LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 325.21*85 ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result In dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Tri 9 M.I Ml It w IJJOIr L161 O-1096 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS s THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS SURVEY OF THE PAST SEVEN DECADES BY ERNST W. OLSON WITH LIFE SKETCHES OF MEN OF TOD A Y ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO, 1917 SWEDISH-AMERICAN BIOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY SWEDISH-AMERICAN BIOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION PRESS OF THE PETERSON LINOTYPING COMPANY HALFTONE WORK BY BLOMGREN BROS. AND COMPANY CONTENTS. PAGE Introductory 9 PART I. PAGE PACE The Pioneer Period 15-22 Earliest Known Swedes in Illinois Earliest Known Swedes in Illinois 15 Jonas Hedstrom, Methodist Pioneer 16 Senator Raphael Widen 15 Swedish Pioneers in Chicago 19 Doubtful Swedisli Names in Early Rec- Christian Benson, Pioneer Farmer 21 ords 16 PART II. The Period of Settlement and Founda- The Bishop Hill Colony tion 25-94 New Religious Activities 55 The Beginning of Swedish Immigration. . 25 Civil War Service 56 The Earliest Settlers at Andover 27 Recent Anniversaries 56 Victoria, the Cradle of Swedish Methodism 28 Prominent Descendants of Bishop Hill Col- Co-laborers of Jonas Hedstrom 29 onists 58 Early Methodist Communions o3 Early Lutheran Pastors and Churches 61 The Bishop Hill Colony 37 Relations with American Lutherans 70 Origin of the Janssonist Movement 37 The Scandinavian Professorship and Emigration of the Janssonists 41 Early Educational Work 70 Founding of the Community 42 Lars Paul Esbjorn, Pioneer Lutheran Devotional Life 43 Churchman 73 Material Development 44 The Swedish Protestant Episcopal Church Methods of Labor 46 of Chicago 77 The Mode of Living 47 Gustaf Unonius, Pioneer and Pastor .... 79 Ravages of the Cholera Plague 48 The First Swedish Baptist Church in Amer- Tragic Result of Marriage Regulation... 49 icn Founded at Kock Island 81 Erik Tansson Slain 50 Gustaf Palmquist's General Career 83 Incorporation of the Colony 51 Life Sketch of Anders Norelius 84 Decadence of the Colony 53 Religious Controversy 85 Dissolution of the Colony 54 Founding of the Swedish Publishing Busi- Thc Colony Case in Court 55 ness 91 PART III. The Period of Growth and Establish- Religious Activities ment 97-179 . \ugustana College and Theological Sem- Illinois Swedes in the Civil War 97 inary 120 Company C, Forty-third Illinois YoKui- Dr. Tuve Nilsson Hasselquist 127 teers 99 The Swedish Theological Seminary of the Company D, Fifty-seventh Illinois Yolun- Methodist Church 131 teers 99 The Swedish Baptist Seminary ami Its Col. Oscar Malmborg, Fifty-fifth Illinois Founder 135 Volunteers 101 The Church of the New Jerusalem 139 Brigadier-General Charles John Stcl- The Mission Friends, an Outgrowth of brand, Chief of Artillery and Inventor. 105 Lutheranism 142 Battery II, First Artillery, Captain Silf- The Mission and Ansgarius Synods 143 versparre 109 Publishing Activities 145 Sundry Officers of Swedish Descent Ill The Swedish Lutheran Publication So- Swedes in Political and Civic Life 113 ciety 145 Lincoln Park Laid Out by Swedish Land- Anders Richard Cervin. Editor and scape Gardeners 117 Teacher 147 Religious Activities 118 Erland Carlsson, Churchman and Fi- Founding of the Augustana Synod 118 nancier 149 6 CONTENTS PAGE PACE Publishing Activities A Swedish- American Industrial Center Representative Secular Journals 151 John Nelson and the Knitting Industry. . 163 Journalists and Writers of Note 152 The Furniture Industry 167 beginnings of Swedish-American Art 155 Affiliated Industries 170 Some Early Swedish Artists 155 Early Fraternal and Insurance Societies. . . . 174 Music and Musicians of the Period 158 TheSvea Society 175 A Swedish-American Industrial Center 162 The Scandinavian Mutual Aid Associa- Early Swedes in Rockford 162 tion 177 PART IV. The Period of Cultural Progress 183-362 Commercial Institutions and Enterprises. . .296 The Cultural Movement 183 State Bank of Chicago 296 Publishing and Printing- 185 John R. Lindgren, Banker and Philan- Augustana Book Concern 185 thropist 301 file Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Co. . .190 The Union Bank of Chicago 302 The Peterson Linotyping Company 193 Other Swedish Bankers 303 Blomgren Broi. and Company 193 Scandia Life Insurance Company 303 Literature, Education and Science 196 The Rose Hill Nursery 306 Learned Societies 211 The Oak Hill Cemetery 307 The Swedish Historical Society of Hospitals and Benevolent Institutions 309 America 211 Augustana Hospital 309 The Society for the Advancement of The Old People's Home at Evanston 315 Scandinavian Study 213 The Englewood Hospital 315 Institutions of Learning 214 The Washington Park Hospital 317 North Park College 214 The South Shore Hospital 317 Broadview Swedish Seminary 218 The Swedish-American Hospital of Rock- Scam'.ia Academy 219 ford 317 The Fine Arts 220 Beneficiary and Technical Societies 318 Music 220 The Independent Order of Svithiod 318 The American Union of Swedish Sing- The Independent Order of Vikings 322 ers 221 The North Star Benefit Association. . 327 Augustana Conservatory of Music.... 225 The Swedish Engineers' Society 329 Gustav Stolpe. Composer and Virtuoso. 231 Political Activities 333 The Svea Male Chorus of Moline 233 The Swedish-American Republican Svea Siiner of Rockford 234 League 333 The Lyran Singing Society of Rockford. 235 Swedish-Americans in Public Life 341 Svithiod Singing Club 238 The Swedish Consular Service 345 The Swedish Choral Club 238 Swedes in the Spanish-American War. . .346 The Swedish Club 239 Religious Activities 347 Robert Lindblom A Man of Mark.... 246 The Mission Covenant 347 Swedish-American Composers of Note. 248 Carl August Bjcirk, a Leader in the Noted Artists, Teachers and Directors. 251 Mission Covenant 353 Painting and Sculpture 259 Sv.inmary of the Churches 355 Swedish-American Art Exhibitions. .. .261 The Swedish Lutheran Church 355 Prominent Painters and Sculptors ...265 The Mission Covenant 358 Resumg of Exhibitions 292 The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church. 359 The Linne Monument 292 The Swedish Baptist Church 361 Architecture 293 The Swedish Protestant Episcopal Church.362 Life Sketches of Men of Today ...365 General Index ggg Biographical Index 599 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE PACK The John Ericsson Banquet, 1912, the Fif- Edward A. Wimmerstedt 159 tieth Anniversary of the Battle Between Anna Frederika Magnusson Jewett 160 the Monitor and the Merrimac Rosalie Magnusson Lancaster 161 Frontispiece Factory of the Forest City Knitting Corn- Swedish Pioneers of Illinois Jonas Heel- pany 166 Strom, Olof Gottfrid Lr.nge, Polycarpus The Co-operative Furniture Company's von Schneidau, Jonas Olson, Gustaf Plant 168 Unonius, Lars Paul Esbjorn 17 P- A. Peterson ...172 Rev. Sven Bernhard Newman 31 Nels Nelson 178 Rev. Victor Witting 32 Dr. S. P. A. Lindahl 186 Capt. C. M. Lindgren 36 Augustaria Book Concern Publishing Old Colony Church, Bishop Hill 40 House of the Augustana Synod 188 Ola Colony Building 44 Andrew G. Anderson 189 The Steeple Building 48 The Peterson Building Monument to Bishop Hill Soldiers 52 Edward C. Westman Facsimile of Eric Janson's Handwriting... 60 Charles J. Stromberg Rev. Lars Paul Esbjorn 62 1)r - L - G - Abrahamson 198 Early Swedish Lutheran Churches 64 Monument to Dr. Carl Swensson on the Rev. Tuve Nilsson Hasselquist 66 Bethany College Campus 201 Communion Service Donated to the St. Ans- Dn - Tohn A - Udden garius Church by Jenny Lind 76 Dr " J osua Lindahl 204 Gustaf Unonius 78 Dn Jakob B "Sg re 206 Gustaf Palmquist 80 Oliver A " Linder 208 Col. Hans Mattson 82 Dr ' 1)avid N ^' a11 216 Antler, Norelius . ..84 American Union of Swedish Singers 22 r -c- -KT i- IT- i. r ii A John R. Ortengren 224 Dr. Eric Norelius, Historian of the Augus- c , , Dr. Gustav Stolpe 226 tana Synod 86 . . ., i r> Mrs - EJla Lund 228 Hasselquist s House and Printing Shop 111 -,,,, Galesburg, 1855, with Facsimile of the " ,, " TJ n Y> i < i Svea Music Hall, Rockford 234 First Swedish Newspaper 92 .. , . ., .-., ^ Swedish Singers at the Olympic Games, Swedish Commanders in the Civil War Ch'caeo 19H 236 Col. Oscar Malmborg, Capt. Eric Forsse, Clubhouse of the Swedish' Club of Chicago. 239 Brigadier-General Charles John Stol- T , )e Swedish Glee Club, Under the Direc- brand, Capt. Axel Silfversparre, Capt. tion of Qrtengren 240 Andrew Stenbeck 100 Frhz Schoaltz 241 Olof Benson 117 Charles S. Peterson 242 Laymen Founders of the Augustana Synod. 119 Magnus Olson 243 Augustana College Buildings at Paxton...l22 Swedish Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the Augustana College General view 124 Swedish Club in 1912 244 Dr. Olof Olsson 126 \yilliam Dahlen 245 Dr. Gustav Andreen 128 Robert Lindblom 247 Swedish Educational Institutions Augustana Prof. J. Victor Bergquist 249 College, Rock Island; Fisk Hall, Home ot Gustaf Holmquist the Swedish Institute of Chicago Theo- Nicoline Zedeler 256 logical Seminary; North Park College, Art Exhibition at the Swedish Club, Chi- Chicago; Swedish Theological Seminary, cago 260 Evanston 132 Nyholm "Home from the Market" 262 Dr. William Henschen 134 Nyholm "The Novelette" 264 Dr. Johan Alexis Edgren 136 Nyholm Portrait of Himself 266 Dr. C. G. Lagergren 138 Hallberg "After an Atlantic Storm" 268 Mrs. M. B. Ogden 140 Charles E. Hallberg 269 Jonas Engberg 144 Sandzen "Lake Shore in Vestergotland".270 G. A. Bohman 147 Lindin "Twilight" 27: Rev. Erland Carlsson 148 Grafstrom "Silver Lake, Washington" 275 Frans Albin Lindstrand 152 Jansson "Country Home" 276 Job. A. Enander 153 Haag "Emigrants" 278 Carl Fredrik Peterson 155 Edstrom "Clouds" J. F. Ring. . 158 Gustafson "Excelsior" 280 8 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE PAGE Chicago Architecture Apartments Designed The Viking Valhalla at Gurnee, 111 325 by Andrew Sandeg-ren 282 Staff of Thorsten Lodge, No. 19, Joliet, 111. .326 The Gas Building, Erected by Andrew John Ericson 330 Lanquist 284 Guests of Honor at the John Ericsson Day The Robert Lindblom High School, A. Banquet, 1912 Gov. Charles S. Deneen; F. Hussander, Architect 286 Gov. A. O. Eberhart; President William Fromen -Dancing 1 Figure 287 H. Taft; Congressman George E. Foss; Chicago Architecture Twentieth Century Hon. Charles F. Hurburgh 332 Building, Erected by Henry Ericsson ... .288 Henry Reuterdahl "Battle Between the Axel Elias Olsson 289 Monitor and the Merrimac" 334 The Linne Monument in Lincoln Park 290 Committee of Arrangements for the John Henry Ericsson 294 Ericsson Day Celebration in 1912 John John R. Lindgren 298 E. Ericsson, Alfred A. Norton, Edward C. State Bank of Chicago Interior of the Westman, Edwin A. Olson, Henry S. Commercial Department 299 Henschen 336 Henry S. Henschen 300 Portrait of John Ericsson, by Arvid Ny- N. A. Nelson 304 holm, Presented to the National Gallery, Edwin A. Olson 305 Washington 339 Pehr S. Peterson 307 Presentation Committee of the League. Pho- Covenant Hospital, Chicago; Augustana tographed in Washington, Together with Hospital, Chicago; Lutheran Hospital; Officials of the National Museum 340 Moline; Swedish Societies' Old Peoples' Facsimile of Letter from King of Sweden.. 342 Home, Evanston; Augustana Home for Rev. J. M. Sanngren, First Mission Church the Aged, Chicago 308 Preacher in Chicago 347 Dr. M. C. Ranseen 310 The New Tabernacle Church, Chicagj 348 Theodore Freeman 311 Rev. Carl August Bjc'irk 349 Lutheran Hospital, Moline Present Build- Humboldt Park Mission Church, Chicago. . .350 ing; Lutheran Orphans' Home, Andover.314 Rev. John G. Princell 351 Swedish-American Hospital, Rockford ....316 Mission Church in Galesburg 352 Simon Hallberg; John Sandgren 319 Rev. Eric Gustaf Hjerpe 353 Verdandi Hall 320 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago 354 Officers of Military Council, Uniform Rank, Salem Lutheran Church, Rockford 356 I. O. S 321 First Lutheran Church, Rockford 357 Officers of the Grand Lodge. I. O. V. Sharon Lutheran Church, Chicago 358 Oscar Hanson, Nils J. Lindskoog, Alfred Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church, Ev- Hult, Henry Lind 323 anston 360 The Viking Temple 324 Rev. Eric Wingren ...361 INTRODUCTORY Our danger is not so much from the man who loves two countries as the man who loves none. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the man who has a lingering affection for the fatherland no matter where his fatherland may be is a true nationalist and a true patriot. It is the man who believes that his own passions and his own desires are superior to those of the state, who would destroy nationalism just as he would destroy the family, who is the real menace to the nation. Here, and not with the one who would clasp hands across the sea, we find the man who is to be watched as a possible viper in the bosom of America. Charles Warren Fairbanks. There is a certain sense in which we do America an injustice by classifying ourselves as native-born .and foreign-born. And I have always pleased myself with the idea that America in 'some degree exists in spirit all over the world and that there are men coming to these shores who have displayed their force in our affairs, who bring to America a more vivid conception of what it means than those of us who were born and bred here ourselves entertain If I go to a country reputed to be a country of equality and liberty I must expect to find constant, visible and open signs of liberty and equality; and there- fore I carry to that country a demand which that country must satisfy. But I carry it only on one condition, namely, that I have gone to America because I was really, without knowing it, an American. Woodroiv Wilson. "Some day a new Scandinavia will flourish in the Mississippi Valley." On her visit to America and the West, Fredrika Bremer, the Swedish authoress, made this prediction in the year 1850, when as yet but a few Swedish and Norwegian settlements, hundreds of miles apart, dotted the western plains. The author of "The Homes in the New World" proved to have the true vision of a seeress, for well within the next fifty years her prophecy was amply fulfilled. The immigrants from the North soon furnished armies for the peaceful conquest of the West and the Northwest. They turned the glebe of the prairies, and the clearings in the woods resounded with the stroke of their axes. In less than twenty-five years the territory com- prised within the boundaries of the four states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa was studded with Swedish and Norwegian agricul- tural colonies, which grew prosperous in time and under favorable con- ditions. This Scandinavian winning of the West presents points of material difference from the form of conquest commonly met with in the various histories of the United States. The ordinary mode of civilizing the wild West, we find, was to press into the interior, build forts and 10 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS establish trading posts. By depleting the country of its fur-bearing fauna, large fortunes were amassed by individuals, while the government was put to great expense protecting the traders and getting little or nothing out of the trade. The Yankee usually got the better of the bargain with the Indians, and when the savages rose in armed protest, the little army post on the frontier ofttimes got the worst of it. This was not developing the new territory in the true sense of the term, rather quite the reverse. True development could not come with- out the cultivation of the soil. And it was here the Scandinavian, like the German element, performed its first great service to the American nation. They came to the new territory, not for love of adventure or with mercenary motives, but intent on making the very soil their own. Agriculture did not interfere with the rights and privileges of the aborigines to the same extent as did the encroachment of trappers and frontiersmen on their hunting grounds. It is safe to say that fewer forts would have been needed if the advance guard of civilization had carried more hoes and scythes and fewer guns. The Swedish colony on the Delaware furnished the first evidence on this point. The benefits derived by the entire country from the extensive tilling of the soil by the western pioneers entailed no direct outlay by the government. It \vas the Scan- dinavians and Germans who, by settling up the great West, built and filled the granaries of the country and of the world. On the heels of cultivation followed culture. The schoolhouse and the church were built as soon as the dugout, the log cabin, or the sod house had been completed to provide a dwelling for the settler and his family. Newspapers were published to disseminate knowledge of the new country and its political institutions ; books were published as means of religious instruction and edification and as a medium for conserving the cultural heritage from the mother country. Higher institutions of learning were planted on the prairies, first, to provide teachers and pas- tors for the newcomers, in the second place to impart a knowledge of the mother tongue of the settlers to their children and their children's chil- dren. Next followed eleemosynary institutions of various kinds. Until recently, all these institutions were, without exception, the fruits of religious activity, secular organizations being the outgrowth of a later period. The entire Upper Mississippi Valley was being flooded with immi- grants from the North of Europe, and yet there was no "foreign prob- lem" to puzzle over. The formula, foreign birth -j- American citizenship = sedition, had not yet been invented. It remained for the political wiseacres and the ripe scholars of the science of government in a much later era to discover a divided allegiance and a national peril in the citi- zenship of those who have come to this country so recently that they still cherish their old name and think tenderly of their old home. The new- comers of those days were Americanized to a certain degree before they reached the American shores. The impulse which started them across INTRODUCTORY 11 the sea was not the consideration of material welfare alone; their com- ing was induced by a distaste for certain conditions under which they had been living and by a keen desire to live under the freer institutions of the American republic. The words of Governor Arthur Capper, spoken of the foreign-born element in the State of Kansas today, would have as truly described the immigrants that came to Illinois in the forties and fifties : No one in Kansas doubts their Americanism any more than he doubts his own. They and their children own more of Kansas than any other like number of citizens. We have no finer, more useful, more law-abiding, more God-fearing people. They came here with little. But they have been thrifty, honest and indus- trious. Now they are property owners, famous farmers, home-builders, .sehool-cnd- church-builders, bank depositors, taxpayers. Never tax-dodgers. In thrift and industry, in whatever they undertake, they have sot us all a most eloquent and striking example of persistent, intelligent, successful endeavor. Their family and religious life is nearly ideal. Their children are carefully reared and invariably well educated. They produce no loafers, no physical or moral weak- lings. Their contribution to the criminal class is the smallest. How can anyone doubt the patriotism of such citizens? They live it! As far back as the earliest history of Kansas, during the border war for human freedom that preceded the Civil War, and in that greater conflict, our citrons of German birth and those from Sweden, Norway and Denmark marched shoulder to shoulder with the American born and pledged their lives as freely, as frequently, as gladly and as unquestionably as we did, that the nation might live and be free. How can anyone doubt the loyalty of these citizens to the home and country they have made their very own? In Kansas we do not and we never have. We concede to them an Americanism as strong and deep and true and virile as our own. Our flag is their flag and ever will be. It is their flag as much as it is ours. They have toiled or shed their blood for it and they will defend it just as devotedly in time of trial or need. In the words of Governor J. A. A. Burnquist, the fourth Swedish- American to be elected chief executive of the State of Minnesota, we find another close parallel with Illinois conditions : "The Americanization of our foreign-born population has never been a serious problem in our. State. The great majority of them very soon after their arrival learn our language, become citizens and send their children to our schools. They bring with them and retain the best of their traditions, their art, literature and music, but their loyalty to the United States cannot be questioned. It is significant that, according to United States census figures, of the children of foreign or mixed parentage, 89.2 per cent attend school, a slightly better proportion than the children of native born parents, of whom 88.8 per cent attend." The new citizens of the early settlement period in Illinois and adjacent states were soon to have their American patriotism put to the test. How well their loyalty stood the ordeal is recorded in the annals of the great civil conflict of 1861-1865. Those who would question the devotion of the newcomers to the country of their choice will find a com- plete answer in the muster rolls of Co. C of the Forty-third 111. Volun- teers, Co. D of the Fifty-seventh, Battery H, First 111. Light Artillery, 12 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Col. Hans Mattson's company of Minnesota Volunteers, and the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin, or in the military records of Brigadier-General Stolbrand, Colonel Malmborg, Majors Forsse and Bergland, and Cap- tains Silfversparre, Eric Johnson, Edvall, Arosenius, Wickstrum, Warner, Stenbeck, Sparrestrom, and others. Having received their baptism of blood, the Swedish-Americans of Illinois returned from the battlefields of the Civil War to serve their state and its local municipalities in public office and to help build up the communities by private pursuits. The Swedish- American of the earlier period was rarely an office-seeker, and his services for several decades were rendered almost exclusively in his capacity of private citizen. His rise to conspicuous public station is of comparatively recent date. Literary activity on broader lines than mere journalism of a religious or secular character began to develop in the eighties, as also the higher cultivation of the musical art, painting and sculpture being the most recent flowers to spring from the creative energy inherent in the Swedish blood. In educational work and in the various learned professions Illinoisans of Swedish extraction are coming to the front in ever increas- ing numbers. We find them at the head of many large industrial estab- lishments of their own, while furnishing much of the brain and the sinew in a number of the great manufacturing plants of the state not under their control. In all mercantile pursuits they are meeting with success, and strong financial institutions are being built up with Swedish-American capital. The new Scandinavia seen in the vision of sixty odd years ago is a reality, not as a foreign sphere of political influence, but as a component part of the commonwealth, a vital organ in the body politic. For seven decades Swedish blood has been coursing through the heart of the country. It is now pretty well mingled with the general mass, yet blood will tell, and the following pages are part of its story. PART I THE PIONEER PERIOD PRIOR TO 1846 PART I THE PIONEER PERIOD EARLIEST KNOWN SWEDES IN ILLINOIS. SENATOR RAPHAEL WIDEN. By an accident of history, a man of Swedish origin and birth came to play an important part in the civil life of Illinois for several years prior to the admission of this territory to the union of states. That there were others of his countrymen among the settlers of the territorial period admits of little doubt. In the case of Raphael Widen the record is indisputable, while in certain other instances the nationality of pioneers of supposedly Swedish extraction does not admit of historical proof. It is noted in the Territorial Records that Widen was appointed jus- tice of the peace of St. Clair county Jan. 12, 1814, by Norman Edwards, the territorial governor. He lived at Cahokia, the county seat, where in the year 1818 he married into a French family. Upon his removal to Kaskaskia, Randolph county, he became one of the fourteen justices who conducted the affairs of that county from December, 1818, to May, 1819. Widen was still serving as justice in the year 1831. He was a man of more than local prominence. In the second and third General Assemblies he represented Randolph county ; in the fourth and fifth he was a member of the Senate, serving during the second session in 1826 as president of the Senate. His legislative career was coincident with the period of heated debates on the slavery question. Widen took a stand by which he earned lasting honor and respect. When in February, 1823, a motion was made in the House of Representatives to submit to a popular vote the question of call- ing a convention to revise the constitution in the interest of the slave- holders, he spoke fearlessly and voted resolutely against the measure. He was one of two representatives from the middle and southern sections of the state who opposed the proposition, which, after barely passing the Legislature, was defeated by the popular vote. When General Lafayette visited Kaskaskia April 30, 1825, Widen lived there, and a mention at the time of "Edward Widen, the polished gentleman and enterprising merchant," as having been present at the reception given to the French hero, may refer to a relative or to Raphael Widen himself under a wrong name. The year and place of Widen's birth are not known, but it is a mat- ter of record that at the age of eight he was brought from Sweden to 15 16 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS France, where he was educated for the priesthood. The year of his com- ing to this country is unknown. In 1833 he passed away at his home in Kaskaskia, a victim of the cholera. His civil and political record is a distinguished one, placing him well to the front in the annals of Illinois, while he takes first place in the list of notable Swedish-born citizens of the state. DOUBTFUL SWEDISH NAMES IN EARLY RECORDS. In the earliest annals of Illinois names with a Swedish ring are often met with. One Paul Haralson (also written Harrolson and Harelston) is said to have settled west of Kaskaskia River, near the mouth of Camp's Creek, as early as 1802. He was a man of some consequence in the com- munity, serving as county commissioner and also as county clerk of Ran- dolph county in the period of 1803-09. He is reported to have held the office of sheriff for a short time ; of this there is no public record, but in the list of county surveyors the name of Paul Harrolson is third in order, the appointment by Governor Edwards being dated April 7, 1814. It is a fair conjecture that his name originally had the Swedish form Haraldson. In the lists of the members of the Illinois militia who served in the War of 1812-14, a number of names have a Swedish appearance. One is Bankson, an Americanized form of Bengtson common among the Swedish colonists on the Delaware, one of their eminent men being Andrew Bankson. Here we find one Andrew Bankson as a lieutenant of the Second Regiment, from St. Clair county, before the war. Having appar- ently served during the war as a private in a troop of mounted riflemen, he was subsequently promoted second lieutenant under the name of Bankston, manifestly misspelled. April 5, 1817, Andrew Bankson was appointed major of the Second Regiment of militia by Governor Edwards, and March 3, 1818, he was made colonel of the Tenth militia. He resigned shortly afterwards, but the name of Col. Andrew Bankson reappears in the old records ten years later, in the list of regents of McKendree Col- lege, elected in 1828. In the military lists we find also James Bankson, sergeant of Capt. Nathan Chambers' infantry company, and his brother, Patton Bankson, a private. A third brother was Elijah Bankson. The probability that all these may have been of Swedish colonial stock is not strengthened by the known fact that they came to Illinois from Tennessee. Among the comrades of Andrew Bankson was one David Eckman, and among the privates of Capt. Dudley Williams' company of the Fourth 111. militia were John and Andrew Hallin, all of whose names betray Swedish descent. JONAS HEDSTROM, METHODIST PIONEER. As Raphael Widen gained prominence in the early political life of Illinois, so Jonas Hedstrom became renowned as a pioneer in the religious field in the young state. He was the first man to preach the Gospel in c, THE PIONEER PERIOD 17 the Swedish language here and is the acknowledged founder of Swedish Methodism in the West. Urged hy his older brother, Olof Gustaf Hedstrom, who visited Sweden in 1833 after having lived in the United States for seven years, Jonas Hedstrom accompanied him to this country on his return voyage the same year. Jonas was then a youth of twenty, having been born Aug. 13, 1813. During a storm at sea he was converted, doubtless through the instrumentality of his elder brother, who was a devoted member of the American Methodist Church since his marriage to a young woman of that faith in New York City in 1829. The elder Hedstrom remained in New York, laboring as itinerant preacher in the Catskill circuit for ten years and subsequently as Swedish seaman's missionary on the Bethel ship in New York harbor until 1875, and passing away May 5, 1877, at the age of seventy-four. The younger brother drifted out west in 1837 or the year after, leaving to join his affianced, Diantha Sornberger, the daughter of a family who moved to Knox county shortly before. A blacksmith by trade, Hedstrom, after his marriage, located in Farmington, Fulton county, and opened a shop. He was licensed to preach, which he did as vigorously as he sledged. He later located in Knox county and became one of the founders of the town of Victoria. By plying his trade he acquired the means to build a comfortable home, where many a poor immigrant in succeeding years enjoyed his hospitality. He preached in Fnglish in the schoolhouses about Victoria, and also in Lafayette, Knoxville, and else- where. When about the year 1845 groups of Swedish immigrants began to arrive at New York, Olof Hedstrom in his capacity of seaman's mis- sionary met them not only as spiritual adviser but also as counselor in temporal matters. With his knowledge of conditions in Illinois he was in a position to recommend that region to prospective settlers, and thus numbers of his countrymen were directed to Victoria, where Jonas Hed- strom was prepared to render further assistance. He now brushed up his mother tongue, which had fallen into disuse, and on Dec. 15, 1846, he preached his first sermon in the Swedish language. On that occasion he organized, in a small blockhouse about three miles from Victoria, the first Swedish Methodist Episcopal church in the United States. The little congregation of five members here formed was the first Swedish church founded on American soil since the time of the Swedish settlements along the Delaware River, a fact which made the little log cabin in the woods an historic landmark. Hedstrom from now on conducted vigorous missionary work among the newcomers and organized several other com- munions in the next few years. Owing to restless endeavors and the strain and hardship of constant travel Hedstrom's health broke down early, compelling hir retirement in the fall of 1857. He passed to his reward May n, 1859, in his forty-sixth year. A monument in the Victoria cemetery marks the last resting place of the father of Swedish Methodism in Illinois. Jonas Hedstrom has been very differently judged, depending on the SWEDISH PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS JONAS HEDSTROM OLOF GOTTFRID LANGE POLYCARPUS VON SCHNEIDAU GUSTAF UNONIUS JONAS OLSON LARS PAUL ESBJORN THE PIONEER PERIOD 19 viewpoint of those making the appreciation. Both his friends and his religious antagonists appear to have exaggerated his personal traits. Dur- ing these early days the lines of demarcation between the different religi- ous groups were very sharply drawn, and the border warfare known as proselyting was hotly waged. Hedstrom was intensely devoted to his church and did all in his power to bring his countrymen of other religious affiliations into its fold. He worked alike among Lutherans and the fol- lowers of Erik Jansson, who at this time established the Bishop Hill colony, and his excess of zeal frequently gave rise to serious controversies with other believers, themselves intolerant and lacking in spiritual moderation. That he worked with the laudable motive of promoting the Master's cause and the interest of his church as he saw it there is no one to gainsay. SWEDISH PIONEERS IN CHICAGO. The earliest known Swedes locating in Chicago were Olof Gottfrid Lange, Gustaf Flack and Polycarpus von Schneidau. Lange was a native of Goteborg, born 1811, who first reached Amer- ican shores in 1824, as a sailor on an American brig. After serving on American and British ships for more than ten years, he abandoned the sea in 1838, and came to Chicago (September 30). He did not find any of his countrymen there ahead of him, but met a number of Norwegians, whom he is said to have given instruction in English, meeting his adult pupils in old Fort Dearborn. He later located in Milwaukee and in the year 1841 welcomed the immigrant party conducted by Gustaf Unonius, the founder of the Swedish settlement in Pine Lake, Wisconsin. On her visit to the United States Fredrika Bremer, the Swedish authoress, was a guest in the home of Lange in September, 1850. Her host subsequently accom- panied her to the Pine Lake settlement. After several changes of residence and occupation Lange in 1856 started a foundry in Kenosha, Wis., which four years later was removed to Chicago and located at Kingsbury and Michigan streets. On his return from a visit to Sweden in 1866, Lange brought with him a library of 500 volumes and a number of art portfolios for the Svea Society, a large part of the collection being the gift of King Charles XV. of Sweden. Lange is said to have tempted fortune on the Board of Trade, with what success we do not know. He was engaged in writing life insurance during the last twenty-five years of his life. "Captain" Lange, commonly so called, doubtless by reason of his early seafaring career, was a man of culture and public spirit. It was he who, prompted by the 25oth anniversary of the landing of the Swedish colonists on the Delaware, commemorated in the fall of 1888, proposed in 1889 an annual celebration of "Forefathers' Day," a suggestion which was car- ried out in a number of Swedish localities in the next few years. This venerable Chicago pioneer passed away at his home, 292 Irving avenue, 2() THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS July 13, 1893, at the age of eighty-two years. His likeness was preserved in a bust which is to be seen in the hall of the Svea Society. In the early forties Gustaf Flack, of Alfta, Helsingland, was found among the settlers of Victoria, 111., and in 1843 ne was conducting a small store in Chicago, near the Clark street ferry landing. The year of his arrival in Illinois is not known. He returned to Sweden in 1846 and died suddenly on his way from the city of Gefle to his native place. The laudatory letters he wrote to friends at home, giving glowing descrip- tions of the new West, are supposed to have influenced Erik Jansson and his followers in their choice of location for the future Bishop Hill colony. Flack thus shares with Jonas Hedstrom the credit for directing the cur- rent of Swedish immigration to Illinois. In 1845 Polycarpus von Schneidau removed to Chicago from the Pine Lake settlement. He was born 1812, at Kisa, Ostergotland. the son of Major von Schneidau of the Swedish army. Having risen to the rank of lieutenant in the Svea Artillery, the son put himself in bad odor with his family and his fellow officers by wedding a woman of Jewish blood. To escape the odium of social ostracism he emigrated in 1842, joining the settlement founded by Unonius, with whom he had an early acquaintance. His wife and her mother followed later. After enjoying hospitality in the log cabin of his friend, the young army officer moved with his famliy to a tract of land purchased by him and went to farming. For this occupa- tion he was incapacitated by an injury to his leg received on shipboard, and with hired help to till the little farm the family fared but ill. The plight of the invalid farmer and his Jewish wife has become historic. Thus we read in Fredrika P>remer's ''The Homes of the New World" a pathetic description of their hardships. She says: "Margaret Fuller (later Marquise Ossoli) was making a tour of the western states. Chance brought her to the Pine Lake settlement. Captain Schneidau for several months back sat on his sick bed with a severe injury to his leg. His beautiful young wife during the hard winter had been compelled to perform all manner of hard labor, and had seen her first born die from cold in its bed, in a room where rain and snow penetrated the walls. They were alone in the wilderness. They could not afford to hire help expensive as that was in these parts. The maid employed by them for some time past had just left them, and their neighbors were too far distant, or possibly subjected to like hard- ships. Then came Margaret Fuller from Boston. In her 'Summer on the Lakes' she describes the visit to the Schneidau cabin in these words : 'In the inner room sat the man of the house. . . . His young and pretty wife nursed and waited upon him, while managing the house and farm. How well she performed these unaccustomed duties the objects of her ,care bore testimony. Everything in the house, however rough- hewn and plain, was neat and in order. The invalid, sitting in an uncom- fortable wooden chair (they had been unable to get anyone to bring a more comfortable one from town), looked well-dressed and elegant, as THE PIONEER PERIOD 21 though groomed by a duke's valet. He was of northern blood and type, with large, clear, blue eyes, calm features, combining in his appearance the soldier, the student, and the man of the world. He contrasted strongly, but pleasingly, with his wife, whose warm color and soft, dark eyes bespoke descent from a land more favored by the sun. He looked as though he might be able to sit there yet a long time containing his soul in patience and biding the time ; she, as if she might bear every- thing for love's sake, yet made to feel the full weight of every passing moment. " 'When I saw an album full of little paintings and verses that bore testimony of a circle of intimate friends of tine accomplishments, left behind in the fatherland, I could not but see that the young wife stood in need of a sister and the husband a friend, who might enliven their solitude by the association of kindred souls.' "Margaret Fuller does not speak of it, but I have heard here of the practical benevolence exercised by her and her friends in behalf of the ill-fated Swedish settlers and whereby they soon brought about a com- plete change in their condition. From the solitary cabin in the woods the family was transferred to Chicago. Schneidau received skilled med- -ical aid and was cured, and he is now a most accomplished daguerreotypist, probably the foremost in all Illinois, enjoying as such a very considerable income. He is generally liked here. His vivacious and pretty little wife now between tears and laughter tells of her experiences in the wilderness, in a ludicrous mixture of Swedish and English." It was in 1845 Schneidau moved to Chicago. Being a skillful civil engineer he soon obtained profitable employment. In 1848 he was made superintendent of construction on the first railroad out of Chicago the Chicago & Galena Railway. A statement that Jenny Lind, on her tour of America in 1850, furnished Schneidau the means to set him up in the daguerreotype business is corrected by Miss Bremer's assertion that he was already at that time the leading man of the state in that branch. After Scandinavian immigration to Chicago and vicinity had acquired greater proportions Schneidau was appointed Swedish-Norwegian vice- consul in 1854, being the first to hold that office in Chicago. He resigned the position, owing to failing health, and was succeeded by his friend Unonius. On Dec. 28, 1859, Schneidau passed away, aged forty-eight. CHRISTIAN BENSON, PIONEER FARMER. With one Captain Baxter, who on a visit to the West had been favorably impressed with the country, Christian Benson, a Swedish ocean pilot, came to Western Illinois in the year 1835, locating in Portland township, four miles south of present Erie, Whiteside county. He was born in Goteborg in 1805, the son of a vessel owner engaged in lumber shipping on Lake Vanern. The boy went to sea at the age of thirteen, and served for seventeen years on American vessels, visiting 22 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS many of the world's foremost seaports, including those of far-off China. From 1825, for ten years, he served as pilot on a line of vessels plying between New York and Providence, R. I. In 1827 he was married to Maria Brotherson of the latter city, a lady of Scotch descent. A disaster to a vessel belonging to Commodore Vanderbilt caused Benson, at the earnest entreaties of his wife, to quit the sea. He then came to Illinois, followed by his brother in 1840. In 1849 both went to California, but by different routes, and the brother was never heard from again. Christian Benson did not go into the gold diggings, but located in San Joaquin Valley, at the junction of the Overland Trail and the route from San Francisco to Sacramento. There he conducted a resthouse for travelers and maintained horses and men to go out in the desert a hundred miles or more eastward and assist tired and famished parties in reaching their destination. The place is known as Benson's Crossing to this day. Christian Benson lived in Illinois for fifty years, passing away in 1885, at the age of eighty. He left two children, with whom he lived in his old age. His grandson, R. C. Benson, resides in Rock Island, where he conducts a grain and feed business. His recollections supplied the data for this sketch, amplifying and correcting in part what information is contained in an earlier work. 1 1 C. F. Peterson and Eric Johnson, "Svenskarne i Illinois," 1880. PART II THE PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 18461860 PART 11 THE PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION THE BEGINNING OF SWEDISH IMMIGRATION. The general emigration from Sweden to the United States in modern times began when Gustaf Unonius came over with a small party in the year 1841. These were the first emigrants permitted to leave the country to settle in foreign lands without special privilege granted by the King, a requirement under the old emigration law. The Unonius party located at Pine Lake, Wisconsin. In 1845 Peter Kassel followed with a party from the province of Ostergotland who founded the settlement of New Sweden, Iowa. The following year saw the advance guard of the influx from Helsingland province, composed of the adherents of Erik Jansson, a leader in a movement of dissenters from the Church of Sweden. Other followers of this religious leader came in successive parties, most of them arriving during the next five years. These formed the largest group of newcomers from Sweden, soon numbering at Bishop Hill, Illinois, a community of several hundred souls. The floodtide of immigration from Sweden to this country was now on, and within a few years it assumed dimensions compared to which the earlier influx in colonial times shrank into insignificance. The idea having been suggested by the first sporadic pioneers in letters to their friends at home, and the way opened by the removal of legal restraint, the exodus was led by the first small emigrant parties, group after group following from various parts of the old country. There being no mutual connection, they were led entirely by circum- stances and settled in localities far apart. An early settlement sprang up in Sugar Grove, Pa., and Jamestown, N. Y. Thus the first comers were scattered about from the boundaries of New York and Pennsylvania to the woods of Wisconsin and the plains of Iowa and Illinois. It was in this state, however, that these settlements first began to group themselves together and centralize for mutual contact and inter- course. Prior to 1850, Swedish settlements or colonies had grown up in Andover, Chicago, Galesburg, Victoria, Moline and Rock Island, Princeton, and elsewhere, while the Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa settlements still remained in isolation. In the summer of 1853 immigration increased materially over former years. While in previous years the greater number of newcomers were Erik Janssonist dissenters, many remained true to the faith of the 25 26 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS established church, and their number constantly increased while the inflow of dissenters practically subsided after the arrival of the last party of Janssonists in 1854. The American Methodist Episcopal church had established a sea- man's mission in New York in charge of a Swedish pastor, Olof Gustaf Hedstrom by name. When immigration from Sweden began, his zeal naturally led him to extend his pastoral work so as to embrace also the newcomers passing through the city. His efforts, though not entirely disinterested from a denominational point of view, were most laudable under the circumstances, and should not be despised, as has been done :n the heat of partisan discussion. Through cooperation the brothers Hedstrom built up a settlement at Victoria, where Jonas Hedstrom established a Swedish Methodist congregation. At Chicago the Protestant Episcopal church through Gustaf Unonius conducted Swedish missionary work, and at an early date Swedish Baptist missionaries appeared among the settlers. These circumstances furnish the groundwork for a true understanding of the intense church rivalry carried on among the settlers for a decade or two before the various denominations became properly organized and established each in its own field. The story of the first settlements in Illinois soon became the story of the earliest churches planted on the plains of the Prairie State. It is worthy of note that the first properly organized or mother churches of no less than three distinct Swedish denominations were founded in this state prior to the year 1853, exclusive of the religious communion headed by Erik Jansson. In more recent times the first church of what is now known as the Mission Covenant was added, and also a congregation of the New Church, Swedenborgian, so far as known the mother church of Swedish-Americans of that faith. Inasmuch as the cohesive factor and the bond of union in the new settlements was everywhere a community of religious faith, although the motive for emigration from Sweden was not by any means a religious one as a general rule, there is little to relate of them up to the point where the church organizations began to make history and record it. These first churches were organized in the following order: Meth- odist Episcopal, at Victoria, 1846; Protestant Episcopal, at Chicago, 1849; Baptist, at Rock Island, 1852; Lutheran, at Andover, 1850, the second in the United States, the first having already been organized by the settlers in New Sweden, Iowa, in I848. 1 In the fifteen years from 1846 to 1860 the prairies of Illinois were literally studded with new Swedish settlements located in a belt running in a general direction west and southwest from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. Among these, aside from those already mentioned, were the following, being partly new and independent settlements, partly Swedish communities in older municipalities: Princeton, St. Charles, 1 This corrects an erroneous statement in "History of the Swedes of Illinois,** P. 430. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 27 Geneva, Orion, Knoxville, Wataga, Swedona, Altona, Rockford, Geneseo, DeKalb, Galva, Batavia, Monmouth, Kewanee, Elgin, Aurora, Lafayette, Henderson Grove, Beaver, Pecatonica, Wyanet, New Windsor, and others. While bits of interesting information relating to the pioneer days may be gleaned from the early records of all these places, the chief points of activity and achievement by the Swedish people in the state are less in number. Their centers of population and the nuclei of their influence are found in Chicago, Rockford, Rock Island and Moline, Galesburg, and in Henry, Kane, and one or two other counties, Chicago claiming at least half of our attention and the other communities. combined the other half. THE EARLIEST SETTLERS AT ANDOVER. The first Swedish settler at Andover was Sven Nilsson, a sailor, who located there as early as 1840. In 1849 ne wedded a woman known only as Stigs Lena, recently arrived from Hassela, Helsingland, Sweden, with a party of Erik Janssonists. He lived here in almost perfect seclusion for almost forty years, dying in the late seventies. In 1847 Johanna Sofia Lundquist came there from Bishop Hill and took a place as domestic in an American family. Her father, J. E. Lundquist, a paper mill proprie- tor, of Forssa parish, became an adherent of Erik Jansson, and emi- grated in 1846, after his wife had been fined for taking part in a demon- stration antagonizing the Church of Sweden two years before. She mar- ried P. W. Wirstrom, a retired sea captain, the two founding the first Swedish family in the settlement. Wirstrom, born at Vaxholm, 1816, came to this country prior to 1846 and sailed on the Great Lakes. He conducted a party of immigrants from Buffalo to Bishop Hill, and served as interpreter and also as medical adviser, having some little knowledge of the curative art. In 1847 ne located in Andover. Shortly after their marriage, Wirstrom and his wife went to New Orleans, where the for- mer captain hired out as overseer of a plantation. The business of slave driving was not to his taste, and the couple returned to Andover in 1849. Smitten by the prevalent gold fever, the Wirstroms joined a California party in April, 1850. After spending some years as proprietor of a hotel, Wirstrom, with broken health, returned to Illinois in 1854, and died at Bishop Hill, Feb. 25, of the following year. His wife then re- turned after having closed out the hotel business, yielding a sum given variously as $3,000 and $8,000. In 1856 Mrs. Wirstrom became the wife of M. B. Ogden, of Galva, and the pair located on a farm in the Victoria settlement. After more than twenty years they removed to Riverside, Cal., where Mrs. Ogden died June io, 1904. Mrs. Ogden did not adhere to the religious views held by her parents, but was a devoted disciple of Emanuel Swedenborg, being one of the first adherents of the New Church among the countrymen of the Swedish seer living in the West. A younger sister, Mathilda Gustava Lundquist, who came over in 28 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS i8=;o. married ]. W. Florine, the two locating in Andover, in 1855, where her husband became the first physician, druggist and photographer (daguerreotypist) in the settlement. Florine served in the first year of the Civil War, as second lieutenant in Company H, Forty-third Illinois Volunteers, then asked for his discharge and died in 1862. Mrs. Florine, like her sister, embraced the New Church faith. In 1849 tne Andover settlement received a substantial addition to its population, when in the summer the bulk of an emigrant party of 300 located there, and in the fall a party of 140 arrived under the leadership of Pastor Lars Paul Esbjorn, who there founded the first Swedish Lutheran church in Illinois. Other early settlements will be spoken of only in so far as they have played a part in the subsequent history of the Swedish element in the state of Illinois. VICTORIA, THE CRADLE OF SWEDISH METHODISM. In a little blockhouse in the woods, about three miles southwest from the present Victoria settlement, Jonas Hedstrom preached his first ser- mon to the Swedish settlers on December 15, 1846. The Swedish Method- ist Episcopal congregation or class formed then and there was com- posed of five members, Hedstrom and his wife, Andrew Hjelm and wife, and Peter Newberg. These constituted the first Swedish Methodist Epis- copal church in the West. During the ensuing Christmas holidays sev- eral others were added to the group. For some time Hedstrom continued to minister to their spiritual wants while still following the blacksmith's trade, but as his flock grew he gave way to the urgings of the members to devote his whole time to the gospel work. He was duly appointed missionary to the Swedish settlers upon being received on probation into the Rock River Conference in August, 1848, after almost two years of independent work in that field. From now on he devoted himself exclusively to preaching. He labored with untiring energy and within the next year he founded churches at Andover and Galesburg. To the conference of 1849 ne was ao ^ e to report no less than six charges at Victoria, Galesburg, Andover, Lafayette, Moline, and Rock Island, a total of sixty members in full connection and thirty- three on probation. About this time Hedstrom received an assistant in the person of John Brown, and late in 1849 a second assistant in C. P. Agrelius, sent him from New York by the elder Hedstrom. The follow- ing year new reinforcements were received Andrew Ericson and A. G. Swedberg. In May, 1850, a new field was taken up among the settlers of Jefferson county, Iowa, where the founder of New Sweden embraced the Methodist faith and himself became the preacher. The records of the 1850 conference showed its Swedish missions to comprise four circuits with six preachers and 195 church members. Two other men were added in 1852, namely, Peter Challman (Kail- SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 29 man) and Eric Shogren (Sjogren), who returned from a gold-seekers' expedition to California in 1851. They were not received on probation until 1853, when S. B. Newman, who had served two years as seaman's missionary with Hedstrom on the Bethel ship in New York, also was added. In December, 1852, the first church was organized in Chicago, and Newman became its first pastor the following month. Peter Newberg, Hedstrom's former helper in the blacksmith shop, in 1854 left the anvil for the pulpit. The following year added to the field forces a very valu- able man in Victor Witting. In spite of reinforcements, the labors of Hedstrom himself were increased rather than lightened, the enlargement of the field necessitating frequent long journeys to the widely scattered settlements in order to exercise supervision. His field now extended from Chicago to New Sweden, Iowa. The progress of Methodism among the Swedish settlers was continuous. In 1856 all the Swedish churches in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana were combined to form a special district with Jonas Hedstrom as presiding elder. His health having been undermined, he was compelled to retire after one year, and on May u, 1859, death ended the career of the founder of Swedish Methodism in Illinois and the West Jonas Hedstrom. CO-LABORERS OF JONAS HEDSTROM. John Brown ( 1813-1875) was a Danish sailor, who came to New York in 1843 an( l thence drifted to Bishop Hill. With a number of other deserters of Erik Jansson, he soon located at Lafayette, Stark county, eight miles east of Victoria. He there embraced Methodism and, yield- ing to Hedstrom's promptings, engaged in missionary work, preaching first in Lafayette and later with marked success in Rock Island county. He was later sent to labor among the Norwegians around Leland. Brown is described as a preacher of zeal, energy and a warm heart, and a very successful revivalist. When he got warmed up by his text and the sum- mer heat on the prairies as well, he would throw off his coat and neck- wear, and sometimes his vest, and go on preaching with a vim that was overpowering. Carl Peter Agrelius (1798-1881) had prepared at Upsala Univer- sity, and was ordained to the ministry in the Church of Sweden, probably in 1822. After twenty-six years of service he was prompted to emi- grate, coming to New York in 1848. After an unsuccessful attempt to found a Swedish Lutheran congregation there, he went over to the Bethel ship communion, where he served for a year as assistant to Hed- strom before going to Victoria, in October, 1849. After preaching in Illinois for six months, he was sent to Wisconsin. He labored in that state and in Minnesota until 1867. Agrelius was a man of tractable and peaceful disposition, hospitable almost to a fault, thoroughly educated bu<- lacking in practical ability. 30 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Andrew Ericson (1815-1878) came over in the Esbjorn party in 1849, w i tn hi s w if e > anc l was one f a numD er whom Hedstrom soon in- duced to leave Andover to settle in Victoria, where Ericson began preaching. He preached in Illinois until 1856, when he was stationed at Swede Bend, Iowa, where a church had been founded two years before. He labored there until 1860, then returned to Illinois, and labored in Leland and Andover, retiring in 1863 to his farm in Swede Bend. Anders Gustaf Swedberg, born at Hudiksvall, in 1827 or 1828, was also of the Esbjorn party of immigrants. He located in Galesburg. In Sweden he had been one of the so-called "Luther Readers," or Hedberg- ians, and occasionally appeared as exhorter at their meetings. Now he joined the Methodist flock in Galesburg, and in 1851 became local preacher there. He was but twenty-one years of age, possessed a good education, was a fluent speaker and promised well for the Methodist church, when in 1853 he was suddenly converted to the Baptist faith and placed in charge of a new church of that denomination at Village Creek, Iowa. Peter Challman (1823-1900) joined the Janssonist movement in Helsingland, in 1844, and served as one of Erik Jansson's so-called apos- tles. He came over with a party of Janssonists in 1846, but finding conditions in Bishop Hill not to his liking, he located first at Lafayette and then at Galesburg, where he plied the carpenter's trade and preached occasionally to the Methodists. In January, 1850, he led a California party, in which were also Erik Shogren and Victor Witting. Returning to Victoria after a year in the diggings, Challman, who had not yet joined the Methodist church, was induced by Hedstrom to take up preach- ing. Having joined the Victoria church, he became local preacher, being ordained deacon by the conference in 1853. He traveled the circuit for a year, then served the churches in Andover and Rock Island, and later in Victoria and Galesburg. In 1857 he succeeded Hedstrom as presid- ing elder, on recommendation of the retiring officer, and served until 1865. In 1867 he joined the Free Methodists and now began to work the same fields again in behalf of that group of believers. At Center Prairie, near Victoria, he gathered a flock and built a house of worship at his own expense. This flock disbanded after four years, and Challman himself gradually transferred his interests from the mission field to the corn- field, and in the seventies acquired large land holdings. After his removal to Iowa in 1884, he sought to correct his misstep in 1867, by joining the American M. E. church. Among the Illinois churches stories are still being told of the revivals that followed on Challman's powerful preach- ing. He is said to have won 800 converts to Methodism in a single year. Erik Shogren (1824-1906) was instrumental in gaining large numbers for his church during a long period of activity. An adherent of the group of believers in Helsingland called Readers, or Devotionalists, he felt strongly drawn to Methodism when, upon landing in New York in 1849, ne attended services on the Bethel ship, and Hedstrom easily per- suaded him to join his brother at Victoria. Disappointed with the place, SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 31 he located in Galesburg, joining the Methodist church there early the following year. Returning from his trip to California in 1851, he located at Victoria and began to conduct meetings throughout the circuit. He was ordained deacon in 1854 and made elder the year after. From that time on he labored in many fields, including the following in Illinois : Chicago, 1855-59 an d I 64-65; Bishop Hill, 1870-76; Galesburg, 1883-84; Rockford, 1884-85. He served as presiding elder of the Chicago district in 1885 and 1886, and afterwards as pastor in South Chicago, retiring in 1889. Shogren was a self-taught man, who, by assiduous study fitted himself well for the pastoral calling, in which he evinced remarkable power and exerted wide influence. In January, 1845, Sven Bernhard Newman (1812-1902), a young Swede, preached in faltering English to an American Methodist audi- ence at a place near Mobile, Alabama. A brother of his had emigrated and located at Mobile and Sven followed in 1842. Through his brother he was brought in contact with the Method- ists and joined them after two years. In Alabama he was ordained deacon in 1847 an( l made elder in 1849. After two years in New York (1851-52) as assistant seaman's mis- sionary, Newman was assigned to Chicago in 1853, to gather the scattered members of the church organized there the year before. In 1855 ne was again assigned to New York, four years later to Jamestown, and was returned to Illinois in 1866 on assignment to Galesburg. Two years later Newman was appointed pre- siding elder of the Chicago district. While serving as such he raised a considerable fund for the seminary at Evanston. He subse- quently served at Rockford, Wataga-Peoria. Batavia-Geneva, Evanston, Moline, Chicago, Evanston, Ottawa. He was placed on the superannuated list in 1890. At the request of the Swedish Northwestern Conference, Newman, in the early nineties, published his autobiography, a minute account of the life and labors of this frontiers- man of Swedish Methodism. Peter Newberg (1818-1882) was a ship's carpenter, on a vessel which brought a Janssonist party across the Atlantic in 1846, and ac- companied the immigrants inland. Disappointment with Bishop Hill soon brought him to Victoria, where he became one of the five organizing members of the Methodist church. Newberg helped Hedstrom make plows that winter, then went to Peoria and worked for a Swedish archi- tect and contractor named Ulricson, who is said to have lived there long enough to have entirely forgotten his mother tongue. Newberg and Peter Challman were in partnership as house builders for two years until J 853, when the former continued as building contractor on his own ac- REV. SVEN BERNHARD NEWMAN. REV. VICTOR WITTING. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 33 count. He erected the Swedish Methodist church dedicated at Victoria, in 1854. Having been converted in 1853, Newberg began to make preach- ing tours. While on probation he served at New London, la., Andover, and Galesburg. Ordained deacon in 1857, he was promoted to the office of elder. His subsequent stations in this state were: Victoria, Rock- ford and Swedona. He retired to his farm at Victoria about 1873. Victor Witting (1825-1906) was destined to play an important part in the Swedish M. E. church of America. He was born in Malnio, the son of a captain of artillery, and educated in the higher educational institu- tions of Landskrona and Malmo. His early longing for America was finally fulfilled in 1847, when he served as steward on a vessel bringing over a party of Erik Jansson's adherents and accompanied them westward. Two years before, he had been deeply impressed with the religious zeal of a similar party on board a ship on which he was then serving. In Bishop Hill Wetting remained only about a year and a half ; then obtained a position with a pharmacist in Galesburg. Witting and his wife soon joined the Methodist church there. Returning from the aforesaid trip to California in 1852, Witting, together with Erik Shogren, started cultivat- ing medicinal herbs at Victoria. After two years it had proved a losing venture. While in New York to dispose of a shipment, he met Hed- strom, and that proved the turning point in his life. On his return home he began to preach in Victoria, and was soon appointed class leader. While employed later in Peoria he preached to a handful of Swedes then found in that city.. From 1855 he devoted himself exclusively to the work of the church. He was stationed at Victoria and later at Rockford, where he became editor of the denomination mouthpiece Sandcbudet. As such he wrote and campaigned for the founding of a seminary, a project real- ized in 1869. Witting went to Sweden in 1867 to preach Methodism in that Lutheran country, and succeeded so well that he resolved to remain there. After the passage of the Dissenters Law of 1873, extending free- dom of belief, his work was no longer hampered by restrictions, and in 1875 the Methodist church of Sweden, largely the fruit of his labors, was organized by Witting and nine other ministers. After ten years he returned to the United States, only to be returned shortly after as super- intendent of the churches in Sweden. His term of service was cut short by his leaving the Methodist church and coming back to America in 1879. He published Stilla Stunder, a devotional monthly, for two years in Chi- cago, whereupon the breach between himself and the church was healed, and he again became editor of Sandebudet, serving for six years. After 1889 he labored in the East, where he edited another church paper. His memoirs published in 1901 constitute his chief literary work. EARLY METHODIST COMMUNIONS. Victoria was from the outset a Swedish Methodist settlement and has so remained. Among its earliest settlers, prior to 1850, were many who either moved there of their own accord from Bishop Hill or were won 34 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS over by the zealous missionary labors of Jonas Hedstrom. Such were Olof Olson from Ofvanaker, Helsingland, and Jonas Hellstrom, the latter a tailor, who plied his trade there for many years and then enlisted for service in the Civil War, and one Beck from Bollnas, Helsingtand. An- other Olof Olson, from Alfta ; Helsingland, and later of Bishop Hill, also located there. After these came in rapid succession, Hillberg, Hans Hansson, Carl Magnus Peterson, Sven Larson, Lars Larson, Charles Peterson from Csterunda, Upland, John E. Seline, who had been one of Erik Jansson's apostles in Sweden, but later in life became an agnostic of the Ingersoll type. Another Janssonist deserter was Peter Dahlgren, and from Esbjorn's party one Peter Skoglund, a tailor, settled in Vic- toria. The large settlement of which Victoria was the center, early grew to be one of the most flourishing localities in the state. The Swed- ish Methodist church is the only one there, and most of the population of the settlement have been affiliated with it from its earliest period to the present time. No other denomination has gained entrance to this stronghold of Swedish Methodism. After two years this church had grown to number ninety members, mostly people well informed in re- ligious matters and holding deep convictions. The old church edifice, erected in 1853, still remains a landmark in the place. In 1857 the large Victoria circuit was divided into three, Andover and Galesburg forming independent congregations. The following year new fields were taken up in Kewanee, Nekoma and Oneida. The mother church at Victoria in recent years has had an average membership of one hundred. The foundation for the Andover congregation was laid by Hedstrom in 1848 some say the year before, others the year after when on Sun- day, Aug. 26, he followed up his sermon by organizing a class of twelve. A year later the flock numbered seventy-four. A church edifice was built in 1854. In Andover the first Swedish Methodist camp meeting was held the following year. The Galesburg church was organized by Hedstrom in September, 1849, anc l is classed as the third oldest. That city was a field for much denominational strife in the early period. Hedstrom met with indiffer- ence as well as direct opposition. In 1852 came the rivalry of the Swed- ish Lutheran church and in that same year a powerful Baptist propa- ganda shook the little Methodist church in its very foundations. Several of its members were re-baptized, including the young pastor, Anders Gustaf Swedberg. The movement was of short duration and so super- ficial was the conversion that several converts to the Baptist faith soon returned to their former church. The Swedish and American Methodists in 1851 united on a common house of worship, which the latter subse- quently claimed as their exclusive property, despite the contributions of the Swedes to the building fund. This was looked upon as sharp practice and stirred up much bad blood in the community. Late in the year 1856 a small edifice was erected, and the church, then numbering sixty-nine members, was made independent. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 35 At Moline Hedstrom had preached from the time the first few Swedish settlers could be brought together for divine services, and pre- sumably in September, 1849, ne organized the class that became the foun- dation for the independent church established in 1862. Seven persons joined at the organization, and in 1855 the number barely reached twenty, the majority of the settlers of religious convictions joining the Lutheran church then in charge of the energetic Pastor O. C. T. Andren. From 1852 to 1855 there existed in Rock Island a small but vigorous Methodist congregation, which was later almost depleted by removals, the remaining members going over to the neighboring Moline church. Swedish Methodist activity in Chicago dates from 1852, when the Hedstrom brothers, after a season of preaching in the Bethel Chapel of the Seaman's Mission, in December, formed a class part Swedish, part Norwegian. The membership at first is said to have approximated sev- enty-five, many subsequently joining the Swedish Lutheran church, or- ganized the following month. By united effort Newman and Jonas Hed- strom again recruited the flock to sixty-five, and in September the Chi- cago, St. Charles and Poolsville, Ind., classes of probationers totaled 123 members. The chief pillar and support of the Chicago church was C. M. Lind- gren, a sea captain. Born at Dragsmark, Bohuslan, in 1819, he went to sea at fourteen, and in 1849 he was in California, first as a goldwasher, and later engaged in the freight traffic. After a number of business ventures he purchased a couple of freight vessels and engaged in ship- ping lumber from Michigan to Chicago. The failure of a timber com- pany entailed heavy financial loss to him. After 1860 he again engaged in shipping with a larger vessel. This enterprise proved fortunate, and vessel after vessel was added until in 1870 he owned a fleet of six. with a combined tonnage of 4,500. He had three more large freighters built in 1871, one being named Christina Nilsson in honor of the Swedish singer, who at that time visited Chicago. Captain Lindgren in 1877 re- tired from business. He was a man of philanthropic bend, and showed particular liberality toward the struggling church in Chicago. He gave generously to the fund for the theological seminary opened in January, 1870. Capt. Lindgren passed away Sept. i, 1879, leaving a son, John R. Lindgren, who grew wealthy as a banker and manifolded the benefactions of his father. In the Beaver settlement, in Iroquois county, a Swedish Methodist church was established May 4, 1854, with nine members. A church was built there in 1860. A rival Lutheran congregation was started there in 1870, but later surrendered the field to the earlier church which in recent years has grown prosperous and became the center of a populous circuit. Work iii Rockford was taken up in 1854, by Newman, who organized a class which was left in charge of one of its members, Mr. Westergreen, father of N. O. Westergreen, who began preaching the following year. After two years the class disbanded, but was reorganized by Witting in CAPT. C. M. LINDGRES. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 37 1 86 1, with twelve members. The Hock grew larger by degrees, thanks to the efficient work of Pastor Witting, carried on under difficulties and against opposition. In 1863 the flock numbered forty-three adults, and was strong enough to undertake the erection of an edifice. THE BISHOP HILL COLONY. 1 ORIGIN OF THE JANSSONIST MOVEMENT. About one hundred and fifty miles southwest of Chicago, in the southeastern part of Henry County, Illinois, there is a little village by the name of Bishop Hill. This rural community has several large brick buildings, the reason for whose presence in such a small town one might be disposed to ask. But when the fact is ascertained that these buildings were once built and occupied by a good-sized communistic settlement which laid the foundations of the town and made it their principal scene of activity for about fifteen years there appears to be an answer. The history of the social organization which existed at Bishop Hill more than fifty years ago takes us back into the first half of the last century and across the ocean to the Kingdom of Sweden. We shall learn that there was, at the bottom, a religious motive the pursuit of which culminated in a colony on the prairies of Illinois. On the i Qth of December, 1808, there was born in one of the parishes of central Sweden a boy who in his manhood years was to become the most important individual in the founding of the Bishop Hill Colony. His name was Erik Jansson. 2 At his confirmation at the age of fifteen he showed marked ability in dealing with religious subjects. As he became older his interest in matters theological increased and he employed his spare moments, when he was not attending to his farm duties, in studying devotional books by Luther, Arndt, Nohrborg, and others. At the age of twenty-two he wrote poems and short compositions. He discarded, presently, all religious books except the Bible. He declared that the Bible is all-sufficient for study and meditation and that it alone is the guide to salvation from sin. He held that belief in God and Christ led to a complete forgiveness of sins. In the beginning of January, 1843, he made his first journey to the distant province of Helsingland to look up others of a like devotional turn of mind ; for men and women lived here and there who revolted against the low morality practised by many of the clergy of the Established 1 In order to have the story of Erik Jansson and his colony presented from a new viewpoint and with added details not familiar to outsiders, Mr. PHILIP J. STONEBERG of Bishop Hill, the son of one of the prominent colonists, was asked to write on th subject for the present work. 2 While noting that in this country the owner wrote his name Eric Tanson, we prefer to use the form in which it is known to Swedish church history. 38 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Lutheran Church. These men and women sought a life of conscientious morality by private devotions and a frequent study of the Scriptures in their homes, receiving thereby the nickname of "devotionalists." Jansson stopped one night at the farmhouse of Jonas Olson who, with his brother Olof, was an ardent devotionalist. Jansson attended a gathering of spiritually minded men and women and made a deep and favorable impression. A number of places were visited by Jansson upon this journey. He started out on his second trip towards the end of February and did not arrive home until the close of April, visiting upwards of a dozer parishes. He then remained at home for about two months, attending to his family affairs, whereupon he made a third trip to Helsingland. This time he met with considerable hatred on the part of the clergy who had combined to drive him out. Near the close of 1843 ne made his fourth journey northward and settled in that region with his family in April, 1844. The number of those who believed in the doctrines and ideas preached by Jansson steadily increased. Several men who had the gift of exhorta- tion conducted meetings in private houses in various parishes in central Sweden; and such persons as believed in the principles expounded were urged to practise them in order that pious lives might be the result. In the eyes of conservative laymen and clerics of the Church the new movement was fanatical and ought to be suppressed. The name of Janssonism was given to it, and that of Janssonists to the believers themselves, on account of the important part taken by Erik Jansson in the revival. The Janssonistic disbelief in the use of books other than the Bible was emphasized before long as strongly as it could well be done. In a certain village, on the nth of June, 1844, a large number of religious books excepting the Bible, the hymn-book, and the catechism were thrown into a heap and ignited. The fire consumed one book after another, so that in a few minutes a few charred scraps fluttering about on the blackened ground were all that was left. In October of the same year a similar event took place in another parish, when not even the hymn-book and the catechism were spared. And still a third bonfire of theological tomes was brought about in December, as if the passion for such deeds was becoming insatiable. If the religious views of the Janssonists were provoking opposition, if the simple devotional gatherings in private houses were regarded by the church authorities as unseemly, with what feeling of horror must the burning of religious books have been viewed by the conservative as well as the ultra-orthodox ! For these bold acts the perpetrators were visited by the law and required to pay fines. It would be natural to suppose that the leader in the new religious movement would be subjected to a great deal of persecution. And so he was. Jansson was placed under arrest six different times within the space SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 39 of two years. His first taste of the prison was in the parish of Osterunda. Shortly after, he was set free by the court. But it was not long before he was again placed in bonds and transported, this time, to the prison in the city of Gefle, whence he was removed to another place. Through the intercession of four of his devoted co-workers at the royal court, Jansson was set free once more. In September, 1844, he was arrested for the third time but was released, though he was taken in custody soon after for his part in burning devotional books. After another brief interval of freedom Jansson found himself within the prison walls on Christmas Day. Here he remained for nearly four months, whereupon he was set free, in April, 1845, through a petition to the King. But because of his bold utterances and increasing popularity he seemed to be a target for the police authorities. He was in hiding for fifteen weeks when he decided to give himself up voluntarily to the court in the parish of Delsbo. Here he was put on trial. After the arguments in the case were over, the judge concluded to acquit the prisoner; but because of the bitter opposition to Jansson, it was thought best to conduct him to the prison at Gefle. While he was being conveyed thither he was rescued in a daring manner by three or four of his faithful brethren, after which he made good his escape, wandering from one parish to another, hiding in this farmhouse and that, until at length he crossed the mountains and came to one of the ports of Norway whence he embarked for America in January, 1846. The party consisted of himself, his wife and two children, and three other persons. Meanwhile, what befell some of Jansson's co-workers? In the sum- mer of 1844 a complaint was lodged by a parish priest against a number of persons because of their religious faith and each one was fined a considerable sum of money. In December of the same year the brothers Olof and Jonas Olson were arrested for preaching in the open air but were released when it was learned that they were summoned to appeal- before the church authorities at Upsala. A man high in judicial circles kindly helped them out of their dilemma. On New Year's Eve Jonas Olson was arrested and brought to Gefle where he was incarcerated among prisoners whom he himself as an officer of the crown had formerly sentenced. He was shortly released. Some time afterwards the two brothers, Olof and Jonas Olson, were summoned, for the second time, to appear before an assembly of the clergy at Upsala. They were now threatened with banishment if they persisted in conducting devotional gatherings. On one occasion Jonas Olson was fined for reading a passage from the Scriptures and reciting the Lord's Prayer in a private house. In a certain parish his brother Olof was fined one hundred crowns for a similar proceeding; and since his conduct was regarded by the authorities as "Sabbath-breaking" he was fined ten crowns more ! On the forenoon of May 12, 1845, a devotional meeting was in progress in a private house in the parish of Osterunda. While one of the 40 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS guests, Olof Stoneberg, was reading a portion of Scripture several men forced their way in and assaulted him. On the next Sabbath the same Stoneberg was reading from the Bible to a gathering in another house, when a mob of men appeared in the yard, including the priest. Only after repeated orders of the crown officer present did the crowd disperse. From the instances given it is evident that the Janssonists were subjected to persecutions. Furthermore they were denied participation of the Eucharist. They were also deprived of the right to testify in the courts of law, being thereby rendered defenseless in legal actions against them. In view of all this, it appears that these men and women were OLD COLONY CHURCH being shorn of those old-time rights, privileges, and pleasures to which they as well as their forefathers had been accustomed. Two courses remained open to them : the one, to renounce their newly-begotten ideas on religion and dwell unmolested among the lakes and mountains of their childhood clays ; the other, to adhere to their beliefs and leave their native land. They chose the latter course. Before he left Sweden, Erik Jansson with some friends had deter- mined upon a plan for the emigration of the Janssonists to America, the land known to be a haven for the persecuted and oppressed. It was thought best for all to live together in one community in the western world, for spiritual as well as economic benefit. Jansson, it should be added, had developed exalted notions of himself since he first began to preach. He now was coming to regard himself as the representative of Christ in the New Jerusalem which he and his followers would build in the New World. He compiled a hymn-book and wrote a catechism which were to be used in the new community, both published in Soderhamn in SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 41 1846. Thus, from a spiritual viewpoint the establishment of a colony was manifestly desirable. From the economic standpoint it was believed that one social organi- zation would be necessary and that this must be based on a community of property. Some of the Janssonists were penniless, others had but small means, while some were well-to-do. In order that all might obtain transportation across the ocean and to their ultimate destination it would be necessary for all to put their means into a common fund. The welfare of every individual in the new home would further require a common treasury out of which to pay for the necessaries of life until the people could obtain food and raiment through their o\vn labors. Mindful of the apostolic plan, Erik Jansson appointed seven men as leaders of the emigration, among whom were Jonas Olson, Andrew Berg- lund, Olof Johnson, and Olof Stoneberg. These were to have charge of a common fund out of which should be paid all debts which rested upon any individuals who were anxious to join in the emigration. The trans- portation of every emigrant was also to be paid out of this fund, while the surplus was to be used in the establishment of the new colony. The common treasury was created by the contributions of the Janssonists who sold their houses, lands, goods and chattels to that end. EMIGRATION OF THE JANSSONISTS. There being upwards of a thousand persons desiring to emigrate, the undertaking was no small affair for those days. Passes had to be obtained from the authorities, a difficult matter in some cases. Furthermore, an ocean voyage in those days was fraught with hardship. The vessels were at best small and uncomfortable, some old and unseaworthy. The emigrants assembled in the ports of Goteborg, Soderhamn, Stockholm and ( iefle and from these points the ships for America made their departure. The first shipload of emigrants that left Soderhamn suffered shipwreck on the Swedish coast. One ship with half a hundred passengers was lost without a trace. Another was wrecked on the coast of Newfound- land. One vessel was five months on the voyage, six or seven weeks being spent in England to repair the vessel. As early as 1845 Olof Olson had left for America with a commis- sion to find a locality suitable for a settlement. In New York he became acquainted with a countryman of his by the name of Olof Hedstrom, a Methodist minister, who preached regularly in an old discarded ship fitted up into a meeting-house. Hedstrom's brother, Jonas, lived at Victoria a small village in Knox County, Illinois. Olof Olson was persuaded to visit the latter and examine the Illinois country, which was receiving considerable attention at that time because of its agricultural possibilities. He came to Illinois, he saw the rich prairies and he was conquered. In July, 1846, Erik Jansson together with a few followers, arrived in the village of Victoria. After further prospecting, a piece of property 42 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS was bought in the next county on the north. This property was bought for $250, on the first day of August, in the name of Olof Olson, and consisted of sixty acres of land. On August 21 the party purchased in the same county for a consideration of $1,100, a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres with buildings, live stock and grain. Hither moved Jansson, Olof Olson and the rest of the party. After a further examina- tion of the neighborhood a location for the colony was picked out. This site was secured on September 26, 1846, when four hundred and eightv acres of government land were bought at $1.25 per acre. The new settlement was called Bishop's Hill an exact translation of the name of the Swedish parish where Erik Jansson was born, but the !\'in:e was afterwards spelled without the "s." In the fall of the year a number of emigrants arrived in New York. Thence the journey was continued up the Hudson River to Albany, and on the Erie Canal to Buffalo. After that the travelers took steamboats on the Great Lakes to Chicago, whence many of the early emigrants went on foot to their destination, while wagon transportation was obtained for the luggage and for those unable to walk. Other bands of emigrants went from Chicago by water to La Salle, or Henry or Peru, whence they walked or rode. Those who came in 1854 traveled by rail the whole dis- tance from New York to Galva, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad being then completed to that point. The journey from New York before the days of the railroads required about three weeks. FOUNDING OF THE COMMUNITY. A few loghouses and tents accommodated the first arrivals. But when the colonists came in large numbers in October, 1846, dugouts were made in the sides of the ravine passing north and south through the set- tlement. The rear wall of a dugout, as well as the rear parts of the side walls, were of earth, but the front parts and the front wall were of logs, there being a door at the front flanked by two small windows. The roof was of rails, sod and earth. A dugout was ordinarily about eighteen feet wide and twenty-five or thirty feet long. There was a fireplace in the back wall. Usually two tiers of berths ran along the side walls, accom- modating about twenty-five or thirty persons. Before the close of the year there were about four hundred persons in the colony, including seventy who made their abode at Red Oak Grove, a few miles northwest of the main settlement. In the following February there came to the colony a company of twenty-one men, and a woman who served as cook. These had left New York the month before and traveled across the country by boat, rail, stage and on foot. In June, 1847, there came about four hundred additional emigrants, who had reached New York by various ships during the winter and spring, those coming to that port in the winter being obliged to remain there and in Brooklyn until the water- ways were again open. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 43 DEVOTIONAL LIFE. Attention to their spiritual wants was naturally uppermost in the minds of the colonists. To this end they erected a church in the autumn of 1846. It was built of logs, in the shape of a cross, and covered with canvas, whence it was called "the tent church." At the north end was the pulpit and at the south end a gallery and a fireplace. It is said that this structure seated about eight hundred persons. At first two services were held each week-day in the tent church and three on Sunday. Every morning Jansson roused the people early for a service in the church before breakfast. At Christmas time, 1846, a bell was procured, which throughout the colony period served the double pur- pose of calling the people to worship and to their meals. It now hangs in the cupola of the village schoolhouse, calling the children to school. The second service was held in the evening and some years elapsed before candle light was displaced by oil lamps. During the first two summers services were held in the grove in the north part of the settle- ment, usually only at noon, when work in the fields was pressing. Jansson, wearing a cloak of black, conducted the services and preached frequently. Others who served as preachers were : Jonas Olson, Olof Stoneberg, Nels Hedeen and Andrew Berglund. Still others would be called upon, sometimes at a moment's notice. As time went on the week-day morning services were discontinued, while the evening services became less fre- quent, and one of the three Sunday services was eliminated. During all this time, however, the place of worship was not the same. The tent church was destroyed by fire in 1848, along with some log- houses, when a pile of chaff from flax was set on fire by a man smoking a pipe. A frame building was erected that year, the basement and first story containing living rooms, and the second story the church proper. Siding and finishing lumber were hauled from Peru, while pews of walnut were made in the colony. Erik Jansson's own hymn-book, printed in Sweden in 1846, was used in the church services. Besides hymns, it contained several prayers. Later on a choir led the singing and an organ was introduced, which was played by Swan Bjorklund, a musician who came over in 1852. A revised edition of the hymnal was printed at Galva in 1857. It was part of Jansson's plan to send out twelve men to spread the faith in this country. To that end the men selected began to receive instruction in English in a dugout. A small English-Swedish word- book had been printed in Sweden in 1846, which contained the principles of English pronunciation. In 1848 the missionaries were sent out by twos, being required to earn their own support on their tour. Two of them, Olof Stoneberg and Andrew Blomberg, visited the Shakers at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, a colony then numbering about three hundred. The missionary scheme, however, proved a failure. In order that the children of the colonists should be brought up 44 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS in the same faith as their elders instruction was given in Swedish in Jansson's catechism of 1846. The Swedish school, however, was not regularly kept up. MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT. The colonists who arrived during the first two or three years met with considerable hardships. The accommodations were not the best, the food supply was often scant, fasting was made compulsory, and so malaria and dysentery attacked the enfeebled settlers, and the death toll was heavy. There was no supply of sawed lumber to make coffins for the dead during the first winter, and sheets alone had to suffice. Sometimes one OLD COLONY BUILDING grave was made to serve for several bodies. Funeral services were dis- pensed with and the place of burial was not always known. It is said that a number were thus buried in a large grave in the west part of the settlement near the southern edge of the grove, but the exact spot is unknown. At the east edge of Red Oak Grove, where fifty colonists were buried in 1846 and 1847, a monument was erected in 1882. These hardships proved too much for some of the settlers, who ac- cordingly went to other places to seek a more congenial environment. Some settled at Lafayette, others at Victoria, and a few went to Gales- burg. But if some removed to other localities, the ranks of the colonists were filled up by the arrival of other bands, especially in 1849, I &5> and 1854. The material welfare of the community also improved in consequence. In 1858 the membership of the colony consisted of 655 persons, of whom 147 were men and 258 women over twenty years of SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 45 age, 78 boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 20, and 172 boys and girls under the age of 15 years. Following the increase in population and in material prosperity, bet- ter and larger buildings were erected. At first small houses made of sod and rails were used for kitchen and dining room purposes. In 1847 a few houses were built of clay mixed with coarse grass, which stood for several years. In that year the first frame house was built, part of which was occupied by Erik Jansson and his family. A sawmill was early se- cured by the colonists, then exchanged for another, and in 1848 a third one was bought, the colonists thus making their own lumber. But as not enough timber could be obtained from the neighboring woods, some finished lumber had to be hauled long distances from the nearest towns, as Peru and Rock Island. In 1848 the making of kiln-dried brick was begun. Both men and women were engaged in this work. The kilns were fired a short distance west of the village, where suitable clay was obtained. During the first month 100,000 brick were made. It is said that in all five million brick were manufactured, both for the market and for home use. Of this material a number of substantial buildings were erected, some of the bricklayers being women. From the chalk-stone in the ravine cement was manufactured and sand was procured in the neighborhood. A four-story brick building forty-five feet wide and one hundred feet long was begun in 1849 an d finished in the next year. The first story became the kitchen and dining hall. In 1850 the work of extending this building another hundred feet on the south was begun, the new part being completed in 1851, and the common kitchen and dining hall were extended to occupy the entire first floor, the dining hall in the north part being then used for the children and that in the south part for the adults. This structure, called the kitchen building, later came to be designated the "big brick." The three upper stories were partitioned off into six halls with four dwelling rooms opening into each hall on each floor. After the colony had disbanded, the first story was likewise fitted up into dwelling rooms, making a total of ninety-six rooms, ex- clusive of the six halls. Another of the more important brick buildings was the steeple building erected in 1854, and designed for a hotel, but finally converted into dwelling rooms. Some of the rooms were used for school purposes until the present schoolhouse was built. In the tower a clock was in- stalled in 1859, made by three of the colonists, Lars Soderquist, P. O. Blomberg and Swan Bjorklund. It was modeled after a hall clock brought from Sweden. Since the day it was first set running, this old clock has been performing its duty of telling the time and striking the hours. A short distance east of the kitchen building was erected another building of brick the bakery building. Here was baked Swedish hard- tack, with a hole in the center, to be hung up on poles. Here, too, was 46 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS brewed small beer, a Swedish non-intoxicating drink. Another brick building was used for the storage of meat. Still others were erected for industrial purposes, one being used as a wagon shop and paint shop, another as a blacksmith shop. At first the colonists ground their corn on hand-mills, which had to be worked night and day to supply the need. To get wheat ground into flour it was necessary to go twenty-eight miles to Green River, or else to Camden, now Milan. But in 1847 a grist mill run by water was erected on the creek. When the water was low the men who were study- ing to prepare themselves as missionaries for Janssonism sometimes trod the wheel. In 1848 a wind-mill was built. This was succeeded by a four-story brick steam mill completed in 1851. Here a hundred barrels of flour could be turned out in a day. Much flour was marketed and there was a large custom trade. A fourth mill, driven by water power, served for various industrial purposes. After the dissolution of the colony the old steam mill was torn down. The majority of the colonists were from the Swedish province of Helsingland, famous for its flax culture and linen textiles, so they trans- planted this industry to the new settlement. At first the flax was pre- pared by hand, but afterwards water power was used. All spinning and weaving was done by hand. Coarse and fine goods, linens, w r oolens, and carpets were made. The largest production for the market for a single year was in 1851, when 28,322 yards of linen and 3,237 yards of carpets were produced. From 1848 to and including 1860 the manufacture of textiles appears to have reached a total of 169,386 yards. Clothing was made by the colony's own tailors. A home tannery prepared the leather for its shoemakers. Brooms were manufactured. There were carpenters to make the furniture and some artisans to help the blacksmiths make agricultural implements and wagons. Every de- partment of the colony's industries had its overseer, and each member belonged to some department, according to inclination or aptitude. METHODS OF LABOR. The colonists had been farmers for the most part in the Old World and this occupation they retained. With the increase in material re- sources more land was purchased until the total holdings are said to have been 10,857 acres. In the busy season of farming the shops had to yield their workmen, both men and women, who then labored in the fields and meadows. At certain places distant from the village there were buildings for the ac- commodation of laborers and animals employed on the outlying tracts far from home. Both horses and oxen were employed at first, the latter being gradually replaced altogether by horses. It was the duty of the men and boys to care for the horses and oxen, while the women and girls milked the cows and fed the calves and hogs. When prairie land was first broken, a thirty-six-inch plow, pulled SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 47 by eight yoke of oxen, was used. Later a smaller plow was used, drawn by three yoke of oxen. In the plowing of cultivated land horses were usually employed. For several years Indian corn was planted according to this method : Two men stood at opposite ends of a field, or part of one, each with a stake to which was fastened a long rope stretched out between them and marked off every four feet by a piece of ribbon. At each ribbon was posted a woman with a hoe, and some seed corn in her apron, who planted a few kernels in each hill. When the operation was completed the men moved the rope forward the proper distance, followed by the women, and another row of hills was planted. After a time corn was planted in another manner. A wooden marker constructed with runners was driven over the field twice, at right angles, and where the lines crossed girls dropped the kernels, after which women, carrying hoes, covered up the seed. Wheat and oats were cut with a plain scythe at first, but in 1848 the cradle appeared, which was a hand implement consisting of a handle, a scythe-blade and above the latter a light frame of wooden prongs which caught the grain and laid it evenly in a swath. Then the grain was bound into sheaves, mostly by women, and boys and girls carried the bundles into piles, while men made the shocks. Sometimes at the close of a harvest day the laborers would form in line and march to the village, singing the songs dear to them. THE MODE OF LIVING. In the early clays of the colony the colonists were often compelled to fast, but changes soon came for the better. While a greater variety of food was prepared for breakfast and dinner as time went on, the regular article of food for supper \vas mush made of corn-meal or mid- dling, and served with skim-milk or a beverage consisting of small beer and molasses. Hard-tack was the principal kind of bread used during the whole period of the colony. Butter was used only at Sunday break- fast at first, but oftener at later stages. Coffee was served only at break- fast, as a rule. At first, however, there was but little genuine coffee, a kind of roasted bread, made of corn-meal or middling with some potato flour and molasses, being used as a substitute. Sometimes wheat was roasted and mixed with the coffee. Milk and molasses took the place of cream and sugar. The usual beverage was small beer. Being ac- customed to fish in their lake-dotted home land, the colonists made spe- cial efforts to secure their favorite food. For several seasons fish were . obtained from the Mississippi River, a fishing cam]) being maintained on the present arsenal island at Rock Island. Henry and Chillicothe were also visited to secure fish from the Illinois River. Refreshments between meals became a custom as the times bright- ened, bread, cheese or meat, and small beer being distributed to the laborers. 48 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS RAVAGES OF THE CHOLERA PLAGUE. In the summer of 1849 a P art y f Norwegian immigrants brought the Asiatic cholera to the colony. The disease spread quickly among the colonists. Strong men fell a prey to the grim disease. Jansson ordered a number of the people who were well to hurry off to the farm operated by the colony east of La Grange, now Orion, and remain there until the cholera was stamped out at Bishop Hill. But it was all in vain, for on the day they arrived at the farm the first case broke out among them to be followed quickly by others. Physicians prescribed, but the disease held sway. THE STEEPLE BUILDING At the farm near La Grange the deaths were most numerous. Trenches were dug for the dead, no coffins being used. At Bishop Hill the number was less, the burials were in the village cemetery opened in 1848, and coffins were used. Some who stayed at a place near Cam- bridge were attacked by the disease, and fatalities occurred there also. Jansson took his wife and two of his children to the fishing camp on the government island at Rock Island but it was of no use, for she and the two little ones succumbed to the terrible disease and were buried there, the location of the graves being unknown today. The cholera ran its course in about three weeks, claiming over a hundred victims. Seventy died on the La Grange farm, where a mon- ument was erected in 1882, on section 36, Western township. In 1850 a company of emigrants bound for the colony were attacked by the cholera on the Great Lakes, and a number died en route. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 49 TRAGIC RESULT OF MARRIAGE REGULATIONS. Owing to the strained economic circumstances in the first few years Jansson discouraged new marriages, but the restriction proved irksome and in 1848 the ban was removed. Immediately, it appears, a number of the men and women were paired off regardless of personal likes or dislikes. Nevertheless, obedience had been a cardinal virtue and re- mained so in this case. The weddings took place on Sundays. Ac- cording to the marriage records of Henry County, Jansson joined four couples on June 25, 1848, three on July 2, four on July 9, and five on July 16. On July 23 he married twenty-four couples and on July 30 six- teen couples. Two couples were married in August and seven in Sep- tember, showing the marriage epidemic to have subsided. Among those who were married in 1848 were John Root, a Swede who came to the colony in that year, and Charlotta Jansson, a cousin of Erik Jansson. An agreement was entered 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 Jansson interposed, nor did Mrs. Root desire to leave. 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 they were off. But the act was soon dis- covered and several men who started in pursuit on horseback succeeded in overtaking the carriage and in bringing back Mrs. Root "and the child. Later Root got his wife away to Chicago, where she had a married sis- ter and a brother-in-law, but she and the child were again brought back to Bishop Hill by colonists. Deprived of his wife a second time, Root is said to have gone to the Green River neighborhood whence he brought a number of men with him to Bishop Hill to search for his wife and for Jansson and his principal agents. The destruction of the place being threatened, Jansson and family, Mrs. Root and child, Jonas Olson, and a few others got away and went to St. Louis. About this time the California gold fever had reached the colonists as it had reached so many others. Their finances being at a low ebb the colonists decided tq send an expedition to the distant El Dorado. Some of the men implicated in the Root affair joined the expedition. The party set out in March and consisted of nine men, Jonas Olson being one of the number. Three of them started overland by way of Rock Island, while the others went by way of St. Louis and the Mis- souri River, all meeting in the region of Council Bluffs. In August they reached Placerville, California, where they located, fifty miles from Sacramento. Gold was hard to find and living was expensive. Some of the men were taken sick with mountain fever and one of them died. On April i, 1850, Root came with a second company of men to Bishop Hill to demand the surrender of his wife to him, but she was 50 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS still absent. Settlers in the Red Oak neighborhood dissuaded the com- pany from violence. ERIK JANSSON SLAIN. Jansson returned from St. Louis on Saturday, May n, 1850. On the following Monday he went to Cambridge to attend the circuit court, the May term of which opened that day. Jansson was the defendant, as the head of the colony, in a number of cases. Root also, it appears, had a case, being the plaintiff in a trespass case against a certain Peter W. Wirstrom, continued since 1848. At the noon recess, while Jansson was in the court room, Root appeared in the doorway and with a re- volver fired two shots at Jansson, killing him instantly. Root was placed under arrest, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. His case was taken up the next day and continued. It was again con- sidered at the November term of court in 1850 when his plea of not guilty was withdrawn. The case w r as up again at the May and October terms of 1851. The defendant secured a change of venue to the Knox County Circuit Court, where his case was taken up at Knoxville at the April term, 1852, and continued till the September term. That year a jury of twelve men was finally impaneled after ten panels had been ex- hausted. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the de- fendant and fixed his period of imprisonment in the state penitentiary for two years. The court then ordered the defendant brought to the state penitentiary at Alton, the first five days of his imprisonment to be in solitary confinement and the rest at hard labor, the defendant further to pay the cost of the prosecution. At the end of a year Root was par- doned by Gov. Joel A. Matteson, on petition. Root's last days were spent in Chicago, where he died not long after his release, Rev. Eric Shogren, a Swedish Methodist preacher, officiating at his funeral. The death of Erik Jansson was naturally a great shock to the col- onists. The body lay in state for a few days. The funeral sermon was preached by Andrew Berglund. The remains were then laid to rest in the village cemetery, where a wooden slab marked his grave until re- placed by a marble monument, the gift of some of his friends. After the death of his first wife Jansson had married again the same year. His second wife was a Mrs. Gabrielson, a woman of varied experiences. It is said that she had been left an orphan at an early age in Sweden and adopted by a family in Goteborg. At fifteen she ac- companied this family to New York in 1832. There she is said to have married a sailor who went to sea and never returned. She next married a teacher named Pollock, who gave her an education while she in turn assisted him as teacher in a private school of which he was the principal. She went to hear Rev. Olof Hedstrom at the Bethel Ship mission, who considered her one of his most earnest hearers. On the Bethel Ship she heard Erik Jansson when he arrived in New York in 1846. Jansson also called upon her and won her over to his belief. She then decided SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 51 to accompany Jansson and his party to Victoria. Mr. Pollock tried to persuade her to return to the East, but to no avail, and he died, broken- hearted, at Victoria. At Bishop Hill she married Lars Gabrielson in July, 1848. A son was born in this marriage. Mrs. Gabrielson exer- cised quite an influence in the colony, having become the head teacher for the children's English school, a position which she held for some time. Her third husband, Mr. Gabrielson, died of the cholera in 1849. Upon her marriage to Erik Jansson she became superintendent of the work of the women. Jansson is said to have asserted on various occasions that the leader- ship of the colony was to be hereditary within his own family. He had a son and a daughter by his former marriage, and it was his wish that the son should become his successor. At the funeral of the departed leader Mrs. Jansson, by virtue of her position, appointed Andrew Berglund guardian of her stepson and leader until the boy should attain his majority. Meanwhile the news of Jans- son's death reached the Bishop Hill gold seekers in distant California. In November, 1850, Jonas Olson started back alone by way of Central America and New Orleans and arrived home the following February. Of the seven remaining miners all but one eventually returned to Bishop Hill. Jonas Olson before long took the reins of government in the colony, and Berglund had to step aside. The idea that the control of affairs should remain in the Jansson family came to naught. INCORPORATION OF THE COLONY. Up to this time the property of the colony had been held in the names of various individuals. Upon the death of any one of these his estate was sold by order of the county court and purchased for the benefit of the colony. As the wealth of the colony became greater the system was found unsatisfactory. Accordingly, by an act approved by the legislature on January 17, 1853, the colony was incorporate:! under a state charter. The number of trustees was fixed at seven and the fol- lowing were by this act constituted trustees : Olof Johnson, Jonas Olson, Jonas Ericson, Jacob Jacobson, Jonas Kronberg, Swan Swanson and Peter Johnson. The last named was a brother of the founder. He re- signed January 10, 1859, and was succeeded by Olof Stoneberg. The charter provided that the trustees should hold office during good behavior, but that they were liable to removal for good cause by a vote of the majority of the male members of the colony. Vacancies in the office of trustee were to be filled in such manner as should be provided by the by-laws. The trustees were to have the power of making con- tracts, purchase real estate and again convey the same whenever they thought it proper to do so. The business of the corporation should be manufacturing, milling, all kinds of mechanical work, agriculture, and merchandising. The by-laws were adopted May 6, 1854. In the course of time the 52 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS total number of adult signers grew to more than 500. The by-laws provided that any person of good moral character might become a mem- ber of the colony by transferring to the trustees thereof all his real and personal property and subscribing to the by-laws. On the withdrawal or discontinuance of membership a person was entitled to no compensa- tion for any services or labor performed while a member. The trustees might, however, at their option, give to such person whatever they MONUMENT TO BISHOP HILL SOLDIERS deemed right and proper. Any member guilty of disturbing the peace and harmony of the colony by vicious and wicked conduct or by preach- ing and disseminating doctrines of religious belief contrary to the doc- trines of the Bible as generally understood and believed by the colonists 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 col- ony in person or by such agents or foremen as they might see fit to ap- point from time to time and to require such agents or foremen to account to them in such manner as they should deem proper. Annually on the SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 53 second Monday of January a meeting of the adult members was to take place, when the trustees were required to make a complete report of the affairs of the colony for the past year. It was further provided that the property and industries and the pro- ceeds thereof belonging to the colony should constitute a common fund from which the trustees were required to provide for the subsistence, comfort and reasonable wants of every member of the colony ; for the support of the aged and infirm ; for the care and cure 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 of the colony. At the death of Erik Jansson the colony was in debt to the extent of $8,000 and affairs were not in the best shape, but after its organiza- tion under the charter the colony grew more prosperous and continually increased its property. More land was purchased and paid for, new buildings were erected and various improvements were made. The colonists did much to build up the town of Galva, which was laid out by J. M. and W. L. Wiley in 1854. In the first place they graded a portion of the roadbed of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad which passed through the new town. Then they bought fifty town lots and built the first house and dug the first well there. They also erected a brick warehouse and used the new railroad in marketing their surplus products. For a short time they published a Swedish weekly newspaper in the town. One of the trustees, Olof Johnson, had much to do with the affairs of the colony at Galva and was given the privilege of naming it. He named it Gefle, from a Swedish seaport, the name being subse- quently corrupted into the present Anglicized form. At a meeting of the trustees August 16, 1854, Olof Johnson, Jonas Olson and Jonas Ericson were appointed general agents and were author- ized to buy, sell and convey real estate and all kinds of property and to sign any instrument in writing. The following January the trustees made their first report, stating that the colony owned 8,028 acres of land, 50 town lots in Galva, ten shares in the Central Military Tract Railway, 586 head of cattle, 109 horses and mules, 1,000 hogs and other assets such as wheat, flax, broom-corn, provisions and general merchandise. DECADENCE OF THE COLONY. The colony soon entered upon business ventures which proved dis- astrous in the panic of 1857. The need of funds having become press- ing, the trustees at a meeting December 30, 1857, empowered Olof John- son to procure a loan for the colony of $50,000 or upwards, on real estate security. In 1858 the sum of $40,000 was borrowed of Alex- ander Studwell, of New York City, and a mortgage executed for the same. The business reversals which hit the colony produced strife and discord. The old-time religious ardor, which had caused the early col- onists to submit without murmur to many hardships, had abated. The 54 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS principle of celibacy held by the Shakers was introduced at one time, while connubial abstinence on the part of the married was propounded, to the chagrin of many and causing the departure of several from the colony. Contact with the outside world revealed the possibilities of individual profit from individual labor. The rising generation was not swayed by the power of religious enthusiasm such as had actuated their parents in the days of persecution and material hardships. During the closing years of the colony two factions developed the liberals, led by Olof Johnson and others, and the conservatives, led by Jonas Olson and others. This was shown in the matter of education for the children. The conservatives were of the opinion that only so much schooling should be given as was required by law in order to obtain a share of the school fund. When the proposition of building a brick schoolhouse was being considered the liberal side succeeded in having a plan drawn for a school building of two stories. The work was begun and the walls of the first story were almost completed when a bolt of lightning struck one corner and turned the scale in favor of the con- servatives. DISSOLUTION OF THE COLONY. As a result of factions, discontent, and disappointment with the management of the financial affairs, a division of the property was finally decided upon. Proceedings were instituted on February 14, 1860, looking to a final distribution of the property after the corporate debts and obliga- tions had been discharged. The property was divided into two large subdivisions, the Olson party representing 265 shares and the Johnson party 150. The subdivi- sion was made in a general meeting of the members. A full share ap- pears to have consisted of about twenty-t\vo acres of land, the number varying according to value. There was also a timber lot of nearly two acres, one town lot, and an equal share in all barns, buildings, domestic animals, farming implements and domestic utensils. The smallest frac- tional share in the realty was about eight acres. Committees were appointed to apportion the real and personal prop- erty. A surveyor surveyed and allotted to each individual member the share of his or her real estate by metes and bounds. All the colony lands were then platted by authority of the county surveyor, accord- ing to the surveys made and the plates recorded in the county recorder's office. In the case of a family the property which fell to its members was deeded to its head. The real estate subject to distribution consisted of 10,857 acres, while the personal property was of considerable value. The members were not to receive deeds to their lands until the debts were paid or until the individual shareholders had paid their own pro- portion. In 1860 the debts of the colony amounted to about $112,000. In the spring of 1861 the Johnson party perfected the individualization of its property. In the same year the Olson party was subdivided into SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 55 three subdivisions, headed respectively by Jonas Olson, Olof Stoneberg and Martin Johnson. Later these subdivisions also effected a complete individualization. In August, 1865, the trustees made an assessment of $200 per share to be applied on the payment of debts. Deeds were made out and left in escrow for the members who should pay their assessments. But the response was not satisfactory. A second assessment was levied in March, 1868, account being taken of the amount each member had paid on the first assessment. But believing that the majority of the members were unable to pay their respective assessments, the trustees thought it advisable to find a capitalist who would advance moneys or assume lia- bilities for such members. The trustees secured Elias Greenbaum of Chicago to perform this service. The trustees claimed that all of the debts might have been paid by the autumn of 1868 if this plan had been followed by all. THE COLONY CASE IN COURT. In July, 1868, a bill of complaint was filed in the Henry County Circuit Court by six colonists as complainants, with the Bishop Hill colony and its seven trustees as defendants. Because of this lawsuit thousands of dollars were spent in paying the attorneys in the case, while the special master in chancery, W. H. Gest, of Rock Island, alone received $9,000 in fees for his services in the case. In 1879 the case was ended by an agreement between the attorneys concerned. The year last named many tracts were sold by the special master in chancery. Among the lands sold was that of John Root, which had been bought for the benefit of C. C. Bonney, who was one of the com- plainants' attorneys in the colony suit. A writ of assistance having been granted, directing the sheriff to put the petitioner, Lyman M. Payne, acting for Bonney, in possession of the land, Root appealed the case to the Appellate court, where the judgment of the lower court was reversed. Payne carried the case to the Supreme court, w r here the judgment of the Appellate court was affirmed in 1887. The law had thus been deter- mined in cases of this kind. The original Bishop Hill case was then abandoned and was omitted from the docket of the Henry County Cir- cuit Court for the February term, 1888. The legal troubles which had dogged the colonists after the individualization of the property were thus at an end. NEW RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES. With the change in the economic life which accompanied the dis- solution of the colony came a change in the religious life. Some, em- bittered by the life in the colony, became indifferent to religion. Others became affiliated with other movements. Thus a Methodist organization was formed in 1864, in a living room in the Colony church building, a hall was secured temporarily, and a church was erected in 1868. Andrew 56 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Berglund and Olof Stoneberg became local preacbers in this denomina- tion. Today the Methodist is the only active church organization in the community. In 1870 the Seventh Day Adventists effected an organ- ization and took possession of the colony church. Jonas Olson became allied with this sect, and he and another colonist, Olof Osberg, served as its ministers until the infirmities of old age overtook them. A society of the Mission Friends existed at one time, but its church edifice was sold some years ago. CIVIL WAR SERVICE. When the Civil War broke out a company of men at Bishop Hill had been drilling for some time under the command of Eric Forsse, formerly of the Swedish Army. The Bishop Hill Company ultimately became a large part of Company D, of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered in Dec. 26, 1861. Eric Forsse was the first captain of the company, was then promoted major, but resigned after the fall of Atlanta in 1864. He subsequently went west and became one of the founders of Falun, Kansas. The next captain was Eric Johnson, the son of the founder of the colony, who was promoted to this position from a lieutenancy, but resigned in 1862 and was succeeded by Peter M. Wickstrum. One of the original sec- ond lieutenants was Eric Bergland, son of Andrew Berglund. He was promoted first lieutenant in 1862. In the autumn of 1864 ne received an appointment as cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, entering July i, 1865. Four years later he was graduated at the head of his class, having the further distinction of being the first Swede to be admitted to West Point. Commissioned second lieutenant in the army, he was successively promoted first lieutenant 18/2, captain '84, and major '95. Retiring in 1896, he has since resided at Baltimore. In July, 1862, Company D took part in a competitive drill for a beautiful silk flag offered by the colonel of the Fifty-seventh regiment to the best drilled company in the regiment. Company D was com- manded by Lieutenant Eric Bergland. This company won the flag as the result of this competition, a German company standing second. RECENT ANNIVERSARIES. The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Bishop Hill colony was celebrated on September 23 and 24, 1896. A granite monument consisting of a single large shaft was then unveiled. The address of welcome was given by Rev. Axel Gabrielson, the then pastor of the M. E. church at Bishop Hill, and the response was by John Root of Galva. Addresses were given by Capt. Eric Johnson, who then resided at League City, Texas, and by Jonas W. Olson of Galva. An historical sketch was given by Philip J. Stoneberg of Bishop Hill. Songs were sung by a mixed chorus and by a quartet. In the Steeple building two SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 57 rooms were devoted to relics. A considerable number of the old col- onists were still living, among them two of the trustees, Jonas Olson and Swan Swanson. Ever since 1896 annual reunions have been cel- ebrated. The seventieth anniversary of the founding of the colony was cele- brated Sept. 23, 1916. This proved to be the best attended of any of the reunions so far. It was estimated that between three thousand and four thousand persons were in attendance. John Root of Galva, the president of the Bishop Hill Old Settlers' Association, presided. At the forenoon service an address of welcome was given by Philip J. Stone- berg and a response by Capt. Eric Johnson of Clearwater, Calif. At noon the crowd was reinforced by the arrival of 126 persons from Chi- cago, who had journeyed to Galva that morning in a special train char- tered by the Swedish California Club. The first address of the afternoon was by Henry S. Henschen of Chicago, whose grandfather, Judge Hen- schen, befriended the Janssonists in Sweden by issuing a writ of man- damus whereby they were able to secure emigration passports. Capt. Eric Johnson was the next speaker. Edwin A. Olson of Chicago, whose parents were colonists, spoke and was followed by Congressman Edward J. King of Galesburg. The musical numbers were by a mixed double quartet which rendered Swedish songs ; Jacobson's Orchestra of Galva, which rendered the instrumental selections, while Mrs. Florence Chaiser- Hendricks of Chicago, whose father was a colonist, sang several solos. Casten's band of 40 boys from Cambridge played during the day, while the Galva band accompanied the Chicago delegation from Galva and played at the noon hour. There was a large collection of relics on exhibition at the Colony church. Here could be seen letters by Erik Jansson and a part of his autobiography in his own handwriting, letters written by Jonas Olson in Sweden, a contract between the captain of a vessel and a party of Jans- sonists made in 1850, Jansson's hymn-book, original edition, 1846, re- vised edition, 1857; Jansson's Catechism, 1846; English-Swedish word- book, 1846. There was also a number of copper utensils and a variety of tools and implements, baskets, lanterns, many of which were made by the colonists. There was also colony paper money on exhibition and several pieces of Swedish plate money. The prize silk flag won by Company D, 57th Regiment, was shown ; also the hall clock from which the clock in the Steeple building was modeled. The large collection of portraits of colonists painted by the late Olof Krans of Altona, him- self a colonist, had been hung from the walls of the church. His paint- ings of industrial scenes in the colony, buildings, etc., hung on the walls of a room on the first floor near the entrance. A few of the original colonists of 1846 still survive. When the last of them shall be gone the memory of the Bishop Hill colonists will still be cherished by their descendants and by all who take an interest in the early Swedish pioneers of Illinois. 