The Samuelson Families of Henry County, Illinois

Not only has the life of John Samuelson been productive of such good fortune for himself that warranted his relinquishing his heavier cares, but his record is one which in more ways than one is an inspiration to those younger men about him to exert themselves to nobler manhood, for although he was of Swedish birth, he did not hesitate to offer himself in support of the country of his adoption, when there was need of his loyalty to it. He is now living on Orchard street, Orion, but for a number of years he cultivated three (hundred and twenty acres of land on section 25, Western township, which is still in his possession and is operated by his son. He was born November 25, 1835, and was about fifteen when, in 185 1, his parents, Samuel and Anna (Nelson) Johnson, brought their family to America. They stayed about six months in the city of Buffalo, New York, whence they traveled by boat to Chicago, traversing the distance from there to Henry county with horse and wagon. Here the father entered eighty acres of government land, on which he made his home until his death.

In his native land John Samuelson received a very limited education, and when he came to the United States he had no knowledge of or acquaintance with our language. Nor were there any schools here then, so that he was compelled to make his way as best he could. That he surmounted all obstacles valiantly none can deny. At the age of twenty-one years, when he began to assume responsibilities, he secured an interest in a threshing outfit which he operated throughout the township with a success that promised well for subsequent years.

His agricultural pursuits, however, were interrupted by the inauguration of the Civil war, in which he determined to participate. Accordingly, in August, 1 86 1, he enlisted in Company C, Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was sent first to St. Louis, from there through Missouri, and after returning to St. Louis was sent south. At the battle at Pittsburg Landing his regiment lost heavily, although he came from the fray unwounded. That was his good fortune throughout the course of the war, for although in a number of hotly contested engagements, like Shiloh, the siege of Corinth and Salem Cemetery, he was never wounded, was never in a hospital and never fell into the hands of the enemy. In the battles of Somerville, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Little Rock, Prairie Den and Jenkins Ferry, he also proved his valor, winning promotion to the rank of corporal and later to that of sergeant. After more than three years of service, he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Henry county, where he immediately took up the occupation to which he had devoted himself before the war. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township, for which he paid fifteen dollars an acre, and later bought a farm of like area for which he paid more than four times as much, buying it at the rate of sixty-five dollars an acre. This large tract, which he still owns, has greatly improved through the course of years, for his ideas of progress and his good management, which has been guided by keen foresight, have played quite as conspicuous a part in his success as has the industry which has been one of his conspicuous characteristics. For about thirty years it was his home, until 1897, when he removed to the village of Orion, where he has since resided in the enjoyment of a generous income and in the memory of a life well spent in earnest endeavor.

In Andover, in June, 1867, Mr. Samuelson wedded Miss Mary Lawrence, a native of Sweden, who came to this country when she was about eighteen years of age. Her parents Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Lawrence, never left their native land, in which the last years of their lives were passed. All of the family of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson are living. John, who has remained a bachelor, took a course of study in Augustana College and later in Davenport. Arthur, who has also stayed single, attended the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, later the business college in Davenport and is now in the state of Washington.

William was a pupil in the common schools, later continuing his education at Abigdon, Illinois, and is now a farmer at Ponca, Oklahoma. He married Miss Delia Johnson and they have four children. A sketch of Guy follows this. Mabel attended the high school at Orion. Esther, the youngest, was graduated from that institution with the class of 1907. The two daughters have also had a musical education, for Mr. Samuelson, having experienced the hardships attendant upon little schooling, has made every endeavor to give his children the advantages of a thorough preparation for life which he did not enjoy. Mrs. Samuelson died March 17, 1904.

When he was admitted to citizenship in this republic Mr. Samuelson decided to look to the republican party for guidance in political matters and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Since that time his allegiance to the party which supported the Union has been unswerving, and it was upon its ticket that he was elected to the positions of school director and trustee and highway commissioner, in which capacities he served efficiently through a long period of years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in harmony with whose teachings he has lived. When Trego Post, G. A. R., was organized he joined it as a charter member, and in the course of years has attended the reunions of his fellow soldiers and the national reunion at Milwaukee.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GUY ERNEST SAMUELSON.

