USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 16
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The first services were held in the old schoolhouse which belonged to the college, and served as & house of worship till 1872, when a good and substantial church was built. Its dimen- sions are eighty feet long, forty feet wide, twenty high, whereto is added the 100 feet high spire. The cost of same finished amounted to $11,000. The pulpit may be noted as very pretty and costly, and is regarded as second to none in the State, when speaking of the Scandinavian Churches.
The congregation has 365 communicants, and in all 600
members. The Sunday school is attended by 150 children. Rev. A. Edgren is pastor of the church, and was born in Nedra Ulleryd, in the Province of Vermland, the 3d day of January, 1844. He came to America in 1870, and graduated in Paxton the 29th of June, 1878. The Swedish, Lutheran Mission Church was, in November, 1878, organized with a membership of seventy- five, with Rev. A. P. Palmquist as its pastor. The following year a neat and pleasant church was built at an expense of $1,500. The membership has since increased to 135 persons. Society Swes has existed since 1877, and is at present in a very prosperous condition, although the membership never exceeded a higher figure than twenty-five. Its -principal object is to fur- nish its members social benefits and mutual assistance. Swea has already paid out considerable sum as help to sick members, and has laid a good foundation for a library fund. The present
officers of Society Swea are : Henry Pearson, President ; John A. Nelson, Vice President; John F. G. Helmer, Secretary ; Gust Sandburg, Treasurer ; and Aug Smith, Librarian.
The Swedish Cornet Band was organized by the musically inclined Swedes. in October, 1877, with A. G. Palmblad as leader, and members of same are John A. Nelson, C. A. Larson, George Hanson, A. E. Sheldon, G. Swenson, G. A. Lundberg, A. Hegstrom, A. J. Anderson and Gust Sandburg. In the political field has John F. G. Helmer held the office of Coroner four years, the office of the Justice of the Peace has been held by Peter Headburg, and also Andrew Lindstrom, now residing in Chicago; and he was elected collector of taxes. Peter Hedberg, Swen Peterson, and A. J. Anderson is the present incumbent.
FARMERSVILLE.
This is a settlement of Swedes, nine miles west of Paxton, and is the center of a large prosperous settlement, dating back to 1868 and 1864, or at about the same time the college was located at Paxton. About the countrymen here is not much of a general interest to relate, because they live scattered on farms, and we have no other history than that of their church.
A Swedish Lutheran Church was organized here in the year 1868, and in 1867 a church was erected at a cost of $1,000, and a parsonage costing $2,000-membership about 225. This colony stretches far away in the north and west, to the stations of Elliott and Gibson, and in each of them are a number of Swedes. Frank W. Johnson runs a blacksmith shop.
At Gibson reside twenty Swedish families, who have organ- ized a church, and is visited by the Rev. J. E. Nystrom, from Farmersville. Nystrom was born the 24th of May, 1851, at Motala, Sweden; he emigrated in 1877, and graduated as minister, from Augustana College, at Rock Island, in the spring of 1879. The Swedes here about Gibson are day-laborers and renters. N. E. Eklund and John F. Johnson run shoe shops.
The Paxton settlement branches out south along the Illinois Central Railroad into Champaign County, and at Rantoul we find the firm of Swedberg & Dahlgren, who conduct a wagon shop and do general blacksmithing, and John Lindeboef, maker of boots and shoes. East of Paxton we have Rankin, where a Swedish Lutheran Congregation has existed since 1865. The
Swedish population in Ford County is estimated at 1,500 per- sons, and they all do well.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
A. J. Anderson, born January 25, 1850, in Grenwa, carne with his parents to La Fayette, Ind., in 1852, where he lived five years and moved afterward to Attica, Ind., but removed to Pax- ton, in 1869. They farmed in the neighborhood. IIe way married, in 1877, to Miss C. J. Peterson, and to them has been born a child. He is a Lutheran, and a Republican.
