Eric JONSSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: May 1787, Vikarbyn, Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden

Notes:

Geni World Family Tree says that Eric was born 17 Aug 1787.

In the birth record for his son Eric, he is referred to as “Mårs Eric Jonsson i Wikarbyn.”

Birth:
Eric G Bostrom’s Bostrom, Frank Family Tree has him born 17 Aug 1787.

Eric married Brita ERICSDOTTER in 1812. Brita (daughter of Erik ERIKSSON and Margareta ANDERSDOTTER) was born on 8 Aug 1794 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 21 Aug 1876 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 22 Aug 1819, Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden

Notes:

Greg Loftness’s family tree on Ancestry calls him “Mårs Erick Erickson,” born on or in Mårs in Rättvik.

Presumably, he is the Erik Eriksson listed above, and on the same page as, Daniel and Brita in the 1878-1887 Household Examination. His wife is shown as Brita Hansdotter and they have a daughter, Anna, b. 1851, living with them.

In the 1868-1877 Household Examination he and his family are listed at 274/2, Wikarbyn No. 46.

The 1878-1887 Household Examination (Rättvik, 276/2, Wikarbyn) says that Erik left for North Amerika on 21 Apr 1886, out-migration record number 24. Presumably Erik left with his wife. The last entry in the household examination is in the 1886 column.

In the Out-Migration book in the Rättvik church records, he and his wife are entry 24 for the year 1886. The are shown as leaving Wikarbyn for Minnesota in N. Amerika on 21 Apr 1886. Leaving with them are his son Hans Ersson, b. 10 Mar 1849 and Hans’s wife Kerstin Olsdotter, b. 8 Jun 1850.

The Minnesota state census of 1895 appears to have him and his wife living in Wyanett in Isanti County.

A different Erik Erickson died in Iowa 1912. His probated will in Franklin County refers to his sons Carl and Emil as his heirs.

Eric married Brita Hansdotter BEYER on 26 Dec 1841 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. Brita (daughter of Hans DANIELSSON and Brita ERICSDOTTER) was born on 14 Dec 1818 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 3 Aug 1906 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Seems to have died as an infant. Listed but not included in the yearly tallies in the 1826-1836 Wikarbyn household examination.

Notes:

Seems to have died as an infant. Listed but not included in the yearly tallies in the 1826-1836 Wikarbyn household examination.

Notes:

The Vigselbok for Rättvik, 1867, clearly shows that, on March 25, 1867, Mårs Erik Ersson of Wikarbyn, b. 1843, married something (looks like Snit) Brita Andersdatter of Sätra, born 1846. It was the first marriage for each.

In the 1880 U.S. census, he was Erick Erickson, age 36, a farm laborer living with his family in Spring Vale Twp, Isanti County. The rest of the household is Betsy, 33, Betsy, 9, Annie, 3, and Erick, 6 months. The next family on the census form is Daniel H Findall, 57, his wife Betsy, 58, and children Erick and Betsy.

In the 1885 Minnesota census, he was S.E. Erickson, age 41, living with his family in Springvale Twp, Isanti County, Minnesota. The rest of the household was Mrs. Bessy Erickson, 38, Betsy Erickson, 14, Anna Erickson, 8, Erick Erickson, 5, Mary Erickson, 3, and Clara Erickson, 0. The two youngest had been born in Minnesota, the rest were born in Sweden.

He is referred to as S.E. Erickson. An article in the Princeton Union says that he was thrown from a load of straw and killed when the hind wheel of the wagon rolled over the top part of his head and crushed his skull.

Another article in the Princeton Union says that Eric Erickson was “strawing” the road near Spectacle Lake in Spring Vale. He fell off the wagon “and in falling came in contact with the horses. The frightened team ran away and the wheels passed over the unfortunate man’s head killing him almost instantly.”

Birth:
at Snis?

Eric married Britta ANDERSDOTTER on 25 Mar 1867 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. Britta was born on 16 Sep 1846 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 18 Sep 1900 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

An account in the Minneapolis Tribune, 17 Dec 1907, p. 5, tells of a “Birta Danielson” who had an unhappy marriage to Erick Danielson. She left him and “applied to her relatives for advice, but received no reply.” She was rescued and taken in by a man named Swan Anderson. Birta became ill and revised her will to give all of her estate to Swan Anderson. (She had apparently received a sizable settlement from Erick Danielson.)

Her will pointedly referred to “Hans and Anna Erickson of Sweden and Daniel Erickson of this country” as being relatives who “didn’t take any particular interest in me.”

A “Betsy” and Erick Danielson of the right ages lived in St. Francis, Anoka County, in the 1900 census. They had no children.

Birth:
Date is unclear in the 1868-1877 Household Examination.

