SENIOR CITIZEN PIONEERS Born 1800-1830
The following are 'Thumbnail Sketches' of some of the oldest immigrants that were present in the Kiron vicinity. The primary criteria used for placement in this list is age. This list first appeared in the 10 February 1998 issue of the Kiron Centennial.
Andersson, Nils
Nils was born on 17 April 1800 in Kristianstad län in Sweden. Immigrated around 1869 with wife and family. He purchased 80 acres in the NW of Stockholm section 8. He built one of the first frame houses in the settlement. Nils retired, sold the land and moved to farm of daughter in Hayes township around 1885. He died on 22 February 1887 in Hayes township and is buried in Kiron Cemetery.
Olsson, Olof
Olof was born on 6 May 1800 in Hassela, Gälveborgs län in Sweden. He immigrated around 1880 to Wheeler township. He is father of three sons who were all carpenters and built the strongest beam-based house in the settlement with tenon and mortised building methods. Married to Sigrid Erickson in Sweden. Died on 14 September 1888 at home in Wheeler township. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Petersson, Johan
Johan was born on 11 March 1810 on the Kroxtorp farm in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. He was a boat skipper in Sweden. He and his wife Anna immigrated with a large group of Swedes from Misterhult to northern Crawford county in May of 1868. He purchased land in the NE of Otter Creek section 13 and began the life of a farmer. He died on 3 August of 1878 at his farm home and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Linman, Carl
Carl was born in 1811 in Sweden (probably in Östergötland län). He married Margaret Johnson there and their six children were born there. The parents and four living children came to Stockholm township in 1869 and purchased the NE of section 8 from Christ Christianson where they began farming. He and his wife attended the Swedish Mission church. He died on 21 December 1901 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Lind, Nils Ingemar
Nils was born on 4 January 1813 in Sweden. He and wife Ingri Magdalena immigrated to America in 1857 and came to Otter Creek township in the 1870’s buying land in the NE of Section 1. He was a farmer until the late 1890’s when he retired. He died on 1 June 1900 and is buried in the Bethel Cemetery.
Engström, Sara Christina
Sara was born on 2 February 1813 in the village of Figeholm in Kalmar län in Sweden. She married Carl Peter Frodig in Sweden. Two of her children died as babies in Sweden. She is one of the original Kiron area immigrants having left Sweden with her husband and daughter in June of 1865 to join the Swedish settlement at Swedebend near Stratford in Iowa. Two years later they came to live in a “dugout” on their own farm in the SE of Stockholm section 19. She was a charter member of the Swedish Baptist church which was started in her humble home. She was an active mid-wife during the first 15 years in the new settlement. She made her home with her daughter in Wheeler township in her late eighties. She died on 27 January 1901. She is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Berggren, Paul
Paul was born on 14 January 1814 in Malmöhus län in Sweden. After his wife died he immigrated to America in the early 1880’s with his daughter to the farm home of his son in the SW of Wheeler section 29. He lived with his son and family until his death on 15 April 1887. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Petersson, Gustaf Fredrick
Gustaf was born on 11 June 1814 at the Figsjökrog dwelling in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. He married Christina Nilsdotter over there and had a daughter Mary Gustafsdotter. Gustaf was a boat skipper sailing out of the seacoast village of Figeholm. On 29 November 1868 the family left Sweden for northern Crawford county. They bought land first in the NE of Otter Creek section 11 and added more in the NE of Otter Creek section 2. He retired from farming around 1885 and went to live with daughter’s family in Hayes township in Ida county.
