Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 131

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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654

KNOX COUNTY.

Chap .; M. W. French, Adjt .; R. B. Corbin, Surg .; F. W. Brown, Officer of the Day; R. A. Lower, Officer of the Guard; Wilson Adams, Sergt. Maj .; D. M. Carter, Q. M. S. The present officers are: J. A. Hensley, C .; T. F. Cunningham, S. V. C .; H. C. Soules, J. V. C .; O. P. Fetters, Q. M .; J. O. Wren, Chap .; L. A. Lawrence, Adjt. The pres- ent membership is fifteen.

T. G. Tait Post No. 698, Victoria, consists of thirty-five members, and the following officers: C. W. Harrison, C .; G. W. Reynolds, S. V. C .; Thomas Woolsey, J. V. C .; C. A. Sayer, Q. M .; S. G. Jarvis, Adjt.

G. W. Parker Post No. 700, Williamsfield, was instituted July 22, 1890, with fourteen members, which number has been increased to twenty. They met first in Tucker's Hall, but are now given the use of the I. O. O. F. Hall. The fol- lowing were the first officers: John Cole, M. D., C .; Samuel Tucker, S. V. C .; William M. Pierce, J. V. C .; John Oberholtzer, Q. M .; E. M. Sweeny, Adj. The present officers are: A. Diefenderfer, C .; A. Hurd, S. V. C .; O. J. Ober- holtzer, J. V. C .; John Cole, M. D., Q. M .; E. M. Sweeny, Chap .; Jacob Lafallett, Officer of the Day; Frank Bates, Officer of the Guard; C. A. Zenor, Adjt .; James King, Surg.

James T. Shields Corps No. 121, W. R. C., was instituted August 16, 1888, with twenty-three members, the present number being fifty-seven. They meet in G. A. R. Hall. The first officers were: Mrs. E. R. Mccullough, Pres .; Mrs. Ella Bradshaw, Sec'y; Mrs. Sarah Green, Treas. The present officers are: Mrs. Miron Rhodes, Pres .; Mrs. Jennie Freer, Sec'y; Mrs. Stella McDougal, Treas.

THE SWEDISH AMERICAN OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF KNOX COUNTY.

By Nels Nelson.

This Association was organized for the pur- pose of bringing its members into closer ac- quaintance with each other and gathering such information as could be gained from the experience and observation of those who cmi- grated from Sweden and settled in this county. These people and their descendants form nearly one-fourth of the population of the county at the present time.

An organization had been proposed and dis- cussed for some time before it was effected, and finally, on June 20, 1894, Messrs. Swan Peterson, of Knoxville; John N. Holm and George Eck- strand, of Galesburg, called a few of the old Swedish settlers together at the school house

of the First Lutheran Church in the last named city. At this meeting Hon. A. W. Berggren, of Galesburg, was chosen chairman; Swan Peter- son, of Knoxville, secretary; and committees on constitution and permanent organization were appointed as follows: Lewis L. Gibson, Nels Nelson and Lewis Burgland were named on the former; Captain C. E. Landstrum, John Peterson and George Eckstrand, composed the latter.

At a subsequent meeting, held on July 2 fol- lowing, the committees reported and the or- ganization was completed by the adoption of a constitution and the election of the following officers for one year: President, Hon. A. W. Berggren; Vice-President, Swan Peterson; Sec- retary, M. O. Williamson; Treasurer, S. W. Swanson; and Historian, Nels Nelson.

The constitution provided that all those born of Swedish parents, who had resided in Knox County thirty years, were eligible for member- ship in the association, and that annual meet- ings should be held for the discussion of past experiences and for social enjoyment. The first annual meeting was held at Lake George Park, on September 27, 1894, several hundred people being present, and the gathering a source of much enjoyment to those in attendance. Meet- ings have been held regularly each year since, and have been well attended. The reminiscences given on these occasions have been as instruc- tive as they are interesting.

Although it is not possible, within the limits of this article, to devote much space to the re- calling and recital of personal experiences, a brief reference to the first Swedish settlers in the different parts of the county and the pres- ent number and condition of these people is essential, and forms a valuable part of the his- tory of the county.

The best information obtainable shows that Jonas J. Hedstrom was the first Swede to settle in Knox County. He arrived in the year 1843, and settled at Victoria. As that village was situated on the boundary line between Victoria and Copley townships, and as new-comers set- tled at or near the village, the two townships were, virtually, settled simultaneously, and are therefore both included in this account of the settlement in that locality.

