John Erickson, owner and proprietor of "The Triangle Ranch," which is located in Union township, is one of the largest land owners, and most extensive stockmen in Butler county. Mr. Erickson was born in Gottenberg, Sweden, May 2, 1851. He received his education and grew to manhood in his native land. One of his ambitions, when he was a boy, was to get into the cattle business. He thought so much about that line of industry that at night he dreamed of it. In 1871 he immigrated to America and settled at Emporia, Kans. A few years after coming to this State, he bought 320 acres of land in Chase county. When he came to this country, he could not speak a word of English and he had only 50 cents in money. He came to Butler county and began to buy land, and engaged in the cattle business extensively. He now owns 7,000 acres, and

in addition of that vast tract, he rents 11,000 acres for pasture land. Mr. Erickson handles about 3,000 head of cattle annually, and is probably the largest individual cattle raiser and feeder in Butler county. He generally markets his stock in Kansas City and St. Joseph. His son, R. B. Erickson, is also an extensive cattleman and was in the West, engaged in that business for five years, and is now associated with his father on the "Triangle Ranch."

Mr. Erickson was married in 1883, to Miss Josephine Davis, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy Davis of Indiana. The Davis family came to Butler county in 1876 in a prairie schooner, and settled near Douglass, where the father bought 160 acres of land and engaged in farming. There were seven children in the Davis family, as follows: Mrs. Mary VanPearce, Latham, Kans.; Mrs. Harriet Stocks, Clinton, Okla.; Reed R. Davis, Grandfield, Okla.; Mrs. Cynthis Citts, La Fayette, Ind.; Josephine, wife of John Erickson, the subject of this sketch; John Davis, Edmond, Okla.; and Joseph A. Davis, McPherson, Kans.

To Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were born two children: R. B. who is associated in the cattle business with his father, and John G., who is now deceased. He was a capable young man, and seemed to have before him a brilliant career, and was the pride of his parents. He died March 28, 1913, in the fullness of his manhood.

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