Bio of ERICKSON, John E. (b.1856), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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JOHN E. ERICKSON - Vol III, pg 583-584
While classified as a shoemaker, John E. Erickson possessed not only a desire
for the attainment of legitimate success in business but also the spirit of the
philanthropist, as he was continually putting forth effort to aid those who
needed assistance in the matter of individual construction of footwear in the
correction of some ailment. As a maker of special shoes he was known throughout
the state and his work in that line was of a most valuable character. Mr.
Erickson was born in Sweden, September 18, 1856, his parents being John and Eva
Erickson. He received his education in his native country and came to America in
1880, when a young man of twenty-four years, settling first in Wisconsin. In
1882 he removed to Minneapolis, where he entered the employ of the North Star
Shoe Manufacturing Company, with which he remained for about a year. He next
worked for a Mr. Clark on Western avenue, being an assistant in a retail shoe
store and men's furnishing goods store. While thus employed he was forming a
wide acquaintance and about 1889 he opened a shoe store of his own at No. 1813
Franklin street. Subsequently he removed to No. 1721 Franklin street, where he
continued in business to the time of his death. He was a shoemaker by trade and
he had the reputation of being the fastest workman in the Twin Cities. He made a
specialty of building shoes for crippled children and persons especially in need
of aid of this kind through broken arches or other defects in the feet. Because
of his skill, and ingenuity in this particular he became widely known throughout
the state and in many places beyond the borders of Minnesota. He won a wide
reputa­tion by reason of his skill in shoe manufacturing and his rare judgment
in business matters, while his thorough reliability and integrity in all of his
dealings won him the proud title of "Honest John" Erickson. As the years passed
Mr. Erickson prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of two stores
which he conducted-one on Nicollet avenue and the other on Sixteenth street, the
latter establishment becoming one of the most thoroughly up-to-date shoe houses
in the city. There, while in charge of his store, Mr. Erickson was murdered one
night by robbers, the news of his demise coming as a shock to all who knew him
and carrying with it a sense of personal bereavement to his many friends.
On the 15th of May, 1886, Mr. Erickson was married to Miss Maria Wilhelmina
Lund, a daughter of John and Maria (Brandt) Lund, who were natives of Sweden,
where her father was widely known as a prominent physician and surgeon and
leading business man. Mrs. Erickson came to Minneapolis in 1882 and by her
marriage had two children, John Emil Ernest and Anna Olga Maria. The former
served in the European war as a quartermaster, being stationed in Washington, D.
C., where he was on duty until the close of hostilities. He held the rank of
second lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Eighty-eighth Division.
Mr. Erickson held membership with the Knights of the Maccabees and his religious
belief was that of the Lutheran church, in the work of which he took active and
helpful interest, serving for twelve years as a trustee of the Ebenezer Lutheran
church. Later he was a member of Augustana Lutheran church. In politics he was
always a stanch republican, and while he never sought or desired office, he was
one of the substantial upbuilders of Minneapolis and a supporter of all plans
and projects for the general good. He departed this life June 20, 1914, and his
memory is cherished by all who knew him.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Erickson has carried on the business, assisted by
her son, who acts as buyer and manager. Her daughter is married, being now the
wife of Paul Henry Struck, who was also in service in the European war, being
stationed at the officers' training camp at Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he was a
member of the Fifth Company, Third Battalion. During the absence of her son and
her son-in-law in the European war Mrs. Erickson took charge of the shoe stores.
Following his return from the army John E. Ernest Erickson married Adele Hjulin,
a daughter of Mrs. Christian Hjulin of Minneapolis.
Mrs. Erickson owns and occupies a large and commodious home at No. 2018
Eighteenth avenue, South, where the dwelling stands on a beautiful lawn shaded
by great trees and adorned with shrubbery and beautiful flowers of her own
planting. She possesses splendid business ability, which is manifest in the
capable management of the business left by her husband, who always sought her
advice and counsel in commercial matters.