Johnson, Axel
Axel was born in Bronestad parish in Kristianstad län in Sweden on 13 April 1815. He married Pernilla Nilsdotter in Sweden and had several children. The family immigrated from Sweden to Henry County, Illinois in 1866 where they started farming. Several of the daughters married and moved to northern Crawford county. Around the early eighties, Axel retired from farming and came with his wife to live with his oldest daughter, Johanna Engberg, and family in Stockholm township section 8. He died on 13 March 1885 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Beck, Nils Peter
Nils was born on 9 May 1815 in Kalmar län Sweden, probably at Bankhult farm in Kristdala. He married Lena Maria Persdotter and they had six children. They were living in Figeholm, Sweden when they immigrated with their daughter Anna to America in May 1868. They came with several Misterhult area immigrants to Swedebend and on to north Crawford county where they bought land in the NE of Otter Creek section 13. The family were members of the Swedish Baptist church. Nils died on 19 August 1889 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Persdotter, Lena Maria
Lena Maria was born at Grindstuga on the Virum manor in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. She married Nils Peter Beck in 1845 and had six children. She immigrated with her husband and daughter to Iowa in May 1868 and settled into a “dugout” home on the NE of Otter Creek section 13. She was a charter member of the Swedish Baptist church in Aug of 1868. After her husband’s death she moved to live with her son Fred in Odebolt. She died there on 24 March 1895 and is buried next to her husband in the Kiron Cemetery.
Sparfeldt, Jöns
Jöns was born the farthest north of all the immigrants. His birthdate is 12 June 1815 and his birthplace is on the Finnvattnet farm north of Ström in Jamtland län in Sweden. He was married to Anna Johansdotter of Ramsele and had five children. He immigrated with his youngest son and came to Stockholm township in the winter of 1867. He purchased an 80 acre farm in NW Stockholm township section 20 in February 1868 and lived there the remainder of his life. He died 9 May 1895 and he is buried in the Kiron Cemetery. His farm stayed in the family and qualified for one of the first Iowa Century farms around Kiron. Andersson, John P.
John was born on 23 June 1815 in Sweden (Västervik area) and came to the north Crawford county area by way of Chicago in 1870. Financially prudent, he had accumulated $1000 of Stockholm township real estate in section 7 by June of 1870. Together with son Charles J. they built one of the first above ground houses in the community in late 1870. His family provided a temporary home for traveling clergy in the early days. He died on 7 February 1908 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Weberg, Peter W.
Peter was born on 26 August 1815 in the Norrköping area of Sweden and married Bertha Lydia Johnson there. They immigrated to Iowa and came with the group from Swedebend to north Crawford county in August 1867. He purchased an 80 acre farm in the SE of Stockholm section 19 next to the Frodig farm. He was a member of the Swedish Baptist church. A farmer all his life, he retired and moved into the Erickson log house of the neighboring farm to be cared for by Mrs. Erickson. He died on Christmas day 1890 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Ericksson, Erick
Very little is known about Erick’s early days. He was born in 1816 in Sweden, married Anna there, and came to northern Crawford county with the group from Swedebend in August of 1867. At that time he purchased a farm in the NW of Stockholm section 19. A carpenter by trade, he distinguished himself by immediately setting out to build an above ground “Log Cabin” instead of a “dug-out” as a home. The Erickson’s have one known son in this area who used the name of Nyland. Erick only got to enjoy his farm for about ten years as he died on 5 August 1879. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Lindblad, Nicolaus
Nicolaus was born on 5 November 1816 in Ingatorp parish which is in Jönköping län, Sweden. He was a military man and had a 40 year career in the Army of the King of Sweden. He married Elizabeth Johnson and came to America with the families of their three daughters around 1870. After a short time in the north part of Michigan and in Illinois they came to the Kiron area. The four families all bought property in Wheeler section 31 and began farming. Nicolaus has the distinction of having enjoyed a very long vigorous life. One of the leaders of the Bethel Lutheran church, he was honored at the church on his 100th birthday. He died on 30 September 1919 and is buried in the Bethel Cemetery.
Hansdotter, Anna
Anna was born on 14 January 1817 in Hassela socken in Gävleborgs län, Sweden. With her husband Erick Ljunglof, she came to the Kiron area in 1881 settling on a farm in Hayes township. She spent her remaining days with the families of her children who were farming in the area. She died on 23 April 1907 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Star, Charles J.
