Thursday, December 19, 2013


John Lawrence Peterson, son of  Johann Petersson was born on March 2, 1831 in Morbylanga, Oland, Sweden.[1] His future wife Anna was born about four years later, also a native of Sweden.[2]  John, age 22 married 19 year old Anna in Sweden.[3]  John and Anna’s four children were born in Morbylanga, Oland, Sweden.[4] 

Morbylanga Province is located on the southern half of Oland, Sweden.  This island is 136 km long and a maximum of 16 km wide long.[5]  The Island’s eastern coastline faces the Baltic Sea.  It is an ancient island with continual human habitation for many thousands of years.  Unlike the mainland just to the west, Oland is mostly barren of trees.  It is agricultural land. 

In the mid 1850’s through the mid 1860’s when John and Anna were establishing their family, the Swedish economy was heading into bad times.  The Swedish population was on the rise.  Most of the economy was tied to agriculture, 40 % of the population were farm laborers.[6] Many of the family farms were too small to support the new generations. The country’s resources were strained due to costly expansion of railroads.[7]  Over speculation on farmlands caused serious financial setbacks in 1864.[8]  Swedish citizens were concerned over the defeat of Denmark in the war against Prussia and Austria. [9] Swedish weather seemed to go crazy during 1866-68 causing repeat crop failures.  The severe winters and either unusually wet or dry summers all but destroyed the crops.[10]  In 1867, the crops in northern Sweden failed completely.[11]  1868 ushered in the longest drought in Sweden’s history.[12]  The people were hungry and suffering.  Food shortages caused some families to strip bark from trees to mix in their flour for making breads.  They found edible mosses, lichens, roots of flowers and shrubs.  Agricultural laborers had to beg for food and the death rate rose.[13]  Times were bleak.

Across the ocean, 5,000 miles away the Midwestern United States was opened for colonization.  New emigrants were needed to work the land and support the new industries.  Expatriates wrote home to Sweden with glowing reports of free rich agricultural lands and a place to start a new life in a land of freedom and liberty. American railroad companies advertised heavily in Sweden.  They were seeking laborers for the construction work, settlers for their extensive land holdings and passengers and freight for their new railroads.[14]  British, American and German steam ship companies also wanting a piece of the pie advertised heavily in Sweden, extolling the grand possibilities of life in America.[15]  Even many states recruited new emigrants heavily.  They needed many settlers as soon as possible to increase their states populations and wealth.[16]  The Federal government participated in the recruiting of emigrants also.  In 1864, President Lincoln sent 30 young US consular agents to Sweden and other European countries to promote emigration.[17]  In 1862 the American Homestead Act became law.  This act promised free land to all aliens who had filed declaration of intent to become US citizens.[18]  The US Civil War of 1861-1865 probably deterred some Swedish immigrants but it also encouraged others for two reasons.  Some saw the added industry demanded by the war as a chance to start anew and others were encouraged by the automatic US citizenship for any enlisting in the Union army.[19]  One last significant factor to encourage the great Swedish immigration to the US during the 1860’s -1870’s was the Swedish government’s repeal of travel abroad restrictions for its citizens in 1860.[20]

Most likely several of these factors influenced the Peterson family to embark for the United States.  They made the journey sometime after the civil war and before 1868.[21]  During this time period most Swedish emigrants sailed from Gothenburg, Sweden.  They would cross the North Sea to Hull or Grimsby, England.  Once in England, they would have to board a train to get to Liverpool on the west coast.  Here they would board one of the great steamers bound for New York or Boston.[22]  It must have been an arduous journey traveling so far with four small children ranging in age of approximately 2 to 12 years old. Once on American soil, the family probably first went to Illinois. John stated in the 1875 Kansas census that he had lived in Illinois before coming to Kansas.  This makes sense considering there was quite a large Swedish population in Illinois at the time.

