Christian G. RYERSON
- Born: 2 Jul 1832, Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway
- Baptized: 8 Jul 1832, Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway
- Marriage: Inger KNUTSON on 10 Oct 1861 in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA 1
- Died: 14 Apr 1914, Ford County, Illinois, USA at age 81
Other names for Christian were Christen Reiersen GISMARVIG and Kristen (Christian) REIERSON.
Noted events in his life were:
• Immigration: from Norway, 1857, America. 2 leaving Avaldsnes on 28 Apr 1857...
#34, Peder Christian Augustav Gismervig - Ungkarl, 30
leaving Avaldsnes on 29 Apr 1857...
#35, ungkard Christen Reiersen Gisvarvig, 24 3/4
• Census: Dix, 1870, Ford County, Illinois, USA. Christopher Pierson 38
Isabel Pierson 36
Anna S Pierson 7
Carrie N Pierson 5
Ellen J Pierson 4
A Christina Pierson 3
Cecelia Pierson 1
Sarah Pierson 3/12
John B Haley 11
[page 5 of 20]
• Reference: History of Ford County, Illinois, 1908, Ford County, Illinois, USA. p165
C. G. RYERSON was born in Norway in 1832, emigrating to America in 1857. He settled first in La Salle county, then came to Ford county, locating on section 28. In 1861 he married Miss Knutson, a native of Norway.
p259-260
THE NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, DIX TOWNSHIP
The first Norwegians to settle in this county were Christopher Ryerson and Henry Halvorson. They came here from Otter Creek, La Salle county, Illinois, and located some four or five miles northwest from Elliott. Our best information is that htey came here about 1866.
pp524-525
CHRISTIAN G. RYERSON.
Christian G. Ryerson in his life record exemplified the sterling traits of his Norwegian ancestry, belonging to that race which had long borne a reputation for reliability and industry -- qualities which are indispensable in business and are important factors in good citizenship. He now follows farming on section 28, Dix township, where he owns and cultivates a good property. He was born in the land of the midnight sun in 1832, his parents being Ryer and Anna (Larson) Ryerson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they spent their entire lives. Christian G. Ryerson was there reared and remained a resident of his native land until twenty-four years of age. He acquired his education in the schools of Norway, and in 1857 came to the new world with his brother Peter, who is now following farming in Iowa and is eighty years of age. His second brother, Ole, came to this country in 1855. Another brother, Thomas, is a retired farmer, living at Pontiac, Illinois, while Ananis is a blacksmith living at Norway, La Salle county, Illinois.
On the 7th of May, 1857, Christian G. Ryerson started for America, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which ultimately reach the harbor of Quebec, June 23, 1857. He arrived at Chicago July 4, and then went to Ottawa, Illinois, where his two brothers lived. He arrived in this country during the hard times occasioned by the financial panic of 1857. As his financial resources were such as to make immediate employment imperative he began working at farm labor, receiving seventy-five cents per day, or fifteen or sixteen dollars per month. Carefully saving his earnings he was at length enabled to purchase a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land in the fall of 1867, paying for this eight dollars per acre. It was all raw prairie, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made thereon. There were few houses between his farm and Sibley, Illinois, and upon him devolved the arduous task of converting the raw prairie into cultivable fields. In the early days he saw deer and wolves. He raised practically nothing the first
two years, for his land was very wet and geese, brants and ducks ate up about all that was raised. With characteristic energy, however he began to drain the fields and to make improvements thereon and he now has his place under a high state of cultivation, the farm being well tiled, while the latest improved machinery has been secured to facilitate the work. He now owns a place of one hundred and sixty acres, in the midst of which stands a valuable residence. In the early days he did most of his trading at Paxton and the roads at that time were often impassable, especially at the time of the spring rains. When he removed to his farm he built a little house there of one room, which was unplastered, but as the years have passed he has been enabled to add many comforts that go to make life worth living.
In 1860 Mr. Ryerson was married to Miss Inger Knutson, who was born in Norway and came alone to America in 1859 as a passenger on a sailing vessel to Quebec. She was attracted to this country from the fact that she had a sister and a brother living in La Salle, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson have been born ten children, of whom two died in early life. Anna married M. W. Peterson and has three children, Edith, Frances and Reuben. Josie is the wife of M. L. Yeager and has four children, Earl, Azalia, Frances and Raymond. Christina is the next of the family. Celia, now deceased, was the wife of David Cooper and had one child, Lela. Richard. now living in Urbana, is married and has one child, Catherine. Lena is the wife of J. C. Langley. Sarah and Carrie are at home.
In his political views Mr. Ryerson is a republican and has served as school trustee but otherwise has held no public office. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church. He has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey but is still supervising his farm work and displays business energy that is equal to that of many a man of much younger years.
