Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Arrival of my Father and Brother—Journey to Illinois—Work on a Railroad—The Ague—Doctor Ober—Religious Impressions—The Arrival of my Mother, Sister and her Husband—A Burning Railroad Train—We go to Minnesota—Our Experience as Wood Choppers and Pioneers
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4.2 Story of an Emigrant.
us again if we onlv would let him alone. If we had followed’
O J
his advice, he would never have leit his cold seat again.
After a drive of eight miles we arrived at a house on Spring
Creek, near I\cd Wing, where we found a warm room and a
good shed for the horses. After an hour’s rest we continued
the journey, and safely readied our little home in the woods
before dark. I do not know that I ever appreciated a home
more than I did that rude cabin when again comfortably
seated by its warm and cheerful fire-place.
A few weeks later I had an opportunity to visit St. Paul,
and while there attended the wedding of a young
Norwegian farmer from Carver County and a girl just arrived
from Sweden. The cermony was performed by the Rev.
Nilsson, a Baptist minister, who had been banished from
Sweden on account of proselyting. Among the guests was
Mr. John Swainsson, who since became well known among
the Swedes of Minnesota, and who died in St. Paul a short
time ago. 1 also made the acquaintance of one Jacob
Falstrom, who had lived forty years among the Indians and
devoted most of that time to missionary work among them.
He was a remarkable man, and was well known among the
Hudson Bay employees and other early settlers of the
Northwest. As a boy lie had deserted from a Swedish vessel
in Quebec and made his way through the wilderness, seeking
shelter among the Indians; and, by marrying an Indian girl,
he had becomc almost identified with them. I think he
told me that he had not heard a word spoken in his native
tongue in thirtv-five years, and that he had almost forgotten
it when he met the first Swedish settlers in the St. Croix
valley. IIis children are now living there, while he lias
passed away to the unknown land beyond, honored and
respected by all who knew him, Indians as well as white
men.
On mv return from St. Paul I stopped at the cabin of Mr
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