Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 589
JOSEPH ERIXON

Joseph ERIXON, a resident of section 23, Raglan Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1876, and located on section 14, of the township in which he now lives. He remained there three years and then bought his present farm, which consisted of sixty-five acres of partly improved land. Here he built a story and a half house, 16 x 28 feet, with an addition, 12 x 14 feet. He also provided his place with a good barn, granary, cribs and set out an orchard of one hundred trees. His present farm comprises of one hundred and fifty-five acres, sixty acres of which is under the plow, while the remainder is in timber and pasture land.

Mr. ERIXON was born in September 1846, in that beautiful portion of Northern Europe, known as Sweden. He is a son of Erick and Catherine OLSON, natives of Sweden, who had a family of five children: Joseph, Erick, Christena, (deceased); Peter and Lewis. Three of these children live in America, as do also the father and mother. Our subject was twenty-three years of age when he came to America. From New York City he went to Eau Claire, Wis., where he remained one year employed in a sawmill. From this point with covered wagon and ox-teams he went to Baker County, Minn., took up a homestead, remained two years upon Uncle Sam's gift, and then abandoned it. We next find him in Dakota, working upon the Northern Pacific Railroad at Bismark. A year later he went to Benton, where he followed steam-boating on the Missouri River, and from there went to Yankton, near which place he worked on a farm for one year. The next season he worked on a farm by the month in Nebraska, after which we find him living in Raglan Township. He came to the county poor, and while living in Minnesota it was his ill fortune to suffer from both cold and hunger, almost beyond description. But possessing the traits of character so prominent in the people of his nationality, he has overcome every obstacle and now is in the possession of a comfortable home.

February 14, 1877, he was united in marriage to Ellen WEEKS, the daughter of Charles and Mary WEEKS, natives of Pennsylvania, who were the parents of the following children: Ellen, William, (deceased); Mary, (deceased); Susan, Elizabeth.

Mr. ERIXON was Ellen WEEKS' third husband. Her first husband's name was WELCH, who lived but a short time after their marriage. D. N. FOLETT was her second husband. They came to Council Bluffs together, and remained one winter, at a time when there was not a frame house in that place. This was in the winter of 1850-51. They then came to Harrison County and rented land one year; then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. This was while the Indians were yet sulking about this portion of Iowa.

Our subject and his wife have one child, David, born January 9, 1878. Both he and his wife are members of the Latter Day Saints Church.

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