: >. Tuva a HERES A SWEET old lady out in Grantsville who can truly and actually be said to be “one in a million.” _ She is Mrs. Hilda A. Erickson, who, among _Utah’s. million inhabitants is the only one left who came to this state by crossing the plains prior to the coming of the railroad on May 10, 1869. As such—Utah’s only living pioneer—she is the lone survivor of an estimated 80,000 pioneers who made the long trek by wagon or on foot to settle the state. Her story, which is nearly 105 years old, begins on Nov. 11, 1858 at Ledga, Sweden where she was born, the fifth in the family of Pehr and Marie Katarina Anderson Larson. THE FATHER, joined the Church Saints, and in May, who owned a small farm, of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 1866, sent his wife and three youngest ehildren, Hilda and her two youngest brothers, to the United States, staying on in Sweden with two older boys with plans to make _the trip later. It was a long and difficult journey in those days. Mrs. Larson and her young children were driven in a wagon to Goteborg, and from there sailed on a small ship to Denmark and thence to Hull, England. Then came the long trip around. _the south of England, through the English Channel and on west across the Atlantic to America, a trip that took their sailing ship nine weeks. The Swedish family arrived in New York in July, went by train to St. Joseph, Mo., and there took a small river boat to Omaha, from Neb. turning out a dress almost every day. and became so proficient in the healing _ art, it was decided to send her to Salt Lake City| to take a course in obstetrics. This posed some difficulty because a year and half earlier, Amy, the Erickson’s first child had made her appearance. But Grandma Larson came to the rescue | and took care of the girl while Hilda was taking the course. She was graduated in 1885 and received a state license to practice obstetrics. In Mrs. Erickson’s present home, hanging on a wall, there is framed license, dated April 2, 1901. A few years ago, she noticed the date and asked her daughter, ‘‘Do you think I ought to get it renewed?” Armed with she returned to practicing not Indians alike, cuts on skin needle. the state approval to practice, Ibapah and began a real service, & only obstetrics for whites and @ but also sewing up wounds and animals and She humans, rode area on her errands using side-saddle of mercy, a_buck- all over the delivering babies, treating the sick, pulling teeth, and performing other medical services. As an added responsibility she also cooked| meals for miners who were coming into the area on what looked like a mining boom. The meals were 25 cents, she recalled. fact just about everything was 25 being a shortage of small change. oe cents, Even j In é there § a spool of thread cost 25 cents. As Salt Lake City was 200 miles away operated a and by four-horse team, the Ericksons trading post, dealing with Indians= whites. | Sometimes the Indians got strange ideas. Mrs. THIS WAS the jumping-off place, the frontier, from where the rest of the way would have to be by ox team. It was on Oct. 22, 1868—nearly six months after leaving Ledga—that the family arrived in Salt Lake City. _ They stayed in Mt. Pleasant for a short time, the father and two brothers joined them, and then, due to Indian unrest, the united family moved to Grantsville. They lived in a small adobe house across the street from the old First L.D.S. Ward Chapel. Hilda went to school and helped her mother weave and sew after school. Hilda was adept with the needle, and when she finished the school at age 14, she became a dressmaker, plying her needle until late at night and SHE SOON BECAME the “doctor” for the area Erickson recalls one buck who got in debt to the store. When asked to pay up, he replied, ‘‘Oh, me¢ like white man now, me no pay bill no more.” § And another time an Indian complained that 8 a white man had taken the buck’s bridle, saddle and horse. Mrs. Erickson, licensed in 1885 to practice obstetrics, stowss stethoscope toto LCDewane Beebe. Some 40 years ago her Teg became lame, and her physician said “If that leg doesn’t come off, “What Y do,” asked the Indian. ere : Go get him, She it will kill her . . . but it will kill HER if I take it off. Hilda, you’ve GOT to stay off that leg for . several replied Hilda. And he did. In 1890 the Ericksons had another child, months.’ She was back with a favorite saying, “I don’t John have time,’”’ and she didn’t. also made the uniforms for the Grantsville Brass Band which was organized about. that time, with 15 members. Parry, who was later to build the home in Grants; : = 28 , WHEN SHE WAS in her twenties, John A. Erickson came into her life. He courted her, and must have been as persistent as his intended back to Grantsville area to set up ranching and 1 8°! from pulling teeth, I don’t know how I'd 1882, in the old Endowment the Ericksons moved . They Chance” last called their new home “The Last because someone had said it was the chance on earth to begin ranching. a house and barn, and soon the ranch could attend school, while her d back to her 3 tion, the first in her busy homeland for a three-month was took huswent vaca- SHE HAS BEEN photographed so many times _ in the past few years that she can’t help needling the cameraman. For today’s cover picture, her twinkling remark was, “Here I am doing everything you want me to—so what’s in it for me?” We can only hope that her friends dropping in to wish her well on her 105th birthday anniver_ Sary_or_ Noy. 11, will say, ‘““We saw you in The — Mrs. Erickson in front of second s/j99- opened a general store which she managed NRA sign dates pic for 21 years before selling it in 1946. At that time she was 85 years old. She has been an enthusiastic motorist since she got her first car—a Model T Ford. She drove regularly until she became involved in an acci- dent—someone . _ _ Tribusié*’ and it will be worth the time she let US Spend-with, her. | Truly, this survivor of 80,000 is “one” ran into her, not she into them, she related. | ina At the scene of the mishap she was told, “952 eMQULS 100 DIG tO mara tee osc ae * million.” LON I “PI be driving a long time from now if peo _ple like you will watch what you’re ‘driving Zato,” she retorted. But the state of Utah didn’t go pices: wat her ! and ae lost hens driver license.” >. tex -- a 1, 1964 of red in her hair. She refuses to act her age, ae HOME in Grantsville this busy “woman serv er church in many capacities and in in Grantsyville. although— likes pretty clothes, loves people and a) Brae ~ joy is.meeting friends. Recently she was anit to say a few words at . a Swedish gathering. Except for a short visit, — she had not been in Sweden for nearly 100 years, so it was an unexpected treat when she went on for half an hour in her native tongue. “When I saw all those Swedes looking up at me, I didn’t have the heart to break up the at_mosphere,’”’ she explained. husband lifetimers— along, %S 2"|arrow, Mrs. Erickson still carries traces | ardens stayed behind to run the ranch. But when he ; called on a church mission to Sweden, she over both the home and the ranch. After her =) bam returned, in 1909, she and her son City, November —— = began to produce. Mr. Erickson soon was aie to = give to the man who derided their venture a squash so big he could hardly carry it. Later Hilda moved to Grantsville so the chil- _ dren plugging “‘f it weren’t for the strong arms and wrists Salt ARES How- : ever, they hauled logs from the mountain, built House keeps she said.get along,’’ A tall woman, dignified and standing straight ee 23, later See ried Feb. YEARS STILL her leg still gives her trouble. oe: bride, for he proposed several times only to be told with a grin, “‘I’m too busy, John.” But his persistence won out, and the couple was mar- in Salt Lake City. The following year they were called on a church mission to Deep Creek Valley, near the Nevada border where the church had a large ranch in Goshute Indian country. The couple set out, she driving the team and wagon, and he herding their four cows. Four days later they arrived at the ranch which was to be their home for ten years. _ There was plenty to do for the young couple. A Sunday School was established and ‘‘Hiddy,” as the Indians called her, was its secretary and also its English teacher. Classes and Sunday School were held in the Erickson home, where Hilda also taught the Indian women to sew, mend and make clothes, as well as read and write. SHE ville his mother still lives in. THREE : : ING gen a deere i és 2 —