ERICSON Biographical Information

Christian Erickson was born in Norway in 1849 and is the earliest of our documented Ericson ancestors. Christian Erickson married Gunhild Nelson on March 18, 1875. From Christian and Gunhild, James Ericson was born in St. Paul on July 12, 1883. We believe that James had a sister Marie, although we have not documented anything. On September 26, 1910, in Keokuk, Iowa, James married Leah Sorensen, whose parents were Christian Sorensen and Hansine Mary Miller.

James, Leah, and Howard

Leah Sorensen

James Ericson was a steamfitter. In 1927 he worked for Harris Brothers Plumbing Company and lived at 1330 Hewitt Avenue in St. Paul. He and Leah had three children: Howard James Ericson, born July 21, 1911; Robert Christy Erickson, born November 20, 1913; and Alice Marie Ericson, born on February 3, 1917. At the age of 71, James died on May 14, 1955. James was buried at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul on May 17, 1955. According to the death certificate, he had been living at 1510 Randolph Street in St. Paul. Leah, who was born on December 19, 1890 in Racine, Wisconsin, died about six years after James on January 27, 1961 due to a cerebral vascular accident. She too was buried at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul. Leah's death certificate lists her mother as Marie Miller. James had no "K" in his last name, although his parents did. We're not sure how or when the "K" was dropped...

Leah's father Christian Sorensen was born in Denmark on September 29, 1864 to Soren Christiansen and Anna Benson, who were also from Denmark, though nothing more is known of them. In 1927, Christian and Hansine Mary lived at 1459 Thomas, with Christian working at the Andrew Schoch Grocery as a grocery salesman. Living with them was a son, William Sorensen, who was also working at Andrew Schoch Grocery as a grocery salesman. Christian worked in the grocery business for twenty-five years, retiring from Andrew Schoch Grocery in 1930 at the age of 64. Christian died on June 10, 1939, nine days after an automobile accident at the corner of Edmund Avenue and Fry Street in St. Paul in which he suffered a fractured skull. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul. At the time of his death, Christian and Hansine Mary were living at 1417 Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Hansine Mary Miller, who went by the name "Mary," was born in Denmark on April 9, 1865. Mary's parents were J. W. Miller and Anna Christiansen, also from Denmark. Of them, nothing more is known. Mary died almost eight years after Christian on May 28, 1947 of a coronary occlusion due to general arteriosclerosis and hypertension. At the time of her death, Mary was living at 1413 Edmund Avenue. Mary was buried at Oakland Cemetery. Mary's son William Sorenson, also at 1413 Edmund Avenue, is listed as the informant on her death certificate.

Howard Ericson

Joyce Scott

Howard James was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota on July 21, 1911. His wife, Joyce Lurene Scott, was born on, August 16, 1916. They were married on January 21, 1938. Howard and Joyce had four children, much to the dismay of Joyce's mother, Frances, who reportedly did not care much for kids. The oldest of Howard and Joyce's children was James Howard--my father--born on September 6, 1938. James--who prefers "Jim," was named after his father and grandfather. The family at the time of Jim's birth was living on Case Street in St. Paul, a few blocks off of White Bear Avenue. Five years later, on December 3, 1943, Nancy Elizabeth was born. Two and a half years after Nancy, John Delbert was born on June 25, 1946. John goes by the nickname Jack. Two years after Jack, Gary David was born on May 13, 1948. By this time, the family had moved to North St. Paul, where it remained for many years at 2526 E. 13th Avenue. Howard worked as a freight agent for the Midlan Con. Rail Road. He died November 22, 1962 and was buried at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in North St. Paul.

Jesse Delbert Scott

Jesse Delbert was born in Grundy Center, Iowa, on October 5, 1872 and married Frances Elizabeth on January 19, 1915. He had been a printing salesman. In 1927, Jesse Delbert worked for W. W. Keller Company and lived in North St. Paul. Jesse Delbert died on November 29, 1948 and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in North St. Paul. His address at the time of his death was listed as 520 Castle Avenue in North St. Paul. Cause of his death was attributed to Coronary thrombosis. Jesse Delbert and Elizabeth only had one child, Joyce. Jesse Delbert had an older brother named William, who was born in Illinios in 1861. William was a laborer for the telephone company and died after suffering a brain concussion caused by falling from the top of a telephone pole. He was 49 at the time of his death on November 29, 1910. Harvey Scott, presumed to be William's son, supplied the information on the death certificate. Harvey's address was 375 Sherburn Avenue in St. Paul.

Samuel Scott

Jesse Delbert's parents were Samuel N. Scott and Nancy Van Winkle. Samuel Scott was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on March 25, 1825. Samuel Scott's parents William and Elisabeth were also born in Pittsburg. Samuel died in St. Paul on February 24, 1912 of heart failure and was buried at Roselawn Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota. Samuel and Nancy were living at 599 Sherburn Avenue in St. Paul at the time of his death. It is not known if Samuel and Nancy had any children other than Jesse Delbert and William.

Frances E. Scott

Frances Elizabeth was born on January 5, 1892 and was almost twenty years younger than Jesse Delbert. Frances had a sister Alfretta (Allie) and a brother Arthur. Their parents were Archibald Emerson and Lura Pearl Bowers. Lura divorced Archibald and she then married Winniford F. Fletcher Ball. Together Winniford and Lura had two children--Furman Winfried (Fern?), born January 8, 1900 and then Lawrence Henry on April 21, 1902. Winniford Died on November 14, 1925. Lura, who was born on September 1, 1875, died on May 31, 1952. She was living with her mother Mary R. Cain at 878 Hamline at the time of her death. Frances died on April 10, 1979, 31 years after Jesse Delbert.

Mary Cain was born on April 6, 1852 to George Wells and Catherine Van Rensler. Mary's first husband and Lura's father was James K. Bowers. I'm not sure whether James died or if they divorced, but Mary wed again, to Charles Cain. Mary died on January 30, 1943, her husband Charles having preceded her in death. Lawrence Ball provided the information on Mary Cain's Death Certificate. Mary was living with her daughter, the widow Lura Ball, at 878 Hamline at the time of her death.