STriJi 
 
 ■-■','r^\'A'^^^!t.>'<r^•^^^■■■.■ ■■-■■--■■ ■ 
 
 
 
 

 
 UNrVERSITY OF 
 
 ILLUV-^P L'BRARY 
 
 AT URDAiMA-ChAMPAIGK 
 
 ILL HiST. SURVEY 
 
 ILLINOIS IlISlOuWAL 8UEVET
 
 ^uJITl^t.-^^ 

 
 y 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 «
 
 FRIDHEM 
 
 A BRIEF HISTORY OF A NOBLE WORK 
 
 1905-1930 
 
 ERIC SCHERSTROM 
 
 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 
 
 HOME OF REST— THE SWEDISH BAPTIST HOME 
 
 FOR THE AGED. FRIDHEM
 
 EMIL FORSLUXD PRINTING CO. 
 
 CHICAGO. ILL. 
 
 1930
 
 
 THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO 
 
 THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE 
 
 THE FRIDHEM WORK POSSIBLE 
 
 AND SUCCESSFUL
 
 "KJrovsJ old alor)q wiif) rr)e! 
 H r)c test IS vgI: fo be, 
 
 -r^c last o[ Inc. Tor wrjicn Ihc TiFst was rrjaac: 
 ^uj? tiroes arc ir) Ris riana 
 \A/l^o sait:^ ''/i wr)olc 1 plannca. 
 yout^ sr)0v5s but i)cilr. trust tjod: 
 Occ all. rior oc a|r0icl. 
 
 |aroWr)ir)q.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 1. Introduction 9 
 
 (1) The altitudf ol" our civilization. 
 
 (L') When Cod's Spirit stirs men and women. 
 
 (.'!) Practical ("hiistianity or Chiistian ideal realized. 
 
 2. Organization and Early Development 16 
 
 (1) r.HIJ A year of Ad\enturt^ Happy heai-ts and 
 
 smiling- faces. 
 C2) Piesent locatio.n accinired. 
 (.'!) Growth. which created largei- interest and 
 
 gathered a liost of willing' supporters. 
 
 3. Grounds, Buildings and Equipment 27 
 
 (1) AVhen need cries out brick and mortar begin t" 
 
 move. 
 
 (2) Beatitifiil acres, conveniences, a laige family in 
 
 comfortable quarters. 
 
 4. Maintenance and Finance 34 
 
 (1) With the widow's mite begins a steady stieam 
 
 of blessing-. 
 (•_') I^et us Ije revei-ent as the Xazarene blesses the 
 
 loaves and fishes in our midst. 
 (•"!) Figiires and facts. 
 
 5. Administration and Board of Directors 4 3 
 
 (1) A\'illing hearts and men of vision, 
 (li) When God pays dividends. 
 
 (3) How we discharg-e our oblig-ation to our fellow 
 
 men. 
 
 6. Fridliem's relation to our General Conference and State 
 Conference 5 3 
 
 (1) Rtcognized and rt conunt ndt d but not financially 
 
 dependent. 
 (*_') G(M]cl will and moral suppoi-t. 
 
 7. Meml)ers of the Fridhem Family .59 
 
 (1) Wliy have they come, some interesting circum- 
 
 .•<tances. 
 (L't NX'hat l>'nd of people aie they? .lust humans. 
 (:!) When the roll is called they Avill answer. 
 
 8. Present needs and future developments 98 
 
 (1) Eveiy day has its owni burdens. 
 
 (2) When the new g-eneration and the fi-agments of 
 
 the older generation meet. 
 (;-5) l^edr(.(k foundation and security. Endowment 
 Fund. l.iio)<ing- ahead, pi-oviding for the future. 
 
 9. Conclusion 106 
 
 7
 
 Bird's-eye view of tlie Home.
 
 THE INTRODUCTION 
 
 Civilization and culture are making steady pro- 
 gress in our age. The things we see and hear to- 
 day approach the realm of the miraculous. It is 
 obvious that this new era in discovery and inven- 
 tion has made the world a better place in which to 
 live. 
 
 The incredible blessings that fulfill mean's needs 
 from the mere physical necessities to the deepest 
 intellectual and spiritual cravings have not reached 
 all mankind. A large part of the human family is 
 still suffering and bleeding under the ruthless curse 
 of poverty and sickness. 
 
 Someone has said that man is a victim of cir- 
 cumstances. He is strangely entrenched in the 
 social order and environment of his time. He sets 
 out in life with purpose and high ideals. There are 
 worlds to conquer and he assures himself of success. 
 However only a very small percentage of persons re- 
 lying on their own resources attain unconditional 
 independence. The rest of the world's population is 
 dependent either in part or in entirety upon others. 
 
 Social reform in its sweeping boundaries has up 
 until the present time strangely neglected to care 
 for the unfortunate and needy among aged and chil- 
 dren. The illustrious Greeks and Romans of the old
 
 10 FRIDHEM 
 
 world have left wonderful monuments which speak 
 eloquently of their high civilization and culture. So 
 far we search in vain for anything that indicates 
 their charity toward the aged and those unable to 
 support themselves. The principal streets of Rome, 
 Athens, and Jerusalem were filled with beggars 
 reeking with filth and wasting away with horrible 
 diseases. In this state these miserable individuals 
 were left to shift for themselves until they perished. 
 
 The keynote in the message of our Saviour was 
 charity and kindness toward the unfortunate. The 
 Apostles and the early Christians looked upon this 
 as one of the most important duties of the church 
 and the individual member. Hence the office of 
 Deacon was created. Men set apart and ordained 
 for this position were to serve the poor and any 
 others who needed assistance. Later the church as 
 an institution became quite formal, dogmatic and 
 aloof. With a craving for temporal power rather 
 than spiritual fervor, strife, war, and differences in 
 belief filled the minds of the leaders. Charity and 
 brotherly love were forgotten for the time. 
 
 We refer to a brief summary of the situation as 
 given in the Catholic Encyclopedia vol. 12. 
 
 "After the time of Constantine, who granted the 
 Church the right to acquire property, the ecclesias- 
 tical possessions grew. — In addition to the provision 
 for the poor in their homes, the increasing mass of 
 poverty demanded a new institution — the hospital. 
 It was to serve for a special class of the needy, and 
 was the regular completion of the general charitable
 
 F R I D H E M 11 
 
 activity of the district. Such institutions for the 
 collective care of the poor were: the cUaconiae, great 
 store-houses near the church, where the poor daily 
 enjoyed meals in common; the henodochiae, for 
 strangers; the nosocomiae for the sick; the orplian- 
 otropJiiae and hrephotrophiae for orphans and 
 foundings; the gerontocomiae for the aged." 
 From the same work vol. Ill we read : 
 
 During the three centuries following the death 
 of Charlemagne, the work of relieving the poor was 
 steadily and rapidly transferred from the diocesan 
 clergy to the monasteries. — The new and dominant 
 position of the monasteries is thus described by Rat- 
 zinger : The energy of Christian life had gone over 
 from the diocese to the monastery. The latter be- 
 came the center for rich and poor, high and low, 
 for innocent youth and repentant age. It provided 
 in some measure a substitute for the primitive epis- 
 copal parish. In every district, alike on towering 
 mountain and in lowly valley, arose monasteries 
 which formed the centers of the organized religious 
 life of the neighborhood, maintained schools, pro- 
 vided models for agriculture, industry, pisciculture, 
 and forestry, sheltered the traveller, relieved the 
 poor, reared the orphans, cared for the sick, and 
 were havens of refuge for all who were weighed 
 down by spiritual or corporal misery. For centuries 
 they were the centers of all religious, charitable, 
 and cultural activity." 
 
 Bliss in his Xeic Encyclopedia of Social Reform 
 writes :
 
 12 F R I D H E M 
 
 Poorhouses were unknown in classical antiquity. 
 With the advent of Christianity, however, houses 
 for the care of the helpless poor began to be pro- 
 vided ; and the Emperor Julian, imitating the Chris- 
 tians, issued an edict ordering the erection of poor- 
 houses. During the Middle Ages the work of the 
 poorhouse was chiefly performed by the hospitals, 
 which were in reality ecclesiastical almshouses for 
 the reception not only of the destitute sick, but of 
 destitute children, tJie aged, the infirm, and the 
 helpless of every class. Toward the end of the 
 Middle Ages, also, a great many private almshouses 
 for the shelter of the poor were established by pri- 
 vate bequests, many of which still exist in European 
 countries. 
 
 The famous Poor Law of Elizabeth (1601) pro- 
 vided for the erection and maintenance of poor- 
 houses by parishes, and especially commended that 
 those unable to work should be relieved therein. 
 
 The early settlers in America usually cared for 
 their few helpless poor by boarding them out with 
 farmers ; and this primitive method is still followed 
 in portions of the U. S. that are thinly populated. 
 Later, when the number of helpless dependents had 
 increased, in order to diminish their cost and per- 
 haps provide more humane treatment, the town or 
 county authorities purchased land and erected a 
 public poorhouse, or even more frequently made use 
 of some farmhouse purchased with the land for such 
 an institution." 
 
 In more recent times the poor were disposed of
 
 F II I D H E jSI 1 :> 
 
 by various methods. They were allowed to go from 
 house to house and beg. They were sold at public 
 auctions to the lowest bidder, an anim.al was gen- 
 erally sold to the highest bidder, so man had fallen 
 below the price of an ox. Families were separated, 
 father, mother, and children bartered away in pub- 
 lic and abused. This shameful practice does not be- 
 long to the dark ages, but was in vogue in respect- 
 able communities less than fifty years ago. It was 
 no better than slavery, and we blush when we think 
 of it. The preaching of the Gospel brought a change 
 and stirred the public consciousness to action, thus 
 putting an end to this malicious practice- 
 After the Civil War, people of our own nation- 
 ality began to arrive in this country in great num- 
 bers. Many of them settled in large communities 
 where employment was easily obtained. They built 
 their churches, and before long these churches had 
 doubled their membership. These sturdy and hon- 
 est people came to this country for a single purpose, 
 to make an easier and better living ultimately look- 
 ing toward independence. In spite of the high pur- 
 pose that inspired these men and women some of 
 them were destined to meet failure. Disappoint- 
 ments, sickness, failing health, unfortunate circum- 
 stances, lack of thrift, recklessness and carelessness 
 all contributed their share. 
 
 These extreme circumstances sooner or later led 
 the individual to the place where he became an ob- 
 ject of charity, a public ward. It is especially sad 
 to know that many of these pitiful old people were
 
 14 F K I D H E :M 
 
 Christians who had gone in and out of our church 
 doors quietly worshiping among us. Some had de- 
 pended on children and other relatives who failed to 
 do what thej' could, or who for various reasons were 
 unable to provide a living for an extra person. The 
 small savings laid up against old age were not suf- 
 ficient if the years happened to be many. 
 
 It was then that God's spirit stirred men and 
 women who were able and thinking. Here and there 
 were individuals who had pondered and prayed over 
 this problem Avhich was growing in its graveness. 
 God always prepares in advance those individuals 
 that He sees fit to use as leaders in any line of en- 
 deavor. When He called upon the Swedish Baptist 
 denomination to take care of their old people He 
 touched the heart of a woman, Mrs. Edla Berg. This 
 woman was the proprietor of a bake-shop in the 
 heart of the Swedish colony of Lake View, Chicago, 
 and a member of the First Swedish Baptist church. 
 In the position that she held she came in contact 
 with many people and learned of their circum- 
 stances. As time went on she became determined 
 that she should do something definite to help those 
 who were in distress. She acted upon her decision 
 and set aside twenty-five dollars toward a pros- 
 pective Old Peoples Home. The money was turned 
 over to her pastor, Dr. G. Arvid Hagstrom, who in 
 turn gave it to the man who was to be the logical 
 agitator and pioneer in this work. 
 
 No one's name and services were so closely in- 
 terwoven with this work as the name of Eric Ro-
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 15 
 
 sen, then pastor of the Englewood Swedish Baptist 
 Church of Chicago. This man who was tall in 
 stature as the giant pine trees of his native land, 
 rose to think and dream far above the level of the 
 average individual. He was a true patriot, an ideal 
 pastor, a friend, a man with sj-mpathies broad 
 enough to make him feel akin to every man and 
 woman of his nationality. We 
 lemember him as he stood in 
 our large gatherings and con- 
 ferences pleading for the aged, 
 urging the denomination to or- 
 ganize an Old People's Homie. 
 
 It was quite to be expected 
 that he should meet with ridi- 
 cule and indifference. The hu- 
 man mind is generally conser- 
 vative and hesitates when called 
 upon to launch out into new 
 and experimental fields. 
 
 It requires men with strong hearts, great cour- 
 age, and unlimited patience to survive the opposi- 
 tion and persevere until the goal is attained. Ro- 
 sen's words were like blows of a sledgehammer that 
 finally broke down the doubts and rallied others to 
 his aid. To these people and a number of others, 
 Christianity had taken a new interpretation. They 
 received a new vision. Life became practical, vital, 
 an instrument that could be utilized to make others 
 happy and blessed. A Christian ideal was about to 
 be realized. A beautiful flower had started to bud. 
 We rejoice in its fragrance today. 
 
 Rev. Erie Rosen
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 ORGANIZATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 One of the Greek Philosophers said, ''The mind 
 must be excited in order to make a start." 
 
 He was undoubtedly correct in his statement. 
 When we think hard enough and meditate earnestly 
 we find ourselves in the wake of a generative force 
 that creates power and action. Any number of 
 causes contribute to the awakening of a conscious- 
 ness regarding an objective. 
 
 It is interesting to unravel the incidents that 
 were potential in beginning the Fridhem work. The 
 preaching and agitation done by Rev. Eric Rosen 
 and his associates had a favorable reaction and were 
 of greater consequence than the most optomistic of 
 their adherents expected. Rev. Rosen never missed 
 an opportunity to impress his listeners with the im- 
 portance of caring for the aged. To him, the poor 
 house was a place of horror and an unspeakable dis- 
 grace. He could never be reconciled to the idea that 
 a Swede and a Christian should be allowed to spend 
 his last days in an institution so utterly deprived of 
 the environment that creates contentment and tran- 
 quility. In his official capacity as treasurer of the 
 Swedish Baptist General Conference he always ad- 
 
 16
 
 FRIDHEM 17 
 
 ded an item to his annual financial statement that 
 spoke of a certain sum he had in trust for an Old 
 People's Home. He was told to keep the money for 
 a further decision by the Conference. There was at 
 this time one hundred and forty-five dollars in the 
 fund, a nice little beginning but not quite enough 
 with which to open an Old People's Home. 
 
 Rev. Rosen knew very well that this money could 
 not be kept in the bank indefinitely. This mite, a 
 little mustard seed, would soon start to germinate 
 and grow in answer to msLny fervent prayers. People 
 throughout the denomination were becoming inter- 
 ested, and in consequence they commenced to see 
 the need in a new light. The unseen hand of God 
 kept pace with developments and brought matters 
 to a crisis. The project must be dropped, condi- 
 tions remaining as before, or the direction of faith 
 must be followed and a start made. 
 
 The year 1902 was a year of great adventure in 
 the activities of the Swedish Baptists of America. 
 The denomination was to celebrate its fiftieth year 
 with a Golden Jubilee in Chicago. Up until that 
 time the denomination had not assumed any great 
 responsibilities and, consequently, had no serious 
 problems to solve. It was regarded in the light of 
 a mission with temporarj' objectives, leaning heav- 
 ily for financial aid and advice on the stronger 
 American brethren. 
 
 The Jubilee proved to be a most enthusiastic con- 
 vention. People from everywhere who were former- 
 ly strangers became acquainted and formed fast
 
 18 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 friendships despite the distances which separated 
 their homes. A denominational consciousness was 
 awakened. The delegates and visitors were inspired 
 and impressed with conditions, and they went to 
 their home churches glowing with great enthusiasm 
 over what they had seen and heard. The crest of 
 this inspiration formed the nucleus for several great 
 
 adventures. Institutions 
 and enterprises never 
 thought of before were 
 planned and have since 
 become a reality. 
 
 Nothing is of greater 
 consequence in this world 
 than a human life. It 
 touches heaven and earth 
 and makes its imprint on 
 time and eternity. God is 
 the creator of life and 
 He molds it for His own 
 purposes in a way so su- 
 pernatural that it baffles our imagination and our 
 keenest ingenuity. 
 
 In tranquil and beautiful Evanston we find a 
 happy and enterprising family. There were only 
 three members in the family, father, mother and 
 a son. In God's wonderful way and unquestion- 
 able wisdom He had foreordained this young 
 lad's life to be the potential factor in leading the 
 Swedish Baptists into a service of love and mercy. 
 It was to be true again, ''A child shall lead them." 
 
 'Mr. X. P. Severin 
 Charter Member and Pre- 
 sident of the Home.
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 19 
 
 It pleased God to take this young boy to himself. 
 What parental love had planned for him as he grew 
 up had to find a new outlet. On November first, 
 nineteen hundred and two, Dr. N. P. Walters went 
 to interview Rev. G .A. Hagstrom . He wanted to 
 consult the pastor in regard to a very important 
 matter. He said that after prayer, Mrs. Walters 
 and he had decided to give 
 one thousand dollars in 
 memory of their son who 
 had passed away a month 
 before. This money was to 
 go toward an Old People's 
 Home if the denomination 
 decided to organize such 
 an institution. 
 
