Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-18

IheSe problems Eldu ponue
during the years remained In sweden
and ! had finally worked out in my
own mind. a plan which believed l
could successfully accomplish.
| For the three succeeding years
preached in Maine the faith that was
| in me. delivered addresses in differ
ent Iarts Of the State upon the sub
feet. I wrote articles in the newspa-
pers thereon and I talked to anybody
and everybody that would listen TO me
upon this matter that lay SO near my
heart.
Bill Voted Down.
1 presented a bill to carry out my
plan to the Legislature Of 1863. When
tho bill came before the House a mem
Der arose and said, Mr.. Speaker, we
have paupers enough in Maine already,
and now Genes Thomas and proposes
/ to bring over whole shipload more OF
them" Need l add that my bill was
unanimously voted down:
! I did not lose courage however, l ap-
peared again before the Legislature of
1 1870 with my bill, and on March % the
bill was passed and became law. Two
days after, / was appointed Commits
sioner of immigration and the fate of
my plan was placed in my own hands.
| Having successfully arranged all
/ preliminaries in Maine l sailed for
Sweden. arriving on the 18th of May. I
at once travelled among the people and
everywhere preached n crusade to
! Maine. But the crusade was a peace
full one, its weapons were those of hus-
( bandry and its object to recover the
minion of the forest.
/ To induce the right class of people to
pay their way to settle among US
seemed the most difficult part of the
whole immigration enterprise. l there
/ fore deemed it eXpedient to take this
/ point for granted; and in all advertise
mcnts, conversations and addresses. to
dwell rather on the fact that, as only
a limited number of families could be
taken, none would be accepted unless
they brought with them the highest
testimonials as to character and pro-
\ ficiency in their callings.
! The problem which was thus taken
for granted soon began to solve itself
4 Recruits for Maine began to appear
All bore certificates Of character under
the hand and seal Of the pastor of their
district, and all who had worked for
others brought recommendations from
! their employers. These credentials,
| howeI er, were not considered infallible,
! some applicants were refused in spite
| of them, and nc one was accepted I'M
less it appeared clear that he would
make a thrifty citizen of our good state
Of Maine. In this way a little colony
of picked men with their wives and
children was quickly gathered together
! The details OF the movement, the ar
gUmerts used, the objections made, the
! multitude Of questions about our state
! asked and answered would fill 4 VOL
umn. Suffice it to say that on June %,
| the colonists who had been recruited
from nearly every province Of Sweden
were assembled at Gothenburg. and on
the eN nning OF that ay-midsummerS
eve. n Swedish festival-I invited them
and their friends to a collation. at the
Baptist Hall in that city. At this meet
inU tie colorists were brought together
ard made acquainted. their purpose
qWckened and inviGorated, and from
that hour the bonds of common interest
and destiny have bound all the individ-
uals into community.
The First Colony.
Two days aIterwarj I sailed away
from SWe'cn with tie first Swedish
colony Of Maine.
This adventurous band then left
home and country and faced the perils
of q voyage Of 1000 miles and the hard
ships and tolls of making a new home
in the wilderness Of q strange land
without 50 much as the scratch of q
pen by way Of contract or obligation,
but with simple faith in their leader
and in the honor and hospitality of
Maine
Tho colony was composed Of - men,
y women and IS children. 81 souls in
all. All the men We're farmers; in ad-
dition some were skilled in trades and
professions; there being among them a
1 lay pastor, a civil engineer, a black
! smith, two carpenters. a baSket-maker,
a wheel wright, a baker, a tailor. and
wooden-s shoemaker. The women were
neat and industrious, tidy housewives,
and diligent workers at the spinning
wheel and loom. All were tall and stall
wart, with blue eyes, blonde hair and
| cheerful, honest faces; there was not a
! physical defect or blemish among them
and it was not without strong feelings
of state pride that l looked upon them
as they were mustered on the deck Of
the steamship Orlando, and anticipated
what great results might flow from
this little beginning for the good Of our
! beloved commonwealth.
We sailed over the stormy North Sea,
crossed England by rail, and on July
.. sailed from Liverpool in the steam
4 ship City of Antwerp, for America.
| On July 18th We landed at Halifax.
/ TIE next day we continued our journey
across the peninsula Of Nova Scotia,
ard over the Bay of Fundy TO the city
OF st. John.
I! July 18Th we assembled the st. John
river TO Fredericton by steamer. Here
steam navigation ceased on account of
low water. but two river fat boats
drawn by horses were chartered. The
co!onists and their baggage were
placed on board and at five o'clock the
next morning our colony was on its
way again up river.
! On the afterroo OF Thursday, July
| 21st. the fiat boats reached TobiQue
/ landing. Six days had been spent in
towing up from Fredericton: the jour-
ney is now accomplished by railroad In
as many hours.
! Friday morning, July end, l pro-
cured teams for the colonists and their
bare 81 md m & o'clnck the Swedish