- OLE M. ERICKSON, blacksmith of Browntown, Green county, is
a native son of Norway, who
- has found friends and fortune in the New World. His father,
Martin ERICKSON, located in Wiota township in 1857, and there
bought a small farm, where he made his home until his death,
in 1886, when he was aged seventy-four years. He and his wife
Lena, were married in Norway, and became the parents of twelve
children: John, a farmer of Wiota township, married Johanna SMESTAD;
Caroline married C. C. ROOD, a farmer of Wiota township; Even
married Bell ELIFSON; Lena married Chris OLSON; Ole M. is mentioned
below; Martin resides in Wiota township; August married Lena
HANSON, who is now deceased; Peter wedded a Miss ANDERSON, who
is also deceased; Henry is a farmer; Joseph is deceased; Josephine
married George DENARE, a farmer; and Oscar M. married Hilda PAULSON.
- Ole M. ERICKSON was born in Norway Oct. 14, 1854, and coming
to America as he did in
- childhood, the greater part of his life has been passed in
Wisconsin. He was reared on the farm in Wiota township, and received
his education in the common schools. As a youth he inclined to
the blacksmith's trade, and determined to make it his life work.
At the age of twenty-nine he located in Browntown, and has there
conducted a general blacksmiths shop, and has also engaged in
wagon making, and in the implement business. He started out in
life as a poor man, and his industry and economy alone are responsible
for the substantial position he occupies today.
- On Sept. 7, 1877, Mr. ERICKSON was married to Miss Mary LARSON,
who was born April
- 27, 1856, daughter of Oto and Anna LARSON, natives of Norway,
who early settled in Lafayette county. Mr. and Mrs. LARSON had
a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living: Louis
married a Miss ANDERSON; Charles married Miss Dora JOHNSON; Mary
(Mrs. ERICKSON); Sophia married Elef GOLICKSON, of Jordan township;
Nettie resides in Browntown; Lena is deceased; Conrad married
Estella CLARNO, who is deceased; Telah married Dr. OSBORN, of
Chicago. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. ERICKSON have come two
children: Morgan E., born May 28, 1879, married on Feb. 21, 1901,
Miss Lottie BINGER, who was born Feb. 21, 1877, daughter of Jerry
BINGER, an early settler of Cadiz township; and Richard Elmer,
born Oct. 20, 1885, is at home.
- The Republican party finds in Mr. ERICKSON a stanch adherent,
and he has served his town
- and township as school director and treasurer, and at present
is a member of the village board. In religious faith he is a
Lutheran. The family reside in the handsome home he owns in Browntown,
and are quite popular among those who know them best.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 855-856.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|