Carl Albin Elmquist & the History of a Chisago Family Farm

Carl Albin Elmquist was born 1 March 1848 in Genestorp Österård, Nöbbele, Kronoberg, Sweden.  He immigrated to Minnesota in 1871.  He first lived in Minneapolis where he met and married his wife Maria Johnson, who was born 14 March 1846 in Ulsåkraholm Allgotstorp, Nöbbele, Kronoberg, Sweden.  She immigrated to Minnesota in 1871.  They were married in 1876 and had four children:

1. John William born 1876 in Minneapolis
2. Carl Edward (Eddie) born 1878 in Minneapolis
3. Sven Alfred born 1881 in Minneapolis
4. Lillian (Lilly) born 1887 in Minneapolis

Land records reveal an interesting history of the Elmquist family farm in Chisago Lake Township,  Chisago County, Minnesota.  It was originally part of a 120 acre parcel of bounty land awarded to John Leavitt for military service rendered in the Aroostook War of 1838-1839.  John Leavitt was a private in the Maine Militia, part of a company of riflemen commanded by Captain Stephen Leighton, Jr.  This "war" was a confrontation between Great Britain and the United States over placement of the international boundary between British Canada and the state of Maine.  In 1856 Leavitt assigned the parcel of land to Ozias Bailey of White Cloud, Kansas.  No purchase price is mentioned on the deed.

Ozias Bailey was born in Salem, New Hampshire in 1810.  He moved to Kansas in 1856 and settled in White Cloud in 1857.  He was president of the White Cloud Trust Land Company and operated a steam ferryboat in White Cloud during the 1860s.  In the 1870s he was on the board of directors for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad.  It would seem that after the financial panic of 1873 Bailey was in need of cash, so on 6 November 1873 he sold 760 acres of land in Chisago County to a George B. Nichols of Boston, Massachusetts for $3,000.  Some of this was land that eventually became the Elmquist family farm.

George B. Nichols was a prominent businessman in Boston.  He was part owner of Nichols, Dupee & Co., wool dealers in Boston beginning in the 1860s.  He was on the City Council of Boston from 1888-1896 and was also superintendent of The Gavelston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway which had its executive office in Boston.  The assumption is that Nichols and Bailey had a business connection via the railroads which eventually led to the 760 acre land purchase in 1873.

In 1879, Nichols sold the property that became the Elmquist family farm to Carl Gren; 80 acres for $400.  In 1882, Carl and his wife Lena Cajsa sold the property to Carl Albin Elmquist for $640.  Where Carl Gren ended up is a mystery.  The 1880 US Census reveals a Carl Johan Green and wife Helena C., both born in Sweden, residing in Chisago Lake Township.  This may be the same as Carl and Lena in the land deed, but it's unknown what happened to them after 1882.

Another mystery is, when was the Elmquist family home built?  Carl Albin Elmquist purchased the land in 1882 and census records show that he and his family did not move to the farm land for some time.  The 1885 state census shows the family living in Minneapolis.  Daughter Lillian was born in Minneapolis in 1887.  The 1890 US census is lost and the 1895 state census shows the family living in Chisago County, Chisago Lake Township.  Church records from Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City also indicate that Carl Albin and family did not move to Chisago County until 1895.  So, it would seem that even though he bought the land in 1882, Carl Albin and his family were not living on it until much later.  Many questions arise.  Did Carl Gren/Green build the house and farm buildings between 1880 and 1882?  Did Carl Albin Elmquist and family build the the house & buildings later?  If so, when were they built?  All of this is a mystery!

After Carl Albin Elmquist died in 1925 the property passed to his children.  Eventually John William, Eddie, and Lilly gave their shares to brother Alfred who owned and operated the farm from 1926 until his death in 1939.  In 1940 the property passed back to Alfred's brother and sister John William and Lilly.  They held onto it until 3 May 1943 when they "sold" the property to Randolph and Vinette Moody for  one dollar.

It's an amazing history!  Most fascinating is how the fate of a piece of land and a family farm was determined by obscure and wide ranging national events in American history, such as the Aroostook War, the railroad industry, and the financial panic/depression of 1873.  Learning this is a large part of what makes family genealogy a grand adventure!

Final Chapter;
Earl Alfred Elmquist, 93

Earl A. Elmquist, 2010,
at the Hult/Elmquist
homestead farm near
Chisago City, Minnesota

Published: Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 8:19 a.m.

LAUREL PARK — After a gallant fight for his life, Earl A. Elmquist succumbed to a brief but acute illness on Friday, November 18, at Pardee ICU with two of his daughters by his side.
Born in Chisago City, Minnesota on January 12, 1918, to John William and Ida Amanda Elmquist, he was preceded in death by his twelve siblings and by his beloved wife, Helen.

Mr. Elmquist was a 1934 graduate of Central High in Minneapolis and received a BS in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1942. Earl and Helen, wed in 1941, had celebrated 67 years of marriage before her death in 2008. They lovingly raised four daughters and two sons in their homes in California, Oregon, New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas during the span of Earl's 40 year career with Shell Oil Company as a chemical research engineer. They eventually retired in Laurel Park in 1983. Opportunity House, Delightful Diners, Cribbage Club, golfing and bowling leagues kept them active during these years. Travels took them to Europe, Sweden, Tahiti, Hawaii, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Costa Rica and over much of the US for family visits. During his lifetime, he was a skilled photographer, enjoyed the study of languages, and shared his love of classical music with his whole family. Earl kept a large vegetable garden, enjoyed his monthly poker club and loved to fish on the small lake by his home.

