Jonas Olson

Jonas Olson was born in 1802 in Sweden .

A peasant in Soderala parish in Sweden who was a revivalist leader in that parish. Here is where he met Eric Janson. After a few metting and deep discussions with Janson. Jonas Olson and his brother Olof became staunch supporters of Janson and his teachings.

As religious prosecution of Janson and his followers became more violent and more frequent, Jansson often seeked refuge in Olson’s home in Söderala. Olson was one of the four “princes” that Janson had appointed to oversee the plans for immigration. While his lieutenants were organizing the journey Janson slipped out of the country.Jonas Olson left Stockholm aboard the Charlotta and arrived in New York on September 15, 1846 .

He became one of the trusted leaders of the Bishop Hill colony.Some say in fact that he was the real leader of the colony.With Olson’s help Janson organized life and work in the colony. On March 28, 1850 , he was one of the nine members who were selected by Erik Jansson to travel to California to seek riches for Bishop Hill.

The trip was not a success. And things also became bad back in Bishop Hill. Erik Jansson was shot and killed at the Henry County Court House on May 13, 1850 . When Jonas Olsson learned of Jansson's death, he left California , not wanting to go in the first place, and traveled by ship to Nicaragua. There, he took a ship to New Orleans , and then a Mississippi River boat back to Illinois . He arrived at Bishop Hill on February 8, 1851 .

When Olson had returned from California , he denounced the idea of inheritance and declared he was Janson’s rightful successor. Jonas Olsson became the leader of Bishop Hill, assisted by six colony trustees.

Under Olson’s management the colony, which had been in debt, underwent great success. He also became one of the preachers and did so for many years until 1890 when Martin Johnson took over being the regular preacher.

Jonas Olson lived the rest of his life at Bishop Hill, dying on November 18 1898

Some information from: Bishop Hill-svensk koloni på prärien by Olof Issakson and Sören Hallgren

Written and submitted by Wini Caudell

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