History of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Churchfrom the 40th Anniversary Album, 1866-1906Swedesburg, Henry County, Iowa |
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| HISTORY The history of the Swedesburg congregation begins with the first "Swedes" who came here in 1864 to make their homes. The very first family to arrive in what is now the Swedesburg settlement was the Swen Peterson Swenson family, who came from New Sweden in Jefferson County. This family settled in section four of Marion Township, just two miles south of the present village of Swedesburg. The house into which they moved was located on the south side of the highway about 1/4 of a mile west from the highway running north and south, but there is no trace of its location at this date. Two days later Matthew Anderson and John Tolander arrived from Biggsville, Illinois. John Tolander settled in section 28 of Wayne Twp. The family settled on the north east quarter of the south east quarter of the section which was 40 acres. This tract was near what was very likely the wettest part of the entire settlement. Matthew Anderson and his wife settled on a forty acre tract in section 34 about 1/2 mile south east from the Tolander place. Mr. Anderson bought this forty from the G. A. Fridolph family who had purchased the north half of the north west quarter of section 34. When the Fridolph family arrived in 1865 they settled on the forty acres west of the Matthew Anderson tract. Mr. Fridolph had purchased these two forty acre tracts in 1864 but did not move to the land until 1865. From this time on settlers began to arrive into the settlement quite rapidly. One thing that brought settlers into the settlement was the promotion of the area as a good place for Swedish people to establish a home. Advertising was done through a Swedish paper called the "Hemlandet" published in Chicago. The main promoter of the settlement to attract the attention of Swedish people was G. A. Fridolph. He had been chosen to do the advertising and to assist in every way possible to bring people into the area. That he succeeded is evident from the steady flow of people from other Swedish settlements to this area. However, there was another man who was the main influence in pointing the way to the settling of this area as a place for Swedish people, and that was Rev. Hakan Olson who was serving as pastor of the New Swedish Lutheran church, organized in 1848 in Jefferson county. Rev. Olson and some friends from Jefferson county had made a trip to the north part of Henry County, in the spring of 1863, to look over the land for the purpose of establishing another Swedish settlement in Iowa. What he saw was certainly not very inviting. Pools of water were everywhere, and swampland; prairie land that was flat and wet. No trees, but tall swamp grass that was so tall that a man could walk in it and not be seen. Likewise no roads. When these men came from Jefferson county to look at this area they had to ford Skunk river in order to get here. Yet Rev. Olson was impressed with the possibilities of a settlement here by Swedish people. That same fall Rev. Olson, S. P. Swenson and son Albert made a trip to Biggsville, Illinois to talk with the "Swedes" in that area about establishing a settlement in the north part of Henry County Iowa. He talked with G. A. Fridolph, Matthew Anderson and others. The people around Biggsville were impressed with the report and decided to move to Iowa. And the following spring several families from that part of Illinois came to Henry County Iowa to establish homes for themselves. Records show that there were several Swedish settlements in the western part of Illinois. The oldest one was perhaps at Andover. Others were at Galesburg, Knoxville, Biggsville and there was a large settlement of "Swedes” in Chicago. When the "Swedes" came from Illinois in the spring of 1864 there or were no bridges over the Mississippi River. They had to cross this river by ferry. And when these same Swedes" came to Henry County there were no well established roads over which to travel to get to their destination. They simply had to travel as best they could and pick their way. Some of the streams had to be forded for lack of bridges. Even the mile running south of our village was not passable until after a bridge was built over the pool of water that covered the road about 3/4 of a mile south of our village. This bridge was about seventy-five feet long and was built after it had been asked for by Moses Lemon and others, including the supervisor Caleb Russell from Wayne Township. The building of Liberty School in 1867 may have been a factor in getting this bridge built so the children from