By Carolyn Spargo

On Friday, Oct. 10, the Nordic Heritage Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Victoria
City Hall, 7951
Rose Street in Victoria.
The evening’s presentation will be about a region of Sweden
called Östergötland that is of significance for us in Carver
County as it is the region where
Swedish immigrant Andrew Peterson was born and raised.

As you can see in an atlas, Sweden
is a long country. If you drive from Kiruna, the most northern city to Malmö,
in the south, you would be driving 1,146 miles. Because of the terrain, it
would take approximately 21 ½ hours. Starting in Minneapolis, that distance
would span down to Austin, Tex. but only take 17 ½ hours. Sweden’s
widest point would be the same distance as driving from International
Falls to Burnsville.
Within the borders of Sweden
are 21 counties and 25 provinces. In the southern part of Sweden
lies Östergötland. It ranks 11^th in size and has more than 411,000
people. And it is through a man named Anders Petersson that we in Carver
County have a connection to this
large Swedish area.

In 1850, at age 32, Petersson immigrated to America
with 15 other people from Ydre in Östergötland. He settled in Carver
County. Anders changed his name to
Andrew Peterson, married Elsa Ingman and had nine children together and no
grandchildren. Andrew Peterson recorded his adventure through simple diaries
that were kept about the travels and everyday life of a Swedish farmer. In
1948, the famous Swedish author, Wilhelm Moberg, visited the Historical Society
in St. Paul, Minnesota and read Andrew Peterson’s diaries. From the everyday
life that was recorded, Moberg created his book series, “The Immigrants” that
later became a film.

Andrew Peterson settled near Clearwater
Lake which is now Lake
Waconia. His farm currently is the
Rock Isle Farm on Highway 5. An Andrew Peterson Society was started in the home
area of Andrew Peterson in Östergötland, Sweden,
www.andrewpeterson.se headed by Jan Hermelin. The website can be read in
English. The society continues research on Swedish Immigration and celebrates
Andrew Peterson Day, every July 4. In the fall of 2006, four volunteers came
from Sweden to
repair the roof of the granary.

The Nordic Heritage Club will have a program about about
Östergötland and Andrew Peterson on Oct. 10. The club welcomes families to
these events for fun, food, and fellowship. Check the website for upcoming
events at www.nordicheritageclub.com.