Johannes Holmquist Farm

Johannes grew up on a farm in Sweden along with his brothers and sisters. When he emigrated to America he worked as an ironsmith in Chicago. Farm life though did not leave the heart and mind of Johannes. He bought a small farm of about 40 acres in Grovertown, Indiana and on it built a wood frame house.

The family enjoyed their time on the farm. Johannes' son, Bill, writes in his Memoirs of William Holmquist:

During the our growing up years, the summers, about seven of them, we spent in Grovertown on Dad's farm. We raised potatoes, pickels, blueberries. Every day we went to the pickle factory in town with pickels. I still have a souvenier pickel with a pin attached. We use to walk to town with blueberries, the four of us, each carrying a bucket with 16 quarts. We had the best and cleanest berries and got two or three cents more a quart, usually 8 cents a quart. We took it out in trade, groceries, etc. Mr. Uncapher, the store keeper, always gave us a big scoop of candy - how we grabbed for those candies. We would work for Uncle Andrew Nelson, and after a day's work walked a mile and a half to go swimming. We had a place where we went in wearing or birthday clothes. A Mr. Olaf Wilson, a sailor, taught us all how to swim by throwing us into the lake. This was a happy time - summers at Grovertown.

Johannes brother, August Holmquist, bought a farm next to Johannes' farm.

When Johannes died his son John T. (Johny) bought the farm from his mother Emma for $4000, which was considered more than it was worth.

Later Johny enlarged and remodeled the farm house. Gus Peterson and Borgren were the carpenters. Johny did the plumbing and wiring.

Other family members had farms in the area.

In 1896 their uncle Andrew Nelson and his wife Anna (Holmquist) Nelson, sister of Johannes, and family moved from Chicago to Stark County, Indiana, near Grovertown and bought forty acres of farmland across the road from the farm of Andrew's brother, John. The Nelson brother's farms were a mile from the Holmquist farm according to William Holmquist. Andrew farmed his land until 1906 when he sold the farm and moved the family to Zion, Illinois where Peter got into construction work, and the moving of houses.

The 1900 federal census states that Andrew, age 43, was living in Oregon [township], Starke, Indiana with his family consisting of Anna, his wife age 36 Anna M, age 8, Hilder age 6, and Eling age 2.

1900 United States Federal Census: Andrew Nelson original

The census also states that they lived at number 73 though a street is not given. This is a farm with a farm house. The street then was probably an unpaved rural route. Interesting, the census also gives Andrews neighbors. John Nelson, Andrew's brother and his family lived at number 74. August Holmquist, the brother of Andrew's wife Anna, and his family lived at number 75. John Carlson and is wife Minnie, lived at number 77. Minnie (Holmquist) was the sister of Andrew's wife Anna.

Question is why did they all buy farms, and buy them near Stark County, Indiana near Grovertown. Many or all of these people grew up on farms in Sweden, so they had a natural inclination, possibly, to have land of their own. Also, if they were to buy farm land at all, it would be nice to have a farm near family members. Further, at least a few of the family, if not all, bought their land from Andrew Uncapher. Not only was Andrew a land owner and entrepreneur in Stark County, Indiana, but he also owned land in Englewood, Illinois. Holmquist family members originally set down roots in Englewood of emgrating to the USA from Sweden.

His real estate investments were not confined to Starke County. In1888 he went to Chicago, and in a subdivision of Englewood, then a separate suburb, bought seven acres, paying $1,600 an acre. He laid out this subdivision and improved it, and still owns a portion of the tract, which is now included in the City of Chicago and is one of the most closely built up sections of the city. . . .Mr. Uncapher gave his attention to this city property until 1892, and then returned and resumed business at his old stand in Grovertown.

For many years he continued handlng land in Starke County. done as much perhaps as any other one man to contribute fertile and productive acres to Starke County. Upwards of three thousand acres in Oregon Township alone have at one time or other been under his ownership . . . This includes much of the choicest land to be found in Oregon Township.

It would not be surprising if Andrew encouraged Swedes in Englewood to buy a choice piece of land in Indiana, where land was cheaper, and Starke County accessible by railroad from Chicago with a station at Englewood.

Contact me, Lennart, about corretions or additions you would like to make to the family information on this web page or contact me if you have any questions at family@earthwander.com

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