As to a connection between your family line and mine, I'll have to review some of my family records. If I remember correctly, my great-grandfather, Knut, lived and worked in Wisconsin before he came out to the Pacific Northwest. He worked as a logger. Our family has always gone by the spelling "Hjertstedt" (which is the Swedish spelling), though my grandfather, Hugo, considered changing the spelling to either "Jerstad" or "Heartstead". Knut's middle son, David, is the only male Hjertstedt still living. Several of my grandfather Hugo's sisters are still living, though they're married and go by their married names, of course. I know that I have family living in Wisconsin, though we aren't really in contact, except with one cousin, whose mother was Knut Hjertstedt's sister, which makes her my great aunt. This cousin, named Esther (nicknamed "Pelley"), has recently fallen ill; we're praying for her recovery. I've never met her personally, but she came out here to live with Knut and his family for a time, a long time ago.
Perhaps you know of this woman. E-mail me anytime, and we'll work to make a connection in our respective family trees.
Warmest Regards,
Sarah Crist.