John Swan Johanson Cronquist Obituary

JOHN SWAN JOHANSON (CRONQUIST)
 
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, April 1, 1937
 
John Swan Johanson, later Cronquist, a son of Swan and Anna Marie Johanson, was born in Jonkopings Lan, Smaland, Sweden, on February 23, 1855, and died peacefully on March 18, 1937 in Haxtun, Colorado at the home of his son, Emil, with whom he had made his home the last 12 years. He had therefore attained the advanced age of 82 years and 24 days.
 
Early in life he learned the trade of cobbler as apprentice to his father. He also served several years as coachman on the estate of a nobleman in Sweden. In the early part of 1885 he immigrated to this country, arriving in Oakland, Nebraska in March of that year. Shortly after coming to America he applied for his naturalization papers and took the name of Cronquist.
 
He lived in Nebraska two years and then homesteaded in what is now Phillips County, Colorado, where he spent the rest of his life. So for 50 years he was a pioneer of the Fairfield community, which he helped to develop. He bravely endured the hardships and disappointments of the early settlers in their struggle to carve out a destiny in new territory.
 
John Cronquist was married April 4, 1891 to Marie Nordquist of this community. To this union was born one son, Emil, of Haxtun. His wife lived only about five years after their marriage, and therefore he was left without a partner the rest of his life.
 
Mr. Cronquist was trained in religious matters n the church of Sweden and after moving to this country he attended the services and took great interest in the Christian work started and carried on by the Swedish Mission Friends. This work developed and the Fairfield church was organized which he joined in 1926, and remained a member to the time of his death.
 
Besides his wife, one brother, John Johanson, preceded him in death. Those who mourn the passing of this rugged pioneer are his son, Emil, and wife, and the five grandchildren, Vallery, Lillian, Verne, DeWayne and DeLyte. Also one sister-in-law and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Bruce of Malmo, Nebraska.
 
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 23, from the Fairfield church in charge of Rev. E.W. Fondell and the body was laid to rest in the Fairfield cemetery by the side of his wife who passed away March 20, 1896.

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