 This incident and 
 others equally important 
 made it certain that there 
 could be no doubt about 
 God's will in the matter 
 From now on it must be a 
 
 question of efficiency and method of procedure- Th? 
 leaders now questioned whether they should wait 
 until the next meeting of the General Conference or 
 whether they should act on local initiative. There 
 was a possibility that the conference, if not entirely 
 unfriendly to the proposition might postpone action 
 for financial reasons. A meeting was called in No- 
 vember, nineteen hundred and two, for the purpose 
 of taking definite action in the matter. No authen- 
 
 Mrs. Elsie Walters 
 Charter Member and Sup- 
 porter of the Home from 
 the beginning.
 
 20 
 
 FRIDHEM 
 
 tic record is available to inform us of what trans- 
 pired on that day. From those who attended we 
 learn that the following persons were present ; Rev. 
 G. Arvid Hagstrom, Mr. and Mrs. John Berg, Dr. 
 and Mrs. N. P- Walters, Rev. Eric Rosen, Rev. Eric 
 Wingren, Dr. Eric Sandell, Rev. Petrus Swartz, Mr. 
 and Mrs. E. P. Strandberg, Mr. N. P. Severin, Rev. 
 and Mrs. Chas. Palm, Mr. James 
 Magnusen and Rev. and Mrs. Ern- 
 est Hallgren. 
 
 Most important of the actions 
 at this meeting was the organiza- 
 tion of the Fridhem Society. This 
 new organization elected the fol- 
 lowing officers: Dr- Eric Sandell, 
 President; Rev. Petrus Swartz, 
 Vice President ; Mr. 
 Secretary ; Dr. N. 
 Treasurer. 
 
 During the following year the 
 activity of this organization con- 
 sisted chiefly in stimulating interest among the 
 churches of Chicago and vicinity in the ob- 
 jective of the society. Additional funds were 
 gathered, and the members of the society kept a 
 watchful eye and waited for an opportune time to 
 begin the actual operations of the Home. On Jan- 
 uary fourteenth, nineteen hundred and three, 
 another meeting was called at which it was decided 
 to incorporate. It was agreed that the corporate 
 name should be, ''Home of Rest, Swedish Baptist 
 
 Rev. G. Arvid 
 
 Hagstrom. D. D. 
 
 Charter Member and 
 
 Organizer of 
 
 the Home. 
 
 John Berg, 
 P. Walters,
 
 F R I D H E M Zl 
 
 Home for the aged, Fridhem." The charter mem- 
 bers were; Dr. Eric Sandell, Mr. John Berg, Dr. G. 
 Arvid Hagstrom, Dr. Nelson P. Walters, Rev. Eric 
 Rosen, Mr. Nils P. Severin, Mr. Erik P. Strandberg, 
 Rev. Chas. Palm, Rev. Petrus Swartz and Mr. James 
 Magnusen. 
 
 In conjunction with organization it was neces- 
 sary to draw up by-laws, rules, and regulations un- 
 der which the activities of the home were to be 
 guided. These by-laws were so broad and so irref- 
 utable that it has not been deemed necessary to re- 
 place them. They have been amen^led from, time to 
 time to meet the demands that occur in the exten- 
 sion and development of the Home. The Old People's 
 Home idea was entirely new to the members of the 
 organization. None of the men or women had any 
 first hand practical knowledge of the work. It 
 was therefore of the greatest importance that the 
 person in charge should be the most com.petent avail- 
 able. 
 
 After due deliberation Mrs. Chas. Palm was the 
 unanimous choice. Experience has proved the wis- 
 dom of the Board of Directors in selecting and se- 
 curing Mrs. Palm. She was exceptionally qualified 
 for the position because of her executive ability and 
 her wide circle of acquaintances all over the coun- 
 try. In accepting this call Mrs. Palm felt that she 
 was assuming important welfare work, and that it 
 needed the guidance and the blessing of the Al- 
 mighty God in order to succeed. Her compensation 
 did not evidently play a decisive part in her accept-
 
 22 
 
 FRIDH EM 
 
 ance of the call, as she received twenty-five dollars 
 a month. In her management Mrs. Palm was very 
 frugal, and funds for furnishing and for food were 
 the lowest possible. This wise manager's service 
 
 Ilev. and Mrs. Chas I 'aim 
 
 Chaiter Members, Supeiintendent and Matron 
 
 1905-1907, 1916-1924 
 
 terminated in June, nineteen hundred and seven. 
 However she resumed the work again in nineteen 
 hundred and sixteen together with her husband. 
 Rev. Chas. Palm. 
 
 A task equally great was to find a suitable build-
 
 FRIDHEM 23 
 
 ing in a convenient location, where the work might 
 begin. Several places in the city were suggested, 
 but it was no easy matter to choose. Some lacked 
 the necessary accomodation, and others were out 
 of the question for financial reasons. Not a few 
 landlords and neighbors objected to an Old People's 
 Home. The funds were limited and very little could 
 have been ventured had not the generosity of in- 
 dividual churches and friends prompted the contri- 
 bution of money and other useful articles. 
 
 It was finally decided to rent a house known at 
 this time as 236 Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago, Illi- 
 nois. This was an old residence with large rooms 
 and a spacious porch. After some alterations it 
 qualified very nicely for at least temporary quar- 
 ters. The Home was dedicated and formally opened 
 in February, nineteen hundred and five. The first 
 inmate, John Gunnerson of Kiron, Iowa, had already 
 arrived on January the twenty-eighth. This eighty- 
 year old man had been deserted by his children and 
 was facing the poor farm in his declining years. This 
 was the beginning; one inmate in dire need of a 
 home, a matron to care for him, a rented house, 
 and about twelve hundred dollars in actual cash. 
 The Board of Directors gave strength, stability, and 
 the confidence that is necessary to draw the atten- 
 tion of people who are careful in the disbursement 
 of their funds . 
 
 The news, that an Old People's Home had really 
 opened, spread rapidly. 
 
 The denominational paper Nya Wecko Posten
 
 24 FRIDHEM 
 
 gave detailed accounts. Some people who read of it 
 smiled, others thought the whole matter very grave, 
 and not a few doubted the advisability of the ven- 
 ture. It was good news indeed for the homeless who 
 had prayed for Divine aid. They considered it an 
 answer to prayer. These people had no time for 
 doubt or watchful waiting. Inquiries came in at 
 once regarding the obligations and requirements for 
 entrance. Among the first to take advantage of 
 the opportunity was Peter Smith of Isanti Co. Min- 
 nesota. He was admitted to the Home on March the 
 twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and five. Mrs. 
 Maria Dorothea Johnson of Chicago, the first 
 woman granted admittance, entered on the twenty- 
 sixth of March. Other early arrivals were: Mrs. 
 Anna Olson, Des Moines, Iowa, on the sixth of April ; 
 Sven Benson of Chicago, on the twenty-fifth of 
 April; Johan Hammerlof of Chicago on the twen- 
 ty-sixth of April; Mrs. Sarah Olson of Superior, 
 Wisconsin, on June the first ; Miss Maria Peter- 
 son of Omaha, Nebraska on the twenty-ninth of 
 June, and a few days later John Nerman arrived 
 from New^ York. This was the first Fridhem fam- 
 ily. They all arrived within a few months after the 
 opening of the Home. Among the inmates they may 
 truly be called the charter members. 
 
 With a constantly growing family the needs be- 
 came larger and the obligations more serious. In- 
 terest was awakened in wider circles, and people 
 with friendly attitudes waited for an occasion to as- 
 sist in the work. There was something about the
 
 FRIDHEM 25 
 
 whole project that carried a universal appeal. Now 
 that a start had been made and faith had proven it- 
 self, people became more understanding and trust- 
 ing. If the Board of Directors had ever had any 
 doubts in their minds that the Home would stim- 
 ulate interest they must have soon been converted. 
 Every mail brought new inquiries. Applicants were 
 pleading and presenting their urgent needs. People 
 from every state where the denomination existed 
 were knocking at the door. 
 
 There was one great question then, and there still 
 is today. Should entrance be limited to only a few, 
 other worthy people being declined admittance? Was 
 it advisable and within the means to extend a home 
 to every one in real need within the denomination? 
 The work needed to broaden so that people without 
 church connections could find a home for their de- 
 clining 3^ears. God had blessed the project and a 
 loyal host of supporters had contributed so well 
 that the Board of Directors were unanimous in 
 their opinion that the work must be extended. In or- 
 der to do this a campaign for funds must be started 
 in homes, churches and localities otherwise inter- 
 ested. Rev. C- J. Almquist of Sioux City, Iowa, was 
 selected for this work. 
 
 Rev. Almquist accepted the call and entered his 
 duties in May, nineteen hundred and five. He was a 
 man who felt a keen sympathy for the unfortunate. 
 The Home, in his opinion, was a challenge against 
 an atrocious practice of disposing of the poor. He 
 was gifted with a peculiar ability of making people
 
 26 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 see what he saw, feel as he felt and give what he 
 asked. His services were continued with marked 
 success until December, nineteen hundred and eleven 
 when failing health necessitated a change of climate 
 for his recovery. Through his solicitation a contin- 
 uous income was secured. A plan was put into op- 
 eration whereby people could become members of 
 the organization. One Hundred dollars secured a 
 
 life membership, and five 
 
 dollars a year an annual 
 membership- Wills were al- 
 so secured which were paid 
 on maturity. 
 
 The rented quarters on 
 Sunnyside Avenue were 
 soon crowded and inade- 
 quate. The organization 
 must move and acquire its 
 own property. It was a 
 difficult task to agree on a 
 suitable location. Morgan 
 Park was finally chosen the logical spot after care- 
 ful consideration. The place was well known as the 
 home of the Theological Seminary, and property was 
 fairly reasonable. Mr. N. P. Severin, who has shown 
 never-failing interest in the Home from the time of 
 its organization, negotiated the deal in December, 
 nineteen hundred and five. He had no sooner closed 
 the deal and handed over the purchase price of four 
 thousand five hundred dollars than Mrs. Walker, 
 the owner, died. If this deal had been delayed 
 another day it might have seriously affected the 
 future of the Home. 
 
 Rev. C. J. Almquist
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 GROUNDS, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. 
 
 The diligent efforts of Rev. C. J. Almquist to- 
 gether with the story he told impressed people 
 everywhere. He related how he had found one aged 
 couple in a poor house in most unhappy circum- 
 stances. These poor people heard his story of what 
 was occurring in Chicago and how happy and con- 
 tented the old people were at the Home. They 
 pleaded with him to rescue them from the misery 
 into w^hich they had fallen. At other times he met 
 with people who had a little savings but not enough 
 to care for them for any indefinite length. 
 
 Here the need and the opportunity met. On one 
 hand were people who were willing to help. On the 
 other hand were those who were suffering and fear- 
 ing for what the next day and year would bring, 
 and who were taking courage and with their pray- 
 ers were beseeching the Home for help. This was 
 quite different from the utterance made by one of 
 the denominational leaders a few years before. 
 When Rev. Rosen pleaded for a Home this gentleman 
 said, ''Don't be so insistent about this Old People's 
 Home idea of yours. You have not been in this coun- 
 try long enough to understand that we have no need 
 for such an institution." 
 
 27
 
 28 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 This gentleman was undoubtedly sincere in his 
 opinion, and the church made no move to help the 
 needy in a substantial way. The reason for this at- 
 titude on the part of a church may have been two- 
 fold. In the first place the churches were poor and 
 had difficulty in meeting current expenses. Second- 
 
 i- s 
 
 HHF' 
 
 
 
 mWI 
 
 
 M^^K^MT^^K 
 
 
 w^^M ^^"-^^^^mwi 
 
 
 ^■^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '^ '^ :^^ 
 
 ^s. 
 
 wBt^^^i'' 
 
 ^^■- ilMi 
 
 ^:;•K**-:K:::a-^v : :> 
 
 A group from the early days. 
 
 ly the leaders and the members at large had not be- 
 come conscious of the duty and responsibility placed 
 at their doors. Lazarus w^as there in his pitiful con- 
 dition, but none seemed to recognize their Christian 
 duty in ministering unto him. 
 
 The Fridhem committee was in possession of a 
 plot of ground. What was to be done in the im- 
 mediate future? They had some money for a building 
 and promises of more. It was not strictly speaking 
 a question of erecting a building. Two or three of
 
 FRIDHEM 2» 
 
 the members on the Board could have done that and 
 paid for it without much effort. The great ques- 
 tion confronting these people was whether they were 
 doing the will of God, and if they were enjoying 
 the wholehearted cooperation of the majority of the 
 churches and the preachers. Was the work past 
 the experimental stage so that progress could be 
 assured in the future? 
 
 These people began to realize as never before 
 what it meant to bring a number of old people into 
 one large family group. They learned that the pe- 
 culiarities in individuals become more pronounced 
 as they grow older. The largest part of those who 
 obtain admission to the Old People's Homes have 
 found this world and its demands on life no easy 
 task. For many it has been hard work, small re- 
 sources, sickness, disappointment and sorrows. 
 These people come to the Homes like soldiers from 
 the trenches with manj- scars and memories, and 
 with less faith in humanity than they should right- 
 fully have. Thus the peculiarities mount with each 
 applicant who is admitted. 
 
 Bringing people who are wards of charity from 
 one state to another is of no small consequence. The 
 authorities frown upon it and the Board would be- 
 come involved in all sorts of legal entanglements 
 should the Home fail to care for its wards. A Home 
 like ours must rest on more than keen calculations. 
 It must be an act of living, working faith, and 
 Divine guidance. 
 
 When all things were weighed it was decided
 
 30 
 
 FRIDH EM 
 
 to erect a building upon the land in Morgan Park. 
 It was fortunate that two such distinguished men 
 and builders as E. P. Strandberg and N. P. Severin 
 
 accepted the responsibility 
 of the project. Mr- Strand- 
 berg laid the foundation 
 and had charge of the 
 brick-work, while Mr. Se- 
 verin did the carpenter 
 contracting and finishing. 
 Building began in March 
 nineteen hundred and six 
 and proceeded so well that 
 it was ready for occupan- 
 cy in August. Electricity, 
 gas, and screens were still 
 lacking but everyone was 
 exceedingly happy with the new home. Of all the 
 possession that men cherish none can be compared 
 to the tranquility and satisfaction of a home, whe- 
 ther it be a palace or small and obscure. 
 
 The first building which may be called the main 
 building had eighteen single rooms, three double 
 rooms, a reception room, a kitchen, a dining room 
 and various storerooms. This building was soon filled 
 and the problem of further expansion was again 
 confronted- A north wing was then added to the 
 building. Mr. Victor Erickson received the contract 
 and completed the work in nineteen hundred and 
 fourteen. This part of the building contained nine 
 single rooms and nine double rooms besides the lav- 
 
 Mr. E. P. Sti-andl.erg 
 
 Chartei' Membei- and Vice 
 
 President of the Home.
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 31 
 
 atories and hallways. Even with these additional 
 quarters it was impossible to keep up with the con- 
 stant demand coming from all parts of the country. 
 The building could not be considered complete until 
 another wing toward the south had been added. Mr. 
 Severin undertook this work in nineteen hundred 
 
 Just happy ajid contented. 
 
 and nineteen and completed it in nineteen hundred 
 and twenty. 
 
 This part contains eleven single rooms, eleven 
 double rooms, four sun parlors, an office, a large 
 modern kitchen and pantry, two small and one large 
 dining room, and several lavatories. . Laundries, dry 
 rooms, store rooms, fruit and vegetable closets oc-
 
 32 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 cupy the basement space of the combined buildings. 
 Besides the three main stairways there is an auto- 
 matic electric elevator between the three floors. The 
 
 heating plant and garage 
 are located in the annex. 
 An oil heating system 
 makes the temperature 
 moderate in any weather 
 and at any hour of the 
 day or night. 
 
 It was considered good 
 economy to keep two or 
 three cows and a number 
 of chickens. This neces- 
 sitated the building of a 
 barn and a chicken coop 
 on the premises. The land 
 belonging to the institution comprises a little more 
 than four acres- The soil is fertile and brings in a 
 rich harvest of vegetables, berries, fruit and fodder, 
 and serves as a pasture for the cows. The grounds 
 in front of the Home have been beautifully land- 
 scaped and planted with shrubbery and flowers, 
 thus making an inviting and attractive appearance. 
 Everything possible has been done to equip the 
 buildings comfortably and situate the old people 
 happily. The Rev. Charles Palm, who from the be- 
 ginning had served on the Board of Directors and 
 also at one time in the capacity of superintendent, 
 did more than any one person to create the atmos- 
 phere of the Home. He w^as averse to anything that 
 
 Mr. A. F. Anderson 
 
 for many years Treasurer 
 
 of the Ilomt
 
 FRIDHEM 33 
 
 spoke of an institutional spirit or resembled Pub- 
 lic Charity. He ^vorked for a home with a family 
 spirit. He stressed Christian love and fellowship, 
 and imparted understanding and loyalty to the 
 members of the Home. 
 
 With its present facilities the Home ought to be 
 large enough to care for all worthy applicants for 
 some time to come. There are three other Homes 
 for the aged within the denomination, one located 
 on the Atlantic coast, one on the Pacific coast, and 
 the third in the wealthy farm-belt of the sunflower 
 state, Kansas. We can be justly proud of the pro- 
 gress and the success which this branch of Chris- 
 tian activity has achieved in the past twenty-five 
 years.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 MAINTENANCE AND FINANCE. 
 