Among the enterprising young farmers of Western township is Guy Ernest Samuelson, the third son of John Samuelson, who operates his father's large tract of land. Born in the house in which he now lives, September 11, 1882, almost his whole life has been passed in agricultural pursuits upon the half section of land which is now the scene of his labors. As a boy he was early initiated by his father into the secrets of farming, while he attended the common schools of his locality, to obtain a good practical education. At the expiration of his school days he engaged in clerking in a store in Orion, an occupation he followed for two years, and then worked upon a farm during the summer months and teamed in the village during the winter. Shortly after his father retired from active life, he and his two older brothers undertook the management of the home place, and about 1902 he bought the interests of the others and has since conducted it alone. While a large part of his land is devoted to general farming, he has made a specialty of stock raising and feeding. He breeds pure blooded Clydesdale horses and pastures a large number of cattle which he ships to the market annually. These interests have brought him an income commensurate with that obtained from his agriculture, so that he is rapidly advancing along the road of success which was traversed in such a remarkable manner by his father. Indeed it is by some of the same strong traits of character observable in the older man, which has won him his good fortune and also the good will and respect of his fellowmen.

After he had proved to himself that he was able to achieve a fair name and fortune for himself, Mr. Samuelson wedded, in Rock Island, January 25, 1905,

Miss Signa Carlson, of Cambridge. Of Swedish birth, she came to America at the age of seventeen, leaving her parents, John and Christina (Johnson) Carlson, at Nassgo, Sweden, where they are still living. Having been bred to belief in the principles of the republican party from his youth, he has given to it his allegiance, but he has sought no office within the gift of the people. He and his wife are consistent members of the Swedish Lutheran church, while fraternally he has allied himself with the Mystic Workers and with the Modem Woodmen of America. He is a charter member of a camp of the latter society, and with Mrs. Samuelson belongs to the Royal Neighbors. A young man who has just begun upon his life's career, he may well look forward to many years of prosperity and advancement in his chosen vocation.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PETER A. SAMUELSON.

One of the native sons of Western township, who has won a pronounced success from his farming and the raising and feeding of stock, is Peter A. Samuelson, who owns three farms in different parts of section 26. He was born November 6, 1858, and is a son of Charles M. and Hannah M. (Swanson) Samuelson, both of Swedish birth and both having reached maturity when with their parents they came to this country. Samuel Johnson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, left his Swedish home in 185 1 and after having landed in New York went to Bufifalo, where he spent the winter. His destination, however, was Andover, this county. Although he came here a poor man, in the course of years he acquired eighty acres of land and a comfortable competence. The maternal grandfather, John Swanson, also became the owner of eighty acres after his advent here. Charles M. Samuelson and his wife began their married life with empty hands, but they were of a race that through generations had learned the necessity for incessant exertion and frugality, so that it is not surprising to know that before the end of his career Mr. Samuelson owned seven-eighths of a section in Western township. Eight children were born to him and his wife and all but one reached maturity. They were: Albert J., who lives in Western township; Peter A., the subject of this sketch; Edward C, of Peculiar, Cass county, Missouri, who married Miss Mary Youngquist and is now the father of three children; Victor J., who died at the age of thirty years; Sophia, who passed away when one year old; Oscar, who lives in Orion and is unmarried; Hannah, who lives in Chicago, where she teaches music; and Minnie, who married William Westerlund, of Chicago, and has three children. The father died February 18, 1904, and the mother in February, 1907. In politics he was ever a republican and held a few of the minor offices of the township, while he gave his religious support to the Swedish Lutheran church, which his father had helped to organize and of which he was trustee.

Like all the older members of the family Peter A. Samuelson obtained his education in the public schools of this county, while the younger children were able to enjoy better advantages. Until he was thirty years of age he remained with his father, assisting him in the operation of his large farm, and then left the parental roof, for having married he had the natural desire to possess a home of his own. He took up his residence upon the place of eighty acres on which he now lives and which he purchased in 1892, paying sixty-five dollars an acre. In 1896 he bought another place of equal area, which cost him ten dollars more an acre, and sometime later he bought eighty acres more, for which he paid seventy-five dollars per acre. The last addition to his landholdings was eighty acres, which he inherited from his father, bringing his total acreage to three hundred and twenty. Part of this area is devoted to general crops, but much of it is used as pasture land for the large herds of cattle which Mr. Samuelson raises, feeds and ships to market. He has made a signal success from his agricultural pursuits, as any might know who have seen the handsome and commodious home he erected in 1908.