P. A. Berggren was born on the 7th of July, 1842. He em- igrated in 1853, and lived in Milford, Ind., where his father re- sided, and went afterward with him to Attica, where his father lived till 1875, when he moved to Cannon Falls, Minn., where he still lives. Berggren enlisted in 1864, in one of the Indiana regiments, and served ten months in the war, and went to rail- roading as brakeman for one and one-half years. He learned photography and ran an art gallery in Paxton, until February, 1880, when he opened a grocery store. He was married in 1872, to Emma S. Johnson ; they have two daughters. Affiliates with the Lutheran Church, and he is Republican.
Carl Fredrick Carlson, farmer on Section 18, Patton Town- ship (Farmersville), and owner of 240 acres. Ile was born in Myrlunda, Kalmarlan. He emigrated in 1857, and lived near Henry in Marshall County, where he left his wife and went to Kansas to establish his home for the future, and came back in three months with the intention of removing his family there. but soon learned that the Indians had made a raid on the then very new Kansas colonies and murdered the settlers, which made him abandon the ides, and he concluded to remain in Illinois. He struggled hard and had many difficulties to experience, and he and his wife toiled for others. In 1865, they had saved enough money to buy eighty acres in Ford County, whence they ra- moved and have since prospered. His wife was Lovisa Nelson, from Kristdala. They had seven children. Lutheran and Re- publican. Post office, Elliott, Ill.
E. Collin, of Farmersville, owns 117 acres; born at Verum Skane, the 5th of March, 1828, emigrated 1852 and located first at Knoxville and afterward at Galesburg, wherehe worked on the railroad and carpentering ; moved, 1863, to Paxton and bought eighty acres, which he has since improved and resided on. Mar- ried, 1855, with Elsa Randum ; seven children. Lutheran and a Republican.
Nils Dahlgren, born the 26th of February, 1832, in Orsjo Mal- mohus Lan ; he learned blacksmithing in Sweden and emigrated 1854. Stopped and worked in Boston one year, and came to Moline, Ill., in April, 1856, and was employed in Deere & Co.'s plow shops till 1866, when he moved to Paxton and started to manufacture plows. Married for the third time the 2d day of October, 1869, with Cecilia Olson, from Swenstorp in Kristian- stads Lan. Has with his first wife a daughter, who is married to Fred Telander, and also a daughter with his present wife. D. has made money and is still as industrious as in former days. Does not belong to any church, is a strong Republican. Mrs. Dahlgren is a member of the Mission Church.
N. G. Egnell, born in Norrköping the 1st day of June, 1818, learned cabinet-making in Sweden, and went, in 1845, to Russia where he worked in St. Petersburg at his trade till 1852, when he emigrated to America and landed in Boston, where he remained two years ; moved to Moline, Ill., 1854, stopped there until 1864 when he came to Paxton to open & furniture store; and was married, in 1855, to Johanna Emanuelson, from Odeshog in Osterguthland, from whence she emigrated 1855. Has two daughters and one son. Is a Lutheran and a Republican.
John F. G. Helmer, born 14th November, 1849, at Hjertabo, Vestergothland ; attended the college at Jönköping before he emi- grated in 1867. Here he did not expect to find it very easy, and went to work ou the farm at first. During the past ten years has held the position as drug clerk in S. D. Cooper's drug store in Paxton, and is agent for all the leading ocean steamship lines. Of Helmer may be said that he is one of the most prominent Swedes in the Paxton colony. He is, among his countrymen, as well as among the Americans, well thought of and respected for his good character and business ability.
Peter Johnson, furmer on Section 30 of Patton Township, owns fifty-one acres ; born at Hjersas Skane the 6th of April, 1835; emigrated 1853, and his first residence was Princeton, Ill .; found afterward other locations, and came to Bishop Hill 1863, where he rented land and was married to Anna Ersdotter, from Alfta, one of that colony's first pioneers ; moved in 1867 to Ford County and bought the land he now owns. Lutheran and Republican. Post office, Paxton.
