Johannah Christina Norden Eriksson

Born 26 October 1835 (birth record)
Place Finspong, Ostergotland, Sweden

Married Eric William Eriksson
Date 2 March 1855 (Florence Ericson)

Died 5 July 1925 (cemetery records--year)
Place Big Springs, Union, south Dakota (Florence Ericson)

1851-2 Joined the Baptist church. (16) It was against the law to be a member of any church other than the official state/country church so when they met, they had to close the curtains. (Flo Ericson)

1856 Married Eric William Ericson 2nd of March. He was 27 and she was 19. (marriage record)

1856 1st child born, 24 august 1856, Carl Edward (Edward Charles) in Finspang, Sweden. (birth record) (20)

1858 2nd child born, 16 March 1858, Eric Wilhelm (Eric William) born in Finspang, Sweden. (birth record) (22)

1859 27 June (or Jan) Husband died. Buried in Jonkoping, Sweden, East Cemetery. (Cristine Church) Possibly died in Market Town. (Florence Ericson) (23)

1859/60 (Florence Ericson wrote that the boys were 3 and 1 respectively when she entered the institute. That would make the year 1859). Entered the Royal Institute of Midwifery. Studied medical and nurses training. Went to the Maternity Hospital at Gotebor. Was matron for 4 years. (Florence Ericson). See copy of graduation record. Johannah's brother (and wife) cared for Edward and Eric. (Probably Johan) "...I well remember how scared I was of "old Uncle" who followed us kids around and was so stern looking and always getting after us." (letter to Gini from Flo Ericson; Dec 29, 1982)

1861 August 30th graduated. (copy of original from Flo's cousin Bill Ericson of Alcester, SD)

1862 January 23rd became manager at the Midwife-Academy in Goteborg. (copy of original papers)

1865 Came to America (after July) traveled with a Baptist minister (a friend of the family) who was coming to a seminary in NY. (from E.C. Ericson's travel journal) She arrived in America just as soldiers were coming home from the civil War. In New York, she lived on 32nd Street between Lexington and 3rd Av. She also lived in Brooklyn on Fulton Av. Started a tailoring shop and soon had 3 or 4 helpers. (Florence Ericson 1972 diary)

1872 A friend said "You don't want to bring up your boys here in New York City, do you?" She decided to go to Dakota Territory where she could own land by living on it, farming and planting trees -- called a "Tree Claim" of 160 acres. She later bought another 160." (Flo Ericson and E.C. Ericson's obit) Johanna arrived in the dark and rain; she was terribly disappointed. She lived during the winter with the Ring family, (fellow Baptists) in Hawarden, IA, and paid for her and Eric's (her 14 year old son) board and room by teaching the Rings the English language. In the spring she moved to a sod barn on 80 acres of trees. The ox lived in one part and Johannah and Eric lived in the other. They ate off the top a of a huge trunk, which held all her possessions. Eric went south of Elk Point to a sawmill on the Missouri River and brought back lumber to build a small frame house. The house is still standing. It has two rooms and is used to store seed. (Flo Ericson, 1972 diary) Her son Edward stayed in NY; graduated from college and came to Dakota Territory in 1874; he was 18. (Florence Ericson)

1900-1910 Living with her son, Eric W. in Big Springs, SD. (55-65)

1910 Son, Edward Charles Died. (65)

1925 Died at 89 years of age. She laced 3 months of being 90 years old. Buried in Big Springs Cemetery; Grave 2, Lot 94, Sec 49. (1940 Graves Registration off the internet: Grave 5, Lot 50, blk 1)

"Johannah was the nearest thing to a doctor in those early days and used her midwife knowledge to bring children into the world. They say she never refused to help in winter storms or summer. She stayed interested in politics and public events. I can remember her taking part in political discussions when I was 10 or 12 years old." (Flo Ericson)