Nils Ericsson

GEDCOM Note

Nels E. Erickson is one of the leading farmers of his part of Waynecounty, and is a representative farmer of his locality. He is wellknown, and, while not one of the oldest settlers, has many friends.Most of the improvements on his farm have been the result of his ownefforts. Mr. Erickson has always performed his part in promoting thegeneral welfare, and has won a high standing as an upright andreliable citizen. Heis a native of Sweden, born March 25, 1854, a son of Eric and AnnaSamuelson, who were farmers, and spent their entire lives in Sweden.Mr. Erickson was educated in his native country, and was reared toagricultural pursuits.

In1880, he left Sweden, sailing from Gottenburg for Liverpool, andthence to New York City. Soon afterwards he went west to Illinois,and spent five years in that state. About 1885, he came to Nebraska,and purchased of Charles Johnson his present farm on section two,township twenty-seven, range three, and began to make additionalimprovements on the same. He has a fine five-acre grove and orchard,which greatly enhances the value and beauty of his estate, and haserected various buildings, which were needed for caring for hisgrain, stock and tools. He uses improved machinery, and is muchinterested in modern methods and ideas. He carries on generalfarming, and pays especial attention to the raising of various kindsof stock.

In1887, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Selina Magnuson,who was born in Sweden, a daughter of Peter J. and Tilda Magnuson,natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1886. Fourchildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, of whom three nowsurvive, namely: Anna Matilda, Ruth Leniea and Raymond. Delia died inchildhood. Mr.Erickson and his wife have many friends throughout the county, whereboth are well known. They are members of the Methodist Episcopalchurch.

TheWayne Herald, Tuesday, August 28,1984. Threegenerations farm land. 'Timber-cultureclaim' beginning of Ericson farm.

A”timber-cultureclaim,” started by Nels E. Ericson in 1884, hasbeen farmed bythree generations of the Ericson family. Onlymembers ofthe Ericson family have owned, operated and lived on thefarm. Theoriginal 80acres, passed down the family line, has increased to 120acres duringthe 100 years. Ericsonbegan byplanting five acres of trees on the land and then buildt ahome tolive in for a period of eight years. PresidentGroverCleveland signed a patent, which entitled Ericson to the landafterthe eight-year period. Atthe beginningof the venture, Ericson planted 2.700 cottonwood,catalpa andboxelder trees on each of the five acres. Theland officestated that he had 9.240 living and thrifty trees, with 60acres ofland under cultivation when his patent was granted. Duringthat time,a house, barn and other buildings were also built on theland. Nelsand SelmaEricson's son, Raymond, and his wife Ethel, acquired thefarm fromthe original owners in 1940. At this time, several oftheoriginaltrees from the homestead were cut down to make way for anewgeneration. TheEricson'sbuilt thir present home in the early 1950's and also planteda newcrop of trees to replace the original grove. Keithand FernEricson took over the land in 1971 and are presently livingon andoperating the farm. Besidesthe newtrees, Ericson has increased the land acreage from 80 to 120acres.His father bought an additional 160 acres in a differentlocation toincrease productivity. Ericsonremembersthe first tractor coming on the farm in 1934. Everyonewanted a rideon the new machine. Ericsondidn't gethis own tractor until 1946. Hewas not fond ofhorses, so he was ready for the machine age to hit thefarm. TheEricson farmhas always been mostly crop farming, but they do havesome livestockwhich they feed for sale. Threeof theEricson generations have gone to a country school, 1 ¼ milessouthof the farm. Keith'and Firm'schildren were unable to carry on the tradition, though. Allfour of thechildren sere to public schools in Laurel. Theiroldestdaughter, Denise, lives in Lincoln with her husband, TomTietge...and their one child. She workes at Brian Memorial Hospital. Theseconddaughter, Vicky ? , lives in Norfolk with her husband, MarkCarlson,and their one child. TheEricson's twosons, Mike and Scott, both attend Laurel-Concord HighSchool. TimberCultureAct antogs av kongressen 1873. Skriften tillät homesteadersatt fåytterligare 160 hektar mark om de planterade träd på enfjärdedelav sin mark, eftersom landet "nästan bara var engräsmatta, somvara värdelös att odla för människan"

NilsEricsons sista önskan WayneNeb. 7/4 1937 Tillbarnen och mor när jag har gått hem. Gudsfrid barn. Nifår intet kivas på vägen hem Jesus har sagt till sina lärjungar,men frid giver jag eder icke giver jag eder som verlden gives. Ederthjerta vare icke oroligt eller försakt. Nu när jag sitter i allstillhet och ensamhet så kom det för mig att jag borde säga någotom att hur gå tillväga när jag har fått lämna och så är väl iall korthet detta. Först jag är född 1854 i Rumskulla sockenSmåland Sverige och döpt och konfirmerad där samt blev frälst däri unga år. Pris ske Gud. Kom till detta 1880 till staten Ill. Ochvar där till 84 på hösten då jag gick hit ut till Nb. Och varithär sedan dess. Nuni har alltid varit snella vid mig och oss vill jag bedja såhjertligt att ni är snella igen och efterkommer denna min sistaönskan så blir dät så att ni vet att jag aldrig har varit inneför ståt eller grannlåt så jag vill bedja er vara så simpla sommöjligt, få den ringaste simplaste banni kan få ty jag sover likagott i den som en bettre och ni behöver inte sjemmas där för tyjag ju begärt ja rent av önskar dät sågår ju snart förbi såskall ni inte spenna några pengar på blommor ty det tjänaringenting till men jag har en önskan att om någon ville giva någonså kunde man göra det i dollar eller Cent så önskar jag att detkunde bliva mycke så skulle det delas i tre lika delar, en tillSenatoriet i Denver, Calr. Samt en del tillbarnhemmet i Telps (?)samt en till Rettpage (?). BroderViktor Ericson kan henda ville vara snell och hava detta besvär,hann behöver intet gå ut och tigga nå got men jag tenkte om dätskulle finnas någon som möjligtvis ville giva en blomma så må såsje så som jag sagt. Nutill slut har jag intet plåckat någon särskilt till ministrater tyni är alla tre syskon och den ene har lika mycket att säga som denandre men ni får inte kivas ty arvet blir intet stort. Menså beder jag så hjertligt att nitar aldra bästa kär om mamma, måGud välsigna eder medan det heter i dag att ni må komma till Jesusoch bli frälst så vi får mötas i Himlen. Möt mig där. Såönskar jag att dät aldra sista vid min grav kunde bliva en sång tyjag tycker om sång mycket, nevet således sången. 196 i denEvangeliska sångboken. Möt mig där NilsE Erikson Dethar varit en så underbar stilla dag i min ensamhet men jag har intetvarit ensam ty Gud har varit underbar när pris ske hans heliga namn. Nils.