 On the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies in 
 British Columbia a few drops of water melt from 
 the everlasting ice and snow. These drops gain 
 freedom and begin to roll down the mountain-side. 
 As they do so, they unconsciously part ways not to 
 evaporate into the ether but to increase until they 
 form three mighty rivers. One of these rivers emp- 
 ties its waters into the Arctic Ocean, one into the 
 Atlantic, and the third becomes the mighty Colum- 
 bia which forcefully and m.ajestically rolls down to 
 the Pacific. A small beginning, how w^onderfully 
 it expands through mountains and plains bringing 
 prosperity to millions of people. 
 
 Long ago Jesus watched the devoted Jews as 
 they exercised their alms-giving. He noticed one 
 poor widow especially, not because she gave a large 
 gift, but because in her poverty she had given her 
 mite. Like Mary at Bethany she had done what she 
 could. 
 
 The first donations to Fridhem were entirely 
 correlated to these New Testament examples. The 
 gifts have multiplied in manifold ways until today 
 they represented huge sums of money invested in 
 
 35
 
 36 FRIDHEM 
 
 proper!}' and used for covering annual current ex- 
 penses. The whole matter approaches a miracle 
 when we consider that no pressure has been brought 
 to bear, on any individual, nor has any intensive 
 drive been conducted for financing the Home. The 
 majority have a very vague idea about miracles. A 
 miracle in its true sense is practical, easily under- 
 stood, and beneficial for the recipient. No example 
 more clearly illustrates the premises stated above 
 than that of Jesus breaking the two loaves and bles- 
 sing the five fishes, in order to feed the multitude 
 in the Galilean wilderness. 
 
 We often have a mistaken idea that we must 
 look to the past for all our miracles and supernat- 
 ural phenomena. When Jesus amazed his disciples 
 with his mighty deeds he baffled them still more by 
 stating, '' Greater things than these shall ye do." 
 
 The world has been looking for the fulfillment 
 of this statement and has somewhat disappointedly 
 scanned the pages of history for its traces. We are 
 much like John Bunyan's man who stooped down 
 and searched so painstakingly in the dust and grime 
 at his feet for his crown that he did not see the 
 angel who was holding the crown just within reach 
 above his head. During twenty-five years Jesus has 
 gloriously blessed the loaves and fishes at Fridhem. 
 There has always been food sufficient for each day 
 with baskets left over for future needs. 
 
 The Home derives its income from several 
 sources. At the time of organization the question 
 of an admission fee was deliberatelv^ studied. Some
 
 FRIDHEM 37 
 
 thought it advisable to dispense with a definite fee, 
 but advocated encouraging- the inmate to donate 
 toward his maintenance if he were financially able. 
 Thus none would be denied admission. This al- 
 truistic idea was deemed impractical by others. 
 Agreement was then made that a certain sum 
 should be paid by the applicant before admittance. 
 A very reasonable scale was drawn up. Ages sixty 
 to sixty-five to pay three hundred dollars; sixty- 
 five to seventy, two hundred and fifty dollars ; sev- 
 enty to seventy-five, two hundred dollars; and all 
 over seventy-five to pay one hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars. A\'hen we see what the Home proposed to 
 give in return we can well realize how insufficient 
 this sum was. The inmate was to get a permanent 
 home, a well furnished room, heated and lighted, 
 clothing, laundry, doctor's care, medicine, hospital 
 attention if necessarj^ incidental cash and finally 
 a respectable last resting place. No matter how 
 long or short a length of time the individual might 
 remain at the home, his entrance fee would never 
 cover his total expense. At the present time there 
 is one remaining member who entered the Home 
 twenty-three years ago, at the nominal entrance fee. 
 It is needless to point out who got the better of this 
 bargain. 
 
 The arrangement just described lacked nothing 
 as far as charity and benevolence were concerned. 
 Experience had taught the management that it was 
 not practical and that it could not be carried out 
 with success in the future. Man so easily becomes
 
 38 FRIDHEM 
 
 mercenary, taking undue advantage of others. A 
 good thing is often spoiled through the exercise of 
 this uncommendable trait in human nature. Chil- 
 dren with rather indefinite and dull conceptions of 
 their duties toward their parents attempted to 
 strike bargains with Fridhem. Their idea was to 
 get their parents installed in the Home for a very 
 small sum and use the property or savings that the 
 old folks had acquired for their own purposes. 
 Their neighbors, in no better circumstances might 
 care for a father or a mother or both in their own 
 home, and besides contribute to an Old People's 
 Home where some one else's parents were objects of 
 charity. 
 
 The abuse of privileges must be avoided. The 
 purpose of Fridhem was not to encourage shirkers 
 but to provide an example of filial duty and a meth- 
 od of carrying this out in a respectful manner. A 
 Home had been provided where children could place 
 their parents with confidence. 
 
 The changes that came as a result of the world 
 w^ar effected even Fridhem. The cost of the build- 
 ing erected at that time was higher than previous 
 units. Labor and material had increased in value 
 as a result of scarcity. Food, clothing and the 
 other necessities of life advanced rapidly. It became 
 necessary to increase the admission fee and make it 
 one thousand dollars as a minimum. The agreement 
 between the Home and the inmates has been drawn 
 up in such a fashion that the Home secures more if 
 the applicant happens to own money or an estate.
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 39 
 
 Anj^ fair-minded person will consider this agree- 
 ment just. It shuts the door to no worthy person 
 who is unable to pay the initial fee. Charity and 
 Christian love are the de- 
 ciding factors in every 
 case. We can conscienti- 
 ously say that none have 
 been excluded from Frid- 
 hem for lack of funds. 
 The Home if true to its 
 traditions will never re- 
 sort to this in the future- 
 Several churches have 
 Fridhem in their budget 
 and contribute certain 
 sums annually to its main- 
 tenance. This practice is 
 a great encouragement to the Board of Directors, 
 and a wonderful aid in the work. It is sincerely 
 recommended to the consideration of other churches 
 who have an organized disbursement of funds. Va- 
 rious societies and organizations working for a 
 philanthropic objective have been very generous in 
 furnishing rooms as they become ready for occu- 
 pancy. The annual Tag day in Chicago sponsored 
 by the ''Chicago Social Agency for Children and 
 Adult charity" has netted a very substantial sum to 
 the Home each year. Wills and bequests have been 
 given to the home at certain times. Individual con- 
 tributions, not always so large, have steadily in- 
 creased to a position of great importance- 
 
 Mr. Carl Jernberg- 
 
 Member of the Board of 
 
 Directors.
 
 40 FRIDHEM 
 
 In the following statement of finance since the 
 early days of the Home we see how obligations have 
 increased and contributions become larger. We also 
 notice how the debits and credits have balanced in 
 a healthy manner. To make the matter more com- 
 prehensive we give the income of each year. 
 
 1902-1904—$ 1,575.00 1917— $13,856.81 
 
 1905— 7,630.58 1918— 11,230.62 
 
 1906— 3,511.03 1919— 9,442.67 
 
 1907— 4,218.57 1920— 10,606.56 
 
 1908— 4.991.49 1921— 12,624.46 
 
 1909— 6,008.64 1922— 16,688.81 
 
 1910— 15,176.98 1923— 13,829.53 
 
 1911— 9,351.89 1924— 17,436.73 
 
 1912— 2,667.11 1925— 29,576.22 
 
 1913— 4,794.18 1926— 23-097.37 
 
 1914— 5,410.80 1927— 45,358.16 
 
 1915— 9,765.88 1928— 30,974.21 
 
 1916— 9,764.94 1929— 12,603.36 
 
 Total $332,192.60 
 
 Besides this huge sum of money that has been 
 expended in the operation of the institution the net 
 asset at the close of the fiscal year nineteen hundred 
 and twenty-nine amounted to $146,416.85. This 
 figure includes buildings, grounds and securities. 
 The valuation of the grounds and buildings has been 
 taken at cost when purchased. The actual value to- 
 day would be nearer $300,000. 
 
 Speculation in value does not enter into what 
 the Home is worth, and the figures have never been 
 altered or changed to conform with present apprais-
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 41 
 
 als. The real estate and buildings owned by Frid- 
 hem serve a purpose that has an estimated value 
 not necessarily computed in dollars and cents. It is 
 gratifying to see how contributions have steadily in- 
 creased without fluctuation throughout the entire 
 
 Mrs. Lovisa .leinbeig 
 A Friend of the Old Folks. 
 
 span of the Home's existance. This shows that the 
 interest of the people is not diminishing but increas- 
 ing. The old friends and supporters have been aug- 
 mented by a host of new ones enlisted during the 
 years. It further indicates that the Home is long 
 since past the experimental stage and that it is func-
 
 42 FRIDHEM 
 
 tioning along established lines, where economy and 
 careful management prevail. 
 
 The current expenses for the Home during nine- 
 teen hundred and twenty-eight including salaries, 
 merchandise and supplies for the Home and the in- 
 mates, groceries, meats, feed for the animals, re- 
 pairs, decorating, fuel, gas, electric light and power, 
 telephone, hardware, laundry, physicians services 
 and miscellaneous items amounted to only $11,943.- 
 26. This is $178.50 per capita on sixty-seven inmates 
 for the year, a very remarkable record. If it were 
 not for certain gifts and donations from Bakeries, 
 Meat Markets, Organizations and individuals it 
 would not be possible to keep the current expenses 
 at such an extremely low figure.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD 
 OF DIRECTORS. 
 
 Nearly every organization or enterprise depends 
 for its growth, progress, and development upon the 
 efficiency of its leaders. By-laws, regulations, and 
 rules of conduct are necessary, but in order to be ef- 
 fective they must be laid in the hands of men who 
 are qualified to enforce them in a proper manner. 
 
 From the early beginning it was uppermost in 
 the mind of the founders to incorporate the Home 
 and secure a Charter from the State of Illinois. 
 This Charter was granted by the Secretary of State 
 at Springfield, on January the fourteenth, nineteen 
 hundred and three, naming Eric Sandell, G. Arvid 
 Hagstrom, and John Berg, as the incorporators. 
 The following persons were selected as Directors to 
 manage and control the corporation ; Eric Sandell, 
 John Berg, and G. Arvid Hagstrom, for a period of 
 three years each. N. P. Walters, Eric Rosen, and 
 N. P. Severin, were selected for a two year term. 
 E. P. Strandberg, Charles Palm, and Petrus Swartz 
 were to serve for one year each. Thus we see that 
 there were nine original directors. 
 
 The membership on the Board increased very 
 soon, and the records of nineteen hundred and six 
 
 43
 
 44 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 Rev. Rag-nar A. 
 
 Arlander 
 Sec'v of Fridhem 
 
 " in 1906 
 
 with the attached copy of the By-laws inform us 
 that the board had been increased to fifteen mem- 
 bers, five to be elected each year for a term of three 
 
 years. This custom has been in 
 general practice ever since. The 
 first fifteen members on record 
 are Rev. G. Arvid Hagstrom, 
 President, then pastor of the 
 First Swedish Baptist Church of 
 Chicago; Rev. Petrus Swartz, 
 Vice President, then pastor of 
 the Lake View Swedish Baptist 
 Church of Chicago; -Rev. Rag- 
 nar A. Arlander, Recording Sec- 
 retary, then pastor of the Evans- 
 ton Swedish Baptist Church; 
 Rev. Chas. Palm, Sunday School Missionary; Mrs. 
 Chas. Palm, Chicago; Mr. N. P. Walters, M. D., 
 Evanston, 111.; Mrs. N. P. Walters, Evanston, 111.; 
 E. P. Strandberg, General Contractor and Builder, 
 Chicago, 111. ; N. P. Severin, General Contractor and 
 Builder, Chicago, 111.; James Magnusen, President 
 Chicago Side Walk Light Co., Chicago, 111. ; Martin 
 Lindblom, proprietor of the Progress Market, Chi- 
 cago, 111.; Mrs. Hanna Hallgren, Chicago, 111.; Miss 
 Nellie Nelson, Missionary of the Second Swed. Bapt. 
 Church, Chicago, 111.; Mr. and Mrs. John Berg of 
 Chicago. Three of these men and women have serv- 
 ed on the Board of Directors since the time of or- 
 ganization. These people are Mrs. Elsie Walters, 
 N. P. Severin and E. P. Strandberg.
 
 OFFICERS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
 From the Time of Organization 
 
 Pi-esidents 
 
 Dr. E. Sandell 1903 — 1905 
 
 Dr. G. A. Hagstrom 1905 — 1909 
 
 Rev. Charles Pahii 1910 — 1911 
 
 Dr. C. G. Lagergren 1912 — 1914 
 
 Rev. Charles Palm 1915 — 1916 
 
 Rev. E. Carlson 1917—1918 
 
 N. P. Severin 1919 — 
 
 Secretaries 
 
 John Berg 1903 — 1905 
 
 Rev. Ragnar A. Arlander .... 1906 — 1909 
 
 Rev. G. E. Wallendorf 1909 — 1914 
 
 Rev. Eric Scherstrom 1914 — 1915 
 
 Rev. J. Alfred Erickson .... 1915 — 1916 
 
 Rev. Eric Scherstrom 1917 — 
 
 Treasurers 
 
 Dr. N. P. Walters 1903 — 1905 
 
 John E. Spann 1906 — 1912 
 
 A.F.Anderson 1913 —
 
 THE FRIDHEM BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1930. 
 
 Left to right, seated: Mrs. Gust Bramberg, Mrs. 
 E. P. Strandberg, Mrs. Elsie Walters, Mrs. Isak 
 Anderson, Mrs. F. V. Hedeen. 
 
 Second row: Carl Jernberg, Mrs. Mary Liljestrom, 
 Mrs. Albert Rose, Albert Rose. 
 
 Third row: E. P. Strandberg, Jr., Nels Olson, A. F. 
 Anderson, E. P. Strandberg, Sr., N. P. Severin, 
 Eric Scherstrom, Erik Borg, Carl Mehlin.
 
 48 
 
 F R I D H E jM 
 
 The present Board of Directors consists of E. P. 
 Strandberg, Sr., Mrs. E. P. Strandberg, Erik Borg, 
 Carl Mehlin, Mrs. Mary Liljestrom, N. P. Severin, 
 
 Mrs. Elsie Walters, E. P. 
 Strandberg, Jr., Mrs. F. 
 V. Hedeen, Eric Scher- 
 strom, A. F. Anderson, 
 Mrs. Isak Anderson, Carl 
 Jernberg, Nels Olson and 
 Mrs. Gust Bramberg. 
 
 The following persons 
 not mentioned thus far 
 have served on the Board 
 of Directors during the 
 past twentj^-five years 
 Miss Christin Lundin, 
 Mrs. N. A. Larson, Mrs. 
 Minnie Nyberg, C. H. Pe- 
 terson, John E. Spann, Rev. Eric Carlson, Rev. John 
 A. Swanson, Rev. John Alfred Erickson, Rev. G. E. 
 Wallendorf, Rev. Olof Hedeen, Th. D. Mrs. Richard 
 Jernberg, and Mrs. J. W. Hjertstrom. 
 
 In order to be eligible for board membership a 
 person must give an annual donation amounting to 
 five dollars or more. Those having the right to vote 
 at the annual meeting are the ones who have paid the 
 annual five dollar fee or who hold a life-member- 
 ship of one hundred dollars. This phrase in the 
 By-laws has never been held to the letter. The Board 
 elects its own officers and selects the members of 
 the following committees: 1. A Finance Commit- 
 
 Mrs. E. P. Strandberg- 
 
 Member of the Board of 
 
 Directors and active 
 
 in the welfare of 
 
 the Home.
 
 FRIDHEM 49 
 
 tee that has charge of all important business trans- 
 actions and legal matters that come up in connection 
 with the property and wills and bequests given the 
 Home. 2. A Receiving Committee that investigates 
 all applicants and makes recommendations on their 
 findings to the whole Board. Both men and women 
 serve on this committee. 3. A Household Commit- 
 tee consisting of all the women on the Board. This 
 committee acts in an advisory capacity for the sup- 
 erintendent and the matron. They check over the 
 furnishings and help replenish needful articles in 
 the Home from time to time. 
 
 The officers and board members have always 
 been selected because of the great interest they car- 
 ry for Fridhem. They are men and women who 
 have shown a spirit of sacrifice and who have been 
 willing to give from their substance to the support 
 of the work. The friends w^ho have given gifts re- 
 peatedly are too many to mention. Some have made 
 their contributions through money, others have 
 rendered service and given useful gifts. There are 
 examples of people who have paid the admission fee 
 for those unable to do so themselves. Demonstra- 
 tions have been given of what it means to be ''my 
 brother's keeper." Donors have always received 
 blessings in their own lives and God has returned 
 great dividends to them. 
 
 Living as we do in a commercial age, we ob- 
 serve people round about us scrambling for wealth 
 and diversion. Fortunes are made and lost as quick- 
 ly. Blasted hopes, disappointments, and failures ap-
 
 50 FRIDHEM 
 
 pear all too frequently. Great prosperity and money 
 enough for all purposes often fail to bring with them 
 the essentials of life, happiness, health, and con- 
 tentment. Selfishness and egoism are human char- 
 acteristics, and they often crowd out the finer and 
 truer ideals from man's soul. Life grows, expands, 
 and increases in interest only in proportion to the 
 service it renders to others. There are many people 
 today who are appalled by the apparent laxity in 
 Christian love and charity. Everyone recognizes 
 the problem but there is a danger that we may dwell 
 in the dark so long that our eyesight becomes im- 
 paired and our optical nerves painful when we reach 
 the light. 
 
