Johan the Emigrant to America

1. Johan 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.

Johan married Stina in 1866 the same year that his mother passed away. (It is not known at this time whether she was still alive when Johan and Stina moved onto the farm). 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. 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.

On November 22, 1887 Johan's first born son, Joseph, who was now 20 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.

On July 3, 1894 Johan is "killed by railway in America acc[ording] to letter of 4 Oct. from the deceased's children" as is recorded in official Swedish records.1 He was only 52 years old.

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.

When Emma Holmquist first arrived in America she got a job as a maid as did many immigrant women. One story as related by Emma to Ella Nelson, Emma's daughter-in-law, is about Emma and a man caller (visitor). The woman that 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 male visitor, 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.

Emma's husband, Olof Nelson, was born in Virlanda, 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 Hyalsnaryd, Bladinge and Ellen Jonasdotter who was a cook of Buhult, Werestad.

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 13 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 is 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] Fritziof 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.

Olof, Emma and the kids lived in the same building as the saloon. 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

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

Pete and Tillie, Emma's sister, 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.

Fritz and Esther Nelson with their two children, Evelyn and Fred, lived on the 3rd floor of the same building. This was about the years 1912-1913.

The saloon was on the ground floor of a two story building on a corner in the vicinity of Western and 22nd Street in Chicago, probably on Bell or Leavitt, 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 they came in for lunch at noon.

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) would help 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.

After Olof died in 1911 at the young age of 38 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 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 who she socialized with.

Olof's and Emma's children were Walter, Oscar, Emmy, Carl, and Edwin. Emma's children were confirmed in the Lutheran church, which was also the state church of Sweden. All the children were 'adept at figures' 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. Oscar was a member of a bowling team.

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

1.3.2.1 Dolores Jane Nelson (October 15, 1928 -) married Russell Van Kampen (May 31, 1926 - September 7, 1992). Russell worked for Bankers Life and Casualty Company for 38 years in sales and retired on January 1, 1988. He was born at home in Muskegon, Michigan and died at his lake home on Pelican Lake, Nisswa, Minnesota.

1.3.2.1.1. Darryl Lee Van Kampen (April 5, 1948 -) married Patricia Alene Tunks (February 6, 1950 -) and later Antonia Marie Hughes (August 26, 1954 -). Darryl and Patricia had two children, DeDe and Tammie. Sean is Toni's son from a previous marriage. Darryl works for Continental Bank. Toni works for United Airlines.

1.3.2.1.1.1 DeDe Lynn Van Kampen (May 4, 1970 -). DeDe works for Pro Source.

1.3.2.1.1.2 Tammie Lynn Van Kampen (January 20, 1972 -). Tammie was a Masters student in psychology.

1.3.2.1.1.3 Sean Patrick Hughes (May 30, 1974 -).

1.3.2.1.2 Craig Lynn Van Kampen (November 10, 1950 -) married Nancy Elizabeth Wangerin (May 22, 1951 -). Craig works for the company Metronic.

1.3.2.1.2.1 Christopher John Van Kampen (January 23, 1982 -).

1.3.2.1.2.2 Angela Christine Van Kampen (February 18, 1985 - April 7, 1986).

1.3.2.1.2.3 Emily Elyse Van Kampen (March 29, 1987 -).

1.3.2.1.3 Linda Sue Van Kampen (July 7, 1953 - September 7, 1953).

1.3.2.1.4 Melodie Sue Van Kampen (March 25, 1959 -) married Steven Douglas Broden (January 11, 1953 -). Melodie is a doctoral student in psychology. Steve is a Certified Public Accountant.

1.3.2.2 Lyle Richard Nelson (November 19, 1933 -) married Carol Ann Walti (October 17, 1936 -) and later Sheila Dileo (January 18, 1946 -). Lyle and Carol had two sons, Blair and Garth. Sheila has three sons from a previous marriage, Ross, Bryan and Todd. Lyle is a manager of a convenience market, and Sheila is a Field Office Manager for Morse/Diesel Construction Company (1989). Lyle was born in Oak Park, Illinois and Sheila in Rochester, New York.

1.3.2.2.1 Blair Richard Nelson (April 29, 1963 -) married Connie Vlaovich (May 11, 1962 -).

1.3.2.2.1.1 Brianne Alyse Nelson (April 30, 1982 -) was born in California.

1.3.2.2.2 Garth William Nelson (June 6, 1966 -) married Laetitia Rachel Voermogeo (March 15, ????) on January 1, 1994.

1.3.2.2.3 Ross Joseph Dileo (August 10, 1969 -). Ross attended Tulane University in New Orleans.

1.3.2.2.4 Bryan Michael Dileo (March 8, 1973 -).

1.3.2.2.5 Todd Jason Dileo (September 6, 1974 -).

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 sister-in-law Ella Nelson.

1.3.3.1 Audrey Elvera Mahlke (January 15, 1935 -) married Dr. Robert Arthur Oak (April 16, 1931 -). Bob is a dentist and Audrey a teacher.

1.3.3.1.1 Cynthia Louise Oak (January 17, 1959 -) married James A. Kamide (March 21, 1957 -) in 1979. Jim is a lawyer and Cynthia ia an optometrist student.

1.3.3.1.2 Scott Robert Oak (October 8, 1961 -). Scott has been a bartender and an M.B.A. student.

1.3.3.1.3 Kristen Lee Oak (December 9, 1967 -). Kristen is a dental assistant.

1.3.3.2. Kent Frederick Mahlke (July 27, 1936 -) married Sally Lou Ransdell (October 13, 1938 -) and later Linda Ward (December 29, 1948 -) on December 16, 1983.

