Frederick Lundin (born Fredrik Lundin Larsson; May 18, 1868 – August 20, 1947) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a Republican Party ward boss in Chicago. He played an instrumental role in the successful mayoral elections of William Hale Thompson and the creation of Thompson's patronage system. He also built up the organized syndicate later taken over by Al Capone in 1922.[1][2][3][4]
Background
Frederick Lundin was born Fredrik Lundin Larsson[5] in the parish of Västra Tollstad, Hästholmen, Ödeshög Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden. His parents were Lars Fredrik Lundin and Fredrika Larsdotter. He had two sisters, Lovisa (1854–1873)[6] and Elin. He immigrated with his parents and sister when he was a child to the United States and settled in Chicago, Illinois, in 1880. After completing his academic studies, he served as president of Lundin & Co. manufacturer of Lundin's Juniper Ade, which was made from Juniper berry extract.[7][8]
A Lorimer protege esteemed for his organizational gifts and excused for his eccentricities ... For archaeologists of political roguery, he is the fossil evidence that democracy and flim-flaming go hand in hand. A man of many poses, Lundin referred to himself with contrived modesty as "the Poor Swede." Before entering politics, he had thrived as a patent medicine salesman peddling Juniper Ade, an all-purpose tonic concocted from juniper berries.
In exchange for his supporters voting as he told them, Lundin arranged jobs mainly in the municipal sector.
Lundin was instrumental in the election of William Hale Thompson as mayor in 1915 and succeeded in getting Thompson to appoint over 30,000 supporters to the city payroll in a form of political graft as all were required to kick back part of their pay to Lundin's organization. In 1922, Lundin was indicted on a charge of embezzling tax money. Although he was acquitted, this was the beginning of the end of his career as a political boss.[10]
_at_Forest_Home_Cemetery,_Forest_Park,_IL.jpg)
