John Monson (May 1, 1865 Farlof, Sweden - December 28, 1914, Minneapolis)
[From The American Florist, February 10, 1906, Vol. 26, p. 116:] John Monson, of the Minneapolis Floral Co.
[From A History of Swedish-Americans of Minnesota, by Arthur Strand, Vol. 2, 1910, p. 566-569:] John Monson, the well-known Minneapolis florist, was born in Farlof, near Christianstad. May 1, 1865, son of Mons Person and his wife, Inga, nee Person. Both parents are deceased. An only brother, a gardener, still lives in Sweden. His father a farmer, John was reared on the farm, and he attended the public schools until confirmation time. Afterward he worked on some of the large estates, which are so abundant in Skane, in order to learn gardening. Then he commenced what may be called his grand tour du monde, which lasted for six years. He visited Denmark, Germany, Holland and Belgium, in every one of which countries gardening and flower culture are at their highest, and he made a six months' sojourn in St. Petersburg, Russia. On his return home, he intended to start in business in Visby, but through a partner met with financial losses, which changed his course. He went back to Skane, and for four years was engaged in business there.In the spring of 1894 Mr. Monson came to America. At Minneapolis he at once secured employment with the C. A. Smith Floral Co., with which firm he remained six years in the capacity of foreman. In 1900 he began a business on his own account at Thirty-sixth street and Calhoun, near the Lakewood Cemetery. He started with five green-houses ; to-day he has thirty-two. He ships his floral product all over the Northwest, to the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Manitoba, and his extensive plant furnishes employment to from twenty-five to thirty-five men. By hybridizing he has produced a number of new varieties of roses, and from the Society of American Florists, whose motto is "Progress," he has received two medals, one in bronze for a new rose called "Miss Katie Moulton," at the rose show in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 10, 1906 ; and, in 1905, a silver medal was received for the same rose. Mr. Monson had a fine exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition, but having no time to attend to it in person, his roses were not shipped in a perfect condition, and a competitor carried off the first prize. Also, Mr. Monson has received a number of diplomas from various floral associations and others at Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, Milwaukee and Little Rock. He is a member of the Minnesota State Florists' Association, the Society of American Florists, and the American Rose Society, and he belongs to the Odin Club and the Masonic Order. Through reading, observation and experience, he has become a well- informed man, and has developed a business along modern lines and in accordance with high ethics. Such a record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, for on his arrival in Minneapolis this young man had only a dollar with which to make a start in the new world.
[From The American Florist, January 2, 1915, Vol. 43, p. 1249:] John Monson, the well known head of the Minneapolis Floral Co.. Minneapolis, Minn., died at his residence, December 28, after a very brief illness, having attended to his usual business as late as Friday, December 25. Mr. Monson was the founder of the firm with which he was identified, and it is only about three months since he became its sole proprietor. He leaves a wife and one daughter.
[From The American Florist, January 9, 1915, Vol. 43, p. 1295:] The Late John Monson. John Monson, whose portrait and a notice of whose demise was printed on page 1249 of the issue of January 2, issue of THE AMERICAN FLORIST, the genial wholesaler and well-known proprietor of the Minneapolis Floral Company, passed away at his home on the evening of December 28, after only a short illness. He was taken sick a few days before the holidays but was reported better about Christmas day, when suddenly the report of his death came as a distinct shock to his many
friends. Mr. Monson, though well known to the trade, was still a young man, just turned 48.
He came to this country 22 years ago from Sweden, his native country, in which except for a short stay in Denmark he learned and practiced his profession, in which he was remarkably skilful; so much so that after having worked only a short time for Aug. S. Swanson of St. Paul, Minn., the Smith Floral Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., tendered him a position as foreman and manager of their extensive plant, which, after three years of success, he left and embarked himself as proprietor of the Minneapolis Floral Company, 17 years ago. During this time his remarkable results showed indisputably what may be accomplished when skill, energy, perseverance and thrift are associated and properly directed. He built up a business from nothing to one of the largest of its kind in the state of Minnesota.
Mr. Monson was first of all a practical man, and a very hard worker, still he took time and great pleasure in raising roses from seed, and he was never happier than when he had a new seedling in bloom to show an interested spectator, and he would never tire in discussing the merits and fine points of this child of his. The expectations and results were ever a great source of joy and pride. He brought out a great many locally known new roses, and at least two are well known to the trade — his Kate Moulton and Minnetonka. At our local shows he was always an aggressive and persistent exhibitor, and always puhing hard for first place.
Being such a very busy man, and constantly absorbed in his work, he did not seem to have found time or thought about choosing a partner for life to share his successes and divide his disappointments, until about four years ago. He left no family except the widow and an adopted daughter.
The funeral took place at the beautiful Lake wood cemetery chapel on the last day of the year 1914. The esteem and regard in which he was held among those that knew him best, was amply testified to by the wealth of floral tributes and the great outpouring of the fraternity, who in spite of the inconvenience because of the busy holiday season, nevertheless gathered about his bier, almost to a man.....August S. Swanson
