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MARCUS  LEE  HANSEN 


LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAICN 


325.2485 


v.2 

cop.  2 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


Swedes  of  Illinois 


PART    II 


Biographical   SKetches 

WITH    PORTRAITS 


CHICAGO 

Edited  by 

ERNST  W.  OLSON  and  MARTIN  J.  ENGBERG 


CHICAGO 
The  Engberg=HoImberg  Publishing  Company 

1908 


Copyright  1908 
by  The   Engber.c -Holm berg  Publishing  Company 


INTRODUCTION 


IN  order  to  bring  the  foregoing  History  of  the  Swedes  of  Illinois 
down  to  date  it  has  been  supplemented  by  a  collection  of  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  representative  Swedish- Americans  "in  the 
living  present."  In  the  preceding  pages  we  have  endeavored  to  record 
the  achievements  of  the  Swedish  people  of  the  state  in  the  past.  In 
the  following  is  preserved  a  record  of  those  Swedish-Americans  who 
are  now  keeping  up  the  march  of  progress,  constantly  adding  new 
material  to  our  annals.  These  biographies  are  of  men  and  women 
prominent  or  fairly  representative  in  church  and  state,  in  art,  science 
and  literature,  in  educational  and  benevolent  work,  in  the  learned 
professions,  in  commerce  and  industry,  in  agriculture  and  the  trades, 
in  short,  people  of  every  creditable  walk  in  life. 

More  than  a  quarter  century  has  elapsed  since  the  first  consistent 
attempt  was  made  to  collect  and  preserve  in  book  form  the  past 
records  of  the  Illinois  Swedes.  That  volume  is  now  rare  and,  though 
obsolete  as  to  the  biographical  part,  is  a  valuable  source  of  information 
in  personal  history.  The  aim  of  the  present  work  is  still  greater 
completeness  in  this  respect,  and  much  that  may  seem  inessential  and 
trivial  in  these  sketches  today  will  be  appreciated  in  years  to  come. 

Not  every  man  has  a  taste  for  history  nor  every  Swedish-American 
a  care  whether  the  records  of  his  nationality  are  preserved.  In  rare 
instances  persons  worthy  of  a  mention  in  the  following  pages  may  have 
been  inadvertently  omitted,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  omissions  are 
owing  to  a  lack  of  interest  on  the  part  of  the  individuals  themselves. 
To  those  who  have  responded  favorably  to  the  request  for  personal 
data  and  other  information  incorporated  in  this  work  the  editors  and 
publishers  are  deeply  indebted  for  the  successful  performance  of  their 
task. 


I  0 ! 7583 


11 1 J 


f  n  R  /  r  v 


COOK  COUNTY 


h  (l  I  1 


CHICAGO 


JOHN  RICHARD  LINDGREN 
was  born  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  Feb. 
20,  1855.  His  father  was  Charles 


JOHN  RICHARD  LINDGREX 

Magnus  Lindgren,  the  well-known 
sea  captain  and  shipowner-,  who 
for  many  years  was  a  prominent 
figure  in  the  Swedish  colony  of 
Chicago.  Captain  Lindgren  died 
in  Evanston  Sept  i,  1879.  His 
mother,  nee  Johanna  Anderson, 
passed  away  in  that  city  March 
23,  1887. 

John  Richard  Lindgren,  their 
only  son,  was  educated  in  the  gram- 
mar and  high  schools  of  Chicago, 
and  entered  business  life  as  an 
insurance  and  vessel  agent.  In 
company  with  Helge  A.  Haugan, 
by  descent  a  Norwegian,  he  found- 
ed the  private  banking  firm  of 


Haugan  &  Lindgren,  December  8, 
1879.  The  bank,  which  was  lo- 
cated at  59  La  Salle  St.,  cor.  Ran- 
dolph, during  the  first  few  years 
transacted  business  almost  exclu- 
sively with  Scandinavian  custom- 
ers. The  bank's  business  was  con- 
ducted conservatively  and  grew 
from  year  to  year.  In  1883  its 
savings  department  had  deposits 
amounting  to  $89,000.  In  1890 
the  same  department  had  deposits 
of  more  than  $1,000,000.  The  firm 
in  1891  incorporated  its  business 
as  the  State  Bank  of  Chicago.  By 
1897  the  resources  of  the  bank 
were  upwards  of  $2,500,000.  Four 
years  later  they  were  more  than 
$7,000,000.  At  the  present  time 
the  capital  and  surplus  and  undi- 
vided profits  amount  to  $2,068,512 
and  the  deposits  are  upwards  of 
$18,000,000. 

The  State  Bank  of  Chicago  now 
has  its  offices  in  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  Building,  occupying  the 
entire  first  floor.  Its  customers 
are  of  all  nationalities  represented 
in  the  metropolis.  Mr.  Haugan 
is  president  and  Mr.  Lindgren  is 
cashier  of  the  institution. 

In  1892  Mr.  Lindgren  was  ap- 
pointed Vice  Consul  of  Sweden 
and  Norway  at  Chicago,  and  still 
serves  as  Vice  Consul  of  Sweden. 
By  King  Oscar  II  he  has  been  dec- 
orated with  the  Order  of  Vasa. 
His  residence  is  in  Evanston, 


(7) 


8 


Cook  County 


where  he  has  been  city  trustee  and 
city  treasurer.  The  Northwestern 
University  has  long  had  the  bene- 
fit of  his  services  as  trustee.  Mr. 
Lindgren  is  of  pronounced  musical 
tastes.  He  has  been  president  of 
the  Evanston  Musical  Club  and  the 
Apollo  Musical  Club  of  Chicago, 
and  is  a  trustee  of  the  Theodore 
Thomas  Orchestra.  Mr.  Lindgren 
is  a  member  of  the  council  of  the 
Swedish-American  Historical  So- 
ciety. He  belongs  to  the  Union 
League  Club  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Methodist  Church. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Swedish  Meth.  Old  People's  Home, 
endowing  it  with  a  considerable 
sum  of  money.  Mr.  Lindgren  was 
married  June  25,  1898,  to  Ethel 
May  Roe  of  Chicago  who  was 
born  May  6,  1870.  A  daughter, 
Ethel,  was  born  Jan.  i,  1905.  The 
family  residence  is  at  1224  Sheri- 
dan Road.  Mr.  Lindgren  is  a 
modest  and  unassuming  man,  fully 
worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed 
in  him. 


When  smiling,  Mr.  Ackerburg's 
face  bears  a  striking  resemblance 
to  that  of  President  Roosevelt. 


HENRY  E.  ACKERBURG 
was  born  in  Goteborg,  Sweden, 
March  26,  1859.  A  few  years  later 
he  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents and  located  in  Chicago. 
After  attending  public  school,  he 
drifted  into  the  cigar  business, 
first  as  errand  boy,  later  as  sales- 
man. At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  started  in  business  for  himself, 
which  he  has  carried  on  success- 
fully until  he  has  built  up  a  fine 
wholesale  and  retail  cigar  and  to- 
bacco trade.  His  place  of  business 
is  at  1 86  Madison  Street. 


HENRY  E.  ACKERBURG 

During  the  political  campaign  of 
1900  Mr.  Ackerburg  was  called 
upon  by  the  Marquette  Club  to 
impersonate  Roosevelt  in  the  grand 
Republican  Sound  Money  parade. 

Mr.  Ackerburg  in  1888  married 
Miss  Mary  Van  de  Ven,  who  was 
born  in  Holland.  They  have 
three  children,  two  boys  and  one 
girl. 

Mr.  Ackerburg  is  a  thirty-sec- 
ond degree  Mason,  a  Knight  Temp- 
lar, and  a  member  of  the  Royal 
League  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


PEHR  S.  PETERSON, 
the  most  widely  known  Swedish 
horticulturist  and  nurseryman  in 
America,  was  born  near  Kristian- 
stad,  Sweden,  June  15,  1830. 
Until  thirteen  years  of  age  he  re- 
mained at  home,  attending  the 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  early 


Chicago 


manifested  a  love  of  nature  and 
his  youth  was  given  to  acquiring 
a  practical  knowledge  of  horticul- 


PEHR  S.  PETERSON 

ture.  After  five  years  in  the  gar- 
dens of  his  native  land,  such  as 
Ofveds  Kloster,  Maltesholm,  he 
spent  three  years  on  the  continent, 
in  leading  horticultural  institutions 
at  Hamburg,  Erfurt  and  Ghent, 
studying  at  the  latter  place  under 
the  renowned  horticulturist  Van 
Houtte. 

Coming  to  Toronto  in  1851,  he 
saw  that  the  greatest  chances  for 
success  lay  in  the  United  States 
and  soon  went  to  Rochester,  then, 
as  now,  the  center  of  the  nursery 
interests  of  the  country.  There 
he  obtained  employment  with  Frost 
&  Co.,  beginning  at  $8  a  month 
and  board.  Within  three  years 
he  had  not  only  acquired  the  Eng- 
lish language  but  was  working  for 
Ellwanger  &  Barry  at  the  large 
salary,  for  those  days,  of  $100  a 
month.  Thinking  to  obtain  riches 


faster  by  digging  for  gold  than 
delving  in  nursery  rows,  in  1854 
he  went  to  California  via  Panama, 
but  aside  from  budding  a  lot  of 
fruit  trees  which  still  grow  in 
Vancouver,  the  venture  was  pro- 
ductive of  little  save  experience. 

In  1856  Mr.  Peterson  established 
the  present  business,  the  Peterson 
Nursery,  on  a  small  piece  of  rented 
land  some  miles  outside  of  the  city 
limits.  In  the  next  year  a  ten- 
acre  tract  of  woodland  was  pur- 
chased. The  property  has  since 
been  added  to  until  it  amounts  to 
496  acres,  now  the  largest  piece  of 
acre  property  in  Chicago,  for  in 
1889  the  entire  holding  was  an- 
nexed to  the  city.  It  lies  seven 
miles  northwest  of  the  City  Hall 
and  on  it  is  one  of  the  finest  col- 
lections of  ornamental  stock  in  A- 
merica.  Here,  in  the  course  of 
years,  Mr.  Peterson  found  the  gold 
he  failed  to  find  in  California. 

His  attainments  in  horticulture 
found  appreciation  at  home  and 
abroad  and  have  been  recognized 
by  many  scientific  societies.  He 
was  the  second  in  over  half  a 
century  to  be  elected  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Horticultural  So- 
ciety of  Stockholm,  and  the  King 
of  Sweden  showed  him  signal 
honor  in  decorating  him  with  the 
Order  of  Vasa.  In  1865  Mr. 
Peterson  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Gage,  of  Boston.  Their  only  child 
is  Wm.  A.,  who  has  been  manager 
of  the  nursery  since  1895.  Since 
retiring  from  active  business  Mr. 
Peterson  spent  most  of  his  time 
abroad.  He  died  January  19,  1903, 
when  the  entire  business  was 


IO 


Cook  County 


handed  down  to  Mr.  Wm.  A.  Peter- 
son, who  conducts  it  on  the  lines 
laid  down  by  his  father. 

The  nursery  office  is  at  Lincoln 
and  Peterson  Avenues,  and  the 
city  office  at  108  La  Salle  st. 


ARON  EDSTROM, 

associate  editor  of  Hemlandet,  was 
born  in  Edstorp,    Or  parish,   Dals- 


ARON  EDSTROM 

land,  Sweden,  January  6,  1847. 
His  early  developed  taste  for  books 
impelled  him,  aside  from  his  reg- 
ular studies,  to  read  with  avidity 
all  the  books  he  could  borrow  or 
find  in  the  parish  library.  He 
studied  English,  German,  algebra, 
and  geometry  without  the  help  of 
a  teacher.  Before  entering  the 
confirmation  class  he  surprised  the 
grammar  school  teacher  by  exhib- 
iting a  knowledge  equal  to,  and 
in  some  subjects  exceeding,  that  of 
his  master.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  obtained  emploj'ment  in  a  saw- 
mill and  within  two  years  was 


master  of  his  trade.  In  1869  he 
was  seized  with  the  emigation  fever 
and  in  company  with  his  brother 
and  other  friends  came  over  to 
this  country.  The  party  settled 
in  the  vicinity  of  Marine,  Minn., 
joining  friends  previously  located 
there.  For  three  years  he  led  a 
hard  and  laborious  existence  in 
lumber  camps,  saw-mills,  on  rail- 
roads, etc.  Intending  at  this  time 
to  become  a  farmer  in  one  of  the 
rapidly  developing  communities  of 
the  Northwest,  he  took  a  home- 
stead in  Polk  county,  Wis.  In 
August,  1872,  he  unfortunately 
lost  his  left  hand  in  a  saw-mill. 
This  accident  at  once  changed  his 
plans  for  the  future.  His  old 
desire  for  learning  was  revived. 
In  December  of  the  same  year  he 
entered  St.  Ansgar's  Academy  in 
Carver,  now  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College,  at  St.  Peter,  Minn.  In 
1875  he  entered  the  Freshman 
class  at  Augustana  College,  Rock 
Island,  111.,  from  whence  he  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  '79.  The 
following  year  he  was  chosen  as- 
sistant editor  of  Skaffaren,  now 
Minnesota  Stats  Tidning,  published 
at  St.  Paul,  afterwards  acting  as 
its  editor  in  chief  for  one  year, 
1882-1883.  In  May  of  the  latter 
year  he  accepted  a  position  as  asso- 
ciate editor  of  Hemlandet,  of  whose 
staff  he  has  since  been  a  member 
with  the  exception  of  eight  months 
in  1890,  when  he  edited  Nordens 
Medborgare,  a  paper  published  in 
Manistee,  Mich. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Edstrom  was  mar- 
ried to  Anna  C.  Greek,  of  Trade 
Lake,  Wis.,  daughter  of  Lars  and 


Chicago 


Christina  M.  Greek.  She  died  in 
1898,  leaving  seven  children,  Ed- 
ward, Esther,  Thekla,  Signe,  Dag- 
mar,  Hilmer  and  Gustaf.  The 
eldest  daughter,  Esther,  is  married 
to  Dan  J.  McConnell. 

In  politics  Mr.  Edstrom  is  a 
rock-ribbed  Republican.  Since  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Augustana  synod, 
and  has  served  as  deacon  of  his 
church  for  twelve  years.  In  the 
course  of  his  twenty-seven  years' 
service  as  a  member  of  the  press 
Mr.  Edstrom,  while  devoting  him- 
self chiefly  to  routine  work,  has 
written  occasional  literary  sketches 
which  have  appeared  in  various 
periodicals.  Among  these  are, 
"Sketches  from  Swedish- American 
Pioneer  Life,"  which  have  appeared, 
partly  in  Hemlandet  and  partly  in 
the  annual,  "Prarie-blomman." 


out  to  his  partner  in  1899.  Sub- 
sequently for  ten  months  he  held 
the  position  of  foreman  in  a  tailor- 


NELS  J.  OLSON 
was  born  in  Egby,  Oland,  Sweden, 
June  1 8,  1844,  being  the  son  of 
Olof  Abrahamson,  a  sailor.  He 
lost  his  mother  in  1849  and  his 
father  three  years  later.  He  dis- 
continued school  at  twelve  to  learn 
the  tailor's  trade.  At  seventeen 
he  opened  his  own  shop  at  Egby 
and  continued  in  the  business 
there  until  1872,  when  he  came 
to  America  and,  after  working 
a  few  weeks  in  a  brick  yard  at 
Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  to  Chicago. 
Having  been  employed  by  tailor- 
ing firms  for  about  ten  years  he 
opened  his  own  shop  as  merchant 
tailor  1883,  in  partnership  with 
C.  J.  Olson.  After  conducting  the 
business  for  sixteen  years  he  sold 


NELS  J.  OLSON 

ing  house  in  Boston.  After  hold- 
ing a  foremanship  in  Chicago  for 
another  year,  he  retired  from 
business. 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  member  of  the 
Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  since  1873  and  has  always 
been  an  active  church  worker. 
He  is  at  present  treasurer  of  the 
church  and  has  served  as  deacon 
ten  years  and  trustee  seven  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  church 
choir  for  twelve  years,  of  the  male 
chorus  Lyran  four  years,  and  taught 
in  the  Sunday  school  for  a  long 
period. 

April  n,  1874,  he  was  married 
to  Nellie  Johnson,  born  Feb.  19, 
1845,  at  Mjellby,  Blekinge.  The 
family  numbers  ten  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  dead,  those  living 
are:  Minnie  Elizabeth,  born  May 
4,  1878,  married  to  Albert  C. 


12 


Cook  County 


Wahlgren;  Esther  Bethulia,  born 
Feb.  19,  1880;  and  Carl  Fridolph 
Nathanael,  born  Jan.  31,  1887. 

The  family  residence  is  at   1451 
King  Place. 

J.  ALBERT  ACKERBURG 

was  born  in  Goteborg,  Sweden, 
Dec.  10,  1863,  and  came  to  Chi- 
cago immediately  after  the  civil 


J.  ALBERT  ACKERBURG 

war.  He  attended  public  school 
and  also  the  Swedish  parochial 
school  at  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  In  1877  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Enander  & 
Bohman,  then  publishers  of  the 
weekly  Hemlandet,  intending  to 
learn  the  printers'  trade.  In  1879 
he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
business.  For  several  years  he  has 
held  the  position  of  buyer  and 
manager  of  shoe  departments  in 
in  various  large  concerns.  At  pres- 
ent he  represents  Rothschild  and 
Company  in  this  capacity,  having 
been  in  their  employ  for  sev- 


eral years.  Part  of  his  many  du- 
ties consists  in  going  to  the  Bos- 
ton and  New  York  markets  about 
six  times  a  year  to  supply  his 
department,  which  is  rated  as  one 
of  the  most  popular  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Ackerburg  resides  at  947 
Hood  ave.,  Edgewater.  He  is  mar- 
ried, has  a  son  and  daughter.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
political  beliefs  are  those  of  the 
Republican  party. 


CHARLES  J.  STONE 

was  born  in  Nya  Kopparberget, 
Orebro,  Sweden,  Sept.  n,  1851. 
He  learned  the  tailor's  trade  under 
the  direction  of  C.  J.  Hallin,  in 
Orebro,  and  at  the  age  of  18  years 
left  his  native  country  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  other  lands.  He  went 
first  to  London,  but  finding  oppor- 


CHARLES  J.  STONE 

tunities  there  too  limited,  he  soon 
soon  left  for  America  locating  in 
Chicago.  Here  he  secured  a  po- 


Chicago 


sition  as  coat  maker  with  the  firm 
of  Edw.  Ely  &  Co.  In  the  mean- 
time he  learned  the  art  of  cutting, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1873  obtained 
a  place  as  cutter  with  the  firm  of 
Roche  &  Co.,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years.  Thereafter  he 
served  for  two  years  with  Wilde, 
Bluett  &  Co.  During  the  years 
1878-1880  he  was  foreman  and  de- 
signer for  the  wholesale  firm  of 
L.  C.  Wachsmuth  &  Co.,  and  the 
following  year  for  Willoughby,  Hill 
&  Co.  From  1880-1885  he  was 
the  manager  of  the  London  Tailors, 
and  in  1885-1890  was  cutter  for 
John  O' Council,  and  for  the  next 
two  years  manager  and  cutter  for 
Stieglitz  &  Co. 

In  1879  Mr.  Stone  started  an 
evening  school  for  cutters,  which 
he  expanded  into  a  day  school  in 
1888,  which  he  entered  into  part- 
nership with  John  and  Harry  Mil- 
ner  for  this  purpose.  Four  years 
later  he  bought  out  the  interests 
of  his  partners,  and  has  since 
managed  the  school  alone.  Its 
graduates  are  now  to  be  found  all 
over  the  world,  its  fame  having 
reached  to  the  Orient  as  well  as 
Europe. 

Mr.  Stone  has  been  deeply  in- 
terested in  every  movement  for 
the  elevation  and  improvement  of 
his  profession.  In  1893  he  started 
a  monthly  known  as  The  Practical 
Cutter  and  Tailor,"  which  has  ac- 
quired a  wide  trade  circulation. 
He  has  also  published  a  number 
of  standard  textbooks  on  design- 
ing, cutting,  and  manufacture  of 
all  sorts  of  clothing  for  men,  wom- 
en and  children.  These  books 


have  been  translated  into  many 
languages,  including  the  Japanese. 
As  a  lecturer  on  the  art  of  cutting 
and  tailoring,  he  has  been  particu- 
larly successful. 

Mr.  Stone  is  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  more  than  a  score  of  tailors' 
and  cutters'  associations.  Mr. 
Stone  has  been  married  twice,  the 
first  time  with  Miss  Tillie  Fer- 
guson, with  whom  he  had  four 
sons,  Charles  J.  Stone,  Jr.,  Ed- 
ward M.,  George  H.  and  Stanley 
S.  Stone,  who  now  are  interested 
in  the  cutting  school  with  their 
father. 


ANDREW  PETER  FORS, 

Pastor  of  the  Bethel  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church,  was  born  Dec.  18, 
1860,  at  Forsby,  Vestra  Tollstad 
parish,  Ostergotland,  Sweden.  His 


ANDREW  PETER  FORS 

parents  are  Andreas  Pettersson,  now 
a  retired  farmer,  and  Hilda  Maria, 
nee  Nilsson,  both  still  living  in  Swe- 
den. He  came  to  this  country  in 


Cook  County 


the  spring  of  1880.  After  a  years' 
residence  and  study  at  Mankato, 
Minn.,  he  entered  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus  College  at  St.  Peter,  Minn. 
After  a  period  of  study  at  this  in- 
stitution he  went  in  1884  to  Augus- 
tana  College,  at  Rock  Island,  111. 
During  the  years  1885-1887,  he  as- 
sisted Dr.  T.  N.  Hasselquist  in 
his  church  at  Rock  Island.  Hav- 
ing graduated  from  Augustana 
College  in  1887,  he  was  chosen 
principal  of  the  Augustana  Academy 
at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  retaining 
that  position  until  1888,  when  he 
entered  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary.  Graduating  from  the 
seminary  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  June  16,  1889,  at  Moline, 
111 .  His  first  charge  was  at  Wahoo, 
Neb.,  where  he  was  also  professor 
at  Luther  Academy  during  1889- 
1890  and  editor  of  Wahoo- Bladet. 
During  1891  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Emanuel  Church  at  Rockford,  111. 

From  1892  to  1899  Mr.  Fors 
was  in  charge  of  the  Swedish  Ev. 
Lutheran  church  at  Geneseo,  111. 
He  earned  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
at  Augustana  College  in  1894. 
Since  1899  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fors  has 
been  pastor  of  the  Bethel  Swedish 
Ev.  Lutheran  Church  in  Chicago 
and  during  his  pastorate  a  new 
church  and  parsonage  have  been 
erected  at  the  cost  of  $50,000. 
He  pursued  post-graduate  studies 
at  the  University  of  Chicago  from 
1899  to  1902.  The  thesis  for  final 
promotion  to  the  degree  of  Ph.  D. 
was  presented  in  April,  1904,  the 
subject  being,  "The  Ethical  World- 
Conception  of  the  Norse  People." 

Dr.    Fors    has    written    articles 


for  the  "Lutheran  Cyclopedia," 
the  American  Journal  of  Theology, 
Augustana  and  Augustana  Journal. 
He  is  the  editor  of  Bethel- Bladet, 
a  monthly  paper  for  the  members 
of  Bethel  Church.  In  1894  he 
published  "Rational  Grounds  of 
Christian  Truth"  and  in  1904  his 
Doctor's  thesis.  He  has  written 
an  extensive  review  of  La  Sau- 
saye's  "Teutonic  Mythology." 

Dr.  Fors  has  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Southern  Chicago  Dis- 
trict of  the  Illinois  Conference  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  and  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Ministerial  As- 
sociation of  Chicago.  He  was  for 
six  years  a  member  of  the  Augus- 
tana Church  Extension  Society 
and  was  its  secretary  from  1893 
to  1899.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  Augustana 
College  from  1896  until  1900  and 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  Board. 
Dr.  Fors  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  Augustana 
Hospital  for  the  term  1902  to  1905. 
In  1904,  he  became  interested  in 
a  movement  resulting  in  founding 
a  similar  institution,  the  Engle- 
wood  Hospital,  organized  on  the 
south  side.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  board  of  directors  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Swedish-American 
Hospital  Association  that  owns 
and  controls  the  institution.  Dr. 
Fors  was  also  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  establishing  the  Oak 
Hill  Cemetery  in  1902,  and  is 
member  of  the  Chicago  Cemetery 
Association ,  which  owns  that 
property. 

In  1889,  Aug.  24,  Dr.  Fors  was 
married  to  Miss  Ada  Emilia  To- 


Chicago 


line  of  Moline,  111.,  born  Dec.  13, 
1860,  daughter  of  Ulrik  and  Eva 
Toline,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Of  three  children  born  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Fors  only  one  survives,  a 
son,  Adolph  Fredrick,  now  a  stu- 
dent of  electrical  engineering  at 
the  Armour  Institute.  The  par- 
sonage is  at  6206  Peoria  st. 


GUSTAF    ERNEST    GORDON, 

pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  was  born  in    Karlskrona, 


GUSTAF    ERNEST  GORDON 

Sweden,  April  27,  1857. 
parents  were  Gustaf  Carlson  and 
Marie  Charlotta,  nee  Malmberg; 
the  father  died  in  1893.  In  his 
early  boyhood,  his  parents  decided 
that  he  should  enter  the  clerical 
profession,  and  accordingly  at  the 
age  of  nine  he  entered  the  colle- 
giate schoo)  of  his  native  town,  first 
having  received  his  preparation 
in  a  private  school.  While  at 
this  institution  he  also  took  sup- 
plementary studies  in  Prof.  A. 


Halk's  evening  school.  After 
spending  some  years  in  the  class- 
ical branches,  his  own  desires  did 
not  accord  with  the  plan  mapped 
out  by  his  parents,  and  thus  it 
happens  that  we  subsequently  find 
him  in  the  service  of  a  large  mer- 
chant, bent  upon  a  business  career. 
Soon  after,  he  left  Sweden,  going 
to  Germany  in  order  to  perfect 
himself  in  the  language  and  learn 
the  business  conditions  and  meth- 
ods of  the  country.  Although  ex- 
ceptionally successful  in  the  busi- 
ness sphere,  it  would  seem  that 
his  mission  lay  in  a  different  direc- 
tion. After  having  had  charge  of 
a  large  wholesale  and  importing 
establishment  for  three  years,  he 
decided,  and  now  on  more  mature 
thought,  to  enter  the  ministry.  He 
joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1877.  After  having 
served  the  churches  in  Loftaham- 
mar-Wraka,  Nykoping,  Emma- 
boda,  Vexio  and  Stockholm  as 
pastor,  he  came  to  this  country  in 
July,  1893.  BY  the  Northwestern 
Swedish  Conference  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  McKeesport,  Pa.,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  His  next 
charge  was  at  Galva,  111.  After 
staying  three  years  he  was  sent 
to  Jamestown,  where  he  labored 
for  four  years,  and  then  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  present  pastorate, 
the  Elim  M.  E.  Church,  Lake 
View,  Chicago,  in  the  fall  of  1902. 
Feb.  12,  1 88 1,  Mr.  Gordon  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sigrid  Ce- 
cilia Carleson,  daughter  of  L,ars 
Carleson  and  his  wife,  L,ovisa  Al- 
bertina  Grell.  They  have  been 
blessed  with  six  children,  five  of 


i6 


Cook  County 


whom  are  living.  One  son,  Na- 
thaniel I.  Gordon,  is  general  sec- 
retary of  the  Young  Men's  Christ- 
ian Association,  and  is  now  fitting 
himself  for  the  medical  profession; 
the  other,  Seth  E.  Gordon,  is  a 
singer,  now  completing  a  vocal 
course  at  the  Chicago  Musical 
College.  The  other  children  living 
are  Ruth  Sigrid,  Angeli  Naomi, 
and  Sigrid  Elizabeth. 


CARL    ROBERT    HVITFEEDT 

was   born    Oct.  5,    1873,  in    Gote- 
borg,  Sweden.     At  the  age  of  six 


CARL    ROBERT    HVITFELDT 

he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Carlshamn,  where  he  took  the 
course  of  instruction  offered  at 
the  collegiate  school.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1888,  landing  on 
July  1 8,  with  Chicago  as  his 
final  destination.  After  a  couple 
of  weeks  he  started  in  to  learn 
wood  engraving  in  the  establish- 
ment of  J.  Manz  and  Co.  Three 
years  later  he  was  employed  as 


engraver  by  G.  H.  Benedict  &  Co., 
where  he  later  advanced  to  foreman 
of  the  wood  engraving  department. 
In  January,  1906,  Mr.  Hvitfeldt 
and  Mr.  Joseph  Herman  organized 
the  Calumet  Engraving  Co.  Mr. 
Hvitfeldt  now  has  his  own  office 
at  334  Dearborn  St.,  where  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  wood  en- 
graving. 


CARE    GUSTAF    HERMAN 
UNDSKOG, 

pastor  of  the  St.  Ansgarius  Swedish 
Episcopal  Church,  was  born  in  the 
historic  city  of  Strangnas,  May 
24,  1853.  His  preliminary  educa- 
tion he  received  in  the  Katarina 
elementary  school,  and  thereafter 
he  attended  the  Stockholm  Gym- 
nasium, his  parents  having  removed 
to  the  capital  the  same  year  the 
son  was  born.  There  the  father 


C.    G.    HERMAN   LINDSKOG 

took  a  position  as    teacher  in    the 
city's  institute  for  waifs,  retiring 


Chicago 


with  a  pension  after  forty  years 
service . 

When  but  seventeen  years  old 
young  Lindskog  began  preaching. 
He  early  became  associated  with 
the  Methodists  and  was  especially 
prominent  in  church  work  in  Up- 
sala  and  Jonkoping.  Mr.  Lind- 
skog  was  ordained  as  a  pastor  in 
1 875 .  Four  years  later  he  departed 
with  his  family  for  America  where 
he  located  in  Rockford,  111.,  labor- 
ing there  for  eight  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1887  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  St.  Ansgarius  Swedish 
Episcopal  Church  of  Chicago  and 
the  following  year  was  installed 
as  rector  of  that  congregation.  It 
may  be  stated  that  the  St.  Ans- 
garius Church,  next  to  the  "Old 
Swedes'  Church,"  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  and  the  "Gloria  Dei" 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  is  the 
oldest  Swedish  church  in  America. 
This  church  has  sometimes  been 
called  "The  Jenny  Lind  Church" 
because  of  the  fact  that  the  fa- 
mous Swedish  singer,  when  on 
her  American  tour,  donated  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  toward 
its  support.  In  1875,  the  year  of 
his  ordination  to  the  ministry,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Lindskog  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Adolphine  Sheldon, 
of  Karlskrona.  They  have  three 
children  living.  The  daughter, 
Karin  Lindskog,  is  the  organist 
of  the  church  and  is  a  talented 
violiniste. 

Rector  Lindskog  dwells  happily 
at  97  Sedgwick  St.,  where,  to- 
gether with  his  ever  faithful  wife 
and  genial  children,  he  always 
meets  his  friends  and  parishioners 


with  a  hospitality  which  is  char- 
acteristic of  the  cultured  gentle- 
man. 

On  May  24,  1907,  the  twentieth 
anniversary  of  Rev.  Lindskog' s 
assumption  of  his  charge,  the  Sit. 
Ansgarius  Church  had  a  general 
celebration  in  his  honor. 


JOHN  AMANDUS  CARLSON 

was    born    in    Svennevad    parish, 
Nerike,    Sweden,    Feb.    14,    1861. 


JOHN  AMANDUS  CARLSON 

Having  joined  the  Baptist  church 
in  1880,  he  went  to  London  in 
1883,  where  he  organized  a  Swed- 
ish Baptist  mission.  After  return- 
ing to  Sweden  in  1886,  he  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1889  and 
settled  in  New  York.  He  remained 
there  until  1892,  when  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  entered  the  Swedish 
Baptist  Theological  Seminary  at 
Morgan  Park,  graduating  in  1895. 
While  a  student,  he  had  charge 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  at 
Sycamore,  111.  In  the  spring  of 


i8 


1895,  Mr.  Carlson  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  of 
Austin,  which  he  has  faithfully 
and  successfully  served  ever  since. 
Mr.  Carlson  has  been  called  to 
various  positions  of  trust,  such  as 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  General 
Conference  and  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Mutual  Benefit  Society. 


AUGUST  WILHELM  WELAN- 
DER 

was  born  at  Nasby,  Skane,  Sweden, 
July  20,    1868.     At    an    early   age 


AUGUST  WILHELM  WELANDER 

he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Fjelkestad  parish,  where  he  was 
educated  in  the  common  school. 
When  but  six  years  old  he  lost 
his  father.  From  early  childhood 
he  had  decided  to  become  a  tailor 
and  his  mother  taught  him  the 
rudiments  of  the  trade.  His  jour- 
neyman course  was  taken  at 
Kristianstad. 


In  1887  he  emigrated  and  lo- 
cated at  Northfield,  Minn.,  but 
the  next  year  he  went  to  Chicago, 
working  with  different  tailoring 
concerns  until  1891,  when  he  es- 
tablished a  merchant  tailoring 
business.  In  1893  he  moved  to 
Red  Wing,  Minn.,  and  subsequent- 
ly traveled  through  Sweden,  Den- 
mark, England  and  Canada  teach- 
ing a  new  method  of  garment 
cutting.  In  the  spring  of  1897 
he  founded  a  cutting  school  in  St. 
Paul  and  in  1898  established  the 
"Western  Tailor",  a  trade  paper, 
now  published  as  the  "Western 
Tailor  and  Fashion  Journal' ' ,  twice 
a  year.  The  next  year  Mr.  We- 
lander  moved  to  Minneapolis, 
where  he  established  a  cutting  and 
tailoring  school  for  boy  apprentices 
and  his  present  Merchant  Tailors' 
Pattern  Service.  In  1901  he  pub- 
lished the  "Merchant  Tailor's  Cy- 
clopedia of  Garment  Cutting." 
The  next  year  he  removed  his 
business  to  Chicago  and  since  1903 
he  has  made  headquarters  in  New 
York.  The  Chicago  office  is  at 
108  Washington  St.,  and  the  New 
York  establishment  at  10  East 
14  St.  Mr.  Welander  married  in 
1890  and  has  two  children. 


ALEXANDER  F.  CARLSON 
was  born  in  Smaland,  Sweden, 
July  17,  1850.  He  removed  to 
the  city  of  Halmstad,  in  Halland, 
in  1867,  and  from  there  emigrated 
to  America  in  1872,  settling  in 
Wilcox  Pa.  Having  traveled  in 
a  number  of  different  states  until 
1875,  he  then  settled  in  Kalamazoo, 
Mich.  There  he  lived  until  1882, 


Chicago 


when  he  went  to  Chicago.  He 
made  a  trip  to  Sweden  in  1883-4. 
In  1890  he  engaged  in  the  retail 
furniture  business,  his  firm  being 
known  as  Carlson  &  Gardlund. 
Later  the  name  was  changed  to 
A.  F.  Carlson  &  Son.  The  store 
is  at  1129-1131  Belmont  ave. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  married  in  1893 
to  Hanna  Keiding.  In  religion  he 
is  a  Lutheran;  in  politics,  a  Re- 
publican. 


LAWRENCE  NELSON 

was    born    in   Skepparslof,  Skane, 
Sweden,   on   April    25,    1862.      In 


LAWRENCE   NELSON 

company  with  his  parents  he  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1869  and 
soon  was  in  Chicago.  After  attend- 
ing public  school  and  business  col- 
lege, he  worked  for  three  years 
in  the  jewelry  business.  Mr.  Nel- 
son then  obtained  a  position  with 
Peterson  &  Bay,  bankers.  When 
they  organized  the  Western  State 
Bank,  Mr.  Nelson  was  chosen 


cashier.  This  office  was  held  by 
him  until  the  bank  reorganized 
as  the  Western  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank.  Mr.  Nelson  is  now  vice- 
president  of  this  well-known  La 
Salle  st.  institution.  The  bank 
has  a  capital  stock  of  $1,000,000, 
and  deposits  of  over  $7,000  ooo. 


JOHN  SAMUEL  AHLGREN 

was  born  in  Sweden  July  19,  1865. 
He  came  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  six,  his  parents  emigrating 
from  Sweden  in  1871  and  settling 
in  Chicago.  Here  he  attended 
grammar  school.  After  working 
for  several  years  in  the  retail  gro- 
cery business,  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Sprague,  Warner  &  Co., 
wholesale  grocers,  as  city  salesman. 
He  has  been  with  this  firm  for 
the  past  sixteen  years. 

Mr.    Ahlgren    is    a    member    of 
the    Immanuel  Swedish    Lutheran 


JOHN   SAMUEL   AHLGREN 

Church.     He  is  a  charter  member 
of    Monitor  Council  of    Royal  Ar- 


20 


Cook  County 


canum,  and  also  belongs  to  King 
Oscar  Lodge  No.  855,  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  Mr.  Ahlgren  re- 
sides at  123  76th  place,  Windsor 
Park. 


Two    sons    have    been    born    to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen. 


CHARLES  THEODORE 

was     born    in    Winback,    Tanum 
parish,  Bohus   Ian,  Sweden,    Feb. 


CHARLES  THEODORE  ALLEN 

I3>  l875-  His  father  held  for  over 
fifty  years  the  position  of  under- 
bailiff  to  the  crown.  In  1890  he 
emigrated  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  at  Pullman,  111.  Now 
he  is  manager  of  the  Roseland 
branch  of  Schlitz  Brewing  Co., 
with  offices  at  11439  Perry  ave. 

Mr.  Allen  holds  membership  in 
the  Fellowship  Club,  Royal  League, 
No.  39,  also  the  Royal  "Arch 
Chapter,  and  the  Masonic  Order. 
He  was  married  Oct.  30,  1901,  to 
Lillian  Peterson,  daughter  of  Vic- 
tor Peterson,  member  and  deacon 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
fo  Pullman  since  its  organization. 


ANDERS    FREDR.  PIHLGARD 

was    born    in    Warberg,    Halland, 
Sweden,    Oct.    6,     1852.     He    at- 


ANDERS  FREDRIK  PIHLGARD 

tended  college  at  Karlskrona,  and 
later  was  an  assistant  in  a  phar- 
macy at  Gefle.  In  1875  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Royal  Pharmaceu- 
tical Institute  at  Stockholm,  sub- 
sequently being  engaged  as  phar- 
macist in  Osthammar,  Eslof,  Fal- 
koping  and  Goteborg. 

Since  his  coming  to  this  country 
in  1881,  Mr.  Pihlgard  has  been 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
Chicago. 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Pihlgard  married 
Miss  Hilma  Wikman,  with  whom 
he  has  thad  five  children,  three 
surviving. 


ALFRED  SELLSTROM 
was   born   in    Sweden,    Aug. 


10, 


1862.      His   childhood    and   youth 


Chicago 


21 


were    spent    in    his    native    land, 
where  he  received   his   early   edu- 


ALFRED  SELLSTROM 

cation  and  training.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  emigrated,  arriving 
in  Chicago  in  March,  1 88 1,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Sellstrom  is  a  tailor  by 
trade  and  is  the  sole  owner  of 
the  merchant  tailoring  firm  of 
Sellstrom  &  Kilby.  The  place 
of  business  is  at  45  North  Clark  st. 

Mr.  Sellstrom  is  a  member  of 
the  Oak  Street  Swedish  Mission 
Church  and  is  one  of  its  trustees. 


P.  FOGELBERG 

was  born  July  3,  1859,  in  Kjells- 
torp,  in  the  province  of  Skane. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  brass  molder  and 
finisher.  For  twelve  years  he  was 
engaged  in  this  trade.  He  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in 
June,  1887,  and  settled  in  Chicago 
the  same  year.  From  1889  until 
1901  he  was  employed  in  the 


Amos  Pattern  and  Model  Works. 
In  July,  1901,  he  and  Wm.  Boett- 
cher  went  into  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  P.  Fogelberg  &  Co. 
At  their  works,  123  South  Clinton 
st.,  are  made  metal  patterns  and 
models.  A  specialty  is  made  of 
brass  and  white  metal  patterns. 


P.   FOGELBERG 

Mr.  Fogelberg  was  married  in 
1882,  to  Hanna  Folin,  with  whom 
he  has  had  six  children,  of  whom 
three  boys  and  two  girls  are  now 
living. 

OSCAR  OLDBERG 

was  born  in  Alfta  parish,  Helsing- 
land,  Sweden,  Jan.  22,  1846.  His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Anders 
Oldberg,  author  of  "Hemskolan," 
and  other  educational  books,  and 
the  Rev.  Gustaf  Unonius,  who 
officiated  for  many  years  as  pastor 
of  St.  Ansgarius  Church  in  Chicago 
prior  to  1860,  was  his  uncle.  Hav- 
ing received  his  early  education 
at  the  Gefle  Gymnasium  he  en- 


22 


Cook  County 


tered   the   pharmacy   of    the   cele- 
brated mining  town    of    Falun    in 


OSCAR  OLDBERG 

1 86 1,  his  employer  and  preceptor 
being  the  well-known  Fredrik  W. 
Helleday,  a  pupil  of  the  great 
Berzelius.  Mr.  Oldberg  enjoyed 
the  advantage  of  individual  in- 
struction from  his  employer  in 
both  theory  and  practice  of  phar- 
mac}r  and  chemistry  for  four  years, 
being  licensed  as  regular  pharma- 
cist in  1865,  just  before  emigrating 
to  the  United  States.  Here  he 
has  been  actively  identified  with 
pharmaceutical  education  and  liter- 
ature for  nearly  forty  years  as  a 
teacher,  editor  and  author. 

In  1869  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  faculty  of  the  School 
of  Pharmacy  of  Georgetown  Col- 
lege, District  of  Columbia,  and 
later  became  Dean  and  Professor 
of  Pharmacy  at  the  National  Col- 
lege of  Pharmacy  in  Washington, 
D.  C.  When  he  severed  his  con- 
nection with  that  institution  in 


1 88 1,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Pharmacy  was  conferred  upon  him, 
honoris  causa. 

In  1874  he  became  connected 
with  the  Marine  Hospital  Service 
of  the  United  States.  He  was 
chief  clerk  and  acting  medical 
purveyor  of  that  service  until  1881, 
when  he  resigned.  In  1880  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Revision  and  Publication 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the 
United  States.  On  the  expiration 
of  his  term  in  1890,  he  was  re- 
elected  for  another  decade,  and 
again  re-elected  in  1900  to  serve 
until  1910. 

Dr.  Oldberg  was  appointed  to 
his  present  position  as  Dean  of 
the  School  of  Pharmacy  of  North- 
western University  in  1886  when 
the  school  was  established.  He  has 
written  several  well  known  text- 
books on  chemistry,  pharmacy, 
metrology  and  related  subjects. 


CHARLES  E.  JOHNSON, 

doctor  of  dental  surgery,  was  born 
in  Stockholm,  Pepin  county,  Wis., 
March  7,  1875.  His  parents  hailed 
from  the  province  of  Vestergbtland, 
Sweden.  They  were  married  in 
Chicago  and  lived  there  until  the 
great  fire,  in  which  they  lost  every- 
thing they  had.  Shortly  after- 
wards they  moved  to  Wisconsin 
and  were  among  the  first  Swedes 
to  settle  in  that  locality.  Charles, 
their  only  son,  attended  the.  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  Lake  City  High 
School,  and  afterwards  spent  two 
years  at  Augustana  College,  pur- 
suing the  classical  course  of  studies. 


Chicago 


In  1898  he  went  to  Duluth,  Minn., 
where  he  formed  the  acquaintance 


CHARLES  E.  JOHNSON 

of  Dr.  H.  C.  Spengler.  A  warm 
friendship  sprung  up  between  them, 
and  the  doctor  offered  him  a  po- 
sition in  his  office  until  the  time 
he  resumed  his  studies.  In  the 
fall  of  1899  Mr.  Johnson  entered 
the  Northwestern  University  School 
of  Dental  Surgery  in  Chicago, 
from  which  institution  he  gradua- 
ted with  high  standing  in  1902. 
He  had  already  passed  a  satis- 
factory examination  before  the 
State  Board  of  Dental  Examiners 
of  Illinois,  and  has  since  that  time 
practiced  dentistry  on  the  north 
side. 

Dr.  Johnson  was  married  in 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  December  23, 
1901,  to  Miss  Emma  M.  Olson, 
an  accomplished  and  talented  wom- 
an, who  for  several  years  pre- 
vious to  her  marriage  was  asso- 
ciate editor  of  Svenska  Amerikan- 
ska  Postcn  in  that  city.  She  is 


the  daughter  of  Jonas  Olson  and 
his  wife  Maria,  nee  Person. 

Dr.  Johnson's  church  and  so- 
cial affiliations  are  as  follows:  mem- 
ber of  the  Immanuel  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church,  the  Swedish  Glee 
Club,  the  Dental  Odontographic 
Society  of  Chicago,  the  Scandi- 
navian Dental  Association  of 
Chicago.  In  1906  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  latter  society. 

He  enlisted  with  the  National 
Guards  of  Minnesota  at  Duluth 
in  1896,  continuing  in  the  service 
for  two  years. 


ERIC  FORSELL 

was  born  at   Nora,  Sweden,  June 
2,   1859.     His  father  was  superin- 


ERIC   FORSELL 

tendent  of  the  Striberg  mines, 
where  the  son  grew  into  manhood. 
1883  he  emigrated  to  America  and 
came  to  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  for  the  Chicago,  Min- 
nesota &  Omaha  Railroad  Co., 
and  later  in  Kelley's  stoneyard 


Cook  County 


in  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Thereupon 
he  went  to  Canada,  in  the  latter 
part  of  May,  1883,  and  worked 
on  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad 
until  April,  1884,  when  he  secured 
employment  with  the  Vert  Island 
Stone  Quarry  Company, at Neppigon 
Bay,  Lake  Superior,  where  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  1889. 
While  here,  he  had  occasion,  on 
a  cold  wintry  night  in  1885,  to 
save  the  lives  of  a  number  of  soldiers 
who  on  their  way  to  fight  the 
Reil  Rebellion  in  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory were  on  the  point  of  freez- 
ing to  death  on  Lake  Superior. 

In  1889  Mr.  Forsell  made  a 
visit  to  Sweden.  Returning  the 
following  year  he  secured  employ- 
ment with  the  Chicago  Blue  Print 
Company,  where  he  is  now  fore- 
man. He  is  also  president  and 
director  of  the  Wright  &  Lawrence 
Mining  Co.,  of  Phoenix,  Arizona, 
owning  copper  mines  at  Riverside 
Mountain  in  California. 

Mr.  Forsell  has  taken  great  in- 
terest in  fraternal  organizations. 
He  belongs  to  the  order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  in  which  he  has  held  im- 
portant offices.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Vikings,  in  which  he  has  been 
honored  with  the  office  of  Grand 
Chief,  and  furthermore  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and 
the  King  Oscar  Lodge,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  He  is  married  since  Aug. 
6,  1898. 

SWANTE    WM.    OHLSSON 
was  born  June  3,    1845,    at    Klar- 
rod,  Skane,  Sweden.     His  father, 
Olof  Nilsson,  was  "namndeman", 


one  of  the  twelve  assistants    in    a 
Swedish  law  court. 

Mr.     Ohlsson     attended    public 
school  from  his  fifth  year  until  he 


SWANTE  WM.  OHLSSOX 

was  confirmed.  Afterwards  he 
spent  a  year  in  high  school  and 
then  remained  in  the  home  of  his 
parents  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  At  this  period  he  was  given 
charge  of  his  father's  estate,  Skogs- 
holm.  Shortly  afterwards,  big  los- 
ses incurred  by  securing  notes  for 
friends,  forced  a  sale  of  the  estate. 
Mr.  Ohlsson  next  tried  all  sorts 
of  occupations,  but  none  suiting 
him  he  concluded  to  try  his 
fortune  in  America. 

In  the  fall  of  1884  he  came 
over  and,  meeting  nothing  but 
discouragement,  he  had  already 
decided  to  return  to  Sweden,  when 
some  friends  persuaded  him  to 
stay.  He  then  settled  in  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  and  worked  at  the 
painter's  trade.  Until  1891  he 
continued  to  follow  this  line  of 


Chicago 


work  in  Galesburg  and  Chicago. 
The  great  boom  in  real  estate, 
prior  to  the  World's  Fair,  opened 
his  eyes  to  great  possibilities,  and 
with  his  practical  experience  from 
Sweden  to  guide  him  he  began 
to  deal  in  city  property,  and  has 
since  continued  in  the  business 
of  real  estate  broker. 

He  has  held  many  positions  of 
trust,  as  administrator  and  trustee. 
Mr.  Ohlsson  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Methodist  Church.  In 
1869  he  was  married  to  Miss  Betty 
Akeson.  Their  residence  is  at 
5723  South  May  St. 


MARTIN  R.  ONEUUS 

was  born  July   16,   1867,  in  Hoor, 
Sweden.     He  came  to  this  country 


MARTIN  R.  ONELIUS 

in  1887,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  engaged  as  watchmaker. 
His  place  of  business  is  at  4749 
Evans  ave.  Mr.  Onelius  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Watch- 
makers' Society. 


CARL  JEAN  MAURITZ 

SCHYCKER 

was  born  in   Stockholm,  Sweden, 
March  6,  1855.     He  studied  dent- 


CARL  JEAN  MAURITZ  SCHYCKER 

istry  in  his  native  country,  and 
thereafter  came  to  America  in 
1 88 1,  settling  in  Philadelphia  and 
studying  for  some  time  at  the  Phil- 
adelphia Dental  College,  grad- 
uating in  1882.  That  same  year 
he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he 
was  one  of  the  first  of  his  national- 
ity to  practice  the  dental  profes- 
sion. He  has  his  office  at 
2459  Wentworth  avenue,  and  re- 
sides at  4625  Evans  ave.,  where 
he  owns  a  fine  residence.  In  1886 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Marit  Nor- 
man, with  whom  he  has  one  son, 
Richard,  born  in  1887. 


JOHN  THEODORE  LINDHOLM 

was  born  in  Nor  parish,  province 
of  Vermland,  Sweden,  March  28, 
1858.  He  came  to  Chicago  in 
April,  1880,  and  carries  on  a 


26 


Cook  County 


merchant  tailoring  business  at  216 
Oak  St.     He  is  a  member  of   the 


JOHN  THEODORE  LINDHOLM. 

Royal  Arcanum.  Mr.  Lindholm 
was  married  Nov.  18,  1882,  to 
Mathilda  Christina  Peterson,  who 
was  born  April  16,  1856,  in  Mar- 
back  parish,  Smaland.  She  came 
to  America  in  June,  1870.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lindholm  belong  to  the 
Swedish  Ev.  Luth.  Mission  Church. 


CHARLES    CARLSON 

was  born  on  a  farm  in  Heda  par- 
ish, Ostergotland,  Sweden,  Feb. 
29,  1848.  He  emigrated  to  America 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  has 
since  lived  in  Chicago  and  vicinity, 
except  a  year  and  a  half  spent  on 
a  farm.  He  worked  as  a  carpen- 
ter at  Riverside  until  after  the 
great  fire,  when  he  moved  into  the 
city  and  secured  employment  as 
shipping  clerk  at  the  branch  es 
tablishment  of  Pitt's  Agricultural 
Works.  In  the  meantime  he  start- 
ed in  the  business  of  teaming, 


which  grew  rapidly,  compelling 
him  to  resign  his  clerkship,  in 
order  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  it. 
The  business  has  continued  to  grow. 
He  is  now  exclusively  engaged  in 
heavy  teaming,  such  as  moving 
machinery,  etc.  His  office  is  at 
36  South  Canal  st. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  married  in 
1873  to  Miss  Augusta  Anderson, 
with  whom  he  has  five  children, 
one  boy  and  four  girls.  The  son, 
Edwin  Howard,  is  engaged  in  the 
teaming  business  with  his  father. 


One  daughter  is  married  to  Hjal- 
mar  Westerdahl,  bookkeeper  with 
the  Aetna  Powder  Co. 

Mr.  Carlson  and  his  family  be- 
long to  the  Second  Swedish  M.  E. 
Church,  North  May  Street.  Mr. 
Carlson  has  been  collector,  trustee, 
and  cashier  for  the  congregation. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  quite  extensively  interested 
in  real  estate,  being  the  owner  of 
a  number  of  houses  and  lots,  be- 


Chicago 


sides  lands    in    Alabama.     He    re- 
sides at  757  Washington  Blvd. 


AXEL  O.  PILO 

was  born  in  Norra  Rorum,  Skane, 
Sweden,    April     20,      1859.      His 


AXEL  o.  PILO 

mother  died  when  he  was  six 
years  of  age.  The  father  was  a 
stone  mason  by  trade.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  young  Pilo  left  home 
and  ever  since  has  made  his  own 
way.  He  learned  the  shoemakers' 
trade,  serving  as  an  apprentice  for 
three  years.  He  later  worked  in 
Helsingborg  and  in  Copenhagen, 
Denmark,  until  the  spring  of  1881, 
when  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  Arriving  in  Chicago  in 
April  of  the  same  year,  he  secured 
employment  at  his  trade,  but  soon 
began  to  look  around  for  a  more 
healthful  occupation.  In  May, 
1882,  he  was  engaged  by  the  well- 
known  surveying  firm  of  Greely, 
Carlson  &  Co.,  now  Greely,  How- 


ard &  Co.,  which    position    he    is 
still  holding. 

He  is  a  charter  member  of  Three 
Links  Lodge,  No.  812,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
of  Garden  City  Encampment,  and 
of  Three  Links  Rebekah  Lodge, 
No.  434.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
Odd  Fellow.  Mr.  Pilo  is  married 
to  Annie  O.  Pilo. 


PETER  EDWARD  URELIUS 

was  born  in  Sweden,  April  23, 
1866.  He  emigrated  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  April,  1885,  and 
settled  in  Rockford.  After  living 
in  that  city  for  nine  years,  plying 
the  trade  of  shoemaker,  Mr.  Ure- 
lius  moved  to  Chicago  in  1894. 
Here  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  shoe  manufacturing  firm  of 
Selz,  Schwab  and  Co.,  in  the 
capacity  of  foreman  in  that  estab- 


PETER  EDWAKU  URELIUS 

lishment.      This    position    he    has 
held  up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Urelius  belongs  to  the  Elim 
M.     E.    church     in     Lake     View. 


28 


Cook  County 


With  his  wife,  Hulda  Eugenia, 
he  has  a  son,  Roland  E.  G.  Ure- 
lius. 


JOHN  HENNING  ENGWALL 

was  born  in  Chicago  in  the    'yos, 
and  has  lived  in  this  state  all   his 


JOHN  HENNING  ENGWALL 

life.  His  early  years  were  devoted 
to  study,  and  he  graduated  from 
both  the  grammar  school  and  high 
school.  Later  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  with  the  Na- 
tional Publishing  Company,  steadily 
advancing  with  the  concern  until 
in  1899  ne  was  elected  its  presi- 
dent, a  position  he  has  since  cred- 
itably filled.  The  National  Pub- 
lishing Company  is  the  oldest 
subscription  publishing  house  in  the 
United  States,  having  been  estab- 
lished in  1857.  Besides  its  Eng- 
lish publications,  it  has  published 
many  Swedish  books,  such  as  "Be- 
romda  Scener,"  "Jord,  Haf  och 
Hinimel,"  "Kristi  och  Apostlar- 


nes  Lif,"  "Jubel  Album,"  Kri- 
get  med  Spanien,"  etc. 

Mr.  Engwall  during  his  spare 
time  took  up  the  study  of  law, 
and  in  September,  1897,  entered 
the  Law  Department  of  Lake  For- 
est University,  graduating  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  After 
passing  the  examination  before  the 
State  Board  of  Law  Examiners, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  all 
courts.  His  office  is  in  the  Lake- 
side Building. 

Mr.  Engwall  visited  his  mother 
country  (Sweden)  in  1894,  spend- 
ing more  than  eight  months  in 
the  principal  towns  and  cities. 

He  has  been  received  in  the 
highest  ranks  of  Free  Masonry, 
and  is  a  Noble  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine. 


GUSTAF   SEAQUIST 

was  born  in    Skon  parish,   Medel- 
pad,  Sweden,  Nov.    15,    1874.     At 


GUSTAF  SEAQUIST 

1 2  years  of  age  he  secured  employ- 


Chicago 


ment  as  bookkeeper  at  the  Tunadal 
steam  [saw-mill,  where  he  served 
for  [about  two  years,  filling  the 
position  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
employer. 

In  the  spring  of  1890  he  emi- 
grated and  joined  his  father,  who 
had  a  tailor  shop  in  Chicago.  He 
here  learned  the  tailoring  trade 
and  was  associated  with  his  father 
for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1898  the  younger  Seaquist 
opened  a  tailoring  establishment 
of  his  own,  which  is  still  pros- 
pering under  his  management. 

In  1899  Mr.  Seaquist  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ida  Nilson,  with 
whom  he  has  three  children,  two 
sons  and  one  daughter. 


CHARLES  H.  BOMAN, 

secretary  of   the  Scandia  Life  In- 
Company,    was    born    in 


surance 


CHARLES  H.  BOMAX 

Hogsby,  Sweden,  in  1848.  He 
emigrated  to  America  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one,  locating  in  Gales- 


burg,  111.  He  removed  in  1871  to 
Moline,  where  he  soon  engaged  in 
the  stove  and  hardware  business. 
In  that  occupation  he  continued 
until  1 882 ,  when  he  became  a  can- 
didate for  tax  collector  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  and  was  elected 
with  a  large  majority.  After  hav- 
ing served  his  term  as  collector, 
he  conducted  a  crockery  store  for 
a  number  of  years.  Being  elected 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation in  1891,  that  body  chose 
him  secretary  and  general  overseer 
of  all  the  school  property  in  the 
Moline  district.  This  office  he  held 
for  eleven  years,  resigning  to  ac- 
cept the  secretaryship  of  the  Scan- 
dia Life  Insurance  Co.  of  Chicago, 
the  largest  Swedish-American  in- 
surance company. 

Mr.  Boman  and  his  family  be- 
long to  tne  Messiah  English  Luth- 
eran Church  in  Lake  View.  He 
was  elected  trustee  of  the  church 
in  1904  and  became  chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

May  10,  1878,  Mr.  Boman  was 
wedded  to  Miss  Margaret  Hage- 
man,  adopted  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  A.  R.  Cervin  of  Rock  Island. 
They  have  a  family  of  four  boys 
and  two  girls:  Ella  Caroline,  Carl 
Rudolph,  Anton  Leroy,  Anna  Aga- 
tha, Berndt  and  Herbert. 


FRED  NORLIN 

was  born  in  Vagnharad  parish,  in 
the  province  of  Sodermanland, 
Sweden,  March  4,  1865.  His  father 
was  an  officer  of  Hussars  and  ad- 
jutant to  King  Charles  XV.  The 
family  removed  to  Upland,  where 


Cook  County 


the  son  was  educated  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Upsala,  acquiring,  in 
addition  to  the  regular  courses,  a 


FRED   NORLIN 

thorough  knowledge  of  the  English 
language  and  of  drawing.  In  1881 
he  came  to  America,  proceeding 
at  once  to  Chicago.  Here  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Pullman 
Co.,  securing  a  situation  in  the 
woodwork  department.  By  de- 
grees he  worked  himself  up, 
until  he  was  at  the  head  of  the 
molding  machine  department,  in 
which  position  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1886.  He  then  went 
to  Minnesota  on  a  vacation  trip, 
and,  having  done  some  surveying 
for  drainage  on  his  father's  estate 
in  Sweden,  he  was  induced  to 
accept  a  position  with  the  county 
surveyor  of  Martin  County,  Minn., 
who  was  then  platting  an  addition 
to  the  little  town  of  Sherburne. 
That  \vork  finished,  Mr.  Norlin 
returned  to  Chicago  and  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Greeley- Carlson 


Company.  He  remained  with  that 
firm  for  eight  years,  during  which 
time,  by  private  study  and  hard 
work,  he  prepared  himself  for  the 
profession  of  surveying,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1894  opened  an  office 
for  the  general  practice  of  survey- 
ing, to  which  he  has  since  succes- 
ftilly  devoted  himself.  He  is  con- 
sidered an  expert  in  his  line,  and 
has  clients  among  the  most  prom- 
inent attorneys  and  real  estate  men 
in  Chicago.  He  recently  planned 
and  surveyed  the  town  of  Indiana 
Harbor,  Ind.,  one  of  the  largest 
manufacturing  centers  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Chicago,  and  did  the  sur- 
veying for  a  new  railroad  in  Indi- 
ana. 

Mr.  Norlin  is  a  member  of  the 
Western  Society  of  Civil  Engi- 
neers, the  Illinois  Society  of  Civil 
Engineers  and  Surveyors,  and 
treasurer  of  the  Chicago  Club  of 
Surveyors  and  likewise  treasurer 
of  the  Scandinavian  Club  of  Civil 
Engineers.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Glee  Club  and  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club. 

In  1889  Mr.  Norlin  was  married 
to  Miss  Dorothea  Knost,  from 
Westphalia,  Germany.  They  have 
three  children — one  girl  and  two 
boys. 

P.  A.  UNDBERG 
was  born  June  5,  1863,  in  Bonders- 
byn,  Neder  Kalix,  Sweden.  His 
father  held  a  position  with  a  large 
lumber  firm,  as  a  buyer  of  timber 
and  superintending  its  transporta- 
tion on  some  of  the  tributaries  to 
the  Kalix  River.  Ljndberg  was 
brought  up  on  the  farm  and  re- 


Chicago 


ceived  his  education  at  the  village 
school.  In  1882  he  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  follow- 


P.   A.  LINDBERG. 

ing  six  years  lived  alternately  at 
Clinton,  Iowa,  and  in  Whiteside 
County,  111.,  working  in  lumber 
yards  and  on  the  farm.  While  at 
Clinton,  he  acquired  a  business 
education,  and  in  1888  moved  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  employed 
as  an  office  clerk  for  some  time. 
He  traveled  nearly  four  years  for 
a  Chicago  picture  house,  and  in 
July,  1895,  engaged  in  the  pub- 
lishing business.  Mr.  L,indberg  is 
the  author  of  a  Swedish-American 
story,  entitled  "Adam,"  depicting 
life  and  superstitions  in  his  native 
country  and  an  immigrant's  trials 
and  experiences  in  the  New  World. 

Mr.  Lindberg  is  a  member  of 
the  X.  S.  B.  A.  and  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Religious  Society. 

The  firm  of  P.  A.  Lindberg  & 
Co.,  Publishers,  has  its  place  of 
business  at  52  Dearborn  st. 


NELS  B.  JOHNSON 

was  born  on  the  Husaby  estate, 
in  the  province  of  Blekinge,  Swe- 
den, June  3,  1861.  Some  time  later 
his  parents  removed  to  Mjellby, 
where  most  of  the  years  of  his 
youth  were  spent.  The  family 
being  in  poor  circumstances,  he 
had  to  apply  himself  early  to  hard 
labor,  and  enjoyed  no  schooling 
after  his  twelfth  year.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  years  he  emigrated 
to  America,  securing  work  on  a 
farm  near  Sycamore,. I)e  Kalb  Co., 
Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
The  third  year  he  spent  in  the 
West,  working  on  the  railroads. 
In  1 884  he  went  to  Chicago.  After 
having  been  sick  in  Alexian  Bro- 


NELS  B    JOHNSON 

thers  Hospital  for  three  months 
he  became  penniless.  He  secured 
employment  piling  lumber  and 
shoveling  coal  along  the  docks  at 
Chicago  ave.  Then  after  having 
a  place  as  porter  in  a  wholesale 
clothing  house  he  was  advanced 


Cook  County 


to  be  shipping  clerk,  which  posi- 
tion was  retained  for  five  years. 
He  established  a  milk  depot  in 
1889  and  later  a  grocery  store, 
finally  acquiring  four  stores,  which 
he  conducted  with  considerable 
success  for  over  ten  years.  He  is 
at  present  a  building  contractor 
and  operates  extensively  in  build- 
ings, purchasing  properties  and 
erecting  buildings  on  them.  His 
latest  venture  is  a  $75,000  apart- 
ment building  on  Sheridan  Road. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  married  to  Miss 
Nellie  Munson,  daughter  of  Nels 
Munson  and  his  wife,  Hanna  Nel- 
son, the  date  of  their  wedding  be- 
ing Feb.  25,  1887.  Their  child- 
ren are  Arthur,  born  March  25, 
1888,  Richard,  born  Dec.  9,  1889, 
Florence,  born  March  20,  1893. 
The  family  is  connected  with  the 
Swedish  Mission  Church. 


CHARLES   PALM 
was  born  in  the  province  of  Vest- 


manland,  Sweden,  June  28,  1859, 
and  arrived  in  America  in  1880. 
Having  graduated  from  the  Swed- 
ish Baptist  Theological  Seminary, 
he  became  a  pastor  in  Evanston, 
111.,  and  served  there  with  marked 
success  for  over  seven  years,  a  large 
number  of  members  being  added 
to  the  church.  He  thereupon  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  remained  four  years  and 
a  half,  and  was  equally  successful 
there.  A  lot  was  secured  and  a 
spacious  church  erected  with  but 
little  debt,  and  the  membership  of 
the  congregation  increased  rapidly. 
The  Sunday  school  work  was  es- 
pecially successful.  New  mission 
stations  were  established, and  finally 
the  California  Conference  was  or- 
ganized with  the  results  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Palm's  labors  as  a  nucleus. 
Mr.  Palm  has  been  serving  as  a 
Sunday  school  missionary,  having 
charge  of  the  Sunday  school  work 
in  Illinois  and  Indiana.  He  is  a 
member  and  vice-president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Swedish 
Baptist  General  Conference;  a 
member  of  the  board  of  the 
"Fridhem"  Old  People's  Home; 
also  president  of  "Fridhem"  Chil- 
dren's Home  Society.  He  has 
lectured  on  history,  Egyptology, 
Christian  citizenship,  and  the  his- 
torical development  of  hymnology. 
Mr.  Palm  is  married  to  Anna 
Wassell,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  C. 
Wassell. 


CHARLES  PALM 


JOHN  LJNDERHOLM 
was  born  in  Sandsjo  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  July  22,    1841.    He 
came   to    this   country   at   the  age 


Chicago 


33 


of  ten  years,  the  family  settling 
at  Andover,  111.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding years  he  attended  the  pub- 


JOHN  LINDERHOLM 

lie  school  in  winter  and  worked 
on  the  farm  in  summer.  He  was 
married  to  Christine  Hedberg  in 
1 86 1.  In  the  early  sixties  he 
went  west  with  a  gold  mining  ex- 
pedition, prospecting  through  Ida- 
ho and  other  western  states,  but 
after  the  Civil  War  broke  out  he 
returned  home,  having  had  many 
narrow  escapes  from  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  who  at 
that  time  were  on  the  war  path. 
In  1869  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Webster  co.,  Iowa,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  pioneers  in  that 
part  of  the  state,  and  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  farming  and  stock 
raising.  Later  he  also  engaged  in 
a  general  retail  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Dayton,  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  for  several  years,  later 
removing  to  Gowrie,  Iowa,  where 
he  conducted  a  similar  business 


for  some  years.  In  1876  he  moved 
to  Essex,  Iowa,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  general  merchandise  bus- 
iness and  engaged  extensively  in 
the  stock  and  grain  business,  own- 
ing several  grain  elevators  in  the 
state.  He  also  extended  his  bus- 
iness to  different  points  in  Nebras- 
ka, conducting  general  stores  and 
banks  in  Ogalalla,  Grant,  Genoa 
and  Central  City,  Weeping  Water 
and  Omaha,  in  the  latter  place  also 
engaging  extensively  in  the  ice 
business,  wholesale  and  retail.  In 
1886  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Omaha,  in  order  to  facilitate  a 
closer  attention  to  his  busines  in- 
terests. Five  years  later  he  moved 
to  Chicago,  and  in  1892  engaged 
in  the  general  commission  business 
on  the  Board  of  Trade,  where  he 
is  well  and  favorably  known,  hav- 
ing been  connected  with  some  very 
extensive  operations  on  the  Board. 
In  the  fall  of  1893  Mr.  Linder- 
holm  took  a  trip  to  Texas  and 
made  a  thorough  investigation  of 
the  condition  and  resources  of  the 
Lone  Star  State,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1894  purchased  a  tract  of  land, 
embracing  in  all  60,000  acres, 
which  he  proceeded  to  colonize, 
especially  interesting  a  large  num- 
ber of  northern  people  from  Iowa, 
Illinois,  Minnesota,  Kansas,  Neb- 
raska and  Missouri  in  the  venture. 
The  lands  he  acquired  are  located 
in  the  counties  of  Colorado  and 
Wharton  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  state,  commonly  called  the 
Gulf  Coast  country.  He  platted 
and  developed  the  town  of  Ches- 
terville,  now  a  flourishing  village, 
inhabited  by  northern  people  and 


34 


Cook  County 


one  of  the  centers  of  the  rice  rais- 
ing regions  of  southern  Texas. 
His  work  in  the  development  of 
the  fertile  prairies  of  Texas  has 
brought  him  into  prominence  as 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  the  southern  section. 
When  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Linder- 
holm  resides  at  108  Hammond  st. 
He  divides  his  time  between  his 
home  and  Chesterville,  Texas.  He 
has  a  family  of  one  son,  Oscar  E. 
Linderholm,  an  attorney  of  Chi- 
cago, and  four  daughters,  two  of 
whom  also  reside  in  this  city. 


G.  BERNHARD  ANDERSON, 

the  eldest  son    of    Svante   Ander- 
son   and    his    wife    Johanna,    nee 


G.   BERNHARU  ANDERSON 

Monsson,  was  born  April  19,  1867, 
in  Sweden.  In  the  following  year 
his  parents  emigrated  and  came 
to  Chicago  where  the  family  has 
since  resided.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and,  after  leav- 
ing school,  worked  for  several 


years.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
entered  the  preparatory  department 
of  Augustana  College,  graduating 
from  the  collegiate  department 
with  the  class  of  1888.  The  two 
following  years  he  spent  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  teaching  in  an 
academy.  In  1890  he  entered  the 
senior  class  at  Harvard  University 
and  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1891.  The  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
was  conferred  upon  him  in  1892 
by  Harvard  University.  He  then 
went  to  Europe  and  spent  one 
year  studying  the  Scandinavian 
languages  and  literatures  in  the 
University  of  Upsala,  the  oldest 
and  most  noted  institution  of  learn- 
ing in  Sweden.  After  spending 
some  months  in  Germany  and 
France,  he  returned  to  Chicago 
and  began  the  study  of  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1895 
and  has  now  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  Mr.  Anderson  takes  an 
interest  in  public  and  political  mat- 
ters, but  does  not  permit  these  to 
interfere  with  his  professional 
work.  He  is  a  fluent  speaker  in 
both  Swedish  and  English  and  has 
appeared  as  orator  on  many  public 
occasions.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Swedish  Glee  Club  of  Chi- 
cago and  of  the  Alumni  Associa- 
tion of  Augustana  College  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Harvard  Club  of 
Chicago  and  of  the  Chicago 
Bar  Association.  Since  1903  Mr. 
Anderson  has  been  instructor  of 
the  Chicago  Law  School.  .He  is 
the  senior  member  of  the  law 
firm  of  Anderson  &  Anderson,  with 
offices  at  509,  100  Washington  St. 
Mr.  Anderson  is  married  to  Miss 


Chicago 


35 


Alma  C.  Patterson,  daughter  of 
Anders  Gustaf  and  Christine  Pet- 
terson. 


GUSTAVE  ADOLPH  MATHIAS 
LILJENCRANTZ, 

of  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Office,   was 


GUSTAYE  ADOLPH    MATHIAS 
LILJEXCRANTZ 

born  in  the  province  of  Upland, 
Sweden,  April  n,  1842.  His  par- 
ents were  Baron  Johan  Carl  Liljen- 
crantz,  Custom  House  Inspector, 
and  Henriette  von  Schoultz. 
They  are  both  dead,  Baron  Liljen- 
crantz  having  passed  away  at  Dal- 
aro,  in  1862.  The  son  attended 
first  the  New  Collegiate  School,  and 
thereafter  the  Royal  Technological 
Institute,  both  in  Stockholm,  where 
he  was  graduated  as  a  civil  en- 
gineer in  June,  1866.  Later  he 
became  gentleman  of  the  chambers 
at  the  Swedish  Court. 

Liljencrantz    was    assistant    en- 
gineer at  the  construction    of    the 


Dalsland  Canal  1866  to  1869.  In 
the  last  named  year  he  emigrated, 
locating  in  Milwaukee.  There  he 
took  a  position  as  draughtsman  in 
the  U.  S.  Engineer  Office  until 

1870,  when  he  entered  the  employ 
of  .the  C.  M.&St.  P.  Ry.  in  the  same 
capacity.     Coming  to    Chicago    in 

1871,  he  was  draughtsman  at  the 
government  engineering  office  until 
the  following  year,    when    he    ad- 
vanced to  Assistant  Engineer,  the 
position  he   has   occupied    to    the 
present  time.     He  is  a  member  of 
the  Western   Society  of  Engineers 
in  Chicago,   of   the    Technological 
Society    of    Stockholm,      and     an 
honorary  member    of    the    Scandi- 
navian    Technical    Society    of 
Chicago.     In    the    former    he    has 
served    as    trustee    and    first  vice 
president,  etc.     He  has    held    im- 
portant offices  in  the  Masonic  order, 
and  is  a  member   of    the    Masonic 
Veteran     Association    of     Illinois. 
In   religion  he  is  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Liljencrantz  was  married 
April  27,  1875  to  Miss  Adaline 
Charlotte  Hall  of  N.  Pownal, 
Vermont,  a  lady  of  old  colonial 
stock.  They  have  one  daughter, 
Ottilie  A.  Liljencrantz,  well  known 
for  her  successful  historical  ro- 
mances, "The  Thrall  of  Leif  the 
Lucky,"  "The  Ward  of  King 
Canute"  and  "Randvar  the  Song- 
smith." 

ERICK  EDGREN 

was  born  August  17,  1859,  at 
Storfors,  Kroppa  parish,  Vermland, 
Sweden.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools  in  his 
native  land.  In  the  fall  of  1881 


Cook  County 


he  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
By  December  he  was  in  Chicago. 
For  a  time  he  worked  in  a  foun- 


ERICK  EDGREN 

dry,  then  conducted  a  grocery 
store  on  the  North  Side  for  four 
years.  During  more  than  fifteen 
years  he  has  been  a  salesman 
with  Steele-Wedeles  Co.,  whole- 
sale grocers,  still  continuing  in 
the  employ  of  that  house. 

Mr.  Edgren  was  married  in 
Sweden,  Nov.  i,  1881.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Edgren  have  four  sons  and 
four  daughters  and  reside  at  1080 
Kimball  Ave.  They  belong  to 
the  Humboldt  Park  Swedish  M. 
E.  church  in  which  Mr.  Edgren 
has  been  trustee,  steward,  Sunday 
school  teacher  and  president  of 
the  Epworth  league.  Mr.  Edgren 
is  a  stanch  Republican. 


OLOF  PEARSON 


he  learned  the  watchmaker's  trade. 
In  1886  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  For  ten  years  he  worked 
for  various  firms,  and  then  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  as  a 
watchmaker  and  optician  at  11340 
Michigan  ave.,  Roseland,  in  1898. 
Mr.  Pearson  has  been  high  grand 
master  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Svithiod,  and  president  of  the 
Swedish  Watchmakers'  Society. 
He  belongs  to  several  other  socie- 
ties and  fraternities,  including  the 
N.  A.  U.,  the  N.  U.  and  the  K. 
of  P.  He  is  a  member  and  direc- 


OLOF   PEARSON 

tor  of  the  South   End  Merchants' 
Association . 

Mr.  Pearson  is  married  to  Hilda 
L,.  Johnson,  from  Ostergotland, 
and  has  with  her  a  daughter, 
Emma  Maria  Charlotta. 


OTHELIA   MYHRMAN 


was  born  May  13,  1869,  in  Malmo,  was  born  July  9,  1859,  at  Fin- 
Sweden.  After  completing  his  spong,  Sweden,  her  father,  Peter 
early  education  in  the  public  school  Mork,  being  a  foreman  in  the 


Chicago 


37 


great  cannon  foundry  of  that  name. 
She  emigrated  to  America  in  1875 
and,  coming  to  Chicago  as  a  young 


OTHELIA   MYHRMAN 

girl,  studied  the  servant  girl  quest- 
ion from  the  ground  up,  by  being 
herself  employed  as  a  domestic  for 
several  years. 

Mrs.  Myhrman  early  took  an 
interest  in  the  temperance  move- 
ment and  has  lectured  with  enthu- 
siasm on  the  subject  in  the  city 
of  Chicago  and  in  numerous  minor 
cities  in  the  Northwest.  She  re- 
presented the  Illinois  Grand  Tem- 
perance Lodge  at  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
and,  in  1881,  at  Zurich,  Switzer- 
land, in  1897,  and  at  Boston,  Mass., 
in  1895. 

Mrs.  Myhrman  is  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Swedish  National 
Association,  which  was  organized 
in  1894  by  Swedish- Americans  of 
Chicago,  primarily  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  the  conviction  of  the 
murderers  of  a  fellow  countryman. 
Subsequently  the  association  has 


been  maintained  as  a  charitable 
organization.  In  the  first  year  of 
its  existence  the  association,  which 
is  composed  of  a  large  number  of 
Swedish  societies,  founded  the 
Swedish  Free  Employment  Bureau 
and  engaged  Mrs.  Myhrman  as  a 
manager,  a  position  for  which  she 
is  well  adapted  and  where  her 
executive  ability  has  ever  proved 
a  valuable  asset  to  the  association. 

Mrs.  Myhrman  takes  the  lead 
in  any  endeavor  which  may  en- 
gage her  interest.  She  is  especially 
active  in  charities  and  in  work  for 
woman's  advancement.  She  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Woman's  Club  of  Chi- 
cago, and  when  in  1905  the  Sophia 
Aid  Society,  a  charity  organiza- 
tion, was  founded,  the  chairman- 
ship naturally  went  to  Mrs.  Myhr- 
man as  the  principal  promoter  of 
the  society.  Some  years  back, 
when  the  woman's  aid  and  benefit 
society  Ingeborg  was  instituted, 
she  was  also  among  its  organizers. 

Mrs.  Myhrman' s  genius  for 
management  has  been  frequently 
exemplified  at  the  large  midsum- 
mer and  midwinter  festivals  regu- 
larly arranged  by  the  Swedish 
National  Association. 


JOHN  ALBERT  LINDSTEDT 
was  born  in  Chicago  July  29,  1869. 
He  was  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
he  was  reared  and  obtained  a 
country  school  education.  In  1889 
he  returned  to  Chicago  and  was 
soon  apprenticed  to  a  plumber, 
working  at  this  occupation  for 
eight  years.  During  this  period 


Cook  County 


he  attended  evening  classes  at  the 
Columbia  Business  College  for  two 
years.  In  1900  he  set  up  his  own 
business  at  1697  North  Clark  St., 
contracting  for  everything  in  the 
line  of  plumbing  and  gas-fitting. 
Mr.  Lindstedt  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Chicago  Plumbers' 
Association,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Adelphi  No.  8. 


shop.     The    firm  is    pro  m  i  n  e  n  t 
among    like    institutions    for    the 


JOHN    ALBERT   LINDSTEDT 

He  is  married  to  Miss  Laura 
Swanson  of  Chicago,  and  their 
home  is  in  Lake  View. 


JOHN  G.  GUSTAFSON 

was  born  in  the  year  1846,  in  Karl- 
stad, Sweden,  and  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  the  United  States  since 
1868.  In  1892  the  Butler  Street 
Foundry  and  Iron  Co.  was  organ- 
ized with  Mr.  Gustafson  as  vice- 
president  and  secretary  of  the 
firm.  The  works  are  at  3422 — 
3432  Butler  st.,  Chicago,  and  con- 
sist of  a  large  and  complete  iron 
foundry,  pattern  shop  and  fitting 


JOHN   G.    GUSTAFSON 

manufacture  of  structural  iron 
and  steel  work  for  buildings,  cast- 
ings for  boiler  fronts,  machinery 
and  general  iron  work. 

Mr.  Gustafson   is  a   member  of 
Svithiod  Lodge  No.  i,  I.  O.  S. 


THEODORE  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Iowa  Dec.  28,  1872, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  a 
farm  near  Stanton,  Iowa,  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  and 
the  Mamrelund  Normal  School 
during  the  winter  months  and 
worked  hard  on  a  farm  during 
the  summer  months.  He  then  took 
a  course  of  studies  at  the  Western 
Normal  College  at  Shenandoah, 
Iowa.  In  1890  he  secured  em- 
ployment as  a  stenographer  and 
clerk  in  the  law  office  of  Bradley 
&  De  Lamatre,  of  Omaha,  Neb., 
where  he  remained  until  the  fol- 


Chicago 


39 


lowing  summer,  when  he  went  to 
Chicago.  Immediately  he  secured 
employment  with  the  law  firm  of 


THEODORE  JOHNSON 

Cratty  Brothers,  with  whom  he 
remained  four  years  as  stenographer 
and  and  assistant  manager  of  their 
collection  department.  At  the  same 
time  Mr.  Johnson  attended  the 
evening  sessions  of  the  Chicago 
College  of  I,aw,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  honors  in  1895, 
when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  then  became  chief  clerk  for 
the  firm  of  Eschenburg  &  Whit- 
field,  a  law  firm  in  Chicago,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  the  real  estate 
and  probate  law  practice,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  January 
ist,  1899,  when  he  opened  a  law 
office  of  his  own.  He  was  suc- 
cessful from  the  start.  In  1901, 
he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Harry  G.  Colson,  a  successful  trial 
lawyer,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Colson  &  Johnson.  The  firm  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 


tice, representing  many  of  the  lar- 
gest mercantile  houses  and  real 
estate  firms  in  Chicago,  in  addi- 
tion to  an  extensive  clientage  among 
American,  Swedish  and  German 
people.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Mason 
and  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Sandell  of 
Omaha  in  1898  and  resides  at 
2337  Wayne  ave.,  Edgewater. 


PETER  S.  RONBERG 

was  born  Sept.  7,  1865,  in  Gra- 
num,  Blekinge,  Sweden.  From 
thence  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try in  1887,  coming  to  Chicago, 
where  he  made  his  home  perma- 
nently. Shortly  after  his  arrival 
he  secured  emplojmient  as  a  car- 


PETER   S.   RONBERG 

penter  with  the  contracting  firm 
of  Clark  &  Findlay,  remaining 
with  them  for  several  years.  In 
the  year  1895  he  started  in  busi- 
ness as  a  contractor  and  builder. 
Mr.  Ronberg  has  been  very  ac- 
tive in  religious  work.  The  office 


Cook  County 


of  president  of  the  Swedish  Mission      Zion    Ev.    Luth.    Church    and    to 
Church    of    Englewood    was    held      the   Enighet  Society. 
by  him  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1890  he  was  married  to  Miss 


ESPERANCE  F.   ALMGREN 


Mathilda  Soderberg,  with  whom  was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
he  has  seven  children,  four  girls  After  graduating  from  the  Poly- 
and  three  boys. 


JOHN  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Hallaryd  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Sept.  16,  1868.    His 


JOHN  JOHNSON 

early  education  was  obtained  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  old 
country.  A  victim  of  the  emi- 
gration fever,  he  left  his  native 
land  in  1888,  landing  Aug.  8  and 
proceeding  to  Chicago.  In  1892 
he  was  engaged  as  a  bellows  maker 
by  the  Cable  Piano  and  Organ 
Co.,  and  is  now  organ  inspector 
for  this  well-known  firm. 

Mr.  Johnson,  with  his  family, 
visited  his  native  home  in  1900. 
After  a  sojourn  of  three  months 
in  Sweden,  he  returned  to  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Johnson  belongs  to  the 


ESPERANCE   F.    ALMGREN 

technic  Institute,  he  became  a 
pupil  of  W.  A.  Barklund,  engraver 
to  the  Royal  Postal  Department  of 
Sweden.  With  five  years'  expe- 
rience he  left  his  native  land  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  America.  He 
came  to  Chicago  in  1881  and  for 
several  years  worked  as  engraver 
with  S.  D.  Childs.  In  1884  he 
\vent  to  Paris  for  further  develop- 
ment in  the  engraver's  art.  Re- 
turning in  1885  to  Chicago,  he 
accepted  a  position  with  C.  H. 
Hanson,  the  engraver  and  die- 
maker.  In  the  twenty-two  years  that 
Mr.  Almgren  has  continued  in  the 
same  position,  he  has  won  the 
confidence  of  his  employer  and 
acquired  complete  master}-  of  his 
art. 


Chicago 


ADOLPH  A.  CARLSON 

was    born    in   Sigislaryd,   Madesjo 
parish,  Smaland,  Sweden,  Jan.  28, 


ADOLPH  A.  CARLSON 

1858,  and  arrived  in  America  in 
April,  1882,  from  that  time  resid- 
ing in  Chicago.  On  arriving  here, 
he  first  went  to  work  in  a  stone 
quarry,  and  thereafter  on  the  rail- 
road. In  the  fall  of  1883  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  C.  J.  Land- 
qnist,  a  wood  tank  manufacturer. 
During  ten  years  he  worked  in 
this  line  for  different  firms.  In 
September,  1893,  when  the  firm 
with  which  he  was  then  employed 
retired  from  business  owing  to 
the  hard  times,  Mr.  Carlson  em- 
barked in  the  business,  forming  a 
co-partnership  with  John  A.  John- 
son and  Andrew  Johnson,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Johnson,  Carlson 
&  Co.  They  continued  as  partners 
until  April,  1895,  when  Andrew 
Johnson  retired,  and  the  firm  name 
was  changed  to  Johnson  &  Carl- 
son. They  have  uniformly  been 


successful,  and  now  occupy  their 
own  factory  at  139-155  Eastman 
st.  cor.  of  Judson  st. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  in  1884  married 
to  Miss  Augusta  Carlson.  They 
have  seven  children,  three  boys 
and  four  girls. 

In  religion,  Mr.  Carlson  has  al- 
ways been  a  Lutheran  and  is  now 
a  member  of  the  Saron  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church. 


ALFRED  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Jonkoping, 
Sweden,   March  3,    1851,  and  emi- 


ALFRED    ANDERSON 

grated  to  America  in  1866.  For 
the  next  three  years  he  worked 
on  a  farm  and  in  1870,  when  the 
M.  E.  theological  school  opened 
in  Galesburg,  he  became  one  of 
its  first  students.  He  was  ordained 
a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  the  fall  of  1871,  by  Bishop 
Ames.  Thereafter  he  served  as 
pastor  in  Iowa  two  years;  then  in 
Galesburg,  111.,  three  years;  in 


Cook  County 


Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  three  years; 
in  Andover,  111.,  two  years;  in 
the  First  Sw.  M.  E.  Church  of  Chi- 
cago, five  years,  and  in  Evanston 
one  year.  For  nine  years  he  held 
the  office  of  presiding  elder,  and 
was  thereafter  selected  pastor  of 
the  EHm  Church  of  Chicago,  a 
post  which  he  held  four  )-ears. 
He  was  subsequently  manager  of 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Book  Concern, 
Chicago,  until  1906.  He  is  at 
present  Presiding  Elder  of  Chi- 
cago District. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  was  the 
first  financial  agent  of  the  Bethany 
Home,  and  has  been  president  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Metho- 
dist Theological  Seminary  in  Ev- 
anston for  many  years. 

In  the  year  1874  Mr.  Anderson 
was  married  to  Miss  Augusta  Bor- 
jeson,  who  was  born  in  Goteborg. 


ciety;  from  1903-1905  he  was  pres- 
ident of  Western  Oregon  Orchard 


PETER  C.  PEARSON 
was  born  in  Gefle,  Sweden,  March 
14,  1863,  and  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  this  country  in  1868. 
After  two  years  in  Andover,  111., 
the  famity  removed  to  Lindsborg, 
Kans.,  wrhere  his  father  is  still 
living.  Mr.  Pearson  was  educated 
at  Bethany  College,  Lindsborg. 
In  1890  he  became  editor  of  Fram- 
at,  a  weekly  newspaper,  which 
was  then  removed  from  Lindsborg 
to  Chicago,  and  has  been  pub- 
lished under  the  name  of  Foster- 
landet  since  the  fall  of  1891,  Mr. 
Pearson  being  connected  with  it 
in  an  editorial  capacity  up  to  1902. 
During  1902-1905,  Mr.  Pearson 
was  president  of  North  Star  Ben- 
efit Association,  an  insurance  so- 


p.  c.  PEARSON- 
CO.,  and  is  now  secretary  of  Tel- 
ma  Gold  Mining  Co.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  has  been  adver- 
tising solicitor  for  Fosterlandet  and 
Svenska  Tribunen. 

Mr.  Pearson  is  [a  member  of 
American  Academy  of  Political  and 
Social  Science. 

Having  lost  his  first  wife  and 
a  child,  Mr.  Pearson  on  Nov.  25, 
1900,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Marie  W.  Wennerstrom,  of  Tope- 
ka,  Kans.,  born  March  28,  1878. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Lillian, 
born  1902,  and  Margaret,  born 

1905- 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearson  belong  to 
Concordia  Swedish  Luth.  Church, 
at  Cuvler. 


GUSTAF  L.  JOHNSON 

was  born  May  10,  1863,  in  Kungs- 
lena,  Skaraborg  Ian,  Sweden.  In 
1882  he  came  over  from  the  old 


Chicago 


43 


country,  with  Chicago   as  his   ob 
jective   point.       He    attended    the 
Metropolitan  Business     College  in 


GUSTAF  L.  JOHNSON 

order  to  acquire  a  theoretical  train  - 
ing  for  his  subsequent  business 
career.  Mr.  Johnson  is  now  presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  Eliz 
abeth  Street  Foundry.  The  works 
are  at  5833-5843  Elizabeth  St.,  and 
employ  100  men.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  married  nineteen  years  ago  to 
Mathilda  Wiberg  from  Virestad, 
Smaland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson, 
with  their  two  daughters,  reside 
at  5704  Green  st. 


CHARLES  O.  ELLSTROM 

was  born  in  Lonneberga,  in  the 
province  of  Smaland,  Sweden,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1865.  He  emigrated  to 
America  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
arriving  here  in  the  year  1882.  He 
first  went  to  Leaven  worth,  Kans., 
where  he  stopped  for  only  six 
months.  From  there  young  Ell- 
strom  moved  to  Kansas  City,  where 


he  secured  employment  with  the 
Fort  Scott  &  Gulf  R.  R.  Co.  In 
the  fall  of  1886  he  gave  up  his 
position  and  left  Kansas  City  to 
take  a  place  with  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Ry.,  in  Chi- 
cago. He  remained  in  the  employ 
of  this  company  for  fifteen  years. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  the 
secretary  of  the  Scandia  Mining 
Syndicate  of  Nome,  Alaska,  with 
main  offices  at  1237  Stock  Exchange 


CHARLES  O.   ELLSTROM 

Building.   In  1895  Mr.  Ellstrom  was 
married  to  Miss  Emma  Karlborg. 


CLAES  VICTOR  PETERSON 

was  born  in  Elmhultsbro,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  March  6,  1862.  His  father, 
J.  A.  Peterson,  is  a  prominent  land- 
owner and  lumber  manufacturer  in 
that  part  of  Sweden.  After  fin- 
ishing school  the  son  was  employed 
at  the  sawmill  and  on  the  farm  at 
Elmhultsbro.  He  emigrated  in 
1884,  going  to  live  with  an  uncle 


44 


Cook  County 


in  Svea,  Iowa,  attended  school  and 
worked  on  his  uncle's  farm  till  the 


CLAES  VICTOR  PETERSON" 

next  year  when  he  went  to  Ohio, 
where  another  uncle  of  his  was 
living  near  Columbus.  Here  he 
was  employed  in  various  lines  of 
work  until  the  preparations  for 
the  World's  Fair  attracted  him 
to  Chicago.  For  several  years 
he  worked  as  agent  for  various 
businesshouses  and  in  1896  became 
salesman  for  the  Kimball  Company, 
and  continues  with  that  house  to 
the  present  time.  Mr.  Peterson, 
who  is  unmarried,  spent  his  vaca- 
tions in  1904  and  1906  in  his  old 
home  in  Sweden  and  other  parts 
of  country.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order. 


GUSTAF  WILHELM  JOHNSON 

was  born  Feb.  20,  1863,  in  Ryda- 
holm  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
Coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1 88 1,  he  first  settled  in  Lemont. 


In  1883  he  removed  to  Rockford 
and  in  1885  to  Chicago  where  he 
has  since  remained.  Mr.  Johnson 
learned  the  trade  of  garment  cut- 
ter at  C.  J.  Stone's  Cutting  School. 
He  was  cutter  with  various  tailor- 
ing houses  until  1895  when  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  at 
145  North  State  st.,  and  has  en- 
joyed prosperity  in  the  business. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  married  June  20, 
1898,  to  Miss  Carolina  Johnson,  of 
Spring  Garden,  Goodhueco.,  Minn. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  active  in  frater- 
nal circles,  holding  membership  in 


GUSTAF  WILHELM  JOHNSON 

several    societies.       He    resides    in 
his  own  house,   871   Osgood  st. 

Mr.  Johnson  belongs  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  is  a  good 
and  true  Republican. 


WILLIAM  K.  SANDBERG 

was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
August  17,  1873.  He  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  thereafter 
studied  at  the  Technological  School 


Chicago 


45 


at  Sundsvall.  Securing  a  position 
with  a  jeweler  in  his  native  city, 
he  worked  for  him  until  April, 


WILLIAM  K.   SANDBERG 

1891,  when  he  left  for  America. 
Arriving  in  Chicago,  he  received 
employment  in  the  watch  depart- 
ment of  Montgomery,  Ward  &  Co., 
remaining  there  five  years.  He 
was  afterwards  employed  as  fore- 
man for  the  watch  department  of 
A.  C.  Backen's  wholesale  jewelry 
business,  for  two  years. 

After  that  Mr.  Sandberg  started 
in  business  for  himself  as  watch- 
maker and  jeweler.  He  now  man- 
ufactures watches  and  jewelry  to 
the  trade  and  has  an  extensive 
mail  order  business. 

Mr.  Sandberg  was  married  in 
1888,  to  Miss  Anna  Johnson  from 
Soderkoping ,  Sweden . 


ERIC  SANDELL, 

president  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
General  Conference  of  America, 
was  born  at  Helsingtuna,  near 


Hudiksvall,  Sweden,  Jan.  26, 
1856,  and  came  to  America  in  June 
1880.  He  graduated  from  the 
Baptist  Union  Theological  Semin- 
ary at  Morgan  Park,  111.,  in  1884, 
and  was  pastor  of  the  Second 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Chicago 
from  1884  to  1887.  Thereafter  he 
was  professor  in  the  Central  Bible 
Seminary  at  Stromsburg,  Neb., 
1887-1888,  and  professor  in  the 
Swedish  Department  of  the  Baptist 
Union  Theological  Seminary  from 
1888  to  1892.  The  latter  year  he 
became  assistant  professor  in  the 
Swedish  Theological  Seminary,  a 
department  of  the  University  of 
Chicago  Divinity  School,  from 
which  position  he  resigned  in  1895 
to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Elim 


ERIC  SANDELL 

Swedish  Baptist  Church  in  Minne- 
apolis. Serving  there  until  1899, 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Fourth 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Chicago, 
which  position  he  held  until  1905. 
That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sandell  is 


46 


Cook  County 


highly  esteemed  even  outside  of 
his  own  church  denomination  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1902  he 
received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  a  Luth- 
eran institution,  Bethany  College, 
at  Lindsborg,  Kansas. 


CHARLES  G.   PETTERSON, 

the  business  manager  of   Missions- 
IVdimen,  was  born    in  Marback 


CHARLES  G.  PETTERSON 

parish,  Smaland,  Sweden,  August 
8,  1851.  Up  to  the  age  of  eight- 
een he  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof.  Thereupon  he  joined 
a  company  of  emigrants  from  his 
native  parish  and  vicinity  and  set 
out  for  America,  in  1869,  coming 
direct  to  Chicago,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  the  great  fire 
of  1871  his  home  shared  the  gen- 
eral fate,  being  gutted  by  the 
flames.  Up  to  the  year  1882  Mr. 
Petterson  was  engaged  in  various 
occupations.  That  year  a  print- 
ing society  was  formed  to  publish 


the  Missions-  Wannen,  a  religious 
weekly,  representing  the  Swedish 
Mission  churches.  Mr.  Petterson 
became  the  manager  of  the  busi- 
ness and  still  continues  in  that 
capacity.  He  is  the  type  of  a 
true,  conservative  Swedish  business 
man,  who  believes  in  running  a 
business  on  a  firm,  honest  conserv- 
ative basis.  Under  his  manage- 
ment the  paper  has  prospered  and 
is  one  of  the  best  financed  Swedish 
newspapers  in  America.  His  capa- 
city as  a  man  of  affairs  has  been 
recognized  in  many  ways.  As  a 
member  of  various  committees  he 
has  had  much  to  do  with  the  ad- 
minstration  of  the  Mission  Cove- 
nant. For  a  long  term  of  years, 
and  up  to  the  present  time,  he 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Cove- 
nant, and  is  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential men  on  that  board.  The 
business  of  the  Mission  Church 
on  the  north  side  he  has  managed, 
as  its  treasurer,  for  many  years. 
For  the  past  twenty-eight  years 
he  has  been  united  in  marriage  to 
Josephina  Johnson  who  is  also  a 
native  of  Marback  parish.  There 
are  three  children  in  the  family, 
a  son  and  two  daughters. 


JOEL  MOSSBERG, 

a  baritone  of  prominence  in  Chi- 
cago, was  born  in  Kumla,  Nerike, 
Sweden,  Jan.  30,  1870.  He  emi- 
grated to  America  twenty  years 
later,  having  worked  over  four 
years  as  decorator  in  Visby,  Got- 
land. Coming  to  Chicago  in  1892 
he  worked  at  h'is  trade  for  a  time. 
He  had  early  evinced  musical  tal- 


Chicago 


47 


ent  as  flutist,  violinist  and  direct- 
or of  a  singers'  club  in  Visby, 
and  now  devoted  his  spare  time 


JOEL  MOSSBERG 

to  musical  studies,  first  with  W. 
.W.  Hinshaw  and  subsequently 
with  John  R.  Ortengren  of  the 
Chicago  Musical  College.  His  fine 
voice  and  masterful  handling  soon 
won  for  him  a  scholarship  in  the 
operatic  department  of  the  college. 

He  has  been  baritone  soloist  of 
the  North  Shore  Jewish  Synagogue 
for  the  last  five  years,  and  is  also 
soloist  of  the  Sixth  Presbyterian 
Church.  For  many  years  he  was 
one  of  the  mainstays  of  the  Swedish 
Glee  Club  male  chorus. 

Mr.  Mossberg  is  now  devoting 
himself  to  teaching,  directing 
choruses  and  to  church  and  con- 
cert work.  Among  the  choruses 
directed  by  him  are,  the  Orpheus, 
Iduna  and  Harmoni  Swedish  male 
choruses  and  the  Jenny  L,ind  Ladies 
Chorus. 

He  was  married  Dec.  10,  1906, 
to  Mrs.  Olga  Meine. 


FRANK  ALBERT  JOHNSON 
was  born  Sept.  4,  1870,  in  Chicago. 
He  attended  grammar  schools  and 
business  college,  afterwards  hold- 
ing successively  responsible  posi- 
tions in  the  offices  of  the  Wabash 
R.  R.  Co.,  Pullman  Palace  Car  Co., 
and  Alston  Mfg.  Co.  For  six 
years  Mr.  Johnson  was  in  the 
custom  tailoring  business  with  his 
father.  Mr.  Johnson  belongs  to 
the  Elim  Swedish  M.  E.  church 
in  which  he  is  serving  as  class 
leader  and  has  held  other  offices. 
He  is  now  secretary  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Aid  Association  of  Chi- 
cago, an  insurance  society  doing 
business  exclusively  with  church 
people  of  the  different  denomina- 
tions. He  has  filled  this  position 
creditably  for  the  past  seven  years. 


FRANK  ALBERT  JOHNSON 

Mr.  Johnson  is  director  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Book 
Concern  of  Chicago.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1892  to  Miss  Hilda  A. 
Anderson  and  has  two  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter. 


48 


Cook  County 


While  a  native  of  this    country     machine  shop  is  at  39-45  W.  Ran- 


and  a  steadfast  American  citizen, 
Mr.  Johnson  takes  great  pride  in 
his  descent  and  esteems  the  Swed- 
ish blood  and  language  a  most 
valuable  heritage. 


dolph  st.  The  firm  has  been  highly 
successful  and  its  business  is 
constantly  on  the  increase. 


JOSEPH  MAGNUS  HEDEN- 


OSCAR  RAPP  wag    born    in    St      CJara     parish) 

was  born  Oct.  15,  1863,  in  Odes-  Stockholm,  Sweden,  July  22,  1864. 
hog,  Ostergotland,  Sweden.  He  He  first  attended  the  Beskow 
came  to  this  country  June  2,  1879,  Academy  and  later  the  St.  Clara 

collegiate  school.  Then  he  de- 
voted himself  to  agriculture  for 
some  time,  and  took  a  course  at 
Lidsta  Agricultural  College.  Be- 
ing smitten  with  the  so-called 
"America  craze."  he  emigrated 
in  the  spring  of  1883,  in  company 
with  the  present  Rev.  Joseph 
Danielson  and  his  brother.  They 
settled  at  St.  Mary's,  Kansas, 
whence  Mr.  Hedenvall  in  1885 
proceeded  westward  to  California. 


OSCAR  RAPP 

and  settled  in  Chicago.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  he  obtained 
employment  at  the  Vaughn  & 
Bushnell  Mfg.  Co.,  where  he  learned 
his  trade  as  die  sinker  and  machin- 
ist. After  twelve  years  with  the 
same  firm,  he  left  in  order  to 
better  himself.  For  about  four 
years  he  worked  in  different  ma- 
chine shops  of  Chicago.  In  1896, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Axel 
Blomfeldt,  establishing  the  firm 
of  Blomfeldt  and  Rapp,  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  special 
machinery,  dies  and  tools.  The 


JOSEPH   MAGNUS  HEDENVALL 

After  a  short  stay  here,  he  con- 
tinued the  journey  to  Alaska  and 
the  Bering  Sea,  where  he  took 


Chicago 


49 


up  the  occupation  of  otter  and 
seal  fishing.  In  1886  he  returned 
to  Sweden,  but  the  following  year 
again  set  out  for  America,  now 
locating  in  Brooklyn.  After  hav- 
ing made  another  visit  to  Sweden, 
he  came  to  Chicago  in  the  spring 
of  1891.  Here  he  has  been  em- 
ployed by  several  of  the  leading 
clothing  houses,  amongst  others 
as  manager  of  the  clothing  de- 
partment in  the  well-known  de- 
partment store  of  Sidney  Mandl 
on  East  Division  Street. 


HUGO  J.  LIEDBERG 

was  born  in   the    city     of    Vexio, 
Sweden,    in    the    year    18/2. 


He 


HUGO  J.  LIEDBERG 

came  to  this  country  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  six  years  old. 
Hugo  Liedberg  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  in  Chicago.  Subse- 
quently he  took  a  course  of  stud- 
ies at  the  Art  Institute  of  Chicago 
in  order  to  prepare  himself  for  his 
chosen  work.  He  also  studied  at 
a  technical  school  in  Pennsylva- 


nia. After  having  worked  as  a 
draughtsman  for  ten  years,  he 
opened  his  own  offices  in  1896.  He 
is  now  at  173  Randolph  St.,  where 
he  continues  as  an  active  and  pro- 
gressive architect. 


ERIC  A.  DAVIDSON 

was  born    at    Nya    Kopparberget, 
Orebro  Ian,  Sweden,  Oct.  23,  1858. 


ERIC  A.   DAVIDSON 

When  nine  years  old  he  emigrated 
with  the  family  to  America.  They 
settled  at  Trade  Lake,  Wis.,  where 
his  father  pre-empted  a  homestead 
and  Eric  worked  on  a  farm.  In 
1879  Mr.  Davidson  entered  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Theological  Sem- 
inary from  which  he  graduated 
in  1882.  He  continued  his  stud- 
ies at  Northwestern  University, 
obtaining  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in 
1888.  Mr.  Davidson  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  a  church  in  Bos- 
ton. His  stay  of  two  years  en- 
abled him  to  pursue  studies  at 
Boston  University.  In  1891  he 
became  pastor  of  the  church  in 


Cook  County 


Kingsburg,  Cal.  The  next  year 
he  was  appointed  presiding  elder 
of  the  Swedish  Methodist  district 
of  California.  Three  years  later 
he  became  instructor  in  English 
at  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Seminary 
in  Evanston,  111.,  and  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Waukegan.  During 
that  year  he  entered  Bennett  Med- 
ical College,  Chicago,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1898.  He  is  also 
a  graduate  of  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Chicago. 

Since    then    Dr.     Davidson 
devoted  all  his  time    to    his 
fessional  practice. 

In  religion  Dr.  Davidson 
retains  his  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  In  politics  he 
is  an  independent. 


has 
pro- 
still 


G.  ARVID  HAGSTROM 

was  born  in  Sundsvall,  Sweden, 
Sept.  8,  1867,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1868  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Red  Wing,  Minn.  He 
thence  moved  to  Minneapolis, 
where  he  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  and  at 
a  business  college.  At  fifteen  years 
of  age  he  joined  the  First  Swed- 
ish Baptist  Church  of  that  city, 
and  was  known  as  an  active  and 
earnest  worker.  In  1889  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Mor- 
gan Park,  111.  Graduating  in  1892, 
he  became  pastor  of  the  English 
Baptist  Church  of  Newark,  111. 
The  following  year  he  accepted  a 
position  as  Swedish  Baptist  Sunday 
School  Missionary  for  the  State  of 
Illinois,  which  position  he  filled 
in  a  very  creditable  manner  for 


three  years,  laying  the  foundation 
for  an  excellent  system  of  Sunday 
School  work.  In  1896  he  accepted 
a  call  to  the  First  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  of  Chicago,  where  he  faith- 
fully and  zealously  labored  for  ten 


G.  ARVID  HAGSTROM 

years.  He  has  served  as  vice  pres- 
ident of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  General  Conference  of  Swedish 
Baptists  of  America,  president  for 
several  years  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Young  People's  Union,  vice- 
president  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Sunday  School  Society  of  Illi- 
nois, treasurer  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Conference  of  Illinois,  editor 
of  Forsamlingen  och  Hemmet,  a 
religious  monthly,  and  one  of  the 
editors  of  the  hymn  books,  "Valda 
Sanger"  and  "Triumf-Sanger." 
He  was  for  a  time  associate  editor 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  young  peo- 
ple's paper  and  of  Hemmets  Van. 
Mr.  Hagstrom,  in  1892,  married 
Miss  Caroline  W.  Anderson,  from 
\Vaconia,  Minn.,  born  Jan.  21, 
1865,  who  has  proved  herself  to 


Chicago 


be  an  accomplished,  tactful  and 
lovable  woman  and  an  ideal  min- 
ister's wife.  There  is  a  daughter, 
Marion  Abigail  Edith,  born  Oct. 

3i.   1903- 

Mr.  Hagstrom  takes  an  active 
part  in  promoting  every  interest 
of  his  denomination.  He  is  pres- 
ident of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Home 
for  the  Aged,  known  as  Fridhem, 
at  Morgan  Park;  president  of  the 
Scandinavian- American  Jewish 
Mission,  also  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Bethany  Beach  Assembly 
Summer  School  for  Christian 
Workers,  at  Sawyer,  Mich. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hagstrom  resigned  his 
charge  of  the  First  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Chicago  in  October 
1906,  to  become  missionary  and 
corresponding  secretary  o  f  the 
Swedish  Baptist  General  Confer- 
ence of  America,  and  took  up  his 
new  work  Jan.  i,  1907. 


ica,   and  arrived  in   Chicago    Apr. 
26,  1892.     Here  he  secured  a  place 


OSCAR    CALEB    NYLUND, 

Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery,  was 
born  in  Askersund,  Sweden,  March 
23,  1874.  His  father,  being  a 
railroad  man,  was  often  transfer- 
red from  place  to  place,  and  the 
son  spent  his  youth  in  Ervalla, 
Vesteras,  Lindesberg,  Nora,  and 
Bofors.  He  studied  first  at  Nora, 
and  later  attended  the  Manual 
Training  School  of  Karlskoga. 
Next  he  secured  a  position  on  the 
Nora  and  Karlskoga  railroad,  at 
Otterbacken,  but  as  he  had  little 
liking  for  that  kind  of  work,  he 
soon  left  it,  and  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  an  implement  firm  in 
Stockholm,  in  the  spring  of  1890. 
Two  years  later  he  left  for  Amer- 


OSCAR  CALEB  NYLUND 

with  Marshall  Field  and  Co., 
where  he  remained  three  years,  in 
the  meantime  attending  evening 
school  at  the  Chicago  Athenaeum. 
Eater  he  was  employed  by  the 
banking  firm  of  Edward  H. 
Ericson  &  Co.  He  afterwards 
studied  dentistry,  graduating  at 
the  Northwestern  University  Den- 
tal School  April  6,  1899,  having 
since  practiced  his  profession  in 
Chicago.  His  office  is  located  in 
the  Bush  Temple  of  Music,  at 
Clark  St.,  and  Chicago  Ave. 

Dr.  Nylund  is  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  State  Dental  Society,  the 
Chicago  Odontographic  Society 
and  the  Scandinavian-American 
Dental  Society  of  Chicago.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  following 
fraternal  orders  and  clubs:  the  St. 
Cecilia  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  Lincoln 
Park  Lodge  No.  611,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
Monitor  Council  No.  1414,  Royal 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
II  I  IIMUIS  I  IRRARY 


Arcanum,  and  the  Swedish  Glee 
Club.  In  the  Monitor  Council  he 
has  been  collector  for  ten  years 
and  in  the  Glee  Club  he  has  served 
as  secretary,  vice  president  and 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
Dr.  Nylund  was  married  Dec. 
5:,  1900,  to  Miss  Anna  Hvitfeldt, 
of  Chicago,  born  Aug.  23,  1879. 
Their  children  are,  Ruth  Maria 
Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  20,  1901, 
and  Berenice,  born  Oct.  28,  1905. 


CHARLES  J.  DAHLGREN 

was    born    in    Smaland,    Sweden, 
March   15,  1858.     He  emigrated  to 


CHARLES  J.  DAHLGREN 

America  in  1872  and  settled  in 
Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  for  seven  years, 
subsequently  changing  to  that  of 
undertaker.  He  has  continued  in 
that  line  of  business  for  over  fifteen 
years  at  5820  Wentworth  ave.  Mr. 
Dahlgren  was  county  commissioner 
n  1898-1901  and  has  served  as 


trustee  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  in  Englewood  for  several 
years.  Nov.  22,  1879  he  was  married 
to  Amelia  Carlson.  There  are  five 
children  in  the  family,  Oscar  W,, 
Albert  J.,  Anna  and  Walter. 


PETER  JOHN  PLANTIN 

was   born    in    Norra  Stro,  Skane, 
Sweden,  July  7,   1854,  the  son  of 


PETER  J.   PLANTIN 

John  Person  and  his  wife  Johanna 
Plantin.  Both  parents  have  died 
in  recent  years  at  the  old  home- 
stead. He  attended  grammar 
school  in  his  youth,  and  later  was 
apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  contrac- 
tor, remaining  five  years  in  his 
employ.  In  the  fall  of  1881,  short- 
ly after  coming  to  America,  he 
obtained  work  in  Chicago  as  car- 
penter and  worked  for  others  until 
1891,  when  he  engaged  in  bus- 
iness for  himself  as  building 
contractor.  His  residence  is  at 
1696  Buckingham  place. 

Mr.    Plantin    was    married    Apr. 


Chicago 


53 


5,  1884,  to  Miss  Matilda  Nelson. 
Their  children  with  year  of  birth 
are  Ethel,  E.  1885,  Minnie  J.  W. 
1887,  Mildred,  E.  1889,  and  Frida 
M.,  1892. 

Mr.  Plantin  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  S.  being  at  present  treasur- 
er of  the  Svithiod  Lodge,  also  of 
the  King  Oscar  Lodge,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  Oriental  Consistory  and 
Medina  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine. 


C.  PHILIP  EKBLOM 

was  born  Feb.  6,   1859,  in   Soder- 
telje,    Sweden.     He    emigrated   to 


C.   PHILIP  EKBLOM 

America  in  1880.  For  thirteen 
years  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
harnessmaking,  in  Woburn,  Mass., 
Keene,  N.  H.,  and  in  Hartford, 
Conn.  In  the  spring  of  1893  he 
accepted  an  offer  of  L.  Kiper  & 
Sons  to  go  to  Chicago  and  take 
charge  of  one  of  the  departments 
in  their  saddlery  manufactory, 
which  is  now  claimed  to  be  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  this  country. 


This  position  has  ever  since  been 
filled  by  Mr.  Ekblom.  He  is 
prominent  in  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  has  served  as  Master  of 
King  Oscar  Lodge.  Mr.  Ekblom 
is  also  a  well-known  member  of 
the  Maccabees. 


NELS  J.  JOHNSON 

was     born     at      Huarod,      Skane, 
Sweden,    November    i,    1870,  and 


XELS.  J.  JOHNSON 

emigrated  to  America  in  1891. 
He  performed  common  labor  dur- 
ing the  first  two  years  after  his 
arrival.  When  he  had  obtained  a 
sufficient  knowledge  of  English  he 
took  a  six  months'  course  in  the 
Metropolitan  Business  College,  then 
served  the  city  in  the  capacity  of  a 
police  operator  for  two  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  acquired  a  taste 
for  studying  law  and  consequently 
entered  the  Kent  College  of  Law, 
from  which  he  graduated  after 
two  years.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  June,  1897.  He  im- 


54 


Cook  County 


mediately  opened  a  law  office  at 
1144-1148  Unity  Building,  where 
he  is  still  located. 

Mr.  Johnson  joined  the  South 
Park  Lodge  Masons  in  Chicago  in 
1896,  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  King  Oscar  Lodge,  of  which 
he  has  been  secretary  from  its  in- 
stitution, and  is  a  32d  degree  Ma- 
son and  Shriner.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


EMIL  J.  HOLT 

was  born  May  18,  1862,  in  Holt- 
Ijunga  Parish,  Vestergotland, 
Sweden.  He  went  with  his  par- 
ents to  Halmstad  when  a  small 
child.  After  attending  private 
schools  there  about  four  years,  he 
continued  his  studies  in  the  Latin 
school,  for  five  years.  He  early 
showed  a  talent  for  drawing,  some 
of  his  work  winning  honorable 


KMIL  J.   HOLT 


mention  and  a  prize.  In  1879  he 
emigrated  to  America,  and,  after 
about  one  year's  stay  in  Chicago, 


he  went  to  New  Orleans,  where  he 
studied  art  and  designing  for  three 
years.  Then  after  attending  the 
art  school  at  Washington  Universi- 
ty in  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Holt,  in  1889, 
settled  in  Chicago  as  a  portrait  and 
landscape  painter.  Since  studj-ing 
at  the  Art  Academy,  he  has  opened 
an  art  store  and  studio  in  Lake 
View. 


FRANK   H.   HENDRICKSON 
was  born  in    Chicago,  January    2, 
1872.     He  was  one  year  old  when 


FRANK  H.  HENDRICKSON 

his  parents  moved  to  Webster  co., 
Iowa.  His  father  bought  a  farm 
in  the  vicinity  of  Ft.  Dodge  where 
young  Hendrickson  spent  his  child- 
hood. He  attended  the  common 
schools  and  then  took  a  course  at 
Luther  Academy,  but  did  not  grad- 
uate. In  June,  1897,  he  moved  to 
North  Dakota  where  he  filed  on  a 
homestead.  After  farming  until 
Aug.  1901,  he  sold  his  farm  and 
moved  to  Chicago.  He  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Chicago  School  of 


Chicago 


55 


Psychology,  and  the  Edison  School 
of  Electro-therapy.  He  is  at 
present  engaged  in  the  realty 
business,  with  office  at  Chappell, 

Neb. 


ALBERT  RUNDBLAD 

was  born  Sept.  17,  1865,  in  Sunds- 
vall,    Sweden.     He  completed    the 


ALBERT  RUNDBLAD 

courses  offered  at  the  local  man- 
ual training  school  and  the  Vester- 
norrland  collegiate  school.  Emig- 
rating to  the  United  States  in  1886, 
he  worked  as  a  woodcarver  for 
four  years  and  then  became  a 
real  estate  broker  in  Chicago. 
His  office  is  at  88  Washington  st. 
He  is  a  director  in  several  mining 
corporations  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  the  business  and  social  life 
of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of 
Knights  of  Pythias,  King  Oscar 
Lodge  of  Free  Masons  and  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  He  was  married 
in  1902  to  Miss  Ella  Wallin. 


JOHAN  FREDRIK  JOHNSON 

was  born  March  20,  1859,  in  Lund, 
Knatte  parish,  Elfsborg  Ian,  Swed- 


JOHAN  FREDRIK  JOHNSON 

en.  After  a  course  of  instruction 
in  the  Goteborg  Commercial  In- 
stitute, he  was  employed  by  C.  J. 
Kronker  &  Co.,  one  of  the  fash- 
ionable tailoring  firms  of  Goteborg. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
went  to  London,  England.  Thence 
he  made  a  trip  to  India  and  China. 
Going  in  1880  to  Chicago,  he  be- 
gan to  work  at  his  trade  and  is 
at  the  present  time  a  vest  man- 
ufacturer at  157  Gault  Court.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  married  in  1887  to 
May  Elizabeth  Smith  of  Chicago. 
They  have  been  blessed  with  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  mem- 
bers of  the  English  M.  E.  Church 
and  reside  at  1274  Wilton  ave. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Columbian  Knights. 


Cook  County 


NEWMAN  BROTHERS. 

Gustave    R.    Newman     was    born 
Dec.    14,     1851,    at     Stensnas,    in 


GUSTAVE  R.  NEWMAN 

Ukna  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
Here  also  were  born  his  brothers, 
Charles  W.  Newman,  on  August 
15,  1853,  and  John  A.  Newman. 
The  three  brothers  emigrated  to- 
gether in  1865.  After  gaining 
fifteen  years'  commercial  experience 
they  formed  a  partnership  on  May 
i,  1880,  and  started  the  manufac- 
ture of  parlor  and  chapel  organs 
at  63  West  Washington  st.  Their 
business  increased  so  that  the 
factory  gradually  came  to  occupy 
63,  65  and  67  Washington  st.  In 
Aug.  1887,  a  fire  occured  in  the 
factory  and  they  then  moved  into 
a  larger  factory  at  38-40  S.  Canal 
st.  A  second  fire  in  Apr.  1889, 
again  compelled  them  to  move. 
Their  factory  was  temporarily  es- 
tablished at  Wells  st.  and  Institute 
Place  (then  Pearson  st.)  They 
later  moved  to  the  new  factorv 


built  for  them  at  5-17  Dix  st 
and  W.  Chicago  ave.  The  bus- 
iness was  in  1892  incorporated  as 
Newman  Brothers  Co.  The  firm 
lost,  at  this  juncture,  one  of  its 
members,  John  A.  Newman,  who 
died  Sept.  30,  1894.  By  1895  the 
demand  for  their  organs  had  so 
increased  as  to  make  Newman 
Brothers  Co.  among  the  foremost 
organ  manufacturers  in  the  coun- 
try. Perceiving  that  they  had  a 
market  for  a  high-grade  piano 
they  equipped  themselves  during 
this  year  for  a  new  venture.  From 
several  scales  they  selected  one 
drawn  by  E.  Becker,  an  old  and 
experienced  craftsman  who  had 
thirty-five  years  practice  in  build- 
ing pianos.  Guided  by  his  skill 
and  under  the  personal  supervision 


CHARLES  W.  NEWMAN 

of  Gtistave  R.  Newman,  the  firm 
has  built  a  high-grade  piano  which 
is  ever  increasing  its  reputation. 
The  demand  for  this  piano  has 
compelled  the  erection,  in  1900, 


Chicago 


57 


of  a  six  story  building,  50x100 
ft.,  adjacent  to  the  older  five-story 
factory.  The  majority  of  men 
employed  by  Newman  Brothers 
Co.  are  Swedes.  Newman  Brothers 
Co.'s  factory  is  one  of  the  largest 
enterprises  conducted  by  Swedes 
in  the  United  States.  Gustave  R. 
Newman  is  now  president  and 
Charles  W.  Newman  is  secretary 
and  treasurer.  They  reside  at 
523  and  527  Orchard  St. 


ANDERS  L.  LOFSTROM 

was  born  in    the  city    of    Malmo, 
in    Skane,    Sweden,    October    30, 


ANDERS  L.  LOFSTROM 

1864.  His  childhood  days  were 
spent  on  the  shores  of  the  sea  and 
there  was  early  kindled  in  his 
mind  a  desire  to  become  a  sailor. 
At  the  age  of  ten  he  went  to  sea, 
as  cabin-boy.  For  several  years 
he  worked  on  shipboard  on  vessels 
plying  between  the  ports  of  he 
North  Sea  and  the  Baltic,  and 
thereafter  took  hire  on  a  large 


sailing  vessel  in  which  he  for  the 
first  time  crossed  the  ocean.  He 
thereafter  sailed  for  many  years 
to  various  parts  of  the  world,  mak- 
ing several  visits  to  America.  Here 
it  was  that  he  was  first  placed 
in  command  of  a  vessel,  after  pass- 
ing a  satisfactory  shipmaster's  ex- 
amination before  the  Navigation 
Board  at  Salem,  Massachusetts.  In 
1880  he  came  to  Chicago  and  for 
a  few  years  was  in  command  of 
several  vessels  plying  on  the  Great 
Lakes. 

In  1896  Captain  Lb'fstrom  was 
married  to  Miss  Matilda  Maria 
Larson,  of  Ulricehamn,  Sweden. 
The  year  before  he  had  quit  the 
life  of  a  seaman  and  settled  down 
in  Chicago  as  a  tobacconist,  on 
Oak  St.,  in  the  center  of  a  pop- 
ulous Swedish  district.  To  this 
business  he  has  since  added  a  sta- 
tionery and  book  store,  and  a 
printing  shop. 

In  1906  Captain  Lofstrom  moved 
his  business  to  1719  N.  Clark  st., 
where  he  conducts  a  well  equipped 
store. 

Though  his  early  education  was 
limited,  poetry  and  prose  sketches 
which  have  appeared  in  his  Dal- 
kullan  Kalender  show  that  he 
possesses  a  talent  of  no  mean 
order. 

Captain  Lofstrom  is  one  of  the 
organizers  and  charter  members 
of  King  Oscar  Lodge  of  Masons, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Independent  Order  of 
Vikings,  the  Svithiod  and  Orpheus 
Singing  Clubs,  and  several  other 
organizations. 


Cook  County 


ALFRED  HAKANSON, 

Physician  and  Surgeon,  was  born 
May  12,  1866,  at  Geneseo,  111. 
His  parents,  John  and  Hanna 


ALFRED  HAKANSON 

Hakanson,  were  natives  of  Kris- 
tianstad,  Sweden,  and  immigrated 
1859  to  this  country,  locating  in 
Moline,  being  among  the  earliest 
Swedish  settlers  in  that  vicinity. 
They  had  five  children  of  whom 
Alfred  was  the  youngest. 

After  some  years  the  family 
moved  out  to  Nebraska,  where  the 
doctor  received  his  public  school 
education,  which  he  finished  at  the 
high  school  at  Oakland.  There- 
upon he  entered  Luther  Academy 
at  Wahoo,  same  state,  graduating 
in  1886.  From  there  he  went  to 
Augustana  College,  Rock  Island, 
pursuing  studies  for  some  time, 
and  then  began  a  medical  course 
at  the  Omaha  Medical  College  of 
the  University  of  Nebraska,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  in 
1890. 


During  his  medical  studies  he  had 
the    advantage  of    having    as    pre- 
ceptor Dr.   D.    G.   Bryant,   Profes- 
sor of  diseases  of  the  Eye  and  Ear 
at  the  medical  department  of  Creigh- 
ton  University,  Omaha,  and  J.    B. 
Ralph,  City   Physician  of  Omaha. 
After  graduating   in    medicine   he 
first  located  in  Rockford,   111.,  but 
removed  the  following  year,  1891, 
to    Chicago,    where    since    he    has 
very  successfully  pursued  his  chos- 
en profession.        During   his    resi- 
dence   in    South    Chicago    he    was 
for  two  years  county  physician  for 
that   territory.       He     was    also    a 
member    of    the    medical    staff    of 
South    Chicago  Hospital    for    two 
years,  1899  and  1900.     In  1895  Dr. 
Hakanson  took  a  special  post-grad- 
uate course  at  the  New  York  Post 
Graduate  Hospital,  and  at  the  prin- 
cipal hospitals  of  Philadelphia  and 
Baltimore.     During   the  year  1901 
he  made  an  extensive  trip  through 
Europe,  visiting  the  principal  cities 
of    Great  Britain,   Germany,    Den- 
mark and  Sweden.     While  staying 
in      London     pursuing     opthalmic 
studies,  he  received  an  appointment 
as   clinical     assistant    to     Dr.     A. 
Stanford    Morton,  Opthalmic   Sur- 
geon to  the  Royal  London  Opthal- 
mic    Hospital     in      London,     and 
served     in    this     capacity     during 
six  months. 

Dr.  Hakanson  is  now  making 
a  specialty  of  eye,  ear,  nose  and 
throat  diseases,  and  has  his  office 
in  the  Reliance  Building,  100 
State  Street,  Chicago. 

Dr.  Hakanson  is  a  member  of 
the  American  Medical  Association, 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society 


Chicago 


59 


and  the  Chicago  Medical  Society, 
and  has  attended  several  of  the 
American  Med.  Assocation's  an- 
nual conventions  as  a  delegate.  He 
is  attending  physician  at  Chicago 
Eye,  Ear,  Nose  and  Throat  Hospi- 
tal, Chief  Laryngologist  and  Rhinol- 
ogist  of  the  Augustana  Hospital, 
also  senior  attending  surgeon  to 
the  department  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat  at  Washington  Park 
Hospital.  The  doctor  is  a  mem- 
ber of  several  beneficial  and  fra- 
ternal associations. 

Dr.  Hakanson  was  married  in 
1892  to  Miss  Bertha  W.  Lindberg, 
whose  parents  were  among  the 
first  Swedish  settlers  in  Chicago, 
having  emigrated  from  Lund, 
Sweden,  in  1864.  A  daughter, 
Ethel  Evelyn,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1905.  They  reside  at 
6010  So.  Park  ave.,  near  Wash- 
ington Park. 


SAMUEL  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Landa  parish,  in  the 
province  of  Halland,  Sweden,  Aug. 
14,  1840,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  the  spring  of  1870,  locating  in 
Chicago,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  For  some  time  after  his 
arrival,  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  afterwards  engaging  in 
the  manufacture  of  what  has  been 
called  "the  poor  man's  butter," 
otherwise  known  in  the  market 
as  oleomargarine,  or  butterine, 
which  proved  a  phenomenal  suc- 
cess as  a  business  venture.  Mr. 
Anderson  never  carried  on  the 
business  in  his  own  name,  how- 
ever, but  acted  as  superintendent 
for  the  firm  of  Braun  &  Fitts, 


which    position     he    held    for    32 
years.     During   the   period  of  the 


SAMUEL  ANDERSON 

greatest  demand  for  their  product 
this  firm  manufactured  as  much  as 
2,000,000  Ibs.  a  month.  It  should 
be  stated  that  they  always  sold 
their  product  under  its  real  name 
and  never  tried  to  pass  it  off  as 
genuine  butter,  with  which,  how- 
ever, it  soon  came  in  competition 
both  in  taste  and  nutritive  quali- 
ties. 

During  the  last  few  years  he 
has  superintended  the  butterine 
plant  of  George  P.  Braun,  former 
business  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Braun  &  Fitts. 

Immediately  after  arriving  at 
Chicago,  Mr.  Anderson  joined  the 
Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  of  which  he  has  ever  since 
been  an  active,  zealous  and  highly 
respected  member.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  council,  and  in 
1872  he  was  a  member  of  the 


6o 


Cook  County 


building  committee  which  had  in 
charge  the  erection  of  the  present 
church  on  Sedgwick  st.  He  has  also 
taken  great  interest  in  missions, 
educational  and  charitable  work. 
He  is  at  present  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  Augustana 
College,  the  principal  Swedish- 
American  institution  of  learning, 
and  is  likewise  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  Augustana  Hospital  in 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  married 
twice.  His  first  wife,  Maria 
Gustafva  Anderson,  died  in  1878. 
Of  five  children  born  to  them  all 
died  young.  Oct.  15,  1879,  he 
married  Miss  Ida  L,ouisa  Anderson 
from  Sodra  L,junga,  Smaland. 
This  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  seven  children  of  whom  five 
are  still  living.  Selma  Malinda 
Emanuela,  the  eldest  daughter,  is 
the  wife  of  Anton  Emil  Peter- 
son; another  daughter,  Anna  Ma- 
ria, married  Edward  L,inn, 
and  the  third  daughter,  Mabel 
Wilhelmina,  is  Mrs.  J.  L,.  Oak- 
leaf  of  Moline,  111.  The  sons  are, 
Hjalmar  Emanuel  and  Arthur 
Emil  Nathanael. 

The  inventor  and  manufacturer 
of  "the  poor  man's  butter"  has 
ever  endeavored  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  the  poor,  in  innum- 
erable ways,  by  an  extensive  phil- 
anthropy, and  has  also  given  mu- 
nificent sums  to  churches,  charitable 
and  educational  institutions.  To 
Mr.  Anderson's  credit  it  should  be 
added,  that  in  all  this  he  has 
never  sought  recognition  or  praise, 
acting  solely  on  the  promptings  of 
a  large  and  benevolent  heart. 


The  residence  of  Mr.  Anderson 
and  family  is  at  694  North  Park 
ave. 


ERIK  WINGREN, 

editor  of   Nya     Wecko-Posten,    was 
born  in    Mardsjo,    Stugun    parish, 


ERIK  WINGREN 

Jamtland,  Sweden,  Dec.  17,  1843. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
was  converted  and  a  few  years 
afterward  baptized  in  the  Baptist 
faith  by  A.  Hjalm,  pastor  at  Ra- 
gunda.  Being  the  first  in  the 
neighborhood  to  break  with  the 
state  church  and  cleave  to  a  com- 
paratively unknown  faith,  against 
which  there  existed  much  prejudice, 
his  act  attracted  much  attention. 
He  was  long  the  only  Baptist  in 
the  district.  Having  received  pri- 
vate instruction,  he  attended  an 
academy  in  Sundsvall.  He  was 
the  first  student  of  the  Bethel 
Seminary  in  Stockholm  when  it 
opened.  After  the  completion  of 
his  studies  he  became  pastor  of  a 


Chicago 


61 


congregation  in  Stmdsvall  which 
he  had  served  at  times  while  a 
student.  He  also  conducted  a 
school  for  female  teachers  for  a 
short  time. 

In  the  summer  of  1869  Mr. 
Wingren  removed  to  Kristianstad 
and  served  the  congregation  there 
over  a  year,  at  the  same  time 
preaching  in  various  parts  of  the 
district. 

Meanwhile  he  especially  endeav- 
ored to  awaken  and  strengthen 
the  missionary  instinct  in  these 
congregations  and  met  with  en- 
couragement, encountering,  how- 
ever, many  difficulties  on  account 
of  peculiar  ideas  and  views  which 
had  crept  into  the  congregation 
from  lack  of  education.  This  caused 
him  to  seek  a  new  field.  Malmo 
appeared  to  be  a  more  promising 
one.  He  moved  there  and  began 
his  work  in  the  fall  of  1870.  A 
congregation  was  formed,  whose 
pastor  he  became.  He  remained 
there  ten  years  and  saw  the  con- 
gregation grow  from  five  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  members.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  took  up  mis- 
sionary work  in  Lund,  Trelleborg 
and  several  other  places  with  en- 
couraging results.  A  congregation 
was  formed  in  Trelleborg  with 
thirty  members.  Another  was  later 
formed  in  Lund.  During  these 
years  he  had,  in  part,  the  charge 
of  the  missionary  work  in  Skane 
and  the  western  part  of  Smaland. 
He  also  visited  Halland  in  the 
same  interests.  In  order  to  ob- 
tain co-workers  he  conducted  a 
summer  school  for  the  education 
of  preachers  and  female  school 


teachers.  The  last  two  years  he 
published  a  monthly  tract  called 
Hemmissiondren . 

In  response  to  a  joint  call  issued 
by  the  Second  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  in  Chicago  and  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Home  Mission  Society, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Wingren  came  to 
Chicago  in  March,  1880  and  as- 
sumed pastoral  charge  of  that 
church,  also  editing  a  newspaper 
founded  by  Dr.  Edgren  as  the 
organ  of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church 
in  America.  Besides,  he  assisted 
Dr.  Edgren  as  instructor  in  the 
theological  seminary  at  Morgan 
Park.  With  three  so  important 
branches  of  activity  he  soon  found 
it  impossible  to  do  them  all  jus- 
tice. In  the  two  years  that  Mr. 
Wingren  had  charge,  the  member- 
ship of  the  church  increased  from 
33  to  150  and  the  Sunday  school 
and  Young  People's  Society  be- 
came important  factors  in  its  de- 
velopment. Mr.  Wingren  founded 
two  missions,  one  of  which  became 
a  congregation. 

In  the  summer  of  1882  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Wingren,  after  a  renewed  call, 
accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  in  Chicago. 
He  remained  in  this  charge  until 
the  autumn  of  1884.  During  this 
time  the  congregation  increased 
from  335  to  410  members,  although 
a  daughter  congregation  had  been 
formed  from  it. 

The  newspaper,  Nya  Wecko- 
Posten,  had  now  developed  so  as 
to  require  Mr.  Wingren' s  whole 
attention.  It  was  changed  from  a 
semi-monthly  to  a  weekly  and  has 
been  increased  in  size  from  time 


62 


Cook  County 


to  time  being  now  a  j-column, 
8-page  paper.  The  public  has 
valued  Mr.  Wingren's  work  on 
this  paper  and  has  given  him  con- 
stant encouragement,  so  that  it 
has  now  a  greater  circulation  than 
any  other  Swedish  Baptist  news- 
paper. 

Pastor  Wingren  was  married 
Nov.  14,  1870,  to  Miss  Bianca 
Henrietta  Christina  Ohman,  who 
has  always  taken  a  warm  interest 
in  his  activities.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living. 


was  born  in  Espenas,  in   the   Karl- 
skoga  mining  district  of  Vermland, 


EKICK  GUSTAF  PETTERSON 

Sweden,  Oct.  28,  1846.  Having 
finished  school,  he  left  the  shelter 
of  the  parental  roof  at  the  age  of 
1 8  years,  and  set  out  to  learn  a 
trade.  During  the  summer  months 
he  worked  as  a  carpenter,  and  in 
the  winter  he  found  employment 


at  blacksmithing.  In  the  summer 
of  1868  he  emigrated  to  America 
and  settled  in  Moline,  111.  Thence 
he  went  to  Sagetown,  and  later 
secured  employement  at  the  great 
inland  arsenal,  maintained  by  the 
U.  S.  Government  at  Rock  Island. 
From  there  he  went  to  Chicago 
in  1 85 1 .  Here  he  worked  as  car- 
penter for  three  years,  and  then 
engaged  in  business  as  building 
contractor.  This  was  no  easy  mat- 
ter in  such  times  of  depression  as  the 
years  following  the  great  panic  of 
1873,  but  with  matchless  energy  and 
an  iron  will  he  overcame  all  ob- 
stacles, and  by  integrity,  skill  and 
care  achieved  success. 

While  supervising  work  in  day- 
time, Mr.  Petterson  spent  his 
evenings  studying  architecture.  He 
has  superintended  the  erection  of 
a  number  of  important  buildings, 
and  has  drawn  the  plans  for  a 
number  of  Swedish  churches  and 
parsonages  in  Illinois.  From  1887 
to  1891  Mr.  Petterson  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  of  South 
Chicago  (Englewood)  district.  He 
has  also  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Bethlehem  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Englewood  since  its 
organization  in  1875.  For  fifteen 
years  he  served  as  treasurer,  and 
for  twenty-three  years  as  trustee. 
He  has  also  been  vice  president 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Augustana  Hospital,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Orphans 
Home  in  Joliet  since  its  foundation. 
The  buildings  for  this  home  have 
been  erected  under  Mr.  Petterson 's 
direction. 


Chicago 


Mr.  Patterson  is  now  chairman 
and  superintendent  of  the  Swedish 
Home  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion. He  has  served  as  chairman 
of  the  building  committee  of  Au- 
gustana  Hospital  and  as  superin- 
tendent of  building  operations.  As 
a  member  of  the  first  board  of 
the  Salem  Home  for  the  Aged  at 
Joliet,  he  superintended  the  erection 
of  its  building  in  1906. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Petterson  married 
Miss  Carolina  W.  Johnson,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  daughters.  The  home  is  at 
5762  Wentworth  ave. 


JOHN  E.  NORLING 

was  born  Jan.   13,  1859,  at  Bishop 
Hill,  111.    His  parents  were  Anders 


JOHN  E.  NORLIXG. 

and  Elizabeth  Norling,  from  Stalbo 
in  Xora  parish,  Sweden.  They 
emigrated  from  Sweden  in  October 
1854,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  requiring  thirteen 
weeks  for  the  voyage. 


Reaching  New  York  they  pro- 
ceeded directly  to  Bishop  Hill, 
joining  the  Swedish  colony  founded 
there  by  Erik  Jansson,  and  re- 
maining until  it  was  dissolved  in 
1863,  when  they  removed  to  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity. 

John  E.  Norling  had  more 
taste  for  business  than  agriculture. 
Equipped  with  a  high  school 
education,  he  became  a  drug  clerk, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  was 
manager  of  L.  P.  Ek's  drug  store 
in  Galva,  111.  Later,  he  and  his 
brothers,  P.  O.  and  A.  D.  Norling 
bought  this  store,  and  opened  drug 
stores  at  Nekoma  and  Bishop  Hill. 

In  the  fall  of  1881,  Mr.  Norling 
engaged  in  the  land  and  coloniza- 
tion business,  operating  \vest  of  the 
Missouri.  Together  with  his  bro- 
ther A.  D.  Norling  he  also  es- 
tablished in  Nebraska  a  ranch  of 
several  thousand  acres  stocked  with 
cattle,  horses  and  swine. 

In  1889  the  stores  were  disposed 
of  and  Mr.  Norling  devoted  himself 
to  industrial  enterprises.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mulford 
Steam  Heating  Company  at  Strea- 
tor,  111.,  being  chosen  secretary 
and  treasurer.  After  two  years  he 
left  this  position  to  engage  in  the 
real  estate  and  land  business  in 
Chicago.  He  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters of  the  settlements  of  Las 
Animas,  Colo., and  El  Campo,  Tex- 
as. His  diversified  interests  soon 
embraced  gold  mining,  and  he  has 
been  prominently  connected  with 
the  Magnolia  and  the  Wood  Mount- 
ain mining  enterprises.  When 
in  August,  1900,  Svenska  Trib- 
unen<  a  Swedish  weekly  newspaper 


64 


Cook  County 


printed  in  Chicago,  was  offered  for 
sale,  Mr.  Norling,  together  with 
his  brother,  P.  O.  Norling,  and 
S.  E.  Carlsson,  bought  the  paper 
and  soon  after  acquired  Foster- 
landet,  a  religious  weekly,  and  a 
year  later  became  sole  owner  of 
both  papers. 

As  early  as  1892  Mr.  Norling' s 
attention  was  called  to  the  possi- 
bilities of  an  automatic  telephone 
by  its  inventor,  F.  A.  Lundquist. 

The  practicability  of  the  inven- 
tion having  been  proven  by  the 
installation  of  several  exchanges, 
the  Globe  Automatic  Telephone 
Co.  was  organized  in  1901,  with 
Mr.  Norling  as  president,  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  instru- 
ments on  a  large  scale.  Simul- 
taneously Mr.  Norling  was  heavily 
interested  also  in  the  Monarch 
Telephone  Manufacturing  Co.,  and 
was  president  of  the  concern.  In 
1905  he  sold  his  newspapers,  and 
ill  health  more  recently  has  com- 
pelled him  to  dispose  of  part  of 
his  other  business  interests. 

Dec.  30,  1890,  Mr.  Norling  was 
married  to  Christine  Krickson,  born 
March  9,  1859,  in  Nora  parish, 
Vestmanland,  Sweden.  They  have 
two  daughters  —  L,illian  May, 
born  May  i,  1894,  and  Ruth  Eliz- 
abeth, born  June  n,  1897. 

Mr.  Norling  is  a  Mason,  and  a 
member  of  the  Marquette  Club,  the 
New  Illinois  Athletic  Association, 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club,  and  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club.  The  fam- 
ily residence  is  at  801  Burling  St., 
L,ake  View. 


ROBERT  HJALMAR  PALM 
was  born  Aug.   13,    1866,  in  Dom- 
narfvet,  province  of  Dalarne,  Swe- 


ROBERT  HJALMAR  PALM 

den.  His  father,  William  Palm, 
was  a  sawyer.  Robert  attended 
the  public  school  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  old  and  had  been 
confirmed  in  the  state  church.  For 
two  years  he  worked  in  the  saw 
mills.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  secured  employment  in 
the  machine  shop  of  the  iron  mills 
at  Domnarfvet  remaining  for  about 
two  years.  In  1 886  he  went  to  Amer- 
ica and  came  on  to  Chicago,  where 
he  soon  secured  work  in  a  machine 
shop.  Realizing  the  need  of  theo- 
retical training,  he  began  taking 
evening  courses  in  the  tree  gram- 
mar school  for  several  years,  after 
which  he  studied  mechanical  draw- 
ing in  the  evening  North  Di- 
vision High  School.  Subsequently 
he  studied  business  at  the  Metro- 
politan Business  College,  architec- 
tural training  at  the  Art  Institute 


Chicago 


and  graphical  statics  at  the  Athe- 
naeum. A  final  course  was  taken 
at  Columbia  Business  College  in 
the  construction  of  gearings  and 
in  mechanical  drawing.  In  the 
meantime  Mr.  Palm  had  worked 
for  twelve  years  in  the  pattern 
shop  of  S.  H.  Sinclair  Co.  In 
1898  he  started  his  own  business 
on  the  north  side.  For  five  years 
he  has  had  his  machine  shop  at 
43-45  So.  Canal  st.,  where  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  laundry  ma- 
chinery, the  plant  being  known  as 
the  Chicago  Rival  Machine  Co. 
Twelve  different  styles  of  machines 
for  hand  and  steam  power  are  de- 
signed and  constructed  by  him. 
Mr.  Palm  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  V. 
Aug.  31,  1905,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Clara  Florence  Lord,  born 
at  Chaffe,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  8,  1858. 


Europe  to  give  a  course  of  dem- 
onstrations in  American  dentistry 
to  the  dental  profession  in  the 


JOHN  N.  SANDBLOM 

was  born  July  6,  1871,  in  Falko- 
ping,Vestergotland,  Sweden.  At  the 
age  of  seven  years  he  was  brought 
to  Stockholm,  the  family  locating 
there.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  private  schools  and  in 
the  high  school.  He  left  Sweden 
in  1893  bound  for  Chicago,  and 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  at 
the  Northwestern  Dental  School 
in  1897.  After  three  years  of  hard 
work  he  was  graduated  with  the 
highest  honors,  and  was  then  made 
demonstrator  at  the  school  in  token 
of  his  high  scholarship.  After 
serving  a  year  in  this  capacity  his 
private  practice  had  grown  to  such 
proportions  that  he  resigned  the 
position. 

In   1905  Dr.   Sandblom  went    to 


JOHN  N.  SANDBLOM 

Scandinavian  countries.  Begin- 
ning in  Christiania,  his  course 
proved  so  popular  that  a  second 
one  had  to  be  given,  and  the 
proposed  courses  in  Stockholm  and 
Copenhagen  were  abandoned.  In 
July  of  that  year  Dr.  Sandblom 
read  a  paper  before  the  Scandi- 
navian Dental  Congress  held  in 
the  Danish  capital. 

Dr.  Sandblom' s  visit  to  Christi- 
ania resulted  in  his  being  called 
as  dean  of  the  Dental  School  of 
the  New  Institute  of  Technology 
in  that  city,  a  government  insti- 
tution connected  with  the  Christi- 
ania University.  Dr.  Sandblom 
returned  to  Chicago  to  await  the 
result  of  the  pending  negotiations 
between  Sweden  and  Norway  anent 
the  dissolution  of  the  Union,  be- 
fore definitely  accepting  the  ap- 
pointment, and  departed  for  his 


66 


Cook  County 


new  post  late  in  the  year.  He 
still  maintains  his  dental  office  in 
the  Masonic  Temple. 

Dr.  Sandblom  is  an  accomplished 
skater,  having  won  many  trophies, 
medals  and  cups  in  Europe  and 
America  for  skill  and  speed.  In 
1896  he  won  the  championship  for 
this  country  and  defended  it  twice. 
He  belongs  to  the  Delta  Sigma 
Delta  Fraternity  and  served  while 
in  Chicago  as  president  of  the 
Scandinavian  Dental  Society.  Dr. 
Sandblom  was  married  in  1900  to 
Ellen  F.  Chinlund. 


JOHN  NELSON 

was  born  at  Ousby,  Skane,    Swe- 
den,   June    20,    1851.     His    youth 


JOHN  NELSON 

and  early  manhood  were  spent  in 
the  old  country,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  stone  cutting.  For 
nine  years  he  was  employed  by 
the  government  in  the  construc- 
tion of  railroad  bridges  and  station 
houses.  In  1881  he  emigrated  to 


America  and  made  his  home  in 
in  Chicago.  Thence  he  went  out 
west,  and  found  employment  at 
his  trade  in  California.  In  1883 
he  returned  to  Chicago.  From 
1897  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
business  of  cut  stone  contractor 
until  1904,  when  he  sold  out  to 
the  firm  of  Anderson  &  L/undgren. 

For  many  years  he  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  independent 
Mission  Church  in  Englewood, 
having  served  fourteen  years  in 
the  church  council. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  married  since 
1887  to  Miss  Johanna  Matilda 
Johnson  from  Skofde,  Sweden. 


JULIUS  SODERSTAM 


was    born    i 
Sweden,  on 


.    Jemshog,   Blekinge, 
February    25,     1859. 


JULIUS  SODERSTAM 

His  father  was  a  gentleman  farm- 
er, who  sent  his  son  to  high  school 
and  then  to  the  renowned  Alnarp 
Royal  Agricultural  Institute. 
Young  Soderstam  graduated  in  1881 


Chicago 


67 


as  agricultural  engineer.  He  was 
a  civil  engineer's  instrument  man  at 
the  survey  for  the  State  Trunk  R.  R. 
in  Northern  Sweden.  Subsequent- 
ly he  took  a  course  at  Skepps- 
holmen  Theoretical  School  of  Agri- 
culture. Now  he  became  superin- 
tendent on  a  large  estate  and  there 
remained  until  1884,  when  he  vis- 
ited Germany,  England  and  Scot- 
land to  further  his  knowledge  of 
scientific  agriculture.  Mr.  Soder- 
stam  went  from  Scotland  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  found  it  so  con- 
genial that  he  concluded  to  settle 
there.  He  worked  first  at  sur- 
veying and  later  at  railroad  and 
canal  building.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  engineers  engaged  with 
the  construction  of  the  Drainage 
Canal,  and  is  still  working  in  the 
construction  office  of  this  water- 
way. Mr.  Soderstam  was  married 
in  1888  to  Miss  Sophie  Jansson, 
with  whom  he  has  had  three  child- 
ren, of  whom  two  daughters, 
Elsie  and  Vivian,  are  still  living. 
Mr.  Soderstam  has  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  Republican  politics. 


June  23,    1897,   ne  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court 


NILS  OLSON 

was  born  Sept.  28,  1870,  in  Rock 
Island,  111.,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  for  thirteen  years 
and  graduated  with  highest  honors 
from  the  city  high  school  in  1888. 
He  came  to  Chicago  in  1891  and 
soon  after  was  employed  by  the 
Dime  Savings  Bank  as  note  teller, 
continuing  there  until  1897.  I11 
June  of  that  year  he  graduated 
from  the  Chicago  College  of  Law 
and  took  the  post-graduate  course 
under  Ex- Judge  Moran. 


NILS  OLSON 

of  Illinois  and  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  from  that 
time  on.  Mr.  Olson  is  a  resident 
of  Englewood.  His  office  is  at 
161  E.  Randolph  st. 

Oct.  10,  1901,  Mr.  Olson  was 
married  to  Miss  Matilda  Backman, 
daughter  of  W.  W.  and  Mary 
Backman  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Olson  are  members  of  the 
Englewood  Baptist  Church,  and 
Mr.  Olson  belongs  to  the  Fraternity 
Club  and  the  Royal  League.  In 
1905  he  was  elected  Secretary  of 
the  Scandia  Loan  and  Investment 
Association  of  Chicago. 


CARL  JOHN  BJORK, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church,  was  born  in  Monsteras 
parish,  Smaland,  April  24,  1864. 
He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1887  and  settled  in  New  Britain, 
Conn.  After  completing  his  theo- 


68 


Cook  County 


logical  studies  at  North  Park  Col- 
lege,   Chicago,  he  was  ordained  as 


CARL  JOHN  B.]ORK 

a  minister  in  the  Swedish  Ev.  Mis- 
sion Covenant  of  America.  He 
has  had  charges  at  Irving  Park 
and  Maplewood,  Chicago,  and  at 
Nunda,  111.  Recently  he  accepted 
a  call  to  Salemsburg,  Kansas,  where 
he  is  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Mis- 
sion Church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bjork  was  mar- 
ried to  Julia  Carlson,  Feb  2,  1889. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Gert- 
rude and  Helen. 


MONS  S.  NORD 
was  born  April  28,  1860,  at  Fjel- 
kestad,  Skane,  Sweden,  where  his 
father  was  a  farmer.  After  fin- 
ishing the  course  in  the  high  school 
at  Onnestad,  he  entered  the  Swed- 
ish postal  service,  retaining  his 
position  until  Jan.  i,  1888,  when 
he  left  the  service  intending  to 
leave  the  country.  The  following 
spring  he  emigrated.  Coming  to 
the  United  States,  he  settled  first 


at  Osage  City,  Kansas,  and  then 
at  Topeka,  where  he  made  his 
first  venture  in  business  as  pro- 
prietor of  a  barber  shop.  Oct. 
8,  1891,  Mr.  Nord  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Hanna  Nelson 
from  Holmby,  Skane,  Sweden.  In 
1897  Mr.  Nord  removed  to  Chicago. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Swed- 
ish Baptist  Church  of  this  city. 
In  1898-99  he  served  as  secre- 


MONS  s.  NORU 

tary  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Sunday 
School  Union  of  Illinois.  He  was 
collector  of  the  jubilee  fund  designed 
to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the 
founding  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  in  this  country. 

He  has  further  shown  much 
interest  in  political,  temperance 
and  philanthropic  matters.  Mr. 
Nord  was  for  years  special  repre- 
sentative for  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Co.  and  has  in  later 
years  been  dealing  in  land,  stocks 
and  bonds. 


Chicago 


69 


ERIC  SCHERSTROM 

was  born  in  Bergsjo,  Helsingland, 
Sweden,  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1874.  He  emigrated  from  Sweden 


ERIC  SCHERSTROM 

at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  arrived 
in  America  in  June,  1893.  He 
first  resided  in  Minnesota,  staying 
for  some  time  in  Isanti  county, 
and  from  there  moved  to  Minne- 
apolis. After  having  lived  in  Min- 
neapolis for  a  period,  he  went  to 
Lake  Nebogemain,  Wis.,  and  from 
this  place  he  came  to  Chicago  to 
take  up  studies  at  the  Swedish 
Baptist  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  University  of  Chicago.  On 
May  14,  1902,  Mr.  Scherstrom  was 
graduated  from  the  seminary  and 
then  assumed  pastoral  charge  of 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Tabernacle 
Church  of  South  Chicago.  Recent- 
ly Mr.  Scherstrom  removed  to 
Portland,  Ore.  having  been  called 
to  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  in 
that  city. 


JOHN  HENRY  LINDAHL 

was  born  in  Skatlof  parish ,  in  the 
province  of  Smaland,  Sweden,  Jan. 
27,  1859.  At  the  age  of  eleven 
years  he  emigrated  to  America, 
the  place  of  his  destination  being 
Sycamore,  111.  When  fourteen  years 
old  he  commenced  to  work  for  the 
Marsh  Harvester  Co.,  where  he 
learned  the  machinist's  trade.  In 
1 88 1  he  came  to  Chicago  where 
he  worked  in  the  same  trade,  for 
several  companies.  In  the  fall  of 
1897  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  on  a  small  scale.  This 
has  grown  at  a  rapid  pace,  and 


JOHN  HENRY  LINDAHL 

he  now  occupies  his  own  building 
at  276-8  W.  Lake  st.,  where  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  pulleys  and 
sheaves. 

Aug.  13,  1881,  Mr.  Lindahl  was 
married  to  Miss  Betsey  Nelson, 
of  Sycamore,  111.,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  eight  children,  of  whom 
six  are  still  living. 


Cook  County 


JOHN  P.  EDSTRAND 

was    born    in     the    year    1865,  at 
Kjellstorp,  in  the  parish  of  LOUS- 


JOHN  P.  EDSTRAND 

hult,  Skane,  Sweden.  When  a 
mere  boy,  thirteen  years  of  age, 
he  went  to  work  in  a  general 
store  in  his  native  place.  Here 
he  continued  until  the  year  of 
1886,  when  the  desire  to  improve 
his  fortunes  took  possession  of  him 
and  impelled  him  to  emigrate. 

Coming  directly  to  Chicago,  and 
having  a  strong  desire  to  engage 
in  a  mechanical  business  of  some 
kind,  he  at  once  found  such  an 
opportunity  and  started  to  learn 
the  trade  of  electroplating.  Be- 
ginning as  a  metal  polisher,  he 
went  through  all  the  various  de- 
partments, mastering  the  trade  in 
a  short  time. 

In  1895  Mr.  Edstrand,  together 
with  Mr.  Olof  Olson,  founded  a 
new  firm  under  the  name  of  Ed- 
strand  &  Olson,  to  carry  on  the 
business  of  electroplating.  The 


start  was  a  small  one,  but  by  their 
able  management,  the  facility  with 
which  they  dispatched  work  and 
the  exceptional  quality  of  their 
nickelplating,  the  business  had  a 
remarkably  rapid  growth.  To-day 
it  equals,  if  it  does  not  exceed  in 
magnitude,  any  similar  business 
in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Edstrand  is  thoroughly  en- 
grossed with  his  business,  which 
fact  has  assured  his  success. 


PETER  O.  HOLMQUIST 

was  born  in  Hofva  parish,  in  the 
province  of  Vestergotland,  Swe- 
den, Dec.  24,  1864.  He  spent 
his  early  days  in  the  place  of  his 
birth,  where  he  received  the  ordi- 
nary public  school  training.  When 


PETER  O.  HOLMQUIST 

he  became  of  age,  he  emigrated 
to  America,  locating  in  Chicago 
in  1886.  The  following  year  he 
began  the  manufacture  of  ladders 
and  other  specialties  of  wood. 
Later,  curtain  stretchers  were  among 


Chicago 


the  products  turned  out,  and  the 
sale  of  these  has  been  highly 
gratifying.  The  firm  of  Holm- 
quist  &  Co.  now  employs  some 
seventy-five  workmen. 

Mr.  Holmquist  with  his  family, 
composed  of  his  wife,  Josephine, 
nee  Soderberg,  and  two  sons,  reside 
at  1389  N.  Washtenaw  ave. 


GUSTAV  SUNDBERG 

was  born  at  Sorfors,  Atttnar  par- 
ish, Vesternorrland,  Sweden,  Sept. 


GUSTAV   SUNDBERG 

23,  1869.  Having  attended  the 
parish  school  up  to  the  age  of 
fifteen,  he  secured  employment 
in  the  Sorfors  Iron  Works,  serv- 
ing in  the  office  three  years,  be- 
fore starting  in  the  foundry.  In 
1890  he  left  Sorfors  to  go  to  the 
United  States.  He  settled  in  Chi- 
cago and  secured  a  position  with 
Joseph  Charboneau.  Later  he  was 
emplo3'ed  by  his  brother,  J.  A. 
Sundberg,  with  whom,  in  1899, 
he  went  into  partnership  under  the 


firm  name  of  J.  A.  Sundberg  & 
Co.  Gustav  Sundberg  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  concern, 
which  manufactures  iron  and  steel 
forgings. 

Mr.  Sundberg  has,  by  his  skill 
and  application  to  business,  met 
with  success  in  his  line.  That  his 
abilities  are  coming  to  be  recog- 
nized is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
during  the  winter  semesters  of 
1901-1902  and  1906-1907  he  was 
engaged  as  instructor  in  the  arts 
of  his  trade  at  the  Lewis  Insti- 
tute, in  Chicago. 


SWAN    SWANLUND 

came  to  Chicago  in  May,  1867, 
from  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
July  12,  1846,  at  Solvesborg. 


Swan    SWANLUND 

The  first  few  years  in  America 
he  worked  at  cabinet-making.  After 
the  great  fire  he  wrorked  in  va- 
rious musical  instrument  factories 
and  later  was  engaged  in  Estey  & 
Camp's  store.  He  has,  for  a  num- 


72 


Cook  County 


ber  of  years,  been  employed  as 
a  piano  salesman  by  the  Chicker- 
ing-Chase  Brothers  Co. 

Mr.  Swanlund  was  married  Sept. 
30,  1870,  to  Miss  Augusta  Carlson, 
from  Ostergotland,  Sweden,  and 
has  a  family  of  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  He  has  taken  great 
interest  in  church  affairs  since 
1875,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church  of 
L,ake  View.  The  family  residence 
is  at  1152  Newport  ave. 


STEPHAN  CREUTZ 

was  born    in    Stockholm,  Sweden, 
May    22,    1856.      He    came    from 


STEPHAX  CREUTZ 

one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the 
Swedish  nobility,  his  father  being 
Baron  Stephan  Creutz,  Captain 
of  the  Grenadier  Corps,  Royal 
L,ife  Guards,  and  Knight  of  the 
Order  of  the  Sword.  (R.  S.  O.) 
The  mother's  name  was  Hillevi 
Fredrika,  nee  Norlin. 


The  son  attended  the  Arboga 
Academy,  Arboga  Technical  School 
and  Ultuna  Agricultural  Institute. 
As  a  field  for  his  energy  he  de- 
cided that  the  United  States  was 
the  most  promising,  and  came 
over  June  23,  1879.  From  July, 
1879,  until  the  spring  of  1880  he 
labored  as  a  farm  hand  in  New 
Jersey  and  Rhode  Island.  Early 
in  1880  he  became  foreman  on  a 
farm  at  Cowisett  Station,  near  East 
Greenwich,  R.  I.  After  holding 
this  position  for  about  three 
years  he  left  for  Chicago  in  the 
fall  of  1883.  For  four  months  he 
was  a  carpenter  and  for  three  years 
a  street  car  conductor.  In  1889 
he  passed  the  civil  service  exam- 
ination for  an  appointment  in  the 
light  house  service.  On  May  i, 
1889,  he  received  an  appointment 
as  assistant  light-house  keeper. 
The  following  August,  he  was 
appointed  inspector  at  the  U.  S. 
Engineer  Office  at  Chicago.  He 
has  been  engaged  from  that  time  to 
this  as  U.  S.  Inspector  of  River 
and  Harbor  Improvements.  At 
present  he  is  inspector  of  the  Cal- 
umet River  improvements. 

At  different  times,  when  work 
has  been  slack  in  the  Engineer 
Office,  Mr.  Creutz  has  filled  posi- 
tions with  private  firms,  principally 
the  Illinois  Steel  Co.  and  the 
Illinois  Central  Railway  Co., 
superintending  construction  work. 
He  was  also  for  five  or  six  months 
assistant  inspector  of  road  con- 
struction for  the  Columbian  Ex- 
position. 

Mr.  Creutz  belongs  to  the  Scan- 
dinavian Technical  Societv  of  Chi- 


Chicago 


73 


cago  and  the  Windsor  Park  Lodge 
of  the  Masonic  Order. 

September  n,  1882,  Mr.  Creutz 
was  married  to  Selma  Fredrika 
Lee,  in  East  Greenwich,  R.  I. 
Their  children  are  Stephan,  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Armour  Institute  of 
Technology,  and  Hillevi  Fredrika, 
a  student  at  South  Chicago  High 
School.  The  family  residence  is 
at  7737  Bond  ave.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Creutz  belong  to  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  South  Chicago. 


OSCAR  CHARLES  PETERSON 

was  born   Dec.    15,    1857,    ni    the 
province  of  Smaland,  Sweden.     He 


OSCAR  CHARLES  PETERSON 

accompanied  his  parents  to  Amer- 
ica in  1868.  They  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Iowa.  He  was  eager  for 
knowledge  and  mapped  out  a 
course  of  studies  for  himself.  At 
the  age  of  24  years  he  graduated 
from  the  Iowa  State  College  at 
Ames,  with  the  highest  standing 
in  several  subjects,  and  a  year 


later  the  degree  M.  Ph.  was  con- 
ferred upon  him.  During  the 
following  year  he  matriculated  at 
the  Iowa  College  of  Law  at  Des 
Moines,  and  was  graduated  from 
this  institution  in  1884  as  attor- 
ney at  law.  He  practiced  law  at 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  until  1895, 
when  he  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  he  has  an  extensive  prac- 
tice. He  was  for  several  terms 
president  of  the  Swedish  National 
Association. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  good  public 
speaker  and  has  been  frequently 
heard  on  the  lecture  platform. 
He  speaks  Swedish  and  English 
with  equal  facility. 

He  is  married  to  Miss  Florence 
E.  Felts,  a  lady  of  American  birth. 
Two  daughters  are  the  issue  of 
this  union. 


ANDREW  W.   FREDRICKSON, 

President  of  North  Park  College, 
was  born  in  Chicago,  Feb.  13. 
1871.  His  parents  emigrated  from 
Mjellby,  Sweden,  and  located  in 
Chicago  in  1868.  Their  home 
having  been  destroyed  by  the  fire 
of  Oct.  9,  1871,  they  moved  to 
Saline  co.,  Kansas,  locating  on 
an  Soacre  government  homestead. 
Here  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
grew  up  and  learned  to  work 
hard,  spending  the  winters  in 
school  and  the  summers  in  the 
field.  At  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  was  engaged  to  teach  school  in 
his  home  district.  Here  he  taught 
for  five  consecutive  winters,  and 
spent  a  part  of  each  summer  at 
the  Salina  Normal  University. 


74 


Cook  County 


In  1893  he  entered  Bethany 
College,  Lindsborg,  Kansas,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1896,  with 


ANDREW  W.  FREDRlCKvSOX 

the  Bachelor's  degree.  In  1900 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  his  Alma 
Mater,  and  an  instructor's  certifi- 
cate to  teach  in  the  Normal  In- 
stitute was  given  him  by  the  Board 
of  Education  of  the  State  of 
Kansas. 

After  his  graduation  he  accepted 
a  call  to  become  the  principal  of 
the  academic  department  of  North 
Park  College,  Chicago,  and  entered 
upon  his  work  with  the  zeal  and 
enthusiasm  of  one  who  had  found 
his  life's  work.  His  efforts  in 
behalf  of  this  institution  have  not 
been  limited  to  the  class  room, 
but  have  reached  out  into  wide 
circles,  he  having  traveled  and 
lectured  in  the  interests  of  the 
college. 

Born  a  Mission  Friend,  Prof. 
Fredrickson  has  taken  an  active 


interest  in  the  Swedish  Evangeli- 
cal Mission  Covenant  and  is  a 
member  of  the  church  at  North 
Park,  Chicago. 

Prof.  Fredrickson  is  a  public 
speaker,  and  devotes  a  considerable 
part  of  his  time  to  the  pulpit  and 
to  the  platform. 

When  in  1905  Prof.  David  Ny- 
vall  resigned  the  presidency  of 
North  Park  College,  Prof.  Fred- 
rickson assumed  the  office  as  ac- 
ting president,  serving  as  such 
until  regularly  elected  to  the  pres- 
idency in  1906  by  the  Mission 
Covenant,  at  its  annual  meeting 
in  Minneapolis. 

Prof.  Fredrickson  resides  with 
his  family  in  the  president's  resi- 
dence on  the  college  campus,  cor- 
ner of  Foster  and  Spaulding  aves. 


OSCAR  A.  ROSS 
was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
Feb.  9,  1846.  After  acquiring  a 
common  school  education  he,  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  emigrated  to 
America,  locating  at  Ottawa,  Can- 
ada. While  there  he  changed  his 
parental  name  Salzenstein  for  his 
present  one.  In  1868  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  established  a  labor 
agency,  in  which  he  has  been 
engaged,  with  some  interruptions, 
ever  since.  For  two  years  he  trav- 
eled for  the  Cunard  Line  and  vis- 
ited practically  every  western  town 
and  city  east  of  Denver,  Colo.  In 
1883  he  made  a  trip  to  Stockholm 
and  other  Swedish  cities,  besides 
Paris,  Berlin,  Bremen,  Liverpool, 
Queenstown,  and  London. 

Mr.  Ross  was  for  25  or  30  years 
a  member  of  the  Svea  Society,  and 


Chicago 


75 


for  some    years    belonged    to    the 
Swedish     Club.       At     present    he 


OSCAR  A.  ROSS 

prides  himself  of  not  being  a 
member  of  anything  but  his  fam- 
ily. He  has  a  wife  and  three 
children,  a  son  and  two  daughters. 
The  latter  are  married  and  live 
respectively  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
and  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


CHARLES  J.  STROMBERG 

was  born  in  Karlshamn,  Sweden, 
Feb.  12,  1838,  and  accompanied 
his  parents  to  America  in  1854,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years.  After  a 
short  stay  in  Westchester,  Pa., 
and  Lisletown,  Mo.,  he  went  to 
Chicago  in  August,  1856.  Here 
he  was  emploj^ed  for  seven  years 
by  the  firm  of  W.  B.  Keen  &  Co., 
quitting  his  position  in  1864  to  join 
the  Union  army.  Returning  home 
the  following  year,  he  secured  em- 
ployment with  the  stationery  firm 
of  J.  M.  W.  Jones  &  Co.,  and  re- 
mained as  clerk,  manager,  and 


member  of  the  firm,  successively, 
until  1888,  when  he  left  to  form 
the  present  firm  of  Stromberg, 
Allen  &  Co.,  which  has  grown  to 
be  one  of  the  largest  printers  in 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Stromberg  was  married  in 
1863,  his  wife's  maiden  name  be- 
ing Augusta  J.  Anderson.  They 
have  had  one  son,  Charles  J.  Strom- 


CHARLES  J.  STROMBERG 

berg,  Jr. ,  who  is  engaged  with  the 
firm. 

Mr.  Stromberg' s  home  was  in 
Lake  View,  where  he  also  served 
as  trustee  of  the  Lake  View  High 
School.  His  winter  home  since 
1898  was  at  Fairhope,  Ala.  He 
died  there  March  12,  1904,  after 
a  lingering  illness.  The  remains 
were  buried  at  Graceland  Ceme- 
tery, Chicago. 


ANTON  FREDRICK  LIND- 
QUIST 

was  born  Sept.  20,  1858,  in  Stock- 
holm, Sweden.     Having  secured  a 


Cook  County 


common  school    education    he    be- 
came a  locomotive  fireman  on  the 


AXTOX   FREDRICK  LINDQUIST 

Dannemora  and  Harg  railway  line. 
Later  he  was  employed  as  machin- 
ist with  the  Harg  Iron  Works, 
a  position  retained  until  he  left 
for  America  in  1880.  Having  lo- 
cated at  Chicago,  he  at  once  took 
up  the  study  of  architecture  and 
engineering  in  the  office  of  Hugh 
Copeland.  Mr.  Lindquist  later 
struck  out  for  himself,  estab- 
lishing an  architect's  office  of  his 
own.  He  affiliates  with  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  and  belongs 
to  the  Architects'  Business  Asso- 
ciation. Mr.  Lindquist  was  mar- 
ried in  1885  to  Emily  M.  Ander- 
son from  Odeshog,  Ostergotland. 
They  have  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 


AXEL  G.  ENGWALL, 

engineer  in  the  Chicago  fire  de- 
partment, was  born  on  the  island 
of  Visingso,  in  Lake  Vettern,  Swe- 


den, Sept.  24,  1865.  At  the  age  of 
five  years  he  was  sent  to  the  public 
school.  After  completing  the  course, 
he  studied  at  the  collegiate  school 
in  Jonkoping  for  two  years.  After 
another  two  years  spent  at  home, 
he  left  for  America  March  14, 
1879.  After  drifting  around  in 
this  country  and  working  in  va- 
rious parts  for  two  years,  he  final- 
ly went  to  Chicago  in  the  fall  of 
1 88 1.  Here  he  took  up  the  study 
of  engineering,  taking  a  three 
years'  course  in  that  subject.  A 
few  years  later  he  was  appointed 
assistant  engineer  in  Engine  Co. 


AXEL  G.  ENOW  ALL 

66.  In  1892  he  was  promoted  to 
First  Engineer  in  Engine  Co.  74, 
where  he  remained  three  years. 
He  was  then  transferred  to  Engine 
Co.  12,  where  he  is  still  stationed. 
Mr.  Engwall  is  the  inventor  of 
the  Combination  Water  Tower,  at 
which  he  worked  for  about  eight 
months,  and  on  which  he  finally 
received  his  letters  patent,  Feb. 
22,  1902. 


Chicago 


77 


In  1887  Miss  Josephine  Lind- 
quist,  from  Grenna,  Sweden,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Engwall. 
They  have  two  boys,  both  living. 


OLOF  H.  AHLGREN 

was  born  in  Mellby  parish,  Skane, 
Sweden,  Jan.  31,  1851.     Hisfather, 


OLOF  II.  AHLGREN 

Olof  P.  Ahlgren,  a  farmer,  was 
also  parish  school  master  and  legal 
counsellor  of  the  village.  In  this 
country  he  engaged  in  carpentry. 
He  died  in  Chicago  March  5,  1906. 

After  obtaining  a  common  school 
education  the  son  emigrated  in 
1871.  Chicago  was  his  destination 
and  there  he  worked  for  several 
years  in  the  packing  business. 
In  1875  Mr.  Ahlgren  became  a 
grocer  and  tea  merchant,  contin- 
uing for  about  ten  years.  For  the 
last  twenty-one  years  he  has  been 
the  proprietor  of  Hotel  Stockholm, 
52-56  E.  Chicago  ave. 

Mr.  Ahlgren  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  been 


twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Mathilda  S.  Gronvall  of  Eng- 
elholm,  Sweden,  who  became  his 
wife  March  4,  1877,  and  died  in 
Chicago  March  25,  1880.  Jan. 
29,  1885,  Mr.  Ahlgren  was  wedded 
to  Miss  Hilda  M.  Bond,  daughter 
of  And.  R.  and  Sophia  P.  Bond. 
He  has  had  one  child,  a  daughter, 
who  died  in  infancy. 


ERIK  PETER  STRANDBERG 

was  born  March  10,  1860,  in  Stroms- 
nas,  Stugun  parish,  Jamtland, 
Sweden.  His  mother  Anna  Nils- 
dotter  was  of  Finnish  descent.  His 
father  was  Erick  Martenson,  a 
wealthy  peasant  who,  however,  by 
the  time  his  son  had  grown  to 


ERIK   PETER  STRANDBERG 

manhood,    had    lost    his   property 
through  evil  fortune. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  Strand- 
berg  went  to  Sundsvall,  where  he 
learned  the  joiner's  trade.  After 
two  years  he  returned  to  Stugun 
where  he  and  a  partner  made  fur- 


Cook  County 


niture  for  the  parish.  In  1882  he 
left  for  America  and  became  a 
foreman  in  a  lumber  yard  at  Oak 
Park,  Minn.  During  1884-1885 
he  was  in  St.  Cloud,  removing 
thence  to  Joliet,  111.,  where  he 
became  a  building  contractor.  The 
following  year  Mr.  Strandberg  was 
attracted  to  the  great  metropolis 
of  the  West,  where  he  worked  for 
several  contractors.  At  Christmas 
he  visited  his  old  home,  where 
he  was  married  to  Ingrid  Isakson, 
his  heart's  choice.  With  her  he 
returned  to  Chicago  in  the  spring 
of  1887.  Mrs.  Strandberg  died 
within  the  year.  After  two  years 
Mr.  Strandberg  was  remarried,  his 
second  wife  being  Hilma  Ander- 
son. They  have  had  six  children, 
of  whom  two  boys  and  a  girl  still 
live. 

Mr.  Strandberg' s  building  oper- 
ations are  conducted  on  a  very 
large  scale.  A  few  of  the  build- 
ings he  has  erected  are  the  Chicago 
Orphans'  Asylum;  Reed  Memorial 
Library  and  Chapel;  Smith  Hall 
at  Lake  Forest  University;  a 
number  of  railway  stations,  and 
splendid  residences  for  Messrs. 
Born  and  Kurzberger,  Simon  Man- 
del,  Fred  T.  Haskell,  Noble  B. 
Judah,  Wm.  Dickinson,  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  Hoyt.  Mr.  Strandberg' s 
business  was  incorporated  in  1902 
under  the  name  and  style  of  E. 
P.  Strandberg  Co.,  he  being  pres- 
ident and  treasurer.  He  has  the 
controlling  interest  of  Anderson 
and  Lundgren  Cut  Stone  Co.  and 
is  a  director  of  the  concern.  Mr. 
Strandberg  has  been  vice  president 
of  Scandia  Life  Insurance  Co., 


director  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Mutual  Aid  Association  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Chicago  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation which  owns  the  new  Swed- 
ish Oak  Hill  Cemetery. 

The    family  residence  is  at  3330 
Indiana  Avenue. 


CHARLES  WARREN  NELSON, 

florist,  was  born    at    Stro,   Skane, 
Sweden,   Feb.  26,  1871,  his  parents 


CHARLES  WARREN  NELSON 

being  Nils  Nilson  and  Karin  Ohl- 
son.  His  father  died  in  the  old 
country  Dec.  19,  1905. 

Coming  to  the  United  States 
in  1887,  he  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  his  first  years  where  spent 
in  learning  the  different  branches 
of  the  floral  business  and  also,  at 
the  same  time,  pursuing  the  busi- 
ness college  course  offered  by  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
In  1894  Mr.  Nelson  engaged  in 
the  floral  business  at  1217  Mil- 
waukee avenue,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  large  trade. 


Chicago 


79 


Mr.  Nelson  is  a  director  of  the 
Wicker  Park  Safe  Deposit  and 
Trust  Company.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  following  fraternities, 
lodges  and  clubs:  Cleveland  Lodge 
No.  211,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.;  Wick- 
er Park  Lodge  No.  281,  and 
Victory  Encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F.; 
Orion  Council  No.  n.  Royal 
League;  Austin  Council  No.  50, 
North  American  Union;  Svithiod 
Lodge  No.  i,  I.  O.  S.,  and  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club. 


ANDREW    SANDEGREN 

was    born  in    Halmstad,  Halland, 
Sweden,     June     25,      1867.        His 


ANDREW   SAXDKGREN 

father  was  a  school  teacher  who 
remained  in  active  service  until 
he  died  at  the  age  of  83  years. 
Andrew  attended  the  Carolinian 
Cathedral  School  at  Lund.  After 
leaving  this  institution  he  took 
private  lessons  in  technology.  In 
1885  he  became  assistant  in  the 
citv  architect's  office  in  Halmstad. 


At  times  he  was  assistant  to  Chief 
Engineer  Carl  Stendahl  of  the 
Halmstad — Nassjo  Railway  and  to 
Captain  Tengman,  surveyor  for  the 
Central  Halland  Railway.  In  1887 
he  received  a  commission  to  make 
a  complete  map  of  the  Central  Hal- 
land  Railway  for  the  government. 
After  the  completion  of  this  work 
he  went  to  the  United  States  in 
the  spring  of  1888.  He  had  several 
years'  experience  in  some  of  the 
most  prominent  architects'  offices 
in  New  York,  Boston  and  Chicago. 
In  1893,  the  World's  Fair  year,  he 
opened  his  own  office  in  Chicago. 
He  is  now  at  1731  First  National 
Bank  Building.  Mr.  Sandegren 
makes  a  specialty  of  high  grade 
work  and  has  erected  churches, 
hospitals,  hotels  and  many  of  the 
handsomest  apartment  buildings  in 
Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Architectural  Club,  Chi- 
cago Architects'  Business  Associa- 
tion, the  New  Illinois  Athletic  Club, 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club,  the  Svith- 
iod Singing  Club  and  the  Scan- 
dinavian Engineers'  Society.  Mr. 
Sandegren  resides  at  Lexington 
Hotel,  2135  Michigan  ave.,  Chi- 
icago. 

AUGUST  H.  SKOGLUND 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Orebro, 
Sweden,  March  3,  1871.  After 
having  finished  his  common  school 
education,  he  left  for  America  in 
the  summer  of  1889.  Coming 
to  Chicago  he  began  working  in 
the  building  trades  and  after  a  few 
years  established  himself  as  a 
building  contractor.  Now  he  is  at 
the  head  of  A.  H.  Skoglund  & 


8o 


Cook  County 


Co.,  cut  stone   contractors   in  Ar- 
gyle. 

Mr.  Skoglund  is  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Methodist  de- 
nomination and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Humboldt  Park 


AUGUST  H.  SKOGLUND 

M.  E.  Church,  which  he  has  served 
as  trustee  for  a  period  of  ten  years. 
Mr.  Skoglund  has  been  married 
eleven  years  and  has  five  children. 
He  resides  at  2917  North  Paulina 

St. 


CARL  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Warberg,  Sweden, 
Aug.  8,  1851.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  1869  and  was  engaged 
for  some  time  in  railroad  work. 
He  learned  his  trade,  that  of  ma- 
chinist, in  Chicago  and  has  con- 
tinued in  this  line  of  work  for 
thirty-four  years.  Mr.  Ander- 
son is  president  of  the  Carl  An- 
derson Co.,  which  conducts  a  gen- 
eral machine  shop  at  19  Huron  st., 
Chicago.  The  firm  manufactures 


and  repairs  all  kinds  of  machiner}-. 
It  is  the  sole  manufacturer  of  the 
"Gus"  gas  and  gasoline  engines. 
Mr.  Anderson  married  Miss  An- 
na Dahlgren  of  Gotland,  Sweden, 
Oct.  i,  1872.  They  had  five  child- 
ren born  to  them,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter  living.  Two  of  the 
sons  are  in  their  father's  employ 
and  one  is  a  clerk  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Anderson's  residence  is  a  two  storv 


CARL   ANDERSON 

brick  building,  situated  at  Hamil- 
ton and  Wilson   aves. 


ALEXANDER  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Asheda,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  Dec.  n,  1863,  and  came 
to  America  in  1881.  He  has  since 
resided  almost  continuously  in 
Chicago.  Soon  after  his  arrival  to 
the  city  he  secured  employment  in 
a  shoe  factory.  From  this  posi- 
tion he  has  steadily  risen  until 
he  is  now  foreman  for  Selz, 
Schwab  &  Co.,  shoe  manufacturers. 


Chicago 


81 


having  charge  of  the  bottoming 
and  finishing  room  with  about  250 
employes  under  his  supervision. 


ALEXANDER  ANDERSON 

Previously  he  held  a  position  as 
foreman  with  the  Schwab  Bros. 
Shoe  Mfg.  Co. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  long  been 
prominent  in  political  and  frater- 
nal organizations.  He  has  been  a 
delegate  to  several  political  con- 
ventions, president  of  the  Third 
Ward  Democratic  Club,  and  held 
several  offices  in  the  Swedish 
Democratic  National  Association. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  orders 
of  Odd  Fellows,  Foresters,  Vik- 
ings, and  Columbian  Knights. 


WILHELM  C.  BLOOMQUIST. 

Rev.  Wilhelm  Claudius  Bloom- 
quist,  minister  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  was 
born  in  Ethelhem,  on  the  island 
of  Gotland,  Sweden,  Nov.  2,  1865. 
His  father  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  who  moved  from  Smaland 


to  Gotland  and  built  the  Visby 
High  School.  In  the  family  were 
eight  boys  and  three  girls.  To 
better  his  condition  the  father 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  the 
United  States  and  arrived  Sept. 
29,  1880,  settling  in  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.  For  a  number  of  years 
Mr.  Bloomquist  was  employed  as 
a  clerk  in  Jamestown.  He  was 
Sunday  school  superintendent  and 
president  of  the  Young  People's 
Society  of  the  Swedish  M.  E. 
Church.  Later  he  became  a  com- 


WILHELM  C.   BLOOMQUIST 

mercial  traveler.  In  1893  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  of  North- 
western University,  was  graduated 
with  honors  in  1896  and  was  or- 
dained as  clergyman  of  the  Swed- 
ish Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Bloomquist  has  served 
a  congregation  in  Jefferson  Park 
two  years  and  the  congregation 
in  Highland  Park  one  year,  was 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Wauke- 
gan,  111.,  for  two  years  and  of  the 


82 


Fourth  Swedish  M.  E.  Church 
eight  years.  In  1896  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bloomquist  was  married  to 
Miss  Judith  M.  Anderson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  Alfred  Anderson 
of  Chicago. 


Cook  County 


AXEL  E.  OLSSON 

was  born  April  17,  1857,  in  Blek- 
inge,  Sweden.  In  1870  he  went 
to  Stockholm  where  he  was  ap- 


AXEL  E.  OLSSOX 

prenticed  to  a  woodcarver.  In  the 
meantime  he  attended  the  manual 
training  school  for  several  seasons 
and  then  the  Academy  of  Liberal 
Arts,  where  he  was  awarded  sev- 
eral prizes.  After  working  as  carver 
and  modeler,  he  finally  opened  his 
own  shop.  Although  succeeding 
fairly  well,  he  decided  to  go  abroad. 
In  1 88 1  he  settled  in  Boston,  doing 
considerable  decorative  art  work 
in  the  East,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  interior  plastic 
decorations  for  The  Breakers, 
Cornelius  Vanderbilt's  villa  at  New- 


port. One  of  these  was  a  large 
relief,  entitled  the  "Triumph  of 
Bacchus." 

Two  of  Mr.  Olsson's  reliefs, 
"Spring"  and  "Autumn,"  \vere 
exhibited  and  sold  in  Boston.  The 
year  1885  he  spent  in  New  York 
and  in  1889  he  traveled  in  Europe. 
Mr.  Olsson  returned  to  Boston 
where  he  won  prizes  for  sev- 
eral competitive  designs.  He 
labored  for  months  on  models  for 
the  Machinery  Hall,  the  Live  Stock 
Building  entrance  and  the  Obelisk 
at  the  Columbian  Exposition.  The 
year  1892  he  spent  on  the  expo- 
sition grounds,  executing  these 
models  full  size.  Among  other 
sculptural  decorations  in  Chicago 
done  by  Mr.  Olsson  are,  the  plas- 
tic representation  of  a  football 
scrimmage,  in  the  Chicago  Ath- 
letic Association  clubhouse  and  the 
bronze  fountain  in  the  Public 
Library. 

Mr.  Olsson  modeled  the  silver 
cover  of  an  address  to  King  Oscar 
of  Sweden,  from  Swedish- Ameri- 
cans in  Chicago,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  25th  anniversary  of  his  ac- 
cession to  the  throne,  and  also 
carved  the  cover  of  an  address 
to  the  Queen  from  Swedish-Amer- 
ican women.  A  number  of  pub- 
lic and  private  buildings  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  have  been 
decorated  with  sculpture  and  reliefs 
designed  by  him.  Among  the 
places  where  Mr.  Olsson's  work 
may  be  seen  are:  U.  S.  post  office 
building,  Del  Puento,  Colo.;  Nor- 
mal School,  De  Kalb,  111.,  Court 
house,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.;  Edison 
Electrical  Building,  Chicago;  State 


Chicago 


Historical  Society  Library,  Madi- 
son, Wis.;  Carnegie  Library,  Mun- 
cie,  Ind.  Of  late  years  Mr.  Ols- 
son  has  also  paid  some  attention 
to  art  furniture  designing,  poster 
work  and  cartooning. 


public  school,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  country  tailor   at    the  age  of 


ERNEST  OSCAR  WATTMAN 
was  born  in  Upsala,  Sweden, 
March  2,  1847.  In  June» 


ERNEST    OSCAR   WATTMAN 

he  came  to  Chicago,  and  worked 
here  at  different  trades  until  1894, 
when  he  established  a  grill  work 
and  general  wood  working  shop. 
Mr.  Wattman  is  a  member  of 
Society  Vega,  treasurer  of  the 
First  Swedish  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  is  a  trustee  and  member  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Swedish  Old  People's  Home  at 
Park  Ridge,  111. 


JOHN  LORENTZ 

was  born  in  the  parish  of  Mjolby, 
province  of  Ostergotland,  Sweden, 
April  4,  1845.  Having  finished 


JOHN  LORENTZ 

fourteen.  At  eighteen  he  left  home 
for  the  city  of  Linkoping,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  [thoroughly 
and  became  a  journeyman  tailor. 
Thereafter  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, in  1868,  and  came  to  Chica- 
go, where  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
In  1870  he  left  Chicago  and  went 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
connected  with  some  of  the  best 
tailoring  establishments.  Return- 
ing to  Chicago  in  1871,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sophia  Carolina  Ander- 
son, of  Ty  Hinge,  Kalmar  Ian, 
Sweden,  the  issue  being  seven 
children,  of  whom  three  girls  and 
three  boys  are  still  living. 

In  his  earlier  days  Mr.  Lorentz 
was  identified  with  the  Tailors' 
Union  of  Chicago,  which  he  has 
served  as  financial  secretary  and 
as  president. 

In  1879  he  left  Chicago  and 
accepted  a  position  as  cutter  at 


Cook  County 


Mazomanie,  Dane  co.,  Wis.,  where 
he  remained  for  eight  years,  re- 
turning to  Chicago  in  the  spring 
of  1887,  where  he  worked  as  cutter 
for  another  ten  years.  In  1897 
he  started  in  business  for  himself, 
locating  at  175  Dearborn  st.  He 
has  had  good  success,  having, 
while  working  as  a  cutter,  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  number  of 
Chicago's  best  business  men. 

Mr.  lyorentz  was  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  Cutters'  Society 
of  Chicago  and  was  elected  first 
vice-president  and  later  on  presi- 
dent of  the  society,  resigning  that 
office  in  1890.  He  is  also  identi- 
fied with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which 
order  he  has  held  prominent  po- 
sitions, including  the  office  of 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Board  of  Relief  of  Chi- 
cago. 

ALFRED  JANSSON 
was  born  in  the  province  of  Verm- 
land,  Sweden,  in  1863.  He  first 
studied  arts  and  crafts  in  the  tech- 
nological institutes  of  Stockholm 
and  Christiania.  Later  on,  he  at- 
tended the  art  academies  of  Stock- 
holm and  Paris,  remaining  two 
years  in  the  latter  place. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Jansson  left  Paris, 
and  the  same  year  came  over  to 
America,  making  Chicago  his  place 
of  residence  from  that  time.  After 
the  usual  struggle  for  recognition 
common  to  artists,  he  has  finally 
become  known  as  a  painter  of  good 
landscapes,  choosing  his  subjects 
from  the  surroundings  of  Chicago 
and  painting  them  with  a  gentle 
and  true  hand. 


His  pictures  have  been  seen 
annually  at  exhibitions  in  Chicago, 
Philadelphia,  St.  Louis,  Denver, 


ALFRED  JANSSON 

and  other  places.  His  picture, 
"Winter  Approaching,"  in  the 
Chicago  local  exhibition,  1902, 
was  bought  by  the  Klio  Associa- 
tion. 

Mr.  Jansson  is  a  member  of  the 
Arts  Club  of  Chicago,  the  Palette 
and  Chisel  Club,  and  the  Industrial 
Art  League. 


CHARLES  E.  HALLSTROM, 

who  was  born  in  Jonkoping,  Swe- 
den, Jan.  22,  1864,  came  to  Chi- 
cago as  a  boy  of  four,  in  1868. 
He  became  a  professional  base-ball 
player  in  1882,  and  was  well 
known  in  sporting  circles  all  over 
the  country  as  the  Swedish  Won- 
der. Two  years  later  he  started 
in  the  tailoring  business  with  his 
brother,  in  which  trade  he  is  still 
engaged. 


Chicago 


A  few  years  ago,  he  was  nom- 
inated on  the  Republican  ticket 
for  West  town  collector,  and  ran 


Central  Conference  from  that  time 
on.     At    present    he    is   pastor  of 


CHARLES  E.  HALLSTROM 

12,000  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
In  1899,  Mr.  Hallstrom  was  elected 
to  the  city  council  of  Chicago, 
from  the  Fifteenth  Ward.  He  is 
a  director  of  a  large  oil  company 
in  Indiana. 

Mr.  Hallstrom  was  married  in 
1888  to  Miss  Margaret  Burns,  and 
one  son  has  been  born  to  the 
couple. 

ERIC  PHILJP  SWAN 
was  born  in  Chariton,  Iowa,  Feb. 
27,  1874.  He  is  a  son  of  O.  J. 
Swan,  who  is  a  Methodist  minister. 
Mr.  Swan  graduated  in  1896  from 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Theological 
Seminary  of  Evanston,  111.,  and 
in  1892  from  the  Garrett  Biblical 
Institute  of  the  same  city.  He  is 
a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  labor- 
ing in  the  Western  Swedish  Con- 
ference until  1900,  and  in  the 


ERIC  PHILIP   SWAN 

the  Bethany  Swedish  M.  E.  Church 
of  Chicago. 

JOHN  SUNDQUIST 

was  born  Nov.  20,  1866,  at  L,oka, 
Vestmanland,  Sweden.  The  first 
twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  but  in 
November,  1886,  he  emigrated 
and  came  to  Stambough,  Mich., 
where  he  stayed  until  August  the 
following  year,  when  he  removed 
to  Chicago.  There  he  commenced 
to  work  at  the  tailor's  trade,  and 
established  himself  in  business. 

In  1891  Mr.  Sundquist  married 
Miss  Christina  Hakanson,  from 
Rada  parish,  Vermland,  Sweden. 
They  have  had  three  children,  one 
of  whom  survives. 

In  1901  Mr.  Sundquist  sold  out 
his  business  and  in  company  with 
his  family  made  a  visit  to  the 
old  country.  In  the  fall  of  the 


86 


Cook  County 


same  year  he  returned  to  Chicago,  been  born  to  them.  Mr.  and 
however,  and  opened  a  tailoring  Mrs.  Peterson  belong  to  the  Swed- 
establishment  at  796  Southport 


JOHN  SUNDQUIST 

ave.,  where  he  employed  from  25 
to  30  persons.  More  recently  he 
located  at  Waveland  ave.  and  N. 
Halsted  St.,  which  is  his  present 
business  address. 


AXEL   PETERSON 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Orebro, 
Sweden,  March,  12,  1869.  A  public 
school  education  was  obtained  in 
his  native  city.  He  emigrated  in 
1888  and  came  at  once  to  Chicago. 
During  the  day  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  carpenter,  and  in  the 
evening  attended  the  Manual 
Training  Evening  School.  Since 
1891  he  has  been  in  business  as 
carpenter  and  builder,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Carpenters'  and 
Builders'  Association.  Mr.  Peter- 
son was  married  in  1894,  to  Hulda 
Gustafson.  Three  children  have 


AXEL  PETERSON 


ish  Mission  Church  in  Lake  View 
and  reside  at    1617  Addison  st. 


CHARLES  A.  STRANDEL 

was  born  in  the  Swedish  province 
of  Vermland,  Dec.  31,  1866.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  emigrated 
to  America,  arriving  in  March, 
1887.  For  about  a  year  he  resided 
in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  from 
there  came  to  Chicago. 

Mr.  Strandel  is  one  of  the  well 
known  architects  of  Chicago  and, 
during  the  last  few  years,  has 
erected  a  number  of  the  finest 
apartment  buildings  in  the  city, 
also  a  number  of  private  residences 
and  business  blocks. 

He  is  a  member  of  Svithiod 
Lodge  No.  i,  I.  O.  S.,  and  of 
Svithiod  Singing  Club  of  Chicago. 
The  concert  hall,  which  has  been 
added  to  its  clubhouse,  was  erect- 
ed by  him  and  is  one  of  many 


Chicago 


examples   of   Mr.   Strandel's   skill 
as  an  architect.     He   is  an  active 


CHARLES   A.  STRANDEL 

and    well    known    member  of    the 
Chicago  Architects'  Association. 


CARL  FERDINAND  KLAUS 

was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
May  23,  1866.  He  was  reared  in 
his  native  city,  attending  common 
school  until  ten  years  of  age  and 
subsequently  for  five  years  pursuing 
higher  studies  in  the  so-called 
"German  School."  At  fifteen  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  but 
finding  the  occupation  uncongenial 
after  two  years  he  went  to  sea. 
After  a  year  of  seafaring  life  he 
came  to  America,  settling  in  New 
York  state.  He  studied  at  Elmira 
Academy,  graduating  in  1887. 
Thereupon  he  entered  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York 
City,  from  which  institution  he 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in 
1890.  For  some  time  he  acted  as 


interne  at  St  Mary's  Hospital  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  thereafter 
served  as  assistant  physician  at 
the  County  Hospital  of  Milwaukee, 
Wis.  In  1891  he  came  to  Chicago, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

Dr.  Klaus  was  married  to  Miss 
Agda  Roberg  of  Stockholm,  Aug. 


CARL  FERDINAND  KLAUS 

7,   1901.     They  have  a  son,    Rolf 
Ferdinand,  born  July  21,   1902. 


CHARLES  G.  SETTERGREN 

was  born  in  Ammeberg,  Nerike, 
Sweden,  Jan.  8,  1860.  He  came 
to  America  in  1869  with  his  par- 
ents, who  first  went  to  Minne- 
apolis. Three  years  later,  in  1872, 
young  Settergren  removed  to  Chi- 
cago. After  graduating  trom  the 
Chicago  public  schools  in  1877, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  large 
wholesale  grocery  house  of  Reid, 
Murdoch  &  Co.,  occupying  vari- 
ous positions.  For  the  last  17 
years  he  has  been  a  traveling  sales- 
man for  this  house,  and  at  the 


88 


Cook  County 


present    time    holds   a   position  in      ska  Nyheter  as  its  advertising  man- 
the    very    front   rank    among    the      ager,    a    position    he    still    retains 


CHARLES   G.  SETTERGREN 

salesmen  of  this  immense  concern. 
Mr.  Settergren  can  boast  of  an 
unbroken  record  of  twenty-nine 
years  of  faithful  service  with  the 
same  establishment. 


NELS  GUNNAR  EDWARD 
BOBERG 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Karlskrona, 
Sweden,  Sept.  15,  1878.  After 
completing  the  course  in  the  public 
schools,  he  studied  at  the  Karls- 
krona collegiate  school.  Thereafter 
he  emigrated  in  the  spring  of  1892, 
destined  for  Chicago,  where  he 
has  since  lived. 

Mr.  Boberg  has  been  connected 
in  various  capacities  with  the 
Swedish  newspapers  of  Chicago. 
From  errand  boy  on  Svenska  Ku- 
tiren,  he  advanced  by  successive 
steps  to  bookkeeper,  clerk  and  ad- 
vertising man  on  Hemlandet.  From 
that  paper  he  went  over  to  Sven- 


NELS  GUNNAR  EDWARD  BOBERG 

after  the  consolidation  of   Svenska 
Tribunen  with  that  paper. 

Mr.  Boberg  is  a  member  of  the 
order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


GUSTAVUS  ANDERSON 

was  born  Nov.  3,  1847,  in  Lang- 
sjogle,  Bello  parish,  Smaland,  Swe- 
den. At  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
he  became  an  apprentice  in  the 
bindery  of  F.  Beck,  of  Stockholm, 
official  bookbinder  to  the  Royal 
Court  of  Sweden.  In  1867,  his 
apprenticeship  completed,  he  re- 
ceived from  the  Trades'  Associa- 
tion of  Stockholm  a  silver  medal 
for  skill  and  competence  in  his 
craft.  The  following  year  he  left 
for  America,  and  came  to  Chicago. 
Mr.  Anderson  early  affiliated. with 
the  old  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  in 
Illinois  st.  and  promoted  the  gen- 
eral interests  of  the  church  in  Chi- 
cago. He  was  concerned  with  the 


Chicago 


89 


welfare  of  his  countrymen  and  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  bachelor,  and 
assisted  many  to  secure  situations,  lives  with  his  widowed  sister  at 
He  worked  in  some  of  the  largest  3140  North  Lincoln  street,  Sum- 

merdale. 


GfSTAVUS  ANDERSON 

binderies  in  this  city  and  New 
York  perfecting  himself  in  his 
trade.  In  1880  he  started  a  bind- 
ery of  his  own,  which  he  operated 
until  1883,  when  he  sold  it  and 
went  out  west  for  a  few  months. 
Returning  to  Chicago,  he  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business,  and  has 
dealt  successfully  in  realty  ever 
since.  His  business  office  is  in 
the  Stock  Exchange  Building. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  Chicago  Brazilian 
Diamond  Co.  which  owns  gold  and 
diamond  fields  in  Diamantina, 
Brazil. 

He  was  a  director  of  the  Linne 
Monument  Association  and  one  of 
its  most  energetic  members. 

He  early  allied  himself  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  the  last 
1 7  years  has  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  26th  ward  Republican  club. 


ERIC  GUSTAF  STROM 

was  born  Feb.  10,  1847,  at  O'f- 
verums  Bruk,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
After  his  elementary  studies  were 
finished,  he  attended  the  Vester- 
vik  high  school  for  five  years. 
He  emigrated  from  Sweden  in 
1869  and  came  at  once  to  Chicago, 
where  he  obtained  employment  as 
machinist.  Since  1877  ne  has  been 
employed  by  Greenlee  Bros.  & 


ERIC  GUSTAF  STROM 

Co.,  manufacturers  of  special  wood- 
working machines. 

Mr.  Strom  was  married  in  1874, 
to  Miss  M.  C.  Nylander,  wyith 
whom  he  has  three  daughters. 
The  family  lives  at  10130  Butler  st. 
Mr.  Strom  belongs  to  the  United 
Workmen . 


Cook  County 


JOHN  GOSTA  BERGQUIST 

was  born    in    Vermland,    Sweden, 
on  the    1 8th    day    of    May,    1869, 


JOHN  GOSTA  BERGQUIST 

came  to  the  United  States  in  1888 
and  has  since  lived  in  Chicago. 
He  has  a  good  education  obtained 
at  various  schools,  but  is  not  a 
graduate  of  any  institution.  Mr. 
Bergquist  is  superintendent  of  the 
cement  department  of  the  Illinois 
Steel  Co.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  Club,  Western  Society  of  En- 
gineers, and  Scandinavian  Tech- 
nical Society. 


CARL  F.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Smaland,  Sweden,  Jan. 
17,  1866.  When  he  was  3  years  old 
his  parents  moved  to  the  city  of 
Halmstad,  where  he  acquired  a 
fair  education  and  learned  the  ma- 
chinist's trade.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  He  was  without  friends  or 
money  but  soon  secured  work  with 
a  railroad  company  in  whose  em- 


ploy he  advanced  to  the  position 
of  locomotive  engineer.  This, 
however,  was  not  the  goal  of  his 
ambition.  Seeing  a  greater  oppor- 
tunity in  his  former  occupation, 
he  secured  employment  with  the 
Dexter  Folder  Co.,  of  New  York, 
as  machinist.  Here  he  advanced 
to  foreman  and  finally  superintend- 
ent and  a  member  of  the  firm. 
The  Dexter  Folder  Co.  manufac- 
tures paper  folders  and  paper  feed- 
ers. This  position  determined  Mr. 
Anderson's  future  field.  In  1896 
he  started  a  machine  shop  in  Chi- 
cago and  is  now  sole  owner  of  C. 
F.  Anderson  &  Co's  Machine 
Works,  at  394-398  S.  Clark  st. 
He  has  invented  several  machines 


CARL  F.  ANDERSON 

for  printers'  and  bookbinders'  use 
which  are  manufactured  at  this 
plant.  Among  them  are  the  well 
known  Anderson  bundling  presses 
for  bundling  and  smashing  folded 
sheets,  collated  books,  pamphlets, 
etc.,  and  the  Anderson  high-speed 


Chicago 


folding  machine  which  is  capable 
of  folding  6,000  sheets  an  hour, 
nearly  double  the  capacity  of  any 
other  folding  machine  on  the 
market. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in 
1890  to  Miss  Carrie  Erickson,  of 
Madrid,  Iowa,  with  whom  he  has 
three  children. 


