufacturing would begin—pork-packing, brick and tile production, mill operations, and the like.

The agents continued as before to attract Scandinavian immigrants, and in 1909 Danes numbered 116, Icelanders 231, Swedes 596, Norwegians 656. In 1910 the figures were 130 Icelanders, 147 Danes, 818 Swedes, and 843 Norwegians. The majority of Scandinavians were by that time clearly being listed as Americans: most of them had come from North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota—and in that order, if homestead entries give a clear picture.

As late as June, 1910, W. J. White, inspector of the many immigration agencies in the United States, observed that Americans were still quite ignorant of conditions in Canada. He pointed out significantly that among the recruits were many mature Sons of farmers who sought to establish homes in the North. The family farms in the States would still be worked by the fathers and younger sons. In some cases, however, the fathers had sold out, either to neighbors seeking more acres or to persons from the East desiring larger farms. Others opting for Canada were city people eager to return to country living. In any event, no American land was made vacant by the migration.

The year ending March 31, 1911, broke all records for immigration from the United States, mostly from western areas. Even so, the arrivals from Europe were still more numerous. As for the Scandinavian countries, F. Fredrickson of Winnipeg and J. E. Kringen of Viking, Alberta, themselves immigrants, were by then agents in Europe. In addition to the Swedish newspaper in Winnipeg and Dannebrog—which had been utilized for a long time in promotional work—Norrøna, a new Norwegian publication in Winnipeg, was now being used as a propaganda vehicle."

-- John A. Torgerson is buried in Minnesota; FindAGrave