Gustaf Johnson, farmer on Section 29, near Farmersville in Dix Township, owns 280 acres; born at Stockaryd, Smoland, the 11th of September, 1823; emigrated 1853, entered on forty acres Government land, near Andover, Ill., where he lived until 1865, when he sold the farm and moved to Paxton, where he at once bought eighty acres, which he has since gradually increased until he is at this time the largest Swedish land-holder in Ford County. Married, in 1848, with Kaim Danielson, who died 1854; re married in 1856 with Anna Sund from Lymsga, Smoland, who died 1875. Seven children. A Lutheran and Republican. Post office Elliott.
C. M. Johnson, farmer on Section 32, near Farmersville, born the 6th day of April, 1826, at Hessleby Jonkopingelan, and emigrated 1846, on the ship Virginia, before mentioned on page 74, on which ship were, besides those enumerated, the following persons : Mr. Johnson's brother, Fredrik Johnson, with wife and children ; an old soldier by name of Norman, from Horn in Os- terguthland : Germond Johnson and wife and two children, from
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Kisa ; Carl Johnson with wife and one child, from Sund Oster- gothland, and also Samuel Dahl and his sister Carolina. All these remained near Buffalo until 1848, when their number was increased by the arrival of C. M. Johnson's brother, Anders P., and his sister, Johanna Lovisa Peterson and the two sisters Lisa and Lena Anderson. All of them were very poor, and when some of the party went West, Germond Johnson was compelled to leave two young daughters in a home of charity from whence they were taken by some ladies who resided in Warren. County, Penn. When Johnson heard of this, he at once started for War- ren and found his children and settled there, and persuaded the friends in Buffalo remaining to also move to Warren, and here was C. M. Johnson, the 26th of December, 1851, married to
Karolina Dahl. Germond Johnson and his family moved to Minnesota in 1857. Samuel Dahl died at Warren. Fred John- son bought land near Warren and still resides there if he is yet living. Anders P. Johnson moved to Minnesota where he has since died. His sister Johanna, was married to one Frank Peterson and resides now at Jamestown, where Lisa and Lena Anderson live and are married. C. M. Johnson moved to Pax- ton in 1863, served in the Union army during the war from the 4th day of October, 1864, until the 21st day of July, 1865. Moved in 1866, on the farm he now occupies, consisting of 228 acres. He has five sons and three daughters to assist him in old days. Is a carpenter by profession, and built the Swedish Lu- theran Church at Farmersville. A Lutheran and Republican.
.Jan Johnson was born at Grenna, on the 22d of June, 1815. He emigrated in 1858, and passed his first five years in this country, in the neighborhood of La Fayette, Ind., laboring around among farmers, and moved afterward to Attica, of same State, and bought there forty acres and began farming on his own hook, and continued until 1865, when he bought a farm near Paxton, Ford Co., Ill., of 160 acres, which is being farmed by his son, Mr. Johnson having retired from active operations. He married, in 1889, with Johanna Anderson, from the same place as himself in Sweden, and who died in 1866, leaving two sons, one of them living in Kansas, at Mariedahl. He is a Lutheran and a Republican.
Peter Larson was born on the 12th of December, 1838, at Olmstad Jönköpings Län. He emigrated in 1854, and lived at Attica, Ind., until 1865, when he moved to Paxton, where he has since been engaged in the merchant tailoring business, at first as & partner but since 1870 as sole proprietor. He married, in 1857, Lavisa Jacobson, from Linderas, and four children have been born to them. They are members of the New Mission Church. He is a Republican.
