Stratford Courier
April 13, 1944

Obituary
C.E. Erickson

Charles E. Erickson was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gust Erickson Aug. 15, 1870, at Stratford. He made his home with his parents until the time of his marriage. On Sept. 5, 1894, he was married to Miss Ada Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson came to Minnesota in 1918 and settled in Fairmont township. This happy union was blessed with the arrival of ten children: Lillian (Mrs. Edgar Johnson) of Sebastopol, Calif., George, who has always lived with the family, Nellie (Mrs. Algot Hultman) of Vallejo, Calif., Vallie (Mrs. Carl Sansen) of Fairmont township, Maxine (Mrs. Orlo Hursh) of Forest Lake, Minn., Ila (Mrs. Reinhard Gratz) of Fairmont, June (Mrs. Dick Prull) of Ceylon, Minn., and Sherman, at home.

A year ago the Ericksons retired from farming and moved to Fairmont where Mr. Erickson attended the Methodist and Bethel Free churches.

Mr. Erickson was operated on for an ailment of several years standing. Complications set in and he breathed his last at 7:15 Sunday morning, March 19, 1944. He had reached the age of 73 years, 7 months and 4 days.

Having confessed his faith in God he left this life with a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the promise of the Word of God.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two daughters, one who died in infancy and the other the late Mrs. Harry Plenge.

Mr. Erickson leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, Ada, and children, twenty grandchildren, four brothers, Will, Eric, Oscar and James, and four sisters, Selma, Louise, Abbie and Julia.

Memorial services were held in the home and at the Bethel Free church. The many flowers were a testimonial of the high esteem in which he was held. The Rev. Samuel Walberg officiated and interment took place at Lakeside cemetery. - Contributed

Biographical Record of Webster County, Iowa

The future of Hardin township rests securely in the hand of such promising and industrious young farmers as C.E. Erickson, who is the owner of a well-improved farm of eighty acres, upon which he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He comes honestly by his ability to successfully till his land, for his parents, who were born in Sweden, and emigrated to America in 1850, have been farmers for their entire active lives, and are now living on a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Hamilton County, Iowa. Upon this parental farm C.E. Erickson was born, August 15, 1870, and is the second oldest in a family of ten children. The others are Frank, who is living at home, Will, who is a harness maker at Nevada, Iowa, Selma, who is the wife of Victor Peterson, of Boone County, Iowa, Louise, who is living at home, with Erick, Oscar, Abbie, Julia, and James. C.E. Erickson was educated in the public schools, and lived on the home farm until his marriage, in Boone County, September 4, 1894, to Ada Lorena Johnson, the only child of parents born in Sweden. Her mother is now deceased, while the father is living in Stratford Iowa. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, Lillie, born December 14, 1895, George, August 2, 1897, and Nellie J. April 14, 1898. Mr. Erickson is already attaining to prominence in township affairs, and his judgment and assistance are in accord with the best government and greatest progress. He is a Republican in national politics, but believes that the man best qualified for public trust should hold office regardless of his political affiliation. As evidence of the esteem and confidence which he has inspired among his fellow townsmen it is only necessary to state that he has been township clerk for four years, and is also justice of the peace. He is a practical and thorough farmer, and has the faculty of making and keeping friends.