Brita married Erik DANIELSSON in Dec 1876. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 11 Mar 1849, Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden

Notes:

He and Kerstin left Wikarbyn for Minnesota in N. Amerika with his parents on 21 Apr 1886. The out-migration record, in which he is listed as Elias Hans Eriksson (perhaps implying he lived at or was born at the Elias residence) says that he and his wife were entry 347/2 in the household examination.

They are, indeed, at 347/2 for Wikarbyn 132 in the 1878-1887 Rättvik Household Examination. No children are listed.

In the 1895 Minnesota census, a Hans Erickson (indexed as Hana), age in his forties, lives in Minneapolis. He is a laborer and has been in the state for 8 years. Living with him is Hulda Segerstrom, age 51.

Hans married Kerstin OLSDOTTER on 25 Mar 1873. Kerstin was born on 8 Jun 1850 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Listed with her parents in the 1878-1887 Household Examination (Rättvik, 276/2, Wikarbyn). In the “Flyttad” column at the end of her entry is the note N:30 Ulestbjørka 1883.

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1910-MN-000189
• Occupation: Mason, Farmer
• Baptism: 18 Aug 1854, Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden

Notes:

Greg Loftness’s family tree on Ancestry calls Daniel “Mårs Daniel Erickson,” born on or in Mårs in Rättvik.

The marriage record for Daniel and Brita in Rättvik church book shows that Daniel was born in Wikarbyn 46 and Britta was born in Oja 5. In Bess’s birth record, Daniel’s birth place is Vikarbyn.

The parish record for Rättvik, Kopparberg, Sweden, shows that Daniel and Brita emigrated to the U.S. with one child, Brita. Daniel Erickson is shown as having been born August 11, 1854, his wife Brita Jonsdatter is shown as having been born March 25, 1857, and their daughter Brita is shown as having been born September 12, 1877. An accompanying parenthetical comment that is hard to read suggests that the family actually left the parish in 1883. This is further suggested by the fact that their entry in the parish’s 1884 emigration log does not have a date. The family’s residence is given as Wikarbyn 55. Their folio number in the förhörsboken is 276/2.

In the 1878-1887 Household Examination (at 276 in Vol. 2), the family’s entry contains the note that the family left for Minnesota in N. Amerika. The note seems to indicate that although the household examination says 1884, the out-migration record says 1883. Nevertheless, the last entry for Daniel in the household examination is in 1880. Column 1881 is empty and the column for 1882 says, simply, “i Amerika.” Brita, on the other hand, has full entries for 1881 and 1882. This suggests that Daniel may have emigrated up to two years before Brita and Bess. The 1900 U.S. census shows 1882 as the arrival date for Erik and Betsey.

EmiHamn has a Daniel Eriksson, b. ca 1855, leaving Grangärde, Dalarna Län, bound for New York, on 16 Jul 1880.

The 1881 Minneapolis city directory includes a Daniel Erickson, laborer, living at 29 20th Ave S.

The 1882 Minneapolis city directory records a Daniel Erickson, stone mason, with his business (and perhaps his residence) at 1825 3½ Avenue S.

The 1884 Minneapolis city directory has Daniel Erickson, bricklayer, residing at 2009 22nd Ave S and a Daniel Erickson, mason, residing at 2009 Franklin Ave S.

In the 1885 state census, he is probably the “D Erickson” living in Minneapolis (no age given but born in Sweden) with “K Erickson”, age 28, born in Sweden, and “Betsy” Erickson, age 7, born in Sweden. The household includes a 28 year-old male, B. J. Johnson. The census-taker was not Swedish.

The 1885-86 Minneapolis city directory records a Daniel Erickson, bricklayer, residing at 237 14th Avenue S.

The 1887 Minneapolis city directory records a D. Erickson, bricklayer, residing at 821 28th Ave. S.

The 1888 Minneapolis city directory records a Daniel Erickson, bricklayer for B Aronson, living at 821 28th Avenue S.

The 1890 Minneapolis city directory records a Daniel Erickson, “mason” living at 2700 East Franklin Avenue.

The 1892-93 directory records a Daniel Erickson, bricklayer, at 2700 Franklin Avenue.

The 1894-1895 and 1895-1896 directories record Daniel, bricklayer, at 1923 Washington Avenue S.

In the 1897 Minneapolis city directory, he is Daniel Erickson, bricklayer, living at the rear of 1416 S 3rd.

Daniel was a bricklayer who worked on the construction of the courthouse in Minneapolis. Construction of the Minneapolis City Hall/Municipal Building began in 1888 and continued through 1906.

All of the Erickson family records were destroyed in a fire.