58 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS PROMINENT DESCENDANTS OF BISHOP HILL COLONISTS. JONAS W. OLSON was born in Soderala parish, Sweden, June 30, 1843. H G was a son f Olof Olson, who arrived in New York in 1845 as the agent of the Janssonists, sent here to secure a location for the pro- posed colony, which materialized in the Bishop Hill settlement. Jonas was brought to this country by his aunt some time after the emigration of his parents. He was soon orphaned and left alone except for his aunt, who had married Peter Dahlgren and was residing in Galesburg. Being obliged to provide for his own support after having been given some schooling, he learned the shoemaker's trade at Lafayette, and earned funds that enabled him to continue his education in the Galva high school. When his money gave out he returned to his trade, and so worked and studied alternately for some time. Later he devoted his spare time, when not plying his trade, to the study of law, and in 1869 he passed the required examination for admis- sion to the bar. In 1870 he was elected a representative from Rock Island and Henry counties in the twenty-seventh general assembly. A short time before his election a large number of Swedish immigrants working on the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad had been swindled out of their wages through the insolvency of the contractors. To remedy such evils as this one Mr. Olson procured the passage of a law, of which he was the author, giving to laborers who work for railway contractors or subcontractors, a lien upon all property of the railroad corporation to secure their wages. In 1880 and again in 1884 Jonas Olson was the democratic candidate for the office of state's attorney in Henry county, but could not over- come the strong republican vote. He was postmaster at Galva during Cleveland's first and second administrations. At the end of his second term as postmaster he was nominated by the democratic party of his district as its candidate for rep- resentative in congress, but suffered defeat. He was married to Miss Carrie Matteson in 1869. In 1912 his lower limbs were paralyzed, rendering him a helpless invalid. But his wife and three daughters have cared for him most nobly during his years of affliction. JOHN ROOT was born at Bishop Hill, 111., Oct. 25, 1849. His father, John Root, came to this country from Sweden and served in the Mexican war. He later reached Bishop Hill, where he married a cousin of Eric Janson. The father died in the early 5o's in Chicago, while the mother lived until 1905. The son spent his boyhood and youth in the Bishop Hill colony When the colony was dissolved he began farming near Bishop Hill. He established his title to his land in the supreme court of Illinois, after the SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 59 financial difficulties of the colony had caused holders of colony lands con- siderable expense and trouble in securing their lands. In 1872 he became a student at Knox College and he later studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1880. In the meantime he taught a country school during the winter months for some years. In 1888-89 ne took a course in the Union College of Law, connected with the North- western University. In 1893 he removed to Galva. For a number of years he was master in chancery of Henry county. In 18/4 he was mar- ried to Miss Betsy Ogren. Capt. ERIC JOHNSON, son of the founder of the Bishop Hill colony, was born in Westmanland, Sweden, July 15, 1838. He accompanied his parents to America in 1846. Mr. Johnson grew to manhood in the colony. He received instruc- tion in the English language of Mrs. Pollock, who with her husband, accompanied the family from New York to the west, and who became his stepmother in 1850. He attended the village school in 1856 and the next year became a clerk in the colony store, remaining till 1858. He enlisted in the Union army Sept. 16, 1861, and when Company D, 57th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was organized, largely of Bishop Hill boys, he was made lieutenant. He participated in the siege of Fort Don- elson and was promoted to be captain of his company after the battle of Shiloh. At Corinth, Miss., he was seized with illness and upon medical advice resigned from the service. In 1864-65 he was editor and publisher of the Galva Union at Galva. In 1866 he removed to Altona, where he was a clerk in a store, and in 1868 bought the Altona Mirror, which paper he issued together with the Galva Union, now renamed the Galva Republican. In 1869 he~~founded the Illinois Swede, thus publishing three news- papers simultaneously. In that year he received as partners Andrew Chaiser and C. F. Peterson, in the publication of the Illinois Swede. The name was changed to Nya Vcrldcn and when the paper was moved to Chicago in 1871 Johnson withdrew from it. This paper was afterwards consolidated with a couple of other papers under the name of Svenska Trib unen. In 1870 Capt. Johnson was nominated for representative in the state legislature, but had to withdraw, not having resided sufficiently long in the district to be eligible. He was, however, made journal clerk of the Illinois house of representatives in 1871. In 1873 he removed to White City, Kan., engaging in business, but drouth and grasshoppers played havoc with the prospects and in 1876 he came back to Illinois and began a hardware and lumber business at Nekoma. In 1879 he gathered the material for a work entitled "Svenskarne i Illinois," which was published by him and C. F. Peterson in 1880. In the same year he began the publication in Moline of The Citizen, with J. E. Osborn as co-partner. After two years he sold his interest and held 60 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS a clerkship in the war department at Washington, D. C, until 1885. For one year he edited the Republican at Stromsburg, Neb., and then was in the newspaper business at Holdrege, Neb., until 1891. In 1888 he was elected a member of the Nebraska legislature. In 1891 he was chosen chief clerk of the house, and was unanimously re-elected in 1893. The next year he moved to Texas and was engaged in the land busi- ness till 1896, when he returned to Nebraska and became editor of the Wahoo Nczv Era. In 1906 he sold this paper and issued the first number of The Viking, the last number of which was published in August, 1907. He moved to California and settled at Clearwater in 1907. In 1909 he devoted a part of his time to gathering material for Ernst Skarstedt's book, "California och dess Svenska Befolkning." In January, 1913, he was chosen assistant clerk in the California legislature. In 1863 Capt. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Octavia Troil, who died in 1890. Miss Georgia A. Tillinghast in 1902 became his second wife. FACSIMILE OF ERIC JANSON'S HANDWRITING Major ERIC BERGLAND, son of Andrew Berglund, one of the preach- ers in the Bishop Hill colony, was born in Alfta parish, Helsingland, Sweden, in 1844 and accompanied his parents to Bishop Hill in 1846. He received his elementary schooling at Bishop Hill and in 1856 became an apprentice in the printing office of Svenska Rcpublikanen at Galva, taking charge of this office when S. Cronsioe, the publisher of the paper, moved his publication to Chicago. He belonged to the military company at Bishop Hill commanded by Eric Forsse, who had been a sergeant in the Swedish army, and enlisted as a volunteer in the Union army Sept. 16, 1861. He became second lieutenant in Company D, 57th Regiment Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry on Dec. 26, 1861, and first lieutenant the fol- lowing year. While still in the army he was appointed a cadet at the U. S. Mili- SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 61 tary Academy at West Point, N. Y., in the autumn of 1864, and entered in July, 1865. In the interval he was ordered to Johnson's Island, O., for duty as assistant to Captain Tardy's Corps of Engineers. He was the first native of Sweden to enter West Point. In June, 1869, he was graduated with the highest honors in a class of thirty-nine. He should have been appointed to the engineer corps upon his grad- uation in view of his high rank. But the staff was then closed by act of Congress, and he was given a place in the artillery, being commissioned second lieutenant of the Fifth Artillery and stationed at Fort Warren, Mass. ; next at Fort Trumbull, Conn., and in 1870 in the field on the Canadian boundary during the Fenian raid. In 1872 he taught in the artillery school at Fort Monroe. The engineering corps being again open for appointments, he was transferred to that branch in 1872, with the rank of first lieutenant. He was ordered to Willet's Point on Long Island, where he remained till April, 1873, when he became instructor in military engineering and math- ematics at West Point for two years. He then became assistant engineer on western surveys in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, being engaged in this work for three years. In 1878 he again became a teacher at West Point, being assistant professor of ethics and law for three years. He was promoted to the rank of captain on January 10, 1884, and to that of major Oct. 12, 1895. In addition to the services aforemen- tioned he was subsequently engineer in charge of river and harbor improvements in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He was also in command of Company C, Battalion of Engineers, and instructor in civil engineering at the U. S. Engineer School at Willet's Point, N. Y. He was ordered to Johnstown, Pa., a week after the great flood there, in charge of a detachment and bridge train and ordered to replace by pontoon bridges those which had been swept away by the flood. In 1891 he was ordered to Baltimore as engineer of the 5th and 6th Lighthouse Districts and during four years' service built lighthouses at various points on the Atlantic seaboard. Bergland retired from active service March 31, 1896, on his own application after more than thirty years of service in the military branch of the U. S. government. Since his retirement he has resided at Balti- more. In 1878 he married Miss Lucy Scott McFarland, of Kentucky, a cousin of the wife of President Hayes. EARLY LUTHERAN PASTORS AND CHURCHES. Lars Paul Esbjorn was the first missionary from the Church of Sweden to seek out his scattered countrymen in the far West in order to minister to their spiritual wants. As the father of the present Swed- ish Lutheran church in America his title is clear. Leaving his pastorate REV. LARS PAUL ESBJORN SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 63 at the Oslattfors Iron Works in the province of Gestrikland, he came over in the summer of 1849, with a small missionary allowance from the Swedish Missionary Society. With him came his own family and a large party of other emigrants from the same locality. After a voyage fraught with hardships, including the loss of a child by death, and a difficult journey inland, Esbjorn, with his party, finally reached Andover, where they located. In his isolated position, antagonized by the Janssonists on the one side and Jonas Hedstrom and his zealous new converts to Methodism on the other, Esbjorn at first turned to the American Board of Home Mis- sions (Congregational) for aid. This was granted on certain conditions. He was to be a member of the Central Association and responsible to that body, and the field assigned to him embraced Andover and Gales- burg, with 1 80 and 100 Swedes in the respective settlements at that time. Esbjorn was to labor as a Lutheran missionary, no condition of mem- bership in the Congregational church being imposed. He was granted the sum of $300 for work in Galesburg for the twelve months of 1850. Esbjorn soon extended his work also to Swedona, then Berlin, and Rock Island. In February, 1850, he was able to report that the people in Galesburg had begun to build a Swedish Lutheran meeting-bouse, with a fund of $550 already subscribed. He complained, however, of the gen- eral poverty among his people, causing them so great worry over the question of earning a livelihood that their minds were not open to the truth of the gospel. He also touched on the exodus of goldseekers to California, a movement causing such a stir that few took time to think of their spiritual welfare. In the early part of March, Esbjorn was able to report an average attendance at services as follows : Andover, 70 ; Galesburg, 80 ; Rock Island, 30; Berlin, 12; also that a temperance society of forty-three mem- bers had been formed at Andover. On March 18, Esbjorn organized the Swedish Lutheran Church of Andover, the first of its kind in Illinois and the second in the United States. The meeting took place in the home of Mrs. Anna Lovisa Gustafson, otherwise known as "Captain Mix's Place." The first mem- bers were ten in number, viz.: Esbjorn and his wife, Jan Anderson, Mats Ersson, O. Nordin, Sam. Jansson, And. Pet. Larsson, Mrs. Jansson, Christina at Knapp's, and Stina Hellgren. The names are given as jotted down on a slip of paper. Esbjorn did not register them in his regular church record book for fear of the charge that he was here to retain the emigrants as members of the Swedish State Church, a thing resented by many newcomers of free church tendencies. On March 23, there was an accession of more than thirty members, and at the end of the year the church numbered forty-six members, with an average of fifty to sixty at divine services. A number of immigrants had settled in Moline, first among whom were Olaus Bengtson, who came from Sweden in 1847 and located on a EARLY SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCHES, INCLUDING IMMAXUEL. CHICAGO (upper right), AND ANDOVER CHURCH (below). SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 65 farm near Rock River, and Carl Johanson, a tailor, who came there from Andover the following year. They were soon joined by many of their countrymen, including Sven Jacobson, Carl Peter Anderson, Gustaf John- son, Eric Forsse, Jonas Westberg, M. P. Peterson, Peter Soderstrom, Sven J. Johnson, who for thirteen years ran a ferry between Rock Island and Davenport, and Abraham Anderson of Gnarp, Helsingland, who, after a few years willed to the local Swedish Lutheran church a house and lot to be used as a parsonage. Eric Forsse served in the Fifty-seventh Illinois in the Civil War, and rose to the rank of major. In 1850 came Jon Olsson, from Stenbo, Helsingland, a man reputed wealthy, and whose son Olof Stenberg, later known as Stoneberg, became one of the leading men in Bishop Hill. With Olsson in Moline lived Per Anderson from Hassela, and Per Berg from Hog, Helsingland, both of whom went to Minnesota in 1851, and there founded the Chisago Lake settlement. After preaching repeatedly to his countrymen in Moline, Esbjorn founded a church there in 1850, the first Swedish organization in the com- munity, known today as the First Swedish Lutheran Church. The congre- gation was organized in the home of Carl Johanson, the second Swedish settler, where divine services had been conducted by Esbjorn. Shortly after, Jonas Hedstrom began to hold meetings in the home of Olaus Bengtson, the first settler, and as a result a Swedish Methodist Episcopal church was founded late in the same year or early in 1851. Soon the question of a church building arose. The members were all poor settlers, unable to meet the cost without aid. After the manner of the early missionaries the pastor was obliged to start out on a soliciting tour. In April, 1851, he left for an extended trip to the East, visiting Columbus, O., New York, Boston, and other points, to solicit aid from brother Lutherans toward the erection of churches in the Swedish settle- ments served by him. In Boston he was fortunate to meet Jenny Lincl, then on her American tour, and received from the noted Swedish singer a donation of $1,500. This was not the first time the devout young artist acted as the angel of her Christian fellow countrymen, she having already donated an equal amount to the building fund of the Ansgarius Church of Chicago. In eleven weeks Esbjorn raised a total of $2,200, which, after his return, was divided between Andover and Moline, two or three hundred dollars being also appropriated to the church in New Sweden, Iowa. In Galesburg Swedish newcomers had begun to locate in the middle forties. As far as known the only Swedes living there in 1847 were: John Youngberg and family, who had moved in from Bishop Hill ; Nels Hedstrom, a tailor by trade; Anders Thorsell from Djurby, \ r estmanland, who came over with a party of Janssonists in 1846, but did not join their colony ; a family by the name of Modin ; Kristina Muhr, a widow, and Olof Nelson, a shoemaker. Thorsell plied the same trade. No great number was added prior to 1854. After laboring among them for about a year, Esbjorn in 1851 gathered a small flock and organized it into REV. TUVE NILSSOX HASSELQUIST. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 67 a congregation, which exists today as the First Swedish Lutheran church of Galesburg. Esbjorn also extended his missionary work to Knoxville, Princeton, Burlington, and New Sweden. A church was organized by him at Knox- ville in 1853, and at Princeton the following year. Of Esbjorn's work as a pioneer missionary during these years Dr. Eric Norelius. the historian of the Swedish Lutheran Church in America, writes from personal observation: "He stood like a father among his fellow countrymen in dispersion, particularly those in Illinois and Iowa. He was tireless in traveling about among them, preaching the Word of God, administering the sacraments, and giving advice, aid and comfort to them in every way possible." Esbjorn soon realized that were the Lutheran churches founded by him to survive and grow, more pastors and a common organization was needed. He had found co-operation with the American Congregational- ists unsatisfactory, even on the liberal basis agreed upon. When a num- ber of American Lutheran churches organized the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois, at a meeting in Cedarville, Stephenson county, 111., in September, 1851, he joined the other seven Lutheran pastors in that organization and entered his pastoral charges as members of the Synod. It was not without some hesitancy that he took this step, knowing that some of the brethren wavered in their allegiance to the Lutheran con- fession. But there was no other Lutheran organization in these parts, and when he joined it was in the hope of greater doctrinal stability in the future and with the reservation that he and his congregations were to abide by the pure and unaltered confession of the Lutheran church, a right never to be denied them by the synod. The first step taken by Esbjorn to secure more laborers in the new field was to issue a call to Pastor Tuve Nilsson Hasselquist of the diocese of Lund, Sweden. While waiting for assistants from the home church he looked about for young men who might be trained up as co-laborers. On his trip to the East in 1851 he took with him the aforesaid Norelius, then a young man, and placed him in the Capital University of Columbus, Ohio, to be educated for the ministry. In the summer of 1852 Hasselquist arrived and took charge of the Galesburg church. With his coming better times dawned for the strug- gling but rapidly growing churches, now constituting entirely too extensive a pastorate for one man. Hasselquist was gifted and strong, qualities fitting him well for the new field. In addition to his work in Galesburg. he visited the new Swedish communities springing up on every hand, organizing churches wherever the field was ripe. Early in 1853 he visited Chicago, where Swedish immigrants now be- gan to arrive by the hundreds and thousands, and organized the Im- manuel Swedish Lutheran church in that city. This was a most impor- tant point, where a capable man ought to be stationed. He turned to his old friend. Peter Fjellstedt, in Sweden, for aid, and Pastor Erland Carls- gy THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS son of the Vexio diocese was found willing to come. He arrived in 1853 and remained in charge of that church for nearly twenty-two years. Carlsson was energetic and zealous, and in the next few years he visited surrounding settlements and organized numerous churches, extending his missionary journeys to Minnesota and other states. The need of teachers grew apace. In 1854 and 1855 three young men who had studied in Sweden, and two of whom had prepared further in American schools, were ordained to the ministry in the Synod of Northern Illinois. These were P. A. Cederstam, Eric Norelius and A. An- dreen, the last named heing stationed in Rockford, while the other two took up work outside of the state. New calls were sent across the waters, in response to which, in 1856, two gifted clergymen came over O. C. T. Andren, from the diocese of Lund, and Jonas Swensson, from that of Vexio. The former took charge of the Moline church, and the latter also labored successfully in this state after having served the Sugar Grove- Jamestown field for a time. In the parochial reports published in the minutes of the Synod of Northern Illinois Esbjorn is credited with the charge of four churches till 1853, when Hasselquist had four, Carlsson two, and Esbjorn one. The total number of communicants under their charge was 541, distributed as follows: Esbjorn 210, Hasselquist 191, Carlsson 140. Hasselquist had received 165 new members and Esbjorn 55. The parochial report for 1854 showed 280 communicant members in the Andover church, new accessions, 62 ; 270, with 1 1 new members, in the three churches in Has- selquist's charge, and in Carlsson's three congregations 230, with an ac- cession of 117. In 1855 Esbjorn reported: i church, 358 members, 88 received ; Hasselquist : 3 churches, 290 members, 34 received ; Carlsson : 3 churches, 396 members, 166 received. Two Minnesota churches of the synod reported a membership of 300 and 307 respectively. These figures will serve to show the rapid increase in the new churches planted here, and. by inference, the rapid growth of the Swedish settlements with the constantly rising flood-tide of Swedish immigration from 1853 on. Norwegian churches had joined the synod as well, and the Scandi- navian members constituted two conferences in Illinois, the Mississippi Conference (Swedish) and the Chicago Conference (Norwegian), the Minnesota Conference being formed in 1858. These heM, alternately, separate and joint meetings. The Scandinavians soon grew dissatisfied with their churchly con- nection, the synod embracing a number of men with loose conceptions of Lutheranism. With increasing strength and influence, they eventually brought about a resolution imposing on all members of the synod strict adherence to the Augsburg Confession. But in the course of years a number of new Lutherans, so-called, joined, men who discarded all con- fessional books and would remove all strictures on individual liberty of teaching. When the Scandinavian pastors finally discovered that the SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 69 synod of which they constituted half the membership would not adhere to the Lutheran confession, despite its own resolution to that effect, the unavoidable breach took place, brought on partly by disagreement over the administration of the funds for the Scandinavian chair at the synod's theological seminary at Springfield and the incompatible position in which its occupant, Prof. Esbjorn, was placed. A complete secession from the Synod of Northern Illinois occurred and in 1860 the Swedish and Nor- wegian pastors and lay delegates met in the Jefferson Prairie church, near Clinton, Wis., and organized a new all Scandinavian church body, the Augustana Synod, a direct outgrowth of the Illinois churches. The situ- ation has been briefly described by Dr. Xorelius from whom we quote in part: "The directors of the institution could not tolerate the influence of Esbjorn's theological instruction on the Scandinavian students, yet they were loath to pronounce against it, as that would have too plainly betrayed objection to the purpose of the Scandinavian professorship. They con- sequently burdened him with the duty of teaching a number of subjects foreign to his department and interfering with the exercise of his proper calling. The Scandinavian members complained, and better conditions were promised, but matters grew worse instead. Finally the Scandinavian students at the Illinois State University the Lutheran Seminary was so styled and their teachers were forbidden to hold communion services in their own language. In consequence of all this, .Prof. KsbjY.m was constrained to resign his position as Scandinavian professor at the sem- inary, being no longer able to exercise his duties as professor of theology. This step created consternation among the American members of the synod, who looked upon it as an outright rebellion, denouncing the action in the sharpest terms as unconstitutional and unchristian. When the Scandinavians met in joint extra conference at Chicago, April 23-28, 1860, their most influential men in the synod and the institution 'appeared, partly to lay charges against Esbjorn, partly to exonerate themselves, and further to stave off the threatened withdrawal of the Scandinavian churches from the synod. Prof. Esbjorn submitted his report on all that had transpired at Springfield, giving his reasons for his resignation and personal with- drawal from the synod. After having listened for almost an entire day to the charges and innuendos against the Scandinavian professor offered by the American brethren and to the artificial justification of their acts, the joint conference unanimously endorsed Esbjorn's action and thanked him for it. Its next action was a unanimous resolution of secession taking immediate effect, followed by a decision to meet June 5 to organize an independent synod and establish a separate theological seminary. This decisive action formed an epoch in the history of the Scandi- navian Lutherans. They had passed through a period of trial which taught them the value of a pure and firm confession. They had learnt the impracticability of co-operating on a unionistic platform with com- 70 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS munions holding different religious views, and now rejoiced in the oppor- tunity to begin a new epoch of activity, untrammeled by brethren in the faith who were Lutherans in name only." RELATIONS WITH AMERICAN LUTHERANS. THE SCANDINAVIAN PROFESSORSHIP AND EARLY EDUCATIONAL WORK. Love of learning is a characteristic of the Swedish people. The very excellent and efficient system of public education in Sweden is too well known to require discussion. So likewise is the fact that illiteracy is al- most unheard of among Swedish immigrants who enter our American ports. The institutions of learning which have sprung into existence in the Augustana Synod within its first half century prove further that the Swedish immigrants who have become American citizens have abated nothing in their appreciation of sound culture. And yet for all this it was not their general appreciation of culture which led to the establish- ment of the first institutions of learning. More deep-seated even than their regard for learning was their veneration of God and the love of the Lutheran faith with which these immigrants were inspired. Thrown into the bewildering novelties of a new and cosmopolitan country, confronted by the relentless struggle for existence, and surrounded by influences which made for the undermining of their faith, these immigrants were chiefly concerned about their religion ; they were anxious to take measures by which the distinctive elements of their Christian faith might be safe- guarded and perpetuated for themselves and their children. They were Lutherans ; they lived in scattered communities most of them in the Upper Mississippi Valley; they spoke as yet chiefly or exclusively the Swedish language, and they had but few pastors or other spiritual leaders. They therefore felt the need of communion with others of the same faith; and so, as early as 1851, we find them beginning to affiliate with the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois. 1 As an adequate supply of pastors for these pioneer congregations could not be obtained from the mother country, the idea was conceived of establishing a Scandinavian professorship in the so-called Illinois State University at Springfield. This was a college and seminary owned and controlled jointly by the Synod of Northern Illinois and the Synod of Illinois. It has been stated that the first step toward the establishment of such a professorship was taken by the Chicago and Mississippi Conference at its meeting in Waverly, LaSalle county, Oct. 2, 1855. The minutes 2 show no record of such an action, and the report made to the Synod three days later by its committee on the minutes of the Chicago and Mississippi Conference contains only this reference to the subject of educational work: 1 I. M. Anderson in "The Augustana Synod, 1860-1910." 2 As printed among other old documents in Tidskrift, 1899. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 71 "In view of the great want of ministers among our Swedish and Norwegian churches, and the time which must necessarily expire before any can be fully prepared at our University; therefore, "Resolved, That we bring before Synod for its consideration the sub- ject of sending one of our brethren to Sweden and Norway for the pur- pose of interesting our brethren in the faith there in our University, and in the upbuilding and general welfare of our Scandinavian churches." The Synod "deemed it of utmost importance that there should be established in our University at Springfield a professorship of the Scan- dinavian languages" and appointed the Rev. L. P. Esbjorn, and in case he should find it impossible to accept, the Rev. T. N. Hasselquist, to collect funds in America and Europe for the accomplishment of this object. In addition to the collection of funds for the endowment of the proposed chair, the agent "was desired to make efforts to obtain a number of faithful and devoted ministers in Europe to occupy important fields of usefulness in this country, and to induce pious students, who may have enjoyed some advantages of education, to come to this country and com- plete their studies in our University here, and thus be qualified for the work of the ministry among us." 1 The Synod elected Esbjcrn on the board of trustees for the University for a term of four years, but there were many more preliminaries to be gone through before the professor- ship was actually established. An extra session was held at Geneva, May 8 and 9, the following year, principally to consider matters relating to the Scandinavian pro- fessorship to be. President S. W. Harkey reported that Esbjorn in the two and one-half months devoted to the work had obtained in all, up to that time, subscriptions to the amount of $2,147.50, of which $878 had been paid. His trip abroad was postponed for one year by reason of "the present state of Europe." It was resolved that the new professor- ship should be a theological one, and, as the object contemplated was to qualify young men for the Gospel ministry among the Scandinavian brethren, such professor was also to give instruction in the Scandinavian languages and literature, while required, under the direction of the board of trustees, to render assistance in other branches of learning. The Synod reserved the right of nominating the incumbent of the chair, pro- viding always that such nomination be in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the Scandinavians represented in the Synod, the Swedes and Norwegians to have equal rights in all things pertaining to the pro- fessorship. The moneys collected were to be turned over to the treas- urer of the University for safe investment, the interest only to be used for the support of the Scandinavian chair. Another point, that of the doctrinal basis of teaching, was settled according to the expressed desire of the Scandinavian brethren, by a resolution stipulating that the Scan- dinavian professor be required solemnly to promise to teach according to the Word of God and the Augsburg Confession, before he should be 1 Minutes of the fifth session, 1855. 72 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS installed into his office. Before this matter was definitely settled doc- trinal differences as well as financial difficulties arose which soon caused a split in the young Synod of five years and disruption in the still younger institution of learning. As to the finances, we are told that the funds confidently turned in for an endowment were eventually used up among the current funds of the institution. At the regular session at Dixon, in October, 1856, the president reported that Esbjorn had raised $2,640 in subscriptions, $1,374 being paid in cash. The action of the special session with respect to the new chair was ratified by the passage of substantially identical resolutions. At Rockford, in September, 1857, the Chicago and Mississippi Con- ference deemed the time ripe for action and proceeded, without expressed authority from the Synod, to nominate the Scandinavian professor. Esbjorn, receiving all the votes but two, was declared its candidate, and he became the choice of the Synod at its meeting in Cedarville, when, on October i, a committee consisting of Hasselquist, Carlsson, and Andrew- son reported that Rev. L. P. Esbjorn had been unanimously x nominated. The professor-elect was continued as solicitor, pending his accession to the chair. He did not enter upon his duties at Springfield until October, 1858. For almost two school years he taught there. In view of the resolution recently quoted making his chair chiefly one of theology, it seems odd to read in the annual catalogue of 1858-59: "Rev. L. P. Esbjorn, Professor of Scandinavian Languages, Chemistry, Astronomy, etc." We find in the list of alumni and students of that year : Theological department Revs. Andrew Andreen and Lewis H. Xorem, '56 ; Rev. Peter H. Peterson, '58 ; Abraham Jacobson, John Pehr- son, '59. College department Amos Johnson, '59. Preparatory depart- ment Charles Anderson, John A. Esbjorn, Joseph Esbjorn, Gustavus R. lisping, T'engt M. Halland, Christian F. Hang. Thomas S. Holloque, Isaac Jensen (Jenson?), Sven G. Larson, John Nesse (Nasse?), George Olsen, Halvor H. Strand, Olof Suneson, all Swedish or Norwegian students. Professor Esbjorn here formed a personal acquaintance with Abraham Lincoln and taught his son Robert T., who was a junior in 1858. In another part of the catalogue it is noted that Esbjorn's appointment had strengthened the theological department recently, yet in the catalogue for 1859-60 he is designated merely as professor of Scandinavian lan- guages. That year the following Scandinavian students were added : Swedes John F. O. Duvell, C. Otto Hultgren, Andrew W. Dahlsten, Andrew Lindstrom. Norwegians K. Edward Ericson, Ole Ostroem Knud Olson. It appears from the records that during Esbjorn's incumb- ency there were twenty-four Scandinavian students at the institution, the total attendance being one hundred and twenty at the end of the second year. 1 The discrepancy between this report and the minutes of the Rockford conven- tion has not heen explained. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 73 A Tatters came to a crisis in the early spring of 1860, when, on March 31, Esbjorn resigned his professorship at the Springfield institution and at once removed to Chicago, followed soon afterwards by all but two of his Scandinavian students. This move Esbjorn had contemplated for some time. As previously decided the Scandinavian conferences of the Synod (the Chicago and Mississippi and the Minnesota) held a joint meeting in the Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Church of Chicago, April 23-27, when the whole matter was canvassed at length. Professor Esbjonrs resignation was approved ; a committee was appointed to draft a constitution for an independent Synod, and another to draw up a con- stitution for an institution of learning to be founded and maintained by the Synod about to be formed. The date of the appointment of these com- mittees, April 27, is held by some to mark the founding of the new school, but not the new Synod, and it is so celebrated by the institution, which at its formal organization was named Augustana Seminary. This was virtually a continuation of the Scandinavian department of the Springfield institution, a fact which makes the date of actual founding difficult of determination. We have traced the beginning of the school to the found- ing of Esbjorn's professorship by resolution adopted Oct. 6, 1855, at Waverly Station, LaSalle county. If an earlier date than June 6, 1860, is to be assigned, that, or the date in October, 1858, when he began teach- ing, would seem to be the correct one. The Augustana Synod was founded on June 5, 1860, a circumstance precluding the founding of the school by the Synod prior to that date. The action taken by the Synod at its organization meeting was, to recognize the fact that Esbjorn had resigned, that the Scandinavian professorship was not thereby abolished, but had merely been transferred ; to found a new school in Chicago, and to designate and appoint Esbjorn Scandinavian and theological professor. The general impression, as conveyed by the wording of a special resolution, that Esbjorn had continued to teach his students in Chicago until the end of the school year is removed by the statement of his son that instruction did not begin again until September i of the same year. 1 LARS PAUL ESBJORN, PIONEER LUTHERAN CHURCHMAN. The American career of Lars Paul Esbjorn spanned the years from 1849 to T 63, a period into which he crowded a mass of useful work as missionary preacher, pastor, writer, educator and leader of the church of his planting. His name is written large in the annals of the settle- ment period, which embraced his principal activities. His birthplace was the parish of Delsbo, in Helsingland, Sweden, and the date of his birth Oct. 16, 1808. His parents were Esbjorn Paul- son, a country tailor, and his wife Karin Lindstrom. Orphaned in early childhood, he was taken in hand by a faithful maidservant of the house- hold, who taught him the rudiments and entered him in a school at 1 C. M. Esbjorn's Anniversary Address, 1910. 74 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Hudiksvall in 1820 after having noticed in him more than ordinary aptitude for study. After five years the boy entered the college of Gefle, taking up astronomy, higher mathematics and navigation, along- side of the prescribed course. Owing to his predilection for mathematics, he was advised to join the corps of military survey in order to earn means for further study, but he was fixed in his purpose to prepare for the ministry. His inheritance of 300 crowns, eked out with means fur- nished by his self-sacrificing foster-mother, provided the necessary funds. At the age of nineteen, his college course completed, he entered the theo- logical department of Upsala University. Having finished the four-year divinity course, he was ordained to the ministry in 1832. He served as assistant pastor of Oster-Vahla parish, Upland, for three years, and as pastor at the Oslattsfors factory and school teacher at Hille for fourteen years. About this time Esbjorn's religious convictions were deepened, and he became an earnest pietist and zealous devotionalist preacher while still a strict conformist to the church. In the early forties he became a champion of temperance and contributed by speaking, writing, and form- ing societies toward that change in the public mind which ultimately resulted in the abolition of private distilleries and the lessening of drunk- enness. The exodus of Janssonists from his native district directed Esbjorn's attention to the western land of promise, and when other emigrants, who wished to remain true to the home church, began to voice their spiritual needs and deplore the lack of Lutheran pastors, Esbjorn's heart was touched. Promised some slight financial aid from the Swedish Missionary Society, he obtained leave of absence and embarked for America in June, 1849, at the head of a party of 140 emigrants from the provinces of Gestrikland and Helsingland. We have seen how, upon locating at Andover, he organized Lutheran churches there and in adjacent settle- ments. For three years he was alone in the Lutheran field, except as the Janssonists, the Methodists, and later the Baptists sought to assist him by reducing his flocks. In 1852 he received assistance in the persons of Pastors T. N. Hasselquist and C. J. Valentine, who took charge of his churches at Galesburg and Moline, respectively. In 1856 Esbjorn transferred from the church of Andover to that of Princeton, which he served until he assumed his professorship in Spring- field and subsequently in Chicago. Esbjorn as an educator and scholar has been thus characterized by his son, Dr. C. M. Esbjorn, himself for many years occupant of the chair of Christianity and Swedish at Augus- tana College : "As he had been the chosen instrument of God in the founding of the Swedish-American Lutheran Church, so he proved the right man for the place in his capacity as our first educator. Though primarily a pastor and theologian in head and heart he had urged a reform in the divinity SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 75 courses of Sweden whereby original research in church history, especially the study of the Church fathers, would be made an added requirement, his favorite study was mathematics, and he often quoted the saying of Charles XII., 'He who knows not mathematics is but half a man.' Other studies to his particular liking were astronomy, physics and chemistry, a fact quoted in rebuttal of the charge that at Augustana College the natural sciences have been looked upon as a peril to religion and theology. That man carried the germ idea of photography in his brain simul- taneously with Daguerre; defended Laplace at a ministerial conference; proposed the founding of an observatory under the equator and corre- sponded with the government of Ecuador on the project; devised a new system of counting time ; discovered erroneous computations in the official Swedish almanac all this while maintaining a lively conviction of the operation of dynamic and spiritual agencies in the directive forces of the world and a childlike belief that 'all things give us occasion to think of the King and Lord of nature and to see in Him the very life and innermost essence of nature's works.' Furthermore, he was thoroughly versed in navigation, surveying, meteorology, music and medicine. Only botany he detested on account of its wretched Latin, for, according to Prof. D. A. Sunden, 'he was fed fat on Latin;' Once at a place in Illinois he preached in Swedish, Norwegian, English and Swedish in close succes- sion. At our evening readings in the home I often heard him read in Swedish, off-hand, some interesting English or German book. There were few branches of learning with which he was not conversant. As an instructor he possessed the ability to present any subject in a simple .and lucid manner, and he knew the art of correcting without giving offense. It is said that after his withdrawal from the Augustana Semi- nary many a year elapsed before such instruction as he gave during its first years was again imparted at the institution." Prompted by a longing for his native soil, and his disapproval of the plan to locate the school at Paxton, Esbjcrn resigned in 1863 and returned to Sweden, to his early charge at Oster-Vahla, now as rector of the parish. His appointment had been made as early as 1862, notice of which reached him in October. In this quiet spot he rounded out his career with seven years of faithful pastoral work, ending with his death July 2, 1870. Esbjorn was the author of ten published books and tracts on a variety of subjects. Esbjorn was thrice married. In the first union were born six chil- dren, including Paul and Joseph, both of whom served in the Civil War, the former dying in 1861, the latter, Joseph Osborn, promoted to a cap- taincy, living in Minneapolis ; John, connected with the Swedish railway service and living at Karlskrona ; Maria (Mrs. Schnur), deceased; in the last union the children were: Constantin Magnus Esbjorn, Ph.D., pastor of the Augustana Synod, who died in 1911 ; Carl L. Esbjorn, pro- fessor at Augustana College, and Paul Oscar Esbjorn, M. D., deceased 1908. COMMUNION SERVICE DONATED TO THE ST. AUSGARIUS CHURCH BY JENNY LIND. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 77 THE SWEDISH PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF CHICAGO. Gustaf Unonius, founder of the Swedish settlement at Pine Lake, "Wis., after having been invested with holy orders by Bishop Kemper of the Protestant Episcopal Church at the theological seminary in Nashota, Wis., visited Chicago in 1848 and preached his first Swedish sermon to his fellow countrymen there. He was preceded in 1847 . v olie Gustaf Smith, who claimed to be a Lutheran clergyman, but turned out to be an adventurer and a religious renegade and freebooter. His attempt at gathering the Swedes and Norwegians into a common fold had pro- gressed to the point of building a church, when Smith absconded with some $600 of the building funds. The Norwegian Lutherans formed a congregation among themselves in 1848, but the Swedish settlers of religious convictions were still unorganized. On the advice of Schneidau, the influential man among them, the former members of Smith's church decided to call Unonius as their pastor. They reorganized as a Scandinavian Episcopal Church, named St. Ansgarius, 1 from the first Christian missionary in Sweden. The com- mittee which drew up the constitution met March 5, 1849, m Schneidau's home, and the organization was completed in May. The members of the committee were : Polycarpus von Schneidau, Anders Larson, Pehr Ersson, J. Fr. Bjorkman, Swedes; And. B. Johnsen, Hattolf Markusen, Knut Gunderson, Norwegians. Thirty-four voting members signed the constitution at the time of organization. Pastor Unonius and bis wife were present, and their names appear in the first membership list. On the first board of trustees, with most of those mentioned, served A. S. Sheldon and John Anderson. Unonius removed to Chicago from his charge at Manitowoc, Wis., and at once began soliciting funds for an edifice. Accompanied by his faithful friend Schneidau, he visited the descendants of the Swedish colo- nists in Pennsylvania, and among them he is said to have raised more than $4,000. In the spring of 1850 building operations began at Franklin and Indiana streets on a structure 33x50, to seat about 300. Apparently all the funds were not used for building purposes, for soon Unonius and Schneidau had to start soliciting anew. Later in the year Unonius went to New York and laid his cares in the lap of Jenny Lind. who then toured this country, and received a donation of $1,500. She subsequently donated a silver communion set valued at $i,oco, which is still used by the Ansgarius Church. For the funds now available the church edifice and a comfortable rectory were completed. For nine years Unonius labored in this field. He also visited other points where Swedes were located in numbers, but founded no new 1 St. Ansgarius was to be an "Evangelical Lutheran congregation." although "affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church." Norelius. "History of the Lu- theran Congregations, etc./' T, 368. GUSTAF UNONIUS. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 79 churches. St. Ansgarius remained the sole Protestant Episcopal com- munion among the Swedish-Americans for many decades, and not until recent years was there a companion church organized in Illinois that of Galesburg. In its third year the St. .Ansgarius Church numbered 195 members, the highest point reached during the incumbency of Unonius. After his return to Sweden in 1858, the congregation dwindled down to a small flock, served by American clergymen and known to them as St. Barnabe's Mission. In 1862 Jacob Bredberg, a former Methodist preacher, succeeded to the charge. That same year the Norwegian mem- bers withdrew, but others were added. The old church, extensively remodeled in 1868, at an outlay almost equal to the original cost, was destroyed in the great fire of 1871. In the same year the foundation for the present edifice on Sedgwick street was laid, and it was opened for the first service on Christmas morning, 1872. The cost was $30,000, the Illinois diocese contributing two-thirds of the amount. GUSTAF UNONIUS, PIONEER AND PASTOR. The career of Gustaf Unonius is bound up with the Pine Lake colony and the St. Ansgarius Church, and divided in two nearly equal periods by his removal to Chicago. Unonius lays claim to our interest in two capacities, first, as the founder of the first settlement of Swedish immigrants in this country ; secondly, as the first Swedish pastor to labor among these immigrants in the West. It will be noticed that his ordina- tion was simultaneous with the beginning of Olof Gustaf Iledstrom's work as seaman's missionary in New York harbor. Gustaf Unonius was born in Helsingfors, Finland, Aug. 25, 1810, his father being an attorney at law. When Finland was lost to Sweden, the family moved across the Baltic and located in Grisslehamn, where the elder Unonius was appointed customs officer. At thirteen the son entered the Karlberg Military Academy as a cadet. He soon went to Upsala, completing his college course there in 1830 and two years later the course required for entering the civil service. He subsequently studied juris- prudence for two years, and later took up medical studies, but completed neither of these courses. After his marriage in 1841, to Charlotta Mar- gareta Ohrstromer, he decided to leave for America. He headed a party of emigrants who stopped at Milwaukee and after due investigation located at Pine Lake, near Nashota, Wis. These people were mostly of the genteel class, not of the rugged type that makes the best farmers, and at agriculture they had but scant success. When certain Protestant Episcopal missionaries started a seminary at Nashota for the training of men for pastoral work, Unonius took up studies there and after three years was ordained (1845) as Scandinavian missionary. He later served an American church at Manitowoc until 1849, when he went to Chicago. His pastoral work in the St. Ansgarius Church has been briefly recounted. For some time Unonius served as Swedish vice-consul. GUSTAF PALMQUIST. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 81 A wish entertained by him for years in 1858 prompted his return to Sweden. He would gladly have entered ihe service of the Church of Sweden, but obstacles being interposed he entered the customs service and in 1863 was made customs collector of the port of Grisslehamn, the office formerly held by his father. After twenty-five years he was retired on a pension. Both prior to his retirement and after, he served the Church of Sweden, and his orders in the Church of England he retained. This Swedish-American pioneer was claimed by death at the ripe age of ninety-two, on Oct. 14, 1902, at his old age home in Hacksta, Upland, provided by his son-in-law, Hugo Tamm, manufacturer and member of the Riksdag. In 1861-2 Unonius published his memoirs of seventeen years in the American Northwest, a valuable contribution to Swedish-American his- tory. A polemical supplement directed against the history of the Lutheran churches by Norelius (Vol. I, 1890) followed in 1896. His other literary work of consequence is a history of the origin, development and confession of Mormonism, published in 1883. THE FIRST SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMERICA FOUNDED AT ROCK ISLAND. Gustaf Palmquist, a former schoolmaster, came over from Sweden in the year 1851 and joined the American Baptist Church in Galesburg the following year. The Home Missionary Society soon after engaged him to carry on missionary work among the Swedish settlers in various localities. In this capacity he became instrumental in organizing at Rock Island the first Baptist church among the Swedish-Americans. It may be stated by the way that sixty years earlier, or 1790, a Baptist of Swedish birth, named John Asplund, published "The Baptist Register," a work still considered authoritative on the early history of the American Bap- tists. Palmquist, however, was the first Swedish Baptist preacher in this country. From the meager records its appears that a few members of a party of religionists known as Hedbergians, who came over in 1850, located in Rock Island and Moline. These knew Palmquist from Sweden, and he came here primarily to serve them as pastor. He found his intended flock widely dispersed, and naturally turned first to the little group still holding together in the two cities. These Hedbergians, also called Luther Readers, he soon won over to his new faith, and on Aug. 8, 1852, he baptized three adults, one of whom had been a member of the Lutheran Church of Moline. On the I3th of August 1 a congregation of six mem- bers was formally organized. These were: A. Theodor Mankee (or Mankie), A. Boberg, Fredrika Boberg, Peter Soderstrom, Karl Johanson (Charles Johnson), and Anders Norelius. Palmquist himself seems to 1 In the absence of church records the date, variously given also as Sept. 13 or 26, cannot be verified. COL. HANS MATTSON, A Western Illinois Pioneer. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 83 have retained his membership in the Galesburg church. By May, 1853, the flock numbered thirteen, including Hans Mattson, who left soon and seems to have deserted the Baptist denomination shortly afterwards. In his published memoirs Colonel Mattson forty years later refers to this church connection. As supplementing the scant records of this church, his reference may here be quoted : "Dr. and Mrs. Ober were deeply religious people and members of the Baptist Church ; and as I was now under their influence and soon came in contact with Gustaf Palmquist, the Swedish Baptist preacher, and the handful of people who formed the core of the first Swedish Baptist Church in America, I became one of their circle before spring and doubtless would have remained one of them to this day, but for the fact that circumstances over which I had no control brought me into different environments and another field of activity. The same winter Pastor Wiberg of Stockholm visited Moline, when I likewise formed his acquaintance." The occasion of Anders Wiberg's visit was when a council of delegates from American churches met at Rock Island, May 5, to give official recognition to the new church. Hans Mattson became one of the organizers of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Vasa, Minn., in 1855. A revival brought the membership lip to fifty, and that summer Fredrik Olaus Nilson, a pioneer Baptist preacher of Sweden, where the denomination was but four years older, arrived with a small party of followers, some of whom joined the Rock Island church. i With the support of the Missionary Society Palmquist served this charge until 1857, but did mission work in Iowa and Minnesota, also in Chicago and New York, during the last two or three years. ! GUSTAF PALMQUISTS GENERAL CAREER. He was a native of Smaland, where he was born in Solberga parish, May 26, 1812. In 1839 he obtained a situation as schoolmaster in Filip- stad, Vermland, and later taught at Gustaf sberg, near Stockholm. After his conversion there he began evangelistic work in the tenements and prison cells of Stockholm. In 1845, according to his own statements, he had his faith in infant baptism shaken by the study of the Bible, church history, and the writings of Luther, Martensen, Pengilly, Hinton and others. On all other doctrinal points he considered himself a sound Lutheran. When he came to Galesburg he still had in mind the forming of a pure Lutheran Church in this country, and his new views did not ripen into full conviction until the following year. While he was still wavering between the Lutheran and the Baptist faith, Esbjorn asked him to preach to his people in Galesburg, which he did, remaining over winter in charge of the Lutheran Church there. In August, 1857, Palmquist went back to Sweden. Upon leaving he gave out a statement of the number of members in the Swedish Baptist churches, including only two in Illinois: Rock Island, 45 mem- bers, and Chicago, 25. In Galesburg the 8 Swedish converts belonged to 84 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS the American church. In that year, however, seven persons met and organized a Swedish church in that city. This was the fruit chiefly of Palmquist's work, as were most of the nine churches in other states. In Sweden Palmquist found a larger field, the cities of Stockholm, Orebro and Sundsvall being given into his charge as missionary fields. He also conducted private schools for the training of missionaries. After ten years of labor in Sweden, more successful than here, he passed to his reward Sept. 18, 1867. A book of "Pilgrim Songs" was compiled chiefly by him. LIFE SKETCH OF ANDERS NORELIUS. Palmquist was succeeded at Rock Island by Anders Norelius, who was among the first members of that church. He was in pastoral charge until 1858. This man's life is worth recording, embracing as it does much interesting detail. He was born July i, 1830, at Hassela, Helsingland, and emigrated at the age of twenty, in company with his brother, Eric Nore- lius, who attained great prominence in the Lutheran Church. They left home in July, 1850, with Andover as their objective point. Eric took up studies, on the advice of Pastor Esbjorn, but Anders went to work with farmers at $8 to $10 per month. In 1855 he was married to Christina Peterson, and about the same time he began his pastoral work. In 1858 he moved to Vasa, Minn., where he bought a farm and built his first home. At the outbreak of the Civil War he wished to enlist, but was dissuaded by his friend, Hans Mattson, who or- ganized a Swedish company there, yet held Norelius to be more useful, just then, at home than in the ranks, which he might join later if he chose. Removing, to Isanti county in 1862, Norelius located on a homestead and built his second home. He was elected county supervisor and served as registrator. In 1864 he finally enlisted and served until the close of the war. Upon his return home he was elected county treasurer and reflected two years after. In 1868 he resigned and after two years removed to Kiron, Iowa. When the first postoffice was opened there, Norelius was appointed postmaster and served for eighteen years. He served on the school board, part of the time as its ANDERS XOREL1US. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 85 secretary. In 18/9 he was one of the organizers of a mutual fire insurance company, whose president he was for nine years and secretary for twenty- five years, whereupon he retired from active pursuits. Norelius left the Baptist church when he ceased his pastoral services, and did not join any other church. In 1891 he joined the Populist party, became a member of its central committee, was twice nominated presidential elector and once given the congressional nomination. The pulpit of the Rock Island Church was vacant for four years from 1858 when Norelius left, except for a six months' pastorate by F. O. Nilson. Its next pastor was L. L. Frisk. Owing to neglect, consequent to lack of pastors, this first church did not perceptibly increase after the first year, the members numbering but 72 after twelve years. A period of prosperity set in about 1870, when Pastor Olof Lindh took charge. Under his care the church membership reached 200, many removals not- withstanding. When he left after six years of service there was an amicable division of the flock, the Moline members organizing their own church. The old congregation had no house of worship until 1857, when a small frame edifice was built, seating seventy persons, and remarkable but for being the edifice of the first Swedish Baptist church on American soil. The earliest Swedish Baptist church in Chicago was organized in 1853 and existed until 1864, when the members disbanded. RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY. The Swedish churches of the Delaware colony were the first Lutheran congregations to be established in the United States, antedating the Dutch Lutheran churches in present New York State by about twenty years. 