Jons
Jonsson, the son of Jons Gard and Marta Sparfeldt, was born in Strom,
Sweden, on 12th June, 1815. He worked
as a farm labourer in northern Sweden before marrying Anna Johansdotter,
a widow with five children. Over the next few years Anna had five
more children.
Jonsson was a Baptist who was highly critical of the Swedish Lutheran
Church. In 1865 he emigrated to America with his wife and youngest
son, Henry Jonsson. When he arrived in America he joined with other
Swedish dissenters to establish a settlement called Stockholm in Crawford
County.
Once in America Jons Jonsson changed his name to John Sparfeldt and
found work with the local railroad. He was eventually able to raise
enough capital to buy a small farm. He was also able to send money
back to Sweden to enable his eldest son and family to move to America.
His son changed his name to John Naslund, when he arrived in Crawford
County.
Sparfeldt experienced several tragedies in America. His youngest son,
Henry Jonsson, who married another Swedish emigrant, Bertha Erickson,
was murdered by a robber. While his young grandson, Alfred Jonsson,
died of diphtheria in 1877. John Sparfeldt
died in 1895.
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