The first US record I could find for John is in Shawnee County, Kansas.  He declared his intention on becoming an American citizen on Feb 16th, 1869.[23]  In August of the next year, John becomes a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church (Augustana Synod) in Topeka, KS.[24]  A year later, John transferred his church membership to the Swedish Lutheran church in Scandia, Kansas where the family homesteaded on 80 acres.[25]  Since John had already applied for American Citizenship he might have acquired this plot of land through the Homestead Act of 1862.  Their property was located in Republic County.  It was 3 miles from Courtland and 4 miles from Scandia.  The post office serving this location was New Scandia.  Family tradition says, he did not farm the land at that time and that he was a stingy man who didn’t even want to feed his children.[26] 

The Swedish/American colony Scandia was founded in the late 1860’s.  Over the next 10-15 year period the number of settlers grew to over 1,000.[27]  Life on the Kansas frontier was not easy for the Swedish emigrants.  Many of them missed the beauty and climate for their homeland.  Many missed their extended families and loved ones. Many felt lost due to the newness and strangeness of the language, customs, people and life in their new country.[28]  Homesteading was hard back breaking work.  Families were often isolated and lonely. 

John wife’s Anna may have had some of these concerns as well as family concerns.  According to John’s granddaughter Ida, John was a temperamental man.[29]  On April 28, 1875, a probate judge for Shawnee County declared Anna insane and ordered her admitted to the State insane Asylum.  She was 47 years old and could only speak a little English.  Her 17 year old daughter Ida was with her but according to the judge, Ida could give little information. The court papers stated Anna would become destructive when she was angry, she had not received any treatment and they were unable to tell if there was family trouble.[30] On May 6th 1875, the probate judge ordered the Sheriff to deliver Anna to the State Insane Asylum.  She was admitted a week later on May 13th.  The Osawatomie State Hospital was established by the State of Kansas in 1866 so it was just 9 years old when Anna was admitted.[31] The original facility had room for 12 patients but had received 22 more patients by the end of its second year with a need for 50 more beds.[32] The medical professionals didn’t understand the causes for mental illnesses.  Osawatomie often used strait jackets to protect and restrain their patients.[33]

The following year on April 19, 1876 John appears before the Republic County Clerk in Bellville Kansas to receive his citizenship.[34]  Two days later, John again appeared before the same clerk in Belleview and was issued a divorce on the grounds of desertion.  He claimed his wife had deserted him more than a year ago.  He claimed his wife was a nonresident of the state and than he notified her through the Belleview Telescope, a local paper.  He paid the $9.55 fee and walked away from Anna for good.[35]  The divorce is published in the local paper.[36]

By 1880 John had moved in with his married son, John Laurence.  Fred and Axel were living with their father in their brother’s home.[37]  Five years later, the Kansas State Census showed John was living with the Baer family on the South side of 6th Ave from Chandler Street, Topeka, Kansas.[38]  He was working as a carpenter.[39]  1900 Census showed John in his own home on 6th Street in Topeka.[40]  During the time he lived in Topeka he owned a tin shop and several rental properties on Chandler Street and worked laying bricks on East 6th St.[41]  The 1912 city directory has John Peterson living at 608 Chandler St in Topeka and working as a carpenter.[42]

On March 30, 1912, John’s oldest son, John Laurence dies in San Francisco.[43]  His body is brought home to be buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Scandia, KS.[44]  Three year later, almost to the day, John dies on Friday morning, March 26, 1915 in his home at 608 Chandler St., Topeka, KS.[45]  John’s funeral is held the next day, Saturday at 2:30 pm at the Swedish Lutheran Church.[46]  The death notice in the paper stated John came to Topeka from Portland, Oregon twenty years previously.[47]  It is an interesting statement since Census and court records prove he had been in Kansas for the last 36 years.  Further research might shed some light on the possible Oregon connection.