 There have always been people with power and 
 ability to help the needy, but who lacked vision and 
 who have failed to see this as an opportunity to ex- 
 ercise Christian love and spirit. Some great monu- 
 ments have been erected to christian civilization. 
 Among them are the Children's Home in New 
 Britain, Conn., and our own Fridhem. 
 
 One especially interesting feature is uppermost in 
 the Fridhem work. The gifts are made doubly ac- 
 ceptable by the personal touch and contact that ac- 
 companies them. The devotional hours when guests 
 and inmates mingle in song, prayer, and testimony 
 afford much cheer. The social hours when dinner 
 and lighter refreshments are served by visiting 
 friends mark high spots in the daily routine of the 
 old folks. When Christmas, Thanksgiving and other 
 important holidays appear the Fridhem family is
 
 FRIDHEM 
 
 51 
 
 remembered with the same good things that grace 
 the finest of tables. How happy, carefree and thank- 
 ful they feel. They are little children again. How- 
 ever these frequent visits 
 by groups and individuals 
 would not be complete 
 with only a religious ser- 
 vice and a table spread 
 with good things to eat. 
 There is something else 
 that almost every one of 
 the old People await with 
 expectancy. They want 
 their friends to visit them 
 in their own rooms, their 
 real homes and sanctuar- 
 ies. They love to reminisce 
 about days gone by. They inquire about Anna, Gre- 
 ta, Gustaf and Ole. They want to know if Jennie's 
 baby has started to w^alk, and if Johnson's have sold 
 their house. They ask questions about the new 
 pastor and his standing in the community. They 
 are interested in the revival conducted in the home 
 church and hope that many souls will be won. They 
 close the door a little tighter and speak in a hushed 
 voice. They tell a friend a little secret, that has 
 been told to scores before, only upon a promise of 
 absolute confidence. The disturbing little diffi- 
 culties that they long to share with another, crop 
 out and are listened to sympathetically. All this 
 relieves the tendency toward monotony and creates 
 a true atmosphere of home. 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Ro-senquist 
 
 Brosell, Matron 
 
 1907-1912.
 
 52 FRIDHEM 
 
 The administration of affairs and the execution 
 of daily routine falls largely upon the superintend- 
 ent and matron. Thej^ are constantlj^ on the prem- 
 ises and in touch with the inmates. They are the 
 first to extend the hand of fellowship and the last 
 to remain at the bedside of the dying. It is no small 
 task to have charge of such a home and to deal with 
 the needs of old people. It requires physical 
 strength and endurance. Almost superhuman pa- 
 tience and forbearance are necessary to remain 
 cheerful and pleasant day after day. There are long 
 sieges of sickness that require attention every hour 
 of the twenty-four. Certain diseases make the work 
 offensive and unpleasant. 
 
 To the public the Superintendent and Matron 
 must appear pleasant and interesting. Diplomacy 
 must be exercised on every hand in order to create 
 internal and external peace. The influence of the 
 Superintendent and Matron is by all odds the most 
 important in procuring contributions from interested 
 parties. Fridhem has been fortunate in the past 
 twenty-five years as it has not often changed super- 
 intendents. 
 
 Mrs. Charles Palm served from the time of or- 
 ganization until June nineteen hundred and seven. 
 Miss Carrie Rosenquist continued until June nine- 
 teen hundred and twelve. Rev. and Mrs. O. Ellison 
 carried the work through until November nineteen 
 hundred and sixteen. Rev. and Mrs. Chas. Palm 
 took charge again and continued until September 
 nineteen hundred and twenty-four. Rev. and Mrs.
 
 FRIDHEM 53 
 
 Albert Rose then came and have remained ever 
 since. All of the people have served efficiently and 
 faithfully, discharging the duties to the complete sat- 
 isfaction of the Board of Directors and the old 
 people.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FRIDHEM'S RELATIONSHIP TO OUR GEN- 
 ERAL CONFERENCE AND STATE 
 CONFERENCE. 
 
 It has already been intimated that the pioneers 
 urged the General Conference to assume the re- 
 sponsibility of the work and sponsor it. At that time 
 the Conference, a rather conservative body, did not 
 have vision enough to take leadership along this line 
 of Christian Work. The project v^as looked upon 
 as a beautiful dream which for many reasons could 
 not be realized in a practical way. Since that time 
 the leadership has never been offered to the Confer- 
 ence and in all probability never will. There may 
 be various causes contributing to this. In the first 
 place the General Conference has assumed during 
 the past twenty-five years financial obligations for 
 schools, missions, and publication work that keeps 
 its machinery busy raising funds to make these in- 
 stitutions effective. 
 
 Possibly the Conference has unconsciously dele- 
 gated its charity and benevolent work such as Old 
 People's Homes, Children's Homes, Hospitals and 
 dispensaries to auxiliary agencies and private indi- 
 viduals. These organizations are step-children of 
 the Conference and have no inheritence to expect, 
 
 54
 
 FRIDHEM 55 
 
 since the School, Missions, and Publication depart- 
 ments are lawful children and thus the legal heirs. 
 
 These free institutions and corporations have al- 
 most in every case a much larger field, and together 
 they serve a greater constituency than the confer- 
 ence limited as it is to churches within the denomina- 
 tion. Benevolence and welfare work touches the 
 hearts of many people w^ho are not actively interested 
 in churches. There are many people who look upon 
 denominational appeals as ecclesiastically domineer- 
 ing and therefore refuse to cooperate. These same 
 people if given their own freedom may contribute 
 substantially to Old People's Homes and similar in- 
 stitutions. Fridhem has had several concrete exam- 
 ples of such giving of which we will mention a few. 
 A certain Mr. Johnson took sick and was brought to 
 the County hospital in Chicago. He was soon to 
 know from the attending physicians that he had not 
 long to live. When he realized that the end of his 
 life was at hand he asked that an attorney be called 
 in to superintend the making of his will. When 
 the attorney arrived and he had informed him re- 
 garding his assets the dying man said, *'I want the 
 largest part of mj^ estate to go to a Swedish Old 
 People's Home." 
 
 When asked to designate one he replied, *'I don't 
 know the exact name but the telephone directory 
 will help you find it." 
 
 The attorney did not find the name Mr. Johnson 
 wanted the first day. Returning soon he mentioned
 
 56 FRIDHEM 
 
 Fridhem at which the sick man said, "That is the 
 home that I want to inherit my money." 
 
 Several thousand dollars were realized through 
 this will. Information reveals that Mr. Johnson had 
 no church connections nor did he frequent religious 
 services. He had accumulated a handsome sum of 
 money through hard work, and being of a charitable 
 nature he wanted this money to help brighten the 
 last days of some unfortunate soul. 
 
 Another similar case of a Mr. Ostin is recalled. 
 This gentleman had spent most of his life in associa- 
 tion with Baptist people in a business way, but he 
 had never darkened the door of a church. When his 
 estate was settled after his death it was found that 
 he had willed the biggest part of it to Fridhem. 
 More than four thousand dollars was added to the 
 funds from Mr. Ostin's estate. 
 
 The Swedish National League of Chicago, The 
 Linnea Society, and the annual "Tag Day" held in 
 May have brought substantial aid to the Home. The 
 Ladies Aid Society of Morgan Park, organized un- 
 der the able leadership of the late Mrs. Carl G. La- 
 gergren, has been a consistent contributor to the 
 Home for many years. People who could never agree 
 theologically will unite in a work of this kind without 
 scruples or hesitation. Hence it may after all be an 
 asset and not a liability that the Home is an inde- 
 pendent institution. 
 
 The only contact between the Conference and the 
 Home is a report rendered by the Home when the 
 Conference convenes in its annual meeting. As a re-
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 57 
 
 ciprocity the Conference adopts and spreads on its 
 records a resolution commending the work of the 
 Home to the thoughful consideration of the church- 
 es. Very Httle time is allotted to 
 the different charitable organiza- 
 tions at the annual meeting of the 
 conference. Several institutions 
 are generally grouped together, 
 and a more or less unified report 
 is rendered for all by some man 
 designated to do so by the pro- 
 gram committee. This arrange- 
 ment is apparently sufficient and 
 all that is required. 
 
 The Home is an incorporation 
 with its trustees legally respons- 
 ible for all indebtedness if any ex- 
 ists. They are also responsible for all actions taken 
 in conjunction with the operation of the Home in its 
 minutest details. What the Home has enjoyed and 
 desires to maintain in the future is the friendly at- 
 titude between the Conference and Fridhem. There 
 should be no jealousy or suspicion displayed by in- 
 stitutions or organizations whose purpose is mainly 
 to serve humanity. Great wisdom is displayed in 
 the utterance of the old rebel general who said, 
 "Men, hang together or you will hang separately." 
 
 Even if the Old People's work was looked upon 
 as ill-advised in the early days it is gratifying to 
 know that today there is no voice raised against it 
 but all support it. The attitude of the State Con- 
 
 Dean 
 
 Carl G. L-agergren, 
 
 M. A. D. D. 
 
 A former President 
 
 of Fridhem.
 
 58 F R I D H E M 
 
 ferences that find Fridhem an outlet for their prob- 
 lem of caring for the aged is similar to that of the 
 larger General Conference. The Conferences who 
 have benefited most by Fridhem are; Illinois as a 
 natural consequence of its location; Iowa from 
 where the first inmate came; Minnesota, who sent 
 the second inmate, Peter Smith; Wisconsin, Michi- 
 gan and Nebraska. Many inmates of course come 
 from far distant points. 
 
 To all, Fridhem has opened its doors and given 
 a warm hand of fellowship. There is no distinction 
 or sectionalism displayed in this work. The unwrit- 
 ten slogan seems to be, *'we are anxious to render 
 service to those most worthv of it."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 MEMBERS OF THE FRIDHEM FAMILY. 
 
 A business firm is known by the results it 
 achieves and the methods it employs. The influence 
 of a church is recognized and judged by the life and 
 conduct of its individual members. The reputation 
 of an Old People's Home is just as important as the 
 reputation of any other body of men and women 
 banded together for some purpose dependent upon 
 public confidence. It is therefore necessary to ex- 
 ercise the utmost care in admitting people to the 
 Home. Quarrelsome people must be barred admit- 
 tance since they inevitably cause strife and hard feel- 
 ings and are the commonest fault-finders. Persons 
 who have through life practiced bad habits or who 
 are the victims of loathsome diseases can never be 
 thrust on the generosity and hospitality of Fridhem. 
 
 Through experience covering a period of more 
 than twenty-five years some facts have been gather- 
 ed which are invaluable in the selection of inmates. 
 No person is admitted without a thorough investiga- 
 tion. The person in question is required to satisfy 
 the Board that he really needs a home and that he 
 has no other place in which to spend his declining 
 years. Fridhem has adhered strictly to this plan. 
 Admission fees have been based on the assets of the 
 
 59
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 61 
 
 individual or his closest relatives. Those who 
 have had more are asked for larger contributions. 
 Those without funds or with very small resources 
 have been provided with a means to gain admission. 
 In some cases financially able Board members have 
 
 The first Home. 
 
 paid part or all of the fee. Churches, societies and 
 even public authorities have been asked to help. 
 
 The circumstances connected with some cases 
 are very interesting. Many inmates have had their 
 ups and downs. The greatest majority of the aged 
 are dependents at least in part upon their children or
 
 62 
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 other relatives. We find people in Fridhem who dur- 
 ing their youth and day of strength would have re- 
 sented the suggestion that they were to spend their 
 last years in an old people's home, fortune and the 
 
 future are sometimes 
 cruel to man. There 
 are some people at 
 Fridhem who are not 
 there out of personal 
 choice but rather be- 
 cause it was the only 
 way open to them ex- 
 cept becoming a pub- 
 lic charge. Among 
 others who serve as 
 an example of what 
 might happen to an in- 
 dividual is Mrs. Caro- 
 lina Sjosward. This 
 woman in her youth 
 was a lady-in-waiting 
 to royalty. She married a sea captain and came to 
 America in eighteen hundred and seventy-three. 
 The couple made Duluth their home. The new coun- 
 try did not bring the expected fortune and prosper- 
 ity. Upon Captain Sjosward's death his widow was 
 forced to enter a county home were she was very un- 
 hiappy. Kind friends took pity upon her and majle 
 it possible for her to enter Fridhem where she lived 
 until the age of ninety-three. She was a praise- 
 worthy woman and she often said, "I could never 
 
 Rev. O. Ellison 
 Superintendent 1012-1910
 
 FRIDHEM 63 
 
 dream in my youth that I should have to end my 
 life in this manner." 
 
 We are all tempted to ask ourselves the same 
 question and wonder why such a promising life en- 
 ded so unusually. 
 
 Another outstanding personality who undoubt- 
 edly had mapped out a different plan for his old age 
 was Rev. Johan Axel Jader. This man was endowed 
 by nature with a rare gift as a speaker. In his youth 
 he entered the Swedish Army. Some years later he 
 affiliated himself with the Baptist church. After 
 training for the ministry he held some of the most 
 important pastorates in his denomination. He was 
 considered one of the leading orators and Bible ex- 
 positors in the country. Through unfavorable cir- 
 cumstances he was forced to leave his native coun- 
 try and came to America in nineteen hundred and 
 two. His age and a foreign tongue hindered him, 
 and he found it hard to adapt himself to the new 
 environment. After about twenty years of struggle 
 he found himself absolutely stranded with one of two 
 alternatives, the poor house or a helping hand from 
 generous friends. The Rev. A. G. Lagerquist took 
 an interest in the case and together with Rev. Chas. 
 Palm, they made it possible for the old veteran to 
 enter Fridhem. He arrived in July, nineteen hun- 
 dred and twenty-one. He died of a broken heart the 
 following year in February. He was happy and 
 thankful for the kindness and shelter the home had 
 tendered him, but he could never recover from the 
 disappointment of his old age following as it did on
 
 64 FRIDHEM 
 
 the heels of such a successful youth. 
 
 Another life full of tragedy was that of Rev. Au- 
 gust Westerberg. This man came from a very fine 
 family well established financially. August had a 
 brilliant and studious mind and decided to train 
 himself for the ministry in the State Church. But 
 this young man had another rare gift known as the 
 wanderlust, a desire to see the world. This inflamed 
 his imagination, and he received no peace until he 
 started out to realize his dreams. After completing 
 four years in a high school his adventures on the 
 high seas began which were to last for eighteen 
 years. He visited every continent and every seaport 
 of importance. He married an Irish girl in South 
 Wales in eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Shortly 
 after his marriage he experienced a religious awak- 
 ening. He moved to the United States and joined 
 the Baptist church. The life he had lived as a sailor 
 had given him many interesting experiences, but it 
 had also robbed him of good health, and of many 
 vital advantages that would have made life easier 
 for his wife as well. He was stranded in Portland, 
 Oregon with only the poor farm in view. 
 
 The writer remembers very distinctly in January 
 nineteen hundred and eleven when it was his good 
 fortune to accompany Rev. Westerberg to Fridhem. 
 When the old gentleman saw the Home at a distance 
 he began to cry like a little child, and his steps be- 
 came more shaky than most sailors. Turning in 
 toward the entrance from the side walk he fell on his 
 knees upon the icj^ pavement and thanked God for
 
 FRIDHEM 65 
 
 leading him to a place were earthly cares would end. 
 He lived contentedly until his death the following 
 year. His wife left the Home after his death upon 
 her own request and died at the Multnomah poor 
 farm at Portland, Oregon. 
 
 It would be an easj^ matter to trace unbelievable 
 tragedies in almost every inmate's life. Some have 
 failed in the pursuit of happiness and independence 
 through sickness, others through financial reverses. 
 The saddest and most tragic of all cases are those 
 where parents have struggled to raise a family and 
 give their children a start in life only to be deserted 
 in turn when old age and infirmity arrived. A few 
 years ago Fridhem received an inquiry that is typ- 
 ical of the sort of thing that occurs when children 
 lack love and respect for their parents. The letter 
 was written by one of a family of seven children. 
 The letter gave evidence of a fairly good education 
 and of a certain degree of culture. It read, " We 
 would like to place Mother in the Old People's Home, 
 and we would be willing to pay one thousand dollars 
 for her entrance fee." 
 
 This occurred before the war when admission 
 fees were small, from one hundred and fifty dollars 
 to three hundred dollars. The children undoubtedly 
 thought that they were offering a big sum of money 
 which would definitely settle their mother's admis- 
 sion. Upon investigation the Home discovered that 
 the elderly lady in question had come into the mid- 
 dle west with her husband as pioneers. They ac- 
 quired land in what later became a thriving city. It
 
 66 FRIDHEM 
 
 was verified that this woman had assets amounting 
 to seventy thousand dollars, ^^'ith this knowledge 
 at hand we answered the inquiry stating that we 
 would accept this woman providing that she passed 
 the physical examination, and moreover that she 
 turned over all her property to the Home. Needless 
 to say her relatives did not continue negotiations 
 with Fridhem. 
 
 Another case came to our urgent attention sev- 
 eral years later. The superintendent was asked to 
 visit a certain community and see what could be 
 done for an old couple. The old man was blind and 
 his wife was very frail. The superintendent found 
 the old folks in a dilapidated house. The old man 
 was in bed to keep warm and the old lady was try- 
 ing to keep the fire going. The children were not 
 in the least concerned with the predicament in which 
 their parents were found. When the old man died 
 later at Fridhem, the children wired for his body 
 but refused to defray the burial expenses. 
 