In the 1895 Minnesota state census, the family is still in Minneapolis, apparently at 1923 Washington Avenue. The household is Daniel, 40, Betsy, 38, Erick, 8, and Daniel W., 6 months. The family had been in Minneapolis for 13 years. Daniel was a brick mason and had been employed for only 4 months the previous year.

In the 1900 census, Daniel and family were living on a farm they owned in the town of St. Francis, Anoka County. The family is listed as Daniel, 45 (born Aug 1854), Betsy, 43 (born March 1857), Erick, 13 (born October 1886), William, 5 (born December 1894), and John, 1 (born May 1899). Betsy had had four children, all still living. Daniel and Betsy had emigrated from Sweden in 1882. Daniel and Betsy had been married 24 years. Betsy is shown as being unable to read or write or to speak English. Daniel was able to do all three.

In the 1905 state census, Daniel and family were living in St. Francis, Anoka County, with a postal address of RFD #3. The family before him on the census form was the Charley and Augusta Youngquist family. One of the families listed not too many lines down was Wiese. Daniel’s family consisted of Daniel, 51, a bricklayer, Bitta, 48, Eric, 18, William, 10, and John, 6. They had been in the present enumeration district for 6 years.

He died from pleuro pneumonia (which he’d had for 7 days) complicated by heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver. Cora said Daniel was a drinker. Judy said he was not. Cora also said that Daniel’s death was precipitated by a fall down his stairs.

Birth:
Wikadyn #36 according to the birth record. An erroneous August 11th or August 14th date appears in some sources, probably because a seven can look like a one or a four.

Buried:
Lot 2, Blk 11, Sec 2

Daniel married Brita (Betsy) JONSDOTTER (JOHNSON) on 28 Nov 1875 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden. Brita (daughter of Jon JONSSON and Brita ERIKSDOTTER) was born on 25 Mar 1857 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 31 May 1921 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 2 Jun 1921 in Oak Leaf Cemetery, Bethel, Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Not listed in any censuses. May have died in Sweden. She is not listed with her parents and siblings in the 1880 U.S. census, in which the family had only very recently arrived in Minnesota. That her name was reused for a younger sibling strongly suggests that she had died before the second Anna was born in 1876.

She had to have died by 1900 if her mother had lost 3 children by the time of that census.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1908-MN-005215

Notes:

The Anders Frost family tree has her marrying Olof Berglof (1855-1945) and having 7 children. In the 1900 census, she had had 6 children, all still living.

Called Betsey in the 1900 census. Also called Bessie.

Died:
as Mrs. Olaf Berglof

Brita married Olof BERGLOF on 15 Sep 1888 in Isanti County, Minnesota. Olof was born on 20 Jul 1855 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 15 Jan 1945 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Cambridge Union Cemetery, Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1905 Minnesota state census, he is Erick Erickson, 26, a farmer in Spring Vale Twp, Isanti County. Living with him is his wife, Christine, 24, and their son Edgar, 1.

In the 1910 census, he and his family are still in Isanti County. He is a hostler in a livery stable.

In the 1920 census, he and his family live in Sheridan County, Montana, where he is a farmer. Also in the household is his brother-in-law, Louis Berglof, age 36. Erick, Christine, and Louis are all naturalized citizens.

He died from a skull fracture. He was riding his bicycle on the Pacific Highway and was struck by an automobile.

An Erick S Erickson, who died in 1938, and his wife Christine, 1880-1960, are buried in Greenacres Memorial Park in Whatcom County, Washington.

Birth:
child #4, born in Sätra according to Victoria Llanas

Erick married Christine BERGLOF on 22 Aug 1903 in Isanti County, Minnesota. Christine was born on 4 Dec 1880 in Gävleborgs län, Sweden; died on 8 Apr 1960 in Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington; was buried in Greenacres Memorial Park, Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 29 May 1898, Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota

Notes:

The household examination record for the First Lutheran Church (Cambridge) for Hans Findell seems to say that “Maria Karolina Erickson” had a daughter, Alice Victoria, in 1900.

In the 1940 census, she is Mary Swanson, a 58 year-old widow living in Williston, North Dakota, as head of household, in the house in which she and her children had lived in 1935. Living with her are her children Vernon, 21 (shown as absent), and Gloria, 15. Also living with them is Clara Lundgren, 54, Mary’s widowed sister. Clara lived in Minneapolis in 1935.

Family/Spouse: Oscar Wilhelm SWANSON. Oscar was born on 18 May 1883 in Sweden; died on 10 Aug 1935 in Jerauld County, South Dakota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 13 May 1900, Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota

Notes:

Or Clara Christina.

In the 1930 census, Clara and Roy lived with Wilmer and his family in Minneapolis.

