Charlotta Root 1824-1905
Wife of John Root, Sr., Mother of John Root, Jr.
Other Names: Charlotte Root, Charlotta Louisa Anderson Root, Charlotta Louise Root Anderson, Lotta Root
22 May 1824
Charlotta was born in Österunda Parish, Västmanlands County, Sweden, not far from where her cousin Matilda would be born about 18 years later. 1
1845-1846
Charlotta joined her cousin Erik Jansson and his followers in immigrating to the United States in 1846 in search of religious utopia. The group's journey across the ocean lasted about six weeks and was anything but easy. Many hopeful Janssonists did not survive the trip, and many who did survive felt the physical toll of ocean travel. Upon arrival in New York, the group was forced to wait out the winter as there was not yet a railroad, and traveling through the frozen Great Lakes was impossible. Eventually, the group made their way to northwestern Illinois and settled in what is now the town of Bishop Hill. 2 Charlotta was about 22 years old at the time of her immigration and was accompanied by her mother and three sisters. 3
1848
Upon arrival, resources in the colony were limited, so to curb population growth, Erik barred the colonists from getting married. As conditions improved, however, he lifted this restriction, and multiple couples were married at one time in group ceremonies.
One of these group ceremonies included Charlotta who married John Root, Sr. in the fall of 1848. John was not an original colonist and had just joined the group that year. Erik, who officiated the wedding, included a clause in the pair's marriage contract specifying that if John chose to leave the colony, he could not force his wife to join him. 4
1849
John was frequently absent from the colony, and during one of these periods, Charlotta gave birth to a son, John Root, Jr. on 25 October 1849. 5
During a brief return to Bishop Hill, Root, Sr. attempted to convince Charlotta to leave with their newborn and join him in his absence. Charlotta refused and Erik stepped in to enforce the clause from their marriage contract. Shortly after, an attempt was made by Root, Sr. to kidnap his wife and child, but the carriage they were traveling in was quickly stopped by a group of loyal Janssonists. Charlotta and her child were returned to Bishop Hill.
A second attempt at kidnapping was soon made by Root, Sr., and this time he was only slightly more successful. He succeded in bringing his family to Chicago to stay with his sister, but again Janssonists returned Charlotta and Root, Jr. to their home. 6
1850
Root, Sr. is said to have made multiple other visits to the colony with groups of his own supporters but was pushed out each time.
On 13 May 1850, Erik and Root, Sr. were both in attendance of cases at the circuit court in Cambridge, Illinois. During a recess, Root cornered Erik in the courtroom and shot him through the heart, killing him instantly. 7
15 September 1852
After several attempts to convict Root, Sr., he was given a guilty verdict for manslaughter on 15 September 1852. He was sentenced to only two years of prison, including five days of solitary confinement, and was brought to the state penitentiary in Alton, Illinois.
During his time in prison, a petition for Root's release was submitted, and after only a year behind bars, he was pardoned by Governor Joel A. Matteson.
Root died soon after his release and spent his last days in Chicago. 8
1852-1904
Following her husband's death, Charlotta managed the family farm and raised her son. She also regularly attended services at the colony church in Bishop Hill. 9
22 February 1905
In poor health, Charlotta spent the last year of her life in Galva, Illinois at the home of her son John Root, Jr. She is said to have passed away peacefully on 22 February 1905, and her funeral was held at the church in Bishop Hill. 10