Lind, John, 1854-1930

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1854-03-25
Death 1930-09-18

Biographical notes:

John Lind was born in 1854 in Sweden and emigrated to Minnesota in 1868. From a career as a lawyer he went on to become the first Swedish-born American elected to the United States House of Representatives. In 1898 he was elected governor of Minnesota on the Democratic-Populist ticket. In 1913 he was appointed as Woodrow Wilson's personal representative to Mexico, where he served until 1914. Following his return he resumed his law practice and was a supporter of Wilson's foreign policy and later of Progressive and Farmer-Labor party candidates. He died in Minneapolis in 1930.

From the description of Mexican mission papers of John Lind, 1913-1931 (inclusive), [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122549782

1854 March 25. Born in Kånna parish, Småland province, Sweden, eldest of five children born to Peter Gustaf Jonasson and Katrina Jonasdatter. 1868 Emigrated with family to United States; settled on a farm near Cannon Falls, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Father adopted name of Lind from name of family farm in Sweden, "Lindbacken." Left hand amputated as a result of a hunting accident. 1869 1870 Attended public school in Red Wing. Certified to teach 3rd grade. 1871 Taught school in Goodhue County. 1872 Moved with family to farm near Winthrop, Sibley County, Minnesota. 1873 Taught school in Sibley County. 1874 1875 Employed in law office of Jonas Newhart in New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota. Studied law and taught school. 1875 1876 Attended University of Minnesota. Taught night school. 1876 Returned to New Ulm to assist Newhart in law practice. 1877 Admitted to Minnesota bar. Opened own law office in New Ulm. Married Alice A. Shepard, daughter of Richard and Rowena Charity Stratton Shepard. 1880 First son, Norman, born. 1881 Appointed receiver of United States land office at Tracy, Lyon County, Minnesota, by President James A. Garfield; served until 1885. 1884 Legal firm of Lind and Randall dissolved; succeeded by firm of Lind and Carl A. Hagberg. First daughter, Jenny, born. 1886 First Swedish-born American to be elected to United States House of Representatives, from 2nd congressional district, Republican ticket, served 1887-1893 in 50th, 51st, and 52nd Congresses. During third term formed lasting friendship with Bryan, then representative from Nebraska. Primarily interested in the tariff, public lands, enforcement of Interstate Commerce Act, Indian affairs, bimetallism, railroads, shipping, postal telegraph, organized labor, and immigration restriction. 1890 Second daughter, Winifred, born. 1892 Declined to seek re-election to House of Representatives, in part because he did not feel in "full accord" with Republican party on such "vital questions" as free coinage of silver. 1893 Resumed law practice in New Ulm. Appointed a regent of University of Minnesota by Governor Knute Nelson; resigned in 1894. 1896 Left Republican party over Free Silver issue. Supported candidacy of Bryan, Democratic-People's ticket. Defeated in bid for governorship of Minnesota, Democratic-People's ticket, Free Silver platform. 1898 Enlisted for service in Spanish-American War; served with rank of lieutenant as regimental quartermaster of the 12th Minnesota Volunteers in Cuba; however, opposed United States policy of imperialism and retention of Philippine Islands. Elected 14th governor of Minnesota, Democratic-Populist ticket; served 1899-1901. Primarily concerned with trust and railroad regulation, taxation, legal reform, public education, treatment of the insane, and organized labor. 1900 Defeated for re-election as governor of Minnesota, Democratic-People's ticket. Campaign stressed trust regulation, imperialism, and militarism as primary national issues and taxation as paramount state issue. Second son, John Shepard, born. 1901 Transferred residence from New Ulm to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Formed law partnership with Andreas Ueland that was maintained until 1914. 1902 Elected to United States House of Representatives from 5th congressional district, Democratic ticket; served 1903-1905 in 58th Congress. Interested in interstate commerce, public lands, Indian affairs, and the tariff. 1904 Declined to seek re-election to House. 1908 Campaigned for presidential candidate Bryan, Democratic ticket. Appointed to board of regents of University of Minnesota by Governor John A. Johnson; served as president until 1914. Made Waldron M. Jerome a partner in law firm. 1910 Declined Minnesota gubernatorial nomination, Democratic ticket. 1912 Worked for nomination of Wilson as Democratic candidate for president. Traveled with family to Europe. 1913 Declined to serve as assistant secretary of the interior and as United States minister to Sweden. Appointed by Wilson as his personal representative to Mexico; served until 1914. Supported Wilson's policy of neutrality with respect to World War I. 1915 Appointed chairman of Minnesota chapter of League to Enforce Peace by its president, former President William Howard Taft. Accepted invitation to Mexico to meet President Venustiano Carranza. 1916 Campaigned for re-election of Wilson. 1917 Supported United States entry into World War I. Appointed to Minnesota Commission of Public Safety by Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist; resigned in 1918. 1918 Appointed chairman of Advisory Council to the Secretary of Labor and an umpire on National War Labor Board by Secretary of Labor William B. Wilson. Supported National Nonpartisan League's candidate for governor of Minnesota, Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr., in Republican primary election. 1919 Supported Wilson's campaign for United States' entry into League of Nations. 1922 Daughter Jenny died. 1923 Established Lind Fund for the Aid of Deserving Crippled Children at University of Minnesota. Supported Farmer-Labor party's candidates for Minnesota state and national offices. Also supported them in 1926 and 1928. 1928 Opposed presidential candidacy of Alfred E. Smith, Democratic ticket. Supported Republican party's candidate, Herbert C. Hoover. Appointed member of board of trustees of American Institute of Swedish Art, Literature, and Science. 1930 September 18. Died in Minneapolis.

Chronology was taken from Deborah K. Neubeck's Guide to a Microfilm Edition of the Mexican Mission Papers of John Lind, St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1971.

1882 August 14. Born in New Ulm, Minnesota. 1902 Graduated from University of Minnesota. 1904 Proprietor in partnership with his father of Norman Lind & Co., brokers and wholesalers of Washington fir, spruce, and red cedar lumber and shingles, Everett, Washington. 1905 Secretary-Treasurer, Pacific Timber Company, Everett, Washington. 1913 Secretary-Treasurer, Nelson-Neal Lumber Company, Montborne, Washington. 1914 January-April. In Veracruz, Mexico with father. 1915 Representative for C. A. Smith Lumber Company, Oakland, California. 1917 Lumber agent for shipper R. Lawrence Smith, New York. Formation of Lind Navigation Corporation with investments by Norman Lind, R. Lawrence Smith, Joseph Fyfe, E. A. Nelson, John Lind, and John Uno Sebenius. 1926 Vice President, Ocean Transport Company, New York and San Francisco. 1929 General Manager, Tacoma Oriental Steamship Company, Tacoma, Washington. 1932 May 18. Died in Denver, Colorado.

Information taken from the collection.

From the guide to the John and Norman Lind papers., 1870-1933., (Minnesota Historical Society)

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Occupations:

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Places:

  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Mexico (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Red Lake Indian Reservation (Minn.). (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Iron Range (Minn.). (as recorded)
  • Itasca State Park (Minn.). (as recorded)
  • Washington (State) (as recorded)
  • Red Lake Indian Reservation (Minn.) (as recorded)
  • Itasca State Park (Minn.) (as recorded)

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