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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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John H. Ekdahl, of the firm of Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Co., was born in Christianstad, Sweden, June 17, 1851, son of P. J. and Botilda (Erickson) Ekdahl, both of whom were born in Sweden, the father in 1825 and the mother in 1830. Our subject, the eldest of their seven children, received his education in the English and German and his native language. He was quite young when apprenticed to learn the blacksmith’s and machinist’s trade, but abandoned it after a short time and learned the cabinet-maker’s trade. After visiting the principal cities of Europe he came to America in 1870. He was employed by the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company as house and car builder for seven years. He then came to Union City, Tenn., and for three years contracted for cabinet work. In 1882 he established the Ekdahl Furniture Co., which, in 1885 was consolidated with Beck and Bransford, and since that time Mr. Ekdahl has been the superintendent of the Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Co. He is a practical mechanic and an enterprising man. He was married in 1877 to Miss Mollie Cherry, born in Tennessee in 1855. They have two children, Harry and Carl. Mr. Ekdahl and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee
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