Charles John Alfred Ericson (1840-1910)

ERICSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/11/2017 at 19:32:28

From Nevada Representative August 9, 1910 (front page)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF SENATOR ERICSON

Hon. C. J. A. Ericson, twice senator in the general assembly from the Boone-Story district widely known and very much honored throughout the great part of Iowa and by common consent the leading citizen of Boone, died at his home there last Sunday morning, barely a week following his most happy return home from a trip around the world. The cause of his death was appendicitis, which seized him Monday night and for which he had an operation on Wednesday; but the operation did not stop the spread of peritonitis which had resulted, and his death followed as stated. Mr. Ericson was a native of Sweden who came early to this country and had been a resident of Boone county since the tater '50s. he had the gift of money-making, and while yet a young man he gained recognition as a substantial citizen of Boone, and in 1871 he was sent to the general assembly. After this term in politics he devoted himself for twenty years and more to business, became wealthy, then went to the senate where he was always a man of influence and standing gave liberally to numerous worthy causes, including a magnificent public library of Boone which will be a lasting monument to his memory, and in every was practical showed himself a conspicuously useful citizen and public man. His death is a loss to his city, his county his district and the state, and the regret occasioned is wide-spread and deep. His funeral will be conducted Thursday from his residence in Boone, and if the weather permits will be in the open air. It will be in charge of Rev. O. H. E. Mason now of Long Beach, California, but formerly pastor of the Presbyterian church in Boone.

For almost half a century Charles J. A. Ericson had been a resident of Boone and his life work had contributed to the commercial and political history of the state. Although he began his business career without capital at his death he was president of and one of the leading stockholders of the City Bank of Boone. His political service covers eight sessions of the state legislature in seven of which he served as senator and in one, his first session, as representative.

Mr. Ericson was born in the province of Calmer, Sweden on the 8th of March, 1840. His father, Eric Nelson, was a farmer by occupation and with his family came to America in 1853, settling near Moline, Ill. The father was engaged in farming and fishing, both of which he had followed as occupations in Sweden, until the year 1882, when he removed to Webster county, Iowa.

In the spring of 1859 Mr. Ericson arrived in Boone county, locating in Mineral Ridge where he opened a little store. He also engaged in buying and selling cattle and other live stock and in both branches of his business met with creditable success. In 1860 he purchased the general store of Jackson Orr, in Boone, and for five years he carried on a general merchandise business. In 1872 he assisted in the organization of the First National bank of Boone, and was elected its vice president. In 1875 he closed out his mercantile interests and became cashier of the First National Bank which surrendered its charter and was reorganized as the City bank in 1878. Mr. Ericson had been president of this bank which increased its original capital stock of $50,000 to $100,000 for last few years.

In 1871 he was elected a member of the Fourteenth general assembly of Iowa on the republican ticket. Twenty-four years later he consented to become the candidate for state senator and was elected in 1895 for the Boone-Story district. He served his term of four years and after an intermission of four years was in 1903 again elected for the same district.

He was a senator in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-sixth extra sessions, the Twenty-seventh, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and the Thirty-second extra sessions. While in the senate he introduced a bill, and was largely instrumental in its passage, whereby corporations ate taxed. He also secured the passage of a bill for the induction of interest on state warrants from 6 to 5 percent.

Mr. Ericson had an attractive home in Boone and in addition to this he owned much other valuable real estate, including 1,000 acres of land in Hancock county.

In 1864 Mr. Ericson became a Mason and held a membership in Mount Olive Lodge No. 79, A. F. and A. M. He was also a member of Tuscan chapter R. A. M. and Excaliber commandary No. 13, K. T. At a cost of $10,700 he built a handsome library building in his city which is know as the Ericson Memorial library. In 1901 he was required by the board of directors of the state historical department fo Des Moines, through the late Hon. Chas. Aldrich, curator to furnish a marble bust of himself, to be placed in the Iowa hall of fame. A fine Carera marble bust made by a noted artist in Florence, Italy, has been placed as desired in the Iowa hall.

He had been a liberal contributor to educational institutions especially to Augustana college of Rock Island, Ill., a Swedish theological seminary to which school he gave 280 acres of valuable coal land, worth $30,000. With this latter amount a valuable tract of land was purchased and Mr. Ericson agreed to give half of the amount if the faculty would raise the other half. This was done, the land being purchased for $26,000, and it has been given the name of Ericson park in his honor. It was on the scene of this park that part of his childhood was passed, he having often gone hunting upon that tract in early days.