A history of Bishop Hill, Illinois : also biographical sketches of many early pioneers in Illinois, 100 years, Part 1

Author: Anderson, Theodore J
Publication date: 1947
Publisher: Chicago : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 268


USA > Illinois > Henry County > Bishop Hill > A history of Bishop Hill, Illinois : also biographical sketches of many early pioneers in Illinois, 100 years > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


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977.338 An20 cop.2


History


of


Bishop Hill


1846-1946


A Story of Swedish Pioneers


ROBERT P. HOWARD 2624 E. LAKE SHORE DR. SPRINGFIELD, ILL.


AT UR MAMA CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF


UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN ILL. HIST. SURVEY


CITY- COUNTY STATE MAP


SIZE 81% X 11


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100 YEARS


A History of Bishop Hill, Illinois


ALSO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY EARLY SWEDISH PIONEERS IN ILLINOIS


ILLUSTRATED


Collected and Compiled By Theo. J. Anderson Chicago, Illinois


977.338 An 22 12


-


In loving memory of my wife Martha


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 the 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, Ill., 1946.


6


8.


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.


7


They worked in fields, at skills and crafts, 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


8


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, Ill.


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, his 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 O. 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


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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 farms, 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


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Interior av Biskopskullus yma.


Interior-Biskopskulla Church, Uppland, Sweden


On this ground stood the house where Eric Janson was born, December, 1808. Biskopskulla Church in the left background.


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dalaranja Kyrka.


Österunda 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.


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"The Old Colony Church"-Bishop Hill, Illinois "North Entrance"


The Bishop Hill Colony


By Philip J. Stoneberg


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.


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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. When 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. 1




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