JOHN  H.  HOLMGREN 

was  born   in   Mariestad,     Sweden, 
in  i8s8.      He    learned    the    shoe- 


JOHN  H.  HOLMGREN 

maker's  trade  in  his  native  coun- 
try and  became  master  shoemaker. 
He  left  Sweden  in  1881,  coming 
to  Chicago.  Ten  years  later  he 
started  a  boot  and  shoe  store  at 
1738  N.  Clark  st.,  which  he  has 
been  operating  successfully  ever 
since. 

Mr.  Holmgren  in  1885  married 
Miss  Minnie  Svensson.  They  have 
had  ten  children,  of  whom  six 
have  died,  two  boys  and  two  girls 
still  surviving. 


Mr.  Holmgren  is  a  member  of 
the  Three  Links  Lodge  of  the  or- 
der of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Royal 
League,  and  the  Select  Knights 
of  America. 


ALFRED  HUGHMARK 
was    born    in    Frandefors    parish, 
Dalsland,  in  Aug.   1867.     He  was 


ALFRED  HUGHMARK 

orphaned  at  the  age  of  two.  For 
a  year  no  permanent  home  could  be 
found  for  the  young  boy  until  an 
old  childless  couple  took  pity  on 
the  waif  and  cared  for  him.  At 
the  age  of  ten  he  put  a  few  ar- 
ticles of  clothing  and  some  school 
books  in  a  pillow  case  and  with 
this  and  25  ore  in  money  left  the 
foster-parents  to  battle  for  existence. 
Passage  was  obtained  on  a  steamer 
from  Vanersborg  to  Goteborg, 
where  employment  was  secured  as 
errand  boy  in  several  places  before 
an  opportunity  was  offered  for 
something  more  promising.  All 
this  time  a  small,  dark,  un- 
furnished room  was  rented  back 


Cook  County 


of  a  grocery  in  exchange  for  ser- 
vices at  night  and  material  for 
one  meal  a  day  cooked  over  an 
oil  lamp  stove.  Later  he  was  ap- 
prenticed in  the  bookbinding  trade 
where  he  was  given  the  opportun- 
ity to  attend  night-school.  Three 
nights  a  week  were  devoted  to 
night-school  and  three  to  private 
language  courses.  Sundays  he 
taught  a  club  of  six  apprentices 
English,  grammar  and  arithmetic, 
thus  earning  enough  to  pay  for  his 
own  tuition.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  became  a  journeyman,  and,  de- 
termined to  better  equip  himself 
by  an  extended  tour  to  foreign 
countries,  he  visited  in  turn  Ber- 
gen, Helsingfors,  Copenhagen, 
Hamburg  and  London,  obtaining 
work  with  more  or  less  difficulty 
in  each  place.  From  London  he 
shipped  for  three  years  as  a  sailor 
and,  although  the  full  term  was 
not  served  out,  enough  hardship 
was  experienced  to  last  him  for  a 
long  time.  He  came  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  through  Mexico  with 
the  following  assets:  a  pair  of 
oilskins,  an  English  shilling  and 
abundance  of  courage.  He  went 
from  the  South  to  the  West,  thence 
to  the  East.  In  1896  he  was 
given  a  branch  plant  to  manage 
in  Frankfort,  Ky.,  for  the  Lords- 
mile  Courier- Journal,  then  made 
foreman  of  the  bindery  in  Louis- 
ville, at  their  home  plant.  After 
a  year  he  was  engaged  by  the 
Weed-Parsons  Co.  in  Albany,  N. 
Y.  Since  1899  he  has  been  with 
the  Henry  O.  Shepard  Co.,  at 
first  as  foreman  of  the  binding 
department  and  now  as  superin- 


tendent of  the  printing  and  bind- 
ing departments.  Mr.  Hughmark 
contributes  articles  to  the  Ameri- 
can Paper  Journal,  Southern  Maga- 
zine and  the  Inland  Printer,  and 
is  editor  of  the  American  section 
of  "Deutsches  Ingenieurs  Gesell- 
schafts  Lexicon."  He  has  been  in 
the  Illinois  Corps  of  Engineers,  I. 
N.  G.,  and  in  the  U.  S.  Revenue 
Service  and  is  a  member  of  the  Ham- 
ilton Club,  St.  Bernard  Command- 
ery,  Knights  Templars  (32  degree) 
Scottish  Rite  Masons,  Medinah 
Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  and  Royal 
League.  Mr.  Hughmark  was  mar- 
ried Oct.  30,  1897,  to  Miss  Helen  M. 
Albaugh,  born  June  14,  1870,  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  Geo.  C.  and  Ella 
McKay  Albaugh  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky. 

ALBERT  SCHONBECK 
was  born  Feb.  27,  1857.     His  par- 
ents were  John    M.    and    Johanna 


ALBERT  SCHONBECK 

B.   Schonbeck.     He  early    became 
interested  in  the  real  estate    busi- 


Chicago 


93 


ness.  It  was  in  1873,  when  he 
was  only  16  years  of  age  that  he 
first  came  in  contact  with  the  vo- 
cation that  was  to  become  his  life 
work.  Since  then  he  has  steadily 
continued  in  that  line  with  vary- 
ing experiences  and  a  great  measure 
of  success.  The  knowledge  and 
experience  thus  acquired  later  came 
to  be  of  great  value  to  him  when 
he  was  chosen  member,  and  then 
president,  of  the  Board  of  Local 
Improvements  of  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. 

Mr.  Schonbeck  is  married  since 
Aug.  27,  1877,  to  Miss  Mollie 
Thieleman  Fitz-Patrick,  who  is  a 
grandchild  of  Col.  Christian  Thiele- 
man of  the  1 6th  Illinois  Cavalry. 
They  have  two  children,  Lloyd 
and  Florence  Olivia. 


ANDREW  LANDGREN 
was  born  Jan.  7,   1864,  in  Landa, 
Sweden.     After  having  been   edu- 


ANUREW  LANDGREN 

cated  in  his  native  district  he  left 
the  old  country  at  the  age  of  six- 


teen, coming  to  the  United  States 
in  1880.  Chicago  was  his  desti- 
nation and  here  he  was  variously 
occupied  up  to  1886  when  he  se- 
cured employment  in  the  Bratm 
and  Fitts  butterine  factory.  For 
the  last  thirteen  years  he  has  been 
assistant  superintendent  in  the  fac- 
tory. He  is  now  secretary  of  the 
Geo.  P.  Braun  Co. 

Mr.  Landgren  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  later  was  elected  to  a 
similar  office  in  the  Messiah  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Landgren  was  married  on 
Jan.  24,  1884,  to  Clara  A.  Larson 
of  Chicago.  They  are  blessed  with 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 


CHARLES  AXELL 

was    born    in    Kyrkefalla    parish, 
Kakind,    Vestergotland,    Sweden, 


CHARLES   AXELL 


Nov.  27,    1850.     He  emigrated    to 
this  country  in    1870.     Since  that 


94 


Cook  County 


time  he  has  followed  the  painter's 
trade.  Mr.  Axell  contracts  for 
work  in  Chicago  and  its  northern 
suburbs.  His  shop  is  in  Chicago. 
He  resides  in  Winnetka,  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Axell,  nee  Mathilda  Jonson, 
was  born  in  Bexheda  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Axell  have  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  four  sons  are  still  living. 
They  are  Charles  O.,  John  Erik, 
Alexander  H.  and  Harry  B.  Axell. 


ALBERT  OLIVER 

was     born    June    10,     1875,    near 
Goteborg.     His  parents  moved  to 


ALBERT  OLIVER 

the  metropolis  when  he  was  five 
years  old  and  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools. 
After  having  studied  drawing  in 
the  Chalmers  Technical  School,  he 
emigrated  in  1890.  He  first  settled 
in  Rockford  and  later  in  Chicago. 
The  young  man  completed  a  gen- 
eral course  in  the  evening  high 
schools  and  also  took  a  special 


course  in  drawing  with  the  Inter- 
national Correspondence  Schools  of 
Scranton,  Pa.  Mr.  Oliver  learned 
the  cabinetmaker's  trade  and  be- 
came foreman  in  Aug.  Jahn's  es- 
tablishment. In  1901  he  went  in 
business  with  Ernst  Lindstrom. 
They  make  store  and  office  fixtures 
and  special  cabinet  work.  Their 
shops  are  at  192-200  N.  Union  st. 
Mr.  Oliver  is  a  Lutheran  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  I.  0.  T. 


NILS  REIHMER 

was  born  in  Efverod,  Skane,  Swe- 
den, Nov.  23,  1 86 1.  He  emigra- 
ted to  America  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  and  afterwards  traveled 
extensively  as  a  journeyman  tai- 
lor, visiting  the  principal  cities  of 
the  United  States.  About  twenty 
years  ago  he  began  work  as  cutter 
and  has  been  engaged  in  that  line 


NILS  REIHMER 


by    leading 
Chicago. 


merchant    tailors     of 


Chicago 


95 


Mr.  Reihmer  was  married  in 
1891  to  Miss  Matilda  Johnson, 
with  whom  he  has  two  sons. 

The  family  lives  at  1184  W. 
North  ave. 


Miss  Axeline  Ackerman,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
daughter. 


GUSTAF  RUDELIUS 

was  born  in  Lund,  Skane,  Sweden, 
in    1 86 1.      He    early    learned    the 


GUSTAF    RUDELIUS 

trade  of  cutler  and  grinder  under 
the  guidance  of  his  father,  who  is 
a  manufacturer  of  cutlery  and 
surgical  instruments  in  Lund.  In 
1 88 1  young  Rudelius  went  to 
America  and  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  worked  as  grinder  for 
about  three  years.  In  1883  he 
established  himself  in  the  retail 
cutlery  and  grinding  business  at 
172-174  South  Clark  st.  Meeting 
with  business  success,  he  has  ac- 
cumulated considerable  property, 
and  owns  a  cozy  residence  at  935 
Perry  ave.,  Lake  View,  where  he 
lives. 

Mr.   Rudelius    in    1887    married 


SAMUEL  OLOF  OLIN 
was  born  in  Chicago  Aug.  24,  1867. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  after  graduating  from 
the  Franklin  School  in  1883,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Peterson 
&  Bay,  bankers.  In  1895,  when 
the  banking  business  of  Peterson  & 
Bay  was  incorporated  as  the  West- 
ern State  Bank,  he  became  assist- 
ant cashier.  Mr.  Olin  held  this 
position  until  Feb.  15,  1901,  when 
he  severed  his  connection  with  the 
bank  and  engaged  in  the  real  es- 
tate and  mortgage  loan  business. 
On  Sept.  15,  1905,  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Brattstrom  became  associated 
with  him  in  the  real  estate  and 
loan  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Brattstrom  &  Olin,  which  is  the 
present  name  af  the  firm. 


SAMUEL  OLOF   OLIN 

Mr.  Olin  was  united  in  marriage 
Jan.    28,    1891,  to    May  I.  Irwin, 


Cook  County 


of  Chicago.  To  them  were  born 
Irene  Balfour  in  1892,  Irwin 
Elaine  in  1895,  and  Gertrude  May 
in  1902. 

The  family  resides  at  1473  N. 
Francisco  ave.,  and  attends  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  Advent. 
Mr.  Olin  is  treasurer  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Olin  is  the  son  of  Sven  O. 
Olin,  who  is  one  of  Chicago's  old- 
est Swedish  settlers,  having  come 
here  in  1857.  Mr.  Olin,  senior, 
was  a  tailor,  and  for  many  years 
took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
in  the  Swedish  colony  on  the  north 
side.  He  retired  from  business 
several  years  ago.  His  wife,  Anne 
S.,  nee  Jacobsen,  died  Feb.  23, 
1906. 

CHARLES  T.  A.  ANDERSON 

was  born  near  Kalmar,  Sweden, 
Jan.  4,  1872.  His  father,  Carl 


CHARLES  T.   A.   ANDERSON 

Olof  Anderson,  who  was  a  tailor 
by  trade,  embarked  for  America, 
with  his  wife  and  five  children, 


in  1875,  and  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  died  April  30,  1877. 
His  mother,  Matilda  Sophia,  nee 
Svenson,  is  still  living.  Like  the 
other  children,  Charles  was  early 
obliged  to  earn  his  own  bread, 
but  his  education  was  not  neg- 
lected. He  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  also  the  Swedish 
parochial  school.  He  attended  the 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  evening  school 
and  the  Soper  School  of  Oratory 
and  Elocution.  In  1884  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Marshall 
Field  &  Co.  In  1889  he  was  en- 
gaged by  Dunlap  Smith  &  Co., 
real  estate,  and  in  1898  branched 
out  for  himself  in  the  same  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  been  success- 
fully engaged  ever  since.  His 
office  is  at  167  Dearborn  st. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  always  been 
very  active  in  religious,  social  and 
political  movements.  For  eight 
years  he  has  been  deacon  and 
financial  secretary  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  English  Lutheran  Church. 
He  is  treasurer  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Board  of  the  Lutheran  Chi- 
cago Synod,  and  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  annual  conventions  of 
the  General  Council  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  and  of  the  Luther 
League  of  America  and  of  Illinois, 
in  which  he  has  held  important 
offices  and  is  at  present  president 
of  the  Luther  League  of  Illinois. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Chicago  Synod. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of 
the  Columbian  Knights,  and  the 
Fraternal  Tribunes,  in  which  or- 
ganizations he  has  been  honored 
with  responsible  offices.  He  is  now 


Chicago 


97 


chairman  of  the  finance  committee 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Order 
of  Columbian  Knights  and  Past 
President  of  Pinzon  Lodge  No.  i 
of  that  order,  and  secretary  of 
the  Fraternal  Tribunes  No.  18. 

Some  years  ago  he  organized  the 
Northwestern  Improvement  Club 
of  the  27th  and  28th  wards,  and 
served  as  its  secretary  for  three 
years.  He  is  now  secretary  of 
the  Republican  club  of  the  2ist 
precinct,  26th  ward. 

In  1897  Mr.  Anderson  married 
Miss  Clara  Kaehler,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  F.  C.  Kaehler,  formerly 
pastor  of  the  Wicker  Park  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  one  daugh- 
ter and  two  sons. 


ADOLF  F.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in    Skaraborg  Ian,   Swe- 
den, Nov.  5,  1867.     He  was  reared 


of  twenty,  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Chicago 
where  he  has  resided  continuously. 
Mr.  Anderson  is  a  manufacturer 
of  builders'  iron  material,  at  5844 
Loomis  st.  His  home  is  at  5946 
Carpenter  st. 

He  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church 
and  is  a  trustee  and  Sunday  school 
superintendent. 


ANTON  WILHELM 
JOHANSON, 

jeweler  and  watchmaker,  was  born 
at    Tumba,    in    Grodinge    parish, 


ADOLF  F.  ANDERSON 

in  his  native  place  whose  schools 
he  attended.     In    1887,  at  the  age 


ANTON  WILHELM  JOHANSON 

near  Stockholm,  March  5,  1861. 
After  having  attended  the  public 
school  he  learned  the  watchmak- 
er's trade  from  F.  W.  Tornberg, 
in  Stockholm.  During  this  period 
he  also  studied  at  the  Sloyd  School 
in  the  Swedish  capital.  On  be- 
coming a  journeyman  in  his  trade 
he  emigrated  to  America  in  May, 
1882,  and  worked  for  several 


98 


Cook  County 


months  at  his  trade  in  Jersey 
City.  Reaving  for  Chicago,  he 
obtained  a  place  with  C.  D.  Pea- 
cock, where  he  remained  for  one 
and  a  half  years.  His  reputation 
as  a  fine  mechanic  being  well 
established  by  this  time,  he  was 
offered  a  position  as  foreman  in 
a  watch  factory  at  Baraboo, 
Wis.  This  position  he  retained 
until  1886,  when  he  returned  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  for  five  years 
head  watchmaker  for  C.  H. 
Knights  and  Co.  We  next  find 
him  affiliated  with  the  wholesale 
firm  of  M.  S.  Fleishman  and  Co. 
In  1895  Mr.  Johanson  opened  a 
retail  jewelry  store  at  270  Wells 
st.  where  he  has,  by  intelligence 
and  fair  dealing,  built  up  a  splen- 
did business. 

Mr.  Johanson  is  a  member  of 
the  American  Horological  Society 
and  has  been  its  vice  president. 
He  was  in  1892  appointed  a  judge 
of  awards,  being  the  only  Swedish- 
American  called  to  this  position. 
The  presidency  of  the  Swedish 
Watchmaker's  Society  of  Chicago 
has  twice  been  conferred  on  Mr. 
Johanson.  He  belongs  to  Lodge 
No.  i,  I.O.  S.,  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, and  has  been  president  of 
the  Linne  Club,  a  Swedish  social  or- 
ganization. Mr.  Johanson  in  1889 
was  married  to  Miss  Ebba  Wedin, 
from  Motala,  Sweden. 


Eva  Toll,  died  in  1884.  Having 
attended  the  Skara  collegiate 
school,  he  took  a  course  in  medi- 


JOHN  AUGUST  CARLSTEIN, 
physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
in  Vestergotland,  Sweden,  Dec.  26, 
1842.  His  father  was  Anders 
Carlstein,  a  landed  proprietor,  who 
died  in  1862.  His  mother,  nee 


JOHN  AUGUST  CAKLSTEIN 

cine  and  another  in  military  sci- 
ence. Mr.  Carlstein  enlisted  in 
the  Danish  war  of  1864,  as  a  non- 
commissioned officer,  and  earned 
honorable  promotion,  but  left  for 
America  shortly  after,  enlisting 
at  once  in  the  Union  army.  Under 
General  Phil.  Sheridan  he  fought 
through  the  Shenandoah  campaign. 
Wounded  in  the  leg,  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  from  the  service 
Sept.  4,  1865,  and  pensioned  by 
the  government.  In  a  casual  meet- 
ing with  Gen.  Sheridan,  while  he 
was  stationed  in  Chicago  in  1878, 
the  general  said  to  him:  "I  know 
your  voice.  Your  name  is  John- 
nie. You  delivered  dispatches  to 
me  in  the  battle  of  Five  Forks." 
This  was  the  beginning  of  a  per- 
sonal acquaintance  and  associations 
which  lasted  as  long  as  the  fam- 
ous cavalry  general  remained  in 
Chicago.  In  1867  and  subsequent 


Chicago 


99 


years  Mr.  Carlstein  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  the  South  and  the 
middle  West.  In  1882  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  Chicago  Homeopathic 
Medical  College.  From  then  until 
1889  he  served  as  surgeon  for  the 
Pine  Lake  Iron  Co.  and  also  govern- 
ment surgeon  at  Port  Charlevoix, 
Mich.  Dr.  Carlstein  then  removed 
to  Chicago,  engaging  in  the  gen- 
eral practice  [of  medicine.  When 
the  German-American  Medical 
College  of  Chicago  was  organized 
in  1893,  Dr.  Carlstein  was  elected 
professor  of  surgery  and  president 
of  the  college.  This  position  he 
retained  for  four  years.  Smitten 
with  the  Alaska  fever,  he  resigned 
in  1897  and  left  for  Alaska  as  surg- 
eon of  the  Yukon  Valley  Prospect- 
ing and  Mining  Co.  He  traveled 
overland  by  way  of  Edmonton 
through  the  Northwest  Territory 
— an  adventurous  trip  of  about 
3,000  miles.  Dr.  Carlstein  returned 
to  Chicago  in  Sept.,  1900,  and 
resumed  his  medical  practice  here. 
His  office  and  residence  is  at  1248 
E.  RavenswoodPark,  Ravenswood. 

Dr.  Carlstein  was  married  in 
Chicago  Dec.  9,  1871,  to  Olivia 
Bergstrom.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
J.  Bergstrom  of  Sundsvall,  Sweden, 
and  was  born  Sept.  2,  1850. 

Dr.  Carlstein  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  National  Union, 
Geo.  H.  Thomas  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
the  Chicago  Medical  Society  and 
the  American  Medical  Society. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 


NELS  NELSON 

was  born  in  Villands  Vanga,  Ska- 
ne,  Sweden,  Aug.  8,  1862,  and 
came  to  America  in  the  fall  of 


NELS   NELSON 

1882.  He  secured  a  position  as 
watchmaker  with  S.  A.  Dale,  86 
N.  Clark  st.,  Chicago,  and  was 
later  connected  with  the  firm  of 
Dale  Bros.,  until  March,  1894, 
when  he  started  in  business  for 
himself,  and  is  now  located  at  137 
Oak  st.  A  branch  store  has  been 
established  at  532  Wilson  ave., 
Ravenswood. 

Mr.  Nelson  takes  considerable 
interest  in  fraternal  organizations. 
He  is  a  member  of  King  Oscar 
Lodge,  855,  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
also  of  the  First  Swedish  Lodge, 
479,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  No.  i  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Svithiod. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Swed- 
ish Watchmakers'  Society  of  Chi- 
cago, which  he  helped  to  organize 
in  1892. 

Mr.  Nelson  in  1884  married  Miss 


100 


Amanda  C.  Peterson,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Alice,  born 
Sept.  20,  1885. 


N.  HJALMAR  HUIvTlN 

was  born  Sept.  4,  1869,  in  Onsa- 
la,  Halland,  Sweden,  the  son  of 
Peter  Anton  Hultin,  a  sailor,  and 


N.  HJALMAR  HULTIN 

Anna  Carolina  Anderson.  He 
emigrated  with  his  parents  in  1872 
to  the  United  States  and  received 
a  common  school  education  in 
Chicago.  In  this  city  he  was 
engaged  in  the  clothing  trade 
as  cutter  for  a  number  of  years 
and  then  went  into  partnership 
with  G.  Segersten  in  the  under- 
taking business,  conducting  it  for 
eight  years.  Having  dissolved 
the  partnership,  he  engaged  in  the 
undertaking  and  livery  business 
at  1663  N.  Clark  st.  where  his 
establishment  is  still  located.  Mr. 
Hultin  served  as  supervisor  of 
L,ake  View  for  two  terms,  1897-98, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Repub- 


Cook  County 

lican  ticket.  June  28,  1899,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Ella, 
daughter  of  Enoch  and  Mina 
Nelson. 

JOHN  EMANUEL  SPANN 
was  born  in  Vingaker,  Soderman- 
land,  Sweden,  March  26,  1869. 
He  emigrated  to  America  in  1888, 
locating  in  Kansas  City.  In  1893 
he  moved  to  Chicago  where  he 
engaged  in  the  tailoring  business 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mac- 
Donald  &  Spann.  He  subsequently 
established  the  firm  of  John  E. 
Spann.  Mr.  Spann,  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time  to  music  and 
has  been  leader  of  the  choir  in 
First  Swedish  Baptist  Church  for 
many  years.  He  is  the  director 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Jubilee 


JOHN  EMAXUEL  SPAXX 

Chorus  and  has  on  many  occasions 
been  the  leader  of  large,  mixed 
choruses. 

Mr.  Spann  was  married  to  Miss 
Sigrid  R.  Anderson  in  1900.  They 
have  a  daughter,  Laura  Evelyn. 


Chicago 


101 


JOHN    LUNDSTROM 

was  born  April  n,  1860,  in  Ryss- 
mo,  Oland,  Kalmar  Ian,  Sweden. 
He  served  in  the  Swedish  navy 


JOHN   LUNDSTROM 

from  the  time  he  was  sixteen  till 
he  reached  maturity.  He  landed 
in  the  United  States  May  2,  1882, 
and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he 
now  carries  on  the  merchant  tail- 
oring business,  with  shop  at  24-30 
Hein  place. 

Mr.  Lundstrom  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum. 

In  1884  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Johanna  Peterson, 
who  was  born  Feb.  28,  1865,  in 
Boda,  Oggestorp  parish,  Smaland, 
Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lund- 
strom  have  one  son  and  two 
daughters.  They  live  in  their  own 
home  at  1309  N.  Mozart  st.  and 
are  members  of  the  Immanuel 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


JOHN  NELSON 

was  born  Nov.  u,  1864,  in  Hall- 
arj'd,  province  of  Smaland,  Swe- 
den. He  attended  the  "Fridhem" 
public  high  school  in  his  native 
city  in  1885-1886.  Subsequently 
for  two  years  he  was  a  bookkeep- 
er. He  then  was  superintendent 
of  a  saw-mill  until  1890  when  he 
left  Sweden.  He  came  to  Chicago 
where  he  has  since  resided  except 
for  a  few  months  spent  in  Rock- 
ford,  111.  Mr.  Nelson  engaged  in 
the  metal  plating  business  and  in 
company  with  J.  Roper  he  organ- 
ized, in  1899,  the  Lake  City  Plat- 
ing Works,  located  at  249  Wells 
st.  Mr.  Nelson  belongs  to  Lodge 


No. 


JOHN  NELSON 

i.,   Independent  Order  of  Vi- 


kings, in  which  he  was  recording 
secretary  for  three  terms. 


CHARLES  E.  TUNELIUS 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Eskilstuna, 
Sweden,   March   n,  1845.    In  1851 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  the 


102 


Cook  County 


province  of  Smaland,  and  in  1856 
to  that  of  Ostergotland.  He 
learned  the  rudiments  of  the  ma- 


CHARLES    E.  TUNELIUS 

chinist  and  steam  engineering 
trades  from  his  father,  while  the 
latter  was  chief  engineer  of  the 
Atvidaberg  Copper  Works.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  left  the  pa- 
rental roof  to  make  his  own  liv- 
ing. He  began  by  tending  a  steam 
engine,  used  to  run  ore  crush- 
ing machinery.  In  the  summer 
he  traveled  about  the  country  run- 
ning threshing  machines.  This 
continued  for  three  years,  except 
one  summer,  when  he  was  sent  to 
erect  some  mining  machinery  in 
Sodermanland. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  ob- 
tained employment  at  Forsbacka 
Iron  Works,  in  Gestrikland.  Then 
he  went  to  the  Sandviken  Steel 
Works  and  to  Hofors  and  Kungs- 
garden  in  the  same  province.  He 
was  there  employed  in  various  ca- 
pacities, such  as  general  machin- 


ist, roll  turner  and  in  erecting 
and  running  steamboat  engines  at 
L,jusne.  In  1867  his  father  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  rejoined  by 
the  remainder  of  the  family  the 
year  after. 

With  the  exception  of  a  year 
and  a  half  spent  in  Canton,  Ohio, 
Mr.  Tunelius  has  since  lived  in 
Chicago.  He  was  first  employed 
as  machinist  in  various  shops. 
From  1877  until  1892  he  was 
master  mechanic  with  the  National 
Malleable  Casting  Co.  In  1892 
he,  in  company  with  Mr.  C.  M. 
Hanson,  started  a  machine  shop 
in  Chicago,  which  has  since  been 
in  successful  operation.  He  is 
also  interested  in  other  enterprises, 
such  as  the  Chicago  Machinery 
Manufacturing  Co.  and  the  Union 
Bank  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Tunelius' 
specialty  is  designing  and  building 
special  and  experimental  machin- 
ery of  every  description.  He  has, 
during  his  busy  career,  invented 
several  machines  and  appliances, 
some  of  which  have  been  patented. 
Among  these  is  the  Tunelius  au- 
tomatic bottle  washing  machine, 
of  which  hundreds  are  in  opera- 
tion in  breweries  and  bottling  de- 
partments in  the  United  States, 
Canada  and  several  European  and 
South  American  countries. 

On  Oct.  23,  1871,  he  married 
Miss  E.  M.  Peterson,  who  is  still 
his  loving  helpmate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Tunelius  are  the  happjr  parents  of 
two  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  grown. 

Mr.  Tunelius  is  a  charter  member 
of  the  Swedish  Society  Nordstjer- 
nan,  an  old  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  also  a  member  of  the 


Chicago 


103 


Scandinavian  Technical  Society, 
and  the  Swedish  Glee  Club.  He 
is  a  32d  degree  Freemason. 


JOHN  WILHELM  HJERT- 
STROM, 

the  pastor  of  the  Second  Swedish 
Baptist   Church    of    Chicago,    was 


JOHN  WILHELM  HJERTSTROM 

born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden,  Sept. 
6,  1854.  After  graduating  from 
the  Bethel  Seminary  at  Stockholm 
in  1 88 1,  he  became  pastor  of  a 
church  at  Westervik.  Later  he 
had  charges  in  Nykoping  and  in 
Falun.  In  1891  he  emigrated  to 
Worcester,  Mass.,  and  held  the 
pastorate  there  for  six  years. 
Thereupon  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Fourth  Swedish  Church  of 
Chicago,  which  he  served  for  two 
years  and  a  half.  He  then  moved 
to  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  and  took 
charge  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  in  that  place  until  1901, 
when  he  returned  to  Chicago, 
having  been  called  to  the  Second 


Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  that 
city,  with  which  he  is  still  con- 
nected. 

Mr.  Hjertstrom  has  been  mar- 
ried since  1882,  his  wife's  maiden 
name  being  Cecilia  Olivia  Sjostedt. 
They  have  nine  children,  Therese, 
Theodore,  Amy,  Ernest,  Lizzie, 
Martin,  Carrie,  Lawrence  and  Roy. 


F.  OSCAR  WEYDELL 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Kalmar, 
Sweden,  Nov.  5,  1863.  When  he 
was  four  years  old,  his  parents 
moved  to  Ottenby,  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Oland,  where  his  father 
was  superintendent  of  a  large  farm. 
After  graduating  from  the  public 
school,  the  fourteen-year-old  boy 
became  interested  in  mechanical 
operations.  He  was  especially  en- 
couraged by  one  of  his  father's 
friends,  a  young  veterinary  surgeon, 


F.   OSCAR   WEYDELL 

in  whose  laboratory  and  work- 
shop he  received  a  knowledge  of 
the  use  of  tools  which  later  proved 


104 


Cook   County 


of  inestimable  value.  The  oppor- 
tunities for  mechanical  develop- 
ment, were,  however,  very  limited 
in  Ottenby,  and  since  agricultural 
pursuits  did  not  appeal  to  him, 
it  became  necessary  to  make  plans 
for  leaving  the  homestead.  When 
he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  was 
seized  with  a  desire  to  go  to 
America.  His  father,  who  had 
intended  to  send  him  to  a  sloyd 
or  technical  school,  reluctantly 
yielded,  and  in  April,  1880,  young 
Weydell  started  on  his  journey. 
A  month  later  he  came  to  Chicago 
and  was  employed  as  apprentice 
in  a  jattern  shop.  In  the  mean- 
time he  went  to  evening  school 
and  studied  mechanical  drawing. 
In  his  trade  he  made  rapid  prog- 
ress, and  within  five  years  he  was 
appointed  foreman  in  one  of  the 
largest  pattern  shops  in  Chicago. 
This  position  was  retained  until 
1897,  when  he  established  his  own 
pattern  shop  at  Clinton  and  Adams 
sts.  He  is  conducting  a  success- 
ful business  in  foundry  patterns, 
models,  and  in  designing  machin- 
ery. 

At  the  age  of  21  years  Mr.  Wey- 
dell was  married  to  Anna  John- 
son of  Chicago.  The  family  res- 
idence is  in  Woodlawn,  a  pretty 
suburb  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Weydell  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  several 
other  clubs  and  societies. 


the  education  offered  by  the  com- 
mon   school    in    his    native    place. 


CHARLES  G.  HERST 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Ljnkop- 
ing,  province  of  Ostergotland,  Swe- 
den, Oct.  22,  1863.  He  received 


CHARLES  G.  HERST 

He  came  to  Chicago  March  22, 
1879,  as  a  tailor.  In  1886  he  be- 
gan his  own  business  as  manu- 
facturing tailor  at  144  Vedder  st., 
and  has  since  enjoyed  a  constantly 
growing  trade.  He  belongs  to  the 
King  Oscar  Masonic  Lodge,  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  No.  479,  and  to 
the  Svea  Society.  He  is  an 
adherent  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church.  In  1887  Mr.  Herst  was 
married  to  Olivia  Newman,  of 
Chicago.  To  them  have  been  born 
two  children,  Theodore  and  Arthur. 


CLEMENS  EHNBORN 

was  born  April  i,  1870,  in  the 
city  of  Kristianstad,  Sweden.  In 
1882  his  parents  emigrated  with 
their  family  to  America.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen,  young  Ehnborn 
began  to  learn  the  general  wood- 
worker's trade.  In  1897  he,  to- 
gether with  John  Skow,  established 


Chicago 


105 


the  concern  of  C.  Ehnborn  &  Co., 
now  styled  Ehnborn  Wood  Turn- 
ing and  Manufacturing  Co.  Their 


CLEMENS  EHNBORN 

plant  is  situated  at  19—21  N.  Jef- 
erson  st...  where  wood  turning, 
bandsawing  and  cabinet  work  is 
done.  A  specialty  is  made  of 
automatic  lathe  work,  such  as 
rope  and  spiral  turning. 

Mr.  Ehnborn  is  a  student  of 
social  and  economic  problems  and 
has  embraced  the  doctrines  of  so- 
cialism. He  is  a  member  of  the 
order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


WILLIAM   A.  BLOMGREN 

was  born  in  Chicago  June  23,  1858. 
After  finishing  the  public  schools, 
he  took  a  course  at  Bryant  & 
Stratton's  Business  College.  Short- 
ly after  the  Chicago  fire  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Co.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Second  Regiment,  Illinois 
National  Guards,  from  1874  to 
1876.  Thereafter  he  joined  the 


reorganized  company  ot  the  Ells- 
worth Zouaves,  and  often  traveled 
with  this  company,  taking  part  in 
their  prize  and  exhibition  drills. 
The  name  of  this  company  was 
afterwards  changed  to  the  Lackey 
Zouaves  of  Chicago,  in  honor  of 
Captain  Lackey.  Mr.  Blomgren 
remained  with  the  company  until 
1880.  In  1887  he  entered  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michi- 
gan Southern  Railroad  Co.,  as  a 
fireman,  in  which  occupation  he 
remained  for  a  number  of  years, 
serving  part  of  the  time  as  engin- 
eer. During  this  period  he  lived 
chiefly  in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  and  To- 
ledo, Ohio.  In  1891  he  returned 


WILLIAM  A.  BLOMGREN 

to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the 
photo-engraving  business,  forming 
a  partnership  with  M.  Lindblom 
for  this  purpose.  Their  place  of 
business  was  then  at  the  corner 
of  Harrison  and  Dearborn  sts.  At 
present,  Mr.  Blomgren  is  at  726 
Winona  ave.,  engaged  in  the  prep- 


io6 


Cook  County 


aration  of  stereopticon  slides  for 
illustrated  lectures,  and  has  among 
his  customers  some  of  the  leading 
lecturers  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Blomgren  has  held  the  office 
of  Orator  of  Liberty  Council  of 
the  Royal  League.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JOHN   A.  JOHNSON 

was   born    Jan.  26,   1857,  at  Bru- 
nabo,  Karl  Gustaf  parish,  Vester- 


JOHN  A.  JOHNSON 

gotland,  Sweden.  In  May,  1881, 
he  emigrated  to  America  and  lived 
for  some  time  in  Braddock,  Pa. 
L,ater  he  came  to  Chicago,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  John- 
son here  secured  employment  with 
a  manufacturer  of  wooden  tanks, 
and  continued  in  this  trade  with 
various  firms  until  October,  1893. 
In  company  with  Adolph  A.  Carl- 
son and  Andrew  Johnson,  he  em- 
barked in  the  manufacture  of 
tanks  under  the  firm  name  of 
Johnson,  Carlson  &  Co.  A  year 


later  Andrew  Johnson  retired  from 
business.  The  remaining  associates 
continued  under  the  name  of  John- 
son &  Carlson.  By  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  their  specialty  they 
have  attained  success  in  their  bus- 
iness. The  firm  makes  cisterns, 
vats,  and  troughs  of  every  descrip- 
tion. They  occupy  their  own 
factory  at  139-155  Eastman  st. 


CARL  S.  N.  HALLBERG, 

an  authority  on  pharmaceutical 
science  in  the  United  States,  was 
born  Oct.  13,  1856,  in  Helsing- 
borg  Sweden,  on  the  Sound,  di- 
rectly opposite  the  Danish  city  of 
Helsingor,  with  its  ancient  fort, 
in  which  was  laid  the  scene  of  the 
story  of  Hamlet.  Accompanying 
his  older  sister  to  school  one  day 
to  defend  her  against  "some  bad 
boys,"  he  liked  the  experience  so 
well  as  to  begin  school  when  four 


CARL  S.  X.  HALLBERG 

years    of    age.      Continuing    in    a 
private  school  until  nine  years  old, 


Chicago 


107 


he  was  admitted  to  the  Gymnasie, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  un- 
til removing  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  the  spring  of  1869. 
Settling  at  Altoona,  Pa.,  his  fa- 
ther was  employed  in  the  locomo- 
tive works  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad.  On  his  mother's  side 
the  family  had  long  been  reputed 
for  skill  in  setting  broken  limbs, 
one  member  of  each  generation 
handing  down  the  art  to  a  mem- 
ber of  each  succeeding  generation. 
In  the  old  mansion  a  great  silver 
urn  occupied  the  post  of  honor  on 
festive  occasions,  a  tribute  from 
King  Carl  XIV  Johan,  for  serv- 
ices performed.  The  grandfather 
was  the  prototype  of  "the  concen- 
trated inhabitant,"  comprising 
within  himself  all  the  important 
offices  in  the  village,  fifteen  miles 
from  the  city,  including  village 
schoolmaster,  watchmaker,  gun- 
smith, and  healer,  preparing  all 
his  own  remedies,  the  chief  of 
which  were  salves  of  every  pos- 
sible hue  and  composition. 

It  was  during  his  boyhood  days 
in  Sweden,  while  visiting  in  the 
village  during  the  summer  vaca- 
tion, that  young  Hallberg  was 
fully  initiated  into  the  healing  art 
by  assisting  his  grandfather  at  the 
operation  of  blood-letting,  it  being 
his  duty  to  stand  beside  the  victim 
and  catch  the  stream  of  "claret" 
in  a  tinned  bowl,  as  it  issued  from 
the  [lancet's  wound.  The  young 
men  and  lassies  paid  regular  annual 
visits  to  "the  master,"  to  be  re- 
lieved from  the  effete  blood  that 
had  accumulated  during  the  win- 
ter months,  the  only  medical  treat- 


ment they  indulged  in.  The  old 
gentleman  used  the  ointments 
mostly  on  his  own  wounds,  re- 
ceived in  the  war  with  Napoleon. 

During  the  vacations,  young 
Hallberg  would  also  assist  in  his 
father's  factory. 

These  experiences,  as  well  as 
the  fact  that  his  father  was  a  tech- 
nical chemist,  determined  him  to 
engage  in  pharmacy,  and  he  was 
apprenticed  to  Dr.  S.  M.  Sellers, 
of  Altoona,  early  in  February, 
1870.  After  four  years'  service, 
and  his  family  having  returned  to 
Sweden,  he  decided  to  attend  a 
college  of  pharmacy.  A  traveling 
salesman  was  finally  discovered, 
who  knew  there  was  a  college  of 
pharmacy  in  Philadelphia,  had 
actually  seen  the  building,  and 
who  furnished  the  address.  Ar- 
riving in  Philadelphia  early  in 
October,  in  1874,  Hallberg  obtained 
a  situation  with  the  wholesale 
drug  house  of  M.  K.  Smith  &  Co., 
and  soon  after  with  E.  B.  Gar- 
rigues  &  Co.,  where,  under  the 
direction  of  Edwin  M.  Boring,  a 
most  thorough  training  and  valu- 
able experience  was  afforded. 

Mr.  Hallberg  left  Philadelphia 
for  Chicago  in  the  spring  of  1877, 
having  remained  in  the  city  after 
graduating  in  March,  1876,  from 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy. 

After  two  years  of  practice  as 
clerk  with  C.  F.  Hartwig,  of  Chi- 
cago, he  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing pharmacy,  associated  with  C. 
G.  Wheeler.  Retiring  in  1885, 
he  became  associated  with  G.  P. 
Engelhard  in  a  postal  system  of  in- 


io8 


Cook  County 


struction    in    pharmacy,  of   which 
institution  he  is  the  director. 

During  1888  and  1889,  Mr.  Hall- 
berg  was  associated  with  C.  L,. 
Feldkamp,  in  the  practice  of  phar- 
macy in  Chicago,  the  firm  engag- 
ing in  manufacturing  pharmaceut- 
icals,  for  which  it  was  awarded 
the  gold  medal  by  the  American 
Pharmaceutical  Association  in  1888. 

First  contributing  to  pharma- 
ceutical journals  in  1878,  he  be- 
came the  editor  of  The  Druggist, 
afterward  The  Western  Druggist, 
in  1882,  relinquishing  editorial 
duties  in  1890  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion of  professor  of  pharmacy  in 
the  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy, 
which  he  still  retains.  Active  in 
pharmaceutical  association  work, 
he  joined  the  American  Pharma- 
ceutical Association  in  1879,  the 
Illinois  Pharmaceutical  Association 
in  1 88 1,  serving  as  secretary  in 
1890-91,  and  he  has  been  elected 
honorary  member  of  a  number  of 
western  State  pharmaceutical  asso- 
ciations. 

A  member  of  the  committee  on 
"National  Formulary"  since  its 
formation  in  1886,  Mr.  Hallberg 
contributed  considerably  to  the  first 
edition.  A  delegate  to  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Pharmacopoeial  Con- 
vention, held  in  Washington  in 
1 890,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Revision,  and 
worked  on  the  sub-Committee  on 
Pharmaceutical  Preparations. 

Mr.  Hallberg  has  contributed  a 
number  of  papers  to  the  American 
Pharmaceutical  Association,  and 
has  been  secretary  and  chairman 
in  1892  of  the  Section  of  Scientific 


Papers.  During  the  past  few  years 
he  has  been  most  active  in  the 
Section  on  Education  and  Legis- 
lation. 

Prof.  Hallberg  is  secretary  of 
the  Section  of  Materia  Medica, 
Pharmacy  and  Therapeutics  in  the 
American  Medical  Association. 

June  27,  1903,  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  was  conferred  upon 
Prof.  Hallberg  in  recognition  of 
his  invaluable  services  to  medicine 
and  pharmacy. 

Prof.  Hallberg  was  married  in 
1893  to  Therese  Bergstrom,  form- 
erly a  resident  of  Stockholm,  a 
son  being  born  in  1897. 


EDWARD  J.  THELIN 

was   born    in    Chicago,    June    24, 
1873.     His  father,  Louis  E.  The- 


EDWARLJ  J.   THELIX 

lin,  a  mechanic,  was  among  the 
first  of  the  Swedish  Baptists  to 
come  to  Chicago.  His  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Mathilda  Tho- 
ren.  The  elder  Thelin  passed 


Chicago 


109 


away  in  Chicago  Dec.  24,  1902. 
The  son,  Edward,  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  Midland  Uni- 
versity and  the  Chicago  Law 
School. 

Fifteen  years  ago  he  was  made 
assistant  cashier  at  Mandel  Bros., 
and  in  recent  years  has  attained 
to  the  position  of  chief  cashier. 

Mr.  Thelin  is  a  member  of  the 
Ashland,  Sheridan,  Illinois  and 
Waupausch  Clubs,  and  of  the  Phi 
Alpha  Delta  fraternity .  He  has 
for  several  years  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of 
Chicago. 


WILLIAM  F.  ANDERSON 

was  born  at  Grand  ave.  and  Eliza- 
beth st.,  Chicago,  May  6,  1859.   He 


his  business  so  well,  that  in  1886 
he  was  able  to  start  in  business 
for  himself  under  the  name  of 
"The  Anderson  Tea  Store." 

In  1900  the  business  was  incor- 
porated as  "The  Anderson  Tea 
Co."  Since  then  it  has  expanded 
so  as  to  comprise  thirteen  stores 
on  the  west  side  and  three  on  the 
north  side.  The  office  and  ware- 
house is  located  at  1020  West 
Madison  st. 

Mr.  Anderson  belongs  to  the 
Royal  League,  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur, 
Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Fort 
Dearborn  Club.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Union  Park  Congregational 
Church.  His  home  is  at  209 
Warren  ave. 

Mr.  Andersons  family  includes 
Mrs.  Anderson  and  two  daugh- 
ters. 


JOHN  AXEL  AXBERG 
was  born  Jan.    25,    1862,    in    En- 
aker  parish,  province  of  Vestman- 


WILI-IAM    F.   ANDERSON 

attended  school  until    1875,   when 
he    secured    employment    in  a  tea 
store.     In    1883    he    became  man- 
ager of  King's  Tea  Store  on  Grand  JOHN  AXEL  AXBERG 
avenue.       Mr.    Anderson     learned      land,  Sweden.     During  his  younger 


no 


Cook  County 


years  he  worked  at  the  bench 
with  his  father,  Anders  G.  John- 
son, who  was  a  shoemaker.  His 
mother  died  in  1905  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six.  After  working  as 
journeyman  in  some  of  the  largest 
shops  in  Sweden,  the  son  started 
in  business  for  himself,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  He  thought  there 
were  greater  opportunities  to  be 
found  in  America  and  in  1888 
emigrated  to  this  country,  settling 
in  Chicago.  After  a  struggle  of 
two  years  he  was  the  proud  pos- 
sessor of  a  finely  appointed  shoe 
store.  Later  on,  another  store 
was  established.  He  subsequently 
disposed  of  the  first,  and  so  owned 
one  of  the  finest  shoe  stores  on 
the  south  side,  at  1217  E.  75th 
st.  His  last  place  of  business  was 
at  6956  Jackson  Park  ave. 

Mr.  Axberg  belongs  to  the 
Court  of  Hercules,  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  the  Baltic 
Lodge  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  He 
was  married  Feb.  21,  1885  to 
Kmma  C.  Hanson,  born  Sept.  17, 
1862  in  Wiksnas,  Dalarne.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to 
viz.,  Elsa,  Catherine, 
Edith  Axelia,  born  Dec.  i, 
John  Edwin,  born  April  9, 
Elfvera  J.  C.,  born  June  22,  1898, 
and  Milton  G.  A.  born  Feb.  13, 
1906.  Mr.  Axberg  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  Swedish  Republican 
Club  in  the  34th  ward. 


den,  April  16,  1848.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  he  went  to  Germany, 
where  he  began  to  learn  survey- 


them, 
now   dead, 
1887, 
1892, 


GUSTAF  H.  CARLSON, 

perhaps  the  most  prominent  sur- 
veyor in  America  of  Swedish  de- 
scent, was  born  in  Malmo,  Swe- 


GUSTAF  H.  CARLSON 

ing.  Having  returned  to  Sweden 
in  1869,  he  departed  the  following 
year  for  America  where  he  settled 
in  Kansas,  remaining  there  until 
1873,  when  he  went  to  Chicago. 
From  1874  to  1877  ^e  was  en~ 
gaged  in  Hyde  Park,  surveying 
the  village  and  compiling  an 
official  atlas.  The  thoroughness 
and  exactness  of  this  work  brought 
him  at  once  into  such  prominence 
that  the  following  year  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination  was  tendered 
him  unsolicited.  Later  Mr.  Carl- 
son compiled  atlases  of  the  city 
of  Chicago,  the  city  of  Lake  View, 
and  the  town  of  Lake.  He  had 
previously  formed  a  partnership 
with  Samuel  S.  Greeley,  for 
the  publication  of  these  atlases, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Greeley, 
Carlson  &  Company.,  which  in 
1887  was  made  a  corporation, 


Chicago 


under  the  firm  name  of  the  Greeley- 
Carlson  Company.  For  ten  years 
more  Mr.  Carlson  continued  as 
manager  of  the  company,  and  all 
the  work,  including  the  planning 
of  town  sites,  subdivisions  and 
cemeteries,  was  done  under  his 
personal  supervision.  These  at- 
lases are  regarded  as  authorities, 
and  are  used  by  the  various  de- 
partments of  the  city  government 
of  Chicago,  and  in  the  offices  of 
attorneys  and  real  estate  men. 
The  towns  of  Hegewisch,  Pull- 
man, Normal  Park,  Auburn  Park, 
Chicago  Heights  and  Edgewater 
are  among  those  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Carlson.  He  is  frequently  con- 
sulted as  an  eminent  authority  in 
cases  of  disputed  boundaries  in 
the  city  of  Chicago,  or  where  a 
high  degree  of  accuracy  is  re- 
quired, as  in  the  location  of  the 
Leiter  Building,  the  Auditorium, 
and  other  down-town  buildings. 

In  1898  Mr.  Carlson  sold  his 
interest  in  the  Greeley-Carlson  Co., 
and  opened  an  office  of  his  own 
at  115  Dearborn  St.,  where  he  is 
still  located. 

Nov.  8,  1878,  Mr.  Carlson  was 
married  to  Miss  Julie  Vodoz,  from 
Vevey,  Switzerland,  and  they  have 
two  children,  one  son  and  one 
daughter. 

In  religion  Mr.  Carlson  is  a 
Christian  Scientist.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school, 
having,  however,  voted  for  McKin- 
ley  in  1896. 


He  attended  the  city's  public 
schools  and  later  graduated  from 
the  Evergreen  City  Business  Coll- 


CARL  A.  JOHNSON, 
a    native     of     Illinois,    was     born 
in    Bloomington,    Sept.    3,     1875. 


CARL  A.  JOHNSON 

ege.  For  several  years  he  was 
employed  in  the  offices  of  the 
Chicago  and  Alton  R.  R.  Co.,  in 
the  car  service  department.  He 
next  was  engaged  for  several  years 
with  various  electric  appliance 
firms  in  Chicago.  In  1893  he  was 
employed  at  the  World's  Fair. 
During  the  lull  in  business  which 
followed,  he  entered  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University  at  Blooming- 
ton,  where  he  completed  a  three 
years'  course.  During  the  sum- 
mer months  he  was  employed  in 
the  New  York  Dental  Parlors. 

In  the  fall  of  1896  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  Dental  College  of  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor  and  graduated  with  honors 
in  June,  1899,  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery. 

He  at  once  embarked  into  prac- 
tical dentistry  at  59th  and  Mor- 


112 


Cook  County 


gan  St.,  Chicago,  where  he  soon 
built  up  a  lucrative  practice. 

In  June,  1901,  Dr.  Johnson  went 
to  Europe,  where  he  spent  four 
months  in  study  and  travel.  He 
also  made  a  visit  to  his  ancestral 
land,  Sweden. 

Dr.  Johnson  now  has  his  offices 
at  59th  and  Halsted  sts. 


ANDERS  G.  LUND 

was  born  on  the  2oth  of  July,  1857, 
in  Vermland  province,  Sweden. 
He  obtained  a  technical  education 
from  a  private  tutor  and  in  the 
Tekniska  skolan  of  Stockholm. 


ANDERS    G.  LUNU 

He  came  to  Chicago  in  April,  1882. 
Since  1892  he  has  conducted  his 
own  architect's  office  at  602  W.  63d 
St.,  Chicago.  He  has  been  success- 
ful in  his  profession  and  owns  an 
apartment  building  at  6327-6329 
Parnell  ave.  He  recently  re- 
moved to  Palos  Park,  some  twenty 
miles  southwest  of  Chicago,  where 
he  has  a  comfortable  home.  He 


was  married  Sept.  16,  1890,  to  Ida 
Charlotte  L,undgren  from  Helsing- 
borg,  Sweden,  and  is  the  father  of 
three  children  —  two  girls  and  one 
boy. 


CARL  JOHAN  NELSON, 

Methodist  clergyman,  was  born  in 
Nattraby    parish,   Blekinge,    Swe- 


CARL  JOHAN  NELSON 

den,  July  24,  1866,  and  came  to 
America  in  1881.  He  was  educat- 
ed at  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Evanston,  and 
after  finishing  his  studies  there, 
he  became  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church. 
He  has  been  pastor  of  the  Swed- 
ish Methodist  Church  at  Pullman, 
Chicago,  since  September,  1900. 
Before  coming  to  Chicago  he  re- 
sided in  Worcester,  Mass.,  and 
Racine,  Wis. 

Mr.  'Nelson  was  married  Sept. 
3,  1891,  to  Miss  Susie  A.  Johnson 
of  Evanston,  and  has  three  child- 
ren. 


Chicago 


AUGUST  CHRISTENSON, 

who  is  perhaps  the  only  Swedish 
wholesale  clothing  dealer  in  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Ousby, 


AUGUST  CHRISTEXSON 

Skane,  Sweden,  April  5,  1864. 
He  attended  school  in  L,und  for 
four  years.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  came  to  America,  having 
made  the  long  journey  alone. 
Settling  in  Chicago,  he  learned 
the  cigarmaker's  trade,  but  left 
that  and  tried  the  occupation  of 
selling  books.  Being  successful, 
he  continued  in  that  line  for  three 
years.  Then  he  went  to  Denver 
and  established  a  book  store,  but 
the  climate  did  not  agree  with 
him  so  he  returned  to  Chicago 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  clothing,  having  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  B.  Whitney  and 
M.  S.  Bullock,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Whitney,  Christenson  & 


employing  ten  salesmen  and   over 
150  people   in   their  factory. 

Mr.   Christenson,  who  was  mar- 
ried in   1893,  has  an  only  son. 


CHARLES  ENGDAHL 

was  born  Oct.  23,  1874,  in  the 
city  of  Oskarshamn,  Sweden.  Af- 
ter completing  the  grades  of  the 
grammar  school  at  home  he  at- 
tended the  Oskarshamn  elementary, 
or  collegiate  school,  for  four  years. 
In  1893  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  lived  the  first  year  in 
Geneva,  111.  Mr.  Engdahl  then 
removed  to  Chicago,  and  became 
a  bookbinder.  In  Oct.,  1898,  he 
formed  together  with  Ernst  Holm- 
gren the  firm  of  Holmgren  and 
Engdahl,  their  bindery  being  at 
305  Orleans  st.  After  two  years 
they  moved  to  254-256  Orleans 


CHARLES  EXGDAHL 

st.     In   1907  the  growth    of    their 
business  compelled  them  to    move 


Bullock.     They  are  doing  business      to  their  present  extensive  quarters 
throughout    the      western     states,      at     14-28    Michigan    st.      At    the 


Cook  County 


same  time  the  firm  was  incor- 
porated as  the  Holmgren,  Engdahl 
and  Johnson  Co., Mr.  Engdahl  being 
chosen  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Mr.  Engdahl  is  a  steward  in 
the  First  Swedish  M.  E.  Church 
and  was  president  of  the  Epworth 
League  Society  of  this  church  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  di- 
rector of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Aid  Association  of  Chicago. 


JOHN  P.  SANDBERG 

one  of  the  leading  Swedish-Amer- 
ican   manufacturers    of     Chicago, 


JOHN  P.  SANDBERG 

was  born  in  Ysane,  Blekinge, 
Sweden,  Nov.  15,  1842,  and  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1867.  Com- 
ing directly  to  Chicago,  he  worked 
in  different  lines  until  he  joined 
his  brother  in  business,  becoming 
a  member  of  the  firm,  Sandberg 
&  Co.,  which  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  engravers'  woods. 
He  was  married  in  1878,  to  Miss 
Nellie  Johnson,  with  whom  he 


has  three  children,  one  son  and 
two  daughters.  In  local  politics 
Mr.  Sandberg  is  independent,  but 
in  national  matters  he  is  a  strong 
adherent  of  the  Grand  Old  Party. 


LUDWIG  WAHLQUIST 

was  born   Nov.    19,    1865,  in   Son- 
drum,   Halland,  Sweden.     He   ob- 


LUDWIG  WAHLQUIST 

tained  his  education  in  the  Swed- 
ish public  schools  and  later  he 
worked  as  a  miller  until  he  went 
to  the  United  States  in  1888.  His 
destination  was  Chicago,  where  he 
did  miscellaneous  work  for  several 
years.  In  1893  Mr.  Wahlquist  ob- 
tained a  situation  in  a  grill  factory 
where  he  continued  for  a  year. 
In  company  with  E.  Larson  he 
subsequently  established  the  Grand 
Union  Grill  Works.  The  business, 
at  first  small,  has  increased  stead- 
ily and  reached  respectable  dimen- 
sions. 

• 

Mr.    Wahlquist    is    married    to 
Alma     Christina      Johnson,      who 


Chicago 


was  born  in  Asige,  Halland.  They 
belong  to  the  Gethsemane  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Wahlquist 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Svithiod. 


ANDREW  M.  LUNDEEN 

was   born    December   13,   1862,  in 
Leksand,    Dalarne,    Sweden.     His 


ANDREW  M.  LUNDEEN 

parents,  E.  P.  and  Anna  Lundeen, 
are  both  natives  of  the  parish  of 
Leksand.  The  family  left  the  old 
homestead  and  arrived  in  this 
country  Sept.  15,  1871,  settling  in 
Lockport,  111.,  where  they  still  live. 
Andrew  is  the  second  oldest  of 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Lockport  and  later 
was  employed  by  the  Chicago  and 
Alton  R.  R.  Co.  Since  1889,  Mr. 
Lundeen  has  been  operating  in 
Chicago  in  real  estate  and  lands. 
At  present  he  is  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  farm  lands  in  Alberta, 
Saskatchewan  and  Manitoba,  Can- 


ada, and  in  the  western  states, 
doing  a  general  farm  land  busi- 
ness. His  office  is  at  the  Union 
Stock  Yards. 

Mr.  Lundeen  is  a  Republican 
and  belongs  to  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


CHARLES  F.  SWANSON 

was  born  in  Gallaryd,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  July  12,  1864.  After 
attending  the  public  school  in  his 
native  village  he  emigrated  in  1881 
to  the  United  States.  For  the  last 
sixteen  years  Mr.  Swanson  has 
conducted  a  grocery  and  a  meat 
market,  located  at  352-354  E.  Di- 
vision st. 

Mr.  Swanson  is  married  to  Annie 
Peterson  from  Motala,  Sweden. 
They  have  two  children,  Charles 


CHARLES  F.  SWANSON 

Raymond  and  Laura  Amelia.  The 
members  of  the  family  belong  to 
Moody 's  Church. 


n6 


Cook  County 


CHARLES  W.   LUNDBLAD 

was  born  in  the  island  of  Got- 
land, Sweden,  July  27,  1844.  He 
was  brought  to  this  country  as  a 


CHARLES  W.  LUNDBLAD 

child  by  his  parents  who  came  over 
in  1848,  being  among  the  very  ear- 
liest Swedish  settlers.  The  f amity 
first  settled  in  Quincy,  111.,  living 
there  for  two  years.  His  father 
succumbing  to  the  cholera,  his 
mother  with  the  two  sons,  removed 
to  Chicago  in  1850.  Here  Charles 
obtained  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, attending  the  Franklin 
School. 

For  more  than  forty  years  he  has 
been  employed  by  the  Chicago  and 
Northwestern  R.  R.,  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  in  the  capacity  of 
locomotive  engineer.  In  1893  Mr. 
Lundblad  lowered  the  time  record 
on  the  Chicago-Milwaukee  run  from 
two  and  a  quarter  hours  to  two 
hours.  Mr.  Lundblad  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brotherhood  of  Loco- 
motive Engineers. 


ERNEST  w.  LINDEEN 

was  born  July  5,  1861,  in  Jems- 
hog  parish,  Blekinge,  Sweden.  His 
parents  were  Swan  P.  and  Johanna 
Lindeen.  Mr.  Lindeen,  Sr.,  was  a 
tailor,  who  in  1868  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  America  and  died  in 
Chicago  in  1882.  Ernest  obtained 
his  early  education  in  the  Chicago 
public  schools.  He  subsequently 
worked  in  meat  markets,  learning 
the  ins  and  outs  of  the  business, 
and  in  1877  opened  his  own  store. 
By  Mayor  Swift  Mr.  Lindeen  was 
appointed  meat  inspector  in  the 
city  of  Chicago  and  served  for 
two  and  a  half  years.  He  is  now 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Leengran  & 
Lindeen,  who  conduct  meat  mar- 
kets at  195  Sedgwick  st.  and  152 
Townsend  st. 


ERNEST  W.  LINDEEN 

In  1886  Mr.  Lindeen  was  mar- 
ried to  Hannah  C.  Nelson,  in  Chi- 
cago. Mrs.  Lindeen  was  born 
June  13,  1860,  at  Hogsby,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  her  parents  being 


Chicago 


117 


John  and  Gustava  Nelson.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lindeen,  namely,  Arthur 
W.,  born  July  8,  1888,  died  Oct. 
7,  1903;  Raymond  E.,  born  March 
6,  1890;  Evelyn  M.,  born  Jan.  27, 
1892.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindeen  be- 
long to  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  They  have  both 
taught  classes  in  the  Sunday  school 
for  many  years. 


JOHN   BRUNNER 

was  born  near  Warberg,  Sweden. 
He    graduated   from    the  civil  en- 


JOHN  BRUNNER 

gineering  course  of  the  Royal  In- 
stitute of  Technology  at  Stockholm 
in  1887.  In  Sweden  he  served 
in  the  engineering  corps  of  the 
state  railway  construction  depart- 
ment 1887-88,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  latter  year.  Here  he 
was  engaged  as  assistant  engineer 
in  the  bridge  department  of 
the  Boston  and  Maine  Railway 
3-90;  chief  engineer  of  the  Mt. 


Veruon  Bridge  Co.  of  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio,  1890-95;  assistant  chief  en- 
gineer of  the  structural  depart- 
ment of  the  Carnegie  Steel  Co., 
Pittsburg,  Pa., 1 895-96;  city  bridge 
engineer  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  1896- 
99;  city  engineer  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
1899-1902.  He  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  North  Works  of  the 
Illinois  Steel  Co.  since  1902. 

Mr.  Brunner  is  a  member  of  the 
following  societies  and  clubs:  the 
American  Society  of  Civil  Engin- 
eers, New  York;  the  American 
Society  for  Testing  Materials, 
Philadelphia;  the  International  As- 
sociation for  Testing  Materials; 
the  American  Railway  Engineer- 
ing and  Maintenance  of  Way  As- 
sociation, Chicago;  the  Western 
Society  of  Engineers,  Chicago;  the 
Scandinavian  Technical  Society, 
Chicago;  the  Union  League  Club, 
Chicago;  the  Chicago  Engineers' 
Club,  Chicago;  the  Evanston  Club, 
Evanston.  He  is  also  a  Free  Ma- 
son and  Knight  Templar. 

In  1892  he  married  Miss  Cora 
A.  I.  'Mitchell  of  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio,  who  is  American  born  of 
English-Scotch  descent.  They 
have  no  children.  They  live  at 
Evanston,  111. 


WALDEMAR  WERNER 

WICHE 

was  born  May  20,  1875,  in  Stock- 
holm, where  his  father,  Fredrick 
Wiche,  was  a  merchant.  His 
mother,  who  died  in  1887,  was 
Fredrique  Ebert.  The  son  was 
educated  at  the  academic  school 
of  Ladugardslandet  and  the  col- 


n8 


Cook  County 


legiate  school  of  Ostermalm,  in 
his  native  city.  \  In  the  three  suc- 
cessive years  spent  at  the  latter 


WALDEMAR  WERNER  WICHE 

institution  he  took  the  highest 
standing,  also  capturing  several 
prizes  for  scholarship. 

In  1889  Mr.  Wiche  with  his 
son  left  for  the  United  States, 
locating  in  Chicago.  Here  the 
latter  immediately  secured  employ- 
ment in  the  printing  trade,  work- 
ing for  Magnus  A.  Hess,  as  ap- 
prentice, for  the  Schubel  Printing 
Co.  and  the  Regan  Printing  Co., 
until  1896,  for  Donahue  and  Hen- 
neberry,  as  a  job  printer,  and  for 
Baker- Vawter  Co.,  as  job  compos- 
itor, a  year  at  each  place.*  In  1898 
he  started  a  printing  shop  at  392 
E.  North  ave.,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Behrend  &  Wiche.  Two  years 
later  the  partnership  was  dissolved 
and  Mr.  Wiche  became  sole  owner 
of  the  business,  which  he  continues 
at  the  same  address. 

Mr.  Wiche  is  a  member  of  the 


Unity  Council  No.  73,  Royal 
League,  also  of  Lessing  Lodge 
No.  174,  Order  of  Mutual  Pro- 
tection. He  was  confirmed  at  the 
Trinity  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Lake  View. 


KMANUEL  SCHMIDT 

was  born  in  Hudiksvall,  Sweden, 
April  28,  1868.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Hudiksvall  Gymnasium, 
where  he  studied  from  1879  to  1886. 
He  came  to  America  in  the  latter 
year  and  in  1888  entered  Colgate 
Academy,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1890.  He  then  entered  Colgate 
University,  where  he  graduated 
with  honors  in  1894,  receiving  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He 


EMANUEL  SCHMIDT 

next  took  a  divinity  course  at  the 
Hamilton  Theological  Seminary. 
In  1896  he  entered  the  University 
of  Chicago,  where  he  took  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in 
in  1898,  and  that  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy  in  1902. 


Chicago 


119 


As  a  student  Schmidt  took  high 
rank.  At  the  Colgate  Universit)7 
he  was  awarded  the  second  Dodge 
Entrance  Prize,  the  Sophomore 
Latin  Prize,  the  Junior  Greek 
Prize  and  the  Osborn  Mathematics 
Prize.  At  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago he  held  the  fellowship  in 
Semitic  languages  for  two  years. 
His  scholarly  attainments  are 
further  exemplified  in  the  following 
published  works:  "The  Temple  of 
Solomon  in  the  Light  of  Other 
Oriental  Temples"  (his  doctor's 
thesis);  "Svenska  Baptister  pa 
lyoo-talet",  and  "Guds  och  man- 
niskans  andel  i  varldens  evangel- 
isering." 

Dr.  Schmidt  belongs  to  the  Greek 
fraternities,  Alpha  Phi,  Beta  Theta 
Pi,  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa. 

Dr.  Schmidt  was  for  a  time 
editor  of  Hemmets  Van,  a  literary 
monthly.  In  1905  he  accepted  the 
presidency  of  Adelphia  College,  a 
Baptist  institution  just  founded 
in  Seattle,  Wash.,  which  office  he 
still  holds. 


partment  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  railway.  In  1882  he  became 
a  compositor  and  started  in  the 


JOHN  WILLIAM  BELMONT 

was  born  Dec.  14,  1863,  in  Jon- 
koping,  Sweden.  His  parents  are 
Fredrick  Gustav  and  Hedvig  Bel- 
mont.  The  family  emigrated  in 
1867,  coming  to  Chicago  and 
locating  on  the  north  side,  Lake 
View  being  their  home  since  1882. 
John  attended  the  public  schools, 
also  a  Swedish  and  a  German  school, 
ending  by  taking  a  course  at  the 
Chicago  Athenaeum.  He  then 
obtained  a  situation  with  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Co.  and 
later  worked  in  the  freight  de- 


JOHN  WILLIAM  BELMONT 

printing  business  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Belmont,  Waddell  & 
Co.,  at  Clark  and  Monroe  sts.  In 
the  latter  part  of  that  year  he  sold 
his  interest  and  began  work  in  the 
Chicago  Times  office.  Subsequent- 
ly he  worked  for  some  time  in 
the  Union  Type  Foundry.  In 
1885  he  accepted  a  situation  with 
the  abstract  firm  of  Haddock, 
Vallette  and  Rickcords,  remaining 
with  them  for  several  years.  "In 
1893  he  was  appointed  bailiff  by 
Sheriff  Gilbert  and  two  years  later 
Sheriff  Pease  appointed  him  grand 
jury  clerk.  This  post  was  filled 
by  Mr.  Belmont  for  three  years 
whereupon  he  was  appointed  dep- 
uty circuit  court  clerk.  He  retained 
this  position  until  November, 
1902,  when  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner.  On  Jan.  n,  1905, 
he  was  appointed  Cook  County 


120 


Cook  County 


Agent.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
memorable  state  convention  at 
Springfield  in  1904  which  was 
in  session  for  two  weeks. 

Mr.  Belmont  was  married  May 
17,  1899,  to  Miss  Katherine  Aiken 
of  Chicago.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  William  and  Margaret  Roden 
Aiken,  and  was  born  April  20, 
1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belmont  have 
a  daughter,  Ruth  Wilhelmina, 
born  March  9,  1900.  The  family 
resides  at  Sn  Clifton  ave.  Mr. 
Belmont  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 


NELS  M.  LORENTZ 

was  born  April   29,    1859,  in  Gull- 
arp,  Ousby   parish,    Skane,    Swe- 


NELS  M.  LORENTZ 

den.  He  enjoyed  no  schooling  in 
childhood.  On  Aug.  9,  1875,  he 
set  out  for  Segeberg,  Schleswig- 
Holstein,  Germany,  and  became  a 
journeyman  in  the  art  of  carving 
ornaments  from  marble  and  ala- 
baster. After  three  and  one-half 


years  he  moved  with  his  employer 
to  Copenhagen.  There  he  worked 
two  and  one-half  years  more  with 
the  same  employer  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  business  for  himself. 
The  raw  alabaster  was  difficult 
to  obtain.  He  therefore  made 
trips  to  Hamburg,  Germany,  and 
to  the  island  of  Gotland,  Swe- 
den, looking  up  new  sources  of 
supply  of  alabaster  and  marble. 
He  fashioned  clock  cases,  jewel 
cases,  vases,  and  many  other  kinds 
of  ornamental  goods  and  bric-a- 
brac.  After  six  months  the  busi- 
ness had  increased  so  as  to  require 
several  workmen.  But  Mr.  L,or- 
entz,  not  being  a  Danish  citizen, 
was  restricted  by  the  Danish  labor 
laws  from  employing  workmen. 
If  he  became  a  Danish  citizen  he 
would  have  to  join  the  army. 
He  therefore  sold  his  business  in 
1882  and  went  to  Chicago.  He 
soon  after  obtained  work  in  a 
lumber  yard.  His  knowledge  of 
German  and  Swedish  was  of  great 
advantage  and  helped  him  to  se- 
cure his  next  situation,  one  in  a 
jelly  and  preserve  manufactory. 
His  next  step  was  to  work  in  a 
manufacturing  tailor's  shop  where 
he  remained  four  years  and  four 
months.  For  a  period  he  worked 
for  Butler  Bros.,  on  Adams  St. 
On  June  19,  1888,  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  a  general  merchan- 
dise store  at  67  E.  Chicago  Ave., 
the  firm  being  styled  Johnson  and 
L,orentz.  Two  years  thereafter  he 
bought  his  partner's  interest  and 
conducted  the  store  until  the  spring 
of  1907. 

In    June,     1907,     Mr.     Lorentz, 


Chicago 


121 


together  with  Mr.  Davis,  purchased 
the  manufacturing  tailor's  business 
in  which  they  both  had  formerly 
been  employed.  This  enterprise 
was  carried  on  at  18  Wendell  st. 
under  the  name  of  Davis  &  Lorentz 
until  1907,  when  Mr.  Lorentz  re- 
tired from  business. 

Mr.  Lorentz  was  married  in 
Nov.,  1895,  to  Hulda  Olson,  born 
April  28,  1875,  in  Karlstad,  Verm- 
land,  Sweden.  They  have  a  son 
ten  years  old  and  a  daughter 
seven  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lorentz  reside  at  2468  Wayne  ave., 
Edgewater. 


was  born  at  Granby,    Kumla  par- 
ish, Orebro  Ian,  Sweden,   May    3, 


ERIK  ANDERSON 

1864.  When  he  was  four  years 
old  his  mother  died,  and  his 
father  moved  to  another  province, 
leaving  his  son  to  be  brought  up 
by  his  uncle  on  the  Vesta  estate, 
where  he  remained  until  1882 


when,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
he  emigrated  to  America.  Loca- 
ting in  Chicago,  he  learned  the 
tailor's  trade,  and  after  seven 
years  started  in  his  own  business. 
He  has  specialized  in  the  manu- 
facture of  custom  trousers,  doing 
an  extensive  business  in  that  line 
at  137  Gault  court. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church,  and 
has  served  as  trustee  of  his  con- 
gregation for  over  twelve  years. 
He  has  also  been  Sunday  school 
superintendent  for  a  number  of 
years. 

In  1889  Mr.  Anderson  married 
Miss  Matilda  Svenson.  The  couple 
have  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom,  Esther  Elvira  and  Paul 
Leonard,  are  still  living. 


FRED  MALCOLM  JOHNSON 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Ev.  Luth. 
Mission  Church  at  Orleans  and 
Whiting  sts.,  was  born  July  27, 
1857,  at  Nyebro,  Eksjo,  Smaland. 
His  parents  were  John  G.  John- 
son and  Martha  C.  Stark. 

His  early  training  was  obtained 
in  the  public  school  in  Eksjo.  He 
came  to  this  country  July  i,  1875, 
and  lived  at  North  Warren, 
Chandlers  Valley,  Sheffield  and 
Tidioute,  Pa.,  until  1877,  when  he 
became  a  divinity  student  at  Ans- 
garius  College,  Knoxville,  111., 
continuing  his  studies  for  the 
ministry  until  1879.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  ordained  Oct.  7,  1884,  at 
Jamestown,  N.Y.,  and  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  Tabernacle  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church  in  Chicago 
the  1 5th  of  the  same  month.  He 


122 


Cook  County 


held  this  pastorate'until  April  15, 
1887,  when  he  left  to  assume 
charge  of  the  Swedish  Mission 


FRED  MALCOLM  JOHNSON 

Church  in  Rockford,  111.  Here 
he  labored  for  over  ten  years.  On 
Dec.  17,  1897,  ne  became  pastor 
of  Bethany  Mission  Church,  Gar- 
field  boulevard  and  Fifth  ave., 
Chicago.  This  charge  he  resigned 
Oct.  17,  1902.  Rev.  Johnson  was 
received  as  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Ev.  lyUth.  Mission  Church  on  Or- 
leans and  Whiting  sts.  January  i, 
1904.  This  is  the  mother  church 
of  the  Mission  Friends  in  Chicago 
and  the  United  States  and  is  pop- 
ularly called  the  North  church, 
being  located  on  the  north  side. 
It  had  525  members  in  1905  and 
the  building  and  its  property  is 
valued  at  $30,000.  The  parson- 
age, worth  $5,000,  is  at  10  Whiting 

St. 

Rev.  Johnson  has  traveled  as 
itinerant  preacher  and  evangelist 
not  only  in  this  country  but  in 


Sweden,  where  he  labored  in  1882 
and  in  the  summer  of  1886. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  devotional 
work  on  the  23d  Psalm  of  David 
and  has  written  numerous  articles 
for  Swedish  religious  papers. 

On  Jan.  10,  1887,  Rev.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  married  to  Emelia 
Maria  Nelson  of  Chicago.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Per  Adolf  and  Gus- 
tava  Nelson  and  was  born  May 
1 6,  1858.  They  have  four  child- 
ren: Hildur  Paulina,  born  June 
8,  1888;  Emelia  Natalia,  born  June 
1 6,  1890;  Fred  Malcolm,  born  May 
25,  1892,  and  Martha  Elvira,  born 
Sept.  24,  1895.  Mr.  Johnson,  Sr. , 
died  in  Rockford,  April  15,  1897. 
Mrs.  Johnson,  Sr.,  died  in  Chicago 
Oct.  18,  1905.  Rev.  Johnson's  two 
brothers,  A.  W.  and  G.  K.  Stark, 
are  ministers  in  the  Augustana 
Synod. 

ERNEST  BIHL, 

was  born  in  Vermland,  Sweden, 
near  the  city  of  Karlstad,  at  a  place 
named  Gunnerud,  March  i,  1860. 
By  unavoidable  circumstances  and 
the  financial  reverses  of  his  father, 
he  was  compelled  to  earn  his  own 
living  at  a  very  early  age.  After 
completing  his  course  in  the  com- 
mon school  he  entered  as  an 
apprentice  in  the  Karlstad  Mechan- 
ical Works,  where  he  worked  un- 
til emigrating  in  the  spring  of  1879. 
He  came  to  this  country  without 
a  single  acquaintance  or  relative, 
and  stopped  in  northern  Michigan, 
where  he  worked  for  a  few  months 
in  the  lumber  camps.  Realizing 
what  a  disadvantage  it  was  to  be 
unfamiliar  with  the  English  tongue, 


Chicago 


123 


he  quit  his  work  and  went  to 
school  to  acquire  the  language. 
After  a  year's  stay  in  Michigan, 


ERXEST   BIHL 

he  went  to  Chicago,  securing  em- 
ployment in  the  South  Chicago 
Steel  Works,  where  he  continued 
until  1883.  With  the  few  savings 
of  those  years  of  hard  labor,  he 
went  to  western  Nebraska,  then  a 
wilderness,  bought  land,  and  start- 
ed in  as  a  farmer  and  stockman, 
meeting  with  a  fair  success.  He 
lived  in  Nebraska  until  1890,  the 
latter  part  of  that  year  acting  as 
land  agent  for  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  Companj-.  Thereupon 
he  returned  to  Chicago,  continuing 
his  agency  for  the  railroad  company 
and  at  the  same  time  engaging  in 
a  general  real  estate  business  in 
this  city.  He  still  makes  this  his 
business,  and  has  his  office  in  the 
pretty  suburb  of  West  Pullman. 
In  1898  he  was  elected  township 
tax  collector  for  the  town  of 
Calumet  and  was  reelected  in 


1899.  In  the  spring  of  1902  he 
was  elected  to  represent  the  33d 
ward  in  the  Chicago  city  council. 
He  was  in  1 904  and  again  in  1 906 
reelected  to  the  same  office.  Mr. 
Bihl  is  married  and  has  five  child- 
ren. 

ANDREW  G.  JOHNSON 
was  born  in  1849,  at  Orebro,  Swe- 
den. He  came  to  this  country  and 
to  Chicago  in  1871.  Having  a 
taste  for  business,  he  entered  the 
Bryant  and  Stratton  Business  Coll- 
ege. His  course  completed,  he 
embarked  in  the  coal  business, 
meeting  with  a  degree  of  success 
that  years  ago  enabled  him  to  re- 
tire from  active  business. 

Mr.  Johnson's  interests  seem  re- 
stricted   to     his    own    home    and 


ANDREW   G.  JOHNSON 

immediate  surroundings,  he  having 
affiliated  with  no  church,  no  frater- 
nal societies  nor  other  organiza- 
tions. He  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Carrie  Arend  on  March 
25,  1891. 


124 


Cook  County 


WILLIAM  A.  PETERSON 

was  born  in  Smaland,  Sweden, 
Feb.  23,  1867.  The  following  year 
the  family  emigrated  to  the  United 


WILLIAM  AUGUST  PETERSON 

States  and  settled  first  at  Swede 
Bend,  shortly  afterward  locating 
in  Lost  Grove  township,  Webster 
co.,  la.  After  one  year's  study 
at  the  Ames  High  School,  young 
Peterson  entered  Iowa  State  Coll- 
ege at  Ames,  graduating  in  1887 
with  the  degree  of  B.S.  He  also 
attended  Augustana  and  Bethany 
colleges,  for  brief  periods.  For  five 
years  Mr.  Peterson  was  principal 
of  schools  in  various  towns. 

In  1894  he  entered  the  medical 
department  of  Iowa  State  Univer- 
sity. After  two  years  of  study 
he  matriculated  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  the 
University  of  Illinois,  where  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  was  conferred 
upon  him  in  1897.  Since  then  Dr. 
Peterson  has  practiced  his  profes- 
sion with  offices  at  3ist  street  and 


Wentworth  ave.,  and  in  the  Reli- 
ance Building,  100  State  st.  He 
specializes  in  diseases  of  the  eye, 
ear,  nose  and  throat.  Dr.  Peterson 
is  Medical  Director  of  the  Scandia 
Life  Insurance  Co.  and  a  member 
of  the  medical  staff  of  the  Engle- 
wood  Hospital  and  of  the  People's 
Hospital.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and 
the  Cook  County  Medical  Society. 
He  is  on  the  rolls  of  the  Iduna 
Lodge,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Modern  Woodmen,  I.  O.  V.  and 
the  Wasa  Society.  Dr.  Peterson 
was  married  June  20,  1899,  and  is 
the  father  of  two  children.  He  is 
a  member  of  Salem  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church. 


JOHN  A.   NYE 

was  born  at  Rosa,    Skede    parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Sept.   27,  1855. 


JOHN  A.  NYE 

He  came  to  the  United  States 
with  his  parents  in  1867.  The 
party  landed  on  July  16,  1867, 


Chicago 


125 


and  pushed  on  to  their  destination, 
the  pioneer  Swedish  settlement 
at  Andover,  Illinois.  His  father 
is  John  Nye,  a  retired  farmer  at 
Cambridge,  111.,  and  his  mother  is 
Eva  Danielson  Nye.  Mr.  Nye 
lived  for  a  time  in  Sherman 
county,  Kansas,  where  he  served 
as  county  treasurer.  He  is  now 
general  agent  of  the  Union  Pacific 
R.  R.  land  department,  with  office 
in  the  Marquette  Building.  Mr. 
Nye  has  been  with  the  Union  Pa- 
cific R.  R.  for  twenty- one  years. 
He  has  been  president  of  the 
largest  Republican  precinct  club  in 
Chicago  and  belongs  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Nye  is  married  to  Orpah 
Morley,  daughter  of  William  and 
Emelia  Morley.  Their  children 
are  John  W.,  Edith  E.  and  Har- 
old O.  Nye.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

HERMAN  G.  NORDBERG, 

president  of  the  Swedish  Singers' 
Union  of  Chicago,  was  born  in 
Ystad,  Sweden,  Jan.  31,  1866. 
His  father,  Wilhelm  Nordberg,  a 
restaurateur,  died  at  Ystad  in  1883. 
His  mother,  Maria  Christina  Sven- 
son,  is  still  living. 

Herman  attended  the  public 
school,  high  school  and  business 
college.  After  leaving  school  he 
was  a  blacksmith  for  five  years. 
In  1886  he  left  Sweden  for  this 
country,  settling  in  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  where  he  secured  work  in 
a  furniture  factory.  After  two 
years  he  went  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
and  shortlv  afterwards  to  Kansas 


City,  Mo.  Since  Sept.,  1889,  Mr. 
Nordberg  has  been  a  resident  of 
Chicago  with  the  exception  of 


HERMAN  G.  NORDBERG 

six  months  spent    in    Rockford. 

Mr.  Nordberg  worked  for  six 
years  in  furniture  factories  and 
was  for  three  years  foreman  in 
H.  Z.  Mallen's  furniture  factory 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Nordberg  then 
obtained  a  position  in  dry  goods 
department  of  Marshall  Field  & 
Go's  wholesale  house  and  remained 
there  four  }^ears.  During  the  sub- 
sequent ten  years  he  has  been 
bookkeeper  for  Nilsson  Brothers, 
plumbers,  1463  Belmont  ave. 

Mr.  Nordberg  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club;  King  Oscar 
Masonic  Lodge;  First  Swedish 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Monitor  Coun- 
cil, Royal  Arcanum,  being  secre- 
tary for  three  3^ears.  Since  the 
organization  of  the  American  Un- 
ion of  Swedish  Singers  in  Nov., 
1892,  he  has  been  a  prominent 
member  of  that  bodv.  As  a  dele- 


126 


Cook   County 


gate  of  the  Lyran  male  chorus  he 
has  attended  all  the  conventions 
and  singing  festivals  of  the  West- 
ern division  and  of  the  united 
choruses  of  America.  Mr.  Nord- 
berg  was  chosen  festival  secretary 
at  the  Jamestown  convention  in 
1901  and  served  until  the  Chicago 
festival  in  1905.  He  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Chicago  contin- 
gent of  the  choruses  in  1901  and  re- 
tained the  office  for  six  years. 
In  January,  1907,  Mr.  Nordberg 
was  elected  president  of  the  Swed- 
ish Singers'  Union  of  Chicago, 
which  was  in  1906  incorporated 
as  a  distinct  body. 

Mr.  Nordberg  is  married  to 
Esther  V.  Holmquist,  born  Oct. 
22,  1871.  The  date  of  marriage 
was  Nov.  18,  1903.  A  son,  Her- 
man Gerald,  was  born  in  1905. 


CARL  A.  EVALD, 

pastor  of  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  was  born  at 
Helleby,  Nerikes  Kil,  Orebro  Ian, 
Sweden,  May  25,  1849.  His  par- 
ents were  Anders  Andersson  and 
Christina  Sjoqvist,  farmer  folk, 
who  later  removed  to  Wretaberg, 
in  Grodinge  parish,  near  Stock- 
holm, where  his  mother  died  in 
1878  and  his  father  in  1887.  After 
attending  parochial  school,  the  son 
was  placed  under  a  private  tutor 
and  when  ten  years  old  entered 
the  Carolinian  collegiate  school  in 
Orebro.  During  the  seven  and 
one-half  years  spent  there,  he 
served  as  tutor  in  well-to-do  fam- 
ilies and  also  pursued  private  stud- 
ies with  the  view  of  fitting  him- 
self for  the  ministry.  During  the 


last  years  at  the  institution  he  en- 
joyed the  Thysselius  scholarship. 
At  the  early  age  of  nineteen  years 
Mr.  Evald  began  to  preach,  and 
in  1871  accompanied  Per  A.  Ahl- 
berg,  the  well  known  evangelist, 
on  an  extensive  missionary  tour 
through  Smaland.  During  this  trip 
his  thought  of  entering  the  min- 
istry ripened  into  a  fixed  purpose. 
In  the  fall  of  1871  young  Evald 
emigrated  to  America,  immediately 
entering  the  Augustana  Theolog- 


CARL  A.  EVALD 

ical  Seminary  at  Paxton,  111.  Com- 
pleting his  course  the  following 
year,  he  was  ordained  a  Lutheran 
pastor  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  at  Gales- 
burg,  Sept.  29,  1872.  At  this 
time  the  institution  had  no  col- 
legiate courses,  devoting  itself  ex- 
clusively to  the  education  of  min- 
isters. Many  years  later,  however, 
Mr.  Evald  completed  the  collegiate 
course  at  the  same  institution. 
His  first  call  was  to  the  Aug- 


Chicago 


127 


ustana  Church  in  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  serving  that  congregation 
until  1875,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Immanuel  Church  of 
Chicago,  whose  pastor  he  has  been 
been  from  April  4  of  that  year  up 
to  the  present  time.  It  is  a  pecu- 
liar fact  that  the  Immanuel  Church 
has,  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion in  1853,  had  but  two  pastors, 
viz.,  the  venerable  Dr.  Erland 
Carlsson  and  his  son-in-law,  the 
present  pastor. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Evald  has  been 
secretary  of  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference; secretary,  vice-president 
and  president  of  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference; member  and  secretary  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  August- 
ana  Hospital  in  Chicago  for  the 
last  twenty  years,  serving  contin- 
uously on  its  executive  committee 
and  almost  without  interruption 
as  its  secretary;  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Chicago 
Lutheran  Seminary  since  many 
years  back;  member  of  the  board 
of  managers  of  the  Chicago  Bible 
Society  for  a  long  term  of  years; 
at  various  times  president  of  his 
mission  district  and  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Pastoral  Association  of 
Chicago;  also  vice-president  and 
member  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee of  the  Lutheran  Ministers' 
Association  of  Chicago,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Chicago  Lutheran 
Jewish  Mission. 

Dr.  Evald — the  title  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  years  ago — has  contributed 
largely  to  a  number  of  church 
publications,  besides  having  edited 
several  publications.  For  a  num- 


ber of  years  editor  of  Ndd  och 
Sanning,  he  continued  as  associate 
editor  when  that  publication  was 
merged  with  Fosterlandet;  he  also 
edited  Barnviznnen,  a  religious 
paper  for  children,  is  a  contrib- 
utor to  Tidskrift  for  Teologi  och 
Kyrkliga  Frdgor,  Augustana,  Ung- 
doms-  Vdnnen  and  Korsbaneret ',  be- 
sides editing  his  local  church  pa- 
per, Forsamlings-  Vdnnen. 

Dr.  Evald  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  foremost  pulpit  orator 
in  the  Augustana  Synod.  His 
sermons,  carefully  prepared  and 
finely  delivered,  are  models  of  re- 
ligious eloquence.  He  is  also  an 
able  lecturer  in  two  languages, 
having  often  appeared  on  the  lec- 
ture platform  in  Chicago  and  else- 
where. 

Dr.  Evald  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, Oct.  4,  1876,  to  Miss  Annie 
Fredrique  Carlsson,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Erland  Carlson  and  his  wife, 
Eva  Charlotta  Andersson,  born  in 
Chicago  April  n,  1856.  She  died 
Nov.  27,  1880,  in  Stockholm; 
May  24,  1883,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  her  sister,  Emmy 
Christine  Carlsson,  born  in  Gene- 
va, 111.,  Sept.  18,  1857.  In  the 
second  marriage  there  are  two 
daughters,  Annie  Fidelia  Christ- 
ine, born  March  13,  1884,  and 
Frances  Lillian  Charlotta,  born 
Dec.  2,  1885.  The  eldest  daughter 
is  the  wife  of  Conrad  Emanuel 
Hoffsten,  pastor  of  the  Harlem 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  New 
York  City. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Evald  reside  at  218 
Sedgwick  st.,  in  the  parsonage  of 
the  Immanuel  Church. 


128 


Cook  County 


FRANK  A.   ROSE, 
a  leading  Swedish  merchant  tailor, 
was  born  Sept.  19,  1864,  at  Tranas, 
Sweden.      He    emigrated    to    this 


FRANK  A.  ROSE 

country  in  1880,  arriving  May  15. 
He  lived  for  a  time  in  New  York 
and  later  in  Galesburg,  111.  From 
the  latter  place  he  removed  to  Chi- 
cago. 

Here  he  conducts  a  merchant  tai- 
loring business  on  a  large  scale,  his 
establishment  being  in  the  Railway 
Exchange  Building,  corner  of 
Jackson  and  Michigan  boulevards. 

The  home  of  the  Rose  family 
is  a  handsome  residence  at  2857 
Kenmore  ave.,  Edgewater. 

Mr.  Rose  is  a  member  of  the 
Marquette  Club,  the  New  Illinois 
Athletic  Club,  the  Edgewater 
Country  Chicago  Association  of 
Commerce,  and  is  a  32d  degree 
Mason . 


grated  to  America  in  May,  1891, 
and  located  in  Chicago.  Having 
pursued  the  building  trade  for 
about  two  years,  he  abandoned 
that  occupation  and  engaged  in  the 
real  estate,  fire  insurance  and  loan 
business,  with  office  at  159  L,a 
Salle  st.  He  is  a  director  of  Svea 
Building  and  L,oan  Association. 

He  is  the  originator  of  and  is 
a  director  of  Washington  Park 
Hospital  and  vice-president  of 
the  National  Mercantile  Co.  The 
Republican  party  has  in  him  a 
strong  adherent  and  active  worker. 

On  March  3,  1900,  Mr.  Swan- 
son  was  married  to  Hilda  S.  Peter- 
son, born  in  Elmeboda,  Smaland, 


FRANK  A.  SWANSON 

was  born  Feb.  7,  1866,  in  Almunds- 
ryd,  Smaland,  Sweden.     He   emi- 


FRANK  A.  SWANSON 

Sweden.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Esther  Hildegard,  born  April  25, 
1903.  The  family  resides  at  7100 
Drexel  avenue,  and  belongs  to  the 
Gustaf  Adolf  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  whose  council  Mr.  Swan- 
son  is  a  member. 


Chicago 


129 


FRITZ  SCHOULTZ, 

proprietor  of  the  largest  house  in 
Chicago  for  the  manufacture  of 
theatrical  costumes,  was  born  of 


FRITZ  SCHOULTZ 

Swedish- German  parentage  in  Co- 
penhagen Dec.  2,  1856.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  came  to  the 
United  States.  After  obtaining  his 
schooling  in  Stockholm,  where  he 
was  raised,  Mr.  Schoultz  worked 
at  the  typographer' s  trade  in  various 
Swedish  printing  offices  in  this 
country,  including  those  of  Eng- 
berg  and  Holmberg,  Scandia, 
in  Moline,  111.,  and  Svenska  Hdr- 
olden,  published  in  Salina,  Kansas, 
about  1880.  He  was  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  traveling  agent  for 
Swedish  newspapers,  such  as  Fol- 
kets  Rost,  of  Omaha,  and  Svenska 
Tribunen  and  Svenska  Amerikana- 
ren  of  Chicago. 

After  marriage  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  costumer,  his  wife 
being  the  proprietress  of  a  small 
shop,  furnishing  amateur  stage 


and  masquerade  costumes.  By 
combined  effort  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schoultz  rapidly  increased  the 
business,  which  is  now  one  of  the 
leading  establishments  of  its  kind, 
capable  of  furnishing  the  costumes 
for  the  most  elaborate  productions 
put  on  the  stage.  Mr.  Schoultz 
has  invested  part  of  the  earnings 
of  the  atelier  in  a  palatial  apart- 
ment house  on  Sheridan  Road,  in 
a  fine  residence  district. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoultz  both 
had  training  for  the  stage.  Mrs. 
Schoultz,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Emilia  Veth,  was  born  in  Mil- 
waukee of  German  parents.  She 
was  for  several  years,  a  member 
of  the  German  Stock  Company  of 
actors  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Schoultz, 
while  living  in  Stockholm,  ob- 
tained dramatic  training  under 
Anders  Selinder,  the  well-known 
ballet-master  and  theatrical  man- 
ager. 

Two  daughters,  Emma  and  Isa- 
bella, were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schoultz. 

Mr.  Schoultz  is  a  member  of 
the  Germania  Club,  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  the  Swedish  Glee  Club 
and  the  Svithiod  Singing  Club. 


HANS  E.  HAGGLUND 

was  born  in  Ambjornarp  parish, 
Elfsborg  Ian,  Sweden,  Sept.  i, 
1863.  His  parents,  Solomon  and 
Anna  C.  Petterson,  worked  a  farm 
in  Ambjornarp.  The  son  attend- 
ed public  school  at  home  and 
college  at  Ostersund.  Later  he  was 
employed  in  the  hardware  business 
for  several  years  in  that  city. 


130 


Cook  County 


Since  1893  Mr.  Hagglund  has 
been  a  resident  of  Chicago,  his 
first  employment  being  that  of  a 


HANS  E.   HAGGLUND 

blacksmith.  Next  he  worked  on 
a  farm.  In  1895  Mr.  Hagglund 
established  himself  in  the  grocery 
business  at  169  Elm  st.,  where  he 
has  a  brisk  trade.  He  is  also  im- 
porter of  all  kinds  of  the  well- 
known  Eskilstuna  cutlery.  Mr. 
Hagglund  is  a  member  of  the 
Merchants'  Association. 


NELS  NELSON, 

manufacturer  of  white  vests  for  the 
wholesale  trade,  is  operating  a 
plant  at  55  Evanston  ave.,  em- 
ploying up  to  1 80  workers  and 
turning  out  more  than  200,000 
garments  a  year.  Mr.  Nelson 
hails  from  the  Swedish  province 
of  Blekinge,  where  he  was  born 
Oct.  9,  1844,  at  Pukavik  in  Ysane 
parish.  His  father  was  a  retired 
innkeeper,  named  Nels  Mattson, 
and  his  mother's  name  was  Ingrid 


Ericson.  The  family  immigrated 
to  this  country  in  1863  and  both 
parents  died  in  Chicago  in  1876. 
Having  attended  common  school 
and  also  a  so-called  Rector's  school, 
young  Nelson  went  to  sea  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  Later  he  entered 
the  naval  academy  at  Karlshamn, 
passing  the  examination  for  cap- 
tain's mate  at  nineteen.  Again  go- 
ing to  sea,  he  advanced  to  able 
seaman,  serving  on  board  ship 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  signed  papers  as  captain's 
mate  on  the  ship  Norge,  Captain 
Hoist,  of  Laurvik.  After  sailing 
for  two  years,  during  which  time 
he  rounded  North  Cape,  and  vis- 
ited the  ports  of  the  Mediterranean, 
the  Black  Sea,  the  West  Indies 


NELS  NELSON 

and  Central  America,  he  landed  in 
New  York  in  1868  with  a  view  to 
become  an  American  resident.  For 
about  two  years  subsequently  he 
sailed  as  vessel  master  on  the  Great 
Lakes,  whereupon  he  embarked  in 


Chicago 


the  business  of  manufacturing  tai- 
lor in  the  city  of  Chicago  in  1869. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in 
November,  1879,  to  Emma  Lyberg, 
born  in  Karlshamn,  Sweden,  Nov. 
5,  1844.  I"  ^e  family  are  three 
living  children  out  of  a  total  num- 
ber of  nine.  These  are  Hilda 
Bernhardina,  born  in  1876,  and 
married  in  1905,  to  Robert  Mc- 
Farren;  Victor  Emanuel,  born  in 
1874,  and  married  in  1898,  to 
Dorothy  Wood,  and  Alice  Eliz- 
abeth, born  1887. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  reside  at 
2 1 12  Central  St.,  Evanston.  They 
are  members  of  the  local  Swedish 
M.  E.  church,  where  Mr.  Nelson 
has  served  for  many  years  in  var- 
ious capacities,  as  trustee,  deacon 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 


Frederic,  is  in  partnership  with 
his  father.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a 
strong  adherent  of  the  Lutheran 


CHARLES  A.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Agunnaryd  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  March  27,  1854. 
He  learned  the  tailor'  s^trade  in 
his  native  country.  In  1879  he 
emigrated  and  came  to  Chicago, 
where  he  has  since  resided  contin- 
ually with  the  exception  of  two 
years  spent  in  Springfield,  111.  In 
1886  he  established  a  merchant 
tailoring  business  which  he  has 
made  a  success.  He  has  two  stores: 
one  at  887  North  Clark  St.,  cor- 
ner of  Center  St.,  another  at  1806 
North  Clark  st.  The  business  is 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
Charles  Anderson  &  Son.  In  1883 
Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Peterson.  They  are  the  par- 
ents 6f  five  children,  of  whom 
three  sons  are  living.  One  son, 


CHARLES  A.  ANDERSON 

faith  and  has  been  a  trustee  for 
many  years  of  the  Trinity  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Barry  and 
Seminary  avenues.  The  family 
reside  in  their  own  home  at  2682 
Evanston  ave. 


AUGUST  G.   ALMCRANTZ 

was  born  in  Sddra  Fogelas,  Skara- 
borg  Ian,  Sweden,  Aug.  21,  1864. 
His  parents  were  Anders  Gustaf 
and  Fredrika  Almcrantz.  August 
attended  school  for  several  years. 
In  1891  he  emigrated  and  came 
to  Chicago.  After  a  few  years' 
experience  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  guitars,  mandolins  and 
other  musical  instruments,  at  6015 
S.  Halsted  st.  He  makes  a  variety 
of  high  grade  instruments,  among 
them  the  "Orchestra  Harp,"  his 
own  invention.  Other  inventions 
of  his  are  a  detachable  neck  and 


132 


Cook  County 


a    detachable    bridge  for     guitars, 
allowing  the  entire  sounding-board 


AUGUST  GERHARD  ALMCRANTZ 

to  vibrate,  making  the  instrument 
more  resonant. 

Mr.  Almcrantz  is  married  to 
Cecilia  Amalia,  born  Nov.  20,  1864, 
in  Vestra  Stenby  parish,  Ostergot- 
land.  Her  parents  were  Carl  Fred- 
rick and  Caroline  Amalia  Stendahl. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Almcrantz  have 
two  children,  Georgia  Dorothea, 
born  April  7,  1896,  and  Oscar 
Gerhard,  born  July  27,  1897. 


AXEL  E.  SWENSON 

was  born  at  Hjertum,  Bohuslan, 
Sweden,  Sept.  6,  1865.  For  some 
years  he  attended  private  school 
in  Goteborg.  In  1882  he  emigrat- 
ed, settling  in  Chicago  and  em- 
barking in  business  as  building 
contractor  and  from  that  naturally 
drifted  into  the  real  estate  bus- 
iness. He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  firm  Swenson  and  Dahlquist, 
shoe  dealers  at  511  63rd  st. 


Nov.  20,  1893,  Mr-  Swenson  was 
married  to  Miss  Christina  Stewart, 
born  Nov.  17,  1872,  in  the  Ork- 
ney .Islands,  her  father  being 
Alexander  Nicholson,  a  Scotch- 
man. 

Their  children  are  Caroline 
Elizabeth,  Earl  Alexander  and 
Margaret. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swenson  are  mem- 


AXEL  E.  SWENSON 


bers  of  the  North  Shore  Congrega- 
tional Church. 


ALFRED  E.   HOLMES 

was  born  March  25,  1866,  in  Skof- 
de,  Sweden.  His  father  having 
died,  the  family  emigrated  in  1877 
with  Chicago  as  their  destination. 
The  next  year  they  moved  to  De 
Kalb,  111.,  and  settled  on  a  farm. 
The  boy,  Alfred,  remained  there 
until  he  was  confirmed,  when  he 
decided  to  make  his  own  career. 
He  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  ma- 
chinist and  engineer  with  the 


Chicago, 


133 


American  Steam  Engine  Co.,  also 
taking  studies  in  evening  classes. 
In  1886,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 


ALFRED  E.  HOLMES 

Mr.  Holmes  became  chief  engineer 
for  the  clothing  house  of  Willough- 
by,  Hill  &  Co.  After  two  years  he 
was  appointed  assistant  engineer  in 
the  Chicago  Fire  Department.  In 
February,  1888,  Mr.  Holmes  re- 
signed in  order  to  become  chief 
engineer  of  the  Sliufeldt  Distilling 
Co.,  retaining  this  post  until  the 
works  were  closed  by  the  trust  a 
year  later.  He  then  accepted  a 
position  as  chief  engineer  and  su- 
perintendent of  machinery  and 
buildings  for  the  Alexander  H. 
Revell  Co.,  and  has  been  employed 
in  this  capacity  for  the  past  sixteen 
years.  He  has  also  acted  as  con- 
sulting engineer  for  some  of  the 
large  office  buildings  in  Chicago. 
During  the  year  1904-1905  Mr. 
Holmes  was  secretary  of  the  Swed- 
ish-American Republican  League 
of  Illinois,  and  1904-06  secretary 


of  the  Chicago  Society  No.  i  of 
the  National  Association  of  Sta- 
tionary Engineers.  He  is  Past 
Worshipful  Master  of  King  Oscar 
Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  member 
of  Medinah  Temple,  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  in  1906  was  elected  a 
life  member  of  the  Oriental  Con- 
sistory, 32d  degree,  S.  P.  R.  S. 

Mr.  Holmes  was  married  Feb. 
i,  1890,  to  Minnie  G.  Nelson  of 
Chicago,  who  was  born  Nov.  22, 
1865.  They  have  two  children, 
Florence  G.  and  Walter  H.  They 
live  at  1072  E.  Carmen  ave.  and 
belong  to  the  Ebenezer  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church. 


JOHAN  A.  HESSELBOM, 

watchmaker  and  jeweler,  was  born 
April  7,  1864,  in  Animskog  parish, 


JOHAN  ALFRED   HESSELBOM 

Dalsland,  Sweden.  His  parents 
were  Erik  Magnus  and  Johanna 
Christina  Hesselbom.  After  study- 
ing three  years  in  the  Amal  high 
school  he  began,  in  1879,  to  learn 


134 


Cook  County 


the  watchmaker's  trade  at  Karl- 
stad. In  September,  1885,  he  ob- 
tained a  diploma  as  master  watch- 
maker, and  at  the  same  time 
received  the  highest  award,  a  sil- 
ver medal,  from  the  Upsala 
Trades  Society  for  constructing 
a  complete  clock.  After  having 
worked  as  foreman  with  a  jewelry 
firm  in  Stockholm  he  emigrated 
in  1886  to  America,  with  Chicago 
as  his  objective  point.  Here  he 
at  once  found  employment  with 
one  of  the  large  jewelry  houses. 
He  has  worked  at  the  Peacock, 
the  Spaulding  and  Giles  Bros,  es- 
tablishments. In  1892  he  became 
foreman  at  the  latter  house.  Mr. 
Hesselbom  bought  the  jewelry 
store  at  103  Garfield  boulevard  in 
1895  and  has  since  carried  on  a 
successful  business  there.  He  is 
watch  inspector  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  rail- 
way companies.  Mr.  Hesselbom 
still  has  in  his  possession  the  clock 
which  secured  for  him  the  silver 
medal  mentioned.  Another  clock 
built  by  him  is  a  three-wheel  elec- 
tric clock  showing  hours,  minutes 
and  seconds.  It  may  be  placed 
any  distance  from  the  regulator 
clock.  Another  fine  instrument 
of  Mr.  Hesselbom' s  invention  is 
a  guage  which  measures  to  the 
hundredth  part  of  a  millimeter 
and  which  will  show  plainly  the 
difference  in  thickness  of  the  mid- 
dle and  the  end  of  a  hair. 

Mr.  Hesselbom  was  married  Jan. 
i,  1887,  to  Emma  C.  Hagelin, 
who  was  born  April  7,  1862,  in 
Sillingebyn,  Vermland,  Sweden.  A 
son,  Albert  John,  was  born  July 


7,  1887,  and  a  daughter,  Emmy 
Alice  Christina,  on  Feb.  14,  1896. 
Albert  is  his  father's  assistant. 
The  mother  died  Jan.  29,  1901. 
Mr.  Hesselbom  was  re-married  in 
July,  1903,  being  united  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Larson. 

The  family  belongs  to  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Hesselbom  is  a  member  of 
King  Oscar  Lodge  of  the  Masonic 
order,  John  Ericsson  Lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  North  American  Un- 
ion and  the  Royal  League. 


JOHN  WILLIAM  OLSON 

was  born  Feb.    10,  1867,  in  Visby, 
Sweden.     At  the  age  of  two  years, 


JOHN  WILLIAM   OLSON 

he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
America.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of 
Porter,  Ind.,  and  Chicago.  Sub- 
sequently he  pursued  studies  in 
vocal  music  under  private  teach- 
ers, and  in  other  subjects  at  a 
school  of  technology.  Mr.  Olson 


Chicago 


135 


is  a  cut  stone  contractor  and  has 
been  in  business  some  ten  years, 
succeeding  his  father,  who  was 
engaged  in  the  business  for  about 
eighteen  years.  The  business  was 
begun  on  a  small  scale  with  a  few 
men,  but  has  since  attained  pro- 
portions indicative  of  prosperit}'. 
The  stone  yards  are  at  3345  La 
Salle  st. 

Mr.  Olson,  who  possesses  a  fine 
voice,  was  for  many  years  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  male  chorus 
of  the  Swedish  Glee  Club.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  president  in 
Armour  Council,  National  Union, 
for  four  years. 

Mr.  Olson  belongs  to  the  Beth- 
lehem Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  Englewood. 

Jan.  4,  1901,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mabel  Bennett  of  New  York. 
They  have  one  child,  Kathryn 
Maxine. 


and  trustee  of  the  Swedish  M.  E. 
Church,  and  a  member  and  an 
officer  of  several  fraternal  lodges, 


JOHN   BERG 

was  born  April  27,  1842,  on  a 
farm  near  the  city  of  Kristianstad, 
Sweden.  After  obtaining  an  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public 
school,  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
and  cabinetmaker's  trade.  Having 
taken  a  course  in  a  business  col- 
lege, he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  Since  1869  he  has  resided 
in  Chicago,  being  engaged  in  man- 
ufacturing. He  is  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  John  Berg  & 
Bro.  The  firm  manufactures  step, 
extension  and  common  ladders, 
and  house  furnishing  woodenware. 
The  factory  is  situated  at  \Vent- 
worth  ave.,  5oth  st.  and  Fifth  ave. 
Mr.  Berg  has  been  a  member 


JOHN  BERG 

also  a  member  of  the  Englewood 
Men's  Club.  Mr.  Berg  is  president 
of  the  Parkside  Loan  and  Savings 
Association . 


RAGNA  LINNE 

was  born  in  Christiania,  Norway, 
of  Swedish-Norwegian  parentage. 
On  her  father's  side  she  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Carl  von  Linne,  the 
renowned  Swedish  botanist.  Even 
at  a  tender  age  she  manifested  an 
exquisite  vocal  talent.  At  the  early 
age  of  twelve  years  she  served  as 
vocalist  in  the  Catholic  cathedral 
of  her  native  city.  Later  on  she 
won  fame  by  her  singing  in  all 
the  principal  cities  of  Europe. 

Coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1885,  she  located  in  New  York. 
Pursuing  her  career  as  a  singer, 
she  appeared  in  concert  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  and  as  church 


i36 


Cook  County 


soloist.  Her  greatest  triumphs, 
however,  she  won  as  a  member  of 
the  Metropolitan  English  Grand 


RAGNA   LINNE 

Opera  Company  and  the  Castle 
Square  Opera  Company.  After 
her  removal  to  Chicago,  Mine. 
Linne  has  been  very  active  in 
the  musical  circles  of  the  city,  as 
teacher,  concert  singer  and  soloist 
on  numerous  public  occasions. 
She  has  been  engaged  as  soprano 
soloist  at  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  Sinai  Temple,  and 
tlie  South  Congregational  Church, 
all  in  Chicago.  Mme.  Linne  is 
also  much  sought  after  as  a  singer 
at  Swedish  festivals. 

For  a  number  of  years  back 
she  has  been  a  member  of  the  fac- 
ulty of  the  American  Conservato- 
ry of  Music.  On  her  tours  of  the 
states  as  a  member  of  various 
concert  and  opera  companies,  Mine. 
Linne  has  sung  in  the  principal 
cities  of  every  state  in  the  Union. 


JOHN  MELANGTON 

was  born  Feb.  8,  1872,  in  Brun- 
skog  parish,  Vermland  province, 
Sweden.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon school  until  his  twelfth  year, 
when  he  went  to  work  as  a  tai- 
lor's helper.  He  came  to  Chicago 
in  September,  1892.  For  a  while 
he  attended  North  Park  College, 
but  soon  returned  to  his  trade, 
meanwhile  taking  lessons  in  grad- 
ing and  designing  in  a  school 
for  tailors.  By  1897  he  had  at- 
tained such  skill  as  to  warrant 
him  in  accepting  a  position  as 
designer  with  the  Edward  Ely 
Co.,  tailors.  Since  1902  Mr.  Me- 
langton  has  been  a  member  of 
this  firm,  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in 


JOHN  MELAXGTON 

Chicago,  and  well-known  through- 
out the  country. 

Mr.  Melangton  was  married  in 
1897  to  Miss  Christina  Rollen 
from  his  native  place.  He  belongs 
to  the  Swedish  Mission  Church  and 
is  a  deacon  in  the  congregation  of 


Chicago 


137 


which  he  is  a  member.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  Young 
People's  Society  and  of  the  church 
choir. 


CARL  OSCAR  LUNDIN 

was  born  Oct.   n,    1847,  in  Stock- 
holm, Sweden.     In  1868  he    emi- 


CARL  OSCAR  LUNDIN 

grated  to  America  and  made 
Chicago  his  home. 

Mr.  Lundin  is  the  son  of  a 
harbor  master,  Johan  Lundin. 
He  learned  his  trade  as  painter 
in  his  native  city;  in  this  country 
he  worked  for  the  Illinois  Central 
R.  R.  Co.  for  many  years.  A 
desire  for  independence  led  him 
to  begin  business  for  himself  in 
1883  and  at  present  he  deals  in 
stationery,  books  and  music. 

At  twenty-eight  years  of  age 
Mr.  Lundin  was  married  to  Ida 
Maria  Anderson,  who  was  born  in 
Stockholm,  1855,  who  came  to 
Chicago  with  her  parents  in  1868. 


Four  children  were    born  to  them 
but  all  are  now  dead. 

Mr.  Lundin  is  an  Odd  Fellow 
and  a  Forester,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  financial  secretary  and 
treasurer  in  the  Balder  Lodge. 


EDWARD  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Sweden,  June  30, 
1864,  at  Persgarde,  near  Karls- 
hamn.  From  1885  on  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Chicago,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  baker's  trade. 
For  many  years  he  was  employed 
by  the  National  Biscuit  Co.,  hav- 
ing charge  of  various  departments. 
When  the  bakers'  strike  began  in 
1903,  he  opened  a  bakery  at  3607 
N.  Clark  St.  His  business  here 
has  been  steadily  increasing  in 
volume. 

Mr.  Johnson  received  a  good 
education  in  the  old  country,  at- 
tending the  collegiate  school  at 


EDWARD  JOHNSON 

Kristineberg.     He  is  a  capable  and 
interested  worker  in  Bethany  Swed- 


138 


Cook   County 


ish  M.  E.  Church,  he  has  been 
president  of  the  Epworth  League  > 
secretary  of  the  Mission  Soci" 
ety  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School  home  department. 
He  has  also  developed  some  activity 
in  politics,  serving  five  years  as 
secretary  of  his  precinct  Repub- 
lican Club  in  the  26th  ward  and 
clerking  for  a  time  in  the  county 
treasurer's  office  during  Sam  B. 
Raymond's  incumbency. 

Mr.  Johnson  and  Miss  Nellie 
Christina  Nelson  were  married 
April  24,  1901.  Of  three  sons 
born  to  them,  two,  Edward  Stan- 
ley and  Garfield,  survive.  Mrs. 
Johnson  is  the  daughter  of  Charles 
J.  and  Hannah  Nelson  of  Chicago. 


AXEL  JONAS  WALTER 
AF  JOCHNICK 

was  born  Oct.  25,    1859,  in   Karl- 
berg    Castle,  Sweden.     He    was  a 


AXEL  JONAS  WALTER  AF  JOCHNICK 

member  of  a  noble  family  of  Ger- 
man origin,  the   ancestors   having 


immigrated   to  Sweden  about  150 
years  ago. 

At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  en- 
listed as  a  volunteer  in  the  Svea 
Artillery.  Two  years  later  he 
graduated  and  at  eighteen  became 
a  sub-officer,  the  youngest  in  the 
Swedish  army.  Resigning  in  1880, 
he  went  to  London  to  become  in- 
structor in  the  Kellberg  Gymnast- 
ical  Institute.  After  two  years 
he  went  to  Berlin  and  there  estab- 
lished a  similar  institute,  patron- 
ized, among  others,  by  Prince 
Bismarck.  » 

The  New  World,  with  its  greater 
possibilities,  next  attracted  the 
young  and  energetic  man.  Going 
to  Chile,  he  served  for  a  few  years 
as  instructor  in  gymnastics  and 
fencing  in  the  government  military 
school,  with  a  salary  of  $10,000  a 
year.  From  Chile  he  went  to 
Uruguay  and,  after  staying  there 
for  a  short  interval,  located  in 
Buenos  Ayres.  For  five  years  he 
was  instructor  in  gymnastics,  an- 
atomy and  massage  in  that  city, 
gaining  great  popularity  among 
the  native  aristocracy  as  well  as 
in  the  little  Swedish  colony  there. 
Jochnick  is  said  to  have  been  con- 
versant with  no  less  than  thirteen 
languages,  besides  having  a  fine 
knowledge  of  the  sciences  and  of 
music.  When  war  suddenly  broke 
out  in  1890,  Jochnick  enlisted  and 
fought  with  heroism  under  his 
adopted  country's  flag.  The  cause 
being  lost  and  the  arm}7  .van- 
quished, he  fled  to  Brazil  with  his 
wife,  Selma  Jochnick,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  the  Argentine 
Republic.  For  a  time  he  was  in 


Chicago 


139 


the  employ  of  the  Brazilian  gov- 
ernment. 

The  Columbian  Exposition  at- 
tracted the  couple  to  Chicago  in 
1893.  Here  they  established  an 
institute  of  gymnastics  and  mass- 
age, Mrs.  Jochnick  having  also 
taken  a  thorough  course  in  these 
sciences  in  Sweden. 

When  the  Spanish-American 
War  broke  out,  Jochnick  was  one 
of  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to 
the  government.  He,  together  with 
other  Swedish  ex-officers,  worked 
zealously  to  form  a  regiment  of 
Swedish-Americans  in  Chicago. 
This  was  done,  and  Jochnick  was 
appointed  major,  but  before  the 
regiment  was  ordered  out  for  active 
service,  the  war  closed. 

In  the  early  part  of  1903  Mr. 
Jochnick's  robust  health  was  un- 
dermined by  consumption  and  on 
March  27  of  that  year  death  put 
an  end  to  his  honorable  and  highly 
varied  career. 

Mrs.  Jochnick  continues  the 
massage  and  gymnastical  estab- 
lishment instituted  by  her  husband 
at  937  Edgewater  place. 


he  came  to  Chicago,  locating  here 
permanently. 

Mr.  Larson  is   the    inventor    of 
a    method    for    the    extension    or 


MARTIN  LARSON, 

orthopedic  shoe  manufacturer,  was 
born  April  8,  1867,  at  Lofvestad, 
Sweden,  where  his  father,  Lars 
Akeson,  was  a  farmer.  His  mother, 
Elgena  Nelson,  died  in  1874  and 
his  father  twenty  years  later.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1887, 
equipped  with  what  education  he 
had  acquired  in  the  common  school. 
After  stopping  from  May  to  No- 
vember of  that  year  in  St.  Paul, 


MARTIN  LARSON 

correction  of  short  or  deformed 
nether  limbs  which  conceals  the 
defects  by  matching  the  limbs 
successfully  with  their  perfect 
mates,  an  improvement  on  the 
old  method  of  bulky  cork  soles, 
metal  extensions,  etc.  His  ortho- 
pedic shoe  business  also  includes 
the  making  of  custom  shoes  to 
fit  slighter  pedal  inequalities  com- 
mon to  many  persons  other  than 
cripples.  The  shop  is  at  54 
Fifth  ave. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  March 
3,  1898,  to  Ellen  Lind,  daughter 
of  Sune  J.  Lind.  They  have  two 
sons,  Karl  Oscar,  born  Jan.  15, 
1904,  and  Ernest  Hjalmar,  born 
Nov.  29,  1906. 

In  1901  Mr.  Larson  was  elected 
deacon  of  the  St.  Paul  Lutheran 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  respected 
member. 


140 


Cook  County 


ERNST  HUGO  BEHMER, 

actor  and  organizer  of  the  Swed- 
ish Theatrical  Company  of  Chi- 
cago, was  born  in  the  parish  of 


ERNST  HUGO  BEHMER 

Grodinge,  in  Sodermanland,  Swe- 
den, June  30,  1872,  the  son  of 
Erik  Behmer,  a  merchant, and  his 
wife  Eniilie  Julia,  nee  Hane,  both 
deceased.  His  parents  taking  up 
their  residence  in  Stockholm  in 
1875,  he  was  reared  and  educated 
there,  attending  the  Ostermalm 
Elementary  School  and  the  North 
Latin  School  in  Stockholm  and 
being  graduated  from  the  latter 
in  1889.  Two  years  later  he  emi- 
grated, coming  directly  to  Chicago. 
In  November,  1893,  he  secured 
employment  as  shipping  clerk  with 
the  house  of  Selz,  Schwab  and 
Co.,  boot  and  shoe  manufacturers, 
remaining  with  them  for  eight 
years.  Since  then  he  has  been 
with  the  American  Radiator  Co. 
and  is  now  purchasing  agent  of 
that  house.  Sept.  19,  1896,  he 


was  married  to  Miss  Fredrique 
Wilhelmine  Undstrom .  Their  chil- 
dren are,  Lisa  Hildegard,  born 
Nov.  24,  1897,  and  Erik  Hugo, 
born  Oct.  23,  1900.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Behmer  made  a  trip  to  Swe- 
den in  1897,  visiting  the  Stock- 
holm Exposition. 

Being  possessed  of  dramatic  tal- 
ent, Mr.  Behmer  began  to  appeal 
as  a  public  entertainer  and  in  1893 
became  actively  attached  to  the 
local  Swedish- American  stage.  In 
1899,  he  and  Mr.  Chr.  Brusell 
entered  into  partnership  and  or- 
ganized the  Swedish  Theatrical 
Company.  During  subsequent  years 
a  large  number  of  Swedish  plays 
have  been  given  in  Chicago  thea- 
tres and  halls,  principally  the 
North  Side  Turner  Hall,  the  Stude- 
baker  Theatre  the  Grand  Opera 
House  and  the  Garrick  Theatre. 
Besides  playing  the  old  popular 
Swedish  dramas,  this  company  has 
given  many  plays  new  to  Swedish 
audiences  in  this  city,  including, 
"Per  Olsson  och  hans  karing,"  by 
Gustaf  af  Geijerstam;  "Smalands- 
knekten,"  by  August  Bondeson; 
"Sven  och  liten  Anna,"  by  Her- 
man Martinson;  "Oregrund-Ost- 
hammar;"  "Ljungby  Horn"  and 
others.  Mr.  Behmer  has  partly 
rewritten  '  'Anna  Stinas  illusioner, ' ' 
adapting  it  to  local  conditions  and 
naming  it  "Anna  Stinai  Chicago." 
He  has  also  written  a  number  of 
topical,  humorous  and  sentimental 
songs  with  which  the  plays,  have 
been  interpolated.  Several  of  these 
have  appeared  in  the  Swedish  local 
press.  Omitting  minor  parts,  the 
following  are  some  of  the  chief 


Chicago 


141 


characters  enacted  by  Mr.  Behmer: 
Anders  in  ' '  Vermlandingarne , ' ' 
Lasse,  in  "Nerkingarne;"  Jeppe, 
in  "Jeppe  pa  berget;"  Botvid 
the  Friar,  in  '  'Brollopet  pa  Ulfasa;" 
Petterson,  in  "Anderson,  Fetter- 
son  och  Lundstrom;"  Squire  Dahl, 
in  "Jernbararen;"  Ringdahl,  in 
"Oregrund-Osthammar;"  Brother 
Jonathan,  in  "Bror  Jonathan,  eller 
Oxhandlaren  fran  Smaland;"  Olof, 
in  "Ljungby  horn;"  Olle,  in 
"Per  Olsson  och  hans  karing;" 
Father  Hieronymus,  in  "Regina 
von  Emmeritz;"  Professor  Klint, 
in  "Svarfar;"  Petruchio,  in  "Tam- 
ing of  the  Shrew;"  Brander,  in 
"Farbror  Knut  fran  Norrkoping" 
and  Lieutenant  Ferdinand  von 
Henning,  in  "Master  Smith;"  the 
title  part  in  "Charles  XII.,"  and 
Torwald  Helmer  in  Ibsen's  "A 
Doll's  House." 

In  1904  Mr.  Behmer  separated 
from  Brusell  and  organized  the 
Swedish  Dramatic  Co.,  of  which  he 
is  director  and  stage  manager. 


ical  Seminary  in  Philadelphia 
from  1900  to  1902.  The  next 
year  he  completed  his  theological 


OSCAR  NELS  OLSON, 

Lutheran  minister,  was  born  Jan. 
28,  1876,  in  Qvidinge  parish, 
Skane,  Sweden.  His  father,  Ola 
Anderson,  who  was  a  farmer,  died 
in  1885.  His  mother,  Johanna 
Nilsson,  died  in  1887.  The  son 
emigrated  to  America  in  May, 
1890.  From  1893  until  1896  he 
attended  Upsala  College,  in  New 
Jersey.  He  was  a  student  for  the 
next  two  years  at  Augustana 
College,  graduating  with  the  de- 
gree of  A.  B.  After  spending  a 
year  at  Yale  University,  he  pur- 
sued studies  at  Mt.  Airy  Theolog- 


OSCAR  NELS  OLSON 

studies  at  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary  at  Rock  Island,  receiv- 
ing the  degree  of  B.  D.  Mr. 
Olson  was  ordained  minister  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
June  14,  1903,  in  Paxton,  111.  He 
is  now  in  pastoral  charge  of  St. 
Paul  Church,  in  Moreland,  and  of 
Lebanon  Lutheran  Church  in  Ber- 
wyn. 

June  6,  1906,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Olson  was  married  to  Miss  Ida 
Wilhelmina  Peterson  of  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  born  Dec.  8,  1878,  daugh- 
ter of  C.  O.  and  Mathilda  Peterson. 


OSCAR  DELL  OLSON, 

attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  is 
a  younger  brother  of  Edwin  A. 
Olson,  the  well-known  attorney, 
and  associated  with  him  in  the 
practice  of  the  profession. 

Oscar    D.    Olson    was    born    at 


142 


Cook  County 


Cambridge,  111.,  June  17,  1875, 
his  father,  Charles  Olson,  living 
there  as  a  retired  farmer.  Having 


OSCAR  DELL  OLSON 

finished  the  high  school  in  Cam- 
bridge, he  pursued  scientific  studies 
at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  subse- 
quently entered  the  Chicago  Law 
School,  completing  the  course  lead- 
ing to  the  degree  of  LL-  B.  in 
1897,  and  that  of  LL.  M.  the 
following  year.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court 
on  examination  in  1898,  at  Spring- 
field, having  since  devoted  himself 
to  legal  practice.  In  the  fall  of 
1906  he  was' appointed  assistant 
state's  attorney. 

He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics  and  'is  an  enthusiastic 
fraternity  man,  as  witness  the  fact 
that  he  was  elected  secretary  of 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois  for  the  year  of 
1902-03,  and  that  he  is  a  life 
member  of  the  32d  degree  Masons, 
past  master  of  the  Boulevard 


Lodge  No.  882,  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
and  now  president  of  the  Illinois 
Odd  Fellows  League,  consisting  of 
delegates  from  all  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodges  in  the  state. 

Mr.  Olson  was  married  Feb. 
3,  1906,  to  Miss  Hildred  Trozelle 
of  Windom,  Minn.,  born  May 
10,  1885. 


ADOLF  F.  BERGBOM, 

member  of  the  manufacturing  firm 
of  Bergbom  and  Roberg,  hails 
from  the  parish  of  Dref,  Smaland, 
where  he  was  born  at  the  Box- 
holm  Iron  Mill  Nov.  10,  1847. 
His  schooling  began  at  the  age  of 
six,  in  the  home  of  his  grandfather, 
with  his  aunt  as  teacher  and  her 
spinningwheel  as  his  only  school- 


ADOLF   F.   BERGBOM 

mate.  He  remained  under  her 
tutorship  for  a  year.  For  four 
months  each  year  thereafter  for 
six  years  he  had  tuition  in  the  pa- 
rish school.  At  thirteen  he  became 
his  father's  helper  in  the  Asafors 


Chicago 


143 


mill,  Stengardshult  parish.  At 
sixteen  he  went  to  work  under  a  five 
year  contract  as  gunsmith's  appren- 
tice in  the  Husqvarna  Arms  Fac- 
tory. As  soon  as  the  contract 
expired  he  emigrated,  leaving  from 
the  city  of  Jonkoping  March  24, 
1869,  and  landing  in  Boston  one 
month  later.  Coming  on  to  Chi- 
cago, he  first  got  work  in  a  stove 
factory  as  model  finisher  and  after- 
ward worked  in  machine  shops. 
Bergbom  was  appointed  foreman  in 
the  tool  and  milling  department 
of  a  sewing  machine  factory  in 
the  spring  of  1880  and  held  that 
position  for  six  years,  leaving  in 
1886  to  open  a  machine  shop 
in  partnership  with  C.  F.  Roberg. 
This  firm  has  continued  in  bus- 
iness ever  since,  with  shops  for- 
merly at  26-28-30  Michigan  st., 
now  at  30  West  Randolph  st. 

In  1874  Mr.  Bergbom  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Hilda  John- 
son, born  in  Virserum,  Smaland. 
Six  sons  and  three  daughters  have 
been  born  to  them,  four  of  whom, 
three  boys  and  one  girl,  have  been 
claimed  by  death. 

Politically  Mr.  Bergbom  is  a 
Republican  and  has  voted  the  party 
ticket  with  few  exceptions.  Since 
his  coining  to  America  he  has 
affiliated  with  the  Mission  church 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Maple- 
wood  congregation.  He  has  served 
as  organist  and  choir  leader  for 
over  twenty-five  years  and  as 
trustee  and  treasurer  for  more 
than  fourteen  years. 


VICTOR  G.  ROCINE 

was  born  Sept.  6,  1856.  His 
father  was  of  French  origin  and 
adopted  the  name  of  Lundquist. 


VICTOR  G.   ROCINE 

His  mother  came  from  Norway. 
Twenty-six  years  ago  he  emigra- 
ted from  Sweden  to  the  United 
States. 

He  has  fitted  himself  for  his 
profession  in  six  schools  from  all 
of  which  he  has  graduated.  The 
last  six  years  he  has  lived  in  Ill- 
inois. Dr.  Rocine  is  president  of 
the  Human  Science  School  at  130 
Dearborn  st.,  where  he  publishes 
'  'Human  Culture,  a  monthly  journal 
devoted  to  character  reading, 
human  science  and  self  develop- 
ment." He  devotes  much  time  to 
lecturing,  organizing  societies  for 
the  study  of  his  specialty.  He  is 
the  author  of  two  professional 
works;  "Mind  Training"  and  "Diet 
Guide". 

Dr.  Rocine  is  married  and  has 
a  son. 


144 


Cook  County 


OSCAR  F.  ENGWALL 

was  born  on  the  island  of  Visingso, 
Sweden,  July  20,  1850.  His  an- 
cestors for  several  generations  back 


OSCAR  F.  ENGWALL 

were  foresters  or  held  other  posi- 
tions in  the  service  of  the  Crown. 
They  especially  distinguished  them- 
selves in  furthering  the  cultivation 
of  the  magnificent  old  oak  forests. 
His  parents  had  expected  their  son 
to  follow  the  traditional  occupa- 
tion and  possibly  rise  to  the  posi- 
tion of  royal  master-forester.  He 
studied  for  some  years  with  this 
purpose  in  view  but  a  severe  ill- 
ness compelled  him  to  abandon  the 
course,  later  engaging  in  the 
watchmaker' s  trade.  After  having 
fully  mastered  his  trade  he  left 
Sweden  in  the  year  18/3  with 
America  as  his  destination.  For 
more  than  thirty  years  he  has  been 
employed  by  C.  D.  Peacock,  the 
leading  jeweler  of  the  West.  In 
Chicago  the  Swedish  watchmakers, 


like  the  Swedish  tailors,  are  con- 
sidered the  most  skillful  in  the 
trade.  C.  D.  Peacock  therefore 
employs  22  of  them  in  the  watch 
department  with  Mr.  Engwall  at 
the  head. 

This  befitting  recogniton  of  his 
skill  Mr.  Engwall  has  gained  by 
keeping  abreast  of  the  times  in  all 
the  details  of  his  trade.  People 
who  have  met  in  a  business  way 
consider  him  one  of  the  most  skill- 
ful watchmakers  in  this  country. 
The  fact  that  the  United  States 
Patent  Office  has  recently  issued 
letters  of  patent  for  an  automatic 
watch  regulator  invented  by  him 
bears  ample  proof  of  his  extraor- 
dinary ingenuity.  A  leading  watch 
manufacturing  company  of  the 
West  is  negotiating  for  the  pur- 
chase of  this  invention.  Experts 
say  it  will  revolutionize  the  watch 
industry.  Mr.  Engwall  is  also  the 
holder  of  another  patent  issued 
several  years  ago  for  an  ingenious 
opera  glass  handle  which  is  now 
in  general  use  in  England,  France 
Germany  and  Austria. 

Mr.  Engwall  was  married  in 
1875  to  Miss  Margaret  Carlson, 
from  Ostergotland,  Sweden.  They 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  three  daughters  are  living. 
Mr.  Engwall  is  trustee  of  Garfield 
Park  M.  E.  Church  and  resides 
at  936  Walnut  st. 


ELVIRA    M.    WENNERSKOLD 

was  born  in  Chicago  Sept.  22, 
1874.  Her  parents,  Charles  A. 
and  Augusta  M.  Wennerskold,  were 
born  in  Ostergotland,  Sweden, 
where  her  father  was  a  school- 


Chicago 


master  before  he  emigrated  in  1870. 
He  pursued  further  studies  in 
Galesburg  and  at  Princeton,  111. 


ELVIRA  M.  WENNERSKOLD 

and  then  traveled  as  an  evangelist 
founding  several  Swedish  Mission 
congregations.  He  retired  from 
the  ministry  in  1876  on  account 
of  ill  health,  and  died  in  1900. 
Her  mother,  Augusta  M.,  has  a 
millinery  and  dressmakingestablish- 
inent  in  Englewood. 

Miss  Wennerskold  gave  early 
evidence  of  musical  talent.  At  the 
age  of  nine  she  took  piano  lessons 
from  Miss  Bancroft.  After  grad- 
uating from  the  Parkman  School, 
she  studied  at  the  Chicago  Piano 
College  under  Charles  Watt.  She 
subsequently  finished  her  piano 
studies  at  the  Chicago  National 
College  of  Music  under  the  tuition 
of  W.  Waugh  L,auder,  at  the  same 
time  studying  theory,  harmony  and 
composition  with  the  general  direc- 
tor of  the  college.  She  received, 
in  1897,  a  g°ld  medal  for  the  best 


scholarship  and  was  engaged  by 
the  college  as  a  piano  instructor. 
Since  leaving  this  position  Miss 
Wennerskold  has  continued  her 
studies  in  harmony  under  the 
direction  of  Louis  Campbell-Tipton 
of  the  Chicago  Musical  College. 

Her  studio  is  at  5509  Fifth  ave., 
where  she  gives  class  and  private 
instruction  in  harmony  and  piano. 


FRANK  A.  LUNDQUIST 

was  born  June  24,  1868,  in  Galva, 
Illinois.  His  parents  were  early 
settlers  in  that  region,  having  emi- 
grated from  Sweden  in  their  youth. 
When  he  was  two  years  old  the 
family  removed  to  Lindsborg, 
Kansas,  where  his  father,  N.  P. 
Lundquist,  still  lives. 


FRANK  A.  LUNDQUIST 

Frank  was  one  of  the  first 
students  at  Bethany  College  in 
Lindsborg.  He  graduated  from 
the  commercial  department  in  1891. 
After  spending  a  year  in  California 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  worked 


146 


Cook  County 


for  the  Bell  Telephone  Co.  There 
he  became  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  an  automatic  telephone  would 
be  a  commercial  possibility.  The 
next  year  he  returned  to  Lindsborg 
and  communicated  his  ideas  to  his 
old  friends,  John  Erickson  and 
Charles  J.  Krickson.  They  togeth- 
er worked  out  several  automatic 
telephone  instruments  which  were 
patented.  These  patents  are  now 
owned  by  the  Strowger  Automatic 
Telephone  Exchange  and  by  them 
are  leased  and  distributed  to  va- 
rious manufacturing  companies. 
Their  telephones  were  first  installed 
at  La  Porte,  Ind.,  and  later  in 
other  places. 

In  the  spring  of  1897  Mr.  Lund- 
quist  perfected  another  automatic 
telephone  system,  the  first  ex- 
change of  which  was  installed  in 
Stirling,  Kansas.  The  National 
Automatic  Telephone  Co.  was 
formed  and  several  hundred  ex- 
changes in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  operate  under  this  new  sys- 
tem. The  company  was  reorgan- 
ized in  1902,  as  the  Globe  Auto- 
matic Telephone  Company  of  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Lundquist  was  manager 
and  electrical  engineer.  He  has 
now  resigned  the  managership  and 
devotes  all  his  efforts  to  the  tech- 
nical side  of  the  business.  He 
he  has  applied  for  and  secured 
about  thirty  patents  upon  this 
new  system.  Many  of  the  patents 
have  proved  to  be  fundamental  and 
to  cover  the  system  known  as  the 
"trunking  s}-stem,"  which  is  used 
in  the  construction  of  all  large  au- 
tomatic exchangesnowin  operation. 

One    of    the     novel     inventions 


recently  brought  out  by  him  is  a 
method  by  which  the  number 
called  for  will  be  indicated  on  the 
face  of  the  instrument,  a  visual 
proof  that  the  desired  telephone 
connection  has  been  made. 

Mr.  Lundquist  in  1898  married 
Anna  M.  Anderson  of  Galva,  111. 
They  belong  to  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


CARL  A.  STILLE 
was     born    in     Svenarum    parish, 
Smaland,    Sweden,    and    came    to 


CARL  A.  STILLE 

this  country  in  1869.  He  settled 
in  Geneseo,  111.,  where  he  lived 
for  three  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Chicago,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

Mr.  Stille  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
carriage  factory,  located  at  81 
Twelfth  st.,  where  he  employs 
a  large  number  of  men. 

Mr.  Stille  was  married  in  1885, 
to  Miss  Agnes  Wiclman,  with 
whom  he  has  two  children,  a  boy 
and  a  girl. 


Chicago 


J.  WILLIAM  JOHNSON 

was  born  April  6,  1866,  in  Fors- 
hem,  Skaraborg  Ian,  Sweden.  Af- 
ter attending  the  common  school 


to    the     Swedish    Baptist   Church 
in  Knglewood. 


J.  WILLIAM  JOHNSON 

he  worked  on  the  farm  until  he 
went  to  the  United  States,  where 
he  landed  in  April  1887.  Mr. 
Johnson  has  lived  in  various  places 
in  this  country,  including  Farmer's 
Valley,  Pa.,  Joliet,  111.,  Bloom- 
ington,  111.,  Kansas  City,  Mo.  and 
Chicago.  He  has  had  a  variety 
of  occupations,  such  as  tanner, 
stone  quarryman,  coalminer,  black- 
smith, cowboy  and  mason.  For 
eight  months  Mr.  Johnson  was  a 
cowboy  in  Kansas.  The  work  was 
hard,  but  thrilling  and  full  of 
interest. 

The  mason's  trade  was  learned 
in  Chicago,  and  is  the  foundation 
of  Mr.  Johnson's  present  vocation, 
that  of  mason  contractor.  Mr. 
Johnson  has  been  married  for  seven 
years  to  Maria  Lundstedt. 

Mr.  and    Mrs.    Johnson    belong 


OLOF   FERDINAND  NELSON, 

member  of  the  Osgood  Company, 
photo-engravers  and  electrotypers, 
and  superintendent  of  their  plant, 
is  the  son  of  Olof  Nilsson,  a  cab- 
inetmaker of  the  city  of  Halm- 
stad,  Sweden.  He  was  born  there 
April  22,  1867,  and  obtained  his 
education  partly  in  his  native  town, 
partly  in  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago, having  come  to  this  city  in 
1882,  with  his  parents. 

He  worked  as  an  electrotyper 
until  he  was  master  of  the  craft. 
In  1890  he  was  offered  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman  in  the  Osgood 
plant,  advancing  next  to  that  of 


OLOP  FERDINAND  NELSON 

superintendent.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  some  seven 
years  ago. 

The  so-called  Nickeltype  pro- 
cess, making  electrotypes  more 
durable  than  by  the  old  process, 


148 


Cook  County 


and  superior  in  quality,  is  the 
invention  of  Mr.  Nelson.  It  is 
used  extensively  in  the  United 
States  and  in  Europe,  bringing 
the  inventor  a  comfortable  sum  in 
royalties  annually. 

When  in  1883  the  Svithiod  male 
chorus  was  organized,  Nelson  was 
one  of  the  first  to  join  and  has 
ever  since  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  musical  life  of  the  Swedes  of 
Chicago.  In  1892  the  chorus  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of 
Svithiod  Singing  Club,  a  social 
organization  admitting  other  mem- 
bers than  singers.  In  the  club 
Mr.  Nelson  has  been  entrusted 
with  all  the  different  offices, 
respectively,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  which  has  the  manage- 
ment of  the  club  property  valued 
at  $20, coo.  He  was  president  of 
the  American  Union  of  Swedish 
Singers  from  1901  to  1905  and 
was  the  first  president  of  the 
Swedish  Singers'  Union  of  Chicago, 
in  1906.  He  acted  as  treasurer  of 
the  picked  chorus  of  the  American 
Union,  which  made  a  tour  of 
Sweden  in  1897. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Svithiod, 
has  held  the  offices  of  chairman 
and  secretary  in  Manhem  Lodge 
No.  2,  and  is  a  thirty-second  de- 
gree Mason. 

On  Feb.  3,  1894,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Christine  Ras- 
mussen,  who  was  born  in  Den- 
mark Nov.  8,  1871.  With  their 
one  child,  Ethel  Christine,  born 
Dec.  5,  1894,  they  live  at  936 


Winona  ave.     Mr.    Nelson's    bus 
iness  address  is  66  Sherman   st. 


GUSTAF   EDWARD   SCHUCH, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  was    born  April  5,    1871, 


GUSTAF   EDWARD  SCHUCH 

in  Jonkoping,  Sweden.  Before 
emigrating  to  America  he  had 
studied  at  the  college  and  technical 
school  of  his  native  town.  Since  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  has  re- 
sided in  Boston,  Rock  Island,  Ne- 
gaunee  and  Chicago. 

He  was  graduated  in  1897  from 
Augustana  College,  and  in  1904 
from  Augustana  Theological  Sem- 
inary, receiving  at  the  same  time 
his  A.  M.  degree.  June  5,  1904, 
he  was  ordained  pastor  in  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Augustana  Syn- 
od and  then  took  pastoral  charge 
of  the  congregation  at  Austin, 
Chicago.  In  1905  Rev.  Schuch 
assumed  the  pastorate  of  the  Zion 
Church  in  Chicago. 


Chicago 


149 


In  1900  he  was  wedded  to  Miss 
Amanda  Evelina  Sundberg,  a 
daughter  of  a  well-known  family 
in  Negaunee,  Mich. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Schuch  was 
born  in  Frankfurt  am  Main,  Ger- 
many. 

The  mother  of  Rev.  Schuch  was 
from  Halland,  Sweden. 

Rev.  Schuch  has  made  profound 
studies  on  the  subject  of  mediaeval 
history  and  has  an  extensive  lib- 
rary pertaining  to  this  subject. 


CHARLES  G.  PETERSON 

was    born     March     26,     1846,    in 
Hvetlanda,  Smaland,  Sweden.     He 


CHARLES  GUSTAF   PETERSON 

comes  from  a  long  lived  family. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Boldt,  served  as  cavalryman  in  the 
war  of  1814  and  died  in  1856. 
His  grandmother,  Catharina  Boldt, 
died  aged  93  j-ears.  His  mother's 


father,  Olaus  Krook,  served  in  the 
war  of  1818,  was  retired  on  a 
pension,  and  died  at  an  advanced 
age  in  1857.  His  wife  passed 
away  about  1847.  Their  daughter 
Anna  Carrie,  was  born  in  1820, 
married  Nils  Peterson  and  died  in 
1853.  Charles'  father,  Nils  Peter- 
son, was  born  in  1818,  became  an 
overseer  on  the  government  farm 
in  Oland,  and  died  in  1901. 

Charles  G.  Peterson,  after  at- 
tending school,  drove  a  stage 
coach  while  still  in  his  'teens  and 
was  otherwise  employed  up  to 
1869,  when  he  emigrated,  coming 
to  Chicago  via  Montreal. 

In  turn  he  became  a  black- 
smith's helper,  carpenter  and 
butcher.  He  joined  the  Chicago 
fire  department  in  1883  and  re- 
mained a  member  until  retired  on 
a  pension  in  1902. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  Feb. 
14,  1870  to  Helena  Carlson  of  Chi- 
cago, born  Nov.  7,  1843.  Her 
father,  Peter  Carlson  was  born  in 
1818  and  died  in  1902.  Her 
mother,  Ingridi  Widen,  was  born 
in  1822  and  died  in  1883.  Her 
maternal  grandfather,  Peter  Widen, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Finnish  war 
of  1809  against  Russia,  helped  to 
dig  the  Gota  Canal  and  died  aged 
85  years.  His  wife,  Marta,  died 
at  the  age  of  90  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have 
been  born,  Erick  Edward,  1871. 
Apton  Hjalmar,  1872,  John  Albert 
Leopold,  1875,  Carl  Frederick 
Arthur,  1877,  Gustaf  Emanuel, 
1879,  Louis  Nathaniel,  1881, 
George  Wendell,  1884,  and  a 
daughter.  Erick  is  married  to  Ma- 


Cook  County 


thilda    Peterson,    and     Apton     to 
Carolina  Rooks. 

Mr.  Peterson  joined  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Bethlehem  Church  in 
1877.  For  three  years  he  was  a 
deacon,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of 
the  church.  The  family  home  is 
at  825  West  6 1  St. 


KNUT  SUNDSTEN 

was  born  in   Stockholm,    Sweden, 
in    1866.      After    completing    his 


and  has  an   office  in  the     Chicago 
Opera  House  Block. 

He  is  married  and  resides  at 
937  Edge  water  place.  Several 
fraternal  societies  claim  him  as  a 
member. 


ANDREW  REESE, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  was  born  July 
12,  1860,  in  Ransater  parish, 
Sweden,  where  his  father,  Andreas 
Riis  was  a  farmer.  Equipped 
with  a  Swedish  common  school 
education,  he  came  to  the  United 
States  in  May,  1880.  Having 
lived  in  Montclair,  N.  J.,  five 
years  and  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
three  years,  Mr.  Reese  took  up 
studies  at  the  Swedish  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  at  Evanston,  111. 
He  was  ordained  as  deacon  of  the 
M.  E.  church  Sept.  13,  1891,  and 
as  elder  Sept.  8,  1895.  Since 


KNUT  SUNDSTEN 

studies  at  a  school  in  Orebro,  he 
was  employed  for  a  year  as  clerk 
in  Hamburg,  Germany.  He  af- 
terwards went  to  London,  where 
he  worked  for  two  years  in  the 
capacity  of  salesman  in  the  colo- 
nial trade.  In  1889  he  came  to 
Chicago,  where  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  real  estate  business. 
At  first  he  acted  as  agent,  and 
then,  having  met  with  consider- 
able success,  he  started  in  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Mr.  Sundsten 
is  still  engaged  in  this  business  preacher  in  May  wood,  111.,  one 


AXDRE\Y  REKSE 

his  ordination  he     has    served 


as 


Chicago 


year;  in  South  Chicago,  111.,  four 
years;  in  Donovan,  111.,  six  years, 
and  is  at  present  pastor  of  the 
Humboldt  Park  Swedish  M.  E. 
Church,  having  been  stationed 
there  in  September,  1902. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Reese  was  mar- 
ried on  Oct.  26,  1892,  to  Signe 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Will- 
iam Henschen.  Their  union  is 
blessed  with  seven  children,  born 
as  follows:  Agnes  Elizabeth,  1893; 
Oliver  William,  1894;  Alice  Leila, 
1896;  Helen  Margaret,  1897;  Anna 
Wilhelmina,  1901;  Frances  Louise, 
1903;  and  Kenneth  Andrew,  1905. 


CHARLES  A.  HOFVANDER 

was    born  at    Ellinge,  near  Lund, 
Sweden,   Dec.    25,    1853.     Having 


CHARLES   A.   HOFVANDER 

obtained  an  elementary  education 
in  the  public  schools,  he  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Lund. 
Mr.  Hofvander  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  United  States  and  the  city 
of  Chicago  for  twenty-five  years, 


having  come  over  in  1882.  After 
ten  years  in  this  country  he  started 
in  the  shoe  business  at  137  Oak 
St.,  where  he  is  still  located. 

Mr.  Hofvander  is  a  member  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  has  served  as  secretary 
of  the  Bethesda  Society  of  that 
church. 


AXEL    E.  THOMPSON 

was  born  March  22,   1875,  in  Chi- 
cago.   After  gaining  his  early  edu- 


AXEL   E.  THOMPSON 

cation  in  the  city  public  schools 
he  attended  the  Metropolitan  Bus- 
iness College.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
New  York  Life  Insurance  Co.  as 
office  boy.  By  persistent  attention 
to  his  duties  he  gained  promotion 
from  time  to  time.  Having  been 
cashier  of  the  branch  office  in  St. 
Louis  for  a  short  time,  he  returned 
to  Chicago  as  general  agent  of  the 
company,  with  offices  in  suite 
304-322  Stock  Exchange  Building 


152 


Cook  County 


In  a  contest  covering  a  period  of 
a  year,  in  which  500  men  partici- 
pated, Mr.  Thompson  won  the 
presidency  of  the  New  York  Life 
Chicago  Hundred  Thousand  Dol- 
lar Club,  which  is  the  largest  or- 
ganization of  its  kind  in  the  life 
insurance  business. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  sergant-at- 
arms  of  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  League  of  Illinois, 
president  of  the  Swedish- American 
Republican  Club  of  the  3ist  ward, 
and  is  president  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Central  Republican  Club 
of  Cook  county.  He  is  Past  Grand 
of  John  Ericsson  Lodge  No.  361, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  belongs  to  Boule- 
vard Lodge  No.  882,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  Oriental  Consistory  (32d 
degree)  and  Medinah  Temple  A. 
A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  Masonic  orders. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  Feb. 
23,  1895,  to  Marie  Elizabeth  Go- 
dey.  They  have  two  children, 
Myra  Elizabeth,  born  July  12, 
1899,  and  Douglas  Eugene,  born 
April  26,  1902,  their  first  child 
having  died  in  infancy. 


John  R.  Ortengren,  harmony  with 
Dr.  Louis  Falk,  Italian  with  Sig. 
Alfieri  and  composition  with  Felix 


LYDIA     HELEN     HALLBERG 

was  born  in  Chicago,  Aug.  12, 
1880.  Her  father,  Anton  A.  Hall- 
berg,  a  native  of  Gamleby,  Swe- 
den, came  to  Chicago  in  1872. 

Miss  Hallberg  began  taking 
piano  studies  at  the  age  of  eleven. 
Being  gifted  with  a  sweet  soprano 
voice,  she  commenced  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  to  take  vocal  lessons 
from  Dr.  H.  S.  Perkins.  She 
then  attended  the  Chicago  Musical 
College  and  studied  the  voice  with 


LYDIA  HELEN  HALLBERG 

Borowski.  Miss  Hallberg  was 
graduated  in  1905.  She  has  chosen 
the  career  of  vocal  teacher  and 
has  amply  demonstrated  her  abil- 
ity. Her  studio  is  at  5509  Fifth 
ave. 

Miss  Hallberg  is  soloist  at  the 
Bethany  Swedish  Mission  Church, 
having  filled  that  position  for  a 
number  of  years. 


GUSTAF  A.  AKERLIND, 

mechanical  engineer,  is  a  native 
of  the  province  of  Sodermanland, 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  March 
21,  1856,  in  a  parish  named  Gas- 
inge.  His  father,  Daniel  Akerlind, 
who  was  a  master  mechanic,  soon 
after  removed  to  Varby,  in  Bot- 
kyrka  parish,  renowned  for  its 
ancient  church,  built  as  early  as 
1128.  The  family  after  a  time 
made  their  home  at  Tumba,  where 


Chicago 


153 


the    paper    mill    of    the    Bank  of 
Sweden   (riksbank)  is  located. 

In  1879,  his  elementary  school- 
ing   completed,     young     Akerlind 


GUSTAF   ALFRED   AKERLIND 

entered  the  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy in  Stockholm.  At  the  end  of 
the  first  term  there  he  won  several 
prizes  and  also  captured  one  of  the 
scholarships.  Having  completed 
a  three  years'  course  at  the  insti- 
tute and  worked  with  various  man- 
ufacturing firms  during  vacations 
so  as  to  gain  practical  experience, 
he  secured  a  situation  as  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Mechanical 
Works  at  Visby,  Gotland,  then 
owned  by  Graham  Brothers. 

The  young  engineer  at  the  age 
of  twenty-nine  came  to  the  United 
States,  resolved  to  risk  success  or 
failure  in  the  unlimited  field  of- 
fered by  the  enormous  industries 
of  this  prosperous  country.  At  the 
time  of  his  coining,  in  1887,  the 
outlook  for  men  in  his  line,  in- 
experienced in  American  methods, 


was  not  the  best.  After  a  short 
stay  in  New  York  City,  he  went 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  obtained 
his  first  position  of  relative  per- 
manence with  the  Ashton  Hand 
machine  works  of  Toughkenamon. 
Not  long  afterward  he  was  offered 
a  position  as  draughtsman  in  the 
Riehls  Brothers  Testing  Machine 
Works,  where  he  continued  for 
nine  months.  He  held  a  similar 
position  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  engineering  department 
in  Altoona,  Pa.,  from  1889  to 
1891.  This  was  known  as  a  splen- 
did school  for  the  training  of 
young  mechanical  engineers  for 
railway  work,  and,  having  spent 
two  years  there,  he  easily  obtained 
a  more  lucrative  position  in  the 
shops  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie 
and  Western  Railroad,  at  Susque- 
hanna,  Pa.  Early  in  1892  Mr. 
Akerlind  entered  the  service  of 
the  "Big  Four"  Railway  and  in 
December  of  the  same  year  took 
a  position  with  the  Brooks  Loco- 
motive Works  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. 
In  January,  1896,  Mr.  Akerlind 
gave  up  that  position  to  become 
chief  of  the  draughting  depart- 
ment of  the  Rock  Island  railway 
system,  his  residence  in  Illinois 
dating  from  that  time.  Before 
coming  west,  Mr.  Akerlind  had 
won  a  notable  triumph  in  1894, 
in  a  competition  arranged  by  the 
Locomotive  Engineering,  a  leading 
railway  journal,  for  the  best  plans 
for  a  railway  locomotive  affording 
the  greatest  safety  and  comfort 
for  the  crew.  The  competition 
was  open  to  the  world  and  three 
prizes  were  offered,  one  of  which 


154 


Cook  County 


went  to  Mr.  Akerlind  who,  besides, 
received  honorable  mention  for 
having  submitted  the  most  original 
plans.  Later  he  secured  patents 
on  several  of  the  safety  devices 
suggested  in  his  plans. 

His  connection  with  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad  has  been  fruitful 
of  a  number  of  practical  improve- 
ments in  its  rolling  stock.  It  was 
his  brain  that  evolved  the  tender 
steps  and  handholds  with  which 
Engine  No.  1,101  was  first 
equipped,  all  the  passenger  and 
freight  engines  being  subsequently 
equipped  with  these  attachments. 
A  car  transom,  which  is  used  on 
all  freight  cars  built  by  that  road 
since  1897,  *s  another  of  his 
patents. 

In  1902  Mr.  Akerlind  left  his 
position  with  the  Rock  Island 
company  for  a  more  profitable  one 
with  the  Chicago  Malleable  Iron 
Works.  Being  one  of  the  men, 
whose  talents  and  skill  the  strong- 
est companies  in  the  country  are 
bidding  for,  he  had  not  long  been 
engaged  there  when  the  National 
Coal  Dump  Car  Company  made  him 
so  flattering  an  offer,  that  he  felt  it 
a  duty  to  himself  to  accept.  He  is 
still  with  this  company,  with  offices 
at  1717  Railway  Exchange  Build- 
ing, Michigan  ave.  and  Jackson 
boulevard,  having  held  the  posi- 
tion of  mechanical  engineer  with 
that  concern  since  May,  1903. 

Mr.  Akerlind  is  a  member  of  sev- 
eral associations,  including  the 
Scandinavian  Technical  Society  of 
Chicago,  of  which  he  is  now  one 
of  the  directors.  A  brother  of  the 
engineer  is  C.  L.  Akerlind,  of 


Rock  Island,  foreman  of  the  press- 
room of  the  Augustana  Book  Con- 
cern. Their  father  died  in  1901. 


JOHN  N.  ALQUIST 

was  born  Oct.   13,   1865,  in  Ardre 
parish,  Gotland,  Sweden.    He  came 


JOHN    N.   ALQUIST 

to  America  Dec.  14,  1889,  and 
went  to  Connecticut,  where  he  re- 
mained ten  months.  Chicago  soon 
attracted  him  and  in  the  fall  of 
1890  he  made  this  city  his  home. 
Having  joined  the  Swedish  Free 
Mission  Church,  he  took  a  course 
of  instruction  in  1892-93,  at  D. 
I/.  Moody' s  Bible  Institute. 

In  the  summer  of  1893  he  left 
for  the  mission  field  of  Africa, 
having  been  engaged  by  the  Scan- 
dinavian Alliance  Mission.  After 
reaching  Lamoa,  British  East  Af- 
rica, he  worked  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Missionary  Emil  Heden- 
strom  among  the  Galla  and  Pokomo 
tribes.  Soon  Mr.  Ahlquist's  health 
failed  him,  however,  and  in  1895 


Chicago 


155 


he  was  compelled  to  give  up  mis- 
sionary work.  Returning  to  Chi- 
cago, he  was  engaged  for  several 
years  as  a  book  and  news  agent. 
In  1896  he  married  Brita  Lena 
Johnson,  nee  Bengtson,  born  in 
As  parish,  Halland. 

Desirous  of  establishing  a  busi- 
ness of  his  own,  Mr.  Alquist  in 
1902  settled  on  the  south  side  and 
opened  a  book  and  stationery  store, 
also  dealing  in  toys,  confections 
and  notions,  at  1136  W.  59th  st. 

He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Swedish  Mission  Church  in 
Englewood . 


AXEL  B.  C.    CARLSTEDT, 

founder  and  principal  of  the  South 
Side  College  of  Music,    was    born 


AXEL  B.  C.  CARLSTEDT 

in  the  Swedish  city  of  Helsing- 
borg,  July  26,  1849.  His  ances- 
tors, both  on  the  father's  and 
mother's  side,  had  been  organists, 
musical  directors,  teachers  and 
composers  for  many  generations 


back.  The  position  of  organist 
of  the  churches  in  Sodra  Villie 
and  Orsjo  had  been  held  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Carlstedt  family  for 
130  years.  Mr.  Carlstedt  studied 
music  under  several  teachers  in 
Sweden  up  to  1872.  That  year 
he  came  to  this  country  and  en- 
tered the  New  England  Conserva- 
tory of  Music  in  Boston.  The 
following  year  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Music. 
Subsequently  he  was  engaged  in 
the  teaching  and  execution  of 
music  in  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts until  1876,  when  he  came 
to  Chicago,  becoming  one  of  the 
very  first  of  the  musical  profession 
to  establish  himself  as  teacher  in 
this  city.  After  several  years  he 
was  called  as  teacher  of  piano  at 
the  St.  Joseph  Semi  nary,  in  Kanka- 
kee,  111.  From  there  he  removed 
toDecaturin  1882  and  there  found- 
ed the  Decatur  Conservatory  of 
Music.  Tiring  of  life  in  a  small 
city,  he  left  after  three  years, 
returning  to  Chicago  in  1886. 
Here  he  continued  his  profession 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  the 
latter  '903  established  the  South 
Side  College  of  Music,  which  is 
now  in  its  tenth  year.  The  insti- 
tution is  located  at  600  Engle- 
wood ave. 

Dr.  Carlstedt  was  married  in 
1876  to  Miss  Annie  Bird  of 
Boston,  a  niece  of  General  Terry. 
To  them  seven  children  have  been 
born,  four  of  whom,  two  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons,  are  living. 

Dr.  Carlstedt  is  the  eldest  of  a 
family  of  thirteen  children.  The 
fact  that  his  first  initials  are  the 


156 

first  three  letters  of  the  alphabet 
is  not  an  accident.  Thereby 
hangs  a  tale  that  is  sufficiently 
interesting  to  go  on  record.  All 
the  children  were  named  alphabet- 
ically, and  being  given  three  names 
apiece,  the  alphabet  was  exhausted, 
whereupon  the  father  resorted  to 
numbers  twelve  and  thirteen.  The 
list  of  names — probably  the  oddest 
in  existence — is  here  given: 

Axel  Bernhard  Conrad;  Dago- 
bert  Edvard  Fritiof ;  Gustaf  Harald 
Julius;  Knut  Leonard  Matildius; 
Nellie  Olivia  Pauline;  Quelie  Ro- 
salie Sophie;  Teresa  Urania  Vil- 
helmina;  Xesia  Yrsa  Zephania; 
Aberta  Agir  Ostgota;  Detolfta 
Johanna  Marie;  Bror  Tretton  Me- 
thodius. The  death  of  two  chil- 
dren in  infancy,  who  are  not 
included  in  the  list,  explains  why 
the  daughter  named  Twelve  and 
the  one  named  Thirteen  are  the 
tenth  and  the  eleventh  in  the  list. 
All  the  nine  surviving  children 
are  following  the  musical  profes- 
sion, six  in  Chicago  and  three  in 
New  York. 


HUGO  ADALVARD 

OIvDENBORG 

was  born  at  Hammar,  Nerike, 
Sweden,  July  26,  1868,  his  par- 
ents being  C.  C.  Oldenburg,  a 
clergyman,  and  Johanna  Maria, 
nee  Hertzman.  Beginning  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  school  of 
Hammar,  he  entered  the  col- 
legiate school  of  Askersund  in 
1887.  Subsequently  he  studied 
at  the  collegiate  school  of  Orebro, 
graduating  in  1888.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  began  the  study  of 


Cook  County 

medical  gymnastics  under  Director 
Liedbeck  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Ol- 
denborg  was  assistant  to  Director 


HUGO  ADALVARD  OLDENBORG 

Cleve,  of  the  Medevi  health  re- 
sort, during  the  season  of  1890-' 91. 
During  the  summer  of  1892  he  con- 
ducted a  medical  gymnastic  insti- 
tute of  his  own  at  Oregrund.  For 
three  years,  1890-1893,  he  was  a 
student  at  the  Royal  Gymnastic 
Central  Institute  of  Stockholm, 
graduating  as  Director  of  Gym- 
nastics. In  July,  1893,  Mr.  Ol- 
denborg  left  Sweden  and  located 
in  Chicago,  where  he  has  since 
practiced  his  profession. 

In  the  summers  of  1897  and 
1899  Mr.  Oldenborg  studied  gyne- 
cological massage  under  Dr.  Stapfer 
in  Paris,  France.  For  the  last 
six  years  he  has  taught  kinesi- 
therapy  —  massage  and  medical 
gymnastics  --at  Rush  Medical 
College,  first  as  assistant,  now  as 
associate  in  the  department  of 


Chicago 


157 


Therapeutics,    having    charge     of 
the  instruction  in  kinesi. 

Mr.  Oldenborg's  marriage  to 
Miss  Maria  Ohlson  of  Kristian- 
stad,  Sweden,  took  place  June 
24,  1899. 

JOHN  ERICKSON 

AND 

CHARLES  J.  ERICKSON 

John  Erickson  was  born  in  Filip- 
stad,  Sweden,  Jan.  25,  1866.  The 


JOHN  ERICKSON 

parents  emigrated  in  186910  Amer- 
ica and  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers in  the  Swedish  colony  at 
L,indsborg,  Kansas. 

Charles  J.  Erickson  was  born 
in  Lindsborg,  Kans.,  July  23,  1870. 
Until  1893  the  two  brothers  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof. 
The  boys  both  had  a  genius  for 
invention.  Together  they  contrived 
and  perfected  the  first  automatic 
organ  and  piano  player,  now  used 
under  various  names  all  over 
America  and  Europe. 


The  brothers  have  been  insep- 
arable in  all  their  undertakings. 
In  1893  they  went  to  Chicago  in 
order  to  perfect  and  introduce  to 
the  commercial  world  their  auto- 
matic telephone  switchboard.  Cap- 
ital was  interested,  and  after  a 
few  years  the  electrical  world  was 
startled  with  the  news  that  the 
automatic  telephone  switchboard 
was  a  success.  One  million  dol- 
lars had  been  spent  in  perfecting 
the  system,  but  the  result  has 
more  than  justified  this  immense 
expenditure.  The  Automatic  Tele- 
phone Co.,  at  Van  Buren  and 
Morgan  sts.,  with  a  factory  em- 
ploying over  1,000  men,  is  unable 
to  make  instruments  rapidly  enough 
to  supply  the  demand.  The  system 
is  being  installed  in  towns  and  cities 
both  in  Europe  and  the  United 
States,  Chicago  being  cimong  the 


CHARLES  J.   ERICKSON 

number.     The    system  does    away 
with  telephone  operators,  a  simple 


158 


Cook  County 


device  enabling  the  subscriber  to 
make  his  own  connections. 

Fourteen  years  of  painstaking  ef- 
fort passed  before  the  Erickson 
Brothers  brought  their  ingenious 
invention  to  its  present  state  of 
perfection. 

The  brothers  are  close  observ- 
ers of  physical  phenomena  and  are 
well-informed  on  practical  scien- 
tific topics.  They  are  admirable 
examples  of  pluck  and  singleness 
of  purpose. 

John  Erickson  was  married  in 
1900  to  Miss  Mary  Josephine  L/ind- 
skog,  from  Karlstad,  Sweden. 
They  have  a  son,  John  Arthur. 

Charles  J.  Erickson  was  married 
in  1898  to  Miss  Maria  Elizabeth 
Schonbeck  from  Stockholm.  They 
have  a  daughter,  Hazel  Elizabeth, 
and  a  son,  Roy  Charles. 


VICTOR   E.  JOHNSON 
was    born  in    Kroppa  parish,  near 


Emigrating  in  1884,  he  came  to 
Chicago.  After  working  here  for 
various  firms,  he  engaged  in  bus- 
iness with  his  brother,  Charles  H. 
Johnston.  In  1900  he,  togeth- 
er with  Wm.  Johnson,  started 
the  Superior  Iron  Works  at  141- 
143  Ontario  st.  The  firm  manu- 
factures all  kinds  of  iron  work 
for  building  purposes  and  brass 
castings,  also  doing  jobbing  and 
machine  forging. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

In  January,  1900,  Mr.  Johnson 
was  married  to  Miss  Emilia  Eric- 
son  from  Fogelvik  parish,  Verm- 
land,  with  whom  he  has  one  son. 


VICTOR    E.  JOHNSON 

Filipstad,  Sweden,  Jan.   31,   1875. 


OTTO  CARE  JUEL  CARLSON 
was  born  June  9,  1875,  in  Ostra 
Torp,  Sweden.  After  having 
attended  the  public  school  in  his 
native  village,  he  came  over  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Chicago 
in  July,  1890.  Having  worked  half 
a  year  in  a  bakery,  he  obtained 
employment  with  Wendell  &  Co. 
where  he  learned  the  lapidary 
trade.  After  a  couple  of  years 
he  began  to  work  at  jewelry  and 
diamond  setting  continuing  until 
1898,  when  he  left  for  Hallandale, 
Florida.  While  there  he  acted  as 
organist  of  the  Bethlehem  Church. 
After  a  year  spent  in  Florida,  Mr. 
Carlson  returned  to  Chicago  and 
resumed  work  for  his  old  employ- 
ers. He  is  now  engaged  as  dia- 
mond setter  with  the  jewelry  house 
of  Spaulding  and  Co. 

Mr.  Carlson  has  pronounced 
musical  talents.  He  has  studied 
piano  for  some  years  and  has  been 


Chicago 


159 


for  the  last  few  years  under  the 
skillful  guidance  of  the  well-known 
Swedish  vocal  teacher  of  the  Chi- 


OTTO  CARL  JUEL  CARLSON 

cago  Musical  College,  John  R. 
Ortengren.  Mr.  Carlson  has  a 
clear  and  pleasing  tenor  voice. 
He  was  for  eight  years  a  member 
of  L/yran  Singing  Society  and  also 
belonged  to  the  Swedish  Glee  Club. 
He  was  one  of  the  chorus  of  fifty- 
five  Swedish -American  singers  who 
visited  the  Stockholm  exposition 
in  1897.  Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member 
of  the  Trinity  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  is  the  leader  of  its 
church  choir,  and  also  of  the  Arpi 
male  choir. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Josephina  Ostrom 
June  5,  1907. 


JOHN   N.   JOHNSON 

was  born  on  a  farm  near  Skofde, 
Sweden,  Feb.  2,  1865.  He  attended 
school  until  about  the  time  of  his 
father's  death,  in  1878,  when  he 


had  to  take  charge  of  the  farm 
work  as  best  he  could  as  a  lad  of 
thirteen.  The  mother  had  died 
two  years  previously.  There  were 
three  sisters  and  three  brothers  of 
whom  John  was  the  oldest. 

He  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Paxton,  111.,  in  1884,  beginning 
work  on  a  farm.  Later  on  he 
learned  broommaking  and  in  1887 
left  for  Chicago.  Here  he  secured 
employment  in  a  broom  corn  com- 
mission house  where  he  was  em- 
ployed until  1897.  That  year  he 
engaged  in  a  similar  business,  with 
one  Morse  as  partner.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  associated  with 
H.  E.  Smallbone  and  J.  L,.  Flan- 
nery  in  the  manufacture  of  shutt- 
les and  other  parts  for  sewing 


JOHN  N.  JOHNSON 

machines,  he  being  vice  president 
of  the  Johnson  Shuttle  Company. 
The  business  is  located  at  606 
Wilson  ave.,  Ravenswood. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  Aug. 
24,    1893,   to    Emma  \V.  Johnson. 


i6o 


Cook  County 


Of    their    five   children    but    two, 
Reuben  and    Myrtle,   survive. 

He  is  connected  with  the  Mis- 
sion Church  in  Ravenswood  and 
is  an  active  church  worker,  having 
served  as  trustee,  deacon,  financial 
secretary,  treasurer  and  Sunday 
school  teacher. 


ARTHUR  C.  LENBERG 

was   born    in  Vestergotland,  Swe- 
den.   His  father  is  a  school  teacher 


ARTHUR   C.   LENBERG 

in  the  parish  of  Varnhem.  Emi- 
grating in  1888,  he  located  in  Chi- 
cago, securing  work  as  a  grocery 
clerk.  For  some  time  he  lived  in 
Kansas  City,  engaged  in  the  same 
occupation.  Mr.  Lenberg  is  at 
present  devoting  his  time  to  the 
piano  business.  Having  been  man- 
ager of  Story  and  Clark  Piano 
Company's  branch  store  at  1804 
N.  Clark  st.  for  a  time,  he  em- 
barked in  the  business  independ- 
ently, going  in  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  the  Johnson-Lenberg 


Co.,  which  is  now  in  the  piano 
business  at  1510  Belmont  ave. 

Mr.  Lenberg  is  a  Lutheran. 

In  1893  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Bargquist  of  Chicago.  They 
have  a  son,  George  C.,  and  a 
daughter,  Ruth  L,.  Lenberg. 


ANDERS  J.  LOFGREN, 

Methodist  clergyman,  was  born  in 
Vestra  Eneby  parish,  in  the   pro- 


AXDERS  J.  LOFGREN 

vince  of  Ostergotland,  Sweden,  on 
Oct.  2,  1857.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  collegiate  school 
at  Lunnevad  and  in  the  Normal 
School  in  Linkoping.  In  1886  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  two 
years  later,  at  the  annual  conven- 
tion of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Chicago,  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  by  Bishop  G. 
Andrews.  During  the  next  twelve 
years  he  served  as  pastor  and  as 
presiding  elder  in  Kansas  and 
Nebraska,  until  in  the  fall  of  1899 
when  he  was  appointed,  by  Bish- 


Chicago 


161 


op  J.  N.  Fitzgerald,  pastor  of  the 
First  Swedish  Methodist  Church 
of  Chicago.  He  became  presiding 
elder  of  the  Chicago  District  of 
the  Central  Swedish  Conference. 
In  1906  he  removed  to  Brooklyn, 
and  assumed  charge  of  the  Im- 
manuel  Swedish  M.  E.  Church. 


FREDRIK  G.  and 

CLARA  E.  HEDBERG 

were  born,  respectively,  at    Norr- 

telje,  Uppland,  May  25,  1846,  and 

Boxholm,  Sweden,  Feb.   18,    1850. 


CLARA  E.   HEDBERG 

Mr.  Hedberg  is  the  son  of  Mag- 
nus Leonard  Hedberg,  a  tanner  of 
Norrtelje,  and  his  wife  is  the 
daughter  of  Carl  Ekdahl,  a  black- 
smith at  Boxholm.  Both  were  in 
charge  of  Bethany  Home,  a  Meth- 
odist institution  for  old  folks,  for 
about  ten  years,  Mr.  Hedberg  as 
manager  and  his  wife,  matron. 

They  retired  from  their  charge 
June  i,  1907. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedberg  are  mem- 


bers of  the  Bethany  M.  E.  Church 
in  Ravenswood.  Their  children 
are  Fredrik  G.  and  Henry  E. 
Hedberg. 

CARL  G.  SWENSON 

was  born  in  Smaland,  Sweden.  In 
1884  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 


CARL  G.  SWENSON 

try  and  first  settled  in  Shelton, 
Neb.,  where  he  attended  high 
school  for  about  a  year  to  learn 
the  English  language.  He  then 
began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
the  office  of  a  physician  in  a  small 
Nebraska  town.  In  1887  he  was 
licensed  as  a  pharmacist.  Soon 
afterward  Mr.  Swenson  took  a 
medical  course  at  Rush  Medical 
College  in  Chicago,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1891,  receiv- 
ing the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  then 
went  to  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  there 
built  up  a  lucrative  practice. 

Desiring,  however,  a  larger  field 
for  his  work  and  wishing  to  study 
the  methods  of  the  great  surgeons, 


I  62 


Cook  County 


he  came  to  Chicago  in  1894,  where 
he  was  attached  to  the  Augustana 
Hospital  for  almost  two  years.  He 
afterwards  opened  an  office  in  318 
E.  Division  st.  Although  he  now 
has  a  large  practice,  he  has  always 
taken  a  keen  interest  in  hospital 
work.  He  later  became  attached 
to  the  Passavant  Hospital  attract- 
ed to  that  institution  by  the  skill- 
ful surgeon,  the  late  Dr.  Fenger. 
Dr.  Swenson's  care  and  skill  soon 
won  for  him  a  place  on  the  surg- 
ical staff  of  the  hospital,  and  he 
is  now  one  of  the  attending  surg- 
eons. 

A  marital  union  of  three  years' 
duration  was  dissolved  in  1905  by 
the  death  of  his  wife,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Christine  Johnston. 

Dr.  Swenson  now  resides  at  754 
Fullerton  ave.,  corner  of  Clark  st. 


teacher  in  the  Martin  Luther 
College,  an  institution  then  just 
opening  in  Chicago.  He  pursued 


CARL  RICHARD  CHINDBLOM 
was  born  Dec.  21,  1870,  in  Chicago, 
where  his  parents  have  lived  since 
then.  They  are  Mr.  Carl  P.  Chind- 
blom,  tailor  by  trade,  and  Mrs. 
Christina  C.  Chindblom,  neeEngel, 
who  came  to  this  city  from  Asbo, 
Ostergotland,  Sweden.  The  son 
studied  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  city  and  also  attended  a 
private  school  for  the  study  of  the 
Swedish  language.  In  September, 
1884,  he  was  enrolled  as  a  student 
in  the  academic  department  of 
Augustana  College,  at  Rock  Is- 
land, 111.,  graduating  from  this  in- 
stitution with  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
in  May,  1890.  He  then  continued 
his  studies  and  engaged  in  various 
employments  until  the  fall  of  1893, 
when  he  accepted  a  position  as 


CARL  RICHARD   CHINDBLOM 

the  work  of  an  educator  until  the 
fall  of  1896,  when  he  severed  his 
connection  with  the  college.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
Bethany  College,  Lindsborg,  Kan- 
sas. In  January,  1897,  he  enrolled 
as  a  student  in  the  Kent  College 
of  Law  in  Chicago  and  graduated 
therefrom  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. , 
in  June,  1898.  The  law  requiring 
three  full  years  of  study  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  he  continued 
his  preparation  for  the  legal  pro- 
fession until  the  spring  of  1900, 
when,  upon  examination  before 
the  State  Board,  he  was  admitted 
to  practice.  Since  that  time  he 
has  followed  the  profession  of.  the 
law  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and 
has  offices  at  the  present  time  in 
suite  807-811,  1 60  Washington  st. 
For  several  years  he  has  been 


Chicago 


163 


secretary  and  attorney  for  the 
First  Swedish  Building  and  Loan 
Association. 

Mr.  Chindblom  is  widely  known 
as  a  public  speaker  and  has  filled 
many  appointments  to  make  ad- 
dresses on  festival  and  other  occa- 
sions not  only  in  Chicago,  but  at 
other  places  in  Illinois  and  in  other 
states.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  has  done  much 
campaign  work  in  his  home  city 
and  state  and  elsewhere.  In  the 
fall  of  1894  his  services  were  en- 
gaged by  the  Republican  State 
Committee  of  Michigan  and  in  the 
campaigns  of  1896,  1898  and  1900 
he  did  service  as  political  speaker 
for  both  the  Illinois  State  and  the 
National  Republican  Committees, 
speaking  in  both  the  English  and 
the  Swedish  languages.  Mr.  Chind- 
blom was  in  1903  elected  president 
of  the  Swedish -American  Repub- 
lican League  of  Illinois.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Gethsemane 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and  of 
several  fraternal  and  social  organ- 
izations. 

He  has  served  on  the  board  of 
directors  of  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary,  also  on  that 
of  the  North  Star  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation, with  head  office  at  Moline, 
111.  He  was  one  of  the  committee 
which  re-organized  the  present 
Scandia  Life  Insurance  Company. 
Early  in  1906  Mr.  Chindblom  was 
appointed  attorney  for  the  State 
Board  of  Health,  by  Governor 
Deneen,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  was  elected  county  com- 
missioner on  the  Republican  ticket. 

Mr.     Chindblom     was     married 


April  27,  1907,  to  Miss  Christine 
M.  Nilsson,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hjalmar  Nilsson  of  Minne- 
apolis. Mrs.  Chindblom  is  an 
accomplished  pianist.  They  reside 
at  614  Foster  ave. 


AKSEL  G.  S.  JOSEPHSON, 

cataloguer  of  the  John  Crerar  Li- 
brary, was  born  in  Upsala,  Oct. 
2,  1860.  His  father  was  J.  A. 


AKSEL  GUSTAV  SALOMON  JOSEPHSON 

Josephson,  musical  director  at  the 
University  of  Upsala  and  one  of 
the  famous  song  composers  of 
Sweden. 

Mr.  Josephson  in  1885  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  bookseller  in 
the  university  town.  After  twelve 
years  spent  in  the  book  trade, 
during  which  time  he  stocked  up 
with  a  vast  quantity  of  biblio- 
graphical knowledge,  Mr.  Joseph- 
son  came  to  the  United  States  and 
enrolled  at  the  New  York  State 
Library  School  at  Albany.  His 
course  completed,  he  obtained  a 


1 64 


Cook   County 


position  in  1894,  as  assistant  in 
the  Lenox  Library,  now  a  part 
of  the  New  York  Library.  On 
March  i,  1896,  he  assumed  his 
present  position  of  cataloguer  of 
the  John  Crerar  Library  in  Chicago. 

On  April  27,  1899,  Mr.  Joseph- 
son  was  married  to  Lucia  Eng- 
berg,  daughter  of  the  late  Jonas 
Engberg  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Josephson  is  a  member  of 
many  clubs  and  societies,  chief 
among  which  are  Svenska  Litter- 
atur  -  Sallskapet  of  Upsala,  the 
American  Library  Association, 
the  Bibliographical  Society  of 
America  and  a  member  of  its 
council,  the  City  Club  of  Chicago, 
the  Gutenberg  Gesellschaft  of 
Mainz  and  of  the  Swedish- Ameri- 
can Historical  Society.  Of  this 
last  named  society,  which  came 
into  existence  in  1905,  Mr.  Joseph- 
son  was  one  of  the  organizers  and 
was  elected  its  first  treasurer  and 
made  chairman  of  its  library 
committee.  He  is  now  secretary 
of  the  society. 

The  following  contributions  to 
bibliographical  lore  have  been 
made  by  Mr.  Josephson,  to  wit: 
Catalogue  of  Swedish  and  Finnish 
Dissertations  at  Universities  and 
Schools,  published  at  Upsala, 
1892-97.  List  of  Bibliographies 
of  Bibliographies  (1901);  Biblio- 
graphy of  Union  Lists  of  Serials 
(1906).  In  a  pamphlet  issued 
by  him  in  1905,  entitled,  Plan  for 
the  Establishment  of  the  Biblio- 
graphical Institute,  Mr.  Josephson 
interestingly  develops  his  ideas  as 
to  the  organization,  scope  and 
uses  of  such  an  institution. 


JOHN  L.  SWENSON 

was  born  in  Skarstad  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Jan.  i,  1850.  When 
he  was  two  years  old,  the  family 


JOHN  L.  SWENSON 

removed  to  the  city  of  Jonkoping. 
In  its  public  schools  he  received 
his  early  education.  His  schooling 
was  interrupted,  however,  when 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  he  ob- 
tained employment  in  the  print- 
ing shop  of  Jbnkbpings  Tidning, 
and  remained  there  until  he  emi- 
grated in  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  worked  in  the  Hem- 
landet  printing  office.  He  subse- 
quently was  employed  by  J.  M.  W. 
Jones  Co.,  and  by  Stromberg, 
Allen  &  Co. 

Almost  immediately  after  his 
arrival  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Swenson  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Svea  Sing- 
ing Society,  which  chose  him  in- 
structor and  director  three  years 
later.  In  1870  Mr.  Swenson  organ- 
ized the  Scandinavian  National 
Quartet,  with  which  he  made  an  ex- 


Chicago 


165 


tensive  concert  tour  in  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

When  Christina  Nilsson  first 
visited  America  and  Chicago,  Mr. 
Swenson  was  chosen  to  direct  the 
united  Scandinavian  choruses  who 
sang  at  the  reception  given  the 
prima  donna  in  Germania  Hall, 
Chicago.  He  also  wielded  the  ba- 
ton at  the  benefit  concert  given 
by  her  in  behalf  of  the  St.  Ansgar- 
ius  Church. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Swenson 
was  offered  the  directorship  of  the 
Freja  Singing  Society,  then  one 
of  the  foremost  musical  organiza- 
tions of  the  city,  and  remained 
its  director  for  a  period  of  nearly 
ten  years.  Since  that  time  he  has 
directed  the  following  singing  so- 
cieties: the  Typographical  Man- 
nerchor,  the  Scandinavian  Quartet 
Club,  the  Swedish  Singing  Society, 
reorganized  as  the  Swedish  Glee 
Club,  the  Svithiod  Singing  Club, 
and  the  L,yran  Singing  Society  of 
Rockford,  111.,  besides  several  quar- 
tets and  other  smaller  organiza- 
tions. Mr.  Swenson  was  musica* 
director  of  the  Svithiod  Singing 
Club  for  about  fifteen  years,  re- 
tiring in  1906. 

At  a  competitive  singing  festi- 
val, held  at  the  Auditorium,  Chi- 
cago, Jan.  n,  1896,  in  which 
male  choruses  of  seven  different 
nationalities  took  part,  the  Svith- 
iod singers  carried  off  the  cham- 
pionship banner,  wrhile  Mr.  Swen- 
son received  a  gold  medal  with 
this  inscription:  "John  L,.  Swen- 
son, Trophoeum  Cantatorum,  Com- 
petitio  Musicalis.  Chicago,  Jan. 
n,  1896." 


At  the  present  time,  and  for 
years  past,  Mr.  Swenson  is  the 
director  of  the  Bjorgvin  Norwe- 
gian male  chorus,  and  has  raised 
it  to  a  high  standard  of  song.  At 
its  twenty-fifth  anniversary  con- 
cert, given  at  Garrick  Theatre  in 
May,  1907,  Mr.  Swenson  was  pre- 
sented with  a  gold  laurel  wreath 
medal,  set  with  diamonds,  as  a 
token  of  their  appreciation  of  his 
long  services  during  the  past  fif- 
teen years. 

Aside  from  the  duties  implied 
in  the  foregoing,  Mr.  Swenson  has 
always  been  engaged  more  or  less 
in  church  musical  work.  Thus 
he  has  been  attached  to  the  Olivet 
Presbyterian,  the  Centennial  Bap- 
tist, the  Norwegian  Methodist 
Episcopal,  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  and  the  Lincoln  Park 
Congregational  churches  for  vari- 
ous periods  from  the  '6os  to  the 
present  time. 

In  order  to  familiarize  himself 
thoroughly  with  the  higher  class 
of  choral  work,  Mr.  Swenson  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Oratorio  Society,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Hans  Balatka,  the  Apollo 
Club,  under  William  Tomlins,  and 
other  singing  organizations  of  the 
highest  class.  In  the  last  named 
club  he  has  been  an  officer.  In 
voice  culture  and  training  he  has 
been  a  pupil  of  Mme.  Redington, 
Mme.  Barnett  of  the  Cecilian  Acad- 
emy, and  Dr.  Parker,  and  has 
studied  harmony  with  Henry 
Schoenfeld. 

Mr.  Swenson  was  married  to 
Miss  Sophie  Anderson  Sept.  24, 


1 66 


Cook  County 


1885,  and  they  have  three  child- 
ren, Grace,  Henry  and  Ruth. 

They  have  always  lived  at  their 
own  home,  1712  Deming  pi. 

In  view  of  his  long,  successful 
and  manysided  career  as  musical 
director,  Mr.  Swenson  may  well 
be  given  credit  for  having  done 
the  most  of  any  man  so  far  in 
fostering  among  the  Scandinavian 
population  of  Illinois  love  for  their 
national  songs  and  training  their 
singers  to  artistic  rendition  of  the 
same. 


VICTOR  J.    TENGWALD, 

pastor  of  the  Elim  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church  in  Pullman,  Chicago, 


VICTOR  JOHAN  TENGWALD 

was  born  March  6,  1860,  in  Ting- 
stade,  Gotland.  In  his  early  child- 
hood his  parents  removed  to 
Halmstad,  Sweden,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  grammar 
school  and  college  of  that  city. 
After  devoting  some  time  to  private 
tutoring  he  emigrated  to  America 


in  1879.  He  remained  in  the 
eastern  states  about  two  years, 
being  employed  as  bookkeeper  and 
teacher.  In  1881  he  became  prin- 
cipal of  the  graded  parochial  school 
of  the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  Chicago,  which  position 
he  held  until  1887.  The  following 
year  he  was  employed  by  the 
Engberg-Holmberg  Pub.  Co.  as 
editor  and  completed  the  "Laro- 
och  lasebok  for  svensk-amerikan- 
ska  forsamlingsskolor,"  a  Swedish 
reader  still  used  in  parochial 
schools.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  entered  the  Augustana  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Rock  Island, 
where  he  graduated,  and  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  in  1890. 
Since  then  he  has  had  pastoral 
charges  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  1890- 
1894;  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  1894- 
1895;  i*1  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
1895-1900,  and  since  that  time 
in  Chicago. 

Rev.  Tengwald  served  in  1895 
as  secretary  of  the  New  York 
Conference.  He  was  unanimously 
elected  secretary  of  the  Illinois 
Conference  of  the  Augustana  Syn- 
od in  1905,  an  office  to  which  he 
was  reelected  in  1906  and  1907. 
He  has  also  been  entrusted  with 
the  chairmanship  in  various  church 
organizations. 

In  1884  Rev.  Mr.  Tengwald  was 
married  to  Dorothea  Hogstrom, 
who  died  in  April,  1905.  Mrs. 
Tengwald  was  widely  known  for 
her  active  church  and  school  work, 
as  also  for  her  literary  ability. 

Rev.  Tengwald  is  the  editor  of 
a  monthly  church  paper,  Bekan- 
naren.  From  time  to  time  various 


Chicago 


167 


articles  on  religious  subjects  from 
his  pen  have  appeared  in  different 
publications. 

In  1907  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Emma  Sundquist  of 
Chicago,  who  is  eminently  gifted 
for  church  work. 


AXEL  JOHANSON, 

importer  of  Swedish  merchandise, 
was  born  in  Alem  parish,  Smaland, 


AXEL  JOHANSON 

Sweden,  Dec.  24,  1867.  In  1888 
he  emigrated  to  America,  landing 
April  24  in  Boston,  where  he 
worked  until  the  following  year, 
when  he  took  a  prospecting  trip 
westward,  and  finally  arrived  in 
Chicago,  in  May,  1889.  He  has 
since  made  this  city  his  home. 

In  1896  he  started  the  firm 
known  as  the  Swedish  Produce  Co. 
with  location  on  S.  Water  St., 
and  began  to  import  all  kinds  of 
Swedish  merchandise.  Of  this  firm 
he  was  the  proprietor  until  he 
sold  out  his  interest  in  June,  1896, 


and  with  his  family  took  a  trip 
to  Sweden.  During  his  stay  there 
he  made  connections  with  some  of 
the  large  manufacturers,  and 
he  now  represents  some  of  the 
largest  firms  of  Sweden,  whose 
manufactures  he  is  introducing 
into  this  country.  Mr.  Johanson 
is  at  the  present  time  one  of  the 
largest  importers  of  Swedish  mer- 
chandise products  in  the  United 
States.  «His  office  is  in  the  Ma- 
sonic Temple. 

In  1889  Mr.  Johanson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hilma  Nelson,  with 
whom  he  has  three  children,  one 
boy  and  two  girls. 

In  politics  he  takes  no  part  be- 
yond doing  his  duty  as  a  citizen 
and  a  Republican  at  the  elections. 


JOHN  K.  NORSTROM 

was  born   on   a  farm   near   L,inds- 
borg,   Kansas,  Jan.   13,  1869.     He 


JOHN  K.    NORSTROM 

is  said  to  be  the  first  white  child 
born  in   McPherson  county.      His 


1 68 


Cook  County 


parents  are  C.  F.  Norstrom  and 
Anna  Swenson  Norstrom.  The 
father  is  now  treasurer  of  the 
Swedish  American  Insurance  Co. 
of  L,indsborg. 

John  is  the  second  son  in  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  as  a  boy  at  the  same  time 
attending  the  public  school  in 
Lindsborg,  subsequently  completing 
a  course  in  the  commercial  de- 
partment of  Bethany  College. 

Removing  to  Chicago  in  January 
1896,  he  found  employment  with 
the  Strowger  Automatic  Telephone 
Co.  and  rose  to  the  position  of 
sub-foreman  in  the  electrical  de- 
partment. He  was  then  engaged 
by  the  National  Automatic  Tele- 
phone Co.  to  install  automatic 
exchanges  and  act  as  salesman. 
The  firm  next  put  him  in  charge 
of  the  electrical  department  and 
later  made  him  superintendent. 
In  this  capacity  he  made  several 
improvements  in  the  telephone 
system.  In  Dec.,  1900,  the  Globe 
Automatic  Telephone  Co.  was  or- 
ganized with  Mr.  Norstrom  as 
vice  president,  director  and  elec- 
trical engineer.  He  continued 
making  improvements  in  the  ap- 
paratus, protecting  them  by  patents. 

Having  made  a  close  study  of 
the  demerits  of  the  then  existing 
automatic  telephones,  he  saw  room 
for  still  further  improvement  and, 
resigning  his  position,  he  became 
the  president  of  the  Automatic 
Telephone  Co.  with  works  at  103- 
109  E.  Randolph  St.,  in  Feb.,  1903. 
Mr.  Norstrom's  genius  has  evolved 
a  complete  central  energy  auto- 


matic telephone  exchange  system. 
It  is  patented  and  the  apparatus 
is  now  manufactured  by  the  firm. 
Mr.  Norstrom  was  married  in 
December,  1892,  to  L,ydia  E.  Lund- 
quist,  daughter  of  a  pioneer  farm- 
er, N.  P.  L,undquist  and  his  wife, 
Carolina.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Frances.  The  family  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


FRANK  I/)NN 

was    born    Nov.   3,   1843,  ni  Lan- 
naskede  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 


FRANK    LONN 

His  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  the  common  schools. 
In  1868,  when  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  he  left  for  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  L,onn  has  held  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  the  postal 
station  at  Hegewisch,  Chicago, 
for  several  years.  He  has  always 
been  a  Republican  and  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  politics. 

Mr.  Lonn    is    a    Lutheran,    and 


Chicago 


169 


is  a  member    of    the    Independent 
Order  of  Odd   Fellows. 


GUSTAF  LINDELL 

was  born  in  Sweden  Nov.  9,  1864. 
His  parents  were  Lars  and  Maria 


GUSTAF  LINDELL 

Larson,  who  lived  in  Sunne  parish, 
Vermland.  The  son  attended  the 
high  school  founded  by  Anders 
Fryxell,  the  famous  Swedish  his- 
torian, and  as  a  boy  he  once  took 
a  prize  of  five  crowns,  given  by 
Professor  Fryxell,  an  occasion  he 
cherishes  as  the  proudest  moment 
in  his  life.  Gustaf  helped  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  1885, 
when  he  went  to  Stockholm  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
joiner.  In  1887  he  emigrated  to 
America,  landing  on  our  shores 
May  5.  Proceeding  at  once  to 
Chicago,  he  there  secured  employ- 
ment in  his  trade.  After  three 
years  he  got  his  first  contract  for 
the  erection  of  a  building.  Before 
it  was  completed,  he  had  secured 


two  more  contracts.  Since  then 
he  has  erected  many  private  resi- 
dences and  a  number  of  public 
buildings  and  club  houses,  among 
the  latter  the  Saddle  and  Cycle 
Club  house  in  Edgewater  and  the 
Exmore  Golf  Club  house  in  High- 
land Park. 

Mr.  Lindell  has  been  recording 
secretary  of  the  Iduna  Society  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Carpenters' 
and  Builders'  Association. 

In  1897  Mr-  Lindell  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  Maria  Olson. 
They  have  a  daughter  living,  their 
first  child,  a  son,  having  died  at 
a  tender  age. 


AARON  W.  ANDERSON 

was  born  at  Rydaholm,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  July    3,    1877.     He    emi- 


AAROX  W.    ANDERSON 

grated  to  America  in  1893,  locat- 
ing in  Chicago.  He  started  in 
the  grocery  business  when  but  a 
young  man,  and  has  now  a  pros- 
perous grocery  and  meat  market 


i  yo 


Cook  County 


at    2875    N.    Robey    St.,    Ravens- 
wood. 

He  married  Miss  Signe  Ander- 
son, born  in  Chicago  May  15,  1879, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children,  Parkman  Rus- 
sell and  Morris  Aaron. 


WILHELM  EKENBORG 
was   born   April    2,    1850,    in    the 


2,    1050,    in 
city    of    Ronneby,    Sweden. 


He 


WILHELM  EKENBORG 

learned  the  carriage  maker's  trade 
from  his  father.  Emigrating  in 
1870  to  America,  he  first  settled 
in  California.  After  two  years  he 
moved  to  Chicago.  He  started  in 
business  for  himself  as  carriage- 
maker  in  1882,  at  1401-3  North 
Clark  st.,  where  he  is  still  located. 
In  1875  Mr.  Ekenborg  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mathilda  Wennerholm. 
They  have  had  four  sons,  of  whom 
three  are  still  living.  They  are 
engaged  in  business  with  their 
father.  The  family  belongs  to  the 
St.  Ansgarius  Swedish  Episcopal 


Church.  Ekenborg  is  a  member 
of  the  First  Swedish  Lodge,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  of  the  Verdandi  Lodge 
of  the  Svithiod  order. 


ANDREW  THELANDER 

was  born  July  26,  1847,  in  Bre- 
daryd  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
He  emigrated  to  America  in  1869. 
For  the  first  two  years  he  traveled 
through  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try and  afterwards  made  his  home 
in  Chicago. 

He  joined  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  1870.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
in  latter  years  was  treasurer  of  the 
board. 

In  1874  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  firm  Braun  &  Fitts,  butter- 
ine  manufacturers,  and  was  for 
many  years  salesman  and  collector 
for  this  firm. 


ANDREW    TH BLANDER 

When  in   1904  the  firm  split  and 
Mr.     Braun    established    his    own 


Chicago 


171 


factory  at  75-77  W.  Monroe  St., 
under  the  name  of  Geo.  P.  Braun 
Co.,  Mr.  Thelander  followed  and 
continues  in  his  employ  to  the 
present  time. 

In  1872  Mr.  Thelander  was  mar- 
ried to  Maria  L.  Erickson  from  Ul- 
lened  parish,  province  of  Vester- 
gotland,  Sweden.  Nine  children 
have  been  born  to  the  couple,  of 
whom  one  son  and  four  daughters 
are  still  living.  The  son,  Theo. 
A.  Thelander,  is  a  jeweler  at 
1739  North  Clark  st.,  L,ake  View. 


JOHANNES  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Edsvara  parish,  Ves- 
tergotland.  Sweden.     At  an  early 


JOHANNES    ANDERSON 

age  he  went  to  Stockholm  and  be- 
gan as  an  apprentice  in  the  wood- 
carving  trade.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  attended  the  Technolog- 
ical School  of  Stockholm.  In  1883 
he  went  to  Hamburg,  Germany, 
and  during  the  following  three 
years  visited  the  cities  of  Cologne, 


Mainz,  Stuttgart,  Strassburg,  and 
other  places  in  Germany  and 
Switzerland.  In  1885  he  went  from 
Zurich  to  Paris,  remaining  there 
until  1889,  when  he  returned  to 
Sweden.  Coming  to  this  country 
in  1892,  he  located  in  Erie,  Pa., 
and  later  in  Rock  ford,  111.  He 
came  to  Chicago  in  1894  and  se- 
cured a  position  with  Joseph  Dux, 
the  well-known  architectural  sculp- 
tor, under  whom  he  has  worked 
ever  since  as  molder  and  designer. 
Mr.  Anderson's  work  adorns  many 
of  Chicagos  finest  club  houses, 
depots,  commercial  houses  and 
residences. 


LOUIS  A.  LEVIN 

was  born  in  Oknaby,  Gellersta  pa- 
rish, Orebro  Ian,  Sweden,  Dec.  12, 
1842.  He  arrived  in  America  June 
7,  1868.  Proceeding  to  Chicago 


LOUIS    A.    LEVIN 


he  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
here,  and  after  some  years  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  tea  and  coffee 


172 


Cook  County 


trade,  which  he  has  followed  un- 
interruptedly for  twenty  -  eight 
years. 

Mr.  Levin  has  never  married. 


JOHN   E.  ERICSON, 

civil  engineer,  was  born  in  Upland, 
Sweden,  Oct.   21,   1858,  his  father, 


JOHN   ERNST   ERICSON 

Anders  Ericson,  owning  an  estate, 
known  as  Lockstaholm.  His  father 
died  in  1894,  but  his  mother  still  sur- 
vives. He  received  a  common  school 
and  collegiate  education  at  Norr- 
telje  and  Upsala,  graduating  from 
the  Royal  Polytechnic  Institute, 
Stockholm,  in  1880.  Soon  after 
he  was  appointed  assistant  engi- 
neer of  the  Vasa  Bridge,  Stock- 
holm, which  position  he  retained 
for  one  year,  until  emigrating  to 
America  in  June,  1881.  Arriving 
here,  he  was  made  resident  en- 
gineer of  the  Toledo,  Cincinnati 
and  St.  Louis  Railroad,  and  the 
following  year  accepted  a  position 
as  bridge  designer  with  Hopkins 


&  Co.  of  St.  Louis.  From  the 
fall  of  1882  to  the  spring  of  1884 
he  was  assistant  engineer  for  the 
U.  S.  government  on  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  canal  investigation . 
In  the  last  named  year  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  city  of  Chicago  as 
draughtsman,  which  position  he 
filled  with  such  ability  that  he 
was  in  1886  promoted  to  become 
assistant  engineer.  In  1893  ne  was 
again  promoted  to  the  position  of 
principal  assistant  city  engineer, 
followed  four  years  later,  July  6, 
1897,  by  his  advance  to  the  posi- 
tion of  city  engineer.  In  1903  he 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Public  Improvements.  This 
josition,  although  an  important 
one,  became  irksome  to  Mr.  Eric- 
son  because  of  its  comparative  in- 
activity. He  therefore  applied  for 
his  old  post  of  city  engineer  and 
was  reappointed  to  this  office  un- 
der the  civil  service  rules. 

During  Mr.  Ericson' s  employ- 
ment by  the  city  of  Chicago  he 
has  superintended  the  construction 
of  many  important  public  works 
in  the  city  and  elsewhere.  He 
was  in  local  charge  of  the  Lake 
View,  North  Shore  and  Sixty- 
eighth  street  tunnels.  He  was  also 
assistant  chief  engineer  for  the 
location  and  design  of  the  new 
water  works  at  Seattle,  Wash. 
During  his  service  as  assistant  city 
engineer  Mr.  Ericson  was  in  charge 
of  all  tunnel  and  crib  construction 
and  made  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions for  twelve  miles  of  new  tun- 
nels, together  with  two  new  pump- 
ing stations,  each  station  to  have 
four  twenty-million  gallon  triple 


Chicago 


173 


expansion  pumping  engines.  Mr. 
Ericson  has  also  overhauled  all 
the  engines  of  the  various  pump- 
ing stations,  entailing  a  vast 
amount  of  detail  work.  All  the 
extensive  improvements  to  the 
water  works  system  of  Chicago 
have  called  for  engineering  and 
executive  ability  of  the  highest 
order,  and  Mr.  Ericson  has  amply 
met  the  expectations  of  the  citi- 
zens as  well  as  of  the  adminis- 
tration. About  70  per  cent,  of  the 
Chicago  water  works  system  has 
been  designed  and  constructed  un- 
der Mr.  Ericson's  supervision. 

