Silverhill Town Father
Oscar Johnson's Family
Visited by Swedish Cousins

     The Utters of Silverhill are direct descendants of Oscar Johnson who is responsible for much of Silverhill development since its founding in 1896. Two cousins from the "Old Country" joined several of the Utters for worship at historic Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday morning at 10 AM. Oscar Johnson donated land for the Baptists, Covenanters, and Lutherans to build churches for the early Swedish community in Silverhill. Zion's present worship building dates to 1914, 1915, and 1916, and is on Baldwin's historic registry.

     A number of Silverhill founder Oscar Johnson's extended family posed briefly after worship on Sunday, July 17. Lynne Utter Lively (daughter of Clifford "Gus" Utter and niece of Ralph), Maria Axetun (cousin from Langemala, Sweden), Ralph Utter (brother of Gus and Oscar Utter), Britt Marie Axetun (cousin from Langemala, Sweden), Roma Utter Stults (daughter of Oscar Utter, niece of Ralph), and Roger Utter (son of Ralph) (l to r) shared the moment. Ralph and Roger live in Silverhill. Gus recently relocated to Mississippi to be closer to his daughter. Click to enlarge.

     After Sunday morning worship at Silverhill's Zion Lutheran Church, Swedish visitors Britt Marie Axetun and Maria Axetun from Langemala, Sweden, toured the museum of the historical church with its artifacts reaching back more than 100 years. Of course, the two Swedish cousins of the Utter family posed under the museum's Swedish flag. Click to enlarge.

     The Axetuns were in the United States to attend a health care conference in Boston.

     The Swedes were surprised to learn that American churches generally to not have the rounded altar rail found in this old Augustana Synod church and many no longer have any altar railing. They noted that Zion is similar to rural churches in Sweden.