In the church at Andover, June 26, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Samuelson and Miss Lottie A. Anderson, of Lynn township. She was born, however, in Andover township, March 12, 1861, a daughter of John Otto and Anna Sophia (Youngquist) Anderson, and received a good education in the common schools. Four children have been born of this union: Blanche Harriet, who died in infancy; Clifford Cylvin, who passed away at the age of four and a half months; Lester A., who was born September 17, 1897; and Mabel A., who was born March 30, 1900.

Mr. Samuelson has always been a stanch republican but no office seeker, although he has ever taken an active interest in politics. He holds membership in the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon. Industrious, honorable and imbued with strong principles, he enjoys the good-will of those who have come in contact with him, either in business or social intercourse.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK V. SAMUELSON.

Frank V. Samuelson, who is engaged in the hardware and farm implement business in Orion, Ilhnois, was born in Western township, July 14, 1861, and is a son of A. P. and Joanna (Gustafson) Samuelson. The parents were both born in Sweden, the father in 1824, the mother in 1828, and came to the United States in 1854. They settled in Henry county, Illinois, where the father followed farming until 1890, when he retired from active life. For about thirteen years he lived on the old homestead and then in 1903 removed to Orion, where he passed away December 29, 1907. He supported the republican party for he firmly believed in the principles enunciated in its platform. Mrs. Samuelson still survives, making her home in Orion. Ten children were born to the couple, only four of whom are now living. They are Henry, who lives in Kansas; Frank V., of this review; Otto, a retired farmer who lives in Orion; and Hulda, who is the widow of August Johnson and resides in Woodhull, Illinois.

Frank V. Samuelson was reared at home and attended the common schools of the township, and then for seven or eight years worked at home and at odd jobs, earning his tuition and board for a course in college. He spent thirteen weeks at a business college in Davenport, Iowa, but short though the time was he made the best possible use of it and found himself not ill prepared for the affairs of life. He rented a farm from his father until 1895, when he embarked in the farm implement business. After seven years' experience he sold his stock and returned to farming, abandoning that pursuit at the end of two years to travel for a Chicago machinery house. In 1908 he reopened his store in Orion with a complete line of farm implements and hardware, and in January, 1910, removed to the fine double store building he owns on Jackson street. Being of a mechanical turn of mind he has been very successful in the line of work to which he has chosen to devote himself.

On the 20th of March, 1886, Mr. Samuelson was united in marriage to Miss Hilma J. Bergstrom, a daughter of C. J. and Christine Bergstrom, both natives of Sweden. Mrs. Samuelson was also born in that country in 1868 and was thirteen years old when her father came to America to make a home for his family. Two years later they came to Henry county, where Mr. Bergstrom had procured a farm, on which he Hved until his death, which occurred October 26, 1909. His wife is still living and makes her home with her son-in-law, Mr. Samuelson. Mrs. Samuelson was one of a family of five children, the three others now living being Axel, whose home is in Colorado; Fredolf, a Lutheran minister, of Chicago; and Albin, who lives in South Dakota.

To Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson have been born two children. Bert M., born October 29, 1886, for the past three years has attended Augustana College, Rock Island, from which he hopes to graduate in 1910. He may then take a six months' course in any business college he may elect. In the summer, for the past few years, he has taught in the Swedish church school in Ottumwa, Iowa. Cora, born April 6, 1888, is a graduate of the Orion high school and for the past year and a half has been chief clerk in the postoffice in Orion. To add to her other accomplishments she possesses not a little skill as a musician. Of both of his children Mr. Samuelson is pardonably proud, for they are growing to a fine manhood and womanhood and have done credit to the many advantages which he has been able to give them.

