Johan Holmquist & Family

1. Johan (John) Holmquist (August 26, 1841 - July 3, 1894) married Stina Jonsdotter (November 9, 1843 - October 17, 1885). Johan was born in Stenbrohult in Sweden and Stina in Virestad parish.

Johan was the son of Elin and Jön Svensson. Jön died and Elin married Trufvid in 1848 when Johan was only about 2 years old and Johan's brother, Gustav, was less than a year old. Upon his father's death Johan, Gustav and their mother inherited Lindhult Gästgivargård (Lindhult Inn) from their father. Later Elin gave her portion of the inn to her husband Trufvid where he later lived, and which he managed.

For more information on Johan's mother Elin and his second father, Trufvid, see the Introduction to the Holmquist Family: Trufvid and Elin.

Johan married Stina in 1866 the same year that his mother passed away. In 1867 their first son, Joseph was born, and in 1869 Stina gave birth to their second son, Sven. In 1871 the brothers' sister, Sophie joined the family.

The family first lived on the farm Lindhult with Johan's stepfather, Trufvid.(It is not known at this time whether she was still alive when Johan and Stina moved onto the farm). Johan owned 1/8 of the farm, probably having inherited it from his father Jön or from his mother. On April 19, 1873 Johan and Stina moved to Virestad, the parish where Stina had been born, and settled on the farm Apelhult. Johan is listed in Swedish records as being the owner of the farm. Carl Holmquist was born July 1 of the same year in Virestad. Anna was born April 9, 1876.

On June 19, 1877 the family moved again to the farm called Garanshult Västergård where Johan is 1/4 owner. Johan calls himself Holmquist, his step-father's last name. Their daughter, Anna, now only two years old died in August of 1878. What she died of we don't know at this time. Another daughter was born to Johan and Stina, Anna Maria in June of 1878. Another sister, Ida, was born in December of 1881 and Gustaf Julius in 1884.

In January, little Julius, now only six months old died. In November 1885 Stina died in Virestad of an ulcer. She left 6 children ranging in age from 3 years to 18 years. In 1886 Sven, aged 17 years, dies. Life was short for many in the old days.

On November 22, 1887 Johan's first born son, Joseph, who was now twenty years old, left Sweden for America.

On May 7, 1888 the father of the family, Johan, obtained an exit permit for America, but we don't know when he actually left Sweden. Eventually, all Johan's children would leave for America; Carl (known as Charlie in America, apparently) together with Emma in 1891, Anna in 1892, and Tillie possibly in 1892 with her sister, Anna.

They were not the first of the Holmquist family to leave for America for Johannes and August left for America in 1880. Perhaps it was these two brothers who encouraged their half-brother and half-sisters and nephews and nieces to join them in America. If they did not encourage them, they at least set an example.

We do not know at this time where Johan settled in America. It is likely though that he settled in Chicago.

Tragically, on July 3, 1894 Johan is "killed by railway in America acc[ording] to letter of 4 Oct[ober] from the deceased's children" as is recorded in official Swedish records. We did not know how or when Johan died until a researcher in Sweden came across this entry in official records in Sweden, which was taken from a letter sent by Johan's children in America to Sweden in 1894. 1 He was only 52 years old, and had been in America for only six years or so.

John Holmquist: Illinois, Select Deaths Index

John Holmquist: Probate Record

John Holmquist: Probate Record original

As mentioned Johan's brothers and sisters were Gustav, Jonas, Kristina, Menny, Johannes, August and Anna.

For information on each of their descendants, except for Jonas who had no descendants, click on their names note above.

Johan and Stina's children were Joseph, Sven, Sophie, Carl, Anna who died young, another daughter named Anna, and Ida. Read about each of these children below.

1.1 Joseph Holmquist (February 8, 1867 - September 1, 1913) 2 who was born in Stenbrohult, Sweden, and was the first of his immediate family to emigrate to America leaving Sweden on November 22, 1887.

Joseph, also known as Yeppy, worked as a handyman for his sister, Emma, and her husband, Olof in their saloon in Chicago. He remained unmarried. It had been thought that Joseph died in a fight in 1913, but burial records say that he died of lobar pneumonia.3 Evelyn Shellberg remembers a man laid out in a coffin in the saloon one day when she was just a girl. Perhaps this man was Joseph.

1.2 Sven Holmquist (January 11, 1869 - September 7, 1886). Sven was born in Stenbrohult, Sweden and died at 17 years of age in Sweden.