As  an  engineer  Mr.  Ericson 
stands  in  the  foremost  rank.  In 
all  the  public  positions  which  he 
has  held  he  has  given  eminent 
satisfaction  and  many  of  his  works 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  en- 
gineering skill. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  West- 
ern Society  of  Engineers,  Chicago 
Academy  of  Sciences,  American 
Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  Amer- 
ican Water  Works  Association, 
also  of  the  Chicago  Athletic  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Swedish  Glee  Club, 
being  president  of  the  latter  for 
some  years,  and  several  Masonic 
lodges.  He  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively through  Sweden,  Nor- 
way, Germany,  Holland,  England, 
Scotland,  the  United  States  and  the 
Hawaiian  Islands. 

Mr.  Ericson  was  married  July 
u,  1888,  to  Miss  Inez  Lydia 
Malmgren  of  Chicago,  who  died 
in  1893.  Three  years  after,  on 
June  30,  1896,  he  wedded  her 
sister,  Esther  Elizabeth  Malmgren. 
They  were  daughters  of  the  late 


Anders  Fredrik  and  Lydia  Eliza- 
beth Malmgren  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Ericson  has  a  daughter,  Mildred 
Inez,  born  May  10,  1889,  of  his 
first  wife. 

In  the  exercise  of  his  duties  as 
city  engineer  of  Chicago,  Mr.  Eric- 
son  has  prepared  a  number  of 
special  reports  printed  in  pamphlet 
form,  bearing  on  such  topics  as 
the  water  supply,  street  railways 
and  the  lowering  of  the  tunnels 
under  the  Chicago  River.  He  is 
also  the  author  of  several  papers 
on  technical  subjects,  read  before 
various  engineering  societies. 

In  1906  Mr.  Ericson  was  granted 
a  year's  vacation  with  full  pay, 
retaining  meanwhile  the  position 
of  consulting  engineer. 

In  April,  1907,  he  again  assumed 
full  charge  as  city  engineer  at  the 
request  of  the  municipal  govern- 
ment. 


JOHN  GOTTFRID  CARLSON 
was  born  at  Bone,  Vestergot- 
land,  Sweden,  Nov.  29,  1835. 
With  a  public  school  education 
acquired  in  his  native  place  he 
emigrated  to  America  in  1852  in 
company  with  his  parents,  his 
father  dying  three  years  after  their 
arrival  in  Chicago. 

As  a  young  man  he  learned  the 
tailor's  trade  which  he  followed  for 
some  time.  Subsequently  he  joined 
the  city  fire  department  from  which 
he  was  retired  on  a  pension  at  the 
age  limit  after  forty  years'  ser- 
vice, including  thirty-one  years  as 
captain  of  his  brigade.  He  is  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Immanuel  Swedish  Luth.  Church 


174 


and  has  served  in  the  capacity  of 
deacon  for  many  years  back. 
March  8,  1873,  Mr.  Carlson  was 


JOHN  GOTTFRID  CARLSON 

married  to  Miss  Matilda  Johnson 
of  Chicago,  born  Apr.  17,  1844. 
Of  three  children  a  son  and  a 
daughter  are  living.  They  are, 
Albert  G.,  born  Dec.  14,  1873, 
married  to  Miss  Kathryn  Mack, 
and  Hildur  J.,  born  July  n,  1875, 
who  is  now  Mrs.  Eugene  W.  Dahl. 


MATTHIAS  WAHLSTROM 

was  called  to  the  position  of  su- 
perintendent of  Augustana  Hospi- 
tal, from  that  of  president  of 
Gustavus  Adolpus  College  at  St. 
Peter,  Minn,  where,  in  the  main, 
his  life  work  has  been  performed. 
.He  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Blekinge,  Sweden,  Nov.  28.  1851. 
His  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1854,  first  locating  in 
Chicago,  and  then  living  for  short 
periods  at  Geneva,  Montgomery, 
and  Aurora,  111.,  until  1861,  when 


they  settled  in  West  Union,  Car- 
ver county,  Minn.  The  son  at- 
tended St.  Ansgar's  Academy 
1869-71,  and  in  the  latter  year 
entered  Augustana  College,  at 
Paxton,  111.,  which  institution 
was  removed  to  Rock  Island  be- 
fore he  graduated,  in  1877.  Mr. 
Wahlstrom  taught  in  St.  Ansgar's 
Academy  in  1874-75,  and  acted 
as  parochial  school  teacher  during 
summer  vacations  while  a  student. 
Having  completed  the  college 
course,  he  continued  his  studies 
in  the  theological  seminary  at 
Augustana  for  two  years,  grad- 
uating in  1 879  and  being  ordained 
minister  by  the  Augustana  Synod 
at  its  meeting  in  Chicago  in 
June  of  the  same  year. 


MATTHIAS  WAHLSTROM 

July  6,  following,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Selma  C.  Ekstrom 
of  Lindsborg,  Kas.,  and  then  left 
for  the  mission  field,  laboring 
among  the  Indians  of  the  West 
and  Southwest  in  1879  and  1880, 


Chicago 


175 


meanwhile  traveling  extensively 
in  Colorado,  New  Mexico  and 
Indian  Territory. 

In  the  fall  of  1880,  Mr.  Wahl- 
strom  accepted  a  call  to  teach  at 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  at 
St.  Peter,  Minn.  The  following 
year  he  was  elected  president  of 
the  institution.  For  twenty-three 
years  he  remained  at  the  head  of 
the  institution  and  saw  it  grow 
from  a  small  academy  with  a  single 
department  to  a  full  college,  with 
five  departments  in  all,  annually 
enrolling  from  300  to  400  stu- 
dents and  graduating  50  to  70 
every  year. 

Augustana  College  in  1886  con- 
ferred on  Prof.  Wahlstrom  the 
degree  of  A.  M.,  and  in  1894 
that  of  Ph.  D.  In  November, 
1901,  by  order  of  King  Oscar  II 
of  Sweden,  he  was  created  a 
knight  of  the  Order  of  the  North 
Star  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  K. 
H.  G.  von  Scheele  of  Gotland, 
Sweden,  then  on  a  visit  to  the 
United  States.  Dr.  Wahlstrom  is 
a  life  member  of  the  American 
Bible  Society. 

For  several  years  he  served  as 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
churches  at  Le  Sueur  and  St. 
Peter,  Minn.  In  1904  Dr.  Wahl- 
strom resigned  the  presidency  of 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College  and 
about  the  same  time  he  was  elec- 
ted by  the  Illinois  Conference  to 
the  position  of  superintendent  and 
chaplain  of  Augustana  Hospital, 
and  assumed  his  duties  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  same  year. 

Dr.  Wahlstrom  is  a  forceful 
public  speaker,  and  the  quarter 


century  he  has  devoted  to  school 
work  has  given  him  front  rank 
among  Swedish-American  edu- 
cators. 

His  married  life  has  been  blessed 
with  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, here  named  in  the  order  of 
their  birth:  Hilding  Timotheus, 
Edna  Frideborg,  deceased,  An- 
nette Frideborg,  Ruth  Eleonor, 
Edna  Constance,  Einar  Anselm 
and  Maurice  Geijer. 


FERDINAND 
ENGELBRECTSON 

was   born   in    Goteborg,    Sweden, 
April    27,    1862.       In    November, 


FERDINAND   ENGELBRECTSON 

1888,  he  passed  a  successful  exam- 
ination in  surgery  before  the  Royal 
Medical  Department  in  Stockholm. 
Discontented  with  the  opportu- 
nities open  to  him  in  Sweden,  he 
left  Goteborg  for  London  in  Octo- 
ber, 1890.  From  this  place  he 
went  to  Alexandria,  Egypt,  and 
thence  back  to  England.  He  next 


176 


Cook  County 


went  to  New  York,  arriving  in 
January,  1891,  and  remained  until 
August,  1893,  when  he  removed 
to  Chicago,  where  he  has  been 
permanently  located  as  practicing 
masseur  ever  since  that  time. 

In  April,  1901,  he  married  Miss 
Agnes  Bergendorff  from  Falkop- 
ing,  Sweden.  The  same  year  he 
was  appointed  clinical  demonstra- 
tor in  massage  and  medical  gym- 
nastics at  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity Medical  School.  Mr.  Eng- 
elbrectson  graduated  as  Doctor  of 
Medicine  from  Dearborn  Medical 
College  in  Chicago  June  27,  1907. 


EMANUEL  OSTERHOLM 

was  born  Feb.  27,   1869,  in  Ostra 
Emtervik,      Vermland,      Sweden. 


EMANUEL  OSTERHOLM 

His  parents  were  Magnus  Oster- 
holm,  a  carpenter  and  farmer, 
and  Anna  Maria,  nee  Anderson. 
After  leaving  the  public  school,  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  until  1887, 
when  he  emigrated  to  America, 


destined  for  Chicago.  Here  he 
went  to  work  as  a  painter,  stick- 
ing to  that  trade  until  1894,  when 
he  opened  a  paint  and  wall  paper 
store  in  partnership  with  Robert 
Anderson,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Anderson  and  Osterholm.  Con- 
tracting for  painting  and  decorat- 
ing is  the  principal  item  in  their 
business.  They  began  by  employ- 
ing five  men  and  now  employ 
about  fifty.  Their  business  has 
increased  very  extensively. 

Outgrowing  the  quarters  in 
which  the  firm  opened  up,  they 
erected  a  three  story  store  and 
flat  building  in  1898,  at  1202  W. 
59th  st.  This  is  their  main  place 
of  business,  but  they  also  conduct 
a  branch  store  at  3200  N.  Clark 
street. 

Mr.  Osterholm  was  choirmaster 
of  the  Swedish  Mission  Church  of 
Englewood  for  several  years.  He 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Mission  Church  in  Lake  View. 
His  brother  is  Albin  N.  Oster- 
holm of  Superior,  Wis.,  who  has 
poetical  ability,  as  shown  in  a 
volume  of  verse,  published  several 
years  ago. 

Mr.  Osterholm  was  on  June 
20,  1900,  married  to  Hannah 
Mathilda  Swenson,  of  Chicago, 
born  Jan.  14,  1875.  They  have 
a  son,  Philip  Emanuel,  born 
April  i,  1901. 

AXEL  LUDVIG  NYSTROM, 

a  clergyman  in  the  Mission  Church, 
was  born  in  Kristiania,  Norway, 
July  8,  1872,  his  parents  having 
come  from  the  Swedish  province 
of  Vermland.  The  family  emi- 


Chicago 


177 


grated  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
Grass  Lake,  Kanabec  co.,  Minn, 
in  1876.  At  thirteen  he  went  to 


AXEL  LUDYIG  NYSTROM 

West  Superior,  Wis.  and  worked 
there  as  salesman  in  a  clothing 
store.  In  1892,  he  entered  the 
Ev.  Mission  Covenant  Theo- 
logical Seminary  and  completed 
his  studies  for  the  ministry  at 
North  Park  College  in  the  spring 
of  1895.  He  afterward  took  a 
special  course  at  Knox  College 
and  also  studied  for  some  time  at 
Bethany  College,  Lindsborg,  Kans. 
In  1895  he  was  given  his  first 
pastoral  charge,  that  of  the  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church  at  West  Bur- 
lington, Iowa.  In  December,  1900, 
he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Swed- 
ish Congregational  Church  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  1901,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Nystrom  came  to  Chi- 
cago and  assumed  the  pastorate 
of  the  Swedish  Mission  Church  in 
Englewood,  and  is  still  retaining 
that  charge.  He  is  married  to 


Miss  Mollin  Miller  of  Burlington, 
Iowa,  and  resides  at  5849  Car- 
penter St. 

KARL  H.  ELMSTROM, 

minister  in  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  was  born  Aug. 
20,  1850,  in  the  city  of  Karls- 
krona,  Sweden.  While  attending 
the  collegiate  school  there,  he 
came  under  the  influence  of  Meth- 
odism through  Rev.  Sorlin,  and 
after  his  graduation  felt  prompted 
to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry 
in  that  church.  The  opposition 
of  his  parents,  however,  forced 
him  to  abandon  this  plan.  Instead 
he  entered  Fjellstedt  Theological 


KARL   H.    ELMSTROM] 

Seminary  in  Upsala  with  the 
intention  of  becoming  a  Luth- 
eran pastor.  During  his  three  years' 
stay  here  he  had  the  permission 
of  Archbishop  Sundberg  to  preach 
in  four  different  churches  of 
the  archbishopric.  At  the  end  of 
this  period  he  again,  in  1872,  came 


I78 


Cook  County 


in  close  touch  with  the  Method- 
ists in  Stockholm,  and  after  having 
had  conversations  with  several  of 
the  older  ministers,  whose  ac- 
quaintance he  had  formed  in  Karls- 
krona,  he  resolved  to  join  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  was  or- 
dained in  1875  as  deacon  and  in 
1877  as  elder.  In  Sweden  he  la- 
bored in  the  ministry  for  about  ten 
years,  having  charge,  successively, 
of  the  Methodist  congregations  in 
Orebro,  Halsberg,  Goteborg,  Up- 
sala,  Jonkoping  and  Stockholm. 

In  1882  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elmstrom 
emigrated  to  America,  where  his 
first  charge  was  at  Beaver,  111. 
Next  his  charges  were  on  the  west 
side  in  Chicago  for  three  years,  in 
Minneapolis  for  three  years  and 
again  on  the  west  side  in  Chicago 
for  three  years,  on  the  north  side 
for  three  years,  and  finally  for 
two  years  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 
From  Oct.  i,  1898,  until  1903  he 
was  editor  of  Satidebudet,  resign- 
ing to  assume  the  pastorate  of  the 
First  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  of 
Chicago. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Elmstrom  married 
Miss  Jennie  Froberg  of  Stockholm, 
Sweden,  in  1873.  Of  their  four 
children,  two  daughters  survive. 


tar,    visiting    many    parts    of    the 
world. 

In    1877,    having    concluded    to 
become  a  landlubber,  he  embarked 


GUSTAF  C.  BROBERG, 
general  steamship  agent,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Nykopiiig,  Sweden, 
Oct.  20,  1858.  As  a  boy,  he  was 
sent  to  a  relative  in  Stockholm  to 
study.  He  was  restless,  however, 
and  soon  hired  out  as  a  member 
of  the  crew  of  a  sailing  vessel, 
bound  for  England.  For  several 
years  he  led  the  life  of  a  young 


GUSTAF  CASPER  BROBERG 

for  New  York  City,  going  from 
there  to  Buffalo  and  later  to  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Broberg  here  became 
a  sub-agent  for  a  railroad,  and  in 
that  capacity  secured  much  of  the 
immigration  business  for  his  road. 
After  gaining  experience  he  estab- 
lished a  steamship  and  railroad 
ticket  agency,  making  a  specialty 
of  the  passenger  traffic  to  and 
from  Sweden,  Norway,  Denmark 
and  Finland.  His  office  is  in  his 
own  building,  67  E.  Kinzie  st. 

In  1890  Mr.  Broberg  started 
publishing  Humoristen,  a  comic 
weekly,  the  successive  editors  of 
which  were  Ville  Akerberg,  Oliver 
Linder,  Ernst  Lindblom  and  Gustaf 
Wicklund.  In  1890  the  paper  was 
changed  to  a  weekly  general  news- 
paper, entitled  Svenska  Nyheter.  It 
grew  from  a  smaller  size  to  a  7-col- 


Chicago 


179 


umn,  12  page  paper,  and  then  to  16 
pages.  In  July,  1906,  Svenska  Ny- 
heter  and  Svenska  Tribunen,  a  sim- 
ilar newspaper,  were  consolidated 
and  are  now  published  under  the 
hyphenated  name  of  Svenska  Trib- 
unes-Nyheter.  Early  in  1907  Mr. 
Broberg  sold  his  interest  in  the 
newspaper,  and  now  devotes  him- 
self to  his  ticket  agency. 

Mr.  Broberg  was  married  in  1884 
to  Miss  Bertha  Gloor,  with  whom 
he  has  a  daughter,  thirteen  years 
old.  The  family  residence  is  at 
1152  Sheridan -road. 

Mr.  Broberg  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Glee  Club,  Svithiod  Lodge 
No.  i,  King  Oscar  Lodge  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Lincoln  Park  Chapter  of 
St.  Bernard  Commandery  and  of 
Medinah  Temple.  At  the  World's 
Fair  in  Chicago  Mr.  Broberg  was 
corresponding  secretary  of  the 
Scandinavian  Auxiliary  Committee 


got  work  in  a  sawmill.  He  was 
variously  employed  in  shingle  and 
lumber  mills,  and  at  log  cutting 


JOHN  MARTENSON, 
publisher  of  the  weekly  religious 
newspaper,  Chicago- Bladet,  is  the 
son  of  Abraham  Martenson,  a  la- 
borer of  Jonkoping,  Sweden,  and 
his  wife,  Charlotta  Falk,  He  was 
born  in  that  city  March  25,  1850. 
After  attending  common  school 
for  two  or  three  years  the  boy 
worked  for  an  upholsterer  un- 
til ten  years  of  age  when  he  got 
a  job  as  errand  boy  in  a  printing 
shop  in  his  home  town,  and  worked 
at  the  type  case  there  and  in 
Stockholm  for  the  next  six  years, 
or  until  he  emigrated  in  1867. 
He  went  as  far  west  as  his  money 
would  take  him,  stopping  at 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  he 


JOHN  MARTEXSON 

and  log  driving  until  1869,  when, 
after  a  trip  down  the  Mississippi 
on  a  lumber  raft,  he  passed  through 
Chicago  and  decided  to  take  up 
his  old  trade  in  that  city.  He 
worked  as  compositor  on  the  Swed- 
ish newspaper  Hemlandet  up  to 
1874,  when  he  took  the  position 
of  foreman  in  the  printing  office 
of  Svenska  Ameiikanaren,  another 
Swedish  newspaper,  continuing 
there  until  the  latter  part  of  1876. 
In  February,  the  following  year, 
Mr.  Martenson  started  Chicago- 
Bladet  and  has  been  its  publisher 
up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Martenson  comes  from  a 
pious  family,  which  for  two  gen- 
erations had  been  identified  with 
the  revivalists  known  as  Readers. 
His  father  was  one  of  the  first  of 
these  in  Jonkoping.  Mr.  Marten- 
son's  maternal  grandfather,  Abram 


i8o 


Cook  County 


Falk,  was  a  farmer-poet,  who 
wrote  many  religious  songs,  in- 
cluding the  well-known  hymn 
beginning,  "Oppet  star  Jesu  for- 
barmande  hjarta."  Mr.  Marten- 
son's  activity  as  editor  and  pub- 
lisher has  received  its  character 
from  the  early  influences  of  his 
home.  His  paper,  while  indepen- 
dent, is  generally  accepted  as  the 
organ  of  the  Free  Mission  Church. 
He  is  also  the  publisher  of  Colum- 
ba,  a  fortnightly  paper  for  juve- 
nile readers. 

Mr.  Martenson  is  a  member  of 
the  Oak  Street  Swedish  Mission 
Church,  of  which  he  has  served 
as  trustee  and  treasurer  for  about 
twenty-five  years.  He  ranks  as 
one  of  the  leaders  of  that  group 
of  believers  denominated  as  Free 
Mission  Friends  and  was  in  fact 
one  of  the  fathers  of  this  move- 
ment. 

Mr.  Martenson  was  married 
Sept.  27,  1871,  to  Sarah  Ander- 
son, a  daughter  of  Anders  and 
Christina  Jonsson,  born  in  Ryda- 
holm,  Sweden,  June  2,  1854.  Of 
four  children  born  to  them  two 
died  in  early  years.  The  surviv- 
ors, John  Victor  and  Alma  Emilia, 
are  both  married. 

The  Martenson  family  resides 
at  1540  Aldine  ave.,  and  the  office 
of  Chicago- Bladet  is  at  205  Oak  st. 


&  Co. ,  manufacturers  of  cut  leather. 
In  1902,  Mr.  Isberg  bought  out 
his  employers'  interests.  As  far 


FRANK  W.  ISBERG 

is  a  native  of  Chicago.  Born  in 
this  city  April  8,  1871,  he  was  ed- 
ucated in  its  public  schools.  After 
reaching  mature  years,  he  became 
superintendent  for  H.  C.  Tillinghast 


FRANK   W.   ISBERG 

as  he  knows,  he  is  the  only  Swede 
by  birth  or  descent  in  the  West 
engaged  in  this  line  of  business. 
The  firm  is  styled  F.  W.  Isberg 
&  Co.,  and  its  place  of  business 
is  at  193  Lake  st. 

Mr.  Isberg  is  a  member  of   the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


CARL  F.  BRUSEN 

was  born  July  22,  1871,  in  Hal- 
lingeberg  parish,  Smaland,  Swe- 
den. He  learned  the  tailor's  trade 
from  his  father  at  home.  Coming 
to  America  and  locating  in  Chi- 
cago, he  worked  for  various  tailor- 
ing establishments  and  learned  also 
the  art  of  cutting.  Thus  equipped, 
he  started  in  business  for  himself 
as  a  merchant  tailor  in  1897,  at 
1643  N.  Clark  st.,  his  present 
location. 


Chicago 


181 


Mr.  Brusen  was  married  in  1900 
to  Miss  Constance  Johanson.  He 
is  a  member  of  several  Swedish 


CARL  FREDRIK    BRUSEN 

societies  and    has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Orpheus  Singing  Club. 


CLAES  FLODIN, 

manufacturer,  was  born  in  Jon- 
koping,  Sweden,  July  6,  1848. 
His  parents  were  Carl  Flodin,  su- 
perintendent of  the  Barnangen 
Manufacturing  Company's  works 
at  Stockholm,  and  Lovisa  Svenson 
Flodin.  The  son  attended  public 
and  private  school.  In  1872  he 
left  home  for  America,  arriving 
July  2.  He  proceeded  to  Chicago, 
where  he  worked  at  the  metal 
trades.  For  upwards  of  twenty- 
five  years  he  has  been  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Goetz  & 
Flodin,  133  W.  Chicago  ave., 
manufacturers  of  copper  and  sheet 
iron  tanks. 

Mr.     Flodin    was    for    eighteen 
years  president  of  the  First  Swed- 


ish Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion. He  belongs  to  the  Swedish 
Kv.  Lutheran  Mission  Church  in 
Lake  View  and  has  been  a  trustee 
of  the  North  Side  Mission  Church. 
Mr.  Flodin  is  married  to  Emma 
O.  Larson,  daughter  of  A.  Larson, 
a  coppersmith,  and  Anna  Larson 
from  Satersfors,  Habo  parish,  Ves- 
tergotland,  Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Flodin's  children  are  eight  in  num- 
ber, Hilma  C.,  Benjamin  A.,  Ru- 
dolph A.,  Agnes  O.,  Ida  E.,  Ha- 


CLAES  FLODIN 


raid    L-,    Arnold    and    Elmer    E. 
Flodin . 


CHARLES  E.  SPAAK 

was  born  Oct.  21,  1865,  in  Elfs- 
borgs  Ian,  Sweden.  His  father, 
Pehr  Henric  Spaak,  was  well- 
known  in  the  province.  The  early 
instruction  given  Charles  Spaak 
was  private,  but  at  twelve  years 
of  age  he  entered  the  Jonkoping 
collegiate  school.  From  there  he 
went  to  Orebro  and  studied  at  the 


1 82 


Cook  County 


Technical  Institute  at   that  place,      chief  engineer  with  the  same  com- 


Upon    his    graduation  in  1885    he 
immediately    left    for    the    United 


CHARLES   ERIK    SPAAK 

States.  Here  he  became  engaged 
as  draughtsman  in  1885-1886  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment Engineering  Corps  in  Chicago. 
From  1886-87  ne  assisted  in  the 
preliminary  work  for  the  Chicago 
drainage  canal  and  from  1887-88 
he  was  assistant  engineer  during 
the  laying  of  the  cable  system  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  In  1888-89  he 
held  a  position  as  inspector  and 
draughtsman  for  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment Engineering  Corps.  After 
working  for  one  year  in  this  ca- 
pacity he  accepted  the  position  of 
assistant  city  engineer  in  Seattle, 
Wash. ,  from  which  he  soon  resigned 
to  become  assistant  engineer  for 
the  Great  Northern  Railway.  April 
i,  1892,  he  returned  to  Chicago  as 
assistant  engineer  with  the  Indiana 
Natural  Gas  and  Oil  Co.  This  posi- 
tion he  held  until  in  1898  he  became 


pany,  his  present  position. 

Mr.  Spaak  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Gerda  Hessler  July  5,  1894. 
Their  two  sons  are  Carl  Per  Harald, 
born  Aug.  15,  1897,  and  Gilbert 
Henric,  born  April  u,  1899. 


CHARLES  RUDOLPH  NELSON 

was  born  in  Ulricehamn,  Sweden, 
January  26,  1859.  His  father  was 
John  Nelson,  a  cabinet  maker. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Matilda  Hedlund. 

The  family  emigrated  to  this 
countrj7  in  1865  and  proceeded  to 
Chicago.  In  common  with  so 
many  others  they  were  burned  out 
in  the  fire  of  1871.  Charles  at- 
tended the  public  school  until 


CHARLES  RUDOLPH  NELSON 

1875  when  he  started  to  learn,  the 
printer's  trade  which  he  continued 
until  1883.  After  a  few  more 
years  of  experience  in  business  he 
became  in  1888,  head  of  the  sales 
department  of  the  Ames  and  Frost 


Chicago 


183 


Co.     For  ten    years    he    remained 
with  the  house,  afterward   assum- 
ing management  of  the    Tengwall 
File  and   Ledger   Co.,    in   Ravens- 
wood.     In   1903    Mr.    Nelson    was 
attracted  to    St.    Louis   where    he 
was,    until     1906,    vice    president 
and  general  superintendent  of  Lie- 
ber  &  Trussell  Co.     Mr.  Nelson  is 
now  president  of  the  Nelson  Cor- 
poration,   231     Monroe  St.,  where 
loose-leaf  devices  are  manufactured. 
He  has  invented  no  less    than    26 
loose-leaf  devices,  a  paper  punch 
ing  machine  and  a  rattan  splitting 
machine.     Some   of  these    devices 
are  used  by  the  U.  S.  government. 
His    business    has    taken    him    to 
nearly  all  the  larger  cities  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Ravenswood,  having 
moved  there  when  there  were 
truck  farms  all  around  his  home. 
From  that  time  he  has  been 
identified  with  its  rapid  improve- 
ment and  advance.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Republican  precinct 
club  and  belongs  to  Royal  League, 
Royal  Arcanum,  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, Odd  Fellows,  National  Union, 
Ravenswood  Blue  Lodge,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.  Columbia  Chapter,  St. 
Bernard  Commandery,  Medinah 
Shrine,  Prince  of  Chaldeans,  and 
to  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  July 
22,  1882,  to  Viola  May  Newell, 
born  in  Chicago,  May  27,  1861, 
her  parents  being  Samuel  B.  and 
Margaret  Newell.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nelson  have  been  born,  Clar- 
ence Richard,  in  1883;  Lulu  Irene, 
in  1884;  Ethel  May  in  1886; 


Marshall  Burr,  in  1887;  Wilbur 
Alvord,  in  1892;  Ruth  Eleanor, 
in  1901,  and  Florence  Helen  in 
1904.  The  family  resides  at  2881 
N.  Paulina  St.,  and  belongs  to 
Ravenswood  M.  E.  Church.  Mr. 
Nelson  has  been  a  member  of  the 
official  board  of  the  church  and 
the  chorister  of  the  Sunday  school 
for  many  years. 


HENRY  S.  HENSCHEN 

was  born  July  29,   1873,  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  attended  public  schools 


HENRY   SAMUEL  HENSCHEN 

in  Evanston,  111.,  and  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.,  and  removed  in  1885  to 
Sweden  with  his  parents.  After 
attending  school  two  years  in 
Stockholm  and  two  years  in  Up- 
sala,  he  returned  to  the  United 
States  in  1889. 

The  same  year  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Haugan  and  Lindgren, 
bankers,  Chicago,  and  has  ever 
since  been  connected  with  the 
institution,  now  known  as  State 


1 84 


Cook  County 


Bank  of  Chicago.  In  1898  he 
was  made  manager  of  the  Bond 
and  Foreign  Exchange  Depart- 
ment and  in  1901  promoted  to 
Assistant  Cashier. 

From  1893  to  1896  he  attended 
evening  classes  in  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law,  was  admitted  to 
the  Illinois  bar  in  1895  and  in 
1898  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws. 

He  has  at  times  filled  the  po- 
sition of  Acting  Vice  Consul  for 
Sweden  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Henschen  was  married  in 
5,  to  Miss  Edith  M.  C.  Mount- 


try  in  July  and  settling  at  Gales- 
burg.  There  young  Nelson  attend- 
ed the  public  schools,  worked  for 


ain  and   has  one  son.     His   home 
is  at  728  Pine  Grove  ave. 

Mr.  Henschen  is  a  member  of 
the  Union  League  Club  and  the 
Bankers'  Club  and  of  Grace 
M.  E.  Church. 


NELS  NELSON 

is  an  insurance  man,  well  known 
to  Swedish- Americans  in  general 
from  his  connection  with  the  Scan- 
dinavian Mutual  Aid  Association 
of  Galesburg,  111.,  as  its  secretary 
for  a  period  of  nineteen  years. 

He  was  born  in  Weinge  parish, 
Halland,  Sweden,  July  13,  1840, 
the  son  of  Nils  Bengtson,  a  farmer 
and  carpenter,  and  his  wife,  Jo- 
hanna Johansson.  His  parents 
with  four  children  emigrated  to 
America  in  1854,  but  owing  to  in- 
sufficient means,  Nels  was  left  be- 
hind with  friends.  The  family 
arrived  in  Chicago  duiing  the 
cholera  epidemic  of  1854,  and  the 
father  and  one  son  died  from  that 
disease  soon  after.  In  1856  Nels 
left  Sweden,  coming  to  this  coun- 


NELS    NELSON 

farmers  in  that  locality,  and  for 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quin- 
cy  R.  R.  Company,  also  serving 
a  short  apprenticeship  with  a  cab- 
inetmaker, until  1861.  That  year 
he  volunteered  for  service  in  the 
Union  army,  served  four  and  a 
half  years  and  in  March,  1865, 
was  promoted  for  meritorious  serv- 
ice to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 
Mr.  Nelson  was  a  member  of 
Company  C,  43d  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, which  company  was  made 
up  of  Swedes.  He  began  service 
as  a  sergeant  of  the  company. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Nelson  went  into  business  in  Gales- 
burg.  In  1 8/1  he  was  elected  city 
treasurer  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity for  five  years,  being  re-elected 
each  year  up  to  1875  inclusive. 
He  now  devoted  himself  to  his 
private  business  until  1883,  when 


Chicago 


185 


he  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Scandinavian  Mutual  Aid  Associ- 
ation, a  life  insurance  company 
on  the  assessment  plan,  a  position 
held  by  him  until  1902.  When 
the  business  of  the  Association  was 
by  a  vote  of  the  necessary  major- 
ity of  its  members  transferred  to 
the  Scandia  Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Chicago,  also 
an  assessment  organization,  on  the 
2Qth  day  of  August,  1902,  Mr. 
Nelson  severed  his  connection  with 
the  association  and  remained  in 
Galesburg. 

The  following  spring  he  was 
again  elected  treasurer  of  the  city 
for  a  term  of  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  term  in  April, 
1905,  the  Scandia  Mutual  Life 
was  reorganized  on  the  legal  re- 
serve basis  and  placed  on  a  per- 
fectly sound  footing.  Then,  upon 
the  invitation  of  the  management 
of  the  company,  now  the  Scandia 
Life  Insurance  Company,  Mr.  Nel- 
son went  to  Chicago  to  assist  in 
the  management  of  its  affairs  at 
the  head  office,  where  he  is  now 
engaged. 

In  1868  Mr.  Nelson  was  married 
to  Miss  Sarah  Nelson  of  Gales- 
burg,  daughter  of  Nils  Palsson. 
She  died  Dec.  7,  1898.  The  issue 
of  their  union  was  two  children, 
Arthur  Ulrich,  born  July  29,  1869, 
and  Edmund  Linnea,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Arthur  Nelson  is  married 
to  Miss  Anna  E.  Westerberg  of 
Galesburg,  and  resides  there. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Galesburg,  and  served  for  fourteen 
consecutive  years  on  the  board  of 


trustees  and  was  its  treasurer.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

While  living  in  Galesburg,  Mr. 
Nelson  served  the  city  in  many 
other  capacities  besides  that  of 
city  treasurer.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  15 
years,  of  the  Board  of  Education 
for  4  years  and  of  the  Public  Lib- 
rary Board  for  7  years. 


CARL  VALLENTIN 

was  born  at    Fredriksberg,  in  the 
province     of     Smaland,     Sweden, 


CARL  VALLENTIN 

May  10,  1858.  He  came  to  this 
country  with  his  parents  in  1870 
and  settled  in  Moline,  111.  For  a 
few  years  he  followed  his  father's 
trade  as  a  blacksmith  and  worked 
for  the  Moline  Plow  Co. 

His  education  was  obtained 
at  Augustana  College.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  began  to 
teach  school  and  continued  in  this 
occupation  for  three  years. 


1 86 


Cook  County 


When  the  insurance  society 
known  as  the  Scandinavian  Mutu- 
al Aid  Association  of  Galesburg 
was  organized,  he  accepted  a  po- 
sition as.  their  general  agent  and 
traveled  extensively  for  a  number 
of  years. 

In  1886  he  started  a  book  and 
music  store  in  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
While  in  this  business  he  pub- 
lished a  journal,  called  Hemmet, 
and  a  Swedish  cookbook. 

In  1890  Mr.  Vallentin  came  to 
Chicago  and  opened  a  real  estate 
office,  with  Mr.  Charles  Berg  as 
a  partner. 

When  the  Svea  Building  and 
I^oan  Association  of  Chicago  was 
organized,  he  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters and  officiated  as  vice-pres- 
ident and  treasurer  until  the  spring 
of  1896. 

In  June  of  that  year  he  went 
to  Europe,  making  a  tour  of  Swe- 
den, Denmark,  Germany,  France 
and  England. 

In  1897  ne  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  known  as  the  Svea 
Land  Colony,  which  for  the  last 
decade  has  been  engaged  in  colo- 
nizing and  developing  Silverhill, 
Alabama.  Mr.  Vallentin  more 
recently  interested  himself  in  a 
gold  mining  enterprise,  known  as 
the  Telma  Gold  Mining  Co., 
and  is  identified  with  other  finan- 
cial enterprises. 

Mr.  Vallentin  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Englewood,  where  he  has  resided 
for  some  twelve  years. 


CHARLES  J.  DAHLQUIST 

was  born  June  13,   1862,  in    Kin- 
neved  parish,  Vestergotland,  Swe- 


CHARLES  J.   DAHLQUIST 

den.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  land. 
Oct.  12,  1 88 1,  he  came  to  America 
and  took  up  his  abode  in  Chicago. 
Mr.  Dahlquist  is  a  shoe  dealer, 
having  started  in  business  with  a 
Mr.  Swanson  in  1895,  in  Engle- 
wood. The  firm  is  now  Burkdahl 
&  Dahlquist,  located  at  511  W. 
63d  st. 

His  wife  is  Maria  Dahlquist, 
nee  Borg,  and  their  children  are: 
Ellen,  Carl,  Martin  and  Juliet. 

Mr.  Dahlquist  is  a  member  of 
the  Salem  Swedish  Lutheran  con- 
gregation in  Chicago,  where  he  has 
been  a  Sunday  school  teacher  for 
many  years. 


CHARLES     E.      SCHLYTERN, 

president  of  the    Union    Bank    of 
Chicago,     was     born     in    Svartla, 


Chicago 


187 


Ofver  L,ulea  parish,  Sweden,  Jan. 
17,  1853,  the  son  of  C.  O.  Schly- 
tern,  a  large  manufacturer,  and 


CHARLES  E.  SCHLYTERN 

his  wife  Anna,  nee  Sjoding. 
During  the  years  1862-1871,  he 
attended  the  collegiate  schools  at 
L,ulea  and  Umea.  Shortly  after 
graduating,  in  1871,  he  went  to 
the  United  States,  spending  the 
next  two  years  in  Iowa,  Nebraska, 
Illinois,  working  as  wood-cutter, 
a  farm  hand  and  railroad  laborer 
and  doing  whatever  work  was 
offered.  Subsequently  he  located 
in  Chicago.  Until  1879  he  was 
employed  in  various  offices  in  the 
city;  after  that  time  he  was  for 
ten  years  chief  clerk  in  the  John- 
son Chair  Go's,  factory,  and  sub- 
sequently for  twelve  years,  1889- 
1901,  cashier  of  the  Milwaukee 
ave.  State  Bank. 

In  August,  1901,  he  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  and  mortgage  loan 
business  at  825  Milwaukee  ave., 
in  partnership  with  John  A.  Prebis. 


When,  in  1905,  the  Union  Bank 
of  Chicago  was  organized  by  a 
number  of  Swedes  and  Norwegians 
of  Chicago,  Mr.  Schlytern  was 
elected  president  of  the  bank. 
This  institution  which  is  a  state 
bank,  was  capitalized  at  $200,000, 
with  a  reserve  fund  of  $25,000, 
and  began  business  May  i,  1905. 
At  the  end  of  the  month  the  de- 
posits were  $108,565.63.  In  two 
years,  May  i,  1907,  they  had 
increased  to  $648,458. 

Mr.  Schlytern  was  married  in 
1889,  to  Edith  G.  Isbell,  of 
American  parentage.  They  have 
one  child,  a  son.  Mr.  Schlytern 
is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


SVEN  P.  SWANSON 

was   born  in   Hinneryd,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  March  3,  1853.     He  emi- 


SVEN  P.  SWANSON 


grated  to  America  in  1872,  locat- 
ing first  in  Chicago,  then  in  Min- 
neapolis, and  later  on  in  Chicago 
again.  He  is  a  cutter  by  trade 


i88 


Cook  County 


and  at  present  connected  with 
Barret  R.  Hall. 

Mr.  Swenson  is  a  member  of 
the  Illinois  Encampment  No.  2, 
First  Swedish  Lodge  of  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  K.  P.  and  King  Oscar  Lodge 
of  Free  Masons. 

He  was  married  to  Sophie 
Lundquist  Jan.  14,  1884,  and  has 
a  son,  Earl  Grover. 


P.  AXEL  BLOMFELDT 

was    born  at    Ekno  estate,   Bjork- 
skog  parish,  Vestmanland,  Sweden, 


P.   AXEL   BLOMFELDT 

April  10,  1858.  Having  finished 
in  the  common  school,  he  entered 
at  fifteen  years  of  age  as  an  ap- 
prentice in  the  works  of  the  K6- 
ping  Manufacturing  Company. 
Four  years  later  he  left  and  was 
employed  in  a  similar  plant  at 
Ljusne  for  three  years.  A  desire 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  New 
World  had  been  steadily  growing 
with  him,  and  at  twenty- three 
he  bade  farewell  to  his  fatherland. 


He  arrived  in  Chicago  May  2, 
1 88 1.  Immediately  after  his  arrival 
he  secured  employment  at  his  trade 
as  a  mechanic,  and  for  fifteen 
years  occupied  his  time  in  con- 
stantly improving  his  mechanical 
skill  and  acquiring  American 
methods. 

In  1896  Mr.  Blomfeldt  formed 
a  partnership  with  another  skilled 
Swedish- American  mechanic,  Mr. 
O.  Rapp,  for  the  purpose  of  man- 
ufacturing dies,  tools  and  other 
machinery  specialties,  and  they  be- 
gan business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Blomfeldt  &  Rapp,  at  34  Mar- 
ket st.  Besides  having  a  large 
trade  in  the  United  States,  the 
firm  has  made  considerable  ship- 
ments to  Canada,  Central  and  South 
America,  Japan,  and  even  to  Eng- 
land and  Germany.  Their  shop  is 
now  at  39  W.  Randolph  st. 

Aside  from  his  reputation  as  a 
business  man,  Mr.  Blomfeldt  is 
well  known  for  his  public  spirit, 
his  liberality  and  his  interest  in 
patriotic  and  social  organizations. 
The  fraternal  order  of  Svithiod 
owes  its  present  standing  and 
prosperous  condition  largely  to 
Mr.  Blomfeldt' s  enthusiastic  leader- 
ship and  skillful  management.  Be- 
ing one  of  the  first  members  of 
Svithiod  Lodge  No.  i,  he  pro- 
moted the  branching-out  process 
and  joined  Verdandi  Lodge  No.  3 
at  its  organization  in  1890.  When 
in  July,  1893,  all  the  Svithiod 
lodges  were  organized  into  a  grand 
lodge,  Mr.  Blomfeldt  was  almost 
unanimously  chosen  its  first  Grand 
Master.  A  few  years  later  the 
treasurership  of  the  order  was  en- 


Chicago 


189 


trusted  to  him,  and  during  his 
services  in  this  capacity  more  than 
$200,000  have  passed  through  his 
hands,-  all  of  which  has  been 
handled  and  accounted  for  in  the 
most  business-like  manner. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Svithiod 
Singing  Club. 

Mr.  Blomfeldt  and  Miss  Emily 
Samuelson  were,  married  Sept.  21, 
1895,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child.  The  Blom- 
feldt residence  is  at  3990^Perry  St., 
Rogers  Park. 

FRANK    ROSENGREN 

was  born  Dec.  17,  1846, 'in  Stock- 
holm, Sweden.  Having  studied 


FRANK  ROSENGREN 

in  the  naval  school  in  Stockholm, 
he  emigrated  to  America  in  1866, 
stopping  in  Chicago,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since. 

Mr.  Rosengreu  was  connected 
with  the  Gormully  &  Jeffery  Manu- 
facturing Co.  for  over  twenty -two 
years.  He  is  at  present  associated 


with  George  T.  and  F.  W.  Ro- 
sengren  and  Chas.  W.  Nelson  in 
the  manufacturing  business,  under 
the  name  of  the  Enterprise  Tool 
and  Metal  Works,  incorporated, 
at  141  S.  Clinton  st. 

Mr.  Rosengren  was  married  in 
1870,  and  has  five  children,  mostly 
married.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
Swedish  Odd  Fellows  in  Chicago, 
having  joined  the  order  in  1868. 


FRANK  G.  GUSTAFSON 

was  born  in  Skofde   parish,  prov- 
ince    of     Vestergotland,    Sweden, 


FRANK  G.  GUSTAFSON 

on  Nov.  8,  1863.  His  father  was 
Gustaf  Anderson,  who  by  industry 
and  thrift  had  risen  from  hired  hand 
through  the  intermediate  stage  of 
foreman  to  owner  of  a  farm.  His 
son  Frank  who  was  one  of  a  fami- 
ly of  eight  children,  spent  his 
early  years  on  the  farm,  attending 
school  at  intervals.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  he  went  to 
Stockholm  and  worked  at  the 


190 


Cook  County 


mason's  trade.  For  a  time  he 
attended  Tekniska  Skolan  and 
Byggnadsyrkesskolan  in  order  to 
learn  the  theoretical  side  of  mason 
construction  and  general  architect- 
ure. He  continued  there,  work- 
ing as  a  mason  until  1887  when 
he  came  over  to  Chicago,  obtain- 
ing employment  at  his  trade.  As 
soon  as  he  had  the  language 
sufficiently  at  his  command  he 
attended  an  evening  technical 
school,  further  improving  his  theo- 
retical knowledge  of  building  con- 
struction. After  a  few  years'  ex- 
perience he  became  a  builder  and 
contractor.  As  such  he  has  erected 
a  number  of  the  most  modern 
structures  in  the  city,  aiding  ma- 
terially in  the  upbuilding  of  resi- 
dential Chicago. 

Mr.  Gustafson  has  a  tenor  voice 
which  in  the  upper  register  is 
sweet,  clear,  and  powerful  withal. 
This  has  made  him  a  much  sought 
for  member  of  male  choruses  in 
Stockholm  and  in  Chicago.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Swedish 
Glee  Club,  and  has  acted  as 
director  and  vice-president  of  the 
club.  In  1897  he  took  part  in 
the  concert-tour  to  Sweden,  made 
by  the  American  Union  of  Swed- 
ish Singers.  He  belongs  to  the 
Builders'  and  Masons'  Association. 
In  1893  Mr.  Gustafson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Maria  Svenson.  They 
reside  at  735  5ist  St.,  Chicago. 


Johan  Larson,  and  Johanna  Jo- 
hansdotter  who  both  lived  on  the 
farm  until  their  respective  deaths, 


CHARLES  G.   CHINLUND 

was  born  Sept.  4,  1849,  in  Kin- 
nared,  Hossna  parish,  Elfsborgs 
Ian.  His  parents  were  Anders 


CHARLES  GUSTAF  CHINLUND 

the  former  passing  away  in  1888. 
Gustaf ,  as  he  was  then  called,  at- 
tended the  public  school  until  he 
was  confirmed  in  1864.  In  1871 
he  emigrated  to  America,  landing 
at  Boston,  and  came  direct  to 
Chicago.  He  arrived  Oct.  18, 
one  week  after  the  Chicago  fire. 
Employment  was  secured  at  once 
in  clearing  away  the  ruins.  For 
a! year  he  was  engaged  in  the 
building  trade.  In  1874  he  was 
engaged  by  Engberg  and  Holm- 
berg  as  a  salesman  of  Swedish 
publications.  He  has  since  re- 
mained with  this  firm  except 
during  1889-1891  when  he  \vas  a 
stockholder  in  the  Concordia  Pub- 
lishing Co.,  and  manager  for  the 
Framat  Pub.  Co. 

Mr.  Chinlund  was  a  member 
of  the  Immanuel  Church  from  1874 
until  1885.  He  served  six  years 


Chicago 


191 


as  collector  and  from  1883  to  1885 
as  deacon.  In  1884  Mr.  Chinlund 
secured  a  home  in  Baxter  St.,  now 
Osgood  st.  This  resulted  in  his 
joining  the  Trinity  Church,  where 
he  was  a  deacon  for  nine  years 
and  Sunday  school  superintendent 
for  seven  years.  Mr.  Chinlund 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Messiah 
English  Lutheran  Church  since 
its  organization  in  1896,  and  has 
been  a  deacon  during  this  period. 
In  1871  Mr.  Chinlund  was  mar- 
ried to  Wilhelmina  C.  O.  Nelson, 
born  April  24,  1851,  in  Bone  par- 
ish, Elfsborgs  Ian,  Sweden.  They 
have  five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
viz.:  Emil  Gottfrid,  born  1872 
(now  pastor  in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  and 
married  to  Alma  Swenson  of 
Chicago);  Ellen  Theresia,  born 
1876  (married  to  Dr.  John  N. 
Sandblom,  dean  of  the  dental  de- 
partment, New  Technical  Institute 
of  Christiania) ;  Carl  Theodore, 
born  1878,  (employed  with  Gage 
Bros.,  millinery);  Victor  Imman- 
uel,  born  1880  (married  to  Elsa 
Bergman  of  Chicago);  Anna 
Wilhelmina,  born  1883  (graduate 
of  Columbia  School  of  Music, 
teacher  of  piano);  Edith  Josefina, 
born  1884;  Joseph  Ferdinand,  born 
1886;  Ruth  Eveline,  born  1888; 
Edwin  Fridolf,  born  1890;  Mildred 
Augusta,  born  1892. 


gan  studying  law,  and  graduated 
from  Chicago  College  of  Law 
after  taking  a  three  years'  course, 


WILLIAM  R.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Chicago  Nov.  i, 
1875,  and  attended  public  schools 
and  high  school  until  1890.  For 
several  years  he  devoted  himself 
to  business.  He  soon,  however,  be- 


WILLIAM  R.  ANDERSON 

receiving  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
Shortly  thereafter  he  took  the 
state  examination  for  admission 
to  the  bar  and  received  his  license 
to  practice  in  1899. 

Since  that  time  he  has  been 
associated  with  his  brother,  G. 
Bernhard  Anderson,  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  the  firm  being  known 
as  Anderson  and  Anderson,  with 
offices  at  100  Washington  st. 


ANDREW  SWANSON 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Malmo, 
Sweden,  April  30,  1853.  After 
attending  the  public  school,  he 
learned  the  mason's  trade.  In 
1880  he  emigrated  to  this  country, 
with  Chicago  as  his  destination. 
He  was  superintendent  for  several 
large  contracting  firms  for  a  num. 


192 


Cook  County 


her  of  years.  By  1891  he  had 
saved  a  sufficient  capital  to  start 
operations  on  his  own  account. 


ANDREW   SWANSON 

Among  the  large  buildings  he  has 
erected  may  be  mentioned  the 
Augustana  Hospital,  partially  built 
in  1892-93  at  a  cost  of  $85,000, 
and  completed  in  1905  by  means 
of  an  annex  costing  about  $100,- 
ooo  and  doubling  the  capacity  of 
the  institution. 

In  1878  he  was  married  to  Ma- 
tilda Nelson  from  Ronneby,  Swe- 
den. Their  only  child,  Elizabeth, 
in  June,  1906,  married  Dr.  Aaron 
M.  Olson. 

Mr.  Swanson  is  a  member  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  and  also  of  the  Masons' 
and  Builders'  Association  of  Chi- 
cago. 


LARS    E.  FREDRIKSON 

was  born  June  24,  1877,  in  Lockne 
parish,  Jemtland,  Sweden.  At 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  became 


apprenticed  to  a  painter  and  de- 
corator, a  trade  for  which  he 
showed  so  much  aptitude  that  the 
parish  authorities  granted  him  a 
stipend  to  visit  the  Exhibition  of 
Stockholm  in  1897.  In  I9°I  ne 
came  to  America  and  Chicago. 
During  his  first  year  in  this  coun- 
try he  painted  an  altar  piece  for 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  in 
Port  Wing,  Wis.,  the  painting 
being  a  copy  of  an  old  master- 
piece, representing  Christ  and  the 
Samaritan  woman  at  Jacob's  well. 
Mr.  Fredrikson  has  also  done  the 
interior  decoration  in  the  church 


LARS  EMANUEL  FREDRIKSON 

in  Brainerd,  Minn.,  where  he  now 
resides. 

Among  his  original  paintings  are 
a  number  of  well-executed  land- 
scapes. Mr.  Fredrikson 's  work 
so  far  gives  promise  of  still  greater 
results  in  the  future.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


Chicago 


193 


NEANDER  N.  CRONHOLM, 

counselor  at  law,  is    the    descend- 
ant   of    an    old    prominent    family 


NEANDER  N.  CRONHOLM 

in  Sweden,  and  was  born  in  Nov. 
19,  1843.  His  ancestors  held  large 
possessions  in  Finland,  L,ivonia 
and  other  trans-Baltic  provinces 
during  the  period  of  Sweden's 
greatness,  but  his  grandfather, 
George  Cronholm,  who  was  one 
of  the  truly  loyal  Swedes  in 
the  wars  with  Russia  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  eighteenth  and  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  cent- 
uries, lost  everything  on  account 
of  his  fidelity  to  his  fatherland 
when  Sweden  lost  Finland  and 
other  trans-Baltic  possessions. 
Having  sacrified  all  his  property 
for  his  country,  notwithstanding 
that  Russia  held  out  to  him  the 
most  glittering  inducements  to 
become  a  Russian  subject,  he 
proved  that  his  love  and  his  loy- 
alty to  his  fatherland  were  dearer 
to  him  than  the  most  dazzling 


imperial  favors.  His  estates  were 
confiscated,  plundered  or  destroyed. 
Everything  was  swept  away  save 
his  loyalty,  courage  and  honor. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  eldest  son  of  his  father's 
family.  He  was  carefully  educa- 
ted, particularly  in  military  tactics 
and  civil  engineering,  advanced 
rapidly,  and  the  future  looked 
bright  and  hopeful.  When  the 
great  Civil  War  broke  out  between 
the  North  and  the  South,  he 
desired  to  become  identified  with 
it;  but  owing  to  the  responsible 
position  occupied  by  him  at  that 
time,  he  was  unable  to  secure 
leave  of  absence,  and  hence  did 
not  come  to  America  until  the 
spring  of  1867. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  America, 
he  traveled  all  over  the  country 
and  was  much  impressed  with  its 
greatness  and  with  the  many  op- 
portunities offered  to  win  an  ex- 
alted position  in  business  and 
social  life.  He  determined  to 
remain,  and  accordingly  renounced 
allegiance  to  Sweden,  and  in  1869 
entered  Pennsylvania  College  at 
Gettysburg,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  with  distinction, 
obtaining  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  in  1873.  He  then  entered 
the  law  and  postgraduate  depart- 
ments of  Yale  University,  and 
in  July,  1875,  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Philosophy.  He  was 
a  classmate  of  the  late  President 
Harper  of  the  University  of  Chica- 
go. He  also  studied  law  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  and  received 
therefrom  the  degree  of  L,!,.  B. 
In  1875  and  1876  he  traveled 


194 


Cook  County 


extensively,  visiting  Russia,  Ger- 
many, Austria,  France  and  part 
of  Asia  and  Africa.  He  remained 
for  some  time  at  Florence  and 
Rome. 

Mr.  Cronholm  began  his  prac- 
tice at  the  New  York  bar,  being 
with  the  firm  of  Brewster,  Miller, 
Peet  and  Opdyke,  but  in  January, 
1878,  removed  to  Chicago,  where 
he  has  since  practiced  his  profes- 
sion with  success.  On  several 
occasions  he  has  presided  at  the 
great  Swedish  anniversaries.  He 
is  of  liberal  opinions,  a  lover  and 
and  patron  of  learning  arid  ath- 
letics, and  has  encouraged  the  in- 
troduction of  Swedish  gymnastics 
in  America.  He  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican . 

In  1875,  when  he  visited  his 
native  country,  he  was  the  recipi- 
ent of  special  favors  from  the 
king  and  from  prominent  person- 
ages there.  While  there  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Northern 
Jurist  Association  at  Stockholm. 
He  is  an  honorary  member  of 
several  historical  and  antiquarian 
societies,  and  for  several  years 
was  engaged  on  an  historical  work 
on  Sweden.  The  result  of  his 
literary  labors  and  historical  re- 
searches was  published  in  1902, 
namely,  "Cronholm's  History  of 
Sweden,"  in  two  large  8vo  vol- 
umes, which  historians  and  critics 
consider  a  standard  work  on  Swe- 
den. Cronholm's  History  of  Swe- 
den has  found  a  ready  sale  among 
the  English  speaking  people  all 
over  the  world.  Mr.  Cronholm 
is  now  engaged  on  two  other 
historical  works. 


In  1878  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Culiaelma  P.  Frazee,  of 
New  York  City,  the  descendant 
of  an  old  colonial  family.  She 
bore  him  one  son,  Neander  W.  P., 
July  24,  1883,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cronholm 
reside  at  3039  Groveland  ave. 


LARS    GUSTAF    HALLBERG, 

architect,  was  born  at  Venersnas, 
Vestergotland,    Sweden,    Sept.    4, 


LARS  GUSTAF  HALLBERG 

1844.  After  attending  common 
school,  he  enjoyed  private  in- 
struction fitting  him  for  entry  at 
the  Chalmers  Institute  at  Goteborg. 
After  completing  the  course  in 
civil  engineering,  he  was  gradua- 
ted in  1866,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
two.  He  next  entered  the  Aca- 
demy of  Fine  Arts  at  Stockholm, 
studying  architecture  and  germane 
subjects.  Returning  to  Goteborg, 
he  was  at  once  employed  by  Wes- 
terberg,  a  prominent  architect, 
for  some  three  years.  During 


Chicago 


that  time  he  planned  and  super- 
intended the  construction  of  a 
number  of  costly  buildings  at 
Fimmersta,  the  country  estate  of 
Dickson,  a  merchant  prince  of 
Goteborg. 

When,  in  1869,  the  city  of 
Gefle  was  almost  totally  destroyed 
by  fire,  Mr.  Hallberg  went  there 
and  took  an  important  part  in  the 
rebuilding  of  the  city.  At  this 
time  the  city  of  Goteborg  was 
preparing  for  the  holding  of  a 
large  agricultural  and  industrial 
exposition.  The  building  con- 
tracts were  given  to  Architect 
Westerberg  who,  needing  assist- 
ance for  the  task,  engaged  Mr. 
Hallberg  at  the  latter' s  own 
figures. 

This  run  of  prosperity  awak- 
ened in  Mr.  Hallberg  a  desire  of 
seeing  the  world  and  in  1801  he 
went  to  England.  While  there 
the  news  of  the  great  Chicago 
fire  was  flooded  over  the  world. 
As  soon  as  it  became  known  that 
the  Chicagoans  were  determined 
to  rebuild  their  city  at  once,  on 
a  greater  scale,  Mr.  Hallberg  saw 
his  opportunity  and  came  on  to 
Chicago  in  December,  directly 
from  England.  From  that  day 
to  this  Mr.  Hallberg  has  resided 
in  this  city  and  to  his  architect- 
ural genius  and  taste  modern 
Chicago  owes  much.  An  enumer- 
ation of  some  of  the  many  struct- 
ures that  have  been  erected  under 
his  hand  and  eye  would  give  only 
an  inadequate  idea  of  the  extent 
of  his  activity.  Mr.  Hallberg' s 
office  is  at  84  L,a  Salle  st. 

Mr.     Hallberg    was     united     in 


marriage  to  Florence  Estey  in 
1 88 1.  Four  children,  two  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons,  have  been 
born  to  them.  The  family  resi- 
dence, a  home  of  elegance  and 
refinement,  is  at  Ridge  ave.  and 
Greenwood  Boulevard  in  Evanston. 
Mr.  Hallberg  has  traveled  exten- 
sively for  pleasure  and  study. 
The  splendid  success  of  the  archi- 
tect has  not  affected  the  natural 
modesty  of  the  man.  He  is  a 
fellow  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Architects  and  past  president 
of  the  Illinois  Chapter  and  a 
member  of  various  clubs  and  as- 
sociations. 


PETER  SJOHOIvM 

was  born  July  10,   1859,  in    Gud- 
dastad,     Ostra     Sallerup,     Skane, 


PETER  SJOHOLM 

Sweden,  where  his  father  owned 
a  farm.  Here  young  Sjoholm  at- 
tended public  school  and,  after 
having  finished  his  schooling,  as- 
sisted his  father  in  tilling  the  soil 


196 


Cook  County 


until  1 88 1,  he  yielded  to  a  desire 
to  emigrate  across  the  Atlantic. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  America  he 
first  settled  in  Sac  county,  Iowa, 
were  he  worked  as  a  farm  laborer. 
Then  he  rented  a  farm  in  Chero 
kee  co.,  which  he  cultivated  until 
the  spring  of  1885,  when  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  accepted  a  position 
in  the  produce  commission  market. 
In  1895  ne  opened  up  a  business 
of  his  own  as  a  dealer  in  poultry 
and  game,  and  is  so  engaged  at 
the  present  time.  His  present  lo- 
cation is  at  190  S.  Water  st. 

June  25,  1898,  Mr.  Sjoholm 
was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  B. 
Peterson,  daughter  of  Andrew  B. 
and  Elva  Peterson,  af  Maynard, 
Minnesota,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Lillian  Elizabeth,  born 
in  1897.  Mr.  Sjoholm  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  of 
the  First  Swedish  Baptist  Church. 
For  various  periods  he  has  served 
the  latter  as  financial  secretary, 
treasurer  and  trustee.  Mr.  Sjoholm 
has  served  as  a  director  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Sick  Benefit 
Society. 


retail  dress  goods  department, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  Mr. 
Barquist  is  a  member  of  the  Im- 


CHARLES  H.  BARQUIST 

was  born  in  Smaland,  Sweden, 
March  10,  1866.  At  the  age 
of  four  years  he  came  to  this 
country  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  in  Chicago.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  this  city  af- 
ter which  he  accepted  a  position 
as  a  dry  goods  salesman  with 
O.  H.  Carson.  In  1888  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Marshall 
Field  and  Co.,  as  salesman  in  the 


CHARLES  HERMAN  BARQUIST 

manuel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Chicago. 

He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  politics  for  a  number  of  years, 
being  a  stanch  Republican.  Mr. 
Barquist  has  held  the  positions  of 
secretary,  vice  president  and  of 
president  of  the  Swedish  Repub- 
lican Club  of  the  25th  Ward, 
where  he  resides  and  he  is  a  factor 
in  Republican  politics  in  that 
ward,  being  precinct  captain. 

His  home  is  at   1622  Grace    st. 


JOHN  E.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
Sept.  ii,  1860.  When  eight  years 
of  age  he  emigrated  to  America 
with  his  parents,  Sven  Johan  An- 
derson and  his  wife  Johanna,  nee 
Lenholm,  the  family  locating  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

In    1872    the    family    moved   to 


Chicago 


197 


Kansas,  settling  on  a  farm  near 
Salina.  Here  his  early  days  were 
spent  in  farming  and  herding 


JOHN    EMIL    ANDERSON 

cattle,  and  subsequently  teaching 
school  four  years. 

After  graduating  in  a  business 
college  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  the  pros- 
ecuting attorney,  where  he  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
Feb.  17,  1885.  While  studying 
law  he  contributed  many  articles 
to  the  different  newspapers  in  the 
West;  was  correspondent  of  the 
Kansas  City  Star,  and  also  repre- 
sented the  Associated  Press.  He 
also  held  several  clerical  positions 
in  the  Kansas  legislature  and  has 
served  as  deputy  U.  S.  marshal. 

In  1891  he  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  he  has  since  lived,  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law.  His  office 
is  at  9206  Commercial  ave.,  South 
•Chicago. 

He  has  been  an  active  member 


of  the  Swedish  Republican  club  of 
the  Eighth  ward,  and  also  of  the 
Linnea,  Knights  of  Pythias,  North 
American  Union,  Royal  Arcanum, 
Red  Men  and  other  societies  and 
orders. 

In  1888  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Hilda  Ek,  a  native  of  Vermland, 
Sweden,  daughter  of  Bengt  and 
Charlotta  Ek.  Her  father  was  de- 
scended from  a  line  of  illustrious 
warriors  in  the  Napoleonic  wars. 
There  are  two  daughters,  in  the 
family,  Edith  Evangeline,  born 
July  29,  1890,  in  Salina,  Kans., 
and  Mabel  L,ouise,  born  Feb.  17, 
1897,  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Anderson's  mother  died  in 
1905,  at  Salina,  Kans.,  where  his 
father  is  still  living. 


JOHN  HIGHFIEU) 

was    born    March     21,      1872,    at 
Animskog,  Dalsland,  Sweden.    His 


JOHN  HIGHFIELD 

parents    are    Fred    and    Sara    M. 
Hogfeldt.     He  emigrated  to  Amer- 


198 


Cook  County 


ica  as  a  youth  of  seventeen.  His 
first  place  of  abode  was  at  Iron 
Mountain,  Mich.,  but  after  a  brief 
stay  there  he  moved  to  Chicago. 
Here  he  engaged  in  the  custom 
vest  manufacturing  business  in 
1891,  still  continuing  in  that  line. 
His  shop  is  at  189  Fifth  ave. 

Mr.  Highfield  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Ev.  Mission  Church 
on  Orleans  St.,  and  has  acted  as 
trustee.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  church  choir  there  for 
more  than  seventeen  years,  and  for 
several  years  has  acted  as  its 
president.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Asaph  Singing  Society. 

Mr.  Highfield  was  married  Sept. 
27,  1898,  to  Selma  Constance 
Charlotte  Gustafson,  born  Nov. 
4,  1873,  at  Goteborg.  They  have 
a  daughter,  Inez  Virginia  Henri- 
ette,  born  Dec.  31,  1901. 


of  1896,  he  took  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  missions  in  Glou- 
cester and  Rockport,  Mass.,  fora 


CARL  J.  APPELL 

was  born  on  a  farm  near  Galva, 
111.,  of  Swedish  parentage,  his 
father  and  mother  having  both 
been  born  in  Sweden  but  having 
come  to  this  country  in  their 
childhood.  At  fourteen  years  of 
age,  he  entered  Augustana  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated 
in  1894,  receiving  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of 
Science  simultaneously.  The  next 
year  he  spent  partly  at  teaching 
public  school  and  partly  on  the 
farm.  In  July,  1895,  ne  entered 
the  University  of  Chicago,  spe- 
cializing in  the  subjects  of  politi- 
cal science  and  political  economy, 
but  also  studying  French,  Spanish, 
and  Italian  literature.  In  the  fall 


CARL  J.  APPELL 

period  of  one  year,  and  then  entered 
the  Chicago  Law  School  in  the  fall 
of  1897.  At  the  same  time,  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago,  carrying  a  full 
course  there.  The  following  year 
he  devoted  to  the  study  of  law 
exclusively,  and  completed  all  the 
second  and  third  year  courses  in 
the  Kent  College  of  Law,  gradu- 
ating therefrom  in  the  spring  of 
1899.  He  thereafter  took  what 
was  formerly  known  as  the  post- 
graduate law  course  at  Lake  For- 
est University,  at  the  conclusion 
of  which,  in  the  spring  of  1900, 
he  wrote  a  thesis  which  took  the 
first  prize.  Simultaneously  he 
resumed  his  studies  in  political 
science  and  political  economy  at 
the  University  of  Chicago,  com- 
pleting all  the  required  courses 
for  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Phi- 


Chicago 


199 


losophy,  also  pursuing  linguistic 
studies.  He  has  studied  twelve 
languages  in  all.  His  studies 
completed,  Mr.  Appell  removed 
to  Peoria,  where  he  opened  a 
law  office  and  practiced  for  three 
years,  a  part  of  the  time  in  part- 
nership with  A.  V.  D.  Rousseau, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Appell 
&  Rousseau. 

Immediately  after  coming  to 
Peoria,  he  helped  to  organize 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
Club  of  that  city,  which  he  served 
as  secretary  for  three  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1903  he  returned 
to  Chicago  and  opened  a  law 
office  in  the  Unity  Building,  79 
Dearborn  st. 

Mr.  Appell  was  a  member  of 
Troop  G,  First  Regiment  Cavalry, 
I.  N.  G.,  1901-1903  and  was  one 
of  the  sharpshooters  for  which 
this  regiment  is  noted,  he  having 
received  the  gold  medal  offered 
by  the  State  of  Illinois  for  pro- 
ficiency in  sharpshooting.  By 
transfer  he  is  now  a  member 
of  Troop  A,  in  Chicago,  of  the 
same  regiment.  Mr.  Appell  is 
also  a  member  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Political  and  Social 
Science  of  Philadelphia.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church. 


Mater.  He  then  became  house 
physician  and  surgeon  at  the  Pres- 
byterian Hospital  in  Chicago,  re- 


OSCAR  T.  ROBERG, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
in  Chicago  in  1876.  After  taking 
a  course  in  medicine  at  Rush 
Medical  College,  he  was  graduated 
in  1899.  For  a  year  he  was  in- 
structor in  chemistry  at  his  Alma 


OSCAR  THEODORE   ROBERG 

maining  there  from  1900  to  1902. 
Subsequently  Dr.  Roberg  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon-in-chief  at  the 
Swedish  Covenant  Hospital  in 
Chicago.  He  was  appointed  in- 
structor in  surgery  at  Rush  Medi- 
cal College  in  1906,  and  has  an 
extensive  practice  on  the  north 
side. 

Dr.  Roberg  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Mission  Church. 


CHARLES  A.    WESTERHOLM 

was  born  in  Ostra  Ed  parish, 
Kalmar  Ian,  Sweden,  July  i, 
1 86 1.  His  father,  Jacob  Renhold 
Westerholm,  is  still  living.  His 
mother,  Brigitta  Lovisa,  passed 
away  May  27,  1877.  The  boy 
had  but  four  months'  schooling  as 
he  had  to  help  his  father  on  the 
farm.  For  a  time  he  worked  at 
cabiiietmaking  and  then  was  a 


200 


Cook  County 


sailor  for  three  years.  He  came 
to  Chicago  May  12,  1880,  and 
worked  for  his  uncle  nine  years. 


CHARLES  AUGUST  WESTERHOLM 

In  1889  Mr.  Westerholm  formed 
a  partnership  with  Nels  Anderson 
and  has  since  then  been  a  soda 
water  manufacturer  and  a  general 
bottler  with  office  at  383  Aus- 
tin ave. 

Mr.  Westerholm  is  a  Lutheran 
and  is  a  member  of  I.  O.  S.  No. 
i,  K.  of  P.,  and  the  following  Ma- 
sonic bodies,  viz.:  Thos.  J.  Turner 
Lodge  No.  409;  Washington  Chap- 
ter No.  43;  Columbia  Commandery 
No.  63;  Oriental  Consistory,  Scot- 
tish Rites,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
Mr.  Westerholm  was  married 
April  8,  1887,  to  Sophia  Stol- 
zenbach  of  Thornton,  111.,  born 
Aug.  27,  1868.  Their  children 
are  John  Henry  Edward,  born 
Feb.  i,  1888  and  Ethel,  born 
July  19,  1891. 


ADOLPH  RYDIN 

was  born  Dec.  12,  1870,  on  the 
Leonardsberg  estate  near  Norr- 
koping,  Sweden.  He  emigrated 
to  America  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 
For  a  short  time  he  stopped  in 
Youngstown,  Ohio.  The  follow- 
ing April  he  left  for  Chicago, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 
Working  for  a  few  years  as  a 
common  laborer,  he  attended  the 
evening  schools  hoping  to  im- 
prove his  condition.  During  1895 
and  1896  he  was  saleman  for  J. 
L,.  Prescott  and  Co.  Since  then 
Mr.  Rydin  has  been  the  Chicago 
representative  of  the  Minnesota 
Scandinavian  Relief  Association  of 
Red  Wing.  He  has  had  marked 


ADOLPH  RYDIN 

success  in  convincing  his  country- 
men of  the  merits  of  the  oldest  life 
insurance  company  among  the 
Scandinavian  people  of  America. 
Mr.  Rydin  was  married  in  1898, 
to  Hilma  Anderson.  They  have 
two  sons. 


Chicago 


2OI 


ANDRKW  EDWARD  NORMAN 

was  born  March  13,   1860,  in  Kol- 
backen,  Vermland,    Sweden.     His 


ANDREW  EDWARD  NORMAN 

father,  Jonas  Norman,  was  a 
forester.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
young  Norman  was  apprenticed  in 
the  patternmaker's  trade  at  the 
Finnshyttan  Mechanical  Works. 
He  emigrated  to  America  in  1880 
and  worked  for  six  months  as 
a  joiner  in  Brooklyn.  Thereupon 
he  went  to  Ishpeming,  Mich., 
where  he  became  foreman  in  a 
joiner's  shop.  He  took  the  first 
prize  in  carving  for  three  years 
in  succession  at  the  Marquette 
county  fair.  A  silver  goblet  was 
also  won  by  him  as  champion 
skater  of  "Northern  Michigan.  In 
1887  he  removed  to  Chicago  where 
he  is  now  a  contractor  and  archi- 
tect with  office  at  3575  N.  Clark  st. 
In  his  spare  time  Mr.  Norman 
has  executed  some  artistic  wood 
carvings  one  of  which  represents 
Columbus  landing  in  America.  A 


truly  wonderful  piece  of  mechani- 
cal work  by  him  is  a  miniature 
reproduction  of  the  battle  of  Ma- 
nila Bay,  operated  by  electricity, 
showing  fifteen  inch  battleships 
firing  real  explosive  shells,  vessels 
sinking  automatically  and  powder 
magazines  blowing  up.  This  pro- 
duct of  Mr.  Norman's  ingenuity 
has  been  exhibited  publicly  in 
Chicago  and  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Norman  was,  in  1882,  when 
in  Ishpeming,  married  to  Miss 
Ulrika  Olson  from  Dalsland,  Swe- 
den. 


FREDERICK  T.    CROONBORG 

was  born    May    9,     1867,    in    the 
city  of  Mariestad,  Sweden.     After 


FREDERICK  T.  CROONBORG 

attending  the  public  schools  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  became  a 
journeyman  tailor,  working  in 
Stockholm,  Christiania,  Copen- 
hagen and  elsewhere.  Finally  he 
concluded  to  emigrate  to  America 


2O2 


Cook  County 


and  came  to  Chicago  in  1887. 
He  soon  found  employment  as 
coat  maker,  and  after  a  couple  of 
years  became  a  cutter.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1893,  h£  was  awarded  a  gold 
medal  and  the  first  prize  from 
the  U.  S.  Cutters  and  Tailors 
for  his  skill  in  garment  cutting. 
At  the  World's  Fair  in  1893,  ne 
was  again  awarded  by  the  same 
association.  Mr.  Croonborg  for 
five  years  conducted  a  merchant 
tailoring  business,  but  receiving  a 
large  number  of  applications  for 
instruction  in  tailoring,  he  finally 
gave  up  his  business  and  founded 
a  tailoring  school,  known  as 
Croon  borg's  Sartorial  Academy, 
now  located  at  185  Dearborn  st. 

Mr.  Croonborg  was  married 
June  2,  1897,  to  Miss  Hildur 
Marie  Gryzelius  from  Mariestad. 
They  have  one  son. 


the  Augustana  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Rock  Island  in  1899  an(i 
was  graduated  in  1902,  having 


GOTTFRED  NELSON 
was  born  July  8,  1875,  on  a  farm 
near  Knoxville,  111.  In  1878  his 
parents  moved  out  to  Kansas,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  McPherson  co., 
where  the  elder  Nelson  became  a 
prosperous  farmer. 

At  the  age  of  four  and  a  half 
years,  Gottfred  lost  his  mother  by 
death.  After  due  preparation  he 
entered  Bethany  College,  at  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.,  pursuing  his  studies 
in  the  winter  months  and  working 
on  his  father's  farm  during  vaca- 
tions. 

In  the  spring  of  1898  he  was 
graduated  from  Bethany  College 
whereupon  he  was  stationed  as 
preacher  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
and  Kansas  City,  Mo.  He  entered 


GOTTFRED  NELSON 

spent  one  year  at  the  English 
Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at 
Chicago.  On  June  15,  1902,  Mr. 
Nelson  received  ministerial  ordina- 
tion at  Ishpeming,  Mich.,  holding 
a  call  from  the  Bethesda  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  Chicago. 
Later  he  resigned  this  pastorate 
to  accept  a  call  from  the  Trinity 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  Lake 
View,  Chicago,  a  large  and  impor- 
tant field,  in  which  he  is  laboring 
since  Oct.  i,  1903.  The  congre- 
gation has  more  than  doubled  its 
membership  during  Rev.  Nelson's 
pastorate,  it  now  numbering  about 
800  communicants  and  about  1,200 
in  total. 

Rev.  Nelson  was  united  in  wed- 
lock July  6,  1904,  to  Miss  Anna 
Almquist  of  Butte,  Mont.  They 
have  a  daughter,  Marjorie,  born 
Dec.  21,  1905. 


Chicago 


203 


C.     BERNHARD     HEDSTROM 

was  born  Aug.   20,   1881,  in  Ratt- 
vik,     Dalarne,    Sweden.      Coming 


C.  BERNHARD  HEDSTROM 

to  Chicago  at  the  age  of  twelve, 
with  some  schooling  from  the  old 
country,  he  attended  grammar 
school  for  a  time  in  this  city. 
Then  he  began  work  as  errand 
boy  and  having  been  with  several 
firms  he  struck  his  future  voca- 
tion in  1896  with  the  shoe  firm 
of  N.  B.  Holden.  After  two 
years  he  accepted  a  position  in 
the  shoe  stock  room  of  The  Fair. 
When  he  was  but  nineteen  years 
of  age,  Mr.  Hedstrom  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  assistant 
manager  of  the  shoe  department. 
After  five  years'  service  with  The 
Fair,  Mr.  Hedstrom  became  travel- 
ing salesman  for  Fargo -Keith  and 
Co.  In  1904  he  became  Chicago 
salesman  for  Florsheim  and  Co., 
shoe  manufacturers.  Mr.  Hed- 


trade  in  Chicago  and  throughout 
Illinois. 

He  belongs  to  the  Gideons,  the 
the  Illinois  Commercial  Travelers' 
Association  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Mr.  Hedstrom  belongs  to  the 
Oak  Street  Swedish  Free  Mission 
Church  in  which  he  has  been  as- 
sistant secretary,  and  leader  of  the 
mixed  choir,  besides  being  active 
in  the  Sunday  school  and  the 
Young  People's  Society.  He  is 
now  leader  of  the  Hope  Male 
Chorus  and  director  of  song  in  the 
Lake  View  Free  Mission  Church. 

On  Nov.  8,  1905,  Mr.  Hed- 
strom was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sabina  Holm,  born  Dec.  2,  1882, 
in  Chicago.  Her  parents  are 
Christian  M.  and  Anna  C.  Holm. 


A.  ALFRED  HOLMES 

was    born     in     Marbeck     parish, 
Smaland,    Sweden.     At    the    age 


A.  ALFRED  HOLMES 

of  seven  years  he  came    with    his 


strom  is  well-known  to   the    shoe     parents  to  America.     They  located 


204 


Cook  County 


in  Chicago  where  he  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  the  Swedish 
parochial  schools.  His  talent  for 
music  was  early  manifested,  and 
at  the  age  of  twelve  he  commenced 
his  musical  studies  which  were 
pursued  for  seventeen  years  under 
the  following  teachers:  Alfred 
Alander,  J.  F.  Ring,  C.  H. 
Wood,  A.  E.  Fox  and  Calvin  B. 
Cady. 

Mr.  Holmes  has  been  promi- 
nently before  the  public  for  many 
years  as  organist,  chorister  and 
orchestral  director.  In  1890  he 
accepted  a  call  as  teacher  of 
music  at  the  Augustana  Con- 
servatory in  Rock  Island.  In  1892 
he  resigned  this  position,  but  con- 
tinued a  private  class  at  Rock  Is- 
land and  Moline  until  1896,  count- 
ing among  his  pupils  members  of 
the  most  prominent  families  of  those 
cities.  During  all  this  time,  how- 
ever, his  home  was  in  Chicago.  In 
1 896  he  had  charge  of  the  music  at 
the  Dixon  Chautauqua.  For  two 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
committee  on  convocation  of 
church  musicians  of  the  General 
Council  of  the  Lutheran  church 
of  America,  and  for  three  years 
director  of  the  Luther  League 
chorus.  In  1881  he  became  the 
organist  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Gethsemane  Church,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  twenty  four  years, 
until  1905,  meanwhile  refusing 
many  flattering  offers.  The  last 
ten  years  he  was  also  leader  of 
the  church  choir.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  church  for  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  Holmes  is  an  enthu- 


siastic Sunday  school  worker,  and 
served  as  superintendent  for  sev- 
eral years  up  to  1905,  when  he 
became  organist  of  the  Immanuel 
Church,  also  transferring  his 
Sunday  school  activity  to  that 
church.  In  1902  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Cook  Co.  Sunday 
School  Association  May  Festival 
Committee.  In  1906  he  accepted 
the  position  as  teacher  in  the  Men- 
delssohn Conservatory  of  Music. 
Mr.  Holmes  lives  at  2345  W. 
Dakin  ave.,  and  has  his  studio  in 
Steinway  Hall, 


FRANK  C.  LINDH 

was   born    in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
and  received  his  educational  train- 


FRANK    C.   LINDH 

ing  in  that  city.  Having  reached 
the  age  of  manhood,  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  in  Chicago 
in  1893.  He  chose  the  trade  of 
machinist,  in  which  he  now  holds 
the  position  of  foreman  in  the. 


Chicago 


205 


machine   department    of   a   manu- 
facturing establishment. 

Mr.  Lindh  was  married  Feb. 
20,  1902.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Alida  Peterson,  is  a  native  Chi- 
cagoan. 


PEHR  E.  GUSTAFSON 

was  born  April  6,   1849,  in  Onsta 
parish,  Nerike,  Sweden.   When  but 


PEHR  E.  GUSTAFSON 

six  j^ears  old  he  was  left  a  poor 
orphan,  with  no  one  to  provide 
for  him,  and  on  one  occasion  had 
to  go  without  food  for  over  four 
days.  At  the  tender  age  of  seven 
he  began  herding  cattle  for  Rector 
Gumelius  of  Orebro  parish.  Then 
for  three  years  he  worked  at  street 
repairing  in  the  city.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  became  an  appren- 
tice in  the  Rosenfors  cutlery  and 
tool  factory  in  Eskilstuna  for  a 
term  of  eight  years,  earning  his 
board  and  thirty  crowns  a  year. 
At  maturity  he  obtained  work 
with  a  similar  firm  in  Torshalla. 


Going  to  Finland  he  worked  and 
attended  evening  school  there,  but 
soon  returned  to  Sweden,  and  in 
1 88 1  resolved  to  try  his  luck  in 
the  New  World. 

After  working  some  time  in 
Philadelphia,  Cincinnati,  Toledo 
and  St.  Louis,  he  went  to  Chica- 
go. Mr.  Gustafson  here  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  saws,  ma- 
chine knives,  etc.,  his  factory  being 
located  at  214-216  S.  Clinton  st. 
He  is  an  adherent  of  the  Luther- 
an Church,  and  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  Progressive  Council  No. 
940,  Royal  Arcanum. 


CHARLES  J.    LINDEN 

was  born  Dec.  14,  1859,  in  Sol- 
berga,  Smaland,  Sweden.  March 
24,  1882,  he  arrived  in  this  coun- 
try, bound  for  Chicago.  He  is  a 
carpenter  and  building  contractor 


CHARLES  J.  LINDEN 

and  resides  in    Morton    Park,  one 
of  the  west  side  suburbs. 

Mr.  Linden  belongs  to  the  Odd 


206 


Cook  County 


Fellows,  Royal  Arcanum  and  the 
Royal  League.  He  was  treasurer 
of  the  town  of  Cicero  for  two 
terms. 

In  1896  Mr.  Linden  was  mar- 
ried to  Mathilda  Kolander,  with 
whom  he  has  three  daughters  and 
one  son. 


JOHN  H.  HENRICKSON 

was  born  in   Filipstad,  Vermland, 
Sweden,  Nov.    12,    1849.     Having 


JOHN    H.  HENRICKSON 

learned  the  tailors'  trade  under 
the  direction  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  master  tailor  in  Filipstad, 
he  started  an  establishment  of  his 
own  as  soon  as  he  became  of  age. 
Seized  with  a  desire  to  try  his 
fortunes  in  the  land  across  the 
Atlantic,  he  emigrated  in  1873, 
going  first  to  Escanaba,  Mich. 
After  nine  months  he  went  to  Min- 
neapolis. In  1877  he  left  that 
city  for  Chicago,  which  has  since 
been  his  home.  Here  Mr.  Hen- 
rickson  secured  a  position  with  the 


firm  of  G.  W.  Matthews  &  Son, 
and  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  has  been  connected 
with  this  house.  His  skill  and 
care  soon  won  him  the  confidence 
of  his  employers  and  popularity 
among  the  customers.  In  a  very 
short  time  he  became  manager  of 
the  manufacturing  department. 
Since  1901  he  is  a  member  of  the 
firm. 

In  March,  1879,  Mr.  Henrickson 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Carolina  Olson  from  Jonkoping, 
Sweden.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  adopted  a 
daughter,  now  married. 

Mr.  Henrickson  is  an  old  time 
Lutheran,  and  in  politics  a  stanch 
Rupublican.  He  owns  his  resi- 
dence at  1217  Wilton  ave.,  Lake 
View. 


ARVID  N.  SORLIN, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Dal,  near  Hernosand, 
Sweden,  March  31,  1861.  His 
father,  D.  S.  Sorlin,  who  was  also 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  died  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  in  188$'.  ' .  "' 

Having  enjoyed  instruction  in 
the  common  school  of  his  native 
place,  Arvid  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  this  country  in  1874.  Here 
lie' continued  his  schooling  in  New 
York  and  Chicago,  and  then  de- 
termined to  study  for  the  ministry. 
After  completing  the  prescribed 
courses  at  the  Swedish  M.  E.  The- 
ological Seminary  at  Evanston, 
111.,  he  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution in  1896. 

Prior  to  entering  the  seminary, 


Chicago 


207 


Mr.  Sorlin  had  performed  pastoral 
work,  having  begun  as  a  local 
preacher  in  1891  and  received  his 


ARYID  N1CKOLAUS  SORLIN 

first  appointment  as  pastor  the 
same  year.  In  1892  he  was  or- 
dained deacon  and  in  1897,  elder. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sorlin  has  served  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  churches  in  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.,  Englewood,  Ravens- 
wood  and  Moreland  in  Chicago, 
and  Rockford,  111.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  stationed  at  the  Union 
Avenue  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  of 
Chicago. 

Through  his  activity  and  ability 
as  a  clergyman  Rev.  Mr.  Sorlin 
has  attained  a  position  of  prom- 
inence in  his  denomination.  In 
1899  he  was  appointed  Presiding 
Elder  of  the  Galesburg  District 
of  the  Central  Swedish  Conference, 
serving  out  the  full  term  of  six 
years.  Having  been  elected  on 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Evanston  in 
1900,  he  is  still  a  member  of  that 


body  and  is  at  present  its  secre- 
tary. He  has  represented  the 
Swedish  portion  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  the  General 
Conference,  and  held  other  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  honor. 

His  marriage  took  place  March 
15,  1882.  Mrs.  Sorlin,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Hannah  Wil- 
helmina  Erickson,  was  born  March 
ii,  1865,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Maria  Erickson  of 
Oakland,  Neb.  A  son,  Oswald 
D.  M.,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sorlin  in  1883.  and  a  daughter, 
Margaret  N.,  in  1893. 


EDWIN  A.  OLSON 

was   born   of    Swedish   parents   at 
Cambridge,     111.,    Feb.     16,     1868. 


EDWIN    A.     OLSON 

He  attended  the  Cambridge  High 
School  and  Elliott's  Business  Col- 
lege in  Burlington,  Iowa.  For 
some  time  thereafter  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm.  Coming  to  Chi- 
cago in  1890  he  commenced  the 


208 


Cook  County 


study  of  law.  Since  1892,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
has  practiced  law  in  this  city,  and 
by  energy  and  legal  acumen  has 
made  success  in  his  profession  and 
acquired  good  standing  at  the 
Chicago  bar. 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  Republican  and 
has  for  the  last  fifteen  years  taken 
an  active  interest  in  politics  in 
every  campaign,  national,  state 
and  local.  He  was  secretary  for 
four  years  and  president  one  year 
of  the  Swedish-American  Repub- 
lican League  of  Illinois  and  helped 
to  make  that  institution  the  larg- 
est and  strongest  political  organ- 
ization of  the  kind  in  America. 

He  has  been  attorney  for  the 
Scandia  Life  Insurance  Company 
for  several  years  and  has  taken  a 
vigorous  part  in  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  that  company  from  the 
assessment  to  the  old  line  basis. 
He  is  now  at  the  head  of  the 
agency  department  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Olson  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
32d  degree  Mason  and  a  member 
of  Medinah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N. 
M.  S. 


Lothgren  is  also  in  the  real  estate, 
renting    and     insurance     business 


CARL  A.  LOTHGREN 

was  born  June  4,  1869,  in  Kil 
parish,  near  Orebro,  Sweden.  In 
June,  1885,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
he  came  over  to  this  country. 
His  first  stop  was  in  Rutland 
co.,  Vermont,  but  after  two  years 
he  moved  to  Chicago.  For  the 
next  four  years  he  was  working 
as  a  stone  cutter.  In  1892  he  set 
up  as  a  builder.  Since  that  time 
he  has  built,  owned  and  sold  about 
a  hundred  or  more  houses.  Mr. 


CARL  A.  LOTHGREN 


and     59th 
Baptist 


with  office  at  Halsted 
streets. 

The  Second  Swedish 
Church  chose  him  as  a  trustee  for 
several  years.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  League.  Mr. 
Lothgren  was  married  Nov.  8, 
1890,  to  Maria  S.  Engstrand  who 
was  born  in  Vermland.  They 
have  three  sons. 


CARL  G.  LINDHOLM 

was  born  in  Grenna,  Sweden,  Aug. 
22,  1855.  Having  finished  his 
schooling,  he  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  in  time  became 
a  master  shoemaker.  In  1880  he 
emigrated  to  Chicago.  Having 
formed  a  partnership  with  Wm. 
Youngquist,  he  engaged  in  the 
retail  shoe  business.  He  sold  his 
interest  to  Mr.  Youngquist  in 
1898  and  removed  to  Lake  View, 
where  he  opened  a  large  retail 


Chicago 


209 


shoe  store  at  1702  N.  Clark  St., 
and  has  been  doing  a  thriving 
business  ever  since. 


CARL    GUSTAF    LINDHOLM 

Mr.  Lindholm  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Mission  Church  in  his 
home  locality,  and  has  held  several 
offices,  such  as  trustee  and  deacon 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  school. 
In  politics  he  is  an  unswerving 
Republican. 

In  1882  Mr.  Lindholm  married 
Miss  Helen  Swanstrom,  the  fruit 
of  this  union  being  five  children 
— two  boys  and  three  girls. 


ANDERS  O.  R.  BERGENGREN 

was  born  in  Stoby,  Skane,  Swe- 
den, Sept.  8,  1872.  He  is  a  descend- 
ant of  a  family  of  the  old  Swedish 
nobility.  Mr.  Bergengren  gradu- 
ated in  1888  from  the  collegiate 
school  in  the  city  of  Kristianstad 
and  then  took  a  position  with  the 
"Svanen"  drugstore  in  that  city. 
He  graduated  from  the  Royal  In- 


stitute of  Pharmacy  at  Stockholm 
in  1892.  In  the  same  year  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and,  after  studying  at  Chicago 
schools  of  pharmacy,  was  made  a 
registered  pharmacist  by  the  Illinois 
State  Board  of  Pharmacy  in  1893. 
Since  1896  he  has  been  in  the 
drug  business  '  at  854  Seminary 
ave.,  in  Lake  View. 

In    1896    Mr.    Bergengren    was 
married  to  Hilda  Natalia  Euphro- 


ANDERS  OSCAR  REINHOLD 
BERGENGREN 

syne   Morin.     He  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Vikings. 


LARS  N.  S.  KLAESSON 

was  born  Oct.  15,  1869,  in  Got- 
land, Sweden.  His  parents  were 
Olof  Klaesson,  a  farmer,  and 
Maria  Klaesson.  The  boy's  educa- 
tion was  limited  to  the  public 
school.  He  emigrated  in  1887 
and  located  in  Kansas,  and  there 
grew  to  maturity.  In  1895, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  he  went 


2IO 


Cook  County 


to  Chicago.  Mr.  Klaesson  is  a 
traveling  salesman  for  Carson,  Pi- 
rie,  Scott  &  Co.,  having  charge 
of  territory  in  Kansas. 


LARS  NICKLAS  SEVERIN   KLAESSON 

Mr.  Klaesson  was  married  May 
15,  1901,  to  Anna  Christina  John- 
son, a  daughter  of  John  and  Chris- 
tina Johnson  of  Chicago,  born  Oct. 
3,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klaesson 
have  two  daughters,  Kathryn  Bert- 
ram, born  Oct.  i,  1902,  and  Nan- 
na  Jeannette,  born  Dec.  2,  1906. 
The  family  home  is  at  851  Sunny- 
side  ave. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klaesson  belong 
to  the  Lutheran  Church. 


JOHN  A.  KOHLER, 

secretary  of  the  Parkside 
and  Savings  Company,  was  born 
in  the  vicinity  of  Norrkoping, 
Sweden,  Jan.  15,  1844,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Technological 


School  of  that  city.  He  came  to 
America  in  the  spring  of  1865. 
Being  a  mechanical  engineer  and 
machinist  by  profession,  he  had 
no  trouble  in  keeping  up  with 
the  march  of  the  procession  in 
this  land  of  mechanical  advance- 
ment. He  settled  first  in  Phila- 
delphia, went  later  to  New  York, 
and  in  1869  came  to  Chicago. 
From  the  first  he  took  great  in- 
terest in  politics.  He  has  been 
president  of  the  Scandinavian  Club 
of  the  Town  of  Lake  and  record- 
ing secretary  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Central  Republican  Club 
of  Chicago.  He  was  one  of  the 


JOHN  A.   KOHLER 

directors  of  the  L/inne  Monument 
Association  and  took  a  lively  in- 
terest in  raising  funds  for  the 
erection  of  a  statue  of  the  great 
botanist.  In  1887,  Mr.  Kohler 
helped  to  organize  the  L/innean 
Society,  and  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  that  organization,  which 


Chicago 


211 


is  now  one  of  the  best  Swedish- 
American  sick-benefit  societies  in 
Chicago. 

For  the  past  eleven  years,  Mr. 
Kohler  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Parkside  Loan  and  Savings  Com- 
pany, a  corporation  which  has 
been  in  successful  operation  since 
1885.  He  is  also  conducting  a 
real  estate  and  insurance  office  at 
5205  Wentworth  ave.  During  his 
stay  in  Chicago  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  several  of  the  leading 
manufacturing  establishments  as 
mechanical  engineer  and  machin- 
ist, which  has  been  his  principal 
business  and  means  of  livelihood. 
Realizing  the  value  of  the  legal 
training  to  the  business  man,  he 
took  a  course  at  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law,  graduating  in 
1899. 

Mr.  Kohler  is  married  and  has 
one  son,  Dr.  E.  A.  Kohler. 


Church.     He  has  served  as  trustee 

and  secretary  of  his  congregation. 

In  1891  he  was  married  to  Miss 


CHARLES     EVERT     CARSON 

was  born  Feb.  24,  1864,  in  Fb'glo, 
Aland,  Finland.  At  eighteen  he 
emigrated  from  Finland  to  Amer- 
ica. Here  he  made  Chicago  his 
home  and  is  still  a  resident  of 
this  city.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  in  his  native  land  and 
the  Metropolitan  Business  College 
in  Chicago.  Engaging  in  the 
building  trade,  he  has  built  up  a 
comfortable  business  for  himself 
as  building  contractor. 

The  great  interest  taken  by  Mr. 
Carson  in  church  work  has  made 
him  an  invaluable  member  in  the 
Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal 


CHARLES  EVERT  CARSON 

Anna  Hallgren  from  Ydre,  Oster- 
gotland,  Sweden. 


WAHLFRID  WILLIAMSON 

was  born  in  Trelleborg,  Sweden, 
April  1 8,  1850.  Shortly  after,  his 
parents  removed  to  Helsingborg, 
where  he  received  a  public  school 
education  and  learned  the  printing 
trade,  serving  his  apprenticeship 
in  the  printing  office  of  Oresunds- 
Posten.  Having  learned  his  trade, 
he  left  that  shop  and  worked  for 
a  time  in  the  University  Press  in 
Lund,  afterward  returning  to 
his  old  place  in  Helsingborg. 

In  April,  1869,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  left  the  fatherland, 
with  Chicago  as  his  destination. 
After  his  arrival  here,  he  tried  to 
obtain  work  at  his  trade;  but  as 
the  only  two  Swedish  newspaper 
offices  in  Chicago  at  that  time 


212 


Cook   County 


had  no  need  of  his  services,  he 
was  forced  to  seek  other  employ- 
ment. In  Missouri  he  found  work 


WAHLFRID  WILLIAMSON 

on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railway, 
just  being  built,  and  remained  un- 
til the  following  winter,  when  he 
was  offered  a  place  on  the  Swedish 
newspaper  Hemlandet.  In  the 
spring  of  1871  he  became  foreman 
in  the  printing  office  of  Nya  Verl- 
den,  afterwards  Svenska  Tribunen, 
and  worked  on  that  paper  up  to 
the  time  of  the  great  Chicago  fire, 
also  for  a  time  after  the  paper 
was  re-established. 

In  1875  Mr.  Williamson  started 
a  printing  office  of  his  own  at  1-3 
N.  Clark  St.,  where  he  remained 
until  the  building  together  with 
his  printing  office  on  Feb.  18, 
1903,  was  totally  destroyed  by 
fire.  For  many  years  Mr.  William- 
son was  the  only  Swedish  job 
printer  in  Chicago,  and  made  him- 
self known  as  a  reliable  and  skill- 
ful printer.  A  considerable  num- 


ber of  good  books  in  Swedish  as 
well  as  Norwegian,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  "Sverige  och 
Svenskarne,"  by  W.  W.  Thomas, 
and  "Unionsperioden  og  Norges 
Gjenreisning,"  by  Hagebert  Mil- 
ler, have  been  published  from  his 
office;  several  have  been  published 
in  his  own  name.  For  some  time 
he  published  a  periodical,  Vid 
Aftonbrasan  ("At  the  Evening 
Fireside").  After  his  printing 
plant  was  destroyed  by  fire,  he 
took  a  vacation  from  business,  but 
in  August,  1905,  he  again  took 
up  his  old  business,  and  is  now 
located  in  his  own  building,  654 
Winona  ave.,  where  he  continues 
to  do  general  book  and  job  print- 
ing work.  In  1907  he  published 
a  book  entitled  "Det  femte  Evan- 
geliet,  eller  de  fyra  Evangelierna 
sammanvafda  till  en  fullstandig 
berattelse  om  var  Fralsare  Jesu 
Kristi  lif,  ordnad  i  tidsfoljd." 

In  1879,  Mr.  Williamson  paid 
a  visit  to  his  parents  and  relatives 
in  the  old  country.  His  father, 
C.  G.  Wilhelmsson,  was  Sergeant 
Major  of  the  regimental  band  of 
the  Skane  Hussars. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  married  in 
1871  to  Miss  Carin  Pehrson  of 
Vestanskog,  Skane,  but  he  had 
hardly  established  a  home,  when 
it  was  swept  away  by  the  great 
Chicago  fire. 

In  1882  he  became  a  member  of 
the  First  Swedish  Methodist 
Church,  and  has  held  many  im- 
portant offices  in  that  congrega- 
tion. From  1882  to  1899,  or  sev- 
enteen years,  he  was  secretary  of 
the  Swedish  Methodists'  Aid  As- 


Chicago 


213 


sociation,  a  life  insurance  society. 
In  1892  he  moved  from  the  north 
side  to  Summerdale,  where  he  owns 
a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Bethany  M.  E.  Church. 


OSCAR  F.   MALMBERG 

was    born     in     Motala,     Sweden, 
Oct.    30,     1862.     Coming    to    this 


OSCAR  F.  MALMBERG 

country  in  1882,  his  first  employ- 
ment here  was  that  of  a  grocery 
clerk.  He  afterwards  formed  a 
partnership  with  A.  P.  Nelson  in 
the  retail  grocery  business  at  68 
Chicago  ave.  In  January,  1888, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Chi- 
cago Fire  Department,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  lieu- 
tenant on  the  fire-boat  "Yosem- 
ite"  July  2,  1891. 

Capt.  Malmberg  has  on  many 
occasions  distinguished  himself  for 
bravery  and  was  honorably  men- 
tioned by  the  department  for  res- 
cuing a  man  from  drowning  at 


the  Yosemite  headquarters  Aug.  5, 
1892,  and  on  the  following  night, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  crew, 
rescuing  two  men  from  drowning. 
At  the  fire  at  236-238  Monroe  St., 
Feb.  14,  1894,  Chief  Swenie  or- 
dered him,  together  with  his  com- 
pany, to  effect  the  rescue  of  Win. 
Fleming  of  company  40,  who  was 
caught  by  falling  floors  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs  leading  to  the 
third  floor.  Just  after  they  had 
succeeded  in  releasing  Fleming's 
arm  from  underneath  a  heavy 
beam,  an  explosion  occurred, 
throwing  them  to  the  bottom  of 
the  stairs  on  the  first  floor.  Lieut. 
Malmberg  and  his  crew  did  signal 
service  during  the  lumber  yard 
fire  of  Aug.  i,  1894,  in  prevent- 
ing the  whirlwind  of  flames  from 
leaping  the  river  to  the  south, 
thereby  saving  from  certain  de- 
struction the  Santa  Fe  elevator, 
which  escaped  with  but  slight 
damage.  The  wind  developed  into 
a  cyclone  of  such  power,  that  a 
wagon,  loaded  with  lumber,  was 
thrown  into  the  air  and  struck  the 
side  of  the  "Yosemite,"  doing 
considerable  damage.  First  Assist- 
ant Fire  Marshal  W.  H.  Musham 
was  thrown  into  the  river,  but 
rescued  by  the  crew.  Lieut.  Malm- 
berg was  blown  from  the  stand- 
pipe  on  the  deck,  but  recovered 
shortly  afterward. 

The  following  report,  published 
in  The  Daily  News,  Sept.  13,  1894, 
gives  a  graphic  description  of  his 
narrow  escape  from  death  and  the 
part  he  played  in  rescuing  his 
companions. 

"When  it    was   discovered    that 


214 


Cook  County 


fire  had  broken  out  in  the  lumber 
yards  in  South  Chicago,  the  Yo- 
semite  was  ordered  to  go  to  the 
fire.  The  boat  left  at  8:13  and 
when  about  three  miles  out  in  the 
lake  it  was  found  that  the  boat 
had  sprung  a  leak  and  was  filling 
with  water  which  soon  put  out 
the  fires.  Finding  that  all  efforts 
to  keep  the  boat  bailed  out  were 
unavailing,  the  crew  looked  for 
something  to  use  for  a  signal. 
Nothing  which  could  be  seen  at 
any  distance  was  at  hand.  Then 
a  desperate  plan  was  resorted  to. 
Lieutenant  Malmberg  took  off  his 
coat  and  dipped  it  into  a  barrel  of 
kerosene,  then  fastened  it  to  the 
end  of  a  pole  and  set  fire  to  it. 
The  other  members  of  the  crew 
followed  his  example  and  soon  the 
deck  was  illuminated  by  the  im- 
provised distress  signals.  The 
burning  fluid  trickled  down  the 
handles  of  the  torches  and  burned 
hands  and  arms.  The  pain  was 
excruciating,  but  the  signals  were 
vigorously  waved.  It  was  mid- 
night before  the  live  saving  crew 
reached  them.  With  succor  at 
hand  the  men  made  a  last  des- 
perate and  unsuccessful  attempt 
to  save  their  craft.  No  sooner  had 
the  imperiled  men  been  transferred 
to  the  life  boat  before  the  Yosem- 
ite  sank." 

The  boat  was  later  raised  and 
placed  in  service  again. 

Lieutenant  Malmberg  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  captain 
under  the  civil  service  examina- 
tion July  2,  1896,  and  assigned 
the  command  of  engine  company 
21,  State  and  Taylor  sts.,  and  in 


April,  1897,  was  transferred  to 
engine  company  83,  mi  South 
Place.  Since  Oct.  18,  1905,  Capt. 
Malmberg  has  been  in  command 
of  engine  company  90,  57  E.  Divi- 
sion st. 

Captain  Malmberg  was  married 
April  30,  1890,  to  Jennie  Aker- 
lind,  and  the  couple  have  two 
children,  Edgar  and  Irene. 


ERLAND  LARSON 

was  born  Jan.  i,  1863,  in  Edsberg 
parish,  Nerike,  Sweden.    He  came 


ERLAND     LARSON 

to  the  United  States  in  1886, 
bound  for  Minnesota.  After  a  few 
months  he  went  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  worked  in  a  lumber 
camp.  He  next  left  for  Oregon, 
where  he  remained  three  years. 
In  1893  Mr.  Larson  came  to  Chi- 
cago, working  at  first  as  a  black- 
smith. After  a  year  he,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  L.  Wahlquist,  or- 
ganized the  Grand  Union  Grill 
Works.  The  business  began  on  a 


Chicago 


215 


small  scale,  but  has  so  expanded 
that  in  1907  the  firm  erected  a 
large  building  at  1664-68  W.  Lake 
st.  It  is  the  largest  factory  of  its 
kind  in  the  city,  and  a  large  as- 
sortment of  grills,  consoles  and 
turned  columns  is  manufactured. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  in  1897 
to  Anna  Theresia  Anderson  from 
Nora,  Westmanland,  with  whom 
he  has  three  daughters,  Hildur, 
Ella  and  Violet. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larson  belong  to 
the  Humboldt  Park  Swedish  Meth- 
odist Church. 


FRANK  AUGUST  LINDHOLM 

was    born     in     Grenna,     Sweden, 
Sept.  21,    1868.     He    received    an 


FRANK  AUGUST  LINDHOLM 

ordinary  common  school  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land,  and  spent  part  of  his  youth 
in  the  cities  of  Jonkoping  and 
Falkoping.  On  his  eighteenth 
birthday  he  landed  in  this  coun- 
try. Being  a  tailor  by  trade,  he 


specialized  in  the  manufacture  of 
vests  and  pants  for  the  trade,  a  bus- 
iness he  is  now  engaged  in,  giving 
employment  to  about  125  workers. 
The  firm  is  the  Lindhohn,  John- 
son Co.,  at  215  Madison  st.  Mr. 
Lindholm  has  taken  interest  in 
organizations  promoting  the  in- 
terests of  his  trade  and  has  been 
financial  secretary  of  the  Tailor's 
Business  Association.  He  has  also 
served  one  term  as  president,  be- 
sides filling  other  offices  in  the 
organization. 

Mr.  Lindholm  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church  at 
Orleans  and  Whiting  streets,  in 
which  he  at  present  is  a  trustee. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  church  choir,  and 
taught  classes  in  the  Sunday 
school,  for  which  he  is  now  the 
treasurer. 

In  1892  Mr.  Lindholm  made  a 
visit  to  his  native  land.  The 
following  year,  having  returned 
to  Chicago,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  T.  Sahlberg,  Nov. 
16,  1893. 

GUSTAVE  NELSON 

was  born  Nov.  2,  1867,  in  Dais- 
land,  Sweden.  His  father,  Mag- 
nus Nilsson,  emigrated  with  his 
family  in  1869  and  settled  in  Des 
Moines  co.,  Iowa.  He  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  who  organized 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  in 
Kingston,  Iowa. 

Gustave  remained  on  the  farm 
until  1892,  when  he  went  to  Texas. 
After  a  short  stay  he  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  worked  for 
two  years.  In  1894  he  entered 


216 


Cook  County 


Augustana  College,  continuing  his 
studies  there  for  two  years.  He 
then  entered  the  law  department 


GUSTAVE  NELSON 

of  the  University  of  Michigan 
and  was  graduated  in  1899.  Mr. 
Nelson  has  an  office  at  145  La 
Salle  st.,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
general  law  practice. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  League. 


CARL  O.  YOUNG 

was  born  in  Goteborg,  Sweden, 
Oct.  10,  1865.  When  he  was  four 
years  old,  his  parents  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Kansas 
City,  Mo.  There  he  attended 
public  school  and  the  Swedish 
parochial  school  until  twelve  years 
of  age,  when  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Lindsborg,  Kans.  Here 
he  worked  on  the  farm  in  sum- 
mer and  attended  school  in  win- 
ter until  the  fall  of  1881,  when 
he  entered  the  academic  depart- 
ment of  Bethany  College.  Having 


finished  the  preparatory  course, 
he  was,  in  1885,  matriculated  at 
Augustana  College,  in  Rock  Island, 
111.,  where  he  graduated  in  1889. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered 
the  medical  department  of  Har- 
vard University,  where  he  com- 
pleted the  required  four  year  years' 
course,  graduating  in  1893.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  had  charge  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Quincy,  Mass.,  which  at  that  time 
erected  a  fine  edifice,  the  only 
granite  church  building  in  the 
Augustana  Synod. 

In  1 894-' 96  Mr.  Young  pursued 
further  medical  studies  at  the 
University  of  Berlin.  Returning 
to  America  in  1896,  he  opened  an 
office  in  Chicago,  where  later  he 


CAKL   O.  YOUNG 


of    the    medical  de- 
Augustana      Hos- 


became  chief 
partment  at 
pital. 

In  the  summer  of  1901  Dr. 
Young  again  made  a  trip  to  Ger- 
many, where  he  pursued  further 


Chicago 


medical  studies  in  Hamburg  for 
six  months. 

In  August,  1904,  Dr.  Young 
incorporated  the  Washington  Park 
Hospital,  which  was  opened  in 
rented  quarters,  Labor  Day  of  that 
year.  In  February,  1906,  a  new 
building,  with  a  capacity  for  sev- 
enty-five patients,  was  opened. 

Dr.  Young  is  chief  of  the  hos- 
pital staff.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Chicago,  the  Illinois  and  the 
American  medical  associations,  and 
of  the  Harvard  Alumni  Associa- 
tion. 

May  31,  1898,  Dr.  Young  was 
married  to  Miss  Sophia  Swanstrom 
of  Lindsborg,  Kans.  They  have 
two  children,  Viola  and  Stanley. 


was 
Jan. 


K.  ALBERT  WEYDELL 

born    in     Kalmar,     Sweden, 
20,      1869.     His     childhood 


K.   ALBERT  WEYDELL 

and  early  youth  were  spent  in 
his  native  city.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  went  to  sea  and  spent 


217 

a  few  years  before  the  mast. 
During  this  time  he  visited  all 
quarters  of  the  globe  and  saw 
many  strange  lands.  He  stayed 
in  Brazil  and  Chili  for  two  years, 
and  had  occasion  to  familiarize 
himself  with  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical conditions.  Finally  he 
decided  to  take  some  rest  from 
his  extensive  seafaring  and  came 
to  Chicago  to  visit  some  relatives. 
They  prevailed  upon  him  to  stay 
and  he  then  began  to  study  phar- 
macy at  the  University  of  Illinois 
School  of  Pharmacy.  Immediately 
after  his  graduation  he  started  in 
business  at  6501  Cottage  Grove 
ave.,  where  he  enjoys  a  good 
trade. 

ALFRED  L.  MORRIS 

was  born  at  Chandlers  Valley, 
Warren  co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  2,  1865, 


ALFRED  LAWRENCE  MORRIS 

and  grew  up  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  A.  P.  Morris,  an  old  settler 
of  that  vicinity.  Having  attended 
public  school  in  his  home  district 


218 


Cook  County 


and  the  high  school  at  Sugar 
Grove,  Pa.,  he  left  home  and  came 
to  Chicago  in  1888.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business, 
conducting  a  retail  store  up  to 
1896,  when  he  went  out  of  busi- 
ness and  went  to  work  as  a  whole- 
sale salesman  with  Durand,  Kaspar 
&  Co.  From  1897  to  1901  he 
held  a  position  as  deputy  clerk  in 
the  Criminal  Court  Clerk's  office. 
In  1902  he  was  made  general 
agent  of  the  Scandia  Life  Insur- 
ance Co.,  and  remains  in  its  serv- 
ice to  date. 

Oct.  9,  1888,  Mr.  Morris  was 
married  to  Miss  Linda  Jerner  of 
Chicago,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John 
F.  Jerner,  born  Sept.  10,  1868. 
Their  children,  with  dates  of  birth, 
are:  Irene  Evelyn,  Aug.  23,  1890; 
Edgar  Lawrence,  Aug.  23,  1892; 
Florence  Marie,  June  5,  1902. 

Mr.  Morris,  with  his  family, 
belongs  to  the  Salem  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  where  his 
brother-in-law,  Dr.  L.  G.  Abraham- 
son,  has  served  as  pastor  for  a 
long  term  of  years.  Mr.  Morris 
is  a  member  of  King  Oscar  Lodge, 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  the  I.  O. 
O,  F. 


he  established  a   second    store,    at 
1249  Belmont  ave. 
In   1901  Mr.  Larson   was    mar- 


JOHN  LARSON 

was  born  in  Raflunda,  Skane, 
Sweden,  Jan.  6,  1874.  In  1888,  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in 
Chicago,  where  he  worked  in  the 
grocery  trade  for  some  nine  years. 
He  then  opened  a  fish  and  delikat- 
essen  store  at  1685  N.  Clark  st. 
The  business  grew,  and  in  1901 


JOHN  LARSON 

ried  to   Miss    Ida  Anderson    and 

the    couple    have  established     a 

pleasant  home    at  1479    Belmont 
ave. 


WILLIAM  P.  CARLSON, 

manufacturing  tailor,  was  born  in 
Falkoping,  Skaraborgs  Ian,  Swe- 
den, March  7,  1863.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, where  he  landed  July  12,  1875. 
He  has  since  resided  in  Chicago. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  in 
this  city,  and  afterwards  learned 
the  tailoring  trade.  Mr.  Carlson 
is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  manu- 
facturing tailors,  Strom,  Carlson 
&  Dreutz,  at  472  Hermitage  ave. 
In  1889  Mr.  Carlson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Goodsnover, 
who  is  of  Belgian  descent.  They 
have  three  children,  Ethel,  Helen 


Chicago 


219 


and    William,    and    reside    at    164 

Larrabee  st.,  owning  the  property. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member  of  the 


WILLIAM    P.  CARLSON 

Lutheran  Church.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  First  Swedish  L/odge 
I.  O.  O.  F. 


AXEL  CHYTRAUS, 

Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Cook  county,  was  born  1859  in 
Vermland,  Sweden.  At  the  age 
of  ten  he  came  with  his  father  to 
America.  They  settled  in  Chica- 
go, where  his  father  was  employed 
as  a  bookkeeper  until  his  death 
in  1887.  Axel  attended  the  public 
schools  and  the  Chicago  Athenae- 
um. At  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
was  employed  as  errand  boy  in 
the  law  office  of  Howe  &  Russell. 
Interesting  himself  in  the  business 
of  the  law  office  during  succeed- 
ing years,  he  acquired  a  well- 
grounded  legal  knowledge  before 
reaching  maturity.  In  1881,  after 
nine  years  spent  in  the  law  office 


and  in  study,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  Four  years  later  the  firm 
of  Blanke  &  Chytraus  was  formed. 
In  1892  Mr.  Charles  S.  Deneen, 
then  a  young  man,  was  taken  into 
the  firm,  and  it  became  Blanke, 
Chytraus  &  Deneen.  When  in 
1893  Mr.  Blanke  was  elected  a 
judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  the 
firm  was  continued  as  Chytraus 
&  Deneen.  Mr.  Deneen  was,  sub- 
sequently, in  1896,  elected  State's 
Attorney,  and  he  is  now  Gover- 
nor of  Illinois.  Mr.  Chytraus 
was  elected  a  judge  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court  of  Cook  county  in  1898, 
at  which  time  the  firm  of  Chytraus 
&  Deneen  was  dissolved,  and  he 
was  re-elected  in  1904. 


AXEL  CHYTRAUS 

Augustana  College  in  1901  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of 
LL.  D. 

Judge  Chytraus  was  married  in 
1892,  to  Miss  Laura  Haugan, 
daughter  of  Helge  A.  Haugan, 


22O 


Cook  County 


the  well-known  banker.   Mrs.  Chy- 
traus  died  in   1907. 

Judge  Chytraus  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club.  He  has 
the  interests  of  the  Swedish  na- 
tionality in  America  at  heart;  his 
high  standing  among  the  judiciary 
reflects  credit  upon  his  country- 
men generally,  and  in  the  coun- 
cils of  the  Republican  party  in 
Chicago  and  the  state  at  large 
his  influence  is  recognized  and 
his  word  carries  weight. 


ALFRED  J.  YOUNGDAHL, 

the  popular  west  side  jeweler  and 
optician,     was     born    in    Malmo, 


ALFRED  J.  YOUNGDAHL 

Sweden,  Dec.  12,  1859,  and  came 
to  America  in  1883.  For  about 
a  year  he  was  connected  with 
Benedict  Bros.,  of  New  York. 
Leaving  that  city  he  went  to 
Chicago,  and  for  some  time  he 
was  employed  by  N.  Matson  and 
Co.  In  1889  Mr.  Youngdahl 
formed  a  partnership  with  John 


R.  Lilja  and  after  about  twelve 
years  became  sole  owner.  His 
place  of  business  is  at  565-567  W. 
Madison  st.  Mr.  Youngdahl  was 
married  in  1895,  to  Miss  Helen 
Mabel  Kaye,  of  Lake  Geneva, 
Wis.,  with  whom  he  has  one  son 
and  one  daughter. 


CARL  G.  LONNERBLAD 

was    born    April    24,    1867,  in  the 
Swedish  city  of  Falkoping,  in  Ves- 


CARL  GUSTAF   LONNERBLAD 

tergotland.  His  parents  were  Nils 
Jonas  Lonnerblad,  a  parson,  and 
his  wife  Hedvig  Carolina,  nee 
Mannerfelt.  The  son  was  given 
a  thorough  education,  studying 
for  six  years  at  Skara,  then  con- 
tinuing at  a  higher  educational 
institution  in  Venersborg.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  joined  the  Royal 
Skaraborg  Regiment  and  in  1888 
completed  his  course  at  the  Karls- 
borg  military  school.  Later  he 
abandoned  the  military  career  and 
in  1890  left  Sweden  for  the  United 


Chicago 


221 


States.  Coming  to  Chicago  he 
became  first  assistant  to  the  late 
Dr.  Ahlstrand  in  his  massage  es- 
tablishment. Mr.  Lonnerblad  af- 
terward was  engaged  as  masseur 
at  the  sanitarium  at  Palmyra, 
Wis.,  in  Lake  Geneva,  111.,  and 
Louisville,  Ky.  Returning  to  Chi- 
cago he  opened  his  own  establish- 
ment and  has  been  in  business  as 
masseur  and  medical  gymnast  for 
the  jast  ten  years. 

As  a  singer  Mr.  Lonnerblad  soon 
attracted  attention  in  Swedish  mu- 
sical circles  in  Chicago.  His  voice, 
a  low  tenor  of  rare  quality,  has 
been  frequently  heard  in  solos, 
duets  and  quartets  at  concerts  and 
other  public  entertainments.  In 
rendering  the  famous  "Glunt- 
songs"  of  Wennerberg  he  is  es- 
pecially proficient.  Since  the  fall 
of  1890  Mr.  Lonnerblad  has  been 
active  in  the  Swedish  Glee  Club, 
in  which  he  has  taken  front  rank 
both  as  a  singer  and  as  a  social 
member.  He  served  as  secretary 
of  the  club  in  1904-6  and  was 
chosen  vice-president  in  1907.  Up- 
on the  demise  of  Robert  Lindblom, 
the  president,  early  in  the  year, 
Mr.  Lonnerblad  became  acting 
president  of  the  club. 

Mr.  Lonnerblad  in  1892  was 
among  the  organizers  of  the  Am- 
erican Union  of  Swedish  Singers, 
served  as  its  secretary  in  1901-3 
and  has  for  the  past  four  years 
been  first  vice-president  of  the 
organization. 

Combining  as  he  does  the  music- 
al with  the  dramatic  talent,  Mr. 
Lonnerblad  is  frequently  called 
upon  to  assist  in  the  production 


of  Swedish  plays.  Without  any 
claim  to  professionalism,  his  act- 
ing is  free  and  natural,  backed  by 
clear  intuition  and  intelligent  in- 
terpretation. 

Since  coming  to  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Lonnerblad  has  made 
several  visits  to  Sweden,  including 
the  1897  tour  of  the  picked  chorus 
of  the  A.  U.  S.  S.,  of  which  he 
was  a  member. 


ELLEN  LINDSTROM 

was   born   at    Fjelkestad,    Skane, 
Sweden,  Jan.  21,  1860.   Her  father, 


ELLEN  LINDSTROM 

Swen  Lindstrom,  was  the  last  mas- 
ter blacksmith  in  Sweden  to  receive 
a  diploma  from  the  old  Black- 
smiths' Guild.  In  his  shop,  which 
was  her  favorite  resort  when  a 
child,  were  laid  the  foundations 
of  that  deep  interest  in  the  prog- 
ress of  the  working  people,  which 
has  characterized  her  later  in  life. 
She  studied  at  girls'  seminaries  in 
her  home  city  and  in  Skara.  That 


222 


Cook  County 


she  was  an  ambitious  student  is 
shown  from  the  fact  that  she  was 
the  youngest  student  ever  sent  out 
from  her  Alma  Mater.  The  next 
ten  years  of  her  life  were  spent 
in  teaching,  until  her  health  broke 
down.  For  several  years  she  was 
apparently  a  hopeless  invalid,  and 
when  health  gradually  returned, 
the  school-room  being  forbidden 
her,  she  turned  to  a  new  field  of 
activity.  Her  interest  in  social 
reform  had  been  deepened,  while 
still  she  was  a  teacher,  by  a  meet- 
ing with  Herr  Bebel,  the  famous 
German  socialist. 

On  leaving  the  school-room,  she 
decided  to  cast  her  lot  with  the 
toilers.  Coming  to  this  country 
in  1890,  Chicago  was  chosen  as  the 
field  of  her  new  activity.  Within 
three  days  after  reaching  the  city 
she  was  seated  in  a  tailor  shop, 
and  was  long  identified  with  the 
tailoring  trade  of  Chicago.  She 
was  for  several  years  the  business 
agent  of  a  large  local  union,  com- 
posed almost  entirely  of  women. 
So  far  as  is  known,  Miss  L,ind- 
strom  was  the  first  woman  who 
ever  bore  the  much  abused  title 
of  "walking  delegate."  At  the 
absorption  of  her  union,  the  Special 
Order  Clothing  Makers,  by  the 
United  Garment  Workers,  Miss 
L,indstrom  was  made  a  member  of 
the  General  Executive  Board  of 
the  latter  organization,  a  body  of 
53,000  workers. 

One  of  her  chief  desires  is  for 
the  abolition  of  child-labor,  to 
which  her  own  trade  offers  so 
tempting  a  field.  Through  her 
instrumentality  the  women's  local 


union  already  mentioned  became 
one  of  the  first  labor  unions  in 
Chicago  to  take  active  steps  in 
opposition  to  this  great  evil. 

For  years,  both  in  Sweden  and 
in  America,  Miss  Ljndstrom  has 
been  a  frequent  contributor  to 
Swedish  periodicals.  In  August, 
1906,  she  left  Chicago  to  take  a 
position  as  associate  editor  of 
Kvinnan  och  ff emmet,  a  woman's 
journal,  published  at  Cedar  Rap- 
ids, Iowa. 

In  religion  Miss  L,indstrom  is  a 
IvUtheran. 


NELSON  A.  ANDERSON 

was  born    May    7,     1855,    in    the 
parish  of  lyindberg,  Halland,  Swe- 


NELSON   A.    ANDERSON 

den.  His  father  was  the  villiage 
blacksmith  and  taught  his  trade 
to  his  son.  When  the  boy  was 
thirteen,  his  father  died.  The 
lad  now  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  He  came  to  this  country 
in  1874,  and  settled  in  St.  Joseph, 


Chicago 


223 


Mich.,  where  he  obtained  em- 
ployment in  the  railroad  shops 
and  learned  the  molder's  and 
machinist's  trades.  In  1886  he 
went  to  Kansas.  The  next  year 
he  came  to  Chicago  and  worked 
in  various  machine  shops.  He 
became  a  stockholder  in  the  Carl 
Anderson  Co.,  and  was  engaged 
there  from  1889  until  January, 
1900.  In  April,  1902,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  K.  L.  Jones 
under  the  firm  name  Anderson 
and  Jones,  at  66  W.  Lake  st. 

The  business  was  later  incorpo- 
rated as  The  Anderson  Machine 
Co.,  of  which  Mr.  Anderson  is 
president.  In  1907  the  firm  moved 
to  56  N.  Jefferson  st. 

In  1878  Mr.  Anderson  married 
Hanna  Danielson  of  Smaland, 
Sweden.  The  couple  have  been 
blessed  with  three  children. 


ness  of  the  city  by  the  lake.  At 
one  time  he  owned  and  conducted 
a  hotel  and  restaurant  on  the 


ANDREW  TALLBERG 

was  born  in  L/jusdal  parish,  Hel- 
sin gland,  Sweden,  Sept.  19,  1843. 
His  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  parish  school.  In  1870  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Chicago,  where  he  has  since 
lived. 

Mr.  Tallberg  is  a  well-known 
business  man  and  has  devoted  his 
time  and  energy  to  several  lines 
of  investment.  For  many  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  and  has  built  several  flat 
buildings  in  Hyde  Park.  He  has 
shown  his  faith  in  Chicago  and 
its  growth  by  investing  largely  in 
vacant  and  improved  property  and 
has  thus  contributed  to  the  great- 


ANDREW  TALLBERG 

south  side,  which  not  only  in- 
creased his  acquaintance  among 
the  Swedish  as  well  as  the  Amer- 
ican people,  but  proved  a  paying 
venture.  In  recent  years  he  has 
given  much  of  his  time  to  mining 
and  other  investments.  His  office 
is  at  112  S.  Clark  st.,  suite  410. 
Mr.  Tallberg  for  a  number  of 
years  has  been  an  active  member 
of  the  Swedish  Free  Mission 
Church. 


GUSTAF  T.  CEDERLOF 

was  born  Oct.  18,  1848,  in  Tims- 
bro,  Karlskoga  parish,  Orebro  Ian, 
Sweden.  He  received  instruction 
in  the  public  school  and  in  the 
first  four  classes  in  the  collegiate 
school  in  Kristinehanm.  In  1866 
he  obtained  employment  in  the 
Wallgren  tannery  in  Orebro,  in 
order  to  learn  his  father's  trade. 


224 


Cook  County 


He    returned    home    in    1869   and      I  Will  Lodge,  Knights  of  Honor, 
assumed  management  of  the  farm 
and    the    tannery    owned    by    his 


GUSTAF  T.  CEDERL6F 

father.  Mr.  Cederlof  continued  in 
this  vocation  until  1884,  when  he 
went  to  Chicago.  Until  1893  he 
was  employed  with  the  Lambeau 
Leather  Co.  Since  then  he  has 
conducted  a  restaurant,  and  later 
a  bakery  in  Austin. 

Mr.  Cederlof  was  married  in 
1891  to  Ida  Maria  Tornberg  from 
Kristianstad,  province  of  Skane. 
They  have  a  daughter,  Ruth. 


CHARLES   B.  CARLEMAN 

was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
Aug.  6,  1860.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  April,  1866,  with  his  father, 
Dr.  Mauritz  B.  Carleman,  now 
deceased. 

Mr.  Carleman  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  Phoenix  Pharmacy,  located 
at  63  E.  Chicago  ave. 

Mr.  Carleman  is    a   member    of 


CHARLES   B.  CARLEMAX 

and   Lincoln    Park    Lodge,   A.  F. 
and  A.  M. 


EDWARD  T.  CARLSON 

is  a  native  of  Tanum,  in  Bohus 
Ian,  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
July  i,  1863.  His  schooling  he 
received  in  his  native  place.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-three  he  left 
the  old  country  for  America.  Ar- 
riving in  Chicago  in  May,  1886, 
he  at  once  obtained  employment 
in  a  paint  shop,  working  there  for 
three  years.  Subsequently  he 
opened  a  paint  shop  of  his  own 
on  Milwaukee  ave.,  remaining  in 
business  there  until  about  ten 
years  ago,  when,  recognizing  a 
more  profitable  outlook  in  Irving 
Park,  he  removed  to  that  suburb 
and  there  established  the  Irving 
Park  Paint  Store,  at  2684-86  N. 
4Oth  ave.,  where  he  is  still  located, 
dealing  in  paints  and  wall  paper. 
In  1893  Mr.  Carlson  visited  his 


Chicago 


225 


old  parents  in  Sweden,  and  find- 
ing them  enfeebled  by  age  and 
the  old  homestead  badly  encum- 


EDWARD  THEODORE  CARLSON 

bered,  he  purchased  the  farm  and 
turned  it  over  to  his  eldest  sister 
and  her  husband,  they  in  return 
therefor  being  required  to  take  the 
best  care  of  the  aged  couple,  thus 
relieving  them  of  worry  and  in- 
suring them  a  comfortable  home 
for  the  remainder  of  their  days. 

While  in  Sweden  on  this  errand 
of  filial  charity,  Mr.  Carlson 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss 
Emilia  Tobiasson,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  1894.  The  couple  have 
now  a  family  of  six  children,  four 
boys  and  two  girls. 


SVEN      OLOF     LEJONSTEIN, 

inventor  and  electrical  engineer, 
is  the  son  of  Carl  Magnus  L/ejon- 
stein,  a  farmer  at  Urshult,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  and  his  wife, 
Cecilia  Bjork,  both  deceased.  He 


was  born  on  his  father's  farm, 
June  20,  1860,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  home  parish 
up  to  1876,  when  he  went  to 
Germany  intent  on  learning  the 
mechanic's  trade.  He  was  em- 
ployed at  the  L,inden  Works  at 
Hanover  for  three  years  and  sub- 
sequently in  the  Kockum  Works 
at  Malmo  a  short  time  before 
going  to  Stockholm  in  1880. 
During  the  seven  years  next 
following  he  led  a  seafaring  life, 
gradually  working  his  way  up 
and  spending  enough  time  on 
land  to  pass  the  necessary  ex- 
aminations for  preferment.  He 
began  his  career  as  marine  en- 
gineer on  a  passenger  steamer 
plying  between  Stockholm  and 


SVEN  OLOF  LEJONSTEIN 


L,ater  we  find  him  in 
the  service  of  the  British  mer- 
chant marine,  as  assistant  engineer 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  liner  "Ex- 
press" and  the  East  India  liner 
"Lord  Warwick."  For  two  years, 


226 


Cook   County 


1887  to  1889,  Mr.  Lejonstein  left 
the  sea  to  become  mechanical 
engineer  in  the  milling  and  bak- 
ing plant  of  Schumacher,  the 
court  baker,  at  Stockholm.  Then 
he  returned  to  his  former  occu- 
pation on  shipboard,  making  an 
extensive  trip  with  the  British 
mail  steamer  "Catania,"  from 
London  to  Melbourne  and  Sydney 
via  Suez,  then  doubling  the  Cape, 
en  route  to  New  Zealand,  and 
from  there  back  via  Rio  Janeiro, 
arriving  in  London  New  Year's 
eve,  1890.  He  now  took  a  posi- 
tion with  the  Max  Nordenfeldt 
Gun  Factory,  remaining  for  fifteen 
months.  During  his  stay  in  Eng- 
land he  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Carlson,  Jan  31,  1891,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  at  the 
Swedish  consulate  by  Pastor  Pal- 
mer of  the  Swedish  church  in 
London.  Mrs.  Lejonstein,  daugh- 
ter of  Carl  Danielson,  a  farmer 
at  Urshult,  was  born  Aug.  22, 
1867.  They  have  a  son,  Carl 
Olof,  born  July  31,  1894.  Their 
first  child,  a  son  of  the  same 
name,  died  in  infancy. 

Coming  to  the  United  States  in 
April,  1891,  Mr.  Lejonstein  went 
to  the  Navy  Yard  at  Washington, 
armed  with  recommendations  from 
England.  In  the  absence  of  the 
official  to  whom  they  were  ad- 
dressed, he  turned  for  employ- 
ment to  the  Baldwin  Locomotive 
Works  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
worked  for  a  short  time  until  he 
was  employed  as  engineer  for 
the  Keene  -  Sutterlee  Company 
in  the  same  city.  He  remained 


for  more  than  a  year,  mean- 
while completing  the  course  in 
electrical  engineering  at  the  Scran- 
ton  Correspondence  Schools. 

In  the  fall  of  1892,  Mr.  Lejon- 
stein came  to  Chicago.  After 
being  employed  for  some  time  as 
engineer  for  Reid,  Murdoch  and 
Company,  he  took  charge  of  the 
heat,  light  and  power  plant  of 
Paul  O.  Stensland  and  Co.,  re- 
maining as  chief  electrical  en- 
gineer for  eleven  years. 

Mr.  Lejonstein  exhibits  with 
pardonable  pride  the  grand  gold 
medal  of  the  Paris  Academy  of 
Inventors  and  accompanying  di- 
ploma of  honorary  membership, 
awarded  him  Nov.  12,  1892,  for 
a  life-saving  device  of  his  inven- 
tion. Other  ingenious  inven- 
tions are  a  rapid-firing  cannon, 
and  a  safety  brake  for  eleva- 
tors. Mr.  Lejonstein  now  has 
a  patent  pending  on  a  stopper 
for  faucets  and  valves,  permitting 
their  removal  and  repair  without 
first  turning  off  the  water  or 
other  liquid  or  gas.  Thus  a  water 
faucet  in  a  large  apartment  house 
may  be  repaired  without  incon- 
veniencing all  the  tenants  by  cut- 
ting off  the  entire  water  supply 
for  the  building. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lejonstein  are 
Lutherans  and  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Swedish  church  when 
in  London  and  the  Gethsemane 
Swedish  church  as  residents  of 
Chicago. 


Chicago 


227 


OTTILIE    A.    LILJENCRANTZ 

is    an    author,    who    has    sprung 
into     prominence     in    a     remark- 


OTTILIE  ADELINE  LILJENCRANTZ 

ably  short  time.  She  was  born 
in  Chicago  Jan.  19,  1876.  Her 
father  is  G.  A.  M.  Liljen- 
crantz,  who  for  over  thirty-five 
years  has  been  United  States  assist- 
ant engineer  in  Chicago.  Through 
him,  her  ancestry  is  traced  back 
to'  .Laurentius  Petri,  the  disciple 
of  Martin  Luther,  who,  with  his 
brother,  Olaus  Petri,  introduced 
the  Lutheran  religion  into  Sweden. 
Laurentius  Petri  was  created  the 
first  Lutheran  archbishop  in  Up- 
sala  during  the  reign  of  Gustaf  I. 
Vasa.  In  1541  he  introduced  the 
first  Swedish  translation  of  the 
Bible,  of  which  he  had  translated 
the  greater  part  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. Some  of  his  hymns  are 
still  preserved  in  the  Swedish 
Psalmbook.  Another  paternal  an- 
cestor was  Johan  Vesterman,  the 
son  of  a  clergyman  of  Gene,  who 


in  1768  was  created  a  baron,  and 
later  a  count,  in  recognition  of 
his  brilliant  career  as  councillor 
of  state  and  minister  of  finance 
under  Gustaf  III.  He  then  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Liljencrantz. 

On  her  mother's  side,  Miss  Lil- 
jencrantz has  a  New  England  an- 
cestry which  goes  back  through 
revolutionary  times  to  the  old 
puritan  days  of  1640,  when  her 
forefathers  came  over  from  Eng- 
land. 

Andersen's  fairy  tales,  stories  of 
the  romantic  adventures  of  Gustaf 
Vasa,  of  the  glory  of  Gustaf  II. 
Adolf,  of  the  heroism  of  Carl  XII. 
and  reminiscences  of  her  father's 
boyhood  were  the  first  bedtime 
stories  of  the  little  girl.  When 
seven  she  wrote  her  first  love 
story.  From  twelve  to  twenty 
she  had  a  passion  for  writing  plays 
for  amateur  theatricals.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  she  wrote  a  play 
founded  on  the  legend  of  "the 
King's  Ring,"  as  described  in  the 
famous  "Surgeon's  Stories,"  of 
Topelius. 

Miss  Liljencrantz  was  educated 
at  Dearborn  Seminary,  graduating 
in  1893.  She  had  thoughts  of  en- 
tering upon  a  university  course, 
but  her  health  not  being  equal  to 
the  continuous  grind,  she  occupied 
herself  with  home  reading  and 
home  study.  With  the  exception 
of  fairly  thorough  courses  in  Ger- 
man and  French,  her  education 
has  been  in  English,  but  she  has 
had  the  benefit  of  her  father's 
translations  in  the  case  of  Swedish 
and  Norwegian  history. 

The  first  book  written    by  Miss 


228 


Cook  County 


Liljencrantz  was  a  juvenile  enti- 
tled "The  Scrape  that  Jack  Built," 
published  in  1896.  The  circum 
stance  that  undoubtedly  decided 
her  future  field  was  the  purchase 
of  Du  Chaillu's  "Viking  Age," 
which  intensely  fascinated  her. 
"Frithiof's  Saga"  and  Andersen's 
"Norse  Mythology' '  further  aroused 
her  to  the  possibilities  of  a  field 
at  once  inestimably  rich  and  com 
paratively  untilled.  These  studies 
resulted  in  "The  Thrall  of  Leif, 
the  Lucky,"  published  in  1902  by 
A.  C.  McClurg  &  Co.  as  their 
leading  "book  of  the  year."  This 
glowing  tale  is  centered  in  the 
career  of  Leif  Ericson,  the  Norse 
Viking,  who  in  the  year  1000 
sailed  from  Greenland  and,  land- 
ing in  the  present  state  of  Rhode 
Island,  was  the  discoverer  of  the 
American  continent. 

In  1903  Miss  Liljencrantz 
brought  forth  another  book,  which 
like  its  predecessor  has  seen  sev- 
eral editions.  This  historical  ro- 
mance is  founded  on  the  conquest 
of  England  by  the  Danish  king, 
Canute,  and  is  entitled  "The 
Ward  of  King  Canute." 

Another  book  written  by  Miss 
Liljencrantz  is  "The  Vinland 
Champions,"  a  juvenile,  depicting 
the  adventures  of  a  young  Norse- 
man and  his  comrades  on  an  ex- 
pedition to  Vinland  in  1009. 

"Randvar,  the  Songsmith;  A 
Romance  of  Norumbega,"  is  the 
title  of  her  latest  work,  which 
was  published  by  the  Harpers.  It 
is  a  tale  of  the  time  of  the  Norse- 
men in  America,  and  is  based  on 
the  legends  woven  about  the  old 


tower  at  Newport.  The  son  of  the 
viking  mentioned  in  Longfellow's 
"The  Skeleton  in  Armor,"  is  the 
hero  of  the  novel,  which  is  regarded 
as  Miss  Liljencrantz's  best  work. 
These  romances  exhibit  profound 
study  of  northern  antiquities  aside 
from  a  vivid  imagination  and  fin- 
ished literary  power  on  the  part 
of  the  gifted  author. 

Besides  the  writing  of  these 
books  Miss  Liljencrantz  has  never 
done  anything  to  bring  herself 
before  the  public  or  into  the  news- 
papers. As  an  only  child  her  girl- 
hood has  been  passed  quietly  in 
her  native  city,  in  close  compan- 
ionship with  her  father.  The 
home  is  at  24  Groveland  Park. 


CARL  I.  J.  IREN^US, 

physician  and   surgeon,  was   born 
Dec.  15,  1872,  in  Krakstad,  an  old 


CARL  I.  J.  IRENAEUS 

estate  in  the  parish  of  Hogstad, 
Ostergotland,  Sweden,  which  has 
belonged  to  his  ancestors  for  many 


Chicago 


229 


generations.  His  father,  Per  Johan 
Jonsson,  was  born  1830  and  died 
at  his  home  in  Sweden  in  1904. 
His  mother  is  Clara  Charlotta  Ire- 
naeus,  born  1841,  and  wife  in  the 
second  marriage  of  his  father. 
There  were  nine  brothers  and 
three  sisters  in  the  family. 

Dr.  Irenseus  obtained  his  early 
education  first  at  home  and  later 
at  the  Kristinehamn  Practical 
School.  In  1891  he  passed  the 
examination  for  entrance  to  the 
Polytechnical  College  in  Norrkop- 
ing,  and  graduated  from  the  chem- 
ical branch  of  this  college  in  1895, 
receiving  the  highest  award  of  the 
institution,  the  "Carl  Johan  Nelin 
prize."  May  10  of  the  following 
year  he  left  home,  bound  for  Chi- 
cago, with  the  intention  of  en  gag- 
in  chemico-technical  work  in  this 
country.  At  first  he  obtained  em- 
ployment with  the  electrical  firm 
of  Gus.  Monrath  &  Co.  and  later 
with  the  Western  Electric  Co. 
He  also  worked  for  some  time  in 
a  bicycle  shop.  In  1897  he  be- 
came assistant  to  Dr.  Charles  W. 
Purdy,  the  prominent  physician 
and  physiological  chemist,  whose 
valuable  text- books  and  writings 
are  well  -  known  to  the  medical 
profession  in  this  country  as  well 
as  abroad.  Dr.  Purdy  soon  recog- 
nized the  ability  of  his  new  assist- 
ant, and  before  long  placed  him 
in  charge  of  his  laboratory.  Here 
Irenseus  began  to  make  his  inves- 
tigations, resulting  in  a  series  of 
new  methods:  i:oThe  construction 
of  the  Purdy  Electric  Centrifuge; 
2:0  A  method  for  the  quantitative 
determination  of  sugar  in  diabetes, 


known  as  "Purdy's  sugar  test;" 
3:0  The  Purdy  method  for  quali- 
tative and  quantitative  determina- 
tion of  albumen  in  Bright' s  dis- 
ease; 4:0  The  Purdy  centrifugal 
method  for  quantitative  estimation 
of  chlorides,  phosphates  and 
sulphates  in  the  urine.  All  these 
methods  which  furnish  valuable 
data  in  the  diagnosis  and  treat- 
ment of  disease  were  published 
during  the  five  years  that  Irenaeus 
was  in  cooperation  with  Purdy. 
Credit  is  given  Irenaeus  in  some 
of  these  publications,  but  privately 
Dr.  Purdy  gave  him  full  credit, 
and  promised  that  Irenaeus  should 
become  his  successor,  and  that  his 
laboratory  and  practice  should  be 
given  him.  Upon  Purdy's  sudden 
death,  and  in  the  absence  of  any 
written  statement  to  this  effect, 
this  plan  miscarried. 

After  Purdy's  death,  Irenaeus, 
who  had  not  yet  completed  his 
medical  course,  took  up  studies  at 
the  University  of  Chicago  for  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  but  after  nearly 
two  years  of  study  reentered  the 
medical  career,  and  obtained  the 
degree  of  B.  S.  in  1903,  and  grad- 
uated in  medicine  in  1905. 

Dr.  Irenaeus  has  had  much 
special  training  in  different  branches 
of  medicine.  He  was  for  four 
years  director  of  the  clinical  labor- 
atory of  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Quine,  assist- 
ant bacteriologist  to  the  city  Health 
Department,  assistant  to  Dr.  Turck, 
the  well-known  specialist  on  dis- 
eases of  the  stomach,  and  is  now 
pathologist  at  the  Michael  Reese 
Hospital,  and  professor  in  chem- 


230 


Cook   County 


it  .1!    .iii.l     miciosi  .»|.i.    diagnosis  in 
:i    medical   college 

Dl  helliens  ha-,  lll.i.li-  .1  jOUniC) 
In  tlu-  different  countries  of  I'.n 
rope  I"  -,lndv  his  piofession.  kc 
ceiilly  lu-  has  invented  ;ui  iush  u 
iiii-nl  I.H  .1'  i-  i  nun".  I  In-  .minimi  of 
•  »l"i  iti^  mallei  in  I  lie  Mood. 

JOHN   k.  OkTKNr.kKN 
is  a  dominant  figure  in  the  musical 
life    of     Chicago,     particularly     so 


JOIIX    K-|;i\IIOI.I>    OKTKMIKKN 

among  the  Swedish  . \nici  leans. 
His  great  service  l«>  his  national 
ity  consists  in  having  laiscd  to 
the  highest  pitch  tlu-  inti-ivst  of 
his  i-onntiynu-n  in  tlu-  SOIIL--  ol 
tin  i.iiln-i  land.  His  inlltu-iuv  has 
rMrndrd  1'ioin  Chieay^o  to  rv«.T\ 
point  in  tlu-  United  States  \\1u-u 
patuolir  i-hoial  sin^ini;  is  lu-ini; 
piarlired  h\'  them.  It  was  under 
his  li-adeishi|>  that  the  Swedi-.h 
I'.K-i'  (.Mill)  o!  i.rlnr.iiM)  attained  the 
aeiiu-  of  fame,  and  under  his  eUv 
li  il\  HI-,  li.iton  the  Amei  iean  Union 


of     Swedish      Singers     won     tlu-ii 

Ltetl    Innmphs. 

John  keinhold  ()rteiiL;ien  was 
horn  in  the  Swi-disli  provitiei-  of 
C.esliikland  Oct.  ,s,  IS62.  His 
father  was  .1  i  .ijilain  of  the  ( ',es 
1 1  ill  Helsinki1  regiment  of  tin- 
Swedish  Army.  A  BfOl  IH-I  ,  Albion 
Orten^tcn,  is  a  leading  aetor  of 
the  kox'.-il  Di.-imatie  Tliealie  at 

Stockholm, 

Ila\'in^  finished  his  stndii-s  at 
the  higher  elementary  school  in 
('.i  ill,  yonnj;  Orten^ren  be^an  the 
stndv  of  music  with  l-'rit/.  Arlherg, 
a  fnnious  operatic  singer  of  the 
capital.  In  1883-85  he  studied 
with  Prof.  Julius  diinther  at  the 
Royal  Ae.ulenn  of  Music,  earning 
the  Abrahamson scholarship.  In  the 
mi  intime  he  completed  the  course 
in  the  school  of  acting  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Royal  Theatre  and 
in  iSSs  X(>  he  was  a  member  of 
its  dramatic  company.  In  1886 
Mr.  Orten^ren  went  to  Paris, 
studying  for  a  yeai  with  Prof. 
Romaine  Hnssine.  ketnrnin^  to 
Sweden,  he  was  attached  to  the 
Royal  Opera  until  iSXi),  as  oj>er- 
atic  singer. 

That  year  Mr.  Ortcnuren  left 
Stockholm  for  Chicago,  and  for 
the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  been 
connected  with  the  Chicago  Mu- 
sical College,  ranking  among  the 
foremost  in  a  corps  of  half  a  hun- 
died  Icacheis. 

His  sweet,  sympathetic  baritone 
voice  at  once  made  Mr.  Ortengren 
a  favorite  concert  singer  and 
chinch  soloist  in  Chicago.  In  the 
lattei  eapacitv  he  has  been  con 
nected  with  the  Unitv  and  Union 


Chicago 


231 


Park  Churches  and  is  at  present 
baritone  soloist  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Chinch  in  Oak  Park. 

Mr.  (  Mtengrcn's  cllicu  in -\  ;is  a 
director  having  become  knm\n. 
many  choral  organi/ations  com 
peted  for  the  privilege  of  his  sot- 
vices.  Much  of  his  time  ha^  L>i 
Near-  been  taken  up  in  training 
and  directing  choruses,  both  Amer- 
ican and  Swedish.  Besides  the 
aforesaid  Swedish  Glee  Club  may 
be  mentioned  the  Mendelssohn 
Club  of  Rock  ford,  the  Sveas  S6- 
ner  of  the  same  city,  the  Wen- 
nerberg  and  Swedish  Festival  Cho- 
ruses, the  Swedish  Si  tigers'  Union 
of  Chicago,  and,  since  1906,  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club. 

At  the  great  Scandinavian  sing- 
ing festival  held  in  Minneapolis 
in  1891  Mr.  Ortengren  directed 
the  grand  chorus  of  united  sing- 
ing clubs.  When  the  American 
Union  of  Swedish  Singers  was  or- 
ganized the  following  year  he  was 
chosen  director- in-chief  and  subse- 
quently acted  in  that  capacity  at 
the  "Swedish  Day"  concert  at  the 
Columbian  Exposition  and  at  the 
singers'  conventions  in  New  York, 
Rockford,  Minneapolis,  Chicago 
and  Moline. 

When  in  1897  a  picked  chorus 
from  the  singers'  union  made  a 
tour  through  Sweden,  Mr.  Orten- 
gren led  the  triumphant  troupe  and 

\vas     .1. voided     a     private     audience 

before  King  Oscar,  who  spoke  in 
terms  of  unmeasured  praise  of  the 
American  Singert  and  their  leader. 
It  may  be  added  that  Mr.  Or- 
tengren frequently  has  lent  his 
dramatic  talent  in  the  production 


of   Swedish  plays  in  Chicago  and 

othei  cities.  On  such  occasions 
he  has  invariably  enacted  leading 
puts,  and  by  his  energetic  and 
convincing  acting  inspired  less 

e  \pcin  need  follow  aclois  \\itll  CO11- 
fidenee  and  COUTige,  He  has  a  No 
ailed  as  stage-  manager  at  vaiions 

performances, 

With  his  exceptional  talents  Mr. 
Ortengren  combines  a  modest  \ 
that  has  much  to  do  with  his  jx)p- 
ularity  with  those  under  histi.iin 
ing.  As  a  vocal  leaeliei  he  takes 
first  rank.  He  possesses  extra 
ordinary  ability  in  bringing  out 
voice*  aiid  imparting  to  the' pupil 
that  ailistic  enthusiasm  without 
which  study  becomes  a  mere 
drudgery.  Main  are  the  soloists 
who  owe  their  sueeess  to  the  ex- 
cellent training  enjoyed  under 
him. 

Mr.  Ortengren  is  married  and 
lives  at  Park  Ridge.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Minimi 
IJndstrom,  herself  a  prominent 
pianisie,  eame  from  the  city  of 
Hudiksvall,  Sweden.  Two  child- 
ren were  born  to  them,  a  daugh- 
ter, Svea,  who  died  several  years 
ago  in  the  prime  of  youth,  and  a 
son,  Helmer,  still  living. 

ALFRED    KDWIN    WESTMAN 

was  born  in  Hammarlunda  parish 
near  Lund,  Sweden,  July  20, 
1855.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  school,  and  in  the 
people's  high  school,  and  also 
graduated  from  a  business  col- 
lege. Not  satisfied  with  this  he 
entered  the  Agricultural  college 
at  Alnarp,  taking  a  complete 


232 


Cook  County 


three  years'  course,    and   gradua- 
ting with  honors  in  1876. 

In     Reslof,     a     cousin     of     his 
owned    a    large    estate,    and    Mr. 


ALFRED  EDWIN   WESTMAN 

Westman  was  now  offered  a  po- 
sition as  book-keeper  with  him, 
which  he  accepted.  His  next 
promotion  was  to  a  similar  position 
at  Sagbyholm,  a  large  estate  of 
4,000  acres  of  land  in  the  richest 
part  of  Skane.  Although  this 
position  was  both  responsible  and 
remunerative,  Mr.  Westman  found 
it  too  confining  for  his  energies 
and  consequently  gave  it  up  to 
test  his  fortune  in  the  United 
States.  Coming  over  in  1880,  he 
was  employed  for  three  years  on 
a  large  stock  farm,  at  Wataga, 
near  Galesburg,  111.  Thereafter 
he  located  in  Chicago  as  a  general 
broker.  In  1887  he  abandoned 
the  brokerage  business  and  started 
in  the  livery  business  at  Chicago 
and  Dearborn  aves.,  Chicago.  Af- 
ter five  years  he  sold  out  and  en- 


gaged in  the  real  estate  and  loan 
business.  After  another  five  years 
he  decided  to  return  to  his  native 
country  with  his  family.  Over 
there  he  bought  a  fine  estate.  But 
after  having  lived  in  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Westman  did  not  find 
conditions  in  the  old  country  to 
his  liking,  so  he  soon  sold  his 
estate  and  returned  the  following 
year  to  Galesburg.  Next  we  find 
him  back  in  Chicago,  once  more 
in  the  real  estate  and  loan  busi- 
ness, with  office  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  Building.  He  is  still 
engaged  in  that  line  of  business 
and  has  a  branch  office  at  3606 
N.  Clark  st.  By  strictly  attending 
to  business  and  fair  dealing  he 
has  won  a  large  clientele  of  cus- 
tomers. 

In  1883  Mr.  Westman  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Kate  B.  Bennett,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  B.  P.  Bennett,  a 
venerable  Swedish  gentleman  of 
Galesburg.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  five  children,  namely, 
Kate  Elizabeth,  born  1888,  Olga 
Josephine,  1890,  Alfred  Edwin, 
1891,  Martha  Rowena,  1894,  and 
Julia  Harriet,  1900.  With  his 
family  he  occupies  his  own  elegant 
residence  at  958  Farragut  ave., 
Edgewater. 

The  family  attends  the  Ebene- 
zer  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


WILLIAM  B.  WINGREN 

was  born  in  Malmo,  Sweden, 
April  n,  1877,  and  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States  when  he  was  but  three 
years  old.  The  family  located  in 


Chicago 


233 


Chicago,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  was  graduated 
in  the  spring  of  1893.  In  1894 


WILLIAM   B.  WINGREN 

he  attended  the  Metropolitan 
Business  College  for  a  short  time 
and  thereafter  the  Chicago  Athe- 
naeum. In  1895  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  Nya  Wecko-Posten,  which 
is  published  by  his  father,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Eric  Wingren.  In 
1897  he  became  assistant  manager 
of  the  paper  and  in  1900  assumed 
the  general  management. 


JOSUA  LJNDAHL,, 

one  of  America's  eminent  men  of 
science,  belongs  to  the  state  of 
Illinois  by  dint  of  eighteen  years 
spent  in  important  work  here, 
first  as  professor  of  natural  sci- 
ence at  Augustana  College  and 
subsequently  as  state  geologist 
and  curator  of  the  museum  of  nat- 
ural history  at  Springfield. 

Johan     Harald     Josua     L,indahl 


was  born  in  Kongsbacka,  Sweden, 
Jan.  i,  1844,  the  son  of  Johan  L/in- 
dahl,  a  clergyman  of  the  L/utheran 
state  church,  and  Susanna  Ma- 
thilda Bjorklander,  his  wife.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  father  in  1854, 
the  ten  year  old  son  was  sent  to 
relatives  in  Karlshamn.  Here  he 
completed  the  courses  at  the  local 
collegiate  school,  passing  the 
examination  for  graduation  in 
May,  1863,  at  the  University  of 
I/und,  where  higher  studies  were 
pursued.  Partly  supporting  himself 
by  private  tutorship  in  the  von 
Essen  family  throughout  his  stay 
at  the  university,  he  received 
further  assistance  by  being  once 
awarded  the  Thorn ander  stipend, 


JOSUA  LINDAHL 

voted  once  a  year  by  the  student 
body  to  the  most  worthy  of  their 
number. 

He    finished    his    post-graduate 
course      in     science     in     January, 


234 


Cook  County 


1872,  and,  having  presented  his 
thesis,  received  the  degree  of 
Ph.  D.  in  June,  1874.  The  fol- 
lowing year  Dr.  Lindahl  was 
appointed  decent  in  zoology  at  the 
university,  and  retained  this  posi- 
tion until  he  became  a  professor 
at  Augustana  College.  During  the 
years  1864-1866  Dr.  Lindahl 
served  as  substitute  or  extra  teach- 
er at  the  colleges  of  Landskrona, 
Lund  and  Goteborg. 

In  1875  Dr.  Lindahl  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  Swedish 
commission  to  the  International 
Geographical  Congress  and  Ex- 
position held  in  Paris  that  year. 
Upon  his  return  to  Stockholm  in 
the  fall  he  was  made  secretary 
of  the  commission  to  take  charge 
of  the  Swedish  section  about  to 
be  arranged  for  the  Centennial 
Exposition  at  Philadelphia  in 
1876,  his  duties  taking  him  to 
the  exposition  city  in  November  of 
the  same  year.  In  that  capacity  he 
served  until  the  Swedish  exhibits 
were  shipped  home.  When,  after 
the  close  of  the  exposition,  there 
was  formed  in  Philadelphia  a  so- 
called  Permanent  International  Ex- 
hibition, Dr.  Lindahl  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  Scandina- 
vian department.  The  plan  soon 
failed  for  lack  of  funds,  and  Dr. 
Lindahl' s  department  was,  in 
fact,  the  only  one  that  was  ever 
completed.  He  remained  in  Phila- 
delphia until  December,  1878. 

At  the  time  of  the  World's 
Fair  in  Chicago  Dr.  Lindahl,  as 
Curator  of  the  state  museum  at 
Springfield,  was  charged  with  the 
arrangement  of  a  geological  ex- 


hibit in  the  Illinois  state  building, 
a  task  which  occupied  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  from  the  spring 
of  1891  until  July,  1893.  In 
August  of  the  last  named  year 
he  was  appointed  on  the  interna- 
tional committee  of  awards,  to 
fill  a  vacancy  in  the  Swedish 
delegation  in  that  body. 

Dr.  Lindahl  has  participated 
in  a  number  of  scientific  expedi- 
tions in  the  capacity  of  zoologist. 
His  training  for  scientific  work 
had  begun  early.  As  a  student 
in  Karlshamn  Dr.  Lindahl  had 
assisted  Prof.  Gosselman  in  com- 
piling the  flora  of  the  province 
of  Blekinge,  meanwhile  collecting 
a  large  herbarium  and  making  a 
good  beginning  for  a  collection  of 
Swedish  land  and  fresh  water 
shells,  which  later  was  added  to 
the  Augustana  College  Museum. 
At  the  University  of  Lund  he  was 
in  close  touch  with  Prof.  Otto  To- 
rell,  at  that  time  Sweden's  fore- 
most scientific  explorer  of  the 
Arctic  regions,  whose  influence 
had  much  to  do  with  deter- 
mining Dr.  Lindahl' s  line  of 
stud}-.  When  in  1869  J.  Gwynn- 
Jeffreys,  the  British  conchologist, 
visited  Lund  to  examine  Torell's 
collections  from  the  Arctics,  Dr. 
Lindahl  was  serving  as  amanuen- 
sis in  the  museum  and  as  such 
lent  assistance  to  the  visiting 
scientist.  This  acquaintance  ren- 
dered him  an  invitation  the  fol- 
lowing spring  to  take  charge  of 
Mr.  Gwynn-Jeffreys'  own  pleasure 
yacht,  the  Osprey,  on  a  scientfic 
cruise  off  the  west  coast  of  Ire- 
land, where  zoological  dredgings 


Chicago 


235 


were  made  in  Dingle  Bay.  This 
trip  was  made  in  May  and  June, 
1870.  The  following  three  months 
Dr.  Lindahl  spent  participating 
in  an  expedition  with  H.  M.  S. 
Porcupine,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Royal  Society  of  London,  for 
the  purpose  of  deep  sea  explora- 
tions, partly  in  the  Atlantic,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Gwynn-Jeffreys, 
partly  in  the  Mediterranean,  in 
charge  of  Dr.  W.  B.  Carpenter. 
Returning  to  England,  Dr.  Lin- 
dahl  spent  several  months  of  study 
in  the  British  Museum  and  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Anatomy 
in  London  before  going  back  to 
Sweden  in  December. 

The  following  year,  1871,  Dr. 
Lindahl  was  the  zoologist  of  an 
expedition  sent  out  by  the  Swed- 
ish Academy  of  Science  to  make 
explorations  in  Greenland  and 
more  especially  to  bring  back 
certain  huge  blocks  of  meteoric 
iron,  discovered  the  previous  year 
by  Nordenskjold.  The  party  went 
in  two  ships,  Ingegerd  and  Gladan, 
and  spent  the  months  of  May  to 
September  in  the  far  North. 
During  the  two  successive  sum- 
mers he  accompanied  dredging 
expeditions  along  the  coasts  of 
Sweden,  the  purpose  being  to 
establish  the  prevalence  and  dis- 
tribution of  invertebrates  serving 
as  food  for  fish. 

From  1872  to  1875  Dr.  Lindahl 
was  assistant  in  the  Royal  Swed- 
ish Museum  at  Stockholm,  work- 
ing under  the  direction  of  Prof. 
Sven  Loven,  one  of  the  fore- 
most Swedish  scientists  of  recent 
times. 


After  subsequent  service  at  the 
exposition  in  Philadelphia,  Dr. 
Lindahl  in  1878  accepted  a  call  to 
the  chair  of  natural  science  at 
AugustanaCollege,  a  position  which 
did  not  exist  prior  to  his  arrival. 
Here  he  taught  until  the  spring 
of  1888,  in  the  meantime  work- 
ing with  great  energy  to  make 
scientific  collections  as  a  necessary 
aid  to  instruction  in  his  branches. 
He  made  trips  in  various  direc- 
tions in  quest  of  material,  the 
most  extensive  and  fruitful  one 
being  a  summer  trip  to  California 
and  the  Farallone  Islands  in 
1886.  While  at  Augustana  he 
practically  created  at  that  institu- 
tion a  museum  of  natural  history, 
superior  in  extent  and  arrange- 
ment to  most  similar  museums  in 
the  West.  During  his  first  years 
at  Augustana  he  also  taught 
mathematics,  a  subject  in  which 
he  had  taken  the  highest  mark  at 
his  college  graduation.  He  was 
the  first  professor  at  the  college 
who  was  not  a  minister. 

When  Dr.  Lindahl  left  Augus- 
tana in  1888  to  take  the  more 
lucrative  position  of  curator  of 
the  museum  at  Springfield,  in 
connection  with  the  office  of  state 
geologist,  he  found  that  institu- 
tion in  a  chaotic  condition,  but 
rich  in  material,  epecially  geolog- 
ical specimens.  After  five  years 
in  charge,  he  left  the  museum 
scientifically  arranged  and  greatly 
enriched  as  a  result  of  his  labors. 

Being  a  scientist  to  the  bone, 
Dr.  Lindahl  devoted  all  his  ener- 
gies to  the  museum  and  to  geo- 
logical work,  never  recognizing 


236 


Cook  County 


the  office  as  a  "political"  one, 
until  his  resignation  was  demand- 
ed by  Governor  Altgeld.  His 
term  of  service  at  Springfield  was 
from  May,  1888,  to  July,  1893. 

The  next  two  years  Dr.  L,in- 
dahl  lived  in  Chicago,  devoting 
most  of  his  time  to  teaching.  In 
1895  he  was  called  to  the  position 
of  director  of  the  Cincinnati  So- 
ciety of  Natural  History  and 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  Decem- 
ber. In  this  position,  which  he 
retained  until  September,  1906,  Dr. 
Lindahl  edited  the  Journal  of  the 
Cincinnati  Society  of  Natural  His- 
tory, a  scientific  periodical  pub- 
lished by  the  society. 

While  Dr.  Lindahl's  pen  is  a 
capable  one,  it  is  not  prolific. 
His  principal  contributions  are 
the  following:  In  French — Ex- 
peditions Suedoises  aux  regions 
arctiques,  a  paper  included  in 
Notices  sur  la  Suede  a  1' occasion 
du  Congres  International  des  sci- 
ences geographique  de  1875,  a 
Paris;  in  English — Geographical 
Survey  of  Illinois,  Vol.  VIII; 
Description  of  a  Skull  of  Mega- 
lonyx  Leidey,  published  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society;  Report  on 
the  Geological  Department  of  the 
Illinois  State  Exhibits  at  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition  in 
Chicago,  1893;  Description  of  a 
Devonian  Ichthyodorulite,  Hetera- 
canthus  Uddeni,  n.  sp.  from  Buf- 
falo, la.;  and  Orthography  of  the 
names  of  the  Naiades; — both  of 
these  papers  were  published  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Cincinnati  Society  o/ 
Natural  History;  in  Swedish — Om 


Pennatulidslagtet  Umbellula  Cuv- 
ier,  being  his  thesis  for  the  degree 
of  Ph.  D.,  which  was  embodied 
in  the  Transactions  of  the  Swed- 
ish Academy  of  Sciences.  Other 
articles  by  him  have  appeared  in 
various  Swedish,  English,  French 
and  German  publications  from 
time  to  time.  In  addition  to  the 
above  Dr.  Lindahl  must  be  given 
credit  for  purely  literary  ability 
of  a  high  order,  as  exemplified  in 
several  popular  sketches  that  have 
appeared  in  the  Swedish- American 
literary  annual,  Prarieblomrnan, 
and  in  Swedish  general  news- 
papers. 

Dr.  Lindahl  is  a  member  of 
a  number  of  learned  societies  of 
both  continents,  including  the 
American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science,  the  Ameri- 
can Society  of  Vertebrate  Paleon- 
tologists, the  American  Society  of 
Invertebrate  Paleontologists,  the 
Museums  Association  of  America, 
the  National  Geographic  Society, 
Svenska  Sallskapet  for  Antropolo- 
gi  och  Geografi,  [the  ;  Swedish- 
American  Historical  Societ)*,  and 
the  Ohio  State  Academy  of  Sci- 
ence, of  which  he  has  been  presi- 
dent. On  different  occasions  he 
has  received  marks  of  distinction 
at  the  hands  of  high  authorities: 
thus,  at  the  close  of  the  Interna- 
tional Geographical  Exposition  at 
Paris  in  1875  the  Minister  of 
Public  Instruction  appointed  him 
Officier  d' Academic,  and  in  De- 
cember, 1877,  King  Oscar  II 
decorated  him  with  the  Royal 
Order  of  Vasa  in  recognition  of 


Chicago 


237 


his  services  to  Sweden  at  the 
Centennial  Exposition. 

In  1893  Dr.  Lindahl's  friend  and 
old-time  comrade  at  the  university, 
Dr.  P.  Hakansson,  who  discovered 
the  medicinal  properties  of  acetic 
ether,  and  subsequently  invented 
Salubrin,  requested  him  to  take 
charge  of  the  manufacture  of 
that  article  in  the  United  States. 
As  a  result  Dr.  Lindahl  estab- 
lished a  Salubrin  Laboratory  at 
Cincinnati,  of  which  he  himself  is 
the  manager.  This  caused  him 
to  give  up  his  position  as  director 
of  the  Cincinnati  Museum,  and  he 
is  now  preparing  to  move  his 
headquarters  to  Chicago. 

In  1877  Dr.  Lindahl,  then  in 
Philadelphia,  made  a  trip  to  Swe- 
den aud  brought  back  as  his 
bride  Miss  Sophie  Pahlman,  a 
daughter  of  Major  Carl  Adolph 
and  Mrs.  Sophie  Pahlman,  born 
July  5,  1848.  The  marriage  took 
place  Mar.  18,  1877.  Of  four  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  the  oldest, 
Sven  Carl,  died  at  an  early  age. 
A  daughter,  Eva  Hedvig  Sophia, 
born  May  15,  1880,  is  the  wife  of 
Dag  Agnar  Engstrom,  superin- 
tendent of  the  factory  of  the 
Separator  Company  of  Stockholm. 
The  other  children  are  Seth  Harald, 
born  Mar.  12,  1882,  superintendent 
of  the  Salubrin  Laboratory,  and 
Signe  Elizabeth  Ida  Sophia,  born 
April  6,  1884. 

Outline  biographies  of  Dr.  Josua 
Lindahl  are  to  be  found  in  the 
National  Cyclopedia  of  American 
Biography  and  in  American  Men 
of  Science,  published  by  the 
Carnegie  Institute. 


OTTO    G.   RYDEN, 

lawyer  and  member  of  the  Chica- 
go   bar,  was    born    Sept.   6,    1874, 


OTTO  GUSTAF  RYDEN 

at  Ryssby,  Sweden,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  early  training  in  the 
public  schools,  until  he  came  to 
Seneca,  111.,  in  the  early  spring  of 
1889.  Remaining  there  until  the 
following  September,  he  went  to 
Evanston,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Mr.  Ryden's  father,  Carl 
Gustafson  Ryden,  was  a  farmer 
and  master  mechanic.  He  died 
at  Seneca,  111.,  Jan.  3,  1903.  The 
maiden  name  of  Mr.  Ryden's 
mother  was  Britta  Lena  Olson, 
who  now  resides  with  one  of  her 
daughters  in  Iowa. 

Following  the  mechanical  trend 
of  his  father,  Mr.  Ryden,  while 
yet  a  mere  boy,  decided  to  learn 
a  trade.  With  that  purpose  in 
view  he  soon  became  an  appren- 
tice, at  the  age  of  sixteen,  with 
a  mason  contractor  in  Evanston. 
After  a  few  years  he  became  a 


238 


Cook  County 


building  superintendent,  but  real- 
izing that  there  were  better  oppor- 
tunities for  trained  men,  Mr.  Ry- 
den  decided  to  take  advantage  of 
the  educational  opportunities  of- 
fered in  Evanston.  He  therefore 
entered  the  Evanston  township 
high  school  in  the  fall  of  1895. 

While  a  student  at  the  high 
school  and  later  at  the  univer- 
sity, Mr.  Ryden  found  time  to 
represent  his  school  on  some  of 
its  athletic  teams,  besides  earning 
enough  money  by  outside  employ- 
ment to  defray  his  necessary  school 
expenses.  He  was  graduated  from 
the  Evanston  high  school  in  June, 
1899,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
entered  the  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity, from  which  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Philosophy  in  1903.  Having  de- 
cided before  this  time  to  enter  the 
legal  profession,  Mr.  Ryden  en- 
tered the  Northwestern  University 
Law  School  in  the  fall  of  1902 
and  graduated  with  the  degrees  of 
Master  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of 
Laws  in  June,  1905.  He  was  then 
engaged  by  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  prominent  law  firms  in  Chi- 
cago, Hoyne,  O'Connor  &  Hoyne, 
and,  as  a  member  of  their  office 
force,  began  his  career  as  a  lawyer. 

While  a  student  in  the  univer- 
sity, Mr  Ryden  wrote  two  theses: 
the  first  in  1903,  on  "Some  Phases 
of  Life  Insurance,"  and  the  second 
in  1905,  on  "Dedication  of  Land 
for  Public  Uses  in  Illinois." 

In  politics,  Mr.  Ryden  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  town  clerk  of 
Evanston  for  four  consecutive 
terms,  beginning  1899.  He  is  a 


member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  of  the  following  fraternal  or- 
ganizations: the  Free  Masons,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America;  the 
National  Union,  and  the  Alpha 
Kappa  Phi  Law  Fraternity. 

Mr.  Ryden  is  married  to  one  of 
his  former  class  mates.  Her  maid- 
en name  was  Gertrude  Louise 
Gibbs.  She  received  her  early 
training  in  the  public  schools  of 
her  native  city,  Chicago.  She 
then  attended  Rockford  College 
and  was  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  Bachelor  of  Science  from 
the  Northwestern  University  in 

1905.  Mr.   and   Mrs.  Ryden  have 
twin    daughters,     Alice     Gertrude 
and    Ruth    Louise,   born    Nov.    9, 

1906.  They  reside  at  1910  Asbury 
ave.,  Evanston. 

Mr.  Ryden's  business  address  is 
1031-1037  Stock  Exchange  Bldg. 


EMMY  EVALD 

was  born  Sept.  18,  1857,  in  Ge- 
neva, 111.  Her  father  was  Dr. 
Erland  Carlsson,  the  Lutheran 
pioneer,  who  was  the  pastor  of 
Immanuel  Swedish  Ev.  Lutheran 
Church  in  Chicago  from  1853 
until  1875.  After  receiving  her 
early  education  at  various  schools 
in  this  country  she  went  to  Swe- 
den and  pursued  her  studies  four 
years  in  Miss  Fryxell's  Woman's 
Academy,  in  Kalmar.  On  May 
24,  1883,  she  was  united  in 
marriage  to  the  Rev.  C.  A.  Eyald. 
Few  minister's  wives  are  so 
well  qualified  as  wras  Mrs.  Evald 
for  the  many-sided  duties  devolv- 
ing upon  the  pastor's  helpmate, 


Chicago 


239 


especially  in  a  large  metropolitan 
congregation.  She  is  an  ideal 
housewife  intimately  acquainted 


EMMY  EVALD 

with  all  the  details  of  a  well- 
managed  household,  but  her  rare 
talent  and  energy  have  been  de- 
voted to  more  far-reaching  en- 
deavors. For  twenty-four  years 
Mrs.  Evald  has  conducted  a  Sun- 
day school  class  whose  mem- 
bership is  far  in  excess  of  300, 
with  an  average  attendance  of 
200.  Mrs.  Evald,  besides,  for 
many  years  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school's 
infant  department.  She  is  sec- 
retary of  the  Old  Ladies'  Sew- 
ing Society,  president  of  Be- 
thania,  the  women's  insurance 
society,  and  vice-president  of  the 
Immanuel  Woman's  Home  Asso- 
ciation, executive  of  the  Mission 
Society,  president  of  the  Young 
Ladies'  Sewing  Society  and  a 
member  of  the  committee  which 


directs  the  labors  of  the  deaconess 
of  Immanuel  Church. 

Through  Mrs.  Evald' s  energetic 
efforts  the  Woman's  Mission  So- 
ciety of  the  Augustana  Synod  was 
organized  in  1892.  The  first 
Swedish-American  woman's  club, 
aiming  at  the  elevation  of  women 
intellectually  and  morally,  was 
brought  about  by  her  initiative. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Woman's  club  for  two  years. 

At  the  World's  Parliament  of 
Religions,  an  auxiliary  of  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition  in 
Chicago,  1893,  Mrs.  Evald  was 
president  of  the  Lutheran  Woman's 
Congress.  There  were  present 
representative  women  from  Swe- 
den, Norway,  Denmark,  Germany, 
Iceland  and  India,  besides  from 
six  great  Lutheran  church  or- 
ganizations in  this  country.  One 
of  the  results  of  this  congress 
was  the  formation  of  the  Lutheran 
Woman's  International  League, 
of  which  she  was  made  president. 
In  1895  Mrs.  Evald  made  an 
appeal  for  woman's  suffrage  before 
the  State  Legislature  in  Spring- 
field, 111.,  and  on  Sept.  18,  1897, 
spoke  at  the  celebration  of  King 
Oscar's  Jubilee,  in  the  Auditorium, 
in  Chicago.  She  was  a  represent- 
ative of  the  Swedish  women  in 
this  country,  and  in  this  capacity 
addressed  the  National  Woman's 
Congress  in  Washington  in  1898. 
The  Swedish  Woman's  National 
Union,  of  which  the  Fredrika 
Brenier  Association  is  a  part, 
appointed  Mrs.  Evald  to  represent 
Sweden  at  the  International  Con- 
gress of  Women  at  Washington 


240 


Cook  County 


in  1902.  Before  this  assembly 
she  delivered  an  address  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  On 
many  other  notable  occasions  she 
has  spoken  publicly  on  various 
topics. 

Mrs.  Evald  has  two  daughters, 
Anna  Fidelia  Christine,  married 
to  the  Rev.  C.  Emanuel  Hoffsten 
of  New  York  City,  and  Frances 
Lillian  Charlotta. 


ERNEST  HARALD  MATHIAS 
YOUNGGREN 

was    born    in     Notteback    parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Sept.   10,  1846. 


BRNEST  H.   M.  YOUNGGREN 

He  received  his  education  in  his 
native  land,  which  he  left  in 
1870,  settling  in  Chicago,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Having 
learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
old  country,  he  immediately  se- 
cured employment  with  the  weekly 
Hemlandet.  In  1877  he  became 
foreman  of  the  composing  room. 
After  twenty  years'  service  he 


bought  a  linotype  machine  and 
contracted  for  the  composition, 
thus  modernizing  the  methods  of 
the  newspaper's  typography. 

Mr.  Younggren  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Scandia  Building 
and  Loan  Association,  and  was 
director  and  treasurer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

He  was  married  in  1873,  to 
Helena  Sophia  Holm  from  Mons- 
teras,  Sweden,  and  resided  at 
1127  Roscoe  St.,  Lake  View. 

In  January,  1904,  Mr.  Young- 
gren retired  from  business.  Shortly 
afterward,  Feb.  8,  he  died  and 
was  cremated  at  Graceland  cre- 
matory. 


MARTIN  E.  NELSON, 

one  of  the  most  prominent  con- 
tractors on  the  south  side  in 
Chicago,  was  born  in  Smaland, 
Sweden,  June  12,  1868.  His 
father  being  a  contractor,  the  son 
naturally  took  to  that  vocation. 
In  1868,  however,  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  down  to 
work  on  a  farm  in  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  This  did  not  suit  him, 
though,  and  he  soon  left  for  the 
western  part  of  the  country, 
where  he  resumed  his  old  trade 
as  contractor  and  builder.  Being 
fond  of  travel,  Mr.  Nelson  visited 
almost  every  state  in  the  Union, 
but  finally  settled  in  Chicago,  in 
the  suburb  of  West  Pullman, 
where  he  has  a  fine  home.  Be- 
sides being  a  contractor,  in  1904 
he  was  connected  with  the  Calu- 
met Lumber  and  Manufacturing 
Company  in  the  capacity  of  su- 


Chicago 


perintendent.  One  year  later  he 
resigned  this  position  and  organ- 
ized the  Nelson-Secord  Construc- 


MARTIN  E.  NELSON 

tion  Company  of  which  he  is 
president  and  treasurer.  The 
company  is  doing  an  extensive 
business  all  over  Chicago,  as  well 
as  in  other  cities.  Mr.  Nelson 
also  has  had  considerable  experi- 
ence in  ship-building,  having  been 
employed  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  cabin  department  of  F.  W. 
Wheeler  and  Co.,  of  West  Bay 
City,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in 
1891  to  Miss  Christina  Carsten- 
sen,  and  has  four  children,  two 
boys  and  two  girls.  He  is  a 
member  of  several  societies,  such 
as  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  is  a  Past  Master  of 
Fides  Lodge  No.  842,  Free  Masons. 


GUSTAF  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Saby,  Visnum  parish, 
province     of    Vermland,    Sweden, 


241 

May  21,  1845.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1868,  landing  on 
June  i,  with  Chicago  as  his  des- 
tination. Mr.  Johnson  witnessed 
the  great  Chicago  fire  of  1871. 
In  the  spring  of  1874  he  removed 
to  Morris,  Grundy  co.,  111.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  school  and 
church  furniture  business.  In  1880 
Mr.  Johnson  lived  for  a  short 
time  in  Cambridge  and  Geneseo, 
Henry  co.,  111.  During  the  same 
year  he  returned  to  Chicago.  Since 
1882  he  has  been  in  the  laundry 
machine  and  hardware  business  at 
68  E.  Chicago  ave. 

He  joined  the  Star  Lodge,  No. 
75,     of     the     Odd    Fellows  order 


GUSTAF  JOHNSON 

in  1875,  and  has  been  a  member 
of  Frithiof  Lodge  No.  5,  I.  O.  S., 
since  1891.  In  1893  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  Svithiod  Order  and  has  attend- 
ed all  subsequent  Grand  Lodge 
meetings  in  the  same  capacity. 
For  four  years  he  was  Grand 
Treasurer.  Mr.  Johnson  has  be- 
longed to  the  Svithiod  Singing 
Club  for  twelve  years  and  was  for 
four  years  its  treasurer.  He  has 


242 


Cook  County 


been  president  of  the  Three  Links 
Club.  In  1891  he  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Swedish  Central  As- 
sociation. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in 
1868.  He  has  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  married 
and  live  in  Chicago. 


A.  G.  ERNEST  LINDSTROM 

was  born  in  the  city    of    Kalmar, 
Sweden,  Oct.  14,  1856.    He  attend- 


JOHN  E.  TYDEN 

was  born  March  3,    1867,  in  Sma- 
land,  Sweden.      He    attended   the 


JOHN   E.   TYDEN 

Swedish  public  schools,  and  came 
to  America  in  April,  1866.  Here 
he  became  engaged  in  the  meat 
and  grocery  trade,  and  now  has 
a  meat  market  and  sausage  fac- 
tory at  8822  Buffalo  ave. 

Mr.  Tyden  is  a  member  of  many 
societies,  such  as  the  Linnea,  Gyl- 
fe  Lodge  No.  6  I.  O.  S.;  Alient 
No.  201  K.  of  P.,  Engelbrecht 
Lodge,  and  Windsor  Park  Lodge 
No.  836,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 


A.  G.  ERNEST  LINDSTROM 

ed  the  public  school  and  Kalmar 
high  school.  After  completing 
his  school  studies  he  served  for 
two  years  as  designer  in  the  cab- 
inet works  of  his  father,  H.  Lind- 
strom.  After  the  death  of  the  lat- 
ter, the  business  was  for  four  years 
conducted  by  the  son.  Mr.  Lind- 
strom  then  went  to  New  York, 
arriving  in  October,  1881.  After 
a  year's  stay  he  removed  to  Chi- 
cago. For  six  years  he  was  fore- 
man with  the  Schick  Co.,  manu- 
facturers of  cabinet  work.  After 
that  time  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  on  a  small  scale  and 
made  a  specialty  of  high  grade 
cabinet  work.  The  output  is  now 
largely  increased,  and  the  firm 
name  is  Lindstrom  &  Oliver.  The 
factory  is  at  192-200  N.  Union  st. 
Mr.  Lindstrom  is  a  Lutheran. 
He  is  married  to  Maria  Thranell 


Chicago 


243 


from  Vestmanland,  Sweden.  The 
couple  have  two  children,  Ernst 
and  Anna. 


Templars  and  of  the  Oriental  Con- 
sistory of  the  Valley  of    Chicago. 


ENGELBRECHT    NELSON 

was    born    in     Sweden    Aug.    18, 
1866.     He    emigrated  to  America 


ENGELBRECHT   NELSON 


in  1889,  after  completing  a  high 
school  course.  He  located  in  Chi- 
cago and  was  for  some  time  em- 
ployed as  a  chemist  in  the  labor- 
atory of  the  Illinois  Steel  Co.,  in 
South  Chicago.  Later  he  became 
chief  chemist  at  the  North  Works 
of  the  same  corporation.  Mr.  Nel- 
son afterward  attended  the  medical 
college  of  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois, and  is  now  a  practicing  phy- 
sician in  South  Chicago. 

Dr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  sev- 
eral medical  societies  of  Chicago 
and  Illinois,  and  is  one  of  the 
rising  Swedish-American  physi- 
cians of  the  city.  As  a  fraternity 
man  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Cal- 
umet Commandery  of  the  Knight 


CHARLES  BOSTROM 

was  born  in  Boda,  Vermland,  Swe- 
den, Dec.  2'/,  1872.  His  father, 
Johannes  Jonson,  was  a  farmer  in 
good  circumstances,  and  the  son 
received  a  good  education.  He 
early  took  a  liking  to  the  indus- 
trial arts,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen commenced  to  work  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  pursued 
until  1892,  when  the  desire  to  test 
the  opportunities  of  the  West 
brought  him  to  America.  He 
settled  in  Ishpeming,  Mich.,  and 
found  that  his  expectations  had 
been  greater  than  the  realization. 
He  secured  employment  for  a  few 
weeks  as  a  hod-carrier,  but  when 
his  training  as  a  carpenter  was 
made  known,  he  secured  employ- 
ment in  that  line,  at  times,  how- 


CHARLES   BOSTROM 

ever,  working  as    a    mason,    until 
he  moved  to  Chicago  in  1894.    He 


244 


Cook  County 


there  entered  into  partnership  with 
Mr.  Nordvall  as  a  contractor,  con- 
tinuing his  connection  with  him 
until  1896,  when  he,  together  with 
Magnus  Olson,  formed  the  con- 
tracting firm  of  Bostrom  &  Olson, 
1988  N.  Clark  st.,  which  is  doing 
a  prosperous  business,  building 
from  fifty  to  seventy-five  houses  a 
year,  besides  dealing  extensively 
in  realty. 

In  1901  Mr.  Bostrom  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  Carlson  from 
the  city  of  Orebro,  Sweden,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
one  daughter. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
National  Association,  and  of  the 
Oconto  Pleasure  Club,  of  which  lat- 
ter he  has  served  as  vice-president 
and  director. 


for  one  year,  and  also  pursued 
post-graduate  studies  for  two  years 
at  the  University  of  Nebraska. 


CARL    H.    J.    CHRISTKNSON, 

minister  of  the  Augustana  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  was 
born  Feb.  6,  1867,  in  the  parish 
of  Askome,  Halland,  Sweden,  the 
son  of  Nels  Christenson,  a  la- 
borer. In  the  year  1880,  he 
came  to  this  country,  settling  in 
Portland,  Conn.  Entering  Augus- 
tana College  in  the  '8os,  he 
graduated  with  the  college  class 
of  '92,  and  subsequently  became 
a  divinity  student  at  the  same 
institution,  graduating  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  in  1896. 
The  same  year  he  was  ordained 
minister  and  took  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Lincoln,  Neb.  While  there  Rev. 
Mr.  Christenson'  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of 
Luther  Academy,  at  Wahoo,  Neb., 


CARL  HENNING  JULIUS    CHRISTENSON 

In  1900  he  assumed  charge  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Geneva,  111,  serving  there  until 
1905,  when  he  was  called  to  the 
Saron  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Chicago,  his  present  charge. 

While  serving  the  Geneva 
church  Mr.  Christenson  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion for  three  years  and  was  an 
active  promoter  of  the  Geneva 
Conservatory  of  Music,  serving  as 
president  and  treasurer,  respect- 
ively. In  that  period  his  church 
erected  a  splendid  edifice  at  a 
cost  of  $15,000. 

Mr.  Christenson  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Luther  League 
of  Illinois  for  two  years  and  of 
the  Fox  River  Valley  District  of 
that  organization  for  a  like  period. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Salem 


Chicago 


245 


Home  for  the  Aged,  founded  at 
Joliet,  111.,  by  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference of  the  Augustana  Synod. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Christenson  on 
May  27,  1897,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Ada  Davida 
Johnson,  daughter  of  S.  A.  John- 
son, of  Rockford.  There  are 
three  children,  Maud  Genevieve, 
born  1898,  Carl  Irving,  born  1900, 
and  Vera  Marie,  born  1902. 


LOUIS  CARSON 

was    born    in    Grenna,    Smaland, 
Sweden,  Aug.   8,   1865,  and  came 


LOUIS  CARSON 

to  America  in  1885.  He  lived 
one  year  in  St.  Charles,  111.,  and 
then  moved  to  Chicago.  There 
he  has  been  working  at  the  trade 
of  stair  builder  and  interior  fin- 
isher since  the  year  1890.  His 
shop  is  at  51  Institute  place. 
Mr.  Carson  is  a  member  of  the 
Elim  Swedish  Methodist  Church 
of  Lake  View. 

In     1893    Mr.    Carson     married 


Miss  Amanda  Carlson,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  Raymond  and  Alice. 
They  reside  at  Irving  Park  Boule- 
vard and  Janssen  ave. 


JOHN  M.  BERGUNG 

was  born  in  By    parish,    Dalarne, 
Sweden,  Oct.    15,     1866.     He    re- 


JOHN   M.  BERGLING 

ceived  his  education  in  Sundsvall 
until  1880,  when  he,  together  with 
his  father,  John  E.  Bergling,  a 
tailor  by  trade,  came  to  this  coun- 
try. He  early  showed  signs  of 
artistic  talent.  It  was  especially 
recognized  by  the  superintendent 
of  Blauer's  Watch  Case  Co.,  who 
entered  him  in  the  engraving  de- 
partment of  the  firm.  Mr.  Berg- 
ling's  progress  was  unusually  ra- 
pid. At  the  end  of  two  years  he 
took  'part^in  a  competition  of 
watch  case  engravers  and  won 
with  the  highest  honors.  For 
swiftness  and  good  workmanship 
he  was  counted  among  the  fore- 


246 


Cook  County 


most  in  the  country.  He  was 
subsequently  given  charge  of  the 
department. 

In  1888  Mr.  Bergling  went  to 
California  and  was  in  succession 
put  at  the  head  of  several  en- 
graving departments  among  which 
was  that  of  the  San  Jose  Watch 
Co.  While  in  California,  he 
served  two  years  with  the  San 
Francisco  Hussars.  The  World's 
Fair  attracted  him  back  to  Chi- 
cago and  in  the  fall  of  1892  he 
secured  a  position  with  the  large 
jewelry  house  of  C.  D.  Peacock. 
The  following  year  he  was  given 
charge  of  the  engraving  depart- 
ment, which  position  he  holds  at 
the  present  time. 

Mr.  Bergling  was  married  Nov. 
4,  1899.  With  his  wife,  who  was 
Miss  Fanny  A.  Eklund,  of  Stock- 
holm, Sweden,  he  has  two  daugh- 
ters. 


Chicago,  located  at  208    E.    Ohio 

St.,  where  he  is  still  in    business. 

Mr.  Melander  is  a  member  of  the 


SILAS  P.  MELANDER, 

photographer,  was  born  in  Jon- 
koping,  Sweden,  March  14,  1853. 
His  parents  emigrated  to  this 
country  the  following  year  and 
settled  in  Chicago  being  among 
the  earliest  Swedish  inhabitants 
of  the  city.  In  1866,  after  ob- 
taining his  elementary  schooling, 
the  son  became  a  photographer's 
assistant,  and  two  years  later 
established  himself  as  a  photogra- 
pher at  131  Lake  st.  Here  he 
was  burned  out  in  the  great  fire 
of  1871,  and  re-established  him- 
self the  next  year  at  88  N.  Clark 
st.  In  1879  Mr.  Melander  built 
the  finest  photograph  studio  in 


SILAS  P.  MELANDER 

Trinity  English  Lutheran  Church, 
and  of  fraternal  organizations  he 
has  chosen  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  At 
this  date  Mr.  Melander  is  counted 
with  the  very  few  survivors  of  the 
Swedish  colony  in  Chicago  in  the 
early  fifties. 


VICTOR  A.  BOVIK 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Lysekil, 
Sweden,  Aug.  26,  1867.  He  emi- 
grated to  America,  landing  on 
March  21,  1885.  Proceeding  to 
Joliet,  111.,  he  made  his  home 
there  until  1888.  From  there  he 
removed  to  Chicago,  establishing 
himself  as  a  merchant  tailor.  His 
present  location  is  at  546  W. 
63rd  st.  He  belongs  to  the 
Svithiod  Society  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr. 
Bovik  was  married  April  2,  1892, 


Chicago 


247 


to  Euphrosyne    Holmgren."!  They 
have  two  sons,  Conrad  and  Oliver. 


VICTOR  A.   BOVIK 


OTHO  M.  NORDENSTAM, 

restaurant  manager,  now  with  the 
Morrison  Hotel  and  Restaurant 
Co.,  formerly  with  the  Kuntz- 
Remmler  Co.,  is  a  native  of  L,in- 
derod,  Sweden,  where  he  was 
born  April  n,  1872,  the  son  of 
Martin  Ohlson  and  his  wife,  Kjer- 
sti  Fajerson.  He  graduated  from 
the  high  school  in  L,inderod,  with 
the  highest  honors,  then  went 
to  work  in  a  store  and  afterward 
on  the  railroad.  Subsequently  he 
learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade 
at  Hoor  and  received  his  journey- 
man's diploma  in  L/und. 

Coming  to  this  country  in 
April,  1893,  he  went  to  Minne- 
sota, working  and  attending  school 
in  St.  Paul  and  Montrose.  A 
year  later  he  came  to  Illinois.  In 
this  state  he  worked  on  a  farm 
for  two  years  and  then  went  out 


to  Nebraska,  returning  to  Illinois 
after  one  year  and  a  half  and 
locating  permanently  in  Chicago. 
While  in  Nebraska,  Mr.  Norden- 
stam  took  a  course  in  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  business  college  in  Omaha. 

Obtaining  a  situation  with  the 
Kuntz  -  Remmler  Company,  Mr. 
Nordenstam  during  the  eight 
years  in  their  employ  advanced 
to  the  position  of  manager  of 
their  restaurant  at  305  Wabash 
ave.  and  secretary  of  the  company, 
which  position  he  held  until  Jan- 
uary, 1906,  when  he  resigned  to 
take  a  position  with  the  Morrison 
Hotel  and  Restaurant  Company. 

The  following  bodies  claim  Mr. 
Nordenstam  as  a  member,  namely: 


OTHO  MARTIN  NORDENSTAM 

St.  Cecilia  Lodge  No.  865,  Chi- 
cago Council  No.  4,  Corinthian 
Chapter  No.  69,  Columbia  Com- 
mandery  No.  63,  all  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order;  also  the  Royal  Arca- 
num, Hyde  Park  Council  No.  582. 
Mr.  Nordenstam' s  marriage  to 


248 


Cook  County 


Miss  Anna  McQuoid  took  place 
Dec.  31,  1902.  Mrs.  Nordenstam 
is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Su- 
sannah McQuoid  of  Carthage,  111  , 
where  she  was  born  May  4,  1868. 
The  couple  reside  at  6125  Drexel 
boulevard. 


MARTHA   SETTERGREN- 


was  born  in  Hjo,  Sweden,  Dec.  16, 
1867.      Her    father    was    a    color 


MARTHA    SETTERGREN-HALL 


sergeant  in  the  Swedish  army. 
She  received  a  common  school 
education  in  Sweden,  and  later 
took  a  course  in  a  business  col- 
lege. In  1885  she  emigrated  to 
America,  where  she  secured  a  po- 
sition in  Chicago  as  Swedish  cor- 
respondent for  P.  Fahrney  &  Sons 
Co.  This  place  she  held  until 
her  marriage,  July  12,  1890,  to 
Mr.  G.  Robert  Hall,  proprietor  of 
a  tea  and  coffee  concern,  of  which 
she  is  now  the  manager.  The 


place    of   business   is    at    1764  N. 
Clark  st. 

Mrs.  Hall  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  women's  organizations, 
and  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Swedish- American  Woman's  Club 
of  Chicago  ever  since  its  organi- 
zation. 


ADOLF  PETTERSON- 

BERNHARDT 

was  born  in  1866,  at  Malmo, 
Sweden.  Having  attended  the 
collegiate  school  at  L,und  up  to 
1 88 1,  he  went  to  Stockholm  and 
there  got  a  situation  as  clerk  in 
the  pharmacy  known  as  "Ele- 
fanten."  After  passing  the  pre- 
liminary examinations  in  pharmacy 
in  1885,  Mr.  Petterson-Bernhardt 
served  successively  in  Alfta,  Malmo, 


ADOLF  PETTERSON  BERNHARDT 

Askersund  and  Norrkoping.  In 
1889  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Pharmaceutical  Institute  in  Stock- 
holm and  two  years  later  received 
his  degree  in  pharmacy.  He  was 
again  engaged  as  a  prescription 


Chicago 


249 


clerk,  in  the  "Elefanten"  phar- 
macy, in  Stockholm  until  1892, 
when  he  emigrated  to  America. 

In  this  country  he  gained  ex- 
perience in  American  business 
methods  in  Rockford,  Batavia  and 
Chicago  and  in  1894  opened  a 
drug  store  on  Belmont  ave.,  Chi- 
cago. 

In  1898  Mr.  Petterson-Bern- 
hardt  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine at  Rush  Medical  College  and 
National  Medical  University.  Af- 
ter three  years'  study  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  D. 

Dr.  Petterson-Bernhardt  suc- 
cessfully passed  the  examination 
of  the  State  Board  of  Health  im- 
mediately after  his  graduation  in 
1901,  admitting  him  to  general 
medical  practice  in  this  state. 
His  office  and  place  of  business 
is  at  1336  Belmont  ave. 


berland,  Md.,  and  were  the  only 
Swedes  in  the  locality.  There 
young  Johnson  worked  in  the  fac- 


THEODOR  S.  JOHNSTON, 

pastor  of  the  Ebenezer  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Chicago,  is 
the  son  of  Andrew  Johnson,  a 
factory  worker,  who  came  over 
from  Dalsland,  Sweden,  in  1869, 
and  settled  in  Flintstone,  Md. 
There  the  son  was  born  March 
12,  1871.  Having  subsequently 
lived  for  a  time  in  Portland,  Conn., 
the  family  returned  to  Sweden, 
where  Mr.  Johnson  started  a  tan- 
nery at  Orbol,  in  the  parish  of 
Ryr.  The  family  emigrated  for 
the  second  time  in  1886,  after  the 
son  had  obtained  his  early  school- 
ing and  been  confirmed  in  Sweden. 
The  Johnsons  now  settled  at  Paw 
Paw,  W.  Va.,  not  far  from  Cum- 


THEODOR  S.  JOHNSTON 

tories  and  also  attended  the  public 
schools.  The  family  in  1889  moved 
to  Pennfield,  Pa.,  and  later  to 
Dubois,  Pa.  Finally,  in  1891,  the 
family  settled  in  Titusville,  Pa., 
where  the  old  folks  still  have 
their  home. 

In  1894  Theodor  entered  the 
second  class  at  Augustana  College, 
graduating  with  college  class  of 
1900.  Completing  the  divinity 
courses  at  the  same  institution  in 
three  years,  he  was  ordained  to 
the  ministry  at  Paxton,  111.,  June 
14,  1903,  having  been  called  to 
the  Ebenezer  Church,  which  he 
still  serves.  At  this  juncture  he 
added  a  "t"  to  his  name  for 
practical  reasons.  Rev.  Johnston 
took  charge  of  a  congregation  of 
56  communicant  members,  owning 
no  appreciable  church  property. 
After  four  years  of  labor  in  his 


250 


Cook  County 


field,  the  church  numbered  up- 
wards of  500  communicant  mem- 
bers and  its  property,  comprising 
a  fine  parsonage  and  a  partly  com- 
pleted church  edifice,  had  a  value 
of  about  $26,000. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Johnston  was 
married  July  25,  1905,  to  Miss 
Victoria  Johnson,  daughter  of 
Swan  and  Inga  Christina  Johnson 
of  Millers,  Ind.  Mrs.  Johnston  is 
a  graduate  of  the  normal  depart- 
ment of  Valparaiso  College  and 
taught  public  school  for  a  short 
period. 


NILS  F.   OLSON 

came  to  Chicago   from    Killeberg, 
Skane,  Sweden,  in  1868,  a  penni- 


NILS  F.  OLSON 

less  boy  of  fifteen  years,  alone 
and  with  no  one  to  assist  him. 
He  went  to  work  in  a  bookbind- 
ery  as  errand  boy,  learned  the 
trade,  attended  school  during 
evenings  and  studied  the  higher 
branches  under  private  tutors. 


In  1877,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years,  he  started  in  business 
for  himself,  in  partnership  with 
Peter  Johnson,  and  for  ten  years 
successfully  conducted  a  large 
and  prosperous  bookbinding  busi- 
ness. While  thus  engaged,  he 
bought  and  sold  real  estate  and 
was  one  of  the  first  Swedes  to 
plat  and  lay  out  a  large  subdi- 
vision in  Chicago. 

In  1887  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  business  and  for  three  years 
devoted  his  time  to  real  estate 
and  traveling,  visiting  Europe 
twice  during  these  three  years. 
The  last  time  he  spent  a  whole 
year  on  an  extended  tour  of  every 
country  in  Europe. 

A  life  of  idleness  was  not  to 
his  liking  and,  returning  to  Chi- 
cago in  1890,  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  Northwest- 
ern College  of  L,aw  and  in  the 
Kent  College  of  Law,  from  which 
he  graduated  with  honor  in  the 
spring  of  1893,  and  has  since 
given  his  time  and  energy  to  the 
legal  profession  with  an  ambition 
that  has  characterized  his  every 
undertaking.  He  was  a  skillful 
mechanic,  an  alert  businessman, 
especially  in  the  handling  of  Chi- 
cago realty,  and  in  the  legal 
profession,  his  success  has  been 
on  a  par  with  his  efforts  in  other 
directions.  The  experience  gained 
by  him  during  his  somewhat 
varied  career  is  a  valuable  help 
to  him  in  the  practice  of  law. 
His  office  is  at  160  Washington 
street. 

Mr.  Olson,  in  1889,  married 
Charlotte  L,undh,  a  young  lady 


Chicago 


251 


of  Swedish  birth,  who  has  dis- 
tinguished herself  both  as  an 
educator  and  as  an  artist.  She 
was  the  first  Swedish  woman  in 
Chicago  to  gain  the  position  of 
principal  in  the  Chicago  schools 
and  for  six  years  had  charge  of 
one  of  the  largest  schools  in  this 
city.  As  an  artist  she  ranks 
well  to  the  front  and  her  pictures 
have  been  often  seen  at  art 
exhibitions,  invariably  receiving 
honorable  mention.  She  was  also 
the  first  Swedish  lady  to  be  elec- 
ted a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Woman's  Club. 


CHARLES  G.  CARLSON 

has   lived   in    Chicago  since  1891. 
With    Peter    O.  and    Eric    Holm- 


CHARLES  G.  CARLSON 

quist  he  established  the  firm  of 
Holmquist  &  Co.,  manufacturers 
of  ladders  and  household  wooden- 
ware.  In  1897  he  entered  upon 
the  manufacture  of  curtain  stretch- 
ers, and  organized  the  Chicago 


Curtain  Stretcher  Co.,  of  which 
firm  he  is  the  president  and  sec- 
retary. At  that  time,  curtain 
stretchers  were  a  new  thing,  and 
to  introduce  the  article  to  the 
trade  cost  considerable  effort,  but 
the  company  has  succeeded  well 
and  has  largely  increased  its  out- 
put during  the  short  time  it  has 
been  doing  business.  It  now  sends 
goods  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States,  as  well  as  abroad,  and  the 
factory  is  running  full  capacity  all 
the  year  round  at  100-108  North 
Lincoln  street. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  born  in  Finne- 
rodja,  Skaraborgs  Ian,  Sweden, 
Dec.  13,  1871,  and  was  married 
in  Chicago  May  15,  1895,  to  Miss 
Maria  L.  Johanson,  also  from  Fin- 
nerodja.  They  have  two  children, 
a  boy  of  eleven  and  a  girl  of  nine 
years  of  age.  They  live  at  502 
Cornelia  st. 


