USA > Illinois > Henry County > Bishop Hill > A history of Bishop Hill, Illinois : also biographical sketches of many early pioneers in Illinois, 100 years > Part 4
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It was planned that twelve men should go forth to spread the Janconistic belief, and these began carly 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
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"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
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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. O. 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
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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 case being the plaintiff in a trespass case 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
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solitary confinment and the rest at hard labor, the defend mt 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 Göteborg, 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
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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.
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Olof Stoneberg
Jacob Jacobson
Swan Swanson
Olof Johnson
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Rev. Jonas Olson 6
Jonas Ericson
1.1
Eric U. Norberg (At one time Secretary of the Colony.)
Jonas Kronberg
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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 laws 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
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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.
Any 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.
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Warehouse built in Galva by the Bishop Hill Colonists
DANKE GALVA 1106
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
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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 time 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 communistie 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-
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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 cqual 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, 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-
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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.
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