Homestead Photos

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This is a typical first log cabin home in Homestead.
The Pine River between Commonwealth and Homestead.
Little Popple bridge built by the community.
The Ekquist family from left to right: Emil, Willard, Andrew, Ida, Julia, Ellen, Louisa, Teckla, Evan Ekquist after 1890. Photo may have been taken in a photo studio.
Andrew Ekquist owns the land as of June 10, 1889, free and clear!
First to marry, Ellen and Charles Krans. Ellen is just 3-1/2 weeks past turning 16.
Second to marry, Julia and Claus Johnson. Julia is 19 years old.

Oscar in Palmer later in the 1930's-40's

Prior to May 30, 1903 (actual date unknown), the four on the right from left to right are Andrew Ekquist, Louisa Ekquist, Oscar Lundwall and Teckla Ekquist in front of the Ekquist family home. The two young men with the horses were unidentified.
The smaller building to the left may have been their first cabin.
From left to right are: Charlie Krans, Emil Krans, Andrew Equist in front, Willy Johnson and Emil Equist. Date unknown.
Louisa and her daughters, from left to right: Ida, Ellen, Louisa, Julia and Teckla. Date unknown.
According to Ralph Hoaglund in his Homestead book, “Strength and endurance were the Hallmarks of manhood with these early Swedes. They prided themselves on who could saw the most logs, carry the heaviest load, or pitch the most hay, or to tackle any job that tested their ability to conquer. Not to be outdone, the women folk too displayed a great amount of endurance and dedication to the jobs that had to be done. They did most of the farm work, tended their chickens, the garden, and helped with the fieldwork. All this while their homes were immaculate, their meals were delicious, and there was always a tasty array of sweets for coffee time (Kaffee Tid, pronounced teed.) In addition they canned their blueberries, their raspberries, salted meat, made sausage, baked bread and made their own Knacka Brod (Hard Tack), and washed the clothes by hand, and when they weren’t busy, they made rag rugs on their looms. Most importantly, they produced and raised big families at the same time. How could we not be proud of our ancestry??”