August Holmquist & Family

August emigrated to America from Sweden in 1880 and settled in Chicago.

1. August Wilhelm Holmquist (April 6, 1860 - August 5, 1921) married Hanna Kämpe (May 27, 1868 - August 25, 1944).1 August was born in Lindhult, Kronobergs district of Småland, Sweden, the seventh of eight children. At about 20 years of age he took a ship to America with his brother, Johannes in 1880, and settled in Chicago. He lived for a time with his sister Menny and her husband.

He married Hanna on January 5, 1889 about nine years after arriving in America.

August worked for the Ajax Forgings Co. 2 with his brother Johannes who was three years older than he. Johannes taught his brother how to make railroad switches (called frogs), which August apparently did professionally from then on. August and Hanna also owned a farm in Grovertown, Indiana.

August grew up on a farm in Sweden along with his brothers and sisters. The tie of the Holmquist family to the land must have been strong. August's sister Menny and her husband John Carlson, his other sister Annie, and his brother Johannes all bought farms next to one another in Grovertown. August did not become a farmer though. His small farm brought in extra cash from tenant farmers who farmed the land in the spring and summer. His family though lived for a time on the farm while August worked in Chicago. In the 'old days' he used to ride a horse or a horse and buggy from Chicago to Grovertown on the weekends to be with his family - a rather long distance to travel by horse.3

August was a religious man. He converted along with his wife from Lutheranism, the state church of Sweden, to Methodism in America. He was first a member of the Emanuel Church in Chicago,4 but in the autumn of 1916, transferred his membership to Auburn Park Methodist. At both churches he served as trustee.

August and Hannah were part a group that founded the Methodist Camp Grounds in Des Plaines, and were actively involved at the camp grounds for many years. They would camp on the river and spend the days in devotion. Later when August had passed away, Hannah carried on this tradition for many more years. Hannah spent her summers there if she was not in Europe. Hannah's grand-daughter Lois writes,

The Des Plaines Methodist Campgrounds is a religious camp - all of us have grown up there! It is open for six months in the Spring/Summer - and was founded for the churches in the area - Swedish, Norwegian and American. It is a quite large camp today [1987] but when it was founded it was on the banks of the Des Plaines river. They held 'meeting' and invited preachers from all over the country to come and speak - pray etc. It was quite something - and they [August and Hannah] were part of the group which founded the place. Grandmother always stayed at the Bethany Church house after she was alone. Spent the entire summer out there.5

August was described as being a quiet, peaceful man and that his "words were few, but his deeds always spoke a strong language."6

August's grand-daughter, Lois did not know her grandfather since he had died before she was born. She writes what she knew about him, "I have been told by someone who knew both of them [August and Hannah] that my grandfather was a very quiet man - had red hair, rather auburn, with a full mustache. My grandmother was the talkative one - with a good sense of humor . . . apparently he [August] was a dignified man who stayed in the background. He provided well for his family - nice house, summer cottage (quite large) He died in 1921 . . ."7 An obituary appeard in Swedish in a publication at the time, possibly the church bulltin. Below is a translated text:8

Messanger 9

August Wm Holmquist was born in Lindhult, Kronobergs district of Småland, Sweden April 5, 1860 and died quite suddenly without signs of illness August 5, 1921 at the age of 61 years and 4 months.

In the year 1880 he arrived together with his brother to this country and settled in Chicago. On January 5, 1889 he entered into marriage10 with Miss Hanna Kämpe and this marriage was blessed with seven children of which 3 went to the Lord before their father.

During pastor Andrew Sallens ministry in Emanuel Church brother Holmquist converted to God and soon after joined the congregation [at Emanuel Church]. In the autumn of 1916 his membership was transfered to Auburn Park Church. During the span of 26 years he was faithful to God and his church. He was a quiet, peaceful man. His words were few, but his deeds always spoke a strong language. He was faithful in every task and you could always count on him no matter what the task.

At Emanuel he served the Lord many years as trustee11, and continued that responsibility here [at Auburn Park Church]. His term was up this autumn, but we never dreamed that he had served out his time in the congregation of the Lord on earth. In our sorrow we are happy that he served his mission [in life] so well and the hope of an eternal reunion stills sorrowed hearts.

He is grieved closest by his beloved wife, four children: Mrs. Alma Westerdahl, Mrs Ebba Lennström, Alice and Violet , two sons-in-law, one nephew, two sisters, one brother and a large gathering of family and friends.

Peace on the memory of the noble husband, father, and friend.

E.J. Eliason.

After August's death, Hannah and her daughter Violet remained at their home at 7617 So. Morgan [32nd Ward] Chicago, Illinois, USA. After Violet's death Hannah moved to the home of her grand-daughter, Lois Lennstrum King and her parents until her death in 1944. 12

Google Maps: 7617 So. Morgan [32nd Ward] Chicago, Illinois

7617 South Morgan Street, Chicago, Illinois in 2007

August Holmquist: Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index

This is what Lois has to say about her grandmother:

Hannah was the first of her immediate family to immigrate to this country [America]. She came from Degafors, Varmland [Sweden]. I would say she arrived here in 1883 or 84 - from what I can remember - she told me she was 16 when she arrived. She worked as a domestic [servant] and paid the way for her father, mother and sisters to immigrate. (Must have been something, not speaking the language and all - sure had courage.)

