USA > Illinois > Henry County > Bishop Hill > A history of Bishop Hill, Illinois : also biographical sketches of many early pioneers in Illinois, 100 years > Part 17
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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.
WELLER TOWNSHIP HONOR ROLL
ANDERSON. EARL' ANDERSON EARNEST ANDERSON. MARTHA ANDERSON MAYNARD ANDERSON, MILO ANDERSON, WENDELL ARNQUIST, BENJAMIN
HAYWORTH. CLYDE HAYWORTH, ROBERT HEPHER.MERLE HEPNER. ROBERT
NELSON. HOWARD .. NORDSTROM.WAYNE
PICKENS. DONALD
BOLT, EVERETT
CARLSON, DALE
JOHNSON,LOUIS JOHNSON. JARES D. JOHNSON, LELAND JOHNSON EMMETT JOHNSON, JAMES J. JOHNSON, JOHN B.
SPETS. RIAS SANDBERG, ARTHUR SLOVER.BENJAMIN STEPHENSON, HOWARD STEPHENSON, MILFORD.I.
DE SMITH. DALE
KRANS, WILLARD
TALBERG,BERTIL TARLETON.ROBERT
ERICSON, ORVILLE ERICSON. WILLARD
LAUREN, WILLARD
VAN DYKE.VIRGIL VAN DYKE,HARVEY
FLORINE, ORVILLE FORSE, JAMES
MINER.DENNIS MILLER.JAMES MILLER, CHARLES MILLER,EDWIN MOUNT. HARRY MURPHY, ROBERT
WEXELL, CHESTER WEXELL. OLEN WICKSTROM, CLAYTON
GALE. HAROLD
HONOR ROLL IN THE VILLAGE PARK
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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, Ill.
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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, Ill.
Mr. Harry Berg-Galva, Ill.
Mr. Curtis Berg-Peoria, Ill.
Mr. Victor Carlson-Holdrege, Nebr.
Mr. Fred Carlson-Holdrege, Nebr.
Mrs. Nanney Carlson Swedberg, Holdrege, Nebr.
Mrs. Pauline Johnson Bergren, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Lottie Johnson Lindfors, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Emma Johnson Lindfors, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Miss Julia Krans, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Albert Krans, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Andrew Krans, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Miss Winnie Krans, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Laurena Krans Hanson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Miss Amy Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Elmer V. Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Elsie Nordstrom Hallquist, Moline, Ill.
Mrs. Lottie Ericson Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Emma Ericson Benson, Detroit, Mich.
Mrs. Lillie Ericson, Stromberg, Nebr.
Mr. Alfred Ericson, Galva, Ill.
Mr. Ted Ericson, Galva, Ill.
Mr. Clarence Ericson, Rockford, Ill.
Miss Sophie Lind, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Miss Minnie Lind, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mr. Olof Elbloom, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Jenny Elbloo mForse, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Christine Elbloom Olson, Wataga, Ill.
Mrs. Arthur Olson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Ed Bergstrom, ewannee, Ill.
Mr. Fred Bergstrom, Chicago, Ill.
Mrs. Francis Blomberg, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Robert Jacobson, Providence, Rhode Island.
Miss Margaret Jacobson, Rochester, N. Y.
Mrs. Helen Jacobson Anderson, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Henry Olson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Jennie Olson Swanson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
(Children of Mary Malmgren Olson, first child born in Colony. First daughter deceased, Mrs. Emma Olson Johnson.)
245
Mr. Edwin Headlund, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mr. Charlie Headlund, Galva, Ill. Mrs. Laura Headlund Johnson, Galva, Ill. Mrs. Alice Headlund Stoneberg, Galva, Ill. Mr. Elmer Ericson, Annawan, Ill.
Mr. Roy Ericson, Alaska, Ill.
Mr. Albert Lindstrum, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Andrew Lindstrum, Galesburg, Ill.
