Nicanor A. Benelius was a senior at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois in the fall of 1885. His name appears in the college catalog of 1885-1886, along with his birthplace, the year of his birth, and a few other facts, From this start, we researched the genealogy and family history of Nicanor A. Benelius. This paper contains a short biography of Nicanor, a report on his ancestors, a report on his decedents, and some open questions for further research

Brinto, Farah Khan

Maurer, Hannah

English

Augustana College, Illinois: Augustana Digital Commons

Augustana College Augustana Digital Commons Augustana Seniors Fall 1885 (Class of 1886) Historical Augustana Student Biographies 5-20-2022 Augustana Seniors Fall 1885: Nicanor Benelius Hannah Maurer Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois Farah Khan Brinto Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/fyibio1886  Part of the Education Commons, and the Genealogy Commons Augustana Digital Commons Citation Maurer, Hannah and Brinto, Farah Khan. "Augustana Seniors Fall 1885: Nicanor Benelius" (2022). Augustana Seniors Fall 1885 (Class of 1886). https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/fyibio1886/9 This Student Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Historical Augustana Student Biographies at Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Augustana Seniors Fall 1885 (Class of 1886) by an authorized administrator of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@augustana.edu. Augustana Seniors Fall 1885:Nicanor BeneliusFarah Khan BrintoHannah Maurer11 May 2022Nicanor BeneliusNicanor A. Benelius was born and baptized on 9 January 1861, in Lekåsa, Sweden.1 Theparish he was baptized in was the Jällby, Älvsborgs Iän in Stommen, Sweden.2 Nicanor’sbirthname was different from the current name.3 He met a German priest, who was Josef ErikPaul Benl, who changed his name to Benelius later.4 Nicanor took the same name later, possiblybeing inspired by Erik. His original name was Nicanor Andersson.5Nicanor immigrated to the U.S. on 7 November 1884.6 He belonged to the SwedishEvangelical Lutheran Church of Hjellby, Bjorke.7 His parents were Swedish and worked asfarmers in his hometown of Lekåsa.8 Anders Nilsson was his father and he was born 29 January1827, in Skövde, Skaraborgs, Iän.9 Christina Eriksdtr is Nicanor’s mother and she was born on 2March 1824.10 Her birthplace is unknown. Christina and Anders had a total of 3 children,Nicanor, August and John.1111 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.10 “Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”, ArkivDigital, page 19, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.9 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, database of images, ArkivDigital, (http://www.arkivdigital.net : accessed 16March 2022), image 57 / page 98, Anders Nilsson, wife Christina Eriksdtr, and family in Lekåsa, Sweden; SwensonSwedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. The image is a photograph ofAnders Nilsson Family and who he lived with.8 Class Record, Senior Class, 1885-1886, Box 15, MSS 241, Augustana College Office of the Registrar Records,Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. This Records of Members is hand writteninformation, containing written information about Nicanor Benelius.7 Class Record, Senior Class, 1885-1886, Box 15, MSS 241, Augustana College Office of the Registrar records.6 “Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”, ArkivDigital, page 19, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.5 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.4 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.3 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.2 “Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”, ArkivDigital, page 19, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.1 Registration card for Nicanor A. Benelius, 1883, Folder 10 1883 A – Z, Box 1 Early Registration Records, MSS241c, Augustana College Office of the Registrar records, Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island,Illinois. The registration card is a printed form with hand-written information, almost certainly filled in and signed in1883 by Nicanor A.Benelius.Nicanor A. Benelius came to be a student at Augustana College in 1883 making him asophomore his first year here.12 He arrived in America on 6 May 1883 and started studying atAugustana on 4 September 188313.  In college Benelius was a very good student getting majorityA’s and B’s as grades.14 At Augustana he lived in room 18 in the west wing of the school in abuilding known as the First College Building15 with Peter O. Hansen as his roommate.16 He waspart of the senior class of fall 1885.17After graduation, Nicanor went to New Britain Connecticut.18 He was a student pastor atthe Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church Maria from 1886 to 1887.19 He planned on studying atthe English Lutheran Seminary before coming back to Augustana.20On 2 October 1888 he went to London, England where he was trying to get financialassistance from a priest named Johannes Palmér from a church called Swedish Church.21Johannes did not provide financial assistance to Nicanor, as to Johannes, Nicanor seemedsuspicious.22 Two days prior to Nicanor asking for financial help, a woman who was receivingfinancial aid from the church got killed by a serial killer named Jack The Ripper.23 On 4 October23 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.22 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.21 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.20 