Charles was born on 13 June 1817 in Sweden and immigrated with his wife Margaret and daughter Carolina to America around 1852. They first settled around Rock Island, Illinois and came to Swedebend in Iowa around 1855 where they farmed for several years. Charles, along with Carl Frodig and Nils Rodin, were the original threesome that selected the Kiron community in July 1867 as the future homesite for the Swedish immigrants. He lived on his farm in Otter Creek section 13 and made a building available on his farm for the first schoolhouse in the area. It also served as the place of worship for the early Swedish Baptists of which he was a charter member. Charles died on 24 March 1886 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Nilsson, Peter
Peter was born on the island of Hunö off the east coast of Sweden in the parish of Misterhult and in Kalmar län. His first wife, Maria Christina Jönsdotter, died leaving Peter with young children so he married Maria Greta Clausdotter, a sister to Carl Fredrik and Sara Lotta. The Nelsons left Sweden for Iowa in May 1867 and in August they purchased a farm in Stockholm township. They raised a large family on this farm in the SW of section 19, but all of them moved away. Peter died on 20 Feb 1888 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Lindberg, Nils
Nils was born on 28 December 1817 in Sweden and came to America with wife Bengta and three sons and two daughters around 1866. He was with the group from Swedebend who came and purchased land in north Crawford county in August 1867. His farm was the NW of Stockholm section 18. It was on his farm that the first to die of the immigrants were laid to rest in the extreme northeast corner of his farm. This eventually became the site of the original Kiron Cemetery. Nils was a charter member of the Swedish Baptist church and served as its first chairman. He died suddenly on 30 April 1872 and is buried with two of his babies in the Kiron Cemetery.
Nilsdotter, Cathrina
Cathrina was born on 7 May 1818 in Sweden (Västervik area). She married John P. Anderson and immigrated to America. They lived for a time in the Chicago area and came to the north Crawford area around 1870 starting their farm in the E of Stockholm section 7. She had one of the first above ground houses which she shared with traveling ministers. She died on 7 March 1904 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery next to her husband and granddaughter.
Petersson, Lars Magnus
Lars was born on 17 September 1818 at Figsjökrog in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. He was a laborer and sailor in the area around Figeholm. His wife Anna Maria Magnusdotter and his two young children died in Sweden. He came to northern Crawford county around 1880 and stayed with his brothers and nieces families in Otter Creek township. He attended the Baptist church. He died on 26 Dec 1910 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Lundell, Andrew W.
Andrew was born on 6 Feb 1819 in Skaraborgs län in Västergötland, Sweden. He, his wife Anna, and their three children immigrated to Princeton, Illinois in 1869 and came to the Kiron area about 10 years later. They settled on a farm in Wheeler township in the NW of section 29. Andrew died on 23 Feb 1896 and is buried in the Bethel Cemetery alongside his wife.
Swensson, Carl Christian
Carl was born on the Hillorp farm in the North Akarp parish in Kristianstads län in Sweden on 11 June 1821. He married Elna Olsdotter and together with three children immigrated to America arriving at Swede Bend on 4 July 1866. In March 1880 they purchased some land from Nils Rodin and began a small farming operation in the SW of Stockholm section 18. Carl was also a carpenter. A religious family, he saw his son go to Seminary at Morgan Park in Chicago and his daughter go to Nurses Missionary training. Unfortunately, both died unexpectedly young. Carl passed away on 20 June 1882 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Berg, Olof
Olof was born on 19 July 1821 near Bjuråker in Gävleborgs län in Hälsingland, Sweden. He married Katherine Uddblom and together with their four children immigrated to the Kiron area in 1870. They purchased a farm in the NW of Stockholm section 5 where Olof continued his blacksmith trade while his son did the farming. Olof lived his retired years with the families of his children and died 14 August 1883 on the farm. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Peterson, Waldemar
Waldemar was born 11 March 1822 in Kristianstad län in southern Sweden. He married Hanna Hansson there and the family immigrated to Swedebend, Iowa and on to the Kiron area by August of 1867. They purchased a sizable farm in Otter Creek township in section 24 along the Otter Creek river bed and here they set up their farming operation. He was a charter member of the Swedish Baptist church. Waldemar died on 2 May 1904 at his son’s farm home in Hayes township. Burial was in the Kiron Cemetery.
