FRANS LUDVIK ENGDAHL was born in Skane, Sweden in 1857. Trained as a sculptor in Sweden, he came to America in 1885, and soon became quite successful, executing busts of many prominent citizens in Philadelphia and especially in Camden.

In April of 1888 Frans Ludvik Endahl left Sweden to emigrate to America. He sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark to England, then boarded the City of Chester in Liverpool, arriving in New York City on May 14, 1888, with his final intended destination being Philadelphia.

Frans Ludvik Engdahl first appears in Camden City Directories in 1893, boarding at 113 Arch Street. From 1894 through 1907 he resided at the West Jersey Hotel, then moved to Philadelphia. Frans Ludvik Engdahl was naturalized as an American citizen on January 28, 1895 in Camden.

Besides sculpting Frans Ludvik Engdahl took a post as a professor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and moved there in the late 1900s. A lifelong bachelor, he died on July 22, 1928 in Helsingborg, Sweden while visiting his brother and sister and was buried there.