Jöns Jönsson Sparfeldt (1815-1895)
Jöns (Sparfeldt) Jönsson was born on 12 June 1815 on the Finnwattnet #115 farm near Ström in Jämtlands Län in northern Sweden. He was the eldest of the eleven children of Jöns Gard and Marta Sparfeldt. He received his education in the Swedish schools. As a young man he hired himself out as a drang or farmhand for several years on the farms of northern Sweden. He married a young widowed mother of five children named Anna Johansdotter on one of the farms that he worked. Jöns and Anna had five more children of their own. They are: Jöns, Ingrid Martha, Eric Jacob, Wondela Christina, and Henry. He farmed the farm of Anna's first husband until her oldest son was of age at which time he relinquished control to him which was in the Swedish tradition.
Jöns was a religious man of Baptist conviction and being quite outspoken on the matter found himself in increasing conflict with the state church. In 1865 he fled Sweden with his youngest son and wife for America. He settled in northern Crawford County with other Swedish emigrants. In February of 1868 he obtained eighty acres of farm land in section 20 of township 85N 38W which about five years latter was named Stockholm Township. He was never able to return to Sweden but he did provide for his wife's support through his daughter Wondela who stayed in Sweden to look after her.
Jöns took the name John Sparfeldt as his name in America. He purchased three acres of timberland in section 27 to provide wood both for building his first small house and to provide for heat. In the first years in Crawford County, both John and his son worked on the new railroad being built through Crawford County to supplement their income. They needed money to buy the materials needed to start farming. John’s many years of hard work in Sweden had conditioned him well for breaking the prairie and he prospered in his new land.
His son did not fare so well. He was killed by a robber who stole his wages earned from working on the railroad. This left John to take care of his daughter in law Martha(Bertha Erickson) and her two children Victoria and Alfred. He made sure they were enrolled in the Stockholm Township school. Alfred died of diphtheria in the late fall of 1877 shortly after three of the Lindberg children also enrolled there died of the same cause. John provided a home for Victoria and her mother until the mother remarried.
After they left John built a new house on the farm and sent for his eldest son Jöns, his wife Sarah, and their two children Anna and Peter in 1886. They were living in Edsele, Sweden. Son Jöns took the name John Naslund when he came to America.
John has left a reputation as somewhat of a rough and tough loner, strong willed, tenacious and a very hard worker. He valued his family he left behind in Sweden. He preserved many of the letters they sent him carefully noting on the envelopes their arrival dates. He was a supporter of the Swedish Baptist group that eventually became known as the First Swedish Baptist Church of Kiron but never joined the membership. He purchased a full cemetery lot in the Kiron Cemetery and buried his son Henry, grandson Alfred, Henry's wife's second husband, and his daughter in law Sarah who died in 1892.
John died in 1895 on his farm and is buried in the family plot in the Kiron Cemetery. But his legacy lives on in the Kiron area. Children of his two sons continued to live in the area. So did several of his great grandchildren bearing names like Naslund, Clauson, and Johnson and great, great grandchildren adding names such as Gustafson, Tunberg, Ecklund, and Shives. Today, several in the Kiron area call him great, great, great grandpa and some even can call him great, great, great, great grandpa. John’s original farm has stayed in the family being one of the first “Century Farms” of the Swedish immigrants.