Carlsson, Peter
Peter was born 16 December 1822 around Stockholm in Sweden. He married Anna Mary Johnson from Karlstad around 1850. With their four living children they immigrated to America and arrived in north Crawford county in August 1867. He purchased 80 acres from the Providence Western Land Company in the NE of Stockholm section 19. He was a charter member of the Swedish Baptist church. Peter died on 25 July 1892 and was buried in the Kiron Cemetery. Swede (Svensk), Jonas
Jonas was born in February 1823 in Sweden. There he married Ingrid Göransdotter and had two sons, Erick and Jonas, Jr. They all immigrated from Sweden to the Kiron area in 1870. They lived on a farm on the NW of Wheeler township section 19. His two sons were two of the earliest to set up a general merchandise store in Old Kiron. Jonas, Sr. was a farmer. After the early unexpected death of his son, he made a home for his sons family. Jonas, Sr. died on 8 May 1902 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Hamren, C. Ludwig
C. Ludwig was born in northern Sweden in May of 1823. His obituary refers to him as Baptist minister in Sweden. He immigrated with wife Christine and sons Charles and Josef to the north Crawford area around 1870. They farmed in the SW of Otter Creek section 13 along the Otter Creek River. Records show he drowned crossing the river after attending some meeting on 5 September 1875. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Lindberg, Olof
Olof was born 9 October 1823 in Bollnäs socken in Gävleborgs län in the Hälsingland province of Sweden. He was married around 1860 to Mary and they had one daughter Anna Marie. The family immigrated to America around 1860 and came to north Crawford county around 1869. Olof was able to purchase 80 acres in the SW of Stockholm section 20 and he set up a the first blacksmith shop in the Swedish settlement at his farmstead. (Later this corner was called Johnsonville for a short while.) His hired farm laborer married his daughter and moved to a farm in the NW of Otter Creek section 13 so Olof sold the farm to neighbor Julius Johnson and moved his shop to the new farm. Here he spent the remaining years of his life. He died in November of 1897 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Olsson, Peter B.
Peter was born in Skåne, Sweden about 1824. He married Anna Holmquist and immigrated to the north Crawford county area before 1870. After Nils Lindbergs untimely death, Peter purchased the east 80 acres from the Lindbergs in the NW of Stockholm section 18. After getting the deed to the farm, he gave the 2 acres used for the cemetery to the Kiron Cemetery Association. When the Mons Berggren family arrived, he set aside the north 28 acres for them to get started farming. When they obtained a larger farm in Wheeler township, he set aside an acre next to the northwest corner of the cemetery for the first Church of God (Ev.Free) church building. He died on 2 April 1891 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Petersson, Nils Peter
Nels was born on 14 August 1824 at Figsjökrog in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. He was a laborer and sailor in the area around Figeholm. He immigrated with his wife Johanna Maria Carlsdotter to northern Crawford county around 1876. Several members of Nils’s family also were in Otter Creek township and they farmed together. The Peterssons were Baptists. Nels had an accident and broke his neck which caused his death on 18 September 1897. He was buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Buller, Hans
Hans Buller was born on 8 May 1825 at Hassela in Gävleborgs län in the province of Hälsingland in Sweden. He married Martha Kajsa Henderson in Sweden and with their 5 children came to America in 1866. They settled first in Minnesota, then Swedebend, Iowa, and finally bought the farm in the SE of Stockholm section 6 which still remains in the family. He died on 2 December 1915 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Ericksson, Samuel
Samuel was born in Sweden on 30 June 1825. He came to America with his wife Sarah and purchased 160 acres of land in Stockholm section 4 by 1881. Then he suddenly died on 3 March 1882 and is buried in the public lot 72A in the Kiron Cemetery. Nothing else is known about him and he remains somewhat of a mystery.
Mauritz, Par S.
Par was born in 1826 in Kristianstad län in the province of Skåne in Sweden around the area of Västra Torup parish. He married Elsie Ericksdotter in Sweden and they immigrated to northern Crawford county with their 6 children about 1880. Par was a farmer. They purchased land in the Otter Creek valley from the Hamrens and the Larssons in section 13. He died at his farmhome on 8 November 1882 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Thunström, Carl P.