the north could get to school along the highway. The bridge was also necessary for north and south travel for people going to Mt. Pleasant, the county seat, and a trading center. There was no trading center in Wayne Township 1864. There were stores in Winfield which was laid out June 12th, 1852; and in Marshall (known today as Wayland) which was laid out Sept. 24th, 1851. But it was seven miles from Swedesburg to Winfield, and it was about eight miles from Swedesburg to Marshall. And neither of these two towns had a railroad at that time. Whereas Mt. Pleasant had a railroad which had been in operation for seven years or since it was completed in 1857. So it was much more desirable to go to Mt. Pleasant, to do what trading was necessary. The road running north and south through Swedesburg had also been designated as a military road and that was another good reason for building a bridge on the mile south, of what is now Swedesburg, so that travelers using the road north and south could do so without going in a round about way through the open prairie. We are using the name of Swedesburg loosely for in 1864 there was no Swedesburg. The name of Swedesburg did not come into existence until Jan. 20th, 1870 and then it was spelled ending with an "h", Swedesburgh. Looking ahead the name was changed again on May 18th, 1893 when the "h " was left off. And that gave us the name we have today, Swedesburg. For the folks who came from Jefferson County there were equally bad roads and streams to ford. These folks had to ford Skunk river and it was not easy to get the livestock started through the water. We have the story from Oliver Stephenson, who told of the problem they had young colts to follow along in the water. And many smaller creeks and sloughs were also difficult to ford. Oliver Stephenson did not come to Wayne Township until the summer of 1865, when he purchased a farm in Sec. 18, almost four miles northwest of our village. There are no church records to show which ones came from Jefferson County or which ones came from Illinois. But we do have some conveyance records that show where they came from. So far as the adults are concerned they all came from Sweden originally. But some of them went on to Jefferson County before coming to this settlement in Wayne Township. Of the children who were here when the church organized in 1866, most of them were born in America, either in Jefferson County, or in one of the Swedish settlements in Illinois. We have in the Iowa Historical Society building at Iowa City microfilm records from the Federal census of 1870 that will show where all of the residents were born who were residents of Wayne Township in 1870. Not all of the charter members of our congregation who were here when the congregation was organized in 1866 stayed on and made this their home. As we have stated the land here was wet and it was hard to produce a crop in a moderately wet year. Reports coming in from Nebraska told of better weather there so many of the first settlers in this area moved on to Nebraska. From the time records were started in 1877 until 1895 there were 42 members of the Swedesburg, congregation that moved to Nebraska. This number does not take into account the members who left during the sixties or early seventies. Alexander Johnson and wife in whose home the congregation was organized in 1866, stayed here only two years. Their home was located in Sec. 29, in the south east quarter; it was both flat and wet, and certainly hard to produce a crop without some form of drainage. We mention the condition of the land because it was impossible for the congregation to prosper and move forward until the farmers could get some return from the land which they were tilling. From 1864 until April 13th, 1866 when the congregation was organized, there were over sixty Swedish people who had moved into the area here in Wayne township. And when these folks got together to organize their congregation fifty nine people were listed as charter members. During 1864 and 1865 Hakan Olson who was serving the New Sweden Congregation made occasional visits to the settlement to conduct services for them. It was Hakan Olson who had urged the "Swedes" to come to this settlement and he did not forsake them. He made trips overland the eighteen miles from New Sweden to Wayne Township to preach to the people, and sometimes at great danger to himself. Once when Skunk river was too high to ford he took off his clothes and swam across and walked the ten miles to the area, delivered his sermon and then walked the ten miles back, swam the river, untied his horse from the tree where he had tied it and rode back to New Sweden, Little wonder that a settlement served by