Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-24

our good State of Maine and Incl
denfally 70 all New Englnad-'
Mr. Thomas then spoke of the
causes which led TO the founding of a
colony OF Sweaes in the backwoods OF
! Maine, telling Of his being sent To
/ tofaenburg, Sweden. by President
+ Lincoln early IN the Civil war as one
Z or the thirty war corszllsa' of Amer
iea appointed 10 different stations il,
Europe During his three. years resi-
dence he acquired the Swedish
language. became familiar with the
manners and customs of the people
ana osneiu also the thousands of
swedish emigrauts WIND every year
sailed for America 70 help subdue the
forests ana open up the prair1es of our
own broad land
There was one fact connected with
I Ills immigration he said. that to
ne--a son OF the Pine Tree. State
( was anything but satisfactory. None
OF these migrants settled in Maine:
AL passed by our State ana went TO
EuAd Up and make strong anu s-ear
/ me states of the West and North
vest Yet no state or TERRITORY in
Z me I Mon is better adapted by nature
1 20 become the home Of the Swedes
man the northern. wooded state Of
Maine. When I resigned my consul-
Y snip and returned TO nv native State
Z az the close Of 1865 had become
convinced that immigration of some
sort was A necessity and that Swed-
81 immigration would De the best,
FOR three succeeding years preached
N Maine the faith that was in me. I
I delivered addresses IN different parts
/ OF ne State upon the subject. 7
( wrote articles IN the newspa pers
/ thereon and 7 talked to anybody ana
/ everybody that would listen 10 ne
upon this matter thar lay so near 70
my heart
I presented a bill 70 carry aur nv
plans 20 the Legislature Of 1859
When the bill came before the Eousa
member arose ana SAID: Mr.
speaker, We have paupers enough in
Name already and now comes
+honas and proposes 10 bring over a
. *hoie shlpload Of them Need 7 add
tAaf my hill was unanimously vr,a.i
Gown. I 1id not lose courage. how
ever l appeared again before the
Legislature Of 1880 with M bill and
On Aarcn = the al vas passed ana
became A law without the dot-:nc of
an 7 or the crossing of :. Two
GAYS later I was appointed conmls-
s3cner OF mimi grafton and the fate of
ny plan was placed N nv own
hands"
Continuing Mr. Thomas told Of his
Journey % Sweden 70 carry out the
Dream Of his life Care had 70 he
aiken . induce the -,gnt class of pAo-
PIE 70 pay their wav 70 settle in This
>tate- and he dwelt on the FACT that
as only limited number of families
t'uId Ne taken. none would be ac-
Cepted unless they brought with Them
ne highest testimonials as 70 chs-ac
Ter and proficiency The problem soor,
- began % solve Itself. Rerr,,t1z -or
Name began TO appear All bore car
ancAtes Of character under the hand
ana sea- of the pastor OF their district
and al who had worked for others
Drought recommendation from their
employers. On June % the cojoris-s
VINO haG been recruited from res-s,-
every province Of Sweden. we-A as
senoied AZ Gothenbur-. ard On the
evening Of that dav-nids,1nner' :
eTe- swedish tast:vai-fbav ana
Ldslr 11eT7Cs were invited 10 a cola :
ION az the Baptist hall IN that cirv.
a Ills meeting the colonisrs varA
brought together ann made ac1Daf,+-
"a. t1elr purpose lui ckened and in
FlSofa]f-1' ana rom that hour the
oo1us If common interest and destiny
nave bound all the individuals into a
cCmmunitv
Inc colony was composed NJ
t"enTy-rwo men. eleven women and
eighteen children. 1fty-one souls IN
al. ana at L O'clock. noon. SATURDAY.
@l.E .. 1870. Just four months f-orn
ne passage Of the act authorizing
ms enterprise. the first Swedish coi-
7nF arrived AT its new home n the
wilds Of Maine
As me wagon train stopped in
ne woods sad M Thomas. a Iit-
20 south OF where the Swedish capi-
toI now stands The Swedes in
sIlHct-Teiy drew together IN a little
group around me and here IN the
shadow Of the forest primevaI We de-
routlr thanked God Who had led MS
safely IN our long journey. and fer
FThnt-v prayed for His blessing and
Elluaace on the great work that ls,-
before US Eere- too, I baptized tie
town New Sweden a name al one.
commemorative Of the past and
suspicious Of the future.
The next day was me Saona-h
a ne 1rSf religious service tn the town
snip was sad one-the funeral of
z ANNA Z. Clase- a little swedish girl
~no had died On the Passage I'D the
q Sonn river. the only ,,ne who mad
pe1sned by the way. -donday the
4 Swedes drew lots for their forest
farms EAch man received a lot of 100
acres Tuesday morning the Swedes
commenced me great work Of convert
ING 4 forest INTO a home and taa1
. work mas gone happily on without
haste anu without rest 10 this dav.
Meanwhile the colony steadily IN
creased and AZ the close OF 1870 II was
FOUND that every Swede who sailed
rom Sweden with me. or promised 70
: follow aEfer, had arrived n Maine anu
was settled IN New Sweden The col
ony then numbered - men. 20 women
+. ana 50 children. IL souls N all In
/ the raj NJ 1873 the condition Of the
colony was excellent. The Iitrle set
ternent Of 80 had Increased 10 500 anu
Z outside Of New Sweden there were as