Pioneer cross: Swedish settlements along the Smoky Hill bluffs.

Abstract

Kansas is a state blessed with many riches, the greatest of which is her people. This state is made up of a patchwork of diverse cultures and ethnic groups. Many areas are notable primarily because they have retained the cultural identity that their pioneer ancestors brought with them from their countries of origin. One such area is the Smoky Valley of central Kansas. Here on the banks of the Smoky Hill River, Swedish pioneers settled just over 125 years ago. They brought with them their culture, language, and their love of art and music. Within a few years, they developed one of the largest Swedish settlements in the United States. Originally, two independent companies were formed to settle the Smoky Valley. The Swedish Agricultural Company of McPherson County, Kansas settled the land where the city of Lindsborg now stands. Its history has been documented in numerous scholarly writings. However, the equally important Galesburg Colonization Company has been ignored by scholars, The Galesburg Company was the larger of the two organizations and settled a much larger area. This company founded the Fremount and Salemsberg Lutheran Churches and subsequently the towns of Marquette, Smolan, and Assaria. The purpose of this thesis is to bring forward the history of the Galesburg Colonization Company and the extraordinary Swedish pioneers who settled within those communities. Their story is common to many of the ethnic groups who settled in Kansas, yet it is also a unique tale of hardship, courage and the ultimate victory of a people of great faith. It also enriches our knowledge of the cultural diversity of Kansas and adds to our historical and cultural understanding of the pioneer experience,