Johan Samuelsson was born on September 2, 1815 in Mörlunda, Kalmar, Sweden to Samuel Petersson and Lena (Olofsdotter) Petersson. In 1832, when Johan was 17 years old, he moved from home and worked as a farm hand in Gökhult, Småland. On July 12, 1841, he became a soldier (number 369), and took the name Kämpe. He was married to Gustafva Pettersdotter on December 3, 1841 in Mörlunda. They lived in a small soldier’s cottage in Årena and had nine children: Maria Gustafva, Per August (b. 1842), Lena Sofia (b. 1845), Carl Johan (b. 1847), Samuel Fredrik Oskar (b. 1852), Jonas Alfred (b. 1855), Oskar Fredrik (b. 1858), Emma Josefina (b. 1859), and Lovisa Eugenia (b. 1864).
Kalmar Castle, Sweden
After they had their third child (Lena), the family moved to another soldier’s cottage in Gårdveda in 1850, where they lived for the next four years. They moved to a new house in Löfhult, Gårdveda, and Johan became a farmer (as well as a soldier). Johan was a guard in Gotland in 1854, and he served at a camp in Skåne briefly in 1860, in Ljungbyhed. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1866.
Kämpe’s Place at Lofhult
All of Johan and Gustafva’s children except Per August and Maria Gustafva emigrated to America. In 1881, Johan built a new home, called “Kämpe-stugan” (Kämpe-cottage), and the couple moved into the cottage in 1882. In the autumn of 1887, Johan was ill, and he spent most of the tough winter in bed. In a letter to his daughter Josefina in April of 1888, he complained that he froze and he could not stand on his feet and walk to the fireplace to get warm. He felt he didn’t have long to live. The letter probably didn’t reach Josefina before his death, as Johan passed away in May of 1888. His cause of death was “unknown.” He was buried in Målilla cemetery. Gustafva lived out the rest of her life in their little cottage, and was buried next to him.
Kämpe Stugan Cottage
(Source: Barbro and Åke Bogelius visited Rune Kämpe in Småland while they were visiting Johan Samuelsson Kämpe and Gustafva Petersdotter’s soldier cottage (parents of Per August and Lena Sofia Kämpe). Rune is Per August’s grandson. This visit took place during the summer of 2010 when Rune was 86 years old. Rune had letters that Gustafva Petersdotter had written to her children in the U.S.)
Johan Samuelsson Kämpe Soldier Registry
Johan Kämpe / Gustafva Petersdotter Marriage Record
Johan Kämpe / Gustafva Petersdotter Marriage Record
Johan Samuelsson Kämpe Death Record
Johan Samuelsson Kämpe Death Record
Johan Samuelsson Kämpe Death Record
