My Genealogy Hound

PETER BERGQUIST is a native of Sweden, and was born November 8, 1856. He accompanied his parents to America in 1865. They located first in Henry county, Ill., and after a few years removed to Webster county, Iowa, where he remained for about ten years engaged in farming along the Des Moines river. In the spring of 1875 the senior Bergquist removed to Harlan county, Nebr., where he spent the remainder of his life. Shortly after settling in Harlan county, Peter Bergquist took a timber claim in Albany township, and in 1879 homesteaded a quarter section. When the Bergquist family landed in Harlan county, the country was new and wild; no settlement had yet been effected. The prairie was fairly alive with antelope and buffalo, and many a one has Mr. Bergquist chased as well as captured. Houses then were few and far between and many inconveniences had to be endured. He passed through a portion of the grasshopper raid and knows what it means to be almost eaten out of house and home.

On June 23, 1880, Mr. Bergquist was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Annie Nordblom, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1861. Her parents located first in Henry county, Ill., and subsequently in Iowa. The congenial union of this couple has resulted in the birth of three bright and intelligent children, as follows — Emily, Madora and Wesley. Mr. Bergquist owns an estate of four hundred and eighty acres of good land and engages in raising nearly all kinds of stock. He is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and has held various local offices in his township. He is an ardent temperance man and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Swedish church. Mr. Bergquist is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick on his farm. The quality of clay to be found there being especially well adapted for that purpose.