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A history of the Swedish-Americans of Minnesota

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A HISTORY OF

The Swedish-Americans

OF

MINNESOTA

A Concise Record of the Struggles and Achievements of the Early

Settlers, together with a narrative of what is now being

done by the Swedish-Americans of Minnesota in the

development of their Adopted Country.

ILLUSTRATED

WITH THE VALUABLE COLLABORATION OF NUMEROUS AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS

COMPILED AND EDITED BY

A. E. STRAND

VOL. II

PUBLISHED BY

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHICAGO

1910

rHE NEW

PUBLIC LIBRARY

485»«7

TH.DEN R 1910 U

CHAPTER XVIII. CHISAGO COUNTY.

This county, located on the west bank of the St. Croix river, be- tween the counties of Pine on the north, and Washington on the south; the St. Croix river on the east and the counties of Isanti and Anoka on the west, presents an agreeable variety of surface, upland and gen- erally undulating, covered with hard and soft-wood timber, well watered by lakes and streams. Its lake scenery is surpassed in beauty only by some of the lakes in Sweden. The county takes its name from the largest and most beautiful lake. In its aboriginal form it was Ki-chi-saga ; from two Chippewa words meaning, "Kichi," large, and "Saga," fair or lovely. For euphonic considerations the first syllable was dropped.

Chisago Lake is conspicuous for its size, the clearness of its waters, its winding shore and islands, its bays, peninsulas, capes and promon- tories. It has fifty miles of meandering shore line. Its shores and islands are well timbered with maple and other hard woods. It has no waste swamps, or marsh borders. In 1830 this beautiful lake was unknown to fame. No one had seen it. or could point out its location. Indians brought fish and maple sugar from a lake which they called Ki-chi-saga, or Sagi-a-gan, or "large and lovely lake." This lake, they said, abounded with "kego," fish.

Erik U. Norberg, born June 22, 1813, in Ullkarfva, Vestergotland, came to America in 1842 and settled a short distance west of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin. From there he moved to the state of Michigan, where he lived until 1848, when he came to Bishop Hill, Illinois, became a member of the Eric Jansson colony, and, in the same year married Brita Johnson from Ostrunda parish, Vestmanland. As he was a well edu- cated man, having filled the office of sheriff (lansman) in his native province, he became a very prominent and useful member of the colony. Two children survive him. namely: Gustaf Norberg, a leading attorney

'367

368 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

of Holdrege, Nebraska, and Airs. John A. Jones of Galva, Illinois. When Norberg came to the beautiful Chisago lake from Bishop Hill, in April,

1850, he certainly found it what its Indian name imparts, "fair and lovely water." The government had, in 1850, completed a survey of the lake and it was high time that it should be given a name, by which it should be designated on the map and recognized by civilized visitors. What name more beautiful and appropriate than that which the Indians had already given it? Being well pleased with the locality, Norberg came back with a colony of Swedes, including Peter Berg, Andrew Swenson, Peter Anderson, Peter Sjolin, Daniel Rattig, and Jonas Wres- terlund. They came by steamboat, landed at Taylor's Falls June 24,

1851, cut a road to Chisago lake and took undisputed possession of its shores, finding no trace of human occupancy save some deserted Indian tepees and the claim cabin of a Air. Van Renselaer on the island. Peter Berg settled on the east part of lot 3, section 35 and southwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 26, township 34, range 20. Peter An- derson on the east part of lot 3, and northwest quarter of northeast quarter of section 35, township 34, range 20. Andrew Swenson on lot 5, section 27, township 34, range 20. Erik Norberg had come to the country at the invitation of Nils Tornell, who was murdered in 1848, near St. Croix Falls, by some Indian assassins hired to commit the deed by one Miller, a whiskey-seller. Norberg intended to make his home at Chisago Lake, where the former island, on which Center City is now situated, for many years was called "Norbergsholmen" by the Swedes, but died at Bishop Hill, while on a visit, in 1853.

For a long time the lake was called Swede Lake, until its present name was permanently adopted.

Oscar Roos could claim the honor of having been, probably, the first Swedish settler not only in Chisago county, but in Minnesota. He was born in Vestergotland in 1827 and came to America in 1850, locating during the first summer at Rock Island, Illinois, but in the fall coming to Taylor's Falls. In his company came, among others, Lars J. Stark, who later also settled in this county. On the adVice of Rev. Unonius, in Chicago, Roos, together with two other young men, Fernstrdm and Sandahl, went to Minnesota. They arrived in Marine, Washington county, in October, 1850. During 1851-1852 Roos, with other new- comers, worked on the road which the United States government was then building from Mississippi to Lake Superior and which for quite

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 369

a distance is running along the St. Croix river. This road was named the "Point Douglas and St. Louis River military road." Roos made his headquarters at Marine, working at timbering and logging until 1860, when he settled at Taylor's Falls, and was appointed postmaster at that place. In the same year he was elected register of deeds in Chi- sago county, which office he held for eight years. Those positions he kept until 1870, when he was appointed register of the United States Land Office at Taylor's Falls. He resigned that office in 1875 and was elected treasurer of Chisago county, an office he held for a number of years. The confidences thus bestowed upon him, by his fellow citizens, go to show, that he was not only well liked but also highly trusted. He later engaged in exchange, loaning money, selling land, etc., and had a branch office in Center City. He was married to Hanna Swanstrom in 1870.

The colony in 1852 raised the first rye, barley and flax in the county. It also raised potatoes, green corn and vegetables, cut out roads, cleared timber, and made other improvements. Peter Berg raised flax and made linen thread in 1852 and soon after came the Petersons, Strands, Johnsons, Frank Mobeck, Dahlin, Porter and others. A post- office was established in 1858; A. Nelson, postmaster. The town was organized in the same year. The first supervisors were Ephraim C. In- galls, chairman; Frank Mobeck and Daniel Lindstrom.

The first church organization in the county was that of the Swed- ish Evangelical-Lutheran, in 1854. Here, in Center City, was built the first church edifice in 1855 ; a frame structure, subsequently enlarged, but later superseded by a brick building. This was set afire by light- ning in 1882, and a new, fine church, costing $30,000, was erected. Its dimensions are 116 by 66 feet, ground plan, and the spire is 135 feet in height. This church is an ornament to the town and the state, and would be creditable even to our great cities. The first pastor was Rev. P. A. Cederstam. His first successors were Revs. C. A. Hedengran and John Frodeen.

Center City, the county seat of Chisago county, was platted in May, 1857, on lot 5, section 27, township 34, range 20, the proprietor being Anders Swensson. Few villages are more beautifully situated. It contains two hotels ; a number of stores ; the largest bank in Chisago county, with average deposits of $300,000; the Chisago Lake Swedish-

24

3/0 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Lutheran Church, which congregation is the oldest and as to member- ship the largest Swedish church in Minnesota; schoolhouse and a num- ber of fine residences. During the Indian outbreak in 1862, and the uncertainty as to the probable attitude of the Chippewa Indians, the people of Chisago Lake built breastworks for protection, on the isthmus connecting Center City with the mainland, and planted cannon upon them for defense.

Anders Swensson, the founder of Center City, came from Smaland to the shores of the lake in 1851, and made his home on the present site of the city. He was born in 1817, came to America in 1850, and remained a short time in New Orleans before coming to Minnesota. He was a farmer and married to Katarina Peterson in 1838. He died in July, 1887, leaving two sons and two daughters who are all living at the present writing and mentioned in the biographical sketch of John Swanson.

Nils Nord was born in Linkoping, Sweden, in 1819. In his eight- eenth year he enlisted in the Swedish army and served twelve years. He came to America in 1855 and located on Chisago Lake in the north- east quarter of section 32, township 34, range 20. He was married in Sweden to Lisa Anderson. They had1 one son, John P. Nord, who for a number of years was the popular and efficient auditor of Chisago county. He was married in 1878 to Hilda, daughter of Rev. C. A. Hedengran. They had one daughter. Mrs. Nord having died, Mr. Nord now lives a retired life at the Park Hotel, Center City.

Lars Johan Stark was born in Sweden in 1826, came to America in 1850, and settled at Chisago Lake in 1852. He was married in 1865 and again in 1870. He had eleven children. In Sweden he had served as clerk ten years. In his American home he followed farming chiefly. He served as justice of the peace and county commissioner and also filled some town offices. He was engrossing clerk of the house of repre- sentatives in 1864. He was a member of the house in the sessions of 1865 and in 1875. In 1868 he moved to the town of Fish Lake, and in 1877 to Harris, where he died. One of his sons is probate judge Stark, who resides at Harris.

Andrew N. Holm, formerly Andrew Nelson, his name having been changed by legislative enactment in 1867, was born in Sweden in 1829. He learned the trade of a carpenter, came to America in 1855 and located at Center City in 1857, of which village he was the first postmaster. He

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 371

served as a soldier during the Civil war and at its close removed his family to Taylor's Falls, where death ended his days.

Peter Anderson brought the first cattle, a yoke of oxen and a cow, to the settlement. One of the oxen was slaughtered in the fall and the other sold to Peter Berg, who made a special kind of wagon, or, rather, cart, for this team. It did not take the help or skill of any blacksmith to manufacture this vehicle, which was a good thing, as there was no such artisan or iron material to be found in the settlement. The wheels consisted of one single solid block, sawed off a large oak log. In the center a hole was made for the axle, which also was of wood. On ac- count of the uneven condition of the "roads," the "hubs" soon were worn so they lost their circular shape, which gave to the vehicle a very shaky and uneven movement not altogether pleasant for travel. But, better that than carry the loads on their own backs, thought the pio- neers. Such carts soon became very common in the settlement and for a long time the only means of transportation. In them were transported not only smaller loads on the farm but also the necessaries of life from Taylor's Falls. The standing price for the use of this rig for a short or longer distance, was five dollars. An American, living at Taylor's Falls, charged twelve dollars for carrying a load from that place to Chisago Lake.

Sven Anderson came to Marine Mills in the fall of 1852, bringing with him four cows, which he sold to the settlers. Anders Swenson bought two of those, and Per Wiklund one. The first really good yoke of oxen in the settlement belonged to Daniel Rattig and Peter Shaleen, and they rented them to the farmers for plowing at five dollars a day. Of the above mentioned pioneers most have since died, but left the settlement before and moved to other places. Peter Anderson moved to Cambridge, Isanti county ; Peter Berg to Fish Lake, Wiklund to Anoka and Bylund to Kandiyohi county.

Late in the fall of 1851 arrived at Chisago Lake, in extremely poor circumstances, a former sergeant in the Swedish army, by the name of A. M. Dahlhjelm from Ostergotland, at the time of his coming an old man. He was permitted to stop over winter in a shanty situated on an island in the lake and owned by another old man, a recluse named Van Renselaer, who lived there in a kind of half-starving misery. Dahl- hjelm's wife, Ulrika Pfeiff, belonged to the Swedish nobility. A son of Dahlhjelm, Claes Dahlhjelm, born in Vallerstad, Ostergotland, July

3?2 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

7, 1828, is still living at Center City. He was married to Miss Eva Carl- son Ek, of Herrakra, Smaland, by whom he has had twelve children, of whom nine are living. One daughter is married to Mr. James E. Melin, president of the Chisago County State Bank, at Center City.

Gustaf Hultquist is another of the old settlers still living; hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was born July 26, 1832; came to America in 1853, stopped at Chicago, where he remained until 1855, when he came to Chisago Lake. He had experienced a terrible voyage on the ocean. Of 219 passengers 64 died from cholera. Mr. Hultquist has been married and has had fourteen children, nine of whom are living. During the war he was drawn for service, but took sick and was laid up in the army hospital at Fort Snelling. He is now leading a retired life at Center City. In his younger days he held a number of county, town, village and school offices. He is a remarkably bright and intelligent man, with a never failing memory and brimful of information concerning the first Swedish settlement in Minnesota. Be- sides Mr. Hultquist is a well read man and has a library of many times the ordinary size generally found in a farmer's home.

During the year 1852 only a few settlers arrived. John Smith came from Ortofta in the spring of that year. Ahead of him, he declared, were only five settlers at Chisago Lake. He took land near the lake, just west of where the church now stands. Smith had read an article written by Norberg in a Swedish-American paper (Hemlandet) in which the soil and conditions of Minnesota were praised to the sky and that article induced him to emigrate. In his company came also John Ander- son from Ostergotland.

Peter Svenson from Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan, arrived in Knox- ville. Illinois, in 1852. Also he had read the article by Norberg and by the same was induced to emigrate. Accompanied by six other Swedes, he came to St. Paul. Thence he went to Carver and St. Peter, but finding that part of the country wild and entirely unsettled, he returned to St. Paul, whence he went to Chisago Lake, settling to the east of that water.

Erik U. Norberg, who is mentioned quite often in this volume, seems, in a large degree, to have been instrumental in directing the stream of Swedish immigrants to Minnesota. In his letters and news- paper correspondence he called the attention of his countrymen to the fertile soil which was here awaiting willing hands to cultivate it, and

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 373

reap the reward for their labors which in such an abundant measure was to come to them. It is stated that he received fifty dollars from the people of Taylor's Falls for his efforts to bring Swedish settlers to Chi- sago county, and he certainly made good his promise. Another man should also be kept in kind remembrance by the Swedes of Minnesota, namely — Rev. Gustaf Unonius, who built the St. Ansgarius (or Jenny Lind) church in Chicago, Illinois. He was the first Swedish minister who visited the Chisago Lake settlement and preached and officiated among the few settlers in 1852. During this visit he tied the nuptial knot between a daughter of Daniel Xilson in Marine and Fredrik Lam- mer, a German, living a couple of miles from Taylor's Falls. Mrs. Lammer was probably the first Swedish girl to be married in Minnesota. In his little excellent historical pamphlet, "Svenskarna i St. Croix- dalen," Mr. R. Gronberger relates the following incident : The wife of Anders Swenson made this year (1852) a very unpleasant trip. One fine morning she went out in the woods to look for her cows. In the tall grass and brush she could trace the direction in which they had passed. She followed their path through the wilderness without knowing in what direction she was going. A woman in our days with less deter- mination and a less stout heart would probably have given up such a task as looking for cows in the wild woods where wild animals and prowl- ing Indians were the only living beings to be encountered. Not so Mrs. Swenson. She would under, no circumstances lose her good milch- ers, so she continued all day without finding them. Toward evening, in the vicinity of where Vasa, in the Marine settlement, was later located, she met a man who said that he had met a pair of cows, but that was so long before, that there was no possibility for her to overtake them. The man being afraid lest she was going to get lost if she continued her search in the dark, offered to build a fire at which they could "camp" during the night. Thanking him for the offer she, however, declined it, and, having received a few matches to be used in case she would need to build a fire and camp out alone, she went. Before it was entirely dark, she was lucky enough to reach the house of a farmer in the neighborhood of Marine. This farmer had' caught and locked in the so eagerly sought for cows. The distance from this farmer's to her home was fifteen miles, as the bird flies, and as the cows' path probably did not lay in such a direct course, Mrs. Swenson had walked a much longer distance. The following dav she returned over the same route

374 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

but this time driving the cows before her. We must admire Mrs. Swen- son's energy and endurance all the more when we are informed that she bore a fine girl baby two months later. This child was born November 22, 1852; baptized by A. M. Dahlhjelm, receiving the name of Christine Mathilda. She is married to Mr. John P. Johnson and they now live at Lindstrom. She and Christina, a daughter of Peter Anderson, were born on the same day and were the first children born of Swedish parents in this settlement and, for that matter, probably, in all Minnesota.

The first really serviceable boat made of boards in Chisago Lake was owned by Anders Swenson. By doing housework in the hotel of Ansel & Smith at Taylor's Falls, Mrs. Swenson had earned the money with which to buy the boards. Other boats in the lake owned by Swedes were mostly hollowed logs. To indicate how high the prices of cattle were at that time may be mentioned that John Smith had to pay sixty dollars for a cow, which he bought in St. Paul.

Frans Mobeck, a former corporal in the Smaland Grenadier regi- ment, came to Chicago in 1852. On the advice of Rev. Unonius he went to Minnesota in 1853, arriving in St. Paul, where he remained two years. He visited the Swedish settlement at Chisago Lake and bought the piece of land on which he afterwards lived. He did not oc- cupy it, however, before 1855.

During the years 1853-1854 quite a number of Swedish immigrants arrived, most of them from Kronoberg's Lan. Among them were Peter Wiberg, Magnus Jonson, Carl Lind, Anders Porter, Daniel Peterson, Peter Gustaf Gustafson, Gustaf Collen, A. P. Glader, John Holmgren, Hakan Larson and others. Although the largest number of settlers came from Kronoberg's Lan, the very first ones came from Ostergot- land and Norrland. During the first three or four years in the history of the settlement most of the land around the lake was taken up and settled. Later arriving immigrants had to go farther into the country in order to secure homesteads.

The two brothers, Otto and Anders Wallmark, came from Halmstad in 1854, bought land and settled near Chisago City. The land was owned by Bernheimer & Arnold of Philadelphia, who platted the village site and started in to erect buildings. A store was opened in which Otto Wallmark became clerk. Saw- and flour-mills were built, which, however, burned down in 1860. Anders Wallmark was foreman for the workingmen who graded and cleared the land for the village site. Otto Wallmark was

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 375

auditor for Chisago county during a number of years. Anders Wallmark was register of deeds since 1868. To this office he was elected six times. Major John Swainson in St. Paul bought in 1856 in Missouri a large herd of cattle which he pastured at Rice Lake during the summer. These he sold on the easy payment plan to his new-coming countrymen. This was a great help for them, as they had no money to pay cash but badly needed milch cows and oxen.

In his "History of the Swedish-Lutheran Churches in America" Dr. E. Norelius, who came to Chisago Lake in 1854 and remained there from May 24th to September 11th, says that in Taylor Falls were at that time very few horses, and that no Swedish family lived there, but a short distance from the city, in the direction ofi the lake, lived a wagon-maker, Anders Anderson, his son-in-law, Daniel Fredin, Peter Wiklund, who had moved there from the lake, his brother and a man by the name of Bylund1. Besides these there were Fred Lammers, whose wife was a daughter of Daniel Nilson in Marine. The road to the lake did not run exactly as it does now, but in numerous curves, and was bad to the utmost degree. To drive a load over it was a hard job, indeed, but there was not very much traffic at that time. The things one bought in the city were carried on the back or in the hands. After leaving Anders Anderson's place there were no houses to be seen until at the lake. The first house was Per Anderson's, which stood south of the road, and diagonally in the direction of the bay that of P. Sheleen's. A little to the west lived Peter Berg, where the rectory of the Chisago Lake church was located until last year, when the new rectory was completed. Here also was the first house at Chisago Lake located, a log cabin, which stood there for many years and had been used as meeting house, or church, and school house. On the peninsula on which Center City and the church are now situated, lived Frans Mobeck and Anders Swenson. From P. Berg's place, looking north, was a path to the little lake, and following it one came to Hans Smitt's place, and near by lived P. Norelius. Looking west from here and north of the little lake, lived Daniel Peterson, who later moved to New London. South of the little lake lived P. Kron and B. Franklin, who later sold his farm to Peter Swenson. West of the little lake lived Peter Lund, who later moved to Grove City. On the north side were Hakan Svedberg's. A. P. Norelius' and other places located. North of the big lake were Magnus Olsson's. A. M. Ahlstrom's and others'

3j6 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

places. On the east side of the bay and next to Per Anderson's, lived Peter Johanson, and on the south of his place Anders Molin and Peter Svenson. On the southeast and south side were Magnus Jonasson's, Glader's, Garberg's, and on the peninsula between the two branches of the lake, Nord, Nojd, Daniel Lindstrom and others.

Many immigrants arrived during the summer and settled all around in the woods. Around the small log cabins were to be found patches on which vegetables were planted. The woods were hewn down by and by, and1 between the stumps the ground was turned by hoes and planted with any seed the settlers happened to have handy.

Here we enter a list of the first settlers at Chisago Lake up to 1855, according to the church register kept by Rev. Cederstam, As almost all of the settlers were members of the Lutheran Church there have probably not been many settlers whose names are not in the list. Among those few Dr. Norelius remembers Hans Smitt and family, Jonas Norell and Per Norell.

Arrivals in 1850: Per Anderson with family, Daniel Rattig with wife, and L. P. Sjolin, from Hassela, Helsingland ; Pehr Berg with family, from Hog, Helsingland ; Anders Swenson, with family, Kittil- stad, Ostergotland ; L. J. Stark, Lidkoping, and his wife, Amalia C. (nee Lengquist) Karlshamn.

Arrivals in 1851: Johan Smith and Jonas Anderson, from Ortomta, Ostergotland; A. M. Dahlhjelm and Claes Dahlhjelm, Wallerstad, Ostergotland; and Magnus Olsson with wife, Brunflo, Jemtland.

Arrivals in 1852: Peter Johan Kron, from Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Mathis Bengtson, Orkened, Kristianstad's Lan ; Per Johan Lund and wife, Oppmanna, Kristianstad's Lan ; Erik Abrahamson and wife, Wardsnas, Ostergotland; Carl Jonason Lind, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Magnus Peterson and wife, Nobbeled, Kronoberg's Lan ; Truls Lindquist, Orkened, Kristianstad Lan ; Anders Peter Anderson, Ortomta, Linkoping's Lan ; Magnus Jonason, Linneryd, Kronoberg's Lan ; and his wife and children, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Johan P. Back. Gardsby, Kronoberg's Lan, and his wife, Inga Lena Swensdotter, Wist, Ostergotland ; Anders Peter Anderson, Ortomta, Ostergotland ; and Frans Mobeck. with family, Stenberga, Kronoberg's Lan.

Arrivals in 1853 : Anders P. Norelius and family, P. Norelius and family, and Jonas Norelius and family, from Hassela, Helsingland ; Tufve Pehrson and family, and Nils Pehrson and wife, Nilla, Glimakra, Kris-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 377

tianstad's Lan; Johan P.' Abrahamson and wife, Lahgasjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Johannes J. Lonnquist and wife, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Erik Garberg and wife, Linneryd, Kronoberg's Lan ; Nils Hakanson and family, Peter Magnus Johanson and family, and Johan Peterson Stenberg and family, Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Peter Johan Carlson and wife, and Anders Swenson Agren and wife, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan; Daniel Peterson and family, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Joh. Helin and family, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan; Peter Johanson and family, and Joh. Johnson and wife, Maria Peterson, Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan; Daniel Nilsson, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders Magnus Ahlstrom and family, Elghult, Kronoberg's Lan ; Hakan Larson Swed- berg and family, Backaryd, Bleking; Ex-Schoolteacher Joh. Hakanson, Vexio, Kronoberg's Lan ; Daniel Lindstrom and wife, Hassela, Helsing- land; John Johnson, Hinneryd, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders G. Blom and Peter Johanson and family, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Joh. Jonason Lind and wife, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan; Sven Mag. Peterson and family, Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders Johnson's wife, Helena Nilsdotter, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl J. Lind's wife, Lena Kajsa Jonasdotter, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan; Claes Dahl- hjelm's wife, Eva Karlsdotter, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan; And. Peter Jonason Lind, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan; Nils Nilson, Gammaltorp, Bleking; Johan Akeson and Mans Akeson, Hofby, Bleking; Ola Jonasson and wife, Tving, Bleking; Joh. Peter Quarfot, Ljuder, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders Peter Glader and family, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Svensson Ek, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Nicolaus Jonasson and family, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Peter Dolk and family, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Johan Johanson and wife, Hofman- torp, Kronoberg's Lan; Sven Magnuson, Vexio, Kronoberg's Lan; Gustaf Jonsson Hultquist and wife, Ingatorp, Jonkoping's Lan; Jonas Magnus Molin and wife, Asarum, Bleking; Carolina Molin, Asarum, Bleking; Carl Israelson and wife, Tving, Bleking; Erik Magnuson's wife, Johanna Jonasdotter, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Abrahamson's family, Langasjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Peter Gustaf Gustafson and family, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Lorens Johansson and family, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Tufve Pehrson and family, Glimakra, Kristianstad's Lan ; Otto Ferd. Makrill and family, Tving, Bleking ; Ake Johnson and family, Asarum, Bleking ; Peter Magnus Peterson and wife, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan; Carl Gustaf Pehrson and wife, Linneryd and Ronneby;

378 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

And. M. Molin's wife, Lena Stina with children of her first marriage, Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan; And. Janson Porter's wife, Helena, and John Carlson, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan.

Arrivals in 1854: Swen Nilsson and family, from Orkened, Kris- tianstad's Lan; Nils Hakan Bystrom and wife, Hofby, Bleking; Jons Nilson and family, Hjersas and Vanga, Kristianstad's Lan; Samuel Peterson and wife, and Peter Peterson, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan ; Widow Helena Magnusdotter and family, and Gustaf Collin and family, Elme- boda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Peter Person and family, and Johan Jonasson, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders Carlson and wife, and Carl Gustaf Paulson, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Elias P. Fast and wife, Nob- beled, Kronoberg's Lan ; Peter Anderson, Herrakra, Kronoberg's Lan ; Tuve Trulsson, Knisslinge, Kristianstad's Lan ; Peter Swenson and family, Jemshog, Bleking ; Johannes Person and family, Dadesjo, Krono- berg's Lan ; Frans O. Moquist, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Gustaf Johansson and wife, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan ; Sven Carlson Kron and wife, J. Helin's wife, Sara Eriksdotter, and her sons by a former marriage, Carl and Jakob, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; David Pehrson and wife, Elmeboda and Linneryd, Kronoberg's Lan ; Widow Kajsa Erengissledotter and family, Linnaryd, Kronoberg's Lan ; John Smith's wife, Maja Lena, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan; MatHis Bengts- son's wife, Hanna. Orkened, Kristianstad's Lan ; John Johnson's wife, Kajsa, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan; Nils Daniel Anderson and family, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan ; Jonas Erikson and family, Dadesjo and Gardsby, Kronoberg's Lan; Mathis Mickelson and family, Asarum and Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Jonas J. Nojd and wife, Ortomta, Linkoping's Lan; Jons Olsson, Ronneby, Bleking; Johannes J. Elmquist and family, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Magnus Peterson and wife, Dadesjo and Tafvelsas, Kronoberg's Lan ; Magnus Magnusson, Elmeboda, Kronoberg's Lan ; Kristina Peterson, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Swen Nilsson and family, Hemsjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl Samuelsson and family, Ortomta, Linkoping's Lan; Johan J. Brage and family, Olmestad, Jonkoping's Lan; Carl P. Bolin and wife, Ronneby, Bleking; Carl Johan Korsberg, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl J. Ljungquist and Peter Swensson, Asarum, Bleking ; Johan Olsson and family, Ronneby, Bleking ; Truls Lindquist's wife, Sissa, Ola Thomasson and Pehr Mattson, Opp- manna, Kristianstad's Lan ; Johan Peter Nilsson and family, Peter Jonsson and family and Carl Jonasson, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan ;

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379

Peter O. Petersson and wife, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan; Martha Kajsa Petersdotter, Furuby, Kronoberg's Lan ; Gustaf Johannesson, Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Ake S. Dahlberg and wife, Ronneby and Hofby Bleking; Ola Anderson, Backaryd, Bleking; Carl Johansson, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl P. Vigren, Langasjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Erik Magnusson, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan ; Jonas P. Peterson, Gardsby, Kronoberg's Lan; Eva Kristina Petersdotter, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; P. G. Gustafson's wife, Sara C, Elmeboda, Krono- berg's Lan ; Anders P. Wallmark, Asige, Halland ; P. J. Folin and wife, Karlshamn, Bleking; Hakan J. Dahlstrom and wife, Backaryd, Bleking; Israel Jonasson, Hofmantorp, Kronoberg's Lan ; Pehr Matson and family, Oppmanna, Kristianstad's Lan ; Anders Nilsson and wife, Osterslof, Kris- tianstad's Lan ; Jonas Johansson, Jath, Kronoberg's Lan ; Anna Maria Magni, Sandsjo, Kronoberg's Lan; Eskil Trulsson and wife, Knisslinge. Kristianstad's Lan ; Peter Johan Johansson and wife, Furuby and Dadesjo, Kronoberg's Lan ; Gustaf J. Melander, Ostra Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan ; Carl G. Pehrsson's wife, Kajsa, Ronneby, Bleking; Joh. J. Lindahl and family, V. Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; And. P. Anderson's wife, Martha Magni, V. Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Johanna Magni, V. Thorsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Anders Magnus Molin, Asarum, Bleking; Anders J. Porter and family, Tafvelsas, Kronoberg's Lan; Johan Magnussen and wife, Nobbeled, Kronoberg's Lan, and Otto Alex Bernhard Wallmark and wife, Asige, Halland.

In 1855 the immigration amounted to almost nothing, because the cholera of the preceding year had scared people from leaving their homes in the old country. From 1856 to 1860 not a few came, but it would take too much space to give their names.

Lindstrom Village. — Located on the line of the Taylor's Falls branch of the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad (now in the Northern Pacific System), on lot 5, section 33, town 34, range 20, was platted in 1880. The proprietors were then James and Elizabeth Smith, who had bought the land of Daniel Lindstrom. Lindstrom was born in 1825 in Helsing- land, Sweden. He had no early advantages for obtaining an education and spent most of his youth herding goats and cattle among the mountains in his native province. In 1854 he came to America and located on Chisago Lake, choosing a beautiful location which since was laid out as a village and has become a place of popular resort. Lindstrom was mar- ried first in Sweden, and then here, his first wife having died in 1864-.

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He had a family of three children of whom a son, O. F. Lindstrom, is cashier of thedocal state bank.

The village of Lindstrom was incorporated in 1894, with a resident population of 245 inhabitants, on petition of the following : John A. Nel- son, B. L. Brorson, P. M. Dedon, S. M. D. Hallberg, O. F. Lindstrom, C. J. Anderson, Gust Peterson, P. H. Tyrrell, G. Fernlund, Evart E. Hall. F. W. Hall, Gust Lantz, D. Lindstrom, John Turnquist, J. H. Frye, P. M. Holt, Carl Otis, John Kroonblawd, Chas. Andrews, J. Ostergren, A. Erlandson, John Peterson, M. Norman, J. C. Larson, George J. Symonds, Chas. Kronblad, J. A. Holt, August L. Anderson, Gus. W. Anderson, C. M. Hall, H. C. Manders, C. A. Bergren, J. Pitts, F. A. Johnson, J. A. Peterson, and Martin Peterson.

The first village president was Mr. A. Erlandson, and the first vil- lage clerk or recorder, Ludwig Andrews, who is now postmaster of the place. Of the three villages on the Chisago Lake, Center City, Lind- strom and Chisago City, Lindstrom is very much the largest and as a business place the most important. It has schools, two churches, post- office, bank, a good hotel, two restaurants, a large creamery run on the co-operative plan by the farmers, several general merchandise stores, drug store, two physicians and one dentist, printing office and a weekly paper, a fine city well, 240 feet deep, furnishing the best drinking water imaginable, hardware, agricultural implements, harness and' shoe stores, meat market, bakery, saw-mill, lumber yards, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, flour mill, elevator, millinery, clothing and tailoring store, three saloons, livery stable, jewelry store and two photograph studios. Lindstrom has a number of fine and comfort- able residences and small cottages for the accommodation of summer guests, who come here in large numbers to spend their vacation. For them it also has a boat house with gasoline launches and rowboats.

Chisago City. — The village of Chisago City is located on a hard- wood ridge between Chisago and Green lakes, in sections 6 and 7, town- ship 34, range 20. It was platted, in 1855, by Isaac Bernheimer & Com- pany, of Philadelphia. They built a hotel, several dwellings, and a saw and grist mill on the banks of Chisago lake. These mills were burnt in 1872. A stave factory was built on the site of the burned mills, which was operated successfully for many years by George Nathan, Otto Wallmark, W. D. Webb, and others. This stave mill gave a new im- petus to the prosperity of the village, under the influence of which the

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county seat was transferred to it from Taylor's Falls. Its subsequent growth, however, did not justify expectations. It was for many years without even a postoffice. In 1875 the county seat was removed to Cen- ter City. The Swedish-Lutherans had here one of the finest church buildings in the county. This church burned down, but a new frame edifice was erected in its place and dedicated in the spring of 1909. The lake location with splendid train service of the Northern Pacific Railway Company gives to the village the patronage of a large summer resort and tourist business, well taken care of by it's three hotels, as well as its colony of summer houses of Twin City people, who are yearly adding to their holdings in and around Chisago City. The business enterprises have grown fast in the last few years. The pioneer business places are three hotels, two large and well managed general stores, blacksmith and implements, creamery, sprayer manu- facturing, lumber yard, livery, meat market, tailor, millinery, dressmaker, physician, harness and shoe store, four elevators, watch maker, with additions of stock buyer, feed mill, barber shop, drug store, state bank, excellent schools. Residences are being built summer and winter and brick blocks are in evidence in which are conducted the business inter- ests of the community. The farming and dairy interests surrounding are ably conducted by a class of well to do and thrifty farmers, whose principal products, live stock and dairying, potatoes, feed crops and hay, and whose prosperity is noticeable to all. The future possibilities for growth and advancement are very good for this village.

Along the branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad are two other villages, Shafer and Franconia.

Shafer. — Comprises all of the territory of township 34, range 19 excepting the plat of Taylor's Falls, and fractional sections in the N. E. corner of the township. It is now all settled and has many fine farms. A Swedish colony settled here in 1853, consisting of Peter Wicklund, Anders Anderson, Erik Bylund, Tuve Waldemarson and others. The town organized first as Taylor's Falls, but the name was changed to Shafer in 1873, after Jacob Shafer, who as early as 1847 cut hay in sections 4 and 5. He seems to have been in no sense worthy of the honor conferred upon him, as he was but a transient inhabitant, and disappeared in 1849. No one knows his subsequent career. The honor ought to have been given some of the hardy Swedes, who were the first real pioneers, and the first to make substantial improvements.

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Peter Wicklund came from Sweden in 1853 and settled in the north- east quarter of section 26. He moved to Anoka in 1860, and was drowned in the Rum river in 1880. His son Peter became a prominent merchant in Anoka.

Tuve Waldemarson was born in Sweden in 1812. He was a member of the Swedish colony of 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Waldemarson reared a fine family of children. By hard work, close attention to business and frugality the family prospered abundantly.

Anders Anderson came also in 1853 and settled in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 34. He moved to Taylor's Falls in 1859 and died there in 1873. He left but one child, the wife of Daniel Fredin of Shafer. Anderson was a born humorist and fond of practical jokes. On one occasion his ready wit was exercised at the expense of a man to whom he had mortgaged his farm. Deeming the house in which he lived his own, in the absence of the mortgagee, he removed it to Taylor's Falls. The mortgagee, E. W. Holman, told him, he had stolen the house and must replace it. Anderson told Holman to take the house and replace it himself, but if he took his (Anderson's) family along with it, he would have him sent to the penitentiary. Holman did not see his way clear and the house was not disturbed.

