PETER RUNDQUIST

Hans Bergman, "Peter Rundquist," History of Scandinavians in Tacoma and Pierce County. Tacoma: Bergman, 1926.

The name would indicate that the bearer was a Swede or had Swedish ancestry, though we have not been able to establish where or when he was born or when he passed away. It appears, however, that Mr. Delin may have had a Swedish predecessor or at least a contemporary in these parts. 

Our interest was aroused a number of years ago when the local newspaper contained an item stating that the youngest and last surviving son of Peter Rundquist had died in some distant city. The notice also stated that Rundquist Sr. had been a farrier with the U. S. garrison at Fort Steilacoom and that when his enlistment had expired he had opened a blacksmith shop in the nearby town of the same name. 

Further research has not turned up very much. We have learned that Rundquist was a veteran of the Mexican War. With two other veterans, Carl Garish and Jacob Kershner, they first lived at Sblook. Kershner had an Indian wife and eventually Rundquist married one of his daughters. 

Sblook is the present location of the Indian Cemetery and the Cascadia Juvenile Diagnostic Center. Rundquist was a blacksmith and made farming implements -hoes, rakes, plows, etc. His shop at Steilacoom has been pointed out as a place where Captain, later General, U. S. Grant, dropped in now and then to reminisce about Mexican War days. 

This, according to Hunt's history, is a pleasing fable. Grant never was there in Rundquist's time. He visited there for a few days in 1849 before Rundquist's enlistment. It is possible, however, that Sheridan, Hunt, McClellan, Pickett and others who became famous in the Civil War did chat with the blacksmith while they waited to have their horses shod.

Rundquist's name has often been misspelled Runquist, Ringquist, Ronquist, etc. It was the duty of the sheriff in the early days to take the census and report males subject to military duty. The roll for 1859 contains 185 names, among then A. P. Delin, Nicholas Delin, and Peter Ringquist. In 1864 Rundquist was drawn for jury duty.

A number of years ago a carpenter told me that he and some others had torn down the old Rundquist home in Steilacoom. It had been put together with wooden dowels and handwrought nails.

Bergman, Hans. "Peter Rundquist," History of Scandinavians in Tacoma and Pierce County. Tacoma: Bergman, 1926.