Person:John Newquist (1)

His name at the time of his birth was "Jonas Peter Petersson", using the patronymic naming pattern for his surname of the time. His first name was also his grandfather's first name. His birth record is listed in the Tjureda parish records. Nykulla Södergård is the village and farm. Växjö (previously spelled Wexio) is the name of the municipality (kommun).

When twelve years of age, he commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter and cabinet-maker. Note: The Swedish word for carpenter is "snickare", and a "snickarmastare" is a master carpenter. He received his exit permit on September 21, 1868 and was accompanied by his third cousin, Sven Johansson, who lived in the adjacent farm, Kronogard.

The Homestead Act was beckoning; the Civil War was nearing its final stages; and in 1864 Congress passed a law legalizing labor contracts made by American employers with immigrants in Europe. The American Emigrant Company, with a labor office in New York, "chartered for the promotion of Foreign Immigration," set about to organize on a large scale the importation of contract labor in accordance with the terms of this act. It advertised for mechanics, miners, farm and railroad laborers, and offered to advance money for the cost of passage, which the contract laborer would repay in installments. In the autumn of 1864 this company had an agent in Sweden.

Minnesota was very active in the recruitment of immigrants. In 1867, the state established its own Board of Immigration. Its secretary was Hans Mattson, a Swedish immigrant and pioneer. He also served as a land agent for the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Mattson took a journey himself to his homeland to recruit prospective settlers for the Minnesota frontier. "He was a modern Marco Polo returning from fabulous lands beyond known horizons," wrote historian Theodore Blegen, "and he never ceased to describe his chosen state as a land of milk and honey." Minnesota's Immigration Board also sent out pamphlets in Norwegian, Swedish, German, Welsh, and English along with other recruiting agents back east and to Europe. Railroads, who stood to benefit from increased population, provided cheap fares for immigrant families, and provided temporary shelter for them when they arrived.

Often a "multi-ticket" (Utvandrare-Kontrakt "Emigration Contract) or "travel-pack" including all the trips ("Feeder" ship to England - rail in England - ship across the Atlantic - rail in the USA) and lodgings at the stops and on board. It was Issued by the specialist travel-agents, named "authorized emigration agent". 

A typical contract would agree to pay the expenses of the ocean voyage and of the journey to the interior and to provide house and food for the immigrant after his arrival. He in turn pledged himself to remain in the employ of the companies for a period of time at proscribed wages, with half of his monthly payments withheld to satisfy his debt.

With the railroad completed in 1864, he would have taken a train from the important railroad junction of Nassjo in Jonkoping kommun - a location nearby in his Smaland Province - north to Falkoping and then west to Göteborg.

This was the time when the journey was split into two segments - the first being the trip across the North Sea from Göteborg directly to Grimsby/Hull on the east coast of England. From Hull the transportation of thousands of emigrants was carried out via the railway to Liverpool, where the giant British transoceanic steamships were tied up, waiting to receive their human cargoes. Despite the inconvenience of splitting the journey, the time saved was enormous and emigrants could now, hopefully, make the westward journey in much shorter time.

It is true that many emigrants, particularly from southern Sweden, found it preferable to travel to Germany and then via Hamburg or Bremen travel the long journey across the North Atlantic. It is estimated that roughly 15% of the Swedish emigrants chose this method.

It is likely that he sailed from Goteborg as early as Wednesday, September 23 on a contract ticket with a U.S. railroad firm to Minnesota. At that time there were no less than 1,500 individuals from various parts of Sweden lodged in Göteborg, waiting for space to cross the North Sea and the Atlantic. He would have boarded one of the Wilson Line ships. The HERO measured 1,034 tons and could carry 550 passengers, or the ALBION which measured 1,066 tons. The trip across the North Sea to Grimsby/Hull, England took 40 hours. He then took a half-day train ride on the Great Central Railroad to Manchester with connection to the major port of Liverpool.

John's 1869 application for US citizenship stated that he arrived in the Port of Detroit in October, 1868. Most likely he would have boarded a ship in Liverpool of the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company (in 1897 it became the Allan Line), which probably carried more young immigrants to Canada than any other line.

The authorities in Quebec were not so particular about the number of passengers on board foreign ships. This made it possible for the shipping companies to carry a greater number of passengers to Quebec than they could to New York. Quebec took over as the main point of entry for Scandinavian Immigrants. Sailing ships would carry emigrants westbound, and timber eastbound, so they were able to offer cheap affordable fares. The fare for steerage was approximately $30.00. ($1 in 1858 is worth $24.32 in 2006.)

