52 Ancestors, Week 10: David William Lundquist

This is week 10 of the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge” by Amy Crow from No Story Too Small.  I am a bit behind but intend to catch up.

This week I'm writing about my husband's great-uncle, David William Lundquist.

David William Lundquist was born 3 Oct 1898 in Stanton, Montgomery County, Iowa to Pehr Alfred Lundquist and Mathilda Lovisa Eriksson-Holm.[1] Dave was the youngest of three children. He had a brother, John Edward and sister, Agnes Hilma Carolina. 

Alfred, Dave, Agnes, John, Lovisa

Dave grew up on a farm and was 17 when his father sold the farm and the family moved to Merced County, California where he purchased land in the Hilmar Colony. They attended the Hilmar Covenant Church. His sister, Agnes married the oldest son of the minister.

Dave attended Heald’s College in Oakland and lived during that time with his sister, Agnes and her husband, Arthur Nilsen.[2] He worked for the Standard Oil Company following his schooling. 

He later served in the California National Guard, enlisting 4 Oct 1928 and attained the rank of sergeant by the time he was discharged on 3 Oct 1931.[3] He served as the company clerk for Co. A, 185th Infantry. The family saved the newspaper articles identifying has having near perfect attendance record.[4]

After the service and the death of his father, Dave worked as a farmer on the family land and some land he purchased. He grew several crops and sold almonds to the Blue Diamond Growers. 

He was also very active in the Hilmar Covenant Church, the Hilmar Volunteer Fire Department, and the Hilmar Grange and Farm Bureau.[5]

Though Dave never married, he enjoyed being with his nieces and nephews, especially those who came to live with his mother after his sister, Agnes died. When he died, he left his estate to his eight nieces and nephews.[6]

Dave died 14 Oct 1984 at a Turlock hospital following a brief illness.[7] He was buried at the South Hilmar Cemetery in Hilmar, California. Many came to the funeral. His estate took several years to complete because of the almond contracts.

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[1] Montgomery County Iowa Register of Births, Book 3, p 147, David W. Lundquist, FHL 1481705.

[2] Outcalt, John, History of Merced County California: With A Biographical Review of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present (Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1925), pg. 670, P. A. Lundquist; California, California Voter Registration 1900-1968 (Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com), David W. Lundquist, suppl prec 241, no. 21; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).

[3] National Guard of the United States & the State of California, David W. Lundquist Military Papers, Discharge Record.

[4] These are a variety of clippings, probably from the Modesto News Herald, no dates or page numbers available.

[5] David W. Lundquist, obituary, The Modesto Bee, 16 Oct 1984, p B3.

[6] Last Will and Testament of David William Lundquist, executed 22 Oct 1981, Turlock (Stanislaus Co) California.

[7] David W. Lundquist, obituary, The Modesto Bee, 16 Oct 1984, p B3.


Copyright © 2014 by Lisa Suzanne Gorrell, My Trails into the Past