Otto L. Hedlund (1875-1946)

HEDLUND

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/3/2022 at 21:58:04

Otto Ludwig Hedlund
(July 5, 1875 – November 1946)

No foreign element has become a more important part in our American citizenship than that furnished by Sweden. The emigrants from that land have brought with them to the new world the stability, enterprise and perseverance characteristic of their people, and have fused these qualities with the progressiveness and indomitable spirit of the west. Mr. Hedlund is a worthy representative of this class. He came to America a poor boy, hoping to benefit his financial
condition here, and his dreams of the future have been more than realized. He now occupies a very prominent place in the business
circles of Knierim as a dealer in lumber. Mr. Hedlund was born on the 5th of July, 1875, in Sweden, of which country his parents, Edward and Elizabeth Hedlund, are still residents. He has two brothers, Hugh and Benjamin, who also make their home in Sweden, our subject being the only one of the family to come to the United States. He was only twelve years old when he crossed the broad Atlantic, and on landing in this country came at once to Iowa, arriving in Harcourt, Webster County, on the 9th of September, 1887. His education, which was begun in the schools of his native land, was supplemented by a course in the public schools of Webster County. He began his business career as assistant postmaster at Harcourt under President Cleveland's first administration, and served in that capacity about two years. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Hedlund
went to Greene County, Iowa, where he spent two years, working on a farm during the summer season and attending school through the winter months, and at the end of that time removed to Callender, Webster County. In the spring of 1892 he came to Calhoun County, where he worked one summer for a farmer living one mile from Farnhamville, and then engaged in clerking in a general store of that town for one year. The following year was spent as a farm hand Webster County, and in the fall of 1894 he returned to Farnhamville, where he engaged in the poultry business that winter. The next sununer he resumed clerking and continued to follow that pursuit for one year. In the spring of 1896, on account of failing health, he sought employment on a farm south of Farnhamville, but in the fall returned to town and accepted a position with a physician. Mr. Hedlund went to Lyon County, Minnesota, m the spring of [897, and entered the service of the Winona Lumber Company
as second man in their lumber yard at that place, where he worked one year. He then took charge of the clothing department of a
department store in Minneota, Minnesota, but on the 1st of January, 1899, returned to Webster County, Iowa, and accepted the position of extra man in the lumber yard of J. & W. C. Shull, of Gowrie, where he worked about a year. On the 16th of November, 1899, he came to Knierim in the employ of that firm and opened the first lumber yard at this place, establishing business here before there was a house in sight. He furnished the lumber for the first building erected in the town, owned by J. H. Kelly, of Barnum, who opened the first store here. His next sale was to J. B. Wartchow, on the 10th of January, 1900, followed by his sale to D. F. Reents, who built a blacksmith shop and dwelling, the latter being the first house erected in Knierim. Later our subject sold; the lumber to D. H. French for the erection. of his hotel, then for Dr. Flinn's residence and for Frank Tolan’s furniture store. On
the 15th of October, 1900, he furnished the lumber for the residence of William Knierim, and the following March the lumber for the residences of B. F. Owens and Louis Shellard, and the restaurant now occupied by Miss Julius. When Mr. Hedlund arrived in what is now Knierim there was nothing here but an oat stubblefield, and
he has watched with interest the entire development of the town, at the same time doing all in his power to aid in its advancement. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, thoroughly reliable in all things, and it is to such men that the west owes its prosperity and rapid advancement. He has won the proud American title of a self made man, having through his own well directed efforts acquired a competency. Politically he has always affiliated with the Republican party since attaining his majority, and socially is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Manson, and the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Farnhamville. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.422]