Mrs. Rosa Broline Lindholm, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Laura Broline Nelson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Gilbert Algren, Galva, Ill. Miss Lula Algren, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Lily Algren Spiezel, Bishop Hill, Ill. Miss Nora Algren Spiezel, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mr. Earl Root, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Amy Peterson, Galva, Ill.
Miss Nettie Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Maude Olson Seely, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Lula Johnson Ericson, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson Ericson, Salem, Ore.
Mrs. Etta Wahlstrom Dieterich, Reno, Nev.
Mrs. Nora Wahlstrum Peterson
Mr. Olof Sundberg, Bishop Hill, Ill. Miss Jennie Sundberg, Genesseo, Ill.
Mrs. Myrtle Sundberg Johnson, Chicago, Ill.
Mrs. Emma Sundberg Strum, Joplin, Mo.
Mrs. Carrie Sundberg Strum, Deckman, Texas. Mr. Clarence Naslund,, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. June Johnson Stewart, Peoria, Ill. Mrs. Minnie Johnson Lock, Galva, Ill.
Mr. Leonard Malmgren, Bishop Hill, Ill. Miss Harding Stoneberg, Spencer, Ia. Mrs. Selma Stoneberg Wickstrom, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Julia Stoneberg Malmgren, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mrs. Mable Stoneberg Green, Galva, Ill.
Mr. Lennie Gabrielson, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mrs. Madelia Johnson Sundquist, Toulon, Ill. Mr. Wilfred Johnson, Kewanee, Ill.
Mrs. Oline Ericson Falk, Bishop Hill, Ill. Miss Sadie Anderson, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mrs. Nora Anderson Bowman, Galva, Ill. Mr. Fred Hallfast, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mrs. Nora Hallfast Grill, Chicago, Ill.
Miss Minnie Solderquist, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Myrtle Solderquist Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mrs. Laura Solderquist Tillman, Bishop Hill, Ill. Mr. A. E. Berglund, Galva, Ill. Mr. Fred Berglund, Galva, Ill.
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Mr. Forrest Olson, Galva, Ill.
Mr. Victor Olson, Kewanee, Ill.
Mrs. Katharine Olson Kady, Rock Island, Ill.
Mrs. Lottie Olson Masters, Peoria, Ill.
Mrs. Tina Olson Wexell, Victoria, Ill.
Mrs. Lily Nordstrom Aby, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Ida Nordstrom Paddock, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Lawrence Nordstrom, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mrs. Nora Nordstrom Sholeen, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Ludwig Strum, Joplin, Mo.
Mrs. Fredricka Nordstedt Duffy, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Amanda Nordstedt Norlin, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Aurora Lindbeck Mount, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Ruth Lindbeck Shaffer, Edwardsville, Ill.
Mr. Manuel Lindbeck, Edwardsville, Ill.
Mr. Johnny Naslund, Cozad, Nebr.
Mrs. Vivian Headlund, Galva, Ill.
Miss Clara Ostrum, California.
Mrs. Maude Ostrum Barrier, California.
Mrs. Pauline Johnson Otto, Cambridge, Ill.
Mr. August Naslund, Bishop Hill, Ill.
Mr. Gust Naslund, Davenport, Ia.
Mr. Will Solderg, Davenport, Ia.
Mr. Wesley Soderberg, Aurora, Ill.
Mr. Linnie Soderberg, Chicago, Ill.
Mr. Charlie Stoneberg, Galva, Ill.
Mrs. Carrie Stoneberg Arnquist, Bishop Hill, Ill.
WORLD WAR II Seven Gold Star Descendants who gave their Lives in the Service of Our Country
2nd Lt. Russell Wetzel-from Kewanee, Ill., 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, Ill., age 23 years. Killed in action over Germany. Pilot of B24 Bomber, Nov. 11, 1944. Pvt. Floyd Clong-from Kewanee, Ill., age 20 years. Killed in action in Germany, March 23, 1945.
Sgt. Harley N. Rohm-from Cambridge, Ill., age 20 years. Died at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., after serving overseas. June 29, 1945.