 Fridhem does not wish to be a partner in such a 
 gross injustice as that which occurs when children 
 for mercenary gains refuse to do their duty toward 
 their parents. There are circumstances when chil- 
 dren can not care for their father or mother, many 
 times the old folks themselves being at fault. The 
 children may have been treated unkindly during 
 childhood thus losing their natural ties of sympathy. 
 Often children marry into circumstances which 
 make it impossible for them to offer a home to an 
 elderly parent. Some old people who have saved
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 67 
 
 enough to care for themselves during declining age 
 choose Fridhem as a home in order to avoid imposing 
 on relatives. These people usually enjoy the tran- 
 quility of their new 
 surroundings and live 
 contentedly and well. 
 
 Some may ques- 
 tion what kind of 
 people compose the 
 Fridhem family. The 
 answer is simple. 
 They are just human 
 beings with the fail- 
 ings and merits that 
 are common to other 
 people. It is easy 
 to understand that 
 among so many peo- 
 ple of advanced age 
 there should be a con- 
 siderable amount of physical decline. Hard labor 
 during youth has taken its toll in old age. 
 
 Many folks enter an old people's home with ex- 
 pectations entirely different from the conditions as 
 they really exist. Some think that they are getting 
 into a company of men and women who are so close 
 to perfection that the only remaining episode is for 
 the Angel Gabriel to touch them lightly with a 
 feather duster and make them fit for heavenly bliss. 
 Some on the other hand may entertain suspicions 
 which carry them so far that thej' hide their be- 
 
 Mrs. C. Ellison 
 :\Iatron ini2-101f.
 
 68 FRIDHEM 
 
 longings to guard them from prying eyes. Occasion- 
 aHy inmates are extremely unreasonable in their de- 
 mands. Their entrance fees, however small, may 
 represent the accumulation of a lifetime, and they 
 expect it to purchase unlimited comfort and service. 
 Often the individual may have been employed in 
 houses where luxury and style prevailed. This type 
 of person finds it hard to adjust himself to a daily 
 routine in food and service, that while wholesome, is 
 not elaborate or extreme. Some inmates are too 
 ambitious. In the case where an old body houses a 
 youthful spirit, restlessness and a nervous feeling 
 crop out. These people are the most unhappy and 
 the hardest to please at Fridhem. While the cases 
 are rare they nevertheless arise and have to be dealt 
 with. Some leave the home to start life anew and 
 usually end pitifully in a poor house. 
 
 If an old person becomes dissatisfied and wishes 
 to leave Fridhem the usual procedure is to allow 
 them to go with a money settlement. They may 
 have part of their money returned, or in some cases 
 the entire amount. However it has never occurred 
 that such a person receives reinstatement should he 
 later wish it. 
 
 Any one entering an old people's home must re- 
 alize that achievements in the world at large are at 
 an end as far as he is concerned. His ambitions 
 must be turned toward the little world he has now 
 entered. No restriction is put on the private life of 
 the inmate if he conforms with the rules set up by 
 the Home. He may partake in religious and social
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 69 
 
 activities as far as his strength allows. Friendly 
 callers and visitors are encouraged. Inmates may 
 purchase little articles if they will, and receive the 
 cash from the superintendent. They are never dis- 
 couraged if they wish to contribute to their home- 
 
 IK^- 
 
 dk 
 
 '■f\, W^^M 
 
 ■M 
 
 HH 
 
 IB 
 
 
 E 
 
 
 B^Bt^S 
 
 ■ >^'' f '4 ^^^^^1 
 
 ll 
 
 
 
 fq 
 
 
 E^^^^l 
 
 lUfa^^^^H 
 
 I^H 
 
 ^K, '^1 
 
 \1 
 
 h 1 
 
 ^^^^§k rial 
 
 
 r-^^K^^ 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 ^^^H^^jf^^R 
 
 ■1 iMfra ''^^^^^B 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^K '^' HI 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^^^^B 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 A group of happy old folks. 
 
 church support or to other charitable causes. Faith 
 is the dynamic force of their Christian life and like 
 a spring of living water it must have an outlet 
 through any difficult\\ One needs but to visit their 
 religious services or their own rooms to be con- 
 vinced of this faith.
 
 70 FRIDHEM 
 
 It might be of interest to give a short sketch of 
 the lives of the people who have entered Fridhem. 
 This will comprise their names, significant dates, 
 and incidental information. They are listed in order 
 of entrance to Fridhem. 
 
 1. MR. LARS JOHAN GUNNARSON. 
 
 Born Nov. 9, 1822, in Duasala, Smiland, Sweden. Came 
 to Fridhem Jan. 28, 1905, from Kiron, Iowa. Died July 
 17, 1907. Buried at Oakhill July 20, 1907. Entrance fee 
 $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 2. MR. PETER SMITH. 
 
 Born April 26, 1832, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem March 24, 1905, from Isanti and Foreston, Minne- 
 sota. Died Aug. 16, 1914. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $2,169.39. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 3. MRS. MARIA DORTHEA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born May 18, 1843, in Gottland, Sweden, Came to Frid- 
 hem March 26, 1905, from Chicago. 111. Died June 2, 
 1906. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $300.00. Mem- 
 ber of Swedish Baptist Church, Lake View. 
 
 4. MRS. ANNA OLSON. 
 
 Born March 3, 1830, in Sodermanland. Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem April 6, 1905, from Des Moines, Iowa. Died 
 May 18, 1906. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $150.00. 
 A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 5. MR. SVEN BENSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 1. 18 30, in Skane, Sweden, Came to Fridhem 
 April 25, 1905, from Chicago, 111. Died May 18, 1910. Bur- 
 ied at Oakhill. Entrance fee $200.00. Church affiliation 
 unknown.
 
 FRIDHEM 71 
 
 6. MR. JOHAN HAMMARLoF. 
 
 Born April 16, 1821, in Dalsland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem April 26, 1905. from Chicago, 111. Died Sept. 25. 
 1905. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $150.00. Church 
 affiliations unknown. 
 
 7. MRS. SARAH OLSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 4, 1835, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 liem June 1, 1905, from Superior, Wis. Died July 22, 
 1911. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $200.00. A mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. 
 
 8. MISS MARIA PETERSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 31- 1834, in Landskrona, Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem, June 29, 1905, from Emmanuel Hospital, Oma- 
 ha, Nebr. Died Nov. 16, 1911. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $200.00. A member of the New Jerusalem 
 Church. 
 
 9. MR. JOHAN AUGUST NERMAN. 
 
 Born Aug. 23, 1843, in Jonkoping, Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem Oct. 17, 1905. from New York, N. Y. Left the 
 Home in 1908, reason unknown. Entrance lee $400.00, 
 partly refunded. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 10. MISS MALINDA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born April 14, 1845, in Sagen, Norway. Came to U. S. A. 
 1853. Entered Fridhem Nov. 6, 1905, from Chicago, 111. 
 A member of the Moody Church. Entrance fee $500.00. 
 
 11. MR. GUSTAV HEDQUIST. 
 
 Bom July 22. 1840, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Nov. 7, 1905, from Rockford, 111. Died Sept. 9, 1909. 
 Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $250.00. A member of 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 12. MR. GoRAN BERGSTRoM. 
 
 Born Aug. 20, 1824, in Jiimtland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem May 15, 1906, from Worthington, Minn. Died May
 
 72 FRIDHEM 
 
 24, 1911. Buried at Oakliill. Entrance fee $190.00. A 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 13. MRS. WILHELMINA ERIKSON. 
 
 Born May 7, 1839. in Soderkoping, Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem Aug. 27, 1906, from the State institution at Dun- 
 ning. Died Sept. 19, 1912. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $250.00. A member of the Berwyn Swedish Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 14. MR. JONAS PETERSON. 
 
 Born Aug. 7, 1828, in Helsingland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Oct. 23, 1906, from Minneapolis. Minn. Died Aug. 
 5, 1909. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $200.00. A 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 15. MISS CHRISTINA NELSON. 
 
 Born May 5. 1843, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Nov. 1, 1906, from Chicago, 111. Died July 4, 1911. 
 Buried at Graceland. Entrance fee $300.00. A member 
 of the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 16. MRS. CAROLINA MATTSON. 
 
 Born July 31, 1836, in Roslagen, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Nov. 8, 1906, from Waterbury, Conn. Died Oct. 3u. 
 1911. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $200.00. A mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. 
 
 17. MR. WILLIAM BERG. 
 
 Born Feb. 2, 1833- in Sodermanland, Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem Dec. 4, 1906, from Brantford, Kans. Died March 
 11, 1916. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $430.00. A 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 18. MISS SOFIA PETERSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 24, 1836, in Halland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem from Chicago, 111. Dec. 5, 1906. Died Dec. 19, 1911. 
 Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $845.00. A member of 
 the First Sw. Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 73 
 
 19. MR. ANDREW ERIK SWARTZ. 
 
 Born April 1, 1831. in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 Fridhem Jan. 27, 1907. from Mt. Vernon, Wash. Died July 
 18, 1907. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $188.35. A 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 20. MR. ERIK GUSTAV ERICKSON. 
 
 Born Sept. 14, 1837, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1881. Came to Fridhem June 21, 1907, from Arling- 
 ton, N. J. Died March 1. 1921. Buried at- Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $350.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 21. MRS. SARA ERICKSON. wife of E. G. Erickson. 
 
 Born Dec. 3. 1843, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1881. Came to Fridhem June 21, 1907, from Arling- 
 ton, N. J. Died Jan. 7, 1925. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $350. 0"J. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 22. MRS. MARGARETA ELIZABETH SoDERBERG. 
 
 Born June 28, 1830. in Strandby, Sweden. Came to U- 
 S. A. 1881. Came to Fridhem July 27, 1907, from Minnea- 
 polis, Minn. Died Dec. 27, 1913. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $150,110. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 23. MRS. MATHILDA HOLMQUIST. 
 
 Born Nov. 15, 1836, in Uppsala, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1901. Came to Fridhem July 31, 1907, from Berwyn, 
 111. Died Oct. 15. 1920. Buried at Rosehill. Entrance fee 
 $200.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 24. MR. JOHAN PETER JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 11, 1830, in Sodravik, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1864. Came to Fridhem Sept. 4, 1907, from Minnea- 
 polis, Minn. Died Aug. 17, 1917. Burial place unknown. 
 Entrance fee $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 25. MRS. CHRISTINA CHARLOTTA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 3, 1842. in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1871. Came to Fridhem Dec. 20, 1907, from Burlington,
 
 74 FRIDHEM 
 
 Iowa. Entrance fee $250.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 26. MISS MARGARET SKOGLUND. 
 
 Born Nov. 8, 1844, Gefleborgs Ian, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1868. Came to Fridhem April 8, 1908, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $400.00. A member of the First Sw. Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 27. MRS. ANNA NELSON. 
 
 Born May 20, 1836, Kristianstad, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1871. Came to Fridhem July 14, 1908, from Pelican 
 Rapids, Minn. Died April 15, 1917. Entrance fee $300.00 
 A member of the Sw. Baptist Church of Forest City, 
 Iowa. 
 
 28. MR. CARL JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 22, 1830, in ostergotland. Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1878. Came to Fridhem Jan 15, 1909, from La Porte. 
 Ind. Died April 15, 1913. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church, 
 
 29. MR. AUGUST LINDSTROM. 
 
 Born Nov. 11, 1830, in Saby, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1884. Came to Fridhem teb. 10, 1909- from Braham, Minn. 
 Died Oct. 1, 1919. Burial place unknown. Entrance fee 
 $353.00. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 30. MISS ANNA LOVISA LARSON. 
 
 Born Sept. 1. 1842, in orebro, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1854. Came to Fridhem March 25, 1909, from Lansing, 
 Iowa. Died Sept. 2 5, 1920. Buried at Oakhill, Entrance 
 fee $1,500.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 31. REV. PETER JENTOFT. 
 
 Born Sept. 20, 1832, in Norway. Came to Fridhem Dec. 
 9, 1909, from Chicago, 111. Died Nov. 15, 1910. Buried in 
 Michigan. Expenses paid by his children. Entrance fee 
 $300.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 75 
 
 32. MRS. CARRIE WINBLAD. 
 
 Born April 28, 1837, in Skine- Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1868. Came to Fridhem Sept 18, 1910 from Willmar. 
 Minn. Died May 24, 1920. Buried at Willmar. Entrance 
 fee $1,200.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 33. MR. CARL JOHAN RUNN. 
 
 Born Dec. 25- 1831, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. S- 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Oct. 3, 1910, from La Porte, Ind. 
 Died Feb. 13, 1916. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $151.20. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 34. MRS. ANNA GRETA RUNN, wafe of Carl Johan Runn. 
 Born Sept. 20, 1828, in Sm&,land, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Oct. 3, 1910, from La Porte 
 Ind. Died Jan. 22, 1922. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $151.20. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 35. REV. AUGUST WESTERBERG. 
 
 Born July 9, 1845 in over Lannas, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1884. Came to Fridhem Jan. 21, 1911, from Portland- 
 Ore. Died Aug. 25, 1912. Buried at Oakhill, Entrance fee 
 $250.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 36. MRS. MARY WESTERBERG, wife of August Wester- 
 berg. Born March 22, 1846, in Cork, Ireland. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1884. Came to Fridhem Jan. 21, 1911, from Port- 
 land, Ore. Left the home after husbands death. Entrance 
 fee $250.00, refunded when she left the Home. A member 
 of the Baptist Church. 
 
 37. MRS. KAROLINA ODEN. 
 
 Born April 24. 1833, in Westmanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1890. Came to Fridhem Jan. 2, 1912, from Iron 
 Mountain, Mich. Died Jan. 10, 1913. Buried at Oakhill. 
 Entrance fee $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 38. MISS MARIA LANDBERG. 
 
 Born March 27, 1856, in Malmo, Sweden. Came to L'. S. 
 A. 1893. Came to Fridhem Jan. 12, 1912. from Brockton,
 
 76 FRIDHEM 
 
 Mass. Entrance fee $300.00. A member of the Engle- 
 wood Sw. Baptist Churcli. 
 
 -39. MRS. MARIA LOVISA GISSLIN. 
 
 Born May 23, 1830, in Sundsvall, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1887. Came to Fridhem March 5, 1912, from Chicago, 
 111. Died March 10, 1914. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $150.00. A member of the First S\v. Bapt. Church. 
 
 40. MR. JOHN OSTLUND. 
 
 Born July 7, 1837, ostra Farnebo. Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1882. Came to Fridhem March 16, 1919, from Fergus 
 Falls, Minn. Died March 10, 1922. Buried at Oakhill. 
 Entrance fee $200.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 41. MRS. KARINE OSTLUND, wife of John Ostlund. 
 Born June 10, 1841, in ostra Farnebo, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem, March 16, 1912. Died 
 May 10, 1921. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $200.00. 
 A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 41. MRS. CHRISTINA KATRINA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Jan. 2, 1831, in drebro, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1880.1 Came to Fridhem, Nov. 6, 1912. from Chicago, 111. 
 Died Nov. 25, 1917. Buried at Graceland . Entrance lee 
 $150.00. A member of the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 43. MRS. CAROLINA SJoSWXRD. 
 
 Born Jan. 30, 1836, in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1873. Came to Fridhem Feb. 27, 1913, from Duluth, Minn. 
 Died Aug. 26, 1929. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 44. MR. CARL ERIK BLOMQUIST. 
 
 Bom March 11, 1820, in Nasby, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem May 6, 1913, from Moline, 111. Died April 26, 1917, at 
 the age of 97 years. Buried at Moline. 111. Entrance fee 
 $150.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 77 
 
 45. MRS. ALBERTIXA PRESSFIELD. 
 
 Born Jan. 16, 1844, in Dalarna, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1880. Came to Fridhem May 23, 1913, from Twin Lake, 
 Mich. Died Dec. 17- 1927. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee .$250.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 46. MR. LARS ERIK SMITH. 
 
 Born Oct. 5, 1843, in Hudiksvall, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1876. Came to Fridhem June 24, 1913, from De Soto, 
 Wis. Died Sept. 19, 1925. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $250.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 47. MISS HAXXA NELSON. 
 
 Born in Gottland Sweden, date and year unknown. Came 
 
 to Fridhem April 16, 1914, from Chicago, 111. Left the 
 
 Home July 29, 1914. Entrance fee $200.00. Refunded 
 
 $140.00. A member of the Second Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 48. REV. MICHAEL JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 15. 1848, in Denmark. Came to U. S. A. 1869. 
 Came to Fridhem Sept 5, 1914, from St. Cloud, Minn. Died: 
 Feb. 23, 1923. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $250.00. 
 A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 49. MRS. ANNA LISA JOHNSON, wife of Michael Johnson. 
 Born Feb. 1, 1848, in Vermland Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1872. Came to Fridhem Sept. 5, 1914. Died March 18^ 
 192 4. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $2 50.00. A mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. 
 
 50. MISS MARY OLSON. 
 
 Born June 4, 1849, in Guldbrandsdalen Norway. Came to 
 Fi'idhem Oct. 13- 1914, from Maxwell, Calif. Died Jan. 19. 
 1916. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $300.00. Church af- 
 filiation unknown. 
 
 51. MR. JOHAN BERNT NELSON. 
 
 Born Nov. 29, 1833, in Halland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Oct. 16, 1914, from Le Roy. Mich. Died Jan. 2, 1916-
 
 78 FRIDHEM 
 
 Buried at Oakhill. Entrance iee $150.00. Church affilia- 
 tion unknown. 
 
