Charles Blomquist born August 20, 1849 was the son of Joan Blomgren and his wife Maria Ericksdotter. As a child he had been apprenticed to a tailor and after serving out his apprenticeship he was a member of the Swedish Army for 15 years. During that time he married on June 7, 1873 Maria Petersdotter who was born December 22, 1847. Three children were born to them in Sweden before they immigrated to America. Charlie came over first about 1882 to Minnesota where some of his in-laws were already living. After working several years on railroad construction in Minnesota he sent for his family who arrived in 1885. They lived on rented farm near Amenia until 1896 when land was purchased in Foster County, the South 1/2 of Section 3, Birtsell Township in 1896. The farm remained the Blomquist home of both Charlie and his son Perry and grandson James until 1960.

The children were Perry, Carl A. and Annie Sophia who died tragically in a fire while the family was still living in Ameania.

Maria Blomquist died August 16, 1916 and Charlie on July 9, 1925; they are buried in the Barlow Cemetery.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 1B