1 Those, of the old Swedish churches of the colonial period which had survived down to the first decades of the nineteenth century finally passed into the hands of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the last, the Gloria Dei Church of Philadelphia, before the death of its last Lutheran pastor in 1831. ; But this was not to be the end of the Swedish Lutheran Church in America. Gradual assimilation with and final absorption by the Epis- copal Church was possible in the case of the dwindling churches of the East, but not for the large and vigorous Lutheran communions which sprang up thirty years later in the new West, constantly recruited with fresh material from the Lutheran fatherland. There were, however, men who had studied the later developments on the banks of the Delaware so thorongbly that they had come to believe this to be the normal course of things as between Lutheranism and Epis- copalianism. Among the immigrants of the West the one noted propa- gandist of the theory of close kindship between the Church of Sweden and the Established Church of England and its daughter, the American 'Cf. Lovgren's Church Hi?tory, augmented by M. Wahlstrom and C. W. Foss. DR. ERIC NORELIUS, HISTORIAN OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 87 Protestant Episcopal Church, was Gustaf Unonius. Acting on this theory, he was ardent in his efforts to gather the Swedish newcomers into the Episcopal fold, which he himself had but recently entered. In his church in Chicago he introduced the main features distinctive of divine service in the Church of Sweden, for the manifest purpose of impressing upon his audiences the alleged identity and the legitimacy of his claims. And it must be remembered that Unonius was a man of learning and capacity more than a match for many of the other pioneer pastors. Although practically alone against a number of able Lutheran clergy- men from Sweden, he maintained a sharp controversy with them for years, and competed for Lutheran membership in Chicago with measur- able success. His preaching tours through the various settlements for the purpose of gaining adherents, while not without effect at the time, nevertheless proved fruitless, inasmuch as a second church on the doc- trinal basis of the St. Ansgarius of Chicago was never founded by him. The parting shots in this fight were fired across the waters as late as the nineties, when the publication of the "History of the Swedish Lutheran Congregations and the Swedes of America," by Eric Norelius, was fol- lowed by "Supplement" (1896) to "Reminiscences of Seventeen Years in the American Northwest," published by Unonius in the early sixties. Out of a mass of charges and incriminations of a personal character from both sides must be extracted the subject matter of this controversy, the only thing which now concerns us. The fact that the Protestant Epis- copal Church has not yet abandoned its endeavor to build up Swedish- American churches in the United States with Lutheran timber on the unhistoric ground of identity of faith and doctrine prompts an inquiry into the merits of the. case from its inception in the year 1849. The original sources do not show that the Swedish colonial churches turned Protestant Episcopal by reason of doctrinal correspondence. In a letter to Jesper Swedberg of Skara, Sweden, whose diocese embraced the Swedish Church in London and those in America, Andreas Sandel, who was made dean of the churches in Pennsylvania, touches upon the relation between the Swedish churches and those of the Estab- lished Church of England in the colonies during the early part of the eighteenth century. The letter, dated June 17, 1714, which is reproduced in Swedberg's "America Illuminata" (Skara, 1732), reads in part as fol- lows : The good confidence in the English Church so often urged in the letters of Your Eminence, \ve have always endeavored to maintain. Thus we keep up a friendly, mutual intercourse. Their pastors, with whom we associate, call us brethren ; so do we style them ; our Lutheran Church they call their sister Church. Their letters to the Bishop of London relating- to the general spiritual condi- tion we are requested to sign. We also give our recommendations and testi- monials to the English priests who, after a period of service here, return to England. In the article on predestination they are of the very same faith as we. As to the Sacred Coena we differ. Upon the advice of Your Eminence in a letter to me, we do not enter into discourse with them, nor with the heretics in this country, 8 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS except as we may have especial occasion to show them their error. There are many enough here who discuss and write books one against the other, all making their appeal to statum primitive? ecclesice (the state of the primitive Church) to which each claims to stand most closely. I have often thought that if they would with like zeal and anxiety seek after spiritum primitives ecclesice (the spirit of the primi- tive Church), their Christianity would be better. But as it is, certain ones care only for forma primitives ecclesice (the form, etc.) and abandon that which is most im- portant. That which remains of their Christianity thus becomes a body without life, without faith, without charity, etc. Our Swedish people care nothing for such things, but hold fast constantly to the Evangelical doctrine. I know of none of them (the Swedes) who have gone over to them. This the English have observed with some degree of wonderment. This was the situation after half a century of English rule over the former Swedish possession. For obvious reasons the Swedish pastors were deferent to the church of the dominant race, yet they did not yield up their religious convictions. The most significant proof that there was here no merging of the two national churches is found in the fact that the Swedish congregations remained under the direct supervision of the bishop of Skara. In his writings relative to them, Jesper Swedberg signed him- self "Bishop of America." x That the surviving congregations, after existing nearly two hundred years as an integral part of the Church of Sweden, finally, when abandoned to shift for themselves, were absorbed into the Episcopal communion was not the result of a belated discovery that the two churches were confessionally one. It was purely the result of resistless outward circumstances. As early as 1851, Pastor Gustaf Unonius in a letter to Eric Norelius, then a young student, defined his position, and followed with an offer to place him in an Episcopal seminary. He wrote in part : I learnt from the divisions in the Lutheran Church here and its departure at many points from the doctrines as well as the outer organization of the Church of Sweden, that here was a question of fact, not of name. I thus found that the Protestant Episcopal Church is the one which in all things most closely corresponds to the Church of Sweden, from whose doctrine and communion I am unwilling to deviate. I found, in a word, that this church was the church in this country, and that by joining any other religious communion I would be guilty of schism. There- fore I have been duly ordained in that church, and with that church the parish of which I am pastor has been affiliated. But we have not thereby deserted the faith of our fathers. On the contrary, we are being daily convinced that the only means of maintaining that faith is found in a union with the Episcopal Church. On the plea that the Lutherans in the United States were divided, and on the basis of his own opinion that his was the church in this country and the one which most closely resembled the Church of Sweden, Unonius thus set about substituting the likeness for the original, in his work among the Lutherans of Illinois. For the fact remained that the men whose field he entered were ordained in the Church of Sweden and sent by the Church of Sweden as missionary pastors to their expatriated countrymen at the 'The title page of the work above quoted reads: "America Illum'mata, Written and Published by its Bishop, Jesper Swedberg. in the year 1732." 89 request of the latter. In the circumstances then obtaining, Unonius plainly laid himself open to the charge of proselytism among the people served by pastors from Sweden. When later the work was taken up by pastors ordained here and whose ordination the Episcopal Church did not recognize, its claims car- ried greater weight, and through his "Reminiscences" and otherwise Unonius sought to advance them after his return to Sweden. This caused President Hasselquist of the Augustana Synod, a body formed by the Swedish and Norwegian churches, to seek definite information on the attitude of the home church in the matter at issue. His letters of inquiry brought a number of replies from prominent churchmen in Sweden, all legitimizing the Swedish Lutheran churches and characterizing the efforts of the Episcopal Church as a proselyting movement. The occasion was furnished by the authorization by the Swedish Riksdag of a form of certificate of removal in which the emigrants were commended to the care of the bishops and priests of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States in the event of settling in localities where they would find no access to Swedish Evangelical Lutheran congregations. Dean P. Wieselgren replied in part as follows: I can readily realize the situation in which you Lutherans in America have been placed and appreciate the praiseworthy vigilance exercised by you, our brethren, in watching the signs of the times. 1 We have seen how the Lutherans of New Sweden were swallowed up in the past century, and this will be your fate, lest you are mind- ful of the danger. . . . May we all be one in a living faith and in the love that dwells in the heart. But so long as the Shepherd does not make one fold for all His sheep, it is meet that each church guards its own confession. The least anti- or syncretism would bring on numberless wordy wranglings. If we leave our confessions intact, there will be no need of quarreling. Bishop G. D. Bjorck gave it out as his opinion that a union of the Church of Sweden and the Protestant Episcopal Church could hardly be accomplished so long as the Twenty-ninth Article in the symbolical book of the Church of England still remains. Dr. Peter Fjellstedt, the noted exegete, seconded all that Wieselgren had written, including a reference to the existence in the Syrian Church of doubt as to the legitimacy of English orders, they having been derived from the schismatic Church of Rome (Christian Researches in Asia, by Dr. And. Buchanan, London, 1811). On this point Fjellstedt added this commentary : "I bow in deep humility to the apostolic order, but papist orders we are bound to reject, and to this very hour the Protestant Church needs to be on its guard against popish elements. The successionist idea marks a return from the spirit to the flesh, from Christ to the sons of Aaron, and it is in fact contrary to the letter and spirit of the 1 Hasselquist had pointed out that the document in question was to be used as proof of the legitimacy of the Episcopal activity among the Swedish Lutherans and that one of the purposes of the visit to Sweden of Bishop Whitehouse of Chi- cago in 1866 was to open the door for such activity among the Swedish new- comers. 90 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS New Testament. As transmitted through a chain of popes the succes- sion becomes still more unreasonable.'"' In his annual report to the Synod President Hasselquist dealt at length with this matter, whereupon the Synod resolved : "That the officers of the Synod be authorized to bring to the attention of the Church of Sweden the attempts made by the Episcopal Church at proselyting among emi- grated Swedes, as also to make the situation of our church in this country better known in the mother country." Just prior to this action Bishop Whipple of Minnesota had made this statement in his annual message : "The position of the members of the Church of Sweden in our state has long been of deep interest to myself. With a valid ministry, a reformed faith, and a liturgical service, they ought to be in communion with ourselves. For lack of their own episco- pate, as a bond of union between them, they are becoming divided and losing their distinctive character as members of the Church." He further stated that during the visit of Bishop Whitehouse to Sweden "arrange- ments were made whereby the clergy should give letters of recommenda- tion to us (the Episcopal Church) wherever they had no clergy of their own." This matter was referred to a special committee, and when one of its members came to Pastor Norelius for information these facts were pointed out to him : . 1. Most of the Lutheran pastors had not received episcopal ordina- tion, and were not a valid clergy within the meaning of the bishop's words. 2. The letters of recommendation therefore could easily be con- strued in favor of the Episcopal Church only. 3. Consequently nearly all Swedish Lutherans in the United States would automatically fall to the share of the Episcopal Church, and this without any act of union or declaration of correspondence in doctrine and polity having been passed by the two State churches concerned. The aforesaid arrangement did not work out in practice. The next official attempt at winning the Swedes over was made in 1870. Then the Joint Committee on Friendly Relations with the Church of Sweden, in existence from the year 1856, presented an elaborate plan, according to which the Church of Sweden was to appoint a bishop for the Swedish- American Lutherans, such bishop probably to be received as a member of the House of Bishops of the American Protestant Episcopal Church. Such action was said to be "justified by the first example and colonial work which the Swedes undertook in America 233 years ago, when Bishop Swedberg had charge of the Swedish colonies on the Delaware in 1637 in conjunction with the Bishop of London." l It was stated further that "The American Church does not want this action except for the glory of God and the church. But we think the Swedes in America need this action for the safety and blessing of themselves and their children." 'There are two errors here, one a matter of dates, Jesper Svvedherg, born 1653. being made bishop in 1702; the other in the matter of joint episcopal government, such cooperation being nowhere found recorded in Swedish church history. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 91 The -plan was as devoid of results as the foregoing schemes along the same lines. The underlying idea has never been abandoned, no matter how often it has collided with hard and stubborn facts. Some of the facts are these : The ordination of Unonius as an Episcopalian was described by Arch- bishop Reuterdahl as a "downfall," and upon his return to Sweden he was unable to gain entry to the clergy of the Swedish Church. On the other hand, L. P. Esbjorn was appointed to a parish in Sweden before his return. Not one Swedish clergyman in good standing in his home church trans- ferred to the American Episcopal Church, according to Norelius. 1 The one Swedish Episcopal Church in Illinois, the St. Ansgarius of Chicago, .after more than fifteen years of work confessed its weakness by appeal- ing to the Gustavus Adolphus Society of Goteborg for financial aid this at a time when there were no less than twenty self-supporting Swedish Lutheran churches in the same field. In recent years the American and English churches have renewed their overtures to the Church of Sweden, particularly in the English- Swedish Church Conference at Upsala in 1908, without any more tangible results than an exchange of courtesies. Lectures have been given in America on the Church of Sweden, and books and pamphlets have been published on the subject, manifestly with a view to establishing closer relations. After well-nigh seventy years we find the old claim of ; Gustaf Unonius reiterated in the parish paper of his oldtime church in : this form : "Who are members of this parish? All who have been properly baptized and, of course, all who have been confirmed, and have not formally removed, or been removed, from the parish. Then there is a considerable number of those who have come from Sweden, who, by virtue of their baptism and confirmation in the Church of Sweden, and as long as they have 'taken on' no new faith, are automatically, as it were, members of this parish. Indeed, it was for these and for their children this church was organized, as the old records, both in Sweden and in this country, will show."- All efforts and claims notwithstanding, the three Swedish Episcopal churches now existing in Chicago and Galesburg, backed by so remark- .able a propaganda, are not flourishing. FOUNDING OF THE SWEDISH PUBLISHING BUSINESS. In December, 1854, Pastor ' Hasselquist, of Galesburg, purchased type for a printing office which was opened in March, 1855. when the type arrived from New York. Prior to that time the New Testament and a few tracts had been published in Swedish in the United States, 1 Tidskrift, 1899, p, 45. -Quoted from The Messenger of St. Ansgarius, Oct., 1916. ULANBIT* DET GAM LA OC'll DEI ' 3TV A. HASSELQUIST'S HOUSE AND PRINTING SHOP IN GALESBURG, 18SS, WITH FACSIMILE OF THE FIRST SWEDISH NEWSPAPER. SETTLEMENT AND FOUNDATION 93 but the Galesburg office established by Hasselquist was virtually the first Swedish-American publication concern. The three Swedish Lutheran clergymen, Esbjorn, Erland Carlsson and Hasselquist, had for some time planned a newspaper to be published at Chicago by Carlsson. Owing to much work among the incoming immigrants, Carlsson did not get the enterprise under way, and it devolved upon Hasselquist to carry out the plan. The first number of the new paper, named Hcmlandct, was issued from an American news- paper office at Galesburg in January, 1855. In a previous prospectus the members of the Lutheran congregations had been asked to contribute fifty cents each over and above the subscription price, and these contri- butions were later invested in the new printing office, which thus became in a way, the property of the churches. The first typographer was N. P. Armstrong, from Karlshamn, who came to Boston early in 1854, and began composition on Hcmlandet at the end of the year. In the following summer there was added to the office force Jonas Engberg, who had come over from Bergsjo, Helsing- land, in December, 1854. He began work on No. 9 of Hcmlandct and No. i of the series of books published by Hasselquist. Engberg appears later as one of the laymen who helped to organize the Augustana Synod and as a partner in the publishing house of Engberg and Holmberg. Serving three congregations at this time, Hasselquist was assisted in his editorial work by P. A. Cederstam, a theological student, in 1854-55, and in 1856-57 by his brother-in-law, A. R. Cervin. In July, 1856, a second paper, called Det Ratta Hcmlandet, was put out. This was exclusively religious, while the former combined religion, politics and general information in its program. During the years that the publishing office remained in Galesburg (1855-58) a number of books and tracts were issued, chief among which were: "Enchiridion, Dr. M. Luther's Lilla Cateches" (1856), an accurate translation by Esbjorn: "Augsburgiska Bekannelsen," 21 articles (1857); "Luther-Boken" (1858). In 1856 the Mississippi Conference officially took a hand in the management of the concern, which remained in Hasselquist's charge for the next two years. After that it was deemed advisable to organize a publication society in order to relieve Hasselquist of the burden of personal responsibility for the publishing business of the conference. The organization took place in December, 1858, and in February of the following year Prof. Esbjorn, then in Springfield, had it chartered under the name of the Swedish Lutheran Publication Society in the United States. This society comprised all the pastors and lay delegates of the Mississippi and Minnesota conferences. Pastor Carlsson is spoken of as the chief promoter of the organization ; he also became its manager when the society transferred the publishing concern to Chicago in December, 1858. Its publishing activities fall chiefly within a later period. 94 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS One other Swedish publishing enterprise dates from the middle- fifties. In 1856 the leaders of the Bishop Hill colony fitted up a printing office in Galva and began to issue a weekly newspaper, the full title of which was Den Svenska Repiiblikancn i Norra Amcrika. The editor was S. Cronsioe, and in this same shop two well-known Swedish- Americans, Andrew Chaiser, the newspaper publisher, and Major Eric Bergland, of the U. S. Army, began their careers as printer's devils. The paper was ardently republican in politics, and in church matters as nonpartisan as might be expected from a paper dependent principally on the Janssonist colony. The first issue was dated July 4, 1856. In the next year the paper was moved to Chicago, where it was 'issued until July, 1858, under the proprietorship of Cronsioe. It died from lack of support, according to the statement of the publisher. In its later stages it appears to have deviated from its nonpartisan course in church matters, for, according to C. F. Peterson, it "succumbed in the fight with the Lutheran Church." Hemlandct, its rival, continued for more than sixty years. The need of accessories for cultural development, as well as an increased number of spiritual teachers, was accentuated at an early date. The first definite proposition for the establishment of a library is recorded in the proceedings of the Chicago and Mississippi Conference convention held at Waverly in October, 1855. With a view to accumu- lating a library for the use of the Scandinavian pastors affiliated with the Synod of Northern Illinois, the conference resolved to issue a request to authors and publishers in the Scandinavian countries and in America that they send free copies of their works or publications to a designated commissioner. The Gustavus Adolphus Society in Sweden was asked to lend its aid to the plan, and Rev. Erland Carlsson was appointed commissioner. The absence of his report in subsequent proceedings, however, would seem to warrant the conclusion that the plan failed of accomplishment. PART III THE PERIOD OF GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 1860 1893 PART III THE PERIOD OF GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT ILLINOIS SWEDES IN THE CIVIL WAR. In the year 1860 the great influx of immigrants from Sweden had but fairly begun, yet there were Swedes in every rank and station fight- ing and working for the cause of human liberty and for the Union. The Civil War marks the beginning of their general participation in public affairs. When the Swedes came to the land of the free, they were struck with the incongruity of finding half of the territory of this great republic a home for legalized slavery. To them it was well-nigh inconceivable how the fathers of the American nation, who drew up the Declaration of Independence and framed the Constitution, could maintain slavery as an economic institution after having declared all men free and equal. The political and religious training of the Swede from the old country fitted him for citizenship in the republic and predisposed him against the slavery system. Little wonder, then, that the Swedish newcomers almost to a man affiliated with the Republican party, formed about this time to champion the cause of freedom, and rallied to the support of Lincoln with equal loyalty at the polls in 1860 and at the recruiting stations in 1861. The Swedish-Americans, then less than 20,000 in number and mostly new arrivals from their native land, hastened to respond to Lincoln's call for defenders of the Union and enlisted in the service of their adopted country as eagerly as the most patriotic of her native-born citizens. The general census of 1860 records a total of 18,625 persons of Swedish nationality in the United States. Of these, 11,800 were living in the four states of Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The immigration from Sweden in the next two years was 2,300. Allowing two-thirds for those four states, their combined Swedish population, males predominating, during the period of early enlistments would ap- proximate 13,500. The best estimates of Swedish enlistments in the four states gives a total of 2,250, or one-sixth of their Swedish population. Illinois, with a Swedish-born population, in 1860, of 6,470, and approxi- mately /,coo at the end of the year 1861, contributed no less than 1,300 Swedish volunteers. Of the total population in Illinois one out of every seven persons enlisted. The Swedes of Illinois, many of whom were not yet legal citizens, showed a slightly better percentage one out of every five. These facts and figures are the result, not of rough estimates, 97 98 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS but of a laborious search through nine volumes of names of Illinois vol- unteers, undertaken by the writer during the compilation of another work. 1 The great majority of Swedish volunteers enlisted for three years. Judged by the two all-Swedish companies in the Forty-third and Fifty- seventh regiments, they very generally re-enlisted as veterans. Some undoubtedly went out of the state to enlist, but probably a larger number of Swedes came from other states for the same purpose. Sympathy for a republic struggling to maintain free institutions brought many volun- teers from continental Europe. Not a few came over from Sweden to fight for the freedom of the slaves. Illinois being the state pre-eminently settled by the Swedes, many of their countrymen naturally came here before enlisting. All things considered, it would be safe to claim fifteen hundred Swedes in the Illinois regiments, the number found in the canvass of the 255,000 names in the adjutant-general's reports being subject to changes from the fact that in many cases Swedish names are too cosmo- politan to establish the nationality. Any skepticism as to the resultant higher ratio of Swedish volunteers to the Swedish population would then be disposed of by two unquestioned facts that the census and immigra- tion figures are commonly too low, and that these volunteers had not all been enumerated as residents of the state. The fighting qualities of the Swedish volunteers were tried on many a hotly contested field. Most of them had an advantage over their Amer- ican-born comrades by having received military instruction in their native country. They submitted more readily to military discipline than the American citizen soldiery and took greater pride than these in develop- ing tactical skill, order and precision in drill as well as in actual fighting. The Bishop Hill company of the Fifty-seventh Illinois Regiment proved itself the best drilled company in that regiment ; Col. Oscar Malmborg made the fifty-fifth what it was the best all-round regiment from Illi- nois, and in further proof of the claim it may be added that Company D of Col. Hans Mattson's regiment, the Third Minnesota, was admittedly the crack company of this model regiment of that state. From good soldiers naturally come able commanders. There is justice in the complaint that American history gives but scant credit to the foreign elements which rendered such substantial aid in putting down the rebellion. While the Swedes were fairly well rewarded in the way of minor promotions, it is but the plain truth to say that they earned well every advancement accorded them, and in sundry cases rendered yeoman service for which others reaped the honors. The history of the Fifty-fifth Illinois furnishes convincing proof that Col. Stuart received his ill-fated appointment as brigadier-general as the result of the fighting done under the direction of his Swedish lieutenant-colonel. Charles J. Stolbrand did duty as brigadier-general a year or two before he was given that rank, and not until he had resigned in mild protest against official ingratitude did the promotion come. Many an officer has attained similar rank for 1 History of the Swedes of Illinois, 1908 (Engberg-Holmberg Pub. Co.)- GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 99 services less brilliant than the parts played by Col. Malmborg and Captain Silfversparre on the first day at Shiloh in staying the enemy's last onslaught and saving General Grant's forces from utter rout. COMPANY C, FORTY-THIRD ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. Upon President Lincoln's first call for volunteers a company consist- ing exclusively of Swedish-Americans was organized in Galesburg. It was deemed supernumerary, but upon the second call it was reorganized under new command, its first captain, Leonard Holmberg, and many of the men previously enlisted having entered other regiments. At Camp Butler the company, consisting of one hundred Swedes and three Germans, elected their own officers, Dr. Hugo M. Starkloff, a German, being made captain, Olof S. Edvall first lieutenant, and Nels P. McCool second lieu- tenant. When Dr. Starkloff soon after was made regimental surgeon, Edvall succeeded to the captaincy. As a part of the Third Brigade of Gen. McClernand's Division of the Army of the Tennessee, the Forty- third fought in the two days' battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), par- ticipated in the advance on Corinth, and then was sent to Bethel, Jackson, and Bolivar, Tenn. At Bolivar, Carl Arosenius, quartermaster sergeant of the Fifty-ninth Illinois, was transferred and commissioned captain of Company C. The company saw further service in the battle of Salem Cemetery, Tenn., in skirmishes around Somerville, Tenn., at the siege of Vicksburg, the occupation of Little Rock, the battle of Prairie D'Ahu and at Jenkins' Ferry. During a 3O-day furlough in December, 1863, the company secured thirty recruits, all Swedish-Americans, to fill up their depleted ranks. Those who served as subordinate officers of Company C, besides those mentioned, were: First lieutenant, John P. Andberg; second lieutenant, Nels Knutson; first sergeant, Magnus M. Holt; ser- geants, Nels Peterson, Nels Anderson. COMPANY D, FIFTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. In the summer of 1860, without any thought of an early war, a number of young men in and around Bishop Hill organized a company for military drill, with Eric Forsse as their captain. When war broke out, they promptly tendered their services to the state and the nation. The company was mustered in at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and sent south, serving, like Company C, Forty-third Illinois, at Shiloh and Corinth, and later at Mitchell's Mill, Tenn., where the men were engaged for a long time in cutting down timber, in the absence of rebels, and operating a sawmill. After the expiration of the -three-year term the members of the company very generally reenlisted, and after a month's furlough they returned to the South to join Sherman's army at Chattanooga. With their regiment the Swedish boys in blue marched with the Army of the Ten- nessee in the Atlanta campaign, fighting at Resaca, taking part in the operations around Rome, Ga., and lastly joined in the initial movement of the famous "March to the Sea," finally on Dec. 21, 1864, reaching SWEDISH COMMANDERS IN THE CIVIL WAR. COL. OSCAR MALMBORG CAPT. ERIC FORSSE BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES JOHN STOLBRAND CAPT. AXEL SILFVERSPARRE CAPT. AXDREW STENBECK GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 101 Savannah, just evacuated without a fight. They had their last encounter with the Confederates at Bentonville in March, 1865. After having taken part in the grand review at Washington, the regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., but retained its organization until reaching Chicago. The officers of Company C from time to time during its three years and ten months of service were : Captains, Eric Forsse, Eric Johnson, Peter M. Wickstrom ; first lieutenant, Eric Bergland ; second lieutenants, George E. Rodeen, Andrew G. Warner, Olof Anderson; sergeants, Olof Crans, Peter Wilson, Olof Olson. COL. OSGAR MALMBORG, OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. Oscar Malmborg, a man of military education from Sweden, was virtually the maker of the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Regiment. For reasons that can only be conjectured he has been accorded but meager credit. A search of the war records, however, reveals the fact that in point of skill and brilliancy as a tactician as well as personal valor he was the equal of other able Swedish commanders, such as Stolbrand and Silfversparre, and all the facts lead to the conclusion that there were but few, if any, braver and better fighters of any nationality in the Union army than was Col. Malmborg. Oscar Malmborg was born in Sweden in 1820 or 1821. He com- pleted a six years' course at the Karlberg Military Academy and saw eight years of active service in the Swedish army. He tendered his services to our government in the Mexican war. Denied a commission apparently because of his imperfect knowledge of English, he entered an artillery corps as a private and served until the close of the war, earning promotion to some grade above the ranks. In 1852 he located in Chicago and was connected with the immigration department of the Illinois Central railway when the Civil War broke out. He took charge of the Fifty-fifth at Camp Douglas, Chicago, as commander and drillmaster and transformed the raw recruits into a military unit which later became noted for its discipline and was reputed one of the model regiments of the volunteer army. Tac- tical knowledge was at this stage a rare acquirement among volunteer officers, and Malmborg's discipline was too rigid to suit his subordinates, especially such as had enlisted to command, not to obey, or under the erroneous impression that the campaign was to be an easy triumph. Two Methodist preachers, Haney and Presson, who had been active in raising recruits, were made captains of companies, but like most patriots, they were "willing to serve as brigadiers" or, at least, regimental officers, so when Malmborg was appointed lieutenant colonel and as such put in active command these reverend gentlemen felt grievously disappointed. They apparently exercised great influence over the rank and file, and if we are to believe "The Story of the Fifty-fifth Regiment," published years after the close of the war to air the grievances of these men and defame the character of Malmborg, the regiment must have been constantly on the verge of mutiny. And yet Col. Malmborg ridiculed for his brogue, 102 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS denounced as a tyrant, hated for his "martinet discipline," branded as un-American and pronounced unfit to command free-born citizens led this regiment through a score of battles, in which none fought better and few won greener laurels. Whatever his shortcomings, Malmborg proved himself a highly capable military leader whose achievements on the field of battle, praised by his superiors again and again, give the best answer to these charges. He was, as a matter of fact, a gentleman of culture, enjoying the respect of his associates in private life, as witnessed by his recent appointment as consular representative of Sweden and Norway at Chicago. Malmborg's mettle was tried early in the campaign. At Pittsburg Landing his regiment stood its ground when others retreated or fled, and on Gen. Grant's personal order he organized and commanded a line of some 3,000 troops early in the first day's fighting, maintaining his organ- ization throughout that day of confusion and disintegration. In this, the initial engagement of the regiment, its loss was the heaviest of any Federal regiment except the Ninth Illinois. How splendidly Malmborg acquitted himself in that desperate struggle may be inferred from the report of Col. Stuart on the day's work of his brigade, running in part as follows : "I was under great obligations to Lt. Col. Malmborg, whose military education and experience were of every importance to me. . . . He was cool, observant, discreet and brave and of infinite service to me." After the battle, Malmborg reported to the colonel a long list of names of officers and privates who had merited promotion or approbation for bravery. Among them was First Lieutenant Lucius B. Crocker, whose elaborate vilification of Col. Malmborg seven years after the latter's death was probably his most notorious achievement as a civilian. During the advance on Corinth Malmborg had charge of the strategic movements of his brigade and later of the entire division, in the matter of selecting positions and planning and building fortifications. For this work he was complimented by his superiors, including Generals Grant and Thomas. After Shiloh, Grant learnt the value of intrenchments, and Malmborg was his instructor. The complete system of intrenchments executed by his direction around the federal position at Corinth are yet to be seen in almost perfect outline. "The Fifty-fifth did its full share of digging, and the fortifications built by the regiment were the pride of Lieutenant Colonel Malmborg's heart," says Crocker, who sneeringly adds, "He was never so happy as when displaying his alleged engineering skill." Expert military writers have taken a different view, deploring the absence of intrenchments on the Shiloh battlefield, and they doubtless agreed that a few prior lessons in digging trenches might have wholly changed the aspect of that battle. Malmborg and his command shared largely in the credit for the vic- tory at Arkansas Post, after which Malmborg was again highly compli- mented by his superior officer, Col. Thomas Kilby Smith. At Vicksburg he participated in the assaults of May I9th and 22nd, being wounded both GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 103 times. Nevertheless, he was active throughout the siege, spending twenty full nights prosecuting the work allotted him by reason of his experience and capacity as a military engineer. We quote from the report of Col. Kilby Smith: "With Col. Malmborg, of the Fifty-fifth Illinois, I have been side by side in seven battles ; have stood with him literally amid heaps of slain. He is always cool, prudent, and of dauntless courage, and in the recent engagements, although wounded twice, and, by strange fatality, first in the right and next in the left eye, displayed those qualities with the ardor and cheer so necessary in a charge." At Chattanooga Malmborg played a conspicuous part. One night, commanding his brigade in the absence of his superior officer, he manned a fleet of pontoon boats in North Chickamauga Creek and, descending and crossing the Tennessee during intense darkness, captured the enemy's pickets a feat conceded to be one of the most daring exploits of the campaign. At Larkinsville the Fifty-fifth, after exacting the right to elect officers, reenlisted as veterans. All the existing field officers, Malmborg included, failed of election, the strained relations within the regiment having been aggravated as time passed. As early as the fall of 1862, steps were taken to oust Malmborg. In a letter to Governor Yates, twenty-one subordinate officers urged military incapacity, harsh discipline, and abusive treatment of subordinates against Malmborg's succession to the colonelcy about to be vacated by Stuart's promotion. The latter foiled the attempt by another letter to the governor, who replied by issuing a colonel's commission to Malmborg in December. No one could wish for higher commendation than was contained in this letter, here quoted in part : "Col. Malmborg is a strict disciplinarian and exacting officer, who de- mands from every officer the active and complete discharge of his duties. There are very few of them who do not feel pretty well contented with them- selves when they somewhere near half perform their duties; such men are not only not patted on the back by him, but they are sternly and promptly reproved by him, and are driven up and compelled to do their duty. They would like to get rid of him and have a slipshod, easy-going time of it. It is this vigilance, zeal and discipline, which has made this regiment in every regard today the best one in this army. I claim boldly for it (and it will be conceded by the commanding generals), that it is the most efficient, the best drilled, best disciplined, best behaved, cleanest, healthiest, and most soldierly regiment in this army. This perfection has not been attained, nor these qualities acquired, without great labor and care, constant and earnest vigi- lance. I have, of course, the reputation of having accomplished this, among those who know only generally that I am at the head of the regiment; they who know us more intimately are well informed of the consequence Col. Malmborg has been to me. It would be not only ungenerous, but ungrateful in me to appropriate any share of the credit and honor which so justly belongs to him, to myself. There was scarcely an officer in this regiment who, when he entered it, knew his facings; they have learned here all they know (and with some of them the stock of knowledge on hand is not burdensome even now), but by 104 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS dint of hard work and doing their work for many of the officers, we can get alon an( ] do. They ought to be grateful to Col. Malmborg for what he has done for them, but vanity, selfishness, and "that prurient ambition for fame not earned," which afflicts most men, makes them insensible to the better, nobler and more generous sentiments of their nature. I desire frankly, and truthfully, to bear witness to you, as our chief, that this regiment, which has done and will do honor to your state, owes its effi- ciency, its proficiency, and everything which gives it superiority or a name, to Col. Malmborg I owe most that I know to him the officers owe all to him. Col. Stuart was appointed brigadier-general by the President, but when the promotion failed of confirmation he left the service. The opposition, having failed to oust Malmborg, bided their time, after five officers had resigned in disgust at Malmborg's official promotion to the position actually filled by him all this time. The mustering out of six first lieutenants for disability followed, at the colonel's recommenda- tion, made likely in a spirit of retaliation. In the summer of 1863 a futile attempt was made to have Malmborg tried before a general court-martial. The charges, alleging intoxication and profanity, were withheld and finally suppressed by the commander of the brigade. The real crisis did not come until early in 1864, when the regiment demanded the right of election as the price of reenlistment. Then Chaplain Milton H. Haney was chosen colonel, Malmborg and all the other officers being sacrificed to the ambition of this man and his party of malcontents. Haney had served as captain of a company until the regiment reached the front in March, 1862, when he resigned to take the less exposed position of chaplain. So ignorant was he of military tactics and so diffident about his ability that he dared not accept the command. To complete the reform, the principal musician was elected sergeant-major and a man hardly able to sign his name was made quartermaster. The whole procedure was a ridiculous farce. Gen- eral Logan, commander of the army corps, is quoted as having said to Col. Malmborg, "We have been accustomed to look upon the Fifty-fifth as the best regiment in the army, and how shall I express my astonishment to find they are after all a set of d - fools? Electing a chaplain, a civilian, a know-nothing for their colonel ! Are they prepared to go into battle under such a man? Do you suppose that I, now on the eve of the most important campaign of the war, am going to send that regiment into battle under that man? Do you suppose the Governor and the Adjutant- General of Illinois will commission him?" As a matter of fact only the officers in line of promotion were com- missioned, and the most notable achievements of the Fifty-fifth Regiment were all a matter of the past. Malmborg subsequently served as chief engineer of the Seventeenth Army Corps and was later detailed by Sherman to visit the military posts along the Mississippi, all this while retaining his colonel's commission. He finally resigned and was mustered out Sept. 20, 1864, whereupon he returned to Chicago. On Jan. i, 1865, he was commissioned colonel in the First Veteran Army Corps and assigned to duty as recruiting officer in GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 105 Chicago. His last commission was that of colonel of the Second Regiment, and as such Malmborg became the commander of the only brigade in this army corps that was ever organized. Owing to impaired eyesight and threatening blindness, partly from injuries received in his first battle, Malmborg asked for his dismissal, which was granted May 31, 1865. Col. Malmborg was now given a position in the departments at Washington. His vision being further impaired, he returned to Sweden, where he died in Vishy, Gotland, April 29, 1880, in his sixtieth year. BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES JOHN STOLTSRAND, CHIEF OF ARTILLERY AND INVENTOR. On May n, 1821, there was born at or near Kristianstad, Sweden, a boy named Carl Johan Moller, who was destined to render eminent military service to the United States in the great internal conflict. At eighteen he was enrolled as constable cadet in the Royal Vendes Artillery, then changing his patronymic for the martial name of Stahlbrand. He attained the rank of sergeant in 1843, serving as such until 1850, when he resigned and came to the United States the following year. He obtained a position with the Cook county recorder and was prominent in Swedish circles here. At the first call for troops in 1861 his martial spirit was rekindled, and he raised a company of recruits, which was disbanded when it was found that the Illinois quota had been filled. At the second call for volunteers he recruited a new company at Sycamore, which was mustered in October 5, 1861, as Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery, with Stolbrand as captain. On Dec. 31 he was promoted major and sub- sequently he was made chief of artillery under General John A. Logan, who was an enthusiast for the artillery branch of the army. After his last named promotion, in 1863, he virtually assumed the duties of brigadier- general. Displeased at being obliged to render such service for the meager compensation connected with a major's commission and after having waited in vain for promotion Stolbrand finally resigned as chief of artil- lery of the Fifteenth Army Corps on Jan. 28, 1865. Gen. Sherman, apparently accepting his resignation, asked him to deliver "important papers" to President Lincoln before his return home. When Lincoln had examined the papers, which included a recommendation for Stolbrand's promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, he turned to Stolbrand, ad- dressing him by that title. The army records show the following dates and facts pertaining to Stolbrand's military career: In September, 1862, as major, he was in command of five batteries of Brig.-Gen. Logan's artillery brigade, in the district of Jackson, Tenn., and in November he commanded nine batteries of Maj.-Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut's division. In the siege of Vicksburg he directed the operations of five batteries, and at one time he had as large a force as ten batteries under his charge. Ample testimony to Stolbrand's usefulness in the operations at Vicksburg is given by Gen. Logan, who in his report compliments him repeatedly ; thus in the report of May 26, 106 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS 1862, he says : "The admirable manner in which this battery was handled reflects the highest credit upon Maj. Stolbrand, my chief of artillery."- "The respective batteries . . . under the personal supervision of Maj. Stolbrand rendered incalculable aid in effectually shelling the enemy." "To Maj. Stolbrand, my chief of artillery, I am indebted for valuable aid." In the siege of Savannah, Stolbrand on Dec. 19, 1864, placed half of his batteries before the Confederate forts and uncovered and silenced the enemy's heavy artillery, whereupon the Confederates under cover of darkness abandoned the fort and the city, leaving guns and ammunition behind. On this and other achievements Maj. -Gen. P. J. Osterhaus reported: "To Maj. Stolbrand I have to acknowledge important services during the campaign as chief of artillery of the corps. Through his energy and skill that branch of the arms which was under his immediate care was in most excellent condition." On Sept. 4, 1864, while the Army of the Tennessee was encamped at Kingston, Stolbrand had the misfortune to fall in the hands of the enemy, being taken captive by a squad of cavalry while out reconnoitering by direction of Gen. Logan. The following month, however, he again figured in the reports as chief of artillery. In his recollections of Stolbrand 1 , Lieut. Joseph E. Osborn relates sundry instances of his bravery, as told to him by credible eye-witnesses. They are here given in his own words. At Jackson, Miss., our army fought the enemy behind breastworks, and they fought fiercely. Suddenly in the afternoon the firing ceased and our generals, Logan and McPherson, were puzzled as to what it all meant. They surmised that the enemy was up to some trick. Major Stolbrand conceived the idea that they had evacuated. This they ridiculed, as the enemy was strongly fortified. "I will show you," said the major, putting the spurs to his horse, and to the amazement of all he galloped across the whole battlefield, leaped the trenches and rode up the embankment. Turn- ing around, he waved his hat. Not a rebel was there. Later on, at the battle of Champion Hills, about sixteen miles in the rear of Vicksburg, Major Stolbrand's actions virtually decided the day, a day of terribly hard fighting. The lines were drawn up on two parallel ridges, and although the battle raged fiercely, neither side would budge. About midway between the lines ran a lower ridge. Towards evening our lines, tired as our men were by continuous marching and fighting for days, began to waver. On seeing this, the enemy commenced to pour down the slope in order to take possession of the intervening ridge and force our lines to retreat. But Stolbrand was there. Rushing up to McAllister's battery, consisting of six twelve-pounder Howitzer guns, he ordered them to speedily double load with canister and grape. This done, he gave the order, "Limber to the front! Double quick, march!" and broke out of the line, galloping down the hill so that the dust rose high in the air, Stolbrand's long, red whiskers floating behind him. Generals McPherson 1 In Yearbook of the Swedish Historical Society, 1909-1910. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 107 and Logan caught sight of him just as he had started, and shouted to him: "Come back with that battery," but Stolbrand, never turning his head, galloped on with the battery down the hill and up the intervening ridge. Just as he reached the crest of the hill he ordered ''action front," and the rebels, scrambling up the other side of the same hill, were literally mowed down ; those who were not killed or wounded rushing back to their lines as fast as their legs would carry them. This done, Stolbrand came leisurely riding back, not a gun or man lost. This closed the battle for the day. The next morning the enemy had retired. At General Logan's famous headquarters in the trenches investing Vicksburg his staff was almost within speaking distance of the enemy. Guns were mounted in embrasures in the temporary redoubts. One day in a fit of cold-blooded rashness, Stolbrand went up to one of the embra- sures and stuck his head out beside the siege-gun just to draw the enemy's fire. This act was answered by scores of musket balls that imbedded them- selves in the embankment close to his head, covering his hair with flying dirt. "Go on, shoot!" he shouted with an oath, when General Logan pulled him back, sharply upbraiding him for his foolhardiness. "Ah, there's no danger," rejoined Stolbrand, stroking his long red beard, "the rebels never fire on the hospital flag!" There are several versions of the story of Stolbrand's capture and imprisonment. Lieut. Osborn tells it as follows : After being taken captive he was taken to that hell-hole known as Andersonville Prison. How a man of his temperament must have chafed and fretted there, we can all understand ; and, therefore, it it not strange that he there performed one of his most daring deeds, as I am credibly informed. In an attempt to escape he got over the "dead line," but was recaptured. He must have given Captain Wirz, the commander of the prison, great anxiety. But hold Stolbrand he could not. This restless spirit that knew no fear planned another escape, and succeeded. Sleeping at night in the huts of the ever loyal negroes, following their guidance during the day, he picked his way back to the Union lines and liberty, to fight the enemy so much the harder. John A. Anderson, who served as lieutenant in Battery H, First Illinois Light Artillery, originally known as Silfrersparre's Battery, sev- eral years ago gave the writer the following version of the incident: 1 "During the advance in Georgia the two forces were near each other many times, as at Kingston, Ga. The enemy was in the woods, separated from our army by a river in an open space of perhaps 200 yards. When our men went into the open they were fired on by the enemy and could not advance. General Logan, calling for some one to volunteer to reconnoiter on the bridge, accepted Major Stolbrand's offer rather unwil- lingly. The latter rode to the bridge with a negro servant, threw the reins to him and began to cross the bridge on foot. When he had walked more 1 Subsequently published in Yearbook of the Swedish Historical Society, 1909-1910. IQg THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS than half the distance, several heads popped up and demanded his sur- render. This done, he was told to order the negro to bring the horses. Stolbrand invited them to fetch the horses themselves. After being taken to the rear, he was robbed of his clothes and accoutrements and given castaway garments in their place. On being brought before the colonel of the regiment, Stolbrand upbraided him for ingratitude. The rebel colonel finally recognized in him the Yankee officer who had once taken him prisoner and given him good treatment, both being Masons. He therefore had Stolbrand's property returned to him. General Logan had to exchange two Confederate generals in order to get Stolbrand, his chief of artillery, released." After his promotion, Stolbrand was sent back to General Sherman by the President, with the words, "I need you in the Carolinas." A month later Sherman placed him in command of the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, of the Seventeenth Army Corps, the brigade being made up of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. It marched north and passed in review at Washington at the close of the war. Stationed at Fort Leavenworth, it served on the western plains until September, when it was mustered out, thereby terminating Stolbrand's command. He held his commission until January, 1866, when he received his discharge. He soon took up his residence in South Carolina, locating at Beaufort, where he owned a plantation. In that state he attained prominence in political life. In 1868 he was elected secretary of the constitutional con- vention, also delegate at large to the Republican national convention and presidential elector. For some time he was superintendent of the state penitentiary and during Harrison's administration he was in charge of the government building at Charleston. King Charles XV. in 1866 recognized Stolbrand's soldierly achieve- ments by decorating him with the Royal Order of the Sword. While his later career was chiefly political, Stolbrand was also engaged in mechanical inventions, making various improvements in steam engines and boilers. For what we know of his mechanical genius we are indebted chiefly to Col. John F. Hobbs, Stolbrand's confidential friend and legal adviser in his later years. According to Hobbs, Stolbrand practically completed the invention of a successful submarine boat of a peculiar type. He carried on experiments along this line until an accident which occurred in Charleston harbor came near ending his life. "But for this accident," says Hobbs, "I believe that Gen. Stolbrand would have revolutionized the construction of submarine craft as completely as his compatriot, John Ericsson, revolutionized other naval vessels by his construction of the Monitor with its revolving turret." The account by Hobbs runs substan- tially as follows : "The world has never been fully acquainted with these experiments. Stolbrand had all but completed a military submarine capable of being lengthened and shortened, raised and lowered at pleasure. He was GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 109 engaged in perfecting a method of condensing air by hydraulic power and an ingenious system of searchlights whereby the waters could be recon- noitered under-sea for three or four miles around the submerged craft. Had his inventions been completed, he would have produced two kinds of submarines, one adapted for operations in enemy harbors, detect- ing and destroying mines, the other to serve as pilot boat in guiding ships through mined fields. His submarine was to be provided with torpedoes to be pressed against the keels of ships by means of bags automatically inflated and then exploded from a distance by electricity. While he was experimenting with a small model submarine one day in the harbor of Charleston, the machinery became disordered, the air supply gave out, and he narrowly escaped suffocation or drowning. Sickened by the dis- aster, he discontinued his experiments for a long time. I believe, however, that if Stolbrand had put himself in communica- tion with the Navy Department at Washington, he would have obtained all needed assistance in the perfecting of his inventions and in maintaining secrecy about them. This he did not do, and nothing came of his en- deavors, although the experiments proved that his appliances required very little improvement of details to work out successfully. On these final improvements he was engaged at the time of the disaster." BATTERY H, FIRST ARTILLERY, CAPTAIX SILFVI-:RSPARRE. Swedish soldiers formed a little more than half of this efficient artil- lery unit, which was recruited and trained by Capt. Axel Silfversparre and served under him during the first year of actual campaigning, and subse- quently under the command of Captain Levi Hart and Second Lieut. FYancis De Gress. Axel Silfversparre, son of Viscount Gustaf Johan Silfversparre of the Royal Horse Guards, was born in Strangmis, Sweden, May 8, 1834, and prepared at Upsala University. Joining the Svea Artillery in 1852, he was promoted second lieutenant the following year and served until 1858, when he entered the artillery school of Marieberg. He came to the United States in 1861 and under a commission from General Fremont first served as military engineer in Missouri. At the close of the year he secured a commission to raise an artillery company, and at once set about organizing a Swedish battery, recruited largely from the Swedish settlements and supplemented by men of other nationalities in the same localities. Silfversparre being elected captain, all the other commissioned offices were given to men of other than Swedish descent. The battery was mustered in on Feb. 20, 1862, as Battery H, First Illinois Light Artillery, and left Chicago in March for the drill grounds at Cape Girardeau, Mo. The battery reached Pittsburg Landing the day before the battle, and aided materially in checking the Confederate onslaught in the first day's fighting. According to Silfversparre's own memoranda of the battle, he had his guns planted and well protected by earthworks, his men being provided with spades, picks, and axes after the manner of the HO THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Swedish artillery. In his account of the battle Major Reed says: "We find at Shiloh that with three exceptions no breastworks were prepared by either side on Sunday night. Of these exceptions a Union battery near the Landing was protected by a few sacks of grain piled up in front of the guns." The inference would be that Silfversparre's battery furnished one of the exceptions. Sergeant John A. Anderson, who had aided in recruit- ing the battery, differs from Silfversparre in his recollections, averring that upon arrival there was no time for building breastworks, which, how- ever, may have been done in preparation for the second day's battle. We quote from Anderson's story of the fight : "We went up the river on Saturday night, April 5, 1862. It was just getting dark and we could do nothing except land the horses and picket them. Early in the morning, when the battle commenced, there were no general officers to give orders. We hitched eight teams to the guns and drew them up the hill. There was a ridge along the road, which bordered a ravine. We were told to plant our guns to cover the ravine, which was done. The caissons, with ammunition, were down near the Tennessee river bank. One or two were pulled up the ravine during the day, by hand. My recollection is that cracker boxes, and not grain bags, as stated by some participants, were heaped about the guns. We put double charges of canister in our guns, each canister being sixteen inches long and containing 275 balls. When the guns, thus loaded half full, were discharged at the advancing enemy, we swept everything in sight. "Frank Leslie's Weekly came to us not long after the battle. The issue had a picture of our battery, and stated that had it not been for the gunboats and Silfversparre's battery, the Union soldiers would have been swept into the river on that first night." It may be added that Silfversparre was personally thanked by Grant and Sherman at the end of that day for his part in checking the advance of the enemy, though, like most of the heroes of the day, he received no mention in Grant's report of a battle that was so nearly lost. Shortly after, the Silfversparre battery was transferred to Gen. Sherman's division, and it belonged to the second division of the Fifteenth Army Corps until the close of the war. In September, Capt. Silfversparre was assigned to Fort Pickering, near Memphis, Tenn., where he took charge of the fixed batteries, mounted heavy guns, and instructed the artil- lery officers in the gun manual. He also served as drillmaster of four companies of garrison, which, in case of action, he was to command. About the beginning of the following year he was assigned as drillmaster of General Hurlbut's division, in addition to his other duties. Being apparently overburdened with work, he resigned his commission Feb. 22 to take a position in another department of the army. Before the transfer could be made he suffered the humiliation of capture and was sent to Libby prison at Richmond. After ten months' imprisonment he escaped, by bribing a guard, it is said, and went to Wilmington, S. C, disguised as a Confederate officer. Here he was engaged as engineer on the blockade GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT HI runner Cornubia, which, being pursued by Union vessels, sought refuge in the Bermudas. Such was the awkward episode that closed the military career of this gallant artillery officer. Making his way to New York, Silfversparre collaborated with Col. W. W. Adams in plans for a suspension bridge across East River, which were afterwards used in the designing of the Brooklyn suspension bridge. Late in 1864 he was employed as engineer in the Quincy copper mine in Michigan. For the next fifteen years he figured in the municipal life of Chicago, holding various public positions until 1880, when he went to Colorado. That year he drew plans for the city of Denver, and was next engaged in the survey of the Denver and Rio Grande railway. A map of Colorado worked out by him was published in Chicago. In 1886 he secured a position as draftsman in the Department of Agriculture and the following year he completed a map of the capital city. Silfversparre's unhappy marital union with Mary Jane Gunning of Chicago in 1886 was dissolved after eighteen years. Since 1888 Silfversparre spent most of his time at various homes for old soldiers, passing away at Danville, 111., March 2, 1906. His son, Servais Zacharias Silfversparre, became pub- lisher of Ores and Metals, a Denver mining journal. Under Hart and De Gress, Battery H continued its honorable career. The latter led it in all the engagements of the second division, the battery distinguishing itself for brilliant work especially in the taking of Atlanta, July 21-22, 1864. After Atlanta, it continued to add to its laurels, and became a famous one in Gen. Sherman's command. It took part in the victorious march to the sea, passed in review at Washington, and was mustered out at Springfield, June 14, 1865. The surviving members of the battery, in the records of the organization are said to have been a unit in praise of Silfversparre as a commander, declaring him as brave as any and a tactician of more than average skill, but they were of the opinion that his ironclad Swedish discipline was impracticable in an army of volunteers. SUNDRY OFFICERS OF SWEDISH DESCENT. Capt. FREDERICK SPARRESTROM enlisted in Stolbrand's battery, and was commissioned first lieutenant at muster-in Sept. 16, 1861, of Battery G, Second Light Artillery. He served as second in command until Dec. 31, when upon Stolbrand's promotion, he succeeded to the captaincy. During the siege of Vicksburg he had temporary command of Battery D, First Artillery, his own battery having not yet been re-equipped after losing its horses and guns in a river accident. His own battery subsequently served under him with marked efficiency until Aug. 22, 1864, when Sparrestrom resigned the command. Sparrestrom came from Stockholm, where he served in the Royal Life Guards simultaneously with Prince Charles, afterwards King Charles XV. He is said to have been a splendid horseman. After the close of the war he located first in Chicago, then went to Colorado, where he died. 112 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Major ERIC FORSSE was the original organizer of the private military company of Bishop Hill, serving as its captain and heing given the same rank when it joined the volunteer army as Company D, Fifty-seventh Illinois. He had seen twelve years of service in the Swedish army prior to his emigration in 1850. On April 15, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of major of the regiment to succeed Norman B. Page, who fell in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. His military skill was recognized by his superiors, and on occasion he was called upon to command larger forces, at one time an entire brigade. After the fall of Atlanta, he resigned, together with a large number of other officers, confident that their services would be little needed from that time on. Returning home, he located on a farm near Galva. In 1869 he removed to Saline county, Kansas, heading a party of some fifty Swedish Illinoisans who located at or near Falun. At this time large numbers of Illinois settlers were drift- ing farther west, as they had drifted northwest in the fifties. At Falun Forsse served as postmaster, township trustee and justice of the peace for a long term of years, and was elected to the Kansas legislature in 1872, serving one term. This gallant soldier and trusted citizen passed away at Falun April 18, 1889. He was a native of the Swedish province of Dalarne, born in Mailing parish March 4, 1819. Captain ANDREW G. WARNER enlisted with Company D, Fifty- seventh Illinois, and w : as appointed first corporal. At Shiloh he was wounded, but continued in the service, carrying his arm in a sling. He was soon promoted first sergeant and subsequently second lieutenant. In 1864 Warner volunteered to accept the command of a colored regi- ment, and on March 7 was commissioned captain of Company A, Sixty- third United States Infantry, serving in that capacity until mustered out Jan. 9, 1866. He then settled down as a farmer at Andover. In 1868 he was elected sheriff, having been nominated by an independent convention of Swedish voters, whose request for representation on the Republican ticket had been denied. At the close of his term he sought a new home, locating in Page county, Iowa, in 1871. On Dec. 4, 1865, Capt. Warner had been united in marriage with Mathilda Johnson, only daughter of Eric Janson, the founder of the Bishop Hill community. He passed away ten years later, Dec. 5, 1875. Captain ANDREW STENBECK commanded Battery H, Second Illinois Light Artillery, from date of muster, Dec. 31, 1861, until May 25, 1863, when he resigned. He was a native of Hafvarod, Skane, where he was born Feb. 12, 1828, and had emigrated in 1854, locating at Galesburg. He was made captain on recommendation of Stolbrand, a former com- rade in the Swedish army. He fought at Fort Donelson. Shiloh, Clarks- ville, Nashville, and led his company in a number of engagements in the Tennessee campaign. After his resignation he served as superintendent of Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, until 1866, when he removed to Chicago. His application for a captaincy in the regular army being denied by President Johnson, Stenbeck settled down to a civil vocation, and \vas GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 113 employed for many years as tuner for the Julius Bauer Company. He served for a short time as deputy under Sheriff Mattson. Capt. Stenbeck died at his Chicago home Dec. 14, 1891. Captain CARL AROSENIUS, who had enlisted and been mustered in as corporal of Company A, Fifty-ninth Illinois, and subsequently promoted quartermaster sergeant, was transferred to the captaincy of Company C, Forty-third Illinois, on Oct. 9, 1862, to succeed Capt. Olof S. Edvall, who on May 7 had died of wounds received at Pittsburg Landing. After re-enlisting with most of his company in 1863, Arosenius remained in command until it was mustered out. He was a resident of Galesburg and in 1859 became editor of a weekly paper, Frihetsvanncn, which ran for about a year. After the war he was one of a company who formed the weekly Svenska Amerikanaren of Chicago. Of his subsequent career no data are available. C. E. LANDSTROM, a resident of Knoxville before, and of Galesburg after the war, who was employed in Des Moines, la., at the time, joined Company B, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteers, which company had been partly recruited by him in November, 1861, as second lieutenant. He was pro- moted first lieutenant shortly, and in 1863 attained to the rank of captain, serving until the war closed. Returning in 1865, he located in Galesburg, engaging in business in partnership with one Bancroft. Shortly before going to the front Landstrom was married at Des Moines to Miss Crocker, sister of General Crocker. SWEDES IN POLITICAL AND CIVIC LIFE. Their efficient service during the war gave the Swedish-born citizens a strong claim on political recognition. They presented at this time a solid Republican front at elections, a condition which did not change materially during the subsequent forty years. As late as 1898, it was still estimated that they voted the Republican ticket according to the time-honored proportion of ninety-nine out of a hundred. 