Erik Bylund settled in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 23. In 1860 he sold out and moved further west. The farm he left has since been owned by John Nelson and is one of the finest farms in Chisago county.

Jakob Peterson was born in 1847 and came with his parents to Chisago county in 1854. They located on a beautiful spot in Franconia, on the shore of a small lake, where they made a farm and where Jakob passed his boyhood and youth. In 1881 he commenced business at Shafer station as a merchant and dealer in wood. He was the first postmaster at Shafer and was married to Mary Helin.

Franconia.— Jonas Lindahl was for many years an enterprising and prosperous business man in Franconia. He opened up an extensive wood trade with St. Paul, in which C. J. Vitalis was his successor. Lin- dahl represented his county in the senate of the fifteenth and sixteenth legislatures. He was accidentally drowned from a barge of wood at Hastings in May, 1872. His widow married Chas. J. Vitalis.

Charles J. Vitalis was born in Smaland in 1843, came to America in 1868 and settled in Franconia village. He was for five years em-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 383

ployed as clerk. In 1873 he embarked in the mercantile and wood business. In one year he shipped 13,000 cords of wood and averaged for the following fourteen years 7,000 cords, making a total of 100,000 cords. He was married to Josephine Nelson, widow of Jonas Lindahl, in 1873. He had four brothers, Elof, John, Elias and Hans, who all resided in Franconia.

Frank N. Peterson, came to America in 1865, and in 1866 settled in the valley of the St. Croix. He attended school at Carver, Minne- sota, one year, when he became a traveling salesman for Leopold & Company of Chicago, and in 1881 settled in Franconia. He organized the lumbering firm of Borens Brothers and Peterson, which continued until 1886, when a new organization was formed, called the Franconia Lumber Company. Peterson has been the president of Franconia since its incorporation. In 1869 he married Miss Ingrid Johnson, daughter of Erik Johnson, a pioneer of St. Peter, Minn. Mr. Peterson owned one of the finest houses in the valley, romantically situated and supplied with pure spring water. It was a pride to the village and attracted gen- eral attention. He was also the inventor and patentee of the Lindholm & Peterson adding machine.

Olof S. Werner, M. D. — Among the able and highly educated Swed- ish-Americans of Chisago county, none stands higher, than Dr. Olof S. Werner of Lindstrom, who has attained prominence both in the clerical and medical professions. Born near Helsingborg, Sweden, November 11, 1866, he received his early education in the public school and at the age of fourteen entered the collegiate high school of his native city, from which he graduated in 1888. He then matriculated at the Uni- versity of Lund, where he at first pursued studies in philosophy for two years, and in 1890 came to Minnesota, where his mother was living.

In the fall he entered Augustana Theological Seminary, graduating therefrom in 1892, and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, an unusual honor. Dr. Werner was then ordained as minister of the gospel at Lindsborg, Kansas, his first charge being a congregation at Warren. Minnesota. Later he came to Tustin, Michigan, where he remained for two years. During the last year of that pastorate he took up the study of medicine at the Michigan College of Medicine and Sur- gery. Detroit, finishing his studies at Milwaukee Medical College, now the medical department of Marquette University, in 1897. He then

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located at Ludington, Michigan, where he maintained a general practice for one year, followed by two years at Manistee, that state. In 1899 he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Post-Graduate College, and moved to Center City, Minnesota, during that year. In 1901 he located at Lindstrom, where he has since conducted a growing practice among the best people in the place. He has also been honored with several local offices, both village and county.

In 1892 Dr. Werner married Miss Ellen Rundstrom, of Lindsborg, Kansas, and they have five children, as follows : Victor J., born August 28, 1893; Conrad O., born December 14, 1895; Lillie E., born August 1, 1897; Ebba Maria, born August 13, 1899; and Robert Fredrik, born April 4, 1901. In the fall of 1909 Victor J. entered Gustavus Adolphus College at St. Peter, Minnesota. Conrad O. has decided mechanical gifts. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. All have musical talents and have a family orchestra of five instruments. Mrs. Werner is a music teacher and organist of the English Lutheran church. Dr. Werner is a member of the Chisago County Medical So- ciety, Minnesota State Medical Society, the American Medical Asso- ciation, the American Electro-Therapeutic Association.

John J. F. Swanson, of Lindstrom, Chisago county, is one of the pioneers of this part of Minnesota, his father being among the first of his countrymen to settle near Center City. For a period of fifty-eight years the son has been a growing business man and a progressive citizen of the county and for the greater portion of that time has been operating a saw or planing mill. He was born in Vena parish, Ostergotland, Sweden, May 28, 1848, to Anders Fredrik and Katarina (Peterson) Swenson. In 1850, with his parents, he came to America in a ship which was six months in making the voyage from Gothenborg to New Orleans. From the latter city the family took passage on a river steamer to St. Louis. They remained there through the winter, the father sup- porting his family chiefly by loading and unloading steamboats. The cholera was then raging in the city and Mr. Swenson lost one son and a new-born daughter by the dread disease. Jenny Lind was then in St. Louis and in the tenderness of her heart and generosity to her country- men, she gave the bereaved father fifty dollars with which to bury his son and daughter and pay passage to Stillwater, at which place the remaining members of the family were transferred to a smaller steamer, which brought them to Taylor's Falls. Thence they went afoot to

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Center City, where they settled about one-half mile north of where the court house now stands, and put up a log cabin. Anders F. and Katarina Swenson had seven children, of whom four are living; Mrs. Johanna Nelson, widow of Peter Nelson, who died in 1890 ; John J. F. Swanson, of this sketch; Christina Mathilda, married to Peter J, Johnson, of Lindstrom, and Henry Edwin Swanson, who lives near Center City.

When one sees the fine farms and flourishing little villages, which now are considered beautiful summer resorts at Chisago Lake, it is hard to imagine what hardships and privations the early settlers had to suffer, surrounded by not altogether friendly Indians and in the winter by howling wolves. Mrs. Johanna Nelson relates how once she saw a flock of forty wolves coming over the ice, steering their course directly toward their log cabin. There being no schools at first, the children were taught by their parents to read Swedish. In three or four years, however, the Swedish settlers so increased that a little district school house was built.

John F. worked on farms until nineteen years of age, when (in 1868) he made a trip to California and Washington, via New York and Panama. He made quite a little money on the coast, but after two years returned to Center City, where he bought a general merchandise store, located in the old school and meeting house, in partnership with John Elof Peterson, now postmaster in Center City. They paid seven- teen hundred and fifty dollars cash for the store and continued in busi- ness for a short time ; when they separated, Mr. Swanson going to North Branch, where he bought a lot and built a store, and Mr. Peter- son taking the Center City store. Mr. Swanson operated the North Branch store from 1870 to 1884, when he sold out and went to Trade Lake, Wisconsin, where he bought a combined hotel and store in part- nership with P. V. Delamater. They continued in this enterprise a couple of years and then sold their business at auction, Mr. Swanson returning to Center City, where he remained for a time, inactive but alert for opportunities. In partnership with his father, he next built a saw mill at Almelund, Minnesota, which he continued to run for nine- teen years and then moved the machinery to Lindstrom, where he built a large saw mill. The first year he employed twenty-two men, but now, when mostly planing is done, it is operated by Mr. Swanson and his sons.

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Mr. Swanson has been married three times. In 1871, he wedded Miss Emma Swenson, who died in 1877, bearing two children, of whom Miranda is married to Victor Anderson, of Minneapolis, and one son died in infancy. In 1879, he married Miss Martha C. Larson. They had two daughters and one son, the latter dying when three years of age. The daughters are Sally F., born August 11, 1882, living at home, and Martha, born January 2, 1884, who is living with her maternal grandmother. Their mother died in 1884. In 1887 Mr. Swanson mar- ried a third time to a sister of his second wife. Miss Elizabeth J. Larson. They have had five sons and one daughter; Arnie B. C, born in 1890; Dellner E. F., born in 1894; George H. J., born in 1896; James K. L., born in 1898 ; Pearl Eva Josephine, born in 1903, and Merle N. O., born in 1905.

John Artig. — The long, industrious and honorable career of John Artig, of Lindstrom, has been laid in Chisago county since he was eighteen years of age, and has covered, farming, lumbering and mason- ry. In his old age he is the fortunate proprietor of a nice home and, although he is able to review some business misadventures, there is no smirch of trickery or dishonor on his name. Mr. Artig was born in Furuby parish, near Vexjo, Smaland, Sweden, on March 14, 1836. His parents were Anders and Petronella (Petersdotter) Artig, the former born in Herrakna and the latter in Dadesjo. Anders Artig served as a soldier in the Swedish army for thirty-eight and one-half years, par- ticipating in the war with Russia when Sweden lost Finland ; in the battle of Leipsic against Napoleon, and in the war with Norway in 1814. He died when eighty-seven years old and the mother at the age of ninety-eight, both in Sweden. To them were born ten daugh- ters and one son, the subject of this sketch. John received a common school education and was confirmed in the Lutheran church, always standing high both in his literary studies and his religious training.

On September 16, 1854, Mr. Artig emigrated to America, coming in the Cambria, which sailed from the port of Carlshamn on June 22nd, and spent nearly three months in crossing the Atlantic. The Cambria carried more than five hundred emigrants, mostly from Smaland. They landed at New York, sailed across the lakes to Chicago and thence went to Rock Island, where they boarded a Mississippi steamer, bound for Stillwater. At Stillwater they boarded a smaller steamer, the Pioneer, which brought them to Taylor's Falls. They landed on October 6th.

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From Taylor's Falls they traveled on foot to Chisago Lake, where they were received by a Mr. Glader.

At first John Artig went across the St. Croix river to Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for six months, receiving his board therefor but no wages. His next job was on the government road as cook at one dollar per day and board. This employment lasted more than five months, and young Artig saved every cent of his earnings and sent to his old father, one thousand kroner ($265), thus enabling him to pay off a mortgage on his little place in Sweden. This filial act also saved his mother from going to the poorhouse, as she was able to retain the family homestead after her husband's death. During the following win- ters, young Artig went lumbering, and in the summers built dams, having learned the mason's trade in Gotland, Sweden. Later he ven- tured into the logging business, but was unfortunate in his specula- tion and had to sell eight hundred thousand feet at two dollars and fifty cents per thousand. But as the venture was his alone, the loss was his only. A second log speculation had unfortunate results, and he also lost nineteen hundred dollars on cord-wood-. So that he finally con- cluded that speculation was not his strong point, and dropped it.

In 1858 Mr. Artig married Mathilda Stenberg, of Algutsboda, Sweden, and settled on a farm, which he bought for $1,100 near Tay- lor's Falls. He cultivated his farm during the summer, going to the woods in the winter and driving logs in the spring. Thus he passed a busy existence and prospered by hard work. With his wife he has had five children: Mary, who is married to Ludvig Andrews, postmaster at Lindstrom; Nella (Petronella), married to W. F. Hall, a railroad man in St. Paul ; Charlotta, married to Edward Andrews, a farmer and mail carrier; Minnie, who is clerking in the post office at Lindstrom, and Frank Victor, who is cashier in a bank at Sauk Rapids. In 1864 Mr. Artig enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Minnesota Volunteers, and served for one year, participating in several skirmishes but was not wounded. He was honorably discharged at the end of the war July 11, 1865, and is a member of Sherman Camp No. 6, G. A. R. In his reli- gious faith he is a member of the English Lutheran church, and is a man of solid moral traits and sturdy character.

Charles Lindahl. — For nearly forty-five years that sturdy Swe- dish-American farmer, Charles Lindahl, has been the proprietor of a beautiful place located on a cape which juts out into Lake Superior

388 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

and is embraced by Chisago county. He has lived and labored upon this dear homestead since 1854. Mr. Lindahl was born in Furuby parish, Kronoberg's Ian, Sweden, October 7, 183 1. His parents, Johan and Kristina (Nilson) Hakanson, rented a small place (in Sweden called torp) belonging to a larger farm Vestra Truedsgard. They had three chil- dren: Charles, of this sketch, who took the surname of Lindahl to dis- tinguish himself from the many Johnsons ; Frank Johnson, who lives in Duluth ; Salomon, who is deceased.

Educational facilities were very unsatisfactory then in Sweden, whose public school system was inaugurated in 1848 and since has been greatly improved. If a youngster knew his catechism by heart and could read his New Testament, it was considered that he possessed a sufficient lit- erary education. Such an education did Charles receive, and was duly confirmed in Furuby church by Minister Krook. After confirmation he worked on the farm until 1854, when he came to America in company with his parents and brother Frank. They sailed in the good vessel Cambria, landing in New York September 15th. From New York they journeyed (via Albany, Buffalo, and the great lakes) to Chicago, thence to Rock Island and up the Mississippi and the St. Croix rivers to Still- water, where they changed to a smaller steamer, Knap, which brought them to Taylor's Falls and Chisago Lake, where they arrived on October 3rd. A brother of Mrs. Hakanson (the mother), by the name of P. A. Glader, was already settled there, and in his log house they were sheltered the first winter of their residence in Minnesota. During that winter Charles worked in the woods, and in the spring and summer helped clear the farm, which his father had bought from the government at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. This continued for two years; but the father was killed the first winter while cutting timber. The two sons then continued breaking the farm and cultivating it.

Buying his mother's and brother's interest, Mr. Lindahl became sole proprietor of the farm in 1865. In i860 he married Anna Jonasdotter, who was born in Furuby in 1826, and came to America in 1858. She is living yet, although bedridden as the result of hard pioneer work and age. They have three children; Frank Oscar, born 1863, who is renting his father's farm ; Salomon, born in 1865, who is a farmer in the neighbor- hood; and Christina, born 1867, who lives at home. All are members of the Swedish-Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Lindahl is a Republican, but the first vote he cast was for Buchanan for president. In this con-

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nection it is remarkable that at that time all the Swedes voted the Demo- cratic ticket, but since have gone over almost in a body to Republicanism.

Charles Andrews, prominent for many years in the business and public life of Chisago county, was born at Chisago Lake August 15, 1857, a son of Andrew Peter and Martha (Carlson) Anderson, both of whom were born in Sweden, the father in Ortomta and the mother in Ostra Thorsas. Coming to the United States in 1852 Andrew P. Anderson lived for one year at Galena, Illinois, and there his first wife died, leaving him with two children. Coming then to Chisago county, Minnesota, in 1853. he purchased one hundred acres of government land here, improved and developed his place in time and continued to carry on general farm- ing. In 1856 he married Martha Carlson, and of the nine children which were born of their union six are now living. During the Civil war Andrew P. Anderson served three years as a member of Company C of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and he died in 1889, at the age of seventy years, his widow surviving him until 1907 and dying at the age of seventy-three years, and both now lie buried in Fairview cemetery at Lindstrom, the cemetery being a part of the old Anderson homestead. Charles Andrews received a common school training at Lindstrom and remained on his father's farm until 1890, managing the old place and also operating a threshing machine on his own account. Moving then to Lindstrom he engaged in a general mercantile business, which he continued for nine years, while for five years he was the assessor of the township of Chisago Lake and in 1886 was elected the sheriff of the county. He remained in that office for eight years, and then after an interim of six years was again made the sheriff of Chisago county and served for another eight years, making in all sixteen years of faithful service in this capacity. In 1891 he opened a lumber business in Center City in partnership with William Carlson, and in 1907 he also purchased a lumber yard at Lindstrom from A. Earlson, and maintains a large busi- ness at both places.

.Mr. Andrews married, on December 10, 1892, Ellen C. Swanson, born near Ystad, in Sweden, in 1865, but she has been a resident of the United States since seven years of age. A son, Raymond C. Andrews, was born to them on October 19, 1893, and is now a pupil in the Lind- strom public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are members of the English Lutheran church, Mr. Andrews being the present treasurer of the church

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committee, and he is a member of the fraternal order, Modern Woodmen of America.

Nils J. Smith. — A live, energetic man, skilled in mechanical pur- suits, Nils J. Smith is actively associated with the promotion of the indus- trial interests of Lindstrom as one of the leading blacksmiths of this part of Chisago county, and is a worthy representative of the honored Swedish citizens who have, by sturdy perseverance and wise thrift, achieved suc- cess in their various lines of occupation. A son of the late Jons Nelson, he was born, August 13, 1855, in Blekinge, Sweden, where he lived until attaining his majority.

Jons Nelson spent his entire life in Sweden, learning the black- smith's trade in Blekinge, and there following it until his death, in 1875. His wife, Anna Nelson, remained in her native land until 1887, when she emigrated to the United States, locating in Whiteside county, Illinois, where she still resides. To her and her husband eight children were born, namely: Nils J., the special subject of this biographical sketch; Cary, deceased ; John August, of Port Adelaide, Australia ; Bertha, wife of John Karlstrand, a furrier in Chicago, Illinois ; Axel Harold, deceased ; Anton William; Alexius, a farmer in this county; and Axel, the second, de- ceased.

After leaving school, Nils J. Smith worked with his father in the smithy, learning the trade of a blacksmith. In 1876, with the enterprise characteristic of his countrymen, he determined to boldly venture forth in search of fortune. With this end in view, he came to the United States, and for five years thereafter worked as a farm laborer near Sterling, Illinois. Going from there to Chicago in 1881, he followed his trade for a year, and then migrated to St. Paul. Finding employment on the large farming estate of J. J. Hill, Mr. Smith was time-keeper there a year and a half, after which he continued work for Mr. Hill for ten years, being employed as a blacksmith and an engineer. Taking up his residence in Lindstrom in 1894, he opened a blacksmith's shop, which he has since operated successfully, having won an extensive and remunerative patron- age.

Mr. Smith married, April 2, 1885, Mary Dahlberg, a daughter of J. P. Magnusson, of Smaland, Sweden, and into their household four chil- dren have made their advent, namely : Anna, employed in the Swedish Hospital, in Minneapolis ; Nils, James, and Esther. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Smith are worthy members of the English Lutheran church. Po-

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Iitically Mr. Smith is quite active in the Republican party, and for three years served as a member of the village council, and for six years was clerk of the school district.

Alfred Melin. — Prominent among the foremost merchants of Chi- sago county is Alfred Melin, who is successfully engaged in the clothing business in Lindstrom, being at the head of the firm of Alfred Melin & Co. He was born, September 9, 1874, in Center City, Chisago county, Minnesota, of Swedish ancestry, being a son of John Melin.

A native of Sweden, John Melin was born, bred and educated in the province of Blekinge. Choosing the independent occupation of a farmer, he was there employed in tilling the soil for a few years, but in 1868 came to this country with the especial purpose in view of becoming a land- holder. Locating at once in Chisago county, he bought a tract of land, and began the arduous task of clearing and improving a homestead, labor- ing with a resolute will, he succeeded in his efforts, and has since been prosperously employed in general farming. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Celia Nelson, eight children have been born, namely: James E., a banker in Center City, Chisago county ; Alfred, the special sub- ject of this sketch ; Victor, engaged in agricultural pursuits in Chisago county ; Minnie, wife of W. D. Olson, of Isanti county ; Amanda, wife of Elmer Nelson, a farmer in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania ; Effie, wife of Russell Carlson, a monument dealer in Little Falls, Minnesota ; Alphine, living at home ; and Irving, also at home.

Receiving while young a practical common school education, Alfred Melin was likewise well trained in the various branches while living on the home farm. Going to Minneapolis in 1899, he was there employed in business as a grocer for two years, when, in 1901, he located in Lindstrom, where, in partnership with his brother, James E. Melin, he has since carried on a substantial clothing business under the firm name of Alfred Melin & Co., being the leading merchants in that line in this part of the county.

Mr. Melin married, December 31, 1900, Ida Engelson, daughter of S. C. Engelson, of Center City, Minnesota, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Anlella and Lester. Politically Mr. Melin is an active worker in the Republican ranks, and has served most satisfactorily as pres- ident of the \ illage Council. Religiously he is a member of the English Lutheran church, and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

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Otto Anderson, retired farmer, residing near Lindstrom, in Chisago county, Minnesota, was born October 7, 1835, at Ugnanas, in Hofmantorp parish, Smaland, Sweden, his parents being Anders and Kajsa Anderson. As he was the youngest in a family of eight children, he was named Otto, or "Atto," which, in Swedish, means eight.

The first of his family to leave his native country for America was Peter G., the oldest brother, who arrived here in 1867. Samuel, another brother, followed about thirteen years later, and, like his brother, settled in Chisago county. Both are now dead, and Otto, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor of the family.

Andreas, the father, possessed a decidedly mechanical nature, and he built and operated, a grist mill, a cloth finishing plant and a dyeing estab- lishment ; but getting old and feeble, and not having sufficient capital to continue so many industries, he abandoned all except that of dyeing.

Otto finished a short course in the parish school and became con- firmed, when he was sixteen years old ; but even at this youthful period, the conditions of the family became such as to make it necessary for him to succeed his father in the dyeing business, and he thus assumed the whole management of the plant, and continued it until he departed for America, seventeen years later.

Through his business relations in Sweden he acquired an extensive acquaintance, and by all his acquaintances and friends he was called "Otto Fargare," which meant Otto the dyer. This name followed him to Amer- ica, and is still used by his older friends.

Mr. Anderson came to the United States in 1868, arriving by boat at Taylor's Falls, with but two dollars in his pocket. His wife and the three children were left in Sweden until he could earn enough money to pay their passage, which was accomplished in less than a year.

Upon the arrival of his family in 1869, Mr. Anderson bought, on easy terms, a tract of school land. This land was six miles south of Taylor's Falls, near the St. Croix river, on the so-called "stage-road." He built a small log house thereon, which of necessity was constructed on princi- ples of stern simplicity and rigid economy. The land was heavily tim- bered, requiring many years of hard labor to clear enough to sustain a family. In the meantime Mr. Anderson was obliged to work out as a harvest hand during the summer months, the scene of his labors being near New Richmond and Hudson, Wisconsin. This was arduous work for a man unaccustomed thereto ; but the native courage, determination and per- severance, so characteristic of "Smalandingar," conquered all difficulties.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 393

Great was his triumph when enough land had been cleared to plant, between the huge stumps, six bushels of wheat, three bushels of rye, and some potatoes; but his joy was of short duration, for a cyclone, accompa- nied by hail, entirely destroyed his first crop. This was the most trying year of Mr. Anderson's existence ; but, undaunted in spirit, he worked and persevered until he recovered from the blow. After a period of prosper- ity he was able to buy more land, and finally became the proud possessor of one hundred and twenty acres, which, in its high state of cultivation and development, constituted one of the best and most productive farms in Chisago county. His labors, and those of his estimable wife, who in all the trying years had performed her full share, had at last been rewarded. Before emigrating Mr. Anderson had married, in 1859, Miss Johanna Malmberg, born October 4, 1836, in Jonkoping parish, Sweden. They have had ten children, of whom seven are living.

August J., the oldest, born in Sweden, i860, has served four years as a representative in the State Legislature, and is now a State Food In- spector. He is married to Miss Josephina J. Holm, of Taylor's Falls. They have three daughters and reside at Lindstrom.

Ida J., born in Sweden, is married to Herman Hallstrom. For many years they resided on a homestead near Seattle, Washington, and later moved to a farm in Sibley county, Minnesota.

Victor C, born in 1871, being the first born on the old homestead, in Chisago county, was for thirteen years Deputy Auditor of Chisago county, and now occupies a responsible position in the State Grain Inspection Serv- ice. He is married to Miss Miranda Swanson, a granddaughter of Anders Swenson, who was one of the first three settlers of the Chisago Lake Coun- try, and who owned the land on which the townsite of Center City is now located.

Mary E. is married to John Taylor, a Government engineer at Fort Missoula, Montana ; Josephina H. is engaged in the millinery trade in Min- neapolis, Minnesota; Clara M. is a book-keeper in Seattle, Washington; Anna resides with her parents.

In 1905 Mr. Anderson sold his farm and purchased a beautiful v. 1 " >ded tract of fifteen acres, near Lindstrom, where he and his wife will probably spend the balance of their lives.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, despite the years they are carrying, and the many hardships they have experienced, are still enjoying fairly good health and are happy in their beautiful home, surrounded as they are by all the ordinary comforts of an age of comforts. They attend regularly

394 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

the services of the Swedish Lutheran church at Center City, of which they have ever been consistent and devoted members.

Mr. Anderson has always been of a cheerful and happy disposition, kind hearted and inflexibly honest, while Mrs. Anderson is a splendid type of those sturdy pioneer women, whose persistent toil and watchful frugal- ity have constituted the most potent factors of ultimate success. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson enjoy, as they deserve to enjoy, the respect and esteem of all who know them.

Albert F. Carlson is the proprietor and operator of a busy saw mill, box factory and planing mill at Chisago City, and the owner of timber lands both in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He was born four miles north of Chisago City, March 9, 1877, and his parents are John W. and Lina S. Carlson, the former born in 1840 and the latter in 1836. They hail from Sandsjo, Smaland, John W. having come to America in 1870 and Mrs. Carlson in 1871. They had five children, of whom two daughters died in infancy, in Sweden. The others are as follows: Amanda C, at home; Edward A., book-keeper and shareholder in the Farmers' Co-operative stores in Lindstrom and Chisago City, and Albert F., of this sketch. He was educated in the district school and confirmed in the Chisago Lake Swedish Lutheran church. At eighteen years of age he bought his father's farm, which he continued to operate until 190 1, when he sold it and bought land at Kost, Chisago county, on which he built a saw mill and a box factory. This he conducted until 1907, when he bought a tract of timber land in Wisconsin, on which he also erected a saw mill and box factory, which he sold to his partner, Elmer F. Erickson, in 1909, retaining the saw mill, which he at once removed to Chisago City. Here he has built a box factory, a saw mill and a planing mill on a scale that is extensive for this part of the state, equipping his plant with all kinds of modern machinery. The business was incorporated under the laws of the state of Minnesota in 1909 by A. F. Carlson, Edward A. Carlson and O. F. Peehl, A. F. Carlson being the president and manager of the concern, Mr. Peehl, vice-president, and Edward A. Carlson, secretary and treasurer. The corporate capital is $15,000.

Mr. Carlson is, as can be gathered from the foregoing, a very indus- trious and enterprising young man. To use his own words, he has been so busy "he has had no time to get married." He still retains his one hundred and twenty acres of land at Kost and one hundred and forty acres of timber land in Polk county, Wisconsin. He also has a half interest in

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 395

a threshing machine, which is well patronized by the farmers of Chisago county. Mr. Carlson is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and sociable, as well as industrious and successful.

Peter Johan Gustafson, a widely known agent for agricultural im- plements and a skilled blacksmith and farmer, was born in Elmeboda (Brannebo), Smaland, August 10, 1865. His parents were Gustaf and Maja Lena (Peterson) Johanson. To them were born two sons, the sub- ject of this sketch and Carl Ferdinand Gustafson. The latter is a cook in Minneapolis. Peter Johan received his education in the public schools in Sweden and was confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran church at Chisago City, being among the first class of 1881. At an earlier period the children from Chisago City were confirmed in the Swedish church at Center City.

Mr. Gustafson came from Sweden to Chisago City in 1879, having been sent for by his uncle, Peter Johan Johanson, who was running a blacksmith and horse-shoeing shop, and is still living at the age of seventy- four. Under him Mr. Gustafson learned his trade, and worked for him several years, and in 1886, was taken into partnership. In 1897 he turned over the business to Mr. Gustafson and retired. While working in part- nership with his uncle and being of a commercial mind, Mr. Gustafson had commenced selling farming implements and machinery on his own ac- count, making considerable money in that line. People who know him best claim that he is the leading agent of the implement and harvesting machine companies in this region. For years he has been doing a very extensive business in that line, as well as in horse-shoeing, blacksmithing and repairing. He has by honesty and fair dealings won the unqualified confidence of the farmers in the surrounding country, and when his cus- tomers needed to buy on time, Mr. Gustafson always accommodated them, being able to hold their notes without discounting them in bank and extending them when needed.

On June 9, 1888, Mr. Gustafson married Jennie Berg, whose parents came from Ojaby, near Vexio, Sweden. She was born in old Chisago City, July 6, 1869. They have three children: Minnie Alvida, born June 2, 1889; Carl William, who was born August 9, 1891, is a graduate of Min- nesota College, now pursuing a scientific course at the Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, and expects to matriculate at the University of Minne- sota ; and John I tenry, burn May 12, 1895, who is attending school at Chi- sago City. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church of

396 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

that place, and Mr. Gustafson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He owns a fine farm of forty-three acres in old Chisago City, where he has his home.

Victor Ludwig Johnson. — One of the most prominent of the men of worth in Chisago county is found in the person of Victor Ludwig Johnson, a senator, a banker and a business man of the highest ability. Born in Chisago Lake township of Chisago county, January 9, 1871, he is a son of Sven L. and Wilhelmina (Nord) Johnson, and the father, born in Ostra Thorsas parish, Smaland, in 1835, is living now with his daugh- ter Anna in North Dakota. He came to America in 1868, while his wife came to this country with her parents from Ostergotland in 1856, and she died in 1880. Of the five children in their family Victor Ludwig was the first born ; Edward is a merchant in Montana ; George F. is the editor of the Chisago County News; Anna married M. M. Borman, of Abercrombie, North Dakota, and Hilda, who was quite small at her mother's death, was adopted by J. P. Nord and his wife, and she is now the wife of A. T. Riley, a banker at Windermere, North Dakota.

From the public schools Victor L. Johnson passed to the State Normal School at St. Cloud, where he pursued a teacher's course and afterward taught country school for eight years. He then began the study of law in the office of Peter H. Stolberg at Harris, and later pursued a full course of study in the law department of the University of Minnesota and grad- uated from that institution in 1895 with the degree of LL. B. But he had hardly time to engage in practice before he was nominated by acclamation for the office of treasurer of Chisago county, and was elected in 1896 and served for four terms without opposition either at the primaries or at the polls, being elected without a single dissenting vote. At the expiration of his fourth term he voluntarily withdrew in order to engage in the banking business. The Chisago County State Bank, of which he is the cashier, was originally organized as a private bank by James E. Melin, John C. Carlson and Victor L. Johnson, each taking a third interest, but in the year of 1906 this institution was incorporated as a state bank with a capital of twenty- five thousand dollars, Mr. Melin becoming its president and Mr. Johnson its cashier. The bank is now the largest in the county, and has deposits amounting to three hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Johnson is also a part owner of the State Bank of Scandia, Minnesota, and with others is inter- ested in Minnesota land, of which four thousand acres are timbered and

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one thousand in farm lands. In 1906 Mr. Johnson became a candidate for the office of state senator and was elected by a three to one vote, and his career in that office was characterized by the highest integrity and is well worthy of emulation.

He married in 1899 Miss Ida Tuvey, born at Taylor's Falls, Chisago county, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Tuvey, who came to this county as pioneers in 1858. Of the two children of this union the daughter died in infancy and the son, Cyril, was born October I, 1901. Mr. Johnson is a Blue Lodge Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Mod- ern Woodmen.

Henry Augustus Swenson, surveyor of Chisago county at Center City, and a civil engineer who has earned a fine reputation in railroad, har- bor and drainage work, is a splendid credit to himself, his family and his Swedish ancestry. He was born near Chisago City, July 12, 1857, his par- ents being John and Sara (Shaleen) Swenson. His father was a chorister, organist and school teacher at Ormesberga, Smaland, who came to Amer- ica and Chisago Lake in 1855 ; pre-empted a homestead in Chisago Lake township (section 30, township 34 north, range 20 west), settled down and raised a family. He died in 1883 and his wife in 1908, and they are both buried in Lindstrom cemetery. To them were born eight children, of whom four are living. One daughter and one son died in infancy ; Jennie C, wife of Frank Erlandson, died in 1879, and Emelie F., at Lind- strom in 1908, the same year as her mother. The living children are: John Alfred, born in Sweden in 1854, who is cashier of the Scandinavian- American Bank, St. Paul ; Henry A., of this sketch ; Oscar W., superin- tendent of construction with Foley Bros., Larson & Co., railroad con- tractors, and Olive Agnes, wife of George W. Martin, who is in the rail- road supply business at Duluth.

Henry A. Swenson attended the district school at Chisago City until 1873, having been confirmed in the Chisago Lake Swedish Lutheran church in the preceding year. In 1874-75, while still in his teens, he taught school in Chisago and Isanti counties. He then attended grammar school at Taylor's Falls and Carleton College (1876-1877), and during a portion of 1877-78 he was clerk in the office of the state superintendent of public instruction, David Burt.

In 1879-80, Mr. Swenson continued his scientific course at Carleton College. After leaving college he worked in the engineering department

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of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad until 1888, occupying the position of chief engineer during the last five years of that period. He then en- gaged in the real estate business at West Superior, Wisconsin, and from 1890 to 1892 was principal United States Government inspector of the harbor improvements on the Superior side of the Duluth-Superior har- bor. In 1893-95 he engaged in private engineering and surveying in Chisago and adjoining counties, and subsequently, at different times, was assistant engineer for the Great Western, Great Northern, St. Paul & Duluth and the Northern Pacific Railroads, and the St. Paul Union Depot Company. In 1903, Mr. Swenson was appointed superintendent on the drainage work then being projected in Chisago and part of Wash- ington and Isanti counties, in which position he has been serving until the present time. In 1906 he was elected surveyor of Chisago county and at the completion of his term, January 1, 1909, he declined a renomination, but his successor, Harry Colwell, having resigned, Mr. Swenson was appointed to fill the position until the next term. In connection with other duties, since 1899 he has continuously maintained an office for the general practice of general engineering and surveying. He is a member of the Civil Engineers' Society of St. Paul, of the Commercial Club of St. Paul, and of the Minnesota Historical Society — a man of broad and able professional character, and a popular and sociable gentleman.

Rev. Andrew Sjoberg. — Without thought of self, and with the spirit of the Master manifested in his labors, Rev. Andrew Sjoberg is faithfully ministering to the spiritual needs of his congregation at the Swedish Mission church of Rush City, Minnesota, where he has served as pastor for ten years. He was born, December 5, 1865, in Vermland, Sweden, where his parents, John Larson and Britta (Erickson) lived and died, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. The parental household consisted of eight children, as follows : Sophia, who married W. F. Ber- gen, an iron worker of Sweden ; John and Lars, both engaged in farming in their native land ; Lina, married Carl Johnson, an iron worker in Sweden ; Louisa, wife of E. Palmquist, of Sweden, also an iron worker ; Andrew, the special subject of this brief biography ; Anna, wife of G. Brostrom, a farmer, in Sweden; and Charles J., deceased.

Receiving his rudimentary education in the common schools, An- drew Sjoberg remained at home, assisting his father in the care of the farm until 1892. Emigrating in that year to the United States, he fol-

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lowed farming in Grant county, Minnesota, for seven months, when, having been interested in religious matters from early life, he began pre- paring himself for the ministry. Going to Minneapolis, Mr. Sjoberg studied theology in that city two years, after which he continued the study in Chicago for a year, then returned to Minneapolis, where he again studied for a year. Being then sent out in the mission field, he was in North Dakota for six months, in Iowa seven months, and at Winnipeg Junction, Minnesota, three and one-half years. For the past ten years Mr. Sjoberg has been pastor of the Swedish Missions church in Rush City, Minnesota, in 1902 being ordained as a minister, and is performing the duties connected with his positon most faithfully.

On April 15, 1902, Mr. Sjoberg married Amanda Berg, of Moor- head, Minnesota, and they have three children, namely : Herbert Ver- non, May Harriet, and Wendell Vernon. Politically Mr. Sjoberg is a Republican.

Rev. Carl A. Stenholm. — Although he has been in the ministry a comparatively short time, Rev. Carl A. Stenholm, as pastor of the Swe- dish Lutheran church at Rush City, Chisago county, is carrying on a most successful work in the building up of his congregation. He is well educated, a deep thinker, and as broad and liberal in his spirit as he is sincerely devout in his convictions. A Swede by birth and breeding, he was born, December 13, 1873, in Grongolsmala Tving, Blekinge Ian, where his parents, Sven Manson and Ellen Olson, spent their lives. His father, a farmer by occupation, died in 1875, in manhood's prime, leaving two children, namely: Carl A., the subject of this sketch; and Ida, wife of Magnus Abramson, a farmer in Lindstrom, Minnesota. The mother subsequently married for her second husband Andrew Pilquist, by whom she had two children, also, Alma and Walfried.

Coming to America in May, 1888, a lad of fourteen years, Carl A. Stenholm worked as a farm hand in Almelund, Chisago county, Min- nesota, until 1895. Having by that time a sufficient sum of money to warrant him in so doing, he entered Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, from which he was graduated in 1905. Going afterwards to Rock Island, Illinois, Mr. Stenholm was graduated from the Theological De- partment of Augustana College in 1908, and on June 14, of that year was ordained to the ministry in Chicago, Illinois. Since his ordination Mr. Stenholm has had charge of the Swedish Lutheran church in Rush

4oo SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

City, where, by his ability, his quiet persuasion, and his earnest enthu- siasm, he is improving the material as well as the spiritual welfare of those who look to him for help, comfort and advice.

On June 23, 1908, Mr. Stenholm was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Hedberg, daughter of Revisorn i Kongl. Kammar-Ratten Erland George and Hilma (Spangberg) Hedberg, of Stockholm, Sweden. Po- litically Mr. Stenholm takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, and is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

Charles A. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson & Sandberg, Rush City, Minnesota, has been identified with this place since 1899, and is classed with its worthy and substantial citizens. Mr. Johnson is a native of Sweden. He was born in Falkenberg, Halland, October 15, 1869, son of S. A. and Annie Johnson, natives of the same place. S. A. Johnson was a blacksmith. He came to the United States in 1878 and settled at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he spent three and a half years, at the end of that time returning to Sweden. He died in Sweden in 1908. His widow still lives there. Nine children comprise their family, of whom brief record is as follows: Phena, of Sweden; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; Henning, a blacksmith, of Sweden; Augusta, married and living in Brooklyn, New York; Hilma, wife of Gust Carl- son, a conductor of Falkenberg, Sweden ; Matilda, wife of Carl Treff en- berg, a railway car repairer of Sweden ; Victoria, of Sweden ; Oscar, a carpenter of Brooklyn, New York; and Fritdjof, a farmer of Missouri.

In the public schools of his native land, Charles A. received his edu- cation, and in his father's blacksmith shop he learned his trade. In 1888, he came to the United States, stopping first in New York City, where he spent one year, and then coming west to Minnesota. Here he at once found railroad work. He was employed on construction work at various places along the line, and was thus occupied until 1899, when he came to Rush City. Here he opened a blacksmith shop, with Wille Sandberg as partner, and has since conducted a prosperous business.

December 17, 1904, Mr. Johnson married Miss Anna Louisa Rolan- der, and they have three children : Raymond, Franklin, and Elsie. The family attend the Swedish Mission church. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and, politically, is a Republican.

Wille Sandberg, who is associated with Charles A. Johnson in running a blacksmith shop at Rush City, Minnesota, is one of the re-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 401

spectecl citizens of this place. A brief sketch of his life gives the follow- ing facts: Wille Sandberg was born in Smaland, Sweden, March 28, 1873, son of Carl and Louisa Sandberg. The father, a blacksmith by trade, passed his life and died in Smaland, his death occurring in 1894; the mother died there in 1906. In their family were six children, namely : John, deceased; Alfred, a blacksmith; Carl, a farmer; Amelia, wife of Jon Anderson; Johannes, a blacksmith, and Wille. All, except Wille, are residents of Sweden. Wille grew up in Sweden, receiving his edu- cation and learning his trade there. Previous to his learning the black- smith trade, he worked for some time in a spool factory. He came to the United States in 1897, went direct to Dakota, and there engaged in farm work. After spending four months in farm work, he came to Minneap- olis and turned his attention to his trade. The following summer, how- ever, he returned to Dakota, and worked there during the harvest season. In the fall he came back to Minnesota and in Rush City resumed work at his trade. Four years later he formed a partnership with Mr. John- son, which has since been successfully continued.

April 29, 1903, Mr. Sandberg married Miss Clara Malmsteen, of Grass Lake, Minnesota, who died July 2, 1905, leaving him with a little daughter, Agnes Genevieve Amelia. Politically Mr. Sandberg is a Republican. He is a member of the Swedish Mission church, and is a teacher in the Sunday School.

Swan A. Carlson. — Among the thrifty and enterprising Swedes of Chisago county Swan A. Carlson is deserving of mention, hav- ing achieved success in the business world through his own efforts, being now prosperously engaged in mercantile pursuits as a harness dealer at North Branch. A native of Sweden, he was born, September 16, 1857, in Hallen, where he spent the earlier years of his life. His parents, Carl and Mary (Anderson) Swanson, life-long farmers of Sweden, reared five children, as follows: Lena, widow of the late Carl Anderson; Amanda, wife of Fred Whitcomb, a harness dealer in Atwater, Minne- sota; Swan A., the subject of this short personal history; Inga, wife of John Moore, a farmer in South Dakota; and Emily, wife of Mr. Lund- gren, of Atwater.

Acquiring his early education in the public schools of his native countrw Swan A. Carlson obtained an excellent knowledge of agricul-

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ture while working with his father, and there followed farming until 1 88 1. Determining then to make a decided change, he emigrated to Minnesota, and for about four years was employed in tilling the soil in Atwater. Going then to Minneapolis, he was there in the employ of the C. A. Smith Leather Company for eighteen consecutive years, in the time becoming familiar with the leather business. In 1903 Mr. Carlson located at North Branch, Chisago county, and has here been exceedingly fortunate in establishing a prosperous business, being one of the leading harness dealers in this section of the state.

Mr. Carlson married, January 26, 1895, Katherine Fredeen, a native of Vermland, Sweden, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Roy Merriam, Florence, and Helen. Politically Mr. Carlson is a sound Republican, and fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Rev. Alexis Andreen. — A man of earnest convictions, talented and cultured, Rev. Alexis Andreen, of North Branch, Chisago county, is widely known as an earnest worker in religious undertakings, and as pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church is meeting with eminent success. A native of Illinois, he was born, March 28, 1875, in Mercer county, a son of Rev. A. and Hilda Andreen.

Rev. A. Andreen was born in Grenna, Jonkopings Ian, Sweden, and was there bred and educated. He subsequently taught several terms in a parochial school in his native land. Resigning his position in 1853, he came to America in that year, and subsequently studied theology at Au- gustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois. Entering then upon a minis- terial career, he held pastorates in various places in Indiana and Illinois, continuing his labors until his death, in 1880. His wife, also a native of Sweden, was born in Oskarshamn, and died in this country in 1878. Of the twelve children born of their marriage, seven are living, as follows : Rev. Dr. Gustaf, president of Augustana College, Rock Island; Mrs. Lydia Carlson, of Lindsborg, Kansas ; Mrs. Hilda Larson, of Turlock, California ; Rev. Philip Andreen, of San Francisco, California ; Mrs. Vic- toria Erickson, of Wakefield, Nebraska ; Carl, of San Francisco, em- ployed in the government service; and Alexis, the special subject of this brief biographical notice.

Entering Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1890, Alexis An- dreen was graduated from that institution with the degree of A. B. in

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 40.3

1895, after which he continued his studies at Yale University for a year, completing his seminary course at Mount Ayr, Philadelphia, in 1900. Two years later, in 1902, he was graduated from Augustana College, and the same year was ordained to the ministry. Mr. Andreen began his ministerial labors in Clinton, Iowa, remaining there until 1906, when he accepted his present position in North Branch, where his work has been blessed to the advancement of God's kingdom. During his pastorate in this vicinity, Mr. Andreen has made many warm friends, endearing himself not only to those of his congregation, but to people in general, as a man of upright principles and enlightened views, winning the good will of all with whom he comes in contact.

On .September 16, 1903, Mr. Andreen was united in marriage with Esther Monteen, and they have two children, namely : Bertil Alexis, ancf Bertha Esther. In his political affiliations, Mr. Andreen is an Inde- pendent Republican, and has served as chairman of the school board.

Rev. Andrew Hult, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Harris. Minnesota, was born in Vermland, Sweden, October 24, 1833. His parents, Sven and Maria Hult, were born, passed their lives, and died in Vermland, the father being a harness-maker. In their family were five children : Christina, deceased ; Anna, still living in Sweden ; Sven, deceased ; Louisa, also deceased, and Andrew, the subject of this sketch.

Andrew Hult was educated at Thorsby, Fryksanda socken, his edu- cation being directed with the ministry in view, and previous to his enter- ing the work of the ministry he gave ten years to school-teaching in Swe- den. Then, in 1868, he came to the United States and settled at Chicago, where, the following year, he was installed as minister in what is now Salem Congregational church on the South Side. He was pastor of that church until 1871. The next seven years he lived in Campbell, Massachu- setts, where, in addition to preaching, he was interested in literary work. He started there the publication of a Sunday School paper called Barn- vannen, the first Sunday School paper published in the Swedish language in the United States. He also published the first Sunday School song book, called "Barnvannens Lyra." Returning to Chicago in 1878, he continued t<> write for the publication mentioned. About this time he also published a primer and one "Familiestejernan," and some others. He .spent nine and a half years as pastor at New Scandia, Washington county, Minnesota, and eleven years and three months at Thread Lake,

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Wisconsin, following which, in September, 1906, he came to Harris and took up the work of his present charge.

In 1882, Mr. Hult married Miss Freda Matilda Jacobson, of Sma- land, Sweden, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Anna, wife of A. Bergene, Ph. D., of Lindsborg, Kansas ; Marie, and Gothfred Emanuel, Professor of Greek, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The son mar- ried a Miss Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Bergene have three children: Adele, Ruth, and Esther. Mr. Hult is a Republican, and a member of the Anti-Saloon League.

CHAPTER XIX. WASHINGTON COUNTY.

The Marine Settlement.— The Swedish settlement Marine is lo- cated in the northeast corner of Washington county, embracing towns 31 and 32, range 20, together with a narrow strip of land east of range 19. The northern part of town 32 was originally and exclusively settled by Swedes. They came mostly from Smaland and Dalsland, although Vestergotland, Vermland and Helsingland also have contributed their quota.

The land which is elevated about 500 feet above the level of the St. Croix river, is watered abundantly by a number of small creeks, of which Silver creek is the largest, as well as by beautiful lakes. The largest of these is Lake Vasa or Big Marine Lake, commonly called Big Lake. It extends its water four miles in length and three miles in width. West of this lake is White Rock Lake, named for a large white stone in the middle of the lake. In the northern part of the settlement is Bony Lake, which received its name after Peter Bony or Bondy (Bonde), one of the first Swedish settlers on this lake. Then there are Goose Lake, Hay Lake, Long Lake and Fish Lake. All these lakes are in town 32 or the original Swedish settlement.

The city of Marine, or Marine Mills, was founded in 1839. This neighborhood was probably the first settled in Minnesota. In 1848, when Wisconsin was admitted as a state in the Union and Minnesota organ- ized as a territory, the town of Marine held its first election.

Among the first Swedes who lived in this vicinity is mentioned a man by the name of Jacob Tornell. He lived among the Indians, with whom he traded in furs and skins. He was killed in 1847 by an Indian. The murderer was caught and tried before a jury made up of new set- tlers from Marine, Stillwater and other places on the river. He was found guilty and was hung at St. Croix Falls. At the execution almost the whole white population, about fifty persons, were present. It was

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406 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

almost expected that the Indians who were there in large numbers would try to free the prisoner, but, although four hundred warriors strong, they were quietly looking on while the murderer suffered the penalty of his misdeed.

The first Swedes to take up claims and settle here were three young men who came in 1850. One of them was Oscar Roos, who later be- came a prominent politician and business man in Chisago county, another was Charles Fernstrom, who later moved to Iowa, and the name of the third was Sandahl, who later returned to Sweden. They pre-empted land and settled at Hay Lake, but the following spring transferred their rights to Daniel Nilson who had just then arrived.

In the spring of 1851 six families arrived from Helsingland. They all intended to settle at Chisago Lake, but two of them, Daniel Nilson and Englund found the land there covered with too much heavy timber and consequently hard to clear for which reason they decided to hunt for some places better suited to their tastes. They went south and settled at Fish Lake, just north of Big Lake in town 32. The other four families remained at Chisago Lake, or Swede Lake, as it also was called, and were the first Swedes who settled in Chisago county. Daniel Nilson and Englund immediately set about building themselves log homes and already the same spring planted some corn and potatoes. The crops they gathered the following fall were the first harvested by Swedes in the Marine settlement. Of those old settlers Daniel Nilson later moved away from the settlement. Englund died and his widow married Christian Rosengren and was still living a few years ago.

With the exception of the little city of Marine, which had a few inhabitants, there were no other settlers in the surrounding country than Daniel Nilson, Englund and a German nobleman by the name of Paul Edward von Kuster, who with his family owned the place which later came into the hands of Fred Lammers, son-in-law of Daniel Nil- son. This von Kuster and his family were among the first members of the Swedish-Lutheran church which later on was organized.

In the fall of 1851 Sven Anderson arrived. He was born in Dais- land, but had left his home when young and lived in Denmark some years. In the spring of 1851 he came to America and lived some time in Illinois. WThen he heard about the new Swedish settlements in Min- nesota, he decided to come up here and settle. He bought a lot of grub and four cows which he brought with him. When he landed at Marine

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it was too late to get fodder for the cows, so he sold them to the Swed- ish settlers at Chisago Lake and Marine. These cows were the first domestic animals owned by the Swedes in these parts of the country. For the winter he secured work in Marine and part of the time in Areola. In 1852 he worked at Areola. He was then sent on horseback on some errand to Taylor's Falls. At Marine he happened to join a company of mounted soldiers who were sent out from Fort Snelling to hunt up a band of Chippewa Indians who had been in St. Paul the preceding night and committed some depredations. A couple of miles south of Taylor's Falls the soldiers overtook the depredators who, during the night, had passed the long way from St. Paul on foot. The soldiers opened fire, which was returned by the Indians who, however, were soon scattered and hid themselves in the woods, one of their number having been killed and two wounded. The following day, when Ander- son returned home he found on a small elevation near the trail the foot of an Indian mounted on a stick which was standing upright in the earth. Scattered around were different objects, such as cooking- pots, pans, etc., indicating that the Indians had had a feast there during the night.

During the years 1853, 1854 and 1855 immigrants commenced to arrive in larger numbers. In 1853 Bengt Jonson and Ake Jonson came, both from Bleking. Bengt settled at Goose Lake. The same time arrived from Helsingland Olof Olin and Ericson, who took their claims at Hay Lake. During 1853-54 Eric Carlson and Ostberg were found at Sand Lake. Carlson later removed to Cambridge, Isanti county, where he died. Ostberg returned to Sweden.

The first Swedes who settled near the St. Croix river, between Marine and Taylor's1 Falls, were Erland Peterson and Johannes Peterson from Kronoberg's Lan who came in 1854. The latter called his place Yfslycke from his old home in Sweden. Erland Peterson still lived in 1881 on the same old place where he first settled. Johannes Peterson died before that time. Among other Swedish immigrants who arrived in 1854 we note Jonas Granstrand, Anders Peter Jonson, Magnus Hol- comb, Jonas Gabrielson, Johan Svenson, Gustaf Peterson, Johannes Ha- kansun, Rosell and Carl Eklund, and others. In 1858, or thereabout, came Nils Bengtson, Salomon Holcomb, Johan Holcomb, Carl Ekdahl, Johan Magnuson, Anders Larson, Magnus Hakanson, Sven W. Johan- son, Lindgren, and others. All those mentioned settled as farmers.

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Among the older settlers from this time we note Major John Swainson, well known among the Minnesota Swedes. He later removed to St. Paul where he died a good many years ago, being rated as a good and well posted writer on subjects concerning the Swedes. He built houses and cultivated a farm in the vicinity of Tarpent Lake, in town 31, about 1854. This farm was later sold to an Englishman, Morgan May. In the city of Marine arrived and settled a mason by the name of Gustaf Carlson from Smaland. Another Swede, Axel Ljunggren, who removed to Wisconsin, is mentioned as clerk with the mercantile firm of Judd, Walker & Company about 1854. About that time, or a little later, came O. Westergren. The first houses in the city, owned by Swedes, belonged to Gustaf Carlson and O. Westergren and were built in 1856.

In 1854 there were no draft animals in either Chisago Lake or Ma- rine settlements, except a few belonging to the Marine Lumber Com- pany. In order to get the trade of the Swedish settlers this Company cleared up ways through the timbers both to Chisago Lake and in other directions. With their drafters they transported the goods which the farmers bought in their store. This work they did not do without fairly good compensation. For carrying a barrel of flour from Marine to Chisago Lake the charge was one dollar. That those greedy \mericans should well understand how to make a nice profit on goods sold the new-comers was only natural. As a fair example may be mentioned that a barrel of flour, which in Illinois could be bought for four or five dol- lars, would cost delivered to the consumer ten to fifteen dollars. A pound of pork cost twenty-five cents ; coffee, tea, sugar and other neces- saries in proportion. Our poor new-comers had to exercise thrift in the highest degree and make a virtue out of necessity. Nature, however treated them better. The woods fairly swarmed with all kinds of game, and the lakes abounded with the most delicious fish, which could be caught with the same ease winter and summer in unlimited quantities. The Indians were everywhere in the woods. There was almost in- cessant fighting going on between the Chippewas and the Sioux; the former had their abodes in Chisago county; the Sioux in Washington county. During the winters the Sioux used to take up their headquar- ters on an island in Big Lake, which is yet called Indian Island. Here they had a regular city with straight streets between the tepees. On a promontory to the north there was always kept a watch against a sur- prise from the hated enemy. During the winter the young warriors

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made a terrible slaughter of deer. One winter they killed 1,200. These Indians were always friendly to the settlers. Not one instance is on record where they molested the white people. They used to visit the cabins and trade venison for bread and other eatables, or hay for their horses. The white women and children, however, were awfully afraid of them, and no wonder, as the Indians would call when the husbands were away working in the woods. It is hard for us, who have come here later, when we see the well cultivated fields, the big herds of well-fed cattle in the pastures and the elegant and comfortable farmhouses, to form any cor- rect idea of all the hardships, sufferings and deprivations which our pioneer countrymen had to fight before they had won the prosperity and independence, of which they are so well deserving.

The first Swedish minister who visited this settlement was Rev. Gustaf Unonius, well known as the founder of the St. Ansgarius (or Jenny Lind) Church in Chicago, Illinois. He was here early, probably in 1852, and was instrumental in getting many immigrants here. He held service in Daniel Nilson's house, in which one couple was married, and two children baptized. One of those children belonged to von Kuster, mentioned before in this sketch. Rev. Unonius belonged to the Episcopal church. Another early settler was Rev. P. A. Agrelius who had been a Lutheran minister in the Swedish State Church. Here he went over to the Methodist church. He visited the settlers in their homes, holding prayer meetings and preaching before any church was yet organized.

Stillwater, the county seat of Washington county, was settled comparatively early. The first Swedish family to settle here was that of Sven P. Smith, of Jonkoping's Lan, Sweden, who arrived in 1855. He had been in Chicago since 1853, during which time four of his chil- dren died from cholera. Smith set about to build himself a small house or rather a "shack," but took sick with cholera and died before the house was ready. His wife also caught this mortal disease, but survived. During those trying and sorrowful days the sick were cared for by their fourteen-year-old daughter who was assisted by Mr. Charles Sandberg. American families brought eatables to the sick, but being afraid of the infectious disease, did not dare to enter the shanty and left their gifts outside. After her recovery Mrs. Smith kept a boarding house for many years.

John P. Larson came from Halland, in 1855. At Stillwater were

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already then three saw-mills running. Quite a number of young- un- married Swedes were working in the mills and logging. Peter Nord- lund, who later moved to Chisago Lake, came here in 1857.

In 1858 a company of about one hundred unmarried people arrived from Kronoberg's Lan, among them Anders Olson. He went to Chi- sago Lake but returned to Stillwater in 1860. John Borin came from Vexio and served in the war. Of other Swedes from Stillwater, who served their adopted country are mentioned Olof Liljegren who was promoted to a lieutenancy, and Sven Johan Johanson and Charles Hessle, who lost their lives during the campaign. A large number of Swedes, running into the thousands, have since then come to Stillwater, and it would be out of the question to enumerate them.

J. A. Johnson was born near the city of Vexio, Smaland, Sweden, April 24, 1842. In 1854 he emigrated with his parents to the United States, arriving at Marine Mills, Washington county, Minnesota, late in the fall of that year. He remained at Marine and Stillwater until 1858, attending school a large portion of the time. In the fall of that year he went to school at Dubuque, Iowa. After completing the course of study he learned the trade of a locomotive engineer, which occupation he followed until 1866, being in the employ of the United States govern- ment the last year of the war, in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. After the close of the war, in 1865, he returned north as far as St. Louis, Missouri, where he married Miss Agnes A. Coler of that city. They had five children, three boys and two girls. His health having been im- paired in the government service, he returned to Marine in 1866, where he remained until January 1, 1874. In the fall of 1873 he was' elected to the office of sheriff of Washington county, which position he held for six years and was twice re-elected without opposition. Retiring from the sheriff's office in 1880, he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and en- gaged in the sale of agricultural implements, in which business he con- tinued until his demise. During his residence in the city of Fargo he held several offices, such as alderman, member of the board of education, etc. In the fall of 1884 he was nominated for the territorial senate and received a majority of 1,133 votes in Cass county, and 835 out of a total of 1,669 in the city of Fargo. In the spring of 1885 he was elected mayor of Fargo by over 300 majority, after one of the most hotly con- tested campaigns in the political history of the city. In 1886 he declined

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a re-election. While sheriff of Washington county he devoted his leisure moments to the study of law, and was admitted to practice in all the courts of Minnesota. Although not in active practice his knowledge of law was of great value to him in the business in which he was subse- quently engaged.

John W. Jackson. — Noteworthy among the more progressive and energetic business men of Washington county, Minnesota, is John W. Jackson, who has for several years been actively identified with the ad- vancement of the mercantile growth and prosperity of Stillwater, where he is now carrying on a large and remunerative trade as proprietor of "The Pure Food Grocery," being located at No. 116 South Second street. A native of Smaland, Sweden, he was born, September 18, 1877, son of August and Christina Maria Jackson, who still reside in their native land.

WThen he had completed his school life, at the age of twelve years, John W. Jackson began work in a grocery store, and continued thus em- ployed for three years. When fifteen years old, he bade adieu to parents and friends, and immigrated to the United States, coming directly to Stillwater, where he had acquaintances. He began life here by rafting logs on the St. Croix river summers, and during the winter seasons being engaged in the northern woods. In 1898 he entered the employ of Paul Beauvais & Co., and for five years delivered groceries for that firm. On June 19, 1903, having saved two hundred dollars ($200) by means of persistent industry and wise thrift, Mr. Jackson formed a co-partnership with Walter Johnson, and for three years carried on a grocery business as junior member of the firm of Johnson & Jackson. Selling his interest then to his partner, Mr. Jackson, September 12, 1906, purchased the grocery stock of J. E. Poirer & Co., and carried on business at the old stand of the firm he bought out until November 1, 1907. His trade then demanding more spacious quarters, Mr. Jackson removed to his present location, where he is conducting the "Pure Food Grocery" with unques- tionable success, being one of the most progressive and popular grocers in the vicinity, employing five clerks.

On April 19, 1898, Mr. Jackson married Hildur Vesall, and they have six children, namely: Marvin August Hamilton; Verlie Thelma Marie ; David Wilhelm Dwight ; Hollis Clarence Theophil ; Grace Hildnr Linnea, and Myrl Amanda Victoria. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Odd Fellows, United Foresters, Equitable Fraternal Union and Vasa,

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and also a trustee and treasurer of the Swedish Lutheran church of Still- water, one of the largest congregations in the city, and he is financial secretary of the Swedish Order Vasa. Mr. Jackson left December 5, 1909, for a three months' visit to his old home in Sweden.

David Linker was born in Linnaryd socken, Kronbergs Ian, Swe- den, October 28, 1857, a son of Gustof and Johanna (Johnson) Carlson. Gustof Carlson, a farmer, as well as carpenter and builder, lived and died in Sweden, and his widow is still living there. In their family were chil- dren, as follows: Carl Johan, living on the old homestead in Sweden; Ida, who married Frans Green, a shoemaker in Sweden ; Frank, a con- tractor and builder of Stillwater ; David, here mentioned ; Alex, of Colo- rado, deceased ; John, a carpenter in Minneapolis ; Joel, who died in Still- water; Otto, who died in infancy.

After obtaining his education in Sweden, David Linner came to America in 1880, and located in Stillwater. He first secured employment as a carpenter for the Minnesota Thresher Company, and soon afterward entered the employ of the North West Thresher Company, with which he has ever since been associated, for the past twelve years as foreman of their separator erecting shop.

He married, on September 17, 1881, Miss Gustafa Carlson, a daugh- ter of Carl Johanson, a farmer in Langasjo socken, Kronberg's Ian, Swe- den, and they have had four children, as follows : Claus Willmar Leon- ard, a machinist of St. Paul ; Ernot Herman Julius, a machinist of St. Paul ; Elna Malvina Elillian ; and Florence, who died in infancy. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Linner is a Republican, and his fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America.

Frank W. Linner. — A fine representative of the successful busi- ness men of Washington county, Minnesota, Frank W. Linner has for many years been prominently identified with the industrial prosperity of Stillwater, where, under the firm name of Frank Linner & Co., he is carrying on a general contracting and building business, one of the lar- gest of the kind in this part of the state. He was born, September 4, 1854, in Linnaryd socken, Kronbergs Ian, Sweden, being a son of Gustof and Johanna (Johnson) Carlson. Gustof Carlson, a farmer as well as car- penter and builder, lived and died in Sweden, and his widow is still living there. In their family were the following children : Carl Johan, living on

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the old homestead in Sweden ; Ida, who married Frans Green, of Sweden ; Frank, the subject of this article; David, a foreman at the North West Thresher Company; Alex and Joel, deceased; and John, a carpenter in Minneapolis.

After completing his studies in the public schools of his native land, Frank W. Linner served an apprenticeship at the trades of a carpenter and wagon maker, becoming proficient in both. In 1879, becoming en- thused at the wonderful descriptions given of life in America, he emi- grated to this country, arriving June 5, and making his way across the country to Stillwater, his point of destination. Entering the employ of the Minnesota Thresher Company, he continued with that firm as a car- penter for three years, the following seven years working for a large contractor. He subsequently worked as a wagon maker for two years, and from 1891 until 1897 was employed by Sven Berglund. Having during all of those years acquired valuable experience, and an excellent knowledge of business methods as conducted in the United States, Mr. Linner embarked in business on his own account in 1897, in partnership with John Granquist and Charles Larson, under the firm name of Frank Linner & Co., starting a general contracting and building business. This enterprising firm met with success from the very first, and still continues its operations, each year adding to the number and magnitude of its con- tracts, which are many and important.

Mr. Linner married, November 29, 1879, Augusta C. Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, a native of Sweden, and into the household thus established six children have been born, namely : Anna E., who for six years prior to her marriage taught school, is the wife of D. H. John- son, a Chicago artist ; Alice O., employed as a clerk in St. Paul ; Jennie W., a public school teacher; Frances Esther, a reviser at the West Publishing Company, in St. Paul; Elmer Edwin, attending school; Law- rence Washington, also in school. Politically Mr. Linner is an active supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and during the years of 1904, 1905, and 1906 was a member of the City Council. Religiously he is a consistent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America ; of the Knights of Pythias ; and of the United Order of Forest- ers. Mr. Linner is a self-made man in every sense implied by the term, and has had a busy and successful career, having set forth with a pur- pose in life, and never resting until he had accomplished it.

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Charles C. Peterson*. — During many years Charles C. Peterson has been identified with the mercantile interests of Stillwater, and he is now at the head of the firm of Peterson & Company, proprietors of one of the largest mercantile establishments in the city. He was born in Sjobylund, Westmanland, Sweden, January I, 1868, a son of Peter An- derson and Brigeta Christina Olson, also from that country. During many years the father was employed as a caretaker of machinery at the mines, but later in life, purchasing a tract of land, followed agricultural purusits for four or five years. Coming to America with his family in 1883, he located at Crookston, Minnesota, and continued as a railroad employe until his retirement from active work in the year 1908, still maintaining his home in Crookston. He was the father of the following six children : Robert P., engaged in mining at Dawson City in the Yukon territory ; Louis E., section foreman on the "Soo" Railroad at Hazel, Min- nesota ; Charles C, mentioned below ; William, engaged in mining at Susitna river, Alaska ; Mary, who married Henry Peterson, of Crookston ; and Lillian E., a stenographer at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

Charles C. Peterson received his educational training in the com- mon schools of his native land of Sweden, and coming to America with his parents, he worked for a year on a farm. He next secured employ- ment as a clerk in Crookston, and later at Warren, Minnesota, and from there came to Stillwater in 1888 and secured employment in a dry goods store. After ten years there he, with two partners, Elie Papineau and Mrs. M. Watier, entered the dry goods business in this city. This was in the year 1898, and after a time he bought the interests of his partners and has since been at the head of Peterson & Company, a well known firm in Stillwater. He is a self-made man, winning his success entirely through his own efforts, and he now devotes his time exclusively to the business which he has built. In politics a Democrat, he was at one time its prominent candidate for the State Legislature, and later was a member of its ticket for the office of alderman. Although defeated at the polls for that office, he made a splendid run and reduced the normal Republican majority of two hundred in his ward to twenty-two, thus giving evidence of the esteem in which he is held. He is an orator of note, and his serv- ices as a speaker are always in demand during political campaigns and at the meetings of the clubs and societies which he attends. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the M. B. A., the D. of H. and the Yasa Society, and has filled all of

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the M. B. A., the D. of H. and the Vasa Society, and has filled all of their offices. He is also a consistent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he has been secretary of the board of trustees for many years, and during six years served as a director of the chorus.

Mr. Peterson married, October 22., 1889, Miss Charlotte, a daughter of N. P. Swanson, a farmer near Stillwater. Their three children are C. Arthur, Evangeline E., and Roy W., all at home with their parents.

John Ogren. — Throughout Washington county the name of Ogren is synonymous with thrift, enterprise, and prosperity, John Ogren, the special subject of this brief biographical sketch, having been a resident of Stillwater for thirty years, during which time he has, by intelligent industry, good management, and wise investments, accumulated a for- tune. A man of high moral principles, excellent ability, clear-headed and far-sighted, he has been in truth the architect of his own fortunes. Be- ginning life even with the world as regarded his finances, he worked steadily, saved his earnings, made judicious investments, and soon found prosperity smiling on his every effort, bringing him well merited success in all of his undertakings, and placing him among the leading men of the city.

A native of Sweden, he was born, July 10, i860, in Vexio, Smaland, a son of Gustaf and Kate (Danielson) Ogren, life-long residents of Swe- den, being engaged there in agricultural pursuits. The parental house- hold consisted of nine children, as follows : Christine, died in infancy ; Johanna, died at the age of twenty-one years ; Mattie Christine, died in Center City, Minnesota, at the age of thirty-six years ; Svan Johann, en- gaged in farming in South Dakota ; Carl, died in infancy ; Carl August, of South Dakota, a farmer ; John, the special subject of this biography ; Anna Matilda, died in 1890; and Carolina, wife of John Gagnelius, en- gaged in the grocery business in Monmouth, Illinois. The parents were faithful members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and reared their children in the same religious belief.

At the age of nineteen years, having received a practical education in the public schools of Sweden, John Ogren came to America in search of fame and fortune. Locating in Stillwater, Minnesota, he began his career in the new country as a lumber jack, working on the river and in the woods. Ere long, his confidence in his powers increasing with his knowledge of the business, he began lumbering and contracting on his own account, meeting with almost phenomenal success from his first

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venture, and continued actively until 1907, when he retired from active pursuits, his private interests demanding his entire time and attention. Mr. Ogren has important interests both in and out of the state, owning timber lands of value in the state of Washington and in British Colum- bia ; having mining interests, with John G. Nelson, in Montana ; being in- terested in a packing plant in Wrinona, Minnesota; and, also, in a shoe factory in Stillwater.

On September 10, 1887, Mr. Ogren was united in marriage with Carrie Agnes Erickson, daughter of Ole Erickson, and to them seven children have been born, namely: Yernie G. O., Hilda Olivia, Ruth K. P., John Russell, Melvin Leroy, Elenora Jeanette, and Myrna Christena. In his political affiliations, Mr. Ogren is a stanch Republican, and reli- giously, true to the faith of his forefathers, he is a member of the Swe- dish Lutheran church, in which he is a deacon. He is also a member of the School Board, and a director and member of the board on the Beth- esda Hospital of the Minnesota Conference.

August Booren. — Noteworthy not only for the part he has con- tributed towards the promotion of the mercantile prosperity of Stillwater, but for the excellent service he rendered his constituents in the State Leg- islature, and as county treasurer, August Booren is especially deserving of more than passing mention in a work of this character. His faithful- ness in all his duties, his integrity and his good sense and judgment in all matters of business have caused him to be highly respected, not only in Stillwater, his home, but throughout this section of Washington county. A native of Sweden, he was born, March 6, 1850, near Vexio, Smaland, a son of Peter Pehrson and his wife, Sara Nelson, life-long farmers in Sweden. He was one of a family of thirteen children, namely : Anna, died in infancy ; Anna Kathrina, widow of John Johnson, of Sweden ; John, living in Stillwater, Minnesota; Peter Magnus, deceased; Johannes, deceased ; Gustaf, of Stillwater ; Carl, died in Sweden ; Andreas, also died in Sweden ; August, the subject of this sketch ; Louisa the first and Louisa the second, both died in infancy ; Andreas the second and David, likewise died in early life. The parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church and reared their children in its faith.

August Booren attended the public schools of Sweden until sixteen years old, when he bade good-bye to his friends and home and came to Minnesota. The following winter he continued his studies in the schools of Red Wing, this state, and then located in Stillwater, where for three

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years he worked as a laborer, either on river or lake, or in the woods, accepting any honorable employment. Embarking then in the hotel busi- ness in this city, he served as "mine host" for a period of fourteen years. Forming then a partnership with John Deagnelius, he was for two years at the head of the firm of Booren & Deagnelius, clothiers. The ensuing four years, as senior member of the firm of Booren & Lammers, he car- ried on a successful wholesale and retail cigar business. In 1891 and 1893 Mr. Booren represented his district in the state legislature, after which he served three terms, or six years, as county treasurer. At the expiration of his third term in this position Mr. Booren again entered the clothing business, forming a partnership with John Anderson, with whom he was associated under the firm name of Booren & Anderson, until 1908, when he sold out his interest in the business.

Mr. Booren married, March 27, 1873, Karen Adolfina Wigren, and to them eight children have been born, namely: Albert, died in infancy; Winnie, living at home ; Victor, died in infancy ; George, a dentist at Thief River Fails, Minnesota, married Linda Robbecke ; Clifton, studying medi- cine at the University of Minnesota ; Walter, died in childhood ; Harry, engaged in the insurance business in Stillwater; and Olive, attending school. Politically Mr. Booren is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Religiously he belongs to the Swedish Lutheran church. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

John Booren, brother of August Booren, was born in Sweden, Octo- ber 19, 1837, and in 1858, ere attaining his majority, came to this country to live. He settled first in Stillwater, Minnesota, from there going to Louisiana, where he spent several months before the Civil war and during the early part of the conflict. Returning to Stillwater, he enlisted, August 13, 1862, in Company C, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and in addition to serving against the Indians, on the frontier, for two years, participated in the battle of Murfreesboro, and was at the front in various skirmishes of minor importance. At the close of the war he again took up his residence in Stillwater, and has since been variously employed, having been not only hardware merchant, hotel keeper and lumberman, but for four years, under the administration of President Hayes, was postmaster. He is now proprietor of a good boarding house, which he is managing most successfully.

John Booren has been twice married. He married first Carrie Smith, who bore him two children, namely : Carl Edward, deceased ; and

27

418 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Clarence, living at home. He married second Sarah L. Johnson, and of this union five children have been born, namely : Josephine, wife of Gust Johnson, of Stock Center, Minnesota ; Meda ; Herbert ; John ; and Olive, deceased. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and religiously he is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. Socially he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.

James Benson, who for many years has been connected with the Northwest Thresher Company, was born in Christianstads Ian, Ousby, southern Sweden, October 23, 1850, a son of Bengt Swenson and Bengta Johnsdotter, who were also from southern Sweden, the father born in 1822 and the mother in 1825. Bengt Swenson for many years supple- mented his agricultural labors with the operation of a saw mill and thresh- ing machine, and he spent his entire life in Sweden. He is survived by his widow, who resides in the land of her birth. They were the parents of eleven children, namely : Anders, who died at sea while serving with the navy, being but twenty-seven years of age at the time of his death ; next Swan, who died in Paris at the age of twenty-eight years ; Nels, who died in the army, aged twenty-six ; James, mentioned below ; Elsa, who married Nels Feline, a carpenter at Willmar, Minnesota; Olof, who died at the age of three ; Hannah, the wife of Henry Herru, of Minneapolis ; Olof, who died in infancy ; August, a farmer in Sweden ; Olof, of Helena, Montana ; and Tilda, who died at the age of seventeen. The family were members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

After the completion of his educational training in his native land James Benson first took up agricultural pursuits and then mechanical work, and continued along that line until reaching his twenty-ninth year. He then made the voyage to America, and locating at Stillwater entered the employ of the Minnesota Thresher Company, and has ever since • remained with that company and its successor, while during the past twenty-two years he has been the foreman of their wood department. In 1905 he returned to his native land of Sweden for a visit, and this was the first vacation he had ever taken during the many years of his connec- tion with the corporation.

On the 19th of August, 1881, Mr. Benson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Charlotte, a daughter of Johannes Peterson, of Skruf, Sweden, and their three children are : John, who died when but eleven years of age; Oscar Bernhardt, who died at the age of thirteen; and Anna, at home with her father. Mrs. Benson died on the 22d of March, 1900.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 419

Mr. Benson is a prominent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which for nineteen years he has served as a trustee. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen of America.

Andrew John Holm, the treasurer and office manager for the North- west Thresher Company at Stillwater, was born near Vexio, Sweden, August 15, 1857. His father, John Holm, was a farmer in Sweden for some years, but leaving there in the spring of 1865, he arrived in Still- water on the 28th of August of the same year. He located on a farm northwest of Marine, about fifteen miles from Stillwater, and spent the remainder of his life in tilling and cultivating its fields. His death occurred in the year of 1896, and that of his wife in 1895. Their issue was as follows : Martha, deceased ; Peter, who is farming the old home- stead ; Christine, who married Hans Leander, now a retired farmer living at Center City ; Mary, the wife of John Lund, of Marine ; Gustaf, de- ceased ; Matilda, who married Fred Magny, deceased, and she is living on the old homestead with a daughter, Ruby ; and Andrew J. The parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

A lad of eight years when he came with his parents to the United States, Andrew J. Holm was educated in the country schools and this training was supplemented with one year's attendance in the schools of Stillwater and a course in Carleton College at Northfield. He earned his own way through school by teaching and other work, following the pro- fession of teaching for five years. After the completion of his education he returned to Stillwater and worked in the county auditor's office for two years. During the succeeding four years, or until 1887, he was an employe in the office of a lumber company, and at the close of that period he became associated with E. S. Brown, receiver for the Northwestern Manufacturing & Car Company, and continued in the employ of its suc- cessors. Starting as a bookkeeper and cashier, he has worked his way upward to the responsible position of treasurer and office manager for the Northwest Thresher Company.

Mr. Holm married, on the 3d of October, 1883, Miss Hannah Char- lotte Copas, a daughter of John Copas, of Scandia, and their three chil- dren are : John D., Eva Caroline and Sara. The son is pursuing post- graduate work at Yale, and the elder daughter is attending the University of Minnesota. Sara the younger is a junior in the Stillwater high school. Mr. Holm is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he has

42o SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

held some office almost continually and takes an active part in its work. He is a Republican in politics and during the past twelve years has served as a member of the board of education of Stillwater, having been secre- tary all that time, and has been reelected for another term of four years. He is a member of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias.

Oscar N. Brodeen, a well known business man of Stillwater, was born in Smaland, Sweden, November 9, 1868, a son of Gustof Cickrcson and his wife Hilda, farming people of Smaland, where they spent their lives, their issue being as follows : Louisa, who married John Isaacson,

of Sweden ; Christena, who married John ; Emma ; Anna, who

died at the age of twenty-two years ; Carl Oscar, of Canada, whose daughter, Alma, is teaching school at Minot, North Dakota ; Jonas ; Johann Gustof, an educator and a newspaper man ; Elif, of Stillwater ; and Oscar N. The parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

Oscar N. Brodeen was but a lad of ten years when he left school to begin the battle of life for himself, and until twenty-one he worked at various kinds of labor in the land of his birth. Coming then to America he located at Stillwater, Minnesota, and for seven years worked on the lake and river and in the woods logging and lumbering. Following the close of that period he was a clerk in a clothing store until 1896, and in that year and in association with Peter Mattson he established the firm of Brodeen and Mattson, dealers in gentlemen's furnishing goods and one of the well known commercial establishments of Stillwater.

Mr. Brodeen married on June 15, 1889, Miss Selma Erickson, a daughter of Ole Erickson of Big Lake, Scandia. Their three children are Rouno, Vivian and Elpha. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Brodeen is independent in his political affiliations, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters.

John Alfred Anderson, a licensed engineer and the master mechanic and foreman of the machine shops and chief engineer for the North- west Thresher Company, was born in Schalebohl, Ereckstad socken, Dahlsland, Sweden, February 26, 1858, a son of Andrew Johnson and B. Christina Anderson. Andrew Johnson was a merchant while in Sweden, but after coming to America in 1884 he entered the employ of

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 421

the Minnesota Thresher Company, while later for some years he was in the employ of Isaac Staples, and he is now connected with the North- west Thresher Company. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. He is the father of five children, as follows : John Alfred ; Eric Taylor, of Stillwater ; Anna Elizabeth, deceased; May, also deceased; and Alfreda, who married Charles Olson, of St. Paul.

John A. Anderson after attending the schools of Guttenberg at the age of fifteen began working in a blacksmith shop and later was con- nected with an engine. And in that same year of 1873 he went to Christiania, Norway, and learned the trade of engineering, and in 1879 he went from there on a whale fishing trip as an engineer. In 1880 he came to America 'and located near La Crosse, in Hudson county, Minne- sota, where he attended school for one winter, and in the following year of 1881 came to Stillwater and entered as an employe the machine shops of the Northwest Thresher Company. Severing his connection with that company in 1890 he spent two years in Duluth as a chief engi- neer, and returning to this city in 1897 he again became connected with the Minnesota Thresher Company, now known as the Northwest Com- pany, and is master mechanic, foreman of the machine shops and chief engineer. He was made a licensed engineer in 1884.

Mr. Anderson married, on June 27, 1881, in St. Paul, Miss Andrina Hanson, a daughter of Hans Peterson, of Christiania, Norway, and they have ten children : Hilda May, Jennie, Alfred W., Agnes, Dagmar, Nellie, Stanley, Conrad, Florence and Gordon. The family are mem- bers of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which Mr. Anderson has held all of the offices, and takes an active part in the work of his church. His politics are Republican.

Carl E. Berglund and Carl E. Peterson. — Prominent among the rising young business men of Stillwater, Minnesota, are Carl E. Berg- lund and Carl E. Peterson, who, under the firm name of Berglund & Peterson, are carrying on a substantial and lucrative business as general merchants, and are numbered among the capable and intelligent men who are contributing so much towards making this city desirable as a place of residence, both from a social and from a financial point of view. Beginning operations on a modest basis, these enterprising gentlemen have gradually increased their business, and when their trade demanded more commodious quarters moved to their present establishment at No.

422 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

807 North Fourth street, where they have a complete stock of groceries, hardware and general merchandise, in their efforts to please their numer- ous customers keeping an assortment of goods seldom found in a store of this kind.

Carl E. Berglund was, born, December 1, 1873, in Sweden, a son of Nicholas and Eva (Larson) Berglund, who came to America in 1881, locating in Washington county, where the father bought land, and, in connection with farming, worked at his trade of a blacksmith for many years. After leaving the public schools, Mr. Berglund was graduated, in 1898, from the Northwestern Business College, after which he was engaged for five years as clerk in a grocery, working first for August WTennerberg and later for A. E. Edholm. When ready to establish himself in business on his own account, in November, 1903, he formed a partnership with Carl E. Peterson, as above mentioned, and the firm of Berglund & Peterson has since been one of the leading firms of the kind in this part of the city.

On June 20, 1900, Mr. Berglund married Gertrude Wickstrom, daughter of John and Margaret W'ickstrom, who emigrated to Minne- sota from Sweden a few years ago, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Eva, born August 17, 1902; and Arnold, born Decern-' ber 29, 1903. Politically Mr. Berglund is a Republican, and religiously he attends the Swedish Mission church.

Carl E. Peterson, junior member of the firm of Berglund & Peterson, was born February 10, 1878, in Sweden, and when but three years old came with his parents, John A. and Emma Peterson, to Stillwater, Min- nesota, where his father is now engaged in mill work. Receiving a prac- tical education in the public schools of this city, Mr. Peterson began life for himself as clerk in a grocery store, during the year that he was thus employed obtaining an excellent knowledge of the business, and an ex- perience in business that has been of inestimable value to him. In 1903, in company with Carl E. Berglund, he started in business for himself as junior member of the present firm of Berglund & Peterson, and has met with excellent success as a general merchant, in the few years that have since elapsed winning a fine reputation as a good business man, and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen.

Mr. Peterson married Stella Lizotte, who was born in this country, of English ancestry, being a daughter of Joseph Lizotte, for many years a shoemaker in Stillwater, and they have one child. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Peterson is a Republican, and in religion he is a Swedish Luther-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 423

an. Fraternally he belongs to the United Order of Foresters, to the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and to the Equitable Fraternal Union.

Charles O. Linquist has attained prominence in the business circles of Stillwater and vicinity as the manager of the Bluff City Lumber Com- pany, one of the leading corporations of its kind here. He was born in Smaland, Sweden, February 24, 1865, a son of Johann Johnson and Anna Cecelia, who were also born at that place. Johann Johnson, a farmer, lived and died in Sweden, passing away in 1873, and his wife died in the year 1869. They were members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and they were the parents of three children: Frank August, a stone mason at Taylor's Falls, Minnesota ; Elif William, of St. Paul ; and Charles O.

Charles O. Linquist came to America in the year of 1884, and after continuing for a short time his educational training in the schools of this country he located at Taylor's Falls and obtained work on a farm. Later for one year he was employed in a brick yard, and from that time until 1905 worked for J. S. Anderson and his successor, the East Side Lumber Company. At the close of that period and in association with Robert E. Skith, he engaged in business for himself under the name of the Bluff City Lumber Company, dealers in all kinds of building material, wood, coal, etc., and the business is managed by Mr. Linquist.

On the 5th of May, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Samdahl, a daughter of Gustof Samdahl, of Stillwater, and their three children are Elda Oscar, Myrna Helena and Reuben. Mr. Linquist is a member of and a trustee in the Swedish Lutheran church ; also a member the fraternal orders of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Vasa. In politics he is a Republican.

CHAPTER XX. GOODHUE COUNTY.

The part of Minnesota, which next after Chisago and Washington counties and St. Paul was settled1 by Swedes, was Goodhue county, or rather the north and northwestern parts of this county. The south and southwest parts are settled by Norwegians. The Scandinavian popu- lation of this county is by far in the majority.

Goodhue county is situated at the upper end of Lake Pepin and along the Mississippi river from a point a little above Lake City to about midway between the cities of Red Wing and Hastings. Its western limits are thirty-six miles from its eastern, and its greatest length from south to north is also thirty-six miles, but the county forms no square on the map. It comprises twenty-four townships, with an area of 764 square miles. There are no lakes but a number of rivers and creeks. Besides the Mississippi there are the Vermillion, Cannon and1 Little Cannon, the two branches of the Zumbro river, Prairie creek, Spring, Hay and Wells creeks. The county is a natural prairie, though generally undulating and uneven. Along the waters it is well wooded, enough for local use, and even-where one sees small groves, especially around the farmhouses. The soil is fertile as a rule, since a more rational mode of cultivation has been adopted.

The First Swedish Settlement. — In September, 1853, Colonel Hans Mattson, with a little company of Swedish immigrants, came up to Minnesota from Moline, Illinois, to hunt up a place for a Swedish settlement where land could be obtained cheaply. Minnesota was then a territory but little known, but our immigrants had heard of its beauti- ful lakes, forests, prairies and salubrious climate. Mattson being the only one of the party who could speak English, was naturally appointed its leader. His father also went with them and so did Mattson's brother- in-law, S. J. Willard, and his wife, the whole party taking deck passage

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SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 425

on a Mississippi steamer, and arriving at St. Paul in the month of

September.

In his "Story of an Emigrant" Mattson gives a vivid' description of the founding of the Swedish settlement, Yasa, and with the kind per- mission of his relatives we will reproduce it here as being both reliable and interesting:

"At that time St. Paul was an insignificant town of a few hundred inhabitants. There we found Henry Russell, John Tidlund, and a few other Swedish pioneers. Mr. Willard and I had very little money, and for the few dollars which we did own we bought a little household fur- niture and some cooking utensils. We therefore at once sought employ- ment for him, while the rest of our party started off in search of a suitable location for the proposed settlement.

"We had been told that there were a number of our countrymen at Chisago Lake and a few near Carver, but that all had settled on tim- ber lands. We also learned that near Red Wing, in Goodhue county, places could be found with both timber and prairie, and an abundance of good water. Having looked over the different localities we finally decided on the present town of Vasa, about twelve miles west of Red Wing. The first claims were taken at Belle creek, south of White Rock, and afterwards others were taken at a spring known as Willard Spring, near which the large brick church now stands.

"After selecting this land my father returned to Illinois. In com- pany with the other explorers, I went to St. Paul, where a council was held in which all participated, and at which it was decided that three of us, Messrs Carl Roos, A. G. Kempe, and myself, should go to our claims that fall and do as much work as possible, until the others could join us the following spring.

"Having made the necessary preparations we three went to Red Wing by steamboat and found a little town with half a dozen families, among whom was the Rev. J. W. Hancock, who for several years had been a missionary among the Indians. The other settlers were Wm. Freeborn, Dr. Sweeney, H. L. Bevans, and John Day. Besides these we also met two Swedes, Peter Green (whose Swedish name was Sjo- gren), and Nils Nilson, and a Norwegian by the name of Peterson. On the bank of the river the Sioux Indians had a large camp. The country west of Red Wing was then practically a wilderness, and our

426 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

little party was the first to start in to cultivate the soil and make a permanent settlement.

"At Red Wing we supplied ourselves with a tent, a cook stove, a yoke of oxen, carpenter's tools, provisions and other necessaries. Having hired a team of horses, we then packed our goods in a wagon, tied the cattle behind, and started for the new settlement. The first four miles we followed the territorial road ; after that we had nothing but Indian trails to guide us. Toward evening we arrived at a grove on Belle Creek, now known as Jemtland. Here the tent was pitched and our evening meal cooked, and only pioneers like ourselves can understand how we relished it after our long day's tramp. The team was taken back the next day, and we were left alone in the wilderness.

"After a day's exploration we moved our camp two miles further south, to another point near Belle Creek, where Mr. Roos had taken his claim.

"It was now late in September, and our first care was to secure enough hay for the cattle, and in a few days we had a big stack. Having read about prairie fires, we decided to protect our stack by burning away the short stubble around it. But a minute and a half was suffi- cient to convince us that we had made wrong calculations, for within that time the stack itself was burning Avith such fury that all the water in Belle Creek could not have put it out. Still, this was not the worst of it. Before we had time to recover from our astonishment the fire had spread over the best part of the valley* and consumed all the remain- ing grass, which was pretty dry at that time of the year. Inexperienced as we were, we commenced to run a race with the wind, and tried to stop the fire before reaching another fine patch of grass about a mile to the north; but this attempt was, of course, a complete failure, and we returned to our cheerless tent mourning over this serious misfortune.

"The next morning we all started out in different directions to see if any grass was left in Goodhue county, and fortunately we found plenty of it near our first camping ground. Having put up a second stack of very poor hay, we proceeded to build a rude log house, and had just finished it when my brother-in-law, Mr. Willard, surprised us by appearing in our midst, having left in Red Wing his wife and baby, now Mrs. Zelma Christensen of Rush City, who is, as far as I know, the first child born of Swedish parents in St. Paul. Mr. Willard, who was a scholarly gentleman and not accustomed to manual labor, had

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 427

found it rather hard to work with shovel and pick on the hilly streets of St. Paul, and made up his mind that he would better do that kind of work on a farm. Messrs. Roos and Kempe having furnished all the money for the outfit, I really had no share in it, and as we could not expect Mr. Willard and his family to pass the winter in that cabin, I immediately made up my mind to return with him to Red Wing. In an hour we were ready, and without waiting for dinner we took the trail back to that place. I remember distinctly how, near the head of the Spring Creek Valley, we sat down in a little grove to rest and meditate on the future. We were both very hungry, especially Mr. Willard, who had now walked over twenty miles since breakfast. Then espying a tempt- ing squirrel in a tree close by, we tried to kill it with sticks and rocks; but we were poor marksmen, and thus missed a fine squirrel roast.

"Tired and very hungry we reached Red Wing late in the after- noon, and soon found my sister, Mrs. Willard, comfortably housed with one of the families there. Her cheerful and hopeful nature and the beautiful baby on her arm gave us fresh joy and strength to battle with the hardships that were in store for us. Mr. Willard and his wife had taken along what furniture they owned, a few eatables and five dollars and fifty cents in cash, which was all that we possessed of the goods of this world. But who cares for money at that age? Mr. Willard was twenty-five years old, my sister twenty-three, and I twenty, all hale and hearty, and never for a moment doubting our success, no matter what we should undertake.

"Our first work was wood chopping, for which we were less fit than almost anything else. We had to go to a place about three miles above Red Wing, where a man had made a contract to bank up fifteen hundred cords of wood for the Mississippi steamers. There was an old wood chopper's cabin which we repaired by thatching it with hay and earth, putting in a door, a small window, and a few rough planks for a floor. In a few days we were duly installed, baby and all, 1 in the little hut which was only twelve by sixteen feet, but to us as dear as a palace to a king.

"We began to chop wood at once. The trees were tall, soft maples and ash. and our pay was fifty-five cents a cord for soft and sixty-five cents for hard wood. At first both of us could not chop over a cord a day together; but within a week we could chop a cord apiece, and be- fore the winter was over we often chopped three cords together in a

428 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

day. After a few days we were joined by four Norwegian wood chop- pers for whom we put up a new cabin to sleep in ; but my sister cooked for us all, and the others paid for their board to Mr. Willard and myself, who had all things in common. Those four men were better workmen than we, and one of them, Albert Olson, often chopped three cords a day. They were quiet, industrious, and generous fellows, so that we soon became attached to each other, and we were all very fond of the little Zelma. My sister managed our household affairs so well and kept the little house so neat and tidy that when spring came we were all loth to leave.

The weather being fine and the sleighing good in the beginning of January, we hired John Day to take us with his team to our claims while there was yet snow, so that we might chop and haul out logs for the house which Mr. Willard and I intended to put up in the spring. My sister remained in the cabin, but Albert went with us for the sake of company. We put some lumber on the sled', and provided ourselves with hay and food enough to last a few days, and plenty of quilts and blankets for our bedding. John Day, who was an old frontiersman with an instinct almost like that of an Indian, guided us safely to Willard Spring. A few hundred yards below this, in a deep ravine, we stopped near some sheltering trees, built a roaring camp fire, and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. Having supped and smoked our evening pipe, we made our beds by putting a few board's on the snow and the hay and blankets on top of those. Then all four of us nestled down under the blankets and went to sleep.

During the night the thermometer fell down to forty degrees below zero, as we learned afterwards. If we had suspected this and kept our fire burning there would, of course, have been no danger. But being very comfortable early in the night and soon asleep, we were uncon- scious of danger until aroused by an intense pain caused by the cold, and then we were already so benumbed and chilled that we lacked energy to get up or even move. We found, on comparing notes after- wards, that each one of us had experienced the same sensations, namely, first an acute pain as if pricked with needles in every fibre, then a deep mental tranquility which was only slightly disturbed by a faint conception of something wrong, and by a desire to get up, but without sufficient energy to do so. This feeling gradually subsided into one

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 429

of quiet rest and satisfaction, until consciousness ceased altogether, and, as far as pain was concerned, all was over with us.

"At this stage an accident occurred which saved our lives. Mr. Day, who lay on the outside to the right, had evidently held his arm up against his breast to keep the blankets close to his body. His will-force being gone, his arm relaxed and fell into the snow. As the bare hand came in contact with the snow the circulation of the blood was accelera- ted, and this was accompanied by such intense pain that he was roused and jumped to his feet.

"Thus we were saved. It took a good while before we could use our limbs sufficiently to build a fire again, and during this time we suf- fered much more than before. From that experience I am satisfied that those who freeze to death do not suffer much, because they gradually sink into a stupor which blunts the sensibilities long before life is extinct. "It was about four o'clock when we got up. Of course we did not lie down again that morning, nor did we attempt to haul any timber, but started in a bee line across the prairie for the ravine where Mr. Willard and I had seen the tempting squirrel a few months before. We soon found that going over the wild, trackless prairie against the wind, with the thermometer forty degrees below zero was a' struggle for life, and in order to keep warm we took turns to walk or run behind the sleigh. In taking his turn Mr. Willard suddenly sat down in the snow and1 would not stir. We returned to him, and it required all our power of persua- sion to make him take his seat in the sleigh again. He felt very com- fortable, he said, and would soon catch up with us again if we only would let him alone. If we had followed his advice, he would never have left his cold seat again. After a drive of eight miles we arrived at a house on Spring Creek, near Red Wing, where we found a warm room and a good shed for the horses. After an hour's rest we continued the jour- ney, and safely reached our little home in the woods before dark. I do not know that I ever appreciated a home more than I did that rude cabin when again comfortably seated by its warm and cheerful fire-place.

"A few weeks later I had an opportunity to visit St. Paul, and while there attended the wedding of a young Norwegian farmer from Carver county and a girl just arrived from Sweden. The ceremony was per- formed by the Rev. Nilsson. a Baptist minister, who had been banished from Sweden on account of proselyting. Among the guests was Mr. John Swainsson, who since became well known among the Swedes of

430 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Minnesota, and who died in St. Paul a short time ago. I also made the acquaintance of one Jacob Fahlstrom, who had lived forty years among the Indians and devoted most of that time to missionary work among them. He was a remarkable man, and was well known among the Hud- son Bay employees and other early settlers of the Northwest. As a boy he had deserted from a Swedish vessel in Quebec and made his way through the wilderness, seeking shelter among the Indians; and, by marrying an Indian girl, he had become almost identified with them. I think he told me that he had not heard a word spoken in his native tongue in thirty-five years, and that he had almost forgotten it when he met the first Swedish settlers in the St. Croix valley. His children are now living there, while he has passed away to the unknown land beyond, honored and respected by all who knew him, Indians as well as white men.

"On my return from St. Paul I stopped at the cabin of Mr. Peter Green, at Spring Creek, near Red Wing. The only domestic animals he had was a litter of pigs, and as Mr. Willard and I intended to settle on our land in the spring I thought it might be well to start in with a couple of pigs. Accordingly, I got two pigs from Mr. Green, put them in a bag which I shouldered, and left for our cabin in the woods. According to my calculations, the distance I had to walk ought not to be over three miles, and in order to be sure of not getting lost I followed the Cannon river at the mouth of which our cabin stood. I walked on the ice where the snow was about a foot deep, and, if I had known of the meandering course of the river, I would never have undertaken to carry that burden such a distance. From nine in the morning until it was almost dark I trudged along with my burden on my back, prompted to the greatest exertion by the grunting of the pigs, and feeling my back uncomfortably warm. These were the first domestic animals I ever owned, and I think I well earned my title to them by carrying them along the windings of the river at least ten miles. Both I and the pigs were well received when we reached the cabin. We made a pig pen by digging a hole in the ground and covering it with poles and brush, and fed them on the refuse from the table. Before we were ready to move one of them died, while the other, after being brought to our new farm, ungratefully ran away, and was most likely eaten up by the wolves, which perhaps was just as agreeable to him as to be eaten by us.

"While living in this camp we saw more Indians than white men. A band of Sioux Indians camped near us for several weeks. They were

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 431

very friendly, and never molested us. The men brought us venison and fresh fish, which they caught in great quantities by spearing them through the ice. We gave them bread and coffee, and sometimes invited one or two to dinner after we were through. Their women would stay for hours with my sister and help her take care of the baby. Indeed they were so fond of the white-haired child that they would sometimes run a race in vying with each other to get the first chance to fondle her. Some- times we visited them in their tents in the evening and smoked Kinikinick with them. Several of their dead reposed in the young trees near our cabin. When somebody died it was their custom to stretch the dead body on poles which were tied to young trees high enough to be out of the reach of wild beasts, then cover it with blankets, and finally leave some corn and venison and a jar of water close by. At some subsequent visit to the neighborhood they would gather the bones and bury them at some regular burying ground, usually on a high hill or bluff.

"Once we saw a regular war dance in Red Wing. A few Sioux had killed two Chippewa's and brought back their scalps stretched on a frame of young saplings. At a given hour the whole band assembled, and, amid the most fantastic gestures, jumping, singing, yelling, beating of tom-toms and jingling of bells, gave a performance which in lurid savageness excelled anything I ever saw. The same Indians again be- came1 our neighbors for a short time on Belle creek the following winter, and we rather liked1 them, and they us. But eight years later they took part in the terrible massacre of the white settlers in Western Minnesota, and thirty-nine of their men were hanged on one gallows at Mankato in the fall of 1862, and the rest transported beyond our borders.

"Thus our first winter in Minnesota passed without further inci- dents, until the beginning of March, when the weather turned so mild that we were afraid the ice on the Mississippi might break up, and we therefore hurried back to Red Wing. By our wood chopping and Mrs. Willard's cooking enough money had been earned to buy the most neces- sary articles for our new home. When we had procured everything and taken a few days' rest, we again hired Mr. John Day to take us out to our land with his team. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants have had the same experience, and can realize how we felt on that fine March morning, starting from Red Wing with a wagon loaded with some boards on the bottom, a cook stove and utensils, doors, windows, a keg of nails, saws, spades, a small supply of provisions, a bedstead or two with bedding,

432 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

a few trunks, and a little box containing our spotted pig, Mrs. Willard in the seat with the driver, her baby in her arms, her husband and myself taking turns as guides, John Day shouting to his horses, laughing and joking; all of us full of hope, strength and determination to overcome all obstacles and conquer the wildness. The snow was now nearly gone, and the air was spring-like.

"After a twelve miles' heavy pull we arrived at our destination, and made a temporary tent of sticks and blankets, very much after the Indian fashion. Two of the Norwegians had accompanied us to help build our cabin. Mr. Day stopped a couple of days hauling building material, and before night the second day the rear part of our cabin was under roof. After a few days the Norwegians left us, and Mr. Willard and myself had to finish the main part of the building which was also made of round logs. For many a year this rude log cabin was the center of attraction, and a hospitable stopping place for nearly all the settlers of Vasa.

"In the month of April cold weather set in again, and it was very late in the season when steamboat navigation was opened on the Mis- sissippi. At that time all provisions had to be shipped from Galena or Dubuque, and it happened that the winter's supplies in Red Wing were so nearly gone that not a particle of flour or meat could be bought after the first of April. Our supplies were soon exhausted, and for about two weeks our little family had only a peck of potatoes, a small panful of flour, and a gallon of beans to live on, part of which was a present from Messrs. Roos and Kempe, who had remained all winter on their claims, three miles south of us. They had been struggling against great odd's, and had been compelled to live on half rations for a considerable length of time. Even their oxen had been reduced almost to the point of starva- tion, their only feed being over-ripe hay in small quantities.

"We would certainly have starved if it had not been for my shot- gun, with which I went down into the woods of Belle Creek every morning at day-break, generally returning with pheasants, squirrels, or other small game. One Sunday the weather was so disagreeable and rough that I did not succeed in my hunting, but in feeding the team back of the kitchen some oats had been spilt, and a flock of blackbirds came and fed on them. Through an opening between the logs of the kitchen I shot several dozen of these birds, which, by the way, are not ordinarily very toothsome. But, being a splendid cook, my sister made

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 433

them into a stew, thickened with a few mashed' beans and a handful of flour — in our estimation the mess turned out to be a dinner fit for kings.

"Our supplies being nearly exhausted, I started for Red Wing the next morning, partly to save the remaining handful of provisions for my sister and her husband, partly in hopes of obtaining fresh supplies from a steamboat which was expected about that time. Three days afterwards the steamer arrived. As soon as practicable the boxes were brought to the store of H. L. Bevans. I secured a smoked ham, thirty pounds of flour, a gallon of molasses, some coffee, salt and sugar, strapped it all (weighing almost seventy pounds) on my back, and started toward evening for our cabin in the wilderness. I had to walk about fourteen miles along the Indian trail, but in spite of the heavy burden I made the distance in a short time, knowing that the dear ones at home were threat- ened by hunger; perhaps the howling of the prairie wolves near my path also had something to do with the speed. There are events in the life of every person which stand out like milestones along the road, and so attract the attention of the traveler on life's journey that they always remain vivid pictures in his memory. My arrival at our cabin that even- ing was one of those events in our humble life. I will not attempt to describe the joy which my burden brought to all of us, especially to the young mother with the little babe at her breast. * * *

"We had now commenced a new career, located on our farm claims in the boundless West, with no end to the prospects and possibilities before us. We felt that independence and freedom which are only at- tained and appreciated in the western wilds of America. From the Mis- sissippi river and almost to the Pacific Ocean, was a verdant field for the industry, energy, and enterprise of the settler. To be sure, our means and resources were small, but somehow we felt that by hard work and good conduct we would some day attain the comfort, independence and position for which our souls thirsted. We did not sit down and wait for gold mines to open up before us, or for roasted pigs to come running by our cabin, but with axe and spade went quietly to work, to do our little part in the building up of new empires.

"In the beginning of May, my father came from Illinois and1 brought us a pair of steers and a milch cow ; this made us rich. We made a wagon with wheels of blocks sawed off an oak log; we also bought a

434 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

plow, and, joining with our neighbors of Belle Creek, had a breaking team of two pair of oxen. That breaking team and that truck wagon, with myself always as the chief ox driver, did all the breaking, and all the hauling and carting of lumber, provisions, building material and other goods, for all the settlers in that neighborhood during the first season.

"Soon others of our party from last year joined us. Some letters which I wrote in H emlandet describing the country around us, attracted much attention and brought settlers from different parts of the west, and while the Swede- were pouring into our place, then known as 'Matt- son's Settlement' (now well known under the name of Vasa), our friends, the Norwegians, had started a prosperous settlement a few miles to the south, many of them coming overland from Wisconsin, bringing cattle, implements and other valuables of which the Swedes, being mostly poor new-comers, were destitute. Many immigrants of both nationali- ties came as deck passengers on the Mississippi steamers to Red Wing.

"There was cholera at St. Louis that summer, and I remember how a steamer landed a large party of Norwegian immigrants, nearly all down with cholera. Mr. Willard and myself happened to be in Red Wing at the time, and the American families, considering these Norwe- gians cholera patients our countrymen, hastily turned them over to our care. We nursed them as best as we could, but many died in spite of all our efforts, and as we closed their eyes, and laid them in the silent grave under the bluffs, it never occurred to us that they were anything but our countrymen and brothers.

"From these small beginnings of the Swedish and Norwegian settlers in Goodhue county, in the years of 1853 and 1854, have sprung results which are not only grand but glorious to contemplate. Looking back to those days I see the little cabin, often with a sod roof, single room used for domestic purposes, sometimes crowded almost to suffocation by hospitable entertainments to new-comers ; or the poor immigrant on the levee at Red Wing, just landed from a steamer, in his short jacket and other outlandish costume, perhaps seated on a wooden box, with his wife and a large group of children around him, and wondering how he shall be able to raise enough means to get himself ten or twenty miles into the country, or to redeem the bedding and other household goods which he has perchance left in Milwaukee as a pledge for his railroad and steamboat ticket. And I see him trudging along over the

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 435

trackless prairie, searching for a piece of land containing if possible prairie, water and a little timber, on which to build a home. Poor, be- wildered, ignorant and odd looking, he had been an object of pity and derision all the way from Gothenburg or Christiania to the little cabin of some countryman of his, where he found peace and shelter until he could build one of his own.

"Those who have not experienced frontier life, will naturally wonder how it was possible for people so poor as a majority of the old settlers were, to procure the necessaries of life, but they should remember that our necessaries were few, and our luxuries a great deal less. The bounti- ful earth soon yielded bread and vegetables; the woods and streams supplied game and fish ; and as to shoes and clothing, I and many others have used shoes made of untanned skins, and even of gunny-sacks and old rags. Furthermore, the small merchants at the river or other points, were always willing to supply the Scandinavian immigrants with neces- sary goods on credit, until better times should come. Our people in this country did certainly earn a name for integrity and honesty among their American neighbors, which has been a greater help to them than money. Some of the men would go off in search of work, and in due time re- turn with means enough to help the balance of the family.

"Frontier settlers are always accommodating and generous. If one had more than he needed, he would invariably share the surplus with his neighbors. The neighbors would all turn in to help a new-comer, — haul his logs, build his house, and1 do other little services for him. The iso- lated condition and mutual aims and aspirations of the settlers brought them nearer together than in older communities. On Sunday after- noons all would meet at some centrally located place, and spend the day together. A cup of coffee with a couple of slices of bread and butter, would furnish a royal entertainment, and when we got so far along that we could afford some pie or cake for dessert, the good housewives were in a perfect ecstasy. The joys and sorrows of one, were shared by the others, and nowhere in the wide world, except in a military camp, have I witnessed so much genuine cordial friendship and brotherhood as among the frontier settlers in the West.

"One fine Sunday morning that summer, all the settlers met under two oak trees on the prairie, near where the present church stands, for the first religious service in the settlement. It had been agreed that some of the men should take turns to read one of Luther's sermons at each of

436 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

these gatherings, and I was selected as reader the first day. Some pray- ers were said and Swedish hymns sung, and seldom did a temple contain more devout worshipers than did that little congregation on the prairie.

"Before the winter of 1854-55 set in, we had quite a large community in Vasa, and had raised considerable grain, potatoes and other provisions. During the winter the Sioux Indians again became our neighbors, and frequently supplied us with venison in exchange for bread and coffee. The following spring and summer the settlers increased still faster, sev- ral more oxen and other cattle, with a horse or two, were brought in, and I had no longer the exclusive privilege of hauling goods on the little truck wagon.

"That summer I again went to Illinois to meet a large party of newly-arrived emigrants from Sweden, who formed a settlement in Vasa, known as Skane. The people from different provinces would group themselves together in little neighborhoods, each assuming in common parlance the name of their own province ; thus we have Vasa, Skane, Smaland and Jemtland.

"About this time a township was formally organized, and, at my sug- gestion, given the name of Vasa, in commemoration of the great Swed- ish king. Roads were also laid out legally, and a district organization perfected. A school district was formed and soon after an election pre- cinct, and as I was the only person who was master of the English language the duty of attending to all these things devolved upon me. We were particularly fortunate in having many men, not only of good education from the old country, but of excellent character, pluck and energy, men who would have been leaders in their communities if they had remained at home, and who became prominent as soon as they had mastered the English language. This fact, perhaps, gave a higher tone and character to our little community than is common in such cases and Vasa has since that time furnished many able men in the county offices, in the legislative halls, and in business and educational circles. There can be much refinement and grace even in a log cabin on the wild prairie.

"In the beginning of the month of September, 1855, Rev. E. Norelius visited the settlement and organized a Lutheran church. Thirty-five years (this was written in 1890) have elapsed since that time, and many of those who belonged to the first church at Vasa now rest in mother earth close by the present stately church edifice, which still belongs to the

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 437

same congregation, and is situated only a short distance from the place where the latter was organized. Rev. Norelius himself lives only a few hundred yards from the church building. Thirty-five years have changed the then cheerful, hopeful young man into a veteran, crowned with honor, and full of wisdom and experience. His beneficent influence on the Swedes of Goodhue county and of the whole Northwest will make his name dear to coming generations of our people.

"On November 23d, in the same fall, the first wedding took place in our settlement. The author of these memoirs was joined in matrimony to Miss Cherstin Peterson, from Balingslof, near Kristianstad, whose family had just come to Vasa from Sweden. By this union I found the best and most precious treasure a man can find — a good and dear wife, who has faithfully shared my fate to this day. Rev. J. W. Hancock, of Red Wing, performed the marriage ceremony. Horses being very scarce among us in those days, the minister had to borrow an Indian pony and ride on horseback twelve miles — from Red Wing to Vasa. On the evening of our wedding day there happened to be a severe snowstorm, through which my young bride was taken from her parents' home to our log house, on a home-made wooden sled, drawn by a pair of oxen and escorted by a number of our young friends, which made this trip of about a quarter of a mile very pleasant, in spite of the oxen and the snow storm.

"The next winter was very severe, and many of our neighbors suf- fered greatly from colds and even frozen limbs. But there was an abundance of provisions, and, as far as I can remember, no one was in actual need after the first winter."

The very first settlers in these parts were, besides Mr. Mattson, from Onnestad, Skane, his brother-in-law, ex-teacher S. J. Willard, from Fjelkinge, Skane; Peter Sjogren, or Green (which name he adopted here) from Ljuder, Kronoberg's Lan; Carl Roos, a surveyor and ex-officer of the Swedish army, from Langbanshytan, Vermland, and a tanner, Anders Gustaf Kampe, from Varola, Vestergotland. Mattson and Wil- lard settled on the place which later belonged to P. Friman, directly south of the present Lutheran church. Each one of them had a log cabin. Roos and Kampe settled where Peter Nilson later lived in a common loghouse near the postoffice in White Rock. Their wives came from Sweden a few years later. Peter Sjogren located at Spring Creek where Carl Carlson now lives, about three miles from Red Wing.

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A church was organized at a meeting September 3, 1855, by Rev. E. Norelius. Its first members, who were also, with a few exceptions, the first Swedish settlers, are mentioned below :

Carl Carlson with wife, three sons and a foster-daughter, Hilda Maria Kindgren, who was married to Rev. Boren, from Karlskoga, Nerke, came to America in 1854. His first place was one-half mile northeast from the present church, in section 15. Carlson had been a prominent man in his community in Sweden.

Ola Olsson, widower, with his sons, Ola Knut and Per and the daughter, Else, from Mjallby, Bleking, came to America in 1854; lived near the highest point west of Belle Creek, in section 8. Their cabin was for a long time alone in the brush, and was often visited by the Indians.

Jon Bergdahl, widower, with a daughter, Malena, came from On- nestad, Kristianstad's Lan, in 1853 ; lived a short distance south from the church, in section 15. He is dead. The daughter married N. P. Malmberg.

Samuel Johnson with wife, Etina Lena, from Algutsboda, Krono- berg's Lan ; came to America in 1854. Their daughter, Maria, was one of the first, if not absolutely the first, child born and baptized at Vasa. The parents moved to Nehalem Valley, Oregon ; the daughter is living in Prairie Island, Goodhue county.

Gustaf Carlson with wife, Lovisa, and the sons, Frans August. Alfred and Aron} came from Algutsboda, Kronoberg's Lan, to America in 1854. They lived in Smaland, section 10. Carlson was killed in the woods by a falling tree, in 1880. The oldest son, who served as sheriff, removed with his mother to Red Wing ; the second son lives in Hector, Renville county, and the third son in Featherstone.

Erik Anderson, his wife, Helena Lovisa, and daughter, Martha Ellen, came from Vestra Ryd, Linkoping's Lan, to America in 1850. The wife born in Lonneberga, Kalmar Lan, came to America in 1848. Their daughter was born at Jamestown, N. Y. This family settled in Smaland, section 2. Their daughter married Gustaf Larson in Feather- stone.

Swante Johan Willard, with wife, Anna Mattson, and daughter Zelma Adelaide. Willard was a school teacher in the old country and born in Fjelkinge; his wife, a sister of Colonel Hans Mattson, the founder of the settlement, was born in Onnestad ; came to America in 1853.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 439

Their daughter was the first Swedish child born in St. Paul and baptized in Yasa. She is married to a Dane, Mr. Christiansen, and1 lives at Rush City. Willard finally lived in Red Wing and was County Auditor for a number of years.

Jonas Fredrik Gustafson, born in Bjurkarn, and his wife, Kristina Lovisa, born in Arsta, Orebro Lan, came to America, he in 1853, she in 1854. Their son Gustaf Adolf, was one of the first children born in Vasa. At first they settled on Belle Creek, behind the children's home in "Jona Land," but later removed to the town of Belle Creek. In his younger d'ays Jonas was known for his tremendous physical strength. If his team could not pull their load of logs, he would take off the big- gest log and carry it on his shoulder.

Nils Peterson from Stoby, with wife, Elna, from Hoglinge, Kris- tianstad's Lan, came to America in 1854; lived one-half mile south of the church in section 21. He died, but she remarried and moved to the vicinity of Hallock, in the Red River valley.

Per Nilson, his father with wife, Pernilla, and daughters, Hanna, Kjersti, Nilla and Anna, came from Stoby, in 1855, and lived a little dis- tance east of John Nilsson's place, section 27. They were one of the wealthiest families who came to Vasa at the time, for which reason he was known among the settlers as "Rike-Per." The old couple departed from this life long ago; Hanna is married and lives at Minneapolis; Kersti mar- ried Hans Mattson, and Anna was' married the last time to an American.

Nils Westerson, from Ifvetofta, with wife, Sissa, three sons, Svante, Per, Jons, and one daughter, Annette, came from Vestra Karup, in 1854, and lived a couple of miles from the church in section 20. They keep their old homestead but live in other parts.

August Jonasson, single, came from Algutsboda and' died in 1857. Lived in Smaland, near Vasa.

Peter Johanson, with wife, Karolina, from Algutsboda and Ekeberga, Kronoberg's Lan, respectively, came to America in 1854. Their son, Johan Wilhelm, was one of the first children born in Vasa. Mother and son died long ago, the father remarried and moved to the town of Goodhue.

Swen Jacobsson, from Halland, writh wife, Mathilda (Sod'erberg), from Ostergotland, came to America early, but the date of their arrival is unknown. Their son, Josef, was born in Moline, Illinois. They

440 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

lived on A. P. Johnson's place in Smaland's-roten, and buried one child there, in August, 1856. After a few years they went back to Moline.

Anders Nilsson, from Viby, with wife, Kersti, from Trolle Ljungby, Kritianstad's Lan, came from Trolle Ljungby in 1855, with a son, Nils, and a daughter, Kama, and lived at first in Skane-roten.

Swen Swensson, with wife, Nilla, a son, Swen, and two daughters, Kama and Bengta, came from Sweden, in 1855 ; lived in Skane-roten. Swen moved to Moorhead, and the daughters were married in Minne- apolis.

Swen Olsson, from Nymo, with wife, Kama, from Trolle Ljungby, and daughter, Martha, came from Sweden in 1855 and lived in Skane- roten on section 14. Moved later on another farm near Potato Mound. His wife died and he married Anna B. Bernsdotter. Their daughter, Martha, married a Scotchman in Minneapolis.

Bengt Anderson, from Trolle Ljungby, with wife, Elna Larson, from Fjelkestad, arrived in 1855 and lived in Skane-roten.

Ola Swensson, an old bachelor, lived in Smalands-roten. Died long ago.

Signild Andersdotter, a maid from Trolle Ljungby, came in 1855. She married a man by the name of Anders August Johnson. They moved to Bailey town, Indiana.

Matts Mattson had two sons, Hans and Lars. With Lars he came from Onnestad, Skane, in 1852, and lived some time in Moline. Hans, whose biography appears on another page, came to America in 1851. Lars lived on Belle Creek in section 20, but later removed to Hallock, in the Red River valley.

Matias Flodquist was a traveling salesman from Eker's parish, Nerke. Together with the men, whose names follow here, occupied the land which later became known as Jemtland. He moved away to parts unknown.

Carl and his brother, Gustaf Peterson, from Arvika, came in 1854. They moved away in the early sixties.

Olof Peterson, with wife and one child, came from Stoby and lived on the place later occupied by Per Martenson on Belle Creek. The wife was drowned in Spring Creek, and he moved to Iowa.

Niklas Peterson, the former's brother, with wife Helenai came from Finja, Kristianstad's Lan, in 1854. Their farm was near White Rock.

Bonde Olson, a bachelor, unknown.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 441

Nils Ekelund, a bachelor, came from Bosjokloster, Skane, in 1854. Lived on the place formerly occupied by J. Norelius ; married a Norwe- gian widow, a sister of Rev. J. Johnson, and finally moved to Cambridge, Iowa, in 1865.

Bengt Kilberg, a carpenter, came from Munktorp, Skane, in 1855. Built the old church at Vasa in 1862. Later lived in Red Wing.

Peter Vedin, a bachelor, unknown.

Carl Roos, with wife and two children, came from Langbanshyt- tan, Vermland, in 1853. Served in the Third Minnesota regiment during the war. Died in May, 1889.

Anders G. Kampe, a tanner from Varola, Skaraborg's Lan, came in 1853; lived with Roos, moved to Red Wing, where he died1.

Besides the now mentioned there were a few other families and unmarried people living in the settlement, as Carl Himmelman, and Erik Erikson from Karlskoga, a widower, Per Larson with a daughter from Winslof; Peter Anderson and family from Mjolby, Linkoping's Lan, all having come to America in 1851. Jons Olsson and wife from Hjersas; T. G. Pearson and wife, from Stoby, and Onnestad, came in 1851 and 1852, respectively. They lived for a few years at Knoxville, Illinois, before coming to Vasa. Pearson was a school teacher in Sweden. He served in the state legislature and was a justice of the peace for many years.

These were the first settlers and original members of the Lutheran church at Vasa.

During the summer of 1856 there were many new arrivals, both directly from Sweden and from Illinois. The ones, who came from Sweden were mostly from Trolle Ljungby and other adjoining parishes of Kristianstad's Lan. Among them may be mentioned: Lasse Pehr- son with a large family ; Per, Lars and Nils Jonsson ; Jons Nilson on the hill ; Jons Nilson in the valley and Ola Anderson, all of them from Trolle Ljungby; Jons Olsson, Jr., with family, from Kiaby; Nils Per- son with family, from Kiaby ; Abram Nilsson from Gustaf Adolf's parish ; Anders Manson from Fjelkinge; Per Manson from Viby. From different places in America came: Goran Johnsson with family from Frinnaryd, Jonkoping's Lan. came to Americas in 1854; Swen Turner with wife from Wislanda, to America in 1853, came from Batavia, Illinois ; John John- son with wife from Ljunga and his brother, Anders August Johnson, emigrated in 1854; Jacob Robertson (Rasmusson) with family from

442 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Katslosa, Skane, came to America in 1852 and had lived at Pecatonica, Illinois ; Sven P. Peterson from Kisa, Linkoping's Lan, to America in 1849, lived in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, a few years ; Nels P. and Johan Ahfelt from Farlof to America in 1852, came here from St. Paul, Johan killed in the war; Nils Swensson, from Fasum, Kristianstad's Lan, to America in 1853, and here from St. Paul; Bengt Nilsson with family from Karda, Jonkoping's Lan, with wife, Johanna, and children, from Sweden in 1852, and here from Pecatonica, Illinois, settled on Cannon river in town of Cannon Falls ; at the same time and in the same locality a man by the name of Krants, who had served in the Swedish cavalry, and family settled. Hakan Olsson, Jr., with family from Mjellby, Bleking, came to America in 1854 and1 here from St. Charles, Illinois; A. G. Kampe's wife and children from Varola J Carl Johanson with fam- ily from Varo, Ffalland; Anders Manson and wife from the same place had immigrated to Wisconsin in 1854, from where they came here.

There were hard times during the year 1857 and they did not im- prove until the beginning of the war. During that summer and fall quite a number of new settlers arrived, among whom were not a few Methodists: Olof Palsson with family from Sveg, Herjedalen; Erik Palsson. Per Sjulsson and family from Sveg, Herjedalen ; Per was killed by lightning a few years later ; Erik Jonasson with family ; Jons Zakrisson with family ; Olof Hansson with family ; Jon Mansson with family from Storsjo and Tannas, Herjedalen. All of them came directly from Sweden and took land in that part of the settlement which for them was called Jemtland. Anders Erik Bellin, a coppersmith, with family, came from Karlskoga. Johan Sundell, with family, from Sund, Ostergotland, came to America in 1851, and here from Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. Germund Johnson with family from Kisa, emigrated in 1846 and came here from Sugar Grove; Nils Andersson with family from Essunga, Vestergotland, came to Amer- ica in 1854 and here from Illinois.

Spring Garden is another Swedish settlement in Goodhue county. It is situated southwest of Vasa, and it is about nine miles between the two churches. The soil in Spring Garden is of the very best in Good- hue county and the land is more level than in Vasa. Part of it was originally prairie, but most of it wooded. Its numerous clear springs were the origin of its name. Cultivation has made the land much drier than it was before. ,

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 443

Among the first Swedish settlers in Spring Garden we note : Carl Andersson Haggstrom, who was born at Vrigstad, Jonkoping's Lan, in 1826, and emigrated with his wife, Martha Stina, in 1854. In company with eight other families they came from Chicago to Geneseo, Illinois, and, some of them having relatives at Andover, they all went there. This was during the terrible cholera-epidemic, and many new-comers died from it. They spent the winter in Andover.

In April, 1855, Haggstrom, in company with Magnus Edstrom and family, from Voxtorp, came to Red Wing. There came also Jo- hannes Wanberg, from Chicago, who had emigrated from Sweden in their company. In Red Wing they left their families and set out to hunt up some place where to settle. In the present town of Leon they found what they were looking for, a beautiful and fertile prairie, surrounded by good wood-land with excellent and plentiful water. Here they took land and built a small loghouse. On October 6th they went back to Red Wing to get their families. Edstrom who was well fixed economically and had helped the others, bought a team of oxen so the women and children had a ride. They drove from Red Wing to Belle Creek where White Rock is now. From there was no trail for six miles to their selected homesteads. "How long are we going to continue in this manner?" Mrs. Haggstrom asked. "Well," Edstrom said, "I guess we will have to stand it until we find some little cabin to rest in ;" and so they drove on until they reached the little claim-cabin. The three first families to settle at Spring Garden were consequently those of Magnus Edstrom, C. A. Haggstrom and Johannes Wanberg. Later on, in the fall, they were joined by Anders Wilhelm Johnson from Torpa, Jonkoping's Lan, who had emigrated earlier, Johan from Stabbarp, near Grenna, Peter Jonson from Thorstuga, Jonkoping's Lan, and Anders Enberg from Ignaberga, Kristianstad's Lan. It can easily be imagined that with all those people huddled together in one cabin, there could not be much room to spare. They passed the winter there, however, and suffered much from the ague, or intermittent fever. They had a hard time getting their neces- saries of life, as the nearest town, Red Wing, was more than twenty miles distant with hardly any road at all. What they bought they had to carry home on their backs. In the beginning of 1856 their supply of flour ran short, and it was hardly possible to get any at any price. I [aggstrom had, however, bought a barrel at Red Wing for eleven dol-

444 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

lars and paid one dollar to get it hauled to old man Chandler's at Belle Creek; but it was a mighty hard task to bring it the other six or eight miles from there to their home. During both this winter and the fol- lowing the Indians were swarming around the little settlement. They were staying around and hunting and paid the frightened new-comers daily visits. The Indians were, however, friendly, and did not molest the settlers in any wise, but they were always hungry and looking for something to eat.

During the summer of 1856 there came to this settlement two dif- ferent parties who materially added to its population. One of those came from Geneva, Illinois, where they had arrived from Sweden in 1854. This was the large Holm family. The head of it was Johannes Holm from Habo. His sons were Isak, Anders, Gustaf, Carl, Johan, August and Per (who d'ied in the war), and his sons-in-law, Wolf, Johan Miller, P. Gustafson and Jacob Johnson. This family settled in the eastern part of Spring Garden.

The other party came from Butler county, Iowa, and its leader was Anders Swensson from Dunarp near Grenna. With relatives and friends he had emigrated from Sweden in 1853 and stopped a short time near Lafayette, Indiana. From that place they went to Iowa, remaining until 1856, but not liking it there they came to Minnesota. Some of them settled at Spring Garden, as Magnus and Peter Lundell pothers settled in the vicinity of Cannon Falls and were among the first Swedish set- tlers there. Later single families from various parts arrived. Carl and Johan Lagerstrom from Geneva, Ludwig Miller from Chicago, Anders Kallberg from Slatthog, Kronoberg's Lan, Peter Johan Johansson from Voxtorp, Bengt Anderson from Varo, Halland ; Carl Saf , born in Gren- na, had lived at Yorktown, Indiana, since 1853 ; Nils and Fredrik Ander- son from Langserud, Dalsland, and others.

The life of these new-comers probably was no worse than that in other localities, but the long distance to the nearest city during the first years made it harder to procure the necessaries of life, and this taught the settlers to try and make themselves as independent as possible. They arranged for themselves accordingly, and it took them a pretty long time, before they built better houses. Haggstrom's first house cost him only $2.50 in cash money, and it was used both to live in and as meeting-house for many years. The settlers were careful not to run into debt, and the settlers are few who are better fixed financially than

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those at Spring Garden. Because they postponed the erection of new- houses until a time when they could easily afford it, one now sees so many good and well-built houses at Spring Garden.

The Spring Garden settlement came into being in a very quiet way, and no outsider in Goodhue county seemed to know anything about it, nor did the Spring Gardeners know anything about their neighbor, Vasa. On Sunday, July 6, 1856, Rev. Norelius was preparing to go to church in the school house at Vasa, when an ox-team came driving from the south over the prairie with a whole wagon-load of people. Among them were two families who had each a little baby that they wanted baptized. One was Magnus Edstrom and the other Johan Johnson Wanberg. Rev. Norelius, as well as his parishioners, were quite surprised when they heard of this neighboring settlement. The settlers did not know where Vasa was located, but they set out to find the place. They had driven up and down hill, over the trackless prairie, as they had heard in their corner of the world that there was a minister at Vasa, and they were anxious to have their children christened. They also were very desirous to have Rev. Norelius come and visit in Spring Garden, which he also did on the 17th of the same month.

Cannon Falls, the little city on Cannon river, commenced to be settled a little 'in the spring of 1856. The first Swedes to come there were of those who accompanied Anders Swensson from Iowa in 1856. Johan Peter, August Peter and Carl Johnson settled on the sand-prairie imme- diately south of Cannon Falls, but did not remain there long, as the soil was too poor. They found another and better piece of land on the other side of the river and three miles below the city. In the fall of 1856 came Nils Hakanson and Carl J. Anderson from West Point, Indiana, and took land on the Cannon river below the falls. The former built a house at Cannon Falls. Not long afterwards Anders Svensson settled there. Gustaf Westman and several others came from Rusheby, Chisago county, and Gustaf Anderson from Visingso, and others came from West Point, Indiana. In 1857 a whole crowd of mostly young people arrived from various places around Lafayette and Attica, Indiana, and lived for a time at Cannon Falls. Most of them were members of one or two families, namely, that of "Asarpaenkan" (the widow from Asarp) from Grenna and "Lars pa Rasta" from Skarstad. In the fall these went to Waseca county, where they settled in the vicinity of Wilton, and founded the settlement Vista. Before i860 most of the Swedes at and near Cannon

446 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Falls were from the city of Grenna and adjacent parishes. The)- had ull lived a longer or shorter time in Indiana around Lafayette. Among the exceptions to this rule were J. Jonson Engberg, Sr., from Bergsjo, Hel- singland, and A. P. Norelius with his relatives, from Chisago Lake. They settled in the Clark valley. Anders Peter Johnson, from Vestergotland, came from Elgin, Illinois ; P. O. Tilderquist, later in Vasa, from Sodra Rorum, Skane ; Anders Lindstrom from Gotland, and others. Some of them built houses in the village, but the majority settled east and north- east of the village on both sides of the river ; the largest number at the latter place, where quite a settlement grew up, and a little church was built in 1862. With the exception of a shoemaker, a tailor, a carpenter and a blacksmith there were no Swedish business men before i860 at Cannon Falls, which is now a town of 1,500 inhabitants. One or two would earn a small income by hauling for the flour mill or for the merchants, but there was no money in it. The Swedes at and around Cannon Falls were, however, a generous and lively class of people, who seemed to be gifted with the faculty of looking at life from its brightest side.

The Swedes who first settled at Cannon Falls lived on the north side of the river a little below the old mill, where they bought village lots. By and by, however, they moved out on their farms, so that very few were left in the village.

Svithiod.— This place, which later became known as Goodhue, and embraced a township of Goodhue county, with the northwest corner bor- dering on the township of Vasa, had a few settlers before i860. The land was partly covered with some shrub-oak and bushes and looked poor, for which reason it was taken up later than the surrounding country. It was, however, later found to be among the very best in Goodhue county. The first Swedish newcomers settled in the northwestern corner in 1859, one °f tne first being A. P. Friman, from Veta, Linkoping's Lan, who had come to America in 1852 and lived at Chicago, St. Paul and Red Wing before coming to this place. He finally lived near the church of Vasa. He settled on a piece of land which later became the property of C. J. Fors. Simultaneously or shortly after came Samuel Johnson and settled on the land later acquired by McQuine. Paul Nilsson settled near Friman, but in Belle Creek township, and then came, by and by, Sven Nilsson, who later moved to Templeton, California, J. Nordquist, Gudmund Naslund, Jonas G. Lagerstrom, who later became a minister, Rev. J. P. C. Boren, C. J. Fors, P. G. Veber, Anders Swensson, Daniel

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 447

Larson and a few Norwegians and Danes. When Rev. Boren settled here in 1862 he organized a church, which he named Svithiod, and min- istered to same until he moved to Stockholm, Wisconsin. The congrega- tion later joined the one at Vasa until in 1869, when it became an inde- pendent parish under the name of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church of Goodhue.

Red Wing. — When Hans Mattson came to Red Wing, in order to hunt up a place for a Swedish settlement, he found here a little town with only half a dozen families, among whom were two Swedes, Peter Green (Sjogren) and Nils Nilson (the Doctor's Nils, as he was called, because he was Dr. Sweeney's hired man). Green moved to Spring Creek, three miles from Red Wing. At the arrival of Dr. E. Norelius, in 1855, there were several others, of whom, may be, the best known was Johan Nilsson, who emigrated with his family from Ostergotland, lived some time in Moline and came here in 1854. Dr. Norelius, in his history of the Lutheran Augustana Synod, says that Nilsson probably was the first Swede who built himself a house there, and that many of the Swedish newcomers were accommodated by him. J. Nilsson was very deaf and had acquired the habit of speaking louder than necessary, for which reason he was nicknamed "Skrikare-gubben." He was quite a character, outspoken and with unpolished manners, but in all his acts straightforward and honest. Although not very religiously inclined, he would permit Rev. Norelius and his little flock to hold their meetings in his house until they had time to build a church, and more than one time he came to Norelius clad in his sheepskin coat and with a sack of flour on his wheelbarrow, saying: "I suppose the preacher must have his tithe." One Sunday after the service in his house Rev. Norelius had left his hand Bible on the window sill. Nilsson took the Bible and read a little, whereupon he said : "It is a long time since I read the Bible, but I can see that they understood how to kill chickens in Old Testament days."

When Rev. Norelius organized a congregation at Red Wing, Sep tember 3, 1855, the first members were: Hakan Olsson, with wife and six children, from Mjellby, Bleking, came to America and St. Charles in 1855 and to Red Wing in the spring of 1855. Olsson was the leading man within the organization, as well as the first who earnestly worked in order to get it started; Anders Carlson, with wife and one child; Peter Sundberg, with wife, turned Methodist, moved to Spring Garden, and thence to Iowa ; Bengt Anderson, with wife and two children, moved

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to Spring Garden ; Carl Anderson, a carpenter, with wife moved to Minneapolis; John Nilsson Bylo, a tailor, with wife, came from Indiana, but moved away soon ; Marten Pehrson, with wife and six children, from Bleking; Peter Johansson; Nils Kallberg, with wife and one child, from Kronoberg's Lan, moved first to Spring Garden and thence to Iowa ; Anders Johan Johnsson from Ostergotland, skipped the town ; Nils Trulsson, with wife and two children, from Bleking, moved to Dakota county; Anders Peterson, Swen Swensson and Lars Westerson, with wife and child, from Ifvetofta; Anders Westerson, from Ifvetofta; widow Anna Brita Persdotter, with two children, from Halland ; Nils Nilsson; Peter Anderson, with wife and four children, from Mjolby, Ostergotland, came to America in 1851 and here from Rock Island in 1855, moved to town of Cannon Falls ; Anders Wilhelm Jonsson, with one child, moved to Spring Garden ; Elna Persdotter, later Mrs. Mattes Pehrson, came to America from Trolle-Ljungby in 1855, moved to Vasa; Inga Swensdotter, later Mrs. A. Danielson, arrived from the same parish at the same time, as well as Karin Larsdotter and Anna Nilsdotter; CarJ and his son, Samuel Beckman ; Edward Soderlund, with wife and two children, and Peter Sjogren (Green), with wife and five children, came from Ljuder, Kronoberg's Lan, in 1852; Swen Kallberg, with wife, came from Hemsjo, Kronoberg's Lan, in 1854.

Hardly any of those first settlers are now left in Red Wing. Most of them moved away and very few are yet living. Red Wing is now the countv seat of Goodhue county and has a population of about 9,000 inhabitants. There are four banks and quite a number of Swedish mer- chants and artisans who are doing business there.

Rev. Dr. Norelius in Goodhue County. — In a History of Goodhue County, published in Red Wing, in 1878, by Wood, Alley & Co., there is an interesting account of the Vasa settlement, written by Rev. Dr. Eric Norelius for that publication. It is partly in the form of extracts from his diary: "1855, August 31. Landed at Red Wing at 12 o'clock at night ; took lodging at a miserable hotel ; tried to sleep, but could not for the mosquitoes. September 1, made an attempt to scale Barn Bluff before sunrise, but was recalled by the breakfast bell. I made some inquiries to find out if there were any Swedes, but I obtained no informa- tion. After a while I met with a Swedish servant girl, who told me that there was quite a number of them in Red Wing and gave me directions how to find them. After having spoken to several of them and explained the object of my visit, I proposed to hold a service in the evening if a

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place could be had. They told me that the Presbyterians had a meeting house — a shanty — in the burgh and that we possibly might get it. I then went to the Presbyterian minister (Rev. Mr. Hancock), introduced myself, and asked for permission to use his chapel, to which he con- sented, provided I would preach the sound gospel. In the evening I had about one hundred hearers ; many among whom, no doubt, were hard cases. One old fellow told me that 'the old devil may run after preachers, but he would not.' However, not a few seemed to be edified and desired me to hold as many services as my time would permit.

"September 2, the Lord's day, I remained at Red Wing and preached in the afternoon in the Presbyterian chapel, the house being full; and making a new appointment for Monday night, I got a horse and a guide in the evening and went out to Vasa, word having been sent before for divine service in the forenoon on Monday. We went up the Spring Creek Valley and got over the prairies to Mr. Carl Carlson after dark. Carlson lived in a log house, a little to the northeast from the present brick church. I was hospitably entertained at his house and on the fol- lowing morning I was to hold service there, September 3. Almost every soul in the settlement came together at Mr. Carlson's. No Swedish min- ister had visited them before in their new home. After the service it was proposed to organize a congregation and resolutions to that end were adopted. The following persons handed in their names as members :

"Carl Carlson, wife and four children ; Ola Olson, Sr., widower, and four children ; John Bergdahl, widower, and one child ; Samuel Johnson, wife and one child; Gustaf Carlson, wife and three children; Erick Anderson, wife and two children ; S. J. Willard, wife and one child ; Jonas Gustaf son, wife and one child; Nils Peterson and wife; Peter Nilson, wife and four children; Nils Westerson, wife and four children; August Johnson, single; Peter Johnson, wife and one child; Swen Jacob- son and wife ; Anders Nilson, wife and two children ; Swen Swen- son wife and three children; Swen Olson, wife and one child; Bengt Anderson and wife; Ola Swenson, single; Signild Anders- dotter, single; Carl Peterson, single; Olof Peterson, wife and one child; Niklas Peterson and wife; Bonde Olson, single; Nils Eklund, single ; Bengt Kilberg, single ; Peter Wedin, single ; Carl Roos, wife and two children ; A. G. Kempe. In all eighty-seven persons.

"it was now the great desire of the congregation to secure a pastor. On the same occasion three children were baptized, viz. : Maria, born

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at Vasa, August 21, 1855, daughter of Samuel Johnson and his wife, Stina Lisa; Sclma Adelaide, born October 15, 1853, daughter of S. J. Willard and wife, Anna ; John Wilhelm, born on Good Friday, 1855, son of Peter Johnson and wife Carolina.

"In the afternoon I went to Red Wing and preached in the evening and organized a congregation and baptized two children.

"Three weeks after that time, when I returned from an extended tour to St. Paul, Stillwater, Marine and Chisago county, divine service was held at Vasa in Nils Peterson's new log house, which is still (in 1878) standing, opposite to N. P. Holmberg's place. It was the 21st of September, in the midst of the equinoctial storms ; the rain was pouring down and I was suffering badly from the fever and ague, which I had brought with me from Indiana. A young, man had taken me out from Red Wing in a lumber wagon hitched to a pair of horses, a great insti- tution in those days. The Lord's supper was also to be celebrated at this occasion, the first in the history of the congregation at Vasa. After having preached the sermon, or just at its end, I had a very bad attack of the chills and had to go to bed, the people in the meanwhile patiently waiting till the spell was over, after which I got up and administered the communion. On the 24th of September I bade the good people of Vasa farewell and was exceedingly glad to find an ox team to take me down to Red Wing.

"Soon after I had left, or on September 30, a meeting was held by the congregation at Vasa for the object of electing a pastor. It was then unanimously resolved to extend a call to me. The sum of $200 was guaranteed as salary for the first year, with the expectation that the congregation at Red Wing, which desired to participate in the call, would contribute a like amount.

"With a view that most of my parishioners in Indiana who owned land there would go along with me to Minnesota and settle there, I accepted the call and moved to Goodhue county in the spring of 1856. I was then in my twenty-third year and had been married nearly one year. I knew that a life of hardships was before us, but I had made up my mind beforehand, with the help of God, to conquer or to die. I told my excellent young wife that we would have to swim or else to sink, and she consented to do her part.

"On the 25th day of May, 1856, on the first Sunday after Trinity Sunday, I preached my introductory sermon at Vasa in Mr. Peter Nil- son's new log house, which was filled to overflowing. My sermon was

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on the text for the day, treating of the rich man and Lazarus, and I tried to tell my new parishioners that it was better for them to be truly pious with poverty and go to heaven with Lazarus than to be ungodly with riches and go to hell with the rich man. I told them plainly that my object in coming here was to preach and teach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, and by a steady, earnest and patient work to build up a Christian congregation ; not by spasmodic extraordinary efforts and occa- sional high steam, but by diligent and faithful instruction in the word of God. And I also assured them that the true prosperity of a community necessarily must rest upon the pure principles of the gospel.

"Looking back now upon these twenty-two years (this was written in 1878), we have witnessed many movements and changes, but I have had no occasion to regret or change my standpoint which I took from the first, and I modestly think that my labor, under God's blessing, has not been altogether in vain.

"There was one circumstance connected with that text and sermon which I can never forget, and which perplexed me not a little at the time and might have led to great mischief if my object had not been under- stood to be wholly unintended. For it so happened that the old gentle- man, Mr. Peter Nilson, at whose house I preached and stayed for some time, was known by the sobriquet "the rich man," on account of being a man of means, of which fact I was perfectly ignorant. No trouble, however, followed, and I was always on the best terms with the old gentleman and his estimable wife as long as they lived. I buried both of them many years ago and they have long rested in their graves. Peace to their ashes !

"For several weeks we lived at Peter Nilson's, in the same room in which I preached. Our whole property consisted of a bedstead of the rope bottom kind, a plain square table, an old bureau, an old cooking stove and some few books. Bacon and flour were high at Red Wing and it cost $4 to bring a sack of flour and a ham home to Vasa.

"In the spring of 1856 a log house, designed for a school and meet- ing house, had been put up on Mr. Willard's farm, but it was not com- pleted at the time when I arrived, and it took the whole summer to get it in order for winter use. However, we used it for divine service during the summer after the floor had been put in.

"On the 22d day of June, 1856, a business meeting of the congre- gation was held, when a constitution for the church was adopted, the principles of which are still in force, although considerably developed in

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1857, and then again in 1870. The question as to the location for a church and graveyard was also brought up. Mr. Willard proposed to donate ten acres of land to the congregation for this purpose round about the schoolhouse, a short distance to the southeast from the present brick church, and the offer was thankfully accepted. As Mr. Willard, however, had the misfortune to lose his land, the congregation could not secure a deed to the property, consequently could not avail itself of his offer. A number of dead were buried there and the schoolhouse was occupied as a meeting house up to 1862. This locality is on Mr. A. P. Freeman's farm.

"On the 6th day of July, 1856, a meeting, was held for the election of three trustees and the following persons were duly elected : Peter Nilson, for a term of one year ; Carl Carlson, for the term of two years ; and Olof Peterson, for a term of three years. A certificate of incorpora- tion of the trustees of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Vasa was made out the same day, duly acknowledged on the 13th day of July, before Mr. Willard, being then a justice of the peace, and filed for record on the 17th day of July, 1856, and recorded in First Book Re- ligious Societies, pages 9 and 10, by J. M. Hancock, register of deeds.

"From that time the congregation may be said to be fully organized. My object now will be to show something of its development during the subsequent twenty-two years of its existence. My own history is so much interwoven with that of the congregation at Vasa (not to mention that of Red Wing and other places in this county) that I cannot well relate the one without having to touch the other. And I hope, therefore,, that the reference to myself will not be looked upon as too egotistical.

"After having lived for several weeks at Mr. Peter Nilson's, we moved to a place in the neighborhood of White Rock, on Belle Creek, the place later owned by Jon Monson and widow Abram Peterson. I bought the improvements on a quarter section from old Mrs. Bockman for $130, proved up the claim, and paid the government price the following winter. When I bought the claim there was a small log hut on it, 8x10 feet in size, with a flat sod roof, without any floor. This was to be our kitchen department. I got some common lumber at Red Wing, at a high price, and put up an addition to the hut — a shanty 12x16 feet — intended for parlor, sitting room, bedroom, etc., all in one. We moved in when three sides were up, without roof or floor, without doors or windows. Well do I remember the first night in that house, if house it was. We made our bed on the ground on a pile of shavings

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and hay, with the blue sky above us. I had filled the mattress with new cut grass, and, unintentionally, put in with it a small snake. No wonder, then, that in the morning, when my wife made up the bed, she got hold of the dead snake in the mattress! By and by the roof and ceiling were made, consisting of sheeting; the floor was laid of common lumber, and the carpet put on ; the walls were papered, and — then we had a nice, clean and cozy house to live in. The only inconveniences we experienced was when it was storming and raining, for the carpet then stood like a bellows and the rain came pouring down through both roof and ceiling. On such occasions we used an umbrella. It was only a little odd to sleep under an umbrella in the house. In the middle of September we had a visit of the well-known Rev. Dr. Passa- vant, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who stayed with us one night. He had a dream. In his nocturnal imaginations he thought he was laying under the bottom of a lake, and somehow a hole had been made in the bottom. And no wonder, for it rained that night.

"A little later a number of our friends from Indiana came up and for some weeks we were no less than twenty-one persons, and the weather was at the time very ugly. Houses were yet scarce. Our neighbors were in no better condition, and some a great deal worse off than ourselves. My friend and neighbor, J. Robertson, first used a big loom for a house ; then he dug himself down in the ground, till he got a small log cabin put up. Mr. T. G. Pearson, our nearest neighbor, was busy putting up a solid log house that summer; in the meantime he lived in the same primitive way as we did.

"My time was divided between Red Wing and Vasa and other places, and my duties often called me away from home. On this account it was a trying time for my wife, especially as the Indians were occasionally visiting there. In the fall the prairie fire threatened to burn down our house while I was away, my wife having to fight for dear life. We continued to live in our frail house until November 4, when we moved to Red Wing in a snowstorm.

"I now return to the congregation and my pastoral work. As soon as I got to be 'fixed' a little, I bought a horse and a rickety old wagon. Most of my trips, however, were made on horseback or a-foot, as roads were poor and far between.

"During the summer I made a pretty thorough canvas of the whole settlement. People were pouring in very fast and settled down on the unoccupied land. On the 8th of November I could report to a special

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meeting of the congregation that the church numbered 185 members, of whom 101 were communicants. At the same meeting it was deter- mined to establish a congregational school, and on November 15 it was opened. Mr. Jonas Engberg was the first teacher, with a monthly salary of $35. Ever since that time the school has been a fixed insti- tution in the congregation, and has done much good for the religious instruction of the children.

"The winter of 1856 and 1857 was a long and cold one, and the snow was very deep. One Sunday morning, when I went from Red Wing to preach at Vasa, I got stuck in a snowdrift just as I got up on the prairie, and I had to return. I learned afterwards that only three persons had ventured out to meeting that day. It was a very cold day, and they displayed their warm religious disposition by grumbling over the non-appearance of the preacher. This was the only appointment I missed that winter.

"Having sold my horse to buy bread, I had to foot it between Red Wing and Vasa and other places. This necessarily caused me some hardships. On New Year's day, 1857, I had early service in the school- house at Vasa — that is to say, at five o'clock in the morning. As the weather was fine and mild, I determined to walk to Cannon Falls and preach there in the afternoon. There was no direct road to the Falls at that time, but we were obliged to go round by White Rock, then cross the Belle Creek and over the prairie by what later was G. M. Englund's place. I started a-foot after breakfast ; the sun shone brightly, the weather was mild, but the snow was very deep and there was no track. By the time I got down to Belle Creek the weather had changed entirely. A high, cold wind commenced to blow, and very soon a bitter blizzard was blowing in my face. It was only with the greatest difficulty I got over the prairie into the bush. There were no houses on the road. My scanty clothing, which had become wet by dragging myself through the snow, now began to grow stiff by the cold. I laid myself down under the first bush I reached, entirely exhausted, with little hope of ever rising any more. Yet after some hours a little strength returned and by the greatest exertion I finally reached Cannon Falls in the evening, but my ears, nose, hands and feet were frozen, and I could not speak for a long while. After having thawed out and taken some food, I was able to hold service at night, and on the following day I returned to Red Wing.

"In the fall of 1857, I started a paper at Red Wing by the name of

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Minnesota Postcn. It was designed as a family paper, treating of political as well as religious matters, besides containing general news, etc. I still think that some good in various ways was accomplished by that paper, although I had to regret that I ever tried my hands at politics. For some time I was suspected of having considerable political influence among the Swedes of Goodhue county ; but to tell the truth, I never was a politician; although at various times I have discussed general moral principles of right and wrong, touching politics, but I have never taken any part in political managements, caucuses, meetings, nor have I ever preached politics. I have never sought any political office in my life. It is true, I was elected county auditor in 1858, but this was done while I was away on a journey to Illinois, and I knew nothing about it before I came home. I did not accept the office, and Mr. Going was appointed in my stead. But to return to my paper. It was published only twice a month, but the burden of editing a paper of that kind, together with the already crushing, load of pastoral and missionary work which I had rest- ing upon me was rather too much for me. My health broke down, and in the spring of 1857, I had a severe hemorrhage of my lungs. After having carried on the paper for one year — and the year 1857 was the hardest one in the history of Minnesota — it was proposed to merge it with Hemlandct, the Swedish paper published at Galesburg, Illinois, and that the united paper be removed to Chicago. This proposition was agree- able to both parties.

"In the meantime I had been appointed agent to solicit funds in the East for a Scandinavian professorship at the Illinois State University. I accepted the appointment and moved with my family to Chicago. As the times, however, were too unpropitious, my agency was dropped, and I was instead elected editor of Hemlandet and another religious month- ly paper. After one year I relinquished the editorship, and served a Swedish congregation at Attica, Indiana, for one year. I was then ap- pointed traveling missionary for the State of Minnesota, and moved to St. Paul. In this capacity I continued to September, 1861.

"When I left in November, 1858, the congregations at Red Wing and Yasa called the Rev. J. P. C. Boreen, who had recently come from Sweden, to supply my place for one year. At the end of that time he was elected, in 1859, permanent pastor at Red Wing; but at Vasa he was called only as vice-pastor, or supply, because the congregation had hopes I would return. During his time a few families separated from the church at Vasa and organized the Methodist Episcopal and the Baptist

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congregations there. Considerable trouble and some bad feelings also arose in the congregation with reference to the question of a new loca- tion for a church which was in contemplation. Many meetings for this purpose were held, and the question was earnestly discussed, but resulted in no definite termination. The old log house continued to be used for the meetings, but was, of course, altogether insufficient to hold so large a congregation. In June, 1861, the number of communicants were 143. The inconveniences were, therefore, very great, and the necessity of a new church edifice was imminent. Mr. Boreen was no doubt a good, ear- nest, well-meaning man. He afterwards removed to Stockholm, Pepin county, and died there March 22, 1865, and was buried at Vasa.

"In September, 1861, I was recalled to the pastorate at Red Wing, where I resided up to January, 1870, and entered upon the discharge of my duties. In order to bring the question of a location for the church to a close, a meeting was called for September 7th, 1861, at Vasa, when a committee of eleven was appointed, consisting of such persons as lived round the whole settlement and farthest away from its center, and this committee was authorized to decide upon a site for the church, and by its decision the congregation was to abide. The committee soon after met and decided upon the location where the present church stands: the north-west quarter of south-east quarter of Section 15, town 12. In order to secure the site the committee had first to buy 80 acres of Dr. Whitmore, of Wabasha, for the sum of $320. The con- gregation bought 40 acres, and the other 40 acres was sold to a private person. Now, the place was decided upon and at a meeting called on the 1 2th of October, it was decided to go to work and build a church. It was to be built of frame, 60x38 feet. Soon, however, a number of families in the southern part of the settlement were dissatisfied with the location, and some other things relating to the building of the church, and withdrew from the congregation. They even organized a new con- gregation and talked of erecting a church of their own. The congrega- tion paid no attention to this new movement, but went to work and built a small church on the beautiful hill it had decided upon. But in view of so many families having withdrawn, the dimensions wrere reduced to 40x26, with a small sacristy. In June, 1862, it was so far finished that the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North America could hold its annual meeting there — an occasion of historical note. The move- ment of the seceders fell to the ground, and by and by most of them returned to the old congregation.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 4.57

"We were now in the times of the great civil war, and the minds of all the people were occupied by that all-absorbing theme. It was not a time favorable to the growth of spirituality and the peaceful develop- ment of the kingdom of God ; the times were too exciting for that. Nev- ertheless, the grace of mercy in caring for the sick and wounded, and the people, was during that time awakened in the congregation as never before. Not a few of its members went into the war, and many never returned. In numbers and material wealth, the congregation continued to grow during the war. At its close it had 314 communicants. On this account the church soon became too small for the congregation. At the annual meeting of 1865, it was proposed to move the edifice from the top of the hill to the east side of the lot, put a stone basement under it and to make preparations for erecting a larger church. This proposition was adopted, and the church was moved during the summer. In the follow- ing fall and winter the basement was occupied by the congregational school and by the orphan home, then in its incipiency. In regard to the erection of a new church, there were many deliberations from December, 1865, to January 2, 1867. It was then resolved by the congregation that I should take the whole matter in my own hands — solicit subscriptions and direct the work from beginning to end. During the winter and spring I had about $8,000 subscribed towards the new building, and dur- ing the summer Messrs. J. Paulson and J. Wilsey made 350,000 bricks. My health failing again, I had to ask for leave of absence for one year — from November, 1867 — and leaving the pastoral work to my assistant, and the erection of the church to the trustees and a building committee, I went to Sweden in the beginning of 1868. The foundation of the new church was laid in the summer of 1868, and the church was put up in 1869, Mr. D. C. Hill, of Red Wing, being the architect and contractor for the work. In the early summer of the next year the church was finished and consecrated. Its dimensions are: Length, 118 feet; width, 50 feet; side walls, 22 feet high. A parsonage was also erected late in the season of 1869. The whole cost of the new church and the parsonage as com- pleted amounted to $31,065.22. The gentleman to whom belongs the credit of having collected and disbursed the greatest part of this sum is Hon. J. W. Peterson, who, since 1870, has been the worthy treasurer of the congregation. With the beginning of the year 1868 the pastorate of Red Wing and Vasa was divided. I then resigned the former, retain- ing the latter ; but I did not remove to Vasa before January, 1870.

"From 1873, on account of my many duties as president of the

458 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

synod, I withdrew from the active duties of my pastoral office in the con- gregation, and the Rev. P. J. Sward, formerly missionary among the sea- men at Constantinople, Turkey, and lately at Baltimore, Md., was elected vice-pastor. Rev. Sward died in Sweden several years ago."

Charles A. Erickson, of Red Wing. Minnesota, was born in Linkop- ing, Sweden, December 25, 1841, son of Eric and Sarah Erickson, farming people of Sweden. Erick Erickson brought his family to America in 1857, and settled in Red Wing, Minnesota, where, soon afterward, he died. Fol- lowing are the names of his children, in order of birth : Charles A. ; Eric Gustaf, a printer of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Anna Sophia, who married Nils J. Skoog ; Claus William, a carpenter of Kansas City, Missouri ; John Frederick, Christina Mathilda and Peter Axel, who died in infancy; and Oliver T., an electrical engineer of Seattle, Washington.

Charles A. Erickson attended the public schools in Sweden until 1857, when he came with his father's family to America, and after their settle- ment in Red Wing he spent nearly four years in the public and parish schools. His first employment was as a farm hand.

March 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry ; was mustered into the service at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and was assigned to the Department of Tennessee in the Southwest. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, March 27, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Alexandria, Louisiana, after which he re-enlisted. He was wounded in battle at Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1864. Quoting from Mr. Erickson's war record on file at St. Paul: "He was in all the campaigns with the regiment from the first skirmish at Corinth, Missis- sippi, May 28, 1862, until after the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, Decem- ber 15, 1864. The regiment during that time marched seven or eight thousand miles and was in more than twenty different engagements with the enemy. He has always been a faithful soldier." After being wounded he was taken to the hospital at St. Louis. His final discharge is dated September 6, 1865.

Returning home at the close of the war, young Erickson entered Hamline University, where he was a student three years. Afterward he clerked in a hardware store, and in 1873 he began the business of man- ufacturing carriages, wagons and sleighs, in which he is still engaged, and he now also deals in farm machinery.

July 6, 1873, he married Miss Augusta Albertina Foss, daughter of

PUBLIC Lk

V LENOX AND TILD&N r«UND»TIOHS.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 461

C. J. Foss, of Goodhue county, Minnesota, and the fruits of their union are eight children, namely : Hilma Sophia, who married C. A. K. John- son, of Red Wing, by whom she has two children, Loel Alberta Regina and Ivan Schubert Carlyle ; Wilhelmina Charlota, a school teacher ; Charles Earnest, Arthur Russell, and Anton Theodore, deceased; Edna Verginia, a clerk in the Red Wing post office ; Ruth, deceased ; and Ruby, who died in infancy.

Mr. Erickson has long been identified with the English Lutheran church, and for over twenty years has faithfully served as deacon and trustee ; also, for a number of years, he has been superintendent of the Sunday School. Politically, he is classed with the Independent Repub- licans ; he has served as alderman and president of the City Council of Red Wing. Like the majority of Civil war veterans, he has a member- ship in the G. A. R. ; and he is a worthy member also of the Scandinavian Benevolent Society.

Peter N. Allen, one of the representative citizens of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, dates his birth in Kristianstad, Hammar Ian, Skane, Sweden, January 9, 1845, and is a son of Nils Nilson and Gunilla (Pearson) Alsen, as the name was originally spelled. His parents were farming people in Sweden, and there spent their lives, and died, the father in 1871 and the mother in 1889. Of their family, we record that Nils is engaged in the insurance business in Hiawatha, Kansas ; Nellie, who was the wife of Nils Lewis, a hotel-keeper of Seattle, Washington, died in 1908 ; Louis, for seven years a resident of America, returned to Sweden, where he now lives ; Swan, deceased, was a tanner in Sweden ; Peter N., the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Anna is the wife of Biorn Anderson, a farmer of Sweden ; Gunilla married Swan Hanson, a farmer of Sweden ; Penilla died in infancy ; Thore is engaged in farm- ing in Sweden ; and Pelle at this writing holds the position of treasurer in Kristianstad, Sweden.

In 1868 Peter N. Allen, then a young man in his early twenties, emigrated to America, and soon after his arrival here took up his abode at Moline, Illinois, where for a time he worked on a farm and attended school.- He farmed, worked as a coal miner, and traveled. He spent three years in California and Oregon, and in 1875 he sailed from San Francisco for his old home in Sweden, where he spent the next two years. Returning to America in 1877, he directed his course to Kansas,

462 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

from whence the following year he came to Cannon Falls, which has since been his home. At the end of a year spent here as clerk in a hardware store, he paid another visit to Sweden, and on his return engaged in the saloon business, which he conducted for ten years, from 1879 t° 1889. Then he purchased a furniture store, and the next seven vears gave his attention to it. This business he sold to John Danielson & Son, and has since conducted an undertaking business with C. Daniel- son Furniture Company.

On account of the confusion which obtained because of the similarity of the names Alsen and Olson, Peter N. Alsen, soon after coming to America, changed his name to Allen.

September 15, 1879, he married Miss Magdalena Pearson, of Sweden, and they have the following named children : Herman, who is em- ployed in the office of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Alice, wife of E. J. Peters, a hardware salesman of Minneapolis, has one child, Marian ; Martha is a saleslady in a dry goods store; Gertrude, Evelyn and Louis are at home.

Politically Mr. Allen is a Republican. For the last seventeen years he has been a member of the local board of education, most of this time serving as treasurer of the board, and for eleven years he has been a county commissioner, and is still serving in both positions. He is iden- tified with the Swedish-Lutheran church, in which he has filled the office of deacon.

P. A. Peterson, postmaster of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, was born in Winslof, Kristianstad Ian, Sweden, January 24, 1855, son of Ake and Anna (Nelson) Peterson, natives of that place, where the father fol- lowed the trade of carriage-maker. The Peterson family emigrated to America in 1869, when the subject of this sketch was a boy in his teens, and settled at Cannon Falls, and here the elder Peterson carried on farm- ing for several years, until he retired. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in 1906; his wife died in 1895. They were members of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which faith they reared their children, a daughter and son. The former, Nellie, married David Jepson. She died in 1873. The son, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of Sweden and America. From 1871 until 1880, he clerked in a drug store, during those nine years thoroughly familiarizing himself with every detail of the business, and in 1880 he entered the drug busi-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 463

ness on his own account, and continued the same successfully until August 20, 1889, when he received the appointment of postmaster of his town. This office he has since held by reappointment. Meanwhile, until 1908, he retained his interest in the drug business, selling in that year.

June 24, 1880, Mr. Peterson married Miss Mary Swanson, daughter of J. F. Swanson, of White Rock, Minnesota. She died in 1895, leaving one child, Edna, and five years later, October 4, 1900, Mr. Peterson married Miss Hilma Holmer, daughter of H. J. Holmer, of Cannon Falls. This union has been blessed in the birth of two children, Holmer and Elaine.

For eighteen years Mr. Peterson has been secretary of the Swedish Lutheran church, and during the same time he was treasurer and a trustee of the church. He has for years taken an active interest in local politics, at one time serving as a member of the City Council. He is a Republican. Fraternally he is identified with the M. W. A., Samaritans, Scandinavian Benevolent Society, and Swedish Benevolent Society. Of the last named organization he has been secretary and treasurer.

Fred C. Carlson, manager of the Cannon Falls Dry Goods Co., Cannon Falls, Minnesota, was born in Red Wing, this state, March 14, 1873, of Swedish parents. In his youth he attended the public schools of Cannon Falls, and at the early age of thirteen years was employed as clerk by A. O. Bergren, for whom he worked eight months. The next year he clerked in the general store of B. Van Campen, following which he was for two years in the employ of Van Campen & Rosing, shoe deal- ers, leaving this firm to work for J. Danielson & Son, proprietors of a general store. In 1900 he went to Zumbrota, where he remained two years in the employ of Myer & Johns. January 1, 1903, returning to Cannon Falls, he organized the Cannon Falls Dry Goods Company, of which he has since been treasurer and general manager, and which is to-day regarded as the largest establishment of the kind in the town.

October 30, 1900, Mr. Carlson married Miss Amanda C. Danielson, daughter of John Danielson. Mr. Carlson takes an active interest in local politics, and has been honored by being elected to the office of president of the Republican Club of Gannon Falls. He is a member of the Mod- ern Samaritans, the Swedish Benevolent Society, and the Swedish Luther- an Church. He is a brother of John H. Carlson, also of Cannon Falls, personal mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this work.

464 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

William M. Ericson, county attorney, Red Wing, Minnesota, was born in this city, July 15, 1880, a son of Swedish parents, John F. and Johanna Marie (Helsing) Ericson. John F. Ericson was born in Gutten- berg. In 1871, while still a boy, he left his native land and emigrated to America, stopping first in Chicago and there spending two years. From Chicago he went to Lake City, and while there met the young woman who afterward became his wife. She was born in Jothland, Swe- den. On coming to Red Wing, he engaged in farming and railroad con- struction work, and afterward was for several years employed in a shoe factory. In 1884, he opened up a retail shoe business, which he con- ducted until 1890, selling his store that year. At this writing, he is en- gaged in shoemaking. Of the children born to John F. and Johanna Marie Ericson, the record in brief is as follows : George E., an attorney of Spooner, Minnesota; Esther, deceased; Esther O., head-fitter in a dress-making establishment in St. Paul, Minnesota; Alice A., wife of B. P. Canfield, a barber of St. Paul ; William M., the subject of this sketch ; Eleanor and Edgar, both of whom died in infancy; and Lillian, who is employed in the office of her brother, William M. The father is a Republican, and a Lutheran, being identified with the Swedish-Lutheran church of Red Wing, of which he is secretary.

William M. Ericson grew up in his native town, receiving his edu- cation in the public school, and graduating with the Red Wing high school class of 1900. Then he entered the office of Hon. F. M. Wilson, in Red Wing, and took up the study of law, in connection with which he did some newspaper work. From 1902 to 1904 he was employed in an editorial capacity on the Red Wing Daily Republican. In January, 1906, he passed the examination of the State Board, and was admitted to prac- tice at the bar, and from March 1, 1906, until December 1, 1906, he was a partner of F. M. Wilson. On December 1, of the last named year, he opened an office for himself, and has since conducted a law practice. That same year he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county attorney ; was re-elected in 1908, and still fills the office.

Mr. Ericson is identified with numerous fraternal organizations, among them being I. O. F., K of P., A. O. U. W., B. P. O. E., I. O. O. R. Yeomen, M. W. A., Eagles, and I. O. R. M. In the last named or- ganization he has been honored with the office of Great Sachem, or presi- dent, of the state of Minnesota Also he is a member of the Commercial Club, the. Strollers' Club, the Floradora Club, and the Aurora Ski Club,

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 467

as well as the Red Wing Historical Society and the American Society of Curio Collectors.

Charles J. Westman, a grocer of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, was born in Wireda socken, Smaland, Sweden, November 1, 1858, but was brought to this country at an early age and soon became Americanized. Mr. Westman is a son of August and Lottie (Johnson) Westman, natives of Smaland, where his father followed the trade of shoemaker until the time of his emigration to this country, in 1865. Arrived here, he settled near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and for ten years followed farming. Then he began repairing shoes in the town, which he continued up to the time of his death, in 1906. His widow now makes her home in Minneapolis. To them were born the following named children : Christina, who mar- ried John Lewis, a machinist of Minneapolis ; Charles J. ; Hulda Caroline, who married William Hanson, of Hastings, Minnesota; Gustof Adolph, a master mechanic in the employ of Winston Bros., railroad contractors ; Herman, who was drowned at the age of four years ; Emma, who mar- ried William Bergholtz, a plumber of Minneapolis ; Luther H.. a plumber of Minneapolis ; Esther, who married Ernest Peterson, a stenographer in the employ of the German Life Insurance Company, of St. Paul.

Charles J. Westman was a small boy when he came with his parents to America. He attended the common schools, and worked two years at the carpenter's trade, then he entered the general store of . G. West- man & Co., as a clerk, and was employed in that capacity twelve years. In 1887 he was engaged in the grocery business in St. Paul. Since 1890 he has owned and conducted a grocery in Cannon Falls, where he is classed with the prosperous and successful merchants of the town.

September 8, 1887, Mr. Westman married Melvina Hawkinson, daughter of Nels Hawkinson, a farmer living near Cannon Falls. They are the parents of seven children: Ansel, who died in infancy; Ruby Elvira, Carl August, Eva Charlotte, George Wendel, Esther, Theodore Ulysses — all at home. Mr. Westman is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee ; in his political views he is a Repub- lican, and for three years has been a member of the City Council ; and he is identified with the A. O. U. W. and the Swedish Benevolent Society.

Emil J. Holmes, a real estate dealer of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, was born in Spring Garden, this state, October 12, 1865, a son of Swedish parents, Gustaf and Anna (Felt) Holmes. Gustaf Holmes was a native

468 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

of Smaland, Sweden, where he was educated and where he followed farming until the time of his emigration to America in 1856. On his arrival in this country he settled at Bishop Hill, near Galesburg, Illinois, where he farmed two years. In 1858 he came to Goodhue county, Min- nesota, and here he passed the rest of his life, and died in 1890. His widow survives him. Of their ten children, three are living, namely : Walter, a farmer of Goodhue county ; Julius, of Montana, and Emil J., the subject of this sketch.

Emil J. Holmes received a public school education in Goodhue county. Then he entered Gustavus Adolphus College, at St. Peter, where he spent four years, and graduated with the class of 1888. Immediately after the completion of his college course, he engaged in the hardware business on his own account, and continued the same until 1904, when he came to Cannon Falls and turned his attention to the real estate business, to which he has since been devoting his energies with a fair degree of prosperity.

October 12, 1892, Mr. Holmes married Miss Emily Danielson, daugh- ter of John Danielson, of Cannon Falls, and they have three children : Alilton, Alvin, and Mabel.

Reared by Lutheran parents, Mr. Holmes continues in this faith, and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. He is a Republican, and has filled various town offices. Also he is a member of the Swedish Benevolent Society of Cannon Falls.

Charles Danielson. — Occupying a substantial position among the leading citizens of Cannon Falls, is Charles Danielson, who has spent the larger part of his life in this city, and since attaining manhood has been identified with its mercantile interests, being now at the head of the C. Danielson Furniture Company. A son of the late John Danielson, he was born, January 1, 1867, in Ottumwa, Iowa, of Swedish parentage.

A native of Sweden, John Danielson was born in Smaland, and was there reared and educated. After leaving school he learned the trades of a carpenter and miller, and there worked a few years as a journeyman. Coming to America in 1865, he spent a few months in Illinois, and then, in search of a more favorable opportunity for increasing his finances, went to Wapello county, Iowa. Locating near Ottumwa, he engaged in farming, and in addition to his agricultural labors also followed his trade of carpenter to some extent. Moving with his family to Cannon Falls, Minnesota, in 1871, he, in company with the late Air. Gustavus Westman,

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 469

established a general store and conducted it most successfully for many years. Mr. Westman died in 1887, but his interest was taken by Mrs. G. Westman, and the business was continued as before until 1890, when Charles Danielson, the subject of this sketch, purchased Mrs. Westman's interest, and the firm name was changed to J. Danielson & Son. In Febru- ary, 1903, the senior member of the firm died, and the business was sub- sequently conducted as an estate for four years, when, in 1907, Mrs. Westman bought the interest of the estate, and the firm, under its present name of the C. Danielson Furniture Company, has since carried on a large and thriving trade, not only in Cannon Falls, but is Zumbrota, where it has a branch house.

John Danielson married Christine L. Magnusson, a native of Sweden, her birth having occurred in 1841, and of the union five children were born, namely: Charles, the special subject of this brief personal sketch; Emily, wife of Emil J. Holmes, of whom a sketch may be found on an- other page of this work ; Esther, wife of Magnus Olson, clerk of Cannon Falls; Amanda, wife of F. C. Carlson, of whom a short sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume; and Mary, wife of Thore R. Johnson, attorney of Cannon Falls. Politically John Danielson was an active mem- ber of the Democratic party, and for a number of terms was a member of the school board, and for twenty years represented his ward in the City Council. He was a trustee, and one of the leading members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and drew the plans, and built, the first church of that denomination in Cannon Falls. He passed to the life beyond February 8, 1903, and his widow died April 16, 1907, having survived him a little more than four years.

A lad of four years when he came with his parents to Cannon Falls, Charles Danielson acquired his early education in the city schools, subse- quently in the employ of his father obtaining a thorough knowledge of mercantile affairs. As previously noted, he became associated with his father in business in 1890, and has since been numbered with the success- ful and progressive merchants of the city, his business ability and judg- ment being unquestioned. To meet competition of mail order houses, he compiled and published the first retail furniture catalogue in the state of Minnesota, thus bringing his establishment into prominence before the public, and greatly increasing his extensive trade.

Mr. Danielson married, June 8, 1891, Eva Josephine Westman, daughter of the late Ole Norelius and Josephine Norelius Westman, of Cannon Falls, and they have one child, Laverne Norelius, now attending

470 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

school. Mr. Danielson is a musican of considerable talent, and for fifteen years was the leader of a band which he was instrumental in organizing. He is interested in embalming, and has a state license as an embalmer. He is vice-president of the Retail Furniture Dealers' Association and chairman of the buying committee. Politically he is a Democrat, and religiously true to the faith in which he was reared ; he is a member and . an ex-trustee of the Swedish Lutheran church. He is a member of vari- ous secret societies, belonging to the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; to the Woodmen of the World ; the Modern Woodmen of America ; the Modern Samaritans ; and to the Star of Bethlehem.

Peter A. H. Kempe, a well-known citizen of Red Wing, Minnesota, where he has lived for over thirty years, was born in Tidaholm, Wester- gotland, Sweden, April 3, 1856, son of Aaron and Hedwig Charlotte (Lunden) Kempe. His parents were natives of that same province, and there passed their lives, the father dying there in 1885, the mother in 1866. Their family comprised five children, of whom we record that Peter Aaron Hjalmar, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest; Gerda, Sven, Bertha and David are in Sweden. Bertha is the wife of Adolph Lundmark, a minister; Sven is a physician, and David is a government factory inspector.

Peter attended the Skara high school, in Sweden, and later was a student in a commercial college at Rostock, Germany, where he com- pleted his course at the age of twenty years. Then, for two years, he was clerk in a ship broker's office on Hamburg, Germany. August 1, 1878, he landed in Red Wing, Minnesota, and entered the employ of John Kempe, grocer, with whom he remained in the capacity of clerk for sev- eral years. In 1883, he engaged in the retail grocery business on his own account, and continued the same until 1894. That year the firm of Friedrich & Kempe Co. was organized, with Peter A. H. Kempe as vice president. This company does an exclusive wholesale grocery business, has made rapid and substantial growth from the beginning, and to-day employs five traveling salesmen. Mr. Kempe has charge of. the city sales.

June 22, 1882, he married Miss Mary Dadlow, of Goodhue county, Minnesota, and they have one son, Walter A. F. Mr. Kempe is a mem- ber of the United Commercial Travelers ; is independent in politics ; and in his religious faith is a Methodist, being a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church at Red WTing.

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John H. Carlson, a hardware merchant of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, dates his birth in Smaland, Sweden, August 22, 1866. His father died when John H. was young, and in 1869 his mother, Anna Sophia Carlson, came with her little family to American. Two years after landing in this country, they took up their abode near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and here John H. received a common school education. When he grew up he gave his attention to the lumber business, in which he was engaged for a period of twenty years, up to 1906, a part of that time as manager of the branch office of the Chas. Betcher Lumber Co., of Red Wing. In 1906 he embarked in the hardware business, which he still continues.

November 29, 1893, Mr. Carlson married Miss Delia M. Peterson, daughter of Johannes Peterson, a farmer of Vasa. Three children are the fruits of this union: Gladys E., Irene A., and Mildred J., deceased. Mr. Carlson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he has been honored by being made trustee and treasurer; also he is treas- urer of the Lutheran Orphans' Home at Vasa. Politically he is a Repub- lican.

Oscar Fred Peters, a hardware merchant of Cannon Falls, Minne- sota, was born in Goodhue county, this state, November 18, 1861, son of Swedish parents, John and Christine (Johnson) Peters. John Peters was a native of Jonkopings Ian, Smaland, Sweden, where he lived and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1851, when he emigrated to America, landing in this country on May 6th. After a few years spent in the state of Indiana and the city of Chicago, he came to Goodhue county, Minne- sota. That was in 1855 or 1856. Here he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming ; prospered and occupied a representative place among the Swedish people of the locality. Politically, he was a Republican; religiously, a Lutheran, and up to the time of his death was a deacon and trustee of the Swedish Lutheran church. He was the father of five chil- dren, namely : John August, a farmer on the old homestead in Goodhue county; Matilda, who married John Swanson, a tailor of Cannon Falls; William, who died in 1906; Oscar Fred, and Ella, who married Charles Berg.

Oscar F. Peters was educated in the common schools of his native county, and after leaving school entered the employ of D. E. Yale, dealer in hardware and farm implements, with whom he remained in the capacity of clerk for nine years. In 1892, he and Peter S. Prink bought the business of Mr. Yale, and as partners they conducted the

474 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

store the next two years, until 1894, when Mr. Peters purchased Mr. Prink's interest. Since that date Mr. Peters has conducted the business alone, and now has the largest and best equipped store in Cannon Falls.

September 10, 1893, he married Miss Ella Brockner, daughter of Charles Brockner, a farmer of Rochester, Minnesota, and they have five children : Lee, Georgia, June, Leona and Bernice. Mr. Peters is a Republican, and an alderman of his town. Fraternally, he is an A. F. & A. M., an I. O. O. F., and an A. O. U. W., and, religiously, he afnliates- with the Episcopal church.

Alfred Johnson. — Numbered among the citizens of good repute and high standing in Goodhue county is Alfred Johnson, a well-known resi- dent of Cannon Falls, where for nearly three decades he has been pros- perously employed as a blacksmith and wagon maker. A native of Swe- den, he was born, April 18, 1846, in Linkoping, where he spent the earlier years of his life. His parents were both born in Sweden, the birth of the father, J. M. Johnson, occurring in 1817, and that of the mother in 1 82 1. In 1885 they emigrated to America, the loved home of so many of their nearest and dearest kinsmen, and after farming in Minnesota for twelve years retired from active pursuits, locating in Cannon Falls, where they are now living, honored and respected, being the oldest Swedish couple in the city.

Having received a practical education in the public schools of his native land, Alfred Johnson was subsequently employed in various occu- pations, being in turn carpenter, farmer, printer and miller. Industrious and enterprising, with a laudable ambition to take advantage of every offered opportunity for advancing his financial condition, he came to the United States in 1869, making his way directly to Minnesota. The ensu- ing year he was engaged in general farming at Red Wing, from there going to Hastings, Dakota county, where for ten years he operated a blacksmith and wagon-making shop. Removing with his family to Can- non Falls in 1880, Mr. Johnson has since been actively associated with the development and advancement of the industrial and manufacturing interests of the city, as a wagon manufacturer and blacksmith carrying on an extensive and lucrative business.

Mr. Johnson married Christine Swanson, who was born, in 1853,. in Smaland, Sweden, and was there brought up and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four children, namely : Hilma, living at home ; Thore R. ; Carl C. F., of Cannon Falls, clerk in a drug store ;.

ANDREW SWANSON

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 477

and Esther, engaged in school teaching. In his political views Mr. Johnson is independent, voting for the best men and measures regardless of party restrictions. Socially he is a member of the Scandinavian Benevolent Society, and religiously both he and his wife are worthy members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

Thore R. Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Johnson, laid a sub- stantial foundation for his future education in the public schools pf Cannon Falls, in 1900 receiving his diploma from the high school. Sub- sequently entering the University of Minnesota, he was graduated from the Law Department in 1903, after which he was engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in Clinton, Minnesota, for a year. Returning then to Cannon Falls, he has continued his law practice with excellent success, being now one of the leading attorneys of the city. On June 22, 1905, he married Mary Danielson, daughter of John Danielson, of Can- non Falls, and they have one child, Marian Lorine. Religiously Thore R. Johnson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and politically he is identified with the Democratic party. He takes an active interest in municipal affairs, having been a member of the Board of Education and of the Park Board, and is now serving most satisfactorily to all concerned as city attorney. Fraternally he belongs to the Scandinavian Benevolent Society ; to the Modern Woodmen of America ; and to the Woodmen of

the World.

1

Andrew Swanson. — For nearly half a century Andrew Swanson was numbered among the sterling and honored citizens of Red Wing, the metropolis and judicial center of Goodhue county, and here he died on the 1 6th of March, 1906, secure in the high regard of all who knew him. He was a pioneer of this section of the state and here he not only gained for himself a position of independence and marked prosperity, but he also contributed to the development and material upbuilding of the city that has so long represented his home. Such was the character of the man and such his achievement as one of the world's productive workers that he is specially well deserving of a tribute in the pages of this history.

Andrew Swanson was born in Hudena socken, Elfsborgs Ian, Sweden, on the 9th of November, 1833, and was the son of a substantial farmer of that section. He was thus reared to the sturdy discipline of the great basic industry of agriculture, and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the schools of the place and period. In 1852,

478 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

when nineteen years of age, he severed the ties that bound him to home and fatherland and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. Soon after landing in New York City he made his way westward to Galesburg, Illinois, in which city and its vicinity he found requisition for his services in various lines of employment. He worked on farms, in flour mills and other general work, besides which he was for a time employed as a laborer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He was ever ready to turn his hand to any honest work that he could secure, and his intrinsic integrity of character gained to him confidence and respect wherever he was employed, as was also true during the entire course of his long and successful career as an independent business man in later years. He maintained his home in Illinois until 1857, when he came to Minnesota and established his residence in Red Wing, which was then scarcely more than a mere frontier village. In the early pioneer days, being without financial means or knowledge of any trade, he was com- pelled to employ himself in such general work as it was possible for him to secure. Under these conditions, none too auspicious, it was given this sturdy and ambitious young man to press forward to better things and eventuallv to achieve a success worthy of the name and worthy of him- self. He literally "grew up with the country," and none better than he appreciated the changes that were wrought in this favored section with the passing of the years. He was ambitious and frugal, and as soon as he had acquired a little capital he engaged in various small business enterprises, — such as draying, minor contract work, etc. In 1862 he entered into a partnership with J. G. Gustafson, under the firm name of Swanson & Gustafson, and engaged in the handling of grain, flour and feed. At that time Goodhue county was sparsely settled, but in the midst of an active immigration, and the products handled by the firm of Swanson & Gustafson were shipped here in large quantities from the lower and older Mississippi river districts in Illinois. The firm did a strictly retail business, but their receipts at times reached as high as one thousand dollars in a single day. In after days, when Red Wing had become a world-famous shipping point, one could hardly believe that this great and fertile section of the state at one time imported such products by the barge-load.

Upon disposing of the business mentioned Messrs. Swanson & Gustafson joined the firm of Simonson, Olson, Busch & Company, gen- eral merchants, which thereafter continued operations for several years. Mr. Swanson, however, took no active part in the detailed affairs of this

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 479

business. He engaged in the shipping and selling of horses, and later entered into a partnership with W. Fleron in the livery business. In 1874 he became associated with Charles Erickson in the furniture busi- ness, under the title of Erickson & Swanson, and soon afterward they began the manufacturing of and wholesale dealing in furniture, having purchased the Koch factory, on Dakota street. In 1880 their business was reorganized by the formation of a stock company, which was duly incorporated as the Red Wing Furniture Company. Mr. Swanson assumed the management of the retail branch of the business, of which department of the enterprise he became the purchaser in 1882, in which year the Red Wing Furniture Company discontinued its retail operations. After conducting the business individually for a short interval Mr. Swanson merged the same with that of the retail store of Charles Erickson and with the furniture factory of D. C. Hill, whereupon a stock company was formed under the name of the Red Wing Manu- facturing Company. Mr. Swanson took charge of the company's retail business, of which he became the owner a few years later, by purchase, and with this enterprise he continued to be actively identified until the close of his long and useful life. The business is still continued, under the original firm title of A. Swanson & Son.

Andrew Swanson was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church for nearly half a century, having identified himself therewith in 1858, soon after taking up his residence in Red Wing, and for many years he was a trustee of the local church of this denomination. No man in the community commanded a higher measure of popular confidence and esteem and he was a citizen of influence in both business and civic affairs. In politics he was aligned as a supporter of the cause of the Demo- cratic party, on whose ticket he was elected city treasurer of Red Wing. He was a member of Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association, was generous and kindly in his relations with his fellow men and stood exemplar of those sterling traits of character that have made the Swedish-American element so powerful and valued a factor in the devel- opment and progress of the great state of Minnesota.

On the 3d of December, 1859, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Swanson to Miss Oliva Olson, daughter of Hokan and Hannah Olson, who immigrated from Sweden to the United States in 1854, locating first at St. Charles, Illinois, whence they came to Red Wing in 1855. Here Mr. Olson followed his trade of cabinetmaking and here he con-

480 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

tinued to maintain his home until his death, in 1897, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He was one of the honored pioneers and patriarchs of this section of the state when he was thus summoned to eternal rest. His wife died in 1856, soon after the family removal to Red Wing. Mrs. Andrew Swanson survives her honored husband and still remains in the attractive home that is endeared to her by the gracious memories and associations of the past. Mr. and Mrs. Olson became the parents of eight children,— four sons and four daughters. The sons are living, but all of the daughters are now deceased. John Frederick, eldest of the sons, is individually mentioned in this work; Henry A. is traveling salesman for the Scandia Furniture Company, of Rockford, Illinois; Theodore A., is engaged in business in Red Wing; and Charles A. is engaged in the jewelry business at West Superior, Minnesota.

John F. Swanson. — One of the essentially representative business men and honored and influential citizens of Red Wing is John Frederick Swanson, who is a native son of this city and a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families. On preceding pages of this work is entered a memoir to his honored father, the late Andrew Swanson, and thus it is not demanded that the data concerning the latter's career be repeated in the sketch at hand.

He whose name initiates this article is a worthy representative of the stanch Swedish element that has contributed so largely to the civic and material development and upbuilding of the great state of Minne- sota, to which his loyalty is of the most insistent type. He was born in Red Wing, the county seat and metropolis of Goodhue county, Minne- sota, on the 19th of January, 1861, and is a son of Andrew and Oliva (Olson) Swanson. In this attractive little city he was reared to ma- turity and here he has continuously maintained his home. He was afforded the advantages of the public schools. He entered the employ of the firm of Erickson & Swanson, of which his father was junior member, and in 1878-9 had charge of a branch furniture store at Cannon Falls. In 1880 he became shipping clerk for the Red Wing Furniture Company, which succeeded the firm of Erickson & Swanson and which handled furniture both at wholesale and retail, besides which it con- ducted a well equipped though not extensive furniture factory. Under the new regime Mr. Swanson continued to be identified with the enter- prise and later he was secretary and bookkeeper of the Red Wing Manu-

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 481

facturing Company, which is still in existence. In 1888 Andrew Swanson purchased the retail department of this company's business and entered into partnership with his son John F., of this review, under the firm name of A. Swanson & Son. With this enterprise the father continued to be identified until his death, in March, 1905, and the business is still successfully conducted under the original title.

In 1894, while still actively associated with his father in the retail furniture business, John F. Swanson entered into partnership with John Augustine and engaged in the retail hardware trade, under the firm name of Augustine & Swanson, on Bush street. In September, 1896, J. L. Anderson purchased an interest in the business, whereupon the title of the firm, which at this time purchased the hardware stock of A. F. Anderson, was changed to Augustine, Anderson & Company. The two stocks were combined and the firm removed to a more eligible location on Main street. The partnership alliance continued unchanged until the 1st of July, 1905, when Mr. Augustine withdrew from the firm, and since that time the business has been successfully continued under the title of Swanson & Anderson. The finely equipped establishment of the firm is the largest in Red Wing and controls an extensive and appreciative trade. The store is essentially modern in all its appoint- ments and the stock in all departments is kept at the highest standard. Fair and honorable dealings have begotten public confidence and esteem, and the result is shown in the large and substantial business.

As a citizen Mr. Swanson is essentially progressive and public- spirited and while he has never sought or desired office he takes a loyal interest in all that touches the welfare of his native city. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, giving his support to the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment, without reference to partisan lines. He is an active and valued member of the Red Wing Commercial Club and was formerly identified with Company G, Minne- sota National Guard. He holds to the religious faith in which he was reared and both he and his wife are zealous members of the English Lutheran church in their home city, where they are held in high regard by all who know them.

In the city of Utica, New York, on the 22d of June, 1904, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Swanson to Miss M. Louise Reichert, daughter of John Reichert, of that city, and they have one son, Fred- erick Reichert Swanson, who was born on the 28th of September, 1906.

482 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Andrew Lindgren, of Red Wing, Minnesota, was born in Blekinge, Sweden, January 30, i860, but was brought to this country when a small boy and became Americanized and grew to manhood. Mr. Lindgren's father, Andrew Lindgren, a native of Sweden, followed the various voca- tions of harness making, shoemaking and farming in the old country. In 1868, he came to America and settled at Red Wing, and the following year his family joined him here. He worked at the trade of harness- maker the rest of his life. He died in 1884, and his wife, whose name before marriage was Elna Lundquist, died in 1901. They were the parents of three children: Hannah, who married P. J. Peterson, of Red Wing; Andrew, the subject of this sketch; and Anna, who died in 1868, at the age of two years.

Andrew Lindgren received his early education in the schools of Swe- den. After the removal of the family to Minnesota, he attended school at Red Wing for four years, and subsequently was a student at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. In his youth he learned his father's trade, that of harness-maker, and worked at it until May 24, 1883, when he entered the employ of the Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association, with which he is still connected, in the capacity of secretary.

June 6, 1887, Mr. Lindgren married Miss Charlotte Malm, of Red Wing, who bore him three children : Frances V., Eva C, Lawrence W. This wife died January 21, 1903, and on January 4, 1905, Mr. Lindgren married Miss Anna Constantine.

His parents being Lutherans, Andred Lindgren, of this sketch, grew up in the Lutheran faith, and is a trustee of the church. On reaching his majority, he cast his vote with the same party his father supported, the Republican party, and has been a Republican ever since. For two years he served as a member of the City Council of Red Wing, and at present he is a member of the board of trustees of Oakwood Cemetery.

Claes Ot.to Berg, a merchant tailor, of Red Wing, Minnesota, dates his birth at Nykoping, Sweden, August 5, 1844. He received a common school education there and learned the tailor's trade, first from his father and later graduated from the Cutters' School. In the year of 1869, arriv- ing in this country, he settled at Austin, Mower county, Minnesota, where he worked at his trade and made his home for nine years. The next three years he spent at Dodge Center, and from there went to Zumbrota, where he remained until 1903, at which time he came to Red Wing. Here as a merchant tailor he has since conducted a successful business.

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 483

Mr. Berg married, in 1868, Charlotta Zatterlund, and their union was blessed with seven children, as follows : Lottie, who married L. Bal- lard ; Mary, married Ed. Petterson ; Bettie, who became the wife of Carl Lunde; Hattie, married Nils Everson, printer, of Minneapolis; Oscar Berg, engaged in dairy supply business in Chicago; Charley, a building contractor in West Superior, Wisconsin, and Nellie, at home. Mr. Berg is a member of the Scandinavian Relief Association of Red Wing, and believer of the true Church of the Living God.

August George Rosing, a well-known citizen of Red Wing, Minne- sota, for over forty years and now a resident of Minneapolis, was born in southwestern Sweden, September 1, 1822. He was educated in the schools of his native land, and was there employed as a book-keeper by the government, in addition to serving in the army. In 1868, eager to better his condition and afford his children broader opportunities than he had in his youth, he emigrated with his family to America, and settled on a farm near Red Wing. Here he lived for twenty years, then, July 1, 1888, he moved into the town and entered the employ of the Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association, an organization formed, in 1879, for the purpose of aiding and assisting the widows and orphans of deceased members. From that date until March I, 1909, when he resigned, he filled the position of secretary and general manager, during this period rendering a service of untold value to many of his unfortunate country- men.

In 1 85 1, in Sweden, Mr. Rosing married Miss Maria Marguerite Charlotte Flint Berg, and is the father of five children, namely : Hjalmar Frederic, assistant treasurer of the South Side State Bank, Minneapolis; Ora Gustof , a merchant of Schafer, North Dakota ; Leona A., of Merriam Park, Minnesota; Mary Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Doyle, died in 1878; and Sidrid, who died in infancy. Mr. Rosing is a Republican, and has served as justice of the peace, town clerk, and county commissioner.

Clarence L. Skoglund, who is engaged in a harness and saddlery business at No. 322 Plum street, Red Wing, Minnesota, was born in this city September 23, 1884, son of Swedish parents, Andrew G. and Caroline (Malm) Skoglund. Andrew G. Skoglund was a native of Vermland, Sweden, born September 17, 1852, and was educated there. In 1870, he came to America. At Red Wing, Minnesota, he found employment, first,

484 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

on the construction work of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and later as brakeman on the same road. Afterward he learned the trade of harness-maker, and ran a shop, with J. B. Ashelman as partner, under the firm name of Ashelman & Skoglund. Subsequently Mr. Skoglund bought Mr. Ashelman's interest, and continued the business alone until his death, which occurred February 12, 1904. He was a worthy member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of Red Wing, of which for some years he served as trustee and treasurer. Politically he was a Republican, and filled the office of alderman. Also he was a member of the cemetery board. His six children, in order of birth, are as follows: Hilda V., Clarence L., Walter L., Reuben A., Herbert L., and Ruth Marion.

Clarence L., after his graduation from the Red Wing high school in 1902, was for two years employed as book-keeper by the Friederich- Kempe Company. At the death of his father, he took charge of his father's business, learned the trade, and has since successfully run the harness and saddlery shop. Mr. Skoglund takes an active interest in church work, being trustee, and at this writing being president of the Young People's Society of the Swedish-Lutheran church. He is secre- tary and treasurer of the Library Board of the Carnegie Library of Red Wing, and his political affiliation is with the Republican party.

Charles E. Beckmark, the leading retail shoe merchant of Red Wing, Minnesota, was born in this city, January 8, 1869, son of Conrad and Charlotte (Swanson) Beckmark, natives of Eastern Jothland, Swe- den. Conrad Beckmark was a blacksmith and engineer. He emigrated with his family to America in 1868, and settled in Red Wing, where at first he was employed as an engineer. Later he was a member of the police force of Red Wing, in this latter capacity serving for a number of years. He died in 1883, and is still survived by his widow. Of their six children, Hilma married Charles Anderson, miller, of the Red Wing Milling Company; Gust is a miller of Red Wing; August is engaged in the hotel business in Seattle, Washington ; and Elizabeth, and Charles E. One child is deceased. Mr. Beckmark was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and, politically, he was a Republican.

Charles E. Beckmark was educated in the public schools of Red Wing. After leaving school, he was employed in a book store, where he remained for about five years. The next eight years he clerked in the shoe store of C. Beckman, at the end of that time going out on the road

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 485

as traveling representative for "Star Brand" shoes, a position he filled up to 1904. Then, with an experience of eight years as clerk and eight years as traveling salesman in the shoe business, he engaged in the retail shoe business on his own account, and to-day has the largest and best shoe store in Red Wing.

January 3, 1893, Mr. Beckmark married Miss Caroline Hawkins, daughter of George W. Hawkins, sign painter of Red Wing. They have two children : Phyllis, born July 6, 1897, and Margaret, April 17, 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Beckmark are members of the Episcopal church, and, fraternally, he is identified with the following organizations : K. of P., B. P. O. E., I. O. F., M. W. A., and A. O. U. W. Also he is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club, and has been honored with a position on the Red Wing School Board. Politically, he is a Republican.

Axel Haller, probate judge of Goodhue county, Minnesota, was born in Vermland, Sweden, December 11, 1858, son of Andrew and Kari (Bengtson) Haller, natives of the same province. Andrew Haller, a car- penter and contractor in Sweden, after his emigration to America, in August, 1867, settled in Goodhue county, and here worked at his trade until his retirement ; here he and his wife still reside. They are members of the Swedish Mission church. In their family were seven children, namely: Ingeborg, deceased, was the wife of Erick Hanson, of Good- hue county; Olof and Andrew A., farmers of Goodhue county; Axel, whose name introduces this sketch; Nels, a farmer of Goodhue county; Anna, deceased, was the wife of Fritz Peret, a mail carrier; and Edward, who died October 19, 1908, was a merchant of Wanamingo township, Goodhue county.

Axel Haller, when a small boy, accompanied his parents to America. He was educated in the public schools and at Red Wing Seminary, and for thirteen years was employed in teaching school. For four months, during 1892, he was engaged in the general merchandise business in Wanamingo township. This business he sold at the end of that brief period, and in the spring of 1893 he went to Zumbrota, where he was one of the organ- izers of the First State Bank of that place, of which he was assistant cashier until November, 1894. He was then elected probate judge of Goodhue county, which office he has since filled. On assuming the duties of this office, he took up the study of law, and in 1902 was admitted to practice by passing the State Board examination. Judge Haller is a

4«6 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

director of the Bank of Pierce, Simmons & Co., and is secretary of the Red Wing Advertising Company. Politically, he is a Republican ; relig- iously, he is identified with the Lutheran church.

December 16, 1882, he married Miss Inger Ottum, daughter of Nels and Bertha Ottum, of Red Wing, and they have nine children: Alma C, Nels B., Adolph I., Helen Marie (who died in infancy), Helmer M., Carl A., Chester A., Ferdinand V., and Florence J.

CHAPTER XXL CARVER COUNTY.

The King Oscar Settlement, which four years after its beginning was called The Union Settlement, is located in Carver county, about thirty miles north of Fort Snelling along the Minnesota river. The soil in the interior of the county is of the very best, and the county is well watered by a number of lakes, of which the largest and most beautiful is Clear Lake ; also called Wakonia Lake. The land was abundantly wooded, making cultivation hard and slow, but the labor expended has been richly rewarded.

As early as in 1850 steamers were running from the Mississippi up the Minnesota, and with this means of transportation the Swedes in 1853 commenced to hunt for a place suitable for settlement. The first Swede to locate at Union was Nils Alexanderson, from Kronoberg's Lan,.who the following year, was joined by Johan Hult with family and his two brothers, Anders and Peter Hult. This nucleus of a settlement was during the summer of 1854 augmented by Sven Gudmundson and family from Hossna ; a couple of months later by Jonas Carlson and family from Naum, and in the fall by Anders Stomberg with family and a little com- pany from Lekasa.

All of these people had arrived in America during 1852 and 1853, but had stopped at other places before coming here. They selected their claims in the vicinity of the place where the East Union Church now stands, and named it King Oscar's Settlement, in honor of their former ruler, King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway, the father of King. Oscar II and grandfather of the present King of Sweden, Gustavus V. The name of the settlement was four years later changed to The Union Settlement. Simultaneously with the Swedes, a number of Norwegian families also came. These settlers liked the land so well that they encouraged their relatives and friends in Sweden and Norway to join them, and year by year they came in large numbers, settling in the neighborhood before other nationalities had time to take up claims there. The woods were soon so well filled with Swedes and Norwegians that about i860 an important

487

488 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Scandinavian settlement was already established here. Of course, these new-comers had to contend with the same hardships and privations of all kinds that are inseparable from pioneer life in the wilderness, but here, as in other places, Swedish energy, thrift and incessant labor surmounted the difficulties and came out victorious.

The city of Carver, on the Minnesota river, was already platted by a Norwegian by the name of Gorgesen when the first Swedes arrived, but consisted of only one house. The Swedish settlement began four miles west of this place, which in the future became its most important market.

A partial list of the first Swedish settlers is here given from Dr. Erik Norelius' valuable work, "History of the Swedish Lutheran Con- gregations in America," and which shows that the larger part of the pop- ulation came from Vestergotland :

Swen Gudmundson and Johan Gustafson, from Hossna, Vestergot- land ; Carl Abramson, Anders Carlson. Johannes Carlson, Swen Mellgren, Jonas Carlson and Pehr Carlson, Naum, Vestergotland; Johannes Hult, Anders Hult, Peter Hult, Kajsa Larsdotter and Kerstin Petersdotter, Bitterna, Vestergotland ; Johannes Anderson, Anders Stomberg, Olaus Anderson, Swen Larson and Joh. Anderson, Lekasa, Vestergotland ; Peter Lundquist, Maja Swensdotter and Joh. D. Skone, Herri junga, Vester- gotland ; Anders Wass, Lars Anderson and Otto Tapper, Wedum, Vester- gotland; Peter Nilsson and Joh. Kyllerstrom, Torsled, Vestergotland; Anders Larson, Eggum, Vestergotland; Lars Anderson, Goteborg, Ves- tergotland ; Jonas Johnson and Carl Aim, Gammalkil, Ostergotland ; C. J. Stenberg, Asby, Ostergotland ; Peter Swensson, Sund, Ostergotland ; C. A. Hedengran, and Swen Manson, Godelof, Skane; Swen Pehrson, Nasum, Skane; Bengt Manson, Gumlosa, Skane; Ola Pehrson, Farlof, Skane, Joh. Adolph Hellstrom, Jonkoping; Johan Johnson, Lekaryd, Smaland; Swen Dahlberg, Asenhoga, Smaland ; Anders Hogstedt, Skiro, Smaland ; Samuel Arvidson, Nottja, Smaland; Henrick Anderson, Ny, Vermland; Nils Alexanderson, Nafvelsjo, Smaland, and Jonas Anderson, Ny, Verm- land.

Gotaholm, another Swedish settlement in Carver county, is de- scribed in an article in Hemlandet, 1859, by J. P. Miller. The first Swe- dish settler here was Daniel Justus, from the southern part of Helsingland, who came here walking through the woods in August, 1856. He took a claim at a little lake, which later was called Swede Lake. The following winter he was joined by Jons Jonsson, Ulrik Ingemarson and Carl Swens- son. The following years there were several new arrivals, and in 1858

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 489

an ex-member of the Swedish Riksdag (Congress), Olof Anderson, from Vermland, arrived. The first settlers took up their claims around the little Swede Lake. Besides the cultivation of the soil the new comers made maple sugar and also earned quite a little extra money by picking cranberries and digging and gathering "ginseng" in the woods.

Not a few Swedes came here before i860 from Jamestown, New York, and Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. Among, those may be mentioned Philip O. Johnson, Hendricks, Miller, Aberg, Brown and others. Most of the settlers came from Smaland, Vestergotland, Vermland, Helsing- land, etc. They have all made a success as settlers and are now in com- fortable circumstances.

At the time when J. P. Miller sent the letter mentioned above there were twenty-three Swedish families, in all about 100 people. "The set- tlement is located two miles south of Watertown, which city is located on the south branch of the Crow river. The land," he writes, "is wooded with several kinds of hardwood trees, with plenty of lowland and mea- dows, where a splendid grass is growing excellent as pasture and fodder for the domestic animals. There is an abundance of timber, both for building, fuel and for sale. In the neighborhood there are several lakes. The soil is a rich loam on clay bottom. The Swedes in this settlement have about 3,000 acres of land, and when they have been here one or two years they all have plenty and are happy and contented, as far as I know. Everywhere one now sees roads and clearings and commodious houses are to be found on almost every claim, where two years ago was a wilderness. All the land here is taken, but there is plenty held by yankee speculators, which at present can be bought at three to six dollars per acre."

The reason for calling the settlement Gotaholm, Mr. Miller explains, is that as most of the settlers were from the southern third of Sweden, of olden known as Gota Rike, it was deemed meet that such a fact should be recognized; and the second part of the name (Holm) was selected in honor of the Swedish missionary, Holm, who in the seventeenth century preached the Gospel for the American Indians. From this combination emanated Gotaholm. On the maps the place is now known as Gotha.

Scandia is another Swedish settlement located on the east shore of Clear Water Lake, a name which this beautiful sheet of water well de- serves. The distance from Carver is about ten miles, and from Gotaholm about six. The lake is most beautiful, as is the surrounding country, which originally was covered with dense woods.

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Mr. A. Bergquist wrote in Hemlandet, September 8, 1858, about this place : "This settlement is in my opinion the best and most beautiful in Carver county, situated as it is on one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, lakes in the whole state. This is also the common consen- sus of all the travelers who have visited us. The lake is twelve square miles, surrounded by a rich growth of sugar maple, and the soil is ex- tremely fertile. The Swedes own most of the land contingent on the lake, and fourteen claims border on its shore. The price of land here is six dollars per acre at present. The Swedes, who have settled here, come from different provinces of Sweden, and most of them embrace the Baptist faith. They have already erected a meeting house. In 1855 only seven families had settled at Scandia, but they were soon increased to twenty-two. Some of them came from Galesburg, Illinois ; others from Burlington, Iowa, led by the Baptist preacher, Fr. O. Nilson. Some Swedish Lutheran families, who had settled here, did not like to mingle with the Baptists, wherefore they sold their land to Germans who bought large tracts of land south of the lake."

Scandian Grove. — In a letter to Hemlandet, dated June 19, 1858, the first Swede, Mr. A. Thorson, who settled at this place, writes in part as follows : "Our settlement is located seven English miles northwest of St. Peter, which place is already a flourishing city with some 200 or 300 houses, and destined to grow still faster when the two railroads that are going to cross each other will be ready. In our settlement there are about 1,200 acres of wooded land, of which 400 acres are in the hands of Swedes, the rest belonging to Norwegians. The price of the wooded land in sixteen dollars an acre. Four miles west of here there are many thousand acres of prairie land, to be had at the government price, one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre."

In a communication to Dr. E. Norelius, Mr. Thorson gives a sketch of his own life, in which he relates how he and two other young men were induced to emigrate to America by a glowing letter from a Mr. Igelhard, who was living in Chicago. The other two were Lars Theorin and Carl Hakanson. They went via Helsingor to Havre de Grace in France and thence on an emigrant ship destined to New York. The ship having been damaged in a hurricane finally landed at Charleston, South Carolina, Octo- ber, 7, 1847. There the young trio remained resting, up for three weeks, after which they continued their journey to New Orleans. Thorson, after many trials and tribulations, secured a position as waiter in a hotel, where he finally was promoted as steward ; Theorin went to the Mexican war and

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died on his way there, and Hakanson got a position as carpenter. In the fall of 1848 Mr. Thorson set out for California via the Chagres and Pana- ma, from which place he worked his way to San Francisco. The latter place was very little settled at that time, and in Sacramento not a single house was to be found. In company with Americans he went directly to the mountains, where by hard work and extreme economy during three years he succeeded in saving about $2,000. He then became homesick and returned to Sweden. In Sweden he rented a farm belonging to Count Hugo Hamilton and married Miss Anna Nilsson, a sister of Andrew Nilsson, who now lives in Scandian Grove.

Thorson soon became disgusted with farming in Sweden and decided to return with his family to America, encouraged in this by his father-in- law and his brothers-in-law, who were also intent on emigrating. Their property was consequently converted into cash, and they started on their journey in the middle of April, 1855. There were thirty persons in the company — Thorson with wife and one child, his wife's parents and her brother A. Nilsson, Thorson's brother Nils and sister Bengta, a cousin, Anna Ostrom, besides six young women and fifteen young men ; all of them from the vicinity of Christianstad. In the English Channel they were run down by another ship, but all were saved except a sailor. Their ship was towed to Dover, where it was repaired in six weeks, after which they continued their journey to New York. From there they went to Chicago and Princeton, 111. Some of the company remained in Chicago, but the others, including Thorson and his relatives, went to Princeton, where they had relatives to visit. After a few weeks' sojourn in Prince- ton Thorson, accompanied by his brother-in-law, P. Benson, went to Min- nesota. They first went to Red Wing, where they looked about for a while, and next to St. Paul, "from where we went on foot up along the Minnesota river through Carver to Henderson. The land there did not suit us, and we returned to St. Paul. Here we met with a man by the name of Schonbeck, who described and eulogized the land around St. Peter, and with my brother-in-law, Mr. Benson, I decided to go there and take a look at it, but changed my mind and went down to Princeton. A few days later a letter from Mr. Benson informed me that he had bought a claim of a Norwegian for $300, and asked us to come immediately and take possession of the land. In company with my family, my wife's par- ents and her brother, Andrew Nilsson, I started at once, arriving in Scan- dian Grove October 7, 1855. Our other companions from the old country remained at Princeton, while some of them came to us later on. Upon

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our arrival we immediately erected a house and made hay for twenty cattle, which I had bought at St. Paul. The autumn was marvelously fine,, and the winter was to the greater part spent in company with Indians, of whom a great number encamped in the woods. There were four or five Norwegian families settled before our arrival, but we were the first Swedes there. In the spring of 1856 came the Chilgren brothers from Rickanum, Skane, Mans Hakanson and wife, and my sister Bengta Thor- son, all of whom had stopped for some time at Princeton before coming here. During the latter part of the summer arrived directly from Sweden Swen Larsson with family from Farlof, Skane, and some others, who soon moved away. Then came my brother. Nils Thorson, with family from Princeton. In 1857 arrived Anders Westerberg with family from Sma- land, and Carl Hamberg from the same neighborhood. These families had stopped at Geneva, Illinois, for some time. The same year came Nils Nilsson and Christian Anderson with their families and others from Farlof. During 1858 came among others: Martin Peterson, John Nilsson, Carl Nilsson with family, Erik Johansson and Peter Carlsson with families, all of them from Skane, and Ekelund with family and others- from Smaland."

Among the men in this community who have had extraordinary success and taken a great interest in the welfare of its inhabitants, both in spiritual and worldly matters, Andrew Nilsson, the brother-in-law of Thorson, stands prominent before the others. By hard work, strict at- tention to business, thrift and economy he has become one of the wealth- iest Swedish farmers in Minnesota. He has served his district in the State Legislature and been one of the pillars of Gustavus Adolphus College.

The Swedish Settlement at Vista (Waseca County).— Early in the Spring of 1857 some Swedes came from Indiana to Minnesota hunting for land. They first stopped at Cannon Falls, but partly finding, the soil there not coming up to expectations and partly the land pretty well taken up by earlier comers, they sent out a party in a southerly direction, where in the little Waseca county they found what they were looking for. The distance from Cannon Falls was fifty miles and from the nearest market places, Red Wing and Hastings, seventy miles. This, however, did not deter them from going out to settle in the wilderness. Some of them had a yoke of oxen and wagons, but none of them more than the absolute necessaries of life. So far away from civilization their privations and

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suffering were harder than those of many other settlers. Most of them lived in dug-outs and sod-houses. When they went to market at Hastings or Red Wing with an ox-team, it took them more than a week. However, they kept on working, and as the years passed on they got good crops of wheat, for which they received very high prices when the Civil war commenced. They now built better houses, raised horses, cattle and swine, etc., and prospered in general. A little later the railroads were extended through their settlement, which fact, of course, considerably increased the value of their land.

In August, 1858, when Rev. E. Norelius visited Vista, a congregation was organized and he gives the following list of its members : Carl Johanson with wife and one child ; Johan Anderson with wife and one child ; Anders i Hultamalen, widower ; Lars Fredrik Peterson with wife and one child ; Lars Hakanson, with wife and four children ; Johan Larson, with wife and two children ; Johan Nilson, with wife and two children ; Johanna Peterson (widow), with three children; Carl Johanson, Nils Kant, Swen Swenson, Magnus Johanson, Gottfrid Bjorklund, Johan Peterson, Johan Peterson and Greta Anderson. These thirty-six people formed the first stock of population. Later on the settlement received several increments by new arrivals, and is now one of the most prosperous in Minnesota.