Carl was born on 26 February 1826 in Torp parish in Västernorrlands län which is in the province of Medelpad in northern Sweden. He immigrated to America with his wife Brita K. and two children in 1889. They stayed with their daughters (Mrs. Ingemar Lind) place in Otter Creek section 1. He died on 23 August 1903 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Rodin, Nils Fredrick
Nils was born Nils Fredrick Johansson on 27 February 1826 on the Baggetorp farm in the parish of Misterhult in Kalmar Län in the province of Småland in Sweden. He was the oldest of five children born to Johan Nilsson and Eva Jönsdotter. His father died in 1830 when Nils was only 4 years old and before the birth of twin sons. Nils married Sara Christina Jönsdotter about 1848 and they had 9 children. They were part of the separatist movement in Sweden and called themselves Baptists. The family left Sweden in June of 1865 and came with their neighbors and fellow Baptists, the Carl Frodigs, to Swedebend in Webster county Iowa along the Des Moines River. Two years later Nils and Carl teamed up with Charlie Star, another Baptist and whose family was also at Swedebend, for the memorable scouting expedition to western Iowa to find suitable farm land for the Swedish immigrants. Nils bought land in the SW of Stockholm section 18 but lost his wife in Swedebend before the move. He remarried to Ingrid Erlandsdotter who had come from the island of Öland which is off the coast of Sweden near Misterhult. They had one daughter Lottie born in 1869. Nils was a member of the Swedish Baptist church of Kiron and served as deacon for many years. Nils died on 2 April 1905 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Johnson, Anna Mary
Anna was born on 8 April 1826 in the town of Karlstad in Sweden. (Birth name Anna Jacobsdotter) She married Peter Carlsson in Sweden and they immigrated with their children to America coming to northern Crawford county with the group from Swedebend in August of 1867. They purchased land in the NE of Stockholm section 19 and she set up being a farm wife in her “dug-out” house. Her family attended services at the Swedish Baptist church. She died on 12 April 1891 and was buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Nord, Nils Lars
Nils was born on 13 April 1826 in Sweden and after his wife died in Sweden he came with his three sons to America. He stayed on the farm in the NE of Otter Creek section 1 with his oldest son Peter and family and helped with the farming. His younger sons who had stopped in Brooklyn to find work joined the family later at the family farm home. (They frequently used the last name of Moleen instead of Nord.) Nils died on 10 November 1890 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Henderson, Martha Kajsa
Martha was born on 8 November 1826 in the province of Hälsingland in northern Sweden. She married Hans Buller in Sweden and they came with their children to America in 1866. They first went to Minnesota and then to Swedebend, Iowa and finally coming to the Kiron area in 1873. They bought a farm in the SE of Stockholm section 6 and proceeded to build a farm place that still exists in the Buller name. Martha died on 14 February 1885 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Erlandsdotter, Ingrid
Ingrid was born on 11 December 1826 in Högsrum socken in Kalmar län on the island of Öland in Sweden. She immigrated to Swedebend about 1867 and married Nils Rodin and step mother to his children. She took up the life of a farmwife on the farm in the SW of Stockholm section 18 in the fall of 1867. She was a member of the Swedish Baptist church. Ingrid died on 13 February 1907 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Bjorkman, Olaf
Ola was born in 1827 in Sweden. He married Johanna Christiansdotter (brother of Christ Christianson) in Sweden and they had four children. They left Sweden in 1865 with their daughter Matilda, first coming to Allamakee county and then on to Stockholm township in 1876. For many years they lived on a small acreage on the corner of their daughter and husbands farm in Stockholm section 9. Here Ola raised garden produce for the community. They attended the Swedish Mission church. He died on 21 April 1910 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Hendricksson, Andrew
Andrew was born on 12 February 1827 in Sweden. He came with his wife Clara and son Peter to the north Crawford area where he bought 40 acres from Peter Nilsson in the SE of Otter Creek section 25. They were living here for the US census in July of 1870. They purchased more land across the road in Stockholm section 30 where they built the farmplace. The family attended the Methodist church. Andrew died on 27 December 1901 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Johnson, David Ludwig
David was born on 2 October 1827 in the city of Göteborg (Gothenborg) in Sweden. He married Johanna Börgesdotter in Sweden and together with all their children came to America around 1855. They first went to Minnesota but came overland to Kiron around 1868. They had a dugout home on their farm in the NE of Stockholm section 30 and with several sons to help, they made a farm of it in a hurry. This family is known for its initiative and inventiveness and getting things down. They once even obtained approval for their house to be a US postoffice with the name of Johnsonville. David died on 3 March 1876 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Andersdotter, Hedda Lovisa
Swedish records show Hedda born on 24 October 1827 at Södra Mo I Gässhult which is in Misterhult parish in Kalmar län in Sweden. Misterhult exit papers show she left there in November 1868. She was a Baptist and when arriving in northern Crawford county she joined the group that formed the Swedish Baptist church. She found work in Omaha, met Charles Duncan and married him. He soon died and she came back and purchased two 40 acre parcels in the NW of Stockholm township section 30. Her farm became a place of employment for new Swedish immigrants to call home and get a start in farming. In 1902 she moved into Kiron to the home of her niece, Mrs. C. M. Olsson where she was taken care of until her death on 14 February 1920. She is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Ward, Erick
