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Lars Erickson arrived in America on September 13, 1853, according to
his application for naturalization. He was born in Norway on July 9,
1829. His death certificate states he was the son of Eric Jensrud.
However, no further information has been found on his parents or his
place of birth in Norway.
He came to Minneapolis, which was at that time still St.
Anthony, some time between 1853 and 1855. He was married to Troen Jonsdatter
in St. Paul on January 4, 1855. Their first child, Josephine,
was most likely born in Minneapolis in 1857, and in 1858 they
moved to Carver County, Minnesota. Lars purchased 160 acres of
land in Dahlgren Twp. In 1858 the |
East Union Lutheran Church was formed and Lars and Troen
were one of the first families to join. Also, listed in the first
book of members was an Arne Erickson, who was also from Norway. It's
believed that Arne may have Lars' brother, but I have been unable to
find documentation to prove it.
Around
1866 the family left Carver county and returned to Minneapolis where
Lars established the "Scandia House", located on 3rd Ave and 2nd St.
This boarding house was generally frequented by newly arriving
Scandinavians coming into the city.
By 1869
the Scandia House had either been sold or closed and Lars worked at
other various occupations until 1878 when they moved to Redwood
County MN. Lars filed for a homestead in Gales Township near the
town of Walnut Grove. For the next few years he farmed and made
improvements on the land as was required for 5 years. On December 3,
1882 Troen passed away after having contracted Tuberculosis. She was
buried on the farm of a neighbor, Lars Pederson. Two children of the
Pedersons were also buried nearby.
Lars
remained on the farm in Gales, receiving title to it on September
17, 1883. He had fulfilled the requirements of the Homestead Act of
1862 by building a house (14 x 20 feet and 9 x 10 addition), a
granary, stable, and planting trees valued at $300.00. He cultivated
60 acres of the 80.
In 1885
Lars married a widow from Sweden, Mrs. Hanna Lindstrom, who had one
child from her previous marriage. She had come to America with her
first husband and settled on a farm near Walnut Grove in Springdale
twp. Her husband, John Lindstrom, had died the same year as Troen,
and according to information provided by her descendants, Lars and
Hanna married more for convenience and had a legal arrangement
regarding their property and assets to protect their children. Lars
moved into Hanna's home in Springdale and Lars' son John ran the
family farm in Gales twp. Lars also had income from his work as a
salesman, or "peddler" as they were referred to then. Hanna had
income from her farm.
Lars Erickson
passed away on March 8, 1899 from Stomach Cancer and was buried in
the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery in Walnut Grove. The headstone has
both Lars' and Troen's names on it, but there is no evidence that
her body was ever removed to the cemetery. Hanna died May 3, 1918
was buried next to her first husband, John Lindgren.
Mention of
Lars' death was published in the Walnut Grove newspaper:
Lars
Erickson's death occurred Wednesday morning from cancer of the
stomachs. He was formerly of this town. |