SOPHIA  C.  YOUNG 

was  born  at  Lindsborg,  Kansas, 
March  13,  1875.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Swanstrom  and  his 
wife  Christina,  nee  Hakanson, 
who  were  early  settlers  in  that 
locality.  Her  public  school  courses 
completed,  she  attended  Bethany 
College  at  Lindsborg,  studying  lit- 
erature and  elocution.  She  came 
to  Chicago  in  1895  to  enter  the 
Columbia  School  of  Oratory  (now 
Columbia  College  of  Expression), 
and  was  graduated  from  that 
school  in  1897.  While  completing 
her  course  she  taught  privately, 
also  filling  engagements  for  public 
readings.  For  one  year,  1897-98, 
she  was  a  teacher  of  the  art  of 


252 


Cook  County 


expression  and  of  physical  culture 
at  Augustana  College,  leaving  her 
positoin  just  prior  to  her  marriage, 


SOPHIA  C.  YOUNG 


May    31,    1898,    to    Dr.    Carl    O. 
Young  of  Chicago. 

Mrs.  Young  is  active  in  social 
and  club  circles,  holding  member- 
ship in  a  number  of  organizations, 
such  as  the  Swedish-American 
Woman's  Club,  the  Woodlawn 
Woman's  Club,  the  South  Side 
Woman's  Club  and  Drottning  So- 
phias Forening  of  Stockholm,  a 
benevolent  society  organized  by 
the  Queen  of  Sweden.  Mrs.  Young 
was  the  prime  mover  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Sophia  Aid  So- 
ciety of  the  Washington  Park 
Hospital,  a  woman's  association 
for  benevolent  purposes.  She  is 
president  of  the  Martha  Washing- 
ton Aid  Society  of  the  Washing- 
ton Park  Hospital.  In  1900  she 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Bethany  Association  of  Chi- 
cago, and  in  1906  was  elected 


second  vice-president  of  the  Swed- 
ish National  Association  of  Chi- 
cago. 

After  her  marriage  Mrs.  Young 
did  not  entirely  discontinue  her 
public  readings,  but  limited  her- 
self to  participation  in  entertain- 
ments for  purely  charitable  pur- 
poses. 

Mrs.  Young  has  two  children, 
Viola  and  Stanley. 


ALEX    J.  JOHNSON, 

editor  and  publisher  of  Svenska 
Kuriren,  was  born  near  Stock- 
holm, in  1850.  He  obtained  a 
school  and  college  education  in 
that  city  and  in  1868  was  ad- 
mitted to  Upsala  University, 


ALEX  J.  JOHNSON 

where  he  studied  law  for  two 
years.  Upon  his  deciding  on  a 
business  career,  he  spent  six  years 
in  Germany  and  France  and 
traveled  extensively  in  South 
Africa,  Madagascar  and  the  French 


Chicago 


253 


colonies  for  a  mercantile  house 
in  Marseilles. 

Mr.  Johnson  came  to  this  coun- 
try and  to  Chicago  in  1882.  For 
a  short  time  he  was  employed  by 
the  dry  goods  house  of  C.  W. 
and  E.  Pardridge  and  then  for 
five  years  he  held  a  position  with 
the  crockery  firm  of  Burley  and 
Tyrrell.  He  then  acquired  con- 
trol of  Svenska  Ktiriren,  a  Swed- 
ish weekly  newspaper,  of  which 
he  has  ever  since  been  the  editor 
and  publisher.  Having  had  a 
taste  for  newspaper  work  from 
his  youth  and  being  equipped 
with  a  practical  education,  Mr. 
Johnson  made  a  success  of  the 
enterprise  from  the  start. 

He  has  taken  a  keen  interest 
in  politics,  but  beyond  being  a 
member  of  the  Republican  State 
Central  Committee,  he  has  never 
held  a  political  office.  From 
his  home  county,  DuPage,  he  has 
been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  state 
conventions  on  several  occasions. 
The  subject  of  American  politics 
probably  no  Swedish  newspaper 
man  has  mastered  so  well  as  he. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Johnson  was  mar- 
ried to  Marie  Antoinette  Solberg, 
from  Oscarshamn,  Sweden.  Two 
daughters  and  two  sons  have  been 
born  to  them.  The  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Hilma,  was  married  in  1901, 
to  Julius  Dahlstrom,  general  agent 
of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island 
Railroad  Company  in  Denver,  Col- 
orado. The  Johnson  family  have 
a  comfortable  home  at  Glen  El- 
lyn,  111. 


JOHN  E.  YOUNGBERG 

was  born  in  Ostad,  Halland, 
Sweden.  The  name  usually  is 
spelled  L,jungberg,  being  derived 
from  the  name  of  the  parish  of 
Ljungby.  The  family  moved  to 
the  United  States  when  he  was 
four  years  old  and  located  at 


JOHN  E.  YOUNGBERG 

Keokuk,  Iowa,  later  at  Daven- 
port, Rock  Island,  and  finally  at 
Moline,  111.,  where  he  attended 
public  school. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was 
sent  to  Kansas  on  a  ranch  in 
Riley  co.,  but  finding  cattle  dull 
companions,  he,  after  a  few  years, 
began  the  trade  of  furniture  mak- 
ing at  Atchison,  Kansas.  Later 
he  spent  four  years  at  Topeka, 
Kansas,  with  the  Atchinson,  To- 
peka and  Santa  Fe  R.  R.  In 
1887  a  local  architect  discovered 
latent  artistic  talent  in  the  young 
man  and  his  career  as  an  architect 
thus  began.  The  Topeka  field 
was  too  limited  for  the  student, 


254 


Cook  County 


and  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  was  the 
next  station  in  his  dream  of  the  art 
loving  East  and  the  Paris  school 
of  Architecture.  He  remained  in 
the  branch  office  of  Burnham  and 
Root  of  Kansas  City  until  1889, 
when  he  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  celebrated  architect  John 
W.  Root,  who  employed  him  on 
important  construction  work  on 
many  of  the  high  office  buildings 
in  Chicago  until  the  World's  Co- 
lumbian Exposition,  where  Mr. 
Youngberg  had  charge  of  the 
construction  of  many  of  the  build- 
ings. In  recognition  of  this  he 
was  presented  with  a  memorial 
certificate  of  his  services  to  the 
Exposition  by  the  directors. 

After  the  Exposition  Mr.  Young- 
berg  spent  several  years  in  exten- 
sive travel  and  study  in  Europe. 
The  winters  of  1893  an(l  J^94  were 
spent  in  the  study  of  architect- 
ure and  decorations  in  the  atelier 
of  Godefroy  and  Freynet  and  he 
passed  the  examinations  for  archi- 
tecture, modeling  and  drawing 
in  I/Ecole  des  Beaux  Arts  in 
Paris.  While  in  Athens,  Greece, 
in  1894,  he  made  measured  draw- 
ings of  the  Academy  of  Sci- 
ences and  later  in  Paris  made 
a  water  color  rendering  of  it 
which  was  accepted  and  exhibited 
in  the  Salon  des  Champs  Elysees 
in  1895. 

Mr.  Youngberg  has  practiced 
in  Chicago  since  1896,  during 
which  time  he  has  constructed 
residences,  business  buildings  and 
factories,  and  in  1901  he  designed 
the  Colonial  Club  House,  4445 


Grand  Boulevard,  of    which    club 
he  is  a  member. 


PETER     GUSTAF     ALMBERG 

was    born    on    the    i8th    of    Feb., 
1858,  at  Bengtstorp,  near  Elmhult, 


PETER  GUSTAF  ALMBERG 

Sweden.  He  studied  at  the  high 
school  at  Hvilan,  and  also  at- 
tended military  schools.  His  fa- 
ther, O.  P.  Almberg,  was  a  lumber 
merchant,  who  died  in  Elmhult 
May  i,  1900.  In  Sweden,  the 
son  learned  the  engineer's  and  the 
machinist's  trade. 

In  June,  1883,  he  came  to  this 
country,  landing  at  Quebec,  and 
went  first  to  Fargo,  N.  D.,  and 
worked  as  engineer  for  two  years 
for  the  Pillsbury  and  Hulbert 
Elevator  Company.  Coming  to 
Chicago  in  December,  1885,  he 
worked  here  for  two  years  as  en- 
gineer and  machinist.  Since  1888, 
Mr.  Almberg  is  a  book  and  job 
printer  at  62  E.  Chicago  ave.,  do- 
ing business  under  the  firm  name 


Chicago 


255 


P.  G.  Almberg  and  Co.,  est. 
1888.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Royal  Arcanum,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Svithiod,  Vik- 
ings, Foresters,  Maccabees  and 
several  other  societies.  He  has 
been  president,  vice-president, 
secretary  and  trustee  in  several 
of  these  societies. 

Nov.  24,  1887,  Mr.  Almberg 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  M.  Larson,  of  Moorhead, 
Minn.,  born  June  22,  1867.  They 
have  six  children,  Hilda,  Olga, 
Hans  Edward,  Anna,  Clara,  and 
Axel  William. 


LAWRENCE  HESSELROTH, 

the  well-known  druggist,  now  de- 
ceased, was  one  of  the  Swedish- 
American  pioneers  of  Chicago. 
He  was  born  in  Brasater  parson- 
age, in  Dalsland,  Sweden,  Nov. 
25,  1844.  His  father,  who  was  a 
clergyman,  died  when  Lawrence 
was  but  three  years  old,  and  only 
three  years  afterwards  his  mother 
died,  leaving  the  young  boy 
practically  alone  in  the  world. 
His  brother-in-law,  who  was  a 
clergj^man,  took  an  interest  in 
young  Hesselroth,  however,  and 
provided  him  with  an  education. 
Thus  Mr.  Hesselroth  learned  the 
rudiments  of  pharmacy  from  C. 
W.  Weinberg,  a  druggist  in  Amal, 
and  later  on  was  in  the  employ 
of  J.  A.  Wallin,  in  Falkb'ping, 
until  1864,  when  he  passed  the 
pharmaceutical  examination.  In 
the  spring  of  the  same  year  he 
emigrated  and  came  direct  to 


Chicago.  He  had  not  been  in 
the  city  long  before  a  singular 
opportunity  presented  itself.  An 
American  whose  patriotism  was 
rather  lukewarm  offered  young 
Hesselroth  $300  if  he  would  enlist 
in  the  U.  S.  navy  in  his  place. 
Mr.  Hesselroth  accepted  the  pro- 
position and  soon  he  was  aboard 
the  U.  S.  Cruiser  Kenwood,  No. 
14,  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron, 


LAWRENCE  HESSELROTH 

serving  not  only  as  the  "Doctor's 
Steward,"  but  also  as  the  ship's 
apothecary.  Mr.  Hesselroth  re- 
mained on  the  Kenwood  until  the 
spring  of  1865,  when  he  returned  to 
Chicago.  He  afterwards  worked 
in  Rockford,  111.,  St.  Paul  and 
Red  Wing,  Minn.  Returning  to 
Chicago,  however,  in  1869,  he 
was  employed  with  a  Norwegian 
druggist,  named  Foss,  on  Chicago 
ave.  In  December,  1871,  two 
months  after  the  Chicago  fire, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Carl 
Weinberg  and  opened  a  drug 


256 


Cook  County 


store  at  53  E.  Chicago  ave.,  this 
being  the  first  Swedish  drug  store 
established  in  the  U.  S.  In  1878, 
he  sold  his  interest  and  started 
another  drug  store,  at  107  E. 
Chicago  ave.,  where  he  conducted 
a  thrifty  business  for  a  long  term 
of  years,  making  the  corner  a 
landmark  in  the  Swedish  colony 
on  the  north  side.  There  are 
few  Swedes  in  Chicago,  or  the 
United  States,  who  have  not 
heard  the  name  Hesselroth,  or 
who  do  not  know  of  his  well-known 
"Crown"  series  of  Swedish  family 
remedies. 

Mr.  Hesselroth  was  a  32nd 
degree  Mason,  and  a  charter 
member  of  King  Oscar  Lodge 
and  a  member  of  other  fraterni- 
ties. He  served  as  president  of 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club,  of  which 
organization  he  was  elected  honor- 
ary member. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Sofia 
Mathilda  Blom  in  1872,  and  died 
Feb.  29,  1904. 


From  that  time  he  has  been 
passionately  fond  of  sketching 
and  painting,  though  it  took  many 
years  before  he  was  enabled  to 


CHARLES  E.  HALLBERG, 

marine  painter,  was  born  of  very 
poor  parents,  in  Goteborg,  Swe- 
den, Jan.  15,  1855.  Not  long 
after,  his  father  died,  leaving  the 
family  almost  penniless.  Charles 
had  to  take  a  hand  early  in  the 
support  of  himself,  his  mother 
and  sister,  leaving  little  time 
over  for  attending  public  school. 
At  twelve  years  of  age  he  saw 
a  couple  of  water  color  paintings 
in  the  home  of  a  playmate. 
These  attracted  him  so  that  he 
begged  for  the  loan  of  the  bits  of 
color  that  he  might  copy  them. 


CHARLES  EDWARD  HALLBERG 

devote  serious  attention  to  that 
work. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  Mr. 
Hallberg  went  to  sea,  on  board  a 
British  brig,  and  for  ten  years  he 
served  before  the  mast  under 
various  flags.  In  1883  he  landed 
in  this  country  and  for  the  next 
seven  years  sailed  on  the  Great 
Lakes.  During  these  seventeen 
years  he  imbibed  that  love  for 
the  water  which  is  evidenced  by 
every  creation  of  his  brush.  He 
always  carried  with  him  on  ship 
board  palette  and  supplies,  and 
spent  his  spare  moments  in  mak- 
ing rude  sketches  of  the  sea  as 
he  saw  it  in  storm  and  calm. 

In  1890  Mr.  Hallberg  settled 
down  in  Chicago  and  was  em- 
ployed as  janitor  in  an  apartment 
house  in  LaSalle  ave.  About 


Chicago 


257 


this  time  there  was  held  a  bazaar 
for  the  benefit  of  Augustana 
Hospital  in  Chicago,  and  Mr. 
Hallberg,  after  some  hesitation, 
decided  to  donate  one  of  his  pictures 
to  the  cause.  The  canvas  was 
unsigned  and  the  gift  anonymous, 
but  it  attracted  attention  and  was 
sold  for  fifteen  dollars.  To  the 
self-taught  janitor-artist  this  was 
real  encouragement.  He  began 
to  consider  how  he  might  acquire 
an  artistic  education,  but  with  a 
wife  and  children  to  support  on 
meager  wages  the  thing  looked 
impossible. 

After  a  year  or  two  we  find 
Mr.  Hallberg  as  janitor  of  the 
Austin  State  Bank  and  an  adjoining 
apartment  building.  There  he 
continued  to  give  his  spare  time  to 
the  palette  and  brush.  A  little  four 
by  five  room  in  the  basement  of 
the  bank  building,  sparingly  lit 
up  by  a  transom  window,  served 
as  a  studio,  and  here  Janitor 
Hallberg  painted  marines  when 
he  was  not  stoking  the  furnaces 
or  sweeping  floors.  Here  also  it 
was  that  the  janitor-artist-  was 
"discovered,"  as  told  in  another 
part  of  this  volume. 

From  that  time  on  Mr.  Hall- 
berg's  name  has  been  brought 
frequently  before  the  public  and 
his  work  has  met  with  much  en- 
couragement and  appreciation  in 
artistic  circles.  His  greatest  tri- 
umph, however,  was  to  have  his 
"Summer  Day  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan' '  accepted  by  the  national 
art  jury  of  the  St.  Louis  Expo- 
sition. Of  the  numerous  Chicago 
artists  only  nineteen  were  there 


represented,  and  among  these  Lin- 
din  and  Hallberg  were  the  only 
Swedish-Americans  whose  works 
were  hung  in  the  general  art  hall. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Hallberg 
visited  Sweden  and  was  cordially 
received  in  his  native  city  of 
Goteborg,  where  seveial  of  his 
paintings  were  exhibited  and  the 
modest  artist  met  with  apprecia- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  artists 
and  the  press. 

Omitting  what  has  been  said  of 
Mr.  Hallberg  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  we  may  add  that  he  has 
donated  his  painting,  "After  the 
Storm,"  to  Augustana  College  and 
a  biblical  marine,  entitled  "Christ 
Walking  on  the  Water,"  to  Augus- 
tana Hospital. 

Jan.  21,  1885,  Mr.  Hallberg 
was  married  to  Amanda  Josefina 
Olson  of  Goteborg.  They  have 
three  children,  Ellen  Herniina, 
born  1887,  Sylvia  Helena,  born 
1890,  and  Austin  Benjamin,  born 
1892.  The  family  attend  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Hallberg  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish-American  Art  Association 
of  Chicago,  the  Chicago  Society 
of  Artists,  and  others. 


FRED  R.  FRANSON 

hails  from  the  Swedish  manufact- 
uring town  of  Motala,  in  Oster- 
gotland.  In  1879,  on  the  fourth 
of  July,  he  arrived  on  American 
soil,  having  since  been  a  resident 
of  Chicago  for  more  than  twenty- 
five  years.  For  the  past  fifteen 
years  Mr.  Franson  has  taken  great 
interest  in  the  Swedish  singingclubs 
and  fraternal  organizations  of  the 


258 


Cook  County 


city.  He  has  ever  been  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Svithiod 
Singing  Club,  having  held  the 


FRED  R.   FRANSON 

presidency  of  that  organization 
for  some  ten  years.  He  is  the 
possessor  of  a  splendid  baritone 
voice,  which  has  often  been  heard 
in  solo  parts  at  concerts  and  en- 
tertainments. He  was  one  of  the 
hardest  workers  for  the  success 
of  the  Swedish  Day  at  the 
World's  Fair  in  Chicago,  and 
likewise  a  leading  promoter  of 
the  concert  tour  through  Sweden 
made  in  1897  by  a  picked  chorus 
from  the  American  Union  of 
Swedish  Singers.  Of  the  latter 
organization  he  is  also  an  influ- 
ential member. 

Mr.  Franson  has  been  connected 
with  the  Illinois  Central  railway 
as  skilled  mechanic  for  nearly  a 
score  of  years.  For  a  short  time 
he  held  the  Scandinavian  general 
agency  for  the  Equitable  Life 
Assurance  Society. 


EIX)F  JOHNSON 

was  born  July  24,  1852,  in  Qvinhult, 
Traheryd  parish,  Sweden.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  and  what 
time  Elof  did  not  spend  at  school 
he  put  in  assisting  in  the  tilling 
of  the  soil  and  doing  the  chores. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  traveled 
about  peddling  notions.  In  the 
spring  of  1871  he  emigrated  to 
the  United  States.  Reaching  Chi- 
cago, he  worked  a  year  in  a 
factory.  Subsequently  he  went 
into  the  teaming  business,  con- 
tinuing until  1876.  Since  that 
time  Mr.  Johnson  has  owned  and 
conducted  a  grocery  business,  en- 
joying a  thriving  trade  at  314 
Austin  ave.  and  at  141  W. 
Huron  st.  He  was  married  in 


1882 


ELOF  JOHNSON 

to     Miss     Sigrid     Mathilda 


Peterson,  also  a  native  of  Traheryd 
parish.  She  died  in  1890  leaving 
three  sons,  Elof  Allen  Ragnar, 
Axel  Sigwald  Reuben  and  Harald 
John  Francis. 


Chicago 


259 


WALDEMAR     G.     THORSELL 

was   born    in   Torshalla,    Sweden, 
Feb.  24,   1870,  the  son  of    Gustaf 


WALUEMAR  GUSTAP  THORSELL 

and  Albertina  Larson.  In  his  youth 
he  enjoyed  a  common  school  and 
high  school  education  in  his  native 
town.  He  worked  in  factories  in 
various  parts  of  Sweden  before 
coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1895.  Locating  in  Chicago  he 
was  for  a  time  employed  as  a  fur- 
niture worker  and  upholsterer,  in- 
cluding two  years  with  the  Nation- 
al Parlor  Furniture  Co. 

Abandoning  that  trade,  he  be- 
gan work  as  a  grinder,  and  soon 
he  became  the  owner  of  a  grind- 
er's shop  at  146  S.  Clark  St.,  in 
which,  by  steady  application,  he 
has  worked  up  all  the  custom  that 
can  well  be  handled  in  the  present 
quarters.  A  few  large  houses, 
such  as  Marshall  Field  &  Co., 
are  giving  his  shop  the  bulk  of 
all  the  work  it  can  turn  out.  It 
was  in  1900  that  Mr.  Thorsell  es- 


tablished his  own  business,  and 
in  May,  1904,  he  took  a  business 
partner,  the  firm  being  now  known 
as  Thorsell  &  DeVry. 

June  1 8,  1898,  Mr.  Thorsell  was 
married  to  Miss  Blenda  Maria 
Sundstrom,  born  at  Haparanda, 
Sweden,  Feb.  12,  1871.  She  came 
over  in  1893,  as  an  attache  of  the 
Swedish  section  at  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition.  They  have 
a  daughter,  Blenda  Lillian,  born 
April  1 8,  1899. 

In  1906  the  family  moved  out 
to  the  suburb  of  Palos  Park,  where 
Mr.  Thorsell  built  a  cottage,  Ek- 
hamra,  on  a  pretty  piece  of  acre- 
age property  in  the  woods. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Thorsell 
are  still  living  in  Torshalla,  where 
his  father  has  held  the  office  of 
stadsfiskal  for  more  than  thirty 
years. 

GUSTAF   BRAMBERG, 

the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  An- 
derson Tea  Company,  was  born 
in  1867,  in  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
where  he,  after  having  finished 
his  schooling,  served  as  clerk  in 
two  of  the  large  retail  stores  in 
that  city  until  1887,  when  he 
came  to  America.  After  having 
tried  his  fortune  in  different  oc- 
cupations, such  as  mining,  paint- 
ing and  clerking  in  a  hotel,  in 
various  parts  of  the  country,  he 
finally  concentrated  his  energies 
on  the  tea  business,  serving  first 
as  manager  for  another  house  and 
afterwards  establishing  his  own 
store.  This  he  conducted  until 
the  year  1900,  when  he  joined  in- 
terests with  W.  F.  Anderson  and 


260 


Cook  County 


incorporated  the  Anderson  Tea 
Company,  which  is  now  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  known  retail 


GUSTAF    BRAMBERG 

houses  in  its  line  in  Chicago,  with 
sixteen  branch  stores  in  different 
parts  of  the  city. 


C.  F.  KORSSELL, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
at  Korsberga  parish,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  April  8,  1863.  Coining 
with  the  family  to  the  United 
States  at  the  age  of  nine  years, 
he  has  since  lived  in  this  city. 
After  attending  the  j  ublic  schools 
he  pursued  studies  at  the  Chicago 
Athenaeum  and  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, graduating  from  the  latter 
institution  in  1886.  Mr.  Korssell 
was  a  practicing  physician  and 
surgeon  until  1900,  when  he  was 
appointed  professor  of  medicine  in 
the  Chicago  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  and  in  1902  he  was 
appointed  adjunct  professor  of  op- 
erative surgery  in  the  Medical 


School  of  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois. Dr.  Korssell  is  chief  med- 
ical examiner  for  Chicago  of  the 
Washington  Life  Insurance  Co., 
the  Bankers'  Life  and  Trust  Co., 
the  Fidelity  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Co.,  and  also  for  a  number  of 
Swedish  fraternal  societies.  Dr. 
Korssell  at  different  periods  has 
been  connected  as  attending  phys- 
ician and  surgeon  with  the  Cook 
Count}-  Hospital,  the  St.  Joseph's 


C.  F.   KORSSELL 


Hospital,   the    Swedish    Home    of 
Mercy  and  the  Chicago   Hospital. 


FREDRIK  HOGFELDT 

was  born  March  19,  1844,  in  Tis- 
selskog,  Dalsland,  Sweden.  After 
attending  public  school  he  began, 
at  the  age  of  thirteen,  to  learn 
the  tailor's  trade.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  went  into  business  on 
his  own  account,  continuing  in 
this  capacity  until  1891,  when  he 
left  Sweden,  landing  in  America 
in  September  of  that  year  and 


Chicago 


261 


coming  directly  to  Chicago.  For 
two  years  he  was  employed  with 
Carver  &  McCoy,  then  opened  a 


FREDRIK  HOGFELDT 

merchant  tailoring  shop  of.  his 
own.  He  continues  in  the  same 
business  at  169  Oak  st. 

In  1870  Mr.  Hogfeldt  was  mar- 
ried to  Sara  Maria  Jonasson  from 
Rud,  Animskog  parish,  in  Dais- 
land.  They  have  four  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hogfeldt  belong  to  the  Swedish 
Mission  Church,  which  Mr.  Hog- 
feldt for  a  term  of  years  has 
served  in  the  capacity  of  deacon. 


EDWARD  H.   OLSON 

was  born  in  Visby,  Sweden,  April 
21,  1854,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen became  a  clerk  in  a  store  in 
his  native  town.  Two  years  later 
lie  went  to  sea  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel. He  was  on  salt  water  for 
nearly  fifteen  years,  and  a  few 
years  later  attended  the  navigation 
school  at  Visby,  and  at  intervals 


gained  certificates  successively  as 
second  mate,  first  mate  and  cap- 
tain. He  sailed  as  chief  officer 
in  vessels  for  five  years,  making 
voyages  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
In  1882  he  was  acting  quarter- 
master of  the  British  steamship 
Nothing  Hill,  from  Liverpool, 
which  carried  troops  from  Port 
Natal,  South  Africa,  to  Alexan- 
dria, Egypt,  at  the  time  the 
British  bombarded  Alexandria. 
Later  he  became  chief  mate  of 
the  Swedish  ship  Elleholm,  which 
sailed  from  Liverpool,  bound  for 
the  West  Indies,  with  a  cargo  of 
merchandise.  Encountering  severe 
storms  in  the  Atlantic,  the  vessel 
sprang  aleak  and  sank,  all  of  the 
crew  of  eighteen  men  escaping  in 


EDWARD  H.  OLSON 

boats,  and  were  afterwards  picked 
up  by  an  English  sailing  vessel. 
In  1883-1884  he  was  chief  mate  of 
the  Norwegian  mission  ship,  Eli- 
eser,  which  sailed  from  London 
to  Madagascar,  Mauritius,  Bonne- 


262 


Cook  County 


curius,  South  America,  Jamaica, 
West  Indies,  Shields,  England, 
and  from  there  to  Stavanger,  Nor- 
way, his  vessel  lying  in  Tamatave, 
Madagascar,  when  the  French 
men-of-war  bombarded  the  town. 
He  also  served  on  an  Irish  vessel, 
named  Scotsman  of  Londonderry. 
He  met  with  numerous  other  ad- 
ventures, the  narration  of  which 
would  fill  a  good  sized  volume. 

During  a  storm  at  night  he  fell 
from  the  top  of  a  mast,  receiving 
an  injury  to  his  back  which 
caused  him  to  abandon  the  sea. 

In  1885  Mr.  Olson  came  to 
Chicago  to  visit  his  brothers,  and 
being  favorably  impressed,  decided 
to  make  his  home  here.  He 
worked  as  a  painter  in  the  town 
of  Pullman  five  years,  and  clerked 
in  Roseland  for  different  firms. 
In  1895  he  was  employed  in  the 
city  water  office  and  in  the  spring 
of  1896  was  elected  supervisor  of 
the  Town  of  Hyde  Park,  holding 
the  office  for  two  terms. 

He  now  conducts  a  gentleman's 
furnishing  store  at  11206  Michigan 
ave.,  under  the  firm  name  af  E. 
H.  Olson  and  Co.,  with  his  bro- 
ther-in-law as  partner  in  the 
business. 

In  1904  Mr.  Olson  was  elected 
County  Commissioner  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket. 

He  was  married  in  1886  to 
Jennie  Sommanson  from  Tingsryd, 
Sweden . 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, Knights  of  Pythias,  North 
American  Union,  and  charter  mem- 
ber of  Palace  Council  No.  39, 


Royal  League.  He  has  served  as 
treasurer  in  the  South  End  Mer- 
chants' Association  for  a  number 
of  years  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Elim  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Pullman. 


ERNEST  A.  KOHLER, 

doctor  of  dental  surgery,  was  born 
in    Chicago    Sept.     13,     1870,     of 


ERNEST    A.    KOHLER 

Swedish  parents.  His  father,  At- 
torney John  A.  Kohler,  settled  in 
Chicago  in  1868.  Ernest  secured 
his  elementary  education  in  the 
Chicago  public  schools,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1887.  He  then 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  Kester.  After  a 
year  and  a  half,  he  tried  other 
occupations,  acting  as  machinist, 
drug  clerk  and  grocery  salesman. 
Subsequently  he  turned  back  to 
dentistry,  and  after  completing  a 
course  was  graduated  in  the  spring 
of  1890  from  the  American  College 
of  Dental  Surgery  with  the  degree 


Chicago 


263 


of  D.  D.  S.  He  at  once  opened 
an  office  and  has  since  successfully 
practiced  his  profession  in  Chicago. 
His  office  is  at  1206  Garfield  boul. 
Dr.  Kohler  keeps  abreast  with  his 
profession. 

Sept.  26,  1894,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hamilton,  born 
in  Canada  Jan.  18,  1872. 


sons,  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  of 
the   Iroquois  Club. 


ANDERS  E.  ANDERSON 

was  born  at  Tranas,  Skane,  Swe- 
den, Jan.   u,    1865.       His    father 


ANDERS    E.  ANDERSON 

was  a  prominent  building  con- 
tractor. After  having  attended 
the  grammar  and  high  school,  Mr. 
Anderson  emigrated  in  1889,  com- 
ming  directly  to  Chicago.  In  1890 
he  started  in  the  real  estate,  loan 
and  investment  business,  in  which 
he  has  prospered.  His  office  is 
in  the  Unity  Building  and  he  re- 
sides at  the  Lexington  Hotel, 
Michigan  ave.  and  22d  st. 

Mr.  Anderson    is  a   member    of 
King    Oscar    Lodge   of   Free  Ma- 


CARL  O.  YOUNGQVIST 

was  born  Aug.  21,  1872,  in  Olme- 
stad,  Smaland,  a  son  of  Johannes 


CARL  O.   YOUNGQVIST 

Gustafson,  a  stone  mason.  He 
attended  the  public  school  until 
he  was  twelve  years  old,  when 
he  had  to  begin  earning  his  own 
living.  Mr.  Youngqvist  left  Swe- 
den and  went  to  Lafayette,  In- 
diana, in  March,  1893.  Soon  af- 
ter he  came  to  Chicago  where  he 
learned  the  custom  tailor's  trade. 
After  working  two  years  for  C. 
Backstrom  he  went  into  partner- 
ship with  him  in  1900  under  the 
firm  name  of  Backstrom  and 
Youngqvist.  The  shop  is  at  40 
Wendell  st.  Mr.  Youngqvist  was 
married  in  1898,  to  Miss  Emma 
Christina  Wiklund,  with  whom 
he  has  two  children.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Youngqvist  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church. 


264 


Cook  County 


CARL  O.   BERGQUIST 

was    born    in    the    town    of    Mon- 
steras,  Smaland,  Sweden,  June  9, 


CAKL  OLOF  BERGQUIST 

1846.  His  parents  were  Johan 
P.  Bergquist,  a  merchant,  and 
Anna  G.  Bergquist. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  be- 
came a  clerk  in  the  post  office  at 
Mb'nsteras.  He  was  twice  ap- 
pointed acting  postmaster,  and 
was  made  a  postal  clerk  without 
the  usual  requisite  of  a  college 
education. 

In  1870  Mr.  Bergquist  emigrated 
to  the  United  States.  At  first  he 
worked  in  Riverside,  which  was 
then  being  laid  out.  Later  he 
found  employment  in  a.  furniture 
store  on  Randolph  st.  In  January, 
1871,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Charles  P.  Holmberg,  in 
the  insurance  business.  Mr.  Berg- 
quist was  a  member  of  the  Swed- 
ish military  company,  formed  just 
after  the  great  Chicago  fire  to  aid 
in  guarding  the  city.  When  Mr. 


Holmberg  with  others,  purchased 
the  book  and  publishing  business 
in  Chicago,  owned  by  the  Au- 
gustana  Synod,  Mr.  Bergquist 
bought  his  interest  in  the  insur- 
ance office.  He  has  since  acted 
as  loan  and  mortgage  broker  as 
well  as  life  and  fire  insurance  agent. 
For  many  years  he  has  had  the 
agency  for  leading  companies. 

Mr.  Bergquist  is  vice-president 
of  the  Engberg- Holmberg  Pub- 
lishing Co.,  and  also  of  Skandia 
Loan  and  Investment  Association. 

With  his  wife,  Wendla  A.  Berg- 
quist, he  has  two  daughters, 
Signe  W.  and  Nanna  G.,  and 
two  sons,  Carl  B.  and  Hjalmar 
E.  Bergquist.  The  sons  are  now 
associated  with  their  father  in  the 
insurance  business,  the  present 
style  of  the  firm  being,  Carl  O. 
Bergquist  and  Sons,  their  office 
being  located  at  213  E.  Chicago 
ave.  Carl  B.  Bergquist  is  also 
a  mining  broker,  with  headquart- 
ers at  Encampment,  Wyoming. 


NILS  BERGMAN, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
April  n,  1862,  in  the  city  of  Ve- 
nersborg,  Sweden.  There  he  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
from  the  Venersborg  Elementary 
School,  and  during  the  following 
three  years  studied  art  subjects 
in  Stockholm  and  literary  and 
medical  subjects  in  Goteborg.  He 
arrived  in  Chicago  in  the  spring  of 
1886,  resuming  medical  studies  in 
various  hospitals  and  at  the  Chi- 
cago Homeopathic  Medical  College, 
which  he  entered  in  1889.  The 
following  years  up  to  his  gradua- 


Chicago 


265 


tion  in  1892  he    spent    as   interne 
in  hospitals  in  Chicago. 

In   1893   he  went  abroad  to  the 
European  medical  centers  to  com- 


NILS    BERGMAN 

plete  his  medical  education.  Dur- 
ing that  year  he  studied  in  Lon- 
don, Berlin,  Vienna  and  elsewhere. 

During  his  European  sojourn 
he  was  married  in  Florence,  Italy, 
to  Miss  Tekla  E.  Bjorkman, 
daughter  of  C.  A.  and  Helena 
Bjorkman.  They  now  have  two 
children,  Norna  and  Eric,  two 
having  died  at  a  tender  age. 

After  returning  to  the  States, 
Dr.  Bergman  moved  to  Dwight, 
111.,  and  settled  down  to  practice. 
In  November,  1900,  he  removed 
to  Joliet,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1904  he  returned  to  Chicago, 
where  he  is  now  practicing,  with 
office  at  319  Winthrop  ave. 

Dr.  Bergman  belongs  to  the 
church  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
north  side  parish.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Institute  of 


Homeopathy,  the  Illinois  Homeop- 
athic Medical  Association,  and 
other  professional  organizations. 
He  is  a  member  of  Ashlar  Lodge 
No.  308,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  Dr. 
Bergman  was  assistant  house  phy- 
sician at  the  Lincoln  Park  Sani- 
tarium and  Hospital  1889-93  and 
is  now  connected  with  the  Hering 
Homeopathic  Medical  College  as 
professor  and  lecturer  in  theory 
of  practice,  the  appointment  dat- 
ing from  1904. 


C.  A.  TIDEN 

was  born  in  Solleftea,  Anger- 
manland,  Sweden,  on  June  15, 
1850.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  began  to  learn  the  watch- 
maker's trade  with  Alfred  Gron- 


C.  A.  TIDEN 

lund  in  Sundsvall.  After  his  ap- 
prenticeship was  over  he  went  to 
Goteborg  and  was  employed  four 
years  by  C.  L.  Malmsjo.  From 
there  he  returned  to  Northern 
Sweden  and  then  went  to  Stock- 


266 


Cook  County 


holm  where  he  was  in  the  service 
of  J.  W.  Gronback.  In  1879  he 
made  a  tour  of  Denmark  and 
Germany  and  continued  his  jour- 
ney until  he  landed  in  New  York 
in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1879. 
After  a  few  months  he  came  to 
Chicago  where  he  has  since  been 
located  with  the  exception  of 
three  years  spent  in  Milwaukee, 
Wis.  Mr.  Tiden  was  seven  years 
in  the  employ  of  J.  S.  Townsend, 
1554  Wabash  ave.  He  subse- 
quently served  ten  years  with  the 
C.  D.  Peacock  jewelry  house. 
In  1900  he  obtained  a  position  as 
watchmaker  with  Spaulding  &  Co., 
corner  Jackson  and  State  streets, 
which  position  he  still  retains. 


CARL  M.  ALLSTROM 

was  born  Oct.    18,    1833,    in   Fel- 
lingsbro   parish,    Nerike,  Sweden. 


In  1870  he  came  to  America. 
In  the  city  of  Chicago  he  has 
has  served  as  clerk  in  the  Chicago 
Post-office  and  in  the  Newberry 
Library. 

After  making  researches  for  nine 
years  he  completed  a  genealogy  of 
all  the  royal  houses  of  Europe 
from  the  earliest  down  to  the 
present  time.  The  title  of  the 
book  is  "Dictionary  of  Royal 
lyineage,"  and  it  was  published 
in  1904,  in  two  volumes,  a  second 
edition  coming  out  in  1907. 

In  1873  Mr.  Allstrom  was  wed- 
ded to  Miss  Olivia  Mathilda  Sund- 
holm,  born  in  1854  at  Ofverum, 
Sweden.  They  have  five  children, 
of  whom  one  daughter,  Delia,  was 
married  in  1903,  to  Rev.  Wilmot 
Colsom  Stone  of  Newport  News, 
Va.;  a  son,  Oliver,  who  married 
Sarah  Davis  from  Wales,  England, 
in  1904,  is  a  poet,  having  had  a 
book  of  poems  published  under 
the  title,  "Chords  from  a  Strange 
Lyre."  Their  other  children  are 
James,  Anna  and  Alice. 


CARL  MAGNUS  ALLSTROM 

He  attended  school  at  Orebro  and 
Upsala. 


GUSTAF  BERGSTROM 

was  born  in  Ronneby,  Blekinge, 
Sweden,  Sept.  18,  1863.  Emigrat- 
ing from  Sweden  he  came  directly 
to  Chicago,  arriving  here  in  the 
latter  part  of  April,  1886. 

He  entered  the  custom  vest 
manufacturing  trade  and  learned  it 
thoroughly.  Then,  in  1895,  Mr. 
Bergstrom  embarked  in  business 
for  himself  as  a  custom  vest  maker 
and  has  since  continued  in  that 
line  with  success. 


Chicago 


267 


His    large    establishment,    with 


GUSTAF  BERGSTROM 

its   hundred    busy  workers,  is   lo- 
cated at  157  Gault  court. 


JOHN  G.  PRINCELL 

is  one  of  the  eminent  figures  in 
the  so-called  Free  Church  move- 
ment, whose  adherents  are  gener- 
ally known  as  Mission  Friends. 
Moreover,  he  is  the  virtual  foun- 
der of  that  branch  of  the  Mission 
Church  known  as  the  Swedish 
Evangelical  Free  Mission,  in  con- 
tradistinction to  the  other  groups 
of  Mission  churches,  known  as 
the  Mission  Covenant  and  the 
Swedish  Congregationalists.  The 
part  Princell  has  played  as  a 
churchman  having  been  dealt  with 
under  its  proper  head  in  the  his- 
torical part  of  the  present  work, 
this  sketch  is  confined  to  the  per- 
sonal features  of  his  eventful 
career. 

John    Gustaf    Princell  was  born 
in  Tolg  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden, 


Sept.  18,  1845.  In  July,  1856, 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
country.  After  a  stay  of  a  year 
and  three  months  in  Chicago,  the 
family  removed  to  Princeton,  111., 
where  they  lived  for  eight  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1862,  Princell, 
then  a  youth  of  seventeen,  went 
to  Chicago  to  enter  the  theolog- 
ical seminary  maintained  by  the 
Augustana  Synod.  This  step  was 
taken  in  connection  with  his  spir- 
itual regeneration,  which  took 
place  the  same  year.  He  preached 
his  first  sermon  on  the  last  Sun- 
day of  the  year  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  •  Princeton. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Chi- 


1OHN   GUSTAF   PRINCELL 

cago  he  undertook  to  teach  a  class 
of  boys  in  the  Sunday  school  of 
the  Immanuel  Church.  With  his 
pupils,  who  were  almost  his  own 
age,  he  succeeded  remarkably  well, 
and  as  a  result  he  was  frequently 
asked  to  preach  or  to  read  from 
the  pulpit  sermons  by  Luther, 


268 


Cook  County 


Rambach  and  others.  Upon  the 
removal  of  the  school  to  Paxton, 
Princell  continued  his  studies  there 
up  to  the  spring  of  1867,  when  he 
obtained  a  situation  in  the  busi- 
ness office  of  Hemlandet  and  the 
Lutheran  Publication  Society  in 
Chicago.  At  New  Year's,  1869, 
he  became  associate  editor  of  the 
paper.  He  soon  abandoned  this 
work  owing  to  weak  eyes,  and 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  took 
up  studies  at  the  old  Chicago 
University,  continuing  until  the 
following  summer,  meanwhile  sup- 
plying the  pulpit  of  the  Salem 
Church.  From  the  fall  of  1870 
to  the  spring  of  1872  he  pursued 
studies  at  the  German-American 
Lutheran  theological  seminary  in 
Philadelphia.  After  graduating 
from  the  latter  institution,  he  was 
ordained  by  the  Pennsylvania  Mi- 
nisterium  in  May,  1872,  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  from  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  Campello, 
Mass.  Besides  his  duties  in  that 
field,  he  carried  on  mission  work 
in  Boston,  preaching  there  every 
Sunday  evening.  In  January,  1873, 
he  assumed  charge  of  the  Gustaf 
Adolf  Church  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  labored  until  the  spring 
of  1879.  Both  of  these  fields  he 
had  visited  frequently  while  a 
student  at  Philadelphia. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Augustana  Synod  in  1878,  Rev. 
Princell  was  suspended  from  the 
ministry  for  teachings  at  var- 
iance with  the  Lutheran  doctrine 
of  vicarious  atonement.  As  early 
as  the  later  '6os  he  had  come  into 
jntimate  contact  with  the  Mission 


Friends  in  Chicago  and  in  1877 
had  wholly  endorsed  the  doctrine 
of  atonement,  as  taught  by  Wal- 
denstrom,  which  had  created  a 
schism  and  defection  in  the  Luth- 
eran State  Church  of  Sweden. 
Later  he  also  accepted  the  prin- 
ciple to  admit  to  membership  in 
in  the  church  or  participation  in 
the  communion  only  such  persons 
as  confessed  actual  conversion. 

The  suspension  was  for  one 
year,  or  until  the  next  synodical 
meeting.  Princell,  however,  con- 
tinued in  charge  of  his  church, 
maintaining  that  as  no  notice  or 
warning  had  been  given  the  action 
was  illegal,  and,  furthermore,  that 
as  his  church  was  not  an  integral 
part  of  the  synod,  it  had  no  weight. 
The  congregation  was  content  to 
have  him  remain  as  its  pastor.  At 
the  New  Year's  meeting  of  the 
church,  a  resolution  embodying 
Princell' s  idea  of  reform  in  the 
matter  of  members  and  communi- 
cants was  submitted  and  carried. 
But  at  an  adjourned  meeting  held 
a  month  later  the  same  resolution 
was  reconsidered  and  voted  down 
by  about  70  votes  to  35.  Rev. 
Princell  was  invited  to  retain  his 
position  under  the  old  order  of 
things,  but  this  he  would  not  do, 
so  he  resigned.  When  he  left  the 
church  three  months  later,  42  of  its 
members  determined  to  withdraw, 
and  27  of  these,  with  the  pastor, 
organized  the  Bethesda  Church  in 
Brooklyn  on  March  5.  This  action 
marked  the  actual  withdrawal  of 
Rev.  Princell  from  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Augustana  Synod,  al- 
though he  did  not  preach  his  fare- 


Chicago 


269 


well  sermon  until  two  months 
later. 

He  labored  in  Brooklyn  and 
New  York  that  spring,  also  visit- 
ing Campello,  where  the  pulpit 
had  been  vacated  and  a  defection 
was  going  on.  Shortly  afterward 
Princell  was  called  to -the  regular 
Lutheran  pastorate  in  Campello 
and  removed  there  just  before 
making  a  summer  visit  to  Sweden. 
On  the  first  Sunday  after  his  re- 
turn in  October  he  was  forbidden 
the  pulpit  and  immediately  re- 
paired to  a  hall,  where  the  free 
brethren  met.  Thus,  in  an  irreg- 
ular manner  the  call  was  with" 
drawn.  Princell  continued  to 
preach  alternate  weeks  to  the  sep- 
arated groups  in  Campello-Boston 
and  New  York-Brooklyn  until  the 
summer  of  1880. 

In  the  meantime  two  calls  had 
been  extended  to  him — one  from 
the  Tabernacle  Mission  Church  in 
Minneapolis,  the  other  from  Ans- 
garius  College  of  Knoxville,  111., 
then  under  the  control  of  an  in- 
dependent association.  The  latter 
he  accepted,  continuing  at  the 
head  of  this  school  until  1884, 
when,  owing  to  the  dissolution  of 
the  Ansgarius  Synod,  the  institu- 
tion ceased  to  exist.  Thereupon 
he  was  editor  of  Chicago- Bladet 
for  five  years.  In  the  fall  of  1889 
he  began  publishing  a  religious 
monthly  entitled  Frihet  och  Frid, 
dividing  his  time  between  that 
publication  and  the  vocation  of  a 
traveling  evangelist.  In  1892  the 
magazine  was  discontinued,  Prin- 
cell pursuing  mission  work  exclu- 
sively until  1894.  Then,  for  two 


years,  he  was  pastor  of  the  Free 
Mission  Church  in  Minneapolis, 
but  was  compelled  to  abandon  pas- 
toral work  owing  to  defective 
hearing. 

When  a  Bible  Institute  was 
opened  in  1897,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Free  Mission,  at  Oak 
St.  Mission  Hall  in  Chicago,  Prin- 
cell was  engaged  as  the  principal 
lecturer,  and  is  still  continuing  in 
this  work. 

Rev.  Princell  is  a  scholarly  gen- 
tleman, who  spends  a  large  part 
of  his  time  in  his  own  well-stocked 
library.  Besides  his  voluminous 
contributions  to  the  columns  of 
Chicago- Bladet,  he  has  written  a 
History  of  the  Jews  (688  pp.)  and 
translated  into  English  several  of 
P.  Waldenstrom's  writings,  viz., 
"Jesu  blod,"  "Forsoningens  bety- 
delse"  and  "Herren  ar  from."  It 
should  be  added  that  Mrs.  Prin- 
cell, who  is  a  woman  of  literary 
talent,  has  proved  an  efficient  help- 
meet to  her  husband  in  his  re- 
ligious and  educational  work  as 
well  as  his  literary  pursuits. 

Rev.  Princell  is  a  forceful  public 
speaker  and  is  generally  accorded 
a  place  among  the  foremost  Swed- 
ish-American pulpit  orators  and 
Bible  exponents. 


O.  NELSON  VERENIUS 
was  born  in  Sweden,  June  25, 
1876.  He  came  to  America  in 
October,  1899,  and  lived  in  Oak- 
land, Cal.,  from  1899  until  1901. 
In  September  of  that  year  he  be- 
gan studying  at  North  Park  Col- 
lege, and  is  a  graduate  of  its 
divinity  school.  Having  been 


270 


Cook  County 


ordained  to  the  ministry  he  as- 
sumed the  pastorate  of  the  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church  of  the  East 
Side  Station,  South  Chicago. 


O.  NELSON  VERENIUS 

In  1906,  he  withdrew  from  his 
church  and  in  June,  1907,  was 
ordained  as  minister  in  the  Au- 
gustana  Synod.  Rev.  Mr.  Veren- 
ius  is  pastor  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Racine,  Wis. 

Oct.  12,  1904,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Marie  Sorlie  from  Sioux 
City,  Iowa.  She  graduated  from 
the  music  department  of  North 
Park  College. 

ALFRED  A.  NORTON 

was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
the  province  of  Vermland,  Swe- 
den, and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  the  year  1886.  He  at- 
tended the  Central  High  School 
in  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  sub- 
sequently entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota,  graduating  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science 
in  1897  and  with  that  of  Bache- 


lor of  Laws  two  years  later  from 
the  law  department  of  the  same 
institution.  In  1902,  Mr.  Norton 
opened  an  office  in  Chicago  and 
has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  here  since  that  time.  His 
present  office  is  at  1518  Ashland 
Block. 

Mr.  Norton  is  well-known  in 
Swedish  fraternal  circles,  being  a 
member  of  the  King  Oscar  lodge, 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  the  John  Ericsson 
lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the 
Nore  lodge  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Svithiod. 

He  is  affiliated  with  the  People's 
Liberal  Church  of  Englewood. 
For  several  years  past,  Mr.  Nor- 
ton has  taken  an  active  interest 


ALFRED  A.  NORTON 

in  the  work  toward  the  support 
of  the  Swedish  Old  People's  Home 
at  Park  Ridge,  and  he  is  now 
vice-president  of  the  Swedish  So- 
cieties' Central  Association,  the 
organization  by  which  that  insti- 
tution is  maintained. 


Chicago 


271 


JOSEPHINE  PRINCEU, 

was   born   in    Ranea,   Norrbotten, 
Sweden,    Oct.    12,    1844.      She   is 


JOSEPHINE  PRINCELL 

the  daughter  of  C.  A.  L,ind,  who 
was  an  officer  in  the  Swedish  ar- 
my, and  his  wife,  Johanna  L,arson, 
both  deceased.  She  attended  a 
private  school  for  girls  in  Stock- 
holm, and  later  completed  the 
course  of  studies  at  the  Royal 
Seminary  for  the  training  of 
teachers  for  higher  schools  for  girls. 
Having  graduated  in  1864,  she 
taught  for  nine  years  in  a  public 
school  in  Stockholm. 

In  1873  she  came  to  the  United 
States  for  the  purpose  of  studying 
the  American  public  school  system. 
She  visited  Boston,  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  subsequently  re- 
porting her  observations  to  the 
board  of  public  schools  of  Stock- 
holm, her  report  appearing  in  one 
of  the  principal  newspapers  of 
Sweden . 


She  remained  in  the  United 
States  on  a  two  years'  leave  of 
absence,  and  then  resigned  her 
teacher's  position  in  Stockholm  to 
settle  in  Boston.  There  she  mar- 
ried Rev.  J.  G.  Princell  and  af- 
terward followed  her  husband  to 
New  York  City,  where  h«  had 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Gustaf 
Adolf  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

When,  in  1880,  Rev.  Princell 
accepted  the  presidency  of  Ans- 
garius  College  at  Knoxville,  111., 
Mrs.  Princell  resumed  her  former 
vocation  and  taught  both  English 
and  Swedish  branches.  Four  years 
later  Rev.  Princell  accepted  the 
position  of  editor  of  Chicago-Bla- 
det,  owned  and  published  by  John 
Martenson  of  Chicago,  and  his 
wife  then  became  a  regular  con- 
tributor to  that  paper.  Among 
her  contributions  were  a  ' '  History 
of  the  Martyrs,"  which  was  pub- 
lished serially  in  weekly  install- 
ments for  more  than  fourteen 
years,  also  notes  on  the  Sunday 
school  lessons,  which  are  still  con- 
tinued. 

Mrs.  Princell  is  a  member  of 
the  Women's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  since  1890,  having  re- 
ceived her  impetus  to  that  work 
during  her  residence  in  Evanston, 
where  she  formed  the  personal 
acquaintance  of  Miss  Frances  Wil- 
lard.  For  many  years  Mrs.  Prin- 
cell was  actively  engaged  as  lect- 
urer and  organizer  for  the  union 
among  her  countrymen  in  the 
Northwestern  states. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Princell  from  Minnesota, 
where  they  resided  for  nine  years 


Cook   County 


or  up  to  eight  years  ago,  she  re- 
signed her  position  as  lecturer  and 
organizer,  but  continues  as  assist- 
ant national  superintendent  of 
work  among  the  Scandinavians. 

For  the  past  two  years  Mrs. 
Princell  has  been  a  contributor  to 
Kvinnan  och  Hemmet,  a  woman's 
home  magazine,  published  in  Ce- 
dar Rapids,  Iowa.  For  a  number 
of  years  past  she  has  edited  and 
published  a  Christmas  annual  in 
book  form,  entitled  Skogsblommor, 
which  is  now  circulated  in  about 
3,000  copies  per  year. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Princell  took  place  Sept.  18,  1876. 
Of  five  sons  born  to  them,  four 
are  living.  The  eldest,  Gustave 
Adolph,  born  1877,  died  in  1900 
from  a  disease  contracted  during 
military  service  in  the  Philippines, 
where  he  was  a  corporal  of  the 
1 3th  Minnesota  Volunteers.  The 
children  now  living  are  Joseph 
Carl,  born  1880,  married  to  Ellen 
Fredeen  of  Minneapolis;  John 
Magnus,  born  1882,  married  to 
Ethel  Currie  of  Merriam  Park, 
Minn.;  Paul  Peter,  born  1885,  and 
Bennie  Herman,  born  1887. 


CLARENCE  S.  ONGMAN 

was  born  May  31,  1873,  in  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  where  he  obtained  a 
public  school  education.  Later  he 
moved  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
continued  his  studies  at  Temple 
College.  Mr.  Ongman  went  to 
Sweden  in  1890,  where  he  studied 
under  a  private  tutor  and  after- 
wards took  a  course  at  the  Tech- 
nical School  of  Orebro.  He  re- 


turned to  America  in  1893  and 
during  the  World's  Fair  was  a 
correspondent  for  a  number  of 
leading  Swedish  newspapers.  Up- 
on the  advice  of  Mr.  John  L.  Stod- 


CLARENCE  SHELDON  ONGMAN 

dard  and  Col.  Russell  H.  Conwell 
he  began  to  prepare  for  the  lecture 
platform  in  1896  and  has  since 
become  a  lecturer  of  some  prom- 
inence. 

In  1897  Mr.  Ongman  went  to 
Cuba  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Ladies'  Cuban  Aid  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  his  purpose  being  to 
study  the  political  as  well  as  the 
social  conditions  of  the  island. 
Upon  his  return  to  America  Mr. 
Ongman  gave  a  series  of  interest- 
ing lectures  anent  his  impressions 
of  Cuba,  which  were  very  well 
received.  He  illustrated  his  lect- 
ures with  stereopticon  views.. 

The  titles  of  some  of  his  lectures 
follow:  "Sweden,  the  Land  of  the 
Midnight  Sun,"  "Washington,  our 
National  Capital,"  "The  Siege  of 


Chicago 


273 


Pekin,"    and    "The   Lutherans  in 
America." 

Of  late  Mr.  Ongraan  has  aban- 
doned the  lecture  platform  and  is 
at  work  in  the  engineering  depart- 
ment of  the  city  of  Chicago. 


WILLIAM    WESTERLUND 

was  born  in  Orion,  111.,  Nov.   14, 
1863.     His   father,  Peter  Wester- 


WILLIAM  WESTERLUND 

lund,  came  to  Henry  county  as  a 
boy  of  thirteen,  in  1850.  William 
attended  the  Orion  high  school 
and  later  the  Davenport  Business 
College,  Davenport,  Iowa.  After 
returning  to  Orion  he  became  city 
clerk  and  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  1882  he  founded  the  Bank  of 
Orion  and  was  its  cashier  for  ten 
years,  or  until  it  was  merged  with 
the  State  Bank  of  Orion. 

In  1896  Mr.  Westerlund  moved 
to  Chicago  to  take  advantage  of 
the  greater  business  opportunities 
offered  in  the  metropolis  of  the 
West.  For  several  years  he  was 


identified  with  colonization  work 
in  Texas  and  Alabama.  In  1904 
he  began  handling  lands  in  the 
Pacific  Northwest  and  in  Nebras- 
ka, and  was  special  land  and  im- 
migration agent  for  the  Northwest 
for  the  Union  Pacific  and  South- 
ern Pacific  Railroads.  Shortly  af- 
ter he,  with  his  brother,  John  A. 
Westerlund,  organized  the  West- 
ern Oregon  Orchard  Company,  a 
co-operative  fruit-raising  associa- 
tion, which  is  developing  hund- 
reds of  acres  of  orchard  land  near 
Medford,  Ore.,  and  he  is  now 
treasurer  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Westerlund  is  married  to 
Miss  Minnie  Samuelson,  daughter 
of  Carl  Magnus  Samuelson,  who 
settled  in  Henry  county,  111.,  in 
the  '503.  Mrs.  Westerlund,  like 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Hannah  Butler, 
is  a  gifted  singer,  who  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  has  been  a  soloist  in 
various  churches.  The  date  of 
their  marriage  was  May  28,  1891. 
Their  children  are  Marjorie,  Lillian 
and  Florence. 

The  family  attends  the  August- 
ana  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Hyde  Park,  where  Mr.  Wester- 
lund is  a  trustee. 


PEHR  W.  NILSSON 
was  born  Jan.  23,  1853,  in  Esphult, 
Skane,  Sweden.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  America,  landing 
June  8,  1866.  After  taking  a 
course  of  studies  at  the  law  school 
of  Lake  Forest  University,  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  law.  Mr.  Nils- 
son  was  deputy  Circuit  Court  clerk 
for  four  years  and  was  assistant 
city  prosecuting  attorney  of  Chi- 


274 


Cook  County 


cago  for  five  years,  having  been 
appointed  during  Mayor  Harri- 
son's administration. 


PEHR  W.  NILSSON 

Mr.  Nilsson  has  never  belonged 
to  the  Republican  party,  but 
claims  credit  for  prompting  the 
recognition  of  his  fellow  country- 
men by  that  party.  In  the  early 
eighties  Mr.  Nilsson,  with  a  hand- 
ful of  Swedish  Democrats,  made 
a  stir  which  caused  the  Republi- 
can press  to  inquire  whether  the 
Swedes  were  deserting  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  turning  Demo- 
crats. 

Mr.  Nilsson  has  been  secretary 
and  president  of  the  Swedish  Old 
Settlers'  Association  of  Chicago. 
He  belongs  to  the  Protected  Home 
Circle  and  the  Foresters. 


FREDERICK  LUNDIN 

was  born  May  18,  1868,  in  Vestra 
Tollstad  parish,  Ostergotland, 
Sweden.  He  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Chicago  in  1878,  and  in 


this  country  enjoyed  a  general 
education  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Lundin's  successful  career 
in  business  as  a  manufacturer, 
and  in  politics  as  state  senator, 
was  preceded  in  his  early  years 
by  the  hardships  and  struggles 
common  to  most  immigrants  who 
come  to  this  land  of  promise 
empty  of  hand  and  pocket.  Be- 
ginning literally  at  the  bottom, 
he  was  at  first  a  newsboy  and 
bootblack,  then  was  employed  in 
a  clothing  house  in  Chicago. 
Here  he  was  soon  advanced  to  be 
salesman. 

He  and  his  brother,  in  1889, 
began  the  manufacture  of  a 
beverage  much  in  favor  and  ex- 


FREDERICK  LUNDIN 

tensively  used  in  Sweden.  Suc- 
cess crowned  their  efforts  and 
soon  the  business  reached  such 
proportions  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  invest  more  capital, 
and  accordingly  the  firm  of  L,un- 
din  and  Co.  was  incorporated  in 


Chicago 


275 


January,  1894.  With  a  working 
capital  of  $100,000  it  was  possible 
to  do  business  on  a  large  scale. 
The  Juniperade  put  out  by  the 
firm  has  been  extensively  adver- 
tised and  is  at  present  sold  to 
almost  every  part  of  the  civilized 
world.  Lundin  and  Company's 
office  and  laboratory  are  at  2443- 
2447  W.  Kinzie  St.,  where,  be- 
sides Juniperade,  several  other 
preparations  and  family  remedies 
are  compounded. 

In  1894,  Mr.  L,undin  was  chosen 
state  senator  of  Illinois  with  a 
large  majority  over  his  Democratic 
opponent.  He  has  always  been  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party. 

OSCAR  K.  WKSTERBERG 

was  born  July  13,  1875,  in 
Rosenberg,  Vermland,  where  his 


OSCAR  E.  WESTERBERG 

father,  Carl  P.  Westerberg,  is  a 
farmer.  He  attended  public  school 
in  Sweden  and  came  to  America 


in  1892.  On  coming  to  Chicago, 
Mr.  Oscar  Westerberg  successfully 
engaged  in  the  coal  business.  At 
present  he  and  his  partner,  F. 
Nelson,  deal  in  coal  and  do  fur- 
niture moving.  They  transact 
business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Nelson  and  Westerberg,  at  3569 
N.  Clark  st. 

Mr.  Westerberg  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Methodist  Church  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Epworth 
League . 


FRED  H.  CARLSON 

was   born   May    9,    1867,    in    the 
Swedish  city  of    Jonkoping.     His 


FRED  H.  CARLSON 

father,  Johan  Carlson,  now  de- 
ceased, was  a  glove  manufacturer, 
from  whom  the  son  learned  the 
trade.  He  later  emigrated  to 
America,  in  June,  1883,  landing 
at  Boston,  from  whence  he  came 
on  to  Chicago  directly.  After 
working  in  several  factories  he 
engaged  in  the  glove  manufactur- 


276 


Cook  County 


ing  business  with  C.  Skoglof. 
The  firm  makes  fine  kid  gloves 
for  the  trade  and  is  said  to  own 
the  largest  ladies'  and  gents'  kid 
glove  factory  between  New  York 
and  San  Francisco,  employing  over 
fifty  workmen.  The  business  office 
is  at  271  E.  Madison  st. 

Mr.  Carlson  resides  at  1083 
Winona  St.,  Argyle,  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  wife  and 
three  children,  Julia  Carolina  He- 
lena, born  March  n,  1894,  Hil- 
ding  Fred,  born  June  14,  1900, 
and  Theodor  Wilhelm,  born  May 
10,  1905.  Mrs.  Carlson  was  Ca- 
roline Olsen,  born  Nov.  23,  1870, 
daughter  of  Johan  Olsen.  The 
marriage  took  place  May  6,  1893. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  are  Luther- 
ans. 


of  Music,  where  he  has  been  en- 
gaged as  instructor  after  his 
graduation.  Mr.  Nelson  also  has 


CARL  OSCAR  NELSON 

was  born  in  Chicago  Sept.  2, 
1886.  His  father  is  Police  Officer 
Olof  Nelson  of  the  Attrill  street 
station  and  his  mother  is  Mary, 
nee  Olson. 

Carl  learned  to  play  a  toy 
violin  given  him  when  he  was  six 
years  old.  Before  he  was  thirteen 
he  had  made  two  violins  with 
his  own  hands,  using  a  pocket 
knife  for  a  tool.  His  first  music 
teacher  was  S.  A.  Hunt,  who 
added  him  to  his  Juvenile  Or- 
chestra. A  year  later  he  became 
the  leader  of  the  orchestra,  which 
is  still  under  his  directorship. 
At  that  time  he  became  a  pupil 
of  the  late  Signer  Pasquale  Ca- 
pone,  at  the  Chicago  Conservatory 


CARL  OSCAR  NELSON 

conducted  a  violin  school  on  the 
west  side. 

Mr.  Nelson  began  his  career  as 
a  concert  performer  when  a  mere 
boy,  attracting  considerable  at- 
tention on  account  of  his  precoc- 
ity, evincing  a  musical  talent 
above  the  ordinary  for  his  years. 
He  has  been  often  heard  at  con- 
certs and  public  entertainments 
in  Chicago  and  elsewhere  in  the 
West. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  also  tried  his 
talent  at  composing,  two  of  his 
musical  compositions  being  en- 
titled, "The  Beautiful  Rose,"  and 
' '  Heaven '  s  Golden  Crown ." 


FRANK  A.  BERGMAN 

was  born  in  Arvika,  Vermland, 
Sweden,  Oct.  10,  1845.  His  father, 
who  was  a  master  shoemaker  in 
the  little  city  above  named,  moved 


Chicago 


277 


to  America  in  1852,  and  three 
years  later  sent  for  his  family. 
They  went  first  to  Detroit,  then 


FRANK  A.  BERGMAN 

to  Chicago,  and  finally  located  in 
Red  Wing,  Minn.,  then  a  frontier 
village.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War,  the  elder  Bergman  en- 
listed and  went  to  fight  for  the 
Union  cause.  In  the  meantime 
new  calls  for  volunteers  were  is- 
sued, and  Frank  Bergman,  then 
only  sixteen  years  old,  enlisted  in 
a  company  formed  at  Fort  Snelling. 
This  company  did  not  then  get  an 
opportunity  to  fight  the  rebels, 
however,  but  was  employed  in  a 
campaign  against  the  Indians,  who 
had  just  made  an  uprising  in  the 
Northwest,  and  the  actual  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to 
military  life  were  perhaps  no  less 
here.  He  continued  doing  mili- 
tary service  until  November,  1865, 
when  his  father,  who  in  the  mean- 
time had  returned  home  from  the 
war,  and  disapproved  of  his  son's 


enlistment,  secured  his  discharge 
on  the  ground  that  he  was  a  mi- 
nor. Later  the  young  soldier  or- 
ganized a  company  of  state  troops, 
of  which  he  was  chosen  a  lieu- 
tenant. 

In  1865  Mr.  Bergman  came  to 
Chicago  and  began  to  work  as  a 
tinner,  and  four  years  later  started 
a  business  of  his  own  in  that  line, 
under  the  firm  name  of  F.  A. 
Bergman  &  Co.  In  1876  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  E.  T. 
Mason.  The  business  was  con- 
siderably enlarged,  and  the  name 
of  the  firm  changed  to  E.  T.  Ma- 
son &  Co.  They  continued  a 
steadily  growing  business,  until 
1900,  when  the  tin  can  depart- 
ment was  sold  to  the  American 
Can  Company,  otherwise  known 
as  the  "Tin  Can  Trust." 

In  1869  Mr.  Bergman  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Mason, 
sister  of  his  business  partner.  They 
have  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
three  sons  and  two  daughters  are 
still  living.  The  three  sons  are 
in  business  with  their  father  at 
193  W.  2ist  st.  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  ice  cream  freezers,  self- 
heating  sad  irons  and  sheet  metal 
specialties.  One  of  the  daughters, 
Marie  Louise  Bergman,  who  has 
a  beautiful  soprano  voice,  has  stud- 
ied in  London  with  prominent 
English  teachers  for  two  years 
and  later  in  Paris  under  Sbrilja 
and  other  noted  instructors. 

Mr.  Bergman,  formerly  a  Luth- 
eran, is  now  a  member  of  the 
Ethical  Culture  Society  of  Chica- 
go, of  which  organization  he  has 
served  as  a  trustee.  He  has  also 


278 


Cook  County 


been  treasurer  of  Home  Lodge, 
No.  416,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  held 
other  responsible  positions  in  the 
order. 


mac  ave.  which  is  still  being  suc- 
cessfully operated  by  him. 

Mr.     Berg    is     a      member      of 


AMANDUS  N.  ANDERSON 

AND 

BENGT  S.   ANDERSON 

Mr.  Amandus  N.  Anderson  was 
born  in  Brusarp,  Nottja  parish, 
Kronoberg  Ian,  Sweden.  He  con- 
ducts a  coal  and  expressing  busi- 
ness at  1421-1425  Belmont  ave., 
together  with  his  brother,  Bengt 
S.  Anderson.  Mr.  Anderson  is 
married  to  Mamie  E.  Newman. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Hazel 
Lillian  and  Bernice  Ellen. 

Mr.  Bengt  Salomon  Anderson, 
also  born  in  Brusarp,  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  1888,  two 
years  later  than  his  brother,  and 
located  in  Chicago,  later  forming 
the  firm  of  Anderson  Brothers. 
He  is  married  to  Miss  Hannah 
C.  E.  Anderson. 


ANDREW  GUSTAF  BERG 

was  born  in  Ostergotland,  Swe- 
den, Feb.  19,  1859,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  June,  1879.  He 
located  at  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J., 
then  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  and 
finally  came  to  Chicago.  Like 
most  newly  arrived  foreigners,  he 
had  little  or  no  money  and  at 
first  had  to  work  very  hard  for 
low  wages  as  helper  in  a  rolling 
mill.  Thereafter  he  had  a  flour 
and  feed  store  for  seven  years, 
and  later  started  a  grocery  store 
and  meat  market  at  718  Winne- 


ANDREW  GUSTAF  BERG 

the  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  a  trustee  of  his  con- 
gregation. He  has  also  served  as 
steward  of  the  church,  as  Sunday 
school  superintendent  and  class 
leader,  and  has  held  the  offices 
of  secretary,  third  vice-president, 
and  president  of  the  Epworth 
League.  He  was  chosen  delegate 
to  the  International  Conference 
of  the  Epworth  League  at  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn.,  in  1897. 


EPHRAIM  J.  SWANSON 

was  born  July  4,  1874,  in  Stock- 
holm. His  father,  Pehr  Swanson, 
a  shoedealer,  removed  to  Upsala, 
where  the  boy  attended  school  and 
then  took  a  five  years'  course  in 
the  high  school.  He  later  studied 
the  art  of  decorating  under  Ed- 
ward Bergh  in  Stockholm.  In 
1891  he  came  to  Chicago  to- 


Chicago 


279 


gether  with  the  family.  Here  he 
worked  for  John  A.  Thorstenson, 
interior  decorator,  for  nine  years, 


EPHKAIM  JOHANNES  SWANSON 

and  thoroughly  learned  the  paint- 
ing trade  as  practiced  in  America. 
In  1900  the  E.  J.  Swanson  Co. 
was  formed,  with  Mr.  Swanson 
as  president.  He  has  a  well 
equipped  paint  store  and  shop  at 
1883  N.  Clark  st.  Mr.  Swanson 
has  had  many  contracts  for  work 
in  various  public  schools  and 
churches. 

Mr.  Swanson  was  married  Dec. 
17,  1898,  to  Miss  Helga  Goran- 
son,  daughter  of  Carl  Goranson 
of  Motala,  Sweden.  A  son,  Har- 
ry, was  born  in  1900. 


CARL  GUSTAF  WAUJN 

was  born  in  Askeryd  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Feb.  17,  1863. 
He  came  to  Moline,  111.,  in  No- 
vember, 1 88 1.  Realizing  that  a 
business  education  would  prove 
invaluable  to  him,  he  took  a 


course  at  the  International  Busi- 
ness College  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 
in  1885.  Subsequently  he  worked 
in  various  capacities  for  John 
Deere  and  Co.,  of  Moline.  Mr. 
Wallin  went  to  Chicago  in  1893, 
and  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Swedish  Home 
Building  Association  of  Chicago 
and  since  1897  has  been  its  sec- 
retary. He  still  continues  in  the 
real  estate  business  with  office  at 
1 01  Washington  st. 

Mr.  Wallin  is  a  member  of  the 
Zion    Swedish     Lutheran     church 


CARL  GUSTAF  WALLIN 

and  is  one  of  its  trustees.     He  is  an 
independent  Republican  in  politics. 


GUSTAF  AARON  YOUNG, 

president  of  the  Swedish  Ev.  Free 
Mission  of  America,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Vestergotland, 
Sweden,  May  27,  1865.  He  spent 
his  early  days  working  on  his 
father's  farm,  until  1886,  when 


280 


Cook   County 


he  emigrated.  After  a  short  stay 
in  Connecticut  he  left  for  the 
western  States.  In  August  of 


GUSTAF  AARON  YOUNG 

that  year  he  preached  his  first 
sermon,  and  since  then  he  has 
proclaimed  the  Gospel  in  many 
of  the  states  of  the  Union,  having 
had  charge  of  churches  and  mis- 
sions in  Kiron,  Iowa;  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah;  East  Chain  Lakes, 
Minn.;  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
and  Boone,  Iowa.  For  six  years 
Rev.  Young  was  pastor  of  the 
Oak  St.  Swedish  Mission  Church, 
Chicago.  In  February,  1907,  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Englewood 
Swedish  Free  Church. 

Mr.  Young  has  had  no  college 
education,  but  is  a  gifted  and 
powerful  public  speaker,  is  natur- 
ally studious,  a  lover  of  books 
and  an  untiring  worker. 

Besides  the  duties  of  his  own 
church,  Mr.  Young  takes  an 
active  part  in  other  branches  of 
the  mission  work,  both  at  home 


and  abroad.  He  has  for  several 
years  served  as  chairman  of  the 
Swedish  Ev.  Free  Mission  of  Amer- 
ica and  is  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Scandinavian 
Alliance  Mission,  the  Canton  Mis- 
sion, the  Swedish  Bible  Institute 
of  Chicago,  and  has  held  other  of- 
fices of  a  similar  nature.  Rev. 
Young  is  the  author  of  "Hjalpreda 
for  Bibelskolan,"  a  Biblical  cate- 
chism . 

In  1889  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Ida  C.  Isaacson,  an  Iowa 
school-teacher,  who  has  been  of 
immense  help  to  him  in  his 
church  work.  They  have  seven 
children,  viz.,  Eldon,  Edna,  Mil- 
dred, Blanche,  Russell,  Wilbur 
and  Rutherford. 


ANDREW  G.  WILLIN 

was  born  in  Kil  parish,  Vermland, 
Sweden,    Jan.     i,     1867.     Having 


ANDREW  G.  \VILLIX 

been    educated     in     the     Swedish 
common   school,  he  came  to    Chi- 


Chicago 


281 


cago  in  1887,  from  his  native 
place.  Since  1892  he  has  been  in 
business  for  himself  as  merchant 
tailor.  His  shop  is  at  1250  East 
Ravenswood  Park,  and  he  resides 
in  Ravenswood.  Mr.  Willin  is  a 
member  of  the  Apostolic  Church 
on  LaSalle  ave. 


GUSTAV  V.  VALENTINE 

was  born  Nov.  22,   1863,    in   As- 
keryd,     Smaland,     Sweden.       He 


GUSTAV  V.  VALENTINE 

emigrated  to  this  country  in  1870 
with  his  parents,  who  set- 
tled in  Moline,  111.  After  work- 
ing a  few  years  in  the  John 
Deere  plow  works,  he  went  in 
1886  to  Minneapolis  and  associated 
himself  with  his  brother,  Carl 
Vallentin,  as  a  book  and  music 
dealer.  In  1891  he  removed  to 
Chicago  and  was  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  for  several 
years.  He  then  purchased  from 
C.  A.  Devereaux  the  patent  for 
a  ladies'  dress  cutting  system 


and  after  having  obtained  experi- 
ence, invented  an  original  system 
which  was  patented  in  1902. 
The  system  which  is  called 
Valentine's  New  Self -Calculating 
Ladies'  Tailoring  and  Dress  Cut- 
ting System,  is  gaining  favor  with 
professional  and  amateur  dress- 
makers. 

Mr.  Valentine  conducts  two 
schools  of  cutting,  designing  and 
ladies'  tailoring, one  at  857  N.  Clark 
st.  and  another  at  86  State 
st.  A  number  of  schools  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  are 
using  the  Valentine  system. 

In  1886  and  again  in  1893,  Mr. 
Valentine  visited  the  mother  coun- 
try and  other  parts  of  Europe. 

He  is  one  of  the  men  who  or- 
ganized the  Svea  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  and  has  served 
as  a  director  and  appraiser  of  the 
association. 


J.  ERNEST  REHNSTROM, 

doctor  of  dental  surgery,  was 
born  Feb.  15,  1874,  in  New  Swe- 
den, Iowa,  where  his  father,  the 
Rev.  John  E.  Rehnstrom,  was 
pastor  of  the  local  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  Dr.  Rehn- 
strom's  early  boyhood  was  spent 
at  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  In  1885  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to 
Alta,  Iowa,  where  he  attended 
high  school.  In  1888-89  he 
studied  at  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College,  St.  Peter,  Minn.  In  the 
meantime  his  home  was  established 
at  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Dr.  Rehn- 
strom graduated  from  the  com- 
mercial department  at  Augustana 


282 


Cook  County 


College  in  1893.  After  a  few 
years  spent  at  Sioux  City,  he 
took  a  course  at  the  Northwestern 


JOSEPH  ERNEST  REHNSTROM 

Dental  School  and  received  his 
degree  in  1900.  Since  then  he 
has  practiced  his  profession  with 
office  at  445  N.  Clark  st.  Dr. 
Rehnstrom  is  on  the  staff  of  Au- 
gustana  Hospital  as  chief  of  the 
department  of  Dental  Surgery. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
State  Dental  Society,  the  Chicago 
Odontographic  Society,  and  the 
Scandinavian  -  American  Dental 
Society. 

He  belongs  to  the  Immanuel 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

Dr.  Rehnstrom  was  married  on 
June  26,  1907,  to  Julia  Augusta 
Eckholm. 


JOHN  A.  PETERSON 
was  born  Feb.    18,    1848,  in  Gara- 


1870  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  arriving  May  30.  For  a 
period  of  ten  years  he  was  occu- 
pied in  farming,  near  Galva,  111., 
and  Red  Wing,  Minn.  Mr.  Peter- 
son thereupon  became  a  salesman 
in  the  wholesale  house  of  Marshall 
Field  &  Co.,  Chicago.  This  posi- 
tion was  retained  from  1880  until 
1895.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
business  of  selling  Chicago  real 
estate  and  farm  lands  in  Minne- 
sota, Dakota,  Wisconsin  and  in 
the  Southern  states.  His  office 
is  at  163  Randolph  st. 

Being  active  in  politics,  Mr.  Pe- 
terson has  been  a  delegate  to  state 
and  county  conventions.  He  re- 
sides at  1641  W.  Ravenswood  Pk., 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Peterson  affiliates  with  the 
Methodists  and  has  served  as 


JOHN    A.  PETERSON 

trustee  and  secretary  of  that  board 


hof,  Byarum  parish,  Sweden.    He      in  his  local  church 
obtained  a  common  school    educa- 
tion   in    his   native   country.       In 


Chicago 


283 


KARL  F.  OHLSON, 
for  several  years  pastor  of  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Mission  Church  on  the  north  side, 
was  born  May  3,  1858,  in  Mister- 
hult  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
He  was  three  years  old  when 
his  father  met  his  death  by  acci- 


KARL  F.   OHLSON 

dent,  leaving  the  wife  and  mother 
in  destitution,  with  seven  children 
to  care  for,  ranging  in  age  from 
1 8  years  to  six  months.  The  sub- 
ject of  the  present  sketch  began 
his  schooling  at  five.  After  a  brief 
attendance  in  public  school  he  en- 
joyed free  instruction  for  several 
years  as  a  companion  to  a  little 
girl,  for  whom  a  private  tutoress 
was  engaged.  With  the  promise 
of  support  from  a  number  of  char- 
itably disposed  persons,  the  boy 
was  later  sent  to  a  state  institu- 
tion in  Linkoping. 

After  his  conversion  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  Ohlson  had  an  ear- 
nest desire  to  become  a  mission- 
ary to  the  heathen  in  Africa,  and 


on  the  advice  of  a  pastor  entered 
the  mission  school  conducted  by 
the  Mission  Covenant  of  Sweden. 
At  the  completion  of  his  course, 
his  health  was  so  broken  down, 
that  his  plan  to  enter  the  foreign 
mission  field  had  to  be  abandoned. 
Those  who  had  agreed  to  provide 
his  support  while  a  student  seem 
to  have  relied  upon  one  another, 
and  as  a  result  the  poor  young 
man  was  left  without  sufficient 
food  and  clothing  for  months  at 
a  time. 

Leaving  the  institution  he  began 
preaching  in  the  little  city  of  Sala, 
then  took  up  similar  work  in 
Hedemora,  where  he  also  obtained 
a  position  as  instructor  in  a  girls' 
seminary.  While  here  Ohlson  ob- 
tained from  the  rector  of  Hede- 
mora permission  to  preach  in  ev- 
ery schoolhouse  in  the  parish. 
Finally  tiring  of  the  strife  stirred 
up  over  the  subjects  of  baptism, 
communion  and  atonement,  in 
which  Ohlson  took  the  Walden- 
stromian  view,  he  gladly  accepted 
a  call  to  assume  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Congregational  Church  in 
Worcester,  Mass.  He  came  over 
in  October,  1888,  and  labored  in 
various  Eastern  fields,  viz.,  Wor- 
cester, Campello  and  Brooklyn,  up 
to  May,  1900.  Then  he  came  to 
Chicago  in  response  to  a  call  from 
the  North  Side  Mission  Church. 
This,  the  mother  church  of  the  Mis- 
sion Friends  in  America,  he  served 
until  October,  1903,  when  he  re- 
turned East  to  become  pastor  of 
the  Bethesda  Church  in  New  York, 
the  oldest  Mission  church  in  that 
part  of  the  United  States. 


284 


Cook  County 


Rev.  Ohlson  having  alternated 
between  Congregational  and  Cov- 
enant churches,  it  is  proper  to 
state  that  he  is  a  liberalist  in  de- 
nominational matters,  a  non-parti- 
san as  regards  the  various  groups 
of  Mission  Friends,  and  stands  for 
the  non-denominational  form  of 
evangelism. 


ERNST  HOLMGREN 

was  born  May  29,  1872,  in  Kropp 
parish,  Skane,  Sweden,   where  he 


ERNST   HOLMGREN 

was  reared.  After  having  finished 
his  schooling  in  the  university  town 
of  L,und,  he  learned  his  trade,  that 
of  a  bookbinder.  He  emigrated 
to  America  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
and  settled  in  Chicago.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1898,  he  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  Charles  Engdahl  in 
a  bookbindery,  located  at  305 
Orleans  st.  Two  years  later 
they  moved  their  bindery  to 
254-256  Orleans  st.  By  1907  the 
expansion  of  their  business  forced 


them  to  find  more  commodious 
quarters,  and  they  moved  to  their 
present  location  at  14-28  Michigan 
st.  Simultaneously  the  business 
was  incorporated  as  the  Holmgren, 
Engdahl  &  Johnson  Co.,  with  Mr. 
Holmgren  as  president. 

The  firm  executes  edition  bind- 
ing, and  does  stamping  and  em- 
bossing for  the  trade. 

Feb.  22,  1896,  Mr.  Holmgren 
was  married  to  Charlotta  Swan- 
son.  They  reside  at  5933  Iowa 
st.,  Austin,  and  are  members  of 
the  local  Swedish  Ev.  Mission 
Church. 


CARL  K.  WESTMAN 

was  born  Sept.  9,  1868,  in  Skara- 
borgs  Ian,  Sweden.  In  his  native 
land  he  passed  through  six  classes 
at  the  elementary  school  in  Skara 
and  spent  two  years  at  the  Carls- 
borg  military  academy.  He  left 
for  America  in  1890  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Chicago.  Here 
his  studies  were  continued  at  the 
Hahneman  and  Bennett  medical 
colleges,  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in 
1898.  In  1903,  after  two  years 
more  of  study  in  Sweden,  Dr. 
Westman  passed  examination  in 
the  Royal  Gymnastic  Central  In- 
stitute in  Stockholm,  receiving  his 
diploma  as  director  of  medical 
gymnastics. 

Returning  to  Chicago,  Dr.  West- 
man engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medical  gymnastics  and  massage. 
In  1905  he  opened  a  med- 
ical gymnasium  and  free  clinic  at 
the  Plaza  Hotel,  where  students 
are  given  instruction  in  massage 


Chicago 


285 


and  medical  gymnastics.  The  year 
previous  Dr.  Westman  became  in- 
structor in  his  branches  at  the 


CARL  K.   WESTMAN 

medical  school  of  the  University 
of  Illinois,  a  position  he  still 
holds.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
editorial  staff  of  the  Journal  of 
Physical  Therapy,  and  belongs  to 
the  Chicago  Medical  Society,  the 
Illinois  Medical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association. 


was  born  in  Sweden,  Jan.  4, 
1 86 1.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  home  dis- 
trict and  in  1880  came  over  to 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Peterson 
is  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
firm  of  Leonard  Peterson  and  Co., 
51-55  Institute  place.  This  firm 
started  business  in  1891  making 
laboratory  wood  work,  such  as 
holders,  clamps,  stands,  etc.  The 
goods  are  used  in  chemical  and 
physical  laboratories  of  schools  and 


colleges,  and  in  physicians'  offices 
throughout  the  United  States. 
It  is  the  only  manufactory  of  its 
kind  in  the  West. 

Mr.  Peterson  belongs  to  the 
Ethical  Society,  the  Svea  Society 
and  the  Odd  Fellows. 


LEONARD  PETERSON- 


GEORGE      E.      Q.      JOHNSON, 

attorney  at  law,  was  born  July 
n,  1874,  at  Harcourt,  Webster 
county,  Iowa.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  state.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  lived  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
of  age,  in  the  meantime  attend- 
ing the  public  school.  In  1894  he 
entered  a  normal  school  at  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  and  graduated 
therefrom  in  1897.  During  his 
stay  there  he  won  the  gold  and 
silver  medals  successively  in  ora- 
torical contests.  In  1897  he  came 
to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Chi- 
cago College  of  Law,  graduating 


286 


Cook  County 


in  1900  and  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  the  same  year.  During 
his  course  at  college  he  was 


GEORGE  E.  Q.  JOHNSON 

president  of  the  Junior  Class. 
Mr.  Johnson  has  a  growing  prac- 
tice; his  office  is  at  120  Randolph 
st.  Since  February,  1905,  he  has 
been  associated  with  another  young 
attorney  in  the  law  firm  of  John- 
son and  Molthrop.  A  Republican 
in  politics,  he  has  taken  active 
part  in  the  1900  and  subsequent 
campaigns .  Mr .  Joh  nson  was  league 
orator  for  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  League  of  Illinois  at 
the  convention  held  in  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois,  in  March,  1902. 

Having  been  elected  first  vice- 
president  in  1906  of  the  Swedish 
National  Association,  he  became 
acting  president  of  the  association 
when  Mr.  F.  A.  Ljndstrand  re- 
signed the  presidency  shortly 
afterward.  In  1907  he  was  elected 
president.  He  also  holds  the 
presidency  in  the  board  of  direct- 


ors of  the  Washington  Park  Hos- 
pital and  is  a  regent  of  the 
Monitor  Council  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Sept.  8,  1906,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth M.  Swanstrom,  a  graduate 
of  the  Columbia  College  of  Ex- 
pression in  Chicago.  Their  home 
is  at  1 1 121  Michigan  ave. 


OLENIUS  OLSON 

was  born  Nov.  21,  1859,  in  Ost- 
vallskog,  Vermland,  Sweden,  where 
he  obtained  his  early  schooling. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
emigrated  to  America,  making  his 
home  in  Chicago.  Here  he  fitted 
himself  for  practical  life  by  at- 


OLENIUS  OLSON 

tending  night  school  and  later  the 
Metropolitan  Business  College. 
For  the  last  ten  years  he  has 
been  the  proprietor  of  a  flourish- 
ing tailoring  establishment  at  28 
Jackson  Boulevard.  Mr.  Olson 
has  spent  much  time  in  travel — 


Chicago 


287 


in  this  country  as  well  as  in 
Europe.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 


FRIDOLF  RISBERG, 

one  of    the    foremost  pastors  and 
educators  in  the  group  of  Mission 


FRIDOLF  RISBERG 

churches  in  this  country,  is  the 
son  of  Jonas  Risberg,  who  was  a 
practicing  physician  at  Nysatra, 
in  Vesterbotten,  Sweden,  until 
his  death  in  1886,  and  his  wife, 
Catarina  Wilhelmina,  nee  Hamren. 
The  son  was  born  at  Nysatra, 
Nov.  4,  1848.  His  education  was 
obtained  at  the  elementary  school 
and  gymnasium  in  L,ulea  from 
1858  to  1868  and  at  the  Upsala 
University  from  1868  to  1874. 
The  last  named  year  he  passed 
the  examination  for  the  holy 
ministry  and  was  subsequently 
ordained  by  Archbishop  Sundberg 
as  minister  of  the  Lutheran  state 
church.  After  having  served  as 


pastor  for  eight  years,  he  resigned 
his  office  and  withdrew  from  the 
state  church  to  join  the  free 
church  known  as  the  Mission 
Covenant  of  Sweden.  For  the 
next  three  years  Mr.  Risberg 
labored  in  behalf  of  that  move- 
ment in  Jemtland  and  Angerman- 
land,  the  same  provinces  where 
he  had  been  stationed  as  a  mini- 
ster of  the  established  church. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  Mission  Covenant  of  Amer- 
ica, the  need  of  an  institute  for 
the  training  of  pastors  and  mis- 
sionaries made  itself  felt,  and 
when  the  Chicago  Theological 
Seminary  offered  to  accomodate 
the  Covenant  by  maintaining  a 
Swedish  department  for  which  it 
might  select  its  own  teacher, 
Risberg  was  called  and  accepted 
that  post.  He  came  over  from 
Sweden  in  1885  and  assumed  his 
new  duties  when  the  school  year 
opened  in  the  fall.  From  that 
time  to  this  Prof.  Risberg  has 
served  his  church  in  the  important 
capacity  of  educator  of  its  mini- 
sters, a  large  number  of  whom 
have  during  the  past  twenty-one 
years  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his 
instruction. 

Prof.  Risberg  has  been  active 
in  pastoral  and  missionary  work 
in  the  intervals  between  the 
school  years.  As  a  traveling  mis- 
sionary he  has  covered  a  great 
deal  of  ground,  both  in  the  old 
world  and  the  new.  While  a 
pastor  in  Northern  Sweden  he 
made  numerous  missionary  jour- 
neys to  Norway  and  Finland  and 
since  his  coming  to  this  country 


288 


Cook  County 


he  has  made  one  similar  trip  to 
Canada  and  traveled  in  the  States 
from  ocean  to  ocean,  visiting 
twenty-eight  states  to  preach  the 
Gospel. 

His  missionary  zeal  also  extends 
to  heathen  lands.  For  the  past 
fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  the  Scandi- 
navian Alliance  Mission  of  Chi- 
cago, which  at  present  maintains 
one  hundred  missionaries  in  China, 
Japan,  India,  Africa  and  South 
America.  During  the  same  period 
he  has  acted  as  treasurer  of  the 
Mission  funds,  aggregating  $30,000 
per  year. 

Prof.  Risberg  is  a  facile  writer 
on  religious  topics,  and  his  pen, 
like  his  other  faculties,  has  been 
dedicated  to  the  cause  of  his 
church.  He  is  the  author  of  a 
devotional  book  entitled,  "Dag- 
ligt  Manna,"  published  in  1893, 
and  has  written  a  large  number 
of  religious  articles  for  the  church 
press,  a  collection  of  which  were 
published  in  Chicago,  in  1906, 
under  the  common  title  of  "Bibel- 
Bilder."  He  was  also  associate 
editor  of  "Sionsharpan,"  published 
in  1890,  a  hymnal  widely  used  in 
the  Mission  churches  throughout 
the  country. 

Prof.  Risberg  is  affiliated  with 
the  Swedish  Congregational  Church 
and  is  president  of  the  local 
Bethlehem  congregation,  of  which 
he  is  the  founder. 

For  many  years  he  has  been 
financially  and  otherwise  interested 
in  Missions-  Vannen,  the  news- 
paper organ  of  the  Covenant, 


and    served    as  a   member   of    its 
board  of  control. 


OLOF  OLSON 

AND 

LARS    OLSON, 

of    the    firm    of    Olson    Brothers, 
carpentry    contractors,  have    in    a 


OLOF  OLSON 

short  time  established  a  flourish- 
ing business,  despite  the  intense 
competition  prevailing  here. 

Olof  Olson,  the  elder  brother, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Sater, 
Sunne  parish,  Vermland,  Sweden, 
May  29,  1867,  and  was  reared  in 
the  place  of  his  birth,  attending 
high  school  at  Sunne.  In  1886 
he  emigrated,  coming  directly  to 
Chicago. 

He  is  married  to  Ida  Anderson 
from  Ostergotland  and  they  have 
one  son. 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  Mason  of  the 
Kenwood  Lodge  No.  800,  and  be- 
longs also  to  the  Iduna  Society 


Chicago 


289 


the  National  Union  and  the  Carp- 
enters'  and   Builders'   Association. 
I/ars  Olson,  the  younger  brother, 
was   born  in    the  same  place  Jan. 


LARS   OLSON 

6,  1870,  and  attended  the  same 
school.  He  came  to  America  and 
to  Chicago  in  1891.  Like  his 
brother  he  went  to  work  as  a 
carpenter,  and  in  1899,  after  both 
brothers  had  mastered  the  trade, 
they  established  themselves  as 
contractors  on  their  own  account. 
After  a  couple  of  successful  deals 
they  were  enabled  to  do  business 
on  a  large  scale.  In  the  last  few 
years  they  have  put  up  a  number 
of  buildings,  including  the  Ma- 
sonic Building  at  Grand  Crossing, 
the  Swedish  Episcopal  Church  at 
Garfield  boul.  and  Morgan  St., 
and  dozens  of  apartment  build- 
ing in  size  from  six  to  twenty- 
four  apartments.  They  have  at 
times  had  as  many  as  12  to  15 


buildings  in  course  of  construction 
at  one  and  the  same  time.  The 
Olson  brothers  are  young  men  of 
exceptional  capabilities  and  rank 
well  to  the  front  among  the  nu- 
merous builders'  firms  of  the  city. 
Their  office  is  at  6501  S.  Peoria 
street . 


CLAES  A.   YOUNGQUIST 

was  born  at  L,jungarum,  Smaland, 
Jan.  n,  1859.  In  Sweden  he 
obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  school  and  the  public 
high  school  in  Jonkoping.  He 
left  for  America  and  landed  in 
June,  1875,  with  Chicago  as  his 
destination.  A  course  of  studies 
was  taken  in  a  business  school, 
after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
commercial  life. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Youngquist 
was  connected  with  the  dry  goods 


CLAES  AUGUST  YOUNGQUIST 

firm  of  John  M.  L,undell  and  Co. 
He  is  now  conducting  a  life  and 
fire  insurance  agency,  and  at 


290 


Cook  County 


present  serves  as  treasurer  of 
the  Swedish  Evangelical  Mission 
Covenant  of  America.  Mr.  Young- 
quist  is  treasurer  and  Sunday 
school  superintendent  of  the  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church  at  North 
Park,  which  is  in  the  outskirts  of 
Chicago. 

JOHAN    A.    H.    ROSENDAHL, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  was  born  April  3,  1871, 


JOHAN  AUGUST  HJALMAR  ROSENDAHL 

in  Bredvik  parish,  Vestergotland, 
Sweden.  He  graduated  from  the 
public  school  at  the  age  of  twelve. 
For  six  years  subsequently  he 
worked  as  florist  and  gardener  in 
Skonnarbo,  Ostergotland,  and  at 
Rosta,  Nerike.  He  secured  em- 
ployment in  the  Skyllbergs  Bruk 
rolling  mill  in  Nerike  and  worked 
there  until  1891.  Enlisting  in 
the  Swedish  army,  he  served  two 
years  in  the  Royal  Gota  Artillery 
regiment  and  was  mustered  out 
as  first  corporal.  After  coming 


to  this  country  in  December, 
1893,  he  secured  work  in  a  shoe 
factory  in  Nashua,  N.  H.  In 
1895  ne  moved  to  Concord,  N. 
H.,  where  he  obtained  employ- 
ment with  the  Boston  and  Maine 
R.  R.  In  1897  he  entered  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Theological  Sem- 
inary and  graduated  from  this 
institution  May  15,  1901.  He 
was  ordained  Aug.  10  following, 
and  was  pastor  of  the  Third 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Chi- 
cago until  1903.  He  then  was 
appointed  missionary  for  Kansas, 
with  headquarters  at  Clay  Centre, 
Kansas. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rosendahl  was 
married  to  Christina  Swedmark 
on  April  19,  1902. 


EDWIN  SANDBLOM 

was  born  at  Tidaholm,  in  the 
province  of  Vestergotland,  Swe- 
den, Nov.  10,  1854.  He  was  an 
ironworker  by  trade  in  the  old 
country.  Coming  to  Chicago  in 
1887,  he  was  variously  employed 
up  to  1894,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  printers'  sup- 
plies, in  which  line  he  has  been 
amply  successful,  acquiring  an 
excellent  trade  and  a  most  credit- 
able reputation  because  of  the 
superiority  of  his  work.  E.  Sand- 
blom  and  Co.  manufacture  at  149 
S.  Jefferson  st.  wrought  iron  and 
steel  chases  of  all  styles  and 
sizes  for  printers'  use.  The  goods 
are  sold  to  dealers  in  printers' 
supplies,  and  the  trade  of  the 
house  reaches  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 


Chicago 


291 


In  1884  Mr.  Sandblom  was 
married  to  Miss  Josephine  Carlson, 
with  whom  he  has  had  two  sons 
and  three  daughters. 


EMIL  A.  W.  JOHNSON 

was    born    Oct.  30,   1863,  in   Chi- 
cago.     His     mother,     Emma     C. 


EMIL  A.  W.  JOHNSON 

Johnson,  emigrated  from  Sweden 
in  1852.  His  father,  John  A. 
Johnson,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1854,  was  a  Union  soldier 
in  the  Civil  War. 

Emil  received  his  education  at 
the  Franklin  School  in  Chicago 
and  Gustavus  Adolphus  College, 
St.  Peter,  Minn.  For  19  years 
he  was  employed  as  an  accountant 
by  Marshall  Field  &  Co.  After 
having  taken  a  full  course  at  Chi- 
cago College  of  Law  he  was,  in 
1899,  appointed  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  the  town  of  Lake  View 
by  Gov.  Tanner.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  reappointed  by  Governors 
Yates  and  Deneen  and  retained 


his  office  until  it  was  displaced  by 
the  Municipal  Court.  At  present 
he  is  a  deputy  clerk  of  this  same 
Municipal  Court. 

In  1898  he  served  as  president 
of  the  Swedish-American  Repub- 
lican Club  of  the  26th  ward.  He 
belongs  to  the  following  fraternal 
orders:  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  R.  A. 
M.,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Royal 
League  and  Columbian  Knights. 

June  14,  1888,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  to  Bena  S.  Christopher. 
They  have  two  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter. The  family  lives  at  229  Pot- 
wyn  place,  Ravenswood. 


CARL  A.  CARLSON 

was  born  in  Ostra  Torp  parish, 
Skane,  Sweden,  Jan.  21,  1877. 
After  attending  the  public  school, 
he  worked  at  home  with  his 
father,  Christoffer  Carlson,  who 
was  a  farmer  and  merchant. 


CARL  A.  CARLSON 


In  May   1892,  Mr.  Carlson  came 
to  the    United    States.     We    soon 


292 


Cook  County 


find  him  in  Chicago,  working  at 
the  tailor's  trade.  In  1894,  after 
but  two  years  experience,  Mr. 
Carlson  started  in  business  as 
manufacturing  tailor.  His  busi- 
ness has  acquired  such  dimensions 
that  he  now  employs  more  than 
fifty  workers.  Mr.  Carlson  lives 
at  740  Bryn  Mawr  ave.  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church. 

RICHARD  TENNERSTEDT 
was  born  Feb.   7,    1861,    in    Inga- 
torp,  Sweden.     He    emigrated    to 


RICHARD  TENNERSTEDT 

America  in  1868,  attended  the 
public  schools  for  several  years 
and  then  engaged  in  business  as 
manufacturing  tailor.  He  is  pres- 
ident of  the  Tennerstedt  Manu- 
facturing Co.,  vest  manufacturers 
at  804-806  N.  Winchester  ave. 

Mr.  Tennerstedt  is  a  member 
of  the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  of  the  Svithiod  Sing- 
ing Club  and  resides  at  2337  N. 
Paulina  st. 


He  is  not  an  active  politician 
and  takes  little  interest  in  parti- 
san struggles,  but  is  regarded  a 
wide-awake  citizen. 


LQUIS   OLSON 

was  born  in  Skane,  Sweden,  Nov. 
i,   1876       His    parents    are    Knut 


LOUIS  OLSON 

M.  Olson  and  his  wife,  Kama 
Nelson,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1888.  The  son  Louis  attended 
the  Harrison  school  in  Chicago, 
where  the  family  located,  after- 
wards going  to  work  for  various 
firms.  For  one  year  he  worked 
as  machinist  for  the  McCormick 
Harvester  Co.,  then  for  nine  years 
as  salesman. 

In  1900  he  started  in  the  livery 
and  undertaking  business  with  his 
father,  as  junior  partner  of  the 
firm  known  as  K.  M.  Olson  & 
Son.  As  funeral  directors  and 
embalmers  they  are  maintaining 


Chicago 


293 


two  places  of  business,  at  3025 
Wentworth  ave.  and  at  1128  S. 
Oakley  ave.  Mr.  Olson,  Jr.,  is  in 
charge  of  the  Wentworth  ave. 
office. 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  member  of  the 
Salem  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 
He  is  a  very  active  club  and  fra- 
ternity man,  holding  membership 
in  a  large  number  of  organiza- 
tions, including  the  following: 
Lakeside  Lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.; 
Linne  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Rising 
Sun  Lodge,  K.  of  P.;  Frithiof 
Lodge,  I.  O.  S.;  Empire  Tent, 
Maccabees;  Columbia  Chapter,  O. 
E.  S.;  Angantyr  Lodge,  I.  O.  V.; 
Wenlworth  Camp,  M.  W.  A.;  Ar- 
mour Council,  N.  U.;  Society 
Balder,  Society  Nordstjernan,  So- 
ciety Iduna,  Chicago  Svenska  Vasa- 
Forening,  Foreningen  Enighet, 
the  Webster  Improvement  Club, 
the  Webster  Debating  Club,  the 
Chicago  South  Side  Liverymen's 
Association  and  the  Chicago  Un- 
dertakers' Association. 

Jan.  22,  1905,  Mr.  Olson  was 
married  to  Miss  Helen  Johnson 
of  Chicago. 

JOHN  PETERSON 

was  born  in  Asheda  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Dec.  4,  1860,  and 
is  a  Chicagoan  since  1880. 

Here  he  began  work  in  the 
mason's  trade,  and  during  the 
last  twenty  years  he  has  done  an 
extensive  contracting  business  in 
the  city  of  Chicago,  and  has 
erected  a  number  of  large  build- 
ings in  that  city,  as  well  as  in 
other  cities.  His  office  is  at  153 
La  Salle  st. 


Mr.  Peterson  was  married  in 
1884,  to  Miss  Christina  Maria 
Carlson,  and  they  reside  at  2835 


JOHN  PETERSON 

Southport  ave.,  Rogers  Park. 
Mrs.  Peterson  is  a  member  of  the 
Ebenezer  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  Summerdale.  Mr.  Peterson 
belongs  to  the  order  of  Svithiod, 
the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Politically    Mr.    Peterson    is   an 
independent  Republican. 


HERMAN  CARLSON 

was  born  Dec.  7,  1862,  in  Rums- 
kulla  parish,  Ostergotland,  Swe- 
den. In  1887  he  came  over  and 
located  in  Chicago.  Two  years 
later  he  started  in  the  business 
of  manufacturing  vests  for  mer- 
chant tailors.  His  establishment 
at  present  employs  about  50  men 
and  is  located  at  188  Lake  st. 

Mr.     Carlson     belongs     to     the 
Salem  Church,  in   Cuyler.     He  is 


294 


Cook  County 


an  active  member  of  Independent 
Order  of  Vikings  and  was  suc- 
cessively vice-grand  chief,  trea- 
surer and  grand  chief. 


HERMAN  CARLSON 

Mr.  Carlson  was  married  in 
1896  to  Amanda  Tennerstedt,  a 
native  Chicagoan,  now  deceased* 
He  had  with  her  a  daughter, 
Florence  Victoria.  Mr.  Carlson 
was  remarried  in  1903,  to  Miss 
Gerda  Stein,  born  in  Alsheda  par- 
ish, Smaland,  Sweden.  The  family 
lives  at  528  Larchmont  ave. 


ADOLF  HULT, 

minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
was  born  Dec.  24,  1869,  at  Mo- 
line,  111.  His  father  was  Olof 
Hult,  a  blacksmith,  one  of  the 
early  members  of  the  Swedish 
colony  at  that  place.  The  son 
was  graduated  from  Augustana 
College  with  the  class  of  '92  and 
then  entered  Augustana  Theologi- 
cal Seminary.  Upon  the  comple- 
tion of  his  course  the  degree  of 


Bachelor  of  Divinity  was  con- 
ferred upon  him  and  he  was  or- 
dained June  n,  1899,  at  the 
synodical  meeting  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn.  Rev.  Hult  immediately 
assumed  the  pastorate  of  the 
Messiah  English  Lutheran 
Church  in  Lake  View,  which  he 
had  for  a  year  served  while  a 
student.  During  his  incumbency 
the  membership  of  the  church  in- 
creased from  226  to  over  450, 
making  it  the  third  largest 
English  Lutheran  congregation  in 
Chicago.  Mr.  Hult  pursued  post- 
graduate studies  in  Hebrew  and 
Assyriology  at  the  University  of 
Chicago  and  was  for  one  year  in- 
structor in  Hebrew  at  the  Chicago 
Lutheran  Theological  Seminary. 


ADOLF  HULT 

He  is  a  profound  student  of  prac- 
tical theology  and  of  the  Old 
Testament  and  has  contributed 
numerous  articles  to  the  Lutheran 
press.  Rev.  Hult  was  in  1905 
chief  editor  of  Vaktaren,  a  relig- 


Chicago 


295 


ious  paper,  published  in  Chicago 
in  1904  and  1905,  and  is  now 
associate  editor  of  The  Young 
Lutheran's  Companion,  a  semi- 
monthly, published  at  Rock  Island. 

In  May,  1907,  Rev.  Hult  left 
the  pastorate  of  Messiah  Church, 
pursuant  to  a  call  from  the  Ira- 
nian uel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Omaha,  Nebraska. 

June  28,  1899,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Edna  Blomgren,  daugh- 
ter of  Oscar  N.  and  Emma  Blom- 
gren, early  Swedish  settlers  in 
Chicago.  In  the  union  there  are 
three  children,  Miriam  Edna, 
born  April  4,  1900,  Adolf  Nathan- 
ael,  born  Jan.  16,  1904,  and 
Evangeline  Christina,  born  April 
6,  1907. 


AXEL  RUDOLPH  ENGBERG, 
son  of  John  J.,  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago Oct.  19,  1869.  After  finish- 


ing that  he  had  an  exceptionally 
fine  voice,  he  began  the  study  of 
music.  In  January,  1899,  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Annie  Nellis  Carter. 
Going  to  Europe  the  same  year, 
he  traveled  extensively.  He  stud- 
ied with  some  of  the  best  masters, 
both  in  Paris  and  in  London. 
Returning  to  America,  he  had 
the  advantages  of  the  best  teach- 
ers in  New  York  and  Chicago. 
In  1904  he  went  again,  for  study, 
in  Europe. 

Returning  in  November,  1906, 
he  has  made  Chicago  his  home. 
His  professional  name  is  Rudolph 
Engberg. 

MATTIS  C.  RANSEEN, 

pastor  of  the  Gethsemane  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Chicago  for 


AXEL  RUDOLPH  ENGBERG 

ing    school,  he    was    in    the  floral 
business  for  several  years.     Find- 


MATTIS    C.    RANSEEN 

the  past  twenty-eight  years,  is  a 
prominent  figure  in  the  Augus- 
tana  Synod  and  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  America. 

He     was     born    in    Ljungryda, 


296 


Cook  County 


Jemshog,  Blekinge,  April  6, 
1845.  His  parents,  both  of  whom 
died  in  Sweden,  were  Carl  M.  Ran- 
seen,  a  farmer,  and  his  wife,  Ka- 
rin  Jonsson.  The  son  entered  the 
academic  school  at  Jemshog  with- 
out any  preliminary  schooling,  and 
after  completing  the  course  in  two 
years,  aided  by  a  thorough  home 
training,  he  obtained  a  position  as 
teacher  in  the  parish  school.  After 
two  years  of  public  teaching  and 
one  of  private  tutorship  he  left 
for  the  United  States  in  1867, 
coming  first  to  Rockford,  111.,  and 
then  going  to  Centralia,  Wis.. 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  saw- 
mill. After  a  few  months  of  man- 
ual labor,  he  entered  the  Augus- 
tana  Theological  Seminary  at  Pax- 
ton  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year. 
In  four  years  he  completed  the 
course  of  study  then  afforded  by 
the  Augustana  Synod  at  its  meet- 
ing in  Chisago  Lake,  Minn.,  in 
1871,  holding  a  call  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Dayton, 
la.  After  two  years  of  service 
in  that  field  Rev.  Ranseen  accepted 
a  call  from  the  mission  board  of 
the  Iowa  Conference  to  take  up 
work  at  Keokuk,  la.  Here  he 
labored  for  half  a  year,  meanwhile 
organizing  two  congregations,  one 
at  Keokuk,  and  another  at  Sugar 
Creek.  Late  in  the  year  1873  he 
became  pastor  at  Elgin,  111.,  and 
labored  simultaneously  in  the  mis- 
sion field  until  1875,  when  a  call 
to  Ottumwa,  la.,  was  accepted. 
Rev.  Ranseen  served  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  congregation  at  that 
place  for  four  years,  or  until  1879, 
when  he  removed  to  Chicago  on 


a  call  from  the  Gethsemane  Church. 
He  assumed  this  charge  in  May 
of  that  year  and  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  filled 
that  same  pulpit. 

In  consideration  of  a  long  and 
distinguished  service  as  a  church- 
man, the  board  of  directors  of 
Augustana  College  and  Theological 
Seminary  has  conferred  upon  Rev. 
Ranseen  the  honorarj-  degree  of 
D.  D. 

Dr.  Ranseen  has  filled  a  number 
of  offices  of  trust  and  responsibil- 
ity in  the  Lutheran  Church.  For 
two  years  he  was  president  of  the 
Iowa  Conference,  and  he  has  been 
elected  to  the  same  position  in  the 
Illinois  Conference  repeated  times. 
He  was  one  of  the  men  who  or- 
ganized the  Augustana  Hospital 
of  Chicago  in  1882  and  has  served 
on  its  board  of  directors  from  that 
time  to  this,  with  the  exception 
of  a  single  term  of  three  years, 
and  has  been  president  of  the 
board  nearly  the  whole  of  that 
time.  He  has  been  elected  on  the 
board  of  regents  of  Augustana 
College  time  and  again,  and  has 
often  been  chosen  chairman  of 
that  board.  For  almost  a  decade 
he  was  vice-president  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod,  and  for  a  term  of 
four  years,  1898-1902,  he  served 
as  president  of  the  General  Coun- 
cil, a  larger  body  of  Lutherans, 
of  which  the  Augustana  Synod  is 
a  component  part. 

Next  to  his  own  congregation, 
the  Augustana  Hospital  probably 
owes  the  greatest  debt  of  gratitude 
to  Dr.  Ranseen  for  untiring  serv- 


Chicago 


297 


ices  and  personal  sacrifice  of  time 
and  labor  in  its  interest. 

Dr.  Ranseen  is  without  doubt 
one  of  the  most  widely  known 
clergymen  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 
Most  of  the  public  men  of  the 
community  in  the  last  twenty-five 
years  he  has  counted  as  personal 
acquaintances,  and  his  intimacy 
with  local  affairs  has  caused  him 
to  participate  in  civic  movements 
from  time  to  time,  especially  in 
the  work  carried  on  for  a  number 
of  years  by  the  Civic  Federation. 

Oct.  3,  1872,  the  marriage  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Ranseen  and  Miss  Anna 
Sophia  Anderson  took  place  at 
Elgin.  Mrs.  Ranseen  was  born 
in  Sweden  Oct.  30,  1851.  They 
have  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
viz.:  Arnold  Emanuel,  born  1874; 
Gertrude  Laurentia,  '76;  Anna 
Cora,  '77;  Carl  Matthias,  '79;  Er- 
nest Ephraim,  '80;  Ruth  Aurora, 
'82;  Esther  Theodora,  '84;  Blenda 
Naemi,  '86;  Mauritz  Nathanael, 
'87;  Clarence  Peter,  '92.  The  son 
Arnold  is  married  to  Miss  Agnes 
Wahl,  the  daughter  Cora  to  Dr. 
Henry  George  Johnson  of  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.,  and  the  daughter 
Ruth  to  Mr.  August  Lundquist  of 
Chicago. 

FRED  ANDERSON 

was  born  Dec.  21,  1860,  in  Vis- 
nums  parish,  Vermland,  Sweden. 
He  arrived  in  this  country  at 
twenty,  having  obtained  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  native 
country.  He  now  attended  a 
night  school  in  Chicago  in  pre- 
paring to  enter  business  life.  A 


position  as  shipping  clerk  with 
Belford,  Clarke,  and  Co.  was  soon 
secured.  With  this  firm  he  re- 
mained for  seven  years.  In  1887 
he  engaged  in  insurance  as  solicit- 
or for  the  Metropolitan  Insurance 
Co.  and  advanced  to  the  position 


FRED  ANDERSON 

of  assistant  superintendent.  The 
possibilities  iu  the  land  business 
next  attracted  him,  and  he  built 
a  hotel  at  the  Svea  Land  Colony, 
located  at  Silverhill,  Alabama,  in 
which  he  was  financially  interes- 
ted. Mr.  Anderson  later  visited 
California  in  the  interest  of  the 
Swedish  land  colony  near  Red- 
lands.  He  then  became  interested 
in  irrigation  and  went  to  Texas 
and  experimented  with  rice  cul- 
ture, demonstrating  that  it  is 
suitable  for  the  farmer  of  limited 
capital,  who  can  sink  a  well, 
pump  his  necessary  supply  of 
water  with  a  steam  or  gasoline 
engine  and  take  care  of  160 
acres,  employing  help  only  at 
harvest  time.  Subsequently  Mr. 


298 


Cook   County 


Anderson  went  to  Idaho  and  ex- 
perimented with  irrigation  by 
means  of  ditches,  or  canals.  Af- 
ter a  few  years  spent  in  coloniza- 
tion work,  Mr.  Anderson  again 
settled  down  in  Chicago  and  is 
now  conducting  a  real  estate, 
loan,  fire  insurance,  renting  and 
collecting  business  in  partnership 
with  Herman  W.  Hanson  at 
1889  N.  Clark  st. 


NILS  WILHKLM  ANTHONY 

was  born  in  the  city  of    Kristian- 
stad,  Sweden,  Nov.  22,  1872.  Hav- 


NILS  WILHELM   ANTHONY 

ing  finished  his  schooling  in  his 
home  city  he  began  work  as  an 
apprentice  in  a  printing  shop.  He 
worked  at  the  case  there  and  in 
other  cities  in  Sweden  until  1889, 
when  he  emigrated,  coming  direct 
to  Chicago. 

In  this  country  Mr.  Anthony 
has  followed  his  old  trade,  work- 
ing as  a  compositor  in  various 
job  printing  offices.  For  a  number 


of  years  he  has  held  the  position  of 
foreman  in  the  well-known  job  of- 
fice of  S.  Th.  Almberg.  Mr.  An- 
thony stands  high  in  the  printing 
trade  and  has  frequently  received 
honorable  mention  in  leading  typo- 
graphical journals  for  expertness 
as  a  job  compositor.  He  is  secre- 
tary of  the  Swedish  Typographical 
Union  No.  247,  I.  T.  U. 

He  possesses  a  baritone  voice  of 
fine  timbre  and  is  recognized  in 
musical  circles  as  a  concert  and 
church  soloist  of  ability.  He  is 
often  heard  at  musical  entertain- 
ments and  was  for  several  years 
soloist  of  the  American  Meth- 
odist Church  of  Kenosha,  Wis.  For 
many  years  past  he  has  belonged  to 
the  Lyran  and  the  Svithiod  Sing- 
ing clubs  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Glee  Club  and  the 
Orion  Sextette. 

Dec.  25,  1900,  Mr.  Anthony  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie 
Akerson  of  Ong,  Neb.  The  fruit 
of  their  union  is  a  son,  Stellan  Wil- 
helm  Olcott,  born  Nov.  28,  1901. 


JOHN  SIGURD  MKCK 
is  the  son  of  Mauritz  H.  Meek,  a 
watchmaker  in  Stockholm.  He 
was  born  Sept.  6,  1876,  in  that 
city.  At  the  age  of  five  he  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  by 
his  parents,  who  emigrated  in  1881, 
locating  in  Chicago. 

Young  Meek  at  an  early  age 
took  up  the  study  of  music,  pos- 
sessing natural  talent  along  that 
line.  He  was  a  pupil,  successively, 
of  Barbara  Grau,  Prof.  Hyllested 
and  the  Chicago  Musical  College. 
At  that  institution  he  studied  har- 


Chicago 


299 


mony,  counterpoint  and  composi- 
tion under  Adolf  Weidig  and  or- 
chestration under  Adolf  Rosenbec- 


JOHN  SIGURD  MECK 

ker.  Thus  equipped,  Mr.  Meek 
for  the  past  four  years  has  held  the 
position  of  arranger  for  the  Chica- 
go office  of  the  music  publishing 
house  of  J.  H.  Remick  &  Co.,  a 
firm  maintaining  branches  also  in 
Detroit,  New  York  and  London. 

Mr.  Meek  is  a  member  of  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club  and  is  ever 
ready  to  assist,  as  piano  accompan- 
ist or  orchestral  conductor,  at  the 
musical  entertainments  given  at 
frequent  intervals  by  the  club.  His 
name  is  also  on  the  roster  of  the 
Lincoln  Park  Club,  the  Swedish 
GleeClub  and  the  St.  Cecilia  Lodge 
of  Free  Masonry,  in  which  Mr. 
Meek  has  attained  the  32d  degree, 
as  well  as  being  a  Noble  of  the  Mys- 
tic Shrine. 

A  number  of  compositions  have 
come  from  his  pen,  among  others 
being:  "Barcarolle  in  F;"  "A  South- 


ern Fantasy;"  "Beauty-Sleep,"  a 
Serenade;  "On  the  Mediterrane- 
an," a  waltz;  "My  Heart  is  a 
Kingdom"  and  "A  Cigarette  Bal- 
lad," songs,  and  a  number  of 
marches,  waltzes,  etc. 


ANDREW  HANSON, 
contractor  and  builder,  was  born  in 
Tyde  parish,  Skane,  Sweden,  April 
18,  1855.  After  learning  the  carp- 
enter's trade  he  emigrated  to 
America  in  1878,  reaching  Chicago 
the  same  year.  He  was  first  em- 
ployed by  Bohman  &  Larson,  or- 
gan manufacturers.  The  Carsley 
&  East  Manufacturing  Co.  then 
employed  him  for  six  years.  Mr. 
Hanson  started  in  business  for 
himself  in  1894]  as  a  carpenter  and 
builder,  and  has  since  made  a 
specialty  of  erecting  private  resi- 
dences in  the  northern  suburbs. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  married  in 
1889  to  Miss  Mary  Nelson.  Their 
children  are:  Alice,  born  1890; 
Mabel,  1891;  Ellen,  1894;  Jen- 
nings, 1896,  and  George,  1899. 

Mr.  Hanson  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  S. 


P.  WILLIAM  THORELIUS, 
doctor  of  dental  surgery,  was 
born  April  15,  1866,  in  Sodra 
Finnskoga  parish,  Vermland,  Swe- 
den, where  his  father,  Fredrik 
Thorelius,  was  a  curate.  Three 
years  later,  the  family  removed  to 
Grava  parish,  where  Thorelius 
Sr.  was  rector  until  his  death  in 
1904.  The  son  attended  school 
in  Karlstad  from  1876  until  1883, 
and  went  to  Chicago  in  1886.  En- 
tering the  Chicago  College  of 


300 


Cook  County 


Dental  Surgery  in  1889,  he  was 
graduated  from  that  institution 
March  24,  1891.  Dr.  Thorelius 


PETER  WILLIAM   THOKELIUS 

opened  an  office  a  few  months 
later  at  in  E.  Chicago  ave.  His 
dental  office  is  now  at  237  North 
Clark  st.,  cor.  Chicago  ave. 

Dec.  i,  1905,  he  bought  the  old 
Hesselroth  Pharmacy  at  107  E. 
Chicago  ave.  and  incorporated  the 
business  as  the  Hesselroth-Thore- 
lius  Drug  Co.,  with  Hilmer  Hes- 
selroth as  president  and  Dr.  Tho- 
relius as  secretary.  The  latter  is 
a  nephew  of  Hilmer  Hesselroth 
and  of  the  late  Lawrence  Hessel- 
roth, his  brother. 

On  Sept.  12,  1891,  Dr.  Thore- 
lius was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida 
Anderson  of  Elkhart,  Ind.  Their 
children  with  dates  of  birth  are: 
Hilmer  Fredrik  Lawrence,  Aug. 
4,  1892;  Carl  Gustaf  Paulus,  Oct. 
22,  1894;  Alice  Marie,  Oct.  2, 
1896;  Ida  Wilhelmina,  Aug.  22, 
1898;  John  William,  Nov.  30, 


1900;  Bernice  Elizabeth,  June  10, 
1903;    Florence   Helena,   May    14, 

1905- 

Dr.  Thorelius  is  a  member  of 
the  Illinois  State  Dental  Society, 
the  Odontographic  Dental  Society 
and  is  vice-president  of  the  Scan- 
dinavian Dental  Society  of  Chica- 
go. The  family  are  members  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church. 


NILS  HENNINGS 
was  born  April  i,  1855,  at  Skofde, 
Vestergotland,  Sweden.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  in  Stock- 
holm. In  1893  he  went  to  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition  in 


NILS  HENNINGS 

Chicago  as  representative  of  sev- 
eral manufacturers  in  Sweden. 
Subsequently  he  was  cashier  for 
the  St.  Louis  &  Belleville  R:  R. 
Co.  until  1901.  Mr.  Hennings 
then  started  the  Swedish  Business 
Men's  Club,  on  Washington  st. 
A  number  of  Swedish  gentlemen 


Chicago 


301 


belonged  to  the  club  and  took 
their  noonday  meals  there.  The 
food  was  prepared  in  genuine 
Swedish  fashion. 

In  1905  this  club  disbanded, 
and  Mr.  Hennings  shortly  after 
removed  to  St.  Paul  to  become 
manager  of  a  Swedish  club  in 
that  city. 

Mr.  Hennings,  who  was  married 
to  Miss  Bertha  Petersen  in  1881, 
is  the  father  of  three  sons.  His 
wife  died  in  1901. 


BIRGER  F.  LUNDBERG 

was  born  in  Kalmar,  Sweden,  July 
7,   1872.     At  the    age    of   sixteen 


BIRGER    F.  LUNDBERG 

he  set  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world.  Coming  to  this  coun- 
try, he  ultimately  landed  in  Min- 
nesota, where  he  was  engaged  in 
various  employments  in  city  and 
country.  Securing  a  position  in 
A.  E.  Johnson  &  Co.'s  ticket  and 
land  office  in  St.  Paul  he,  by  his 
his  ability  and  energy,  soon  at- 


tracted the  attention  of  his  supe- 
riors, and  his  promotion  was  rapid. 
For  a  while  he  was  employed  in 
the  office  of  the  same  company  at 
Spokane,  Wash.,  but  after  a  short 
time  he  was  recalled  to  St.  Paul 
to  take  charge  of  the  ticket  depart- 
ment there.  In  1894  he  went  to 
Chicago,  and  having  held  positions 
with  the  White  Star  Line  and  the 
Dominion  Line,  became  the  Chi- 
cago manager  for  A.  Mortensen 
&  Co.,  general  agents  of  the  Scan- 
dinavian-American Line.  When 
in  1905  A.  E.  Johnson  &  Co.  be- 
came the  successors  to  this  firm, 
Mr.  Lundberg  was  recognized  as 
an  invaluable  man  to  the  office 
and  was  retained  as  manager. 


GUSTAV  THUNANDER 

was  born    Nov.  30,   1869,  in  Jon- 
koping,  Sweden.     After    finishing 


GUSTAV  THUNANDER 

the  course  offered  in  the  public 
schools,  he  studied  at  the  Tech- 
nical school  in  Jonkoping.  Emi- 


:02 


Cook  County 


grating  to  the  United  States  in 
1891,  he  remained  for  some  time 
in  New  Orleans.  Coming  from 
there  to  Chicago,  he  worked  for 
different  decorating  firms.  In  1898 
he  started  in  business,  with  Chas. 
Nyden,  as  interior  decorator.  The 
firm  employs  30  to  40  men,  and 
is  well-known  to  the  building 
trade.  Their  shop  is  at  76-84  E. 
43d  st. 

Mr.  Thunander   belongs  to   the 
Royal  League. 


CHARLES  JOHN  WILSON, 

professor     of     Latin    and  Natural 
Science     at    North    Park  College, 


CHARLES  JOHN  WILSON 

was  born  Dec.  4,  1870,  at  New 
Boston,  111.  His  parents,  John 
Johnson,  a  farmer,  and  Jean 
Johnson  lived  in  the  same  place 
until  their  death  in  1880. 

After  attending  the  public  school 
in  Andover,  the  son  passed  a  year 
in  the  Academy  at  Augustana 
College  and  was  graduated  in  1894 


from  Bethany  College  with  the  de- 
gree A.  B.  During  his  last  two 
years  at  this  institution  he  acted 
as  assistant  in  English.  The  sum- 
mer term  in  1896  was  occupied  in 
the  study  of  chemistry  and  physi- 
ology in  Stetson  University,  De 
Land,  Florida.  In  the  fall  he  be- 
gan his  present  career  as  professor 
of  Latin  and  Natural  Science  at 
North  Park  College.  He  has  since 
pursued  post-graduate  studies  in 
Latin  at  the  University  of  Chicago. 

Professor  Wilson  is  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Ev.  Mission  Church 
of  North  Park  and  is  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  is 
president  of  the  Bethany  Alumni 
Association  in  Chicago. 

Prof.  Wilson  was  on  June  7, 
1899,  married  to  Jennie  C.  Mo- 
dine  of  Chicago,  born  on  Sept. 
15,  1872.  Mrs.  Wilson's  parents 
are  John  A.  and  Amanda  Modine. 

The  Wilsons  have  a  son,  Stan- 
ley Raymond,  born  June  22,  1900 
and  a  daughter,  Bernice  Marjorie, 
born  June  7,  1904. 


L.  W.  A.  BJORKMAN 
was  born  in  Lindesberg,  Vestman- 
land,  Sweden,  March  28,  1853. 
He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1879  and  ten  years  later  entered 
the  ministry.  Mr.  Bjorkman  was 
ordained  by  an  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cil in  Hartford,  Conn.,  Dec.  26, 
1890. 

For  nine  years  he  was  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  Zion  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Hartford,  Conn. 
Oct.  i,  1898,  Rev.  Bjorkman  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Swedish  Evan- 
gelical Mission  Church  in  Ravens- 


Chicago 


303 


wood,  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
until  1907. 


L.  W.  A.  BJORKMAN 

He  is  now  stationed  at  Burling- 
ton and  West  Burlington,  la. 


MAGNUS  OLSON 

was  born  Jan.  18,  1843,  in  Urasa 
parish,  Smaland,  Sweden.  He 
learned  the  stone  cutting  trade, 
but  forsook  it  when  he  emigrated 
to  America  in  1867.  The  winter 
was  spent  in  a  logging  camp,  and 
then  he  went  to  Minneapolis, 
where  he  lived  for  four  years. 
It  was  just  after  the  great  Chi- 
cago fire  of  1871  that  Mr.  Olson 
was  attracted  to  Chicago  and  took 
part  in  the  rebuilding  operations. 
After  a  few  years  he  established 
a  gentlemen's  furnishing  store, 
which  was  continued  until  a  part- 
ner sold  it  while  Mr.  Olson  was 
on  a  European  trip  in  1886.  On 
his  return  he  engaged  in  the  shirt- 
manufacturing  and  the  laundry 
business  on  N.  Clark  St.,  later 


moving  his  establishment  to  576 
Wells  st.,  where  it  is  still  con- 
ducted by  his  partner,  Henry  P. 
Runkel. 

Magnus  Olson  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  Freja,  the  first  large 
Swedish  singing  society  in  Chicago. 
This  later  became  the  Swedish 
Singing  Society  and  in  1889  united 
with  the  Swedish  Club,  a  social 
organization,  and  was  incorporated 
as  the  Swedish  Glee  Club.  Mr. 
Olson  became  president  of  the 
club  and  was  a  second  tenor  in 
its  splendid  chorus.  He  became 
the  first  president  of  the  American 
Union  of  Swedish  Singers  in  1 892 
and  contributed  much  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  festival  at  the  Colum- 


MAGNUS  OLSON 

bian    Exposition    in    1893   as  well 
as  the  Swedish  tournee  in  1897. 

It  was  on  the  terrace  of  the 
new  Royal  Opera  House  in  Stock- 
holm that  a  public  address  was 
accorded  Magnus  Olson,  recogniz- 
ing his  noble  qualities  and  the  part 


304 


Cook  County 


he  had  taken  in  the  organization 
of  the  Swedish  male  choruses  of 
America. 

Mr.  Olson  retired  from  active 
singing  in  the  Swedish  Glee  Club 
in  1900  and  was  elected  an  hon- 
orary member.  He  died  Oct.  4, 
1905,  and  was  buried  in  Graceland. 


OU)F  JOHNSON, 

pastor    of     the     Second    Swedish 
Methodist     Episcopal     Church    of 


OLOF  JOHNSON 

Chicago,  is  the  son  of  John  Nel- 
son, a  contractor,  and  his  wife, 
Maria  Johnson,  who  are  both 
living  and  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  in  1905.  Their  son  Olof 
was  born  Oct.  n,  1861,  at  Hal- 
laryd,  in  the  province  of  Blek- 
inge,  near  the  city  of  Karlshamn, 
Sweden.  The  son  obtained  his 
preliminary  education  in  the  school 
of  his  home  parish.  Having  emi- 
grated in  1 86 1  to  Chicago,  he 
was  variously  employed  until  he 
entered  the  Swedish  Methodist 


Theological  Seminary  at  Evanston, 
graduating  from  that  institution 
in  1889.  Entering  the  ministry, 
he  has  had  the  following  pastoral 
charges  in  succession:  Englewood, 
two  years;  Des  Moines,  la.;  Vic- 
toria, 111.,  at  the  head  of  the 
pioneer  Swedish  church  of  the 
denomination,  four  years;  Gales- 
burg,  five  years;  Geneva,  four 
years;  and  lastly  the  Second 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church  of  Chi- 
cago, his  present  charge. 

The  pastor  is  deeply  interested 
in  the  temperance  cause,  having 
often  spoken  on  the  subject  before 
different  organizations  and  so- 
cieties. 

In  1888  he  made  a  trip  back 
to  the  old  country,  visiting  his 
parents  in  the  old  homestead  and 
traveling  extensively  throughout 
the  country,  visiting  historic  spots 
and  other  poinls  of  interest. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Selma 
Hultman,  Feb.  3,  1892,  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa;  having  lost  her  by 
death  in  1902,  at  Geneva,  he  was 
married  Oct.  4,  1904,  to  Miss  Ina 
Sandborg,  a  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Mary  Sandborg  of  Galesburg, 
111.,  born  Jan.  15,  1867.  There 
are  two  children,  the  issue  of  the 
first  marriage,  viz.  Frances  lyinnea, 
born  in  Victoria,  111.,  Feb.,  16, 
1893,  and  Lawrence  Emanuel, 
born  in  Galesburg,  March  26, 
1896. 

The  present  home  of  the  pastor 
and  his  family  is  at  214  N. 
May  street. 


Chicago 


305 


WILLIAM    K.   JOHNSON 

was     born    June    5,    1861,    in  S61- 
vesborg,    Blekinge,    Sweden.     His 


WILLIAM   K.  JOHNSON 

parents  were  Jons  and  Pernilla 
Morten  son.  William  went  to 
school  in  his  native  place  until 
1872  when  he,  together  with  his 
mother,  brother  and  sister  em- 
barked intent  on  rejoining  the 
father  and  three  brothers  wrho 
had  emigrated  in  1869  and  gone 
to  Chicago.  The  father,  a  car- 
penter, assumed  the  name  John- 
son, for  there  were  fewy  Johnsons 
in  Chicago  in  those  days.  Wil- 
liam attended  Swedish  and  Ger- 
man parochial  schools  and  the  pub- 
lic schools  until  he  was  fifteen  when 
he  started  in  the  book  binding 
trade.  After  a  few  years  .Mr. 
Johnson  had  mastered  the  art  of 
cover  stamping  so  well  that  from 
1880  to  1894  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  stamping  department  at 
Donahue  and  Henneberry.  For 
the  next  ten  years  he  was  fore- 


man    of     the     same      branch      at 
Rand  McNally    and   Company. 

In  1904  Mr.  Johnson  became 
a  stamper  to  the  trade  with  quar- 
ters on  Custom  House  place.  June 

1,  1907,    he  became  vice-president 
of   the   Holmgren,     Engdahl     and 
Johnson    Co.     The    firm  is  located 
at    14-28    Michigan    st.    and    does 
general      bookbinding,       stamping 
and   embossing   for   the    trade. 

Mr.    Johnson    was  married  Aug. 

2,  1884,  to  Anna  Carolina,  daugh- 
ter  of    Peter   and    Barbara    Doerr 
of  Kensington.   A  daughter,  Helen 
Gladys   was   born   in     1899.     The 
family  is   enrolled  in  the  Lutheran 
Church.     Mr.    Johnson    is  a  mem- 
ber  of    Press   Council   of   the  Na- 
tional  Union. 


NILS  ERIC  NILSON 

was  born  in    Neder-Kalix   parish, 
Norrbotten,     Sweden,      Oct.      28, 


NILS  ERIC  NILSON 


1864.     He  emigrated    to    America 
in   1879,  and    worked    at    different 


306 


Cook  County 


kinds  of  labor,  such  as  farming, 
contracting  and  foundry  work. 
In  December,  1898,  he  became  a 
fish  dealer  at  1254  Belmont  ave. 
and  the  store  was  known  as  the 
Belmont  Avenue  Fish  and  Oyster 
Market.  He  now  has  a  hotel  at 
Kenosha,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Nilson  is  married  since 
1885,  his  wife's  maiden  name  be- 
ing Anna  Carolina  Sundberg. 


L.  G.  ABRAHAMSON, 
pastor     of     the     Salem     Swedish 
Lutheran   Church   of    Chicago,    is 


LAURENTIUS  G.  ABRAHAMSON 

one  of  the  eminent  Swedish 
churchmen  of  the  United  States. 
In  every  phase  of  activity  in  the 
Augustana  Synod  he  has  been  a 
factor  during  the  past  quarter 
century,  demonstrating  executive 
ability  of  a  high  order. 

Dr.  I,.  G.  Abrahamson,  was 
born  at  Medaker,  not  far  from 
the  city  of  Arboga,  Sweden,  Mar. 
2,  1856.  He  was  reared  011  a 


farm  owned  by  his  father,  Anders 
G.  Abrahamson.  Being  a  man  of 
literary  tastes,  he  provided  his 
household  with  an  assortment  of 
good  books  which  early  inspired 
the  son  with  a  desire  for  study. 
In  the  late  fall  of  1868,  the  family 
emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
locating  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
where  the  elder  Abrahamson 
passed  away  in  1890. 

At  fifteen  the  son  commenced 
to  earn  his  own  living.  In  1872 
he  entered  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminar}-  and  attended 
that  institution  at  Paxton  and 
Rock  Island  until  1880,  when  he 
was  ordained  minister  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod,  at  once  assuming 
charge  of  the  congregation  at 
Altona,  111.  Having  labored  there 
for  six  years,  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  Salem  Church  in  Chi- 
cago of  which  he  has  been  j  astor 
up  to  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Abrahamson  early  displayed 
exceptional  power  both  in  the 
pulpit  and  in  the  field  of  practi- 
cal church  work,  and  his  energy 
was  soon  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  the  church  in  a  more  general 
way.  He  has  served  the  synod 
and  the  Illinois  conference,  gen- 
erally for  long  periods,  in  many 
executive  capacities,  among  others, 
as  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  conference,  the  mis- 
sion board  of  the  synod,  the  sy- 
nodical  council,  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  Augustana  College,  and 
Theological  Seminar}-,  the  foreign 
mission  board  of  the  General  Council 
of  American  Lutherans,  as  presi- 
dent and  treasurer  of  the  confer- 


Chicago 


307 


ence  for  various  terms  and  as 
treasurer  of  the  synodical  mission 
board.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Augustana  Hospital  for  twenty 
one  consecutive  years.  The  church 
has  few  more  zealous  friends  and 
promoters  of  missionary  work 
than  he,  as  shown  by  him  partly 
in  active  work  in  the  mission  field 
in  Utah,  and  later  for  eleven  years 
in  conducting  the  department  of 
missions  in  Angustana,  the  officia 
paper  of  the  synod. 

Feeling  the  insufficiency  of  the 
courses  afforded  by  Augustana  in 
the  '705,  Dr.  Abrahamson  several 
years  ago  pursued  a  full  course 
as  a  non-resident  student,  earning 
from  his  alma  mater  the  college 
diploma  and  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
Much  of  the  time  not  taken  up  by 
ministerial  duties  he  has  spent  in 
his  library,  constantly  augmenting 
his  fund  of  booklore. 

The  honorary  degree  of  A.  M. 
was  conferred  on  him  by  Bethany 
College  and  that  of  D.  D.  by 
Augustana  College  and  Theologi- 
cal Seminary.  By  King  Oscar 
II.  of  Sweden,  Dr.  Abrahamson 
has  been  created  a  Knight  of  the 
Order  of  the  North  Star,  desig- 
nated by  the  title  of  R.  N.  O. 

His  taste  for  travel  Dr.  Abra- 
hamson has  indulged  to  a  great 
extent.  He  has  visited  all  parts 
of  our  own  country,  made  three 
tours  of  Sweden  and  an  extended 
tour  of  Europe,  preferably  visiting 
the  scenes  connected  with  the  life 
of  Luther  and  the  story  of  the 
Reformation,  and  other  points  of 
historic  interest. 


At  secular  as  well  as  religious 
festivals  Dr.  Abrahamson  often 
appears  as  a  speaker.  As  a  writer 
he  is  known  principally  through 
his  contributions  to  the  church 
press,  but  articles  from  his  pen 
have  appeared  also  in  Prarie- 
blomman,  a  Swedish  literary  an- 
nual, and  other  publications.  In 
collaboration  with  the  late  Dr. 
Carl  Swensson  he  edited  and  pub- 
lished "Jubel-Album,"  a  large 
illustrated  volume  recounting  the 
history  and  progress  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod. 

On  Aug.  24,  1 88 1,  Dr.  Abra- 
hamson was  married  to  Miss  Flor- 
inda  M.  Morris,  a  daughter  of 
Anders  P.  and  Johanna  Morris 
of  Chandler's  Valley,  Pa.,  where 
she  was  born  Aug.  6,  1863.  They 
have  a  family  of  four  daughters, 
Florinda  Olivia,  born  Feb.  16, 
1885;  Ebba  Valeria,  June  15, 
1889;  Agnes  Winnefried,  Nov. 
n,  1891;  and  Mildred  Genevieve, 
Sept.  19,  1899.  Two  sons  died 
in  infancy.  Mrs.  Abrahamson  is 
an  estimable  and  accomplished 
lady  who  shares  her  husband's 
taste  for  travel  and  heartily  joins 
him  in  making  their  home  one  of 
the  most  hospitable  in  the  city. 
The  parsonage  is  at  2823  Prince- 
ton avenue. 


PETER  MAGNUS  ALFVIN, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  since  the  fall 
of  1889,  is  a  native  of  Alfvesta, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  having  been 
born  there  June  16,  1863.  He 
emigrated  in  1882,  settling  at 
Stillwater,  Minn.,  and  joined  the 


308 


Cook  County 


Swedish  M.  E.  church  in  that 
city  the  same  year.  After  work- 
ing as  salesman  in  a  grocery  in 


PETER   MAGNUS  ALFVIN 

St.  Paul,  for  some  time,  he  began 
to  study  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Methodist  theological  seminary  at 
Evanston,  being  graduated  in 
1889  and  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  S.  M.  Merrill  of  Rockford 
Sept.  i,  the  same  year.  Sept. 
17,  1893,  he  was  ordained  elder 
by  Bishop  William  X.  Hinde,  in 
Galesburg,  111.  After  his  ordina- 
tion in  1889  Rev.  Alfvin  has 
served  the  following  congregations: 
Arlington  Hill,  St.  Paul,  Minn., 

4  years;   Duluth,    Minn.,    i    year; 
Humboldt  Park,  Chicago,  5  years; 
South  Chicago,  3  years,  Rockford, 

5  years.     Rev.  Mr.  Alfvin  is  since 
1907  stationed  at  the  Madison  Av. 
Swedish    M.   E.   Church   in    Hyde 
Park. 


JAKOB  BONGGREN 

has  held  an  editorial  position  with 
the  Swedish  weekly  bvenska  Amer- 
ikanaren  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  during  that  time  has  estab- 
lished his  reputation  as  a  poet, 
critic  and  scholar. 

Olof  Jakob  Bonggren  was  born 
at  Bergane,  Habol  parish,  in  the 
Swedish  province  of  Dal,  Oct.  7, 
1852.  His  father  was  an  old 
soldier  in  modest  circumstances. 
At  ten,  having  shown  more  than 
ordinary  aptitude  for  study,  he 
was  sent  to  the  elementary  school 
at  Venersborg,  friends  providing 
the  funds.  After  graduation  he 
taught  privately  until  1875,  when 


JAKOB   BONGGREN 

he  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in 
the  post  office  at  Mora,  Dalarne. 
Mr.  Bonggren  exhibited  literary 
talent  at  a  very  early  age.  As  a 
boy  of  seven  he  wrote  some  verses 
on  Luther — his  first  poetic  effort — 
and  in  1865  followed  poems  on 
Peder  Sunnanvader  and  other 


Chicago 


309 


revolutionists  of  old.  Three  years 
later  he  translated  Goethe's 
"Mignon"  into  Swedish  and  in 
1871  he  became  a  contributor  to 
a  Venersborg  paper.  In  1878  he 
published  anonymously  a  transla- 
tion of  Ingersoll's  lecture  on  "Hell 
and  Ghosts;"  in  1879,  under  the 
pseudonym  of  Volontaire,  a  book 
entitled  "Bibeln  mot  Bibeln," 
"Lasarelif,"  by  Spectator,  and  in 
1882  a  collection  of  verse,  entitled 
"Forstlingar." 

Resigning  his  position  in  Mora, 
in  June,  1882,  Mr.  Bonggren  left 
Sweden,  destined  for  Chicago  to 
take  a  position  as  associate  editor 
of  Svenska  Amerikanaren.  He  has 
remained  with  this  paper  up  to 
the  present  time,  virtually  as 
editor  in  chief  the  greater  part  of 
the  time,  and  on  the  9th  of  last 
July  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  his  connection  with  the  paper 
was  celebrated,  the  publisher  and 
the  entire  force  joining  in  a  dinner 
given  in  his  honor. 

In  this  country  Mr.  Bonggren, 
who  has  for  years  been  a  devoted 
student  of  the  occult  has  published 
a  small  pamphlet  on  the  subject 
entitled,  "Det  hemlighetsfullas 
verld,"  besides  having  written  a 
series  of  articles  on  occultism  for 
his  paper.  He  has  devoted  much 
of  his  time  to  literary-  lesearch 
and  possesses  an  exceptional  fund 
of  information  covering  a  great 
variety  of  subjects.  An  enormous 
amount  of  literary  material  on 
every  conceivable  topic  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  activity  as  a  collector 
and  to  him  no  portion  or  phase 


of  the  world's  literature  is  un- 
familiar. 

In  1902  a  second  collection  of 
Bonggren' s  verse  was  published  in 
Rock  Island,  entitled  "Sanger  och 
Sagor."  The  author  admits  that 
the  volume  marks  a  departure 
from  the  realistic  school  of  liter- 
ature in  Sweden  of  which  his 
former  collection  was  one  of  the  first 
fruits,  and  owns  to  a  changa  of 
mind  and  heart  from  the  skepti- 
cism and  radicalism  of  that  school, 
caused  by  '  'greater  experience  and  a 
deeper  conception  of  life  and  a 
larger  measure  of  faith,  hope  and 
charity." 

His  changed  convictions  in  late 
years  have  not  only  affected  his 
•Muse  but  also  altered  his  former 
habits  of  life. 

Contributions  in  verse  and  prose 
by  Bonggren  have  appeared  in  a 
number  of  publications,  including 
Kurre,  Kurre-Kalenderw&d,  Linnea, 
also  Prarieblonnnan,  Svea,  Vinter- 
sol  and  other  annuals,  published 
in  this  country  and  in  Sweden. 

Mr.  Bonggren  bears  the  title  of 
Doctor  of  Letters,  conferred  as  an 
honorary  distinction  by  Bethany 
College. 

Mr.  Bonggren  has  been  twice 
married.  The  three  children  of 
his  first  marriage  are  grown.  Af- 
ter giving  birth  to  a  daughter, 
his  second  wife  died  in  1906. 


PETER  SCHONING 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1869,  and  hails 
from  Ofvanaker,  in  Helsingland, 
whence  he  emigrated  in  1893,  and 
came  to  Bloomington.  His  father, 
Pehr  Schoning,  was  a  soldier  in 


3io 


Cook  County 


the  Swedish  army  for  33  years 
and  is  still  living  in  Ofvanaker. 
In  Bloomington  the  son  established 


PETER  SCHON1NG 

himself  as  a  building  contractor. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  local 
Swedish  Mission  Church  and  a 
deacon  of  the  church.  He  has 
recently  moved  to  Chicago  and 
lives  in  Pullman. 

He  is  united  in  marriage  to 
Anna  Charlotta  Classon  from 
Ukna  parish,  Smaland,  with  whom 
he  has  one  child,  Edith  Elizabeth. 
There  are  two  children  from  his 
wife's  former  marriage,  Hjalmar 
and  Florence  Nordin. 


FRANS  A.  LINDSTRAND, 

editor  and  publisher  of  Svenska 
Amerikanaren,  a  Swedish  weekly 
newspaper,  was  born  at  Armby, 
in  the  parish  of  Stora  Aby,  Os- 
tergotland,  Sweden,  March  24, 
1847.  His  parents  were  Gustaf 
Jonsson  and  his  wife,  Eva  Gustaf  - 
son.  Both  died  at  the  old  home- 


stead in  Sweden,  the  mother  in 
1885,  at  the  age  of  75,  the  father 
in  1896,  as  the  oldest  man  in  the 
parish,  aged  88  years.  The  son 
was  born  and  reared  in  extreme 
poverty.  Shortly  after  his  con- 
firmation he  went  to  the  city  of 
Vadstena,  determined  to  learn  a 
trade.  There  he  became  appren- 
ticed to  a  jeweler  and  watchmaker 
and  four  years  later  received  his 
trade  diploma  as  journeyman 
watchmaker.  While  learning  the 
trade,  he  employed  his  spare  time 
in  studying  arithmetic,  penman- 
ship and  other  elementary  subjects 
under  private  tutorship,  in  order 
to  supply  the  deficiencies  in  his 
early  education,  which  was  limited 


FRANS  ALBIN  LINDSTRAND 

to  spelling,  reading  and  catecheti- 
cal instruction.  After  the  manner 
of  journeymen,  he  now  changed 
his  name,  substituting  that  of 
Lindstrand  for  Jonsson.  For  the 
next  five  or  six  years  he  worked 
at  his  trade  in  the  cities  of  Motala, 


Chicago 


Stockholm,  Karlstad  and  Goteborg, 
also  in  Copenhagen  just  prior  to 
his  emigration  to  America  in  the 
spring  of  1871.  While  in  Gote- 
borg Mr.  Lindstrand  was  on  the 
point  of  leaving  the  workbench 
to  attend  some  institution  of 
learning  with  a  view  to  entering 
some  learned  profession,  but  he 
was  dissuaded  by  his  employer. 

Coming  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Lind- 
strand continued  in  the  jewelry 
business  for  seventeen  years,  a 
large  part  of  that  time  as  proprie- 
tor of  a  jewelry  store  on  Twenty- 
second  street. 

In  the  year  1888  he  became 
part  owner  of  Svenska  Anterikan- 
aren  and  soon  after  acquired  the 
controlling  interest  in  that  paper, 
which  under  his  management  has 
attained  a  measure  of  success  en- 
joyed by  only  a  few  Swedish- 
American  journals.  To  this  he 
has  greatly  contributed  by  writing 
every  week  editorials,  sketches, 
essays,  fables,  etc.,  first  under  the 
pen  name  Onkel  Ola,  also  under 
the  pseudonyms  Albin,  Albinus, 
Observator,  — nd,  etc.  About  ten 
years  ago  he  published  a  small 
comic  paper,  changed  later  into  an 
illustrated  literary  weekly,  entitled 
Iduna.  Since  several  years  back, 
the  weekly  Svenska  I'drlden,  a 
companion  newspaper  to  Svenska 
Amerikanarcn,  is  published  from 
the  same  office,  the  two  correspond- 
ing to  a  semi- weekly  newspaper. 
The  office  is  at  35  S.  Clark  st. 

Mr.  Lindstrand  has  traveled 
extensively,  visiting  the  most  in- 
teresting points  in  the  United 
States,  Cuba  and  the  Antilles,  the 


various  countries  of  Europe,  Asia 
Minor  and  North  Africa,  Egypt 
and  Palestine  in  particular.  For 
his  papers  he  has  written  a  large 
number  of  letters  of  travel,  and 
the  principal  results  of  his  ob- 
servations are  embodied  in  a  book 
of  travel  published  in  1898,  en- 
titled "I  Oster-  och  Vasterland." 
He  is  also  author  of  a  book, 
"Pennteckningar  af  Onkel  Ola." 

Mr.  Lindstrand  is  a  public 
spirited  citizen  and  a  man  who 
has  ever  had  the  welfare  of  his 
fellow  countrymen  close  at  heart. 
He  was  the  virtual  organizer  of 
the  original  Svithiod  Society,  a 
forerunner  of  the  Independent 
order  of  Svithiod,  and  the  found- 
ing of  the  Swedish  National  As- 
sociation was  due  chiefly  to  his 
efforts.  For  ten  years  or  over  he 
was  president  of  the  latter  associa- 
tion and  he  has  been  and  is  still 
the  main  backer  of  that  organiza- 
tion in  its  charitable  endeavors. 
He  is  a  popular  fraternity  man, 
being  affiliated  with  the  Masons, 
the  Knights  Templar,  the  Mystic 
Shriners,  as  also  with  the  Svithiod 
Singing  Club.  He  is  also  director 
in  the  Union  State  Bank  from  the 
time  that  bank  was  organized. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lindstrand  is  an 
Independent  and  his  newspapers 
are  swerved  by  the  same  policy. 
By  appointment  of  Mayor  Harri- 
son he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Library  Board  of  Chicago  for  three 
years,  1903-05.  Aside  from  that 
he  has  held  no  public  office. 

On  May  4,  1881,  Mr.  Lindstrand 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Selma 
Wennerberg  of  Goteborg,  born 


312 


Cook  County 


Aug.  29,  1863.  A  daughter,  Hil- 
dur  C.,  was  born  to  them  March 
12,  1882.  The  L/indstrand  family 
home  is  a  handsome  and  comfort- 
able residence,  located  at  6200 
Woodlawn  ave.,  in  Hyde  Park. 


WALTER  C.  FOSTER 

was  born  in  Chicago  Oct.  5,  1867. 
His   father,  a    native   of    Sweden, 


WALTER  CARL    FOSTER 

was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  on  May  st.  At 
the  time  of  the  great  fire  in  1871 
he  was  living  on  the  north  side. 
As  a  child  of  four  he  was  carried 
across  the  Chicago  River  by  his 
grandmother  an  instant  before  the 
bridge  fell.  In  early  childhood 
he  attended  the  Carpenter  School 
and  later,  the  Metropolitan  Busi- 
ness College.  Subsequently  he 
learned  the  art  of  garment  cutting 
and  became  the  head-cutter  of  one 
of  Chicago's  first  tailoring  firms, 
that  of  Edward  Ely.  This  position 
was  retained  for  ten  years,  after 


which  he  became  associated  with 
Haidy  Bros.,  merchant  tailors. 
The  present  title  of  the  firm  is 
Hardy  Bros.,  Foster  &  Co.,  located 
at  room  404,  Atwood  Bldg.  Mr. 
Foster's  home  is  at  Ravenswood, 
where  he  has  lived  for  about 
fifteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  at  Ravens- 
wood. 

Mr.  Foster  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Union.  He  has  served 
as  president  of  the  29th  precinct 
club  of  the  26th  ward. 


AUGUSTA  J.  OBERG, 
born  May  17,  1874,  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  Fredrik  Oberg  and 
Mathilda  Larson  Oberg  of  Stock- 
holm. For  the  past  twenty-seven 
years  Mr.  Oberg  has  held  the  po- 
sition of  superintendent  of  the 
Reymersholm  woolen  mills  and  in 
1900  received  n  uier'al  for  lc  ng 
and  f.iithful  >er\i\e.  Tl.e  chiuli- 


AUGUSTA  JOSEPHINE  OBERG 

ter  was    born  in    Nykoping,  from 
which  city  the  family  removed  to 


Chicago 


313 


the  capital  in  1880.  Having  at- 
tended common  and  private  schools, 
Miss  Oberg  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1892.  After  a  brief  stay 
in  Cambridge,  111.,  she  came  to 
Chicago  and  in  1894  entered  the 
training  school  for  nurses  at  Au- 
gustana  Hospital,  Chicago.  She 
completed  the  course  in  two  years 
and  upon  her  graduation  in  July, 
1896,  she  took  a  position  as  su- 
perintendent of  Dr.  Goodsmith's 
private  sanatarium  in  this  city. 

Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of 
the  Spanish-American  war  Miss 
Oberg  was  sent  to  Cuba  by  the 
National  Emergency  Association 
of  Women  Physicians,  Surgeons 
and  Nurses.  She  was  stationed 
at  Matanzas,  where  she  served  on 
board  the  American  hospital  ships 
that  brought  in  a  great  number 
of  patients,  chiefly  yellow  fever 
victims,  into  that  port.  She  was 
in  the  emergency  service  up  to 
March,  1899. 

Relieved  from  service  in  Cuba, 
Miss  Oberg  made  a  visit  to  her 
old  home  and  spent  one  year  in 
Stockholm.  She  returned  to  Swe- 
den with  a  view  to  take  up  the 
practice  of  the  professional  nurse, 
but  finding  the  field  closed  to  all 
except  graduates  of  Swedish  train- 
ing schools,  she  came  back  to  the 
United  States  in  September,  1900, 
since  which  time  she  has  been 
engaged  in  private  nursing  in 
Chicago  and  vicinity. 


1862.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  by  private  instruc- 


OLIVER  A.  UNDER, 
associate  editor  of  Svenska  Ameri- 
kanaren,  was    born  at  Gylle,  near 
Trelleborg,     Sweden,     March     29, 


OLIVER   A.    LINDER 

tion.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
began  to  contribute  to  the  local 
newspapers,  and  the  following  year 
became  the  regular  local  corres- 
pondent to  Allehanda  in  Trelle- 
borg. In  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1880  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  While  variously  employed 
as  a  farm  hand,  a  sawmill  worker, 
etc.,  he  kept  up  his  newspaper 
contributions,  which  in  1883  led 
to  a  situation  on  Svenska  Ameri- 
kanaren.  In  1884  and  1886  he 
made  trips  back  to  Sweden  and  in 
the  intervals  worked  in  the  office 
of  a  steamship  company,  before 
returning  to  journalism  in  1888, 
as  editor  of  Svenska  Kiiriren.  With 
that  paper  lie  remained  only  a  few 
months,  and  next  edited  success- 
ively Roman-Bladet  of  Minneapo- 
lis, in  1889,  Humoristen  of  Chi- 
cago, in  1890,  and  Michigan-Tri- 


Cook  County 


bunen  of  Iron  wood,  and  Nya  Verl- 
den  of  Story  City,  Iowa,  in  1891. 
In  the  spring  of  the  following 
year  he  again  became  a  member 
of  the  staff  of  Svenska  Amerikan- 
aren,  a  position  since  held  perma- 
nently by  him. 

Mr.  Under  is  a  practical  jour- 
nalist, whose  arduous  routine  of 
news  writing  has  never  been  per- 
mitted to  choke  his  veins  of  poet- 
ry and  humor,  although  materially 
limiting  their  flow.  As  a  humor- 
ist he  reminds  one  of  Bill  Nye, 
whose  style  he  admits  having  used 
as  a  model.  In  1890  and  '91  he 
published  a  couple  of  small  collec- 
tions of  humor  in  prose  and  verse, 
entitled  "Glada  Grin."  His  more 
recent  poetical  productions,  how- 
ever, have  been  mostly  in  a  seri- 
ous strain.  His  originality  and 
vigorous  diction  give  him  a  place 
among  our  best  writers.  Mr.  L,in- 
der  has  contributed  poems  to  vari- 
ous publications  in  book  form, 
including  Praneblomman ,  but  most 
of  his  verse  is  still  scattered  about 
in  newspapers. 

During  the  years  devoted  to 
journalism  he  has  made  extensive 
literary  collections,  which  are  care- 
fully systematized  so  as  to  form 
an  excellent  working  library.  Of 
late  he  has  also  given  some  time 
to  historical  research  relative  to 
early  Swedish  colonization  in 
America.  The  first  result  of  this 
line  of  investigation  is  a  mono- 
graph on  John  Morton,  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence. 

In  1891  Mr.  Linder  was  married 
to  Miss  Therese  Sennstrom.  Thev 


have  an  only  child,  a  son,   named 
Sven  Cyril. 

Mrs.  Linder,     born    in    Grissle- 


THERESK  LINDER 

hamn,  Sweden,  Jan.  24,  1866,  also 
has  a  literary  bent.  She  early 
began  writing  little  sketches,  mak- 
ing her  first  appearance  in  Prak- 
tiken,  a  paper  published  in  Kris- 
tinehamn,  where  she  attended  a 
girls'  seminary.  From  that  time 
on  she  has  written  a  considerable 
number  of  sketches  and  short  sto- 
ries for  various  newspapers  and 
periodicals.  During  a  recent  year's 
sojourn  in  Sweden  she  sent  a  ser- 
ies of  letters  of  travel  to  Svenska 
Amerikanaren,  showing  her  to  be 
a  close  observer  and  a  clever  and 
wittv  narrator. 


HENNING  JOHNSON, 
veterinary  surgeon,  has  been  a 
Chicago  resident  since  1881.  That 
year  he  came  to  this  country  from 
Jonkoping,  Sweden,  where  he  was 
born  June  16,  1868,  the  son  of 
Sven  Johanson,  a  dyer  by  trade. 


Chicago 

Both  parents  are  deceased.  As  a 
boy  of  thirteen  Mr.  Johnson  began 
attending  school  in  Chicago,  short- 


HENNING  JOHNSON 

ly  after  his  arrival,  finishing  gram- 
mar school  in  1884.  Thereupon 
he  entered  the  Chicago  College  of 
Pharmacy,  graduating  in  1886. 
After  completing  the  courses  in 
the  Chicago  Veterinary  College, 
he  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  1892.  Entering  the  employ  of 
Lawrence  Hesselroth,  he  worked 
under  him  as  a  pharmacist  for 
eight  years. 

Dr.  Johnson  in  1895  was  ap- 
pointed City  Veterinary  Surgeon 
by  Mayor  Swift,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  for  two  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  received  the  appoint- 
ment as  veterinary  surgeon  of  the 
Lincoln  Park  Zoo,  an  office  filled 
by  him  up  to  the  present  time. 
As  far  as  known,  Dr.  Johnson 
was  the  first  Swedish  veterinary 
surgeon  graduated  from  an  Amer- 
ican veterinary  college. 


315 

Dr.  Johnson  lives  with  his  fam- 
ily at  526  Fullerton  ave.  His 
wife,  Edith  Lillian  Chaiser,  is 
the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Lot- 
tie Chaiser,  both  deceased.  There 
are  two  children  in  his  family, 
Henning  Irving  and  Edith  Linnea. 
The  marriage  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  took  place  Oct.  21,  1894. 

Dr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Svithiod  and 
of  the  Foresters. 


EDWIN  BOVIK 

was  born  June  6,  1870,  in  Lyse- 
kil,  Bohuslan,  Sweden.  In  1888 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
coming  directly  to  Chicago.  Af- 
ter spending  a  few  years  learn- 


EDWIN  BOVIK 

ing  the  trade,  he  established  him- 
self as  a  merchant  tailor,  a 
business  in  which  he  is  still  en- 
gaged at  311  \V.  Garfield  blvd. 
Since  his  coming  to  this  country 
he  has  always  been  a  Republican 


3i6 

in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of 
Independent  Order  of  Svithiod. 
Mr.  Bovik  was  married  in 
1895  to  Miss  Maria  Holmgren. 
They  have  two  sons,  Le  Roy  E. 
and  Verner  A.  Bovik. 


WILLIAM  LARSON 

was  born  in  Guldrupe  parish,    on 
the    Island    of    Gotland,    Sweden, 


WILLIAM  LARSON 

Nov.  30,  1867,  and  was  raised  on 
a  farm  owned  by  his  father,  Lars 
Assarsson.  His  early  education 
and  training  he  obtained  in  the 
common  school  and  a  sloyd  school. 
Having  learned  the  dyer's  trade, 
he  worked  at  that  for  six  years, 
after  leaving  the  farm.  In.  1890, 
as  a  young  man  of  twenty- three, 
he  left  home  and  came  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Chicago 
from  the  first.  For  five  years  he 
was  employed  in  the  Pullman  Car 
Go's  shops,  putting  his  knowledge 
of  handicraft  to  good  use. 

Leaving  on  account  of  what  he 


Cook  Counts- 
considered  too  arbitrary  restric- 
tions on  the  workmen,  he  obtained 
a  situation  with  a  Swedish  weekly 
newspaper,  Srejiska  Amerikanaren, 
in  the  month  of  August,  1895. 
In  this  office  he  is  still  a  member 
of  the  force,  having  steadily  ad- 
vanced from  "handy  man"  about 
the  place  to  his  present  position 
of  advertising  manager  of  said 
paper,  together  with  another 
weekly,  Svenska  Varlden,  published 
from  the  same  office. 

Mr.  Larson  is  as  clever  with 
the  pen  as  with  the  pencil.  He 
has  written  very  readable  verse 
and  there  are  many  creditable 
prose  sketches  from  his  hand 
scattered  through  the  files  of 
Svenska  Amerikanaren  and  an  oc- 
casional story  or  snatch  of  verse 
in  other  publications,  including 
Prarieblomman,  a  Swedish- Ameri- 
can literary  annual.  An  inborn 
talent  for  drawing  and  sketching, 
is  responsible  for  a  number  of 
portraits  and  other  illustrations, 
which  have  appeared  in  the  public 
prints. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  Dec. 
22,  1894.  Mrs.  Larson  was  Miss 
Jenny  Gust af son,  born  in  Stora 
Aby,  Ostergotland,  Sweden.  Of 
four  children  born  to  them,  two 
sons  are  living,  Birger  Eskil  and 
Carl  Gustaf,  born,  respectively, 
1895  and  1900. 


EDWARD  RAYMOND 

was  born  in  Chicago,  Feb;  18, 
1870.  His  father  was  Adolf  Fa- 
gerlund,  but  the  son  retains  only 
the  baptismal  names.  He  passed 
through  the  public  schools  and 


Chicago 


317 


soon  after  was  engaged  as  mason 
and  builder.  When  he  entered 
business  in  1890  his  enterprise 


EDWARD  RAYMOND 

soon  yielded  handsome  returns. 
Besides  contracting  for  work  he 
has  erected  a  number  of  build- 
ings of  his  own. 

In  1897,  Mr.  Raymond  was 
married  to  Miss  Helga  H.  Sheall. 
They  have  two  sons,  and  reside 
at  3957  Ridge  boul. 

Mr.  Raymond  is  a  Knight  of 
Pythias  and  a  Mason. 


GOSTA  WESTMAN 

was  born  April  i,  1882,  in  Hel- 
singborg,  Sweden.  His  parents 
are  C.  A,  L,.  Westman,  former 
director  of  telegraph  at  Malmo, 
and  Mathilda,  nee  Ramberg. 

The  son  enjoyed  a  thorough  ed- 
ucation, fitting  him  for  the  liter- 
ary career  which  he  entered  upon 
at  an  exceptionally  early  age.  He 
was  only  seventeen  years  old  when, 
in  1899,  he  obtained  his  first  sit- 


uation on  a  newspaper,  and  worked 
for  the  next  four  years  on  differ- 
ent papers  in  Helsingborg  and 
Stockholm. 

In  1903,  Mr.  Westman  visited 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition 
in  St.  L,ouis  as  the  correspondent 
of  Oresiinds-Posten  in  Helsingborg. 
At  the  close  of  the  exposition  he 
came  to  Chicago  and  was  persu- 
aded to  remain.  Securing  a  posi- 
tion on  the  Svenska  Nyheter,  as 
associate  editor,  he  remained  with 
that  paper  until  October,  1906. 
During  this  period  he  contributed 
a  large  number  of  original  sketches 
and  feature  articles  to  the  paper. 
In  1907  he  returned  to  Sweden. 

Two  years  before  Mr.  Westman 
engaged  in  journalism  he  had  had 
his  first  book  published.  It  wras 
an  historical  novel,  entitled  "Ake 
Ulfsson,"  a  very  fair  effort  on  the 
part  of  an  author  fifteen  years  old. 
This  was  followed  the  next  year 
by  a  collection  of  novellettes,  en- 
titled "Skamt  och  Allvar."  In 
1900  he  wrote  "Alandskungen," 
an  historical  romance,  which  was 
published  the  following  year.  In 
1903  he  brought  out  another  novel, 
"Testamentet,"  and  a  collection 
of  short  stories  under  the  common 
title:  "Ur  en  gammal  stadskro- 
nika."  The  same  year  he  wrote 
a  humorous  annual  review  for 
stage  production,  dealing  with 
local  affairs  in  Helsingborg.  From 
1902-03  he  published  "Argus," 
a  comic  paper. 

While  engaged  on  Svenska  Ny- 
heter  he  wrote  a  short  novel,  based 
on  the  events  of  the  war  between 
Russia  and  Japan,  entitled  "Pa 


Cook  County 


lif    och    dod,"  which  ran  as  a  se- 
rial in  that  paper  in   1905. 

A  rich  vein  of  humor,  mixed 
with  a  dash  now  and  then  of  sa- 
tire, flows  from  Mr.  Westman's 
prolific  pen.  The  first  fruits  of 
his  work  are  prophetic  of  greater 
things  to  follow. 


ted  chairman  of  the  Illinois  Scan- 
dinavian Temperance  Association. 
He  is  the  official  physician  of  all 


JOHN  F.  LINDQUIST 
was  born  Jan.  28,  1863,  in  Upsala, 
Sweden.  From  his  sixth  year  to 
his  fifteenth  year  he  attended  the 
country  school.  His  father  was  a 
physician  with  an  extensive  prac- 
tice. The  son  often  spent  his 
spare  time  in  visiting  the  sick 
under  his  father's  care.  From  the 
time  of  his  father's  death  until 
1883  he  studied  with  private  teach- 
ers in  Upsala.  On  Aug.  n,  1893, 
he  arrived  in  Chicago  and  here 
began  the  study  of  medicine  at 
Rush  Medical  College  and  Harvey 
Medical  College.  After  securing 
his  medical  diploma  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  in  the  Chi- 
cago Eye,  Ear,  Nose  and  Throat 
College.  For  several  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  St.  Mary's 
Clinic  in  Chicago,  and  was  ap- 
pointed ear,  nose  and  nose  special- 
ist at  this  institution.  His  down- 
town office  is  one  of  the  best 
appointed  in  Chicago,  and  contains 
apparatus  with  the  newest  and 
best  improvements  for  the  treat- 
ment of  his  specialties. 

Dr.  lyindquist  is  widely  known 
as  a  worker  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance, having  allied  himself  with 
local  and  national  temperance  so- 
cieties after  his  coming  to  Chica- 
go. He  has  repeatedly  been  elec- 


JOHN   FREDRICK    LIXDQUIST 

the  national  Scandinavian  tem- 
perance societies  and  also  of  many 
English,  Swedish  and  Spanish  fra- 
ternal organizations.  Dr.  L,ind- 
quist's  principles  forbid  the  use 
of  tobacco  in  any  form.  He  dep- 
recates the  daily  use  of  coffee, 
tea  or  alcoholic  beverages,  although 
he  concedes  their  value  medicin- 
ally. He  has  converted  many 
patients  and  physicians  to  his 
views. 

Dr.  Lindquist  is  a  member  of 
the  Chicago  Medical  Society,  the 
Cook  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Illinois  Medical  Association  and 
the  American  Medical  Association. 

His  religious  home  is  the  First 
Swedish  Ev.  Lutheran  Mission 
Church.  In  this  church  he  taught 
a  large  class  of  young  men  for 
Bible  study  for  some  time,  but 
professional  duties  lately  compelled 


Chicago 


him  to  withdraw  from    this  activ- 
ity. 

Sept.  20,  1900,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  Lin- 
quist,  of  Chicago.  To  them  a 
daughter,  Grace,  and  two  sons, 
Raymond  and  Harry,  have  been 
born. 


NILS  P.  SEVERIN, 

contractor   and    builder,  was  born 
in  Skane,  Sweden,  March  30,  1861, 


NILS  P.  SEVERIN 

his  parents  being  Per  Nilsson  and 
Elna  Nilsson,  farmer  folk.  What 
education  the  son  received  was  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools,  in 
the  intervals  of  farm  work.  At 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  engaged 
himself  with  a  carpenter  contrac- 
tor to  learn  the  trade.  After  four 
years'  work  he  was  promoted  to 
a  foremanship  of  a  building  crew, 
retaining  that  position  until  he 
Itf;  for  the  United  States  in  1888. 
Mr.  Severin  located  in  Chicago 
-and  began  contracting  for  build- 


319 

ings  here  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  Since  that  time  he  has 
erected  a  large  number  of  build- 
ings in  this  city,  including  several 
large  structures  and  fourteen 
churches. 

He  is  affiliated  with  the  follow- 
ing associations  and  business  in- 
terests: the  Carpenters'  and  Build- 
ers' Association;  the  Chicago  Cem- 
etery Association,  as  vice-presi- 
dent; the  Swedish- American  Hos- 
pital Association  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors;  also 
director  in  the  Scandia  Life  In- 
surance Company  and  president  of 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Mutual  Aid 
Association.  His  business  office  is 
at  103  Reaper  Block. 

Mr.  Severin  is  a  man  of  family, 
having  been  married  Dec.  30,  1885, 
to  Miss  Hanna  Anderson  of  Fren- 
ninge,  in  his  own  native  province, 
where  she  was  born  Jan.  2,  1860. 
Their  children,  with  year  of  birth, 
are:  Alfred  N.,  1887;  Esther  I., 
1890;  Enoch  N.,  1893,  and  Clara 
V.,  1895. 


MARGARET   C.   E.   DAHL- 
STROM, 

well  known  in  musical  circles  as 
a  vocalist  and  teacher  of  brilliant 
attainments,  was  born  May  9,  1873, 
in  Port  Henry,  N.  Y. 

Her  voice,  early  in  life  being 
recognized  as  one  of  great  prom- 
ise, she  was  placed  under  local 
teachers  and  made  rapid  progress. 

After  some  years  of  study  in 
eastern  cities  she  came  to  Chicago, 
to  become  a  pupil  of  John  R. 
Ortengren,  with  whom  she  re- 


320 

mained    for    several    years,  event- 
ually graduating  with  high  honors. 
In    1902    Miss    Dahlstrom   asso- 
ciated   herself    with    the    Balatka 


Cook  County 


MARGARET   CHRISTINE    E. 
DAHLSTROM 

Musical  College  as  an  instructor 
in  the  vocal  department,  where 
she  has  a  large  class. 

Miss  Dahlstrom  is  a  member  of 
the  Sixth  Presbyterian  Church 
Quartette,  the  Hebrew  Temple 
Quartette  and  also  of  the  Swedish 
Ladies'  Quartette.  Her  voice  is 
a  contralto  of  large  range,  sonor- 
ous and  mellow,  and  capable  of 
interpreting  the  most  tender  feel- 
ing. Her  singing  has  a  charm 
and  resonance  to  which  every 
audience  is  responsive.  She  has 
an  extensive  repertory  of  orato- 
rios and  songs. 


JOHAN  ALFRED  ENANDER, 

poet,  author,  lecturer,  editor,  and 
historian,  was  born  in  a  peasant's 
home  in  Skinmoen,  Harja  parish, 


Vestergotland,  Sweden,  May  22, 
1842.  From  his  childhood  he 
manifested  an  eagerness  for  read- 
ing, but  opportunity  for  study 
was  lacking.  He  was  held  to  the 
duties  of  the  average  farmer  boy. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  left  the 
parental  home,  (the  family  had 
removed  to  Bredgarden,  near  the 
city  of  Boras)  for  a  distant  school, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for 
some  time  under  privations  and 
hardships  resulting  from  lack  of 
means.  Leaving  school  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  secured  a 
position  in  a  county  office.  See- 
ing no  future  in  that  line  of  work, 
Enander  cast  about  for  other  em- 
ployment. He  began  contributing 
to  local  papers  and  wrote  a  "His- 


JOHAX  ALFRED  ENANDER 

tory  of  Mormonism,"  published 
in  1865  to  counteract  the  spread 
of  that  doctrine  in  the  province. 
After  enjoying  private  instruction 
by  several  teachers,  young  Enan- 
der, in  1866,  entered  the  sixth 


Chicago 


321 


class  of  the  collegiate  school  at 
Venersborg. 

In  order  to  make  his  way  he 
acted  as  private  tutor  and  as  assist- 
ant teacher  in  the  city's  trade 
school,  besides  continuing  to  write 
for  the  papers.  Per  Wieselgren 
and  Dr.  Peter  Fjellstedt  counselled 
him  to  apply  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary  for  free 
tuition  and  maintenance.  This 
advice  was  followed  and  the  request 
was  granted.  He  left  Goteborgfor 
America  Aug.  6,  1869,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Paxton,  111.,  where  the 
institution  was  then  located.  The 
newcomer  gained  entrance  to  the 
highest  class  and  began  his  theo- 
logical studies,  but  continued  only 
to  the  end  of  the  term  when  his 
newspaper  experience  secured  him 
the  position  of  editor  of  Hemlan- 
det,  the  organ  of  the  Augustana 
Synod.  Accepting  the  place, 
Enander  came  to  this  city  and 
entered  upon  his  life  career. 

In  the  great  fire  of  1871,  En- 
ander lost  all  the  little  he  pos- 
sessed. He  was  appointed  chair- 
man of  the  Scandinavian  Relief 
Committee  and  during  the  winter 
was  tireless  in  his  efforts  for  the 
needy  and  destitute.  His  health 
was  undermined  about  this  time 
and  at  the  advice  of  his  physician 
he  took  a  trip  to  Mexico.  Re- 
turning to  Chicago  in  improved 
health,  he  appeared  in  1872  for 
the  first  time  as  political  orator 
making  a  speaking  tour  in  com- 
pany with  Governor  Oglesby  in 
behalf  of  General  Grant's  reelection 
to  the  presidency. 


The  same  year  Enander  entered 
into  partnership  with  G.  A. 
Bohman,  purchased  Hemlandet 
and  made  it  a  political  newspaper, 
Enander  continuing  as  its  editor. 

Besides  his  work  in  Hemlandet, 
Enander  exerted  himself  in  other 
directions.  The  first  Swedish- 
American  Young  People's  Society 
was  organized  by  his  direction 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Imman- 
uel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Chicago.  He  also  developed  con- 
siderable activity  as  writer  and 
publisher.  About  this  time  he 
edited  a  literary  monthly  of  high 
excellence,  Ndr  och  Fjerran,  pub- 
lished by  his  firm.  In  1879-81 
another  publication,  entitled  Ung- 
doms-Vannen,  was  edited  by  him. 

In  1876  Mr.  Enander  was 
chosen  by  the  festival  committee 
of  the  Centennial  Exposition  at 
Philadelphia  to  deliver  the  ad- 
dress on  the  day  set  aside  for  the 
Swedish  celebration. 

In  1878  Mr.  Enander  accom- 
panied the  American  delegates  to 
the  International  Congress  which 
then  met  in  Stockholm. 

Enander  was  one  the  prime 
movers  in  having  erected  a  monu- 
ment to  Carl  von  L,inne  (Linnaeus) , 
a  replica  of  a  statue  erected  in 
Stockholm.  The  Linne  Monu- 
ment Association,  formed  for  this 
purpose,  chose  him  as  chairman, 
a  place  which  he  resigned  before 
the  work  was  completed.  On  the 
day  of  unveiling,  May  23,  1891, 
he  delivered  the  festival  oration. 

During  all  presidential  cam- 
paigns for  the  past  thirty  years 
Mr.  Enander  has  been  an  able 


322 


Cook  County 


champion  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  By  direction 
of  the  Republican  National  Com- 
mittee, he  has  traveled  through 
almost  all  the  states  in  which 
Swedish-Americans  reside,  making 
stiring  political  speeches  to  his 
countrymen.  President  Harrison 
in  1888  appointed  Mr.  Enander 
American  Minister  to  Denmark, 
but  before  he  could  leave  for  the 
post  untoward  circumstances  cut 
short  his  ambition  to  represent 
the  Republic  in  the  Danish  capi- 
tal, and  another  man  was  selected 
in  his  stead. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Enander  was 
called  by  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  Augustana  College  to  the  chair 
of  Swedish  Language  and  Litera- 
ture. He  served  until  1893  when 
he  resigned  his  chair.  In  the 
meantime  the  firm  of  Enander 
and  Bohman  had  experienced  fi- 
nancial troubles,  leading  to  the 
dissolution  of  the  copartnership. 

After  a  year  of  literary  work  at 
home,  Enander  for  two  years 
edited  Svenska  Journalen,  a  Swed- 
ish weekly  published  in  Omaha, 
Neb.  At  the  invitation  of  the 
newly  organized  Hemlandet  Com- 
pany in  Chicago,  he  again  assumed 
the  editorship  of  Hemlandet  in 
1896. 

Enander  from  the  time  of  his 
coming  to  this  country  has  been 
an  interested  member  of  the  Swed- 
ish-American Lutheran  Church. 
The  Augustana  Synod  has  en- 
trusted to  him  many  responsible 
commissions.  At  an  audience  with 
King  Oscar  II.  in  1878,  he  was 
fortunate  in  obtaining  from  the 


King,  and  later  the  university 
authorities,  permission  for  Swed- 
ish-American college  graduates  to 
enter  the  Swedish  universities 
without  examination.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  synodical  assemblies  he 
has  fathered  and  furthered  many 
measures  of  importance  to  the 
church. 

Enander  has  been  much  in  de- 
mand as  orator.  The  principal 
occasions  at  which  he  has  been 
the  speaker  of  the  day,  besides 
the  aforesaid,  are  the  following: 
the  reception  to  the  military 
delegation  from  Sweden  at  the 
Chicago  Semi-Centenary  in  1887; 
Swedish  Day  at  the  World's  Fair 
in  Chicago  in  1893;  the  King 
Oscar  Jubilee  in  Chicago  in  1897; 
Swedish-American  Day  at  the  In- 
dustrial Exposition  in  Norrkoping, 
Sweden  in  1906. 

In  1902  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  Augustana  College  conferred 
on  Enander  the  degree  of  LL.  D., 
and  in  1905  he  received  from  King 
Oscar  the  "Literis  et  Artibus" 
medal  in  recognition  of  his  author- 
ship. He  is  also  the  possessor  of 
a  Polish  honorary  order  given  as 
a  mark  of  gratitude  for  actual 
efforts  in  behalf  of  Poland  at  the 
time  of  its  struggle  for  independ- 
ence in  the  '6os. 

Enander' s  published  works  and 
compilations,  besides  the  Mormon 
history  above  mentioned,  are  the 
following:  "Forenta  Staternas 
Historia,"  (United  States  History), 
a  work  published  in  Chicago, 
1875-1880.  This  work,  has  been 
translated  into  Dano-Norwegian 
and  in  part  into  English.  "Valda 


Chicago 


323 


Skrifter,"  (Selected  Works),  an 
illustrated  work  published  in  1892 
in  Chicago,  comprising  addresses, 
historical  essays,  narratives  and 
poems.  "Nordmannen  i  Amerika 
eller  Amerikas  upptackt,"  (The 
Northmen  in  America,  or  The 
Discovery  of  America)  an  histori- 
cal dissertation,  published  in  Rock 
Island,  111.,  in  1892.  "Vara  Fa- 
ders  Sinnelag,"  (The  Character 
of  our  Ancestors),  published  in 
Stockholm  in  1894.  "Ur  Svenska 
Sangen,"  an  anthology  of  Swedish 
poetry  from  1800  to  1850,  published 
at  Rock  Island  in  1901.  "Linnaea," 
a  collection  of  verse  by  Swedish- 
American  writers  published  and 
sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  Linnsean 
monument  fund.  "Eterneller  och 
Varblommor,"  a  collection  of 
standard  religious  and  patriotic 
poems  from  Swedish  literature. 

Knander  has,  besides,  contributed 
to  newspapers  and  literary  an- 
nuals in  Sweden  and  the  United 
States,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  annuals  Vintersol, 
in  Sweden,  and  Prarieblomman  in 
this  country. 

Dr.  Enander  is  a  member,  active 
or  honorary,  of  several  civic,  his- 
torical and  literary  societies. 

At  55  Oak  place  in  Lake  View, 
Dr.  Enander  and  his  family  have 
resided  for  many  years  back.  His 
marriage  took  place  June  22, 
1873,  at  Paxton,  111.,  Mrs.  En- 
ander, whose  maiden  name  was 
Melinda  Lawson,  is  the  daughter 
of  one  of  the  earliest  Swedish 
settlers  in  the  West.  There  are 
three  grown  children,  the  daugh- 
ters Ada  Elvira  Angelika  and 


Hilma    Louise    Alfhild,    and    the 
son,  Johan  Einar  Hilding. 


CARL  T.  STRANDBERG 

belongs  to  the  well-known    Swed- 
ish    family     of    this    name.     Mr. 


CARL  THORSTEN  STRANDBERG 

Straudberg  was  born  Jan.  22, 
1861,  at  Tomta,  Hallsberg  parish, 
Nerike,  Sweden.  After  having 
completed  his  education  in  Swe- 
den, he  went  to  America,  arriving 
in  the  month  of  June,  1888.  He 
soon  obtained  a  position  as  book- 
keeper on  the  Board  of  Trade  in 
Chicago.  In  1890  he  accepted  a 
position  as  chief  clerk  with  the 
large  transportation  firm  of  Peter 
McDonnell  &  Co. ,  in  their  Chicago 
offices  and  remained  with  this 
firm  for  more  than  seven  years. 
In  1898,  Mr.  Strandberg  was  ap- 
pointed business  manager  of  the 
well-known  newspaper  Gamla  och 
Nya  Hemlandet,  and  later  was 
elected  its  treasurer. 

Mr.  Strandberg  is  also  an  officer 


324 


Cook  County 


and  director  in  the  Scandia  Loan 
and  Investment  Association,  and 
holds  positions  of  trust  in  several 
other  enterprises. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Strandberg  was 
joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss 
Ellen  Victoria  Pedro,  who  was 
for  many  years  private  secretary 
to  the  renowned  Swedish  novelist, 
Emilie  Flygare-Carlen.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Strandberg  have  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Elsa  Victoria.  The 
family  residence  is  at  1227  North 
Shore  ave.,  Rogers  Park. 

ANNA  C.  FREID 

was  born  March  20,  1848,  at  Pe- 
larne,  Smaland,  Sweden.  Her 


ANNA  CHARLOTTA  FREID 

parents,  Johan  Magnus  Freid  och 
Anna  Helena,  nee  Peterson,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  in  1857 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Andover, 
111.,  where  they  died  in  1891. 

The  daughter  was  confirmed  by 
the  pioneer,  Rev.  Jonas  Swensson, 
and  later  became  a  professional 


nurse.  In  1884  she  was  called  to 
the  newly  established  Augustana 
Hospital  in  Chicago  as  head  nurse 
and  matron  of  the  institution, 
retaining  both  positions  until  she 
resigned  in  1896. 

Miss  Freid  made  a  tour  of  Eng- 
land, France,  Germany,  Sweden, 
Finland  and  Norway  in  1896  and 
and  again  in  1898,  studying  hos- 
pitals and  deaconess  institutions. 
She  was  one  of  the  leading  figures 
in  the  establishment  of  the  Im- 
manuel  Woman's  Home  Associa- 
tion at  577^  lya  Salle  ave.  and 
is  the  president  and  treasurer  of 
its  board  of  trustees.  Its  object 
is  to  provide  a  home  under  Christ- 
ian influences  for  such  young 
women  as  are  temporarily  out  of 
work  and  also  for  those  who  have 
no  other  home.  It  will  also  be  a 
social  gathering  place  for  such 
members  as  are  employed  but  do 
not  live  there.  The  home  was 
opened  Sept.  7,  1907. 

Miss  Freid  is  a  member  of  the 
Immanuel  Swedish  L,uth.  Church 
since  1886  and  is  a  life  member 
of  the  Immanuel  Deaconess  Insti- 
tute at  Omaha,  Neb.  She  spends 
her  summers  at  Pistakee  Bay, 
McHenry  co.,  111.,  where  she  has 
a  summer  cottage. 


JOHN  A.  SANDGREN, 
high  secretary  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Svithiod,  was  born  at 
Mortorp,  Smaland,  April  10,  1871. 
His  father,  C.  A.  Sandgren,  is 
a  leather  manufacturer  and  a 
man  of  consequence  in  the  com- 
munity, now  holding  the  office  of 
postmaster  at  Mortorp  where  he 


Chicago 


325 


resides.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a 
beautiful  farm  at  Kulltorp.  There 
were  ten  children  in  the  family, 


JOHN  ALBERT  SANDGREN 

five  of  whom  survive.  The  elder 
Sandgren  aimed  to  give  his  chil- 
dren a  fair  education,  and  the  son 
John,  after  attending  common 
school  and  enjoying  private  in- 
struction, was  given  a  course  first 
at  a  business  college  in  Kalmar, 
then  at  an  agricultural  school  at 
Applerum,  where  he  studied  only 
the  theoretical  branches.  His  ed- 
ucation finished,  John  Sandgren 
held  a  situation  as  a  bookkeeper 
on  Baron  Stjernstedts  large  estate 
at  Lokene,  Vermland,  until  1891, 
when  he  came  over  to  the  United 
States.  Here  the  newcomer  dur- 
ing the  first  year  worked  at  what- 
ever he  could  find  to  do.  He 
was  at  Sheffield,  Pa.,  Jamestown 
and  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  elsewhere, 
stopping  a  short  time  in  each 
place.  In  the  fall  of  1892  he 


came  on  to  Chicago  and  soon  ob- 
tained a  clerical  position  with  the 
Chicago  Title  and  Trust  Company 
and  remained  with  this  firm  for 
eight  years.  In  1902  he  was 
elected  high  secretary  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Svithiod  and 
is  still  in  charge  of  the  head- 
quarters of  that  order  at  525 
Reaper  block. 

Besides  holding  membership  in 
the  Verdandi  Lodge  of  said  order, 
Mr.  Sandgren  belongs  to  the 
King  Oscar  Lodge  of  the  Masonic 
Order.  He  is  also  the  treasurer 
of  the  Swedish  Societies  Central 
Association,  a  charitable  organi- 
zation maintaining  the  Swedish 
Old  Peoples'  Home  at  Park 
Ridge,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Sandgren  was  married  Jan. 
n,  1899,  to  Miss  Thekla  C.  Bo- 
gren  of  Chicago.  They  live  in  a 
home  of  their  own  at  3361  North 
Ashland  ave. 


LARS  JOHNSON 

was  born  Dec.  22,  1853,  *n  Has- 
selstad,  Ronueby  parish,  Blekinge, 
Sweden,  where  he  was  educated 
in  the  public,  grammar  and  high 
schools.  Attracted  by  the  greater 
chances  offered  in  the  New  World, 
he  came  over  to  ^this  country  in 
September,  1879.  For  the  last 
eighteen  years  Mr.  Johnson  has 
been  engaged  in  the  business  of 
buying  and  selling  of  western  and 
southern  lands.  His  office  is  at 
room  1023,  Chamber  of  Commerce 
Building,  Chicago. 

Mr.    Johnson     was    married     in 


326 


Cook  County 


1889  to  Hilma  L,.  Carlson.  They 
have  a  daughter,  Myrtle,  now 
about  fifteen  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


ROBERT  ANDERSON 


was  born  Dec.   n, 
taf    Adolf   parish, 


1870,  in    Gus- 
Vestergotland, 


ROBERT  ANDERSON 

Sweden.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  in 
Sweden.  He  learned  the  painter's 
trade  in  Jonkoping.  In  1887  he 
emigrated  and  came  directly  to 
Chicago.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
during  the  day,  and  at  night  at- 
tended the  night  school.  After 
three  years  of  intense  application 
he  began  his  own  business.  In 
1895  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  E.  Osterholm  with  the  firm 
name  of  Anderson  and  Osterholm. 
The  business  started  with  five 
men  and  a  business  of  about 


$5,000  a  year.  It  now  requires 
75  men  and  the  volume  of  the 
business  is  more  than  $100,000  a 
year.  The  firm  was  incorporated 
in  1902  as  the  Anderson  and 
Osterholm  Co.  Paint  stores  are 
maintained  at  1202  W.  59th  St. 
and  3200  N.  Clark  st. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Swedish  Mission  Church  in 
Englewood  for  the  past  sixteen 
years,  and  its  Sunday  school 
superintendent  for  many  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  Englewood  Hospital 
and  many  other  organizations. 

In  1890  Mr.  Anderson  entered 
the  matrimonial  state  with  Miss 
Selma  Holtzen  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  have  a  pleas- 
ant home  and  are  blessed  with 
two  children,  Sigurd,  aged  fifteen 
and  Alice,  aged  five  years. 


GUSTAVE  JACOBSON 

was  born  Oct.  13,  1873,  at 
Grangesberg,  Dalarne,  Sweden. 
Emigrating  in  1884  with  his  par- 
ents, he  went  to  Chicago.  After 
attending  the  public  school  he 
started  in  the  printing  trade  at 
the  Engberg-Holmberg  Publishing 
Co.'s.  office  in  1887.  Since  then 
he  has  worked  in  various  places, 
among  them  Fosterlandet  and 
Svenska  Tribunen  offices.  Since 
1903  he  has  conducted  a  linotype 
office.  He  also  has  .charge  .of  the 
Hemlandel  printing  department. 

Mr.  Jacobson  is  a  member  of 
Verdandi  Lodge  No.  3,  I.  O.  S., 
the  N.  S.  B.  A.  and  of  the  Swed- 
ish Typographical  Union  No.  247. 


Chicago 


327 


He  was  married  June  25,  1896, 
to  Beda  Dorothea  Swansea,  born 
Feb.  5,  1873,  at  Nas,  Dalarne, 


GUSTAVE  JACOBSON 

Sweden.  Their  children  are  Mabel 
D.,  Roswell  G.,  Clifford  A.  and 
Vivian  S.  Jacobson.  The  family 
resides  at  927  Devon  ave.,  Edge- 
water. 

EMIL  SHERMAN 
was  born  Feb.  12,  1865,  in  Stora 
Forssa,  Hammar  parish,  Nerike, 
Sweden.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  Swedish  public 
school.  In  1 88 1  he  emigrated, 
arriving  in  America  in  July.  The 
young  man  here  went  to  work  in 
a  meat  market,  and  finally  became 
the  proprietor  of  a  market  at  75 
Sedgwick  st.  In  1907  he  opened 
a  restaurant  next  door  to  his 
meat  market. 

Mr.  Sherman  not  only  has 
pronounced  musical  tastes  but  is 
also  gifted  with  a  talent  for  com- 
position, having  written  several 
pieces  for  the  piano.  Two  of 


these  have  been  published,  bear- 
ing the  titles,  "Peace  and  Pros- 
perity to  All  Nations,"  a  march, 
and  "Uncle  the  Great,"  a  march 
and  two-step. 

A  novel  piece  of  furniture  called 
the  rocking  modore  has  been 
patented  by  Mr.  Sherman  in  the 
United  States,  Canada  and  several 
European  countries.  It  is  a  rock- 
ing footrest  on  which  the  feet  are 
elevated  on  a  level  with  the  body 
and  which  swings  with  each  mo- 
tion of  the  occupant  of  a  rocking 
chair. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  married  Nov. 
21,  1885,  to  Clara  Johanson,  born 


EMIL  SHERMAN 


in  Varola  parish,  Vestergotland. 
Their  children  are  Ella  Victoria, 
born  Nov.  5,  1886  and  Gustaf 
William,  born  July  4,  1888. 


AXEL  W.  AKESSON 

was  born  in  Lund,  Sweden,  March 
22,  1872.  He  was  educated  in 
the  I,und  Cathedral  School,  and 


328 


Cook  County 


then,  having  obtained  a  stipend 
for  five  years  from  the  Royal  Col- 
lege of  Commerce,  went  to  Berlin, 


AXEL  WICTOR  AKESSON 

where  he  attended  a  technical 
school,  thereupon  going  to  Vienna, 
Zurich,  Paris  and  London  to  va- 
rious schools. 

Returning  to  Stockholm,  Mr. 
Akesson  took  a  thorough  course 
at  the  Kjellberg  Institute.  He 
went  to  Chicago  in  1891,  and  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  the  Kell- 
berg  Institute  for  massage  and 
medical  gymnastics  at  1107  Cham- 
plain  Building. 

Mr.  Akesson  is  a  member  of 
King  Oscar  Lodge  of  Free  Ma- 
sons, the  Oriental  Consistory,  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  the  First  Swedish 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Swed- 
ish Glee  Club  and  the  Svithiod 
Singing  Club. 

On  Jan.  17,  1902,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Akesson  to 
Anna  Gronquist,  who  is  his  able 
assistant. 


GUSTAF  HOLMQUIST 

was  born  in  the  Swedish  city  of 
Nora,  Vestmanland,  Feb.  14,  1872, 
and  was  reared  there  until  thirteen 
years  of  age,  when  the  family 
emigrated  to  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
The  same  year,  1885,  the  young 
man  joined  a  mixed  choir  as  alto 
singer,  but  his  musical  training 
did  not  begin  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty- one.  Then  he 
became  a  pupil  of  A.  W.  Porter  of 
Minneapolis,  continuing  under  his 
instruction  for  four  years,  or  until 
1897,  when  Mr.  Holmquist  inter- 
rupted his  studies  for  a  year  by 
going  to  Alaska  as  the  superin- 
tendent of  a  gang  of  road  build- 
ers. Returning  in  1898,  he  resumed 


GUSTAF  HOLMQUIST 

his  musical  studies  and  two  years 
later  came  to  Chicago.  Here  he 
placed  himself  under  the  direction 
of  W.  N.  Burritt  and  W.  L.  Hub- 
bard,  who  have  taken  pride  in 
the  training  and  further  develop- 


Chicago 


329 


ment  of  Mr.  Holmquist's  excel- 
lent voice. 

While  in  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Holm- 
quist  was  one  of  the  prominent 
soloists  of  that  city,  singing  in 
the  Westminster,  the  Presbyterian 
and  other  large  churches.  Since 
coming  to  Chicago,  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  splendid  quartet 
of  the  Plymouth  Church  for  seven 
years. 

Gustaf  Holmquist,  within  the 
last  few  years  has  made  for  him- 
self an  enviable  place  among  the 
ablest  bassos  of  the  United  States. 
Possessing  a  voice  of  exceptionally 
rich,  sympathetic  quality,  of  great 
power  and  of  wide  range,  he  is 
peculiarly  fitted  for  every  kind  of 
public  concert  work  from  oratorio 
and  festival  performances  to  song 
recitals  and  private  musicales. 

During  the  season  of  1901  he 
was  one  of  the  soloists  selected 
for  the  Chautauqua  Assembly  con- 
certs. 

Mr.  Holmquist  has  been  twice 
engaged  as  soloist  for  the  singing 
festivals  of  the  American  Union 
of  Swedish  Singers,  namely  at 
Jamestown  in  1901  and  at  Chicago 
in  1905.  He  was  soloist  at  the  festi- 
vals of  the  Eastern  division  of  the 
above  organization  at  Boston  in 
1903  and  Providence  in  1907,  and 
at  the  Western  division's  festival 
in  Moline  1907.  The  United  Nor- 
wegian Singers  of  America  chose 
him  as  soloist  at  their  festivals  in 
Sioux  Falls  in  1902  and  at  La 
Crosse  in  1905. 

In  1903  he  received  the  flatter- 
ing offer  to  go  to  the  St.  Louis 
Exposition  as  baritone  soloist  of 


the  Evanston  Musical  Club.  There 
he  sang  in  an  oratorio,  the  excel- 
lent rendition  of  which  brought 
the  club  a  competitive  prize  of 
$3,500. 

The  Apollo  Club  of  Chicago 
chose  him  as  bass  soloist  in  "Mes- 
siah" and  in  Gabriel  Pierne's 
"The  Children's  Crusade." 

His  successes  with  the  leading 
choral  societies  of  the  country,  as 
the  bass  soloist  in  Handel's  "Mes- 
siah," "The  Creation"  of  Haydn, 
Mendelssohn's  "Elijah"  and  "St. 
Paul,"  Gounod's  "Redemption" 
and  kindred  works  prove  him  an 
oratorio  singer  par  excellence. 

His  song  recitals  have  been  the 
subject  of  most  enthusiastic  ap- 
proval, his  interpretation  of  the 
standard  German  and  English 
songs  winning  him  only  'highest 
commendation  and  his  authorita- 
tive rendition  of  the  Swedish  folk- 
and  art-songs  lending  peculiar  in- 
terest and  novelty  to  his  programs. 

May  23,  1893,  Mr.  Holmquist 
was  married  to  Miss  Olivia  Ogren 
at  Minneapolis. 


JOHN  A.  WESTERLUND 

was  born  June  10,  1865,  near  Ori- 
on, 111.,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter 
Westerlund,  one  of  the  earliest 
Swedish  settlers  in  Henry  county. 
Until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age  he  worked  on  his  father's 
farm.  Being  desirous  of  a  higher 
education  he  attended  Bethany 
College  at  Lindsborg,  Kans.,  for 
six  years  and  was  graduated  in 
1891,  in  the  classical  course,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  class  sent  out  from 


330 


Cook  County 


the  institution.  In  the  same  year 
he  went  to  Chicago,  engaging  in 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  bus- 


JOHN   A.  WESTERLUND 

iness.  ^He  also  identified  himself 
with  the  colonization  and  immi- 
gration business  in  the  South  and 
West.  With  the  exception  of  five 
years  spent  in  the  South,  he  has 
been  making  Chicago  his  home. 

Since  1902  he  has  operated  ex- 
tensively in  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington and  in  western  Nebraska 
acting  as  special  traveling  immi- 
gration agent  for  the  Union  Pacific 
R.  R.  and  as  state  commissioner 
of  immigration  of  Oregon  by  ap- 
pointment of  Governor  Chamber- 
lain. In  1903  he  founded  and 
organized  the  Western  Oregon 
Orchard  Company,  which  now  is 
one  of  the  largest  fruit  growing 
concerns  of  its  kind  on  the  Pacific 
coast. 

Mr.  Westerlund  has  traveled 
extensively,  having  visited  every 
state  in  the  Union,  and  in  1897 


made  a  tour  through  England, 
Germany  and  the  three  Scandi- 
navian countries. 

Feb.  23,  1898,  Mr.  Westerlund 
was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Cornelia 
Holmberg,  adopted  daughter  of 
the  late  C.  P.  Holmberg,  the  vet- 
eran Chicago  publisher.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Westerlund  reside  in  Sheri- 
dan Park,  and  are  members  of 
the  L/utheran  Church.  They  are 
both  active  in  the  church,  Mr. 
Westerlund  serving  as  trustee. 


