A History of Erickson, Renville Co., MN Bios Included ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher Submitted: Janusry 2005 ========================================================================= Excerpted from: "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA" BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, -AND — "HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE" BY CHARLES S. BRYANT. MINNEAPOLIS: NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1882. RENVILLE COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXXIII. ERICKSON This town was formerly a part of Sacred Heart, but was organized as Erickson in 1874, and the first election was held January 27 of that year. The officers elected were: Ole Gilbertson, chairman and constable, Peter Gerdee and E. H. Walstad, supervisors: Henry Paulson, clerk and justice; Peter P. Dustrud, treasurer, assessor and constable. The first settlers, Ole and Andrew Gilbertson, Christian Evenson and a few others, came in the summer of 1871. In 1875 occurred the first marriage, that of Lars H. Milstone and Ingebor Hanson. The death of Emma H. Walstad, in 1872, was the first. The first school was taught in 1875 at E. H. Walstad's house, by Mary Bovee. In 1873 the Norwegian Lutherans began holding meetings, under Rev. John Halverson. HANSEN Erik Hansen, born in 1844, is a native of Norway, but since 1871 has been a resident of the United States. After living in Dane county, Wisconsin, three years he migrated to Minnesota; resided two years in the town of Sacred Heart and then took a homestead in Erickson. Mr. Hansen married in 1871, Carrie Gilbertson; their children are Hageberth, Gilbert, Martin, Bernard, Amil and Charles. OLSEN Johan S. Olsen, who is a native of Norway, was born in 1830. He came in 1869 to the United States; lived four years in Bushford, Fillmore county, Minnesota, previous to coming in 1873 to the town of Erickson; his farm on section 26 contains eighty acres. In Fillmore county, in 1869 he married Miss C. M. Anderson. OSMUNDSON Gabriel S. Osmundson was born in 1849. At the age of three years he left Norway, the land of his birth, and came with his parents to America. Until 1862 his home was in Wisconsin, then he removed to Iowa, and in 1869 married Julia Aufindson. Since the summer of 1873 their home has been in Erickson. The living children are Oscar K., Ole, Bertina M., Henrietta D. and Henry S. HANSON Hans Hanson Roly is a native of Norway, where he was born in 1847. Emigrated in 1866 to the United States. He lived about three years in Dane county. Wisconsin; removed to Minnesota, and in the autumn of 1871 located permanently in Erickson. Caroline Johnson became his wife in 1867; eight children: Julia, John, Helga, Herman, Hilda and Ottia are living. STRAND Finger T. Strand was born in 1851 in Norway. In 1861 he came to this country and after living in Wisconsin five years, removed to Emmet county, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming until 1877, at which date he came to Erickson. Mr. Strand is treasurer of this town. Married January 15, 1873, Belle Olson; Mary A., Helena, Bertina and Gurena are their children. THOMSPSON Iver Thompson native of Norway, was born in 1852. Upon immigrating to the United States in 1867 he came to Minnesota and worked at farming in Kandiyohi county six years. In 1872 he came to Erickson and took a homestead; now owns 160 acres. Married in 1872, Miss Mary Johnson. Julius, John, Charles and Josephine M. are their children. WOLSTAD Tosten H. Wolstad, who was born in Norway in 1840, emigrated in 1850 and became a resident of the United States. He was farming in Dane county, Wisconsin, until 1876, at which time he came to Erickson, which town is still his home; his farm is located on section 14, and contains 160 acres. Mary A. Gilbertson was married to him in 1871. Hilda is their only child.