Sonny and Uncle Emil

From Mildred Lindborg's photo album.


(Click on image to enlarge)
Image courtesy of N.B.

Mildred identified these two bicyclists as "Sonny" and "Uncle Emil."

"Sonny" was Franklin Lindborg's nickname. The little boy on the back of the bicycle, harassing Sonny, is Raymond. I have reason to think both photographs date to 1923, which would make Franklin about 15 years old and Raymond about five. I don't know whose bicycle that was.

Uncle Emil was Gust Lindborg's brother, younger by two years. He had come over from Sweden in 1903, thus one year after Gust. Emil settled in Chicago, working as an electrician, and in 1915 — the same year he was naturalized — he married the 19-year-old Lydia Nelson. I can trace the couple only as far as 1930, at which time it appears they had no children.

The location of these scenes is probably near the Lindborg house in Ainsworth, perhaps on Ainsworth Road itself. I do not see any of the Lindborg buildings in the background — the photographer may have been facing south.