Buncombe, Illinois' Amazing Story.

Before European settlers arrived, the land that would become Buncombe, Illinois, was home to Indian tribes. Their presence shaped the landscape, influencing trails and the use of natural resources.

In the early 1800s, European settlers began to arrive in Southern Illinois, drawn by farming opportunities and abundant timber. Johnson County was officially formed in 1812. Seeking to honor a piece of their past, some of these settlers arrived from Buncombe County, North Carolina, and gave their new home a familiar name.

The initial wave of settlers was likely drawn to the area's potential for farming and the proximity of natural resources like timber and, later, coal.

Forced Displacement.

The village of Buncombe holds a poignant place in the tragic history of the Trail of Tears. During the harsh winter of 1838-1839, hundreds of Indians were temporarily encamped at Buncombe, waiting for the frozen Mississippi River to thaw so they could continue to force the Indians to move westward.

In May 1830, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the Indian Removal Act that authorized the President of the United States to exchange land west of the Mississippi River for Indian land in the east and appropriated $500,000 ($16,866,000 in 2024) to assist tribes in the move west.

Illinois Trail of Tears Southern Illinois Route.

illinois trail of tears

At the beginning of the 1830s, nearly 125,000 Native Americans lived on millions of acres of land in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida, land their ancestors had occupied and cultivated for generations. By the end of the decade, very few Indians remained anywhere in the southeastern United States. Working on behalf of white settlers who wanted to grow cotton on the Indians land, the federal government forced them to leave their homelands and walk hundreds of miles to a specially designated “Indian Territory” on the west side of the Mississippi River. This difficult and oftentimes deadly journey is known as the Trail of Tears.

 

All this occurred as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

The major detachments (groups) of Indians began moving through Illinois in November 1838. The extremely cold winter conditions slowed their progress significantly and exacerbated the suffering they endured. 

While the overall Trail of Tears encompasses routes through nine states, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma (Indian Territory), and Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma (Indian Territory), and Tennessee, the Southern Illinois segment is known as the Northern Route.

Passage through Illinois continued from January through March 1839, with some groups delayed until spring due to the frozen Mississippi River.

Approximately 100,000 Indians were forcibly moved. An estimated 10,000-15,000 Cherokee traveled the Northern Route in various groups. An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 Indians died in Illinois, including Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole people.

The Bridges family tavern and wayside store became a point of interaction during this time.  Buncombe witnessed the transformative influence of the railroad over time. Its arrival brought new opportunities but also caused some towns to up and move the whole town to new locations to be close to the railroad. Some villages and towns built a depot in exchange for making them a regular stop on the line.

Education has always been important in Buncombe. The Liberty Presbyterian Church, founded around 1850, first held services in a schoolhouse near the town. Buncombe High School served the community until its closure in 1943, but Buncombe Grade School continues to educate the town's youth. Other churches, like Salem Church (later to become the Methodist Episcopal Church of Buncombe), were also founded as the village grew.

In 1871, the township's name was formalized, with Buncombe Township being one of them. The arrival of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad spurred further growth for this small town. Caesar Cohn became an early merchant, and by 1916, Buncombe was incorporated as a village.

While it retains its small-town charm, present-day Buncombe, population 208 (2023), stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit of its founders. Its complex history is marked by interactions with the Cherokee, a resilient community, and enduring respect for education. 

The Yard Skull, Buncombe, Illinois

This unique yard decoration is cemented next to a garage building at a private residence. My husband has owned it since 1992. 

"I married the owner, so the skull came with him. Anyone is welcome to stop by. We get a lot of passersby who stop and take pictures of it. Some leave their vehicles to take each other's picture beside it." (S. Ramsey, 2009)

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Spillertown, Illinois, Challenges, Coal Mining and the Spirit of a Small Town.

Spillertown in Williamson County, Illinois, the story begins long before its incorporation in 1900. Population 175 (2023). 

In 1812, a hardy pioneer named Richard Bankston settled in what was then the wild frontier of Southern Illinois. He cleared land and established a homestead via the preemption rights common in that era, where settlers earned land ownership through development.

