country, but was organized upon the initiative of the people themselves. Not until 1849 did a clergyman arrive from Sweden, and he located in our sister state to the east. Since no ordained shepherd could be secured, the New Swedeners, if I may coin the word, chose one of their own number as their spiritual head. The one chosen was Magnus Frederick Hokonson, a pious and modest man, whose portrait should be found within the walls of the Historical Department of Iowa. He was ordained in 1853 and labored in the church for fortyfive years, all of which time he remained within the State, and in its soil he was buried.

It was not until two decades after the New Sweden congregation was founded, or in 1868, that Iowa became a Conference within the Augustana Synod, organized eight years earlier. Then there were Swedish congregations at New Sweden, Munterville, Madrid, Stratford, Burlington, Lansing, McGregor and Swedesburg. Until 1870 some of our Norwegian brethren were associated with us. The church at Decorah, where Luther College now is, was then in the Conference as was also a Norwegian congregation in Story county. In 1868 the following pastors, besides Hokonson, served with the State: Hakan Olson, Bengt Magnus Halland and Carl J. Malmberg. The first became president of the new Conference. Rev. Halland later founded the large Swedish settlement in Montgomery and Page counties and thereby did much not only for the church but for the material development of our State. The Conference membership in 1868 was less than one thousand souls. The following year witnessed a great influx of Swedes and the Conference, and more especially its pastors, strained every nerve to secure the people for God and the church. In 1868 three congregations were organized and the following year two, one of which was the First Church of Des Moines. The earliest churches were in the southeastern part of the State. Then a few were organized in the north and eastern portions; later the south central and central, then the southwestern and finally northwestern and northern parts of our State beheld Swedish Lutheran settlements and congregations. The names of the following

pastors, who as presidents of Conferences or otherwise did so much toward the churching of the Swedes should be mentioned: O. J. Siljestrom, M. C. Ranseen, C. A. Hemborg and John Tellsen.

The history of our Swedish Lutherans of Iowa might be summed up in the words: Faith, instruction, work, financial sacrifice, prayer, worship and success under the providence of God, to whom be the glory. At first the problem was how to secure church homes for the immigrants. Later the problem has been, how to make the children, born and reared in the new fatherland, loyal to the fathers and lovers of their church. The problems have been and are being solved. We have now a membership of 20,000 souls or more, that compose eightyone congregations, of which seventy-five have their own churches, and are served by forty-four pastors.

The Swedish Lutheran population gathered into our congregations is most numerous in Webster county with over 2,100 members. The more populous counties are as follows in the order given: Montgomery, Buena Vista, Boone, Woodbury, Polk, Des Moines, Wapello and Page. We have congregations from McGregor to Shenandoah, Keokuk to Akron. Council Bluffs to Davenport.

The property value of the local congregations is $820,000. The Conference as such holds property to the amount of $225,000. The Conference's property consists of an orphanage at Stanton, which began its noble work in 1882; a Home for the Aged at Madrid which received its first guests in 1906; The Iowa Lutheran Hospital, which was dedicated in March, 1914, (only some two months ago) and is located in the Capital City.

Within very recent years the Conference has contributed over $50,000 toward the endowment of Augustana College and Theological Seminary, located at Rock Island, Illinois, and therefore separated from us geographically by the Mississippi. This institution, the Conference, as a part of the Augustana Synod, partially owns and controls. Hence we have needed no institution of learning within the confines of the Conference.

It may be said, in all modesty, that the Iowa Conference of the Augustana Synod has attempted to do its share toward the upbuilding within our State of a strong Lutheran Church, whose membership shall help to make this commonwealth second to none in these United States, which owes its liberty under God, in a great degree, if not wholly, to Martin Luther.

OVERLAND ROUTE.

