The untimely death of Karl Gustaf Bork

 

In my article about Olaus Bork, I mentioned the tragic death of Olaus son Karl Gustaf Bork, in Glasgow, Montana.

Gustaf emigrated at the age of 23, to the US, accompanied by his younger brother Leonard (18), in April, 1887. Their first destination was McKeesport, Pennsylvania, a part of the steelmaking district around Pittsburgh and the destination for many Swedish blacksmiths.

However, the two brothers soon moved in to Glasgow, Montana, where they found work in the newly erected railroad shops of the Great Northern Railway. The railroad had just reached eastern Montana, on its quest to become the northern-most transcontinental railroad. Glasgow was a new railroad town, hastily built to serve the needs of the railroad. The brothers were loined by several cousins from Barnesville.

I have now found a contemporary Swedish newspaper article which sheds more light on the circumstances of Gustaf Bork´s untimely death:

"Sad news has recently reached us from across the Atlantic.

Gustaf Bork, oldest son of Olaus Bork, master mechanic at Skyllberg, has passed away in Glasgow, Montana, after a few days’ illness.

Bork left Sweden for America two years ago. At first he worked in a steel mill in Pittsburgh, and then came to Glasgow, where he was hired as a fitter in the shops of the great Manitoba railroad company. Here he soon gained the respect and admiration of both foremen and colleagues for his great ability and readiness. On receiving news of the death, his foreman, Mr. Fryberg, stated: ”I will never see a man like that again”.

At the end of March, he undertook a journey to the Rocky Mountains and California, where he caught a cold which led to his death. Fate ordained that his parents received a letter from him where he described his journey without mentioning any illness, on the very day he was buried.

He was carried to his grave by five cousins living in the area, and a sixth Swede. The ceremony, attended by most Scandinavians in the area, was performed by a Swedish priest.

It appears that his passing has cut short a very promising career.”

Published in Nerikes Allehanda, May 20, 1889

The ”great Manitoba railroad” refers to the St Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway, a predecessor to the Great Northern Railway controlled by James J. Hill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Paul_and_Pacific_Railroad

Gustaf´s remains were later moved to Barnesville, Minnesota, where several cousins worked in the railroad shops.

Aaron and Hannah Elg, at Gustaf´s grave in Barnesville, Minnesota, abt 1930.
Photo from Todd Lindahl

After Gustaf´s death, his brother returned to Sweden.

Note that both Gustaf´s father Olaus Bork, and uncle Per Gustaf Bork were involved in railroad building in Sweden:

http://elgfamily.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-railroad-builder-in-family.html  about Olaus Bork

http://elgfamily.blogspot.com/2014/05/per-gustaf-bork-blacksmith-and-narrow.html  Per Gustaf Bork

Also, several cousins worked in railroad shops back in Minnesota: http://elgfamily.blogspot.com/2013/10/blacksmiths-going-west-part-2-new.html