Family/Spouse: Andrew T LUNDGREN. Andrew was born in 1881 in Sweden; died on 15 Feb 1927 in Olmsted County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 18 May 1902, Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota

Notes:

In the 1910 census, she had had only the two children, both still living.

Her surname was almost always shown as Ericson on her childrens’ birth records.

Emma married Wilmer Johannes (John) ANDERSON on 20 Jun 1905 in Isanti County, Minnesota. Wilmer (son of Johannes W ANDERSON and Brita DANIELSON) was born on 6 Sep 1881 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 26 Jun 1965 in Isanti County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1965-MN-003210
• Occupation: Tailor
• Baptism: 31 Oct 1958, Grace Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 31 Oct 1958, Grace Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Notes:

Greg Loftness’s family tree on Ancestry calls her “Mårs Brita Bess Erickson,” born on or in Mårs in Rättvik. Greg Loftness also has Bess’s departure as 5 May 1884 from Vikarbyn. That date is based on the family’s entry in “Sweden, Emigrants Registered in Church Books.” She departed with both parents.

Cora called Bess "the best person who walked in two shoes."

Rattvik is located in Dalarna province on Lake Siljan in Sweden's central "lake district." Dalarna is considered the most Swedish of all of Sweden's 24 provinces. From it, Gustav Vasa recruited the army that freed the country from Danish domination in the 16th century. Bess was five years old when her family emigrated from Sweden in 1882 or 1883.

The Ericksons were living at Franklin and Minnehaha when Bess met Al Carlson. Al and Bess were married at the end of March, 1895, in Nelson, Wisconsin, across the river from Wabasha, Minnesota. Bess and Al were in Wabasha when Maurice was born.

Bess and Al ran a hardware store with Maurice near the corner of 38th and Chicago (SE corner, 2nd from the corner, Martin grocery store was on the corner). They were running the store when Maurice and Cora married. About that time Bess and Al moved to Minnetonka. (Maurice and Cora lived with them there for about a year-and-a-half between September of 1916 and May of 1917.) Then Bess and Al moved back into town to 40th and 11th Avenue. From there, in about 1920, they sold everything and moved to California. They stayed in California for less than a year. When they returned, they stayed with Maurice for three years (1921-1924, at 39th and Bloomington?) and then built the houses on Minnehaha Avenue. Bess lived in the Minnehaha house until November of 1960 when she moved to live with her grandson at 2239 East Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington. She spent her last few months of life in a nursing home in Hopkins where she died.

In the 1930 census, Maurice's and Bess's houses are shown as worth $7500 each. Bess was renting out part of her house at $35/mo to Arthur and Violet Nash. He was a school teacher, she was a hairdresser. Bess is shown as having emigrated in 1883.

In the 1940 census, Bess is shown as having no income. Her house is worth $3000. Living with her is Clara Lynch, lodger, a 48 year-old divorcee who worked as a housekeeper in a private home. Living in the other apartment at 4228 Minnehaha was Harold and Ann Cleven, both 30 years old. Their rent was $38 per month.

Cora refers to Bess having a store at the time of the Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940. There is no indication of this in the city directories.

Bess apparently avoided the inevitable divorce from Al as long as she could. Cora says that Bess bribed Al to stay with her.

Bess spent quite some time in the hospital in the spring of 1943.

A photo and article in the Tribune’s 24 Sep 1945 edition had Bess as the president of the Minneapolis Social Club.

In the 1950 census, she lived in the upstairs apartment at 4228 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. Living with her in that apartment was Erleida J Holmes (possibly Holmer), a 57 year-old widow born in Norway. Neither Bess nor her lodger were employed. Living in the downstairs apartment at that address was Cecil and Edna Markley. Cecil was clerk at a telegraph company. Bess’s neighbors to the north, at 4226 were the sisters Olga and Jean Westberg. Olga was the proprietor of a beauty parlor and Jean was her employee.

Bess was a piano player and an artist and a "healer." She played the piano in a Swedish ladies' society and at some point played the piano at the Dania Hall on Cedar Avenue near Riverside. She rarely missed a Svenskarnas Dag at Minnehaha Park. She was at Minnehaha Park on June 17, 1956, at the time her son died.

Bess may have been at Minnehaha Park on June 17, 1956, celebrating a “Svithiod Day” outing. This was apparently a mid-summer festival (“dancing, good food, entertainment”) held annually by the Independent Order of Svithiod of which Bess was a member of the Society’s #49 Harmony Lodge. Bess had been admitted as a member of Harmony Lodge on June 6, 1923.