Descendants of Jöns Sparfeldt and Anna Johansdotter
1-John (Jöns) Sparfeldt (Jönsson) (12 Jun 1815-9 May 1895)
sp: Anna Johansdotter (25 Feb 1810-29 Dec 1893)
2-John Naslund (26 Oct 1839-9 Mar 1929)
sp: Sara Greta Hansdotter (29 Mar 1839-8 Feb 1892)
3-Anna Margaret Naslund (26 Jul 1871-8 Dec 1948)
sp: Charles William Clauson (14 Jul 1869-2 Feb 1949)
4-Clarence Emmanuel Clauson (26 Aug 1895-8 May 1957)
sp: Bessie Lee Bruce (23 Sep 1901-8 Jan 1936)
5-Lila Lee Clauson
sp: Willard Oscar Gustafson (21 Sep 1912-)
6-Marc Elliott Gustafson
6-Mary Jo Gustafson
sp: James Robert Litwiller
7-Brandon James Litwiller
5-Gordon Gayle Clauson
sp: Nora Anne Kennedy (7 Feb 1931-23 Jun 1986)
6-Michael William Clauson
sp: Mary Jo Thompson
7-Crystina May Clauson
7-Sean Michael Clauson
7-Matthew Ryan Clauson
6-Daniel Roy Clauson (11 Sep 1959-6 Jul 1968)
4-Alvin Edward Clauson (7 Mar 1897-8 Mar 1897)
4-Myrtle Clauson (7 Aug 1898-11 Aug 1898)
4-John Eldon Clauson (21 Jun 1900-29 Jul 1967)
sp: Dorothy Florence Greene (28 Sep 1900-28 Aug 1981)
5-Wallace William Clauson (16 Nov 1922-2 May 1991)
sp: Marilyn Eloise Malmquist
6-William Leonard Clauson
sp: Marilee Schuchard
7-Luke William Clauson
7-Elizabeth Louise Clauson
7-Paul Albin Clauson
7-Deborah Anne Clauson
6-Dawn Ann Clauson
sp: David V. Axene
7-Erik David Axene
7-Amy Lynn Axene
7-Joshua William Axene
6-Nedra Lynn Clauson
sp: Dirk Simon
7-Laurel Dawn Simon
7-John Wallace Simon
6-John Weston Clauson
sp: Celeste Carlisle
7-Christian Carlisle Clauson
7-Caitlyn Mary Clauson
7-Jonathan Eldon Clauson
5-Dolores Mae Clauson
sp: Bruce Curtis Paulson (30 Aug 1917-17 Oct 1991)
6-Brenda Marie Paulson
sp: Samuel Arthur Brubaker
7-Sarah Lynn Brubaker
7-Amy Mae Brubaker
7-Emily Sue Brubaker
7-Rachel Louise Brubaker
6-Kent Curtis Paulson
sp: Wendy Borchert
7-Bethany Rose Paulson
6-Barbara Louise Paulson
sp: Keith Hoffman
7-Justin Timothy Hoffman
7-Megan Elizabeth Hoffman
6-Keith Clark Paulson
sp: Gail Lynn Devan
7-Alexandra Clara Paulson
4-Mabel Elizabeth Clauson (20 Jan 1908-5 Jun 1979)
sp: Ernest Emil Gustafson (6 May 1903-18 Sep 1963)
5-Dennis Ernest Gustafson
sp: Irma Jane Geissinger
6-Alan Dennis Gustafson
sp: Debra Ann Palm
7-Jeffrey Alan Gustafson
7-Hannah Christine Gustafson
7-Lydia Ann Gustafson
6-John Glenn Gustafson
sp: Leslie Kaye Albers
7-Raelyn Anna Gustafson
7-Abigail Kaye Gustafson
6-Bruce Carl Gustafson
6-Anita Jane Gustafson
sp: Kevin Curtis Larson
7-Aaron Curtis Larson
6-Brian Neal Gustafson
sp: Kristin Keri Ives
5-Glenn William Gustafson
sp: Sarah Joe Payne
5-Nancy Mabel Gustafson
sp: Dale Gustaf Swan
6-Sandra Lynn Swan
6-Jon Raymond Swan
sp: Sara Snyder
5-Nelda Ann Gustafson
3-Peter John Naslund (20 Nov 1878-20 Oct 1940)
sp: Myrtle Bell Landon (6 Sep 1885-21 Feb 1955)
4-Cecil Edward Naslund (16 Nov 1910-Oct 1976)
sp: Betty Mason (-)
5-Diana Naslund
sp: Johnny Miller
6-Tim Miller
6-Linda Jo Miller
6-Sandra Miller
6-Debbie Miller
5-Gloria Naslund
sp: Jack Stewart
6-Robin Stewart
5-Linda Naslund
sp: Joseph Williamson
6-Ken Williamson
6-Linda Jo Williamson
6-Buddy Williamson
6- Williamson
5-Joann Naslund
sp: Jim Durham
5-Judy Naslund
sp: Kenneth Buck
6-Kenny Buck
6- Buck
5-Celia Naslund
sp: Butch Wright
4-Elmer Curtis Naslund (30 Dec 1912-)
sp: Lola Belle Barber
5-Myra Jean Naslund
sp: William P. Gillispie
sp: Jimmy King
6-Tammy King
6-Tonya Lynn King
sp: Shane Pinyon
7-Austin Pinyon
5-Shirley Ann Naslund
sp: Micheal Minter
5-Glenn Elmer Naslund
sp: Michelle Ruff
4-John Fredrick Naslund (23 Oct 1915-abt 1975)
sp: Leona Ohl
5-Johnny Jackie Lee Naslund (26 Dec 1939-27 Aug 1978)
2-Ingrid Martha Jönsdotter (22 Sep 1841-)
sp: Johan Göransson (4 Apr 1834-)
3-Göran Johansson (11 Oct 1864-)
3-Ingrid Margaretha Johansdotter (10 Jun 1874-)
sp: ?
