Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Sundquist, John J. 1846 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 30, 2019, 7:54 pm

Source: Alden, Ogle & Co.
Author: See Below

    JOHN J. SUNDQUiST, the photographic artist and notion and clothing dealer of
Dassel, is a fair representative of the class of self-made men who have “climbed the
ladder rung by rung” to an easy competence. Born among the wild and picturesque
scenery of Sweden, April 28, 1846, the son of John and Keser Johnson, his boyhood
and youth were passed in his native land. His father served m the Swedish National
Guards, and remained in that kingdom until his death.

   The subject of our narrative, when about twenty-three years of age, feeling the
impossibility of raising himself financially above the estate in which he was born
in that country, determined to seek his fortune in the newer countries across the
sea, and embarking, landed upon the shores of America, and made his way to Pepin
county, Wis. On his arrival there, with but fifty cents in his pocket, he was taken
down sick, and felt that the fortune of the poor emigrant was at a very low ebb. As
soon as ho recovered, he started for Minnesota, and on reaching the river, opposite
Lake City, had but twenty-five cents to his name. Something to eat cost fifteen of
this, and ten cents to cross the river, landed him in Minnesota totally penniless
and friendless, and the prospect looked dark to him indeed. Instead of sitting down
to grieve about it, however, he found work with a farmer near Rochester, with whom
he remained until fall. In the spring of 1870 he commenced work on the river
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, grading, and was soon made
foreman of a gang of men. The following spring he went to Scott county, this State,
when he commenced contracting for grading on the Hastings & Dakota railroad, and
worked hard until the fall, when he went to St. Paul and there bought a boarding
house and saloon which he only ran a short time. About the last of 1871, he removed
to Carver county, and took some more contracts for grading, and there remained until
the stoppage of work in 1872. Purchasing some land in connection with others, he
platted and established the village of Norwood, where he made his home until 1885,
following railroad construction during the summer months, and photography in the
winters. The restless activity that ever prompted him to better his condition,
induced him in the spring of 1885, to sell out his interests in Norwood, and remove
to Dassel village, where he purchased ten acres of ground adjoining the town site,
where he put up his residonce. Later the same season, he purchased some town lots
and put up the brick store building which he now occupies, laying out in these
improvements about $4,500. In the summer of 1886, Mr. Sundquist put in a stock of
drugs, but a few months later disposed of them and opened a stock of notions, to
which he added afterwards, clothing and boots and shoes. In connection with this
business he carries on the photographic art gallery, the second story being fitted
up for that business.

   Mr. Sundquist was married in October, 1871, to Miss Anna Swenson, a native of
Sweden. Since becoming a citizen of Dassel,, Mr. Sundquist has taken a deep interest
in all matters relating to his adopted home, and the people, believing that a man
who has been so successful in his own affairs, would be so in the public’s, elected
him to the position of member of the village board of trustees in 1888.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888

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