Anna lived out the rest of her life in state institutions.  After 9 years in the Kansas State Insane Asylum, she was transferred to the Topeka Insane Asylum (Topeka State Hospital).[48]  On Jun 17, 1889 the following was written in her file “Very untidy patient.  Talks a great deal but can not understand her as she talks Swede.  Mrs. B Sandstrom wishes to be notified in case of sickness – address 1235 Polk St, City”.[49]  Just 9 months later, she was transferred back to the Topeka State Hospital in Osatwatomie where she died from exhaustion on Valentines Day, 1912.[50]  She was buried in the cemetery on the hospital grounds.[51]



[1] John Peterson, death certificate, no. 2892765 (1915), State of Kansas  State Board of Health-Division of Vital Statistics, Topeka, in possession of Kathy Tarullo
[2] John L Peterson household, 1875 Kansas State Census, Courtland, Republic, Kansas, Roll: KS1875_17
[3] Family Tradition
[4] Family Group sheet of John Lawrence Peterson compiled by Marita Peterson (great grand daughter-in-law)  Marita gives her source of children’s birth place as from a Hanna Larson, who is John Laurence’s daughter.  Group sheet in possession of Kathy Tarullo
[5] http://swedentravelnet.com/oland/
[6] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p 330
[7] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p 331
[8]ibid
[9] ibid
[10] ibid
[11] ibid
[12] ibid
[13]Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p 332
[14] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p333
[15] ibid
[16] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p 275
[17] Ibid
[18] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  p274
[19] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  , p 275
[20] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975, p274
[21] John L Peterson household, 1900 Federal Census Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee Kansas , roll T623 500 pg 2B ED 150 and John Peterson household, 1910 Federal Census Topeka  Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas, roll T624-457 pg 4A ED 155.
[22] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  1975. p 333
[23] Index to naturalization Records of Shawnee County, Kansas 1865-1930, published by Topeka Genealogical Society, April 1992, p58
[24] Family notes from Marita Peterson, 2nd great-granddaughter-in-law, in possession of Kathy Tarullo
[25] ibid
[26] ibid
[27] Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota,  p 462

[28] Emory Lindquist , “The Swedish Immigrant and Life in Kansas” ,  Kansas Historical Quarterly, Spring, 1963 (Vol. XXIX, No. 1), pages 1 to 24

[29] Phone interview with Buddy and Marita Peterson; 6121 N.E. Meriden Rd, Topeka, KS 66617 1-785/246-1300, by Kathy Tarullo, May 5, 2009, Transcripts in possession of Kathy Tarullo
[30] Copy of written report from the probate judge.  Found in family files.
[32] ibid
[33] ibid
[34] John L Peterson, Naturalization document from 12th Judicial District of the State of Kansas, dated 19 April 1876
[35] Kansas, Shawnee County Deeds, Vol 72-73 1881 V 74 (p1-361) 1881-1882, FHL US/Can  Film # 1533641
[36] Belleview Telescope microfilm Reel number B 559 - Belleville Telescope (2) 4/6/1876  - 10/6/1881 KSKS
[37] John Laurence Peterson household, 1880 Federal Census, Courtland, Republic, Kansas roll T9-394 pg 92, 3000 ED 279
[38] 1885 Kansas Census, Ancestry.com
[39] ibid
[40] John Peterson household, 1900 Federal Census, Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas roll T623 500 pg 2B ED 150
[41] Family records per Marita Peterson
[42] 1912 City Directory, Topeka, Kansas page 421 http://distantcousin.com/Directories/KS/Topeka/1912/pages/421.jpg
[43] John Lawrence Peterson, family tree, Ancestry.com
[44] ibid
[45] John Peterson, death certificate, no. 2892765 (1915), State of Kansas  State Board of Health-Division of Vital Statistics, Topeka, in possession of Kathy Tarullo
[46] John Peterson, Deaths and funeral notice, Topeka State Journal, Saturday March 27, 1915
[47] ibid
[48] Osawatomie State Hospital, 1900 Federal Census, Osawatomie, Miami, Kansas. Kansas State Insane Asylum, Ancestry.com
[49] Case No 768, Topeka State Hospital, Shawnee County, Kansas
[50] Letter from Osawatomie State Hospital in procession of Kathy Tarullo
[51] Ibid