The Westerlund Families of Henry County, Illinois

Eric Westerlund is now living retired at his country home in Osco township, Henry county, Illinois, where for many years he was closely identified with agricultural pursuits, still owning two hundred acres situated on sections 33 and 28, and ninety acres in Andover township. As the name indicates he is a native of Sweden, having been born June 16, 1836, in Hassala, near Berge Byb Nora, Helsingland, a son of Eric A. and Elizabeth Westerlund, who with six of their children started for America about 1850. The mother and the youngest child, who was three years old, never reached their destination, having died en route and were buried at sea. On the same vessel a brother of our subject's father brought his wife and three children to the new world. They were eleven weeks and three days crossing the Atlantic and landed in New York. Although they had intended to make their home in Pennsylvania, through the influence of a Swedish minister who had a brother in Knox county, Illinois, they were persuaded to continue their journey westward. They traveled as far as Andover township, Henry county, where their possessions were unloaded, for the father's financial resources were exhausted and he was compelled to seek immediate employment, which he secured by renting a farm. In the family were the following children. Andrew, the eldest son, remained in Sweden and his descendants are now living in that country, Margaret married William Stolt, by whom she has seven children, their home being at Odebolt, Iowa. Jonas resides in Lynn township, Henry county, Illinois, and has four children. Eric is the next in order of birth. Peter lives in Orion, Illinois. Hans became a soldier of the Civil war, during which time his health became impaired and he died near Woodhull, leaving three children. The father married a second time and before his death had become the owner of eighty acres. He passed away about 1867 or 1868 and his remains were interred in Andover cemetery.

Eric Westerlund of this review, having been born and reared on his father's farm in Swedfen, received the advantages of a common school education in his native land, continuing his studies there until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States. Later, however, he had the privilege of attending school in Henry county for two winter terms. Having been reared to the occupation of farming, he worked out for one year, after which his services were required on the home farm. Thus he remained in his father's employ, his persevering efforts proving effectual in the further cultivation and development of the property, until he became of age.

On the 7th of February, 1858, occurred the marriage of Mr. Westerlund and Miss Christine Anderson, of Andover township, a daughter of Jonas and Christine (Anderson) Anderson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. Mrs. Westerlund was born on a farm near Hille Socken, Obygeby, Sweden, January 30, 1843, and when she was about six years of age came with her father and mother to the United States, they having been induced to take up their above in Andover township, this county, on their arrival in New York, She was the third in a family that numbered five children. Andrew, her eldest brother, was taken ill with cholera and was left in a hospital in Chicago, where he died. In the spring of 1850 Mr. Anderson journeyed overland to California, where he met with fair success, but in the following year he returned by the ocean route to Illinois, having decided in favor of the Prairie state.

In 1863 Mr. Westerlund bought eighty acres of his present farm, paying ten dollars an acre for land that is now worth two hundred. Unto him and his wife have been born six children, namely: Sarah E., the wife of A. E. Anderson, of Andover township, Henry county, by whom she has thirteen children; Emma C, who became the wife of Charles Peterson and died leaving six children; Sophia Josephine, who wedded Ferdinand Lonner, living near Shields, Kansas, their family now numbering eight children; John O., residing at Elliott, Iowa, who is married and has five children; Annie M., now Mrs. Haggland, who resides at Essex, Iowa, and in whose family are five children; and Julius N., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Westerlund has been a republican in politics since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He was elected on the republican ticket and served as road commissioner for a number of years. However, he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking, having refused to run for supervisor on the democratic ticket, though urged to do so by his fellow citizens. A school director for many years, his cooperation and substantial aid can always be counted upon to further any movement for the benefit of public school instruction and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. Aside from his farms in this county, his landed interests also include property in North Dakota and Colorado, and he is numbered among the prominent and successful agriculturists, whose labors have not only contributed to their individual prosperity but have also been active factors in the development of the state. Mr. Westerlund is accounted one of the esteemed and honored pioneer settlers of Henry county. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.

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

JULIUS N. WESTERLUND.

Julius N. Westerlund, an active and energetic agriculturist of Osco township, was born in the house where he now resides on the 17th of February, 1872, his parents being Erick and Christine (Anderson) Westerlund. He was reared on the home farm and obtained his early education in the country schools, while subsequently he pursued his studies at Cambridge and later spent four years in Augustana College, completing the commercial course with the class of 1892. He was then engaged in the hardware business at Cambridge for about a year and a half, on the expiration of which period he sold out and returned to the home farm. His time and energies have since been devoted to the cultivation of a farm of two hundred acres on section 28, belonging to his father, and under his careful supervision the land has become very productive and valuable, the well tilled fields annually yielding abundant harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestow upon them. He owns a quarter section of land in South Dakota and also has a one-fifth interest in three thousand six hundred acres in western Nebraska.

On the 28th of February, 1895, in Cambridge, Mr. Westerlund was united in marriage to Miss Etta A. Samuelson, a native of Osco township and a daughter of August and Tilda (Anderson) Samuelson. Unto them have been born six children, namely: Grace Almeda; Franklin Dewey, who died at the age of nine years; Wallace N.; Evangeline, Irene and Gilbert.

