Bio: Liljeqvist, Oran (1868 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Liljeqvist, Dunbar, Gundlack, Spear, Lerum

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Liljeqvist, Oran (16 December 1868 - 19??)

Orlan Liljeqvist, secretary and manager of the C. F. Dunbar Company, jewelers, at Wausau, and president of the Wausau Merchants Association, is a well known citizen of Wausau and a sterling representative of some of its leading interests. He was born in Sweden, December 16, 1868, and is a son of John and Alice Liljeqvist. The family came to America in 1870 and to Wausau, Wis., after a short period in the state of New York. At first the father worked as a cabinetmaker, this being his trade, but afterward purchased a farm in the town of Weston, on which he resided until his death in 1897. The family then returned to Wausau and the mother still survives being now over eighty years of age.

Although born in Sweden practically the whole of Mr. Liljeqvist's life has been passed in the United States and his interests are now entirely American. He was yet quite young when his parents moved on the farm and he remained at home, in the meantime attending the country schools, until he was fourteen years of age. An uncle, Fred Gundlack, who had been one of the earliest jewelers at Wausau, had moved to Stillwater, Minn., and to him the nephew went when he decided to learn this trade and remained two years at Stillwater and then completed his apprenticeship with E. V. Spear, of Wausau. During the next year he worked at his trade at Stevens Point and for the two following years was at Hurley, Wis., and then returned to Wausau and after one more year with Mr. Spear, entered the employ of C. F. Dunbar with whom he has been associated in the same capacity for twenty-three years, becoming secretary and manager when the present organization was effected.

Mr. Liljeqvist was married to Miss Anna Lerum, of Wausau, a daughter of John Lerum, and they have three children: Ruth, Margaret and John. He belongs to several trade bodies, fraternally is an Odd Fellow, and takes a public spirited interest in all that concerns the welfare of Wausau. He is a member and one of the directors of the Wausau Advancement Association.