JOHN LUNDBERG.

LUNDBERG, COOPER, CHARLSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 4/30/2006 at 14:44:40

Business enterprise in Forest City finds a worthy representative in John Lundberg, now a successful dealer in wood, coal and ice. He is numbered among the pioneer residents of Winnebago county, where he has resided for forty-six years, an interested witness of the development of this section of the state and an active participant in many plans and projects for the public good. He was born in Denmark, July 3, 1857, a son of James and Mary (Anderson) Lundberg, who came to the United States in 1867, reaching New York city on the 2d of September of that year. They made their way at once across the country to Oshkosh, Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and there resided for four years. In February, 1871, they became residents of Winnebago county, Iowa, and the father, who had hitherto followed the tailor's trade, here turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing a small farm of forty acres. He afterward sold that property and bought eighty acres in Hancock county, five miles east of Garner. Three years later he sold out and returned to Winnebago county, buying forty acres adjoining Forest City. Upon that farm he lived until his death, which occurred in August, 1916. His widow yet survives and still occupies the old home place.
John Lundberg attended the district schools, but his educational opportunities were limited, for he was the eldest child and his parents were in straitened financial circumstances, so that his labors were needed in the further development of the home farm. He worked in the fields from early youth and soon became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He was twenty years of age when he became a resident of Forest City, where for nine years he had charge of the live stock of J. A. Plummer. He afterward spent a year in the employ of the Central Elevator Company, which he represented on the road, looking after their live stock interests. He next accepted a position as grain buyer for Barton & Gardner, with whom he was associated for five years. In 1895 Mr. Gardner purchased Mr. Barton's interest and soon thereafter Mr. Lundberg was admitted to a partnership under the firm name of Gardner & Lundberg. That association was maintained for two years and in 1897 Mr. Lundberg bought out Mr. Gardner's interest and the same year built a new elevator, which he operated independently for five or six years. On the expiration of that period he sold his elevator but continued to deal in live stock and also to handle wood and coal, for in the meantime he had extended the scope of his activities to include the sale of fuel. He still remains an active and prosperous dealer in wood, coal and ice and is accorded a liberal patronage by reason of his enterprising methods and his honorable dealing. He also has other important interests, having served as a member of the board of directors and as secretary of the telephone company for a number of years. In fact he has been one of the foremost representatives of the business life of Forest City for an extended period and his interests have ever been of a character which have contributed to public progress as well as to individual prosperity.

In November, 1888, Mr. Lundberg was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Cooper, of Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, by whom he had four children, three of whom still survive, namely: Beatrice, who is the wife of Dr. J. E. Charlson, of Goldfield, Iowa; and Zylpy Jane and J. Harmon, both at home. Politically Mr. Lundberg is a republican and his fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. He has served for eleven years as a member of the town council and is the present street commissioner of Forest City. Any plan or measure for the upbuilding of the community is sure to receive his endorsement and cooperation and his work has long been an effective element in advancing the welfare of city and county.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917,Vol II, page 226