The Ekquist Family

The Ekquist Family from Homestead, Wisconsin

Also spelled Ekekvist, Equist, Ecrist

Grandmother Teckla's parents were Andrew and Louisa Ekquist. This is the beginning of their story as I know it.
Andrew Ekquist was born in Fellingbro Parrish, Vastmanland, in Sweden on May 24, 1840. He was 34 years old, when he married Louisa Olson who was 27, born in Vastmanland, Sweden, on November 21, 1847, in Gafle. (Andrew’s name in Sweden was “Anders Gustaf Ekekvist” and Louisa’s name was “Lovisa Olson” and sometimes “Olsdotter” or “Olsson”).

Their first child, Carl Gustaf, was born in Gavle Parish on June 4, 1875 and died on October 31, 1876 at 16 months old. Ellen, (Augusa Eleonors in Sweden), was born June 13, 1877; Ida Charlotta was born on October 5, 1878. Andrew left Sweden on March 19, 1880 with a ticket to New York, with plans for Louisa and their two young daughters to follow in the fall. Louisa, pregnant with another child, was living with her younger sister in Sweden. When Andrew arrived in Florence, he found things weren’t very good, so he wrote to Louisa asking her to wait until the following spring before coming to America. Louisa’s sister intercepted the letter and destroyed it as she didn’t want her sister and the little ones staying with her any longer. Louisa, 7 months pregnant, left Sweden on September 17, 1880 for a 3 week voyage to America with Ellen who was 3 and Ida who was 2,. They sailed on the R.M.S. Marathon arriving in Boston on October 8, 1880, and then took the train to Chicago. From Chicago, they boarded a boat going to Escanaba. It’s quite possible they then took the train to Quinnesec where the train ended, and from there they walked to Florence. Two and a half months after docking in Boston, Louisa and her children arrived in Florence on December 2, 1880. Andrew, working the winter in a lumber camp, didn’t know she was coming. Louisa walked through Florence trying to find someone who might know where she could find her husband. Mrs. Olson took her and the children in for the night, and during the night Louisa delivered Julia (Juliana). Julia was born in Florence, Wisconsin, on December 3, 1880. The photo shows the Main Street in Florence in 1880.