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Historical records matching Samuel Nordstrom
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About Samuel Nordstrom
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219876885/samuel-nordstrom
Sam was born on Jan 16, 1896 in the Roseau, Minnesota area, the first born to Lars and
Brita Nordstrom. The family moved to Sprague, Manitoba in 1904 when Sam was an 8- year-old. By this time Sam had 3 younger brothers and 3 younger sisters. Little is known
about the time in Roseau but Sam being 8 probably meant that he had attended school.
The move to Sprague would have been a great adventure. The family moved in with his
grandparents Lars and Brita Nelson and lived with them until 1910. In this multi- generational setting Sam and his sibling would have listened to many stories about
Sweden and the move from that country. He probably helped his dad build their new home
between 1904 and 1910.
Sam was an excellent hunter and could be counted on to provide food resources from the
bountiful wildlife in the area. Dad said that if the family heard one shot Sam would manage
to bring the meat home but if they heard two shots they had better go a find him because
he would need help. Sam also had an interest in Blacksmith work, making several tools.
One of the tools resembled the modern vice grip or perhaps a pump plier.
The story goes that the tool was noticed by someone on a dock in Warroad and the tool
was stolen. About a year later the same type of tool came on the market. It could be said
that Sam invented the vice grip.
Somewhere in the timeframe of living in Sprague, Sam also had an accident with a
shotgun. As I understand the story it was at the time of the transition to modern
gunpowder and the gun exploded in his face damaging both of his eyes. He obviously
recovered but his hunting days were over.
One of the Nordstrom neighbors was the George Barnard family. If I recall correctly the
Barnard's came to Canada from Kansas.
Somewhere during this time Sam met Ruth Barnard. Sam and Ruth were married in
Roseau on Dec. 20th, 1916 and made Sprague their home living on the George Barnard
homestead in NW 2-1-14E. (Later this quarter became the Emanuel Nordstrom quarter)
Sam and Ruth had four children, Ruth (Harvie), Ethel (Beaule), Stan and Neil. Ruth and
Ethel were born in Sprague. When their house (the George Barnard home) burned it was
probably the reason for the move to Ena, Ontario. They lived in Ena, then Redditt,
Keewatin and finally Kenora. While in Redditt, Sam worked for the CNR with Ruth and
brother Emanuel cooking for work crews.
In the summer months and probably on the years when Sam and Ruth were not visiting
in Sprague, Mom and Dad would visit them in Redditt.
Later, Sam worked for the St. Mary's Indian Residential School in Kenora and ran a shoe
repair business out of his home in Redditt. While in Redditt he also worked at Ontario
Central Airway for a period of time and also with Lands and Forests. In Kenora he worked
with his sons at Lake of the Woods Garage until his retirement.
Throughout the years, Uncle Sam and Aunt Ruthie were almost always annual visitors to
Sprague and many of us looked forward to those special times.
In 1981 they celebrated with many friends and family their 65th wedding anniversary.
Ruth passed away in May of 1982 and Sam a year later to the day on May 1, 1983.
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Samuel Nordstrom's Timeline
| 1896 |
January 16, 1896
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Roseau, Roseau County, Minnesota, United States
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| 1917 |
December 4, 1917
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| 1919 |
October 1, 1919
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Sprague, Mb
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| 1923 |
November 5, 1923
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| 1932 |
October 13, 1932
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Kenora; , Ontario,, Rainy River, Rainy River District, ON, Canada
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| 1983 |
May 1, 1983
Age 87
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Kenora, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada
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