JOHAN    A.  LINDEBORG 

was  born  Feb.  6,  1835,  in  Kraks- 
hult,  Smaland,  Sweden.  His  fa- 
ther, Johan  Peter  Olofson,  a  far- 
mer, was  born  in  1804  and  died 


JOHAN  A.  LINDEBORG 

in  1890.  His  mother,  Sara  Lisa 
Svensdotter  from  Rumskulla,died  in 
1 860, aged  fifty  years.  In  his  early 
days  he  was  occupied  in  farming 
and  various  mechanical  pursuits. 
He  studied  four  terms  at  the  ele- 
mentary school  in  Ahlsborg  in 


Chicago 


331 


1862-63.  Subsequently  he  was 
engaged  as  assistant  teacher  in 
Rev.  B.  G.  Glasell's  institute  for 
the  deaf  and  dumb  and  the  blind 
at  Nya  Varfvet  in  Goteborg.  In 
i86y  Mr.  L,indeborg  left  this 
position  to  emigrate,  and  first  lo- 
cated in  L,a  Porte  and  South 
Bend,  Ind.  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  cabinetmaker  in 
the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Co.'s 
factory.  He  was  next  employed 
in  the  Pullman  shops,  and  worked 
for  various  periods  of  time  at  fine 
interior  finishing  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Lindeborg  was  engaged  as 
a  salesman  in  the  book  store  of 
Enander  &  Bohman  for  six  years 
and  in  that  of  the  Engberg- 
Holmberg  Publishing  Co.  for  two 
years. 

Mr.  Lindeborg  has  been  active 
in  politics,  served  repeatedly  as 
election  clerk  and  was  once  a 
delegate  to  the  county  convention. 
He  has  been  an  unswerving 
Republican  since  he  acquired 
American  citizenship,  and  has 
taken  part  by  discussion  and  vote 
in  every  campaign  since  1868. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Im- 
manuel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Chicago.  He  served  as  secretary 
for  ten  years,  taught  in  the  Bible 
classes  of  the  Sunday  school  for 
twelve  years,  and  as  a  member 
of  the  Immanuel  Society  served 
as  secretary  for  a  number  of  years 
and  frequently  took  part  in  its 
literary  programs. 

At  present  he  is  engaged  in  the 
H.  M.  Cable  piano  works  at 
L,a  Porte,  Ind. 

He  was  married  to  Karolina  Jose- 


fina  Widerstrom.  Their  one  daugh- 
ter, Alida,  is  Mrs.  V.  O.  Peterson 
of  Rock  Island. 


SVEN   JOHAN  SEBELIUS, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Augustan  a   Synod,  is   the  son   of 


SVEN  JOHAN  SEBELIUS 

Sebelius  Anderson,  a  carpenter 
of  Tvaaker,  Halland,  Sweden, 
where  he  was  born  April  4, 
1874.  The  family  left  the  old 
country  in  1879,  stopping  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  resided 
at  Clermont,  Mclntire  and  Peale, 
and  finally  settled  at  Du  Bois. 
In  the  public  schools  the  son 
obtained  his  fundamental  educa- 
tion and  after  that  entered  Aug- 
ustana  College.  From  that  insti- 
tution he  graduated  in  1901  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  and  from 
Augustana  Theological  Seminary 
three  years  later  as  a  Bachelor 
of  Divinity.  While  at  college 
Mr.  Sebelius  was  an  earnest  stu- 
dent of  the  literature  of  the 


332 


Cook  County 


mother  country  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Swedish 
Society  of  Belles  Lettres,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  five  charter  mem- 
bers and  serving  one  term  as  its 
president. 

Since  his  ordination  in  1904, 
Rev.  Mr.  Sebelius  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  Siloa  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Blue  Island, 
one  of  the  suburbs  of  Chicago. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Ministerial  Association 
of  Chicago. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Sebelius  was'mar- 
ried  Sept.  25,  1907,  to  Miss  Emily 
Anderson  of  Portland,  Conn. 


MARIE  SWANSON 

was  born  Aug.  31,   1875,  in    Har- 
lof,    Kristianstad,    Sweden.      Her 


MARIE  SWANSON 

father  is  Sven  Johanson,  now  a 
^  resident  of  Chicago.  She  came  to 
this  country  in  1892.  Having  re- 
ceived her  fundamental  education 
in  her  native  land,  Miss  Swanson 


came  to  this  city,  where  she  at- 
tended Harvey  Medical  College 
for  three  years.  Later  on  she 
attended  the  American  Medical 
College  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  gradu- 
ating therefrom  April  21,  1903. 
The  state  medical  examinations 
in  both  Missouri  and  Illinois  have 
been  successfully  passed  by  her. 

Dr.  Swanson  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Secur- 
ity, Independent  Order  of  Forest- 
ers and  of  the  Royal  Neighbors 
of  America.  She  is  medical  ex- 
aminer of  Harmony  Council  No. 
928  of  K.  &  L.  of  S.,  of  Com- 
panion Court  New  Monitor  No. 
427  I.  O.  F.  and  of  Ravenswood 
Camp  No.  3053  R.  N.  of  A. 


JOHN  E.  MOHLIN 

was  born   Jan.   18,    1863,  in    Kal- 
mar,  Sweden.     His  early  training 


JOHN    EDVARD   MOHLIN 

he  received  in  a  business  college 
of  his  home  city.  In  1886  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  went 


Chicago 


333 


immediately  to  Chicago,  which 
place  has  since  been  his  home. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  years 
he  began  business  as  a  mason 
contractor  together  with  John 
Woodstrom.  This  business  was 
incorporated  in  1898  as  the  Lake 
View  Building  Company. 

Mr.  Mohlin  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Ravenswood. 


EUGENE  L.  SWENSON, 

son  of  Carl  Swenson,  a   wholesale 
dealer,  was    born    March  12, 


fish 


EUGENE  L.  SWENSON 

1879,  in  Chicago.  After  gradu- 
ating from  the  Franklin  School, 
he  attended  the  English  High  and 
Manual  Training  School  and  the 
Chicago  Athenaeum. 

Having  gained  a  general  busi- 
ness experience  during  the  past 
few  years,  Mr.  Swenson  in  1905 
organized  Swenson's  Land  Agency, 
with  office  at  171  La  Salle  st.,  for 
the  purpose  of  attracting  Swedish 


colonists  to  Bovina,  Texas,  a  new 
settlement  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  that  state.  Farmers  in  the 
northern  states  are  finding  that 
they  can  sell  their  farms  and  ob- 
tain with  the  proceeds  from  five 
to  ten  times  as  much  equally  fer- 
tile land  in  Texas  as  they  origin- 
ally owned.  Mr.  Swenson  is  the 
owner  of  Swenson's  Hotel  in 
Bovina. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Imman- 
uel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Chicago. 

In  June,  1906,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Torell,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  J.  Torell  of  Swedes- 
burg,  Neb. 

A.  P.  MARTIN, 

Swedish  Lutheran  minister,  was 
born  Nov.  17,  1858,  in  Gud- 


A.  P.  MARTIN 


mundtorp  parish,  Skane,  Sweden. 
When  but  a  child  of  eight  he  was 
deprived  of  a  home  through  the 
sudden  death  of  his  father.  At 


334 


Cook  County 


twelve  he  came  to  America,  and 
after  due  preparation  entered  Au- 
gustana  College  and  Theological 
Seminary,  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  in  Minne- 
apolis June  27,  1886,  and  entered 
the  service  of  the  church  at  Sioux 
City,  Iowa. 

During  the  summer  of  1900  he 
visited  Sweden,  Norway,  Denmark 
and  England.  In  the  same  year 
he  accepted  a  call  as  a  Lutheran 
missionary  in  Utah.  After  labor- 
ing in  this  field  for  five  years,  he 
served  for  three  years  as  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Eureka,  Cal.  While 
there  he  acted  as  secretary  of  the 
California  Conference. 

In  the  fall  of  1898  Rev.  Martin 
removed  to  Blue  Island,  111.,  as 
pastor  of  the  Siloa  Church.  In 
1904  he  accepted  a  call  to  Strat- 
ford, la.  Since  September,  1907, 
he  is  stationed  at  Sharon  Springs, 
Kansas. 

Oct.  10,  1894,  Rev.  Martin  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Theresia 
Wahlquist.  Their  children  are: 
Daniel  Theophilus,  Helga  Naomi 
and  Philemon  Jonathan. 


wife  being  Mattie  Surrean,  a  native 
of  Sweden.  They  have  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  and  live  in 


FRANK  ROSBERG 
was  born  Sept.  29,  1854,  in  Sma- 
land,  Sweden.  With  his  parents 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1856  and  settled  in  Chicago. 
Frank  attended  the  old  Kinzie 
School  on  the  north  side.  He 
then  obtained  employment  in  the 
printing  trade,  and  has  been  a 
cylinder  pressman  for  over  thirty 
years,  having  had  a  press  room 
for  more  than  fifteen  years. 

Mr.     Rosberg     is     married,    his 


FRANK  ROSBERG 

their  own  residence  at  5251  Arte- 
sian ave. 


FRED  J.  NELSON 

was  born  July  16,  1866,  in  Ostra 
Ny  parish,  Sweden.  Since  his  ar- 
rival to  this  country  in  1877  he 
has  resided  in  Florence,  Wis.,  Iron 
Mountain,  Mich.,  and  Chicago. 
The  parents  are  Nils  J.  Nilson,  a 
merchant  in  Brunnby,  and  his 
wife,  Carolina. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  for  four  years 
employed  as  a  switchman  on  the 
Northwestern  Railroad,  later  going 
into  business  as  a  coal  dealer  and 
furniture  mover  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  Westerberg.  Their  of- 
fice is  at  3569  N.  Clark  st. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Nelson  has 
been  closely  identified  with  church 
work.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Ebenezer  Swedish  L,uth.  Church, 


Chicago 


335 


and  has  faithfully  served  as  a 
deacon,  Sunday  school  teacher  and 
treasurer  of  the  church. 


FRED  J.  NELSON 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Augusta 
Kmelia  Nelson  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children,  Signe,  Harry 
and  Judith. 


ROBERT  UNDBIvOM, 

for  thirty  years  one  of  the  fore- 
most Swedish -American  citizens 
of  Chicago,  was  born  in  Asker 
parish,  Nerike,  Sweden,  Nov.  17, 
1844.  He  received  his  funda- 
mental education  in  a  school  at 
Hogsjo,  Sodermanland,  and  for  a 
time  was  in  the  service  of  the 
government  survey.  Prior  to  his 
emigration  to  America,  Mr.  L,ind- 
blom  had  taken  a  course  in  a 
commercial  school  and  had  learned 
the  rudiments  of  banking  at  Ore- 
bro,  so  that  when  he  came  here 
in  1864,  he  already  possessed  a 
fair  knowledge  of  business  prin- 
ciples. The  following  year  we 


find  Lindblom  in  Milwaukee,  as 
an  employee  in  the  grain,  packing 
and  elevator  business  of  the  firm 
of  I/.  H.  Higby  &  Co.,  with  whom 
he  advanced  to  the  position  of 
cashier.  In  1873  he  established 
himself  in  the  grain  and  commis- 
sion business  on  his  own  account. 
Four  years  later  he  removed  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  a  success- 
ful operator  on  the  Board  of  Trade 
for  many  years.  I^indblom  was  a 
veteran  of  many  notable  deals  in 
grain.  During  the  period  of  1880 
to  1883,  when  speculation  was  at 
its  height,  there  were  few  opera- 
tors who  could  match  him  in 
shrewd  trading,  and  he  frequently 
bought  and  sold  blocks  of  half  a 


ROBERT  LINDBLOM 

million  bushels  of  wheat  and  corn 
at  a  time.  As  indicated  by  his 
huge  financial  operations,  L,ind- 
blom  at  this  time  was  a  man  of 
wealth,  but  his  fortune  is  said  to 
have  been  shattered  in  the  famous 
Leiter  "May  corner"  a  decade 


336 


Cook  County 


ago.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
principal  commercial  organizations 
in  the  country,  viz.,  the  Milwau- 
kee and  Minneapolis  Chambers  of 
Commerce,  New  York  Consolidat- 
ed Stock  Exchange,  New  York 
Produce  Exchange,  Pittsburg 
Stock  Exchange  and  St.  Louis 
Merchants'  Exchange,  besides  the 
Chicago  Board  of  Trade  and  Chi- 
cago Stock  Exchange. 

About  eighteen  years  ago  Lind- 
blom  became  closely  connected 
with  the  "farmers'  movement" 
and  contributed  by  speech  and 
pen  in  the  effort  to  bring  about 
a  reform  in  the  system  of  handling 
farm  products.  He  was  from  that 
time  on  a  constant  advocate  of  the 
abolition  of  option  trading  on 
boards  of  trade,  favoring  trading 
in  actual  grain  instead. 

Lindblom  affiliated  chiefly  with 
the  Democratic  party,  but  on  oc- 
casion gave  his  support  to  the 
Socialists,  without,  however,  parad- 
ing his  friendship  for  the  labor 
element  as  a  device  for  attaining 
political  preferment.  In  1893  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  and  was  chair- 
man of  its  finance  committee  from 
then  until  1896.  In  1898  Mayor 
Harrison  prevailed  upon  him  to 
become  a  member  of  the  Civil 
Service  Commission  of  Chicago, 
and  Mr.  Lindblom  served  as  pres- 
ident of  that  body  for  four  years, 
until  July,  1902.  During  the  pe- 
riod of  1893  to  l897  he  was  a 
member  of  Governor  John  P.  Alt- 
geld' s  staff,  with  the  honorary 
title  of  Colonel. 

We  find    Lindblom    among    the 


original  promoters  of  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition.  He  be- 
came one  of  its  thirty- six  direct- 
ors, and  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  promotion  wrote  the 
first  appeal  to  the  people  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  While  in 
Washington  before  the  Senate,  he 
was  one  of  five  men  to  subscribe 
the  half  million  dollars  then  lack- 
ing to  complete  Chicago's  pledge 
of  ten  million  dollars.  Mr.  L,ind- 
blom  served,  besides,  as  acting 
commissioner  of  the  Swedish  ex- 
hibit until  the  arrival  of  Arthur 
Leffler,  the  regular  commissioner. 
For  his  services  to  Sweden  in  that 
capacity  and  otherwise  in  con- 
nection with  the  World's  Fair,  he 
was  decorated  by  King  Oscar  with 
the  Order  of  Vasa. 

In  the  early  nineties  Lindblom 
launched  in  the  publishing  busi- 
ness with  a  daily  newspaper,  the 
Chicago  Press.  The  enterprise, 
however,  did  not  carry  itself,  and 
the  paper  suspended  publication 
after  a  brief  existence.  In  col- 
laboration with  Ira  C.  Emery, 
Ivindblom  wrote  a  book,  entitled 
"Unrest,"  a  sociological  novel,  in 
which  his  virile  pen  deals  ingeni- 
ously with  a  number  of  political 
and  social  problems.  He  was  a 
more  forcible  than  fluent  public 
speaker,  who,  forced  to  the  front 
by  his  personal  prominence  in  the 
community,  often  appeared  before 
his  fellow  countrymen  on  public 
occasions. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Union 
League  Club  and  the  Swedish 
Glee  Club  and  of  a  number  of 
other  organizations  in  this  city 


Chicago 


337 


and  elsewhere.  Of  the  Glee  Club 
he  was  an  active  promoter  and 
served  repeatedly  as  its  president, 
holding  that  distinction  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  In  him  not  only 
this  singing  aggregation  but  the 
united  Swedish-American  male 
choruses  had  one  of  their  best 
friends  and  patrons.  He  will  be 
remembered  as  the  one  who  do- 
nated a  championship  banner, 
valued  at  $500,  for  the  Scandi- 
navian singers'  festival,  held  at 
Minneapolis  in  1891. 

In  1874  Mr.  Lindblom  was 
married  at  Milwaukee,  to  Miss 
Hattie  Lewis  of  that  city,  who 
died  in  1895.  To  them  were  born 
two  daughters,  L,enore  and  Vesta, 
the  latter  married  to  Clas  Ake 
Mauritz  Pauli,  a  lieutenant  of  the 
Royal  Dragoons  of  Skane,  and 
residing  at  Ystad,  Sweden. 

Robert  L,indblom  passed  away 
Feb.  15,  1907,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years.  He  owned  a  handsome 
residence  at  678  L,a  Salle  ave. 
facing  Lincoln  Park,  and  left  an 
estate  valued  at  $15,000,  a  mere 
remnant  of  his  former  fortune. 


of  sixteen  he  entered  the  people's 
school  at  Myssjo,  and  two  years 
later  went  into  the  forests  to  earn 
his  living  as  a  lumberer. 


ERIK   ROSEN, 

who  for  the  past  fourteen  years 
has  been  in  charge  of  the  Swedish 
Baptist  Church  of  Englewood,  was 
engaged  in  evangelistic  work  in 
Sweden  for  a  long  period  before 
coming  to  the  United  States  and 
is  mentioned  among  the  foremost 
workers  in  the  Baptist  Church  in 
the  old  country.  He  was  born  at 
Myssjo,  Jamtland,  Sweden,  Nov. 
8,  1843,  and  had  a  Christian 
bringing  up  at  home.  At  the  age 


ERIK   ROSEN 

During  a  revival  at  Myssjo  in 
1864  Rosen  became  the  first  con- 
vert to  Baptism  in  that  locality. 
The  following  spring  he  went  to 
Sundsvall  and  became  the  as- 
sistant to  Olof  Engberg  in  col- 
portage  and  mission  work.  This 
work  he  continued,  traveling  in 
the  northern  provinces.  Having 
participated  in  a  course  of  instruc- 
tion in  a  Bible. school  at  Kullsta- 
berg,  he  preached  his  first  sermon 
at  Sonna,  Medelpad.  He  traveled 
afoot  as  an  unsalaried  missionary 
and  made  his  way  by  the  sale  of 
books  and  tracts.  The  following 
summer  he  took  another  course 
at  a  Bible  school  in  Sundsvall  and 
in  1866  entered  the  school  con- 
ducted by  Gustaf  Palmquist  in 
Stockholm. 

At    the    suggestion   of    Rev.  A. 


338 


Cook  County 


Wiberg,  Rosen  in  1870  made  a 
missionary  trip  to  Finland.  Hav- 
ing preached  for  a  month  in  Ja- 
kobstad,  he  was  arrested,  con- 
fronted with  the  rector  of  the 
parish  and  forbidden  to  continue 
preaching.  Disregarding  the  order, 
he  continued  his  labors  until  one 
day  a  mob  threatened  his  life, 
when  he  left  for  Vasa  and  preached 
there  for  a  season. 

In  the  fall  of  1870  Rosen  en- 
tered the  Bethel  Seminary  in 
Stockholm.  After  two  years'  study 
he  was  called  to  Gefle,  where  the 
Baptist  church  had  been  almost  an- 
nihilated on  account  of  the  burn- 
ing of  the  city  in  .1870.  He  col- 
lected the  remnants  of  the  church 
and  opened  missions  in  the  neigh- 
boring parishes,  also  extending 
his  labors  to  the  adjacent  prov- 
inces. 

In  1882  Rev.  Rosen  removed  to 
Falun,  where  he  had  aided  in  or- 
ganizing a  church,  and  labored  as 
its  pastor  for  six  years.  The 
next  five  years  he  preached  at 
Hudiksvall.  Through  his  efforts 
the  Gefle  and  Falun  District  Con- 
ference was  formed. 

Emigrating  to  America  in  1892, 
Rev.  Rosen  took  charge  of  the 
church  in  McKeesport,  Pa.,  for  a 
short  period.  The  following  year 
he  accepted  a  call  to  Chicago, 
where  he  has  given  the  Englewood 
church  excellent  pastoral  service 
up  to  the  end  of  the  year  1907, 
when  he  left  this  charge  to  reen- 
ter  the  service  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  the  mother  country, 
where  he  is  known  among  his 
brethren  as  "the  apostle  of  Norr- 


land,"  owing    to    his  efficient  pio- 
neer   work    in    that    region. 

Mr.  Rosen  was  married  in  Gefle 
Dec.  1 6,  1876,  to  Helena  Hammar- 
berg,  who  passed  away  in  Hudiks- 
vall Jan.  9,  1889.  There  were  in 
this  marriage  three  sons,  of  whom 
one,  Edward  Daniel,  now  25  years 
old,  is  still  living.  Sept.  12,  1901, 
he  married  Maria  E.  Modig,  with 
whom  he  has  three  sons,  of  whom 
two  died.  Theodor  Emanuel  is  ' 
still  living,  4  years  old. 


ALFRED  STROMBERG, 

inventor,  was  born  in    Stockholm, 
Sweden,     March     9,     1861.      His 


ALFRED  STROMBERG 

early  life  was  spent  in  the  vicinity 
of  that  city.  In  1876  he  began 
work  in  the  electrical  field  and  in 
1879-80  had  charge  of  a  large 
part  of  the  work  of  installing  the 
telephone  exchange  in  Stockholm. 
Later  he  had  charge  of  the  con- 
struction and  the  installation  of 
a  large  number  of  exchanges 


Chicago 


339 


throughout  the  Scandinavian 
peninsula  and  Denmark. 

In  1885  Mr.  Stromberg  having 
left  Sweden  for  the  New  World, 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Bell 
Telephone  Co.,  in  Chicago.  He 
remained  in  the  instrument  and 
construction  departments  of  this 
company  until  1890,  during  which 
time  he  made  a  number  of  in- 
ventions, some  of  which  are  still 
used  by  the  Bell  Company.  Mr. 
Stromberg  then  took  charge  of 
the  practical  work  of  the  Chicago 
Electric  Protective  Co.'s  Burglar 
Alarm  System.  While  in  this 
position  he  made  a  number  of 
improvements  and  inventions,  and 
the  company  is  now  operating 
under  what  is  known  as  the 
"Stromberg  system." 

When  the  fundamental  tele- 
phone patents  expired  in  1894, 
Mr.  Stromberg  entered  the  inde- 
pendent telephone  field  with  An- 
drov  Carlson,  incorporating  in 
1895  as  the  Stromberg-Carlson 
Telephone  Mfg.  Co.  By  1901, 
they  had  a  force  of  1,200  men 
and  the  business  transacted  a 
month  amounted  to  $200,000. 

In  1903  the  establishment  was 
consolidated  with  several  large 
eastern  companies,  the  firm  now 
having  $20,000,000  capital  and 
employing  2,500  men.  Mr.  Strom- 
berg has  retired  from  the  firm 
and  is  now  president  of  the  Gold- 
berg Motor  Car  Devices  Mfg.  Co. 
at  1253  Michigan  ave.  His  old 
partner  Androv  Carlson  is  still 
associated  with  him. 

In  1886  Mr.  Stromberg  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Johnson,  also 


a  native  of  Stockholm.  They 
have  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
The  family  residence  is  at  2305 
Sheridan  Road. 


OLOF  VAL,L,EY, 

the    well-known   basso,    was   born 
Sept.    27,    1868    in    L/jusne,    Hel- 


OLOF  VALLEY 

singland,  where  his  father  was 
for  over  40  years  foreman  of  a 
saw  mill.  The  son  came  to  this 
country  in  1887  and  located  in 
Chicago,  where  he  followed  the 
trade  of  a  machinist. 

Joining  the  Swedish  Glee  Club, 
he  contributed  not  a  little  to  its 
superb  singing.  Mr.  Valley  went 
with  the  chorus  on  the  trip  to 
Sweden  in  1897.  He  studied  the 
voice  with  prominent  teachers 
in  Chicago.  He  appeared  in 
numerous  concerts  as  bass  soloist 
and  had  several  appointments  in 
church  quartets.  Entering  the 
Chicago  Conservatory  of  Music 
he  was  graduated  in  1902. 


340 


Cook  County 


In  1904  Mr.  Valley  accepted  a 
call  as  director  of  music  at  the 
Kansas  State  Agricultural  College 
at  Manhattan,  Kansas.  Prof.  Val- 
ley is  at  the  head  of  the  music 
department  and  is  director  of  the 
college  chorus.  In  the  summer 
of  1907  he  toured  the  states  with 
an  organization  called  "The  Olof 
Valley  Company"  and  met  with 
fine  success. 

Prof.  Valley  is  a  man  of  fine 
physique  and  has  a  splendid  bass 
voice  of  wide  range. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  on 
May  2,  1896  with  Anna  Ostbom, 
daughter  of  Lieut.  N.  F.  G. 
Ostbom  of  the  Royal  Svea  Artil- 
lery Regiment.  A  son,  Norman, 
was  born  to  them  July  26,  1898. 


EMU,  AND  ERIC  WERNER. 

The  elder  brother,  Emil  Werner, 
was    born    at     Snaflunda     parish, 


Askersund,  he  emigrated  in  1887 
direct  to  Chicago.  Mr.  Werner 
was  married  on  June  29,  1902,  to 
Miss  Cecilia  Carlson  of  Chicago. 
A  son,  Nels,  was  born  to  them. 
Eric  Werner  was  born  at  Snaf- 
lunda, Dec.  21,  1872.  He  studied 
at  the  Carolinian  Institute  at 


ERIC  A.   WERNER 


Nerike,    June    29,     1862.       After 
attending  school  for  some  time  at 


EMIL  WERNER 

Orebro  until  1887  when  he  emi- 
grated to  America  together  with 
his  brother.  In  1892  the  two 
brothers  engaged  in  the  expressing, 
storage  and  coal  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Werner  Bros. 
The  beginning  was  modest  but 
with  time  the  business  has  grown 
to  be  the  largest  of  its  kind  on 
the  north  side.  The  firm  has 
one  large  storage  warehouse  at 
18-24  Evanston  ave.,  another  one 
at  266-272  Lincoln  ave.,  a. third 
at  1968-70  Evanston  ave.,  Sheri- 
dan Park.  The  firm  employs  150 
men,  has  20  moving  vans,  a  large 
number  of  express  and  heavy 
truck  wagons,  and  125  horses. 


Chicago 


341 


They  have  over  500  fire  proof 
rooms  for  the  storage  of  furnit- 
ure, household  goods  and  works 
of  art. 

Emil  Werner  died  April  19,  1906, 
so  that  now  the  management  de- 
volves upon  the  younger  brother. 

Mr.  Eric  Werner  has  twice 
visited  his  old  home  in  Sweden. 
He  also  traveled  through  other 
European  countries. 

Jan.  13,  1904,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Ellen  Nelson,  born  in 
Copenhagen,  of  Danish  parents, 
June  4,  1884,  the  wedding  being 
celebrated  with  splendid  festivities 
at  the  club  house  of  the  Swedish 
Glee  Club,  of  which  Mr.  Werner 
is  a  member.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wer- 
ner have  a  daughter  named  Vivian. 


Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  the 
Chicago  Medical  Society,  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association,  the 


ANDERS  FRICK, 

doctor  of  medicine,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Malmo,  Sweden,  Jan. 
12,  1868.  He  attended  the  Malmo 
collegiate  school  and  later,  the 
University  of  L,und.  After  grad- 
uating in  September,  1896,  from  the 
renowned  Carolinian  Medico- Sur- 
gical Institute  in  Stockholm,  he 
came  to  the  United  States  in  the 
following  December. 

Dr.  Frick  is  a  successful  prac- 
titioner enjoying  high  standing 
among  Chicago's  medical  profes- 
sion. He  was  associate  to  the 
chair  of  Therapeutics  at  Rush 
Medical  College  1901-1905  and 
is  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Au- 
gnstana  Hospital  since  November, 
1903,  and  is  assistant  chief  of  its 
medical  department. 

Dr.  Frick  is  a    member    of    the 


ANDERS  FRICK 

Scandinavian  Medical  Society  of 
Chicago,  the  German  Medical 
Society  of  Chicago,  the  Swedish 
Medical  Society  of  Stockholm  and 
of  the  Swedish  Glee  Club. 


FRITHIOF  V.  HEDEEN 

was  born  Dec.  9,  1875,  in  Stock- 
holm. In  his  home  city  he  at- 
tended the  North  L,atin  School, 
his  studies  there  forming  a  good 
foundation  for  his  future  work  in 
America.  In  1891  he  emigrated 
and  several  years  later  became  in- 
terested in  religious  work.  After 
serving  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church 
in  Altona,  111.,  he  entered  the 
Swedish  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  University  of  Chicago.  In 
the  summer  of  1900  he  served  the 
church  in  Brunswick,  Minn.,  and 


342 

in  1901  had  a  call  to  become  pas- 
tor at  Evanston.  During  this  same 
year  he  was  ordained  and  two 


Cook  County 


FRITHIOF   V.  HEDEEN 

years  later  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Chicago. 

Rev.  Hedeen  has  done  splendid 
work  in  the  Swedish  Baptist  church 
in  Evanston.  There  has  been 
progress  both  spiritually  and  finan- 
cially during  his  pastorate,  a  large 
part  of  the  church  debt  having 
been  paid  off  and  more  than  one 
hundred  members  added  to  the 
congregation. 

He  has  served  as  vice-president 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Young 
People's  Union  of  America.  Mr. 
Frithiof  Hedeen  has  recently  left 
the  ministry,  and  has  now  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  jeweler  at  1595 
35th  street. 

In  1897  Mr.  Hedeen  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  Olson,  a  union 
which  has  been  blessed  with  two 
sons. 


JOHN   A.  WALGREN 

was  born  at  Danville,  111.,  Feb.  9, 
1870.  He  was  graduated  from 
the  elementary  school  in  Oskars- 
hamn  with  highest  honors  in  1884; 
from  the  Minneapolis  high  school 
in  1889,  and  from  the  Minnesota 
State  University  College  of  Law 
in  1891,  whereupon  he  entered  the 
law  offices  of  Hon.  John  P.  Rea 
and  Eli  Torrance.  He  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law,  being  admit- 
ted to  the  Supreme  Courts  of 
Minnesota  and  Illinois. 

In  the  campaign  of  1900,  Mr. 
Walgren  toured  Nebraska  as 
speaker  for  the  National  Repub- 
lican Committee  the  members  of 
which  in  a  letter  to  him  highly 
commended  his  work  "on  the  firing 
line." 

He  has  devoted  some  of  his 
time  to  literature  and  occult  stud- 
ies, being  the  author  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  periodical,  Golden 
Youth. 

Mr.  Walgren  is  the  founder  of 
the  Prentice  Mulford  Club  in  the 
Auditorium  Building,  and  is  man- 
ager at  5507  Indiana  ave. 


CHARLES  L.  SWANSON, 

born  Oct.  31,  1870,  is  a  native 
Chicagoan.  With  a  foundation 
laid  in  the  public  schools,  he  ac- 
quired a  legal  education  at  the 
Law  School  of  the  Lake  Forest 
University,  and,  upon  being  ad- 
mitted to  practice,  established  a 
law  office.  At  present,  Mr.  Swan- 
son  holds  the  position  of  assistant 
trial  attorney  in  the  City  Attor- 
ney's office. 


Chicago 


343 


Mr.  Swanson  is  identified  with 
a  number  of  orders  and  fraternal 
societies.  He  is  commander  of 
the  Norden  Tent;  chaplain  of  the 
John  C.  Fremont  Council,  National 
Union;  president  of  the  Lincoln 
Singing  Club;  member  of  the  K. 
O.  Iv.  M.,  and  of  the  26th  Ward 
Republican  Club. 

Jan.  9,  1895,  Mr.  Swanson  was 
married  to  Miss  Millie  Hegberg. 


CHARLES  S.  PETERSON, 

proprietor   of    the    Peterson  Lino- 
type Company,  and  silent  partner 


CHARLES 


S.  PETERSON 


in  the  Regan  Printing  Company, 
was  born  at  Daglosen,  Vermland, 
Sweden,  Aug.  29,  1873.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  came  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  was  first  employed 
on  the  Swedish  weekly  newspaper, 
Hemlandet.  In  1888  he  went  west, 
stayed  in  Colorado  for  some  time 
and  then  proceeded  to  California. 
Subsequently  he  made  a  trip  to 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  returning 


to  California  after  two  years.  In 
1895  he  came  back  to  Chicago 
and  became  linotype  operator  for 
the  weekly  Svenska  Amerikanaren^ 
continuing  in  that  position  until 
1899,  which  year  he  organized  the 
Peterson  L/inotype  Company,  at 
present  the  largest  concern  of  its 
kind  in  Chicago. 

In  1901  Mr.  Peterson  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Thyra  Hjert- 
quist,  daughter  of  Gabriel  Hjert- 
quist,  the  veteran  foreman  of  the 
typographical  department  of  Sven- 
ska Amerikanaren. 


ANDERS  HESSEIv, 

grand  secretary  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Vikings,  was  born 
Jan.  22,  1872.  His  father,  Ed- 
ward Hessel,  who  was  a  sailor, 
died  in  1904.  After  obtaining  an 


ANDERS   HESSEL 


education  in  a  public  academy 
and  a  manual  training  school  in 
Sweden,  Mr.  Hessel  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1890  and  lo- 


344 


Cook  County 


cated  in  Chicago  the  following 
year. 

After  coming  to  this  country 
he  supplemented  his  education  by 
a  course  in  a  business  college. 
For  twelve  years  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  Marshall  Field  &  Com- 
pany, as  salesman  in  the  whole- 
sale upholstery  department. 

He  is  a  member  of  Brage  Lodge 
No.  2  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Vikings,  and  was  elected  sec- 
retary of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Order  in  1905.  Mr.  Hessel  also 
belongs  to  the  Orpheus  Singing 
Club. 


ANDROV  CARLSON 

was   born    May    9,    1854,    on    the 
Tommared    estate,     Karl     Gustaf 


ANDROV  CARLSON 

parish,  Vestergotland.  His  par- 
ents, Carl  and  Anna  Britta  Johan- 
son,  were  farmer  folk  who  died 
on  the  old  estate.  The  son  emi- 
grated in  1880,  landing  at  Phila- 
delphia and  proceeded  to  Chicago. 


Becoming  restless,  he  spent  three 
years  in  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, but  finally  returned  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  has  since  resided. 
Mr.  Carlson  obtained  employment 
at  the  Deering  Harvester  Works 
and  later  with  various  electrical 
appliance  companies,  such  as  the 
Chicago  Telephone  Company. 

In  company  with  Alfred  Strom- 
berg  he  formed  the  Stromberg- 
Carlson  Telephone  Company, which 
was  incorporated  in  1895.  In  June, 
1901,  the  firm  purchased  the  seven 
story  factory  building  located  at 
the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Clinton 
streets,  which,  together  with  the 
adjoining  four  story  building  which 
had  been  previously  acquired,  gave 
them  superior  facilities  for  meet- 
ing the  increasing  demand  for 
their  products.  The  firm  em- 
ployed 1,200  men  and  had  a  busi- 
ness of  over  $200,000  a  month. 
In  1903  the  business  was  consoli- 
dated with  several  eastern  con- 
cerns. In  1906  the  company  had 
increased  its  capital  to  $20,000,000 
and  now  employs  2,500  men,  truly 
a  marvelous  growth  from  a  small 
beginning. 

Mr.  Carlson  has  retired  from 
the  telephone  business  and  is  now 
treasurer  of  the  Goldberg  Motor 
Car  Devices  Mfg.  Co.  at  1253  Michi- 
gan ave.  and  is  still  associated 
with  his  old  partner,  Alfred 
Stromberg. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  in  1886  mar- 
ried to  Christine  Hillstrom,  with 
whom  he  has  had  eight  children, 
of  which  three  boys  and  two  girls 
are  still  living.  The  family  re- 


Chicago 


345 


sides  in  an  elegant  home  at   2693 
Sheridan  Road. 


PETRUS  SWARTZ, 

clergyman  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  was  born  April  13,  1860, 


PETRUS  SWARTZ 

in  Ousby  parish,  Skane,  Sweden. 
At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  joined 
the  Gota  I,ife  Guards,  passed  the 
subaltern  officer's  examination  with 
the  highest  honors  and  resigned 
from  the  regiment  in  1882. 
While  in  the  military  service  he 
became  a  member  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Stockholm. 

Desirous  of  serving  the  church 
as  a  preacher,  he  entered  the 
Bethel  Seminary  at  Stockholm, 
taking  a  course  of  theological 
instruction  there  until  1885,  when 
he  left  for  the  United  States. 

Coming  to  Chicago,  he  was  in 
charge  of  the  Englewood  church 
and  of  the  Fourth  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  for  a  time  and  then 
continued  his  divinity  studies  at 


the  Morgan  Park  seminary,  grad- 
uating in  1889.  He  now  served 
the  churches  in  Rockfbrd,  111., 
and  Omaha,  Neb.,  before  return- 
ing to  Chicago  as  pastor  of  the 
L,ake  View  church  in  1898.  In 
1907  Rev.  Mr.  Swartz  assumed 
the  pastorate  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
In  1895  Rev.  Swartz  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence and  in  that  capacity  edited 
the  yearbook  of  the  Swedish 
Baptist  churches  for  several  years 
following.  He  also  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Illinois  Conference 
and  as  a  member  ^>f  a  committee 
to  edit  a  new  Swedish  Baptist 
hymnal,  published  some  years  ago. 


CARL  GUSTAF  NORMAN, 

editor  of  Svenska  Tribunen-Nyheter, 
was  born  Oct.   19,    1861,    at    Taf- 


CARL  GUSTAF  NORMAN 

velsas,     Smaland,     Sweden.       He 
worked  for  a  time  as  assistant  to 


346 


Cook  County 


a  surveyor  before  emigrating  in 
1879.  The  same  year  he  entered 
Augustana  College  and  pursued 
studies,  with  intervals,  until  1890, 
when  he  was  graduated  from  the 
theological  seminary  and  ordained 
minister  of  the  Augustana  Synod. 
In  1882-83  he  was  instructor  at 
Bethany  College,  Lindsborg,  Kan- 
sas, and  in  1887-88  edited  Framdt, 
a  weekly  newspaper,  published  in 
that  town. 

Mr.  Norman  entered  upon  his 
ministerial  career  as  pastor  in 
Center ville,  R.  I.,  and  Williman- 
tic,  Conn.  After  a  year  he  as- 
sumed a  charge  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  where  h«  edited  a  weekly 
paper,  Framat,  1892-95,  having 
resigned  his  pastorate.  He  sub- 
sequently resumed  preaching  as 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Jersey  City,  but  again 
exchanged  the  pulpit  for  the  edi- 
torial chair  in  1897  when  he  left 
the  ministry  and  became  editor  of 
Pohtjernan,  a  new  journalistic  en- 
terprise in  Brooklyn.  He  worked 
on  different  papers  for  a  time  and 
in  1899  became  editor-in-chief  of 
Svea,  a  weekly  newspaper  in 
Worcester,  Mass.  Mr.  Norman 
left  Worcester  in  1906,  and  came 
to  Chicago,  assuming  a  correspond- 
ing position  with  Svenska-  Tribunen- 
Nyheter. 

Norman  possesses  a  poetic  talent 
above  the  average  versifier.  In 
the  early  '8os  he  began  to  write 
verse  for  the  papers  and  has  con- 
tinued cultivating  that  form  of 
literature  to  the  present.  Culled 
from  the  indifferent  mass  of  his 
poetic  productions,  his  best  poems 


would  make  a  meritorious    collec- 
tion. 


WALFRID  JOHNSON 

was  born  in    Sweden,    March    22, 
1874,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days 


WALFRID  JOHNSON 

on  his  father's  farm  in  Rudskoga 
parish,  Vermland.  After  finishing 
the  course  offered  in  the  public 
school,  he  decided  to  train  him- 
self for  a  mercantile  career.  With 
a  few  dollars  in  his  pocket,  he 
set  out  for  the  nearest  city.  He 
entered  the  Karlskrona  manual 
training  school,  from  the  mercan- 
tile department  of  which  he  grad- 
uated with  honor  in  1893.  The 
same  year  he  emigrated  and  at 
once  settled  in  Chicago,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  secured 
a  position  in  the  wholesale  de- 
partment of  Marshall  Field  and 
Co.,  where  he  was  employed  until 
ten  years  ago,  when  he  accepted 
a  position  with  the  Stern  Clothing 
Company.  He  left  the  service  of 


Chicago 


347 


this  house  to  join  with  the  L,ind- 
sten  Clothing  Co.,  1713  North 
Clark  st.,  as  a  member  of  the 
firm. 

Mr.  Johnson  belongs  to  the 
Free  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  For- 
esters and  the  Vikings.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Messiah 
Lutheran  Church,  Lake  View. 


A.  E.  G.  WINGARD, 

one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Swed- 
ish weekly  Svenska  Amerikanaren , 


A.   EDWIN  G.  WINGARD 

was  born  Sept,  26,  1841,  in  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  at  Marieholms  bruk, 
a  large  manufacturing  establish- 
ment owned  by  his  father,  A.  Win- 
gard. In  addition  to  a  common 
school  preparation,  the  son  attend- 
ed the  Jonkoping  elementary  school 
or  college,  which  he  left  before 
completing  the  course  to  assume 
the  duties  of  bookkeeper  in  his 
father's  establishment.  The  year 
1867  was  one  of  great  financial 
depression  in  Sweden,  and  emigra- 


tion to  the  United  States  assumed 
unprecedented  proportions.  Young 
Wingard  followed  the  westward 
current  across  the  Atlantic  and 
located  in  Princeton,  111.  He  was 
employed  in  a  dry  goods  store  in 
that  city  for  the  next  five  years. 
In  1872  he  came  from  Princeton 
to  Chicago.,  Two  years  later  he 
secured  employment  as  a  salesman 
in  the  Marshall  Field  retail  estab- 
lishment and  remained  with  this 
house  for  eight  years.  His  sub- 
sequent employment  was-  that  of 
advertising  solicitor  for  Svenska 
Amerikanaren.  In  1884  he  pur- 
chased from  Gabriel  Hjertquist 
the  stock  in  the  newspaper,  owned 
by  him,  and  since  1888,  when  F. 
A.  Lindstrand  purchased  the  ma- 
jority of  the  stock,  the  two  have 
been  joint  proprietors  and  pub- 
lishers. 

Mr.  Wingard  is  affiliated  with 
no  organizations  other  than  the 
Swedish  Glee  Club. 

Sept.  16,  1897,  Mr.  Wingard 
was  married  to  Miss  Olivia  Swan- 
soii  of  Chicago.  Mrs.  Wingard  is 
a  native  of  St.  Charles,  111.  The 
couple  live  comfortably  at  1270 
Sheridan  road. 


NILS  A.  NELSON, 

president  of  the  Scandia  Life  In- 
surance Company  of  Chicago  and 
secretary  of  the  Svea  Loan  and 
Building  Ass' n,  came  to  America  in 
1 88 1  from  Halland,  Sweden,  He 
was  born  in  Hvalinge  Jan.  15, 
1860,  his  father  being  Borge  Nils- 
son,  who  still  lives  on  the  old 
farm. 


348 


Cook  County 


After  about  four  years  in  this 
country,  Mr.  Nelson  entered  the 
Metropolitan  Business  College  of 


NILS  A.  NELSON 

Chicago,  where  he  spent  fifteen 
months  in  preparing  for  commer- 
cial life.  In  the  fall  of  1886  he 
obtained  a  position  with  a  large 
Board  of  Trade  firm,  where  he 
continued  for  about  ten  years, 
most  of  the  time  having  charge 
of  the  grain  receiving  department. 
In  1893  the  Svea  Building  and 
Loan  Association  was  organized 
and  Mr.  Nelson  was  elected  pres- 
ident and  in  1896  secretary  of  the 
association.  Resigning  his  posi- 
tion with  the  Board  of  Trade 
firm,  he  has  since  made  Svea  one 
of  the  most  solid  financial  insti- 
tutions in  Chicago.  Mr.  Nelson 
also  deals  in  real  estate,  loans  and 
insurance,  and  has  been  treasurer 
and  is  now  president  of  Scandia 
Life  Insurance  Company,  having 
been  elected  to  the  latter  office  in 
April,  1905.  He  was  the  virtual 


organizer  of  the  Chicago  Cemetery 
Association  and  has  constantly 
served  as  its  secretary. 

While  a  thorough  American  at 
heart,  Mr.  Nelson  takes  pride  in 
his  origin  and  retains  a  warm 
love  for  the  mother  country.  He 
is  ever  ready  to  further  the  inter- 
ests of  his  fellow-countrymen,  in 
business,  in  politics  and  in  church 
affairs. 

As  a  member  of  the  Bethlehem 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  En- 
glewood,  he  has  held  a  place  on 
its  board  of  deacons  for  ten  years 
past,  and  served  for  three  years 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

His  marriage  to  Adelia  H.  M. 
Olson,  daughter  of  Herman  Olson, 
dry  goods  merchant,  took  place 
April  30,  1895.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nelson's  children  are  Byron  Le 
Roy,  born  1897,  Norman  A.,  born 
1901,  and  Stanley  Everett,  born 
1905- 

G.  EDWIN  SANDSTEDT 

was  born  April  17,  1876,  at  Gow- 
rie,  Webster  co.,  Iowa,  where  his 
father  was  a  farmer.  Young  Sand- 
stedt  attended  the  public  schools 
of  that  state  until  he  was  fifteen 
years  old.  In  the  year  1892  he 
moved  with  the  family  to  Kansas, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  that  state 
and  in  1899  came  to  Chicago. 

Entering  the  Teachers'  Review 
School,  he  graduated  in  the  spring 
of  1900,  and  subsequently  attended 
night  school  at  the  Harvey  Med- 
ical College.  In  1900  he  took  an 


Chicago 


349 


agency  with  the  Prudential  L,ife 
Insurance  Company,  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  assistant  local 


G.    EDWIN  SANDSTEDT 

superintendent  and  remained  with 
that  company  until  1902. 

The  last  few  years  Mr.  Sand- 
stedt  has  devoted  to  the  study  of 
medicine,  completing  his  course  at 
the  National  Medical  University 
in  the  spring  of  1907.  His  office 
is  at  1741  N.  Clark  st. 


ALECK  E.  JOHNSON, 

publisher  of  Gam  la  och  Nya  Hem- 
landct,  was  born  July  29,  1840,  in 
Karlskoga,  Vermland,  Sweden.  He 
came  to  America  in  1854  with  his 
parents.  The  whole  family  became 
affected  with  the  then  prevalent 
cholera  epidemic,  and  the  father 
died  soon  after  the  train  pulled 
into  Chicago.  The  rest  of  the 
family  were  taken  to  the  hospital 
and  later  assisted  by  an  American 
family.  Aleck  had  four  years' 
schooling  at  Mt.  Carroll  Seminary 


in  Mt.  Carroll,  111.,  and  then  began 
the  battle  of  life. 

About  thirty  years  ago  Mr. 
Johnson  went  to  St.  Paul  in  the 
capacity  of  commissioner  of  emi- 
gration for  the  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis &  Manitoba  Railway.  In 
1883  he  organized  the  firm  of  A. 
E.  Johnson  &  Co.,  land  and  immi- 
gration agents,  at  St.  Paul.  Since 
that  time,  the  firm  of  A.  E.  John- 
son Company  has  established  head- 
quarters at  Chicago,  Minneapolis, 
St.  Paul,  Seattle,  Boston  and  New 
York  City,  Mr.  Johnson  remaining 
at  the  head  of  the  firm.  For  the 
past  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Johnson 
has  made  New  York  his  head- 
quarters, where  he  is  the  general 


ALECK  E.  JOHNSON 

passenger  agent  for  the  Scandinav- 
ian-American L,ine. 

His  career  as  a  publisher  began 
in  1891,  when  Mr.  Johnson 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Gain  la 
och  Nya  Hemlandet,  forming  the 
firm  of  Johnson  &  Soderholm. 


350 


Cook  County 


Five  years  later  he  bought  his 
partner's  share  and  formed  the 
present  Hemlandet  Co. 

In  1905,  Mr.  Johnson  bought 
an  interest  in  the  only  Swedish 
newspaper  published  at  New  York 
City,  the  Nordstjernan. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  the  Swedish  con- 
sul in  New  York,  and  has  been 
an  instrument  of  much  good  to 
Scandinavian  immigrants.  In  re- 
cognition of  this  fact  he  was  dec- 
orated by  King  Oscar  II.  with  the 
order  of  Vasa,  and  in  1906  was 
awarded  the  decoration  of  the  order 
of  Dannebrog  by  King  Fredrik  of 
Denmark.  In  1907  he  was  given 
the  degree  of  L,L,.  D.  by  Upsala 
College,  Orange,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
council  of  the  Swedish- American 
Historical  Society  and  chairman 
of  its  finance  committee,  chairman 
of  the  Swedish  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  New  York,  vice- 
president  of  the  Scandinavian  Sail- 
ors' Temperance  Home  in  Brook- 
lyn and  a  trustee  of  the  Swedish 
hospital  in  Brooklyn. 


Mr.  Christopher  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Apollo  Musical 
Club  for  several  years.  The  ex- 


E.  BERNHARD  CHRISTOPHER 
was  born  April  22,  1866,  at  Domn- 
arfvet,  Dalarne,  Sweden.  After 
obtaining  a  fundamental  education 
he  emigrated  in  1886  and  made 
his  home  in  Chicago.  He  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  bicycles 
and,  later,  of  automobiles.  The 
Christopher  Bros,  establishment  is 
at  1049  Sheffield  ave.,  where  is 
built  the  "Triumph,"  a  self-start- 
ing car  of  30  horsepower.  General 
machine  work  and  repairing  is 
also  done  at  the  place. 


E.    BERNHARD   CHRISTOPHER 

perience  thus  gained  has  been  put 
to  good  use,  for  he  has  been  the 
choirmaster  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  in  L,ake  View  since 
and  has  drilled  more  than 


one  Handel  chorus  with  his  choir. 
Mr.  Christopher  was  married  in 
September,  1887,  to  Miss  Carolina 
Borggren.  Their  children  are: 
Richard  B.,  born  1888;  Magnhild 
C.,  1890;  Gerald  E.,  1892;  Elmer 
J.,  1895,  and  Herbert,  1897. 


GRANDER  E.  WAI^D, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
of  Swedish  parents  in  Bagn,  Nor- 
way, Sept.  7,  1868.  His  father 
was  a  timber  dealer  in  Ostersund, 
doing  business  on  both  sides  of 
the  boundary  line  between  Sweden 
and  Norway.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  when  the  son  was 
four  years  of  age,  settling  at 


Chicago 

Grand  Forks,  N.  D.,  whence  the 
family  removed  to  Willapa,  Wash., 
in  1878.  The  son  later  returned  to 


OLANDER    E.   WALD 

Grand  Forks  to  study.  The  high 
school  course  completed,  he  entered 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  but 
interrupted  his  studies  to  become 
agent  for  Northern  Pacific  lands 
in  the  state  of  Washington.  In 
1894  Mr.  Wald  entered  the  med- 
ical department  of  the  University 
of  Illinois  and  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  1898.  Dr.  Wald's 
first  appointment  was  that  of  field 
surgeon  of  the  Scandinavian  regi- 
ment organized  in  Minneapolis  for 
service  in  the  war  with  Spain, 
but  which  did  not  take  the  field, 
owing  to  the  sudden  termination 
of  the  eventful  war.  Subse- 
quently Dr.  Wald  did  post-grad- 
uate work  for  two  years  at  Johns 
Hopkins  University  under  Dr.  Os- 
ier. During  the  second  year  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  dispensary 
of  the  university.  In  June,  1901, 


351 

he  was  appointed  interne  at  Au- 
gustana  Hospital,  serving  until 
December,  1903.  Soon  after,  he 
was  made  surgeon-in-chief  of  the 
Bethesda  and  Lincoln  Park  hos- 
pitals. 

In  June,  1905,  Dr.  Wald  and 
others  founded  the  Lake  View 
Hospital  at  1728  Belmont  ave., 
an  institution  headed  by  him  in 
the  capacity  of  chief  surgeon. 

In  1906,  Dr.  Wald  was  appointed 
professor  of  surgery  at  the  Jenner 
Medical  College. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Medical  Society,  of  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society  and  the 
Scandinavian  Medical  Society  of 
Chicago;  also  member  and  exam- 
ining physician  of  the  Thor  and 
Vega  societies  and  of  various 
lodges  of  the  Independent  Orders 
of  Svithiod,  Vikings  and  Macca- 
bees, of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and 
the  Royal  Arcanum. 

Dr.  Wald  is  affiliated  with  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


HARRY   OLSON, 

Chief  Justice  of  the  Municipal 
Court  of  Chicago,  was  born  in 
Chicago  Aug.  4,  1867.  His  father, 
Olof  G.  Olson,  was  a  stone  mason 
and  bricklayer,  who  was  born  in 
Filipstad,  Vermland.  The  mother, 
Clara  C.  Olson,  was  born  at  Sock- 
holm.  The  family  came  to  Chicago 
in  1865.  When  the  son  was  three 
years  old,  the  family  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  the  father  died  nine 
years  later.  The  family  then  re- 
turned to  this  state,  to  Win- 


352 


Cook  County 


nebago  county,  where  Mr.  Olson 
was  graduated  from  the  Pecato- 
nica  high  school  in  1885.  He 


HARRY   OLSON 

subsequently  taught  school  for  two 
years  in  Kansas,  and  became  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools  of  St. 
Mary's,  Kansas,  in  1887.  He 
studied  at  Washburne  College,  To- 
peka,  for  a  like  period  and  later 
entered  Union  College  of  L,aw  in 
Chicago,  completing  the  course 
and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1891.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
general  practice  of  law  for  the 
next  five  years*  and  in  1896  was 
appointed  assistant  state's  attorney 
under  Charles  S.  Deneen.  He  re- 
mained in  that  office  for  ten  years, 
having  been  twice  reappointed. 
The  first  important  case  that  Mr. 
Olson  conducted  in  Chicago  was 
the  trial  of  Moran  and  Healy, 
charged  with  the  killing  of  Swan 
Nelson,  in  which  case  he  was  as- 
sociated with  L,uther  L,aflin  Mills 
for  the  prosecution. 


During  the  time  that  Mr.  Olson 
was  assistant  state's  attorney  of 
Cook  county  he  was  entrusted 
with  the  conduct  of  many  of  the 
most  important  cases  prosecuted 
in  that  office,  some  of  which  at- 
tracted national  attention.  On 
account  of  the  publicity  given  to 
the  great  trials  held  in  the  crim- 
inal court  of  Cook  county,  which, 
because  of  its  extensive  jurisdic- 
tion, is  one  of  the  greatest  criminal 
tribunals  in  the  world,  Mr.  Olson's 
eminent  service  in  that  court  made 
him  widely  known  and  gave  him 
national  reputation  as  a  barrister. 

Mr.  Olson's  last  and  one  of  his 
greatest  services  to  the  people  in 
his  capacity  of  assistant  state's  at- 
attorney  consisted  in  apprehending 
in  Morocco  and  returning  to  the 
state  of  Illinois  the  fugitive  bank 
looter,  Paul  O.  Stensland,  former 
president  of  the  Milwaukee  Ave. 
State  Bank,  and  procuring  his 
conviction  and  sentence  to  a  term 
in  the  state  penitentiary.  It  may 
be  added  that  Mr.  Olson  materially 
assisted  Mr.  Deneen  in  creating 
the  so-called  "Bankers'  Row"  in 
that  institution. 

When  in  1906  Chicago  abolished 
the  justice  court  and  constable 
system  and  established  in  its  stead 
the  Municipal  Court,  the  new  sys- 
tem, to  be  an  improvement  on 
the  old,  required  men  of  higher 
legal  standing  and  better  records 
than  the  average  justice  of  the 
peace.  Each  of  the  two  dominant 
parties  looked  about  for  a  man 
particularly  well  qualified  for  the 
position  of  Chief  Justice  of  the 
twenty-seven  branches  of  the  new 


Chicago 


353 


court,  and  the  Republicans  selected 
as  their  candidate  Harry  Olson, 
who  was  elected  Nov.  6,  1906, 
with  a  plurality  of  31,000  over 
the  opposing  candidates,  one  a 
Republican,  the  other  a  Democrat, 
a  jurist  of  local  eminence.  As  the 
directing  head  of  this  important 
branch  of  the  judicial  system  of 
Chicago,  Mr.  Olson  holds  one  of 
the  foremost  offices  in  the  city. 
The  Municipal  Court  of  Chicago 
is  the  largest  court  in  the  state 
in  the  number  of  judges  and  the 
volume  of  business  transacted. 

In  1891  Mr.  Olson  was  married 
to  Miss  Berenice  Miller  of  Peca- 
tonica,  111.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, Harry,  Sanford  and  Jane. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olson  attend  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


graduate  work  at  the  Chicago 
Lying-in  Hospital.  For  one  year, 
1903-04,  she  held  the  position  of 


JOHANNA  K.  T.  DAHLGREN, 
superintendent  of  nurses  at  the 
Swedish  -  American  Hospital  in 
Englewood,  is  a  native  of  Chicago, 
having  been  born  there  Dec.  20, 
1875,  the  daughter  of  Peter  Mag- 
nus Dahlgren  and  Ingrid  Christ- 
ina, nee  Swenson.  The  family 
lived  for  a  number  of  years  at 
Des  Moines,  la.,  where  she  re- 
ceived her  early  education,  after- 
ward attending  high  school  in 
Chicago  and  studying  at  Augus- 
tana  College.  At  the  latter  insti- 
tution she  completed  the  normal 
course  and  subsequently  continued 
her  studies  for  two  years  in  the 
college  department. 

In  1901  Miss  Dahlgren  entered 
the  Augustana  Hospital  Training 
School  for  Nurses,  graduating  after 
two  years.  Later  she  did  post- 


JOHANNA  EMILIA   THERESIA 
DAHLGREN 

acting  superintendent  of  the  Bless- 
ing Hospital  at  Quincy,  111.,  and 
the  next  year  was  head  nurse  of 
the  maternity  department  of  the 
Presbyterian  Hospital  of  Chicago. 
From  there  Miss  Dahlgren  was 
called  as  superintendent  of  the 
Englewood  Hospital,  which  posi- 
tion she  occupies  at  the  present 
time. 

Miss  Dahlgren  is  an  alumna  of 
the  Augustana  Hospital,  and  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  State  Asso- 
ciation of  Graduate  Nurses  and  of 
the  Superintendents'  Society  of 
Illinois. 

She  is  a  Lutheran  in  faith  and 
a  member  of  the  Bethlehem  Church 
of  Englewood.  Her  home  is  at 
6754  Yale  ave. 


354 


Cook  County 


JOHN  J.  ERICKSON, 
proprietor  of  a  number  of  restau- 
rants in  different  parts  of  the  city, 


JOHN  JACOB   ERICKSON 

was  born  at  Fensbol,  Vermland, 
Sweden,  Jan.  14,  1865.  He  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  at 
the  age  of  three,  when  the  family 
emigrated  in  1868.  They  settled 
at  Dassel,  Minn.,  where  Mr.  Erick- 
son  lived  until  reaching  the  age 
of  fifteen  years.  He  then  went 
to  work  in  the  printing  office  of 
a  local  newspaper  in  Grove  City. 
In  1883,  together  with  Lambert 
Gisslow  and  C.  E.  Peterson,  he 
began  the  publication  of  a  news- 
paper named  Svenska  Folkets  Alle- 
handa  at  L,itchfield,  Minn.,  but 
retired  from  this  company  a  year 
later.  From  1886  to  1889  he 
worked  as  a  compositor  on  various 
Swedish  newspapers  in  Minneapo- 
lis. The  latter  year  he  organized 
a  company,  composed  of  Hjalmar 
Bergman,  Gudmund  Akermark, 
Oliver  Skone,  Otto  Oberg  and 


himself,  for  the  publication  at 
Minneapolis  of  Nya  Verlden.  In 
1890  he  secured  a  position  as  a 
compositor  on  the  Minneapolis 
Times,  remaining  until  1896,  when 
he  came  to  Chicago  and  worked 
at  the  linotype  machine  for  four 
years,  first  for  John  Linden  and 
later  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Peterson  Linotype  Company. 

Changing  his  occupation  in  1900, 
he  engaged  in  the  restaurant  bus- 
iness at  the  suggestion  of  his  wife, 
who  excelled  in  the  art  of  cook- 
ing. They  opened  a  restaurant  at 
130  N.  Clark  St.,  and  succeeded 
so  well  in  the  venture  that  they 
soon  added  a  second,  located  at 
No.  8  So.  Clark  st.  Then  fol- 
lowed a  third,  a  fourth,  a  fifth 
and  a  sixth  eating  house  in  their 
respective  locations,  viz.,  230  N. 
Clark  St.,  234  Wells  St.,  88  East 
Thirty-ninth  St.,  and  428  E.  North 
ave.  The  average  number  of  per- 
sons served  per  day  in  the  six 
restaurants  Mr.  Erickson  estimates 
at  3,000. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Erickson 
took  place  at  Minneapolis  Oct. 
20,  1897.  His  wife,  who  was  Miss 
Carolina  Erikson,  is  also  a  native 
of  Fensbol,  where  she  was  born 
July  14,  1867. 

Mr.  Erickson  affiliates  with  no 
fraternal  or  social  associations,  his 
business  occupying  his  entire  time. 
In  the  summer  of  1907,  however, 
he  took  a  vacation  trip  back  to 
the  land  of  his  birth. 


GUSTAF   CARLSON 
was    born    June    8,    1863,    on    the 
Donshults  estate,  Urshult    parish, 


Chicago 


355 


Smaland.  His  father  died  when  to  Hilda  Holm  from  Karlshamn. 
the  boy  was  two  years  old.  The  They  have  two  sons  and  one 
family  moved  the  next  year  to  daughter. 


GUSTAF   CARLSON 

Karlshamn,  where  Gustaf,  after 
his  school  career,  learned  the  ci- 
garmaker's  trade.  At  sixteen  he 
became  a  sailor  and  shipped  sev- 
eral times  to  the  East  Indies  and 
China.  On  one  voyage  he  stopped 
at  Capetown,  South  Africa,  where 
he  worked  as  a  cigarmaker.  In 
1883  he  shipped  again,  bound  for 
New  York.  He  did  not  remain 
there,  but  soon  went  to  Buffalo, 
and  finally  to  Chicago.  Here  he 
shipped  on  the  great  lakes  for  a 
season,  and  then  resumed  his  trade. 
After  nine  years  he  began  a  bus- 
iness of  his  own.  A  few  years 
ago  he  moved  his  factory  to  172 
N.  48th  ave.,  Moreland. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member  of  I. 
O.  S.,  Lodge  No.  i,  I.  O.  V.,  Odin 
Lodge  No.  8,  and  the  Swedish  so- 
ciety Kronan. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  married  in  1887 


OLOF   HEDEEN, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  and  professor  of  exegesis 
and  homiletics  at  the  Swedish  de- 
partment of  the  Union  Theologic- 
al Seminary  at  Morgan  Park,  was 
born  at  Undersaker,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Jemtland,  Sweden,  June 
19,  1860.  He  began  his  studies 
at  a  collegiate  school  in  Ostersund 
when  sixteen  years  old.  At  sev- 
enteen, having  been  converted  and 
filled  with  a  desire  to  enter  the 
holy  ministry,  he  took  up  studies 
at  the  Fjellstedt  School  in  Upsala, 


OLOP  HEDEEN 

where  the  college  course  was  com- 
pleted, and  afterwards  studied  ex- 
egetical  theology  and  Greek  liter- 
ature at  the  Upsala  University  un- 
til 1883.  Thereupon  he  was  li- 
censed by  the  archbishop  of  Swe- 
den to  preach  and  conduct  services 


356 


Cook  County 


in  the  State  Church.  Hedeen, 
however,  had  conscientious  scru- 
ples concerning  certain  institutions 
and  practices  of  the  State  Church. 
Thinking  that  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America  might  be  more 
evangelical,  he  emigrated  the  same 
year  with  a  view  to  entering  its 
service.  Most  of  his  near  relatives 
had  preceded  him  across  the  At- 
lantic. Soon  after  his  arrival  in 
this  country  he  assumed  charge 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  New  Sweden,  Maine,  then  be- 
longing to  a  German  Lutheran 
synod.  In  1885,  after  having 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination 
at  the  Augustana  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Rock  Island,  he  was  or- 
dained as  a  minister  in  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  at  its  annual  meet- 
ing in  Rockford.  Having  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Manchester,  N.  H.,  he 
served  there  until  1890,  during 
which  time  the  membership  of  the 
church  largely  increased  and  a  new 
edifice  was  built.  Part  of  the  time 
Rev.  Hedeen  served  as  secretary 
of  the  New  York  Conference  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  and  was  as- 
sociate editor  of  Osterns  Vaktare 
and  Eastern  correspondent  of  Au- 
gustana och  Missionaren. 

In  1890  Rev.  Hedeen  withdrew 
from  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
joined  the  Baptist  denomination, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  Tre- 
mont  Temple  Church  in  Boston 
through  baptism.  Subsequently 
he  served  as  pastor  of  the  First 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Brook- 
lyn for  six  years,  meeting  with 
remarkable  success.  In  that  short 


period  he  baptized  237  persons  and 
received  altogether  570  new  mem- 
bers into  the  church.  In  the  mean- 
time a  new  church  edifice,  known 
as  the  Swedish  Tabernacle,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $32,000. 

In  1895  Rev.  Hedeen  was  ten- 
dered the  chair  of  exegetical  the- 
ology in  the  Swedish  department 
of  the  divinity  school  of  the  Chi- 
cago University  at  Morgan  Park, 
but  declined  the  call.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  again  offered 
the  position,  which  he  then  ac- 
cepted and  still  holds,  being  also 
professor  of  homiletics  and  Swed- 
ish literature. 

During  the  past  years  Rev.  He- 
deen has  done  a  considerable 
amount  of  literary  work,  translat- 
ing several  books  into  .the  Swed- 
ish language  and  rendering  a 
number  of  hymns  and  other  verse 
into  the  same  tongue.  He  has 
been  a  frequent  contributor  to 
newspapers,  periodicals  and  other 
publications,  both  in  Sweden  and 
America,  and  has  preached  and 
lectured  in  many  parts  of  the 
United  States. 


CARL  G.  LAGERGREN, 

dean  of  the  Swedish  Theological 
Seminary  in  Morgan  Park,  was 
born  June  21,  1846,  in  Ostersund, 
Jemtland,  Sweden.  At  two  years 
of  age  he  was  adopted  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  G.  P.  Lagergren  of  Indal, 
near  relations,  who  for  fourteen 
years  gave  the  boy  care  and  sup- 
port. At  thirteen  he  was  enrolled 
at  the  lower  elementary  school  of 
Sundsvall.  On  Whitsunday,  1862, 


Chicago 


357 


he  was  converted  to  the  Baptist 
faith  through  a  sermon  preached 
by  J.  A.  Manner  in  the  old  Bap- 


CARL   G.  LAGERGREN 

tist  chapel  at  Sundsvall.  The 
change  of  religious  belief  cost  the 
boy  his  home  and  maintenance, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
thrown  on  his  own  resources.  By 
securing  a  private  tutorship  he 
was  enabled  to  complete  his  course. 
Having  graduated  in  1865  from 
the  academy  at  Sundsvall,  he  was 
enrolled  the  same  year  at  the 
higher  elementary  school,  or  col- 
lege, of  Ostersund,  completing  his 
collegiate  course  in  four  years. 

After  a  year's  teaching  in  a 
private  family,  L,agergren  in  1870 
became  assistant  teacher  of  Swed- 
ish, Latin  and  Natural  Science 
in  the  Sundsvall  Academy.  After 
another  year  he  entered  Upsala 
University  and  mapped  out  a 
course  of  study,  leading  to  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  including  anthro- 


pology and  history  of  philosophy 
under  the  noted  Pontus  Wikner. 

The  struggling  little  Baptist 
church  in  Upsala,  which  had  been 
reorganized  in  1869  by  J.  A.  Ed- 
gren — also  noted  in  the  history  of 
Swedish  -  American  Baptists  —  in 
1871  called  Lagergren  as  its  pas- 
tor. He  accepted  the  charge  and 
after  the  first  three  years  gave  up 
his  university  studies  to  give  all 
his  time  and  energy  to  the  work 
in  the  church.  The  result  of 
twelve  years  of  earnest  labor  in 
this  field  was  shown  in  an  increase 
in  membership  from  fifty  to  about 
three  hundred. 

In  1873  Rev.  L,agergren  became 
editor  of  Evangelisten,  the  first 
Baptist  paper  in  Sweden,  at  the 
request  of  Rev.  Wiberg,  its  found- 
er. After  ten  years  it  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Svardet  och  Murslefven, 
(Sword  and  Trowel,)  which  was 
published  by  Lagergren  up  to  1889. 
He  was  editor  and  publisher  of 
Predikaren,  a  religious  monthly,  in 
1878-81.  For  two  years,  1876-8, 
he  also  edited  a  temperance  paper, 
entitled  Svenska  Nykterhetsvanner- 
nas  Tidning.  There  was  a  lively 
temperance  movement  on  foot  in 
Sweden  at  the  time,  and  Lager- 
gren  was  one  of  its  most  active 
promoters.  He  traveled  extensive- 
ly in  central  and  Northern  Sweden 
giving  temperance  lectures  and 
organizing  so-called  absolutist  so- 
cieties. Meanwhile  he  published 
a  number  of  lectures  and  treatises 
on  temperance  and  religious  top- 
ics. His  activity  as  a  temperance 
worker  caused  him  to  be  made  a 
candidate  for  the  riksdag  for  the 


358 


Cook  County 


city  of  Upsala,  and  at  the  election 
a  considerable  number  of  votes 
were  cast  for  him. 

In  1 883  Rev.  Lagergren  received 
a  call  from  the  Baptist  church  of 
Sundsvall,  which  had  been  torn 
by  recent  dissensions.  On  the  advice 
of  a  number  of  leading  Baptists 
Lagergren  accepted  the  call. 

On  June  21  of  that  year  Rev. 
Lagergren  was  joined  in  marriage 
to  Selma  Kristina  Konstantia 
Westerlund  of  Strangnas,  a  school 
teacher  who  had  to  give  up  teach- 
ing upon  embracing  the  Baptist 
faith. 

The  following  October  Rev.  La- 
gergren  assumed  the  pastorate  in 
Sundsvall,  continuing  in  charge 
until  1889,  the  year  after  the  des- 
truction of  the  city  by  fire. 

The  General  Conference  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Amer- 
ica at  their  meeting  in  Chicago  in 
1888  issued  a  second  call  to  Rev. 
Lagergren  to  become  dean  of  the 
divinity  school  in  Morgan  Park. 
In  response,  he  came  over  in  the 
spring  of  1889  and,  after  spending 
the  summer  on  a  tour  of  the  prin- 
cipal Baptist  churches  in  the  United 
States,  entered  upon  his  educa- 
tional duties  the  following  Sep- 
tember. At  this  post  Rev.  Lager- 
gren,  through  his  learning  and 
devotion  to  his  church,  continues 
to  exercise  an  influence  broad  and 
deep  on  the  Swedish  Baptist  de- 
nomination. 

Rev.  Lagergren  is  professor  of 
Dogmatics,  Ethics  and  Philosoph- 
ical Propedeutics  in  the  Swedish 
Baptist  Theological  Seminary  of 
which  he  has  been  dean  for  the 


past  1 8  years.  He  is  the  author 
of  several  books  on  theological 
subjects,  principally  the  following- 
"Om  forsoningen,"  "Sma  barns 
dop"  and  "Nytt  och  gammalt." 
He  has  written  a  textbook  in  dog- 
matics, published  in  two  volumes, 
aud  another  in  pastoral  theology 
in  one  volume.  He  is  also  the 
author  of  a  history  of  philosophy, 
not  yet  published. 

Rev.  Lagergren  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  executive  board 
of  the  Swedish  General  Conference 
for  a  term  of  years,  and  was  suc- 
cessively elected  president  of  the 
Conference  until  1907.  From  1891 
to  '93  he  served  as  pastor  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Engle- 
wood,  of  which  he  is  still  a  mem- 
ber. He  has  been  twice  elected 
chairman  of  the  Swedish- American 
Historical  Society,  organized  in 
1905.  The  title  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity was  conferred  upon  Rev.  Lager- 
gren by  the  Western  University 
of  Pennsylvania  in  1907. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Lagergren' s  mar- 
ital union  has  been  blessed  with 
eight  children,  three  of  whoni 
are  dead.  Those  living  are,  Zel- 
ma  Maria  Christina  Eufrosyne, 
Gustav  Petrus  Constantin,  Sigrid 
Anna  Emma  Carolina,  Selma  Gus- 
tafva  Elisabet  and  Anna  Constantia. 


HENRY  O.  LINDEBLAD, 
minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  was  born  March  7,  1845, 
in  Bohus  Ian,  Sweden.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  entered  the 
Goteborg  college,  where  he 
studied  for  several  years.  His 
parents  being  poor,  he  suffered 


Chicago 


359 


great  privations  while  studying. 
In  1866  he  came  to  America  and 
at  once  entered  Augustana  Theo- 


HENRY  O.  LINDEBLAD 

logical  Seminary  at  Paxton,  111. 
He  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  June  20, 
1869,  and  was  at  once  engaged 
by  the  mission  board  and  stationed 
at  Campello,  Mass.  He  reorgan- 
ized the  congregation  and  built  a 
church  there,  and  then  went  to 
Boston,  where  he  organized  a  new 
congregation. 

In  1871  Lindeblad  removed  to 
Chandler's  Valley,  Pa.  Here  he 
had  under  his  care  two  congre- 
gations and  a  dozen  mission  sta- 
tions in  Warren,  McKean  and  ad- 
jacent counties.  For  several  years 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Warren 
county  and  as  president  of  the 
New  York  Conference. 

In  1879  he  accepted  a  call  from 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  at 
Moline,  111.,  where  he  labored  for 


thirteen  years.  He  was  for  the 
same  length  of  time  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  Augus- 
tana College  and  Theological  Sem- 
inary and  was  successively  secre- 
tary and  president  of  that  body. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Augustana  Synod's  board  of  mis- 
sions and  for  nine  years  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Moline  public  library. 

For  a  year  after  leaving  his 
charge  in  Moline,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Lindeblad  worked  in  Grand  Cross- 
ing, Chicago,  as  a  home  mission- 
ary.. During  this  time  a  church 
was  erected  there.  He  then  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Elim  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Pullman  and 
remained  there  four  and  a  half 
years. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Lindeblad  next 
served  for  several  years  at  Augus- 
tana Hospital,  Chicago,  as  chap- 
lain and  solicitor.  After  about 
five  years'  service  in  that  capacity 
Rev.  Lindeblad,  in  1903,  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Swedish  Ev.  Lutheran 
Church  at  La  Grange,  111.,  his 
present  charge. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Lindeblad  have 
a  family  of  grown  children,  one 
son,  Luther,  being  an  attorney  at 
law,  and  a  daughter,  Alma,  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools. 


HJALMAR  J.  LIND 

was  born  March  24,  1864,  in 
Kniitte,  Elfsborgs  Ian,  Sweden. 
While  living  with  his  father,  Jo- 
seph Abramson,  on  the  Halm- 
akra  farm  in  Liared,  he  had  the 
schooling  of  the  ordinary  farmer 


360 


Cook  County 


boy.  In  1882  he  left  home,  emi- 
grating to  America.  Here  he  was 
for  eight  years  employed  in  the 
grocery  business.  In  1890  he  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Sahlen  &  Burkross,  hardware  deal- 
ers, buying  out  Mr.  Sahlen  and 
changing  the  style  of  the  firm  to 
I,ind  &  Burkross.  In  1898  Mr. 
Lind  became  sole  owner  of  the 
business,  which  is  still  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  I,ind  &  Burk- 
ross at  134  Oak  st. 

Mr.  lyind  was  married  in  1891 
to  Miss  Hulda  Erika  Burkross. 
They  have  five  children,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter. 

Mr.  I^ind  belongs  to  the  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church,  where  he  has 
held  the  offices  of  trustee  and 
treasurer. 


ilarly  connected  with  Chicago- Bla- 
det.  Having  worked  for  a  short 
time  in  the  draughting  room  of 


HJALMAR  C.  LUNDQUIST 
was  born  at  the  Bofors  mills  in 
Karlskoga,  Sweden,  Oct.  n,  1883. 
He  is  the  son  of  K.  J.  F.  L,und- 
quist,  foreman  at  the  Falu  Wagon 
and  Machine  Works  at  Falun, 
and  his  wife,  Hulda  Serafia  Wen- 
nerblad.  The  parents  came  to 
Chicago  in  1886  and  returned  to 
Sweden  ten  years  later.  In  this 
city  the  son  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  in  Sweden  he  stud- 
ied at  the  academic  school  in  Ar- 
boga  and  the  public  college  in 
Orebro,  completing  the  course 
there  in  the  spring  of  1905.  The 
following  October  he  returned  to 
Chicago.  After  two  months  he 
obtained  a  position  with  Svenska 
Tribunen  as  associate  editor,  re- 
maining until  June,  1906.  During 
the  next  few  months  he  was  sim- 


HJALMAR  CARL  LUNDQUIST 

the  National  Coal  Dump  Car  Co., 
he  returned  to  his  former  position 
with  Tribunen,  now  consolidated 
with  Svenska  Nyheter,  but  left  in 
December,  1907,  to  take  a  position 
with  Hemlandet. 

Mr.  Lundquist  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Swedish  L,odge  No.  479, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Verdandi  Lodge 
No.  3,  I.  O.  S.,  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Swedish 
Chess  Club. 


JOHN   A.  SODERSTROM 

was  born  in  Chicago  Oct.  10,  1872. 
After  attending  the  public  school 
he  entered  upon  a  business  life, 
at  the  same  time  continuing  pri- 
vate studies.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Soderstrom  Brothers, 
located  at  141-143  So.  Clinton  St., 
where  they  manufacture  sample 
cards  and  sample  book  specialties. 


Chicago 


361 


The   firm   also   deals   in  neckwear 
manufacturers'   supplies. 

Mr.  Soderstrom  is  a  member  of 
the  Second  Swedish  Methodist 
Church. 


AXEL  T.  CARLSON 

was   born  on   the  farm  of   his  fa- 
ther, Nils  Johan  Karlsson,  in  the 


AXEL  THEODORE  CARLSON 

parish  of  Misterhult,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  Sept.  10,  1875.  His 
father  subsequently  engaged  in 
the  shipping  trade,  owning  two 
sloops  and  holding  part  interest 
in  a  schooner.  Equipped  with  a 
common  school  education,  young 
Carlson  came  to  this  country  with 
his  father  in  1888.  They  located 
in  Axtell,  Neb.,  and  went  to 
farming.  After  spending  two  and 
one-half  years  in  that  vocation, 
the  son  went  to  Omaha  in  1890 
and  secured  a  situation  as  office 
boy  with  the  Omaha  Svenska  Tri- 
bim.  Subsequently  Mr.  Carlson 
was  for  eleven  years  in  the  art 


business,  as  local  salesman  and 
traveling  representative  of  art 
dealers  in  Omaha,  Milwaukee  and 
Chicago,  including  more  than  four 
years  as  traveling  salesman  for 
L.  M.  Johnson,  wholesale  art  dealer 
of  Chicago.  In  1896-97  he  was 
connected  with  Hemlandet  as  trav- 
eling agent.  In  1904  he  again 
entered  the  service  of  that  news- 
paper, this  time  in  the  capacity 
of  advertising  manager,  a  position 
still  held  by  him. 

When  Mr.  Carlson  left  his  fa- 
ther's farm  he  was  thrown  en- 
tirely on  his  own  resources  and 
has  since  had  his  own  way  to 
make.  The  elder  Karlsson,  not 
satisfied  with  his  experiment  in 
American  agriculture,  returned  af- 
ter a  few  years  to  the  old  coun- 
try. 

CARL  O.   F.   BURKSTROM 

is  a  native  of  Stockholm,  Sweden, 
where  he  was  born  July  4,  1852. 
He  emigrated  to  this  country  in 
1869  and  was  employed  as  a 
clothing  salesman  until  1884,  when 
he  secured  a  position  as  a  com- 
mercial traveler,  traversing  the 
country  from  coast  to  coast  and 
from  Winnipeg  to  New  Orleans. 
In  1892  Mr.  Burkstrom  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  woolens  and  ladies' 
dress  goods  at  wholesale,  contin- 
uing until  1897,  when  the  firm 
of  Trieloff  &  Burkstrom  was 
forced  to  suspend  on  account  of 
the  depressed  business  conditions. 
He  is  now  the  sole  distributor  for 
the  United  States  and  Canada  of 
a  proprietary  article  known  as 
"Himalaya  Tonic,"  an  employ- 


362 


Cook  County 


ment  in  which    he   has    been    en- 
gaged for  several  years. 

Mr.  Burkstrom  is  a  320!  degree 


CARL  OSCAR  P.  BURKSTROM 

Mason,  a   Knight   Templar  and  a 
Shriner. 


CARL  AXEL  COLSTROM 

was  born  near  Goteborg,  Sweden, 
March  23,  1866.  His  father,  Carl 
Johan  Colstrom,  was  a  miller  in 
the  old  country  and  later  followed 
the  carpenter's  trade  until  he  emi- 
grated and  settled  near  Osage 
City,  Kans.,  when  he  engaged  in 
agriculture.  He  helped  to  organ- 
ize the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
at  Osage  City,  and  has  always 
been  one  of  its  leaders  and  most 
faithful  members.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  the  city  as  a  retired  farmer 
and  is  the  oldest  living  pioneer  of 
that  place. 

The  son,  Carl  A.  Colstrom,  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  district  school.  In  1884  he 
was  sent  to  Bethany  Academy, 


the  forerunner  of  Bethany  College, 
at  Ljndsborg,  Kans.,  and  there 
took  a  two  years'  course  of  study. 
In  1886  he  went  to  Augustana 
College  at  Rock  Island,  111.,  and 
graduated  with  the  class  of  '92 
from  that  institution. 

For  the  next  three  years  Mr. 
Colstrom  held  the  position  of 
principal  of  the  Avon  township 
schools,  in  Baraga  county,  Mich. 
While  there  he  was  local  reporter 
for  the  Detroit  Evening  News. 
This  first  experience  in  newspaper 
work  led  to  direct  connection  with 
other  newspapers,  and  for  the  next 
four  years  he  was  attached  in  a 
business  and  editorial  capacity  to 
Nya  Pressen  of  Moline,  111.,  and 
Minnesota  Stats  Tidning  of  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  both  Swedish  week- 
lies. 

Mr.  Colstrom  in  1899  accepted 
a  position  as  traveling  passenger 
agent  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
Railway  Company's  Atlantic  serv- 
ice, with  headquarters  at  Minne- 
apolis. In  January,  1904,  he  was 
appointed  assistant  general  pass- 
enger and  ticket  agent  of  the 
same  line  at  Chicago.  A  year 
later  he  left  the  service  of  the 
Canadian  Pacific  to  become  man- 
ager of  the  Chicago  office  of  the 
Theo.  F.  Koch  L,and  Company, 
and  is  the  local  representative  of 
that  firm  at  the  present  time,  with 
office  at  1025  Unity  Building,  79 
Dearborn  St. 


HANS  A.  LEAFGREN 
was  born    Sept.  8,    1866,  in    Far- 
hult,  Skane,  Sweden.     His  father, 
Anders  L,6fgren,  was  a  farmer  and 


Chicago 


363 


builder.  The  son  attended  public 
school  until  the  age  of  fifteen, 
when  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try, with  Garfield,  Minn.,  as  his 
destination.  After  living  there  a 
year,  he  moved  to  Fergus  Falls, 
Minn.,  and  went  to  work  as  a 
mason.  As  a  journeyman  mason 
he  worked  at  his  trade  in  St. 
Paul,  Omaha  and  Denver.  In 
1892  Mr.  Leafgren  went  to  Chi- 
cago and  began  taking  contracts 
for  masonry  work.  In  the  mean- 
time he  took  a  commercial  course 
in  one  of  the  business  colleges. 
At  present  he  has  an  extensive 
business  in  Chicago  and  in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Leafgren  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order. 

In  1891,  while  in  Denver,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Julia  Raf 
from  the  province  of  Vestmanland, 
Sweden.  They  have  a  son,  Roy 
Walter. 


ing  and  early  education  had  been 
of  a  Christian  character,  and  in 
Stockholm  the  earnest  preaching 


JOHN  BENDIX, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  financial 
agent  of  the  Bethany  Home,  is  a 
native  of  Smaland,  Sweden,  born 
in  Fargaryd  Aug.  13,  1849.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  lost  his 
father,  Sven  Anderson,  by  death, 
his  mother  having  passed  away 
eleven  years  prior.  As  a  youth 
he  went  to  Stockholm  and  was  for 
a  number  of  years  employed  in 
the  home  of  his  cousin,  Carl  Jo- 
han  Jehander,  the  well-known 
Swedish  railway  builder. 

In  1872  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  spent  the  next  few 
years  in  Dover,  N.  J.  His  rear- 


JOHN    BENDIX 

of  Rev.  Beskow  had  impressed 
him  deeply.  In  1873  he  experi- 
enced a  definite  change  of  heart 
and  was  among  the  first  to  join 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  in  Do- 
ver at  its  organization.  In  re- 
sponse to  an  inward  call  to  enter 
the  service  of  the  church,  he  en- 
tered the  theological  seminary  upon 
recommendation  in  1876.  The 
same  year  he  preached  his  first 
sermon,  which  rendered  him  a  few 
kind  words  of  commendation  and 
encouragement  by  the  well-known 
Captain  L,indgren.  In  1878  he 
was  accepted  into  the  Conference 
on  probation,  and  two  years  later 
became  a  member  in  full  connec- 
tion. He  was  ordained  deacon  in 
1878,  by  Bishop  Merrill,  and  elder 
in  1880,  by  Bishop  Peck.  Subse- 
quently he  was  pastor  at  Moline 
two  years,  at  Andover  three  years, 


364 


Cook  County 


and,  after  having  served  the 
church  at  Bishop  Hill  for  two 
years,  was  appointed  presiding 
elder  of  the  Burlington  district  in 
1887,  and  filled  that  office  for  the 
next  six  years.  In  1893  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Second  Swedish 
M.  E.  Church  of  Chicago  and  had 
charge  until  1896,  when  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  financial 
agent  for  the  Bethany  Home,  a 
retreat  for  the  aged.  Rev.  Bendix 
has  given  eleven  years  of  service 
to  this  institution  and  still  remains 
at  its  head. 

Rev.  Bendix  was  married  Oct. 
6,  1880,  to  Alma  Mathilda  Dan- 
ielson  of  Oakland,  Neb.  She  was 
born  on  the  same  date  twenty 
years  before.  Of  seven  children 
born  to  them,  three  are  living. 
The  eldest  son,  Vincent,  born 
Aug.  10,  1 88 1,  is  president  of  the 
Bendix  Co.  of  Cragin,  automobile 
manufacturers,  and  is  himself  the 
patentee  of  a  power  transmission 
arrangement  known  as  the  "turn 
friction  system."  The  shop  em- 
ploys thirty  workmen.  The  daugh- 
ter, Esther  Virginia,  born  May  3, 
1883,  is  a  teacher  in  the  Chicago 
public  schools.  The  second  son, 
Ernest  Oliver,  born  Oct.  10,  1885, 
was  graduated  in  1907  from  the 
Northwestern  University  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.,  and  is  now  em- 
ployed in  the  land  department  of 
the  N.  W.  Harris  Trust  Company 
of  Chicago. 


his  home  city.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
carpenter  and  joiner,  remaining 


AXEL  F.  MALMQUIST 
was   born    in  the  Swedish  city  of 
L,andskrona    Oct.     i,     1866.      His 
early    education    was    obtained    in 


AXEL  FRITHIOF   MALMQUIST 

until   he   had   mastered  the   trade 
and  become  a  journeyman. 

In  August,  1888,  he  came  to 
this  country  and  Chicago  and 
here  continued  to  follow  his  trade 
until  1893,  when  he  associated 
himself  with  Edward  Fjellander 
for  the  purpose  of  publishing  a 
newspaper,  named  Forskaren,  at 
Rockford.  Its  first  number  ap- 
peared in  September  of  that  year. 
Malmquist  was  associate  editor  of 
this  paper  while  published  at 
Rockford  and  after  its  removal  to 
Minneapolis  in  1894.  In  1896  he 
returned  to  Chicago  and  was  em- 
ployed for  a  time  on  Svenska  Tri- 
bunen,  first  as  agent  and  later  as 
local  news  reporter,  until  given 
the  position  of  editor-in-chief  of 
Svenska  Nyhcter  in  1901.  Mr. 
Malmquist  directed  the  editorial 
work  on  that  paper  until  its  con- 


Chicago 


365 


solidation  with  Svenska  Tribunen 
in  July,  1906,  when  he  resigned. 
Not  long  after  his  present  position 
of  associate  editor  of  Svenska 
Amerikanaren  was  tendered  him. 
Mr.  Malmquist,  although  essen- 
tially a  self-taught  man,  is  a  cap- 
able writer  with  a  trenchant, 
though  somewhat  rough  -  hewn 
style.  He  holds  radical  opinions 
and  is  an  extremist  in  the  defense 
of  his  views.  In  Forskaren,  under 
the  head  of  "Forskningsproduk- 
ter,"  and  later  in  the  editorial 
columns  of  Svenska  Nyheter  his 
virile  pen  was  principally  em- 
ployed in  the  cause  of  labor  and 
socialism  and  on  the  side  of  ag- 
nosticism as  against  the  Church. 

Before  engaging  in  journalism 
Mr.  Malmquist  made  poetical  con- 
tributions to  the  newspapers  and 
has  continued  to  develop  his  talent 
in  that  line.  A  collection  of  his 
verse  was  published  in  1899,  bear- 
ing the  characteristic  title  "Tor- 
nen  och  Tistlar"  (Thorns  and 
Thistles). 

Mr.  Malmquist  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Vikings 
and  has  held  the  office  of  Grand 
Chief  of  the  order  for  the  past 
two  years.  He  has  also  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
Swedish  National  Association  and 
acted  as  secretary  and  held  other 
offices  in  that  organization. 


Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington.  After  coming  to 
Chicago  he  worked  for  five  years 


FRANCIS  E.  JOHNSON 

was  born  June  17,  1873,  in  Bloom- 
ington, 111.  He  was  educated  at 
Evergreen  City  Business  College 
and  in  the  law  department  of  the 


FRANCIS   EM1L  JOHNSON 

as  mileage  clerk  in  the  account- 
ant's office  of  the  Chicago  and 
Alton  R.  R.  Company.  This  situ- 
ation he  left  to  become  cashier  in 
the  office  of  the  Stromberg-Carlson 
Telephone  Manufacturing  Co. 

Determined  to  start  in  business 
on  his  own  account,  Mr.  Johnson 
entered  into  a  co  -  partnership 
known  as  Weig  &  Johnson,  deal- 
ing in  real  estate,  and  acting  as 
managers  of  the  Lake  View  Safety 
Deposit  Company's  vaults  at  1743 
North  Clark  st.  He  remained  a 
member  of  this  firm  until  Octo- 
ber, 1907,  when  Mr.  Weig  pur- 
chased his  interest. 

On  Feb.  25,  1899,  Mr.  Johnson 
married  to  Miss  Cora  Viola  Wal- 
lace. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are 
members  of  the  Millard  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church. 


366 


Cook  County 


HENRY  NELSON  Since  1907,  Mr.  Nelson  has  been 

was    born    Jan.    14,    1861,  in   Far-      president  of  the  Scandia  Loan  and 
lof,    Skane,    Sweden.       He    emi- 


In vestment  Association. 


HENRY  NELSON 

grated  to  the  United  States  in 
1876.  After  taking  the  course  of 
studies  offered  at  the  Morgan 
Park  Theological  Seminary  he 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  America.  He 
has  served  as  pastor  in  Valley 
and  Omaha,  Neb.,  L,a  Porte,  Ind., 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  Chi- 
cago, 111.  For  twelve  years  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Nelson  was  the  official 
representative  of  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society  for 
the  Swedish  Baptist  churches  and 
manager  of  the  Swedish  depart- 
ment of  the  society.  He  was  the 
editor  and  manager  of  the  weekly 
Swedish  Sunday  school  paper, 
Barnens  Tidning.  Rev.  Nelson 
collaborated  in  compiling  the  col- 
lection of  "Valda  Hymner"  used 
by  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  in 
America. 


BIRGER  A.  PETERSON, 

manufacturer  of  Swedish  snuff, 
was  born  in  Jonkoping,  Sweden, 
Dec.  26,  1868.  After  obtaining  a 
common  and  high  school  education 
in  the  old  country,  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  with  his  fa- 
ther, C.  W.  Peterson,  in  1886, 
locating  in  Chicago.  Here  father 
and  son  immediately  established 
themselves  in  the  tobacco  trade. 
Their  first  location  was  in  Oak 
st.  Two  years  later  they  took 
larger  quarters  at  39  E.  Chicago 
ave.,  where  they  remained  until 
1891,  removing  then  to  1241  Bel- 


BIRGER  A.  PETERSON 

mont  ave.,  where  they  erected  a 
building  of  their  own.  Charles  E. 
and  Tobias  T.  Peterson,  younger 
brothers  of  Birger,  joined  the  firm 
upon  attaining  their  majority. 
After  the  death  of  the  elder  Pe- 


Chicago 


367 


terson  in  1899  the  three  brothers 
continued  the  business.  Tobias 
died  July  10,  1905,  and  Charles 
Sept.  20,  1906,  leaving  Birger  in 
charge  of  the  business  as  sole 
proprietor. 

He  owns  two  buildings  at  1241 
Belmont  ave.,  the  rear  one  con- 
taining the  manufacturing  plant. 
Here,  with  the  aid  of  two  men 
and  requisite  machinery,  run  by 
steam,  he  manufactures  on  the 
average  3,000  pounds  of  snuff  per 
month.  Mr.  Peterson  sells  his 
output  to  wholesale  dealers  ex- 
clusively. He  also  conducts  a  re- 
tail cigar  and  tobacco  store  on  the 
premises. 

Mr.  Peterson,  who  is  unmarried, 
belongs  to  the  Monitor  Council  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Three 
Links  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows. 


JOHN  S.  ERIKSON 

was  born  in  Jonkoping,  Sweden, 
March  i,  1859.  After  his  school 
days  were  over  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  mason.  Hoping  for  a 
better  [future  in  the  land  of  the 
stars  and  stripes,  he  left  his  na- 
tive city,  emigrating  to  America 
in  1882.  Soon  he  found  himself 
in  Chicago,  where  for  two  years 
he  worked  as  a  carpenter.  Dur- 
ing the  next  two  years  he  fol- 
lowed his  old  trade.  Mr.  Erikson 
then  ventured  to  make  some 
building  contracts,  which  he  car- 
ried out  successfully,  and  has 
since  continued  in  the  vocation  of 
a  contractor. 

Mr.  Erikson  is    an    adherent  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and 


belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Macca- 
bees. 

In  1888  Mr.  Erikson  was  mar- 
ried to  Jennie  E.  Johnson,  who 
was  born  in  Olmstad,  Smaland, 
Sweden.  They  have  three  sons 
and  two  daughters. 


CARL  U.  W.  OTTONIUS 

was  born  Nov.  30,  1860,  in  Adolf 
Fredrik   parish,    Stockholm.      His 


CARL  UNO.WILHELM  OTTONIUS 

parents  were  Otto  Wilhelm  Otto- 
nius,  police  commissioner  in  Adolf 
Fredrik  parish,  and  Selma  Fred- 
rika,  nee  Phalen.  After  finishing 
the  sixth  form  in  Jonkoping  high 
school,  the  son  took  a  course  in 
Smedman's  business  college  in 
Stockholm.  In  1878  he  entered 
D.  F.  Bonnier's  book  store  in 
Goteborg,  and  for  thirteen  years 
clerked  in  various  book  stores  in 
Sweden. 

In  the  fall  of  1891  Mr.  Ottonius 
emigrated  to  this  country.  Since 
May,  1892,  he  has  been  in  the 


368 


Cook  County 


employ  of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Book 
Concern,  where  his  knowledge  of 
the  book  trade  makes  him  inval- 
uable. 

Mr.  Ottonius  was  married  May 
19,  1888,  to  Wilhelmina  Emer- 
entia  Sund,  daughter  of  the  mil- 
itary surgeon  Anders  Sund  and 
Carolina  Sund,  at  Backtorp,  Atorp, 
Vermland,  Sweden. 


OTTO  HOGFELDT, 

editor-in-chief  of  Missions-  Vdnnen, 
is    the    son    of   a    farmer  of  Dals- 


OTTO   HOGFELDT 

land,  who  had  formerly  served  in 
the  Swedish  army.  He  was  born 
Aug.  10,  1861,  the  youngest  of 
eight  children.  The  lad  had  a 
passion  for  reading  and,  when  the 
small  supply  of  reading  matter  in 
the  home  gave  out,  borrowed  from 
the  neighbors.  Having  been  con- 
verted during  the  confirmation 
term,  he  became  a  Sunday  school 
teacher  at  sixteen.  About  the 
same  time  he  wrote  his  first  con- 


tribution to  the  press — a  corres- 
pondence to  a  free  church  paper. 
His  purpose  to  take  a  course  of 
study  having  been  persistently 
thwarted  by  his  father,  he  left 
home  for  America  at  the  age  of 
twenty  in  order  to  pursue  his  own 
course  in  life.  Coming  to  Ish- 
peming,  Mich.,  in  the  fall  of  1881, 
he  worked  in  a  mine  for  one  year 
before  being  able  to  realize  his 
desire  to  study.  He  had  affiliated 
with  the  free  church  element, 
known  as  the  Mission  Friends, 
while  in  Sweden,  and  now  entered 
Ansgarius  College,  a  school  main- 
tained by  the  same  denomination 
at  Knoxville,  111.  His  divinity 
course  under  Prof.  Princell  having 
been  completed,  he  was  called  to 
the  church  at  Iron  Mountain, 
Mich.,  where  he  labored  for  the 
next  three  years. 

During  a  trip  to  Sweden  in  1888 
Mr.  Hogfeldt  wrote  a  series  of 
letters  to  Missions-  Vannen.  This 
led  to  his  being  called  to  take  an 
editorial  position  on  that  paper. 
After  declining  the  first  offer,  he 
accepted  the  position  a  year  later 
upon  a  repetition  of  the  call.  His 
first  intention  was  to  go  back  to 
pastoral  duties  after  a  short  time, 
but  despite  repeated  calls  from 
different  churches,  he  has  remained 
with  the  paper  these  eighteen 
years,  being  of  great  service  to 
his  Church  in  the  able  editorial 
conduct  of  its  leading  organ.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  he  has 
been  in  frequent  demand  as  a 
preacher  or  speaker  at  church 
conventions  and  other  public  oc- 
casions. Since  1891  Mr.  Hogfeldt 


Chicago 


369 


has  published  Hemat,  a  religious 
annual,  in  the  interest  of  the 
Mission  Covenant. 

Rev.  Hogfeldt  is  one  of  the 
most  energetic  workers  in  the 
Covenant,  and  has  served  as  sec- 
retary of  that  church  body  for  a 
number  of  years. 

He  is  married  to  Augusta  Lind- 
berg  of  Iron  Mountain,  Mich.,  and 
has  a  family  of  eight  children. 


PETER  O.  EKSTROM 

was  born  July  26,   1870,  at  Boms- 
arfvet,     Gagnef    parish,    Dalarne, 


PETER   O.    EKSTROM 

Sweden.  His  parents,  farmer  folk, 
were  Olof  Olsson  and  Christina, 
nee  Jacobson.  He  passed  in  the 
public  schools  and  was  confirmed 
in  1885,  then  for  three  years  en- 
joying private  tuition  with  the 
teacher's  or  the  ministerial  calling 
in  view,  but  which  came  to  naught 
owing  to  religious  dissentment. 
During  the  years  1887-90  he  lived 
in  Ivjusne,  Helsingland,  and  there 


joined  the  Baptist  denomination. 
In  1891  Mr.  Ekstrom.  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  partly  to 
avoid  military  service,  which  he 
considered  wrong,  and  partly  to 
acquire  a  better  schooling  than 
was  possible  in  the  old  country 
for  a  man  in  his  circumstances. 
In  1891-99  he  worked  in  summer 
and  went  to  school  in  winter,  part 
of  the  time  at  the  Normal  School 
in  St.  Cloud,  Minn.  The  years 
from  1899-1903  he  spent  in  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Seminary  at  Mor- 
gan Park,  graduating  from  that 
institution  in  the  spring  of  1903. 
During  the  three  latter  years  as 
a  student,  Mr.  Ekstrom  had  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist congregation  at  Berwyn,  111., 
and  a  pleasant  church  edifice  was 
built.  The  summer  of  1900  he 
spent  in  Kandiyohi  county,  Minn., 
serving  partly  as  school  teacher 
and  as  a  preacher.  In  1903-04 
he  labored  as  a  missionary  in 
Southern  Michigan  and  as  pastor 
in  Bay  City  of  that  state.  At 
New  Year's  in  1905  he  moved  to 
St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  and  took  charge 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  church 
there.  Since  May,  1907,  he 
has  labored  in  the  Red  River 
Valley  as  a  missionary  pastor,  so 
called. 

In  politics,  Rev.  Ekstrom  calls 
himself  a  Prohibitionist  -  Repub- 
lican, but  is  a  liberalist  in  all 
questions  pertaining  to  the  body 
politic. 

The  marriage  of  Rev.  Ekstrom 
to  Miss  Katarina  Mathilda  Boren 
of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  was  cele- 
brated in  August,  1904. 


370 


Cook  County 


CARL  H.  GRUND 

was  born  April  24,  1864,  in  Karl- 
stad, Sweden.     He  took  the  course 


CARL  HUGO  GRUND 

of  instruction  offered  at  the  colle- 
giate school  in  Karlstad,  spending 
six  years  there.  At  Mellerud,  in 
the  province  of  Dal,  he  was  en- 
gaged as  apprentice  in  a  pharmacy 
in  1885,  and  three  years  later 
passed  the  examination  as  assist- 
ant pharmacist  at  the  Pharma- 
ceutical Institute  in  Stockholm. 
After  serving  for  a  year  he  came 
to  [America  in  September,  1889. 
A  situation  was  at  once  secured 
in  Chicago.  Four  months  after 
his  arrival  he  passed  the  examina- 
tion as  registered  pharmacist.  Af- 
ter clerking  for  one  year  and  a 
half,  an  opportunity  to  purchase 
his  employer's  interest  was  taken 
advantage  of,  and  he  became  the 
proprietor  of  the  drug  store  on 
the  corner  of  Hoyne  ave.  and  35 
St.,  which  he  still  owns. 

Mr.   Grund  is  a  member  of  the 


McKinley  Park  Swedish  M.  E. 
Church  and  has  served  as  treas- 
urer of  its  board  of  trustees  for 
the  past  three  years.  In  politics 
he  is  an  independent  Republican. 
Mr.  Grund  was  married  in  1891 
to  Signe  Brand,  who  died,  leaving 
a  child.  After  her  demise  he  was 
married  on  June  17,  1892  to  her 
sister,  Anna  Brand,  who  bore  him 
three  sons  and  a  daughter.  The 
five  children  are:  Signe  Florence, 
Carl  Hugo,  Roy  Walter,  Esther 
and  Norman  L,ars. 


ANDERS  TOFFT, 
associate  editor  of  Svenska  Tribu- 
nen-Nyheter,  was  born  Sept.  28, 
1861,  at  Bareberg,  Vestergotland, 
Sweden.  After  finishing  the  pub- 
lic school  course,  he  continued  his 


ANDERS  TOFFT 

studies  at  home.  Emigrating  to 
the  United  States  in  1883,  he 
went  to  Red  Wing,  Minn.  The 
following  spring  he  moved  to  St. 
Paul.  After  some  years  he  had 


Chicago 


371 


saved  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
attend  Gustavus  Adolphus  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1893.  Obtaining  a  position  on 
the  staff  of  Minnesota  Stats  Tidning, 
he  remained  with  that  paper  until 
1899,  when  he  became  an  editor 
of  Svenska  Folkets  Tidning.  The 
following  year  he  was  attracted  to 
Boston,  but  left  after  a  few  months 
to  become  city  editor  of  Svenska 
Tribunen.  Mr.  Tofft  retains  the 
same  position  on  the  consolidated 
Svenska  Tribunen- Nyheter. 


JAMES  T.  WIGREN, 

manager    of    the    Swedish    M.    E. 
Book  Concern,  was  born  Jan.    13, 


JAMES   T.   WIGREN 

1854,  in  Attica,  Ind.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  pioneer  preacher,  John  Wi- 
gren.  He  joined  the  Methodist 
Church  in  1868,  and  five  years 
later  preached  his  first  sermon  at 
Kewanee,  111.  In  1876  he  was 
ordained  a  deacon  by  Bishop  Wiley 


at  Pekin,  111.,  and  at  the  same 
time  joined  the  Central  Illinois 
Conference.  During  a  long  term 
of  years  he  was  pastor  of  the 
congregations  of  Swedona,  Dono- 
van, Evanston,  Geneva  and  Bata- 
via,  111.,  Stratford,  Des  Moines 
and  Keokuk,  la.,  Bishop  Hill,  111., 
and  Burlington,  la.  In  1893  Rev. 
Wigren  became  presiding  elder  for 
the  Galesburg  district  of  the 
Swedish  Central  Conference,  re- 
taining this  responsible  position 
for  six  years.  Assigned  to  Evans- 
ton  in  1899,  ne  labored  there  until 
1903,  when  he  removed  to  Chi- 
cago, becoming  pastor  of  the 
Moreland  Swedish  M.  E.  Church. 
In  1906  Rev.  Wigren  was  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  Swedish 
M.  E.  Book  Concern  and  still  re- 
tains this  position. 

Rev.  James  T.  Wigren  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Eva  Sandell  of 
Donovan,  111.,  Sept.  19,  1878. 
They  have  two  sons,  Victor  Fin- 
gal,  born  in  Batavia  July  27,  1880, 
and  John,  born  in  Bishop  Hill 
April  6,  1890. 


FRANK  E.  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Sweden  Dec.  18,  1873. 
His  father,  Bernhard  Anderson, 
was  a  piano-maker.  His  mother 
was  Inga  Anderson.  The  family 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1882  and  settled  in  Chicago. 
Here  the  son  attended  public 
school  until  his  sixteenth  year, 
when  he  went  to  work.  He  en- 
gaged in  tailoring  and  having 
learned  the  trade,  went  into  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  merchant 


372 


Cook  County 


tailor.     His  place  of  business  is  at 
215  Dearborn  st. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  married  to 
Frida  Kabatek.  They  have  a  son, 
Percival  H.  Anderson. 


CHRISTOFFER  BRUSELL, 

actor  and  theatrical  manager,  was 
born  July  26,  1861,  in  Stockholm, 


CHRISTOFFER  BRUSELL 

where  his  father  was  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Kungsholmen  brewery. 
Young  Brusell,  who  had  a  natural 
gift  of  song  and  other  requisites 
for  the  public  stage,  discontinued 
his  college  studies  in  order  to  en- 
ter the  pupils'  class  at  the  Royal 
Opera.  The  dramatic  training 
here  obtained  by  him  was  supple- 
mented by  private  musical  in- 
struction by  Anders  Willman,  a 
noted  operatic  singer.  Upon  his 
father's  failure  in  business,  Bru- 
sell entered  the  employ  of  a  mer- 
cantile house  in  Stockholm,  re- 
maining until  1882,  when,  upon 


attaining  his  majority,  he  left  for 
the  United  States. 

In  Chicago  he  soon  entered  the 
employ  of  A.  Ellinger  &  Co.,  the 
cloak  firm.  After  five  years  he 
was  made  manager  of  its  factory 
at  Racine,  Wis.  Returning  to 
Chicago  in  1892,  Brusell  secured 
a  situation  with  F.  Siegel  &  Co. 
After  three  years  with  this  firm, 
he  became  foreman  and  examiner 
with  the  Empire  Cloth  Sponging 
and  Refinishing  Co.,  remaining  in 
that  capacity  for  more  than  ten 
years. 

During  his  entire  residence  in 
Chicago  Mr.  Brusell  has  been  ac- 
tive in  theatrical  circles.  Of  the 
eighty  odd  parts  taken  by  him  in 
Swedish  plays,  many  have  been 
leading  ones,  calling  for  the  high- 
est talent  at  the  company's  com- 
mand. The  introduction  to  Chi- 
cago audiences  of  many  of  the  best 
comedy  dramas  of  Sweden  redounds 
to  the  credit  of  Mr.  Brusell  and 
the  meritorious  aggregation  of 
theatrical  people  from  time  to 
time. 

In  1895  he  engaged  the  North 
Side  Turner  Hall  for  a  series  of 
five  plays  there  given  under  his 
direction.  The  Studebaker  The- 
ater was  hired  for  the  season  of 
1901-02,  when  three  plays  were 
enacted.  That  season  Mr.  Brusell 
played  Birger  Jarl  in  "Brollopet 
pa  Ulfasa,"  and  took  leading  parts 
in  two  other  plays.  At  the  Grand 
Opera  House  the  next  season  he 
put  on  three  plays,  handling  a 
leading  part  in  each.  In  1903 
the  company  under  his  direction 
gave  "L,ifvet  pa  landet,"  and 


Chicago 


373 


during  the  season  of  1907-08  sev- 
eral performances  were  given  by 
the  Swedish  Theatrical  Company, 
headed  by  him.  Part  of  the  time 
Mr.  Brusell  has  been  associated 
with  Ernst  Behmer  of  the  Swed- 
Dramatic  Company,  when  the  two 
companies  of  players  cooperated. 

During  his  early  years  in  Chi- 
cago Mr.  Brusell  was  a  member 
of  the  old  Freja  Singing  Society, 
long  dissolved,  and  later  belonged 
to  the  Swedish  Glee  Club  and  the 
Svithiod  Singing  Club.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Merchants' 
Council  No.  142,  Royal  League. 

In  1883  Mr.  Brusell  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Palm- 
borg  of  Stockholm.  Of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  the  daughter 
Hedvig  has  inherited  her  father's 
dramatic  talent. 


ment.  Having  served  for  eight 
years,  he  resigned  in  1864  and 
left  for  America.  Landing  at 


CARL  A.  BJORK 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Swedish  Mission  Church  in  Amer- 
ica in  the  late  sixties,  and  in  1885 
aided  in  the  organization  of  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Mission  Cov- 
enant, of  which  he  has  been  pres- 
ident ever  since. 

He  was  born  in  Lommaryd  pa- 
rish, Smaland,  Sweden,  July  29, 
1837,  on  the  farm  of  his  parents, 
Sven  Svenson  and  Anna  Stina 
Samuelson.  The  mother  passed 
away  in  Lommaryd  in  1878,  fol- 
lowed two  years  later  by  the 
father.  Having  attended  common 
school,  the  son  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen was  apprenticed  to  a  shoe- 
maker, and  at  nineteen  entered 
military  service  in  the  Norra  Vebo 
Company  of  the  Jonkoping  Regi- 


CARL  AUGUST  BJORK 

Quebec,  he  proceeded  to  Boone 
county,  Iowa,  and  located  at  Min- 
eral Ridge,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  until  1868.  When  a 
little  group  of  Mission  Friends 
was  formed  at  Swede  Bend,  he 
would  frequently  conduct  their 
religious  meetings  and  in  the  last- 
named  year  he  was  called  as  reg- 
ular preacher  to  the  little  flock. 
In  1876  he  left  for  Chicago,  ac- 
cepting a  call  to  become  pastor  of 
the  Swedish  Evangelical  Mission 
Church  on  the  north  side.  Until 
1894  he  remained  in  charge  of 
this  church,  and  resigned  only  to 
assume  the  more  responsible  posi- 
tion of  mission  superintendent  of 
the  Mission  Covenant,  in  which 
he  still  serves. 

When  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Mission  Synod  was  formed  in  May, 
1873,  in  Keokuk,  la.,  Rev.  Bjork 


374 


Cook  County 


was  one  of  its  organizers  and  in- 
corporators.  Having  been  elected 
its  president  in  1877,  he  served  in 
that  capacity  until  1885,  when  the 
synod  became  a  component  part 
of  the  Mission  Covenant,  Rev. 
Bjork  being  chosen  head  of  the 
new  body  at  the  time  and  each 
succeeding  year  down  to  the 
present. 

As  president  of  the  Covenant, 
he  has  participated  in  founding 
and  developing  all  the  branches 
of  its  work,  prominent  among 
which  are  the  educational  work 
conducted  at  North  Park  College 
and  the  benevolent  work  carried 
on  by  the  charity  home  and  hos- 
pital maintained  by  the  Covenant 
in  Bowmanville.  Rev.  Bjork' s 
especial  care,  however,  consists  in 
supervising  and  promoting  the 
Covenant  missions,  comprising  the 
home  and  foreign  fields. 

On  Oct.  24,  1866,  Rev.  Bjork 
was  married  to  Johanna  Christina 
Boman,  who  bore  him  four  chil- 
dren, Ida  Susanna,  \  born  1867; 
Selma  Amanda,  1869;  Joseph  Al- 
bert, 1871;  Victor  Harry,  1875. 
His  first  wife  having  died  in  1876, 
Rev.  Bjork  on  July  6,  1878,  en- 
tered wedlock  anew,  his  second 
wife  being  Augusta  Sophia  Peter- 
son, born  in  Gasborn  parish,  Verm- 
land,  May  8,  1846.  In  the  second 
union  there  are  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  to- wit:  August 
Emanuel,  born  1879;  Theresia  Eli- 
sabeth, 1880;  David  Theodor,  1883: 
Carl  Otto,  1885.  Ida  Susanna  is 
the  wife  of  August  Stenstrom  and 
Theresia  Elisabeth  died  in  1903. 

The    Bjork    family    residence    is 


at    3297    N.    Sawyer    ave.,  North 
Park,   Chicago. 


S.  NILSSON  SWAN, 

president    of    the  Swan  Company, 
manufacturers   of   pianos    and    or- 


S.  NILSSON  SWAN 

gans  at  Freeport,  111.,  was  born 
June  20,  1844,  in  Gards-Kopinge, 
Skane,  Sweden.  He  comes  of  a 
long-lived  family,  his  father,  Nils 
Pearson,  a  butcher  and  tanner, 
having  died  at  75  years  of  age, 
and  his  mother,  Kama  Pearson, 
at  72  years. 

After  receiving  such  education 
as  the  local  public  schools  afford- 
ed, he  was  at  fifteen  apprenticed 
to  a  cabinet-maker.  In  1863,  his 
term  of  apprenticeship  being  fin- 
ished, he  became  a  pattern-maker 
at  Kristianstad  and  later  at  Malmo. 
A  year  was  spent  here  at  piano- 
making.  Returning  to  Kristian- 
stad, he  started  in  1867  a  furnit- 
ure factory. 

On  April  8,   1868,  he  embarked 


Chicago 


for  America,  landing  in  New  York 
on  Easter  Sunday.  He  went  to 
Wyanet,  111.,  and  worked  at  cab- 
inet-making for  two  years.  In 
September,  1870,  he  went  to  Men- 
dota,  111.,  where  he  was  employed 


MRS.   S.    NILSSON  SWAN 

as  action  maker  by  the  Western 
Cottage  Organ  Co.  In  1876  he 
became  a  foreman  contractor  in 
the  fly  finish  and  action  depart- 
ment of  the  factory.  Moving  in 
1887  to  Chicago,  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Chicago  Cottage 
Organ  Co.  and  also  became  a 
foreman  contractor  in  the  fly  finish 
and  action  department  of  this  fac- 
tory. By  1892  he  employed  ninety 
men  under  his  contracts.  In  April, 
1893,  he  sold  his  holdings  in  the 
Cable  Co.,  as  the  firm  was  then 
styled,  for  $45,000.  At  once  he 
purchased  stock  in  the  Hobart  M. 
Cable  Co.  and  entered  upon  the 
position  of  manager  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Burdett  Organ 
Factory  in  Freeport,  111.  In  No- 


375 

vember,  1907,  Mr.  Swan  bought 
this  plant  and  formed  the  Swan 
Co.,  with  himself  as  president. 

The  organ  factory  has  a  capacity 
of  thirty  reed  organs  per  day  and 
employs  over  one  hundred  work- 
ers. The  instruments  are  sold  in 
Sweden,  Norway,  Denmark,  Ger- 
many, England  and  Scotland,  be- 
sides all  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Swan  is  a  member  of  a 
number  of  Masonic  bodies,  such 
as  the  Excelsior  No.  97,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  Chapter  No.  23,  Com- 
mandery  No.  7  and  Freeport  Con- 
sistory. He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen. 

Mr.  Swan  was  united  in  marri- 
age on  July  22,  1866,  at  Krist- 
ianstad,  to  Ingrid  Carlson.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Fredrik  and 


DAVID  EDWARD  SWAN 

Anna  Hokenson  Carlson,  and  was 
born  at  Broby,  Sweden,  Dec.  10, 
1842.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swan 
have  been  born  seven  children, 


376 


Cook  County 


viz.:  Anna  J.  C.,  May  9,  1867; 
David  E.,  Aug.  15,  1869;  Gustaf 
A.  E.,  Sept.  n,  1871;  Amanda 
A.  (Mrs.  Harry  H.  Loomis),  Aug. 
8,  1873;  Ingrid  Matilda  (Mrs. 
Frank  Reinhardt),  May  15,  1875; 
Hulda  O.  (Mrs.  Arthur  H.  An- 
derson), June  4,  1877;  Minnie  V., 
Aug.  23,  1879. 

The  Swans  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  The 
family  home  is  at  3415  Calumet 
ave.,  Chicago. 

DAVID  E.  SWAN 

was  born  Aug.  15,  1869,  at  Wya- 
net,  111.  His  father  is  the  veteran 
organ  builder,  S.  Nilssoii  Swan. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  Da- 
vid left  school  and  since  then  has 
had  a  practical  training  in  organ 
factories,  becoming  an  expert  or- 
gan builder.  From  1888  until 
1903  he  was  a  foreman  at  the 
Cable  Co.  plant  in  Chicago.  He 
then  transferred  his  activities  to 
the  Burdette  organ  factory  at 
Freeport  in  the  capacity  of  assist- 
ant superintendent.  Since  the 
incorporation  of  the  Swan  Co., 
he  is  also  manager  of  the  sales 
department. 

Mr.  Swan  is  an  Elk  and  also  a 
32d  degree  Mason,  Rockford  Shri- 
ner,  White  Shriner,  Chaldean  and 
an  Eastern  Star  Mason.  He  is 
further  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Royal 
League,  the  Columbian  Knights, 
as  well  as  the  Freeport  Club  and 
the  Germania  Society  of  Freeport. 

His  marriage  to  Hilda  L.  An- 
derson of  Chicago  took  place 
Feb.  27,  1895.  Mrs.  Swan,  daugh- 


ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  P.  An- 
derson, was  born  Oct.  29,  1870. 
They  are  members  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church,  and  reside 
at  156  West  st.,  Freeport,  111. 

GUSTAF  A.  E.  SWAN 
was  born  Sept.   n,   1871,  at  Men- 
dota,  111.,  a  son  of  the  well-known 


GUSTAP  A.  E.  SWAN 

organ  manufacturer,  S.  Nilsson 
Swan.  He  attended  the  public 
school  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  work  in  the  organ 
factory.  At  the  early  age  of 
twenty-two  years  he  became  a 
foreman  in  the  Cable  Co.'s  factory 
in  Chicago.  After  ten  years'  serv- 
ice he  moved  May  i,  1903,  to 
Freeport,  111.,  where  he  continued 
in  the  same  capacity  in  the  Bur- 
dett  organ  factory.  Since  the 
formation  of  the  Swan  Company 
he  has  also  been  vice-president  of 
the  firm. 

Mr.  Swan  was  elected  alderman 
for  West  Freeport  in  1905  and 
served  one  term.  He  is  a  mem- 


Chicago 


377 


her  of  Ben  Hur  Lodge,  Columbian 
Knights,  and  of  the  Royal  Arca- 
num. 

Nov.  14,  1900,  Mr.  Swan  cel- 
ebrated his  marriage  to  Esther 
M.  Johanson  of  Chicago.  She 
was  born  May  22,  i8'/8,  to  John 
and  Christina  Johanson. 

The  Messrs.  S.  Nilsson,  David 
and  Gustaf  Swan  are  men  of  un- 
usual ability,  with  a  record  in 
business  and  inventive  fields  plac- 
ing them  in  the  front  rank  as 
organ  builders  and  factory  man- 
agers. 


ELLYN  MARIE  SWANSON 

is  a  young  singer,  who  was  bare- 
ly   out    of    her    'teens   before    she 


ELLYN   MARIE   SWANSON 

acquired  recognition  on  the  con- 
cert platform.  Her  voice  is  a  rich 
and  full  soprano,  susceptible  to 
the  highest  development. 

Miss  Ellyn  Swanson  is  the 
daughter  of  Adolph  Swanson,  a 
machinist,  and  his  wife,  Ida  Fred- 


rika,  nee  Rhenborg.  She  was 
born  in  Chicago  Jan.  i,  1884.  At 
the  age  of  five  she  evinced  musical 
talent  and  sang  with  a  voice  of  a 
musical  quality  unusual  in  a  child. 
Having  studied  privately  from  her 
early  years,  she  entered  the  Chi- 
cago Musical  College  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  continuing  for  a  pe- 
riod of  four  years.  She  there 
received  four  free  scholarships  and 
has  been  awarded  no  less  than 
three  diamond  medals.  Miss  Swan- 
son  also  has  studied  with  Herman 
DeVries,  the  baritone,  taking  sev- 
enth grade  in  the  teachers'  class, 
and  a  post  graduate  course  lead- 
ing to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Music. 

Miss  Ellyn  Swanson  is  now 
connected  with  two  institutions, 
namely  the  Central  College  of 
Music  and  the  Balatka  College, 
as  instructor  in  voice.  For  several 
years  back  she  is  soloist  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of 
Oak  Park.  Since  she  entered  the 
field  as  a  professional  singer  not 
long  ago,  she  has  become  one  of 
the  favorite  vocalists  of  Chicago. 
She  is  doing  both  concert  and 
operatic  work,  is  a  member  of 
the  Balatka  Concert  Company  and 
has  appeared  at  the  Auditorium 
in  local  productions  of  "Faust" 
and  "Samson  and  Delilah,"  also 
in  a  Swedish  country  play. 


WILLIAM  A.  PETERSON, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
denomination  and  ex-professor  at 
the  theological  seminary  in  Mor- 
gan Park,  was  born  March  24, 


378 


Cook  County 


1860,  at  Arila,  Sodermanland, 
Sweden.  He  completed  the  course 
in  the  people's  schools  at  the  age 


WILLIAM   A.   PETERSON 

of  fourteen.  At  eighteen,  while 
on  a  hunting  trip  of  a  Sunday 
afternoon  with  a  friend,  he  had  a 
hair-breadth  escape  from  being 
killed  by  the  premature  discharge 
of  a  gun.  This  accident  deeply 
stirred  the  young  man's  mind  and 
marked  the  turning  point  in  his 
spiritual  life.  Having  come  under 
Baptist  influence  prior  to  this,  he 
joined  the  Baptist  Church  at  Arila 
through  immersion  in  January, 
1879.  On  the  advice  of  his  pastor 
he  decided  to  devote  himself  to 
evangelistic  work,  and  began  as  a 
missionary,  engaged  by  the  Mis- 
sion Union  of  Sodermanland. 

Having  labored  in  the  mission 
field  during  the  years  1881-83,  and 
feeling  the  need  of  further  train- 


ing, he  entered  the  Bethel  Semi- 
nary at  Stockholm,  where  he  pur- 
sued studies  for  the  next  three 
years.  From  1886  to  1888  he  was 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Sala,  a 
charge  which  he  left  to  go  to  the 
United  States.  A  few  months  af- 
ter his  arrival  in  this  country  he 
entered  the  Swedish  department 
of  the  Baptist  Union  Theological 
Seminary  at  Morgan  Park,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  the  fol- 
lowing spring.  He  preached  in 
Iron  River  during  the  ensuing 
summer,  then  returned  to  the 
seminary,  entering  the  American 
department.  Not  satisfied  with 
the  course  leading  to  the  degree 
of  B.  D.,  which  he  earned  in  a 
year,  he  pursued  post-graduate 
studies  until  the  spring  of  1891, 
meanwhile  serving  as  assistant  in- 
structor in  Greek,  Hebrew  and 
Swedish. 

He  was  ordained  and  served  as 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Sioux 
Falls,  S.  D.,  for  one  year.  After 
that  he  spent  three  years  at  the 
University  of  Chicago  as  a  post- 
graduate student.  In  1895  he 
was  called  as  regular  professor  in 
the  Swedish  department  of  the 
Morgan  Park  institution,  accepting 
the  chair  of  universal  and  church 
history,  and  the  Greek  and  Swed- 
ish languages.  In  1907,  having 
acquired  views  at  variance  with 
his  denomination,  he  resigned  and 
went  to  Sweden,  settling  in  the 
vicinity  of  Eskilstuna. 


CHARLES  H.  JOHNSTON 
was  born  in  Kroppa  parish,  Verm- 
land,  Sweden,  Nov.   6,    1860.     He 


Chicago 


379 


learned  the  iron  worker's  trade  in 
his  father's  shop.  Five  years 
were  then  spent  working  in  the 
Nordenfelt  Gatling  Gun  Factory. 
Leaving  Sweden  in  1886,  he  first 
settled  in  Pittsburgh.  By  the 
next  year  he  was  in  Chicago, 
where  he  worked  in  various  shops. 
In  1889  he  opened  a  shop  on  In- 
diana st.  for  the  manufacture  of 
all  kinds  of  ironwork  for  building 
purposes.  In  1902  he  removed 
his  shop  to  IIO-H2  E.  Ohio  st. 
The  present  location  of  the  John- 
ston Iron  Works  is  257-259  E. 
Division  st.  The  work  here  turned 
out  ranges  from  fire  escapes,  stand- 
pipes  and  iron  beams  to  small 
castings  and  forgings. 

Mr.  Johnston  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  order  and  to  the  National 
Union. 

In  1887  Mr.  Johnston  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sophia  Nelson,  also 
from  Vermland.  They  have  a 
son  and  a  daughter.  The  family 
residence  is  at  3023  N.  Ashland 
avenue. 


ticket  and  defeated  by  the  narrow 

margin    of    a    few    hundred  votes. 

In  1897  he  attended  the  Stock - 


CHARLES  F.  ERIKSON, 
publisher  of  Svenska  Tribunen- 
Nyheter,  was  born  March  6,  1866, 
in  Vestergotland,  Sweden.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1887, 
making  his  home  in  Marinette, 
Wis.,  for  a  time.  From  there  he 
came  to  Chicago  and  was  employed 
as  advertising  solicitor  of  Skandia, 
a  Swedish  daily  published  at  that 
time.  In  1891-92  he  was  an  em- 
ployee of  the  Chicago  Herald.  Go- 
ing to  Omaha,  Neb.,  he  engaged  in 
politics  there,  was  nominated  for 
city  comptroller  on  the  Democratic 


CHARLES    F.  ERIKSON 

holm  Exposition  as  special  com- 
missioner in  behalf  of  the  man- 
agement of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Exposition,  which  was  to  take 
place  at  Omaha  the  following  year. 
While  at  Omaha  Mr.  Erikson 
conducted  a  newspaper  advertising 
agency. 

Returning  to  Chicago  in  1899, 
he  became  advertising  manager  of 
Svenska  Tribunen,  and  when 
this  paper  was  sold  in  1900  to 
John  E.  Norling  and  Samuel  E. 
Carlsson  he  secured  a  like  position 
with  Svenska  Nyheter.  In  May, 
1905,  he  purchased  the  first-named 
paper  and  in  July  of  the  follow- 
ing year  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  latter,  which  was  named  Sven- 
ska Tribunen- Nyheter.  Since  March, 
1907,  Mr.  Erikson  has  been  sole 
proprietor  of  the  paper,  which  is 
said  to  have  the  largest  clientele 


38o 


Cook  County 


of  any  Swedish  weekly  in  the 
world. 

Mr.  Erikson  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Glee  Club,  the  Chicago 
Advertising  Association  and  the 
Illinois  Athletic  Club.  He  is  a 
Knight  Templar,  a  Noble  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  a  member  of  Me- 
dinah  Temple  of  Chicago  and  of 
Chicago,  of  King  Oscar  Lodge  A. 
F.  and  A.  M.,  and  affiliates  with 
several  other  Masonic  organiza- 
tions. 

Feb.  27,  1895  Mr.  Erikson  was 
married  to  Miss  Selma  Dahlstrom 
of  Omaha.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  a  daughter. 


LUTHER  P.  FRIESTEDT 

is  a  typical  Chicagoan.  He  was 
born  April  30,  1860,  at  Water- 
town,  Wis.,  of  Swedish  parents, 
and  was  brought  here  by  them  in 
1 86 1,  since  which  time  Chicago 
has  been  his  residence.  Beginning 
his  education  at  the  old  Skinner 
School,  he  continued  his  studies 
until  graduated  from  the  old 
Washington  High  School.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  went  on  a  farm 
near  Wheaton,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, attending  Wheaton  College 
during  the  winter  months  and 
giving  particular  attention  to  civil 
and  mechanical  engineering. 

Shortly  after  his  twenty-first 
birthday  Friestedt  arranged  to  go 
to  Oregon  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
gaging in  the  cattle  business,  but 
while  in  Chicago  purchasing  his 
outfit  he  was  asked  by  Robert 
McAuley,  a  house  raiser  and 


mover,  to  assist  him  in  raising  a 
building,  a  small  brick  structure 
in  Indiana  street.  In  this  work 
he  applied  his  engineering  theories 
to  such  advantage  that  McAuley 
insisted  that  he  enter  his  employ, 
promising  him  a  partnership  at 
the  end  of  the  year.  Friestedt 
accepted  his  offer,  abandoned  his 
western  trip  and  buckled  down  to 
work.  McAuley's  business  pros- 
pered and  within  six  months  Frie- 
stedt was  taken  into  partnership, 
the  firm  being  called  McAuley  & 
Friestedt.  At  the  end  of  a  year 
the  junior  partner  embarked  in 
business  for  himself  as  L.  P.  Frie- 
stedt &  Co.  The  firm  is  still  in 
business,  the  largest  of  its  kind 
in  the  world. 

A  rapidly  increasing  business 
was  Friestedt' s  portion,  but  it  was 
not  until  1893  that  he  sprang  to 
the  front  rank  as  an  engineer. 
During  that  year  he  was  awarded 
a  contract  for  $100,000,  engaging 
to  clear  the  right  of  way  of  the 
Metropolitan  Elevated  Railway 
Company  from  Western  ave.  to 
Halsted  St.,  salvaging  all  build- 
ings and  holding  the  company 
harmless.  It  was  his  work  on  the 
Normandie  apartment  building 
during  this  time  that  brought  him 
prominently  to  the  fore.  This 
granite  front,  three-story  struct- 
ure, 100  by  75  feet,  faced  Laflin 
street.  To  enable  the  elevated 
road  to  properly  extend  its  tracks 
it  was  necessary  to  raise  and  back 
this  building  and  then  turn  it 
around  so  that  it  would  face  on 
Van  Buren  st.  This  work  Frie- 
stedt accomplished,  and  the  work 


Chicago 


was  visited  by  government  engi- 
neers and  commissioners  from 
different  countries,  resulting  finally 
in  his  being  engaged  by  the  Aus- 
tro- Hungarian  government  to  un- 
dertake a  series  of  works  in  Buda- 
pest, which  firmly  established  his 
fame  as  an  engineer. 

It  was  in  1896  that  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  government  appoint- 
ed a  commission  to  consider  the 
possibility  of  widening  the  thor- 
oughfare in  Budapest,  intersected 
by  the  Danube  River,  in  order 
that  a  cantilever  bridge  might  be 
constructed.  The  commission  de- 
cided upon  Friestedt,  and  he  was 
awarded  a  contract  to  widen  Louis 
Kossuth  boulevard  22  meters,  or 
73.26  feet.  In  the  prosecution  of 
this  undertaking  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  move  the  Drear  Palais, 
a  new  structure  of  stone  and  con- 
crete costing  1,500,000  florins,  a 
distance  of  seventy  feet.  This  he 
did  without  accident.  A  church, 
built  in  the  twelfth  century,  was 
successfully  moved,  as  well  as  five 
government  buildings,  and  all  this 
was  accomplished  without  disaster. 

During  the  three  years  required 
for  the  work  Mr.  Friestedt  spent 
much  time  in  Budapest,  was  reg- 
istered under  the  law  as  a  busi- 
ness man,  carried  a  cash  balance 
in  bank  of  200,000  florins  and  em- 
ployed thousands  of  laborers.  He 
afterward  executed  several  com- 
missions for  the  Archduke  Joseph 
and  operated  in  Austria- Hungary 
as  the  Friestedt  Company  of  Bu- 
dapest for  a  time. 

While  the  L.  P.  Friestedt  Co. 
of  Chicago  is  the  headquarters  of 


Mr.  Friestedt,  he  is  largely  en- 
gaged in  other  activities.  He  is 
heavily  interested  in  the  Friestedt 
Interlocking  Channel  Bar  Com- 
pany, which  makes  an  interlock- 
ing steel  piling  of  his  invention, 
and  it  is  used  by  all  railways  and 
governments  of  the  world.  The 
company  has  executed  immense 
contracts  in  the  harbor  of  Naga- 
saki, Japan,  and  at  the  Mersey 
docks  of  Liverpool.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Columbia  Tool  Steel 
Company  of  Chicago  Heights,  in 
the  British  Steel  Piling  Company 
of  London,  and  owns  real  estate 
in  almost  every  part  of  Chicago. 
His  fortune  is  estimated  at  six 
figures. 

Mr.  Friestedt  was  a  member  of 
the  commission  appointed  by  the 
sanitary  district  of  Chicago,  the 
city  and  the  government  to  esti- 
mate the  cost  of  deepening  and 
widening  the  Chicago  River  so  as 
to  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
projected  ship  canal. 

In  1902  Mr.  Friestedt  was  elected 
to  the  city  council  as  an  alderman 
from  the  Thirteenth  ward  by  the 
largest  majority  ever  given  in  that 
ward,  and  was  re-elected  in  1903. 
He  resigned  in  1905,  owing  to  the 
demands  upon  his  time  by  his 
business  interests. 

In  1906  Mr.  Friestedt  waged 
the  hottest  kind  of  a  fight  with 
Congressman  William  Lorimer  for 
the  Republican  nomination  for 
representative  in  congress  from 
the  sixth  district  of  Illinois,  and 
was  defeated  by  a  small  margin 
at  the  primary  election. 

In   religion    Mr.  Friestedt  is  an 


382 


Cook  County 


Episcopalian  and  a  member  of  St. 
Andrew's  Church.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  include  membership  in 
the  Masonic  order,  he  being  a 
member  of  Union  Park  L,odge, 
York  Chapter,  Chicago  Command- 
ery  and  Medinah  Temple.  He  is 
a  Knight  of  Pythias,  a  Son  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  his  list 
list  of  clubs  includes  the  Meno- 
ken,  Chicago  Athletic,  Chicago 
Automobile,  Horican  Gun,  Eagle 
River  Fishing  and  Hunting.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Western  Soci- 
ety of  Engineers. 

When  he  was  22  Mr.  Friestedt 
married  Dora  M.  Huyer  of  Chi- 
cago. To  them  have  been  born 
five  sons:  Arthur,  George,  Her- 
man, L,uther  and  Willis.  The 
three  eldest  boys  are  associated 
with  their  father  in  business,  and 
all  live  at  the  homestead  at  170 
Central  Park  ave. 


service  in  Battery  H,  First  Illinois 
Light  Artillery.  After  eighteen 
months  of  actual  service  in  the 


ANDREW  L.  ANDERSON, 
who  was  a  man  of  prominence  in 
Henry  county  before  removing  to 
Chicago  a  few  years  ago,  was 
born  in  Vestergotland,  Sweden, 
Oct.  26,  1842.  He  grew  up  and 
obtained  his  essential  education  in 
the  place  of  his  birth.  In  1860 
he  emigrated  to  America,  making 
a  nine  weeks'  voyage  on  board  a 
sailing  vessel.  After  reaching  the 
port  of  New  York,  he  proceeded 
to  .  Geneseo,  and  from  there  to 
the  township  of  Andover,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  through  the 
summer  and  attended  school  the 
following  winter. 

In    January,     1862,     the    young 
newcomer     enlisted     for     military 


ANDREW   L.   ANDERSON 

field  he  received  honorable  dis- 
charge for  disability.  Returning 
home,  he  passed  some  months  in 
recruiting  his  strength,  putting 
*n  most  of  the  time  at  school, 
perfecting  his  knowledge  of  the 
English  language.  As  soon  as 
his  health  permitted,  he  went  to 
work  for  Mr.  P.  P.  Allen,  remain- 
ing in  his  employ  for  seven  years, 
the  first  two  or  three  years  as  a 
farmhand  and  afterward  in  the 
capacity  of  buyer  of  stock — cattle, 
horses  and  sheep, — spending  one 
year  in  Missouri  for  that  purpose. 

Subsequently,  Mr.  Anderson 
rented  land  until  1880,  when  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Munson  town- 
ship, devoting  himself  successfully 
to  farming  and  stockraising  there 
for  many  years. 

In  public  affairs  locally  and 
nationally  Mr.  Anderson  has  taken 


Chicago 


383 


a  deep  interest.  In  1872  he  vig- 
orously opposed  the  movement 
headed  by  Capt.  Eric  Johnson  and 
Jonas  W.  Olson  to  round  up  the 
Swedish  voters  of  Henry  county 
for  Greeley,  and  at  that  juncture 
organized  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  club  of  the  county. 

Prior  to  1885  he  served  as  as- 
sessor for  two  terms  and  for  sev- 
eral years  as  a  school  director.  In 
time  he  acquired  a  dominant  influ- 
ence in  county  politics,  was  entrust- 
ed with  the  county  treasurership 
and  held  various  other  offices  with- 
in the  gift  of  his  constituents. 
He  did  much  to  gain  for  the 
people  of  his  nationality  due  re- 
cognition in  county  affairs.  Mr. 
Anderson  was  one  of  the  active 
organizers  of  the  Swedish-Amer- 
ican Republican  League  of  Illi- 
nois and  served  as  its  treasurer 
during  the  preliminary  period  and 
for  the  first  two  regular  terms  of 
one  year. 

Having  retired  from  agricultural 
pursuits  and  politics,  Mr.  Ander- 
son in  1903  removed  to  Chicago 
and  owns  a  home  at  6505  Green 
St.,  Englewood. 

March  16,  1871,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  married  to  Miss  Amanda 
Wallin,  a  member  of  a  well-known 
family,  most  of  whose  members 
are  living  in  Iowa.  To  the  An- 
dersons have  been  born  eight  chil- 
dren: Hilda  H.,  Alvin  E.,  de- 
ceased, John  Albert,  Eugenia  L., 
James  Elmer  and  Andrew  Wen- 
dell, deceased,  George  A.  and 
Gilbert  C. 


HENRY  STRUVE 

was  born  in    Kristianstad,  Skane, 
Dec.  9,   1857.      His   parents   were 


HENRY  STRUVE 

the  military  surgeon  Henry  Struve 
and  Dorothea  Struve.  After  hav- 
ing passed  through  four  classes  of 
the  local  collegiate  school  he  ob- 
tained a  position  as  clerk  in  Hjal- 
mar  Moller's  bookstore  in  Krist- 
ianstad, remaining  there  eleven 
years. 

Mr.  Struve  emigrated  in  1887 
and  came  at  once  to  Chicago. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Eng- 
berg-Holmberg  Publishing  Co. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Skane 
Provincial  Lodge  of  A.  F.  and  A. 
M.  in  Sweden  and  also  of  Lodge 
No.  i,  I.  O.  S. 


ANTON   C.  ENGBERG 

was  born  May  20,  1877,  in  Chi- 
cago, and  is  the  son  of  John  J. 
and  Marie  S.  Engberg.  He  was 


Cook  County 


educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Metropolitan  Business  Col- 
lege, where  he  completed  a  course 
in  bookkeeping. 


ANTON    CARL   ENGBERG 

Learning  the  printers'  trade,  he 
has  worked  in  various  offices  in 
the  city.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  has  been  employed  at  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Engberg- Holm- 
berg  Publishing  Company. 

Mr.  Engberg  is  a  member  of 
the  Twenty-Third  Ward  Repub- 
lican Club  and  resides  at  458 
Cleveland  ave. 


JOHN  J.  ENGBERG 

was  born  in  Bergsjo,  Norra  Hel- 
singland,  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful spots  in  the  kingdom  of  Swe- 
den, Jan.  8,  1846.  His  father, 
Jonas  (Jonson)  Engberg — a  farmer 
and,  in  fact,  a  carpenter  and  a 
blacksmith,  as  he  performed  all 
such  work  required  on  the  farm — 
became  weary  of  paying  fines  for 
being  a  dissenter  or  separatist, 


and  decided  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  land  where  religious  liberty 
prevails.  In  1856  he  crossed  the 
Atlantic  and  settled  in  Goodhue 
county,  Minn.  The  following 
year  the  son,  John,  who  had  ac- 
quired an  education  in  the  old 
home  public  school  and  in  a  sep- 
aratist school  under  the  tuition  of 
Rev.  Peter  Beckman,  commenced 
learning  the  printer's  trade,  "the 
black  art,"  as  it  was  formerly 
called,  on  Minnesota  -  Posten,  a 
Swedish  weekly,  published  in  Red 
Wing  by  his  cousin,  Rev.  Eric 
Norelius,  and  his  eldest  brother, 
Jonas  Engberg.  Aug.  8,  1858, 
the  mother,  Brita,  nee  I,arson, 
accidentally  lost  her  life  in  cross- 
ing Cannon  River  on  her  way  to 


JOHN  J.   ENGBERG 

church,  the  father  passing  away 
in  1862.  That  same  year  the 
youth  journeyed  back  to  Chicago 
and  had  a  year's  schooling  with 
Prof.  L,.  P.  Esbjorn,  the  founder 
of  Augustana  Theological  Semi- 


Chicago 


385 


nary,  at  that  time  located  in  Chi- 
cago. In  November,  1863,  he  en- 
listed in  the  8gth  111.  Vol.  Inf'try, 
Co.  D,  and  took  part  in  General 
Sherman's  operations  in  Tennessee 
and  Georgia.  Having  successfully 
'  'dodged  the  bullets' '  for  one  year 
at  the  front,  as  he  expresses  it, 
sickness  laid  him  low,  and  upon 
convalescing  later  in  the  fall  of 
1864,  he  was  transferred  first  to 
the  5Qth  111.  and  a  short  time  af- 
terward to  the  8th  Regt.  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps  at  Camp  Douglas, 
Chicago,  where  he  served  guard- 
ing rebel  prisoners,  until  mustered 
out  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War 
in  the  fall  of  1865-  Since  then  he 
has  mostly  been  employed  as  a 
"type-sticker"  in  different  parts 
of  the  Western  states,  occasion- 
ally doing  a  little  writing  for 
newspapers  here  and  there.  He 
was  among  the  thousands  who 
in  1871  lost  their  all  of  worldly 
possessions  in  the  Chicago  fire  in 
that  year.  In  1872  he  added  the 
knowledge  of  music  type  setting 
to  his  craft.  At  present  he  is 
'  'setting  up' '  books  and  music  for 
the  Engberg-Holmberg  Publishing 
Company. 

J.  J.  Engberg  is  affiliated  with 
the  Swedish  Typographical  Un- 
ion No.  247,  of  which  he  was 
the  first  president,  the  North  Star 
Lodge  No.  2393  Knights  of  Hon- 
or, in  which  he  served  as  presi- 
dent for  several  terms,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  grand  lodge  of 
that  order,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Nov.  7,  1868,  Mr.  Engberg  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Marie  S. 
Agren  from  Kristianstad,  Swe- 


den, the  issue  of  the  union  being 
nine  .children,  six  of  whom  sur- 
vive, namely:  Axel  Rudolph,  Mrs. 
Rose  E.  Spoor,  Alma  B.,  Anton 
C.,  Ruth  E.  and  Walter  L.  Eng- 
berg. 

ERNST  W.  OLSON 

was  born  March  16,  1870,  in 
Finja  parish,  Skane,  Sweden. 


ERNST   WILHELM    OLSON 

His  parents  were  Johannes  Olson 
(deceased)  and  Johanna  Olson, 
nee  Grahn.  There  are  eleven 
children  in  the  family,  and  it  was 
chiefly  on  their  account  that  the 
father,  although  a  well  -  to  -  do 
farmer,  determined  to  emigrate  to 
the  country  whose  name  stands 
for  opportunity.  The  family  came 
over  in  May,  1878,  and  located 
on  a  farm  near  Wahoo,  Neb. 

When  in  the  fall  of  1883  Luther 
Academy  was  opened  at  Wahoo, 
Ernst  was  one  of  the  first  half 
dozen  students  enrolled.  He  con- 
tinued his  studies  at  Augustana 


386 


Cook  County 


College,    Rock    Island,  graduating 
with  the  class  of  '91. 

With  some  experience  in  edit- 
ing college  papers,  including  Cen- 
sor, Balder  and  the  Lyceum  Annual, 
he  took  a  position  with  the  week- 
ly Fosterlandet  of  Chicago  shortly 
after  leaving  college.  One  year 
afterward  he  returned  to  Rock 
Island  to  edit  the  English  monthly 
Observer,  and  later  became  editor 
of  the  Swedish  weekly  Nya  Pressen 
of  Moline,  handling  the  two  pa- 
pers simultaneously  for  a  time. 
He  was  one  of  three  persons  who 
purchased  the  latter  paper  in  Jan- 
uary, 1894,  and  published  it  at 
Moline  for  the  next  three  years. 
The  plant  was  removed  to  Chica- 
go early  in  1896  and  two  editions 
were  published,  one  for  each  city. 
In  December,  1896,  a  consolidation 
with  Fosterlandet  was  effected,  and 
Mr.  Olson  became  editor  of  that 
paper,  also  acquiring  an  interest 
in  the  plant.  In  1900,  when  the 
paper  passed  under  the  control  of 
the  publishers  of  Svenska  Tribunen, 
he  was  given  editorial  charge  of 
both.  He  remained  editor-in-chief 
of  Tribunen  until  1905,  when  a 
change  in  ownership  and  policy 
caused  his  retirement.  Save  for 
occasional  news  stories  contributed 
to  the  Record- Herald  of  Chicago, 
the  illustrated  weekly  Hvar  8  Dag 
of  Goteborg,  and  other  journals, 
he  has  since  been  out  of  the  field 
of  journalism  from  choice,  having 
declined  offers  from  several  Swed- 
ish newspapers,  and  has  devoted 
his  time  to  editorial  work  for  the 
Engberg  -  Holmberg  Publishing 
Company. 


Besides  writing  original  verse, 
Mr.  Olson  has  turned  a  number 
of  poetic  masterpieces  from  Swed- 
ish into  English,  and  vice  versa. 
Among  his  translations  may  be 
mentioned  "Angelika,"  by  Malm- 
strom,  and  a  portion  of  Tegner's 
"Frithiof's  Saga.''  Competitive 
prizes  were  won  by  him  for  a 
college  song,  dedicated  to  his  Al- 
ma Mater,  and  for  a  short  story, 
submitted  to  the  Ram's  Horn. 
To  Bethany  College  he  is  indebted 
for  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M. 

Mr.  Olson's  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Strand  of  Des  Moines,  la., 
took  place  Dec.  20,  1899.  Their 
children  are:  Eugene  Wilfred 
Irving,  born  1901,  Adele  Eugenia, 
1903,  Eunice  Elizabeth,  1905,  and 
Herbert  William  L,eroy,  1907. 
Mrs.  Olson  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Augustana  Conservatory  of  Music. 

The  family  attend  the  Geth^em- 
ane  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
Mr.  Olson  at  present  serving  as 
its  secretary  and  chairman  of  its 
board  of  trustees.  He  is  secretary 
of  the  Western  Oregon  Orchard 
Company  and  member  of  the 
Swedish  Historical  Society  of 
America. 


OSCAR   ENGBERG, 

in  point  of  years  of  service  the 
oldest  Swedish  -  American  book 
publisher  and  bookseller,  was  born 
Dec.  6,  1863,  in  the  parsonage  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  Chicago,  which  at  that 
time,  together  with  the  church, 
was  located  on  Superior  st.,  between 
Wells  st.  and  La  Salle  ave.,  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Pas- 


Chicago 


387 


savant  Memorial  Hospital.  He 
has  ever  since  had  his  name  on 
the  rolls  of  this  congregation. 

After  attending  parochial  and 
public  schools  as  well  as  studying 
privately,  young  Engberg  passed 
an  apprenticeship  of  several  years' 
duration  in  the  printing  office  of 
Engberg  &  Holmberg,  thereby 
laying  the  foundation  for  the  gen- 
eral knowledge  of  publishing  in 


OSCAR     ENGBERG 

its  various  branches  which  he 
possesses. 

Having  served  as  salesman  with 
the  same  firm  for  several  years, 
Mr.  Engberg  was  placed  in  charge 
of  a  branch  established  in  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  in  the  fall  of  1881, 
remaining  there  for  six  years, 
when  he  returned  to  the  parent 
establishment  in  Chicago. 

Since  1887  Mr.  Engberg  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Engberg- 
Holmberg  Publishing  Co.  As  he 
has  made  a  study  of  the  business 
and  his  memory  is  excellent,  his 


head  is  crammed  with  knowledge 
of  book  titles  and  prices  as  well 
as  names  of  authors  and  publish- 
ers. Being  exceedingly  fond  of 
reading,  he  has  "devoured"  vol- 
umes innumerable. 

During  his  thirty  years  of  serv- 
ice in  the  book  business  he  has 
made  the  acquaintance  of  residents 
throughout  the  northern  half  of 
the  states.  He  has  the  reputation 
of  being  an  energetic,  indefati- 
gable toiler.  Mr.  Engberg  has 
edited  a  number  of  publications, 
and  under  a  nom  de  plume  made 
occasional  contributions  to  the 
Swedish-American  press,  in  verse 
form . 

Nov.  24,  1885,  Mr.  Engberg 
was  married  to  Anna  Christian  of 
Winona,  Minn.,  born  March  19, 
1864.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Helen,  born  June  3,  1887.  For 
the  past  fifteen  years  they  have 
been  residents  of  Ravenswood. 


JOSEPH  G.  SHELDON 

was  born  July  29,  1868,  in  Karls- 
kroiia,  Sweden,  where  his  father 
was  cashier  of  the  state  peniten- 
tiary. He  went  to  private  school 
at  the  age  of  five  years  and  con- 
tinued there  until  he  was  nine 
years  old.  In  January,  1878,  he 
began  to  attend  the  elementary 
school,  where  he  remained  until 
the  summer  of  1884,  when  he  was 
a  member  of  the  seventh  class. 
His  father  having  died  two  years 
previously,  young  Sheldon,  accom- 
panied by  his  mother,  emigrated 
to  America.  He  came  to  Chicago 
in  August,  1884,  and  has  since 
resided  here.  He  soon  obtained 


Cook  County 


employment  with  A.  H.  Andrews 
&  Co.,  manufacturers  of  school 
furniture,  and  remained  with  this 
firm  until  1886.  In  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  commenced  work  as 
a  dry  goods  clerk,  and  continued 
in  that  vocation  until  January, 
1889,  when  he  took  a  course  in 
bookkeeping  at  the  Metropolitan 
Business  College.  After  having 


JOSEPH   GILBERT  SHELDON 

completed  his  course  he  obtained 
employment  as  a  bookkeeper,  and 
in  February,  1891,  secured  a  po- 
sition as  receiving  teller  and  gen- 
eral bookkeeper  in  the  Dime  Sav- 
ings Bank,  where  he  remained 
until  the  summer  of  1895.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  matriculated 
with  the  Northwestern  University 
L,aw  School,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  June,  1897,  at  the  head 
of  a  class  of  eighty.  He  secured 
the  scholarship  prize,  consisting  of 
a  series  of  thirty  volumes  of  law. 
He  has  since  practiced  law  in  the 


state     and     federal     courts     with 
marked  success. 

In  April,  1902,  he  was  appointed 
a  justice  of  the  peace  to  succeed 
Chas.  H.  Hoglund,  deceased,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  De- 
cember, 1906,  when  that  office 
was  abolished,  and  he  then  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law. 

Mr.  Sheldon  became  a  member 
of  Svithiod  Lodge  No.  i,  I.  O.  S., 
in  1898,  was  elected  chairman  of 
the  lodge  in  January,  1900,  and 
chairman  of  the  grand  lodge  in 
1906,  being  reelected  in  1907. 

Since  1907,  Mr.  Sheldon  is  pres- 
ident of  the  Engberg-Holmberg 
Publishing  Company.  He  was  in 
1908  elected  secretary  of  the  Swed- 
ish Historical  Society  of  America. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  known  as  a  flu- 
ent speaker  in  both  Swedish  and 
English  and  has  appeared  as  ora- 
tor on  many  public  occasions. 

Mr.  Sheldon  traces  his  ancestry 
back  to  Bishop  Gilbert  Sheldon, 
who  was  Dean  of  the  University 
of  Oxford  in  the  early  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century  and  who  do- 
nated the  funds  necessary  to  erect 
the  Sheldonian  Theater  at  Ox- 
ford, which  is  still  in  existence. 
In  consideration  of  this  gift,  his 
lineal  descendants  are  entitled  to 
a  free  education  at  the  University 
of  Oxford.  The  sons  of  Bishop 
Sheldon  were  adherents  of  Charles 
I.,  and  hence  were  forced  to  flee 
the  country  after  Cromwell's  ac- 
cession to  power.  All  but  two 
went  to  America.  Gilbert  and 
Francis  in  1650  found  a  home  in 
Sweden,  where  they  followed  their 
trade,  that  of  ship  builders. 


Chicago 


389 


Francis  never  married.  Gilbert's 
descendants  up  to  the  present  gen- 
eration have,  with  few  excep- 
tions, also  been  ship  builders  and 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  build- 
ing the  Swedish  navy.  Gilbert's 
son,  Charles  Sheldon,  was  born 
Sept.  29,  1666,  and  died  Aug.  10, 
1739.  His  son,  Gilbert  Sheldon, 
was  born  Feb.  21,  1710,  in  Karls- 
krona,  where  the  family  resided  un- 
til 1884.  He  died  April  20,  1794. 
Both  he  and  his  father  were  chiefs 
of  construction  in  the  Swedish 
navy.  Although  the  family  was 
numerous  at  one  time,  the  only 
male  representatives  of  the  pres- 
ent generation  are  Joseph  G.  and 
his  elder  brother,  Adolf  Ulric 
Sheldon,  a  retired  ship  builder, 
now  residing  in  Schloss  Randegg, 
Baden.  There  are  no  Sheldons  in 
Sweden  at  the  present  time. 

On  Aug.  20,  1903,  Mr.  Shel- 
don was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sigrid  Engberg,  daughter  of  the 
late  Jonas  Engberg. 


MARTIN  J.  ENGBERG 

was  born  Sept.  4,  1872,  in  Chicago. 
His  parents  were  Jonas  and  Eliza- 
beth Engberg.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  North  Division  High 
School  in  1889,  and  then  spent  a 
year  in  the  Engberg-Holmberg 
Pub.  Co.'s  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1890  he  entered  the  University  of 
Illinois,  taking  a  scientific  course, 
and  making  a  specialty  of  chemistry. 
Graduating  in  1894  with  the 
degree  Bachelor  of  Science,  he 
was  a  technical  chemist  for  sever- 
al years.  Since  1900  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  Engberg-Holm- 


berg Publishing  Co.  in  the  capac- 
ity of  treasurer.  He  is  one  of 
the  editors  of  this  work  and  has 
uncovered  some  historical  material 
before  unknown  to  Swedish-Amer- 
ican annals.  He  was  for  some 
years  actively  identified  with  several 
Swedish  musical  organizations. 

Mr.     Engberg    is    a    member  of 
the  Swedish  Historical  Society   of 


MARTIN  J.  ENGBERG 

America,  the  Illinois  State  Histor- 
ical Society  and  of  the  Illinois 
Academy  of  Science. 

On  Aug.  17,  1904,  Mr.  Engberg 
was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Hoffsten  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  Mrs.  Engberg  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  and  Sophie  Hoffsten, 
and  was  born  Nov.  4,  1873,  at 
Wilkesbarre,  Pa.  She  graduated 
from  the  Girls'  High  School  in 
Philadelphia  in  1891  and  later  from 
the  Girls'  Normal  School  and  has 
taken  special  studies  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  Miss 
Hoffsten  was  a  teacher  in  the 


390 


Cook  County 


Robert    Morris     School     in    Phil- 
adelphia for  several  years. 

Since  coming   to   Chicago,   Mrs. 
Engberg   has  compiled  a  Swedish 


ELIZABETH  HOFFSTEN  ENGBERG 

primer  entitled,  "Min  forsta  lase- 
bok,"  which  is  founded  on  the  most 
advanced  American  pedagogical 
thought,  coupled  with  many  new 
ideas  devised  for  the  book.  It  has 
cast  aside  the  traditional  methods 
heretofore  used  in  the  Swedish 
primers  both  in  Sweden  and  this 
country. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engberg  are 
members  of  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  They  have  two 
sons,  Robert  Martin,  born  Jan.  17, 
1906,  and  Paul  Richard  Hoffsten, 
born  Aug.  20,  1908. 


CARL  B.  F.  BERGQUIST 

was  born  Feb.  12,  1874,  in  Chi- 
cago. He  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Carl  O.  and  Wendla  A.  Bergquist. 
After  finishing  his  public  school 
course,  he  engaged  in  the  real 


estate  and  insurance  business, 
eventually  entering  into  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  younger 
brother,  Hjalmar,  under  the  firm 
title  of  Carl  O.  Bergquist  and 
Sons. 

In  1902  he  removed  to  Encamp- 
ment, Wyo.,  where  he  is  growing 
up  with  the  country.  Mr.  Berg- 
quist is  connected  with  a  number 
of  mining  companies  operating  in 
the  camp.  He  is  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  the  Wyo- 
ming Finance  Co.,  president  of 
the  Big  Butte  Copper  Co.,  and 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  The  In- 
vestors Mining  and  Prospecting 
Co.  The  property  of  the  company 
last  named  is  at  Rambler,  Wyo., 


CARL  B.  F.    BERGQUIST 

near    the    Doane-Rambler  and   the 
Ferris -Haggerty  mines. 

Mr.  Bergquist  is  further  identi- 
fied with  several  of  Encampment's 
industries  and  activities. 


Chicago 


391 


EOS  HEGSTROM 

was  born  Jan.  7,  1854,  in  Berg- 
sjo,  Helsingland,  Sweden,  where 
his  father  was  school  teacher  and 


EOS  HEGSTROM 

parish  clerk.  He  came  to  America 
in  1869  and  spent  the  first  two 
years  in  Andover  and  Victoria, 
111.,  where  he  attended  school. 

In  the  spring  of  1872  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an Publication  Society  in  Chicago. 
When  Hemlandet  was  sold  to 
Enander  and  Bohman  in  1873,  he  be- 
came their  accountant,  remaining 
in  this  capacity  for  nine  years. 
In  1882  he  went  to  Anoka,  Minn., 
where  he  spent  two  years  in  the 
mercantile  business  of  O.  Norell. 
He  entered,  in  1884,  the  banking 
house  of  Haugan  and  Lindgren, 
later  styled  the  State  Bank  of 
Chicago,  and  remained  with  the 
bank  twenty  years.  Mr.  Hegstrom 
was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
Union  Bank  of  Chicago  which 


was  organized  in  the  spring  of 
1905  and  has  been  vice-president 
from  the  start.  On  July  16,  1908, 
the  bank  had  a  capital  stock  and 
surplus  of  $225,000.00  and  depos- 
its amounting  to  $818,288.18. 
Mr.  Hegstrom  is  at  the  head  of  the 
real  estate  loan  department  and 
is  one  of  the  expert  real  estate 
valuators  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Hegstrom  is  not  married. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Elim  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  of  Pullman- 


V.  HARALD  HEGSTROM, 

pastor  of  the  Augustana  Sw  edish 
Lutheran  Church  in  Hyde  Park, 
was  born  Jan.  n,  1869,  in  Berg- 
sjo,  Sweden,  where  his  father, 
Erik  Hogstrom,  was  a  teacher 
and  parish  clerk.  The  son  attend- 


V.   HARALD  HEGSTROM 

ed  public  school  and  enjoyed  pri- 
vate instruction  in  Sweden.  Not 
long  after  his  immigration  to  this 
country  in  1884,  he  was  enrolled 
as  a  student  at  Augustana  CoL 


392 


Cook  County 


lege,  where  he  studied  from  1885 
to  1890,  graduating  the  latter  year 
with  the  bachelor's  degree.  Mr. 
Hegstrom  next  pursued  postgrad- 
uate studies  at  Yale  1890-91  and 
'92-94,  whereby  he  earned  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.  He  continued 
higher  studies  at  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, New  York,  1895-97,  was 
a  non-resident  student  of  Chicago 
University  1902-03  and  a  resident 
student  for  four  quarters,  1903-04. 

In  1892  Dr.  Hegstrom  took  a  posi- 
tion as  teacher  at  Upsala  College, 
Brooklyn.  In  1898  he  accepted  a 
call  to  become  president  of  Jewell 
College,  Jewell,  la.,  and  remained 
at  the  head  of  that  institution  un- 
til 1903,  when  he  exchanged  the 
professor's  chair  for  the  pulpit, 
taking  charge  of  the  Augustana 
Church  in  Chicago  as  acting  pas- 
tor. Having  completed  a  divinity 
course  at  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary  in  1905-06,  Dr.  Hegstrom 
was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  B.  D.  and  subsequently  ordained 
to  the  ministry.  In  the  Augus- 
tana Church,  which  he  still  serves, 
he  has  laid  down  great  effort 
in  securing  a  $20,000  church 
as  well  as  in  the  inner  upbuilding 
of  the  congregation.  Dr.  Heg- 
strom is  a  director  of  the  Chicago 
Inner  Mission  Society. 

June  i,  1898,  Dr.  Hegstrom  was 
married  to  Ada  Matilda  Swanson, 
born  July  ir,  1877,  the  daughter 
of  S.  A.  and  Betty  Swanson  of 
Des  Moines,  la.  Of  three  children 
born  to  them,  two  are  living: 
Harald  Eugene,  born  Aug.  8, 
1901,  and  Ada  Inez  Sarah  Doro- 
thea, born  Feb.  22,  1904. 


FRANK  L.  HELANDER 

was  born  in  Sjotofta,  Elfsborgs 
Ian,  Sweden,  June  29,  1870.  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1886, 
coming  to  Chicago,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since.  He  first  se- 
cured employment  in  the  Rock 


FRANK  L.  HELANDER 

Island  railroad  shops,  where  he 
worked  for  three  years.  He  then 
worked  for  several  clothing  firms, 
staying  with  one  firm  six  years, 
in  the  same  place  that  he  now 
occupies  for  his  own  business,  at 
5122  Wentworth  ave.  In  1897  he 
opened  a  clothing  and  men's  fur- 
nishing house,  and  has  succeeded 
well. 

Mr.  Helander  is  a  Lutheran  by 
faith.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Linne  Society,  Runan  Lodge,  I. 
O.  V.,  Court  Stockholm  No.  16, 
Foresters  of  America,  the  John 
Ericsson  Lodge  No.  361,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  the  Mystic  Star  Lodge  No. 
758,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  the  Ori- 


Chicago 


393 


ental  Consistory,  S.  P.  R.  S.,  and 
of  the  Medinah  Temple,  Mystic 
Shrine. 

In  1894  Mr.  Helander  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Clara  Johnson  of 
Chicago,  and  they  have  estab- 
lished a  pleasant  home.  Their 
children  are:  Alice,  Mabel,  Clara 
and  Frank. 


her  profession  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago until  1904,  when  she  was 
married  to  Dr.  Ibrahim  G.  Khei- 
ralla,  a  Syrian  scholar. 

Mrs.  Kheiralla  is  a  sister  of  the 
late  C.  G.  L/inderborg,  formerly 
editor  and  publisher  of  Svenska 
Tribunen. 


JOHN  H.  ROSBERG 


AUGUSTA  SOFIA  KHEIRA^^A  was  born  in  Reslof  parish,  near 
was  born  Jan.  21,  1854,  in  Fin-  Malmo,  Skane,  Nov.  23,  1856. 
land,  near  the  city  of  Vasa.  At  He  was  apprenticed  at  the  age  of 


AUGUSTA  SOFIA    KHEIRALLA 

the  age  of  ten  years  she  began 
her  studies  at  a  girls'  seminary  in 
Vasa,  from  which  she  graduated 
in  1870.  The  same  year  she  emi- 
grated to  America,  taking  up  her 
residence  in  Chicago.  In  the  year 
1888  she  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  graduating  from  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  in 
1892.  Later  on  she  took  up  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Harvey 
Medical  College,  from  which  she 
graduated  in  1896.  She  practiced 


JOHN  HENRY    ROSBERG 

sixteen  to  one  Plan  tin,  a  cabinet- 
maker in  Malmo,  and  became  a 
journeyman  in  1877.  After  work- 
ing in  Copenhagen  for  a  year  and 
in  Stockholm  for  four  years  he 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1882. 
After  a  short  stay  in  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  he  came  to  Chicago,  and 
after  working  for  various  firms, 
he  entered  in  1885  into  partner- 
ship with  Hans  Jessen  and  started 
a  cabinet-maker's  shop  in  Jeffer- 
son st.  A  later  shop  having  burned 


394 


Cook  County 


in  1901,  they  moved  to  their 
present  quarters  at  405  W.  Kinzie 
st.,  where  they  occupy  six  floors 
and  employ  about  ninety  workmen. 
Jessen  &  Rosberg  make  benches 
and  cabinets  for  dentists,  watch- 
makers' benches  and  the  like.  Mr. 
Jessen  having  died  in  1902,  Mr. 
Rosberg  is  now  sole  proprietor, 
having  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  in  the  business. 

Mr.  Rosberg  is  a  member  of 
King  Oscar  Lodge  No.  855,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  Oriental  Consistory. 
Washington  Chapter  No  43,  Co- 
lumbia Commandery  No.  63,  and  is 
a  Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  as 
member  of  Medinah  Temple,  of 
Atlas  Lodge  No.  261,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  of  Svithiod  Lodge  No.  i,  I. 
O.  S.,  of  which  he  was  treasurer 
for  three  years. 

Mr.  Rosberg  was  married  in 
1882  to  Kerstin  Holmgren  from 
Arlof,  Skane.  They  have  six 
sons:  Charles  Henry,  George  Au- 
gust, Alfred  Victor,  Rudolf  Wal- 
demar,  Harry  Emil  and  Elmer 
Gustaf. 

The  home  is  at  1832  Hum- 
bold  t  boulevard. 


AXEL  LUDVIG  HVASSMAN 

was  born  in  Habo  parish,  Vester- 
gotland,  Sweden  on  April  24, 
1863.  At  an  early  age  he  moved 
to  Jonkoping  and  thence  in  1881 
to  Stockholm.  He  was  there  en- 
gaged with  Janson  and  Wallgren, 
court  tailors.  While  in  the  capi- 
tal he  sang  in  choruses  directed 
by  Berg,  Albert  Lindstrom,  Krueg- 
er  and  others.  In  1886  Mr.  Hvass- 
man  emigrated  with  Chicago  as 


his  goal.  He  there  was  employed 
with  prominent  tailoring  firms  like 
John  and  Henry  Stevenson.  Since 
1896  he  has  had  his  own  business. 
He  is  now  established  at  352-354 
N.  Clark  st. 

Ever    since   coining    to    Chicago 
Mr.   Hvassman  has  been  active  in 


AXEL  LUDVIG  HVASSMAN 

Swedish  musical  circles.  Choir 
leader  at  Lake  View  Swedish 
Mission  Church  1890-93,  he  has 
held  the  same  position  twice  each 
at  the  Tabernacle  Swedish  Mission 
Church  and  the  North  Side  Swed- 
ish Mission  Church.  He  has  served 
continuously  at  the  latter  church 
since  1902.  Besides  leading  the 
church  choir,  he  directs  the  Asaph 
male  chorus.  In  addition  he  is 
director  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
Festival  Chorus,  organized  in  1892. 
Mr.  Hvassman  was  on  Aug. 
27,  1907  united  in  marriage  with 
Alma  Emma  Elizabeth,  born  in 
Chicago,  July  16,  1879  to  Carl 
and  Sarah  Anderson.  She  is  a 


Chicago 


395 


graduate     of     Hyde     Park     High 
School. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hvassmaii 
was  born  on  July  4,  1908  a 
daughter. 


SWEN  LINDEROTH 

was  born  Oct.  14,  1859,  in  Skane, 
Sweden.  The  parents  in  1860 
moved  near  Eskilstuna,  where  the 
father  became  a  farmer.  Swen 
finished  the  course  in  the  public 
school  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
Soon  after,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
a  wood- turner,  but,  treated  cruelly 
by  him,  the  lad  was  then  made 
errand  boy  to  a  shoemaker.  Tiring 
of  this,  he  left  Eskilstuna  and  went 
to  Stockholm  where  he  became  a 
clerk.  His  evenings  were  devoted 
to  study.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  obtained  a  good  position  in  a 
planing  mill  where  houses  were 
planned  and  manufactured  ready 
for  domestic  and  foreign  shipment. 
Two  years  after,  he  became  assist- 
ant superintendent  in  a  planing 
mill  in  Eskilstuna.  Returning 
to  Stockholm  he  worked  in  an 
architect's  office  during  the  win- 
ter and  in  the  different  build- 
ing trades  during  the  summer, 
thereby  gaining  the  all-round 
experience  he  would  have  attained 
in  a  technical  school  and  at  the 
same  time  earning  his  living. 
As  junior  partner  of  an  architect- 
ural firm  Linderoth  engaged  in 
his  profession  until  the  fall  of  1884, 
when  he  left  Sweden.  Arriving 
at  Chicago  he  had  to  grapple 
with  new  architectural  methods 
and  a  new  language.  He  made 
good  progress,  and  in  1887  he 


was  invited  to  become  a  member 
of  the  Illinois  chapter  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Architects. 
In  1891  a  severe  illness  almost 
cost  him  his  life.  He  was,  in 
fact,  given  up  for  dead,  but  revived 
miraculously  after  the  time  for 


SWEN  LINDEROTH 

his  funeral  had  been  set.  He 
required  nine  months  to  recuper- 
ate. In  the  meantime  his  former 
good  business  was  so  badly  con- 
ducted by  his  subordinates  that 
he  decided  to  abandon  his  profes- 
sion. 

Mr.  Linderoth  now  essayed  the 
manufacture  of  enameled  brick, 
which  had  heretofore  been  import- 
ed from  England  at  high  prices. 
A  factory  was  built  at  52nd  and 
Wallace  sts.,  and  men  were  en- 
gaged who  had  made  a  similar 
product  abroad.  After  a  Swedish, 
a  German  and  an  English  super- 
intendent had  in  turn  failed  in 
the  attempt  to  produce  enameled 
brick,  the  Linderoth  Ceramic  Co. 
was  forced  to  the  wall. 


396 


Cook  County 


Mr.  L,inderoth  sold  his  house, 
and,  under  the  assignee,  con- 
tinued to  experiment  until  he 
finally  succeeded  in  producing 
a  real  enamel  on  clay.  But 
being  financially  ruined,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  continue 
operations.  A  small  shed  was 
finally  secured  in  Englewood,  in 
which  porcelain  filter  tubes  were 
made.  The  demand  for  his  product 
was  so  great  that  he  soon  occupied 
larger  quarters.  In  1900  a  second 
factory  was  built.  Two  years  later 
an  addition  was  built  and  more 
ground  purchased  to  provide  for 
future  extensions.  The  establish- 
ment is  now  incorporated  as  the 
Alhambra  Ceramic  Works,  with 
Mr.  lyinderoth  as  its  president. 
Among  the  products  are  enameled 
and  glazed  tile,  terra  cotta  statuettes 
and  placques,  porcelain  filter  tubes 
and  pottery  for  use  in  schools 
as  drawing  models  ;  also  under- 
glaze  decorated  ware,  as  yet 
quite  new  in  the  United  States. 
A  ceramic  school  has  been  started 
in  connection  with  the  enterprise, 
in  which  art  students  are  taught 
various  branches  of  the  potter's 
art,  including  the  purely  decora- 
tive branches  as  well  as  ceramic 
chemistry.  Samples  of  their  work 
was  exhibited  at  the  World's 
Exposition  at  St.  Louis  by  the 
firm.  When  the  ceramic  school 
was  to  be  started  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois,  Mr.  Linderoth  was 
offered  the  position  of  director, 
but  declined  the  appointment. 

His  clients  have  persuaded 
him  to  again  enter  the  profes- 
sional field  again,  and  he  is  now 


actively    engaged    in    the    practice 
of  architecture. 

Mr.  L,inderoth  was  married  to 
Sophie  Johnson  in  1887  and  his 
children  are  Ruby,  Samuel,  Irene 
and  Edna.  He  is  a  member  of 
ceramic,  architectural,  literary, 
and  temperance  societies.  He  has 
been  major  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Guards  and  first  vice- 
president  of  the  Swedish  National 
Association.  Mr.  L,inderoth  pos- 
sesses marked  ability  as  a  writer 
and  his  contributions  to  technical 
and  trade  journals  are  many  and 
valuable. 


CHARLES    JOHN   ANDERSON 

was  born  July  20,  1880,  in  the 
parish  of  Viby,  Ostergotland,  Swe- 
den, where  his  father,  Anders 
Gustaf  Peterson,  was  a  carpenter. 
Up  to  his  fifteenth  year  he  re- 
ceived his  training  and  educa- 
tion in  his  native  place.  Com- 
ing to  this  country  in  May,  1895, 
he  worked  on  a  farm  near  Oak- 
land, Neb.  four  years,  attending 
public  school  in  winter.  Going 
from  there  to  Omaha,  he  took  a 
two  years'  course  at  the  Omaha 
Commercial  College  and  then  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Western 
Paper  Co.  in  that  city  a  short 
time  before  leaving  for  Chicago 
in  1901. 

After  being  connected  with  the 
house  of  Carson,  Pirie,  Scott  and 
Co.  for  a  year,  Mr.  Anderson  was 
engaged  as  advertising  manager 
for  Hemmets  Van,  a  Swedish 
illustrated  magazine,  which  proved 
short-lived.  He  next  held  a  sim- 


Chicago 


397 


ilar  position  with  Svenska  Tribun- 
en,  which  he  left  Feb.  i,  1906, 
to  engage  in  the  printing  business 


CHARLES  JOHN  ANDERSON 

on  his  own  account.  Embarrassed 
by  lack  of  sufficient  capital,  he 
gave  up  the  business  and  is  now 
a  member  of  the  firm  known  as 
the  Gorham  Printing  Company, 
besides  handling  advertising  for 
several  Swedish  newspapers. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  Aug. 
26,  1903,  to  Mamie  Johnson, 
daughter  of  Julius  Johnson,  born 
at  Kiron,  la.,  Aug.  6,  1880. 
Their  home  is  brightened  by  the 
presence  of  their  first  born,  a  son, 
Vincent  Gaylord. 


MARTIN  ANDERSON 

was  born  Nov.  n,  1859,  in  Tan- 
urn  parish,  Bohuslan,  Sweden. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went 
to  Christiania  where  he  learned 
the  baker's  trade  from  his  uncle. 
After  a  period  of  five  years  he 


became  a  journeyman  and  then 
emigrated  to  this  country,  arriv- 
ing in  Chicago  in  1880. 

After  working  four  years  for 
a  German  baker,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Hans  Lystad,  a 
comrade  from  his  Christiania  days. 
Their  bakery  was  at  1 1 5  Sedgwick 
St.,  where  they  had  a  force  of 
four  men.  Before  long  the  busi- 
ness grew  to  such  proportions 
that  they  moved  to  296-298  E. 
Division  st.,  where  about  fifty  men 
are  employed.  Mr.  L,ystad  died 
about  1901  and  Mr.  Anderson  pur- 
chased his  share  in  the  business. 

In  1890  Mr.  Anderson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Emma 
Lystad,  a  sister  of  his  partner. 


MARTIN  ANDERSON 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  King  Oscar  L,odge  of  Ma- 
sons. 


AXEL  MELLANDER 

was     born     March     26,      1860,    in 
Bronnestad,  Skane,  Sweden, whence 


398 


Cook  County 


his  parents  moved  the  year  follow- 
ing to  Mellby  parish.  At  his 
tenth  year  he  had  to  leave  home 


AXEL  MELLANDER 

and  earn  his  own  living-.  Convert- 
ed at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he 
was  enabled  by  the  aid  of  Christ- 
ian friends  to  study  and  then  be- 
came a  primary  school  teacher. 
Continuing  his  studies  at  the  nor- 
mal school  in  L,und  1877-78,  he 
could  not  reconcile  himself  to  the 
religious  views  taught  there.  He 
thereupon  studied  with  private 
tutors  in  the  same  city  until  1879 
when  he  emigrated  to  America. 

After  having  resided  with  rela- 
tives in  Fremont,  la.,  Mr.  Mellan- 
der  secured  admittance  the  next 
year  to  the  theological  class  in 
Ansgarius  College  at  Knoxville, 
111.  In  1 88 1  he  was  ordained  to 
the  ministry  in  the  Swedish  Mis- 
sion Covenant.  Rev.  Axel  Mell- 
ander  had  pastorates  in  Lowell, 
Mass.,  in  1881,  in  Boston,  1882,  in 
Frewsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  Scandia, 


Pa.,  1883.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Mission 
Friends  congregation  in  North 
Easton,  Mass.  Two  years  later 
Rev.  Mellander  became  editor  of 
Minneapolis  Veckoblad,  a  post  he 
retained  for  three  years.  During 
1889-92  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Iron  Mountain,  Mich.,  Mission 
Friends  church.  In  the  fall  of 
1892  he  became  a  teacher  in  the 
Mission  Covenant's  theological 
school,  then  in  Minneapolis.  When 
the  seminary  removed  to  Chicago 
in  1894  and  became  North  Park 
College,  Prof.  Mellander  went 
with  it  and  has  since  been  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  faculty. 

For  several  years  he  edited  the 
covenant's  newspaper  Missionaren, 
now  defunct.  In  1901  Professor 
Mellander  traveled  through  south- 
ern Europe,  Egypt  and  Palestine. 
The  results  of  his  observations  and 
studies  on  that  trip  are  laid  down 
in  a  book,  "Genom  bibelns  lan- 
der." Besides  the  above,  he  has 
written  the  following  books  and 
pamphlets:  "Lifvet,  doden  och 
evigheten,"  "Profetskolorna  i  Is- 
rael," and  "Betankande  i  kongre- 
gationalistf  ragan." 

Rev.  Axel  Mellander  was  mar- 
ried Aug.  22,  1884,  to  Erika  A. 
Garberg.  They  have  had  four 
children  of  whom  one  son,  Enoch 
Theophilus,  born  1890,  survives. 


HERMAN  WILLIAM  HANSON 

was  born  on  Tjorn,  an  island  in 
the  Kattegat,  Bohuslan,  Sweden, 
on  May  7,  1847.  His  parents 
were  Hans  Anderson  and  Annika 


Chicago 


399 


Johansdotter.  After  studying  the 
rudiments  at  public  school,  he 
went  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
to  Gb'teborg  in  order  to  earn  his 
living.  Four  years  later  he  went 
to  Stockholm  where  he  had  a 
place  in  the  office  of  his  brother, 
a  baker  by  trade. 

In  1867  William  emigrated  to 
America  and  came  to  Chicago, 
where  he  learned  the  machinist's 
trade  which  he  followed  until 
1872.  Mr.  Hanson  opened  a  store 
where  he  sold  sewing  machines 
and  tailors'  trimmings,  remaining 
in  this  business  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  In  1899  he  went  into 
the  real  estate  and  insurance 
business,  entering  into  partnership 
with  Fred  Anderson  in  1904.  He 
is  now  in  business  for  himself  at 
1889  N.  Clark  st. 

Mr.  Hanson  is  a  well-known 
man  among  the  Mission  Friends, 
having  joined  the  North  Side 
Mission  Church  in  1875.  For  the 
last  seven  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  L,ake  View  Swedisli 
Mission  Church.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Swedish  Home  of  Mercy 
for  three  years.  He  is  a  stalwart 
Republican  and  was  active  in 
politics  in  the  old  23d  ward  for 
fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  married  June 
1 6,  1872,  to  Mathilda  Gustafson, 
born  Dec.  19,  1851,  at  Kilaberg, 
Ostergotland,  Sweden.  They  have 
been  blessed  with  five  children. 


where  his  father,  a  mason  con- 
tractor, is  still  living.  When  a 
boy  he  sold  newspapers  and  period- 
icals after  school  hours,  thereby 
earning  enough  money  to  pay  his 
fare  to  the  United  States.  He 
came  to  Chicago  as  a  youth  of 
sixteen,  and  was  first  employed 


ERNEST  GEORGE 

was  born  Sept.   30,     1870,    in    the 
town  of  Halsberg,  Nerike',  Sweden, 


ERNEST  GEORGE  DAHL 

as  a  rattan  and  reed  worker. 
After  four  years  he  was  given 
charge  of  a  department  of  seventy 
workmen  in  the  plant  of  the 
McKinley  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, Hoyne  ave.  and  Van  Buren 
st. 

Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of 
the  war  with  Spain,  in  May, 
1898,  Mr.  Dahl  enlisted  in  the 
Astor  Battery  of  New  York  City. 
During  the  war  he  saw  active 
service  in  the  Philippines,  partici- 
pated in  the  capture  of  Manila, 
and  served  through  the  campaign 
until  the  battery  was  mustered 
out  of  service  the  following  year. 
Upon  his  return  and  honorable 


400 


Cook  County 


discharge  he  made  a  visit  to  his 
old  home  in  Sweden. 

From  that  time  Mr.  Dahl  has 
been  engaged  as  a  commercial 
salesman,  traveling  through  many 
of  the  leading  states  in  the  Union 
for  three  of  the  largest  concerns 
in  their  line,  including  the  Pacific 
Coast  Borax  Company.  When 
this  company  some  years  ago  sent 
its  famous  "twenty  mule  team" 
through  the  country  on  an  adver- 
tising campaign,  it  was  Mr.  Dahl, 
who  directed  the  movements  of 
the  unique  expedition. 

In  1899  he  was  the  promoter 
and  organizer  of  the  Swedish 
American  Veterans  Association, 
which  was  chartered  by  the  state, 
and  for  four  successive  years  he 
was  elected  its  commander.  Dur- 
ing the  presidential  campaign  of 
1900  he  organized  and  was  chosen 
captain  of  a  company  of  Republic- 
an veterans  of  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war  in  a  regiment  organized 
by  Gen.  Ed.  C.  Young. 

Mr.  Dahl  was  married  on  Dec. 
24,  1903.  He  is  now  conducting 
an  office  as  a  manufacturers' 
agent  at  43  South  Water  st. 


OSCAR  G.  OLSON 

was  born  March  24,  1864,  in 
Stockholm,  Sweden.  When  he 
was  two  years  of  age  his  parents 
came  to  this  country  and  settled 
in  Chicago.  The  son  received  his 
early  training  here  and  subsequent- 
ly a  medical  education  in  the 
Kentucky  School  of  Medicine.  Dr. 
Olson  is  now  following  the  pro- 
ession  in  Chicago  where  he  has 


lived  for  the  past  fourteen  years. 
He  was  county  physician  of  North 
Chicago  from  1894  to  ^98  and 
has  also  been  on  the  staff  of 
the  Swedish  Mercy  Hospital  at 
Bowmanville.  His  office  is  at 
3616  N.  Clark  st. 


CARL  LUNDBERG, 

state  senator  from  the  eleventh 
district  of  Illinois,  was  born  in 
Kalmar,  Sweden,  May  20,  1868. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  in  the  city  of  his  birth, 


CARL  LUNDBERG 

and  then  learned  the  trade  of 
carpentry.  When  eighteen  years 
old,  he  came  to  Chicago  from 
Sweden.  Before  long  he  became 
active,  in  labor  circles  and  joined 
the  Carpenters'  Union  No.  28. 
Later  he  went  into  the  real  estate 
business  in  partnership  with .  his 
brother,  Gust.  Lundberg,  former 
county  commissioner,  and  since 
the  latter 's  death  he  has  carried 
on  the  business  alone.  He  is  also 


Chicago 


401 


a  director  of  the  Englewood  Build- 
ing and  I/>an  Association. 

Mr.  Lundberg  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  politics  and  repeat- 
edly been  honored  with  public 
office.  In  1896,  when  Republican 
success  seemed  hopeless  in  the 
town  of  Lake,  he  was  nominated 
for  supervisor  and  elected.  As 
his  acquaintance  increased,  he  con- 
tinued to  grow  in  public  favor, 
until  in  1902  he  was  made  the 
choice  of  his  party  for  state  sen- 
ator, was  elected  by  an  over- 
whelming majority  and  is  serving 
in  that  capacity  with  credit  to 
himself  and  his  party. 

Mr.  Lundberg  is  a  member  of 
the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Cook  County  Rebecca  Society,  the 
North  American  Union,  the  Iduna 
Society,  the  North  Star,  and  the 
Masonic  Order,  being  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Hamilton  Club, 
the  Englewood  Men's  Club  and 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
Club  of  his  ward,  of  which  latter 
he  is  the  president.  He  lives  at 
5951  Sangamon  st. 


LOUIS  J.  LUNDAHL 

was  born  in  Moline,  111.,  April  18, 
1869,  and  spent  his  early  youth 
in  that  vicinity.  After  finishing 
the  studies  offered  by  the  public 
schools,  he  took  a  course  at  Au- 
gustana  College  in  the  adjacent 
city  of  Rock  Island.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  trade  of  a  painter  and  dec- 
orator, in  which  his  brother,  F. 
A.  Lundahl,  was  already  engaged. 
Accompanying  his  brother,  he  has 


assisted  in  decorating  a  large  num 
ber  of  Swedish  Lutheran  churches 
throughout  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Lundahl  is  a  member  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church, 
and  also  has  a  membership  in  the 


LOUIS  J.   LUNDAHL 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the 
Improved  Order  of  the  Red  Men, 
and  the  Royal  League. 


OLOF  A.  TOFFTEEN, 

professor  of  Semitic  Languages  and 
Biblical  Literature  at  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  was  born 
at  Hexarfve,  on  the  island  of 
Gotland,  June  26,  1863.  Having 
finished  at  the  common  school,  he 
entered  the  public  college  at  Visby 
in  r 88 1,  completing  the  course 
in  half  the  time  usually  required. 
In  1885  he  took  up  university 
studies  at  Upsala  and  before  long 
passed  the  preliminary  examina- 
tion in  Semitic  and  Classical 
languages,  philosophy  and  history, 
as  a  candidate  for  the  doctor's 


4-O2 


Cook  County 


degree.  After  two  years  he  inter- 
rupted his  philosophical  and  theo- 
logical studies  by  accepting  a 


OLOF    A.  TOFFTEEN 

position  as  adjunct  pastor  at  Haf- 
dem,  Gotland,  and  in  1888  left 
for  the  United  States.  He  then 
entered  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary  at  Rock  Island,  but  did 
not  long  remain  there.  He  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the 
American  Episcopal  Church  in 
1893,  in  Galesburg,  111.  The  year 
prior  he  had  assumed  pastoral 
charge  of  and  founded  the  Swedish 
Episcopal  Churches  of  Minneapo- 
lis, where  he  labored  for  several 
years.  At  the  state  university,  in 
the  meantime,  he  continued  his 
studies  of  oriental  languages,  is- 
sued several  minor  religious  pub- 
lications, a  voluminous  work  en- 
titled "Vara  Faders  Kyrka"  and 
"Myths  and  Bible." 

In  1902  Rev.  Toff  teen  came  to 
Chicago  and  took  up  studies  at 
the  University  of  Chicago,  while  en- 


gaged in  pastoral  work.  The  de- 
gree of  Ph.  D.  was  conferred  upon 
him  in  1905  by  that  institution. 
The  same  summer  he  was  elected 
professor  of  Semitic  Languages 
and  Biblical  Literature  at  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary  in 
Chicago,  and  the  next  summer  he 
was  appointed,  in  the  absence  of 
Robert  Francis  Harper,  to  conduct 
his  classes  in  Assyriology  at  the 
University  of  Chicago. 

There  was  published  recently 
from  the  University  of  Chicago  Press 
the  first  volume  of  a  work  by  Dr. 
Toff  teen,  entitled,  "Ancient  Chro- 
nology" and  also  Volume  V.  of 
"Ancient  Records  of  Egypt,"  both 
of  which  are  scholarly  results  of 
the  author's  researches.  He  has 
this  year  published  the  first  vol- 
ume of  a  third  orientalist  work, 
"Researches  in  Assyrian  and  Baby- 
lonian Geography." 

Dr.  Toffteen  is  the  founder  of 
the  Oriental  Society,  comprising 
seventy  members,  and  is  curator 
of  the  same.  The  Hibbard  Egyp- 
tian Library,  worth  approximately 
$20,000,  has  been  collected  largely 
through  his  efforts,  and  at  the 
seminary  a  post-graduate  depart- 
ment has  been  established  by  him. 

In  the  year  1891  Dr.  Toffteen 
was  married  to  Maria  Nitilia  Rus- 
sell. 


WILLIAM  HENSCHEN, 

editor  of  Siindebudet,  was  born 
April  n,  1842  in  Upsala,  Sweden. 
His  parents  were  district  ad- 
ministrator Lars  Wilhelm  Henschen 
and  his  wife  Augusta  Munck 
af  Rosenschold. 


Chicago 


403 


After  several  years  of  private 
instruction,  he  was  entered  at  the 
cathedral  school  at  Upsala  in 
1850.  He  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Upsala  on  Dec.  9, 
1857,  finished  his  doctorate  stud- 
ies in  1862,  and,  after  a  defense  of 
his  thesis  in  May,  1863,  he  was 
awarded  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy.  Dr.  Henschen  sub- 
sequently pursued  scientific  and 
medical  studies  for  three  years  at 
the  universities  of  Upsala  and 
Berlin.  In  1866  he  was  appointed 
special  teacher  at  the  Lund 
collegiate  institute  and  in  1867 
he  became  an  instructor  in  the 
Helsingborg  collegiate  institute. 


WILLIAM  HENSCHEN 

Emigrating  in  September,  1870, 
to  the  United  States,  he  settled 
in  Florida.  After  two  years  he 
went  to  New  York,  where  he 
became  in  October,  1873,  editor 
of  Nordstjernan.  From  June,  1874, 
until  August,  1875,  Dr.  Henschen 
was  editor  and  part  owner  of 
Norden. 

Dr.  Henschen  joined  the 
Methodist  Church  in  the  spring 
of  1875.  The  following  Sep- 


tember, the  moved  to  Chicago.  He 
now  became  a  teacher  in  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Theological  Semi- 
nary and  also  editor  of  Sandebudet, 
the  church  organ,  serving  in  the 
latter  position  until  September, 
1882,  when  he  resigned.  A  year 
later  he  withdrew  from  the  semi- 
nary and  became  pastor  of  the 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  church.  He 
passed  the  winter  of  1884  in  south- 
ern Florida.  The  next  spring  Dr. 
Henschen  left  for  Sweden,  where 
he  labored  as  editor  and  teacher 
in  Stockholm  and  Upsala  until 
1889.  Returning  to  this  country, 
he  has  ever  since  been  editor  of 
Sdndebttdet,  with  the  exception  of 
four  years,  when  he  was  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  at 
Galva,  111. 

Dr.  Henschen  was  in  1868 
united  in  marriage  with  Hilda 
Johanna  Maria  L/iljebjorn.  They 
have  had  eleven  children,  of  whom 
the  seven  surviving  ones  are: 
Henry  Samuel  Henschen,  cashier 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Chicago, 
Gustave  F^.  Henschen,  a  physician 
in  Georgetown,  Tex.,  Mrs.  Signe 
Elizabeth  Reese,  Mrs.  Ellen 
Augusta  Herbert,  Mrs.  Hanna 
Linnea  Grant,  Agnes  Lillian 
Henschen  and  Hilda  Irene 
Henschen. 


SAMUEL  E.  CARLSSON 

was  born  Feb.  10,  1864,  in  Chi- 
cago. He  is  the  younger  son  of 
Rev.  Erland  Carlsson  and  Eva 
Charlotta  Carlsson,  nee  Anderson. 
His  mother,  who  came  from  Tim- 
melhed,  Sweden,  in  1851,  was 
married  in  1855,  and  is  still  in 


404 


Cook  County 


vigorous  health.  His  father,  of 
whom  a  sketch  is  given  in  this 
work,  died  Oct.  19,  1893. 


SAMUEL  E.   CARLSSON 

Samuel  went  to  Andover  in  1875 
with  his  parents.  After  a  prepar- 
ation of  three  years  he  entered 
Augustana  College  in  1878.  Dur- 
ing the  year  1881-82  he  taught 
public  school  at  Andover.  Grad- 
uating in  1883,  he  continued  as  a 
post-graduate  until  the  spring  of 
1884,  when  he  moved  to  I^inds- 
borg,  Kansas.  Here  he  served 
for  a  time  as  a  bookkeeper  at  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Lindsborg, 
and  then  became  assistant  cashier 
and  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers' 
State  Bank  in  the  same  town. 

Mr.  Carlsson  in  1887  left  for 
Chicago,  where  he  was  employed 
by  the  Pullman  Company  in  the 
capacity  of  department  chief  in 
charge  of  bank,  pay-roll  and  rent 
accounts.  The  following  year  he 
went  to  Rock  Island,  assisting  his 
father  in  his  work  as  business 


manager  of  Augustana  College 
from  January,  1888,  until  June, 
1889.  After  a  short  visit  to  Linds- 
borg,  he  returned  to  Chicago, 
where  from  1890-97  he  held  the 
same  position  as  before  with  the 
Pullman  Co. 

Mr.  Carlsson  was  married  in 
1888  to  Mathilda  M.  Edberg. 
Mrs.  Carlsson  died  July  10,  1897, 
in  Chicago. 

In  1898  Mr.  Carlsson  became  a 
stockholder  in  Fosterlandet  and  also 
its  manager.  Two  years  later  he, 
together  with  John  E.  Norling, 
bought  Svenska  Tribunen  and  be- 
came the  president  of  the  Swedish 
Pub.  Co.  In  1901  he  sold  his  in- 
terests and  engaged  in  the  lino- 
type composition  business.  Chang- 
ing to  the  piano  trade,  he  was  the 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  I. 
O.  Nelson  Piano  Co.,  subsequently 
going  to  the  Cable-Nelson  Piano 
Co.  in  the  capacity  of  manager. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  an  enthusiast, 
who  has  been  active  in  Swedish 
and  other  musical  circles.  He 
was  the  first  director  of  the  Au- 
gustana Orchestra  (1880-84),  the 
first  director  (1884)  of  the  L,inds- 
borg  Orchestra,  which  subsequent- 
ly became  the  Bethany  College 
Orchestra,  director  of  the  Imman- 
uel  Church  Orchestra,  director  of 
the  Immanuel  Church  Choir  1890 
-98,  and  first  violinist  for  three 
years  in  a  string  quartette.  Mr. 
Carlsson  is  violinist  of  the  Carls- 
son  Trio,  founded  in  1907.  Since 
the  fall  of  1904  he  has  been  leader 
of  the  Rogers  Park  English  Luth- 
eran Church  Choir.  In  1907  he 
directed  the  choir's  performance 


Chicago 


405 


of  the  cantata  "Faith  and  Praise," 
by  Caleb  West.  He  is  also  leader 
of  the  Male  Chorus  of  the  Im- 
manuel  Swedish  L,utheraii  Church. 

On  June  10,  1898,  Mr.  Carlsson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Pearl 
B.  L,ockwood,  daughter  of  J.  B. 
Curtis,  a  physician  of  L,indsborg. 
Mrs.  Carlsson' s  children  by  a  for- 
mer marriage  are:  L,illian  Minnie 
Carlsson,  born  Dec.  17,  1892, 
and  Mary  Maud  Carlsson,  born 
July  2,  1895.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carlsson  have  been  born  Ethel 
Vivian  Carlsson,  May  8,  1901,  and 
Edith  Audrey  Carlsson,  June  23, 
1907. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlsson  are  mem- 
bers of  the  English  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  Rogers  Park. 


ANDERS  SCHON, 

journalist,  historian  and  biograph- 
er, was  born  Nov.  17,  1864,  in 
Regnsjo  parish,  Gefleborgs  Ian, 
Sweden.  In  both  of  his  ancestral 
families  there  were  military  men 
for  several  generations  back,  some 
of  whom  were  non  commissioned 
officers  in  the  Helsing  regiment. 
On  the  father's  side  there  were 
several  teachers  of  the  public 
schools.  The  great-grandfather, 
Johan  Schon,  fought  with  distinc- 
tion in  the  battle  of  Oravais,  Sept. 
14,  1808,  received  a  medal  for 
bravery  and  was  promoted  ser- 
geant. He  died  at  a  ripe  old  age 
in  the  early  sixties.  The  parents 
were  Jonas  Schon,  schoolmaster 
and  organist,  and  his  wife  Mar- 
gareta,  nee  Westling.  The  son 
was  reared  in  poverty,  his  father 
having  died  before  the  child  was 


born.  He  was  for  some  time  unable 
to  follow  his  studious  bent,  but 
managed  ultimately  to  take  a 
seminary  course  fitting  him  for 
teaching.  In  1883  he  obtained 
his  first  position  as  teacher  in  a 
primary  school  and  three  years 


ANDERS     SCHON 

later  was  promoted  to  an  advanced 
grade  of  the  people's  schools.  On 
spare  time  he  acted  as  extra  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  lansman  and  as 
assistant  teacher  of  an  evening 
school  for  the  study  of  political 
economy  and  civil  government. 
About  that  time  he  became  a  con- 
tributor to  the  newspapers  and 
served  as  local  correspondent  to 
Norrlands-Posten  of  Gefle.  The 
clerkship  gave  him  a  taste  for  the 
public  service,  and  to  obtain  the 
training  required  for  the  position 
of  crown  bailiff,  or  lansman ,  he 
entered  the  police  service  of  Stock- 
holm in  1887.  He  was  promoted 
from  extra  officer  to  the  regular 
service,  but  disliking  the  duties 
of  a  policeman,  he  shortly  resigned. 


406 


Cook  County 


The  outlook  for  advancement 
either  in  the  schools  or  in  the 
government  service  being  far  from 
alluring,  he  abandoned  both  fields, 
determined  to  brave  fortune  in 
the  New  World  and  emigrated  in 
the  fall  of  1889,  reaching  New 
York  on  the  22nd  of  September. 
During  his  first  two  years  in  the 
United  States  he  was  employed 
as  a  common  laborer  in  various 
trades,  often  at  meager  wages, 
and  was  put  to  the  test  in  the 
manner  customary  to  emigrants. 
In  the  meantime  he  studied  Eng- 
lish and  sought  to  familiarize  him- 
self with  the  country  and  the  con- 
dition of  his  fellow  countrymen 
here.  His  first  impressions  were 
described  in  a  series  of  letters  to 
Svenska  Tribunen.  He  came  to 
Chicago  in  July,  1891,  and  worked 
here  for  three  months  at  physical 
labor,  until  accepting  a  situation 
on  the  staff  of  Hemlandet,  offered 
him  on  the  strength  of  certain 
contributions  of  his  to  the  paper. 
He  has  been  connected  with  this 
same  paper  since  Oct.  28,  1891, 
and  has  been  acting  editor-in-chief 
since  the  spring  of  1903,  Dr.  Enan- 
der  remaining  only  nominally  at 
the  head  of  the  editorial  depart- 
ment after  his  physical  disability. 

As  a  newspaper  man  Mr.  Schon 
is  conservative.  Alive  to  the  re- 
sponsibility resting  on  organs  of 
public  utterance,  he  avoids  news- 
paper fights  and  aims  to  promote 
unity  and  enlightenment  among 
his  countrymen  and  teach  them  to 
conserve  their  interests  and  treas- 
ure their  national  heritage.  He 
dares  believe  that  the  Swedes  are 


destined  to  make  a  specific  con- 
tribution to  the  cultural  develop- 
ment of  this  nation. 

