History 
 
 of 
 
 1846-1946 
 
 A Story of Swedish Pioneers 
 
Robert P. Howard 
 2621* E. Lake Shore Dr 
 Springfield, III. 
 
 
 
 JO All Mn 
 
 UiY ty 0f 
 
 at , ILf -y 
 
 AT VIGN 
 
 'LL HIST. SURVEY 
 
City- County State Map 
 
 SIZE BH X 11 
 
100 YEARS 
 
 A History of 
 
 Bishop Hill, Illinois 
 
 ALSO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY 
 EARLY SWEDISH PIONEERS IN ILLINOIS 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 Collected and Compiled 
 
 By Theo. /. Anderson 
 
 Chicago, Illinois 
 
X[1 . ^\ 
 
 *lli, 
 
 3Jtt liming mrmorg of 
 nuj urifr iMartJja 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/100yearshistoryo00ande 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The Bishop Hill colony will always occupy a prominent 
 place in any history of the State of Illinois. 
 
 It was founded when Chicago was but an overgrown vil- 
 lage, and when there was not a single city worthy of the name 
 in the state. 
 
 It brought 1,100 able-bodied immigrants into the county 
 of Henry when the entire population of the county was only 
 four times that number. 
 
 It started that mighty tide of Swedish immigration which 
 has flooded the State of Illinois and the entire north west with 
 prosperous Swedish homesteads and flourishing villages. 
 
 One of the principal tenets of their religion was that all 
 things should be in common so that no poor should go unprovided 
 for and none suffer from lack of means. 
 
 The memory of the Bishop Hill colony cannot die for it is 
 part of the pioneer history of a great and flourishing state, and 
 it is cherished in the hearts of the descendants of the pioneers 
 who are to be found scattered throughout the lengt and breadth 
 of the United States. The correct conduct of these people, the 
 purity of their lives, and their industry soon won respect of 
 their immediate neighbors. 
 
 Yet they suffered greatly from the strange climate and 
 exposure of those earlier years. During the cholera scourge 
 of 1849 men would go to their work in the morning in good 
 health and be dead before sun down. Yet during these years 
 of poverty, sickness, and death, they exhibited a fortitude al- 
 most unequalled in the history of Illinois settlements. 
 
 A stranger visiting Bishop Hill today, for the first time 
 would be aware of its exotic origin with one glance at its archi- 
 tectures. No such buildings were ever erected by Yankees or 
 Hoosier settlers. It is strikingly foreign with touches of crafts- 
 manship by which the older countries mark the work of their 
 hands. The community house known as the, "Big Brick" per- 
 haps the most novel and arresting of the buildings where almost 
 4 he entire colony lived, was destroyed by fire in 1928. 
 
 5 
 
What a pity there was no commission to preserve such 
 things in this great state. 
 
 The purpose of this book, the publication of which is a 
 part of the Bishop Hill centennial celebration (September 23, 
 1946), is to recall the roles played by the Swedes as American 
 pioneers and citizens. 
 
 Some of the material has long been known in a general 
 way, but it has been widely scattered and often of an indis- 
 criminate character. 
 
 My collection of these articles have been written by the 
 best of authorities of many years ago, and the coming genera- 
 tion will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred 
 treasure from the facts that it contains much that would never 
 find its way into public records. 
 
 The Bishop Hill colony built mills, erected manufactories, 
 and put thousands of acres of virgin soil under cultivation. 
 It engaged in banking and its history connects itself with that 
 of early railroading in the state. 
 
 Yet, the Bishop Hill was primarily a religious society. 
 
 What they sought in the new world, was not wealth, but 
 freedom to worship God, after their own manner. 
 
 They held views that were repugnant to the state church 
 of Sweden. 
 
 It was the realization of these' views, which they sought in 
 the New World. If the character of these views as well as of 
 the results of the experiment the reader of the book will be able 
 to judge for himself. It might appear strange that in spite of 
 it's general interest, no attempt has been made to present a 
 complete history of the colony. 
 
 Since each part is intended to be a unit by itself and 
 written long ago, mistakes are bound to creep in, I hope they 
 are few and minor ones. 
 
 I hereby wish to express my appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Jonas Bergren, Mrs. John Oberg, Mr. Albert Krans, Albert B. 
 Anderson, Mrs. Axel Sholeen, Mr. R. Spets, and many other 
 citizens of Bishop Hill and Galva who have so kindly assisted 
 me with material to make this book possible. 
 
 Theo. J. Anderson. 
 Chicago, 111., 1946. 
 
Bishop Hill 
 
 This community was started 
 
 When some Swedish pioneers 
 
 Sought the right to worship 
 
 Without interference from their peers. 
 
 But when they crossed the broad Atlantic 
 
 It was a grueling test; 
 Some couldn't stand the hardships 
 
 And so were laid to rest. 
 
 And when they landed on these shores 
 
 Their trip had just begun; 
 For many miles yet lay ahead 
 
 Before their trip was done. 
 
 The last part of the journey 
 Was made by wagon train; 
 They found the site they'd sought for 
 Sc the trip was not in vain. 
 
 But the winter caught them early 
 With no shelters yet complete; 
 
 Many couldn't stand the winter 
 For they hadn't much to eat. 
 
 They suffered hardships and privation 
 And the cholera took its toll, 
 
 And the graves were large and many 
 As their Maker called the roll. 
 
 Next year the things got better 
 
 And they began to live; 
 They built their church of worship 
 
 A place their thanks to give. 
 
 Men and women worked alike 
 To burn the brick and lime, 
 
 To build the large brick buildings 
 
 That have stood the test of time. 
 
They worked in fields, at skills and erafts, 
 
 To build the future town; 
 They all worked hard together 
 
 No one — should wear a crown. 
 
 The work they did was all done well 
 
 The clock still strikes the hour; 
 The colonists have long since passed 
 
 But they left the state a dower. 
 
 And as we look about us 
 
 We see that heritage of will, 
 In the little town we live in 
 
 That they called Bishop Hill. 
 
 — Albert B. Anderson, 
 
 Bishop Hill, Illinois 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 PART I 
 
 Philip Stoneberg's Story of Bishop Hill 
 
 PART II 
 
 M. A. Mikkelsen's story of Religious Communistic 
 Settlement in Henry County 
 
 PART III 
 
 Bishop Hill Semi-Centennial Celebration 
 
 PART IV 
 
 State of Illinois Takes over the Colony Church and 
 Village Park 
 
 PART V 
 
 Centennial Celebration and Reunion of the Old Settlers of 
 Bishop Hill Colony 
 
 Published by 
 
 THEO. G. ANDERSON 
 
 3216 N. Kenmore Avenue. Chicago 13, 111. 
 9 
 
PART I 
 
 The Story of Bishop Hill 
 
 1905 
 
 Philip J. Stoneberg 
 
Bishop Hill History 
 
 Weller township is on the southern frontier. Its history- 
 is largely absorbed in the history of the Bishop Hill colony. 
 It was to the great central mound that the religious refugees 
 from Scandinavia came. This is the most remarkable historical 
 event in Henry county, and duly is granted its full measure of 
 importance elsewhere. 
 
 Sam and Neely Withrow were the first settlers in Weller. 
 They settled at the east end of Red Oak Grove in 1836. Other 
 members of the populous Clan of Withrow had forged on north 
 to Rock River. They had come from White county, Illinois, the 
 same county the Clan of Hanna emigrated from. Soon the Red 
 Oakers became dissatisfied, and concluded to follow on to Rock 
 River. The men members of the family over here in Phenix, 
 including our old friend "J. Wes. " Withrow, took wagons to 
 Red Oak to help in the moving. The women were left alone in 
 the cabin on Rock River. In the night a lot of prowling buck 
 Indians came along and wanted to sleep by the fire in the cabin. 
 The frightened women naturally refused. They heard several 
 shots fired in the night; but were not disturbed. Goodness, 
 they were glad when it was morning! What a royal old friend 
 the Sun is, anyhow! 
 
 The Withrow came and went in 1836. It is said that one 
 piece of land was held by James Withrow, who, dying in 1839, 
 Ms estate was the first probated in the county. 
 
 Weller settled up about the middle of the century. There 
 was little civilization till the half-way mark of the late century 
 had been reached. Settlers, however, came in the '40 's. Among 
 these, John T. Piatt is reported as arriving in 1840. Nearly all 
 the settlers were Swedes, as may be inferred from the names: 
 Jonas Berglund, Lars Anderson, John Bjork, Peter 0. Bloom- 
 berg, Jonas Elblow, John P. Chaiser, Lars Ericson, Lars Fors- 
 berg, John H. Grammer. (Grammar was born in Germany, 
 and came to Henry county in 1847. William Grammar came 
 in 1843.) Came also Hans M. Hollander, Jacob Jacobson and 
 wife, (the latter came trudging across the hills afoot) ; John 
 
 12 
 
E. Lindbeck, Olof Moline, Wm. L. Newman, Hans Nostrum, 
 Eric Olson, Jonas Olson, Olof Olson, Henry Poppy, J. E. Stone- 
 berg, Olof Stoneberg, Andrew Stoneberg, Swan Swanson, Peter 
 Wexell, Peter Wickblom, all these in the decade from 1840 to 
 1850. They have founded great houses and estates, and were 
 industrious pioneers. They built the foundations of a healthy 
 township where the people, when asked about their health, need 
 not murmur "pretty well." They can look proudly the land- 
 scape o'er, and truthfully respond "Pretty Weller." 
 
 We now sidestep and let Mr. Philip J. Stoneberg tell his 
 interesting story of Weller township, of Nekoma, and the ab- 
 sorbing tale of Bishop Hill : 
 
 Weller Township 
 
 As far back as October 28, 1817, William Barrows patented, 
 by military warrant, the southeast quarter of section five in 
 Weller township, this patent was signed by James Monroe, 
 president of the United States. Henry county being a part of 
 Madison county then, the patent was recorded at the county 
 seat, Edwardsville. Subsequently other tracts were patented 
 by military warrants in this township. 
 
 The first settler in Weller township is said to have been 
 James Withrow, who located at the east end of Red Oak Grove 
 in 1836, and died on his farm in 1839, his estate being the 
 first probated in the county. 
 
 Among the earliest settlers was John Piatt who with his 
 family moved from Henderson Grove to this country in 1840, 
 there being but one house within twenty miles southeast of his 
 home. They located at the north end of Red Oak Grove. 
 
 The Piatt family lived six years in a log house before they 
 built a frame house. They had many discouragements at first, 
 but the woods abounded in fruit, sugar, molasses, and vinegar, 
 and put up meat by the barrel. 
 
 The first two years they were almost alone in the grove, 
 there being but two other families. William Piatt, John's 
 father, and Hiram Broderick. 
 
 In a few years several settlers had arrived. Several came 
 from Germany, among them being Herman G. Hier, who reached 
 this country in 1844 and presently located in the northern part 
 
 13 
 
of Weller township, a few miles to the northeast of Red Oak 
 Grove. These Germans appropriated land due west of Hier's, 
 resulting in a long string of Sarins, being called by the Red Oak 
 inhabitants, ' ' Stringtown. ' ' 
 
 Early settlers made their appearance in the south end of 
 Red Oak Grove, the first however, apparently making their 
 home in Clover township. 
 
 In 1848 Thomas Maxwell settled in the north end of the 
 grove. He and John Piatt had several implements in common. 
 According to Maxwell's sons, John and Reuben, Maxwell and 
 Piatt bought the first McCormick reaper in Henry county in 
 1850, the agent being Henry G. Little. It was necessary to go 
 to Henry to bring it home. With this machine, work for the 
 Bishop Hill colony was done a few seasons. Four good horses 
 did the pulling. 
 
 These two pioneers likewise owned a threshing machine, 
 which was the first in the township. This was a separator, and 
 so was a great advance on the old threshing contrivances, which 
 did not separate the grain from the chaff. 
 
 Maxwell and Piatt also are said to have owned the first 
 corn planter in the county. It was made by George W. Brown, 
 the pioneer implement maker of Galesburg. 
 
 When township organization took the place of the old 
 county organization, John Piatt was one of the three com- 
 missioners who named the townships. Piatt 's own township was 
 named Weller in honor of a friend of Piatt's back in Ohio. 
 
 Nekoma 
 
 In 1854 there was strong talk about building "the Amer- 
 ican Central Railroad," or "the Great American Air Line," 
 as it was also called. This road was to run west from Galva 
 and so the Bishop Hill colonists obtained the concession of a 
 depot on the present site of Nekoma. A few houses were built 
 and a postoffice instituted. 
 
 But the proposed railroad did not materialize as was ex- 
 pected, and Nekoma began to sink into oblivion. Ten or twelve 
 years, however, after the railroad had been graded, the Chicago, 
 Burlington & Quincy Railroad, bought that part which was 
 
 14 
 
Interior — Biskopskulla Church, Uppland, Sweden 
 
 On this ground stood the house where Eric Janson was born, 
 December, 1808. Biskopskulla Church in the left background. 
 
 15 
 
Osterunda Church, Vestmanland, 
 Sweden 
 
 Biskopskulla Church, Uppland, 
 Sweden 
 
 finished and completed the rest. The first train went through 
 in January, 1869. Nekoma then began to pick up. On July 21, 
 1869, the village was laid out by Maxwell Woodhull, of Wash- 
 ington City. 
 
 The streets running east and west bear the names of trees 
 — Oak, Elm, Beech and Maple — while those extending north 
 and south are numbered avenues. 
 
 Although containing less than a hundred inhabitants it 
 has ever been an important center for the marketing of grain, 
 and contains two grain elevators. There are two general mer- 
 chandise stores which do a good business. There is a Methodist 
 church in the village. The school children attend school in 
 a district school just south of the corporate limits. 
 
 The Swedish Methodist Episcopal church of Bishop Hill, 
 Illinois, was organized in the fall of 1864, with about twenty 
 members. The records give only a few names but it is to be 
 presumed that their wives and some children also joined. These 
 are the names: Eric Bengtson, Jonas Engstrom, Eric Soder, 
 John Walstrom, John Erickson. The church edifice was built 
 in 1869 and remodeled 1900. The membership is now one hun- 
 dred and thirty. Its present pastor Rev. A. J. Strandell, who 
 came here in October, 1905. 
 
 1 6 
 
"The Old Colony Church"— Bishop Hill. Illinois 
 "North Entrance" 
 
 The Bishop Hill Colony 
 
 By Philip J. St on eb erg 
 
 The Bishop Hill colony originated in a religious move- 
 ment in certain parishes of central Sweden in the first half 
 of the nineteenth century. The principal leader in this activity 
 was a farmer by the name of Eric Janson, who, the son of Jan 
 Mattson, a farmer, first saw the light of day December 19, 
 1808, in the hamlet of Landsberga, in Biskops Kulla parish in 
 the Province of Upland, Sweden. 
 
 There were four boys in the Janson family: Jan, Eric, 
 Peter and Carl, and one girl, Anna. In 1820 the family moved 
 to Thorstuna parish, in the province of Westmanland, where 
 the parents had resided before their marriage. In 1838 the 
 father bought a farm of his own, called Klockaregarden, in 
 Osterunda parish, Westmanland and moved thither with his 
 family, where he lived until his death in 1843. 
 
 17 
 
One day when in his second year Eric was left for a little 
 while in the care of his seven-year-old brother Jan, who, by 
 accident, cut off the first two fingers on the little fellow's left 
 hand. AVhen eight years of age Eric was driving alone to the 
 field when his horse ran away so that the wagon was upset, 
 the boy thrown out and his head badly hurt by a plow that he 
 had in the wagon. For some years afterwards he suffered with 
 pains in the head. 
 
 When about twenty-two years old he became afflicted with 
 rheumatism. One summer day in 1830 he rode on horseback to 
 plow in the field. On dismounting he had a severe rheumatic 
 attack so that he fell to the ground. While in this plight he 
 seemed to hear a voice saying somewhat as follows : " It is writ 
 that whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall re- 
 ceive ; all things are possible to him that believeth. 'If ye 
 shall ask anything in my name, I will do it, saith the Lord.' " 
 He prayed to be cured and when he rose again his malady was 
 gone, and he could continue his work. 
 
 From that time his interest in religion was greatly in- 
 creased. Already as a lad he had shown a religious bent which 
 was further revealed at his confirmation at the age of seven- 
 teen in the Lutheran faith, which was the state religion of 
 Sweden. But when he was cured from rheumatism he felt that 
 he had become changed spiritually as well as physically, and 
 he believed more than ever in the power of faith. As he had 
 himself become awakened along religious lines, he wanted so 
 others to have a similar experience. He accordingly began to 
 preach to those about him. He also spent much time in read- 
 ing when he was not taken up with his farming, studying the 
 Bible a great deal and devotional books by Luther, Arndt, 
 Nohrbei g and other Lutheran writers. Certain of the church 
 writing, however, dissuading the tillers of the soil from preach- 
 ing, led him to desist from public speaking after a period of 
 about four years. 
 
 In his twenty-seventh year, Eric Jansson was married. 
 His bride was a servant in his father's household, his parents 
 did not favor the match and the only dower was a cow and 
 a pig. He rented some land and, with his older brother Jan, 
 dealt in grain on a small scale. Success crowned his labors 
 and in 1838 he purchased an estate near Sankarby, in Oster- 
 
 18 
 
unda parish, for one thousand riks-daler in cash. Here he fol- 
 lowed his vocation of farming. Sometimes he publicly ex- 
 pounded the Scriptures. 
 
 In 1840 he went to the October fair at Upsala to sell cattle, 
 being accompanied by his youngest brother, Carl. The ungod- 
 liness at the great mart so touched him that on his return home 
 he visited his pastor to whom he revealed an intense desire 
 to preach. And so it came about that he often spoke at meetings 
 in private houses with the consent and approval of the parish 
 clergy. 
 
 Adjoining the province of Westmanland on the north are 
 the provinces of Dalarne and Gestrikland. Beyond these in the 
 province of Helsingland, where as in other places, there lived 
 men and women who were more religious than the rank and 
 file, and who, because they read much devotional literature, 
 were called "readers." 
 
 One of the prominent "readers" in Helsingland was Jonas 
 Olson, a farmer who resided in the hamlet of Ina, Soderala 
 parish. He was bom in 1802. His mother procured writing 
 materials for him which were destroyed by his illiterate father. 
 Yet the lad's ambition could not be quenched. Confirmed when 
 he was fifteen years old the youth had to shift for himself, 
 but the eldest brother was a drunkard. In 1825 he attended 
 a dance where liquor was served in mockery of the Lord's Sup- 
 per. Olson revolted at this act, renounced worldly amusements, 
 and studied the Bible and Lutheran books. In Stockholm he 
 met C. 0. Rosenius, who represented Hallean pietism and George 
 Scott, an English Methodist clergyman. Under Scott's direction 
 he organized temperance and religious activities when Eric Jans- 
 son appeared upon the scene. 
 
 The farmer-preacher of Westmanland traveled considerably 
 as a dealer in flour. Armed with a certificate from his min- 
 ister — a paper which was required by law in traveling from one 
 parish to another — and accompanied by a hired man, he set out 
 in January. 1843, for the distant Helsingland, ostensibly to sell 
 flour but really to gain a better knowledge of the religious life 
 in those parts. With his servant he arrived at the parish of 
 Soderala one Saturday evening and was directed, on his in- 
 quiry if there were any prominent religious persons in that 
 locality, to the home of Jonas Olson. Jansson reached the place 
 
 19 
 
and informed the owner that he was a "reader," but the re- 
 ception was cool, although lodging was given to the visitors. 
 
 On Sunday morning a married sister of the host came to 
 buy flour of Jansson who, however, declined to do business 
 on the Sabbath. This the host regarded as a sure sign that Jans- 
 son was a "reader." That same morning Jansson attended 
 church with the host and his family and in the evening went 
 to a religious gathering in the neighborhood. Jansson was in- 
 vited to speak but declined stating on their return home that he 
 objected that the Bible had not been used to the exclusion of 
 other books. He furthermore took Olson to task on Monday 
 morning for not conducting family worship. The upshot was 
 that the grain dealer from Osterunda parish gained a tri- 
 umphant entry into the heart of Jonas Olson. 
 
 Eric Jansson continued his journey northward visiting 
 various parishes. Preaching with much energy he drew large 
 audiences although he often spoke for four or five hours at 
 a stretch. On his travels homeward Jonas Olson went with 
 him as far as the city of Gevle where several meetings were held. 
 
 By the middle of February he was home once more, but 
 in the latter part of the same month he again started for Hel- 
 sin gland, getting farther north than on his previous trip. His 
 friend Jonas Olson was with him. At times his utterances were 
 not so well received. Arriving home in April he attended to 
 the spring work on the farm. In his absence thieves had stolen 
 some of his property. 
 
 Shortly after midsummer he again journeyed to Helsing- 
 land, meeting sometimes with enmity, sometimes friendship. 
 On his return home he found a considerable opposition to him- 
 self. Janson seems to have concluded that the Bible alone was 
 sufficient for study and meditation. He therefore discarded all 
 other religious books. Having a strong belief in the power of 
 faith he maintained that the true believer could be completely 
 freed from sin, live a life free from sin and have full sanctifi- 
 cation once and for all. Janson was therefore expressing views 
 contrary to the doctrines of the established church, and conse- 
 quently was arousing hostility. 
 
 Since a certificate from the pastor of the parish, indicating 
 some temporal purpose, was necessary for a person to travel 
 to another parish, Janson delayed his next trip northward until 
 
 20 
 
ho could have a supply of flour. So in the fall of 1843 he set 
 out for Helsingland and while there decided to move to Forsa 
 parish. Accordingly on his return home he sold his estate at 
 Lotorp for only nine hundred riks-daler, but as his father died 
 at that time he moved to the parental home, Klockaregarden. 
 In April, 1844, Janson and his family moved to Lumnas, a 
 tenancy subject to Stenbo in the parish of Forssa, while Olof 
 Stoneberg, who resided at Stenbo, moved to Klockaregarden 
 where Janson had lately resided. 
 
 Thus, then, the farmer and erstwhile dealer in flour had 
 acquired a wide fame as a public speaker. For one thing he 
 found appreciative hearers in many of the "readers." He was 
 thoroughly versed in the Bible and in the current devotional 
 works. He was imbued with an intense, revivalistic spirit, and 
 had an earnest and bold message which he had the power to 
 express. He also had a magnetic personality, with a look that 
 was compelling and a voice that was untiring. In personal 
 appearance he was of medium stature with light brown hair, 
 blue eyes, pale, thin face, high cheek bones, sunken cheeks, 
 straight, pointed nose, round chin, closely drawn lips and very 
 long and broad teeth especially in the upper jaw. The first 
 two fingers on the left hand had been cut off by accident in 
 childhood, as already stated. 
 
 As time went on and Janson traveled from place to place 
 the number of those who believed in his teachings, increased. 
 Several men were deputed by him in course of time to travel 
 into various parishes and conduct meetings in private homes 
 and preach the new faith. 
 
 In the eyes of the clergy and conservative laymen the new 
 movement was fanatical and ought to be suppressed. The name 
 of "Jansonism" was given to it, and that of "Jansonists" to 
 the believers themselves. The conventicle law of 1726 was re- 
 vived which did not permit unauthorized gatherings in private 
 houses for religious services. It was felt that Janson ought to 
 be arrested and prevented from further preaching. But this 
 conclusion increased the ardor of his followers. Finally the 
 clergy refused the Jansonists admittance to the Lord's Supper 
 and the right to witness in the courts of law. Janson then re- 
 taliated by stating that there could be no faith without persecu- 
 tion; he denounced his opponents and held his gatherings at 
 
 21 
 
the time of regular church services, and dealt out the Lord's 
 Supper with his own hands. Persecuted by the clergy of the 
 parishes where he appeared, he rejected the authority of the 
 established church altogether and proclaimed himself as the 
 representative of Christ sent to restore the true Christian church. 
 
 The Jansonistic disbelief in the use of books other than 
 the Bible was emphasized before long as strongly as it could 
 well be done. Following the example of certain of the Corin- 
 thians in the days of the apostle Paul, who "brought their 
 books together and burned them before all men (Act 19:19), 
 it transpired that on the 11th of June, 1844, a large number of 
 religious books, excepting the Bible, the hymn-book and the 
 catechism, after having been taken by followers of Janson to 
 the village of Trauberg, Alfta parish, were piled in a great heap 
 by the lake-side and ignited. Amidst the reading of Scripture 
 and the singing of hymns, books to the value of about nine 
 hundred and seventy-five riks-daler were gradually consumed 
 by the flames until there remained but a few charred scraps 
 fluttering about on the blackened ground. 
 
 Two days after this event Janson was arrested and im- 
 prisoned first a Gefle, then at Vesteras until July 12th, whence 
 he was released after a hearing. While he was in prison it is 
 said that four of his adherents went to Stockholm and had an 
 audience with the king, Oscar I. presenting a petition for the 
 freeing of Janson. They were told that on their arrival home 
 Janson would be free. When released, Janson himself visited 
 the king; who asked him, "Do you desire mercy?" "No, I 
 desire justice," was i the reply. After a second hearing- at -Vest- 
 eras, September 21st, he was wholly cleared of the charges made 
 against him. His homeward journey was one continued ovation. 
 
 On October 28, 1844, a second pyre of religious books was 
 brought about at Lynas, Soderala parish, when not even the 
 catechism were spared. On November 20th Janson was arrested 
 by royal order and the Upsala chapter of the church was in- 
 structed to warn him. He was brought to Gefle, where an in- 
 quiry was made into his mental condition. He was found to 
 be of sound mind and was sent to Upsala where he was officially 
 warned on December 18th against spreading his doctrines and 
 was set free again. While he was in prison a third burning of 
 books took place in Forssa parish, December 7th, but the deed, 
 
 22 
 
having been discovered in time, was only a partial success, 
 and the participants were tried and fined. 
 
 After Janson was released at Upsala he returned at once 
 to Soderala where he addressed the people in various gather- 
 ings. On Sunday forenoon, December 22nd, a Jansonistic meet- 
 ing was in progress, when the civil authorities arrived, dis- 
 persed the audience and arrested Janson, who was brought back 
 to the prison at Gefle where he remained until April 18, 1845, 
 when he was freed, as the charges preferred against him were 
 regarded as insufficient to warrant detaining him in prison. 
 He returned to his home in Forssa parish. 
 
 If Janson was obliged to suffer, his followers had to do 
 the same. They were subjected to fines, maltreatment and im- 
 prisonment. In the summer of 1844 a certain number of per- 
 sons appeared before the court in Thorstuna parish on the com- 
 plaint of a minister and had to pay fines for failure to attend 
 church. In December of the same year Jonas Olson and his 
 brother Olof were summoned to Upsala to answer to the con- 
 sistory for their religious belief. There they were warned for 
 their religious views. But the outcome was that on their return 
 home Jonas Olson was arrested, brought to Gefle and placed 
 among prisoners whom he as juryman (namdeman) had for- 
 merly assisted in convicting. Here he became a fellow-prisoner 
 with Eric Janson, but was soon released. It happened, however, 
 that some time later the two brothers were again ordered to 
 the Upsala consistory. In Gefle they were arrested for preach- 
 ing but were released when their destination was made known. 
 Feeling that justice was not given them at the second hearing 
 at Upsala they went to Stockholm and saw the king who prom- 
 ised to look into the matter. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1845, Olof Stoneberg was 
 reading from the Bible at a gathering at a neighbor's house in 
 Ostersunda parish when a mob came, entered the room and 
 severely bruised the reader, while others also received blows. 
 The sheriff (Lansman) arrived on the scene and instituted in- 
 quiries. On the following Sunday afternoon the same Stone- 
 berg was again reading a portion of Scripture at a meeting in 
 another house in the same neighborhood when a crowd of men 
 appeared in the yard, including the minister. Through the 
 timely arrival of the sheriff no trouble occured. 
 
 23 
 
About 11 o'clock on Saturday night, August 16. 1845, a 
 minister in Ostersunda parish and several other men broke 
 into the home of Olof Stoneberg under the pretense of search- 
 ing for Janson, and damaged some property. Furthermore, the 
 priest who was under the influence of liquor, maltreated one 
 of the servant girls and forced her, half-dressed, to accompany 
 the party on foot to the sheriff's residence, over three miles 
 away. Suit was brought against this minister but finally noth- 
 ing came of it. 
 
 On midsummer day — the great Swedish summer holiday 
 — the Jansonists were holding a meeting in the year 1845. The 
 place was Stenbo, Forssa parish. The main audience room was 
 the grassy yard, the pulpit, the front steps of the dwelling. 
 Presently the service was ended by the arrival of the sheriff 
 and a number of persons hostile to the Jansonists. As the 
 sheriff was about to arrest Janson, the preacher at this oc- 
 casion, a woman pushed him off the crowded porch, while Jan- 
 son got away. The house was broken into that a search might 
 be made for the fugitive. Later several started out in pursuit 
 of him. But Janson, accompanied by Olof Stoneberg, evaded 
 the pursuers and after an all-night journey, mostly through 
 woods, the home of Jonas Olson was reached the next morning, 
 about thirty-five miles away. 
 
 Janson then lay in hiding in various parishes for sometime. 
 The authorities had set a day to try for his utterances at a 
 gathering the previous fall, but he could not be found. Finally 
 he made known his whereabouts and signified his willingness 
 to be tried. He was ordered to appear before the Forssa court 
 at Sanna, October 11th, 1845. During the process of the trial 
 the jury refused to allow his friends to testify. The witness 
 for the prosecution alone being* heard, a decision from which 
 the judge dissented. The case was again taken up October 30. 
 A change of venue was taken to the Delsbo court which met in 
 extra session, November 18. The jury decided that the de- 
 fendant should be sent to Gefle prison, pending a new trial, 
 but the judge was for acquittal and is said to have fined the 
 jurors for contempt. 
 
 While Janson was being taken to Gefle to what some be- 
 lieved would be life imprisonment there appeared three or four 
 of his followers on the highway who overpowered the driver 
 
 24 
 
and rescued the prisoner. Moreover a woman poured some 
 blood of a kid on the road to strengthen the rumor that was 
 spread that Janson was killed. 
 
 Janson, having thus been rescued, was concealed, now in 
 one parish, now in another, now in this farm-house, now in 
 that, although he was sometimes in great danger of recapture. 
 At Voxna mills a crowd gathered to take him, but through a 
 ruse of Jonas Olson and a youth, time was obtained to hide 
 him in a place under the floor arranged for the purpose, but 
 various persons received bruises at the hands of the visitors. 
 Janson next hid in another parish for seven weeks under a 
 barn floor. His next hiding place was divulged by the owner 
 when drunk but a woman overheard the conversation and set 
 out to warn Janson, who escaped to another place. 
 
 From what has been narrated so far it is evident that the 
 Jansonistic movement was a serious proposition in those par- 
 ishes which it affected. It engendered bitter feeling, it sun- 
 dered friendships, it provoked hostilities. But the blame can- 
 not be placed wholly on one side, nor wholly on the other. The 
 state church might have shown more of spirituality and more 
 of charitable tolerance. The Jansonists might have been less 
 rash at times as well as more reasonable and more careful in 
 their methods. The leader himself might have avoided much 
 of the criticism which was heaped above him both as to his 
 conduct and as to his utterances. He might have been less 
 arbitrary and less egotistic. But the follies, the shortcomings, 
 the mistakes of humanity appear on nearly every page of 
 world history. 
 
 The Jansonists came at last to the parting of the ways. 
 Two courses lay before them. If they followed the one they 
 must renounce those of their religious ideas which conflicted 
 with the state church, and thereby exercise the rights of citi- 
 zens and dwell unmolested among the lakes and mountains of 
 their childhood days. If they followed the other, the might 
 adhere to their beliefs but they must depart for a distant land 
 separated from their own by the rough billows of the deep. 
 They choose the latter, and began to prepare to emigrate to 
 America, which they had heard was the land of freedom. 
 
 As is generally known the first Swedish settlement in the 
 
 25 
 
United States was made in 1638, near the site of "Wilmington, 
 Delaware, while later other Swedish settlements were made 
 along the Delaware river as far as the site of Philadelphia. A 
 list of the Swedish families residing in New Sweden in 1693 
 embraced over nine hundred individuals, among them being 
 a certain Morten Mortenson, whose grandson, John Morton, 
 cast the deciding vote for the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Thirty-two years later the Swedish population of New 
 Sweden was estimated at over one thousand five hundred souls. 
 With the return to Sweden in 1791 of the last Swedish clergy- 
 man of the Swedes church at Wilmington, English came into 
 exclusive use in that church. In 1823 Nicholas Callin, a Swedish 
 minister, wrote from Philadelphia that after him would come 
 no Swedish clergymen because the descendants of the former 
 colonists had lost their mother tongue. He thought that the 
 immigration from Sweden could not be important and he had 
 for thirty-two years worked against it. 
 
 Little did Callin surmise what would happen after his day. 
 No large immigration would take place for another decade, but 
 now and then some individual would arrive. In the year that 
 Callin wrote his letter a certain Eric Alund came from Sweden 
 and became a Philadelphian. The first known Swede in Illinois, 
 Raphael Widen, had been appointed justice of the peace of 
 St. Clair county, 1814, and in 1818 had married into a French 
 family at Cahokia, becoming prominent in state politics. Brought 
 from Sweden to France at the age of eight he had been edu- 
 cated for the Catholic priesthood, but it is not known when 
 he came to this country. Jacob Falstrom a sailor-lad, came to 
 Minnesota before 1819, and dwelt among the Indians for about 
 forty years, marrying an Indian maiden. Christian Benson, 
 a sailor, first touched America in 1819, married a girl in Rhode 
 Island 1827, reached America for the third time 1835 and 
 coming to Illinois, settled in Portland township, Whiteside 
 county, near Rock Island. This township was once a part of 
 Henry county. 0. G. Lange, another sailor, reached Boston, 
 1824, and Chicago, 1838, and is known as the first Swede in the 
 Illinois metropolis. C. G. Gosselman visited America, 1826, 
 and wrote a book about it, while another traveler, C. 0. Arf- 
 wedson, was here, 1832-34, and published in both English and 
 Swedish two large volumes regarding his trip. 0. E. Dreutzer 
 
 26 
 
was in New York, 1831, and settled in Wisconsin ten years 
 later. S. M. Swenson arrived in 1836 and went to Texas, 1838, 
 whither he caused an important Swedish immigration later 
 on, and where he laid the foundations of his subsequent fortune 
 of many millions. H. P. Dryden came to Boston, 1838, and 
 resided in Cincinnati and Chicago. Sven Nelson, tiring of the 
 deck and the deep, came to Illinois in 1840 and settled in An- 
 dover, Henry county. S. B. Newman reached Mobile, 1842, 
 where an older brother had been a merchant for some time and 
 where the newcomer in a few years became a Methodist clergy- 
 man, and afterwards preached among his countrymen in the 
 north. In 1842, also, E. U. Norberg came to America, engaged 
 in lumbering in the north, and later joined the Bishop Hill 
 colony. In the early forties several Swedes are said to have 
 resided in Cincinnati, in fact Swedes were found in various 
 cities and parts of the United States as is evident from the 
 instances which have been cited. 
 
 The aforementioned Swedes may not have had any espe- 
 cial influences on the Jansonistic emigration. But two or three 
 others did. In 1826, Olof G. Hedstrom, a youth of twenty-three 
 summers, arrived in New York, worked at the tailor's trade, 
 married a cousin of his employer three years later and partly 
 through his wife's influence became an ardent Methodist. 
 In 1833 he visited Sweden, returning with his younger brother, 
 Jonas J., a youth of twenty. The latter also became a Metho- 
 dist, and after a short stay in New York, worked in Pennsylvania 
 as a blacksmith for several years. When a family of his acquaint- 
 ance moved to Knox county, Illinois, he followed, it is thought in 
 1837, and opened a blacksmith shop at Farmington, Fulton 
 county, later moving to Knox county, marrying a daughter in 
 the aforementioned family and becoming one of the founders 
 of the village of Victoria. Like his brother he was a gifted 
 speaker and so in Fulton county he was licensed a local preacher 
 and is known as the first Swedish preacher in Illinois. 
 
 Another Swede, named Gustaf Flack, also came to Victoria 
 in the early forties and in 1843 owned a store in Chicago and 
 is regarded as the first Swedish merchant in that city. He had 
 come from the parish of Alfta, Helsingland, which was one of 
 the strongholds of Jansonism, and his letters home are said to 
 have been read with keen interest and to have made an im- 
 
 2/ 
 
pression on the Jansonists. This man returned to Sweden in 
 1846 but did not reach his home alive, as he died on the way 
 to it from Gefle. 
 
 The first Swedish settlement in this country since the days 
 of the Delaware Swedes was made, hoAvever, five years before 
 the Jansonists came, for in 1841 G. Unonius brought about 
 twelve famlies of gentle folks to Pine Lake, Wisconsin, about 
 thirty miles west of Milwaukee. A few others joined the settle- 
 ment later but it lasted only a few years and the leader moved 
 to Chicago in 1840, where he became a Protestant Episcopal 
 clergyman. In 1844 about fifty Swedes landed in Boston, all 
 except one, journeying on to Wisconsin. In 1845, through the 
 influence of letters from one of the Pine Lake settlers five fam- 
 ilies under the lead of Peter Kassell left Sweden with the inten- 
 tion of going to Wisconsin. When they landed in New York in 
 1846 they were persuaded to go to Iowa, and so located the 
 colony of New Sweden about forty-two miles west of Burling- 
 ton. Other parties came to Iowa later and helped to found other 
 settlements. While some, who were bound for Iowa, were per- 
 suaded to go to Andover, Illinois, and others to Jamestown, 
 New York. 
 
 Reverting now to the Jansonistic emigration it appears that 
 in the summer of 1845 Olof Olson, of Soderala parish, sold 
 his property and with his wife, two children and two other 
 persons started for America to make preparations for the com- 
 ing of the Jansonists. In New York Olson became acquainted 
 with Olof G. Hedstrom, previously mentioned, who for ten years 
 had been an itinerant Methodist preacher among the Americans 
 in the Catskills, and in 1845 had opened a Swedish mission 
 in the North River on a ship bought for the purpose and re- 
 named the '"John Wesley," but better known as the "Bethel 
 ship." This Swedish mission became very important because 
 of the many Swedish sailors who visited that port and because 
 of the immigrants and the few who had already settled in that 
 city. Olson became enamored with the preaching of Hedstrom, 
 who furthermore recommended the newcomer to his brother 
 in Victoria. Thither Olson came the same fall and early next 
 spring, after having made a tour of Illinois, Wisconsin, and 
 Minnesota, wrote to Sweden that Illinois was the most desirable 
 
 place for the Jansonistic settlement. 
 
 28 
 
The Jansonists had been drawn toward each other by 
 their common faith in Eric Janson and his teachings and by 
 the obstacles which they encountered in adhering to that belief. 
 Their thoughts were directed constantly to the early Christians 
 in Apostolic times, so when they decided to emigrate they fol- 
 lowed the example of the first Christians at Jerusalem by sell- 
 ing their possessions and forming a common treasury. It is 
 also said that in further imitation of the first Christians seven 
 men were appointed by Janson to have general charge of affairs. 
 
 And necessity seemed to demand some such plan of emi- 
 gration. Some of the Jansonists were penniless, others had but 
 small means, while some were well-to-do. A common fund was 
 necessary if all should obtain sustenance and transporation 
 across the Atlantic to America and Illinois and support during 
 the first period in their new homes. Thus from scriptural ex- 
 ample and circumstance the principles of communism were 
 adopted by the Jansonists to be continued during the entire 
 existence of the colony. 
 
 It was found that about eleven hundred persons were will- 
 ing to emigrate. The undertaking, therefore, was not a small 
 affair for those days. Passports must be obtained. This implied 
 in the first place a certificate from the pastor of the parish 
 and next the passport proper for an individual or his family 
 as the case might be. Passports were at first denied the people, 
 and it was only through a petition to the royal authorities 
 that they' were granted. There were cases, however, of persons 
 whose husbands, or parents, or other guardian relatives were 
 opposed to their going and so these usually ran away, and, by 
 using the ministerial certificates of others to obtain passports, 
 or by using the passports of others, or by also disguising them- 
 selves succeeded in getting on ship board. 
 
 The exodus did not take place at once and the same season 
 of the year, nor was it accomplished Avithin the same year. Some 
 did not leave for four or five years. A few never left Sweden 
 at all. The first company of emigrants — a small band of six- 
 teen or seventeen persons — sailed from Soderhamn in the fall 
 of 1845 on a ship loaded with iron — a commodity which Swedish 
 ships usually carried to America. The vessel, unfortunately, 
 was wrecked in a storm the second day out. The surroundings 
 
 29 
 
were terrifying. All aboard believed the end was at hand. But 
 the Jansonists were calm, engaged in devotions, partook of the 
 holy communion and left a deep impression upon the crew and 
 the rest, including a sailor-lad who later became a noted Swedish 
 Methodist preacher, both in Sweden and the United States — 
 Victor Witting. The storm subsided, no lives were lost, and the 
 emigrants left for America again the next year. 
 
 In the early part of 1846 Eric Janson succeeded in getting 
 into Norway by traveling on skiis across the mountains, and 
 armed with the passport of another family, he departed from 
 Christiana, thence by merchant vessel to Kiel, next by rail to 
 Hamburg and from there by steamer to Hull, and thence by 
 rail to Liverpool. Here they boarded a sailing vessel for New 
 York, their voyage taking about six weeks. 
 
 In the same year — 1846 — occurred the main emigration. 
 The vessels departed from Stockholm, Soderhamn, Goteborg, 
 Gefle and Christiana. The ships were small and in some cases 
 old and unsea worthy. They were all sailing vessels and so 
 dependent on fair winds for good traveling. The emigrants 
 furnished their own bedding and victuals, and before embark- 
 ing spent some time in baking Swedish hard tack, curing meat 
 and gathering other food. One company took with them two 
 goats which furnished milk on shipboard. Water and fuel were 
 furnished free. 
 
 In a contract made on the above basis in 1850 for con- 
 veying one hundred and fifty-seven persons from Soderhamn 
 to New York on the ship "Eolus, " the transportation charges 
 were seventy riks-daler (about seventeen dollars and fifty cents) 
 per passenger above the age of twelve, while infants were free. 
 Two dollars were also paid out in advance for each to cover 
 the landing and hospital fee, which cannot have been far from 
 the actual amount required, for in the case of the ship "New 
 York" wich sailed from Gefle and carried one hundred and 
 eighty-one passengers to New York in the spring of 1847, this 
 fee was one dollar and eighty-seven and one-half cents. Pre- 
 sumably the passenger rates varied according to circumstances 
 and agreements. An emigrant who traveled with a small party 
 in 1847 states that the rate in that case was one hundred riks- 
 daler when the passenger furnished his own food. 
 
 30 
 
The Oldest Methodist Pulpit in 
 
 America. Made in Victoria, 111., 
 
 1854. 
 
 Rev. Oliver Hedstrom of 
 Victoria, Illinois 
 
 MONUMENT 
 
 Victoria, Illinois 
 
 Inscription — The First Swedish Methodist Church in the WORLD. 
 Founded here by J. J. Hedstrom in 1848. 
 
 31 
 
METHODIST CHURCH 
 
 Victoria, Illinois 
 
 VICTORIA, ILLINOIS 
 
 Cradle of Methodism in America 
 
 32 
 
The number of emigrants on a ship varied. In some cases 
 it was less than fifty, again about seventy-five, or one hundred 
 and fifty or one hundred and sixty, or nearly two hundred. The 
 times for the voyage also varied, as six weeks, nine weeks, 
 twelve weeks, while one vessel, the "New York," was five months 
 on the way, of which time seven weeks were spent on the English 
 coast near Dover in repairing the vessel. Not all who embarked 
 in Sweden lived to see the promised land. Some died on the 
 sea, others after reaching New York, and the journey inland 
 was begun. One vessel with about fifty emigrants was lost 
 at sea, another was wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, 
 another lost its rudder in a storm while within a day's sailing 
 of New York, protracting the voyage. 
 
 From New York the journey was continued up the Hud- 
 son river to Albany, thence on the Erie canal to Buffalo, next 
 on the Great Lakes to Chicago, whence the first emigrants went 
 on foot for the most part while wagon transportation was se- 
 cured for the luggage, and for such as could not walk a long 
 distance. Later arrivals went from Chicago by water to LaSalle, 
 Henry or Peru, whence they walked or rode. The last comers 
 in 1854 traveled by rail the entire distance from New York to 
 Galva — the year when the C. B. and Q railway was finished to 
 that point. The journey from New York before the days of 
 rail required about three weeks. 
 
 When the emigrants arrived in New York not a few of 
 them visited the Bethel ship and heard missionary Hedstrom. 
 Janson did the same, and also preached, Hedstrom trying hard 
 to win him over, but to no avail. Meanwhile a Swedish woman 
 who resided in New York — Mrs. Sophia Pollock - was con- 
 verted to Janson 's belief, and when Janson and his party 
 started for Victoria, Illinois, Mrs. Pollock and her husband 
 went with them. 
 
 It was the first part of July, 1846, that Janson and his 
 party reached Victoria. Shelter was given to Janson and his 
 family in a log cabin occupied by Olof Olson. In this cabin 
 was organized the first Swedish Methodist church by Jonas 
 Hedstrom, December 15th, of the same year. In Victoria Jan- 
 son used his efforts to dissuade Olson from maintaining the 
 Methodist faith and is said to have succeeded. 
 
 33 
 
After a short rest it was decided to secure a location for 
 the Jansonistic settlement. On August 1, 1846, there was pur- 
 chased in Olof Olson's name forty acres on section nine and 
 twenty acres on section seventeen near Red Oak Grove in Wel- 
 ler township for two hundred and fifty dollars from a Stark 
 county settler. On August 21st a deed was signed by which 
 for one thousand, one hundred dollars, a tract consisting of 
 one hundred and fifty-six acres of improved land was bought 
 on the south east quarter of section eight, in the same township 
 and at Red Oak Grove. Here were buildings, live-stock and 
 grain and here was established the first home of the new 
 settlers. In that same month came the first company of Jan- 
 sonists after Janson's arrival. They were chiefly from the 
 province of Dalarne and among them was Gabriel Larson, who 
 had contributed twenty-four thusand riks-daler. 
 
 After some prospecting it was agreed that the colony 
 should be located at Hoop Pole Grove on the south east quarter 
 of section fourteen, for here was a supply of water and wooded 
 shelter. On September 26th the quarter section indicated was 
 bought together with the north east quarter of section twenty- 
 three and the north west quarter of section twenty-four, in all 
 four hundred and eighty acres of contiguous land, and all pur- 
 chased from the government at the rate of one dollar and twenty- 
 five cents per acre. 
 
 The new settlement became known as Bishop Hill — an 
 exact translation of the name of the Swedish parish where Eric 
 Janson was born, but the name was later spelled without 
 the "S<" 
 
 A few log-houses and tents were first erected to be fol- 
 lowed by a number of dugouts, most of which were made in 
 the sides of the ravine passing north and south through the 
 settlement. The rear wall of a dug-out as well as the rear parts 
 of the side walls were of earth, but the front parts and the 
 front wall were of logs, there being a door at the front flanked 
 by two small windows. The roof was of rails, sod and earth. 
 A dug-out was usually about eighteen feet wide and twenty- 
 five or thirty feet long. There was a fire-place in the back 
 wall, while usually two tiers of berths ran along the side walls 
 accommodating about twenty-five or thirty persons. Sometimes 
 the dug-outs were comfortable, sometimes unhealthy. 
 
 34 
 
Dugout Cellar — First one used 
 
 by the Colonists. Located on 
 
 the Orlie Chilberg Farm. 
 
 Old Millstones in the Park. 
 
 RED OAK MONUMENT 
 
 INSCRIPTION— Hereabouts rests 50 members oi B. H. Colony 
 
 who died 1846-47. This Monument was erected by remaining 
 
 members of B. H. C. 1882 
 
 85 
 
In the same fall a large structure was built to serve the 
 purposes of a church. It was in the shape of a cross, was built 
 of logs and covered with canvas, whence it was called "the 
 tent church." At the north end was the pulpit, at the south 
 a gallery and a fireplace, and it is said that this church ac- 
 commodated about eight hundred to one thousand persons. Dur- 
 ing this fall there arrived a large number of emigrants so that 
 when winter set in there were about four hundred persons in the 
 colony, including seventy at Red Oak Grove. Small houses 
 were made of sod and rails were used for kitchen and dining 
 purposes. As the accommodations were not the best, the food 
 supply scanty and fasting obligatory, malaria and dysentery 
 attacked the settlers and the angel of death was busy. 
 