Kent was (1990) VP of Marketing for Spectra Renal Chem in San Jose.

Kent and Sally had four children.13

1.3.3.2.1. Kent Frederick Mahlke, II (August 20, 1960 -) married Lisa Janelle (March 22, 1986 -). Kent was (1990) a Financial Analyst at NCR in Dayton, Ohio.

1.3.3.2.1.1. Jennifer Mahlke (June 25, 1987 -).

1.3.3.2.1.2. Sara Mahlke (June 10, 1989 -).

1.3.3.2.2. Kimberly Ann Mahlke (August 12, 1962 -) married Rick Full (November 7, 1987 -).

1.3.3.2.2.1. Lindsay Ray Full (September 20, 1988 -).

1.3.3.2.3. Kevin William Mahlke (January 6, 1965 -) worked (1990) at the Chicago Board of Trade.

1.3.3.2.4. Craig Allen Mahlke (April 15, 1971 -) was a college student in 1990.

1.3.3.3 Frederick William Mahlke (June 21, 1944 -) married Pat ( ). Fred is a realtor.14

1.3.3.4 Paul David Mahlke (September 23, 1947 -) married Diane Joan Shalek (August 12, 1952 -). David has been a Police Sergeant for over 15 years at the Itasca Police Department, Illinois. Diane is a Medical Technician at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village for over three years.

1.3.3.4.1 Daniel David Mahlke (March 2, 1980 -). Daniel went to Winnebago School in Bloomingdale. He was active in basketball and baseball and belonged to the Bloomingdale Baseball Association and won various trophies on this all-star team.

1.3.3.4.2 Jennifer Diane Mahlke (July 13, 1982 -). Jenny went to school at Winnebago School too.

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.

1.3.5.1 Brent Edwin Nelson (November 18, 1937 - March 15, 1984) married Barbara Ann Frank (October 31, 1939 -). Brent was a salesman in the computer industry for Portec, Inc.

1.3.5.1.1 Brent Tom Nelson (May 28, 1963 -).

1.3.5.1.2. Stacy Elizabeth Nelson (April 9, 1967 -).

1.3.5.2. Paul Allen Nelson (January 20, 1940 -) married Patty Lee Abner (March 24, 1938 -). Paul is a salesman for Portec, Inc. which manufactures equipment for the railroad industry. Like his father, Paul is an avid golfer.

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

1.6.1.1. Wayne Clinton Hudec (July 13, 1927 -) married Beverly Ann Schalo (July 11, 1936 -) on August 9, 1958. Wayne was a manager at Wayne New Car.

1.6.1.1.1. Michael Steven Hudec (April 8, 1966 -). Michael attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

1.6.1.2. Floyd Anthony Hudec (January 3, 1934 -) married Alice May Peters (July 27, 1935 -) on December 21, 1957. Floyd was a manager of Floyd Shop.

1.6.1.2.1. Lynn Anne Hudec (February 14, 1959 -) married Mark Steven Fremder (December 28, 1955 -) on June 4, 1983. Lynn is in the accounting field. Mark does road construction.

1.6.1.2.2. Anthony James Hudec (September 23, 1960 -) married Michele Katherine Leonard (December 29, 1959 -) on October 16, 1987. Anthony is in a nuclear division of the U.S. Navy. Michele is in marketing.

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?), brother of Olof Nelson, who was the husband of Tillie's sister Emma.

Tillie was known as the prettiest of the Holmquist sisters it is said, 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's Piano Company.

Elaine lived with Pete and Tillie off and on for several years. Evelyn, 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. Evelyn 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 in 1923 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. Evelyn 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. Evelyn's mother, Esther, in the mean time worked as a maid 20 to wealthy families to make enough money to support herself, Evelyn, and Evelyn's brother. Evey and Fred lived at various relatives homes until they were 9 and 10 when a great aunt took them both in. Evey was about 19 years old when both she and Fred were able to live once again with their mother.

Evelyn, married Arvid Shellberg and had a daughter by the name of Darlene. Evelyn worked as a secretary for Illinois Bell for over 19 years, and as a secretary in Patent Law for 18 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.

1.7.1.1. Warren Victor Karlsen (April 9, 1932 - March 11, 1981) married Wilma Neuman ( ) and later Noel Grace Weborg (December 14, 1938 -) on December 14, 1970. Warren and Wilma adopted their son Brett. Kristen is also Warren and Wilma's daughter. Warren was a pharmacist.21

1.7.1.1.1. Brett Allan Karlsen (June 16, 1965 -).

1.7.1.1.2. Kristen Waren Karlsen (August 5, 1971 -).

1.7.1.2. Carol E. Karlsen ( 1935 - deceased). Carol died in infancy of pneumonia. She may be buried at the Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago.

1.7.1.3. Roger E. Karlsen (January 9, 1936 -) married Judith Person ( ) in 1961 and later Catherine Rose ? ( ) on March 22, 1975. Two children from the first marriage.

1.7.1.3.1. Eric Peter Karlsen (July 2, 1964 -).

1.7.1.3.2. Carol Louise Karlsen (June 11, 1966 -). Carol was planning to college to become a school teacher.

1.8. Gustaf Julius Holmquist (June 21, 1884 - January 19, 1885) died at 6 months of age in Sweden.

NOTES