Henry County IL Archives History - Books .....Bishop Hill Colony 1877
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Book Title: History Of Henry County, The

BISHOP HILL COLONY.

    The founder of the colony at Bishop Hill was Mr. Eric Jansen, a man about
thirty-five or forty years of age, and a native of Sweden. He was possessed of
strong religious convictions, large social affections, and an active vigorous
mind. He abjured the Lutheran faith, the almost universal religion of his native
country, and one which bore much the same relation to Sweden that the
Established Church of England does to that kingdom. By precept and preaching he
gathered about him some eleven hundred adherents to his belief.

    These met with great opposition from the Lutheran House of Bishops, and Mr.
Jansen and some of his more prominent followers were at times imprisoned. During
one of his confinements in that place he was visited by two physicians, who
would have adjudged him insane, had not an influential merchant been present and
threatened them with full process of the law for this most unjust act. This
merchant was a member of the Lutheran Church, but a man of large, liberal views,
and possessed with a strong love of liberty.

    Mr. Jansen persisted in his work for some three years or longer, when, the
opposition becoming too strong, it was decided to emigrate to that land of
liberty, America; there to establish a colony and worship their God in their own
way, and in their own belief. One of the principal tenets of their religion was
that all things should be in common, so that no poor would go unprovided, or
none suffer for lack of means. Among the first converts to this belief were a
Mr. Hedine and a Mr. Olson, men of property, who gave freely of their wealth to
aid those who were needy.

    A delegation of them visited King Oscar I, to obtain passports, having been
refused these necessary papers by the proper authorities. The King told them he
could not conflict with the authority of the House of Bishops, save to grant
them the privilege of leaving the country should they desire. He gave the
orders, and procuring the passports, the colony, numbering some eleven hundred
persons, set sail in the Summer of 1846. They arrived in New York in October of
that year, and the same month about seven hundred of them reached Bishop Hill,
Henry County, Illinois, the remaining four hundred having gone to other
localities. Many of this latter number were deceivers and impostors, having
joined the colony for no other purpose than to get their passage paid; the fund
for this object having been a common one, and some had had their debts paid
before leaving Fatherland.

    In order that Mr. Jansen could come to America (he had preceded the
colonists), he was compelled to escape into Norway, where, obtaining a passport
under an assumed name, he succeeded in embarking on a vessel whose destination
was New York.

    The year previous to the landing of the colony, a few persons had been sent
to America for the purpose of finding them a home. These had selected the
present site of Bishop Hill, and when the emigrants arrived in New York they
were met by Mr. Jansen, their acknowledged leader, and at once came to their new
home.

    A brother of the Mr. Olson-Olef Olson-had been one of the party sent out the
year previous, and had made a pretty thorough prospecting tour throughout the
West, in the Spring of 1846, including the states of Illinois, Iowa and
Wisconsin. He had written to many of his friends in Sweden advising them of the
feasibility of the coining of the colony, and of the ease with which a home
could be secured in the then western wilds. He purchased of the elder Piatt a
farm at the east end of Red Oak Grove; this being the first of any connected
with the colony.

    After Mr. Jansen reached the United States, he sent word to the friends in
Sweden to print, or get printed, some hymn books and other religious works for
the use of the colony. This printing was very difficult to obtain, as no printer
would risk the fine attendant on such publications. To obviate this difficulty a
press was purchased, and with the aid of a practical printer, they did their own
printing.

    Of the eleven hundred colonists who came in 1846, many sold their estates at
a sacrifice, and were compelled to send an agent in after years to collect even
this.

    The colonists settled at first along the south bank of the South Edward
Creek, a small, sluggish stream. The site was a most beautiful one, being
sparsely covered with a small growth of oaks. Having neither material for
building nor money with which to purchase it, they erected tents for their
immediate protection. These proving inadequate, caves were excavated in the
hillside, and in these rude habitations many of the colonists passed their first
Winter in America. These were damp and unwholesome, and much of the mortality
prevailing was due to them. While erecting tents for their own immediate
accommodation, they were not forgetful of the worship of Almighty God, and
erected a very large tent in which their meetings and Sabbath-schools were held.
The hardships that followed the immediate settlement were more than many of the
members had resolution to endure, and they left singly and in squads as their
lack of faith and pressing wants seemed to require. On reaching their new home
the funds of the society were nearly exhausted, and they had no credit.
Notwithstanding this, provisions must be bad for the year's consumption. Not a
man, save a sailor, who had picked up a little English, could speak a word of
that language. John Olson, who was gifted with the faculty of making
intelligible signs, undertook to provide food, and succeeded tolerably well
while the money lasted. They were expecting funds in the Spring in sufficient
amounts to relieve all pressing and immediate wants. Mud caves soon gave place
to houses constructed of unbaked brick and an occasional frame, but these
residences were very inferior till 1849, when a four-story brick was erected,
about 100 feet in length and 45 in breadth. The basement was intended for a
dining-room and the upper part divided into rooms for families: In 1851 the
building was extended 100 feet in length. It is still occupied by families of
new comers, or by those unable to provide their own homes.

