Hjalmar Nyman was born in Skepparstad, Smaland, Sweden, September 15, 1854.  At the age of fourteen he got a position with a mercantile firm in Stockholm, where he remained for seven years, or until 1879.  He then went back to Smaland and Traheryd where he for about two years had a general merchandise store run in connection with a  Traveler's Inn.  In 1880 he emigrated to America and during the first year had various employment in Minnesota and Dakota, and in 1881 went to Montana where he for over two years was employed by the Western Union Telegraph Co. during construction time.  He came to Tacoma in December 1883, and in January of the following year went into the hotel and restaurant business in the Hotel Svea, at the corner of 11^th and Commerce Streets.  In those early days this location was considered far out, although now in the center of the business district, and Nyman used to tell how people came in and asked him how he "liked it, out here in the woods."  During those early days Nyman acquired considerable property here and was also a factor in politics.  The large number of men that held forth at his establishment would at some elections decide the outcome.  No registration of voters was required.  Nyman also tried his hand at newspaper publishing and together5 with his partner established the Tacoma Tribunen.  He was a member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade for six years and was at one election candidate for county assessor on the democratic ticket.  During the panic of 1893 he lost all he had, like many others, but later bought another property at Pacific and Jefferson where he for a number of years was conducting business.  About three years ago his health began to fail him, resulting in his death October 2, 1925.  Nyman was married in 1888 to Della Mercer.  There are four children, two sons and two daughters.

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