The Independent Order of Svithiod was founded in 1880 and had extensive membership, in the form of lodges, in the Twin Cities as well as the Chicago areas. In 1965, in an issue of its journal that included mention of Bessie Carlson’s death, the Order had a nursing home in Niles, Illinois, and published its journal out of Mount Morris, Illinois. The headquarters was at 205 West Wacker Drive in Chicago.

Bess was also a member of what she and they referred to as the “Swedish Sisters.” This had to be different from the Harmony Lodge because the Svithiod Order was for men and women. Several of the “Swedish Sisters” indicated as such when the entered their names in the guest book for Bess’s funeral. Several members of the Harmony Lodge also indicated as such when they entered their names in the guest book. The Harmony Lodge also sent flowers for Bess’s funeral.

Bess was in charge of various events held by the Swedish Sisters. The group had its “golden jubilee” in late September of 1936 at Eagles’ Hall, 117 4th Street SE.

A thief stole the purses of four guests at Bess’s home on June 25, 1942. The heist also included a diaper bag with 16 changes of diapers. The thief entered through a bedroom window. The purses had next to zero money. The diaper bag had 10 soiled (of the 16) diapers.

She was president of the Minneapolis Social Club, Inc. in 1945.

Received her Social Security number in March of 1943. Applied for Social Security benefits in June of 1962.

Bess moved to the Hopkins Nursing Home at 724 Washington Avenue S. in Hopkins at the end of September, 1964.

Bess came to religion late in life and was baptized in her 80s at Grace Lutheran Church in Bloomington. Pastor Harold Hofstad, pastor of Grace, officiated at her funeral. (Werness Brothers, Minneapolis)

Bess died at Hopkins Nursing Home where she had been for 5 months. She died of pneumonia, a complication of cervical cancer. Her grandson Donald H Carlson was the informant for her death certificate.

  CARLSON, BESSIE  
Minnesota Death Certificate ID# 1965-MN-003210   
Date of Birth: 09/12/1877
Place of Birth: OUT OF STATE
Mother Maiden Name: JOHNSON
Date of Death: 02/22/1965
County of Death: HENNEPIN

Bess’s funeral was at 1:00 PM at Werness Bros. chapel.

Bess’s cemetery plot is Block 7A, Lot 73.

Pallbearers were George R. Booth, Jr., George F. Booth, Durward Erickson, Leonard Reiland, Leonard Reiland, Jr., and Wallace Erickson.

Died:
“Bess died at 3:30 this morning.”

Brita married Johan Alfred CARLSON on 31 Mar 1895 in Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, and was divorced in Dec 1929 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Johan (son of Salomon CARLSSON and Emelie/Emmeli Wilhelmina (Emma) LUNDBERG) was born on 12 Mar 1872 in Berghem, Kånna, Kronobergs län, Sweden; died on 6 Jun 1952 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 9 Jun 1952 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1957-MN-021052
• Occupation: Mason, bricklayer
• Social Security Number: 468-16-4879 According To His Death Certificate
• Baptism: 14 Nov 1886, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Notes:

In the 1910 census, Erick G., 23, and Ella L., 16, newly married (married 0 years), were living in a rented house in the village of Bethel in Anoka County. Ella is shown as having had zero children although she would have been pregnant with Bernice at the time. Erick’s occupation is shown as bricklayer.

Registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, in Bethel as Eric Godfrey Ericson although he seemed to sign his name Erickson. He lived in Bethel and was employed as a brick layer by Eric Nord of Bethel. He was married and had a wife and two children. He also claimed that he had had previous military service (1 year and 9 months) as a Private in the Marines. He was described as of medium height and build with blue eyes and “flaxen” hair.

Living in the village of Bethel, Anoka County, St. Francis Township at the time (Monday, February 2nd) of the 1920 census.

In the 1930 census, he and his wife and two youngest children live in a multi-family residence at 300 South Broadway in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is E G Ericson, a bricklayer. He was not a veteran.

DHC remembers that Erick and Ella had a restaurant or tavern, probably run mainly by Ella. They made great hamburgers and also had slot machines (”old fashioned but working”) in their restaurant. DHC said that Ella was a big woman and that “nobody fooled with her.”

Lived in Lake George, Minnesota in 1940.

In the 1940 census, Eric Erickson, 53, his wife Ella, 46, Hartley Thompson, 24, son-in-law, Helen Thompson, 20, daughter, and Beverly Thompson, a few months, granddaughter, live in Oak Grove Twp in Anoka County. Eric runs a “beer tavern.” Hartley is a lineman for a rural electric company. All were born in Minnesota. Eric and Ella had a fifth-grade education, Hartley eighth-grade, and Helen two years of high school.

According to Cora’s diary, Erick and Ella moved to Corvallis, Oregon, in early 1944 to live near or with Ella’s parents. (Ella’s mother died at the Erickson home in Corvallis in 1947 according to Melissa’s obit.)

