John Lundhal

LUNDAHL

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 12:31:14

John Lundahl, who now lives practicaly retired in Madrid,, was for may years a most successful agriculturist of Boone county, He was born in Sweden March 11, 1852, and in 1865 came to America, with his parents, Andrew and Johanna Lundahl, the family selecting Swede Point (now Madrid) for their first habitat. The first winter they spent in Douglas townhips, returning to Madrid in the spring. There they lived one year and then removed to the farm of John Anderson, where they spent a number of years in the cultivation of the soil. At the end of that time they were able to purchase a farm in Douglas township, which yielded them rich returns and which they managed for some time. Mr Lundhal of this review resided there until the death of the farhter. His parents were natives of Sweden. The mother was born January 7, 1829, and died in Marid at the age of seventy-seven years, May 10, 1906. After the death of her husband in Douglas township, Mrs Lundahl kept the family together and with the aid of the older sons successfully continued in the cultivation of the home farm. She had six chidlren as follows: Mrs Westerberg now deceased, John of this review, Fredrick born in 1854 deceased, Frank a resident of Canada, Victor of Garden townhsip this county and Mrs Amanda C Johnson, born February 10, 1868 who is residing in Madrid. Mrs Johnson is a native of Boone county, but the other members of the famiy were all born in Sweden.
John Lundahl continued agricultural pursuits until April 1, 1911, when he and his wife removed to Madrid to occupy their handsome dwelling in that city. The first business block of the town stood on the site where their home is now located, and in it a store was conducted by a man named Hornbeck. Mr Lundahl still owns 200 acres of highly improved and choice land in Garden township, 80 of which are located on seciton 29, 40 on section 30 and 80 in section 20. To the cultivation of this farm, purchased by him in 1876, he gave his attention for may years and it is today recognized as one of the most desireable in its region. Mr Lundahl always followed the most modern methods and cultivaed his fields toward soil preservation. He succeeded because he was careful and untiring and because he always applied great intelligence to his work.
On May 1, 1878, John Lundahl was married in Douglas township, to Jospehine Johnson, who was born August 2, 1855, in Sweden. Her parents came to America in 1868 and located in De Soto, Dallas county, Iowa. Her father A P Johnson a native of Sweden, was for a time connected with railroad work in De Soto. In 1875 he and his family located on a farm in Garden township, which he had purchased three years before. His wife Mrs Sophia (Johnson) Johnson, also a native of Sweden, now resides in Madrid. She bore her husband eight chilren: Mrs Josephine Lundahl, John of Des Moines, Aaron deceased, Swante deceased, August of Garden township, Matilda of Madrid, Jennie deceased and Oscar residing in Madrid. Some of the children were born in Sweden and the remainder in Boone county, where all were reared.
Mr and Mrs Lundahl had five children all born in Garden township, Esther, whose birth occurred March 19, 1879, and who died in Garden township, Harry Edwin born November 9, 1881, who resides on the home farm in Garden township, Mrs Mabel M Benson born August 11, 1884 who lives at Stillwater, Minnesota, her husband being chaplain at the state penitentiary of that place, Maude Matilda, who was born March 10, 1888, and died at the age of sixteen months, and Carl whose birth occurred August 30, 1890, now a member of the firm of Johnson & Lundahl of Madird, who are engaged in the buying and selling of grain and coal. All the children attended the common schools, the youngest son being a graduate of the Madrid high school. Harry attended Augustana College of Rock Island, Illinois for two years. Mrs Mabel Beson is highly proficient in music and took one year's instruction in that art at the Jewell Junction and one year in the Conservatory of Music of Drake University at Des Moines.
Mr and Mrs Lundahl are members of St John's Lutheran church of Madrid, of which he was trustee and has been a decon for a number of years. They are deeply interested in church work and carry out their Christian ideas in their everyday life. Both are enterprising citizens, desiours and willing to assume their share in any worthy public enterprise. Politically Mr Lundahl is a republican and for a number of years was trustee of Garden township. For twelve years he has been a school director, having alsways taken and interest in the cause of education.He has travled exentisively, having vistied Mexico and other countries. Both Mr and Mrs Lundahl are highly esteemed and respected in Madrid, where they have many friends and are ranked among the foremost citizens of Boone county, Mr Lundahl is entitled to the honor of being called a self made man, having built up his fortune without any outside help. The respect which has paid him is well merited and the prosperity which has come to him is due him in recognition of his unfaltering efforts.

1914 Boone County History Book