Eric Janson

Eric or Erik Jansson or Janson (21 December 1808 — 13 May 1850) was the leader of a Swedish pietist sect that emigrated to the United States in 1846.

Jansson was born in Biskopskulla in Uppland, near Uppsala, the son of Jan Mattsson, a farmer, and his wife, Sarah Eriksdotter. Believing that he was miraculously cured of rheumatism, he became devoutly religious, and developed beliefs that conflicted with the catechism of the Lutheran Church of Sweden. He believed in the supremacy of the Bible and was arrested several times by the authorities for burning the works of Luther and others in public and encouraging his followers to do the same. From 1844, he claimed to be a true prophet speaking the word of God. After repeated brushes with the law in Sweden, and having outraged members of the Church of Sweden, he departed for the United States in 1846, condemning his homeland to eternal damnation and taking 1,200—1,500 followers with him.

A trusted follower, Olof Olsson, was sent ahead to locate a suitable place to settle in the United States. He arrived in New York on the Neptunus on 16 December 1845. There he met a fellow Swede, Olof Gustaf Hedström, who suggested that Olsson contact his brother, Jonas Hedström, who was living in Victoria, Illinois. Other followers were not so lucky as several vessels foundered during the voyage, consigning hundreds of Janssonists to the deep. Many others were killed by cholera during the trip, or soon after they arrived.

Jansson arrived in New York in June 1846 and with the help of 400 of his followers who had survived the journey, founded the Bishop Hill Colony in Henry County, Illinois. He named the colony after his Swedish birthplace. Although many died in the first winter, others continued to arrive from Sweden. The villagers lived as a collective religious colony for 15 years, from 1846 to 1861, tilling the soil, tending their animals, and building their settlement with bricks that they made by hand. Some local pioneers were amazed by their lifestyle and the relative success that it generated. Jansson sent nine of his followers to California in 1850, hoping that they would prospect successfully during the California Gold Rush. It was hoped that this additional wealth would help support their community.

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