158b 1 ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/bishophill184600jaco 977.338 , y J158b I J =1 + ~ "7 mEwxL mm Bishop Hill 1846 PHOTOS BY RUSSELL. TRALL NEVILLE KEWANEE, ILL. COPYRIGHT 1941 BY BISHOP HILL OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION RED OAK MONUMENT (INSCRIPTION) HEREABOUT RESTS 50 MEMBERS OF B. H. COLONY WHO DIED 1845-47. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY REMAINING MEMBERS OF B. H. C. 1882 STREET SCENE COLONY CHURCH INTERIOR CHURCH T BISHOP HILL * 1846 » By MARGARET E. JACOBSON HE visiters who come to Bishop Hill often wonder about the origin of its name. If their wonder leads to query, townspeople explain that Biskops Kulla was the Swedish parish in which Eric Janson was born, and that the name, translated, was given to the American town which Janson founded. A hundred years ago, just as now, people were strug- gling for freedom. To a certain group of Swedish people this struggle focused first, in disapproval of conditions which existed in the Established Church, and second, in a desire to worship unmolested as their consciences di- rected. Leadership presented itself in the person of Eric Janson, whose following grew so rapidly, and became so purposeful, that he was able to plan their emigration from Sweden to found a community in America. To make this financially possible each colonist sold all of his possessions, and contributed the proceeds to a com- mon treasury, which provided for transportation across the Atlantic as well as sustenance and support through- out the entire existence of the colony. Seafaring was hazardous, and many are the tales of hardship, courage, resourcefulness, and tragedy which bespeak the steadfastness of purpose which activated these emigrants. The groups varied in size from less than fifty to as many as two hundred. The voyages took variously six, nine or twelve weeks, while five months was consumed by the passage of one party. Deaths at sea occurred, vessels were wrecked, and some brave souls who left their native land with high hope never reached the shores which lured them with the wish for a new home. In 1846 the first of several parties ar- rived in New York and undertook the tedious journey remaining, by canal, the Great Lakes, by wag-on and by foot overland to Victoria, and then to Red Oak Grove in Henry County, about three miles west of the town site, chosen later, which was to become Bishop Hill. Colonists continued to arrive in larger and smaller groups. With the passing years travel became easier so the last comers, in 1854, covered the entire distance from New York to Galva by rail, as the C.B.&Q. railway was that year, completed to that point. These additions to the population of Bishop Hill made it eventually a town of eleven hundred citizens. Shelter, and a place of worship, were the first con- cerns of these pioneers. A few log-houses and tents, used temporarily, were supplanted by a number of dug-outs about eighteen feet wide and from twenty-five to thirty feet long, with a fireplace at the rear wall, a roof of rails, sod and earth, and a door and two small windows at the front. Two tiers of berths were built along the side walls. Each dug-out accommodated from twenty-five to thirty persons. The first church was called the tent church because the structure, built in the shape of a cross, large enough for a thousand persons, was made of logs and covered with canvas. A school for adults was held in the tent church, while the children were, at first, taught in mud caves. English was taught in all the schools. The tent church served until 1848 when it burned, and a new church was erected, which is known loday as "the old Colony Church." Bodies, souls and minds thus cared for, the colonists bent their efforts to providing food and clothing, and to establishing a system of living conducive to a success- ful outcome of their ambitious venture. A-griculture was the principal occupation. Oxen broke the prairie, and Indian corn, wheat and oats were raised. Men, women and children engaged in