 Poverty and circumstances determined the nature of the 
 burials. There was no supply of sawed lumber to make coffins, 
 therefore sheets had to suffice. Sometimes one grave must 
 serve for several bodies. Funeral services were dispensed with, 
 nor was the place of interment always known. It is said that 
 a number were thus buried in a large grave in the west part 
 of the settlement near the south edge of the grove, but the 
 exact spot is unknown. In the east edge of lied Oak Grove there 
 was a place for the burial of the dead. A monument erected 
 there in 1882 informs the chance visitor that in that locality 
 fifty found a last resting place in '46 and '47. 
 
 These hardships were too much for some who accordingly 
 left for other places. Some who crossed the ocean at the ex- 
 pense of the common fund never came to the colony at all, 
 some remaining at Chicago, some elsewhere. 
 
 In June, 1847, there arrived about four hundred addi- 
 tional emigrants. These had come to New York in various ships 
 during the winter being obliged to wait until the water-ways 
 were again open before proceeding on their westfaid journey. 
 In February, however, there came to the colony a company of 
 twenty-one men and a woman as cook who left New York the 
 month before and traveled across the country by boat, rail, 
 stage and on foot. They were members of a party that had 
 left Sweden in the previous October, and the men took a leading 
 part in building a sod fence surrounding the town and over 
 a thousand acres of land. 
 
 36 
 
THE BIG BRICK— Destroyed by fire, 1928 
 
 The first floor of the Big Brick, or the kitchen building as it was 
 originally called, was the kitchen and dining hall; while the three 
 upper floors were made into dwelling rooms, one or two allotted 
 to a family. In 1850, a similar contiguous building was erected 
 to the south, thus making the building 200 feet long and contain- 
 ing 96 rooms. Incidentally, this is said to be one of the first apart- 
 ment houses in the middle west. 
 
 STEEPLE BUILDING— as seen from the Park. 
 37 
 
In 1847 was begun the making of adobe of clay and coarse 
 grass, and a few houses were made of this material, standing 
 for several years. In that year also was built the first frame 
 house, which was in part occupied by Eric Janson and family. 
 A sawmill was secured by the colonists, but was exchanged for 
 another, while in 1848 a third one was purchased. But not 
 all the needful lumber could be obtained in this way and some 
 had to be transported by wagon for many miles from such 
 places as Peru or Rock Island. 
 
 In 1848 a man smoking a pipe set afire to a pile of chaff 
 from flax near one of the log-houses. There was a strong wind 
 blowing and soon the log-houses near by were in flames and also 
 the tent-church in the same locality. Therefore measures were 
 taken to build a new church. Siding and finishing lumber were 
 hauled from Peru; adobe was placed in the walls next to the 
 siding. The basement and first story were fitted tip into dwell- 
 ing rooms, while in the second story was the church proper. 
 
 The making of kiln-dried brick began in 1848. Both men 
 and women were engaged in this work. Suitable clay was found 
 a short distance west of the village and there the kilns were fired. 
 A hundred thousand bricks were made the first month. It is 
 said that in all, five million bricks were made from first to last. 
 Brick was made for the market and for home use. A dozen sub- 
 stantial buildings of this material were erected during the ex- 
 istence of the colony, some of the masons being women. From 
 the chalk-stone in the ravine cement was manufactured, while 
 sand was procured in the neighborhood- In 1849 a four-story 
 brick building was begun, forty-five feet wide and one hundred 
 feet long, and was finished in 1850 . The first story became 
 the kitchen and dining hall. In 1850 work was commenced in 
 extending this building another one hundred feet on the south 
 and the next year the new structure was finished. The first 
 story of this' extension was also fitted up into a kitchen and 
 dining hall. Thereupon the dining hall in the north part was 
 used for the children, and the one in the south part for the 
 adults. This building, two hundred feet long, was called the 
 kitchen building but in English acquired the title of "the big 
 brick." The three upper stories were divided up into dwelling- 
 rooms, and after the close of the colony the first story was 
 
 38 
 
likewise fitted up into dwelling rooms, making a total of ninety- 
 six such, exclusive of six halls. 
 
 Another of the more important brick structures was "the 
 Steeple building," which, erected 1854, was designed for a 
 hotel, but was finally converted into dwelling rooms, a couple 
 of rooms being used for school purposes until the schoolhouse 
 was built. In the tower was installed a clock, made by three 
 of the colonists, striking the hours and designed to be wound 
 once a week. In calm weather the striking of the old clock may 
 still be heard today for a considerable distance. 
 
 The great majority of the colonists were from the province 
 of Helsingland which was famous for the cultivation of flax 
 and the weaving of linen goods, hence it is not surprising that 
 the colonists entered early upon this industry. At first the 
 flax was prepared by hand, but afterwards water-power was 
 used. All spinning and weaving were done by hand. Coarse 
 and fine goods, linens, woolens and carpets were made. The 
 largest production for the market for a single year was in 1851, 
 when twenty-eight thousand, three hundred and twenty-two 
 yards of linen and three thousand, two hundred and thirty- 
 seven yards of carpets were produced. From 1848 to and in- 
 cluding 1860 the total manufacture of woven goods appears to 
 have been one hundred and sixty-nine thousand, three hundred 
 and eighty-six yards. 
 
 There were tailors to make clothing; a tannery prepared 
 leather for the shoemakers. In a period of thirteen years there 
 were prepared about three thousand hides and five thousand 
 skins. Brooms were manufactured. Carpenters made furniture 
 and some with the help of blacksmiths made implements and 
 wagons. Every department of the colony's industries had its 
 overseers and each member belonged to some department for 
 a longer or a shorter time according to adaptability and 
 inclination. 
 
 As the colonists had been for the most part agricultural 
 people in the old world so agriculture was their principal oc- 
 cupation in the new. As the years rolled by more land was pur- 
 chased. The products of the middle west were gradually under- 
 stood. In the busy season the shops must turn out their work- 
 men, both men and women. At certain places there were build- 
 ing where both laborers and oxen were used, though the latter 
 
 39 
 
were less and less employed as the years went by. It was the 
 duty of men and boys to take care of the horses and oxen, while 
 women and girls milked the eows, and fed the calves and hogs. 
 
 When prairie land was to be broken there was at first used 
 a thirty-six inch plow, pulled by eight yoke oxen. While a 
 man guided the plow, a couple of boys usually urged the oxen 
 on with the aid of long whips. Later a smaller plow was 
 utilized, drawn by three yoke of oxen. In the plowing of 
 cultivated land horses were ordinarily employed. 
 
 Indian corn was planted for several years in the following 
 manner: Two men, walking in a straight line opposite each 
 other, carried each a stake to which was fastened a rope stretched 
 out and having a ribbon tied to it every four feet. Behind each 
 ribbon walked a woman, who, with the help of a hoe, planted 
 the corn she carried in an apron. After a time corn was planted 
 in another manner: A ''marker" made of wood was driven 
 over the prepared soil, and where the lines crossed girls dropped 
 the kernels after which women, carrying hoes, covered up the 
 seed. As the years passed by corn-planting machines made 
 their appearance. 
 
 Wheat and oats were at first cut with a scythe, but in 
 1848 the cradle appeared, a hand implement consisting of a 
 handle, a scythe-blade and above the latter a light frame of 
 wooden fingers which caught the grain when cut and held it 
 so that it could be laid evenly in a swath. Thereupon the 
 grain was bound into sheaves by women oftentimes, while boys 
 and girls carried the bundles into piles and old men shocked. 
 Sometimes at the close of some such day's work the laborers 
 would form in line and march home to supper while they sang 
 some cheery song. Thus the arduous work of a day was ended 
 in joy. 
 
 In the beginning the colonists ground their corn on hand- 
 mills, but these had to be worked night and day to supply the 
 need. To get wheat ground into flour it was necessary, it is 
 said, to go twenty-eight miles away to Green River, or to Cam- 
 den, now Milan. But a grist-mill run by water was erected, 
 1847, by the creek at the north end of the village. When the 
 water was low a few men who were studying and preparing 
 themselves to go out as missionaries for Jansonism, sometimes 
 tramped the wheel. A mill run by wind was built of brick and 
 
 40 
 
finished in 1851. Here a hundred barrels of flour could be 
 turned out in a day. Much flour was therefore marketed while 
 there was a large custom trade. A fourth mill driven by water- 
 power served for various industrial purposes. 
 
 In the early days the colonists were often obliged to fast, 
 but changes soon came for the better. A sort of thin bread of 
 the nature of hard-tack was the principal kind of bread during 
 the entire period of the colony. At first butter was used for 
 the most part only at breakfast on Sundays, but oftener later 
 on. While a greater variety of food was prepared for breakfast 
 and dinner as time went on, the regular article of food for 
 supper was mush of corn-meal or middling, served with skim- 
 milk or a fluid consisting of small beer and molasses. Coffee 
 was served only at breakfast ordinarily, but at first there was 
 little of real coffee about it — water was boiled with a sort of 
 roasted bread made usually of corn-meal, or middling, with 
 some potato flour and molasses. Sometimes wheat was roasted 
 and mixed with the coffee. Milk and molasses took the place 
 of cream and sugar. As a matter of fact the usual beverage 
 was small beer, a Swedish drink brewed in the colony. It is 
 said to have been more generally used than water and Avas con- 
 sidered wholesome and appetizing. A commodious brick build- 
 ing a short distance east of "the kitchen building'' served the 
 purposes of a bakery and bi.ewery. 
 
 Accustomed to fish in their lake-dotted home-land, the col- 
 onists made especial efforts to obtain fish in this lakeless region. 
 Fish was secured for several seasons from the Mississippi River, 
 the camp being on the government island at Rock Island. Some 
 went to Henry and Chillicothe to secure a supply of fish from 
 the Illinois River. 
 
 When the times had brightened the laborers were not only 
 enlivened by the regular meals, but refreshments between meals 
 — a custom which is still practiced in many a Swedish-American 
 home. While coffee with rusks and cake forms the essential 
 refreshments between meals today, the menu in the colony 
 consisted of bread, with cheese or meat, and small beer, and 
 sometimes a little of a strong drink called "No. 6," whose 
 object was chiefly med"cinal. Barrels of water and small beer 
 were hauled through the harvest fields all day long. 
 
 Going back to 1849 it appears that in the summe: a party 
 
 41 
 
of Norwegian emigrants eame and had with them the dreadful 
 Asiatic cholera which they had encountered on the way be- 
 tween Chicago and La Salle. The disease quickly fastened itself 
 upon the colony in grim earnest. Strong, healthy men were 
 caught, only to succumb in the fatal clutches of the plague. 
 Eric Janson ordered a number of the people who were well to 
 hurry off to the farm operated by the colony east of La Grange, 
 now Orion, and remain there until the cholera was stamped 
 out at home. But to no avail, for on the day after their ar- 
 rival the first case broke out among them, and others followed 
 in quick succession. One woman who cooked dinner was dead 
 at 4 o'clock the same afternoon. Physicians prescribed but the 
 deaths continued. 
 
 At the La Grange farm the deaths were most numerous, 
 and trenches were dug for the dead, no coffins being used. At 
 Bishop Hill the number was less, the burials were in the present 
 cemetery, opened in 1848, and coffins were used. Some who 
 were staying at a place near Cambridge fared no better and 
 several died of the scourge. Here a woman buried her dead 
 husband with her own hands, Janson took his wife and two of 
 the children to the fishing camp at Rock Island, but it was 
 useless — his wife and the two little ones passed away in the 
 awful disease and were buried there, the location of their graves 
 being today unknown. 
 
 It took about three weeks for the cholera to rage among 
 the colonists. When it was over a considerable number over a 
 hundred had breathed their last and been imbedded beneath 
 the soil. Of this number seventy are said to have died on the 
 La Grange farm. The site was marked in 1888 by a monument 
 which is located on section thirty-six of Western township, 
 near the road leading to Cambridge. A year after the cholera 
 had devastated the colony it attacked a number of emigrants 
 bound for the colony. They were seized by the scourge on the 
 Great Lakes, where it had been raging, and a considerable num- 
 ber met with suffering and death. 
 
 The colonists had left their home-land for religious reasons, 
 as has been indicated. It was therefore to be expected that the 
 religious life in the new settlement should be of great import- 
 ance. At first two services were held each weekday in the tent- 
 church, and three on Sunday, Janson roused the people early 
 
 42 
 
Major Eric Bergiund 
 57th Reg. Illinois 
 
 Rev. Andrew Bergiund 
 
 iishoy Hiii, V... .■/■..- \\ Arrears 
 
 BISHOP HILL— 1869 
 
in the morning for the first service before breakfa t. At Chnst- 
 mas time the first year a bell was produced which continued 
 throughout the colony to serve the double of calling the people 
 to worship and to their meals, and is now in the cupola of the 
 village schoolhouse, calling the children to school. The s;cond 
 service was in the evening and many years elapsed before candle- 
 light was displaced by oil lamps. In the summertime of the first 
 two years services were held in the woods, usually only at noon, 
 when the work in the fields was urgent. There were two such 
 meeting-pL.ces in the grove. It also happened that Janson sat 
 on the porch of the frame house he occupied and preached to 
 the people seated about. Janson, wearing a cloak of black, 
 had direction of the services and frequently preached. Others 
 who often officiated as preachers were ; Jonas Olson, Olof Stone- 
 berg, Nels Hedeen and Andrew Berglund. Other men were also 
 called upon, sometimes at a moment's notice. As time went on 
 the weekday morning services were discontinued, while the 
 evening services became less frequent. The Sunday services 
 were reduced to a morning and an evening service. 
 
 Eric Janson 's own hymn-book, printed in Sweden, 1846, 
 was used. Besides the hymns it contained several prayers. Later 
 on there was a choir and an organ played by S. Bjorklund, a 
 musician who arrived from Sweden, 1852. A revised edition 
 of the hymnal was printed at Galva in 1857. 
 
 It was planned that twelve men should go forth to spread 
 the Jan./.onistic belief, and these began early to receive instruc- 
 tion in English in a dug-out. A small book had been printed in 
 Sweden in 1846, containing the principles of English pronuncia- 
 tion and an English-Swedish word list. In 1848 the missionaries 
 were sent out by twos to gain their own support as they jour- 
 neyed from place to place. The scheme was not a success. Two 
 of them, Olof Stoneberg and Andrew Blomberg, visited the 
 Shakers at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, who at that time were about 
 three hundred in number. 
 
 A catechism composed by Janson was printed in Sweden, 
 1846, and was used in the colony in the instruction of the young 
 people in Swedish. An English school was early established, 
 Mrs. Pollock being one of the first teachers, continuing to serve 
 in this capacity for several years. At noon the school children 
 marched from school by twos to the children's dining room in 
 
 44 
 
"the big brick." The rudiments of the three R's and spelling 
 were taught, but the years of schooling for a boy or girl were 
 few for other work was waiting. 
 
 As has been shown, the economic circumstances of the col- 
 onists were at first hard. Janson felt that so long as the people 
 lacked suitable houses to shelter them there should be no new 
 marriages. But in 1848 this restriction was removed, in fact 
 a number of young people were "paired off" regardless of 
 personal likes or dislikes. But as obedience had been a cardinal 
 virtue so far, it was even in this. Several couples were married 
 at a time by Janson on various Sundays. On one of these oc- 
 casions twenty-four couples were joined in wedlock. Each bride 
 had the customary bridal wreath, the only personal adornment 
 that was allowed. The ceremony on this particular occasion took 
 place in the grove, on a beautiful summer Sabbath. The green 
 grass and trees, the blue sky, and the golden sunlight formed 
 a charming setting to a novel scene. Early in 1850 the dining 
 hall in the north part of the "big brick" was first used at a 
 wedding feast for fourteen couples, who were united for well 
 or for woe on one and the selfsame day. 
 
 Among those who were married in the fall of 1848 were John 
 Root, a Swede who came to the colony that year, and Charlotta 
 Janson a cousin of Eric Janson. A contract was made at the 
 time of the marriage that if the husband should ever decide 
 to leave the colony he should obtain a divorce and let his wife 
 remain. In his absence his wife gave birth to a son; the father 
 on his return decided to take his wife and child away but Jan- 
 son interposed, nor did Mrs. Root wish to go. One day in 
 1849, Root came to get his family. In the carriage with him 
 was a man named Stanley from Cambridge. Mrs. Root and 
 the child were taken into the buggy, and the horses were off. 
 The act was soon discovered, however, several men started in 
 pursuit on horseback, succeeded in over taking the carriage and 
 brought back Mrs. Root and child. 
 
 Later Root got his wife away to Chicago. Having a mar- 
 ried sister and brother-in-law in that city her whereabouts 
 were known and she and her child were brought back to Bishop 
 Hill by a few colonists. But Root, deprived of his wife a second 
 time, is said to have gone to the Green River neighborhood and 
 gathered a large number of men with whom he proceeded to 
 
 45 
 
Bishop Hill to search for his wife, also Janson and the chief 
 agents in his wife's abduction, of whom Jonas Olson was one. 
 The destruction of the place was threatened, but Janson and 
 a few others succeeded in getting away to St. Louis. 
 
 Meanwhile the California gold fever penetrated the colony 
 on the Illinois prairies and as their finances were at a low ebb, 
 the colonists decided to fit out an expedition for the distant 
 El Dorado. Securing some of the best horses and a good supply 
 of provisions they began their journey in March. Some of these 
 men had been implicated in the Root troubles and found it 
 prudent to belong to this expedition. The party consisted of 
 Jonas Olson, P. O. Blomberg, P. N. Blom, Peter Janson, E. 0. 
 Lind, C. M. Myrtengreen, C. G. Blombergson, Sven Nordin, and 
 Lars Stalberg. Three of them started overland by way of Rock 
 Island, the six others by way of St. Louis and the Missouri 
 River, all meeting in the region of Council Bluffs. On August 
 21st they reached Placerville, California, where they located, 
 fifty miles from Sacramento. Gold was hard to find, however, 
 and living was expensive. Thirty pounds of sugar cost ten 
 dollars; two gallons of vinegar, four dollars; two gallons of 
 syrup, six dollars; forty pounds of potatoes, eight dollars. A 
 pound of tobacco cost one dollar and twenty-five cents and an 
 ax, ten dollars. Some of the men were taken sick with mountain 
 fever, one of them, Blombergson, passing away after a short 
 illness. 
 
 Reverting again to occurrences at Bishop Hill it appears 
 that Root gathered a second company of men and on the evening 
 of April 1, 1850, came with them to the colony, demanding his 
 wife's surrender, who was of course absent. The villagers feared 
 the destruction of their place. But this mob-gathering as the 
 previous one came to naught. Settlers in the Red Oak neighbor- 
 hood disuaded the visitors from violence, maintaining that the 
 Swedes were a peaceable and industrious people. 
 
 Janson returned from St. Louis on Saturday. May 11th. 
 He seemed to have a premonition that he would be murdered 
 as appeared from certain of his expressions on his return. The 
 next day he preached from the Pauline words; "I have fought 
 a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith," 
 and dealt out the Lord's Supper. On Monday, May 13, he 
 went to Cambridge to attend the circuit court, the May term 
 
 46 
 
of which opened that day. Janson was the defendant, as the 
 head of the colony, in a number of cases. Root also had, it 
 seems, a ease being the plaintiff in a trespass ease against a 
 certain Peter W. Wierstrom, continued since 1848. 
 
 Court opened with Hon. William Kellogg, judge, H. G. 
 Reynolds, state's attorney M. B. Patten, sheriff, and S. P. 
 Brainerd, clerk, H. G. Reynolds, deputy. The record shows 
 that Janson was concerned in five of the cases considered at the 
 forenoon session. At the noon recess while Janson was in the 
 court room, Root appeared in the doorway, called Janson by 
 name and with a revolver fired at him, the bullet piercing his 
 heart, while a second tore a hole in the victim's clothing. 
 
 When the court met again in the afternoon four cases 
 were taken up in which Janson was the defendant. But he 
 was now beyond the jurisdiction of all earthly tribunals. That 
 same afternoon the grand jury came into court and presented 
 a bill of indictment against John Root for murder. The de- 
 fendant being under arrest and in the custody of the sheriff 
 was brought into court, furnished with a copy of the indictment, 
 a list of witnesses and jurors and was thereupon duly arraigned 
 and entered his plea of "Not guilty." Among the cases taken 
 up the next day were three against Janson. That, of the People 
 vs. John Root was taken up and continued. 
 
 The case of Root was again considered at the November 
 term of court, 1850, when his plea of "not guilty" was with- 
 drawn. The case was considered again at the May term, 1851, 
 and the October term of that year. The defendant secured a 
 change of venue to the Knox county circuit court and his case 
 was then taken up at Knoxville at the April term, 1852. The 
 case was continued until the September term when it was con- 
 sidered on September 15th. In impaneling a trial jury of twelve 
 men for this case the regular panel of petit jurors was ex- 
 hausted besides nine other panels, in all two hundred and nine- 
 teen men. The case was then tried on the three following days, 
 when a verdict was finally returned by the jury, finding the 
 defendant guilty of manslaughter and fixing his period of im- 
 prisonment in the state penitentiary for two years. The court 
 then ordered that the defendant be brought to the state peniten- 
 tiary at Alton, the first five days of his imprisonment to be in 
 
 47 
 
solitary confinment and the rest at hard labor, tlr? defendant 
 further to pay the cost of the prosecution. 
 
 At the end of a year Root was pardoned by Governor Joel 
 A. Matteson, after petitions had been made for the purpose. 
 Root's last days were spent in Chicago, for he did not live 
 very long after his release. A saloon brawl appears to have 
 hastened the end. A few days before he died he sent for the 
 Swedish Methodist preacher Eric Shogren, and asked him to 
 conduct his funeral, stating that he believed Shogren feared God. 
 Shogren visited him a few times before the end came and when 
 finally the last sad rites were conducted, a large Swedish con- 
 course followed the corpse to the grave. 
 
 The death of Eric Janson made a deep impression on the 
 colonists, especially in view of the premonitions he expressed 
 a few days before his murder. The body lay in state for a 
 few days, following which the funeral took place. Andrew Berg- 
 lund preached the funeral sermon. A wooden slab marked his 
 last resting place, being replaced afterwards by a marble monu- 
 ment — the gift of some of his friends. 
 
 The year before his death Janson had married again. His 
 second wife was none other than the woman, who with her hus- 
 band, Mr. Pollock, had gone west with Eric Janson and his party 
 in 1846. It is said that, left an orphan at an early age, she had 
 been adopted by a family in Goteborg, who brought her with 
 them to New York in 1832 at the age of fifteen. There she is 
 said to have married a sailor who went to sea and never re- 
 turned. She then married a Mr. Pollock, who gave her an edu- 
 cation while she in turn assisted him as teacher in a private 
 school of which he was the principal. She attended the preach- 
 ing of missionary Hedstrom, who regarded her as one of his 
 most ardent hearers. At the ''Bethel ship" she heard Eric 
 Janson, who visited her in her home and soon won her over to 
 his belief, and, as, stated before, she went west to Victoria. 
 Her husband, it is said, tried to persuade her to go back east, 
 but she would not. Brokenhearted, he died at Victoria. 
 
 At Bishop Hill, Mrs. Pollock married Lars Gabrielson, and 
 with him had a son, Isaac, who grew to manhood. Here she 
 devoted much time to teaching, and was otherwise helpful. A 
 handsome woman besides, her influence was large. Her husband 
 died of the Asiatic cholera and some time later she had her 
 
 48 
 
fourth experience in wedlock — this time being married to Eric 
 Janson. She then superintended the work of the women as 
 Janson had been at the head of affairs his death legally threw 
 the responsibility for such affairs upon his widow. It is said 
 that he had asserted on various occasions that the leadership 
 of the colony should always be hereditary within his own family. 
 He had a son and a daughter living by his former marriage 
 and it was his wish that the son should become his successor. At 
 the funeral Mrs. Janson appointed Andrew Berglund, guardian 
 of her stepson and leader until the boy's majority. This act 
 over she appears less prominently in the limelight. She and 
 her son lived for a time later on among the Shakers in Kentucky. 
 At the close of the colony she conducted a boarding house in 
 Galva. Misfortune afflicted her, her wayward son contributed 
 to it and she was placed on the charity of her friends. Finally 
 she went to the county poor house where she died in 1888. She 
 was buried beside her distinguished husband, near the center 
 of the village cemetery, a few steps from a large cottonwood tree. 
 
 The news of Eric Janson ? s death eventually reached the 
 Bishop Hill golddiggers in distant California. In November 
 Jonas Olson left the others and started for home, boarding a 
 sailing vessel in San Francisco for Panama. Toward the last 
 of December the passengers, through the want of food and water, 
 left the ship when it entered a port and took various means 
 to cross Central America. Olson came to New Orleans in Jan- 
 uary and to Peoria and home next month. Of the seven remain- 
 ing miners all returned home except Stalberg, who decided 
 to stay. 
 
 Jonas Olson before long took charge of affairs in the colony 
 in place of Berglund. The idea that the control of affairs 
 should remain in the Janson family was set aside. A sort of 
 democratic form of government was regarded as desirable ; 
 superintendents or foremen were placed in charge of the various 
 departments of work. 
 
 Up to this time the property of the colony had been held 
 in the names of various individuals. But when any of these 
 died their estates must be administered upon, sold by order of 
 the court and purchased for the benefit of the colony. A trans- 
 fer of property was necessary if the colony should get it and 
 not the natural heirs of such individuals. 
 
 49 
 
Olof Stoneberg 
 
 Jacob Jacobson 
 
 » ; 
 
 Swan Swanson 
 
 50 
 
Rev. Jonas Olson 
 
 Jonas Eric go: 
 
 Eric U. Norberg 
 
 (At one time Secretary of the 
 
 Colony.) 
 
 Jonas Kronberg 
 
 r ,1 
 
As the wealth of the colony increased the complexity of 
 the existing system became more apparent. It seemed that the 
 best thing to do was to incorporate the colony under the laws 
 of the state. By an act approved by the state legislature on 
 January 17, 1853, the colony became a legal corporation. The 
 number of trustees was fixed at seven and the following were, 
 by this act, constituted trustees: Olof Johnson, Jonas Olson, 
 Jonas Ericson, Jacob Jacobson, Jonas Kronberg, Swan Swanson 
 and Peter Johnson. The last named trustees resigned January 
 10, 1859 ; and was succeeded by Olof Stoneberg. The trustees 
 should hold office during good behavior being removable by 
 a majority vote of the male members. Vacancies should be 
 filled according to the by-laws. The trustees and their suc- 
 cessors in office were empowered to make contracts, and pur- 
 chase and convey real estate for the benefit of the colony. 
 
 The business of the corporation, accordin to the charter, 
 should be manufacturing, milling, all kinds of mechanical bus- 
 iness, agriculture and merchandising. By-laws could be passed 
 concerning the government and management of the property 
 and the business of the colony, the admission, withdrawal and 
 expulsion of its members, regulating its internal policy, and for 
 other purposes directly connected with the business and man- 
 agement of the colony, not inconsistent with the constitution 
 and laAvs of the state. This charter has been regarded as per- 
 haps the most comprehensive of any ever granted in this state. 
 It was never repealed or annulled, though an effort was made 
 in that direction later on. 
 
 On May 6, 1854, by-laws were adopted. These provided 
 that any persons sustaining a good moral character might be- 
 come a member of the colony by transferring to the trustees 
 thereof all his or her real and personal property and subscrib- 
 ing to the by-laws. The board of trustees were to determine the 
 question of moral character and admission and a majority of 
 the trustees should constitute a quorum for that purpose. The 
 trustees might, in their discretion, refer the question of ad- 
 mission to a vote of the adult male members of the colony. The 
 property which any person, on becoming a member of the 
 colony should transfer to the trustees, should become, accord- 
 in to the by-laws, forever thereafter the absolute property of 
 the colony. On the withdrawal or discontinuance of membership 
 
 52 
 
a person should be entitled to no compensation of pay for any 
 services or labor that he might have performed during the time 
 he may have been a member. But the trustees, might, at their 
 option, give to such person or persons, such things, whether 
 money or property, as the trustees should deem right and proper. 
 
 A113' member guilty of disturbing the peace and harmony 
 of the colony by vicious and wicked conduct or by preaching 
 and disseminating doctrines of religious belief contrary to the 
 doctrines of the Bible generally received and believed by the 
 people of the colony might be expelled. 
 
 The by-laws further stated that it was the duty of the 
 trustees to regulate and direct the various industrial pursuits 
 and business of the colony in person or by such agents or fore- 
 men as they might see fit to appoint from time to time and 
 to require such agents or foremen to account to them in such 
 manner as they should deem proper. A meeting of the adult 
 male members should be held annually on the second Monday 
 of January for the general transaction of business. At this 
 meeting the trustees were required to make a full and complete 
 report of the financial condition and affairs of the colony for 
 the year ending on the Saturday next previous to such meeting. 
 Special meetings might be called by the trustees of a majority 
 thereof or by a majority of the adult male members signifying 
 their request to the trustees in writing five days in advance. 
 
 The by-laws also provided that the property and industry 
 and the proceeds thereof belonging to the colony should con- 
 stitute a common fund, from, by and with which the trustees 
 were required to provide for the subsistence, comforts and rea- 
 sonable wants of every member of the colony ; for the support 
 of the aged and infirm ; for the care of the sick and the burial 
 of the dead ; and for the proper education of the children, and 
 the transaction of all business necessary to the prosperity, hap- 
 piness and usefulness of the colony and not inconsistent with 
 the charter. 
 
 A vacancy in the board of trustees should be filled by 
 a plurality vote at an election held for that purpose by the 
 adult male members. Finally the by-laws might be revised, 
 altered or amended at any regular or called meeting of the 
 male members by a majority of those present and voting at 
 such a meeting. 
 
 53 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *\ 
 
 
 
 
 
 «S31IM 
 
 cv 
 
 Warehouse built in Galva by the Bishop Hill Colonists 
 
 Good Roads Day— Galva, 1908 
 
Over four hundred men and women subscribed to these 
 by-laws in the month of May, 1854, another lot in 1855 and 
 still others in 1860, making a total of over five hundred. 
 
 After the death of Eric Janson the colony was in debt 
 to the extent of eight thousand dollars, and affairs were not in 
 the best shape, but subsequently the colony prospered and its 
 real and personal property was gradually increased. The land 
 which the colony held for a longer or shorter time was con- 
 siderable. Thus in 1849 a tract of one thousand, one hundred 
 and sixteen acres was secured of Dr. Robert D. Foster for three 
 thousand dollars. This land was situated in the east part of 
 Western and the west part of Osco townships. It was later given 
 up. The cholera monument was erected on this farm. At one 
 time in its later history the colony owned a half interest in 
 fifty-two acres in Cook county. 
 
 When the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was 
 being projected its managers proposed to run it through Bishop 
 Hill, but the offer was declined and a station located on the 
 present site of Galva through the efforts of J. M. and W. L. 
 Wiley, who having conceived the idea of building a town, had 
 invested in a large amount of land in that locality. 
 
 The Bishop Hill colonists graded a portion of the road-bed 
 of the new railroad which was built in '54 and '55. They also 
 bought fifty town lots, built the first house and dug the first 
 well in the new town. Erecting a brick warehouse, a store and 
 a hotel they used the new railroad in marketing their surplus 
 products. A Swedish weekly newspaper was also published 
 by the colony there for a short time. One of the trustees, Olof 
 Johnson, had much to do with the affairs of the colony at 
 Galva, and having the privilege of naming the new town called 
 it Gefle from the Swedish seaport town which was not far dis- 
 tant from his birthplace. The name was, however, twisted into 
 " Galva" by those who could not handle the Swedish tongue. 
 
 The first report of the trustees under the charter organiza- 
 tion was made January 22, 1855, when it was stated that the 
 colony owned the following property: eight thousand and 
 twenty-eight acres of land; fifty town lots in Galva, valued at 
 ten thousand dollars; ten shares in the Central Military Tract 
 Railway, valued at one thousand dollars; five hundred and 
 eighty-six head of cattle, one hundred and nine horses and 
 
 55 
 
mules; one thousand hogs and other assets such as wheat, flax, 
 broom-corn, provision and general merchandise. Subsequent 
 reports seemed to indicate an annual average increase for each 
 year of over forty-four thousand dollars in personal property 
 alone. 
 
 At a meeting of the board of trustees held August 16, 1854, 
 Olof Johnson, Jonas Olson and Jonas Ericson were appointed 
 general agents and were authorized to buy, sell and convey real 
 estate and all kinds of property and to sign any instrument of 
 writing which should be valid and of as full force as though 
 signed by the full board. At another board meeting held De- 
 cember 30, 1857, Olof Johnson was empowered to procure a 
 loan for the colony of fifty thousand dollars or upwards, and 
 was authorized to enter into any transaction therefor, and 
 sign any contract, and convey real estate for any security, 
 which should be binding on the colony as if signed by all the 
 trustees of the same. 
 
 On or about February 1, 1858, the sum of forty thousand 
 dollars was borrowed from Alexander Studwell, of New York 
 City, and a mortgage executed therefor. The colony had lost 
 considerably in the panic of 1857, somewhat through specu- 
 lative undertakings. It lost money in banking operations at 
 Galva in 1856-8. 
 
 These business reversals stirred up strife and discord. 
 Furthermore the oldtime religious ties had been weakening for 
 some years; at one lime certain ones favored celibacy and con- 
 nubial abstinence on the part of the married, to the chagrin 
 of many and the departure of several to other places. A grow- 
 ing contact with the outside world may have created a dis- 
 content with the old ways. Round about were people who were 
 working for their individual selves. Thus, hit in many places, 
 the communistic principles were losing hold on the colonists. 
 People began to talk about a division of the property. 
 
 And so it transpired that on February 14, 1860, proceedings 
 were inaugurated among the members and trustees looking 
 to a final distribution of the property of the colony after its 
 corporate debts and obligations had been discharged, to be 
 followed by a final disolution of the society. 
 
 The number of members and shareholders of the colony was 
 first ascertained on the basis of allowing one share to each in- 
 
 56 
 
dividual of adult age, persons under twenty years receiving a 
 fractional share, according to age. The number of full shares 
 was found to be four hundred and fifteen. An estimate was 
 then made of the proportionate amount of real and personal 
 property which one share would represent. Then the entire 
 property was divided into two large subdivisions; one of these 
 was allotted to what was called the "Olson party," represent- 
 ing two hundred and sixty-five shares and the other to the 
 "Johnson party." representing one hundred and fifty shares. 
 The subdivisions were made in a general meeting of the members. 
 
 It appears that a full share consisted of about twenty-two 
 acres of land, although the amount varied according to the value 
 of the land; there was also a timber lot of nearly two acres, 
 one town lot, and an equal share in all barns, buildings, domestic 
 animals, farming implements and domestic utensils. The small- 
 est fractional share is said to have consisted of about eight acres, 
 a correspondingly small town and timber lot, and part of the 
 personal property. 
 
 The basis of apportionment in the Johnson party was as 
 follows: Persons under fourteen years of age received one- 
 quarter of a full share; under eighteen, threeeighths ; under 
 twenty-two, one-half; under twenty-six, five-eighths; under 
 thirty, three-quarters; under thirty-five, seven-eighths; over 
 thirty-five, eight eighths or a full share. 
 
 The Olson party had the following schedule : Persons 
 twenty-six years of age received a full share ; twenty-five, eight- 
 een-twentieths ; twenty-four, sixteen-twentieths ; twenty-three, 
 J fourteen twentieths ; twenty-two, twelve-twentieths ; twenty-one, 
 ten- twentieths ; twenty, eight-twentieths ; nineteen, seven- 
 twentieths; eighteen, six- twentieths; seventeen, five-twentieths; 
 sixteen, four-twentieths; fifteen, three-twentieths; fourteen and 
 under, two-twentieths. 
 
 Committees were appointed to apportion among the mem- 
 bers of the two parties the respective portions of real and per- 
 sonal property which the share of each member should repre- 
 sent. This was done and ratified by the members. A surveyor 
 under the direction of the committee surveyed and allotted to 
 each individual member the share of his or her real estate by 
 metes and bounds. Thereupon by the authority of the county 
 surveyor the entire mass of the colony lands was plotted ac- 
 
 57 
 
cording to surveys made. The name of the member representing 
 each tract with the courses and distances were marked on the 
 plats which were finally recorded in the county recorder's 
 office. In the case of a family the property was deeded to 
 its head. 
 
 The real estate of the Bishop Hill colony subject to dis- 
 tribution was ten thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven acres. 
 The other property, too, was considerable, so that the work 
 of apportionment was a big undertaking. 
 
 It Avas generally understood that in 1860 at the time of the 
 division of the property the debts of the colony amounted to 
 about one hundred and twelve thousand dollars, and that the 
 apportionment of the property was made with the stipulation 
 that all the debts should be paid and that the members should 
 not receive deeds to the respective pieces of land representing 
 their shares until the debts were paid or until the individual 
 shareholders had paid their due portion of the same. Likewise 
 the said corporate property allotted to individuals should re- 
 main charged with the lien of the debt, and should remain the 
 property of the corporation till the whole debt was paid. 
 
 Owing to the fact that the colonists needed the immediate 
 fruits of their toii and their immediate rents and profits of 
 their land to make needful improvements it was decided that 
 the corporation should try to get extensions from the 'creditors 
 of the colony until such time as the members had obtained a 
 reasonable start and could contribute their respective shares 
 towards the liquidation of the debt. 
 
 In the spring of 1861 the Johnson party perfected the in- 
 dividualization of its property. In the same year the Olson 
 party was subdivided into three subdivisions, headed respectively 
 by Jonas Olson, Olof Stoneberg and Martin Johnson. Subse- 
 quently this tripartite apportionment was succeeded by a com- 
 plete individualization. 
 
 There were usually some persons who resided in the colony 
 who were not members, but this number was not larg?. In 1858 
 the membership of the colony consisted of six hundred and 
 fifty-five persons of whom one hundred and forty-seven were 
 males and two hundred and fifty- eight females over twenty 
 years of age; seventy-eight males and females between fifteen 
 
P. M. Wickstrom 
 Capt. 57th Reg. 111. 
 
 Sgt. A. G. Warner 
 
 Civil War monument in the Park. 
 
 59 
 
 Major Eric Forse 
 
and twenty years, and one hundred and seventy-two males and 
 females under fifteen years. 
 
 Among the colonists were a few who had received consider- 
 able training and experience along certain lines in the old 
 country. Such a one was Eric Forsse who for twelve years had 
 served in the Swedish army. He became the captain of a mili- 
 tary company of twenty-six men, who, drilling for two years, 
 acquired skill in the Swedish tactics. Dressed in blue coats with 
 red trimmings, and white trousers, they could march with pre- 
 cision and handle their flint-locks with ease. They were one of 
 the attractions on July 4th and at the county fair. Little did 
 they realize what would be the ultimate destiny of their organi- 
 zation. Like a thunder-clap came the fall of Fort Sumter and 
 the call for volunteers. The Bishop Hill military company en- 
 listed on September 16, 1861, and two weeks later reached Camp 
 Bureau, near Princeton, becoming a part of the sixth regiment. 
 Here this regiment was secretly persuaded to join a number of 
 regiments at St. Louis and one October night the regiment 
 broke camp and embarked on the steamer Mussel man, moored 
 for the purpose at a convenient point in the Illinois River. When 
 the Colonel of the regiment awoke the next morning he found 
 the camp deserted, and took measures to intercept the run- 
 aways. A battery was sent from Springfield to Alton to await 
 the arrival of the Musselman and capture the regiment on board. 
 At Alton the steamer was fired at and stopped and the deserters 
 were lodged in the old state penitentiary, where as .previously 
 stated Eric Janson 's murderer had been incarcerated some years 
 before. The regiment was then brought to Camp Butler at 
 Springfield for court martial but through the intervention of 
 friends the boys were acquitted and sent to Camp Douglas, at 
 Chicago, where they became a part of the Fifty-seventh Regi- 
 ment, which was mustered in December 26, 1861. Company D 
 of this regiment was practically a Swedish company, and the 
 Bishop Hill boys formed a large part of it, while several were 
 from Galva and Andover. 
 
 From Cairo the regiment started for the front. After tasting 
 the realities of war at the seige and capture of Fort Donelson, 
 Company D had two killed and fourteen wounded at Shiloh 
 and lost three men at Corinth. In November, 1863, the company 
 took possession of Mitchell's Mill, near Lynnville, Tennessee, 
 
 60 
 
and was engaged there for some time in cutting timber and 
 operating the sawmill. In 1864 the term of enlistment expired 
 and of Company D the members very generally reenlisted. A 
 month's furlough at home followed, recruits were received, and 
 the regiment presently joined Sherman's army at Chattanooga, 
 finally taking part in the famous march to the sea, and in the 
 grand review at Washington. 
 
 During the course of the war Eric Forsse, who was the 
 first captain of Company D, was promoted major, resigning 
 after the fall of Atlanta, 1864. The next captain was Eric John- 
 son, the son of the prime founder of the colony, who resigned 
 in 1862 and was succeeded by Peter M. Wickstrum. Among the 
 second lieutenants was Andrew G. Warner, who rose from the 
 rank of first corporal to the above rank, and in 1864 accepted 
 the captaincy of a colored company. 
 
 One of the original second lieutenants was Eric Berglund, 
 son of Andrew Berglund. He was promoted first lieutenant in 
 1862. In the fall of 1864 he received an appointment as cadet 
 at the U. S. Military academy at West Point, but did not enter 
 till July 1, 1865. Four years later he was graduated at the head 
 of the class, having the further distinction of being the first 
 Swede to be admitted to that noted institution. Commissioned 
 a second lieutenant he was successively promoted first lieu- 
 tenant, '72, captain '84 and major '95, retiring the following 
 year, and has since resided at Baltimore. During his active 
 service he was engaged in various engineering duties and was 
 also instructor of military engineering and mathematics and 
 assistant professor of ethics and law at West Point, and was 
 later instructor of civil engineering at the government engineer- 
 ing school at Willet's Point, New York. In 1878 he was married 
 to a cousin of the wife of President Hayes. 
 
 In the early part of 1862 the Colonel of the Fifty-seventh 
 Regiment bought a beautiful and expensive silk flag which he 
 offered as a reward to the best drilled company in the regiment. 
 Several month's time was allowed. In July the competitive 
 drill took place with three regular army officers as judges. 
 Company D was commanded by Lieutenant Eric Berglund. 
 When this company and Company G a German organization — 
 had drilled the companies still remaining thought it best to 
 withdraw from the competition. As the standing of the Ger- 
 
 61 
 
man and Swedish companies was very close they were obliged 
 to repeat the drill, when the flag was unanimously awarded to 
 Company D. This trophy was for many years brought out 
 at public celebrations at Bishop Hill. It is now faded and so 
 fragile that its appearance at such gatherings is a thing of 
 the past. 
 
 Gfoing back once again to the internal affairs at Bishop 
 Hill following the dissolution of the colony, it appears that a 
 fire destroyed the broom-corn crop in 1861 valued at about 
 forty thousand dollars, together with the sheds, machinery and 
 much other valuable property, through the pranks of some boys,, 
 it is said, smoking broom-corn. In the latter part of the colony 
 much broom-corn was raised and the crop of 1861 was held in 
 common and was designed to apply to the corporate debt. In 
 addition to this loss, there were high rates of interest, litigation 
 resulting from non-payment of debt, sums paid in compromise, 
 attorney's fees, and taxes — all contributing to raise the debt, 
 while the income was insufficient. 
 
 The Studwell mortgage for forty thousand dollars due in 
 1861 and remaining unpaid, there was considerable expense 
 in renewing the security for a new mortgage, which in its turn 
 fell due and remained unpaid. This resulted in a suit, a decree 
 was entered, but time was given to pay it by installments. In 
 case of sale the land secured should be sold in parcels, allowing 
 occupants a chance to bid at such sale and have the right of 
 redemption. This mortgage was secured by four thousand, eight 
 hundred and seventy acres. 
 
 In 1862 a loan of four thousand dollars was obtained from 
 Wm. Nelson of Peekskill, New York, and was secured by five 
 hundred and sixty-eight acres of land. Another loan of eight 
 thousand was made in 1863 of A. Chittenden, a trust deed 
 therefor being issued to H. G-. Spofford, of Chicago, and was 
 secured by one thousand, five hundred and eighty-eight acres. 
 
 In August, 1865, the trustees felt justified in assessing 
 upon the members two hundred dollars per share to be applied 
 on the debts — dollars payable at or about the time of assess- 
 ment, fifty dollars about three months later and the balance 
 about four months thereafter. Deeds were made out and left 
 in escrow for the members who should pay and discharge their 
 shares of the corporate debt. But the response was not gratify- 
 
 62 
 
ing and only about fifty-five thousand dollars were realized 
 and were applied on the debt. 
 
 All the Studwell claims becoming due, Studwell decided 
 to sell on his decree, whereupon Hiram Sibley, of Utica, New 
 York, was induced to buy the decree and take an assignment 
 thereof and give the colony further time to pay it. So in 
 October, 1866, Sibley bought the Studwell decree, paying Stud- 
 well in full. The colony was to pay the decree by installments 
 and the interest yearly. 
 
 In March, 1868, the trustees proceeded to devise means for 
 a complete legal individualization of the colony and the full 
 payment of all of its liabilities. At that time, according to the 
 trustees, the debt amounted to about one hundred and fifty- 
 eight thousand dollars, while they estimated that it would re- 
 quire nearly one hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars, 
 besides the individual property and assets of the colony to pay 
 the debts. A claim of the colony for about sixty thousand dol- 
 lars against the Western Air Line Railroad for grading done 
 in 1856, brought only six thousand, and five hundred dollars, 
 through the failure of the company to complete its road, but 
 until 1865 this claim was considered good by the colony. 
 
 A second assessment was accordingly levied upon the mem- 
 bers of the colony, account being taken of the amount each mem- 
 ber had paid on the first assessment. But believing at that the 
 majority of the members were unable to pay their assessments 
 in money, the trustees thought it was necessary to find some 
 capitalist who would advance money or assume liabilities for 
 said members, in case they were unable to pay their respective 
 assessments, and give such members such time and terms as 
 would enable them respectively to meet the same without sac- 
 rifice of property. So the trustees entered into an agreement 
 with Elias Greenbaum, of Chicago, to perform this service for 
 those members who desired it upon their giving him security 
 on such individualized property or personal notes with interest 
 at ten per cent semi-annually. Had this plan been observed by 
 all concerned the trustees claimed that all of the debts might 
 have been paid by the fall of 1868. 
 
 These financial troubles which dogged the colonists caused 
 worry and bitter feeling. In July, 1868, a bill of complaint was 
 filed in the Henry county circuit court of six colonists as com- 
 
 63 
 
plainants and the Bishop Hill colony and its seven trustees 
 as such and as individuals as defendants. W. N. Gest, of Rock 
 Island, was appointed as special master in chancery, who after 
 an examination, certified that the trustees since 1860 had re- 
 ceived money and property to the value of two hundred and 
 forty-nine thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three dollars, and 
 paid out on account of the colony, one hundred and forty thous- 
 and, one hundred and forty-four dollars, leaving the sum of 
 one hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and nineteen dol- 
 lars to be accounted for. 
 
 The case dragged its slow length along until in 1879 when, 
 apparently through an agreement by the attorneys in the case, 
 a sort of settlement of the case was made. The trustees were 
 held accountable for the one hundred and nine thousand, six 
 hundred and nineteen dollars mentioned. Excepting the claim 
 of Olof Johnson for twenty-three thousand, eight hundred and 
 seventy-three dollars, and salary for the years he had acted as 
 attorney in fact having served in that capacity since 1861, the 
 business of the corporation being in the interval transacted 
 chiefly through him, all other claims were allowed, including 
 new obligations amounting to fifty-seven thousand, seven hun- 
 dred and eighty-two dollars. This new sum included a contingent 
 fund of sixteen thousand dollars, and costs on both sides. On 
 account of this law suit many thousands of dollars had to be paid 
 to the attorneys in the case and to those prosecuting and de- 
 fending the suit, while the special master in chancery alone 
 received nine thousand dollars in fees. 
 
 Under the decree entered April 25, and July 28, 1879, many 
 tracts of land were sold by the special master of chancery, deeds 
 were made out to the purchasers who were notified at the sale 
 that the owners would not voluntarily yield possession of their 
 lands. Therefore some of the grantees filed petitions for writs 
 of assisstance to help them get possession of land purchased. 
 Among the lands sold was that of John Root, which had been 
 bought for the benefit of C. C. Bonney, who was one of the 
 complainant 's attorneys in the colony suit. A writ of assisstance 
 was granted, directed the sheriff to put the petitioner, Lyman 
 M. Payne, acting for Bonney, in possession of the land. Root 
 appealed the case to the appellate court where the judgment 
 of the lower court was reversed. Payne carried the case to 
 
 64 
 
the supreme court, where the judgment of the appellate court 
 was affirmed, the opinion of the court being rendered May 12, 
 1887, by Justice Mulkey. 
 
