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Andrew (Anders) Webster (Westerberg) was born to a professional soldier Nils (Nicolaus) Wester-berg (January 15, 1799 - February 17, 1837) and his wife Stina (Andersdotter; August 10, 1793 - August 12, 1840) on November 20, 1825 at Hemmsjo, Kronobergs Lan, Smaland, Sweden. In 1847, he married Ingrid Katarina (Catherine) Johannesdotter (Swenson) (born July 14, 1830). In 1853, they and their young son John (Johannes) immigrated from Ostra Torsas in Kronobergs Lan where they owned a farm called Horda Lallaregard to Dixon, Kane County, Illinois. While in Dixon, Andrew was employed in teaming and farming. It was here that daughter Maria (Mary) was born.
Along with Charles Johnson (Hamberg) and his family, Andrew's family was the first to settle in New Sweden Township (Section 13) of Nicollet County, Minnesota in July of 1857.
Andrew and Ingrid were charter members of Scandian Grove Lutheran Church on May 30, 1857. Andrew was one of the first deacons, serving in that capacity for twenty-two years.
In 1862, the Andrew Webster family, along with brother-in-law Martin Peterson's family and others, loaded belongings in wagons to drive to shelter in the Scandian Grove Church because of the Indian up-rising. During that conflict, Andrew, Martin, and several Swedish and Norwegian neighbors formed a militia unit officially known as the Scandinavian Guards under the command of Captain Gustaf A. Stark.
The Andrew Webster farm consisted of 430 acres. In July of 1875, the St. Peter Tribune reported that "the best grasshopper catch we have heard of on any one farm was at the farm of Andrew Webster, where he caught 633 bushels. He has 2 teams running with scoops about 15 feet wide." Nicollet County paid a bounty on grasshoppers destroyed.
Andrew held the offices of assessor, treasurer, and supervisor of New Sweden Township.
Andrew died on May 2, 1886, and Ingrid died on January 26, 1911.
Andrew and Catherine had eight children: John (Johannes), Johan Peter (died
in infancy), Mary (Maria), William, Theodora, Elizabeth, Simon Jonas, and Judith
Eleonora.
Submitted by John Quist and last updated December 2, 2007.
