Engberg, Jonas, 1837-1890

<p>In the fall of 1857 Norelius and Jonas Engberg began to publish from Red Wing the first Swedish newspaper in Minnesota, entitled “Minnesota-Posten.” In October, the year after, this paper was consolidated with “Hemlandet” of Galesburg, Ill. Chicago became the place of publication and there Norelius for the first nine months of 1859 edited this paper, besides the religious monthly, “Det Rätta Hemlandet,” both under the supervision of Hasselquist. Frequent appointments to preach in neighboring churches added to his duties. His health failing, the task became too burdensome, and he resigned the editorship to resume exclusive pastoral work. (See page 505.)</p>

<p>With the exception of the choir named Svenska Sångföreningen, which existed in August and September, 1855, in Galesburg, during the short sojourn of Jonas Engberg in that place, the Immanuel Church Choir of Chicago has the distinction of having been the first Swedish church choir in Illinois. It was formed at the instance of Jonas Engberg, who was organist 18623-67. The choir was the first Swedish American chorus to sing a cantata. The work chosen, George F. Root’s “Queen Esther,” was sung at the opening of Augustana College at Paxton in the fall of 1863. The performers were Jonas Engberg, Emma Peterson, Anna Carlsson, Tilda Swedman, Hannah Carlson, John J. Engberg, L. E. Lindberg, and P. Lindberg. “Queen Esther” was later repeated at Chicago. Trips were made to the church conventions at Geneseo and Moline. Jonas Engberg was so interested in his choir that he provided it with music at his own expense. (See page 706.)</p>

<p>The Swedish Lutheran Publication Society...Jonas Engbergy who had been a book colporteur when he first came here, attended to the store and assisted on the newspapers until 1864. From time to time, shipments of books arrived from Sweden to replenish the supply, for there was a brish demand for reading matter. Engberg left in October, 1864, to engage in another line of business. Erland Carlsson apparently remained in the capacity of business manager until 1868, when he was replaced by Jonas Engberg, who was elected secretary and treasurer...opposition to the society’s activity arose within the Augustana Synod, which was in control, and on Sept. 29, 1874, the book department was sold for $17,000, to the new firm of Engberg, Holmberg and Lindell. The Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company. The new firm, Engberg, Holmberg and Lindell, continued the business at 94 E. Chicago avenue, for two years. In 1874 the firm moved into a new building at 119 E. Chicago avenue...In 1884 the firm was incorporated as The Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company. Jonas Engberg, the pioneer publisher, died Jan. 1, 1890. Charles P. Holmberg remained in active charge of the business until 1900, when he retired. He died May 20. 1903. Since 1900 the firm has been managed by Oscar and Martin J. Engberg, sons of Jonas Engberg. (see pages 763-765.)</p>

<p>Jonas Engberg was born March 31, 1837, in Berge, Bergsjö, parish, Helsingland, Sweden. He spent three years in the collegiate institute at Hudiksvall, obtaining several prizes for proficiency in his studies. Thereafter he was clerk to the crown tax collector. Emigrating Sept. 29, 1854, he landed in New York on Dec. 20th, and there met 0. G. Hedström...Engberg went to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained a couple of weeks with his cousin, Erik Norelius, then a student in that city. Continuing his journey to Chicago he there became a book colporteur, for he had brought with him some Swedish books. From May until July he taught school at West Point, Ind. The Swedish Lutheran church of that place was too poor to retain him any longer. Resuming his former occupation he sold books until in August, when, after a visit to Bishop Hill, he went to Galesburg and began working in Hasselquist’s printing shop. Engberg aided in the setting up of No. 9 of “Hemlandet” and continued in the printery until Oct. 3, 1855. Once more he became a book colporteur and traveled about selling English and Swedish books until September, 1856, when the balance of the Engberg family came from Sweden. From Chicago they went to Red Wing. Minn. From November until January. Engberg was teacher in the first parochial school at Vasa. He taught singing and the rudiments of English and Swedish grammar, besides the usual branches...The next summer Engberg worked as a compositor on a newspaper in Cannon Falls. On Nov. 7, 1857, Norelius and Engberg issued No. 1 of “Minnesota Posten,” the former as editor, the latter as printer. Engberg and his brother John, who then began learning the trade, subsisted mainly on crackers and molasses and slept in the printery. The subscriptions were paid in provisions, silver coin and wildcat currency. In December, 1859, the paper was consolidated with “Hemlandet” and both editor and printer went to the Chicago office. Engberg assisted in the editing and attended to the bookstore. After nine months Norelius left and Rev. Erland Carlsson took his place, soon, however, leaving all of the editorial work to Engberg. The latter remained editor until 1864. During the next four years he was associated with Peter L. Hawkinson as insurance agent and printer. In their office on Lake street they reprinted, in 1865, the first part of “Fänrik Ståls Sägner,” 84 pages. This little booklet was dedicated to the Scandinavian soldiers who fought in the Union Army. In the same year they printed “Läsebok för Barn och Ungdom, utgifven af B. J. Glasell,” 160 pages. In 1860 Engberg, together with Sven Gibson, had published “Konung Oskar den fridsälles minne,” 91 pages. In 1868 Engberg became secretary and treasurer of the Swedish Lutheran Publication Society. The next year he also became town clerk for North Chicago. In the summer of 1871 he went to Sweden to make purchases for the bookstore...Jonas Engberg came to organize the firm of Engberg and Holmberg. He labored assiduously with his account books and proof sheets, habitually arising at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning to begin his work. He compiled the old edition of “Hemlandssånger” and translated numerous hymns from the German and English for various songbooks. “Engelsk-svenska Brefställaren för Svenska Folket i Amerika,” with mathematical tables and a course in bookkeeping, was written by him. Mr. Engberg was one of the founders of the Augustana Synod in 1860...he was one of the Swedish-American musical pioneers. In the sixties he was a member of Hans Balatka’s Chicago Oratorio Society and sang with that chorus when Lincoln’s body was on view in Chicago. His musical tastes resulted in the publication of numerous music collections by his firm. Mr. Engberg’s health was undermined by too constant application to work. After a week’s illness he died on Jan. 1, 1890. Mr. Engberg was married March 11, 1861, to Elizabeth Zimmerman, a native of Nussloch, Baden, Germany, born Dec. 10. 1841, who came to this country in 1853, and to Chicago in 1857. She still survives, together with eight of her children. They are: Oscar P. F. Engberg, Helga E. C. (Mrs. Mauritz Stolpe), Vendela B. E. (Mrs. Emil Larson), Martin J. G. A. Engberg, Lucia E. R. (Mrs. Aksel G. S. Josephson), Sigrid M. H. (Mrs. Joseph G. Sheldon), Emil N. J. Engberg and Ruth T. E. Engberg. (See page 766-768.)</p>


<p>The “Minnesota Posten” was merged with the “Hemlandet,” and the latter became a weekly, with a department for Minnesota news. Eric Norelius, assisted by Jonas Engberg, assumed the editorial duties of the combined papers. The size of the paper was increased twice during the same year. After nine months of strenuous work Norelius’ health gave way and he resigned. Erland Carlsson then acted as editor, assisted by Jonas Engberg. The former soon after turned the editorial work over to the latter, owing to pressure of other duties. Jonas Engberg was editor during the greater part of the Civil War. He inserted a large number of letters from Swedish-American volunteers in the paper. The originals were preserved by him as long as he lived. A feature of the monthly “Det Rätta Hemlandet” was the hymns provided with numerical notation, sometimes in four part harmony. A. R. Cervin succeeded him as editor on Oct. 26, 1864. (See pages 771-772.)</p>