    A large frame building, the upper part designed for a church and the
basement for families, was erected as early as 1849, the religious zeal of the
colonists causing them to look after a house of worship before securing their
personal comfort. This edifice is still occupied for the purposes for which it
was erected.

    To the credit of the people it must be stated that they established an
English school as early as January, 1847. A Presbyterian clergyman, Rev. Talbot,
taught some thirty-five scholors in a mud cave, from January to July. At times
he was assisted by his daughter, Mrs. Pollock, afterwards the wife of Eric
Jansen, and now his widow. Talbot taught the second school, and Nelson Simons,
M. D., was employed about one year as their third schoolmaster.

    While the improvements in general were going on the colonists were not
neglectful of orchards and the planting of the smaller fruits; but it cannot be
said that the yield of fruits so far has equaled their expectations. Among the
earlier branches of industry a brewery, for the manufacture of small beer, was
erected. This beverage is a common drink among the Swedes, and the manufacture
commenced at an early day. About the }Tear 1851 they erected a commodious brick
brewery from which they manufactured some ten barrels of beer a day while in
operation.
    The progress of improvement was steady, and a grist-mill on a small scale
was soon in operation on the Edwards Creek, at the Hill. Two saw-mills were also
soon under way on the same stream. One of them they purchased. The construction
of a steam grist-mill was commenced in 1849, under the direction of Eric Jansen,
but not completed till after his death.

    The correct conduct of these people soon convinced those living nearest them
that nothing was to be apprehended from them, as their creed was essentially
harmless to all outsiders. And in the hour of need, the colonists found fast
friends in the majority of those near them. By the year 1851 they had grown and
strengthened, and had built a first-class steam flouring-mill, which turned out
a large surplus of flour beyond the wants of the colony.

    They had opportunities of securing large quantities of wheat, receiving
sometimes one-third and at others one-half the crop for taking care of the
balance. Flax was a staple with them for several years. From the crop of 1847
they manufactured 12,000 yards of linen or thereabouts, and sold the entire
amount, as they had two or three years' supply of clothing on hand. In 1849 they
sold 12,454 yards of linen and 4,129 yards of carpeting. In 1850 they sold the
crop of 1849: linen, 9,323 yards; carpeting, 3,618 yards. In 1851 crop of 1850:
linen, 28,322 yards; carpeting, 3,237 yards. This was the largest product in any
one year, and the amount gradually grew less till the year 1857, when they
manufactured but little for sale. The aggregate amount of linen sold to 1857 was
130,309 yards; of carpeting, 22,569 yards. The carpeting was all coarse, being
known as "rag" carpeting. The linen was much of it quite fine; but the coarser
kinds were the most in demand, and after the first year or two but little fine
linen, except in the shape of tablecloths, was manufactured. These goods were
sold for cash, or traded for other goods in demand at the Hill, as opportunity
offered; large quantities being peddled out over the country.

    The spinning and weaving is done almost exclusively by the women, children
of both sexes assisting at spooling, etc. In the early years, as looms and rooms
in which to place them were scarce, the weavers were divided into squads or
gangs, and the looms kept running night and day. Not a little of the prosperity
of the colony is due to the bone and muscle of the women who labored through the
summer in the fields as industriously as the men, and in the winter at the
wheels-looms and other work carried on in doors.

    From living in such poor habitations at first, and from being unaccustomed
to the climate, great numbers sickened and died. Especially among the children
was the mortality fearful. During the great cholera scourge of the years 1849,
'50, '51 and '52, men would go to their work in the morning in good health, and
die before the going down of the sun.

