John A. Erickson
The following is based on a biographies published in the 1912 "History of Crawford County Volume II":
JOHN A. ERICKSON and Martha Julia Larsdotter
The rapid progress and development of the state of Iowa, both socially and educationally, can be largely attributed to its agricultural population. Those hardworking, thrifty and self-sacrificing men and women came here and established homes and by means of their loyal citizenship and public spirit have assisted in bringing the state to the position it occupies today. Among these must be numbered John A. Erickson, who for a period of more than forty years has been identified with the farming interests of Crawford county. He was born in Sweden on the 3d of April 1836, and is a son of Mangus and Karliesa Erickson, both of whom passed their entire lives in Sweden. Eight children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, but two sons, John A., who is the eldest of the family, and Peter, who has always lived in Sweden, are the only surviving members.
John A. Erickson spent the first thirty years of his life in Sweden. At the end of that period he was convinced that he could never realize his ambition - which was to become the owner of landed property - in the land of his birth, so he took passage for America. Upon his arrival in the United States he made his way westward and located in Webster county, Iowa, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. He cultivated this for one year, then sold and removed to Crawford county, where he bought a quarter section, upon which the town of Kiron is now situated. He sold this and purchased elsewhere, gradually adding to his holdings as he acquired the means until he now owns one-half section of land in this county. All the hardships and privations which are ever the lot of those brave men and women who form the advance guard in the spreading of civilization fell to the lot of John Erickson. He had no horses, so hauled his household goods from Webster county with a team of oxen, and he also used them to plow the unbroken prairie of his new farm. There were no improvements upon his land and he not only had to cut the logs necessary for his cabin, but had to raft them across the river. However, he possessed all the needed qualities of the pioneer and despite the many discouragements never once thought of acknowledging defeat, and today is recognized as one of the affluent citizens of the community. He rented his homestead seven years ago and retired to Kiron, being now able to enjoy the ease and leisure denied him during the early years of his life.
Mr. Erickson has many interesting reminiscences to relate of the pioneer days, many of them relative to the hardships encountered by the settlers in their efforts to establish homes. Very few of the men owned horses, the majority depending upon oxen, which they used to cultivate the fields and haul their produce to and from the market. Once on a dark, dismal, March day in the '60s Mr. Erickson took his ox team and went to Boyer to haul logs. He was going to haul five loads up on the prairie a distance of about half a mile, where he could conveniently get them any time when needed during the summer. When he was finishing his third load it began to snow; by the time he was throwing off the last log the flakes were coming thick and fast and the wind was constantly rising. Turning his team he started toward home, walking beside his sled and holding on to one of the stakes. The storm had increased in intensity until he could not see the oxen; his home was five miles away and there were no roads; prairie all the way with nothing by which he could locate himself even could he see, so tying a sack over his head for protection he trusted his fate to the slow steady beasts who were drawing his sled. At last they come to the creek on his land and when they crossed the bridge he thought the oxen would turn homeward, but, as cattle are prone to do, they went in the path of the storm, drifting out into a cornfield where the Bank of Kiron now stands. Numbed with the cold and almost exhausted, Mr. Erickson's senses were yet sufficiently alert for him to realize he was lost. Stopping his team, he endeavored to locate himself, realizing if he any longer depended upon the oxen his fate would by similar to that of many another settle in those days. At last establishing his position he started homeward. It continued to storm for three days and nights, during which time he and his wife and child were snowed in. He was unable to get out to the barn to feed his stock but twice, and being without a shovel, he used a slab to plow a path from the house to the barn.
In 1875, some years after the preceding incident, Mr. Erickson started to Denison with a load of corn, which he was going to use to pay a note he had given on a grocery bill. It was fine in the morning when he started, but when he left town it began to snow and blow from the north. He was compelled to let his team walk, but had nearly reached home when the blizzard became so severe he was forced to turn around and return the way he had come. Reaching the homestead of Mr. Newcomb he put up his horses and stayed all night, going home the following day. On another occasion, accompanied by his wife, he went to Vail with a load of wheat. Having discharged his business he fed his team, hitched up and started homeward. They had not gone far, however, when it began to storm. Realizing the impossibility of their being able to make the journey that night, he stopped at Mr. De Wolf's, where they remained until the following day. They were not the only guests the De Wolf's had that night, however, as their home also afforded protection for the school children.
