John Nils Quick

John QUICK, one of the older and highly respected residents of Jefferson County, died yesterday afternoon at his home ½ mile east of Four Corners. Born in Sweden May 22, 1843, being aged 74-2-28. Besides wife, is survived by one daughter Mrs. Otto WOELHAF of this city, and four sons, Martin of St. Louis, Mo., A. Emil, Edward and William, all of Four Corners. Funeral tomorrow afternoon from the Swedish Lutheran Church at New Sweden in charge of Rev. E. H. Sandeen, and the remains will be interred in the cemetery nearby.

The settlement lies in a region where there is much timber, about forty or fifty miles west of Burlington, IA. Through its southern part flows a stream which at times becomes swollen and very turbulent. In some places the land is hilly and when driving through the timber it does not at all seem inviting or pleasant to the eye. But when you reach the settlement all is so different. Here all is kept in good order, the homes lie rather close together and are surrounded by cultivated and well kept fields. The soil is fertile and they have not experienced any crop failures. Land has risen in value. The settlement now has a railroad. They expect to get a station two miles from the Swedish church (New Sweden). In 1858 there were 500 people in the settlement consisting of one hundred families.

He worked for others as a stone mason for about 40 years. When he first came to this country he bought 10 acres of land. This land he farmed in addition to making brick. He gradually forged ahead until at the time of his death he was the owner of ninety acres of good land.

He was twice married, his first wife being Mathilida A. Anderson, who died in 1880 leaving the husband with seven children. Those were days of severe trial and Mr. Quick sought help from his God more fervently than before In 1881 he was married to Johanna L. Johnson.

Mr. Quick now became an active worker in the work. He has served his congregation as secretary several years; trustee, deacon, treasurer and Sunday school superintendent are some of the other positions of trust given him by his church.

Intellectually he was a gifted man. He had a good memory and did a great deal of original reasoning. All through his life he was actively engaged in bettering the community.

Mr. Quick received a stroke of apoplexy last Sunday morning while at church and died Monday afternoon at 2:00 without regaining consciousness. He was 74 years, 2 months, and 22 days of age.

The wife, seven children, 18 grandchildren and one great grandchild are left to mourn his loss. Four children preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held from the home and the church Wednesday afternoon and were attended by a large number of friends. Rev EH Sanden officiated, assisted by Rev Bert M. Samuelson. The body was laid to rest in the cemetery nearby.