The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-04-25
n..ih Of NaInr Eric Fsr,...

Major Eric FOrsse died OF apnea
ct Topeka, April Il, In the seventy
first year Of his age. The major was
Z representative Swedish citizen Of
our county, having filled several
offices OF trust-nOtably that Of repre-
sentative In the legislature OF 1872.
In the township 81 Falun, where ne
has resided since his fret arrival i'm
this county, he MSS greatly beloved
for his many acts Of charity aud dis
interested beneyOlence; aud this was
clearly demonstrated by the large at
tendance Of his old neighbOrs at his
funeral on sunday. Probably no
man has lived In Saline eoucty who
welded greater power In local poll
ties than Maj. Forsse. We publish
herewith q biographical sketch pre-
pared by his son, which shows dis
tinguishcd service in military ~ well
A. civic life:
Eric Forsse was born IT NalunF. IN la
YEAR of age ~ In isa he entered tb.. mill.
tary service OF Sweden a. u volunteer, and
served twelve years In the capacity 81 pri-
yais, corporal aud sergeant. In Dec-mber,
1871, he was married, aud In lsi1, with his
wife aud four children two sons and two
daughters! embarked on = sailing vessel Tor
America, landing AT New Orleans, hayIns
l,-eH ~ sea for two and = half months. Pas
sage Was engaged ON q steamboat up the
mississippi river for Peoria, H., but ou the
way up one daughter had died and stop
page Was compelled to be made nj -. Louis,
a. the wife Has stricken with cholera. La
due course the Journey was made on Ia Peo-
ria, from when place the trip was made i'l
worked at his trade, thsi Of y tailor. Ia
three months more he moved Ia Knoxville
and In two and a half months prOcerded Ia
Moline. Seven months later In the winter Of
lsJl-52, he again pulled up sts axes and became
a member Of the Bishop Hill Henry county
colony. In ISIS he organized aud became
which kept It's ranks Intact I'LL lssI, and in
September Of that wear recruited for the war
what was known - the swedish Union
Guards. the members of the militia comDapy
Joining In . body, aud he continuing In com
nAnd. Tnis company became . part OF the
Finy--eVsnth regiment of Illinois infantry,
aud was fourth in ranG OF company l.. The
regiment Sus mustered Ia 1T Camp lhDuglas,
chicago. prcrtals-T -, l-tt, aud the follow ing
Sth of February embarked for CaIru. From
that place % went Ia Port Henry aud Wa-
consolidated into the army of the Tennessee.
The rutirr trBopS AT once pnbc-ele,l Co FOTt
donaldson, arriving there February u and
participating Ia the memorable battle which
logan the following day. The haifle of
PittSburg Landing InIIBN ed oti April q aud =
aud here issn the fifiy- seventh was engaged in
that determined contest. The los Ia the
regiment was twenty six killed, Id wounded
aud four missing. Among the Killed was
Major Page. and Captain FOrsSs was elected
Co suereed him AMI Wa~ mustered major
The regiment participated Ia ia" sirgr uf
Curiuth. and after IT, ~ acuhiion hr aud his
command followed the rrbtls Ia BOouNiil-.
Mississippi They participated Ia the battle
of OTiHih Oi DciOl-T 3 aud 4; participated IN
the pursuit. of FORREST through I~nne~ss-r.
marching la mites ia four days: werr en-
gagged ~ Baton station, Big Bear cr-ek and
Town Crrrk, la the raid uf General DB1gr
through Alal'ama Ia lssii The regiment rr-
eullstEd IN February, lat, aud was given n
month furiOugh To 90 home. Returned Ia
Athens. Alsbama. and afterwards Joined
Sherman at chattanooga, aud Ner- ri the
attack on ReSara Wrrr In tue battle at Al
iuutn where q Hold The Fort for I am com
ing Wss originated. Major FOrSsr resigned
frOm the army in November, lsBI, when hr
purchased u farm and Engaged ut Iilling %
TILL November. lSf.
He had visited Saline county IN I-,E, sud
contracted for two ~s-riiOns of land ON brN
Cr-rk, near Falun, and returning the follow
ing year with any Others, made settlement
"a that region on claims. Walnut township
then eIihrac"d the present townships "l Wal
nut. Liberty, smoky View, Smolan, sum
init aud Falun, aud In lSTU Major fOrSS.' was
slrrted one of the JuSiices uf the peace ct
Walnut township; which go~iiion hr con
Innster ~ Faiuu an it, establishment la IS7O.
Was elerirti io the legislature in 1852: hr held
the Ofiirr uf truSiee of Falun township iOT
several year. Butun approaching 10 health
he gave up hts Position To- ISSI. Sold his fsrm
aud came to- Salina tO IrSi,lr with hts Son
ulni, " ho Was then sheriff. His wife died
Marh :. lSSs. January ~ tSSS, hc returned
win hi- SIn - Faiun. February -, ISSS. hr
was taken To il'r asN lum nj TnI'-ka aud died
Npril y. lS~A, 81 apu'Fa-
The funeral services occurred last
Sunday at the Swedish church in
Fslun, conducted by Rev. e. q.
Norman. Before the church ser
vice, 10y request Of friends, u. II.
Bishop, Esq, who lived n 8 neigh
hnr 90 the derra-ph In Ealnn fnMn.