Four Spiller brothers came to the County in 1816 in a wagon train with other families from Robertson County, Tennessee. They were Elijah the preacher, Benjamin, Warrenton K., and William Spiller. Benjamin P. and William Spiller married in that earlier home, Elizabeth and Winifred Benson, sisters of William Benson, the first settler in Poor Prairie who gave Williamson County the land for a County seat. Elijah N. Spiller was the son of Benjamin Spiller, and he came with his father and uncles to establish his own home.

The Spiller family scattered throughout the County until nearly every community benefited from their leadership. For example, the family's daughters lived at Moeller Crossroads and Schoharie Prairie. Another was a charter member of the Christian church organized in Stotlar School, and still another taught in that school until she became the bride of Hiram Stotlar.

Elijah N. Spiller bought the land that became Spillertown in 1817 from its first settler, Richard Bankston. Bankston came about in 1812, established ownership by occupation and by tomahawk right, and then made a land entry in 1817. This preemption right and Mr. Bankston's improvements were sold to Mr. Spiller, who received the land deed from the government. He became a prominent local figure, lending his name to the future town. Noah Payne, a dry goods merchant at Marion, surveyed the town plat.

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A Girdled Tree.

A "tomahawk right" aka "tomahawk claim" or "cabin right," was an informal way for early white settlers to claim land ownership on the frontier in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It wasn't an official legal system, but more of a custom.

Here's how it worked:

• A settler would find a piece of land they wanted.
• They would then girdle some trees near a water source or other landmark. Girdling means cutting a ring around tree bark, which would eventually kill the tree.
• They might also carve their initials or name on the bark of  trees.

This marked the land as theirs, according to the informal system. It wasn't foolproof, but it sometimes convinced others or even led to the settler getting payment if someone else wanted the land. It's important to note that this wasn't a legal right, and eventually, proper land ownership procedures were established.

The old Harmony road went north from Marion through Spillertown to Frankfort and on to Benton in the days of horse-drawn vehicles. This was the road the earliest settlers took to Garret's Tavern and then to Harmony, Indiana, where the nearest carding machines were. 

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Carding machines were used to process raw fibers like cotton or wool, preparing them for spinning into yarn. 

Since the day a pioneer found coal near the village of Spillertown north of Marion, coal has shaped the economic landscape of Williamson County. The very name of Williamson County towns bespeak their mining history: Carterville, Herrin, Colp, Stiritz, and other towns were named for mines or the men who created them. Early blacksmiths performed some of the County's first mining, extracting fuel for their craft from small deposits near the surface of Hurricane Creek.

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Williamson County, Illinois once held the title of Illinois' top coal-producing County. During the 80 years of coal mining (1879-1959), the region generated a total of one million, five hundred sixty-five thousand, three hundred forty-eight

 (1,565,348) tons of coal. Over 160 coal mines, both surface and underground operated between those years. J.B. Williford was the first to mine coal 1879-1886 and The Finks Coal Company, R.W. Marshall Coal Company, Stilley Construction and Coal Company, and Wenzel Coal Company all closed in 1959. The fact that several major coal companies closed in the same year  underscores the decline the industry faced around that time. This likely had a major impact on the County's economy.

Benjamin and Warrenton K. Spiller were instructed to work their "hands" or hired men in Herrin's Prairie Road district when the Franklin County commissioners' court met in June 1839. Warrenton K. Spiller was the judge of general elections in Crab Orchard precinct with polls at Bainbridge. He officiated at an election for County surveyor in 1838 and at the election on the question of a County division in 1839. Each time, he was paid $1 for his services. When the division was accomplished, Warrenton K. Spiller was employed to copy the land records of Franklin County so far as they concerned Williamson County lands. He was paid $46 ($1,535 in 2024) for that work.

