Abridged: Bror Hjalmar (Bill) Almstrum was born April 28, 1891 in the parish of Torrlosa province of Skane, Sweden. He was the son of tailor Johannes Persson Almstrum and his wife Kirsten (Kjersti). Bill was one of eleven children, six boys and five girls. Bill left Sweden early in 1911, coming to Antelope County in April. He farmed with his cousin Carl Persson, until 1913, and then went to work with Jet Holcomb.
Bill lived and farmed in the vicinity of Oakdale all his life in America. On February 28, 1917, Bill married Judith Nilson (born March 26, 1896). It was a double ceremony with Judith's sister, Ellen, who married John Bettendorf.
Bill and Judith had four children; Alma, born March 5, 1918 on the Yeager farm near the Star Church; Lillian was born April 14, 1925; Billy on July 1, 1927; and Lylia on August 8, 1934, all on the Jacobson farm northeast of Oakdale. Lillian died in January of 1933. Five of Bill's brothers and sisters came to the United States, settling in various parts of Nebraska at first. Conrad, who arrived in the early 1920's was the only one to settle in Antelope County. He made his home with his brother. Conrad never married and in 1934 he joined his sister, Charlotte Peterson, Kelso, Washington, where he lived until his death in 1968.
Bill did custom work sawing wood and shelling corn. Farming was much different in those days, all the work was done by and and/or horse power. There are no Almstrum descendents living in Antelope County today. Alma married Warner Ruf; Billy married Lucille Oman and Lylia married Richard Andrews.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007