 52. MRS. CAROLINA PEARSON. 
 
 Born Marcli 1, 1837, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Oct. 17, 1914, from Chicago, 111. Died Feb. 28, 1915. 
 Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $150.00. A member of 
 the Englewood Baptist Church. 
 
 53. MR. PETER ERICKSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 18, 1849, in Grangarde, Sweden. Came to IT. 
 S. A. 1879. Came to Fridhem Nov. 2, 1914, from Forsyth, 
 Mich. Left the Home 1920 after wifes death. Entrance 
 fee $475.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 54. MRS. KAROLINA ERICKSON, wife of Peter Erickson. 
 Born May 20, 1853, in Dalsland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Nov. 2. 1914, from Forsyth, 
 Mich. Died May 17, 1920. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $475.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 55. MR. CHRIST ELIAS ANDERSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 2, 1846, in Sandseth, Norway. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1881. Came to Fridhem Nov. 24, 1914, from Whitehall, 
 Mich. Died Aug. 20, 192 6. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $302.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 56. MR. ANDREW JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 24, 1852, in Narke, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Nov. 28, 1914. from Spirit, 
 Wis. Died Aug. 1, 1926. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $300.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 57. MR. PETER PETERSON. 
 
 Born June 6, 1833, in Westmanland, Sweden. Came to 
 FVidhem Nov. 28, 1914, from Chicago, 111. Died Aug. 
 20, 1915. Buried at Oakwood. Entrance fee $250.00. A 
 member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 79 
 
 58. MR. JONAS ANDERSON. 
 
 Born March 24, 1841, in Vestergotland. Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1887. Came to Fridhem Dec. 10, 1914. from Dag- 
 get, Mich. Died Feb. 22, 1919. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $200.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 59. MRS. EDLA LOVISA STARK. 
 
 Born Aug. 26. 1835, Abo, Finland. Came to Fridhem Jan. 
 8, 1915, from Chicago, 111. Died May 27, 1917. Buried at 
 Wlieaton. 111. Entrance fee $200.00. A member of the 
 Swedish-Finnish Baptist Church. 
 
 60. MISS ANNA OLIN. 
 
 Born Oct. 2, 1861, in Malmo, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 188 6. Came to Fridhem March 9, 1915, from Oak Forest 
 Infirmary. Entrance fee $300.00. A member of the Fourth 
 Swedish Baptist Church. 
 
 61. MRS. HELENA KATRINA HUMMERIN. 
 
 Born March 31, 1830, in Uppland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem March 9, 1915, from Oak For- 
 est Infirmary. Died Dec. 13, 1920. Burid at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $150.00. A member of the Salem Sw. Baptist 
 Church . 
 
 62. MRS. EVA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born April 7, 1840. in Sweden. Came to Fridhem May 
 22, 1915, from South Chicago, 111. Left the Home Oct. 15, 
 1915. Entrance fee $400.00. Refunded $316.00. A member 
 of the Third Sw Baptist Church. 
 
 63. MRS. LOUISA CHARLOTTA PETERSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 20, 1851, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1868. Came to Fridhem Aug. 7, 1915, from Cres- 
 ton, Iowa. Died Nov. 4, 1923. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $500.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 64. MRS. HANNA SEAMAN. 
 
 Born in Sweden date and place unknown. Came to Frid-
 
 80 FRIDHEM 
 
 hem Sept. 4, 1915, from Marquette, Mich. Left the Home 
 Nov. 9, 1915. Paid no entrance fee. 
 
 €5. MRS. CHRISTINA NELSON. 
 
 Born Aug. 23, 1856, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1890. Came to Fridhem Sept. 20, 1915, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $40 0.0 0. A member of the Elim Sw. 
 Baptist Church, Chicago. 
 
 66. MISS AUGUSTA SEWERINA PETERSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 15, 1853. in Harna Vings. Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1889. Came to Fridhem Sept 20, 1915, from Rock- 
 ford, 111. Entrance fee $350.00. A member of the Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 67. MRS. CHARLOTTA CHRISTINA BERG. 
 
 Born Feb. 3. 1841, in Narke, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1899. Came to Fridhem Sept. 28, 1915, from Chicago, 111. 
 Died June 14, 1928. Buried at Forest Home. Entrance fee 
 $200.00. Member of the Austin Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 68. MISS ANNA LOVISA OSTROM. 
 
 Born July 10, 1850, in Norrbotten, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1873. Came to Fridhem Oct. 6, 1915, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $250.00. A member of the First Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 69. MRS. CAROLINA HINDORFF. 
 
 Born Oct. 2, 1834. in Vermland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1881. Came to Fridhem Oct. 12, 1915, from Kenosha, 
 Wis. Entrance fee $1,300.00. A member of the Methodist 
 Church. 
 
 70. MR. NELS OLANDER. 
 
 Born June 2 8, 1844, in Medelpad, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1902. Came to Fridhem Oct. 29, 1915. from West Du- 
 luth, Minn. Died Oct. 8, 1920. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $400.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 81 
 
 1. MR. DANIEL JOHNSON KJoLLANDER. 
 
 Bom Sept. 19, 1848, in ostmal. Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 heni Dec. 21, 1915. from Marcell, Minn. Entrance fee 
 $400.00. Left the Home May 8, 1916. Refunded $328.00. 
 Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 TO 
 
 MR. PETER MAGNUS OLESON. 
 Born April 28. 1845- in Vaxjo, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1869. Came to Fridhem Dec. 23, 1915, from South Haven, 
 Mich. Entrance fee .$500.00. Left the Home in April 1923. 
 A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 73. MRS. CAROLINA OLESON, wife of Peter Magnus Ol- 
 son. Born July 10, 1844, in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S A. 1869. Came to Fridhem Dec. 23, 1915, from 
 South Haven, Mich. Died Aug. 3- 1917. Buried at New 
 Windsor, 111. Entrance fee $500. A member of the Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 74. MR .GUSTAV REYNOLD NYDEN. 
 
 Born Nov. 4, 1840. in orebro, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1869. Came to Fridhem April 27, 1916, from Evanston, 
 111. Died Feb. 25, 1920. Buried at Rosehill. Entrance fee 
 $1,250.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 75. MRS CHRISTINA CHARLOTTA NYDEN, wife of Gus- 
 tav Reynold Nyden. Born May 25, 1836- in Sundsvall, 
 Sweden. Came to Fridhem April 27, 1916, from Evanston, 
 111. Died Dec. 16, 1916. Buried at Rosehill. Entrance fee 
 $1,250.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 76. MR. JOHN PETERSON. 
 
 Born July 4, 1835, in Smaland, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1881. Came to Fridhem Aug. 15, 1916, from Clinton, Iowa. 
 Died April 6- 1919. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $450.- 
 00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 < t . 
 
 MRS. MARIA CHRISTINA PETERSON, wife of John 
 Peterson. Born Jan. 25, 1833, in Vermland, Sweden. Came
 
 82 F R I D H E M 
 
 to U. S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Aug 15, 1916, from 
 Clinton, Iowa. Died March 26, 1926 Buried at Oakhill. 
 Entrance fee $450.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 78. MRS. AUGUSTA PETERSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 18, 1840, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1868. Came to Fridhem Sept. 13, 1916, from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Died Sept. 23, 1923. Burial place unknown. En- 
 trance fee $300.00. A member of Immanuel Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 79. MRS. AUGUSTA ALBERTINA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born May 18, 1855, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1883. Came to Fridhem from Chicago, 111. Date 
 unknown. Died Feb. 6- 1929. Buried at Oakhill. A mem- 
 ber of the Lake View Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 80. MR. JOHAN ALFRED WIBECK. 
 
 Born June 23, 1837, in Hallingsberg, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1873. Came to Fridhem Oct. 14, 1916, from 
 Woodhull, 111 Died Jan. 9, 1928. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $700.00. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 81. MISS ANNA CHARLOTTA BROSTROM. 
 
 Born Dec. 9, 1842, in Vestmanland- Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Nov. 18. 1916. from Chi- 
 cago. 111. Died June 2, 1921. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $100.00. A member of the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 82. REV. ANDREW SISELL. 
 
 Born May 8, 1849, in Mora, Dalarne. Sweden, Came to 
 U. S. A. 1881 Came to Fridhem April 14, 1917, from Cam- 
 bridge. Minn. Entrance fee $1,350.00. A member of the 
 Second Swedish Baptist Church, Chicago, 111. 
 
 83. MRS. NILLIE EMANUELSON. 
 
 Born Jan. 6, 1841, in Landskrona, Sweden. Came to L'. S. 
 A. 1881. Came to Fridhem June 2 7, 1917, from St. Paul, 
 Minn. Died in Sept 1921. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $925.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 83 
 
 84. MR. ERIK AUGUST ERIKSOX. Born Dec. 19, 1853, in 
 Sodermanlancl, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 1883. Came to 
 Frklhem Aug. 1-1, 1917, Irom Ashland. Wis. Entrance fee 
 $674.40. A member of the Morgan Park Baptist Church 
 
 85. MRS. MARY SAMUELSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 1, 1833, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1868. Came to Fridhem Oct. 24. 1917, from Creston, 
 Iowa. Died March 30, 1921. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $300.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 86. MR. ANDERS FREDRICK ERICKSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 2, 1845, in Torsang, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1910. Came to Fridhem March 1, 1918 from Chicago. 
 111. Died March 26, 1925. Buried at Graceland. Entrance 
 fee $228.00. A member of the Austin Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 87. MRS. ANNA LISA ERICKSON, wife of Anders Fredrick 
 Erickson. Born Jan. 13, 1851, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1910. Came to Fridhem March 1, 1918, from 
 Chicago, 111. Died Sept. 23, 1924. Buried at Graceland. 
 Entrance fee $228.00. A member of the Austin Sw. Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 88. MR. HERMAN SODERBECK. 
 
 Born July 12, 1847, in Finland. Came to U. S. A. 1885. 
 Came to Fridhem March 23- 1918, from Ogema, Wis. En- 
 trance fee $600.00. Left the Home March 7, 1919. Re 
 funded $400.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 89. MRS. CHARLOTTA EAGER. Born Nov. 15, 1839. in 
 Vestergotland, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 18 85. Came to 
 Fridhem Feb. 4, 1919, from Moline, 111. Died June 22, 
 1928. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $240.00. A mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Chin-ch. 
 
 90. MR. ERIK SWENSON. 
 
 Born June 14, 1850, in Skane, Sweden. Camp to U. S. 
 A. 1878. Came to Fridhem May 31. 1919- from Seattle,
 
 84 F R I D H E M 
 
 Wash. Entrance fee $2,500. Left the Home June 4, 1920. 
 Refunded $2,332. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 91. MR. PETER JOHNSON. 
 
 Born Jan. 25, 1844. in orebro, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1880. Came to Fridhem, Aug. 30, 1919, from St. Paul, 
 Minn. Died Sept. 7, 1920. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $720.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 92. MRS. CHRISTINA JOHNSON, wife of Peter Johnson. 
 Born Nov. 3, 1853, in Sk^ne, Sweden. Came to U. S A. 
 1883. Came to Fridhem Aug. 30, 1919. from St. Paul, 
 Minn. Entrance fee $750.00. Died May 7, 1926. Buried at 
 Oakhill. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 93. MISS MARIA CHRISTENSON. 
 
 Born Nov. 21, 1842. in Sweden Came to U. S. A. 1865, 
 Came to Fridhem April 2, 1920, from Chicago, 111. En- 
 trance fee $2,000.00. Left the Home Aug. 3, 1925. Re- 
 funded $300.00. A member of the Apostolic Assembly. 
 
 94. MRS. EMINfA GIFFORD SUNDIN. 
 
 Born May 4, 1847, in Vermland Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1865. Came to Fridhem April 22, 1920. Died June 20, 
 1920. Buried at Oakwood. Entrance fee $1,800.. 00. A 
 member of the Lutheran Church 
 
 95. MRS. CHRISTINA REGINA CARLBERG. 
 
 Born Sept. 10, 1847, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1883. Came to Fridhem May 9, 1920- from Chicago, 111. 
 Died Dec. 12, 1922. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $782.92. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 96. MR. CARL PETER PETERSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 3, 1840, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1868. Came to F^-idhem June 19- 1920, from Chicago, 
 111. Died April 2, 1928. Buried at Graceland. Entrance fee 
 $250.00. A member of the First Swedish Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 85 
 
 97. MRS. ANNA MATHILDA PETERSON, wife of Carl Pe- 
 ter Peterson. Born Sept. 28, 1841, in Kalmar, Sweden. 
 Came to U. S. A. 1869. Came to Friclhem June 19, 1920, 
 from Chicago, 111. Died Sept. 29, 1925. Buried at Grace- 
 land. Entrance fee $250.00. A member of the First Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 98. MRS. JOHANNA KATRINA LAGERSTROM. 
 
 Born Nov. 19, 1843, In Gefle, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1888. Came to Fridhem July 2, 1920, from Rockford, 111. 
 Died Feb. 17, 1923. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $600.- 
 00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 99. MR. CHARLES ERICK JOHNSON. 
 
 Born April 21, 1860, in Sodermanland, Sweden. Came to L'. 
 S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem July 15, 1920, from Rock- 
 ford, Mich. Died April 3, 1926. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $525.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 100. MRS. HILDA CHRISTINA JOHNSON, wife of Charles 
 Erik Johnson. Born Aug. 25, 1856, in Smiland. Sweden. 
 Came to U. S. A. 1882. Came to the Home July 15. 1920, 
 from Rockford. Mich. Died April 9, 1928. Buried at Oak- 
 hill. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 101. MR. JOHN SWANSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 3, 1836, in SmSland, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1880. Came to Fridhem July 25, 1920, from Chicago. 111. 
 Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the Englewood Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 102. MR. ERICK BRANT 
 
 Born June 22, 1832, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1869. Came to Fridhem July 31, 1920, from Cambridge, 
 Minn. Died Jan. 9, 1921. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $500.00. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 103. MR. JOHAN MONSON GREEN. 
 
 Born Feb. 3, 1842, in Blekinge, Sweden. Came to U. S. A.
 
 86 FRIDHEM 
 
 1881. Came to Fridhem Sept. 11, 1920, from Brainard, 
 Minn. Died April 14, 192 6. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance 
 fee $1,000.00. A member of the Baptist Cliurch. 
 
 104. MRS. CHRISTINA SANDERLIN. 
 
 Born Oct. 23, 1849, in Angermanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem Oct. 12, 1920, from Dag- 
 get, Mich. Died Feb. 28, 192-5. Buried at Oalvhill. Entrance 
 fee $500.00. A member of tlie Baptist Church. 
 
 105. MR. CHARLES NELSON. 
 
 Born April 15- 1851, in Kristala, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1868. Came to Fridhem Nov. 5, 1920, from Chicago, 111. 
 Died April 7, 1925. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $316.01. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 106. MRS. CHRISTINA ALBERTINA NELSON, wile of 
 Charles Nelson. Born July 25, 1848, in Stockholm, Swe- 
 den. Came to U. S. A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Nov. 5, 
 1920 from Chicago, 111. Entrance fee $316.01. A mem- 
 ber of the Pentecostal Church. 
 
 107. MRS. MATHILDA ERICKSON. 
 
 Born June 13, 1855, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1883. Came to Fridhem Nov. 16, 1920, from Sister Bay, 
 Wis. Entrance fee $1,000.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 108. MISS ELLA LINDBLAD. 
 
 Born Oct. 19, 1856, in Kristianstad, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1867. Came to Fridhem Dec. 5, 1920. from Chicago, 
 111. Entranc fee $1,150.00. A member of the Immanuel 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 109. MR. PETER GUSTAV LINDGREN. 
 
 Born Sept. 30, 1848, in Vestmanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1888. Came to the Home Jan. 23, 1921, from Jol- 
 iet. 111. Died June 7, 1928. Buried at Joliet. Entrance fee 
 $500.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 FRIDHEM 87 
 
 llU. MRS. CAROLINA ELIZABETH WESTERGREN. 
 
 Born Oct. 25, 1854, in Smaiand, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Feb. 9, 1921, from Chicago, 
 III. Died Jan. 27, 1924. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $384.70. A member of the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 111. MRS. MARIA CHARLOTTA ERICKSON. 
 
 Born July 23, 1845. in Vaddo, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 
 1881. Came to Fridhem Feb. 26, 1921, from Everett, Wash. 
 Died Dec. 12, 1924. Buried at OakhilL Entrance lee $700.- 
 00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 112. MISS IDA CAROLINA LEIBERG. 
 
 Born Oct. 9> 1865, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1891. Came to Fridhem March 8, 1921, from Evanston. 
 111. Entrance fee $600.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 113. MR. JOHN JOHANSON. Born Nov. 28, 1848- in Ble- 
 kinge, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem 
 March 10, 1921, from Sioux City, Iowa. Died Sept. 16, 
 1927. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee $1,000,00. A mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. 
 
 114. MISS CHRISTINA CHARLOTTA JOHANSON. 
 
 Born Oct. 16, 1850, in orebro, Sweden. Came to U. S A. 
 1908. Came to Fridhem May 21, 1921, from Brockton, 
 Mass. Entrance feei $500.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 115. REV. JOHAN AXEL JaDER. 
 