Erick was born on 13 November 1827 in Hälsingland in northern Sweden. He and wife Betsy immigrated to America and came overland by wagon to Wheeler township in the late 1860’s. They settled on a farm in the NE of Wheeler section 29. He died on 4 July 1897 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Petersson, Peter
Records show Peter was born in 1828 somewhere in Sweden. He immigrated to this country in the 1860’s . In August 1867 he was with the group from Swedebend that purchased land in northern Crawford county, thus making him one of the original pioneers. Peter purchased 80 acres in the SW of Stockholm section 17 and set up a farmplace with his wife Fredricka. Peter then suddenly died on 14 April 1871 at the age of 43 and was buried in the Kiron cemetery. It is thought his wife then married a Nylin. Nothing more is known about this family.
Swansson, Nils
Nils was born on 23 January 1828 in Skåne in the very south of Sweden. He immigrated to America in 1871 and came with his wife Thora and children to Otter Creek township. Here they bought the land of John Ericksson which was the farm on which the present day town of Kiron stands. Nils farmed this land with his sons until 10 September 1884 when he passed away. He is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Johnson, Julia A.
Julia was born on 10 April 1828 probably in the Medelpad province of Sweden. She came with her husband Herman Ericksson to the Kiron area by way of Minnesota in 1870. They bought a farm in the NE of Stockholm section 6 and later expanded across the road into section 7. She died on 18 April 1888 at her farm home of tuberculosis. She was buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Andersson, Anders
Anders was born on 7 December 1828 in northern Sweden in the parish of Helgum in Västernorrlands län in the province of Ångermanland. He, with his wife Christina and his family, came with a group of family and friends to northern Crawford county by way of Swedebend in August of 1867. They bought a farm in the NW of Stockholm section 17. This group was led by Hans Hallander, who functioned as a Baptist minister in northern Sweden, and they joined with the Baptists from Misterhult in southern Sweden to form the principle nucleus of the formation of the Swedish Baptist church. A few years later the church building was built on his farm. Anders did not live long enough to see the building happen. He came down with the fever and died on 17 September 1871. He is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
Carlsson, Carl
Carl was born on 25 December 1828 on the Kolarasen farm in Safsnäs parish in the province of Dalarna in Sweden. He immigrated with his wife Sarah and family and came to northern Crawford county in the summer of 1868. They bought a farm in the SE of Otter Creek section 25 where they built their farmplace. He died on 4 June of 1903 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Larsdotter, Aneka
Aneka was born in Värmlands län in Sweden and married John Hoaglund around 1853. In 1865 the family came to America and settled on a farm in Fayette county in northeast Iowa. Later in 1869, they came to northern Crawford county and purchased land next to the Otter Creek in the NW of section 24. The family had more than their share of tragedies with two daughters drowning, another died from snake bite and their son of diphtheria. They facilitated the immigration of several family members in Sweden who came to live in the area. They sold their farm and went to Arthur at the coming of the railroad there and started a business. When they retired they returned to live in Kiron. Aneka died on 25 August 1907 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Strabeck, Bothilda
Bothilda was born on 6 April 1829 at the Torraröd farm in Färingtofta socken in Kristianstads län in Skåne Sweden. She married Elias Munson in Sweden and they immigrated to America first coming to Swedebend and then coming with the group of Swedish immigrants from there to north Crawford County. They bought a farm in the SE of Otter Creek township section 13 where they had a dugout house. Bothilda lived there all her remaining life and died on 2 April 1902. She is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Frodig, Carl Peter
Carl Peter Andersson took the name of Frodig as the family name before leaving Sweden and little knowing that the name would gain stature in the new world as being synonymous with the starting of the Kiron settlement. He was born 3 August 1829 in the village of Figeholm in the parish of Misterhult in Kalmar län in Småland Sweden. He married Sara Christina Engström in 1850 and they provided a home for other children in need of a family. They were part of the Baptist group in Sweden. They left their Swedish home in June of 1865 and came to Swedebend near Stratford, Iowa along with the Rodins, Nils Beck’s son and two of Peter Nilsson’s sons. Two years later they selected north Crawford county as their new home and purchased land in the SE of Stockholm section 19. Carl was a leader in starting the Swedish Baptist church with the organizational meeting in his home. He died on 22 April 1904 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Johnson, Andrew
Andrew (Andrus) was born 12 August 1829 in Halland län in Sweden. He brought his family of wife Brita, sons Nils and August, and daughter to America in 1868. One son and the daughter died on the trip. Andrew bought a farm in the NE of Stockholm section 31 in 1868 and farmed it with his son for a number of years. In 1882 he sold the Stockholm farm and bought a larger farm in Hayes section 34. There he farmed the remainder of his life. He attended Bethel Lutheran church. He died on 11 May 1902 and is buried in the Bethel cemetery.
