Mom’s paternal grandmother was Clara Elizabeth Brodd. Her parents, Anders Gustaf (Johanson) Brodd and Gustafva Johansdotter, along with Clara’s three older siblings, came to America in 1875. Our day was mostly devoted to exploring the churches and farms that were part of their lives
A.G. Brodd was born at Sandlid farm in 1848. We found that farm this afternoon. We don’t think this building was here in 1848, but this is for sure the farm where he was born.
This farm is part of the Håkantorp parish. We found the little church and the caretaker opened the door for us so we could walk around inside.
I imagine these parishioners living near the lakeshore could relate to the altar image of Jesus rescuing Peter.
When A.G. became s soldier, he was required to drop his patronymic name and adopt a “soldier” name. He chose the name “Brodd” for the nearby town of Broddetorp. A.G. And Gustafva lived on a farm called Herr Lagersgården known today as Skattegården. It is a lovely little farmstead on the shore of Lake Hornborga.
When they left for America, A.G. basically went “AWOL” and the Swedish military records list him as “escaped and wanted”. Here is the Brodd family in 1890.
Besides exploring the Brodd family roots, we also took a tour of a 1900-era farmstead owned by a local museum. We also saw the cathedral in Skara (first Christian church in all of Sweden), walked around a stone-age burial site, and had a delicious dinner at Löfwing’s restaurant.
We ended the day at the Lake Hornborga wildlife refuge.