There are three good ship possibilities:

HIBERNIAN (Capt. William Henry Smith, dep. Liverpool 10/1/1968 arr. Quebec 10/14). It was built by Wm. Denny & Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1860. She was a 1,888 gross ton ship, length 280 ft x beam 37.7 ft, clipper stern, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. There were accomodations for 101-1st class, 30-2nd class, and 324-3rd class passengers. Launched on 11/1/1861, she sailed her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Quebec on 23/5/1861.

MORAVIAN (Capt. Robert Brown, dep. Liverpool 10/8/1868 arr. Quebec 10/20). It was built by R. Steele & Co. Greenock in 1864. This was a 2,481 gross ton ship, length 320.9 ft x beam 39.5 ft, clipper stern, one funnel, three masts (barque rigged for sails), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. Accomodation was provided for 80-1st and 600-3rd class passengers. Launched on 5/7/1864, and on 11/5/1865 she commenced her first voyage from Liverpool to Quebec.

PERUVIAN ( Capt. Ballantine, dep. Liverpool 10/15/1868 arr. Quebec 10/29).It was built by R. Steele & Co., Greenock in 1863. She was a 2549 groos ton ship, length 312 ft. x beam38.6 ft., clipper stern, one funnel, three masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. There was accomodations for 110-1st class and 600-3rd class passengers. She was launched on 8/31/63 and commenced her first run from Liverpool to Quebec on 5/12/1864.

The agent and his staff personally supervised their landing and the clearing of their luggage at the Custom-house. This accomplished, they were conducted to the Railway Station which is along-side the landing jetty at Quebec. There the passengers found refreshment rooms provided, with every accommodation and description of food suited for each class, and those of the emigrant class were protected from the extortion and villanies to which they could be subjected at every landing port on the American continent.

The railway distance between Quebec and Montreal is 168 miles. There was one intermediate stoppage, of an hour's duration, for refreshment, a similar one at Montreal, and the same at distances varying from 100 to 120 miles throughout the entire journey. Including these stoppages, the running time of the emigrant trains is fixed at 20 miles an hour, and as the distance between Quebec and Chicago is about 1,007 miles, the time occupied in the journey will be less than 2½ days.

The Canadian system of railways ceased at Detroit, 730 miles from Quebec. The Victoria Bridge was opened in 1859 and was initially named the Jubilee Bridge in honour of Queen Victoria but eventually came to be known as the Victoria Bridge. The bridge, approximately 5 km (3 miles) long, includes 24 ice-breaking piers. The original deck was a long structural metal tube made of prefabricated sections from England and designed by Robert Stephenson, son of the builder of the famed Rocket locomotive.It was 3 miles long - the longest bridge in the world at that time. The same railroad cars (each capable of comfortably accommodating 80 passengers, and each fitted with a female waiting room) uninterruptedly traversed the distance across the St. Lawrence River.

On reaching Detroit the passengers were consigned by the Emigration Officer of the Grand Trunk Company (who had previous knowledge of their coming, by telegraph) to the Central Michigan Railway Company, which led direct from Detroit to Chicago, through the state of Michigan. At Chicago they were met by another agent of the Grand Trunk Company, specially appointed for the purpose, who will forward all those persons whose tickets entitle them to go to St. Louis or to the other important towns on the Mississippi.

The fare of the emigrant passenger between Quebec and Chicago was £1. 17s. Sterling. Each adult was allowed 150 lbs. of luggage free, and for all surplus there was a very reduced scale of charge.

He probably took the Chicago, Milwaukee,St.Paul and Pacific Railroad northwest to St. Paul, MN.  The Minnesota Central was completed from St. Paul to Austin in 1867 and soon thereafter, by a merger with the Milwaukee, provided Minnesota with its first through route to Chicago. 

Minneapolis and Saint Paul provided employment opportunities in railroads, mills, construction firms, breweries, small businesses, and wealthy homes, where thousands of domestics worked. Swedish communities flourished in the neighborhoods close to these industries as Swedes built homes, businesses, churches, schools, and entertainment districts. Here Swedish traditions were preserved during the process of assimilation into the broader American culture.

Ever sensitive to its reputation for cold weather, Minnesota made more exaggerated claims of its health benefits for ailments such as ague and consumption than it had in the 1850s and minimized other sicknesses common on the frontier, such as diphtheria and typhus. This strategy worked well.

