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Born at Farila Halsingland, Sweden on 13 December 1865, he received education and military training in Sweden. On 30 August 1861, he married Margret Larson (1861-1940) and they had five children prior to immigrating to Canada in 1895: Herman Wilfred Sjogren (1887-1952), Victor Herbert Sjogren (1889-1959), Emma Kristina Sjogren (1891-?, wife of Nils Bergstrom), Charles John Sjogren (1893-1963), and Lydia Sjogren (1895-?, wife of John Nystrom).
He worked as a carpenter in Winnipeg for two years. Known for his strength, his coworkers gave him the nickname "Strong Arm". Later, his sons changed their surname to Armstrong. In 1897, he took up a homestead with other Swedish immigrants at NE12-17-18W in the RM of Clanwilliam and worked as a stonemason and carpenter while his wife was a midwife. He indulged a hobby of photography, taking views of the areas around Erickson and Wasagaming.
He built a large home for his family at Hilltop and they had four more children: Ingrid Victoria Sjogren (1899-?, wife of Helge Holmberg), Hilma Sjogren (1902-?, wife of Ernest Jacobson), Alfred John Sjogren (1904-?), and Jennie Sjogren (1907-1944, wife of Jim Pollon). All the children attended Hilltop School. Johan and Margaret eventually moved to Wasagaming where he built a log cottage for them and others in the 1930s. They built a home in Erickson in 1935.
He spent the latter part of his life at Hammond, British Columbia where he died on 22 February 1951 and was buried in the Maple Ridge Cemetery.
Year(s)
Address
1910s-1930s
Birth registrations [Ingri Victoria Sjogren], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registration [Margret Sjogren], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [Herman Wilfred Armstrong, John Alfred Sjogren], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
Forest to Field: A History of Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam and Village of Erickson by History Book Committee, 1984, pages 630-632.
We thank James Kostuchuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 June 2022
Manitoba Photographers: 1858 to Present
A list of professional photographers who have worked in Manitoba, from 1858 to the present, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society.
© 2006-2023
Gordon Goldsborough & Manitoba Historical Society. All rights reserved.
