Eriksent
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
T. E. ERIKSEN, a thrifty agriculturist,
who dwells about seven miles north from Wilbur, is also a man of influence
in the political realm of the county, where he has done much excellent
work of a reformatory nature.
T. E. Eriksen was born in Denmark, in 1854,
the son of Erik and Carrie (Therkelsen) Nelson, natives of Denmark.
The education of our subject was acquired from the common schools and when
eighteen he bade farewell to his friends and native land and came to the
United States. He spent some time in Illinois, later journeyed to
California, and then came to Walla Walla and settled. In 1881 he
came to the line of the Northern Pacific then being constructed.
He was occupied in railroading for some time and in 1883 came to Lincoln
county taking a homestead where he now resides. Since then, Mr. Eriksen
has been giving his attention to the improvement and cultivation of his
estate, except some years when he has resided in Spokane.
In 1901 Mr. Eriksen married Miss Lura, daughter
of Rev. Leicester and Sarah (Fielding) Allen, residents of Tipso, Washington.
Mrs. Eriksen was born in Loyal, Clarke county, Washington, and has three
brothers and three sisters: Arthur, Guy, and Warren, all residing in this
state; Anna, residing in Illinois; Lillie, in Wisconsin; and Nellie, in
Washington. Mr. Eriksen has always taken a great interest in political
matters and has done some meritorious work in the Populist movement and
the anti-saloon campaign. He was instrumental in getting the first
labor hall built in eastern Washington and was a member of the Trades Council
from 1889 to 1891, and during this time was an ardent advocate of the ownership
of the water works, electric lights, street railway system, and so forth
in the city of Spokane. Mr. Eriksen offered a motion to instruct
the delegates from Lincoln county to vote for the initiative and referendum
and he could not get a second.
At the next convention he secured a second
to the motion and the third year he secured its passage.
Mr. Eriksen has the following named brothers
and sisters: N. A., a teacher; C., a teacher; S., an attorney; J., a manufacturer;
Carrie, a teacher of Greek; all residing in Denmark; K., a decorator and
painter, in Milwaukee; F., a blacksmith, in Ballard, Washington; and Mrs.
J. Petersen, of Spokane. Hence it is worthy of remark that Mr. Eriksen
is connected by blood to the powers which enlighten and bring about progress.
His brother, J. Eriksen, now operating a furniture factory in Denmark so
wisely manipulated his affairs that in a large and extended labor trouble
he was enabled to keep his factory going smoothly.
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