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from the map of Iowa. As an historic name of the
Swedish people of this vicinity it will always live.
There are few names around which has clustered so
many historical events among our Swedish people in
America as that of Swede Point.
While our Swedish pioneers built log cabins,
cleared the timber, broke the soil, and provided for
their temporal needs and shelters, there was also a
spiritual hunger of the immortal soul that could only
be satisfied with the Word of God. When they left
their home in dear old Sweden, they did not forget
to provide for their spiritual wants. • Bibles, psalm
books, postils and other hooks of worship were
packed down in the large immigrant trunks to be
their spiritual consolers in their new homeland.
Every Sunday the people met in some of the log
cabins for service. A leader was appointed to lead
the service. The dear old Swedish psalms were sung.
The leader went through the rituals as in the
Lutheran Church in Sweden and a sermon was read from
some of the postils. All fixed and movable holidays
Were kept and observed and the people assembled
for service. As there was no Swedish Lutheran
_ a,
minister in the country the leader officiated at
communion, baptism and funerals.
In 1854 the settlement was first visited by a
Swed-Lutheran minister, Rev. P. M. Håkanson. He
drove over the wild country from New Sweden to
Swede Point, a distance of more than 200 miles,
Dur-■ ’
lng this long trip he was often chased by the
Indians. He came to minister to the spiritual wants
of his countrymen, who lived in this isolated nook
ln this far west. Rev. Håkanson held his first meet-
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