A local newspaper wrote, the night train brought in nearly "three-hundred Swedes who were on the way to locate in this and other counties. . .Mr. [Charles] Anderson went over to Sweden sometime early in the spring for the purpose of bringing over a ship load and he succeeded well." These Swedish immigrants made an enthusiastic impression on the newspaper. "A better more healthy and well dressed lot of foreigners never landed in this area before. . .They make the best of citizens." Between 1868 and 1873, railroad construction in Wisconsin and Minnesota boomed.

John filed an application for citizenship in Ramsey County (adjacent to Washington County), MN on April 5, 1869. For the first time we have a record that he had changed his name and signed his name John Newquist. At the middle of the 19th century, Swedes began adopting permanent surnames. They could choose to adopt the patronymic as a permanent name, or choose one based on two syllables, usually from the animal or vegetable kingdom and/or topographical terms. Oral history has the selection of "Newquist" chosen because it reflected his hometown "Nykulla", with similar pronunciation of the first syllable.In Swedish, "ny' means "new". In fact, it appears that his name on the application was first signed "Nyquist" and then overwritten to be "Newquist".

The surname "Newquist/Nyqvist" means "new twig". Sweden has undergone several alphabet reforms, the latest in 1906. The letter "w" was replaced with a "v", and is no longer in the alphabet. The letter "q" has been replaced with a "k". Therefore today's spelling of "Newquist" is "Nykvist". So now there are thousands of Nykvist surnames in contemporary Sweden, but few Newquist surnames. The Soundex Code is N223.

The June 17, 1870 MN census lists him with the spelling "Nuquist" and age 24. He is living in Marine Mills, a significant lumber village in Washington County . It was roughly bounded by the St. Croix River, RR tracks, and Kennedy and Spruce Sts. He is living in a boarding house with many other Swedes, and it appears that his occupation was "works on railroad", but the last word is hard to read. This might confirm that he had a three-year contract with the railroad. (Census Microfilm Records: Roll 718, Book 1, Pg 72a)). Swen Johnson (age 30?) was also living in the same section of Marine Mills and also working on the railroad (Roll 718, Book 1, Page 63b). This may have been John's third cousin who accompanied him from Nykulla, and who might have changed his surname from Johansson to Johnson.

While land along the river was either bought up by speculators or under the control of logging interests, much of the inland lakes region could still be squatted on or bought at the government rate of $1.25 per acre. Within a decade the area attracted scores of Scandinavians that would eventually make this region the largest Swedish-speaking rural area outside of Sweden. This nearly exclusive dominance of one ethnic group was unusual not only for the St. Croix Valley but for the entire country.

About May 1871, his younger brother, Gustav, and a cousin arrived in the US, possibly Chicago. After working three years (which would have been the term of his contract), John came to Chicago in October, 1871 within days after the big fire, on a tour of the ruined city. He was all dressed up, and one of the contractors who was cleaning up the debris asked him why he was all dressed up and not lending a hand. He said "I'm from Minnesota on a sight-seeing tour". He was asked what he did, and he said he was a carpenter and a cabinet-maker.

So the contractor offered him a job right on the spot. As he didn't have his tools or his clothes with him, the contractor told him he'd buy what he needed, and he should come to work at once. He never went back to Minnesota for his possessions. For a time, John was employed by the National School Furniture Company, in the manufacture of school desks.

In 1875, be commenced business as a stair builder on his own account. He prospered as an expert builder of stairways, and some of his handiwork still adorns landmark homes and buildings in Chicago. The stairs he built included spiral staircases, and people thought they would not hold up without support. He also designed a cut-out panel (almost like lace-work or fretwork) used for the top of big double-door openings.

He became naturalized in Cook County, IL on November 1, 1876. His brother,Gustav, who also was naturalized that day, was his witness.

In the 1880 United States Census he was staying at the Idle-Wild Hotel in Nasewaupee, WI. - Wisconsin, Door County, Roll 1424 Book 1, Page 91b. Charles Petersen (correct age of 26) is also staying at a hotel with John Newquist, and it is probably his brother, Carl (Charles) who made his second trip to the US. They were working at the Knickerbocker Ice Co., a natural ice house. They paid a dollar a day, which included three meals.

About 1880, he was also part owner of a bar on State Street. A pole was placed in front, with a light operated by a generator inside the bar. The owners were arrested for this illegal light, and had to remove what may have been the first electric light in Chicago. On one of his excursions, his partner took off with all the bar's assets and was never seen again.