1 But there was a prior reason for due recognition. It is pointed out by the writer to whom reference has just been had and from whose work the following is a free quotation. Sweden was a staunch friend of the Union, and her sons in America were a unit on that point. A small factor may sometimes, owing to its momentary relation to other and greater factors, become indispensable for the attainment of a certain object of momentous subsequent import in human history. That was the position of the Swedish-Americans in the great national crisis. At the time they were not many enough to determine the outcome of a test of strength on a battlefield, but, incredible as it may sound, they were sufficiently numerous and strong in their unity to decide the presidential election which in turn determined the outcome of the Civil War. 1 C. F. Peterson, "Sverige i Amerika," p. 215. THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS A person totally impartial and one intimately conversant with the question, a former state governor, 1 has shown conclusively that Lincoln could not have been elected president but for the unanimity with which he was supported by the Scandinavians of the western states. The out- come of the presidential election in 1860 and again that of 1864 hung on a very small margin, and had the Swedes been less enlightened, less moral, less liberty-loving, they would likewise have been less zealous in their efforts to accomplish the election of Lincoln. And had he failed of the choice, what of the Union cause? Possibly some say certainly a compromise would have secured the permanence of slavery in the old slave states. But with Lincoln after 1864 no compromise was possible, and for his election the country owes a great measure of gratitude to the Swedes in Illinois and Minnesota, whose votes were sufficient to tip the balance in favor of the Lincoln electors. Practical politics made no strong appeal to the Swedish-born citizens of the earlier period. The class of men who had come over from Sweden had no previous training for office-holding, and down to very recent times their history in this state does not present one notable instance of a Swede practicing politics as a profession or seeking public preferment for gain or emolument. No matter how keen his interest in public questions, he is constitutionally averse to taking the gambler's chance involved in the average political campaign. He is satisfied to do his duty as a private citizen, and does -so with almost religious devotion, paying less attention to local partisan struggles than to the problem of taking the right stand on the great national issues. The few men of Swedish descent who filled public office in Illinois during the first generation after immigration are the exceptions which prove the rule. The second and still more the third generation have shown a growing tendency to engage in the free-for-all contest with greater reliance on the principle of equality and the justice of their claim to representation in public government. Captain Eric Johnson, son of the founder of the Bishop Hill com- munity, was an early champion of Republicanism among his nationality. Compelled by ill health to leave the captaincy of Company D, Fifty- seventh Illinois, in 1862, he soon after became publisher of several local newspapers in turn or simultaneously, and in 1869 founded The Illinois Swede, a general newspaper. That year he was given the secretaryship of a legislative committee, and in iS/o he was nominated for the legis- lature, but had to forego the candidacy on account of too short a residence in his district. Jonas W. Olson of Galva was then named and elected in his stead. In 1872 Johnson left the Republican party, being of the opinion that it had outlived its usefulness, and supported Greeley. He was put up as a presidential elector on the liberal ticket in that campaign. In 1871 he was made journal clerk of the House of Representatives, serving during 1 Name not given by the author. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 115 one regular and one extra session. He held a position in the War Depart- ment at Washington for a short time in the middle eighties. Captain Johnson narrates a political incident which throws light on the political situation in 1862 and how the Swedish voters dealt with it. After so many Republicans had enlisted and gone to the front, the Demo- crats secured power at home, and to make hay while the sun was shining, they framed up a new constitution. Among the pro-slavery articles sev- eral were submitted to the voters. To make a show of fairness, they per- mitted the Illinois soldiers in the field to vote on the proposed constitution, and sent a commission of three Democrats, with the notorious "Sam" Buckmaster as chairman, to poll the vote of the soldiers. As each soldier appeared, he was asked how he wished to vote on each proposition. When it came to the negro propositions, if the vote of the soldier was not satis- factory to the commissioners, they would say, "You do not want to find your sister married to a negro when you return home?" Of course the soldier answered no, and this answer was then recorded as his vote on a proposition to which the voter at first assented. When the boys of Com- pany D noticed how the soldiers were being confused, they went to Captain Johnson and said, "Captain, we want you to vote first, and when our turn comes, we will have them record our votes the same way." Captain Johnson voted not only against all the Democratic propositions on the negro question, but against the entire pro-slavery constitution as well. To a man his company voted the same way. When the last vote of Com- pany D had been polled, Buckmaster remarked with an oath, "That was the d dest black abolition company in the service." Jonas W. Olson is said to have been the first Swede to be admitted to the bar in Illinois. Upon his election to the legislature in 1870 he served with credit for one term, being the first Swede in the Illinois legislature since Raphael Widen. He was the son of one of E->ic Janson s staunchest followers in the Bishop Hill colony, Olof Olson, who emi- grated from Soderala, Helsingland, in 1845. Jonas was born two years before. In his latter years he held several local offices in his home town of Galva, including those of town collector and police magistrate. A. W. Berggren, a resident of Galesburg, served as sheriff of Knox country from 1872 to 1880, being elected for four consecutive terms. While still serving as sheriff he was elected state senator and re- elected in 1884. When the senate was organized in 1887 Berggren was chosen president pro tempore of that body. In 1889 the governor ap- pointed him warden of the Illinois State Penitentiary, a position from which he resigned in 1891 to take active supervision of the Covenant Mutual Life Association of Illinois, at Galesburg. Hans Mattson, who came to Illinois from Sweden in 1851 as a young man of nineteen, and who appeared among the first members of the Bap- tist congregation in Rock Island and Moline, achieved political success in Minnesota, where he was elected secretary of state in 1869 and again in 1887. In 1881 he was appointed United States consul general of India 11(5 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS and served in that capacity at Calcutta for about two years. He organized a Scandinavian company which took the field in November, 1861, and served through the Civil War. In April, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. Mattson died March 5, 1893. Charles J. Sundell of Chicago was appointed American consul at Stettin, Germany, in 1861, by President Lincoln. He resigned the office of vice consul of Sweden and Norway, held by him since 1858, when he assumed the new position in the American consular service. This seems to have been the first Federal office given to a Swedish Illinoisan. Sundell served at this post until the change of administration in 1867. In 1862 F. E. Jocknick obtained an official position in the Chicago postoffice, serving for eight years. He was succeeded in the department by C. Blanxius. As early as 1864, before the Swedes of Chicago had any numerical strength, one of their number, John A. Nelson, won out in his cam- paign for the office of sheriff, the most remunerative political position attained by a Swedish Chicagoan up to that time. His election is said to have been due to the strong support given him by his predecessor, A. C. Hesing, under whom Nelson had served as deputy, and of the German element. P. L. Hawkinson served as justice of the peace about this time and was repeatedly reappointed, for the third time in 1879. In the sixties (.). Larson, a Swedish civil engineer, was attached to the Chicago de- partment of public works. By appointment of the governor, John A. Enander was made a member of the State Board of Education and was serving in that capacity in 1880. In 1874 C. G. Linderborg was nominated for representative on the Republican ticket, and John A. Arvidson was given a like position on the Democratic ticket. Both were elected. In the custom house P. A. Sundelius, a newspaper man, held an office for some time, subsequently transferring to the recorder's office as chief clerk. In 1884 ne was sen t to the legislature and served for three terms. His most notable service as a legislator was the framing of the compul- sory education bill. Captain Axel Silfversparre of Civil War fame in 1865 became assist- ant city engineer of Chicago, a place retained by him for several years. The year following the great fire he assisted in the work of drawing the new city plans. He sought a place on the police board in 1872 and was a candidate for the office of county surveyor in 1876, suffering defeat in both elections. Part of the years 1878-79 he worked under Gen. McDowell, who superintended the construction of the Federal building in Chicago. We find no Swedish names in the political history of Rockford before 1880, when S. A. Johnson was elected alderman of the Sixth Ward. In 1881, C. E. Knutson was elected alderman in the Seventh Ward. G. A. Salstrcm was alderman of the Sixth Ward in 1887-1895. He was succeeded bv Albert Hollem and Gust Holm in the same ward. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 117 In 1891, A. J. Anderson entered the city council; at the same time F. G. Hogland was elected city clerk, a position he held for five years. G. V. Lindblade also served in the city council, and about the same time A. F. Bargren was elected chief of police, a position he still holds. LINCOLN PARK LAID OUT BY SWEDISH LANDSCAPE GARDENERS. The original plan of Lincoln Park was the work of a Swedish land- scape gardener. In the year 1865 the city of Chicago, more than thirty years after its incorporation, was still without a public park. That year the city authorities awoke to the fact and forthwith set about beautifying the municipal environment. It must have been sadly needed, for according to Fredrika Bre- mer, who visited the place fifteen years before, the general verdict of travelers was that Chi- cago was then a most repulsive and disreputable looking community. A prize of two hundred dollars was offered for the best plans for the two new parks to be laid out Lincoln and Union parks. The prize was captured by Sven Nelson. In the early fall of the same year he began work on the tract assigned for Lincoln Park, with an appro- priation of $1,500 for the first year. The next year he formed a partnership with O. Benson, and the two men carried on the business of landscape gardening on a fairly extensive scale for nine years. In 18/5, when the firm was dissolved, Benson was appointed park superintendent by the commissioners. The principal work was laid down on the north side park, that on the west side being rather neglected for a time. The pioneer landscape artists and park superintendents of Chicago both hailed from the Swedish province of Skane, where they were born at Fjelkestad. They emigrated the same year (1852), Nelson at the age of twenty-four, Benson at fifteen. After spending the first three years in Ohio they came on to Chicago in 1855. Nelson persevered in his original occupation of landscape gardening, which he had learned on the estate of Count Wachtmeister at Wanas. In 1857 ne was married to Sophia Johanna Hoffman of Kristianstad. Benson is said to have engaged in teaching in Ohio shortly after his arrival. He left Chicago after a year to work as a compositor in the print- ing office of Svcnska Republikanen, started at Galva in July, 1856, after having had similar employment in the office of the Chicago Tribune. He subsequently entered high school in Chicago, graduating with high standing after three years. At the outbreak of the Civil War he volunteered for service and remained in the army for three and a half years. His wife was an American by birth. OI.OF liKXSOX. THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS A third Swedish landscape artist connected with the development of Lincoln Park was Pehr S. Peterson, the founder of Rosehill Nursery. Having received his professional training at the large estate of Ovedskloster in Skane, the ancient manse of which was surrounded by an elaborate private park, Peterson came to Chicago in 1862, after spending seven years in the East, and broke ground for the now famous Rosehill Nursery the same year. Much of the nursery stock used in Lincoln Park has been supplied by this establishment from the outset. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES. FOUNDING OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD. It was Illinois men of Illinois churches that formed the majority of the convention which framed the Augustana Synod. On April 26, 1860, at Chicago, the pastors and congregations declared their independence of the Synod of Northern Illinois by unanimous resolution peacefully to dissolve their churchly connections with that Synod. On June 5, at Clin- ton, Wis., in a convention called for that specific purpose, these same churches, through their pastors and lay delegates, voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to organize an independent Scandinavian Synod. All but one of the pastors were present, eleven Swedish and seven Norwegian, eighteen out of a total of nineteen. To these were added fifteen lay dele- gates. Of the Swedish pastors and laymen the sole survivors are Dr. G. Peters and Mr. John Erlander, both residents of Rockford. Before the close of the convention eight were added through ordination. The regular delegates acted on behalf of thirty-six Swedish congre- gations of 3,747 communicants, and thirteen Norwegian churches com- prising 1,220 communicant members, a total of close to 5,000 Scandinavian church members. The convention lasted from the 5th to the nth of June. On the 6th and 7th the Synodical Constitution, drafted in the main by Prof. L. P. Esbjorn, was discussed and adopted. The new church body was named the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America, or in short, the Augustana Synod. The name Augustana, from the Latin name of the Augsburg Confession, was suggested by Eric Nor- clius as appropriate for a synod "determined on holding fast to that glorious confession in its entirety." The constitution adopted June 7 provided for the founding and main- tenance of a theological seminary. Then and there, maintains Dr. C. M. Esbjorn, 1 the foundation was laid for the first Swedish-American institu- tion of learning. The 7th of June is the true "Founders' Day," according to the same authority. The first act of the newly organized Synod was to take steps towards carrying out that constitutional provision. On June 8, Art. I of the con- stitution for the seminary was adopted, reading as follows : "The Au- 1 Anniversary Address, 1910. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 119 gustana Synod shall establish and maintain a theological seminary which shall be located temporarily in Chicago and known as the Augustana Semi- nary." A preparatory and theological department were provided for, and Rev. L. P. Esbjorn was appointed "Scandinavian and theological professor." "Thus did our fathers from the very outset aim to further the cause of education; and if the origin of this institution is intimately connected with the history of the founding of the Swedish-American church, it is because the organizers of the synod had at heart not only the religious LAYMEN FOUNDERS OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD. JOHN ERLANDER, P. PALMQUIST, JOHAN JONASON, O. PAULSEN, N. DAHLGREN, JONAS ENGBERG, C. SKOLD. interest but cultural and national interests as well. If their connection with the Synod of Northern Illinois had been to them as Lutherans and Swedes a sort of Egyptian slavery and the meeting in Chicago was the crossing of the Red Sea, then the meeting at Jefferson Prairie was their' Sinai, where they were formed into a covenant and an ordered communion. The former is the Easter, the latter the Pentecost of our church. If, to use another figure, the Chicago meeting was the beginning of travail, the Jef- ferson Prairie was the very moment of birth. There the Swedish-Ameri- can church was born, there was born a new Sweden in America, for not until now did the Swedish element assert itself and claim its fixed place, historically and culturally, among the other nationalities in this land of intermingled races. We rightfully dwell on the importance of the new body for the Swedish element, for although Norwegians took part in the 120 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS organization, the Swedes were predominant in numbers and influence, and furthermore, the connection between the two elements was rather loose, each having its own interests, so that the separation which followed ten years later was practically implied from the first." 1 The Augustana Synod eventually grew from a small group of churches in Illinois and a few in Minnesota to a nation-wide organization of Swedish Lutherans. The former Mississippi Conference, now known as the Illinois Conference, constitutes that part of the Synod which con- tinues to figure in the Swedish religious activities within the state, together with the two synodical institutions at Rock Island, namely, the college and seminary and the publishing house. AUGUSTANA COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. It is to the organization meeting of the Augustana Synod, held at Jefferson Prairie, near Clinton, Wis., June 5-11, 1860, that Augustana Col- lege and Theological Seminary traces its origin as an independent institu- tion. The way had already been paved- by Esbjcrn's act of removing to that city with the manifest intent of continuing his work of teaching. The first article in the constitution adopted for the school (June 8) reads : "The Augustana Synod shall establish and maintain a theological seminary for the present at (or, to be located in) Chicago and to be known as Augustana Seminary." It was an oddly worded article, foreshadowing the strife over the question of location which agitated the Synod from time to time down to recent years. The second article reads : "The purpose of this institution of learning shall be to educate young men for the gospel ministry in the Lutheran church, particularly the congregations belonging to the Augustana Synod, and also to prepare young men for the profession of teaching." This scope was eventually widened, and a complete college department was developed by the middle seventies, the first college class being graduated in 1877. At the very outset the founders had in view a plan to purchase land and start farming for the benefit of the school. The door was opened for experiment, and we find the sponsors and promoters again and again in quest of land where the institution might be located in the heart of some populous Swedish agricultural section. The institution was removed, first to Paxton, in 1863, then to Rock Island, in 1875. In Chicago the school was conducted on the premises of the Immanuel church, Esbjorn serving as its first president and principal teacher, with various assistants. Means for its maintenance were solicited both in Sweden and in the United States. On one occasion Esbjorn was appointed to go on a special mission to Columbus, O., to secure the transfer to the seminary of $1,500 given by Jenny Lind to the Capital University as a foundation for a Scandinavian chair, which was never established. Recent inquiry as to this fund brought the following explanation from Dr. Norelius, then the only Swedish stu- 1 C. M. Esbjorn in Anniversary Address, 1910. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 121 dent at that university : Dr. Reynolds, then president of the institution, arbitrarily used the money without rendering any account of it to the board of regents, and upon inquiry into the matter no trace of the fund was found, either in the treasury or in the records. This man later became president of the Springfield seminary, and it was partly due to his manip- ulation of the funds solicited by Esbjcrn that the latter resigned. The Church of Sweden appropriated two annual collections for the cause, and private soliciting, first by O. C. T. Andren, who resigned as emissary in Sept., 1861, to settle down in Sweden, then by Esbjorn, brought a total of $10,846 from these sources. In addition, King Charles XV. donated 5,000 volumes from his private collections. This was the nucleus for Augustana Library, now housed in the Denkmann memorial building. While in Sweden in 1862, in the interest of the seminary, whose only regular teacher he had been up to this time, Esbjorn resigned his posi- tion and accepted an appointment by the crown to become pastor of the parish of Oster-Wahla. The chief motive for this step doubtless was his devotion to his native land and a desire for more settled conditions of life than had been afforded the pioneer preacher and teacher for the past twelve years. But he had other reasons. On many points he and Pastor Hasselquist held different views. The latter is said to have privately opposed Esbjorn's election to the Scandinavian professorship, having nego- tiated with Peter Fjellstedt of Sweden to take that place, and about this time the two men took issue with one another in the proposed removal of the seminary to Paxton. The board of directors had urged Hasselquist to move to Paxton and use his influence as president of the Synod in promot- ing a colonization plan in behalf of the school. He thus became pastor of the new congregation there and as such would naturally have a voice in the affairs of the institution. Disliking to stand in the w ? ay of either the financial plan or the personal ambitions of his brother churchman, Esbjorn yielded at the favorable opportunity. After Paul Peter Waldenstrom of Sweden, who later led a dissenters' movement, had declined the position, Hasselquist was chosen temporarily to fill the vacancy. Failing in 1863 to secure Rev. Sven L. Bring or some other capable man from Sweden, the Synod also made Hasselquist the temporary incumbent of the theologi- cal chair. Hasselquist retained that position and also served as president of the institution until his death, Feb. 4, 1891. It has often been asserted that Hasselquist's presidency was never made permanent. C. M. Esbjorn, however, after having made a careful search of the records, states that on Sept. 22, 1875, the day when the school opened for the first time in Rock Island, the board of directors formally elected Hasselquist president. Neither Hasselquist nor the president of the synod made note of this in the subsequent annual reports. During the twelve years Augustana Col- lege and Seminary, so named upon its removal, remained at Paxton, its property consisted of a farm and four small frame houses scattered over a plat of ground donated for a school site. In 1865 it was chartered under that name and allowed $50,000 worth of property free of taxation. An AUSGUTANA COLLEGE BUILDINGS AT PAXTON. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 123 amendment of the charter was granted in 1869, changing the name to Au- gustana College and Theological Seminary, raising the limit of non-assess- able property to $100,000, and lixing no definite locality for the school. Instruction was given in collegiate branches as early as 1866, but a senior class was not formed until 18/6. The school did not prosper at Paxton, and the average number of students up to 1870 was about thirty-five. The desirability of a new and more central location had been growing apparent from the fact that the stream of Swedish immigration bore mainly to the west and northwest from Chicago. Finally Rock Island was settled on as the most favorable location available, and in 1873 nine- teen acres of ground in the hills of the east part of the city were purchased for $10,000. On this site a main college building was erected with all pos- sible expedition, and upon its completion, in 1875, the school was opened there Sept. 22. The dedication took place Oct. 14 of the same year. The main building, a four-story brick structure, costing $35,000, and two auxili- ary buildings, were erected. By synodical resolution in 1873 every com- municant member of the Synod was required to pay 25 cents per year to- ward the support of the institution. In 1879 tne college was placed on a level with colleges in Sweden by act of the Department of Ecclesiastics granting its graduates admittance to the Swedish universities without examination. A Conservatory of Mu- sic was established privately in 1886, and this was made one of the depart- ments of the institution in 1888 ; a Commercial Department was added also in 1888; a Normal Department followed in 1891, and an Art Department in 1895. In the college proper ten departments of teaching have gradually been established. Post-graduate courses were introduced in the college in 1891, and in the seminary one year later. The Synod, in 1883, resolved to erect a new main building at an esti- mated cost of $55,000. When, on Nov. 6, 1884, the corner stone was laid. $30,000 had been subscribed, and the next year P. L. Cable, of Rock Island, came to the assistance of the Synod by donating the sum of $25.000 to the building fund. Then the building plans were changed, whereby some $30,000 was added to the original estimate. The building was not com- pleted for occupancy until 1888, when recitations began in the new halls in January. This is the most monumental building heretofore erected by Swedish-Americans. Dr. Hasselquist was succeeded in 1891 by Dr. Olof Olsson, who served as president until his death in May, 1900. After an interim, during which Dr. C. W. Foss acted as president, the Synod in June, 1901, elected Dr. Gustav Andreen, the present incumbent of the pres- idential office. Augustana is fortunate in the possession of a museum containing comprehensive and valuable collections which facilitate the study of the natural sciences. It has also ethnographic and numismatic collections. The historical collection of American Lutheran and Scandinavian-Ameri- can literature, already grown to considerable proportions, should prove a GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 125 valuable aid to research. In 1910 the library was estimated at about 26,000 volumes. The Handel Oratorio Society, originally called the Augustana Ora- torio Society, was organized in the fall of 1880. This was the first society of its kind in this section of the United States. Its influence in developing a taste for classical sacred music in the community and throughout the Synod cannot be too highly estimated. Prof. Olof Olsson of the theological seminary was its founder and enthusiastic supporter. Dr. A. W. Williamson, professor of mathematics, one of the warmest friends the college ever had, in 1886 presented to the institution five acres of land adjoining the college grounds on the south. The campus was further extended through friends of the institution who organized in 1891 tinder the name of the Augustana University Association. About this time its friends began to have visions of a greater Augustana, as implied in the very name chosen. The express purpose was to promote the growth and higher development of the college. It seized the opportunity of purchasing for $25,000 a tract of ten or twelve acres of ground directly north of the campus. The financial depression during the next few years came near frustrating its plan to deliver this tract to Augustana, but when State Senator C. J. A. Ericson, of Boone, la., promised a donation of $12,800 on condition that the association raise an equivalent amount towards paying the indebtedness, the enterprise was saved. The condition fulfilled in October, 1899, the property, henceforth known as Ericson Park, was turned over, clear of debt, to the institution, making the college grounds about thirty-six acres in extent. With the exception of a few notable donations in large sums, the great bulk of the funds needed to erect and maintain the necessary buildings, and to meet the running expenses of the institution has been faithfully con- tributed by the rank and file of the synod. In addition to the donations by P. L. Cable and C. J. A. Ericson, already mentioned, Augustana grate- fully acknowledges the following large donations, namely : 160 acres of Iowa farm land and the coal rights in 120 acres, by Senator Ericson; subscriptions by Oscar Ekman and other friends in Sweden, aggregating $27,000, as a fund for the endowment of a chair of science to be known as the Oscar II. Professorship, and finally the most munificent of all gifts to Augustana by the Denkmann family, of Rock Island. Public announce- ment was made in January, 1909, that the heirs of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann would erect, at a cost of not less than $100,000, a library build- ing for Augustana College to be known as the Denkmann Memorial Li- brary. When the building was completed and turned over as a gift to the institution in May, 1912, it was found that the donors had builded better than they promised, for the memorial structure complete represented a total outlay of $208,000, and is recognized as one of the finest and best appointed libraries in the Middle West. A movement was set on foot by the synod at Paxton, in 1903, mak- ing for permanent endowment of the institution. Four years later the de- DR. OLOF OLSSON. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 127 tails of the plan were arranged. The synod expressed its determination to raise a general endowment fund of $250,000, the work to be completed by June, 1910, when Augustana College and Theological Seminary and the Augustana Synod were to commemorate their fiftieth anniversary. To this, the so-called Jubilee Fund, the Iowa Conference as early as 1906 pledged $40,000; Illinois followed in 1907 with a promise to raise $140,- ooo; in 1908 Minnesota promised to contribute $50,000; Kansas, $7,000; Nebraska, $10,000; New York, $20,000, and California, $1,000. In clue time it was reported that the Jubilee Fund had reached $268,000, $18,000 above the quarter million. After the jubilee of 1910 it appeared, however, that several conferences were delinquent, and their promised contributions are still owing to the endowment fund in whole or in part. Despite these delinquencies, the Jubilee Fund on March 31, 1916, was $245,153. All funds available to the institution on the same date aggregated $453,481. The annual attendance in all departments of Augustana College in recent years varies from 650 to 675. DR. TUVE NILSSON HASSELOUIST. In the person of Dr. Hasselquist the Augustana Synod honors the chief figure in the first half century of its history. In the milieu of pioneer times he stands out as the foremost preacher and missionary among the Swedish settlers ; in the founding of their early institutions he had a hand, where he was not himself the prime mover; the education of their pastors lay chiefly with him for almost thirty years; the purity of faith, the unity of doctrine and the stability in church polity and life characterizing the Augustana Synod today are largely the result of the sound indoctrination and steadfast guidance at his hands during its formative period. Twenty- six years have elapsed since this patriarch of his people passed to his reward, yet he lives in works that endure, in spiritual impulses still in force. Pastor Hasselquist came to this country in 1852, at the age of thirty- six, a mature man, liberally educated and prepared at the college of Kristianstad and the old University of Lund, ordained to the ministry in the Church of Sweden by Bishop Faxe in 1839, an( l w ' tn ample pastoral experience gained from five charges in the Lund diocese to fit him for his labors in the larger field the Lord assigned to him in the New World. When he accepted a call to serve the newly organized Swedish Lutheran Church of Galesburg, 111., this was on a three years' leave of absence, but once engaged in the missionary service in the West, arduous, ill-paid and fraught with hardships, he never, so far as evidence goes, contem- plated a return to his well-ordered parish back in his native province. It is a matter of record that Hasselquist, when seeing Pastor Lars Paul Esbjorn at the head of a company of emigrants in 1849, at Helsingborg, had expressed his unwillingness to go to America, yet only three years later we find him accepting a call that brought him here for life. Hasselquist's labors for the next few years were by no means limited DR. GUSTAV ANDREEN, President of Augustana College. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 129 to the Galesburg church and the adjacent charges in Knoxville and else- where. In the fifties a constant stream of Swedish immigration inundated the upper Mississippi Valley. He visited the newly planted colonies in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana, gathering his fellow countrymen around the Word of God and organizing congregations wherever condi- tions favored such a step. He soon realized the need of an organ of communication among the scattered settlements, and with the council of several brethren, chiefly Pastors Esbjcrn and Erland Carlsson, he founded "Hcmlandct, Det Gamla och det Nya," the pioneer Swedish general newspaper in the United States (1855). His little printing office in Galesburg, putting out also a number of tracts and books, was the cradle of the quite extensive general publishing business in the Swedish language now flourishing in centers of Swedish population like Chicago, Rock Island and Minneapolis. A year later, prompted by the demand for religious literature, he founded Det Riitta Hcmlandet, through which for many years he championed the cause of Lutheran faith and teaching as against the vigorous proselyting cam- paign of various sects among the Lutheran newcomers. From the first the Swedish, as also the Norwegian, missionaries affili- ated with the Synod of Northern Illinois. Peculiar conditions soon led to the forming of several conferences which in 1860 were merged into the Scandinavian Augustana Synod. Hasselquist became its first and only president, serving until 18/0, when the Swedish and Norwegian brethren separated amicably and the latter organized an Augustana Synod of their own. With the severance of synodical ties in 1860 came the establishment of a new theological seminary at Chicago, headed by Rev. Esbjorn, who had taught theology and the Scandinavian branches in the seminary at Springfield. In his home in Galesburg, Hasselquist had prepared several men for the ministry by private instruction, and when, in 1863, Esbjorn returned to Sweden, Hasselquist was appointed his temporary suc- cessor and served for a period of nearly twenty-eight years as president of Augustana College and Theological Seminary under a call which, curiously enough, was never made permanent by action of the Synod, merely by the board of directors. The institution was removed from Chicago to Paxton that same year. Hasselquist left Galesburg for Paxton principally to build up and serve a congregation there, while incidentally conducting the classes and man- aging the affairs of the struggling young school, where at times he \vas obliged to teach no less than fifteen subjects. However, both the school and the congregation prospered under his charge. He was a dynamo of physkal and mental energy, except for the last few years of his life. Burdens and discouragements which would have broken an average man he bore with remarkable strength and fortitude. He labored with an eye single to the interests of his church. While on a visit to Sweden in 1870 he did not look about for a comfortable charge for himself there, but 130 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS rather devoted his time to inducing young divinity students to come to the aid of the daughter church in the far West. Hasselquist remained at the head of the synod's educational institution up to the time of his death in 1891 (Feb. 4th), meanwhile serving the First Lutheran Church of that city and editing the synodical organ Augustana, except for the last two years. As an index of the successful and conscientious manner in which Hasselquist accomplished every task entrusted to him, a few significant figures may be adduced. The church in Galesburg, taken over with but a handful of members, he left with a communicant membership of 316, although he made frequent missionary trips and his time was largely occupied with editorial work on two papers and with synodical affairs. In Paxton he built a congregation literally from the ground up and left it after eleven years as a prosperous parish of 525 communicants. While located there, the college and seminary grew in attendance from ten to eighty-one, and in Rock Island during his presidency from the latter figure to 342. His church in Rock Island during his pastorate enjoyed a mod- erate increase in membership from 121 to 174, probably quite proportionate to the slow influx of Swedish population to the city in that period. The gift of song was one of Hasselquist's endowments. In pioneer days he led the singing, as well as conducting the main part of the divine services. Organs there were none and of clavichords and psalmodicons few, and his clear, firm voice lifted up in sacred song is a memory as dear to many as that of his positive and simple preaching of the saving Truth. His was one of the first Swedish homes in the West made cheerful by the piano. Both he and his children cultivated the art of music, and even in his ripe old age the venerable church veteran was sometimes heard as soloist in sacred concert. A woman of marked accomplishments was Miss Eva Cervin, who became the helpmeet of Pastor Hasselquist in May, 1852, just prior to his departure for the United States. Thoroughly educated in a girls' semi- nary in Sweden, she spoke French, German and English, besides her mother tongue, and possessed a reading knowledge of Italian and Spanish. It was with her assistance and advice that Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb, of Gales- burg, produced their meritorious translation of Tegner's master work, "Frithiof's Saga," and at Paxton she taught French to a private class. A Swedish version of "The Luther Book," by Herman Fick, translated from the German and published at Galesburg, is said to be the work of her pen. She would often take notes of her husband's sermons and write them out more fully at her leisure, thus assisting him materially in the preparation of copy for his paper. From the many tributes to the high character and abiding influence of this eminent Swedish-American churchman a few excerpts are given, which, by pointing out details and accentuating particular features, serve to complete the portrait and visualize the greatness of his work. As an exegete, or one skilled in the exposition of the Scriptures, he GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 131 still stands unexcelled among the ministers of the synod. Although his discourses were masterpieces of the art of sermonizing, they were always delivered in plain, simple language, so that even the unlettered might profit by them, and they were mostly preached to plain, unassum- ing audiences in very modest and humble church edifices. He was not easily carried away on some passing wave of popular enthusiasm, and especially was he careful not to pass indiscreet judgment on his fellow- men. Even in the most heated controversies, he never ascribed improper motives to his antagonists or attempted to sit in judgment over them. He knew his limitations, and he never tampered with things he knew he was not fit for. It was his childlike artlessness, combined with his towering intellect and eminent spiritual gifts that made him truly great. He maintained the position that a sound faith and a consecrated life are insolubly bound up with a firm and stable confession. To him the confessional books of the Lutheran Church were living guides on the way of salvation. He was actively engaged in the struggles during the great schismatic movements (in the fifties and again in the seventies). For his unswervable doctrinal stand he was harshly judged by those whose plans he frustrated. While fighting for pure doctrine as though it were for life, which, indeed, to him it was, he was ever charitable to the person of an opponent denying more or less of the teachings of the Church which to him were essential. Never did he pronounce upon their spiritual condition, but often rejoiced over the good works accomplished by other denominations. With great energy he worked and fought in behalf of common interests, throwing his weighty influence in favor of union and strength everywhere throughout the synod. Every office held he enhanced and exalted by his faithful administration. Faithfulness in all things was his characteristic trait. His word often carried greater weight than a resolution of the synod. Still, it would be wrong to assume that the patriarchal president was an arbitrary autocrat. Had he acted on such a presumption, he probably would not long have occupied the presidential chair, although he ranked first among the Swedish Lutheran patriarchs. During Hasselquist's term of service in the theological seminary no less than two hundred and eighty-one candidates for the ministry were sent out. Up to the school year of 1876-77 he was the sole theological pro- fessor, teaching nearly all the disciplines of theology. His most masterly handling of any subject in the class room was his exegesis of the sacred books of the New Testament. Evidence in point is found in his published work on the Epistle to the Ephesians (1887). THE SWEDISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. About 1865 steps were taken to establish a divinity school for the Scandinavians of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the initiative being taken by Victor Witting. The matter was discussed at a convention in d If Sw U en n W bJ H hJ o o 81 GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 133 October, when it was resolved to found such an institution. Witting and other pastors were appointed to solicit funds and teachers were desig- nated. The plan was well under way when Witting, the soul of the project, was sent to Sweden. Then the work lagged, and more than half the amount subscribed for the school fund is said to have been forfeited through negligence in making collections. The Scandinavian plan was soon thought impracticable, and a separation between the Swedish and the Norwegian brethren followed, each group continuing to work for a school of its own. This split delayed the establishment of the Swedish seminary until 18/0, when it was opened at Galesburg, with Rev. N. O. Westergreen as teacher. During the first year there \vere but four stu- dents. The school occupied the upper story of a private house belonging to Peter Hillgren, and was eventually transferred to Westergreen's own residence. About a dozen pastors were prepared at the school while in Galesburg. After two years it was transferred to Galva, Rev. C. A. Wiren succeeding to the teacher's chair. In 1875 the institution was located in Evanston, in an affiliated con- nection with the Northwestern University and Garrett Biblical Institute. The Swedish students were housed free of charge in Heck Hall, a large dormitory. In July, 18/5, Rev. Wiren was compelled, by failing health, to resign from his position, and Dr. William Henschen was elected to fill his place. As Dr. Henschen also held the office of editor of Sandcbudet and was pastor of the congregation in Evanston, he was unable to teach all the classes, and the exigency was met by locating the Freshman class in Galva, where the new students were taught from 1877 to 1879 by Rev. Frederick Ahgren, a gifted young minister from Sweden, who spent a couple of years in America. The two following years the first class was maintained and taught in St. Paul and Minneapolis by one of the pastors in those cities, Rev. J. O. Nelson. In 1883 Dr. Henschen resigned from his position and Prof. Albert Ericson became the head of the seminary, after all the classes had been consolidated at Evanston. The course was changed from two to three years. He was the sole teacher of the school up to January, 1889. At that time the Swedish Methodists in America had, with the aid of Mr. John R. Lindgren, started the Swedish M. E. Book Concern at Chicago, and began a new religious weekly named Vaktarcn, both enterprises being entrusted to Prof. Ericson. As it was found impossible for him to perform all these duties alone, the board of trustees called to his assistance C. G. Wallenius, who had come shortly before .to America in order to complete his studies in Boston University. He became professor in the academic department, which was organized at that time. Professor Wallenius held this position until 1896, when he resigned and was succeeded by Rev. N. O. Westergreen, who served for one year. The following three years the seminary again had only one teacher, Dr. Albert Ericson, as special arrangements had been made with the Academy of the Northwestern University, whereby the Swedish students received their academic training in that school. In DR. WILLIAM HENSCHEN. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 135 1900 Professor Wallenius was re-elected and served until 1906, when Rev. J. E. Hillberg was called as his successor. The latter held the posi- tion until 1910, when he was elected editor of Siindebudet. After twenty- six years of faithful and efficient service as president of the Seminary, Dr. Ericson resigned, in 1909, and was succeeded by C. G. Wallenius. The following year Dr. F. A. Lundberg was called to fill the chair of natural science, English and church history. The control of the institution is vested in a board of twelve trustees. elected by the six annual conferences of the Swedish Methodists in America, seven being clergymen and five laymen. The institution was started on a fund of $4,000, which since has grown to about $40,000. This does not include the value of the real estate belonging to the Seminary. A building for lecture rooms and dor- mitory was erected in 1883, at a cost of $8,000, on ground owned by the university. In 1902 the board of trustees appointed Dr. C. G. Nelson as financial agent to raise funds for a larger building. He worked with energy and zeal from 1902 to 1910 in this capacity, and during this time a beautiful site was secured at Orrington avenue and Lincoln street, a large, commodious building erected, a home for the president built and the endowment fund increased. The property is now valued at $65,000. The course of study covers a period of four years, the first two being devoted to academic instruction, while the two higher classes are com- prised in the theological department. More than two hundred young men have been graduated from this institution, the great majority of whom are pastors of the Swedish Methodist Church. THE SWEDISH BAPTIST SEMINARY AND ITS FOUNDER. In 1871 a Bible school was opened in Chicago by Rev. Johan Alexis Edgren, who by that act founded the institution long located at Morgan Park, Chicago, and known as the Swedish Baptist Theological Seminary. Returning, in 1870, from Sweden, where he had taught in the Bethel Seminary at Stockholm, Edgren was alive to the importance to the Swed- ish Baptists on this side of the water of educating their own ministers, as their brethren in Sweden were doing. At first his intention was to conduct a school in the Oak Street Baptist Church, but when the doors of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary were opened to him he gratefully availed himself of the opportunity to teach there. In the fall of 1871 Swedish instruction was begun at that institution in a small way, only one student appearing at the opening of Edgren's department. In 1873, Edgren was officially called to conduct a Scandinavian de- partment at the seminary with the added burden of providing for its maintenance and his own support. Accepting the position, he worked un- der disheartening conditions for the next five years. After the removal of the seminary to Morgan Park, in 1877, he continued in charge of the Swed- ish department until 1884, when an earlier resolution to establish a sepa- rate Swedish seminary was carried into effect by the removal of the Swed- DR. JOHAN ALEXIS EDGREN. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 137 ish department to St. Paul, Minn., pending a permanent location. That year ample means for its support were received, while $20,000 were sub- scribed to the building fund and a site between the Twin Cities was offered. A year later, however, the school was removed to Stromsburg, Neb., where it was given a ten-acre site and a bonus of $10,000. Its location there seems to have been dictated by private interests, and naming the school Central Bible Seminary did not make it any more centrally located in rela- tion to the majority of the churches. In 1888 it was generally recognized that a mistake had been made, a majority of the directors favored a new and truly central location, and the outcome of negotiations was that the school was reunited with the Chicago institution. Impaired health caused Edgren to retire, in 1887, after having taught for fifteen years, with one interruption. Rev. C. G. Lagergren was then called from Sweden to take his place, Eric Sandell and N. N. Morten con- tinuing as assistants. In the fall of 1888 the school again opened at Mor- gan Park, the Baptist Theological Union having agreed to provide lecture halls and dormitory accommodations for the students, and to pay the sal- aries of two of the Swedish professors, the department to be under the supervision of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. Dr. Lagergren, who accepted the call in 1888, still remains at the head of the Swedish Seminary. In 1895 Sandell and Morten were succeeded by Profs. W. A. Peterson and Olof Hedeen, the latter an acquisition from the clergy of the Lutheran Augustana Synod. Pastors Eric Wingren and John Ong- man are among those who have taught for various periods. While the majority of those who have received instruction are Swedes, there has been a fair Norwegian and Danish element among the students from the outset. The work of Rev. Edgren, the founder, in behalf of the Swedish Bap- tists on this side of the Atlantic probably was of broader scope than that of any other man. Born Feb. 20, 1839, a native of Ostana, Vermland, he prepared for three years at the Karlstad elementary school, then aban- doned his studies in 1852 to go to sea. He got his fill of adventures on the very first trip, but after a stay at home entered the school of navigation at Stockholm and resumed his seafaring life after graduation for the posi- tion of captain's mate. During a terrific storm on one of his voyages he gave his heart to God and pledged himself to the Lord's service as a mis- sionary. After some hesitation between the Methodists and the Baptists, he joined the latter and was baptized at New York in 1858. He then re- turned to Sweden to complete another two-year course in navigation. In one year's time he earned his captain's diploma. On a subsequent voyage to American ports as second mate on a Swedish brig, Edgren, at Charles- ton, S. C., received his first impressions of slavery, which later prompted him to lend a hand in crushing out that curse. He was in the service of the Swedish merchant marine at the beginning of the Civil War and on board a vessel in Charleston harbor chanced to be an eye-witness to the first shots exchanged in that great conflict. DR. C. G. LAGERGREN. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 139 After his return to Sweden to establish a navigation school at Stock- holm, he became a close associate of Rev. Anders Wiberg and preached occasionally, but did not as yet see his future mission clear. In 1862 he visited the United States again to see his brother, Hjalmar, who was serving in the Union Army and had just then witnessed the memorable battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac off Hampton Roads. He found him at Fort Rip Raps, whence he went to New York and applied for admission to the U. S. Navy as a non-commissioned officer. Upon examination he was, however, given a commission, and served as naviga- tor in the Atlantic blockade. Both brothers resigned from the service, and the naval officer took up theological studies at Princeton University, but after a year returned to the navy. He was given command of the small armored cruiser Catalpa and ordered to report to Admiral Dahlgren at Port Royal. Finding life tedious on board a blockading ship, Fclgren, at his own request, was transferred to a battery at Gumming' s Point. From now until the fall of Charleston he was almost constantly on the firing line, and was again present when on that memorable I5th of April Gen. Anderson hoisted anew the Union flag he had been compelled to haul dow r n from the shattered ramparts of Fort Snmter at the opening of the war. Resigning from the navy at the close of the war, Fdgren was engaged as seaman's missionary and colporteur at New York, by the American Baptist Publication Society. After having studied at Madison University one year, he was appointed missionary in 1866, and accompanied Pastor Wiberg to Sweden, where he became professor of mathematics and natural sciences at the Bethel Seminary in Stockholm at the opening of that in- stitution. Later he removed to Upsala, where he served the little Baptist flock, while pursuing theological studies. After having labored for a time as a missionary in Goteborg, Edgren returned to America and accepted a call from the Chicago Swedish Baptist Church. It was while serving this church that he conceived the idea of a Bible school for the Swedish- speaking brethren, and personally realized the plan. During his fifteen years at the head of the school it reached a maximum annual attendance of forty students. In 1880 the University of Chicago conferred upon Prof. Edgren the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was an able scholar and Bible commentator, and published interesting reminiscences of his past life. Twelve other works by him have been published in book form. The church papers edited by him were Zions Vakt, started in 18/3, and pub- lished for a short time, and Evangclisk Tidskrift, established in 1877, and continued by him until 1880. Owing to failing health, Dr. Edgren with- drew from the active service of his church in 1887, and lived in retirement in California, where he died Jan. 26, 1908. THE CHURCH OF THE NEW JERUSALEM. Among the large group of religious denominations in Illinois we also find the Church of the New Jerusalem. From the name of Emanuel 140 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Swedenborg, the illustrious writer of its doctrines, its members are gen- erally called Swedenbprgians, The first organization of the New Church in Illinois was established in Chicago, in 1843, by the Hon. Jonathan Young Scammon, and a few others, under the name of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem. From that small beginning it grew, mainly among the Americans, until it is now spread to every part of the state, and counts among its members, representatives of many nations, of whom the Swedes and Germans pre- dominate. In Chicago there are eight congregations, and in five of them are a large number of Swedes and their descendants. In Glenview, 111., is a flourishing New Church settlement, with many members of Swedish birth and extraction. This settlement has its own day-school where chil- dren are educated up to first year high school, and for those who wish to further round out their education under New Church auspices. The Acad- emy of the New Church, at Bryn Athyn, Pa., offers college training. In connection with it is also a theological seminary. There is another theo- logical school at Cambridge, Mass. As far as it is known, the first Swedish believers in the New Church in Illinois \vere Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Lundquist and their two daughters, Mathilda G., and Johanna S. (Mrs. J. W. Florine, of Andover, 111., and Mrs. M. B. Ogden, of Riverside, Cal). Lundquist, who was a paper manufacturer in Helsingland, Sweden, after having become affiliated with the followers of Erik Jansson, disposed of his property and came to this country in 1846, locating in Bishop Hill. This affiliation did not appear to be a hard and fast adherence to Janssonism, for the family is claimed to have constituted a group of Swedenborgians from the time of their ar- rival. Being unable to speak English they did not associate themselves with the Illinois Association of the New Jerusalem, then recently formed, nor did they make any propaganda in behalf of their faith among their fellow countrymen, but only studied in private the revelation of the new age. But Mrs. Ogden later became a member of the Riverside Society, in California, where she belonged until her death, and Mrs. Florine made herself well known by giving $10,000 to the Church Building Fund in Stockholm, Sweden, and a mortgage of nearly $3,500 to the Western New Church Union, of Chicago. Among the first Swedish believers in the New Church in Chicago were Swain Nelson and his wife, Johanna Sophia Hoffman Nelson, and Olof Benson, who joined in 1858. These three came from the vicinity of Kristianstad, Sweden, in 1852, and as Mrs. Nelson was a daughter of a zealous member of the Kristianstad Society, they were then more or MRS. M. B. OGDEN. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 141 less imbued with the faith and the knowledge of the New Church. Messrs. Nelson and Benson, being landscape engineers and practical gardeners, later became much interested in the private and public development of Chicago, and were also the ones to whom was assigned the work of laying out Lincoln Park. This they did, and after its completion, Mr. Benson served as its superintendent for seventeen years. Mr. Nelson spent his last years peacefully with his oldest son, Seymour Nelson, and daughter- in-law, Mrs. Annie Florine Nelson, in Glenview, 111., until death claimed him, Jan. 18, 1917. But as the years passed on, more Swedish names were added to the receivers of the New Church. Among them we find Mrs. Anna Frederika Magnusson, who joined in 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Johnson, Mr. Leonard Gyllenhaal, the editor, a grandson of the great entomologist of the same name, Mr. and Mrs. Blid, Mr. C. F. Peterson, the editor and author, Dr. J. W. Marelius, Dr. Oscar Oldberg, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Gustafson and many more. Besides these, some of their wives were born in this country of Swedish parents, and several of them have left large families. But no effort was made by those to establish a distinct New Church society, mainly because of the ease with which Swedes take to English and American ways. Public discourses were indeed delivered now and then, as for instance by Prof. Carl Th. Odhner, of Bryn Athyn, Pa., in the early eighties, and Mr. C. F. Peterson, in the late nineties, but as immediate results did not follow, the efforts lapsed. The first permanent public propaganda among the Swedes in Illinois was started by the Rev. John Headsten in 1898. As a layman he then 'began by establishing a book depot and advertising its contents; secured authorization to preach from the Illinois Association ; held meetings in private houses, and from time to time preached and delivered lectures in churches and halls in Illinois and elsewhere. In July, 1903, the Swedish- American New Church Society was organized under his auspices, with twenty-one charter members, Dr. C. V. Urbom of Rock ford being elected president, Mr. John Headsten, secretary, and Mr. Eric Hawkinson, treasurer. This continued as a highly useful body until Mr. Headsten entered the theological school, in Bryn Athyn, in 1911, when its use naturally passed over to the Extension Fund of the General Church. A Swedish Society was organized in Rockford, in 1904, by Dr. C. V. Urbom and friends, that is still in existence, but in a dormant state, owing to the lack of a leader. After Mr. Headsten had completed his course at the theological school, he entered upon the work of building up a society mainly of Swedes, using both Swedish and English to gain his purpose. This he succeeded in doing. The Swedenborg New Church Society was organ- ized as a consequence in January, 1914. That society has now thirty-five members. Although most of them are Swedes, or of Swedish descent, there are six other nationalities represented in it. In 1915 Mr. Headsten began publishing The N civ-Church Evangelist, 142 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS in English, which ran for one year. Each issue of this contained a sermon unfolding the spiritual meaning of the Word, extracts from Swedenborg's theological writings, and an editorial on things pertaining to a practical Christian life. As far as can be ascertained, there are at present about 816 members of the New Church in Illinois, and of these at least 130 are Swedes, or of Swedish extraction. Olof Benson was an active worker within the Chicago society, and served for many years as its secretary. After the great fire the society's North Side Sunday-school was held for some time in his home. In 1873 he built for the society a chapel near the junction of La Salle avenue and Clark street, at the border of Lincoln Park. This was erected at a cost of $1,500. In the early seventies Benson was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and from 1878 to 1882 he served as assistant secretary and as secretary. "For thirty-five or more years," says Ralph Williams, 1 "Benson and his wife" (Jessie E. Arnold, who married him in 1865) "were industrious and useful members of the church, Mr. Benson much of the time being a leader in the Sunday-school, and many years an officer and prominent and efficient committeeman." THE MISSION FRIENDS, AN OUTGROWTH OF LUTHERANISM. The group of religionists comprised in the general term Mission Friends is the outgrowth of a movement in the Church of Sweden known as devotionalism, characterized by a trend toward deeper spirituality, greater freedom from dogmatism and set forms of worship and church practice, the exclusion of all but true believers from the Eucharist and ultimately from the new congregations when formed independent of the State Church. Many devotionalists, or so-called Readers, remained loyal to the Church of Sweden, but about the middle of the last century many of them turned Methodists, Baptists, and Janssonists. In the sixties and later others of this element organized "communion societies," and mission societies, which ultimately crystallized into a distinct denomination which was organized in Sweden in 1878 under the name of the Mission Covenant. Its counterpart in this country is the Mission Covenant organized in Chi- cago in 1885, which was long the only well defined body of Mission Friends in the United States, while others of the group who for some time would tolerate no form of denominational organization were designated as the Free Mission Friends until 1908, when they organized the Swedish Evangelical Free Church. Still others were too free even to affiliate with the Free Church, and some, chiefly those living in the eastern states, associated themselves with the American Congregational Church. A number of Mission Friends from Jonkoping, Sweden, came to Chicago in 1867, and joined the Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Church. They soon formed a group by themselves and began holding devotional meetings in the various homes. One Martin Sundin would read to them 1 In "The New Church and Chicago," 1906. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 143 from their favorite church paper, Pictisten, but as yet they had no recog- nized leader. The next year John Peterson, who had been a lay preacher in Sweden, joined them and naturally took a leading part in the conduct of devotionals. Another of their early preachers was C. J. Lindahl, who took a prominent part about 1869. But the arrival of J. M. Sanngren is said to have been the real impetus to the work, and on Dec. 26, 1868, at a meeting held in the home of Martin Sundin, 134 East Superior street, the first step was taken toward the organization of a mission association patterned on those in Sweden. This was the beginning of the Lutheran Mission Church on the North Side. Sundin, who came to Chicago in 1864 from Gefle, Sweden, is spoken of as the pioneer of the group. He was a member of the Immanuel Church and served for a time as deacon. Next after him came Henry Palmblad, Johan Lof, J. E. Wretlof, August Hanson, M. Engquist, and others. For their early meetings they are said to have been given the use of a room by D. L. Moody, in his church. Lindahl had come in 1868 as a student from the Ahlberg school in Sweden. Being a brother of S. P. A. Lindahl, then a student in Paxton, he was well received by Rev. Erland Carlsson of the Immanuel Church and was soon engaged as city missionary. As the two brothers, Anders and Eric Norelius, had joined one the Baptists, the other the Lutherans, so here the brothers Lindahl were on the point of separation. Lindahl, however, did not long remain with this movement, although "hyper- evangelical" in his tendencies, but was discharged from the position of Lu- theran city missionary on that ground. He later joined the Lutheran General Synod. Sanngren, a native of Alsheda parish, Smaland, born 1837, had studied with Pastor Ahlberg in his school at Ahlsborg, whence he came to Chicago in September, 1868. He was engaged as lay preacher in the Augustana Synod, and when he appeared in Immanuel his sermons ap- pealed strongly to the group of Mission Friends. When they had com- pleted their own meeting-house on Franklin street in 1869 they called him as their preacher. Upon the subsequent organization of the society as a church communion, he remained its pastor until 1876, then leaving for Lund, Wis. Sanngren became the first president of the Mission Synod in 1873, remaining in that office until his death in 1878. THE MISSION AND ANSGARIUS SYNODS. The North Side Mission Church was the first of that denomination in this state. Partly through early missionaries sent out from here similar churches soon were established in various localities, including Princeton, Rockford, and Galesburg, Keokuk and Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. The need of union and cooperation soon became apparent, and at a meeting of Mission Friends held at Princeton in 1871 it was proposed by representatives from the Chicago church to form a synod. Acting on this suggestion, a small group of laymen and preachers JONAS ENGBERG. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 145 met at Keokuk, and on May 22, 1873, organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Synod. It was incorporated by Peter Englund, Charles Anderson, C. G. Swenson, S. W. Sundberg, and C. A. Bjork. In 1874 the synod began publishing a religious monthly styled Missions-Vannen, which was changed to a weekly in 1880. The organ- ization of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ansgarius Synod followed in 1874. This was brought about through the efforts of Rev. C. Anderson, a pastor of Danish descent, who was called by the Mission Church in Galesburg, organized in 1868 as the Second Swedish Lutheran Church of that city. Anderson, who was a member of the Synod of Northern Illinois, in 1873 opened a theological school in Keokuk. He had partici- pated in the organization of the Mission Synod, and was enthusiastic for new workers in the mission field. Upon the refusal of that synod to affiliate with the Northern Illinois Anderson withdrew from the former, his only remaining backers being a few mission churches who did not join the Swedish synod. In 1871 he had begun publishing Sions Bancr, a religious journal. When in 1874 he was soliciting funds for a school building, James Knox offered him $12,000, provided he would locate his school in Knoxville. The offer was accepted, and after $5,000 had been added by the city and $3,000 solicited at large a building was erected. Anderson, however, deemed it advisable to have a synod control and back the institution, and in consequence the Ansgarius Synod was organized May 1 8, 1874, at Galesburg. It was formed on practically the same con- fessional basis as the Mission Synod, nevertheless a misunderstanding soon arose between the two bodies, neither of which was strong, and the breach was widened when the younger synod joined the Lutheran General Synod. In 1878 it proposed a union between the Mission and Ansgarius Synods, in order to secure better support for the school, now known as Ansgarius College, but the sister synod declined to cooperate. The churches of these two synods, together with certain independent churches, later gave rise to the Mission Covenant founded in 1885. PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES. THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY. The publishing business founded at Galesburg by T. N. Hasselquist and reorganized at Chicago in 1859 under the name of the Swedish Lutheran Publication Society was conducted under the control of the Augustana Synod for fourteen years. During its first years and while the Civil War was on it flourished but moderately, but from the middle sixties its success was more marked, as indicated by the fact that the business could be sold for $17,000 in 1874, after the weekly newspaper Hemlandet had been disposed of for $10,000. It must be explained, how- ever, that in these deals the good will of the church body was a consid- eration of much greater value than the tangible property included in the sales. This becomes all the more evident from the fact that the plant of J46 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS the publishing society had been totally destroyed in the great fire shortly before, the loss being only half covered by the insurance collected. The publication society and its successors for about a quarter of a century put out the great bulk of the Swedish books published in the United States. When the business was reopened in Chicago in January, 1859, Rev. Erland Carlsson, .pastor of the Immanuel Church, was made business manager with the assistance of Jonas Engberg, while Rev. Eric Norelius became editor of the two papers issued by the society. Norelius and Engberg had merged their paper, Minnesota-Posten, with Hemlandet when they entered the employ of the society. The plant was established in the schoolhouse of the Immanuel church, at 190-192 Superior street, and later housed in the basement of the church. Norelius resigned the editorship after nine months, and Engberg left in October, 1864, after having served as editor of Hemlandet in addition to his duties as acting manager under Carlsson, whose pastoral work and many other duties as a churchman occupied the greater part of his time. Engberg was succeeded in both capacities by Rev. A. R. Cervin, while Carlsson continued at the head of the business until 1868. When Cervin left at the close of that year to assume a chair of teaching at Augustana Seminary in Paxton, J. G. Princell, his assistant, took editorial charge for half a year, until succeeded by P. A. Sundelius. Apparently spurred by competition since 1866 with the new secular weekly Svenska Amcrikanaren, the publishers now changed Hemlandet from a mainly church weekly to a general political newspaper. It remained for John A. Enander, who became editor after Sundelius in December, 1869, to shape the editorial policy of that paper, with a short interval, for the next forty years. The chief work of the publishing concern was to supply the need of the Lutheran churches in the way of hymnals, textbooks for the parish schools, and religious and devotional works. At first most of these were imported, but by slow degrees the publishing of such books was brought about. The first American edition of the Swedish Psalmbook was pub- lished in 1864, a revised edition of Luther's Catechism in 1868, Esbjorn's translation having been previously in vogue. "Hemlandssanger," first pub- lished in 1860, proved popular and ran through a number of editions, a music edition being added in iS/o. In the Chicago fire of 1871 the society suffered a loss estimated at $18,000, recovering but $5,000 of insurance. The plant at 169 Clark street being gutted, the business was subsequently established at 94 East Chicago avenue. All these years the concern had yielded no profit. This fact added force to an old agitation for years past in favor of disposing of the busi- ness. The management was now vested in the board of directors of Augustana College and Theological Seminary, with a view to turning the accruing earnings over to that institution, then hard pressed for money. The question was whether to sacrifice one or the other of the two estab- lishments for the benefit of the remaining one. The educational institu- GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 147 G. A. BOHMAX. tion being deemed of greater importance, the publishing house had to go. First the general newspaper Hemlandct was sold, in 1872, for $10,000 to J. A. Enander and G. A. Bohman, bringing the school that amount in ten annual installments. It had at that time fifty students and paid annually but $1,600 in teachers' salaries, but large sums were needed to insure its permanence after the relative failure of the land speculations in Paxton entered into for its maintenance there. In the next two years the removal of the school to Rock Island was determined upon, and funds were in still greater demand to complete the first main building. So the sale of the book publishing business followed in 1874, the board realizing another $17,000 for the institution. The pur- chasers, Jonas Engberg, C. P. Holmberg, and C. O. Lindell, were to pay that sum in semi- annual installments distributed over a period of fifteen years. The directors of the school, acting on behalf of the synod, had entered into a formal agreement not to start any new political newspaper and never to lend their support to any other such paper than Hcrnlandet. When the book business was sold, there went with the sale "all the rights and privileges" of the former corporation (which was identical with the synod), as stipulated in the charter of the publication society. The essence of these rights and privileges was, "to establish a book establishment for the circulation of books of a generally useful or Christian character, espe- cially of the Lutheran confession" (Charter, Section 4). Nevertheless, as subsequent events \vent to show, neither of the two new firms were protected, as they had a right to suppose, from competition from within the synod at large and the educational institution to which they were paying their money. ANDERS RICHARD CERVIX, EDITOR AXD TEACHER. For a period of forty years Dr. A. R. Cervin rendered notable service chiefly in the two capacities of teacher and editor. From 1865 until his death in 1900, except for his years of decrepitude, he was constantly in the active service of the Augustana Synod, 1865-68 as editor of the synodical periodicals, 1868-78 as professor in Augustana College, and during the subsequent period, up to the time of his disability, nominally as proofreader but practically as office editor of the synodical organ, Augustana och Missiondrcn, and also of various other periodicals and publications issued by private publishing concerns and later by the official synodical publishing house. Cervin was a man of scholarly attainments and one of the few men of university training in our early period who had earned the doctor's REV. ERLAND CARLSSON. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 149 degree in cursu. His studies, extensive and diversified, were further deepened during eighteen years devoted to the profession of teaching. Born in the city of Kristianstad, he went through the Swedish ele- mentary school and prepared further at the University of Lund, attaining the degree of doctor of philosophy in 1847 a t the age of twenty-four. Next he studied jurisprudence for a short time, while teaching privately in Lund, and specialized along other lines. During the next six years he taught in the college of Helsingborg, then spent one year in the United States, assisting Pastor Hasselquist, his brother-in-law, at Galesburg, chiefly in editorial work. Returning to Sweden, he took a position to which he had been appointed before leaving and taught for three years in the college of his native city, whereupon he completed a four-year divinity course, studying partly in Lund and partly in Upsala, and received ministerial ordination in September, 1864. Shortly after, he came to this country for the second time, and in October, 1864, assumed the editorship of Hemlandet, now issued from Chicago. The statement made in certain biographies that Cervin championed the cause of the Union in the columns of this paper during the years of the Civil War is patently erroneous, the war ending a few months after he began work on the paper. He was, however, a staunch adherent of the Union cause and maintained a firm Republican tone in the paper. After having served as editor for nearly four years, he left the editorial chair in Chicago for the professor's chair at Paxton in the fall of 1868. After serving Augustana College as teacher of mathematics, Greek and the natural sciences until 1878, he resumed editorial work, continuing in that capacity until old age and broken health compelled his retirement. He died Jan. 5, 1900, in his home in Rock Island, built in 1874, just prior to the removal of Augustana College to that city. Among his children are Olof Z. Cervin, an architect of his home city, who holds an appointment as official church architect of the Augustana Synod, and Louisa Elizabeth (Lillie) Cervin, a teacher in the Augustana Conservatory. Fifty years after Cervin's promotion as doctor of philoso- phy, his university conferred signal distinction upon him by awarding him the honorary title of Jubilee Doctor of Philosophy. ERLAND CARLSSON, CHURCHMAN AND FINANCIER. Erland Carlsson came from Sweden in August, 1853, upon a call to become the first permanent pastor of the Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Church of Chicago, organized in January of the same year by Pastor T. N. Hasselquist. His first years in Chicago were laborious in the extreme and conditions were often discouraging. Among the Swedish emigrants pouring into Chicago by the hundreds and thousands the Asiatic cholera was making its ravages at this juncture, and Pastors Carlsson and Unonius were overwhelmed with work in their earnest efforts to lend aid and succor, both material and spiritual, to suffering and indigent new- comers. But conditions soon changed to the better ; Carlsson's church 150 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS grew large and relatively prosperous, 114 new members being added during his first year in charge. From 1860 on, when immigration in- creased, owing partly to the great demand for men in the peaceful avoca- tions during the drain caused by the war, 1 the Swedish population of Chicago grew at a rapid pace, and in five years Carlsson added more than 300 new members. For ten years the congregation rented out space, first in its schoolhouse, then in the basement of the church, to the Swedish Lutheran Publication Society, and rooms to other parties, collecting in rents more than the total cost of the improvements on its church property in that time. For about nine years Carlsson was at the head of the Lutheran pub- lishing business, as business manager, and at intervals as editor of its periodicals. It has been stated that he served without salary, but as throughout his term of service no reports were ever rendered to the synod and incorporated with its records, this cannot be established. Carlsson's executive ability seems to have been either overtaxed or overrated. Both Esbjorn and Hasselquist had looked to him to start the paper in Chicago which Hasselquist later began publishing in Galesburg, feeling that the matter should no longer be put off. Of Carlsson's early commission to collect a theological library for the use of the early Scandinavian ministers of the Synod of Northern Illinois nothing came not even a report. From a close study of letters and papers that have been preserved from the time of the publication society we have not found that Carlsson did any editorial routine work either on Hemlandct or on the books published. The office management, bookkeeping, and editing was done by Jonas Engberg and A. R. Cervin the greater part of the time, and in justice to them credit should be given where due. Thus it appears that Carlsson devoted himself chiefly to his pastoral work. He began by serving the congregation in Geneva and St. Charles, besides that in Chicago, and did much work as a traveling missionary, organizing a number of congregations, including churches in Rockford and De Kalb. He remained as pastor of the Immanuel church for twenty- two years. Removing to Andover in 1875, he served as pastor there for twelve years, meanwhile managing the Andover orphanage and leaving it free of debt in 1887. He became business manager of Augustana College that year, resigning after two years and removing to his farm near Lindsborg, Kansas, to live in retirement and seek to better his impaired health. While in Chicago Carlsson made judicious investments that in time yielded substantial returns. His homestead and premises in Chicago were sold to the Illinois Conference, for hospital purposes, for $35,000, and Carlsson was one of the founders of the Augustana Hospital located there. Erland Carlsson was born in Elghult parish, Smaland, Aug. 24, 1822. He began his studies in 1839 and earned his college degree in five years, subsequently pursuing theological studies until 1848. He was ordained 1 Norelius, in "Augustana-synoden, 1860-1910." GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 151 to the ministry of the Church of Sweden the following year, and served as pastor at the Lessebo paper mills until called to Chicago. He was always a prominent figure among Swedish- American Lutherans and many important trusts were committed to his hands. Norelius is probably too optimistic in his estimate that the $27,000 realized for Augustana College by the sale of the newspaper Hemlandet and the book publishing estab- lishment was chiefly the fruit of Carlsson's labors. We find greater justice in the appreciation of him given by C. F. Peterson, who says : "Pastor Carlsson was probably the most energetic, most tireless, and most suc- cessful promoter of the Swedish Lutheran Church in America." In rec- ognition of his practical services he was awarded the honorary degree of Di D. by Augustana College in 1892. Carlsson was married, in 1854, to Eva Fredrika Anderson ; he died October 19, 1893, leaving his wife and three children, Eben Carlsson of Lindsborg, Kan., and Samuel E. Carlsson and Mrs. Emmy Evald, both of Chicago. As a financier, Carlsson took a prominent part in the establishment of Augustana College at Paxton in the early sixties and again in the eighties at the founding of Augustana Hospital in Chicago. REPRESENTATIVE SECULAR JOURNALS. Scores of newspapers and periodicals in the Swedish language have been published in the State of Illinois from 1855 down to the present. The enumeration of them, with a few data on each one, would largely partake of the nature of an antiquarian's catalogue, for many have been shortlived, and copies of them are now rare, even in the files of collectors. The representative Swedish secular newspapers founded during this period (1860-1893) were Svenska Amcrikanarcn I and II, there having been two different papers by that name; Svenska Tribuncn, and Svcnska Kurircn. On April 16, 1866, a number of men in Chicago and elsewhere in the state issued a circular inviting their fellow countrymen to join in forming a stock company with a view to publishing a weekly newspaper of liberal tendencies to oppose the alleged intolerance and bigotry of the religious papers, referring chiefly to the Lutheran papers and the Methodist organ, Sandebudet, the only ones then in existence. The organizers were : John A. Nelson, president; M. E. Nelson, vice-president; P. J. Hussander, treasurer ; P. L. Hawkinson, secretary ; Charles J. Stromberg ; P. L. East- man, C. F. Billing, F. T. Engstrom, P. M. Almini, all of Chicago; John Peterson, Galesburg; A. A. Schenlund, Princeton, and Olof Johnson, Galva. In Charles J. Sundell and O. G. Lange of Chicago the enter- prise had two strong backers. The corporation, named the Swedish- American Publishing Company, on September 8, 1866, published the first issue of the new paper, styled Svenska Amerikanaren. Col. Hans Matt- son of Minnesota was the nominal and Herman Roos the acting editor- in-chief. In 1869 Roos was succeeded by Peter A. Sundelius, who had for six months edited the rival paper, Hemlandet. Roos had maintained 152 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS continuous warfare with that paper on a variety of topics, principally the secret society question, and his successor hewed close to the line. Sunde- lius was a capable and forceful writer, who took the keenest delight in polemical duels. He conducted the policy of the paper until 1873, when Charles J. Stenquist purchased it and changed the name to Nya Svenska Amerikanaren. Svenska Tribitnen was founded in 1877. It was the direct successor of Nya Verlden, and absorbed Nya Svenska Amerikanaren that year and in 1878 two other papers, Skandia of Moline and Nya Folkets Tidning. After the first consolidation Nils An- derson and Herman Roos appropriated the name Svenska Amerikanaren for their paper, published prior to that time under the name of Svenska Fasten. This oc- curred in October, 1877. In September, 1884, Anderson sold his paper to the Swedish-American Printing Company, composed of Sundelius, N. P. Nelson, and Gabriel Hjertquist, C. F. Peterson join- ing them shortly after. In 1886 A. E. G. Wingard became a stockholder, and in 1888 Frans Albin Lindstrand, who was the directing power in this paper for the next twenty years. Svenska Kuriren as a newspaper dates from December, 1887, when it succeeded a comic weekly published by F. W. Ankarfelt. It was turned over to John Harder, of Harder, Luse & Co., for debt, and he in turn placed it under the management of Alex. J. Johnson in August, 1888. In January, 1889, Hr. Johnson secured possession and has been its pub- lisher and editor ever since. FRANS ALBIN LINDSTRAND. JOURNALISTS AND WRITERS OF NOTE. As publisher, journalist and author, JOHAN ALFRED ENANDER has rendered valuable service to the Swedish press and literature in this state and throughout the country. As a young man he came to the United States, proud of his native country and its achievements, and during his American career of forty odd years he made himself the foremost cham- pion of Swedish letters and culture on American soil. In the work of in- spiring in the immigrants and their children love of and taste for the language and literature of Sweden he unquestionably deserved greater credit than any other man. In this mission his eloquent tongue ably sec- onded his pen. As editor and publisher of Hemlandet, he accomplished the bulk of his work, yet he found time for independent authorship. In the years 1875-80 he compiled a history of the United States, of four TOH. A. ENANDER. 154 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS volumes, in the Swedish language. His historical essays, together with stories and poems, were published in 1892 in a volume entitled "Valda Skrifter." As a verse-writer he was not prolific, but we concede to his verse a quality and literary finish that is rare in Swedish-American poets. Among minor works by Enander the following have been published : "Nordmannen i Amerika" (1892) ; "Vara faders sinnelag" (1894) ; two compilations "Ur Svenska sangen," an anthology of Swedish poetry (1901), and "Eterneller och Varblommor." He edited Ndr och Fjerran, a literary magazine, and Ungdomsvanncn, a young people's paper, in the latter seventies. The firm of Enander and Bohman, which published Hemlandet from 1872 to 1889, also did an extensive book publishing busi- ness. Enander was a native of Vestergotland, Sweden, born in the parish of Harja May 22, 1842. As a youth he began to contribute to provincial papers, and wrote a short history of Mormonism, published in 1863. After having received private instruction, he entered the elementary school in Venersborg in 1866. In August, 1869, he came to this country to enter the Augustana Seminary at Paxton. After one term of theological study his newspaper experience secured him an editorial position on Hemlandet. In 1890 Enander was called to the chair of Swedish at Augustana College, and taught until 1893, when he resigned. In 1896 he resumed the editorship of Hemlandet, having edited Svenska Journalen for two years in the interval. From Augustana College he received the degree of LL. D. in 1892, and King Oscar II. in 1905 awarded him the Litteris et Artibus medal in recognition of his authorship. The Swedish Academy awarded him 500 crowns in 1910 in consideration of his literary achieve- ments in general. Enander died at his home in Chicago September 9, 1910. Some time prior to his demise he was incapacitated by paralysis, and retired from his editorial work. During his forty-one years in America Enander did not acquire the English language, and was therefore not a true exemplar of the Swedish-American citizen, but, showing little receptiveness to American influences, remained a fine type of the ultra-patriotic Swede. CARL FREDRIK PETERSON ranks with Enander in point of general authorship. His published works are: "Svenskarne i Illinois" (1880), compiled in cooperation with Capt. Eric Johnson, but written by Peterson ; "Forenta Staternas Historia ;" "Republiken och dess institutioner ;" "Amerikanska Valtalare," compiled and translated ; "Karlek och plikt," a novel; "Larobok i Geografi ;" "Ett Hundra Ar;" "Politisk Handbok," and "Sverige i Amerika." Peterson was born at Fittja, Sodermanland, Sweden, April 16, 1843. As a young man of eighteen he came to the United States in 1861, intend- ing to fight for the Union cause and the abolition of slavery. He was re- jected for defective sight, and spent the next nine years in various occu- pations. In 18/0 he entered upon his journalistic career as editor of Mm- GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 155 nesota-Postcn, at St. Paul, transferred after a few months to the Illinois Sivede, at Galva, and remained with this paper through its various changes of name and character until 1880 as editor-in-chief, continuing for the suc- ceeding four years as associate editor. He then went over to the second Svenska Amerikanaren, remaining until 1888 as editor and part owner. After editing two short-lived newspapers during the next three years. Peterson devoted himself to independent literary work for a number of years. After the death of his friend Andrew Chaiser, Peterson as adminis- trator took charge of his paper, Svenska Tribunen, in 1899, until it was sold shortly afterwards. In 1901 he tried a new venture, a weekly paper named A T a- tional-Tidningen, which ceased publica- tion after a few months, when Peterson was stricken with an illness that ended his life June n. Up to 1885 Peterson was a Repub- lican, then turned Democrat, and at the flood-tide of Populism embraced that political faith, championing in turn these various views with a vigor that seemed born of long-established conviction. His political articles were characterized by depth and thoroughness. Self-taught as he was, Peterson attained a remarkable degree of intellectual development. With a better start in early life his un- usual talents ought to have earned him greater recognition than he re- ceived. He was an adherent of Swedenborg's religious teachings and a student of occultism and religio-philosophical subjects. CARL FREDRIK PETERSON. THE BEGINNINGS OF SWEDISH-AMERICAN ART. SOME EARLY SWEDISH ARTISTS. It was not until the second period of development set in that a craving for art works awoke in the minds of the settlers. Then frescoes and altar paintings began to appear in the Swedish churches, and the decoration of the private homes began to betray the artistic instinct. The artists of this period were Almini, Peterson, Torgerson, Fredrik and Lars Blomberg- son, and Peter Roos, who taught at the University of Illinois. PETER M. ALMINI (1825-1890), a skilled painter from Sweden, who had assisted in the decoration of the royal palace at Stockholm, came over in 1852, locating in Chicago. He made himself known for skillful and artistic fresco work for churches and public halls in this and other cities. In 1868-71 Almini and Jevne published a journal entitled Chicago Illus- 156 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS tratcd, each part containing four lithographed pictures in color, with de- scriptive text. The grandfather of Almini was an Italian artist, who was called to Stockholm by King Carl XV Johan to decorate the interior of the royal palace, and who made his home in Sweden. The business founded by Almini in 1853 is still continued under the name of the Almini Company. He was chiefly a commercial artist, painting sketches and pic- tures for mere study or pastime. He became vice-president of the Master Painters' and Decorators' Association of Chicago and treasurer of the Na- tional Association of Painters and Decorators, having aided in the organ- ization of both associations. He was a member of the Chicago Academy of Design. Peter M. Almini was born in the province of Smaland, Sweden, March 21, 1825. His boyhood was spent in the ordinary routine of country life. His father dying while he was still young, he was left to the care of his mother. His educational advantages were only such as fell to the lot of the majority of farmers' sons, and he relied on his inborn intelligence to direct him in gathering the crumbs of knowledge which fell within his reach. That he did this to good advantage, his after life afforded ample proof. At the age of fourteen, young Almini, becoming ambitious to improve his fortune, left his home for the provincial town of Eksjo, where he became apprenticed for five years to a painter. Having finished his apprenticeship with credit, he spent a year in the city of Norrkoping, and subsequently removed to Stockholm, where, under the stimulating influences of this wider field, he labored patiently for six years to perfect himself in his trade. How well he succeeded is attested by the fact that he was engaged for two years in the work of decorating the royal palace. Slightly enriched in pocket after the completion of that work, but more by the artistic knowledge acquired, he was seized with a desire to seek new fields. He first went to Russia, but conditions there were not of a nature to appeal to the liberty-loving young Swede, so he embarked for America, landing at New York in 1852, at the age of twenty-seven. The abundant opportunities of the great West attracted him, and before the close of the year he was settled in Chicago, then a city of about 30,000 inhabitants. Eager to exercise the skill he had spent so many years to develop, but which the requirements of the young city then drew very lightly upon, he soon resolved to establish a business for himself, the result being the firm of Jevne and Almini in 1855. The success of this firm enabled Almini to accomplish a purpose which he had had in mind for some time that of contributing to the pleasure and cultivation of his adopted city by the establishment of an art gallery, the first of its kind in Chicago. When the city was swept by the flames in 1871 he saw with 'many others the result of years of labor destroyed, but in the spirit of most of his fellow- sufferers he reestablished himself in business alone. Three years later Almini was again a sufferer by the destructive fire of 1874. Recovering from this second stroke, he abandoned the business of general painting GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 157 and devoted himself to the higher grades of fresco work. The \visdom of his choice was manifested in the decorations of a large number of fine homes and public buildings in different parts of the country. He stood at the head of his profession, a position reached by painstaking labor and actual merit. He never solicited a job of work, and practiced none of the tricks of self-advertisement. The quality of his work attracted to him more business than he was able to handle. Almini had made a thorough study of both ancient and modern art, and skill- fully used the acquired knowledge in the execution of his art. The Painter, in its issue of July, 1882, from which we have quoted, concluded its sketch with the words : "Faithfulness, love of his trade, and perse- verance, coupled with good natural abilities, have made Mr. Almini one of the greatest fresco artists of his time." Another Swedish member of the Academy of Design was HENRY E. C. PETERSON, portrait painter, who for a time taught the life class in the academy, which in the sixties was a flourishing institution, and, after the fire, erected its own building in Michigan avenue. Peterson located in Chicago after having served in the U. S. Navy during the first three years of the Civil War. He was born (1841) and educated in Stockholm. In recent years Peterson has had the bulk of his work in New York City. Among noted Americans who have sat for him were Brigham Young, president of the Mormons, and John and Moses Wentworth, pioneers of Chicago. FREDRIK B. BLOMBERGSON, from Bergsjo, Sweden, lived in Chicago about 1868-73. Landscape painting was his specialty, and, finding little demand for his canvases here, he soon returned to Sweden, locating in the city of Soderhamn. AXEL WILLIAM TORGERSON (1833-1890), born in Stockholm and edu- cated at Upsala University, came to Chicago in 1856. He took up paint- ing in 1870 and developed into a marine artist of recognized ability. LARS AXEL BLOMBERGSON (1841-1879), came to Moline in 1868 from his native city of Soderhamn, Sweden. As an interior decorator he evinced artistic taste and talent. A number of churches were decorated by him during the eleven years he lived in Moline. The chair of industrial art and design at the University of Illinois was for ten years (1880-90) occupied by a Swedish artist, PETER Roos, a native of Skane, Sweden, born at Lyngby, February 22, 1850. He prepared at Kristianstad and came to Boston in 1872, establishing himself there as a fresco painter and designer. After teaching drawing in the evening schools of the city, he established an art school in 1874, named the Boston Art Academy. In 1876 he took a position as instructor at the University of Illinois, teaching that school year and in the winter and spring terms of 1880, prior to his election to the professorship of art and design. After studying and practicing landscape painting for some years in the nineties, Roos in 1896 became director of art study in the public schools of Cam- bridge, Massachusetts. 158 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS J. F. RING. Music AND MUSICIANS OF THE PERIOD. The Immanuel church choir of Chicago has the distinction of hav- ing been the first Swedish church choir in Illinois, except for a temporary aggregation of singers in Galesburg directed by Jonas Engberg for a month or two in the year 1855. Engberg, who served as organist of the Immanuel church in 1863-67, was the organizer also of the Chicago choir. It was the first Swedish-American chorus to render so large a choral work as a cantata. Root's "Queen Esther" was rendered by it at the opening of the Augustana College at Paxton in 1863, the performers being Jonas Engberg, Emma Peterson, Anna Carlsson, Tilda Swedman, Hannah Carlson, John J. Engberg, Lars E. and P. Lindberg. The can- tata was later repeated in Chicago, and the choir sang at church conventions in Moline and Geneseo. Lars E. Lindberg became choir master in 1867; Joseph Osborn in 1869; K. Sandquist served in 1870-74, and J. F. Ring for some five years, until 1879. This choir, reorganized in 1883 by Mrs. Emmy Evald, and increased to about one hundred members, joined with the choirs of the Gethsemane and Salem Lutheran church choirs in rendering, under Osborn's direction, a number of "Messiah" choruses and "Psalms of David," by Wennerberg, at a jubilee concert given in Central Music Hall, Chicago, Nov. 10, 1883, in commemoration of the four-hundredth anni- versary of the birth of Martin Luther. Mrs. Ella Carlson was the soprano soloist, and the Augustana College orchestra also participated. This organization had just assisted in a similar celebration at the college on Nov. 7 and 8. This choir has maintained its organization under many different directors, and rendered a number of cantatas and other large choral works from time to time. EDWARD A. WIMMERSTEDT is said to have been the earliest profes- sional musician among the Swedes of Illinois. He was born at Skarstad, near the city of Jonkoping, Sweden, Jan. 18, 1838, the son of an organist, composer and musical director named Anders Wilhelm Wimmerstedt. The son emigrated in 1863, locating first in Chicago, where he was a piano teacher for three years. He moved to Jacksonville, 111., in 1866, and there took a position as director of the musical department of the Illinois Female College, giving instruction also at the Illinois School for the Blind. Together with his wife, who was Miss Marion Phillips, a soprano and pianist, Wimmerstedt gave a number of recitals. He was the composer of many songs and opuses for the piano which enjoyed popularity in the seventies and eighties. His musical talent is said to have made him moderately wealthy. Attacked by consumption, Wim- GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 150 merstedt about 18/9 moved to Napa, Cal., and engaged successfully in fruit raising. He died at Oakland, Cal., Oct. 28, 1883, from injuries sustained in falling from a tree. Among the early Swedish Chicagoans was Lewis J. Magnusson, who came to the city with his family in 1855. He had lived in New York, where he was mar- ried to Sarah Corning, a lady of Huguenot and New England an- cestry, who possessed literary talent. They moved to Stock- holm, Mr. Magnusson's birth- place, and there he grew pros- perous as a merchant. Mrs. Magnusson became thorough!}' acquainted with the Swedish lan- guage and rendered a number of Swedish poems into English. They mingled in the literary and musical circles of the Swedish capital and numbered Crusen- stolpe, Frederika Bremer, Jenny Lind and Ole Bull among their personal friends. In Stockholm were born to them two daughters, who became noted in musical cir- cles in Chicago and elsewhere. These were ANNA FREDERIKA and ROSALIE MAGNUSSON. The two daughters began the KDWARD A. WIMMERSTEDT. study of piano at an early age. At the age of thirteen Anna appeared as orchestral accompanist at a series of Saturday afternoon concerts given under the direction of one of the early Chicago musicians. After serving as organist in several churches, she was sent to New York to study voice with Barille, the brother and teacher of Adelina Patti. In 1860 she went to Hamburg to study with Mme. Cornet, being, it is claimed, the first Chicago girl to study music abroad. With the advice of Jenny Lind, she became a pupil of Lam- perti, a noted vocal teacher of Milan. She studied operatic singing with him, dramatic art with Fiorvanti and trained as accompanist under Al- berti during a three years' stay in Italy. Returning to Chicago in 1864, Miss Magnusson sang at the Chicago Philharmonic Society's concert and was enthusiastically received. She was heard also in the Immanuel and St. Ansgarius churches. Shortly after accepting an engagement with Strakosch for a season of grand opera, a recurring illness compelled her to abandon the operatic stage. In Chicago she opened a study in the Crosby Opera House building and ANNA FREDERIKA MAGNUSSON JEWETT. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 161 entered upon a successful career as a vocal teacher. Among the pupils trained by her was Marie Engel, the opera singer. She married Fred- erick Jewett. No less than six languages were familiar to her, and her deft pen prepared many articles for musical journals. Mrs. Magnusson Jewett passed away May 8, 1894. The younger daughter, Rosalie Magnusson, was equally talented. While still a little girl, she became a pupil of Louis Staale, of Chicago. After another period of study in New York, she went to Berlin in 1871 and studied with the ablest musicians. In Vienna she enjoyed the advantage of studying under the personal direction of Rubinstein, who took a kind interest in her. After three years of intense artistic application, she returned to the United States. Having married Alvin M. Lan- caster, she achieved high repute as a con- cert pianist on the Pacific Coast, the pair having made their home in southern Cali- fornia. She trained a number of concert pianists and piano teachers and was gen- erally regarded as standing at the head of the profession. The Lancaster Musical Club was named in her honor. Mrs. Magnusson Lancaster returned to Chicago some ten years ago and continued to give instruction on her chosen instrument. Like her sister, she became known as an able writer on musical subjects. In 1869 an organization known as the Scandinavian National Quar- tette toured Wisconsin and Minnesota, appearing in national costumes. It was directed by John L. Swenson, and the other two Swedish mem- bers were Oliver Larson and C. J. Blomquist, and the Norwegian mem- bers Evert, Jacobsen and Olsen. After their return to Chicago they became the nucleus around which was formed the Freja Society in the fall of that year. This was a male chorus averaging sixty members. Its history merges with that of the Swedish Glee Club and the Swedish Club. Another musical organization, known as Svenska Sangforeningen, was formed by Alfred Lagergren in January, 1875. Singers of both sexes were admitted, and it soon grew to a membership approximating one hundred. It existed until 1879 and did commendable work while in its prime. Lagergren was a native of Christianstad, Sweden, born May 29, 1840. In 1869 he came to New York as a steamship ticket agent, and in 1871 opened a branch office of the White Star Line in Chicago. He returned to Sweden in 1883, after having been active in musical circles in Chicago for twelve years. ROSALIE MAGNUSSON LANCASTER. 162 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Among Swedish musicians in the seventies were one D'Ailly, a singer, and Benjamin Owen (Oven), an organist. The latter held a posi- tion in the Plymouth Church about 1878. Owen was a capable theorist and composer. Some of his anthems, as the "Ave Maria," are still being sung. He moved to Wisconsin, where he died in the early eighties. D'Ailly was the possessor of an extraordinary bass baritone voice. Grau, the impresario, was so struck with the quality of it that he for a time def rayed ^the expense of further schooling. D'Ailly, however, did not make the most of his opportunity, and after a short time Grau's interest in him ceased. A SWEDISH-AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL CENTER. EARLY SWEDES IN ROCKFORD. If there be any city in Illinois which holds a particular interest for the Swedes, that city is Rockford. Its his- tory is linked very closely with that of the Swedes. Here they have taken a larger part, proportionately, in the industrial and commercial develop- ment than in any other city. Available sources state that the first Swedish immigrants arrived in Rockford in 1852. There is reason to believe, however, that Swedes lo- cated there at an earlier date. Thus in May of 1838 one Isak Johnson served on the jury of the District Court of Rockford, and it appears that he was of Swedish birth. In the year 1852 a company of nearly thirty immigrants came to Rock- ford. Among these were many who have written their names indelibly into the history of the city. The following, among others, were in the company : S. A. Johnson, John Nelson, Andrew Hollem, P. G. Hollem, Alexander Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Hokanson, P. A. Peterson Sr. and wife, P. A. Peterson Jr., Claus Peterson. John Stibb arrived in 1854, and his son Frank G. was the first boy born to Swedish parents in Rock- ford, while Mrs. Augusta Lind, daughter of Jonas Anderson, was the first girl of Swedish extraction. From this time on, each year brought a stream of .Swedish emigrants, but the years of the cholera epidemic, 1853- 54, served, as did the Civil War later, to inhibit the immigration, which did not grow to dimensions of importance here before 1867. S. A. Johnson came from Wing, Elfsborg Lan. He very soon became one of Rockford's most distinguished business men and one of the first pillars of the Lutheran Church. Among the early arrivals was John Erlander, from Slatthog, Krono- berg Lan. He was born April 27, 1826, and was a tailor by trade. In his party were an elder brother, P. Erlander ; a sister ; Peter Lindahl, a grain broker; A. P. Peterson from Ostergotland, machinist; Isak Lindgren ; G. Scott ; Adolf Anderson, who fell in the Civil War, and A. C. Johnson from Blekinge, in company with his father, three brothers and a sister. Immigration was relatively strong in 1856-66, and the latter year the number of Swedes in Rockford reached 2,000. Most of them came from Smaland, principally Oland, and from Vastergotland. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 163 JOHN NELSON AND THE KNITTING INDUSTRY. The one name most intimately connected with the knitting industry of Rockford is that of John Nelson. Other men were associated with him in working out his ideas and the perfection of the machine that bears his name, but his title to the credit for the invention of a more perfect knitting machine than any in use be- fore his time remains undisputed. John Nelson was born in Karrakra, Vestergotland, Sweden, April 5, 1830. When a young lad, he lost his father by death. The widowed mother was left with but little of this world's goods, but, being a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, she succeeded well in providing for her- self and family. The son John seemed born with mechanical talent, and when quite young became a maker of spinning wheels. He remained in the place of his birth until twenty-two years of age, when he left for the United States. He arrived in Chicago in the spring of the year 1852 and stopped there a few weeks, going in turn to St. Charles and Rockford the same year. Being obliged to take whatever work was offered, he left shortly for Elgin and worked on the railroad, returning to Rockford after several months. After a siege of sickness he again left for Elgin, and then went to Chicago, where he worked for a time as a turner and joiner. In 1854 we find him back in Rockford, but two years later he established a cabinetmaker's shop in Sycamore, continuing in business there for a year. In 1857 he finally located permanently in Rockford. After being em- ployed as a woodworker for a time, he opened a turner's and cabinet- maker's shop of his own. From now on John Nelson began to ponder on various mechanical problems. One of these was solved by the in- vention of a dovetailing machine, which was in use for many years, first in Nelson's own shop and afterwards in the sash, door and blind factory operated by John Nelson, A. C. Johnson and Gust Hollem about 1865. About the same time Nelson was associated with one Berglund in a similar enterprise in Water Valley, Miss., but when the latter betrayed the confidence placed in him, Nelson abandoned the undertaking in dis- gust, leaving valuable machinery in Berglund's possession without any compensation. In 1866 John Nelson associated himself with William Worth Bur- son, inventor of the grain binder, whose numerous patents on harvester machinery were acquired by the McCormick, Deering, Whitely, Walter A. Wood, Piano, and Milwaukee harvester companies. The two con- centrated their genius on the task of inventing a family knitting machine. After much tedious labor on the part of both men, a power machine was perfected, on which patents were issued in 1868, iS/o and 1875. In 1874 they also secured a patent on hose. On the 25th of December, 1869, the very essential part now known as the presser hook was developed, and in July, 1870, the first sock was knit by an automatic machine in the city of Rockford. This was also the first practical automatic knitting machine. The socks came from this machine joined together and were separated by hand, Hand work was also required in closing the toe. 164 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS This result did not satisfy Nelson, however, and he continued puzzling over the problem of producing a machine that would turn out a complete hose. In 1872-73 the so-called parallel row machine was devel- oped by him. This closed both heel and toe, producing a stocking ready to wear without hand work. The parallel row machine has since been brought to a much higher degree of perfection by successive improve- ments, but it was sufficiently practical even then to lay the foundation for Rockford's knitting industry. The Rockford product was the pioneer in seamless hosiery and superseded the old line of goods in every market reached on account both of greater durability and the cheaper cost of pro- duction. Burson continued as a member of the firm of Burson and Nelson until 1878, when he withdrew and independently continued his experi- ments, evolving several new devices, including a machine with a mitten pattern, having a double wrist. Another man connected with John Nelson in the making and per- fecting of the Nelson knitting machine was John Nido. He was a native of Stockholm, and, emigrating in 1867, came to Rockford the following year. Being a skilled mechanic, he was at once engaged by Nelson to as- sist in building the machine on which he was then at work. Nido re- mained with John Nelson until the latter's death. In October, 1877, the Burson and Nelson company was succeeded by F. R. Brown and William Nelson, son of the inventor, the style of the firm being F. R. Brown and Company. Brown and Nelson were engaged in the manufacture of hosiery in a limited way for several years. About 1879 twenty-eight machines were in operation in Rockford, while twenty-one of the same make were in use in Manchester, N. H. During the same year the elder Nelson spent ten months in Europe, introducing a number of the Nelson knitters in France and obtaining patent rights in all the countries of Europe. In 1880 the Nelson Knitting Company was organized through a con- solidation of the Burson interests with F. R. Brown and Company. Frank R. Brown became president ; John Nelson, vice-president ; and A. S. Ruhl, secretary and treasurer. The practicability of the Nelson machine having been fully demon- strated, it remained to interest capital to exploit the invention. In iSSi a second company was organized, with a capital stock of $20,000, known as the Rockford Mitten Company. John Nelson became its vice-presi- dent. The company was reorganized as the Rockford Mitten and Hosiery Company, the capital stock increased to $160,000, and the capacity of the plant largely extended. Reverting to the life story of John Nelson, it remains to be told that he was united in marriage, November 4, 1854, to Miss Eva Christina Per- son, whose acquaintance he had formed on board the ship that carried them across the ocean. She, too, was a native of the province of Vester- gotland, born May 6, 1834. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born seven GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 165 children, two of whom have departed this life. The son, Alfred, who in- herited his father's inventive genius, made some important improvements on the Nelson knitting machine, such as the device for widening the leg of the stocking while in process of knitting. He gave promise of a success- ful career, which was, however, cut short by his untimely death at the age of thirty-three years. He proved the errant knight of the family. Going out West, he took as his wife an Indian maiden in disregard of his parents' wishes. Upon being paid a handsome amount after her hus- band's death, the widow relinquished all further claims against the Nelson estate. One son, named Frithiof, died in early childhood. William and Oscar are residents of Rockford, and Frithiof (Fritz), the second son by that name, is associated with his brothers in many of their business enter- prises, as is also Franklin, another brother. Anna C., the only daughter, is the wife of Samuel H. Reck, a graduate of Augustana College, the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and the Northwestern University law school. John Nelson passed away at Rockford on April 15, 1883. After eighteen years of study and experiment his invention had proved a com- plete success, yet he cherished the idea of bringing the little mechanical wonder to a still higher degree of perfection. It was not alone his great inventive genius that made John Nelson an honored and highly valued citizen of Rockford. He possessed also personal traits of character that endeared him to many. He was kind and considerate to all, and to his friends and associates generous to a fault. Many were the needy newcomers from Sweden that received aid from him, especially during the early period of settlement. Numerous in- stances of his unselfish generosity are related. John Nelson was withal an earnest Christian, and he left his family an untarnished name. What he accomplished in the line of invention entitles him to rank with Whitney, Arkwright and others who have achieved fame in the world of industry, and among American inventors of Swedish birth there is only one greater John Fricsson. No higher tribute could be paid to Nelson and his machine than that accorded by General U. S. Grant, who, as President of the United States, visited Rockford after completing his tour around the world. While there Grant inspected the factory of the Nelson Knitting Company, and, after looking over the machinery and seeing its wonderful work, declared with enthusiasm that on his entire tour of the globe, visiting many of the large cities and inspecting the principal factories, he had never seen any- thing in the way of machinery to equal this. A knitting plant entirely controlled by the Nelsons, the Forest City Knitting Company, was established in 1890 by sons of the inventor. Wil- liam Nelson was made president ; Oscar Nelson, vice-president and super- intendent ; and Frithiof F. Nelson, secretary and treasurer. The original capital invested was $60,000. The Forest City company engaged in a dif- 166 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS ferent line from that of their competitors, by taking up the manufacture of a better grade of hosiery. They kept several hundred machines in oper- ation, employed about 150 factory hands and turned out on an average 1,500 dozen pairs of hose per day. The story of the Nelson knitter would not be complete without reference to John Franklin Nelson, one of the sons of John Nelson, who also inherited his father's inventive talent. Franklin took up the work where the elder Nelson left off, and, after years of patient work and experiment, ultimately evolved an ingenious yet simple device for turning out a complete stocking, including the ribbed top, without a change of machine. This ribbing attachment added the finishing touch to the Nelson machine and places it as near perfection as human ingenuity could well do. FACTORY OF THE FOREST CITY KNITTING COMPANY. It may be added that the method invented by the elder Nelson for closing the toe has been modified and improved upon by William Nelson, who is credited with having contributed other ideas making for mechani- cal perfection in certain details. Franklin is credited with an arrangement by which the end of the yarn is drawn in at the toe ; an arrangement by which in double-knitting the heel and toe both sides are knit at the same time (a gain of 100% in time) ; a simplification of the machine which increases the speed from 58 to 80 strokes per minute; an automatic press for shaping the completed stocking before packing; plus the impossible, as it was called by all the technically informed, until it was accomplished by Franklin Nelson. The miracle is a speed-knitter which automatically knits a stocking or hose in four minutes, complete in every detail, without a single touch, shift, or reversal of the machine by an operator. The Nelson Knitting Co. has now reached a capacity of 5,000 dozen pairs (men's hose) per day. But this plant uses the original type of ma- chine exclusively, without any of the improvements of the sons of John GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 167 Nelson. This type produces only 12 dozen pairs per day of 24 hours, as against 18 dozen pairs by the improved model. And a more essential advantage lies in the circumstance that one man can manage only twenty- seven of the older model machines, against forty machines per man of the improved type. While the Nelsons have purposely laid the emphasis on mechanical perfection, their competitors have been making the most of the old pat- ents. In 1898 William Burson, partner of John Nelson from 1875, estab- lished a large factory. It uses the old Nelson machine somewhat modified. The capacity of the machine is low, but, nevertheless, the net earnings are high. The Burson factory makes a specialty of ladies' hose of a lighter quality. Another large enterprise founded on Nelson's invention is the Rock- ford Mitten and Hosiery Company. Of late years still another plant has come into existence, called the B. Z. B. Co. (Brown, Ziock & Burson). These results show what the original John Nelson invention has meant to Rockford. But the Nelsons have not altogether held aloof from prac- tical production. Their factory, founded in 1892, and known as the For- est City Knitting Company, has a present capacity of 3,000 dozen pairs per day. The total capacity of all Rockford knitting concerns may be roughly estimated at 15,000 dozen pairs of hose per day. In connection with their factory the Nelsons have developed an ex- tensive machine shop known as the Rockford Drilling Co. Like their father, the younger Nelsons are known for a spirit of phil- anthropy and of democratic modesty. When they are approached on the subject of their own contributions to what might be called their family invention, they will invariably dismiss the matter as of small moment. But they honor their father's memory. As a monument to him they built a large and elegant hotel at a time when Rockford was as yet a small town the Nelson Hotel. When travelers arrived in John Nelson's city, they wanted them to be housed in decent fashion. But when the city had grown up to the hotel, they sold out their interests, relinquishing the enterprise about the time it began to turn into a profitable establishment. THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY. Among the three hundred manufactur- ing plants of Rockford, a large number were founded and are owned and controlled by the Swedish element of the city's population. The Swedes have shown particular aptitude in the woodworking industries there, and control a large number of the thirty-two furniture factories of the city. Without their enterprise Rockford could not now claim second place among furniture manufacturing centers in the United States, yielding only to Grand Rapids. In 1875 a number of workmen of Swedish birth conceived the idea of engaging in manufacturing on their own account, after having been engaged along the same line in the employ of others. None of them, how- ever, possessed any considerable amount of capital ; so the cooperative system was the only possible one. Their plans materialized in the Forest 168 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS City Furniture Company. Fifteen Swedish- Americans were the incorpo- rators, and the capital was $50,000, half of which was paid in at the out- set. After five years, the factory employed one hundred men, and had an average yearly output valued at $125,000. Air. A. C. Johnson was superintendent. Additional capital being needed, several Americans were soon admitted, including Gilbert Woodruff, who is now erroneously stated to be the founder. 