The home of Elijah N. Spiller was the meeting place in 1841 for the devout group who organized the first church of the Christian denomination in the County. Mrs. Joab Goodall rode horseback to these meetings from her home southeast of Marion, where Goodall's bridge still crosses Crab Orchard. The younger Goodall children would take turns riding pillion behind their mother (a secondary seat behind the coachman bench) to these weekly meetings at the Spiller house. Churches of the denomination were organized throughout the County from that meager beginning, the church at Marion about 1843. The Spiller name recurs in almost every Christian church membership in the County. Family members aided Rev. Clark Braden in establishing the Southern Illinois College at Carbondale, conducted under the control of the Christian church after the Civil War and before Normal, Illinois, was established.

Spillertown School, district 54, bears the impression of the family. Their standards established their school as superior, and to teach there has always been an acknowledgment of excellent qualifications.

Matthew I. Wroton taught Spillertown School in 1865, and for eight months, he had as pupil Captain George W. Young, late of Company E, 30th Kentucky mounted infantry. Mr. Young attended law school, opened an office in Marion, and was the County judge and state's attorney. He returned to Spillertown for his bride, another daughter of Elijah N. Spiller.

Walter Williams of Herrin's Prairie taught his first class at the Spillertown school in 1881. 

A landmark at Spillertown, the old Elijah N. Spiller homestead, was burned to the ground in September 1887. At the time, the house was occupied by the pioneer's daughter and her husband, Bethany J. and William M. Reid. Their daughter became the wife of Wiley F. Slater, County judge for several terms.

On May 20, 1898, a post office opened in Spillertown, further solidifying its status as a recognized town. James F. Reid served as the inaugural postmaster. The post office was closed on February 15, 1914. While losing dedicated postal services would be a setback for most towns, Spillertown's proximity to larger Marion likely mitigates the impact.

In the late 1800s, Spillertown developed as a small but self-sufficient rural village.

Throughout the 19th Century, Spillertown's location on a vital wagon route running from Marion to Benton helped the community grow. This route, known as the old Harmony Road, was a critical link for trade and communication, winding northward to Harmony, Indiana.

On March 3, 1900, the town was officially incorporated. 

Benjamin P. Spiller opened the B.P. Spiller Mine in 1906. By 1907, 1,174 tons of coal was mined.

As with many small towns, the 20th Century brought changes to Spillertown. Improved roads and the rise of the automobile made travel faster and easier, potentially leading to some out-migration. Technological advancements also transformed how people lived and worked.

By August 2011, Spillertown faced difficulties maintaining essential services in an increasingly modernized world. Town residents initiated discussions with the larger city of Marion regarding a potential annexation to address these challenges.

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Annexation can be a powerful tool for small towns, providing improved essential services like police and fire protection, trash collection, and water and sewer systems. It eases financial strain by merging tax bases with the larger city, potentially leading to lower taxes for residents. Small towns gain access to shared resources and more land for housing and development by joining larger economic hubs. Additionally, annexation offers greater influence over decision-making. It can even be a way to ensure sustained governance and services for dwindling towns rather than facing the challenges of remaining an independent municipality.

While the official status of Spillertown did not change through annexation, the stories of its pioneer beginnings, its growth as a small town, and the decisions its residents made to ensure a bright future all contribute to the rich tapestry of Southern Illinois history.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Shumway, Illinois, is One-Third of a Square Mile in Size.

The village of Shumway is an unincorporated community in Effingham County, in Southern Illinois, founded around 1856. The village population was 179 (2023). Shumway is part of the Effingham Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The quiet village of Shumway traces its roots back to the mid-19th century. While details of its earliest days are shrouded in the gentle passage of time, we know that the area was primarily settled by families seeking the fertile lands of the Illinois prairie. Farming became the lifeblood of the nascent community.

The village of Shumway owes its name to one R.H. Shumway, a visionary entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in shaping its identity. Originally established near what was known as Summit Station, the village would relocate to accommodate a depot on the Vandalia Railroad in 1881. This strategic repositioning fueled rapid growth. This growth is tied directly to R.H. Shumway, who founded his seed company in Rockford, Illinois.