1.3 Sophie Emilie Holmquist (March 13, 1871 - October 16, 1965), known as Emma in America, married Olof M. Nelson (November 3, 1872 - May 10, 1911). 4 Emma was born in Stenbrohult, Sweden and left for America on March 18, 1891 together with her brother Charlie.

Emma's husband, Olof Nelson, was born in Virlanda (sp?), Sweden, and emigrated to America as did his brothers Anders (Fritz) and Peter, 5 and his sister Ida. They left behind on the family farm in Sweden their brothers Bengt and Aaron, and their sisters Carolina, Jennie, Hanny, Hilda, and Betty. Their parents were Nils Anderson of Hjälmaryd, Blädinge and Ellen Jonasdotter who was a cook of Buhult, Virestad.

When Emma Holmquist first arrived in America she got a job as a maid as did many other immigrant women. One story as related by Emma to Ella Nelson, Emma's daughter-in-law, is about Emma and a man caller or visitor. The woman who Emma worked for told her that a man was coming to call and that when he arrived to come upstairs and get her. Emma, knowing only very little English and trying to understand the lady's hand motions, thought she said to bring the man upstairs when he arrived, which Emma did. This was no doubt embarrassing to the man, to Emma's employer, and eventually to Emma. To bring a male caller directly upstairs to where the bedrooms were probably located had certain implications around the turn of the century.

Sometime after Olof and Emma were married they owned a hand laundry in Chicago. After work Olof would stop at a saloon nearby almost every night before he continued on for home. One night Emma said to Olof (most likely in Swedish), "You're over at the saloon so much! Why don't you just buy it!" 6

Olof did just that. He bought the saloon, and Emma and Olof were saloon keepers for many years. Emma actually was following a family tradition. Emma's grandfather, Trufvid, owned, operated and lived in the Lindhult Inn in Sweden many years before. Emma was as old as thirteen when her grandfather died, she would have remembered her grandfather running the Lindhult Inn in Sweden before she and her family emigrated to America. Perhaps she helped out at the inn.

Now in America it seemed that Emma was always busy. She did the cooking for the lunch room at the rear of the saloon, did laundry, and of course, raised her children. Olof's brother, Anders [Fritz] Nelson, also worked in the saloon when his weather-stripping business was at a lull as did Emma's brother, Joseph, who earned his keep as a handy man in the saloon and may have died in a fight in that saloon.

The saloon was on the ground floor of a two story building on a corner in the vicinity of 22nd Street and Western in Chicago, probably on Bell or Leavitt. It was across the street from a factory. Employees from the factory depended upon the saloon for their noon meal which they ate in the lunch room connected by a door to the saloon. The children were never allowed to go through the saloon, but had to use the side entrance to the lunch room when came in for lunch at noon.

Olof andEmma and their kids, Hugo (who went by his middle name Walter), Oscar, Emmy, Carl, and Harry (who when by his middle name Edwin), lived in the same building as the saloon on the second floor. They may have had boarders as there were many men in those days who had their families back in Sweden and needed inexpensive places to stay and eat.7

At some time Olof's brother Pete, married Emma's sister, Tillie. They lived in a three story brick building, which at the time was about the newest building in the neighborhood, across from the saloon at 22nd and Western. The ground floor was made up of stores, with the corner business being a drug store. The two floors above were apartments. All these apartments it seems were filled with relatives.

Pete and Tillie lived with their daughter Ethel and niece Elaine Anderson on the second floor of this building. On the same floor was another apartment where Emma's sister Anna with her husband Axel, and their daughter Edna lived. Olof's other brother, Fritz Nelson, and his wife Esther lived with their two children, Evelyn who was called 'Evey' and Fred, on the 3rd floor of the same building. This was around1912 or 1913.

It is known that Emma made the best Swedish kringla and lemon cream pie, which no doubt would be included with their family picnics, "crawfish parties" and Thanksgiving dinners, and would have probably found their way out to the visitors eating at the saloon. She was also active in coffee klatches with her sisters Tillie and Anna, sister-in-laws Ida Anderson (Carlson) and Esther Nelson, and friends Mrs. Hahne, and Mrs. Alexander.

When the saloon was busy, these friends and relatives, except Esther who had two small children, helped Emma. Most the relatives spoke English well, but when the families got together Swedish flowed among the adults like a undulating spring with the children understanding the Swedish, but answering in English.

