Monday, November 28, 2011

August Lundberg ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ November 2011




August Lundberg History  
compiled by Judy Malkiewicz, a great granddaughter 



Born Nov 1, 1846 (Uppsala, Sweden) and Died Oct 7, 1919 (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)



August Lundberg was born November 1, 1846 in Uppsala, Sweden, believed to be the son of Anders Lundberg (1817-1884) and Louisa Lundberg (dates unknown).













(photo restored by David R. Gunderson)












In 1878, August Lundberg at the age of 30 years left Uppsala, Sweden via Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland for America on the ship Nevada, arriving New York City on July 10, 1878.  He was listed as a laborer on the ship rolls and was accompanied by his wife, Sofia Lundberg (age 30), daughter Amanda (age 11, born August 20, 1869 and died August 1, 1929), son Richard (age 8, born 1873 and died 1955), and Oscar (age 4, born October 7, 1875 and died March 11, 1952). They made their way to Fairview, Utah probably via the railroad and stayed there for two years. Initially, August Lundberg set up business as a tinsmith and watchmaker in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.






















August Lundberg had three brothers: one a musician (name unknown), one an undertaker (name unknown) and one an engraver (Isak Lundberg). Isak’s son (nephew to August Lundberg), Godfrey Emanuel Lundberg (born May 4, 1879 and died January 8, 1933), engraved the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin. There was a write-up in The Spokesman Review, Spokane, Washington on this Lord’s Prayer engraving. The pin was on display in Idaho Falls, Idaho (date unknown). Godfrey E. Lundberg also engraved U.S. on head of a needle.







August Lundberg is listed in the 1880 Census as living in Mt. Pleasant, Utah as a divorced man of 33 years of age.



August Lundberg married for a second time (date unknown, but probably in 1880 or 1881) to Christina Matilda Lundberg (born July 5, 1852 and died August 5, 1896).







They had 4 children together, Jennie Lundberg (married James Waldemar) (born December 8, 1881 and died November 3, 1936), and Edwin (also known as Edward) Lundberg (born January 15, 1886 and died December 14, 1943) and never married, Maple Henning Lundberg (born May 12, 1888 and died July 16, 1934) who married Hazel Anderson Lundberg, and Nancy Lundberg (born January 2, 1891 and died March 3, 1943) who never married.



Christina Matilda Lundberg died August 5, 1896 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah and is buried at the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.







At some point, probably circa 1890, August Lundberg went to Salt Lake City, Utah and studied to become a dentist. He is listed in the 1890 census as living in Salt Lake City, Utah.











August Lundberg had a dental office Murray, Utah circa 1890.
















In addition, the 1900 Census revealed August Lundberg listed as living in Salt Lake City, Utah with his son Maple Lundberg, age 12 and daughter Nancy Lundberg, age 9. His wife, Christina Matilda Lundberg having died in 1896.  Also in the 1900 Census, Jennie Lundberg (age 24) and Edwin Lundberg (age 14) are listed living together in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.










On June 5, 1902, August Lundberg married for the 3rd time to Sarah Matilda Johnson Lundberg (went by Matilda, born July 29, 1870 and died October 14, 1943) in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had one son together, Roy August Lundberg (born June 16, 1912 and died May 8, 1933 of a brain tumor – he never married).



The Lundberg family must have lived in Murray, Utah at this time because August Lundberg ran for political office as a councilman for the Socialist Party in the fall of 1903.







However, while living in Murray, Utah and working as a dentist, Dr. August Lundberg maintained a branch dental office in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.







Dr. August Lundberg’s dental office in Mt. Pleasant, Utah was on Main Street. In addition, he ran the Pastime Pool Hall in the same building. By 1906, Dr. August Lundberg built a whole block of buildings on Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, Utah known as the “LUNDBERG BLOCK”.



































The August Lundberg house in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
In 1908, Dr. August Lundberg brought the first automobile to Mt. Pleasant, Utah. It was a Locomobile (from Hilda Madsen’s book, “Mt. Pleasant 1859-1939” page 195).
However, according to Hilda Madsen, Dr. August Lundberg only kept the Locomobile for a month or so and replaced it with a bright red 1908 Northerner like this one.
Dr. August Lundberg’s 1908 Northerner automobile was featured in the Mt. Pleasant, Utah Pioneer Days in 1912.
By 1910, August Lundberg was back in Mt. Pleasant, Utah according to the 1910 census. The 1910 Census shows August Lundberg, age 60 years, living with his wife Matilda, age 40, son Edgar (should have been Edwin), age 25, son Mapen (should have been Maple), age 21, and daughter Nancy, age 17. (More on August Lundberg's children in a future post).
Dr. August Lundberg ran the Mt. Pleasant Electric Power Plant and lost it in a flood. Dr. August Lundberg visited his son, Maple Henning Lundberg and Maple's (Mape) wife, Hazel Theora (Jensen) Anderson Lundberg in Mackay, Idaho on November 11, 1918 Armistice Day.
Dr. August Lundberg died in Mt. Pleasant, Utah at the age of 73 years from General Debility and Neurothemia (a stomach disorder with increased acid and irritation).

August Lundberg died at the age of 73 years and was buried from the North Ward Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, Utah on October 10, 1919. August Lundberg is buried at the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

Translation from Swedish:
As mentioned shortly in latest edition of the Utah-Paper (a weekly newspaper in Swedish), Dr A. Lundberg died in his home in Mount Pleasant, Utah, October 7, 1919, 73 years old.
He was born in Uppsala, Sweden November 1, 1846, arrived in Utah in July 1878 and settled in Fairview, Utah where he stayed for two years, thereafter he moved to Mount Pleasant where he resided till his death.
Dr. Lundberg left behind his wife and eight children, five sons and three daughters. These are: Mrs Amanda (Lundberg) Cox in Rupert, Idaho,
Richard Lundberg in Idaho Falls, Idaho,
Oscar Lundberg in Fairview,
Mrs. James Waldemar (Jennie Lundberg)
Edwin Lundberg, Mt Pleasant,
Maple H. Lundberg, Mackay, Idaho,
Miss Nancy Lundberg and
 Roy Lundberg, Mt. Pleasant, Utah
The deceased was married 3 times.
The burial ceremony was held at Northward Chapel last Friday, October 10, 1919, led by Bishop H C Jacobs. The Wardels choir sang “I Need Thee Every Hour” and “Nearer My God to Thee”. Speakers were Måns Månsson, President C N Lund and Bishop Jacobs. Wilford Hafen performed a solo song “O My Father” and the choir sang “Home Sweet Home”. Bishop Jacobs held the final prayer and gave his blessings for the deceased’s final resting room.
Dr. Lundberg was what you call a “self-made-man”. He was a dentist, optician, electrician, blacksmith as well as repair-man of watches. He was the man who brought the first wagon with leaf springs, the first sledge and also the first automobile to Mount Pleasant. He also built an electrical power plant which he managed all by himself during six years.