 The law which governed the remaining cases was thus de- 
 termined, and these were then dismissed. The original Bishop 
 Hill case thereupon remained deserted. When the clerk of the 
 Henry county circuit court was making up the docket of the 
 court for the February term, 1888, a member of the county bar 
 suggested that the case be omitted from the docket. This was 
 done. 
 
 On February 2, 1870, the voters of Bishop Hill decided 
 in favor of incorporating the town. On February 11th the 
 following trustees were elected: Jonas Olson, Jacob Jacobson, 
 Jonas Headberg, P. 0. Blomberg, and Peter Johnson. On Febru- 
 ary 28th, Olof Headlund was elected police magistrate. The 
 board organized with Jonas Olson, president; P. Q. Blomberg, 
 clerk; Jacob Jacobson, treasurer. 
 
 On February 10, 1894, ordinances were adopted in accord- 
 ance with the general laws of the state, and a village organiza- 
 tion was the result, the elective officers consisting of a president, 
 clerk, six trustees and a police magistrate. 
 
 As a process of division took place in economic affairs with 
 the breaking up of the colony, so the religious life underwent 
 a change. Some became indifferent to religion, some adopted 
 liberal views. But others affiliated with the Methodist belief, 
 Methodist preachers visiting the village and the neighborhood 
 and conducting meetings. A Methodist organization was formed 
 in 1864, in a room in the colony church, which room has since 
 been partitioned off, part being taken up by the present stair- 
 way leading upstairs to the church proper, and the remaining 
 part devoted to portraits of colonists and colonial scenes painted 
 by a colonist, Olof Kians, of Altona. In 1867 the Seventh Day 
 Adventists propounded their doctrines at Bishop Hill and in 
 1870 an organization was effected. Jonas Olson and Olof Os- 
 berg serving as its ministers until old age and its infirmities 
 overtook them. 
 
 The Adventists continued to use the colony church while 
 the Methodists, who worshipped in a hall in the colony black- 
 smith shop, for the first few years, built a church of their own 
 in 1868, which was remodeled in 1900. Andrew Berglund and 
 
 65 
 
Olof Stoneberg became local preachers and served in that ca- 
 pacity until they crossed into the beyond. A society of the Mis- 
 sion Friends existed at one time, and a small edifice was erected. 
 But the building was sold a few years ago and was moved to 
 Galva to be remodeled into a private residence. 
 
 The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Bishop Hill 
 coloney was celebrated on September 3 and 24, 1896, when a 
 granite monument consisting of a single large shaft was dedi- 
 cated to the memeory of the founders. Two of the trustees were 
 still living, Jonas Olson, and Swan Swanson, who have since 
 joined the majority of the first settlers who are resting from 
 their labors and cares. Every year since 1896, a reunion has 
 been held on September 23, excepting when that date has fallen 
 on Sunday, when the reunion has been held either on Saturday 
 or Monday. A program has been given in the village park, or 
 in the colony church. Ordinarily there have been basket dinners, 
 but sometimes union dinners in the old bakery building, in re- 
 cent years fitted up into a hall. Afternoon coffee has also be- 
 come a feature of these reunions, being usually served in the 
 village election hall. 
 
 As the fall of the year mellows the colors of the trees and 
 the fields, and softens the rays of the sun, so in the autumn of 
 their lives the colonists, as they meet at their annual reunions 
 reveal none of the friction which they sometimes must have felt 
 in the days of the colony. Some of those who moved away to 
 other localities and states, come back about that time to meet 
 again their old chums and comrades. The great majority of 
 those who were identified with the beginnings in Sweden have 
 gone to the realm where no trouble exists. Those who were chil- 
 dren in the colony are already besprinkled with the snows of 
 age. Their descendants have multiplied into a numerous body 
 scattered far and wide. 
 
 66 
 
CEMETERY 
 
 Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Though they sleep, 'tis not forever, ' 
 There will be a glorious dawn, 
 
 We shall meet to part no never, 
 On the resurrection morn. 
 
 From the deepest caves of ocean, 
 From the desert and the plain, 
 
 From the valley and the mountain, 
 A countless throng shall rise again. 
 
 Though they sleep, 'tis not forever, 
 In the lone and silent grave, 
 
 Blessed be the hand that taketh, 
 Blessed be the hand that gave. 
 
 In the bright eternal city, 
 Death can never, never come, 
 
 In His own good time he'll call us, 
 From our rest to that sweet home. 
 
 67 
 
ENTRANCE TO BISHOP HILL CEMETERY 
 
 These four trees were planted in memory of local boys who gave 
 their lives in World War I. 
 
 Erniel Johnson — Fred Chester Peterson — Rudolph Nordeen — 
 
 Wilber Hagberg. 
 
 ENTRANCE TO CEMETERY 
 
 Bishop Hill 
 
 68 
 
Monuments of Eric Jcmson and Eric Jcmson Monument. Inscrip- 
 son. Capt. Eric Janson. In tion m Swedish. 
 
 Bishop Hill Cemetery. 
 
 Martin Johnson Monument 
 
 Bjorkland Monument 
 
 Stoneberg Monument 
 
 69 
 
 Swanson Monument 
 
SCHOOL HOUSE 
 
 Bishop Hill 
 
 The bell, now calling Bishop Hill children to school, summoned 
 the colonists to their meals 100 Y ea rs ago. 
 
 METHODIST CHURCH 
 
 Bishop Hill 
 
 70 
 
INTERIOR, COLONY CHURCH 
 
 The old colony church with its pews of glistening black walnut 
 over which the voice of the "prophet," Eric lanson, once boomed. 
 
 INTERIOR, COLONY CHURCH 
 71 
 
The brick dairy building still stands in a well-preserved con- 
 dition. It now serves as a three-apartment house, which is owned 
 and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Krans and son, Willard, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Nordstrom, and Miss Effie Winroot. The 
 mother of Albert and Julia Krans of Bishop Hill and the mother 
 of Mrs. L. L. Otto, of Cambridge, were dairymaids. 
 
 One of several Colony 
 wells 
 
 POST OFFICE — Built in 1853. 
 postmistress Mrs. Evelyn Swan- 
 son Craig is the grandchild of 
 Mary Malmgren Olson, first 
 woman born i colony, Dec. 27, 
 1846. 
 

 THE "CARRIAGE AND CARPENTER" SHOP 
 
 ■;>>*- 
 
 THE BAKERY AND BREWERY' 
 
 73 
 
BJORKLAND HOTEL TODAY 
 
 Every brick of these buildings was molded by hand, every beam 
 and joist was cut and sawed by the pioneers from their own 
 walnut, maple and red oak trees. 
 
 BJORKLAND HOTEL, 1860 
 
 74 
 
If a stranger came to town, he could put up at Bishop Hill's 
 hotel, and there he could pay his bill with Bishop Hill's money. 
 For during the Civil War, Bishop Hill, like many other commun- 
 ities, printed its own money which was legal tender within 
 its own boundaries. 
 
 75 
 
The Bergren Home, Bishop Hill. 
 111., where friends and worthy 
 strangers are always welcome. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Bergren 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John B. Johnson 
 Jonas Bergren. 
 
 'Colonists," parents of Mrs. 
 
 76 
 
Jonas Bergren in his shop 
 
 From the Jonas Bergren collection 
 
 77 
 
i .a 
 
 From the Jonas Bergren collection 
 
 From the Jonas Bergren collection 
 
 78 
 
From the Jonas Bergren collection 
 
 ■ 
 
 From the Jonas Bergren collection 
 
 79 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Ch. Falk 
 
 August Naslund 
 
 Hans Dahlgren holds portrait of Ch. L. Nelson, "the Village 
 his father, "a colonist." Blacksmith." 
 
 Old Timers of Bishop Hill 
 
 SO 
 
John Johnson (Clop John) 
 
 Albert Krans. nephew of Olof 
 Krans "The Artist." 
 
 View near Bishop Hill 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Albert Spiegel 
 Old Timers of Bishop Hill 
 
 81 
 
Town Clock — Made 1859 by #;<5S?f ' /X. '4 .2*J&fflM®iMm 
 
 Bjorkland Blomberg Soder- 
 
 quist. Bishop Hill. Olof Moline Monument in the 
 
 cemetery 
 
 i 
 
 STEEPLE BUILDING 
 
 The clock, running since 1859, has no minute hand; as a villager 
 explained: "In Bishop Hill we don't watch the minutes. Even 
 the hours don't need watching here." 
 
 82 
 
The Big Brick building, finished in 1851. burned in 1928. The 
 kiln-dried bricks were made on the premises. Lime-stone from 
 which lime was made was hauled from Spoon River, twenty- 
 five miles distant. Men and women worked side by side on 
 the construction. 
 
 fp? ■ 
 
 
 The Old Colony Church built in 1848 which now houses the 
 collection of paintings by the colony artist, Olof Krans. 
 
 83 
 
When the first emigrants came to Red Oak. near Bishop Hill, 
 they purchased 80 acres of land on which stood a small log- 
 house. This loghouse sheltered many the first winter. Later 
 it was moved to Bishop Hill and was used as a bakery and later 
 again moved to its present site. This house with its original 
 timber underneath the siding is the oldest house in Bishop Hill 
 and one of the oldest in this part of Illinois. Located 1 mile east 
 of Bishop Hill. 
 
 Cradle in Colony Church 
 
 This building was used as a 
 hcsoital. 
 
 8'4 
 
"SPINNING AND WEAVING' 
 From one of the yearly celebrations. 
 
 'PILE DRIVING' 
 
 85 
 
AXEL SHOLEEN ON THE "REAPER' 
 
 ON THE OLD "BAND WAGON' 
 
 86 
 
INDIAN FLOAT 
 
 BRYCE NORDSTROM— "Prairie Schooner' 
 
 87 
 
BROOM MAKING 
 
 
 Galen Chilberg, Phyllis Anderson 
 
 88 
 
PART II 
 
 M. A. Mikkelsen 
 
 Story of 
 
 A Religious Communistic Settlement in Henry 
 
 County, Illinois 
 
 1891 
 
< * ** ' *. 
 
 mmiM^ -■ - 
 
 Mrs. Walberg and "Jarna" Anna 
 
 ^1 
 
 Jonas Danielson. "Doodle" "Forsva Kare" Danielson 
 
 Old Timers of Bishop Hill 
 
The Bishop Hill Colony 
 
 I — Devotionalism in Helsingland from 1825 to 1842 
 
 The history of devotionalism in Helsingland from 1825 to 
 1842 revolves around the person of one man. Jonas Olson was 
 born December 18, 1802, in Soderala Parish, in the province 
 of Helsingland. The environments of his boyhood were not of 
 a character to encourage the development of a religious dispo- 
 sition. His father, Olof Olson, a coarse and illiterate peasant, 
 was an habitual drunkard, who when in his cups was in the 
 habit of brutally maltreating wife and children. Nor was his 
 mother a Monica to kv.cl him to Christ, although she loved her 
 son after a fashion, and encouraged him in his endeavors to 
 obtain an education. For Jonas was a bright lad, and was not 
 satisfied with knowing how to read the hymn-book and the 
 catechism, but aspired to learning how to write and cipher, 
 uncommon accomplishments among the peasantry at that time. 
 It was in these unlawful aspirations that his mother encour- 
 aged her son, by procuring the necessary writing materials, 
 which as soon as they were discovered by the angry father were 
 ruthlessly destroyed, with the remark that such things were not 
 intended for peasants' sons. At the age of fifteen, when he had 
 been confirmed in the faith of the Established Lutheran Church, 
 Jonas was compelled to shift for himself. For five years he 
 served an uncle on the fathers' side as a farm-laborer. It was 
 here, among the peasant-fishermen on the banks of the river 
 Ljusne, near the Gulf of Bothnia, that he learned the art of 
 preparing salmon for the market in Stockholm. For two years 
 he served an elder sister, and then, at the age of twenty-two, 
 returned home to take charge of his fathers' estate, for the 
 eldest son — there were three sons and two daughters — had, 
 like his father, become incapacitated for work by strong drink. 
 He found everything in a deplorable condition, but with the 
 vigor of youth he set to work to repair the buildings and re- 
 claim the waste land. In the summer tim \ while employing 
 common laborers to attend to the work in the fields, he him- 
 self bought large quantities of salmon, which he cured and dis- 
 posed of to good advantage on the market in Stockholm; so 
 
 91 
 
that ere many years had passed it was rumored that Jonas Olson 
 wa^s one of the most prosperous men in the parish. The year 
 1825 was the epoch-making period of his life. If there was any 
 one vice which the peasantry was addicted to more than another 
 it was the vice of intemperance. But hand-in-hand with in- 
 temperance went general laxity of morals. The clergy was no 
 better than the peasantry. The Rev. Mr. Sherdin never waived 
 his privilege of dancing the first round with the bride at wed- 
 dings, and drank as deep as any of his parishioners. The tithes 
 of grain which the good pastor received he sold again to his 
 flock in the form of distilled liquor. Moreover, it was known 
 that at least one unfortunate girl had owned the associate pastor 
 to be the father of her child. It was at a dance in the winter of 
 1825 that liquor was passed around in sacrilegious mockery of 
 the Lord's Supper. The incident made a deep impression on 
 Jonas Olson's mind. He became converted, and forthwith re- 
 solved to lead a new life. He renounced all worldly amusements 
 and gave himself up to the quiet introspective life of a follower 
 of Christ. He studied the Word of God assiduously, and read 
 the devotional literature of the Lutheran Church, especially the 
 works of Luther, Arndt, and Nohrborg. On his frequent visits 
 to Stockholm he bought books and visited the public libraries, 
 so that, for a peasant, he became an unusually well-read man. 
 It was in Stockholm that he made the acquaintance of C. 0. 
 Rosenius, the celebrated Swedish representative of Hallean 
 pietism, and became a constant reader of the church paper 
 edited by him. It was here, too, that he met George Scott, an 
 English Methodist clergyman, who was established in the Swed- 
 ish capital as chaplain to Samuel Owen, a wealthy English 
 manufacturer. Scott was a man of ability and enthusiasm, and 
 his influence was not limited to the employes of Samuel Owen. 
 He preached in Stockholm from 1830 to 1842 with great suc- 
 cess, and although he had had a predecessor in a certain Metho- 
 dist clergyman by the name of Stewens, he may properly be 
 considered as the founder of the Methodist Church in Sweden. 
 In him Jonas Olson found a warm and sympathetic friend, with 
 whom he had many extended conversations upon religious sub- 
 jects. Jonas Olson, indeed, never openly embraced Methodism, 
 but was greatly influenced by its teachings, and even accepted 
 its cardinal doctrine of sanctification. 
 
It was, however, especially in the matter of temperance 
 reform that the two friends met on common ground. Under 
 Scott's direction Jonas Olson began to organize temperance 
 societies in his own and neighboring parishes. At first he met 
 with considerable opposition. The clergy objected that Jesus 
 at Canaan had not disdained to encourage the social practice 
 of putting the wedding guests under the table. Jonas Olson's 
 own pastor accused him of heinous designs upon his distillery. 
 But the Crown soon lent its support to the movement, and 
 then the clergy were everywhere among the first to sign the 
 pledge. 
 
 But it was not only as an organizer of temperance societies 
 that Jonas Olson found expression for his change of attitude 
 towards religion. Immediately upon his conversion in 1825 he 
 had begun to preach in the conventicles of the Devotionalists, 
 Who were just then beginning to appear in Soderala Parish, in 
 the province of Helsingland. In 1826 he married his first wife. 
 The marriage proved a happy one, although but of short dura- 
 tion. The death of his wife, after only a year and a half of mar- 
 ried life, caused him to throw himself with additional zeal into 
 church work, and it was due to him that Devotionalism was 
 carried to every quarter of the province of Helsingland. 
 
 The Devotionalists w r ere pietists, using the word in the 
 broader sense in which it is employed by Heppe and Rieschl. 
 They did not form a separate sect. They were merely individuals 
 who w r ere dissatisfied w r ith the absence of vital piety in the 
 Established Church, and who wished to introduce a living Chris- 
 tianity by private preaching and by the superior piety of their 
 lives. They were called Devotionalists, or Readers (Lasare) , 
 because they assembled in private houses to hold devotional 
 meetings, and because they read their Bibles and books of de- 
 votion assiduously in their homes. 
 
 C. A. Cornelius says in his history of the Swedish Church, 
 "If we consider European Christianity in its entirety, church 
 work in the nineteenth century . . . has been characterized by 
 an endeavor to repair the injury wrought by the century of 
 the Ulumniation, and, if possible, to restore the old order of 
 things." It was this reactionary tendency which, in the Swedish 
 Church, was represented by Devotionalism. 
 
 93 
 
Devotionalism bad this in common with other pietistic 
 movements in the latter part of the eighteenth and the begin- 
 ning of the nineteenth centuries, that it sought to purify the 
 Church from within ; that it supplemented the regular church 
 service by convenicle worship ; that it paid less attention to ob- 
 jective purity of doctrine than subjective piety; that, in its 
 zeal for the simplicity and vital Christianity of the Apostolic 
 Church, it condemned many forms of amusement and recreation 
 in themselves entirely innocent. 
 
 The clergy in the Swedish Chuich not being so thoroughly 
 and generally rationalized as in other Protestant countries, 
 the conditions were not present for a popular religious oppo- 
 sition movement of national dimensions, and thus we find that 
 Swedish pietism did not produce any great national leader after 
 whom it might be named. It began to spread under local leaders 
 in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Its stronghold 
 was Norrland, one of the great political divisions of Sweden, of 
 which Helsingland is a subdivision. 
 
 Economically, the province of Helsingland is well situated. 
 It possesses rich iron mines, which yield a large annual pro- 
 duce. It also possesses linen and other manufactures. But the 
 principal part of the population consists of independent peas- 
 ants, who own their land in fee-simple. Helsingland is not cursed 
 with the system of large landed estates which obtains farther 
 south in Sweden, and consequently there are no Torpare, or 
 cottagers, who eke out a precarious existence on small patches 
 of land held in return for labor services rendered to the lord. 
 The principal city is Gefle, built on a small inlet of the Gulf of 
 Bothnia. It has a good harbor and is one of the best built 
 towns in Sweden. Its population exceeds twenty thousand. The 
 commerce is considerable. The exports consist of iron, timber, 
 flax and linens. The imports are principally corn and salt. The 
 population of Helsingland being chiefly agricultural, there are 
 no important towns outside of Gefle. The peasants are frugal, 
 thrifty and industrious. Their farms are small, but well kept 
 and well cultivated, the staple produce being flax, rye and po- 
 tatoes. The peasants place great pride in their neat red-painted 
 farm-houses surrounded by patches of flowers and garden-truck. 
 The roads are fine, and distances to market convenient. 
 
 In spite of material prosperity, however, the state of edu- 
 
 94 
 
cation and morals in the early part of the present century was 
 low. Drunkenness was a common vice. Many could not read, 
 and few indeed were those who could write. Yet in this they 
 were no better nor no worse than the peasantry of other Eur- 
 opean countries at the time, for the day of modern public 
 schools had not yet arrived. But with the advent of Devotion- 
 alism and temperance reform a radical change took place. The 
 people began to read and turned to habits of industry and 
 sobriety. 
 
 It was the best part of the population which joined the 
 Devotionalists, namely, the peasants and independent artisans. 
 Some of the clergy, too, became interested and took part in the 
 conventicles. But Jonas Olson continued to be the leader and 
 the principal lay-member. He enjoyed the respect and the con- 
 fidence of the entire community, representing it in a public 
 capacity as juror to the district court. For seventeen years 
 Jonas Olson and the Devotionalists of Helsingland assembled 
 in conventicles and read their Bibles and books of devotion un- 
 molested, enjoying their full privileges as members of the Es- 
 tablished Church, when a new actor appeared upon the scene. 
 This actor was Eric Janson. 
 
 II — The Rise of Jans on ism 
 
 Eric Janson was born December 19, 1808 in Biskopskulla 
 Parish, Uppland, and was the second son in a family of four sons 
 and one daughter. His father, Johannes Mattson, was a poor 
 man, who by thrift and industry succeeded in laying by enough 
 means to become the owner of a small landed estate in Osterunda 
 Parish, Westmanland, where Eric spent the formative period 
 of his youth. Eric Janson was a born religious leader. He was 
 not a profound speculator, but was endowed with a rare gift 
 of eloquence and an extraordinary power to control the actions 
 of large bodies of men. Little is known of his youth, except 
 that his education was meagre, consisting merely of the religious 
 instruction required in a catechumen of the Established Church. 
 While yet a mere boy he experienced the call of religion, but 
 soon suffered a relapse, and there was nothing in his mode of 
 life to distinguish him from the pleasure-loving youth of the 
 social class to which he belonged. 
 
 At the age of twenty-six he experienced a miraculous cure 
 
 95 
 
from an aggravated form of rheumatism. He had for some time 
 been suffering intense pains, but, being a man of restless, active 
 disposition, he could not be persuaded to treat himself as an 
 invalid. One day, as he was plowing in the fields, an unusually 
 severe attack came upon him, in which he fainted away. On 
 regaining consciousness, he heard a voice saying: "It is writ 
 that whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall re- 
 ceive ; all things are possible to him that believeth. ' If ye shall 
 ask anything in my name, I will do it,' saith the Lord." Eric 
 Janson recognized in the voice a message from God, and, falling 
 upon his knees, prayed long and fervently that his lack of faith 
 might be forgiven him and that his health might be restored. 
 On arising, is pains had disappeared, never to return. 
 
 From this time on his whole being was turned into religious 
 channels. He was seized with an insatiable thirst after spiritual 
 knowledge. He read all the books of a devotional character that 
 were to be had, but, not finding in them the peace that he longed 
 for, turned himself towards the Bible as the sole source of spirit- 
 ual comfort. His own personal experience had taught him the 
 effiacy of faith in prayer. To want of faith, then, he ascribed 
 all the misery and suffering which he saw about him on every 
 hand. This want of faith he attributed to the Established 
 Church, which was concerned more with outward churchly 
 ceremonies than with vital piety. From the subject of faith 
 the transition of thought to the subject of sanctification was easy 
 and natural. After prolonged study he came to the conclusion 
 that the Lutheran doctrine of sanctification was wrong, holding 
 that the faithful have no sin. He seems not, however, to have 
 advocated these views in public before 1840, for, although acting 
 as a lay-preacher among the Devotionahsts of Osterunda Parish, 
 no suspicion attached to his orthodoxy previous to that year. 
 But in 1840 he began to preach earnestly against the assumed 
 abuse of the devotional literature, insisting that it distracted 
 attention from the Bible, which was the only true source of 
 spiritual knowledge. It was not until several years later that 
 he began to oppose in public the Lutheran doctrine of sanctifi- 
 cation. 
 
 Up to the age of twenty-seven he remained with his parents, 
 when, contrary to their will, he married a girl below his station. 
 As a consequence he was thrown almost penniless upon his own 
 
 96 
 
resources. He rented a farm and undertook several small bus- 
 iness ventures, in all of which he was successful, so that he was 
 ultimately enabled to purchase the estate of Lotorp for 1000 
 rix-dollars, cash. 
 
 In 1842, having heard of the Devotionalists in Helsing- 
 land, he visited that province as a dealer in flour, in which 
 capacity he traveled extensively in his own and neighboring 
 parishes. In 1843, at the age of thirty-four, he made his second 
 visit to Helsingland. In January of this yoar, while pissing 
 through Soderala Parish, he formed and acquaintance which 
 proved to be of inestimable importance in the shaping of future 
 events. Discovering by mere chance that Jonas Olson was a De- 
 votionalist. he applied to him for lodging over night, and his 
 request was hospitably granted. It was a Saturday night. The 
 stranger appeared reserved, and had nothing to say on religious 
 subjects. The following morning Olson's married sister came 
 over to buy some flour. But the stranger answered, "Do you 
 not know that to-day is the Sabbath"? We will postpone business 
 till to-morrow." The stranger accompanied the family to 
 church. On the way home, contrary to the custom, he said not 
 a word about the sermon. In the afternoon his host took him 
 to a conventicle of the Devotionalists, where he was invited to 
 speak. But he remained silent. On taking leave the following 
 morning he said to his host, "I have had a restless night. The 
 Lord hath imposed a duty upon me. I have struggled in prayer 
 to avoid it, but cannot. Be a priest in your own house. I have 
 been here a Saturday night and a Sunday night, and you have 
 not assembled your household in prayer." 
 
 If Jonas Olson had been previously impressed by his guest's 
 conduct, he was not any the less so now. The rebuke was ac- 
 cepted in humility, and from that time on Jonas Olson recog- 
 nized in the stranger a man of God. He accompanied him to 
 Hudiksvall and Gefle, and everywhere introduced him to the 
 conventicles of the Devotionalists. On account of the personal 
 standing of his introducer, Eric Janson everywhere met with 
 a favorable reception. Everywhere he was invited to speak, and 
 he now no longer refused. The appreciativeness of his audiences 
 spurred him on to his most eloquent efforts, and the evident 
 results of his preaching convinced him that his mission as a 
 revivalist lay in Helsingland. 
 
In June of the same year he made his third visit to Helsing- 
 land. He was now in such demand that, like his great Master, 
 he was obliged to travel by night and preach by day. His ser- 
 mons frequently lasted from five to six hours. Many of the 
 clergy visited his meetings, but as yet no objections were raised 
 to his preaching. His fourth journey to Helsingland was made 
 in the following autumn. He now decided to sell his estate in 
 Westmanland and move to Helsingland. In the meantime, how- 
 ever, his father died, and he moved instead into the home thus 
 left vacant. Here he remained till April, 1844, when he ac- 
 complished his original purpose and removed to Forsa in the 
 north of Helsingland. 
 
 With the advent of Eric Janson to Helsingland in 1842 we 
 may, roughly speaking, say that Jansonism begins. Eric Janson 
 never had any large following in his own province of Westman- 
 land, nor even in his own parish. Although, indeed, he made 
 numerous converts outside of Helsingland, this province never- 
 theless remained the Jansonist stronghold. The reason is to be 
 sought in the fact that the conditions in Helsingland were par- 
 ticularly favorable for the reception of his doctrine. To the 
 Devotionalists of Helsingland there was nothing positively new 
 in his teaching. The two points in which he disagreed with the 
 Established Church were, firstly, with regard to the doctrine of 
 sanctif ication ; secondly, with regard to the devotional literature. 
 In the doctrine of sanctification he agreed with the Methodists, 
 holding that the faithful have no sin. But, as we have seen, 
 Jonas Olson had accepted this doctrine from George Scott, the 
 English Methodist clergyman stationed in Stockholm. It is im- 
 possible to ascertain whether or not Eric Janson himself ever 
 came under the personal influence of George Scott. Some of 
 his followers assert that he did ; others assert with equal posi- 
 tiveness that he did not. But be that as it may, in matters of 
 faith he had much in common with John Wesley, and his style 
 of preaching and method of delivery is said to have resembled 
 very much that of the early Methodists. Nor was his rejection 
 of the devotional literature new in Helsingland. In 1805, Eric 
 Stalberg, of the parish of Pitea, had founded a sect of Sepa- 
 ratists, which spread rapidly over the greater part of Norrland, 
 including the province of Helsingland. One characteristic of 
 this sect was that, with the exception of Luther's writings, it 
 
 98 
 
discouraged the use of devotional literature, saying that, at the 
 best, human writings are full of error and only tend to distract 
 the attention from the Word of God. Although Jonas Olson 
 and the majority of the orthodox Devotionalists in Helsingland 
 cannot be said to have shared this view previous to the advent 
 of Eric Janson, they were nevertheless familiar with it. 
 
 Jansonism did not spring ready-made from the brain of 
 its author. It was a gradual development, and the form which 
 it ultimately assumed was largely determined by the attitude 
 of the Established Church. Eric Janson did not at first display 
 any separatistic tendencies. He merely preached against the 
 rationalism and dead orthodoxy which were prevalent in the 
 Swedish Church. He advocated a return to the simplicity and 
 earnestness of primitive Christianity. He warned his followers 
 to read the Word of God, and did not hesitate to punish in pub- 
 lic the sins of prominent individuals. His preaching was of a 
 pre-eminently nomistic character, and many even of those who 
 thought they had found peace in God saw the vanity of their 
 lives. He traveled from parish to parish conducting revival 
 meetings. The number of his adherents was soon estimated at 
 from 1500 to 4000. The clergy became alarmed at the rapid 
 growth of a strong religious sentiment over which they had no 
 control and the import of which they did not understand. They 
 regarded the Jansonists as a new sect holding doctrines that 
 were subversive of the existing church organization. In order 
 to regain their lost hold upon their congregations they denounced 
 Janson from the pulpit, and appeared in the conventicles to 
 warn their parishioners against the impostor and false prophet. 
 They attempted to refute his heresies with regard to the de- 
 votional literature and the doctrine of sanctification. But Jan- 
 son was gifted with a matchless power of debate, besides being 
 well versed in the Scriptures, and whenever it came to a battle 
 of words was almost certain to come off victorious. The Jan- 
 sonists were refused admittance to the Lord's Supper. Eric 
 Janson retaliated by saying that there could be no faith with- 
 out persecution ; that there was no saving power in the sermon of 
 an unconverted minister; and forbade his followers to worship 
 in the Established Church, holding his conventicles at the time 
 of the regular church service. This was the beginning of his 
 estrangement from the Established Church. 
 
 99 
 
As the influence of Janson increased, so also the number 
 and hostility of his enemies. His followers were subjected to 
 the abuse and insult of the rabble. Their meetings were dis- 
 turbed, their houses pelted with stones, and their persons as- 
 saulted. But they praised the Lord who tried their faith by 
 allowing them to be persecuted. They marched along the public 
 highways at night and sang spiritual hymns, or gathered in 
 front of the parsonages to pray for the conversion of their un- 
 regenerate pastors. When their conventicles were prohibited 
 they assembled in the woods and in out of the way places to 
 partake of the Holy Communion. Faint rumors of these mid- 
 night gatherings came to the church authorities, and the spectre 
 of a new peasant insurrection stalked abroad. Eric Janson was 
 regarded as a second Thomas Munzer. He was charged with all 
 sorts of atrocious crimes. A large number of his followers were 
 women. Women frequently accompanied him on his missionary 
 journeys. With one of these, by the name of Sophia Schon, he 
 was particularly accused of improper relations. One night she 
 was surprised in her home by the pastor of Osterunda Parish, 
 who had come with a number of his henchmen to find Eric 
 Janson, Eric Janson was, of course, not to be found ; but Sophia 
 Schon was dragged from her bed and brought, dressed only 
 in her linen, to the sheriff's bailiff. 
 
 In June, 1844, an event took place which gave the opponents 
 of the new heresy an opportunity of adopting severe legal mea- 
 sures. Already since 1840 Eric Janson had witnessed against the 
 assumed abuse of the devotional literature. The human writ- 
 ings of Luther, Arndt, Scriver, Nohrborg had usurped the place 
 of the Bible. These new idols had stolen away the hearts of 
 the people. They must be destroyed. 
 
 The burning of the books took place June 11. A great 
 concourse of people from the country around assembled on a 
 farm near the town of Tranberg. An immense bonfire was 
 made of books, pamphlets, tracts — everything except the Bible, 
 the hymn-book and the catechism. Amidst the singing of hymns 
 and great spiritual exaltation the assemblage watched the de- 
 struction of the "Harlot of Babylon." 
 
 The embers of the fire had hardly died out before the news 
 was spread in every quarter of Sweden. People were horrified. 
 Two days later, Janson "Was arrested by the Crown officials and 
 
 100 
 
brought before the sheriff's court in Gefle. After a preliminary 
 trial he was transferred to the sheriff's court in Wasteras, 
 under whose jurisdiction he properly belonged. Here his mental 
 condition was examined into by a medical expert, while a court 
 chaplain examined into his spiritual. He was finally released 
 to await a new trial, but was not allowed to return to 
 Helsingland. 
 
 In the meantime, delegations of his adherents had visited 
 the king, and had been promised a hearing of their grievances 
 before the proper authorities. Upon his release Janson himself 
 sought admission to the king, and was so graciously received 
 that he wrote back to his friends, "I have triumphed at court." 
 In September, 1844, he was summoned to appear before court in 
 Westeras. In his defense he stated that the Church had abused 
 its trust ; that it had fallen from the true faith ; that its servants 
 were mere worldlings; that he was sent by God to restore the 
 faith and show sinners the way of salvation. He was released 
 and allowed a pass to his home in Forsa, Helsingland. 
 
 In the meantime, the ardor of his adherents in Helsingland 
 had not abated. Jansonism was being preached in every quarter. 
 The reappearance of the leader gave a new impetus to the move- 
 ment. His enemies had not been able to do him any injury. The 
 king and the highest secular authorities in the realm were his 
 sympathizers. It was only the hierarchy of the Established 
 Church that sought his destruction. But full amnesty might 
 soon be expected, the abominable machinations of the Church 
 would be twarted, the dawn of religious freedom was not far 
 distant. So thought his simple-minded followers. His journey 
 through Helsingland was one continued ovation. Everywhere 
 the people flocked to the conventicles. Those who were left in 
 doubt by his preaching were converted by the magnetic touch 
 of his hand. In some parishes the churches remained almost 
 empty. 
 
 October 28, 1844, te second crusade against religious books 
 took place — this time in Soderala Parish — and now not even 
 the hymn-book and the catechism were spared. Janson was im- 
 mediately arrested. But there was reason to be cautious. He 
 was again released to await a new trial. Hardly had he been 
 released before he was rearrested and condemned to a short im- 
 prisonment for holding revival meetings. December 18 he was 
 
 101 
 
summoned before the House of Bishops in Upsala. His case was 
 not decided. 
 
 It would be neither profitable nor interesting to rehearse 
 the legal chicanery and petty persecution with which his life 
 was embittered, and by which he was agged on, as it were, to 
 abandon all Lutheran traditions and assume a position of open 
 hostility to the Established Church. Through the zeal of the 
 inferior clergy he was arrested six times, being three times re- 
 leased by royal orders ; twice he was admitted to the king ; he was 
 transferred from one court to another; but, it is claimed, never 
 received a thorough and impartial investigation. 
 
 His followers were subjected to the same sort of treatment. 
 The ancient and obsolete law against conventicles, adopted in 
 1726 against Hallean pietists and other heretics, was revived in 
 all its severity. Jonas Olson and his younger brother, Olof Olson, 
 were made to pay heavy fines for participating in the destruction 
 of the religious books and for holding conventicles. They also 
 were summoned before the House of Bishops in Upsala to an- 
 swer for their religious opinions. 
 
 Finally, a price was set upon Eric Janson's head. He was 
 hunted from place to place, leading a life as adventurous as even 
 that of the sweet singer of Brandenburg in the seventeenth cen- 
 tury. On being captured, his friends feared that he would never 
 be released, and conspired to effect his escape. Some of them, 
 under color of violence, took him away from the Crown official, 
 as he was being conveyed from Gefle to Westeras, and brought 
 him over the mountains into Norway. Prom there he went to 
 Copenhagen, where, in the company of a few friends, he em- 
 barked for New York. In July, 1846, he arrived in Victoria, 
 Knox County, Illinois, whither he had been preceded by Olof 
 Olson. 
 
 Ill — Emigration of the Jansonists and the Founding of the 
 Bishop Hill Colony 
 
 While hiding in the mountain fastnesses of Soderala and 
 Alfta, Eric Janson had planned the emigration of his followers 
 from Sweden, and the founding in America of a socialistic 
 theocratic community, for he had by this time abandoned all 
 hopes of obtaining in Sweden religious liberty, either for him- 
 self or for his followers. Impelled from one point to another 
 
 102 
 
by the spirit of opposition, he had now developed an inde- 
 pendent system of theology, directly antagonistic to the au- 
 thority of the Established Church. Without incurring the dis- 
 pleasure of the Church, he had begun his reformatory activity 
 by opposing the use of the devotional literature. Then he had 
 opposed the Lutheran doctrine of sanctification. For this, him- 
 self and his adherents had been excluded from participation in 
 the Lord's Supper, whereupon he had dealt out the Lord's Sup- 
 per with his own hands. Meeting with legal prosecution- at the 
 hands of the inferior clergy, he had rejected the authority of the 
 Established Church altogether, and proclaimed himself as the 
 representative of Christ, sent to restore the true Christian 
 Church, which had disappeared from the face of the earth with 
 the introduction of established state churches. 
 
 The central idea of Jansonism in this final stage of its 
 development may be summed up as follows: When persecution 
 ceased under Constantine the Great and Christianity became 
 the state religion, Christianity became extinct. Eric Janson was 
 sent to restore Christianity. He represented the second coming 
 of Christ. Christ revealed himself through him, and should 
 continue to do the same through the seed of his body. The second 
 advent of Christ was to be more glorious than the first. "As the 
 splendor of the second temple at Jerusalem far exceeded that 
 of the first, erected by the son of David, so also the glory of 
 the work which is to be accomplished by Eric Janson, standing 
 in Christ 's stead, shall far exceed that of the work accomplished 
 by Jesus and his Apostles." Eric Janson was to separate the 
 children of God from the world and gather them into a theo- 
 cratic community. In America he was to build up the New 
 Jerusalem, from whence the Gospel should go forth to all the 
 world. The New Jerusalem should quickly extend its boundaries 
 until it embraced all the nations of the earth. Then should 
 the millenium be ushered in, in which Eric Janson, or the heirs 
 of his body, should, as the representatives of Christ, reign to 
 the end of all time. 
 
 In 1845 he had sent Olof Olson to America to examine the 
 country and fix upon a suitable location for the community. 
 This was before the modern Swedish emigration to the New 
 World. America was a name almost unknown to the peasants 
 of Helsingland. But in 1943 an adventurous Swede from the 
 
 103 
 
parish of Alfta had wandered as far west as Chicago. He had 
 written home glowing accounts of the country. His letters had 
 been circulated among friends .id acquaintances, and their con- 
 tents had inspired the persecuted Jansonists with a new hope. 
 In America there was no established church ; there were no 
 inquisitorial and tyrannous priests, no supercilious aristocracy; 
 there was a home for every one, and, above all, religious and 
 political liberty. The Jansonists possessed a strong love of home 
 and country, but the exile which they had formerly feared under 
 the conventicle laws no longer appeared so terrible. 
 
 In New York, Olof Olson made the acquaintance of the 
 Rev. Mr. Hedstrom, who is known as the founder of the Swedish 
 Methodist Church in America. Hedstrom was stationed as a 
 missionary among the Scandinavian seamen in New York. He 
 held his services in a dismantled vessel, a part of which was 
 fitted up for the reception of Olof Olson's family, consisting 
 of his wife and two children, who remained there during the 
 winter of 1845-6. Under the influence of Hedstrom, Olof Olson 
 joined the Methodist communion, and presently proceeded on 
 his way to Victoria, Knox County, Illinois, where he was hos- 
 pitably received by Hedstrom 's brother. After a prospecting 
 tour of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Olof Olson wrote back 
 to Sweden confirming previous favorable reports of the country, 
 and recommending Illinois as the future place of settlement. 
 In July of 1846 he was joined by Eric Janson, and together 
 they fixed upon a point in Henry County as the location of the 
 settlement. Olof Olson, however, never joined the community, 
 but purchased a farm near Victoria, where he died shortly after 
 the arrival of the main body of the Jansonists. 
 
 Before leaving Sweden, Eric Janson hr.d appointed certain 
 trustworthy men to conduct the emigration. Chief among these 
 were Jonas Olson, Olof Johnson, Andreas Berglund, and Olof 
 Stenberg, all of whom were to play an important part in the 
 later history of the Jansonists. 
 
 While the orthodox Devotionalists in Helsingland consisted 
 chiefly of independent farmers and artisans, the Jansonists in- 
 cluded in their number a large proportion of miners and factory 
 hands, and poor people of every description, for Jansonism was, 
 in the true sense of the word, a popular religious movement. 
 Many of the Jansonists were therefore persons who were un- 
 
 104 
 
able to defray the expenses of a long journey. It was this fact 
 which prompted Eric Johnson to make community of goods a 
 part of the social economy of the New Jerusalem. He based his 
 reasons for the adoption of communism entirely on scriptural 
 grounds. Neither he nor his followers knew any other form 
 of communism than that based on religion. The Jansonists 
 were unacquainted with the philosophical systems of the great 
 social reformers of Prance. The politico-economic questions that 
 were agitating the proletariat in the great world without had 
 left them undisturbed. They were illiterate people. Their read- 
 ing was limited to one book, but in that book they; found that 
 the first Christian church had taken care of its poor and that 
 material goods had been held in common. So the wealthy sold 
 their property, real as well as personal, and the proceeds went 
 to the common coffers to be added to the widow's mite. The 
 sums which were thus contributed ranged from 24,000 crown^ 
 downward, and were paid over to the men in charge of the 
 emigration. 
 
 When the time for the emigration arrived it was found that 
 1100 Jansonists were willing to abandon their homes for the 
 sake of religion. It was impossible to secure passage at one and 
 the same time for so many people, for the Swedish vessels which 
 touched at American ports were limited in number and were 
 merely freight vessels without accommodations for passengers. 
 So the emigrants were dispatched in parties as opportunity of- 
 fered. The vessels were small, rooming only from fifty to one 
 hundred and fifty passengers apiece. Many of them were un- 
 seaworthy, and not unfrequently they were overloaded. One 
 was lost at sea, another was shipwrecked off the coast of New- 
 foundland, and still another occupied five months in the voyage. 
 
 The emigrants gathered in Goteborg, Soderhamn and Stock- 
 holm, but by far the greatest number sailed fiom Gefle. The 
 first vessel to set sail from Gefle left in the summer of 1846. 
 For weeks previous to the departure of the vessel vehicles of 
 every description came trundling into the seaboard town of Gefle. 
 From a distance of over a hundred miles pedestrians came in, 
 travel-stained and foot-sore. A feverish excitement reigned. No 
 one wanted to be left behind, for the Jansonists believed that 
 when they should stand out to sea Sweden would be destroyed 
 for the iniquity of the Established Church. It was a sad parting. 
 
 105 
 
Families were torn asunder, children left their parents, hus- 
 bands left their wives, the mother left her infant in the cradle. 
 It was the flower of the youth that went, principally young 
 men and women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five. 
 Their friends never expected to hear of them again. It was 
 feared that they would be taken by pirates, or that the captains 
 of their vessels would sell them into slavery, or bring them to 
 the terrible " island" of Siberia where the Czar of Russia sends 
 all his desperate criminals. In American waters, too, there were 
 frightful sea-monsters, more ferocious and destructive than even 
 the Midgard serpent. And if America was the home of freedom 
 and a country of fabulous wealth, it was also the resort of cut- 
 throats and assassins and full of tropical abnormalities. 
 
 ^ Everything was ready for the departure when, at the very 
 last moment, the passports were withheld by the authorities. 
 However, a delegation of the Jansonists, headed by Jonas 01son r 
 waited upon King Oscar I., who gave them an order for the 
 necessary papers. 
 
 The first shipload of passengers was met in New York by 
 Eric Janson, who had proceeded from Victoria to meet them. 
 From Troy the emigrants went by canal to Buffalo, thence by 
 way of the Great Lakes to Chicago. In Chicago they purchased 
 horses and wagons for the conveyance of the invalids and the 
 baggage. The able-bodied walked on foot one hundred miles 
 across the unbroken prairie to Victoria, where the party arrived 
 in July, 1846. A few days later the Jansonists removed to Red 
 Oak Grove, about three miles west of the present Bishop Hill, 
 where for two hundred and fifty dollars their leader had pur- 
 chased an improved eighty-acre farm in section nine of Weller 
 Township August 2 one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
 section eight of the same township were purchased for $1100. 
 This was a very desirable piece of property, containing not only 
 cultivated fields, but also a log-cabin and outhouses. 
 
 It now remained to choose a suitable town-site. The south- 
 east quarter of section fourteen, township fourteen, was finally 
 decided upon, and purchased of the United States government, 
 September 26, for $200. It was a beautiful spot, sparsely cov- 
 ered with a small growth of oak trees, and located on the south 
 bank of the South Edward Creek. On the same day two addi- 
 
 106 
 
tional quarters were purchased in sections twenty-three and 
 twenty-four of the same township for $400. 
 
 Anticipating the arrival of the second party of immigrants, 
 two log-houses and four large tents were erected, all of which 
 were in readiness when Jonas Olson arrived with his party on 
 the 28th of October. Simultaneously with the setting in of cold 
 weather, when the tents had to be vacated, a new party arrived. 
 Several log cabins were hastily put together, and a large sod 
 house erected, which later served as a common kitchen and din- 
 ing-hall. Twelve "dug-outs," about twenty-five or thirty feet 
 long and eighteen feet wide, were also built. In these dug-outs 
 two tiers of beds were placed along each wall, and each bed held 
 two or more occupants. In one dug-out there were three tiers 
 of beds and three occupants in each bed, fifty-two unmarried 
 women performing their toilets there morning and evening. 
 The mud caves were damp and unwholesome, and the mortality 
 was frightful. Nearly every morning a fresh corpse would be 
 pulled out from the reeking death-traps. Before the snow fell 
 a fourth party of immigrants had arrived, and four hundred 
 persons wintered in the settlement, of whom seve?ity were sta- 
 tioned at Red Oak Grove. 
 
 One of the first concerns of the Jansonists was to provide 
 a place of worship. Already before the arrival of the second 
 party a large tabernacle had been erected. It was built in the 
 form of a cross and was able to room about a thousand persons. 
 The material consisted of logs and canvas, and the whole structure 
 was intended merely as a temporary makeshift. Divine worship 
 was held here twice a day on week days and three times on 
 Sundays. Eric Janson himself went the rounds of the camp 
 at five o'clock in the morning to call the people to devotion. 
 Half an hour later the services began, and frequently lasted for 
 two hours. The second devotional meeting was held in the even- 
 ing. When spring arrived, however, and the work in the fields 
 began, the morning and evening devotions were substituted by a 
 short meeting during the noon recess, and in favorable weather 
 this was frequently conducted in the open air. 
 
 The Jansonists were illiterate people, but they held pro- 
 gressive views with regard to elementary education. Already 
 the first winter, at such times when the weather prevented out- 
 door w T ork, a school for adults was carried on in the tabernacle 
 
 107 
 
by Mrs. Hebbe and, later Mr. Hellstrom, who both instructed in 
 the advanced arts of writing and ciphering. A similar school 
 for adults was established at Red Oak. As early as January, 
 1847, an English school was opened. A Presbyterian clergyman 
 the Rev. Mr. Talbot, taught some thirty-five children in a mud- 
 cave from January to July. At times he was assissted by his two 
 daughters and by Mrs. Pollock, who was a member of the com- 
 munity. Mr. Talbot was succeeded by Nelson Simons, M.D. 
 
 Measures were also taken for the propaganda of faith. Eric 
 Janson appointed twelve young men to be the apostles of Jan- 
 sonism in the New World. Great expectations were centered in 
 these twelve young men. After a few months' instruction in 
 the English language, they were sent out upon their mission to 
 convert the United States and the world. They met with but 
 moderate success, however, for the Yankee was too busy invent- 
 ing bad clocks and peddling cheap tinware to listen to what the 
 missionaries had to say. 
 
 The community experienced great difficulty in securing 
 sufficient food. After the expenses of the journey and the pur- 
 chase of so much land, the funds of the society were well nigh 
 exhausted, and credit they had none. The grain had to be hauled 
 twenty-eight miles to the nearest mill to be ground. But the 
 mill was constantly under repairs and could not be relied upon. 
 After attempting to supply their wants by means of hand-mills, 
 the society erected a small grist-mill on the Edwards Creek, 
 which, when the water failed, was run by horse-power. 
 
 In the spring of 1847 the community began to manufacture 
 adobe. Several houses were built of this material, some of which 
 remained standing until 1862. The ravine which intersected the 
 town-site contained chalkstone in abundance, and the prepara- 
 tion of it into cement was taught the Jansonists by Philip Mauk. 
 The first frame building was also erected in 1847, the lumber 
 being hauled from Red Dak Grove, where a sawmill, run by 
 horse-power, had been put up by the society. As the needs of 
 the society increased, this mill was later on bartered away for 
 a larger one run by water-power. May 4, 1848, the society pur- 
 chased of Cramer and AYilsie forty acres of land for $1500. This 
 land was excellent timber land, and contained a sawmill more 
 than large enough to supply all the wants of the society. 
 
 Whila the Jansonists had been employed in these building 
 
 108 
 
operations they had not neglected agriculture. The land at Red 
 Oak Grove had been put under cultivation, and pieces of land 
 had been rented here and there, for which they were obliged 
 to pay one-third of the gross produce. During the first year 
 the Jansonists broke three hundred and fifty acres of land and 
 laid three and a half miles of sod fence. In the autumn of the 
 year their threshing was done by Mr. Broderick, whose machine 
 they purchased, only to make it serve as a model for a larger and 
 more improved machine of their own make. 
 