Olof died in 1911 at the young age of thirty-eight. Emma took charge of the saloon,8 continuing the cooking and, we assume, hiring a bar tender to manage the bar if she did not have one already. In 1916 Emma sold the saloon and moved to Cicero, Illinois at 1912 South 49th Avenue .The responsibility for managing the saloon was probably stressful because Emma is remembered as being more outgoing, and laughing more during the years after the saloon was sold, when she had moved to Cicero, and the children had grown older.

In Cicero Emma got to know many women in the church group with whom she socialized.

As mentioned above Olof's and Emma's children were Walter, Oscar, Emmy, Carl, and Edwin. The children were confirmed in the Lutheran church, which back in Sweden was the state church. All the children were 'adept at figures' it was said which made itself evident in playing cards, and in the occupations that they chose.

1.3.1 Hugo Walter Nelson (August 1, 1895 - August 15, 1933) married Lillian Wargowski (July 14, 1895 - May 30, 1981). Walter served in World War I and was in ill health for a long time. 9 Walter and Lillian had no children.

1.3.2 Oscar William Nelson (May 3, 1899 - February 19, 1969) 10 married Ella Smith (October 5, 1901 -).

Oscar started working for Western Electric, Hawthorne Plant, Cicero, Illinois when he was only 15 years old. The hiring age was 16, so he wrote down that he was 16 years old to get the job. He worked 47 years for the plant at which time he retired. He was a section chief in the Engineering Department. 11 The plant was at Cicero Avenue and 22nd Street which was within walking distance from their home.

Ella's family came from Holland in 1871 right after the Chicago fire. Ella's grandpa, Aldrich, bought a team of horses and a wagon and got a job for the city of Chicago cleaning up the debris from the fire.

Ella's family on her mother's side were the Klei family.

Though Oscar was confirmed in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (on May 17, 1914 with Reverend C. A. Lindwall) he also attended the Dutch Reformed Church when he started dating Ella. (Smart man.) In 1925 the church had two services - a Dutch service in the morning and an English service, and a Sunday School, in the afternoon.

Oscar and Ella met at Western Electric where they both worked in the Engineering Department.

Ella says he was a wonderful father and husband. He served on the consistory of his church, Keystone Reformed Church. Oscar was always interested in people and their needs. In his retirement book many complemented him on being a caring person.

Among his pastimes was bowling, and he was a member of a bowling team.

To read how Ella and Oscar met see Meeting of Oscar Nelson and Ella Smith.

Oscar and Ella had two children: Delores and Lyle.

For more information on Delores and Lyle and their extended family see Johan Holmquist

1.3.3 Elvira Emma Nelson (May 7, 1902 - February 23, 1980) who went by the name of Emmy married Dr. Frederick William Mahlke (August 26, 1906 - October 14, 1971). Fred was a dentist and Emmy a housewife who had also worked for Pinkert State Bank before her marriage to Fred.12 Their home was on 22nd Street. Emmy was confirmed in the Lutheran church. Among those in attendance was her sister-in-law Ella Nelson.

Emmy and Fred had four children: Audrey, Kent, Frederick and Paul.

For more information on Audrey, Kent, Frederick and Paul and their extended family see Johan Holmquist.

1.3.4 Carl Nelson (March 2, 1905 - September 27, 1940) married Edith Nielsen (????). Carl was a bank teller and was very active in tennis and was also a golfer. He died young due to a bad heart.15 Carl and Edith had no children.

1.3.5 Harry Edwin Nelson (May 9, 1908 -) married Barbara Jedlicka (October 3, 1909 - February 23, 1964) and later Lois Heath Sanders (September 6, 1909 - ) on January 2, 1975. Edwin was an accountant. He enjoys playing golf.

Harry's two children are Brent and Paul.

For more information on Brent and Paul and their extended family see Johan Holmquist.

1.4. Carl Holmquist (July 1, 1873 - 1939) who was known as Charlie in America, was born in Virestad, Sweden, and left for America with his sister Emma on March 18, 1891. In America he lived with his sister at 1912 South 49th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois and passed away in that town. Charlie was not married. It was said he did some traveling, but where he traveled we do not know at this time. He did the gardening each year for Ella and Oscar Nelson including planting a row of red 4 o'clocks in front of the garage. In 1939 he became ill and went to the hospital. Oscar and Ella visited him in the hospital to encourage him, but he died during the night.

1.5. Anna Holmquist (April 9, 1876 - August 22, 1878). Anna died in Sweden at only two years of age.

1.6. Anna Maria Holmquist (June 14, 1878 - August 8, 1956) married Axel Learder Nordstrom (May 26(?), 1869 - December 14, 1957). Anna was born in Sweden and left for America on April 22, 1892, possibly along with her sister Tillie. Anna lived in Chicago.16

Anna was active in coffee klatches with her sister Emma and other women. She also would help out in the saloon owned by her sister and brother-in-law when it was busy. Axel was a cabinetmaker.