A. J. Laurence was born at Grenna December 12, 1849, and came to America in 1869, and made Paxton his new home. He commenced with farming, but abandoned it to become a merchant, and is running a large dry goods business. He was married to Jennie Egnell, who was born in Moline, Ill., and they have one child. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
John Nelson was born in October, 1821, at Robergs, in Jon- köpings Lan. He emigrated in the year 1852, and landed in Bos- ton. He arrived in La Fayette, Ind., on the 18th day of October, same year, and went to work for a farmer, and afterward rented a farm. He engaged in the tailoring business, in 1865, under the firm of Lindberg, Larson & Nelson, which afterward changed to Larson & Nelson. He has been in business alone since 1871. He married, Johanna Swenson, from Odestuga Jönköpings Län, and had two children, when he emigrated from Sweden, and they are now' in Paxton, where two others have been born to them. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican.
Anders Nilson, farmer on Section 28, Patton Township, near Farmersville, where he owns eighty acres. He was born the 24th of May, 1830, at Bjerkarna, in Vermland, and emi- grated 1858, worked on the railroads near Pontiac, Ill. Chopped wood at Vicksburg ; had employment on a saw mill at Mo- Comb, Ill., and went to Galesburg; when there, he received information that a party of emigrants, six from Vermland, had arrived in Chicago, and he went there to meet his brother's fam- ily, his brother having fallen a victim of cholera at Quebec. From there he made a trip to Minnesota, but soon returned to Chicago, and found that his brother's family all had died of cholera, and that one Schneidau had been appointed administrator of the property ($1,400 in money the family left). Of this sum Nelson received for himself and his brothers in Sweden (who were the legal heirs), only $200, which Capt. C. M. Lindgren compelled Schneidsu to pay him. Schneidau afterward trans- ferred his property to Ogden, in Chicago, and the balance dis- appeared. With the $200, he went with Capt. Lindgren to Tou- lon, and worked on the American Central Railroad, on which L. had contracted to complete. He went in 1855, to Kewanee, and continued to the work on the railroad till 1858, when he went to Chayola, and returned in 1859, to Kewanee; had various employ- ments until 1862, when he made a visit to Sweden, but returned the same year to America. In 1864, he went to the gold mines in Montana, and his efforts were fortunate and successful ; returned from there in August of the same year. On this jour- ney, he and his company had the misfortune one night to lose their horses, who were stampeded by the Indians, and suf- fered from hunger and cold, and had to continue their journey afoot until they struck the trail running to Pike's Peak, when they were allowed to ride with returning gold-seekers to the Missouri. For a couple of years he rented land, after his return in the settlement of Beaver, Ill. Bought in 1867, the farm he now resides on, and has since lived there in quiet and peace. Married in 1854, with Anna E. Nelson, from Karlskoga, where- from she emigrated in 1854. Has three daughters and two sons ; is a Lutheran and Republican. Post office, Paxton, III.
Gustaf Erik Nelson, farmer on Section 82, Patton Township, owns 160. He was born at Hvena in Malmohus Lan, 5th of March, 1880. Emigrated 1867, and located at Jamestown, N. Y., where he remained for seven years working around for farm-
ers, and came to Paxton 1864. Bought at first eighty acres, and has since added eighty acres to it. Married, in 1862, with Anna Simpson from Perlunda. Kalmar Lan ; emigrated 1851. Have one adopted son (Gustaf Nelson). Lutheran and Republican. Post office at Paxton, Ill.
Gustaf R. Nelson, farmer on Section £9, Patton Township (Farmersville), owns eighty acres. Born at Odinsjo, Kalmarlän, the 15th of May, 1852 ; emigrated in 1869; came at once to Pax- ton, but moved later to Henderson County, Ill., where he farmed and returned again to Paxton in 1878, when he bought the farmn he now occupies. Married, 1878, with Emma S. Nelson, from Matilla in Linaland, whence she emigrated in 1873. They have one daughter. Lutheran and Republican. Post office Paxton, Ill. N. H. Pearson, born at Ousby, Skåne, the 4th day of Novem- ber, 1843. Emigrated in 1867, and arrived same year at Pax- ton, where he has lived ever since, following his trade as carpenter and builder, and been running a shop on his account during the past five years. Elected Alderman in 1878, and served two years, and was re-elected in 1880. Married with Anna Ljung- dahl from Verstadin, Smaland, whence she emigrated 1866. Have three children. Lutheran and Republican.