Politically Mr. Westerlund is a stanch republican, casting his first presidential ballot for William McKinley. He served as town clerk in 1893 ' in 97 was elected supervisor, which office he still holds, having been reelected in 1909, He was formerly a member of the purchasing committee and is now on the fuel committee. Since 1892 he has been a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 2248, at Osco, in which he served as clerk for four years and as venerable consul for two years. He also attended the state camp at Decatur. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Andover and he is now acting as a teacher in the Sunday school. They have always made their home in this county and are widely and favorably known within its borders, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken regard and esteem.

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

JOSEPH EMANUEL WESTERLUND. M. D.

Joseph Emanuel Westerlund, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine, his work showing familiarity with the most advanced scientific methods, was born in Lynn township, Henry county, Illinois, July 30, 1870. As the name indicates he comes of Swedish ancestry. His grandfather, Eric Westerlund, was a farmer of Sweden and after emigrating to America became a resident of Lynn township, this county, where he died when about seventy years of age. His first wife died when they were on the voyage to the new world. Their son, Jonas Westerlund, the father of the Doctor, was born and reared in Sweden and when twenty-one years of age sought a home on this side of the Atlantic. For a time he was employed in the pineries of Minnesota but became one of the early settlers of Henry county, establishing his home in Lynn township, where he purchased four hundred and forty-five acres of land that he cultivated and improved. He reared his family upon this farm and with the passing years developed a fine property, its value steadily increasing with the improvements he made upon it and with the general rise of realty in this part of the state. He is now living retired, making his home in Orion. He married Elna Nelson, also a native of Sweden, in which country her parents died at an old age. Their daughter Elna was one of three children and in 1853 she came to the United States. Here she gave her hand in marriage to Jonas Westerlund and they traveled life's journey happily together until the 15th of February, 1906, when Mrs. Westerlund passed away at the age of seventy years. Their family numbered nine children, six sons and three daughters, but only four are now living: Henning N., John Edward, Luther Gilbert and Joseph E.

Dr. Westerlund was reared on his father's farm and the district schools afforded him his early educational privileges which were supplemented by a course of study in Augustina College at Rock Island. There he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and entered upon life's practical duties, well equipped for the fray. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school for several terms and for one year he worked at the printer's trade on the Orion Times. In 1897 he took up the study of medicine and was graduated from the Chicago College of Physicains & Surgeons with the class of 1900 He located for practice in Cambridge in May of the same year and in the period which has since elapsed has established himself in public regard as one of the leading members of the medical profession in this part of the county. He has been very successful in treating diseases, is most careful in the diagnosis of a case and his judgment is seldom, if ever, at error in determining the outcome of disease.

One the loth of September, 1902, Mr. Westerlund was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Wahlberg, a native of Moline, Illinois, and a daughter of Carl and Mary Wahlberg. Her father was born in Sweden and her mother in Rock Island county, Illinois. They have four children, including Mrs. Westerlund who by her marriage has become the mother of a daughter and son, Alma Elizabeth and Joseph Allen. Dr. and Mrs. Westerlund hold membership in the Lutheran church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is recognized as one of its local leaders and was secretary of the county central committee for one term while at the present writing he is chairman of the township central committee. He filled the office of president of the board of health for several terms and is serving his third term as a member of the board of education. He belongs to the Cambridge lodge of Odd Fellows and in more specifically professional lines is connected with the county and state medical societies and the American Medical Association. He thus keeps in touch with the advanced thought and purposes of the profession and his constant reading and research have continually promoted his efficiency in the discharge of his daily duties.

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

PERRY E. WESTERLUND.

Perry E. Westerlund, the proprietor of the Cloverdale Farm, which embraces one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, Western township, was born on the same section January 24, 1876, and is a son of Peter and Christine (Hultman) Westerlund. The parents are now living in the village of Orion, resting after many years devoted to agricultural pursuits.

The youngest of a family of five children, Perry E. Westerlund was reared on the home place and attended the district school, where he secured his first introduction into the world of books and knowledge. For one year he attended Augustana College, where he pursued a business course, and then returned home to work for his father. He shortly afterward rented land of the latter and engaged in farming for himself, with what success may be judged from the extent of his fields and the general prosperous appearance of his land and the condition of his buildings. In 1899, the year in which he married, he erected his handsome residence, commodious, well constructed and equipped, which set the standard to which he tried to conform when he put up the other buildings on his place. A successful miller of the soil, yet it is as a stockman that he has made his reputation, for his cattle and hogs are well known in the markets to which he sends them.

At Woodhull, Illinois, March 22, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Westerlund and Miss Selma Edmund, who was born and reared in Oxford township, where her birth occurred September 4, 1875. Her parents were Andrew J. and Johanna (Carlson) Edmund, the former of whom is a resident of Woodhull, but the mother has passed away, her death having occurred February 14,

1907. Mrs. Westerlund was the third in a family of six and has become the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter: Forest Edmund Emanuel, born October 19, 190 1; Lyle Ruth Eleanor, born October 14, 1903; and [name withheld], born April 2, 1907. Mr. Westerlund is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church at Orion and gives his support to the candidates of the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of Camp No. 261, and takes part in all the meetings of the society and is deeply interested in the welfare of his brothers. Thrifty, industrious and energetic, he is now numbered as one of the leading farmers of Western township. Cloverdale Farm might in many ways serve as a model for others of like kind, while the stock which has made for it its name is some of the best in this locality.

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