Charles Magnus Lindgren
Encyclopedia
Charles Magnus Lindgren was a Swedish born, American shipping executive. He was a pioneer in the Great Lakes shipping industry
.
in Uddevalla Municipality
in the traditional Province of Bohuslän
, in Västra Götaland County
, Sweden. He went to sea at the age of 14. In 1849, he went to the California gold fields
where he engaged in the freight traffic.
and settled in 1854 in Henry County, Illinois
, a few miles from Galva
. In 1856, Lindgren came to Chicago, bought a couple of freight vessels and contracted with a lumber company for shipping lumber from Michigan
to Chicago
.
In 1860 he engaged in shipping. He gradually added vessel after vessel until in 1870 he owned half a dozen ships with a combined tonnage of 4,500. Several of these were among the largest in the Great Lake trade at that time. In 1871, he had three more large freighters built at Manitowoc, Wisconsin
. One of these, the schooner Christina Nilsson was named after Christina Nilsson
, a world-renowned Swedish diva who had visited America that year.
) was founded, Lindgren contributed generously toward its erection and maintenance. Charles Lindgren was the father of John R. Lindgren
, founder of the Haugan & Lindgren
bank in Chicago.
Lake freighter
Lake freighters, or Lakers, are bulk carrier vessels that ply the Great Lakes. The best known was the , the most recent and largest major vessel to be wrecked on the Lakes. These vessels are traditionally called boats, although classified as ships. In the mid-20th century, 300 lakers worked the...
.
Background
Charles Magnus Lindgren was born near DragsmarkDragsmark Abbey
Dragsmark Abbey was a Premonstratensian canonry in Båhuslen, formerly Norway, now Bohuslän, Sweden.-History:The monastery at Dragsmark, also known as "Marieskog" in Norwegian, was founded some time before 1260, with the support of King Håkon Håkonsson, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin...
in Uddevalla Municipality
Uddevalla Municipality
Uddevalla Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Uddevalla....
in the traditional Province of Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
, in Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
, Sweden. He went to sea at the age of 14. In 1849, he went to the California gold fields
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
where he engaged in the freight traffic.
Career
In 1852, Lindgren entered into a railway project together with the Bishop Hill ColonyBishop Hill Colony
Bishop Hill Colony is a historic district in Bishop Hill, Illinois. Bishop Hill was the site of a utopian religious community which operated as a commune. It was founded in 1846 by Swedish pietist Eric Janson and his followers...
and settled in 1854 in Henry County, Illinois
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
, a few miles from Galva
Galva, Illinois
Galva is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2010 census, down from 2,758 at the 2000 census.-Information:...
. In 1856, Lindgren came to Chicago, bought a couple of freight vessels and contracted with a lumber company for shipping lumber from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
In 1860 he engaged in shipping. He gradually added vessel after vessel until in 1870 he owned half a dozen ships with a combined tonnage of 4,500. Several of these were among the largest in the Great Lake trade at that time. In 1871, he had three more large freighters built at Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
. One of these, the schooner Christina Nilsson was named after Christina Nilsson
Christina Nilsson
Christina Nilsson, Countess de Casa Miranda, was a Swedish operatic soprano. She possessed a brilliant bel canto technique and was considered a rival to the Victorian era's most famous diva, Adelina Patti...
, a world-renowned Swedish diva who had visited America that year.
Personal life
In 1852, Lindgren returned to Sweden to marry Johanna Andersson. They subsequently returned to America arriving in Chicago. Lindgren was a philanthropic man who was particularly liberal toward the Swedish Methodist Church. When the Swedish Methodist Theological Seminary in Chicago (now Garrett-Evangelical Theological SeminaryGarrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...
) was founded, Lindgren contributed generously toward its erection and maintenance. Charles Lindgren was the father of John R. Lindgren
John R. Lindgren
John R. Lindgren was an American Banking executive.John Richard Lindgren was born in Chicago, Illinois, the only son of Charles Magnus Lindgren, a Swedish born ships captain and vessel-owner of Chicago. With Helge Alexander Haugan, Lindgren established the banking firm of Haugan & Lindgren in 1879...
, founder of the Haugan & Lindgren
Haugan & Lindgren
Haugan & Lindgren was a bank headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The bank operated from December 8, 1879, until February 10, 1891, from quarters at No. 57 and No. 59 La Salle Street. The bank was a partnership of Helge Alexander Haugan, H. G. Haugan and John R. Lindgren. Haugan & Lindgren was a...
bank in Chicago.
Other sources
- Henschen, Henry S. A History of The State Bank of Chicago From 1879 to 1904 (Chicago: The Lakeside Press. 1905)
- Benson, Adolph B.; Naboth Hedin Swedes In America (New York: Haskel House Publishers. 1969)