Solomon and Maria Bergstrom
Robert, Maria, Solomon, Julius
The following is condensed from a biography of Solomon Bergstrom, written by his son Julius.
Solomon Bergstrom was born in Östra Torsås socken, Kronobergs län, Småland, Sweden, on the 11th of November, l868. His parents were Karl Magnus and Karin Johanson, humble and hard-working farmers. He had one brother, Emil, and three sisters, Mathilda, Augusta and Lovisa. He attended the country school and also received religious education in the State Church. He told of receiving his confirmation bible and that the Book of Revelation gripped him most of all because of its strong dramatic setting. He worked hard on the farm and later learned the carpenter's trade, specializing as a wheelwright. He was ambitious and faithful in his work.
At the age of twenty-three, 1891, he went into military training. About this time he came in touch with Rev. Karl Anderson, an independent preacher who had a mission and home for soldiers at Vexiö. Rev. Mr. Anderson sent out young men as evangelists to preach the Gospel. Rev. Fredrik Franson, the great world missionary and founder of several missions, among which was the Scandinavian Alliance Mission, came to Sweden in 1892 to secure and train new missionaries for China. Solomon, who had already felt the call to China, joined one of his short-term Bible Schools.
Toward the end of 1893, at the age of twenty-five, together with several others, Mr. Bergstrom boarded a small steamer bound for America via England. The commission he carried was written on a plain sheet of letter paper, and dated November 24th 1893. The special field pointed out in the commission was Manchuria, a field which he never reached. Not having completed his military service he found it necessary to apply to the king and as a result obtained a special permit to leave the country. He arrived in New York in December, 1893.
He continued his ministry in America until September of 1894 and then, with Mr. 0. Bengtsson and the Misses L. Hedman, C. Wallenberg, and Hanna Lundvall set sail for China arriving in Shanghai in October, 1894. They were welcomed by the China Inland Mission, They were immediately introduced to Chinese clothes, a head shave and a queue in order that they might be able to better reach the people. They also began their study of the Chinese language as they journeyed inland toward the north-western provinces of Shensi and Kansu. When Mr. Bergstrom had been in China only six months he delivered his first message in Chinese. He also assisted at the mission press where tracts and a small periodical were published. Later he was up in Pingliang mission-station learning the language and assisting in the work.
ln the life of nearly every young man there comes a time when he feels the need of the companionship of a help-mate, and Mr. Bergstrom made it a matter of much prayer to God. While staying with Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Anderson in Sianfu, Shensi, he made the acquaintance of Miss Maria Christina Peterson and a warm friendship developed which soon resulted in their becoming one in the holy bonds of matrimony. Miss Petterson was born in Berga parish, Skaraborgs län, Västergötland, Sweden, January 21st, 1865. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Petterson. She was the oldest of three brothers and two sisters. At the age of nineteen she immigrated to America alone and found work in the homes of wealthy families in Brooklyn and later in St. Paul. At the latter place she became a member of the Baptist Church, but had previously taken part in Salvation Army work in New York. She had succeeded in saving some money and thus helped her parents to immigrate to America, where they settled down in northern Minnesota.
During Franson's ministry she received the call to China. On February 3rd, 1891, she received her commission at Chicago. Two parties, started China-ward in 1891. Miss Petterson was a member of the second party which landed in Shanghai March 10th, 1891. In those early days, before the Scandinavian Alliance Mission had its own field, the missionaries were designated to work with other missionaries of the China Inland Mission, some in Kiangsi, others in Chehkiang, and yet others in Shansi province. Miss Petterson was designated to the latter province and spent a couple of years at Kuwo learning the language and doing itinerant work. She gave herself wholeheartedly to the work of preaching the gospel. Later, when she reached Shensi province she itinerated in Sian district and Lunghsien district and also worked with Miss Alma Swanson at Wukong. She came to Sianfu May 26, 1894. The wedding took place in Lantien. The date was Christmas eve of 1897, and the wedding took place in the home of the Witzells. The hearts of the newly-married couple were in the work, and therefore the honey-moon was very brief, and in the first days of the New Year they set their faces westward and came to their new station and new home at Hingping. It would seem to be anything but home -- dark, narrow, and inconvenient, with not a single pane of glass, only paper on the windows, and of these there were only too few. Mrs. Bergstrom tells of her joy when one single pane of glass had been installed in one of the windows so that they could look out. Early in his ministry Mr. Bergstrom realized that if he was to see permanent results in the work, it would be necessary to concentrate upon one locality, working out from some central position. He was led to decide upon Hingping, a small city approximately thirty miles west of Sianfu, the capital of Shensi province.
On the 18th of December, 1898, it was their joy to welcome into their home circle a little son, Oscar Hjalmar Stefanus. In June of 1899 the new home was ready and they were able to move into it. In July the chapel and premises for the boys' school were also ready. Mr. Tuan han-chang, the first Christian of Hingping, and the first evangelist, was kept busy in the chapel preaching to the crowds that came and went. On the 8th of February, a little daughter was added to the family. Her name was Hulda Sofia Eleonora. Mr. Bergstrom was determined that every one of his children should have more than one name for his had been the misfortune to have but one, Solomon, a name which he greatly disliked, but for which he could substitute no other.
It was during this year that the terrible Boxer uprising broke out. The "Boxers" were fanatics who were possessed by a demonic power and claimed to be immune from harm by enemy weapons of any and every kind. Under the encouragement of the Empress Dowager this movement spread quickly and it was her hope, by means of these "Boxers" to drive all foreigners out of China, including the missionaries. Many of the latter died the martyr's death and others suffered untold things on the way from their stations to the coast. Even in Hingping a plot was on foot to murder the missionaries and to burn the station. Their plot was overheard by a Chinese brother and the missionaries were informed. They hastily packed together a few necessary clothes and before dawn the following day they were on their way to Sianfu with their two little children It was their intention to return in a short time when the storm had blown over, but instead they found it necessary to accompany the whole body of missionaries in the general evacuation to the coast, and from there to the United States in September of 1900 for their first furlough, a much needed rest, until the situation in China should again become calm.
They landed on America's shores practically penniless, besides having had to borrow money for the passage home, for all their savings had gone into the new station in Hingping. But, the Lord provided for them in His own marvellous way, through His faithful stewards who counted it a privilege and a joy to be partners in the great missionary enterprise. They set their faces toward Northern Minnesota where Mrs. Bergstrom's parents and brothers and sister were living near the small town of Holt. The missionaries made their home in Thief River Falls, at that time a busy lumber town. During this furlough another boy was born on the l3th of November, 1901, and named Edvin Teodor Paulus.