 November 18, one hundred acres of land in section seven- 
 teen, Weller Township, were purchased of W. H. Griffins for 
 three hundred and eighty dollars. 
 
 June 4, 1847, the fifth party of Jansonists arrived. The 
 party contained, besides children, four hundred adults. This 
 accretion to the community required the purchase of more land. 
 Before the close of the year the following purchases had been 
 made: eighty acres in section seventeen, two hundred and forty 
 acres in section sixteen, thirty-nine acres belonging to Mr. Brod- 
 erick, besides other property. 
 
 In January of the following year an old-fashioned wind 
 grist-mill was erected, the mill on the Edwards Creek proving 
 inadequate to meet the increasing demands made upon it. 
 
 With the arrival of the new party a great scarcity of dwell- 
 ing room arose. Five new mud-caves were excavated for the peo- 
 ple, while similar provisions were made for the horses and cattle. 
 Nevertheless the Jansonists suffered intensely. The winter was 
 a severe one. The dug-outs were damp and unwholesome and 
 fearfully crowded. The ravine into which they faced was al- 
 ternately swept by fierce wind storms or choked up with snow. 
 There was lack of provisions, and the Jansonists suffered from 
 hunger as well as from cold. The change of climate also pro- 
 duced suffering. Fevers, chills and diarrhoea were common, and 
 many succumbed. The hardships were more than many members 
 of the community had the resolution to bear, and they left singly 
 and in squads as their lack of faith and pressing wants seemed 
 to require. The seeds of internal discord, too, were sown, for 
 religious differences arose which resulted in the withdrawel of 
 about two hundred members in the autumn of 1848. The ma- 
 jority, however, remained steadfast. Their courage was cheered 
 
 109 
 
by the matchless eloquence of their leader, and their unshakable 
 faith in him helped them to surmount all difficulties. 
 
 In the summer of 1848 the Jansonists began to manufacture 
 kiln-dried brick, the kilns being located about one mile west of 
 the settlement. A four-story brick house one hundred by forty- 
 five feet was erected, which, in 1851, was extended one hundred 
 feet. The basement was arranged into a common dining-hall and 
 kitchen, whereas the upper stories were divided into dwelling 
 apartments. At the same time, several frame tenement houses and 
 some additional houses of adobe were elected. In this year also 
 the Old Coloiry Church, a large frame edifice, the upper part 
 of which was designed to serve as a church, while the basement 
 was arranged into tenements, was begun and completed in the 
 following year, the tabernacle having been previously destroyed 
 by fire. 
 
 With improved dwellings came improved health. Even 
 those who had to remain in the mud-caves were better off, be- 
 cause they were no longer so crowded, and they founel, in the 
 summer-time at least, plenty of exercise in the open air. For 
 there were no drones in this hive. The incentive to work, which 
 one should suppose had been removed with the removal of in- 
 dividual property, was supplied by religion. They were no longer 
 working for their own advancement, but for the glory of God. 
 Had He not led them, as He had led the people of Israel, to a 
 new Canaan? They were His chosen people. In them His won- 
 derful designs for the regeneration of the world were to be 
 fulfilled. Their city was the refuge of the faithful; it was the 
 New Jerusalem. So they reclaimed the prairie and subdued the 
 forest to further the kingdom of God. Their labor was not in 
 vain. The earth gave forth bountifully of its harvests and pros- 
 perity attended upon them. 
 
 Their methods of agriculture were laborious, but as their 
 means improved, and as they learned the ways of the country 
 of their adoption, they became as expert as any in the use of 
 improved machinery. In the autumn of 1847 they harvested 
 their grain in the Swedish fashion with the scythe. In 1848 
 introduced cradles, and, in 1849, reapers. In order to secure the 
 harvest of 1848 thirty cradle-scythes were kept going day and 
 night, until it was discovered that the night work endangered 
 the health, when eighteen hours were made to constitute a day's 
 
 110 
 
work. The young men wielded the cradles — and wonderful feats 
 were performed with the cradle in those days — while the middle- 
 aged men and the women bound the sheaves; boys and girls 
 gathered the sheaves together, while the old men placed them in 
 shocks. In the evening, when the day's work was done and the 
 harvesters were retiring from the field, an interesting spectacle 
 presented itself to the observer. Two by two, in a long procession 
 a couple of hundred strong, the harvesters wended their home- 
 ward way, first the men carrying their cradle-scythes over their 
 shoulders, then the women with their hand-rakes, and, finally, 
 the children, all singing some merry harvest-song of their native 
 country, while keeping step to the music. On arriving at the 
 village they repaired to the common dining hall, where a bounte- 
 ous repast awaited them on long wooden tables, some of which 
 were set aside for the men, others for the women, and still others 
 for the children. 
 
 Another important industry of the community was the 
 cultivation of flax. This was the staple industry in the pro- 
 vince of Helsingland, and the Jansonists were thoroughly fa- 
 miliar with every branch of it. Already the first year they put 
 part of their fields under cultivation for flax. They also helped 
 the neighboring farmers, who cultivated the plant merely for 
 for the sake of the seed, to harvest their crops, and received the 
 straw in payment for their work. From the crop of 1847 they 
 manufactured 12,473 yards of linen and carpet matting, for all 
 of which they found a ready sale. The volume of manufacture 
 continued to increase till 1851, when it reached 30,579 yards of 
 linen and carpeting. After this it decreased till 1857, when it 
 ceased altogether, except for home consumption, the new rail- 
 road enabling the eastern manufacturers to flood the market 
 with their wares and drive out competition. The aggregate 
 amount of linen sold to 1857 was 130,309 yards and of carpet- 
 ing 22,569 yards. To this must be added the not inconsider- 
 able quantities consumed at home in order to arrive at the total 
 amount of manufacture. The spinning and weaving were done 
 exclusively by women, children of both sexes assisting at spool- 
 ing and other light work. In the early years when looms were 
 scarce the weavers were divided into squads and the looms kept 
 running night and day. 
 
 The sixth party of immigrants arrived in 1849, and con- 
 ill 
 
sisted of Swedish and Norwegian converts under the leadership 
 of the Jansonist missionary Nylund. Between La Salle and 
 Chicago the party was attacked by the Asiatic cholera. Arrived 
 in Chicago in a pitiable condition, the party was met by a mem- 
 ber of the community, who conducted it to Bishop Hill. Thus 
 the dread disease was transplanted to the society, and, break- 
 ing out on the 22nd day of July, raged without intermission till 
 the- middle of September. It carried away one hundred and 
 forty-three persons in the prime of life. The excessiv6 mor- 
 tality was due partly to improper treatment, the fever-parched 
 patients being, according to the old medical superstition, not 
 allowed to touch water. Some of the Jansonists removed to the 
 neighborhood of La Grange, where the community possessed 
 some real property, but, finding themselves still pursued by 
 the destroyer, fled in vain to an island in the Mississippi, 
 where Eric Janson's wife and one child were among the victims. 
 
 In 1850 another party arrived under the leadership of Olof 
 Stenberg, who was returning from a business visit to Sweden. 
 Stenberg's party was attacked by the Asiatic cholera between 
 Buffalo and Milwaukee. The party consisted on one hundred 
 and sixty persons. On account of stress of weather and a break- 
 age in the ! machinery, the voyage by steamer occupied no less 
 than two weeks. T^he provisions gave out and the passengers 
 suffered famine as well as disease. Many were buried in the 
 waters of Lake Michigan, and many died in the lazaretto at 
 Milwaukee. The leader has been accused of criminal negligence 
 with regard to the performance of certain duties, but on the 
 evidence of surviving members of his party the charge is with- 
 out foundation. 
 
 Later in the same year still another party arrived; it con- 
 sisted of eighty persons. The tenth party consisted of seventy 
 persons and arrived in 1854. Besides these larger accretions, 
 converts joined the society singly and in groups, and continued 
 to do so up to a late date. 
 
 It was now a little over three years since the village of 
 Bishop Hill had sprung into existence. It took its being eleven 
 years after the first white man's habitation had been erected 
 in the country which came to be organized as Henry County, 
 and nine years after the organization had taken place. Previous 
 to it there existed, besides some others, the infant settlements of 
 
 112 
 
Andover, Geneseo, Wethersfield, and La Grange, the products 
 of a strange mixture of New England philanthropy and specu- 
 lation. But from the very day of its foundation, Bishop Hill 
 assumed the chief place among the settlements in Henry County. 
 From 1846 to 1850, in the purchase of land and the necessities 
 of life, it put between $10,000 and $15,000 in gold into circula- 
 tion, which was a matter of extreme importance at a time when 
 business was principally conducted by barter, and when the 
 only money in use was paper money valued at a few cents on 
 the dollar. In 1850 its population had swelled to over one 
 thousand, while the entire population of the county, an area 
 of eight hundred and thirty square miles, was only three thou- 
 sand, eight hundred and seven. If the labor value of an im- 
 migrant may be capitalized at ten hundred dollars, then the 
 Jansonists had in their persons alone brought one million dol- 
 lars into the country. Nearly every province in Sweden was 
 represented in the community at Bishop Hill, and the Janson- 
 ists' letters home concerning the new country paved the way 
 for that mighty tide of Swedish immigration which in a few 
 3 r ears began to roll in upon Illinois and the Northwest, and 
 which in 1882 culminated in a grant total for the year of 64,607 
 souls. For nine successive years, from 1878 to 1886, there ar- 
 rived annually from the native land of the Jansonists more im- 
 migrants than from France or Italy or Austria or Russia, or any 
 country save only Great Britain and Germany. 
 
 But while the Norns were weaving the fabric of history, the 
 Jansonists were building their village and improving the re- 
 sources of the wilderness. In 1850 they owned in fee simple or 
 possessed an equitable interest in about fourteen hundred acres 
 of land, which were partially under cultivation for wheat, flax 
 and corn, and partly set aside for the pasturage of large herds 
 of horses and cattle. The village of Bishop Hill, named after 
 Biskopskulla, the birthplace of Eric Janson, consisted of several 
 large brick houses, all of which, with the exception of one, were 
 of adobe, a number of log and frame buldings, and seventeen 
 dug-outs, together with storehouses, barns and outhouses of 
 every description. It contained at least the nuclei of a store, a 
 blacksmith shop, and all the other appurtenances of a modern 
 Western city. At the head of the community — at the head of 
 the industrial army of one thousand busy workmen — was one 
 
 113 
 
supreme director. Eric Janson was the temporal as well as the 
 spiritual ruler. He appointed the superintendents of depart- 
 ments and the foremen of gangs. Nothing was undertaken with- 
 out his sanction. He represented the community in business on 
 the markets in Chicago and St. Louis. Property was bought 
 and sold in his name or in the name of agents appointed by him. 
 The society was, indeed, still struggling with poverty and debt, 
 but the primary conditions of prosperity were nevertheless 
 manifestly present. 
 
 IV — The Adventurer John Root and the Murder 
 of Eric Janson 
 
 In the autumn of 1848 there arrived in Bishop Hill an ad- 
 venturer by the name of John Root. He was the son of well-to-do 
 parents in Stockholm, and a man of education, refinement of 
 manners and pleasing address. For some unknown reason he 
 had emigrated from Sweden. As a soldier in the United States 
 army he had taken part in the Mexican campaign. After re- 
 ceiving his discharge at the close of the war he found his way 
 to Bishop Hill. He was received with open arms by Eric Jan- 
 son and the society, and was presently admitted as a member. 
 He soon fell in love with a cousin of Eric Janson and applied 
 to him for her hand in marriage. The request was granted, it 
 being stipulated, however, that if Root should ever wish to 
 leave the society, it was to be optional with his wife whether to 
 accompany him or not. A written document to this effect was 
 drawn up and duly signed by the contracting parties. It soon 
 became apparent that the new member was not fitted for a re- 
 ligious communistic society. He was opposed to serious labor, 
 and spent his time in the chase, with his gun on his shoulder 
 and his bowie-knife in his belt. But tiring even of this employ- 
 ment, he sought new adventures as interpreter and guide to a 
 Hebrew peddler. The Jew was never heard of again ; but a few 
 years after the decomposed body of a murdered man was dis- 
 covered under the floor of a deserted cabin some miles from 
 Bishop Hill. After an absence of several months, during which 
 time his wife gave birth to a child, John Root returned. Very 
 soon he proposed to his wife that they leave the society, to 
 which she strenuously objected. Eric Janson supported Mrs. 
 Root in her determination to remain, which exasperated Root 
 
 114 
 
to such an extent that he threatened the lives of both Mrs. Root 
 and Eric Janson. Perceiving that he could neither persuade 
 nor frighten his wife into submission, he determined to carry 
 her away by force. Obtaining the aid of a young man by the 
 name of Stanley, he drove into Bishop Hill one day while the 
 members of the community were at dinner, and; rushing into 
 his wife's apartment, caught her up in his arms and carried her 
 to the vehicle in waiting. The alarm was given, however, and the 
 fugitives were hotly pursued. Two miles from the village they 
 were overtaken by a dozen sturdy Jansonists on horseback and 
 compelled to halt. The rescuers explained that if Mrs. Root 
 wished to leave the community she was at liberty to do so; but 
 if she desired to remain they proposed to take her back, by force, 
 if need be. Meanwhile Root and Stanley, being both armed, kept 
 the rescuing party at bay. But at this juncture, Mrs. Root, who, 
 together with her child, had been placed in the bottom of the 
 wagon, made a desperate effort to release herself. In the 
 struggle to prevent her from so doing, Root laid his revolver 
 on the seat behind him, where it was immediately snatched by 
 one of the rescuing party. Stanley promptly surrendered, and 
 Mrs. Root was brought back to the village in triumph. Thwarted 
 in his purpose of forcible abduction, Root had recourse to the 
 law, and swore out a warrant for the arrest of Eric Janson and 
 others, on the charge of restraining the liberty of his wife. Mrs. 
 Root was subpoenaed as a witness. The officer who was charged 
 with the summons insisted upon her accompanying him at once. 
 He took her to Cambridge, where she was illegally confined in 
 a room and denied communication with her friends. Here Root 
 got possession of his wife a second time, and spirited her away 
 to the Rock River settlement. Thence he took her to Davenport, 
 and finally to Chicago, where he had a sister living. The sister, 
 disapproving of Root's conduct, communicated with the Jan- 
 sonists at Bishop Hill, and Eric Janson sent a delegation to 
 Chicago to offer Mrs. Root safe-conduct to the community. A 
 place was designated where at a given time she might meet her 
 friends. Knowing the desperate character of Root and anticipat- 
 ing a hot pursuit, men had been stationed with relays of horses 
 at intervals along the road from Chicago to Bishop Hill, and 
 the distance of one hundred and fifty miles was accomplished 
 without a single stop. 
 
 1 15 
 
When Root found that his wife had escaped, his rage knew 
 no bounds. Baffled in his attempt to overtake her, he proceeded 
 to the Rock River settlement, whence he returned to Bishop 
 Hill, at the head of a mob. The mob terrorized the village for 
 a few days, but finding neither Mrs. Root nor the principal 
 agents in her abduction, presently dispersed. This was in the 
 latter part of March, 1850. In the following week, on the even- 
 ing of April 1, Root returned at the head of a second mob, an- 
 grier and more formidable than the first. A veteran of the 
 Mexican war had been robbed of his wife, who was held in 
 duress by a set of communists, for what vile purpose no one 
 knew. It was only six years since the hateful Mormons had been 
 expelled and their city and temple well-nigh razed to the ground ; 
 what was to hinder that this new Nauvoo should likewise be 
 wiped off from the face of the earth? The rough, but justice- 
 loving frontiersmen poured into the encampment at Buck 
 Grove, half a mile from Bishop Hill, until the mob grew to the 
 proportion of an army. The village was surrounded and com- 
 munication with the outside world was shut off. For three days 
 the Regulators hesitated to begin the work of destruction. Jan- 
 son was hid in an artificial cave out on the prairie, Olson was 
 absent on business in Andover — all the principal participants 
 in the affair between Root and his wife had been spirited away. 
 When the attempt was finally made to burn the village, the 
 mob was met by an armed posse of the neighboring settlers, who 
 had come to the relief of the community. The mob seeing that 
 it would have to encounter a desperate resistance, allowed itself 
 to be persuaded of the innocent character of the society, and dis- 
 persed without having done any serious injury. 
 
 Luring these critical times the Jansonists bore themselves 
 with fortitude, as befitted a religious people. Indeed, splendid 
 displays of heroism were not wanting. Thus, Nils Hellbom com- 
 mitted an act of deliberate and premeditated bravery which 
 might easily have cost him his life. The story of it is told as 
 follows: "The mob had surreptitiously introduced a tall Indian 
 into the woods. It is the Indian custom to remove the hair to- 
 gether with the scalp from an enemy's head, thus suffering him 
 to die a lingering death in great pain. The Indian in question 
 had been secretly instructed to destroy Jonas Olson in this man- 
 ner, for Jonas Olson had been the chief agent in assisting Root's 
 
 116 
 
wife to escape. Nils Hellbom, who is a fearless boatswain, large 
 and strong, weight two hundred and twenty-five pounds, hear- 
 ing of this, dressed himself in a Swedish sheepskin greatcoat, 
 having the woolly side out, so that only his rolling eyeballs were 
 visible. Then going out to where the Indian was, edged up to 
 him and said in Swedish, 'What do you want? Do you want my 
 scalp, too?' " The Indian's ignorance of the Swedish language 
 alone prevented the shedding of blood. 
 
 While the mob was raging at Bishop Hill, Eric Janson had 
 succeeded in making good his escape to St. Louis, being ac- 
 companied by his wife, Mrs. John Root and others. In St. Louis 
 he remained until all danger was past, when he returned to 
 Bishop Hill. His trial was to come off at the May term of the 
 Henry County Circuit Court in Cambridge. He seems to have 
 had a presentiment that he should never return from that trial. 
 In the last sermon that he preached in Bishop Hill he told his 
 followers that he should die a martyr to religion. It was the 
 most powerful sermon that he had ever preached. Strong men 
 wept and the community was full of evil foreboding. The last 
 public act of his life was to distribute the Lord's Supper, and 
 in so doing he repeated these words of the Holy Writ, "I will 
 not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day 
 when I drink it new in my father's kingdom." On Monday 
 morning, Mr. Maskel, an employe of the community, called at 
 Janson 's dwelling-place with a horse and buggy to take him to 
 Cambridge. On coming down the steps Janson said, ''Well, Mr. 
 Maskel, will you stop the bullet for me to-day?" — which the 
 latter cheerfully agreed to do. It was the 13th of May, 1850. 
 The court had adjourned for the noon recess. Janson was stand- 
 ing by a window in the court-room, while his counsel was sitting 
 at a table engaged in writing. Suddenly John Root appeared 
 in the doorway, calling Eric Janson by name. As Janson turned 
 round, his eye met the gleam of a pistol barrel, and a bullet 
 struck him full in the heart ; as he fell a second bullet grazed 
 his shoulder. It is impossible now to ascertain the further par- 
 ticulars of the murder. Root's friends maintain that he and 
 Janson had been conversing through the open window, and that 
 Janson had uttered some insulting remark which exasperated 
 Root; while Janson 's friends claim that the two men had not 
 spoken to each other that day, but that Root came directly from 
 
 117 
 
a target practice in which he had been engaged the greater part 
 of the forenoon. 
 
 When Eric Janson was brought home a corpse who can 
 describe the consternation? The representative of Christ, sent 
 to rebuild the city of God, dead! His work was but just begun! 
 It was beyond human comprehension. But the ways of God are 
 wonderful. Might He not recall His servant to life? Men and 
 women wept, and waited for the resurrection which did not 
 come. All w T ork, except of a merely perfunctory nature, ceased. 
 The industrial army was demoralized, the leader was gone. Then 
 it was that a womon stepped forward and called new life into 
 the community. 
 
 Eric Janson 's second wife was a remarkable women. Left 
 an orphan at an early age, she was adopted by a well-to-do 
 family in Goteborg, who brought her with them to New York at 
 the age of fifteen. Her first husband was a sailor, who went 
 out to sea and never returned. Her second husband gave her 
 an education, and she, in return, assisted him as teacher in a 
 private school, of which he was the principal. As Mrs. Pollock, 
 she became acquainted with Olaf Olson in 1845, through her 
 pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hedstrom. When the main body of the 
 Jansonists arrived in 1848 she met for the first time Eric Jan- 
 son, who had come to receive them. She became converted, and 
 followed the Jansonists to Bishop Hill, for Janson preached 
 that there was no salvation outside the New Jerusalem. Her 
 husband, who loved her as he did his life, went with her and 
 tried to persuade her to return. But for the sake of her soul she 
 dared not, and her husband died of a broken heart in Victoria. 
 Mrs. Pollock lost her reason over her husband's death, but 
 shortly recovered. Marrying again, she became Mrs. Gabrielson. 
 Gabrielson died of the cholera, leaving one son, who grew to be 
 a young man. During a large part of her stay in the community 
 she had taught in the community's school, and her knowledge 
 of English had frequently been of service to the Jansonists. She 
 w T as still an exceedingly handsome woman, composed and digni- 
 fied in speech and deportment. Having in the meantime be- 
 come a widower, Eric Janson took her to wife. As Mrs. Janson 
 she superintended the work of the women, and, moreover, acted 
 as her husband's secretary. She had been married but a few 
 
 months at the time of Janson 's death, but neverthless she knew 
 
 118 
 
more about the affairs of the community than any other person 
 in it. So, the rightful heir to Janson's authority, namely, his 
 son by his first wife, being but a mere boy, Mrs. Janson took 
 the reins of government into her own hands. But among the 
 Jansonists women were not allowed to speak in public. Andreas 
 Berglund Avas therefore appointed to be the nominal guardian 
 of Eric Janson's son. In spiritual matters his authority was 
 absolute, but in matters pertaining to business no important 
 step was taken without the knowledge and consent of Mrs. 
 Janson. 
 
 For three days Janson's body lay in state. On the day of 
 the funeral the Old Colony Church was crowded to suffocation. 
 Janson had gained many friends outside the community among 
 those with whom he had had business relations. Strangers, too, 
 there were who came to satisfy a wanton curiosity. The ser- 
 vices were opened with song and prayer. Then Mrs. Janson 
 stepped forward, and, in the presence of the congregation, 
 placed her hand upon Berglund 's bowed head, creating him 
 guardian of the heir to the leadership of God's chosen people 
 until such time when the boy should have reaced te age of 
 majority. After the funeral sermon, which was preached by 
 Andreas Berglund, an oration in the English language, together 
 with several other addresses, the body was escorted to the com- 
 munity 's burying-ground. There was no muffled music, no dis- 
 play of shining uniforms, no pomp of funeral trappings. The 
 body was laid to rest in a plain wooden coffin, and a plain 
 wooden slab marked the grave of Eric Janson, the prophet, the 
 representative of Christ. 
 
 The death of Eric Janson may be said to have occurred at 
 an opportune moment. He was at the height of his power. 
 In obedience to his word, eleven hundred people had abandoned 
 their homes in a prosperous country, to found new ones in an 
 American wilderness. They had given up their property, had 
 braved unknown dangers and suffered untold hardships. His 
 power over them was extraordinary. In the terrible days of 
 the cholera, when any of their number were stricken with the 
 dread disease, they sought his blessing, "Go, die in peace," and, 
 contented, dragged themselves away to their fate. But his work 
 was accomplished. It was his to call the community into exis- 
 tence in spite of seemingly insurmountable difficulties; but he 
 
 119 
 
did not possess the administrative ability to lead it along the 
 quiet paths of industry to economic success. As it was, he died 
 under heroic circumstances and while the memory of his 
 achievements was still fresh in the minds of friends and foes 
 alike. 
 
 In person Eric Janson was tall and angular, while his face 
 was disfigured by a deep scar across the forehead and by the 
 abnormal prominence of his upper incisor teeth. But these de- 
 fects were lost sight of in the charm of his private conversation 
 and in the eloquence of his public address. He was a man of 
 large social affections and, where religion did not interfere with 
 the dictates of nature, of quick and ready sympathies. He was a 
 man of splendid parts, and had his mind been less untrained 
 he might possibly have become the pride and admiration of his 
 native country, instead of ending his life before an assissin's 
 bullet as an exile in a strange land. 
 
 V — Jonas Olson and the Incorporation of the 
 Bishop Hill Colony 
 
 When the murder of Eric Janson took place in the court- 
 room in Cambridge, Jonas Olson was on his way to California. 
 Being an indifferent man of business, Eric Janson had, by in- 
 judicious management, involved the Community in serious fin- 
 ancial difficulties. It was at the time when the California gold 
 discoveries were filling the world with wonder. Their fame 
 penetrated even to the quiet little tillage of Bishop Hill, and 
 Eric Janson was carried away by the prospect of wealth easily 
 acquired. For the immediate purpose of obtaining relief from 
 the financial pressure restin upon the community, he dispatched, 
 March 18, 1850, Jonas Olson with a party of eight men to Cal- 
 ifornia in quest of gold. 
 
 Jonas Olson was then a man past the meridian of life. He 
 possessed no faith in the mission upon which he was sent; but 
 although he had pleaded hard with Eric Janson to be allowed to 
 remain at home, he was, nevertheless, obliged to go, for he was 
 considered the man best fitted for the undertaking, and, more- 
 over, his life was threatened at home by John Root, for his con- 
 nection with the affair between the latter and his wife. After 
 passing through innumerable hardships, as a result of which 
 one of their number died soon after reaching California, the 
 
 120 
 
gold-seekers arrived in Hanktown on the eleventh day of August, 
 1850. Here the news reached them of Eric Janson's death. 
 Jonas Olson did not hesitate what course of action to adopt. 
 Next to Eric Janson he had been the principal member of the 
 community. Among the Devotionalists in Helsingland, from 
 whose ranks the great majority of the Jansonst converts were 
 gained, he had been the recognized leader previous to the com- 
 ing of Eric Janson. During the troublous times of religious 
 persecution his extensive knowledge of men and affairs had more 
 than once rescued the sinking cause of Jansonism. After the 
 flight of their leader he had been the chief agent in effecting 
 the emigration of the Jansonists. Now his gifts and attainments, 
 which latter were not inconsiderable in a peasant, would once 
 more be of service. In this conviction he immediately set out upon 
 his return to Bishop Hill, taking with him a couple of his com- 
 panions, leaving the rest to follow at their leisure. He arrived 
 in Bishop Hill on the 8th of February, 1851. 
 
 Jonas Olson found the community under the control of Mrs. 
 Janson and Andreas Berglund, who acted as the guardians of 
 Eric Janson's son. During Eric Janson's lifetime no one had 
 ventured to dispute the hereditary character of his office as 
 spiritual and temporal leader of the community. The office was 
 so described in the accepted doctrinal books, namely, in the 
 hymn-book and catechism, both of which were composed by Eric 
 Janson. During the storm and stress period of the Jansonist 
 movement, when a strong and masterful hand was needed to 
 bring matters to a successful issue, it is altogether probable that 
 the question of who was to succeed Eric Janson in office had 
 not occupied the serious attention of his followers. Every one 
 had, as a matter of fact, submitted to the absolute authority 
 which he assumed. On the one hand, his personality was such 
 as to admit of no mediocre opposition. On the other, his ad- 
 herents' attitude of mind predisposed them to accept any claims 
 which he might make either for himself or for his family. He 
 was regarded as the representative of Christ. His decisions were 
 considered infallible, for the divine will was thought to be dis- 
 closed to him by special revalation. Upon his death, however, 
 circumstances were greatly altered. There was very little of 
 the dignity of divinely sanctioned authority attaching to the 
 childish prattle before the congregation of the future official 
 
 121 
 
mouthpiece of God. The evil results of Janson's infallible busi- 
 ness policy were beginning fully to manifest themselves. The 
 guardians of Janson's son could not claim infallibility of judg- 
 ment, and many of the community were dissatisfied to be gov- 
 erned by a woman. A respectable minority of the community, 
 while admitting Eric Janson's other claims, were not disposed 
 to recognize those in behalf of his heir. It was this growing 
 sentiment of dissatisfaction which Jonas Olson voiced, when, 
 shortly after his arrival, he denounced Andreas Berglund as a 
 usurper and demanded his abdication. He held that Eric Jan- 
 son's had been a special commission, and hence the extraordinary 
 powers and authority incident thereto could not be inheritable. 
 The community should not, he said, recognize any formal leader 
 whatever, but each individual member should serve the whole 
 according to the measure of his ability and in that capacity for 
 which he was best fitted by nature and training. Jonas Olson's 
 standing in the iommunity added weight to his words, and ere- 
 long the democratic lenient which he represented prevailed. The 
 movement also gained strength from the operation of another 
 circumstance. The affairs of the community were in such a 
 condition that a strong and able man was needed to conduct it 
 through the impending crisis. Jonas Olson was such a man, and 
 the community instinctively looked to him for guidance. Thus 
 it happened that, although no formal election or transfer of 
 power took place, the leadership quickly passed from the guard- 
 ians of Eric Janson's son into the hands of Jonas Olson. With 
 his advent into power the claims of the family of Janson retreat 
 into the background, until upon the adoption of the charter in 
 1853 they practically disappear. 
 
 At the time of Janson's death the debt of the community 
 was eight thousand dollars, which had been contracted prin- 
 cipally in the purchase of unnecessary lands. In the summer 
 of 1850, horses, cattle, wagons, even the crops were levied upon 
 to satisfy the demands of the creditors. In the autumn of the 
 year, however, the society received from various sources an ac- 
 cession of about eight or ten thousand dollars. A part of this 
 money was expended in completeing the brick steam flour mill, 
 which had been begun in 1849 under the direction of Eric Jan- 
 son. Soon, also, the community was able to make other improve- 
 ments. An addition of one hundred feet was made to the large 
 
 122 
 
four-story brick tenement house. A commodious brick brewery, 
 with a capacity of ten barrels a day, was erected for the prepara- 
 tion of small beer, the community's favorite beverage. Orchards 
 were planted, and an attempt was made to raise broom-corn, 
 which attempt succeeded so well that a contract was made to 
 furnish Peoria dealer with a large quantity of the remuner- 
 ative price of fifty dollars a ton. The manufacture of brooms 
 was also begun, which henceforth became a staple industry. 
 
 Under Jonas Olson's skilful management the circumstances 
 of the community underwent a rapid and permanent improve- 
 ment. But as the real and other property of the society in- 
 creased, the disadvantages of not having a legal organization 
 became apparent. It was necessary to hold property in the 
 names of individual members, but in case of bad faith on the 
 part of the natural heirs, complications concerning the succes- 
 sion might, upon the death of such members, arise in the pro- 
 bate courts. Hence, for the better conservation of its proprietary 
 interests, the society decided to apply to the State Legislature 
 for a charter. Accordingly, on January 17, 1853, by an act of 
 Legislature, a corporation was created to be known as the Bishop 
 Hill Colony. 
 
 The charter provided for a board of seven trustees, who 
 were to hold office for life or during good behavior, but who 
 were liable to be removed for good reasons by a majority of the 
 male members of the colony. Vacancies in the office of trustee 
 were to be filed in such manner as should be provided for in 
 the by-laws. The powers of the trustees were of a most com- 
 prehensive character, enabling them generally to promote and 
 carry out the objects and interests of the corporation, and to 
 transact any business consistent with the benefit, support and 
 profit of the members of the same. The business of the corpora- 
 tion should be manufacturing, milling, all kinds of mechanical 
 business, agriculture, and merchandising. Furthermore, the col- 
 ony might pass such by-laws concerning the government and 
 management of its property and business, the admission, with- 
 drawal, and expulsion of members, and the regulation of its in- 
 ternal policy, as it might deem proper, not inconsistent with the 
 constitution and laws of the State. 
 
 The by-laws were adopted May 6, 1854. According to these, 
 
 123 
 
any person sustaining a good moral character might become a 
 member by transferring the absolute ownership of his property 
 to the board of trustees and subscribing to the by-laws. The 
 trustees were empowered to decide upon the moral fitness of 
 candidates. They might, however, in their discretion, refer the 
 question to a vote of the adult male members. On withdrawal 
 of membership, or expulsion from the society, a person was en- 
 titled to no compensation whatever, either for the loss of prop- 
 erty or for time spent in the service of the community. The 
 trustees might, however, in special cases make such recompense 
 as they should deem proper. Any person guilty of disturbing 
 the peace and harmony of the community, or of preaching and 
 disseminating religious doctrines contrary to those of the Bible, 
 might be expelled. It was to be the duty of the trustees to direct 
 the various industrial pursuits, and generally to superintend 
 the affairs of the community, either in person or through such 
 agents and foremen as they might see fit to appoint. Annually, 
 on the second Monday of January, a meeting of the adult male 
 members was to take place for the general transaction of busi- 
 ness. At this meeting the trustees were required to make a full 
 and complete report of the financial condition and affairs of 
 the society for the year ending on the Saturday next previous. 
 Special meetings might be called by the trustess whenever the 
 interests of the society required it. Special meetings could also 
 be called by a majority of the adult male members, provided 
 they signified their request to the trustees in writing five days 
 in advance. Vancancies in the board of trustees were to be filled 
 at an election held specially for the purpose, the person receiv- 
 ing the highest number of votes being elected. These by-laws 
 might be revised, altered or amended at any regular or called 
 meeting, by a majority of the votes cast. 
 
 The adoption of the charter was a complete abandonment 
 of the principle of hereditary leadership. It took the temporal 
 as well as the spiritual authority out of the hands of a single 
 individual and vested it in a board of seven trustees. In so 
 far, the democratic movement inaugurated by Jonas Olson had 
 found a logical conclusion. However, the popularization of the 
 form of government was more apparent than real. According 
 to the provisions of the by-laws, the trustees were empowered 
 not only to regulate and direct the business and various indus- 
 
 124 
 
trial pursuits of the community, but also to decide upon the 
 fitness of applicants for membership, as well as upon the equity 
 of compensating retiring members. The trustees were not obliged 
 to await the instructions of the community — only one general 
 business meeting annually was provided for — but had the right 
 of initiative in matters of the gravest as well as of the most 
 trivial importance. Finally, the community had practically no 
 check upon the trustees, for they held office for life or during 
 1 ' good behavior, ' ' and could not be ousted before, either through 
 criminality or gross incompetence, some serious injury had al- 
 ready been done. 
 
 The circumstances under which the instruments of incor- 
 poration were adopted are suggestive. The demand for the 
 charter did not spring from the people. The majority of the 
 community did not know what the charter meant, except that 
 in some way it would protect their interests in court. They 
 were told that the community would continue to be governed, not 
 by human laws, but by the Word of God. They had no voice 
 in the election of trustees. The board of trustees was already 
 made up when the petition to the Legislature asking for a charter 
 was presented to the members of the community for their sig- 
 natures. Indeed, the members were originially requested to 
 affix their signatures, not to the petition itself, but to a blank 
 sheet of paper, and it was only when a certain wrong-headed 
 individual demanded to see the petition that it was given to the 
 people for inspection at all. 
 
 On the other hand, there is no reason to suppose that the 
 self-appointed trustees were conscious of arrogating to them- 
 selves undue powers. The Jansonists were unaccustomed to self- 
 government. Their leaders hardly looked upon themselves as 
 servants of the people, but rather as authoritative interpreters 
 of the will of God. The seven trustees in question were all per- 
 sons who had been appointed to positions of trust under Eric 
 Janson, and who therefore considered that they had a perfect 
 right to any formal recognition of the powers which they al- 
 ready virtually enjoyed. In reality the distribution of authority 
 remained very much the same as it had been before. Jonas 
 Olson continued to be the leading spirit also in the board of 
 trustees, and his influence was sufficient to make or mar the 
 success of any project. 
 
 125 
 
VI — Social, Economic, and Religious Liie under 
 the Charter 
 
 Under the improved business methods made possible by the 
 charter, the material progress of the community was rapid and 
 permanent. The indications of prosperity became visible on all 
 sides, especially in the improved condition of the village, which 
 had hitherto been built without regard to any definite plan 
 either of convenience or of beauty. The site of the village was 
 an elevation overlooking the surrounding country, but the beauty 
 of the spot was marred by an unsightly ravine which intersected 
 it from north to south. During a whole summer the trustees 
 kept men and teams at work to remove this objectionable feature, 
 and a park was planted where the ravine had been. The new 
 brick houses, nearly all of which were several stories in height, 
 were erected around this park and made looking into it. When 
 the village was completed it contained twelve brick houses, the 
 largest of which was two hundred by four hundred and forty- 
 five feet, and four stories in height, besides six substanial frame 
 buildings. 
 
 The buildings were almost entirely the product of home 
 industry. When a new building was contemplated, invitations 
 were extended by the trustees to the members of the community 
 to hand in plans and specifications. The bricks were burned 
 in the society's own kilns. The lumber, a great deal of which 
 was oak and black walnut, was sawed in the society's saw-mill, 
 most of the iron work was forged in the society's smithy. The 
 masonry was executed under the supervision of August Band- 
 holtz, a German mason, who fell in love with a blue-eyed Jan- 
 sonist and married into the community. 
 
 There were no fences or outhouses to break up the symetry 
 of the village. The streets were lined with shade trees and were 
 kept scrupulously clean. The stables and enormous cattle-sheds 
 were in an enclosure by themselves at some distance from the 
 village. The village contained a general store and post-office, 
 a smithy, a brewery, a bakery, a weaving establishment, a dye- 
 house, and a hotel, together with wagon, furniture, harness, 
 tailor and shoemaker shops. Besides, there were a hospital, a 
 laundry, bath-houses, mills and manufactories. The store and 
 post-office employed two clerks. The tailor shop employed six 
 
 126 
 
men and three women; the shoemaker shop, six men; the smithy, 
 ten men ; the wagon shop, six men. The smithy boasted seven 
 forges, while the wagon shop was extensively known throughout 
 the country for the excellent character of its work. The weaving 
 establishment contained twelve reels and twelve hand-looms, be- 
 sides which one hundred and forty spinning-wheels were dis- 
 tributed privately among the women of the community. The 
 broom shop employed three men and nine women and turned out 
 thirty dozen brooms a day. 
 
 But, nevertheless, agriculture was the principal pursuit of 
 the community — so much so that, in the busy seasons, work in 
 the shop and in the manufactory was allowed to come almost 
 to a standstill. Men, women, and children over fourteen years 
 of age, worked side by side in the fields. Nobody who was able 
 to work remained unemployed. The main farm was at Bishop 
 Hill, but besides there were eight sub-farms, where gangs of 
 workmen relieved each other at fixed intervals. A great deal 
 of the unskilled labor was performed by women, for they consti- 
 tuted about two-thirds of the community, and the men were 
 greatly needed in the trades. Unmarried women worked in the 
 brick-kilns and assisted in the building operations, pitching the 
 bricks, two at a time, from one story to another, instead of car- 
 rying them in hods. The milking was done wholly by women. 
 Four women cared for the calves, four had charge of the hogs, 
 and two worked in the dairy, where butter was made in an im- 
 mense churn run by horse-power. Cheese was manufactured on 
 a similarly extensive scale. There were eight laundresses, two 
 dyers, four bakers and two brewers. 
 
 A visitor to the community in 1853 writes as follows: "We 
 had occasion this year to visit the colony and were received with 
 great kindness and hospitality. Everything, seemingly, was on 
 the top of prosperity. The people lived in large, substanial brick 
 houses. AVe had never before seen so large a farm, nor one so 
 well cultivated. One of the trustees took us to an adjacent hill, 
 from which we had a view of the Colony's cultivated fields, 
 stretching away for miles. In one place we noticed fifty young 
 men, with the same number of horses and plows, cultivating a 
 cornfield where every furrow was two miles in length .... 
 In another place was a field of a thousand acres in broom-corn, 
 the product of which, when baled, was to be delivered at Peoria 
 
 127 
 
for shipment to consignees in Boston, and was expected to yield 
 an income of fifty thousand dollars. All the live stock was ex- 
 ceptionally fine and apparently given the best of care. There 
 Wc.s a stable of more than one hundred horses, the equals to 
 which would be hard to find. One morning I was brought to an 
 enclosure on the prairie where the cows were being milked. 
 There must have been at least two hundred of them, and the 
 milkmaids numbered forty or fifty. There was a large wagon, 
 in which an immense tub was suspended, and in this tub each 
 girl, ascending by means of a step-ladder, emptied her pail. 
 The whole process was over in half an hour. On Sunday I at- 
 tended service. There was singing and praying, and the ser- 
 mon, by one of the leaders, contained nothing that a member 
 of any Christian denomination might not hear in his own church. 
 Altogether I retain the most agreeable remembrance of this 
 visit." 
 
 The common dining-halls and kitchen were located in a 
 large brick building at the northwest corner of the public square. 
 The dining halls were two in number, one for the men and 
 women and one for the children. The women ate at two long 
 tables, while one table was set aside for the men. The tables 
 were covered with linen table-cloths, which were changed three 
 times a week. The table service was neat, durable and substan- 
 tial. Twelve waitresses served at the tables, while eighteen per- 
 sons were employed in the kitchen as cooks or in other capacities. 
 Soup was boiled in a monster kettle holding from forty to fifty 
 gallons, and everything in the unitary cuisine was arranged 
 on a similarly magnificent scale. The food was wholesome and 
 substantial. No luxuries were indulged in; pastries of every des- 
 cription was banished, except on the great church holidays and 
 on the Fourth of July. The abundance which prevailed was 
 quite a contrast from the poverty of early days, when the com- 
 munity had been frequently obliged to observe fast-days for 
 want of food, and when only one meal had been forthcoming 
 on Sundays. A beef and several hogs were butchered each week. 
 Mush and pure milk were extensively used. The bread was made 
 of pumpkin meal and wheat flour. The beverage consisted of 
 coffee and small beer. Nothing was allowed to go to waste, and 
 it was estimated that the cost of board per person was about 
 three cents a day. 
 
 128 
 
Clothing was correspondingly cheap, for the society man- 
 ufactured its own linen, flannel, jean and dress goods. The 
 women cut and sewed their own clothes, while the men's suits 
 were made at the society's tailor shop. The society dressed its 
 own leather and made its own shoes. Every person received 
 each year two suits of clothes, together with one pair of boots 
 and one of shoes. On work-days the women wore blue drilling, 
 but on holidays they appeared in calico and gingham. The men 
 dressed either in jeans or in woolen stuffs, and wore their hair 
 long. The society adopted no fixed styles, but neverthless a 
 certain amount of uniformity of dress prevailed. 
 
 With regard to the institution of the family, its relations, 
 at first, remained intact. Whole families occupied one-room 
 tenements. Single persons dwelt together in separate quarters 
 according to sex. With the exception of the modifications im- 
 posed by the unitary cuisine, the home-life of the Jansonists dif- 
 fered in nowise materially from that of their neighbors under 
 the individualistic system. But a change also in this respect 
 was impending. 
 
 Of the twelve apostles appointed by Eric Janson to convert 
 the world, Nils Heden alone had met with any degree of success. 
 Besides making a number of converts, he visited several of the 
 principal religious communistic settlements in the United States. 
 From Hopedale. N. Y., he persuaded twenty-five or thirty per- 
 sons to join the Bishop Hill Colony. He also established friendly 
 relations with the Oneida Perfectionists of New York and the 
 Rappists of Pennsylvania. In 1854 he made a journey to Pleas- 
 ant Hill, Kentucky, which was destined to have important con- 
 sequences. 
 
 The Shakers taught the Jansonists the advantages of rais- 
 ing small fruit, and instructed them in improved methods of 
 dyeing wool. From Pleasant Hill also the Jansonists got im- 
 proved breeds of cattle. A number of the Jansonists accepted 
 Shakerism and went to live at Pleasant Hill, among them being 
 the widow of Eric Janson. 
 
 On his visit in 1854, Nils Heden allowed himself to be con- 
 verted to the doctrine of celibacy. Returning to Bishop Hill he 
 won the support of Jonas Olson, who straightway proceeded to 
 ingraft the new doctrine upon the Jansonist creed. The practice 
 of celibacy was somewhat difficult of enforcement. Some of 
 
 129 
 
the members of the community objected strenuously, but they 
 were dealt with according to article 3 of the by-laws, which pro- 
 vided that any person guilty of preaching and disseminating re- 
 ligious doctrines contrary to those of the Bible might be ex- 
 pelled. Thus, after a number of voluntary resignations and 
 forcible expulsions, the opposition was broken and submission 
 secured. 
 
 After the introduction of celibacy the families continued 
 to live together as heretofore, only that married persons were 
 enjoined to practice restraint in the conjugal relations, and new 
 marriages were, of course, prohibited. Under such circumstances 
 celibacy could not be strictly enforced, and remained a constant 
 source of irritation, becoming eventually a potent factor in 
 hastening the dissolution of the community. 
 
 The Jansonists placed great value upon elementary edu- 
 cation. Ever since the winter of 1847-48 the community had 
 kept and English day-school, employing usually a native Amer- 
 ican as principal, and appointing one or more of its own mem- 
 bers as assistant teochers. At one time, as stated above, the 
 society was joined by a number of American communistic fam- 
 ilies from Hopedale, N. Y., among whom were several persons 
 competent to teach. These families did not remain long, how- 
 ever, and the society was again compelled to resort to outside 
 help. 
 
 At first the school was conducted in mud-caves or any 
 vacant room, but later a fine brick school-house, with accom- 
 modations for several hundred pupils, was erected. The average 
 attendance was about one hundred, the school age being limited 
 to fourteen years. The number of school months in the year was 
 six. Swedish was not taught in the school, and the only knowl- 
 edge which the children obtained of the language was through 
 their parents. On the whole, the Jansonists evinced a commend- 
 able zeal in acquiring and adopting the language and customs 
 of the country. Thus, for instance, the records of the Bishop 
 Hill Colony were kept in the English as well as in the Swedish 
 language. 
 
 When the school days were over there were no means of 
 continuing the studies. With the exception of the Bible, the 
 Jansonists had destroyed all their books before leaving Sweden. 
 Newspapers were not allowed. So there was no reading matter 
 
 130 
 
to be had except the Bible, the Jansonist hymn-book and cate- 
 chism, and the well-worn school-books. Individuals sometimes 
 happened upon other reading matter. Strangers stopping at 
 the hotel occasionally left newspapers and books, which were 
 surreptitiously circulated among the youthful members of the 
 community. Among those who in this manner kept alive their 
 appetite for knowledge were men since famous in letters and 
 politics. 
 
 The church organization was loose. There was no regularly 
 ordained clergy. Any one with the gift of expression might 
 preach. But the general management of ecclesiastical affairs 
 was intrusted to Jonas Olson, assisted by Olof Stenberg, Andreas 
 Berglund, Nils Heden and Olof Aasberg. Under Jonas Olson's 
 leadership the religious tendency was, in some respects, one of 
 conservative retrogression. He modified some of the excesses of 
 the Jansonist theology in a Devotionalistic direction, abolishing 
 the Jansonist catechism altogether and thoroughly revising the 
 hymn-book in 1857. 
 
 Thus, it will be seen, community life at Bishop Hill had 
 its lights and shadows. Which predominated it is impossible 
 at this distance to say. In order to judge correctly, one must 
 be able to comprehend the dominant motives of action. These 
 were of a religious nature. They decided the complexion of the 
 social and economic life. But they did not determine the in- 
 trinsic merits or demerits of the communistic system. All reason- 
 able material wants, at any rate, were abundantly satisfied. No 
 one was obliged to overtax his strength. Each one was put to 
 the work for which he w r as best adapted. The aged and the 
 infirm were cared for. The children were educated. Everybody 
 was secure in the knowledge that, whatever befall, his subsistence 
 was a certainty. On the whole, the members of the community 
 enjoyed a greater amount of comfort and security against want 
 than the struggling pioneer settlers by whom they were sur- 
 rounded. 
 
 VII — Disastrous Financial Speculations, Internal 
 Dissensions, and Dissolution of the Society 
 
 One of the grandest elements in the early development of 
 the State of Illinois was the Illinois and Michigan Canal, con- 
 necting the Illinois and Mississippi rivers with the Great Lakes. 
 
 131 
 
The canal was recommended by Governor Bond in his first mes- 
 sage to the State Legislature. In 1821 an appropriatoin of ten 
 thousand dollars was made for the purpose of surveying the 
 route. The estimated cost of the canal was from $600,000 to 
 $700,000. The actual cost was $8,000,000. 
 