1 The factory was one of the pioneers in this field, and struck the keynote to the city's future as a furniture center. ^'hen the Forest City company was well under way a number of its stockholders withdrew, and, together with others of their fellow country- men, organized the Union Furniture Company. This began work in 1876, with $io,oco out of the $30,000 capitalization paid in, the stockholders THE CO-OPERATIVE FURNITURE COMPANY'S PLANT. numbering twenty-five. The first year's production amounted to $20,000 ; the second, $35,000 ; and the fourth, about $60,000, showing a fair degree of prosperity in a factory employing less than fifty operatives. Its offi- cers were A. Kjellberg, president ; P. A. Peterson, secretary ; and Jonas Peters, treasurer. The third Swedish furniture factory in Rockford was started in 1878. This was the Central Furniture Company, organized on a cooperative basis by forty-six Swedish stockholders, and starting operations with a paid-up capital of $22,500. The officers were: President, S. A. Johnson; vice- president, L. M. Noling; secretary, August Peterson; treasurer, A. P. Flo- berg. The force of fifty workmen, nearly all shareholders, was superin- tended by A. C. Johnson and Andrew Noling. These pioneer cooperative furniture factories were followed by many others, too many to be given more than brief mention. In 18/9 the Co- operative Furniture Company was formed with a capitalization of $100,000. It is Swedish-owned down to the present, the officers being Alfred Larson, E. C. Jacobson and C. J. Lundberg. Recent figures give 1 See "Rockford 1912," issued by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 169 an operative force of 125 and the annual output at more than $200,000.* The Rockford Standard Furniture Company, established 1886, with $75,000 capital, later raised to $125,000, employs 150 workmen. The man- agement is in the hands of J. E. Swanson, while P. A. Peterson is presi- dent, and F. E. Lundgren vice president. Among the oldest and strong- est concerns is the Rockford Chair and Furniture Company, capitalized at $100,000, and under the management of Robert C. Lind, C. A. New- man and Andrew Kjellgren. A few years later a period of overspecula- tion in these cooperative investments set in, embracing not only the fur- niture industry, but other lines of manufacturing as well. A glance at the following list of new plants that sprang up in this one city in a very short time and financed to a great extent by home capital should convince the most sanguine financier that an abnormal condition prevailed. The list of new factories organized from 1889 up to and during the first year of the panic, and owned in whole or in part by the Swedish people, was as follows: Scandia Furniture Company (1889), capital, $50,000; presi- dent, P. A. Peterson ; secretary-treasurer, W. A. Brolin. The Mechanics Machine Company (1889), capital, $10,000; president, Gust Dalin ; secre- tary-treasurer. Levin Faust. The Mechanics Furniture Company (1890), capital, $75,000 ; president, L. M. Noling ; secretary, Jonas Peters ; treas- urer, A. P. Floberg. Forest City Bit and Tool Company (1891), capital, $10,000; principal organizers, L. M. Noling and A. P. Floberg. Rock- ford Mantel and Furniture Company (1890), capital, $10,000; president, Alex Johnson; secretary-treasurer, L. Sandine. New Royal (Illinois) Sewing Machine Company (1890), capital, $100,000; president, John Budlong; vice president, P. A. Peterson; secretary, J. A. Bowman; treas- urer, S. Budlong. West End Furniture Company (1890), capital, $50,000; organizers, B. A. Knight, O. W. Haegg, P. F. Schuster, John Sampson, Frank G. Hogland, Emil Stenholm, C. E. Carlson and P. A. Peterson. The Rockford Manufacturing Company for farm implements (1889), capital, $200,000; president, John A. Johnson; vice president, L. M. Noling; secretary, August Lind; treasurer, A. P. Floberg. Royal Mantel Furniture Company (1892), capital, $TOO,OOO; Rockford Cabinet Company (1894). Several of the concerns here named, as well as others founded by Swedish-Americans, have passed out of their control. During the financial crisis of 1893 and the following years, many of these cooperative companies were hard pressed, and not all weathered the storm. A tremendous slump in stock caused enormous losses to the mass of small shareholders, while those who were able to protect their holdings and acquire the stocks that went begging for takers, found themselves moderately wealthy shortly after normal industrial conditions returned. Then began a new epoch of far greater prosperity in the furniture industry and all other branches of manufacture in which the Rockford Swedes are now engaged. 1 Data and figures here quoted from "Svenskarne i Rockford," 1910, are now only approximately correct. 170 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS But the organization of new companies did not entirely cease during the intervening years. In 1896 the Rockford Desk Company was incor- porated with a capital of $70,000. The following year the Rockford Palace Furniture Company began business with $30,000 capital. Its pres- ent officers are : Anton E. Carlson, J. Godfrey Grant and Otto Grantz. As better days dawned, the old establishments, which had been almost crushed, regained strength and resumed business on a larger scale. New plants were added from time to time. Among those of later date are: Illinois Cabinet Company (1905), capital, $100,000; annual output, $250,000; present officers, J. P. Lindell, president; K. E. Knutson, secre- tary-treasurer. Rockford National Furniture Company (1907), capital, $80,000 ; annual output, $250,000; present officers, C. F. Johnson, presi- dent ; August Peterson, secretary ; G. A. Peterson, treasurer. Rockford Book Case Company, capital, $60,000 ; officers, P. A Peterson, president ; William Pearson, vice president ; W. L. Anderson, secretary ; A. E. John- son, treasurer. AFFILIATED INDUSTRIES. In close relation to the furniture industry stand a number of other Swedish-owned plants, such as the National Lock Company, the National Mirror Works, the Rockford Varnish Company, and a number of machine shops. The National Lock Company dates from 1903. Its original capital of $10,000 has been successively increased to $50,000 in 1904, $150,000 in 1906, and subsequently to a quarter million. The mainspring of this going concern is Frank G. Hogland. The National Mirror Works are under a management consisting of W. A. Brolin, C. F. Blomberg, J. P. Lundell and J. R. Anderson. The Rockford Varnish Company, established in 1906, with a capital of $100,000, found customers in practically all the local furniture and cabinet works, and early made annual sales aggregating $150,000. The officers are : Otto Grantz, presi- dent ; C. F. Anderson, vice president ; C. A. Jonson, secretary-treasurer and general manager. One of Rockford's largest manufacturing establishments is the plant of the Haddorff Piano Company, incorporated in 1891. Capitalized at half a million dollars, the company now employs about 300 workers and puts out instruments valued at $800,000 per year. The Haddorff plant has a floor area of no less than 208,000 square feet. P. A. Peterson is president of the company and C. A. Haddorff the mechanical head, the secretary-treasurer being A. E. Johnson. The Swedish-Americans most prominently connected with the indus- tries of Rockford will be found by the frequent mention of them in an official capacity in the foregoing account. Those of the first order are John Nelson, the inventor of the automatic knitting machine and the virtual founder of the Rockford knitting industry, said to be the most extensive in any city in the world, and P. A. Peterson, the great modern captain of Rockford industry. Between these two there is a long chain of men who have contributed much towards making Rockford one of the GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 171 great manufacturing centers of Illinois and the Middle West. These are some of them: Lars M. Noting, Jonas Peters, August Peterson, A. P. Floberg, Robert C. Lind, Otto Grantz, W. A. Brolin, C. J. Lundberg and Frank G. Hogland. PEHR AUGUST PETERSON, the organizing genius and directing power of a large number of Rockford's industrial establishments, has been directly interested in manufactures in his home city for the past forty years. Born in Wing, Vestergotland, Sept. 8, 1848, he was brought to this country as a boy of four, his parents locating at Rockford in 1852. They settled on a farm near the little town, and the son's early training consisted of much hard work on the farm and but little school- ing. At twenty-seven he entered a business college, and when, in March, 1876, the Union Furniture Company was organized, he was given the position of secretary, the first step in his business career. He soon found the outlook bright for the manufacture and sale of furniture in the West, and realized the advantages of the cooperative system for all concerned, whether officers or workmen. During the next fifteen or more years, one company after another was organized by the Swedes on this plan, and in a great many instances Mr. Peterson was one of the promoters, and, becoming one of the principal shareholders, was chosen one of the directors or officers. When the panic of 1893 played havoc with the industries of Rock- ford, as elsewhere, several establishments went down in the general crash, only the stronger ones riding out the storm. New plants had been built largely on credit and on the confidence reposed by moneyed men in Mr. Peterson and those interested with him. The task of pulling these infant industries through the crisis would have driven most men to despair. He drew on every resource, but without avail, and some of the enterprises he had helped to float went by the board. But with the revival in business following the crisis, Mr. Peterson and his asso- ciates soon rallied their forces and put the crippled plants on a sound footing anew. The industrial captain himself rehabilitated himself finan- cially in a manner that did credit to his head and his heart alike not by wiping out old scores and opening new books, but by conscientiously settling up old accounts as fast as his new resources would permit. The writer was creditably informed many years ago that not one of the many who had made investments by dint of their faith in him had suffered pecuniary loss, Mr. Peterson having made satisfactory restitu- tion in every case. Commenting on this mark of business integrity in the presence of Mr. Peterson, we were told by this modest and plain- spoken financier that "no man is entitled to any credit for paying his debts." He has been connected with sundry business enterprises other than industrial ones. Prior to the panic he had large investments in realty, and about 1890 built a large number of houses in the east part of the city, thereby aiding substantially in the development of that quarter P. A. PETERSON. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 173 of the municipality. P. A. Peterson, now reputed one of the big men of the state financially, is peculiarly reticent as to his own achievements. ANDREW C. JOHNSON, born in Torneryd, Blekinge, Sweden, Aug. 16, 1836, is said to have been the first individual Swedish furniture manu- facturer in Rockford, where he located in June, 1855. Ten. years after- ward, having learned the cabinetmaker's trade in that city, Mr. Johnson entered partnership with John Nelson and Gustaf Hollem in order to engage in the manufacture of sash and doors. After four years he bought out his partners. About that time he began making furniture on a small scale. Having associated himself with J. P. Anderson in 1871, he developed the furniture branch of the business so as to enter the general market. L. D. Upham having entered the firm in 1873, a factory was built on the present site of the Central Furniture Company's plant. One year later Mr. Johnson sold his interest to E. L. Herrick, and at this time Cuthbert Woodruff became interested in the enterprise. In 1875 the business was reorganized as a cooperative concern named Forest City Furniture Company, with Mr. Johnson as superintendent, a position he retained for a long period. Mr. Johnson, in 1855, joined the First Lutheran Church of Rockford, of whose church council he was a member for a number of years. He served the city on the board of supervisors for some time in the seventies. LARS M. NOLING was one of the men who have aided most materially in building up the reputation of Rockford as a manufacturing center. He was a living factor in the city's industrial progress in the eighties and early nineties and became personally engaged with a number of concerns. He was president of Mechanics Furniture Company, Forest City Bit & Tool Company and Rockford Manufacturing Company, and held stock in several other enterprises, including Skandia Coal Company, Rockford Furniture & Undertaking Company, and the Swedish Building and Loan Association, the Scandinavian Cemetery Association, and was for a time vice president of the Illinois Sewing Machine Company. He was equally active in a political way. His legislative district sent him to Springfield as its representative in 1894 and again in 1896. As a member of the Illinois legislature, Noling fathered at least two acts of special merit, one reducing the tax redemption rate of interest from 8 per cent to 6 per cent, the other relieving building and loan associations from the state tax. As a member of the Board of Education for a term of years he acquired an intimate knowledge of the school system and its management, which in November, 1905, led to his appointment as president of the school board. Noling was a native of Vestergotland, born May 4, 1843, anc ^ erm - grated to Rockford at twenty-one. Here he was first employed as a car- penter in N. C. Thompson's shop, and after working for his uncle, John Nelson, for a time, went back to the Thompson shop for fifteen years. Anticipating the future growth of the city in that direction, he purchased an eighty-acre farm just outside of city limits, near Kishwaukee street. 174 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS This tract, laid out into building lots, was eventually turned into a pros- perous city district. Having early joined the First Swedish Lutheran Church, Noling held many positions in the congregation, including the trusteeship for thirty years. His death occurred on Christmas day, 1906. EARLY FRATERNAL AND INSURANCE SOCIETIES. In January, 1917, the Svea Society of Chicago completed the sixtieth year of its existence. Outside of the religious field, this is the earliest known organization of Swedish-born citizens of Illinois, and it ranks with the oldest of similar organizations in other parts of the country, among which are the Swedish Society of New York City and Sodetas Scandinaviensis, which was founded in 1769, but fell into a dormant state tantamount to dissolution, and was organized anew in April, 1870, under the name of the Scandinavian Society of Philadelphia. The Svea Society had a few contemporaries during the early years, none of which survived down to the present time. Among these defunct organizations were the Freja Society of Moline, the "Knox Svea Bildningsforening" of Knox county, the Scandinavian Benevolent Society of Moline, and the First Swedish Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Chicago. The Freja Society of Moline was formed in September, 1869, as a social and beneficiary organization, flourishing for eight years and attain- ing a membership ranging close to the one hundred mark. It had its own building, erected in 1874, at a cost of $8,000. Three years later the hall was sold and the society dissolved, owing, apparently, to the pressure of debts incurred. Under the auspices of Freja there was organized the Swedish Band of Moline, which for a time was a popular local musical organization. John A. Samuels, Gustaf Swenson, C. A. Westerdahl, Andrew Swanson, F. O. Eklund and Eric Asp figured as presidents in the records of the Freja Society. It was preceded by another beneficiary organization, the Scandinavian Benevolent Society, founded in 1866, which outlived the Freja. The Knox Svea was a literary society which was founded at Gales- burg in 1858 and existed for one year, under the direction of Sven Peterson and Dan J. Ockerson. It was revived in "Svea Bildnings och Laseforening," in December, 1865, and continued under the new name for about seven years. Pehr Mattson and Torkel Nilson appear to have been its leading members. The first Swedish Lodge, No. 479, I. O. O. F., dates back to Feb. 22, 1872, when it was organized with ten original members, only three of whom were of Swedish birth. After the lodge got under way, the others withdrew, and an all-Swedish lodge soon numbered among its a gg re gate membership of one hundred and fifty some of the best-known Swedish-Americans of Chicago. In the list of its leading members in GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 175 the early period we find the names of P. A. Felt, Henry Allen, J. T. Appelberg, D. W. Modeen, Anders Leonard Gyllenhaal, John Mountain, P. M. Nelson, P. G. Bowman, August Nieman, E. O. Forsberg, W. T. Eklund, Charles J. Stromberg, and others. The SVEA SOCIETY of Chicago, of recent years but one unit in a large number of similar organizations, many of which have far out- stripped it in point of membership, strength and influence, was some- what of a history-maker in its early career. Charles J. Sundell, in response to a growing demand for a purely secular society of Swedish Chicagoans, issued a call for a preliminary meeting, to be held Jan. 22, 1857, to discuss the matter. The meeting was presided over by Charles John Stolbrand, subsequently of Civil War fame, while Sundell, then Swedish-Norwegian consul at Chicago, served as secretary. He out- lined the plan of organization, the purpose of which should be to work for the education and ennoblement of its members by means of high- grade public entertainments and giving access to a library of Swedish literature to be collected and maintained by the society ; furthermore, to carry on benevolent work by rendering every assistance to the Swedish people of the city. The plan met with favor, and a society, to be known as Svea, was immediately organized, with the temporary officers made permanent, C. F. Billings being added as the first treasurer. The col- lection of books was one of the first concerns. Rev. Gustaf Unonius of the St. Ansgarius Church donated a small collection, to which was later added a collection originally donated to the church library. With the books purchased with the net proceeds of a bazaar, this made a foundation of four hundred volumes for the society's library. During its first year the society met in the building erected at Kinzie street by P. M. Almini, the painter and decorator. During the first seven years Stolbrand and Sundell alternated as presiding officers, with F. E. Jocknick serving as librarian. A sick benefit clause was early added to the constitution. At the outbreak of the war a number of the members enlisted in the Silversparre Battery, while Stolbrand himself set about organizing a Swedish infantry company. While encamped at Savannah, after the victorious battle of Atlanta, the battery was granted a furlough, and the Swedish artillerists, upon their return to Chicago, were given an enthusiastic reception by the Svea Society. On this occasion a flag of blue satin, embroidered with the names Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, was presented to the battery. This historic trophy, designed to commemorate the great victories the Silversparre battery had had a part in achieving was lost, together with the society's other paraphernalia and its library, in the great fire. The loss of the library was felt all the more as a collection of five hundred volumes donated from Sweden had been added to it in 1866, through the efforts of Olof Gottfrid Lange. A number of these w r orks were presented by members of the Swedish royal family. 176 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS During the famine in northern Sweden in 1867 the society raised 7,000 crowns for the sufferers by means of a fair. The same year it undertook to establish an immigrant home or hospice for the care of newcomers from Sweden and their protection against unscrupulous agents and immigrant "runners." The prime mover in this enterprise was Charles Eklund. A temporary shelter was maintained at Ohio and Franklin streets, a cooper shop having been remodeled and fitted up for the purpose. There many immigrants are said to have been housed in transit through Chicago to other points. Soon an immigrant house was built at 120 Illinois street, where thousands of immigrants are said to have been sheltered and fed, in part at the expense of the society and its ladies' auxiliary. Differences among the members as to the maintenance and admin- istration of this institution led to the sale of the property in September, 1871, for $6,000 just a month before it shared the general fate by being destroyed in the great fire. About this time Svea averaged three hundred members. The great gala event in the annals of the society was its reception and entertainment of the renowned Swedish singer, Christina Nilsson, in December, 1870. In the evening of the 22nd a great national cele- bration took place in the German Theater at Wells and Indiana streets, under the auspices of Svea, other persons of prominence in local Swedish circles cooperating with its festival committee. The hall was crowded to the doors with people who had cheerfully paid five dollars for the privilege of hearing their famous countrywoman sing. The prima donna was feted in splendid style, crowned with a golden wreath, given homage in speech, verse and song, and finally toasted at a banquet board spread in her honor. This was the first Swedish national celebration in Chicago arranged on a large scale. In 1872 the Svea Society rallied from the stroke dealt by the great fire ; after five years it secured permanent quarters at Chicago avenue and Larrabee street. By 1880 it had re-established its library, which then numbered more than five hundred volumes. Since 1867 Anders Larson had served as librarian. The following is a list of its presidents for the first twenty-five years : Charles John Stolbrand, Charles J. Sun- dell, J. P. Hussander, J. A. Nilson, Oscar Malmborg, C. Blanxius, Th. Engstrom, Charles J. Stromberg, C. F. Billings, Gerhard Larson, Olof Gottfrid Lange, N. Torgerson, Conrad Gothe, one Berglund, Peter M. Almini. J. M. Schonbeck, Gylfe Wolyn, Carl Gustaf Linderborg, A. Asp- man, Sven Olin, A. J. Westman, Knut Nelson. A congratulatory cablegram was sent to A. E. Nordenskiold, the Swedish explorer and discoverer, immediately upon his reaching Yoko- hama, Sept. 2, 1879, after having completed the voyage north of Asia, thereby discovering the Northeast Passage. Count NordensViold acknowledged the communication in a letter to the society, which is preserved in its archives. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 177 Rendered into English, the Nordenskiold letter reads as follows: Honored Sirs: Through Major Elfving, the Swedish General Consul, I learn that my letter expressing grateful acknowledgment of your telegraphic greeting, received from the Svea Society upon my arrival at Yokohama, did not reach you. Without attempting to account for this, I beg to acknowledge again the receipt of your message and to express the gratitude and pride I felt at being thus remembered by my countrymen beyond the Atlantic because of the voyage of the "Vega." It is a source of pleasure to us at home to know that those of our countrymen who have made their home in the New World per- severe in cherishing the old fatherland in its triumphs as well as its sorrows. The message of greeting from them will ever remain one of the fondest memo- ries from my memorable voyage around Asia and Europe. With utmost respect, I am yours gratefully, Stockholm. Oct. 12, 1880. A. E. NORDENSKIOLD. Paul B. Du Chaillu, the noted traveler and writer, was elected to honorary membership in 1882, upon the publication of his work entitled "The Land of the Midnight Sun." Anders Larson (1801-1884), who served as librarian of the society some fifteen years, was one of Chicago's very first Swedes. Born in Torstuna, Vestmanland, he came to this country with a party of Jans- sonists as early as 1846. Instead of going to Bishop Hill with the rest, he located in Chicago. Among his eight children, Emma Larson (wife of Henry E. C. Peterson, the portrait painter) won public favor as a singer in the seventies and eighties. Mrs. Anders Larson and Mrs. Gustaf Unonius are said to have been largely instrumental in securing from Jenny Lind her generous gifts to the St. Ansgarius. The latter half of Svea's history has been less eventful than the former. In 1901 its library, then comprising about 2,000 volumes, was transferred to Schott's Hall, on Belmont avenue, where the meetings were subsequently held. The present officers of the Svea Society are : President, William C. Nelson ; vice president, John Hultgren ; secretaries, E. Sterner and Andrew \V. Nelson; treasurer, Charles P. Funk; librarian, Justus B. Tengberg. The sixtieth anniversary of the society was commemorated at a banquet given on January 18, last. THE SCANDINAVIAN MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION Rev. S. P. A. Lindahl, who in the eighties served the First Swedish Lu- theran Church of Galesburg, was a strong opponent of secrecy in fraternal organizations of whatever kind, and publicly voiced this opposition in the pulpit as well as in a small paper published for a time under the name of Scliibbolcth. After a particularly strong sermon by Pastor Lindahl one Sunday, one of his hearers, B. A. Stredain, called on the pastor and the two together discussed at some length the suggestion of Mr. Stredain that a Swedish insurance society be organized having none of the objectionable 178 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS features so vigorously criticised by the pastor. The two men then and there formulated a plan which was laid before a meeting called shortly afterwards. This meeting, held in the schoolhouse of the First church, July 20, 1883, was largely attended by Swedish- American citizens of Galesburg. Pastor Lindahl, who presided, stated the purpose of the meet- ing, which was to discuss the best and cheapest plan for a reliable life insurance society. After a full discussion those present unanimously- resolved to organize the Swedish-American Mutual Ajd Association, with headquarters at Galesburg. A committee, in- cluding Rev. Lindahl, B. A. Stredain, Nels C Nelson and six others, was selected to draft a constitution and by-laws. At the second meet- . ing, held Aug. 3, it was explained that 200 applicants for membership were required be- fore the association could be incorporated. Eight persons were appointed to secure appli- cations, and upon the discovery that the name adopted was already used in part by another organization, the name was changed to the Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association. On Aug. 24 following, the directors were chosen who were authorized as incorporators of the association. Rev. Lindahl headed the list, which included further Nels Nelson, J. A. Oberg, N. J. Oleen, J. A. Johnson, Charles A. Peterson, B. A. Stredain, Charles A. Lindstrom and John F. Ostrand. The first annual meeting of the association was held in Galesburg, 111., January 28, 1885, with Dr. Lindahl as president, and Nels Nelson as secretary, and Jonas A. Johnson as treasurer. In these minutes the chair- man speaks of the cause for organizing a life insurance company being principally to prevent the Lutheran members from joining secret societies, as well as for the purpose of assisting one another financially in case of death. From the secretary's report it appears that at this time there were 1,144. members, with insurance in force of $2,139,000. The association flourished for a time, the membership running as high as 16,000. How- ever, having started on a very low rate, the money went for death losses as fast as it came in. At the end of the first year's operation the total receipts were $8,602, and the death losses and expenses consumed all ex- cept $354. Therefore, after having operated a short period, it became apparent to the management that a reserve fund ought to be accumulated, hence 10 cents was added to the monthly assessment. In later years the assessment was increased. However, the death losses were heavy and about the year 1900 notice was given that the association could not con- tinue on the basis on which it was operating, and that either a radical change would have to take place in the rates or the association would have NELS NELSON. GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT 179 to be sold out or transferred to some old line company which would over- take all the risks on a certain basis. Several meetings were called, with the final result that a new schedule of rates was adopted, and liens were placed against the policies. It was also decided to transfer the association to Chicago and give it a new name, the Scandia Mutual Life Insurance Company. At this time Dr. L. G. Abrahamson was elected president ; Charles H. Roman, secretary, and N. A. Nelson, treasurer. Prior to the reorganization, S. P. A. Lindahl had served as president and Nels Nelson as secretary of the association continuously since they aided in its founding. PART IV THE PERIOD OF CULTURAL PROGRESS. PART IV THE PERIOD OF CULTURAL PROGRESS THE CULTURAL MOVEMENT John Richard Green, the historian of the life of the English people, pleaded, not unreasonably, that more space should be given in human chronicles to the missionary, the poet, the painter, the merchant, the philosopher. True, in the annals of the nations of the Old World the deeds of rulers and warriors preponderate over all other human achievements com- bined. Down to recent times it could be said of any country as was said of Sweden by one of its noted historians that the history of the nation is the history of its kings. One who attempts to tell the story of any national element that has entered as a component part in the making of the American nation will soon discover that here history treads new paths. From the Plymouth of the Puritans to the southern- most mission of the Spanish friars, the missionary is a dominant figure, second only to the expeditionary commander or the colonial governor, where he does not hold that rank himself. The first annals of many of the American colonies read very much like chapters in church history. The men of the church were the first nation-builders on our shores, and the missionaries not only had a hand in the making of history but fre- quently wielded the pen that preserved the earliest records. This is true of the New Sweden colony founded on the banks of the Delaware, whose foremost men, except for the first few years, were clergymen of the Church of Sweden. Their work furnished the cohesive force that held the Swedish settlements together for more than a cen- tury and a half, and to several of them we are indebted for historical material now invaluable. Again in the Swedish settlements of the nineteenth century, as we have seen, the missionaries and preachers were the leaders among the pioneers. They shaped the history of the Swedish element almost wholly during the first two decades, and the church communions founded by them naturally continue to play a large part in all distinctively Swedish- American activities by dint of priority, numbers, power and influence. Cultural factors other than religious and educational, as provided by the churches and their institutions, have been brought into play by degrees and at a much later time. We are privileged to chronicle notable achievements of poets and painters, singers and virtuosos, composers, 183 184 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS sculptors and writers, merchants, manufacturers and financiers, archi- tects, inventors and civil engineers, surveyors and scientists, jurists and legislators, scholars and thinkers, but not until a generation has passed. The elements of general culture among Swedish-Americans up to recent years were, in fact, so sporadic or volatile that observers from abroad made bold to question their existence, and that, too, with a show of truth. The best they were able to do was to recognize the church institutions and here and there an individual exponent of other than material interests. The last quarter century has wrought a change that no close student of conditions can overlook. The elements formerly found in a fluid state have solidified to a degree. Unity of purpose has been shown along many lines. Organizations have been formed to accomplish 'things unat- tainable by individual endeavor. Cultural progress has, in the main, followed the channel designated by nationalistic interests up to the point where the brook and river meet, i.e., when complete Americanization has taken place. Here we note a division of the current. From this point on only a part of the Swedish element adheres to distinctively Swedish- American activities and ideals. Educated and equipped according to American standards, large numbers enter the various vocations regard- less of locality and racial environment and with the stamp of their origin almost obliterated. The Swede in a foreign land does not cling tenaciously to his mother tongue. Many Swedish-Americans discard their native speech like a cast-off garment. Even the early letters of men of Swedish education such as Unonius and Esbjorn abound in Americanisms. In educational institutions under Swedish control the general medium of instruction is English sometimes even in the teaching of Swedish. This propensity constantly operates to level the chief bulwark of Swedish culture in this country the Swedish language. The result is a language problem with which many minds are wrestling in vain ; for it is not susceptible of solution by human devices. There is a drift from Swedish to Eng- lish, propelled by natural causes, moving on in its course without let or hindrance. The transition period is now, and the best that any Swe- dish-speaking churches or secular organizations can do is to accommodate themselves to the new conditions. Patent instances of such adjustment are found in the recent organization of upwards forty English-speaking congregations within the Augustana Synod, heretofore a Swedish-speak- ing church body ; also the formation of English-speaking lodges which are part and parcel of orders exclusively Swedish-American in their membership. It is a singular fact that a more general participation by the Swedish element in the cultural life of the nation in its literary, artistic, scien- tific, political, social and economic activities should be coincident with the linguistic transition. While this may seem discouraging to those who believe the Swedish language to be the sine qua non for the propaga- CULTURAL PROGRESS 185 tion of Swedish ideas and the survival of Swedish genius in America, it brings cheer to the hearts of others, who hold that the value of the gift lies not in the vessel in which it is conveyed. In any event, the develop- ments in the last twenty or thirty years appear to warrant the assumption that Americans of Swedish origin are capable of bringing valuable con- tributions to American civilization from their home land, even though they should be unable to preserve their cultural heritage among them- selves in its original form through the vehicle of speech. PUBLISHING AND PRINTING. AUGUSTANA BOOK CONCERN, located in Rock Island, in close prox- imity to Augustana College, is the official publishing house of the Swedish Lutheran Church and the principal publishing concern in the United States established and controlled by the Swedish element. Although dating its existence as a synodical institution from the year 1889, when a private plant was taken over by the Augustana Synod, several years passed before it assumed larger proportions, and inasmuch as its devel- opment and most efficient service falls within the compass of the past twenty years, it may well be accorded first place in an account of the factors and forces that have made for cultural progress among Swedish- Americans in the present period. The evolution of the present quarter-million publishing establish- ment, with modern equipment in all departments, from the modest printing shop and book store of twenty-odd years ago will appear from the sketch that follows. The first official step in the act of establishing the present publishing house of the Augustana Synod was taken at the annual convention of 1889, held at Rock Island and Moline in June. A board of publication was then elected, the first members of which were: Pastors S. P. A. Lindahl, M. C. Ranseen, V. Setterdahl, C. J. Petri, and Messrs. C. G. Thulin of Moline, C. G. Chinlund of Chicago and Nels Nelson of Galesburg. The duties of this board were defined thus : To bring about uniformity in the textbooks used in parochial schools and synodical institutions of learning; to publish and circulate books and periodicals, and to purchase for the synod the property and publishing rights of the privately owned Augustana Book Concern in Rock Island. The board, after being incorporated as the Lutheran Augustana Book Concern, agreed to purchase all the property of the old corporation, the terms being 80 per cent of the par value of all paid shares, payable in five years, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent. The purchase, consummated in September, was dated back to August i. Dr. S. P. A. Lindahl was made president, Dr. M. C. Ranseen vice president, and Mr. Nels Nelson secretary. Mr. Andrew G. Anderson, who had served the former concern in the capacity of foreman of the printing depart- ment and assistant manager, was elected manager and treasurer, a posi- tion ably and creditably filled by him to this day. Under his management DR. S. P. A. LINDAHL. CULTURAL PROGRESS 187 the publishing business of the synod has been uniformly progressive, assuming proportions far beyond the expectations of its promoters twenty-five years ago. Dr. Lindahl continued as president of the board until his death, March 27, 1908. For several years there was some hesitation about the question of location, and the board did not wish to make further investments until that had been decided. There had been much discussion over the mistake made in removing the educational institution from Chicago, and the former publishing house of the synod had been located in that city. For these reasons the board in 1892 proposed to move the business to Chicago, and asked the synod to pass on the question. The vote was in favor of Rock Island, and that practically settled the matter. In 1898 a new fireproof brick structure replaced the old frame building that went with the purchase in 1889. Ten years more, and the business had outgrown this building, necessitating further building oper- ations. Then an addition was erected, fully doubling the floor area of the plant. The first main building was completed at a cost of $22,000, and the cost of the addition, erected in 1911, approximated $30,000. The institution, as it stands today, has six main departments, book store, business office with counting and shipping rooms, editorial rooms, composing rooms, press rooms, bindery the last two with their respec- tive stock rooms. The mechanical departments are equipped with modern machinery and appurtenances representing investments running into the tens of thousands. One of the purposes for which the publishing house was established was to provide funds for the maintenance of Augustana College. A similar promise was made by the private concern which had gone before, but during the twelve years of private publishing activities professedly in the interest of Augustana College, no profits ever accrued to the institution, so far as revealed by the records. It is, therefore, all the more gratifying to record that during its first twenty-five years Augustana Book Concern turned over to the synod's educational institution no less than $37,000 out of its profits, meanwhile making investments and devel- oping the plant to the value of $216,000. Appropriations to other synod- ical purposes in the same period aggregated $17,163, making total appro- priations of $54,163. During its first quarter-century the publishing house increased its net worth from $6,107 to $216,766. The gain made by the synod through this source thus reached $265,000 in the period stated. The chief aim, however, is not to earn money for another institution, but to propagate religious truth through the circulation of Lutheran literature for home and church devotion and for instruction in the paro- chial and Sunday schools. Although purely spiritual culture is the primary object, intellectual and esthetic requirements among the Swedish element of the nation have not been overlooked. The idea was early expressed by Dr. Hasselquist that the synod should aim to circulate such 188 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS literature as will "make for true culture and prove useful in the promo- tion of private and public welfare." The Augustana Book Concern has sought to attain this object in a twofold way, first, by importing and keeping for sale all the standard works in all the branches of Swedish literature, besides the best current literature in its various branches ; in the second place, by encouraging .Swedish-American endeavor in litera- ture and art through the publication of works by writers, painters and musicians of Swedish extraction. The list of more than 500 different books and pamphlets published up to the end of the year 1916 comprises quite a number of original AUGUSTANA BOOK CONCERN PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD. works by Swedish-American writers. In the field of poetry \ve find A. A. Sward, Ludvig Holmes, Jakob Bonggren, C. A. Lonnquist and John A. Enander. The collected works by Dr. Enander and by Dr. Olof Olsson have been published, besides books of stories, essays, remi- niscences and travels, by Birger Sandzen, C. W. Foss, Johan Person, Ernst A. Zetterstrand, C. A. Hemborg, Vilhelm Berger, K. N. Rabenius, Carl W. Andeer, Anna Olsson, S. J. Kronberg and others. Of historical and biographical works there is the compendious work in two volumes by Dr. Eric Norelius on the history of the Swedish Lutheran churches and the Swedes of America, the most comprehensive historical work in this field published so far. Other historical and biographical works are two compilations on the history of the Augustana Synod published in Swedish and English at the synodical jubilee in 1910; the "Luther- Kalender" of 1883, a biography of Dr. T. N. Hasselquist by Norelius, and two volumes of "Life Pictures" from the Church of Sweden and CULTURAL PROGRESS 189 from the Augustana Synod, by Dr. Nils Forsander. A collection of translations of masterpieces from Swedish literature has been published in two volumes, and an annual of literature, history and art, entitled "Prarieblomman," in thirteen volumes. In recent years the house has sought to meet the demand for textbooks and annotated texts for the study of Swedish in the general schools by the publication of such peda- gogical works, compiled, edited and annotated by Jules Mauritzson, Edw. J. Vickner, A. Louis Elmquist, Joseph Alexis, A. A. Stomberg and Ernst W. Olson. The principal original works in music in a long list of musical publications by this" house are a cantata for the fiftieth anniver- sary of the Augustana Synod, written by Ernst W. Olson and composed by R. Lager strom, the oratorio "Golgotha," by J. Vic- tor Bergquist, Christmas can- tatas by Alfred Bergin and J. Victor Bergquist, and by Frank J. Johnson, and Reformation Cantata for the Augustana Synod celebration of the quad- ricentennial in 1917, written by Ernst W. Olson and com- posed by Prof. Bergquist by special commission from the synod. The strong trend among the Swedes toward the use of English exclusively has caused the issuing of quite a number of books in that language in the last decade, though the great bulk of the output is still Swedish. Newspapers and periodicals form a large part of the product of the Augustana presses. The official organ of the synod, named Augustana, is now in its sixty-second year, being the indirect successor of the religious monthly founded by Hasselquist in 1856. Two Sunday school papers are published, one in each language The Olive Leaf, started in 1883, an d Barncns Tidning, founded by S. P. A. Lindahl in 1886. The synod publishes a second official organ in English, The Lutheran Companion, which originated in 1892 in the form of a college publication. A general literary illustrated monthly magazine named Ungdovnsvdnnen is published to conserve the literary and cultural inter- ests of the Swedish-American public in general. Tidskrift is a quarterly magazine devoted to theology and churchly matters. ANDREW G. ANDERSON. 190 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS The volume of the published output per year may be indicated by giving a few totals for the year 1915, when the number of copies of books and pamphlets printed reached 218,340, of which 113,390 copies were of new publications. Counting one issue of each of the newspapers and periodicals, the combined circulation reached 112,300. The total number of books and pamphlets published since the founding of the publishing house had reached 3,785,585 at the close of that year, and the number is now approximately 4,000,000. For some years past Rev. Frank A. Johnsson of Galesburg has served as president of the board and Prof. Isaac M. Anderson of Augustana College as secretary. In the management Mr. A. G. Anderson is assisted by Mr. Grant Hultberg. The permanent editorial force consists of the following : Revs. L. G. Abrahamson, D. D., Oscar V. Holmgrain, Carl Kraft, Carl J. Bengston ; Messrs. Ernst W. Olson and Carl E. Nelson. Among the editors employed outside of the institution are Drs. Claude W. Foss and Sven Gustaf Youngert, besides persons selected for temporary assignments. Two foremen, Messrs. C. A. Larson and C. L. Ackerlind, have held their respective positions for more than thirty years, having been connected with the printing department since 1886. THE ENGBERG-HOLMBERG PUBLISHING COMPANY. When the Eng- berg and Holmberg firm in 1874 took over the official publishing concern of the Augustana Synod, it came in possession of a business which dated back to the very earliest publishing activities of the Lutheran church, but which had taken more definite form in the Swedish Lutheran Publication Society which had been in control from the beginning of the year 1859. The present Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company is consequently the oldest Swedish-American publishing house. From 1874 to 1889 it was recognized as the authorized publishing house of the Augustana Synod. By virtue of the stipulations in the bill of sale and the original charter, this authorization still holds, the corporation maintains, while the Synod itself in 1889 officially denied this claim by its act of establishing a new synodical publishing house, not by purchasing back the old business, but by acquiring a concern privately established. An inquiry into the facts and circumstances reveals no true justification for this deal, considered as a synodical act, however conscientious the individuals who brought it about in the conviction that the publishing business ought never to have passed out of the Synod's hands. The twenty-fifth anniversary publication of the Augustana Book Concern (p. 45) puts the following construction upon the act: "Ten years had now elapsed since the sale of the publishing business took place, and meanwhile the Synod's communicant membership had almost doubled, the number of Swedes in America not affiliated with the Synod doubtless having increased in a much greater proportion. The field for this activ- ity had consequently been much enlarged, and in view of the improved economic conditions now prevailing, there was room enough for more than one publishing concern without undue crowding, provided some CULTURAL PROGRESS 191 measure of Christian tolerance had been exercised." Dr. Eric Norelius, the historian of the Synod, evaded the subject by confessing his incom- petency to pass upon the rectitude of the transaction. Writing of Jonas Engberg (Vol. II, p. 19), he says: "When he had been relieved of his work in the office of Hemlandct, Engberg, together with S. P. Holmberg, purchased the synodical book and publishing business, which was offered for sale and which was subsequently developed into a very considerable plant. Unfortunately there arose later on, when the Synod, through Dr. Lindahl, had opened a new book store, difficulties on which I am not competent to express myself. Very likely there were misunderstandings on both sides, if (as) the contracts were rather loosely formulated." The firm of Engberg and Holmberg carried on an extensive pub- lishing business for the Augustana Synod for the first six or eight years, whereupon the synodical business was gradually decreased by other con- cerns engaging in the same line. The board of directors of Augustana College undertook the publishing of a new Catechism and Bible History for the parochial and Sunday schools of the Synod, the Illinois Confer- ence put out a devotional work on its own account, and the firm of Enander & Bohman developed quite a large book publishing business in connection with the newspaper purchased from the Synod. Among its publications was the Swedish Psalmbook and Chorale Book in various editions, a specific branch of business which ought to have been reserved for the publishing house authorized by the Synod. In 1884 the old firm was incorporated as a stock company known as The Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company. Jonas Engberg, the pio- neer publisher, died Jan. I, 1890, shortly after he had seen his concern deprived of the prerogatives granted it in 1874 by the founding of a new synodical publishing house. Charles P. Holmberg remained in active charge of the business ten years longer, retiring in 1900. He died May 20, 1903. Since 1900 the publishing business has been carried on by Oscar and Martin Engberg, sons of Jonas Engberg, the former retiring in 7916. After having occupied quarters on Chicago avenue for thirty-eight years, the concern in 1912 moved to 901 Belmont avenue, near Clark street, its present place of business. Besides keeping on sale a large stock of imported Swedish books, this house has published several hundred larger and smaller works, relig- ious and secular, including schoolbooks and textbooks in language, his- tories and books of travel, devotional and other religious works, Sunday school story books, hymnals, music books, and sheet music, collections of poetry, works of fiction and miscellanies. Notable among original works are most of C. F. Peterson's works, several of O. Olsson's, chiefly his "Till Rom och Hem Igen," Gustaf Sjostrom's "Jan Olson's Afventyr," G. N. Malm's "Charli Johnson" and the large work in English by Ernst W. Olson (assisted by A. Schon and M. J. Engberg) entitled "History of the Swedes of Illinois." THE PETERSON BUILDING. CULTURAL PROGRESS 193 THE PETERSON LINOTYPING COMPANY is one of many large, flourish- ing Swedish establishments that have sprung into being in late years. It was founded in the year 1899, an< 3 now, in its seventeenth year, ranks with the largest printing plants in the United States. The head of the concern, Mr. Charles S. Peterson, began work in Chicago at the age of fourteen, in the printing office of the weekly Hem- landet. In 1895 he became linotype operator with another Swedish weekly, Svcnska Amerikanarcn. After four years he saw the possibilities for devel- opment in machine composition and engaged in business for himself under the name and style of the Peterson Linotyping Company. The plant grew by rapid paces, and soon a long array of Mergenthalers were in constant operation in the busy concern. In 1908 Mr. Peterson acquired an interest in the old and well established printing house of the Regan Printing Com- pany. After six years he purchased the entire Regan concern, also the G. D. Steere Bindery, together with the building occupied by them at 527- 531 Plymouth court. By this deal he became the sole proprietor of one of the largest printing and bindery establishments in the city, employing a total working force of eight hundred. The three departments form a complete plant equipped for all the multiplex requirements of present day publishing in all branches books, magazines, trade journals, newspapers and commercial printing. For the accommodation of this entire estab- lishment there is now in course of erection a twelve-story structure on a site embracing Nos. 521-537 Plymouth court. This building, to be known as the Peterson Building, is designed to be the last word in construction for the needs of the printing trade. The new Peterson Building will be the handsomest structure in the country to be occupied by the printing craft. It is to be of white enameled tile, with terra cotta front, and an entrance of gray marble with verde antique trimmings and ornamental iron work. Of the eleven stories and basement all but four stories will be occupied by the Regan Printing House and the Peterson Linotyping Company. The Columbian Engraving Company is to have the top floor and the Acme Elec- trotyping Company the seventh floor. The rest of the space not yet pro- vided for will probably be taken by publishers and others in allied printing lines or supply houses, so that everything in the preparation of a book or publication may be had without going outside of the building. The northern half of the building is being erected by the McCormick Estate for Mr. Peterson under a thirty-year lease, and is to be ready May I, 1917. The southern half, which is to be finished May i, 1918, is to be erected for Mr. Peterson on ground he holds under a hundred-year lease. When completed, the structure will be a splendid monument to Swedish- American commercial enterprise. BLOMGREN BROS. AND COMPANY. This corporation, so closely affili- ated with the printing craft, is one of the oldest electrotyping concerns in the West. It was organized as a copartnership business in 1875, by Claus, Oscar, John and Richard Blomgren and their brother-in-law, Gustaf Hockinson. The Blomgren brothers were sons of Carl Blomgren, who in EDWARD C. WESTMAN. CULTURAL PROGRESS 195 1852 started a tailoring establishment, which grew to be one of the largest in the city, at one time employing thirty-five men in the shop and fifty outside, and keeping twenty-five machines going, the weekly output reach- ing 1,500 garments. Two of the brothers devoted themselves entirely to the new establishment, while the other two, John and Richard, also con- tinued the old tailoring business after the retirement of their father. About 1880 the stereotyping plant of the Blomgrens is said to have been the largest of its kind in Chicago. The size of similar plants at that time may be conjectured from the fact that this firm then employed about twenty-five workmen. Originally the firm was a modest electrotyping and wood and wax engraving concern, whose reason for existence was to produce advertising cuts and plates for what was then a small and struggling town. As Chicago grew, the firm grew with it. It was their connection with the famous inventor of the reaper that started them on the road to greater success. As Chicago grew to be a world center for the manufacture of farm machinery, the Blomgren engravings made known to the world each successive inven- tion and improvement in agricultural implements and harvesting ma- chinery. The firm continued in business as such until 1890, when the brothers Claus and Oscar Blomgren bought out their partners and changed the firm into a stock company. Edward C. Westman, who became a stockholder of the company, soon took a very active part in the development of the business, and in 1905 headed the concern as president and treasurer. He has gradually absorbed the bulk of the stock and conducts the business with the able assistance of men who have practically grown up with the business. John Soderterg, now secretary and treasurer, entered the employ of the Blomgrens as bookkeeper in 1876 and has remained with the business without interruption to this day. The plant employs at present an average of one hundred workers, and the annual output foots up to $200,000. The business comprises all branches of the reproductive art, designing, engraving, electrotyping and nickeltyping, the last-named process, by the way, being the invention of a Swedish Chicagoan, the late Olof F. Nelson, a member of the Osgood Company. Blomgren Bros. & Company appreciate the value of contentment in their employees as an aid to efficiency. There can be no better testimony for a business concern than the fact that its workmen will spend a lifetime in its service, and they seek to cultivate this habit by suitable testimonials to their men when they complete twenty-five years of service. Five of its veteran workmen already have been remembered with honors and valuable mementos upon completing their quarter century in the Blomgren estab- lishment, including Messrs. John Soderberg and John E. Anderson. The great Chicago printing establishment of Stromberg, Allen & Com- pany is largely the result of Swedish business enterprise embodied in the person of CHARLES J. STROMBERG, one of the Swedish pioneers in Chicago. 196 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS He came over from Sweden with his parents in 1854. They located in Chicago two years later, he being then a young man of eighteen. After working for W. B. Keen & Company for seven years he quit his position to join the Union Army. When the war closed he was employed by the stationery firm of J. M. W. Jones & Co., rising successively to the position of manager and member of the firm. In 1888 he withdrew to found the present firm of Stromberg, Allen & Company, with which he was connected until his death in 1904. Stromberg's connection as stockholder with Jones & Company dated from 1877. This was a large blank book, stationery and printing concern for that day, keeping about thirty large and small presses busy, in addition to much ruling and binding machinery, and employing upwards of two hundred workmen. The vol- ume of business was about one million per year. One of its specialties was the printing of rail- way tickets, for which Mr. Stromberg invented and had patented a simplified process. CHARLES j. STROMBERG. ' In addition to the larger plants, heretofore mentioned, there are in Chicago quite a few printing and publishing plants of Swedish ownership besides those spoken of in connection with the publishing activities of the churches. The older shops of Williamson and of Lindell have been followed by the more recent establishments of Broman, Almberg, Jacobson, Martenson, Linden, and a number of others. In the general printing trade throughout the state Swedes are everywhere to be found, and often at the head of the craft in the newspaper plants and the larger establishments. LITERATURE, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE. Dr. OLOF OLSSON rendered eminent service to the Swedish-Americans in various capacities, principally as a pastor, educator and author. His pastoral work was performed mostly during the years he was in charge of the church in Lindsborg, Kansas, but he continued to be an influential and highly popular preacher in the Augustana Synod until his death. As an educator, he was for twenty-one years connected with Augustana College and Theological Seminary, serving as its president during the last nine years. His authorship, comprising devotional works or books of travel written from the churchman's point of view, is mostly work done on spare hours snatched from his last twenty years of close application to many official duties, yet his works rank with the best Swedish literary produc- tions in the United States. Olof Olsson was a native of Vermland, Sweden, born at Bjorntorp, Karlskoga parish, March 31, 1841. His parents were pietists of the strictest CULTURAL PROGRESS 197 type. At an early age the son was imbued with their spiritual ardor. Being studious and betraying marked musical talent, he was placed under the tutorship of the organist and cantor of Fredsberg parish, in Vestergot- land, who took his apt pupil quite a little way in his musical studies. Responding to Dr. Fjellstedt's ringing appeals for missionary workers, Olsson in 1858 entered the Fjellstedt missionary institute, friends of the family guaranteeing the needed support. After one year, the authorities of the school concluded to send him to the Leipsic missionary institute for further training. The state formalism and high orthodoxy pervading that institution proved repulsive to him, and he soon returned home disheart- ened and with shattered ideals. Shortly afterward he went to Upsala to prepare for the university in the Church of Sweden, completing his college course in 1861 and his theological studies two years later. After his ordination, Olsson labored fruitfully as a minister of the state church for about five years. By his affiliation with the evangelistic movement of the Devotionalists (Readers) he gained the favor and confi- dence of his more earnest brethren of the clergy, but incurred the odium of certain worldly-minded clergymen, and finally concluded that true Gospel work could hardly be carried on under the trammels of a state church. To escape the restraint, he resolved to emigrate. In 1869 he headed a party of emigrants who shared his views, and with them founded the settlement in McPherson county, Kansas, which was subsequently named Lindsborg. Olsson became their pastor and served as their adviser in temporal as well as spiritual things for seven years. After some little hesitation the congregation joined the Augustana Synod. While at Lindsborg, Olsson served as county superintendent of schools and for a term represented his district in the Kansas legislature. In 18/5, Rev. Olof Olsson had gained so high a standing in the synod that he was elected to a chair in its theological seminary. Entering upon his duties as theological professor, he taught in the Augustana Seminary for a period of twelve years, then resigned and spent about a year in Europe in travel and study. Upon the death of Hasselquist, in 1891, Olsson was called as acting president and was elected his permanent successor the same year. In the capacity of president of Augustana College and Theological Seminary, Dr. Olsson served until his death, May 12, 1900. Olsson was a man of profound scholarship, attained largely by private study, travel and research ; he possessed a wide knowledge and experience acquired in the school of active life. Dr. Norelius says of him: "Prof. Olsson was a man of many good qualifications, who labored with note- worthy success in any position entrusted to him. As a pioneer pastor among the Kansas settlers he made an excellent record, but he was still better fitted as teacher in a circle of divinity students, to whom he might freely open his heart. There was in that man profound spiritual depth, though he would at times allow his feelings to run away with him." When in 1892 Augustana College conferred on him the degree of D. D. and the DR. L. G. ABRAHAMSON. CULTURAL PROGRESS 199 University of Upsala the following year made him Doctor of Philosophy, these were no empty honors. Aside from his other services to Augustana College, Dr. Olsson at one time solicited about $17,000 for the maintenance of the school, chiefly through appeals from his pen. After a European trip in 1879 he presented several new ideas which matured in great oratorio festivals at Rock Island and at Lindsborg, and also led to the founding of the Augustana Hospital in Chicago and the Augustana Conservatory of Music in Rock Island. During the defection from the Synod to the free evangelism of the Mission Friends, prevalent in the seventies, Olsson, although favoring true evange- listic ideas, took a determined stand in opposition to the movement on doctrinal grounds. He stamped the Waldenstromian doctrine of atone- ment as a new form of the old heresy of Socinianism, and but for him the Synod's loss to the Waldenstrom following unquestionably would have attained much larger proportions. Dr. Olsson's works were published in comparatively large editions and are still enjoying popularity. His published books and pamphlets are: "Vid korset"; "Det Kristna hoppet" ; "Helsningar fran fjarran," being his first book of travel dealing with his trip abroad in 18/9; "Nagot om kanslans bildning" ; "Reformationen och socinianismen" ; "Vi bekanna Kristus" ; "Till Rom och hem igen" (1890), his second book of travel, containing an arraignment of Romanism, snatches of ecclesiastical and profane history, descriptions and meditations in pleasing profusion ; lastly, a posthumous volume of sermons and addresses (1903). The collected works of D.r. Olsson are being published in four volumes by the Augustana Book Concern. Dr. Olsson's literary style possessed a peculiar fascination, and his writings, like his public addresses, abound in wit, epigram, keen and apt observations, delicate sentiment and the fruits of ripe scholarship and profound thought. Prominent in the educational work is GUSTAV ALBERT ANDREEN, Ph. D., president of Augustana College since 1901. Having taught at Augustana and Bethany Colleges from 1882 to 1893, he entered Yale University for post graduate work and after obtaining the degree of Ph. D. in 1898 remained as instructor at the university and was subsequently appointed to the chair of Scandinavian. He had spent two years at Scandinavian universities in preparation for this position when elected president of Augustana. Dr. Andreen has published his doctoral thesis on "Studies in the German Idyl" and a short treatise on the Swedish language in America. The Rev. L. G. ABRAHAMSON, D.D., serves as the editor-in-chief of Augustana since his election to that position by the Augustana Synod in 1909. Prior to that time he had conducted the mission department in that paper for a long term of years. Under the common title "Herrens behagliga ar," three volumes of devotional meditations by him have been published in the last three years. He did his full share of writing for the "Jubel-Album," published in 1893 conjointly with Dr. Carl Swensson. 