4-Hilder ?
sp: Johan Peter Olsson
5-Anna Maria Larsson
5-Elin Olsson
4-Austrid ?
3-Johan Albert Johansson (11 Sep 1876-)
3-Erik Bernhard Johansson (27 May 1879-8 Feb 1885)
2-Eric Jacob Jönsson (4 Aug 1843-)
2-Wondela Christina Jönsdotter (7 Mar 1847-26 Apr 1879)
sp: Olaf Olafsson (30 May 1842-30 Aug 1880)
3-Johan Olof Olofsson (23 Jan 1875-)
2-Henry (Henric) Jönsson (12 Jun 1849-abt Oct 1872)
sp: Bertha Christina Johnsdotter Ericksson (10 Jun 1842-25 Jan 1923)
3-Victoria Irene Johnson (5 Feb 1870-13 Nov 1955)
sp: Leonard Martin Johnson (18 Mar 1869-3 Mar 1936)
4-Ulysses Sherman (Grant) Johnson (8 Feb 1893-12 Apr 1894)
4-Ione Viola Johnson (19 Sep 1894-8 Apr 1955)
sp: Jon (John) Gabriel Johnson (3 Jan 1886-19 Sep 1962)
5-John Gordon Johnson
sp: Ruth Nadine Heggen
6-Lynn Stewart Johnson
6-Sherry Denise Johnson
6-Douglas Scott Johnson
6-Kent Allen Johnson
6-Mark Spencer Johnson
6-Julie Elaine Johnson
6-Bryce Carl Johnson (28 Feb 1964-17 May 1982)
6-Dirk Eric Johnson
5-Howard William Johnson )
sp: Annabel Lindberg
6-Dennis Everett Johnson
sp: Faith Arlene Newhouse
7-Matthew Brent Johnson
7-Melissa Joy Johnson
7-Luke Tyler Johnson
7-Miranda Denise Johnson
6-Linda Cheryl Johnson
sp: Dean Michael Whaley
7-Michael Dean Whaley
7-John Andrew Whaley
6-Diane Sue Johnson
sp: Jay Gordon Yousling
7-? Yousling
6-John Gary Johnson
sp: Kimberly Ann Morrison
7-John Graham Johnson
7-Eric Daniel Johnson
7-Karl Andrew Johnson
5-Mildred Louise Johnson
sp: Richard George Deppe (13 Jan 1920-10 Feb 1977)
6-David Richard Deppe (25 Mar 1971-24 Oct 1995)
4-Julia Judith Johnson (19 Jul 1896-1 Apr 1988)
sp: Henry Wilfred Tunberg (14 May 1895-19 Jan 1977)
5-Donald Wayne Tunberg (16 Sep 1922-17 Jul 1942)
5-Robert Gene Tunberg (24 Aug 1927-24 May 1935)
4-Erma Irene Johnson (12 Dec 1897-27 Jun 1975)
sp: Russell Wilberg Ecklund (3 Oct 1896-23 May 1989)
5-Winifred E. Ecklund (25 Aug 1920-27 Mar 1959)
5-Ruth W. Ecklund
sp: John Parker Shipley
5-Ruby W. Ecklund
5-William Leonard Ecklund (12 Dec 1923-22 Nov 1965)
5-Norma I. Ecklund
4-Lowell Melvin Johnson (31 Aug 1899-30 Mar 1977)
sp: Hertha Katarina Maria (Hattie) Steensen (20 Feb 1896-18 Oct 1990)
4-Loyal Henry Johnson (9 Dec 1901-11 Oct 1979)
sp: Claire Gertrude Gunn (17 Dec 1907-21 Dec 1937)
5-Claire Gertrude Johnson
5-Margaret Jean (Peggie) Johnson
5-Loyal Henry Johnson
sp: Nellie Marie Logdon (2 Feb 1901-28 Nov 1956)
sp: Consuelo Lopez
4-John Alfred Johnson (9 Apr 1904-9 May 1932)
sp: Arlene Davis
4-Beulah Belverna Johnson (28 Dec 1905-27 Jan 1997)
sp: John Leslie (Bugs) Shives
5-Kathleen Shives
sp: ? Hadenfeld
6-Earleen Hadenfeld
sp: ? Ligotke )
6-Wayne Hadenfeld
4-Leonard Martin Johnson (18 Jun 1907-4 Sep 1907)
4-Leona Victoria (Babe) Johnson (26 Jul 1909-)
sp: Clifford Weldon Shaffer (31 Jan 1910-5 May 1970)
3-John Alfred Johnson (31 Dec 1871-26 Dec 1876)
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IAGenWeb Project and Contributors.