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.letters that he sent to Tuve NilsonHasselquist at Augustana College19 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.18 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.17 Class Record, Senior Class, 1885-1886, Box 15, MSS 241, Augustana College Office of the Registrar records.16 Catalog of the Officers and the Students of Augustana College and Theological Seminary 1883-1884,15 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.14 Records of Class - Testimonials at Augustana College from the Scholastic Year 1875-1876, Box 2, MSS 241,Augustana College of the Registrar Records, Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. This is ahandwritten grade book that kept track of each student's academic grade for the year 1875-1876.13 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.12 Class Record, Senior Class, 1885-1886, Box 15, MSS 241, Augustana College Office of the Registrar records1888 Nicanor sent a strange letter to the City of London Mayor, but it is not easy to read theletter.24 He got a reply from the mayor too but this letter cannot be found.25 On 18 October 1888,he sent a second letter to the mayor and this was also not readable.26 On 8 November 1888,Palmér went to speak with the secretary of the City London, who assured Palmér that Nicanorhas a good reputation because they have contacted the current Augustana president, Hasselquist.But despite this they decided to send him back to America, of which Palmér personally paid for apart of the ticket money.27But Nicanor did not end up going back to America and on 17 November 1888, he wasarrested by the police for strange behavior.28 He entered a house on Buxton Street and frightenedthe woman who lived there.29 He entered the house without saying anything and when thewomen asked him what he wanted, he grinned.30 Upon questioning he said he was asking for astreet, later he was questioned about Jack The Ripper murders but was released on 23 November1888. He was sent to America after that.31Back in America, Benelius wrote many letters to Hasselquist, the Augustana president atthe time.32 He mentioned that he has been traveling a lot and that he planned not to come back to32 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island,Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.31 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Times(London) The WhiteChapel Murders. Monday 19 November 188830 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Times(London) The WhiteChapel Murders. Monday 19 November 188829 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois,Times(London) The WhiteChapel Murders. Monday 19 November 188828 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, IllinoisTimes(London) The WhiteChapel Murders. Monday 19 November 188827 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.26 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.25 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.24 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.Augustana later.33 On 1 February 1889, he wrote his final and third letter to Hasselquist, wherehe talked about his depression and sadness, but it is difficult to read through the letters properlyas it is written in old Swedish, so the reason for his sadness is unknown.34 He also mentioned thathe wanted to continue to preach and that he wanted to get married to an English lady.35Nicanor later was found that he was temporarily restrained in county jail, pending hisadmission to the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane on 2 October 1890.36 Hepassed away on 31 July 1910.37 Nicanor is buried in Peoria State Hospital Cemetery inBartonville, Peoria County, Illinois.3838 “Find A Grave Index”, database, FamilySearch(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200481876/nicanore-bornelius : 16 March 2022), Nicanore Bornelius,1861-1910; Burial, Peoria State Hospital Cemetery in Bartonville, Peoria County, Illinois, United States of America.Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. FamilySearch includes a transcription of information37 “Find A Grave Index”, FamilySearch, database entry for Nicanore Bornelius (d.1861), Peoria State HospitalCemetery in Bartonville, Peoria County, Illinois, United States of America.36 “Augustana College: An Educational Institution of which Rock Island is Justly Proud” Rock Island Argus. (RockIsland, Illinois), 2 October 1890, pg. 1; web archives(https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92053945/1890-10-02/ed-1/seq-3/ : March 2022); image providedby Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress; Part of a special insert about the history of NicanorBenelius.35 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.34 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.33 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.Ancestors of Nicanor BeneliusGeneration 11. Nicanor A. Benelius. See main biography for more information.Generation 22. Anders Nilsson. Anders Nilsson was born 29 January 1827, in Skövde, Skaraborgs, Iän.39He was baptized at Algutstorp, Älvsborgs Iän in Kilatorp Hägrunga Rote.40 The date ofhis baptism is unknown. Anders Nilsson married Christina on 29 January, 182741. Theygot married at the Jällby, Älvsborgs Iän in Stommen, Sweden.42 Anders Nilsson died on 4August 1894.433. Christina Eriksdtr. Christina Eriksdtr, was born on 2 March 1824.44 The birthplace isunknown. Her baptism and the date of baptism is unknown. Christina and Anders had 3children. Christina died on 10 December 1911.45I. Nicanor A. Benelius. See 1 above.II. August. August was born 13 March 1863.46 All other information is unknown.III. John Alfred. John was born 21 August 1866. 