Gustaf Swenson born the 11th day of September, 1952, at Andershestra of Jönköpingslän, and came to America in 1871; has since been employed at farming and blacksmithing ; is now in the employ of Nils Dahlgren. Lutheran and Republican.
A. E. Sheldon was born the 3d day of October, 1845, in Nussjo Socken Ostergothland. He emigrated in 1873, and lived at first in Hoopeston one year, and has since resided in Pax- ton. He is a shoe-maker by trade, and has since 1875 been a member of the firm of Sheldon & Swanson, dealers and manu- facturers of boots and shoes. He was married to Augusta R. Anderson in 1878. They have one son. He is a Lutheran and a Republican.
Gustaf Sandburg was born at Lommaryd Smaland on the 13th of November, 1845. He emigrated in 1868, and came the same year to Paxton, and found employment with a farmer and stayed with him for two years. He learned afterward the wagon-maker's trade, and after six years' experience embarked in business, and is now running an extensive wagon and blacksmith shop, and doing a prosperous business. He was married, in 1871, with Hilda Palm, from Frisby, in Jönköpingslän, whence she emigrated in in 1869. Two sons and one daughter have been born to them. He is a Lutheran and a Republican.
Peter Swenson was born at Wanga Vestergothland July 21, 1825. He emigrated in 1852, and lived at first in the Southern States, when he moved to La Salle, Ill., and resided there ten years, and engaged in farming, and came to Rankin, Vermillion Co., Ill., where he bought 160 acres of land and tilled it till 1878, when he moved to Paxton to live. He was married, in 1857, with Karolina Anderson, from Ljungarum, of Jönköping Lan, from whence she emigrated in 1852. They have four children. He is a Lutheran and a Republican. .
CHURCH HISTORY.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FORD COUNTY .*
The rapid development of this Western country and unpar- alleled increase of the population of the United States is a marvel among nations. But the genius and polity of the Methodist Episcopal Church has well adapted itself to this age of wonders; for, while the nation's population has increased from about three millions in 1784 to fifty millions or more in 1884, the growth of this denomination has been even more marvelous, increasing in the same time from 14,988 to 1,799,593, or about seven times as rapidly. Under her system "energetic, migratory, itinerant- ex tempore-like the population itself," as soon as the settlers stretched their tents or erected their cabins, they were furnished the privileges of the Gospel. Hence we would expect to see this church early represented in the history of Ford County. There are thirteen organized societies in the county, viz., Pleasant Grove, Clarence, Paxton, Meharry's Chapel, Elliott, Center S. H., Gibson City, Sibley, Kempton, Cabery, Piper City, Roberts and Melvin, with an aggregate membership of about eight hundred. There are six church buildings and three parsonages valued at $28,900 ; thirteen Sunday schools, and 1,274 scholars, and two union schools, in the work of which this denomination shares.
Pleasant Grove .- The first Methodist Episcopal Society in this territory was organized in 1848, at Trickel Grove, in John Dops' log cabin, consisting of John Dops, class leader, Elihu Daniels, Mathew Elliott, Thomas Short and members of their families.
This was then an appointment in the Danville Circuit. Services were held regularly in this humble bome until 1857. Flagg's S. H. was erected when that became the regular preach- ing place, and continued to be until the Pleasant Grove Church was built, 1869, very near the spot where Dops' log cabin stood. This society and that at Clarence forms a part of the Rankin Circuit.