Mr. Erickson completed arrangements for a home by his marriage on the 22d of November 1868, to Miss Martha Julia Larson, of Crawford county. The young couple began their domestic life in a sod house, which about four months later had the misfortune to catch fire, thus destroying all of their household effects. Undaunted, however, he built another house, equipping it with the absolute necessities, to which he made additions from time to time as his means permitted. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were born the following children: Lydia, the wife of George Swartz, of Boyer; Fred, who lives in Stockholm township; Effie, who became the wife of C. S. Johnson, residing in Boyer; Levi, who lives in the same place; and Emil and Amanda, both of whom have passed away.
The family are all Christians and hold membership in the Baptist church. Mr. Erickson gives his political support to the Prohibition party, feeling its principles are best adapted to promote the moral welfare of the community. He has never been an office seeker, not aspiring to public honors, but he did serve for a time as a member of the board of school directors. He is one of the self-made men of Crawford county who has attained his ambition through his own unaided effort, without imperiling the interests of others, and during his forty years' residence here he has made many friends whose regard and esteem has been strengthened with the passing of time.
Son: FRED ERICKSON
The subject of this review is actively identified with the agricultural interests of Crawford county, and although comparatively a young man he has gained a reputation as one of the highly efficient farmers of Stockholm township. Here he has spent his entire life and it is doubtful whether any other man in his part of the county has a more intimate acquaintance with its resources or with the possibilities of its agricultural development.
A native of Crawford county, Mr. Erickson comes of one of its well known families. He was born on the home farm in Stockholm township, August 1, 1873, a son of John A. and Julia Erickson, record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and later possessed advantages of college training, thus becoming well prepared for the responsibilities that were before him. He remained at home assisting his father until after reaching manhood and then rented the home place of three hundred acres, of which he has ever since had charge. He engages in general farming but makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, keeping none but good grades and shipping the same to the market in excellent condition. As he gives close attention to his business the results have been highly satisfactory and the well kept appearance of the place gives evidence of intelligent supervision. He has made a careful study of the best methods of farming and stock raising and is regarded by his neighbors as an authority on any questions pertaining to agricultural life.
Mr. Erickson politically is identified with the Republican party, but he is not an aspirant for honors or emoluments of office as his interests are centered upon his farm. He still enjoys the freedom of bachelorhood. He is known as a man of the strictest integrity, whose word is as binding to him as his bond and who is willing at all times to assist in any movement which gives evidence of promoting the permanent welfare of the people of this section.
Son in law: CHARLES S. JOHNSON
A striking illustration of the opportunities which may be utilized in America by a young man coming from a foreign land is presented in the life of C. S. Johnson, now a prosperous business man of Boyer. He was born in Sweden, May 19, 1873, a son of John A. and Anna Johnson, both natives of Sweden. The father died in the old country but the mother is still living there.
C. S. Johnson of this review was the only child of his parents. He grew to manhood under the favorable conditions of a quiet home and received his preliminary education in his native land. As he approached manhood he felt an irresistible desire to see the world and decided that he would seek a permanent home in America. Accordingly, in 1892, being then nineteen years of age, he crossed the ocean and went west to Nebraska, where he spent five years. In 1897 he arrived in Crawford county, Iowa, where he worked upon a farm for one year and then for five years followed the carpenter's trade. He began in the furniture business at Kiron but after several years sold out and entered the general mercantile business at Boyer, in which he has since continued with an ability which has produced very satisfactory returns. He has for seven years past been postmaster at Boyer, and he is also in partnership with Gust Sanders in business at Kiron. That he is attaining a goodly measure of success is evidenced by the fact that he owns a substantial store building in Boyer and also a store building in Kiron.
On the 25th of November 1903, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Effie S. Erickson, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of John A. and Martha Erickson, both of whom were born in Sweden. The parents came to this country and are now making their home at Kiron. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of two children: Eveline F., who was born June 14, 1905; and Carlyle A., who was born August 27, 1910, and died September 30 following.