In the 1951 Corvallis, Oregon, city directory, he (as Eric G) and “Ellen E” live at 1925 E Grant, RD#4. He is a bricklayer.

In the 1953 Corvallis directory, he and Ella are still at 1925 E Grant. Erick G Erickson is a brick mason. That’s the address that Cora had in her travel diary from about that same time.

In the 1955 Corvallis directory, Erick G and Ella L Erickson still live at 1925 E Grant. Erick is a bricklayer.

He is not listed in the 1956 Corvallis city directory.

Erick and Ella may have still lived in Corvallis, and/or they may have returned to Minnesota, in the fall of 1955. The entry in Cora’s diary for November 5, 1955, suggests that Erick and Ella had “just got to Minn.”

Living in Bethel at the time of his death.

According to his great-niece Vivian, Erick died by falling into a fire while ice fishing and burning and/or drowning. From Cora’s diary, he was burned on December 31, 1956, and, apparently, died four weeks later. This is confirmed in his death certificate. He had a heart attack or stroke while ice fishing on a lake in Onamia (perhaps Lake Mille Lacs). He then fell against the stove in the fish house and his clothing ignited. He died from infection resulting from the 40% 3rd degree burns. His body was not autopsied.

His funeral service was at 11 AM at the Albinson-Peterson funeral home, 1838 Central Avenue.

Death Certificate:

ERICKSON, ERICK G. CertID# 1957-MN-021052   
 Date of Birth: 10/18/1896 {Birth year is off by 10 years}
 Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
 Mother Maiden Name: JOHNSON  
 Date of Death: 01/27/1957
 County of Death: HENNEPIN

Birth:
Cora notes that she attended “Eric’s 70th” on October 18, 1956.

Baptism:
Bethlehem Lutheran, as Erik Gottfred

Died:
Died at 2:00 PM according to Cora’s diary. His death certificate says 2:10 PM.

Buried:
Lot 11, Blk 14, Sec 1

Erick married Ella Lorraine HUGHES on 14 Oct 1909 in Anoka County, Minnesota. Ella (daughter of Henry Thomas HUGHES and Melissa BULLIS) was born on 31 Mar 1894 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 4 Apr 1964 in Isanti County, Minnesota; was buried in Oak Leaf Cemetery, Bethel, Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

name:
Daniel Wm. Erickson
gender:
Male
burial date:

burial place:

death date:
13 Jul 1893
death place:
Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
age:
0
birth date:
1893
birthplace:
Minn
occupation:

race:
White
marital status:
Single
spouse's name:

father's name:
Danl. Erickson
father's birthplace:
Sweden
mother's name:
Betsie
mother's birthplace:
Sweden
indexing project (batch) number:
B53041-2
system origin:
Minnesota-EASy
source film number:
1309404
reference number:
153

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1972-MN-002268
• Occupation: Machinist
• Social Security Number: 397-03-0897
• Wisconsin Death Certificate: X01021

Notes:

In the 1895 Minnesota state census, he is listed as Daniel W., 6 months old.

He registered for the draft as William Daniel Erickson, born 21 Dec 1894 in Minneapolis. He was a machinist for Ford Motor Company of 5th Street and 5th Ave North in Mpls. He was married with a wife and mother who were dependent upon him. The date of the registration is not clear but it is probably June 5, 1917, because only “wife and mother” and not “mother and wife and son” are mentioned as dependent on him for support. William lived at 1409 East Lake Street. He was described as of medium height and build with brown eyes and light hair.

He and Selma lived at 1408 Clinton Avenue when Vernal was born. He is identified on Vernal’s birth certificate as William Daniel, age 23, a mechanic.

In the 1920 census, he is William D Erickson, living with wife Selma and son Vernal at 332 East 17th Street in a rented apartment not far from Lila Fortier (#252). (Mpls. ED 100, image 1 of 30). William is a machinist in a factory.

A William D Erickson married a Margie B “Faltz” in Hennepin County on 26 Aug 1922.

At the time of William Richard’s birth in November of 1926, Bill and Amy lived at 3227 Morgan Avenue North. Bill was a sheet metal worker for Economy Sheet Metal (his nephew Maurice Carlson’s business).

The 1926 Minneapolis city directory shows him as Wm D Erickson, tinner, living at 3227 Morgan Ave N. That is the same address as Amelia Hedburg lived at in the same directory.

In the 1927 Minneapolis directory, William D, tinner, still lives at 3227 Morgan Ave N and still works for Economy Sheet Metal Mfg Co. Amy Hedburg is not listed in that directory.

