"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Mr. Bill Carlson
2011 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now"
//
The creation of this book was a historical preservation project of the Smoky Valley Historical Association and member Bill Carlson.
//
The "Conclusion" Chapters: Part 1 & Part 2
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Mr. Bill Carlson
2011 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now"
//
The creation of this book was a historical preservation project of the Smoky Valley Historical Association and member Bill Carlson.
//
The "Conclusion" Chapters: Part 1 & Part 2
Part 1
Conclusion of Lindsborg Then
Conclusion of Lindsborg Then
"Dr. Emory Lindquist, a former president of Bethany College, in his book Smoky Valley People, states 'nothing pointed with certainty to a large settlement, in mid-Kansas, until a young 28-year-old Lutheran pastor, the Rev. Olof Olsson made the decision that he and friends would immigrate to America and Kansas in the middle of a strange country arriving in the summer of 1869.'
"Alf Brorson of Torsby, Sweden, in his book published in Swedish, Vägen Till Lindsborg (The Road to Lindsborg), states "these Swedish emigrants coming to America and to the Lindsborg area we're not the very poor indigent, but had some financial means to assist in settling the Smoky Valley. The poor in Sweden could not afford the trip over, and the rich were too well-off financially to consider such a move."
"Today when we travel, especially the country roads of the Smoky Valley, we find it almost unreal and mind-boggling as we witness the gorgeous fields of grain, the well-kept farmsteads, and feel and enjoy the clean pure air of this area in the middle of our great country.
"So many stories are gone forever on the settling of this community due to the dearth of recorded history. Will we ever really know why the community of Lindsborg was settled right here in the middle of the Smoky Valley? Still, we can be thankful for the books by early writers who bring us many facts we can compile in order to preserve the history in this place.
"As we conclude the Lindsborg Then part of this book, we must mention, that for quite some time we have wondered why someone has not made a movie of the settling of Lindsborg, here in the Smoky Valley of Kansas, and possibly tracing its over 140 years of existence.
"For now, it is on to the second half of these writings (Lindsborg Now)."
"Alf Brorson of Torsby, Sweden, in his book published in Swedish, Vägen Till Lindsborg (The Road to Lindsborg), states "these Swedish emigrants coming to America and to the Lindsborg area we're not the very poor indigent, but had some financial means to assist in settling the Smoky Valley. The poor in Sweden could not afford the trip over, and the rich were too well-off financially to consider such a move."
"Today when we travel, especially the country roads of the Smoky Valley, we find it almost unreal and mind-boggling as we witness the gorgeous fields of grain, the well-kept farmsteads, and feel and enjoy the clean pure air of this area in the middle of our great country.
"So many stories are gone forever on the settling of this community due to the dearth of recorded history. Will we ever really know why the community of Lindsborg was settled right here in the middle of the Smoky Valley? Still, we can be thankful for the books by early writers who bring us many facts we can compile in order to preserve the history in this place.
"As we conclude the Lindsborg Then part of this book, we must mention, that for quite some time we have wondered why someone has not made a movie of the settling of Lindsborg, here in the Smoky Valley of Kansas, and possibly tracing its over 140 years of existence.
"For now, it is on to the second half of these writings (Lindsborg Now)."
//
Part 2
Conclusion of Lindsborg Now
Conclusion of Lindsborg Now
"This concludes our work on "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now." By compiling information from books and writings of Dr. Alfred Bergin, Dr. Emory Lindquist and the written works of Alf Brorson of Torsby, Sweden and A. John Pearson of Lindsborg, we have attempted to bring together the stories of the early settling of the community of Lindsborg, Kansas. Hopefully the insights, facts and experiences of those early Smoky Valley immigrants will serve as preservation of the history of not only Lindsborg, but also of the Smoky Valley.
"Much of the information pertinent to this study is the result of the research and writings and books and articles of the first writers of the settling of this area of our state. The two earliest writers, Dr. Alfred Bergin in the early 1900s and Dr. Emory Lindquist in the 1940s and 1950s, left us with facts and credence to the results of this writing. Mr. Alf Brorson followed in the late 1990s and early 2000s with his contribution of research and history included in his articles about the Smoky Valley during his many visits to Lindsborg, which numbered seventeen [17] with this summer 2010 visit to our community. Brorson, an honorary citizen of Lindsborg, first visited Lindsborg in 1993.
"Other sources, as you may note in the source page, have proven valuable also in this compilation. Attempts have been made to document well the happenings, dates, places and people who had important parts in selecting the site on which Lindsborg is now located, along with telling the story of how immigrants from Sweden settled in this community.
"Had it not been for the writings of these gentlemen, much of Lindsborg's earliest history would be lost forever. We take note here, Dr. Lindquist stated, "the Swedish immigrants were people who established themselves economically and established themselves well; they became great and fine citizens." This fact can be well documented for it is unlikely the community of Lindsborg and the Smoky Valley would be what it is today. Without doubt there are hundreds of "nuggets" of local history which need to be written before they are allowed to die, as many facts of this area are already forgotten. We can note here that even early writers made minimal errors in citing years, people and places.