 Pending the construction of the canal, speculation in land 
 broke out in 1834 and 1835. From Chicago the disease spread- 
 over the State. In 1834 and 1837 it seized upon the State Legis- 
 lature, Avhich forthwith enacted a system of internal improve- 
 ments without parallel in grandeur of conception. It ordered 
 the construction of 1300 miles of railway, although the pop- 
 ulation of the State was not 400,000. The railroad projects were 
 surpassed by the schemes for the building of canals and the 
 improvement of rivers. There were few counties that were not 
 touched by railroad, river or canal, and those that were not 
 were to be compensated by the free distribution among them of 
 $200,000. The work was to compensate simultaneously upon 
 all river crossings, and at both ends of all railroads and rivers. 
 The appropriations were $12,000,000, commissioners being ap- 
 pointed to borrow money on the credit of the State. 
 
 About this time the State Bank was loaning its funds freely 
 to Godfrey, Gilman and Co., and other houses, for the purpose 
 of diverting trade from St. Louis to Alton. These houses failed 
 and took down the bank with them. In 1840 the State was loaded 
 with a debt of $14,000,000. There was not a dollar in the 
 treasury, credit was gone, and the good money in circulation 
 was not sufficient to pay the interest for a single year. 
 
 But in 1848 the Illinois and Michigan Canal was finally 
 completed, and began turning into the treasury an annual net 
 sum of $111,000. The industries of the State revived, and the 
 projects for the internal development of the country were again 
 brought forward, with the difference, however, that they were 
 now supported by private instead of public enterprise. 
 
 In 1854 the managers of the Chicago, Burlington and 
 Quincy Railroad proposed to run their line into Bishop Hill. 
 But the Jansonists, apprehensive of the probable effects of 
 the intrusion, objected, and the railroad instead went through 
 Galva, five miles distant. This did not prevent the Jansonists 
 from entering upon a $37,000 contract with the company to 
 grade a portion of the roadbed. 
 
 132 
 
The manner in which Galva was founded is so illustrative 
 of the origin of most Western towns and of the practices of rail- 
 way corporations in general, that the following quotation from 
 Kett's History of Henry County is inserted in full: "The idea 
 of building a town upon this site was first entertained in 1853. 
 While Messrs. J. M. and Wm. L. Wiley were traveling from 
 Peoria County to Rock Island in the spring of that year, they 
 were attracted to the beauty of the surrounding country, and 
 halted their team on the ground that now forms College Park, 
 across which the old trail led. Standing in their buggy and 
 looking out upon the scene, one of them remarked to the other, 
 'Let us buy the land, and lay out a town!' At this time there 
 were only two or three buildings to be seen from that point, and 
 the country around was one vast sea of prairie, over which the 
 deer were still roaming at will. The land was shortly purchased 
 by them, and after negotiating with the C. B. and Q. .Railroad 
 Company a full year, they finally secured the location of a depot 
 upon their purchase by donating the land now owned and oc- 
 cupied by the company in the center of the town. In the fall of 
 the year succeeding its purchase (1854), and about the time 
 that the arrangement with the railroad company was effected, 
 the town was laid out in its present shape by the gentlemen 
 mentioned. The cars commenced running in December of the 
 same year." 
 
 On account of its location on the railroad, Galva could not 
 fail to become an object of interest to the Bishop Hill Colony. 
 The community purchased fifty town lots, and lent its money 
 and influence towards building up the place. The station was 
 named after the populous seaboard town of Gefle in the province 
 of Helsingland, Sweden, although the name was soon corrupted 
 to Galva. The Jansonists built the first house and dug the first 
 well. Before the close of 1855 the society had erected a hotel, 
 a general store, and a large brick warehouse, the material for 
 which was hauled from Bishop Hill. 
 
 The Bishop Hill Colony was represented in these business 
 enterprises by Olof Johnson, a member of the Board of Trustees. 
 Olof Johnson was originally a peasant from Soderala Parish, 
 So. Helsingland. He was one of the leaders appointed by Eric 
 Janson to conduct the Jansonist emigration. Later he had been 
 sent by Eric Janson on a business trip to Sweden. Upon the 
 
 133 
 
adoption of the charter he was as a matter of course given a 
 position as trustee. When Galva became the business head- 
 quarters of Bishop Hill he was appointed by the trustees to 
 represent them in that place. As the business in Galva in- 
 creased in volume and importance it was natural that the bus- 
 iness in Bishop Hill should also fall under his control. In so 
 far as his plans met with Jonas Olson's approval he dictated 
 the business policy of the community. The two supplemented 
 each other, Jonas Olson managing the internal affairs of the 
 community, while Olof Johnson managed its external affairs. 
 Olof Johnson made Galva his headquarters, but otherwise spent 
 much of his time in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, 
 St. Louis, New Orleans, Mobile, and other points where the com- 
 munity transacted business. He was of a hearty, social disposi- 
 tion, and was a universal favorite wherever he went. He was 
 not educated, being unable even to keep his own accounts, but 
 possessed, it was thought, great natural talent for business. 
 
 The society was now excellently organized for the purposes 
 of economic production. The several departments of industry 
 were under the charge of superintendents who were responsi- 
 ble to the Board of Trustees. Under the superintendents 
 were the foremen of gangs of workmen. According to a later 
 arrangement the trustees were expected to meet every Monday 
 evening for the consideration of the affairs of the community, 
 and on the first Monday of every month any member might 
 consult with the trustees on matters of general importance. 
 
 The first report of the trustees was made on January 21, 
 1855. According to this report the society owned 8028 acres 
 of land, improved and unimproved, fifty town lots in Galva, 
 improved and unimproved, valued at ten thousand dollars, 
 also ten shares in the Central Military Track Railroad valued 
 at one thousand dollars, together with five hundred and eighty- 
 six head of cattle, one hundred and nine horses and mules, 
 one thousand hogs, and divers poultry, unthreshed wheat, flax, 
 broom-corn, etc. Furthermore, the community possessed other 
 property to the value of $37,471.02. The entire debt amounted 
 to only $18,000. Some idea of the effectiveness of the industrial 
 organization may be obtained from the fact that the subsequent 
 reports show an average annual increase in personal property 
 
 alone of $44,042.96. 
 
 134 
 
Meanwhile Olof Johnson was developing a brilliant, if 
 not altogether sound business policy. He managed to make 
 his influence paramount in the Board of Trustees, obtaining 
 control over four of the seven votes. This made him to a 
 certain extent independent of Jonas Olson's dictation, although 
 the latter could by his influence with the people have pre- 
 vented any scheme distasteful to him from being realized. The 
 very fact that Jonas Olson did not choose to exercise this 
 influence, even when he disagreed most with Olof Johnson, 
 makes him morally responsible for the latter 's disastrous 
 financial mistakes. 
 
 Olof Johnson's idea was to make the community rich by 
 employing its resources to build up manufactories and estab- 
 lish a large general business. Jonas Olson's policy, on the other 
 hand, was distinctively an agricultural policy. At first Olof 
 Johnson was eminently successful. Prices went up during the 
 Crimean war. AYheat went up from thirty-five cents to one 
 dollar and fifty cents a bushel. Broom-corn rose from fifty 
 dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars a ton. Oats and Indian 
 corn advanced correspondingly. The steam flour mill at Bishop 
 Hill was kept running night and day, turning out a hundred 
 barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. Olof Johnson erected 
 at Galva a pork-packing establishment and an elevator for 
 the storage of grain. He operated a coal mine, dealt in stocks 
 and bonds, and purchased real estate, holding at one time one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land within the present limits of 
 Chicago. In 1856, together with Robert C. Schenk, sometime 
 U. S. Minister to England, and other prominent men, he planned 
 the construction of the Western Air Line Railroad, which was 
 to run from Fort Wayne, Indiana, through Iowa. He made 
 a five million dollar contract with the company to grade the 
 roadbed from Indiana to the Mississippi, accepting one million 
 dollars in bonds as part payment, In the same year he entered 
 into the banking business, becoming secretary of the Nebraska 
 Western Exchange Bank in Galva. 
 
 But after the Crimean war came the financial crisis of 
 1857. Illinois lost two hundred and fifty banks at one fell 
 swoop. One of the first to go was the classic Bank of Oxford, 
 located in the hazel-brush near Bishop Hill, and the Nebraska 
 Western Exchange Bank soon followed. The Western Air Line 
 
 135 
 
Railroad shared the fate of the banks, and left the Jansonists 
 a worthless debt of thirty-four thousand dollars for actual 
 work performed. 
 
 The inevitable reation against the m magement of the 
 trustees set in. The people began to accuse them, and especially 
 Olof Johnson, of transcending their powers and squandering 
 the property of the community. The most wonderful stories 
 were circulated concerning the extravagance of Olof Johnson. 
 He was reported to have gambled away, in New York, a for- 
 tune in a single night. In Chicago he was said to have bribed 
 the police with fabulous sums when they broke in upon his 
 midnight orgies. In St. Louis, so it was rumored, he bought 
 a steamboat to amuse his friends for a single night, and in 
 New Orleans, in company of Southern slave-owners, he was 
 claimed to have lit his imported cigars with bank-notes, boast- 
 ing of his white slaves in Bishop Hill who needed no blood- 
 hounds or whipping-posts to keep them to their task. 
 
 Following the flush times preceding 1857 came a complete 
 or partial standstill in nearly all lines of industry. The mem- 
 bers of the community were no longer deceived and quieted 
 by a great show of business. The disaffection which was brew/- 
 ing took form in 1857 in an attempt to repeal the charter. The 
 attempt was frustrated by the judicious expenditure on the 
 part of Olof Johnson of six thousand dollars in Springfield. 
 But in 1858 and 1859 resolutions were passed at the annual 
 meeting looking to the control of the actions of the Board of 
 Trustees by the society. 
 
 136 
 
On January 9, I860, the treasurer of the community read 
 
 the following annual statement of the Board of Trustees: 
 
 Assets 
 
 Farm lands $414,824.00 
 
 Galva real estate 33,228.47 
 
 Buildings and improvements 129,508.61 
 
 Horses and mules 21,520.00 
 
 Cattle account 17,099.00 
 
 Hog account 1,700.00 
 
 Sheep account 1,400.00 
 
 Poultry 50.00 
 
 Implements, forming 5,965.00 
 
 Furniture and movables 11,610.14 
 
 Steam mills 1,454.70 
 
 Boarding-house utensils 3,096.40 
 
 Mechanical department 9,092.88 
 
 Produce 4,616.00 
 
 Merchandise 4,775.60 
 
 County bonds 56,000.00 
 
 Railroad stock 21,765.78 
 
 Western Exchange Bank stock 9,500.00 
 
 Bills receivable 46,144.45 
 
 Due from N. A. L. R. R. Co : 33,826.91 
 
 Due from the estate of Radcliffe 3,907.48 
 
 Due from Stark County 6,000.00 
 
 Personal account 8,521.91 
 
 Cash 581.25 
 
 $846,277.58 
 
 Liabilities 
 
 Bills payable 74,014.56 
 
 Personal account 1,630.78 
 
 Balance 770,631.94 
 
 $846,277.58 
 
 Balance stock on hand $770,630.94 
 
 137 
 
The accuracy of this statement was questioned and a com- 
 mittee was appointed to make a thorough examination of 
 the community's books, the trustees asking for a delay of three 
 weeks, which was granted. 
 
 Pending the examination of the books, special meetings 
 were held by the members of the community, at which a new 
 set of by-laws, calculated to restrict the powers of the trus- 
 tees, was adopted. The preamble explains sufficiently the 
 temper of the by-laws: "Whereas, the members of the Bishop 
 Hill Colony have each one carefully considered and reflected 
 upon the situation and condition of the general affairs of the 
 Colony and the intention of its organization ; and, Whereas, 
 the general conviction has been acknowledged and expressed 
 that the design and end for which this Colony was established 
 never can be obtained under the present system of manage- 
 ment; and, Whereas, the necessity requires and demands a 
 change and reform in conducting and managing the affairs 
 and property of the Colony: Therefore, to effect this just and 
 needful change, the ?3ishop Hill Colony has this day adopted 
 the following by-laws." 
 
 The principal provisions of the new by-laws were as fol- 
 lows: The trustees might not buy or sell real estate, nor make 
 contracts and debts binding upon the community, without the 
 latter 's express permission. The trustees were to be guided in 
 other matters by the general instructions of the community. 
 The general business meetings were to be held monthly instead 
 of annually. The main office of the trustees should be in Bishop 
 Hill and not in Galva. In case of withdrawal, members were 
 to be entitled to fixed compensation for the property and labor 
 which they had contributed to the society. The trustees, how- 
 ever, refused to acknowledge the legality of the meetings in 
 which the by-laws had been adopted. As they persistently de- 
 clined to appear in the monthly meetings, or to render any ac- 
 coun whatever of their management, a resolution was passed, in 
 which they were declared to have forfeited the confidence of 
 the community and were requested to hand in their resignations. 
 The resolution failed in its object. 
 
 In October, I860, Olof Johnson, as the principal offender, 
 was formally deposed from office. But he secured an injunction 
 against the Bishop Hill Colony, and had himself, together with 
 
 138 
 
certain of his friends, appointed receivers to wind up the 
 affairs of the corporation. For on February 14, 1860, a plan 
 had been agreed upon looking to the dissolution of the society 
 and the allotment in severalty of the communal property. This 
 plan provided for a preliminary extra-legal division of property 
 between the Olson and the Johnson parties, the former receiving 
 two hundred and sixty-five shares out of a total of four hun- 
 dred and fifteen. By being appointed a receiver for the Bishop 
 Hill Colony, Olof Johnson got control, not only of the shares 
 belonging to his own, but also of those belonging to the 
 opposite party. 
 
 On May 24, 1861, in order to prevent any inconveniences 
 which might arise from the infringement of legal technicalities 
 and to facilitate the final individualization of the property, 
 Olof Johnson was not only reinstated as a trustee, but was 
 also invested with powers of attorney to settle with the creditors 
 of the community. Property more than sufficient to extinguish 
 all claims against the society was set aside for that purpose, 
 and the trustees w r ere given five years in which to accomplish 
 the work, an annual report of progress being required. 
 
 In the spring of 1861 the Johnson party perfected the 
 individualization of its property, each member entering upon 
 the complete possession of his share. The distribution was made 
 on the following basis: To every person, male and female, that 
 had attained the age of thirty-five years, a full share of all 
 lands, timber, town lots, and personal property was given. A 
 full share consisted of twenty-two acres of land, one timber 
 lot — nearly two acres — one town lot, and an equal part of all 
 barns, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep or other domestic animals, and 
 all farming implements and household utensils. All under this 
 age received a share corresponding in amount and value to 
 the age of the individual, no discrimination being shown to 
 either sex. The smallest share was about ten acres of land, a 
 correspondingly small town lot and timber lot, and part of the 
 personal property. Thus a man over thirty-five years of age, 
 having a wife of that age or over, would receive considerable 
 property to manage. He held that of his wife and children in 
 trust, the deeds being made in the name of the head of the family. 
 
 In the spring of the following year the Olson party followed 
 
 139 
 
suit, so that after March, 1862, the Bishop Hill Colony was 
 practically extinct. It is a singular fact that this division, com- 
 prising, among others property, not less than about twelve 
 hundred acres of land, has always been regarded as thoroughly 
 just, and it is belived no complaint has ever been raised 
 against it. 
 
 The members of the community now considered that their 
 financial troubles were at an end. But they were grievously 
 mistaken. The trustees made no reports. On the contrary, in 
 1865, Olof Johnson assessed the individualized lands ten dollars 
 an acre, which assessment, aside from the property already 
 reserved by the trustees, was sufficiently large to pay the entire 
 debt of the community. In 1868 an additional assessment of 
 eleven dollars per acre was made. This was more than th@ 
 members would stand, and on July 27, 1868, a committee was 
 appointed to bring suit by bill inchancery against the trustees. 
 In this suit, the special master in chancery, in referring to the 
 trustees ' financial statement of January 9, 1860, said: "Upon 
 the making of said report . . . the Colony, at the same meeting 
 where the said report was made, appointed a committee to 
 examine and revise all the accounts of the Colony for the past 
 year and make report. After the appointment of the committee 
 and before they were given access to the Colony books for exam- 
 ination, new books were made up under the direction of some 
 of the trustees, and these new books, instead of the original, 
 were shown to the said committee for their examination. The 
 difference between the new and original books is the said sum 
 of $42,759.33. Upon my order to the said trustees to produce 
 the Colony books, the said new books, and not the original, 
 were produced." The special master found that, at the date 
 of his report, Olof Johnson and the trustees were indebted to 
 the Bishop Hill Colony in the sum of $109,619.29. 
 
 It is not the intention to rehearse the details of this tedious 
 and expensive lawsuit. Some of the principals are still living. 
 The suit impoverished many, and destroyed much of the har- 
 mony and good-will which still existed at the dissolution of the 
 society. The ' ' Colony Case ' ' lasted twelve years, and was famous 
 in its day among the legal fraternity in Illinois. After the death 
 of Olof Johnson, in 1870, it languished until, in 1879, it was 
 ended on the basis of a compromise. 
 
 140 
 
VIII.— CONCLUSION 
 
 In concluding this monograph upon the history of the 
 Bishop Hi]] Colony, it will be profitable to inquire what were 
 the principal advantages of the communistic system, and what 
 were the principal causes of its failure. 
 
 One immediate cause of failure was, of course, the disas- 
 trous financial management for the the Board of Trustees,, 
 and especially Olof Johnson, were responsible. The defects of 
 the charter and first set of by-laws, which hardly left the 
 community a supervisory control in the management of its 
 own affairs, have been reviewed. Under the circumstances it 
 was not surprising that the trustees, well-intentioned as they 
 undoubtedly were, should be tempted to exercise their powers 
 to further arbitrary schemes of aggrandizement. This tempta- 
 tion was increased by the speculative temper of the general 
 business world in the flush times preceding 1857. 
 
 A second cause of failure was the religious tyranny exer- 
 cised by the Board of Trustees, and especially by Jonas Olson. 
 This tyranny culminated in the arbitrary introduction of celi- 
 bacy, in the accomplishment of which drastic measures were 
 freely resorted to. In 1859, religious dissension ran so high 
 that all community of worship was apparently destroyed. A 
 strong reformatory party, led by Nils Heden, demanded and 
 obtained important concessions from the Board of Trustees, 
 which, however, led to no permanent conciliatory results. 
 
 A third cause was the importation of ideas and habits of 
 thought antagonistic to the communal life. This was due to 
 the building of railroads, and to improved means of communi- 
 cation generally with the outside world. Even under ordinary 
 circumstances the transferring of interests from one generation 
 to another is a delicate and painful process. Under the peculiar 
 circumstances which obtained in Bishop Hill, it was perhaps 
 impossible of accomplishment. The communism of the Jansonists 
 was founded upon a religious basis. As soon as this basis should 
 be withdrawn, the superstructure was destined to fall. And 
 that is what happened, for with the death of its founder, Jan- 
 sonism rapidly went into decay. At the best there was little 
 attraction in the religious life in Bishop Hill. 
 
 The advantages of the system were such as were derived 
 either from the application of the collectivist principle in the 
 
 141 
 
process of production, or from an equal distribution of econ- 
 omic goods. Labor was saved, consumption of every description 
 was reduced, starvation was impossible. Yet, while the Janson- 
 ists fared well materially, and while it is true they laid stress 
 upon elementary education, the general intellectual life was 
 exceedingly restricted. But perhaps it was not any more so 
 than that of the backwoodsmen by whom they were surrounded. 
 One thing is certain, the Jansonists displayed a wonderful 
 amount of skill and ingenuity in all trades and mechanical arts. 
 
 When the allotment in severalty took place, the majority of 
 the Jansonists left Bishop Hill and moved out upon their farm 
 lands. The division took place in a fortunate period. During the 
 War of Secession, high prices were obtained for agricultural 
 produce, and the more thrifty and fortunate were enabled to 
 accumulate handsome competences. 
 
 Of the persons who have figured in the foregoing pages 
 the majority are now dead. John Koot was sentenced to im- 
 prisonment for two years in the State penitentiary. He died 
 some years after his release, friendless and penniless, in Chicago. 
 Mrs. Eric Janson, once so handsome and gifted and powerful, 
 ended her days in the County Poor House in 1888, and lies 
 buried in the community's burrying-ground at Bishop Hill. Eric, 
 Janson, Jr., grew to manhood in Bishop Hill, and is now a 
 successful newspaper editor in Holdrege, Nebraska. Jonas Olson 
 still preaches occasionally in the Old Colony Church, and 
 although his voice trembles and his frame shakes, the fire of 
 the old-time eloquence is not wholly wanting. It is well that 
 his eyes are growing dim. for the congregation which greets 
 him is becoming piteously small, and looks grotesquely out of 
 place in such a pretentious house of worship. The majority of 
 the Jansonists have joined the Methodist communion, and even 
 Jonas Olson no longer adheres to the old faith, but is now an 
 independent Second Day Adventist. 
 
 The present town of Bishop Hill numbers only three hun- 
 dred and thirty-three inhabitants. The shops and the mills and 
 the manufactories are empty, and the very dwelling-houses are 
 going to ruin. In the light of the past, it is truly a Deserted 
 Village. But the spruce and the elm and the black walnut 
 saplings that were planted in the days of the Colony have grown 
 into magnificent shade trees, and speak of the glory of the past. 
 
 142 
 
PART III 
 
 1896 
 
1846 
 
 Dedicated to the Memory 
 
 of the Hardy Pioneers 
 Who, in Order to Secure 
 
 Religious Liberty 
 Left Sweden. Their Native 
 
 Land, with All the 
 
 Endearments of Home and 
 
 Kindred and Founded 
 
 BISHOP HILL COLONY 
 
 on the 
 
 Uninhabited Prairies of 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 Erected by Surviving 
 
 Members and Descendants 
 
 on the 
 
 50th Anniversary, 
 
 September Twenty-third, 
 
 1896 
 
 -Translation of inscription on Old 
 Settlers' Monument. 
 
 MONUMENT IN THE PARK 
 
 *&* «*r*,-#> 
 
 / 
 
 <§#W*ljrf arc*** 'ai#$i*«»** am 
 .vr4h ^ 
 
 144 
 
1846-1896 Monument starts from Galva to Bishop Hill, September 
 21, 1896. John Root. George Snyder, Fred Otterstrom, and 
 F. M. Niot. 
 
 BISHOP HILL 
 
 1855 
 
 145 
 
oj 55 w 
 
PART THREE 
 
 BISHOP HILL COLONY SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 Preface 
 To the Reader: 
 
 Believing that it will be appreciated by posterity if a 
 record of the proceedings of the Semi- Centennial celebration of 
 the settlement of Bishop Hill Colony in Henry County, Illinois, 
 which was held at Bishop Hill on September 23 and 24, 1896, 
 would be preserved in a more permanent form, I have under- 
 taken the task of copying said proceedings which were published 
 at the time by E. E. Fitch which is herewith submitted in 
 bookform with some additions in the line of views of buildings, 
 potographs and groups of old settlers taken in the park at the 
 Reunion with the expressed wish that on the one hundredth 
 anniversary of the event, these proceedings be read as a part of 
 the exercises of the occasion. 
 
 The children and men and women who are coming upon 
 the scene of action cannot be made to realize the conditions 
 existing here when the first pioneers blazed the way in the 
 wilderness to the now fertile spot of the New World. 
 
 THEO. ANDERSON. 
 
 Chicago, III., July, 1946. 
 
 151 
 
Address of Welcome — Rev. Axel Gabrielson 
 
 Resident M. E. Minister, Bishop Hill 
 
 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, friends, one and all: 
 
 As the mouth-piece on this occasion of the corporate village 
 of Bishop Hill its citizens, and those adjacent to it, who have 
 had a part in arranging this celebration, let me in giving the 
 address of welcome, first of all, in their behalf, express satis- 
 faction at the sight here, greeting our vision, the assemblage 
 of this vast concourse of people, from distant places and near, 
 met to do honor to the day we celebrate. 
 
 But in the midst of the pleasure which such a scene affords, 
 a feeling of sadness steals over us, as we reflect, that not many 
 of the original founders of the Bishop Hill Colony remain today, 
 after the lapse of half a century of time, to extend a greeting 
 to you through a delegated medium or personality. Almost all 
 of them sleep now in yonder peaceful city of the dead, or lie 
 in the quiet shade of the distant woods, or rest, here and there 
 one, in almost isolated graves. 
 
 Yet our hearts are cheered by the presence of a few among 
 us, and in the name of these remaining aged and honored veter- 
 ans, I want to saj' to you, their descendants, to friends of long 
 standing, and to those of more recent acquisition as well, 
 gathered from near and far, welcome, yea, thrice welcome 
 here today. 
 
 They have come, 'tis true, to only a small town, but now, 
 as in the days of Bethlehem, the least of Judean cities, size, 
 let me remind you, is not the only measure of greatness. 
 
 The Palestine city was not great because of its territory, 
 or many inhabitants, but because it gave birth to One in whom 
 all nations blessed. 
 
 Our town, though small too in circumference, and insig- 
 nificant as to population, and laying no special claim to dis- 
 tinction on the ground of having produced any one in vying 
 in greatness, even with mortal men, may still aspire to position 
 among celebrated places, because, possibly, of her age in a 
 comparatively new country, and certainly because, to brave 
 men and women from the distant North-land, of Scandinavia, 
 Helsingland, Sweden, belongs the credit of the founding of 
 
 152 
 
this exceptionally quaint and unique town, on the wilds of an 
 Illinois prairie, a half hundred years ago, and in its name 
 Bishop Hill, the creation of this noble land of patriots, professed 
 and sincere followers of the incomparable Bethlehemite, we 
 greet you one and all, and bid you, welcome, among us today. 
 
 In behalf also of the young manhood and womanhood of 
 Bishop Hill, who have shared none of the hardships of the pio- 
 neers of forty-six, forty-eight and fifty, but who today, con- 
 sciously enjoy, in the heritage they possess, the fruit of the 
 privations and labor of those heroes, living and dead, I bid 
 all present here, welcome to the fiftieth anniversary of the 
 founding of Bishop Hill. 
 
 Yes, welcome to our home during your stay, and welcome 
 to enjoy without limit, whatsoever of good with which a bene- 
 ficent Providence has seen fit to bless us. 
 
 Again, in the name of all those whom I today represent ; 
 the movers in and promoters of the celebration enterprise, their 
 committees, who have so faithfully and well performed every 
 detail entrusted to them, the active energetic citizen, the retired, 
 aged, honored and loved among us, and the corporation itself, 
 in the name of all these I extend to you all, from the least 
 to the greatest inclusive, an earnest, sincere and warm welcome! 
 
 Response — John Root 
 
 Mr. Mayor and Fellow Citizens of Bishop Hill: 
 
 On behalf of the old settlers here assembled, and especially 
 on behalf of those from abroad I desire to return to you my 
 most sincere thanks for the cordial welcome you have extended 
 us. We come here today from Puget Sound and from the Gulf 
 of Mexico, from Chesapeake Bay and from the Golden Gate, 
 from the East and from the far West, beyond the Mississippi 
 and the Missouri rivers. We come not as strangers, but as mem- 
 bers of one large family holding a reunion at the old homestead. 
 While many of us have been separated from the old home for 
 more than a quarter of a century, the scenes and surroundings 
 which greet us upon our return are familiar, and but few 
 changes have taken place. The same broad streets lined with 
 their beautiful maples, magnificent elms and drooping lindens 
 — the same grand park, the same old church, the same old school- 
 
 153 
 
house, the same postoffice as of old, the same dwelling houses, 
 and the same old bell with its familiar sound, that had its 
 multiplicity of duties to perform: to call us to attend divine 
 worship, to school, to dinner, and to sound the alarm in case 
 of fire or other danger, and I am not certain but what it also 
 did curfew duty. 
 
 As is well known the causes which led these pioneers, the 
 founders of your town — these quiet law-abiding people — to for- 
 sake their native shores of the Scandinavian peninsula, with all 
 the ties and traditions to which they were bound, and to seek 
 for themselves and posterity a home in the land of the free 
 though in the unknoAvn and uninhabited West, in this beautiful 
 Mississippi Valley, was the religious persecution to which they 
 were subjected. In all monarchies where Church and State are 
 united, religious oppression, though varied in severity, is gen- 
 erally the rule, and with the exception of the instruments of 
 torture, it is doubtful if these people were any the less oppressed 
 than were the victims of the Spanish Inquisition. Where their 
 mode of worship differed from the forms prescribed by the 
 established church, or where religious services were held at 
 different times or places, and by other persons than thos<? 
 prescribed by royal authority, they were harrassed by the min- 
 ions of the law, arrested, fined and imprisoned, until life became 
 to them a burden, and so like the Puritans of old, they set sail 
 for a more congenial clime. Think of the sacrifices they made 
 for their religious convictions; home and fatherland, the land 
 of song and story; the land of the midnight sun; the land of 
 Ghistavus Vasa and of Gustavus Adolphus, the hero of Protes- 
 tantism. All these associations and many more were held for 
 naught, and they left all and embarked upon the high seas. 
 Some of them in schooners and fishing smacks which would 
 today be condemned as unseaworthy to sail on a pleasure lagoon 
 within sight of a life-saving station. Tossed on the waves of 
 the stormy Atlantic for three and four months, they finally 
 landed in New York City, and by slow degrees, by stage route, 
 canals and the great lakes, arrived at Chicago, then a village 
 just entering her 'teens, and containing but a few thousand 
 inhabitants. From there they continued their journey on foot 
 across the country till they settled down on this beautiful spot. 
 
 It is conceded by all that this settlement at the time 
 
 154 
 
it was made was the advance guard, the entering wedge, to 
 Scandinavian emigration to this great Northwest. They were 
 to Scandinavia what the Independents and Puritans were to 
 England and Holland, and this stopping place may justly be 
 called their "Plymouth, Rock." 
 
 There had been earlier Scandinavian settlements on the 
 eastern shores of this continent in New Jersey, Delaware and 
 Pennsylvania, but the spirit of adventure had not taken very 
 strong possession of those settlers, and their descendants are 
 still occupying portions of these States. A Scandinavian settle- 
 ment is also claimed to have been made as early as the tenth 
 century on the coast of what is now the State cf Rhode Island, 
 but the exact iocation has been somewhat surrourded in mystery 
 and founded on tradition. 
 
 But Prof. Horsford, of Rhode Island, has discovered what 
 he considers conclusive evidences of the site of their city, by 
 the unearthing of its foundations, and has caused to be erected 
 there a monument to commemorate the settlement. The city was 
 called Norembega (presumably on account of the northern 
 origin of its founders, and being probably in the same land 
 discovered by Leif Ericson and called Vinland — the land of 
 wine — on account of the profusion of wild grapes found grow- 
 ing there). We intend that posterity shall not be left in doubt 
 as to the settlement of this place, and have met today to dedicate 
 a memorial tablet, to remain for ages as a reminder of the event. 
 
 Imagine, if you can, the condition of these people at the 
 time of their settlement here ; the trials they endured, the hard- 
 ships they suffered — starvation and pestilence on every hand; 
 settling down in the wilderness and marshes, full of malaria 
 and miasma, in the bleak September days, when the sun was 
 daily wending its way to the Southward, and gloomy winter: 
 coming on; with no means of subsistence except principally 
 w T ild game, with which the country at that time abounded ; with 
 the nearest towns fifty to seventy-five miles distant, and to 
 which periodical journeys had to be made for supplies, with 
 horses and oxen as the motive power; with no habitation except 
 tents and sod houses in which to pass the winter — surely the 
 greatest wonder is that any one remains to tell the tale. 
 
 Then, as now, money was necessary for the carrying on 
 
 155 
 
of any enterprise, and among these people were found a few 
 men of means, who converted their all into gold and expended 
 the same freely for the benefit of the masses, even to the extent 
 of paying the debts and passage for such as were unable to do 
 so themselves, so that they could leave their country like 
 honorable men. 
 
 Beginning with hoe and mattock to clear the forest and 
 turn the sod for the next season's planting, the work was indeed 
 laborious and would seem almost insurmountable. Yet, little 
 by little, they acquired their land from the Government, and 
 in less than fifteen years, this village practically as it appears 
 today, was built ; for these people were imbued with the thrifty 
 and industrious habits of their northern home, and among them 
 were found architects and mechanics of every class and calling 
 necessary for the successful building up of a frontier settle- 
 ment ; and we have evidences before us on every hand of their 
 industry and architecture. Every brick in these buildings was 
 molded by hand, and every beam, joist, scantling and rafter 
 built into them was hewed and sawed by these brawny men in 
 these forests. Besides these structures that we see here, there 
 were many more that are now obliterated, especially all the 
 mills and dams on the banks of the Edwards. Flouring mills, 
 both steam and water power, flax mills and saw mills, and 
 included in the destruction was that grand obelisk, the chimney 
 on the steam flouring mill, towering over 100 feet heavenward, 
 and which would in all probability have stood for 500 years, 
 and would have been a fitting monument for the admiration 
 of coming generations, and of more memorable value to us 
 than any block of granite we can erect today. But such are the 
 mutations of time, and perhaps in another century some, or 
 all of these remaining buildings will have shared the same fate. 
 But yonder stands a faithful watchman and time keeper, re- 
 maining, which through summer's sun and winter's storm, by 
 night as well as by day, faithfully proclaims another hour gone, 
 never to return. Though not as elaborate in architectural beauty 
 and mechanism as the clock in Strasburg Cathedral, yet at the 
 time of its erection it was quite a curiosity and attracted 
 strangers from all around, and on favorable occasions its clear 
 tones can be heard for miles, and it is not improbable that it 
 will be on duty when the most of us shall have passed away. 
 
 156 
 
In its most prosperous days this town, had it been enclosed 
 by the Chinese wall, the inhabitants would almost have had 
 within the confines of their own possessions, abundant resources 
 to supply their every want without being dependent upon the 
 outside world. They raised and manufactured into cloth their 
 own wool and flax ; made their own implements of every des- 
 cription; raised wheat and rye and ground the same into flour; 
 manufactured leather and converted it into boots, shoes, and 
 harnesses; burnt their own lime, raised horses, cattle, hogs and 
 poultry, and their ten horse power sorghum mill was the largest 
 in the northern part of the State, and very few of the necessi- 
 ties of life were obtained elsewhere. Their industrial growth 
 from the beginning was almost phenominal. 
 
 These people have always been true to their adopted country 
 and its flag, and w T hile the rumble of approaching war was 
 heard in the council chambers of the nation, a company of 
 soldiers was formed and put in training under the military 
 leadership of one of their number, and with their flint-lock 
 muskets they met at regular intervals to perfect themselves in 
 the manual of arms, and the whole town assumed a military 
 aspect; and after Fort Sumter was fired upon and it became 
 necessary for volunteers to take the field in defense of the 
 Union, no braver set of men ever faced rebel shot and shell 
 than that small company that enlisted from your town; how 
 well they were drilled is attested by younder silk banner, now 
 almost fallen into shreds, for which trophy the entire Regiment 
 the Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteers contested in a competitive 
 drill, and Company D carried off the prize. Taking part in 
 the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege and battle of Corinth, 
 Vicksburg, and many other engagements ; sharing in that vic- 
 torious march of the intrepid Sherman, which has been immor- 
 talized in song, 'From Atlanta to the Sea." Participating in 
 the grand review at Washington, they had then earned their 
 full share of martial glory. Some of them failed to return, and 
 many a father and mother, wife and child, sweetheart, sister 
 and brother, looked in vain for the return of their loved ones; 
 they lie buried today on Southern battlefields, with no token 
 to mark their last resting place, while their memory is ever 
 kept sacred by kindred and friends on each recurring Memorial 
 Day, by crowning with garlands that arch dedicated to the 
 
 157 
 
memory of The Unknown Dead. Some of them are still with 
 us, but their number is growing less as year by year rolls round, 
 and by the end of another decade, very few of the old soldiers, 
 or old settlers will remain. 
 
 Your town today is provided with educational, religious, 
 social, fraternal and benevolent organizations to such an ex- 
 tent that I doubt if another town of its size in the State of 
 Illinois can equal it. First of all you have the public school, 
 the foundation of all American educational institutions. You 
 have churches and Sunday schools, Epworth and Junior Leagues, 
 a Chautauqua Circle, Modern Woodmen, Home Forum, Select 
 Knights and United Workmen, each and all doing good in their 
 respective fields ; and then you have a Voluntary Donative 
 Society to look after the interests of the worthy poor. 
 
 In these days of steam and electric travel, telegraph and 
 long distance telephone ; when you can cross the Atlantic in 
 less than six days; can travel between New York City and 
 Chicago in twenty-four hours; can send a continuous message 
 over 27,000 miles completely encircling the globe in less than 
 twenty minutes, it would seem as if time and space had been 
 annihilated, and it seems almost incredible to look back upon 
 the last fifty years and see all the industrial, mechanical and 
 scientific improvements that have been made on every hand since 
 the first settlers set foot upon this soil. More material progress 
 has been made in the world in the fifty years last past, than 
 in any other two hundred, yes — four hundred years of its 
 previous history. 
 
 And now my friends and fellow citizens, having come to- 
 gether on this beautiful September day — one of Nature's grand- 
 est and most glorious holidays — from all over this broad land, 
 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of this 
 romantic place, and for the renewing of "acquaintance almost 
 forgot," I hope and trust that we shall all enjoy ourselves and 
 feel the better for having met friends of long ago, and as time 
 rolls around in its ceaseless whirl, may we ever refer to this 
 day as one of happiness and joy, ever to be remembered. Again 
 I thank you. 
 
 Address — Captain Eric Johnson, League City, Texas 
 Fellow Colonists and Invited Friends: 
 
 We are met today to celebrate and commemorate the found- 
 
 158 
 
ing and first settlement of Bishop Hill Colony. These gray 
 haired veterans — the survivors of the original colonists — need 
 no address to remind them of the past — to them it is a living 
 reality — they know all about it, and much more than I will 
 be able to tell in the short time allotted to me. But the greater 
 portion of this audience are their descendants, friends and 
 neighbors who possess only a fragmentary knowledge of the 
 past history of these colonists. It is principally them that I 
 w T ill address on this occasion. 
 
 That my hearers may fully appreciate the standpoint from 
 which I view the past as w T ell as the present, I will state that 
 I firmly believe there is an overruling Providence that shapes 
 the destinies of nations, peoples, and the individual as well. 
 
 Sacred and profane history, both ancient and modern, bear 
 testimony to the fact that the exodus of people and nations 
 have exercised great influence upon the religious, moral and 
 material advancement of the human race. 
 
 The first exodus on record is where God commanded Abram 
 to depart from Haran in these words: "Get thee out of thy 
 country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, 
 unto a land I will show thee." The second is the great exodus 
 of the Israelites from the land of Egypt. These two events 
 were the preliminary steps in God's plan for the redemption 
 of the human race. 
 
 May the 3rd, 1607, was planted the first successful Eng- 
 lish settlement within the borders of these United States. It 
 was made by the chevaliers of England, men and women of 
 wealth and standing who came to the new world to embrace 
 the enlarged field here offered to increase their wealth and 
 power. From it sprang the civilization of the Southern States. 
 
 December 15, 1620, on Plymouth Rock, was laid the founda- 
 tion of another civilization of men and women who fled from 
 religious persecution to a land where they hoped to enjoy the 
 blessings of religious freedom. 
 
 Fifty-one years ago these old Bishop Hill Colonists were 
 living in their respective homes, in mountain dells, or in beau- 
 tiful valleys, where meandered sparkling brooks and rivers, or 
 on the borders of enchanting lakes where interchanging groves 
 of pine and birch enhanced the scenic beauty. A patriotic love 
 
 159 
 
of native country, the ties of kindred and childhood scenes, 
 and associations held them in strong attachment to the native 
 heath. No common or transitory emotion could have induced 
 them to sever ties so dear and so sacred, and receive them to 
 turn their backs upon native land, old time friends and kindred 
 and embark upon a voyage, months in duration, fraught with 
 dangers now unknown. 
 
 In order to receive a full conception and appreciation of 
 the causes that led to the exodus, we must go back several years 
 in the history of these people to find the true cause. 
 
 History teaches that whenever and wherever church and 
 state are united, true Christianity suffers and the church loses 
 its spiritual power and becomes a mere dead formality. Sweden 
 and its established church became no exception. The church 
 had lost its spirituality, and its priests had become mere guide 
 boards preaching perfunctory and formal sermons, which told 
 the people the way to go without the least attempt to set an 
 example of piety or purity in daily life. 
 
 In the thirties and early forties there passed through the 
 provinces of northern Sweden a wave of religious awakening 
 among the peasantry. It was not brought about through the 
 agenc}^ of any revivalists. It seemed spontaneous, displaying 
 a longing aspiration of the soul of earnest men and women, 
 for the bread of eternal life and a desire to lead a life of de- 
 voted piety. They associated themselves together in groups 
 without any formal organization, met here and there in private 
 homes for the reading of the Scriptures and devotional exer- 
 cise. Hence, they received the name of Lasare (readers). 
 
 How fitting it is that on this occasion we have the pleasure 
 of having among us one of the leading pioneers in this religious 
 movement, and perhaps the only living representative either in 
 Sweden or America, of these original ' ' lasare, ' ' who participated 
 in this religious awakening before 1830, in the person of our 
 revered and honored colonist, Rev. J. Olson, who, at the ripe 
 age of nearly 94 years, has been spared to grace this commem- 
 oration of the results of the labors of early manhood. Nearly 
 all of the leading colonists were identified with this religious 
 awakening. 
 
 It is with delicacy that I must passingly refer to the part 
 
 160 
 
taken by my own father in this religious movement. Perhaps 
 the over enthusiastic admirers of him may ascribe to him a 
 greater share in the origin and growth of this movement that 
 culminated in the emigration to America and the settlement of 
 the Bishop Hill Colony than rightfully belongs to him. 
 
 When Eric Janson felt impelled by his religious zeal to 
 visit Helsingland, he came to a field that had already been 
 well cultivated. This venerable friend of ours and his able 
 co-laborers had sown the seed and prepared the way for what 
 followed. He came to friends who gladly received him. The 
 reinforcement thus received and the impetus thus given to this 
 religious movement by the fiery zeal and burning eloquence 
 of the new co-laborer that had come among them, increased the 
 number of converts and adherents to an extent that it alarmed 
 the clergy of the established church. Measures of repression 
 were deemed necessary, and forthwith commenced a persecu- 
 tion that eventually became so bitter and unrelenting that 
 the adherents of the new faith became convinced that unless 
 they relinquished their religious convictions, the government 
 of their native land was powerless to protect them in their 
 property or their lives. It was then, and not until then, that 
 their longing eyes were directed to the great Republic of 
 the West. 
 
 Thus in 1845 Rev. Olof Olson, brother of this venerable 
 hero, and father of Hon. J. W. Olson, was selected as a trusted 
 agent to select their new home in the New World. 
 
 The decision having been made to emigrate, measures were 
 at once taken to carry it into effect, but at the very threshold 
 they w T ere confronted with a "condition" — an all important 
 problem had to be solved. Two years or more of unrelenting 
 persecution had cemented them together into Christian bond 
 of brotherly and sisterly love that was as strong as the religious 
 faith in which they lived and breathed. But comparatively few 
 were blessed with means, as the believers came from the peasantry 
 and laborers in mines and factories, and the many were with- 
 out sufficient means to defray the expenses of the long journey. 
 It was this trying emergency that those who were possessed of 
 means sold their worldly possessions of both real and personal 
 property, placing the proceeds thereof in a common fund. Thus 
 all who were of one faith were enabled to emigrate. 
 
 161 
 
Tell me not that mere human persuasiveness, or a mere 
 religiousenthusiasm could have persuaded so many to sell and 
 divide the same with their fellow men. Here was presented 
 a practical object lesson of the divine injunction, "love thy 
 neighbor as thyself." 
 
 In Dalcarlia, where nature reigns supreme in her august 
 grandeur and solemnity and scenic beauty, lives a race of people 
 celebrated in history for their heroic deeds of valor and un- 
 conquerable love of liberty and independence, and on more 
 than one occasion have they saved the nation from a foreign 
 yoke, when the rest had tamely submitted thereto. From this 
 province came the most noted example of this self sacrificing 
 love to fellow men. One of the wealthiest farmers of this 
 province, one L. Gr. Larson, who sold his real and personal 
 property at great sacrifice, with which he chartered a ship and 
 gave to all his believing neighbors who were poor and unable 
 to pay, a free passage over the ocean and clear through to 
 their destination, and after arriving turned over into the com- 
 mon fund the remainder for the purchase of land and the 
 necessities of life. His contribution to the common fund was 
 over 24,000 crowns. Others followed in 10,000, 8,000 and les- 
 ser amounts. 
 
 When our Colonists had arrived in their new home one 
 necessity pressed so closely upon another, that even had no pre- 
 arranged plan been in existence, circumstances plainly indicated 
 each successive step. 
 
 Habitations had to be provided for each successive install- 
 ment of new arrivals. Food must be procured, provisions made 
 for the future in the purchase of lands, horses, cattle, farm 
 implements and seed. To have turned all loose to shift for 
 themselves in a comparative wilderness, meant want and starva- 
 tion to many, and in direct variance with the self-sacrificing 
 brotherly love that brought them over, yea, it would have been 
 heartless cruelty. Besides the religious zeal that had induced 
 these Colonists to forsake fatherland and sever ties that were 
 dear and sacred still burned with unabated glow upon their 
 hearts' altar. 
 
 AVhile singing praises of thanksgiving to their Heavenly 
 Father for deliverance from religious persecution, and with 
 gratitude glowing in their hearts that they were now in a land 
 
 162 
 
where they could worship God according to the dictates of 
 their conscience, they went earnestly and cheerfully to work 
 to fell the timber from which to build shelter for their families, 
 to break the virgin soil and sow the seed that would bring forth 
 the sustenance of life. They brought to the task before them an 
 earnestness of purpose, strong and sinewy muscle, hardened 
 and used to laborious work, on every hand and at every step 
 they had to encounter and overcome trying and harrassing dif- 
 ficulties. The necessarily crowded condition in which they had 
 to live, the then malarious climate soon made teir bones ache, 
 followed by the burning fever of ague attacks, stole gradually 
 away the inherent muscular strength brought from the father- 
 land. Yet, at times an insufficiency of food w«uld try their 
 spirit of endurance. Death came at frequent intervals to seek 
 many a dear and precious victim ; but under all their spirits 
 were undaunted, their faith undimmed and the brotherly and 
 sisterly love burned as brightly as ever. Peace and happiness 
 reigned within our borders. 
 
 Then came the Asiatic scourge of 1849 which in a few weeks 
 swept into the grave over one hundred of the very flower 
 the Colonists sending mourning into every family, but no sooner 
 had the besom of death passed away then those remaining re- 
 turned to the work of building up their new home and laying 
 the foundation of future prosperity. 
 
 But the Colonists had still other ordeals and trials to endure. 
 Although a community founded upon the principles of 
 peace and good will to all men, enemies arose on the outside 
 who spoke all manner of evil against the Colonists, representing 
 the community as a menace to the peace of the state. This 
 the more readily receiven credence among outsiders who knew 
 the Colony only from evil reports, because of the excitement 
 caused in this part of the state by the then recent expulsion of 
 the Mormons from Nauvoo. 
 
 Here was a colony of foreigners, speaking an unknown 
 tongue, living so different from the rest of the world that 
 suspicions were easily aroused. 
 
 Thus it can be seen how easy it was to incite the mobs 
 that visited the colony during the winter of 1849 and '50. 
 But thanks to the friendship and timely help of our nearest 
 American neighbors who had come in closer contact with the 
 
 163 
 
Colonists, and had learned to appreciate them at their real 
 worth, they arose as a wall of fire between us and our enemies, 
 convincing the leaders of the mobs that they had been deceived 
 as to the true character of the Colonists, and that we were good 
 and desirable neighbors. Foremost among these, outside de- 
 fenders, were Philip Mauk, John Piatt, Thomas Maxwell and 
 Richard Mascall, and the Colonists and their descendants owe 
 these men a deep debt of gratitude for the timely help in the 
 hour of need. 
 
 Then in May, 1850, came the untimely death of the one 
 who had been looked up to as the leader, which cast a temporary 
 gloom and depression upon the Colonists. 
 
 The Colonists, however, undaunted in their courage, in- 
 spired by a devotion to the faith that bound them together in 
 the bonds of Christian brotherhood, and had brought them 
 across the wide waters to their new home, bent renewed energy 
 to the work, and by degrees they overcame every difficulty 
 and soon entered upon an era of prosperity. 
 
 Their landed possessions, the acreage under cultivation, 
 the horses, cattle, swine, sheep, farming implements and other 
 personal property increased year by year, and kind Providence 
 blessed them with abundant harvests until finally the Bishop 
 Hid Colony waxed strong and even wealthy, and the outside 
 world pointed no longer the finger of scorn but of admiration. 
 
 But worldly prosperity does not always bring in its train 
 unalloyed happiness. 
 