In politics Mr. Samuelson is a republican and he served as school clerk in his district from the time he was twenty-two years of age until he left the farm. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen, in all of which he is active and has held numerous offices. His religious allegiance is given to the Lutheran church, in which he has been prominent. He really started the battle of life at the age of thirteen, with nothing to his credit but a capacity and willingness to work, but he now is in the enjoyment of many comforts. He owns a farm of one hundred and forty acres to the east of Orion and a fine home on Bank street, which he built in 1903. It is modern and handsome, both within and without, bespeaking the broad-mindedness and liberal culture of its inmates. His success, honestly won, has brought with it the respect and good will of his friends and neighbors.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GILBERT C. SAMUELSON.

Gilbert C. Samuelson, a farmer and stock raiser, feeder and shipper of Osco township, who owns forty acres on section 17, while he also operates his father's place of two hundred and forty acres, in the same township, was born in Western township, February 5, 1869, his parents being James and Clara (Manguson) Samuelson. When he was about six years old his father sold his farm in Western township and purchased the land on which he lives today for sixty-five dollars an acre. Here Gilbert C. Samuelson grew to manhood, being about fourteen when in 1882 his mother died. In 1897 his father moved to Cambridge, leaving his son in charge of the farm which he had assisted in tilling from his boyhood days. His daughter, Mabel, the only other child born to him and his wife, accompanied him to Cambridge and gives him the comforts of a home which can be obtained only through a woman's presence. From his own farm and the tract belonging to his father which he operates, Gilbert C. Samuelson has won a large return for his many hours of hard labor. Familiar as he has been with the nature of the soil from his earliest years, he has had but to cultivate it by the most approved methods to obtain the large harvests which are his pride. In addition to the raising of cereals, however, he has devoted a great deal of time to the stock business, making shipments annually to the important markets. His industry has been the measure of his success and he finds that each year makes a gratifying increase to the income that he derives from his labors.

Mr. Samuelson has been married twice. On the 12th of December, 1894, he wedded Miss Dora L. Johnson, who was born and reared in Lynn township, Henry county, her parents being George H. and Anna (Bergstrom) Johnson. Of this union were two children born: Grace, whose birth occurred in Clover township, and Herbert, born on the home farm in Osco township. Mrs. Samuelson passed away June 28, 1902. On the 6th of September, 1905, Mr. Samuelson married again, his second wife being Miss Carrie Baird. She was born in Portland, Indiana, March 5, 1884, and is a daughter of Charles and Emma (Dull) Baird. Mr. Baird, who passed away January 5, 1907, in Munson township, after a two weeks' illness that resulted in inflammation of the brain and paralysis, was born in that township, January 9, 1857. He graduated from the classical department of the schools of Valparaiso, Indiana, with the class of 1883. After the completion of his education he devoted several years to teaching school. First he had charge of the department of mathematics in the schools of Portland, Indiana, being assisted by his wife, and then upon resigning this position he went to the business college in Helena, Montana, where he taught mathematics, penmanship and commercial law. This he also resigned after a considerable length of time, to accept a responsible and more lucrative position in the office of the Rocky Mountain division of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1891 he returned to Henry county to become instructor in the business department of the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, fulfilling his duties in that capacity for about eleven years. Five years before his death he retired to a farm in Munson township on which he lived with his family the remaining years of his life.

Immediately after his graduation he wedded Miss Emma Reese Dull, of Hamlet, Indiana, and of their union were born three children: Carrie Reese, who is now Mrs. Samuelson; Charles Glen, the only son; and Nellie Merle who was the youngest. These with his widow still survive. Mr. Baird possessed many noble qualities of head and heart. As a husband and father he was loving and loved; as a friend he was loyal, sincere and unchangeable; and believing in the promises of God he lived and died a Christian. Men and women were the better for his life and when his race was over he was deeply mourned by all who had occasion to know him.

Mr. Samuelson has always allied himself with the republican party, but although he has served as school trustee and director for a number of years he is not an aspirant for public office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee, while of the Sunday-school since its organization, Mrs. Samuelson has been superintendent. Fraternally he enjoys most pleasant relations with the camp of the Modem Woodmen of America at Osco, and both Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson belong to the Royal Neighbors, Mrs. Samuelson having been chosen receiver of the local camp.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.