To avoid confusion over so many people with the same name, our ancestorsl adopted the name "Wicklund" or "Viklund" meaning "grove" to remind them of the many trees on their parent's home, Vastergarden Farm #44

Johannes Larsson (7/5/1821-1/2/1896), family patriarch, was born 7/5/1821 in rural Slatten in the Malmene Rote, a part of Larv Parish in the County of Skaraborg  in southern Sweden to Brita Pehrsdotter & Lars Olofsson, the local 'manndeman' (Justice-of-the-Peace/Jury-man). Johannes' mother died when he was 20 months old; the five children were without a mother. Lars marries Maja Svensdottert; they had 9 more children. There are now 16 on a tiny parcel, which was 1/4 of the Slatten farm. Now, Johannes' father, as his grandfather, Olof Goransson (3/12/1753-1/4/1802) & great grandfather, Goran Olofsson (1725-6/23/1785) had been life-long farmers in Slatten; but Johnannes was a younger son, far down the inheritance ladder. As a result, when he grew up, he began casting about looking for his future. Clerical surveys show him moving about: In 1842, he is a farmhand in nearby Ostergarden; in 1844, Mellangarden; in 1845, Prestgarden; in 1846,  H. Osjo. In 1848 he moves to Jonagarden, marrying someone he'd met in Prestgarden & 'engaged with' ever since, Anna Casja Pehrsdotter (Anna's younger sister, Maja Stina, married Johannes Edberg, Allan's maternal great-grandfather).

              The 'Wicklund' children born at Jonagaren included the following:
1. Maja Stina,  (baby still-born shortly after marriage).
2. Svante Johannesson, who later inherits Farm #44.
3. August Johannesson, who finally sells out to Svante.
4. Johan (John) Johannesson Wicklund, Allan's grandfather, who emigrated to East Union, MN.
5. Henric Henry Johannesson Wicklund, emigrating to Foreston, MN (came to grandpa's funeral)
6. Alfred Johanneson Wicklund who emigrated with grandpa & later wed Emma Holt.

     When Sweden renounced wars, the family took sole possession of the Army croft, in a collection of farms
     called  Vastergarden (Garden in the West). Militiamen had been Sweden's part-time soldiers who in lieu of pay acted
    as on-call militiamen in farms called crofts. Title eventually passed to John & later his eldest son bought out the others
    to  stay in Sweden & greatly expand the tree-lined Farm #44. In 1960's, relatives still farmed those lands. See maps.
            The children born at Vastergarden were:
7. Sven Adolf, who dies as a baby.
8. Ida Mathilda Johansdotter Wicklund Tidbloom, who homesteaded in Ramsey,SD w/grandpa.
9. Alma Augusta Johansdotter Wicklund Olausson; emigrated 1892 to Milaca, Mille Lacs, MN
10. Hilda (Hilma) Alida Johansdotter; emigrated to Minneapolis, MN, 1891  (Mrs. John Larson).
                                    Source notes: 1. A1:2:200 249205 Larv Parish rolls 1812-21 2. A1:3:217 1822-34