    From this cause, and the leaving of those in fear of the disease, the colony
was at one time reduced to 414 souls. These survived the plague, and had the
hardihood to remain. At the time Mr. Jansen was murdered, in May, 1850 (an
account of which is given elsewhere), they were suffering from sickness,
desertion, and death, and the fact that these had the fortitude to remain amid
such a multplicity of discouragements, was proof conclusive of the earnestness
of their conviction that they were called to suffer, and, if need be, to die in
demonstrating the true method of Christian fellowship. In erecting the large
buildings for dwellings; in the manufacture of cloth; in the erection of large
mills; in their frugal industry, and in their honest endeavors to promote their
welfare spiritually and temporally, during all these trials of poverty,
sickness, death, desertion, and strangers in a strange land, a lesson of
commendable zeal may be learned, and an example of fortitude which has few
equals in the history of Henry County.

    By the year 1853 or '54 affairs were brightening, and prospects grew better.
Other emigrants came, other buildings were erected, and the hopes of the early
colonists began to be realized.

    Brick buildings, capable of accommodating from eight to double that number
of families, were at times erected. In these each family had one or more rooms.
All worked together, and at meal time repaired to the large dining-rooms and
partook of food provided for all. Each one was required to labor, and after
receiving sufficient clothing and food from the products, the remainder -were
used to purchase more land or build additional buildings. Human nature is the
same in all ages and among all people, and here, as well as elsewhere, were
those who would not perform their share of the labor, or provide for the common
good. By the year 1860, it was found that the theories of Mr. Jansen would not
prevail in practical life, and a division occurred.

    By this year all the large brick buildings spoken of were erected. At this
time they were divided into two parties, known as the Johnson (Jansen) and Olson
parties. The former, being more numerous, obtained about two-thirds of the
property; the latter, the remainder. No serious difficulties arose from this
division, and the individual affairs were conducted on the same plan heretofore
pursued.

    The following year, the Olson party were divided into three divisions or
parts, and the Johnson party made an individual distribution of their lands and
town property.

    By this time it had been clearly demonstrated that it was better by far for
all to be thrown upon an individual responsibility, and a distribution on the
following plan was made of all property belonging to this party:

    To every person, male or female, that had attained the age of 35 years a
full share of all lands, timber and town lots, and personal property was given.
A full share consisted of 22 acres of land, one timber lot- nearty two acres-one
town lot, and an equal part in all barns, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep or other
domestic animals, and all farming implements and household utensils. All under
this age received a share corresponding in amount and value to the age of the
individual, no discrimination being shown to either sex. The smallest share was
about eight acres of land, a correspondingly small town and timber lot, and part
of the personal property. Thus a man over 35 years of age, having a wife that
age or over, and several children, would receive many acres of land and
considerable property to manage. He held that of the wife and children simply in
trust, the deeds to all the property being made in the name of the head of the
family.

    This division is still maintained, and as a result of this, and thereby each
being thrown upon his own resources, active industry at once prevailed, the
result of which may now be seen in well-tilled farms and commodious dwellings.

    This same year, in April, the town was laid out by the trustees, Olef
Johnson, Jonas Erickson, Swan Swanson, Jonas Olson, Jonas Kronberg, Olef
Stenberg, and Jacob Jacobson. In 1861, the Olson party being divided into three
factions, continued to prosecute their labors under the colony system. One
year's trial, however, convinced them of the results. These factions were known
as Olson, Stonberg, and (Martin) Johnson divisions, which, at the close of the
year 1861, divided their property to the individuals comprising each faction on
the basis adopted by the Johnson party in 1860. The shares were, however, not
quite so large. The large brick buildings are now principally owned by the old
settlers.

    After the establishment of the colony the school-room was removed from the
cave to any vacant room which could be utilized for that purpose. The
school-room was therefore constantly changing until the erection of the large
frame building spoken of, when the upper room in it was occupied for a number of
years. In the year 1858 or '59 the present school-house was erected. It contains
four rooms for school purposes, and a library. Twp teachers are now employed,
who have been raised in the colony, and all exercises have always been conducted
in the English language, showing the colony came to America to become her citizens.

    In the Fall of 1848, an adventurer named Root, the son of a wealthy Swede,
of Stockholm, made his appearance at Bishop Hill, having been, as he asserted,
just discharged from the army that had been operating in Mexico. Subsequent
developments however indicated his having been a fugitive from justice. Upon his
arrival at Bishop Hill he expressed a desire to become one of the fraternity,
and as there seemed to be no reasonable objection, he was duly admitted.

    He soon after made a marriage contract with a cousin of Eric Jansen, the
consummation of which was under special contract, to wit: that if Root should
afterwards decide to leave the colony, he should go alone, leaving the wife to
enjoy in the colony all the rights and immunities of the establishment.

