Erik Johan Westlin
Erik Johan Westlin was born August 11, 1866 in Helgum, Ångermanland, Sweden.
He left home already as a 10 year old in order to support himself.
In his first employment on a farm , he staid for 5 years. He was paid only in food and clothing.
He had to work hard so couldn’t go to school. He learnt to read and write on his own in the
evenings after work. Although he had to work very hard he was well treated by the farmer.
After his confirmation in the church at 15 years of age he got work as a farmhand.
In 1888 Johan travelled to Ragunda in Jämtland and found work on a farm there. He staid for
two years and married the farmer’s daughter Johanna Edlund. After the marriage he staid on at
the farm for another 7 years and then bought the farm from his father-in-law.
In 1905 Johan and his family emigrated to America. They travelled straight to Stanwood,
Washington. After a short time in Stanwood, he took the family to British Columbia and bought
farmland in Matsqui, near the station of Gilford.
Johan Westlin owned 50 acres of good agricultural land and worked with mixed farming.
He was a member of the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association.
Johan and Johanna had 8 children, 6 surviving, 5 sons and one daughter.
The family were members of the Norwegian Lutheran Congregation at Matsqui.