"The second part of this book deals with Lindsborg Now and has been compiled from numerous conversations, and facts supplied by the city, organizations, clubs and people. During my over 20 years as the Administrator of Bethany Home here in Lindsborg, the kindly precious souls who called the Home their home for a time, proved a "gold mine" of information gleaned regarding early days of the community. They enjoyed nothing more than to "Talk about the Old Days" of the past. Granted, much more information could be included in telling the Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now story, however we will leave those writings to those who might be so inclined to follow.
"We have been told many times by Swedes visiting from Sweden and by those who live in our America that "Lindsborg undoubtedly is better known in Sweden then in our country."
"As a closure, good friend "Corky" Malm relates his story of his and his wife's attendance at a large construction conference in Hawaii several years ago. At breakfast one morning, guests we're introducing themselves by name and where they were from. There were towns like Miami, Florida, Chicago, Illinois and Denver, Colorado. "Corky" explained he was from a very small town in Kansas. A persistent lady asked: "Just where in Kansas?" Corky explained further by saying his little town was between Wichita and Salina, Kansas. The lady then replied: "I know where Wichita is, but have never heard of Salina, but is it anywhere near Lindsborg?"
" 'History not recorded, is perhaps history lost.' "
Since SWEDES is concerned with the foundational history, it was certainly important to included at the least the first 5 chapters of Mr. Carlson's "Part 1" of "Lindsborg Then."
However, a most important section is HERE, "Contents and Illustrations," that gives one an overall idea of this most important book on Lindsborg's earliest history.
"Much of the information pertinent to this study is the result of the research and writings and books and articles of the first writers of the settling of this area of our state. The two earliest writers, Dr. Alfred Bergin in the early 1900s and Dr. Emory Lindquist in the 1940s and 1950s, left us with facts and credence to the results of this writing. Mr. Alf Brorson followed in the late 1990s and early 2000s with his contribution of research and history included in his articles about the Smoky Valley during his many visits to Lindsborg, which numbered seventeen [17] with this summer 2010 visit to our community. Brorson, an honorary citizen of Lindsborg, first visited Lindsborg in 1993.
"Other sources, as you may note in the source page, have proven valuable also in this compilation. Attempts have been made to document well the happenings, dates, places and people who had important parts in selecting the site on which Lindsborg is now located, along with telling the story of how immigrants from Sweden settled in this community.
"Had it not been for the writings of these gentlemen, much of Lindsborg's earliest history would be lost forever. We take note here, Dr. Lindquist stated, "the Swedish immigrants were people who established themselves economically and established themselves well; they became great and fine citizens." This fact can be well documented for it is unlikely the community of Lindsborg and the Smoky Valley would be what it is today. Without doubt there are hundreds of "nuggets" of local history which need to be written before they are allowed to die, as many facts of this area are already forgotten. We can note here that even early writers made minimal errors in citing years, people and places.
"The second part of this book deals with Lindsborg Now and has been compiled from numerous conversations, and facts supplied by the city, organizations, clubs and people. During my over 20 years as the Administrator of Bethany Home here in Lindsborg, the kindly precious souls who called the Home their home for a time, proved a "gold mine" of information gleaned regarding early days of the community. They enjoyed nothing more than to "Talk about the Old Days" of the past. Granted, much more information could be included in telling the Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now story, however we will leave those writings to those who might be so inclined to follow.
"We have been told many times by Swedes visiting from Sweden and by those who live in our America that "Lindsborg undoubtedly is better known in Sweden then in our country."
"As a closure, good friend "Corky" Malm relates his story of his and his wife's attendance at a large construction conference in Hawaii several years ago. At breakfast one morning, guests we're introducing themselves by name and where they were from. There were towns like Miami, Florida, Chicago, Illinois and Denver, Colorado. "Corky" explained he was from a very small town in Kansas. A persistent lady asked: "Just where in Kansas?" Corky explained further by saying his little town was between Wichita and Salina, Kansas. The lady then replied: "I know where Wichita is, but have never heard of Salina, but is it anywhere near Lindsborg?"
" 'History not recorded, is perhaps history lost.' "
Since SWEDES is concerned with the foundational history, it was certainly important to included at the least the first 5 chapters of Mr. Carlson's "Part 1" of "Lindsborg Then."
However, a most important section is HERE, "Contents and Illustrations," that gives one an overall idea of this most important book on Lindsborg's earliest history.
-------
The Bill Carlson Family has kindly extended permission to share these selections from
his 2011 Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now in SWEDES, 4-29-23.
-------
The Bill Carlson Family has kindly extended permission to share these selections from
his 2011 Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now in SWEDES, 4-29-23.
-------
Mr. Bill Carlson
1930-2018
1930-2018
Published 2011, 97 Pages; Cover photograph by Alf Brorson
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