    He soon earned the reputation of being constitutionally opposed to labor of
any kind, spending most of his time with a gun on his shoulder in the woods, and
even this soon getting tiresome, he shortly left for parts unknown. His
tyrannical treatment of his wife had, however, pretty thoroughly destroyed her
affection for him, and she bore the separation with feelings more of joy than
sorrow.

    After an absence of several months, during which time his wife gave birth to
a son, he returned to the colony. It was some time before he called to see his
wife, notwithstanding he was informed a son was waiting to greet him. Soon after
taking up quarters with his wife, he proposed to have her leave the colony with
him, to which she strongly objected, while he as persistently insisted upon her
going. Jansen sustained the objections, which exasperated Root to such an extent
he exhibited to his wife a revolver and bowie knife, swearing vengeance on
Jansen, and at other times threatening to use them on her or the babe.

    Matters proceeded in this manner some time, when, being unable to persuade
her to accompany him peaceably, he determined on carrying off his wife by force,
which he endeavored with the assistance of outside friends to accomplish in the
following manner: Obtaining the services of a young man named Stanley, who
belonged in Cambridge, he stationed him with a horse and buggy at a convenient
distance from Mrs. Root's room, and while the community were at dinner. Root
compelled her to enter the buggy, and the trio drove rapidly away from the Hill,
Mrs. Root being seated in the bottom of the buggy and covered up. Their
proceedings being observed, they were soon hotly pursued and overtaken within
two miles of their starting point, by a dozen of the brethren, who ordered them
to stop. They were told distinctly if the woman wanted to leave, she could do so
unmolested; but if she wished to stay, they proposed to take her back.

    Root and Stanley, both being armed, kept their pursuers at bay, the woman
meantime making manifest her desire to return by an effort to release herself
from the coverings thrown over her. Root laid his pistol on the seat behind him,
and endeavored to hold her down; meanwhile one of the attacking party rushed up,
and, seizing the weapon, carried it off. Stanley, seeing the six-shooter in the
wrong hands, and his own being only a single-barrel, concluded it best to
surrender, and the woman was allowed to leave the buggy and go with her friends.
At this point Stanley disappears from public notice, except in a single instance
some time after, when he distinguished himself by figuring as one of two parties
(the other being the lady with whom he boarded) of whom a choice bit of scandal
arose, which was finally settled by the infuriated husband of the aforesaid
lady. Thwarted in his purpose, Root had Jansen and others arrested for
restraining the liberty of his wife. She was subpoenaed as a witness, and the
officer insisting on her accompanying him at once, she assented with the belief
she would soon have justice done her in the courts. The officer, however, had no
legal authority to take this step; but was carrying out a deeply-laid scheme of
Root's to get possession of the woman, and succeeded in taking her to Cambridge,
where she was confined in a room and denied all communication with her friends.
   Mr. S. P. Brainard, the Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, took a most
active part in excluding the friends, and much to their disgust, as to them was
he indebted for his election to office.

    A day later Root succeeded in abducting his wife the second time, and,
taking her in a buggy, despite her screams, drove to the Rock River settlement,
and put up at the house of P. K. Hanna.

    From here Root took her to Davenport, thence to Chicago, where she had a
sister living, who, knowing of Root's brutal treatment of his wife, soon
communicated with the colonists, and they, in turn, offered the woman safe
transit to her home in the colony if she desired it. Mrs. Root signifying her
wish to return, was sent for by a party, who, with a team, took her back to
Bishop Hill, which place she reached in safety; thence she went to St. Louis,
where she remained until all danger was past, when she returned to the colony,
where she still lives.

    At the May term of court in 1850, Root, being greatly exasperated at Jansen
for his repeated efforts to induce his (Root's) wife to remain in the colony,
shot Jansen in the court-house, just at the hour of adjournment for dinner. Mr.
Jansen expired in a few hours. Root was at once taken into custody, tried for
murder, receiving a sentence of two or three years in the State Prison. He died
shortly after its expiration.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

THE HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS, ITS TAX-PAYERS AND VOTERS;
CONTAINING, ALSO, A BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY; A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE;
MAP OF THE COUNTY: A BUSINESS DIRECTORY: AN ABSTRACT OF EVERY-DAY LAWS; WAR
RECORD OF HENRY COUNTY; OFFICERS OF SOCIETIES, LODGES, ETC., ETC.

CHICAGO: H. F. KETT. & CO., 15 LAKESIDE BUILDING.

1877.


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