Representative Charles J.A. Ericson View All Years

Senator Fitchpatrick, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

To the President of the Senate: Your Special Committee to prepare resolutions upon the character and public services of the late Senator Ericson, beg leave to report as follows:

Charles John Alfred Ericson was born in Sodra Vi Parish, Sweden, March 8, 1840. The family emigrated to America in 1852, settling on a farm in Rock Island County, Illinois, where Charles worked on the farm, and in saw mill and flouring mill, and as clerk in a store, attending the common schools in the meantime until May, 1859, when he removed to Mineral Ridge, Boone County, Iowa, and there engaged in the general merchandise business, buying and shipping stock and acting as postmaster. In 1870 he removed his store to the city of Boone; in 1875 engaged in banking.

He died at his home in Boone, August, 1910, in less than a week after returning, in good health, from a trip around the world.

He represented his county as a member of the Fourteenth General Assembly and Boone and Story Counties as Senator in the Twenty-sixth Twenty-seventh, Thirtieth, Thirty-first, and Thirty-second General Assemblies, discharging his duties with honor and distinction, and he held many local offices.

He was always ready to help the poor and needy, which he did without show or ostentation, and his benevolences were large and varied. He took great interest in matters for the education of the youth, giving a large endowment to the Swedish College at Rock Island, built and donated to the city of Boone a splendid library building, and liberally contributed to numerous other objects of like nature. He took an active interest in Masonic affairs and in the affairs of the Presbyterian church, in both of which organizations he was an honored member.

Therefore resolved, That the Senate of the State of Iowa, with sorrow regret the death of the late Snator Ericson and tender to his family, friends, and associates, the sincere sympathy of this body; that in his death the state has lost one of its most honored citizens and his home city one of its greatest benefactors; that this preamble and resolution be printed in the Journal and an engrossed copy thereof duly authenticated be sent to the city library of Boone.

J. A. FITCHPATRICK,

JOHN L. WILSON,

JAS. A. SMITH,

Committee.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.