Two families, by the name of Olof Olson, ar- rived there in 1845; and in 1846 Olof Delain and another family, by the name of Olof Olson came. In 1847, there arrived Nels Yelm, Jonas Hedin, Olof Nordlund, Swen Larson, Jonas Johnson,

Yloooly

655

KNOX COUNTY.

Olof Beck, Peter Skoglund, Jonas Hellstrom, Lewis Hillberg, Hans Hanson, Carl M. Peterson, Swen and Louis Larson, George Craft, Mr. See- boldt and Peter Anderson.

Jonas J. Hedstrom, above mentioned, was a blacksmith by trade, but was very zealous in his efforts for the spiritual welfare of his country- men; and although he had to support himself by his labor at the forge, he conducted religious meetings regularly, at which he acted as leader, preaching to his people; and as early as 1846, with only five members, he organized a Method- ist Church. He was an energetic and intelligent man, who was a great help to his countrymen. The church he then organized is still in exist- ence, and has a membership of one hundred and fifty.

The number of Swedish-Americans now in Copley and Victoria townships is six hundred and forty-eight.

The following arrived and settled In Sparta Township in the year 1849: Lars Olson and family, Peter Erickson and family, Olof Olson and wife, Andrew Danielson and family, Olof Paulson and family and Mrs. Martha Nystrom. The next year came William and Lars William- son, with their families, as well as N. J. Lind- beck and Jonas Peterson and wife. Consider- able accessions to this number were made in the years immediately following, so that the Swedish-American population there now is three hundred and seventy-five.

Knoxville seems to have received the first Swede settler in Knox Township, In the person of Christian Johnson, in 1848; and in 1849 there arrived Adolphus Anderson and wife, Mrs. Christina Olson and daughter, John Charlson and Andrew Bergquist. The following year there came a Mr. Lofquist and wife, Nela Jacob- son, Mr. Bostrom and Mrs. Rundquist. During the next four years a large number came there from Sweden, and additional arrivals afterwards increased the number, together with their descendants, to four hundred and seventy at the present time.

In the city of Galesburg the first arrivals from Sweden were John Youngberg and family. An- ders Thorsell, Nels Hedstrom, Olof Nelson, Christina Muhr and Mr. Modin and family, all of whom came in 1847. The five following years only a very few of the Swedish Immigrants settled in Galesburg; but in 1852 Rev. T. N. Hasselquist and family came, with some others, who took up their residence there. A large number arrived annually for many succeeding

years, the result being that the number of Swedish-Americans in the city of Galesburg at present (1899) is 5,494.

Henderson Township was first settled by Swedes in 1849, when Jonas Hanson entered a claim there. He was followed, the next year, by Hans Williamson, and in 1851 by Jonas Peter- son.

In 1855, Peter S. Nelson moved to Henderson Grove, and from that time forward a consider- able number of families settled there each year; and at the present time there is a Swedish- American population of three hundred and twenty.

George E. Bostrom was the first arrival from Sweden in Ontario Township. He settled there in 1848, and Andrew Settergren came In 1849. E. J. Peterson moved to Oneida In 1850, and many others settled in Ontario Township soon afterward. Their present number is three hun- dred and thirty-two.

In Walnut Grove Township, the first arrivals from Sweden were evidently Mr. Snygg and family, who settled there in 1849. The follow- ing year N. P. Peterson and G. A. Erickson fol- lowed. George Chalman, Peter Newberg, L. Carlson, E. Krans, Peter Olson and George Erickson settled there not long afterward. For. several years following 1858 a large number of Swedish settlers came, so that the present num- ber of Swedish-Americans in Walnut Grove Township Is five hundred and ninety-two.

The eight townships named contain a larger number of Swedish-Americans than any other In the county; yet the other twelve contaln more than nine hundred.

The following church organizations and other societies are composed of Swedish-Americana only:

Swedish M. E. Church, Victoria; organized in 1846; present membership, one hundred and fifty, with a Sunday-school of seventy-five. Swedish Lutheran Church, Knoxville; organized 1853; present membership, one hundred and sixty-five; Sunday-school, ninety-eight. Swed- lah Lutheran Church, Wataga; organized 1856; present membership, one hundred and forty-six; Sunday-school, one hundred and thirteen; Young People's Society, thirty-five. Swedish M. E. Church, Wataga; membership, fifty; Sunday- school, twenty-five. Swedish Lutheran Church, Altona; organized in 1859; membership, three hundred and twenty-two. Sunday-school, one hundred and thirty-two. Swedish Lutheran Church, Henderson Grove; organized in 1870;

656

KNOX COUNTY.

membership, two hundred and three; Sunday- school, sixty-three.

