(1851-1939)
A young Swede who came to America in 1871 to earn a living had, before he died, become famous as "The Sage of Cedar Bayou," folk poet for a generation of Texans.
Educated by his mother, Sjolander learned Swedish, German, and English by speaking a day of each in turn. His favorite poet was Robert Burns, whom he adopted as a model. He later studied at Trinity University in England, and eventually sailed for America, jumping ship at Galveston Bay to escape a cruel Captain.
Sjolander landed at Cedar Bayou, which enchanted him with its "trees almost meeting over the water, vines and flowers everywhere." He settled there and found it an inspiration for his pastoral verses.
Although he became a farmer, married, and reared six children, Sjolander continued to write, his work appearing in many periodicals. Editors urged him to compose weekly assignments, but he refused for he felt it would make his poetry less spontaneous.
In 1928, he published his collected poems, "Salt of the Earth and Sea," which contained verses on legendary heroes and mysterious events of Galveston Bay, as well as nature poems such as "The Bluebonnet."
For his many lyrics and ballads, Sjolander has become one of the memorable poets of Texas.
(1967)