Aside  from  his  work  on  the 
paper,  Mr.  Schon  has  done  ex- 
tensive literary  work,  made  possible 
only  by  husbanding  his  time  and 
denying  himself  almost  all  social 
pleasures.  In  1895  ne  made  a 
Swedish  translation  of  W.  H.  Har- 
vey's famous  campaign  book,  en- 
titled "Coin's  Financial  School," 
and  in  1897  he  translated  Frederick 
Davis  Greene's  work  on  the  Turk- 
ish atrocities  in  Armenia,  the 
Swedish  title  being  "Korset  och 
halfmanen."  The  same  year  he 
edited  "Bilder  fran  Gamla  Hem- 
landet,"  a  book  of  views  of  Swe- 
den, the  next  year  a  book  of 
Spanish-American  war  pictures, 
with  descriptive  text,  and  in  1900, 
"Panorama  ofver  Amerika,"  the 
three  being  published  by  the  Hem- 
landet  Company.  He  was  one  of 
the  members  of  a  literary  society 
who  originated  the  annual  Priirie- 
blomman  and  has  edited  a  series 
of  nine  volumes  of  this  publica- 
tion, himself  contributing  several 
historical  articles  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  biographies. 

In  the  monthly  Ungdomsvannen, 
of  which  Mr.  Schon  has  been  as- 
sociate editor  since  1900,  appeared 
in  1901-3,  in  serial  form,  the  first 
and  second  parts  of  his  history  of 
the  New  Sweden  colony,  under 
the  caption:  "Svenskarne  i  Dela- 
ware. De  forsta  svensk-amerika- 
nernas  politiska  och  kyrkliga  his- 
toria  samt  deras  seder  och  hem- 
lif."  This  work  Prof.  George  T. 
Flom  of  the  State  University  of 


Chicago 


407 


Iowa  has  characterized  as  "the 
most  thoroughgoing  investigation 
of  the  later  history  of  the  colony 
that  we  have."  Mr.  Schon  has 
a  fair-sized  Swedish- American  his- 
torical collection.  He  has  rendered 
valuable  service  as  one  of  the  com- 
pilers of  the  "History  of  the 
Swedes  of  Illinois."  Mr.  Schon 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Swedish  Historical  Society  of 
America  and  served  as  its  secre- 
tary the  first  two  years. 

For  six  years,  1897-1903,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Illinois  Conference 
and  served  for  three  years,  1905- 
1908,  on  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  conference  orphanage  at  Joliet. 
In  1899  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Augustana  Book 
Concern  and  still  serves  by  dint 
of  successive  reelections.  He  has 
served  as  secretary  of  the  board 
since  1901.  He  was  one  of  the 
Swedish-American  members  of  the 
Swedish  exposition  committee 
which  promoted  the  erection  of 
Sweden's  building  at  the  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  Exposition  in  St. 
Louis  in  1904,  and  personally  he 
raised  $1,100  for  the  care  and 
maintenance  of  said  building.  He 
has  been  elected  honorary  member 
of  several  societies. 

On  Nov.  12,  1892,  Mr.  Schon 
was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Nils- 
son,  a  native  of  Vermland,  Swe- 
den. They  have  a  daughter  and 
two  sons.  One  son  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  living  children  are: 
Inez  Maria  Eleonora,  Einar  Bengt 
Valdemar  and  Birger  Erik  Engel- 
brekt. 


SIGNE  ANKARFELT 


was  born  at  Hof ,  near  the  city  of 
Vexio,  Sweden,  April  5,  1858. 
The  parents  were  Johan  Olof 
Liedberg  and  his  wife  Louise,  nee 
Ruuth.  As  a  young  man  her 
father  came  to  this  country  in 
1843,  settling  near  Jefferson,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  engaged  in  farm 


SIGNE  ANKARFELT 

ing  and  lumbering,  subsequently 
locating  in  New  Orleans  as  a 
lumber  merchant.  In  1848  he 
joined  a  party  bound  for  Oregon. 
In  Utah  they  learned  of  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  California.  The 
hardships  of  the  journey  caused 
them  to  abandon  the  original  plan. 
After  crossing  the  Sierras  the 
party  scattered,  and  Liedberg  was 
one  of  the  first  to  engage  in  "gold- 
picking,"  as  it  was  first  called, 
after  the  discovery  of  the  precious 
metal  had  been  reported.  He  re- 
turned to  Sweden,  via  Panama, 
Cuba  and  Philadelphia,  in  1852, 
but  came  back  to  this  country  in 


408 


Cook  County 


1875  and  located  in  Chicago,  where 
he  died  'in  1886. 

The  daughter  Signe  was  given 
a  thorough  education  from  child- 
hood. As  a  young  girl  she  was 
thrown  largely  upon  her  own  re- 
sources, owing  to  the  financial 
reverses  of  her  father.  Resolved 
to  become  a  teacher,  she  went 
to  Germany  and  Switzerland  for 
study.  After  two  years  spent 
mostly  at  a  school  in  St.  Blaise, 
Neuchatel,  she  went  to  Paris 
and  thence  to  Rugby,  England. 
Through  the  influence  of  friends 
she  obtained  a  position  as  teacher, 
first  at  Boroughbridge  and  later 
at  Helensburg,  near  Glasgow. 
Failing  health  compelled  her  to 
leave  the  rugged  Scotch  climate, 
and  after  some  time  spent  in 
Switzerland  and  Italy  and  with 
friends  in  Sweden,  she  joined  her 
parents  in  Chicago  in  July,  1882. 
After  six  years,  she  became  the 
wife  of  F.  W.  Ankarfelt,  a  printer 
by  trade,  and  then  publisher  of 
Kurre,  a  comic  weekly. 

While  Mrs.  Ankarfelt  modestly 
disclaims  the  title  of  authoress, 


stating  that  she  has  done  some 
writing  for  pastime  rather  than  as 
a  literary  vocation,  yet  the  prod- 
ucts of  her  leisure  hours  betray 
talent  of  no  inferior  order.  She 
has  been  a  contributor  to  news- 
papers in  Sweden,  including  Idun, 
the  woman's  journal,  and  to 
Swedish  newspapers  and  periodi- 
cals in  this  country,  chiefly  Pra- 
rieblomman,  Valkyrian  and  Ung- 
domsvannen.  Her  knowledge  of 
English,  first  acquired  during  her 
residence  in  Great  Britain,  enables 
her  to  handle  that  language  with 
skill  in  prose  and  verse.  When 
the  lyinne  monument  was  unveiled 
she  wrote  a  festal  ode  upon  which 
she  was  highly  complimented  in 
the  press.  Mrs.  Ankarfelt  has  a 
profound  love  of  nature,  and  this 
characteristic  is  revealed  especially 
in  her  verses  and  in  a  number  of 
fascinating  prose  sketches  in  fable 
and  fairy-tale  form.  In  Prarie- 
blomman  for  1906  there  is  an  ex- 
tremely interesting  sketch  by  her 
of  her  father's  adventures  and 
experiences  as  a  pioneer. 


INDEX 


INDE:X 


PART    II 

Page 

Abrahamson,  Dr.  Laurentius  G 306 

Ackerburg,  J.  Albert 12 

Ackerburg,  Henry  E 8 

Ahlgren,  John  S .      19 

Ahlgren,  Olof  H 77 

Akerlind,  Gustaf  A 152 

Akesson,  Axel  W 327 

Alfvin,  Rev.  Peter  M 307 

Allen,  Charles  T 20 

Allstrom,  Carl  M 266 

Almberg,  Peter  G 254 

Almcrantz,   Aug.  Gerhard 131 

Almgren,  Esperance  F 40 

Alqvist,  John   N 154 

Anderson,  Aaron    W 169 

Anderson,  Adolf    F 97 

Anderson,  Alexander 80 

Anderson,  Rev.  Alfred 41 

Anderson,  Amandus  N 278 

Anderson,  Anders  E 263 

Anderson,  Andrew  L 382 

Anderson,  Bengt  S 278 

Anderson,    Carl » . . . .     80 

Anderson,  Carl  F 96 

Anderson,  Charles  A . . 131 

Anderson,  Charles  J 396 

Anderson,  Charles  T.  A 96 

Anderson,  Erik 121 

Anderson,  Frank  E 371 

Anderson,  Fred 297 

Anderson,  G.    Bernhard 34 

Anderson,  Gustavus 88 

Anderson,  Johannes 171 

Anderson,  John  E 196 

Anderson,  Martin ...   396 

Anderson,  Nelson   A 222 

Anderson,  Robert 326 

Anderson,    Samuel 59 

Anderson,  William  F 109 

Anderson,  William  R 191 

Ankarfelt,  Signe 407 

Anthony,  Nels  William 298 

Appell,  Carl  J 198 

Axberg,  John  A 1 09 

Axell,  Charles 93 

Barquist,  Charles  H 196 

Behmer,  Ernst  H 140 

Belmont,  John  W 119 


—CHICAGO 

Page 

Bendix,  Rev.  John 363 

Berg,  Andrew  G 278 

Berg,   John  135 

Bergbom,  Adolf  F 142 

Bergengren,  Anders  O.  R 209 

Bergling,  John  M 245 

Bergman,  Frank  A 266 

Bergman,  Dr.  Nils 264 

Bergqnist,  Carl  B.  F 390 

Bergquist,  Carl  0 264 

Bergquist,  John  G 90 

Bergstrom,  Gustaf 266 

Bernhardt,  Adolf  P 248 

Bihl,  Ernest 122 

Bjork,  Rev.  Carl  A 373 

Bjork,  Rev.  Carl  J 67 

Bjorkman,  Rev.  L.  W.  A 302 

Blomfeldt,  P.  Axel 188 

Blomgren,  William  A 105 

Bloomquist,  Rev.  Wilhehn  C 81 

Boberg,  N.  Gunnar  E 88 

Boman,  Charles  H 29 

Bonggren,  Jakob 308 

Bostrom,    Charles 243 

Bovik,  Edwin 315 

Bovik,  Victor  A 246 

Bramberg,  Gustaf 259 

Broberg,  Gustaf  C 178 

Brunner,  John 117 

Brusell,  Christoffer 372 

Brusen,  Carl  Fr 180 

Burkstrom,  Carl  O.  F 361 

Carleman,  Charles  B 224 

Carlson,  Adolph  A 41 

Carlson,  Alexander  F 18 

Carlson,  Androv • 344 

Carlson,  Axel  T 361 

Carlson,  Carl  A 291 

Carlson,  Charles 26 

Carlson,  Charles  G 251 

Carlson,  Edward  T 224 

Carlson,  Fred  H 275 

Carlson,  Gustaf 354 

Carlson,  Gustaf  H no 

Carlson ,  Herman 293 

Carlson,  Rev.  John  A 17 

Carlson,  John  Gottfrid 173 

Carlson,    Otto  C.  J 158 


4I2 


INDEX 


I'age 

Carlson,  William  P 218 

Carlsson,  Samuel  E 4°3 

Carlstedt,  Axel  B.  C 155 

Carlstein,  Dr.  John  A 98 

Carson,  Charles  E 211 

Carson,  Louis 245 

Cederlof,  Gustaf  T 223 

Chindblom,  Carl  R 162 

Chinlund,  Charles  G 190 

Christenson,  August 113 

Christenson.  Rev.  Carl    H.  J 244 

Christopher,  E.  Bernhard 350 

Chytraus,  Axel 219 

Colstrom,  Carl   A. .' 362 

Creutz,  Stephen 72 

Cronholm,  Neander  N 183 

Croonborg,  Frederick  T 201 

Dahl,  Ernest  G 399 

Dahlgren,  Charles   J 52 

Dahlgren.  Johanna  E.  T 353 

Dahlquist,  Charles   J 186 

Dahlstrom,  Margaret  C.  E 319 

Davidson,  Dr.  Eric  A 49 

Edgren,  Erick 35 

Edstrand,  John  P 70 

Edstrom,  Aron 10 

Ehnborn,  Clemens 104 

Ekblom,  C.   Philip 53 

Ekenberg,  Wilhelm 170 

Ekstrom,  Rev.  Peter  0 369 

Ellstrom,  Charles   0 43 

Elmstrom,  Rev.  Karl  H 177 

Enander,  Johan  A 320 

Engberg,  Anton  C 383 

Engberg,  Axel    Rudolph 295 

Engberg,  Elizabeth  Hoffsten 389 

Engberg,  John  J 384 

Engberg,  Martin  J 389 

Engberg,  Oscar 386 

Engdahl,  Charles 113 

Engelbrectson,  Ferdinand 175 

Engwall,  Axel   G 76 

Engwall,  John  H 28 

Engwall,  Oscar  F 144 

Erickson,  Charles  J 157 

Erickson   John 157 

Erickson,  John   J 354 

Ericson,  John  E 172 

Erikson,  Charles  F 379 

Erikson,  John  S 367 

Evald,  Dr.  Carl  A 126 

Evald,  Emmy 238 


Page 

Flodin,  Claes 181 

Fogelberg,  Peter 21 

Fors,  Dr.  Andrew  P 13 

Forsell,  Eric 23 

Foster,  Walter  C 312 

Franson,  Fred   R 257 

Fredrickson,  Prof.  Andrew 73 

Fredrickson,  Lars  E 192 

Freid,  Anna  Charlotta 304 

Frick,  Dr.  Anders 341 

Friestedt,  Luther  P 380 

Gordon,  Rev.  Gustaf  E 15 

Grund,  Carl   H 370 

Gustafson,  Frank   G 189 

Gustafson,  John  G 38 

Gustafson,  Pehr  E 205 

HaggJund,  Hans   E 129 

Hagstrom,  Rev.  G.  Arvid 50 

Hakanson,    Dr.  Alfred 58 

Hall,  Martha   Settergren 248 

Hallberg,  Dr.  Carl  S.  N 106 

Hallberg,  Charles  E 256 

Hallberg,  Lars  Gustaf 194 

Hallberg,  Lydia  H 152 

Hallstrom,  Charles  E 84 

Hanson,  Andrew 299 

Hanson,  Herman   M 398 

Hedberg,  Clara  E 161 

Hedberg,  Fredrik  G 161 

Hedeen,  Frithiof  V 341 

Hedeen,  Rev.  Olof 355 

Hedenwall,  Joseph  M 48 

Hedstrom,  C.  Bernhard 203 

Hegstrom,  Eos 391 

Hegstrom,  Dr.  Harald  V 391 

Helander,  Frank 392 

Hendrickson,  Frank    H 54 

Hennings,  Nils 300 

Henrickson,  John  H 206 

Henschen,  Henry  S 183 

Henschen,  Dr.  William 402 

Herst,  Charles    G 104 

Hessel,    Anders 343 

Hesselbom,  Johan  A 133 

Hesselroth,  Lawrence 255 

Highfield,  John 197 

Hjertstrom,  Rev.  John    W .    103 

Hofvander,  Charles  A 151 

Hogfeldt.  Fredrik 260 

Hogfeldt,  Rev.   Otto 368 

Holmes,  A.  Alfred 203 

Holmes,  Alfred   E 132 


INDEX 


413 


Page 

Holmgren,  Ernst 284 

Holmgren,  John    H 91 

Holmquist,   Gustaf 328 

Holniquist,  Peter  0 70 

Holt,  Emil   J 54 

Hughniark,  Alfred 91 

Hult,  Rev.   Adolf 294 

Hultin,  N.  Hjalmar 100 

Hvassman,  Axel  L 394 

Hvitfeldt,  C.  Robert 16 

Irenaeus,  Dr.  Carl  I.  J 228 

Isberg,  Frank  W 180 

Jacobson,    Gustave 326 

Jansson,   Alfred 84 

Jochnick,  Axel  af 138 

Johanson,  Anton  W 97 

Johanson,   Axel 167 

Johnson,  Aleck  E 349 

Johnson,  Alex  J 252 

Johnson,  Andrew  G 123 

Johnson,  Carl  A HI 

Johnson,  Charles  E 22 

Johnson,   Edward 137 

Johnson,    Elof 258 

Johnson,  Emil  A.  W 291 

Johnson,  Francis  E 365 

Johnson,  Frank  A 47 

Johnson,  Rev.  Fred  M 121 

Johnson,  George  E.  Q 285 

Johnson,  Gustaf 241 

Johnson,  Gustaf  L 42 

Johnson,  Gustaf  W 44 

Johnson,  Henning 314 

Johnson,  John 40 

Johnson,  Johan  A 106 

Johnson,  Johan  F 55 

Johnson,  John  N 159 

Johnson,  J.  Wm 147 

Johnson,  Lars 325 

Johnson,  Nels  B 31 

Johnson,  Nels  J 53 

Johnson,  Rev.   Olof 304 

Johnson,  Theodore 38 

Johnson,  Victor  E 158 

Johnson,  Walfrid 346 

Johnson,  William  K 305 

Johnston,  Charles  H 378 

Johnston,  Rev.  Theodore   S 249 

Josephson,  Aksel  G.  S 163 

Kheiralla,  Augusta   S 393 

Klaesson,  Lars  N.  S 209 

Klaus,  Dr.  Carl  F 87 


Kohler,  Ernest  A 262 

Kohler,  John  A 210 

Korsell,  Dr.  C.  F 260 

Lagergren,  Dr.  Carl  G 356 

Landgren,  Andrew 93 

Larson ,   Erland 214 

Larson,    John 218 

Larson,   Martin 139 

Larson,   William 316 

Leafgren,  Hans   A 362 

Lejonstein,  Sven  O. 225 

Lenberg,  Arthur   C 160 

Levin,  Louis  A 171 

Liedberg,  Hugo  J 49 

Liljencrantz,  Gustave  A.  M 35 

Liljencrantz,  Ottilie 227 

Lind,  Hjalmar  J 359 

Lindahl,  John   H 69 

Lindahl,  Josua 233 

Lindberg,  P.  A 30 

Lindblom,  Robert 335 

Lindeblad,  Rev.  Henry  0 358 

Lindeborg,  Johan  A 330 

Lindeen,  Ernest  W n6 

Lindell,   Gustaf 169 

Linden,  Charles  J 205 

Linder,  Oliver  A 313 

Linder,  Therese 314 

Linderholtn,  John 32 

Lindgren,  John  R 7 

Linderoth ,  Swen 395 

Lindh,  Frank  C 204 

Lindholm,  Carl   G 208 

Lindholm,  Frank  A 215 

Lindholm,  John  T 25 

Lindquist,  Anton   F 75 

Lindquist,  Dr.  John  F 318 

Lindskog,  Rev.  C.  G.  Herman 16 

Lindstedt,  John  A 37 

Lindstrand,  Frans  A 310 

Lindstrom,  A.  G.  Ernest 242 

Lindstrom,   Ellen 221 

Linne,  Ragna 135 

Lofgren,  Rev.  Anders  J 160 

Lofstrom,  Anders 57 

Lonn,    Frank 168 

Lonnerblad,  Carl  G 220 

Lorentz,  John 83 

Lorentz,  Nels  M 120 

Lothgren,  Carl  A 208 

Lund,  Anders  G 112 

Lundahl,  Louis   J 401 


414 


INDEX 


Page 

Lundberg,  Birger  T 301 

Lundberg,  Carl 400 

Lundblad,  Charles  W 116 

Lundeen,  Andrew  M 115 

Lundin,  Carl  0 137 

Lundin,  Frederick 274 

Lundquist,  Frank  A 145 

Lundquist,  Hjalmar   C 360 

,    Lundstrom,    John 101 

Malmberg,  Oscar  F 213 

Malmquist,  Axel   Frithiof 364 

Martenson,  John 179 

Martin,  Rev.  A.   P 333 

Meek,  John  S 298 

Melander,  Silas  P 246 

Melangton,  John 136 

Mellander,  Prof.  Axel 397 

Mohlin,  John    E 332 

Morris,  Alfred  L 217 

Mossberg,  Joel 46 

Myhrman,  Othelia 36 

Nelson,  Carl  0 276 

Nelson,  Rev.  Carl   J 112 

Nelson,  Charles  R 182 

Nelson,  Charles  W 78 

Nelson,  Engelbrecht 243 

Nelson,  Fred   J 334 

Nelson,  Rev.  Gottfred 202 

Nelson,   Gustave 215 

Nelson,  Henrj- 366 

Nelson,  John 66 

Nelson,  John 101 

Nelson,  Lawrence 19 

Nelson,   Martin  E 240 

Nelson,  Nels 184 

Nelson,  Nels 130 

Nelson,  Nels 99 

Nelson,  Nils   A 347 

Nelson,  Olof  F 147 

Newman,  Charles  W 56 

Newman,  Gustave  R. . . .    56 

Nilson,  Nils  E 305 

Nilsson,  Pehr  W 273 

Nord,  Mons  S 68 

Norberg,  Herman  G 125 

Nordenstam ,  Otho  M 247 

Norlin,  Fred 29 

Norling,  John   E 63 

Norman,  Andrew  E 201 

Norman,  Carl  G 345 

Norstrom,  John  K 167 

Norton,  Alfred  A 270 


Page 

Nye,  John    A 124 

Nylund,  Oscar   C 51 

Nystrom,  Rev.  Axel  L 176 

Oberg,  Augvsta  J 312 

Ohlson,  Rev.  Karl    F 283 

Ohlsson,  Swante  Wm 24 

Oldberg,  Prof.  Oscar 21 

Oldenborg,  Hugo  A 156 

Olin,  Samuel  0 95 

Oliver,  Albert 94 

Olson,  Edward  H 261 

Olson,  Edwin  A 207 

Olson,  Ernst   \V 385 

Olson,    Harry 351 

Olson,  John   W 134 

Olson,  Lars 288 

Olson,  Louis 292 

Olson,  Magnus 303 

Olson,  Nels  J 1 1 

Olson,  Nils 67 

Olson,  Nils  F 250 

Olson,  Olenius 286 

Olson,  Olof 288 

Olson,  Oscar  D 141 

Ols^>n,  Dr.  Oscar  G 400 

Olson,  Rev.  Oscar  N 141 

Olsson,  Axel  E 82 

Onelius,  Martin  R 25 

Ongman,  Clarence  S 272 

6'rtengren,  John    R 230 

Osterholm,  Emanuel 176 

Ottonius,  Carl  U.  W 367 

Palm,  Rev.    Chas 32 

Palm,  Robert  Hj 64 

Pearson,   Olof 36 

Pearson,  Peter   C 42 

Peterson,  Axel 86 

Peterson,  Birger  A 366 

Peterson,  Charles   G 149 

Peterson,  Charles  S 343 

Peterson,  Claes  V  ...    43 

Peterson,  John 293 

Peterson,  John  A 282 

Peterson,  Leonard 285 

Peterson,  Oscar  Chas 73 

Peterson,  Pehr   S 8 

Peterson,  Prof.  William   A 377 

Peterson,  Dr.  William  A .    124 

Petterson,  Charles  G 46 

Petterson,  Erick   G 62 

Pihlgard,  Anders  Fr 20 

Pilo,  Axel    0 27 


INDEX 


415 


Page 

Plantin,  Peter   J 52 

Princell,  John  G 267 

Princell,  Josephine 271 

Ranseen,  Dr.  Mattis  C 295 

Rapp,  Oscar 48 

Raymond,  Edward 316 

Reese,  Rev.  Andrew 150 

Rehnstrom,  J.  Ernst 281 

Reihmer,   Nils 94 

Risberg,   Prof.  Fridolf. 287 

Roberg,  Dr.  Oscar  T 199 

Rocine,  Victor 143 

Ronberg,   Peter 39 

Rosberg,  Frank 334 

Rosberg,  John   H 393 

Rose,  Frank   A 128 

Rosen,  Rev.  Erik 337 

Rosendahl.  Rev.  Johan  A.  H 290 

Rosengren,    Frank 189 

Ross,  Oscar  A 74 

Rudelius,  Gustaf 95 

Rundblad,  Albert 55 

Ryden,  Otto   G 237 

Rydin,  Adolph 200 

Sandberg,  John  P 1 14 

Sandberg,  William  K 44 

Sandblom,  Edwin 290 

Sandblom,  John  N 65 

Sandegren,  Andrew 79 

Sandell,  Rev.  Eric 45 

Sandgren,  John   A 324 

Sandstedt,  G.  Edwin 348 

Scherstrom,  Rev.  Eric 69 

Schlytern,  Charles   E 186 

Schmidt,  Prof.    Emanuel 1 18 

Schon,  Anders 405 

Schonbeck,  Albert 92 

Schoning,  Peter 309 

Schoultz,  Fritz 129 

Schuch,  Rev.  Edward 148 

Schycker,  Carl  J.  M 25 

Seaquist,  Gustaf 28 

Sebelius,  Rev.  Sven  J 331 

Sellstrom,  Alfred 20 

Settergren,  Chas.  G 87 

Severin,  Nils  P 319 

Sheldon,  Joseph  G 387 

Sherman,   Emil 327 

Sjoholm,  Peter 195 

Skoglund,  August  H 79 

Soderstron.',  John  A 360 

Soderstam,  Julius 66 


Page 

Sorlin,  Rev.  Arvid  N 206 

Spaak,  Charles  E 181 

Spann,  John   E ico 

Stille,  Carl  A 146 

Stone,  Charles  J 12 

Strandberg,  Carl   T 323 

Strandberg,  Erik  P 77 

Strandell,  Charles  A 86 

Strom.  Eric  Gustaf 89 

Stromberg,  Alfred 338 

Stromberg,  Charles   J 75 

Struve,  Henry 383 

Sundberg,  Gustav 71 

Sundquist,  John 85 

Sundsten,  Knut 150 

Swan,  David  E 376 

Swan,  Rev.  Eric  P 85 

Swan,  Gustaf  A.  E 376 

Swan,  S.  Nilsson 374 

Swanlund,   Swan 71 

Swanson,  Andrew 191 

Swanson,  Frank  A 128 

Swanson,  Charles  F 115 

Swanson,  Charles  L, 342 

Swanson,  Ellyn  M 377 

Swanson,  Ephraim  J 278 

Swanson,  Dr.  Marie 332 

Swanson,  Swen  P 187 

Swartz,  Rev.  Petrus 345' 

Swenson,  Axel  E 132 

Swenson,  Dr.  Carl   G 161 

Swenson,  Eugene  L, 333 

Swenson,  John  L, 164 

Tallberg,  Andrew 223 

Tengwald,  Rev.   Victor 166 

Tennerstedt,  Richard 292 

Thelander,   Andrew 170  . 

Thelin,  Edward  J 108 

Thompson,  Axel   E 151 

Thorelius,  P.  William 299 

Thorsell,  Waldemar  G 259 

Thunander,  Gustav 301 

Tiden,  C.   A 265 

Tofft,  Anders 370 

Toffteen,  Dr.  Olof  A 401 

Tunelius,  Charles   E 101 

Tyden,  John   E 242 

Urelius,  Peter  E 27 

Valentine,  Gustav  V 281 

Vallentin,  Carl 185 

Valley,  Olof 339 

Verenius,  Rev.  O.  Nelson 269 


4i6 


INDEX 


Page 

Wahlquist,   Ludwig 114 

Wahlstrom,  Dr.    Matthias 174 

Wald,  Dr.  Olander  E 350 

Walgren,  John  A 342 

Wallin,  Carl  G 279 

Wattman,  Ernest  O 83 

Welander,  August   W 18 

Wennerskold,  Elvira  M 144 

Werner,  Emil .  340 

Werner.   Eric 340 

Westerberg,  Oscar  E 275 

Westerholm,  Charles   A 199 

Westerlund,  John   A 329 

Westerlund,  William 273 

Westman,  Alfred  E 231 

Westman,  Carl  K 284 

Westman,  Gosta 317 

Weydell,  F.  Oscar 103 


Page 

Weydell,  K.  Albert 217 

Wiche,  Waldemar   W 117 

Wigren,  Rev.  James  T 371 

Williamson,  Wahlfrid 211 

Willin,  Andrew  G 280 

Wilson,  Prof.  Charles  J 302 

Wingren,  Rev.  Erik 60 

Wingren,  William  B 232 

Wingard,  A.  Edwin  G 347 

Young,  Dr.  Carl  0 216 

Young,  Rev.  Gustaf  A 279 

Young,  Sophia  C 251 

Youngberg,  John  E 253 

Youngdahl,  Alfred  J 220 

Younggren,  Ernest  H.  M 240 

Youngquist,  Carl  0 263 

Youngquist,  Claes  August 289 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


Swedes  of  Illinois 


PART    III 

Biog'raphical   SKetches 

WITH    PORTRAITS 


COUNTIES    AT    LARGE 


Edited  by 

ERNST  W.  OLSON  and  MARTIN  J.  ENGBERG 


CHICAGO 
The  Engberg=Holmberg  Publishing  Company 

1908 


Copyright  1908 
by  The  Engberg-Holmberg  Publishing  Company 


HENRY   COUNTY 


ANDOVER-CAMBRIDGE-GALVA-GENE- 

SEO  -  KEWANEE  -  OPHIEM 

ORION-WOODHULL 


CARL  P.  EDBLOM, 

pastor   of    the    Augustana    Synod 
and  now  in  charge  of    its   church 


CARL  PETER   EDBLOM 

at  Andover,  was  born  at  Stam- 
aren,  Dais  Ed,  Sweden,  Sept.  14, 
1862.  His  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  and  miller,  moved  to 
Knipan  and  died  there  May  24, 
1897,  his  mother,  Kajsa  Jo- 
hansson, having  gone  before,  on 
Sept.  9,  1891.  His  early  school- 
ing was  obtained  in  the  old  coun- 
try. In  May,  1882,  the  young 
man  of  twenty  landed  as  an  im- 
migrant at  Philadelphia  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Minneapolis,  where  he 
lived  for  a  year  and  a  half  At 
New  Year's,  1884,  he  was  matric- 
ulated as  a  student  at  Gustavus 


Adolphus  College  at  St.  Peter, 
Minn.,  graduating  in  May,  1891, 
with  salutatorian  honors  with 
the  college  class.  Thereupon  he 
took  up  the  study  of  theology 
at  Augustana  Theological  Semi- 
nary, from  which  he  graduated 
in  the  spring  of  1893  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  ministry.  Upon  be- 
ing ordained  shortly  afterward, 
he  began  his  pastoral  labors  in 
Aurora.  In  December,  1894,  he 
removed  to  Escanaba,  Mich.,  in 
May,  1898,  to  Batavia,  and  in 
January,  1906,  to  Andover,  where 
he  is  now  stationed. 

While  in  Batavia,  Rev.  Edblom 
served  on  the  board  of  the  West 
Batavia  public  schools  for  six 
years.  He  has  been  for  five  years 
a  member  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors of  the  Illinois  Conference  Or- 
phans' Home  at  Joliet  and  now  at 
Andover  Orphans'  Home.  Always 
a  Republican,  Rev.  Edblom  cast 
his  first  vote  for  James  G.  Blaine. 

Rev.  Edblom  entered  matrimo- 
ny Jan.  i,  1895,  *ne  [bride  being 
Miss  Anna  Gustava  Challman, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Andrew  Chall- 
man of  Batavia.  To  Rev.  and 
Mrs.  Edblom  have  been  born  six 
children,  five  of  whom  survive, 
viz.,  Carl  Gustav,  born  1897,  Es- 
ther Dorothy  Charlotte,  1898,  An- 
drew Theodore,  1901,  David  Rob- 


Henry  County 


ert,   1902,  and   Evelyn    Elizabeth, 
1904-  

JOHN  A.  FAIR 

was   born    Feb.  27,   1858,  in    An- 
dover.     He    is    a  farmer,  the  son 


JOHN  AUGUST   FAIR 

of  a  farmer.  His  father,  Gustaf 
Fair,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in 
Andover,  having  arrived  there  in 
1854,  was  known  as  the  "farmer 
poet,"  and  contributed  to  some  of 
the  Augustana  church  papers. 
The  son  has  inherited  his  father's 
taste  for  church  work. 

Mr.  John  August  Fair  belongs 
to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  has  served  as  a  deacon  for 
many  years.  He  has  also  been 
organist  of  the  church. 

In  local  public  affairs  he  is  also 
active,  having  been  a  school 
trustee  for  a  long  time. 

Mr.  Fair  is  married  to  Miss 
Hulda  Carlson.  They  have  two 
children,  Joseph  Arnold  and  Lil- 
lian M. 


FRANK  O.  SANDSTEN 

was  born  Feb.  9,  1844,  in  Mister- 
hult  parish,  Kalmar  Ian,  Sweden. 
He  emigrated  in  1867  and  settled 
in  Moline.  During  the  past  twen- 
ty-three years  he  has  resided  in 
Andover,  111.,  and  there  has  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  business 
of  a  building  contractor.  Other 
places  in  which  he  has  done  con- 
tract work  are  Woodward,  Iowa, 
and  Wayne,  Neb.  He  has  now 
retired. 

Mr.  F.  O.  Sandsten  is  the  son 
of  Samuel  Sandsten,  a  farmer 
of  Misterhult,  and  his  wife,  Cath- 
arina  Sandsten.  He  has  visited 
his  old  home  once  since  his  emi- 
gration . 

Mr.  Sandsten  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


FRANK  OSCAR  SAXDSTEN 

He  has  served  in  the  capacity 
of  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  An- 
dover. 


Andover 


VICTOR  SETTERDAHL, 

who   was    for    many    years   pastor 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran    Church 


VICTOR    SETTERDAHL 

in  Andover,  was  born  in  Oppby, 
Sweden,  Jan.  20,  1844.  His  par- 
ents, M.  Anderson  and  his  wife 
Catharina  Larson,  were  farmers. 
At  twenty  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Setterdahl  emigrated  and  lived 
for  a  year  in  Andover,  then  en- 
tered Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary  at  Paxton, 
studying  there  1865-68  and  1870-73 
and  was  graduated  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry  the  year  last 
named.  After  his  ordination  the 
same  year  he  served  as  pastor  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  churches 
in  Rock  Island,  Orion,  Lockport  and 
Joliet,  before  accepting  a  like 
charge  in  Andover.  His  longest 
terms  of  service  have  been  at 
Orion,  for  ten  years,  and  at  An- 
dover, for  over  seventeen  years. 
In  the  year  1905  Rev.  Setter- 
dahl resigned  the  Andover  pastor- 


ate to  assume  charge  of  the 
church  at  Chesterton,  Indiana. 

May  5,  1874,  Rev.  Setterdahl 
was  married  to  Miss  Albertiua 
Larson,  of  Swedona,  111.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gustaf  and  Catharina  Lar- 
son,'born  March  16,  1853.  They 
have  a  family  of  five  children: 
Victor  E.,  born  May  30,  1875, 
married  to  Miss  Edith  Hanaway 
of  Meadville,  Pa.,  Etta  C.,  born 
Oct.  2,  1877;  Fred  N.,  born  Dec. 
7,  1884;  Violet  E.,  born  May  8, 
1887,  and  Naomi  C.  A.,  born 
Aug.  5,  1889. 

Rev.  Setterdahl,  during  his  long 
service  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  the  Augustana  Synod,  has 


ALBERTINA   SETTERDAHL 

been  elected  to    various    offices    of 
honor  and  trust  in  the    church. 


JONAS  M.  ANDERSON 

was  born  April  20,  1857,  in  Skep- 
perstad  parish,  Smaland.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1872  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  La  Porte  co.,  Ind. 


8 


Henry  County 


In  1890  he  went  to  Cambridge, 
111.,  where  he  engaged  in  business 
with  the  firm  of  H.  M.  Wier,  at 
which  place  he  still  remains. 
•  Mr.  Anderson  has  received  pub- 
lic recognition  in  Cambridge,  hav- 
ing been  chosen  alderman,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  served  for 
many  years.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Cam- 
bridge and  also  a  director  of  the 
Electric  Light  and  Power  Co.  of 
the  same  place.  He  is  likewise 
secretary  of  the  Citizens'  Mutual 
Telephone  Co.  For  thirteen  years 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  be- 
longed to  the  Illinois  National 
Guard,  in  ' which'  he  has  served 
as  a  lieutenant  for  three  years 
in  Co.  D,  6th  Regiment. 

Mr.  Jonas  M.  Anderson,  son  of 
Johannes  Anderson,  a  farmer  in 
Sweden,  was  married  at  Andover 
April  5,  1883,  to  Miss  Mathilda 
Sophia  Lyon,  the  daughter  of 
Andrew  L/yon,  a  farmer  of  Ando- 
ver. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  have 
three  children,  Ivar  T.,  Henry  S. 
and  Eva  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


SVEN  J.  CHILBERG 
was  born  Oct.  6,  1843,  in  Kisa, 
Sweden.  When  but  a  mere  child 
of  scarcely  six  years  his  parents, 
Nils  M.  and  Margaret  Elizabeth, 
emigrated  to  this  country.  Then, 
in  1849,  the  sea  voyage  was  quite 
an  undertaking,  and  their  party 
required  two  months  for  the  trip. 
The  family  was  bound  for  the 
West  and  reached  what  is  now 
known  as  Swedona  by  river,  canal 


and  wagon.  They  were  the  first 
Swedes  to  settle  in  Mercer  co., 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Sven  Chilberg  received  his 
early  training  in  the  county  public 


SVEN  JACOB  CHILBERG 

schools.  In  the  summer  of  1861 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  43d  111.  Vol. 
Infantry,  returned,  and  was  dis- 
charged at  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
Sept.  30,  1865,  reaching  home 
Christmas  eve  of  the  same  year. 

He  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Cambridge  by  President  Benjamin 
Harrison  and  served  for  four 
years.  His  present  appointment 
as  postmaster  was  made  by  Pres- 
ident William  McKinley. 

He  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Ma- 
sons, the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  A. 
O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Chilberg  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Lafferty  in  1870.  Their 
daughter,  Martha  P.,  is  assistant 
postmaster  in  Cambridge,  and  their 
son,  Nelson  Guy,  is  an  artist  with 
the  Illinois  Engraving  Co.  in 
Chicago. 


Cambridge 


NICHOLAS  A.  HAGG 

was  born  Sept.  22,  1851,  in  Hjelm- 
seryd,  Smaland,  Sweden.   He  came 


NICHOLAS  A.  HAGG 

to  this  country  in  1871  and  settled 
in  Henry  co.,  111.  His  early  train- 
ing, received  in  the  public  school 
of  his  fatherland,  was  thorough, 
and  hence  he  had  a  good  founda- 
tion for  prosperity  in  his  adopted 
country.  At  present  he  success- 
fully conducts  a  real  estate  and 
loan  business,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Cambridge. 

Mr.  Hagg  organized  the  first 
Swedish  "marknad"  or  county  fair 
held  in  Cambridge.  He  himself 
lives  on  a  farm  and  owns  much 
land  to  the  south  of  Cambridge. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hagg  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  a  strong  believer  in  free 
trade.  He  belongs  to  many  dif- 
ferent societies. 

JOHN  L    HULL 
\vas  born  Nov.  3,  1850,  in  Hults 
fred,    Sweden.     He    attended    the 


public  schools  there.  In  1869  he 
emigrated  and  settled  in  Cam- 
bridge, 111.  Shortly  after  his  ar- 
rival in  this  country  he  began 
work  in  a  brick  and  tile  factory, 
which  had  recentty  been  estab- 
lished. He  soon  became  manager 
of  the  plant  and  in  1890  purchased 
a  half  interest  in  the  business, 
which  now  continued  under  the 
firm  name  of  Cook  &  Hull.  In 
1891  Mr.  Hull  became  sole  owner. 
From  small  beginnings  and  hand- 
power,  an  engine  of  80  horsepower 
and  other  improvements  have  been 
introduced.  The  product  of  the 
factory  is  superior  and  finds  a 
ready  market. 

Mr.   Hull    is    a    member  of    the 
Swedish      Lutheran     Church,      in 


JOHN    L.  HULL 

which  he  has  served  as  trustee 
and  treasurer  for  twenty  years. 
He  has  held  several  positions  of 
public  trust:  supervisor  of  Cam- 
bridge township  for  ten  years; 
school  director  of  the  Public  School 


IO 


Henry  County 


for  the  same  period,  and  has 
served  on  the  town  and  county 
committees  of  the  Republican  party 
for  a  number  of  years.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  vice-president 
of  Cambridge  State  Bank  and  vice- 
president  of  Henry  County  Agri- 
cultural Board. 

Oct.  12,  1875,  Mr.  Hull  was 
married  to  Miss  Josephine  C. 
Lyons,  born  in  America.  Their 
four  children  are,  Lettie  V.,  Ed- 
win C.,  Emeline  S.  and  Ernest  I,. 

Mr.  Hull  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  the  Mystic  and  Fraternal 
Tribune  and  North  Star. 


FRANK  H.  STREED 

was  born  March  2,  1857,  in  An- 
dover  township.  The  parents  are 
Sven  P.  Streed,  a  farmer  in  An- 
dover  township,  and  his  wife  An- 
na S.  (Nelson)  Streed.  Frank 
remained  at  home  as  a  farmer  until 
1890,  when  he  went  to  Ulah.  He 
there  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness for  thirteen  years,  after  which 
he  settled  in  Cambridge,  111.,  was 
engaged  by  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Co.  and  became  inter- 
ested in  the  real  estate  business. 
He  is  also  land  and  emigration 
agent  of  the  C.,  R.  I.  and  P.  R.  R. 
and  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Cam- 
bridge. 

Mr.  Streed  belongs  to  the  order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 

He  married  Miss  Julia  Griffen, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Griffen,  a 
farmer  of  Andover  township.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Streed 
are  Henry  G.  and  Eugene  F. 


NELS  F.  ANDERSON 

was  born  Feb.  n,  1858,  in  Ystad, 
Sweden.  He  emigrated  in  No- 
vember, 1872,  and  settled  in  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  where  he  attended 
Knox  College  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1882.  Some  time 
was  spent  in  Chicago,  and  in 
1886  Mr.  Nels  Anderson  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Ottawa,  111. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  prominent 
lawyers  of  Galva  and  at  present 
is  city  attorney  of  that  place. 

Mr.  Anderson  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  lodge  of  Galva  and  the 
Kewanee  Club  of  Kewanee,  Illi- 
nois. 


was  born  Nov.  9,  1869,  in  Henry 
co.,  111.  The  father,  Jonas  Berg- 
land,  emigrated  with  his  own  father, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Andrew  Bergland, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  pioneers 
of  the  Bishop  Hill  Colony. 

Mr.  Albert  Eric  Berglaud  is  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  Galva.  His 
professional  training  was  received 
in  Knox  College,  in  Galesburg, 
and  in  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  Maryland,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1894. 

On  March  14,  1898,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Pearl  Hendricks, 
daughter  of  Dr.  William  Hen- 
dricks, formerly  of  Galva.  Their 
one  child  is  Martha  Helen. 

Since  his  graduation  in  1894, 
Mr.  Bergland  has  been  practicing 
law  in  Galva.  He  belongs  to  the 
Elks. 


Galva 


NELS  AUGUST  CARLSON 
was    born    Dec.     22,     1863, 


Ystad,  Sweden. 


near 
He  emigrated  in 


NELS  AUGUST  CARLSON 

1882  and  immediately  settled  in 
Galva,  111.,  where  at  present  he 
is  engaged  as  manager  of  a  lum- 
ber yard.  Besides  his  regular 
business  he  has  many  other  in- 
terests, that  of  writing  poetry 
being  foremost.  In  1893  he  pub- 
lished a  volume  of  poems  entitled 
"Hoppets  behag  och  andra  dik- 
ter."  Some  years  ago  he  secured 
prizes  in  a  poetical  contest  insti- 
tuted by  Minneapolis  Veckoblad. 

Although  Mr.  Carlson  has  at- 
tended no  school  in  this  country, 
he  has  through  indefatigable  ef- 
forts so  far  mastered  the  English 
as  to  make  successful  transla- 
tions from  Swedish  into  English 
and  vice  versa.  Among  his  trans- 
lations is  one  of  Thomas  Camp- 
bell's "Pleasures  of  Hope." 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member  of 
I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  and  Valhalla 


Lodge  No.  31,  Independent  Order 
of  Svithiod,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent since  its  organization,  also  of 
the  Encampment  and  Rebekha 
branches  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

He  has  been  town  clerk  of  Galva 
township  for  four  years  and  has 
been  elected  to  the  city  council. 


EBEN  OSCAR  ENGSTRAND 

was  born  Nov.  17,  1867,  in  Mon- 
mouth,  111.  He  is  the  son  of 
J.  M.  Engstrand,  a  shoedealer  in 
Galva.  Mr.  Eben  Engstrand  has 
steadily  been  gaining  promi- 
nence, both  in  business  and  muni- 
cipal affairs.  He  is  now  manager 
of  the  E.  W.  Houghton  Lumber 
Yard  Co.  and  has  been  city  clerk 
of  Galva  for  several  years  and  vil- 
lage trustee  for  six  years. 

Mr.  Eben  Engstrand  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jessie  Arvidson, 
daughter  of  a  retired  farmer  of 
Galva,  on  Sept.  15,  1892.  Their 
two  children  are,  Neal  L.  and 
Charles  L. 

Mr.  Engstrand  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen. 


JONAS  M.  ENGSTRAND 

was  born  Feb.  15,  1841,  in  Tveta 
parish,  Smaland,  Sweden.  He  en- 
joyed practically  no  schooling  and 
in  1852,  when  his  father,  N.  P. 
Anderson,  died,  the  son  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  shoemaker,  to  help 
earn  a  living  for  the  family  which 
was  left  almost  destitute.  He 
emigrated  in  1864,  reaching  Cas- 
tle Garden  on  Aug.  15,  destined 
for  Galesburg,  111.  He  left  a 
few  days  later  for  Blockfield, 


12 


Henry  County 


Missouri,  but  soon  returned  to 
this  state,  settling  permanently 
at  Galva,  in  1871,  after  living  in 
turn  at  Galesburg  and  Monmouth. 


Byron  Kennedy  in  1902,  and  the 
second  daughter  Lillie  to  L-  W. 
Barlow  in  1899. 


JONAS  MAGNUS  ENGSTRAND 

Since  his  arrival  in  this  coun- 
try Mr.  Engstrand  has  been  in 
the  shoe  business,  meeting  with 
success  in  a  mercantile  way,  bar- 
ring the  misfortune  of  being 
burned  out  three  different  times. 

Mr.  Engstrand  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  Lundquist  in  1867. 
Of  their  seven  children  but  five 
survive:  Eben  Oscar,  born  1867; 
Esther  M.,  born  1873;  Lillie  O., 
born  1875;  Annette,  born  1883; 
and  Ernest  LeRoy,  born  1887. 

Mr.  Engstrand  figures  promi- 
nently in  church  work.  In  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  to 
which  he  belongs  he  acted  as 
Sunday  school  superintendent  and 
treasurer  for  years. 

The  son  Eben  Oscar  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jessie  Arvidson  in 
1892,  the  daughter  Esther  to 


JOHN  A.  LARSON, 

secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Herdien  Coal  Company,  Galva, 
111.,  was  born  in  Frinnaryd  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Sept.  27,  1857. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  1868  and  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  fifteen  months  instruc- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  this 
country.  He  studied  and  mas- 
tered book-keeping  and  has  held 
a  position  in  the  office  of  the 
aforesaid  coal  company  since  its 
organization  in  1877. 

He  is  an  expert  checker  player, 
having    won    second    prize    in    the 


JOHN  A.   LARSON 

state  tournament  at   Decatur,  111., 
in   1906. 

In  1902  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Amelia  Anderson.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Jennie  Ame- 
lia and  Eva  Margaret. 


Galva 


OSCAR  WILLIAM  LARSON 

was     born     March    21,     1872,    in 
Galva,  111.     He  attended  the  pub- 


blessed  with  three  children;   Flor- 
ence, Joseph  and   Ada. 


OSCAR  WILLIAM  LARSON 

lie  schools  in  his  home  district. 
At  present  he  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  M.  W.  A.,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  city  council  of  Galva. 


OSCAR  M.  PETERSON, 

born  Oct.  30,  1871,  in  Galva, 
111.,  is  the  son  of  Olaf  L.  Peter- 
son, a  furniture  dealer  of  Galva, 
and  Betzie  Hanson  Peterson.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of 
Galva  and  the  Metropolitan  Busi- 
ness College  of  Chicago.  At 
present  he  is  bookkeeper  with 
Wistrands  Manufacturing  Co.  in 
Galva  and  is  township  clerk. 

Mr.  Oscar  Peterson  belongs  to 
Odd  Fellows  and  Modern  Wood- 
men. He  married  Miss  Anna 
Johnson  and  they  have  been 


JOHN  WILLIAMS 

was  born  Aug.   15,   1862,  in  Dais- 
land.     He  emigrated  in    1877    and 


JOHN  WILLIAMS 

settled  in  Clinton,  Iowa.  His 
education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools.  Being  of  a  prac- 
tical turn  of  mind  and  possessing 
fine  business  ability  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  enabled  to  bring  to 
a  point  of  success  the  dry  goods 
and  clothing  business  of  which 
he  is  the  proprietor.  He  has 
one  of  the  leading  stores  in  that 
line  in  Galva. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Williams 
is  a  Lutheran  and  is  a  member 
of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  and 
M.  W.  of  America. 


VICTOR  L.    HEDMAN 

was  born  in  Ostra  Fernebo  parish, 
Gestrikland,  Sweden,  March  10, 
1 86 1.  He  is  the  son  of  Jonas 


Henry  County 


Hedman,  a  smelter  at  the  Gysinge  been  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of 
Works.  In  1880  he  emigrated  to  the  church  for  years.  He  is  also 
America  and  settled  in  Henry  a  director  of  the  Augustana  Syn- 

odical  Mission  Board. 

In  municipal  matters  he  has 
taken  active  part,  serving  as  a 
school  director  for  nine  years  and 
as  road  commissioner  for  six  years. 


VICTOR    L,  HEDMAN 

county,  111.,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Mr.  Hedman  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Sweden  and 
spent  two  terms  in  the  Collegiate 
Institute  at  Geneseo.  By  occupa- 
tion he  is  a  farmer,  having  spent 
the  last  eighteen  years  on  a  farm, 
but  recently  he  has  retired  with 
the  intention  of  going  into  the 
lumber  business. 

Mr.  Hedman  has  large  interests 
in  land  in  Munson  township  and 
in  Canada. 

He  was  married  March  13,  1888, 
to  Miss  lyovisa  Wallin,  daughter 
of  Sven  Wallin,  from  Kinneved 
parish,  Vestergotland.  Their  two 
children  are  Hilda  W.  L,.,  born 
May  5,  1889,  and  Harold  W.  E., 
born  July  13,  1891. 

The  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Geneseo  has  an  invaluable 
member  in  Mr.  Hedman.  He  has 


GUNNER  A.  JOHNSON 

was  born  May  7,  1863,  in  the  city 
of  Halmstad,  Sweden.  He  emi- 
grated in  1880,  and  soon  after  his 
arrival  in  America  obtained  em- 
ployment near  Geneseo  as  a  farm 
hand.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
three  years,  attending  the  village 
school  during  the  winter  months. 
In  the  fall  of  1883  he  began  a 


GUNNER   A.  JOHNSON 

course  of  instruction  in  Prof.  Wal- 
do's school,  after  the  completion 
of  which  he  obtained  a  clerkship 
with  the  grocery  firm  of  Green  & 
Trauger  of  Geneseo,  where  he 
remained  four  years.  Next  Mr. 
Johnson  was  offered  a  position 


Geneseo 


with  Diedrich  &  Lawrence,  also 
in  the  grocery  business.  Here  his 
energies  made  him  invaluable  to 
the  firm,  and  after  several  changes 
he  became  a  member  of  the  well- 
known  John  Diedrich  Co.  He 
holds  the  position  of  vice-president. 
In  1900  a  complete  line  of  dry 
goods  was  added  to  the  already 
large  stock  of  groceries  and  queens- 
ware.  More  room  was  needed  and 
accordingly  an  adjoining  building 
was  rented.  The  business  was 
again  enlarged  in  1904  by  the 
addition  of  a  complete  shoe  de- 
partment. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in 
Geneseo,  111.,  June  3,  1887,  to 
Miss  Emma  Engdahl,  born  Oct. 
20,  1866.  Of  their  four  children 
but  two  survive:  Aline  Victoria 
Constance,  born  1889,  and  Wen- 
dell Gunner,  born  1901. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
Republican,  in  religion,  a  Luth- 
eran. He  and  his  family  belong 
to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
where  he  has  served  as  a  trustee 
since  1892. 

Among  the  public-spirited  men 
of  Geneseo,  Mr.  Johnson  is  one 
of  the  foremost.  He  is  ever  ready 
to  join  in  any  movement  calcu- 
lated to  be  of  public  benefit.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  town  central 
committee  and  of  the  public  school 
board. 


at  Lonsas,  then  helped  his  father 
at  tailoring  and  at  seventeen  years 
of  age  emigrated  to  America, 


CARL  J.  LAGER,   • 

son  of  John  Lager  and  Maja 
Greta  Swenson,  was  born  in  Lb'ns- 
as  parish,  Sweden,  April  23,  1854. 
He  attended  the  people's  school 


CARL  J.  LAGER 

first  settling  in  Princeton,  111., 
afterward  removing  to  Geneseo  in 
1875.  Here  on  May  30,  1878, 
he  married  Miss  Dora  Larson, 
born  Nov.  9,  1858.  They  have 
one  child  living,  a  daughter 
named  Florence  Ruth,  born  in 
1891. 

Mr.  Lager  is  a  clothing  mer- 
chant, and  head  of  the  firm  of 
Lager,  Offerle  &  Co. 

He  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight 
Templar,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Knight 
of  Pythias  and  a  Mystic  Shriner. 
He  holds  the  rank  of  Major  in  the 
Patriarchs  Militant  and  has  re- 
ceived the  grand  decoration  of 
chivalry  in  the  order.  Mr.  Lager 
is  connected  with  the  Unitarian 
Church,  in  which  body  he  serves 
as  treasurer.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


i6 


Henry  County 


PETER  A.  LARSON 

was  born  Aug.  3,  1863,  in  Fro- 
dinge  parish,  Snialand,  Sweden. 
Since  his  emigration  to  America 


PETKR  A.  LARSON 

in  1868,  he  has  resided  success- 
ively in  Geneseo,  Orion,  Omaha, 
and  again  finally  in  Geneseo. 

Perhaps  instincts  inherited  from 
his  father,  Lars  Larson,  who  was 
a  cabinet  maker,  led  him  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1882 
he  began  working  for  the  firm  of 
Munson  and  Olson,  at  Geneseo, 
after  which  he  went  to  Omaha, 
Neb.,  and  worked  with  the  build- 
ing contracting  firm  of  John  Hart 
for  five  years.  Returning  to 
Geneseo,  he  engaged  in  business 
as  building  contractor  with  Mr. 
Guttorm  Olson  as  his  partner. 
Among  the  larger  contracts  un- 
dertaken by  the  firm  of  Larson 
and  Olson  are,  the  L.  and  O. 
Block  and  the  Hammond  Library 
building  of  Geneseo.  In  1905  he 


bought  G.  Olson's  interest  in  the 
business. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  to 
Miss  Christina  Gustus  in  Omaha, 
June  4,  1889.  Their  children  are: 
Clara  L.  A.,  Esther  Helen,  So- 
phia Ruth,  Fred  E.,  and  Hazel 
Hildur. 

Mr.  Larson  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Geneseo  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Yeomen  of  America. 


FRANK    AUGUST   PETERSON 

was  born  Dec.  3,  1866,  in  Gene- 
seo, 111.  He  is  the  son  of  Jonas 
Peterson,  a  blacksmith  of  Gene- 
seo, and  his  wife,  Johanna  Bengts- 
son.  Besides  attending  Augus- 
tana  College  in  Rock  Island,  Mr. 
August  Peterson  took  the  Normal 


FRANK    AUGUST  PETERSON 

School  course  at  Geneseo.  At 
present  he  is  a  druggist  and  has 
been  in  the  drug  business  for 
some  thirteen  years.  His  one 
sister,  Josephine,  is  married  to 


Mr.  A.  E.  Norling  of  Geneseo; 
his  only  brother,  Albert,  is  a 
druggist  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Frank  Peterson  belongs  to 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Geneseo. 


The    family    residence    is   at    809 
Willow  st. 


JOHN  O.  ANDERSON 

was     born     March     10,    1859,    in 
Hogbo     parish,      Gefleborg      Ian, 


JOHN  O.  ANDERSON 

Sweden.  He  emigrated  in  1888, 
settling  in  Menominee,  Michigan, 
and  since  1893  nas  lived  in  Ke- 
wanee,  111.  He  is  a  building 
contractor  by  vocation.  His  par- 
ents are  Anders  Johnson,  a  cab 
inet  maker  of  Hogbo  and  Karin 
Johnson. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  which  bod}r 
he  serves  as  trustee  and  treasurer. 

Mr.  John  Anderson  married 
Miss  Ida  Stam  in  1890  in  Nor- 
way, Mich.  Their  children  are 
Lillie  E.,  John  H.  and  Carl  N.  A. 


SWAN  A.   ANDERSON 

was  born  Dec.  9,  1869,  in  Lode- 
rup  parish,  Skane,  Sweden.  He 
arrived  in  this  country  in  1890, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
building  contractor  at  Kewanee. 
He  is  the  son  of  Anders  and 
Bella  Jonson. 


SWAN  A.  ANDERSON 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  very 
successful  as  contractor  and,  con- 
templating retiring  from  business, 
several  years  ago  bought  land  in 
North  Dakota,  with  a  view  to 
settling  there.  In  1895  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Swanson 
of  Galva. 


ALFRED  BURGQVIST 

was  born  April  21,  1857,  at  Stor- 
fors  iron  mills,  Vermland,  Swe- 
den, where  his  father,  Nils  Berg- 
qvist,  was  a  master  blacksmith. 


i8 


Henry  County 


He  emigrated  in  1881    and    made     ents     both     passed     away    in    the 
Kewanee    his   home.     In    Sweden     latter  '903. 

he  had  attended   a   school    of    ar- 

FRITZ  GAFVERT 

was  born  June  19,  1865,  in  Gus- 
tafsfors,  Vermland,  Sweden.  In 
1893  he  emigrated  to  America 
and  settled  in  Kewanee,  111. 
Here  he  soon  established  a  lucra- 
tive business  as  contractor  and 
builder,  his  success  being  the  re- 
sult of  good  practical  training  in 
Sweden. 

Mr.    Gafvert    is    a    member    of 


ALFRED  BURGQVIST 

chitecture  and  on  reaching  this 
country  he  chose  the  vocation  of 
building  contractor.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  that  business  in  Ke- 
wanee ever  since. 

Mr.  Burgqvist  is  a  firm  adher- 
ent of  the  Swedish  Mission  church, 
having  been  connected  with  it 
for  the  past  thirty-one  years, 
here  and  in  the  old  country. 

Mr.  Burgqvist  established  a 
family  Feb.  24,  1883,  by  marry- 
ing Miss  Emma  Charlotta  L,6f- 
gren,  born  at  Grythyttehed, 
Vermland,  Oct.  27,  1860.  Four 
sons  and  one  daughter  have  been 
born  to  them,  to  wit:  G.  Alfred 
Mequin,  born  1883;  Emma  Idalla 
Olivia,  born  1887;  A.  R.  Paul, 
born  1890;  Spencer  G.  Emanuel, 
born  1894;  F.  A.  Nathaniel, 
born  1897.  Mr.  Burgqvist' s  par- 


FRITZ  GAFVERT 


M.    U.    O.    A.    and 
Order  of  Svithiod. 


Independent 


ERNEST  A.  LAGERSTROM, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  was  born  Sept.  7,  1877, 
in  Upsala,  Sweden.  His  parents, 
Erick  and  Margaret  Pehrson  L,a- 
gerstrom,  went  to  Chicago  in  1881. 
The  boy  attended  the  public  school 
for  a  short  while,  but  had  to  leave 
when  his  father  died  in  1885.  He 


Kewanee 


helped  support  the  family  by  sell- 
ing newspapers,  and  later  became 
a  cash  boy  and  then  auditing 


ERNEST  A.   LAGERSTROM 

clerk  at  Mandel  Bros.  Ten  years 
were  then  spent  as  a  printer  with 
Rand,  McNally  &  Co.  During 
this  period  he  united  with  Moo- 
dy's  Church  and  became  president 
of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  and  had 
charge  of  the  open  air  meetings 
of  that  church.  After  three  years 
he  joined  the  First  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  and  was  president  of 
the  B.  Y.  P.  Union  and  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Junior 
League  and  of  the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  L,agerstrom  then  entered  the 
Morgan  Park  Academy  and  later 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Seminary  at 
Morgan  Park,  where  four  years 
were  spent.  While  yet  a  student 
he  was  a  missionary  at  Akely, 
Nevis  and  White  Oak,  Minn., 
serving  American  missions. 

After  ordination,  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 


Church  at  Kewanee,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year.  Since  June, 
1905,  Mr.  L,agerstrom  has  been 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  at  Springfield,  Mass.  He 
is  vice-president  of  New  England 
Baptist  Young  People's  Union. 

Rev.  L,agerstrom  was  married 
June  7,  1905,  to  Augusta  S. 
Myhrman  of  Chicago,  born  Jan. 
4,  1878. 

EMU,  NEWMAN 

was  born  May  30,  1861,  in  Bjur- 
karn,  Vermland,  Sweden.  He 
emigrated  in  1886  and  settled  in 
Kewanee.  Here  he  is  engaged 
in  business  as  a  carpenter  and 


EMIL    NEWMAN 

contractor.       In     1905    he    retired 
from  that  business. 

He  belongs  to  the  Swedish  Con- 
gregational Church. 


GUNNAR  P.  NOREN 

was  born  Dec.  21,  1862,  in  Ansas, 
Skane,  Sweden.     He  emigrated  in 


20 


i886,  with  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  as 
his  destination.  After  due  prepara- 
tion in  private  schools  here  in 


GUNNAR  P.  NOREN 

America,  he  entered  the  Emannel 
Academy  and  later  continued  at 
Augustan  a  College.  Then  he  took 
up  medical  studies  at  the  Keokuk 
Medical  College,  West  Pennsylva- 
nia University,  and  in  three  dif- 
ferent hospitals.  He  now  practices 
his  profession  in  Kewanee,  111. 

Dr.  Noren  was  married  in  1899 
to  Miss  Emma  Johnson  of  Minne- 
apolis. Minn.  Both  are  members 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

Dr.  Noren  is  connected  with 
many  medical  societies,  such  as 
the  Physicians'  Club  of  Kewanee, 
of  which  he  has  been  president, 
the  Galva  District  Medical  Society, 
Henry  Co.  Medical  Association, 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. 


CARL  A.  NYSTROM 

was  born  Jan.  26,  1869,  in  Tjell- 
mo  jarish,  Ostergotland,  Sweden. 
He  came  to  America  in  1892,  and 
after  residing  at  different  places 
finally  settled  in  Kewanee,  111. 

Mr.  Nystrom  is  at  present  in 
the  business  of  manufacturing  and 
selling  heaters. 

He  belongs  to  the  Masons,  the 
Knights  of  Macabees,  the  Good 
Templars,  the  Amalgamated  Asso- 
ciation of  Iron  and  Steel  workers, 
of  which  he  has  been  president 
for  two  terms,  and  also  has  been 
president  of  the  local  lodge  of  the 
Svithiod  order. 

In  March,  1898,  Mr.  Nystrom 
was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  John- 


CARL  A.   NYSTROM 

son.     Their    one   child    is   a   son, 
Carl   Forest. 


GUST  STONEBERG 

was  born  Dec.    14,     1860,    in    the 
city     of      Falun,      Sweden.       He 


Kewanee 


21 


emigrated  in  1880  and  went  di- 
rect to  Kewanee,  111.,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  by  trade 
a  molder  and  since  1893  has  been 
foreman  of  Peter's  Pump  Co. 

Mr.  Stoneberg  was  elected  al- 
derman of  the  4th  ward  in  1903. 
In  the  local  lodge  of  the  Svithiod 
order  he  has  filled  the  office  of 
treasurer.  He  was  married  in 


GUST  STONEBERG 


1882    to    Miss    Kristina     Oslund. 
They  have  four  children. 


PETER  SWANSON 

was  born  Feb.  8,  1861,  in  Skane, 
Swedgril*  He  emigrated  in  1889 
and  spent  one  year  in  Michigan. 
The  following  year  he  moved  to 
Kewanee  since  when  he  has  been 
a  permanent  resident  of  that  city. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a  carpenter 
contractor.  He  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Mission  Church. 


PETER  SWANSON 


OSCAR  T.  GUSTUS 

was  born  Sept.  27,  1864,  in  L,ynn 
tp.,  near  Ophiem.  His  father,  Nel- 
son Gustus,  born  in  Hvena,  Sma- 
land,  came  to  America  in  1854, 
being  among  the  emigrants  of  the 
first  decade.  His  mother,  Clara 
Magnuson  Gustus,  born  in  Sun, 
Ostergotland,  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1851.  She  was  a  sis- 
ter of  Mrs.  L.  P.  Esbjorn.  After 
being  bedridden  for  ten  years  she 
died  Aug.  3,  1888,  at  her  home 
near  Ophiem.  Mr.  Oscar  Gustus 
took  a  two  years'  course  in  West- 
ern Normal  College  at  Bushnell. 
111.,  in  1883-84.  In  1887  he  be- 
came part  owner  of  Orion  Mer- 
cantile Co.  Moving  to  Denver, 
he  went  into  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. Thence  he  removed  to  Page 
City,  Kansas,  where  for  seven 
years  he  was  engaged  in  selling 
lands  for  the  Union  Pacific.  Part 
of  that  time  Mr.  Gustus  was  the 


22 


Henry  County 


publisher  and  editor  of  the  Page 
City  Messenger.  During  his  stay 
in  Kansas  he  was  also  employed 


OSCAR    THEODORE   GUSTUS 

by  the  Southwestern  Swedish 
Town  Site  Co.  and  by  Victor  Ry. 
lander  in  handling  real  estate. 

Returning  to  Illinois  in  1896, 
he  moved  on  his  father's  farm  near 
Ophiem,  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  farming. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Churches  at 
Ophiem,  Page  City  and  Swedona, 
generally  serving  as  a  trustee  and 
frequently  as  secretary. 

An  independent  Republican,  he 
was  the  first  secretary  of  the  first 
Swedish- American  Republican  club 
organized  in  Henry  county.  He 
has  repeatedly  refused  nominations 
for  local  political  offices,  except 
that  of  school  director,  which  he 
has  filled  for  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.  Gustus  was  married  July 
25,  1889,  to  Miss  Clara  C.  John- 
son of  Page  City,  Kans.,  born 


June  23,  1865,  at  Berwick,  War- 
ren co.,  111.,  whose  parents,  John 
G.  and  Karin  Johnson,  both  died 
at  their  home  in  Page  City  dur- 
ing 1906,  the  mother  on  her  eight- 
ieth birthday,  Jan.  6,  and  the 
father  in  his  seventy-ninth  year, 
July  9.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gustus 
have  three  children,  to-wit,  Reuel 
Theron,  1890;  Lyman  Ellory, 
l893;  Gladys  Opal,  1896. 

With  his  brother,  Prof.  J.  Ed- 
win Gustus  of  Moline,  he  has  re- 
cently purchased  land  near  the  city 
of  Calgary,  in  Alberta,  Canada, 
a  territory  now  attracting  many 
Swedish  settlers,  and  later  in  the 
Pan  Handle  of  Texas,  near  the 
city  of  Amarillo. 


HANS  P.  OTTOSON, 

Swedish    Lutheran    minister,    now 
in  charge  of    the  Ophiem  congre- 


HANS   PETER  OTTOSON 

gation,  was   born    on   the  farm  of 
his    father,  Otto    Johannesson,    at 


Ophiem 


Nossemark,  Dalsland,  Sweden, 
March  15,  1864.  In  the  year  1888 
Mr.  Ottoson  left  his  old  home  to 
strike  out  for  himself  in  the  New 
World.  He  lived  at  first  in  Chi- 
cago and  then  at  Iron  Mountain, 
Mich.  Not  long  afterwards  we 
find  him  as  a  student  at  Augus- 
tana  College,  Rock  Island,  where 
he  was  graduated  from  the  theo- 
logical seminary  in  the  spring  of 
1897,  being  ordained  minister  a 
few  days  later,  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  held  at  Mo- 
line.  For  nine  years  from  the 
time  of  his  ordination  Rev.  Otto- 
son  was  in  charge  of  the  old  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  of  Knox- 
ville.  In  1906  he  resigned  this 
pastorate  to  take  up  that  of 
Ophiem. 

Rev.  Ottoson  was  married  Nov. 
17,  1897,  to  Clara  Amalia  Lander, 
born  June  5,  1868,  daughter  of 
J.  O.  Lander,  one  of  the  early 
Swedish  settlers  of  Knoxville.  The 
union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children,  viz.,  Julia  Magdalena, 
born  1900;  Viola  Georgiana,  1902; 
Ruth  Linnea  Elizabeth.  1904  and 
James  Erland  Gezelius,  1905. 


latter  position  he    has   held    since 
1887. 

Mr.    Stephenson    is    a    member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran    Church 


CARL  A.  STEPHENSON, 
the  son  of  Stephen  and  Maria 
Stephenson,  was  born  July  9, 
1859,  in  Henry  co.,  111.  Having 
attended  the  public  schools  of 
Ophiem,  he  entered  Augustana 
College  arid  later  studied  at  a 
Business  College  in  Galesburg. 
Mr.  Stephenson  now  conducts  a 
general  mercantile  business  in 
Ophiem  and  is  at  the  same  time 
postmaster  of  the  town.  This 


CARL  A.  STEPHENSON 

at  Ophiem  and  in  this  congregation 
he  has  served  for  many  years  as 
trustee  and  treasurer.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Hilda  Carolina  Peterson, 
daughter  of  C.  J.  and  Maria  Peter- 
son. Their  one  child  is  Clarence, 
born  April  6,  1892. 

The  family  worships  in  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Ophiem.  Mr.  Stephenson  has  been 
a  trustee  and  the  treasurer  for 
many  years. 

PER  JOHAN  BRODINE 

was  born  in  Hjelmsryd,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  Oct.  12,  1846.  He  ar- 
rived in  America  together  with 
his  father,  Carl  Johan  Brodine, 
in  1853,  his  mother  having  died 
while  on  the  voyage  across  the 
ocean.  They  settled  in  Andover, 
Illinois. 


Henry  County 


In  1865  he  enlisted  in  the  U. 
S.  army  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1866.  He  entered  Au- 


PER  JOHAN   BRODINE 

gustana  College,  at  Paxton,  in  1869, 
the  Augustana  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1874  and  was  ordained  in 
1875.  In  1902  the  degree  of  D. 
D.  was  conferred  on  him  by  his 
Alma  Mater. 

Dr.  Brodine  has  been  pastor  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  churches  of 
Varna,  111.,  1875-1879,  of  Gene- 
seo,  111.,  1879—1887,  of  Hol- 
drege,  Neb.,  1887-1900  and  of 
Orion,  111.,  from  1900  until  the 
present  time. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  Luther  Academy 
in  Wahoo,  Neb.,  1888-1900  and 
president  of  the  Nebraska  Con- 
ference 1889-1893  and  1897-1901, 
a  member  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors of  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary  1900-1904, 
member  of  the  Orphans'  Home 
board  and  of  the  mission  board  of 


the  Nebraska  Conference  in  1889 
-90,  member  of  the  mission  board 
of  the  Illinois  Conference  in  1904 
-1905,  and  has  seived  on  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Or- 
phans' Home  at  Andover,  111., 
from  1901  to  the  present,  since 
1905  in  the  capacity  of  chairman. 

In  1885  Brodine  toured  England 
and  Sweden  for  study  and  recrea- 
tion. 

Dr.  Brodine  was  married  to  Miss 
Lovisa  Nordling  July  8,  1875. 
Their  children  are:  Petrus  Eman- 
uel,  born  1877;  Anna  Paulina  Lo- 
visa, 1880;  Carl  August  Philemon, 
1881;  Ellen  Theodora  and  Gustaf 
Axel  Theodor,  1885,  and  Signe 
Victoria  Josephina,  1887.  The 
eldest  daughter  is  married  to  Mr. 
Elmer  Theodor  Anderson. 


PETER  WESTERLUND, 

who  has  been  a  resident  of  Henry 
county  since  1850,  was  born  in 
the  parish  of  Hassela,  Helsing- 
land,  Sweden,  Aug.  21,  1839. 
His  father,  Eric  Westerlund,  and 
his  mother,  Elizabeth  Johnson, 
were  among  the  early  Swedish 
settlers  in  this  locality. 

The  journey  from  Gefle,  Swe- 
den, to  Andover  consumed  about 
six  months'  time.  The  voyage 
across  the  ocean  was  made  in 
six  weeks  by  sailing  vessel.  The 
party  went  from  New  York  to 
Albany  by  steamboat,  thence  to 
Buffalo  in  freight-cars,  to  Chicago 
by  steamboat,  to  Peru  by  canal- 
boat  and  from  there  011  to  An- 
dover in  wagons.  Traveling  by 
sea  or  land  in  those  days  was 
fraught  with  great  peril  and 


Orion 


privation.  While  on  the  Atlan- 
tic the  mother  and  the  youngest 
child  of  the  family  died  and  were 


PETER    WESTERLUND 

buried  at  sea.  The  father  with 
the  five  remaining  children  reached 
Andover  in  November,  having 
started  on  the  journey  on  the 
25th  of  May. 

Peter,  then  a  boy  of  eleven, 
was  hired  out  by  his  father  to  a 
farmer  near  Galesburg  for  four 
years,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  he  broke  the  contract  and 
returned  home. 

Peter  Westerlund  was  one  of  a 
party  of  seven  Swedes  who  in 
1859,  at  the  time  of  the  Pike's 
Peak  gold  craze,  started  out 
from  the  Andover  neighborhood 
in  quest  of  the  precious  metal. 
They  visited  the  site  of  Denver 
when  it  was  marked  by  only  two 
small  houses  of  frame,  named  re- 
spectively Aurora  and  Denver. 
Not  finding  what  they  sought, 
four  of  the  party,  including  Peter 


Westerlund,  proceeded  southward 
to  Albuquerque  by  oxteam,  thence 
by  boat  to  El  Paso.  These  four, 
Andrew,  Eric  and  Peter  Wester- 
lund and  Peter  Hall,  are  thought 
to  have  been  the  first  white  men 
to  traverse  this  stretch  of  the 
Rio  Grande  River  with  its  eight 
rapids  and  other  perilous  passages. 

This  was  in  1860.  Peter  Wes- 
terlund remained  for  some  time  in 
the  South,  working  in  a  lumber 
yard  in  El  Paso.  During  this 
time  he  found  that  all  through 
the  southern  states  secret  prepara- 
tions for  war  were  going  on  and 
so  concluded  to  go  back  North, 
where  he  was  struck  with  the 
unpreparedness  of  this  section  of 
the  country  for  the  coming  conflict. 

In  1865  Mr.  Westerlund  pur- 
chased his  first  80  acres  of  land 
and  went  to  farming  on  his  own 
account.  In  time  his  farm  was 
increased  to  one  half  section. 

On  Feb.  17,  1863,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elnora  C.  S.  Hult- 
man.  The  six  children  born  to 
them  are:  Oscar  William,  John 
A.,  Augusta  Melinda,  Emma  E., 
deceased,  Luther  A.  and  Peter  E. 

In  1897  Mr.  Westerlund  re- 
tired, leaving  the  management  of 
the  farm  to  the  two  youngest 
sons,  and  made  his  home  in 
Orion,  where,  with  his  son  Wil- 
liam, he  founded  the  State  Bank 
of  Orion  in  1882.  He  was  vice- 
president  from  its  inception  and 
continues  in  that  capacity  since 
the  bank  has  been  merged  with 
another  similar  institution  in 
Orion. 

For  two  terms   Mr.  Westerlund 


26 


Henry  County 


has  held  the  presidency  of  the 
village  board.  He  has  served 
some  eight  years  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  Augus- 
tana  College.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  been  treasurer  of 
the  Svea  Mutual  Protective  In- 
surance Co.  of  Henry,  Knox  and 
Mercer  counties,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  organizers.  He  has 
also  held  different  township  offices, 
as  school  trustee  and  road  com- 
missioner. While  a  member  of 
the  old  Andover  church  he  served 
for  eleven  years  as  deacon  and 
of  the  Orion  church  he  has  been 
a  trustee  for  the  past  ten  years. 
The  family  to  which  Mr.  Wes- 
terlund  belongs  is  one  of  the  most 
numerous  in  the  state.  From 
Eric  Westerlund,  now  deceased, 
the  family  tree  has  branched  out 
so  as  to  comprise  at  present  some 
175  persons.  A  family  reunion 
was  celebrated  at  Orion  in  1905, 
attended  by  125  descendants. 
Mr.  Westerlund  is  preparing  the 
story  of  his  early  western  trip 
and  other  reminiscences  for  pub- 
lication. 


graduated  with  the  college  class 
of  '89.  In  the  fall  he  entered 
Augustana  Theological  Seminary, 


GUSTAF  A.   SWANBURG, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  in  Woodhull,  was  born 
April  23,  1857,  at  Nasby,  Sma- 
land,  where  his  parents,  Carl  Gus- 
taf  and  Anna  Maria  Swanburg, 
lived  on  a  farm.  The  son  emi- 
grated from  Sweden  in  1870  and 
followed  various  occupations  up 
to  1882,  when  he  began  his  stud- 
ies at  Augustana  College  at  Rock 
Island.  After  seven  years  he 


GUSTAF  ALFRED  SWANBURG 

completed  the  divinity  course  in 
two  years'  time  and  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  in  the  Augustana 
Synod  at  the  synodical  meeting 
in  Chisago  Lake,  Minn.,  June  21, 
1891.  Having  accepted  a  call  to 
the  churches  in  Lucas  and  Belinda, 
Iowa,  he  assumed  his  pastoral 
duties  there  the  following  month. 
His  next  field  of  activity  was 
Chariton,  Iowa,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Woodhull  in  the  year 
1900. 

WALTER  A.  OLSON 

was  born  Sept.  2,  1872,  in  Wa- 
taga,  Knox  co.,  111.  His  father, 
L-  W.  Olson,  emigrated  from 
Sweden  in  1849  at  the  age  of  ten 
with  his  parents.  He  became  a 
farmer  and  a  merchant  in  Wataga, 
held  several  public  offices  and 
died  there  Aug.  17,  1907.  Walter 


Woodhull 


attended  Wataga  High  School, 
Knox  College  in  Galesburg  and 
Augustan  a  College  in  Rock  Island. 
After  Mr.  Olson's  graduation 
from  the  last  named  college  in 
1895,  he  temporarily  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Oneida. 
After  eighteen  months  he  pur- 
chased the  Pike  co.  Republican  of 
Pittsfield,  of  which  he  was  editor 
and  publisher  for  three  years. 

He  was  secretary  for  the  Re- 
publican Central  Committee  of 
Pike  co.  for  two  years.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1899,  he  left  Pike  co.  for 
Woodhull  where  he  became  editor 
of  the  Woodhull  Dispatch.  This 
position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Wal- 
ter Olson  is  an  interested  partici- 
pant in  local  and  county  politics. 
He  was  mayor  of  Woodhull  for 
one  term  and  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Swedish-American 


Republican  Club  of  Henry  co. 
Besides  his  strong  political  bent, 
he  has  literary  aspirations  and  so, 
in  company  with  two  or  three 
others  successfully  conducted  a 
lecture  course  for  four  seasons. 

Mr.  Olson  was  married  in  1896 
and  has  a  family  of  two  children, 
De  Forrest,  a  son  of  nine,  and 
Ruth,  a  daughter  of  seven.  Mr. 
Olson  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
belongs  to  the  Order  of  Masons 
and  Modern  Woodmen  in  both  of 
which  he  has  held  important 
offices. 

It  may  be  here  noted  that  the 
introduction  of  electric  lights  and 
a  water  works  system  in  Wood- 
hull  was  due  to  the  agitation  of 
these  matters  through  the  Dis- 
patch since  Mr.  Olson  assumed 
editorial  charge. 


KNOX    COUNTY 


GALESBURG-ONEIDA-  VICTORIA 


A.  W.  BERGGREN 

is  emphatically  a  self-made  man, 
having  risen  by  his  own  efforts 
from  an  apprenticeship  to  exalted 
stations  of  honor  and  trust.  He 
was  born  in  Ockelbo  parish,  Swe- 
den, Aug.  17,  1840,  and  is  the 


AUGUST  WERNER    BERGGREN 

son  of  John  and  Karin  (Hanson) 
Berggren.  His  father,  a  self-edu- 
cated man,  held  several  minor 
offices  and  looked  after  cases  in 
courts,  administering  estates  and 
the  like.  For  thirteen  years  he 
ran  a  flouring  mill.  Afterwards 
he  purchased  a  farm,  on  which 
he  lived  until  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1856. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  an 
example  of  the  accomplishment  of 
much  in  spite  of  limited  educa- 
tional advantages.  He  attended 
the  village  school  in  Sweden  until 
he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  liv- 


ing at  the  same  time  on  a  farm. 
Then  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  tailor's  trade.  When  the  father 
decided  to  emigrate  to  this  coun- 
try he  was  obliged  to  pay  the 
master  tailor  fifty  riksdaler  for 
the  release  of  his  son  from  the 
apprentice's  contract. 

Mr.  Berggren  first  came  to 
Oneida,  Knox  county,  and  then 
went  to  Victoria,  where  he  found 
employment  in  the  tailoring  estab- 
lishment of  Jonas  Hallstrom.  He 
then  came  to  Galesburg  and 
worked  at  his  trade,  where  oppor- 
tunities were  presented.  In  1860 
he  moved  to  Monmouth,  Warren 
county,  and  worked  for  Captain 
Denman,  a  merchant  tailor  of  that 
place. 

About  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  to  Galesburg  and  became 
a  solicitor  of  life  insurance.  Dur- 
ing these  years  he  devoted  consid- 
erable attention,  with  fair  success, 
to  music.  He  played  the  violin, 
became  a  leader  of  string  bands 
in  Galesburg  and  Monmouth,  and 
arranged  music  for  them. 

Mr.  Berggren,  for  no  fault  of 
his,  lacks  a  military  record.  At 
the  first  call  for  volunteers  to  put 
down  the  Rebellion  he  went  to 
Knoxville  and  joined  the  Swedish 
company,  commanded  by  Captain 
Holmberg.  Two  companies  were 
there:  one  composed  of  Americans; 
the  other,  of  Swedes.  The  former 
was  mustered  into  service;  the  lat- 
ter disbanded.  He  then  went  back 
to  Monmouth,  where  he  remained 


Knox  County 


until  his  return  to  Galesburg  in 
1864. 

Mr.  Berggren  has  held  many 
important  offices.  In  1869  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
the  city  of  Galesburg.  While 
holding  that  office  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  Republican  conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  sheriff,  and 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1872.  With 
great  credit  he  held  the  office  for 
four  terms.  In  1880,  while  yet 
sheriff,  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  senator  from  the  Twenty- 
second  district,  composed  of  Knox 
and  Mercer  counties.  Four  years 
afterwards,  he  was  reelected  from 
the  new  district,  composed  of 
Knox  and  Fulton  counties.  When 
the  senate  was  organized  in  1887, 
he  was  chosen  president  pro  tern- 
pore  of  that  body.  On  May  i, 
1889,  the  governor  appointed  him 
warden  of  the  Illinois  State  Peni- 
tentiary at  Joliet,  which  position 
he  resigned  in  1891,  to  take  active 
supervision  of  the  Covenant  Mut- 
ual Life  Association  of  Illinois, 
with  principal  offices  in  Galesbnrg. 

His  public  spirit  is  fully  shown 
by  his  connection  with  various 
public  enterprises,  such  as  the 
Galesburg  Stoneware  Company; 
the  National  Perefoyd  Company; 
the  Galesburg  Paving  Brick  Com- 
pany. He  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  Berggren  and  Lundeen,  later 
the  J.  A.  Lundeen  Company,  and 
still  later  the  Berggren  Clothing 
Company.  From  its  organization, 
for  twenty  years,  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Covenant  Mutual  Life 
Association,  and  after  that  its 
treasurer,  until  it  was  merged  with 


the  Northwestern  Life  Assurance 
Company  of  Chicago  in  Dec.,  1899. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Galesburg  National  Bank 
in  1884;  continuously  one  of  its 
directors  and  at  present  its  vice- 
president. 

Mr.  Berggren  is  both  an  Odd 
Fellow  and  a  Mason,  joining  the 
former  order  in  1868,  the  latter 
in  1869.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
several  Masonic  bodies  in  Gales- 
burg, and  in  the  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  has  taken  a  very  active 
interest,  filling  every  office  of  the 
subordinate  bodies,  and  the  prin- 
cipal offices  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 
He  was  Grand  Master  and  pre- 
sided over  the  deliberations  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  Danville,  111.,  in 
1880,  and  represented  the  Grand 
Lodge  in  the  Sovereign  Grand 
Lodge  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Mr.  Berggren  has  broadened  his 
life  and  added  greatly  to  his  store 
of  information  by  quite  extensive 
travel.  He  has  visited  almost  ev- 
ery state  in  the  Union,  and  in 
1882  took  an  extensive  trip  through 
England,  France,  Belgium,  Ger- 
many, Denmark,  Sweden,  Scotland 
and  Ireland. 

His  charities  have  been  of  a 
practical  kind.  He  has  given  to 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  and 
parsonage;  to  several  other  church- 
es; to  Knox  College,  Lombard 
Gymnasium  and  Cottage  Hospital. 

His  religious  affiliations  are  with 
the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church,  al- 
though in  1856  he  was  confirmed 
in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Sweden. 
He  served  as  lay-delegate  in  the 


33 


General  Conference  at  Cincinnati 
in  1880. 

In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. He  is  not  only  a  worker, 
but  has  been  one  of  the  leaders 
in  his  party. 

Mr.  Berggren  was  married  March 
8,  1866,  to  Christina  Naslund, 
born  Feb.  10,  1845,  whose  parents 
came  to  this  country  in  1854,  join- 
ing the  Bishop  Hill  colony.  Six 
children  were  born  to  them:  Cap- 
itola  Maud,  married  to  Rev.  F.  E. 
Jefferey,  a  missionary  to  India; 
Guy  Werner,  married  to  Minnie 
Belle  Flanders;  Ralph  Augustus, 
killed  in  a  railroad  accident  in 
1887;  Claus  Eugene;  Jay  Valen- 
tine, married  to  Bessie  Sears,  and 
Earl  Hugo. 

Jan.  i,  1900,  Mr.  Berggren  with- 
drew from  active  life  and  has  since 
lived  in  retirement  at  his  home, 
529  Losey  st. 


nineteen  years  he  was  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  Swan 
Johnson.  The  firm  owned  a  large 


NELS  M.  BURGLAND 
was  born  in  Gammalstorp,  Blek- 
inge,  Sweden,  Dec.  25,  1846. 
Emigrating  in  1867,  he  landed  in 
America  Sept.  i,  destined  for 
Galesburg  which  has  ever  since 
been  his  place  of  residence.  His 
education  was  limited  to  that 
acquired  in  the  common  school 
in  his  home  district  in  Sweden. 
In  Galesburg  Mr.  Burgland  em- 
barked in  business  as  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  meat  market  which  with 
time  has  gained  an  extensive 
patronage.  He  learned  the  meat 
cutter's  trade  while  in  the  employ 
of  his  uncle,  Henry  Burgland, 
for  five  years  following  his  coni- 
ng to  Galesburg.  For  the  next 


NELS  M.  BURGLAND 

farm,  on  which  were  raised  most 
of  the  cattle  which  they  butchered 
and  shipped.  In  1892  Mr.  Burg- 
land, severing  the  partnership, 
engaged  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness independently  and  continues 
to  the  present  time. 

Jan.  7,  1873,  Mr.  Burgland  was 
married  to  Jennie  Jacobson,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Nilson,  of 
Jemshog,  Blekinge,  who  operated 
a  flour  mill  there.  Mrs.  Burg- 
land was  born  May  14,  1852. 
Their  children  are,  Charles  M., 
George  H.  and  Arthur  T. 

Mr.  Burgland  has  served  the 
community  as  a  member  of  the 
city  council.  In  politics  he  is  a 
strong  Republican.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  Bank 
of  Galesburg,  the  Galesburg  Tele- 
phone Co.  and  the  Illinois-Cana- 
dian Land  Co.  He  has  likewise 


34 


Knox  County 


served  on  the  board  of  the  Gales- 
burg  Business  Association. 


JOHAN  ENWAI.lv 

settled  in  Galesburg  in  the  spring 
of     1868,     immediately     after  his 


lie  school,  he  was  sent  to  Knox 
Academy  where  his  schooling  was 
completed. 


JOHAN  ENWALL 

arrival  from  Vestra  Eneby,  Swe- 
den, where  he  was  born  Nov. 
4,  1833.  In  this  city  he  has 
plied  his  trade  as  a  tailor  for  a 
long  term  of  years. 

He  is  a  devoted  Lutheran  and 
is  one  of  the  oldest  living  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  the  city.  He  has 
given  his  services  to  the  congre- 
gation for  many  years  past  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  deacons 
of  the  church.  All  his  interests 
have  centered  around  his  family, 
his  church  and  his  trade. 


PHILIP  N.  GRANVILLE 

is  a  native  of  Knox  county,  hav- 
ing been  born  and  raised  at 
Abingdon.  Having  finished  pub- 


PHILIP  N.  GRANVILLE 

When  the  Bank  of  Galesburg 
was  organized  in  1889,  Mr.  Gran- 
ville  was  selected  as  assistant 
cashier.  In  1892  he  became  cash- 
ier and  still  retains  that  important 
position.  Mr.  Granville  has  been 
a  director  of  the  bank  since  its 
incorporation  in  1891. 

In  1887  Mr.  Granville  was  elect- 
ed treasurer  of  the  city  of  Gales- 
burg, serving  in  that  capacity 
until  1889,  and  at  the  spring 
election  in  1906,  the  citizens  of 
the  Second  ward  elected  him  with 
a  handsome  majority  to  represent 
them  in  the  city  council. 

Mr.  Granville  is  prominent  in 
fraternal  circles,  holding  member- 
ship and  office  in  the  following 
orders:  Prelate  of  Galesburg  Com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templar, 
P.  G.  of  First  Scandinavian  lodge 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.;  P.  H.  P.  of 


Galesburg 


35 


theColfax  Encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Gales- 
burg  Business  Association. 

In  1903,  Nov.  i,  Mr.  Granville 
was  married  and  the  union  has 
been  blessed  with  a  son,  born  in 
1904,  and  a  daughter,  born  Nov. 
24,  1906.  The  family  attend  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church,  of  which 
Mr.  Granville  is  a  respected  mem- 
ber. 


WESLEY  HOLT 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Swedes- 
burg,    Henry    co.,    Iowa,    May  3, 


WESLEY  HOLT 


1874.  There  he  spent  his  early 
years  assisting  in  the  work  on  the 
farm  in  summer  and  attending 
the  public  school  in  winter.  De- 
sirous of  a  general  education,  he 
entered  the  State  University  of 
Iowa,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1899,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  Having  decided  upon  the 
law  as  his  vocation  he  pursued 
the  study  of  it  in  the  College  of 
Law  at  the  same  institution.  The 


following  year  he  received  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  and  was  admit- 
ted to  practice  in  the  state  and 
federal  courts. 

While  in  college,  Mr.  Holt  early 
exhibited  marked  abilities  as  a 
debater  and  speaker.  He  was 
chosen  to  participate  in  the  Inter 
Society  Debate  and  the  University 
oratorical  contest.  His  ability  as 
a  writer  was  recognized  in  his  se- 
lection as  editor-in-chief  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa  Quill, 
and  staff  representative  on  the 
Western  College  Magazine.  He 
was  looked  upon  as  a  leader  among 
the  students. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  Mr.  Holt  was  just 
entering  upon  his  life  work.  For 
him  to  enlist  at  that  time  was  no 
small  sacrifice,  but  no  selfish  in- 
terest deterred  him.  As  a  true 
patriot  he  heard  his  country's  call. 
He  enlisted  and  served  through 
the  war  with  Co.  I,  5oth  Iowa 
Regt.  Volunteer  Infantry,  a  part 
of  the  yth  Army  Corps  under  Gen. 
Fitzhugh  Lee's  command. 

Mr.  Holt  came  to  Galesburg  in 
the  spring  of  1901  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Illinois  in 
the  autumn  of  the  same  year.  He 
opened  an  office  in  partnership 
with  Walter  C.  Frank  under  the 
firm  name  of  Holt  &  Frank  im- 
mediately after  admission  and  was 
the  only  Swedish  lawyer  in  Gales- 
burg. 

Mr.  Holt  was  active  in  religious 
work,  being  a  member  of  the  First 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and  one 
of  the  members  of  its  board  of 
trustees. 


Knox  County 


In  politics  Mr.  Holt  was  a  zeal- 
ous Republican.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  campaigns  of 
the  party  on  the  stump  and  other- 
wise. He  made  his  first  political 
speech  in  1896  for  Wm.  McKinley. 

In  1903,  although  he  had  lived 
but  a  short  time  in  Galesburg,  he 
had  already  gained  the  confidence 
of  the  community,  as  evidenced 
by  his  election  to  the  office  of  city 
attorney  in  the  spring  of  that 
year. 

Mr.  Holt's  creditable  and  highly 
promising  career  was  cut  short  by 
his  untimely  death  July  8,  1904. 


CHARLES  F.  HURBURGH 

was    born    in    Sweden,    Jan.     10, 
1872.     A    year    later    his    parents 


CHARLES  F.  HURBURGH 

emigrated,  settling  at  Altona,  111., 
where  the  boy  was  raised.  After 
finishing  public  school,  he  ob- 
tained a  liberal  education  at 
Abingdon  Normal  College  and 
Knox  College,  institutions  both 


situated  in  his  home  county. 
From  the  former  institution  he 
was  graduated  in  1892  and  from 
the  latter  in  1895. 

Mr.  Hurburgh  has  served  his 
county  in  the  capacity  of  sheriff 
for  the  official  terms  of  1902-04 
and  1904-06,  having  acted  as 
deputy  sheriff  for  two  years,  1900 
to  1902.  Prior  to  entering  the 
service  of  Knox  county,  he  held 
the  position  of  principal  of  the 
public  schools  of  Maquon,  111., 
from  1895  to  1900.  In  1906  Mr. 
Hurburgh  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  state  legislature  and  took 
an  efficient  part  in  railway  legis- 
lation last  winter. 

Aug.  6,  1903,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Anna  Scott  at 
Duncan,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hur- 
burgh are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church.  He  is  a 
popular  member  of  the  Gales- 
burgh  Business  Association. 


CARL  G.  JOHNSON, 
physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Oscarshamn,  Swe- 
den, Jan.  5,  1865.  As  a  young 
boy  he  accompanied  his  parents, 
C.  X.  and  Helena  S.  Johnson,  to 
this  country  in  the  spring  of  1869. 
The  family  located  in  Galesburg, 
and  here  the  boy  obtained  his 
public  school  education.  After 
that  he  worked  in  a  boiler  factory 
and  at  fifteen  he  went  to  work 
on  farm  for  three  years.  At 
the  opening  of  the  school  year  in 
1883  he  was  matriculated  at  Au- 
gustana  College,  Rock  Island,  and 
graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science  in  June,  1889. 


Galesburg 


37 


In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
entered  the  Long  Island  College 
Hospital  medical  school,  from 


CARL    G.  JOHNSON 

which  he  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in 
March,  1892.  Then  he  accepted 
an  appointment  as  interne  and 
ambulance  surgeon  to  the  Eastern 
District  Hospital  in  Brooklyn,  re- 
maining until  the  following  Sep- 
tember, when  he  resigned  to  be- 
come house  physician  and  surgeon 
to  the  Minneapolis  City  Hospital. 
Having  served  in  that  capacity 
for  one  year,  Dr.  Johnson  passed 
the  state  board  examination  in 
Minnesota  in  October,  1893,  and 
engaged  in  private  practice  in 
Minneapolis. 

In  January,.  1895,  he  moved 
back  to  his  old  home  city  of 
Galesburg  to  take  up  practice. 
Just  after  having  established  him- 
self, he  was  honored  by  an  ap- 
pointment on  the  staff  of  the 
Galesburg  Cottage  Hospital.  This 
position  he  has  retained  by  reelec- 


tion up  to  the  present  time,  and 
in  October,  1901,  was  elected  chief 
of  the  medical  staff.  He  is  now 
commissioner  of  health  of  Gales- 
burg. 

In  1897  Dr.  Johnson  made  a 
European  trip  for  the  purpose  of 
observing  the  hospital  systems  of 
England,  Sweden,  Denmark  and 
Germany.  He  improved  the  op- 
portunity by  taking  post-graduate 
courses  at  Brunswick  and  Berlin. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society  and  the 
Knox  County  Medical  Society. 

Aug.  5,  1896,  Dr.  Johnson  was 
married  to  Miss  Hannah  Larson 
of  Moline,  born  Sept.  i,  1863. 
There  is  one  child,  Helena  Kath- 
arine, born  in  1900.  They  are 
active  in  church  work,  being 
members  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  The  doctor 
gives  much  time  to  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
has  been  one  of  its  directors  for 
several  years  past. 

The  Augustana  Synod  in  1899 
elected  Dr.  Johnson  on  the  board 
of  directors  of  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary  for  a 
term  of  four  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  he  was  again  elected 
for  a  like  term.  In  1904  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of 
Augnstana  Hospital  in  Chicago 
for  a  term  of  three  years. 


CHARLES  J.  JOHNSON 

was  born  July  u,  18/1,  in  Vill- 
stad  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden. 
Emigrating  in  1889,  he  came  to 
Galesburg  as  a  young  man  of 


Knox  County 


eighteen,  equipped  with  a  common 
and  high  school  education  from 
the  old  country.  He  continued 


CHARLES  J.  JOHNSON 

his  studies  here,  however,  to  ac- 
quire the  language  of  the  land, 
and  graduated  in  Brown's  Business 
College  in  Galesburg.  Subsequent- 
ly entering  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy 
Railway  Co.,  he  has  risen  in  their 
service  to  the  position  of  foreman 
of  the  fuel  department  at  the  shops 
in  Galesburg.  Some  seventeen 
years  ago  he  went  to  work  in  the 
car  department  of  the  company, 
and  was  promoted  to  the  afore- 
said foremanship  about  eight  years 
ago. 

A  leading  member  of  the  local 
lodges  of  the  Masonic  order,  the 
Svithiod  order  and  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  Mr.  Johnson  has  filled  various 
offices  in  all  three  organizations. 

Mr.  Johnson's  parents,  Johan 
and  Anna  Pehrson,  remained  in 
Villstad,  where  they  are  still  liv- 


ing. Dec.  6,  1900,  he  founded  a 
family  of  his  own  by  marrying 
Miss  Elfrida  Mb'ller  from  Kristian- 
stad,  Sweden.  They  have  two 
children. 


C.  T.  E.  JOHNSON 

was  born  and  bred  in  Galesburg. 
The  date  of  his  birth  was  Feb. 
3,  1865.  Having  finished  his 
education  in  high  school  and 
business  college  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  machinist's  trade. 
For  seventeen  years  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  Frost  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  the  last  ten  being  spent 
on  the  road,  erecting  machinery 
for  the  firm.  In  1903  he  was 


C.  T.   E.  JOHNSON 

appointed    superintendent    of    the 
city  water  works. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  loyal  and 
useful  member  of  the  First  Swed- 
ish lyUtheran  Church.  He  was 
elected  several  years  ago  on  the 
board  of  deacons  and  also  made 
assistant  superintendent  of  the 


Galesburg 


39 


Sunday  school.  He  is  active  in 
the  Mens'  Luther  League  of  the 
church. 

JOHN  J.  JOHNSON, 

clergyman  of  the  Mission  Cove- 
nant, was  born  in  Grasmark  par- 


JOHN  JONAS  JOHNSON 

ish,  Vermland,  Sweden,  July  3, 
1867.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  arrived  in  America.  His  par- 
ents, Jan  Jonsson  and  his  wife 
Birgitta,  who  were  industrious  far- 
mer folk,  brought  up  their  chil- 
dren in  the  Christian  faith.  The 
son,  soon  after  his  arrival,  decided 
to  prepare  for  the  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  and  for  that  purpose  came 
from  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  where  he 
had  settled,  to  Chicago,  entering 
the  Chicago  Theological  Seminary. 
After  having  completed  the  course, 
he  was  stationed  as  pastor  at  Ode- 
bolt,  la.,  before  coming  to  Bata- 
via,  111.,  were  he  labored  for  many 
years.  Since  1907  he  is  pastor  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church  at 


Galesburg,  which   has  a  member- 
ship of  230  people. 

Rev.  Johnson  was  married  Sept. 
8,  1894,  to  Emma  Josephine  Blom, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew 
Blom,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1870  and  had  got  settled  in 
Chicago  just  before  the  great  fire. 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  five 
children,  Ruth  Victoria,  born  1895; 
Judith  Delphine,  1897;  Vernon 
Emanuel,  1899;  Dagmar  Naomi 
and  Hilding  Nathanael,  twins, 
born  in  1903. 


NELS  O.   G.   JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Mollegarden,  Skane, 
Sweden,  Jan.  10,  1844,  but  grew 
up  in  Maglarod  in  that  province, 
whither  his  father  removed  short- 
ly afterward.  Both  parents  died 
there  in  recent  years.  The  elder 
Johnson  was  a  merchant  in  his 


NELS  OLOF  GOTTFRID  JOHNSON 

younger  days  and  in  later  years 
operated  a  large  farm,  now 
owned  by  his  youngest  son.  Mr. 


Knox  County 


-N.  O.  G.  Johnson's  mother,  Bengta 
Pehrson,  was  the  daughter  of 
Nels  Pehrson  of  Skeinge,  Skane, 
who  owned  a  large  dairy  farm 
and  also  traded  in  grain  and  iron. 
The  son  was  educated  in  private 
and  public  schools  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  Sweden,  which  he 
did  not  leave  until  1869.  In 
May  of  that  year  he  landed  in 
New  York,  proceeding  thence 
direct  to  Galesburg  where  he  has 
been  a  resident  since  that  time. 

After  his  arrival  in  Galesburg, 
Mr.  Johnson  farmed  for  the  first 
three  years,  then  engaged  in 
business  as  a  partner  in  the  gro- 
cery firm  of  Clarkson  and  John- 
son. Then  after  nine  years,  the 
partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr. 
Johnson  engaged  in  milling  in 
partnership  with  a  Mr.  Anderson. 
The  Anderson  and  Johnson  mill 
was  profitably  operated  by  them 
for  a  number  of  years;  after  that 
Mr.  Johnson  made  heavy  real 
estate  investments  and  has  been 
dealing  in  realty  to  the  present 
time.  He  is  treasurer  and  one 
of  the  directors  of  Illinois-Canad- 
ian Land  Co.  and  prominently 
connected  with  other  commercial 
interests,  being  director  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Gales- 
burg and  sustaining  the  same  re- 
lations to  the  Commercial  Union. 

His  prominence  and  influence 
as  a  citizen  and  Republican  has 
never  induced  him  to  seek  public 
preferment.  To  the  local  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  he  has  given 
his  services  for  a  number  of  years 
as  a  trustee. 

The    liberal    education    afforded 


by  travel  Mr.  Johnson  has  en- 
joyed in  full  measure.  By  exten- 
sive tours  in  the  United  States, 
Canada  and  Mexico  he  has  thor- 
oughly informed  himself  on  con- 
ditions in  these  countries,  besides 
what  he  has  learned  of  old  world 
conditions  by  travels  in  England, 
Scotland,  Ireland,  Denmark,  Nor- 
way and  Sweden. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  been  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  was  So- 
phia Anderson  of  Galesburg,  whom 
he  married  in  1878  and  lost  by 
death  in  1882.  There  were  in 
this  union  two  children,  Blenda 
Amelia,  now  Mrs.  Charles  E. 
Johnson  of  Galesburg,  and  Arthur 
Newton.  On  June  n,  1890,  Mr. 
Johnson  took  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Anna  Bennett,  of  Galesburg, 
born  May  6,  1865,  daughter  of 
Bengt  P.  Bennett.  To  them  have 
been  born:  Frances  Evangeline, 
born  1892;  Ruth  Genevieve,  born 
1896;  Aldis  Bennett,  born  1900; 
Craig  Russell,  born  1901;  Vivian, 
born  1904,  and  a  daughter  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  family  resi- 
dence is  at  527  E.  Main  st. 


HAROLD  L.  LINDQUIST, 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  was  born  at  Beaver, 
Iroquois  county,  111.,  Oct.  12,  1859. 
His  father  came  over  from  Swe- 
den in  1852  and  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  Swedish  settlers  in 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.  Five  years  later 
he  entered  the  ministry,  serving 
various  churches  in  this  state  up 
to  1867,  when  he  removed  to 
Minnesota.  The  son,  Harold,  after 
attending  Folsom's  Academy,  Min- 


Galesburg 


neapolis,  determined  on  following 
in  his  father's  footsteps  and  began 
fitting  himself  for  the  ministry  at 


HAROLD    L.  LINDQUIST 

the  Swedish  Theological  Seminary 
in  Chicago.  The  course  completed, 
he  was  ordained  and  has  -since 
labored  in  the  following  fields: 
Oakland,  Neb.,  1881-82;  Stroms- 
burg,  Neb.,  1883;  Des  Moines,  la., 
1884;  Red  Oak  and  Essex,  la., 
1885-87;  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  1888-92; 
Burlington,  la.,  1893-97;  Keokuk, 
la.,  1898-99;  Galesburg,  1900  to 
the  present.  As  pastor  at  these 
places  Rev.  Lindquist  has  been  in 
the  service  of  the  Central  Swedish 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


ANDREW  O.  LINDSTRUM 

is  one  of  the  representative 
Swedish-Americans  of  Galesburg. 
He  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Bishop  Hill,  Henry  county,  on 
the  29th  of  May,  1873,  his  father 


being  a  member  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Bishop  Hill  Colony. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
he  lost  his  mother  and  before  he 
had  seen  his  sixteenth  summer, 
he  was  also  bereft  of  his  father. 
He  left  the  farm  in  the  fall  of 
1890  in  quest  of  an  education. 
He  had  chosen  Knox  College, 
located  at  Galesburg,  for  his 
Alma  Mater,  and  from  that  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1895  when  he  received 
the  degree  of  B.  S.  He  was 
business  manager  of  the  College 
Annual  of  1893;  was  president 
of  the  Gnothautii  Literary  So- 
ciety; vice  -  president  of  the 
National  Republican  League  of 


ANDREW    O.  LINDSTRUM 

college  clubs;  major  of  the  cadet 
corps,  and  commissioned  brevet- 
major  of  the  Illinois  National 
Guards  by  Governor  Altgeld. 
He  early  identified  himself  with 
the  Republican  party  and  served 
as  president  of  the  Knox  College 


Knox  County 


Republican  Club  in  the  fall  of 
1894. 

Mr.  Lindstrum  is  a  320!  degree 
Mason,  Knight  Templar  and 
Shriner. 

Mr.  Lindstrum  is  a  young  man 
of  keen  intelligence  and  naturally 
the  field  of  journalism  early  be- 
came attractive  to  him  as  it  af- 
forded a  splendid  opportunity  for 
the  development  of  native  ability 
along  lines  in  perfect  harmony 
with  his  tastes.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  his  college  course,  he 
became  an  assistant  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Geneseo  Daily  Arena. 

His  residence  in  Geneseo  was 
brief  and  he  soon  severed  his 
connections  with  the  Daily  Are- 
na to  promote  the  organization 
of  the  Kewanee  Daily  Courier. 
In  1897  ne  accepted  the  position  of 
business  manager  of  the  Galesburg 
Evening  Mail.  This  position,  he 
filled  acceptably  for  four  years  and 
then  resigned  to  accept  the  ap- 
pointment of  Deputy  Clerk  of  the 
County  Court  of  Knox  County. 
At  present  he  is  manager  and 
part  owner  of  the  Galesburg  Eve- 
ning Mail. 

He  was  appointed  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Galesburg  Public 
Library  in  1907. 

He  was  married  on  the  3d  day 
of  October,  1898  to  Miss  S. 
Winifred  Chaiser.  They  have 
one  son,  Herbert  James. 

Mr.  Lindstrum  is  a  young  man 
of  sterling  character  and  is  a 
recognized  leader  among  the 
younger  element  of  the  Swedish- 
Americans  of  Galesburg.  He 
stands  high  in  his  community  in 


point  of  energy,  honesty,  and 
integrity.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  force,  who  has  forged  to  the 
front  and  achieved  his  success  at 
every  stage  of  his  career. 


PETER  TRUED  OLSON, 

the  son  of  Trued  Olson  of   Hast- 
veda,    Skane,    Sweden,    was   born 


PETER  TRUED  OLSON 

there  Feb.  10,  1860.  His  father 
died  in  the  old  homestead  in 
1902.  The  son  has  enjoyed  no 
education  beyond  that  obtained 
in  the  common  school  of  his  na- 
tive place,  supplemented  by  a 
couple  of  years  in  our  public 
schools  subsequent  to  his  arrival 
in  America  in  1879.  For  three 
years  he  lived  in  Henry  co.,  Iowa, 
then,  in  1882,  located  in  Gales- 
burg, which  became  his  perma- 
nent home.  The  same  year  he 
adopted  the  brick  mason's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  the  next 
ten  years. 


Galesburg 


43 


Having  become  familiar  with 
the  various  phases  of  building 
construction  Mr.  Olson  in  1892 
embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account  as  contractor  and  builder. 
Since  then  a  number  of  the  large 
buildings  in  Galesburg  have  been 
erected  under  his  supervision, 
bearing  testimony  to  his  practical 
skill  in  his  chosen  vocation. 
Among  these  are  several  public 
buildings  including  a  half  dozen 
school  houses,  bank  and  office 
buildings  and  private  residences. 

Mr.  Olson  is  devoted  to  the 
Lutheran  faith  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  served  as  a  trustee 
of  the  First  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church.  He  is  not  active  in 
politics  and  has  never  sought 
public  office,  but  his  citizenship 
is  unimpeachable.  He  has  found 
no  time  to  devote  to  fraternal 
societies  and  orders,  living,  as  he 
does,  for  his  business  and  his 
family.  The  latter  consists  of  a 
wife  and  five  children.  Carolina 
Charlotta  Edoff,  daughter  of  Per 
August  and  Maria  Charlotta  Edoff 
of  Galesburg,  born  April  16, 
1865,  became  his  wife  in  Novem- 
ber, 1889.  The  children  born  to 
them  were  seven  in  all,  viz.: 
Oscar  Mauritz,  1890;  Agnes  Mil- 
dred, born  1892;  Carl  Nathan, 
born  1894;  Hilda  Maria,  born 
1896;  Ernst  Joshua,  born  1898, 
deceased;  Ellen  Olivia,  born  1901; 
Ruth  Carolina,  born  1903. 


wife,  Marit  Bengtson,  who  were 
tenants  on  an  estate.  The  family 
came  to  America  in  the  summer 
of  1869  and  located  in  Meeker  co., 
Minn.  Six  weeks  after  reaching 
this  place,  the  father  was  acci- 
dentally drowned  while  fishing  in 
Lake  Collinwood,  and  the  mother 
was  left  in  destitute  circumstances, 
to  raise  a  family  of  seven  children. 


PETER  PETERSON 

was  born  in  Fryksande,  Vermland, 
Sweden,  Nov.  21,  1866.  His  par- 
ents were  Per  Person  and  his 


PETER   PETERSON 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  at- 
tended the  country  school  and  pa- 
rochial school  at  Moore's  Prairie, 
and  was  confirmed  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  this  latter 
place  in  1882.  From  high  school, 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  entered 
the  academical  department  of  Gus- 
tavus  Adolphus  College,  St.  Peter, 
Minn.,  and  graduated  from  the  col- 
legiate department  of  that  insti- 
tution in  1892  with  the  highest 
honors  of  the  class,  and  from 
Augustana  Theological  Seminary 
in  Rock  Island  in  1894.  After  his 
ordination  on  June  10,  1894,  he 


44 


Knox  County 


served  the  Mission  Board  of  the 
Augustana  Synod  as  missionary 
in  Ogden,  Utah,  for  one  year. 
He  then  accepted  a  call  to  the 
St.  John's  Swedish  Luth.  Church 
of  Essex,  Iowa,  and  remained 
there  over  three  years.  On  Nov. 
i,  1898,  he  entered  upon  his  duties 
as  pastor  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Galesburg. 

Rev.  Peterson  was  married  Oct. 
17,  1894,  to  Miss  Mathilda  John- 
son of  Vermillion,  S.  Dak.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Elmer  Petri  Theodor,  Aug.  5,  1896; 
Mildred  Mathilda  Ingeborg,  Dec. 
8,  1897;  Rutl1  Sigrid  Marie,  Aug. 
26,  1902. 

Dec.  i,  1905,  Rev.  Peterson  re- 
moved to  St.  Paul  to  assume  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  that  city. 

Rev.  Peterson  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee of  the  Minnesota  Conference 
and  serves  on  the  board  of  direct- 
ors of  Minnesota  College  at  Min- 
neapolis, and  on  that  of  the  Dea- 
coness' Institute  at  Omaha. 


PETER  F.  SWANSON 
was  born  in  Gumlosa,  Skane, 
Sweden,  Jan.  12,  1866.  He  grad- 
uated from  high  school  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  with  highest  honors  in 
a  class  of  50.  The  father  died 
when  Peter  was  only  a  child  not 
yet  a  year  old.  After  leaving 
school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
had  to  work  for  a  living,  and  for 
three  years  was  engaged  in  farm 
labor,  also  learning  the  butcher's 
trade.  As  his  father  had  been  a 
carpenter  and  builder,  the  son, 


however,  inclined  to  artisanship 
and  began  to  work  for  P.  Ljung- 
berg  in  Hessleholm,  then  operat- 
ing a  large  wagonshop.  After 
serving  his  apprenticeship  as  a 
wagonmaker,  he  continued  in  this 
shop  until  he  was  seized  with  a 
desire  to  emigrate  to  America. 
Leaving  Sweden  in  March,  1886, 
he  went  to  Galesburg,  which  has 


PETER  F     SWANSON 

since  been  his  home.  After  work- 
ing on  a  farm  for  four  years,  he 
again  turned  to  carpentry  and 
affiliated  himself  with  the  Carpen- 
ters' and  Joiners'  Union,  soon 
becoming  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  that  body,  and  for  four 
successive  terms  held  the  office  of 
financial  secretary.  He  also  rep- 
resented this  body  for  two  terms 
in  the  Trades  and  Labor  assembly, 
holding  the  same  office  there. 
Having  had  no  schooling  in  this 
country  and  desirous  of  a  business 
education,  he  joined  the  night 
school  of  Brown's  Business  College 


Galesburg 


in  the  fall  of  1893.  Not  satisfied 
with  night  school,  he  entered  for 
the  full  business  course,  which  he 
did  not  complete  owing  to  the 
opening  of  the  spring  work.  A 
year  later  he  started  in  business 
for  himself  as  general  contractor 
and  builder.  He  employs  only 
skilled  labor  and  pays  good  wages, 
believing  that  to  his  employes  he 
owes  much  of  his  success. 

Mr.  Swanson  was  married  Nov. 
27,  1895,  to  Miss  Anna  Nieleu  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  they  reside 
at  146  N.  Whitesboro  st. 

In  politics  Mr.  Swanson  is  a 
strong  Republican  and  has  repre- 
sented his  ward  at  a  number  of 
conventions.  He  has  served  on 
the  central  committee  for  two 
terms,  and  at  the  last  McKinley 
election  was  vice-president  of  a 
McKinley  club.  He  represented 
the  Fourth  ward  in  Galesburg  City 
Council  in  1901-02. 

Mr.  Swanson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish- American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois,  and  of  a  num- 
ber of  social  and  fraternity  socie- 
ties; he  is  a  prominent  Odd  Fel- 
low, holding  the  post  of  secretary 
of  the  Joint  Board  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  executive  committee  of  Gales- 
burg. 


JOHAN  SAL,L,STRO'M, 

clergyman  of  the  Swedish  Evan- 
gelical Mission  Covenant,  was  born 
March  12,  1866,  in  Grasmark  in 
the  province  of  Vermland,  Sweden. 
He  is  of  mixed  Norwegian  and 
Swedish  stock,  his  father  being  a 
Norwegian  and  his  mother  a 


Swede.  His  education  was  obtained 
in  the  common  schools  and  later 
supplemented  by  private  study. 
In  1883  Mr.  Sallstrom,  having  af- 
filiated himself  with  the  Mission 
Covenant  of  Sweden,  became  one 
of  its  preachers.  Two  years  later 
he  came  over  to  this  country,  en- 
tering at  once  the  service  of  the 
Mission  Covenant  of  America.  In 
1 898  he  became  pastor  of  its  church 


JOHAN  SALLSTROM 

in  Galesburg,  where  he  has  since 
been  stationed,  except  for  a  recent 
journey  to  the  Holy  L/and  and  a 
protracted  sojourn  in  Sweden,  un- 
til the  present  year,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Ishpeming,  Mich. 

Rev.  Sallstrom  was  married  at 
Tacoma,  Wash.,  in  November, 
1898.  His  wife,  Julia,  was  born 
in  Wose  parish,  Sweden,  Feb.  16, 
1873.  They  have  four  sons,  Hjal- 
mar  Ferdinand,  Enoch  L,udvig, 
Paul  Ansgarius  and  Bertel  Me- 
lanchton. 

His    observations    in    the    Holy 


46 


Knox  County 


Land  Rev.  Sallstrom  has  embodied 
in  an  attractive  volume,  published 
in  1907,  entitled,  "Med  Penna  och 
Kamera  genom  Loftets  Land." 
Rev.  Sallstrom  has  given  interest- 
ing lectures  on  Palestine  and  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the 
Orient. 


MOSES  O.  WILLIAMSON 
was   born   on    the  Atlantic  ocean, 
July  14,   1850,  of  Swedish  parent- 


MOSES   O.   WILLIAMSON 

age.  His  father,  William  (Olson) 
Williamson,  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  and  his  family  came 
direct  tto  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Sparta  township,  near  Wataga,  in 
Knox  county,  where  the  father 
died  in  1853  and  the  mother  in 
1885.  Here  the  boy  grew  to  man- 
hood and  has  since  resided. 

When  a  lad  of  fourteen  he 
learned  the  harnessmaking  trade 
with  Olson  &  Gray  at  Wataga, 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  and  worked  at  the  bench 


more  than  twenty  years  thereafter. 
He  attended  the  district  school  up 
to  the  age  of  thirteen,  with  a 
term  of  six  months  in  the  village 
school  at  the  age  of  seventeen. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  married 
Oct.  18,  1871,  to  Mary  A.  Driggs 
of  Wataga,  111.  There  were  born 
to  them  one  son,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  two  daughters,  Ade- 
laide F.,  born  April  22,  1878,  mar- 
ried May  13,  1902,  to  Edward 
Clyde  Slocumb,  division  civil  en- 
gineer on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  for 
the  St.  Louis  division,  their  home 
being  at  Beardstown,  111.;  and 
Nellie  M.,  born  May  6,  1883,  who 
is  unmarried  and  lives  at  home. 
Mr.  Williamson  is  a  church  at- 
tendant, without  being  affiliated 
with  any  one  denomination. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  elected  and 
served  as  town  and  city  clerk  for 
seventeen  years,  alderman  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  elected 
county  treasurer  of  Knox  county 
in  1886,  was  elected  county  clerk 
in  1890-94-98,  was  elected  treas- 
urer of  the  state  of  Illinois  in 
1900.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
of  the  Republican  county  central 
committee  for  twenty-three  years, 
serving  as  chairman  or  secretary 
most  of  the  time.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  and  an  active 
member  of  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  League  of  Illinois  and 
was  its  president  in  1897. 

He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason, 
an  Odd  Fellow  and  Knight  of 
Pythias.  In  1890  he  with  his 
family  removed  to  Galesburg,  111., 
which  has  since  been  his  home. 
He  is,  at  present,  president  of  the 


Oneida 


47 


Swedish  Old  Settlers  of  Knox 
county.  He  has  held  membership 
in  the  Business  Men's  Club  of 
Galesburg  and  in  the  Hamilton 
and  Marquette  Clubs  of  Chicago. 
For  two  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Lincoln  Monument  Associa- 
tion of  Illinois,  and  it  was  during 
his  term  that  the  rebuilding  of 
the  Lincoln  monument  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  was  completed  and  the 
remains  of  the  martyred  president 
were  laid  in  their  final  resting 
place  in  the  monument. 

Mr.  Williamson  is,  at  this  time, 
president  of  the  People's  Trust 
and  Savings  Bank  of  Galesburg, 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  suc- 
cessful financial  institutions  in  the 
state  outside  of  Chicago. 


from  1902  to  1904  he  served  on 
the  Republican  central  committee 
of  Knox  county.  From  1897  to 


LARS  EUGENE  OLSON 

was  born  in  Sparta  township,  near 
Wataga,  111.,  Sept.  16,  1862. 
He  attended  district  school  and 
took  a  short  course  in  a  commer- 
cial college  at  Galesburg.  Until 
1885  he  worked  in  a  store  owned 
by  his  father,  Lars  W.  Olson, 
now  retired,  and  then  engaged  in 
farming  for  the  next  ten  years. 
In  August,  1895,  he  bought  out 
a  grocer  in  Oneida,  where  he  has 
since  carried  on  a  thriving  grocery 
business. 

Mr.  Olson  is  a  Republican  and 
a  man  of  public  spirit  who  has 
given  his  services  to  the  commun- 
ity in  several  official  capacities. 
For  eight  successive  years  from 
his  first  election  in  1898  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  aldermanic 
council  of  the  city  of  Oneida  and 


LARS  EUGENE  OLSON 

1907  he  held  the  office  of  asses- 
sor of  Ontario  township.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an church  of  the  adjoining  city 
of  Wataga,  and  with  the  local 
lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Mr.  Olson  was  married  in  1891, 
to  Miss  Minnie  C.  Danielson, 
whose  death  cut  short  the  union. 
One  son,  Robert  E.  was  born  to 
them.  Sept.  21,  1896,  Mr.  Olson 
entered  into  a  second  matrimonial 
union,  with  Miss  Christina  E. 
Nelson  of  Soperville,  111.,  daugh- 
ter of  Nels  P.  and  Brita  N.  Nel- 
son. The  second  Mrs.  Olson  has 
presented  her  husband  with  six 
children,  as  follows:  Helen  M., 
born  1900;  Laura  L.  and  Law- 
rence E.,  born  1901;  O.  Raymond 
and  Paul  W.,  born  1903,  and 
Charles  Leo,  born  1906.  Four  of 
these  survive. 


48 


Knox  County 


HJALMAR  W.  WILLING 

clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  was  born  in  Hel- 
singborg,  Sweden,  March  21, 
1871.  He  came  over  from  Sweden 
with  his  parents  in  1880  and  they 
settled  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
He  afterwards  entered  the  Swed- 
ish Theological  Seminary  in 
Evanston  in  1901  and  was  ordained 
in  1904  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 


in  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
preached  for  three  years  at  Joliet, 
111.,  four  years  at  New  Windsor, 
111.,  and  then  at  Aurora,  111.,  before 
being  stationed  in  Chicago,  where 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Emanuel 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church  and  where 
he  remained  four  years. 

His  present    charge    is    at   Vic- 
toria,  Knox  county,  111. 


KANE    COUNTY 


AURORA-BATAVIA-ELGIN-GENEVA 
ST.   CHARLES 


ANDREW  M.  ANDERSON 

was    born    in    Smaland,    Sweden, 
Aug.  1 6,  1864.   He  emigrated  from 


ANDREW    M.  ANDERSON 

his  native  land  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  landing  in  America  in 
June,  1882,  and  first  located  in 
Galesburg,  removing 'later  to  Au- 
rora, where  he  has  since  had  his 
abode.  For  years  past  he  has 
been  an  employee  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  R.  R.  Com- 
pany and  holds  the  position  of 
mason  foreman. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  always  taken 
a  live  interest  in  political  and 
church  affairs,  and  he  is  an  active 
fraternity  man.  The  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  has  profited  by  his 
services  on  its  board  of  trustees 
for  many  years,  part  of  the  time 


as  secretary  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Anderson  was  elected  alderman 
from  the  First  ward  in  1903,  and 
as  a  public  servant  he  is  a  zealous 
promoter  of  public  improvements. 
He  was  returned  to  the  city  coun- 
cil in  1905  without  opposition  and 
in  1907  was  reelected  with  a  large 
majority.  He  was  vice-president  for 
Kane  county  of  the  Swedish-Amer- 
ican Republican  League  of  Illinois 
in  1897  and  1898,  and  is  in  hearty 
accord  with  the  purpose  of  that 
organization,  namely  to  bring  the 
Swedish- Americans  into  evidence 
and  see  to  it  that  they  receive 
their  just  share  of  recognition  and 
political  preferment. 

The  fraternal  orders  of  which 
Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  are, 
the  Modern  Woodmen,  Fraternal 
Tribune  and  the  local  lodge  of 
Nordens  Soner. 


JOHN    ALFRED    BENANDER, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Aurora,  was  born  in 
Hogsater  parish,  Dalsland,  Swe- 
den, Feb.  6,  1872.  Being  one  of 
five  children  in  a  family  of  very 
limited  means  he  was  obliged  to 
begin  bread  winning  at  the  early 
age  of  nine,  and  his  schooling 
was  limited  in  consequence.  He 
came  to  this  country  as  a  young 
man  of  twenty,  lived  in  Moline 
and  Sherrard,  111.,  tried  factory 
work,  carpentry  and  painting, 
attended  public  schools  during  one 


Kane  County 


winter,  then  entered  Augustana 
College  in  accordance  with  a  long 
cherished  desire  to  prepare  him- 


JOHN  ALFRED   BENANDER 

self  for  the  ministry.  He  was 
enrolled  in  the  fall  of  1893  an^ 
graduated  from  the  academy  in 
1896,  from  the  college  in  1900 
and  from  the  theological  seminary 
in  1903.  He  made  his  way 
through  school  by  his  own  efforts, 
his  parents  being  unable  to  assist 
him.  While  a  student  he  taught 
parish  school  and  supplied  vacant 
charges  in  Chicago,  McKeesport, 
Pa.,  Cumberland,  Wis.,  San 
Francisco  and  Des  Moines.  Af- 
ter his  ordination  to  the  ministry 
in  June,  1903,  Rev.  Benander 
made  a  tour  of  Europe,  visiting 
Sweden,  Norway.  Germany,  Swit- 
zerland, Italy,  France  and  Eng- 
land. His  first  regular  charge 
was  Kiron  and  Odebolt,  la., 
where  he  labored  from  1903  to 
1906.  His  pastorate  in  Aurora 
dates  from  the  last  named  year. 


June  22,  1904,  Rev.  Benander 
was  married  at  Harcourt,  la.,  to 
Miss  Minnie  Joanna  Engquist, 
born  Jan.  19,  1878. 

While  at  school  Rev.  Benander 
was  active  in  a  number  of  socie- 
ties, was  treasurer  of  the  Au- 
gustana Foreign  Mission  Society 
for  three  years,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  his  class  in  the  seminary 
for  a  like  term.  While  in  Iowa, 
he  was  secretary  of  the  Sioux 
City  district  of  the  Iowa  Confer- 
ence and  president  of  the  Luther 
League .  He  is  now  secretary  of 
the  Rockford  district  of  the  Illi- 
nois Conference  and  a  member  of 
the  Chicago  Lutheran  Inner  Mis- 
sion Society. 


JOHN  A.  FREEMAN, 

who  is  engaged  in  the  business  of 
floriculture  in  Aurora,  is  a  native 


JOHN   A.    FREEMAN 

of  the  Swedish  province  of  Hal- 
land,  where  he  was  born  in  1855. 
Emigrating  in  1872  he  landed  at 


Aurora 


53 


Boston  and  proceeded  thence  to 
Lemont,  111.,  where  he  remained 
only  two  years.  His  next  resi- 
dence was  at  Batavia,  where  he 
lived  from  1874  to  1880,  when  he 
located  permanently  at  Aurora. 
Five  years  later  he  started  in  busi- 
ness as  a  florist  and  now  owns 
large  greenhouses  on  N.  Lake  st. 

Mr.  Freeman  was  elected  to  the 
city  council  from  the  First  ward 
in  1896  and  twice  reelected,  serv- 
ing for  six  consecutive  years.  As 
a  member  of  the  board  of  alder- 
men Mr.  Freeman  was  chairman 
of  the  License  Committee  and  also 
served  on  the  Sidewalk,  Street 
and  Alleys  and  other  committees. 

July  10,  1883,  Mr.  Freeman  was 
married  to  Miss  Christine  Ander- 
son. They  are  the  parents  of  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church. 


lican  Club  and  has  served  as  a 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  county.  Of 
fraternal  orders,  he  is  affiliated 


PETER  A.  FREEMAN 
was  born  in  the  province  of  Hal- 
land,  Sweden,  July  16,  1861. 
Eighteen  years  later  he  came  to 
Chicago  as  a  young  immigrant, 
equipped  with  ordinary  schooling 
offered  in  the  common  schools  of 
Sweden.  He  then  went  to  Auro- 
ra where  he  located  permanently 
and  is  now  engaged  in  business  as 
a  florist. 

Being  an  active  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  he  has 
been  elected  on  its  board  of  trust- 
ees. Equally  active  in  politics, 
he  has  been  for  some  time  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Kane  County  Repub- 
lican Central  Committee,  president 
of  the  Swedish-American  Repub- 


PETER   A.  FREEMAN 

with    the    Modern    Woodmen  and 
the  Yeomen  of  America. 

Mr.  Freeman  in  1884  was  mar- 
ried to  Augusta  Anderson.  The 
couple  have  two  sons,  William 
and  Edward. 


JOHN  GUSTAVE  IVARSON 

was  born  in  Ljunga  parish,  in 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Feb.  27,  1859. 
His  parents  were  Peter  Johanson, 
a  farmer,  and  his  wife,  Maria 
Christina,  nee  Gustafson.  Both 
parents  died  in  the  old  country, 
the  mother  in  1865,  the  father 
ten  years  later.  The  boy  attended 
common,  or  people's  schools  up 
to  1876,  when  he  came  to  Geneva, 
111.,  as  an  immigrant.  In  that 
locality  he  worked  on  a  farm  for 
two  years  and  then  went  to  Ba- 
tavia, remaining  until  July,  1881, 
when  he  removed  to  Aurora  and 


54 


Kane  County 


obtained  employment  in  the  shops 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and 
Quincy  Ry.,  as  a  car  builder.  After 


JOHN  GUSTAVE  IVARSON 

eight  years  he  left  to  accept  a 
position  as  mail  carrier,  which 
has  since  been  his  vocation. 

Mr.  Ivarson  has  always  taken 
an  interest  in  local  political,  fra- 
ternal and  church  affairs.  He  is 
vice-president  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Republican  Club  and 
secretary  of  the  First  Ward 
Swedish  Republican  Club;  presi- 
dent of  the  Nordens  Soner  society 
and  of  the  Nordens  Soner  central 
assembly  of  Kane  county,  with 
headquarters  in  Batavia;  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church, 
and  chairmain  of  its  board  of 
trustees.  Being  endowed  with  a 
good  voice,  Mr.  Ivarson  for  many 
years  sang  in  the  church  choir 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Male  Sextette  of  Aurora. 


Mr.  Ivarson  was  married  Sept. 
1 6,  1882,  to  Miss  Bessie  L,.  Olson, 
born  in  Torpa,  Halland,  Dec.  26, 
1860.  Four  daughters  have  been 
born  to  them:  Anna  Marie,  born 
1883,  Clara  Josephine,  born  1887, 
Emma  Nora,  born  1889,  Mildred 
Matilda,  born  1892. 


EUGENE  MALMER 

has  been  a  resident  of  Aurora 
from  the  day  of  his  birth,  March 
25,  1873.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  here  and  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  Aurora  High 
School.  After  that  he  entered 
the  Chicago  School  of  Architect- 
ure, completing  the  course  and 
receiving  his  diploma  in  1894. 
Obtaining  a  place  with  archi- 
tect W.  A.  Otis  of  Chicago 


EUGENE  MALMER 

he  soon  advanced  to  the  place  of 
head  draughtsman.  After  hold- 
ing this  position  for  a  number  of 
years  he  passed  the  state  archi- 
tectural examination  and  left  the 


Aurora 


55 


office  to  assume  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  new  public 
library  building  at  Aurora.  Af- 
ter completing  the  work  Mr. 
Malmer  opened  his  own  office  in 
Aurora,  where  he  is  now  one  of 
the  leading  architects. 

As  a  member  of  the  local  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  church  Mr.  Malmer 
has  been  elected  on  the  board  of 
trustees  and  is  now  serving  as 
church  treasurer. 


FRANZ  OSCAR  PETERSON 

was     born      Jan.      18,      1841,    in 
Norrkoping,  Sweden,    whence    he 


FRANZ  OSCAR  PETERSON 

emigrated  in  May,  1868,  to 
Chicago.  After  a  year's  stay 
in  that  city  he  went  to  Aurora, 
but  left  that  place  for  Springfield 
a  year  and  a  half  later.  Finally, 
after  six  years  in  the  state  capi- 
tal, Mr.  Peterson  returned  to 
Aurora,  which  since  then  has  been 
his  permanent  home.  He  is  a 
book -binder  by  trade  and  in  re- 


cent years  has  been  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  binders'  glue. 
A  company  has  been  formed  for 
the  manufacture  of  the  None  Such 
Flexible  Glue,  known  as  F.  O. 
Peterson  and  Co.,  with  Mr. 
Peterson  as  president. 

Such  has  been  his  devotion  to 
his  work  and  business  that  he 
has  never  affiliated  with  any 
church  or  fraternal  order,  or  en- 
gaged in  political  activity.  In 
1872  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Edla  Sophia  Engmark  with  whom 
he  has  four  sons  and  a  daughter. 


ADOLF  I.  ANDERSON 
was  born  Oct.  27,  1837,  in  Orme- 
valla  parish,  Halland,  Sweden, 
where  he  began  work  as  a  tailor's 
apprentice  at  the  age  of  twelve. 
Having  mastered  the  trade  at 
eighteen,  he  worked  on  his  own 
account  as  a  journeyman  tailor 
until  1873.  That  year,  with  his 
family,  he  emigrated,  landing  at 
Quebec  in  July.  After  a  stay  of 
several  months  in  the  Canadian 
city  he  came  on  to  Batavia  the 
following  October.  Here  he  was 
employed  in  the  tailor  shop  of  A. 
P.  Anderson  for  the  next  eight 
years.  Then  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  E.  Wallen  and  the 
two  started  a  tailoring  business 
on  Batavia  ave.,  of  which,  after 
three  years,  Mr.  Anderson  became 
sole  proprietor.  In  1893  the  es- 
tablishment was  removed  to  the 
Anderson  Bros.  Block  on  Wilson 
st.,  where  it  is  located  at  the 
present  time. 

In   1866  Mr.  Anderson    lost   his 
wife,  Carolina  Gustafva  Borgeson, 


Kane  County 


to  whom  he  was  married  in  1860. 
Of  their  two  children,  a  son  died 
in  infancy.  The  daughter  died  in 


ADOLF  I.   ANDERSON 

Green  Bay,  Wis.,  in  1895,  as  the 
wife  of  Charles  S.  Addison  and 
the  mother  of  eight  children.  In 
1897  he  took  a  second  wife,  Anna 
Stina  Anderson,  who  bore  him 
five  children.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Batavia,  where  Mr. 
Anderson  has  served  many  years 
in  the  church  council. 


JOHN  AARON  ANDERSON 

is  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
merchants  and  business  men  of 
Batavia,  and  he  is  given  credit  for 
having  contributed  more  to  the 
growth  and  development  of  the 
city  than  any  other  man  during 
the  thirty-five  years  he  has  resided 
there. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  farmer  boy 
from  Sallstorp  parish,  Halland, 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  Nov. 


24,1850.  His  parents  were  Magnus 
Anderson  and  Anna  Nilsson.  His 
father  died  in  the  old  country, 
and  the  mother  in  Batavia.  With 
the  ordinary  schooling  offered  in 
a  country  district,  the  boy  grew 
to  manhood.  Arriving  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  he  decided  to  quit 
the  old  soil  and  came  over  here 
in  April,  1872,  spending  seven 
months  in  Lemont  before  settling 
permanently  in  Batavia. 

When  he  first  came  there  he 
did  not  have  capital  enough  to 
pay  a  week's  board  in  advance. 
He  at  once  got  employment  in  a 
manufacturing  shop,  laying  by 
enough  to  purchase  an  interest  in 
a  small  stock  of  merchandise  in 


JOHN  AARON"  ANDERSON 

1880.  After  a  little  over  a  year 
he  sold  out  to  one  Nelson,  but 
six  months  later  formed  a  copart- 
nership with  his  brother-in-law, 
Oscar  Anderson,  and  repurchased 
the  stock.  He  still  continued 
working  in  the  shops  by  day, 


Batavia 


57 


helping  in  the  store  evenings.  Af- 
ter two  years,  however,  the 
business  required  his  whole  time. 

This  copartnership  existed  for 
twenty  years  or  up  to  1903.  when 
he  and  his  sons,  John  A.  Jr.  and 
Wm.  R.,  purchased  the  grocery 
department,  one  of  the  largest 
stores  of  its  kind  in  the  city. 

In  1892,  their  quarters  having 
grown  too  small  to  accommodate 
their  extensive  trade,  the  old  firm 
put  up  the  Anderson  Block,  one 
of  the  most  substantial  buildings 
in  Batavia,  located  at  Batavia  ave. 
and  Wilson  st. 

The  present  name  and  style  of 
the  business  headed  by  Mr.  An- 
derson, is  John  A.  Anderson  & 
Sons. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  inter- 
ested in  two  additions  to  the  city, 
he  being  instrumental  in  selling 
all  of  the  lots,  on  which  up 
wards  of  a  hundred  snug  and 
commodious  houses  have  been 
built.  He  owns  a  fine  residence 
in  the  city  and  also  a  large  farm 
in  the  vicinity. 

When  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church  was  erected,  of  which  Mr. 
Anderson  had  been  a  member  since 
1872,  he  lent  an  active  hand,  serving 
as  treasurer  during  its  construction. 
For  a  dozen  years  or  more  he 
was  a  member  of  the  church  coun- 
cil. He  has  twice  served  the  city 
as  an  alderman,  four  years  in  all, 
and  is  a  director  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Batavia. 

Mr.  Anderson's  business  career 
is  an  honorable  one  throughout, 
and  has  won  for  him  the  respect 


and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen 
in  full  measure. 

He  entered  wedlock  in  1875  with 
Anna  L,.  Anderson,  daughter  of 
Anders  Borgesen  and  his  wife, 
Anna  Oleson,  of  Batavia.  Of  a 
family  of  six  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson,  five  are 
living.  A  son  and  a  daughter  are 
married,  the  latter  to  Charles  A. 
Pierce  of  Batavia. 


OSCAR  ANDERSON 

was  born  at  Idala,  Halland,  Swe- 
den,  Dec.   25,    1845.     In    1869    he 


OSCAR  ANDERSON 

came  to  the  United  States  and 
resided  in  Batavia  for  more  than 
twenty-five  years.  Prior  .to  that 
he  worked  twelve  3*ears  as  a  com- 
mon laborer,  mostly  on  railroads, 
in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Michigan. 
By  rigid  economy  he  saved  enough 
to  start  a  general  merchandise 
business  on  a  small  scale  with  his 
brother-in-law,  John  A.  Anderson. 
Year  by  year  the  business  grew 


Kane  County 


and,  although  various  changes 
have  been  made  in  the  firm,  Mr. 
Anderson  is  still  at  the  head  of 
it.  In  1902  the  old  building  was 
removed  and  the  firm  purchased 
more  ground  and  erected  a  hand- 
some two-story  brick  block  50x80 
feet.  The  firm  is  now  known  as 
Anderson  &  Sevetson,  Mr.  Sevet- 
son  having  become  a  partner  in 
November,  1903.  Up  to  this  time 
the  firm  of  Anderson  &  Anderson 
had  handled  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries, but  now  the  grocery  de- 
partment was  taken  over  by  Mr. 
John  A.  Anderson  and  his  son, 
Mr.  Oscar  Anderson  andxhis  firm 
continuing  to  deal  in  dry  goods, 
clothing  and  men's  furnishing 
goods. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  served  the 
city  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  for  a  dozen  years  or 
more.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
it  being  the  only  organization 
claiming  him  as  a  member. 

In  1875  he  was  married  to  Anna 
Iv.  Samuelson  of  Frillesas,  Hal- 
land,  who  has  presented  him  with 
two  children,  a  son  in  1878  and 
a  daughter  in  1885.  The  son  is 
married  and  holds  a  position  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Bata- 
via.  The  daughter  is  attending 
college. 

Besides  his  business  and  a  snug 
home  Mr.  Anderson  owns  consid- 
erable property  in  his  home  city 
and  elsewhere. 


NELS   PETER  GUSTAFSON 

was   born  at    Kristdala,  Smaland, 
Sweden,     Nov.     14,     1854.       His 


NELS   PETER   GUSTAFSON 

father,  Gustaf  Petterson,  an  under- 
farmer,  died  in  the  old  country 
in  1874.  His  mother,  Kajsa  Elisa, 
nee  Samuelson,  lives  at  the  home 
of  her  son  in  Batavia. 

Mr.  Gustaf  son's  schooling  was 
limited  to  a  brief  attendance  at 
the  Normal  School  in  Sugar  Grove, 
111.,  in  1874-5,  about  one  year 
after  his  arrival  in  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Gustafson  stands  high  in 
the  community  and  has  been  for 
years  past  a  prominent  factor  in 
Swedish  American  activities.  He 
was  the  organizer  of  the  benefi- 
ciary society  known  as  Nordens 
Soner,  which  now  has  five  branches 
and  some  600  members  in  Kane 
county.  In  the  organization  of 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
Club  of  Batavia  he  was  also  the 
prime  mover  and  became  its  first. 


Batavia 


59 


presiding  officer.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen. 

In  1896  Mr.  Gustafson  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  tax 
collector. 

Dec.  30,  1887,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Alice  Butcher,  born  in 
Hyth,  England,  Feb.  12,  1866. 
They  have  seven  living  children: 
John  A.,  born  1890;  Alice  Ottilia, 
'92;  Nellie  Grace,  '94;  Edna  Ro- 
sita,  '96;  Stella  Marie,  '98;  Oscar 
Arnold,  1900;  Ada  Lucile,  '03.  A 
daughter,  born  in  1888,  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


OSCAR  W,  HUBBARD 

is  a  native  of  Batavia,    where    he 
has   been    established    in    medical 


OSCAR  WILHELM  HUBBARD 

practice  since  1899.  He  is  the 
oldest  son  of  Gustavus  Hubbard 
who  came  to  America  from  Har- 
lunda,  Smaland,  in  1853,  and  was 
the  first  Swede  to  locate  perma- 


nently at  Batavia,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  timber  contracting.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  by  Rev. 
Erland  Carlsson,  to  Katharina 
Svensson ,  daughter  of  a  school- 
master from  Hjortsberga,  Sma- 
land, who  came  over  from  Swe- 
den in  1854  and  settled  at  St. 
Charles.  The  couple  were  pioneer 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Geneva.  Here  three 
sons  were  born  to  them.  Oscar 
Wilhelm,  July  23,  1864,  Gustaf 
Edmund,  now  owner  of  a  cattle 
ranch  in  Kansas,  and  Levi  Henry, 
a  professional  musician  of  Chicago. 

In  1876  the  family  removed  to 
Salina,  Kansas,  and  late  in  the 
same  year,  to  Fremont.  In  1899, 
the  family  made  their  home  in 
Ivindsborg,  Kans.,  where  the  elder 
Hubbard  now  lives,  his  wife  hav- 
ing died  in  June,  1906. 

Dr.  Oscar  W.  Hubbard  received 
his  preliminary  education  in  pub- 
lic and  Swedish  parochial  schools 
at  Batavia,  Geneva  and  St. 
Charles,  111.,  and  Salina  and  Fre- 
mont, Kansas.  On  the  day  of 
the  opening  of  Bethany  Academy, 
the  forerunner  of  Bethany  Col- 
lege, Oct.  12,  1 88 1,  he  was  ma- 
triculated as  a  student,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  academy  in 
1885.  After  having  spent  the 
next  four  years  at  Augustana 
College  he  was  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  '89.  Having 
engaged*  in  educational  work  until 
1895,  he  then  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Dr.  William  Francis 
Waugh,  Dean  of  the  Illinois 
Medical  College  in  Chicago.  In 


6o 


Kane  County 


March  of  the  following  year  he 
was  matriculated  at  that  school, 
graduating  in  the  fall  of  1898, 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  and  the 
word  of  the  president  that  "the 
college  had  never  had  a  more  all- 
round  satisfactory  student. 

Dr.  Hubbard  in  the  same  year 
located  in  Chicago  as  a  practitioner 
of  the  regular  school,  serving  one 
year  in  the  Illinois  Medical  Col- 
lege Hospital  and  completing  a 
post-graduate  course  in  dissection 
and  demonstration  at  the  Chicago 
School  of  Anatomy  and  Physiol- 
ogy. Thus  equipped  Dr.  Hub- 
bard  in  1899  moved  back  to  his 
old  home  town  of  Batavia,  where 
a  lucrative  practice  was  built  up. 
Besides  his  general  practice  Dr. 
Hubbard  acts  as  examiner  for  a 
large  number  of  insurance  com- 
panies and  fraternal  orders.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  following 
bodies,  organizations  and  associa- 
tions: the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, the  Fox  River  Valley 
Medical  Association,  Illinois  Med- 
ical College  board  of  censors,  Bata- 
via Board  of  Education,  the  Betha- 
ny L,utheran  church  at  Batavia, 
Nordens  Soner  and  the  alumni 
associations  of  Illinois  Medical, 
Bethany  and  Augustana  Colleges. 

In    Sept.     1902,     Dr.     Hubbard 
was  married  to  Ida  Harleen,  daugh 
ter  of  Per  J.   Harleen,  a  rural  fur- 
niture maker  of    Horlunda,    Sma- 
land. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  have 
been  born  two  daughters,  Svea 
Katharina  in  1904  and  Vendela 
Iduna  in  1906. 


JOHN  MICHOLSON 

was  born  in  Halland,  Sweden,    in 
1860,  and  with  his    parents    came 


JOHN   MICHOLSON 

to  Batavia,  111.,  in  the  year  1869, 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  that 
city  since. 

He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Batavia  and  after  leaving  school 
learned  the  trade  of  molder  which 
he  followed  a  few  years  and  then 
abandoned  to  take  up  the  trade 
of  butcher.  After  successfully 
a  meat  market  for  a  number  of 
years  he  sold  out  the  business  to 
engage  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
ice  business,  in  which  he  is  en- 
gaged at  the  present  time. 

He  early  took  an  interest  in 
politics  and  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  For.  eight  years  he  served 
his  fellow  citizens  as  alderman  of 
his  ward  and  he  served  a  longer 
period  as  county  supervisor  repre- 
senting the  township  of  Batavia. 
His  long:  and  continued  services 


Batavia 


61 


in  this  capacity  speaks  volumes 
for  the  estimation  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens. 

He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  Swedish-American  Repub- 
lican League  of  Illinois  having 
served  as  president  of  the  Kane 
County  branch  for  eight  years, 
president  of  the  local  club  for 
three  years  and  treasurer  of  the 
State  League  for  one  year. 
Wherever  the  interests  of  the 
Republican  party  can  best  be 
served  there  can  Mr.  Micholson 
always  be  found. 


GUSTAF    NELSON 

was    born    May    26,    1861,   in  Fle- 
ninge,    Skane,    Sweden.      On    the 


GUSTAF   NELSON 

same  date,  twenty  years  after,  he 
landed  in  America  and  proceeded 
to  this  state,  where  he  first  located 
in  Geneva.  With  a  common  school 
education  from  the  old  country, 
he  went  to  work  on  the  farm  of 


Edgar  Bartlett,  near  Geneva.  Sub- 
sequently he  became  coachman  for 
Rev.  Dr.  Gammen,  a  Methodist 
minister  interested  in  the  Marsh 
Harvester  Works.  Having  saved 
a  portion  of  his  small  earnings  in 
these  years,  Mr.  Nelson  launched 
into  business,  opening  a  grocery 
store  at  Batavia.  Here  he  has 
enjoyed  a  good  trade  up  to  the 
present  time  and  is  to-day  one  of 
the  well-to-do  merchants  of  the 
city.  He  deals  now  in  general 
merchandise,  meats,  flour  and  feed, 
having  added  new  lines  from  time 
to  time. 

Mr.  Nelson,  who  is  unmarried, 
has  made  two  European  tours, 
visiting  the  principal  cities,  his 
objective  point,  however,  being 
his  old  home  in  Fleninge,  where 
his  father,  Nils  Jonsson,  is  a 
building  contractor. 


MATTHIAS  LETHIN, 

who  has  been  established  as  a 
merchant  tailor  in  Elgin  since  1875, 
was  born  at  Jemshog,  Blekinge, 
Sweden,  Oct.  10,  1843.  In  the 
spring  of  1868  he  landed  in  Amer- 
ica, coming  to  Elgin  to  locate  the 
following  fall.  Equipped  with  a 
common  school  education  and  hav- 
ing learned  the  tailor's  tradg,  he 
opened  a  shop  and  is  still  doing 
business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Lethin  Bros.,  his  brother  Swan 
being  his  partner. 

On  the  same  occasion,  Dec.  29, 
1871,  the  brothers  were  married 
to  two  sisters,  the  bride  of  Mat- 
thias Lethin  being  Miss  Carolina 
Gustafva  Samuelson,  born  Oct. 
22,  1846,  in  Vestergotland.  Mr. 


62 


Kane  County 


and  Mrs.  L/ethin  have  seven  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  here  given 
in  the  order  of  their  birth:  Theckla 


MATTHIAS  LETHIN 

Maria,  Agnes  Elizabeth,  Ruth 
Linnea,  Emanuel  Mattheus,  El- 
mer Samuel,  Walter  Timotheus, 
and  Anton  Nathanael. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lethin  have  ever 
been  active  workers  in  the  local 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  Mr. 
Lethin  serving  at  various  periods 
as  trustee,  deacon  and  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  school.  He 
also  takes  an  interest  in  general 
affairs  and  has  been  elected  a 
director  of  the  local  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 


SWAN  LETHIN, 
associated  with  his  brother,  Mat- 
thias, in  the  merchant  tailoring 
firm  of  Lethin  Bros.,  was  born 
Feb.  12,  1848,  at  Jemshog,  Blek- 
inge,  Sweden.  In  1869  he  came 
over  to  the  United  States,  whither 
his  brother  had  preceded  him  the 


year  before.  He  rejoined  his 
brother  in  Elgin,  where  he  has 
since  resided  continuously.  He 
was  married  Dec.  29,  1871,  to 
Miss  Mathilda  Sophia  Samuelson, 
the  occasion  being  a  double  wed- 
ding, at  which  the  grooms  were 
brothers  and  the  brides  sisters. 

Mr.  Lethin  has  served  as  organ- 
ist of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
for  more  than  twenty  years  and, 
like  his  brother  Matthias,  he  has 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  church  in  the  capaci- 
ties of  trustee  and  deacon. 

In  Mr.  Lethin's  family  there 
are  six  grown-up  children:  Hulda 
Carolina,  born  1872;  Paul  Walter 


SWAN   LETHIN 


Victorius,  1874;  Leopold  Nathan- 
ael, 1875;  Dell  Emanuel,  1876; 
Rosa  Johanna,  1880,  and  Albin 
Samuel,  1884. 


WILLIAM    RUNDQUIST 

was  born  May  26,   1842,  in  Stock- 
holm, where  his  father,  Per  Gus- 


Elgin 


taf  Rundqitist,  was  a  jeweler  by 
trade.  Having  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  in  the  Swedish  capi- 
tal, young  Rundquist  wrorked  as 
a  jeweler's  apprentice  from  1856 
to  1860.  The  latter  year  he  went 
to  sea  as  a  member  of  the  crew 
of  the  mission  brig  Hiram,  from 
Gefle.  This  mission  ship  was  fit- 
ted out  by  Ahlberg,  the  eminent 
Swedish  divine,  known  as  the 
founder  of  a  divinity  school  bear- 
ing his  name.  The  plan  was  to 
carry  on  shipping  between  Sweden 
and  foreign  ports  in  support  of 
missions  in  heathen  lands.  After 
a  few  years'  trial  the  project 
failed  and,  returning  home  in  1863, 


WILLIAM    RUNDQUIST 

Mr.  Rundquist  went  back  to  the 
jeweler's  workbench  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  became  a  journeyman 
jeweler. 

In  1865  he  decided  to  emigrate 
to  the  United  States,  and  at  first 
located  in  St.  Charles.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  lived  in  Geneva, 


and  in  April,  1867,  removed  to 
Elgin,  where  he  obtained  employ- 
ment in  the  watch  [factory.  He 
continued  with  the  Elgin  National 
Watch  Company  for  more  than 
twenty-six  years,  leaving  in  June, 
1893.  F°r  years  subsequently, 
Mr.  Rundquist  was  engaged  in 
making  inventions  and  improve- 
ments in  machinery  and  tools,  and 
in  manufacturing  several  articles 
patented  by  him.  Among  these 
are  the  Elgin  lawn  sprinkler  and 
the  Elgin  screw  driver.  For  six 
years  from  1897  Mr.  Rundquist 
was  city  superintendent  of  streets, 
retiring  from  active  work  at  the 
end  of  that  time. 

Since  the  organization  of  the 
Bethlehem  Swedish  Luth.  Church 
of  Elgin  in  1871,  Mr.  Rundquist 
has  been  affiliated  with  that  con- 
gregation, serving  it  all  these 
years  in  the  capacity  of  either 
trustee  or  deacon. 

Sept.  15,  1867,  William  Rund- 
quist and  Miss  Sophia  Samuelson 
were  married  at  Geneva.  They 
have  raised  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  others  having  died. 
A  daughter,  Amalia,  is  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Alfred  Anderson  of  St. 
Charles,  and  a  son,  Gustaf  Ruben, 
is  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Johnson 
of  Chicago. 

For  the  past  thirty  years  Mr. 
Rundquist  has  been  active  as  a 
lay  preacher,  frequently  conduct- 
ing divine  services  in  various 
places  in  the  absence  of  regular 
pastors. 


64 


Kane  County 


THEODORE  N.  PETERSON, 

Methodist  Episcopal  clergyman, 
was  born  in  Sweden,  July  4, 
1873.  Since  his  coming  to  the 
United  States  in  1881,  his  time 
was  divided  between  attending 
public  school  and  other  occupa- 
tions until  he  determined  upon 
entering  the  service  of  the  church. 
Matriculating  at  the  Swedish 
seminary  at  Evanston,  111.,  he 
completed  the  divinity  course  and 
was  graduated  in  1895.  After 
studying  for  another  year  at  the 
Northwestern  University  he  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  Swed- 
ish M.  E.  Church  in  1896.  Sub- 
sequently he  labored  with  success, 
three  years  at  Braddock,  Pa.,  four 
years  at  Falconer,  N.  Y.,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  at  Victoria, 
the  cradle  of  Swedish  Methodism 
in  the  United  States.  He  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  Swedish  Method- 
ist Church  in  Geneva. 

Rev.  Mr.  Peterson  was  married 
at  Chicago,  Sept.  27,  1899,  to 
Miss  Clara  O.  Thorson,  born  in 
that  city,  April  25,  1876.  Her 
parents'  home,  which  was  spared 
in  the  great  fire  of  1871,  was 
opened  as  a  place  of  refuge  for 
many  a  homeless  countryman  who 
had  lost  everything  in  that  terrible 
disaster.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Peterson 
have  two  sons,  Keith  Ambrose, 
born  in  1900,  and  Boyd  Newton, 
born  Nov.  3,  1906. 


moved  to  Moline,  where  he 
passed  away  in  February,  1904. 
She  was  born  in  Paxton.  Having 
completed  her  studies  under  Dr. 
Gustav  Stolpe  at  the  Augustana 
Conservatory  of  Music  at  Rock 
Island,  she  was  among  the  first  to 
graduate  from  that  institution. 
Accepting  the  position  as  organist 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  she  served 
in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of 


WILHELMINA  C.  WISTRAND 

is  the  daughter  of  J.  H.  Wistrand, 
one  of  the  early  Swedish  settlers 
of  Paxton,  who  subsequently  re- 


WILHELMINA  CATHERINE  WISTRAND 

years,  meanwhile  teaching  piano, 
organ  and  harmony  and  studying 
at  the  Des  Moines  Musical  Col- 
lege, the  American  School  of 
Methods  at  Boston,  and  the  Amer- 
ican School  of  Methods  at  Chi- 
cago, being  a  graduate  of  the 
last  named  school. 

From  De  Moines  she  went  to 
Jewell  College,  at  Jewell,  Iowa., 
where  she  was  for  one  year  di- 
rector of  the  musical  department. 
From  September,  1904,  to  the 
end  of  1906,  she  has  served  as 


St.  Charles 


organist  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  at  Geneva,  occupying 
simultaneously  the  position  of 
principal  of  the  Geneva  Conserva- 
tory of  Music  and  that  of  super- 
visor of  music  in  the  city  public 
schools.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
5'ear  1907,  she  removed  to  Denver 
to  take  the  position  of  organist 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
in  that  city. 


CLAUS    ALFRED    ANDERSON 

is  a  native  Illinoisan,  born  at  St. 
Charles,     Oct.      13,       1873.       His 


CLAUS  ALFRED  ANDERSON 

education  was  obtained  in  the 
local  public  schools.  His  father 
was  a  carpenter,  and  when  the 
son  reached  mature  years  he  went 
into  the  business  of  building  con- 
tractor, in  which  line  he  has 
achieved  a  goodly  measure  of 
success.  Among  the  more  im- 
portant structures  erected  by  him 
may  be  mentioned  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  edifice  at  Geneva. 


On  May  18,  1901,  Mr.  Ander- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mollie  Rundquist,  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Rund- 
quist, a  prominent  Swedish  family 
of  Elgin.  A  child,  Ivan  Le  Roy, 
was  born  to  the  Andersons  in 
1903.  The  family  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  St. 
Charles. 


PETER  CARLSON 

was  born  at  Langelanda,  Bohus- 
lan,  Sweden,  Feb.  28,  1842,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Charles, 
since  June,  1871.  When  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade  and  worked  at 
that  in  Goteborg  and  Stockholm. 
In  1865,  he  was  married  to  Mag- 
dalena  Erickson,  born  April  3, 
1841.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  Fritz  Gerhard,  in 


PETER  CARLSON 


1866,     and     Oscar    Ambrosius,  in 
1879. 

In  1873,  two  years  after    locat- 


66 


Kane  County 


ing  in  St.  Charles,  Mr.  Carlson 
there  established  his  present  busi- 
ness as  manufacturer  and  dealer 
in  boots  and  shoes. 

In  politics  a  Republican,  Mr. 
Carlson  is  a  member  of  the  local 
Swedish  Republican  Club.  He 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
aldermanic  council.  In  church 
matters  he  affiliates  with  the 
Lutherans,  and  has  served  the 
local  Swedish  church  for  various 
terms  as  trustee  and  deacon. 

The  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Carlson 
is  now  engaged  in  the  clothing 
business  in  St.  Charles.  The 
younger,  who  was  educated  at 
Augustana  College  and  at  the 
Metropolitan  Business  College,  has 
served  three  terms  as  engrossing 
and  enrolling  clerk  of  the  State 
senate,  and  is  now  in  the  U.  S. 
treasury  department  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 


and  other  piano  factories  in  New 
York,  learning  the  trade  in  all 
its  branches. 


THURE  A.  JOHANSON 

was  born  in  the  Swedish  city  of 
Kalmar,  June  25,  1869.  He  at- 
tended common  school  and  finished 
three  classes  in  the  higher  ele- 
mentary school  in  Kalmar  before 
emigrating  to  this  country.  Land- 
ing in  New  York  City,  May  i, 
1887,  he  experienced  the  usual 
hardships  of  the  newcomer,  be- 
fore obtaining  satisfactory  employ- 
ment. After  working  for  six 
months  in  an  architect's  office,  he 
began  learning  the  trade  of  piano 
making  in  the  Conover  factory. 
Later  he  practiced  piano  making 
in  the  Weber,  the  Decker  Bros. 


THURE  ADRIAN  JOHANSON 

In  1891  he  came  to  Chicago  to 
work  for  the  Cable  Piano  Co., 
and  gradually  worked  himself  up 
to  his  present  position  as  super- 
intendent of  their  extensive  piano 
factory  at  St.  Charles. 

While  living  in  Chicago,  Mr. 
Johanson  was  for  eleven  years  a 
very  active  member  of  the  Swed- 
ish Glee  Club. 

Mr.  Johanson  is  married  to  Miss 
Maria  Freeberg  and  they  have 
two  children.  They  attend  the 
Emanuel  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  St.  Charles. 


NELS  T.  JOHANSON 

was  born  May  16,  1875,  in  Kal- 
mar, Sweden.  He  attended  public 
school  in  his  native  city. 

When  twenty  years    of    age    he 


St.  Charles 


67 


emigrated    to    the    United    States 
and  landed  July  4,   1895. 

Going   to    Chicago,  he  was  em- 


NELS  T.  JOHANSON 

ployed  as  a  pianomaker  by  the 
Cable  Piano  Co.  In  1903  he  re- 
moved to  St.  Charles  and  is  now 
employed  as  a  foreman  in  the 
Cable  Piano  Works  at  this  place. 
Mr.  Johanson  is  a  member  of 
the  local  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  of  the  beneficiary  society  I,ed- 
stjarnan. 

NELS  M.  ULJEGREN 

was  born  Dec.  9,  1846,  in  Karla- 
by,  Skiane,  Sweden.  He  attended 
the  elementary  school  in  Goteborg, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1868. 
His  hope  of  becoming  a  L,utheran 
minister  was  frustrated  by  finan- 
cial troubles.  Eventually  a  change 
in  his  religious  belief  in  1869 
caused  him  to  join  the  Methodist 
Society  in  Goteborg.  He  labored 
in  this  church  body  for  seventeen 
years  and  emigrated  in  1886.  In 


America  he  has  been  stationed  as 
pastor  in  Chicago,  Moline,  Rock- 
ford,  Aurora,  Marinette,  Wis., 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  Bishop  Hill, 
111.,  Racine,  Wis.,  Andover  and 
St.  Charles,  111. 

Rev.  lyiljegren  is  an  indefatig- 
able worker  and  besides  his  reg- 
ular duties  finds  time  for  literary 
work.  He  has  contributed  quite 
extensively  to  Sdndebudet  and  other 
papers.  Of  the  books  he  has  pub- 
lished may  be  mentioned:  "John, 
Whom  Jesus  lyoved,"  "Where  and 
What  is  Heaven?"  "Once  More 
the  Question  of  Baptism." 

In  1876  Rev.  Liljegren  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sophie  Witting.  Of 


NEI.S    M.   L1LJEGREN 

their  six  children  but  three  survive, 
viz.,  Alice,  Annie  and  Nels 
Victor. 


JOHN  F.   MONGERSON 

was  born  in  Sweden  April  7,  1866, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  as 
a  child  five  years  old.  The  fam- 


68 


Kane  County 


ily  located  in  St.  Charles,  where 
the  boy  attended  the  public  schools. 
At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began 


JOHM  FREDERICK   MONGERSON 

work  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store. 
After  having  gained  seven  years' 
experience  in  that  line,  he  went 
into  the  grocery  business  on  his 
own  account  in  1888,  continuing 
as  a  grocer  up  to  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Mongerson  has  been  elected 
to  the  office  of  trustee  in  the  lo- 
cal Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  member  of  long 
standing.  In  1905  his  fellow 
townsmen  gave  him  their  tribute 
of  confidence  by  electing  him  to 
the  office  of  city  treasurer.  Prior 
to  that,  Mr.  Mongerson  had  been 
honored  by  being  chosen  to  fill 
various  local  offices,  having  served 
as  alderman  for  two  years,  as 
town  clerk  for  a  like  term,  and 
as  trustee  of  schools  for  nine  years. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Mathilda 
M.  Peterson  of  Geneva  took  place 


April  30,  1890.  The  fruit  of  this 
union  is  a  daughter,  Valeda  L,., 
born  in  1893. 

CHARLES  OLSON 
born  at  St.  Charles,  Dec.  3,  1857, 
is  one  of  the  earliest  native 
Swedes  of  the  locality.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools. 
His  youth  up  to  the  age  of 
twenty-two  was  spent  on  the 
farm.  Subsequently  he  worked 
in  a  foundry  for  four  years,  af- 
terward engaging  in  merchandis- 
ing as  dealer  in  groceries  and 
hardware.  He  was  in  that  line 
of  business  for  more  than  a  score 
of  5^ears.  Aug.  i,  1904,  Mr.  Ol- 
son sold  his  mercantile  business 
and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and 
fire  insurance  business. 


CHARLES  OLSON 

Mr.  Olson  served  as  town  clerk 
for  nine  years  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion for  a  considerable  period. 
He  is  an  active  Republican,  tak- 
ing the  lead  in  Swedish  political 


St.  Charles 


69 


circles  and  serving  for  various 
periods  as  president  of  the 
local  Swedish-American  Republi- 
can Club  and  secretary  of  the 
Kane  County  Swedish-American 
Republican  Central  Club.  He 
has  taken  interest  in  the  work  of 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois  and  in  1902 
was  elected  vice-president  for 
Kane  county.  In  April,  1905,  he 


was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  he  still  holds. 

Being  a  member  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  of  St.  Charles, 
he  has  served  it  in  two  capacities, 
as  deacon  and  as  secretary  of  the 
church  council  for  many  years 
past. 

In  1888  Mr.  Olson  was  married 
to  Ida  T.  Schoberg.  There  are 
four  children  as  the  issue  of  the 
union,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 


Rock  Island  County 


MOLINE-ROCK  ISLAND 


WILLIAM   A.   ALSTERLUND 

was  born  April  9,  1870,  in  Chi- 
cago where  his  parents,  John 
Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Bock) 
Alsterlund  resided  before  removing 
to  Moline.  The  elder  Alsterlund, 
who  died  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich., 
April  30,  1897,  was  an  engineer 
who  for  a  long  term  of  years  was 
at  the  head  of  the  Moline  water 
works.  Mrs.  Alsterlund  died  in 
Moline,  Dec.  7,  1875. 

The  son  William  had  his  gen- 
eral education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Moline  and  by  a  course 
in  business  college  in  Davenport, 
la.,  prepared  for  his  future  work. 
For  fifteeu  years  he  has  been 
with  the  firm  of  Dimock,  Gould 
and  Co.  where  he  is  employed  as 
lumber  salesman. 

In  1893  Mr.  Alsterlund  married 
Daisy  P.  Cleland  who  died  after 
two  years.  Seven  years  afterward 
he  married  Louise  J.  Jamieson. 
A  daughter  was  born  to  them  on 
June  4,  1905. 

Mr.  Alsterlund  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  and  has 
been  one  of  its  trustees. 


to  this  country  with  his  family 
in  1868.  They  first  located  in 
Aurora,  111.,  but  shortly  afterward 


O.    FREDERICK    ANDERSON, 

cashier  of  the  Moline  Trust  &  Sav- 
ings Bank,  was  born  at  Trehorna, 
Ostergotland,  Sweden,  July  i, 
1 866.  His  parents  were  Alfred 
Anderson,  a  miller,  and  his  wife 
Anna  Greta  Johanson.  The  elder 
Mr.  Anderson  passed  away  in 
Moline  in  1881,  having  come  over 


O.   FREDERICK  ANDERSON 

settled  permanently  in  Moline. 
Here  the  son,  Otto  Frederick, 
received  his  preliminary  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  worked 
as  apprentice  to  a  machinist  for 
two  years,  upon  leaving  school, 
then  was  salesman  in  a  clothing 
store  for  a  time.  Determined  to 
obtain  better  training  for  a  busi- 
ness career,  he  took  a  course  in 
a  business  college  in  Davenport, 
Iowa. 

At  seventeen  he  was  employed 
as  messenger  in  the  Moline  Na- 
tional Bank,  beginning  May  i, 
1883.  Passing  through  the  grades, 
he  was  promoted  to  bookkeeper. 
In  1891,  he  accepted  the  position 
of  teller  in  the  Moline  State  Sav- 


74 


Rock  Island  County 


ings  Bank,  afterwards  known  as 
the  Moline  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank,  then  just  organized,  and 
held  that  position  until  June 
30,  1900,  when  he  was  elected 
acting  cashier  of  the  bank.  The 
following  January,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  regularly  elected  cashier.  In 
this  capacity  he  still  serves.  The 
assets  of  the  bank,  with  which 
he  is  connected,  have  increased 
from  $700,000  to  one  and  one- 
half  million  dollars  since  he 
assumed  the  aforesaid  office. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  not  connected 
with  any  religious  denomination, 
but  attends  the  Unitarian  church. 
He  is  a  public  spirited  citizen 
and  takes  an  active  part  in 
all  matters  of  interest  to  the 
city  and  public  in  general. 
He  is  prominent  in  fraternal  and 
club  circles,  stands  high  in  the 
Masonic  brotherhood  and  has  been 
vice-president  of  the  Moline  Club. 
Three  times  1893,  1899  and  1903, 
he  has  been  elected  treasurer  of 
the  city  of  Moline  and  has  served 
continuously  since  1895  on  the 
public  library  board,  having  been 
twice  elected  to  the  presidency. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  has 
always  affiliated  with  that  party, 
still  he  is  not  a  man  that  would 
hesitate  to  vote  for  a  good  man 
on  any  other  ticket  in  the  event 
that  the  corresponding  Republican 
candidate  in  his  opinion  were 
unworthy  of  trust. 

Dec.  16,  1891,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  married  to  Miss  Sena  Nielsen, 
daughter  of  L,ars  Peter  Nielsen, 
a  well  known  real  estate  dealer 
of  Moline.  The  home  of  Mr. 


and  Mrs.  Anderson  is  brightened 
by  the  presence  of  a  son,  Frederic 
Nielsen,  born  in  1903. 


CARL  PETER  BOHMAN 

was  born  in  Morlunda,    Smaland, 
Sweden,     Aug.      19,      1847.       His 


CARL  PETER  BOHMAN 

parents,  C.  M.  Carlson,  a  laborer, 
and  his  wife,  Clara  Peterson,  be- 
stowed on  their  son  the.  ordinary 
schooling. 

Mr.  Bohman  emigrated  in  1867, 
going  to  Rockford,  where  he 
lived  for  six  years,  subsequently 
locating  permanently  in  Moline, 
in  1873.  Here  his  parents  passed 
away,  the  father  in  1887  and  the 
mother  in  1896. 

Shortly  after  removing  to  Mo- 
line, Mr.  Bohman  obtained  em- 
plojmieiit  in  the  hardware  store 
of  Reid  and  Witter,  and  has  re- 
mained with  that  same  firm  for 
thirty  years. 

Nov.  18,  1871,  Mr.  Bohman 
was  married  to  Maria  L.  Carlson, 


Moline 


75 


born  in  Smaland,  Sweden,  May 
22,  1850.  Their  children  are: 
William  R.,  born  in  1873;  Selma 
L,*,  born  in  1875;  Carl  E.,  born 
in  1878;  Esther  E.,  born  in  1882; 
Oscar  T.,  born  in  1884,  and  Clar- 
ence, born  in  1893.  Mrs.  Boh- 
man  passed  away  at  Moline,  Jan. 
25,  1901,  and  one  son,  Joseph  G., 
died  in  December  of  the  same 
year.  William  R.  Bohman  was 
employed  at  the  Augustana  Book 
Concern  in  Rock  Island  for  seven- 
teen years  and  is  now  a  success- 
ful farmer  at  Oakland,  Neb.  He 
is  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Lindblom. 
Carl  E.  is  manager  of  the  New 
York  City  branch  of  the  same 
publishing  house.  His  wife's 
name  was  Emily  L,ilja.  Oscar  T. 
is  teller  and  bookkeeper  in  the 
Moline  Trust  and  Savings  Bank. 
The  elder  Bohman  is  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  has  served  on  its  board  of 
deacons  for  eighteen  years  and 
taught  in  its  Sunday  school  for 
three  decades.  Mr.  Bohman  is  a 
property  owner  in  both  Moline 
and  Rock  Island. 


business.  Mr.  Ed  is  financially 
interested  in  various  enterprises, 
including  the  Moline  Furniture 


GUST  ED, 

a  prominent  contractoi  of  Moline, 
was  born  in  Sweden,  Dec.  8,  1850. 
Emigrating  in  1872,  he  settled  in 
Moline,  where  he  has  lived  ever 
since.  Twenty-two  years  ago  he 
engaged  in  the  business  of  build- 
ing contractor  and  since  then  has 
erected  most  of  the  large  buildings 
in  the  city.  At  times  he  has  had 
as  high  as  two  hundred  men  in 
his  employ.  Of  late  years  his 
sons  have  been  associates  in  the 


GUST  ED 

Company  and  the  East  Moline 
Brick  Company,  and  is  president  of 
the  Moline  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. He  was  married  Aug.  30, 
1873,  to  Miss  Helen  Christine 
Anderson.  The  family  belongs  to 
the  Mission  Tabernacle. 


ALEXIUS  EDLEN, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born 
July  14,  1859,  at  Kungslena, 
Vestergbtland,  Sweden,  where  his 
parents,  Anders  Fredrikson  and 
Anna  Maria  Bengtson,  are  still 
living  on  their  farm.  In  Sweden, 
after  finishing  common  school,  he 
entered  military  service  and  after 
two  years  was  graduated  in  1880, 
with  the  highest  honors,  from  the 
Karlsborg  military  school.  The 
same  year  he  left  for  the  United 
States,  and  lived  in  Moline  for 
four  years.  In  1884  he  entered 


76 


Rock  Island  County 


Augustana  College  and  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1888.  As  a 
vStudent  he  was  flutist  and  clari- 


EMIL  ALEXIUS  EDLEN 

netist  of  the  college  band  and  or- 
chestra, conducted  the  college  choir 
for  one  year  and  for  five  years 
before  and  after  graduation  was 
instructor  in  gymnastics  at  the 
institution. 

From  Augustana  Mr.  Edlen 
went  to  the  State  University  of 
Minnesota.  After  taking  one  year 
in  the  medical  department,  he 
spent  a  year  studying  the  sciences 
at  Augustana,  then  returned  to 
the  university,  graduating  in  June, 
1892.  Having  been  admitted  to 
practice,  he  located  in  St.  Paul, 
but  in  December  of  the  same  year 
removed  to  Moline,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery  for  upwards 
of  fifteen  years. 

Dr.  Edlen  is  a  member  of  the 
staff  of  the  Moline  Public  Hos- 
pital and  of  the  adjunct  staff  of 


St.  Anthony's  Hospital  in  Rock 
Island  and  the  Mercy  Hospital  in 
Davenport,  Iowa.  He  belongs  to 
the  Rock  Island  County  Medical 
Association,  the  Illinois  State 
Medical  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association.  He  is  chief 
medical  director  of  the  North  Star 
Benefit  Association  and  examiner 
for  a  number  of  insurance  companies 
and  societies,  serves  on  the  pub- 
lic library  board,  for  three  years 
was  commanding  officer  of  the 
Moline  Naval  Reserves  and  is 
first  vice-president  and  a  director 
of  the  Rock  Island  Tropical 
Plantation  Company. 

Dr.  Edlen  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Hulda  Lindgren  of 
Minneapolis,  July  2,  1892.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Anna  Viola 
Carolina,  born  1893,  and  Olga 
Elizabeth  Wilhelmina,  born  1897. 
The  family  is  connected  with  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

Dr.  Edlen  early  showed  literary 
ability,  frequently  contributing 
verse  to  newspapers  and  periodi- 
cals. As  a  medical  man  he  has 
written  a  number  of  treatises, 
many  of  which  have  appeared  in 
scientific  journals,  for  instance:  in 
the  New  York  Medical  Journal — 
"Tuberculosis,  with  Special  Refer- 
ence to  Its  Prevention  and  Treat- 
ment," and  "Ulcers  of  the  Leg;" 
in  the  Medical  Age — "Observa- 
tions on  Influenza,"  being  a 
paper  read  before  the  Iowa  and 
Illinois  Central  District  Medical 
Association;  in  the  Illinois  Medical 
Journal — "Diptheria  and  Its  Man- 
agement," "Psychotherapeutics," 
a  paper  read  before  the  Illinois 


Moline 


77 


State  Medical  Society,  and  "Col- 
ics's  Fracture;"  in  the  New  Albany 
(Snd.)  Medical  Journal — "Sum- 
mer Diarrhea  in  Children."  Sev- 
eral of  these  articles  have  been 
reprinted  or  commented  upon  in 
scientific  journals  in  Europe,  such 
as  La  Presse  Medicale  and  Deutsche 
Medicinische  I  Vochensch  rift . 

Hulda  C.  Edlen,  wife  of  Dr. 
Edlen,  was  born  in  Skiro  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Oct  27,  1864. 
She  was  given  careful  training 
and  a  good  education  by  her  par- 
ents, Carl  A.  Lindgren,  a  gentle- 
man farmer  and  grain  merchant, 
and  his  wife  Albertina,  nee 
Oijstrom.  Besides  public  school 
she  was  taught  languages  and 
music  by  private  teachers  and 
later  took  general  studies  at  a 
private  boarding  school  for  girls. 
She  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1886  and  the  following  year  ob- 
tained a  position  as  copyist,  trans- 
lator and  interpreter  in  the  office 
of  the  register  of  deeds  in  the 
Hennepin  county  court  house  at 
Minneapolis.  This  position  she 
held  until  a  short  time  before  her 
marriage  in  1892.  Mrs.  Edlen 
possesses  literary  talent  and  has 
contributed  occasionally  to  Hvct- 
land-Posten  in  Sweden  and  to 
Svenska  Polkets  Tidning,  Ung- 
domsvannen  and  other  newspapers 
and  periodicals  in  this  country. 
She  is  a  member  of,  and  has  held 
various  offices  in  the  following 
societies:  the  Veronica  Society  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Moline,  the  Ladies'  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  the  Swedish  Liter- 
ary Club,  the  North  Star  Benefit 


Association,  the  Court  of  Honor, 
The  Loyal  Americans  and  the 
Ladies'  Independent  Order  of 
of  Svithiod.  She  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Woman's  Club  of  Mo- 
line, and  has  served  for  some 
time  on  the  Woman's  Hospital 
Board. 


JAN  MAGNUS  BONGGREN 


was  born  Aug.   26, 
Dalsland,  Sweden. 


1862,    Habol, 
He   was   edu- 


JAN  MAGNUS  BONGGREN 

cated  at  a  teacher's  seminary,  a 
military  academy,  and  a  school 
of  technology.  He  is  a  photogra- 
pher by  occupation  and  has  de- 
voted some  time  to  journalism, 
and  wrrites  occasional  correspond- 
ences to  the  newspapers.  He 
has  no  affiliations  with  churches 
or  fraternal  organizations.  Mr. 
Bonggren  is  a  brother  of  Jakob 
Bonggren,  editor  of  Svenska 
Amerikanaren. 


Rock  Island  County 


FREDERICK  GRAFLUND, 
who  was  the  first  Swedish  dentist 


testant  Episcopal  faith  and 
served  for  some  years  as  secre- 

in  the  Tri-Cities,  located    in    Mo-     tar-v  of  the  St  AnsSar  Church  of 

Moline.     He  is  a  member   of    the 

Royal  Arcanum  and  was  guide 
in  the  Monitor  Council  1414  of 
that  order  in  1900,  while  living 
in  Chicago. 

CARL  A.  HEMBORG, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Moline  for  a  long  term 
of  years  before  his  removal '  to 
Nebraska,  was  born  in  Hemsjo, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Feb.  3,  1847. 
His  father,  Anders  Jonsson,  was 
a  farmer.  The  son  pursued  col- 
legiate studies  at  Vexio  from  1865 
to  1870  and,  emigrating  in  1871, 
continued  his  studies  at  Augustana 

FREDERICK  GRAFLUND 

line  in  Jan.  1903,  and  opened  a 
dental  office  here  April  i,  the 
same  year.  He  is  a  native  of 
Karlstad,  Sweden,  where  he  was 
born  Nov.  26,  1877.  On  his  six- 
teenth birthday  in  1892,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  after  having 
attended  elementary  schools  in 
Kristinehamn  and  Kristianstad. 
He  started  working  in  the  dental 
office  of  Dr.  P.  Wm.  Thorelius 
in  Chicaga,  in  November  of  that 
year,  remaining  as  his  assistant 
till  May  i,  1900,  when  he  opened 
his  own  office  in  Lake  View, 
having  previously  completed  the 
courses  at  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity Dental  School,  formerly 
American  College  of  Dental  Sur- 
gery, which  he  entered  in  the 
fall  of  1895,  graduating  in  1898 
xvith  high  standing  in  a  class  of 
177  members.  He  is  of  the  Pro- 


CARL   AUGUST   HEMBORG 

College,  then  located  at  Paxton, 
111.,  from  1871  to  1874,  taking  a 
theological  course  fitting  him  for 
the  ministry  in  the  Augustana 
Synod.  He  was  ordained  in  Rock- 
ford  June  28,  1874,  and  has  had 


Moline 


79 


charge  of  congregations  in  Dayton, 
Iowa,  1874-92,  in  Cowrie,  Iowa, 
1874-77,  in  Moline  from  1892  to 
1904,  when  he  resigned  to  assume 
pastoral  charge  at  Stromsburg, 
Neb.  While  in  Iowa,  he  served 
as  president  of  the  Iowa  Confer- 
ence for  six  years  from  1886  and, 
after  coming  to  Moline,  was  elected 
president  of  the  Illinois  Conference 
in  1903.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him 
in  1902  by  Augustana  College. 

Dr.  Hemborg  is  a  devoted  ama- 
teur astronomer  and  is  the  author 
of  two  books,  "Ord,  Verk  och 
Hvila,"  and  "Glimpses  of  the 
Stars,"  consisting  of  original 
thoughts  and  phantasies,  partly 
scientific,  partly  devotional,  based 
on  astronomical  and  biblical  data. 

Feb.  2,  1877,  Rev.  Hemborg 
married  Miss  Jennie  Ryden,  of 
Bernadotte,  Minn.,  born  Feb.  8, 
1859.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Ryden.  Of  seven 
children  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Hemborg,  the  following  six  are 
living:  Constans  Alexis,  born  1877; 
Carl  Robert  Philip,  1884;  Claudia 
Sophia,  1886;  Emma  Evelyn,  1896; 
Harold  Benjamin,  1899;  Richard 
Edwin,  1904. 


left  for  America  and  came  to  Chi- 
cago to  live.  Entering  the  North- 
western Academy  at  Evanston  he 


ANDREW  G.  JOHNSON 
was  born  in  L,jungby  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Dec.  25,  1857,  the 
son  of  Johannes  Jonsson,  a  farmer. 
His  father  died  in  1889  and  his 
mother,  Anna  Christina  Anders- 
son,  in  1904,  both  in  Sweden. 
The  son  enjoyed  instruction  pri- 
vately and  in  a  pension  school  up 
•to  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he 


ANDREW  G.  JOHNSON 

continued  through  the  Swedish 
M.  E.  Theological  Seminary, 
graduating  from  the  latter  in  1878. 
After  his  ordination  he  has  been 
stationed  in  the  following  places, 
viz  ,  Minneapolis,  1878;  New 
York,  1881;  St.  Paul,  1885;  Gales- 
burg,  1890;  Bethany  Church,  Chi- 
cago, 1892-93;  Moline,  1901-04; 
St.  Paul,  1904-07.  ' 

When  transferred  to  Chicago  in 
1892,  Rev.  Johnson  was  chosen 
financial  agent  of  the  Bethany 
Home,  erected  in  Ravenswood  the 
same  year  with  money  solicited 
by  him.  In  July,  1893,  he  took 
charge  of  the  Swedish  M.  E. 
Book  Concern  as  publishing  agent 
and  manager  and  filled  that  posi- 
tion for  eight  years,  ridding  the 
business  of  debt  and  conducting 
it  in  a  successful  manner. 

After    leaving    Moline    in    1904, 


8o 


Rock  Island  County 


Rev.  Johnson  has  traveled  exten- 
sively in  the  states  and  preached 
wherever  opportunity  offered.  He 
is  now  the  publisher  and  editor 
of  the  Royal  Star,  a  monthly  mag- 
azine, with  office  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn. 

Wherever  Rev.  Johnson  has  had 
pastoral  charge,  he  has  put  forth 
great  effort  to  increase  his  flock 
and  place  the  property  and  church 
finances  in  good  shape,  with  very 
satisfactory  results  in  every  in- 
stance. 

The  family  of  Rev.  Johnson 
consists  of  a  wife,  Selma  C.  John- 
son of  Chicago,  born  Aug.  12, 
1867.  and  the  children,  Roy  D.  G., 
born  1890;  Clarence,  1891;  Walter 
Iv.  Y.,  1899;  Paul  Wesley,  1902, 
and  Evelyn  Phoebe  May,  1906. 

During  the  twenty-eight  years 
Rev.  Johnson  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Central  Swedish  Confer- 
ence, he  has  been  secretary  or 
treasurer  almost  the  whole  time. 


came  interested  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  furniture  by  associating 
himself  with  other  of  his  country- 


GEORGE  W.  JOHNSON, 

president  and  treasurer  of  the 
Moline  Furniture  Works,  is  a 
native  of  Henry  county,  111., 
where  his  parents,  Sven  P.  John- 
son and  Christina  Peterson,  were 
early  settlers.  He  was  born  Oct. 
9,  1857,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools. 
In  September,  1889,  his  father, 
who  was  a  prosperous  farmer, 
died,  and  not  long  afterward  the 
sons,  George  and  Julius,  began 
to  devote  themselves  to  other 
pursuits  than  agriculture.  George 
soon  made  his  home  in  Moline 
and  engaged  in  business.  He  be- 


GEORGE  W.  JOHNSON 

men  in  a  cooperative  plant  now 
known  as  the  Moline  Furniture 
Works.  The  concern  for  several 
years  led  a  precarious  existence, 
but  by  the  substantial  financial 
backing  furnished  by  Mr.  John- 
son and  others  the  enterprise  was 
put  on  its  legs  and  is  now  in  a 
prosperous  condition  and  enjoying 
constant  growth,  due  in  great 
measure  to  the  business  acumen 
and  intelligent  management  of 
Mr.  Johnson  who  is  the  executive 
head  of  the  establishment. 

Taking  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs,  Mr.  Johnson  has 
won  preferment  at  different  times. 
During  President  Harrison's  ad- 
minstration  he  held  the  office  of 
postmaster  at  Orion,  111.  and  by 
the  people  of  his  present  district 
he  was  twice  elected  to  the  state 
legislature,  serving  in  the  forty- 


Moline 


81 


first  and  forty-second  General  As- 
sembly. 

May  31,  1882,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Caroline  F. 
Hagg  of  Henry  county,  born  Nov. 
21,  1858.  In  the  family  four 
children  have  been  born,  a  daugh- 
ter, who  died,  and  the  three  sons: 
C.  Mauritz,  born  July  n,  1885, 
Estey  E.,  Dec.  21,  1887,  and 
George  Franklin,  May  29,  1895. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Moline. 


LAWRENCE  A.  JOHNSTON, 

minister  of  the  Augustana    Synod 
and  present  pastor  of  the  Swedish 


LAWRENCE  ALBERT  JOHNSTON 

Lutheran  Church  of  Moline,  is  a 
native  American  of  Swedish  des- 
cent. His  parents,  Fredrick  J. 
Johnson,  a  carpenter  and  build- 
ing contractor,  and  Charlotte 
Johnson,  both  from  Hessleby, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  in  the  East. 


They  emigrated  to  America  in 
1846,  bound  for  New  Sweden, 
la.,  but  lack  of  funds  cut  their 
journey  short  at  Buffalo,  where 
they  remained  two  years  before 
locating  permanently  at  Sugar 
Grove,  Pennsylvania. 

Here  Rev.  L.  A.  Johnston  was 
born  Aug.  12,  1855.  He  attended 
the  public  school,  had  private  in- 
struction in  music  during  four 
years,  and  attended  high  school 
for  three  years  before  entering 
Augustana  College  (at  Paxton) 
in  1874,  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution (at  Rock  Island)  in 
1879,  and  was  the  valedictorian 
of  his  class.  As  a  student  he 
gave  private  lessons  in  music  and 
earlier  served  as  organist  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Chandlers  Valley,  Pennsylvania. 

After  two  years  of  study  in  the 
theological  seminary  of  the  same 
institution,  he  was  ordained  min- 
ister in  the  spring  of  1881.  His 
first  pastoral  charge  after  ordina- 
tion was  at  Des  Moines,  1881- 
1886;  the  next  at  Rockford,  1886- 
1894;  the  third  at  St.  Paul,  1894- 
1904,  and  the  last  at  Moline, 
1904  to  the  present. 

Rev.  Mr.  Johnston  has  fre- 
quently been  called  to  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility  in  the 
church  he  serves  and  has  been 
active  in  varied  fields,  as  shown 
by  the  following  list  of  offices 
held  by  him:  president  of  the 
Bethania  Pub.  Co.  and  associate 
editor  of  Bethania,  bi-monthly  re- 
ligious organ  of  the  Iowa  Con- 
ference; vice-president  of  that 
conference  in  1886;  vice-president 


82 


Rock  Island  County 


of  the  Illinois  Conference  1891- 
94;  elected  president  the  latter 
year,  but  resigned  on  leaving 
Rockford;  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Augustana 
Hospital  1905-1908,  of  the  Au- 
gustana Book  Concern  contin- 
uously from  its  organization,  of 
Augustana  College  since  1893, 
being  chairman  1893-94  and  1905, 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus  College, 
St.  Peter,  Minn.,  and  president 
of  the  board,  1895-98,  again  a 
member  1902-04,  of  the  Bethesda 
Hospital  in  St.  Paul,  1895-98  and 
chairman  of  the  board  for  three 
years,  vice-president  of  the  Minne- 
sota Conference  1902-1904  and  of 
the  deaconess  Institute  of  Omaha 
1904-05.  Furthermore,  he  has 
served  on  the  mission  board  of  the 
Augustana  Synod,  has  acted  as 
associate  editor  of  Ungdomsvannen 
for  several  years,  and  is  at  present 
vice-president  of  the  Augustana 
Synod  and  Swedish  secretary  of  the 
General  Council  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  America  for  a  two  year 
term,  1905-07. 

In  1901  the  board  of  directors 
of  Augustana  College  and  Theo- 
logical Seminary  conferred  upon 
Rev.  Johnston  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  D.  D.  In  1903  he  pub- 
lished a  little  book  entitled,  "Be 
Thou  Faithful,  Words  of  Advice, 
Comfort  and  Cheer  to  the  Con- 
firmed." 

Dr.  Johnston  is  often  heard 
from  the  public  platform.  He 
has  made  a  large  number  of  ad- 
dresses on  temperance  and  on 
topics  of  especial  interest  to 
young  people,  and  has  spoken  at 


numerous  church  conventions  and 
public  meetings,  also  lecturing  on 
historical,  patriotic,  social  and 
economic  subjects.  One  of  his 
most  noteworthy  discourses  was 
on  "The  Swedish  Element  in 
American  Civilization,"  delivered 
before  the  General  Synod  Chau- 
tauqua  Assembly  at  Dixon,  111. 
Dr.  Johnston  has  perfect  mastery 
of  both  the  Swedish  and  the  Eng- 
lish languages  and  is  held  one  of 
the  foremost  Swedish-American 
pulpit  orators. 


JOHN  A.  JADER, 

former  pastor  of  the  local  Baptist 
church,  was  born  in  Rytterne,  Swe- 


JUHN   A.  JAUIiU 

den,  Nov.  2,  1849  and  came  over 
to  this  country  and  to  Moline,  in 
1902.  r  He  served  for  thirteen 
years  as  a  non-commissioned  offi- 
cer in  the  Swedish  army.  After 
studying  theology  at  a  Baptist 
seminary  he  was  ordained  minis- 
ter and  has  served  in  that  capac- 


Moline 


ity  in  Sweden  and  the  United 
States.  Since  1905  he  has  been 
stationed  at  Lindsborg,  Kansas. 
He  has  published  several  works 
and  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
religious  press.  He  wras  married 
in  1870,  to  Charlotta  Ohlson,  the 
fruits  of  the  union  being  nine 
children,  seven  sons,  Carl,  Axel, 
David,  Edwin,  Filip,  Fabian  and 
Gustaf,  and  two  daughters,  Anna 
and  Maria. 


FRANK  A.  LANDEE, 

well-known  merchant  and  a  mem- 
ber    of     the     Forty-fifth    General 


FRANK.  A.  LANDEE 

Assembly  of  Illinois,  was  born  in 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Aug.  n,  1852. 
Both  parents  having  died,  Frank, 
with  a  younger  brother,  emigrated 
in  1866.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
in  Knox  county  for  the  next  three 
years,  attending  school  in  the 
winter  months,  then  took  a  course 
at  a  business  college  in  Galesburg. 
In  1869  he  went  to  Peoria  and 


was  in  the  employ  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Co.  there  for  two 
years,  up  to  the  time  of  the  great 
fire  in  Chicago,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  that  city  and  soon 
made  foreman  of  telegraph  con- 
struction. After  holding  a  posi- 
tion with  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Telegraph  Co.  for  one  year,  Lan- 
dee  returned  to  his  former  posi- 
tion with  the  Western  Union 
in  1874.  In  1 876-77  he  was  their 
office  electrician  in  Chicago  and 
in  the  next  two  years  built  tele- 
phone exchanges  for  the  company, 
which  was  then  also  in  that  line 
of  business.  It  was  Landee  who 
put  in  the  first  half  a  hundred 
telephones  in  Chicago.  He  also 
built  exchanges  in  Peoria,  Spring- 
field, Quincy,  Rock  Island,  Mo- 
line,  Dubuque,  Davenport  and 
Keokuk,  being  one  of  the  pioneers 
in  that  line  of  work. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Landee  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  con- 
struction of  the  Mutual  Union,  a 
new  telegraph  company,  and  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Telegraph 
Co.  He  served  as  joint  superin- 
tendent for  a  year,  then  remained 
two  years  more  with  the  former. 
When  that  concern  sold  out  to 
the  Western  Union  in  1883,  Lan- 
dee became  joint  general  foreman 
of  the  telegraph  and  electric  de- 
partment of  the  C.  R.  I.  &  P. 
Railway  Co.  and  the  Western 
Union,  with  8,000  miles  of  rail- 
road, extending  into  n  states  and 
3  territories.  He  remained  with 
them  until  1903,  when  he  resigned 
to  devote  himself  entirely  to  pri- 
vate business. 


84 


Rock  Island  County 


He  is  the  proprietor  of  a  large 
grocery  store;  interested  in  the 
Moline  Furniture  Works,  being 
vice-president  of  the  company; 
also  vice-president  and  treasurer 
of  the  Moline  Stone  Co.,  and 
director  of  the  People's  Savings 
and  Trust  Co.  of  Moline. 

In  1906,  Mr.  Landee  was  elected 
to  represent  the  33d  district  in 
the  state  senate,  having  earned 
the  distinction  by  unrewarded  po- 
litical activity  for  many  years. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  president 
of  the  Swedish- American  Repub- 
lican League  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Landee  is  chairman  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Moline,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  Augustana  College  for 
eight  years.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Court  of  Honor 
Lodge,  a  leading  member  of  the 
Swedish  Olive  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  chairman  of  the  committee 
in  charge  of  the  construction  of 
its  $50,000  building,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Olive  Lodge  for  several  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Moline 
Club,  Moline  Business  Association, 
Moline  Retail  Merchants'  Associa- 
tion, the  Telegraphers'  Mutual 
Association  and  the  North  Star 
Benefit  Association,  of  which  he 
was  chief  treasurer  for  six  years. 

Five  patents  have  been  granted 
on  electrical  devices  invented  by 
Mr.  Landee  and  are  now  in  practical 
use.  Several  inventions  and  im- 
provements made  by  him  but 
not  patented  are  generally  used 
by  telegraph  and  telephone  com- 


panies. Two  of  these,  in  particu- 
lar, ought  to  have  brought  their 
inventor  substantial  returns. 

In  1879,  April  9,  Mr.  Landee 
married  Miss  Hanna  Johnson, 
born  March  9,  1858,  daughter  of 
A.  M.  and  Charlotte  Johnson, 
of  Knoxville.  The  children  in 
the  Landee  family  are:  Effie  L., 
born  in  1880,  deceased;  George 
Edward,  born  in  1882;  Frank  J. 
born  in  1884;  Marion  H.  C.,  born 
in  1886;  Anna  Irene,  born  in 
1892.  George  Edward  is  married 
to  Alma  Swenson  of  Moline. 
The  Landees  reside  at  1207  Fifth 
avenue. 


ALBERT  J.  LYDEHN, 
who  has  been  established  in  Moline 
for  eight  years  as  a  druggist,  is  a 
native  of  the  city,  being  born  here 
July  7,  1876.  His  father,  Andrew 
P.  Lydehn,  died  in  1900. 

Albert  attended  the  public  school; 
later  he  took  a  course  in  chemistry 
at  Augustana  College  and  com- 
pleted his  studies  with  a  regular 
course  in  pharmacy  at  the  North- 
western University,  being  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Moline 
Naval  Militia  and  the  apothecary 
of  that  organization. 

Mr.  Lydehn  has  traveled  exten- 
sively in  Sweden,  Norway,  Den- 
mark, France,  Germany  and  Eng- 
land. 


ANDREW  J.  LYON 

was  born  in  Torpa  parish,  Oster- 
gotland,  Sept.  12,  1860.  Coming 
to  America  in  1882  he  lived  for 
five  years  near  Galesburg,  where 


Moline 


he  worked  on  a  farm.  From  there 
he  came  to  Moline  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  mason's  apprentice 


ANDREW   J.   LYON 

until  he  had  mastered  the  trade, 
when  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  as  a  brick  and  stone  ma- 
sonry contractor.  Since  the  spring 
of  1907  he  has  been  farming  in 
Illinois  City,  Rock  Island  county. 
Mr.  L,yon  was  married  in  May, 
1890,  in  Moline,  to  Maria  Gustaf- 
va  Anderson,  who  is  now  the 
mother  of  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

JOHN  P.  MILLER, 
present  pastor  of  the  Swedish  M. 
K.  Church  of  Moline,  was  born  in 
Sjosater,  Ortomta  parish,  Oster- 
gotland,  Sweden,  Sept.  4,  1866. 
Equipped  with  a  common  school 
education,  he  left  his  home  for 
America  at  the  age  of  twenty. 
His  parents,  Jonas  Pehrsson,  a 
farmer,  and  his  wife,  Anna  L,ovisa 
Johnson,  are  still  living  in  the  old 
country. 


Mr.  Miller  lived  in  Des  Moines, 
la.,  for  the  next  three  years,  hold- 
ing a  position  with  the  F.  O. 
Wennerberg  grocery  firm.  He  left 
there  in  1889  to  pursue  studies 
fitting  him  for  the  ministry.  En- 
tering the  Swedish  Theological 
Seminary  at  Evanston,  he  contin- 
ued there  for  three  years,  and  af- 
terward took  one  year  at  Knox 
College,  Galesburg.  Having  grad- 
uated from  the  Evanston  institu- 
tion in  1892,  he  was  ordained  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Moline  in  September 
of  that  year,  by  Bishop  R.  S.  Fos- 
ter. His  subsequent  pastoral 


JOHN   P.   MILLER 

charges  have  been  at  Kewanee, 
Victoria  and  Bloom  iiigton,  before 
coming  to  Moline. 

Rev.  Miller  was  married  Oct.  3, 
1894,  to  Miss  Hilda  S.  Eklund  of 
Kewanee,  born  Nov.  10,  1872,  in 
the  city  of  Boras,  Sweden,  where 
her  parents  are  still  living. 


86 


Rock  Island  County 


ADOLPH  G.   NELSON, 

pastor      of      the      Free       Mission 
Church,     was     born     at     Bomala, 


ADOLPH  GOTTFRID  NELSON 

Morlunda  parish,  Smaland,  Aug. 
22,  1870.  The  parents  were  farm- 
ers. His  father,  Nils  Fredrik 
Hogren,  died  in  the  old  home  in 
1882.  The  son  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  the  spring  of 
1888  and  located  in  Beresford, 
S.  D.,  whither  his  mother  followed 
him,  passing  away  at  that  place 
in  1898. 

