Ludwig Lundin
This biographical portrait is found in the "Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay, and Riley Counties, Kansas"; Chicago; Chapman Bros; 1890, pg. 391.; located in the KANSAS Room at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library.
Ludwig Lundin is of Swedish ancestry and nativity. He was born in HELSINGBORG, NORA WRAM, SWEDEN, June 26, 1847. He was reared in his native country and is the recipient of a good education in his native language. His father, Anders, is a farmer and blacksmith, and has always resided in the country where his son, Ludwig, was born. His mother is Caroline, daughter of Nels Nelson. Both belong to the Lutheran Church, as have the ancestors so far as known. The parental family consisted of one son and three daughters, the gentleman of whom we write being the second in order of birth. One of the daughters, Joanna, now the wife of C. Jacobson, lives in Lake County, Indiana. The remainder of the family is living in their native land.
Returning to Junction City, Mr. Lundin was married, and a few months later he and his wife came to Morganville. This was in August, 1871, and Mr. Lundin opened the first blacksmith shop of the town. He continued to work at his trade until April, 1872, when he sold his shop and tools, and took up a homestead of 160 acres where he now lives. His first house was a "dug-out" in which they lived about a year. He then built a frame building 12x24 feet, which was the family home until 1883. In the meantime he planted trees and otherwise improved his farm. When he came to his claim he had to work out to make money to keep the family, and for a time he walked to Manhattan and there worked for fifty cents a day.
For several years the crops were destroyed, or nearly so, by grasshoppers and drought. Undismayed by such adversity, Mr. Lundin struggled on, ably assisted in his labors by his wife, who proved herself the helpmate a true woman is, and should be. Mr. and Mrs. Lundin can now rejoice in their success, and enjoy the comforts that surround them, knowing that they are honestly deserved. Since taking up his original claim, Mr. Lundin has added an additional quarter section to his landed possessions, and now has almost the entire acreage in a high state of cultivation. He has made a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle and Norman horses.
The lady who has so ably assisted Mr. Lundin in building up his pleasant rural home, had the maiden name of Ninna Gustawa, and the ceremony which united them took place on New Year's Day, 1871. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lundin has been blessed by the birth of five children. Two, William and Anna, have been taken from them by death. Of the survivors, Hattie C. is now at the college at Linsborg, this State; and Autumn and Ernest are still at home.
Mr. Lundin and his family are members of the Lutheran Church in Garfield Township, and he is a Deacon in the society of which he is a representative member. Mr. and Mrs. Lundin are highly respected by all who know them for their many sterling qualities as private individuals and citizens.