Source: History of the Swedes in Illinois, Part III, E. Olson & M. Engberg, Chicago, Illinois, 1908
Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Area Historical Society, www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 158

Charles J. LUNDBERG, furniture manufacturer, was born of Swedish parents at Kirkland, Ills., De Kalb co., Oct. 28, 1871. He attended the country schools, afterwards, removing to the city of Rockford and attended the Rockford Business College, completing a business course in a very short period of time. He then became a teacher of book-keeping in the evening school at the college, but resigned his position to become book-keeper for the Star Furniture Co., in which capacity he served for some time, after wards being elected secretary and treasurer of the company which position he held for a period. Mr. LUNDBERG sold his interest in the company and started on the road selling furniture for the Rockford Desk Co. in which company he was president and heavily interested financially, and traveled for three years. He later sold his interest too Oscar BERGQUIST, the present secretary and treasurer, and purchased the plant now known as the Co-Operative Furniture Co., from the assignee, F. F. WORMWOOD. All the capital he had at that time was accumulated by himself through hard manual labor, during his first three years in the city. He had worked at the different furniture factories, starting at the Forest City Furniture Co, working in the machine roommate 75 cents per day. Mr. LUNDBERG was in 1907 reelected to the office of vice-president of the National Furniture Association of America.

He was appointed the purchasing agent for Rockford, all the purchases for the entire city being placed in his hands. Mr. LUNDBERG was elected alderman of the first ward in 1903 and still holds the position.

At present he is secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Co-Operative Furniture Co., owning the controlling interest in the company with a capital of $50,000.00 paid in,  $45,000.00 surplus, and doing a business of $150,000.00 per annum.

Mrs. Olga Olive LUNDBERG is of Swedish descent and was born Sept. 28, 1876, and was married on her birthday in 1898. She attended Augustana College, taking the music course. Mr. and Mrs. LUNDBERG are members of the Zion Swedish Lutheran Church in which Mr. LUNDBERG has been a trustee.