Henry Erickson has been a
resident of Iowa from the time of his birth and while he
is of the valiant type of loyal and progressive American
citizenship he has not failed to mark his appreciation of
the traditions and his history of the land of his
ancestors and exemplifies in his personality the sterling
integrity and the constructive energy that have made the
Scandinavian element of citizenship so influential and
valued a factor in connection with the social and
industrial development of the greater western portion of
our national domain. He takes just pride in being a scion
of one of the honored pioneer families of Clayton county
and here he is one of the successful farmers and
substantial and honored citizens of Marion township,
liberal and loyal as a citizen and influential in public
affairs of a local order. He was born in Marion township,
on the 14th of December, 1864, and is a son of Peter and
Barbara Erickson, both natives of Norway. Peter Erickson
was reared and educated in his native land and was a
young man when, in 1854, he immigrated to America and
established his residence in the State of Wisconsin.
There he remained until 1859, when he came with his
family to Clayton county and established a home on one of
the pioneer farms of Marion township. Substantial success
attended his indefatigable labors as an agriculturist and
stock-grower and he still continues his association with
farm industry, being now one of the sterling pioneer
citizens of Grand Meadow township. He is a Republican in
politics and both he and his wife are earnest
communicants of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Of their
seven children the first, Erick, died young; Louis is a
resident of the State of Montana and the subject of this
sketch was the third child; Samuel and Benjamin are
successful farmers in Grand Meadow township; Albert is
deceased; and Emma remains at the parental home. Henry
Erickson did not fail to profit duly by the advantages
afforded in the public schools of his native county and
he thereafter continued his association with the work and
management of his father's farm until he had attained to
the age of twenty-four years. He then went to Lyon
county, this state, where he purchased a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres and where he continued his
residence for the ensuing four years. He then sold the
property and returned to Clayton county, where he
purchased his present excellent farm, on section 12,
Marion township, the place comprising one hundred and
forty-seven acres of most fertile land and the
improvements on the same being of modern order. In
connection with diversified agriculture Mr. Erickson
gives special attention to the raising of Poland-China
and Chester White swine, and in all of his activities he
has shown the spirit of thrift and progressiveness. He
has given his ready support to measures and enterprises
projected for the general good of the community and has
been called upon to service in local offices of public
trust. He held the office of township trustee for seven
years and that of township clerk for eight years, besides
which he has served as school director of his district.
His political allegiance is given to the Republican party
and he and his family hold membership in the Norwegian
Lutheran church. His home receives its mail service on
rural route No.1 from the village of Postville. On the
18th of September, 1889, was recorded the marriage of Mr.
Erickson to Miss Josephine Nelson, who was born April 26,
1870, in Marion township, this county, and concerning
their children the following brief data are given in
conclusion of this review: Nora in 1915 was a student in
one of the leading conservatories of the city of Chicago,
where she is studying dramatic art and preparing herself
for a stage career, her talent in this line being
pronounced exceptional; Emily is the wife of Louis
Amendson, of Grand Meadow township; Gertrude is the wife
of Henry Larson, of that township; and the five children
who remain members of the home circle are Mabel, Agnes,
Nettie, Peter and Harriet. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; pg.
112-114 |