Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-04-28
NEWS AMONG
SCANDINAVIANS
Interesting Items Concern
ing People From the
North.

Lars ]. Siljan, formerly member
of the editorial staff of the Norwegian
newspaper "Skandinaven", Chicago,
and for several years editor of the
"Normanden" in Grand Forks, N. D.,
has been appointed secretary to Gov
ernor A. G. Sorlie of North Dakota.
Mr.. Siljan is native of Norway who
for a number of years has been ac-
lively interested in North Dakota
state politics. Recently he was the
editor of weekly paper at Dunn Cen
ter, N. D., where he has now been
succeeded by L. Rindal, at one time
editor of "Nord Dakota Tidende", pub
Iished first at Grand Forks, later at
Fargo, N. D.
A Wealthy LabOrer.
julius johnson, a native of Sweden
who recently died at Minneapolis
hospital, left fortune of $4,000 or,
it is indicated, possibly even more.
Mr.. Johnson had been an unskilled
workingman during most of the forty
years he spent in Minneapolis, and
although he was known as thrifty it
seems nobody had any idea that he
was actually prosperous at the time
of his death. The money has been
bequeathed to friends and relatives
one portion of $4,000 going to man
who had employed testator for good
many years.
May ''Teach" Emigration.
Plans have been published for the
opening of an emigration department
at the Haslev folk high school in
Denmark, beginning November 1, this
year. Mr.. Thorlo, president of the
school, is expected to go to Canada
during the summer for the purpose
of studying conditions obtaining there,
with a view to ascertaining whether
they are such that he will be war
ranted in advising his cOuntrymen to
settle>in that country. Due to the re-
strictions which American laws have
placed upon immigration, not much
attention is being paid abroad to pre-
pairing prospective emigrants for life
in the United States. The current
swerves toward Canada and Australia.
Fifteen Hundred Letters Gone.
An investigation conducted in the
offices of the Norwegian consulate
general in New York reveals the fact
that fifteen hundred letters-mostly
outgoing mail-have been stolen, and
suspicion conferred around Henry Neu-
man, a clerk, in the consulate, who
also was charged with having de-
frauded the consulate of $1,000. Neu-
man was taken before a New York
court on a grand larceny charge, but
was permitted to plead guilty to petty
larceny, and Consul General Hans
Fay has departed for Norway, under
instructions, it is said, to report upon
the transactions and the possible lack
of sufficient control which has been
alleged.
Vasa Order i'm Canada.
The Swedish Vasa Order-a frater-
nal organization corresponding, in
some measure to the Danish Brother
hood and the Sons of Norway, is plan
ming an energetic campaign in Canada
where it is said a number of lodges
and district lodges will be organized.
Some fourteen years ago the organ
ization decided that lodges might be
built up outside of the United States,
and some attempts were made in the
Dominion, but due to the great dis
tances the work has been of some
what sporadic nature. Now, however,
it will be carried on Systematically,
and in view of the ever increasing
Swedish immigration to Canada, it is
expected that the order will find fer
tile soil there.
Golden Wedding.
DIR. and Mrs August Uchermann at
Lysaker near Oslo, Norway, recently
celebrated their fiftieth wedding ami
versary. DR.. Uchermann started his
academic career by studying theology
in Norway, but later decided to take
I'D medicine, and in 1891 he went to
Chicago where he graduated from
medical school. For several years he
practised in Chicago and Marshall
town, Iowa, and, obtaining royal per-
mission to practice medicine in his
native country, he returned to Nor
way where he has since had his home.
DR.. and Mrs. Uchermann still have
many friends among their compatri
OTIS in the United States.
Was Widely Known.
John Ericsson, chief engineer of the
city of Chicago for thirty years, who
died last week, was one of the most
widely known civil engineers in the
United States, and his experience had
made him. an authority upon all ques-
tions of municipal engineering. He
was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and
came to the United States when 20
years old. In 1897 he was appointed
Chicago's chief engineer, and in later
years his native city of Stockholm
offered him a similar position which
he, however, declined. The king of
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