John Dahlin ("Delen" in the 1898 CD ) was born in Sweden in 1871 and came to America in 1889. He married Jennie Nelson (1871-1965) on September 14, 1895 in St. Paul. The couple had three children, Oscar Leonard (1896-1988), David H. (born in 1898) and Amy Marie, (born in 1908).

Although John Dahlin is identified as a "polisher" when he was working for Butler-Ryan in 1898, he said he was a carpenter in the 1900 Census. He continued working as a carpenter and raised a family in St. Paul. He died around 1950 at the age of 79.

Nels A. Johnson also lived at this address.

Most of the workers who constructed the Minnesota Capitol belonged to unions. A specific union affiliation has not been found for John Dahlin, though other Capitol carpenters were organized in St. Paul at the time the Capitol was built, so it's probable he was a union member when he worked in that trade. The union membership of stone polishers was in flux at that time, so it's not certain he was in a union while he worked in that job.

Sources: 1900 and 1910 United States Federal Census, St. Paul City Directory