Nordell, John
John was born on 2 October 1829 in Hassela socken which is in Gävleborgs län located in the province of Hälsingland, Sweden. He immigrated with his wife Margaret from Sweden to Minnesota and came overland with the Wards and Bullers to the Kiron area in 1870. They bought a farm in the SE of Wheeler township section 32. John was only 45 when he had an accident and died on 21 December 1874. He is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Olsdotter, Elna
Elna was born on 4 February 1830 on the Röshult farm in Hörja socken in Kristianstads län Sweden. She married Carl Christian Svensson in Sweden and they immigrated with their three children to America coming to north Crawford area by 1880. They purchased some land from Nils Rodin and built a farm place on the land in the SW of Stockholm section 18. A devoted Christian family, she saw her children pursue ministerial careers only to be cut short by disease. She lost her husband early on but persisted on the farm until she died on 21 May 1908. She is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Larsson, Peter N.
Peter was born in Sweden on 10 February 1830. He immigrated from Sweden with his wife Martha. He had two children Mary and William. Peter purchased a farm in the NE of Stockholm section 3 from the Iowa Rail Road Land Company in the early 1880’s. He died on 18 August 1883 just 11 days after his wife. He is buried in the Bethel cemetery.
Johnson, Anders Johan
Anders was born at Sankt Lars in Linköping which is in Östergötland län in Sweden. He married Lovisa Christina Carlsdotter of Pelarne socken in Kalmar län. Anders was a coppersmith in Sweden. He immigrated with his wife and three children on 2 May 1882 coming directly to the Kiron area where a sister-in-law, Johanna Carlsdotter, was living on an Otter Creek farm in section 13. Anders was more known as a mechanic than a farmer around the Kiron area. It is believed that the family first lived in the former blacksmith Olof Lindberg home in the SW of Stockholm township section 20. Anders died on 3 April 1907 and is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Norelius, Andrew
Andrew was born on 1 July 1830 in Hassela socken in Gävleborgs län which is in Hälsingland in Sweden. He immigrated with his parents to Minnesota in 1853. He married Christina Peterson of Sweden and began a career as a Baptist minister. After serving with the Union troops in the Civil war, he moved his family to Kiron in 1870 to a farm in the NE of Stockholm section 7 which he had purchased in 1869. His ability to use the English language was a valuable contribution to the community adjusting from Swedish. He lived at his Old Kiron home even after retiring eventually moving to Galva to stay with one of his daughters. He died there on 10 April 1927. He is buried in the Kiron cemetery.
Hanson, Nels A. (Sr.)
Nels was born on 9 September 1830 in Sweden. He and wife Christina and family came to America in 1870 coming first to Illinois in 1870 and then on to the Kiron area in 1878. They bought a farm in the SE quarter of Hayes township section 26 and farmed there for about 15 years. After his wife’s death the family moved to another place in Wheeler township. Nels died on 13 June 1922 and is buried in the Bethel cemetery.
From Glenn Gustason
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