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FREDERICK APPELQUIST

It is a source of gratification to a man to see his life work amount to something, so that in his declining years he is able to retire comfortably and enjoy what his labors accumulated. One of the re sponsible men of Rock Island , who during many years of usefulness, laid the foundations of his present prosperity, was born August 16. 1842, in Småland. Sweden , and since 1870. has made this city his home. He is a son of Carl P. and Mary Emma Appelquist. the former of whom was a blacksmith, who died in Sweden , as did his wife.

Frederick Appelquist is an example of a self- made man, for be only attended school two months in his life, as his parents were very poor, and the family had no advantages of any kind. Mr. Appelquist has traveled in seven different countries. Sweden . Norway . Germany , England , France , Canada and the United States , and so has picked up much information that has proven of great value to him. His first penny was given him by a man who passed by when the child was sitting in a tree trying to read. An uncle took him when he was eleven years old, and although he had to work hard, he was insufficiently fed, and had to go without shoes, and finally, when thirteen years old. he returned home, sick because of the ill-treatment he had received. During this time there was not a day he was not intoxicated, as during the two years one of his duties was to carry liquor from a distillery to men employed around the shops and he partook freely of this. Mr. Appelquist considers this a contradiction of the statement so often made that liquor stunts children.

He is a fine appearing man. six feet tall, and weighs 198 pounds. For the next four years, he worked with his father, and learned the blacksmithing trade. and later that of a glass blower. He then gave his country a two-years' service as a soldier. Mr. Applequist had charge of factories in different countries in a glass-blowing line, having become an expert in his work, but in June, 1869, he came to the United States . For a time, on account of the shops closing down, he had to saw wood for a living, and worked in different places. It is to be noticed, however, that when he could not get work at his trade, he did not hesitate to do whatever came to hand, no matter how hard it was. and this sets an. example to the present generation, who are too liable to be idle unless given work of a special kind.

In 1870, Mr. Appelquist came to Rock Island , which has since continued to be his home. Here he later embarked in a retail liquor business, and in 1889, built a large and handsome brick block at No. 1630 Third avenue , where he continued his business for six years. He then rented the place, and has since lived retired. For five years he was engaged in the same line in Orion, Ill. A republican in politics, he served on the board of supervisors, for one term. He belongs to the Lutheran church, and is a member of the Masons and Owls of Rock Island.

On April 9, 1S72, Mr. Appelquist was married to Pauline Klylea, daughter of John Klylea, a cabinetmaker. Mr. and Mrs. Appelquist have had nine children: Oscar, Charles, Jerome, Mayme, Lulu, Edward, Hazel, John (deceased), and Clara. Mr. Appelquist has made his own living since he was seven years of age, and has always been industrious and hard working. He has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable fortune which enables him to spend his latter years in comfortable retirement.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

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Illinois Ancestors

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