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Olof Leander Allard (27 February 1854 – 19 March 1917) was a Swedish preacher, colporteur, and field hunter.

Early life and education

Born in Björknäs, Norsjö parish, he faced early adversity when both of his parents passed away during his childhood. His father, Olof Larsson, died when he was just four years old, and his mother, Elisabeth (Lisa) Jonsdotter, also passed away when he was thirteen, leaving him an orphan. He was admitted to the non-commissioned officer school in Karlsborg in 1874 and attended it in 1877.

Career

As a young man, Leander served as a soldier, known as a “field hunter.” During this time, he adopted the surname Allard, having previously been known as Olofsson.

Olof Leander Allard’s life took a significant turn when he became a preacher. After leaving the military, Allard became a lay preacher in the Swedish Evangelical Mission, primarily in Örnsköldsvik. His dedication to spreading the message of faith and his work as a colporteur left a lasting impact. Two books have been written about him: “Olof Leander Allard Fältjägare och predikant” and “Berättelser om människor och övernaturliga företeelser”.

Family

The Allard family from Örnsköldsvik. Standing from the left are Paul, Mirjam, Richard, Osvald, Gunnar and Herbert. Seated from the left are Olof, Göta, Teresia.

On September 21, 1884, Leander married Teresia Nordström from Ekorrträsk, in Degerfors parish in Västerbotten. In total they had eight children: Richard Nikolaus Allard (1886), Seth Herbert Allard (1887–1913), Paul Gotthard Olaus Allard (1889–1961), Osvald Einar Ivan Allard (1891–1933), Gunnar Wilhelm Allard, Richard Allard (1897–1947) Josef Halvar Allard (1899–1978) and Vilhelmina Viktoria Allard (1895–1896).