LINDBLOM, JOHN A.

LINDBLOM, ECKLUND, MATTISON, EVANS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/19/2004 at 12:55:29

Biography reproduced from page 515 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John A. Lindblom is one of the pioneers of Eagle township, Kossuth county, where he is successfully engaged in the cultivation of a large farm of five hundred and fifty acres. He was born in the province of Westmanland, in central Sweden, January 12, 1858, and is a son of John and Brita Lindblom, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father was born in 1811 and was by trade and occupation a watchmaker and jeweler. He was also for some time engaged in teaching school and being a musician of ability he filled the position as organist in the churches during many years of his active life. He died on his birthday December 31, 1886, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother is still living at her old home in Sweden at the advanced age of ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. John Lindblom were the parents of three children: Emma Christina, who died in early childhood in her native land; John A., the subject of this review; and Victor, who passed away in early childhood in his fatherland.

John A. Lindblom was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools. At the age of twelve years he was apprenticed by his father to learn the shoemaker’s trade and at the age of nineteen started in life for himself following the vocation of his trade for a livelihood until he reached the age of twenty-eight years. In 1885 he emigrated to America, reaching the shores of the new world on the 30th of July and continued his journey westward to Swea township, where for two weeks he lived with his family in the old Immigrant Company House, which at that time was occupied by the Baptist clergyman, Rev. Standberg, who lived in the second story. During his two weeks of residence at the Immigrant Company House he purchased forty acres of land in Eagle township, where he established his home and has since continued to live. During the years of his occupancy of that property he has continued to make additional purchases of farm land until he now owns five hundred and fifty acres of highly developed land. On this extensive property in connection with his sons he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was the fourth man to locate in Eagle township and has the distinction of having built his house the same year in which John E. Pehrson erected his first residence.

Mr. Lindblom was married in Sweden, November 6, 1881, to Miss Emma Christina Ecklund, the daughter of Andrew and Brita (Mattison) Ecklund, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father was a soldier in the King’s army and continued in that service until the time of his death which occurred in 1874. In his family were five children. Emma Christina is the wife of John A. Lindblom, the subject of this review. Gustave is engaged in mining in Sweden. John is a tailor in Sweden. Annie, who was for a number of years employed as a clerk in a cooperative store is now the owner of a farm in Sweden. Vendla, who completes the family, died in Sweden at the age of twenty-two years. The father was by trade and occupation a stone mason and, while crossing a lake near his home on the ice, with his tools on a hand sled, the ice gave away and he met his death by drowning. The shock of that untimely death resulted in the death of the wife ten days later and they were buried in one grave. They were the parents of five children, all of whom were small at the time of their parents’ death, Mrs. Lindblom being the eldest of her father’s family.

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lindblom are the parents of twelve children. Alec Michael, who was born August 11, 1882, married Miss Viola Eva Evans and they now reside near Wilkes, Iowa, where he is engaged in farming. Alec Salem, who was born January 23, 1884, resides with his parents on the home farm. One child, who was born at sea July 15, 1885, when the parents were en route to America, died three days later and was buried at sea. Annie Elizabeth, whose birth occurred November 18, 1886, was the first white child born in Eagle township. She is now attending the Iowa State University at Iowa City, Iowa, from which institution she graduated with the class of 1912. Wendla Marie, who was born January 5, 1889, is in her junior year in the Bethel Academy at St. Paul, Minnesota. Joseph Emanuel, whose birth occurred December 28, 1890, resides at home. Simon Edwin, born November 18, 1892, resides on the home farm. Emma Alicia Evora, who was born March 15, 1894, is still under the parental roof. Effie is deceased. Effie, the second of that name, born December 27, 1899, resides at home and is a pupil of district school No. 3, Eagle township. Myrtle, the youngest of the family, who was born October 8, 1902, is also a pupil of district school No. 3.

Mr. Lindblom is affiliated with the republican party but gives the benefit of his franchise to the candidate whom he believes represents the best interests of the people regardless of party lines. He was for ten years a member of the township school board, of which he was president for several years and is now serving as one of the directors in school district No. 3. He has also served for the past two years as school director at large. He and his wife and two eldest daughters are members of the Swedish Baptist church of Swea township. Mrs. Lindblom is a member of the Ladies Aid Society in her church and her daughter Annie is superintendent of the Sunday school. John A. Lindblom is in every way one of the representative citizens of Kossuth county and a man highly respected for his enterprise and his high qualities of heart and mind.