Joris - a historic place in Hassela

Joris-Pelle
The Hassela farmer and leader of emigrants; "Joris-Pelle"

Film about Joris on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPbxPaNoqms

Finnish Immigrants
Over 400 years ago, the first Finns arrived and settled in the western parts of Hassela. It was Per Andersson (whose Finnish name was likely Pekka Tarvainen) and his family who first arrived at Rigmäki, where they established their initial *pörte* (a traditional Finnish smoke-cabin). Two years later, the family moved down to what is known today as Kölsjön—called Tarvala at the time. Per Andersson’s four sons divided the vast "Crown forest" (state-owned woodland) into four large farmsteads. One of the sons became very wealthy—earning him the nickname "Rik-Örjan" ("Rich Örjan")—and lived at the farmstead known as Kölsjön 4.

Joris-Pelle – "Karl-Oskar"
In the early 19th century, another descendant of these Finns grew up on that very farm: Joris-Pelle (Per Andersson). This Joris-Pelle is arguably the most famous son of Hassela, both within Sweden and abroad. "What?" you might ask—"Never heard of him." Well, that is because he has become known to posterity by the name "Karl-Oskar"—the protagonist of Vilhelm Moberg’s epic saga about Swedish emigrants. Moberg himself has explained in various articles where he drew inspiration for his books about emigrants: specifically, from the diaries of Erik Norelius, another native of Hassela.

The America Letters
In the spring, it became known that the prosperous farmer Per Andersson intended to sell his farm and emigrate to America. Like so many others, he had been struck by the "America fever" that had flared up across Sweden—and particularly in northern Hälsingland—fueled by letters arriving from fellow believers in Bishop Hill, who painted a rosy picture of the new land.

Many people in Hassela and the neighboring parishes wished to join "Joris-Pelle" on his journey. Some sought to emigrate so they could read their old Lutheran books with greater freedom than was possible in Sweden; others left in search of better living conditions; and some, no doubt, were driven by a sense of adventure.

Leader of the Emigrants
On July 21, 1850, a group of just over 100 people departed from the port of Hudiksvall, with Joris-Pelle serving as their leader. Thanks to his personal wealth, he had even covered—either in whole or in part—the travel expenses for several individuals. Following a long and arduous crossing of the Atlantic, the group arrived at the port of New York on October 31. Nine people had died during the voyage.

The journey onward from New York proved to be quite challenging as well. While some chose to remain in New York, most followed Joris-Pelle as he traveled inland. The group gradually grew smaller, however, as one person after another managed to find a place to settle along the route toward Minnesota—their ultimate destination. One of the most grueling legs of the journey was the crossing of Lake Erie. This took place in November aboard an old steamboat, where most passengers could only afford a spot on the open deck. Using his own money, Joris-Pelle then bought some tickets for cabin berths, so that children and the sick could find shelter from the biting cold.

Founding a Colony
In late November, the small remnant of the original group arrived in Andover, Illinois, where Erik Norelius decided to stay. He tried to persuade Joris-Pelle to settle there as well, but Joris-Pelle felt the deep-seated longing—typical of a farmer from the forest regions—to seek out new, virgin land. He desired "living space" that would provide him with unlimited access to forests, hunting, fishing, and arable land. In the spring of 1851, Joris-Pelle reached Chisago Lake, following another arduous journey that included nights spent sleeping outdoors. There, he founded a small colony together with his two farmhands and their families, as well as two other families. Finding the location reminiscent of his own home region, he promptly wrote back to Hassela to report that he had discovered an ideal place for settlement. Two years later, several more families arrived from Hassela—among them his half-brother, Daniel Lindström, who would go on to give his name to the town of Lindstrom.

Chisago, along with the neighboring county of Isanti, grew, and within a few years, a church had been built. During the early years, Joris-Pelle himself served as a kind of minister; he baptized his daughter, Kristina—the first child born in Chisago.

The aforementioned Erik Norelius was a youth of just 17 from Hassela who had accompanied Joris-Pelle on the journey. Erik Norelius kept 17 diaries, in which he provides a detailed account of the entire expedition, the search for a suitable place to settle, and the years that followed in Minnesota. Erik Norelius himself would become one of the major leading figures within the Lutheran Church in the United States.

It is from these diaries that Vilhelm Moberg drew the framing narrative for his epic about Swedish emigrants; however, as Moberg himself hailed from Småland, he exercised authorial license by setting the entire story there. Yet, the people of Chisago and Isanti know that their roots lie in Hassela and its surrounding parishes. Furthermore, the historical society in Chisago has published a book titled *The True Story of Karl-Oskar and Kristina*, which clearly establishes that "Karl-Oskar" was none other than Jus Joris-Pelle.

This text is taken from a brochure by Börje Bohin, 1987.

The small parish of Hassela has been the birthplace of many men who later gained renown—not only within Sweden but far beyond its borders. The Hazelius family—a clerical dynasty whose surname is a Latinized form of "Hassela"—lived and served here for four generations. A grandson of the last clergyman in this line was none other than Arthur Hazelius, the founder of Skansen and the Nordic Museum. Another prominent son of Hassela was Arthur Engberg, a Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs and a highly influential cultural policymaker who, among other achievements, helped establish the Swedish National Touring Theatre (*Riksteatern*). His essays on culture are still cited today, though most frequently abroad. Another son of a Hassela farming family was Erik Säll, who served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal and later as President of the Court of Appeal for Norrland.

The IOGT movement in Sweden was initiated by Anders Bergström—a native of Hassela—who had spent time in the United States, where he encountered these new ideas. Another pioneer was "Frö-Lars," a preacher associated with the new religious revival—specifically, the Baptist movement. Among the country’s most distinguished folk musicians, one can mention Hulkläppen—whose life story has been captured on film—as well as Jon-Erik Hall.

Joris is a site where, as of 2022, plans are underway to install information signs detailing the life of "Joris-Pelle" and the place in Hassela where he was active.

IMAGE: A statue depicting three emigrants from Hassela: Per "Joris-Pelle" Andersson, Erik Norelius, and Daniel Lindström. All three left a significant mark on their new home.