He was a 32nd degree Mason prior to his marriage to Jennie in 1882. The marriage record for Cook County ,IL is Batch No. M730751, 1883, Source Call No. 1030131. ( While the month and day is accurate, there are several transcription errors: "Jannie Conkling" and 1883 versus 1882). He had no formal education. He learned to speak, read and write English with Jennie's help. He was very good with figures.

In one Chicago publication, he and Jennie are listed as "Mr. & Mrs. John J. Newquist". This is the only record of a middle initial or name. Oral history states they had a home on Michigan Avenue, where the Hilton Hotel (formerly Stevens Hotel) is today.

He was quite a guy in his younger years. He would disappear for days and Jennie never knew where he was. She would have to look after the building business. In time she would get a message from him from New Orleans, Albuquerque or Denver to send money so he could come home.

The "History of Chicago", Vol.Ill, Pg 83, published by A.T. Andreas Co. in 1886 contains the excerpt: " He now employs from twenty-five to fifty men, and does a business of $100,000 annually. He built ninety-two flights of hardwood stairs for John V. Farwell & Co. wholesale store, at a cost of $25,000. He constructed the stairs for Mandel Bros. on ( 121-123 )State Street; for the Imperial Building on (252-260) Clark Street; for the residence of John V. Farwell; for four houses of Potter Palmer, and many others in all parts of the city."

The Imperial Building, At 252-260 Clark Street, presents a double floor at its entrance, and in this respect is unique in Chicago. It is 100 feet wide, 80 feet deep, and 55 feet high, with 4 stories and basement. It is a small but first-class building, and was long a favorite place for sporting men. There are 5 stores, 20 offices, and 1 passenger elevator. The occupants are the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, the Ives Billiard Hall, grain merchants, and stock operators. It was erected in 1885. Potter Palmer's home has been torn down, but Mandel Bros. (now Wieboldt's) still stands.

In the Chicago Builders and Traders' Exchange Handbook (for 500 members) of May,1887, under the category "Stair builders", he is listed as: Newquist, Jno., 280 & 282 south Clinton street. The name "John" was commonly abbreviated "Jno" in printed documents. (Similar processes produced "Thos." and "Jas." for "Thomas" and "James.")

He agreed to construct buildings for the 1893 Columbian Exposition. He built the Rotunda circular stairs in the building that is now the Museum of Science & Industry, and in particular - the Cold Storage Building. Jackson Park in Chicago was selected as the site for the historic exposition. Smaller buildings and concessions were located on a small strip of land connecting Jackson Park to Washington Park. This 80 acre strip became known as the Midway Plaisance. Jackson Park covered 533 acres and had two miles of frontage on Lake Michigan. Nearby Washington Park covered 371 acres. The amount of space the fair actually covered was 633 acres.

The site also had two water treatment plants, with a combined capacity of 64 million gallons per day. The pumping stations were available for visitors to see as a sort of 'working exhibit that handled the drainage requirements of the site and the sewer needs of the more than 6,500 lavatories and toilets. A steam plant, costing over $1 million, generated 24,000 horsepower , of which 17,000 hp are used for electricity, which was three times the electrical consumption of the city of Chicago and ten times the electrical consumption of the 1889 Paris Exposition. 9,000 horsepower was for incandescent lighting (for 93,000 incandescent lights), 5,000 hp for arc lighting (for 5,000 arc lights), and 3,000 hp for machinery. The buildings with electricity were: Mines, Electricity (obviously!), Agriculture, Transportation, and Manufactures. The fate of the site was sealed.

Even before the fair ended, the first major fire hit, July 10, 1893. The Cold Storage Building burned, killing 17 people. A fire on January 8, 1894 burned the Casino, Peristyle, Music Hall, and Manufactures Building. A fire the following month burned the Colonnade. A massive fire on July 5, 1894 burned the Court of Honor, Machinery Hall, Electricity Building, Administration Building, Mining Building, and the Manufactures Building.During the winter and nearing completion of the buildings, a fire destroyed all of the buildings.

He helped fight the Cold Storage Building fire, and in so doing he ran a nail into his foot. When he came home, Jennie removed his shoe and the blood was frozen to his sock. This fire all but financially wiped him out, as he had no insurance and lost all his investment. He had to sell some of his holdings in Chicago to meet his financial obligations.

In the 1901 Chicago Directory, John is listed as a contractor with a house @@ 1065 W. Polk.