Having  obtained  an  elementary 
education  in  the  school  of  his 
native  place  Mr.  Nelson,  after 
working  some  time  as  a  wage 
earner  in  this  country,  began  to 
fit  himself  for  the  Gospel  ministry. 
After  completing  a  course  of  study 
he  became  a  preacher  of  the  Free 
Mission  church.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  stationed  at  Beres- 
ford, S.  D.,  for  three  years,  at 
Omaha  for  a  like  period,  and  at 


Moline  for  the  past  three  years 
and  over.  Prior  to  that  Rev. 
Nelson  labored  for  seven  years  as 
a  traveling  evangelist. 

Oct.  10,  1895,  Rev.  Nelson 
was  married  to  Miss  Alma  Young 
of  Cherokee,  Iowa,  born  Nov. 
28,  1871.  A  son,  Elving  Abra- 
ham Emanuel,  was  born  to  them 
at  Beresford,  in  1897. 


manufacturer  of  pianos  and  organs, 
was    born    in    Grasmark     parish, 


JOHANNES  PETERSON 

Vermland,  Sweden,  and  emigrated 
in  1868.  After  his  arrival  in  this 
country  he  at  first  lived  in  Linds- 
borg,  Kas.,  before  coming  to 
Moline.  Having  studied  for  three 
years  at  Augustana  College,  he 
entered  practical  life.  We  soon 
find  him  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  reed  organs,  a  business 
which  has  gradually  grown  to  large 
proportions.  Not  many  years  ago 
the  firm  of  J.  Peterson  Co.  took 


Moline 


up  the  manufacture  of  pianos. 
While  the  bulk  of  the  trade  is  in 
the  United  States,  yet  they  have 
quite  an  extensive  foreign  trade, 
shipping  instruments  to  the  Scan- 
dinavian countries,  all  Europe, 
East  India,  China,  Africa  and 
South  America.  The  company 
takes  pride  in  the  fact  that  the 
first  parlor  organs  ever  used  in 
Porto  Rico  were  of  their  make.  A 
few  years  ago  the  growth  of  busi- 
ness made  extensions  to  the  factory 
necessary  and  the  company  now 
has  a  three  story  structure  covering 
one  quarter  of  a  block.  Mr. 
Peterson  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


ber  of  positions  of  trust  to  which 
he  has  been  chosen.  Thus  he 
was  for  a  term  of  years  secretary 


G'.  LEANDER  PETERSON, 

president  of  the  North  Star  Bene- 
fit Association,  with  head  office 
at  Moline,  was  born  on  a  farm 
in  Henry  county,  near  Swedona, 
Dec.  24,  1864.  His  grandparents 
were  the  third  Swedish  family 
that  settled  in  Mercer  county. 
He  has  studied  at  Augustana  and 
at  the  Davenport  Business  College. 
In  the  early  nineties  he  was  as- 
sociated with  Ernst  W.  Olson, 
G.  A.  Gustafson  and  Julius  John- 
son in  publishing  Nya  Pressen, 
a  Swedish  weekly  newspaper,  at 
Moline  and  later  at  Chicago. 
For  two  terms  he  served  as  as- 
sistant clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  at  Springfield. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Emanuel 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at  East 
Moline,  having  acted  as  secretar)- 
and  trustee. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  man  of  varied 
activities  as  shown    by    the    nuni- 


G.   LEANDER  PETERSON 

and  later  president  of  the  North 
Star  Benefit  Association ,  a  fraternal 
insurance  association;  is  president 
of  the  Svea  Male  Chorus  of  Moline; 
has  been  president  of  the  Western 
Division  of  the  American  Union  of 
Swedish  Singers;  has  served  on  the 
board  of  directors  of  Augustana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary; 
has  served  for  a  number  of  years 
as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Augustana  University  Asso- 
ciation; has  been  vice-president  for 
Rock  Island  county  of  the  Swed- 
ish-American Republican  League 
of  Illinois,  besides  being  one  of 
its  organizers,  and  secretary  of  the 
Rock  Island  County  Central  Com- 
mittee. Mr.  Peterson  is  now 
president  of  the  Rock  Island 
Tropical  Plantation  Company. 


88 


Rock  Island  County 


FRANK  W.  SHALLENE, 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Shal- 
lene  Bros.,  furniture  dealers,  was 


PRANK  WILGOT  SH ALLEN E 

born  April  7,  1867,  at  Kotorp, 
Kinneved,  Skaraborgs  Ian,  Sweden, 
where  his  father,  Johannes  Carl- 
son, was  a  farmer.  He  died  at 
the  old  homestead  in  1882,  where- 
upon the  mother,  Charlotta,  nee 
Back,  joined  her  sons  in  Moline, 
where  she  died  in  1902. 

Frank  Shallene  worked  for  his 
father  on  the  farm  in  early  life, 
attending  the  common  school  of 
the  parish  less  than  one  calendar 
year.  When  seventeen  years  of 
age,  he  left  the  old  home,  destined 
for  America,  arriving  in  Moline 
on  Midsummer  Day,  1884.  The 
first  summer  he  worked  on  a  farm 
near  Geneseo  and  later  obtained 
employment  at  common  labor  with 
the  Moline  Wagon  Co.  The  next 
year  he  got  work  at  the  Union 
Malleable  Iron  Works  and  soon 
after  began  learning  the  molder's 


trade.  The  summer  of  1889  was 
spent  in  Denver,  where  he  worked 
on  the  construction  of  a  cable 
street  car  line.  Returning  to  Mo- 
line he  was  employed  as  a  molder 
in  various  shops  until  1903,  when, 
with  a  little  accumulation  of  sav- 
ings as  a  capital,  he  embarked  in 
the  furniture  business  in  partner- 
ship with  his  younger  brother, 
John  N.  Shallene.  In  1906  they 
abandoned  their  old  quarters  and 
moved  into  a  new  four  stor}^  build- 
ing, 1513-15  Fifth  ave.,  where 
they  carry  a  large  stock  of  fur- 
niture, carpets,  rugs  and  stoves, 
and  have  the  largest  furniture 
store  in  the  city. 

Sept.  23,  1896,  Mr.  Shallene 
married  Miss  Almina  Engdahl,  a 
young  lady  of  Geneseo,  born  Jan. 
27,  1872.  Her  parents  are  John 
and  Anna  Engdahl.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shallene  have  three  sons,  Wilbert 
Engdahl,  born  1897,  Milton  Lin- 
neus,  1901,  and  Bertel  Rudolph, 
1904.  Milton  L.  died  Dec.  15,  1906. 

The  family  is  connected  with 
the  Swedish  Luth.  Church,  and 
Mr.  Shallene, besides,  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Olive  Lodge  of  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  King  Philip  Tribe  of  Red 
Men.  He  has  always  been  a 
Republican. 


JOHN  N.  SHALLENE, 

junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Shallene  Bros.,  dealers  in  .furni- 
ture, was  born  Dec.  27,  1870,  in 
Kinneved  parish,  Skaraborgs  Ian, 
Sweden.  Up  to  the  age  of  four- 
teen he  attended  the  parish  school. 
Then  he  accompanied  his  elder 


Moline 


89 


brother  to  the  United  States,  and, 
like  him,  located  in  Moline. 

After  learning  the  molders'  trade 
at  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Co.'s 


JOHN  NATHANAEL  SHALLEXE 

plant,  he  was  employed  at  their 
works  and  also  by  the  Barnard  & 
Leas  Manufacturing  Co.  of  Moline 
and  by  the  Forbes  Manufacturing 
Co.  of  Rockford  for  various  peri- 
ods, until  he  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  in  1903. 

Mr.  Shallene  has  shown  his 
public  spirit  by  active  affiliation 
with  a  number  of  fraternal,  polit- 
ical and  industrial  organizations. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
In  1900  he  was  chosen  Sachem  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
after  having  held  other  offices  in 
the  local  lodge,  and  he  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Past  Sachems'  As- 
sociation. Of  the  Union  Protective 
Aid  Association  he  was  the  presi- 
dent in  1899  and  has  served  four 
years  on  its  board  of  directors. 
He  belongs  to  the  North  Star 


Benefit  Association,  was  Astrono- 
mer of  the  local  observatory  in 
1903  and  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  for  three  years.  He  is 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Iron 
Molders'  Union  and  served  as 
trustee  for  three  years  from  1900. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Republican  Club  and 
has  served  as  its  vice-president 
and  treasurer.  In  the  Svea  Male 
Chorus  he  is  a  passive  member. 

His  marriage  took  place  June 
I5<  I9°5»  the  bride  being  Minnie 
Eveline  Nelson,  daughter  of  Peter 
N.  Nelson  of  Moline.  Mrs.  Shal- 
lene was  born  Feb.  28,  1877.  They 
are  members  of  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church. 


FRED  SUNDEEN 

was     born     Sept.     23,      1860,     at 
Bergsjonas,     Vermland,     Sweden, 


FRED  SUNDEEN 

where  his  parents,  Olof  and  Kajsa 
Stina  Olson,  lived  on  a  farm. 
In  1875  his  father  died,  followed 
by  his  wife  in  1888.  The  son 
was  put  to  work  at  an  early  age 


Rock  Island  County 


and  was  permitted  to  attend  school 
only  a  few  weeks  out  of  the  year. 
At  twenty-two  he  left  home  bound 
for  America  and  came  to  Daven- 
port, la.,  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
locating  permanently  at  Moline 
in  October  of  the  same  year. 
Here  he  conducted  a  grocery  store 
for  fourteen  years,  whereupon  he 
changed  his  line  of  business  and 
for  over  four  years  has  been  a 
clothing  merchant. 

Mr.  Sundeen  has  served  two 
terms  on  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  Rock  Island  county.  He  is 
well-known  in  fraternal  circles, 
being  a  member  of  the  local  lodges 
of  the  orders  of  Svithiod,  the 
Vikings,  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  He  is  trea- 
surer of  the  Freja  lodge  of 
Svithiod  and  of  the  Mutual  In- 
surance Company. 

On  May  27,  1886,  Mr.  Sundeen 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria 
Hirsch,  born  April  7,  1863,  daugh- 
ter of  Sven  Johan  Hirsch  of 
Hvetlanda,  Smaland.  Three  daugh- 
ters have  been  born  to  them, 
namely,  Ruby  Maria,  1887,  Es- 
ther Louisa,  1889,  and  Elvira 
Almida,  1892. 

In  1901  Mr.  Sundeen  took  a 
vacation  from  his  steady  occupa- 
tion as  storekeeper  and  went  on 
a  three  months'  visit  to  his  na- 
tive land. 


who  was  for  many  years  engaged 
in  mercantile  business,  and  Au- 
gusta (Johnson)  Sundine,  who 
passed  away  in  Moline  Oct.  17, 1887. 


JOHN  SUNDINE, 
business  manager  of  the  Moline 
Daily  Dispatch  and  Moline  Review- 
Dispatch  is  a  native  of  Moline, 
where  he  was  born  July  20,  1876. 
His  parents  were  Carl  Sundine, 


JOHN    SUNDINE 

After  having  obtained  an  edu- 
cation in  the  graded  and  high 
schools,  being  employed  meanwhile 
as  a  newspaper  carrier  and  gro- 
cery clerk  in  his  father's  store, 
he  began  work  as  a  news  reporter, 
first  on  the  Moline  Journal,  then 
on  the  Dispatch.  After  a  time  he 
became  circulation  manager  on  the 
last  named  daily,  and  was  later 
promoted  to  the  position  of  busi- 
ness manager,  whicli  lie  now  holds. 

During  the  Spanish-American 
War  Mr.  Sundine  served  in  the 
navy  as  fleet  printer  under  Ad- 
miral Remey,  on  board  the  U.  S. 
S.  Lancaster,  stationed  at  Key 
West.  He  was  also  assistant  to 
Flag  Secretary  Belknap,  in  the 
government  office  at  that  point. 

Mr.  Sundine' s  career  has  been 
rapid  and  his  record  is  clear-cut. 


Moline 


He  has  been  active  in  politics,  but 
not  as  yet  held  any  public  office. 
Since  he  reached  the  voting  age 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican city  central  committee, 
of  which  he  is  now  chairman.  He 
has  been  a  delegate  to  every  Re- 
publican county  convention  and 
has  served  as  sergeant-at-arms  at 
the  last  two  Republican  national 
conventions. 

He  is  connected  with  the  fol- 
lowing organizations:  the  Swedish 
Olive  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Elks,  the  Svithiod  order,  the  N. 
S.  B.  A.,  the  Moline  Club  and  the 
Chicago  Press  Club. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Sundine  are 
old  and  devoted  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 


SWAN    TROPP, 

president  of  the  Moline  Stone  Co., 
was  born  in  Grenna  parish,  Sma- 


try.  He  emigrated  in  1868,  com- 
ing first  to  Rockford.  From  there 
he  moved  to  Moline,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  ice  and  stone  bus- 
iness on  a  small  scale.  Together 
with  Andrew  Shallberg  he  opened 
a  stone  quarry  in  1874,  drilling 
by  hand  and  employing  two  teams 
in  hauling.  Shallberg  subsequently 
sold  out  his  share  in  the  business 
to  J.  W.  Atkinson,  he  and  Tropp 
now  being  the  sole  owners  of  the 
Moline  Stone  Company,  which  at 
this  time  employs  steam  drills  and 
ships  about  200  carloads  per  month 
besides  all  material  used  in  Moline 
and  neighboring  cities.  The  pay- 
roll amounts  to  $3,500  per  month. 
Mr.  Tropp  also  continues  in  the 
ice  business  on  his  own  account. 
He  is  married  and  the  pair  are 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  in  Moline. 

Mr.  Tropp  has  served  as  alder- 
man in  the  city  council  of  Moline 
for  four  years. 


S\VAX  TROPP 


land,  Sweden,    Nov.   7,    1841,  and 
had  his  schooling  in  the  old  coun- 


JOHN  ALFRED  GODEHN, 
assistant  postmaster  of  Moline,  was 
born  i  Drengsered  parish,  Halland, 
•Sweden,  July  7,  1853.  His  father, 
John  J.  Godehn,  who  was  a  farmer 
and  a  carpenter,  came  to  America 
in  1870,  and  was  joined  by  his 
son  John  the  following  year.  They 
located  in  Moline,  where  the  father 
died  in  1878  and  the  mother  in 
1904.  Mr.  Godehn' s  schooling  was 
limited  to  the  common  branches 
taught  in  the  country  schools  of 
Sweden.  At  thirteen  he  began 
work  on  the  farm,  and  since  com- 
ing to  this  country  he  has  had 
no  opportunity  for  study  except 


Rock  Island  County 


in  the  school  of  actual  life.  He 
began  as  a  common  laborer  in 
Moline,  then  obtained  a  situation 


JOHN   ALFRED   GODEHN 

as  a  coachman  in  Rock  Island. 
Returning  to  Sweden  in  1874,  he 
brought  back  with  him  his  mother 
and  his  brother,  Carl  Henning,  in 
May,  1875.  For  the  next  two 
years  he  was  employed  by  S.  H. 
Velic  as  a  coachman,  and  for  three 
summers  as  a  gardner,  the  win- 
ters being  spent  in  the  Deere  Plow 
Works.  For  five  years  more  he 
had  steady  employment  in  this 
factory,  being  in  charge  of  the 
machinery  and  store  supply  house 
in  1884-7.  After  working  as  a 
grocery  salesman,  Mr.  Godehn  was 
for  three  years,  1887-90,  manager 
of  a  cooperative  grocery  store 
owned  by  the  Swedish  Association 
Kronan.  For  the  same  length  of 
time  he  was  associated  with  C.  G. 
Thulin  and  John  A.  Freeman 
in  the  retail  grocery  business. 
Selling  his  interest  to  his  copart- 


ners in  1893,  he  next  became  sec- 
retary and  collector  of  the  Twin 
City  Ice  Co.  In  1899  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  Sylvan  Ice  Co. 
and  the  Moline  Ice  Co.,  and  held 
the  office  of  secretary  and  treasurer 
until  April,  1906,  when  he  entered 
upon  his  present  duties  as  assist- 
ant postmaster.  He  still  retains 
his  interest  in  the  ice  business. 

Mr.  Godehn  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  is  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Swedish- American 
Republican  Club  of  Moline,  in 
which  he  has  served  two  terms  as 
president  and  three  as  secretary. 
In  1887  he  was  elected  to  the 
city  council  and  in  1904  on  the 
board  of  supervisors. 

In  the  Swedish  I,uth.  Church, 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  Mr. 
Godehn  has  been  one  of  the  trust- 
ees for  ii  years  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  twentieth  year  as  secretary. 
Since  1872,  when  he  joined  the 
church,  he  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  work  of  its  various 
organizations. 

On  Nov.  7,  1888,  Mr.  Godehn 
married  Miss  Anna  Mathilda  Fred- 
rickson  of  Chicago,  born  March 
7,  1862.  They  have  a  family  of 
six  children:  Johanna  Irene  Doro- 
thea Ruth,  born  1889;  Anna  Ma- 
ria Alina,  '91;  Ruehl  Ariel,  '92; 
Esther  Agatha,  '95;  Hedvig  Cath- 
arina,  '97;  Selma  Alfrida,  1900. 


ANDREW  G.  ANDERSON 
was  born  in  Sweden,  Dec.  4, 
1857,  the  son  of  Olof  Anderson, 
a  farmer,  who  with  his  family 
emigrated  in  1870,  settling  at 
Red  Wing,  Minn.  The  son  ob- 


Rock  Island 


93 


tained  his  first  schooling  in  the 
old  country,  continuing  his  studies 
in  Red  Wing.  In  1873,  he  se- 


ANDREW  G.  ANDERSON 

cured  a  position  in  the  office  of 
Luthersk  Kyrkotidning  where  he 
remained  until  the  next  year 
when  he  went  to  Rock  Island  at 
the  time  the  Atigtistana,  the 
church  organ  of  the  Augustana 
Synod,  was  removed  from  Chicago 
to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  seat  of 
learning.  When  his  first  employer 
sold  his  business,  Mr.  Anderson 
continued  with  his  successors  and 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Wistrand,  Timlin  and  Anderson, 
of  Moline.  After  two  years  the 
firm  sold  out  to  the  publishing 
board  of  the  Augustana  Synod. 
Mr.  Anderson  continued  as  fore- 
man of  the  printing  department 
until  1889,  when  he  became  man- 
ager and  treasurer  of  the  Au- 
gustana Book  Concern,  an  office 
he  has  held  ever  since.  Mr. 
Anderson  has  served  on  the  board 


of  directors  of  Augustana  College 
for  years,  and  has  been  appointed 
to  various  other  positions  of  trust. 
He  is  a  member  of  Zion  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  where  he  has 
served  as  a  deacon  and  Sunday 
school  superintendent. 

On  Oct.  26.  1880,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hilda  L.  Lindstrom, 
daughter  of  Johan  P.  Lindstrom 
of  Moline.  Two  sons  and  three 
daughters  have  been  born  to  them. 
His  political  support  Mr.  Ander- 
son gives  to  the  Republican  party. 
He  has  served  as  alderman  of  the 
seventh  ward  for  several  terms  and 
his  word  carried  weight  in  the 
city  council. 


CARL  JOHAN  BENGSTON, 

associate     editor     of      Augustana, 
was  born  July  22,    1862,    at    Staf 


CARL  JOHAN  BENGSTON 

singe,  Sweden,  where  his  father, 
Sven  Johan  Bengtson  followed  the 
tailor's  trade.  In  1875  the  family 
came  to  this  country  and  lived 


94 


Rock  Island  County 


two  years  in  Corry,  Pa.,  after- 
wards settling  in  Titusville,  where 
they  lived  until  1899,  when 
they  removed  to  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 
There  his  mother,  Neta  Christina, 
nee  Andreasson,  died  in  Nov.  1901. 

C.  J.  Bengston  attended  public 
school  in  Sweden  and  the  United 
States  before  going  to  Augustana 
in  1880.  He  entered  the  second 
class  of  the  academic  department 
in  January  of  that  year  and  grad- 
uated with  the  college  class  of 
'88  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
Two  years  later  he  had  completed 
the  courses  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  same  institution 
and  after  his  ordination  became 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church  at  Hartford,  Ct.  In 
August,  1893,  ne  assumed  charge 
of  the  churches  at  New  Sweden 
and  Upland,  in  Jefferson  co.,  la., 
remaining  in  their  service  until 
1900. 

Rev.  Bengston  was  secretary  of 
the  Iowa  Conference  1898-1900, 
has  served  as  secretary  of  the 
Church  Extension  Society  since 
1901  and  as  treasurer  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  since  1902. 

In  December,  1900,  he  assumed 
his  present  position  as  associate 
editor  of  Augustana,  the  official 
paper  of  the  Synod.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Zion  Church  of 
Rock  Island,  is  now  serving  on 
the  church  council  and  as  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school. 

Rev.  Bengston  was  a  member 
of  the  28th  General  Assembly  of 
Iowa,  from  Jefferson  county,  in 
1900.  He  was  married  June  4, 
1891,  to  Miss  Emilie  Otilia  Swan- 


son    of  Jamestown, 
July   18,   1866. 


N.    Y.,    born 


CARL    AUGUST    BLOMGREN, 

professor  of  Hebrew  at  Augustana 
Theological    Seminary,    was    born 


CARL  AUGUST  BLOMGREN 

April  i,  1865,  at  the  Solstad 
mine,  in  the  parish  of  Misterhult, 
Smaland,  Sweden.  When  he  was 
ten  years  old  the  family  emigrated, 
settling  in  Calumet,  Mich.,  where 
he  attended  public  schools  for  the 
next  five  winters.  In  1880  he 
entered  the  third  class  of  the 
academic  department  of  Augus- 
tana and  in  1885  graduated  from 
college  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
From  that  time  until  1887  Mr. 
Blomgren  supplied  the  pulpit  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Lowell,  Mass.,  also  pursuing 
higher  studies  at  Harvard  during 
the  school  year  of  1886-87. 

The  following  fall  he  entered 
the  Senior  class  of  Augustana 
Theological  Seminary,  wasgraduat- 


Rock  Island 


95 


ed  in  the  spring  of  1888  and 
.ordained  to  the  ministry  in  June 
24,  the  same  year,  at  the  synodi- 
cal  meeting  in  Galesburg.  Rev. 
Blomgren  then  took  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
churches  at  McKeesport,  and 
Braddock,  Pa.  In  1890  he  as- 
sumed the  pastorate  of  Bridgeport 
and  Stamford,  Ct.  For  the  next 
three  years,  along  with  his  pas- 
toral work,  he  pursued  studies  at 
Yale  University,  receiving  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.  from  that  insti- 
tution in  1893.  The  following 
year  Dr.  Blomgren  left  his  charges 
in  Connecticut  to  become  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
in  Philadelphia  where  he  served 
from  1894-  to  1904.  During  the 
years  1895  to  1898  he  attended 
lectures  in  the  Semitic  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
subsequently  serving  as  instructor 
in  Hebrew  at  the  Mt.  Airy  Theo- 
logical Seminary  until  1904,  when 
he  left  Philadelphia  to  assume  a 
similar  position  at  Augustana 
Theological  Seminary.  In  1905, 
after  one  year's  service  to  his 
Alma  Mater,  Dr.  Blomgren  was 
called  to  occupy  the  chair  of 
Hebrew  as  permanent  professor. 
His  other  subjects  are  Theological 
Propaedeutics  and  Biblical  Intro- 
duction. Dr.  Blomgren  has  written 
a  work  entitled  "The  Elements  of 
the  Christian  Religion." 

At  Lowell,  Mass.,  Feb.  13, 
1889,  Dr.  Blomgren  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sigrid 
Amalia  Soderberg.  Their  chil- 
dren are  three  in  number:  Sigfrid 
Luther,  born  1892,  Svanhild  Anna 


Margareta,      1895,     and      Mildred 
Hildegard  lone,   1899. 


ANDERS  OLOF  BERSELL 

Prof.     A.     O.     Bersell,    deceased, 
occupied  |  the    chair    of    Greek  at 


ANDERS  OLOF  BERSELL 

Augustana  College  from  the  year 
1880  until  his  death.  He  was 
born  in  the  village  of  Utmeland, 
Mora  parish,  May  16,  1853.  H*s 
first  instruction  was  received  in 
the  public  school  of  the  parish. 
In  1868  he  took  a  course  in  a 
normal  school,  subsequently  teach- 
ing for  four  years  in  his  home 
districts.  At  nineteen  he  resumed 
his  studies  and  was  graduated 
from  college  at  Upsala  in  1877. 
After  serving  as  tutor  for  a  year 
he  returned  to  Upsala  in  order  to 
pursue  philosophical  studies.  He 
took  the  degree  of  Ph.  Cand., 
after  two  years  at  the  university, 
whereupon  he  became  instructor 
in  a  mission  school  in  Stockholm 
conducted  by  "Evangeliska  Fos- 


Rock  Island  County 


terlandsstiftelsen."  In  1880  he 
received  two  calls  from  America 
simultaneously,  one  from  Gustavus 
Adolphus  College  at  St.  Peter, 
Minn.,  the  other  from  Augusta na, 
to  become  professor  of  Greek  and 
German.  He  accepted  the  latter, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year.  Be- 
sides Greek  and  German,  he  taught 
at  different  times  Swedish,  Latin, 
Philosophical  Propaedeutics  and 
religious  subjects,  his  main  sub- 
ject, the  Greek  language  and 
literature,  eventually  demanding 
a  monopoly  of  his  time  and  energy. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  Greek  text- 
book, entitled,  "Notes  to  Greek 
Grammar,"  also  a  first  and  second 
reader  for  the  Swedish  parochial 
schools,  besides  having  done  much 
literary  work  in  the  way  of  edit- 
ing or  contributing  to  the  news- 
papers Augustana,  Ungdomsvdnnen 
and  Hemvannen,  editing  Christmas 
books  for  the  young  and  translat- 
ing juvenile  stories  from  the  Swed- 
ish and  German  languages.  In 
1894  the  degree  and  title  of  Ph. 
D.  was  conferred  on  Prof.  Bersell 
by  the  institution  he  so  long 
served.  He  was  a  devoted  church- 
man and  served  as  a  deacon  in 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  of 
Moline  and  afterwards  for  many 
years  in  the  Zion  Church  of  Rock 
Island.  He  died  Dec.  16,  1903, 
leaving  a  wife,  Uma  Ber.-ell,  nee 
Lagerlund,  and  12  children. 


Rev.    A.    R.    Cervin,    Ph.   D.,  fo 
many  years  professor  of  Greek  and 
mathematics  at  Augustana  College 


OLOF    Z.  CERVIN, 
architect      of        the       Augustana 
Synod,  was  born  in    Paxton,  111., 
Oct.    1 8,    1868.     His    father    was 


OLOF   Z.  CERX'IN 

and  a  pioneer  in  the  spiritual  and 
intellectual  work  among  the  Swedes 
of  America.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Emma  Thulin,  sister  to 
C.  G.  Thulin,  treasurer  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  for  a  long  term  of 
years. 

In  1887  Mr.  Cervin  graduated 
from  Augustana  College,  and  there- 
after spent  a  year  on  the  actual 
construction  of  buildings  in  Ish- 
peming  and  Houghton,  Mich. 
After  training  for  a  few  years 
with  architects  in  Chicago  and 
Rock  Island,  he  entered  Columbia 
College  and  in  1904  took  the  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts,  having 
written  a  "History  of  Colonial 
Architecture."  This  has  been 
printed  in  two  different  publica- 
tions. 

After  spending  a  year  in  a  New 
York  office  he  located  in  the  twin 


Rock  Island 


97 


cities  of  Rock  Island  and  Moline, 
111.  Here  he  has  erected  a  large 
number  of  buildings,  among  which 
are  the  Augustana  Book  Concern, 
a  fireproof  building,  and  the  D., 
R.  I.  &  N.  W.  Ry.  station  of 
Moline  and  Rock  Island,  also  the 
Industrial  Home,  the  Tabernacle 
of  the  Mission  Friends,  three  large 
school  buildings,  Moline  Wagon 
Co.'s  warehouse  and  a  number  of 
factories  and  business  buildings  as 
well  as  residences  in  Moline  and 
elsewhere,  including  specimens  of 
Mexican,  colonial  and  other  styles 
of  architecture.  A  six-story  fire- 
proof reinforced  concrete  office 
building  has  been  erected  in  Rock 
Island  from  the  plans  of  Mr.  Cer- 
vin,  being  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
that  part  of  the  country. 

In  1 896  he  was  appointed  official 
church  architect  of  the  Augustana 
Synod.  Since  this  time  he  has 
planned  many  churches,  among 
which  are  those  of  Lake  Park, 
Minn.,  Orion  and  Belvidere,  111., 
Savonburg,  Kans.,  Worcester, 
Mass.,  and  Wausa,  Neb.  He  has 
also  planned  the  Orphans'  Homes 
or  additions  to  their  old  buildings 
in  Andover,  111.,  Vasa,  Minn., 
Omaha,  Neb.,  and  Stanton,  la. 

Besides  the  history  mentioned, 
he  has  written  a  historical  sketch  of 
the  Spanish-Mexican  Mission  in 
California,  which  was  published  in 
an  architectural  journal  in  Sep- 
tember, 1903,  and  a  review  of  the 
church  architecture  of  the  Swedes 
in  America,  published  in  Prdrie- 
blomman  for  1902. 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  with 
such  antecedents  and  a  training 


of  the  kind  his  parents  gave  him, 
Mr.  Cervin  is  deeply  interested  in 
the  spiritual,  intellectual  and  ma- 
terial prosperity  of  the  Swedes  in 
this  country,  wherever  they  may 
be  located. 

In  recent  years  Mr.  Cervin  has 
made  two  European  trips,  prin- 
cipally for  the  study  of  architect- 
ure in  Italy,  but  also  visiting 
France,  Germany,  Holland,  Den- 
mark, Norway  and  Sweden. 


JOHN  G.  DAHLBERG 

came      to      the      United      States 
at    the    age    of    twenty-two    from 


JOHN  G.  DAHLBERG 

Hvetlanda,Smaland,  Sweden  where 
he  was  born  March  28,  1862. 
Having  worked  as  a  farmhand  for 
a  couple  of  years,  he  was  enrolled 
at  Augustana  College  in  1882  and 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1889. 
Two  years  later  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Augustana  Seminary  and 
ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel at  the  synodical  meeting  at 


98 


Rock  Island  County 


Chisago  Lake,  Minn.  His  first 
pastoral  charge  was  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Altona,  111., 
where  he  served  1891-99.  He  was 
then  elected  pastor  of  the  Zion 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Rock 
Island  in  1899  and  served  until  1905. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Emilia 
C.  Envall  of  Galesburg,  who  died 
in  November,  1892,  after  giving 
birth  to  a  son,  Carl  Johan  Enril. 
In  1898  Rev.  Dahlberg  married 
Miss  Josephine  Nelson,  daughter 
of  Swan  Nelson  of  Altona.  In 
this  union  he  has  two  daughters, 
Florence  Emilia  Josephine,  and 
Mildred  Clara  Olivia. 

During  the  academic  year  of 
1889-90,  Rev.  Dahlberg  was  assist- 
ant teacher  of  Swedish  at  his  Al- 
ma Mater  and  was  called  to  the 
chair  of  Swedish  Language  and 
Literature  in  1893,  but  declined. 
The  institution  later  conferred  on 
him  the  degree  of  A.  M.  He 
was  elected  professor  of  Christian- 
ity at  Augustana  College  and 
served  for  a  short  period,  resign- 
ing in  1906. 

Rev.  Dahlberg  is  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  Augus 
tana  College  and  has  served  several 
years  as  secretary  and  one  year 
as  president  of  that  body;  he 
was  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference 1897-1902,  member  of  the 
board  of  missions  of  the  Augus- 
tana Synod  1899-1902,  acting  as 
its  treasurer  in  1899-1900  and 
secretary  in  1901,  and  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Synod  in  1903, 
being  reelected  in  1905  and  1907. 
Since  1901  he  has  edited  Korsba- 
neret,  a  devotional  and  historical 


annual  publication  of  the   Augus- 
tana   Synod. 


NILS    FORSANDER, 

professor  of  Church   History,  Sym- 
bolics, etc.,    in    Augustana    Thco- 


NILS  FORSANDER 

logical  Seminary,  was  born  at 
Gladsax,  Skane,  Sweden,  Sept.  n, 
1846.  He  first  studied  at  the  pub- 
lic college  at  Lund  and  subse- 
quently at  a  private  college  in  the 
same  city.  During  the  summer 
of  1870,  he  met  Rev.  T.  N. 
Hasselquist,  who  was  visiting 
Sweden,  and  the  following  fall 
accompanied  him  to  Paxton, 
111.,  where  he  completed  the  theo- 
logical course  required  for  enter- 
ing the  ministry  of  the  Augustana 
Synod.  During  the  illness  of  Prof. 
A.  J.  Lindstrom  in  the  spring  term 
of  1871,  Forsander  taught  his  Lat- 
in and  Greek  classes.  He  was  or- 
dained minister  in  1873  and,  since 
that  time,  has  had  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  congregations 


Rock  Island 


99 


in  Aledo,  Sagetown  and  Raritan, 
111.,  1873-75,  Kossuth,  la.,  1875- 
80,  and  the  Bethesda  Church  in 
Page  county,  la.,  1880-90.  At 
different  times  during  this  period 
he  acted  as  secretary  of  the  Illi- 
nois and  Iowa  Conferences  and  of 
the  Augustana  Synod  in  1887-90. 

In  the  fall  of  1 889  he  was  called 
as  acting  professor  in  the  Au- 
gustana Theological  Seminary  and 
in  the  following  year  was  made 
regular  professor,  in  which  capac- 
ity he  has  taught  and  lectured  in 
Church  History,  Symbolics,  Isa- 
gogics,  Homiletics,  Pastoral  Theol- 
ogy and  Apologetics.  In  1894 
Rev.  Forsander  was  given  the 
honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  by  the 
trustees  of  the  institution  with 
which  he  is  connected.  In  1907, 
King  Oscar  II  conferred  upon 
him  the  order  of  the  North  Star. 
Upon  his  6oth  birthday  anniver- 
sary, Dr.  Forsander 's  former 
students  presented  him  with  a 
bust  of  Olaus  Petri,  by  Jean  Le 
Veau. 

As  a  theological  writer  Dr.  For- 
sander has  contributed  both  to  the 
Swedish  and  the  English  literature 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  While 
a  young  man  he  began  by  trans- 
lating hymns  from  German,  to 
Swedish.  Since  then  he  has  writ- 
ten for  Augustana,  Luthersk  Qvar- 
talskrift,  Ungdomsvannen,  Korsba- 
neret,  The  Lutheran,  The  Lutheran 
Church  Review,  The  Independent  and 
other  periodicals.  He  is  one  of 
the  editors  of  a  Swedish-English 
theological  quarterly,  "Tidskrift 
for  teologi  och  kyrkliga  frag  or. ' '  For 
Kyrkohistorisk  arsskrift  he  has  writ- 


ten a  historical  sketch  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  and  for  the  "Luth- 
eran Encyclopoedia"  most  of  the 
articles  on  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  Sweden.  As  a  member  of  the 
editorial  staff  of  Augustana  and 
Hemvannen  he  contributed  articles 
and  stories  to  these  papers.  From 
the  German  he  has  translated  quite 
extensively  and  has  written  a  com- 
mentary on  the  unaltered  Augs- 
burg Confession,  which  has  been 
published  in  two  editions. 

Dr.  Forsander  is  a  diligent  stu- 
dent and  has  accumulated  an  ex- 
tensive library,  especially  rich  in 
theological  literature. 

Jan.  6,  1875,  Dr.  Forsander,  then 
pastor  of  the  Sagetown  church,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jo- 
hanna Charlotta  Ahlgren  of  Bur- 
lington, la.,  born  Aug.  4,  1852. 


CLAUDE  W.  FOSS, 

professor  of  History  at  Augustana 
College,  was  born  in  Geneva, 
Kane  county,  111.,  Aug.  28,  1855. 
His  parents.  Carl  Johan  and  Char- 
lotte Christine  Foss,  arrived  in 
Chicago  from  Habo  parish,  Vester- 
gotland,  Sweden,  in  the  summer 
of  1854.  They  settled  in  Geneva, 
111.,  but  removed  to  Goodhue  co., 
Minn.,  in  1858.  His  early  train- 
ing was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  Red  Wing  Col- 
legiate Institute.  After  having 
engaged  in  the  work  of  a  public 
school  teacher  for  four  years,  he 
entered  Augustana  College  in  the 
the  fall  of  1879.  Here  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.  A. 
in  June,  1883,  having  also  pursued 
studies  of  the  scientific  course. 


IOO 


Rock  Island  County 


In  1884  he  was  called  to  the 
chair  of  History  and  Political  Sci- 
ence at  Augustana  College.  In 


CLAUDE  W.   FOSS 

1888  he  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  institution,  serving  in  that 
capacity  until  1900.  On  the  death 
of  Dr.  Hasselquist,  he  served  as 
acting  president  until  the  election 
of  Dr.  Olsson  as  president  in  1891. 
He  continued  to  hold  the  position 
of  vice-president  under  the  entire 
presidency  of  Dr.  Olsson,  and  upon 
the  death  of  the  latter,  he  was 
again  appointed  acting  president, 
which  position  he  held  until  June, 
1901,  when  Dr.  Gustav  Andreen 
was  elected  president.  Since  that 
time  he  has  devoted  himself  more 
exclusively  to  his  chair  and  liter- 
ary work. 

The  degree  of  Ph.  D.  was  con- 
ferred on  him  by  Augustana  Col- 
lege in  1900.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Civics, 
the  American  Academy  of  Political 
and  Social  Science,  the  American 


Historical  Association  and  the 
Sw. -American  Historical  Society. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all 
political  matters,  local,  state  and 
national. 

Aug.  2,  1887,  Dr.  Foss  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Margaret  Shuey  of  Augusta  co., 
Virginia,  born  Feb.  14,  1863. 
They  have  no  children,  but  an 
orphan  niece,  Martha  Foss,  fills 
the  place  of  a  daughter  in  their 
home.  They  are  members  of  Grace 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Rock  Island. 


JOHN  P.  ENGSTROM, 
manager  of  the  Rock  Island  Wood 
Works,  was  born  in  Floda  parish, 
Dalarne,  Sweden,  Aug.  4,  1859. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  locating  first 
in  Minneapolis.  After  working  for 
a  time  as  a  cabinetmaker,  he  be- 
came foreman  of  the  Bardwell  & 
Robinson  factory,  a  position  he 
was  able  to  fill  creditably  by  rea- 
son of  having  taken  a  course  in 
the  sloyd  school  at  Falun,  Swe- 
den. From  Minneapolis  he  re- 
moved to  Rock  Island  to  become 
the  mechanical  head  of  the  Wood 
Works  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Engstrom  was  married  in 
1884  to  lyizzie  Engstrom;  they 
have  two  daughters,  Edith  Eleo- 
nora  and  Maria  Victoria,  and  a 
son,  Frans  Waldemar. 

Mr.  Engstrom  is  a  member  of 
the  order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  the  Elks,  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Svithiod. 


Rock  Island 


IOI 


CARL  OTTO  GRANERE, 

librarian    of    Augustana    College, 
was    born    in    Granhult,     Hogsby 


CARL  OTTO  GRANERE 

parish,  Smaland,  Sweden,  Sept. 
27,  1844.  Having  begun  his 
studies  at  a  preparatory  school  in 
Morlunda,  he  later  pursued  a 
classical  college  course  first  in 
Linkoping  and  then  in  Stockholm, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1870. 
In  compliance  with  a  special  in- 
vitation or  call,  he  came  to  Au- 
gustana College  and  Theological 
Seminary,  at  that  time  located  at 
Paxton,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1870, 
arriving  there  on  the  anniversary 
of  his  birthday.  Under  the  in- 
struction and  guidance  of  Dr.  T. 
N.  Hasselquist,  he  completed  the 
prescribed  theological  course  and 
graduated  in  May,  1871.  At  this 
time  he  was  called  as  assistant 
professor  at  Augustana  College 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  as 
such  the  following  September. 
He  was  ordained  at  Galesburg  in 


1872,  and  was  called  as  regular 
professor  of  Latin  and  Swedish 
in  1873.  During  the  years  1872- 
1876  he  served  also  as  assistant 
instructor  in  Church  History  and 
Doctrinal  Theology  at  Augustana 
Seminary.  He  was  regular  pro- 
fessor of  the  Latin  language  and 
literature  at  Augustana  College 
during  the  years  1873-1898,  in 
the  meantime  also  serving  for 
many  years  both  as  secretary  of 
the  Faculty  and  as  vice-president. 
In  June,  1896,  the  Board  of 
Directors  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  and  in  1898 
they  appointed  him  librarian  of 
the  institution. 

Having  lost  his  first  wife,  So- 
phia Albertina  Wiborg,  who  died 
in  May,  1883,  Dr.  Granere  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Marie  Tho- 
mason,  the  25th  of  Dec.,  1887, 
and  has  had  with  her  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Ruth  Mirjam,  Carl  Emanuel, 
Helga  Johanna  and  Hortensia 
Linnea. 

OLOF  GRAFSTROM, 

head  of  the  art  department  of 
Augustana  College,  is  a  painter  of 
international  renown.  Both  as  a 
teacher  of  art  and  as  a  creative 
artist  he  has  done  much  to  develop 
the  art  instinct  of  the  Swedish- 
American  public.  Grafstrom  hails 
from  the  northern  part  of  Sweden. 
This  might  almost  be  inferred 
from  the  stern  and  serious,  not  to 
say  majestic  tone  of  his  land- 
scapes. The  never  to  be  forgotten 
memories  of  the  grandeur  of  the 
north  have  impressed  their  hall- 


IO2 


Rock  Island  County 


mark  upon  his  art.  In  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  province  of  Me- 
delpad  Olof  Grafstrom  was  born 


OLOF   GRAFSTROM 

June  n,  1855;  here  he  imbibed 
with  the  very  atmosphere  his  great 
love  of  that  land  whose  beauties 
he  never  tires  of  reproducing  on 
canvas.  Prof.  Grafstrom  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  same  family  that  has 
given  Sweden  two  poets  of  renown. 
He  is  the  son  of  the  late  C.  P. 
Grafstrom  of  Attmar,  who  was 
judge  of  the  district  court  and  a 
man  of  oldfashioned  integrity  and 
honor.  The  son  at  an  early  age 
showed  a  talent  for  drawing  and 
sketching,  but  took  no  interest 
whatever  in  the  contents  of  the 
traditional  green  bag.  Regardless 
of  the  boy's  proclivities,  the  par- 
ents predestined  him  to  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer  and,  in  order 
to  give  him  an  education  beyond 
that  bestowed  by  the  common 
school,  he  was  sent  to  the  high 
school  at  Niifsta.  There  his  tal- 


ents were  noticed,  and  Dr.  Olof 
Wikstrom,  then  chairman  of  the 
school  board,  prevailed  upon  his 
the  father  to  let  the  son  devote 
himself  to  that  career,  for  which 
he  was  most  fitted.  This  led  to 
his  enrollment  in  1875,  at  the  age 
of  19,  in  the  Academy  of  Fine 
Arts  at  Stockholm.  His  studies 
completed,  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  in  painting  in  1882. 
Among  his  contemporaries  at  the 
art  academy  were  many  Swedish 
painters  who  subsequently  won 
fame,  such  as  Zorn,  L,iljefors, 
Bergh,  Tiren,  Kindborg  and  von 
Saltza. 

From  now  on  Grafstrom  devoted 
himself  to  landscape  studies,  es- 
pecially in  northern  Sweden,  where 
he  and  a  number  of  other  artists 
made  sketching  tours  throughout 
Dalarne  and  L,apland.  Many  can- 
vases were  the  result  of  his  trip, 
one  being  a  landscape  from  the 
Qvickjock  valley,  purchased  by 
King  Oscar  II.  Having  thus  ob- 
tained recognition  in  Sweden,  Graf- 
strom in  1886  went  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Portland,  Ore. 
Here  he  soon  made  a  success  with 
his  fine  reproductions  of  the  mag- 
nificent sceneries  of  the  far  North- 
west, many  being  purchased  at 
high  prices  for  private  collections 
or  for  public  buildings  and  insti- 
tutions. After  three  years  in  Port- 
land he  moved  to  Spokane  in  1889, 
meeting  with  equally  good  fortune 
here.  At  an  exhibition  held  at 
Spokane  in  1890  and  also  at  the 
annual  exhibitions  in  Portland, 
Mr.  Grafstrom  showed  some  splen- 
did pictures,  chiefly  landscapes. 


Rock  Island 


103 


One  of  these,  with  a  motif  from 
Lapland,  won  the  large  silver 
medal  awarded  at  Portland.  The 
press  of  the  West  Coast  had  only 
praise  for  Mr.  Grafstrom's  work. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Prof. 
Grafstrbm  has  accomplished  not  a 
little  in  the  field  of  American  art. 
But  more  is  yet  to  be  expected  of 
this  powerful  wielder  of  the  brush, 
and  his  past  achievements  warrant 
the  belief  that  by  his  art  he  will 
contribute  largely  toward  the  art 
education  of  his  nationality  in  this 
country. 

Prof.  Graf  strom  was  married 
June  15,  1904,  to  Miss  Anna  Nel- 
son of  Galesburg,  herself  a  skillful 
painter. 

OSCAR  V.  HOLMGRAIN 

was  born  in  Simtuna,  Upland, 
Sweden,  March  n,  1852.  His 


OSCAR  V.  HOLMGRAIN 

father  was  C.  A.  Holmgren, 
musical  director.  The  son  studied 
at  the  Hudiksvall  collegiate 


school  and  graduated  in  the  spring 
of  1871.  He  went  to  Upsala  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  the  university. 
Failing  to  secure  the  needed  funds, 
in  January,  1872,  he  entered  as 
clerk  several  of  the  government 
departments  at  Stockholm,  it 
being  customary  to  register  in 
two  or  more  departments,  thus 
getting  an  opportunity  to  make 
the  best  choice.  The  income  be- 
ing small,  he  decided  to  emigrate 
to  America  and  arrived  in  New 
York  in  May,  1872,  secured  a 
position  in  a  wholesale  house  in 
Philadelphia,  and  later  in  a 
jewelry  store  in  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
In  the  spring  of  1879,  he  removed 
to  Rock  Island,  and  served  as 
assistant  teacher  in  Augustana 
College,  while  simultaneously 
studying  theology  in  the  Semin- 
ary. He  was  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  1882 
and  has  served  the  following 
churches:  Beaver  and  Rankin, 
111.,  1882-85;  Worcester,  Mass., 
1885-87;  Farmersville,  Ford  co., 
111.,  1887-96;  Chesterton,  Ind., 
1896-1900.  Since  April,  1900,  he 
has  been  office  editor  of  the  Au- 
gustana Book  Concern,  at  Rock 
Island.  Rev.  Holmgrain  was 
county  treasurer  of  Ford  county, 
111.  1890-1894,  secretary  of  the 
Illinois  Conference  1889-91  and 
was  treasurer  of  the  same  Con- 
ference 1896-1906. 

June  24,  1882,  Rev.  Holmgrain 
was  married  to  Jennie  Christina 
Linderholm  of  Sterling,  111.,  born 
April  25,  1860.  Their  two  sons, 
Elmer  Fredrick  and  Eric  Oscar, 


IO4 


Rock  Island  County 


were  born,  respectively,    1888   and 
1891.  

C.  EMANUEL  HOFFSTEN, 

former    pastor    of    Grace    English 
Lutheran  Church  of  Rock  Island, 


CONRAD  EAIANUEL  HOFFSTEN 

was  born  March  26,  1876.  When 
he  was  two  years  old,  his  parents 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  obtained  his  public  school  and 
high  school  education,  being  grad- 
uated from  the  Central  High  School 
of  Philadelphia  in  1894  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  entered  the  So- 
phomore class  of  Augustana  Col- 
lege, Rock  Island,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1897,  a^so  with  the  degree  af  A. 
B.  Mr.  Hoffsten  was  valedictorian 
and  was  one  of  the  highest  honor 
men  of  his  class.  During  the  year 
1897-8  he  served  as  assistant  to 
Dr.  C.  A.  Evald,  pastor  of  the 
Swedish  Luth.  Immanuel  Church 
of  Chicago.  In  the  fall  of  1898 


he  entered  the  Divinity  Depart- 
ment of  Augustana  College  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion with  the  highest  honors  in 
1901,  receiving  the  degree  of  B. 
D.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  at  Jamestown,  N. 
Y.,  the  same  year.  At  once  he 
assumed  charge  of  Grace  Luther- 
an Church  of  Rock  Island,  one  of 
the  few  churches  of  the  Augus- 
tana Synod  in  which  the  English 
language  is  exclusively  used.  He 
became  known  as  an  eloquent 
preacher  and  as  an  indefatigable 
and  successful  worker  in  the 
church.  The  heavy  debt  of  the 
congregation  was  wiped  out  dur- 
ing his  incumbency. 

Since  July,  1907,  he  has  been 
pastor  of  the  Harlem  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  New  York 
City. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hoffsten  was 
united  in  marriage  May  n,  1904, 
to  Anna  Fidelia  Christina  Evald, 
daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  A. 
Evald  of  Chicago.  They  have  a 
daughter,  Beatrice  Frances  Eliza- 
beth, born  Feb.  25,  1905. 


ELOF  KARDELL  JONSON, 

pastor  of  the  Zion  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Rock  Island, 
was  born  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  Carl  Jonson,  at  Kantebo, 
Tveta  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden, 
June  23,  1878.  His  early  school- 
ing was  obtained  in  his  native 
land  up  to  1891,  when  he,  with 
his  parents,  brothers  and  sisters, 
came  to  the  United  States.  The 
family  located  at  Cedarville, 
Minn.,  as  farmers.  They  are  now 


Rock  Island 


105 


living  in  Portland,  Ore.  ,  having 
removed  to  Rockford  in  1898  and 
from  Rockford  in  1905.  The  son 


ELOF  KARUELL JOXSON 

Elof  left  the  work  on  the  farm 
in  1895  and  entered  Augustana, 
graduating  with  the  college  class 
of  1901,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
The  same  year  he  took  first  prize 
in  the  annual  oratorical  contest  at 
the  institution. 

During  1902-1904  Mr.  Jonson 
did  post-graduate  work  at  the 
University  of  Chicago  in  the  sub- 
jects of  New  Testament  and 
Church  History.  Returning  to 
Augustana,  he  completed  the 
theological  course  in  1905,  ob- 
tained his  diploma  as  Bachelor 
of  Divinity  and  was  ordained 
minister  by  the  Augustana  Synod 
June  ii  that  summer.  Thereupon 
he  took  pastoral  charge  of  the  Zion 
church  whose  pulpit  he  still  sup- 
plies. Rev.  Jonson  preached  his 
first  sermon  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, began  actual  preparation  for 


entering  the  ministry  at  twenty 
and  served  as  pastor's  assistant 
in  the  Immanuel  Church  of  Chi- 
cago in  1901-1902,  before  taking 
up  divinity  studies. 

May  21,  1907,  Rev.  Jonson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Anderson  of  Rockford,  111. 


UNUS  WARNER  KLING, 

professor  of  Latin  at  Augustana 
College,  was  born  in  Rockford, 
111.,  Sept.  14,  1872.  His  parents 
were  Johan  August  Kling,  a 
mechanic,  who  died  in  1874,  and 
his  wife,  Amalia  Carolina  Leijon. 
After  graduating  from  the  Rock- 
ford  High  School  in  1888,  he 
continued  his  studies  at  Augus- 
tana and  graduated  from  that 


LINUS  WARNER   KLING 

institution  with  the  class  of  '92. 
During  the  school  years  1893-96 
Mr.  Kling  was  instructor  in  Latin 
and  English  at  Hope  Academy, 
Moorhead,  Minn.,  prior  to  which 


io6 


Rock  Island  County 


time  he  was  for  one  year  assist- 
ant principal  of  the  high  school 
at  Stanton  Iowa. 

Leaving  his  position  as  teacher, 
Mr.  Kling  took  up  higher  studies, 
first  at  the  University  of  Nebraska, 
where  he  held  a  fellowship  in 
1898-99  and  in  the  latter  year 
took  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 
Further  studies  were  pursued  in 
the  Yale  University  Graduate 
School  for  two  years,  1902-04, 
during  the  latter  of  which  Mr. 
Kling  held  a  scholarship. 

After  acting  as  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  Latin  and  Modern 
Languages  at  Augustana,  from 
1899  to  1902,  Mr.  Kling  was 
called  to  the  chair  of  Latin, 
which  he  now  occupies.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Zion  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Rock  Island. 


tal  musical  education.  Oliver, 
one  of  the  older  brothers,  became 
a  singer -and  organist,  and  was 


EMIL  LARSON, 

Director  of  the  Augustana  Con- 
servatory of  Music,  was  born  at 
Ahus,  Skane,  Sweden,  Aug.  27, 
1 86 1.  He  was  the  youngest  of 
seven  sons  of  the  local  school- 
master, John  Larson,  and  his  wife 
Gunilla.  In  1863  the  family 
emigrated,  settling  in  Chicago, 
where  Mr.  Larson,  Sr.,  was  one 
of  the  first  men  engaged  as 
teacher  of  the  parish  school  of 
the  Immanuel  Church.  Among 
the  earliest  investments  of  the 
family  after  reaching  this  country 
was  the  purchase  of  a  melodeon, 
the  precursor  of  the  modern  reed 
organ.  With  the  aid  of  this  in- 
strument the  children  in  turn 
endeavored  to  obtain  a  fundamen- 


EMIL  LARSON 

in  fact  a  pioneer  in  Swedish- 
American  music,  making  a  concert 
tour  among  the  Swedish  settle- 
ments in  Illinois  and  Minnesota 
as  far  back  as  the  '6os. 

The  son  Emil  acquired  his 
musical  education  under  difficult- 
ies. The  family  having  lost 
everything  in  the  great  fire  of 
1871,  he  was  obliged  to  begin 
work  to  help  earn  their  living  at 
an  early  age.  The  only  time 
left  him  for  study  was  after  a 
ten  hour  working  day  in  a  book 
bindery.  In  the  course  of  time 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  bind- 
ery business  of  Johnson  and 
Larson. 

In  1893  he  sold  his  interest 
in  the  book  bindery  and  thence- 
forth devoted  himself  entirely  to 
the  musical  profession.  Mr.  Lar- 
son's studies  were  prosecuted 


Rock  Island 


107 


under  the  direction  of  the  follow- 
ing teachers,  J.  F.  Ring,  Arthur 
J.  Creswold,  Gustavus  Johnson 


VEXDELA  E.   B.  LARSON 

of  Minneapolis,  W.  S.  B.  Mat- 
hews,  Clarence  Eddy  and  Wm.  H. 
Sherwood.  In  1888  Mr.  Larson, 
after  due  examination  by  the 
American  College  of  Musicians, 
was  given  the  degree  of  A.  A.  C. 
M.  (Associate  American  College  of 
Musicians).  In  1885  he  had  taken 
the  position  of  organist  of  the 
Immanuel  Church,  which  he  re- 
tained until  1897  when  he  resigned 
to  accept  a  similar  position  in  the 
Union  Park  Congregational  Church. 
In  1901  he  was  recalled  to  the 
Immanuel  Church,  where  he 
continued  as  organist  another 
three  years.  In  1899  he  was 
called  to  instruct  in  piano  at 
North  Park  College,  Chicago,  and 
taught  there  until  January,  1905, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Augustana  Conservatory  of  Music 
and  removed  to  Rock  Island. 


There  he  is  teacher  of  Organ, 
Piano  and  Theory  of  Music,  be- 
sides conducting  the  Wennerberg 
Male  Chorus,  the  Handel  Oratorio 
Society,  and  the  Svea  Male  Chorus 
of  Moline.  Since  September,  1906, 
Prof.  Larson  occupies  the  position 
of  Director  of  the  Conservatory. 
He  has  composed  several  works 
for  piano,  organ  and  mixed 
chorus,  some  of  which  have  been 
published  in  Stockholm  and 
Chicago.  Among  them  are:  Kon- 
sertfantasie  ofver  Svenska  Folk- 
visor,  Second  Fantasia  on  Swedish 
Folksongs,  and  Variations  on  an 
Old  Swedish  Lullaby,  all  written 
for  piano. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  Jan.  3, 
1894,  to  Vendela  E.  B.  Engberg, 
born  March  22,  1870,  in  Chicago, 
a  daughter  of  the  late  publisher 
Jonas  Engberg  and  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth. Their  children  are,  Harold 
Arthur,  born  Oct.  14,  1894;  Edith 
Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  21,  1896; 
Gilbert  Emil,  born  April  2,  1898, 
and  Alice  Vendela  Barbara,  born 
Aug.  16,  1904. 


SIGFRID  LAURIN, 
pianist,  teacher  and  composer,  is 
one  of  the  most  eminent  figures 
in  Swedish- American  musical  life. 
The  sketch  of  his  life  here  given 
is  supplementary  to  what  has 
been  said  of  his  art  in  another 
part  of  this  work. 

Sigfrid  Laurin  was  born  April 
1 8,  1867,  at  Hoganas,  Skane, 
Sweden,  where  his  father,  N.  A. 
Laurin,  was  minister  of  the  par- 
ish. His  mother  was  Emilia 
Ahnfelt-Laurin,  daughter  of  P.  G. 


io8 


Rock  Island  County 


Ahnfelt,  a  well-known  writer,  tem- 
perance speaker  and  divine,  and 
a  niece  of  Oscar  Ahnfelt,  the  noted 


SIGFRID    LAURIN 

singing  evangelist  of  Sweden.  Mrs. 
Ahnfelt-Laurin  herself  was  a  lady 
of  culture  and  an  authoress  of 
some  note.  Her  published  works 
are,  a  collection  of  verse  entitled 
"Klocktoner  i  hemmet;"  "Sanger 
till  kyrkoarets  evangelier;"  "Peter 
Fjellstedt,  hans  verksamhet  i  fos- 
terlandet  1843-1881,"  also  several 
translations,  among  which  is  "100 
psalmer  af  N.  F.  S.  Grundtvig," 
translated  from  the  Danish.  Rev. 
Laurin  died  in  1896  and  his  wife 
two  years  prior. 

The  son  began  his  studies  in 
Kristianstad  and  continued  at 
Lund,  where  he  graduated  from 
the  Carolinian  Cathedral  School 
in  1885.  His  early  musical  edu- 
cation was  begun  in  the  home, 
partly  under  the  direction  of  his 
mother,  herself  a  talented  pianist, 
he  studied  music  with 


Augusta  Kiellander,  a  pupil  of 
Edmund  Neupert  and  Frans 
Neruda. 

Having  finished  the  course  at 
the  Cathedral  school  Laurin  en- 
tered the  Royal  Conservatory  at 
Stockholm  the  next  fall.  After 
three  months  he  passed  the  organist 
examination  at  Christmas  and  the 
following  spring  he  was  graduated 
both  as  church  cantor  and  music 
teacher. 

Joining  the  piano  class  of  the 
Conservatory  at  New  Year's,  1886, 
Laurin  studied  with  Hilda  The- 
gerstrom,  a  pupil  of  Liszt,  among 
others, till  the  close  of  the  year  1890. 
In  the  meantime  he  took  lessons  in 
voice  from  Prof.  Julius  Giinlher 
and  in  counterpoint  and  composi- 
tion from  Josef  Dente,  and  at  his 
graduation  Laurin  won  the  medal 
of  the  Royal  Conservatory,  awarded 
for  "remarkable  advancement"  in 
his  studies. 

During  the  season  of  1893-4 
Laurin  studied  with  Richard  An- 
derson, a  piano  teacher  and  head 
of  a  private  music  school  in  Stock- 
holm. A  call  to  become  head 
professor  of  piano  at  Bethany  Con- 
servatory of  Music  at  Lindsborg, 
Kans.,  brought  Mr.  Laurin  to  that 
institution  in  1894.  He  went  back 
to  Sweden  three  years  later,  re- 
maining for  two  years,  but  returned 
again  in  1899  and  held  the  same 
position  at  Bethany  till  the  spring 
of  1903,  when  he  revisited  the 
fatherland.  Coming  again  to  this 
country  in  1905,  Prof.  Laurin  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  depart- 
ment of  piano  instruction  at  North 
Park  College,  Chicago.  In  Au- 


Rock  Island 


109 


gust,  1906,  he  was  engaged  as 
professor  of  piano  at  the  Augus- 
tana  Conservatory  of  Music  at 
Rock  Island,  111.,  a  position  he 
still  holds. 

Prof.  L,aurin  has  been  heard  in 
a  number  of  recitals  and  concerts 
in  this  country  and  in  Sweden, 
his  masterful  execution  on  his 
chosen  instrument  earning  him 
the  admiration  of  his  auditors  and 
the  unstinted  praise  of  many  able 
critics. 

As  a  composer  Prof.  Laurin  is 
known  to  the  public  only  as  far 
as  he  has  rendered  his  own  com- 
positions, with  a  few  exceptions 
only  in  manuscript.  His  works 
consist  of  songs,  romances,  and 
ballads  for  voice  and  several  solos 
for  the  piano. 

A  great  part  of  his  time  is  given 
to  the  study  of  Chopin,  whom 
Prof.  Laurin  considers  his  favorite 
composer. 

Prof.  L,aurin's  rearing  in  a 
Christian  home,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a  father  who  was  a  learned 
divine  of  the  Lutheran  faith  and 
a  mother  of  equally  strong  relig- 
ious convictions,  left  a  deep  im- 
pression upon  his  character  and 
personality.  A  deep  religious 
strain  is  also  predominant  in  his 
musical  renditions  as  well  as  his 
writings. 


graduate  of  Augustana  College 
and  also  of  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary.  In  harmony  with  the 


CONRAD  EMU,  LINDBERG, 
D.  D.,  R.  N.  O.,  was  born  in 
Jonkoping,  Sweden,  June  9,  1852. 
He  received  his  first  college  edu- 
cation in  the  college  and  gymnasium 
of  his  native  city,  and  arrived  in 
this  country  in  1871.  He  is  a 


CONRAD  EMIL  LINDBERG 

wish  of  the  Augustana  Synod  he 
also  entered  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Philadelphia  in  1873 
and  was  graduated  there  three 
years  later.  He  was  ordained  in 
1874,  but  continued  his  studies  in 
Philadelphia.  In  the  year  1876 
he  was  tendered  the  pastorate  of 
the  Sw.  L,uth.  Church  of  Minne- 
apolis, but  declined  and  accepted 
the  call  to  Zion  Church  in  Phila- 
delphia. One  of  the  reasons  was 
the  excellent  opportunities  for 
continued  studies  in  Philadelphia. 
In  1879  he  accepted  the  pastorate 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus  Church  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  labored 
with  great  success.  During  his 
incumbency  the  congregation  built 
a  beautiful  church  which  cost 
$67,000.  The  same  year  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  New 
York  Conference  of  the  Augus- 


no 


Rock  Island  County 


tana  Synod  and  served  in  this 
capacity  for  ten  years.  When  Dr. 
Lindberg  arrived  in  the  East  there 
were  few  churches  there.  But 
by  his  efforts  and  travels  in  the 
mission  field  many  congregations 
were  organized.  He  was  the 
recognized  leader  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  East. 

In  1890  he  was  unanimously 
elected  professor  in  Augustana 
Theological  Seminary  at  Rock 
Island.  He  has  at  different  times 
been  chairman  and  secretary  of 
the  Theological  Faculty.  In  his 
instruction  and  lectures  he  uses 
both  Swedish  and  English.  His 
present  subjects  include  Systematic 
Theology,  Hermeneutics,  Apolo- 
getics, Dogmatics,  Ethics,  Ljtur- 
gics  and  Church  Polity. 

In  1893  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  Muhlenberg  College,  the  lead- 
ing Lutheran  college  in  the  East, 
and  in  the  year  1901  the  King 
of  Sweden  made  him  a  Knight 
of  the  Royal  Order  of  the  North 
Star,  the  insignia  of  the  order 
being  conferred  by  the  Right  Rev. 
K.  H.  G.  von  Scheele,  Bishop  of 
Gotland.  Dr.  Lindberg  was  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Augustana 
Synod  at  the  synodical  convention 
at  St.  Paul,  in  1899,  and  was 
four  times  reelected.  The  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  Theological  Seminary 
elected  him  vice-president  of  the 
institution  in  1901.  During  the 
absence  of  Dr.  Andreen  in  Swe- 
den Dr.  Lindberg  was  acting 
president  of  the  institution. 

Dr.     Lindberg    has    contributed 


largely  to  church  literature.  Be- 
sides valuable  articles  in  news- 
papers, magazines,  theological  re- 
views and  journals  he  has  writ- 
ten four  books,  his  principal  sci- 
entific work  being  a  text  book  in 
dogmatics,  which  has  won  recog- 
nition among  reviewers  and  lead- 
ing educators  both  in  this  coun- 
try and  in  Sweden.  The  other 
books  are  Betraktelser  ofver  Jo- 
hannes Uppenbarelses  tre  forsta 
kapitel,  Om  dopet  and  Syllabus 
i  konstruktiv  luthersk  kyrkoratts- 
lara. 

Dr.  Lindberg  is  a  successful 
teacher,  an  interesting  lecturer 
and  a  talented  pulpit  orator. 


EDLA  LUND, 

nee  Ferngren,  a  singer  of  repute, 
has  for  many  years  taught  in  the 


EDLA  LUND 


Augustana  Conservatory  of  Music. 
From  Stockholm,  where  she  was 
born  Aug.  8,  1867,  she  came  to 
this  country  in  1887.  Mrs.  Lund 


Rock  Island 


studied  for  more  than  two  years 
at  the  Royal  Academy  of  Music 
in  Stockholm,  taking  vocal  train- 
ing with  Prof.  Gunther,  also  stud- 
ying piano  and  organ.  She  was 
for  one  year  a  pupil  of  Dina  Ed- 
ling,  Prima  Donna  of  the  Royal 
Opera,  and  studied  for  two  years 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  D. 
A.  Duvivier  of  Chicago.  She  was 
married  to  Prof.  Victor  Lund  of 
the  Bethany  Conservatory  of  Music 
at  Lindsborg,  Kans.,  in  1887. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband 
in  August,  1893,  she  was  herself 
engaged  as  professor  of  vocal 
music  in  the  same  institution  until 
1894,  when  she  went  back  to  Swe- 
den pursuing  higher  musical  studies 
until  the  fall  of  1895,  when  she 
accepted  a  position  as  teacher  of 
voice  at  the  Augustana  Conserva- 
tory of  Music.  Mrs.  Lund  is  en- 
dowed with  a  rich  and  fascinating 
soprano  voice,  which  is  often 
heard  in  concert  in  various  parts 
of  the  United  States.  She  is  a 
proficient  conductor,  as  shown  in 
her  direction  of  the  Augustana 
Chapel  Choir,  the  Choir  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Moline, 
and  the  Choral  Union  of  Moline. 
At  the  Kansas  Musical  Jubilee 
held  in  Hutchinson  May  8-n> 
1894,  Mrs.  Lund  passed  the  com- 
petitive examination  in  organ  and 
was  awarded  a  prize  certificate  by 
Frederic  Archer,  musical  director 
and  adjudicator.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Etude  Club  of  Daven- 
port and  of  the  Woman's  Club  of 
Moline.  Mrs.  Lund  has  been  solo- 
ist of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Moline  since  1902. 


Mrs.  Lund  has  participated  in 
a  number  of  concert  tours  in  this 
country.  In  1896  she  toured  the 
central  West  with  the  Apollo  Club 
of  Augustana  College.  In  1902 
she,  together  with  Prof.  Franz 
Zedeler,  gave  a  dozen  concerts  in 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  and 
in  1905  she  toured  the  Pacific 
coast  and  was  one  of  the  soloists 
taking  part  in  the  celebration  of 
Swedish  Day  at  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  Exposition  at  Portland.  By 
the  press  everywhere  she  has  been 
accorded  fulsome  praise  for  the 
charm  and  finish  of  her  vocalism. 

Mrs.  Lund  is  the  mother  of 
two  sons,  Carl  Edward  and  Sven 
Joseph,  both  of  whom  are  now 
attaining  to  manhood.  They  have 
received  part  of  their  education 
in  Sweden. 


SVEN  P.  A.  LINDAHL 
was  born  Nov.  8,  1843,  in  Krist- 
dala,  Smaland,  Sweden.  His 
parents,  Olof  Nilsson  and  Stina 
Ersson,  passed  their  lives  on  a 
small  farm  in  their  native  land. 
His  father  died  in  1854,  aged  52 
years,  and  his  mother  passed 
away  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  77 
years.  The  son  attended  the 
common  school  in  his  native  place, 
afterward  studying  for  three  years 
in  the  Ahlberg  School.  Deter- 
mined to  seek  a  career  in  America, 
he  emigrated  in  1865  and  went 
direct  to  Paxton,  111.,  where  he 
entered  Augustana  College  the 
same  year. 

In  1869  he  was  graduated  and 
shortly  afterwards  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  in  the  Swedish 


112 


Rock  Island  County 


Lutheran  Church.  His  first  pas- 
torate was  at  Woodhull,  where 
he  remained  a  year.  In  1870  and 


SVEN  PETER  AUGUST  LINDAHL 

1871  he  served  as  traveling  mis- 
sionary in  the  states  of  Iowa, 
Nebraska,  Kansas,  Missouri  and 
Dakota.  He  was,  during  1872 
and  1873,  assistant  pastor  of  the 
Immanuel  Church  in  Chicago. 
From  November,  1873,  until  1885, 
he  was  pastor  in  charge  of  First 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Galesburg.  From  1886  to  1890 
he  was  stationed  at  Altona,  111. 
He  then  accepted  his  present 
position  as  editor  of  Augustana, 
the  organ  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  in  America.  In  1894  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  the  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary. 

On  May  20,  1875,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Lindahl  was  married  to  Miss 
Clara  Anderson  of  Galesburg,  who 
died  in  1877.  He  was  remar- 


ried, July  i,  1885  to  Miss 
Hannah  Johnson  of  Galesburg. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Alberta 
Christina,  born  in  1887. 

Since  1879  Dr.  Lindahl  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  Augustana  College 
and  also  served  as  chairman  and 
director  of  the  board.  He  or- 
ganized and  was  for  many  years 
president  of  the  Scandinavian 
Mutual  Aid  Association  of  Gales- 
burg. Dr.  Lindahl  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Augustana  Synod 
1887-1891  and  secretar)^  of  the 
synod  for  seven  years  prev- 
iously. With  the  Augustana  Book 
Concern,  the  publishing  house  of 
the  Augustana  Synod,  Dr.  Lin- 
dahl has  been  prominently  con- 
nected ever  since  its  organization 
in  1884. 

In  his  capacity  as  missionary 
and  sy nodical  president  or  repre- 
sentative as  well  as  on  his  private 
account,  Dr.  Lindahl  has  traveled 
extensively  in  this  country  and 
in  Europe.  He  visited  Sweden 
and  Norway  in  1872;  England, 
France,  Denmark  and  Sweden  in 
1878,  England,  Holland,  Belgium 
and  the  land  of  Luther  in  1884; 
explored  the  mission  field  in  the 
Southern  states  and  started  mis- 
sion work  in  Texas  in  1874,  and 
in  1900,  in  behalf  of  Augustana 
Synod  board,  traveled  through 
Alaska,  also  opening  mission  work 
there.  Dr.  Lindahl  is  one  of  the 
dominating  figures  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  in  this  country, 
and  as  editor  of  the  official  organ, 
wields  a  telling  influence  through- 
out the  Augustana  Synod. 


Rock  Island 


113 


ANNA  OLSSON 

is  a  popular    story    writer,  whose 
pen    name,    Aina,    is    familiar    to 


ANNA    OLSSOX 

Swedish-American  readers.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  O.  Olsson, 
former  president  of  Augustana 
College,  and  his  wife,  Anna  Lisa 
Jonsson,  both  deceased,  the  mother 
having  passed  away  in  Rock  Island 
March  18,  1887,  and  her  father 
May  12,  1900. 

Anna  Olsson  was  born  in  the 
province  of  Vermland,  Sweden, 
Aug.  19,  1866.  The  family  emi- 
grated in  1869  and  lived  in  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.,  until  1876,  after 
which  their  home  was  in  Rock 
Island.  She  studied  at  Augustana 
College  from  the  fall  of  1883  to 
the  end  of  the  school  year  in  1888, 
when  she  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  B.  A. 

From  1895  to  1900  Miss  Olsson 
held  the  position  of  principal  of 
the  Ladies'  Hall  at  Augustana 
College.  About  the  end  of  that 


time  she  began  to  devote  herself 
to  authorship.  In  the  fall  of  1901 
her  first  story  was  published  with- 
out signature  in  the  September 
number  of  Ungdomsvannen.  Her 
sketches  in  Swedish- American  dia- 
lect began  to  appear  in  the  spring 
of  1903.  In  these  sketches  there 
is  added  to  the  droll  humor  of  the 
dialect  sparks  of  wit  and  the 
charm  of  clever  story-telling,  mak- 
ing them  popular  with  almost  any 
class  of  readers. 

,  -In  1903  a  collection  of  sketches 
arid  stories  by  her  were  published 
in  a  book,  under  the  common  title, 
"Frshi  Solsidan."  Other  products 
of  her  pen  appeared  in  Fosterlandet 
and  in  the  literary  annuals,  Pra- 
rie-Blomman,  Julrunan  and  Jul- 
granen.  Miss  Olsson  also  has  es- 
sayed similar  work  in  English, 
having  a  number  of  sketches  in 
readiness  for  publication. 

In  1889  the  Olsson  family  went 
abroad  and  spent  a  year  in  Europe. 
During  the  six  months  spent  in 
Germany,  five  in  Zurich,  Switzer- 
land, and  one  in  Rome  and  other 
parts  of  Italy,  they  accumulated 
a  wealth  of  observation  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  Old  World  which  on 
the  part  of  Dr.  Olsson  was  em- 
bodied in  a  volume  entitled,  "Till 
Rom  och  hem  igen,"  while  Miss 
Olsson  has  heretofore  only  spar- 
ingly turned  her  information  to 
account  in  a  literary  way. 


OLIVER  P.  OLSON, 
who  has  been  assistant  postmaster 
of    Rock    Island    since    1899,  was 
born  in  Rinkaby,  Skane,  Sweden, 
March    26,     1852.      He    came    to 


Rock  Island  County 


America  at  the  early  age  of  four, 
the  family  locating  at  Moline. 
Having  in  turn  been  a  resident 


OLIVER  P.  OLSON 

of  Cordova  for  6  years,  Paxton 
for  14  years,  Moline  for  2  years, 
and  Varna  for  2  years,  Mr.  Olson 
in  1885  removed  to  Rock  Island, 
where  he  was  employed  from  1889 
to  1897  in  the  book  store  of  the 
Augustana  Book  Concern  as  assist- 
ant manager.  His  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  Augustana  College,  where  he 
studied  in  1870  and  1871.  Mr. 
Olson  for  a  long  term  of  years 
has  been  superintendent  of  various 
Sunday  schools;  member  of  differ- 
ent church  councils;  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Home 
Building  and  L/oan  Association  of 
Rock  Island;  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Orphanage  at 
Andover;  treasurer  of  the  Church 
Extension  Society  of  the  Augus- 
tana Synod;  member  of  the  exec- 
utive committee  of  the  Illinois 


Conference;  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors;  chairman  of 
the  local  Civic  Federation  and 
chairman  of  the  Republican  club 
of  his  ward. 

He  belongs  to  the  Zion  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  active  in 
politics  and  in  the  commercial 
advancement  of  Rock  Island. 

He  was  appointed  assistant  post- 
master of  the  city  of  Reck  Island 
Oct.  5,  1897,  and  reappointed  in 
1900  and  1901. 


LOUIS  OSTROM, 
A.  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Helsing- 
land,  Sweden,    May    i,    1874,  and 
came    to  America  when  six    years 
old.     His    father    is  a    pipe- organ 


LOUIS  OSTROM 

builder,  known  among  hundreds 
of  churches  all  over  the  country. 
Young  Ostrom  attended  public 
schools,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  work,  was  at  one  time  or 
another  employed  during  vacations 
in  nearly  all  the  shops  of  Moline. 


Rock  Island 


After  becoming  a  student  at  Au- 
gustana  College,  he  worked 
during  the  different  vacations  as 
section  hand  on  the  street  car  line, 
printer  in  a  job  office,  and  press- 
man to  the  Moline  Daily  Dispatch, 
etc.  While  a  student,  he  also 
studied  music  under  Dr.  Gustav 
Stolpe;  was  director  of  the  band, 
orchestra  and  mandolin  clubs,  cor- 
netist,  and  later  clarinetist  with 
the  6th  Regiment  Band,  I.  N.  G., 
of  Moline,  and  Strasser's  2d  Regi- 
ment Band  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 
He  also  took  active  part  in  all 
college  athletics,  being  a  member 
of  both  base  ball  and  foot  ball 
teams.  He  graduated  from  Au- 
gustana  College  in  1895,  in  the 
English  classical  course  receiving 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  During  the 
summer  before  graduation  he  was 
assistant  organist  to  Dr.  Stolpe  in 
the  Moline  Lutheran  Church,  and 
after  graduation  was  at  Moore's 
Prairie,  Minn.,  as  organist  and 
music  teacher.  While  there  he 
received  a  call  from  August  an  a 
College  to  become  professor  of 
wind  and  stringed  instruments  in 
the  Conservatory  of  Music,  but 
declined  because  of  intended  med- 
ical study.  He  studied  medicine 
at  the  State  University  of  Iowa, 
at  Iowa  City,  where  he  earned 
his  way  through  by  playing  with 
orchestras  and  in  churches,  caring 
for  a  doctor's  office  for  his  room 
rent,  and  earning  his  board  by 
serving  as  waiter  at  a  restaurant 
until  the  end  of  his  course.  After 
leaving  Iowa  City,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  State  Hospital  at 
independence,  Iowa,  but  wishing 


to  continue  his  medical  studies, 
he  resigned  and  went  to  St.  Louis 
to  the  Missouri  Medical  College 
and  Policlinic.  During  his  medi- 
cal studies  he  paid  most  particular 
attention  to  the  eye  and  ear,  but 
after  his  course  at  St.  Louis,  lo- 
cated in  1899  at  Leonardville, 
Kans.,  and  engaged  in  general 
practice.  While  there,  he  received 
a  call  from  the  Kansas  Medical 
College  at  Topeka,  Kans.,  to  the 
Chair  of  Chemistry,  and  as  direc- 
tor of  the  chemical  laboratories, 
a  position  he  held  for  one  year, 
but  as  this  interfered  with  private 
practice,  he  resigned  and  located 
in  Rock  Island,  111.,  as  a  special- 
ist, devoting  all  his  professional 
attention  to  diseases  of  the  eye, 
ear,  nose  and  throat.  In  the 
spring  term  of  1903,  he  was  acting 
professor  of  Botany  at  Augustana 
College,  during  the  absence  of 
Prof.  J.  A.  Udden,  and  later 
was  professor  in  anatomy,  physi- 
ology and  histology  in  the  pre- 
medical  department.  While  doing 
post-graduate  work  at  New  York, 
he  was  professor  of  natural  history 
at  Upsala  College,  Kenilworth,  N. 
J.  Dr.  Ostroni  is  adjunct 
to  St.  Anthony's  Hospital  and 
examiner  for  more  than  a  dozen 
insurance  companies.  Since  his 
graduation  in  medicine,  he  has 
taken  post  graduate  courses  with 
some  of  the  most  noted  specialists 
in  America. 

In  the  spring  of  1907,  Dr. 
Ostrom  was  elected  alderman  of 
the  '/th  ward. 

In  1899  Dr.  Ostrom  was  married 
to  Miss  Sophia  Hult,  formerly 


n6 


Rock  Island  County 


secretary  to  the  business  manager 
of  Augustana  College.  They  have 
one  child,  Meredith. 


ANDREW  PETERSON, 

building   contractor,  was   born  in 
Gesater  parish,  Dalsland,  Sweden, 


ANDREW  PETERSON 

Dec.  31,  1839,  and  emigrated  at 
the  age  of  thirty.  He  arrived  in 
Chicago  in  1870  and  joined  the 
Immanuel  Swedish  L,uth.  Church. 
After  the  great  fire  he,  together 
with  Peter  Colseth,  took  active 
part  in  the  rebuilding  of  the  church 
edifice  destroyed  in  the  fire.  Mr. 
Peterson  removed  to  Rock  Island 
in  1875,  and  helped  to  put  up  the 
first  main  building  of  Augustana 
College  at  Rock  Island  in  that 
year;  he  also  contracted  for  part 
of  the  woodwork  in  the  new  build- 
ing erected  in  1884.  He  was  one 
of  the  contractors  for  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  in  Moline,  Peter 
Colseth  and  J.  A.  P.  Berg  being 
the  other  two,  and  built  the  stee- 


ple of  that  edifice  in  1881.  He 
erected  the  Zion  Swedish  Luther- 
an church  in  1891,  the  gymnasium 
at  Augustana  College  in  1894, 
and  has  built  some  sixty  private 
dwelling  houses  in  East  Rock 
Island  and  West  Moline.  He  has 
lived  for  over  a  score  of  years  at  4425 
Sixth  ave.,  and  is  still  engaged  in 
building  and  contracting.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an Church  of  Moline  and  has 
served  as  a  deacon  for  more  than 
a  dozen  years.  Since  1904  he  has 
served  as  a  trustee.  Mr.  Peterson 
has  been  teaching  in  Sunday 
schools  continually  since  his  ar- 
rival in  America. 

Aug.  10,  1872,  at  Chicago,  he 
was  married  to  Elsa  Christina  Pe- 
terson, and  their  children  are: 
Anna  C.,  died  in  1895;  Mathilda, 
died  in  1884;  Fred  B.,  married  to 
Theresa  Matson  and  now  living  at 
Oakland,  Cal.,  John  P.,  Amalia 
C.,  and  Carl  E.  Mr.  Peterson 
has  been  a  stanch  Republican 
ever  since  he  was  naturalized  as 
a  citizen. 

In  1894  Mr.  Peterson  was  elect- 
ed trustee  of  the  Civic  Federation 
in  Rock  Island,  and  in  1905  a 
director  of  Augustana  College. 


VICTOR  OLOF  PETERSON, 
who  for  fifteen  years  occupied  the 
chair  of  Physics  and  Chemistiy 
at  Augustana  College,  was  born 
in  Solberga,  Skede  parish,  Sweden, 
Sept.  24,  1864.  At  the  age  of  three 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Amer- 
ica. The  family  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Stanton,  la.,  where  he  was- 
reared.  In  1881  both  parents 


Rock  Island 


117 


died,  and  after  working  as  a  farm 
hand  in  1882,  the  son  began  his 
studies  at  Augustana  College  in 


VICTOR  OLOP  PETERSON 

January,  1883,  completing  his  col- 
lege course  in  1889.  In  1890  he 
took  a  special  course  in  chemistry 
at  Harvard  University  and  was 
called  to  the  chair  of  Physics  and 
Chemistry  at  his  Alma  Mater  in 
the  following  year,  a  position 
which  he  held  until  1905,  when 
he  resigned  his  chair  to  engage 
in  a  commercial  enterprise,  known 
as  the  Rock  Island  Tropical  Plan- 
tation Company,  and  is  at  present 
secretary  of  that  corporation. 

He  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss 
Jenny  A.  L,indeborg  of  Chicago. 
They  have  five  children:  Edith 
Alida  Victoria,  Harald  Victor, 
Olof  Reuben,  Oliver  Herbert  and 
Rolf  Leonard. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  member  of 
the  Grace  English  L,uth.  Church 
of  Rock  Island,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  a  deacon  for  years.  He 


is  chairman  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  North  Star  Benefit 
Association  and  takes  active  in- 
terest in  politics,  having  often 
served  as  a  judge  of  election  and 
sat  in  Republican  conventions. 


FRANK  EDWARD  PETERSON 

was  born  at  Andover,  111., 
Jan.  31,  1865.  In  early  boyhood 
he  manifested  a  love  of  music 
and  picked  his  way  through  a 
number  of  melodies  unaided. 
When  he  had  invented  a  holder 
for  his  mouth  organ  so  that  he 
was  able  to  play  that  juvenile 
instrument  and  accompany  him- 
self on  the  family  cabinet  organ 
his  parents  finally  permitted  him 


FRANK  EDWARD  PETERSON 

to  take  lessons  in  music.  In 
1885  he  left  high  school  and  was 
enrolled  in  the  academic  depart- 
ment at  Augustana  College.  Hav- 
ing finished  the  Freshman  year, 
he  entered  the  conservatory  de- 
partment under  Dr.  Gustav  Stolpe 


n8 


Rock  Island  County 


and  was  graduated  in  1891  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Music. 
The  next  year  he  accepted  a 
position  as  organist  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  in  Boston, 
and  took  up  studies  at  the  New 
England  Conservatory.  In  the 
fall  of  1893  ne  resigned  his  posi- 
tion and  in  November  entered 
the  Royal  Conservatory  at  Leipsic 
and  studied  piano  under  Profs. 
Krause  and  Zwintscher  and  theory 
under  Prof.  Gustave  Schreck, 
cantor  of  the  Thomas  school. 
Returning  home  in  1897  he  ac- 
cepted the  proffered  position  of 
instructor  of  the  department  of 
piano  in  the  Augustana  Con- 
servatory. Prof.  Peterson  thor- 
oughly studied  the  Virgil  clavier 
system  and  applied  that  silent 
practice  method  in  his  depart- 
ment. He  was  for  a  time  con- 
ductor of  the  Augustana  Silver 
Cornet  Band  and  was  chosen  director 
of  the  Handel  Oratorio  Society 
in  1900. 

July  6,  1898,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Amanda  C.  Hult  of  Mo- 
line,  born  July  19,  1872,  a  musi- 
cian and  singer,  with  a  high 
soprano  voice  of  good  quality. 
She  has  been  director  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church  choir 
of  Moline  and  is  a  capable  vocal 
teacher. 

In  the  spring  of  1906,  Prof. 
Peterson's  connections  with  the 
Augustana  Conservatory  were 
severed  and  the  following  fall  he 
took  charge  as  director  of  the 
department  of  music  at  Minnesota 
College,  at  Minneapolis. 


JOHAN  AUGUST  UDDEN, 

Ph.  D.,  who    became  professor  of 
Geology   and    Natural   History  at 


JOHAN  AUGUST  UDDEN 

Augustana  College  in  1888,  was 
born  in  Uddabo,  Lekasa  parish, 
Vestergotland,  Sweden,  March  19, 
1859.  His  parents  were  Andreas 
Larson,  whose  ancestors  had  for 
several  generations  lived  in  Qvista- 
garden  in  the  same  parish,  and 
Inga  Lena,  born  Anderson,  from 
Haradsberget.  They  emigrated  to 
America  in  1861  and  settled  near 
Carver  in  Carver  county,  Minn. 
His  education  was  begun  in  the 
parochial  and  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  new  settlement.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  entered  St. 
Ansgar's  Academy  at  East  Union, 
and  in  1876  he  was  enrolled  as  a 
member  of  the  third  class  in  the 
academic  department  of  Augusta- 
na College.  He  graduated  from 
the  college  department  in  1881, 
and  after  attending  the  Teachers' 
Summer  Normal  in  McPherson, 


Rock  Island 


119 


Kans.,  he  was  the  same  year  en- 
gaged as  teacher  for  a  new  private 
school,  Bethany  Academy,  after- 


JOHANNA  KRISTINA  UDDEN 

ward  Bethany  College,  at  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.  He  continued  teach- 
ing in  this  institution  for  seven 
years,  pursuing  natural  history 
studies  during  vacations,  and  be- 
ing away  on  a  leave  of  absence  at 
the  University  of  Minnesota  in  the 
winter  of  1886.  In  1888  he  was 
called  to  his  present  position. 
During  the  summer  of  1892  he 
served  as  assistant  to  the  state 
geologist  of  Illinois,  preparing  a 
collection  for  the  state  exhibit  at 
the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago.  The 
following  year,  during  a  leave  of 
absence,  he  spent  some  months  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  analyzing  soils, 
and  the  following  summer  he  was 
engaged  as  special  field  assistant 
on  the  United  States  geological 
survey,  to  examine  the  drift  in 
the  Green  River  basin  in  Illinois. 
From  1898  to  1902  he  was  em- 


ployed during  the  summers  as 
special  assistant  on  the  Iowa  geo- 
logical survey,  and  he  has  mapped 
and  reported  on  six  counties  in 
that  state.  In  1903  he  was  en- 
gaged by  the  Texas  Mineral  Sur- 
vey to  examine  the  Shafter  area 
in  Presidio  county,  and  in  1904 
he  was  in  charge  of  a  party  of  the 
the  same  organization  making  a 
survey  of  the  geology  of  the  Chisos 
country  in  Brewster  county.  In  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1905  the  New 
York  and  Texas  Land  Co.,  Ltd., 
engaged  his  services  for  making  an 
examination  of  the  mineral  resour- 
ces of  their  lands  in  the  Upper  em- 
bay ment  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  a 
report  on  the  geology  of  this  region 
has  recently  been  published  in 
number  6  of  the  Augustana  Library 
Publications.  In  1906  he  was  en- 
gaged as  geologist  on  the  Illinois 
Geographical  Survey.  During  the 
last  two  svmmers  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  work  on  the  Peoria  and 
the  Belleville  coal  districts  in  this 
state. 

His  most  important  scientific 
work  has  been  some  investigations 
bearing  on  the  wind  as  a  geolog- 
ical agent.  On  this  subject  he 
has  published,  "Erosion,  Trans- 
portation and  Sedimentation  per- 
formed by  the  Atmosphere,"  "Dust 
and  Sandstorms  in  the  West," 
"Loess  as  a  Land  Deposit,"  and 
"The  Mechanical  Composition  of 
Wind  Deposits."  A  number  of 
other  papers  from  his  pen  have 
appeared  in  various  scientific  jour- 
nals, in  the  proceedings  of  scien- 
tific societies,  and  in  the  reports 
of  the  official  surveys  with  which 


120 


Rock  Island  County 


he  has  been  connected.  In  "An 
Old  Indian  Village"  he  has  de- 
scribed some  prehistoric  remains 
in  Kansas.  While  in  Kansas  he 
served  as  editorial  writer  on  Kan- 
sas-Fasten,  a  Swedish  weekly,  in 
1888,  and  edited  the  Lindsborg 
News  in  1888.  He  has  been 
elected  to  membership  in  the  Dav- 
enport Academy  of  Science,  in  the 
Iowa  Academy  of  Science,  in  the 
National  Geographic  Society,  and 
he  is  a  Fellow  of  the  Geological 
Society  of  America  and  of  the 
American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science. 

Aug.-  27,  1882,  Prof.  Udden  was 
married  to  Johanna  Kristina  Davis 
of  Carver  county,  Minn . ,  whose  par- 
ents came  from  Ljunga,  Krono- 
bergs  Ian,  and  settled  near  Carver 
in  1856.  Mrs.  Udden  was  born 
there  Sept.  13,  1858.  She  attended 
the  public  schools  and  later  studied 
at  St.  Ansgar's  Academy  and  in 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College  in  St. 
Peter,  Minn.  Their  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  Jon 
Andreas,  born  in  Lindsborg,  Kan., 
May  19,  1885;  Anton  David,  born 
in  Lindsborg,  Kan.,  Dec.  28,  1886, 
and  Svante  Mauritz,  born  in  Rock 
Island,  111.,  June  16,  1892. 


for  two  years  more.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1886  and  en- 
tered Augustana  College,  gradu- 


SVEN  G.  YOUNGERT 
was  born  April  27,  1861,  at 
Ljunget,  Algutsrum,  on  the  Island 
of  Oland,  Sweden.  The  youth 
studied  at  Mannhem's  private 
school  in  Vestergotland  and  then 
attended  the  Fjellstedt  School  in 
Upsala  for  two  years  and  continued 
in  that  city  studying  privately 


SVEN  GUSTAF   YOUNGERT 

ating  after  two  years.  Entering 
Augustana  Theological  Seminary 
in  1 890  he  completed  the  course 
and  was  ordained  to  the  holy 
ministry  in  1892  at  Lindsborg, 
Kan.  He  pursued  a  course  in 
philosophy  and  psychology  at  the 
University  of  Iowa  1903-07. 

Rev.  Youngert  had  charge  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion at  Kewanee,  111.,  1892-96, 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  serv- 
ing as  secretary  of  the  Illinois 
Conference.  In  1897  he  removed 
to  Ottumwa,  la.,  and  was  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
there  until  1900,  when  he  accep- 
ted a  call  to  a  professorship  in 
theology  at  Augustana  Theological 
Seminary.  The  next  year  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  theological 
faculty  and  has  since  retained  this 
office.  He  now  gives  instruction 


Rock  Island 


121 


n  philosophy,  Greek  New  Testa- 
ment exegesis,  New  Testament 
introduction  and  catechetics. 

For  several  years  Prof.  Young- 
ert  has  been  an  associate  editor  of 
Tidskrift  for  Kyrkliga  frdgor.  He 
is  editor  of  Ungdomsvanmn  and 
has  contributed  quite  freely  to 
other  magazines  and  newspapers. 

In  1897  Rev.  Youngert  obtained 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity 
for  post  graduate  studies.  In  1900 
he  received  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  and  in  the  spring  of  1902 
he  offered  final  examinations  for 
the  degree  of  Candidate  of  Sacred 
Theology  and  was  accordingly 
promoted  by  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary,  receiv- 
ing the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Sacred 
Theology  in  1905.  The  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  Bethany 
College. 

Dr.  Youngert  is  a  member  of 
the  following  learned  bodies:  the 
American  Geographical  Associa- 
tion, the  American  Forestry  Asso- 
ciation, the  Religious  Education 
Association,  and  the  American 
Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science. 

Dr.  Youngert  visited  Sweden  in 
1907  as  the  representative  of  Au- 
gustana College  at  the  celebration 
held  at  Upsala  University  and  at 
the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  at 
Stockholm,  of  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Carl 
von  Ljnne,  receiving  the  Linnean 
medal  from  the  Royal  Academy  of 
Sciences. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Youngert 
with  Hannah  Alfrida  Shoberg, 


daughter  of  A.  P.  Shoberg  of  Chi- 
cago, took  place  April  27,  1894. 
Their  children  are:  Eugene  Fer- 
nando, Elvira  Olive,  Oliver  Gus- 
tavus  Ludvig,  Eunice  Antonia, 
Ilian  Beatrice  Caroline  and  Arnold 
Edward. 

Dr.  Youngert  is  a  man  of  schol- 
arly attainments,  deeply  devoted 
to  education  and  to  the  Church. 


GUSTAV  ALBERT  ANDREEN, 

president  of  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary,  was 
born  at  Porter,  Ind.,  March  13, 
1864.  His  parents  were  Rev.  A. 
Andreen  who  died  in  Rock  Island, 
Feb.  10,  1880,  and  his  wife  Hilda 
Esping,  who  passed  away  in  Au- 
gust, 1878.  From  Porter  Rev. 
Andreen  removed  to  Swedona, 
and  here  the  son  attended  the 
public  and  parochial  schools. 
Aged  eleven  years,  he  entered 
Augustana  College  at  Rock  Island, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of 
the  college  class  of  1881. 

Having  taught  at  Augustana 
in  r  882-04,  studying  law  in  the 
meantime,  and  at  Bethany  Col- 
lege, at  Lindsborg,  Kansas,  from 
1886  to  1893,  he  entered  Yale 
University,  doing  post  graduate 
work,  which  led  to  the  degree  of 
Ph.  D.  in  1898.  From  1894  to 
1901  he  was  instructor  at  the  uni- 
Versity.  After  his  appointment 
to  the  chair  of  Scandinavian 
languages,  he  went  to  Europe 
for  more  thorough  study  of  the 
old  Norse  and  Scandinavian  lan- 
guages and  spent  two  years  at 
Upsala  University  and  the  Uni- 
versity of  Christania  for  that 


122 


Rock  Island  County 


purpose.  He  returned  in  the  fall 
of  1900  and  assumed  his  new 
duties  at  Yale.  When,  upon  the 
death  of  Dr.  O.  Olsson  in  1900, 
a  new  president  of  Augustana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary 
was  to  be  chosen,  the  Augustana 
Synod  first  turned  to  that  emi- 
nent educator,  Dr.  Carl  Swensson 
of  Bethany  College,  with  a  request 
that  he  fill  the  vacant  presidential 
chair.  Being  too  closely  attached 
to  that  institution  of  his  own  mak- 
ing,he  declined  the  call, and  Dr.  C. 
W.  Foss  continued  as  acting  pre- 
sident until  the  close  of  the  fol- 
lowing school  year.  At  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Augustana  Synod 
at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  in  June, 
1901,  after  a  year's  casting  about 
for  a  man  for  the  place,  Dr. 
Gustav  Andreen  was  elected  to 
the  presidency,  the  choice  being 
influenced  to  a  marked  degree  by 
Dr.  Andreen' s  efforts  to  enlist 
the  interest  of  prominent  men  of 
Sweden  in  behalf  of  the  Swedish- 
American  institution  of  learning. 
These  efforts  later  bore  fruit  in 
a  contribution  of  100,000  crowns 
from  the  old  country  toward  an 
endowment  fund  for  Augustana. 
As  the  head  of  this  institution 
Dr.  Andreen  has  continued  his 
efforts  to  put  it  on  a  firmer  finan- 
cial basis,  a  task  still  far  from 
completed. 


Dr.  Andreen  recently  completed 
a  course  in  theology  begun  while 
a  teacher  at  Augustana  in  the 
'8os  and  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  in  1905. 

Dr.  Andreen  has  done  much 
public  speaking,  principally  in 
behalf  of  the  institution  he  rep- 
resents. He  addressed  the  Chau- 
tauqua  Assembly  on  Swedish  Day 
in  1905  and  has  appeared  as 
speaker  on  other  occasions  of 
moment.  On  the  platform  he 
handles  the  two  mother  tongues 
of  the  Swedish-Americans  with 
like  fluency.  His  published  writ- 
ings heretofore  are  confined  to  his 
doctoral  thesis  entitled  "Studies 
in  the  German  Idyl"  (Rock  Is- 
land, 1902)  and  a  treatise  on 
"Svenska  Spraket  i  Amerika" 
(Upsala,  1900). 

On  Aug.  7,  1890,  Dr.  Andreen 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Maria  Augusta  Strand  of  Junction 
City,  Kans.,  a  lady  of  Norwegian 
descent.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  to  them:  Paul 
Harold,  1891,  Marion  Albert, 
1894,  Esther  Miriam,  1896,  Gus- 
tav Strand,  1901,  Margaret  Doro- 
thy, 1903,  Signe  Marie,  1904,  and 
Carl  Oscar,  1906.  Signe  died  Jan. 
2,  1906,  and  Dorothy  Sept.  22, 
1906.  Mrs.  Andreen  was  born 
Aug.  17,  1870. 


BUREAU  COUNTY 


PRINCETON 


JOHN    A.  BERG, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  was  born  in  Sjosas  parish, 


JOHN  AUGUST   BERG 

Smaland,  Sweden,  Aug.  16,  1863. 
His  father  was  a  mason  and  the 
son  learned  the  same  trade.  Later 
he  studied  at  a  private  Bible  school 
in  Nye,  Smaland,  where  he  com- 
menced to  preach  in  1885.  Two 
years  later  Mr.  Berg  came  to 
America  and  was  matriculated  at 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  St. 
Peter,  Minn.,  where  he  studied  a 
short  time.  Thereafter  he  went 
to  the  Chicago  Theological  Sem- 
inary, graduating  in  1892.  He 
has  since  been  pastor  of  the  Swed- 
ish Evangelical  Mission  Churches 
of  Mankato,  Minn.,  Iron  Mountain, 
Mich.,  Kewanee,  111.,  and  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church  of 
Humboldt  Park,  Chicago,  having 


served  there  from  1899  to  1905, 
when  he  left  the  Mission  Church 
for  the  Augustana  Synod.  He 
then  accepted  charges  at  Hobart 
and  Miller,  Ind.,  and  from  Novem- 
ber, 1906,  is  pastor  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  in  Prince- 
ton, 111. 

Rev.  Berg  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Swedish  Home  of  Mercy  in  Chicago. 

He  is  married  since  May  23, 
1900,  his  wife's  maiden  name  be- 
ing Hanna  Swan.  She  is  a  native 
of  Ramq  villa,  Sweden.  They 
have  two  children,  Margaret  Ama- 
lia,  born  Dec.  9,  1901,  and  Carl 
Johan  Sigfrid,  born  July  18,  1905. 


CHARLES  T.  DAHLGREN 

was  born  in  Locknevi  parish,  Sma- 
land, Sweden,  Dec.  5,  1858.  His 
early  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  Sweden.  He 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  June, 
1880,  both  parents  having  died  a 
number  of  years  before.  Princeton 
has  been  his  residence  since  that 
time.  The  trade  of  a  harness- 
maker  was  learned  by  him  in  the 
old  country,  and  in  1882  he  em- 
barked in  that  line  of  business, 
in  which  he  has  been  uniformly 
successful. 

Mr.  Dahlgren  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Princeton,  which  he  has  served  as 
trustee,  secretary  and  treasurer 
for  various  periods.  He  was  city 
treasurer  for  four  years  in  the  'gos 


126 


Bureau  County 


and    has    been    president    of    the     eran    Church,    of   which    he   is   a 

Swedish- American  Republican  Club     member. 

of   Bureau  county.     He   has   also         Mr.    Eckdahl    is    married     and 


CHARLES  THEODOR  DAHLGREN 

held    office   in  a  number  of   other 

organizations,  to  which  he  belongs. 

Mr.  Dahlgren  is  the  vice-president 

of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Princeton. 


FRANK   L.  ECKDAHL 

is  a  native  of  Princeton,  having 
been  born  there  March  18,  1874. 
Having  taken  a  course  in  Prince- 
ton Business  College,  he  entered 
on  his  business  career  as  a  cloth- 
ing merchant  in  the  fall  of  1897, 
in  partnership  with  F.  E.  Peter- 
son, under  the  firm  name  of  Eck- 
dahl &  Peterson.  Three  years 
later  he  opened  a  second  clothing 
store,  with  A.  C.  Carlson  as  special 
partner.  March  i,  1903,  the  co- 
partnership of  Eckdahl,  Peterson 
&  Co.  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Eckdahl 
succeeding  the  firm. 

He    has    served    for   some  years 
as  a  deacon  in  the  English  L,uth- 


FRANK   L.  ECKDAHL 

there    are    two     children    in     the 
family. 


C.  A.  HELIvERSTEDT, 

wagon  and  carriage  manufacturer, 
was  born  in  Kallstad,  Ostergot- 
land,  Sweden,  Sept.  18,  1848. 
In  May,  1868,  he  emigrated  to 
Chicago.  He  graduated  from  the 
Bryant  and  Stratton  Business 
College  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  in 
1875,  then  went  to  California, 
where  he  worked  in  San  Francisco, 
in  the  Guadaloupe  quicksilver 
mine  and  in  Stockton  for  two 
years.  In  1877  and  1878  he  at- 
tended the  University  of  the  Pa- 
cific in  Santa  Clara.  Returning 
to  Illinois  in  1879  he  joined  his 
brother  Peter  F.  Hellerstedt  in 
business  in  Morrison,  where  they 
had  a  wagon  shop.  A  year  later 
they  branched  out  and  C.  A. 


Princeton 


127 


Hellerstedt  ran  another  shop  in 
Sterling  in  1883,  when  the  site 
was  sold  to  a  railway  company 


Sunday  school  teacher  and   choir- 
master. 


C.  A.  HELLERSTEDT 

company  for  depot  purposes. 
Then  he  moved  back  to  Morrison 
and  three  years  later  sold  his 
interest  to  his  brother  to  engage 
in  the  same  line  of  business  for 
himself  in  Vinton,  la.  After  a 
year's  time  this  venture  was  given 
up  and  Mr.  Hellerstedt  removed 
to  Princeton,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of 
vehicles  of  various  types  until 
his  death  in  February,  1907. 

In  1888  Mr.  Hellerstedt  was 
married  to  Hattie  Teller  Barnum, 
of  Union  Grove,  111.,  who  on  her 
father's  side  is  related  to  P.  T. 
Barnum,  the  great  circus  man, 
and  on  her  mother's  side  is  a 
niece  of  ex-senator  Teller  of 
Colorado. 

Mr.  Hellerstedt  was  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  faith  and 
served  his  church  as  trustee, 


JOHN  HED 

was  born  in  Kafsjo  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  Dec.  22,  1844.  He 
came  to  America  in  1865.  His 
wife,  Eva  Christina,  was  born  Sept. 
14,  1847,  in  the  same  parish.  Mr. 
Hed  is  a  contractor  and  builder 
by  vocation.  He  has  six  sons, 
Carl  Oscar,  married  to  Emma  Ma- 
ria, Emil  Godtherr,  John  Clarence, 
married  to  Ida,  Arthur  Wilbur, 
Lawrence  Robert,  Reuben  David, 
and  two  daughters,  Hilda  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  John  Skorberg  of  Rock- 
ford,  and  Alma  Josephine,  now 
Mrs.  Marcus  Kissick. 


JOHN  HED 

The  family  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Free  Mission  Church. 


JOHN  ALBERT  HINQUIST 

was     born     in      Mossebo     parish, 


Elfsborgs 
12,     1864. 


in 

Ian, 

He 


Sweden, 
has    been 


June 
living 


128 


Bureau  County 


in  Princeton  since  March,  1884, 
when  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  After  obtaining  a  com- 


and  Dec.  6,    1893  ^e  wedded  Miss 
Jennie  Colberg  of  Princeton. 


JOHN  ALBERT  HINQUIST 

mon  school  education  he  began 
working  and  is  now  foreman  of  a 
lumber  yard.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
which  he  has  served  in  the  office 
of  trustee  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  belongs  to  the  Swedish  Sick 
Benefit  Society,  the  Modern  Wood- 
men, and  the  Mystic  Workers  of 
the  World  and  has  occupied  the 
highest  offices  in  the  three  organ- 
izations. For  several  years  Mr. 
Hinquist  has  been  president  of 
the  Bureau  County  Republican 
Club  and  vice-president  and  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee 
for  the  county  in  the  Swedish- 
American  Republican  League  of 
Illinois.  He  has  been  repeatedly 
elected  commissioner  of  highways 
in  Princeton  township.  In  1890- 
91  he  spent  nearly  a  year  on  a 
vjsit  to  his  old  home  in  Sweden 


PETER  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Venestad,  Skane, 
Sweden,  April  n,  1826.  He  was 
in  the  van  of  Swedish  emigration 
to  this  country  coming  here  in 
1856.  He  located  at  once  in 
Princeton.  When  Abraham  Lin- 
coln called  for  volunteers  in  April, 
1 86 1,  Peter  Johnson,  who  had  been 
quickly  Americanized,  at  once 
responded.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  I., 
1 2th  Illinois  Regiment  and  fought 
through  the  war.  Returning  to 
the  peaceful  occupations  of  life, 
he  resumed  his  old  trade  of  car- 
pentry at  which  he  has  acquired 


PETER  JOHNSON 

a    fair    competence.     He    has   re- 
mained unmarried. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Princeton  and  was  for  fifteen 
years  one  of  its  trustees.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Swedish-Ameri- 


Princeton 


129 


can   Republican  Club    and    of    the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


CARL  JACOB  LEDIN, 

minister  of  the  Mission  Covenant 
of    America,    and    now    in  charge 


CARL  JACOB  LEDIN 

of  its  church  in  Princeton,  was 
born  in  Eskelhem  parish,  on 
the  island  of  Gotland,  Dec.  13, 
1864.  His  parents  were  Thomas 
Christian  Ledin,  a  farmer,  and 
his  wife,  Charlotta  Liffdell,  who 
died  in  1903  at  New  Haven,  Ct. 
He  finished  the  common  school 
before  the  family  emigrated  in 
1883.  Coming  to  this  country 
they  lived  in  Greenwich  and  New- 
ington  before  settling  in  New 
Haven,  Ct.,  in  1886.  After  at- 
tending public  school  young  Ledin 
in  1888  entered  the  Swedish  de- 
I  artment  of  the  Chicago  Theolog- 
ical Seminary.  After  graduation 
in  1891  he  returned  to  Sweden 
where  he  was  traveling  mission- 
ary for  one  year  and  had  charge 


of  the  Mission  church  in  Nassjo 
for  two  and  one-half  years.  Com- 
ing back  to  the  United  States  in 
1894,  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Congregational  Church 
at  New  Haven,  remaining  until 
1898.  His  subsequent  fields  of 
labor  have  been:  Ishpeming, 
Mich.,  1898-1900;  Tabernacle 
Church  in  Chicago,  1900-1904; 
Princeton,  1905  to  the  present 
time. 

Rev.  Ledin  in  1903  was  sent 
to  Sweden  to  distribute  the  funds 
raised  by  the  Mission  Friends  in 
America  for  the  famine  sufferers 
in  Northern  Sweden,  and  also  to 
study  conditions  in  the  famine 
stricken  districts.  On  this  tour 
he  went  as  far  north  as  Jukkos- 
jarvi,  situated  120  miles  beyond 
the  arctic  circle.  Besides  travel- 
ing extensively  in  Norrbotten  and 
Vesterbotten,  he  visited  Dalarne, 
Verm  land,  Smaland,  and  Gotland, 
returning  in  September  of  the 
same  year.  Rev.  Ledin  is  the 
author  of  a  catechism  for  Bible 
schools. 

Sept.  10,  1896,  Rev.  Ledin  was 
married  to  Miss  Sara  Charlotta  Ol- 
son, born  in  Daretorp,  Sweden,  Oct. 
8,  1870.  Of  five  children  born  to 
them  only  two  survive,  namely 
Sara  Lydia  Theodora,  born  1904, 
and  Aina  Carola  Elisabeth,  1906. 


ANDREW  E.  NELSON 
was  born  on  a  farm  at  Stenstorp, 
Skaraborgs  Ian,  Sweden,  March 
3,  1864.  His  parents  were  Nels 
J.  and  Sara  Anderson.  In  1886 
he  emigrated  to  America  and 
went  to  Lincoln,  Nebr.  After 


130 


Bureau  County 


learning  the  building  trade,  he 
erected  by  contract  a  number  of 
houses  in  that  city.  A  few  years 


son    moved   on    a    farm    in    New 
Boston,   Mo.,  where  he  still  lives. 


ANDREW  E.  NELSON 

latei  Mr.  Nelson  removed  to 
Prince  ion,  111.,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  the  same  business. 
Among  the  many  buildings  erected 
by  him  may  be  mentioned  the 
elegant  residence  of  Col.  Paddock. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  a  trustee  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Princeton  for  several  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Mo- 
dern Woodmen  and  was  chairman 
of  the  Swedish  Sick-Benefit  Associa- 
tion of  Princeton  for  several 
terms. 

In  1891  Mr.  Nelson  was  mar- 
ried to  Ellen  C.,  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Bengta  Thulen  of 
Princeton,  born  Nov.  30,  1869. 
Their  eldest  children  are  Mildred 
Eveline,  Walter  V.,  Ellen  May 
and  Florence  Margaret. 

In  the  spring  of  1904  Mr.  Nel- 


CLAUS  J.  OBERG 

was  born  in  Sweden  Jan.  23,  1849. 
After  having  had  a  common  school 
education  in  Sweden,  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  1867, 
landing  at  Castle  Garden  June  3. 
At  once  he  went  to  Princeton  and 
worked  on  Eaton's  farm  until 
1870.  On  Feb.  26  of  that  year 
he  married  Jennie  Fogelberg.  He 
rented  a  farm  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  bought  one.  He  tilled 
the  soil  for  twelve  years,  and  then 
sold  his  latest  acquired  farm  and 
went  into  the  grocery  business 
with  Andrew  Johnson.  This  en- 
terprise was  sold  three  years  later. 


CLAUS  J.  OBERG 

Mr.  Oberg  thereupon  rented  a  240 
acre  farm  for  several  years,  and 
subsequently  bought  a  farm  near 
Princeton,  which  he  cultivated  for 
five  years.  In  1898  he  bought  a 
meat  market  in  Princeton,  which, 


Princeton 


with  the  aid  of  his  son,  C.  B. 
Oberg,  has  been  conducted  with 
marked  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oberg  belong  to 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 
They  have  two  daughters  and 
one  son. 

Mr.  Oberg  belongs  to  the  Swed- 
ish Republican  Club  of  Bureau 
county. 


C.  ENOCH  OBERG 

was   born  in   Princeton,  111.,  July 
!5»    l877-      His  parents    are    Mr. 


C.  ENOCH   OBERG 

and  Mrs.  Claus  J.  Oberg  of  that 
city.  He  attended  school  until 
fifteen,  after  that  he  assisted  on 
the  farm.  During  the  winter 
months  he  attended  the  Princeton 
Business  College.  When  in  the 
spring  of  1898  his  father  bought 
a  meat  market,  the  son  learned  the 
trade  of  meat  cutting  and  has  now 
been  admitted  to  a  partnership, 
the  name  of  the  firm  being  Oberg 
&  Son. 


C.  Enoch  Oberg  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Edith  Wright  on  Jan. 
i,  1900.  A  daughter  was  born  to 
them  on  May  17,  1902. 

Mr.  Oberg  belongs  to  the  Swed- 
ish Republican  Club  of  Princeton. 

GUSTAF  PETERSON 

was  born  Dec.  9,  1844,  in  Kafsjo, 
Smaland,    Sweden.      His    father, 


GUSTAF  PETERSON 

Peter  Magnus  Peterson,  was  born 
in  1805  and  died  in  1852.  His 
mother,  Stina  Bengtson,  was  born 
in  1804  and  died  in  1854.  Gus- 
taf's  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  Swedish  public  schools.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  1869, 
landing  on  June  2.  For  a  time 
he  lived  in  Chicago,  but  moved 
in  1876  to  Princeton,  where  he 
has  been  successful  as  a  carpenter 
contractor  and  builder. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Alma  Larson  on  Dec. 
26,  1884.  She  was  born  in  Borgs- 
tina  parish,  Vestergotland,  Aug. 


132 


Bureau  County 


31,  1857.  A  daughter,  Hulda 
Christina,  was  born  to  them  March 
18,  1886,  and  died  Aug.  15,  1906. 
The  mother  died  Sept.  29,  1887. 

On  Aug.  28,  1895,  Mr.  Peter- 
son was  married  to  Maria  Carolina 
Erickson,  born  in  Hadinge,  Kaf- 
sjo  parish,  Smaland.  Three  chil- 
dren resulted  from  this  union, 
Ernest  Caleb  Adolphus,  born  May 
5,  1896,  Alice  Elizabeth,  Oct.  22, 
1 897, and  Maria  Carolina  Ruth,  July 
14,  1900.  Their  mother  died  Nov. 
4,  1900. 

Mr.  Peterson  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Congregational  Church, 
in  which  he  has  held  several  of- 
fices of  trust.  He  has  been  a 
citizen  since  1876  and  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


He  has  always  been  a  straight 
Republican  in  politics  and  is  proud 
of  the  fact.  He  has  been  assist- 


CHARLES  G.  SWANSON, 
born  in  Vestergotland,  Sweden, 
Sept.  24,  1832,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  the  spring  of 
1864  and  settled  in  Princeton, 
where,  after  having  been  in  busi- 
ness as  a  boot  and  shoe  dealer, 
he  later  engaged  in  fruit  rais- 
ing. He  is  a  member  of  the  Mis- 
sion Church,  in  which  he  has 
served  successively  as  president, 
treasurer,  trustee,  and  deacon. 


CHARLES  G.  SWANSON 

ant  supervisor  of  Princeton  town- 
ship for  more  than  fourteen  years. 
Mr.  Swanson  was  married  Dec. 
23»  J855,  to  Miss  Mary  Johnson, 
the  union  having  been  blessed  with 
five  children,  all  living.  The  three 
sons  are  now  living  in  Aurora, 
Hamilton  co.,  Neb.,  one  daughter 
is  married  and  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Princeton,  while  the  other 
daughter  lives  at  home  with  the 
parents. 


Winnebago   County 


ROCKFORD 


ANDREW    J.  ANDERSON 
was  born  in  the  city  of   Rockford 
June  7,    1862,  and    has   made  this 


ANDREW    J.  ANDERSON 

city  his  home,  with  the  exception 
of  one  year,  spent  in  Texas.  He 
is  of  Swedish  descent,  his  father, 
Jonas  P.  Anderson,  being  a  native 
of  Rydaholm,  Sweden. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  educated  in 
the  city  schools  and  took  a  course 
in  the  Rockford  Business  College. 
He  was  first  employed  in  the 
mechanical  department  of  the 
Rockford  Watch  factory,  where 
he  remained  several  years. 

In  1 88 1  the  Excelsior  Furniture 
Co.  was  organized  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $50,000,  and  Mr.  An- 
derson was  made  its  secretary  and 
treasurer,  which  position  he  held 
for  eight  years. 

In  1890  he  opened  an  office  at 
421  E.  State  St.,  where  he  con- 


ducted a  real  estate,  loan  and  in- 
surance business. 

In  January,  1898,  he  was  made 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Union  Overalls  Co.,  which  position 
he  has  filled  with  marked  success 
and  still  holds.  He  had  charge 
of  a  large  manufacturing  plant  in 
Texas  during  the  year  1896,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Rockford. 

He  served  in  the  city  council 
as  alderman  of  the  2d  ward  dur- 
ing the  years  1890-1895,  and  was 
reelected  again  in  1903. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  a  member  of 
the  Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee of  Illinois  1903-1904. 

In  1904  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate. 

He  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to 
Miss  Hilma  Johnson  Dec,  30,  1896, 
and  has  one  child,  a  son,  Howard 
Edmund.  The  family  resides  at 
942  Kishwaukee  st. 


OSCAR  B.  ANDERSON 

hails  from  Kinna,  Vestergot- 
land,  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
Sept.  6,  1862.  He  emigrated 
from  Sweden  in  1888  and  came  to 
Chicago,  obtaining  employment  as 
a  carpenter  in  the  Deering  Har- 
vester Works.  In  1889  he  went 
to  work  as  a  stone-cutter,  a  trade 
more  to  his  liking.  In  the  fall 
of  1892  he  visited  his  old  home 
in  Sweden,  where  his  mother  and 
brother  were  still  living.  Return- 
ing to  Chicago  the  following  year 


i36 


Winnebago  County 


he  conducted  a  grocery  for  seven 
months,  but  a  preference  for  his 
old  business  reass  2  ted  itself.  In 


OSCAR    B.   ANDERSON 

1895  he  established  himself  at 
5834  May  st.  as  a  cut-stone  con- 
tractor, removing  in  1901  to  5830 
-34  Centre  ave.  In  1904  he  re- 
moved to  Rockford,  where  he  is 
continuing  in  the  same  line  of 
business. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  Jan. 
12,  1895,  to  Anna  Ottilia  Seger- 
hammar,  born  Nov.  28,  1870,  in 
Vassemala,  Vimmerby,  Smaland, 
her  father  being  John  I.  Seger- 
hammar.  They  have  two  sons 
and  three  daughters,  born  as  fol- 
lows: Carl  Reinhold,  Oct.  22, 
1896;  Oscar  Wilhelm,  May  8,  1898; 
Kdith  Sophia,  July  22,  1900;  Vio- 
let Ottilia,  Nov.  22,  1903,  and 
Alice  Emelia  Josephina,  April  26, 
1907. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are 
active  workers  in  the  Zion  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church. 


ALFRED  APPELL 

was  born  in  Lynn  township,  Knox 
county,  111.,  Jan.  12,  1868.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tended public  and  parochial  school, 
when  farm  work  permitted.  After 
his  confirmation  in  1883  he  was 
sent  to  Augustana  College,  where 
he  matriculated  in  the  academic 
department.  Continuing  his  stud- 
ies for  seven  years,  he  graduated 
with  the  college  class  of  1890. 
He  then  went  to  Yale,  where  he 
took  up  the  study  of  political 
economy  and  sociology  under  the 
direction  of  Professors  William  G. 
Sunnier  and  Arthur  T.  Hadley 
and  philosophy  and  pedagogy  un- 
der Prof.  George  T.  Ladd.  In  ad- 


ALFKED  APPELL 

dition,  he  attended  the  instruction 
in  biblical  exegesis  by  Dr.  W.  R. 
Harper  and  the  John  Hall  lectures 
at  the  Yale  Divinity  School. 

Returning  to  Augustana  College 
in  1891  he  pursued  theological 
studies,  also  taking  a  post-graduate 


Rockford 


137 


course  in  economics,  United  States 
History  and  German.  In  1892  he 
presented  his  thesis,  on  "The  The- 
ory of  Value,"  and  was  awarded 
the  master's  degree.  His  theolog- 
ical studies  completed  the  follow- 
ing year,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  on  a  call  from  the  Salem 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Peoria. 

While  a  student,  he  preached 
and  taught  Swedish  parochial 
school  in  various  localities  and  at 
college  was  frequently  called  upon 
to  assist  in  teaching  Prof.  William- 
son's classes  in  mathematics. 

At  Peoria  Rev.  Appell  took 
charge  of  a  church  of  75  members, 
which  has  since  grown  to  about 
315  communicants  and  530  mem- 
bers all  told.  During  his  tenure 
an  attractive  church  edifice  was 
erected  at  a  net  cost  of  $15,000. 

In  1906  Rev.  Appell  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Illinois  Conference 
Board  to  take  up  missionary  work 
at  South  Park,  Rockford.  He 
organized  the  Salem  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church,  which  now  numbers 
over  200  communicants. 

In  1895  Rev.  Appell  was  offered 
the  chief  editorship  of  Hemlandet, 
which  he  declined,  not  desiring  to 
change  his  calling.  He,  however, 
about  the  same  time  became  finan- 
cial editor  of  Nya  Pressen,  pub- 
lished in  Moline  for  the  campaign 
of  1895-96,  a  work  that  did  not 
interfere  with  his  pastoral  duties. 
In  the  spring  of  1896  he  published 
a  64-page  booklet  on  "The  Money 
Question,"  which  was  put  out  in 
both  a  Swedish  and  an  English 
edition. 


In  local  politics  Rev.  Appell 
takes  an  active  part  and  has  fre- 
quently served  as  a  delegate  to 
city  and  county  conventions.  He 
aided  in  the  organization  of  the 
Swedish  -  American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois,  has  been  chosen 
one  of  its  vice-presidents,  and  was 
a  member  for  years  of  the  Kicka- 
poo  Club,  a  Republican  organiza- 
tion in  Peoria. 

As  a  churchman  his  activity  has 
brought  him  forward  at  various 
points.  He  has  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Peoria  Ministerial  As- 
sociation, embracing  all  Protestant 
clergymen  in  the  city;  in  1902  he 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  Illi- 
nois Conference,  twice  reelected 
and  subsequently  made  vice-pres- 
ident of  the  Conference  in  1905, 
being  reelected  in  1906.  He  is 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  Lutheran 
Lesson  Quarterly,  issued  by  the 
General  Council,  which  in  1905 
elected  him  its  Swedish  corres- 
ponding secretary  and  reelected 
him  in  1907.  He  was  also  chosen 
a  member  of  its  board  of  "Sunday 
school  work."  He  has  made 
numerous  contributions  to  the 
churchly  as  well  as  the  secular 
press.  In  1892  he  was  chosen 
councilor  of  the  American  Insti- 
tute of  Civics. 

June  6,  1906,  Rev.  Appell  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice 
Rohlen  of  Rockford,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school  of 
Rockford  and  the  normal  depart- 
ment of  Augustana  College  and 
who  taught  for  three  years  in  the 
Brown  public  school  in  Rockford. 


138 

AUGUST  E.  BARGREN, 

Chief    of    Police    of    the    city    of 
Rockford,    came    to    that    city    in 


AUGUST  E.  BARGREN 

1868,  when  five  years  of  age,  and 
has  resided  there  ever  since.  He 
was  born  March  i,  1863.  His 
father,  John  Peter  Bargren,  died 
in  Rockford  in  1894.  After  at- 
tending the  graded  schools  until 
twelve  years  old,  young  Bargren 
worked  in  a  candy  factory  until 
the  age  of  twenty,  then  opened  a 
confectionery  store  of  his  own  and 
conducted  the  business  for  two 
years.  He  next  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  United  States  Express 
Co.,  remaining  for  three  years, 
and  was  then  with  the  Adams 
Express  Co.  for  two  years.  When 
he  quit  their  service  as  messenger 
he  joined  the  police  department  as 
a  patrolman.  In  1894,  after  four 
years  "of  service  on  the  force,  he 
was  appointed  Chief  of  Police,  a 
position  he  still  retains,  having 


Winnebago  County 

been  reappointed  by  every  succeed- 
ing administration. 

Mr.  Bargren  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Rockford  and  of  a  number  of  fra- 
ternal orders,  including  B.  P.  O. 
Elks,  the  Modern  Woodmen, 
Royal  Arcanum,  Archaean  Union 
No.  i,  Rockford  Germania  Turn- 
Verein  Club,  the  Red  Men  and 
the  Svea  Soner  Singing  Society. 

May  28,  1883,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Josephine  Spencer,  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  and  Mary  Will- 
iams Spencer  of  Beloit,  Wis.  Their 
children  are  Howard  Spencer,  born 
1886,  and  Lucile  ^Isabelle,  born 
1895-  

FREDERICK  BENGTSON, 

dealer  in  men's  furnishing  goods, 
was  born  near  Goteborg,  Sweden, 


FREDERICK   BENGTSON 

April  2,  1866.  When  he  was 
one  year  old  his  parents,  Andrew 
A.  Bengtson,  deceased  March  i, 
1887,  and  Lottie  I.,  emigrated  to 
America  settling  in  Rockford. 
After  attending  public  school  Mr. 
Bengtson  for  his  business  train- 
ing took  a  course  in  a  commercial 
college,  before  engaging  in  actual 
business.  His  fraternal  affiliations 
are  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


Rockford 


139 


In  the  late  nineties  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hattie  L,.  Huldt, 
who  was  born  in  Rockford,  Nov. 
23,  1872.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren. 

NELS  J.  BIL,L,STROM, 
inventor     and     foreman      of      the 
East    Rockford    Machine    Works, 


NELS  J.  BILLSTROM 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Malmo, 
Sweden,  Dec.  15,  1856.  In  1880, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  he 
came  to  the  United  States  after 
having  received  an  elementary 
schooling  in  the  old  country. 
His  father,  Nels  Billstrom,  is  a 
building  contractor  of  Malmo. 
Mr.  Billstrom  located  in  St.  Paul, 
but  has  lived  in  Rockford  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  since 
emigrating.  For  more  than  six- 
teen years  he  has  been  foreman 
of  the  aforesaid  machine  works. 
During  this  time  he  has  employed 
his  inventive  talent  to  good  pur- 
pose. He  has  invented  a  new 
barb  wire  machine  which  is  a 


great  improvement  on  the  older 
ones  and  requires  less  motive 
power.  Another  invention  of  his 
is  a  glueing  plant  carrier  for  use 
in  furniture  factories.  He  holds 
patents  for  both  machines,  which 
are  manufactured  at  the  East 
Rockford  works  and  both  in 
actual  use.  Mr.  Billstrom  was 
married  at  Rockford,  in  1881,  to 
Anna  Mathilda  Olson.  They  have 
four  children,  Emma,  Gunhild, 
Florence  and  Edna. 


CARL  O.  CARLSON 

was  born  July  12,  1865,  in  Sjoa- 
malen,  Askeryd  parish,  Smaland, 
Sweden.  Finishing  common  school 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  worked 
for  five  years  in  Sweden  at  home 
on  the  farm  and  as  carpenter. 


CARL  O.  CARLSON 

He  came  to  this  country  in  1885, 
and  worked  for  a  time  in  the 
Wells  and  France  car  shops  in 
Chicago.  Thereafter  he  was  farm- 
ing near  Marathon,  Iowa,  for 


140 


Winnebago  County 


two  years,  but  returned  to  Chi- 
cago in  1887,  and  took  an  agency 
for  real  estate.  When  the  Svea 
Building  and  Loan  Association 
was  organized,  he  became  one  of 
the  charter  members,  and  accepted 
the  position  of  general  agent. 
He  worked  in  that  vocation  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  was 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  as- 
sociation. He  also  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Svea  Land 
Colony,  whose  principal  land- 
holdings  are  at  Silverhill,  Ala- 
bama. 

Now  he  resides  at  Rockford 
where  he  is  in  the  real  estate 
and  land  business.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  First  Lutheran  Church 
of  Rockford. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  married  Oct. 
26,  1889,  to  Miss  Kaller,  born  in 
Askeryd,  Smaland,  June  5,  1866. 
Their  children  are:  Oscar  Arthur, 
born  1891,  and  Alfhild  Eliza- 
beth, 1894. 

AUGUST  p.  FLOBERG, 

bank  cashier  and  well-known  as 
a  business  man  and  churchman, 
was  born  at  Hellestad,  Vester- 
gotland,  Sweden,  Oct.  5,  1856. 
In  July,  1868,  he  came  to  Rock- 
ford  from  his  native  land  and 
has  made  this  city  his  home 
ever  after.  He  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  Rockford  schools. 
From  his  youth  a  member  of 
the  First  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
he  has  served  that  church  as 
trustee  and  treasurer  continuous- 
ly since  1876.  When  the  Manu- 
facturers' National  Bank  was  es- 
tablished in  1889,  Mr.  Floberg 


became  its  cashier.  This  bank  is 
now  one  of  the  strongest  in  the 
city,  its  deposits  aggregating  over 


AUGUST  P.  FLOBERG 

one  million  dollars.  Mr.  Floberg 
is  affiliated  with  no  organizations 
besides  his  church  and  his  busi- 
ness connections. 


CHARLES   A.  FORSBERG, 

proprietor  of  the  East  Rockford 
Machine  Works,  hails  from  Skar- 
hult,  Skane,  Sweden,  where  he 
was  born  Sept.  2,  1856.  His  par- 
en  ts  were  Gustaf  Forsberg,  a  black- 
smith, and  his  wife  Carolina,  nee 
Lindstedt.  After  attending  public 
schools  in  his  home  parish  he 
learned  the  machinist's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  in  Sweden  and  later 
in  Chicago,  where  he  located  after 
emigrating  in  1880.  Having  been 
employed  in  different  machine 
shops  in  Chicago  for  a  number  of 
years,  he  came  to  Rockford  in  1887 
and  here  started  the  East  Rock- 
ford  Machine  Works.  This  plant 


Rockford 


141 


has  now  some  thirty  workmen  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  high  grade 
barbed  wire  and  wire  netting  ma- 


as  a  Mission  preacher  in  Rockford. 
After  two  years'  service  here,  he 
went  in  turn  to  .  Paxton,  Moline, 


CHARLES   A.    FORSBERG 

chinery.  Their  goods  are  in  use 
in  all  parts  of  the  country.  Mr. 
Forsberg  is  an  able  machinist,  who 
has  made  and  patented  several  val- 
uable inventions.  He  was  married 
in  Rockford  Oct.  8,  1881,  to  Emma 
Anderson,  born  in  Orebro,  Sweden, 
Oct.  9,  1858.  They  have  six 
children,  Gerda,  Gustaf,  Fritz,  Ol- 
ga,  Mary  and  Edith. 


JOHN  GUSTAFSON 

was  born  April  15,  1828,  in  Sma- 
land,  Sweden.  The  circumstances 
in  his  home  compelled  him  at  an 
early  age  to  earn  his  owrn  living. 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  until  emi- 
grating to  this  country  in  1871, 
and  continued  here  for  eight  years 
more.  His  special  talent  as  a  Gos- 
pel teacher  and  the  demand  for 
ministers  caused  him  to  be  called 


JOHN  GUSTAFSON 

and  Muskegon,  and  finally  to  Ev- 
anston,  where  he  closed  his  career 
as  a  pastor.  He  is  now  retired 
and  lives  with  his  children  in 
Rockford. 


CHARLES  A.  HADDORFF 

was  born  in  Sweden  Feb.  2,  1864. 
May  28,  1892,  he  landed  on  Amer- 
ican soil,  fitted  for  practical  life 
by  good  training  in  several  schools 
in  the  land  of  his  birth.  Before 
locating  permanently  in  Rockford, 
he  lived  for  some  time  in  each  of 
the  cities  of  Minneapolis  and  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  and  Oregon,  111. 

Mr.  Haddorff  is  a  piano  manu- 
facturer and  has  been  successful 
in  his  line,  as  the  Haddorff  Piano 
Co.  is  one  of  the  large  industries 
of  Rockford.  He  is  a  Baptist  in 
faith  and  belongs  to  the  First 


142 


Winnebago  County 


Swedish  Baptist  Church,  in  which 


CHARLES  A.  HADDORFF 

he   has    served    many    years    as   a 
deacon  and  trustee. 


CHARLES  W.  HOLMQUIST, 
dealer  in  coal  and  wood,  was  born 
in    Rockford   June    3,    1875.     His 


CHARLES  W.  HOLMQUIST 

elementary  education  was  obtained 
in    the   common   schools    and    his 


business  training  in  the  Rockford 
Business  College. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Eman- 
uel  Lutheran  Church,  and  of  the 
Rockford  lodge  of  the  Order  of 
Columbian  Knights. 


GIDEON   A.  HOLMQUIST, 

coal  merchant,  is  a  native  of  the 
city,  being  born  in  Rockford  Nov. 
10,  1873.  He  is  the  son  of  John 
Holmquist  and  his  wife,  Julia. 
The  elder  Holmquist  came  to 


GIDEON  AMANDUS  HOLMQUIST 

Rockford  36  years  ago.  He  be- 
came a  coal  dealer  and  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  comfortable  bus- 
iness, which  is  now  conducted  by 
the  son. 

G.  A.  Holmquist  is  married  to 
Maude  Almeda,  daughter  of  Mal- 
colm Carlson.  She  was  born  Nov. 
3,  1879,  in  DeKalb.  Having  fin- 
ished high  school  there,  she  pur- 
sued the  study  of  music  at  Water- 
man Hall,  Sycamore,  and  has 
given  music  lessons  herself  from 


Rockford 


143 


her  sixteenth  year.  The  family 
belongs  to  the  First  Lutheran 
Church. 


ANDREW  C.  JOHNSON, 

the  first  Swedish  furniture  manu- 
facturer of  Rockford,    was  born  in 


ANDREW  C.  JOHNSON 

Torneryd,  Blekinge,  Sweden,  Aug. 
16,  1836.  His  parents  were  Carl 
Jonsson,  a  farmer,  and  his  wife, 
Lena  Persson.  The  parents  with 
their  four  sons  emigrated  in  1854, 
and  after  living  for  a  few  months 
at  St.  Charles,  settled  permanent- 
ly in  Rockford  in  June,  1855. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Johnson,  who  had 
learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade 
after  coming  to  Rockford,  went 
into  partnership  with  John  Nel- 
son, the  inventor,  and  Gustaf 
Hollem,  for  the  manufacture  of 
sash,  doors  and  blinds.  After 
four  years  Mr.  Johnson  bought 
out  his  partners  and  conducted 
the  business  as  sole  proprietor. 
At  this  juncture  he  began  in  a 


small  way  to  make  furniture,  and 
in  1871  associated  himself  with 
J.  P.  Anderson,  this  firm  devel- 
oping the  furniture  branch  of  the 
business  so  as  to  enter  the  general 
market.  In  1873  L.  D.  Upham 
was  taken  into  the  firm  and  a 
factory  was  erected  on  the  present 
site  of  the  Central  Furniture  Com- 
pany's plant.  In  1874  Mr.  John- 
sold  his  interest,  his  successor 
being  E.  L.  Herrick.  The  same 
year  the  late  Mr.  Cuthbert  Wood- 
ruff became  interested  in  this  in- 
dustry and  in  1875  the  Forest 
City  Furniture  Co.  was  organized, 
with  Mr.  Johnson  as  superintend- 
ent. This  was  the  pioneer  fur- 
niture factory  in  Rockford  and 
Mr.  Johnson  remained  as  super- 
intendent for  a  long  period. 
When  he  retired  from  active  work 
he  still  retained  a  financial  inter- 
est in  the  plant. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  first  married 
in  1860.  From  that  union  there 
survives  a  son,  Theodore,  married 
to  Miss  Jennie  Lindstrom  of  Rock- 
ford.  Mr.  Johnson  was  again 
married  June  4,  1875,  to  Hilma 
Augusta  Zellen  of  Rockford.  In 
this  marriage  there  are  three 
daughters,  Alma  Olivia,  Mabel 
Frances  Dorothea  and  Winifred 
Eugenia. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  been  connected 
with  the  First  Lutheran  Church 
of  Rockford  since  1855  and  served 
several  years  as  a  member  of  its 
board  of  deacons.  In  the  seven- 
ties he  was  elected  supervisor  of 
the  city.  He  lives  in  retirement 
and  with  his  family  occupies  a 
comfortable  home  at  100  Sixth  st. 


144 


Winnebago  County 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON, 

who    carries    on    a    lucrative    real 
estate  business,  was  born  in  Odes- 


has  served  eight  years  in  the 
council,  having  been  elected  four 
times  in  succession. 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON 

hog,  Linkopings  Ian,  Sweden,  May 
i,  1849.  On  his  2ist  birthday  he 
landed  in  this  country,  and  lived 
for  some  time  in  New  York  and 
Chicago  before  settling  in  Rock- 
ford.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  of  Sweden 
and  in  an  American  commercial 
college. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  been  active  in 
church  and  political  circles  alike, 
being  a  trustee  of  the  First  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  for  a  number 
of  years  and  having  served  several 
terms  in  the  city  council.  He 
was  first  elected  alderman  of  the 
Second  ward  in  April,  1899,  and 


GUSTAF  E.  JOHNSON, 

partner  of  his  younger  brother  in 
the  law  firm  of  Johnson  &  Johnson, 
was  born  in  Chicago  Nov.  i,  1874. 
He  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Champaign  count}*, 
111.,  working  during  the  summer 
and  attending  public  school  in  the 
winter  months.  In  the  spring  of 
1899  he  entered  the  law  offices  of 
Kerr  and  Lindley  at  Paxton  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May, 
1902.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 


GUSTAF   E.  JOHNSON 

year  he  formed  a  law  partnership 
with  his  brother  William  at  Rock- 
ford,  where  the  latter  had  opened 
a  law  office  the  year  before.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  a  Lutheran  in  faith. 


NILS  P.  JOHNSON, 

merchant  tailor,  was  born  at  Hjorts- 
hog,    Skane,    Sweden,    March    22, 


Rockford 


145 


1860.  He  came  over  to  this  coun- 
try in  May,  1881,  and  settled  in 
this  city.  He  has  a  public  school 


NILS  PETER  JOHNSON 

education,  acquired  in  the  place 
of  his  birth.  May  8,  1885,  four 
years  after  his  arrival  in  Rockford, 
he  was  married  here  to  Ingrid 
Lindstrom  from  Hjerup,  Skane, 
born  April  2,  1863.  The  couple 
have  two  sons,  George  Algot  and 
Albin  Leonard.  Mr.  Johnson  has 
conducted  a  tailoring  establishment 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  his 
religious  convictions  he  is  a  Meth- 
odist, and  has  served  the  local 
Swedish  M.  E.  church  for  some 
time  as  a  trustee. 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON, 

member  of  the  law  firm  of  John- 
son &  Johnson,  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago Oct.  23,  1876.  While  he 
yet  was  of  tender  age,  his  parents 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Champaign 
county,  111.,  where  he  grew  to 
rugged  manhood  performing  the 


duties  incumbent  on  the  boy  of 
the  farm  and  attending  the  public 
schools  in  winter. 

He  matriculated  in  the  law  class 
of  the  Northern  Illinois  College  of 
Law  at  Dixon,  111.,  Sept.  i,  1897, 
and  successfully  pursued  the  course 
of  legal  study  prescribed  by  the 
college  and  graduated  with  honor 
in  the  post-graduate  class  in  May, 
1900,  receiving  the  degree  of  LL. 
M.  (Master  of  Laws).  In  con- 
junction with  his  law  course  he  was 
under  the  instruction  and  in  the 
law  office  of  H.  A.  Brooks,  a  prac- 
ticing attorney  of  Dixon,  111.  for  a 
period  of  two  years. 

While  attending  college  he  took 
a  very  prominent  part  in  society 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON 

work,  debating  and  parliamentary 
law,  is  a  very  fluent  speaker  and 
has  a  diploma  from  the  Dixon 
College  of  Oratory. 

He  successfully  passed  his  ex- 
amination for  admission  to  the 
bar  held  at  Mt.  Vernon,  111.,  in 


146 


Winnebago  County 


December,  1900,  and  was  during 
that  month  admitted  to  practice 
law  at  the  bar. 

During  the  latter  part  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1901,  he  opened  a  law  office 
at  527  Seventh  St.,  Rockford,  and, 
although  a  stranger  in  the  city, 
managed  from  the  start  to  build 
up  a  satisfactory  law  practice,  and 
in  September,  1902,  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  his  brother  under 
the  firm  name  of  Johnson  &  John- 
son, who  are  at  present  enjoying 
a  good  practice. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  of  the  orders 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

GUSTAF  JOHNSON, 

Chief  Deputy  Sheriff  for  more 
than  ten  years,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Rydaholm,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  Sept.  26,  1852.  His  par- 
ents were  Johannes  Gabrielson 
and  Martha  C.  Anderson,  farmer 
folk  of  Rydaholm.  After  some 
schooling  in  Sweden  he  continued 
his  studies  in  the  public  schools 
and  at  Arnold's  Business  College 
in  Rockford  where  the  family 
located  after  emigrating  in  1868. 
He  is  married  to  Anna  C.  John- 
son, born  Oct.  8,  1856,  daughter 
of  Olof  Johnson,  a  farmer  of 
Mjelldrunga  parish,  Vestergotland, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated 
Sept.  19,  1877.  The  couple  have 
had  four  children,  William  G. 
and  Ernest  V.,  twins;  Arthur  L,. 
and  Edna  B.,  deceased.  Mr.  John- 
son carries  on  a  large  express 
business,  begun  in  a  small  way 
when  .he  established  a  bus  line 


and  express  service  in  1877.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican county  central  committee  for 


GUSTAF 1OHXSON 

more  than  fifteen  years  and  has 
often  been  a  delegate  to  state 
conventions.  From  its  organiza- 
tion until  1902,  when  he  declined 
the  place,  he  was  an  officer  of 
the  Swedish-American  Republican 
State  League  of  Illinois.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  financially  interested 
in  many  business  concerns,  being 
a  stockholder  and  director  in  the 
Swedish  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation, the  Union  Grocer}'  Com- 
pany, Scandia  Hardware  Company 
and  Rockford  Furniture  and  Un- 
dertaking Company.  He  belongs 
to  the  First  Lutheran  Church  and 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

PER  GOTTFRID  LAON 
was  born    in    Alsater,    Soderman- 
land,     March    6,     1867.     He    was 
educated  at  the  Carolinian  medical 
institute  of  Stockholm  and    subse- 


Rockford 


147 


quently  was  assistant  at  the  Sera- 
fimer  Lasarett.  Having  also  stud- 
ied dental  surgery  in  the  old 


PER  GOTTFRID  LAON 

country,  he  came  to  Chicago  in 
1893  and  here  continued  his  stud- 
ies at  the  Northwestern  School  of 
Dental  Surgery,  graduating  in 
1895.  Prior  to  graduation  he  was 
assistant  in  the  dental  office  of 
Dr.  P.  Wm.  Thorelius.  In  1897 
he  located  in  Rockford,  where  he 
is  the  only  Swedish  dentist  and 
enjoys  an  extensive  practice.  In 
1895  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Hattie  Anderson  of  Marinette, 
Wisconsin. 


ALFRED  G.  LARSON, 

mason  contractor  and  builder, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1878 
from  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
Sept.  5,  1857,  in  Warnum 
parish,  in  the  Ian  of  Elfsborg. 
His  father  had  gone  to  the 
United  States  in  1866  and  three 
years  later  sent  for  his  wife, 


leaving  the  boy  of  twelve  to 
shift  for  himself  among  relatives 
and  strangers  for  nine  years. 
He  learned  the  stonecutter's  trade 
in  the  meantime,  and  in  October, 
1878,  rejoined  his  parents,  arriv- 
ing at  their  home  in  Walnut, 
Bureau  county,  111.  In  1881  he 
removed  to  Rockford  to  take  up 
his  trade.  After  five  years  he 
engaged  in  general  contracting 
and  building, and  is  still  pursuing 
this  line  of  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried Oct.  6,  1883,  to  Selma  J. 
Peterson;  they  have  had  in  all 
five  children,  the  oldest  two  dy- 
ing in  infancy. 

Mr.  Larson  has  been  a  trustee  of 
the  First  Lutheran  Church  and  for 


ALFRED  G.   LARSON 

more  than  fourteen  years  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Svea  Soner  Singing 
Society;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Winne- 
bago  county;  member  of  the  city 
council  of  Rockford  in  1898-99; 
member  of  the  executive  com- 


148 


Winnebago  County 


mittee  and  treasurer  of  the  Re- 
publican County  Central  Committee; 
member  of  the  Library  Board, 
and  superintendent  of  streets,  both 
by  appointment,  and  secretary 
of  the  local  board  of  improve- 
ments. He  has  always  been  a 
Republican  and  takes  a  lively 
interest  in  public  affairs. 

When  the  Scandia  L,ife  Insur- 
ance Co.  was  removed  from 
Galesburg  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Lar- 
son was  chosen  a  director;  in 
1905  he  was  elected  member  of 
the  board  of  managers  and  re- 
elected  in  1906  for  a  three  year 
term. 


decided  to  emigrate  to  America, 
there  being  nothing  to  keep  him 
in  his  native  land  after  both  his 


ALBERT  LAWSON 

was  born  in  Rudskoga,  Verm- 
land,  Sweden,  in  September,  1866, 
his  parents  then  being  farmers. 
When  he  was  three  years  old, 
his  mother  died.  The  father 
then  lost  interest  in  farming, 
sold  his  farm  and  went  back  to 
his  early  trade  as  house  builder. 
The  mechanical  traits  of  the 
father  manifested  themselves  early 
in  his  son  when  at  the  age  of 
six  years  he  was  found  working 
at  the  bench.  At  an  early  age, 
Mr.  Lawson  entered  the  Stenby 
sloyd  school  in  Vestmanland  and 
there  took  up  a  course  of  sloyd. 
While  there  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Stockholm,  Vesteras 
and  Bergslagen  Railway  Company 
and  worked  in  their  shops  at  Ves- 
teras between  terms  of  school.  In 
1879  he  was  confirmed  under  age  by 
special  permission  his  father  hav- 
ing been  dead  for  three  years. 
Shortly  after  the  confirmation  he 


ALBERT  LAWSON 

parents  were  gone.  Arriving  in 
this  country  in  1879,  he  went  to 
Perth  Amboy,  N.  Y.  where  he 
remained  for  some  time  and  worked 
at  anything  he  could  get  to  do 
to  earn  a  living.  In  1880  he 
went  to  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  where 
he  worked  in  different  capacities 
but  remained  in  the  employ  of 
the  D.  M.  Gillmore  Furniture 
Mfg.  Co.  for  over  six  years, 
which  was  the  real  beginning  of 
his  present  career.  He  also 
worked  for  the  Barnard  Coop. 
Furniture  Co.  of  the  same  place.  In 
1888  he  was  offered  a  position  as 
general  foreman  of  the  machine 
and  woodworking  departments  in 
the  factory  of  Muskegon  Valley 
Furniture  Co.,  Muskegon,  Mich., 
which  he  accepted  and  held  for 
eight  years.  From  that  place  he 
hired  out  to  the  Michigan  Trust 


Rockford 


149 


Company  of  Grand  Rapids  Mich., 
which  at  that  time  operated  a 
furniture  factory  at  Ionia,  Mich., 
where  Mr.  Lawson  held  the  po- 
sition as  general  foreman.  He 
next  took  a  position  with  the 
Connersville  Furniture  Mfg.  Co. 
of  Connersville,  Ind.  and  served 
in  the  capacity  of  superintendent 
for  the  machinery  and  woodwork- 
ing departments  in  their  large 
factory.  About  eight  years  ago 
Mr.  L/awsou  received  an  offer  to 
go  to  Rockford,  111.,  to  become 
general  superintendent  and  de- 
signer for  the  large  factories  of 
the  Forest  City  Furniture  Co. 
This  position  Mr.  L,awson  still 
holds  and  it  is  probable  that  he 
will  make  Rockford  his  home  for 
the  future  as  he  has  acquired  a 
home  there,  the  comforts  of 
which  he  enjoys  together  with 
his  devoted  wife  and  one  son. 


discontinued  his  studies  and  went 
to  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  as  a 
member  of  the  hospital  corps  of 


CARL  O.  E.  LOFGREN, 
established  in  Rockford  since  1901 
as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  is  a 
native  of  this  state.  He  was  born 
in  -Chicago  Feb.  27,  1874,  but  the 
year  of  his  birth  the  family  moved 
to  Rockford,  where  his  father, 
Otto  Lofgren,  became  a  furniture 
factory  worker.  As  a  boy  he  at- 
tended public  school  and  was  em- 
ployed during  vacations  in  various 
stores  and  factories  here.  In  1891 
he  was  enrolled  at  Augustan  a  Col- 
lege. After  graduation  from  the 
college  he  taught  at  the  orphan- 
age in  Andover  for  a  year,  and  in 
1897  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine at  the  University  of  Iowa. 
During  the  war  with  Spain  he 


CARL  OTTO  EMIL  LOFGREN 

the  Sixth  Illinois  regiment.  After 
his  return  he  spent  another  year 
in  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Iowa,  but  completed 
the  course  at  the  Northwestern 
University  Medical  School.  After 
graduation,  he  returned  to  Rock- 
ford  and  began  a  medical  and 
surgical  practice  in  his  home  city, 
meeting  with  eminent  success. 
May  4,  1893,  Mayor  C.  A.  Jack- 
son appointed  him  commissioner 
of  health  for  the  city  and  he 
served  until  May  4,  1907.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can War  Veterans'  Association, 
and  was  elected  department  sur- 
geon for  Illinois  in  1907,  and  is 
also  post  surgeon  of  the  Arthur 
E.  Fisher  Camp  No.  5  of  that 
organization.  Dr.  Lofgren  is  a 
member  of  the  Zion  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  and  of  the  Svea 


Winnebago  County 


Soner   Singing   Society.     He  is   a 
Republican  but  no  politician. 

On  June  7,  1905,  Dr.  Lofgren 
wedded  Miss  Alma  Kathrina, 
daughter  of  Nels  P.  and  Johanna 
Bengtson,  born  in  Sweden  Feb. 
J9»  l873-  They  had  a  daughter, 
Kathrine  Eleonora,  born  on  June 
1 8,  1906,  but  died  Aug.  19,  1906. 


burg,  which  he  retained  until  his 
removal  to  Rockford  in  January, 
1890. 


ALFRED  T.  LINDGREN, 
secretary  of  the  Swedish  Building 
and  Loan  Association  and  organist 
of  the  First  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  is  a  native  of  Vestergot- 
land,  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
Jan.  15,  1852,  at  Lindasen,  Helle- 
stad  parish.  His  father,  Johannes 
Jonsson,  was  a  landowner  and  a 
clothing  merchant.  Both  parents 
passed  away  in  Sweden. 

Mr.  Lindgren  attended  public 
school  and  had  private  tuition  in 
Sweden  until  sixteen  years  old, 
when  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Galesburg.  By 
self-study  he  acquired  English, 
then  took  a  business  course  and 
finally  obtained  his  musical  edu- 
cation in  the  Knox  College  Con- 
servatory. From  1868  to  1890 
he  lived  in  Galesburg,  save 
for  the  year  1871,  spent  in  Chi- 
cago as  a  grocery  salesman,  and 
two  years'  employment  1887-88 
in  the  office  of  the  general  super- 
intendent of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R. 

He  began  as  office  boy  in  the 
office  of  the  division  superintend- 
ent at  Galesburg  in  1872  and  ad- 
vanced to  chief  clerk.  In  1873 
he  assumed  the  position  of  organ- 
ist and  choirmaster  of  the  First 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  Gales- 


ALFRED  THORSTEN  LINDGREN 

In  Rockford,  Mr.  Lindgren  at 
once  took  the  position  of  secretary 
of  the  Swedish  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  which  he  has  held 
these  eighteen  years.  Simultane- 
ously he  accepted  a  call  to  become 
organist  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  this  city,  a 
position  also  retained  by  him  up 
to  the  present.  In  his  church  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  since  1896. 

Mr.  Lindgren  is  a  member  of 
the  state  committee  inspecting 
alms  houses  and  jails  in  Winne- 
bago county. 

He  has  sought  recreation  and 
instruction  in  extensive  travel  in 
this  country  and  Europe,  Sweden 
in  particular. 

Mr.  Lindgren  is  a  man  of  be- 
nevolent spirit.  To  his  native  pa- 
rish he  has  donated  a  fund,  now 


Rockford 


exceeding  700  crowns,  toward  the 
purchase  of  an  organ  for  its  newly 
erected  church  edifice.  More  than 
that,  he  granted  the  parish  a  loan 
of  4,000  crowns  without  interest 
by  way  of  aiding  in  the  comple- 
tion of  the  structure. 

Jan.  25,  1882,  Mr.  Lindgren 
married  Miss  Nellie  Fredrika  Ol- 
son, daughter  of  Anders  and  Inga 
Olson  of  Knoxville,  111.,  born  Sept. 
19,  1 86 1.  They  have  an  only 
child,  Caroline.  She  is  a  devoted 
student  of  the  organ  and  of  sacred 
music  and  is  now  organist  of  the 
Centennial  M.  E.  Church  of  Rock- 
ford. 


Maria  Albertina  Lindstrom,  born 
Feb.  19,  1870,  at  Dunkahalla,  Jon- 
koping,  Smaland.  Their  children 


SWAN  O.  WIDELL, 

real  estate  dealer  and  justice  of 
the  peace,  has  lived  in  Rockford 
since  July  7,  1887,  when  he  came 
there  from  Sweden.  He  was  born 
in  Jarsnare  parish,  Smaland,  Dec. 
2,  1866,  and  attended  public 
school  in  the  old  countr)*,  where 
he  also  learned  the  cabinetmaker's 
trade.  His  father,  Sven  A.  Skarp, 
until  his  death  belonged  to  the 
Jonkoping  regiment  of  the  stand- 
ing army  of  Sweden.  He  died  in 
Forserum,  Smaland,  in  1891,  leav- 
ing a  widow  who  still  resides 
there.  When  Mr.  Widell  first 
came  to  Rockford  he  began  work 
as  cabinetmaker  at  the  Central 
Furniture  Company's  plant  and 
later  worked  at  the  Scandia  Fur- 
niture factory  until  1890  when  he 
engaged  in  the  realty  and  loan 
business  which  has  proven  more 
profitable. 

He   married  May    14,     1891,    to 


SWAN   O.  WIDELL 

are:  George  Oscar  Clarence,  Burt 
Leonard  and  Edna  Dorothea. 
The  family  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and 
Mr.  Widell  is  a  singer  in  the 
Svea  Soner  Singing  Society  and  of 
many  other  organizations.  He 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1900,  re-elected  in  1904  and  still 
holds  the  place,  with  his  office  at 
528  Seventh  st. 


JOHAN  V.  LUNDHOLM, 

proprietor  of  the  North  Star  Phar- 
macy, was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Morlunda,  Smaland,  Sweden,  Sept. 
ii,  1856.  At  nine  years,  he  lost 
his  father  by  death.  Having 
studied  at  the  collegiate  school  of 
Kalmar  he  was  registered  as  a 
student  of  pharmacy  with  the  offi- 
cial apothecary  at  H6gsb}r  in  1873. 


152 


Winnebago  County 


He  passed  the  examination  in 
1876  and  in  1881  entered  the 
Pharmaceutical  Institute  of  Stock  - 


JOHAN  VICTOR  LUNDHOLM 

holm  and  there  graduated  as  a 
dispenser  and  pharmacist  in  1883. 
Finding  the  outlook  dark  owing 
to  the  slow  system  of  advance- 
ment prevalent  in  the  old  coun- 
try, he  left  Sweden  for  the  United 
States  in  1887.  For  a  short  time 
he  was  employed  at  Paxton,  then 
had  various  situations  in  Chicago. 
In  1891  he  removed  to  Rockford 
and  the  following  year  he  pur- 
chased the  drug  store  known  as 
"Apoteket  Nordstjernan."  By 
hard  work  and  strict  business 
methods  he  has  succeeded  in  es- 
tablishing one  of  the  leading 
pharmacies  in  the  city. 

Mr.  lyUndholm  has  been  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  was  Al- 
frida  Wirstedt  of  Chicago,  who 
died  there  in  1895.  There  were 
in  this  union  three  children,  of 
whom  two,  Sonja  Alfrida  and 


Joseph  Sebastian,  survive.  On 
June  19,  1901,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Hilma  Esterquist  of  Chicago, 
born  May  17,  1870.  Their  chil- 
dren are,  Stanley  Victor  Emanuel, 
born  1902,  and  Camilla  Ruth  Inge- 
borg,  1904. 

NELS  P.  NELSON, 

attorney  and  member  of  the  city 
council,  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Eldsberga,  Halland,  Sweden,  Oct. 
23,  1865.  His  parents,  Nils  and 
Petronella  Bengtsson,  who  were 
farmer  folk,  both  died  in  the  old 
country.  The  son  emigrated  in 
1885,  having  enjoyed  an  element- 
ary education  in  the  Swedish  com- 
mon schools. 

Mr.  Nelson    located  at  Putnam, 
111.,  and    there  worked  on  a   farm 


NELS  PETER   NELSON 

for  five  years.  Then  he  went  to 
the  state  of  Washington  and  for 
three  years  was  employed  in  a 
sawmill,  of  which  his  brother, 
John  Nelson,  was  part  owner. 


Rockford 


153 


After  that  he  spent  a  year  in  the 
mountains  of  Idaho,  riding  the 
range.  While  occupied  as  a  cow- 
boy and  rancher  he  also  tried  pros- 
pecting, but  with  indifferent  suc- 
cess. He  returned  to  Illinois  in 
1893  to  get  a  glimpse  at  the 
World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  then 
went  back  to  Putnam  and  farmed 
for  another  year  in  that  locality. 
In  January,  1895,  ne  entered  Au- 
gustan a  College  and  pursued  an 
eclectic  course  there  until  the 
spring  of  1899,  when  he  assumed 
temporary  charge  of  a  church  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  for  one  year.  Mr. 
Nelson,  having  settled  on  the  law 
as  his  future  profession,  began 
preparation  at  the  Drake  Univer- 
sity law  school.  The  second  year 
in  the  course  he  spent  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska,  where  he  ob- 
tained his  diploma  in  June,  1902, 
and  was  subsequently  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  did  not  engage  in 
legal  practice  at  once,  but  coming 
to  Rockford  secured  a  position  as 
foreman  of  the  stock  room  of  the 
Illinois  Sewing  Machine  Company. 
Leaving  that  position  after  three 
years,  he  took  up  the  practice  of 
law  at  Rockford  in  January,  1906, 
having  passed  the  bar  examination 
in  Springfield  in  October,  1903. 

In  the  spring  election  of  1907 
Mr.  Nelson  entered  the  aldermanic 
contest  in  the  Second  ward  and 
came  out  victorious  in  the  fight, 
being  elected  to  the  city  council 
April  1 6. 

His  marriage  took  place  Oct. 
12,  1903.  His  bride  was  Miss 
Caroline  B.  Norlin,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Betsy  Norlin  of  Put- 


nam. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have 
had  a  son,  who  died  in  infancy. 
A  second  son,  Carroll  Homer,  was 
born  June  15,  1907.  They  are 
members  of  the  Zion  Swedish 
L,utheran  Church ,  which  Mr.  Nel- 
son has  served  as  a  trustee  since 
1903.  He  belongs  to  the  North 
Star  and  Modern  Woodmen  orders. 


WILLIAM   NELSON, 
one    of    the  most  eminent  citizens 
of    Rockford,  was    born    at    Syca- 


WILLIAM    NELSON 

more,  111.,  Oct.  29,  1857.  His  fa- 
ther was  John  Nelson  from  Karr- 
akra,  Vestergotland,  the  inventor 
of  a  knitting  machine  which  has 
played  an  important  part  in  the 
industrial  development  of  the  city 
of  Rockford.  After  many  years 
of  experimental  work  he  succeeded 
in  making  a  practical  machine, 
which  was  subsequently  brought 
nearer  and  nearer  to  perfection  by 
the  inventor  and  his  sons.  Wil- 
liam Nelson,  who  became  a  part- 


154 


Winnebago  County 


ner  of  his  father  at  an  early  age, 
has  steadily  developed  the  knit- 
ting factory  founded  by  the  elder 
Nelson,  until  it  is  now  one  of  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States. 

As  a  youth,  Mr.  Nelson  attended 
the  public  and  high  school  of  his 
home  city.  He  is  married  and 
has  a  family  of  five  children, 
named  Lovisa,  Elsie,  Dorothy,  Hil- 
ding  and  William.  Mrs.  Olivia 
Nelson  was  born  July  20,  1867, 
at  Bokhillsater,  Vermland. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  extensive  man- 
ufacturing and  business  interests: 
he  is  the  president  of  the  Forest 
City  Knitting  Company,  vice-pres- 
ident of  the  Nelson  Knitting  Com- 
pany, president  of  the  Nelson  Ho- 
tel Company,  and  vice-president 
of  B.  F.  Barnes  &  Co.  He  is  a 
a  member  of  the  following  Ma- 
sonic bodies,  viz.:  Freeport  Con- 
sistory, Shriner  of  Tebala  Temple, 
Rockford,  and  Knight  Templar  of 
the  Crusade  Commandery  of  that 
city. 

1901,  he  was  ap- 
the  aids  of  Gov- 
Yates,  with  the 
Not  long  after- 
ward, Col.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  enter- 
tained Gov.  and  Mrs.  Yates  at 
their  beautiful  home  on  North 
Main  St.,  together  with  a  number 
of  other  distinguished  guests,  the 
occasion  being  one  of  the  most 
splendid  in  the  social  affairs  of 
Rockford. 


over  to  this  country  in  1888  and 
lived  in  Sycamore  and  Aurora  be- 
fore eventually  locating  in  Rock- 


On  Jan.  28, 
pointed  one  of 
ernor  Richard 
rank  of  Colonel. 


AUGUST  NYLANDER, 

born  at  Nye  in  the  Ian  of  Jonko- 
ping,  Sweden,  Oct.  16,  1869  came 


AUGUST   NYLANDER 

ford.  During  his  first  two  years 
in  the  United  States  he  worked 
on  a* farm  in  Winnebago  county, 
afterwards  plying  the  carpenter's 
trade  until  1895,  when  he  went 
into  the  grocery  business  in  part- 
nership with  Charles  Castenson, 
continuing  until  1901.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  Mr.  Nylander  was 
appointed  overseer  of  the  poor. 
For  three  years  from  the  year 
1900,  inclusive,  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  Postal  Station  No.  2. 
For  various  periods  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  County  Board, 
of  the  School  Board  and  of  the 
Republican  County  Central  Com- 
mittee. 

Mr.  Nylander  belongs  to  the 
First  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Rockford. 


Rockford 


155 


is   the    recognized    leading   manu- 
facturer of  the  city   of    Rockford. 


PEHR  AUGUST  PETERSON 

He  is  the  organizing  genius  of 
the  great  furniture  and  piano 
industry  of  that  city.  Following 
out  the  cooperative  system  of 
production,  he  has  been  instru- 
mental in  establishing  the  major 
part  of  the  furniture  factories  for 
which  Rockford  is  justly  famous. 
He  is  now  and  during  the  past 
thirty  years  has  been  directly  or 
indirectly  interested  in  more  in- 
dustrial enterprises  than  any  other 
man  in  Rockford  and,  we  daresay, 
any  other  Swedish-American  in 
the  United  States.  His  career  is 
a  highly  interesting  one. 

Pehr  August  Peterson  was  born 
in  Ving,  Vestergotland,  Sweden, 
Sept.  8,  1848.  In  1852  his  par- 
ents, P.  A.  Peterson,  Sr.,  and 
wife,  emigrated  to  America,  des- 
tined for  Chicago.  Learning  there 
that  the  country  offered  better 


opportunities  for  newcomers,  they 
proceeded  to  Rockford,  then  but 
a  small  town.  The  Peterson  family 
were  among  the  first  Swedish 
settlers  in  Winnebago  county. 
They  located  on  a  farm  on  which 
the  son  grew  up  under  none  too 
favorable  conditions  incidental  to 
the  life  of  pioneer  farmers.  His 
early  training  consisted  of  years 
of  hard  work  on  the  farm  and 
not  much  schooling. 

At  about  twenty-seven  years  of 
age  he  entered  a  business  college, 
determined  to  remedy  the  defects 
in  his  education.  When  in  March, 
1876,  the  Union  Furniture  Com- 
pany was  organized,  the  young 
commercial  student  was  given  the 
position  of  secretary  of  the  com- 
pany, the  first  step  in  a  business 
career  that  was  to  become  re- 
markable. He  soon  realized  the 
excellent  outlook  for  the  furniture 
manufacture  in  the  West,  the 
favorable  conditions  obtaining  in 
Rockford  and  the  advantages  of 
the  cooperative  system  to  all  in- 
terested, whether  managers  and 
directors  or  workmen.  During 
the  next  few  years  company  after 
company  was  organized  on  this 
plan,  and  almost  invariably  Mr. 
Peterson  was  one  of  the  promot- 
ers, became  financially  interested 
and  was  chosen  president,  vice- 
president  or  director. 

The  great  panic  of  1893  an(^ 
the  resultant  business  depression 
pla)'ed  havoc  with  the  industries 
of  Rockford.  Several  establish- 
ments went  down  in  the  general 
crash,  but  the  stronger  ones 
weathered  the  storm.  New  plants 


156 


Winnebago  County 


had  been  built  largely  on  credit 
and  on  the  most  unbounded  con- 
fidence of  moneyed  men  in  Mr. 
Peterson  and  those  interested  with 
him.  These  naturally  suffered 
worst  and  the  difficulties  that  he 
had  in  his  efforts  to  keep  his 
"infant  industries"  alive  would 
have  driven  most  men  to  despair. 
He  drew  on  every  resource,  but 
without  avail,  and  more  than  one 
of  the  enterprises  that  he  had 
fathered  went  by  the  board.  But 
a  man  of  his  stamp  was  not  to 
be  downed.  With  the  revival  in 
business  following  the  crisis,  Mr. 
Peterson  rallied,  and  he  is  now  a 
greater  industrial  captain  than  be- 
fore. He  rehabilitated  himself  in 
a  manner  that  does  credit  to  his 
head  and  heart  alike — not  by 
wiping  out  old  scores  and  opening 
new  books,  but  by  conscientiously 
paying  up  old  accounts  as  fast  as 
his  new  resources  would  permit. 

In  one  way  or  another  Mr. 
Peterson  has  been  connected  with 
sundry  enterprises,  besides  indus- 
trial ones,  among  his  fellow  coun- 
trymen in  Rockford.  Prior  to  the 
panic  he  had  large  investments  in 
realty  and  in  1890-91  built 
about  one  hundred  houses  in  east 
Rockford,  thereby  materially  aid- 
ing in  the  development  of  that 
quarter  of  the  city.. 

In  1906  Mr.  Peterson  was  chosen 
president  of  the  Swedish- American 
Republican  League  of  Illinois. 


attended  the  country  schools,  af- 
terwards removing  to  the  city  of 
Rockford  and  attended  the  Rock- 


CHARLES    J.    LUNDBERG, 
furniture  manufacturer, was  born  of 
Swedish  parents  at  Kirkland,  Ills., 
De  Kalb   co.,    Oct.    28,  1871.     He 


CHARLES   I.   LUNDBHRG 

ford  Business  College,  completing  a 
business  course  in  a  very  short 
period  of  time.  He  then  became 
a  teacher  of  book-keeping  in  the 
evening  school  at  the  college, 
but  resigned  his  position  to 
become  book-keeper  for  the  Star 
Furniture  Co.,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  for  some  time,  after- 
wards being  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  company  which 
position  he  held  for  a  period. 
Mr.  Lundberg  sold  his  interest 
in  the  company  and  started  on 
the  road  selling  furniture  for  the 
Rockford  Desk  Co.,  in  which 
company  he  was  president  and 
heavily  interested  financially,  and 
traveled  for  three  years.  He 
later  sold  his  interest  to  Oscar 
Bergquist,  the  present  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  purchased  the 
plant  now  known  as  the  Co-Oper- 


Rockford 


157 


ative  Furniture  Co.,  from  the 
assignee,  F.  F.  Wormwood.  All 
the  capital  he  had  at  that  time 
was  accumulated  by  himself 
through  hard  manual  labor,  during 
his  first  three  years  in  the  city. 
He  had  worked  at  the  different 
furniture  factories,  starting  at  the 
Forest  City  Furniture  Co., working 
in  the  machine  room  at  75  cents  per 
day.  Mr.  Lundberg  was  in  1907 
reelected  to  the  office  of  vice- 
president  of  the  National  Furniture 
Association  of  America. 

He  was  appointed  the  pur- 
chasing agent  for  Rockford,  all  the 
purchases  for  the  entire  city 
being  placed  in  his  hands.  Mr. 
Lundberg  was  elected  alderman 
of  the  first  ward  in  1903  and  still 
holds  the  position. 

At  present  he  is  secretary, 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of 
the  Co-Operative  Furniture  Co., 
owning  the  controlling  interest 
in  the  company  with  a  capital  of 
$50,000.00  paid  in,  $45,000.00 
surplus,  and  doing  a  business  of 
$150,000.00  per  annum. 

Mrs.  Olga  Olive  Lundberg  is  of 
Swedish  descent  and  was  born 
Sept.  28,  1876  and  was  married  on 
her  birthday  in  1898.  She  attended 
Augustana  College,  taking  the 
music  course.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lundberg  are  members  of  the 
Zion  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  which  Mr.  Lundberg  has 
been  a  trustee. 


cit}-  the  last  day  of  the  year  1879. 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of 
George  Mills.  Half  a  year  later 


C.  G.  W.  SANDEHN, 
member  of  the  firm  of  D.  J.  Stew- 
art &  Co.,  the    largest    dry  goods 
house    in    Rockford,  came    to    the 


CHARLES  G.  W.  SANDEHN 

he  was  employed  in  the  dry  goods 
house  of  S.  Withrow,  remaining 
until  September,  1881,  when  he 
changed  to  C.  W.  Brown  &  Co. 
and  next  to  Stewart  &  Co.,  where 
he  continued  until  May,  1896, 
when  he,  together  with  L.  K. 
Ross,  opened  a  dry  goods  house 
on  Seventh  st.  under  the  firm 
name  of  Sandehn  &  Ross.  Sept. 
i,  1901,  Mr.  Sandehn  became  sole 
owner  and  continued  the  business 
alone  until  the  following  February, 
when  he  closed  out  and  became  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the 
firm  of  D.  J.  Stewart  &  Co. 

In  1888  Mr.  Sandehn  was  mar- 
ried to  Carolina  Johnson,  daughter 
of  A.  C.  Johnson,  the  pioneer  fur- 
niture maker  of  Rockford.  They 
have  had  five  children,  three  boys 
and  two  girls,  one  boy  dying  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Sandehn  died  at 


158 


Winnebago  County 


Upland,  Cal.,  Feb.  5,  1906.  In  1907 
Mr.  Sandehn  married  Celia  V. 
Beckstrand,  daughter  of  O.  A. 
Beckstrand,  deceased  1895. 

Mr.  Sandehn  is  a  native  of  Swe- 
den, being  born  in  Jonkoping  on 
June  3,  1 86 1.  In  that  city  he 
attended  the  collegiate  school. 
After  emigrating  in  September, 
1876,  he  entered  public  school  at 
Galva,  continuing  his  studies  dur- 
ing that  winter.  The  following 
spring  he  obtained  employment 
with  R.  R.  Cable  &  Co.  at  Cable, 
111.,  and  left  there  for  Rockford 
in  1879. 

He  is  a  Lutheran  and  has  been 
a  trustee  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  for  twelve  years. 
He  has  served  three  terms  as 
supervisor  of  Winnebago  county. 


NILS  P.  SJOSTROM, 
pastor  of  the  Zion  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Rockford  since 
1901,  was  born  in  Arnas,  Vester- 
norrlands  Ian,  Sweden,  July  i, 
1866.  He  is  the  son  of  Olof  Lar- 
son, a  farmer,  and  his  wife,  Anna 
Margareta  Johanson.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  emigrated,  going 
first  to  Denver,  Colo.  He  studied 
for  three  years  at  Bethany  College, 
Lindsborg,  Kan.,  and  at  Augus- 
tana  College  for  four  years,  grad- 
uating in  1893.  The  same  year 
he  was  sent  as  the  representative 
of  the  students  of  Augustana  Col- 
lege to  attend  the  3ooth  annivers- 
ary of  the  introduction  of  Luther- 
anism  in  Sweden.  After  his  re- 
turn he  entered  the  theological 
school  at  Augustana,  was  gradu- 
ated two  years  later  and  was  or- 


dained a  Lutheran  minister  of  the 
Gospel  at  the  meeting  of  the  Au- 
gustana Synod  at  Chicago  in  the 
summer  of  1895. 


NILS   P.  SJOSTROM 

His  first  pastoral  charges  were 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  churches 
at  Springfield  and  E.  Long  Meadow 
Mass.  After  5^2  years  of  service 
in  this  field,  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  Zion  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  at  Rockford,  taking  charge 
Jan.  i,  1901. 

As  a  preacher  and  pastor,  Rev. 
Sjostrom  is  successful,  and  he  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  par- 
ishioners. 

June  5,  1907,  Rev.  Sjostrom 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
C-  Ekfelt  from  Chariton,  la. 


CARL  E.  STROMBERG, 

established  in  Rockford  since  1897 
as  a  fresco  painter,  was  born  at 
Tengelsas,  Holmby  parish,  Skaiie, 
Sweden,  Dec.  31,  1871.  When 
the  son  was  two  years  old,  his 


Rockford 


159 


father,  Carl  Johan  Stromberg,  a 
miller,  was  killed  in  the  machin- 
ery. The  boy,  however,  was  given 


CARL  EDWARD  STROMBERG 

a  good  education  along  artistic 
lines.  He  received  his  first  in- 
struction from  Professor  Borggren 
in  the  art  department  of  the  tech- 
nical school  of  Malmo.  Later  he 
studied  under  Professor  Thulin  of 
the  Lund  University,  known  all 
over  the  Scandinavian  countries 
for  his  Gothic  church  decorations. 
Mr.  Stromberg  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  Europe,  especially  in 
Germany  and  France,  studying 
and  making  technical  observations. 
In  1891  he  returned  to  Sweden, 
and  in  1893  ne  came  to  the  United 
States  after  having  again  visited 
Berlin  and  Paris. 

He  executes  artistic  mural  dec- 
orations and  frescoes  in  churches, 
theaters  and  other  public  build- 
ings as  well  as  interior  decorations 
of  fine  private  dwellings. 

Mrs.  Stromberg' s  maiden    name 


was  Hiltna  Elida  Akesson.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Bernhard  Krist- 
ian  Akesson,  who  is  superintend- 
ent of  the  celebrated  Kochum 
wharf  and  shipbuilding  establish- 
ment at  Malmo.  The  pair  have 
a  daughter,  Ruth  Elizabeth. 


CARL  W.  SUNDMARK, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  was  born  at  Smedjebac- 
ken,  Dalarne,  Sweden,  Dec.  16, 
1865.  In  early  life  he  had  a  great 
desire  for  an  education,  which, 
however,  was  limited  to  that  ac- 
quired in  the  common  school, 
supplemented  by  a  little  private 
instruction.  He  was  employed  at 
the  Fagersta  factory  in  Vestman- 


CARL  WILHELM    SUNDMARK 

land,  where  he  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade.  He  emigrated  in 
1886,  locating  in  Northern  Mich- 
igan. While  in  Sweden  he  had 
often  conducted  religious  meetings 
and  this  he  continued  among  his 
brethren  in  faith  in  these  locali- 


i6o 


Winnebago  County 


ties,  subsequently  accepting  a  call 
to  preach  temporarily  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Ludington  and  later 
to  become  its  regular  pastor.  He 
was  ordained  in  1888  for  the  said 
charge.  The  following  year  he 
entered  the  Swedish  Department 
of  the  divinity  school  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  and  was  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  1893,  when 
he  assumed  charge  of  the  Salem 
Baptist  Church  of  Chicago.  Al- 
though serving  only  a  year,  the 
number  of  members  through  his 
efforts  was  increased  from  40  to 
more  than  80.  He  next  took 
charge  of  the  church  at  Stroms- 
burg,  Neb.,  where  he  had  served 
while  a  student,  and  now  served 
from  1894  to  1897  as  its  pastor, 
afterwards  serving  the  Harlem  St. 
Baptist  Church  of  Worcester, 
Mass.,  for  an  equal  period.  In 
1900,  hearkening  to  a  call  from 
his  birth-place,  he  returned  to 
Sweden  and  served  for  two  years 
as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  flock  in 
Smedjebacken,  Dalarne.  After 
laboring  a  short  time  in  James- 
town, N.  Y.  he  removed  to  Rock- 
ford,  and  since  April  i,  1903,  has 
served  as  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Baptist  congregation,  which  was 
organized  in  1880  and  now 
has  a  membership  of  270. 

Sept.  6,  1893,  RGV-  Sundmark 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ida  Johnson,  born  in  Mead,  Neb., 
Sept.  5,  1871.  They  have  four 
children,  born  in  the  order  named: 
Ruth  Ethel  W.,  1897;  F-  Adelia, 
1899;  Florence  Dorothy,  1904,  and 
Roger  William,  1906. 


J.  E.  SWANSON 

was  born  in  the  parish  of  Tutaryd, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Jan.   19,    1864. 


j.  E.  SWANSON 

Emigrating  in  1880,  he  came  to 
De  Kalb  and  ultimately  to  Rock- 
ford  ten  years  afterward.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  city 
schools  and  the  Rockford  Business 
College,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  commercial  pursuits  with  suc- 
cess. He  is  now  secretary  and 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of 
the  Rockford  Standard  Furniture 
Company.  Mr.  Swanson  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Rockford. 

Sept.  22,  1897,  Mr.  Swanson 
was  married  to  Hannah  C.  Gus- 
stafson.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  them. 


OSCAR  A.  THOUN, 

who  for  eighteen  years  has  been 
in  the  painting  and  decorating 
trade  with  his  place  of  business 
at  613  Seventh  St.,  has  lived  in 


Rockford 


161 


Rockford  since  1880,  when  he 
came  over  from  the  old  country. 
He  was  born  in  the  little  city  of 


OSCAR  A.  THOLIN 

Grenna,  Smaland,  May  5,  1863. 
Mr.  Tholin  has  taken  contracts 
for  interior  decoration  and  fresco- 
ing of  a  number  of  churches,  in- 
cluding the  Swedish  Lutheran 
edifices  at  De  Kalb,  Woodhull, 
Lily  Lake,  Geneva,  Sycamore, 
Pecatonica,  Belvidere,  and  the 
Salem  Church  in  Chicago;  also  a 
church  in  Bergen,  Wisconsin. 

With  his  wife,  Ida,  he  has  two 
sons,  Agder  and  Rudolph.  Mr. 
Tholin  s  a  member  of  Camp  20, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


CARL  E.  TRAGARDH, 

has  been  in  the  drug  business  in 
Rockford  since  he  came  to  Rock- 
ford  from  the  old  country  in 
1888.  The  first  two  years  he 
clerked  in  different  drug  stores 
and  in  1890  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness for  himself,  going  into  part- 


nership with  O.  Ebbesen  and 
opening  a  drug  store  under  the 
firm  name  of  Tragardh  and  Eb- 
besen. In  Lund,  Sweden,  where 
he  was  born  Nov.  i,  1866,  Mr. 
Tragardh  was  educated  in  the 
collegiate  institute  and  subse- 
quently completed  the  course  in 
the  Pharmaceutical  Institute  at 
Stockholm. 

He  was  appointed  state  food 
inspector  in  1898  by  Governor 
Tanner  and  re-appointed  in  1900 
by  Governor  Yates.  He  is  an 
active  Republican  and  has  served 
as  secretary  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Republican  Club  of 
Winnebago  county.  Mr.  Tra- 
gardh is  a  member  of  the  Phar- 


CARL  E.  TRAGARDH 

maceutical  Association  of  Stock- 
holm and  of  the  National  Drug- 
gists' Association  of  America." 


CHARLES  C.  LOFQUEST, 

dramatic   editor   of    the    Rockford 
Daily  Republic,  was  born  of  Swed- 


162 


Winnebago  County 


ish  parentage  in  Copenhagen  Sept. 
7,  1879,  and  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica the  following  year.  He  studied 


CHARLES  C.  LOFQUEST 

at  Adelphi  Academy  and  Brook- 
lyn high  school  while  living  in 
that  city  and  subsequently  at 
Stratton's  Business  College  in  New 
York  and  at  Upsala  University. 
He  began  his  journalistic  career 
as  a  reporter,  working  on  the 
New  York  \Vorld,  Brooklyn  ha- 
gle,  New  York  Journal,  and 
Brooklyn  Citizen,  and  was  literary 
editor  of  Music  and  Stage  in 
1900.  He  was  a  political  speaker 
in  New  York  during  Odell's  gu- 
bernatorial campaign,  and  has 
lectured  on  Swedish  history  before 
the  South  Brooklyn  Historical 
Society  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Brooklyn  Board  of  Education. 
Mr.  Lofquest  has  been  a  resident 
of  Rockford  four  years.  Since 
his  connection  with  the  Republic 
lie  has  done  some  notable  drama- 
tic reviewing,  which  has  found 


favor  with  those  who  closely  fol- 
low the  activities  of  the  drama. 

In  the  last  five  years  he  has 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  short- 
story  writing  and  bids  fair  to 
make  a  name  for  himself  in 
American  literature.  A  number  of 
his  contributions  have  appeared 
in  the  leading  magazines.  Among 
some  of  his  short  tales  which  have 
made  a  hit  may  be  mentioned: 
Prince  Pautqua,  Olt  Peeter,  II 
Rosso  Ruggiero,  Sebastiao,  The 
Little  Brother  of  God,  Col.  Ches- 
ter's Resignation,  Calliope  Pete, 
Trespassers,  A  Limb  of  the  Law, 
and  Monsieur  Giffard. 

His  parents  are  Sven  Aaron  Lof- 
quest  and  Johanna  Nilsson.  The 
elder  Lofquest  is  a  shoe  merchant 
on  Broadway,  New  York,  and  re- 
sides in  Brooklyn.  In  the  middle 
seventies  he  was  U.  S.  Consul  at 
a  Swedish  port.  The  mother  of 
the  younger  Lofquest  came  from 
a  family  of  soldiers;  her  grand- 
father was  a  colonel  in  the  Swed- 
ish army. 

Mr.  Lofquest  is  married  to  Miss 
Christine  Mitchell. 


OTTO  W.  PAULSON 

was  born  Feb.  27,  1873,  in  Swe- 
den. His  parents  emigrated  with 
their  family  in  May,  1880,  and 
settled  at  Valley  Springs,  S.  D., 
removing  to  Rockford  in  Decem- 
ber, 1881.  The  son,  after  finish- 
ing the  grades  of  the  public 
school,  obtained  work  in  furniture 
factories  and  learned  wood- carving. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  until 
January,  1892,  when  he  entered 
the  commercial  department  at 


Rockford 


163 


Augustana  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  June  7,  1893. 
After  working  two  years  as  a 


OTTO  W.  PAULSON 

bookkeeper,  he  became  agent  and 
then  assistant  superintendent  with 
the  Metropolitan  L,ife  Insurance 
Co.  Since  March  2,  1902,  Mr. 
Paulson  has  acted  as  general  agent 
and  manager  of  the  Rockford 
district  for  the  Scandia  L/ife  In- 
surance Co.  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Paulson  was  elected  alder- 
man of  the  big  Second  ward  in 
May,  1905,  and  was  reelected  in 
1907.  Since  January,  1907,  he 
has  been  secretary  of  Svea  Soner 
Singing  Society. 


CARL  VICTOR  URBOM 

was  born  in  Hammar  parish, 
Nerike,  Sweden,  Nov.  29,  1859. 
At  the  age  of  24  he  emigrated 


and  came  to  Rockford.  His  par- 
ents were  Carl  Johan  Janson,  a 
farmer,  and  Sophia  Urbom.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Urbom  was  a 
shoe  dealer  in  Rockford;  in  the 
meanwhile  he  studied  privately 
with  the'ultimate  view  of  becoming 
a  physician,  and  was  graduated 
April  ii,  1903,  from  the  Hering 
Medical  College,  Chicago.  Since 
July  1 5th  of  that  year  he  has 
practiced  medicine  in  Rockford, 
being  the  only  Swedish  homoe- 
pathic  physician  in  the  city. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Sweden- 
borgian  Church  and  has  been 
president  of  the  Swedish- American 
New  Church  Association. 

His  wife,  Augusta,  nee  Olson, 
born  in  1858,  is  now  dead.  Their 


CARL  VICTOR  URBOM 

children  are  six  in  number,  Fred- 
rik,  Frantz,  Clara,  Charles,  Anna 
and  George. 


DE  KALB  COUNTY 


DE  KALB-SYCAMORE 


ADOLPH  T.  ANDERSON 

is    a    farmer    at    Elva    Station,  in 
his  native  town  of  De  Kalb.     He 


ADOLPH  THEODORE  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Afton  Township,  this 
county,  Sept.  22,  1865.  He  has 
enjoyed  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  home  district.  Mr. 
Anderson  stands  well  in  the  com- 
munity and  the  church;  he  has 
served  on  the  school  board  and  as 
Commissioner  of  Public  Highways; 
in  the  local  Swedish  Lutheran 
church  he  has  been  a  trustee  for 
a  long  period. 


AUGUST  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Jerlof,  Veddige,  Hal- 
land,  Jan.  24,  1844.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1865,  and  resided 
for  some  little  time  in  Jamesburg, 
N.  Y.  and  came  from  there  to 
Chicago.  Here  he  met  Rev.  Er- 
land  Carlsson  who  advised  him 


to  go  to  Batavia.  As  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  church  had  as  yet 
not  been  organized  in  Batavia  he 
joined  the  one  in  Geneva,  the 
neighboring  town,  in  1865  and  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  that  church 
the  following  year  he  was  elected 
deacon.  In  1871  he  moved  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  burned  out 
in  the  great  fire.  He  now  re- 
turned to  Batavia,  where  he  had 
acquired  a  house  before  he  went 
to  Chicago,  into  which  he  now 
moved.  In  the  second  story  of 
that  same  house  the  Swedes  used 
to  gather  and  listen  to  the  Gos- 
pel, and  it  was  here  that  the 
Swedish  Ev.  Lutheran  Bethania 
Church  was  organized  in  1872. 


AUGUST  ANDERSON 

Mr.  Anderson  was  elected  a 
deacon  of  the  newly  organized 
church  and  served  in  that  capac- 
itv  until  he  removed  from 


1 68 


De  Kalb  County 


Batavia  in  1878.  While  he  lived 
there  he  did  much  to  encourage 
the  little  congregation. 

In  1878  Mr.  Anderson  moved 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Malta, 
where  he  still  resides  and  is 
owner  of  400  acres  of  land.  He 
joined  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  De  Kalb  of  which  he 
still  is  a  member.  He  has  served 
that  church  as  deacon  for  more 
than  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married 
in  October,  1868,  to  Inga  Lena 
Erikson  with  whom  he  has  had 
12  children,  two  of  whom  are 
dead  and  two  are  married.  The 
rest  of  the  children  live  with  the 
parents  and  help  on  the  farm 
with  the  exception  of  the  oldest 
son  who  lives  in  Sycamore,  111. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  for  years  been 
school  trustee  in  Malta  township. 


bought  out  his  partner  and  since 
then  conducts  the  business  in  his 
own  name.  Mr.  Bjorkman  takes 
pride  in  the  fact  that  by  his  own 


JAMES  O.  BJORKMAN, 

clothing  merchant,  is  a  native  of 
the  state,  born  Dec.  21,  1876,  at 
Aledo.  He  attended  the  public 
school  there  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  fourteen.  When  thirteen 
years  old  he  began  work  as  sales- 
man in  a  cigar  and  news  stand, 
continuing  until  sixteen,  when  he 
became  a  clothing  and  dry  goods 
salesman.  He  was  thus  employed 
in  his  native  town  for  ten  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1901  he  came 
to  DeKalb  and  opened  a  retail 
clothing  store.  A  year  later  he 
sold  a  half  interest  to  R.  J.  Fran- 
kle,  conducting  the  business  in 
the  firm  name  of  Bjorkman  & 
Frankle.  After  another  year  he 


JAMES  O.   BJOKKMAX 

effort  he  has  built  up  a  business 
that  is  one  of  the  finest  of  its 
kind  in  the  county.  More  recently 
he  has  opened  a  second  store  in 
DeKalb,  known  as  the  East  End 
Clothing  House. 

He  belongs  to  a  number  of 
lodges  and  societies,  such  as  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  M.  W.  of 
A.,  the  F.  O.  of  Eagles,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Vikings  and  the 
North  Star  Benefit  Association. 

Jan.  22,  1900,  he  was  married  at 
Galesburg  to  Bettie  C.  Youngren, 
born  June  15,  1876.  A  son,  Les- 
ter Lee,  is  the  fruit  of  this  union. 

Mr.  Bjorkman' s  parents,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Bjorkman,  came 
to  this  country  in  1861  and  are 
still  living. 


De  Kalb 


169 


PETER  CHRISTIANSON, 
masonry   contractor,  was   born    in 
Skane,    Sweden,    Nov.    30,    1866. 


PETER  CHRISTIANSON 

He  emigrated  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one, locating  in  Rockford.  Dur- 
ing the  financial  stringency  in  that 
city  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  DeKalb,  where  he  has  since 
been  successfully  engaged  as  a 
contracting  mason.  The  family 
owns  a  comfortable  home  in  the 
Ell  wood  addition. 

He  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss 
Bessie  Nilson,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Edward  William,  Ru- 
dolph Evald  and  Percy  Bernhard. 

Mr.  Christiansen  is  a  member  of 
the  Court  of  Honor  and  has  served 
as  treasurer  of  the  local  lodge. 


CLAUS  P.  COLLIN, 

builder  and  masonry  contractor, 
hails  from  Kraksmala,  Sni aland, 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  Jan. 
6,  1874.  Emigrating  in  February, 
1892,  he  settled  in  DeKalb  and, 


after  being  variously  employed  for 
four  years,  engaged  in  the  build- 
ing business  in  1896.  During  the 
eleven  years  he  has  been  in  business 
for  himself  he  has  met  with 
marked  success. 

Mr.  Collin  is  a  member    of    the 
Swedish    Lutheran  Church  at    De 


CLAUS   P.    COLLIX 


Kalb    and    of    the    local    lodge    of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


CHARLES  ENG, 

foreman  at  the  American  Steel  and 
Wire  Works,  was  born  March  22, 
1869,  at  Bjerka,  Vestergotland, 
Sweden.  He  came  to  this  coun- 
try Feb.  25,  1887,  and  lived  in 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  until 
1889,  then  in  Braddock  and  Ran- 
kin,  Pa.,  for  four  years,  removing 
to  DeKalb  in  1893.  *n  April, 
1903,  he  was  elected  alderman  of 
the  Third  ward,  but  prior  to  that 
time  the  wire  manufacturing  bus- 
iness, he  asserts,  had  engrossed 


170 


DeKalb  County 


him  so  completely  that  he  had  not 
even  found  time  to  get  married. 
Mr.  Eng    is    a    member    of    the 


CHARLES  ENG 


local  lodge  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Vikings. 


SIMON  C.  JOHNSON 

is  a  native  of  DeKalb  county,  be- 
ing born  in  Milan  township  May 
15,  1866.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  country  school.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  the  inventor  of  several 
useful  articles  and  appliances,  chief 
among  them  being  a  chimney 
staging,  adjustable  to  any  roof 
and  requiring  but  a  few  minutes 
to  put  in  place,  and  a  ladder 
hanger  for  the  use  of  painters, 
carpenters,  masons  and  mechanics. 
The  patents  carried  by  Mr.  John- 
son are  the  first  to  be  granted  on 
any  similar  appliances,  according 
to  the  patent  office.  The  articles 
are  manufactured  on  a  small  scale 
by  the  inventor  himself. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  collect- 


or of  the  city  and  township  of 
DeKalb  in  1897.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


and 
America. 


SIMON   C.  JOHNSON 

of   the    Modern  Woodmen  of 


JOHN  F.  JOHNSTON 

who  has  been  a  resident  of  De 
Kalb  since  1873,  was  born  at 
Sycamore,  this  state,  April  10, 
1870.  His  father,  Christopher 
Johnston,  died  in  1871,  the  same 
year  the  family  settled  in  De 
Kalb  co.  Having  finished  public 
school  the  son  entered  the  Daven- 
port, (la.,)  Business  College,  of 
which  he  is  a  graduate.  As  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  he  has  evinced  great  activ- 
ity. A  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school  since  1887,  he  became  its 
superintendent  in  1898.  Besides 
he  has  served  for  a  long  period 
as  leader  of  the  church  choir,  has 
been  secretary  of  the  church  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  is  a  mem- 


De  Kalb 


171 


her  of  the  board  of  deacons  since 
1903.  He  has  served  one  term  as 
director  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of 


JOHX  F.  JOHNSTON 

De  Kalb,  and  is  musical  director 
and  secretary  of  the  Third  Regiment 
Band.  In  1899  he  obtained  a 
letter  carrier's  position  which  he 
still  holds.  He  stood  highest 
among  sixty  applicants  in  the 
civil  service  examination. 

He  was  in  1907  elected  treasu- 
rer of  the  Swedish-American  Re- 
publican League  of  Illinois  at  its 
Rockford  convention. 

Mr.  Johnston  has  served  as  re- 
corder of  the  local  observatory  of 
the  North  Star  Benefit  Association 
since  1899.  Nov.  16,  1892,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Hilda 
S.  Bergquist,  born  March  4,  1874. 
Their  children  are:  Spener  Chris- 
topher, born  1893;  Paul  Rudolph 
Melanchton,  1895;  Anna  Marguer- 
ite Evangeline,  1897;  Genevieve 
Paulina,  1899;  John  Martin  McKin- 
ley,  1901:  Rachel  Cecilia,  1903, 


Carl  Theodore  Immanuel,  1906, 
and  Gustaf  Adolphus  Frederick, 
1907-  

ANDREW  G.  LINDBERG 

has  owned  and  cultivated  a  farm 
in  Afton  township  since  189.1.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1881 
from  Eskilstuna,  Sweden,  where 
he  was  born  April  23,  1859.  In 
Warren,  Pa.,  he  worked  for  a 
year  at  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
which  he  had  learned  in  his  native 
city.  From  there  he  came  to  De 
Kalb  and  was  employed  for  four 
years  in  the  barb  wire  factories, 
but  his  chief  ambition  was  to  own 
a  home  in  the  country,  so  he 
went  to  Minnesota  and  bought  160 
acres  of  land  in  Murray  county. 


ANDREW  G.  LINDBERG 

In  1888  he  desired  to  see  the 
mining  country  of  the  West  and 
spent  two  years  in  Aspen,  Breck- 
inridge,  L,eadville  and  Colorado 
Springs.  Then  he  returned  to  the 
farming  country  of  Illinois,  locat- 


172 


De  Kalb  County 


ing  in  this  county.  After  working 
a  year  for  the  C.  F.  Patten  Co. 
he  purchased  the  farm  he  now 
owns. 

He  has  served  his  county  in 
the  capacities  of  tax  collector  and 
member  of  the  school  board. 

Mr.  Lindberg  belongs  to  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  De 
Kalb,  which  he  has  served  as  sec- 
retary and  as  trustee  for  years. 

In  1890  he  was  married  to  Helen 
Anderson  of  Afton  township.  They 
have  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 


majority  of  his  fellow  countrymen, 
and  belongs  to  the  local  Swedish 
Republican  Club. 


SAMUEL  PETERSON 
was  born  in  Sweden,  Oct.  13, 
1855,  the  son  of  John  Peterson,  a 
carpenter,  and  his  wife  Maria. 
The  family  emigrated  in  1869, 
and  the  mother  died  in  1871,  fol- 
lowed by  her  husband  in  1892. 
Having  finished  his  common 
school  education,  Samuel  Peter- 
son turned  to  manual  labor.  Af- 
ter working  for  some  time  in  the 
Daly  Implement  Works  at  De 
Kalb  he  attained  a  position  as 
foreman  which  he  held  for  six 
years.  Quitting  the  factory  at 
twenty-five  years  of  age  he  em- 
barked in  business  as  a  building 
contractor  and  has  continued  in 
the  same  line  with  uniform  suc- 
cess up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  an  influential 
citizen  of  De  Kalb  and  enjoys  the 
confidence  of  his  townsmen  to  a 
high  degree.  He  has  served  on 
the  board  of  education  for  two 
terms  or  six  years,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  aldermanic  council 
for  four  years.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  with  the  great 


SAMUEL  PETERSON 

The  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
has  in  him  a  useful  and  active 
adherent,  Mr.  Peterson  having 
served  on  the  board  of  trustees 
for  a  period  of  twelve  years. 

Mr.  Peterson  has  a  wife  and 
eight  children.  His  marriage  took 
place  Sept.  26,  1883,  and  the 
bride  was  Miss  Christine  Pearson 
of  Oregon,  111.,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Anna  Pearson  of  that 
city.  The  children  are:  Edna 
Gertrude,  born  Aug.  i,  1884; 
Roy  Milton,  Oct.  7,  1886;  Earl 
Raymond,  Oct.  10,  1889;  Irving 
Leonard, Aug.  4,1891;  Ruth  Lucile, 
July  19,  1894;  Anna  Marie,  Sept. 
1 6,  1897.  The  family  home  is  at 
326  South  Sixth  street. 


E.  A.  RYBERG 

was  born  April  30,1871,  in  Fryeled 
parish,    Smaland,     Sweden.       He 


De  Kalb 


'73 


emigrated  to  Kansas  in  the  spring  once  obtained  employment  as  a 
of  1888,  and  worked  on  a  farm  mason  tender.  In  a  very  short 
for  over  a  vear.  He  thence  went  time  he  learned  the  mason's  trade 


E.  A.  RYBERG 

to  Topeka,  where  he  obtained 
employment  in  the  shoe  store  of 
Nystrom  Brothers.  With  this  firm 
he  remained  seven  years.  While 
in  Topeka  he  belonged  to  the  local 
Swedish  Mission  Church.  After 
completing  the  courses  at  the 
Chicago  Theological  Seminary  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  and 
took  charge  of  his  first  pastorate 
at  Bay  City,  Michigan.  In  the 
spring  of  1901  he  became  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  Mission  Church 
on  W.  22nd  St.,  Chicago.  Since 
1903  Rev.  Ryberg  has  had  charge 
of  the  Swedish  Congregational 
Church  at  De  Kalb. 


AXEL  G.  SKOGLUND 

was  born  at  Tossene,  Bohus  Ian, 
Sweden,  Oct.  28,  1878.  He  emi- 
grated to  America  early  in  1899, 
ocating  at  DeKalb,  where  he  at 


AXEL  GARIBALDI  SKOGLUND 


and  established  himself   as  a 
sonry    contractor,    in    which 


he 


ma- 
line 
has  achieved  suc- 


of  business 
cess. 

Mr.  Skoglund  is  a  Lutheran  by 
faith. 


EMIL  SKOGLUND, 

former  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Mission  Church  at  DeKalb,  was 
born  at  Karlskoga,  Sweden, 
Aug.  29,  1872,  and  was  six  years 
old  when  brought  to  this  country 
by  his  parents.  He  was  reared 
in  the  city  of  Chicago  and,  after 
reaching  mature  age,  entered 
North  Park  College  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Covenant's  divinity 
school  in  1903.  After  ordination 
to  the  ministry  he  took  charge  as 
pastor  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church  at  DeKalb. 


174 


He  is  now  pastor  of   the  Swed- 


EMIL    SKOGLUND 


ish    Mission    Church  at    Waverly, 
Nebraska,  having  removed  in  1907. 