[History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908
http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/oca/Books2008-06/historyoffordcou/historyoffordcou02gard/historyoffordcou02gard.pdf]
• Cemetery: Drummer Township Cemetery, Gibson City, 1914, Ford County, Illinois, USA.
• Obituary: History of Ford County, 1914, Ford County, Illinois, USA. Christian G. Ryerson, was born in the village of Kaperoig [Kopervik], Norway, on July 2, 1832, and died at his home in Dix township, Ford County, Ill., April 17, 1914, at the age of 81 years 9 months and 15 days
Mr Ryerson together with his brother Peter, now residing in Iowa, started for America on May 7, 1857, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, reaching the harbor of Quebec on June 23, from where they journeyed to Ottawa, Ill., by way of Chicago.
Arriving in this country during the hard times occasioned by financial panic of that year and as his financial resources were such as to make it imperative for immediate employment, he began by working at farm labor at the sum of fifteen dollars per month.
By careful economy he was at length able to purchase a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres, the present homestead, in the year 1867, it being raw prairie with no improvements of any kind. Here he began the arduous task of converting the raw prairie into an improved farm of today with the many trials and privations best known to the pioneers of this section.
He was a man of character, energy and fixed integrity, which exemplifies the sterling traits of his Norwegian ancestry, belonging to that race which has long borne the reputation of reliability and industry, qualities which are indispensable in business and important factors in good citizenship. Possessing these high traits of character, he was favorably known to wide circle of friends.
In 1861 Mr. Ryerson was married to Miss Inger Knudson, who also was born in Norway, and who survives him. Unto this union have been born ten children, two of whom died in infancy and early youth. The other children are Anna, wife of M.W. Peterson of Lisabula, Wash.; Josie wife of M.L. Yeager, of ix township; Christine, next in family, at home; Celia, now deceased, was the wife of David Cooper; Sarah, residing in Chicago; Richard, residing in Urbana, Ill.; Lena, wife of J.C. Langley, residing in Washington; Carrie, at home; and nine grandchildren.
Mr. Ryerson leaves three brothers and one sister; two brothers, Thomas and Annias residing in Illinois and Peter in Iowa; the sister still resides at the old home in Norway.
In religious faith Mr. Ryerson was identified with the Lutheran church of which he had been a member since childhood. His Christian life was best exemplified by his daily life in his home and surrounding neighborhood, by his character and high ideals and sterling manhood toward his family and his fellow men.
Thus comes the closing of a life well lived. A life for which there is a reward, he has answered the summons of the ruler of the universe: 'Well done good and faithful servant; come up higher.'
• Alt. Death, 17 Apr 1914, Illinois, USA.
• Notes: wife widowed in Dix, 1920, Ford County, Illinois, USA. Ryerson 85
Christine Ryerson 52
Sarah Ryerson 49
Cary Dirks 42
[41]
George Dirks 39
• Reference: Pontoppidan Church Cemetery Dix Twp Ford County, Abt 1963, Ford County, Illinois, USA. PONTOPPIDAN CHURCH CEMETERY DIX TWP FORD COUNTY
The first Norwegian settlers in Dix Twp, according to Dunlap's Atlas of Ford County, published in 1874, were Chris Ryerson and Henry Halverson, who came from Otter Creek in LaSalle County, Il in 1867, and settled on Section 28, Dix Twp, three miles south west of the present location of the village of Elliott. There were children in both families, and the other families nearby, and as was the case in all new settlements, a school house was soon constructed on land given by Mr. Ryerson for that purpose.
Other Norwegian families came from LaSalle County to the area and by 1870 preaching services were held in this school house.
The first congregation was organized in 1876 and in 1881 a church was constructed in the northwest corner of Section 25, Dix Twp.
A cemetery was established nearby in 1876, and the first burial there was that of Oscar M. Thompson, son of T. and M. Thompson, on June 26, 1877. Age of the infant was four months. The cemetery is maintained by the church.
[http://genealogytrails.com/ill/ford/pontoppidancem.html]
Christian married Inger KNUTSON, daughter of Knud Knudsen ØVREBØBØEN and Anna Johannesdatter SURDAL, on 10 Oct 1861 in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA.1 (Inger KNUTSON was born on 13 Jan 1834 in Hjelmeland, Rogaland, Norway, baptized on 26 Jan 1834 in Fister, Hjelmeland, Rogaland, Norway and died on 12 Oct 1926 in Ford County, Illinois, USA 3.)
Marriage Notes:
RICHARDSON, CHRISTIAN CANUTESON, INGER 1861-10-10 C 1619 LA SALLE
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