Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Erickson, Per August 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 10:35 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

PER AUGUST ERICKSON, who is one of the most influential Swedes in Joliet, 
holds a position as keeper at the Illinois state penitentiary. He was born at 
Ekebybona soken, Ostergotland, Sweden, in February, 1858, the oldest child of 
L. P. and Anna Katarina Erickson. His father, who was a farmer's son, followed 
agricultural pursuits and operated a distillery. He took the family to 
Elgmyra, Christbergs soken, when our subject was two and one-half years of 
age, but later settled in Stjarnorp, and finally retired to Norrkoping, and in 
1891 died in Motala. His first wife died in 1873, leaving four sons and two 
daughters, of whom the daughters reside in Evanston, Ill., one son, Carl E., 
is engaged in the hardware business at Ironwood, Mich., and two sons remain in 
Sweden, Gustav V. being a sergeant in the national army, while Hjalmar lives 
in Norrkoping. Of the father's second marriage, three children were born, all 
now living in Sweden. When a boy our subject had excellent advantages and 
studied English and other branches under a governess. At seventeen years of 
age he was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner and currier in Motala, but 
after a year went to Linkoping and secured work there at his trade. In 1877 he 
became a sailor and sailed via England to Portugal, then returned to Sweden 
and worked at his trade. May 27, 1879, he landed in New York, from there 
started at once for Chicago. Through an employment office in the latter city 
he hired to work in the quarries at Lockport, but after eight days he secured 
work in the tannery of Houck & Brown, where he continued for years, resigning 
in 1897 in order to accept the position of keeper at the penitentiary. 
December 13, 1890, in Joliet, Mr. Erickson married Miss Ida Charlotta Melin, 
who was born in Swanaholm, Sweden, and came to this city in the spring of 
1890. They have four children, Carl Oscar August, Gustaf Birger August, 
Thorsten Fingal August and Hilding Walfred August. The family occupy the 
residence at No. 106 Virginia street, which Mr. Erickson built in 1892. Mrs. 
Erickson was one of seven children (three here), whose father, Johannes Oscar 
Melin, was a lifelong resident of Sweden. She is connected with the Royal 
Neighbors and the North Star Association. Socially, her genial manners and 
kind heart have won her many friends among her acquaintances in this city. The 
Republican party has a firm advocate in Mr. Erickson. He is a charter member 
of the Swedish Republican Club, in which he has officiated as vice-president. 
He is also actively connected with the Swedish-American Republican League of 
Illinois. The Modern Woodmen of America and Fraternal Alliance of Milwaukee 
have his name enrolled among their members, and at one time he was connected 
with the Knights of Pythias. He is a charter member and recorder of the North 
Star Benefit Association in Joliet. In the organization of the Swedish 
Lutheran Church he took an active part, and at the time of the building of a 
house of worship he assisted, as a member of the building committee. In the 
offices of trustee and treasurer he has proved a helpful member of the church, 
and has promoted its welfare constantly since he first became identified with 
it.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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