| Summary: | MR. AND MRS. STEFAN JOHNSON Early pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson came to the area in 1891, fourteen years before the town of Upham was founded. His wife was Holmfrithur Hjaltalyn and they were married in January 18- 89. The Johnson's had a family of five children. The four surviving children are: Anne Johnson and Mrs. Lara Thompson of Rock- ville Centre, New York; Mrs. Sigrithur Freeman of Morris, Minnesota and Lynn Johnson of Clemmons, North Carolina. Traveling in two covered wagons they journeyed from Pembina County to the site of their new home east of the present townsite of Upham. Driving a small herd of cattle ahead of their wagons, the journey required eleven days. In the party were; Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, their infant daughter Sigrithur (Mrs. O. S. Freeman), Jacob Westford (who was sixteen years of age at the time and Gisli and Anna Johnson. Their only milk supply for the long journey was furnished by Skjalda (the cow), who complicated the journey by getting lost. After some delay she was found and the journey resumed. Two Icelandic families had preceded the Johnsons to the site of their new home, they were Helgi Goodman and Abrahamson. They stayed with Helgi Goodman while preparing their sod homes for occupancy. Their trials were many and difficult. The first home they occupied was often exposed to flooding of the Mouse river and on many occasions they were forced to flee to higher ground and would make their temporary home with friends until the water subsided. Later they moved to a location on the North bank of Mouse River where they spent most of their years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were members of the Melankton Lutheran Church. GUSTAVE ERICKSON Gustave Erickson was born in Sweden. Although it is not known when he came to America, we do know he arrived at the future Upham vicinity in 1892. He was married in 1893. Times were hard in those days. The nearest town was 30 miles away, and their house was made of sod. The winters were very severe and often times the Ericksons had only straw and buffalo "chips" to burn. What hardships they put up with then to raise their small children! Mr. Erickson and his wife, Teckla, homesteaded a few miles north of Upham in Meadow township where they farmed until they moved to the state of Washington about the year 1923. The Ericksons had 4 sons, two surviving. They are: Ted Erickson, Mt. Vernon, Washington; Frank Erickson, Kodiak, Alaska. They lost one boy at the age of 3 months. Mrs. Erickson died in February, 1929. Mr. Erickson passed away in February, 1952 and one son, Gilmore, died in September, 1953. The Ericksons wei'e Lutherans. A fitting tribute to these early pioneers is given by their son, Ted, who says: "I shall always praise my folks for their hard work in order to build up their homestead and provide for their children and for being a Real American Family." Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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