 Gradually that former Christian brotherly love commenced 
 to cool off, the unity and oneness in religious faith began to 
 waver. To sum it up in a few words the communistic life that 
 had been born of the noblest impulses of the human heart and 
 of pressing necessities, and had been a blessed bridge over an 
 otherwise impassable chasm, had outlived its necessity and 
 usefulness. 
 
 True it is that the moment the Colonists began to turn their 
 thoughts towards a separation and individualization, the latent 
 selfishness implanted in every human breast, that during the 
 years of communistic life had been held in subjection, was now 
 fanned into a flame, and hot and bitter at times, became the 
 contests in our councils, until an amiable plan of division could 
 be devised. 
 
 164 
 
Fortunately, however, today, we old Colonists can all join 
 in this festivity as perfect friends, and as brothers and sisters 
 of one common household once more. Time has healed every 
 sore, assuaged every disappointment, and we can each one of 
 us take an unprejudiced and unbiased retrospective view of 
 the past, and sincerely and truthfully acknowledge in our hearts 
 that our then opponents were not always in the wrong, nor were 
 we always in the right. 
 
 The time allotted me does not permit any further tracing 
 of the growth and development of the Bishop Hill Colony, but 
 fortunately what remains to be noticed is within the ken of all 
 present, besides it will be the appropriate task for the historian 
 of a future celebration. Suffice it to say that in the length and 
 breadth of our great Republic, there is not a happier nor more 
 prosperous community than Bishop Hill. 
 
 I cannot close my address without paying a well merited 
 compliment to the founders of Bishop Hill for their happy 
 selection of location. I have traversed thirty-seven states of this 
 Union, together with a part of the Canadas, having passed 
 through and visited numberless places of noted and acknowl- 
 edged romantic and beautiful location, still I can truthfully say 
 that for romantic and enchanting beauty of location, lacking 
 those superlative adjuncts of scenic beauty — the combination of 
 v untain dale reflected in the bosom of a mirror-clear lake — 
 no town or city surpasses our own dear Bishop Hill. 
 
 Lost but not least this exodus of the Colonists garnered 
 from the provinces of Dalkarlia, Helsingland and Westmanland, 
 ncted in Swedish history for the home of a race of people with 
 an unconquerable love of liberty, inherent purity of character, 
 and unswerving loyalty to pure and noble principles, the best 
 and choicest of their sons and daughters, transplanted them into 
 the virgin soil of the fairest and choicest portion of the garden 
 spot of the United States, and into the free and unpolluted air 
 of the .'and of freedom, laying the foundation of a community 
 thus specially selected, based upon self-sacrificing Christian and 
 brotherly love to fellow man, tried and purified in the fiery 
 furnace of persecution, privations and sufferings, that baffle 
 all descriptions, which, as a natural sequence, has left its in- 
 d* ' s le stamp of character upon the existing community, which 
 through decades and centuries to come will exert a mighty in- 
 
 165 
 
fluence for good, religiously, morally, and politically, like its 
 prototype, the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock fame. 
 
 Nor could I close without paying a passing tribute to the 
 dead. The Allwise Father of us called you to your eternal rest 
 before you were permitted to see the realization of your hopes 
 and aspirations. But your unselfish sacrifice upon the altar of 
 religious devotion and faith will live till time is no more, in the 
 hearts of your descendants, being a heavenly inspiration to spur 
 them on to live lives that shall make them worthy descendants 
 of so illustrious parentage. 
 
 Now a word to the descendants of these old Colonists who 
 may question the wisdom of their parents in sacrificing their 
 all for the good of the many, if any such there be. This unselfish 
 sacrifice of your parents was made through the noblest impulse 
 of the human heart. It made it possible for one thousand souls 
 to be transplanted to this land of religious freedom, where they 
 and their descendants have become the heirs of a full citizenship 
 in the best and freest government under the sun. Can you behold 
 this lovely place with its hallowed associations and its happy 
 homes, without exultant emotions that the act of your parents 
 made it possible to exist? Is it not also a fact, with a very few 
 exceptions, that the surviving heroes and their descendants who 
 thus sacrificed their all have been blessed four-fold in their 
 worldly possessions? Then where is the man or woman who 
 would exchange his or her citizenship of this great Republic for 
 one in our native land? 
 
 The skeptic mind will, perhaps, question my position taken 
 at the outset that the hand of God was ever in the exodus of 
 these Colonists ; that the cause for which this sacrifice was made 
 came to naught. Fellowman, remember that we judge human 
 events from the limited vision of human eyes. For hundreds of 
 years the exodus of Abram seemed barren of results. For forty 
 years the meanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, to 
 human eyes, appeared an aimless wandering in the desert. The 
 results of the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rack have 
 not even today reached their culmination point in the influence 
 upon the civilization of this grand Republic. Who can foretell 
 what God, in His infinite wisdom, meant by shaping the destiny 
 of our Bishop Hill Colony forefathers? Still, it has been far 
 from barren of results. 
 
 166 
 
Mrs. Charlotte L. Root 
 
 Peter Wickblom 
 
 Hon. Jonas W. Olson 
 
 John Root 
 
 167 
 
Historians of great research and erudition, claim that the 
 English speaking people owe a great part of their indomitable 
 energy and aggressiveness to the Scandinavian blood flowing 
 in their veins, and the cosmopolitan race now in its formative 
 stage in the United States needed a new infusion of the same 
 blood. Until the emigration of these Colonists in 1846, very few 
 Swedes found their way to the shores of this great Republic, 
 except now and then a struggling sailor who deserted his ship 
 upon touching American shore. The commotion caused by the 
 religious persecution and the subsequent emigration attracted 
 attention to America, and thereby the Colonists became the 
 pioneers of the immgration that swelled in volume with each 
 succeeding year, until 1,500,000 Swedes have landed in these 
 United States. They and their descendants have materially 
 assisted in developing the resources of the great west, and are 
 today exerting an influence that is felt for the good in the 
 religious, moral and political advancement of our common 
 country. 
 
 This exodus also conferred a great blessing upon Father- 
 land. It paved the way for the religious liberty that Sweden 
 enjoys today, and it put a new religious life into even the estab- 
 lished church. 
 
 In conclusion, we, who are yet among the living, have a 
 sacred and exalted inheritance. Let us not lower the high ideal 
 of Christian and brotherly love so strikingly exemplified in the 
 early trials and experiences of these Colonists. Let no act of 
 ours dim the luster of the glory of the past. Especially may the 
 rising generation in whose hands will soon repose the future 
 welfare and reputation of Bishop Hill, see to it that it will 
 continue to be the nursery from which will be sent out to battle 
 with the ups and downs of life, men and women of noble and 
 exalted characters that will be a blessing to the world. May our 
 cherished and beloved Bishop Hill be as worthy of its one 
 hundredth anniversary as it was of its fiftieth. 
 
 Hon. Jonas W. Olson 
 Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens of Bishop 
 Hill, and Visiting Friends : 
 
 It is with peculiar emotions that I greet this magnificent 
 audience, assembled here to commemorate the Fiftieth Anni- 
 
 168 
 
versary of the founding of Bishop Hill. I assure you that I 
 esteem it a privilege and a great honor to be permitted to address 
 this vast assemblage upon this commemorative occasion, though 
 I feel that the duty has been better performed by others who 
 have preceded me, and that there are still others who, on account 
 of long connection with the Colonoy and personal knowledge of 
 facts and incidents in its history, would be much better able 
 to perform the task allotted to me. 
 
 Although my father, Olof Olson, came here in 1845, one 
 year in advance of the Colony, and after exploring several 
 states selected its present location, and it might appear from 
 this fact, that I should have some personal knowledge of its 
 affairs, and it was, as I understood, for this reason, in part, 
 at least, that I was chosen as one to address you today. Yet, I 
 am sorry to have to say that my own personal knowledge of 
 events that transpired are extremely limited, as you will readily 
 understand when I say to you that my parents, sister, brother 
 and grandmother all died when I was only about three years of 
 age, and I was, within three or four years later, taken away 
 from the Colony, and have never returned to live here since. 
 
 All I know of my own knowledge is confined to a few 
 youthful recollections that appear as a dream of infancy. I did 
 not even know my own birthday, my own age, or the birthdays 
 of my parents, sister and brother until I received the letter I 
 hold in my hand, which I have recently received from Rev. Olof 
 Norlin, the present pastor of the church at Soderala, Sweden. 
 
 The letter is written in the Swedish language and is a per- 
 sonal letter in answer to some inquiries I had addressed to the 
 writer, but as I believe it will of interest to some of the original 
 Colonists from Soderala I will take the liberty to read it in the 
 language in which it is written. 
 
 (Mr. Olson here reads the letter in Swedish.) 
 
 I will only translate and give in English so much of this 
 letter as refers to the birth of my parents, sister and brother, 
 myself and my aunt. 
 
 "Your father, Olof Olson, from Kingsta, No. 5, was born 
 in Soderala May 16th, 1807; your mother, Anna Maria West- 
 man, was born in Soderala, April 6th, 1809. Their children were, 
 daughter, Beata, born in Soderala, December 22nd, 1836; son, 
 Olof, born in Soderala, December 15th, 1838; son, Jonas W., 
 
 169 
 
born in Soderala, June 30th, 1843; your aunt, your mother's 
 half-sister, Katrina Wilhelmina Petronalla Skoglund, was born 
 in Soderala, July 16th, 1828." 
 
 Until I received the above letter, July 7th, the d.;te given 
 to me by my aunt from her recollection, was supposed to be my 
 birthday, and had been celebrated as such by my children. 
 
 From what I have said, you will readily perceive that my 
 knowledge of Sweden and of events connected with the Colony 
 is mostly confined to what I have learned from tradition, 
 through statements of surviving members, and through histori- 
 cal sketches and writings of others. 
 
 It appears that my father and his brother, Rev. Jonas Olson, 
 that aged patriarch who still survives, and at the advanced age 
 of 94, though too feeble to address us is with us today, had for 
 some years prior to their emigration been engaged in a religious 
 movement in Sweden whose adherents were known by the name 
 of Lasare (Readers or Devotionalists), because they assembled 
 in their private houses to hold their devotional meetings and 
 read their Bibles assiduously in their homes. 
 
 The Devotionalists were a sober, industrious and pious 
 people who abstained from drinking, dancing, and other things 
 deemed ''worldly pleasures," which was tolerated among the 
 adherents of the Established Church. Some of them discouraged 
 the use of all devotional literature except the Bible, saying "that 
 the best human writings are full of error and only tend to dis- 
 tract from the word of God." 
 
 According to Mikkelson's History the religious revival in 
 Sweden which culminated in the emigration of the Colony, dates 
 from the year 1842 when Eric Janson was introduced by Jonas 
 Olson to the Devotionalists of Helsingland. 
 
 From this time Janson became the recognized leader in 
 religious revivals and his teachings became known as Jansonism. 
 
 I quote from Mikkelson's Monograph: 
 
 "Jansonism and the form which it ultimately assumed was 
 largely determined by the attitude of the established church. 
 Eric Janson did not at first display separate tendencies. He 
 merely preached against rationalism and dead orthodoxy which 
 was prevalent in the Swedish Church. He advocated a return to 
 the simplicity and earnestness of primitive Christianity. He 
 traveled from parish to parish conducting revival meetings. The 
 
 170 
 
number of his adherents was soon estimated from 1,500 to 4,000. 
 The clergy (of the established State Church) became alarmed 
 of a strong religious sentiment over which they had no control, 
 and the import of which they did not understand. They regarded 
 the Jansonists as a new sect holding doctrines that were sub- 
 versive of the existing church organizations. In order to regain 
 their lost power they denounced Janson from the pulpit. They 
 attempted to refute his heresies in regard to devotional litera- 
 ture and the doctrine of sanctification. But Janson was gifted 
 with a matchless power of debate, besides being well versed in 
 Scriptures, and whenever it came to a battle of words was almost 
 certain to come off victorious. The Jansonites were refused ad- 
 mission to the Lord's Supper. Eric Janson retaliated by saying 
 there could be no faith without persecution; that there was no 
 saving power in the sermon of an unconverted minister; and 
 forbade any of his followers to worship in the established church, 
 holding his conventicles (religious meetings) at the time of the 
 regular church service. 
 
 "As the influence of Janson increased, so also the number 
 and hostility of his enemies. His followers were subjected to 
 abuse and insult of the rabble. Their meetings were disturbed, 
 their houses pelted with stones, and their persons assaulted. But 
 thy praised the Lord who tried their faith by allowing them to 
 be persecuted. They marched along the highways at night, and 
 sang spiritual hymns, or gathered in front of the parsonages to 
 pray for the conversion of their unregenerate pastors. 
 
 "In June, 1844, an event took place which gave the op- 
 ponents of the new heresy an opportunity of adopting severe 
 legal measures. Already since 1840 Eric Janson had witnessed 
 against the abuse of devotional literature. The human writings 
 of Luther, Arndt, Scriver and Nohrborg had usurped the place 
 of the Bible. These new idols had stole away the hearts of the 
 people. They must be destroyed. 
 
 "The burning of the books took place June 11. A great 
 concourse of people from the country assembled on a farm near 
 Tranberg. An immense bonfire was made of books, pamphlets, 
 tracts — everything except the Bible, the hymn book and cate- 
 chism (especially everything advocating, or excusing the union 
 of Church and State). Amidst the singing of hymns and great 
 
 171 
 
spiritual exaltation, the assemblage watched the burning and 
 destruction of the 'Harlot of Babylon.' 
 
 "The embers of the fire had hardly died, before the news 
 spread to every quarter of Sweden. Two days later Janson was 
 arrested and brought before the Court in Gefle. After a pre- 
 liminary trial he was transferred to Westerns. He was finally 
 released to await a new trial but was not allowed to return to 
 Helsingland. In the meantime delegations of his adherents had 
 visited the King and had been promised a hearing of their 
 grievances before the proper authorities. Upon his release, Jan- 
 son himself sought admission to the King, and was so graciously 
 received that he wrote back to his friends 'I have triumphed at 
 Court.' In September, 1844, he was summoned to appear before 
 the Court at Westeras. In his defense he stated that the Church 
 had abused its trust ; that it had fallen from the true faith ; that 
 its servants were mere worldlings; and that he had a call from 
 God to restore the true faith and show sinners the way to salva- 
 tion. He was released. 
 
 '*■ "In the meantime the ardor of his adherents in Helsingland 
 had not abated. Jansonism was being preached in every quarter. 
 The re-appearance of the leader gave new impetus to the move- 
 ment. His enemies had not been able to do him injury. The King 
 and the highest secular authorities in the realm, it was claimed, 
 were his sympathizers. It was only the hierarchy of the Estab- 
 lished Church that sought his destruction. Full amnesty might 
 soon be expected ; the abominable machinations of the Church 
 would be thwarted ; the dawn of religious freedom was not far 
 distant. So thought his confident followers. His journey through 
 Helsingland was one continued ovation. Everywhere the people 
 flocked to the conventicles. In some parishes the churches re- 
 mained almost empty. 
 
 "October 28, 1844, the second crusade against the religious 
 books took place; this time in Soderala Parish. Janson was im- 
 mediately arrested and was again released to await a new trial. 
 Through the zeal of the inferior clergy he was arrested six times ; 
 three times released by royal orders; he was transferred from 
 one court to another, but it is claimed he never received a 
 thorough impartial investigation or fair trial. His followers 
 were subjected to the same sort of treatment. 
 
 "The ancient and obsolete law against conventicles, adopted 
 
 172 
 
in 1726 against Hallean pietists and other heretics, was revived 
 in all its severity. 
 
 "Jonas Olson and his younger brother, Olof Olson, were 
 made to pay heavy fines for holding conventicles, or religious 
 meetings without authority or consent of the established church. 
 They were summoned before the House of Bishops in Upsala to 
 answer for their religious opinions." 
 
 It is related to me that the last time that Olof Olson, my 
 father, was convicted, was for holding a religious meeting, at 
 which he read to those assembled, the 11th Chapter of St. Luke, 
 including the Lord's Prayer, at which he concluded his ex- 
 hortation with the following quotation: 
 
 " 'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor 
 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor 
 things to come. 
 
 " 'Nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature, shall 
 be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ 
 Jesus our Lord. ' ' ' 
 
 (The speaker also gave the above quotation in the Swedish 
 language.) 
 
 I am informed, but how accurate the information is I do 
 not know, that according to the ancient and obsolete statute 
 under which these prosecutions were carried on, the final 
 penalty in case of a further conviction would have been banish- 
 ment and that to avoid being exiled he concluded to voluntarily 
 leave the country and go to America in order that he might 
 take his family along. 
 
 I again quote from Mikkelson 's Monograph as follows : 
 
 "In 1845 he (Eric Janson) sent Olof Olson to America to 
 examine the country and fix up a suitable location for the com- 
 munity. This was before modern Swedish emigration to the New 
 World. America was then a name almost unknown to the 
 peasants of Helsingland. 
 
 "In New York Olof Olson made the acquaintance of the 
 Eev. Olof Hedstrom who is known as the founder of the Swedish 
 Methodist Church in America. Hedstrom was stationed as a 
 missionary among Scandinavian seamen in New York. He held 
 services in a dismantled vessel (known as the "Bethel Ship") 
 a part of which was fitted up for the reception of Olof Olson's 
 
 173 
 
family, consisting of a wife and two children, who remained 
 there during the winter of 1845-6." 
 
 It will be noticed that there were only two children. The 
 third, your humble speaker, who had been stricken with paral- 
 ysis from which he never recovered, and which left him a cripple 
 for life, was so sick at the time that it was not expected he could 
 live, and being too ill to take along on such a journey, I was 
 left to the care of my grandmother and my aunt, Catherina 
 Wilhelmina Petronella Skoglund, to be brought over later with 
 the Colony hi case I should survive. 
 
 "Under the influence of Hedstrom, Olof Olson joined the 
 Methodist communion, and presently proceeded on his way to 
 Victoria, Knox County, Illinois, w T here he was hospitably re- 
 ceived by Hedstrom 's brother, Rev. Jonas Hedstrom. After a 
 prospecting tour through Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, 
 Olof Olson wrote back to Sweden confirming previous favorable 
 reports of the country, and recommending Illinois as the future 
 place of settlement." 
 
 In this connection I have been informed by my aged uncle, 
 Rev. Jonas Olson, that my father's first letter from America to 
 him, came in care of the pastor of the Established Church at 
 the Paris of Soderala, Sweden, who requested him to take a seat 
 between himself and his wife and read the letter to them, which 
 he did, but was considerably embarrassed when he came to that 
 part of the letter wherein my father said that when they came 
 to emigrate they should not worry about "Prestbetyg" (pastor's 
 letter of recommendation), because the situation was understood 
 and their persecution known here, and as there was no Estab- 
 lished Church or Priestly aristocracy in America, the poorer the 
 "Presb.etyg" the more cordial and hearty woold be their 
 welcome. 
 
 In July, 1846, Olof Olson was joined lay Eric Janson, and 
 together they fixed upon Henry County as the place to locate 
 the settlement, my father having already purchased forty acres 
 of land in Red Oak Grove, but a short distance west of here, 
 which to this day is known as "Olson's field." 
 
 In the fall of the same year came the Jonas Olson party, 
 among whom was my grandfather and aunt, who brought me 
 over. I am told that the day previous to our arrival my mother 
 
 had died. She had not yet been buried, and I do not know 
 
 174 
 
whether I remember seeing her or not ; it seems to me that I have 
 a sort of a dazed, hazy recollection of being ushered into the 
 presence of some one dead, but whether I then knew that I was 
 looking upon the face of my mother, knowing that it was cold 
 in death, I do not know and cannot tell. If at the time of her 
 death she knew that I was on the way, and so very near, that 
 if her life could only have been spared another day she would 
 have been permitted to see her unfortunate child once more, if 
 only to greet him with a last parting glance expressive of what 
 no tongue can describe — a mother's love. I can imagine that as 
 that sainted mother closed her eyes to the last sad scenes on 
 earth, in her unspeakable anguish her last thoughts were prob- 
 ably to wonder what would become of her poor crippled boy. My 
 father, sister, brother and grandmother all died only a few 
 days later, and it seems so passing strange that of the entire 
 family I should have been the only one to survive and be allowed 
 the privilege of participating in the celebration of this Fiftieth 
 Anniversary of the founding of Bishop Hill. The feelings that 
 overwhelm me make me almost wish that the doctrine of the 
 Spiritualists might be true. If disembodied spirits were per- 
 mitted to look down upon the scenes of earth, it might be a 
 consolaton to that sainted mother to know that her then seeming- 
 ly unfortunate child is thus honored, and that the people in this 
 world with whom his lot has fallen have been kind to him. 
 
 It is said that ''While the orthodox devotionalists of 
 Helsingland consisted chiefly of independent farmers and 
 artisans, the Jansonists also included in their number a large 
 proportion of miners, factory hands and poor people. ' ' 
 
 Many of these were unable to defray their expenses of a 
 long journey, some were actually in debt, but their debts were 
 paid and all admitted on terms of equality with those who were 
 well-to-do, if not in affluent circumstances, some contributing 
 as high as 24,000 kroner in gold. 
 
 They based their reasons for communism purely on scrip- 
 tural grounds. ''Their reading in the main being limited to one 
 Dook, but in that book they found that the first Christian church 
 took care of the poor and that material goods had been held 
 in common." This action on the part of the wealthy members of 
 ^he Colony certainly attested their sincerity. 
 
 About 1,100 were found willing to leave their native land 
 
 175 
 
with all the endearments of home and kindred, to escape perse- 
 cution and secure religious freedom. The final parting is thus 
 described : 
 
 "The emigrants gathered in Goteborg, Soderhamn and 
 Stockholm, but by far the greatest number sailed from Gefle." 
 
 Galva was intended to be a namesake of this latter city, 
 but the tongue of our American friends was too thick to pro- 
 nounce Gefle, and so it was corrupted to Galva.) 
 
 The first vessel set sail from Gefle in the summer of 1846. 
 For weeks previous to the departure of the vessel vehicles of 
 every description came trundling into the seaboard city of Gefle. 
 From a distance of over a hundred miles pedestrians came 
 travel-stained and footsore. A feverish excitement reigned. No 
 one wanted to be left behind. It was a sad parting. Families were 
 torn asunder, children left their parents, husbands left their 
 wives, the mother left her infant in the cradle. It was the flower 
 of the youth that went, principally young men and women be- 
 tween the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five. Their friends 
 never expected to see them again. ' ' 
 
 Knowing that many of you, like myself, are descendants of 
 the Colonists, yet know nothing of the Fatherland, except as it 
 is described by others, I shall take the liberty to repeat to you 
 a description from one of the world's most famous descriptive 
 travelers, Paul B. Du Chaillu, as given by him after he had lived 
 in Sweden and Norway many years, and traveled more ex- 
 tensively perhaps than any other man ever traveled in that 
 country. I also repeat it that we may be better able to appre- 
 ciate the sacrifices the members of the Bishop Hill Colony made 
 when they were practically driven into exile from such a land : 
 
 4 'There is a beautiful country far away toward the icy 
 North. It is a glorious land ; with snowy, bold, and magnificent 
 mountains; deep, narrow, and well-wooded valleys; bleak pla- 
 teaux and slopes; wild ravines; clear and picturesque lakes; 
 immense forests of birch, pine, and fir trees, the solitude of 
 which seems to soothe the restless spirit of man ; large and 
 superb glaciers, unrivalled elsewhere in Europe for size ; arms 
 of the sea, called fjords, of extreme beauty, reaching far inland 
 in the midst of grand scenery; numberless rivulets, whose crys- 
 tal waters vary in shade and color or the rays of the sun strike 
 
 176 
 
upon them on their journey toward the ocean, tumbling in 
 countless cascades and rapids, filling the air with the music 
 of their fall; rivers and streams which, in their hurried course 
 from the heights above to the chasm below, plunge in grand 
 water-falls, so beautiful, white, and chaste, that the beholder 
 never tires of looking at them ; they appear like an enchanting 
 vision before him, in the reality of which he can hardly believe. 
 Contrasted with these are immense areas of desolate and barren 
 land and rocks, often covered with boulders which in many 
 places are piled here and there in thick masses, and moorlands, 
 all so dreary that they impress the stranger with a feeling of 
 loneliness from which he tries in vain to escape. There are also 
 many exquisite sylvan landscapes, so quiet, so picturesque, by 
 the sea and lakes, by the hills and the mountainsides, by the 
 rivers and in the glades, that one delights to linger among them. 
 Large and small tracts of cultivated land or fruitful glens, and 
 valleys bounded by woods or rocks, with farm-houses and cot- 
 tages, around which fair haired children play, present a striking 
 picture of contentment. Such are the characteristic features of 
 the peninsula of Scandinavia, surrounded almost everywhere by 
 a wild and austere coast. Nature in Norway is far bolder and 
 majestic than in Sweden ; but certain parts of the coast along 
 the Baltic present charming views of rural landscape. 
 
 "From the last days of May to the end of July, in the 
 northern part of this land, the sun shines day and night upon 
 its mountains, fjords, rivers, lakes, forests, valleys, towns, vil- 
 lages, hamlets, fields, and farms; and thus Sweden and Nor- 
 way may be called "The Land of the Midnight Sun." During 
 this period of continuous daylight the stars are never seen, 
 the moon appears pale, and sheds no light upon the earth. 
 Summer is short, giving just time enough for the wild-flowers 
 to grow, to bloom, and to fade away, and barely time for the 
 husbandman to collect his harvest, which, however, is some- 
 times nipped by a summer frost. A few weeks after the mid- 
 night sun has passed, the hours of sunshine shorten rapidly, 
 and by the middle of August the air becomes chilly and the 
 nights cooler, although during the day the sun is warm. Then 
 the grass turns yellow, the leaves change their color, and wither, 
 and fall ; the swallows and other migrating birds fly toward 
 the south ; twilight becomes once more ; the stars, one by one, 
 
 177 
 
people — their roving disposition, their love of the sea, and of 
 conquest in distant lands — to this admixture of Scandinavian 
 blood, which, through hereditary transmission, makes her prom- 
 inent as descended chiefly from Anglo-Scandinavians and not 
 Anglo-Saxons. 
 
 "We will now travel from one end of this land to the other, 
 crossing it many times from sea to sea, over well-made roads 
 and wild tracts, in summer and in winter, and linger among 
 its people." 
 
 When the Jansonites were aboard, and the vessels about 
 to leave the shores of Scandinavia, I am told they sang a song 
 and every eye was filled with tears. I do not know what song 
 make their appearance, shining brightly in the pale-blue sky; 
 the moon shows itself again as the queen of the night, and lights 
 and cheers the long and dark days of the Scandinavian winter. 
 The time comes at last when the sun disappears entirely from 
 sight ; the heavens appear in a blaze of light and glory, and the 
 stars and the moon pale before the aurora borealis. 
 
 "Scandinavia, often have I wandered over thy snow-clad 
 mountains, hills and valleys, over thy frozen lakes and rivers, 
 seeming to hear, as the reindeer, swift carriers of the North, 
 flew onward, voice whispering to me. "Thou has been in 
 many countries where there is no winter, and where flowers 
 bloom all the year;;; but hast thou ever seen such glorious 
 nights as these?" And I silently answered, 'Never! Never!' 
 
 This country, embiacing nearly sixteen degrees in latitude, 
 is inhabited chiefly by a flaxen-haired and blue-eyed race of 
 men — brave, simple, honest, and good, and probably the most 
 independent, honest and faithful of the European nationalities. 
 
 They are the descendants of the Norsemen and of the 
 Vikings, who in the days of old, when Europe was degraded 
 by the chains of slavery, were the only people that were free, 
 and were governed by the laws they themselves made ; ;and, 
 when emerging from their rock-bound and stormy coast for 
 distant lands, for war or conquest, were the embodiment courage 
 and daring by land and sea. They have left to this day an 
 indelible impression of their character on the countries they 
 overran, and in yhich they settled ; and England is indebted 
 for the freedom she possesses, and the manly qualities of her 
 they sang, but can imagine none that would have been more 
 
 178 
 
appropriate or expressive of their feelings than the language of 
 Frithiof when he was exiled. I will ask my American friends 
 to pardon me while I repeat these verses in the original Swedish. 
 (Here Mr. Olson recites the verses in Swdish. Th audience was 
 visibly moved and applause greeted the recitation.) Nineteen 
 attempts at translation have been made, but none have suc- 
 ceeded in preserving the beauty, feeling or pathos, of the orig- 
 inal. I will now read to you what is said to be the best transla- 
 tion into English: 
 
 "Thou font of creation, 
 
 Exalted North! 
 I have no station 
 
 On thy green earth. 
 Thy lineage sharing 
 
 My pride doth swell. 
 Thou home of daring! 
 
 Farewell, farewell ! 
 
 Farewell thou royal 
 
 Valhalla-throne ! 
 Thou night 's-eye loyal, 
 
 Midsummer sun ! 
 Thou sky unclouted 
 
 As hero 's soul ! 
 Thou vault star-crowded! 
 
 Farewell, farewell! 
 Ye moontain ranges 
 
 Where honor dwells, 
 Creation changes 
 
 Yoor rune-face tells. 
 Ye lakes and highlands 
 
 I knew so well, 
 Ye rocks and islands, 
 
 Farewell, farewell ! 
 
 Farewell ye grave-mounds 
 
 Where the linden showers 
 Near azure wave-bounds 
 
 The dust of flowers ! 
 179 
 
But time revealeth 
 
 And judgeth well 
 What earth concealeth, 
 
 Farewell, farewell! 
 
 Farewell ye bowers, 
 
 Beneath whose shade 
 So many hours 
 
 By brooks I've played; 
 Ye friends of childhood, 
 
 Ye meant me well, 
 I love your wildwood; 
 
 Farewell, farewell ! 
 
 My love is cheated, 
 
 My home is burned, 
 My shame incompleted, 
 
 I'm exiled, spumed. 
 From land appealing 
 
 To ocean's swell, 
 Life's joyous feeling, 
 
 Farewell, farewell ! ' ' 
 
 Their homes had not been burned but they had been pelted 
 with stones and every other indignity heaped upon them. It 
 seems strange that there should have been found in such a 
 country and among such a people, those who would persecute 
 for opionion's sake as these Colonists were persecuted. But no 
 more strange than appears the burning of witches in New Eng- 
 land, or that there should have been found among the descend- 
 ants of the Pilgrim Fathers, those who tolerated laws to in- 
 flict capital punishment for the impossible crime of witchcraft. 
 
 The authentic history of nearly every nation begins with 
 an emigration, and the cause of emigration is usually persecu- 
 tion or unfavorable condition of the emigrant in his native 
 country. In the dim vista of the past, beyond all history and 
 spoken of by tradition only, this transfer of peoples from their 
 native soil has been the course of empires. 
 
 It has been said that, "Though all written memorials may 
 have perished of the vast processions which moved thousands 
 
 180 
 
of miles through centuries of time, they can be traced back 
 over space and time by words indicating process and implements 
 of primitive and universal industries, or war, or family rela- 
 tions which are the common property of races that new seem 
 almost diverse." 
 
 Great civilizations are those which are the most cosmo- 
 politan, and those nations, as a rule, are the least progressive 
 whose population is the most unmixed and exclusive. China 
 may be cited as an example. 
 
 There has not been on earth within historic times, so far 
 as I can call to mind, one single great civilized nation of un- 
 mixed blood. 
 
 The Englishman is Celt, Anglo-Saxon, and Scandinavian, 
 through immigration and conquest. The Frenchman is Celt, 
 Roman and Goth. The American is an intermixture and a 
 compound of nearly all nationalities of the earth. The United 
 States of America is the greatest Republic in the world, and 
 to be one of its worthy citizens, native or naturalized, is one 
 of the greatest privileges of earth. 
 
 A large share of this greatness is due and traceable to the 
 sterling character of its Colonists. 
 
 There can be no doubt that one cause of this, our adopted 
 country's greatness, is to be found in the amalgamation of 
 diverse races and nationalities that first colonized and peopled 
 it. These considerations give great importance to occasions 
 like this. 
 
 It is of no little moment that the descendants of a great 
 people, who are destined to assist in forming a still greater race, 
 are able to point to the very spot in this great Mississippi Val- 
 ley, where is found the foundation head, the source of that af- 
 fluent of Scandinavian blood which is making its way into 
 that great stream of humanity which, like the great river, 
 broadening and widening as it goes, receives its tributaries of 
 many lands as it flows majestically through the heart of this 
 great continent. 
 
 While our interest, our hopes and aspirations as well as 
 the hopes and aspirations of our children are now all iden- 
 tified with this, the land of our adoption, and while we are 
 Americans all, we yet have a lingering love for the land of 
 our birth, that spot where we first saw light, and we point 
 
 181 
 
with pardonable pride to the universally conceded fact that 
 the Swedish character yields to that of no other nation in 
 those traits which enable a people to form a new and great 
 State ; enterprising, hardy, independent and thrifty, with such 
 thrift alone as industry, economy and honest toil can give, 
 lovers of freedom and valiant in its defense, the Swedish peo- 
 ple, whenever they have appeared in history, they have done 
 so with honor and renown. 
 
 The name and fame of the great Gustaf Vasa, who es- 
 caped from imprisonment and was afterward hunted like a 
 wild beast, when he was concealed among the peasants of Dal- 
 arne, is known throughout the world, as is also that of "Gustaf 
 Adolph," and that great statesman of his age, Axel Oxenstjerna. 
 
 Strange that amid all the horrors of thirty-five year war 
 in which Sweden was engaged, Gustaf Adolph should have 
 found time to engage in the formation of a Colony, and yet 
 we learn that in 1626 a charter was granted to a company of 
 Swedes to form a Colony in the New World, in which the King 
 pledged himself the sum of $400,000,to the stock of the enter- 
 prise, and that in the following year a few emigrants came over. 
 
 The distractions of the terrible war delayed the establish- 
 ment of this Colony, but it is said that the project was ever 
 present in the minds of this illustrious King, and that only a 
 few days before his heroic death at the battle of Lutzen, he 
 declared it to be the "Jewel of his Kingdom." 
 
 After his death the Great Chancellor Oxenstjerna, under 
 Queen Christina, carried out his design. The Charter was re- 
 newed and finally in 1638 a Colony of Swedes and Fins landed 
 upon the banks of the Delaware. The adjacent country became 
 known as New Sweden. The Colony was united, prospered and 
 maintained its independence during a period of about seventeen 
 years, which, on account of the impoverished condition of 
 Sweden, growing out of the 30 years of Avar, the infant Queen 
 Christina was unable to protect her possessions in this country, 
 and New Sweden was annexed to the possession of the Hol- 
 landers, and eventually passed under the supremacy of 
 William Penn. 
 
 It is said that the records of this first Swedish Colony are 
 few, but entirely to the credit of the Colonists, and that one 
 fact deserves special mention. The Colonists of other nations 
 
 182 
 
were slave-holders. Slavery had been almost universal on this 
 hemisphere. In the Charter of this Swedish Colony, however, 
 the great Swedish King wrote, "The Swedish Nation is laborious 
 and intelligent, and surely we shall gain more by a free people 
 with wives and children." It thus appears that the first edict 
 against slavery on this continent was by a Swedish King and the 
 last by an American President. The first by the great Gustavus 
 Adolphus; the last by the martyred Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Swedish representatives sat in the first legislature con- 
 vened by William Penn at Philadelphia in 1683, and assisted 
 in framing the thoroughly democratic constitution of the Colony. 
 
 In less than a hundred years later the Swede appears con- 
 spicuously in the struggle for independence as the champion 
 of American liberty. 
 
 The name of Axel Fersen and his comrades in arms should 
 never be forgotten by the American people. When France 
 sent her chivalrous soldiery under the leadership of LaFayette 
 and Roehambeau, to aid the young Republic in its struggle 
 against the oppression and tyranny of Great Britain, among 
 the most gallant and courageous soldiers were those of the 
 Royal Swedish Regiment in the service of Louis the XVI. Its 
 Colonel was Axel Fersen, who afterwards distinguished himself 
 for his daring attempt to rescue Marie Antoinette from her 
 fatal captivity. This regiment of Swedes under the eye and in 
 the presence of Washington, shed its blood upon the last battle- 
 field of our Revolutionary war, at Yorktown, and there saw 
 the flag of England lowered and the independence of the United 
 States assured. 
 
 The number of Swedish Colonists on the Delaware river 
 appears to have been something over 900, and it is interesting 
 to note that their numbers appear to have been about or nearly 
 the same as the members of the Bishop Hill Colony. 
 
 The names as given in the list of original members of the 
 Colony of New Sweden clearly indicate their nationality but 
 many of them have since become so corrupted or changed as 
 to lose all trace of their Swedish origin, as for instance Hen- 
 drickson was changed to Henderson, Kyn to Keen, Jokom to 
 Yocum, Bonde to Boon, Jonasson to Jones, etc. 
 
 To many of the descendants of the Colony of New Sweden 
 
 183 
 
the language as well as the names of their ancestors have been 
 lost. They have become so intermingled with other nationalities 
 and the whole so thoroughly Americanized that it would at 
 this time be impossible to tell how many of the citizens of Penn- 
 sylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and other eastern states owe 
 their origin to these early settlers on the Delaware river, but 
 certain it is that these people have played an important part in 
 forming the character and shaping the destinies of this country. 
 
 Communication between the descendants of the Swedish emi- 
 grants to New Sweden and the Fatherland, and emigration from 
 Sweden to this country had practically ceased long before the 
 members of the Bishop Hill Colony, the persecuted "Lasare," 
 of Helsingland and Westmanland began to cast about for a new 
 home to which they could flee from their persecutors. 
 
 The advent of this new Swedish Colony was the beginning 
 of a new epoch, the opening of a new tide of Swedish emigra- 
 tion numbering according to the last census almost a million 
 Scandinavians, who, together with their immediate descendants, 
 arc now almost as numerous as the present population of Sweden. 
 
 The advent of the Bishop Hill Colony in 1846 opened up 
 a new tide of Swedish emigration unheard of before, which has 
 peopled the state of Illinois and the entire Northwest with pros- 
 perous Swedish homes and flourishing communities. 
 
 As any history of the United States which fails to men- 
 tion the Swedish Colony of New Sweden must be incomplete, 
 so a complete history of Illinois and the great Northwest can- 
 not be written with the name of Bishop Hill Colony left out. 
 
 It should not be forgotten that the Bishop Hill Colony in 
 Henry County, Illinois, were no less lovers of liberty than its 
 prototype on the Delaware. 
 
 I understand that the first vote in this country of the 
 Swedes of Bishop Hill was unanimous for the Democratic party 
 when the question of human slavery became an issue in politics, 
 they voted almost unanimously with the Republican party, be- 
 cause that party was then the most radical in opposition to 
 slavery and it has been said of them "that they were as true 
 to the principles of liberty as the magnetic needle to the north 
 pole." 
 
 When the war of the Rebellion broke out no citizen of this 
 
 184 
 
country was more loyal to the flag and the cause of the union 
 than the members of the Bishop Hill Colony, none more ready 
 to its defense and offer themselves if need be as a willing sac- 
 rifice upon the altar of the bleeding country of their adoption. 
 No soldiers from this great state displayed more courage, forti- 
 tude and valor than did that Swedish company from Bishop 
 Hill — Company D, 57th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. 
 
 Another fact I wish to mention. There stands in Lincoln 
 Park at Chicago a monument to Linnaeus, "the King of Flow- 
 ers, ' ' an honor to the Swedish people of this country. A former 
 citizen of Bishop Hill, perhaps more than any other man, is 
 entitled to the credit of procuring the erection and completion 
 of this monument. 
 
 AVhile speaking of the achievements of the Scandinavians 
 of this country, I must not forget to make honorable mention 
 of that illustrious Swede who, through his inventive genius, 
 came to the rescue of the cause of the Union, and in the darkest 
 hour saved the United States navy from destruction and per- 
 haps some of its principal cities from capture, a man who was 
 ati important factor in saving the union; a man who died in 
 his adopted country, but whose remains were claimed by his 
 native land and whose dust now sleeps in the bosom of his own 
 mother earth, his memory honored alike in the land of his birth 
 and the home of his adoption — need I mention his name — John 
 Ericson, the inventor of the Monitor. 
 
 The Scandinavian race has also excelled in story, in song 
 and saga as well as in war, statesmanship, poetry and science. 
 
 The name and fame of Jenny Lind, Christina Nilsson and 
 Hans Christian Anderson is known throughout the world. 
 
 As faint glimmers of the "Northern Lights" of Scandi- 
 navia may be seen in other countries so the genius of this people 
 from the land of the midnight sun has illuminated other lands. 
 
 Historical Sketch — Philip J. Stoneberg, Bishop Hill. 
 (From the Swedish original, translated and revised.) 
 Let us turn back in history to the earlier half of this 
 century and give a look at the condition of religion in central 
 Sweden. 
 
 A darkness, so to speak, envelopes the Established Church. 
 Here and there — almost everywhere — the social life is stamped 
 
 185 
 
with intemperance. Priest and layman are neither better. Danc- 
 ing, swearing, and card playing belong to the order of the day. 
 
 But here and there, nevertheless, a light is shining in this 
 dark night. A few have obeyed the Lord's voice and have for- 
 saken the ways of sin. The bible or religious writings are studied 
 in private or in meetings. These burning lights are the "Read- 
 ers'" or "Devotionalists." 
 
 Thus Devotionalists were found in Soderala parish, South 
 Helsingland, as early as 1825. Among them were Jonas and 
 Olof Olson, who were especially active in this work. Then there 
 lived a few in Ofvanaker parish while in 1837 a revival took 
 place among the youth of Alfta, but the result was only temp- 
 orary; among the awakened was Andrew Berglund. In Nor- 
 rala, Bjuraker and elsewhere, Devotionalists were found as 
 time went on. 
 
 But another Devotionalist may be particularly mentioned. 
 Born, December 19, 1808, in Biskops Kulla parish, Uppland, 
 he was converted in the morning of life; for he was 26 years 
 old when, as if through Providential intervention, he was healed 
 from certain physical ailments and came to feel a deep religious 
 spirit. Through love for the brethren this "reader" Eric Jan- 
 son — went to visit "readers" in South Helsingland. He was 
 then living in Osterunda parish, Westmanland. The year fol- 
 lowing, 1843, he as a tradesman, took a load of flour and went 
 northward. In Soderala he stopped over Sabbath with Jonas 
 Olson. With him he attended a devotional meeting. At the 
 next meeting Eric Janson made a stirring talk to the people 
 assembled. He proclaimed that the bible is the only true guide 
 to salvation, and for a religious life. Further journeys were 
 made to Helsingland. One of these was to Hudiksvall when 
 Janson visited Forssa parish. His success as a revival preacher 
 was great. 
 
 In 1843 Janson moved to Forssa parish, from whence Olof 
 Stoneberg moved to Osterunda, Westmanland. Meantime the 
 revivals continued. Several men who were fluent speakers ad- 
 dressed the gatherings. Not a few laid aside their everyday work 
 temporarily and made trips to other parishes. All these people 
 were now called Jansonists, since Janson had been instrumental 
 in starting this religious awakening. 
 
 Opposition arose on the part of the Established Church 
 
 186 
 
because the teachings of Janson were looked on as disturbing. 
 Janson maintained that salvation implies full cleansing from 
 sin and the acquiring of peaee. He regarded the bible as the 
 one book which should be read to give light on eternal things. 
 
 Janson \s declaration regarding devotional books was not 
 without its results. On June 11, 1814, many books were burned 
 in Alfta. In October a pile of books was burnt in Soderala; 
 while books also were consigned to the flames the same fall 
 in Forssa. 
 
 The days of arrest and prison-confinement were at hand. 
 Janson was taken on June 13, 1844 — two days after the burn- 
 ing of books in Alfta — and hurried to Gefle prison, thence to 
 Westeras. Through a petition to the King he was freed. Four 
 men went to Stockholm and after considerable difficulty re- 
 ceived an audience before the King, who said that on their ar- 
 rival home Janson would be free again. When freed, Janson 
 himself, with a companion, went to the King, who asked him: 
 "Do you desire mercy V "No, I desire justice," was the reply. 
 AY hen about to go out it was found that the door could not be 
 opened, but the King led them out a back way — a sign, as it 
 were, of how Janson was to one day leave his native country. 
 
 He was arrested in November and transported to Gefle to 
 be tried for insanity ; but he was released and ordered to Up- 
 sala to be "warned for delusions." On Derember 22 he was 
 taken in Soderala to Gefle prison, where he was till April 18, 
 1845, when he was released through petition to the King. 
 
 If Eric Janson had to suffer, his followers were likewise 
 subjected to fines, blows and imprisonment. Much could be 
 said about this, but we must confine ourselves to relate only 
 a few of vsuch occurrences. 
 
 In the summer of 1844 a certain number of persons had 
 to appear before the court at Thorstuna on account of complaint 
 of the Parish Priest at Osterunda, and pay fines. 
 
 On December 18th, the same year, Jonas and Olof Olson 
 were sued to appear at Upsala to answer for their religious 
 belief. In Gefle they were arrested for preaching, but released 
 when their destination was made known. Through the assistance 
 of Justice Henschen they were enabled to call on the King at 
 Stockholm, who promised to help. On their arrival at Upsala 
 the two brothers were not fairly treated. After returning home, 
 
 187 
 
Jonas Olson was arrested on New Year's eve, taken to Gefle 
 and placed among prisoners whom he, as a crown official, had 
 formerly assisted in convicting. He was released in a few days. 
 In Soderala it happened that Olof Olson read at a small 
 gathering the Lord 's prayer, and something from the Scriptures. 
 For this he was fined 100 crowns and 10 crowns for "Sabbath 
 breaking." In Osterunda parish, Olof Stoneberg was reading 
 from the bible Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1845, at a gathering 
 at a neighbor's house. A mob came, entered the room and 
 severly bruised the reader, while others also received blows. 
 
 About 11 o'clock on the night of August 17, 1845, the Par- 
 ish Priest in Osterunda, with a few other men, broke into a 
 dwelling place and behaved unseemly. Their object was to 
 search for Janson. 
 
 A prayer meeting was being held in Forssa parish, on June 
 24, 1845, under the leadership of Eric Janson. The sheriff, 
 the priest and a large mob came, too. Their purpose was to 
 arrest Janson. As the sheriff stood on the steps from which 
 Janson was speaking, he was pushed down by a plucky woman. 
 Janson stepped down, went through the crowd and with a few 
 companions made his escape to Soderala parish. 
 
 For fifteen weeks Janson was concealed from the public. 
 Thirty crowns were offered for information as to his where- 
 abouts. Then the priest in Delsbo parish sued Janson to appear 
 at the court there for "blasphemous utterances." Janson fin- 
 nally agreed to go to Delsbo which he did with a friend. The 
 judge saw no cause for imprisonment; but because of the great 
 hostilities toward Janson it was decided to confine him for life 
 in Gefle prison. 
 
 While Janson was being taken to prison, there appeared 
 four men on the highway ; one stopped the horse ; another cut 
 the reins ; a third threw the driver 's cloak over the latter 's head 
 and held him; the fourth took Janson from the prison-cart. 
 Janson was then concealed in the parishes of Bollnas, Voxna, 
 Ofvanaker, Alfta, Mora and Malung. A journey was thereupon 
 made over forests and mountains to Christiana. Norway. Here, 
 in January, 1846, under an assumed name, he left with a few 
 for America. 
 
 That Sweden was not ripe for the Jansonists is apparent 
 
 188 
 
from the persecutions referred to. There was no longer any 
 hope for them to enjoy the privileges of the Established Church. 
 Besides, they were denied the right to witness in courts. Thus 
 but little was left for them in Sweden. 
 
 Some adventurous Swede had once in a while traveled 
 to America. Already in 1845 Olof Olson had gone to America. 
 In New York he enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Rev. 
 0. G. Hedstrom in the "Bethel" Ship. Olson was later recom- 
 mended to Rev. Hedstrom 's brother, Rev. Jonas Hedstrom, of 
 Victoria, Illinois. 
 
 The time Janson had passed in imprisonment and isolation 
 had not been lost. A hymn-book was written; also a catechism. 
 These were printed with great risk to the printers. 
 
 Janson made a plan for the emigration. As it occurred 
 in the apostles' days so should it now occur. Janson appointed 
 certain men, who should receive all money into a common fund, 
 for the communistic society it had been decided to form. 
 Property was sold and money obtaned. As much as 24,000 
 crowns came under Gabriel Larson's name from Malung. Others 
 again were poor, whose debts were paid, besides their passage. 
 
 It was found that about 1,100 people were ready to emi- 
 grate. But the emigration was not to take place without dif- 
 ficulties. Passports were denied the people, and it was only 
 through a petition to the royal authorities that everything was 
 made clear. Nor did the emigration take place without the 
 exemplification of Scripture. Husband and wife were parted; 
 cildren from their parents ; parents from their children. Some- 
 times no well uttered farewell was spoken — in the dead of night 
 family ties were unceremoniously severed. Friends, relatives 
 parted to meet no more on earth. 
 
