Laurence E. Engstrum, a jeweler engaged in business in Evanston, where his enterprise and progressive spirit are bringing to him a substantial measure of success, was born November 12. 1891, in the city in which he still resides. His father, Victor A. Engstrum, was a native of Sweden and came to America with his parents when five years of age, the family home being established in Omaha, Nebraska, where Mr. Engstrum was reared and educated. He entered upon an apprenticeship as a coppersmith and after thoroughly acquainting himself with the business, in 1873 removed to Wyoming, establishing his home in Evanston among the first settlers. Here he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railway Company, working in the shops as a coppersmith and occupying that position until 1878. He then took up an apprenticeship under W. H. Parpe, who was the pioneer jeweler of the city, having opened his store in 1875, and this store he operated until his death, when Mr. Engstrum fell heir to the business and continued successfully in the jewelry trade until his demise, which occurred in 1914, when he had reached the age of fifty-six years. In early manhood he married Miss Charlesphene Hammer, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of that state and of Wyoming her parents having settled in Uinta county, Wyoming, in 1869 or 1870. Mrs. Engstrum was reared and educated in Evanston and in this city her marriage was celebrated. She still makes her home in Evanston, where she has a very wide acquaintance and is held in the highest esteem by all who know her. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, of whom the following are yet living: Beulah. who is the wife of W. X. Osborne, a mining engineer of Phoenix, Arizona: Beatrice, the wife of H. P. Cummock, whose home is in Los Angeles, California : Laurence E., of this review; and Dorothy Sybil.
    Laurence E. Engstrum is indebted to the public school system of Evanston for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He started out to earn his own living when a youth of seventeen years and entered upon an apprenticeship to the jeweler's trade under the direction of his father, who gave him thorough and systematic training in the work, so that he gained a comprehensive knowledge of the business. He also attended the Winter School of Watchmaking and Engraving at Chicago, Illinois, and thus supplemented his early training and experience. He was graduated from that institution in 1914 and upon his father's death he succeeded to the ownership of the jewelry store in Evanston, which he has since continuously and successfully conducted. It is not only the pioneer establishment of this kind in the city but is today the leading jewelry store of this section of the state. Mr. Engstrum carries a large and well selected line of jewelry and precious stones and is capable of doing the most efficient repair work. His business methods are thoroughly reliable and progressive and his close application and earnest desire to please his patrons have been the salient features in the development of his growing trade.
    On the 22d of February, 1915, Mr. Engstrum was united in marriage to Miss Mary Frances Kirtland, a native of Michigan and a daughter of James and Annie (Sales) Kirtland.     In politics Mr. Engstrum has always maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. Fraternally he is identified with .Evanston Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and is a worthy exemplar of the teachings of the craft. His entire life has been passed in Evanston and the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance, showing him to be a man of genuine worth whose life record will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.