On This Date in Minnesota History: October 18

October 18, 1850 – “The first Swedish settlement in Minnesota is built by Carl Fernstrom, Oscar Roos, and August Sandahl. Carl, the son of a Swedish lawyer from Skara, Vastergotland, Sweden had studied theology at Uppsala University before immigrating to America with his close friend Oscar Roos. Upon their arrival, the two Swedes originally settled in Illinois. Carl then traveled to Minnesota where he scouted out the land in the Scandia area. He then returned to Illinois to convince Oscar and another newly-arrived Swede, August Sandahl to join him in Minnesota. The three stake a claim of forty acres and build a log cabin.”

http://projects.wchsmn.org/reference/events/first-swedish-settlement/

This historic monument is situated on the north east corner of a 40-acre tract of land purchased Oct. 18, 1850, by the first three Swedish settlers in Minnesota. They built a log house on the shore of Hay Lake located 300 ft. south east of this site. In 1854 Elim Lutheran Church was organized in this same home. A brick school built in 1899 stands across the road. The two-story house located just east of the school was built in 1868 and is authentically furnished for that era and is open to the public the same hours as is the school.

Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Oct. 18, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.