 Born Nov. 2, 1849, in Vester§,s, Sweden. Came to \J S. A. 
 1902. Came to Fridhem July 6- 1921, from Omaha, Nebr. 
 Died Feb. 27, 1922. Buried at Omaha, Nebr. Entrance fee 
 $1,000.00. A member of the Baptist Church 
 
 116. MRS. KARIN JOHNSON OLESON. 
 
 Born April 28, 1848, in Sk^ne, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 
 1882. Came to Fridhem Sept. 7, 1921, from Chicago. 111.
 
 88 FRIDHEM 
 
 Entrance fee $1,400.00. Lelt the Home in April 1923. Re- 
 funded $1,000.00. A member of the Bethel Baptist Church, 
 
 117. MISS HELENA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born Aug. 10, 1845, in Sm^land, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1879. Came to Fridhem, Sept. 18. 1921, from Berwyn, 
 111. Entrance fee $4,009.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 118. MRS. JOSEPHINA AMALIA RHENSTROM. 
 
 Born April 3, 1851, in Bohuslan, Sweden. Came U. S. A. 
 1892. Came to Fridhem Oct. 4, 1921, from Chicago, 111. 
 Entrance fee $300.00. A member of the South Shore Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 119. MR. OLE ANDREAS LARSON. 
 
 Born Sept. 28. 1839, in Tromso, Norway. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1867. Came to Fridhem Nov. 16, 1921, from Willmar, 
 Minn. Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 120. MRS. SOFIA AUGUSTA LARSON, wife of Ole Andreas 
 Larson. Born May 30, 1845, in Sm^land, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1900. Came to Fiidhem Nov. 16, 1921, from 
 Willmar Minn. Died Dec. 11. 1924. Buried in Oakhill. 
 Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 121. MISS CHRISTINA JOSEPHINA PETERSON. 
 
 Born May 27, 1847, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1885. Came to Fridhem Jan. 31, 1922, from Down- 
 ers GroA'e, 111. Entrance fee $400.00. A member of the 
 First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 122. MR. KNUTH DIDRICK FALSTEDT . 
 
 Born July 19, 1867, in ostergotland. Sweden. Came to Frid- 
 hem Feb. 14, 1922. Entrance fee $1,900.91. Left the Home 
 Oct. 29, 1922. Part of entrance fee refunded. 
 
 123. MR. CHARLES PETER STALBERG. 
 
 Born March 18, 1849, in Vermland. Sweden. Came to
 
 F li I D H E M 89 
 
 U. S. A. 1879. Came to Fridhem April 25, 1022, from St. 
 Paul. Minn. Died Dec. 8, 1928. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee ^1,200.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 12 4. MRS. HILDA MORTEN, wife of X. X. Morten. 
 
 Born Xov. 16, 1848, in Haparanda, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1870. Came to Fridhem June 15, 1923, from Kiron. 
 Iowa. Entrance fee $700.00. A member of the Second 
 Sw. Baptist Church Chicago, 111. 
 
 125. MRS. HAXXA JEXSEX. 
 
 Born Oct. 29, 1855- in Skaraborgs Ian, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1883. Came to Fridhem, July 13, 1922, from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $3,210.55. A member of the Hum- 
 boldt Park Baptist Church. 
 
 126. MRS. MARIE AXDERBERG. 
 
 Born June 6, 1870, in Vestergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U S. A. 1892. Came to Fridhem July 15, 1922- from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $700.00. A member of the Engle- 
 wood Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 127. MRS. IDA CHRISTIXA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 8. 1844. in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1888. Came to Fridhem. Sept. 22, 1922, from Chicago, 111. 
 Died April 27. 1925. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $500.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 128. MISS CHRISTIN ERIKSON. 
 
 Born March 8, 1864. in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1896. Came to Fridhem, Sept. 10, 1922, from Evanston, 
 111. Entrance fee $277.25. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 129. MRS. EVA CAROLINA HOKINSON. * 
 
 Born Dec. 16, 1856, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 18 73. Came to Fridhem Oct. 14, 1922, from Mo- 
 line, 111. Died June 9, 1925. Buried at Moline, 111. En- 
 trance fee $1,100.00. A member of the Baptist Church.
 
 90 FRIDHEM 
 
 130. MISS CLARA MATHILDA SUNDBERG. 
 
 Born Oct. 20, 1864, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S A. 1920. Came to Fridhem Oct. 14, 1922, from Mo- 
 line, 111. Entrance fee $300.00. Left the Home and re- 
 turned to Sweden in May 1926. The entrance fee was 
 refunded. A member of the Lutheran Church. 
 
 131. MRS. AUGUSTA WILHELMINA BLUCKER. 
 
 Born March 11, 1850, in Narke, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1885. Came to Fridhem Oct. 23. 1922, from Luding- 
 ton, Mich. Entrance fee $1,000.00. Died March 8, 1930. 
 Buried at Oakhill. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 132. MR. JOHAN AUGUST LARM. 
 
 Born Dec. 21, 1852, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1881. Came to Fridhem Dec. 1, 1922, from Sis- 
 ter Bay, Wis. Entrance fee $1,400.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 133. MR. SVEN JOHAN LUND. 
 
 Born Feb. 14, 1837, in Mariestad. Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1881. Came to Fridhem Feb. 22, 1923. from Kewanee, 
 111. Died Jan. 1, 1927. Buried at Ottawa, 111. Entrance 
 fee $675.00. Church affiliation unknown. 
 
 134. MRS. CHRISTINA PETTRONELLA OLSON. 
 
 Born Aug. 15, 1851, in Medelpad, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S A. 1902. Came to Fridhem March 6, 1923, from Two 
 Harbors, Minn. Entrance fee $900.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church . 
 
 135. REV. JOHAN AUGUST ROOS. 
 
 Born March 22, 1852, in ostergotland. Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1881. Came to Fridhem March 16, 1923. from 
 Arcadia, Nebr. Entrance fee $150.00. Left the Home 
 March 7, 1925. 
 
 13 6. REV. N. N. MORTEN. 
 
 Born Sept. 11, 1858, in Sk^ne, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1868. Entered Fridhem June 12, 1923, from Kiron,
 
 FRIDH EM 91 
 
 Iowa. Died July 1. 1927. Entrance fee $300.00. Buried 
 at Oakhill. A Baptist preacher and teacher. Member of 
 the Second Swed. Baptist Church, Chicago, 111. 
 
 137. MISS CHRISTIN ANDERSON. 
 
 Born June 22, 1849, in Vestergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 to U. S. A. 1887. Came to PMdhem Oct. 14, 1923, from 
 Chicago, 111. Entrance fee $1000.00. A member of the 
 Second Swedish Baptist Church. 
 
 138. MR. SVEN AUGUST CRONWALL. 
 
 Born Sept. 26, 1855, in Vestervik, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem Dec. 28, 1923, from Tus- 
 tin, Mich. Died March 8, 1927. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $1,340.00. A member of the Baptist Church 
 
 139. WILLIAM PETER HYBERG. 
 
 Born Nov. 27, 1855, in Malmo, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Jan. 15, 1924, from Morris 
 111. Died Nov. 2 5, 1926. Entrance fee $1,200.00. A mem- 
 ber of the Second Swedish Baptist Church. 
 
 140. MISS HANNA MATHILDA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born June 7, 1847, in Smaland, Sweden. Came to L^. S. 
 A. 1887. Came to Fridhem Jan. 20, 1924. from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $818.00. A member of the First 
 Swedish Baptist Church. 
 
 141. MR. AUGUST AHLBERG. 
 
 Born Aug. 5, 1845, in oland, Sweden. Came to L". S. A. 
 1871. Came to Fridhem July 30, 1924, From Evanston, 
 111. Died July 15. 1929. Buried at Rosehill. Entrance 
 fee $2,500.00. A member of the Evanston Sw. Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 142. MRS. MARGARETTA CHRISTINA AHLBERG, wife 
 of August Ahlberg. Born May 13, 1847, in Melelpad, 
 Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 1866. Came to Fridhem July 
 30, 1924, from Evanston. 111. Entrance fee $2,500.00. A 
 member of the Evanston Swedish Baptist Chtirch.
 
 C'2 FRIDHEM 
 
 143. MRS. BETTY CRONQUIST. 
 
 Born Feb. 13, 1842, in Farstorp, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Dec. 18, 1924. from Chicago. 
 111. Died March 3. 1926. Buried at Oakwood. Entrance fee 
 $1,200.00. A member of the Second Swedish Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 144. MR. ALEXANDER WENBERG. 
 
 Born March 5, 1832, in Vestergotland, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1865. Came to Fridhem Jan. 2. 192-5. from 
 Moline. 111. Died Sept 26, 1926. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $500.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 145. MISS CHRISTINA WILHELMINA PETERSON. 
 Born April 3, 1859, in Vestmanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1895. Came to Fridhem Jan. 27, 1925, from 
 Chicago. 111. Entrance fee $2,000.00. A member of the 
 Elim Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 146. MR. NELS PETER SAMUELSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 6, 1850, in Sm^land, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1880. Came to Fridhem March 31. 1925. from Chicago 
 111. Entrance fee SI. 000. 00. A member of the First Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 147. MRS. WILHELMINA SAMUELSON, ^ife of Nels Pe- 
 ter Samuelson. Born July 28- 1859, in Smaland, Sweden. 
 Came to U. S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem March 31. 1925, 
 from Chicago, 111. Entrance fee $1000.00. A member of 
 the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 148. MRS. AUGUSTA WILHELMINA BLOMGREN. 
 
 Born May 3. 1859, in ostergotland Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1923. Came to Fridhem April 15. 1925. from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $1,500.00. A member of the Edge- 
 water Sw. Baptist Church 
 
 149. MR. ALFRED OBERG. 
 
 Born June 13- 1853. in Vermland. Sweden. Came to U.
 
 FRIDHEM 93 
 
 S. A. 1892. Came to Fridhem, May 25, 1925, from In- 
 diana Harbor, Ind. Died March 23, 1927. Buried at Oak- 
 hill. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 150. MR. JOHAX AUGUST JOHANSON. 
 
 Born Feb. 18, 1854, in SmSland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1886. Came to Fridhem Aug. 4, 1925, from Chicago. 
 111. Died July 1, 1927. Buried at Oakhill. Entrance fee 
 $1,162.70. A member of the First Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 151. MISS JENNIE ERICKSON. 
 
 Born April 9. 1863, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1883. Came to Fridhem Nov. 5, 1925, from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $2,800.00. A member of the Sec- 
 ond Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 152. MRS. ELIZABETH CHRISTINA SEDSTROM. 
 
 Born July 15, 1852, in Angermanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1893. Came to Fridhem Nov. 5, 1925, from 
 Chicago, 111. Died Dec. 5, 1925. Buried at Rosehill. En- 
 trance tee $2,350.00. A member of the First Sw. Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 153. MRS. WILHELMINA SJOGREN. 
 
 Born June 21, 1862, in Dalarne, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1887. Came to Fridhem Dec. 2, 1925, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $2,000.00. A member of the Englewood 
 Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 154. MR. ALFRED ECKLUND. 
 
 Born June 30, 1858, in Sm^land, Sweden. Came to V. 
 S A. 1882. Came to Fridhem, April 5, 1926. Entrance 
 fee $1,000.00. A member of the Mission Church. 
 
 155. MISS ALBERTINA JOSEPHINA THOR. 
 
 Born April 24, 1870, in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1900. Came to Fi'idhem April 13, 1926, from 
 CJokato, Minn. Entrance fee $1,060.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church.
 
 I?4 F K I D H E M 
 
 156. MRS. HANNA OLSON. 
 
 Born March 14, 1851, in Skane, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1884. Came to Fridliem June 22, 1926. Entrance fee 
 $1,000.00. Cluirch affiliation unknown. 
 
 157. MISS JOHANNA MARIA JOHNSON. 
 
 Born June 15, 1854, in Smaland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1894. Came to Fridhem Sept. 30, 1926, from Minnea- 
 polis, Minn. Died March 6, 1928. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $2,050.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 158. MISS SOPHIA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born June 22, 1858, in Sm&,land, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1885. Came to Fridhem Oct. 16, 1926, from Boston, 
 Mass. Entrance fee $700.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 159. MRS. KARIN SUNDSTROM. 
 
 Born Nov. 5, 1843, in Norrland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1883. Came to Fridhem Nov. 19, 1926, irom Muskegon. 
 Mich. Entrance fee $600.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 160. MISS JOHANNA ULRIKA LARSON. 
 
 Born Jan. 21. 1851, in Sodermanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem March 5. 1927. from Chi- 
 cago. 111. Entrance fee $600.00. A member of the En- 
 glewood Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 161. MISS ANNA CHRISTINA LEVIN. 
 
 Born July 8, 1857, in Lindkoping, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1897. Came to Fridhem April 23, 1927. from Min- 
 neapolis, Minn. Entrance fee $600.00. 
 
 162. MRS. EMMA ANDERSON. 
 
 Born Jan. 20, 1859, in Goteborg, Sweden. Came to U S. A. 
 1882. Came to Fridhem May 31, 1927, from Neecedah, Wis. 
 Entrance fee $1,306.50. Church affiliation unknown.
 
 FRIDHEM 95 
 
 163. MRS. ANNA EXGSTROM. 
 
 Born April 15, 1851, in Vestra Grefva. Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem Aug-. 22, 1927, from 
 Chicago, 111. Entrance fee $1,000.00. A member of the 
 Englewood Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 164. MR. CARL ANDERSON. 
 
 Born June 30, 1867- in Vermland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1890. Came to Fridhem Aug. 31, 1927, from Syc- 
 amore, 111, Entrance lee $2,000.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 165. MRS. HILDA MARIA ANDERSON, wife of Carl An- 
 derson. Bora May 9, 1861, in Smaland, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1891. Came to Fridhem Aug. 31, 1927, from 
 Sycamore, 111. Entrance fee $2.Q00.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 166. MRS. LOVISA VEDELL. 
 
 Bora Aug. 26, 1859, in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1876. Came to Fridhem Sept. 15, 1927, from Gales- 
 burg, 111. Died Sept. 23- 1929. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $600.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 167. MR. JOHAN BJoRKLUND. 
 
 Born Nov. 23, 1841, in Leksand, Dalarne, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Nov, 22, 1927, from 
 Ogema. Wis. Died Nov. 21, 1928. Buried at Ogema, Wis, 
 Entrance fee $1,000.00. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 168. MRS. KARIN BJoRKLUND, wife of Johan Bjorklund. 
 Born Dec. 22, 1842, in Leksand, Dalarne, Sweden. Came 
 to U. S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem Nov. 22, 1927. from 
 Ogema, Wis. Entrance fee $956.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 169. MRS. CAROLINA KEMMER. 
 
 Born Nov. 9, 1849, in Vermland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1886. Came to Fridhem Sept. 22, 1927, from Chi-
 
 9G FRIDHEM 
 
 cago. 111. Died Oct. 31, 1927. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $1,000.00. $500 refunded to relatives. A mem- 
 ber of the Englewood Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 170. MRS. MATHILDA LUNDBERG. 
 
 Born March 29, 1852, in Frykerud. Vermland, Sweden. 
 Came to U. S. A. 1880. Came to Fridhem Feb. 2, 1928, 
 from Chicago. 111. Entrance fee $700.00. A member of 
 the Englewood Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 171. MRS. LOVISA WICKMAN. 
 
 Born March 25, 1851, in Asavaas, Finland. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1903. Came to Fridhem April 20, 1928, from Chi- 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the Sec- 
 ond Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 172. MRS. MATHILDA V. ERICKSON. 
 
 Born Jan 31, 1852, in Kalmar, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1889. Came to Fridhem May 4. 1928, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $500.00. Left the home in Aug. 1929. 
 Refunded $200.00. A member of the First Sw. Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 173. MISS MARGARET HULTGREN. 
 
 Born April 22, 1851, in Vadstena, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1879. Came to Fridhem Aug. 22, 1928, from Be- 
 midji, Minn. Died Jan. 27, 1930. Buried at Oakhill. En- 
 trance fee $1,000.00. A member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 174. MRS. MATHILDA CHARLOTTA NELSON. 
 
 Born Dec. 18, 1851, in Norrkoping. ostergotland, Sweden. 
 Came to U. S. A. 1888. Came to Fridhem Oct. 5, 1928, 
 from Chicago, 111. Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the 
 Fourth Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 175. MISS ANNA CHRISTINA SUND. 
 
 Born Sept. 14, 1863, in Gestrikland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1922.. Came to Fridhem Oct. 9, 1928, from Chi-
 
 FRIDHEM 97 
 
 cago, 111. Entrance fee $720.00. A member of the Sw. 
 Bethel Baptist Church. 
 
 17 6. MR. FRAXS JOHAN PETERSON. 
 
 Born June 10. 1855, in Ulricehamn, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1892. Came to Fridhem Oct. 15, 1928, from Geneva, 
 111. Entrance fee $600.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 177. MRS. EMMA CHRISTINA PETERSON, wife of Frans 
 Johan Peterson. Born Sept. 21, 1866, in Roxlosa, ostergot- 
 land, Sweden. Came to U. S A, 1897. Came to Fridhem 
 Oct. 15. 1928, from Geneva, 111. Entrance fee $600.00. A 
 member ot the Baptist Church. 
 
 178. MR. PETER JONAS ANDERSON. 
 
 Born March 22, 1850. Came to U. S. A. 1892. Came to 
 Fridhem Oct, 2 3, 192 8, from Opstead, Minn. Entrance 
 fee none. A member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 179. MISS CHRISTIN SUNDIN. 
 