the primitive processes of the enterprise. And the efforts of these laborers prospered. The original sixty acres of land grew to twelve thousand, as part of the property worth a million dollars before the dissolu- tion of the colony. The community aspect of the organization meant not only that goods were jointly owned, but that life was lived on a group basis rather than an individual one. In 1819 "the big brick" was begun and it was finished the next year. Two hundred and forty-five feet long, and four stories high, it consisted ot ninety-six dwelling rooms, exclusive of six halls, and the communal kitchen and dining-rooms in the basement. Here eighteen women worked in the kitchen and twelve waitresses served the food. The bell, now calling Bishop Hill children to school, summoned the colonists to their meals. Though fare was plain and sometimes scanty in the early days, grace was always said or sung, and the tables were clean and attractive, being dressed three times weekly with fresh linen which had been raised, spun and woven in the colony. An early version of the modern apartment house, the big brick was the home of many families un- til it burned, in 1928. Other large buildings were constructed to provide dwelling rooms. In order to complete the housing of all as soon as possible, these buildings were apportioned, one room to a family. Construction work was facilitated by the making of kiln-dried brick which began in 1848 and by the use of saw mills. In 1854 "the Steeple Building" which houses the col- ony-made clock was erected, and in 1860 the brick school-house, still serving its original purpose, was built. The hotel, the tannery, the brewery, the dairy, the bak- ery, the blacksmith shop, -the carriage and wagon shop, the paint-shop, the hospital, the mill, were all necessary to the economic life of the community, and for all phases of work there were experts — carpenters, shoe-makers, tailors, tanners, spinners, weavers, harness-makers, turners, clock-makers, broom-makers. Fortune did not smile continually on this colonial ex- periment. Hard labor was daily fare, stern discipline, and the will to go on, despite re- verses. In 1846 and '47, malaria and dysen- tery caused a great many deaths, and in 1849 a dreadful plague of Asiatic cholera attacked the settlement. Fifty who died of cholera were buried in Red Oak where a monument stands, dedicated to them. Also in 1849 an expedition was fitted up to try further fortunes in the California gold rush, but the fortunes were not realized. Many and varied circumstances led to the dissolu- tion of the colony. All business ventures did not succeed which caused dissatisfaction. Some of the religious fer- vor of the early days had spent itself. The Civil War was reducing the number of young men as they responded to President Lincoln's call for troops. Times were crh> ical and people were restless. The decision concerning the dissolution of the colony and the division of property became effective in 1861. The many casual visitors who see the little village of tree-lined streets, well-kept lawns, and unusual old buildings, doubtless remember it, if at all, for its past. To those who go to the old brick postoffice for their mail, Bishop Hill is home. ^? BIG BRICK STEEPLE BUILDING "MADE 1859 BY BJORKLAND BLOMBERG SODERQUIST BISHOP HILL" TOWN CLOCK COLONY BUILDINGS 15 ff* gfscl Q- D oo 5- (II <-r 3 -5' Spets Store The Store of Friendly Service Fresh Meats Vegetables - Fruits Poultry and Cream Ph. 15 on 38. We Thank You RANEY and RIAS COMPLIMENTS OF Mrs. E. L. Swanson and Evelyn Swanson Craig Bishop Hill, III. FLORINE SERVICE STATION Bishop Hill, III. STANDARD PRODUCTS Atlas Tires Batteries Car Greasing Batteries Charged While You Wait. EMERY W. CHILBERG Magazines and School Supplies Roszell's Ice Cream Soft Drinks — Candies Ph. 25-32 Bishop Hill Compliments of M. W. Stephenson Farm Bureau Station and Truck Service Kenneth Wexell GENERAL TRUCKING AND LIVESTOCK HAULING CHICAGO AND PEORIA PHONE 51 ON 4 Bergren Hardware & Implement Co. General