 A voyage on the sea was not so inviting in those days as 
 now. The ships were small and incommodious. But of course 
 the many Swedish emigrants had to put up with the conditions 
 existing. 
 
 The first shipload of emigrants that left Soderhamn suf- 
 fered shipwreck and the voyage was repeated later. 
 
 One ship at one time, another at another, left port, either 
 at Soderhamn or Gefle or Stockholm or Goteburg. A stop was 
 usually made at Copenhagen, whereupon the course was directly 
 to New York. The number of emigrant passengers varied. One 
 
 189 
 
ship might have 150, another 75, while a third about 50. The 
 time the journey took was long, usually about three months. 
 One sip was five months on the way, including a stop in Eng- 
 land for repairs. One ship, with about 50 emigrants, was lost 
 on the sea ; another suffered shipwreck on the American coast. 
 
 From New York the journey was made up the Hudson 
 river to Albany and thence on the Erie canal to Buffalo; next 
 on the Great Lakes to Chicago. From Chicago the greater num- 
 ber went on foot, while wagon transportation was secured for 
 the luggage, with which a few aged ones and children might ride. 
 
 Eric Janson and some others had been a few weeks at 
 Jonas Hedstrom's at Victoria, when a company of emigrants 
 from Malung parish arrived. A few weeks more were spent 
 there. On August 1st Olof Olson had purchased for $250, of 
 a settler in Stark county, 40 acres on section 9, and 20 acres 
 on section 17 in Weller township, Henry county. On August 
 21st there were bought for $1,100, 156 acres on section 8. Hither 
 then — to Red Oak Grove — went Janson, Olson and the other 
 immigrants. Here were log houses, wheat to harvest, and a 
 few cattle. 
 
 A good place to establish the colony was found on section 
 14, on a certain hillock, where was a spring, a small wood at 
 hand and a little creek. 
 
 Eric Janson bought 160 acres on this section, September 26. 
 On the same day were purchased from the government for $400, 
 160 acres on section 24, and 160 acres on section 23. 
 
 Thus was Bishop Hill begun, named after the parish that 
 gave Janson birth. 
 
 A few log houses and dug-outs were here when more emi- 
 grants came. Some of these emigrants came first to Red Oak 
 Grove, then hither. More dug-outs were made until in time 
 they were over a dozen in number; into them the fall rains 
 crept as well as other unpleasant things. 
 
 Diseases came. In Red Oak a number died because of the 
 changed climate and food. A monument is today standing in 
 Red Oak to the memory of 50 who died in '46- '47. During the 
 winter of '47 there died 96 in Bishop Hill, of whom 11 perished 
 of the measles. 
 
 Yet, amid such circumstances, the praises of Zion were 
 sung. A tent-church was raised in the fall of '46, in the form 
 
 190 
 
of a cross. It seated 800 persons. Every morning Janson called 
 the people to morning prayers. 
 
 In the spring of '47 arrived those immigrants who came 
 to New York the previous fall, when the canals were frozen. 
 However, a score of men came overland in the winter to con- 
 struct an earthen wall. 
 
 Besides the log houses and dug outs, a few houses were 
 built of sod, some of which served as kitchens. In '47 the first 
 frame house was built. Since the tent-church burned town, ac- 
 cidentally, services were held in the woods until the new church 
 was erected in 1848. Several who had lived in dug-outs now 
 moved into the dwelling rooms in the lower stories of the church. 
 
 In time the industries increased. The cultivation of flax 
 was taken up in earnest. Of the flax crop of '47 there were 
 made 12,473 Vi yards linen. The next year there were woven 
 4.129 yards of carpeting and 12,454 yards linen. In '51 the 
 zenith was reached, 31,579 yards of woven goods were produced. 
 From beginning to end, that is, from '48 to and including 
 1860, 169,386 yards of woolen goods 'were manufactured. 
 
 More land was bought in '47 and '48. On October 19, 1849, 
 Eric Janson bought of Robert D. Foster, for $3,000, 1,116 acres 
 of land in and around LaGrange, now Orion. 
 
 In August, 1849, the Asiatic cholera was introduced by a 
 few Norwegians. A child of six months died, thereafter grown 
 persons. Protection was sought at other places, among which 
 was La Grange. But on came the uninvited guest. At LaGrange 
 70 died. There, today, a gravestone marks their resting place. 
 After three weeks the pestilence ceased, but many a one over 
 the hundred mark was gone. 
 
 In 1850 more emigrants came from Sweden. On Lake 
 Michigan a number died of cholera ; of 37 who came from the 
 district of Angermanland only 7 reached their destination. 
 From Chicago emigrants now often went on to Henry by water. 
 In 1847 adobe was manofactured. But in '49 brick-mak- 
 ing was carried on. 100,000 bricks were made the first month. 
 After the cholera the work was resumed, 10,000 to 12,000 being 
 made daily. 
 
 The first grinding of flour was on hand-mills. Then two 
 grist mills were built, one run by water and one by wind. In 
 
 191 
 
'49 work was begun on the big steam mill, which had a capacity 
 of 100 barrels a day. 
 
 In March, 1849, a company went to California to seek for 
 gold. The company numbered Jonas Olson and eight others. 
 They reached their destination in August, after a journey of 
 over 2,500 miles. 
 
 But while afew were in California to seek gold, and others 
 in Sweden to bring emigrants, cloud came over the colony. 
 The voice of the leader was hushed one day, and that forever 
 here. Yet, not before its owner, Eric Janson, had preached his 
 last sermon on the text : "I have fought a good fight, I have 
 kept the faith." The 13th of May came and went. The leader's 
 remains were laid away; but the great God was alive and 
 went about. 
 
 After Janson 's death, his wife, Sophia Janson, authorized 
 Andrew Berglund as responsible for the leadership of affairs. 
 
 The successor of Berglund was Jonas Olson, who had re- 
 turned home in February, 1851. 
 
 Since the land was owned in the names of different in- 
 dividuals, and since certain privileges could be obtained through 
 a charter, such a document was obtained January 17, 1853. The 
 Colony was organized with seven Trustees in whose names all 
 Colony property was vested. The Trustees were Olof Johnson, 
 Jonas Olson, Jonas Ericson, Jacob Jacobson, Jonas Kronberg, 
 Swan Swanson and Peter Johnson. 
 
 May 6, 1854, a set of By-Laws were adopted; all those 
 persons who, in course of time, signed them, numbered 526. 
 
 In 1854 the Colony performed much labor at Galva in 
 building operations; much work was also done for the C. B. and 
 Q. R, R., then under construction. 
 
 At the annual meeting, January 22, 1855 : it was reported 
 that the Colony owned the following: 8,028 acres of land; 50 
 town lots in Galva, valued at $10,000 ; ten shares of stock in 
 the Central Military Tract R. R., valued at $1,000.00 ; 586 head 
 of cattle, 109 horses and mules, 1,000 hogs, and other assets 
 such as wheat, flax, broom corn, provisions and general 
 merchandise. 
 
 In 1858 the Colony numbered 655 males and females, of 
 whom 147 were males over 20 years; 258 females over 20 years; 
 
 192 
 
78 males and females between 15 and 20 years; and 172 males 
 and females under 15 years of age. 
 
 On January 10, 1859, Peter Johnson (who was a brother 
 of Erie Janson) resigned from the office of trustee. In his 
 stead Olof Stoneberg was elected. 
 
 In December, 1859, a Colonist wrote to a friend in Sweden : 
 "We have, in general, had a healthy season; no deaths since 
 August last year." 
 
 In 1860 the Colony built the last brick building — the school 
 house. Interested in education, Eric Janson had early secured 
 instructors in English for the benefit of the Colonists. The 
 school was maintained each year. It was suitable, therefore, to 
 end with the building of a school house — a contribution to en- 
 lightenment, as Jansonism had been to religious freedom. 
 
 On February 14, 1860, the Colony was divided into two 
 parties — the Jonas Olson party with 265 shares, and the Olof 
 Johnson party with 160 shares; the Johnson party divided up 
 its holdings the following year among its members, while the 
 Olson party underwent further subdivisions before its property 
 was individualized. 
 
 A few words in retrospect: 
 
 What did Jansonism and the Bishop Hill Colony accom- 
 plish? The former was undoubtedly one of the means which 
 helped to give Sweden religious freedom; it also helped to 
 break the ice for a great emigration of the people of the North 
 to the United States, 
 
 The Bishop Hill Colony was built when Chicago was a 
 town ,and Peoria on the east and Rock Island on the west, were 
 small places. The influx of Swedish property, together with 
 Swedish energy and will, made the Colony a significant factor 
 in the progress of Northern Illinois. 
 
 But we cannot point out all that Jansonism and the Bishop 
 Hill Colony have done — eternity alone will make it clear. 
 
 Historical Facts of the Bishop Hill Colony 
 Martin Johnson, J. Helsen and myself were assigned to 
 this work. This we find a difficult work as there does not 
 appear that any record was kept in the early days of the Colony. 
 
 193 
 
No record seems to have been written till the years 1853-54. 
 when the Charter and By-Laws were granted by the Legislature. 
 
 We have not been able to ascertain who was the author, 
 but Mr. N. Heden presided as Chairman and E. U. Norberg 
 as Secretary. 
 
 Those that have attempted to write a history of the Colony 
 have had to rely on this and the memories of the oldest living 
 settlers. 
 
 Schooling in those days was very rare, only a few had this 
 opportunity. 
 
 We find Kelt and Company wrote a history of Henry 
 County about 23 years after the first settlers of Bishop Hill. 
 They give a short history of the Colony. 
 
 We find that in the year 1880 Captain Eric Johnson pub- 
 lished a book called ' ' Svenskarna of Illinois. ' ' It gives a chapter 
 as a history of the Bishop Hill Colony, a reliable account of 
 the origin in Sweden, the persecution, emigration to this country, 
 the toils and sufferings of the early days. In 1881 he pub- 
 lished the ''Swedish Citizen" in Moline, Illinois, April 16, same 
 year, he has a list of the births, as well as the present residences 
 of the Charter members. 
 
 Capt. Erik is a son of Erik Johnson, founder of the colony. 
 This history is accurate and reliable. 
 
 We find Mikel Mikelson, of Johns Hopkins University, 
 Baltimore, in 1892, wrote a history of the Colony, largely copied 
 from Erik Johnson's. He gives vent to a bitter denunciation 
 of the management of the Colony. 
 
 We find that Philip Stoneberg, a student of Knox College, 
 born and raised at the Colony, is writing a history of the Col- 
 ony, which we believe is well written in Swedish language. 
 
 Erik Johnson and his followers in the year 1845-56, opened 
 an emigration to this country, the United States of America, 
 to thousands of Swedes to this land of religious liberty, where 
 men can worship the God of Heaven, as their consciences dic- 
 tate without any permission. This Fiftieth Anniversary is to 
 us more than an ordinary event; our mind goes back to the 
 early days of toil and suffering, strangers then in a strange 
 land, living in tents and dug-outs. Improper food and ex- 
 posure were attended with fearful mortality. The scourge of 
 Asiatic cholera was brought in by emigrants in the month of 
 
 194 
 
July, 1849. About 150 of our strongest men and women died 
 in a few weeks. A person at noon, healthy and strong, would 
 lie a corpse at sunset. Peace to their dust. 
 
 The original number that emigrated were about 1100 ; the 
 adult Charter members were 454, of this number only 99 are 
 alive to-day; of the seven Trustees, two are alive. They are 
 Swan Swanson and Jonas Olson. Mr. Olson is now in his 94th 
 year and will take part in this reunion. 
 
 August 2, 1846 the first piece of land was bought on section 
 8, Weller township. Shortly after 160 acres were bought 
 for $1100. 
 
 Together with a log house and some growing corn, this 
 corn was about all we had to live on through the winter of 
 1846- '47. 
 
 The log house, first building owned by the Colony, was 
 moved to section 13, Weller township, and occupied by John 
 Bjork, now deceased. 
 
 We leave the subject here now to our descendants. Whence 
 came you and whither are you going! 
 
 N. RUNQUIST. 
 
 '>:«.. i - _ 
 
 *|p 1 
 
 
 ^k;vi 
 
 This is a later photo taken of Eric Janson's birthplace. House 
 stood in foreground. Upper left, Biskops Kulla Church, Sweden. 
 
 195 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 President John Root made a model presiding officer. 
 
 Below we give brief sketches of the lives of the Colonists 
 whose portraits appear elsewhere in this book. 
 
 Rev,. Jonas Olson was born in Sweden, December 18, 1802. 
 He came to the Colony in 1846. He was one of the most prom- 
 inent men in the Colony affairs and succeeded the Prophet, 
 Eric Janson, on the latter 's death. He is now very feeble but 
 was present during the reunion. 
 
 Andrew 0. Bergland was born in Sweden January 10, 
 1814, and died in Bishop Hill, August 17, 1896. He left Sweden 
 in October, 1846, and was shipwrecked on the North Sea. He 
 was rescued and remained in England till January, 1847, 
 when he, sailed for New York. He arrived in New York in 
 March, and in Bishop Hill three months later. He was one of 
 the Colony preachers. One of his sons, Major Eric Bergland, 
 is now an officer in the U. S. Army. 
 
 Jacob Jacobson, formerly of the firm of Swanson and 
 Jacobson, was born in Sweden, March 18, 1817, and died at 
 Bishop Hill, December 15, 1883. He held a prominent place 
 in the business affairs of the Colony and was superintendent 
 of the "Ox Boys," with whom he was very popular, for a 
 number of years. He arrived in Bishop Hill in February, 1847, 
 having traveled the distance from Toledo, Ohio, on foot. 
 
 Swan Swanson was bom in Sweden, May 28, 1825. He 
 came to Bishop Hill in November, 1846. He was prominent in 
 the later Colony affairs and served a number of years as post 
 master of the village, and as township treasurer. He was en- 
 gaged in a general merchandising business, in partnership with 
 Jacob Jacobson, from 1861 to 1873. 
 
 Martin Johnson, who succeeded Rev. Jonas Olson as 
 preacher in the Colony church, which position he now holds, was 
 born in Sweden, April 9, 1831. He arrived in Bishop Hill in 
 September, 1846. He served as Justice of the Peace a number 
 of terms, and also as Supervisor and treasurer of this township. 
 
 Olof Johnson was born in Sweden, January 30, 1820, and 
 died at Galva July 18, 1870. He came to the Colony in 1846, 
 and was made business manager and financier of the Colony. 
 He returned to Sweden in 1849 and raised $6,000 for the col- 
 onists. He was a man of great executive ability. 
 
 196 
 
Charley A. Gabrielson, born in Doderhult, Smaland, Sweden, 
 June, 1842. Came to Bishop Hill 1862. Married 1866 to Mary 
 Johnson from Malung, Sweden. 
 
 Peter Johnson, born 1840 in Malung, Sweden, came with the 
 first shipload of colonists. Served with Company D, 57th Regi- 
 ment, promoted to Sergeant. Served as Sheriff and Town 
 Trustee. Married to Anna K. Norstedt, Mora, Sweden. 
 
 Olof Brolin, born in Mora, Sweden, 1829. One of the colony's 
 first members. Broommaker. Married 1860 to Anna Larson 
 from Soderala, Sweden. 
 
 A. Arnquist, born in Soderala, Helsingland, April 29, 1847. 
 He came to Bishop Hill in 1870, worked as a clerk in the J. E. 
 Lindbeck Store 1877. Started on his own 1878. Married Anna E. 
 Berg from Woxna, Sweden. 
 
 A. Barlow, born February 19, 1830, in Ostervala, Westman- 
 land. Tailor and harnessmaker. Married Elisabeth Johnson, Feb- 
 ruary 1851. Also a member of the colony. 
 
 Helen Berglund, born April 14, 1840, in Mora, Dalarna. 
 Married to Jonas Berglund 1866. Came to Bishop Hill 1846. 
 All sisters and brothers died the first year. 
 
 Peter Engstrom, born 1841, in Wermland, Sweden. Arrived 
 in Bishop Hill 1868. Worked as a blacksmith with P. O. Blom- 
 berg. Started his own business at Nekoma 1871. Married to 
 Karin Johnson from Ovanaker, Sweden. 
 
 Lars Ericson, born 1854, arrived with parents to Bishop 
 Hill 1847. Served with the Union Army 4 years. 
 
 Peter Peterson, born in Mora, Sweden. Arrived in Bishop 
 Hill with parents 1854. 
 
 A. Florin, born in Soderala, Sweden, September 23, 1847. 
 Arrived in Bishop Hill 1868. Worked as a carpenter. 
 
 Olof Olson, born July 13, 1843, in Alfta, Sweden. Came 
 with parents to Bishop Hill 1850. Served in Illinois 148th 
 Regiment. Married 1866 to Mary Malmgren. 
 
 Anna Maria Strale, born 1800 in Thorstuna, Westmanland, 
 Sweden. One of Eric Jansons first admirers in Sweden. Ar- 
 rived in Bishop Hill 1846. 
 
 Eric Krans, the village blacksmith, born in Mora, Sweden, 
 came to Bishop Hill 1850. Served with the 151st Illnois Regi- 
 ment in the civil war. 
 
 197 
 
Peter Wickbloom, the village shoemaker, born in Alfta Swe- 
 den 1810, came to Bishop Hill 1847. 
 
 Peter Wexell, the village tailor, born in Soderala, Sweden. 
 Came to Bishop Hill 1847. 
 
 P. O. Blomberg, born in Woxna 1821, came to Bishop Hill 
 1847. Police magistrate, road commissioner and school trustee. 
 Married Kristina Mattson 1842. 
 
 Olof Stoneberg, born in Forsa, Sweden 1818. School director 
 and corporation trustee. 
 
 Jon Johnson, brother to the founder of Bishop Hill, born in 
 Thorstuna, Sweden 1803. Came to Chicago 1846. Farmer in 
 Jefferson, outside Chicago. 
 
 John Bergstrom, born December 25, 1837, in Ovansjo, Swe- 
 den. Served with the 28th Iowa Regiment 1861. Married to 
 Kristina Florin, one of the first colonists. 
 
 Peter Bloom, born 1807 in Alfta, Helsingland. Member of 
 the expedition sent by the colony to California 1849. Married 
 to Martha Ericson from Alfta, Helsingland in 1845. 
 
 Sven Bloom, born 1846 in Sweden. Came to Bishop Hill 
 1870. Worked as a well digger. Married to Anna Olson 1876. 
 
 J. P. Chaiser, station agent in Bishop Hill, born in Uppland, 
 Sweden 1844. Married to Betsy Lindbeck. Prominent Lumber 
 and grain dealer. 
 
 Jonas Danielson, born 1834 in Omot Bruk, Sweden. Arrived 
 in Bishop Hill 1847. 
 
 Jonas Elbloom, born in Alfta, Sweden 1834. Walked by foot 
 from Ohio to Bishop Hill. First wife Katrina Soderquist, 
 second wife Johanna C. Bjork. Overseer of the colony ware- 
 house in Galva. 
 
 Olof Krans, born in Salja, Westmanland, Sweden 1838. Ar- 
 rived in Bishop Hill 1850. Member of the colony to 1861. 
 Learned the blacksmith trade during these years. Served with 
 Company D, 57th Regiment. Learned the painter's trade in 
 Galesburg. Later moved to Galva in 1867. Well known as a sign 
 and landscape painter. Married Kristina Appelquist from 
 Blomfors Bruk, Ostergotland, Sweden. 
 
 Aug. Bandholtz, born in Kiel, Germany 1822. Arrived in 
 Bishop Hill 1848. Had charge of the colony mason and brick- 
 laying. Married to Kristina Bostrom from Delsbo, Sweden in 
 1847. Later moved to Andover. 
 
 198 
 
Jonas W. Olson was born in Soderala, Sweden, June 30. 
 1843. He was the son of Rev. Olof Olson, the founder of the 
 Colony. Mr. Olson is the present post master of Galva. He 
 served a term in the Illinois legislature and was the Demo- 
 cratic nominee for Congress in the 10th Illinois District in 
 1894. He is an eloquent speaker and an able politician. 
 
 Hon. Eric Johnson, son of the Prophet, Eric Janson, was 
 born in Biskop's Kulla, (Bishop Hill) Sweden, fifty-eight years 
 ago. His early life was spent in the Colony here on the farm. 
 He has been quite prominent as a journalist and publisher, 
 served for a time as captain during our Civil War, was elected 
 to the House of Representatives of Nebraska. His present home 
 is League City, Texas. 
 
 Notes of the Reunion 
 
 Rev. Jonas Olson is now the oldest living representative of 
 the Colonists. He will be 94 years old next December, but was 
 able to attend the exercises in the Park last Wednesday, in an 
 invalid's chair. 
 
 Peter Wickblom and N. G. Hollander were the next oldest 
 people in attendance. They are both nearly 87 years of age, 
 but notwithstanding his age Mr. Wickblom gave an interesting 
 talk on Thursday afternoon. 
 
 The whole park was illuminated with Chinese lanterns on 
 Wednesday night. 
 
 Peter Johnson and Lars Ericson are the only ones now 
 living in Bishop Hill who came over with the very first of the 
 Colonists, having arrived here in July, 1846. 
 
 The old Colony bell which was used in the exercises last 
 week, and now in use as a school bell, is very nearly as old 
 as Bishop Hill, having been purchased either in 1847 or '48. 
 
 Over two thousand people were fed by the hospitable Hill- 
 ites on Wednesday and Thursday and there was "any quantity" 
 of provisions left. 
 
 In the "Steeple Building" two rooms were devoted to 
 relics. Quaint old plows, spinning wheels, coffee mills, lanterns, 
 grain cradles, etc., were there, each labeled with the name of the 
 owner or donor. A quaint old gun was on exhibition, the barrel 
 
 199 
 
of which had been used by a soldier in the army of Charles the 
 XII, now in possession of Eric Anderson. A wedding coat of 
 N. G. Hollander, made in Sweden in 1835. A beautiful hand 
 made linen table cloth, with raised figures, by Mrs. Christine 
 Olson. 
 
 Mrs. N. Runquist of Galva, who was present at the re- 
 union, was twenty weeks on the ocean and lay seven weeks on 
 the dock at Liverpool waiting for the ship to be repaired. 
 
 The Swedish flag used in the decorations about the grand 
 stand in the park was made for the occasion by the ladies of 
 Bishop Hill. They were unable to procure one in Chicago. 
 
 Olof Krans is entitled to much credit for the faithful re- 
 production of old Colony scenes in a series of large paintings. 
 The first dugouts were reproduced, principally from memory 
 and measurements, in one painting. Then there were field 
 scenes of planting, harvesting, pile driving, etc. It was a very 
 interesting collection and deserves, and will no doubt have, a 
 place with a permanent collection of relics, records and souvenirs. 
 
 Thursday's meeting was given up to reminiscences and 
 short talks. The meeting was called to order by the ringing of 
 the Colony bell at 10 :30 o 'clock. A number of letters were read 
 which had been received from former residents of Bishop Hill, 
 and who are now located in all parts of the United States, ex- 
 pressing regret at being unable for various reasons to attend 
 this reunion. There were letters from California and Oregon, 
 Massachusetts and New York, as well as points nearer home. 
 Rev. A. T. Westergreen, of Geneva, Illinois, gave a very pleas- 
 ing address, followed by John Helsen, after which free dinner 
 was announced for evrybody at the Auditorium, the older ones 
 being given first place. After dinner short addresses or talks 
 Were given by Eric Bengston, Peter Wickblom, Dr. J. P. Van- 
 nice, Martin Johnson, and J. W. Olson. The program was plenti- 
 fully interspersed with music by the chorus and male quartets. 
 
 After the meeting was over all the old members of the Col- 
 ony present were photographed in a group by E. J. Vannice 
 and a very good picture secured. 
 
 There were present from a distance : Walter Bjorklund, 
 Davenport, Iowa ; Nelson N. Florine, Britt, Iowa ; John W. 
 Strom, Moline, 111. ; Mr. and Mrs. Frenell, Alpha, 111. ; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Andrew Hawkinson, Moline, 111. ; Mr. Christine Bandholtz, 
 
 200 
 
Osco: Mr. and Mrs. Ghistof Chilstrom, Orion; Mrs. Kate Hult- 
 man, Davenport, Iowa ; ; J. A. Nye, Chicago, 111. ; Mrs. D. Chil- 
 strom, Orion, 111.; E. B. Severin, Molne, 111.; Mrs. Catherine 
 Nelson, Peoria, 111.; Nellie C. Nelson, Peoria; Mrs. Kate Har- 
 man, Central City, Neb. ; Mr. and Mrs. I. V. Hoar, Rock Island, 
 111. ; Capt. Eric Johnson, League City, Texas ; Mr. and Mrs. 
 Jacob Wickstrom, Galesburg, 111. ; Mr., and Mrs. S. G. Anderson, 
 Davenport, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Berggren, Galesburg,. 
 111.; Mrs. F. A. Olson, Galesburg, 111.; S. J. Swason, Gales- 
 burg, 111.; J. E. Norling, Chicago, 111.; Nels Soder, Madrid, 
 Iowa ; Mrs. Anna Peterson, Genoa, 111. ; Andrew Chaiser, Chi- 
 cago, 111.; A. P. Hanson, Rockford, 111.; Rev. A. E. Wenstrand, 
 Chicago, III; Chas. F. Holmes, Galesburg, 111.; P. E. Wistrand,, 
 Ottawa, 111.; Nels F. Sanborn, Lakeport, N. H. ; Carl Eklund, 
 Evanston, 111. ; Mrs. E. L. Rhoadarmer, Milan, 111. ; Bertha John- 
 son, Princeton, 111.; Lena Bjorklund, Davenport, Iowa; Rev. 
 A. G. Westergreen, Geneva, 111. ; Otto Brinberg, Moline, 111. ; 
 Mrs. Matilda Warner Rutherford, Hepburn, Iowa; Mrs. Lottie 
 (Westburg) Holden, Bellevue, Mich.; S. N. Holden, Bellevue, 
 Mich. 
 
 Letters of regret received from Eric Croft, Los Angeles, 
 Cal. ; John A. Nelson, Wa Keeney, Kans. ; Eric and David Aline, 
 Eugene, Ore. ; Rev. V. Witting, Worcester, Mass. ; Mrs. S. Alex- 
 ander, Monroe, Neb. ; AndreAv Nordberg, Cedarville, Kans. ; Rev. 
 H. W. Eklund, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Mr. and Mrs. D. Danielson, 
 Wayne, Kans. ; Erik and Martha Soder, Madrid, Iowa ; Oscar 
 Peal, Moline, 111.; E. C. Johnson, Chicago, 111.; Olof Norlin, 
 Minden, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Anderson, Stratford, Iowa; 
 Andrew Nordean, Loyalton, Cal.; Olof Jones, Stratford, Iowa. 
 
 Editorial by Mr. E. E. Fitch in the Galva News, October 1, 1896 
 
 The Swedes took Bishop Hill last week for sure, but the 
 credit of capturing the quaint old town on its fiftieth anni- 
 versary doesn't belong to them alone by any means. Hundreds 
 of the old neighbors of the colonists who knew something of 
 their liberty-loving spirit that impelled them to turn their 
 faces away from the Fatherland, with all its endearing ties of 
 kinship; with its tender memories of mountain and sunny up- 
 
 201 
 
land and dell ; with its hallowed recollections of the happy hours 
 of life's rosy morning; these old neighbors, who knew also 
 something of the sublime faith and heroic endurance which 
 buoyed up these colonists in their new home through trials and 
 sufferings almost too great for mortals to bear, were there and 
 entered into the spirit of the festivities with as much enjoyment 
 as the colonists themselves. 
 
 It is not our purpose in this article to give any account of 
 the wonderful religious movement in Sweden which resulted 
 finally in the establishment of the Colony here. Nor shall we 
 speak of the early days of the colony life. This ground is cov- 
 ered fully by speeches and historical papers published in 
 this issue. 
 
 But we want to say a word in regard to the Bishop Hill 
 of today. The village, by the government census of 1890, 
 numbers 330 souls. It is situated on what was originally a 
 wooded eminence overlooking a small stream, the headwaters 
 of Edwards River. The location is a beautiful one and the 
 village is one of the neatest and best kept in this part of the 
 state. The yards, gardens and well tilled fields present a picture 
 *'fair as a garden of the Lord." The inhabitants are among 
 the most intelligent and thrifty and are abreast of the times in 
 all that pertains to a model village life. The buildings, as will 
 be seen from the views here presented, are mostly the old 
 colony buildings, but aside from this, scarcely a vestige of the 
 old colony life remains. The lands are held in severalty and the 
 government is that of the incorporated village. In its palmiest 
 days Bishop Hill contained about 1100 souls. Everything was 
 made in the community that was necessary for the community 
 life, and the surplus found a ready market at good prices be- 
 cause of its general excellence. 
 
 Mr. Root well says, in his response to the address of wel- 
 come, that "In its most prosperous days had this town been en- 
 closed by the Chinese Wall, the inhabitants would almost have 
 had within the confines of their own possessions, abundant re- 
 sources to supply their every want, without being dependent 
 upon the outside world. They raised and manufactured into 
 cloth their own wool and flax, made their own implements of 
 every description, raised wheat and rye and ground the same 
 
 202 
 
into flour, manufactured leather and converted it into boots 
 and shoes, burnt their own lime, raised horses, cattle, hogs and 
 poultry, and their ten-horse-power sorghum mill was the largest 
 in the northern part of the state, and very few of the necessaries 
 of life were obtained elsewhere. Their industrial growth from 
 the beginning was almost phenomenal." 
 
 The Bishop Hill Colony has passed away. Whether we 
 agree or disagree with the religious tenets of the colonists^ 
 whether we agree or disagree with the idea of Colony lift, the 
 heart of every lover of liberty beats in sympathy with every 
 honest effort, misdirected though it may be, to secure a larger 
 measure of liberty for any portion of the race. 
 
 The Bishop Hill Colony has passed away, but those hardy 
 pioneers have left in their descendants, a heritage to free gov- 
 ernment, of as intelligent, brave and loyal a class of citizens 
 as can be found within our borders. 
 
 RAILROAD STATION 
 
 Biskops Kulla, Sweden 
 
 203 
 
Part of Sweden where most of the Colonists came from. 
 
PART IV 
 
 1945 
 
Bishop Hill A State Park 
 
 BISHOP HILL, JULY 12, 1945 
 
 Old Colony Church, Village Park at Bishop Hill, will be 
 maintained as a State Park. Division of Parks appropriates 
 $20,000 for restoration work. 
 
 ACCEPTANCE 
 
 Village Board, 
 Bishop Hill, Illinois 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I am pleased to advise you that Governor Green has accepted 
 in the name of the State of Illinois, the offer made by your 
 Board to take over the responsibility of the Old Colony Church 
 and the Village Park. 
 
 I assure you that the State will take good care of the prop- 
 erty and is very proud to own it. 
 
 Representative John T. Nowlan was tireless in getting this 
 matter straightened out during the present session. I know his 
 efforts will be appreciated by your Board, as well as all inter- 
 ested in preserving this valuable property. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 W. A. ROSENFIELD. 
 
 Director, Department of Public Works 
 and Buildings, State of Illinois 
 
 206 
 
Old Colony Church (1848) and the village park at Bishop 
 Hill will be restored and maintained as a state park. 
 
 Twenty thousand dollars has been appropriated for initial 
 work which will be started as soon as materials are available, 
 in order that the properties may be dedicated on the Colony 
 Town's centennial celebration September 23, 1946. 
 
 Acceptance by the State Division of Parks of the historic 
 church and the park was presented to the village board this week 
 by State .Representative John T. Nowlan, who first proposed 
 the project to state officers over three years ago. 
 
 TO CONTAIN KRANS PAINTINGS 
 
 The two-story church, with pews of solid native black walnut 
 fashioned by handmade tools, was one of the first buildings com- 
 pleted after founding of the colony. For many years daily wor- 
 ship was held there by Eric Janson and his followers, who had 
 made the hazardous journey from Sweden to find freedom of 
 religious expression and to found a communal life. 
 
 Of chief interest to future visitors of the church will be 
 the more than 60 paintings by Olof Krans — portraits of colonists 
 and vivid scenes of early colony life which have been ac- 
 claimed by large museums and national magazines in recent 
 years as some of the nation's best primitives. 
 
 The church register now contains the names of persons from 
 every state in the union and from many foreign lands several 
 thousand visiting the villege each summer before the war. 
 
 WOULD ADD TO EXHIBIT 
 
 After restoration is completed, Rep. Nowlan said, it is the 
 plan of the Division of Parks to name a custodian for the church 
 and park. He would be on duty to show visitors through the 
 church and to point out privately owned colony buildings. Per- 
 haps the most famous of these, the Steeple building (1854), now 
 partly owned by YVeller township, and it is hoped that it also 
 may be restored at some future date. 
 
 It is expected that many articles used in early colony days, 
 as well as antiques brought from Sweden by the hardy pioneers, 
 will be donated to the Bishop Hill state park for preservation, 
 greatly enlarging the present exhibit. 
 
 207 
 
Through advertising by the state in its Division of Parks 
 pamphlets and news stories, many more visitors will be attracted 
 to the Colony Town in years to come. 
 
 MANY PERSONS AIDED IN OBTAINING STATE PARK 
 
 Governor Dwight H. Green and all other state officials are 
 pretty well versed in the history of Bishop Hill by now, State 
 Representative John T. Nowlan said this week. 
 
 Constant talking about the project, supplemented with many 
 pictures and clippings, finally brought about the new state park, 
 he said. 
 
 Officials of the village and many other citizens gave him 
 all possible support and co-operation as did Attorney R. M. 
 Everett, of this city, who handled the many legal details free 
 of charge. 
 
 Among many others, who lent support to the project, he 
 said, included: 
 
 Governor Dwight H. Green, who formally accepted the 
 property on behalf of the state. 
 
 Attorney General George F. Barrett, who accepted title to 
 the properties. 
 
 Walter A. Rosenfield, director of the Department of Public 
 Works and Buildings; his assistant, I. A. Palmer, and George 
 W. Williams superintendent of parks. 
 
 Dr. Conrad Bergendoff, president of Augustana College 
 and Theological Seminary. 
 
 Attorney Carl Sorting, of Springfield, formerly of Moline, 
 and a personal friend of Governor Green. 
 
 Attorney David I. Swanson, of Chicago, legal counsel for 
 the Speaker of the House and a State Representative for 22 
 years. 
 
 A. A. Andreen, of Woodhull, president of the Henry board 
 of supervisors. 
 
 Senator Fred W. Rennick, of Buda, Rep. Orville Chapman, 
 of Bradford, and Rep. Henry J. Knauf of Ladd, colleagues of 
 Rep. Nowlan ; A. J. Duffield, secretary of the Illinois Employers 
 Association, of Chicago; State Representatives Reed Cutler, of 
 Lewistown, an early booster for the project, Bernice Van der 
 Vries, of Winnetka, Maud N. Peff ers of Aurora and many others. 
 
 208 
 
OLAF KRANS 
 
 The Artist 
 
 On the following pages are some of the sixty paintings of the 
 original settlers, by Olaf Krans. Housed in the Old Colony 
 Church, they are ranked by critics today as outstanding among 
 American primitives: 
 
 When Bishop Hill observed its 66th anniversary in 1912, Mr. 
 Krans, then of Altonta, spoke of his collection of paintings in the 
 Colony Church and he donated them to the Old Settler's As- 
 sociation. A rising vote of thanks was extended to him. 
 
 Photos of Paintings by Theo Anderson. 
 
 209 
 
"THE OLD MILL- 
 
 WOMEN DOING PILE DRIVING 
 
 210 
 
PLOWING AND SOWING 
 
 DUGOUTS— "Backstugor' 
 
 211 
 
f% 
 
 PLANTING CORN 
 
 BREAKING THE PRAIRIE 
 
 212 
 
CAPT. ERIC JANSON 
 Son of the Prophet 
 
 MRS. OCTAVIA JANSON 
 The Colony Beauty 
 
 MARY MALMGREN "OLSON" 
 (First child born in the Colony) 
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE ROOT 
 
 213 
 
MRS. BEATA KRANS 
 
 OLAF KRANS 
 Self Portrait 
 
 ERIC KRANS 
 
 PETER JANSON 
 Brother of Eric Janson 
 
 214 
 
MARTIN JOHNSON 
 
 PETER HELSTROM 
 (The Schoolmaster) 
 
 JONAS MALMGREN 
 
 JACOP JACOPSON 
 
 215 
 
SIGRID STENBERG 
 
 MRS. SOFIA SK6N PETERSON 
 
 SEAMAN JOHN BJ6RK 
 
 OLOF JOHNSON 
 
 216 
 
ERIC OLSON 
 
 ANDREW STENBERG 
 
 LARS SODERQUIST 
 
 SWAN SWANSON 
 
 21' 
 
NILS HELBOM 
 
 HARVEST SCENE 
 
 218 
 
PART V 
 
 1946 
 
 219 
 
1846 - 1946 
 
 Centennial Celebration and Reunion of 
 The Old Settlers 
 
 OF THE BISHOP HILL COLONY 
 At Bishop Hill, Henry County, 111., Sept. 22-23, 1946 
 
 Eight thousand persons heard Gov. Dwight H. Green accept 
 Old Colony Church and village square in Bishop Hill as a state 
 memorial Monday afternoon — Centennial day — where 100 years 
 years ago Swedish emigrants began a new way of life in a 
 country which they were to help make the greatest in the world. 
 
 "May this monument long endure," Goverror Green de- 
 clared, "not alone as a definite remindor of those courageous 
 men and women who settled here a century ago, but in a 
 broader sense, as a vital symbol of countless other Americans of 
 Swedish descent who thru the years have been leaders in those 
 cultural and economic achievements which have made the nation 
 great. 
 
 Largest crowd ever assembled in the village was jam-packed 
 in the park and standing space was at a premium to hear the 
 Centennial's most distinguished speaker. Cars were parked in 
 all directions from the village. 
 
 Gov. Green, who had another engagement that evening, visited, 
 Old Colony Church for a short time before leaving for Galesburg 
 where he left for Chicago by plane. He signed many autographs 
 during his short stay and also was interviewed on a wire recorder 
 brought there by radio station WHBF in Rock Island. 
 
 A hand-carved walnut gavel, made by Charles L. Nelson, 
 village blacksmith, was presented to Gov. Green by Dr. C. F. 
 Schwab of Galva, chairman of the Henry county Republican 
 central committee. Mr. Nelson, who is three-quarters of a cen- 
 tury-old himself, was brought to the platform where the Gover- 
 nor extended his thanks. 
 
 — Courtesy Galva News, Galva, III. 
 220 
 
EXPRESSES GRATITUDE 
 
 Walter T. Hedstrom, a member of the village board, who 
 was active in making the preparations for the Centennial, ex- 
 pressed appreciation to the Governor and others who were re- 
 sponsible in establishing Bishop Hill as a state park. 
 
 "I wish to convey the gratitude of the countryside to every- 
 one who helped in preserving the historic lore which is dear to 
 our hearts," Mr. Hedstrom told the group. He also thanked 
 residents of GaJva for their co-operation and assistance in the 
 Centennial plans. 
 
 Three Galva men, who have played a prominent part in 
 establishing the colony as a state shrine were introduced, in- 
 cluding State Representative John T. Nowlan, State's Attorney 
 Reynolds M. Everett and Dr. C. F. Schwab. Each spoke briefly. 
 
 INTRODUCE OFFICIALS 
 
 Officials of the state department of public works and build- 
 ings, responsible for the care of state parks, also were introduced. 
 In the group were Ivan A. "Jack 7 ' Palmer, assistant director of 
 the department; C. Herrick Hammond, supervising architect, 
 and George W. Williams, superintendent of the division of parks 
 and memorials. Joseph F. Booton, chief of design, and George 
 Nedved, of the architectural division, who were in charge of the 
 restoration work at the church, also were introduced. 
 
 Dr. C. F. Schwab introduced the Governor, Senator Fred 
 W. Rennick, of Buda, Senator Charles Carpentier, of Moline, 
 Congressman R. B. Chiperfield of Canton, and Representative 
 Orville Chapman, of Bradford. 
 
 Th large crowd was welcomed by Clarence E. Nelson, presi- 
 dent of the Old Settlers ' association, who served as chairman for 
 all programs, and Attorney A. E. Bergland gave the response. 
 
 FINE MUSICAL PROGRAM 
 
 A fine musical program was also arranged for the afternoon. 
 An octet from the Augustana choir in Rock Island, of which 
 Lois Binge, of Galva, is a member, presented a number of selec- 
 tions including the Swedish song, "Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara." 
 
 221 
 
Other members of the group were Mary Lou Buck, who sang 
 ' ' The Lord 's Prayer " as a solo, and Peg Dahlberg, Betty Sand- 
 gren, Bob Maurus, Bob Lindley, Wally Lindstrom and John 
 Erickson. 
 
 Mrs. E. L. Swanson. 75, sang in Swedish "I Rosens Doff* 
 by Prince Gustaf which she had sung at the celebration 50 years 
 ago. Mrs. Swanson is the only surviving member of the choir 
 which sang at the semi-centennial. 
 
 Miss Vivian Johnson, of Wataga, whose violin solos have 
 been a pleasing addition to many programs in this area, played 
 Scandinavian selections with Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson as 
 the accompanist. 
 
 In memory of colony descendants who died during the past 
 year, the necessary roll was read by Mrs. Pearle Ericson. Ke- 
 wanee Boiler City band closed the program with selections and 
 also presented a concert in the evening. 
 
 HOME TALENT AT NIGHT 
 
 Mrs. Verna Anderson directed the program in the evening 
 which was presented by Bishop Hill talent. Opening number was 
 a solo, "Tolling Through the Years," sung by Bryce Nordstrom. 
 
 Also appearing were a girls' quartet composed of Carolyn 
 Hedstrom, Ardith Anderson, Verla Johnson and Virginia Eric- 
 son; vocal solos by Robert Olson, Virgil Sundberg and Wayne 
 Hier; a Swedish dance by a group of primary pupils; two songs 
 by Bishop Hill children with throat whistling by Dale Anderson ; 
 a solo in Swedish by seven-year-old Milton Anderson, of Galva; 
 folk and square dances by primary children and a Swedish 
 song and dance by Nancy Florine, Mary Lou Anderson, Bobby 
 Houghton and Dickie Taylor. 
 
 An historical parade in the morning in which many of the 
 tools and other implements of the original colony days were 
 featured, was an event of Monday morning when hundreds lined 
 the streets on both sides to witness it, Narration for the parade 
 was in charge of Attorney Reynolds M. Everett, 
 
 Annual chicken dinner served by the women of the Bishop 
 Hill community was also a big event Monday. Approximately 
 1,600 persons were served. 
 
 222 
 
PLAN MORE RESTORATION 
 
 Further plans for restoration work at Old Colony Church 
 were announced this week by Representative John T. Nowlan. 
 It is expected that additional funds will be appropriated fo^ 
 the work at the next session of the legislature. 
 
 Among the plans considered are landscaping of the village 
 park and addition of drinking fountains, benehes and possibly 
 a new bandstand. The stub road into the village from Route 34 
 also will be planted with trees and shrubbery. 
 
 Considerable work remains to be done on the church build- 
 ing, as only preliminary work was completed this year due to 
 lack of time and materials. 
 
 DEDICATORY ADDRESS BY GOV. GREEN 
 
 "Bishop Hill, closely woven as it was with the early de- 
 velopment of Illinois, now rightfull} 7 takes its place beside other 
 historical sites in the state," Gov. Dwight H. Green told a Cen- 
 tennial crowd of 8,000 persons Monday as he accepted the Old 
 Colony church and village park on behalf of the state. 
 
 Text of his address is as follows: 
 
 It is a privilege and a very real pleasure, to participate with 
 you in the Centennial observance of the founding of the Bishop 
 Hill colony. Today, in honoring the memory and the deeds of 
 the intrepid men and women who originally settled here, we pay 
 well-merited tribute to qualities of character which contributed 
 notably to the making of America. 
 
 The mid-Nineteenth century, which dates the founding of 
 the colony, encompassed an eventful epoch in the life of our 
 Commonwealth and our Nation. One hundred years ago, Illinois 
 was in its youthful twenty-eighth year as a state. The Illinois- 
 Michigan canal was nearing completion. Chicago, Peru and 
 LaSalle were growing rapidly. Rock Island had been founded 
 scarcely half a decade before. From Nauvoo, the Mormons had 
 lately begun their historic exodus across the Mississippi on the 
 long trek westward. 
 
 In 3 846, we had gone to war with Mexico over the boundary 
 of Texas and we had signed the treaty with Great Britain, which 
 added the Oregon territory to our national domain. Workmen 
 were busily engaged in the task of installing equipment for the 
 
 223 
 
operation of a new and marvelous invention, with the result that 
 two years later the returns of a national election were dissemi- 
 nated for the first time by the telegraph. In 1846, too, a gentle- 
 man named Howe applied for a patent on a new contrivance — - 
 something called a sewing machine. As yet, no state existed west 
 of the Missouri river. Members who responded to the roll call 
 in the national House of Representatives at Washington included 
 a Mr. Lincoln of Illinois. Later indeed, when this tall, gaunt, 
 kindly man was to save the nation from dissolution, he would 
 get immeasurable aid from the inventive genius of a brilliant 
 Swedish engineer, whose "cheesebox on a raft" stopped the 
 formidable ' ' Merrimac ' ' and gave naval supremacy to the Union. 
 
 LED BY ERIC JANSON 
 
 Such, in part, was the national picture when the little band 
 of pioneers under the leadership of Eric Janson, came to Henry 
 county. The same nobility of spirit and passionate devotion to 
 the principles of individual liberty, which would never permit 
 them to accept oppression's yoke in their home country, sus- 
 tained them here in overcoming the obstacles which attended 
 establishing a foothold in this wide and welcoming land of their 
 adoption. 
 
 I know that all, or most of you gathered here today, are* 
 familiar with the story of the settlement. It is hardly necessary 
 to recount in detail the innumerable hardships and privations 
 that beset these pioneers. Added to the natural difficulties of 
 securing their home in what was then virtually a wilderness, 
 their ranks were decimated by an epidemic of the dread Asiatic 
 cholera, and in 1850 death deprived them of the leadership and 
 inspiration of Eric Janson. Despite these adverse blows, under 
 the impact of which people of a softer fibre might well have 
 given up the struggle, they won through every calamity. Their 
 settlement endured to inaugurate and encourage the mighty 
 tide of Scandinavian immigration, which has populated our 
 great Northwest with farms, villages and cities, and made it a 
 land of which all its citizens have reason to be proud. 
 
 They did not ask for a great deal, these pioneers, and cer- 
 tainly not overmuch of material things. What they sought here 
 was a haven where the dignity of the human soul was recognized, 
 where work was honorable, where class distinctions were levelled, 
 
 224 
 
and where the future beckoned on to a status of economic in- 
 dependence. 
 
 Theirs were the sturdy attributes which lent strength to the 
 nation in its still formative years and fixed the firm, durable 
 pattern for the future of America. In that, they built exceed- 
 ingly well. And we of today are the fortunate inheritors of the 
 splendid fruits of their building. 
 
 PLAY" VITAL ROLE 
 
 No student of American history as it has unfolded not only 
 during the past century, but since the inception of the Republic 
 as well, can fail to observe the vital role played in the develop- 
 ment and progress of this nation by its sons and daughters of 
 Swedish descent. The roster of their names is long and the 
 archives of their achievements are voluminous. They have gained 
 high distinction in the arts, the sciences and the professions — 
 in government, in medicine, in jurisprudence and education, in 
 engineering and architecture — in every realm of human endeavof 
 which is dedicated to improving the welfare of mankind. The 
 record of Swedish- Americans has been no less distinguished for 
 their whole-hearted response on every occasion when it became 
 necessary to defend the free and democratic processes of America 
 against the forces of hatred and evil which sought to extinguish 
 them. From the American Revolution to the titanic convulsions 
 of World War II, Swedish-Americans, true to their liberty- 
 loving traditions, have been quick to answer their country's call 
 in times of need. 
 
 NOW STATE MEMORIAL 
 
 I am particularly happy that the Old Colony Church and 
 Square have now been entrusted to the care of the state, and 
 henceforth will be included in the list of our official state mem- 
 orials. Closely woven as it was with the early development of 
 Illinois, it rightfully takes a place beside such other historical 
 sites as New Salem, Black Hawk State park, Fort Chartres and 
 Fort Kaskaskia. The provision of funds for restoration and 
 maintenance provided by the 64th General Assmebly, and the 
 granting of the deed by its townspeople, marked the climax of 
 years of co-operative effort to bring this about. For the success- 
 
 225 
 
ful culmination of the movement, much credit must be given to 
 the members of the Legislature from your 37th district. 
 
