Swedish

Child term for individuals born in Sweden

Carl Tingquist

Carl Tingquist (1887-1990), immigrated from Sweden aboard the HMS Caronia in early 1905 as Carl Gustafson. He changed hs name to Tingquist, since so many incoming Swedes were already “sons” or “sens” and heard many “Quists” so took his home town in Sweden (Tyngsrud) and added a “quist” to it – Tingquist.

August Wedell

Occupation: 

August Wedell (1863-1919) was born in Husaby, Västra Götaland Län, Sweden  on August 18, 1863 and emigrated in 1887.  August's last name was originally Svensson, but was changed to Wedell when he arrived in the United States.  A family story recounts that the surname was changed because there were too many incoming Swedes with the name Svensson. 

August Wedell and his wife, Emma Svensdotter
Photograph courtesy of Michael Wedell
Wedell Marraige Certificate, 1891
Wedell-Svensdotter Marraige Certificate, 1891
Document image courtesy of Lisa Wedell Ueki
Emma, Gustave and August Wedell, cira 1899
Emma, Gustave and August Wedell, cira 1899
Photograph courtesy of Michael Wedell
Wedell family circa 1911 - Emma, Gustave & August
Wedell family circa 1911 - Emma, Gustave & August
Photograph courtesy of Michael Wedell
August Wedell's Saw and Toolbox
Toolbox handed down from August Wedell to his grandson, Robert Wedell. Note the carpenter's square projecting from the bottom of the box through a hole on the left side.
Photograph courtesy of Robert Wedell
Pry bars, drill and other tools of August Wedell
These tools and toolbox were handed down from August Wedell to his grandson Robert. They include pry bars, a drill and two soldering irons, one with a corncob handle, that would have been heated in a fire before use.
Photograph courtesy of Robert Wedell
August Wedell's stone working tools
Chisels and hammers suitable for stone work, belonging to August Wedell from his tool box
Photograph courtesy of Robert Wedell
Wedell Marble Christmas Tree Stand
Christmas tree stand, marble, 43 pounds, made by August Wedell, presumably out of scrap stone from the Capitol construction.
Photograph courtesy of Robert Wedell
Wedell monument, Union Cemetery, Maplewood, MN
Wedell monument, Union Cemetery, Maplewood, MN
Photograph courtesy of Lisa Wedell Ueki
S.S. Hekla, ship that brought Emma Svensdotter to New York
S.S. Hekla, ship that brought Emma Svensdotter to New York
Image courtesy of Lisa Wedell Ueki
Wedell home at 391 Banfil Street, St. Paul
Wedell home at 391 Banfil Street, St. Paul
Photograph courtesy of Robert Wedell

Emile R. Hegg

Occupation: 

Dale and Bumgardner payroll. Emile R. Hegg worked on the grading of the Capitol grounds as a teamster. He was born in Sweden in 1874 and emigrated in 1884.

Most of the workers who constructed the Minnesota Capitol belonged to unions. While a specific union affiliation has not been found for Hegg, the Teamsters were organized in St. Paul at the time the Capitol was built, so he was most likely a union member. John Geary, who also worked grading the Capitol grounds, was founding member of Teamsters 120.

Erick Turnquist

Occupation: 

Dale and Bumgardner payroll. Erick Turnquist was born in Sweden in 1879 and emigrated with his family in 1884. The family moved to St. Paul from Grantsberg, Wisconsin in 1903 and Erick went to work as a teamster.

Henry A. Ostedt

Occupation: 

1904 City Directory. Henry A. Ostedt was born in Sweden in 1859 and moved to St. Paul in 1889. He and his Swedish born wife, Tilda Muhrbeck (1862-1942), were married and raised their family here. The couple had eight children, four who died before the age of six and four, among them Henry Jr. and George, who lived to be quite old. Their other children were Esther (1886-1892), Hannah (1908-1909), Joseph (1888-1974), Julius (1891-1892), Martin (1896-1898) and Myrtle (1903-1996).

Henry A. Ostedt family
Ostedt family (left to right): Henry A. Ostedt (sitting), Joseph Ostedt (standing behind his father), George Ostedt (little boy center front), Henry Ostedt Jr. (young boy behind George), Tilda Ostedt (wife and mother), Myrtle (daughter and youngest child)
Photo courtesy of Dave and Gayle Alberg
Ostedt home at 781 E. Magnolia Ave. E., St. Paul
Henry Ostedt did all of the brick work on the family home at 781 E. Magnolia Ave. E., St. Paul
Photo and family information courtesy of Gayle Ostedt Alberg, great granddaughter of Henry and Tilda Ostedt
Henry and Tilda Ostedt in their house. Henry was said to be an avid reader, as evidenced by the many books displayed behind the couple.
Photo and family information courtesy of Gayle Ostedt Alberg, great granddaughter of Henry and Tilda Ostedt
Henry and Tilda Ostedt in their later years
Henry and Tilda Ostedt in their later years
Photo and family information courtesy of Gayle Ostedt Alberg, great granddaughter of Henry and Tilda Ostedt
Tilda, Gayle, Joseph and Warren Ostedt, 1939
Tilda holding her first great-grandchild, Gayle Ostedt, born May 7, 1939 with her oldest son Joseph (left) and grandson Warren (left). Tilda lived to be 82 and died in 1942.
Photo and family information courtesy of Gayle Ostedt Alberg, great granddaughter of Henry and Tilda Ostedt

John Cling

Occupation: 

1903 City Directory. John Cling was born in Sweden in 1850 and emigrated in 1882. He lists his occupation as "blacksmith" in the census reports though he worked on the Capitol as a laborer.

Peter Gustafson

Occupation: 

1903 Payroll and 1905 City Directory. Peter Gustafson was born in Sweden in 1884 and emigrated with his wife and newborn daughter in 1898. He was paid as a carpenter in 1903 though he said he was working as a laborer for Butler Bros. in the 1905 City Directory.

Edward Anderson

Occupation: 

1904 City Directory Edward Anderson was born in Sweden in 1866 and came to Minnesota in 1888. In 1904, when Edward was working on the Capitol as a laborer, he was living at this boarding house with his wife, Gertrude, and their new baby. Olaf B. Hanson also lived here.

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