The Sloan Clan

[Sloan.ged]Sven and his brothers attended the parish school, were confirmed and lead an uneventful life as farmer's children. One event, however, was a highlight in th elives of the children, the building of anew home.. It was a large and substantialhouse, and still stands as was built about 80 years ago (1925) . Jon was old enough to help with the buiding, and the younger Sven also helped fetching and carrying, running errands for the builders.
In 1854 Jon and Sven decided to emigrate to America, It took them three months to make the trip in a sailing vessel. They traveled steerage. Cholera broke out and it was a miserable time indeed---unsanitary conditions, terrible sea-sickness,all kinds of inconveniences. One thing the boy never forgot. He was terribly sea-sick. IIn abject misery he lay down on some coils of rope. The captaincame along and gave him a kick, telling him to move out of the wasy or he would throw himoverboard. Sven did not budge. He was too ill to care what the captain did and would hot have objected had the captain carried out his threat. But at last the journey ended.
Sven and Jon went to Galesburg, Il. . They debated over taking their Father's name, Per or Peter, calling themselves "Peterson", or to possibly take the name "Julian" from their native village. So as to distinguish from other Jon and SvenPetersons they both used the middle initial "P." In Galesburg they found work and learned the language and Sven went to schookl and became an avid reader.
In 1858 Sven went to California going by rail to Boston, Steamer to Panama, Crossed the Isthmus of Panama, then by steamer to /SanFrancisco. His brother joining him in 1859, going over-land by ox team. They worked in Gold mines.
In 1864 Sven returned to Galesburg, found work. Joined the Good Templers and went whole heartedly into the work of prohibition. It was in the lodge and Church that Sven and Emma met.