Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-25
sWEDEs IN
History of the Prosperous SetiIemtnt In
York County.

York County.
The first permanent settlement of the
County OF York was made by John Anderson
and his son, William Anderson. upon the
West Blue river, in the month of February,
1868. They took up the first homestead
claim IN York county, on section 2, town
snip y, range /, and are honored as the
tirst pioneer settlers of the county.
The first swedish settlers were Sven and
Mates Olson, who came in 1870 from Fair
Held, Ia, and took up each an eiehty-acre
homestead, on section 80, township 10, range
2. Sven sold his land some time ago and
is now living in Kearney county, and
Mates has recently sold his farm of $40
acres and is going to move to Polk county.
lie started without means and at first had
10 work out in order to get a start in life.
In 1871 Jonas Nordquist homesteaded
eighty acres on section 80, township 10.
range 2. When he left Sweden he had
not suilcient money to bring his family
along, but in 1873 he had saved up a sufi-
Gent amount to send for them. Now he
OWNS his homestead. which is well i'm
proved, and his son. Christ. who is still
single and lives at home, owns eighty acres,
and his son Peter, who is married, owns
200 acres of well improved land.
charles Monson is another pioneer settler
who came to York county in 1871 and home
steaded eighty acres on section 80, town
ship 10, range 2. He came from New
sweden, Jefferson county, la. He is now
the owner of 100 acres of land, well i'm
proved.
In the year 1858 there emigrated
from the parish Of Edshult. prov
ince of Jonkoping, Sweden, Johan z.
L., Charles NJ, Jonas p. and John G. This
family settled at first in New Sweden,
Jefferson county, Ia. where they remained
until 1866, when sufficient capital had been
earned to buy a farm in the Swedesburg
settlement in Henry county, Iowa. But as
the sons grew up to manhood the old hive
became too crowded and the boys con-
cluded it wise to follow Greeley's advice.
The two elder brothers, Andrew l.. and
Charles NJ, struck out in the year 1871 for
the far west to select a new home. The
beautiful and enchanting prairies of York
county impressed the young men as being
the Eldorado they were seeking. Andrew l..
at once drove down his stakes and settled on
a government homestead, but Charles NJ, al
though satisfied with the location, remem-
bered "the girl he left behind,' and re-
turned to Iowa to make sure of his hearts
idol. Having married, in the spring of 1872,
with his wife he came and made his perma-
nent home in York county.
Besides Mr.. Charles NJ. Sandal, the follow
ing Swedes settled in York county during
the year 1872; Carl j. Carlson, direct
from Sweden; John G. Sandal and wife,
o"NuSSbui 81 3D., JoHdH -. AilueTSUl,
G. j. Johnson. who died in 1882, and his
wife, who died in 1892: John A. johnson and
wife, direct from Sweden; Eric j. Dahl
stedt, now moved to Salem, Platt county,
Neb.; Carl G. Johnson, Swan Swanson and
wife, from Swedesburg, Ia.
In 1873 came John Kaliff, wife, son Au-
gust and daughter Matilda, from Swedes-
burg, la. The father took a homestead of
so acres, but the son in 1878 bought so acres
of railroad land, and is now the owner of a
arm of DkO aprpS with i'm nrnynnnntS
thereon that might satisfy a duke. The
daughter became the wife of Andrew L..
Sandal in 1878, being the first couple mar
ried in the first church building in the
county.
The same year came also from Swedes-
burg, Ia, John p. Burk and wife and his
son, G.. f. Burk, wife and daughter. The
old gentleman is still living at the ripe old
age of 81. James p. Sandal and wife Ghe
latter died in 1879 and Pes o. Erickson set
tied in the county in 1873.
In 1874 came Adolph j. Anderson and
wife, who moved to Deuel. county in 1886.
In 1875 came Charles A. Erickson and
wife, from Swedesburg, Ia; Widow Sarah L.
Johnson, Andrew q. Lindstrom, from New
Sweden, lie.
In 1876 came John A. Bjork and wife
Uhe latter died in 1870, from New Sweden,
Ia.
In 1882 came John u. Sandal and wife,
the parents of the Sandal brothers. They
are still living at the ripe old age of 50 and
81 years respectively, now surrounded by
children, grandchildren and great grand
children.
With scarcely an exception these pioneer
settlers are in extra good circumstances. 1t
does ones soul good to make n visit among
these early settlers, enjoy their unstinted
hospitality, and view their fine farm houses
and outbuildings, large and well cared for
orchards, fine groves of forest and ever.
green trees, yards filled with sleek high
grade cattle, pure bred hogs, and stables
filled with the best Of draft and carriage
horses. A very large percentage have no
mortgages against either personal or real
estate.
Andrew L. Sandal owns 400 acres; Charles
M. has $50 acres in York county, and 500
acres in Deuel. county; John G. Sandal owns
240 acres in York, and supplements i with
800 acres in Deuel. county; Jonas =. Sandal
is satisfied with 400 acres in York; John A.
Johnson is happy in the ownership Of 240
acres; Charles A. Johnson owns only 100
acres of York county domain, but joining tho
thriving city of York, the land alone at
any day commands SIS 1000; John A. Bjork
owns a 240 acre farm; Rasmus G.. Nelson
has only 100 acres, but reinforces 1t with 100
acres in Greeley county. The following par,
ties are well satisfied with well improved
and well stocked farms of 100 acres each;
John A.. Anderson, A.. G. Lindstrom ana
Swan Swanson. The latter owns besides val
liable property in the city of York.
Near the town of Gresham live and pros,
per llt nv ih6 a llltlbs tAlllltM fTtt-
berg, who own 24O acres; John Il. Lund,
from Moline, ILL.,, also 240 acres; Swan Lind
strom, from Knox county, ILL.,, 80 acres, has
filled the office of township supervisor; John
Lindquest, from Knox county, Ill. 142 acres;
A. Il. Lund, direct from Sweden, 100 acres;
o. +. Vik, from Knox county, ILL.,, 100 acres;
John Oberg, from Evanston, ILL.,, 100
acres; John Nelson. from same place, 100
acres.
In township IL, range 2, lives John Ander-
son from Knox county, Illinois, 100 acres.
In township Ii, range l. lives A., j. STATE
rim, direct from Sweden, 100 acres; b. Ny
strom from Omaha, Neb., 100 acres.
In township IL. range 2, lives Alec Ander-
son, so acres; Henry Anderson, 100 acres;
Andrew Anderson, 100 acres; all three from
Galesburg, Ill; August Engblom from Iowa,
166 acres.
In township ~. range 3, lives c.. J. John
son, 2SS acres; c. ]. Blomkrantz, 100 acres;
John Renqulst, 800 acres; A.. w, Renqulst,
100 acres, John Dahlgren, 200 acres.
In township 10, range 2. lives August
Peterson, direct from Sweden, 1860 acres;
Victor Thulin from Princeton. Ill, 100 acres.
Around Charleston, on the Fremont, Elk
horn & Missouri Valley railroad, dwell the
following prosperous Swedish farmers, who