Swedonia

Swedonia

(Severin)

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

This community, situated in Fisher County, Texas, has its own history, that is, hardly like that of the other Swedish communities in Texas. Farming has been, and still is, an experiment in some parts of Texas. That was the experience of the first pioneers when they settled here and there and formed new communities, without regard for or knowledge of the climate, such as sufficient or not enough rainfall, etc. This was the case with Swedonia. The climate was comfortable, land was cheap and beautiful, but the rainfall was not sufficient, and after some years of hard work and sacrifice, there were only two Swedish families left there. The others had either moved or died.

This colony came into existence in about 1884, when the families of J. A. Young, Aug. Johnson, Salomon Johnson, John Swenson, Henry Gustafson from the Austin area, Travis County, and a couple of Norwegian families, J. A. Highland and Ole Nystal, as well as P. O. Wickman from Bosque, Texas, and Erik Erikson, born in northern Sweden, moved to Fisher County and bought land there. They named the colony Swedonia.

Sometime later others came from Williamson and Travis Counties. They were:

C. Brady, F. A. Lundberg, Claus and Emil Monson with parents, L. E. Oberg, Carl Peterson, C. F. Blomquist (both bachelors), in addition to some Norwegians. Religious activities were started by the Methodist preacher, P. A. Julin, about 1886, and were later continued for a couple of years by Pastor J. M. Ojerholm, who was the editor of the Texas Posten. for many years. The two families who stayed were J. A. Young and Salomon Johnson. They began to raise cattle and have been successful. The first colonists arrived here at Christmas time. They had traveled behind mules from Austin, as there was no railroad closer than Abilene, 50 miles from Swedonia. This first group was comprised of Salomon Johnson and Aug. Johnson, also the sons, Charles and Julius. The first sunrise Christmas service (Julotta) was held in Aug. Johnson’s home, with L. E. Oberg as leader. The colonists who died there were: Hilma, daughter of Aug. Johnson, Mrs. Erickson, C. Monson, Mrs. Mary Johnson, C. Carlson, Julius Johnson, and Mrs. Salomon Johnson.

Extracted from: Swedes In Texas In Words and Pictures,

English Translation, 1838 - 1918