In the city of Galesburg there are the follow- ing:

First Swedish Lutheran Church, organized in 1850; membership, 1,145; Sunday-school, 561. Swedish Methodist Church, organized in 1851; present membership, 300; Sunday-school, 250. Mission Church, organized in 1868; membership, 225; Sunday-school numbers 175.

Swedish Baptist Church, organized in 1888; present membership, 60; conducts three Sunday- schools, with an attendance of 100.

St. John's Episcopal Church; membership 150; Sunday-school, 80.

Zion's Lutheran Church, organized 1895; present membership, 85; Sunday-school, 70.

There are also the following societies com- posed, chiefly, of Swedish-Americans: First Scandinavian Lodge No. 446, I. O. O. F., mem- bership, 54; Svea Lodge, I. O. of G. T., member- ship, 64; Scandia Lodge, I. O. of G. T., member- ship, 75; Vasa Lodge, A. O. U. W., membership, 35; Svea Court Independent Order of Foresters, membership, 24; Monitor Union, membership, 140.

It must not be forgotten that a very consid- erahle proportion of these people came to this county early, when it was hut very sparsely settled; and that they were forced to undergo not only the usual hardships of the pioneer in any new country, but were "strangers in a strange land," understanding not a word of the language spoken by the people, among whom they found themselves thrown. Moreover, the methods of work were new to them; they were not accustomed to the climate, and the food was altogether different from that to which they were used. In addition to these disad- vantages, most of them had used nearly, if not quite, all the small means they possessed in order to come to America. Yet, to their un- speakable credit be it said, one would seldom find any of them discouraged or dissatisfied. They were strong and active, and eager to secure work. The earlier settlers of the county wel- comed these sturdy sons of the North witlı warm hands, and extended to them all kindness and encouragement. The men secured work on the farms, and the young women found places as domestics in families in need of their serv- ices. That it required much patience on the part of both employer and employe to learn to understand each other goes without saying; but forbearance and patience, on the one hand.

and eager determination to learn, joined to absolute fidelity on the other, overcame these difficulties in a surprisingly short time.

The Swedes became Americanized very read- ily, and they love and appreciate the free in- stitutions of their adopted country. A very large percentage of those capable of bearing arms volunteered to aid in the protection of our government during the War of the Rebellion, bearing their full share of the suffering and sacrifice entailed by that memorable struggle.

As has been pointed out, the Swedish people began coming to this county early in its his- tory, and they have contributed no mean por- tion to the development of its resources. As a rule, they are honest, industrious, law-abiding citizens. In looking over the docket of any term of court it is surprising how few cases there are to which Swedish-Americans are par- ties. It will be observed that out of a total population of 9,088 of this description in the county, there are 3,000 who are members of churches and 1,742 scholars in Sabbath schools organized by themselves; while there is a large number in addition who are members of other churches. In fact, it may be said, without fear of successful contradiction, that more than one- half of that part of the population of Knox County who trace their lineage to Swedish ancestry are within church organizations of various denominations.

The early settlers from the peninsula in the far north of Europe were at first compelled, like all pioneers, to devote themselves exclus- ively to securing homes for their families, to- gether with such scanty comforts as hard, hon- est toil could secure. But coming from a coun- try where illiteracy is practically unknown, they well knew the value of a good education and fully appreciated the worth of the cultivation of the mind. They organized for religious worship, according to the dictates of conscience, as soon as it was possible; and as their chil- dren grew up they afforded them every oppor- tunity within their power to secure the best education within their reach. They are now met in every walk of life in this county. In the country they are, as a rule, good farmers, and the majority own the farms they occupy; in the cities they are well represented in every de- partment of activity; In the public schools they are found hoth as scholars and as teachers; in the colleges and conservatories of music they are met as students; in every branch of mer- cantile business they are largely represented

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Joseph Costa

657

KNOX COUNTY.

as both clerks and proprietors; and the same self-evident proposition holds good as to the factories and mechanical trades of all kinds.

A large proportion of the population men- tioned in the foregoing paragraphs were born in this county, and are in every sense of the word as much American as any other native- born citizen. There is not now, nor has there ever been, any class distinction among the peo- ple of Knox County on account of nationality; but those settlers who came here from the fath- erland many years ago, and who underwent many hardships that were not common among the other oid settlers of the county, felt that it would be eminently fitting for them to meet together, once each year, to exchange remi- niscences and to talk of matters best known to themselves by experience. In this way was formed the Swedish-American Old Settlers' Association of Knox County Illinois.