He was an avid volunteer in his community, serving as President for both Civitan and Opportunity House, receiving Civitan's Distinguished President's Award in 1993 and 1994. He also volunteered as a teacher for the Blue Ridge Literary Council and tutored others in the community. Mr. Elmquist was a founding member of the Apple Hills Lake Association, served for years as president and is often described as being "the voice of reason" at the meetings.

Earl was a loving and devoted husband and father. His family will always remember him for his unconditional love, his integrity, his modesty and his unrelenting willingness to lend a helping hand. He maintained lifelong friendships, attending reunions with his high school Pipers' Club even in recent years. Everyone he met was charmed by his warmth, kindness and love of story telling.

Earl is survived by his six children, Carolyn Johnson and husband, Dan, of Grayslake, Ill., Janet Korman and husband, Robert, of West Chicago, Ronald Elmquist and wife, Alice, of Dallas, Chris Elmquist of Gainesville, Fla., David Elmquist and wife, Alison, of Dallas and Elizabeth Greeker of Norcross, Ga.; his grandchildren, Wendy Johnson Zumpano, Erik Johnson, Tina Korman Bryk, Rob Korman, Blake Elmquist, Mac Elmquist, JoAnna Elmquist and Lara Elmquist; and seven great-grandchildren.
Family members would like to thank special care givers Eusebio and Anita Gutierrez and the caring staff at Hendersonville Health & Rehabilitation who even in his passing days recognized Earl's sweet and gentle nature.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the foundation dedicated to the research of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS/CIPD International Foundation) www.gbs-cidp.org or in support of the homeless a Hendersonville Rescue Mission http://www.hendersonvillerescuemission.net.

A celebration of Earl's life was held at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2:00PM.

More Family Reunion Photos

If you do not find yourself in one or more of these photographs I apologize. I thought that I had included all who participated. However, in reviewing these and others, I am not so sure. I hope that you will enjoy these photos just the same.  If you have a photo or two or more that you would like to add to the collection here, please E-mail a JPEG of your photos to me so that I can include them here in the blog. 

Reunion Photos

 

Friday night at Trapper's; the fun began with Earl Elmquist and Earl Leaf meeting after many, many years! 

Friday night dinner; left to right---Earl Elmquist, Jim Glyer, Sam and Debra Figueroa, Marian Leaf-Kent, friend of Marian-Tom!

Family Reunion Update

Over forty family members gathered at Trapper's Family Restaurant Friday evening marking the kickoff for the Elmquist and extended family reunion.  For some this was a first time meeting, for others the event was a renewing of family relationships.  Many warm hugs and greetings were exchanged before the group sat down for an evening of good eats and recollections of fond memories.  Extended members were introduced and made part of the family at large.

Saturday began with a slow start, but once gathered, the family made the short trip to the Neil Carlson farm (the former Carl August Elmquist farm).  The Carlson's greeted the family as part of their own family complete with refreshments an invitation to tour their home as well as the farm itself (which included several original buildings).

The group next moved on to the David Bratt home and farm (the former Carl Hult farm and later the John William Elmquist farm) where Uncle Earl Elmquist pointed out the location of the original farmhouse long since destroyed by fire, moved, or razed to make room for a more modern home.

Photos of all the above and more will follow soon, but the number of photo to work with is larger than expected so some editing is needed before posting.

Only one more day remains for the first of the kind family reunion, but thus far it can be said without reservation that a good time is being shared by all and particularly Uncle Earl Elmquist!

Family Genealogical History Now Available

Orders are now being accepted for the Elmquist family and extended family genealogical history. The exhaustive genealogy---twelve years in the making and includes historical photographs of many family members---is available for those wishing to have a complete family record.  The printed book and a CD that includes all photos collected to date, a PDF of the book, and photo copies of the Zion church records as related to the family is just $49.95, boxed and USPS shipped direct to you.  If your E-mail in-box will accept the rather large PDF file size (most will not!), you may purchase of PDF sent to your E-mail address in-box for $19.95. Allow ten to twelve days for the printed book and CD via USPS media mail delivery. Place your order with Jeff by sending your E-mail request to dmelmquist@cfl.rr.com; please include your complete mailing address, telephone number, and E-mail address. A PayPal link will be posted here soon!

Reunion Arrivals

Uncle Earl Elmquist and Cousin Carolyn Elmquist - Johnson arrived today at the Limburge air terminal, the primary air terminal in Minneapolis, marking the beginning of the Elmquist family reunion. We shared lunch and family stories while at the International House of Pancakes, the I-Hop just outside the terminal and across the "street" form the Mega Mall of America.  Upon our return trip to Rice Lake WI we also stopped to checked out our reservations at Trapper's, our room reservations at America's Best Value Inn (check with Rocky for details), our breakfast accommodations at the Wagon Wheel restaurant and pizzeria     Me and two of the grand kids
at Zion church.
                                                                              where the family members will gather Saturday and Sunday morning, and finally Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church where we will gather for the Saturday afternoon picnic.  The excitement is building and is evident in attitudes of those who are arriving for the event.  There is still time for you to make the journey to Chisago City and to become part of the event.  I hope that you will do so, or at least check this family blog for pictures and comments that will be posted as regularly as possible.  Join us Friday evening for the kickoff dinner at Trapper's; I am sure that you will be glad that you did!