John H Malmquist

MALMQUIST

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 21:25:48

John H Malmquist, who carries on general farming on Sec 35, Grant township, is a native of Sweden his birth having occurred in that land on June 21, 1866. There he spent twenty years, having acquired a good education in his native town, He became familiar with farm work in all its departments and in 1887 he resolved to seek a home beyond the Atlantic and accordingly sailed for New York. Making his ay to Iowa in the fall of the same year, he took p his adobe in Boone county, joining an uncle who was living here. In order to gain a knowledge of English he attended the public schools in this locality, Entering upon his business career he was employed as a farm hand by the month and on March 7, 1889, he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Johanna Johnson, a native of Sweden, who was brought to the new world when two years of age. Her father, Eric Johnson left his native land in 1870 and with his family came to Boone county, Iowa where he opened up and developed a farm becoming one of the substantial men of his locality.
After his marriage Mr Malmquist engaged in farming with his father-in-law for six years and then purchased 160 acres of land on Sec 35, Grant township. It was almost destitute of improvements and in fact the prairie was still covered with its native grasses, but his energy and unremitting labor soon wrought a great change in the appearance of the tract. He divided his farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and the work of plowing and planting was carried on until excellent harvests now reward his labors. He has a neat frame residence, a large barn and other good outbuildings, has shade and fruit trees and is raising a good grade of stock in addition to the cultivation of his crops.
The home of Mr and Mrs Malmquist has been blessed with four children: Harry J E, Hulda, Godfrey, and Carl. Our subject and his e3stimbale wife are widely known in this community and have a large circle of friends. They are devoted members of the Swedish Lutheran church and Mr Malmquist is a pronounced Republican. He cast his first presidential ballot for William McKinley, in 1896. He is now serving as a member of the township central committee and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. For a number of years he has served as supervisor of highways and is the present constable. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions and is reorganized as one of the leading me3mbers f the Republican party in this locality. In addition to his home place he owns 80 acres of land on Sec 27, Grant township. His valuable farming interests are the visible evidences of life of thrift and industry. Dependent upon his own resources from an early age he has been untiring in his work and as the years have passed his labors have been crowned with a high measure of success, which never fails to reward diligence when guided by sound business judgment.

1902 Boone County History Book