Sandburg's Hometown

July 13, 2015

Moses O. Williamson portrait

Moses O. Williamson

by Barbara Schock

Along with other residents of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg called Moses Ocean Williamson “Mose.” Williamson was active in Republican politics and had been elected Knox County treasurer in 1886 and Knox County clerk in 1890. Anyone of Swedish ancestry hoping for a recommendation for county, state or federal employment went to see “Mose.” He had the proper connections and could make the necessary introductions.

Moses Williamson had a distinction of which few other people could brag. He was born July 14, 1850, on the sailing bark “Maria” on the Atlantic Ocean. His parents, William and Margaret, and their children had lived near Stockholm and were on the long journey to Knox County, Illinois. They took up residence in Victoria Township for a short time and then moved to a log cabin south of Wataga in Sparta Township. The father died in 1854, leaving his wife and six children to fend for themselves.

Moses worked on the farm and went to school when he could. At the age of fourteen, in 1864, he apprenticed to Olson & Gray Harnessmakers in Wataga. He purchased Gray's share of the business in 1867 and Olson's share in 1879 and continued the business until 1890.

He became interested in politics and served in various offices at the township level. He was active in the Knights Templar, Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias secret societies. He also loved music and led a band in Wataga and directed choirs at several churches.

In 1886 Williamson was elected treasurer of Knox County. Four years later he became county clerk and moved to Galesburg with his wife and two daughters. Their home was at 996 North Broad Street. He was re-elected clerk two more times. In 1890 he also became president of the People's Trust and Savings Bank.

Mose was named chairman of the Knox County Republican committee in 1884 and held the position for sixteen years. He also served as secretary of the committee at various times for a total of twenty-three years. He was a co-founder of the Swedish-American Republican League, later called the John Ericcson Republican League. It was named in honor of John Ericcson, a Swedish inventor and mechanical engineer. He is remembered for designing the Civil War ironclad ship USS Monitor.

In 1900 Williamson was elected treasurer of the State of Illinois and served one term. During his term the tomb of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield was being refurbished and the constitutional officers of the state were named to the committee overseeing the work. They were the last people to see the face of the martyred president before the casket was closed forever and later buried under ten feet of concrete.

On a Sunday morning in February, 1935, Moses O. Williamson slipped on the icy driveway of his home. His left hip was fractured and the severe shock led to his death. The funeral was held from Central Congregational Church on February 27th. Galesburg Commandry No. 8, Knights Templar, in full regalia, conducted the service and escorted the remains to the Wataga Cemetery. He was buried next to his wife, who had died in 1925, and an infant son who died in 1873.

 

Sandburg's Hometown
Date Title
July 13, 2015 Moses O. Williamson
July 6, 2015 Sweet Little Alix
June 29, 2015 Sharlie's Shickens
June 22, 2015 Anna Held & John Drew
June 15, 2015 Hartel & Secker Meat Market
June 8, 2015 Girls
June 1, 2015 Old First Church - Part II
May 25, 2015 Old First Church - Part I
May 18, 2015 Marbles
May 11, 2015 Pawnee County, Kansas
May 4, 2015 Detective Stories and the Real Thing
April 27, 2015 Professor Isaac A. Parker
April 20, 2015 Celluloid Collars
April 13, 2015 Asparagus
April 6, 2015  Mayor John C. Stewart 
March 30, 2015 Basket Ball
March 23, 2015 The Courthouse of Knox County, IL
March 16, 2015

“Trifles make perfection...”