There are two principal starting-places for this route, St. Joseph, Mo., a few miles above Fort Leavenworth, and Council Bluffs, a short distance N. of the entrance of the Platte into the Missouri. The road from Council Bluffs for 800 miles up the N. side of Platte River is the best natural one in the world. The elevation is less than 12 feet to the mile. The water coming from the highlands is fresh and cool. Grass is abundant, and on the river bottom two weeks earlier than on the route over the plains from St. Joseph, on the other side of the river. Timber, "buffalo chips," and mineral coal are found sufficient to supply travellers. The large amount of travel to California, Oregon and Utah makes it a great national thoroughfare. Over 100,000 souls have already travelled this road since the discovery of gold in California. The passage from Council Bluffs can be safely made, with wagons drawn by mules or oxen, in from 60 to 90 days, at an expense of not over $100 for each passenger. If emigrants conduct themselves properly, no danger need be feared from any Indian tribes through which the road passes. All necessary outfits and supplies can be had at Kanesville and Council Bluffs. An accurate General Directory has been published by J. H. Colton, 86 Cedar Street, New York, and a Mormon Guide, by Mr. Clayton, which will give the emigrant all necessary information. The forts of the American Fur Company and of the United States are usually prepared to render any aid needed by travellers. Aid has also been furnished at the California end of the route at the expense of the state of California.

N. B. The distances from St. Joseph are about 128 miles greater. The distance of Council Bluffs from New York, via Chicago, Dubuque, Galena, Cedar Rapids, and Fort Des Moines, is 1,511 miles.

Hayward's Gazetteer of the United States of America, 1854, p. 851-2.

THE WRITINGS OF JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT.

IV.

[Heretofore we have presented some unconnected sketches by the late Hon. George G. Wright. Herewith begins a series arranged by Judge Wright at the instance of Hon. Charles Aldrich, Curator and founder of the Historical Department of Iowa.-EDITOR.]

HON. CHARLES ALDRICH,

Dear Sir: You have more than once expressed a wish that I would as time allowed note down some of my recollections of the men and times in Iowa's early history. The fact you state, not to be denied, in explanation of the wish, is that those who were active in those scenes are fast passing away, and you are kind enough to suggest that some "jottings" by me might assist in the good work in which you are engaged for and under the direction of the State, and aid in some future history of Iowa. I comply with your request, promising you herein nothing more than such notes and memories (some, not all) as can be recalled and noted in the midst of many business cares.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

I settled in Keosauqua, Van Buren county, November 14, 1840. Graduated at Indiana State University, 1839-read law with my brother, Gov. Joseph A. Wright, at Rockville in that State. Was born in Bloomington, Indiana, March 24, 1820, and admitted to the bar before I was of age. Was prosecuting attorney for Van Buren county in 1845.

[I was] elected to the State Senate in 1848-my competitor being Hon. Thomas Dibble (my father-in-law), who was a Democrat, and nominated by his party without his wish the week before [I was.] I was nominated against my protest, but the same afternoon went with Mrs. Wright to his home twelve miles in the country. I told him the circum

stances and submitted to his wish if I should run. Old pioneer as he was, he said, "Yes, yourself a Whig-I, a Democrat-neither want the place, but we owe it to our parties to make the race. It is not I against you but Democracy against Whiggism." So we made the race with the result stated, and our relations were not in the least disturbed.

[I was] candidate for congress in 1850-defeated by Hon. Bernhart Henn by about 500 (Democratic majority in district over 1,200). Was elected Chief Justice of Iowa, January, 1855-served until January, 1860. Declined re-election -was appointed to succeed Hon. L. D. Stockton, deceased, in June, 1860-served by re-election until September, 1870. Was elected to U. S. Senate in January, 1870, took my seat March 4, 1871-served for six years, declining a re-election.

[I] returned to the practice of the law-continued therein until 1882, when I took the presidency of the Polk County Savings Bank and Security Loan & Trust Company. [I am] still in that work. Was president of the State Agricultural Society for five years, commencing in 1860-also president American Bar Association, 1887-8-organized the Iowa School of Law at Des Moines in connection with Judge C. C. Cole in 1865 (afterwards W. G. Hammond was connected with us) and continued it for three years, when, on request of the regents of the State University we united with that institution-saved the Law Department, and save the six years when in the Senate, have for each year, almost, been a lecturer or teacher therein.

Was married in 1843 (October 19th) to Mary H. Dibble, who, born in New York, settled in Van Buren county in 1839. Her father, Hon. Thomas Dibble, had been a member of the New York legislature and was a member of the second Constitutional Convention in Iowa, 1846.

(And of him, I should not be pardoned if I did not say a word more. He was a pioneer, and of the very highest, influential and useful type. Of good education-a constant reader, as his farm duties permitted-far more than the average farmer-one of the best thinkers I ever knew-clear, logical