John Almquist, one of our most respected citizens, and a pioneer of Page county, was called to his heavenly home, at six o'clock a.m., Wednesday morning, October 12, 1932, as a beautiful dawn of a new day was softly breaking to the east. His death came after a brief illness of pneumonia.
The family circle has again been broken, a dear father has been summoned home, and an old settler of this community is missing from our midst.
John Almquist was born at Vrigstad, Jonkoping, Sweden, February 17, 1844, and passed on to his eternal reward on October 12, 1932, at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 28 days.
Like many of his countrymen, bade farewell to Sweden's pine-clad hills in 1867, and embarked for America in search of fame and fortune, which her vast resources brought within the reach of the ambitious and energetic. He settled on a farm near Swedona, Illinois, and in 1871 came to Iowa and settled on a farm four miles east of what is now Essex. When he left his beloved Sweden, he carried with him no supplies of gold or silver, but a determination to succeed in his undertaking.
On January 10, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Anderson, who on February 26th, 1932, preceded him in to the Redeemer's paradise.
Mr. and Mrs. Almquist resided on the family homestead until 1907, when they moved to Essex to live in peace and comfort and further enjoy the way of life amongst their faithful friends.
An important event in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Almquist took place on January 10th of this year, they observed their 58th wedding anniversary together with their children and grandchildren.
Whatever success Mr. Almquist achieved in life was made through his own efforts. He enjoyed the confidence and respect of the entire community. He was a man of determination and perseverance and Christian principles.
To mourn a loving and affectionate father are left the following eleven children: Anna Peterson, Shenandoah; Mrs. Emil Tillman, Essex; Charles Almquist, Essex; Eddie Almquist, Shenandoah; Oscar Almquist, Essex; Joseph Almquist, Essex; Albert Almquist, Essex; Mrs. Clarence Brown, Shenandoah; David Almquist, Essex; Mrs. Frank Brown, Essex; Mrs. Roy Lindburg, Shenandoah. Also thirty-three grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, one brother, Mr. Frank Almquist, residing in Essex, and two sisters and one brother living in Sweden and other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held this afternoon (Friday) at the home commencing at 1:30 p.m. and at the Essex Mission Church at 2:00 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. H. Hultman.
Pall bearers will be the sons, Albert, Joseph, Charles, Oscar, David of Essex, and Eddie of Shenandoah. Interment will take place in the Essex Cemetery.
Local mortician, W. O. Carson, is in charge of arrangements.
Essex Independent, October 14, 1932