In 1870,  Shumway established the R.H. Shumway Seedsman company, a modest enterprise that would transform the village and ultimately make an international impact. Shumway's innovative approach, commitment to quality seeds, and shrewd marketing acumen saw his operation quickly outgrow its initial premises in Rockford. Seeking a better location to accommodate his expanding business, Shumway's eye fell upon the small, farming-focused community that would eventually bear his name.

By 1881,  Shumway successfully relocated his seed company. The village, strategically located along a railroad line, provided excellent logistical advantages at a time when rail transport was vital. Shumway's seed business quickly blossomed into a commercial powerhouse. At its zenith, the company was renowned as the largest of its kind worldwide, dispatching upwards of 200,000 catalogs each year. 

As its economic fortunes soared, Shumway steadily built out the infrastructure and amenities, befitting a flourishing village. Businesses sprang up, catering to the needs of the burgeoning population. Homes multiplied, lining its streets and establishing a cozy residential character. Establishing institutions such as churches and schools cemented the village's sense of community and purpose.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Shumway, Illinois.

This historic and picturesque church was established in 1864 and replaced with the current building shown in the above picture. It is a testament to the village's spiritual heritage. The date of 1864 refers to the congregation's founding.

The church you see today dates back to 1880, with additions, such as the parish hall, etc., made since then. The original structure was erected one mile north of town in 1865, but no records exist of whether any of that building or its materials were moved or they started rebuilding from scratch. The site of the original structure is still the site of Trinity's cemetery today, though it has been expanded several times over the years.

Trinity Lutheran Church interior, Shumway, Illinois.

Shumway's success transformed the once-modest settlement into a thriving regional hub. R.H. Shumway Seedsman eventually became one of the largest seed distributors in the world by the time of Shumway's death in 1925.

The village of Shumway grew in tandem with the seed company's success. This small community on the vast Illinois plains became a surprising agricultural innovation and trade hub. Residents took pride in connecting to the Shumway name, which is recognized locally and in households nationwide. The Shumway seed catalog was a familiar and anticipated resource for countless farmers and gardeners, promising bountiful harvests year after year.

However, the world was changing, and even small communities like Shumway were not immune to those changes. The agricultural industry continued to modernize as the decades passed, with large-scale agribusiness increasingly displacing smaller operations. While the R.H. Shumway Seedsman company was eventually sold, changing hands and relocating, the village named for its founder perseveres.

Today, Shumway maintains its small-town charm. Visitors find a quiet and welcoming place with residents proud of their history as a center of seed distribution and rural life.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Hooppole, Illinois, Hopes and Hardships.

Nestled in the heart of Henry County, Illinois, lies the small village of Hooppole, with a population of 169 (2023). Its name is as unusual as its story. Legend has it that the area was once a haven for coopers (barrel-makers) who ventured from Rock Island searching for the pliable hickory saplings abundant in the region. The wood from these trees made excellent hoops for barrels, thus inspiring the curious name "Hooppole."

In the late 19th century, hopes for progress and prosperity soared in Hooppole with the promise of a railroad. The Hooppole, Yorktown & Tampico Railroad (HY&T), nicknamed "The Dummy," was envisioned as an electric interurban line to connect Hooppole to larger markets. However, financial constraints and a lack of enthusiasm from some landowners led to a less-than-ideal route and, ultimately, a steam-powered operation.

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The Evanston Avenue (Broadway today) Steam-Dummy Locomotive, Chicago, Illinois. 1864

The first car of this steamed-powered train was designed for the engine. The engine was enclosed to look like a passenger car, hence the name 'dummy.' The story goes that if the horses saw the engine, they would get spooked. It was thought that the more familiar appearance of a coach presented by a steam dummy compared to a conventional locomotive engine would be less likely to frighten horses when these trains had to operate in city streets. Later, it was discovered that the noise and motion of the operating gears of a steam engine frightened horses rather than the unfamiliar outlines of a steam engine.