KNOXVILLE, KNOX COUNTY, FARMERS MUTUAL FIRE AND LIGHNING INSUR- ANCE COMPANY.

This company was organized in March, 1875, under the general law of the State in relation to township insurance companies, approved March 21, 1874. Its field embraced the townships of Knox, Persifer, Haw Creek, Orange, Chestnut and Indian Point. It was reorganized in Sep- tember, 1877, under the general law relative to county insurance companies, approved June 2, 1877. It has a Board of Directors composed of nine members, whose term of office ia three years; three being elected each year. From their number they choose a President and Treasurer, annually. They also elect a Secre- tary, who may or may not be a member of the company. J. C. Eiker, of Orange Township, is President, and J. Hamilton, of Galesburg, Sec- retary. Both have held their positions since the organization of the company. E. B. Rey- nolds, of Knox Township, was the first Treas- urer, but soon resigned. He was succeeded by Robert Young, of Persifer, who still holds the office. The company's business is done on the mutual plan; and, through the judicious man- agement of its Board of Directors, it has stead- ily grown from the beginning. At present, the corporation has outstanding, in policies, about $2,000,000. Its losses are promptly adjusted by a committee of three of its members, appointed by the President and Secretary. The result is a great saving to the farmers of Knox County; the average annual cost being only about four-

teen mills on the dollar. It is strictly a farmers' insurance company and offers to the agricultural communities in which it operates a protection which is at once safe and inexpensive. It in- sures against loss or damage to buildings and their contents by either fire or lightning.

COVENANT MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION.

One of the most important of the business or- ganizations in the city of Galesburg, is the Covenant Mutual Life Association, which waa incorporated in 1877. It was intended originally exclusively for members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but later the general pub- lic were admitted to membership. It was or- ganized under the name of the Covenant Mutual Benefit Association. The word life was substi- tuted for benefit in 1895. It has been excep- tionally prosperous, the statement of 1896 show- ing over $100,000,000 in insurance in force, and a surplus of $1,000,000.

The first officers of the Association were: A. W. Berggren, President; Jacob Hoffheimer, Vice President; E. Frisbee Phelps, Secretary; Lake W. Sanborn, Treasurer. The present officers are: W. H. Smollinger, President; Luke W. Sanborn, Vice President; B. F. Reinmund, Sec- retary; A. W. Berggren, Treasurer.

THE SCANDINAVIAN MUTUAL AID ASSO- CIATION.

This company, with its headquarters at 347 East Main street, Galesburg, was organized tn the Fall of the year 1883, by the Swedish- American citizens of that city, for the purpose of securing life insurance at actual cost. The first officers elected were: Rev. S. P. A. Lin- dahl, President; N. J. Oleen, Vice President; Nels Nelson, Secretary; Jonas A. Johnson, Treasurer; and Dr. J. T. Wilson, Medical Direc- tor. With the exception of Dr. Wilson, who died in November, 1896, and was succeeded by Dr. C. G. Johnson, as Medical Director, the offi- cial staff chosen the first year has been annually reelected, each member filling his original post.

At the fifteenth annual meeting of the Asso- ciation, held on the fourth Wednesday of Janu- ary, 1899, the reports of the officers showed a membersbip of 12,640 and $15,330,000 worth of policies in force, the company having paid dur- ing the past fifteen years $1,354,880.52 to hene- ficiaries of deceased members, and accumulated a fund, to be used only for losses when the rate of mortality Is phenomenally high, amounting to $147,935.54 on January 1, 1899.

Part II.

GALESBURG.

The township of Galesburg, in which the city of that name is situated, occupies the territory designated by the United States survey as Town- ship 11 North, Range 1 East. This was origin- aliy a prairie township. It lies on the "divide," between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and its highest elevation is nearest its center, at the present site of the railroad stockyards. From this point the early pioneer could obtain a view extending far beyond the township lines and circumscribed only by the woods skirting the water courses that ieft the divide in every direction. To the east lay the timber growing along the waters of Court and Haw Creeks, the former barely touching the boundary line, while the latter extended into the township, to a point half way between its eastern line and its cen- ter. "The woods of Brush Creek reached to a point within a half mile of its southern bouu- dary, and on the west stretched Cherry Grove, as it was afterwards called. distant a mile and a half from the township's extreme sectional line. Half a mile west of the middle of this isne also lay the heart of the Cedar Fork timber, connected with which and with each other stood two ilttle groves, covering between fifty and a hundred acres each, one on the line and the other extending to within two miles of the town- ship's center; and stretching from the west to a point near the middle of the northern boundary was what was known as the Henderson tim- ber.