 Born July 12, 1862, in Amal, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1891. Came to Fridhem Dec. 13, 1928, from Boston. Mass. 
 Entrance fee $2,000.00. A member of the Englewood Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 180. MR. JOHN HOLMGREN. 
 
 Born July 7, 1847, in Vestmanland, Sweden. Came to V. 
 S. A. 1885. Came to Fridhem Dec. 14, 1928, from Mc- 
 Keesport, Pa. Entrance fee $500.00. A member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 181. MRS. KAROLINA VISTROM. 
 
 Born Jan. 4, 1847, in Helsingland, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1904. Came to Fridhem Dec. 22, 1928, from Gothen- 
 burg, Nebr. Entrance fee $1,000.00. A member of the Bap- 
 tist Chtirch.
 
 98 F R I D H E M 
 
 182. MR. CARL AXEL FRAXCKE. 
 
 Born Jan. 16. 185 6, in Arila, Sweden. Came to U. S. A. 
 1890. Came to Fridhem March 8, 1929, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance tee .$1,100.00. A member of the Belden Ave. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 183. MRS. ANNA SOFLA WICKSTRAND. 
 
 Born March 18, 1851, in Hjo, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 1909. Came to Fridhem March 16. 1929. from Kenosha, 
 Wis. Entrance fee $600.00. A member of the Baptist 
 Church . 
 
 184. MISS ANNA LINDSTROM. 
 
 Born June 20, 1866, in Vingaker, Sweden. Came to U. S. 
 A. 1909. Came to Fridhem May 11, 1929, from Chicago, 
 111. Entrance fee $1,000.00. A member of Humboldt Park 
 Sw. Baptist Church. 
 
 185. MISS HEDVIG FREDRICKSON. 
 
 Born Sept. 14, 1854. in ostergotland, Sweden. Came to U. 
 S. A. 1882. Came to Fridhem May 16, 1929- from Evans- 
 ton, 111. Entrance fee $900.00. A member of the Sw. Bap- 
 tist Church of Evanston. 
 
 186. MRS. SOFIA KENNEDY. 
 
 Born April 26, 1852. in Vestmanland, Sweden. Came to 
 U. S. A. 1889. Came to Fridhem Oct. 17. 1929, from Isle. 
 Minn. Entrance fee $800.00. A member of the Austin Sw. 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 187. MISS CHRISTIN RUSSELL. 
 
 Born in Malmo, Sweden, Dec. 1, 184.3. Came to U. S. A. 
 1881. Came to Fridhem Jan. 20, 1930. from Chicago. 111. 
 Entrance fee $2,000.00. A member of the Second Sw. Bap- 
 tist Church.
 
 CHAPTER Vlll. 
 
 PRESENT NEEDS AND FUTURE 
 DEVELOPMENTS. 
 
 As a general rule in anticipation a year seems 
 very long, but upon retrospection we find that it has 
 flown very swiftly. Nevertheless each day has its 
 own burden different in characteristics from the one 
 preceding and the one to follow. Just as one day 
 may be sunny and another stormy, so one may bring 
 happiness and the next, sorrow and remorse. 
 
 At Fridhem each day is generally filled to capac- 
 ity for those in charge. It is a Home of Rest, but 
 this does not apply to the superintendent and his 
 helpers. They are constantly busy that others may 
 enjoy rest. The food problem is always an import- 
 ant item in the program of each day. Since there is 
 no fixed income to rely upon it takes good manage- 
 ment to spread the available funds to meet every de- 
 mand. 
 
 If we consider this work and the number of 
 changes the future may bring, we find ourselves 
 facing a serious problem. In any of our larger gath- 
 erings of Swedish Baptist People today, such as 
 state or general conferences, we are impressed with 
 the fact that the majority of the people are middle 
 
 99
 
 100 
 
 F ti 1 D H E M 
 
 aged or more. Twenty-five years ago this condition 
 was entirely reversed. Our gatherings were at- 
 tended by people in their best years with the most 
 
 useful period of life before 
 them. It is from this pass- 
 ing generation that the in- 
 mates of Fridhem have 
 come. This same genera- 
 tion deserves the credit for 
 building the home into the 
 institution it is today. 
 
 The oncoming third and 
 fourth generations among 
 our people are destined to 
 effect the Swedish churches 
 
 Rev. and Mrs. Albert Rose and COUf ereUCeS VCry de- 
 
 Superintendent and Matron . . , , 
 
 since 1924. cisively. v\' e have already 
 
 seen proof of what is to 
 happen. Some state conferences will undoubtedly 
 sever their connections with the general conference. 
 Individual churches have already begun to do so, 
 and it is even more comm.on to find individual mem- 
 bers affiliating themselves with long established 
 English-speaking churches. Inter-marriage with 
 other nationalities is becoming more and more com- 
 mon. How will this new order effect institutions 
 such as Fridhem ? It was the Swedish churches and 
 their individual members that made the work pos- 
 sible in the first place and who have maintained 
 it thus far. 
 
 May we take for granted that with the passing
 
 F R I D H E M 
 
 101 
 
 of the present generation there will be no more 
 need of a Home for our own people and that the 
 Home will pass to an entirely new generation with 
 
 Rev. and Mrs. Albert Ro.^e and tlieir a.>!.^i.>^tants. 
 
 a new class of people? This question immediately 
 invites another. What will happen when the frag- 
 ments of the old generation meet the new genera- 
 tion? While time alone can authentically answer 
 these questions, we can say with some degree of cer-
 
 102 FRIDHEM 
 
 tainty that in spite of imigration restrictions we 
 will always find a Scandinavian representation in 
 our big civic centers. This remnant will need care. 
 Questions arise as to how institutions founded for the 
 purpose of caring for Scandinavian aged can func- 
 tion under the new type of churches. The few 
 churches of the old order will likely be too weak to 
 care for an institution such as Fridhem. 
 
 It may seem pessimistic and unnecessary to dwell 
 with such length upon the future. Providence and 
 divine wisdom will solve in time what man fails to 
 provide for. This question may be just such a case. 
 However an intelligent person always plans for the 
 future and makes provisions for its needs. 
 
 Certain indications make the future look bright. 
 Our young people have shown a willingness to serv- 
 ice in this particular work. The young people's 
 union of our churches in Chicago and vicinity re- 
 sponded very generously to a certain need several 
 years ago. They installed the much-desired eleva- 
 tor at Fridhem along with other smaller improve- 
 ments. Those of us who have followed this work 
 continuously are more than encouraged by the inter- 
 est shown by E. P. Strandberg, Jr., one of our 
 younger men. He was the first to urge the estab- 
 lishment of the one hundred thousand dollar en- 
 dowment fund, to insure future upkeep in face of 
 any calamity. If public-spirited and able men with 
 benevolent inclinations and a spirit of love for the 
 land of their fore-fathers will enlist themselves in 
 this work and catch the vision of Mr. Strandberg
 
 FRIDHEM 103 
 
 and others, Fridhem will be secure in the future. 
 
 There is no better way to explain the endow- 
 ment fund than to refer to the by-laws that have 
 already been approved by the Board of Directors. 
 
 ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT IN ESTABLISHING A 
 $100,000 ENDOWMENT FUND BETV/EEN SUB- 
 SCRIBERS AND "HOME OF REST" THE 
 SWEDISH BAPTIST HOME FOR THE 
 AGED, FRIDHEM, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 
 
 1. PURPOSE 
 
 The purpose of this organization is the raising and 
 establishing of a $100,000 endowment fund, the principal to 
 be invested in high-grade securities, the interest of which is 
 to be used for sustaining the Home and to be given over to 
 tliQ Treasurer for the use of the general fund or to be used, 
 when so warranted, for the payment of entrance fee for 
 some worthy person. 
 
 2. NAME 
 
 The name of this organization to be the Auxiliary of the 
 "Home of Rest — The Swedish Baptist Home for the Aged", 
 Fridhem, 
 
 3. MEMBERSHIP 
 
 Any person paying $100.00 or more becomes a perma- 
 nent registered member of this organization and shall be 
 known as a sustaining member, eligible to membership of 
 the Board. 
 
 4. AUXILIARY BOARD 
 
 The Auxiliary Board shall consist of 21 members — to be 
 elected at first annual meeting as follows: seven for one year, 
 seven for two years, seven for three years, and thereafter at 
 each regular annual meeting, by majority vote, seven mem- 
 bers shall be elected for a term of three years.
 
 104 FRIDHEM 
 
 5. OFFICERS OF THE AUXILIARY BOARD AND EXECU- 
 TIVE COMMITTEE 
 
 The officers of this organization shall consist of a Pres- 
 ident, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, General Sec- 
 retary, Financial Secretary and Treasurer, also a committee 
 of three, to be knowi> as the Executive Fund Committee or 
 custodians of the fund. These three persons must be mem- 
 bers of the Fridhem Board and selected by said Board. The 
 Auxiliary Board shall elect one of these members as Fi- 
 nancial Secretary and one as Treasurer. These officers and 
 members shall constitute the Executive Committe of the Aux- 
 iliary Board. 
 
 Duties of the President: 
 
 The duties of the President shall be to supervise all 
 work and act in an executive capacity, presiding at all Board 
 meetings as far as possible. 
 Duties of the 1st Vice President and 2nd Vice President: 
 
 The duties of the 1st Vice President shall be to aid and 
 assist the President whenever requested to do so and to pre- 
 side at Board Meetings when the President is absent. 
 
 The duties of the 2nd Vice President shall be the same 
 as of the 1st Vice President in the absence of the President 
 and 1st Vice President. 
 
 Duties of the General Secretary: 
 
 The duties of the General Secretary shall be to keep the 
 minutes of all Board Meetings and any special meetings 
 which may be held from time to time, and handle and keep 
 a record of all correspondance. 
 
 Duties of the Financial Secretary; 
 
 The duties of the Financial Secretary shall be to re- 
 ceive all moneys and to turn same over to Treasurer, keep- 
 ing a permanent record of same and making out proper cer- 
 tificates for receipt of same and shall act as a member of 
 the Executive Fund Committee.
 
 FRIDHEM 105 
 
 Duties of the Treasurer: 
 
 The duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive all mon- 
 eys collected through the Financial Secretary and deposit 
 same in the name of the organization in accordance with the 
 stipulation set forth under the duties of the Executive Fund 
 Committee; also to pay alj bills and other payments by 
 checks upon order of the Executive Fund Committee. 
 
 Duties of the Executive Fund Committee: 
 
 The duties of the Executive Fund Committee shall be 
 to supervise all financial transactions, to approve the pur- 
 chase of all securities from the endowment fund and be re- 
 sponsible to the Fridhem Board for the entire fund. Cash 
 received to be kept in a reliable bank, so designated by the 
 Treasurer and one of the other two members. The Secur- 
 ities to be kept in a safety deposit vault, so designated by 
 the Board and entrance to be gained by two of the three 
 members of the Erecutive Fund Committee at any one time, 
 bond to be placed on each of these members for $10,000 each. 
 
 6. INVESTMENTS 
 
 The accumulated funds shall be invested in first mort- 
 gage securities having double the value of the investment, or 
 may also be invested in approved bonds. However, no in- 
 vestments shall be made unless the offered security has been 
 investigated and approved in writing by the Executive Fund 
 Committee. 
 
 It is understood that none of the officers are permitted 
 to obligate this organization for any greater sum than what 
 is derived from interest, either on cash deposits, bonds or 
 other securities. 
 
 7. ANNUAL MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS 
 Annual meetings are to be held in the month of Feb- 
 ruary in each year at the Home of Rest, The Swedish Bap- 
 tist Home lor the Aged. Fridhem. 11404 South Irving Avenue, 
 Chicago, Illinois, notice of said meeting to be published in
 
 106 FRIDHEM 
 
 the denominational paper and also to be mailed to each mem- 
 ber at least ten days prior to the date of meeting. At this 
 meeting: the officers of the Auxiliary Board are also to be 
 elected by majority vote. 
 
 8. ACTIVITIES 
 
 This organization is organized for the sole purpose of 
 raising the $100,000 endowment fund, and shall form a cam- 
 paign of meetings, banquets, printing of necessary pamph- 
 lets, etc.- for the raising of this fund, and which is to be left 
 entirely in the hands of the officers of the Board. 
 
 9. TERMINATION 
 
 This organization may be terminated when the $100,000 is 
 raised, and turned over to the Board Members of Fridhem. 
 By-laws, etc., to be established by the Board members at 
 that time. 
 
 We urgenth' wish to raise this complete amount 
 soon. 
 
 The present need, as indicated from the great 
 number of applications arriving, is an enlarge- 
 ment to accommodate more people. It is a matter of 
 opinion whether expansion would be wise just at 
 present. With four Homes of high standards with- 
 in our denomination each equally well located it 
 may be best to let the matter of growth rest a while. 
 These institutions are in no way competitors. They 
 are erected for the same purpose and carry out the 
 same objectives. Our purpose then, is to lay a 
 firm foundation that this noble work may continue 
 as long as there be reason for its existance. With 
 this end in view thousands of supporters are giving 
 donations and exerting their influence toward the 
 welfare of Fridhem.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In a brief and simple manner we have tried to 
 relate incidents and facts bearing upon the Fridhem 
 work of the past quarter of a century. Our infor- 
 mation is derived from various sources. The great- 
 er part of the material comes from the minutes and 
 records of proceedings. Since some of this is in- 
 complete we have relied upon personal accounts for 
 much of the earliest part of the story. The writer 
 has had the good fortune to be closely connected with 
 the Home as a board member for the past seventeen 
 years. For more than fifteen of these years he has 
 been recording secretary. Observations which he 
 believes might be of interest and value in the pres- 
 ent day have been given. Any figures and factual 
 matter given are as accurate as can be ascertained. 
 The statements have been verified by a public ac- 
 countant every year since nineteen hundred and six- 
 teen, and before that time the books show evi- 
 dence of careful work. The registry or roll con- 
 taining the names of all the inmates from the be- 
 ginning until January first, nineteen hundred and 
 thirty is equally correct and fully reliable. 
 
 In telling the story of this great work some 
 point of value may have been omitted or given space 
 too small for their relative importance. Names of 
 
 107
 
 108 FRIDHEM 
 
 inmates have been given for the specific purpose of 
 illustrating certain facts or conditions, rather than 
 for stressing the importance of one person over 
 another. Most of these pilgrims could qualify as 
 subjects for interesting biographies if space al- 
 lowed. 
 
 We have tried to pay a tribute in a small way 
 to the many benefactors of Fridhem who have faith- 
 fully and generously supported this work since its 
 origin. Here again there is room for more harm than 
 good. When we looked over the list of people liv- 
 ing or dead w^ho had extended their aid at some- 
 time or other, we found ourselves in the same pre- 
 dicament as the writer of the Epistle of the He- 
 brews. He relates the miraculous faitii of the Old 
 Testament heroes and then sums it all up thus: 
 "And what shall I more saj^? For the time would 
 fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Sam- 
 son, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, 
 and of the prophets ; who through faith subdued 
 kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained prom- 
 ises, stopped the mouths of lions." 
 
 Similar conditions exist in our old people's work. 
 We have our Abels, Enochs, Noahs, Abrahams, Sar- 
 ahs, Deborahs, Josephs and Rachels who through 
 faith have started projects. They are only a few 
 compared with the great host no man can number 
 who with similar faith and vision have brought 
 cheer to the aged pilgrims. When the eternal re- 
 ward comes and the roll is called none of them will 
 be forgotten.
 
 F R I D H E M 109' 
 
 There has been a temptation to speak more par- 
 ticularly about the men and women who have 
 served as board members, about superintendents,, 
 about matrons, and about physicians with their gen- 
 erous services, but even here we sense our limita- 
 tions. Who can fully accredit noble sacrifice ren- 
 dered only with the idea of service as Jesus would 
 have served, breaking bread, lifting the helpless 
 healing the sick, and sheltering the homeless? 
 
 Our hope is that this little book may serve as a 
 reminder of what has been done, a pleasant re- 
 membrance of days gone by. It is an expression of 
 sincere gratitude to God for his wonderful guidance 
 and care, and a symbol of appreciation to all of 
 Fridhem's friends. May it carry a spark that will 
 kindle greater inspiration and draw a larger host, 
 of supporters.
 
 ■lihcit '^on ^tt ©Ih 
 
 en ^oit are olb attb grey aitb full of sleep, 
 anb nobbing bo the fire, take bo^n tl]is book, 
 anb slofolg rcab, anb bream of the soft look 
 ^our eyes hab once, anb of their sbabofcs beep. 
 
 ^o&i many lobeb yonr moments of glab grace, 
 anb lobeb nour beauty foitb lo6e false or true; 
 ^ut one man lo&eb the pilgrim soul in ^on^ 
 anb lo&eb the sorrows of your changing face. 
 
 J^nb benbing bolnn besibe the glo&iing bars 
 ilHurmur, a Uttle sablu, hofc lo6e fleb 
 anb paceb upon the mountains oberl]eab 
 anb bib his face amib a crofob of stars. 
 
 Pl. ^. ^eats
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 362.61SCH28F C001 
 
 FRIDHEM CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 3 0112 025303196 
 
 
 
 
 T^4 
 
 
 
 sl*i. — .T.ir'^'- 
 
 
 ■r^n-{'-i:u\i 
 
 ■ '-■■■ '; u; 
 
 
 
 
 gt .-.j^j^fM^ 
 
 ^jiiS; 
 
 El* ift-