Hardware CASE IMPLEMENTS Implements, Pumps, and Furnace Repairs Electric and Acetylene Welding A. GUNNAR BORG, Manager Phone — 3 on 35 BISHOP HILL MOBIL SERVICE Socony Vacuum Oil Products Mobil Oil Mobil Gas We Appreciate Your Patronage. Charles and Rudy Props. ARNQUIST'S GENERAL STORE Finer Foods for Less Where Quality Counts Has Served the Community Since 1877 W. T. HEDSTROM, Prop, Albert Florine Painter and Decorator. WILLARD LEFF Milk Trucker to Assoc : ated Dairies. General Hauling. Compliments of OSCAR RAPP Antique Cabinet Maker ARTHUR OLSON and SON Corn Shelling - Bishop Hill Galva Co-Operative Grain & Supply Company • LUMBER COAL BUILDING MATERIALS GALVA NEKOMA BISHOP HILL -#te* - v: PAINTING B\ r*,rtmrimtmit*-* . LOF KRANS Glenn R. Johnson ONEIDA, ILL. Maytag Washers and Ironers Frigidaire Refrigerators DeLaval Cream Separators Wm. Henry Ash INSURANCE Whatever the Hazard — There Is Insurance for Your Protection. ONEIDA, ILL. Ph. 15-12 Martin M.Swanson I Am Now In A Position to Render to You A Service Never Before Possible. TRUCKERS OF WHOLE MILK, GENERAL HAULING Call Woodhull— 52 on 96 Do You Know Your Local Industry? C Reputation built on accuracy and honesty. C Industry that invites you to compare us to any industry of its kind. C Service of competent milk hauler, right from your door. C Market of highest prices for your milk and cream. G Location for your convenience to come in and see how it is done. d Accuracy that assures you of more profit. d Facilities equal to larger dairy industries. d Prices that rise with the market and are always tops! Associated Dairies, Inc. YOUR LOCAL INDUSTRY Woodhull, Illinois Call 71 Peterson- Wallin-Knox FURNITURE— FLOOR COVERINGS— PH I LCO RADIOS AND REFRIGERATORS Private Invalid Coach Service Funeral Home VERNON E. WALLIN Licensed Funeral Director WOODHULL Funeral Home R. EARL KNOX Licensed Funeral Director ALPHA Anderson-Norberg Illinois Oil Company Products Premier and County Fair Paints! Satisfaction Guaranteed. Prompt Bulk Service PHONE 114 Woodhull Swanson Sales & Service Everything in Farm Machinery Woodhull III. WERBACH FLORAL COMPANY Phone Black 181 214 E. SOUTH STREET Compliments of HARRIS PAINT and ART SHOP Phone Black 178 D. P. ROBINSON General Agent Henry County Farm Bureau Swan & Bahnson Henry County's Leading Department Store. Drugs Dry Goods - Shoes Groceries Appliances Phone Black 21 CAMBRIDGE, ILL. Compliments of Ford - Mercury Ford-Ferguson Tractors & Implements Reed Motor Sales CAMBRIDGE Reed Motor Cj. GALVA Our Compliments and Best Wishes Henry-Stark Service Company Cambridge, 111. ADELINE'S EAT SHOPPE GOOD FOOD FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE Adeline Nelson, Prop. FIELD SEEDS of HIGH QUALITY FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE SEED CO. Cambridge, III. Charles G. Davis COUNTY JUDGE Lee A. Larson COUNTY CLERK R. T. Gustus COUNTY TREASURER Fred B. Swanson COUNTY SHERIFF Mrs. Julia M. Tucker COUNTY SUPT. OF SCHOOLS Stuart W- Ogden COUNTY SUPT. OF HIGHWAYS J. O. Stephenson CORONER E.W. Houghton Lumber Co. Serving the Public 60 Years Alt ona, Galva, ARELENE and IRMA SANDWICH SHOP Hutchinson's Ice Cream Arlene and Irma Malmgren Props. Phone 505 GALVA — ILLINOIS KATE and MAME GALVA GREENHOUSE 417 S. E. Second St. "We Are As Near As PHONE 123" Cut Flowers and Plants for All Occasions Funeral Flowers a Specialt> Pioneer Hibred Seed Corn First Commercial Producer of Hibred Seed Corn. A Replanting Agreement With Every Bushel. V. E. TROLINE, Agt, Galva, III. Phone 8113 S. J. Fahnstrom Blacksmithing Electric and Acetylene Welding GOODRICH TIRES FRIGIDAIRES * Murchison Chevrolet Sales "All That's Best at Lowest Cost" Galva, I1L * Towing Day and Night PHONE 357 or 414 SIB PLENTY OF WATER! Just push the button . . . there's a continuous supply always on tap . . . when you have the new •^ «d-g ^e-a.-m.Li-yL-e.-d. Pump Jack 1* Designed for long and efficient service. 2a Fully enclosed cast-iron gear case . . . safe . . . dust, rain and sleet-proof. 3a Smooth, quiet operation . . . gears run in oil. 4. Helical cut gear and pinion. 