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Show J nt Mrs. Hilda Erickson ... oldest living pioneer One by one the years have plucked them off, until now only Mrs. Hilda Erickson, 103, Grantsville, and Heber Charles Cox, 96, Woodruff, remain. Latest to go was Mrs. Har- ——* —_— Mrs. Hicks pointed out that Special to The Tribune | Hilda never spoke in public until GRANTSVILLE —Utah’s last she was 100 years old and when Surviving covered wagon pishe was 104 she gave a 45-minoneer, Mrs. Hilda Erickson, celute talk in Swedish to the Relief ebrated her 105th birthday Society of the Church of Jesus Wednesday by chatting wth well Christ of Latter-day Saints in wishers and reading a mountain Salt Lake City that amazed evof birthday cards including one eryone. from Johnson City, Tex, Operated Store Grantsville Elementary School graders had written to| Mrs. Erickson and her ee. like I used to when I was Still Going Strong Swedish pastries, Mrs. Erickson, the oldest} ' : her 103rd birthday _ ' _ teacher, | Mrs. doctor, Erickson alone in her home Ville and does her storekeeper still lives in Grantsown cook- ing and housework. She is still a little piqued at ‘having her driving — license! taken away nine years ago, but she estimates she has worn out at least a dozen automo- ye that in Utah year. engaged Several rancher. | and only his to in September They settled in in years in business Salt has for Lake City and farmed in Rich County. He was active in the|: Church, serving as Woodruff Ward clerk for 20 years, and as a counselor in the bishopric and a Sunday School teacher. | sees He married Teenie Bowns in|: the Salt Lake Temple ‘6, 1896. They had on May}. six children and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchil- When gates ewe she was 101, Mrs. for many said, oe dren. i, ~¢h years): 200 ba- #$P7 YUFLL “OS LSG07 les, She was married to John A. _.Ericks she was 21 and in 1883 they went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Ibapah Indian Reservation and served there for some poeta Erickson rode in Pi neer Day Parade with great-granddaughters, Jean, Teresa Hicks. Delivered 200 Babies served 17 eight biles in her busy lifetime. She then parents Woodruff where Mr: Cox spent most of his life. He on 11. Came In Ox Cart She was born in Sweden and Came with her family to Utah by ox cart in 1866. She has led & long and active life as a | Erickson, Centerville and later moved to and yet the most agile of the pioneers in recent years, cele- time. ' ’ family of tn 1868. Nov. Hilda America. He attended the University of Deseret in Salt Lake City and later was Rich County attorney and superintendent of schools in Rich County. Born In London He was born Jan. 14, 1866, in London, and arrived with his 1867 and came across the plains with her parents in an ox cart brated was when Grantsville. Erickson brought him from England Clawson, figures she delivered “Hilda will still be going strong| to about 12 tonight.” Sweeting old Mr. from @3 a dentist“and midwife and Her 80-year-old daughter, Mrs, Amy Hicks, Salt Lake City, who | flitted around the room distr i- buting Paris months 95, 1729 Cornell Circle, who died at her home earlier this month. She was born on a ship crossing the Atlantic in hus- President Johnson telling him of | her birthday and a letter bear-| /|} band operated a general store. ‘‘we used to make about $20 a ing the presidential seal and/ month. People make thousands signed by Lyndon B. Johnson | of dollars now but go-on_chargSaid: ‘_ling until they are caught in a “My sincere congratulations mess. Why do they do this?” x‘... pon your birthday. May go0c Mrs. Erickson was born in Ledga, Sweden, Nov. 11, 1859, health be yours through many and her family began a journey more happy years.” to the United States in 1866 More than 200 friends and re. which finally ended in Salt Lake latives visited her home at 247 City. |W. Mainand Mrs. Erickson ofThe last lap from Omaha, \fered the advice, “You can do Neb., was made by wagon and anything you put your mind to.” ox-team. She is the only known Sitting in her favorite rocking person surviving of the 80,000 chair, Mrs. Erickson told a pho- who came to Utah before the tographer, “Shucks, I don’t look railroad was completed. nee riet Grantsville. died in 1943. Mr. Cox two. for 105th Birthda second “to in 1869 have now dwindled to maids years old is standing in rear. She was tall, had red hair. at Ibapah which they operated wsuntil 1937 when they returned trekked across the plains prior to, completion of the railroad ‘Howdy’ Four a ranch ~ we 12, (7b Y. later bought pore 2 ge They ~Utah’s immigrant pioreers once 80,000 strong — who ee LBJ f a 1 Mrs. Hilda Erickson, 105, left; her daughter, Mrs. Amy Hicks, granddaughter, Mrs. Hilda Richins, read birthday greetings. am .4 - pa DwindlingPioneers In Utah Cut To Two < : Heber C. Cox ... only two remain e cee i oat @ “09° S2YOLS ‘ mf. 7 6 a 1O/ € YysNos nd | i Pas Y r EP Day a '| weP * , 3 4 a: - ar a ‘9 ‘ * " |