Olof
Krans was born in Tarnsjo, Sweden in
1838. When Krans was twelve years old his family emigrated to the
United States. His family joined with a group
of Swedes from northern Uppland to establish the Bishop Hill colony
in Illinois.
During the Civil War Krans joined the
Union Army. After the war he returned to Bishop Hill and in 1880 began
painting a series of pictures that described everyday life in the
early days of the colony. When Olof Krans died in 1916 he left the
paintings to Bishop Hill. These paintings can now be seen in Tarnsjo
Museum in Sweden.
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