Paxton .- As early as the latter part of 1856, services were held occasionally at the residence of Benjamin Stites, Paxton,
Ill., and on the first Sunday in May, 1857, Rev. Haunn organ- | C. Rawlings, L. Corbly, E. F. Earl, and J. S. Webber and J. ized a society at the schoolhouse. There appear on the record the names of Mrs. Stites, still living and a member of the church, two of her daughters, Jonathan Covolt, P. W. Cooley and wife, Mrs. Howard Case, Jonas Randolph and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead, Henry Alvah and wife, and others.
In September, 1857, Rev. E. Dunham, father of J. C. Dan- ham, editor of the Paxton Register, was appointed to the Paxton Circuit, then composed of the following societies, viz., Paxton, Pleasant Grove, Loda and Patton's Schoolhouse. At the first quarterly conference there were present Robert Blackstock, Francis Meharry, John Dops, Matthew Elliott, John P. Dops, Jonathan Covolt and Jonas Randolph.
Rev. Dunham did valuable service in 1857-58, and, having settled on a farm north of town, continued to be an active and honorable member of the church until his-death. The circuit was served consecutively by Rev. W. H. McVey two years, Rev. M. Butler two years, Rev. M. M. Davidson two years. At this time, 1x64, the law of the church was changed, extending the pastoral limit to three years.
M. M. Davidson was succeeded by Rev. J. V. W. Baumann, one year; Rev. Issac Barber. three years, assisted by W. H. Musgrove; Rev. M. W. Everhart, one year; Rev. W. H. Mus- grove, two years, when Paxton was made a station; Rev. W. D. Best, three years ; Rev. W. H. Musgrove, again two years; Rev. J. S. Akers, two years ; Rev. J. Foxworthy, three years, and W. H. Wilder, the present pastor, who is serving his second year.
During the pastorate of M. M. Davidson, in 1868-64, the present church edifice was erected, at a cost of $8,000. Its au- dience room furnishes about 400 sittings, and the basement is well arranged into Sunday school and class rooms. This society has a resident membership of 200, fairly represented by such men as Robert Blackstock, A. C. Thompson, Merton Dunlap. J. M. Hanley, J. N. Bondurant, John Spindler, J. P. McCracken, N. B. Day, F. and C. Meharry, James Mercer, R. S. Hall, H.
B. Congram, local preachers. It sustains a Sunday school, un- der the direction of Merton Dunlap as Superintendent (he has held that position for eleven years). that will compare favorably with the best in enthusiasm and thoroughness of work. They have also a good parsonage property, well located, valued at 81,800, secured under the labors of the present pastor.
Meharry Chapel .- There had been services occasionally at David Patton's residence, Ten Mile Grove, for some years pre- vious to 1857, when Stoner's Schoolhouse became the regular appointment until the erection of Meharry's Chapel, four miles west of Paxton, in the early part of the summer of 1864. This was the first church built in Ford County. It cost $1,400, which was principally contributed by Robert Blackstock and F. Meharry, who, it should be remembered, contributed also very liberally toward the erection of the church in Paxton about the same time. Services have been held here regularly every two weeks, the prescher in charge at Paxton having pastoral oversight.
Gibson .- Like many railroad towns of the prairie, Gibson sprang up as if by magic. Methodism, however, was early on the ground, and has been as energetic and enterprising as the village. The first regular service was held in the depot, and af- terward in Gilmore's Hall, until the present church building was erected, under the pastorate of Rev. Job Ingram, in 1872, at a cost of about 82,500. Such has been the growth of the society that the present church building is too small to accommodate either its congregations or Sunday school. The membership of the society is 150, and it sustains the largest Sunday school in the county, largely through the efficiency of C. C. Oliver, its former Superintendent. The total value of church and parson- age property is not less than $3,500.
The writer is not able to give the names of the members of the present Quarterly Conference, therefore mention is made of only a few who are known to be representative men, such as M. T. Burwell, I. H. French, A. Crabbs, F. W. Beardsley. William Moyer, L. W. Crosthwait, Sunday school Superintendent, and
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