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"These future men of Lindsborg were devout, loyal Christians,
who knew the fear and the love of God, and whatever be the contribution of
Lindsborg to individuals and to society, the secret is found here."
-- Lindquist's "Smoky Valley People"
Their Värmland Swedes ~ The "First Swedish Agricultural Company" Lindsborg Founders, 1868
~ An account by Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
Dr. Emory K. Lindquist, as fourth Swedish American Bethany College President in his 1953 book, Smoky Valley People, A History of Lindsborg, Kansas gives a detailed account of the Lutheran men from Sweden who organized in Chicago a land company from McPherson County, Kansas and its operations to bring Swedes to a location in the Smoky Hill River Valley, as the Smoky Valley was initially called, to two Kansas counties: McPherson to the south bordering Saline to the north.
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Here is an excerpt from Dr. Lindquist's Smoky Valley People, Chapter IV, "The Settlement Develops," pages 33 to 34:
An important consideration in the decision of Pastor Olof Olsson to come to the Smoky Valley in Kansas was the fact that a small group of Swedes who were personally known to him had established a land company with extensive holdings in the state. The history of the First Swedish Agricultural Company of McPherson County, founded in Chicago, Illinois, on April 17, 1868, furnishes therefore a very important chapter in the story of Lindsborg.
On August 9, 1866, several Swedes disembarked at New York. While the arrival of Swedish immigrants in that port city was a common experience in the sixties of the last century, there was one man that August day whose dreams and hopes were destined to be an important part in the founding of Lindsborg. S. A. Lindell was born in Tarsbo, Barkeryd (congregation), Sweden. After a brief stay in New York, Lindell and three companions went first to Galesburg, Illinois, then to various places in Ohio in search of work, and finally arrived in Chicago before Christmas in 1866. On the long ocean voyage, Lindell and his friends had talked about trying to gather their countryman and form a land company. They even planned that the more skilled of them would give their services wherever needed while others would take care of the land. In that manner they would secure the funds that would be needed for the development of the proposed colony. There is evidence that they thought of Iowa at first as the place for their hoped-for enterprise.
When Lindell came to Chicago, he told his plans in detail to J. G. Bergsten and Magnus Carlson, who discussed them on several occasions. This trio then placed the proposition before John Ferm. Each member of the group was requested to write a statement setting forth his concept of the purposes and organization of the proposed land company. When these drafts had been prepared and discussed, Ferm made a summary which was later adopted as the constitution. Out of this discussion came the plan which resulted in the settlement of Lindsborg in the Smoky Valley. These men were dreamers of dreams in search of their own homes and new opportunities.
The regulations of the First Swedish Agricultural Company indicate the background factors in the life of the Lindsborg community. The founders were devout Christian men of the Lutheran faith. John Ferm, who had come to Chicago from Sweden on August 5, 1866, and other leaders were members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Chicago, which was served by the well-known pioneer pastor, Dr. Erland Carlsson. The intent of the organizers is evident in the second article of their regulations: “Everyone received as a member of this corporation shall be a believing Christian, adhere to the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, be industrious and thrifty, and exert himself for the upbuilding and development of the company.”
Since the leaders had agreed upon the principles of the company, the time had arrived for holding the initial meeting for purposes of organization. This important meeting was held on April 17, 1868, at 190-192 Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois, and is recorded on page one of the first volume of the Protokollsbok (official minute book).
“Minutes of the meeting held at 190-192 Superior Street, Chicago, Ill., April 17, 1868, in order to organize a Swedish Agricultural Company within the United States.”
" 1. The meeting was opened by reading of I Corinthians, 13th chapter, and prayer.
" 2. John Ferm was elected chairman pro tem. and S. P. Lindgren, secretary.
" 3. A constitution was proposed and it was decided to discuss the same item by item.
" 4. The preamble and the fifth paragraph were adopted.
" 5. The meeting adjourned to meet next Friday evening to continue the discussion, and was closed with prayer.”
The minutes consisted of only sixty-six (66) words in the original Swedish. The meeting opened with the reading of the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians. It closed with prayer. This was the pattern for the First Swedish Agricultural Company, a business organization, launched with a distinctive Christian spirit. The pattern was maintained throughout the entire history of the company. These future men of Lindsborg were devout, loyal Christians, who knew the fear and the love of God, and whatever be the contribution of Lindsborg to individuals and to society, the secret is found here. They turned their faces westward as men of faith who believed in the power and the promises of God.