March 9, 2015 Uncle Tom's Cabin
March 2, 2015 Martha Sandburg Goldstone
February 23, 2015 Devotion
February 16, 2015  Gumbiner's Pawn Shop 
February 9, 2015 White Bread
February 2, 2015 The Monarch Club
January 26, 2015 The Silver Dollar
January 19, 2015 The Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railway
January 12, 2015 The Four Corners
December 22, 2014 Swedish Christmas
December 8, 2014 Christmas 1878
December 1, 2014 Bunker Boots & Shoes
November 24, 2014 Galesburg, Illinois
November 17, 2014 It was Buffalo Bill's Day
November 10, 2014 The Election of 1896 (A follow-up story)
November 3, 2014 The Election of 1896 (continued)
October 27, 2014 The Election of 1896
October  24, 2014 The Rissywarn
October 20, 2014 The Parlor Stove
October 13, 2014 Ashes to Ashes
October 6, 2014 Jesse James
Sept. 29, 2014 Lester T. Stone, Public Servant
Sept. 22, 2014 It's Who You Know
Sept 15, 2014 Mother of the Illinois Flag
Sept 8, 2014 The Scissors Grinder
Sept 1, 2014 Baseball
August 25, 2014 Howard K. Knowles, Capitalist
August 18, 2014  Alcoholic Beverages
August 11, 2014 Soda Water
August 4, 2014 Sweet Corn
July 28, 2014 Marching Through Georgia
July 21, 2014 The Knox County Fair
July 14, 2014 The Panic of 1893
July 7, 2014 The Rev. T. N. Hasselquist
June 30, 2014 The Knox County Courthouse
June 23, 2014 The Family Photograph Album
June 16, 2014 Parades
June 9, 2014 Lingonberries
June 2, 2014 Where We Live
May 26, 2014 Old Main
May 19, 2014 Rhythms of the Railroad
May 12, 2014 Spring Tonic
May 5, 2014 The Milkmen
April 28, 2014 Gray's "Elegy..."
April 21, 2014 Off to War
April 14, 2014 Swedish Easter
April 7, 2014 A Father's Face
March 31, 2014 Secret Societies
March 24, 2014 George A. Murdock, Merchant
March 10, 2014 Trade Cards
March 3, 2014 The Demorest Medal
February 24, 2014 Rip Van Winkle
February 17, 2014 Cabbage Soup
February 10, 2014 Lincoln's Birthday
February 3, 2014 4  The Colonel
January 27, 2014 The Lincoln Penny - A Little History
January 20, 2014 Walking to Work
January 13, 2014  A Small Abode
January 6, 2014 Birth of a Poet
December 30, 2013 Christmas 1880
December 23, 2013 Swedish Christmas
December 16, 2013 The Reporter Sees Santa
December 9, 2013 The Coming of Christmas
December 2, 2013 The Fire Boys Talk
November 25, 2013 Galesburg Will Feast on Turkeys and Cranberries - Thanksgiving 1893
November 18, 2013 Mary Sandburg Johnson
November 11, 2013 Carl Sandburg's Bicycle
November 4, 2013 Lace Curtains
October 28, 2013 The Front Room
October 21, 2013 A Warm Breakfast
October 14, 2013 Marion D. Shutter
October 7, 2013 Cigars and Consumption
September 30, 2013 Forrest F. Cooke & August Sandburg
September 16, 2013 Forrest F. Cooke, Mayor
September 9, 2013 Dusty Streets
September 2, 2013 Typhoid Fever
August 26, 2013 Coffee and Water
August 19, 2013 A Horse! A Horse!
August 12, 2013 Gaddial Scott
August 5, 2013 The Racetrack
July 29, 2013 John Peter Algeld - Part II
July 22, 2013 John Peter Altgeld - Part I
July 15, 2013 Tramps, Tramps, Tramps
July 8, 2013 Lady Liberty
July 1, 2013 Galesburg's Fourth
June 24, 2013 John H. Finley
June 17, 2013 The World's Columbian Exhibition
June 10, 2013 Fruit Short-Cake
June 3, 2013 Horatio Alger, Author
May 27, 2013 Memorial Day, 1887
May 20, 2013 Professor Jon W. Grubb
May 13, 2013 Beginnings of Lombard University
May 6, 2013 Young Sandburg’s View of Lombard College
April 29, 2013 Thinking
April 22, 2013 Robert Colville, Master Mechanic
April 15, 2013 The Galesburg Opera House
April 8, 2013 Grocery Stores and Sample Rooms
April 1, 2013  A Hearty  Breakfast 
March 25, 2013  The Lost Wallpaper Legend 
March 18, 2013 Martin G. Sandburg
March 4, 2013 The Edison Talking Machine
February 25, 2013 Joe Elser, Civil War Veteran
February 18, 2013 Remember the Maine...
February 11, 2013 Lincoln's Birthday
February 4, 2013 Curiosity
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