Nels Erickson

ERICKSON, JOHANSDATTER, OLSON, ANDERSON, CHRISTIANSDATTER, STENE, HANSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/23/2010 at 06:24:29

NELS ERICKSON

Iowa has drawn largely upon Norway for its citizenship and from the land of the midnight sun have come many who have done much to further the development and progress of the commonwealth. Actively identified with agricultural interests of Winnebago county is Nels Erickson, who resides on section 24, Norway township. He was born in Norway, June 3, 1849, a son of Erick Iverson and Martha Johansdatter. He attended the common schools of his native country until he reached the age of fifteen years and afterward worked for others in Norway until he had reached the age of twenty-three.

On attaining his majority Mr. Erickson was married to Ingaberg Olson, a daughter of Ole Anderson and Helena Christiansdatter. The former died when Mrs. Erickson was but fourteen years of age and the latter came to the United States when eighty-one years of age and lived with Mr. and Mrs. Erickson until a short time prior to her death, when she went to live with a daughter at Dows, Iowa, where she passed away at the age of eighty-seven. It was in 1872 that Mr. and Mrs. Erickson crossed the Atlantic to the new world and established their home in Franklin county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand for a few years. Later he purchased land in that locality and resided thereon until 1891, when he sold that place and came to Winnebago county. He purchased the southeast quarter of section 24, Norway township, and forty acres of the northeast quarter of section 25, thus becoming owner of two hundred acres, which he has since cultivated and improved. He also extended the boundaries of his farm by purchasing an additional tract of two hundred acres just over the line in Worth county, but has since given this to his children. He owns a store building and stock of goods at Emmons, Minnesota, just over the boundary line. He is interested financially in the creamery company and the lumber company at Lake Mills and also in the Farmers elevator there and his business affairs are extensive and important, while his success demonstrates his ability and enterprise.

Mr. and Mrs. Erickson have become the parents of six children, who are yet living: Emma, the wife of L. B. Stene, who was born in Norway and is now residing on a farm adjoining her father's; Henry, who is farming in Worth county; Matilda, the wife of Bert Anderson, of Worth county; Theodore, who is assisting in the operation of the home farm; Olga, the wife of Gus Hanson, of Emmons, Minnesota; and Enge, now the wife of C. C. Siblrud, of Emmons. The parents hold membership with the Synod Lutheran church and Mr. Erickson gives his political support to the republican party. He has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his business affairs, but was school director in Franklin county for four years. As the years have gone on he has won substantial prosperity which has come entirely as the legitimate and well deserved reward of his industry, perseverance and honorable dealing.

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. 119-120.