Jonah

Jonah

(Severin)

Biographies Alf. L. Scott and T. J. Westerberg

There are only a few Swedes living in the area that is called Jonah. This community could be considered a branch of the large Swedish Georgetown colony, or the Swedish town called Hutto.

The area is fertile and beautiful. The San Gabriel River flows through it and has deciduous trees on both sides. Even though fishing can not be considered a source of commerce, the first pioneers can tell you about abundant catches before the old millpond broke. There is still a lot of fish at certain times of the year. Corn and cotton are the main crops here as in the rest of central Texas.

Jonah is located along the highway between Georgetown and Circleville and there are a few good stores here, a Swedish cotton gin and a smithy.

There was a Swedish Methodist Church here for a few years, but it was sold and the people go to Hutto, Taylor and Georgetown for services.

Among the first Swedes in the area we can mention Claus L. Johnson, John G. Svensk, C. G. Olson, C. J. Wegstrom, C. G. Holmstrom, S. M. Johnson, and A. J. Johnson plus others.

Among the large Swedish farms in the area is the Nelson Estate with 1500 acres, which is lived on and leased by Swedes.

Extracted from: Swedes In Texas In Words and Pictures,

English Translation, 1838 - 1918