1.6.1. Edna Lynn Nordstrom (May 13, 1901 - January 29, 1972) married Anthony Joseph Hudec (September 19, 1898 - deceased) on July 28, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. Tony was of Bohemian background.

Tony owned Hudec and Sons, Inc., a General Motors Oldsmobile dealer. His son Wayne was the new car manager while his second son Floyd was the used car manager. Tony and his parents came from Yugoslavia. Edna was born in Chicago.17

Edna and Anthony had two children, Wayne and Floyd.

For more information on Wayne and Floyd and their extended family click on Johan Holmquist.

1.7. Ida Mathilda Holmquist (December ?, 1881 - August 18, 1923)18 who was called Tillie in America obtained her exit permit for America on April 22, 1892. She may have left on that same day for America with her sister Anna. Tillie married Peter Nelson (May 30, 1874 - 195?), the brother of Olof Nelson. Olof married Tillie's sister Emma.

Tillie was said to be the prettiest of the Holmquist sisters, and all were known to be wonderful cooks, bakers and homemakers.

Sometime after her husband's death on December 18, 1908, Peter Nelson's sister Ida, and Ida's daughter Elaine who was only four at the time of her father's death, lived with Tillie and Peter in an apartment building in the town of Kirkland. Later Pete, Fritz and Anna together with their families along with Elaine, moved to 22nd and Western across the street from Olof's and Emma's saloon. Elaine's mother took up practical nursing on the north side of Chicago in order to support herself and Elaine, and lived at the place where she worked.

While Ida continued her nursing, Pete, Tillie, Ethel and Elaine moved to a two flat building around 23rd Place and California. Pete worked at Kimball Piano Company.

Elaine lived with Pete and Tillie off and on for several years. Evelyn who was called Evey, the daughter of Pete's brother Anders (Fritz) Frithiof, also, lived with Pete and Tillie for a while though not at the same time as Elaine. Evey remembers Tillie making her and Ethel go to Sunday School every Sunday morning to learn Swedish catechism. She never understood a word; just learned everything by rote. Her motivation was increased by the fact that if she did try hard, and learn her catechism, she was given a little money.

Later Pete bought a place at Westmont and Cicero, but had just moved there when Tillie became sick, at which time they moved to an apartment at 22nd and Cicero over the Pinkert State Bank in Cicero.

Tillie died in 1923.19 During the time of her illness Pete asked his sister Ida to come and care for her. At the time of Tillie's death Pete worked as a security guard at Pinkert State Bank, and lived with his daughter Ethel above the bank. Ethel also worked in the bank with Emmy Nelson, daughter of Emma and Olof, and a brother of Emmy's - possibly Carl. Later when Ethel married, Pete lived with his daughter and son-in-law and then moved back to Sweden. He died in Sweden - possibly in the 1950's and is buried nearby Evelyn's father in Jutegård Bladinge churchyard.

Pete's brother, Fritz, was sickly and spent many years in the hospital. Evey lived with her uncle's family twice between 1916 and 1920 while her brother Fred lived with Esther's brother, Tage Friberg, who lived on the north side of Chicago at approximately 4200 North on Monticello.

In 1916 Fritz went back to Sweden to regain his health, but died there in 1922. Evey's mother, Esther, in the mean time worked as a maid 20 to wealthy families to make enough money to support herself, Evey, and Evey's brother, Fred. Evey and Fred lived at various relatives homes until they were nine and ten when a great aunt took them both in. Evey was about nineteen years old when both she and Fred were able to live once again with their mother.

Evey eventually married Arvid Shellberg and had a daughter by the name of Darlene. Evey worked as a secretary for Illinois Bell for over nineteen years, and as a secretary in Patent Law for eighteen years.

1.7.1. Ethel Nelson (September 8, 1906 - August 31, 1982) married Victor Karlsen (December 13, 1896 - May 24, 1971) an attorney. Ethel lived for a time with Evelyn Shellberg whose father, Anders Frithiof Nelson, was the brother of Olof and Pete Nelson who both married Holmquist sisters. At the time Ethel had cancer of the colon and Evelyn took care of her. Victor died of a heart attack.

Ethel and Victor had three children, Warren, Carol and Roger.

For more information on Warren, Carol, and Roger and their extended family see Johan Holmquist.