An important consideration in the decision of Pastor Olof Olsson to come to the Smoky Valley in Kansas was the fact that a small group of Swedes who were personally known to him had established a land company with extensive holdings in the state. The history of the First Swedish Agricultural Company of McPherson County, founded in Chicago, Illinois, on April 17, 1868, furnishes therefore a very important chapter in the story of Lindsborg.
On August 9, 1866, several Swedes disembarked at New York. While the arrival of Swedish immigrants in that port city was a common experience in the sixties of the last century, there was one man that August day whose dreams and hopes were destined to be an important part in the founding of Lindsborg. S. A. Lindell was born in Tarsbo, Barkeryd (congregation), Sweden. After a brief stay in New York, Lindell and three companions went first to Galesburg, Illinois, then to various places in Ohio in search of work, and finally arrived in Chicago before Christmas in 1866. On the long ocean voyage, Lindell and his friends had talked about trying to gather their countryman and form a land company. They even planned that the more skilled of them would give their services wherever needed while others would take care of the land. In that manner they would secure the funds that would be needed for the development of the proposed colony. There is evidence that they thought of Iowa at first as the place for their hoped-for enterprise.
When Lindell came to Chicago, he told his plans in detail to J. G. Bergsten and Magnus Carlson, who discussed them on several occasions. This trio then placed the proposition before John Ferm. Each member of the group was requested to write a statement setting forth his concept of the purposes and organization of the proposed land company. When these drafts had been prepared and discussed, Ferm made a summary which was later adopted as the constitution. Out of this discussion came the plan which resulted in the settlement of Lindsborg in the Smoky Valley. These men were dreamers of dreams in search of their own homes and new opportunities.
The regulations of the First Swedish Agricultural Company indicate the background factors in the life of the Lindsborg community. The founders were devout Christian men of the Lutheran faith. John Ferm, who had come to Chicago from Sweden on August 5, 1866, and other leaders were members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Chicago, which was served by the well-known pioneer pastor, Dr. Erland Carlsson. The intent of the organizers is evident in the second article of their regulations: “Everyone received as a member of this corporation shall be a believing Christian, adhere to the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, be industrious and thrifty, and exert himself for the upbuilding and development of the company.”
Since the leaders had agreed upon the principles of the company, the time had arrived for holding the initial meeting for purposes of organization. This important meeting was held on April 17, 1868, at 190-192 Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois, and is recorded on page one of the first volume of the Protokollsbok (official minute book).
“Minutes of the meeting held at 190-192 Superior Street, Chicago, Ill., April 17, 1868, in order to organize a Swedish Agricultural Company within the United States.”
" 1. The meeting was opened by reading of I Corinthians, 13th chapter, and prayer.
" 2. John Ferm was elected chairman pro tem. and S. P. Lindgren, secretary.
" 3. A constitution was proposed and it was decided to discuss the same item by item.
" 4. The preamble and the fifth paragraph were adopted.
" 5. The meeting adjourned to meet next Friday evening to continue the discussion, and was closed with prayer.”
The minutes consisted of only sixty-six (66) words in the original Swedish. The meeting opened with the reading of the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians. It closed with prayer. This was the pattern for the First Swedish Agricultural Company, a business organization, launched with a distinctive Christian spirit. The pattern was maintained throughout the entire history of the company. These future men of Lindsborg were devout, loyal Christians, who knew the fear and the love of God, and whatever be the contribution of Lindsborg to individuals and to society, the secret is found here. They turned their faces westward as men of faith who believed in the power and the promises of God.
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End of excerpt from Dr. Lindquist's Smoky Valley People, Chapter IV, "The Settlement Develops," pages 33 to 34.
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End of excerpt from Dr. Lindquist's Smoky Valley People, Chapter IV, "The Settlement Develops," pages 33 to 34.
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Boulagshuset
First building in Lindsborg
Second County Courthouse, First School
First building in Lindsborg
Second County Courthouse, First School
Source: Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas by Ruth Billdt.
Go HERE to Swedish Pastor Olof Olsson Immigrating to Lindsborg 1869, June 27th Arrival ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist.
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"Let Us Celebrate Them"
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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.
