submitted by Joy Fisher (sdgenweb@yahoo.com) *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm *********************************************************************** AUGUST ERICKSON. For more than fourteen years August Erickson has been closely associated with mercantile interests in Salina and is now one of the proprietors of The Fair, the leading department store of the town. He was born in Sweden in 1872, a son of Erick and Johanna (Pearson) Erickson. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and when a youth in his teens was converted to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This led him to come to Utah in 1892, when twenty years of age, at which time he took up his abode in Salt Lake City, there following the tailor's trade, which he had learned in his native country. He was thus employed until 1903, when he removed to Salina, but in the same year be was called to go on a mission to Sweden and labored in his native country in behalf of the church until 1905. He had served on a mission in his homeland prior to coming to the new world and in both missions had the satisfaction of baptizing many into the faith. It is one of the joys of his life that many of his converts are now pleasantly located among people of their faith in Utah and Idaho and are valued members of the church. After his return to Salina in 1905, Mr. Erickson became manager of the clothing department of the Salina Cooperative Association and later was made manager of the company. He resigned in 1917 and established The Fair in association with B. L. Jensen. This is now the leading department store of Salina, carrying a full line of general merchandise and enjoying an extensive trade throughout the northern part of Sevier county. The firm also conducts business under the name of the Salina Meat & Supply Company and has established an extensive branch of The Fair at Payson. On his own account Mr. Erickson also operates a ranch of sixty acres near Salina, devoted to the crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here. He likewise breeds cattle and altogether is one of the progressive and prosperous business men of Sevier county. Mr. Erickson has given but little attention to politics yet consented to serve for one term as a member of the city council of Salina. He has ever since his conversion been an active member of the church and has filled the office of president of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association and president of the One Hundred and Seventh Quorum of the Seventy. In 1911 he was ordained high priest and was called as first counselor to Bishop K. W. Bird of the first ward, while in 1917 he was set apart as bishop of the first ward of Salina. In 1899 Mr. Erickson was married in Salt Sake City to Miss Elizabeth Johanson, a daughter of J. A. Johanson, a well known farmer of Sevier county. They have but two children: Nima, the wife of J. F. Davidson, of Springville; and Wanda, a high school pupil. In every relation of life-in business circles, in the church and in public connections-Mr. Erickson has faithfully performed every duty assigned him and has been loyal to every trust reposed in him. He thus enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and by reason of his progressiveness and enterprise in business he has won a place among the successful merchants of Sevier county. Extracted from: UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920