James Ellickson

ELLICKSON, LARSON, HALVERSON, MADSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 12/31/2009 at 08:54:06

JAMES ELLICKSON

James Ellickson, deceased, was one of Winnebago county's honored pioneers and highly esteemed citizens, who took a very active and prominent part in public affairs. He was born in Waushara county, Wisconsin, on the 4th of September, 1859, and was a son of John and Cheste Ellickson, natives of Norway, who came to America and located in Wisconsin. There the faiher engaged in farming throughout his active business life and passed away in March, 1911. The mother is still living.

In the state of his nativity James Ellickson grew to manhood, receiving the usual educational advantages of the country boy. While living at home he worked in the pineries of Wisconsin for some years and was also employed as a farm hand in Minnesota for a time. On the 22d of May, 1881, he arrived in Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased land two and a half miles from Thompson. At that time there were only three other settlers in King township and none in Buffalo township. To the development and improvement of his land Mr. Ellickson at once turned his attention and he continued to engage in farming with good success until 1892, when he rented his land and removed to Thompson, becoming manager of the Northern Lumber Company at that place. He continued with that corporation for eighteen years and at the same time engaged in the grain business with his brother John, later selling out to the Farmers Cooperative Company.' He was also interested in the agricultural implement business for some time and for twenty years was a director of the First National Bank of Thompson, serving as its vice president much of that time.

On the 25th of November, 1886, Mr. Ellickson married Miss Katie A. Larson, a daughter of Christian and Ellen (Madson) Larson, who were born in Norway and were also pioneers of Winnebago county. Her father is still living and is now vice president of the First National Bank of Thompson, but her mother passed away on the 10th of September, 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellickson were born the following Children: Cora J., now a teacher in the Thompson schools; Clara E., the wife of Walter Halverson; Edith U., a clerk in the Thompson postoffice; James I. and Marion A., both attending school; and Edwin W., Clarence, Edna, Emil and Arthur, all of whom died in infancy.

In 1906 Mr. Ellickson was appointed postmaster of Thompson, and continued to fill that office until his death, which occurred February 12, 1916, after a short illness. The republican party always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he was honored with several important official positions. In 1887 he was elected a member of the board of county supervisors and served as such for a number of years. He was also a school director for seventeen years and was the first mayor of Thompson. In 1891 he was elected to the state legislature and so acceptably did he fill that position that he was reelected in 1893, being a member of the house for two terms. Mr. Ellickson never allowed his other interests to interfere with his religious duties but always took an active and prominent part in church work as a member of the United Lutheran denomination. It was largely through his efforts that the church was established at Thompson and he served as superintendent of the Sunday school for eleven years. Mr. Ellickson was also one of the promoters of Waldorf College at Forest City and was a member of its board of directors at the time of his death. He was a man of exceptional business ability, farsighted and energetic and usually carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. No confidence reposed in him was ever misplaced and in his-death the community realized that it had lost a valuable and public-spirited citizen.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 271-272.