ERICKSON, Emma 1848-1934

ERICKSON, OLDS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/8/2016 at 15:51:33

Mrs. Emma Erickson Dies At Home In Waterloo

Mrs. Emma Erickson died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Hansen, at Waterloo at 5:30 Friday morning following a heart attack. She was in her usual health when she retired Thursday evening but was taken critically ill during the night. She was 85 years old.

Mrs. Erickson was one of the early residents of Grundy county. The family lived on a farm two miles west of Grundy Center until the father died some 35 years ago. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Erickson made her home with her children.

Obituary
Mrs. Erickson was born June 3, 1848, in New York, N.Y., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Olds. When three years of age her parents moved to Clinton, Wis., where she grew to young womanhood. She united with the Congregational church when a young girl and was a constant attendant at the services and old time singing school, where she took an active part.

She was married Sept. 4, 1865, to Newton Erickson with whom she lived in happy wedlock for nearly 39 years. A few days following their wedding, they started in a covered wagon for Iowa, and first settled on what is now known as the John Lynn farm, where they spent 6 years, then they settled on the home farm two miles west of Grundy Center where they lived until 1902, when failing health caused Mr. Erickson to leave the farm and settle in Grundy Center, where he passed away May 9, 1904.

Four children were born to this union: Francis C., Reinbeck; Lena, who passed away at the age of four years, Carrie, now Mrs. Lawrence E. Hansen of Waterloo; and Nellie, now Mrs. Fred A. Stevens of Cedar Falls. Five grandchildren, Theron and Lawrence Erickson, Kenneth and Emma Hansen, and Thielen Stevens, also 5 great-grandchildren. Her death occurred Friday morning, April 13.

We mourn not as those who are without hope, but look forward to a meeting in Heaven when through His providence we shall be called home.

She was a faithful member of the First Methodist church in Grundy Center for 50 years, when she transferred her membership to Dike, Iowa, where when possible she could worship with her son's family in the Methodist church.

Services were conducted at the home of her daughter in Waterloo Sunday afternoon at 2:30, by Rev. Roberts Sanner, Dike, assisted by Dr. W. Bowers of Waterloo. Burial was made in the Grundy Center cemetery.

God thought to give the sweetest thing
In His almighty power
To earth; and deeply pondering
What it should be--one hour
In fondest joy and love of heart
Outweighing every other,
He moved the gates of Heaven apart
And gave to earth--a mother!

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 April 1934, pg 16