NELS  J.  SMITH, 
engaged    in    farming     near     Elva 
Station,    in    DeKalb    county,    was 


came  to  America  in  1872.  With 
the  exception  of  a  period  spent  in 
Chicago,  he  has  lived  in  this 
county  ever  since.  He  has  served 
on  the  school  board  of  Afton 
township  for  a  long  term  of  years, 
and  as  a  trustee  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  DeKalb,  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  oldest 
members. 

May  31,  1877,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  at  Oak  Park,  111.,  to 
Nelly  Nelson,  who  was  born  in 
Skane  June  n,  1845,  and  came 
to  America  in  1870.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, Bert  Herbert,  deceased,  Os- 
car, David,  and  Waldo,  deceased. 


CHARLES  J.  STONE, 

foreman    in    the    wire    mill  at   De 
Kalb,  was  born  at  Brattfors,  Verm- 


CHARLES  J.   STONE 


XELS  JOHN  SMITH 


land,  Sweden,  May  9,  1856.  Hav- 
ing received  a  common  school  ed- 
born  in  Tranemo  parish,  Elfsborgs  ucation,  he  went  to  work  at  the 
Ian,  Sweden,  Oct.  10,  1847,  and  age  of  fifteen,  learning  the  trade 


De  Kalb 


175 


of  his  father,  who  was  employed 
in  the  iron  and  steel  works  at 
Brattfors.  In  1874  the  family  re- 
moved to  Degerfors,  Vermland, 
father  and  son  being  employed  in 
the  iron  works  at  that  place  until 
1886.  Mr.  Stone  became  very 
proficient  in  his  work,  for  which 
he  received  the  highest  grade  giv- 
en by  the  firm,  and  was  often 
called  upon  to  give  practical  dem- 
onstrations in  private  to  leading 
iron  masters  of  Sweden. 

At  thirty  Mr.  Stone  came  to 
the  United  States.  After  living  a 
short  time  in  Manistee,  Mich.,  he 
was  employed  in  the  barbed  wire 
mill  of  the  Haish  Manufacturing 
Co.  of  DeKalb;  later  he  changed 
to  the  Superior  Barb  Wire  Co., 
and  again  to  the  Ellwood  Nail 
and  Wire  Co.,  now  the  American 
Steel  and  Wire  Co.'s  mills  at  De 
Kalb,  where  he  now  holds  the  po- 
sition of  foreman  in  the  drawing 
department. 

Mr.  Stone  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Mission  Church  and  of 
the  order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


He  grew  up  a  stranger  to  afflu- 
ence. As  soon  as  he  was  old 
enough  to  be  of  any  assistance, 


AUGUST    WILHELM    STARK, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  De  Kalb,  is  a  native 
of  Sweden.  He  was  born  on  the 
2nd  of  Nov.,  1854,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  G.  Johnson  (deceased) 
and  Martha  Christine  Stark. 
The  name  Johnson  being  so  com- 
mon among  the  people  of  his 
nationality,  he  assumed  his  moth- 
ers's  name  as  did  also  a  younger 
brother. 


AUGUST  WILHELM  STARK 

he  was  required  to  lend  a  hand 
in  gaining  a  living.  He  attended 
public  schools  from  his  sixth  year 
until  thirteen  years  of  age  and 
from  that  time  until  his  emigra- 
tion to  the  U.  S.  worked  on  the 
railroad.  In  1873,  he  was  induced 
by  a  brother  and  sister,  who  had 
already  come  to  this  country,  to 
cross  the  Atlantic.  Locating  at 
Tidioute,  Pa.  he  performed  man- 
ual labor  for  a  time.  During  the 
winter  of  1876-77  he  attended 
the  Collegiate  Institute  of  James- 
town, N.  Y.  After  his  conversion 
in  1874  he  had  a  desire  to  be- 
come a  minister  of  the  Gospel 
and  in  1878  began  preparation  for 
that  work.  In  January  of  that 
year  he  entered  Augustana  Col- 
lege, where  he  was  graduated  in 
1883,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
In  1885  he  was  graduated  from 


76 


De  Kalb  County 


the  Augustana  Theological  Semi- 
nary. While  acquiring  his  educa- 
tion, he  largely  supported  himself 
by  teaching  school  and  preaching. 
He  was  ordained  in  Rockford.Ill., 
in  1885,  having  received  calls  to 
four  different  charges,  accepting 
one  near  Round  Rock,  Texas. 

In  1886  Rev.  Stark  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa.  Here  he  worked  for  four 
and  a  half  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1891,  he  accepted  a  call  from 
De  Kalb,  111.,  and  has  been  pas- 
tor of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  that  place  since  then. 

During  his  ministry  Rev.  Stark 
has  held  the  following  offices: 
Vice-President  of  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference of  the  Augustana  Synod, 
Swedish  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  General  Council  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  North  America, 
and  is  at  present  President  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Orphans'  Home  of  the  Illinois 
Conference. 

Rev.  Stark  has  two  brothers  in 
the  ministry,  viz:  Rev.  F.  M. 
Johnson  of  Chicago  and  Rev.  G. 
K.  Stark  of  Evanston. 

In  Chicago,  on  the  i4th  of 
Jan.,  1886,  Rev.  Stark  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Wilhelmina 
Peterson,  born  in  Chicago,  Nov. 
5,  1862,  the  daughter  of  O.  P. 
and  Carrie  Peterson, both  deceased. 
They  have  seven  children,  Minnie 
E.,  Carl  F.  E.,  Paul  W.,  Luther 
N.,  Esther  C.,  Ebba  M.  L.,  and 
August  W.,  one  son  having  died 
in  infancy. 


ANDERS  W.  ANDERSON, 

contractor  and  builder,    was    born 
in    Jarstad    parish,     Ostergotland, 


ANDERS  WILHELM  ANDERSON 

May  26,  1849.  He  came  over 
from  Sweden  in  1869,  equipped 
with  a  common  school  education 
and  ambition  to  work.  Prior  to 
settling  down  in  Sycamore,  he 
lived  in  Chicago,  Rock  Island  and 
Moline  for  short  periods. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  here  for 
35  years,  secretary  of  the  church 
for  some  18  years,  trustee  at 
various  periods  from  1875,  and 
deacon  since  1898.  He  served  as 
alderman  in  Sycamore  for  two 
terms  and  was  then  chairman  of 
the  street  and  walk  committee*. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  been  twice 
married,  and  had  four  children 
with  his  first  wife  and  five  with 
the  second.  Both  wives  are  dead, 
as  also  the  four  children  of  the 
first  marriage  and  one  of  the 


Sycamore 


177 


second.     He    now    lives    with    the 
remaining  four  children. 


MAGNUS  FRYKMAN, 

pastor   of    the    Swedish    Lutheran 
Church  at    Sycamore,  is    the    son 


MAGXUS  FRYKMAN 

of  a  farmer  of  Sunne,  Vermland, 
where  he  was  born  Oct.  3,  1844. 
His  father  was  for  many  years  in 
public  service  in  connection  with 
the  district  court.  In  1873  the 
son  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  entered  Augustana  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  then  located  in 
Paxton,  completing  the  course 
and  being  ordained  to  the  minis- 
try in  the  spring  of  1875,  at  a 


synodical  meeting  held  at  Vasa, 
Minn.  He  had  previously  pur- 
sued studies  at  the  Ahlberg  School 
at  Hvetlanda,  aside  from  attend- 
ing the  common  school  at  Sunne. 
Since  his  ordination  Rev.  Fryk- 
man  has  had  pastoral  charge  in 
the  following  places:  Chariton, 
la.,  1875-80;  Marinette,  Wis., 
1880-83;  Republic,  Mich.,  1883- 
85;  Sycamore,  since  Dec.  22,  1885. 

Rev.  Frykman  has  been  one  of 
the  most  active  and  useful  mem- 
bers of  the  Augustana  clergy. 
He  has  served  as  secretary  of  the 
Iowa  Conference  for  two  years, 
of  the  Illinois  Conference  for 
three  years,  vice-president  of  the 
latter  conference  one  year  and  its 
president  for  four  years  (1895-98). 
For  several  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Synodical  Council 
of  the  Augustana  Synod  and  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the 
Illinois  Conference,  and  has  be- 
sides been  called  upon  to  serve 
on  various  important  committees. 
He  served  for  a  number  of  years 
on  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Augustana  Hospital  in  Chicago. 

Dec.  4,  1884,  Rev.  Frykman  was 
married  at  Marinette,  Wis.,  to 
Miss  Amanda  Odea  Olson,  daugh- 
ter of  Emanuel  and  Gustafva  Ol- 
son, who  are  still  living  there. 


FORD    COUNTY 


GIBSON  CITY-PAXTON-SIBLEY 


OLOF   P.  BARTELSON 

is  one  of  the  early  Swedish  settlers 
in    Ford    county,  coming    here  in 


OLOF  PETER  BARTELSON 

1868  from  Doderhult  parish,  Sma- 
land,  where  he  was  born  June  17, 
1838.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Amer- 
ica he  settled  in  Dix  township, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since, 
with  the  [exception  of  six  years 
spent  in  Drummer  township.  His 
father,  Bartel  Olson,  born  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1806,  died  in  "Dix  township 
in  1894  at  the  high  age  of  eighty- 
eight,  and  his  mother  passed  away 
the  same  year  the  family  reached 
America.  Bartel  Olson  was  the 
first  Swedish  settler  in  Gibson 
City.  Mr.  Bartelson's  occupation 
is  that  of  a  farmer.  With  his 
family  he  belongs  to  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Farmersville, 
where  he  has  been  a  trustee  for 
some  fifteen  years. 


Mr.  Bartelson  was  married  in 
1864  at  Hvena  parish,  Smaland, 
to  Carolina  Christina  Anderson, 
daughter  of  Nils  Peter  Anderson, 
a  farmer  at  Ostra  Hult.  Mrs.  Bar- 
telson died  in  1897,  leaving  her 
husband  and  five  children,  John 
Emil,  Selma  Othilia,  Hilma  Fre- 
doria,  Ephraim  Teodor,  Ernst  Ar- 
thur Emanuel,  three  of  their  chil- 
dren, Amanda  Sophia,  Victor  Ed- 
ward and  Otto  Sigfrid,  having 
died  before  her.  John  Emil  Bar- 
telson was  married  April  15,  1903, 
to  Othilia  Nelson  from  Gammals- 
torp  parish,  Blekinge,  Sweden; 
Selma  Othilia  Bartelson  in  1898 
married  C.  L-  Anderson  of  Cham- 
paign county,  and  Hilma  Fredoria 
Bartelson  married  Cornell  Oleson 
of  Sibley,  Ford  county,  Feb.  14, 
1900. 


ISAAC  O.  BLOOM, 

grocer,  was  born  in  Nassjo,  Sma- 
land, Sweden,  Feb.  19,  1846. 
Since  July,  1867,  when  he  came 
to  this  country,  he  has  been  liv- 
ing in  Ford  county,  part  of  the 
time  in  Paxton,  before  locating  at 
Gibson  City. 

Mr.  Bloom  has  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Gibson  City  Building  and 
Loan  Association  for  a  long  term 
of  years,  and  has  also  served  as  a 
trustee  in  the  local  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church,  of  which  he  is  a 
member. 

His  wife,  Ida  C.,  nee  Magnus- 
son,  was  born  at  the  city  of  Jon- 


I  82 


Ford  County 


koping  in  1859.  The  pair  have  Larson  is  employed  by  the  tele- 
four  children,  Hampton  T.,  Selma  phone  company  in  Hammond,  Ind., 
C.,  Herbert  L.  and  May  E.  From  and  the  daughter,  Ada,  is  the 


ISAAC   OTTO  BLOOM 

a  former  marriage  there  are  three 
children,  Theodore  J.,  a  druggist 
in  Texas,  George  H.,  shoe  dealer, 
and  Linda  M.,  stenographer,  both 
in  the  home  city. 


OLIN  LARSON, 

cigar  manufacturer,  was  born  in 
Toarp  parish,  Skane,  Sweden, 
March  21,  1846.  Equipped  with 
a  common  school  education  he 
emigrated  at  the  age  of  22  and 
then  came  to  Gibson  City,  where 
he  has  since  lived. 

He  is  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  cigars,  with  one 
of  his  sons,  John  O.,  as  associate. 

Mr.  Larson  is  married  to  Ellen 
Aukney,  born  in  Somerset  co., 
Pa.,  Sept.  14,  1844.  The  fruits 
of  this  union  are  four  children, 
the  other  three  being  George  F., 
Betty  L.  and  Ada  E.  George 


OLIN  LARSON 

wife    of    Mr.  Mullholland  of  Chi- 
cago. 

Besides  his  business  in  the  city, 
Mr.  Larson  owns  a  farm  near 
Gibson  City. 


SWAN  PETERSON, 

secretary  and  manager  of  the 
Swan  Peterson  Floral  Company, 
was  born  in  Norra  Stro,  Skane, 
Sweden,  Dec.  29,  1860.  April  i, 
1880,  he  landed  on  American  soil 
and  made  his  home  in  Gibson 
City,  where  he  has  lived  ever 
since. 

Mr.  Peterson  learned  horticult- 
ure at  Araslof,  Sweden,  under  one 
of  the  most  capable  gardeners  in 
that  part  of  the  country.  He 
started  in  business  for  himself  as 
a  florist,  continuing  alone  for 
many  years,  until  the  increase  of 
business  prompted  him  in  1900  to 


Gibson  City 


183 


enlarge  his  establishment.  For 
that  purpose  he  organized  the 
Swan  Peterson  Floral  Company, 
with  $30,000  capital,  of  which 
stock  he  holds  one-third.  The 
present  value  of  the  plant  is  about 
$40,000.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
violet,  carnation  and  rose  culture. 
Mr.  Peterson  is  the  originator  of 
several  new  varieties  of  carnations. 
The  company's  shipments  of 
flowers  and  plants  cover  a  wide 
territory.  Their  greenhouses  com- 
prise 100,000  square  feet  of  glass. 
Mr.  Peterson  has  a  beautiful  home 
on  the  nursery  grounds.  He  is 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  in  the  city,  hav- 
ing served  as  a  deacon  for  over 
20  years  and  as  Sunday  school 
superintendent  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Mrs.  Peterson,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sigrid  Molin,  was  born 
at  Vederslof,  Skane,  Feb.  23,  1867. 
Their  children  are  Frida  M.,  Anna 
E.,  Edith  P.,  Esther  L.,  Freddie 
S.,  Linda  D.,  and  Freddie  E., 
deceased. 


entered  Augustana  College  in  1891. 
He  graduated  from  the  college  in 
1897  and  from  the  theological 


FRANS  A.  SEASTRAND, 

Swedish  Lutheran  clergyman,  was 
born  at  Sjoamalen,  Askeryd  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  March  8,  1867. 
Having  finished  common  school 
in  his  native  place,  he  worked  for 
a  time,  partly  as  a  carpenter  and 
partly  as  a  farm  laborer.  When 
he  came  over  from  the  old  coun- 
try in  1887  he  located  at  Mara- 
thon, la.  Here  he  was  employed 
for  two  years  in  the  real  estate 
office  of  C.  A.  Eckman.  After 
another  two  years  Mr.  Seastrand 


FRANS  AUGUST  SEASTRAND 

seminary  in  1901,  being  ordained 
to  the  ministry  at  the  synodical 
meeting  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  that 
year.  While  a  student,  Rev.  Sea- 
strand  taught  parish  school  and 
preached  in  various  places  in  Iowa, 
Illinois,  Minnesota,  Michigan  and 
Massachusetts.  After  his  ordina- 
tion he  assumed  pastoral  charge 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  churches 
at  Gibson  City  and  Sibley,  111.  He 
removed  to  another  field  at  New 
London,  Minn.,  in  1906. 

May  14,  1903,  Rev.  Seastrand '& 
marriage  [to  Miss  Beda  Erickson 
took  place  at  Laurens,  la. 


PAUL  GULLANDER, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  former  missionary  in 
South  Africa  is  a  man  of  varied 
experience  whose  biography,  if 


1 84 


Ford  County 


given    in    detail,    would    take    up 
much  space. 

He     was     born     at     Gullackra, 
Bragarp    parish,    Skane,    Sweden, 


PAUL  GULLANDER 

June  1 6,  1863.  His  father,  Nils 
Ericsson,  who  was  a  farmer,  died 
when  Paul  was  six  years  old. 
There  were  five  other  children, 
Paul  being  the  youngest.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common 
school  and  after  confirmation  went 
to  the  nearest  city,  Lund,  and 
began  to  study  privately,  under 
the  tutorship  of  a  student  of  the 
Carolinian  cathedral  school,  mean- 
while coming  in  contact  with  the 
student  body  of  the  old  university 
town  and  joining  the  local  sharp- 
shooters' association. 

.  At  about  eighteen  he  was  con- 
verted and  from  that  time  his 
desire  was  to  work  in  the  interest 
of  Christianity.  He  began  by 
circulating  religious  tracts  and  by 
bringing  little  street-urchins  into 
the  Sunday  school,  then  a  new 


thing  in  Lund,  which  was  looked 
upon  with  suspicion  by  conserva- 
tive churchmen  there. 

Despairing  of  ever  being  able 
to  obtain  the  education  needed 
for  the  ministry,  the  goal  of  his 
ambition,  Mr.  Gullander  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  opened  a  small 
shoe  store  in  Lund.  The  business, 
however,  proved  unprofitable,  en- 
tailing losses  which  it  took  him 
several  years  to  make  up. 

Several  weeks  each  summer 
Mr.  Gullander — a  name  adapted 
from  his  place  of  birth — spent  as 
colporteur,  or  traveling  preacher 
and  bookseller,  in  Western  Skane. 

In  the  fall  of  1887  Mr.  Gul- 
lander emigrated  to  America, 
whither  two  brothers  had  pre- 
ceeded  him.  Coming  to  Chicago, 
he  stopped  with  Rev.  N.  M.  Lil- 
jegren,  a  Swedish  Methodist  cler- 
gyman, whom  he  had  known 
intimately  in  Sweden.  On  his 
recommendation  Mr.  Gullander 
was  enrolled  in  the  Swedish  de- 
partment of  the  Chicago  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1891. 

Soon  after  he  was  given  the 
desired  opportunity  to  go  as  a 
missionary  to  the  heathen,  being 
sent  to  South  Africa  in  the  spring 
of  1892  by  the  Scandinavian 
Alliance  Mission  of  Chicago.  He 
was  stationed  at  Peter  Maritsburg, 
Natal,  for  five  months,  going 
from  there  by  ox-cart  to  Swazie- 
land,  where  the  Alliance  Mission 
established  its  first  station,  with 
Rev.  Gullander  as  secretary. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  South 
Africa,  Rev.  Gullander  was 


Paxton 


185 


joined  by  his  betrothed,  Augusta 
Eleonora  Hultberg,  a  graduate 
nurse  of  the  Queen  Sophia  Home 
in  Stockholm,  and  they  were 
united  in  marriage.  Within  one 
year  the  union  was  dissolved  by 
her  death,  June  i,  1893.  The 
following  August,  Rev.  Gullander 
went  to  Sweden  to  leave  his 
motherless  child  in  the  care  of 
his  dead  wife's  parents  in  Engel- 
holm. 

From  Sweden  he  went  for  the 
second  time  to  the  United  States, 
intending  to  enter  the  Augustana 
Theological  Seminary  at  Rock 
Island  to  pursue  further  theolog- 
ical studies.  He  was  graduated 
and  ordained  to  the  ministry  in 
the  Augustana  Synod  in  1896  and 
accepted  a  call  to  Washington 
Depot,  Conn.  This  seems  to 
have  been  merely  a  perfunctory 
step,  for  the  following  November, 
after  less  than  six  months'  ser- 
vice we  find  him  on  his  way  to 
Sweden,  intent  on  a  plan  to  be- 
come missionary  to  the  Scandinav- 
ians of  Johannesburg  and  the 
Boer  Republic.  Through  the  good 
offices  of  influential  churchmen 
there  he  succeeded  in  raising  by 
subscription  the  sum  of  6,000 
crowns.  For  the  accomplishment 
of  this  end  he  visited  many 
Swedish,  Norwegian  and  Danish 
bishops,  and  other  influential 
Scandinavian  churchmen,  and  was 
also  permitted  to  present  his 
cause  at  an  audience  before  King 
Oscar. 

Leaving  the  bulk  of  the  funds 
in  care  of  Gottfrid  Warholm, 
treasurer  of  the  Lund  Mission 


Society,  Rev.  Gullander  again 
embarked  for  South  Africa,  arriv- 
ing in  Johannesburg  March  28, 
1898.  On  Easter  Sunday  of  that 
year  he  conducted  the  first  Swed- 
ish high  mass  ever  celebrated  in 
Transvaal. 

President  Kruger  himself  prom- 
ised that  the  Transvaal  govern- 
ment would  donate  real  estate  for 
the  erection  of  a  Scandinavian 
Lutheran  church,  other  denomin- 
ations having  been  accorded  the 
same  generous  treatment.  But 
the  war  with  England  prevented 
Kruger  from  carrying  out  the 
promise.  Furthermore,  the  war 
played  havoc  with  all  missionary 
work  in  Boer  territory.  Man}-  of 
the  1500  odd  Scandinavians  in 
Transvaal  joined  the  Boer  Army, 
and  the  loss  of  a  large  percentage 
of  the  Scandinavian  corps  in  the 
battle  of  Magersfontein  struck 
dismay  into  the  entire  Scandi- 
navian colony. 

In  order  to  support  himself 
Rev.  Gullander  for  nine  months 
held  a  position  as  librarian  with 
the  Rose  Deep  Company,  one  of 
the  largest  gold  mining  companies 
in  Transvaal,  devoting  only  Sun- 
days to  pastoral  work.  For  half 
a  year  after  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  he  was  compound  manager 
at  the  company's  mine,  his 
duties  consisting  in  keeping  order 
among  the  2,000  native  laborers, 
when  not  at  work  in  the  mine. 
At  one  time  he  had  as  many  as 
90  native  policemen  to  assist  him 
in  this  task. 

Feb.  25,  1900,  about  six  months 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 


i86 


Ford  County 


Rev.  Gullander  left  Johannesburg 
for  Sweden,  going  by  way  of  an 
East  African  coast  line  to  Suez. 
From  Port  Said  he  made  an  ex- 
cursion to  the  Holy  Land,  pro- 
ceeding thence  via  Gibraltar,  Lis- 
bon and  Hamburg  to  Malmo. 

After  spending  the  summer  in 
Sweden,  Rev.  Gullander  proceeded 
to  the  United  States  in  the  early 
fall.  He  now  entered  upon  a 
lecture  tour  of  the  Scandinavian 
settlements,  designed  to  raise 
money  for  a  church  building  at 
Johannesburg,  a  plan  still  cher- 
ished by  him.  In  furtherance  of 
the  same  cause  Rev.  Gullander 
published  and  sold  4,000  copies 
of  a  pamphlet  dealing  with  mis- 
sion work  in  Africa  and  the  Boer 
War. 

The  principal  literary  work  of 
Rev.  Gullander  is  a  264  page 
volume  in  Swedish,  with  addition- 
al 80  pages  of  illustrations,  en- 
titled: "Three  years  in  Africa, 
and  Reminiscences  of  Sweden 
and  of  the  Holy  Land."  At 
present  he  is  engaged  in  writing 
another  book  to  be  entitled: 
"The  Destinies  of  a  Young 
Woman . ' ' 

Nov.  i,  1903,  Rev.  Gullander 
took  pastoral  charge  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  Church  of  Farmers- 
ville,  near  Paxton,  111. 

On  June  28,  1905,  Rev.  Gul- 
lander again  entered  matrimony, 
his  second  wife  being  Esther  El- 
vira, daughter  of  Dr.  E.  J.  Wer- 
ner of  Rush  City,  Minn.  She  is 
an  accomplished  singer  and  musi- 
cian, who  was  educated  at  Gus- 
tavus  Adolphus  College  Conserva- 


tory and  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  held  a  call  to  become  one 
of  its  teachers.  A  daughter,  Aurora 
Elvira  Cecilia,  was  born  to  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Gullander  in  June,  1906. 
Rev.  Gullander' s  son  in  the  first 
marriage  died  in  Sweden,  aged 
eight  years. 

In  December,  1907,  Rev.  Gul- 
lander removed  to  the  pastorate 
at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan. 


JOHN  F.  G.  HELMER, 

druggist  and  bookseller,    was  born 
at  Hjertsbo,  Tvered  parish,    Ves- 


JOHN  F.  G.  HELMER 

tergotland,  Sweden,  Nov.  14, 
1849,  and  educated  at  the  Grenna 
pedagogy  and  the  higher  element- 
ary school  of  Jonkoping,  1863-67. 
In  the  latter  year  he  came  over 
to  America,  settling  in  Paxton, 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
Since  1887,  he  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  prosperous  drug  business. 
Prior  to  that  he  worked  on  vari- 
ous farms  in  the  6os,  then  as 


Paxton 


187 


clerk  for  S.  D.  Cooper,  druggist 
at  Paxton.  Mr.  Helmer  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  since  1869  and 
has  served  for  a  number  of  years 
as  one  of  the  trustees  and  as 
treasurer  of  that  board,  also  as 
secretary  of  the  congregation. 
He  was  clerk  of  the  Paxton 
Camp  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
from  1886  to  1902,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  other  orders,  viz.,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Yeoman  of 
America,  Odd  Fellows  and  Court 
of  Honor. 

In  1876  Mr.  Helmer  was  elected 
Coroner  of  Ford  county  and  re- 
elected  two  years  later.  In  1880 
he  was  appointed  Deputy  Circuit 
Court  Clerk  and  Recorder,  serv- 
ing nearly  four  years.  In  1884 
he  was  elected  Circuit  Court 
Clerk  and  Recorder  and  reelected 
in  1888,  serving  eight  years  in 
all.  In  later  years  he  has  served 
as  vice-president  of  the  Carnegie 
Library  of  Paxton.  Besides  Mr. 
Helmer  has  filled  sundry  minor 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  not 
here  mentioned. 

June  4,  1879,  Mr.  Helmer  was 
married  to  Augusta  W.  Fredrick- 
son,  who  was  born  Oct.  i,  1857, 
at  Skymmelsas,  Grenna,  Smaland. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to 
them, viz., a  daughter, Cora  Otelia, in 
1880,  deceased,  and  a  son  Ralph 
Anton,  in  1885. 


son,  had  been  superintending  an 
orphans'  home.  He  located  at 
Swede  Home,  Neb.,  hired  out  as 


GUSTAF  EMIL  HEMDAHL 
was  born  Jan.   8,    1866,    in  Skede, 
Sweden.     He  came  to  America  in 
1880  from  his  home    in  Smaland, 
where  his    father,     Anders    Peter- 


GUSTAF  EMIL  HEMDAHL 

a  farm  hand  and  then  rented  a 
farm,  The  years  1886-89  he 
tried  farming  in  eastern  Colorado 
but  the  land  proving  valueless  on 
account  of  lack  of  rain  he  aban- 
doned it.  In  1890  he  was  ma- 
triculated as  a  student  at  Luther 
Academy,  Wahoo,  Neb.,  and 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1893. 
The  next  fall  he  entered  the 
freshman  class  of  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  graduated  with  the  col- 
lege class  of  1897,  having  spent 
the  school  year  of  1895-96  at  the 
state  University  of  Nebraska. 
At  the  opening  of  the  school 
year  of  1897-98  he  was  admitted 
to  Augustana  Theological  Semi- 
nary and  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution in  the  spring  of  1900, 
with  the  degree  of  B.  D.  Hav- 
ing received  a  call  from  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 


1 88 


Ford  County 


Princeton,  he  was  ordained  at 
the  annual  meetiug  of  the  Au- 
gustana  Synod  at  Burlington, 
Iowa,  June  17,  1900.  During  his 
pastorate  at  Princeton,  the  con- 
gregation paid  off  a $2, 700 church 
debt,  raised  $4,000  for  improve- 
ments and  increased  its  list  of 
communicant  members  by  one 
hundred  and  fifty. 

In  July,  1903,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Selma  Anderson  of  Mo- 
line,  111.  Miss  Anderson  was  a 
graduate  of  Moline  High  School 
and  Moline  Normal  School  and 
for  six  years  a  teacher  in  the 
Moline  city  schools,  also  for 
several  years  a  member  of  Augus- 
tana  College  Chorus.  The  family 
is  blessed  with  a  son,  Gustaf 
Reuel. 

In  1906  Rev.  Hemdahl  removed 
to  Paxton,  pursuant  to  a  call  from 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
that  city.  This  congregation  is 
now  erecting  a  $30,000  church 
building. 


his  wife,  Anna  M.,  being  a  na- 
tive of  Chicago,  where  she  was 
born  Jan.  5,  1866.  They  have 


CHARLES  ALBERT    LARSON, 

engaged  in  the  clothing  and  fur- 
nishing business,  was  born  of 
Swedish  parents  in  Attica,  Ind., 
Feb.  i,  1859.  The  family  re- 
moved to  Paxton,  where  he  at- 
tended public  school,  and  after- 
wards was  employed  in  the  cloth- 
ing store  opened  here  by  his 
father,  P.  Larson.  Mr.  C.  A. 
Larson  is  now  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  P.  Larson  Company 
in  Paxton  and  also  president  of 
the  P.  Larson  Clothing  Company 
in  Gibson  City.  He  is  married, 


CHARLES  ALBERT  LARSON 

three  children,  named  Clarence  R. 
Mabel  E.  and  Grace  V.  The  family 
belongs  to  the  local  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church. 


AUGUSTUS  J.  LAURENCE, 

mayor  of  the  city  of  Paxton,  has 
resided  in  that  city  since  his  emi- 
gration in  1869.  His  father  Jo- 
han  Nilsson,  who  combined  the 
farmer's  occupation  with  the  car- 
penter's trade,  lived  in  the  little 
town  of  Grenna,  Swreden,  where 
his  son,  Augustus  Laurence,  was 
born  Dec.  12,  1849.  After  his 
arrival  in  Paxton  he  substituted 
the  given  name,  Laurence,  for 
that  of  Johnson  to  avoid  confusion. 
Having  reached  the  age  of  twenty 
before  coming  to  America  he 
naturally  had  enjoyed  a  common 
school  education  in  the  old  coun- 
try. This  was  supplemented  by 


Paxton 


189 


two  years  of  study  at    Augustana 

College,   then  located    at    Paxton. 

In   1875   Mr.   I^aurence    engaged 


AUGUSTUS  J.   LAURENCE 

in  the  dry  goods,  carpet  and  shoe 
business  and  can  now  look  back 
upon  a  successful  career  of  more 
than  a  quarter  century  as  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  Pax- 
ton. 

Having  been  united  in  marriage 
May  28,  1878,  to  Jennie  W.  Eg- 
nell, daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  G. 
Egnell  of  Paxton,  Mr.  Laurence 
has  a  family  of  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  viz.,  Austin  Evald, 
Elmer  Theodore,  Agnes  Ottilia, 
Victor  Emanuel  and  Albert  Fred- 
rick. One  daughter  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Laurence  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  local  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  which  he  has 
given  many  years  of  service,  hav- 
ing been  secretary  of  the  congre- 
gation for  twenty-seven  years,  of 
the  church  council  for  sixteen 


years  and  a  member  of  the  board 
of  deacons  for  twenty-five  years. 

For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Ford  county  and  was  reelected  in 
January,  1907,  for  three  years  as 
a  director  in  the  Scandia  Life 
Insurance  Company  of  Chicago. 
He  has  served  as  supervisor  of 
Ford  county  for  ten  years.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  Paxton  Chau- 
tauqua  Association,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Paxton  Club  and  of 
the  Paxton  Retail  Association. 

In  recognition  of  his  sterling 
citizenship  the  citizens  of  Paxton 
finally  conferred  upon  Mr.  Laur- 
ence the  highest  honor  within 
their  gift  by  electing  him  to  the 
mayoralty.  This  office  he  has 
filled  for  the  past  two  years. 


ERIC  P.  OLSSON, 
minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  for  many  years  pastor  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  in 
Paxton,  is  a  native  of  the  province 
of  Helsingland,  where  he  was  born 
Nov.  24,  1857,  at  Undersvik. 
His  parents,  John  Olsson,  a  farmer, 
and  his  wife,  Martha  Erickson, 
both  died  in  recent  years  at  Paw- 
nee Rock,  Kans. 

The  family  came  to  America  in 
1870,  living  for  four  years  in 
Pennsylvania  before  removing'  to 
Kansas.  After  spending  about 
five  years  on  the  farm  at  Pawnee 
Rock,  Eric  Peter  was  sent  to  school 
at  Rock  Island,  where  he  studied 
during  the  years  1880-87  at  Au- 
gustana College  and  Theological 
Seminary.  Shortl}'  after  graclua- 


190 


Ford  County 


tion  in  the  spring  of  1887  he  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  and  took 
charge  of  a  pastorate  at  Mar- 


HKIC   PliTER  OLSSON 

quette,  Kans.  After  a  year  and 
a  half  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
church  at  Paxton,  and  continued 
to  labor  in  that  historic  field  from 
December,  1888,  until  Apiil,  1906. 
On  a  call  from  the  church  in  Fa- 
lun, Kans.,  he  now  removed  there, 
partly  from  the  necessity  of  look- 
ing after  certain  important  prop- 
erty interests  in  that  locality. 

In  1897  tne  degree  of  A.  M. 
was  conferred  upon  Rev.  Olsson 
by  Bethany  College,  and  in  1901 
he  received  the  honorary  title  of 
D.  D.  from  Wittenberg  College, 
Springfield,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Olsson  has  served  as  presi- 
dent and  secretary  of  the  Paxton 
District  of  the  Illinois  Conference 
of  the  Augustana  Synod.  For  five 
years  he  edited  and  published 
Olive- Bladet,  a  local  monthly  pa- 
per in  the  interest  of  his  church 


at  Paxton.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
4oth  anniversary  of  the  same 
church  he  edited  a  memorial  al- 
bum, containing  the  history  of  the 
Paxton  congregation  from  1863  to 
1903. 

Dr.  Olsson  was  married  to  Miss 
Esther  Thorstenberg  May  18,  1893. 
Mrs.  Olsson  is  the  daughter  of  the 
lite  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  H.  Thorsten- 
berg, well  known  to  the  Swedish 
settlers  of  Kansas.  She  was  born 
at  Assaria,  Kans.,  Feb.  8,  1871. 
The  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  the  following  are  living: 
Eric  Paul  Torsten,  born  1894, 
Carl  Birger  Samuel  and  Jarl  Helge 
Sigfrid,  twins,  1902,  and  Edla 
Agnes  Marie,  1904. 


N.  H.  PEARSON 

was    born  at   Ousby,  Skane,  Swe- 
den, Nov.  4,   1843,  and   reared  in 


x.  H.  PEARSON 


that  locality.     In  1867,  as  a  young 
man  of  24,  he  came  to   the  United 


Paxton 


191 


States,  locating  at  Paxton.  A 
carpenter  by  trade,  he  here  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  building  con- 
tractor and,  as  such,  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune.  Mr. 
Pearson  has  put  up  many  of  the 
principal  buildings  in  Paxton,  such 
as  .the  Rodeen  Block,  the  A.  J. 
Laurence  Block,  the  Buggy  Fac- 
tory Block  and  the  Carnegie  Lib- 
rary building,  besides  many  of  the 
finest  private  residences. 

He  has  served  as  an  alderman 
for  eight  years  and  for  many 
years  has  been  a  trustee  of  his 
church,  the  Swedish  Lutheran. 

ANDREW  PETERSON, 
born  at  Stro  parish,  Skane,  Dec. 
7,  1864,  came  over  from  Sweden 
in  October,  1881.  He  has  a  com- 
mon school  education  from  the  old 
country  and  attended  public  school 
for  some  time  in  this  country. 
He  lias  lived  for  some  time  at 
Gibson  City  and  Chicago,  respect- 
ively, serving  as  a  trustee  and 
Sunday  school  superintendent  of 
local  Swedish  Lutheran  churches. 
Mr.  Peterson  is  a  successful 
horticulturist,  owning  a  green- 
house worth  $8,000  in  Paxton  and 
one  at  Hoopeston,  valued  at  $10,- 
ooo,  the  latter  being  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  state.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  carnations  and  roses, 
and  ships  flowers  to  almost  every 
state  in  the  Union  and  to  Canada. 
Nine  years  ago  he  started  in  as  a 
florist  in  a  humble  way  at  Pax- 
ton,  but  business  increased  rapid- 
ly, necessitating  extensions  at  home 
and  warranting  him,  three  years 
later,  in  building  a  branch  estab- 


lishment   larger    than  the  original 
plant. 

April  n,  1896,  at  Chicago,  Mr. 
Peterson  was  married  to  Mathilda 
Johnson,  born  in  Kalmar,  Sweden, 
Dec.  7,  1861. 

SWEN  ANDERSON 

is    one   of   the  most  distinguished 
citizens    of    the    town    of    Sibley, 


SWEN  ANDERSON 

where  he  has  held  many  offices  of 
honor  and  trust,  including  those 
of  postmaster  and  president  of  the 
village.  He  was  born  in  the  par- 
ish of  Felestad,  near  the  city  of 
Lund,  Sweden,  Jan.  6,  1844.  He 
had  a  common  school  education  in 
the  old  country  and  studied  book- 
keeping in  Lund  for  a  short  time. 
At  twenty  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try, spending  two  years  in  Cham- 
paign county,  111.,  and  one  year 
in  Iowa,  subsequently  settling  in 
Sibley,  where  he  has  lived  since 
1868  and  been  a  dealer  in  lumber 
and  coal  for  over  twenty  years. 


192 


Ford  County 


Among  the  other  offices  he  has 
filled,  besides  those  named  above, 
are  the  following:  school  treas- 
urer for  20  years,  justice  of  the 
peace  for  18  years,  supervisor, 
town  clerk,  assessor,  collector, 
commissioner  of  highways  and 
village  trustee  and  treasurer.  He 
has  been  the  Ford  county  member 
of  the  Republican  State  Central 
Committee  for  16  years.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican  and  one  of  the 
leaders  in  Ford  county. 

He  helped  to  organize  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  since  its  organ- 
ization in  1879  and  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school  for  more  than 
twelve  years. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Lotta  Swenson 
of  Fairbury,  111.,  on  Christmas 
day,  1873.  To-  them  seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  five  of  whom 
are  dead.  The  living  are:  Carrie 
C.,  and  James  L.,  of  whom  the 
latter  has  been  educated  at  Au- 
gustana  College. 


fred  Theodor,  John  Arthur,  Joseph 
Lawrence,  Anton  Leonard,  Tyra 
Elvira,  Anna  Malinda,  Alice  Al- 


LOUIS  T.  LARSON, 

a  prosperous  farmer  of  Sibley, 
came  over  from  Sweden  in  1869 
and  located  first  at  Gibson  City. 
He  was  born  Nov.  22,  1848,  at 
Broby,  Skane.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  at  Sibley,  having  served 
for  many  years  as  a  deacon  and 
assistant  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school. 

He  was  married  at  Gibson  City 
in  1880  to  Anna  Mathilda  Nelson 
from  Stro,  Skane.  To  them  ten 
children  have  been  born,  viz.,  Al- 


LOUIS   T.  LARSON 

frida,    living,    and    Julius,    Amos 
and  Mertha,  dead. 

Mr.  Larson's  parents  were  Truls 
and  Nilla  Larsson,  farmer  folk  of 
Broby,  and  his  mother,  who  is 
past  eighty,  is  now  living  with 
her  son  on  the  farm  at  Sibley. 


PETER  PEARSON, 

farmer,  and  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers here,  came  over  to  this  coun- 
try in  1870  as  a  young  man  of 
twenty  and  located  at  Sibley  from 
the  first.  He  was  born  at  Naf- 
linge,  Skane,  Feb.  27,  1850,  and 
received  his  schooling  in  that 
locality. 

Mr.  Pearson  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  at  Sibley  in  1879.  The 
congregation  has  81  communicant 
members  and  church  property 


Sibley 


195 


valued  at  $2,000.  Mr.  Pearson 
has  served  it  as  a  trustee  for  a 
long  term  of  years. 

He  is  married  to  Elna  Olson, 
born  in  Alms  parish,  Skane,  Feb. 
27>  l&57-  Of  seven  children  born 
to  them,  the  living  are:  Fanny 
EHda,  Edgar  Lawrence,  Emily 
Dorothy,  James  Walter  and  I,illian 
Virginia;  the  dead,  Alice  Nora 
and  Edna  Viola. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Pearson  came 
over  in  1862,  located  in  Chicago, 
removed  to  Paxton  and  lived  in 
Ford  county  until  1880,  then  re- 
moved to  Winthrop,  Minn.,  where 
he  is  a  well-to-do  farmer. 


PETER  PEARSON 


Warren,  Mercer,  Whiteside,  Peoria 
and  Marshall  Counties 


MONMOUTH-ALEDO-NEW  WINDSOR 

SHERRARD-PROPHETSTOWN 

PEORIA-WENONA 


AUGUST  JOHNSON, 

minister  of  the  Augustana   Synod 
and    for    twenty    years    pastor    of 


AUGUST  JOHNSON 

the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Monmouth,  was  born  March  15, 
1856,  in  the  early  Swedish  colony 
of  Andover,  111.,  where  his  par- 
ents, Anders  Johnson  and  his 
wife,  Stina  Greta  Monsson,  were 
living  on  a  farm.  Both  parents 
are  now  dead,  the  father  having 
passed  away  at  Orion,  111.,  in 
1892  and  the  mother  at  Mon- 
mouth in  1900.  The  son,  August, 
was  educated  at  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  Theological  Seminary, 
Rock  Island.  Just  after  graduat- 
ing from  the  seminary  in  the 
spring  of  1884  he  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  at  a  meeting  of 


the  Augustana  Synod  held  in  the 
place  of  his  birth.  Having  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  become  assistant 
pastor  in  Andover,  he  labored  in 
that  capacity  for  three  years.  In 
obedience  to  a  call  from  the  Mon- 
mouth Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
he  came  there  in  1887,  remaining 
until  1907,  when  he  removed  to 
La  Porte,  Ind.  The  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  that  place 
celebrated  its  Jubilee  in  1907, 
issuing  an  illustrated  album  of 
which  Rev.  Johnson  was  the 
editor. 

In  the  affairs  of  the  Illinois 
Conference  and  of  the  Augustana 
Synod  Rev.  Johnson  has  constant- 
ly evinced  great  interest  and 
earnest  activity.  This  was  recog- 
nized in  1907  by  his  election  as 
vice-president  of  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference. 

June  3,  1886,  Rev.  Johnson 
was  married  at  Altona,  111.,  to 
Miss  Hannah  Larson,  born  Dec. 
30,  1858,  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Larson  and  his  wife  Hannah,  nee 
Hawkinson.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  John- 
son are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, Anna  Eveline,  born  1887, 
August  Herman,  1890,  and  Lil- 
lian Henrietta,  1893. 


OSCAR  E.  CARLSTROM, 

attorney  at  law,  was  born  at  New 
Boston,    111.,    July    16,    1878.     He 


198 


Mercer  County 


is  a  graduate  of  the  Northern  Illi- 
nois College  of  Law  at  Dixon,  111., 
and  began  law  practice  at  Aledo 


OSCAR   E.  CARLSTROM 

just   after   being    admitted   to    the 
bar  in  February,    1903. 

Aug.  26,  1899,  ne  enlisted  for 
military  service  in  the  Philippine 
Islands,  and  served  in  the  39th 
U.  S.  V.  Inf.  until  May  6,  1901, 
when  his  regiment  was  mustered 
out,  making  fifteen  months  of 
service  in  the  Philippines.  In  the 
service  he  advanced  to  the  grade 
of  corporal. 

His  father,  Charles  A.  Carl- 
strom,  came  to  America  from 
Ostergotland,  Sweden,  in  1869, 
Mrs.  Clara  Carlstrom  following  in 
1870. 

Mr.  Carlstrom  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Bassett 
&  Carlstrom,  and  is  the  only 
Swedish  lawyer  in  Mercer  county 
and  for  many  miles  outside  its 
boundaries. 


The  family  are  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Carlstrom  is  affiliated  with 
the  A.  F.  and  A.  Masonic  lodge 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen. 

On  Dec.  30,  1903,  Attorney  Carl- 
strom was  married  to  Miss  Alma 
Christine  Nissen  at  Grand  Mead- 
ow, Minn.  Mrs.  Carlstrom's  father 
is  a  native  of  Denmark  and  her 
mother,  of  Norway.  She  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Conservatory  of  Music 
at  Dixon,  111.  They  have  a  son, 
Charles  Henry,  born  in  1905. 


ALGOT  T.  LUNDHOLM 

was  born  in  Svarttorp,  Nashult 
parish,  Sweden,  March  21,  1875, 
and  emigrated  together  with'  the 
family  in  1884,  locating  at  Win- 


ALGOT  THEODORE  LUNDHOLM 

throp,  Minn.  He  attended.  Gus- 
tavus  Adolphus  College,  at  St. 
Peter,  Minn.,  and  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  '99,  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B..  Subsequently 
he  pursued  divinity  studies  at 


New  Windsor 


199 


Augustana  Theological  Seminary, 
being  graduated  in  1902  with  the 
degree  of  B.  D.  Upon  ordination 
he  assumed  charge  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  congregation  of  Aledo. 
In  1906  he  removed  to  St.  James, 
Minn.,  pursuant  to  a  call  from 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
St.  James,  Minn. 

Rev.  Lundholm  was  married 
Oct.  29,  1902,  to  Lydia  Maria, 
daughter  of  John  Olson  of  Minne- 
apolis, born  Jan.  n,  1882,  at 
Nedre  Ullerud,  Vermland,  Swe- 
den. The  wyedding  was  celebrated 
at  Winthrop,  Minn.,  where  Rev. 
Lundholm's  parents  are  farmers. 


hardware  store  of  Mr.  Olof  Frenal. 
Three  years  later  his  brother,  Elias 
Lindorff ,  joined  him  as  a  partner, 


JOHAN   G.  LINDORFF, 

who  has  been  in  the  hardware 
business  in  New  Windsor  ever 
since  1872,  was  born  in  Langasjo, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Oct.  20,  1842. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  lost  his 
father,  Jonas  Lindorff,  who  was  a 
farmer  and  a  selfmade  medical 
practitioner  in  the  country  round- 
about. The  son  attended  common 
school  at  home  and  later  went  to 
Visby,  Gotland,  where  he  took  a 
course  in  a  normal  school.  Aged 
seventeen,  he  left  home  to  learn 
the  trade  of  tinner  and  copper  and 
sheetiron  worker.  It  was  from 
1866  to  1868,  when  he  left  for 
America,  that  Mr.  Lindorff  lived 
in  Visby.  Landing  in  New  York, 
he  was  employed  in  a  factory  in 
that  city  for  one  year.  Proceed- 
ing westward,  he  worked  in  Chi- 
cago for  a  few  months,  then  lived 
for  a  time  in  Altona  before  finally 
locating  in  New  Windsor. 

In     1872    he     bought     out     the 


JOHAN  GUSTAF  LINDORFF 

and  the  business  was  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Lindorff 
Bros,  for  seventeen  years,  or  until 
1892,  when  the  junior  partner  re- 
tired, leaving  J.  G.  Lindorff  as  sole 
proprietor.  Heuis  still  in  the  bus- 
iness, with  a  fine  stock  of  hard- 
ware, stoves  and  tinware,  and  is 
one  of  the  prosperous  merchants 
of  the  town. 

Mr.  Lindorff  has  served  three 
terms  in  the  aldermanic  council, 
and  in  1887  was  elected  township 
collector  of  taxes. 

The  Lindorff  family  are  all  con- 
nected with  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  New  Windsor,  to  which 
Mr.  Lindorff  has  ever  contributed 
liberally  of  his  time,  labor  and 
substance.  He  is  at  present  chair- 
man of  its  board  of  trustees. 

Dec.  9,  1871,  he  was  married  to 
Maria  Lovisa  Wahlberg,  who  was 


200 


Mercer  County 


born  at  St.  Anna,  Ostergotland, 
Dec.  28,  1844,  and  emigrated  in 
1870.  Their  children  now  living 
are:  O.  W.  Lindorff,  born  1873, 
doctor  of  medicine,  graduated  at 
Rush  Medical  College;  Blanche  A., 
born  1875,  professional  nurse,  grad- 
uated at  the  Augustana  Hospital 
training  school;  Esther  Ottilia, 
born  1878,  now  Mrs.  A.  W.  An- 
derson; Arthur  L.,  born  1884. 
They  also  adopted  and  raised  Ti- 
nie  Swanson,  a  cousin  of  their 
own  children,  now  Mrs.  C.  H. 
piele. 

CHARLES  A.  SAMUELSON 

was  born  in  Haddorp,  Sweden, 
Nov.  1 8,'  1856.  He  emigrated  to 
•this  country  at  the  age  of  14  and 
•came  direct  to  his  brother,  Jonas 
Samuelson,  who  owned  and  worked 
a  coal  mine  near  New  Windsor, 
111.  After  four  years  in  the  em- 
ploy of  his  brother,  he  bought  the 
coal  mine  and  continued  to  oper- 
ate it  for  a  period  of  three  years, 
when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1881  he  bought  a 
farm  near  where  Sherrard  is  now 
located  and  began  farming  and 
stock  raising.  In  1894,  when  the 
coal  mines  were  opened  up  at 
Sherrard  and  the  Rock  Island  & 
Mercer  County  Railroad  built  a 
branch  in  there,  Mr.  Samuelson 
quit  farming  and  began  dealing  in 
lumber,  hardware,  grain  and  im- 
plements, in  which  business  he  is 
still  engaged. 

He  has  served  his  school  district 
as  a  trustee  for  ten  years,  and 
has  been  road  commissioner  and 
treasurer  of  Richland  Grove  town- 


ship for  twelve  years.  In  1898 
he  was  elected  to  the  state  legis- 
lature from  the  35th  district,  com- 


CHAKLliS    A.  SAMUELSON 

prising  Mercer,  Warren,  Hender- 
son and  Knox  counties,  and  reelec- 
ted  in  1900.  In  1902  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  legislature  from  the 
new  33d  district,  comprising  Mer- 
cer, Henry  and  Rock  Island  coun- 
ties. As  such  representative  he 
has  served  his  constituents  with 
credit  to  himself.  During  the  ses- 
sion in  1903  he  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Yates  as  one  of  the 
committee  to  deliver  the  five  thou- 
sand dollars  donated  by  the  state 
of  Illinois  to  the  sufferers  of 
Northern  Sweden  and  Finland. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
organizing  and  maintaining  the 
Swedish-American  Republican  State 
League  of  Illinois,  and  was  its 
vice-president  in  1901.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Swedona  and  has  served 
the  church  both  as  a  deacon  and 


Prophetstown 


2OI 


a  trustee.  He  is  also  a  member 
and  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
North  Star  Benefit  Association  of 
Moline,  111.,  and  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  the  K.  of  P. 

Elected  mayor  of  Sherrard  in 
1905,  he  was  reelected  in  1907. 

Feb.  27,  1879,  he  was  married 
to  Emma  M.  Lawson  of  Swedona, 
Mercer  county.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children,  of 
whom  only  two  are  now  living, 
Florence  and  Chester. 


A.  EDGREN 

was  born  Jan.  3,   1844,  in    Nedra 
Ulleryd,  Vermland,  Sweden.      He 


A.  EDGREN 

emigrated  to  this  country  in  1870, 
and  was  enrolled  at  Augustana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary 
at  Paxton.  Rev.  Edgren  was  or- 
dained June  29,  1873,  in  Paxton, 
and  has  served  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran congregations  in  Aurora,  111., 
Ishpeming,  Mich.,  Paxton,  Evans- 
ton,  Stimmerdale  in  Chicago, 
Ophiem  and  Prophetstown,  111. 


CHARLES     VICTOR 

ENGSTROM 

was  born  in  Moiisteras  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Nov.  10,  1854. 
He  was  fifteen  years  old  when  he 
came  to  this  country.  His  first 
home  here  was  in  Galesburg,  from 
which  city  he,  like  a  number  of 
other  Swedish  settlers,  removed 
later  to  Peoria.  Here  he  is  now 
established  in  business  as  a  dealer 
in  leather  and  shoe  findings. 

Mr.  Engstrom  belongs  to  the 
orders  of  Odd  Fellows,  Masons 
and  Modern  Woodmen,  and  is  the 
treasurer  of  the  Deaconess  Home 
and  Hospital  Association. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engstrom,  who 
were  married  in  Chicago  Dec.  31, 
1879,  have  four  children,  Ella  V., 
Roy  V.,  Charles  L.  and  Bessie  L. 
Engstrom . 

AXEL  E.  ELMQUIST, 

pastor  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church  of  Peoria,  was  born  in 
Elmhult,  Smaland,  Sweden,  March 
17,  1879.  His  parents,  August 
and  Hedvig  Anderson,  were  farmer 
folk  in  the  parish  of  Jersnas.  At 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  emi- 
grated in  1901, going  to  Brockton, 
Mass. ,  where  he  availed  himself  of 
the  instruction  in  the  Brockton  eve- 
ning school.  A  year  later  he  en- 
tered North  Park  College  and  in 
three  years  fitted  himself  for  the 
ministry  in  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church,  taking  the  full  course  in 
the  theological  department.  While 
a  student  he  devoted  his  vacations 
to  pastoral  work  in  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  Cromwell,  Ct.,  and  Marshall- 
town,  la.  Since  his  ordination  to 


202 


Peoria  County 


the  ministry  in  the  Swedish  Evan- 
gelical Mission  Covenant  in  June, 
1905,  he  has  served  the  church 
in  Peoria. 


AXEL  ELIAS  ELMQUIST 

Rev.  Elmquist  is  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  Swedish-Amer- 
ican press  and  possesses  a  grace- 
ful literary  style  and  a  facile  pen. 
A  May-festival  address  delivered 
by  him  at  North  Park  College 
May  i,  1905,  was  reproduced  and 
commended  by  a  number  of  papers 
here  and  in  the  old  country. 

Nov.  30,  1906,  Rev.  Elmquist 
entered  matrimony.  His  bride 
was  Miss  Edith  Seaholm  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  born  July  15,  1886. 
A  brother  of  Rev.  Elmquist,  Ar- 
vid  G.,  is  pursuing  art  studies  at 
the  Bradley  Polytechnic  Institute 
of  Peoria,  and  a  sister,  Agda  C., 
is  a  professional  nurse. 


Oskarshamn,  Sweden,  Dec.  9,  1868. 
Emigrating  in  1882,  he  came  to 
Lindsborg,  Kans.  At  Bethany 
College  in  that  city  he  took  up 
studies,  graduating  from  the  com- 
mercial department  in  1890  and 
from  college  in  1896.  At  Augus- 
tana  Theological  Seminary  he  fit- 
ted himself  for  the  ministry  and 
was  ordained  at  the  synodical 
meeting  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  in 
the  early  summer  of  1900,  subse- 
quently taking  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  in 
Bloomington,  which  he  served  un- 
til the  spring  of  1907,  when  he 
became  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Peoria. 

Oct.     10,     1900,     Rev.     Johnson 
was   united    in    wedlock   to    Anna 


CARL  J.  JOHNSON, 

pastor   of   the    Swedish    Lutheran 
Church,  was   born    in   the  city  of 


CARL  J.  JOHNSON 

A.  Rolander  [of  McPherson, 
Kans.,  who  was  born  there  Jan. 
8,  1875.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Edna. 


Peoria 


203 


AXEL  J.  G.  NYSTROM  and   finally    settling    permanently 

was   born    in    the   city  of  Oskars- 
hamn,    Sweden,    July    25,      1877. 


He  is  devoted  to  the  Methodist 


AXEL  J.  G.  NYSTROM 

He  is  the  son  of  Building  Con- 
tractor Carl  Johan  Nystrom  of 
Peoria  and  follows  the  same  vo- 
cation. With  his  parents  he 
came  to  the  United  States  in 
1 88 1,  growing  up  and  obtaining 
his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Galesburg  and  Peoria. 

He  is  a  member  and  steward 
of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Church 
and  has  been  active  in  the  Ep- 
worth  League  both  privately  and 
in  an  official  capacity. 


CARL  JOHAN    NYSTROM, 

who  is  a  building  contractor,  hav- 
ing operated  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  city  of  Peoria,  is  a 
native  of  Doderhult  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
Nov.  22,  1849.  In  July,  1881, 
he  came  over  from  the  old  coun- 
try, locating  first  in  Galesburg 


CAKL  JOHAN  NYSTROM 

faith  and  belongs  to  the  local 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church.  In  the 
service  of  this  church  his  activities 
are  varied  including  trusteeship, 
class  leadership  and  superintend- 
ency  of  the  Sunday  school. 

He  is  married  to  Susanna  Nel- 
son, also  of  Doderhult  parish. 
Their  children  are,  Carl  Oscar 
Frithiof,  Axel  J.  G.,  Ella  Eu- 
genie, Conrad  Fredrick,  Esther 
Susanna  and  Irene,  two  of  whom 
are  deceased. 


OSCAR  C.  F.  NYSTROM 

was  born  in  Oskarshamn,  Sweden, 
Oct.  20,  1875.  With  his  father, 
Carl  Johan  Nystrom,  and  his 
family,  he  came  to  the  United 
States  in  July,  1881.  After  at- 
tending the  public  school  he  fin- 
ished his  education  at  Hedding 
College,  Abingdon,  111.  Like  his 


204 


Peoria  County 


father  and  a  brother,  he  is  a  build- 
ing contractor. 

Mr.    Nystrom  is    a    member    of 
the     Grace     Methodist     Episcopal 


Peoria  and  of  the  Locomotive 
Engineers'  Association.  In  his 
church  he  has  been  elected  to  the 
council  as  a  deacon. 


OSCAR  CARL  FRITHIOF  NYSTROM 


CHARLES  OLSON 


Church,  giving  much  of  his  time 
to  the  furtherance  of  its  work. 
He  has  served  it  in  various  capac- 
ities, as  president  of  the  Epworth 
League,  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  and  steward  of  the 
church. 


CHARLES  OLSON 

was  born  March  26,  1870,  in 
Sjorup  parish,  Skane,  Sweden. 
He  left  his  parental  home  in  1898, 
coming  to  Peoria  in  April.  Hav- 
ing attended  public  school  and 
obtained  other  necessary  training, 
he  went  into  the  railway  service 
and  now  holds  a  position  as  loco- 
motive engineer. 

Mr.   Olson  is  a  member    of    the 
Swedish      Lutheran      Church      at 


His  parents,  Ola  Olson  and 
Elna  Nilson,  remained  in  Sweden, 
where  his  mother  died  at  the  old 
homestead  in  June,  1903. 


DAVID  H.  TIN GW ALL 

was  born  Sept.  7,  1871,  at  Inga- 
torp,  Smaland,  Sweden,  whence 
he  emigrated  in  1893,  settling  in 
Peoria.  He  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Swedish  common  school 
and  with  previous  training  in 
handicraft,  established  himself  in 
this  city  as  a  cabinetmaker. 

Mr.  Tingwall  is  married  to 
Annie  Newman  and  they  have 
two  children,  Reinhold  and  Judith. 
His  parents,  Pehr  and  Lovisa 
Tingwall  are  still  living  at  Inga- 


Wenona 


205 


torp,  where  his  father  is  a  village 
storekeeper. 

The  Tingwall  family  are    mem- 


lated  at  Augustana  College.  In 
the  fall  of  1894.  he  was  enrolled 
in  the  Augustana  Theological 


DAVID  H.  TINGWALL 

bers     of     the    Swedish    L/utheran 
Church. 


GUSTAF  ERIKSON, 
minister  of  the  Augustana  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  was  born 
on  the  farm  of  his  father,  at  Tols- 
bo,  Stora  Tuna,  Dalarne,  Sweden, 
June  12,  1867.  His  parents,  Erik 
Hanson  and  Anna  Janson,  both 
died  there  a  few  years  ago.  In 
his  native  place  he  attended  the 
primary  and  people's  schools. 
Emigrating  in  1888,  he  stopped 
for  three  months  at  Negaunee, 
Mich.,  working  in  a  saw-mill  and 
then  located  at  Republic,  remain- 
ing there  until  the  fall  of  1890. 
While  there  he  worked  in  the 
mines,  spending  his  leisure  time 
in  private  study  under  the  tutor- 
ship of  A.  Forsberg,  a  mining 
engineer.  At  the  opening  of  the 
school  year  in  1890  he  matricu- 


GUSTAF  ERIKSON 

Seminary,  graduating  in  1897  and 
being  ordained  to  the  ministry  in 
the  Augustana  Synod  the  same 
spring.  His  first  pastoral  charge 
after  ordination  was  the  Bethany 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  We- 
nona, which  he  still  serves,  to- 
gether with  the  Zion  Church  of 
Streator. 

Rev.  Erikson  is  the  editor  of 
Betania- Hcmmet ,  a  monthly  local 
church  paper,  his  literary  activi- 
ties, however,  have  not  been  con- 
fined within  this  narrow  compass. 
While  a  student,  he  evinced  ability 
as  a  poet,  which  has  been  culti- 
vated since,  resulting  in  a  large 
number  of  poems,  mainly  religious. 
In  1906  he  published  a  book  en- 
titled "Minnen  och  Bilder  fran 
Hembygden." 

Rev.  Erikson  was  united  in 
marriage  April  27,  1898,  with 
Miss  Marie  Ede,  daughter  of 
Hokan  and  Anna  Ede  of  Moline, 
111.,  born  Jan.  14,  1866.  Mrs. 
Erikson  died  Sept.  8,  1907. 


Qrundy,  La  Salle,  Livingstone, 

McLean  and  Vermilion 

Counties 


MORRIS    LELAND    STREATOR--PONTIAC 

STRAWN-BLOOMINGTON -HOOPES- 

TON-RANKIN 


JONAS  O.  BACKLUND, 
minister    of    the    Swedish    Baptist 
Church,    was  born  in    Sorbygden, 


JONAS  O.   BACKLUND 

province  of  Jamtland,  Sweden, 
Sept.  23,  1875.  His  parents, 
Anders  Backlund  aud  Brita  Cata- 
rina  Person,  who  were  farmers  in 
that  locality  are  still  living.  The 
son  emigrated  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  lived  at  Rush  Point, 
Minn.,  studied  at  Carlton  College, 
and  then  entered  the  Swedish 
Academy  and  Theological  Semin- 
ary at  Morgan  Park,  111.,  a  branch 
of  the  University  of  Chicago, 
graduating  from  that  institution 
in  1905,  with  the  bachelor's  de- 
gree. Twice  he  received  honor- 
able mention  as  a  student  and 
was  elected  to  the  Phi  Beta 


Kappa  society  of  the  university. 
While  studying  theology  at  the 
Swedish  divinity  school  at  Morgan 
Park,  Mr.  Backlund  had  pastoral 
charges  at  Republic,  Mich.,  White 
Rock  and  Red  Wing,  Minn.,  and 
Morris  and  Evanston,  111.  He 
has  served  temporarily  as  editor 
of  Baneret,  and  is  at  present  in- 
structor in  Greek  and  Latin  in 
Bethel  Academy,  at  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Backlund's  literary  ability  is 
shown  in  contributions  to  Hem- 
mets  Van  and  other  publications. 


FRITZ  CHARLES  NOEL, 

editor  and  part  owner  of  the  Le- 
land  Tunes,  is  a  native  of  Stock- 
holm, where  his  father,  Fredrik 
Adolf  Noel,  was  a  manufacturer. 
The  younger  Noel  was  born  May 
n,  1867,  and  educated  at  the 
Hernosand  Seminary,  at  the  ele- 
mentary school  at  Ladugardslandet 
in  Stockholm  and  at  the  City  of 
London  College. 

In  1888  he  emigrated,  going  to 
Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years,  and  began 
his  journalistic  career  with  the 
Montreal  Herald.  Ten  years  were 
next  spent  in  Chicago  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Chicago  Tribune.  Five 
years  ago  he  removed  to  Leland 
and  became  interested  in  the  local 
newspaper,  the  Times,  the  editor- 
ship of  which  he  has  since  as- 


2IO 


La  Salle  County 


sumed.  Besides  his  interest  in 
this  paper,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Leland  Publishing  Company,  pub- 
lishers of  art  calendars  for  the 
trade. 

Mr.  Noel  has  not  held  political 
office,  but  is  active  in  local  polit- 
ical affairs,  and  that  his  opinion 
carries  weight  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
called  in  as  advising  member  of 
the  County  Central  Committee. 

He  is  a  Lutheran  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Bethany  Church,  to- 
gether with  his  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife,  Martha  Audrine,  nee 
Klove,  whom  he  married  Sept.  18, 
1895,  and  two  children,  Gladys 
Josephine,  born  1898,  and  Fredrik 
Andrew,  born  1906. 


ter  of  John  Samuels  of  Streator, 
and  was  born  in  this  city,  Nov.  10, 
1863.  The  couple  were  married 


ALGOT  CARLSON, 
who  conducts  a  grocery  and  meat 
market  at  Streator,  was  born  in 
Langemala  parish,  Smaland,  Swe- 
den, Feb.  2,  1851.  Twenty  years 
later  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  lived  for  some  five  years  in 
Jamestown  before  locating  perma- 
nently here.  He  has  now  resided 
here  continuously  for  thirty  years 
and  has  been  a  merchant  for  twenty- 
five  years.  He  has  been  repeatedly 
elected  president  of  the  Scandia 
Club  of  Streator,  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  local  lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
Maccabees.  Confessionally  he  is 
a  Methodist,  belonging  to  the 
First  American  M.  E.  Church  of 
Streator.  Mr.  Carlson's  parents, 
Carl  Magnus  and  Lena  Kajsa 
Pehrson,  are  farmerfolk  at  Lange- 
mala. Mrs.  Carlson  is  a  daugh- 


ALGOT  CARLSON 

Nov.  15,  1879.  Mrs.  Carlson 
died  April  3,  1903.  The  follow- 
ing six  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  viz.,  Carl  A.,  John  E., 
Oscar  A.,  Linda  J.,  Alma  A. 
and  Arthur  W.,  the  last  named 
being  dead. 


HERBERT  JULIUS    JOHNSON 

was  born  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  Swan  P.  '  Johnson,  in 
Lynn  township,  Henry  county, 
111.,  April  18,  1871.  He  spent 
the  first  twenty  years  on  the 
farm,  attending  public  school  at 
intervals.  His  father  died  at  his 
home  near  Andover,  in  1889,  and 
shortly  after  that  the  son  entered 
Augustana  College,  at  Rock  Is- 
land, where  he  finished  his  edu- 
cation. While  at  college,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  literary  societies, 
debating  clubs  and  in  athletics. 


Pontiac 


211 


For  two  years  he  was    a   member 
of  the  Augustana  football   eleven. 
Mr.  Johnson    is    an    ardent    Re- 
publican, who  has  shown  political 


HERBERT  JULIUS  JOHNSON 

activity  both  locally  and  in  the 
state  at  large.  For  two  terms  he 
served  on  the  Henry  county  cen- 
tral committee.  In  1895  he  was 
chosen  first  assistant  enrolling  and 
engrossing  clerk  of  the  Illinois 
state  senate.  For  two  years  he 
was  appointed  assistant  anti- trust 
clerk  under  the  secretary  of  state. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Swedish-American  Repub- 
lican League  of  Illinois  and  was 
elected  its  president  in  1905,  serv- 
ing one  year.  In  1903  he  was 
elected  assistant  secretary  of  the 
state  senate. 

In  the  gubernational  campaign 
of  1904  Mr.  Johnson,  as  one  of 
Roy  O.  West's  aids,  was  actively 
engaged  in  promoting  Deneen's 
candidacy.  The  following  year 
he  was  appointed  to  his  present 


position  of  chief  clerk  of  the 
State  Reformatory  at  Pontiac. 

As  a  student  and  in  subsequent 
years  Mr.  Johnson  lent  substantial 
aid  to  the  work  of  the  Augustana 
University  Association  for  a  greater 
Augustana,  contributing  liberally 
to  the  cause.  From  1893  to 
1897  ne  was  financially  interested 
in  the  Swedish  weekly  newspaper, 
Nya  Pressen,  of  Moline,  removed 
to  Chicago  early  in  1896  and 
merged  with  Fosterlandet,  another 
Swedish  weekly,  at  the  end  of 
that  year. 

On  April  30,  1896,  Mr.  John- 
son was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
M.  Bengston,  born  Jan.  29,  1870, 
the  daughter  of  Gustus  and  Lou- 
isa Bengston  of  Cambridge,  111. 
There  are  two  children,  a  son, 
Paul  Oliver,  born  in  1897,  and  a 
daughter,  Gladys  Marian,  born 
in  1902. 

AUGUST   LARSON 

was  born  at  Grimeton,  Halland, 
Sweden,  Dec.  27,  1866.  When 
he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
December,  1883,  he  worked  for 
some  time  as  a  coal  miner  in  West 
Newton,  Pa.,  afterward  working 
on  a  farm  in  Indiana  until  he 
went  to  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count at  Strawn. 

He  belongs  to  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran congregation  at  Sibley  and 
has  served  as  a  deacon  of  the 
church  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  several  lodges, 
such  as  the  Modern  Woodmen, 
the  Royal  Neighbors  and  the 
American  Home  Circle. 

His  wife,  Anna    Elida    Carlson, 


212 


McLean  County 


was  born  Dec.  15,  1864,  in  Sma- 
land.  Their  children  are:  Elmer 
Gottfrid,  Emma  Linnea  and  Ellen 


AUGUST    LARSON 

Augusta;  in  a  previous  marriage 
Mr.  Larson  had  five  children,  viz.: 
Axel  Julius,  Carl  Hilding  Elis, 
Oscar  Wilhelm,  Arthur  Sigfrid 
and  Roy  Bernhard.  The  eldest  son, 
Axel  Julius,  was  married  May 
14,  1902,  to  Tina  Larson  of  Chi- 
cago and  is  employed  in  that  city. 


JOHN  BYQVIST, 

who  is  a  carpenter  contractor  by 
trade,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Stenstorp,  Vestergotland,  Sweden, 
the  date  of  his  birth  being  July 
28,  1858.  In  1880  he  emigrated 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  later  lo- 
cated in  Bloomington.  He  belongs 
to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  has  served  for  some  time  as 
secretary  of  the  local  congregation. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Scan- 
dia  Aid  Society  of  Bloomington 


and    of    the    Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

With   his   wife,  Hulda    Larson, 
born  Aug.  30,    1859,   he    has  four 


JOHN   BYQVIST 

children:  Helena  Alfrida,  Robert 
Edniond,  Martin  Rudolph,  and 
Ellen  Monica  Cecilia. 


CHARLES  W.  ELFSTRAND, 

who  has  been  a  letter  carrier  in 
the  Bloomington  postal  service  for 
thirteen  years,  is  a  native  of  Sund- 
born,  Dalarne,  Sweden,  where  he 
was  born  Feb.  2,  1855. 

June  24,  1869,  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  after  living  for  some  time 
in  Kewanee,  where  he  obtained 
his  schooling,  came  to  Blooming- 
ton,  where  he  has  been  a  resident 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  since 
1873.  At  first  he  received  em- 
ployment with  the  McLean  County 
Coal  Company.  Later  he  went  to 
Nebraska  with  the  intention  of 
locating  there  as  a  farmer,  but 
the  lonely  prairies  at  that  time 


Bloomington 


213 


had  no  charms  for  him,  so  he 
came  back  to  Bloomington  and 
became  a  grocery  salesman.  In 


CHARLES  W.  ELFSTRAND 

1893  he  was  appointed  letter  car- 
rier for  the  city. 

Mr.  Elfstrand  is  a  member  of 
the  Scandia  Benevolent  Society  of 
Bloomington  and  of  the  Yeomen 
of  America. 

He  is  married  to  Josephina  An- 
derson of  Cambridge,  born  in  Swe- 
den Dec.  19,  1859,  and  they  have 
four  grown  up  children,  Elmer 
William,  Herbert  Grant,  Florence 
Selma  Victoria  and  Ida  Josephine. 


ALEXANDER  G.  ERICKSON, 

grocer  and  dealer  in  meats,  is  one 
of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Bloom- 
ington. He  was  born  in  Malilla 
parish,  Kalmar  Ian,  Sweden,  July 
7,  1863.  The  family  emigrated 
in  1869,  locating  at  Kewanee  and 
living  there  for  some  time  before 
removing  to  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Erickson  acquired  his  schooling 


in  both  places.  He  was  a  mail 
carrier  in  Bloomington  for  four 
years  during  Harrison's  presiden- 
tial term.  The  office  of  president 
of  the  Coal  Miners'  Union  was 
also  filled  by  him.  He  has  served 
his  city  in  the  capacity  of  alder- 
man from  the  yth  ward,  being 
elected  and  reelected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  On  Aug.  21,  1906, 
he  was  at  a  special  council  meet- 
ing elected  mayor,  to  fill  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  James  S.  Nev- 
ille, deceased. 

Mr.  Erickson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
and  of  the  following  fraternal  and 
industrial  organizations:  Modern 
Woodmen,  Improved  Order  of  Red 


MR.   AND  MRS.   ALEX.   G.   ERICKSON 

Men,  K.  of  P.,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
N.  U.,  Butchers'  Union  and  the 
Scandia  Benevolent  Society.  He 
takes  a  leading  part  in  politics  in 
his  home  city. 

He    was    married    in    his    home 
city    Aug.  30,    1884,  to    Maria  C. 


McLean  County 


Stahlberg,  born  Jan.  27,  1863,  at 
Sandviken,  Sweden.  Their  chil- 
dren are  ten  in  number,  as  fol- 
lows': Elvira  C.,  Edward  G-,  Delia 
M.,  Grace  A.,  Lilly  T.,  William 
A.,  Roy  \V.,  Edna  L.(  Carl  Theo- 
dor,  who  is  dead,  and  Lawrence  A. 


carpenters.  He  is  of  the  Lutheran 
faith  andf  has  served  a  number 
of  years  as  trustee  and  treasurer 


ANDREW  FREEDLUND 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Grenna, 
in  Smaland,  Sweden,  Aug.  24, 
1859,  and  emigrated  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  settling  first  at  Gib- 
son City  and  then  at  Bloomington. 
Having  received  his  schooling  in 
the  old  country,  he  engaged  in 
the  carpenter's  trade  here  and 
soon  established  himself  as  a 
building  contractor.  That  he  is 
skilled  in  his  line  and  capable  of 
handling  large  contracts  is  evi- 
denced by  the  city's  $20, coo  fire 
station,  which  was  built  by  Mr. 
Freedlund. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen's  fraternity. 

Mr.  Freedlund  is  married  to 
Christina  Johnson,  born  at  Grenna 
Feb.  3,  1860.  The  couple  have 
eight  children ,  John  Alfred ,  Charles , 
Emelie,  Arthur,  Fanny,  Thomas, 
Bettie  and  Annie. 


GUSTAF  J.  PETERSON 

hails  from  Grenna,  Smaland,  Swe- 
den. He  emigrated  to  America 
in  1880,  living  for  some  time  at 
Paxton,  before  he  made  his  home 
in  Bloomington,  where  he  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Chi- 
cago and  Alton  Railway  Company 
for  nearly  25  years.  He  now 
holds  the  position  of  foreman  of 


GUSTAF  J.   PETERSON 

of  the  local  Swedish  Church.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Modern  Woodmen. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  born  in 
Grenna,  Nov.  27,  1857.  He 
married  Miss  Lottie  Anderson, 
born  at  the  same  place  Dec.  24, 
1859,  and  the  couple  have  two 
children,  Albert  Wilhelm  and 
Berenice  Josephine. 


JOHAN  OSCAR  TORNBLAD 

was  born  in  Stockholm,  Sept.  16, 
1859,  attended  the  public  schools 
there,  was  later  employed  in  the 
bank  note  printing  office  of  the 
Swedish  riksbank.  He  left  Swe- 
den in  1 88 1,  and  came  to  Streator 
where  he  lived  for  five  years  be- 
fore removing  to  Bloomington. 
In  Streator  he  married  Anna 
Maria  Ohman,  also  from  Stock- 
holm, in  1882,  and  a  son,  Oscar 


Bloomington 


215 


Birger,  was  born  to  them  the  Gronquist,  was  born  March  13, 
following  year.  The  family  re-  1854,  at  Ockelbo,  Gestrikland, 
moved  to  Bloomington  in  1886,  Sweden.  They  have  two  children, 

Grace  and  Florence,  born  in 
Bloomington.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church. 


JOHAX  OSCAR  TORNBLAD 

where  a  daughter,  Alfhild  Teresia, 
was  born  three  years  years  later. 
Mr.  Tornblad  is  a  carpet  sales- 
man by  occupation.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 
For  some  fifteen  years  past  he 
has  been  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday  school. 


LARS  PETER  WALLBERG 

was  born  in  Renneslof  parish' 
Halland,  March  30,  1843,  whence 
he  emigrated  to  Bloomington  in 
1880.  He  enjoyed  a  common 
school  education  in  his  native 
country.  He  established  himself 
in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Bioomington  and  is  at  present  the 
proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  meat 
market. 

His  wife,    Karin  Wallberg,    nee 


CHARLES  A.  ERICKSON 

was  born  near  Paxton,  111.,  Dec. 
8,  1873.  In  February,  1889  he 
went  from  Paxton  to  Chicago  and 
worked  for  the  next  three  years 
as  a  grocery  salesman  for  Theo- 
dore Freeman.  After  taking  a 
course  in  Bryant,  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  he  became  a  bill 
clerk  for  Bell,  Conrad  &  Co.  and 
afterward  cashier  for  the  Decker 


CHARLES    A.    ERICKSON 

&  Unrath  Packing  Co.  Being 
thus  employed  for  three  years,  he 
then  engaged  in  the  gentlemen's 
furnishing  business  on  East  Divi- 
sion st.  in  1897,  under  the  part- 
nership name  of  Erickson  &  Swan- 
son.  In  the  spring  of  1898  Mr 


2l6 


Vermilion  County 


Erickson  removed  to  Hoopeston 
and  opened  another  men's  cloth- 
ing and  furnishing  store  under  the 
same  firm  name. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Ben 
Hur  fraternity  and  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Mr.  Erickson  was  married  in 
Chicago  June  5,  1900,  to  Miss 
Anna  E.  Norbeck  of  that  city. 


CHARLES  A.  PETERSON 

was  born  in  the  province  of  Oster- 
gotland,    Sweden,    Jan.    6,     1860. 


CHARLES  AXEL  PETERSON 

Coming  to  this  country  in  1880 
he  located  first  in  Chicago,  then 
at  Kankakee  and  finally  at  Hoopes- 
ton. For  three  years  from  1881 
he  was  employed  by  the  North- 
Western  Horse  Nail  Co.  of  Chica- 
go, and  subsequently  by  the  Su- 
perior Horse  Nail  Co.  of  Kanka- 
kee, remaining  with  the  establish- 
ment after  it  became  the  property 
of  the  Hoopeston  Horse  Nail  Co. 
in  1897  aud  up  to  the  present 


time.  Mr.  Peterson  is  now  fore- 
man of  the  factory. 

He  was  married  in  Chicago  May 
31,  1890,  to  Miss  Hulda  Johnson, 
who  was  born  in  Smaland,  July  i, 
1866,  and  came  with  her  parents 
to  this  country  in  1870.  The 
children  are  four  in  number:  Char- 
lotta,  born  1891,  Raymond,  1893, 
Carl,  1895,  and  Violet,  1901. 

The  family  belongs  to  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Hoopeston. 


PETER  N.  SWANSON 

was  born  in  Hultsjo  parish,  Sma- 
land, Sweden,  Jan.  6,  1866.  In 
May,  1883,  he  came  over  from 
Sweden,  going  to  Nalina,  Mich., 
where  he  went  to  work  for  a  lum- 
ber company,  being  employed  in 
their  sawmill,  hotel  and  store  up 
to  1887.  That  year  he  came  out 


PETER  N.  SWANSON 

of  the  woods  to  Chicago  and  was 
employed  by  Henry  W.  King  & 
Co.,  a  wholesale  clothing  house, 
for  some  four  years.  In  the  fall 


Rankin 


217 


of  1891  he  removed  to  Harring- 
ton, Neb.,  where  he  opened  a 
retail  clothing  store.  Selling  out 
the  business  in  1896  he  moved 
back  to  Chicago.  In  the  spring 
of  1898  he  again  left  the  city  and 
moved  to  Hoopeston,  opening  a 
men's  clothing  store  with  Charles 
A.  Erickson,  with  whom  he  had 
been  associated  in  the  same  line 
of  business  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Swanson  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  of 
the  orders  of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  M.  W. 
A.  and  Ben  Hur. 

In  the  spring  of  1892  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Tillie  Erickson 
of  Chicago. 

A.  G.  HAMMARSTRAND 
was   born    in  Edsvara,  Skaraborgs 
Ian,  Sweden,  April  7,    1857.     His 


ANDREW  GUSTAF  HAMMARSTRAND 

parents,  now  dead,  were  Anders 
Hammarstrand  and  Inga  Svensson. 
The  son  had  very  little  schooling, 
being  compelled  by  poor  circum- 
stances to  begin  earning  his  own 


living  in  early  boyhood.  When 
he  reached  maturity  young  Ham- 
marstrand emigrated  and  came 
directly  to  Rankin.  After  work- 
ing as  a  farm  hand  for  three 
years,  near  East  Lynne,  in  the 
same  county,  he  rented  a  farm 
and  continued  as  a  renter  until 
1895,  when  he  purchased  160 
acres  of  land  near  Rankin.  Ten 
years  later  he  added  another  80 
acre  tract  to  the  farm,  which  is 
a  most  valuable  one. 

March  23,  1880,  just  before 
departing  from  the  old  country 
Mr.  Hammarstrand  wedded  Maria 
Christina  Solberg  of  Qvanuui,  born 
July  27,  1851.  Seven  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows, Frank  Gustaf  Leonard,  1881, 
John  Richard  Claude,  1885,  Anna 
Matilda,  1886,  Ellen  Charlotta, 
1888,  Harry  Wilhelm,  1890,  Net- 
tie Alfrida,  1892,  Laura  Esther 
Alicia,  1896.  The  eldest  son, 
Frank,  after  studying  in  the  com- 
mercial and  collegiate  departments 
at  Augustana  College,  is  now 
preparing  for  the  medical  profes- 
sion, while  all  the  other  children 
remain  on  the  farm. 

For  more  than  twenty-five  years 
Mr.  Hammarstrand  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  and  has  held  the  offices 
of  deacon,  secretary  of  the  con- 
gregation and  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school,  each  for  a 
term  of  years. 


PETER  PEARSON 
was  born  at    Norra  Stroo,  Skane, 
Sweden,    Nov.    5,    1856.     In   1880 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and 


218 


Vermilion  County 


took  up  his  residence  in  Gibson 
City,  living  there  for  the  next 
eleven  years.  He  was  a  churrh 


PETER    PEARSON 

deacon  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  for  many  years 
prior  to  1892,  when  he  began  to 
prepare  for  entering  the  ministry. 
Beginning  his  studies  in  1893 
at  the  English  Lutheran  Seminary 
in  Chicago,  he  continued  at  Martin 
Luther  College  in  the  same  city. 


Having  finished  the  courses  offered 
he  entered  Augustana  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Rock  Island. 
He  was  ordained  at  the  synodical 
meeting  in  Burlington  June  17, 
1900,  having  accepted  a  call ..  from 
the  congregation  at  Rankin  and 
Clarence,  111.  Rev.  Pearson  la- 
bored at  these  places  with  telling 
results.  During  his  incumbency 
a  parsonage  has  been  built  and  a 
church  edifice  erected  in  each 
place. 

Of  the  six  brothers  of  Rev. 
Pearson,  Swan  Peterson  is  engaged 
in  the  floral  business  at  Gibson 
City  and  Andrew  Peterson  at 
Hoopeston,  while  a  third  brother  is 
a  farmer  at  Rankin. 

Rev.  Pearson  was  married  Sept. 
29,  1888,  at  Chicago  to  Emma 
Christina  Nelson  from  Stafnas, 
Vermland.  Their  children  are: 
Mertie  Marie,  born  1889;  Ruth 
Laura,  1891;  Carl  Joseph  Lauren- 
tius,  1893,  deceased;  Hanna  Jose- 
fine  Olivia,  1895;  Paul  Rufus  El- 
mer, 1897;  May  Anna  Elizabeth, 
1900;  Carl  Einar  Samuel,  1903. 


McHENRY,  LAKE  and  WILL 
COUNTIES 


CRYSTAL  LAKE-WAUKEGAN-JOLIET 


AUGUST  CARLSTEDT 

was  born  Oct.  i,  1863,  in  Sweden, 
where  he  received  a  public  school 


ish    Mission    Church     in     Crystal 
Lake. 


AUGUST  CARLSTEDT 

education.  In  1888  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  in  Chicago. 
In  1895  he  went  into  business  as 
a  manufacturer  of  guitars  and 
mandolins,  making  high  grade  in- 
struments known  as  the  Ideal 
guitars  and  mandolins.  The  firm 
of  August  Carlstedt  &  Co.  in- 
creased their  output  year  by  year, 
so  that  by  1903  the  firm  had  to 
secure  larger  quarters.  Mr.  Carl- 
stedt bought  a  property  in  Crystal 
Lake,  43  miles  northwest  of  Chi- 
cago, and  built  a  factory  and  resi- 
dence, where  he  is  prospering. 

He  was  married  Feb.  14,  1891, 
to  Alma  Anderson.  They  have  a 
daughter,  born  Aug.  20,  1892. 

The  family  belongs  to  the  Swed- 


LOUIS  M.  EKSTRAND, 

mechanical  engineer  of  the  Amer- 
ican Steel  and  Wire  Company  for 
the  Chicago  district,  is  a  native 
of  Vermland,  Sweden,  born  at 
Ransater  Jan.  2,  1864.  Having 
obtained  his  schooling  there,  he 
emigrated  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  first  locating  in  Worcester, 
Mass.,  before  taking  Ms  present 
position  at  Waukegan.  Alongside 
of  his  technical  work,  Mr.  Ek- 
strand  gives  much  of  his  time  and 
energy  to  his  community.  He 
has  served  [for  longer  or  shorter 
periods  in  the  following  capacities: 
assistant  supervisor  of  the  town 


LOUIS  MAGNUS  EKSTRAND 

of  Waukegan,  member  of  the  board 
of  education  and  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  education  in  the 


222 


Lake  County 


County  Board,  member  of  the 
Lake  County  Republican  Central 
Committee  and  member  of  the  Re- 
publican City  Committee. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Baptist  Church  of  Waukegan  and 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  has  served  his  church 
for  many  years  as  a  deacon  and 
chairman  of  the  council. 

In  1887  Mr.  Ekstrand  was  mar- 
ried in  Worcester,  to  Kristina 
Anderson,  with  whom  he  has  six 
children:  Agnes  Maria,  Henry 
Emanuel,  Adolf  Leroy,  Eva  Mar- 
greta,  died  in  infancy,  Ruth  Ethel 
and  Louis  Kenneth.  The  family 
has  a  comfortable  home  at  131 
Lenox  ave. 


ERIC  O.  SCHUGREN, 

former  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church    of    Waukegan,  was    born 


ERIC    O    SCHUGREN 


1892,  as  a  youth  of  eighteen,  liv- 
ing first  in  Isanti  county,  Minn. 
After  attending  the  South  Dakota 
State  University,  he  came  to  Chi- 
cago to  study  theology,  entering 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Theological 
Seminary  at  Morgan  Park.  From 
this  institution  he  was  graduated 
May  14,  1902,  and  shortly  after 
ordained  minister,  taking  charge 
of  the  Waukegan  Swedish  Baptist 
Church. 

He  is  now  a  missionary  in  the 
Vinukonda  Nilgiri  district,  Coo- 
noor,  India. 


in  Sweden  May  3,  1874,  his  birth- 
place being  Hassela,  Helsingland. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  July, 


CARL  JOHAN  KARL, 
minister  of  the  Augustana  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  was  born 
in  Rockford  Feb.  12,  1871.  His 
father  was  Rev.  Johannes  Magnus 
Nelson,  who,  after  studying  at 
Vexio,  Sweden,  and  Paxton,  111., 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  and 
served  the  church  at  Pecatonica, 
111.,  where  he  died.  The  widow 
is  still  living  at  Sacred  Heart, 
Minn. 

The  son,  Carl  Johan,  was  reared 
at  Pecatonica  and  Rockford.  After 
attending  the  public  schools,  he 
entered  the  academic  department 
at  Augustana  College,  passing  suc- 
cessive classes  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible under  the  necessity  of  "stay- 
ing out"  for  a  school  year  now 
and  then  to  earn  his  way.  He 
graduated  with  the  college  class 
of  1900,  entered  the  theological 
seminary  of  the  same  institution 
and,  completing  the  course  in  1903, 
was  ordained  at  Paxton,  where- 
upon he  assumed  charge  of  the 
Waukegan  pastorate.  There  he 


Joliet 


223 


labored  until  the  fall  of  1906, 
when  he  removed  to  Clarkfield, 
Minn.,  on  a  call  from  the  church 
at  that  place. 

May  25,  1904,  Rev.  Karl  was 
married  to  Miss  Emily  Johnson, 
a  daughter  of  O.  H.  Johnson  of 
Assaria,  Kans.,  born  June  20,  1879. 
They  have  a  daughter;  Irene,  born 
in  April,  1905. 


JOHN  BERNT  ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Vestra  Hed,  Weddige, 
Halland,  June  i,    1846.     He  came 


JOHN  BERNT  ANDERSON 

from  Sweden  in  June,  1869,  lo- 
cating at  Batavia,  111.  In  1871 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  worked 
as  a  carpenter  until  the  following 
year,  when  he  entered  the  Swed- 
ish Methodist  theological  school 
at  Galva,  111.  After  the  institu- 
tion had  removed  to  Evanston, 
he  continued  there  from  1874  to 
1876,  pursuing  studies  also  at 
the  Northwestern  Academy.  Af- 
ter graduation  he  joined  the  Cen- 


tral Illinois  M.  E.  Conference  at 
its  meeting  in  Pekin,  in  the  fall 
of  1876  and  was  then  appointed 
to  take  up  work  in  Clay  Centre 
and  Randolph,  Kansas.  He  re- 
mained there  for  two  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1878,  Rev.  Anderson 
was  transferred  -  to  Scandia,  Kan- 
sas, upon  being  taken  into  full 
connection  ,  in  the  Northwestern 
Swedish  Conference.  Subsequent- 
ly he  has  had  pastoral  appoint- 
ments as  follows:  Victoria,  111., 
1880;  Oakland,  Neb.,  i883;Stroms- 
burg  and  Swede  Plains,  Neb.,  1886; 
Saronville,  Neb.,  1887;  .Geneva 
and  Batavia,  111.,  1890;  Humboldt 
Park,  Chicago,  1892;  Melrose 
Park,  1894;  Forest  Glen,  Chicago, 
1896;  Emanuel  Church,  Chicago, 
1897;  Joliet,  1900,  Kingsburg, 
Cal.  He  is  now  stationed  at 
Pasadena,  Cal.,  1907.  Rev.  An- 
derson has  actively  encouraged 
the  building  of  churches  and  par- 
sonages and  the  general  rehabili- 
tation of  church  property  wher- 
ever found  necessary. 

While  stationed  at  Clay  Centre 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie 
Danielson  of  that  place.  The 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  Orville  Warren  and  Jen- 
nie Mabel. 

JOHN  L.  CARLSON, 

proprietor  of  the  Seltzer  Drug 
Store,  was  born  in  Malilla,  Swe- 
den, March  24,  1868.  He  has 
been  in  the  drug  business  from 
his  boyhood,  having  begun  work- 
ing in  a  pharmacy  in  Sweden  at 
the  age  of  fourteen.  Coming  to 
America  in  1884,  he  was  em- 


224 


Will  County 


ployed  by  druggists  first  in  Rock- 
ford,  then  in  Chicago.  After  a 
few  years  he  went  to  Joliet  where 


Twenty  years  later  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  locating  at 
Joliet,  Will  county,  Illinois.  He  is 


JOHN  L.  CARLSON 

he  has  been  located  for  more  than 
sixteen  years.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Illinois  College  of  Phar- 
macy of  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity. 

Aside  from  his  business  in 
Joliet,  Mr.  Carlson  is  interested 
in  Ross,  Flowers  and  Co., 
manufacturing  chemists  of  Chi- 
cago, and  president  of  the  com- 
pany. He  is  also  a  director  of  the 
Will  County  National  Bank  of 
Joliet. 

For  a  long  term  of  years  Mr. 
Carlson  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
Will  county.  Fraternally  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order, 
the  Knights  Templar  and  the 
Mystic  Shrine. 

PETER  E.  HOLMSTROM 
was  born  at  Gardby  on  the  Swed- 
ish island  of  bland,  Oct.  3,  1861. 


PETER  E.   HOLMSTROM 

engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
at  which  he  has  been  fairly  suc- 
cessful. In  religion  he  is  a 
Lutheran  and  has  served  as  trustee 
of  the  local  Swedish  Church  for 
a  number  of  years. 

Active  in  the  local  political 
circles,  Mr.  Holmstrom  has  served 
as  assistant  supervisor  and  town 
collector  and  also  member  of  the 
township  high  school  board. 

He  is  a  director  in  the  Citizens' 
National  Bank  and  has  served  as 
director  and  treasurer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  for  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Orphans  Home  at  Joliet. 

In  1887,  Mr.  Holmstrom  took 
in  marriage  Miss  Alma  Swanson. 
The  couple  have  a  family  of  six 
children,  equally  divided  between 
the  sexes.  * 


Joliet 


225 


FRANK  HUBENET 

was    born    in     Njurunda     parish, 
Vesternorrland,  Sweden,   Dec.    30, 


FRANK  HUBENET 

1862.  His  parents  were  Lars 
Wilhelm  Hybinette,  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  Ulrika  Eleonora 
Kjellberg.  The  father  died  in 
March,  1903,  after  having  under- 
gone a  surgical  operation  at  the 
city  hospital  at  Sundsvall.  Young 
Hubenet  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  up  to  his  iQth 
year,  when  he  left  his  parental 
home  and  came  over  to  this  conn- 
try,  locating  in  Joliet.  Here  he 
has  lived  ever  since,  excepting 
the  winters  of  1885  and  1886 
which  he  spent  working  in  the 
pineries  of  Michigan.  In  1890, 
Mr.  Hubenet,  as  he  now  writes 
his  name,  established  himself  as 
a  coal  merchant,  having  been 
bookkeeper  in  a  coal  office  for 
three  years.  Prior  to  that  he 
was  employed  in  the  stone  quarries 
at  Joliet — from  1882. 


Mr.  Hubenet  has  been  active 
for  years  in  fraternal  and  church 
circles.  He  has  served  as  trustee 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
since  1888.  He  has  served  as 
secretary  of  the  local  garrison  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  and  is 
past  astronomer  of  the  local  ob- 
servatory of  the  North  Star 
Benefit  Association  and  chief 
conductor  of  its  grand  observatory. 
From  1895  to  1901  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  Club  of  Joliet,  and  in 
1900  he  was  chosen  vice-president 
for  Will  county  of  the  Swedish- 
American  Republican  League  of 
Illinois.  From  1898  to  1903  he 
served  as  oil  inspector  for  the 
township  of  Joliet  and  was  special 
agent  of  statistics  of  manufacture 
for  the  United  States  census  of 
1890  and  again  in  1900. 

Sept.  27,  1890,  Mr.  Hubenet 
was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Ander- 
son. He  is  the  father  of  ten  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  six  daughters, 
to  wit:  Will  Waldemar,  born 
1891;  Edith  Elenora,  1893;  Elna 
Ulrika,  1894;  Ebba  Henrietta, 
1895;  Blenda  Linnea,  1897;  Grant 
Torsten  and  Leif  Lincoln,  1899; 
Viola  Victoria,  1901;  Ruby  Inge- 
borg,  1904,  and  Grant  Lincoln, 
1906.  Elna,  Grant  and  'Leif  are 
dead.  Mrs.  Hubenet  died  Nov. 
17,  1906. 


ALBIN     AUGUST   JACOBSON, 

pastor  of  the  Bethlehem  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Joliet,  is  a 
native  of  Saby,  Smaland,  Sweden, 
where  he  was  born  March  i,  1874. 


226 


Will  County 


At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  came 
in  1887  to  the  United  States. 
He  lived  in  Chicago  until  1891, 


ALBIN   AUGUST  JACOBSON 

when  he  went  to  Rock  Island  to 
enter  Augustana  College.  Having 
graduated  in  the  college  depart- 
ment with  the  class  of  '98,  he 
entered  the  theological  seminary 
and  completed  the  presented 
courses  in  1901,  graduating  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity. 
He  received  ministerial  ordination 
at  the  synodical  meeting  at  James- 
town that  year,  whereupon  he 
served  the  churches  at  Eau  Claire 
and  L,evis,  Wis.  In  July,  1903, 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  in 
Joliet,  and  entered  upon  his  new 
duties  the  following  November. 
Rev.  Jacobsoii  was  married  Dec. 
9,  1903,  to  Miss  Bertha  Thorssbn, 
daughter  of  M.  Thorsson  of  Chi- 
cago, and  a  former  teacher  in  the 
Chicago  public  schools.  Rev. 
Jacobson's  father,  August  Jacob- 
son,  is  still  a  Chicago  resident. 


Rev.  Jacobson  is  an  energetic 
pastor,  and  a  man  who  does  not 
limit  his  activities  to  the  local 
field.  He  has  actively  interested 
himself  in  the  welfare  of  the  or- 
phanage and  home  for  the  aged 
of  the  Illinois  Conference,  located 
just  outside  of  the  city  of  Joliet 
and  was  one  of  the  chief  workers 
in  behalf  of  the  new  Salem  Home 
for  the  Aged  recently  established 
alongside  of  the  orphanage.  He 
is  president  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors of  Salem  Home  and  is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  orphanage. 


CARL  M.  LINDVAU, 

is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Jonkop- 
ing,  Sweden,  where   he  was   born 


CARL   MAGNUS  LINDYALL 

Sept.  30,  1874.  His  parents,  Capt. 
C.  A.  Lindvall  and  his  wife, 
Wilma,  are  now  residing  at  Mo- 
boda,  Smalar.d.  The  son  was  sent 
to  the  Vexio  gymnasium,  which 
he  left  in  1891  to  take  up  the 


Joliet 


227 


study  of  pharmacy.  He  was  first 
employed  by  an  apothecary  at 
Lund,  and  having  learned  the 
science  of  compounding  and  dis- 
pensing drugs  at  the  Pharmaceut- 
ical Institute  in  Stockholm,  held 
positions  as  a  druggist  in  the  cit- 
ies of  Ulricehamn,  Hernosand, 
Gefle,  Stockholm  and  Goteborg. 
In  1900  he  emigrated,  arriving  in 
America  on  his  birthday.  He 
went  to  Chicago  and  later  to 
Rockford  and  located  in  Joliet  in 
1902,  engaging  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  April  i. 

Sept.  2,  1903,  Mr.  Lindvall  was 
married  to  Alma  Lundgren  from 
Goteborg. 

He  is  an  active  fraternity  man, 
holding  membership  in  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  the  Svithiod  Order, 
the  N.  A.  R.  D.,  the  N.  S.  B.  A., 
and  the  Nordstjernan  lodge. 


lector.  He  is  a  member  of  sever- 
al fraternal  and  benevolent  socie- 
ties, including  the  North  Star  and 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 


CHARLES  A.  LARSON 
was  born  in  the  Carl  Gustaf  par- 
ish, Elfsborgs  Ian,  Sweden,  July 
14,  1862,  and  has  resided  in  Joliet 
since  1880,  the  year  of  his  emi- 
gration. He  was  educated  at  Prof. 
Russell's  Business  College,  and  in 
1882  obtained  employment  with 
the  hardware  firm  of  Strong,  Bush 
&  Handwerk,  remaining  with  that 
house  for  twenty  years.  In  1902 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
N.  Benson  and  opened  a  hardware 
store  at  801  Cass  St.,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Larson  &  Benson. 

A  Lutheran  in  faith,  Mr.  Lar- 
son has  served  the  local  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  capacity 
of  trustee  and  treasurer.  In  1899 
he  held  the  office  of  town  col- 


CHARLES  A.  LARSON 

Mr.  Larson  is  married  to  Wil- 
helmina  Sophia  Jonson,  who  hails 
from  the  city  of  Oskarshamn.  To 
them  have  been  born  two  sons, 
Harry  E.  and  Milton  A.  Larson. 


ANDREW  A.  NORDSTEDT 

was  born  at  Bro  parish,  West- 
manland,  Sweden.  Jan.  7,  1865. 
He  early  began  to  work  as  a  fac- 
tory hand  in  his  native  place. 
Coming  over  to  this  country  in 
April,  1886,  he  obtained  employ- 
ment with  the  Washburn  and 
Moen  Manufacturing  Co.  in  Worces- 
ter, Mass,  and  remained  there 
until  1888.  When  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company's  rod  mill  at  Joliet 
was  completed  he  there  secured  a 
better  paid  job  as  rod  roller,  his 
residence  in  Joliet  dating  from 
May  25,  1888.  Having  steadily 


228 


Will  County 


worked  his  way  up  Mr.  Nord- 
stedt  is  now  superintendent  of  the 
rod  mill  at  a  handsome  salary. 


ANDREW  AUGUST  NORDSTEDT 

He  is  not  affiliated  with  any 
church  but  holds  membership  in 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  the 
North  Star  Benefit  Association 
and  a  number  of  other  fraternal 
orders. 

On  Sept.  6,  1890,  Mr.  Nordstedt 
was  married  to  Selma  Emilia 
Norberg  and  the  pair  has  been 
blessed  with  three  sons,  Einar, 
Gardner  and  Grant. 


C.  OSCAR   SVENSON 

was  born  April  3,  1857,  in  Oskars- 
hamn,  Sweden.  His  parents  were 
Carl  Johan  Alfred  and  Christine 
Svenson.  After  acquiring  a  high 
school  education  he  learned  the 
trade  of  wood- turning  under  his 
father's  instruction.  Four  years 
were  spent  in  clerking  for  his  fa- 
ther, who  had  become  a  merchant. 
After  running  a  stage  line  for  a 


time,  the  son  built  the  King  Os- 
car hotel,  which  he  sold  after 
leasing  it  for  a  period. 

Mr.  Svenson  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  May,  1887,  and  settled 
in  Joliet.  For  a  year  he  worked 
at  carpentry,  and  then  resumed 
his  old  trade  of  wood-turning. 
He  continued  in  this  vocation  un- 
til December,  1894,  when  he  ac- 
cepted an  appointment  as  deputy 
county  clerk  and  has  since  retained 
this  position. 

Dec.  i,  1888,  Mr.  Svenson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Ida 
Charlotte  Hedlund,  nee  Jacobson. 
Their  children  are:  C.  Oscar,  Jr., 


C.  OSCAR    SVENSON 

Emily    Olivia,    Knut    Ahlvin    and 
Esther  Victoria. 


CHARLES  G.  TENGDIN, 

chief  engineer  of  the  Illinois  State 
Penitentiary  at  Joliet,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Linkopiug,  Sweden, 
Oct.  14,  1862.  He  was  educated 
in  Swedish  public  and  private 


Lockport 


229 


schools.  Coming  to  this  country  In  1888  he  was  married  to 
in  the  year  1883,  he  located  at  Anna  Sophia  Johnson,  and  the 
Joliet.  Success  has  crowned  his  issue  of  their  union  is  a  family 

of  three  sons  and  five    daughters. 


CHARLES  G.  TENGDIN 

endeavors  and  he  is  now  one  of 
the  prosperous  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  that  city. 
Besides  being  chief  engineer  of 
the  great  penal  institution,  he  is 
financially  interested  in  an  in- 
dustrial enterprise,  known  as  the 
Merchants'  Stone  Company,  hold- 
ing the  office  of  secretary  of  the 
corporation.  They  operate  two 
quarries  and  a  stone  saw-mill, 
employing  altogether  some  forty 
men. 

Mr.  Tengdin  has  long  served 
as  trustee  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Joliet,  and  president 
of  the  local  Swedish  Republican 
Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Engineers'  Association 
and  has  held  the  office  of  vice- 
president  of  the  local  lodge.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  Mt.  Joliet  lodge 
No.  42,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 


SWAN  H.  NEWMAN 

was  born  Sept.  27,  1862,  in  Jems- 
hog,  Blekinge,  Sweden.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  six 
years  of  age  and  when  he  was 
thirteen,  his  father,  Hakan  Hakan- 
son  Newman,  went  to  America. 
A  short  time  after  the  father  had 
left,  Swan  was  sold  at  public 
auction  to  the  lowest  bidder  and 
Jons  Jonsson  in  Granum  bought 
him  to  care  for  him  until  con- 
firmed, the  buyer  receiving  from 
the  community  the  amount  of  his 


SWAN  H.  NEWMAN 

bid  toward  the  support  of  the 
child.  In  1879  his  father  sent 
tickets  for  Swan  and  four  sisters 
to  come  over  to  this  country. 
They  came  to  Assaria,  Kansas, 
where  he  subsequently  worked  as 
clerk  and  carpenter.  In  the  fall 


230 


Will  County 


of  1884  he  was  matriculated  as  a 
student  in  Bethany  College,  Linds- 
borg,  Kans.  After  completing 
the  academic  course,  he  went  to 
Augustana  College  and  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1887.  Graduat- 
ing from  the  seminary  in  1895, 
he  was  ordained  the  same  year  at 
the  synodical  meeting  in  June. 
He  was  called  to  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  McKeesport, 
Pa.,  where  he  labored  nearly  three 
years,  removing  from  there  in 
iSgStoLockport.  In  1898-1902  he 
edited  a  local  church  paper  by 
the  name  of  Concordia,  and  in 
1901  published  in  Swedish  a  his- 
tory of  "The  Swedes  of  Lockport 
and  their  work." 

On  Sept.  5,  1895,  ^ie  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Anna  Augusta  An- 
derson from  New  Carlisle,  Ind. 
They  have  five  children,  Esther 
Dorothea,  Sven  Theodore,  Emil 
Emanuel,  David  Nathaniel,  and 
Albert  Luther. 

Rev.  Newman  in  1904  gave 
up  his  charge  at  Lock  port  and 
removed  to  Burnside,  la.,  taking 
charge  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
congregation  in  that  place. 


JOEL   S.  JOHNSON 

was  born  at  Norra  Vram,  in  the 
Swedish  province  of  Skane,  Feb. 
16,  1876.  Emigrating  in  Novem- 


ber, 1893,  h£  came  to  Elkhart, 
111.,  to  live  with  his  uncle,  who 
owns  a  farm.  After  three  years 
he  removed  to  Athens,  111.,  and 
there  preached  his  first  sermon. 
Entering  North  Park  College, 
Chicago,  he  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1902.  There- 
upon he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Swedish  Evangelical  Mission 
Covenant  as  a  regular  pastor  and 


JOEL  S.  JOHNSON 

was  stationed  at  Lockport,  where 
he  had  served  the  Mission  Church 
as  a  student  for  several  years  prior 
to  his  ordination. 

Recently,  Rev.  Johnson  resolved 
to  take  up  work  in  the  heathen 
mission  field,  and  was  sent  as  a 
missionary  to  China. 


COOK    COUNTY 

(OUTSIDE:  OF  CHICAGO) 


BERWYN-  CHICAGO  HEIGHTS-  EVANS- 

TON-LEMONT-MAYWOOD-MELROSE 

PARK-OAK  PARK 


ANDREW  ANDERSON, 
watchmaker,    was    born    in    Ger- 
mundslycke,     Halltorp,     Smaland, 


ANDREW  ANDERSON 

Nov.  1 6,  1851.  He  learned  the 
watchmaker's  trade  by  apprentice 
ship  in  Kalmar  and  Ujsala  for 
five  years,  afterward  going  into 
business  for  himself  at  Morby- 
langa,  Oland,  where  he  remained 
for  nine  years,  and  at  Ekenas,  Sma- 
land, four  years,  until  he  emigrated 
from  Sweden  in  August,  1887. 
Coming  to  Chicago  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  watchmaker  and  jew- 
eler by  B.  F.  Clettenberg  &  Co. 
and  W.  G.  Morris  for  different 
periods  up  to  May,  1896.  Then 
he  established  himself  as  a  watch- 
maker and  jeweler,  doing  business 
for  four  years  in  the  city  proper 


and  after  that  time  in  the  suburb 
of  Berwyn. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in 
Berwyn  and  has  served  on  its 
board  of  deacons  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  an  ardent  temper- 
ance worker  in  the  ranks  of  the 
I.  O.  G.  T.  and  the  Templars  of 
Temperance,  and  president  of  the 
sick  benefit  society  of  that  organ- 
ization; also  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Independent  Political  Club  of  Ber- 
wyn. 


FRITZ   N.   ANDREN 

was  born  in  Skane,  Sweden,  June 
29,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  O. 
C.  T.  .Andren,  a  pioneer  clergy- 
man of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  America,  who  returned 
to  Sweden  and  was  rector  of  the 
parish  of  Asarum,  Blekinge,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  June 
n,  1870. 

The  son  completed  six  classes 
in  the  higher  elementary  school 
of  Jonkoping  and  completed  his 
college  course  at  Augustana  Col- 
lege, Rock  Island,  after  coming 
to  this  country  in  1880.  Mr.  An- 
dren located  in  Chicago,  where 
for  seven  years  he  was  bookkeeper 
with  Engberg  &  Holmberg,  pub- 
lishers and  booksellers. 


234 


Cook  County 


For  the  past  16  years  Mr.  An- 
dren  has  been  with  the  Chicago 
office  of  the  Phoenix  Insurance 


FRITZ    NATHANAEL    ANDREN 

Company  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
holds  the  position  of  cashier. 

He  is  an  active  churchman  and 
has  served  for  three  j^ears  as  dea- 
con and  choir  leader  of  the  Au- 
gustana  Church  of  Berwyn. 

For  four  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  B,  2d  Regiment 
of  the  Illinois  National  Guards. 

On  May  4,  1887,  Mr.  Andren 
married  Olga  Charlotta  Wickstrom 
of  La  Porte,  Ind.,  born  Jan.  14, 
1863.  They  have  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  Amalia,  Olof,  Eb- 
ba  and  Carl. 


HERMAN  CATHONY 

was  born  in  Bredaryd  parish,  Sma- 
land,  Sweden,  May  23,  1875,  and 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1893  as  a  young  man  of  eighteen, 
equipped  with  the  education  af- 
forded by  the  Swedish  common 


schools.  Having  learned  the  paint- 
er's trade  from  his  father,  he  took 
up  that  occupation.  During  his 
first  four  years  in  Chicago  he  was 
employed  by  Thybony  &  Johnson 
and  other  firms  as  interior  decor- 
ator. In  1897  ne  started  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  Berwyn,  where 
he  has  a  store  and  does  contract 
work  in  painting  and  decorator. 

Mr.  Cathony  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Luth.  Augustana  Church 
and  has  served  as  trustee  and 
treasurer  since  1901.  He  is  also 


HERMAN    CATHONY 

treasurer    of    the   Temperance    so- 
ciety of  the  Chicago  district. 


CHARLES  J.   FAIRVALLEY 

was  born  in  Fagerhult  parish, 
Smaland,  Sweden,  Nov.  7,  1860, 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1887, 
after  having  been  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  a  military 
acadeni)^  in  the  land  of  his  birth. 
He  has  served  as  a  police  officer 
in  Cicero  for  four  years  and  sub- 


Berwyn 


235 


sequently  as  village  marshal  of 
Berwyn  and  a  constable  of  Cook 
county. 


CHARLES  JOHN    FAIRVALLEY 

Prior  to  going  on  the  police 
force  he  was  engaged  in  the  build- 
ing trade,  doing  business  in  that 
line  in  the  suburbs  west  for  four 
years. 

Mr.  Fairvalley  is  a  member  and 
deacon  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  of  Berwyn  and  a  member 
-of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, having  served  as  clerk  of  the 
local  camp. 

He  is  married  and  has  four 
children,  Alma  E.  V.,  Agnes  J. 
R.,  Frances  J.  T.  and  Joseph  H. 


JOHN  A.  JOHNSON, 

-minister  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  was  born  in  Runsten  par- 
ish, ^Oland,  Sweden,  June  4,  1874. 
In  1893  he  emigrated,  and  lived 
for  six  years  in  Ida  Grove,  Iowa. 
Harboring  a  desire  to  become  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  Mr.  John- 


son in  1899  came  to  Chicago  and 
took  up  the  study  of  theology  at 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Theological 
Seminar}'  in  connection  with  the 
University  of  Chicago.  After  four 
years  spent  at  the  seminary  in 
Morgan  Park  he  was  graduated 
as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry, 
and  upon  being  duly  ordained, 
took  pastoral  charge  of  the  Swed- 
ish Baptist  Church  of  Berwyn. 
This  church  was  organized  in  1895 
and  now  numbers  about  one  hun- 
dred members.  Rev.  Johnson 
served  this  church  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Gard- 


JOHN    A.  JOHNSON 

ner,     Mass.,    being    succeeded    at 
Berwyn  by  Rev.  Eric  Carlson. 


SVEN  A.   JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Harplinge  parish, 
Halland,  Sweden,  May  12,  1854. 
Emigrating  in  1881,  he  came  to 
Chicago.  He  is  a  furnituremaker 
by  trade  and  has  been  in  the  em- 


236 


Cook  County 


ploy  of  the    Fair  for  a  long    term 
of  years. 

In   1890  he  removed  to  the  sub  - 


SVEN   AKON  JOHNSON 

urb  of  Berwyn.  There  he  has 
been  an  active  churchman.  When 
the  Swedish  L,utheran  Augustana 
Church  was  organized  in  1898  he 
became  a  member  of  the  church 
council  and  has  served  ever  since 
as  vice-chairman  of  the  board  of 
deacons.  For  the  same  length  of 
time  Mr.  Johnson  has  served  as 
the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  Sept. 
n,  1886,  to  Miss  Emma  Johnson. 
The  union  was  dissolved  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Johnson  early  in 
1894.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage are,  Birdie,  Blanche  and 
Sunny.  Sept.  16,  1894,  he  mar- 
ried his  present  wife,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Hulda  Charlotta  Ry- 
delius. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  affiliated  with 
the  Royal  League  and  the  Royal 
Circle. 


GUSTAF    JORANSON 
was  born  March  13,    1868,  in  Ny- 
kroppa,    Verm  land,    Sweden,    and 
obtained  a  common  school   educa- 
tion in  his  home  district. 

In  1887  he  came  to  Chicago, 
direct  from  the  old  country,  and 
here  went  to  work  as  a  machinist. 
Mr.  Joranson  is  now  engaged  with 
A  Schauble  &  Co.,  Bafrington, 
111.,  in  the  manufacture  of  gas 
and  gasoline  engines.  He  has 
secured  several  patents  on  some 
of  the  best  gasoline  engines  now 
in  the  market. 

Mr.    Joranson     belongs    to    the 


GUSTAP    JORANSON 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
resides  in  Berwyn,  111. 


FRANS  E.  LINDBLOM 

was  born  Jan.  16,  1865,  in  .Dele- 
bo,  Mader jo  parish,  Smaland.  From 
Sweden  he  came  to  this  country 
in  April,  1888.  A  situation  was 
soon  obtained  in  the  factory  of 
W.  W.  Kimball  Piano  Co.,  where 


Berwyn 


237 


he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  all 
the  details  of  piano- making.  In 
the  meantime  he  attended  night 


FRANS    EMERICK   LINDBLOM 

school.  Subsequently  he  worked 
in  the  Hallet  C.  Davis  piano  fac- 
tory for  a  period.  In  company 
with  W.  H.  Burns  he  started  the 
Yueill-Lindblom  Piano  Co.  At  that 
time  he  superintended  a  deparb- 
ment  in  the  Schumann  piano  fac- 
tory until  they  removed  from  Chi- 
cago. At  present  he  makes  the 
F.  E.  lyindblom  pianos  at  Berwyn, 
111.  He  also  has  charge  of  a  de- 
partment in  the  Strohber  piano 
factory. 

Mr.    Ivindblom    belongs    to    the 
-Sw.  I/uth.  Zion  Church  at  Berwyn. 


CHARLES  E.  LINDGREN 

was  born  July  10,  1857,  in  Tors- 
aker,  Gestrikland,  Sweden.  His 
father  was  a  miller  in  Hedemora 
until  1869,  when  he  emigrated  to 
South  America.  The  family,  con- 
sisting of  C.  E.  lyindgren,  then  a 


boy  of  12  years,  his  four  younger 
brothers  and  their  mother,  were 
left  to  care  for  themselves.  For 
three  years  they  occasionally  had 
word  from  their  father,  but  after 
that  he  was  never  heard  from. 

In  1886  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Chi- 
cago. He  at  once  secured  work 
at  his  trade,  that  of  a  machinist. 
The  first  three  winters  in  Chicago 
he  attended  the  evening  sessions 
at  the  Froebel  School,  in  order  to 
acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  Eng- 
lish language.  For  the  past  6  years 
he  has  been  an  employee  of  the 
Union  Horse  Nail  Co. 

He  is  a  member  and  a  deacon 
of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  of 


CHARLES   E.   LINDGREN 

Berwyn,    where     he     has    resided 
since  1894. 

On  Jan.  16,  1884,  C.  E.  Und- 
gren  married  a  native  of  Verm- 
land,  with  whom  he  has  had  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living. 


Cook  County 


FRANK  L.  MALMSTEDT, 

real    estate    dealer,    was    born    in 
Norrkoping,     Sweden,     Dec.      10, 


FRANK    L.   MALMSTEDT 

1848.  He  left  home  when  a  boy. 
Realizing  the  need  of  an  educa- 
tion, he  took  a  four  years'  course 
in  a  school  in  Copenhagen,  Den- 
mark, and  was  graduated.  He 
went  from  Stockholm  to  this  coun- 
try and  to  Chicago  in  1881. 

Mr.  Malmstedt  is  actually  the 
father  of  Berwyn,  which  was  laid 
out  and  founded  by  him.  He  has 
laid  out  a  number  of  town  sites 
in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  and  Flor- 
ida, and  for  the  past  five  years 
he  was  employed  by  the  East  Chi- 
cago Company,  which  is  building 
the  new  cities  of  East  Chicago 
and  Indiana  Harbor. 

In  April,  1807,  he  was  appoint- 
ed superintendent  of  Berwyn,  the 
office  he  now  holds. 

Mr.  Malmstedt  has  held  differ- 
ent offices  in  the  Methodist  Church 
and  of  various  societies  of  which 


he  is  a  member,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education 
in  the  school  district  No.  100. 

He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
Europe  and  other  parts  of  the 
world,  He  is  a  good  public  speak- 
er and  has  a  facile  pen,  as  shown 
in  numerous  contributions  to  news- 
papers and  periodicals,  especially 
Svenska  Amerikanaren  of  Chicago. 

Nov.  23,  1883,  Mr.  Malmstedt 
was  married  to  a  German  lady, 
with  whom  he  has  had  three  sons: 
Philip  W.,  George  A.  and  Arthur 
L,.,  the  youngest  having  been  ac- 
cidentally killed  in  1903  at  the 
age  of  sixteen. 


CHARLES  M.  MOUNE 

was  born  at  Torslunda,    Smaland, 
Sweden,  June  24,   1875.     He  came 


CHARLES    M.    MOLINE 

to  this  country  in  1893  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  Chicago  and 
Berwyn  since  that  time. 

Having    had    his    schooling    in 
Sweden,  he  went    to   work  imme- 


Berwyn 


239 


diately  on  coming  here  Mr.  Mo- 
line  served  for  one  year  on  the 
police  force  and  for  a  time  was  a 
member  of  the  volunteer  fire  de- 
partment. Later  he  established 
himself  as  a  dealer  in  ice  and 
coal,  continuing  in  that  line  of 
business  in  Berwyn  up  to  the 
present. 

Mr.  Moline  in  1903  was  elected 
a  trustee  of  the  village.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Augustana  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  of  the  Royal 
League  and  of  the  Harolden  Tem- 
perance Society,  having  served  as 
president  of  the  latter. 


ANDREW  M.  NELSON 

was   born    July    28,   1859,   on   the 
Spjuthult    estate   in    Hjorted   par- 


ANDREW    M.   NELSON 

ish,  Smaland,  Sweden.  He  ob- 
tained a  public  school  education 
in  his  native  land. 

In  May,  1879,  he  came  to  this 
country,  stopping  first  in  New 
York  City.  He  later  removed  to 


Chicago.  At  present  he  resides 
in  Berwyn,  where  he  prospers  in 
business  as  the  proprietor  of  a 
laundry. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
First  M.  E.  Church  of  Berwyn. 
He  holds  a  membership  in  Har- 
mony Lodge  No.  no,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  in  which  he  has  held 
every  office  from  inner  guard  to 
president. 


CARL  H.  PETERSON 

was  born  in  Chicago  Nov.  9,  1872. 
He   was   educated    in    the    public 


CARL  H.  PETERSON 

schools  and  in  the  Chicago  Man- 
ual Training  School. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  mechanical 
engineer  and  superintendent.  His 
office  is  at  623,  9  Jackson  boule- 
vard, Chicago,  and  his  residence  is 
at  Berwyn. 

He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
municipal  matters,  and  has  served 
one  term  as  a  trustee  on  the  vil- 
lage board. 


240 


Cook  County 


Mr.  Peterson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  in 
Berwyn  and  has  served  as  chor- 
ister and  church  clerk.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  music  committee 
of  the  male  chorus  Sangarbroder, 
affiliating  with  the  Swedish  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Illinois.  He  was 
president  of  the  Jubilee  Chorus  at 
the  Golden  Jubilee  (1902)  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  of  Amer- 
ica. Later  he  was  the  president 
of  the  United  Swedish  Choirs  of 
Chicago,  whose  concert  on  April 
4,  1903,  was  brought  to  so  suc- 
cessful an  issue  that  14,000  kroner 
were  sent  to  the  Swedish  Famine 
Relief  Fund. 


CHARLES  ADAMS 
was  born  May  15,  1859,  in  the 
parish  of  Ram,  Vermland,  Sweden. 
His  parents  are  Adam  Svenson,  a 
blaster  at  Lesjofors  Iron  Works, 
and  Anna  Carolina  Svenson.  Mr. 
Adams,  following  in  his  father's 
footsteps,  acquired  skill  as  a  ma- 
chinist. As  such  he  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  a  situation 
when  he  came  over  to  this  coun- 
try in  1880.  He  was  first  em- 
ployed at  Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  work- 
ing there  as  a  machinist  for  12 
years  in  the  Walburn  &  Swanson 
machine  works  and  foundry.  He 
is  still  in  the  service  of  the  same 
concern,  now  the  American  Foun- 
dry and  Machine  Co.,  holding  the 
position  of  foreman  of  the  ma- 
chine shop.  He  has  erected  ma- 
chines for  the  company  in  all  the 
southern  and  many  of  the  west- 
ern states. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  in  1883, 


at  Fort  Scott,  to  Miss  Augusta 
Peterson  from  Nerike.  Their 
children  are  Nettie  and  Edith. 

Mr.  Adams  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Svithiod. 


P.   OLOF  I.  BERSELL 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Augustana    Synod,    was    born    at 


PETRUS  OLOF  IMMANUEL  BERSELL 

Rock  Island,  111.,  May  6,  1882, 
his  parents  being  Prof.  A.  O.  Ber- 
sell,  deceased,  and  Uma  Botilda, 
nee  Lagerlund. 

After  completing  six  grades  of 
the  public  school  he  was  enrolled 
as  a  student  at  the  academic  de- 
partment of  Augustana  College  in 
1892,  and  graduated  from  college, 
with  the  bachelor's  degree,  in 
1899.  Four  years  later  he  en- 
tered the  divinity  school  of  the 
same  institution,  graduating  in 
the  spring  of  1906  with  the  degree 
of  B.  D.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Augustana  Synod,  held 


Chicago  Heights 


241 


shortly  afterward,  he  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  and  assumed  charge 
of  the  Immanuel  Swedish  Luther- 
an Church  at  Chicago  Heights,  to 
which  he  had  been  called. 

While  a  student,  Bersell  taught 
parochial  school  in  a  number  of 
localities  in  the  central  West. 
During  the  school  year  of  1899 — 
1900  he  was  instructor  in  Greek 
and  other  subjects  at  Luther 
Academy,  at  Wahoo,  Neb.  Dur- 
ing the  next  two  years  he  taught 
public  school  in  Yalmar,  Mich., 
also  preaching  in  the  mission  field 
of  the  Illinois  Conference  in  North- 
ern Michigan.  For  one  year, 
1904-5,  Mr.  Bersell  was  instructor 
in  United  States  History  at  Au- 
gustan a  College.  He  was  pres- 
ident of  the  graduating  class  of 
the  Augustana  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  1906. 


partment    at    the    Baldwin    piano 
factory  in  Chicago  Heights. 
Mr.    Carlson    is    a    very    active 


CARL  G.  CARLSON 

was  born  Nov.  17,  1855,  in  Fri- 
dene  parish,  Vestergotland,  Swe- 
den, where  his  parents,  Carl  Peter 
and  Anna  Lisa  Johnson,  still  have 
their  home. 

In  1886  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  in  Minneapolis.  After 
a  short  stay  he  moved  to  St.  Paul, 
and  from  there  to  Chicago  Heights, 
his  present  place  of  residence. 

Since  he  came  to  this  country 
Mr.  Carlson  has  been  mostly  em- 
ployed in  piano  factories.  He  also 
worked  for  the  Chicago  Coffin 
Co.,  and  has  been  foreman  at  the 
Earhuff  Piano  Factory  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn.  At  present  he  holds  the 
foremanship  in  the  trimming  de- 


CARL  GUSTAF  CARLSON 

member  in  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church  of  Chicago  Heights,  now 
serving  as  a  deacon. 

In  1880  Mr.  Carlson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Justina  Carlson,  born 
April  27,  1857.  Their  children 
are:  Edla  Kardula,  Oscar  Wil- 
helm,  Anna  Emabel  and  Signe 
Frances  Eula. 


[CHARLES  CHAMPENE 

was  born  June  22,  1866,  in  Skal- 
lerud  parish,  Elfsborgs  Ian,  Swe- 
den, and  there  obtained  a  common 
school  education.  In  1886  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  intend- 
ing to  settle  in  New  Haven,  Conn., 
but  after  a  five  weeks'  stay  he 
left  for  Chicago.  He  lived  eight 
years  in  that  city,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Chicago  Heights.  There 
he  has  been  employed  as  a  roller 


242 


Cook  County 


in    the    plant  of    the  Inland  Steel     nee  Rabock,  born  Aug.   19,    1866, 

Co.  for  more  than  ten  years.  in  Vestervik,  Smaland,  where  her 

Mr.  Champene    is  a  member   of      father    was    a    lumber    merchant. 


CHARLES    CHAMPENE 

the  Lutheran  Church,  and  also 
belongs  to  Svithiod  Lodge  No.  i, 
I.  O.  S. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Maria 
Stacke.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, all  boys. 

CHARLES  P.  JOHNSON 

was  born  Jan.  26,  1863,  in  Ferne- 
bo  parish,  Vermland.  He  left 
Sweden  in  1886  and  on  reaching 
this  country  settled  first  in  Mc- 
Keesport,  then  in  Chicago  and 
finally  in  Chicago  Heights.  There 
Mr.  Johnson  holds  the  position  of 
foreman  of  coremakers  in  the  plant 
of  the  American  Brake  Shoe  and 
Foundry  Co.  He  was  formerly 
employed  by  the  Calumet  Foundry 
Co.  in  Englewood. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church. 

His  wife  is   Albertina  Carolina, 


CHARLES   P.  JOHNSON 

Their  children  are,  Arthur  C., 
Florence  E.  C.,  Mabel  L.  and 
Nimrod  C.  H. 


FRANK  JOHNSON 

was  born  Jan.  25,  1857,  in  Ljus- 
naberg  parish,  Orebro  Ian,  Sweden. 
His  parents  were  Frans  Johnson, 
a  miner  from  Nya  Kopparberget, 
and  L,o visa  Johnson. 

After  attending  the  public  schools 
in  his  native  land  he  emigrated 
to  this  western  Land  of  Promise 
in  1 88 1.  His  first  home  was  at 
Norway,  Mich.,  where  he  worked 
in  the  mines  for  ten  years.  Leav- 
ing for  Aurora,  111.,  he  secured 
employment  as  a  machinist  suc- 
cessively with  Hoyt  Bros.,  the 
Hercules  Ice  Co.  and  the  Aurora 
Automatic  Co.  At  present  he  is 
a  machinist  with  the  American 


Chicago  Heights 


243 


Brake  Shoe  and  Foundry  Co.  at 
Chicago  Heights. 

Mrs.  Mathilda  Albertina  John- 
son, his  wife,  was  born  1859  in 
Hjulsjo  parish,  Orebro  Ian.  They 
have  four  children,  Hilda  Olivia, 
Johanna  Maria,  Ettie  Alida  and 
Frank  Oscar. 

The  family  attend  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Chicago 
Heights. 


a  son,  Arthur,  born  in  1887,  and 
a  daughter,  Annie,  born  in  1890. 


CARL  H.  JOHNSON 

was  born  March  29,  1856,  in  Ham- 
mar   parish,  Orebro    Ian,  Sweden. 


CARL   HERMAN  JOHNSON 

He  was  twenty-six  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  this  country, 
where  he  immediately  sought  work 
of  any  description.  He  was  in 
turn  employed  as  a  sailor,  a  la- 
borer, a  milk-dealer  and  a  farmer. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Mission  Church  of 
Chicago  Heights.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  29,  1885,  to  Ida  Olson, 
and  is  the  father  of  two  children, 


LARS  E.  JOHNSON 

was   born  Nov.   16,   1865,  in  Ore- 
bro,   Sweden.       His    parents     are 


LARS  EMIL  JOHNSON 

Lars  Eric  Johnson,  a  building  con- 
tractor in  Orebro,  and  Mathilda, 
nee  Peterson.  After  receiving  his 
early  training  in  the  public  schools 
of  Sweden,  he  learned  the  paint- 
ing trade.  In  1886  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  spent  eleven  years 
in  Chicago,  working  for  one  of 
the  largest  painting  and  decorat- 
ing concerns  in  the  city.  Subse- 
quently he  located  at  Chicago 
Heights  as  a  painting  contractor. 

Mr.  Johnson  and  his  family  are 
Lutherans  in  faith,  belonging  to 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Chicago  Heights.  The  fraternal 
orders  of  which  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
member  are  the  Maccabees  and 
Svithiod. 

Nov.  29,  1894,  Mr.  Johnson  was 


244 


Cook  County 


married  to  Miss  Ida  Sophia,  the 
daughter  of  Jonas  and  Maria  Mat- 
son  of  Thyfors,  Dalarne.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
are:  Dora  Alice,  Elna  and  L,ars 
Elmer. 


GUSTAF  JOHNSON 

was  born  Dec.  27,   1863,  in  Alem 
parish,    Smaland,    Sweden,   where 


GUSTAF  JOHNSON 

he  enjoyed  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  emigrated  in  1882  and 
since  reaching  this  country  has 
lived  in  Chicago  and  Chicago 
Heights.  Obtaining  employment 
as  a  plasterer,  he  steadily  worked 
his  way  up  and  soon  began  con- 
tracting for  work  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  was  in  this  business 
in  Chicago  for  many  years  before 
locating  in  Chicago  Heights  some 
seven  years  ago. 

Mr.  Johnson's  parents  are  Johan 
Peter  Gustafson  of  Gunnarsmala, 
Smaland,  and  Johanna  Gustafson, 
nee  Hanson. 


HILDING  LUNDMARK 

was   born   Sept.   18,   1865,  in  Ore- 
bro,  Sweden.     At  the  age  of  sev- 


HILDING    LUNDMARK 

enteen  he  left  his  birthplace  and 
became  apprenticed  to  a  machinist. 
After  working  in  the  trade  for 
three  years  he  took  hire  as  a  fire- 
man on  an  Atlantic  steamer.  One 
year  later  he  entered  a  navigation 
school,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1887.  After  serving  as 
engineer  in  the  old  country  until 
1893,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  Here  he  held  a  position 
as  engineer  but  a  short  time  be- 
fore engaging  in  the  grocery  bus- 
iness, a  line  in  which  he  has  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Lundmark  is  an  adherent 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is 
a  member  of  different  societies, 
including  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Chicago  Heights  Social  Club. 


Chicago  Heights 


245 


ALBERT  NELSON 

was  born  Nov.  3,   1875,  in   Brun- 
skog,  Vermland,  Sweden.     At  six- 


ALBERT   NELSON 

teen  years  of  age  he  came  to  this 
country  and  immediately  began 
work  as  an  apprentice  boy  for  the 
Sargent  Foundry  Co.  in  Engle- 
wood.  By  ambition  and  industry 
he  soon  rose  from  one  position  to 
another  until  he  became  foreman. 
At  present  he  is  engaged  in  this 
capacity  with  the  American  Brake 
Shoe  and  Foundry  Co.  at  Chicago 
Heights. 

Mr.  Nelson  and  his  wife,  Lydia 
Catharine,  were  married  in  Engle- 
wood  May  18,  1899.  Their  one 
child  is  named  Wilbert. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Svithiod,  and  has  acted 
as  financial  secretary  in  the  local 
lodge. 


came  over  from  Sweden  and  set- 
tled in  Sycamore,  111.,  removing 
later  to  Chicago  Heights,  where 
he  obtained  work  in  a  foundry 
and  continues  in  the  same  occu- 
pation. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  most  active 
worker  in  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church,  in  which  he  has  served 
a  number  of  years  as  Sunday 
school  superintendent.  He  be- 
longs to  the  order  of  United 
Workmen. 

His  wife,  Augusta,  nee  Sund, 
was  born  April  n,  1859,  at  Mot- 
ala,  Sweden.  Their  children  are, 
Carl  Gustaf  and  Dora  Lavinia, 
living,  and  Florence  Lillie  and 
Edna,  deceased. 

JOHN  E.  SJOHOLM 

was  born  in  Munktorp  parish,  Vest- 
manland,  Sweden.  At  an  early 


JOHN  NELSON 
was  born  Feb.   23,    1860,   in    Boda 
parish,     Vermland.      In     1879    he 


JOHN  ERIC  SJOHOLM 

age  he  removed  to  Skinskatteberg 
parish  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  as  a  boy.  In  the  spring  of 


246 


Cook  County 


1884  he  came  over  to  this  country 
and  worked  at  his  trade  in  Spring- 
field, Mo.,  for  two  years.  Then 
he  left  for  Kansas,  staying  for 
short  periods  in  Wichita,  Hutch- 
inson  and  Topeka.  In  the  spring 
of  1892  he  came  to  Chicago.  Five 
years  later  he  located  in  Chicago 
Heights,  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  business  as  a  building 
contractor. 

Mr.  Sjoholm  is  a  member  and 
a  trustee  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  commander  of  the  K.  O. 
T.  M.,  trustee  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  vice  commander  of  White 
Cross,  local  lodges.  He  is  chair- 
man of  the  Scandinavian  Hund- 
red Men  Aid  Society  and  super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Bloom,  Cook 
county. 

Mr.  Sjoholm  married  Miss  Em- 
ma M.  Johnson  of  Verona,  Mo., 
in  1886. 


Sweden.     Incubators  are  used  ex- 
clusively for  brooding  purposes. 
Mr.  Swenson  and  family  belong 


HJALMAR  SWENSON 
was  born  Sept.  30,  1865,  in  L,und, 
Sweden.  He  emigrated  and  came 
to  Chicago  in  1888,  and  two  years 
later  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
Nelson.  Mr.  Swenson  was  a  ma- 
chinist by  trade,  but  during  the 
past  thirteen  years  he  and  his 
wife  have  been  engaged  in  poultry 
breeding,  making  a  specialty  of 
hatching  full-blooded  varieties, 
such  as  "White  Crested"  and 
"Black  Polish."  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swenson  have  received  the  highest 
awards  at  poultry  exhibitions  in 
Chicago,  Indianapolis  and  Chicago 
Heights.  They  ship  eggs  to  all 
parts  of  this  country,  and  also  to 
British  Columbia,  Mexico  and 


HJALMAR   SWENSON 

the   Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Chicago  Heights. 

Mrs.  Swenson  was  born  Nov. 
24,  1865,  at  Bovik,  Nerike,  where 
her  father,  Nils  Fredrik  Carlson, 
was  engaged  in  the  mining  in- 
dustry. 


ALBERT  F.  ERICSON, 

who  has  distinguished  himself  in 
the  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  as  a  preacher  and  editor, 
but  more  especially  as  an  educat- 
or, was  born  in  Stockholm,  the 
son  of  E.  H.  Erikson,  rector  of 
the  Katarina  Church,  and  enjoyed 
splendid  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth.  After  pursuing  studies 
for  several  years  at  the  Maria 
collegiate  school,  followed  by  three 
years  of  private  tutorship,  he  fin- 
ished his  education  at  the  Streng- 
nas  gymnasium. 


Evanston 


247 


As  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
he  emigrated  to  this  country  in 
1857.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  in 


ALBERT  FREDRIK  ERICSON 

America,  he  became  converted  and 
at  once  began  to  preach  with  zeal 
and  fervor.  Ere  long  the  young 
preacher  proved  to  be  gifted  and 
possess  exceptional  ability  to  in- 
terest his  audience,  and  in  view 
of  the  great  lack  of  preachers  the 
desire  to  acquire  him  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church 
was  all  the  more  urgent.  In  1859 
he  received  his  first  assignment 
from  the  Central  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, that  of  assistant  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Anders  J.  Anderson  of 
the  extensive  Andover  circuit. 
After  one  year's  service  in  this 
field  he  in  turn  had  charges  at 
Victoria,  Beaver  and  Rockford  till 
1864,  when,  at  the  removal  of 
Sandebitdet  from  Rockford  to  Chi- 
ago,  he  became  its  editor.  After 


two  years  he  resigned  the  editor- 
ship to  take  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation at  Andover. 

In  the  fall  of  1866  Ericson  was 
called  as  teacher  of  Swedish  at 
the  proposed  Swedish  Methodist 
theological  seminary.  The  better 
to  prepare  himself  for  the  position 
he  was  sent  to  Sweden  to  take  a 
course  in  the  Swedish  language 
and  literature.  While  in  Stock- 
holm for  this  purpose,  he  also 
engaged  in  preaching,  and  in  a 
short  time  attracted  audiences  that 
filled  the  hall  to  overflowing.  So 
eager  were  the  people  to  hear  his 
sermons  that  many  brought  their 
lunches  in  the  morning  and  re- 
mained the  rest  of  the  day,  in 
order  to  hold  their  seats  for  the 
evening  service.  Several  of  these 
eager  listeners  afterwards  became 
ministers  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
A  good  foundation  for  a  church 
was  laid,  including  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Sunday  school  and  a 
church  choir.  Overtures  were 
made  to  Ericson  to  remain  and 
continue  the  work,  but,  having 
come  to  Sweden  for  a  different 
purpose,  he  was  obliged  to  decline 
and  to  return  to  America. 

On  his  return,  however,  he  was 
unable  to  assume  the  position  to 
which  he  had  been  called,  for  the 
sufficient  reason  that  the  proposed 
institution  was  not  ready  to  open. 
Another  equally  important  position 
was  then  offered  him,  he  being 
again  made  editor  of ^ the  denomi- 
national organ.  He  edited  the 
paper  up  to  the  time  of  the  Chi- 
cago fire,  when,  in  consequence 
of  that  disaster,  it  was  discontin- 


248 


Cook  County 


tied  for  a  time,  and  Ericson  was 
assigned  to  the  church  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  assuming  charge  in 
April,  1872.  After  eight  years  of 
labor  in  this  field,  Ericson  removed 
to  Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he 
founded  the  Swedish  Methodist 
church,  which  is  now  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  East.  He  remained 
in  charge  for  three  years,  till  1883, 
when  he  accepted  the  proffered 
position  of  head  of  the  theological 
seminary  at  Evanston,  which  he 
still  holds,  devoting  himself  to  that 
work  with  undiminished  power 
and  effort.  During  the  first  three 
years  at  the  seminary  he  also  had 
charge  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Church  in  Evanston. 

In  the  capacity  of  president  of 
the  theological  seminary,  Ericson 
has  accomplished  his  principal 
work,  although  as  shown,  he  has 
rendered  eminent  service  as  a 
preacher  and  editor.  The  major- 
ity of  the  younger  [and  middle 
aged  clergymen  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Church  in  America,  to 
the  number  of  170,  have  been 
educated  under  his  direction.  In 
his  capacity  of  educator  Dr.  Ericson 
thus  has  a  sphere  of  influence  com- 
mensurate with  the  denomination 
to  which  he  belongs. 


health,  and  moved  to  Sniberup, 
settling  on  a  small  farm.  With 
two  years  of  common  schooling 


JOEL  A.  HOLMGREN 
is  the  son  of  Lars  Holmgren,  a 
schoolmaster  of  Flackarp,  Skane, 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  Sept. 
9,  1867.  His  childhood  days  were 
spent  at  Flackarp,  near  the  city 
of  Lund.  When  the  boy  was 
eleven  years  old,  his  father  gave 
up  teaching  on  account  of  failing 


JOEL  AUGUST   HOLMGREN 

as  a  foundation,  to  which  was 
added  private  tutoring  for  a  like 
period,  young  Holmgren  was  pre- 
pared to  enter  the  normal  semi- 
nary at  Lund  to  fit  himself  for 
his  father's  profession,  but  lacking 
nine  days  in  the  age  required  for 
admission,  his  application  was  re- 
fused. This  caused  him  to  change 
his  plans,  and  he  instead  began 
learning  the  cabinetmaker's  trade. 
After  working  at  that  for  one 
year  at  Horby  and  three  years  in 
Kristianstad,  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  the  fall  of  1887,  joining 
his  brother  in  Evanston.  By  him 
he  was  induced  to  become  a  paint- 
er. At  this  trade  he  was  employed 
for  several  years,  in  Evanston, 
Chicago,  Brooklyn  and  Memphis, 
Tenn. 

In   1894    he  established    himself 
in  business  as  a  painter  and  inte- 


Evanston 


249 


rior  decorator,  and  continues  in 
that  line,  with  office  at  821  Main 
St.,  Evanston. 

Mr.  Holmgren  is  an  active 
churchman.  As  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church  of  Evans- 
ton,  he  has  served  as  president 
and  secretary  of  the  Epworth 
League,  as  steward  for  several 
years,  as  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent for  five  years,  and  is  now 
holding  that  position,  as  also  that 
of  church  trustee. 

Married  June  22,  1897,  to  Mary 
Svedlund,  Mr.  Holmgren  has  three 
sons,  born  as  follows:  Irving  Joel, 
1898;  Einar  William,  1891;  Stan- 
ford Laurentius,  1904. 


KNUT  J.  LOWENDAHL, 

was  born  July  13,   1869,  in  Gren- 
na,    Smaland.       He     learned     the 


ness  for  himself  in  Upsala.  In 
1891  he  left  for  America.  After 
staying  in  New  York  for  a  time, 
he  went  to  Canada,  and  event- 
ually located  in  Evanston.  After 
some  experience  in  the  cement 
sidewalk  business,  he  spent  a  year 
in  the  shoe  trade  in  Chicago.  In 
1893  ne  again  started  in  business 
in  Evanston,  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  Ahlberg,  the  two  opening  a 
shoe  store  at  602  Dempster  St., 
where  they  are  still  located,  en- 
joying a  well  established  custom. 
Mr.  Lowendahl  was  married 
Oct.  26,  1895,  to  Annette  Ahlberg. 
They  have  one  son. 


JONAS  MORTENSON, 

carriage    maker,   was    born    April 
ii,    1871,  in  Arbra  parish,   Gefle- 


JONAS  MORTENSON 
KNUT  JOEL   LOWENDAHL  ,..          o          ,  T        ,   •  ,• 

borgs  Ian,  Sweden.     In  his  native 

shoemaker's  trade  in  his  father's  country  he  was  in  turn  a  baker, 
shop,  and  later  worked  at  it  in  farm  laborer  and  blacksmith.  The 
Stockholm  and  other  places  in  last  named  trade  he  mastered  and 
Sweden,  finally  going  into  busi-  received  a  diploma  for  skilled  ar- 


250 


Cook  County 


tisanship.  He  emigrated  in  1892. 
going  to  Omaha,  Neb.  After  a 
four  years'  stay,  he  left  for  Wil- 
mette  and  then  for  Evanston  in 
1898. 

In  1901  he  started  in  business 
as  a  carriagemaker  and  blacksmith 
and  still  runs  a  busy  shop  at  Ma- 
ple ave.  and  University  place. 

Mr.  Mortenson  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  In 
politics  he  is  a  straight  Republican 
and  in  religion  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Mortenson  was  married  in 
1891  to  Miss  Anna  Strid.  They 
have  one  son  and  two  daughters. 


CHARLES  G.  NELSON, 

member  of  the   Methodist  Episco- 
pal clergy  and  at  present  financial 


CHARLES   GUSTAF   NELSON 

agent  of  the  Swedish  M.  E.  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Evanston,  was 
born  May  20,  1848,  in  Sweden. 
By  his  parents,  Magnus  and  Ing- 
rid  Lena  Nelson,  he  was  brought 
to  this  country  -at  the  age  of  six. 
The  family  came  through  Chicago 


in  1854  and  located  in  Wisconsin. 
While  en  route  from  Galena  to 
Stillwater,  the  boy  fell  overboard 
from  a  river  boat  and  had  a  hair- 
breadth escape  from  drowning. 
He  attended  public  school  and  the 
Taylor's  Falls  (Minn.)  Academy, 
and  pursued  subsequent  studies  in 
special  subjects  under  the  private 
tutorship  of  professors  at  Knox 
College,  and  under  the  direction 
of  Df.  Clark  of  Galesburg.  In 
1868-70  Mr.  Nelson  served  as 
county  clerk  of  Burnett  county, 
Wis. 

In  1869  he  gave  his  heart  to 
God,  and  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
the  year  following.  Since  then 
he  has  served  the  following  con- 
gregations in  a  pastoral  capacity, 
viz.,  those  at  Grantsburg,  Wis., 
Stillwater,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis, 
Lindstrom  and  Red  Wing,  Minn., 
Galesburg,  111.,  Ishpeming,  Mich., 
and  the  First  and  May  st.  churches 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Nelson  has  been 
presiding  elder  for  four  different 
periods  and  for  six  years  superin- 
tendent of  the  Northern  Swedish 
Mission  Conference.  Part  of  the 
time  the  duties  of  these  offices 
were  added  to  his  charge  as  reg- 
ular pastor.  For  the  past  five 
years  he  has  filled  the  position  of 
financial  agent  of  the  seminary  at 
Evanston. 

Rev.  Nelson  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  erection  of  a  number  of 
churches  and  parsonages  and  the 
raising  of  funds  wherewith  bur- 
densome church  debts  were  effaced. 
He  was  active  in  the  organization 
of  the  Northwestern  Swedish  Con- 


Evanston 


251 


ference  in  1877  and  in  the  move- 
ment for  its  division  into  three 
conferences  in  1893,  and  also  took 
a  live  interest  in  the  location  of 
the  theological  seminar)^  at  Evans- 
ton  in  the  year  1881.  It  was  he 
who  raised  the  greater  part  of  the 
money  for  the  first  seminary  build- 
ing. In  1884  Rev.  Nelson  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Conference 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  is 
elected  to  represent  the  Northern 
Conference  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence to  meet  in  1908  at  Baltimore. 
The  title  of  D.  D.  was  conferred 
on  Rev.  Nelson  in  1903,  by  the 
Central  Wesleyan  College  of  War- 
ren ton,  Mo. 


DAVID  NELSON 

was  born  Nov.  8,  1868,  in  Kumla, 
Sweden.     In  1887  he  came  to  this 


DAVID   NELSON 


country  and  settled  in  Joliet.  He 
soon  left  for  Chicago  and  finally 
located  in  Evanston,  where  he 
now  resides.  In  1893  Mr.  Nelson 


opened  a  laundry,  starting  in  on 
a  small  scale.  Now  the  Nelson 
Laundry  is  the  largest  on  the 
North  Shore.  The  main  office  is 
in  Evanston,  with  branches  in 
Wilmette,  Lake  Forest  and  Rogers 
Park.  Mr.  Nelson  is  business  man- 
ager as  well  as  proprietor. 

Mr.  David  Nelson  is  a  member 
of  the  Sw.  Free  Mission  Church 
of  Evanston.  The  one  society  to 
which  he  belongs  is  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 

His  wife  is  Elizabeth  Nelson, 
and  their  children  are,  John  Wal- 
ter and  Gerda  Margaret. 


VICTOR  ORTLUND 

was  born  Nov.   16,   1862,  in  Filip- 
stad,  Sweden.      He    emigrated    in 


VICTOR   ORTLUND 

1883  to  South  Amboy,  N.  J.  Next 
he  settled  in  Chicago  and  finally 
made  Evanston  his  home.  Here 
he  embarked  in  the  laundry  busi- 
ness and  is  now  the  proprietor  of 


252 


Cook  County 


the  French  Laundry,  at  806  Demp- 
ster St. 

Mr.  Ortlund  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Meth.  Episcopal  Church 
of  Evanston,  and  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen,  Columbian  Knights 
and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Ortlund  and  his  wife,  Em- 
ma Josephine,  have  three  children, 
Victor  E.,  Vincent  E.  R.  and 
Paulina  M. 


MARTIN  P.  ROSENDAHL, 

who  has  been  established  in  Evans- 
ton    since    1891  as  a   painter    and 


MARTIN   P.    ROSENDAHL 

interior  decorator,  came  to  Chica- 
go in  the  spring  of  1888  and 
worked  in  that  city  until  the  next 
fall,  when  he  located  in  Evanston. 
After  three  years  he  went  into 
business  in  partnership  with  M. 
L.  Holmgren.  In  1893  this  firm 
was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Rosendahl 
started  a  business  of  his  own.  He 
is  today  one  of  the  leading  paint- 
ers and  decorators  in  the  city. 


Mr.  Rosendahl  does  not  permit 
business  to  engross  his  attention 
to  the  exclusion  of  higher  inter- 
ests, From  its  organization  in 
1887,  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church.  From  1895  to  1897  he 
acted  as  secretary  of  the  congre- 
gation. Since  1895  he  has  been 
on  the  board  of  trustees  and 
served  as  its  treasurer.  Since  1896 
he  has  been  on  the  board  of  dea- 
cons also  and  acts  as  its  secre- 
tary. Mr.  Rosendahl  has  served 
for  several  years  as  Sunday  school 
superintendent  and  has  been  active 
in  behalf  of  the  church  in  various 
minor  capacities. 

Mr.  Rosendahl  was  born  in  Ost- 
raby,  Skane,  Sweden,  June  i6r 
1867.  His  father,  Per  Svenson, 
who  was  the  owner  of  a  country 
estate,  died  in  1882,  and  his 
mother,  Elna  Martenson,  in  1906, 
both  at  Ostraby.  The  son,  after 
completing  the  common  school 
courses,  was  educated  in  the  tech- 
nical school  in  Malmo,  in  which 
city  he  learned  his  trade. 

Mr.  Rosendahl  has  been  twice 
married.  His  first  wife,  whom  he 
wedded  in  1893,  was  Miss  Lou- 
isa Gustafson,  who  died  within 
four  months  after  marriage.  Jan. 
18,  1902,  he  took  a  second  wife, 
Miss  Lydia  R.  Dahlstrom,  daugh- 
ter of  August  and  Augusta  Dahl- 
strom of  St.  Charles,  111.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Eleanor  Violet,  Dec.  i,  1902, 
Martin  Carl  Irving,  Oct.  18,  1904, 
and  Marie  Lillian,  Aug.  23,  1906. 
The  family  residence  is  at  915 
Gteenleaf  st. 


Evanston 


253 


GUSTAF  K.  STARK, 

minister  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Augustana  Synod,  was   born  Jan. 


GUSTAF   KNUT   STARK 

15,  1867,  in  Eksjo,  Smaland,  Swe- 
den, where  his  father,  Johan  Gus- 
taf  Johnson,  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade.  The  family  emigrated  in 
the  summer  of  1875,  settling  first 
in  Tidioute,  Pa.,  where  Gustaf 
began  his  schooling.  In  early 
years  he  left  home  to  seek  em- 
ployment, and  was  for  a  succession 
of  years  a  salesman  in  stores  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Chicago,  work- 
ing for  a  time  in  the  wholesale 
house  of  Marshall  Field  &  Co. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was 
enrolled  at  Augustana  College, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  oscil- 
lated between  studying  and  preach- 
ing or  teaching  parochial  and  pub- 
lic school,  for  which  latter  he 
passed  teacher's  examination.  Fin- 
ally he  completed  the  theological 
course  at  Augustana  College  and 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in 


1894.  His  first  pastoral  charge 
after  ordination  was  at  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  where  he  served  until  1897. 
Accepting  a  call  to  work  in  the 
mission  field  in  Illinois  and  Wis- 
consin, he  organized  congregations 
at  Kenoshat  Racine  and  Milwau- 
kee, Wis.,  and  at  Waukegan,  111. 
In  1901  he  transferred  his  activi- 
ties to  Evanston,  where  he  was 
pastor  of  j  the  Immanuel  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  Resigning  in 
1907,  he  has  become  superintend- 
ent of  the  work  of  the  Anti-Saloon 
League  of  Illinois  among  the 
Swedish,  Norwegian  and  Danish 
churches. 

Mr.  Stark's  parents  are  both  de- 
ceased. His  father  died  in  Rock- 
ford  in  1897,  and  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Martha  C.  Johnson,  nee  Stark, 
passed  away  in  1905.  She  made 
her  home  with  her  son  in  Evans- 
ton.  Two  brothers  of  Mr.  Stark 
are  also  in  the  ministry,  viz.,  F. 
M.  Johnson  of  Chicago  and  A.  W. 
Stark  of  De  Kalb,  111. 

Rev.  Mr.  G.  K.  Stark  has  served 
as  president  and  secretary  of  the 
North  Chicago  Mission  district  of 
the  Illinois  Conference  and  as  sec- 
retary of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Ministers'  Association  of  Chicago. 
He  is  also  a  member  and  secretary 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Anti-Saloon  League  of  Illinois  and 
of  the  Chicago  Law  and  Order 
League. 

He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
first  board  of  directors  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Salem  Home  for  the 
Aged  at  Joliet.  He  has  edited 
and  published  for  ten  years  Luther- 
Baneret,  a  religious  monthly. 


254 


Cook  County 


He  is  a  fluent  speaker  and 
preaches  with  equal  facility  in  the 
English  and  Swedish  languages. 

Oct.  18,  1894,  he  was  wedded 
to  Miss  Jennie  Virginia  Peterson, 
daughter  of  Per  August  and  Anna 
Peterson  of  Rockford,.  111.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Le  Roy  Theophilus  Daniel,  Dec. 
n,  1896;  Linden  L,ichty  David 
June  25,  1899;  Ethel  May  Eve- 
line Dec.  15,  1903;  Leland  Wil- 
liam Frederick  Sept.  5,  1907. 


CARL  G.  WALLENIUS, 

editor  and  historian  for  his  church, 
was   born    Dec.   18,   1865,  in    Ha- 


CARL   G.   WALLENIUS 

tuna,  Upland,  Sweden.  His  par- 
ents were  Carl  Wallenius,  a  Meth- 
odist pastor,  and  Gustava,  nee 
Bjorklund. 

Having  graduated  from  the  col- 
legiate school  in  Visby,  Gotland, 
in  1886,  he  was  matriculated  as  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Up- 
sala  with  the  intention  to  prepare 


himself  for  the  ministry  in  the 
State  Church.  The  next  year, 
however,  he  accepted  a  call  to 
become  assistant  pastor  in  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Jonkoping. 
In  1888  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  studied  theology  at  the 
Boston  University.  In  January, 
1889,  Mr.  Wallenius  became  an 
instructor  in  the  Swedish  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  at  Evanston  and 
assistant  editor  of  Vaktaren,  a 
weekly  paper,  published  by  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Book  Concern  in 
Chicago.  Professor  Wallenius  gave 
instruction  in  the  seminary  for 
fourteen  years,  resigning  in  1906 
to  become  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Donovan,  111. 

He  is  the  author  of  "Svenska 
Metodismen  i  Amerika,"  published 
in  1895,  and  was  associate  editor 
of  Sandebudei  1901-02  and  editor 
of  Epworth  Klockan,  a  semi-monthly 
magazine,  1903-06. 

Prof.  Wallenius  is  one  of  the 
scholarly  men  of  his  church.  He 
was  acting  president  of  the  Swed- 
ish-American Historical  Society 
in  1907. 

Rev.  Prof.  Wallenius  was  mar- 
ried in  Chicago  in  1894  to  Miss 
Hilda  Johnson,  and  they  have 
five  children. 


JOHN  E.  HILLBERG 
was  born  Dec.  9,  1873,  in  Malm- 
koping,  Sweden.  His  father, 
Emanuel  Hellberg,  was  a  pipneer 
preacher  of  Methodism  in  Sweden, 
having  first  spent  some  time  as  an 
evangelist  in  England.  His  mother 
was  before  her  marriage  a  school- 
teacher in  Stockholm. 


Evanston 


255 


After  having  graduated  in  1888 
from  the  manual  training  course 
in  Maria  Collegiate  School  in  Stock  - 


JOHN  EMANUEL   HILLBERG 

holm  he  became  a  bookkeeper  at 
Bolinder's  iron  works,  remaining 
there  over  three  years.  At  the 
same  time  he  spent  two  years  as 
civil  engineering  student  at  the 
Technical  Institute  of  Stockholm. 

Arriving  in  America  on  July  4, 
1892,  he  went  to  Worcester,  Mass. 
The  following  year  he  entered  the 
theological  seminary  at  Evanston 
and  graduated  in  1895.  He  has 
served  as  pastor  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  churches  in  Mt.  Vernon, 
N.Y.,  1895-99,  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
1899-1902,  and  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
1902-06.  In  the  lasi  named  city 
he  was  pastor  of  the  largest  Swed- 
ish M.  E.  church  in  this  country. 
In  1901-02  he  spent  some  months 
traveling  and  studying  in  several 
countries  in  Europe.  The  trip 
was  extended  as  far  as  Egypt, 
Palestine  and  Syria.  On  his  re- 
turn he  wrote  a  book  entitled 
"Bilder  fran  Bibellander"  (Pict- 
ures from  Bible  L,ands). 

He  published  (1898-1902)  a 
monthly  entitled  Ungdomsvannen. 


Since  1906  he  has  been  editor  of 
hpwoith  Klockan,  the  official  young 
people's  magazine  of  the  Swedish 
M.  E.  denomination.  Simultane- 
ously he  accepted  a  call  to  become 
instructor  in  the  Swedish  M.  E. 
Theological  Seminary. 

Professor    Hillberg   is   secretary 
of  the  Eastern  Conference    of    the 
M.  E.  Church,  and  is  Librarian  of 
the    Swedish-American    Historica 
Society. 

He  was  married  in  1897  to  Miss 
Hannah  L,undgren,  daughter  of 
J.  W.  Lundgren,  foreman  at  the 
rolling  mills  in  Worcester,  Mass. 


FRANK   A.  LUNDBERG, 

instructor  at  the  Swedish  M.  E. 
Theological  Seminary,  was  born 
April  n,  1875,  at  Halsberg, 


FRANK  A.  LUNDBERG 

Nerike,  Sweden.  His  father,  a 
railway  track  inspector,  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  local 
Methodist  church.  At  an  early 
age  the  son  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  parents,  who  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Georgetown,  Texas. 
Young  lyUiidberg  attended  the  uni- 
versity at  Fort  Worth,  and  took 
his  bachelor's  degree  with  honors 


256 

in  1905.  The  same  year  he  came 
to  Evanston  to  pursue  philosoph- 
ical studies  at  the  Northwestern 
University.  He  was  called  as  in- 
structor in  English  and  mathe- 
matics in  the  Swedish  Theological 
Seminary  and  assumed  this  posi- 
tion at  the  opening  of  the  school 
year  that  fall. 

Mr.  Lundberg  is  an  eloquent 
speaker,  who  uses  Swedish  and 
English  with  the  same  fluency. 
In  1903  he  was  chosen  to  repre- 
sent the  Fort  Worth  University 
in  an  inter-collegiate  oratorical 
contest  with  seven  other  particip- 
ants, and  carried  off  the  honors 
of  the  day,  winning  the  oratorical 
prize,  a  large  gold  medal. 

Mr.  Luiidberg  will  graduate  from 
the  Northwestern  University  Med- 
ical School  in  1908. 


Cook  County 


HENNING  COLLIANDER, 
pastor  of  the  Bethany  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  at  Lemont,  111., 
was  born  in  the  parish  of  Weders- 
lof,  Sweden,  March  12,  1863.  His 
father,  Anders  Colliander,  who  had 
charge  of  a  railway  station  and 
post  office  in  Sweden,  died  in  1876. 
His  mother,  Jenny  Colliander,  is 
still  living  and  owns  a  millinery 
store  in  Vexio,  Sweden. 

Mr.  Colliander  completed  a  col- 
lege course  in  Sweden  in  1886  and 
intended  to  study  theology  at  the 
University  of  Upsala,  when  a 
Lutheran  pastor  from  America 
visiting  Sweden  and  hearing  him 
preach,  exhorted  him  to  join  the 
Augustana  Synod  and  continue 
his  studies  in  this  country.  After 
holding  a  good  position  as  teacher 


and  assistant  pastor  in  Sweden  for 
two  years,  he  left  for  the  United 
States  in  1888  and  entered  Au- 


HENNING  COLLIANDER 

gustana  College.  As  a  student 
he  had  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tions in  Irwin,  Greensburg  and 
Houtzdale,  Pa.  He  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Rock 
Island  in  1889  and  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Houtzdale,  Pa.,  when  he  was 
ordained  in  1891.  A  few  years 
after  he  was  called  to  Norway  and 
Bark  River,  Mich.,  where  he  spent 
nearly  eight  years  and  did  much 
work  as  a  pastor  and  missionary. 
In  the  fall  of  1900  he  moved  to 
Lemont  and  took  charge  of  the 
church  there.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Lutheran  Orphans'  Home  in  Joliet, 
111.,  and  has  served  as  its  secre- 
tary since  1902. 

Rev.  Colliander  was  married  Oct. 
28,  1896,  to  Miss  Agnes  Holmberg 
of  Karlskrona,  Sweden.  The  mar- 


Lemont 


257 


riage  is  blessed  with  two  sons:  Ha- 
rald,  born  in  1897,  a°d  Einar, 
in  1900. 


PETER  A.  NELSON 

was  born  in  bland,  Sweden,  March 
4,    1860.     He  came  to  this  country 


PETER  A.  NELSON 

when  but  eleven  years  of  age  and 
was  educated  in  Joliet  and  Lock- 
port.  At  present  his  home  is  in 
Lemont,  where  he  gradually  forged 
ahead  until  he  was  entrusted  with 
the  highest  office  in  the  town, 
that  of  mayor.  Prior  to  this  he 
held  many  offices  of  trust.  In 
January,  1903,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Lemont,  having 
previously  served  as  treasurer  four 
terms  and  member  of  the  board  of 
education  for  three  years.  Wher- 
ever Mr.  Nelson  happens  to  center 
his  interests,  there  he  .soon  attracts 
public  attention,  followed  by  his 
election  to  some  office  or  other. 
In  the  many  societies,  of  which 


he  is  a  member,  he  takes  a  prom- 
inent part. 

He  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Lemont  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Co.  and  a  director  of  the  Lemont 
State  Bank. 

In  1882,  at  the  age  of  21,  Mr. 
Nelson  embarked  in  a  general 
merchandise  business,  in  which  he 
has  continued  with  marked  suc- 
cess up  to  the  present. 


JOHN  A.  SKARIN 

was  born  Sept.  25,  1856,  in  Jarbo 
parish,  Dalsland,  Sweden.  He 
attended  public  school  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  a 
dry  goods  store  in  Goteborg.  Af- 
ter three  years,  the  art  of  pho- 
tography attracted  him,  and  he 
worked  as  a  photographer's  assist- 
ant for  one  year,  subsequently 


JOHN  AUGUST  SKARIN 

opening    a    gallery    of    his    own. 
This    business    he    followed    with 


Cook  County 


success    until    his    emigration     to 
Canada  in  1880. 

The  next  year  Mr.  Skarin  was 
working  in  the  mines  in  Michi- 
gan, along  the  shores  of  Lake 
Superior.  From  there  he  came  to 
Lemont,  and  obtained  a  position 
as  clerk  in  a  grocery  store.  After 
two  years  of  conscientious  work 
he  was  enabled  to  open  a  store  of 
his  own  and  is  now  one  of  the 
prosperous  merchants  of  the  place. 

Both  in  the  church  and  in  other 
public  life  Mr.  Skarin  is  an  active 
worker.  As  soon  as  he  reached 
Lemont  he  joined  the  Bethany 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and 
has  been  for  many  years  treasurer 
and  trustee. 

Mr.  Skarin  was  one  of  the  first 
to  hold  public  office  in  Lemont. 
In  1897  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  alderman  on  the  reform 
ticket,  and  the  following  year  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education.  His  popularity  •  was 
proved  by  his  receiving  an  over- 
whelming majority  at  the  polls. 

Mr.  Skarin  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Swedish  Republican 
Benevolent  Association  and  a  mem- 
ber of  other  organizations. 

He  was  married  in  1878  to  Eliz- 
abeth K.  Anderson,  and  of  their 
six  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  survive.  These  .are, 
Adolph  Agathon,  trav.  salesman 
for  the  Steele-Wedeles  Co.,  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Marjorie  Wahlstrom 
of  Chicago;  Carl  Richard,  book- 
keeper for  the  Chicago  Biscuit 
Co.,  married  to  Miss  Gerda  Lar- 
son of  Chicago;  Agnes  Ingeborg, 


Alda      Elisabeth    and    Nathanaiel 
Jennison. 


AXEL  F.  BENSON 

was  born  Oct.  28,  1873,  in  the  city 
of    Filipstad,  Sweden.      He    came 


AXEL  FERDINAND    BENSON 

to  this  country  in  1895  and  re- 
mained for  six  months  in  Brad- 
dock,  Pa.,  acting  as  assistant  to 
Rev.  G.  E.  Carlson.  While  in 
Sweden  he  studied  at  the  Metho- 
dist Seminary  in  Upsala,  and  his 
aim  was  to  continue  that  work 
here.  He  took  up  study  at  the 
Northwestern  Academy  and  com- 
pleted the  same  at  the  Swedish 
Seminary  at  Evanston.  After  la- 
boring in  the  ministry  for  eight 
years  he  went  back  to  the  North- 
western University  for  one  year 
and  began  a  course  at  the  med- 
ical college  of  the  University  of 
Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1907  he 
again  assumed  his  old  pastorate 
at  Batavia. 

May  31,   1899,  Rev.  Benson  was 


I-  I  li  K  I 

. 


Maywood 


married  to  Miss  Selnia  Swanson, 
a  graduate  of  Batavia  High  School, 
and  their  home  is  in  Batavia. 
Their  one  child  is  a  boy,  Merrill 
Filip,  born  in  1900. 


AUGUST  PETERSON 

was    born    at    Dorarp,    Smaland, 
Oct  26,   1866.     He  left  Sweden  in 


AUGUST   PETERSON 

1885,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  hav- 
ing obtained  his  early  education 
in  the  common  school  of  the  par- 
ish. Coming  to  this  country,  he 
lived  first  at  L,ockport  and  later 
at  Oak  Park,  before  finally  set- 
tling at  Maywood.  At  Lockport 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  and  at 
Oak  Park  was  empk>37ed  by  Mr. 
Dunlop,  a  banker.  For  the  past 
eighteen  years  Mr.  Peterson  has 
been  contracting  for  building  and 
carpentry  in  Maywood  and  sur- 
rounding villages.  The  carpenter's 
trade  he  learned  from  his  father, 
Peter  Svensson,  who  followed  that 
occupation  in  Dorarp. 


259 

Mr.  Peterson  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Swedish  Luth.  Church 
of  Maywood,  having  served  for 
various  periods  on  the  boards  of 
trustees  and  deacons,  and  as  treas- 
urer of  the  former  body. 

He  has  been  married,  his  wife, 
Annie  Olivia,  nee  Svenson,  pass- 
ing away  in  1902,  leaving  two 
children,  a  daughter,  Esther  Grace 
Olivia,  and  a  son,  Clarence  Au- 
gust. 


AUGUST  PETERSON 

was  born  April  29,  1866,  in  Hor- 
rod,  Stro  parish,  Skane.  In  1884 
he  emigrated  from  Sweden  and 
has  lived  ever  since  in  Maywood. 
When  Mr.  Peterson  first  came 
to  this  country,  he  worked  in  the 
Union  Brass  Foundry  of  Adams 


AUGUST  PETERSON 

&  Westlake  in  Chicago.  Locating 
in  Maywood,  he  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  and  has  for  the 
past  seventeen  years  met  with 
ever  increasing  prosperity. 


26o 


Cook  County 


The  parents  of  Mr.  Peterson  are 
Per  Jonson,  a  farmer  at  Horrod, 
and  Pernilla,  his  wife. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  served  for  a  pe- 
riod on  its  board  of  trustees. 

He  is  married  to  Selma  Johnson 
from  Ofvarp,  Sweden.  Their  chil- 
dren are,  Alice  E.,  Ethel  P.  and 
Mabel  A. 

The  Peterson  family  live  in  a 
comfortable  home  of  their  own  at 
124  S.  Fifth  ave. 


He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Swedish  M.  E.  Church,  superin- 
sendent  of  the  Sunday  school  and 


EDWARD  W.  BENSON, 
for  three  terms  president  of  the 
village  of  Melrose  Park,  has  been 
active  in  the  affairs  of  the  village 
for  ten  years  of  the  twenty  that 
he  has  resided  there.  He  served 
on  the  board  of  village  trustees 
for  five  years  prior  to  his  election 
as  president  of  that  board,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  three  years. 

Mr.  Benson  was  born  in  Upland, 
Sweden,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  when  two 
years  old.  The  Benson  family 
located  first  at  River  Forest,  com- 
ing to  Melrose  Park  about  twenty 
years  ago.  In  business  Mr.  Ben- 
son is  a  general  contractor.  He 
gained  his  first  experience  in  the 
business  in  Denver,  Colo.,  in  1888 
-89,  thereafter  pursuing  his  call- 
ing in  his  home  town. 

Besides  holding  the  reigns  of 
government  in  a  manner  that  won 
the  full  confidence  of  the  people 
of  Melrose  Park,  Mr.  Benson  ha» 
taken  a  leading  part  in  the  social 
and  religious  life  of  the  village. 


EDWAKD   W.  BENSON 

has  served  for  many  years  as  pres- 
ident of  the  Epworth  L,eague.  In 
fraternal  life  Mr.  Benson  affiliates 
with  the  Royal  Circle.  Far  from 
being  a  politician  in  the  general 
acceptation  of  the  term,  he  has 
not  used  his  position  as  a  means 
to  further  political  ambitions.  The 
office  of  village  president  was 
thrust  upon  him  by  the  people  at 
large,  and  he  prized  the  gift  be- 
cause it  carried  with  it  not  only 
the  votes  of  his  fellow  citizens 
but  their  esteem  and  confidence 
as  well. 

Mr.  Benson  resides  at  51  Seven- 
teenth ave.,  and  his  parents,  John 
and  Elsa  Benson,  are  still  living 
in  Melrose  Park. 


CHARLES  P.  BENSON 

was  born  May  17,  1873,  at  Bofors, 
Vermland,     Sweden.       His     wife, 


I.  I  IJ  I 


Oak  Park 


261 


Jennie,  nee    Magnuson,  was   born      ests,  Mr.  Benson    is  a  director    of 


in  May  of  the  same  year,  in  Ves- 
tergb'tland. 


CHARLES  P.  BENSON 

Mr.  Benson  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  May,  1893,  and  settled  in 
Chicago,  where  he  attended  the 
Association  Business  College  and 
then  worked  as  a  bookkeeper. 
Later,  Oak  Park  became  the  field 
for  various  activities.  Here  he 
published  a  non-denominational 
Swedish  quarterly,  explaining  the 
Sunday  school  lessons.  He  has 
organized  a  manufacturing  stock 
company,  of  which  he  is  secretary 
and  treasurer.  The  company  man- 
ufactures a  newly  patented  col- 
lapsible baby  carriage. 

Mr.  Benson  is  a  Baptist  and  a 
most  active  church  worker.  He 
has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  for  more  than  ten 
years  and  president  of  the  Young 
People's  Society  for  about  the 
same  period. 

Besides    his    many    other   inter- 


the  Laborers'  Gold.  Silver  and 
Copper  Mining  Co.  of  Golden,  B. 
C.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Two  sons  have  been  born  in  the 
Benson  family,  Daniel,  in  1900, 
and  Milton  Le  Roy  in  1902. 


ANNY  WERNER  UNDER, 

M.  D.,  was  born  in  Karlskrona, 
Sweden,  Jan.  12,  1873.  She  be- 
gan attending  school  at  the  early 
age  of  four  years  and  a  half,  and 
later  entered  high  school,  from 
which  she  graduated  at  the  head 
of  her  class.  The  family  removed 
to  Stockholm,  and  there  she  con- 
tinued her  studies,  at  the  same  time 


ANNY    WERNER    LINDER 

taking  a  course  in  mechanical 
drawing.  Later  she  studied  man- 
ual therapeutics  and,  after  grad- 
uation, went  first  to  Finland  and 
then  to  Russia,  in  which  coun- 
tries she  lived  for  nearly  six  years, 
practicing  her  profession  and  also 


262 


Cook  County 


doing  translations  for  newspapers. 
While  in  Odessa  she  decided  to 
emigrate  to  America.  Throwing 
up  her  practice,  she  went  to  Stock- 
holm and  thence  to  New  York, 
arriving  in  March,  1894. 

Here  she  was  soon  on  the  way 
to  success,  many  physicians  seek- 
ing her  services. 

She  left  her  practice  in  the  fall 
of  1895,  a°d  went  on  a  lecturing 
and  demonstrating  tour  for  the 
Whitely  Exerciser  Co.  of  Chicago 
and  New  York,  in  the  larger  cities 
of  the  United  States.  For  this 
purpose  she  made  several  charts 
of  instruction  for  home  gymnast- 
ics, based  on  the  Swedish  system. 
She  has  lectured  to  many  prom- 
inent ladies'  clubs,  Y.  W.  C.  A., 
high  and  normal  schools  and  col- 
leges. 

The  medical  profession  being 
her  final  goal,  she  came  to  Chi- 
cago in  1899  and  matriculated  in 
the  National  Medical  University, 
attending  both  the  medical  and 
osteopathic  departments.  In  Ap- 
ril, 1901,  she  passed  successfully 
the  State  Board  of  Health  exam- 
ination and  became  a  state  licen- 
tiate in  manual  therapeutics.  In 
1902  she  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine  and  Bachelor 
of  Surgery  from  the  university. 
In  October,  the  same  year,  she  en- 
tered the  American  College  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery,  the  med- 
ical department  of  Valparaiso  Uni- 
versity in  Indiana,  graduating  in 
May,  1903. 

She  was  elected  professor  of  the 
chair  of  manual  therapeutics  in 
the  Chicago  College  for  Nurses  in 


the  fall  of  1902,  and  has  filled  the 
same  chair  at  both  insiitutions 
since  Oct.  i,  1903. 

She  was  married  to  Mr.  A.  Un- 
der of  Oak  Park  June  2,  1899, 
and  has  her  home  and  practice 
there. 

Dr.  Linder  is  an  accomplished 
linguist,  speaking,  besides  the 
Scandinavian  languages,  English, 
Finnish,  Russian,  Spanish,  French 
and  German. 


AUGUSTINUS  L.   UNDER 

was  born  Aug.  28,  1867,  in  Nyby, 
Smaland.     He  studied  in  the  high 


AUGUSTINUS  LEONARD  LINDBR 

school  in  Venersborg,  and  in  1888 
left  Sweden.  In  this  country  he 
has  lived  in  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  Chicago  and  Oak 
Park.  While  in  Chicago  he  at- 
tended the  Northwestern  Commer- 
cial School,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated. 

Mr.  lender  is  engaged  in    busi- 
ness   both  in  Oak    Park  and   Chi- 


Oak  Park 


263 


cago.  In  Chicago  he  has  a  store 
for  artistic  decorating  and  con- 
tracting at  The  Plaza,  646  North 
Clark  st.,  at  Oak  Park  he  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  L,owrey  & 
lender  Co.  at  129-131  L,ake  st. 

The  many  lodges,  to  which  Mr. 
lender  belongs,  are,  Odd  Fellows, 
North  American  Union,  Ironde- 
quoit  L,odge  No.  301,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.;  Dunkirk  Chapter  No.  191, 
Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Dunkirk, 
N.  Y.;  Siloatn  Commandery  No. 
54,  Kt.  Templars  of  Oak  Park,  and 
Medinah  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  of  Noble  Mystic  Shrine  of 
Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Phoenix  Club,  the  Business  Men's 
Association,  the  Master  Painters' 
and  Decorators'  Ass.,  all  of  Oak 
Park,  and  Master  Painters'  Asso- 
ciation of  Chicago. 

For  several  months  during  the 
years  1893  and  '94  Mr.  lender 
visited  England,  France  and  Swe- 
den. In  1899,  on  June  2,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Anny  Werner  of 
Stockholm,  Sweden. 


next  learned  the  watchmaker's 
trade,  and  then  embarked  for 
America.  On  his  arrival  in  Chi- 


OTTO  E.  IX)VEN 

was  born  in  Sweden  Feb.  n,  1871. 
His  parents  intended  him  to  enter 
upon  a  musical  career,  and  to  that 
end  he  began  taking  piano  lessons 
at  twelve  years  of  age.  After  two 
years,  his  father  concluded  to 
change  this  plan.  In  order  to  fit 
him  for  a  commercial  life,  he  set 
him  to  studying  the  elementary 
branches.  At  sixteen  the  boy  be- 
came a  salesman  in  a  dry  goods 
store  in  Malmo.  But  having  no 
taste  for  this  occupation,  he  tried, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  brother, 
who  was  a  traveling  postal  clerk, 
to  enter  the  mail  service.  But  this 
avenue  was  suddenly  closed  to 
him,  a  new  law  requiring  appli- 
cants for  the  postal  service  to  have 
completed  a  college  course.  He 


OTTO  E.  LOVEN 

cago  in  June,  1890,  he  discovered 
that  no  one  wanted  to  employ  a 
nineteen  year  old  watchmaker,  so 
he  was  compelled  to  look  for  other 
employment.  All  sorts  of  hard 
and  uncongenial  work  was  done 
until  he  finally  succeeded  in  se- 
curing a  position  as  a  watchmaker. 
He  began  with  the  firm  of  R. 
Chester,  Frost  &  Co  and  remained 
there  until  1895,  when  he  visited 
the  old  country.  On  his  return 
he  worked  for  the  same  firm,  as 
foreman  and  later  as  manager  of 
a  new  watch  department. 

In  1902  Mr.  Loven  bought  a 
jewelry  store.  Success  attended 
him  here,  and  he  is  now  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  leading  jeweler 
and  optician  in  Oak  Park.  All 
his  spare  time  had  been  devoted 
to  study  at  the  Northern  Illinois 
Optical  College,  from  which  he 
received  a  diploma. 

Mr.  Loven  was  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1898,  to  Miss  Ellen  Nord, 
the  daughter  of  a  hatter  in  Os- 
karshamn. 


INDEX 


PART  III.— COUNTIES  AT  LARGE 


Page 

Henry  County 3 

Knox   County 29 

Kane  County 49 

Rock  Island  County 71 

Bureau  County 123 

Winnebago  County 133 

DeKalb  County 165 


Page 

Ford  County 179 

Warren,    Mercer,  Whiteside,    Peoria 

and   Marshall  Counties 195 

Grundy,    LaSalle,    Livingstone,  Mc- 
Lean and  Vermilion  Counties..   207 
McHenry,  Lake  and  Will  Counties.   219 
Cook  County  (outside  of  Chicago).   231 


TOWNS  AND  CITIES 


Page 

Aledo.   197 

Andover 5 

Aurora 51 

Batavia 55 

Berwyn 233 

Bloomington 212 

Cambridge. ...    7 

Chicago  Heights 240 

Crystal   Lake 221 

DeKalb 167 

Elgin 6 1 

Evanston » 246 

Galesburg 31 

Galva 10 

Geneseo 13 

Geneva 64 

Gibson  City 181 

Hoopeston 215 

Joliet 223 

Kewanee 17 

Leland 209 

Leniont 256 

Lockport 229 

Maywood 258 

Melrose  Park 260 

Moline 73 


Page 

Monmouth 197 

Morris 209 

New  Windsor 199 

Oak  Park 260 

Oneida 47 

Ophiem 21 

Orion 23 

Paxton 183 

Peoria 201 

Pontiac 210 

Princeton 125 

Frophetstown 201 

Rankin 217 

Rockford 135 

Rock  Island 92 

Sherrard 200 

Sibley 191 

St.   Charles 65 

Strawn 211 

Streator    210 

Sycamore 169 

Victoria 48 

Waukegan 221 

Wenona 205 

Woodhull. . .  26 


264 


INDEX 
BIOGRAPHIES 


265 


Page 
Adams,  Charles,  Chicago  Heights..   240 

Alsterlund,  Wm.   A.,  Moline 73 

Anderson,  Adolf  I.,  Batavia 55 

Anderson,  Adolph   T.,  DeKalb 167 

Anderson,  Andrew    W.,  Sycamore  .    176 

Anderson,  Andrew,  Berwyn 233 

Anderson,  Andrew  G.,  Rock  Island.     93 

Anderson,  Andrew  J.,  Rockford 135 

Anderson,  Andrew  M.,  Aurora 51 

Anderson,  August,  DeKalb 167 

Anderson,  Claus,  St.  Charles 65 

Anderson,  John  A.,  Batavia 56 

Anderson,  John  B.,  Rev.,  Joliet 223 

Anderson,  John   O.,  Kewanee 17 

Anderson,  Jonas  M.,  Cambridge....       7 

Anderson,  Nels  F.,  Galva 10 

Anderson,  Oscar,    Batavia 57 

Anderson,  Oscar    B.,  Rockford 135 

Anderson,  Otto   Fr.,  Moline 73 

Anderson,  Swan  A.,  Kewanee 17 

Anderson,  Swen,«  Sibley 191 

Andreen.  Gustav  A.,  Rock  Island..    121 

Andre"n,  Fritz  N.,  Berwyn 233 

Appell,  Rev.  Alfred,  Rockford 136 

Backlund,  Rev.  Jonas  O.,  Morris. . .   209 

Bargren,  Aug.  E.,  Rockford 138 

Bartelson,  Olof  P.,  Gibson  City 181 

Benander,  Rev.  John  A.,  Aurora 51 

Bengston,  Rev.  Carl  J..  Rock  Island     93 

Bengtson,  Frederick,  Rockford 138 

Benson,  Rev.  Axel  F.,  Maywood...   258 

Benson,  Chas.  P.,  Oak   Park 260 

Benson,  Edward  \V.,  Melrose  Park.   260 

Berg,  Rev,  John  A.,  Princeton 125 

Berggren,  Aug.  W.,  Galesburg 31 

Bergland,  Albert  E.,  Galva 10 

Bersell,  Prof.  A.  O.,  Rock  Island...     95 
Bersell,  Rev.  P.  Olof,  Chicago   H'ts  240 

Billstrom,  Nels   J.,  Rockford 139 

Bjorkman,  James  O.,  DeKalb 168 

Blomgren,  Dr.  Carl  A.,  Rock  Island     94 

Bloom,  Isaac  O.,  Gibson  City 181 

Bohman,  Carl    P.,  Moline 74 

Bonggren,  Jan  M.,  Moline 77 

Brodine,  Rev.  Per  J.,  Orion 23 

Burgland,  Nels   M.,  Galesburg 33 

Burgquist,  Alfred,  Kewanee 17 

Byquist,  John,   Bloomington 212 

Carlson,  Algot,  Streator 210 

Carlson,  Carl  G.,  Chicago  Heights.   241 


Page 

Carlson,  Carl   O.,  Rockford 139 

Carlson,  John  L.,  Joliet 223 

Carlson,  Nels  A.,  Galva n 

Carlson,  Peter,   St.  Charles 65 

Carlstedt,  Aug.,  Crystal  Lake 221 

Carlstrom,  Oscar   E  ,  Aledo 197 

Cathony,  Herman,  Berwyn 234 

Cervin,  Olof  Z.,  Rock   Island 96 

Champene,  Chas.,  Chicago    Heights  241 

Chilberg,  Sven  J.,  Cambridge 8 

Christiansen,  Peter,  DeKalb 169 

Colliander,  Rev.  Herman,    Lemont.  256 

Collin,  Claus,    DeKalb 169 

Dahlberg,  Rev.  John  G  ,  Rock  Isl'nd    97 

Dahlgren,  Chas.   T.,  Princeton 125 

Eckdahl,  Frank  L.,  Princeton 126 

Ed,  Gust. ,   Moline 75 

Edblom,  Rev.  Carl  P.,  Andover. . . .  5 

Edgren,  Rev.  A.,  Prophetstown. . . .  201 

Edle"n,  Dr.  Emil  A.,  Moline 75 

Ekstrand,  Louis  M.,  Waukegan 221 

Elfstrand,  Chas.  W.,  Bloomington..  212 

Elmquist,  Rev.  Axel  E.,  Peoria 201 

Eng,  Charles,    DeKalb 169 

Engstrand,  Eben  O.,  Gatva n 

Engstrand,  Jonas  M.,  Galva n 

Engstrom,  Chas.  V.,  Peoria 201 

Engstrom,  John  P.,  Rock  Island...  100 

Enwall,  Johan,  Galesburg 34 

Erickson,  Alex.  G.,  Bloomington. ..  213 

Erickson,  Chas.  A.,  Hoopeston 215 

Ericson,  Dr.  Albert  F.,  Evanston...  246 

Erikson,  Rev.   Gustaf,  Wenona 205 

Fair,  Johan  A.,  Andover 6 

Fairvalley,  Chas.  J.,  Berwyn 234 

Floberg,  Aug.  P.,  Rockford 140 

Forsander,  Dr.  Nils,  Rock   Island..  98 

Forsberg,  Chas.  A.,  Rockford 140 

Foss,  Prof.  Claude  W.,  Rock  Island  99 

Fredlund,  Andrew,   Bloomington...  214 

Freeman,  John  A.,  Aurora 52 

Freeman,  Peter  A.,  Aurora 53 

Frykman,  Rev.  Magnus,  Sycamore.  177 

Gafvert,  Fritz,    Kewanee 18 

Godehn  John  A.,  Moline 91 

Graflund,  Fred,  Moline 78 

Grafstrom,  Olof,  Rock  Island 101 

Granere,  Dr.  Carl  O.,  Rock  Island..  101 

Granville,  Philip  N.,  Galesburg 34 

Gullander,  Rev.  Paul,  Paxton 183 


266 


INDEX 


Page 
Gustafson,  Rev.  John,    Rockford...    141 

Gustafson,  Nels  P.,  Batavia 58 

Gustus,  Oscar  T.,  Ophiem 21 

Haddorf,  Chas.  A.,  Rockford 141 

Hagg,  Nicholas  A.,  Cambridge 9 

Hammarstrand,  Andrew  G.,  Rankin  217 

Hed,  John,  Princeton 127 

Hedman,  Victor  L.,  Geneseo 13 

Hellerstedt,  C.  A,  Princeton 126 

Helmer,  John  F.  G.,  Paxton 186 

Hemborg,  Rev.  Carl  A.,  Moline...  78 
Hemdahl,  Rev.  Gustaf  E.,  Paxton.  187 
Hillberg,  Prof.  John  E?,  Evanston.  254 

Hinquist,  John  A.,  Princeton 127 

Hoffsten,  Rev.  C.  E.,  Rock  Island.  104 
Holmgrain,  Rev.  Oscar  V.,  Rock  I'd  103 

Holmgren,  Joel  A.,  Evanston 248 

Holniquist,  Chas.  W.,  Rockford 142 

Holmquist,  Gideon  A.,  Rockford...    142 

Holmstrom,  Peter  E.,  Joliet 224 

Holt,  Wesley,  Galesburg 35 

Hubbard,  Dr.  Oscar  W.,  Batavia...     59 

Hubenet,  Frank,    Joliet 225 

Hull,  John  L.,    Cambridge 9 

Hurburgh,  Chas.  F.,  Galesburg 36 

Ivarson,  John  G.,   Aurora 53 

Jacobson,  Rev.  Albin  A.,    Joliet 225 

Ja'der,  Rev.  John  A.,  Moline 82 

Johanson,  Nels  T.,  St.  Charles 66 

Johanson,  Thure  A.,  St.   Charles...     66 

Johnson,  Andrew  C.,    Rockford 143 

Johnson,  Rev.  Andrew  G.,  Moline.  79 
Johnson,  Rev.  Aug..  Monmouth....  197 
Johnson,  Dr.  Carl  G.,  Galesburg...  36 
Johnson,  Carl  H.,  Chicago  Heights  243 

Johnson,  Rev.  Carl  J.,  Peoria 202 

Johnson,  Chas.  J.,  Galesburg 37 

Johnson,  Chas.  P.,  Chicago  Heights  242 

Johnson,  C.  T.  E.,    Galesburg 38 

Johnson,  Frank,  Chicago   Heights..   242 

Johnson,  Geo.  W.,   Moline 80 

Johnson,  Gunner  A.,  Geneseo 14 

Johnson,  Gustaf,  Chicago  Heights. .   244 

Johnson,  Gustaf,  Rockford 146 

Johnson,  Gustaf  E.,  Rockford 144 

Johnson,  H.  Julius,  Pontiac 210 

Johnson,  Rev.  Joel    S.,  Lockport.  .  .   230 

Johnson,  Rev.  John  A.,  Berwyn 235 

Johnson,  Rev.  John  J.,  Galesburg.  .  39 
Johnson,  Lars  E.,  Chicago  Heights  243 

Johnson,  Nels  O.  G.,  Galesburg 39 

Johnson,  Nils  P.,  Rockford 144 


Page 

Johnson,  Peter,  Princeton 128 

Johnson,  Simon  C.,  DeKalb 170 

Johnson,  Sven  A.,  Berwyn 235 

Johnson,  Wm.,  Rockford 145 

Johnson,  Wm.,    Rockford 144 

Johnston,  John   F.,  DeKalb 170 

Johnston,  Rev.  Lawrence  A.,  Moline  81 
Jonson,  Rev.  Elof  K.,  Rock  Island  104 

Joranson,  Gustaf,  Berwyn 236 

Karl,  Rev.  Carl  J.,  Waukegan 222 

Kling,  Prof.  Linus  W.,  Rock  Isl'nd  105 

Lager,  Carl  J.,  Geneseo 15 

Lagerstrom ,  Rev .  Ernest  A . ,  Ke wanee     1 8 

Landee,  Frank  A.,  Moline 83 

Laon,  Per  G.,  Rockford 146 

Larson,  Alfred  G.,  Rockford 147 

Larson,  Aug.,  Strawn 211 

Larson,  Chas.  A.,  Joliet 227 

Larson,  Chas.  Alb.,  Paxton iSS 

Larson,  Emil,  Rock   Island 106 

Larson,  John  A.,  Galva 12 

Larson,  Louis  T.,  Sibley 192 

Larson,  Olin,  Gibson  .City ; . .  .    182 

Larson,  Oscar  W.,  Galva 13 

Larson,  Peter  A.,  Geneseo 16 

Larson,  Vendela,  Rock   Island 107 

Laurence,  Aug.  J.,    Paxton 108 

Laurin,  Sigfrid,  Rock  Island..- 107 

Lawson.  Albert,  Rockford 148 

Ledin,  Rev.  Carl  J.,  Princeton 129 

Lethin,    Matthias,    Elgin 61 

Lethin,  Swan,  Elgin 62 

Liljegren,  Rev.  Nels  M.,  St.  Charles  67 
Lindahl,  Rev.  S.  P.  A  ,  Rock  Isl'd.  in 

Lindberg,  Andrew  G.,  DeKalb 171 

Lindberg,  Dr.  Conrad  E.,  Rock  I'd  109 

Lindblom,  Frans  E.,  Berwyn 236 

Linder,  Dr.  Anny  W.,  Oak  Park...  261 
Linder,  Augustinus  L.,  Oak  Park..  262 
Lindgren,  Alfred  Th.,  Rockford. ...  150 

Lindgren,  Chas.  E.,   Berwyn 237 

Lindorff,  Johan  G  ,  New  Windsor.  .  199 
Lindquist,  Rev.  Harold  L.,  Galesb'g  40 
Lindstrum,  Andrew  O.,  Galesburg.  41 

Lindvall,  Carl  M.,  Joliet 226 

Lofgren,  Dr.  Carl  O.  E.,  Rockford.   149 

Lofquest,  Chas.  C.,    Rockford :    161 

Loven,  Otto  E.,  Oak   Park 263 

Lowendahl,  Knut  J.,  Evanston 249 

Lund,  Edla,  Rock  Island no 

Lundberg,  Chas.  J.,  Rockford 156 

Lundberg,  Prof.  Frank  A.,  Evanston  255 


INDEX 


267 


Page 

Lundholm,  Rev.  Algot  T.,  Aledo. ..  198 

Lundholm,  Johan  Victor,  Rockford.  151 

Lundmark,  Hilding,  Chicago  Hei'ts  244 

Lydehn,  Albert  J.,  Moline 84 

Lyon,  Andrew  J.,  Moline 84 

Malnier,  Eugene,  Aurora 54 

Malmstedt,  Frank    L.,  Berwyn  ....  238 

Mongerson,  John  Fr.,  St.  Charles..  67 

Micholson,  John,    Batavia 60 

Miller,  Rev.  John   P.,  Moline 85 

Moline,  Chas.  M.,  Berwyn 238 

Mortenson,  Jonas,  Evanston 249 

Nelson,  Rev.  Adolph,   Moline 86 

Nelson,  Albert,  Chicago  Heights...  245 

Nelson,  Andrew   E.,  Princeton 129 

Nelson,  Andrew  M.,  Berwyn 239 

Nelson,  Rev.  Charles  G.,  Evanston.  250 

Nelson,  David,  Evanston 251 

Nelson,  Gustaf,    Batavia 61 

Nelson,  John,  Chicago  Heights 245 

Nelson,  Nels,  Rockford 152 

Nelson,  Peter,  Lenient 257 

Nelson,  Wm.,  Rockford.   153 

Newman,  Emil,  Kewanee 19 

Newman,  Rev.  Sven,  Lockport 229 

Noel,  Fritz  C.,  Leland 209 

Nordstedt,  Andrew,  Joliet 227 ' 

Nore"n,  Dr.  Gunner,  Kewanee 19 

Nylander,  Aug.,    Rockford 154 

Nystrom,  Axel  J.  G.,  Peoria 203 

Nystrom,  Carl  A.,  Kewanee 20 

Nystrom,  Carl  J.,  Peoria 203 

Nystrom,  Oscar  C.  F.,  Peoria 203 

Oberg,  C.  Enoch,  Princeton 131 

Oberg,  Claus  J.,  Princeton 130 

Olson,  Charles,    St.  Charles 68 

Olson,  Charles,  Peoria 204 

Olson,  Lars  E.,  Oneida 47 

Olson,  Oliver  O.,  Rock  Island 113 

Olson,  Peter  T.,  Galesburg 42 

Olson,  Walter,    Woodhull 26 

Olsson,  Anna,  Rock    Island 113 

Olsson,  Dr.  Eric    P.,  Paxton 189 

Ortlund,  Victor,    Evanston  251 

Ostrom,  Louis,  Rock  Island 114 

Ottoson,  Rev.  Hans    P..  Ophiem...  22 

Paulson,  Otto   W.,  Rockford .  162 

Pearson,  N.  H.,    Paxton 190 

Pearson,  Rev.  Peter,   Rankin 217 

Pearson,  Peter,    Sibley 192 

Peterson,  Andrew,    Paxton 191 

Peterson,  Andrew,  Rock    Island....  116 


Page 

Peterson,  Aug.,  Maywood 259 

Peterson,  Aug.,  Maywood 259 

Peterson,  Carl,    Berwyn 239 

Peterson,  Chas.,   Hoopeston 216 

Peterson,  Frank  A.,  Geneseo 16 

Peterson,  Prof.  Frank  E.,  Rock  I'd  117 

Peterson,  Franz  O.  Aurora 55 

Peterson,  G.  Leander,  Moline 87 

Peterson,  Gustaf,  Princeton 131 

Peterson,  Gustaf,  Bloomington 214 

Peterson,  Johannes,    Moline 86 

Peterson,  Oscar  M.,  Galva 13 

Peterson,  Pehr  A.,  Rockford 155 

Peterson,  Rev.  Peter,  Galesburg....  43 

Peterson,  Samuel,   DeKalb 172 

Peterson,  Swan,  Gibson   City 182 

Peterson,  Rev.  Theo.  N.,  Geneva...  64 

Peterson,  Victor  O.,  Rock    Island..  116 

Rosendahl,  Martin  P.,  Evanston...  252 

Rundquist,  Wm.,  Elgin 62 

Ryberg,  Rev.  E.  A.,    DeKalb 172 

Sallstrom,  Rev.  Johan,  Galesburg..  45 

Samuelson,  Chas.  A.,  Sherrard 200 

Sandehn,  Chas.  G.  W.,  Rockford..  157 

Sandsten,  Frank  O.,  Andover 6 

Seastrand,  Rev.  Fr.  A.,  Gibson  City  183 

Setterdahl,  Rev    Victor,.  Andover. . .  7 

Setterdahl,  Albertina,  Andover 7 

Shallene,  Frank  W.,  Moline 88 

Shallene,  John  W.,  Moline 88 

Shugren,  Rev.  Eric    O.  Waukegan.  222 

Sjoholm,  John  E.,  Chicago  Heights  245 

Sjostrom,  Rev.  Nils  P.,  Rockford..  158 

Skarin,  John  A.,  Lemont 257 

Skoglund,  Axel  G.,  DeKalb 173 

Skoglund,  Rev.  Emil,  DeKalb 173 

Smith,  Nels  J.,  DeKalb 174 

Stark,  Rev.  Aug.  W.,' DeKalb 175 

Stark,  Rev.  Gustaf  K.,  Evanston...  253 

Stephenson,  Carl  A.,  Ophiem 23 

Stone,  Chas.    J.,  DeKalb 171 

Stoneberg,  Gust.,  Kewanee 20 

Streed,  Frank   H.,  Cambridge 10 

Stromberg,  Carl    E.,  Rockford 158 

Sundeen,  Fred,  Moline 89 

Sundine,  John,  Moline 90 

Sundmark,  Rev.  Carl  W.,  Rockford  159 

Svenson,  C.  Oscar,  Joliet 228 

Swanburg,  Rev.  G.  A.,  Woodhull..  26 

Swanson,  Chas.  G.,    Princeton 132 

Swanson,  J.  E.,  Rockford 160 

Swanson,  Peter,   Svcamore. .  21 


268 


INDEX 


Page 

Swanson,  Peter  F.,  Galesburg 44 

Swanson,  Peter  N.,  Hoopeston 216 

Swenson,  Hjalmar,  Chicago  Heights  246 

Tengdin,  Chas.  G.,   Joliet 228 

Tholin,  Oscar  A.,  Rockford 160 

Tingwall,  David  H.,  Peoria 204 

Tornblad,  John    O.,  Bloomington. .  .   214 

Tragardh,  Carl  E.,  Rockford 161 

Tropp,  Swan,   Moline 91 

Udden,  Johan  A.,  Rock  Island 118 

Udden,  Johanna,  Rock  Island 120 


Page 

Urbom,  Dr.  Carl  V.,  Rockford 163 

Wallberg,  Lars   P.,  Bloomington...   215 
Wallenius,  Rev.  Carl  G.,  Evanston.  254 

Westerlund,  Peter,  Orion 24 

Widell,  Swan  O.,  Rockford 151 

Williams,  John,   Galva 13 

Williamson,  Moses   O.,  Galesburg..     46 
Willing,  Rev.  Hjalmar  W.,  Victoria     48 

Wistrand,  Wilhelmina,  Geneva 64 

Youngert,  Dr.  Sven   G.,  Rock   Isl'd   120