The herald., 1894-01-02
END OF A NOTABLE LIFE.
A True Picture of an Enviable
Career.
Frederick Erickson's Death and its
, Moral.
Unknown and Unfriended, in Strange
Land, He Carves Out Very
Remarkable
Career.

The other evening there died in one Of
the railroad camps a short distance from
this town, says the San Luis Obispo
Tribune, an old man notable in his WAY
and who had spent long lifetime
chiefly in building up the railroad prop
critics OF this continent. He inherited
a great and glorious name, one than
which there is none brighter in the an
mails of the country amongst its adopted
citizens. 1t is that of Erickson. H.
who died was not OF the immediaia
family of the immortal inventor, but in
his life story he illustrates many of the
traits which made the great Erickson go
illustrious.
Frederick Erickson, whose story we
have to tell, was born nearly 70 years
ago in little village in Sweden called
Togseta, in Pogyars. Dalsland. His cap
ital in life was not in money, the family
from which he eprung had little Of this
worlds goods. 1t was the gifts by
which he was endowed by nature, O
keen and piercing intellect and natur-
al dominion over men. At the age OF ID
he left his native village and went to
Christiania, q place OF more magnitude,
where he received such slender edGca-
tion as sufficed him for the after slrug-
gle in life. In 1852, when but 6 mere
boy, he left his native land and struck
out, as so many OF his countrymen have
done, for the kindier fortunes o. the
new world. His first ventures
were made in Canada. Even at
that early period in his career ne
ttook his place as the ruler and governor
of men. He became contractor on
the Intercolonial railway, then in the
earliest stages as one of the first rail-
waye built. ExhaustIng that field, his
next venture was in this country,
About the year 1856 he built the first
railway out of ST. Paul, MINI, the St.
Paul and Sioux City, afterward the ST.
Paul and Minnesota Valley road. Seven
years were passed in thut service, dur
ing all which time fortune had been
smiling upon the young adventurer and
placing in his hands the means for fur
ther and greater effort. In 1869 he had
become the owner OF q small fleet OF
vessels plying upon the Mississippi and
engaged in the freighting business upon
the great river. In that year he took
pew contracts on the st. Paul and Du-
luth road, in which he was engaged for
the next three years. His next great
work was undertaken in 1872, when he
contracted for the construction of large
sections of the Canadian Pacific road,
undoubtedly one of the most difficult
constructions in the world. He was en-
gagged under the Canadian government,
I and afterward under a syndicate OF
which Sir John Ross was the head.
The success financially which had SO
long attended his labors finally aban-
doned him, and during the past 10 years
his career in that respect has been a
checkered one. He has constantly been
engaged in his chosen pursuit, but the
companies with whom he has been en-
gagged have not been uniformly succesa-
full, and on the Chicago, Portage and Su-
perior road, and again in Dakota me met
with severe losses. A time arrived when
his large fortune was entirely swept
away and he found himself burdened
with indebtedness in excess of his assets
to the amount of over Sl40, 900. He was
advised to 20 through bankruptcy. 1t
was his right and privilege. No one
would have questioned his integrity in
30 doing. 1t was characteristic OF the
man that be scornfully reinaed to do
30. Instead he simply put himself
to work to redeem his Losses and
in few years he succeeded. He leaves
the world leaving no man behind who
can accuse bis memory Of hurt or injury.
His debts were paid to the last farthing.
He came to this coast about five years
since, and his first work was in connec-
tion with the Northern Pacific and not
withstanding the enormous losses which
h hoA L.. a.. ! l. 4. "A
at that time retrieved himself and was
already once more comparatively
wealthy man. Four years ago he en-
tered the employ OF the Southern Pacific
railway as one of their contractors, and
up to 20 months ago was acting in that
capacity, when he was compelled to quit
active labors on account OF the disease
which finally claimed him. At this
time he sold out everything to his son
Charles, who has the principal
grading contract on the Santa Mar
garita extension, now working
large force in and about San Luis,
That a man should possess the
stuff and stamina OF which the
old Norsemen were possessed, that
he should be endowed with the grand
physique, the keen intellect and indomi-
table will which go helped them to make
the history of the world in which they
lived and moved, makes the drawing Of
the picture of the man as he passed on
to the further shore; but humanity asks
!. further what manner of man he was in
khe more intimate relations of life. That
qaeetion is best answered perhaps in the
statement that he died surrounded hy
Rdherenfs who had been in his immedi-
ate employ for periods ranging from 10
to 33 years, and who mourn him as
soldiers mourn their dead general. His
Asincerest, most despairing mourner is
This wife, who has been with him during
bll his struggles in life, and has been
his right hand and his other self, who
has shared his every trial and tribua-
"tion, and who waits now with patience
the summons to follow him who consti-
tuted the world to her. Frederick
Erickson was one OF the born leaders
and governors of men, whose path
through life is marked by achievement,
and whose labors construct the civiIiza-
tion of their times. We note his pas
sage as that of a superior man, one of
the leaders in the great activities OF his
eday and time.
Postmaster Foster OF Lubee Me-, writes
that afterthe Grip, Hoods Sarsaparilla brought
him out of a feeble, Recommendation, in to
complete strength and health.