BORG, Andrew
Portrait & Biographical Record Winnebago & Boone Cos., IL. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1892, pp 198-199

Andrew BORG, a mason contractor and builder of Rockford [Winnebago County, IL], is one of the well known Swedish residents of this city.  He was born on 16 Jun 1839 in Sweden, and was the first of his people to come to the U. S.  He learned his trade in Oskersham, and at the age of 24 years left that place, crossing the Atlantic in the summer of 1854 on a sailing vessel.  They encountered some very severe weather, the deck being swept and the mast carried away.  For some time the crew and passengers were all exposed, and for four days they were without food and water, 24 dying from exhaustion and being buried in the sea.  After 13 weeks and three days, Mr. BORG landed in NY City, 15 Aug 1854, and thence went to Chicago.  He had lost his trunk, the contents of which were his chief possessions.  He found himself a stranger in a strange land, with no one to whom to look for aid, but he started out bravely and soon found employment.   After a year he decided to go to KS, but in passing through Rockford was so well pleased with the city that he has since made it his home.

Since coming to this county Mr. BORG has been followed by a sister who is now living in Webster County, IA, and a brother who died in Rockford some years ago, after he was married.  The father, Swen LARSON, was a farmer and carpenter of Sweden and spent his entire life in that land.  His death occurred at the age of 82 years.  His wife, whose maiden name was Stena G. ANDERSON, is yet living at the age of 82.  Like her husband she is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Three years aftr coming to this country, Mr. BORG returned to Sweden and married Anna S. CARLSON, who died nine days after she and her husband had returned to this country, of quick consumption, at the age of 22 years.  He afterward wedded Ida M. CARLSON, a sister of his first wife, and she died three years later of pneumonia, at the age of 22, leaving one daughter, Selma E., now the wife of Frank SAGER, a clerk in Sawyer's drug store of Rockford.  Mr. BORG was a third time married, in Rockford, the lady of his choice being Anna S. BOOMAN [should be BOWMAN; see the bio of John A. BOWMAN, father of Anna Sophia BOWMAN, this county], who was born in Sweden on 04 Aug 1852, and came to Rockford in 1864 with her parents, who have since moved to Valley Springs [Minnehaha County], SD, where they now reside, both being about 60 years of age.  They are also members of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. BORG hava a family of four children and have also lost four.  Edward is a bookkeeper for the Skandia Coal Company of Rockford; Albert, Olivia and Victoria (twins), and Esther, are all deceased.  The parents are members of the Zion Lutheran Church, of which Mr. BORG is a Trustee.  He exercises his right of franchise in the support of the Republican party.  The year after coming to Rockford, he began business as a mason contractor and builder and has erected many buildings in the city.   He now owns a good brick residence at No. 406 Sixth Street, and has an interest in the flats and residence at the corner of 4th Avenue and 7th Street.  He is one of the stockholders in the Skandia Plow Company, and a stockholder and Director in the Skandia Brick Company, also a Director in the Union Grocery Store.  Mr. BORG has been the means of inducing many of his Swedish neighbors to locate in this country, and is a leader among his countrymen.  His business career has been a successful one, and he is now numbered among the well-to-do citizens of Rockford.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly.