Full Issue Vol. 28 No. 1
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Swedish American Genealogist Volume 28 | Number 1 Article 1 3-1-2008 Full Issue Vol. 28 No. 1 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag Part of the Genealogy Commons, and the Scandinavian Studies Commons Recommended Citation (2008) "Full Issue Vol. 28 No. 1," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 28 : No. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol28/iss1/1 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Swedish American Genealogist by an authorized editor of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. (ISSN 0275-9314) A journal devoted to Swedish American biography, genealogy, and personal history Volume XXVIIIMarch 2008 No.1 CONTENTS A pioneer from the 1850s ....................................... 1 by Hans Mattson Copyright © 2008 (ISSN 0275-9314) Confirmation and coming of age ......................... 7 by Ingela Martenius Swedish American Genealogist News from the Swenson Center ........................ 11 Publisher: Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Bits & Pieces .......................................................... 13 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 Leroy Anderson – American composer ........... 14 E-mail: [email protected] by Therese Ericsson Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ Handwriting Example XVII ................................ 18 Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden The Old Picture ..................................................... 19 E-mail: [email protected] The Old Mill Museum of Lindsborg, Kansas ... 20 Contributing Editor: By Elisabeth Thorsell Peter S. Craig. J.D., F.A.S.G., Washington, D.C. The Emigration Conference in Dalsland......... 22 Editorial Committee: H. Arnold Barton, Carbondale, IL Handwriting Example XVII, solution.............. 23 Dag Blanck, Uppsala, Sweden Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA Book Reviews ........................................................ 24 Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME Interesting Web Sites ........................................... 30 Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN Genealogical Queries ........................................... 31 Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, and editorial committee assume neither responsibility The Last Page ........................................................ 32 nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by contributors. Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland. Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $28.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled Cover picture: to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. The Swedish Pavilion at The Old Mill Museum of Lindsborg, Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock KS, October 2007 (Photo: Bengt Thorsell). Island. In Sweden the subscription price is 225.00 Swedish kronor per year for surface delivery and 275.00 kronor per year for air mail. This subscription fee may be deposited in a plusgiro account: 260 10-9, Swedish American Genealogist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, S-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. A pioneer from the 1850s – Hans Mattson tells the story of Vasa Part II (continued from SAG 4/2006) We had now commenced a new More immigrants A prospering career, located on our farm claims in the boundless West, with no end to arriving community the prospects and possibilities before Soon others of our party from last From these small beginnings of the us. We felt that independence and year joined us. Some letters which I Swedish and Norwegian settlers in freedom which are only attained and wrote Hemlandet describing the Goodhue County, in the years of 1853 appreciated in the western wilds of country around us, attracted much and 1854, have sprung results which America. attention and brought settlers from are not only grand but glorious to From the Mississippi River and al- different parts of the west, and while contemplate. Looking back to those most to the Pacific Ocean was a the Swedes were pouring into our days I see the little cabin, often with verdant field for the industry, energy place, then known as “Mattson’s Set- a roof, single room used for domestic and enterprise of the settler. To be tlement,” (now well known under the purposes, sometimes crowded almost sure, our means and resources were name of Vasa), our friends, the to suffocation by hospitable enter- small, but somehow we felt that by Norwegians, had started a pros- tainments to newcomers; or the poor hard work and good conduct we perous settlement a few miles to the immigrant on the levee at Red Wing, would some day attain the comfort, south, many of them coming overland just landed from a steamer, in his independence and position for which from Wisconsin, bringing cattle, short jacket and other outlandish our souls thirsted. We did not sit implements and other valuables of costume, perhaps seated on a wooden down and wait for gold mines to open which the Swedes, being mostly poor box, with his wife and a large group up before us, or for roasted pigs to newcomers, were destitute. Many of children around him, and won- come running by our cabin, but with immigrants of both nationalities dering how he shall be able to raise axe and spade went quietly to work, came as deck passengers on the Mis- enough means to get himself ten or to do our little part in the building sissippi steamers to Red Wing. twenty miles into the country, or to up of new empires. There was cholera at St. Louis that redeem the bedding and other house- In the beginning of May, father summer, and I remember how a hold goods which he has perchance came from Illinois and brought us a steamer landed a large party of left in Milwaukee as a pledge for his pair of steers and a milch cow; this Norwegian immigrants, nearly all railroad and steamboat ticket. And I made us rich. We made a wagon with down with cholera. Mr.Willard and see him trudging along over the wheels of blocks sawed off an oak log; myself happened to be in Red Wing trackless prairie, searching for a we also bought a plow, and, joining at the time, and the American fami- piece of land containing, if possible with our neighbors of Belle Creek, lies, considering these Norwegian prairie, water and a little timber, on had a breaking team of two pair of cholera patients our countrymen, which to build a home. Poor, bewil- oxen. The breaking team and that hastily turned them over to our care. dered, ignorant, and odd looking, he truck wagon, with myself always as We nursed them as best we could, but had been an object of pity and the chief ox driver, did all the break- many died in spite of all our efforts, derision all the way from Gothenburg ing, and all the hauling and carting and as we closed their eyes, and laid or Christiania to the little cabin of of lumber, provisions, building ma- them in the silent grave under the some countryman of his, where he terial and other goods, for all the bluffs, it never occurred to us that found peace and shelter until he settlers in that neighhood during the they were anything but our country- could build one of his own. first season. men and brothers. Those who have not experienced frontier life will naturally wonder Swedish American Genealogist 2008:1 1 how it was possible for people so poor much genuine cordial friendship and attending to all these things devolved as a majority of the old settlers were brotherhood as among the frontier upon me. We were particularly fortu- to procure the necessaries of life, but settlers in the West. nate in having many men, not only they should remember that our of good education from the old coun- necessaries were few, and our luxu- The first religious try, but of excellent character, pluck ries a great deal less. The bountiful and energy, men who would have earth soon yielded bread and vege- service been leaders in their communities if tables; the woods and streams sup- One fine Sunday morning that sum- they had remained at home, and who plied game and fish; and as to shoes mer, all the settlers met under two became prominent as soon as they and clothing, I and many others have oak trees on the prairie, near where had mastered the English language. used shoes made of untanned skins, the present church stands, for the This fact, perhaps, gave a higher tone and even of gunny-sacks and old first religious service in the settle- and character to our little community rags. Furthermore, the small mer- ment. It had been agreed that some than is common in such cases, and chants at the river or other points, of the men should take turns to read Vasa has since that time furnished were always willing to supply the one of Luther’s sermons at each of many able men in the county offices, Scandinavian immigrants with nec- these gatherings, and I was selected in the legislative halls, and in busi- essary goods on credit, until better as reader the first day. Some prayers ness and educational circles. There times should come. Our people in this were said and Swedish hymns sung, can be much refinement and grace country did certainly earn a name for and seldom did a temple contain even in a log cabin on the wild integrity and honesty among their more devout worshipers than did prairie. American neighbors, which has been that little congregation on the prai- In the beginning of the month of greater help to them than money.