The surface was level or gently undulating, and the rich, virgin, prairie soil was covered with a luxuriant growth of grass and flowering plants, enchanting to the eye and mutely in- viting the settler to occupy and till it. Yet notwithstanding its beauty and fertility only

nineteen quarter-sections-sixteen in the south- east and three in the northeast-were pre- empted by soldiers on bounty warrants, the re- mainder being considered undesirable, because not accessible to timber.

In 1835 settlers occupied, or had claimed and were about to occupy, the timber land and adjacent prairie in the southeastern part of the township, as well as the little groves and sur- rounding land in the west, while the Henderson settlements included a portion of the land in the northern tier of quarter-sections. The unoccu- pied prairie was supposed to be of little value, except as a free range for the stock, and was be- lieved to be destined forever so to remain.

INCEPTION OF GALESBURG COLONY.

In 1834, Rev. George W. Gale, of Whitesboro, New York, who had been engaged in educational work for many years, conceived the idea of building a college in what was then called the far West. To endow this college he proposed to buy government lands at $1.25 per acre and sell them to settlers at five dollars, the profit to be given to the institution. This idea Mr. Gale set forth at length in a printed circular, which he sent to his personai friends and to others interested in education.

Early in 1835, thirty-three persons had given their approval of the plan and had subscribed $21,000 toward carrying it into execution. They were: Revs. G. W. Gale, H. H. Kellogg, John Waters, Timothy B. Jervis, Phineas Camp, John Gray and John Frost, and Messrs. Nehemiah West, John McMullen, John C. Smith, J. S. Fitch, Smith Griffith, Lewis Kinney, Amatuo Robbins, Chauncey Pierce, Gordon Grant, Sam- uel Bond, Silvanus Ferris, N. H. Losey, Sylves-

659

660

KNOX COUNTY.

ter Bliss, Sylvanus Town, H. T. Avery, George Avery, James Barton, J. B. Marsh, Thomas Gilbert, Thomas Simmons, Jeremiah Holt, George Stedman, Benjamin P. Johnson, Walter Webb, Sidney Rice and Miss Araminta P. Rice.

EXPLORING AND PURCHASING COM- MITTEES.

On May 6, 1835, they met at Rome, New York, and chose a "Prudential Committee," its mem- bers being George W. Gale, H. H. Kellogg, John C. Smith, N. West, Thomas Gilbert and Walter Webb. This committee was directed to select certain of its members to visit those portions of Indiana and Illinois lying between the fortieth and forty-second parallels of latitude. Nehemiah West, Thomas Gilbert, and T. B. Jervis were selected for this task, while Mr. Gale was chosen as General Agent, to secure new members of the colony.

On their return from the West the committee reported that no desirable or suitable land could be secured east of Illinois, and that even in that State they had not found a place where an entire township could be had in a desirable location, with an adequate supply of wood and water. The tide of immigration was at its flood, and the securing a suitable tract of sufficient size for the establishment of a colony was daily becoming more difficult. Any land selected, un- less paid for at once, might be occupied in whole or in part by others. If anything was to be done, it must be through a committee with an abundance of money and plenary power to-act. The report was far from encouraging. To pur- chase a smaller tract than had been originally contemplated would be to weaken the enterprise at a vital point. To wait until a sufficient amount could be secured and collected through sub- scription would mean the loss of valuable time. Moreover, as the chance for securing a desirable location grew less, the difficulties in the way of securing subscriptions would multiply. A crisis was presented, and it seemed imperative to act promptly. From such subscribers as were then prepared to pay, seven thousand dollars were collected, and a loan of ten thousand dollars was obtained from a bank on a note signed by Messrs. Ferris, Sears and Gale. The next step was the appointment of a purchasing com- mittee, composed of Messrs. George W. Gale, Nehemiah West and Silvanus Ferris, who were fully empowered to take immediate action. Such of the subscribers as might desire to accompany them were made advisory members of the com-

mittee. Western Ferris, a son of Silvanus, went with them, and they were joined on the route by Rev. John Waters, Thomas Simmons and Samuel Tompkins. At Detroit, Mr. Gale became sick, and the committee went on without him. Mr. Gilbert, of the original exploring committee, had found in the township south of Knoxville a beautiful prairie, in every other way desirable, but not so large as was considered necessary. He had there bought land for himself and ad- vised the committee to look at it.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 131

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388