Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/408

 CHAPTER XXI. SWEDISH SETTLEMENT. Early Colonies — Coming to Minnesota — Mattson, Willard and Norelius — Story of the Early Swedes Told by Dr. Norelius — The Churches at Red Wing and Vasa — Reminiscences by Early Settlers — Characteristics of the Swedes. The first Swedish settlement in the United States dates from L638, when there sailed into Delaware bay a man-of-war, the Kalmar Nychel, and a smaller vessel, Fogel Grifs. bearing a band of Swedish colonists. The voyage had taken over six months, owing to terrible si onus, and when the colonists finally arrived they were so thankful and delighted that they called the cape Paradise Point. They purchased land on the west bank of the Delaware bay from the Indians for a fair price. This land stretched from Cape Henlopen to the fall near Trenton, taking in nearly all the stale of Delaware and a portion of Pennsylvania. They immediately built a fortress, which they named Fort Chris- tina, in honor of the queen. They called the new state New Sweden. Here they remained and prospered, being at peace with the Indians, who had learned to trust them on account of their fair dealings. They had brought with them from the old home the fear of God, their Bible, respect for sacred things and a strict observance of the Sabbath. It has been said that no emi- grants more closely resemble the Pilgrim Fathers of New England in works and faith than the Swedes. Some of these Swedish colonists continued to live on the banks of the Delaware, and their descendants are today among the most honored citizens of America. The man who cast the deciding vote for Pennsylvania as a member of the Continental Congress, in favor of the Declara- tion of Independence, was a Swede of Delaware, named John Morton. AVhen the Civil War broke out General Robert Ander- son, with a handful of men. bravely and calmly met the first shock of the Rebellion at Fort Sumter. The idea of a New Sweden originated in the mind of Gustavus Adolphus, but was not carried out until after his death, when his chancellor. Axel Oxenstjema, completed the plans. The 340