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By SANDRA HANSEN TORRINGTON, Wyo. - When five of the Barkman children left Sweden a hundred years ago, none of them, or the two siblings they left behind, could have imagined the family reunion that was held in Torrington on July 12 and 13. Nine members of the extended family flew across the Atlantic to join their American cousins where 130 people enjoyed a two-day celebration of family at St. Rose Parish Hall. "I was so pleased," said Dorothy Zavorka, who helped organize the event, beginning in 2007. "I was glad to hear that everyone had a good time." A descendent of Olaf Gottfried Barkman, who came to the United States in 1889, and married Selma Swanson in 1898, Zavorka said it is amazing that the extended family has kept in touch over the past century. Families on both sides of the Atlantic have exchanged pictures, letters, and visits. Zavorka said she remembers one of her mother's Swedish cousins visiting about 30 years ago. Her mother, Elsie, married Charles Dare Hawley, and lived in Goshen County, also. Their family consisted of Anna Charlene Davis, Elsie Mae Cofer, Floyd Hawley, and Dorothy Zavorka, who with her husband Charlie, lives on a farm near Torrington. Alfred H. Barkman married Erma Smith, and lived in the family's two story house south of Lingle. His son, Alfred Elroy, and grandson, Darren, farm the place now. Elvira Barkman married Peter Cattin and lived in the Veteran, Wyo., community. Their children were Marjorie, Henri, and Esther. Henri farmed near Veteran, also, but only Jordan Cattin remains in the area. John is at Chadron, Neb., and James is in Las Vegas, Nev. The Swedish branch of the family said they were amazed at the size of the farms and equipment in the United States. The wide open spaces were a magic touch. Gert Barkman, who lives on the original family property at Havrida, said the farm consists of 25 acres where a few cattle are raised. He said farms are getting bigger, because it is difficult to live on the small parcels of land. After learning how dry it can get in the West, Barkman said he believes the weather in Sweden is better suited for farming. Barkman, Erlandsson, and Marit Johansson, all spoke of the blue sky and size of the farms in the United States. Even though Barkman has been here twice, and Elrandsson four times, they are still almost as amazed as Marit, who came for the first time. The group spoke English very well, explaining that English is mandatory during the last six years of education in Sweden. The glue that kind of kept the various families communicating, was Marcy McNeill, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo. She attended school in Sweden for a year, where she became better acquainted with the families there, and learned the Swedish language. She also helped organize the Torrington reunion. "They all kept in touch and have unusually good connections, and are good friends," McNeill said, looking at the photo displays in the hall. "That's the amazing part. The American families retained the food and names, but most of the cultural aspects were lost." According to Erlandsson, the family members emigrated for several reasons. Two of them were religious freedom and economics. She said the church was very strict then, and young men could not support a family. "The United States was the Promised Land," she said. The young adults moved to the area around Chicago and Minnesota to begin their new lives. "They did not speak Swedish to their children," McNeill said. "They wanted to adapt quickly to get jobs." The descendents of the American immigrants have spread out all over the United States, but like the earlier generations, they maintain contact with the other families, both here and in Europe. "And now we all feel Swedish," she said. |
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