Eben Carlsson, postmaster at Lindsborg, and former register of deeds of McPherson county, was born in Chicago, Ill., April 11, 1859, and is a son of the Rev. Erland Carlsson, a native of Sweden and an early pioneer in the Swedish Lutheran ministry in Illinois. He came to Chicago in 1853 and was pastor of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Sedgwick and Hobbie streets. He was one of the prominent figures in the early Swedish settlements in Illinois, and maintained his influence among his countrymen until his death, which occurred in 1893. His wife, whose maiden name was Eva C. Anderson, survived him until July 11, 1911.

Eben Carlsson was reared to maturity in the city of Chicago, and his education was acquired in the schools there and in Augustana College at Rock Island, Ill., in which institution of learning he graduated in 1880. He then took up the study of pharmacy and graduated at the Chicago College of Pharmacy in 1884, being for a time manager of the Rosene and the Sherman House drug stores. In 1884 he came to Kansas and engaged in the retail drug business which he established at Lindsborg, continuing in that line of trade for eight years and meeting with success in his enterprise. In 1892 he disposed of his drug store and engaged in farming, becoming an extensive cattle feeder, buyer, etc., and making frequent trips to Texas and New Mexico for the purpose of buying stock. He was the first man to raise or sell a load of alfalfa seed in McPherson county. He was elected register of deeds in 1898, was reëlected in 1900, serving a period of five years, and while the incumbent of that position compiled a numerical index of the county. This task consumed what time he could devote to it for three years and ten months, and when it was completed the county paid him $4,600 for the work. While in office he originated the system of type-written records, which was a great improvement over the old custom of writing them by hand. In 1905 Mr. Carlsson was appointed postmaster at Lindsborg by President Roosevelt, and in April, 1910, President Taft put his seal of approval upon his stewardship by reappointing him for another term in the same position. In politics he pays unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party, and in additions to the positions mentioned has served as a member of the state central committee and also of the county committee. His fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. Among his financial interests is an extensive tract of land in Arkansas.

On May 27, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carlsson to Miss Anna M., daughter of Rev. Jonas Swenson, of Andover, Ill., and sister of Dr. Carl Swenson, founder of Bethany College. Of this union there have been born four children: Eva M., who is a graduate of the McPherson High School and of Bethany College, both in English and Swedish; Carl Jonas Erland, who graduated in the business department of Bethany College with the class of 1909, and Edward and Egbert, who are both students in that institution of learning.