a minister like that would eventually move forward and succeed. At a meeting of the Swedish people who were in Wayne Township on April 13th, 1866 it was decided to organize a congregation. The "Swedes" met in the home of Alexander Johnson and wife. They lived one mile south and one and one quarter miles west of what is now Swedesburg. Rev. Hakan Olson was present and served as chairman for the meeting. L. M. Rapp was asked to serve as Secretary. After considerable discussion it was decided by these in attendance to organize a congregation. It was decided to call the location of the church "Freeport". This was to give some honor to G. A. Fridolph. However, the records are not clear whether it was primarily to honor Mr. Fridolph or whether Mr. Fridolph made the suggestion to call the location of the church "Freeport" However the name “Freeport” did not last long. When a U. S. Gov't post office was established here on Jan. 20th. 1870, the name was changed to Swedesburgh. The post office was located in the store operated by Otto Abrahamson, and he became its first postmaster. To those folks who may be interested in reading these pages in future years it may seem that the work of building a church here on the Swedesburg prairie in the late sixties, moved along very slowly. But let us remember how few were the members who undertook the responsibility of building this first church here in what is now Swedesburg. The following is a list of those who signed up as charter members: John Z. Sandahl, his wife and children Gustaf Fridolph and wife Jonas Peter Sandahl and wife . Fred Olson and wife Matthias Anderson and wife Swen Peter Swenson, wife and children Anders J. Anderson and wife Alfred Louis and wife Johan Tolander and wife Alexander Johnson and wife Anders J. Zarl and wife Ola. Gust Carlson, wife and children Ola. Gust Stephenson and wife Am. M. Anderson and wife Otto Abrahamson and wife John Nelson and wife Germund Abrahamson Isak Overstrom, wife and children G. Nelson and wife L. M. Rapp, wife and children Sven Auguston Anders Erickson Fred Molin and wife Mans Anderson and wife Gust Carlson and wife It was this little band of Swedish people that had the courage to come together and agree to build a church where they could worship God together, along the lines and traditions they had been taught since their childhood days. Some of the men in this group had just returned from service in the Civil War, and they were anxious to establish homes for their families. This was true of the Abrahamson brothers, Fred Molin and Alfred Louis. But for all of them there was the hope that they might better themselves by settling in this new settlement of Swedish people. But when we consider the physical condition of this prairie land, we marvel that they stayed on and succeeded in making a living for themselves, paying for the land they had bought, and going ahead with plans to build a church, there must of been an unwavering faith in God that everything would turn out alright in the end. Otherwise it seems to this writer that they would have given up and moved to a land that was not so wet, and where drainage was no problem. As we have already stated, many of them did move to Nebraska. But for those who stayed on during 1867 and later, if they produced more than they needed to feed their families there was the problem of getting to market with what little extra they had. It was ten miles to the railroad, which was at Mt. Pleasant, if we figure the distance from the proposed church building site. And for Oliver Stephenson, who lived about four miles north west of the point mentioned, it was fourteen miles. With all the handicaps against them it is no wonder they were poor. Yet poor as they were they still had to contribute something in the wage of taxes, to the county. The rates or levies were not high, but still if you did not have the money to Pay the taxes levied against you, the land would be sold to satisfy the tax lien. On Feb. 1, 1864, the 40 acre tract upon which Swedesburg now stands was sold for taxes. H. C. Saunders of Mt. Pleasant bought the tract for 7.59. This amount represented the accumulation of taxes and costs for two years. On Nov. 16, 1867, H. C. Saunders assigned his tax certificate to Rev. Hakan Olson, who, on presenting it to the county treasurer, received a tax deed for the 40 acres, subject to the right of redemption. The land was never redeemed. Members of the congregation who have served in various capacities. Deacons: 1866 Matthias Anderson, Sven P. Swenson, Mans Anderson, Otto Abrahamson, G. A. Fridolph and Alexander Johnson 1867 Alfred Louis, Fred Olson 1868 Chas Sandahl, John Holcom 1869 G. A. Fridolph, N. Nordgren 1870 John