The HY&T officially began service in 1909. Despite its limitations, the railroad proved instrumental in opening up the area, allowing farmers easier access to sell crops and giving residents a lifeline to larger towns like Chicago. It was hardly a smooth ride, though. The twists and turns of the track, resulting from land disputes, were a constant source of amusement and frustration for passengers.

HY&T Depot, Hooppole, Illinois. 1952

Through the first half of the 20th century, Hooppole remained a small agricultural community. While the Great Depression brought hardship, the folks of Hooppole possessed a resilient spirit. The HY&T Railroad, however, faced mounting challenges. After declaring bankruptcy in 1943, a dedicated investor named Howard Mathis kept the line chugging along for another decade. Sadly, the "Dummy" made its final run in 1954, marking the end of an era.

Today, Hooppole stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of rural America. While the railroad is gone, a sense of history lingers. Life in Hooppole maintains its quiet, small-town charm.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Elizabeth, Illinois, home to the Apple River Fort State Historic Site.

The Village of Elizabeth, population 695 (2022), was incorporated in 1868. It is located in the center of the rolling hill country of Jo Daviess County in northwestern Illinois. 

In the 1820s, rich lead deposits were discovered in the Galena region in northwestern Illinois. This attracted miners and settlers, leading to the growth of small communities. The Apple River Settlement was established in 1827. Several families set up homes, stores, and a general store that formed the core of the settlement.

President Andrew Jackson's administration supported a series of actions against the Indians, including the Indian Removal Act of 1830. 

Apple River Fort State Historic Site, 311 East Myrtle Street, Elizabeth, Illinois.

Black Hawk, a leader of the Sauk, disputed the validity of the treaties and attempted to return to their ancestral lands in Illinois. Conflicts erupt between settlers and Black Hawk's band. Amidst rising fear in 1832, area settlers built the Apple River fort in less than a week. Along with other fortifications hastily built in the region, they all served as shelters during the war.

Black Hawk led a resistance movement against forced removal from their ancestral lands. The tribes included the Sauk (Sac), Meskwaki (Fox), Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), and Kickapoo warriors.

Black Hawk's warriors attack the Apple River Fort, resulting in an hour-long battle (Battle of Apple River Fort; June 1832). The settlers successfully defended the fort, leading Black Hawk's forces to withdraw. This battle is notable as one of the few forts directly confronted by Black Hawk.

Following the Black Hawk War (September 21, 1832), the "Treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians" (sometimes referred to as the Black Hawk Purchase) resulted in a significant cession of land east of the Mississippi River by the Sac and Fox tribes to the US government, then move to a reservation in Iowa. The Sac and Fox Nation in Iowa, now known as the Mesquakie Indian Settlement, purchased back a portion of their ancestral land in the 19th century. This area is called Meskwakiinaki.

Around 1847, the fort was dismantled, and its timbers were used to construct a barn.

The Three Elizabeths Folklore

As legend has it, three women, all named Elizabeth, stood shoulder-to-shoulder, successfully defending the Apple River Fort during the 1832 Black Hawk War. In their honor, what had been known as the Apple River Settlement was renamed  the village of Elizabeth.

 

The anecdote states that three women, all named Elizabeth, bravely defended the Apple River Fort during the Black Hawk War in 1832. 

• Elizabeth Armstrong was particularly praised for her leadership and courage, motivating and assisting those inside the fort.
• Elizabeth Van Volkenburg (incorrect: Von Voltinburg)
• Elizabeth Winters. 

These women undoubtedly played important roles. They assisted in helping anyway they could. Reloading weapons, molding musket balls, nursing, etc. They showed unwavering resolve during the attack.

Today's Elizabeth is home to five museums, numerous gift shops, the largest antique mall in northwestern Illinois, and the Apple River Fort State Historic Site. Visit the Chicago Great Western Railway Depot Museum and the Elizabeth History Museum. 

Elizabeth has been described as the "undiscovered treasure" of northwestern Illinois.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Bishop Hill, Illinois, Utopia on the Prairie. The Eric Janson, aka Erik Jansson Story.