5> Heavy bronze bearings. 6. Malleable pitman arms. 7. Attaches to any vertical stroke pump. 8. Operated with electric or gas engine power . . . low current cost. 9» Reasonably priced. See this New Pump Jack NOW . . . enjoy its marvelous conveniences SEE YOUR DEALER Manufactured by BLUE STAR MANUFACTURING CO COMPLIMENTS of BERGLAND & EVERETT LAWYERS Galva, Illinois ALBERT E. BERGLAND REYNOLDS M. EVERETT Lawrence A. Swanson ELECTRICIAN Radio and Sound Service PHONE 248J INSURANCE ALL KINDS Joe J. Lord INSURANCE AGCY. 2nd Floor Lindholm Bldg. Phone 331 Galva, 111. Ericson Bros. Super Service Store Better Foods Cost Less RICHELEIU FINE FOODS FRESH MEATS GALVA, ILL. Front St. MILLER'S PAINT & WALLPAPER STORE Duane Peart, Mgr. Pittsburgh Faints, Glass and Sundries. Imperial Wallpaper Kircch Venetian Blinds Phone 371 GALVA, ILL. Drs. J. E. & Marion Blust Osteopathic Physicians Best Bldg. Galva, 111. PHONE 19 First National Bank in Galva GALVA, ILL. A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION 112 NORTH EXCHANGE ST. Telephone No. 31 Deposits Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation JOHNSON CHAPEL A Modern Well Equipped Undertaking Establishment. Galva, Illinois OSCAR JOHNSON KENNETH W. JOHNSON Office and Apt. Ph. 4 Res. Ph. 99 Gasoline Oils Greasing Washing Sweat's Standard Service PHONE 90 • Route 17 Galva, 111. We Appreciate Your Business. JACOBSON'S HOME BAKERY Try Jacobson's Rusks GALVA, ILL. J. O. STEPHENSON TAILOR Galva — Illinois CATON AND MANNING RECREATION PARLORS Alta's Shop Everything for Ladies Mrs. W. E. Murnen Ph. 260 Galva, 111. THE CANDY SHOP H. R. BOGNER GALVA SCHNEIDER DRUG COMPANY M. K. Schneider, R. Ph. Galva, III. Galva Theatre Always the Best Pictures J. A. Weece, Mgr. BOURGOIN MONUMENT WORKS Phone 208 GALVA — ILLINOIS Keep Abi east of the Best by Using * KC 1PP1I JOS * First Hybrid Corn Producers In North ern Illinois. M o r g a n B roth e r s GALVA ILLINOIS Galva Heater Manufacturers of Steam Hot Water Heating Boilers. and Establis hed 1888 GALVA, ILL. Ph 29 NASH GARAGE Phone 50 216 N.W. 1st St. GALVA, ILL. Storage — 24 Hour Service GENERAL STORE L. P. Cahill, Mgr. Galva — Illinois Dohrn Transfer Co. Fast Motor Transportation PH. GALVA 66 Compliments of FREEBURG GROCERY We Sell McCormick-Deering Farm Equipment. We Service All Makes of Farm Machinery on Repairs! GALVA FARM EQUIPMENT CO. G. H. Ovorbaugh, Owner Ph. 43 GALVA, ILL. GARRIGAN'S MARKET FRESH AND SALT MEATS PHONE 524 Ph. 23 Galva, 111. Compliments of BEN FRANKLIN STORE GALVA — ILL. Compliments of Browns* Market MEATS GROCERIES Galva, III. Mrs. Thure Anderson Cleaning and Pressing GALVA, ILL. Mitchell's Dairy Fresh Milk and Cream Daily also Distributors of Richard's Pasturized Milk. Compliments of GALVA HATCHERY Mr. and Mrs. Sperry Compliments of PFISTER HYBRIDS F. D. Sperry Galva, III. Compliments of KNEEN'S DEPT. STORE Galva — o — Illinois BEAUTY SHOP Phone 505 Galva, 111. SELECT YOUR CREAM MARKET WISELY . . . HIGHEST PRICES HONEST WEIGHTS AND TESTS PROMPT and COURTEOUS SERVICE — These have been the stepping stones to our 47 years of continued success and advancement in the creamery busi- ness. If you are not one of th2 many thousands of crearr producers now patronizing Galva Creamery JOIN US NOW. We Need Good Cream— You Need Good Checks Our Customers Need Good Butter This Combination Can't Be Beat LETS GET TOGETHER Galva Creamery Company GALVA, ILLINOIS Other Plants^— Kansas City, Mo., and St. Paul, Minn. BERT W. JOHNSON CASE DEALER Tractors and Farm Implements. Ask the Satisfied Case Owner. EN-AR-CO Motor Oil and Greases. Res. Ph. 4166 Off. Ph. 167 ANDREWS IMPLEMENT CO. Where MASSEY-H ARRIS Full Line of Quality Machines Are Always on hand. NEW IDEA Spreaders and Corn Pickers Phone 643 ALTONA, ILL, Compliments of GALVA MILLS and FEED The Woodhull Dispatch WOODHULL, ILLINOIS ^jine Ljommercial Prlniincj MOBILGAS MOBILOIL JOHNSON'S SERVICE STATION Socony-Vacuum Oil Products TIRES WASHING WAXING BATTERIES GALVA Phone 201 ILLINOIS THE WOODHULL DISPATCH-- 1 94 1