Swedish blacksmiths find work in Moline, Illinois. The JOHN DEERE factory

"In 1870, Swedes were the largest ethnic group in Moline, at nearly 50% of the population. John Deere located its plow factory in Moline in 1847 and many Swedish immigrants came to the Quad Cities for this manufacturing work. In fact, many blacksmiths were recruited from Sweden to come work in Moline. The railroad came to Moline in 1854 and legend states that the conductor would yell “John Deere” as the train pulled into Moline so the immigrants knew they were in the right place."*

In 1906 Richard Kallman, my grandfather, was an 18 year old blacksmith who left Sweden with the lure of jobs and a bright future in America, The 1910 US Census says he was working in the plow factory in Moline. Here in Moline he met my grandmother, Lydia Abrahamson. Lydia's sister Ruth would meet and marry Andrew Soderstrom in Moline, where he also worked at the plow factory.

*AUGUSTANA COLLEGE - Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center > 

  Swenson Center Exhibits - Permanent  Exhibit: Swedish Immigration to North America

  https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonexhibits_permanentexhibit/

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