Person:John Newquist (3)

His name at the time of his birth was "Johan Peter Petersson". His birth record is listed in the Hornaryd parish record, 1886-1895 on page 265. The first name "John" is an Anglicized version, and does not exist in the Swedish language.

1890 Swedish Census Parish: Hornaryd Johan Peter f. 1883 Hornaryd Homeparish: Hornaryd Residence: Hornaryd Norregård County: Kronobergs Year of birth: 1883 Parish of birth: Hornaryd Marital status: O (Unmarried) Gender: M (Man) Family status: s. Family status code: B (Child) Other details: SVARvolume: 000163 Card nr: 18 Page: 6 Row: 4

The passenger manifest of the White Star Line ship Majestic arriving in New York on September 26, 1894 lists his family's name as "Peterson". The surname was changed to Newquist shortly after arriving in the United States.

Kathy Davolos says that John was confirmed in a Swedish Lutheran Church in Rockford or Chicago.

1900 Census: Lists John P. as an errand boy living with the family at 929 W. 21st Place, West Town, Cook County, IL. The 1901 city directory lists him as clerk working at 136 Michigan Avenue (People's Gas). His father is listed as carpenter residing at the same address in the same directory.

1910 Census: States that he immigrated to the US from Sweden in 1893. Has occupation in a mill house.

1920 Census: Lists John P. as living at Spruce(?) Place, 16th Precinct, 4th Ward, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a department manager in a millinery business.

In a January 16, 1928 letter from Louise to Edith, she included John's address: John Newquist, 4314 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN.

John and Elma moved to CA in 1928.

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"I REMEMBER UNCLE JOHN"

"Uncle John is coming". These were almost magical words when I was growing up in Cicero. His appearance signaled fun times and a gathering of Edith, Gertie, Willie, Esther, and a few cousins. All would congregate at our flat because this is where Gramma Louise lived with us (Art, Hilda, Nick and me).

In honor of John's visit, Gramma would make some of the favorite Swedish dishes usually prepared only during the Christmas season. When the family gathered there was such a generous use of Swedish in the conversation amid much laughter and joking. At times we might have a glass of cherry wine made by Tony from his special cherry trees at the Silver Glen Farm near St. Charles, IL. Tony was Edith's husband and a most successful farmer.

When much of the eating was over, Uncle John - with help from my Dad - would bring the sample cases up to our second floor quarters. Now the almost magic part of the visit took plave. We could all try on the new line of hats that Uncle John had brought to the Palmer House in Chicago for the twice-yearly garment showings!

The cases were large, black, and some had wheels on the bottom for easier mobility. Each case was filled with gorgeous (to me anyway) womens' hats - each marked with the wholesale pricetag and lovingly enfolded in tissue paper.

Pure heaven! We would try on each hat amid much comment, criticism, laughing and yearning. Uncle John, I believe, enjoyed this "Magic Show" as much as we did.

Uncle John would ask our opinions on the styles, trims, and materials. He almost made us feel that our comments would prepare him for the BIG SELL. Each season Uncle John would let each of us choose one hat we liked the very best, notate the number in his order book, and then send us that sample hat when the showings were over. Heaven on earth for a certainty, as none of us had much variety in our limited wardrobes.

Uncle John was a very lovable and witty person. His eyes always sparkled and he had the most charming and infectious smile. Perfect teeth, trim of stature, and well-groomed. Even when the hat business started its decline, John still showed his wares 'til the company succumbed with the changing times.

Uncle John usually came to Chicago alone as families did not have today's mobility, and travel by car was tedious and slow. No doubt John's travel expenses could never be stretched to include Elma, Gloria, or Pete. This was in the era before the perks of today's commerce.

How John, Art, and their sons ever became such devotees of golf I do not know.As offsprings of a poor immigrant family it seems unusual that they would choose a sport so out-of-keeping with their lifestyles. But golf they did - and did it well. And they pursued that little white ball almost to the very end of their earthly journeys.

I am glad that I remember Uncle John - if only we could all have had the fun and pleasure of seeing him in his prime. As the Newquist Circle has grown so very small, perhaps sometime and one day I shall try to write a little bit about the ones I knew as the Circle seems to close in my direction.

(A letter written to Kathy, Leslie, and David by Shirley Newquist Waldo, December 4, 1980)