Like the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and the Quakers who followed William Penn to Pennsylvania, the Jansonists were a group of Protestants who fled oppression seeking religious freedom on the shores of America. Eric [Erik] Jannson (1780-1850) was known as the Wheat Flour Messiah. He had a debilitating illness cured by a miracle that reshaped the rest of his life. He began preaching about our relationship with the Lord, not filtered by the state religion. 

Erik Jansson. Image, 1850.

Erik Jansson married Anna Larsson on October 29, 1815. Their seven children; Erik (1818-Deceased), Anders (1821-1822), Johanna (1822-1894), Peter (1824-1824), Gustaf (1828-Deceased), Jonas (1831-Deceased), and Christina (1835-1836).

Jansson preached to his followers in Sweden about what he considered to be the abominations of the Lutheran Church and emphasized the doctrine that the faithful were without sin. As Jansson's ideas became more radical, he began to lose support from many of his sympathizers and was forced to leave Sweden amid growing persecution. Jansson had previously sent Olof Olsson, a trusted follower, as an emissary to the United States to find a suitable location where the Janssonists could set up a utopian community centered on their religious beliefs. According to Jansson, this community would become the "New Jerusalem," and their beliefs would soon spread worldwide. They sent a scout ahead to purchase property in the western wilderness of Illinois.

The Colony Church was built in 1848. The sanctuary is on the second floor. Designed to reflect the doctrinal ideas of Erik Jansson.

Janssonist Criticisms of the Lutheran Church

Jansson believed the mainstream Lutheran Church had become too comfortable with the world, losing its spiritual fervor and focus on personal salvation. He saw the clergy as more concerned with status and material wealth than true spiritual guidance. Jansson condemned what he felt was excessive emphasis on rituals and sacraments within Lutheranism. Jansson argued these practices did not guarantee salvation and could lead to a false sense of security, detracting from a personal relationship with God. Jansson strongly opposed the Swedish Lutheran Church's close connection to the state. He believed this compromised its spiritual integrity and led to a dilution of true Christian doctrine. Jansson and his followers held a strict literal interpretation of the Bible. They rejected what they saw as attempts by the established church to explain away or reinterpret certain passages to align with societal changes. Janssonists practiced a form of religious communalism, where property and resources were shared. This contrasted with the more traditional Lutheran emphasis on individual faith and family structures.

After being jailed for his beliefs, he fled Sweden with more than 1400 followers to their new home in western Illinois. These people sold everything they owned, some families were divided, and they took the arduous journey across the North Atlantic to America in 1846.

The Bishop Hill Colony (20 miles east of Galesburg) was founded in 1846 by Eric Jansson. Population: 108 (2022)

The Colony struggled early on after its founding. Many of the first 1400 colonists died from diseases on the way to Bishop Hill (named for Eric Jansson's birthplace, Biskopskulla), while others became disillusioned and stayed in New York. The quarters in Bishop Hill were cold and crowded, and food was scarce. After the first winter, life at the Colony began to improve.

What happened to Janssonists who stayed in New York?

It's likely that many Janssonists who stayed in New York gradually assimilated into the larger American society. They may have joined other Lutheran congregations or adopted different religious affiliations altogether. There's a possibility that some tried to maintain smaller, independent Janssonist communities in New York or its surrounding areas. However, without Jansson's leadership, these would likely have been less organized and more short-lived. A few may have even become disenchanted with America altogether and chose to return to Sweden.

In the next few years, housing was upgraded from dugouts to brick living areas, and crops were planted on 700 acres. By 1849, Bishop Hill had constructed a flour mill, two sawmills, a three-story frame church, and various other buildings. The Bishop Hill Colony was communistic in nature, as dictated by Jansson. Thus, everyone owned everything, and no one had more possessions than another. Work in the Colony was highly rigorous and regimented. It wasn't uncommon to see hundreds of people working together in the fields or large groups of laborers engaged in other tasks.

The Colony Hotel was initially built in 1852 as a dwelling for Colonists.

Letters sent back home from Janssonists to their friends and family, telling of the fertile agricultural land in the interior of North America, stimulated substantial migration for several decades and contributed to the formation of the Swedish-American ethnic community of the American Midwest.