When he agreed to build homes for the Steger Piano Company, the family objected. No one wanted to move to the "sticks" where they had nothing. There was no comparing Steger to Chicago. They moved to Steger in 1902, and be built nearly 500 houses for the Steger Piano Company employees. He also built houses in Hammond, IN for employees of the Standard SteeI Car Company (later merged with the Pullman Company).

He agreed to build a large home in Steger on Peoria Street, referred to as the "Hill". It may have been five feet higher than downtown! This home was two-stories with inside bath facilities, versus the two-hole outhouses behind most homes at that time. Baths were taken in a washtub in front of the stove in the kitchen.

He believed that his children should live close to him, and he put an addition on the back of the home for his children after they were married. He also built a home adjacent for Mary and Charles (Chick) to live in, which they did for awhile. There was a vacant lot between the two homes, and he started to build on it by digging for the basement. All were against this, and no one helped him. So the hole stayed that way for several years, and was a pretty good swimming pool after a heavy rain. Finally, with the help of his boys, that hole was closed.

Walter and his son lived with John and Jennie after Ann died in 1920. Walter remarried in 1926 and moved into a home that John built for Steger Piano on Halsted Street. His son, Bud, remained with the grandparents until 1936. Elmer and Margaret lived in the family home for years. Leonard lived in this home until he went to work for Spaulding Sporting Goods in Chicago. Harvey and Mabel lived in a home built by him on 34th Street in Steger when they were first married. John and Ann lived in one of his homes on 34th Place in Steger.

He was a very quiet man and easygoing. He was rather shy, and did not socialize very much - that was Jennie's responsibility. Also, he would not go to the doctor. If he had a toothache , he'd place tea in a small tobacco bag, place it in hot water, and then put the bag in his mouth next to the tooth that hurt. He also refused to go into a hospital.

He was very hard of hearing, and didn't attend social functions or family gatherings with Jennie. In his declining years, he always could be found reading books of all types. Leonard was about the same height and weight. He and Elmer looked more like him than the other children. John and Leonard had about the same traits - including the booze.

They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1932. That was an all day and night affair, mass at St. Liborius , and dinner in the church basement. Families putting on skits on stage, musicals by the grandchildren etc. In fact that is when Howard met his cousin,Shirley Newquist, who put on a tap-dancing revue. Than came supper and another round of get togethers, seemed as a kid it lasted forever. And than oddly enough years later, Howard and Shirley met again while attending Northern Illinois University in 1941.

John and Jennie lived with Elmer and Margaret after they gave up their home on the Hill in 1936. John died at home on the afternoon of December 27, 1937. His Cook County IL death record is #0003685. He is buried in Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Steger, IL.

This information includes inputs from Mabel Newquist, Walter H. Newquist, (6/8/95), and Howard Newquist (3/03)

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I don't believe Ericsson achieved that level of work by 1885. By the time of the world's fair I'm sure they knew each other. John was one of the stair-builders of Chicago. When I mention my interest in stair-builder at the various research libraries I'm always told there is no book on that subject. John had an excellent name for himself by 1885 and had worked for some of the best names for awhile. "Warehouse" construction had been a specially at least since the Mandel Brother Store (1882) and if he did the Fair Store it was also a "Warehouse" construction so he was very use to that style. The architect of record of the Fair was very well known.

Two other source books I found of great interest: Prairie Avenue by Arthur Meeker and The Staircase by John Templer.

I received an answer to my request of a felony criminal search and he is not charged and the grand jury returned a "no bill".

I received the book this past Saturday and it seems we need to step back and research the two men who came to America with John and Gustav. They appear to be close relatives. It looks like we have an early picture of August and a picture of John's parents. I had my translator over yesterday evening. And from a first look the book includes an invitation to visit Sweden and as well they seem to have a lot of information and they do not know what they have and are asking us questions. The book includes a power of attorney for one of the two relatives who traveled with John and Gustav and what appears to be the will of Johns parents. (Mike 7/04)

Received a letter from Folke. He seems to enjoy this "stuff" as much as we do. He has found a Swedish professor who he feels maybe interested in the story of the four brothers. He has picked a title for the book: The Brothers From Nykulla Tjureda. Their emigration to America. By Harvey and Mike Newquist. He says the book will contain the story I sent him plus the genealogy listing 744 relatives provided by you. He said Anna Kathrina Svensson moved to Sandsbro Vaxjo, and that he will be getting you some information if he can. (Mike 1/05)