John A. Anderson, of Waseca, Minnesota, was born in Carver county, this state, December 28, 1870. His father, Rev. Svante Anderson, the well-known pioneer preacher, is now a resident of Avoca, Murray county, Minnesota ; his mother, who before her marriage was Miss Annie Erickson, died in 1908. Of the seven children composing their family only three are now living, namely : Ida, wife of C. G. Carlstedt, with the Minnesota Transfer Company, St. Paul ; Hanna, wife of Charles F. Peter- son, a dealer in general merchandise, South Haven, Minnesota, and John A.

John A. Anderson obtained his early education in the public schools and later took an academic course at Gustavus Adolphus College, after which he accepted a position as clerk in a clothing and gents' furnishing store. Here he remained for about one year. Then he started a clothing store of his own at Worthington, Minnesota, which he conducted for seven years, at the end of that time selling out and moving to Madelia, Waton- wan county, where he engaged in the hardware and farm machinery business. After four years and a half he discontinued this business, went

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to Minneapolis and became connected with the Deer & Weber Company, for which house he traveled six months. In 1905 he made a deal by which he exchanged some real estate for a clothing and gents' furnishing goods business at Waseca. He then moved to Waseca to take charge of the store, and has since lived here and conducted a prosperous business. Meantime he has been considerably interested in real estate, buying and selling land and other property.

In 1903 Mr. Anderson married Miss Ella Broberg, daughter of Peter Broberg and wife, both of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have one daughter, Winnifred, born July 1, 1905. Fraternally Mr. Ander- son is identified with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Also he is a member of the Commercial Club of Waseca.

CHAPTER XXII. CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

Minneapolis, Queen of the Northwest, is one of the many remark- able results of the development of this part of the country during the last fifty years. The original name of the city was St. Anthony, and it was situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, the broad rolling plain on the west bank being then a government reservation, with the exception of a quarter section which had been granted to Col. John H. Stevens, and on which he had built a home. St. Anthony Falls at that time had less than fifty inhabitants. In 1854 the reservation was opened to settlement, and a new town was established and named Minneapolis — a compound of the Indian word Minne — water, and the Greek word Polis — city.

Until 1872, Minneapolis on the west side and St. Anthony on the east side, were separate municipalities, but on April 9th of that year, they were united as one city under the present name. The united town at that time had a population of about 20,000 souls. In seven years, or in 1880, it had increased to 46,887 ; during the following ten years to 164,738, while the government census of 1900 showed a population of 202,718. The state census of 1905 credited Minneapolis with 262,718, and it is a fairly good guess that the government census of this year (1910) will enumerate about 315,000 inhabitants.

Such is, in brief, the story of the remarkable growth of Minneapolis in population. Equally wonderful is its development in fifty years from a frontier village to its present position, as the commercial and manufac- turing metropolis of the Northwest. The secret of this growth is revealed by the strategical character of the city's location, midway between the extensive pine regions to the north and the prairies to the west and south ; between the vast agricultural areas to the west and northwest and the great markets for food products to the east and south, coupled with the opportunity for the development of cheap power from the falls.

The first industries established were the lumber sawing and flour milling, and in these lines the citv long since attained, and still retains, first

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place among the cities of the world. The sawmills in 1909 cut 570,000,000 feet of lumber, while the twenty-two flour mills, grouped about the falls, ground 17,000,000 barrels of flour. Minneapolis is the largest wheat market in the world. In 1908 over 95,000.000 bushels of wheat and 40,- 000,000 bushels of other small grains were received at its terminal ele- vators, which have a capacity of 25,000,000 bushels.

The first Swedish settler in Minneapolis was a shoemaker by the name of Nils Nyberg. He came in 1851 and opened a shop in. St. An- thony, being, also the first Swedish owner of real estate in the city. He died February 23, 1890. With the exception of some of the oldest settlers very few Swedes in Minneapolis, when they read in the newspapers of his demise, knew that he was the first Swede who made his home in Minneap- olis. Nils Nyberg was born at Christianstad, Skane, January 8, 1827. His father being a shoemaker by trade apprenticed both of his sons, Ola and Nils, to the same trade. The prospects for the future did not look very promising to the brothers, and they decided to try their fortune in the new world ; consequently they emigrated. They stopped over in Chicago, where Ola probably remained, but Nils came to St. Paul and later in the same year, 185 1, to Minneapolis, or then St. Anthony, where he was employed by a pioneer shoedealer by the name of Wenzinger. Shortly after he moved over on the west side of the river and opened a shoe shop of his own on Hennepin avenue, between Washington avenue and Second street. He had some land in the Pence Opera House block, but sold it and bought a property at the corner of Washington and Fourth avenues, North, where he continued in the shoe business for a number of years. Although Nyberg steadily lived in Minneapolis for about forty years, he was very little known among the Scandinavians. He was an expert shoemaker who gave satisfaction to his customers, and before his death had amassed a comfortable fortune. His death occurred February 23, 1890. His good widow, so widely known among the pioneer Swedes of Minneapolis, died in that city February 1, 1910, at the age of seventy-nine. She was survived by her son and two daughters — Henry Nyberg, a resident of Golden Valley; and Mrs. D. R. McNaught and Mrs. Sadie Smith, of Minneapolis.

The next Swede to settle in Minneapolis, after Nils Nyberg, was C. A. Widstrand, A. M., who came in 1854, and is still living. Mr. Widstrand was born June 25, 1828, at Stockholm, son of Jacob Widstrand, a clergy- man of that city, and Anna Gustafson Annell, a daughter of the Reverend Johan Annell of Ytter, Selo, Sodermanland. Mr. Widstrand was edu-

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cated in the academy of Orebro, the Collegiate Gymnasium of Strengnas and the University of Upsala. Believing his chances of advancement in Sweden too small, Widstrand emigrated to America, arriving in New York May 20, 1854. The trip over the Atlantic from Hamburg, in the bark, Ellida, took thirty-five days.

Mr. Widstrand, upon the advice of Fredrika Bremer and with three letters of introduction from her, went directly to St. Paul, where he arrived on June 10, 1854. The following month he was stricken by the cholera and his good German doctor left him one evening at 10 o'clock, fully believing there was no hope. The doctor died himself before 6 o'clock the following morning, but Widstrand was much improved and finally got well. He remained in St. Paul until December, 1854, when a Mr. S. A. Jewett persuaded him to move to St. Anthony and settle there. In St. Paul he had acted as organist and teacher from his arrival to the end of the year. In St. Anthony he continued to follow his profes- sion, acting as organist in several churches, among others in the Gethsem- ane church from 1856 to 1863. In 1869 Mr. Widstrand went to Wash- ington, D. C, where he became clerk in the Census Bureau and later in the Government Land Office, but returned to Minneapolis, where he se- cured employment as bookkeeper in the State National Bank, and later in the Security Bank. His native country he has visited in 1874, 1885 and 1890. The old gentleman is at present bookkeeper with Sodergren & Co., manufacturing chemists, Minneapolis.

The real immigration to Minneapolis, as was quite natural, did not commence until after the Civil war, the immigrants, of course, hesitating to bring their wives and children here until matters had become settled. During 1865 came J. B. Chilstrom with family, Otto Johnson, Andrew Bergstrom, John West, Erik Peterson (commonly called "Stor-Erik," — "Big Erik") ; the Klingenberg brothers, C. W. Vanstrum, August John- son, L. Erickson, and George H. Johnson and his brother. In the spring of 1865 Chilstrom started the first Scandinavian boarding house, in the fall of the same year being followed in the same line of business by L. Erickson.

At the end of the year 1866 the Swedish population of Minneapolis did not exceed 30 persons, whereas the government census of 1880 gave the number of persons born in Sweden as 3,048, and persons born of Swedish parents as 1,042, or a total of 4,090. In the suburbs, there were 98 Scandinavians. In 1895, when the state census was taken, the number

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of Swedes in Minneapolis, born in Sweden, were 21,170. In this number the many thousands of persons born in America of Swedish parents were not included. The state census of 1905 gave the number of Scandinavian immigrants from the old country as 42,418, which seems a rather low figure. At the same time our Swedish countrymen are known for their quiet and contemplative mind, as well as for their religious tendencies. They were located in Minneapolis a good many years before they could afford to build a house of worship, or call a minister. Nevertheless, al- though far away from the call of a church bell, they would meet on the Sabbath day at the homes of either C. W. Vanstrum or August Johnson, where, in the greatest simplicity, they offered their prayers to their Cre- ator and by singing hymns and reading sermons encouraged their spiritual natures. In 1870 there were 2,193 Scandinavians in Minneapolis, but five years later their number was more than double. According to the census of 1875 the Swedes numbered 2,676, the Norwegians 2,263, ar*d the Danes 153, making the total number of Scandinavians 5,092. After 1875 such a great number of Swedes came to Minneapolis that we have no means of keeping track of them.

Our Scandinavian pioneers in the business world were mostly located on Washington avenue, South, between Third and Fourth avenues, oppo- site the present Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad depot. The Swe- dish business men in that locality were P. J. E. Clementson, shoe dealer ; Alfred Backdahl, druggist, and A. H. Edsten, furniture dealer. Even if everything in this neighborhood was plain and simple, it was nevertheless here that our first Scandinavian merchants laid the foundation for their future fortunes. This whole block on Washington avenue has long ago been replaced with more modern structures except that old landmark, Backdahl's drug store, which was not rebuilt until the summer of 1909, when the present proprietors, Alfred and Carl Backdahl, erected an up-to- date drug store with doctors' offices and photograph gallery upstairs.

During the seventies the Scandinavians of Minneapolis did not have any Odin Club, and their amusements and recreations were few. Still fun and sociable meetings were not lacking altogether. "Edsten's Back Yard" was a household word among them, because that was the place where they used to meet on warm summer nights exchanging yarns of former experi- ences, real or imagined.

In the year 1877 there was already one Swede filling a professor's chair at the University of Minnesota, viz. : Prof. J. H. Lundeen, but only two Swedish students, P. P. Bodeen and Andrew Holt. The latter was the

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first Swede who graduated from the university, and has for a number of years been a prominent judge in Minneapolis. There are at the present time about 600 students of Swedish descent, as well as several professors and instructors at the university.

In an interesting autobiography Rev. P. Carlson, commonly known among the people as "Carver-Carlson," on account of his living near Car- ver. Minnesota, writes of his first visit to Minneapolis : "One week before Christmas, in 1857, I came to Minneapolis, riding horseback. Minneapolis was then a small town with only one Swedish family, and they were free- thinkers to boot! As late as during the winter of 1862 I had a pretty hard job trying to locate another Swedish family who were said to be living there. I drove street up and street down inquiring for them. At last I found them on a farm one mile outside of the city limits, where is now North Minneapolis. They sent word down town to three bachelors and two servant maids to attend service in the evening at the farm. Besides the first mentioned family those were the only Swedes then living in Minne- apolis."

During the early sixties several Swedes arrived in Minneapolis. Many of those were farmers who had been frightened by the Indians. At that time it was not, however, considered safe to settle in this city. A minister of the Minnesota Conference wrote to one of the first settlers, asking whether he considered it right for a Christian to move away from among good Christian people and live in such a wild and ungodly place.

Quite a number of Swedes settled on "The River Flats." The earliest Swedish preachers did missionary work among them, and by voluntary contributions a fund was raised to build a little chapel 30 feet long, 20 feet wide and 16 feet high, in 1884. A Sunday School was organized there and regular services held every Tuesday night. This chapel was later sold to the Lutheran Slavonians, who are now occupying, the "Flats." It is still used for services and Sunday School.

The first Scandinavian teacher of any public school in Minneapolis was Miss Isabella Johnson, who is 1879 was appointed teacher at the Monroe school, in the southern part of the city. In this connection we will mention a little bright Swedish lass, Maria Anderson who, in 1892, among 4.200 contestants, won a prize of ten dollars which the Minneapolis Times had offered for the best paper written by the smaller children in the public schools of Minneapolis. The subjects were to be selected by the children themselves, and little Maria took for hers "The Rabbit." She was born in Sweden, March 2, 1881, and came with her parents to Minneapolis

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November i, 1889, none of them being able to speak English upon their arrival. It is certainly remarkable that she had acquired the language in so short a time and to such an extent that she could carry off the prize among 4,200.

Swedish Sloyd was introduced in America the first time by Lars Erikson, who was born in Nas parish, Stora Kopparberg's Lan, October 24, 1847, ancl came t0 Minnesota, where his oldest daughter and other relatives had emigrated earlier. Unfamiliar with the English language, he was at first obliged to limit his endeavors among his own countrymen and gave his first lecture about Sloyd, or manual training, at the Swedish Augustana Church in November, in such convincing manner that its pas- tor, Rev. J. Ternstedt, Street Commissioner A. P. Anderson and several other church members, contributed sufficient money to buy eight carpenter benches and other tools. So the first Sloyd school in the United States was started on December 8, 1884. The school was opened in the basement of the church, but the fire insurance regulations did not permit of any carpenter work being done there; consequently a vacant store at 1218 Third street, South, was rented and the school continued there for some time.

The school was. however, working under difficulties. Many of Erik- son's own countrymen were openly laughing at him and called him an idiot that was occupying his time with such "trifles" in a country like America, where everything was manufactured by machines. "America is not Swe- den," they said. Erikson, however, continued his work, raising money for the support of his school by entertainments, fairs, etc. He would not allow his school to come to naught, even if he was starving himself. His duties, as the head of a family, obliged him, however, to give up the Sloyd and accept a position with the Century Music Company, where he re- mained for about two and one-half years. The Sloyd, however, was al- ways in his mind, and when the Young Men's Association of the Plymouth Church opened a Sloyd school on Fourteenth avenue, South, Erickson became its instructor, giving lessons a couple of hours every evening. He was then taken down with a serious illness, which kept him in bed for a long time and left him incapacitated for many months after. Erik- son then thought that he would have to abandon the Sloyd idea, for which he had left a good and lucrative position in Sweden. But Fate was milder than that. In 1888 the Sloyd idea commenced to be dis- cussed in the East in real earnest.

Mr. C. Falleen had come over from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Boston,

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and started a Sloyd school there according to the so-called Naas sys- tem, but he had soon become convinced that this system did not give exactly the training required by the American public schools. Conse- quently, he gave up the school and came to Minneapolis, where he looked up Mr. Erikson and induced him to come to Boston and manage the school started there. He did not have to ask Erikson twice. In February, 1889, he left Minneapolis for a more fertile field. In Boston the Sloyd question was at fever-heat, and Erikson worked there night and day, summer and winter, two and a half years, teaching about 120 pupils selected from the public schools and 50 male and female teachers. This was, however, too hard work for one man, and Erikson finally had to leave Boston for Minnesota, in order to recuperate his health in its bracing, climate. Having regained his health and strength, Erikson in 1894 opened a pri- vate Sloyd school for the St. Mark's Boys' Club, mostly consisting of newsboys, at St. Mark's Church, on Sixth street, between Nicollet and Hennepin avenues. During three years, or until the fall of 1897, he conducted this school with good success. When he organized his colony at Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs county, Minnesota, the instructorship at the school was continued by his youngest son, Erik R. Erikson.

Erikson had a hard time of it introducing Swedish Sloyd, but he had the satisfaction of being the father of the Swedish-American sys- tem, and we Swedes of Minneapolis may well feel proud of the fact that the first Sloyd school in the United States was started in Minneapolis by a Swede.

The sociability among the Scandinavians can justly be said to form a characteristic trait, in consequence of which societies for various pur- poses have been inaugurated only to live a short time, and then to be abandoned or dissolved, or simply to die.

The Swedish Labor Association was organized in March, 187 1, but died after having existed only one short year. The real reason for its existence being, of such a short duration was the loss of its president, John Ekstromer. The association had a labor bureau at Bridge Square, which was managed by Capt. John Ohlson and C. A. Wahlstrom. Through it more than 200 Swedish girls secured employment in Minne- apolis families.

The Scandinavian Press Association of the Northwest was organized by the Scandinavian newspapers in the Twin Cities December 13, 1883. The following papers were represented: Gamla och Nya Hemlandet, Skaffaren och Minnesota Stats-Tidning, Svenska Folkets Tidning, Bud-

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stikkcn, Skandinaven, Nordvesten, Faedrelandet og Emigraten and Folke- bladct. The officers of the association were: Luth Jaeger, president; Magnus Lunnow, vice-president; Christopher Brandt, secretary; Alfred Soderstrom, corresponding, secretary; Hjalmar Eger, treasurer. The only notable achievement of this society before its passing away was a great literary anniversary, which was held at Market Hall, March 14, 1884.

On January 11, 1887. a few Scandinavians met at the home of A. H. Edsten with the purpose of getting up a society of Scandinavians who had settled here before the year 1867. At a second meeting, February 8th, of the same year, a permanent organization was perfected of the Old Settlers' Association, with George H. Johnson as president and Adolph Edsten as secretary. The following thirty, among the oldest settlers, registered their names: A. C. Haugan, A. H. Edsten, O. Throbeck, Samuel Throbeck, John W. Anderson, Peter Johnson, J. O. Skore, Ole M. Shelley, Charles Holgren, John A. Widstrom, Ernest Dean, Even Newman, Amund Olson, Swan Walton, J. Aug. Johnson, John L. John- son, J. Otto Johnson, Geo. H. Johnson, N. H. Gjertsen, C. A. Blomquist, P. J. E. Clementson, Andrew Bergstrom, Peter Clausen, C. A. Smith, John M. Gardner, Andrew Loberg, J. W. Hernlund, Halvor Hoef, Adolph Edsten and C. J. Johnson. Notwithstanding its noble purpose, the society existed only a little over one year. All that is known of its activity is that it held a reunion entertainment at Dania Hall and partici- pated in the Swedish military parade October 14th of the year it was organized.

During the eighties many new societies grew up like mushrooms, only to disappear ignominously after an ephemeral existence. The sing- ing societies will be treated of in this volume by an expert historian in that field, so we simply omit them here.

The Jenny Lind Society had quite an accidental origin. A company of ladies were invited to an afternoon tea at the home of Mrs. J. F. Peterson, during the winter of 1882, when someone happened to men- tion a Scandinavian family who were in extremely reduced circum- stances on account of sickness and lack of work. They did not belong to any church and did not know how to apply to the poor board for help. Right then and there the ladies made an informal organization for assist- ing the family in question. The following, week a meeting was held at the house of Mrs. Col. Hans Mattson, when officers were elected and the organization made permanent. About twenty ladies present joined

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 503

as members. The society was called "Ladies' Aid Society," and its purpose was to assist any Scandinavian who was in need of immediate succor. By the members paying a small fee and giving various enter- tainments and voluntary contributions from outsiders, the cash fund grew and enabled the society to do much good. Mrs. Hans Mattson became the first president, which position she held for many years. Among the earliest members we note Mesdames A. Bergstrom, P. P. Swenson, N. P. Peterson, K. Bendeke, J. F. Peterson, Luth Jaeger, P. Clausen, Dr. Svanoe and Miss Sahlgaard. The society continued its noble and humanitarian work for many years. But a period of disinterested- ness came. After a couple of years, however, some sad case of poverty and distress was sufficient, to stir up the society to renewed activity and effort. A meeting was held in 1890 at the home of Mrs. P. P. Swensen, and a new period of good work followed. In order to give the organiza- tion its decided place among the charitable societies of the community it was resolved at a meeting at the house of Mrs. Bertha Nilsson and at the instance of Mrs. Luth Jaeger, to change the name. The selection was "Jenny Lind Society," a name signifying everything in Swedish womanliness and charity. The Jenny Lind Society made its new name well known and highly respected, often collaborating with the Associated Charities and at one time contributing many hundred dollars for the amelioration of suffering among the poor of the city. The anniversary of the society, which was celebrated with a ball, or other large festivity, was always one of the most fashionable, and attracted the very best peo- ple of Minneapolis. The membership was constantly increasing, and the society flourished for a new period of many years until 1897, when most of its active members resigned. After a few months of inactivity, a meet- ing was called at the home of Mrs. Jacob Swanson, at which it was decided to dissolve the society.

On June 11, 1886, twelve good and true Swedish- Americans met at the home of Mr. Charles Olander with the avowed purpose of organizing a Swedish-American National Association. Its program was to be utility in conjunction with pleasure by discussions, music, singing, lectures, mil- itary drill and gymnastics, together with other soul and body elevating pastimes, and to mutually aid each other in case of sickness, etc. Society Gustavus II Adolphus and its military branch, The Swedish Guard, held its first meeting at Norden Hall July 2, 1886. Thirty-two Swedes met there, who all joined the society as members. At this meeting the organ- ization was effected, and the members had the choice of simply remaining

504 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

as members or of joining the Guard, as both branches belonged to the same body. Officers were elected, the first ones being : Robert Engdahl, president; Andrew Sandberg, vice president; Lambert Gisslow, corre- sponding secretary ; E. Bodin, financial secretary ; Alex. Carlson, treas- urer. For the military branch were elected : J. A. Dahl, captain ; Sam Rossell, first lieutenant, and John A. Werner, second lieutenant. Under favorable conditions the guard continued its drills and exercise until the spring of 1888, when some of its leading men proposed that it join the State Militia as a Battery of Artillery, which subsequently was don? on January 25th. Everything now went on smoothly for some time, but it did not take very long before some unruly spirits succeeded in sowing the seeds of discord, in consequence whereof twenty-five men of the battery at a private meeting March 14th decided to resign. At the next drill meeting thirty-two others followed their example. This happened just at the time when the battery was ready to muster in. These disagree- ments did not look propitious for the society, and its existence was cer- tainly threatened. But the remaining members were men who could not be easily discouraged, although badly in the minority. On December 16, 1889, the society was incorporated by the following charter mem- bers : P. W. Edman, J. Ekstrom, Hans J. Johnson, August Clarine, C. J. Nelson, and J. August Peterson. The military branch continued until May 1, 1893, when it was dissolved on account of a new constitution having been adopted. The society has been steadily growing and gaining ground, both financially and socially. Large sums have been expended to help sick and poor members, for which purpose a large and strong committee has been elected. Many thousands of dollars have been paid to help sick or worthy people who are not members of the society, and its work has been highly commendable.

Battery B, or, as it was popularly called, Captain Bennet's Battery, belonged to the first artillery battalion of the Minnesota National Guard and was mustered into the service of the state March 25, 1888, with Carl C. Bennet as captain, Frank P. Bruce as first lieutenant, and Andrew C. Haugan as second lieutenant. Before mustering, in, the battery was called the Artillery Reserve — later the Second Battery — and was organ- ized on January 25, 1888, as part of the Emmet Light Artillery, St. Paul. By an enactment of the legislature. February 12, 1889, a battalion was made to consist of two batteries of artillery and one troop of cavalry, the whole under the command of a major with his staff of officers. The St. Paul battery was designated A, the Minneapolis battery as B, and the

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 505

cavalry as First Troop of Cavalry. Second Lieutenant Andrew C. Hau- gan resigned March 26, 1889, when First Sergeant Andrew Olson became his successor. On the 29th of September, 1892, Olson resigned and was succeeded by N. P. Nelson, who on May 11, 1899, was promoted battalion quartermaster, with the rank of first lieutenant. Lieutenant Nelson's former command was transferred to Al F. Pray. From its start Battery B was the pride and ornament of the militia. The combination of disci- pline, carriage and skill, which characterizes the officers, has permeated and stamped the entire corps. The trifolium of Swedish officers, whom the battery felt proud of being commanded by, are a credit to the Swedish nationality in Minnesota, and in their "boys" they have inspired genuine Swedish, that is — true military spirit. On October 21, 1892, the Minne- sota National Guard participated in the inauguration of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, on which occasion Battery B won the unqualified admiration of the public, the press and its comrades for its splendid drill and discipline. During 1890 a terrible cyclone visited Camp Lakeview, upon which occasion Captain Bennet and his officers and men displayed great courage and presence of mind. On October 8, 1898, Battery B was ordered out to the scene of the Indian outbreak at Leech Lake and prevented threatening, atrocities at Deer River during a two weeks' service.

The Swedish Brothers is the strongest Swedish society in Minneap- olis, both financially and in membership. It was started in P. Osander & Company's shop November 26, 1876, by P. Osander, John Frisk, A. I. Beckman, G. Lundell, N. P. Liljengren, E. W. Erlandson, Fred Petter- son, P. Howard, A. Lindahl and P. A. Lindstrom. As is the case with most similar organizations, there is much hard work and little thanks to the originators, and when financial difficulties are added it becomes still worse. The "Swedish Brothers" proved no exception to the rule, and several of the originators withdrew, so that the only ones who took active part in its promotion were P. Osander, Fred Petterson, N. P. Liljengren, A. I. Beckman, and E. W. Erlandson. After having held a few meetings in Osander's and A. I. Beckman's shops the society rented a place on the corner of Washington and First avenues, South, where the meetings were held during three months. Then the society moved to Snider's Block on Hennepin avenue near Bridge Square, and later to Center Block on Nicollett avenue. At this time, in 1877, the number of mem- bers was twenty-five. In January, 1878, the society was incorporated under the state laws of Minnesota and, having held its meetings in Cen-

506 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

ter Block for five years, it moved to Vanstrum's Block on Hennepin ave- nue, remaining there about four years. During that time the desirability of a permanent home made itself felt, with the result that on August 3, 1886, the society bought its present hall, at the corner of Fourth street and Eighth avenue, South, for a sum of $10,000. Every cent of this sum was paid up by August, 1897. The society is growing in membership and popularity and its future looks very bright. In order to become a member a person must be not less than twenty nor more than forty-five years of age. The society consists of three degrees. A brother can become a member of the second degree after having been a member of the first degree at least two weeks ; and in order to become a mem- ber of the third degree it is necessary to have been a member of the second degree at least two weeks. The society is a regular mutual aid and benefit organization. Many families and individuals have been helped by this association.

There are, or have been, quite a number of other societies in which the Swedes are interested, but as they are not exclusively Swedish men- tion of them is omitted.

Frithiof R. Noble, of the firm of Whitcomb & Noble Company, of Minneapolis, was born in Bralanda parish, on the Bergsbol Estate, Dais- land, Sweden, September 19, 1868, and is the son of Johannes and Maria Christina Jonasson Olson. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the following six are living: Anna C, Andrew J., Christina, Gus- taf W., Frithiof R. and Charlotte, the last-named being the wife of O. F. Holstrom, general manager of the Osgood & Bloodgett Company, of St Paul.

Mr. Noble received his early education in the public schools of his native parish, and was confirmed in the Lutheran church. At the age of seventeen he came to America, arriving in Minneapolis, May 9, 1885. The first employment he found was as farm laborer, but a short time later he returned to Minneapolis, where he found employment as clerk, and in the evenings he took advantage of the evening sessions of the public school. Later he began working for Bradstreet & Turber Company, dealers in up- holstered and other furniture, and here he learned the details of the busi- ness in which he has since been engaged. He first started independently in 1890, in partnership with Herman Berg, under the name of Noble & Berg, and nine years later closed out the business ; he accepted a position as salesman for a concern in St. Paul, and spent four years there. At the end of that time he accepted a position as traveling salesman for John A. Dunn Chair Company, and in the meantime gained the friendship and confidence of the manager, C. E. Whitcomb, who agreed to go into busi- ness with Mr. Noble in the same line. They organized under the name

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA 509

of Whitcomb & Noble Company, with Air. Noble as president, and the firm was incorporated in 1904. They are manufacturers and jobbers of furniture, their factory and salesroom being situated at 605-7 First Ave- nue, Northeast. They have a capital stock of $75,000, the shares being equally divided among Messrs. Noble and Whitcomb. They have two buildings for factories, and employ forty to fifty men. The members of the firm are all enterprising, ambitious and energetic business men, and the affairs of the company are in a flourishing and prosperous condition. They also have a branch house at Seattle, Washington..

Mr. Noble was married in 1894, to Maria Louise Anderson, of Min- neapolis, who was born in Vestergotland, Sweden, in 1870, and they have been blessed with two children, Angelica Lucile, born April 19, 1895, and John Olof Frithiof, born September 1, 1898. They are members of the Christian Scientist church. Recently they moved into their new residence, built in 1908, at 713 Delaware street, Southeast.

Charles A. Welton, senior partner in the firm of Charles A. Welton & Son, ladies' and gents' tailors, 924 Twentieth avenue, North, Minne- apolis, was born in Broby, Lannaskede parish, Sweden, March 8, 1861. His parents, now deceased, were Peter and Gustafua Maria Peterson. His mother died when Charles A. was only six years old, and his father in 1898. Their family comprised three children: Christine, a resident of Minneapolis, is a widow and has two children ; John M., retired, living in Minneapolis ; and Charles A.

In his native land Charles A. received a public school education and learned the tailor's trade. Then, in 1880, he came to America, landing in Minneapolis on the nth of June. His brother, John M., had been here several years and, having found that there were enough Petersons in Minneapolis, had changed his name to Welton, which name Charles A. also took upon his arrival here. The latter at once found employment at his trade and worked for various firms until 1894, when he engaged in business on his own account at 1117^ Washington avenue, North, from whence a year and a half later he moved to his present location, where, in partnership with his son, he is doing a prosperous business.

Christmas eve, 1883, he married Miss Amanda Gustafson, who was born in Norra Solberga parish, November 6, 1866, and who came from Sweden to America in 1883. Of the three children born to them only one is now living — Gilbert Conrad Welton. He was born October 15, 1886, and attended the North Side high school, graduating in June, 1906. On Christmas eve, 1907, he married Miss Signe Malm. They have an infant son. Charles A. Welton resides at 141 5 Irving avenue.

John N. Johnson. — Possessing much force of character and an especial aptitude for business, John N. Johnson is successfully employed in mercantile pursuits in Minneapolis, being secretary and treasurer of the Union Clothing Company, which is located at No. 1101-1103 Wash-

5io SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

ington avenue, South. Like many of the city's most enterprising and useful residents he was born in Sweden, his birth occurring November 26, 1857, in Konna parish, Smaland. His father, Nils P. Johanson, residing on his well improved homestead in Chippewa county, Minnesota, married, in Sweden, Brita Stina Peterson, and of the eight children born of their union six are living, as follows: John N., the subject of this brief sketch ; Salomon, a farmer in Minnesota ; John August and Carl Fredrik are farming, in South Dakota ; Peter Gustaf, of Worthington, Minnesota, is manager of a lumber yard ; and Ingrid Christina is the wife of Jerome Hallock, who has the management of the parental homestead, in Chippewa county.

After studying for a short time in the public schools of Sweden, John N. Johnson came with the family to America, and here continued his studies in the Minnesota schools. After his confirmation in the Lutheran church, he entered Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, where he took a general course, including bookkeeping. Thus fitted for a mercan- tile career. Mr. Johnson looked about for a favorable opportunity, and in 1886, in company with Isaac Ekbery and Frank A. Peterson, opened a clothing and gents' furnishing establishment at his present business address, and by his wise management and practical ability has built up an excellent trade. In 1894 the business was incorporated under the name of the Union Clothing Company, Frank A. Peterson becoming president, Isaac Ekbery vice-president, while Mr. Johnson was made secre- tary and treasurer of the firm. In this capacity Mr. Johnson has ably assisted his partners in establishing a prosperous business, which has already assumed large proportions, being one of the most substantial of the kind in the city.

In 1889 Mr. Johnson married Marjorie A. Covskic, who was born May 30, 1866, of thrifty Scotch parentage and ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four children, namely: Gladys Louise, born October 26, 1890, was graduated from the Minneapolis high school; Ruby Blanche, born February 1, 1892, is a student in the high school; Hazel Marjorie, born April 7, 1893, also attends the high school ; and Marion Corinne, born December 19, 1898, attends the public schools of the city. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and religiously he and his family are valued members of the St. John's Lutheran church.

G. I. Iverson, president of the Commercial Electrotyping & Supply Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, landed in this country when a young man under twenty, unable to speak the English language, and, unaided, has worked his way to his present success. Mr. Iverson, born Iver Gus- tafson, dates his birth in Sweden, April 4, 1863, his parents being Gustaf Jonson and wife, Anna Anderson, farmers in Gardstakop, Gothery socken, Kronobergs Lan, Smaland. In their family were twelve children, six sons and six daughters, namely: Iver, Emil, August, Carl Isak,

SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESOTA

Victor, Josef, Johanna, Clara, Christina, Segrid, Clara, and Elise, Iver "being the eldest of the sons.

Until he was nineteen the subject of our sketch worked on his father's farm and attended the public schools of his native town, develop- ing a vigorous constitution and acquiring a common school education. Then he came to America. He arrived at St. Paul, Minnesota, May 27, 1889, without friends or acquaintances. One of his fellow travelers had a letter of introduction to the A. E. Johnson Land & Immigration Company. Together the young men went to the office of this firm, where they were advised to buy a ticket to some point in Wisconsin, at which a railroad was under construction, and where they were informed they could find work at $1.60 a day. They bought their tickets and started. Before they reached their destination, however, they passed a large sawmill at Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and decided to stop there and seek work. Before they made their decision they were twelve miles beyond the mill, but they got off and walked back. That day the thermometer registered about 98 degrees in the shade. They reached the mill tired and hungry, found lodging at the boarding house where the mill hands lived, and the next morning went to work for the Shell Lake Lumber Company at $1.65 per day.

After working at the mill two months, without seeing an opportunity for advancement there and realizing the disadvantage under which he labored on account of being unacquainted with the language, young Iver returned to St. Paul, where he found employment at the home of Mr. Gilbert, secretary of the St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, his work here being to do the chores about the house and care for a horse, and his compensation was board and lodging and the privilege of attend- ing public school. He remained there a year, a portion of the time also attending an evening, school, in which he took a course in bookkeeping and civil engineering. Afterward he was for a short time in the employ of an electrotyping concern, but the salary was not sufficient for his needs, so he left, and looked elsewhere for work, with the result that he went to Princeton, and became clerk, bookkeeper and general utility man in Mr. Head's store, where he received $20 per month and board and washing. At the end of two years he had saved $275, the last year his salary having been increased $5 per month. Then he returned to St. Paul. With a liberal disposition and meeting old friends in the city, his savings soon dwindled down to a small sum. After this he was variously employed. For a year he was with J. H. Cobb & Son, St. Paul ; two months with K. Aslemen, Minneapolis ; a short time assistant surveyor with the Great Northern Railroad in the vicinity of Lake Minnetonka ; six months ran a saloon in St. Paul, and afterward was in the grocery business.

After going out of the grocery business, Mr. Iverson again entered the employ of the Minnesota Type Foundry Company, where he closely applied himself and mastered the business of electrotyping and stereotyp-

512 SWEDISH-AMERICANS OF MINNESO

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