 Because of its importance in our history, the Bishop Hill 
 memorial can be made a mecca for students, for our school chil- 
 dren and the general public of the entire state. It can become 
 another New Salem, on a smaller scale, a living museum of the 
 life of its founders which constituted so bright and admirable 
 a chapter in the annals of Illinois. 
 
 EXPEESSES APPRECIATION 
 
 May I also take this opportunity, both as the chief executive 
 of the State, and your fellow citizen, to express my deep appre- 
 ciation to those of you who already have donated many of the 
 heirlooms and other objects to be housed here, and to others 
 who I understand are planning similar action. The value of 
 these contributions cannot be measured on any ordinary scale. 
 From the standpoint of historical artifacts, they are priceless. 
 I assure you that every possible precaution will be taken by our 
 Department of Public Works and Buildings to protect and pre- 
 serve them. 
 
 In assuming responsibility for the Bishop Hill property, your 
 State government is fully aware that it has acquired a monu- 
 ment of great significance and worth. May it long endure, not 
 alone as a definite reminder of those courageous men and women 
 who settled here a century ago, but in a broader sense, as a visual 
 symbol of countless other Americans of Swedish descent who 
 through the years have been leaders in those cultural and eco- 
 nomic achievements which have made the nation great. 
 
 Gov. Dwight H. Green and 
 autograph hunters. 
 
 "Eolus" float entered by the 
 Galva Creamery Co. 
 
 226 
 
KEYNOTES CENTENNIAL 
 
 The colony, which was founded on a religious ideal, appro- 
 priately keynoted its celebration with religious services Sunday 
 morning at Community Methodist church where Dr. C. G. Wal- 
 lenius, of Evanston, former president of the Swedish Theological 
 Seminary, delivered the address, "The Challenge of Oui» 
 Father 's Faith, ' ' paying tribute to the early immigrants. 
 
 Assisting Dr. Wallenius in the service were the present 
 pastor of the church, Rev. Joe Anderson, and two former pastors, 
 Rev. H. J. Diercks of St. Louis and Rev. C. A. Holmgren, of 
 Chicago. 
 
 The village choir, with soloists directed by Mrs. John A. 
 Oberg Jr., sang during the services and there was a special 
 quartet selection, "Faith of Our Fathers," sung by Vernon 
 Nordstrom, Harold Nordstrom, John A. Oberg Jr. and Wesley 
 Ericson. 
 
 Sunday noon was picnic and reunion time for the thousands 
 of visitors who gathered in separate groups for their noon meal. 
 Many homes in the community entertained relatives and friends, 
 and others gathered for picnics in the park and on lawns in the 
 community. 
 
 Influx of automobiles which had started early that morning 
 for church services gradually increased and by 1 o 'clock the big- 
 gest share of the 6,000 attendants were already on the grounds, 
 sight-seeing at Old Colony Church, renewing acquaintances with 
 friends and relatives and finding seats for the afternoon pro- 
 gram in the village park which was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. 
 
 GIVES WELCOME 
 
 "Velkommen til Biskup's Kulla, Velkommen!" in the 
 words of Eric Janson a century ago, Clarence E. Nelson, presi- 
 dent of the Old Settlers' Association, welcomed the Centennial 
 visitors at the opening program. 
 
 Pulpit of the former Bethel Methodist church in Victoria 
 now used by the Victoria Methodist church was loaned for the 
 occasion and used on the bandstand in the park for the program 
 which was highlighted by the appearance of the Svithiod Singing 
 Chorus, of Chicago. 
 
 Harold Anderson, of Galva, a former member of the chorus, 
 appeared with the fine group of singers, who used the "Star 
 Spangled Banner" as their opening selection. Greetings were 
 
 227 
 
frft**^ 
 
 .»£*ra»» 
 
 #«^#^ 
 
 G«d 
 
 lifer ^m ' 
 
 ■■* .,,jfe«, 
 
 
 - ■ 
 
 !-: 
 
 C 1 
 
 ■m 
 
 4k»»A 
 
 
extended on behalf of the chorus by Franklin C. E. Lundquist, 
 Harold Grevin, vice president, and Knute Hanson, director. 
 
 Descendants of the early colonists were then introduced by 
 Mr. Nelson, including Elmer Nordstrom, a great-grandson of 
 Dr. Olof Nordstrom, colony physician; Attorney A. E. Bergland, 
 of Galva, and Julia Johnson, who read a sketch of Bishop Hill 
 history. 
 
 Selections by the Svithiod Chorus completed the remainder 
 of the afternoon program. The audience was thrilled by their 
 a cappella presentation of Swedish songs, among which were 
 "De Svenske" (Felix Korling) ; "Sverige" V. Stenhammar) 
 and "Gossen I Skogen" ( A. Soderman) . An outstanding English 
 selection sung by the group was Bach's ''Now Let Every Tongue 
 Adore Thee." 
 
 HUNDREDS INSPECT CHURCH 
 
 Following the program hundreds of people lined the street 
 near the Old Colony church to inspect the interior of the state- 
 restored church and to view the countless relics and souvenirs 
 gathered together for the Centennial. 
 
 An historical guide was prepared by the state for the con- 
 venience of sightseers. Ail names of persons, either donating or 
 loaning exhibits, were included in the book. 
 
 Although rain interfered with pageant plans later in the 
 evening, all other events of the program were carried out on 
 schedule for the vast crowd, which had come from parts of the 
 nation to join in the celebration. 
 
 Gosta Oldenburg, Royal Consul for Sweden, and Edvard 
 Persson, famous Swedish comedion, were headliners on the Tues- 
 day afternoon program. Dropping from the peak crowd of 
 8,000 persons on Monday, Centennial go'ers numbered about 
 3,500, it was estimated. 
 
 "Any place where people have suffered and fought cour- 
 ageously for an ideal and a high purpose is holy ground for all 
 who feel close to such pioneers," Mr. Oldenburg declared in 
 opening words of an address in which he stated that Bishop Hill 
 will now take its place with other landmarks in Illinois history. 
 He was introduced by Judge A. E. Berglund, of Galva. 
 
 Tuesday's events opened with a commercial parade in the 
 morning in which several fine displays were entered and at noon 
 the Spring Creek Grange served dinner to those on the grounds. 
 
 229 
 
St Ml 
 
 FROM THE PARADE 
 
 'Cornplanting 
 
 Edward Person, Swedish Corned 
 
 ian entertained the crowd 
 
 during the celebration. 
 
 230 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bergstrom of 
 Kewanee, 111. Mr. Bergstrom is a 
 well-known authority on Bishop 
 Hill History. His Mother was a 
 colonist. Mrs. Bergstrom is a 
 niece to Eric Janson, founder of 
 the colony. 
 
Galva high school band, directed by Leonard A. Smith, pre- 
 sented a concert to begin the afternoon's program. Mr. Smith 
 led the group in community singing of old favorite songs. 
 
 WEATHER IDEAL 
 
 Temperatures were ideal and the strong wind of the morn- 
 ing had subsided somewhat by mid-afternoon in the sheltered 
 village park. 
 
 Mr. Nelson again welcomed the visitors, saying in part, 
 "The custom of extending a welcome is centuries old, but it has 
 been considered such a beautiful and sincere gesture that nothing 
 has ever been found to replace it. At every gathering in every 
 village or city, in every country large or small, the world over, 
 friends are welcomed." 
 
 Selection. "My Old Home Town," by the Bishop Hill girls' 
 quartet, composed of Carolyn Hedstrom, Ardith Anderson, Verla 
 Johnson and Virginia Ericson, was encored by the audience . 
 They responded with a Swedish selection. 
 
 Asking God for divine guidance, Rev. C. H. Malmquist, of 
 Chicago, former pastor of the Bishop Hill church, said the in- 
 vocation for the gathering followed by two solos, "Coming 
 Home" (Willeby), and "Tolling Through the Years" (Nesgen), 
 sung by Bryce Nordstrom. Other musical numbers were sung 
 by the Bishop Hill male quartet, composed of Vernon and Harold 
 Nordstrom, John Oberg and Wesley Ericson, who sang "The 
 Heavens Are Telling" (Beethoven) and "Hell Dig, Du Hoga 
 Nord" (Crusell). Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson was the ac- 
 companist for all numbers. Wayne Hier also sang the ' ' Smorgas- 
 bord" song. 
 
 PERSSON ENTERTAINS 
 
 Jokes and songs, most of which were in Swedish, by Edvard 
 Persson and his troupe, entertained the crowd as the final num- 
 ber of the afternoon program. Persson, who is well known as 
 the "Will Rogers of Sweden" is now making a tour of America 
 and'the Centennial committee was fortunate in securing him for 
 their event. 
 
 The troupe also entertained for a short appearance on the 
 evening program which opened with another concert by the 
 Galva high school band. 
 
 Dancing to Doc Hunt's orchestra at Modern Woodmen hall 
 was the finale to both Monday and Tuesday evening programs. 
 
 * 231 
 
SWEDISH CONSUL SPEAKS 
 
 Bishop Hill is now entering a new era, being recognized as 
 a shrine of Illinois to take its place with other landmarks of 
 history, Gosta Oldenburg, Royal Consul General for Sweden, 
 told the Tuesday afternoon crowd at the village's centennial 
 observance. 
 
 Mr. Oldenburg recalled that in 1944 he wrote to a good 
 friend, Carl Sorling, in Springfield, asking if favorable action 
 could be expected to save the buildings and famous paintings at 
 Bishop Hill. 
 
 His talk, in part, follows: 
 
 "Any place where people have suffered and fought cour- 
 ageously for an ideal and a high purpose is holy ground for all 
 who feel close to such pioneers. 
 
 "IS HOLY GROUND" 
 
 ' ' Here at Bishop Hill where such a large number of Swedish 
 men and women endured incredible hardships, setbacks, pesti- 
 lence and poverty to win through and finally establish security 
 and prosperity is holy ground for a Swede. 
 
 "As time goes by, this settlement will attract more interest 
 and become more widely known. We are making the start now 
 of what will become a new era for Bishop Hill. 
 
 "The main significance of the Bishop Hill colony lies of 
 course in the religious field. But Jansonism was only the first 
 movement among many similar religious manifestations and as 
 such had a deep meaning and a powerful influence. 
 
 "The emigration from Sweden of Erik Janson's followers 
 in the 1840 's was the first considerable movement of people 
 from Sweden to the New World since the Delaware expeditions 
 in the 17th century. The religious community at Bishop Hill 
 was organized in September, 1846, before any other Swedish 
 religious community had been founded here. 
 
 CREDIT TO ILLINOIS 
 "The first Swedish Methodist group was organized on 
 December 15, 1846, at Victoria. The first Episcopal parish was 
 organized in 1849 in Chicago. It was towards the maintenance 
 of this church that the famous ' Swedish nightingale,' Jenny 
 Lind, who toured the country in 1850 to 1852 donated $1,500. 
 The first Swedish Lutheran church was organized in 1850 at 
 Andover by L. P. Esbjorn who had brought not less than 60 
 
 232 
 
followers from Sweden. This was the beginning of the powerful 
 Augustana Synod. The Baptists organized their first parish in 
 1852 at Rock Island. The Mission Friends organized two groups 
 in 1868, one in Swede Bend, Iowa, and one in Chicago. 
 
 ''Both the Swedish Methodists and the Swedish Baptists 
 here in America were organized before there were Methodist and 
 Baptist congregations in Sweden and the religious impulse from 
 America, where people were absolutely free to organize new 
 churches, undoubtedly helped their brethren in Sweden to realize 
 their purpose. 
 
 "Isn't it further remarkable to what extent the State of 
 Illinois was the cradle to all these new churches? Practically all 
 came into being in this state. It must have been a favorable 
 climate which brought all these new religious flowers out of the 
 good earth of Illinois. 
 
 EXPLAINS CONDITIONS 
 
 "As a Swedish representative I am naturally thinking not 
 only of the United States where I have been sent, and the State 
 of Illinois where I have now lived 10 years, but also of my own 
 country, Sweden. 
 
 ' ' One might ask, remembering how many Swedish men and 
 women came to this country to settle here for ever, why did they 
 leave Sweden and, furthermore, why are so few coming now? 
 The answer to the first question which is generally given is that 
 economic conditions were bad at the time in Sweden and the 
 Swedes have an enterprising spirit and a desire to better their 
 living conditions if they see a chance, even if it means crossing 
 an ocean for good. 
 
 "As to the second question, dealing with the well-known 
 fact that the Swedes do not any more emigrate to America in 
 great numbers, the usual answer is that Sweden now has built 
 up its industries to such an extent that it can offer all its sons 
 and daughters a good living. A boy in a cottage in Smaland who 
 longs to get ahead does not have to go all the way to America 
 any more. He can make a good living in another part of his 
 own country. So the American quota of immigrants from Sweden 
 has not been filled for 20 years and Sweden today suffers from 
 an acute labor shortage. Sweden is getting prepared to invite 
 workers to come to Sweden instead of seeing her young men 
 depart from her. 
 
 233 
 
In the case of the Bishop Hill settlement the main reason 
 for the emigration was religious. It was the clearest evidence 
 we have that some sections of the Swedish people in those days 
 had a feeling of oppression and were prepared to risk every- 
 thing to gain more religious freedom. Also in this field condi- 
 tions are fundamentally changed in Sweden today. There are 
 strong religious bodies in Sweden besides the Lutheran State 
 Church and the attitude towards free churches is more tolerant 
 than the early religious rebels would have thought possible. 
 Today State Church pastors even open their churches for other 
 religious meetings and there is wide cooperation in the fields 
 of charity and social work. 
 
 "As a Swedish representative I am not unmindful of the 
 fact that the Jansonists left Sweden because they found the 
 conditions intolerable and that their memories of the old country 
 must have been mingled with much bitterness. Sweden can not 
 claim credit for what the Bishop Hill pioneers and their des- 
 cendants accomplished here on the prairie of Illinois. It was their 
 own work for which they should be honored, praised and re- 
 membered. This being said and emphasized here today by me 
 it should also not be forgotten that these people were Swedish 
 men and women. Sweden had given them strength and stamina, 
 .a good moral and cultural background, training and ability to 
 plan and work and build, and these Swedish qualities and virtues 
 must have been the backbone of the colony's economic structure. 
 WILL BETTER RELATIONS 
 
 "From now on Bishop Hill will be better known not only 
 in Ilinois but over the whole country and, besides, has a larger 
 role to play in Swedish-American relations. The colony will be 
 more publicized and attract more visitors. More Americans of 
 Swedish descent or heritage will be interested to come here and 
 more Swedes visiting this country will want to include Bishop 
 Hill in their itinerary. The earlier resentment has greatly di- 
 minished and will disappear entirely. The Bishop Hill colony 
 which did not want a railroad or a highway to interfere with its 
 serene and severe religious life will gradually emerge from its 
 isolation. Thus it will be a new link between America and Sweden 
 and do its share in furthering our cultural relations. 
 
 'In this spirit I offer you Sweden's congratulations upon 
 the 100 year anniversary and her best Avishes for a bright and 
 
 happy future." 
 
 234 
 
MANY OUT-OF-STATE VISITORS 
 
 Besides the seores of former residents of the Bishop Hill 
 community from all sections of Illinois who attended the cen- 
 tennial, many from other states also were present. 
 
 Sweden and states bordering on both east and west coasts, 
 the Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico are represented in 
 the list, as taken from the official registration books: 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Baltimore, Alhambra, California ; 
 Mrs. James T. Wigren, Ruth Henderson and Morgan Hanson, 
 of Detroit; Philip Nordstrom and Lola Nordstrom, of Cleo, 
 North Carolina; C. R. Lindbeck, of McCook, Nebraskao A. T. 
 Anderson, Amarillo, Texas; Gunnar A. Pearson, Escanaba, 
 Michigan. 
 
 Mrs. T. Johnson and Eric T. Johnson, Cherokee, Iowa ; John 
 A. Stonberg, Eugene, Oregon ; Gordon Smith and Julia Bergren, 
 Manchester, Iowa; A. A. Beck, Spencer, Iowa; Guilford Beck 
 and Peggy Bairr Beck, Chesterton, Indiana ; Harry Hanson and 
 Clyde F. Atkinson, Detroit ; Mrs. Vernon Baker, Central City, 
 Nebraska. 
 
 Leonard J. Olson, Los Angeles; Miss Dale Anderson, New 
 York City; Westerdale Burgess, Mission, Texas; Enid Sundell 
 and E. P. Sundell, Flushing, New York; Mary Nordstrom, De- 
 troit; Carrie Whitcomb, Los Angeles; M. M. Moudgill, Traun- 
 core, Indiana ; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lange, Austin, Minnesota ; 
 Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Johnson and Margaret Johnson, Los An- 
 geles, California. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Long, Sacramento, California; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Richard Engstrom, Genoa, Nebraska; K. G. Wallasen, 
 Goshen, Indiana; Britor Carlson, Holdrege, Nebraska; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Fred McLaughlin, Chowchilla, California; Mrs. C. A. 
 Holmes, Hillman, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. Albin Benson, Dear- 
 born, Michigan. 
 
 Betty Erwin and Phyliss Garland, Rochester, New York; 
 D. Bjork Swenson, Slawhult Ryssly, Sweden; Mr. and Mrs. 
 Perry A. Swanson, St. Paul ; Mrs. Vincent Nordstrom. Detroit ;r 
 Mr. and Mrs. Howard Headley, Fairfield, Iowa; Effie J. Win- 
 root, Des Moines ; Miss Margaret Laub and Mr. and Mrs. Harry 
 F. Homer, Long Beach, California. 
 
 235 
 
William Juna, Dorothy Hiller, Oakville, Iowa; G. E. 
 Mugrage, Pharr, Texas; Carl R. Johnson, Mansfield, Ohio; Mr. 
 and Mrs. James Larson, Houston, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Harold 
 Swords, El Campo, Texas; Mrs. Bryan Love, Denver; Annie 
 May Oakes, Davenport; Captain J. E. Gabrielson, New York 
 City; Signe K. Walline and Jessie N. Lundeen, Davenport. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fuller, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan ; Alice 
 Peterson and Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Swanson, Round Lake, Minne- 
 sota ; Eloise Wibber, Minneapolis; Ed J. Ortberg, Wood River, 
 Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Milbourn, Long Beach, Cali- 
 fornia; Mrs. Maria Carter, Minneapolis; Inez M. Ericson and 
 Mrs. Mae Ericson, Cassville, Missouri. 
 
 David L. Swanson and LaVine Swanson, Denver; Nels 
 Ericson, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Stonberg, Baton Rouge, 
 Louisiana; C. A. Norlin, Lincoln, Nebraska; Joseph Meknes, 
 Minneapolis; Mrs. Roy Mohler, Davenport; Mrs. Julia Kreider, 
 Ames, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Ericson, Detroit; Mrs. G. H. 
 Cowles, Davenport; George L. Beck, Ames, Iowa. 
 
 Mrs. Marguerite Karley, McCook, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. 
 A. L. Lindbeck, Salem, Oregon; Mrs. Lavina C. Northcott, Los 
 Angeles ; Mrs. Ellen Alf tene, Gowrie, Iowa ; Mr. and Mrs. Mar- 
 tin A. Walline, Turlock, California; Mr. and Mrs. Morris La- 
 Motte, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bloom, Seattle, Washington; 
 Major and Mrs. Herbert J. Lindstrom, Los Angeles. 
 
 Gladys Eschback, Kansas City; Mrs. Ed Johnson, Wild- 
 rose, North Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Smith, Kansas City, 
 Kansas ; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dunlap and Mrs. Julia Bergren, 
 Manchester, Iowa ; 0. M. Peterson, Whittier, California ; Edwin 
 Berg, Davenport ; Mr. and Mrs. Arley Smith and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Harold J. Miller, Manchester, Iowa. 
 
 Mrs. B. J. Mundy and Irene, Ocala, Florida; Hilmer Soder- 
 
 kench, Universiletct, Upsala, Sweden; Mr. and Mrs. Bergeprid, 
 
 Wilmington, Delaware; Mrs. Herbert S. Langfeld, Princeton, 
 
 New Jersey; Mrs. Oscar Nelson, Teaneck, New Jersey; Mrs. 
 
 Lillian Chaiser Johnson, Grovetown, Indiana; Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 C. JJ. Ostrum, Gregory, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Amel 
 
 Stark, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Oberg and Gloria and Carol, Angus, 
 
 Minnesota. 
 
 236 
 
Mrs. N. A. Weinberg, Fresno, California; Mr. and Mrs. 
 V. H. Lininger, Denver ; Mina Peterson and Mrs. John A. Eric- 
 son, Winthrop, Minnesota; Mrs. Wallace Youngquist, Detroit; 
 Claude A. Winroot, Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Schlap- 
 kohl and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kautz, Blue Grass, Iowa ; Anne 
 Grantham, Atlanta, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Berglund, 
 Des Moines; Betty Jo Beauchamp, Davenport. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Erik Nord and Dean Johnson, Gary, Indiana; 
 Oscar Anderson, Round Lake, Minnesota ; Helen C. Lindstrom, 
 and Esther B. Johnson, South Pasadena, California; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Waldo Bruss, Gaylord, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth 
 Abrahamson, Davenport; Stephen Andersen Jr., Washington. 
 D. C; Mr. and Mrs. Harley Emery, Bunnell, Florida: Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sigurd Linsde, Dubuque. 
 
 Mrs. Esther Wilder, Los Angeles ; Deva Armstrong, Auburn, 
 Nebraska ; Mrs. Margaret Forest, St. Louis ; Mary Ewing, South 
 Dakota ; Mrs. John McGuinness, Boston ; Garland Beck, Ames, 
 Iowa ; M. R. Johnson, Holdrege, Nebraska ; Emil Leff, Hector, 
 Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Cady, Detroit ; Mrs. Fred Falley, 
 New Orleans; Albert Bjorklund, Minden, Nebraska. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Theo Anderson, Chicago, 111. ; K. Alex Carlson, 
 Chicago, 111. ; Mrs. George Starr, Hillman, Minnesota ; Laura 
 Sandquist Lyons, Pasadena, California; Mrs. Duley V. Jenness, 
 Cherokee, Iowa ; Mrs. J . Jenness and Patricia Jenness, Quimby, 
 Iowa ; Mrs. Carrie Jenness, Parkland, AVashington ; Mr. and Mrs. 
 C. W. Nelson, Red Oak, Iowa; Mrs. Mary L. James, Omaha; 
 Mr. and Mrs. Llarvey L. Peterson, Kansas City. 
 
 W. E. Soderberg, Davenport; John B. Nelson, Sturgeon 
 Lake, Minnesota; Mrs. W. D. Clapp, New York City; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Forrest Erickson, John Ericson and Anna Ericson, Madrid, 
 Iowa ; V. A. Lundeen, Oakland, California ; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur 
 Lindstrom and Shirley and Larry, Eugene, Oregon; Vincent 
 Nordstrom, Detroit; Keith Dooley, Los Angeles; Lavern Nelson, 
 Red Oak, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Nelson, Cleveland ; Glenwood Erickson 
 and Alvey J. Schonski, Detroit; Kermit A. Stonberg and Mr. 
 and Mrs. Herbert Stonberg, Eugene, Oregon ; Jennie Israelson, 
 Hillman, Minnesota ; Miss Jessie Polvado, Sacramento, Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 237 
 
HISTORICAL PARADE 
 
 Life in the early days of the Bishop Hill colony was re-lived 
 for a time Monday morning through an historical parade in 
 which many of the implements and tools made by the colonists 
 were featured. 
 
 A mounted escort bearing the American, Swedish and 
 Christian flags lead the parade followed by the Boiler City band 
 of Kewanee which rode in a horse-drawn band wagon. 
 
 One of the most beautiful entries was a float designed in 
 the form of a ship to represent the "Eolus" in which the first 
 Swedish emigrants came to this country. Patriotic colors were 
 used in the decorations and festooning at the top represented 
 the sails of the ship. Galva Creamery Co. entered the float. 
 
 A group of young boys in Indian costume and war paint 
 rode horses and one float bore an Indian family beside their 
 tepee. 
 
 Perhaps most interesting were the floats which depicted the 
 various work of the colonists, such as the log hewing industry 
 and blacksmithing, sheep shearing, threshing with a flail, pile 
 driving, spinning, baking and broom industry. Majority of the 
 implements in the parade were used in the colony, including a 
 horse-drawn reaper, used in 1872. 
 
 Vivian Headland, a colony descendant, portrayed Olof 
 Krans, early painter. There was a religious float with a quartet 
 singing hymns and Rev. C. H. Malmquist, of Chicago, presiding 
 at the pulpit. Native Swedish dances were done by a group of 
 girls on one float while on another, accordionists played Swedish 
 songs. 
 
 A horse-drawn cab, a high wheeled bicycle and a Model-T 
 Ford followed by a replica of Uncle Sam concluded the parade. 
 Atty. R. M. Everett was narrator for the parade. 
 
 A commercial parade was held Tuesday morning when many 
 exhibits of modern machinery were shown. 
 
 * * * 
 
 Sunday was the biggest day for visitors at the Old Colony 
 church, according to figures obtained from John P. Johnson. 
 A total of 1,300 persons signed their names on the register 
 which has been at the church for several years. Monday's total 
 was 1,200. 
 
 "When completed it (Old Colony Church) will be in effect 
 
 238 
 
a living museum of this early Illinois community of Swedish 
 settlers, complete in all details, including furnishings, just as 
 
 though we were back in the fifties. 
 
 * * * 
 
 Edvard Persson, famed Swedish comedian, and his troupe 
 were a big hit with the audience Tuesday afternoon and eve- 
 ning, with their songs and jokes, most of which were in the 
 Swedish language. It must have been an exceptional treat for 
 those many attendants to hear their native tongue spoken from 
 such famous entertainers. Among the troupe was Mrs. Persson, 
 who is also an accomplished actress. They were all dinner guests 
 Tuesday evening of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Maxwell and Mrs. 
 
 J. A. Weece. 
 
 * * * 
 
 Many verbal bouquets were especially given to the male 
 quartet, composed of Vernon and Harold Nordstrom, John 
 Oberg and Wesley Ericson, and the girls' quartet, composed of 
 Carolyn Hedstrom, Ardith Anderson, Verla Johnson and Vir- 
 ginia Ericson. Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson, of Galva, was 
 in charge of the music and served as accompanist for all 
 selections. 
 
 100 TAKE PART IN HISTORIC SCENES 
 
 The story of Bishop Hill, from its beginning over a cen- 
 tury ago in Sweden, was colorfully told in pantomine last eve- 
 ning by 100 persons who participated in the pageant directed 
 by Miss Genevieve Lindholm. 
 
 Its presentation, postponed Sunday night because of rain, 
 was the finale to the successful Bishop Hill Centennial. Hard- 
 ships and trials of the early colonists, and their long trek from 
 Chicago, and the colony days which were an experiment in 
 co-operative living, were vividly re-told in the five episodes 
 of the pageant. 
 
 Attorney R. M. Everett was the narrator for the evening, 
 describing each scene, unfolding the pages of the colony's his- 
 tory. Galva high school band, with Leonard A. Smith as the 
 director, played selections at the opening of the program which 
 was immediately follomed by the presentation of the American 
 flag by Howard Stephenson and John Johnson, and an intro- 
 
 239 
 
duction by Robert Tarleton. Lois Westlin, of Chicago, sang a 
 solo, "The Settlers of Bishop Hill," after which the band 
 played Swedish selections. 
 
 LIST EPISODES 
 
 Episodes, from colony life, showed the following secenes: 
 
 Episode I — Life in Sweden: Scene 1, Swedish dance; Scene 
 2, religious meeting. 
 
 Episode II — Arrival in United States and Bishop Hill; 
 Scene 1, Trip to Bishop Hill from Chicago ; Scene 2, first night 
 in Bishop Hill. 
 
 Episode III — Life in Colony; Solo, "Tolling Through the 
 Years," Bryce Nordstrom; Scene 1, sowing grain; Scene 2, 
 plainting corn; Scene 3, harvesting grain; Scene 4, oxboys at 
 leisure ; Scene 5, spinning and carding ; Scene 6, an early school ; 
 Scene 7, dairy maids. 
 
 Episode IV — Beginning of discord and the final dissolution 
 of the colony; Scene 1, Hellbom and the Indians; Scene 2, 
 news of Janson 's death ; musical interlude. 
 
 Episode V — Life continues in Bishop Hill ; Scene 1, changes ; 
 Scene 2, square dance ; Scene 3, the wars ; Scene 4, finale, after 
 which the audience joined in singing "God Bless America." 
 
 MANY TAKE PART 
 
 Taking part in the pageant were the following persons: 
 Elmer Nordstrom, Minnie Chilberg, Orlie Chilberg, Helen Hunt, 
 Harry Hunt, Jennie Forse, Eva Stephenson, Iva Scott, Daisy 
 Lindstrom, Hilva Krans, Elvie Houghton, Lester Ericson, C. J. 
 Lindholm, Carl G. Ericson, Anna Ericson, Lillian Minner, Eric 
 Miner, Frances Conrad. 
 
 Dorothy Florine, Donald Falk, Peter Nordstrom, John 
 Oberg, Vernon Nordstrom, Harold Nordstrom, Wesley Ericson, 
 Leland Johnson, John Ahlstrom, Glenn Tallberg, Howard Olson, 
 Harvey Nordeen, Everett Wexell, Howard Stephenson, Robert 
 Tarleton, Bryce Nordstrom, Lois Westlin and John Johnson, 
 Emil Ericson. 
 
 Stanley Olson, Wayne Chilberg, Orville Ericson, Alfva 
 Borg, Alfhild Oberg, i: Florence Anderson, Ardith Anderson, 
 Verla Johnson, Carolin Hedstrom, Virginia Ericson, Ruth John- 
 
 240 
 
son, Evelyn Sandberg, Janice Florine, Wilma Florine, Irene 
 Olson, Alberta Hedstrom and Pauline Nordeen. 
 
 Patty Riner, Jane Craig, Janet Anderson, Barbara Allen, 
 Helen Wexell, Marie Nystrom, Anna Tallberg, Betty Tallberg, 
 Elizabeth Anderson, J. B. Anderson, Joyce Falk, Carol Lind- 
 strom, Robert Olson, Marjorie Olson, Nancy Florine, Marcia 
 Hunt, Mary Lou Anderson, Joan Conrad, Wayne Ericson, Rob- 
 ert Houghton and Dale Anderson. 
 
 General committee in charge of the pageant included Miss 
 Lindholm, Dorothy Olson, Violet Lindholm and Katherine Peter r 
 son. Others assisting were Roland Olson, business manager; 
 Albert Florine, stage and scenery; lights, Charles Johnson, 
 Veran Tillman and Vernon Nordstrom; costumes, Mrs. Myrtle 
 Nordstrom, Mrs. Luella Johnson, Mrs. Vernice Nelson and Mrs. 
 Lillian Miner. 
 
 Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson was the accompanist for 
 all musical numbers. 
 
 The celebration closed Tuesday night with slections by 
 Galva band and entertainment by Edvard Persson, the "Swedish 
 Will Rogers." 
 
 LEGENDARY BISHOP HILL "WALL" WAS ONLY A 
 SOD FENCE, HISTORICAL FACTS REVEAL 
 
 Bishop Hill, 111. (Special) — Evidence has been produced 
 to disprove the romantic tale that the legendary Bishop Hill 
 mound south of town, ever served the purpose of a "wall." 
 Material evidence and historical data show it was only a sod 
 fence. The "rampart" is located one and one-half miles south 
 of Bishop Hill. 
 
 In order to define clearly their territorial holdings and 
 shut out marauding animals, the early settlers broke 350 acres 
 of sod and built three and one-half miles of fence. Remnants of 
 the sod are still standing in their miniature mound-shap form. 
 The wall started west of Bishop Hill, circled south and then 
 east. More land was later purchased, so the ridge does not mark 
 the entire holdings of the colony. 
 
 241 
 
Watermelons were placed on top of this sod fence and 
 oldtimers recall that hundred of them would lie there to ripen. 
 
 The little girls and boys of the colony were told wonderful 
 and grotesque stories about the world outside the embankment 
 and were led to believe it was a heathen's land. 
 
 That is the extent of the story about the wall. 
 
 «^»rf> 
 
 HONOR ROLL IN THE VILLAGE PARK 
 
 242 
 
Translation of Bishop Hill Koloniens 
 Oxpojkar 
 
 By OLOF ANDERSON 
 
 Melody: "MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA" 
 
 I Ring the old bell loud again and sing once more a song, 
 Sing the one the oxboys sang Gee' Ohaw! G'long! 
 Often was repeated to the oxen o'er and o'er 
 By the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 CHORUS 
 Ohaw! Ohaw! to the left they go, 
 O gee, O gee, to the right also 
 
 These were the commands that the oxen understood 
 From the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 II Merry were the many times, oxboys at play 
 
 From the eyes of parents dear gathered far away; 
 Perhaps, made a misstep then, maybe made another 
 Did the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 III Jacobson, he was "oxboss," a good and knowing man, 
 Understood the boys all round, and well he managed them 
 Settled many a dispute there, yes, that he could do 
 
 With the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 IV Every morning at "oxgate" they gathered for the day, 
 Orders took from Jacobson and then went on their way; 
 Every one sought the best job, the easiest one to do 
 Did the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 V In the summer's hottest days they the cordwood hauled, 
 "Lower sawmill's" steepest hills up and down they 
 
 crawled; 
 The oxen went plum in the stream, the load it followed too 
 With the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 VI The wreck it lay and floated there — the oxen they stood by 
 Their bodies in the water cool — content and glad were they 
 The boys were mad, their wrath rose high, they scolded 
 
 loud and long 
 At the oxen they were driving. 
 
 VII The evening often was quite late, but used to that they 
 were 
 Their whips they cracked as through the town they drove 
 
 on their way 
 Want to let the people know that the rows of oxen come 
 And the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 243 
 
VIII Tiresome as it was sometimes still their hearts were brave 
 They swung their whips and overcame disappointments 
 
 grave; 
 Well, sometimes they scoldings had and the words were 
 
 sharp 
 To the boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 IX But now oxboys of Bishop Hill are young men no more, 
 Time has changed to grey haired men these merry boys 
 
 of yore, 
 Some have gone to the other shore and absent now are 
 
 they 
 Those boys who drove the oxen. 
 
 Translated years ago by the wife of Captain Eric Johnson. 
 
 Olaf Anderson, composer of these verses was the grandfather of 
 Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson of Galva, 111. 
 
 244 
 
Old Settlers Association Officers, 1946 
 
 President, Clarence Nelson 
 
 Vice-President, Rishard Stoneberg 
 
 Secretary, Mrs. Wylie Ericson 
 
 Treasurer, Mrs. Jennie Forse 
 
 Living Colonists 
 
 Mr. Hans Dahlgren. 
 
 Second Generation Descendants 
 
 Mrs. Grace Pedderson Rohm — Cambride, 111. 
 
 Mr. Harry Berg — Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Curtis Berg — Peoria, 111. 
 
 Mr. Victor Carlson — Holdrege, Nebr. 
 
 Mr. Fred Carlson — Holdrege, Nebr. 
 
 Mrs. Nanney Carlson Swedberg, Holdrege, Nebr. 
 
 Mrs. Pauline Johnson Bergren, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lottie Johnson Lindfors, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Johnson Lindfors, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Julia Krans, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Albert Krans, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Krans, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Winnie Krans, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Laurena Krans Hanson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Amy Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Elmer V. Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Elsie Nordstrom Hallquist, Moline, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lottie Ericson Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Ericson Benson, Detroit, Mich. 
 
 Mrs. Lillie Ericson, Stromberg, Nebr. 
 
 Mr. Alfred Ericson, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Ted Ericson, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Clarence Ericson, Rockford, 111. 
 
 Miss Sophie Lind, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Minnie Lind, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Olof Elbloom, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Jenny Elbloo mForse, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Christine Elbloom Olson, Wataga, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Arthur Olson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Ed Bergstrom, ewannee, 111. 
 
 Mr. Fred Bergstrom, Chicago, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Francis Blomberg, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Robert Jacobson, Providence, Rhode Island. 
 
 Miss Margaret Jacobson, Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 Mrs. Helen Jacobson Anderson, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Mr. Henry Olson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Jennie Olson Swanson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 (Children of Mary Malmgren Olson, first child born in 
 
 Colony. First daughter deceased, Mrs. Emma Olson 
 
 Johnson.) 
 
 245 
 
Mr. Edwin Headlund, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Charlie Headlund, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Laura Headlund Johnson, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Alice Headlund Stoneberg, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Elmer Ericson, Annawan, 111. 
 
 Mr. Roy Ericson, Alaska, 111. 
 
 Mr. Albert Lindstrum, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Lindstrum, Galesburg, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Rosa Broline Lindholm, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Laura Broline Nelson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert Algren, Galva, 111. 
 
 Miss Lula Algren, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lily Algren Spiezel, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Nora Algren Spiezel, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Earl Root, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Amy Peterson, Galva, 111. 
 
 Miss Nettie Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Maude Olson Seely, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lula Johnson Ericson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson Ericson, Salem, Ore. 
 
 Mrs. Etta Wahlstrom Dieterich, Reno, Nev. 
 
 Mrs. Nora Wahlstrum Peterson 
 
 Mr. Olof Sundberg, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Jennie Sundberg, Genesseo, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Myrtle Sundberg Johnson, Chicago, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Sundberg Strum, Joplin, Mo. 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Sundberg Strum, Deckman, Texas. 
 
 Mr. Clarence Naslund,, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. June Johnson Stewart, Peoria, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Minnie Johnson Lock, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Leonard Malmgren, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Miss Harding Stoneberg, Spencer, la. 
 
 Mrs. Selma Stoneberg Wickstrom, Galva, 111 
 
 Mrs. Julia Stoneberg Malmgren, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Mable Stoneberg Green, Galva, 111. 
 Mr. Lennie Gabrielson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Madelia Johnson Sundquist, Toulon, 111. 
 Mr. Wilfred Johnson, Kewanee, 111. 
 Mrs. Oline Ericson Falk, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Miss Sadie Anderson, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Nora Anderson Bowman, Galva, 111. 
 Mr. Fred Hallfast, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Nora Hallfast Grill, Chicago, 111. 
 Miss Minnie Solderquist, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Myrtle Solderquist Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mrs. Laura Solderquist Tillman, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 Mr. A. E. Berglund, Galva, 111. 
 Mr. Fred Berglund, Galva, 111. 
 
 246 
 
Mr. Forrest Olson, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mr. Victor Olson, Kewanee, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Katharine Olson Kady, Rock Island, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lottie Olson Masters, Peoria, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Tina Olson Wexell, Victoria, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Lily Nordstrom Aby, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Ida Nordstrom Paddock, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Nora Nordstrom Sholeen, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Ludwig Strum, Joplin, Mo. 
 
 Mrs. Fredricka Nordstedt Duffy, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Amanda Nordstedt Norlin, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Aurora Lindbeck Mount, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Ruth Lindbeck Shaffer, Edwardsville, 111. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Lindbeck, Edwardsville, 111. 
 
 Mr. Johnny Naslund, Cozad, Nebr. 
 
 Mrs. Vivian Headlund, Galva, 111. 
 
 Miss Clara Ostrum, California. 
 
 Mrs. Maude Ostrum Barrier, California. 
 
 Mrs. Pauline Johnson Otto, Cambridge, 111. 
 
 Mr. August Naslund, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 Mr. Gust Naslund, Davenport, la. 
 
 Mr. Will Solderg, Davenport, la. 
 
 Mr. Wesley Soderberg, Aurora, 111. 
 
 Mr. Linnie Soderberg, Chicago, 111. 
 
 Mr. Charlie Stoneberg, Galva, 111. 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Stoneberg Arnquist, Bishop Hill, 111. 
 
 WORLD WAR II 
 
 Seven Gold Star Descendants who gave their Lives in the 
 Service of Our Country 
 
 2nd Lt. Russell Wetzel — from Kewanee, 111., age 24 years. 
 Killed in plane crash at Lynchburg, Va., July 24, 1942. 
 
 Pfc. Loren Russell Johnson — from South Pasadena, Calif., 
 age 33 years. Died in the China, Burma, India Theater hospital 
 October 12, 1944. Served in the air corps. 
 
 1st Lt. Willard Hale Olson — from Kewanee, 111., age 23 years. 
 Killed in action over Germany. Pilot of B24 Bomber, Nov. 11, 1944. 
 
 Pvt. Floyd Clong — from Kewanee, 111., age 20 years. Killed 
 in action in Germany, March 23, 1945. 
 
 Sgt. Harley N. Rohm — from Cambridge, 111., age 20 years. 
 Died at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., after 
 serving overseas. June 29, 1945. 
 
 1st Lt. Gerald Scott — from Rock Island, 111., age 23 years. 
 Killed in action over Rhyukyus Islands. Pilot of a Thunderbolt 
 Fighter. 71st mission Aug. 9, 1945. 
 
 Flight Officer Kenneth E. Berg— from Galva, 111., age 23 
 years. Died in Tokyo, Japan. Jan. 17, 1946. 
 
 247 
 
Members of Bishop Hill Methodist Church who Served in 
 World War II 
 
 Five Silver Star 
 Richard Peterson 
 Ralph Peterson 
 
 Howard Shogren 
 James Shogren 
 Howard Stephenson 
 Milford Stephenson, Jr. 
 
 Marion O. Smith 
 Archie Wallice 
 Clayton Wickstrom 
 Glen Wexell 
 
 Earl Anderson 
 Stephen Anderson 
 
 One Gold Star 
 Wayne Nordstrom 
 Howard Sundberg 
 Raymond Spets 
 Rias Spets 
 Clyde Sundquist 
 Arthur Sandberg 
 Benjamin J. Slover 
 John B. Johnson 
 
 Howard Ross 
 Robert Tarleton 
 Billy Tarleton 
 Everette E. Bolt 
 
 WORLD WAR II 
 
 (Sunday School Honor Roll of Enlisted Men and Women) 
 
 Martha Anderson 
 Milo Anderson 
 Wendell Anderson 
 Maynard Anderson 
 Benjamin Arnquist 
 
 Curtis Berg 
 Howard Boostrom 
 
 Maurice Chilberg 
 Dale De Smith 
 
 Carl Olof Ericson 
 Basil Ericson 
 J. Leonard Ericson 
 John Pershing Ericson 
 Willard Ericson 
 Charles W. Ericson 
 Orville Ericson 
 
 Orville Florine 
 James Forse 
 J. Willard Forse 
 
 Clyde Hayworth 
 Robert Hayworth 
 Clifford Headley 
 Lester Headley 
 Karl Holmgren 
 John Ives Hunt 
 
 John Holmgren 
 Robert Holmgren 
 
 Emmet Johnson 
 James D. Johnson 
 Leland Johnson 
 F. Maxwell Johnson 
 L. Russell Johnson 
 Harold A. Johnson 
 
 Donald Kapple 
 Howard Kapple 
 Willard Krans 
 Ross Lenartson 
 Maynard Lindbom 
 Willard Lindbom 
 Denzil Lindbom 
 Darrell Lindbom 
 Clen Lindstrom 
 Russell Lindstrom 
 
 Dennis Miner 
 Donald Malmquist 
 
 Charles Olson 
 Paul Olson 
 Robert Olson 
 Stewart Olson 
 Carl Okerstrom 
 Gunnar Olhson 
 
 248 
 
SGT. HARLEY M. ROHM 
 
 Died at Battle Creek, Mich., after 
 
 serving overseas. June, 1945. 
 
 1st Lt. WILLARD HALE OLSON 
 B24 Bomber Pilot, killed in action 
 over Germany, Nov., 1944. 
 
 KENNETH E. BERG— Flight Offi- 
 cer, died in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 
 17, 1946. 
 
 1st Lt. GEGRALD SCOTT 
 Thunderbolt Pilot, killed in ac- 
 tion over Rhyukyus Islands on 
 71st mission, Aug., 1945. 
 
 249 
 
LOREN RUSSELL JOHNSON 
 Died in the C.B.I. Theater Hospi- 
 tal, Oct., 1944. Served in the Air 
 Corps. 
 
 Lt. RUSSELL WETREL 
 
 Killed in plane crash at Lynch- 
 
 berg, Va., July, 1942. 
 
 FLOYD AND PHILLIP CLONG 
 
 Floyd was killed in action in 
 
 Germany, March, 1945. 
 
 Pvt. FLOYD CLONG 
 
 250 
 
The Bishop Hill Colony has passed away. Whether we agree or 
 disagree with the religious tenets of the colonists: or with the idea of 
 Colony life, the heart of every lover of liberty beats in sympathy with 
 every honest effort to secure a larger measure of liberty for any portion 
 of the race. The background and experiences of the pioneers empha- 
 size their character which is reflected in their descendants. 
 
 In preparing this book I have found new information regarding Eric 
 Janson of "Bishop Hill," Sweden. 
 
 In the church records of the period following the year 1800 it is 
 written that Eric Janson's father was Jan Mattsson, a farmer, and his 
 mother's name was Sara Ersdotter. Jan Mattsson was born at Forstuna in 
 1780 and his wife was born at the same place in 1779. They settled at 
 Landsbergaby at Biskopskulla ("Bishop Hill") in 1806. 
 
 According to the church and baptismal records, they were the parents 
 of five children. These children were: Johan, born June 9, 1803; Eric, born 
 Dec. 21, 1808; Anna Kajsa, born April 12, 1812; Petter, born Nov. 19, 1814; 
 and Carl born June 8, 1819. 
 
 Concerning Eric's baptism, the following is noted in the baptismal 
 record: The parents were the farmer Mattsson of Landsbergaby and his 
 wife Sara 22 years of age. Witnesses: Peter Anderson, farmer, and his 
 wife, Stina Ersdotter; the servant, Jan Mattsson, of Landsbergaby; Daugh- 
 ter, Anna Mattsson Nibble." 
 
 The four baptismal witnesses were relatives of Eric. Stina Ersdotter 
 was likely a sister of Sara Ersdotter who was Eric's mother. The servant, 
 Jan Matts Mattsson, and the daughter Anna Mattsson were probably rela- 
 tives of Eric's father. 
 
 A map dated 1692 was found and on this map several estates were 
 noted by numbers. Nine estates were counted. Upon which was Eric 
 Janson born? On an old survey record dated Oct. 29, 1813 it is indicated 
 that the tenant on No. 1 is named Jan Mattsson. On the tract were two 
 dwelling houses. The house in which Eric Janson was born was ten yards 
 long and eight yards wide and was provided with a thatched roof. The 
 other cottage nearby was fourteen yards long and eight yards wide. 
 The granary was 6 yards long and the barn was thirty-two yards long 
 and eight yards wide. 
 
 Here Eric Janson was born and took his first faltering steps. Part ol 
 the stone foundations still remain and the stone steps where the entrances 
 were located remain as they were placed. Upon these steps it is certain 
 that little Eric sat and played as a child and that his elders trod in and 
 out over them. 
 
 In America are thousands of descendants of the persons who followed 
 Eric Janson to Bishop Hill. Should not these honor Eric Janson's memory 
 by raising a memorial at the place of his birth? 
 
 The cost would not be prohibitive, and it would be an honor and an 
 act of piety to thus remember the ancestors." 
 
 THEO. J. ANDERSON 
 Chicago, 111. 1947. 
 
 251 
 
1 a 
 
 1 s 
 
 1 OT 
 
 '\': 
 
 1 
 
 \ ll 
 

 v& 
 
"tU>0 "fuu~ ^ IzJlU^ A jLsV^d, ^ckX «e*uif«w, U*+£$bUj 
 
 •/tro-4 y^-c^^^ /0C6v '') / AJTy-j eUt^txy dseJU Us^jl^** 
 

 
 #r/ce $5.^0 
 
 100 YEARS 
 
 A History of 
 Bishop Hill, Illinois 
 
 
 Bishop Hill was typical of the 200 
 or more communal settlements which 
 sprang up in the country during the 
 middle of the last century. It was 
 founded in 1846 by a Swedish re- 
 ligious sect called "Devotionalist" 
 (lasare), which sent an agent to 
 America in 1845 to find a tract of 
 good, cheap farmland. He chose d 
 spot 160 miles southwest of the site 
 of Chicago. Many of the first settlers 
 who migrated to America had to 
 walk to their Illinois townsite from 
 Buffalo, New York. 
 
 The colony originated in certai 
 parishes of central Sweden, mostly 
 from Halsingland. They desired a 
 religious toleration denied them at 
 home. In 1846. 400 hardy pioneers 
 left their native land with then- 
 leader. Eric Janson. The organization 
 of this community was the first im- 
 migration to this country. 
 
 The name of the settlement be- 
 came known as Bishop Hill, an exact 
 translation of the name of the Swed- 
 ish parish where Eric Janson was 
 born. The colony gained its greatest 
 economic prosperity in 1860. just 
 before its dissolution.