From the Baptist church in Sweden, Gustaf Palmquist came to the United States and founded the first Swedish Baptist Church at Rock Island, Illinois, in 1852, and was appointed by the American Baptist Home Mission Society to serve in Illinois, Ohio, and New York. F. O. Nilsson formed the second Swedish Baptist church in America in Houston, Minnesota. The WABHMS commissioned Miss Elizabeth Johnson to serve with Swedes in Chicago.
Gustaf Palmquist, a Baptist minister from Sweden, established the first Swedish Baptist Church in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1852. He was then assigned by the American Baptist Home Mission Society to serve in Illinois, Ohio, and New York.  F. O. Nilsson founded the second Swedish Baptist church in America in Houston, Minnesota. The WABHMS commissioned Miss Elizabeth Johnson to work with Swedes in Chicago.