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Both "Eric  Janson" and "Erik Jansson" (son of Jan) are considered correct spellings of the Swedish religious leader's name. When his story and movement spread internationally, the spelling of his last name was usually Anglicized to "Eric Janson."

The preaching and philosophy of Erik Janson are too complex for these few paragraphs, except to say that his convictions inspired many and caused consternation among more than a few. Bishop Hill became a hub for thousands of Swedish immigrants who eventually settled much of the Midwest, from Galva to Galesburg, Minnesota, to North Dakota.

Erik Janson's Murder

Bishop Hill underwent a major upheaval in 1850 after the murder of Erik Janson on May 13, 1850. This happened while Janson was at the courthouse in Cambridge, Illinois. According to some accounts, Janson had just delivered a sermon referencing Biblical passages where Jesus talks about drinking wine in his Father's kingdom. [Matthew 26:29], [Mark 14:25], [Luke 22:18], and [John 14:3]. 

Janson was assassinated by a former colony member, John Root, who was upset with Janson for interfering with his marriage to one of Janson's cousins. After their leader's death, the people of Bishop Hill appointed a group of seven trustees to run the affairs of the Colony. Among the trustees were Jonas Olsson and Olof Johnson, who would become the primary leaders of the Colony as they had been two of Janson's closest aides. The Colony flourished under these two men and the rest of the trustees. The workforce was reorganized to become more efficient, and more buildings were erected. However, despite Bishop Hill's success, financial problems arose amid accusations of mismanagement against Olof Johnson in 1857. Without colony approval, Johnson had made several significant investments that had turned out to be disastrous. Colonists voted to end the communal system as Bishop Hill headed for financial ruin. In 1861, the formal dissolution of the Colony was official, and many of its people would soon be forced to move away. 

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The followers of Jansson believed he would rise from the dead three days after his death, but that did not happen. The religious group eventually came to terms with Jansson’s death. John Root was convicted of manslaughter and served only one year in prison before being pardoned. However, he died not long after his release.

The community holdings were divided among the members, with women and children also receiving shares of property, which was unusual in the 1860s.

At the turn of the 20th century, many of the Colony buildings were falling into disrepair. The Old Settlers, The Bishop Hill Heritage Association, and the State of Illinois stepped up to save the existing buildings. Throughout the 1970s, restoration and preservation became the call to arms. With help from the Swedish Royal family, descendants of the hardy pioneers, and thousands of hours of volunteer labor, Bishop Hill became a thriving community once more. 

Descendants of Erik Janson still lived in the Colony until December 20, 2004, when Erik's great-great-grandson and Bishop Hill volunteer fireman Theodore Arthur Myhre Sr. died south of the Colony while on a fire service call. Other known descendants remain in Illinois.

Many other 'historic villages' one might visit are actually reproductions. They may have done some archeology, built new, or moved a mish-mash of landmark structures to an artificial commons. But Bishop Hill is the same town you would have seen if you came through in a horse and buggy over 175 years ago. It is a living, fully functional village with a mayor and fire department. The people who live here still farm the surrounding countryside, cut firewood for the winter, plant broom corn in the spring, and celebrate the changing of the seasons, just as their Swedish ancestors did. Yes, it's done for the folks who come to participate, but more importantly, it's because it is their way of living authentically. The crafts and trades that supported our forefathers and mothers are still a source of livelihood today. The pottery and brooms you buy are the same ones they use in their kitchens.

The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1984. Bishop Hill is interpreted as a living community of Swedish-American heritage. Due to state budget cuts, the Bishop Hill State Historic Site was closed for nearly 5 months from December 1, 2008, to April 23, 2009. Today, the site is open Wednesday through Friday during regular business hours.

With tens of thousands of visitors yearly from all 50 states, Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries, Bishop Hill has a well-earned reputation as a place to step out of the hustle and bustle and back to a simpler time. 

The Steeple Building.