200 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS Dr. CONRAD EMIL LINDBERG is the author of a textbook in dogmatics and of "Syllabus i konstruktiv luthersk kyrkorattslara" and a book of meditations on the opening chapters of the Apocalypse. He has just completed a work on apologetics, recently issued. Dr. NILS FORSANDER, emeritus professor of Augustana Theological Seminary, has written numerous articles for Lutheran periodicals, and edited the Lutheran Quarterly. He wrote most of the articles on the Church of Sweden for the "Lutheran Encyclopedia," and is the author of a commentary on the Augsburg Confession, published in two editions, and of two recent books, "Life Pictures from Swedish Church History," and the first of a series entitled "Lifsbilder ur Augustana-synodens Historia." S. P. A. LINDAHL, D.D., who was a prominent figure in the Augustana Synod for more than thirty years, was chosen editor of the synodical organ Augustana in 1890 to succeed Dr. Hasselquist, and served in that capacity until his death in 1908. He remained the head of the synodical publishing house during the same period. Besides editorial work, he translated and compiled a number of small devotional or juvenile books issued by the same house. While pastor in Galesburg he published an anti-secret society paper known as Schibboleth. Rev. SVEN GUSTAF YOUNGERT, D.D., Ph.D., is one of the editorial contributors to Hastings' Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, now in course of publication. As such he has written many extensive articles on the religion and mythology of the Teutonic race, including Teutonic cosmogony, Ragnarok and the Regeneration of the World, Loke and Evil, Sacrifices, Salvation, etc. For more than a decade Dr. Youngert occupied a chair in the Augustana Theological Seminary, and during that time edited the literary magazine Ungdomsvdnnen and served on the staff of Tidskrift, a Lutheran quarterly. He has published Pontus Wik- ner's philosophical lectures, with supplementary notes. Dr. CARL SWENSSON (1857-1904) holds a prominent place in the literary and educational life of the Swedish-Americans. While a student at Augustana College, he began to contribute to the press and continued to do so throughout his career. His weekly articles, published in a num- ber of papers, were probably more generally read than anything written for Swedish- American newspapers before or after. To judge him by these newspaper letters, however, would not be fair, for they were often the hurried productions of his pen on board railway trains or in moments when a hundred cares stood waiting at his elbow. But taking him at his best, in his books of travel, "I Sverige" and "Ater i Sverige," you will find him an alert observer, a skillful word-painter, a brilliant nar- rator and altogether a charming writer. The first-named work was pub- lished in Chicago and Stockholm, the latter in Chicago in Swedish and English editions. Other works by Swensson, nearly all published in Chicago, are: "Vid hemmets hard" (reprinted in Sweden); "Forgat- mig-ej"; "I Morgonstund," and "Jubel- Album," a large illustrated his- CULTURAL PROGRESS 201 torical account of the Augustana Synod, compiled in collaboration with Dr. L. G. Abrahamson. Together with others, Swensson edited the church annual 'Korsbaneret" for five years and the monthly Ungdomsvanncn from 1880 to 1887. Swensson was the founder of Bethany College, at Lindsborg, Kansas. Among Swedish-Americans of the second generation he stands as the most notable figure. DR. CLAUDE W. Foss, professor of history at Au- gustana College, is the au- thor of one independent work, a book of travel en- titled "Glimpses of Three Continents," and the trans- lator of a series of "Stories for Children" from Topelius, and a number of Swedish poems. Dr. Foss is an able lecturer on historical sub- jects. A name prominent in American pharmacy is that of OSCAR OLDBERG, who was appointed dean of the School of Pharmacy of Northwest- ern when the school was es- tablished in 1886. He is the author of several well- known text-books on chem- istry, pharmacy, metrology and related subjects. Oscar Oldberg was born in Alfta parish, Helsingland, Sweden, Jan. 2.2., 1846, the son of Pastor Anders Oldberg, au- thor of "Hemskolan" and other pedagogical books. After having completed his college education, he studied pharmacy in Falun, under the well-known F. W. Helleday, a pupil of Berzelius. As a licensed pharmacist Oldberg emi- grated in 1865. In 1869 he entered the faculty of the School of Pharmacy of Georgetown College, D. C.,and later became dean and professor of pharmacy at the National College of Pharmacy in Washington. When he severed his connection with that institution in 1881, the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy was conferred upon him honoris causa. In 1874 he had become connected with the U. S. Marine Hospital service. He was chief clerk and acting medical purveyor until 1881. In 1880 he was elected member of the Com- mittee of Revision and Publication of the Pharmacopoeia of the United MONUMENT TO DR. CARL SWENSSON ON THE I5ETHANY COLLEGE CAMPUS. 202 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS States. At the expiration of his term of service, on that committee in 1890 he was reappointed for another ten years, and again appointed in 1900 for a like period. A second Swedish-American authority on pharmaceutical science in the United States, of equal standing with Prof. Oscar Oldberg, is CARL S. N. HALLHERG, a native of Helsingborg, Sweden, who came with his parents to Altoona, Pa., in 1869. Having studied pharmacy in Philadel- phia, he came to Chicago in 1877, and was for eight years engaged in phar- maceutical manufacturing, reengaging in that line after a period of teaching pharmacy by the correspondence system. Hallberg became editor of The Western Druggist in 1882, and in 1890 accepted the position of professor in the Chicago College of Pharmacy. Selected a member of the commit- tee on the "National Formulary" at its formation in 1886, Mr. Hallberg con- tributed largely to the first edition of this work. At the Pharmacopoeial Con- vention at Washington in 1890 he was made a member of the Committee on Revision and worked on its sub-com- mittee on Pharmaceutical Preparations. He has contributed a number of papers to the American Pharmaceutical Asso- ciation, and has served as secretary and as chairman of the Section of Sci- entific Papers. He has also been active in the Section of Education and Legislation. In the American Medical Association he has held the position of secretary of the Section of Materia Medica, Pharmacy and Thera- peutics. In 1903 the honorary degree of M. D. was conferred on him in recognition of his notable services to medical science. Dr. JOHN A. UDDEN, Ph. D., for many years professor of natural science at Augustana College, now occupying a chair in the University of Texas and prominently connected with the geological survey of that state, has written extensively on scientific subjects, principally on geology, his special branch. His name is prominent in American geological science and scientific journals have contained many articles from his pen. His most recent work is a survey of the geology of Texas. Among his earlier pub- lished works may be mentioned : "Erosion, Transportation and Sedimenta- tion Performed by the Atmosphere" ; "Dust and Sandstorms in the West" ; "Loess as a Land Deposit" ; and "The Mechanical Composition of \Vind Deposits." In "An Old Indian Village" he has described some prehistoric remains in Kansas, found and investigated by him. Much of his work is found in official reports of geological surveys in many states with which he has been DR. JOHN A. UDDEN. CULTURAL PROGRESS 203 connected. During 1892 he served as assistant to the state geologist of Illinois, preparing a collection for the state exhibit at the World's Colum- bian Exposition. Dr. Udden is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Prof. TORILD ARNOLDSON, who died last fall in Salt Lake City, after having occupied the chair of modern languages at the University of Utah for ten years, was for some time prior attached to the University of Chi- cago, occupying the Scandinavian chair. He was a graduate of Monmouth College and recently earned his doctoral degree at the local university. Prof. Arnoldson was the son of the noted peace advocate of Sweden, K. P. Arnoldson, who was awarded the Nobel peace prize not many years back. The son, after having obtained his elementary education in Sweden, studied and traveled in France, Germany, England and Spain before com- ing to America and was noted as a linguist. The founder of the Northwestern College of Dental Surgery is said to have been HOWARD C. MAGNUSSON, the son of Lewis J. Magnusson, one of the early Swedish Chicagoans, who located in this city in 1855 and was engaged in business here. Dr. OLOF A. TOFFTEEN is the author of several published works on biblical and oriental subjects, such as "Myths and Bible," "Ancient Chronology," "Ancient Records of Egypt," "Researches in Assyrian Geography" and "The Historic Exodus," also a work on the Church of Sweden, entitled "Vara Faders Kyrka." Several lesser productions have issued from his hand. Not many names of Swedish- Americans have been as familiar as that of Dr. JOSUA LINDAHL to the American scientific world. He had attained a name as a scientist in his native country before coming to the United States. Here he made himself widely known for painstaking research in the natural sciences, as a college teacher, and in the capacity of curator of state and private museums of natural history. A native of Kongsbacka, Sweden, Lindahl entered the University of Lund in 1863, at the age of nineteen, and finished his post-graduate course in science and earned the degree of Ph.D., in 1874. He was then appointed instructor at the university, a position held by him until he took the chair of natural science at Augustana College. He was secretary of the Swedish commission at the International Geographical Congress of Paris in 1875, and served likewise at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Prior to that he had participated in two British scientific expeditions, and served as zoologist in a Swedish expedition to Greenland, besides taking part in deep sea dredgings along the Swedish coasts during two summers. He served as assistant to Prof. Otto Torell, of Lund, and to Prof. Sven Loven at the Royal Museum in Stockholm both eminent men of science. Dr. Lindahl taught at Augustana for ten years from 1878, and dur- ing that time created a scientifically arranged museum of natural history at this institution. He took the position of state geologist and curator of DR. JOSUA LINDAHL. CULTURAL PROGRESS 205 the museum at Springfield in 1888, and during his five years' service put the chaotic natural history collections there into scientific order, appar- ently for the first time since the founding of the institution. In 1895 Lin- dahl was appointed director of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, remaining for eleven years. He has published a number of scientific papers, one having appeared in a French journal, several others in the Journal of the Cincinnati society edited by him. Vol. VIII of the Geo- graphical Survey of Illinois is Lindahl's work, and his doctoral thesis was incorporated in the Transactions of the Swedish Academy of Science. He was a member of many learned societies, an Orficier d'Academie of France and a Knight of the Swedish Order of Vasa. Dr. Lindahl's services to the State of Illinois in his scientific capacity might have been further extended but for the fact that he refused to look upon his position as a political one, preferring his official duties to earning his reappointment through campaign activity. Lindahl was charged with the arrangement of a geological exhibit in the Illinois State Building at the World's Fair, a task which required the better part of two years. He was appointed on the International Committee on Awards, to fill a vacancy in the Swedish delegation. Dr. Lindahl was included in the National Encyclopaedia of American Biography and in "American Men of Science." Dr. ANTON J. CARLSON, professor of physiology at the University of Chicago, stands high in the scientific and educational world. Years of experimental work and investigation have revealed to him many facts relating to the action of the heart, the stomach and other vital organs, heretofore unknown to physiological science. Upon publication in scien- tific journals his discoveries have attracted wide attention and caused authors on physiology to revise some of their former views. Augustana counts Dr. Carlson among its college graduates and awarded him his master's degree for post-graduate work. Dr. AXEL WERELIUS, the noted Chicago surgeon, whose skill and methods in performing operations have proved a revelation to his col- leagues everywhere, is a native of Blekinge, Sweden, and comparatively young for a celebrity forty-six years of age. He was graduated from the Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1902 and gained experience as interne at the Michael Reese Hospital. In his rapid career, he has mas- tered some of the most difficult physiological problems, and discovered new and more successful methods in dealing with puzzling and obstinate cases, methods susceptible of technical explanation alone. Numerous articles by Werelius have appeared in medical journals. His demonstra- tions before the Surgical Congress in Chicago, 1913, caused the officers of the American Medical Association to ask him for a detailed presenta- tion on the subject at the next annual convention. Some of his special investigations relate to struma of the thyroid gland, floating kidney, anasto- mosis, etc. DR. JAKOB BONGGREN. Portrait sketch by Zorn. CULTURAL PROGRESS 207 The man who made Svenka Amcrikanarcn a leading Swedish news- paper, and one of the few successful weeklies published in that language in the United States, was FRANS ALBIN LINDSTRAND. For twenty years he was active in Swedish newspaperdom in the double capacity of pub- lisher and writer. For a self-taught man, Lindstrand achieved remarkable popularity as a writer, making his pen name, "Onkel Ola/' so well known among newspaper readers in general that many knew him by no other name. His weekly letters to his readers, while not of high literary merit, were savory fare for the average stomach and seasoned to the taste of the not too fastidious. Mr. Lindstrand traveled extensively, and his observations on a tour of Europe, Asia Minor and Egypt are well told in a volume entitled "I Oster och Vasterland," which excels many a similar book by more scholarly travelers. He was public-spirited, and in many instances generous to a fault. Nationalist movements among his fellow- countrymen had his whole-hearted support, and at least one organization, the Swedish National Association, owed its continued existence chiefly to his moral and financial aid. None the poorer for his generosity, Lind- strand retired in comfortable circumstances after disposing of his paper, and gave the last few years of his life undividedly to his family and his friends. A big heart, an open hand and rare food-fellowship combined to perpetuate his name. Mr. Lindstrand knew how to chose well-qualified journalists as his associates in the editorial work. He retained on the staff JAKOB BONGGREN, now a veteran in the service of the paper, having occupied his position for almost thirty-five years. He is a poet of rare ability, an essayist of broad scholarship and a seasoned journalist of wide and diversified experience. Out of the wealth of his poetic production may be culled many of the classic gems of Swedish- American literature. A volume of his selected poems has been published under the title, "Singer och sagor," but much of his best work is still in manuscript or scattered in newspaper files and various periodical publications. Another man of Mr. Lindstrand's choosing who has proved valuable to Amerikanaren is OLIVER A. LINDER, employed on the paper for a quar- ter century and now editor-in-chief. For practical ability as a journalist he has few equals in the Swedish press in this country. In him that quality has not dulled his taste for idealistic writing, although necessarily limiting the output. A volume of verse, short stories and sketches, entitled "I Vasterland," contains some of his best work. Certain reviewers, how- ever, are of the opinion that as a humorous writer he is at his best, and deplored the lack of the comic element in the book. Once on a time Linder did publish a little packet of humorous chaff calculated to raise a laugh, and after that, like O. W. Holmes, he does not dare to be "as funny as he can." To the new edition of the Swedish Encyclopaedia (Nordisk Familjebok), now almost completed, Linder has contributed a large num- ber of Swedish-American biographies and articles, this being the first time that work takes note of Swedish activities on this side of the Atlantic. OLIVER A. LINDER. CULTURAL PROGRESS 209 A third member of the editorial staff of Amerikanaren is FRITHIOF MALMQUIST, who commands an able pen in prose and verse, whichever he chooses. A volume of his poems has been privately printed. Prof. C. G. WALLENIUS, president of the Swedish Theological Semi- nary at Evanston, heads the educational work of the Swedish Methodist Church of the United States. In addition to his pastoral and educational activities he has conducted historical research, the results of which are embodied in a history of the Swedish Methodists (Svenska Metodismens Historia), written and compiled chiefly by him, with the assistance of two elder brethren in the church. His former colleague in the seminary faculty, Rev. J. E. HILLBERG, now conducts the denominational organ Sandebudetj maintaining the literary traditions established by his veteran predecessors, among whom were Witting, Ericson and Henschen. There is force and snap in Hillberg's editorial pen. A volume of pen pictures from the lands of the Bible is the fruit of his travels in the Orient. The literary testament of THEODORE HESSELL, a journalist and writer who spent his last years in Chicago, has a curious interest. It consists of two volumes entitled, "Farbror Slokums Memoirer" (1909 and 1910), which are in fact an autobiography containing much material bearing on Swedish- American events and conditions. The poetic works of two writers of high order, Rev. A. A. SWARD and Dr. LUDVIG HOLMES, have been published here, while they themselves only incidentally belonged to the state of Illinois. ERNST SKARSTEDT, his- torian, essayist, poet and critic, spent some time in Chicago back in the eighties, working on Swedish weeklies here. Most of his literary produc- tion is of more recent date. Skarstedt is a prolific writer. He has com- piled four volumes containing the history of the Swedish population in the Pacific Coast states, an anthology of Swedish- American writers ("Vara Pennfaktare"), several collections of verse and short stories, and is now engaged on a work on the Swedish- Americans ("Det svensk-amerikanska folket") to be published in Sweden.- Among Chicago writers of a former period we note MAGNUS ELMBLAD, the first Swedish-American poet of rank. CARL GUSTAF NORMAN early began to contribute verses to the Swe- dish-American press. He was editor of Framat, a Kansas weekly, in the eighties ; entered the ministry, but returned to journalism and edited a paper of the same name in Providence, R. I., for several years. His next position was with Svca of Worcester, Mass., whence he came to Svenska Tribunen, Chicago, 1906, remaining with that paper (later con- solidated with Svenska Nyhcter) until his death in 1916 (Jan. 16). In 1914 he published on his own account a collection of his best poems under the title "Emigrantens sanger." He was a prolific writer of newspaper verse, furnishing weekly installments for his paper for many years. Norman's legitimate poetic productions are uniformly well modeled, often sentimental in tone, always characterized by a musical ring and smoothness of diction. 210 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS JOHAN PERSON wields one of the truly capable pens enlisted in the service of the Swedish press in this country. He was added to the staff of Svenska Tribunen in the nineties and has since worked on Swedish weeklies in various parts of the United States, returning to Chicago time and again after much journalistic knight errantry. He was engaged with Svenska Amerikanaren for a time, and is now on the staff of Svenska Kurircn for the second time. He is the author of a volume of short stories entitled "I Svensk-Amerika," which has been followed by a number of well-written stories, sketches and essays only partly published in book form. A number of his newspaper articles on Swedish-American life have been published in a volume entitled ''Svensk-Amerikanska Studier." As a "columnist" Person has for years furnished clever material for a number of papers. His style is fluent and forceful, inclined to be caustic, but tempered with a modicum of wit and humor. From the sixties down to the present time the Swedes have been engaged in editing and publishing general newspapers in Illinois in English as well as in the language of the home land. Capt. Eric Johnson, who seems to have been the first among them to engage in the publishing of local newspapers in the language of the land, has had many followers, both as publisher and editor. In the smaller towns they have taken a rel- atively greater interest in the local press, but instances can be quoted from Rock ford, Moline, Galesburg, Aurora, and even Chicago to show their activity in the dissemination of news and the shaping of public opinion through the medium of the daily and weekly newspapers. The largest publishing enterprise of this kind, though shortlived, was the Daily Press of Chicago, published for a short period in the early nineties by Robert Lindblom and others. Out of fifty-eight general newspapers published in the Swedish lan- guage in the United States, sixteen, or almost thirty per cent, are issued in Illinois. The only Swedish newspaper center to approximate Chicago in importance is Minneapolis, where seven similar periodicals are issued. The success of Swedish-language newspapers in Chicago in recent years is worthy of remark. Several of them have attained circulation figures that would not have been believed if told to the successful Swedish newspaper publishers of the eighties and nineties, when immigration con- stantly added to the number of Swedish newspaper readers. Two weeklies, Svenska Amerikanaren and Svenska Tribunen-Nyhetcr, have doubled or trebled their former strength, while Svenska Kuriren, the third of the older journals, holds its own field and maintains its popularity facts which go to show that the complete language transition is still a long way off. The only old and established Swedish paper to cease publication was Hemlandct, the pioneer of them all, which has been merged with Svenska Amerikanaren. Its present publisher, Francis A. Larson, who succeeded to the ownership in 1908, has made this the most representative Swedish general newspaper in the United States. CULTURAL PROGRESS 211 LEARNED SOCIETIES. THE SWEDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. The first person to realize the importance of preserving records and material for the history of the Swedes in America in modern times was not a Swedish- American it was doubtless Gustaf Erik Klemming of the Royal Library in Stockholm. Nearly sixty years ago he took steps towards building up a collection of such material in the national library. In the year 1859 Rev. T. N. Hasselquist, then pastor at Galesburg, was commissioned by that institution to subscribe for or purchase Swedish- American newspapers, books and publications of all kinds. This he did and, largely through his activity, the collection grew year by year. But even at this early date some interesting material had been lost in the interval of about fifteen years that had elapsed since the first parties of immigrants arrived. Nevertheless, the most complete Swedish- American historical collections are to be found not in this country but across the waters, in the Royal Library of the Swedish capital. After Hasselquist, according to G. X. Swan, Herman Stockenstrom of Minne- apolis, Rev. Herman Lindskog of Chicago, and Dr. Gustav Andreen have served in the same capacity. It was not until much later that a similar collection was begun at Augustana College in Rock Island, credit being due to Dr. C. W. Foss for the bulk of the work done in that direction. In 1889, at tne suggestion of Dr. J. A. Enander, an organization by the name of the Swedish-American Historical Society was formed and incorporated by a number of persons in Chicago, alive to the fact that an important work was being sadly neglected. Its interest in the object for which it was organized apparently subsided at once, for the society left no traces of its activity in any form, so far as has been ascertained. Interest in the cause of historical conservation received a new stimulus in 1905 when a circular was issued, dated May 12 and bearing thirty-four signatures of well-known Swedish-Americans, projecting a new Swedish-American historical society and inviting to membership. A week later there was issued a call to a preliminary meeting, to be held at the Palmer House, Chicago, on May 27. So far, Louis G. Northland, a journalist, had conducted the preliminary work. At this meeting, presided over by Dr. L. G. Abrahamson, a committee on organization and constitution was appointed, composed of the following gentlemen, viz. : Dr. L. G. Abrahamson, Judge Axel Chytraus, Col. C. A. Smith, Prof. Torild Arnoldson, and Messrs. A. G. S. Josephson, Anders Schon, Ernst W. Olson and Louis G. Northland. Of these, Chytraus, Smith and Arnoldson did not serve. The organization meeting took place July 22 in the Chicago Historical Society building, 142 Dearborn avenue, when the proposed constitution was adopted and a council of fifteen members was elected. Of these 212 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS many never showed any activity in behalf of the society ; this is also true of a number elected later, especially those residing at a distance from Chicago. Those who took active part in the work were : J. A. Enander, A. G. S. Josephson, C. G. Lagergren, A. Schon, C. G. Wallenius, J. S. Carlson, D. Nyvall and G. N. Swan. The council on August 29 elected the following officers : President, J. A. Enander ; vice president, Gustav Andreen ; secretary, Anders Schon ; treasurer, A. G. S. Josephson. In 1908 (April 10) the society was incorporated under its perma- nent name, The Swedish Historical Society of America. After Dr. Enander, the following persons have served as president in the order named : C. G. Lagergren, Jostia Lindahl, C. G. Wallenius, D. Nyvall, C. A. Lindvall and Edw. C. Westman. The secretaries, on whom the bulk of the work has fallen, have been Anders Schon, A. G. S. Josephson, Joseph G. Sheldon, Ernst W. Olson, C. G. Wallenius and Fritz N. Andren. During the first ten years of its activity the society's historical collections have grown to approximately 6,000 books and pamphlets and a large number of newspaper files. Four yearbooks have been issued at irregular intervals, containing contributions of a historical character and proceedings. The most valuable publication heretofore issued by the society is a new edition of J. C. Clay's historic work, "Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware," published in 1914, the cost of publication being advanced by Mr. Henry S. Henschen, who prefaced the reprint with a brief introduction. In 1911 the society decided to publish a small quarterly called "Chronicles," the first and only issue of which was put out by Ernst W. Olson, as secretary, in February, 1912. The lack of means has been a constant check to the publishing activities as well as the work of collecting material. A great service to the society has been rendered by the Swedish Theological Seminary of Evanston, in housing the historical collections for many years past without charge. For some time plans have been on foot looking towards procuring a building suitable for a historical library and society headquarters. In 1914 a movement was begun to raise the sum of $10,000 for a building fund, and Alfred Soderstrom was appointed solicitor and financial agent. He also acted as corre- sponding secretary, and as such procured many new members and added materially to the collections. The specific objects for which the Swedish Historical Society exists and works are stated in its constitution as follows : First : To promote the study of the history of the Swedes in America and their descendants. Second : To collect a library and museum illustrating their devel- opment in America. Third : To issue publications relating to the history of the Swedish people in Sweden and America. CULTURAL PROGRESS 213 Fourth: To encourage the study of Swedish history and litera- ture in American universities. The last published list (1915) includes five living honorary mem- bers, five life members, 382 annual members, six being societies and the remaining 376 individual members. THE SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCANDINAVIAN STUDY is a recent organization with purely cultural aims, founded in the state of Illinois, but of nation-wide scope. In May, 1911, a number of persons interested in Scandinavian culture met at the University of Chicago to found a society whose aim was to be the promotion of the study and teaching in this country of the languages, literature and culture of the Scandinavian North. Among its Swedish organizers were Prof. Jules Mauritzson of Augustana College, Martin J. Engberg and Ernst W. Olson of the Engberg-Holmberg publishing house, Aksel G. S. Josephson of the John Crerar Library. The prominent Norwegian- Americans taking part in the organization work were Prof. Julius E. Olson of the University of Wisconsin and Prof. George T. Flom of the University of Illinois. Prof. Chester N. Gould represented the Scandinavian department of the University of Chicago. Prof. Olson was elected the first president of the society and Prof. Flom its first secretary. The society meets annually in May, the organization meeting, held under the auspices of the University of Chicago, being followed by meetings held, respectively, at the Northwestern University, Augustana College, the University of Minnesota, again at Northwestern, and at the University of Wisconsin. At these gatherings scholarly papers are presented and discussed,. and plans are laid for the furtherance of the cause for which the society stands. The meetings have been productive of excellent results so far. For the accomplishment of the desired ends the society works along a number of lines, both for maintaining the languages among the Scan- dinavians themselves, and in extending the knowledge of Scandinavian literature and culture among Americans not of Scandinavian descent. Of particular importance is the work of the Society in encouraging the introduction of the study of Scandinavian languages in the schools, of this country. The organization is also attempting to improve the conditions that surround the teaching of these subjects at the present: time ; this is done by encouraging the preparation of adequate textbooks, by competent scholars for this instruction and in many other ways. The work that lies before the society is obviously very great, and during its short existence the society has only as yet entered upon it. The Publications of the Society for the Advancement of Scandi- navian Study, published three times a year, contain scholarly articles and papers read at the annual meetings dealing with the Scandinavian languages and literature. A particularly valuable feature of the Publi- cations is the department of notes, containing brief mention of new 214 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS books that have appeared (both in this country and in the Scandinavian countries) dealing with the Scandinavian languages, literature and culture. In this publication are also reports and papers dealing with the spread and progress of Scandinavian study in this country, and the reports of the annual meetings, together with lists of the members of the society. At the present time there are in the United States more than two thousand young Scandinavians studying their native languages in public high schools alone. This figure does not take into account our American universities and colleges, academies and seminaries, and public schools below the grade of high school. Heretofore, the chief officers of the society have been : Presi- dents Julius E. Olson, Jules Mauritzson, Chester N. Gould; secre- taries George T. Flom, Chester N. Gould, A. Louis Elmquist, Joseph Alexis. Prof. Flom has served as editor of Pitblications. The society has acquired a considerable membership throughout the United States, including many educators. Illinois furnishes by far the largest quota of any state, or about one-fourth of the entire membership. INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. NORTH PARK COLLEGE. At the conference in Chicago in 1885 to organize the Mission Covenant, the very first question, after the organization was affected, was to establish a school. Upon the suggestion of men at the Chicago Theological Seminary that a Swedish department might be opened in connection with their school, a form of cooperation was entered into. Through the Covenant and its president, C. A. Bjork, Prof. Fridolf Risberg was called from Sweden and a Swedish seminary department was opened the same year. For five years this cooperation continued, and in 1888 the Covenant called to the aid of Prof. Risberg an assistant instructor in the person of David Nyvall. The arrangement with the seminary proving far from satisfactory, there was a growing conviction that the Covenant ought to have a school of its own, and one not limited to the work of educating ministers and missionaries. After two years, Nyvall resigned to be free to work for a Covenant school on a basis insuring complete control and permanent service. He associated himself with the Rev. E. A. Skogsbergh and his school in Minneapolis,' and the two offered this school the following year to the conference assembled in Phelps, Nebraska. The offer was accepted, and the Covenant decided unanimously that the school was to open in the autumn as the Covenant's own school. The seminary people cheerfully accepted the new situation. The presidency was then ten- dered to Prof. Risberg. \Yhen he declined the call, not wishing to CULTURAL PROGRESS 215 sever his connection with the Chicago seminary, Nyvall, who had been made temporary president, was given a permanent call, and the Covenant school was opened at Minneapolis in the fall of 1891. The school was at that time an ungraded English elementary school and a commercial school combined. It had been in existence since 1885, maintained through the untiring efforts of Skogsbergh, assisted by J. A. Lindblade, instructor in the English and commercial classes. To the former departments was now added a theological one, a so-called Bible school, with Nyvall as sole instructor. The beginning was alto- gether hopeful. The first year the students in the commercial school numbered seventy-two, in the seminary seventeen. The treasurer, Charles Wallblom, reported a surplus over all expenditures. The second year opened even better than the first. The Rev. Axel Mellander, who had been called as assistant instructor in the seminary, took up this work. He is now the senior professor, having given the school almost twenty-five years of uninterrupted service. The third and last year in Minneapolis opened not quite as propitiously in point of attendance, the total being 125. The first class to graduate from the seminary numbered five members. These first graduates of the Covenant school of theology were (). W. Bengtson, Alfred Nelson Ahnfeldt, O. G. Olson, K. E. Peterson and M. Thornberg. At the last commencement in Minneapolis, held April 27, 1894, Dr. Carl von Bergen of Sweden, then on a lecture tour in America, was the speaker of the day. In looking for a suitable location, the Covenant had invited com- petitive bids from different localities, such as Chicago and Des Moines, besides Minneapolis and St. Paul. This rivalry reduced itself to a choice between an offer from Chicago and several offers from the Twin Cities. After extended deliberation and investigation, the Chicago site was accepted. That offer, as it came from the University Land Asso- ciation, included eight and one-half acres of land in North Park, a suburb of Chicago, and a donation of $25,000, of which sum $15,000 was to be expended for a suitable building and $10,000 to be set aside as a fund bearing interest after five years. This was donated on con- dition that the Covenant for a period of fifty years continually use the property for mission school purposes only. After the lapse of fifty years, the deed, held in escrow, was to be delivered to the Covenant authorities. In consequence of this grant, the school was located in North Park in the year 1894. The land association, owing to subsequent hard times and to dis- appointments in their calculations, failed to donate the promised fund of $10,000. After years of contention and discussion a compromise was effected in 1901 whereby the Covenant, by releasing the land association from its promise of $10,000 and paying a certain mortgage, was given clear title, thus after seven years coming into possession of valuable school property. DR. DAVID NYVALL. CULTURAL PROGRESS 217 Gauging the success of the school by the attendance, the first seven years in North Park were discouraging. The school closed its first year in Chicago with an attendance of seventy-four. In 1900-01 the enrollment sank to its lowest ebb, a total of sixty-eight. In spite of this, the years had been well spent and real progress made. In the academy the work had been arranged to meet the entrance require- ments of the universities ; the school year had been lengthened by one month, and a corps of teachers enlisted, sufficient in number and com- petent for the work. In the seminary the president and Prof. Mellander gave instruction as before, and Mr. Lindblade was retained in the commercial school. In the academy the principal teachers were A. W. Fredrickson and C. J. Wilson. The former was called to this position as early as 1894, and taught until his death fifteen years later. The latter was added to the faculty in 1896. A just appreciation of the work of the school came in 1899 in the form of an official recognition of its academic courses by the State Normal and the University of Illinois. When the eighth school year opened at North Park College in 1901, larger things were already in sight. A donation of $30,000, known as the P. H. Anderson donation, had been accepted and part of the money put into two new buildings, a boys' dormitory and a home for the president. The attendance increased from sixty-eight to eighty- nine, and two years later reached 165. Internal disturbances in 1905-06 brought a slight decrease in the attendance and caused the resignation of Prof. Nyvall from the presi- dency. From the high water mark of 268 the following year the figures sank by degrees to 141 in 1911-12. After that there has been an upward tendency, the school year of 1915-16 closing with a net total attendance of 300 students. Upon the resignation of Prof. Nyvall in 1905, Prof. A. W. Fredrickson was chosen president, serving as such until his death in 1909. The development .af the academy during recent years has been the most marked feature iri'^e growth of the institution. In the past four years the classes have averaged double the size of those of the foregoing ten-year period. In 1905 Rev. Carl Hanson was elected Nyvall's successor as in- structor in New Testament and other subjects. Upon the death of Prof. Fredrickson he also succeeded to the presidency of the school, remaining at the head of the institution until 1911. For one year Prof. C. J. Wilson was acting president, whereupon Prof. Nyvall was reflected to his former position. In the year 1916 new facilities were placed at the command of the school, in the form of a large modern building for use as gymnasium and assembly hall, and containing rooms for the conservatory of music. The building was completed at a cost of $30,000. In 1902-04 freshman and sophomore classes were maintained, but 218 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS these were subsequently discontinued, the college department still re- maining to be established when the time shall be found ripe for such an advance step. The Alumni Association has pledged $5,000 toward the gymnasium building fund, and an Honor Guard was organized in 1912 for the pur- pose of collecting a permanent building fund. On a plan to solicit pledges of $25 per year for five years about ninety members had been secured and $11,000 pledged up to the end of the last school year. The goal set is 500 members and a fund of $62,500. The graduates of all depart- ments now number more than 600. The faculty consists of nine regular professors and fourteen instruc- tors. The latest catalogue issued showed the following classification of attendance in 1915-16: theological seminary, 18; academy, 86; elemen- tary courses, 24 ; school of commerce, 38 ; school of music, 163 ; evening school, 58. Prof. David Nyvall, head of North Park College, is a graduate of Gefle College, Sweden, 1882; M.Ph.C. of Upsala University, 1886; was instructor in Chicago Theological Seminary one year ; president of \Yalden College, McPherson, Kan., 1905-07; professor of Scandinavian in University of Washington, Seattle, 1910-12. He is the author of a number of minor works in Swedish and English and the author of a book of verse. He is an effective platform orator and an educator of capacity and wide influence within his church. BROADVIEW SWEDISH SEMINARY. Educational work among the Swedish Seventh Day Adventists began with a mission school started at Chicago in 1885. In the year 1889 a Scandinavian department was estab- lished in connection with the Battle Creek College, and the following year this department was moved to Union College, at College View, Neb. Here Swedish educational work was prosecuted for a period of twenty years, from 1890 until 1910, and many of the laborers in the Swedish fields of the denomination received their training there. For years it was evident that a more thorough training should be given in Swedish. But not until the meeting of the fall council of the General Conference in College View, in October, 1909, was a definite step taken towards establishing a separate Swedish school. On April 25 following, a committee comprising among its members several of the Swedish brethren met in Chicago to study the question of locating a Swedish seminary. Several liberal offers were made in other states. There w r ere, however, considerations of greater importance than money or land. To carry out the purpose the location should be such as to offer the best advantages for a Swedish school. The committee finally decided to locate the school on a farm about thirteen miles west of the center of Chicago, about half a mile from the Broadview station on the Illinois Central Railway, near La Grange. An old building on the place was remodeled, and the first school year began September 28, 1910, in the new institution. The attendance - CULTURAL PROGRESS 219 during the year reached twenty-two. This number was more than trebled in the sixth year, 1915-16, when the catalogue showed a total enrollment of seventy. There are three buildings devoted to school purposes. The oldest, a brick structure, was enlarged in 1913, by an annex 32x40, making its dimensions 32x72. A two-story gray stucco building is known as North Hall and another two-story structure is known as West Hall. During 1911 a fourteen-room duplex house was built for the teachers. Connected with the school is a farm of seventy-eight acres, operated for the benefit of the institution. One of the rules of the school reads as follows : "Each student in the school is required to do two hours' work a day and under no circumstances, except in case of sickness, less than seven hours a week in addition to the charge of tuition, home ex- penses and board. All lost time must be made up or paid for at the rate of ten cents per hour, unless excused on account of sickness by the one in charge." The Broadview Swedish Seminary is owned and managed by the Seventh Day Adventists in general, not by the Swedish contingent exclu- sively. While it is a denominational institution serving primarily the interests of the Adventist Church, no religious test is made. Its doors are open to students of other denominations or no denomination, all students being expected to show due reverence for the Word of God and attend religious services at the school. G. E. Nord was placed at the head of the seminary as principal and business manager at the outset. A fair idea of the resources and educa- tional equipment with which the institution began work is gained from a review recently given by him, the substance of which is here given. Soon after his arrival in July, 1910, he received a box of freight from College View containing all the equipment of the Swedish department. This consisted of a teacher's lecturn and a few worn books and maps, having a total value of $23. But a sum of $25,000 had been pledged, out of which $3,000 was expended for new equipment, remodeling and furnishing, the balance going towards payments on the $20,000 property purchased. At the close of 1914 the school property was valued at $45,000, partly offset by a debt of $17,000. A subscription campaign began in 1915 resulting in the wiping out of the debt, and an increase in assets to about $50,000, the present net worth of the school property and equipment. The faculty includes five Swedish members Professors G. E. Nord, H. O. Olson, J. M. Erickson, Mrs. H. O. Olson, O. R. Swanson, besides Oscar Olson in the department of industries. SCANDIA ACADEMY was organized June 26, 1913, and incorporated under the laws of Illinois. The government of the school is in the hands of a board of directors who have entrusted the management of the academy to its rector, Dr. Olof A. Toffteen. According to the announcements of the institution, "Scandia Academy assures its students of a higher degree 220 THE SWEDISH ELEMENT IN ILLINOIS of learning in a shorter time and at less cost than does any other American school. It aims to substitute homelike surroundings for the conventional classroom. It transfers the high school instruction from the fifteenth to the ninth year." In this last instance, it follows the precedent of the schools of continental Europe. Assuming it to be the duty of the school to look after the educational needs not only of the children but the entire community, this academy has incorporated with its plan two schools for adult students, called the Continuation School and the Vocational School. It limits its classes to twelve pupils. It holds that home study should be given equal standing with residence study, requiring, however, all examina- tions to be passed at the school. Therefore a correspondence department has been added, known as the National Institute of Education. The school was started without any visible means, with no backing and without any prospective attendance. The rector began with $250 of borrowed money and an experience covering thirty years in educational work. He rented suitable quarters, and on Sept. 15, 1913, the school opened with twenty-five students enrolled. From that day till March 31 following, more than two hundred were enrolled. The average attendance was 65 during the first year and 84 in 1916. The number of teachers employed in the same period was increased from six to twelve. The school is located at 4753 Dover street, in the city of Chicago. THE FINE ARTS. MUSIC. Like the soil of their native land, the temperament of the Swedes is composed of extremes. In the serene calm of the Swedish character there is mingled a melancholy strain which is in strong contrast with its underlying exuberance of spirit and indomitable love of life and nature in all their manifestations. Lyricism is the spontaneous expres- sion of such a race. The Swedes possess great musical and poetical gifts ; they are endowed with a melodious language, and a land more rich in song than any other country in the world, with the possible exception of Wales and some tropical or semi-tropical lands, like Hawaii or southern Italy. The Swedes in America have remained a people in whom the lyrical temperament persisted side by side with their constructive skill. The lot of the early immigrants, whether cast in the primeval forests of Delaware, Maine or Oregon, or on the prairies of the Mississippi, the Red River and the Saskatchewan valleys, was ever one of hardship. To their daily toil and the upbuilding of families, homes and churches, they applied the heroic patience and inventive resourcefulness of the race, keeping for Sundays and holidays their irrepressible craving for lyrical outburst in song. Truly great was Gunnar Wennerberg, the Swedish poet and patriot, as a composer of patriotic songs in four-part harmony. Austria is CULTURAL PROGRESS 221 proud of possessing a national hymn to which Haydn wrote the music, but no other country can adorn the brow of its national genius with such a diadem of gems as that which Wennerberg wrought for Sweden by his songs of lofty patriotism, such as "Hear Us, Svea," Banner March, "O God, Who Rulest Fate of Nations," and others. The Swedes of America have faithfully cultivated the treasure of ;song left by Wennerberg. Every church choir sings his Psalms, every singing club his patriotic songs, and they unite in choral bodies in hundreds of voices to produce them with an ensemble of admirable discipline. Congregational choir singing is more developed among the Swedes in this country than at home, probably being an outgrowth of the greater democratic spirit in social and religious life. Among the Lutherans, the Augustana Synod has taken the lead, closely followed by the Mission Covenant, while earnest interest in Swedish choir music is shown also by the Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal churches. 1 The ardent Wennerberg culture culminated in the raising of a statue to the poet-composer, a masterpiece by Carl Eldh of Stockholm, which was unveiled in Minnehaha Park at Minneapolis on Midsummer Day, 1915. Credit for this must be given to the initiative of the execu- tive committee of the American Union of Swedish Singers. THE AMERICAN UNION OF SWEDISH SINGERS. This organization is purely musical in its object, which is to culti- vate Swedish song and music in general and Swedish male chorus singing in particular, and to make these elements of Swedish culture known and appreciated in this country through the medium of biennial music festivals. The union was formed on Thanksgiving Day, 1892, in a convention at the Swedish Glee Club of Chicago, to which nine singing clubs in the states of New York, Illinois and Minnesota had sent delegates. The real organizers, found among its first set of officers and first executive committee, were Magnus Olson, Gustaf Hallbom and Fred R. Franson of Chicago, Charles K. Johansen of New York, and Victor Nilsson of Minneapolis. Today the union numbers fifty- four clubs, with a total membership of 1,116 singers. Its branches are found in every center of Swedish- American life from the Atlantic to the Rockies. The eastern and western subdivisions have their own festivals about simultaneously every fourth year, alternating with the great quadrennial joint festivals. The first of these was given in Chicago in connection with the three official Swedish days at the World's Fair in 1893, and was highly successful. The soloists were Caroline Ostberg and Carl Fredrik Lundquist of the Royal Opera at Stockholm, and Conrad Behrens, the German-born Swedish basso of cosmopolitan fame, while the orchestra of the exposition, under the direction of the late Theodore Thomas, 1 Free use has been made here of Victor Nilsson's series of articles on "Northern Music in America," published in the American-Scandinavian Review. CULTURAL PROGRESS 223 played exquisite symphonic music by such Swedish composers as Berwald, Norman, Soderman and Hallen. This was the first inter- national victory for the music of Sweden, at which both the vocal and the instrumental branches were richly and worthily represented. New York was the scene of the second of these great festivals, held in 1897. After its conclusion, a chorus of fifty-four voices, under the baton of John Ortengren, made a concert tour of Sweden, which proved one unbroken series of friendly conquests. Again, in 1910, after another and even more successful festival in New York, at which the court singer, John Forsell of Stockholm, was the star soloist, an elite chorus of forty-five voices made a tour of Sweden, more extended than the first. For the second time the "old country" welcomed the Swedish- American singers with boundless hospitality and with unreserved enthu- siasm for the high standards attained by them. The venerable King Oscar II., with tears in his eyes, had toasted and sung with the chorus of 1897. In the same suite of state apartments in the Royal Palace of Stockholm, King Gustaf V. conferred the royal order of Vasa upon Olof Nelson and John Ortengren of Chicago, president and musical director, respectively, of the elite chorus of 1910. Five years later he decorated with the same order Charles K. Johansen, twice president of the American Union of Swedish Singers. The excellent results attained by the individual singing clubs of Brooklyn, New York and Chicago, as well as by the large choruses of the festivals, are chiefly due to two men, John Ortengren and Arvid Akerlind, who alternated as directors-in-chief of the union until 1910. Ortengren then returned to Stockholm, where he had been a member of the Royal Opera before his twenty-one years of residence in Chicago. Not long afterwards Akerlind's health broke down, and he died in the spring of 1914, in his beloved Upsala, where for many years he had been assistant director of the famous university choruses and the trusted co-worker of Ivar Hedenblad, the musical director of that institution. At the convention of the union held in connection with the music festival at Minneapolis in 1914, Joel Mossberg, the eminent baritone and choral director of Chicago, formerly a pupil of Ortengren, was elected to succeed Akerlind as director-in-chief. Mr. Mossberg will conduct in the seventh quadrennial, to be held at Worcester, Mass., in 1918, and also directed the Western Division festival in Omaha in June, 1916. A third concert tour to Sweden in 1920 was decided upon in the Minneapolis convention. Some of the individual artists who have helped to make Swedish song beloved in this country are mentioned above. The names of a few more should be added. A favorite of Swedish-Americans was the late Anna Oscar of the Royal Opera in Stockholm, who visited the United States four times and was well known for her work as soloist at the festivals in Minneapolis, Chicago, and in Seattle and JOHN R. ORTENGREN. CULTURAL PROGRESS 225 Tacoma. Other popular singers who have taken part in these festivals are Johannes Elmblad, Martin Oscar and Julia Claussen, all of the Royal Opera, and the court singer, Signe Rappe. Special gratitude is due Ortengren, Lundquist, Forsell and Baroness Rappe for having introduced a style of vocal solo with orchestra which is original with Swedish music. Among the Swedish-American artists, Gustaf Holm- quist and Joel Mossberg have devoted themselves to interpretations of Swedish ballads with orchestra, while with them must be mentioned two younger artists, Marie Sundelius of Boston and Albert Lindquest of Chicago, both of great promise. AUGUSTANA CONSERVATORY OF Music. The history of music at Augustana covers a period almost as long as that of the institution itself. It would seem strange indeed if a group of Scandinavians, founding an institution of learning in a new land, and seeking to embody in that institution the spirit of their fatherland, should forget to make provision in some wise for the cultivation of that love of melody so characteristic of their people. In June of 1873, President Hasselquist in his annual report to the Synod, included the following paragraph : "I also beg to call the atten- tion of the Synod to the necessity of providing for an old but increasing need of our institution, namely, that of instruction in music, vocal and instrumental. The love of music and the desire to develop its art have, ever since the days of Luther, constituted a marked characteristic of the Lutheran Church, and we must not allow it to be blotted out in the midst of our new circumstances here. No one of our instructors is possessed of sufficient musical training to be able to assume the duty of instructing in this subject, and besides, all the instructors are more than amply provided with work now. Even though it should prove impossible to do anything in this matter now, yet it should not be for- gotten, but rather kept actively in mind." No action is recorded, but the Board of Directors evidently found some solution of the difficulty, for the catalogue of the institution for the year 1873-74 includes in the list of faculty members the name of Mr. Albert Wihlborg as instructor in voice. In the spring of 1879 Dr. O. Olsson, on a trip to Europe, found opportunity to hear a rendition of Handel's "Messiah" in London. This impressed him very deeply, and on his return he emphasized strongly the necessity of greater musical activity at Augtfstana College. In an article published in Augustana, he speaks at length concerning this mat- ter, and there is no doubt that in this article is to be found expressed the germ idea of a conservatory at the college. Mr. Wihlborg's period of service extended over several years. In the fall of 1878, Mr. J. F. Ring became instructor in vocal music and served in this capacity and that of organist until 1882, when Gustav Stolpe, then of Denver, Colo., became Musical Director, and Augustana announced her first professor of music. DR. GUSTAV STOLPE. CULTURAL PROGRESS 227 The year 1886 was a very important one for musical Augustana. During the previous year the faculty had held a number of informal meetings for the purpose of discussing the possibility of establishing a school of music at the college. It seems that the Board of Directors, while entirely favorable to the movement, was unwilling to assume the responsibility for such an undertaking. The result was that on January 18, 1886, the Augustana Conservatory of Music was established as a private undertaking, governed by the following Board of Trustees: Professors Gustav Stolpe, principal of the department ; O. Olsson, president ; C. W. Foss, secretary and treasurer ; Josua Lindahl, C. L. E. Esbjorn and G. W. Sandt. Courses were offered in hannony, voice, organ, piano and violin. The Conservatory was controlled by the following comprehensive Board of Trustees : Professors O. Olsson, Gustav Stolpe, C. O. Granere, C. W. Foss, Josua Lindahl, G. W. Sandt, C. L. E. Esbjorn, Rev. Mauritz Stolpe, and Messrs. J. A. Enander, G. A. Bohman and Johannes Peterson. Miss Marion Reck was added to the faculty as assistant in piano, and seventeen students were enrolled. The following paragraph quoted from the catalogue of that year serves to show the function of the Conservatory as originally conceived of by the founders : "The object of the Conservatory was originally, and is still, in the first place, to furnish a means of educating organists for the c