I know from experience how devout my grandmother was in her faith. She believed in showing her philosophy by example - never by words. I questioned her once about something and can remember her reply. "If I went against my faith and someone saw this and believed they too could do it, and they failed - then I failed my God." She read her Bible every night and we said our prayers faithfully . . . One funny little thing - she had a radio show, soap opera, which lasted for 15 minutes, she followed every day . . . she was intent on the story - it was not so daring as they are today - but she really followed it much like a serial.

My memory of some funny things were going to Chinatown - in Chicago and she loved the area. They all knew her - and if you can imagine the conversations with the Swedish and Chinese accents!

She was an excellent cook and her bakery products were second to none. Whenever the church had a bake sale her contributions were the first to go - sometimes they were never on display because the order had been filled.13

In another letter Lois writes:

I have many fond memories [of Hannah] - first she was a devout Christian. She - and my grandfather - converted to Methodism and she remained such until her death. Her philosophy was to show her faith by example - not words - I never heard her say an unkind word about anything or anyone. She kept her faith - and its rules - never wavering. She read the Bible every night and we said our prayers faithfully. You see, we shared a room - and what fun she was!

She loved to travel and would at the mention of the word. She made several trips back to Sweden . . . and as soon a I could go (age 5) she packed my mother and I for a trip back to the "old country." While my mother traveled the continent [grandmother] took me to Denmark, Norway and Germany. She was a delightful lady with a tremendous sense of humor - I recall so many things and I really have to laugh.

Hanna Holmquist [Hanna Kampe]: Illinois, Deaths Index

August and Hanna had one boy and six girls. They were Elsa, Bernard, Rose, Alma, Ebba, Alice and Violet.

1.1. Elsa Holmquist (September 24, 1889 - June 4, 1895). Elsa probably did not have a middle name. There was none recorded in the family bible handed down in the August family, and neither was there one on the cemetery plot papers.

1.2. Bernard Holmquist (May 13, 1891 - December 1, 1893). Bernard died at only 2 years of age. Later another Bernard Holmquist was to be born, but this time to John T. and Ruth Holmquist. This second Bernard did not know there was one that had preceded him until these family archives were being updated in 1987. It is unlikely that the second Bernard was named after this one.14

1.3. Rose Holmquist (November 14, 1893 - September 20, 1894). Rose probably did not have a middle name. There was none recorded in the family bible handed down in the August family, and neither was there one on the cemetery plot papers.

1.4. Alma Evangeline Holmquist (October 2, 1895 - June 10, 1985) married Arvid Emanuel Westerdahl, Sr. (May 14, 1896 - September 1961). Arvid was a Methodist minister. His congregations included Denver, Racine, Wisconsin, Iowa, Galesburg, Illinois and Chicago. While in Galesburg he enrolled in Knox College completing courses in pre-med to become a doctor of medicine. He concluded his studies at Rush Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Alma aided him in his goal by becoming a secretary at Rand McNally. After receiving his M.D., he practiced in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, and was on the staff at West Suburban Hospital. He continued preaching on a guest basis throughout his life.

Alma and Arvid had three children, Wendell, Edward and Jay. For more information on these children and their descendants see August Also Makes Frogs.

1.5. Ebba Victoria Holmquist (October 31, 1898 - May 1, 1960) married Roy Nathaniel Lennstrum (April 6, 1894 - June 25, 1946).

According to her daughter Lois,

My mother was a dramatist . . . In today's vernacular a bit difficult to describe. She performed before church groups [and] clubs [of both] men and women. Not only did she do monologues but also play reviews in which she took each and every role in the play. She was very well known in the Chicago area . . . . She taught me 'the trade' and although I did continue in her footsteps it was not a full occupation for me. As a child from six years on I was a member of the Jack and Jill Players (a professional children's acting group) and was a contract radio performer.

My father was an engineer and a very devout family man and Christian. He was very active in church activities whenever he could be. In later years he traveled a great deal. As a matter of fact he had just returned from a business trip when he died.18

At the time of his death Roy was Director of Purchases with General American Transportation Company.

1.5.1. Lois Evangeline Lennstrum (June 12, 1927 -) married Robert Daniel King (September 2, 1923 -January 5, 1983).

Upon Lois birth, her father cabled Lois' grandmother, Hannah, who was on a ship bound for Sweden. When Lois was five, Hannah took both Lois and her mother for a visit to the 'old country' of Sweden. While Lois mother visited the rest of the continent Lois and Hannah traveled the Scandinavian countries, and also Germany.

1.6. Alice Evelyn Holmquist (April 18, 1902 - December 28, 1986 ) married Louis Ferdinand Becker (April 29, 1903 - March 4, 1957). Alice was a comptometer operator and worked for Temporary Placement Agencies in Chicago. Louis owned and operated the Chatfield Curtain Cleaners. In later years he worked as a dispatcher for the New York Central Railroad in Chicago.

Alice and Louis had three children Janis, John and Jerrold. For more information on these children and their descendants see August Also Makes Frogs.

1.7. Violet Holmquist (June 17, 1905 - March 17, 1923). Violet died at only 17 years of age of complications of rheumatic fever, complications of which she suffered ever since her birth. Lois Lennstrum had never met Violet, but had heard that she was "a very calm individual and she gave off this aura [of calmness] when you met her."19

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