Several historically significant buildings have survived and are scattered throughout the village, four of which are owned by the state of Illinois and managed as part of the Bishop Hill State Historic Site. In addition to the historic structures, the state owns the village park with a gazebo and memorials to the town's early settlers and Civil War soldiers. A brick museum building houses a valuable collection of folk art paintings by colonist Olof Krans.

Bishop Hill, Illinois, is genuinely Utopia on the Prairie.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Kampsville, Illinois, is a Quaint Little Village of 300 on the Illinois River.

Kampsville was initially known as Beeman's Landing after James L. Beeman, a ferry operator on the Illinois River. After Stephen Farrow purchased the Ferry from Beeman, the name was changed to Farrowtown. The name "Vedder" was used when the post office was established in 1857. 

The name Kampsville was made official on March 6, 1872, and refers to Michael A. Kamp, who served as President of the village board and was also a postmaster at Silver Creek, north of Kampsville.

In 1863, German immigrant and Civil War veteran Captain M. L. Kamp moved into Calhoun County and set up a general store and post office in Silver Creek, just north of the site of present-day Kampsville. Kamp flourished as a farmer and merchant, and in 1869, Kamp purchased a tract of land south of Silver Creek and began to develop it. 

Initially named Farrow Town, the town was renamed Kampsville to honor Captain Kamp. The wealth and success of Kamp are reflected in the red brick home at the intersection of Routes 100 and 108 that he had built for his family in 1882.

In 1902, Captain Kamp gifted a newly constructed and completely supplied store, including one dollar in coins in the cash register for good luck to his son, Joseph A. Kamp. This store is one of the few surviving early commercial buildings in Calhoun County. The store was an important center of commerce for the County, and much of the business used the barter system, which allowed Kampsville to grow despite a shortage of money. Apples, peaches, lumber, and fish were traded at Kamp's store for supplies and later resold and shipped downriver to destinations such as St. Louis. The store was sold to the Capps family when Joseph Kamp died in 1952, and after several owners, it was acquired by the Center for American Archeology in 1991. 

Kamp and other European settlers weren't the first people to find the bluffs and rolling hill country an attractive place to live. The area is located in one of the world's richest archeological regions, with recorded human habitation dating back to the Early Archaic period (8500-6000 BC). Kampsville is home to the Center of American Archeology (CAA), which conducts ongoing excavations and educates future archeologists and the public. The CAA features exhibits and displays in its Visitor's Center, a museum facility in Kamp's Store, and its administrative offices in the Kamp family's former home.

The village of Kampsville is the base of operations for the Center for American Archeology, an educational and research organization dedicated to the archeological understanding of the Indigenous People and European settlers in the region. 

The Center of American Archeology building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It contains exhibits demonstrating evidence of 7,000 years of human habitation excavated at the Koster Site, a prehistoric archaeological site in nearby Greene County.

The two ferries are FREE. There is 24/7 service.

The Kampsville Ferry crosses the Illinois River at Route 108, connecting the east side of the river in Green County and the City of Carrollton on Rt. 108, a two-lane undivided surface highway for its entire length. It is one of two permanent ferries operated by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The town hosts many annual events, including Old Settlers Days and a series of educational events organized by the CAA. Just south of town on the Great River Road (Route 100) is the McCully Heritage Project, with 12 miles of nature trails and other recreational activities.

The village of Kampsville is the base of operations for the Center for American Archeology, an educational and research organization dedicated to the archeological understanding of the Indigenous People and European settlers in the region. It exhibits evidence of 7,000 years of human habitation excavated from 3 acres at the Koster Site, 11 miles due east, a prehistoric archaeological site in nearby Greene County. 

The Koster Site was discovered in 1967 on the farm fields of Theodore and Mary Koster and subsequently named after them. The discovery was made by Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) anthropologist Stuart Struever, who stumbled upon the farm and the rich trove of historically significant artifacts that lay beneath the cornfields after a tip from a local farmer. Struever had recently founded the Center for American Archeology, 101 Broadway,  Kampsville, Illinois. 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.