Schutz,C. E. Hult, Fred Molin, John Monson and Sven Nelson 1871 John Lauger and Ed Palmblad 1872 Fred Molin and Matthias Anderson 1873 John Monson, G. A. Fridolph 1874 Aron Blom, C. E. Hult 1875 Chas Anderson, Peter Johnson 1876 John Monson, G. A. Fridolph 1877 Fred Molin, C. E. Hult 1878 C. J. Anderson, O. Stephenson 1879 John Monson, G. A. Fridolph 1880 C. E. Hult, John Peterson 1881 John Holt, E. E. Palmblad 1882 G. A. Fridolph, John Monson 1883 C. E. Hult, John P. Peterson, C. J. Anderson 1884 John Holt, Gust Johnson 1985 G. A. Fridolph, John Monson 1886 C. E. Hult, C. J. Anderson, John P. Peterson 1887 John Holt, John Peterson 1888 O. L. Lindeen, G. A. Fridolph 1889 S. P. Morgan, G. B. Hult 1890 John Holt, John Peterson 1891 O. L. Lindeen, G. A. Fridolph 1892 S. P. Morgan, C. E. Hult 1893 John Holt, A. F. Lauger 1894 O. L. Lindeen, G. A. Fridolph 1895 S. P. Morgan, John P. Peterson 1896 John Holt, A. F. Lauger, Nelse Monson 1897 Olof Anderson, G. A. Fridolph 1898 S. P. Morgan, Nelse Monson 1899 John Holt, Ed. Palm 1900 G. A. Fridolph, Olof Anderson 1901 S. P. Morgan, Nelse Monson . 1902 John Holt, Ed. Palm 1903 C. O. Nelson, O. L. Lindeen 1904 S. P. Morgan, C. E. Hult, Nelse Monson 1905 John Holt, Ed. Palm 1906 O. L. Lindeen, Magnus Alvine Trustees: 1866 John Z Sandahl,L. M. Rapp, Claus Stephenson 1867 John Z Sandahl, Fred Molin, John G. Sandahl 1868 C. E. Hult 1869 Claus Stephenson 1870 John Peterson 1871 O. L. Lindeen 1872 C. Stephenson, C. E. Hult 1875 C. E. Hult 1874 O. L. Lindeen 1875 Otto Abrahamson 1876 S. P. Morgan 1877 Oliver Stephenson, O. L. Lindeen . 1878 O. L. Lindeen 1879 S. P. Morgan 1880 Oliver Stephenson 1881 O. L. Lindeen 1882 S. P. Morgan 1883 Oliver Stephenson 1884 O. L. Lindeen 1885 S. P. Morgan 1886 Andrew Lauger 1887 Oliver Stephenson 1888 D. B. Alvine 1889 Nels Klen 1890 John Gladd, Oliver Stephenson 1891 D. B. Alvine 1892 John Gladd 1893 Oliver Stephenson 1894 C. J. Nelson, John Hultquist 1895 H. Alvine 1896 Magnus Nelson 1897 J. E. Lindell 1898 H. Alvine 1899 M. Nelson 1900 J. P. Lauger 1901 H. Alvine 1902 G. W. Larson 1903 J. P. Lauger 1904 A. J. Anderson 1905 C. W. Larson 1906 J. P. Lauger Secretaries of the congregation: 1866 L. M. Rapp, Swan Swanson | 1867 - 69 Swan Swanson 1870 L. M. Rapp 1871 - 73 Peter Ingmanson 1874 P. L. Anderson 1875 Axel P. Swan 1876 - 77 P. Liliedahl 1878 P. D. Alvine 1879 - 85 P. Liliedahl 1886 - 87 J. E. Lindell 1888 John Ingmanson 1889 John Ingmanson, Nelse Monson, John Gladd 1890 - 92 John Ingmanson 1895 - 1900 C. O. Nelson 1901 Nelse Monson 1902 C. O. Nelson 1903 Nelse Monson 1904 Nelse Monson 1905 - 06 Henry Ingmanson Treasurers 1866 - 74 Oliver Stephenson 1875 Otto Abrahamson 1876 - 86 O. L. Lindeen 1887 - 95 Oliver Stephenson 1894 - 95 C. J. Nelson 1896 - 97 H. Alvine 1898 - 99 Magnus Nelson 1900 - 03 H. Alvine 1904 - 06 J. P. Lauger Organists: 1869 L. M. Rapp 1870 - 75 L. M. Rapp 1874 - 76 Olivia Olson 1877 Thilda Olson, Jenny Monson 1878 - 80 Mrs. Wallen 1881 - 83 Anna Anderson 1884 Jennie Monson 1885 - 86 Mrs. Franzen 1887 - 92 Anna Anderson 1895 - 97 Florence Morgan 1898 - 1906 Ella Larson Janitors: 1869 - 70 A. P. Borg 1871 - 72 M. P. Peterson 1875 - 74 P. L. Anderson 1875 - 76 C. Hedstrom 1877 P. L. Anderson 1878 J. C. Sandburg 1879 - 82 P. L. Anderson 1883 - 86 A. G. Liff 1887 P. L. Anderson 1888 A. G. Liff 1889 C. A. Monson 1890 Henry Ingmanson 1891 -1906 J. C. Sandburg The ministers who have served here during the past 40 years are the following: Hakan Olson who was called to serve full time after he had helped organize the congregation in 1866 was the first full time pastor to serve the congregation. Rev. Olson had served the congregation from the time of its organization to the time he was called here,but it had been on a part time basis. After the congregation built the church in 1868 it felt it needed a full time pastor. On March 22nd. 1869 after its Annual meeting,which was held in January, the congregation came together on its own,and decided to call a pastor. Gust Fridolph presided at the meeting. There was much discussion. But after considerable debate it was decided to call Rev. Hakan Olson from New Sweden, Iowa. Rev. Olson accepted the call and soon came to what was then called "Freeport" Iowa. This was in the year 1869. There was no parsonage for the new pastor. Rev. Olson was a man of ability and strength. He built and paid for his own house, which he used during the years he was here. When he left in 1876 the congregation bought the house from him and continued to use it as a parsonage for other pastors. Rev. Chas. Wallen came to serve the congregation in 1877 and stayed until 1882. When Rev. Wallen came to Swedesburg, the hardest years were past. Because: wet soil was now being conquered by the use of drain tile, and the land was producing crops in great abundance. However it was a new settlement,and it needed help as any new settlement does. It is not our intention to add or detract to the abilities of any of the pastors who have served here. But we wish to point but that Rev. Wallen took steps to have the organization of the church recorded in the records of the County Seat. This was done in 1880. Rev. Wallen also urged the young folks to organize a young peoples society, which they did, and which is still a strong organization within the church. Rev. Wallen left here in 1882. Rev. Franzen took up the work here in 1882 after Rev. Wallen had left. And he had not much more than become acquainted with the congregation when their church was destroyed by fire Jan. 19th, 1883. The fire was caused by an overheated stove. Wood fuel was used. It was now necessary for the congregation to decide if it wanted to build another church or not. When the question was put, the congregation voted unanimously to rebuild. The work was started and completed the same year 1883. Rev. Franzen moved in the summer of 1889. Rev. Bring accepted a call to serve here when he was still a student at the seminary, and came in 1890. He was bachelor and was under certain handicaps in rendering service to the congregation. However the congregation made progress during his stay. He moved in 1892, having served the congregation just two years. Rev. Sylvan followed Rev. Bring and came here in 1893. One of the big projects that was done during his stay was the building of what is now called Parish Hall. This building was begun and completed in 1893. It has been remodeled several times since that time, but part of the original building is still there. Rev. Sylvan stayed 3 years. He moved in August of 1896. Rev. A. Norrbom followed Rev. Sylvan and moved here in Oct. 1896. Rev. Norrbom was an organizer and it is not hard to see the progress that was made during the years that Rev. Norrbom served the congregation. He was a gifted musician. He not only led the choir and the singing generally, but he also wrote music. He was young and he was active. He took part in many activities outside the church. He was a minister whom the congregation loved. When the family moved in the fall of 1906, after the 40th Anniversary Celebration, it was hard to see the family leave. During the years 1868 and part of 1869 a student by the name of N. Nordgren served the congregation. It appears that he also taught school. When Rev. Olson accepted the call to serve the congregation, N. Nordgren went to Ottumwa, Iowa and did work there. Later N. Nordgren was ordained and became a minister and served various congregations. The following are listed as having taught summer school in the congregation: 1874 C. J. E. Haterius 1875 H. P. Quist 1876 F. A. Lorell 1877 M. Wahlstrom 1878 J. D. Nelsenius 1879 J. A. Rinell, J. W. Skans 1880 E. J. Systrom, P. A. Edquist 1881 P. A. Edquist, Nelly Klen 1882 Ida Anderson, stud. A. Sundell, Pastor Franzen 1883 C. G. Olson, Joshua Anderson 1884 A. J. Ryden 1885 J. T. Torngren, J. G. Dahlberg 1886 J. G. Dahlberg, 1887 E. T. Lindeen, Frank Swenson 1888 Pastor and Mrs. Franzen 1889 J. G. Dahlberg 1890 Frank Nelson 1891 Frank Nelson, E. T. Lindeen 1892 E. T. Lindeen 1893 E. T. Lindeen, Clara Amanda Hultquist 1894 C. A. Randolph, Otto Jonason 1895 Otto Jonason 1896 S. F. Svenson, A. R. Shelander 1897 Olof Vellin (Wallin) 1898 J. O. Kronholm 1899 Carl W. Ronge 1900 Albin Anderson, Frans A. Wallin 1901 J. O. Kindstrom 1902 Oscar Liden 1903 - 04 M. J. Olson 1905 - 06 C. O. Gulleen The following is a list of those from the congregation serving either in church work or in public service. G. J. E. Haterius, minister ordained June 20th, 1880 P. A. Edquist, minister ordained June 28th, 1885 A. J. Ryden, minister ordained June 16th, 1889 C. A. Randolph, minister ordained 1895 E. T. Lindeen, minister ordained 1899 J. A. Edquist, became a Professor Frank Nelson, graduate State University of Iowa Wesley Holt, graduate State University, Law C. O. Nelson, served as Treas of the Iowa Conference Alfred Morgan, served as Treas of the Iowa Conference Edwin Hult, Committee clerk in State Legislature John Gladd, served as County Recorder F. A. Johnson, served as County Clerk Walford Lindeen, Swedesburg Post Master P. L. Anderson, Justice of the Peace S. P. Stephenson, Mayor of Olds Women of the congregation who have become pastor's wives: Olivia Olson, Jennie Monson, Nellie Klen, Amalia Fogerstrom, Josephina Peterson, Lillie Liliedahl. |
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| Transcribed and contributed anonymously, November 2019. | ||