Sven and Nicolina Erickson

My grandfather, Sven Peter Erickson, was born 4 September 1832.  In Sweden, one place is written, Oskhol, Sogn, Sweden, and another place we find Eskilstuna, Soldermanland, Sweden.  His father, Erick Peterson, was born 18 December 1806, at Dahlsland, Sweden.  His mother’s name was Anna Maria Olson, both born in Sweden.  We only have records of three of their children:  My grandfather, one sister named Anna Stina Erickson, and a boy named Carl who came to America and lived in Salt Lake City.  He joined the Church and did some Temple work before he died.

It was the custom for the boys to leave home and go to seek work at the age of twelve, so Grandpa left home and drifted to Norway where he met and married my Grandmother, Nicolena Erickson, who was born 8 October 1839, at Moss Jarnvark, Norway.  Her father’s name was Gunder Erickson.  Her mother’s name was Berta Nielson.  Grandpa and Grandma were married 22 July 1859, in Norway.  They both embraced the Gospel the year after their marriage.   The one greatest desire of their hearts was to leave the old country and come to Utah in America to be with the body of the Saints.  Grandpa was ordained an Elder in 1861 at Frederickstad, Norway.

Grandpa and Grandma endured many hardships after joining the Church.  At one time, they sold all of their property and belongings and came to Christiania, which is now Oslo, to sail to America, but they were coming under the immigration fund and upon arriving at Christiania, they found to their disappointment, that there were only enough funds sent from Utah in America for one of them to come.  Grandpa wanted Grandma to come and Grandma wanted Grandpa to come, but neither one would leave the other.  They both went back to Frederickstad and Grandpa got his old job back and worked for one more year and again went to Christiania.  This time there was money enough for both of them to sail for Utah in America to join the Saints.  They landed in New York with three children and their few belongings.  They had buried a baby boy and their only girl in the old country of the Norway.  They buried their girl in a grave with two feet of water in the bottom of it.  This grieved Grandma as long as she lived.  So great was her faith that she often talked about it during her lifetime.  Their oldest son, Magnus, came from Norway with a Mormon missionary named Weiby a few years before.  He didn’t know when, if ever, his parents came to America.  He joined the family in Manti, Utah, and settled with them at Ephraim, Utah.

The day after they arrived in Ephraim, their sixteen-month old baby died.  He had been sick from the time they set sail from Norway.

The family lived in Ephraim for 22 years where three more children were born: Peter, who died when he was six-years old, John, and my father.

Grandpa owned a five-acre plot of land in Ephraim.  He always worked for wages.  His occupation or trade was a stonemason.  He worked on the Manti Temple for many years as a stonemason.  He walked seven miles from his home in Ephraim to Manti each day and walked back at night to be with his family.

The family moved from Ephraim to Fish Haven, Bear Lake, Idaho, when Dad was sixteen-years old on 9 June 1896, where they lived for thirteen years.  They then went to Richfield, Sevier, Utah, in the early spring of 1909 because Grandma had to go to a lower climate for her health.  (She had asthma)

Grandpa and Grandma Erickson were the most congenial couple I ever knew.  I don’t believe they ever spoke a cross word to each other all during their lifetime.  They were very religious.  I believe people who hear the gospel and join the Church because they know it is true really appreciate and love it more than we who are born and raised Latter Day Saints.

Grandpa died at Richfield, Utah, 10 October 1914.  Grandma lived nearly two lonesome years alone or with Uncle John part of the time, then followed Grandpa to the great beyond 3 July 1916.  They are both buried at Richfield, Utah.