Christ Wicklund and Family

Christ Wicklund was born in Gadrick, Orby parish, Elfibrogs, Sweden to Johan Johanson and Annabretta on June 20, 1865. He married Emily Erickson, daughter of Erick Erickson and Anna Britta February 3, 1891 in Sweden. He immigrated to American April 24, 1891. He must have changed his name to Christ Wicklund at that time. Edwin Wicklund the oldest child of eleven children was born in Sweden and came to America at the same time.

He (Christ) worked as a laborer until about 1900. Became a bricklayer and stone mason. (I believe he was already a mason when he came to America. City directories in the 1890s listed him as a laborer.) Was well known for his trade. He lived in the Water Street area on 9th Avenue much of his life. He then owned three of the four houses in the one hundred block south side of street on Water Street. That area now is the site of the UWEC's Fine Arts Building.

I recall my mother telling me about my grandfather. He was injured in a construction accident on a job site at Elk Mound (date unknown). He had a fractured skull. They brought him to Eau Claire on a horse drawn wagon. He survived both the injury and the wagon ride. Medical people put a stainless cap or crown on the fracture. When he passed on in 1929, doctors wanted to do an autopsy, but my grandmother wouldn't allow it.