History Behind the Victory Flagpole - Franks story - Behind the Victory Flagpole – Frank’s story

I Frank J. Blomquist was born March 15th 1865 in Gamliboda Slatthag Socken, Smaland Sweden. I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church May 5th 1879. On March 19th 1887 I left the old country for to go to the United States and I arrived in Minneapolis April 12th 1887. I joined the Salem Lutheran Church in 1889 and in 1890 I was elected Treasurer and Financial Secretary and I served in that position for 10 years and I have held the office of Deacon and Trustee for over 20 years and when we had a drive for money to pay what we owed on the church I was Treasurer on that fund and when we had to raise money to pay for the pipe organ then I was Treasurer again. Then later on we had the Repair Fund and I was Treasurer of that Fund also and when Doctor Sodergren was here he bought a new membership book so he said now you Deacons you have to transfer all the names from the old book to the new one. He could not do it on account of headache so I had to go to work and do this job. It took me some time but I did it and I guess it must have been all right for I did not hear of any complaint. I was Treasurer for Brodraforbundet for two years, then I was Secretary for 4 years. 

My first work in the United States I worked on a brickyard at 49th Ave North and Lyndale for four 1/2 years for company of Benson & Johnson making brick in the summer and driving a pair of horses in the winter and on January twentieth 1892 I bought a half interest in a grocery establishment in Camden together with Fred W. Meinke. The name of the store was Meinke & Blomquist. We worked together for 17 years then I bought him out and I got my son Harry to come in with me and we worked together for seven and 1/2 years and in July 1916 I sold the grocery store to P. J. Hoffinan. Then I helped him for about a year to get started good. Then in September 1917  I started to work for C. J. Lindholm in the Seed Store and I kept that up for 33 years so I have been in business in Camden fifty eight years - that is longer than any man that we know of and I thank God that I have been able to keep on that long. 

Note: This is an original story written by Frank J. Blomquist of his life after coming to America. The material was supplied by his granddaughter, Muriel Blomquist Lorentzen. As you know, Frank Blomquist was one of the first grocers in Camden.