Mrs. Johnson is a lady of fine intellectual attainments and she taught school very successfully before her marriage. She and her husband are active workers in the Baptist church and take great interest not only in its prosperity but in the advancement of all worthy objects. Politically Mr. Johnson adheres to the Republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to the prosperity of the state and nation. He was endowed by worthy parentage with the desire to win an honorable name in the world, and he is known as a man of strict integrity who possesses in the highest degree the respect and confidence of those with whom he associates.
Son in law: GEORGE P. SWARTZ
George P. Swartz, one of the substantial and well known citizens of Stockholm township, Crawford county, was born May 24, 1859, in Clinton county, Iowa, a son of Henry P. and Eliza (Koch) Swartz, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they moved in 1855 to a farm in Clinton county, Iowa. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: Ella, the wife of E. P. Keith, of Ida Grove, Iowa; George P.; William L., of Tipton, Iowa; Arthur L., of Westbrook, Minnesota; and Burdette V., of South Dakota. The mother died in Cedar county when about fifty years old, the father's demise occurring in Ida Grove at the age of seventy-five.
George P. Swartz attended the public schools and remained on the home farm until twenty-three years old, when he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Cedar county, Iowa, which he cultivated for about one year. He then went to Jones county, located on one hundred and sixty acres and remained there two years. At the end of that time he returned to Cedar county for one year, after which he moved to Ida county and there engaged in farming and various other industries until 1894, when he went to Minnesota and rented one-half section of land near what is now known as Westbrook. There he resided until 1900 and then removed to Pine county, the same state, where he bought forty acres and remained there until 1905, in which year he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and purchased what is now his home in Boyer, Stockholm township.
Mr. Swartz has been twice married, his first wife being Anna Nash, a daughter of William and Mary (Gates) Nash, of Cedar county, Iowa, whom he wedded in the fall of 1883 at Tipton, Iowa. Of the three children born to them, two are living, namely: Catherine E., the wife of Cliff Lawrence, of Houston, Texas; and Angie Irene, who married George Maynard and lives in Crawford county. Mrs Swartz departed this life in 1887 at Clarence, Cedar county, Iowa. On January 30, 1901, Mr. Swartz was married to Lydia Erickson, a daughter of John A. and Martha Erickson.
Mr. Swartz in his political relations is a stalwart Repub-lican and has always given his support to the men and principles of that party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood Association. His life has been one of industry, bringing to his work an intelligent appreciation of all that goes to make success, and that he has attained this goal is manifested by the prosperity which he at present enjoys.
Descendants of John A. Erickson and Martha Julia Larsdotter
1-Mangus Erickson (-)
sp: Karliesa Erickson? (-)
2-John Alfred Erickson (3 Apr 1836-8 Mar 1919)
sp: Martha Julia (Michaelson) Larson (20 Dec 1840-24 Jan 1920)
3-Lydia Erickson (23 Nov 1869-27 Mar 1952)
sp: Anthon W.(Antone) Anderson (abt 1858-)
sp: George P. Swartz (24 May 1859-26 Oct 1932)
4-George P. Swartz (-)
3-Eliam Erickson (1 Sep 1871-1 Aug 1872)
3-Fred E. Erickson (1 Aug 1873-28 Jun 1949)
sp: Lucy Flint (7 Apr 1867-9 Jan 1940)
3-Effie S. Erickson (20 Feb 1876-18 Jul 1962)
sp: Charles S. Johnson (19 May 1873-19 Aug 1952)
4-Evelyn Funchon Johnson (14 Jun 1905-19 Dec 1952)
sp: Herbert Persol Turin (19 Mar 1898-25 May 1985)
5-infant Turin (9 Sep 1928-10 Sep 1928)
5-Evelyn Janice Turin
sp: William Henry Moore
5-Herbert John Turin
sp: Joan Marie Lundberg
6-Heather Malyn Turin
sp: Sean Lee German
6-Jason Samuel Turin
6-Jennifer Fanchon Turin
4-Carlyle A. Johnson (27 Aug 1910-30 Sep 1910)
4-Lorraine Johnson (9 Mar 1913-Jun 1997)
3-Anna Amanda Erickson (28 Jun 1878-2 Jul 1878)
3-Edwin? Erickson (Jan 1880-bef 1895)
3-Levi Erickson (5 Feb 1881-22 Dec 1968)
sp: Nellie Nelson (28 Jul 1889-21 Jan 1988)
2-Peter Erickson (-)
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