John A. Lundgren, a very successful general contractor of Topeka, Kan., was born in Sweden, Dec. 19, 1867. His parents were Carl J. and Carolina (Eklund) Lundgren, both of whom were natives of Sweden, where they were married. They came to Topeka, in 1888, and there the father continued his trade as tailor until his death in 1906. The mother is still living and resides in Topeka. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church in Sweden, but became identified with the Baptist denomination after becoming residents of Topeka. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters, all of whom were born in Sweden. They are: Anna, Hilda, Carl Ernest, John A., Frank, Alex., Cecil and Ethel. Carl Ernest Lundgren, the eldest son, came to America in 1884 and located in Brooklyn, N. Y., where his sister, for whom he had sent, joined him in 1886. They came to Topeka, Kan., in that same year, and there Ernest engaged in tailoring until 1902, when he removed to Colorado Springs, Col., where he has since resided.

John A. Lundgren attended the local schools of his native land until nineteen years of age and was apprenticed to learn the cabinet trade, which he lacked one year of completing when he left his home across the water. He came directly to Topeka, in 1887, and was followed by the remaining members of the family in 1888. He began work at carpentering the year of his arrival, and in the following year of 1888 began a business course in Pond's Business College in Topeka, where for three winters he attended the night schools in order to learn our business methods and to master our language, which he now speaks fluently. He worked at the carpenter's trade until 1893, when he became connected with a cabinet shop. In 1894 he bought a partnership interest in the cabinet business of Samuel E. Lain and engaged with him under the firm name of S. E. Lain & Company. This partnership lasted until 1899, when Mr. Lundgren sold his interest, and for one year worked at carpentering and house building. In 1901 he formed his present business partnership with C. G. Carlson, which has continued to the present time. This firm has enjoyed exceptional prosperity and now owns its plant at 213 Jackson street, where they manufacture all of their own mill work. The firm does a general contracting business and has erected some fine Topeka building, such as "The Devon" and the Gleed Flats, the Topeka Bank building, three of the public school buildings, and at present has contracts with the Santa Fe railway for a number of buildings, such as roundhouses, pumping stations, etc.

Mr. Lundgren was married Sept. 16, 1897, to Miss Jennie Hanson, a native of Norway, who came to America with her mother at the age of seven, her father having died in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Lundgren have four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Raymond, born July 6, 1898; Dorothy, born in November, 1900; Bernice, born in May, 1902; and Willis A., born in September, 1904, all of whom are living and are attending school. Politically Mr. Lundgren is a Republican on national issues, but in local affairs the best man receives his support. He and his family are members of the Swedish Baptist Church of Topeka, and Mr. Lundgren has been superintendent of its Sunday school for the past sixteen years.