Abraham Teaquist was born 1832 in Sweden and died in Wheeler Township in 1877.  His wife Jane was born in Sweden in 1834 and died at Odebolt in 1924.

Abraham and Jane's first five children were born in Sweden, after which Abraham, in 1868, with his brother, came to America landing in New York.  The brothers parted there and never saw each other again.

Abraham went to a logging camp in Wisconsin and as soon as he had earned enough money to pay the family's transportation to the United States he sent for Mrs. Teaquist and their five children.  Upon their arrival they lived in a log house at the lumber camp.  Mrs. Teaquist did washing, mending, etc. for other workmen in the camp to earn enough money to keep the family.  Mr. Teaquist left his earnings with the company.  The Lumber Company went bankrupt and Mr. Teaquist, in addition to the loss of his savings, was without a job.  With five dollars which Mrs. Teaquist had been able to save, the family started west looking for work.  They arrived in Chicago broke and hungry.

Mr. Teaquist proceeded to look for work.  The depot agent informed him a man had been there looking for farm help, but he had gone up town and he expected him back soon.  In the course of conversation Mr. Teaquist told the depot agent of his experience, that the family was hungry, and that he was without funds.  The agent advised him that the depot lobby needed cleaning, that it was a three dollar job if Mrs. Teaquist wished to do it.  She immediately placed the children on the benches and scrubbed the depot.  The job completed, Mrs. Teaquist, who spoke only the Swedish language, tried to purchase some cheese and crackers.  She asked for "ost", the Swedish for cheese, but the clerk did not understand and after so much bickering she gave up in disgust and in Swedish said "Oh chiss may ie morrah", which translated means, "Oh kiss me tomorrow".  The clerk called to her saying, "oh, it's cheese you want", and showed her a slice.  She was then able to supply her family with a lunch of cheese and crackers.

The gentleman looking for farm help to send west returned to the depot and after interviewing Mr. Teaquist decided to hire him, but on learning of the size of the Teaquist family he hesitated.  Mr. Teaquist pleaded for the job and finally arrangements were made for their transportation to Manchester, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Teaquist and their five children, John, Christian, Anna, Albert and Matilda went to a farm south of Manchester owned by Mr. C.L. Flint.  They were there six years.  Here Charles and Nellie were born.

In 1876 Abraham accompanied by Mr. C.L. Flint came to Sac County in search of a new home.  Mr. Teaquist purchased a farm in Wheeler Township, Sac County, Iowa.  When Mr. Teaquist moved to Sac County, Mr. Flint helped finance him.

Early in 1877 the Teaquists came west via railroad, arriving at Newell, and going overland by wagon the remainder of the way to Wheeler Township.  While here in the fall of 1876 Mr. Teaquist had made arrangements with the Wilson's to live in their house, on the farm north of the one purchased by Mr. Teaquist, until they could build one on their own farm. That same fall Hank Wait, who lived on the Buist farm, burned out.  In need of a place to live he drove to Monticello, with word that the Teaquists were not coming to Sac County, and rented the house and other buildings belonging to Mr. Wilson.  As a result, when the Teaquists arrived they had no place to live. They did find a sod house on the Kalmer farm, which is now part of the Nordeen farm, and occupied it until they could build. The Teaquists built a small house in June of 1877.  It was fourteen by twenty feet and one story.  The lumber cost one hundred twenty dollars and the carpenter, Mr. Hanson (Father of Mrs. S.E. Cronquist) was paid twenty dollars for his work.

During that first year it was a family project to help make a living and all of the children who were old enough did whatever they could to help.  Alfred, Christina and Albert worked for the Bennetts.  Alfred received sixteen dollars a month for helping with farm work; Christina two dollars per week for helping with the housework and Albert seven dollars a month to herd cattle. Albert tells of driving six oxen on a breaking plow and of killing rattle snakes while herding the cattle. Anna worked on the Wheeler Ranch and for the Chandlers.  In the fall Albert herded cattle for several neighbors and he was to stay as many nights at each place as there were cows in each herd.  The names of those he worked for and the number of cows in each herd were as follows: Swan Johnson, six cows; Henry Hanson, six cows; Andrew Johnson, six cows; Engberg, four cows; Swede, two cows; Bergren, four cows; and August Lundell, two cows.

The year 1877 was full of tragedy for the Teaquists.  A large share of the crops were destroyed by grasshoppers.  In the fall, Christina became ill with typhoid fever and died.  In two weeks, her father, Abraham Teaquist passed away.  Mrs. Jane Teaquist remained on the farm until 1889 when she moved to Odebolt.

John Teaquist was born in Sweden 1860 and died in 1933 in Wyoming.  Christina Teaquist was born in Sweden in 1862 and died in Wheeler Township in 1877.  Matilda Teaquist was born in Sweden in 1868 and died in Wheeler Township in 1879.

Anna Sophia Teaquist - see Huldeen history (scroll to bottom of web page)

Albert Teaquist was born 1866 at Skarsburilan Vester Yetland, Sweden and died in Odebolt, 1958.  In 1897, he married Amanda Bergin, and they were parents of Charles married Ester Wagner-Florence Holland; George married Lydia Turin; Lloyd married Sadie Lundblad; and Howard.

Charles Teaquist was born 1872 in Delaware County, Iowa and died in Nebraska in 1953.  In 1901 he married Emily Ogren and they were parents of Clarissa (Mrs. George Spangler) and Cecelia.

Nellie Teaquist married Charles Kistler.  (See Kistler history.)

Also see - Pioneer Days - Col. A. S. Teaquist

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