John Nicholas Edman, sometimes spelled Niclos, was born on December 1, 1859, in Fide on the Island of Gotland, Sweden, to Hans and Annie Marie Sandell Edman. The surname Edman is a Swedish ornamental name meaning “isthmus man.” This type of name emerged as Swedes moved away from the traditional Scandinavian patronymic naming convention where children took their father’s first name as their surname. Instead families began taking ornamental names that remained constant across generations, partly in imitation of nobility. John Nicholas Edman’s life story is one of immigration, hard work, faith, and the building of a new life in Utah during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Journey to America

At the tender age of five, John embarked on a life-changing journey that would shape his entire future. In 1864, he traveled with his family to America aboard a sailing vessel, enduring a grueling six-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The family’s destination was the Utah Territory, but their journey was far from over upon reaching American shores.

From the ports of the East Coast, the Edman family traveled by train to Omaha, Nebraska, where they joined the thousands of other pioneers making their way west. From Omaha, they completed the most arduous portion of their journey. Traveling by ox team across the plains and mountains to Provo, Utah. This final leg of their journey was a testament to the determination and resilience that would characterize John throughout his life.

Early Life and Education

The Edman family initially settled in Provo, Utah, but soon moved to Salem, where John would spend most of his formative years. Life on the frontier was demanding, and John learned the value of hard work early, spending his youth laboring alongside his father on their farm. Despite the challenges of pioneer life, he managed to receive what he described as a “meager education,” though he did master the fundamental “three R’s” - reading, writing, and arithmetic.

As a young man, John was deeply involved in church activities, reflecting the strong religious foundation that would guide him throughout his life. He was an active member of the church choir and attended singing school, demonstrating his love for music. His leadership qualities emerged early as he served as an officer in the MIA (Mutual Improvement Association). Even his recreation reflected the close-knit nature of pioneer communities - he danced in the old schoolhouse to the tune of a fiddle, paying for his tickets with produce rather than cash.

Marriage and Family Life

John married Mary Sophia Peterson, a widow with one son named William from her previous marriage to James Welch, whom she had divorced. John’s character is perhaps best illustrated by his treatment of his stepson - William knew no other father, and John loved and treated him as his own son. This bond was so strong that William reciprocated the affection throughout their lives.

The young couple’s first home was in Leland, then known as “the new survey,” where they rented the Atwood farm. It was here that their first biological child, John Ephriam, was born. Tragedy struck early when the baby died at just one year and four months old, a loss that would have tested the faith of any young family.

Building a Home in Salem

After the loss of their first child, John and Mary moved back to Salem, where they lived in the top room of his father’s house. Their second son, Charles Leonard, was born there. Determined to provide better for his growing family, John built an adobe house that would stand the test of time - it was still standing when this account was written and later became the home of his third son, Ezra Fielding, who was born in that very house.

The family continued to grow with the birth of their fourth son, Frank Marcellus. When Frank was only six weeks old, the family moved to the Claus Bahr farm north of town while Claus was serving a mission to Germany. This arrangement, common in Mormon communities where neighbors helped each other during missionary service, resulted in the birth of their first daughter, Minnie Estelle.

Shortly after, they returned to their adobe home, where Annie Orlea was born two years after Minnie. Their last child, Clarence Vern, was born two and a half years later, completing their family of seven children.

Work and Community Service

John was a man of diverse skills and unwavering work ethic. During the winter when Ezra was born, he worked in the lead mines at Bingham Canyon, demonstrating his willingness to take on difficult work to provide for his family. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to haul freight from Peoche, Nevada, to the smelter in Murray, Utah, a demanding job that required strength, endurance, and reliability.

He also did considerable hauling for Claus Bahr to the Tintic area, transporting vegetables, fruit, and dairy produce. While operating a small farm for his family, he also worked for other people, showing his industrious nature and community spirit.

John’s leadership abilities were recognized by his neighbors, who elected him as a director of the town board and the Salem Pond Company. His commitment to his faith was evident in his service as a ward clerk, Sunday School teacher, and home missionary. Partnering with M.O. Nash when he was a member of the Utah Stake, John traveled throughout Utah County with horse and buggy, sometimes staying away for two or three days at a time to fulfill their missionary duties.

Character and Values

John Nicholas Edman was described as a large man who weighed about 250 pounds in his prime, but his physical stature was matched by his moral character. He was known for being quiet and very modest, never known to tell an inappropriate story. His personal standards were high - he abstained from liquor and tobacco in any form, reflecting the religious principles that guided his life.

Perhaps most remarkably, John’s commitment to his faith extended to his children’s service. Out of his five sons, he sent four of them on missions for the church, and three of his sons served two missions each. This sacrifice - both financial and emotional - demonstrated his deep commitment to his religious beliefs and his desire to instill those same values in his children.

Trials and Tribulations

John’s later years were marked by profound grief and physical decline. When his beloved wife Mary passed away on December 8, 1916, his heart was broken. The timing couldn’t have been worse - shortly after Mary’s death, three of his sons went to serve in World War I, leaving John to cope with both the loss of his wife and worry for his sons’ safety.

The combination of grief over his wife’s death and anxiety about his sons at war took a severe toll on John’s health. He developed Bright’s disease and palsy, conditions that left him ill for two or three years. His suffering finally ended on February 27, 1926, when he died at the home of his daughter Annie, surrounded by family.

Legacy

John Nicholas Edman’s life story embodies the immigrant experience in 19th-century America. From a five-year-old Swedish boy on a sailing ship to a respected community leader in Salem, Utah, his journey represents the courage, determination, and faith that built the community we live in today! His legacy lives on not only in his descendants but in the community he helped build and the values he instilled in his children.

His story reminds us that the American dream was built one family at a time, by people willing to leave everything behind for the promise of a better life, and who then dedicated themselves to building strong communities and raising children with solid values. John Nicholas Edman was, in every sense, a true American pioneer.

Our Duty

It’s stories like these that remind me why I feel such a deep responsibility to preserve Spanish Fork. Growth for growth’s sake is not a justification for sacrificing the very character of the community my ancestors built with their own hands.

They didn’t endure a six-week ocean voyage and cross the plains by ox team so their descendants could watch the quality of life they fought for be lost to unchecked development and mismanaged growth.

When I see what’s at stake, the town they raised from the ground up! I’m reminded of their courage, sacrifice, and vision. That legacy calls for more than passive acceptance of change; it demands thoughtful, principled leadership that honors the past while wisely planning for the future.

Spanish Fork deserves leaders who will protect what makes this place special, not just for nostalgia’s sake, but because our heritage is worth defending.