He is not listed in the 1928 Minneapolis city directory. There is neither an Erick nor a William D in the 1928 Milwaukee city directory.

In the 1929 Milwaukee city directory, he is William Erickson, laborer, wife “Aimee”, living at 88 Austin.

In the 1930 census, Bill and Amy and family are renting a duplex at 88 Austin Street in Milwaukee. Bill is shown as “Erick D. Ericson”, is 34 years old, and is a machinist at a sandblast shop. He was 21 years old when he was first married so Amy is not his first wife. He was not a veteran. Amy L, his wife, is 28 years old and was 23 when first married so Bill is her first husband. Amy’s parents and Bill’s parents were born in Sweden. Bill was born in Minnesota and Amy in Iowa. Living with them is Bill’s son, Vernal, 12, whose mother was born in Minnesota, William R., 3 years and 6 months, and Jean L., 1 and 6 months. The two younger children had a mother born in Iowa.

He is not listed in the 1931 or 1932 Milwaukee city directories.

Bill and Amy and the kids visited Maurice and Cora on Minnehaha on July 9, 1937, their first appearance in her diaries.

In the 1940 census, he and Amelia and their three children lived in Cudahy in Milwaukee County in a rented house, the same house in which they had lived in 1935. He was a machinist for a drop forge.

Bill “stopped in” to see Maurice on January 1, 1941, so the family may have been living in Minneapolis by that time.

He registered for the draft in 1942 as William Daniel Erickson of 404 Monroe Street, Anoka. He worked for Northern Pump in Columbia Heights. For the person who would always know his address, he gave his son John, then living at 5301 James Avenue N. He was described as having hazel eyes and gray hair, 5 feet 10.5 inches tall, 212 lbs.

In September of 1945, when he was living in Anoka, he sued his former employer, Northwest Automatic Products, where he had been a machinist, for a little over $400 for back wages and tools that he said had been destroyed in a fire. (The Star, 18 Sep 1945, p. 4)

Bill was still in the Twin Cities area at Christmas of 1946.

Bill and Marj lived in Huntington Park, California, in January of 1953 when Cora and Maurice visited them.

Living in Los Angeles at the time Erick died in 1957.

Living in California when Bess died. Elaine sent the thank-you card to “404 E. San Antonio Drive, Long Beach.”

“Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Erickson” signed Bess’s funeral guestbook.

On a card on a floral tribute at Bess’s funeral was handwritten: “Heavenly blessings to a dear and loving sister. Brother Bill and Marjorie.”



A William Erickson, b. 20 Dec 1894, died in New Richmond, Wisconsin (or at least that was his last residence), in January of 1972. His SS# had been issued in Wisconsin before 1951. The SS# for that William Erickson was 397-03-0897. Cora’s diary notes, for Monday, January 17, 1972, “Mayme called and said that Bill Erickson died this morning.” Although he died in Minnesota at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, and had a Minnesota death certificate, he also had a Wisconsin death certificate. His usual residence was in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

His Minnesota death certificate said that Bill died from uremia. He had been a machinist for the Deutsch Company. He was married to Marjorie. The informant for his death certificate was Jean L Beebe, Rt 1, Box 416, New Richmond, Wisconsin.

An Ancestral file record for Bill in FamilySearch shows a fourth wife: Mable Weiss. MOMS shows that a William D Erickson married a Mable Weise in Hennepin County on 23 Mar 1948. With that and the 1922 marriage to Margie B “Faltz”, it’s possible, probably likely, that Bill Erickson was married five times to four different women.

Birth:
The Minnesota Births and Christenings database in FamilySearch shows a birth date of 20 Dec 1894.

Died:
date per Cora’s diary; Wisconsin death index did not show a place of death but it did agree that he was 77 years old

Buried:
Lot 1, Blk 11, Sec 2; “Father”

Daniel married Selma LARSON on 15 Apr 1916 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Selma was born about 1897 in Minnesota; died in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Amelia (Amy) Leavica HEDBURG. Amelia (daughter of August HEDBURG and Amelia CARLSON) was born on 3 Apr 1902 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa; died on 14 Jun 1945 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 16 Jun 1945 in Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married Marjorie Belle FLATZ on 22 Dec 1951 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Marjorie was born on 2 Nov 1904 in Rice County, Minnesota; died on 4 Oct 1982 in Los Angeles County, California; was buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1979-MN-008250
• Occupation: Machinist, Metal Worker In Furnace Industry

Notes:

Although John was Maurice Carlson’s uncle, John was the younger of the two by almost four years.

In the 1917 city directory, John is a machinist with the H E Wilcox Motor Co. In the 1918 city directory, he is a machinist for the Mill City Manufacturing Co. In the 1919 city directory, he is shown as a machine operator. In the 1920 city directory, he is a machinist with Midland Steel Products. In the 1922 city directory, he is living with Mayme and Steve at 411 Ontario.

Registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. Living at 3840 29th Avenue S. His nearest relative is Mrs. Daniel Erickson also of the 29th Avenue address. His occupation is lathe work and his employer is Imperial Manufacturing Co. of 1611 Central Avenue, N.E. He is of medium height and build with brown eyes and light hair. For some reason, he claims to be a citizen by his father’s naturalization.

Living at 4036 17th Avenue South at the time of Jackie’s death in 1928.

Living with family at time of 1930 census at 2924 37th Avenue S., renting.

In the 1937 Minneapolis city directory, John and Myrtle and Wally lived at 5637 12th Avenue in south Minneapolis. John was a sheet metal worker for Economy Sheet Metal Service Co.

In the 1940 census, John, Myrtle, and Wallace live in Brooklyn Center. They own their home and it is worth $1000. John is a sheet metal worker with an eighth-grade education. Myrtle had one year of high school. Wallace was a high school student. In 1935, they had all lived in Minneapolis.

In late 1940, he lived at 5301 James Avenue N. He sold an oil burner for $25, “heats four rooms, used one winter.”

He registered for the draft in February of 1942 at the Lumber Exchane Building. At that time, he and Myrtle lived at 5301 James Avenue in Brooklyn Center. John worked for Economy Sheet Metal Service at 505 East Lake Street in Minneapolis. John described himself as having brown eyes and blonde hair with a light complexion. He had a scar on his left index finger. He was 5 feet 9½ inches tall and weighed 200 lbs.

In 1947, at the time of the engagement announcement for Wally and Jean, John and Myrtle lived at 612 Dowling Avenue, N.

In the 1953 Minneapolis city directory, he and Myrtle live at 5448 Emerson Avenue. He is a sheet metal worker for Burniece’s Heating and Sheet Metal. That address is also the one Cora had in her travel diary in preparation for her and Maurice’s 1953 trip to California.

In a later entry in that travel diary, probably from the ‘60s or ‘70s, the address for Myrtle and John was Route 1, Box 117A1, Onamia.

His address at the time of his death was 2701 Brunswick Avenue North in Crystal, Minnesota.

His funeral services were at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church.

“Mr. and Mrs. John Erickson” signed Bess’s funeral guestbook.

DHC says that John was a sheet metal worker who worked for Tom Bernice. DHC remembers John and Myrtle living at 43rd and 42nd in Minneapolis. Maurice and John liked to play cribbage.

John married Myrtle S GARDNER on 1 Jun 1922 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Myrtle (daughter of John GARDNER and Rose ANDERSON) was born on 6 Mar 1905 in Gary, Lake County, Indiana; died on 4 Jun 1991 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 8 Jun 1991 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1900-00197
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1995-MN-008238
• Social Security Number: 475-54-8847, issued in MN in 1963, Social Security Death Index shows her name as “May”

Notes:

Her birth certificate lists her as May Erickson. It also lists her mother’s name as Brita.

Before her marriage, Mayme was a clerk and, in 1919, a telephone operator at the Studebaker Corporation of America in Minneapolis.

In an affidavit dated February 6, 1942, May’s sister, Bessie Carlson, of 4228 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, asserts that May’s original birth record, for her birth on September 27, 1900, in the St. Francis Twp, Anoka County, is incorrect in two respects: 1) the given name of the child is not recorded, and 2) the mother’s name is recorded incorrectly as Breta Erickson. The affidavit corrects these to: 1) May Erickson, and 2) Brita Erickson. The affidavit was necessary for May to get a proper birth certificate, presumably to then obtain a passport, during WWII.

Havier, May (nee Erickson), age 94 of St. Paul, born and raised in Bethel, MN. Member of Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church, 50+ years. Preceded in death by husband Stephen; daughters Marjorie & Arlene; parents Daniel & Breta Erickson. Survived by grandchildren Judy (Gary) Spooner, Connie (Roger) Spooner, Len (Jeanne) Reiland, George (Anne) Booth and Ken (Mary) Reiland; 14 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Henry Haver. Service Friday 11AM at Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Ave. Interment Hillside Memorium. Visitation Thurs., 5-8PM at Bradshaw-Listoe Wold Funeral Home, 678 S. Snelling Ave. at Eleanor. Memorials to Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church.

May married Stephen Raymond HAVIER on 11 Nov 1919 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Stephen (son of Andro (Andrew) HAVIR and Anna (Annie) MATASOVSKY) was born on 30 Sep 1897 in Jackson County, Minnesota; died on 6 May 1992 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota; was buried on 11 May 1992 in Hillside Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]