47 Nicanor’s younger brother JohnAlfred started to act strange in 1871 and went to Gothenburg Mental Hospital in47 “Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”, ArkivDigital, page 19, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.46 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.45 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.44 “Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”, ArkivDigital, page 19, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.43 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.42 “Anders Nilsson (1800–1947)”, ArkivDigital, database image of Anders Nilsson, born 1827-01-29 BiS(Population of Sweden)41 “Anders Nilsson (1800–1947)”, ArkivDigital, database image of Anders Nilsson, born 1827-01-29 BiS(Population of Sweden)40 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.39 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.1896.48 He was later sent to Vadstena Asylum where he stayed until 1897 anddied.49 All other information is unknown.Generation 36.   Eric Johnson. Eric was born 31 January 1796.50 His place of birth is unknown. Hemarried Stina Larsdotter.51 Their place and date of marriage is unknown.7.   Stina Larsdotter. Stina was born 16 February 1795.52 Her place of birth is unknown.Stina and Eric have 3 kids.53I. Christina Eriksdtr. See 3 above.53 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.52 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.51 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.50 “Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”, ArkivDigital, page 98, database image of household of Anders Nilsson.49 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.48 “Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Stefan Rantzow’s email to Augustana College Special Collections on 21 Jul 2018.Descendants of Nicanor BeneliusGeneration 11. Nicanor A. Benelius. See main biography for information.Nicanor had no known descendants.Questions for further researchHow did Nicanor come to America? After being released Nicanor came back to America.However the date or how he came to America is not knownWhat were in the letters that Hasselquist sent to Nicanor? What happened to the lady hewas willing to marry?  There were alot of letters sent between Nicanor and Hasselquist (thepresident of Augustana date). The letters are not readable as they were written in old Swedish.And the letters that Hasselquist sent to Nicanor are not found. In the letters he talked about likinga lady and wanting to get married to her. It is worth researching what happened further with thelady and the reason for the close relationship between Hasselquist and Nicanor, and what theytalked about.How were his last days at the mental hospital? What happened to his family? Did hisfamily try to look for him? There is nothing more known about Nicanor after coming to the US,except that he was waiting on his admission to Illinois mental state hospital and then that he diedin the mental hospital. The cause of his death is not known. It is known that he was buried inPeoria Mental State Hospital but his picture of his gravestone is not found. It is not known evenif he has a gravestone, if not, why was he not given one?We have created a record for Nicanor Benelius in the family tree on FamilySearch. Therecord locator is G6V1-GPR.AcknowledgementsWe would like to gratefully acknowledge the draft written by Adwoa Adoma Bawuah,Henrietta Mensah, and Eunice Agyemang. We thank them for their allowance of us to use theirdraft to help further our information in getting to know our alum.5454 Registration Card for Nicanor A. Benelius, 1883, MSS 241 Augustana College Office of the Registrar Records.5555 Commencement Program, 1886, Folder 1 1868-1899, Box 1 Commencement Programs 1868-1936, MSS 248,Augustana College Office of the President Records, Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.The twenty-fourth annual commencement program for thursday, June 10th, 1886, is a small printed leaflet of fourpages.Source ListAugustana College Office of Registrar Records (MSS 241), Special Collections,Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Augustana College Office of the President Records (MSS 248), Special Collections,Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.Augustana College Records of Members (MSS 241), Special Collections, AugustanaCollege, Rock Island, Illinois.Augustana College Vertical Files, Special Collections, Augustana College, Rock Island,Illinois.Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Illinois), 2 October 1890. Web archives. ChroniclingAmerica: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress“Algutstorp AI:7 (1861–1880)”. Database of images. ArkivDigital.http://www.arkivdigital.net : 2022.“Anders Nilsson (1800–1947)”. Database of images. ArkivDigital.http://www.arkivdigital.net : 2022.“Benelius, Nicanor” Vertical File [4537] [4809], Special Collections, Augustana College,Rock Island, Illinois.“Find A Grave Index”. Database. FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org : 2022.“Jällby AI:5 (1874–1886)”. Database of images. ArkivDigital.http://www.arkivdigital.net : 2022.

Augustana Seniors Fall 1885: Nicanor Benelius

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Augustana Seniors Fall 1885: Nicanor Benelius

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Augustana College, Illinois: Augustana Digital Commons