| Show SWEDISH forefathers DAYS THE swedish american citizens of this thas republic were celebrating during the past week the anniversary of ah event that deserves more than passing notice this thin they call boref forefathers A the re day 1 9 the occasion is in memory of the first colony of swedes who landed on the banks of the delaware years ago in the mouth month of september this memorable event can not be well touched couched on without glancing at the history of sweden until 1621 1521 that country was for about y years ars joined by mutual union with 7 denmark in that year gustavus Gu vasa delivered it from the danish daniel compact two years later he was wag crowned king it WAS he who introduced lutheranism into sweden in 1527 his country took a leading part in the religious religion r reformation formation during the succeeding century about 1630 we find the famous gustavus adolphus Adolp bus at the head of the reformers of europe we find him triumphant at madge burg and munich but at the fearful battle of lutzen nov 6 1682 that gallant soldier was slain but with his memory we must associate the anniversary that 4 is being celebrated at the present time in the united states on june fa 1626 a charter was granted by that monarch to establish the south sea company this meant the colonizing ing of american soil with swedish emigrants and the institution of a government that would promote and maintain perfect religious ioui liberty at this time sweden was engaged in al war with half of europe her resources were exhausted gustavus himself pawned his bis jewelry and plate to carry on his battle in behalf of reform there was no money for the new scheme and it was postponed for a time the fatal day at lutzen finally prevented the great chieftain from prosecuting his favored american project however the great statesman did not allow his beloved kings kingie grand ideath idea to be abandoned by his agency two ships the nackle Nyc klell kle and the grip left goten burg for america to in august 1637 1687 these ves vessels sels contained the first emigrants from sweden destined to land on american soil in the north korth sea they encountered a hurricane and ivere were obliged to put in for shelter and repairs to holland after setting sail once more they hey were tossed for several months on the bosom of the atlantic finally delaware aay bay was reached and anchors cast at paradise point by purchase a tract of land equal in extent to the present state of delaware and half of pennsylvania was obtained from the indians indiana this was called new sweden and a fortress built called fort christina in banor honor of the queen but seventeen years later in 1665 1655 the dutch obtained dominion over the colony and the swedish flag bag was torn down later england obtained control and the dutch butch flag gave way to the english subsequently the english flag departed and the stars and stripes fluttered in triumph to the breeze the descendants of these hardy old colonists fought heartily and enthusiastically asti cally at the side of washington in the revolution at the present time though the descendants ants of these old settlers show no distinctive characteristics as swedish colonists they can be found in both delaware and pennsylvania and even in new jersey they are noted for their energy industry activity and perseverance marked qualities of their forefathers forefather |