Ist Lt. Gerald Scott-from Rock Island, Ill., 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, Ill., age 23 years. Died in Tokyo, Japan. Jan. 17, 1946.
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Members of Bishop Hill Methodist Church who Served in World War II
Five Silver Star Richard Peterson Ralph Peterson
One Gold Star
Wayne Nordstrom Howard Sundberg
Raymond Spets
Howard Shogren James Shogren
Rias Spets
Clyde Sundquist
Howard Stephenson Milford Stephenson, Jr.
Arthur Sandberg
Benjamin J. Slover
John B. Johnson
Marion O. Smith Archie Wallice Clayton Wickstrom Glen Wexell
Howard Ross
Robert Tarleton
Billy Tarleton Everette E. Bolt
WORLD WAR II (Sunday School Honor Roll of Enlisted Men and Women)
Martha Anderson
John Holmgren Robert Holmgren
Milo Anderson
Wendell Anderson
Emmet Johnson
Maynard Anderson
James D. Johnson
Benjamin Arnquist
Leland Johnson
Curtis Berg Howard Boostrom
L. Russell Johnson Harold A. Johnson
Maurice Chilberg Dale De Smith
Donald Kapple Howard Kapple
Willard Krans
Ross Lenartson
John Pershing Ericson
Willard Ericson
Denzil Lindbom
Darrell Lindbom
Clen Lindstrom
Russell Lindstrom
Orville Florine James Forse J. Willard Forse
Dennis Miner Donald Malmquist
Clyde Hayworth Robert Hayworth Clifford Headley Lester Headley Karl Holmgren John Ives Hunt
Charles Olson Paul Olson Robert Olson Stewart Olson
Carl Okerstrom Gunnar Olhson
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Carl Olof Ericson Basil Ericson J. Leonard Ericson
Maynard Lindbom Willard Lindbom
Charles W. Ericson
Orville Ericson
F. Maxwell Johnson
Earl Anderson Stephen Anderson
-
SGT. HARLEY M. ROHM Died at Battle Creek, Mich., after serving overseas. June, 1945.
Ist 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.
Ist 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
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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 of 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."
Chicago, Ill. 1947.
THEO. J. ANDERSON
251
PAINTING BY OLOF KRANS
BISHOP HILL IN 1855
18 Eric Jansen, formes 19 Jonas Olsen 20 use Bible to exclusion of other book
22 back Sunngo (181)
26 Just Swede in FIL- Raphael Wilson, a DD. Clau d.p. 18" other early Swedes
28 in Wisconsin 1811 Just Swedish settlement send Delaware Swedes - 12 families
26 £ 1100 willing to emegnats
30 main emigration Ocean tpa 81750 y ever 12, infondo fre
33 up Hudson, heat hakes to Chicago
by 1854, CROQ completed to Malo. July 1846 Jansen party To Victoria. sheltered in log cabin of Olaf Olson, who organized Just Swedish methodist church
34 settled in Weller two log houses, tents, dugouts roots of rack, sed + earl? preplaces en reas two tero of benthos for 25 a 30, dupants sometimes comfortable. church built
36
400 m colors food supply scanty, fasting obligatory, deaths numerous June 1847- 400 more an ived
40 precise not broken with 36" plow pulled by & yok oxen com, wheat, cats
-17 asiatic choler. 47 Person murdered 18:50 in Cambridge courtroom 49 Jonas Olsen in change 51 incorporated 1-17.53 55 mt 500 subscribed by low prospered
55 investments en Halva 56 business reversals processen for final dissolution of society 1860
57 -115 full shores 58 10857 ans and debt
Price $5.00 2.50
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" (läsare), which sent an agent to America in 1845 to find a tract of good, cheap farmland. He chose a 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 certain parishes of central Sweden, mostly from Hälsingland. They desired a religious toleration denied them at home. In 1846. 400 hardy pioneers left their native land with their 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.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
977.338AN20 C002 100 YEARS: A HISTORY OF BISHOP HILL, ILL
3 0112 025390185
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