An Erickson Comes to America, Part 1 of 2.

This is the administrative palace for the kings of Sweden, where the king has his offices. John Eric Erickson, father of Mabel Victoria Erickson Fife, was a cabinet maker, most probably in this palace, when a friend invited him to leave with him for America. (The residential palace was in the country, outside of Stockholm.) This photo was taken Aug. 23, 2009 by James D. Fife.

Details of the departure for America given below are from The Randolph W. Fife Family History, page I-4:

John Eric Erickson was born June 10, 1855 in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Eric Mattson, was a tenant farmer and his mother was Maja Capa Janson. They had five children. John learned the carpenter's trade from his uncles and then began to learn the cabinet makers trade. While he was in Stockholm, a friend of his came by on his way to America and persuaded John to go with him. The boat left within 6 hours so there ws no time to bid farewell to his family. The young boys landed in New York, none of them spoke English, and they had about a dollar apiece. They traveled to Michigan where John worked as a lumberjack and later as a cabinet maker (and learned English). Before leaving Sweden he had met C.P. Larson, a Mormon missionary from Murray, Utah. He got a little money ahead and decided to go to Utah and look him up and joined the church.

The account continues with him meeting his future wife, Ida Matilda Bengtson, establishing a business, etc. In "An Erickson Comes to America, Part 2 of 2", I'll post the pictures of John and Ida. ( I haven't been able to figure out how to post two pictures on the same page.) --James Fife

Where Randolph W. Fife Began His Courtship of Mabel V. Erickson

These black and white photos of the Metropolis Hotel and Lincoln School were copied from a 2009 Wells, NV, tourist brochure. Metropolis was the town--now a ghost town--about 15 miles northwest of Wells where Randolph W. Fife met Mabel V. Erickson in June, 1917. (Story below.)

This is what is left of the Metropolis Hotel today. (Picture taken May 11, 2009 by J.D. Fife)

This is the Metropolis school where R.W. Fife was a hod carrier, then began learning the trade of plasterer when some of the plasterers walked off the job. He was also homesteading in Metropolis.

And this is what is left of the school. Other than the cemetary, where Mabel Fife's sister Hazel Hutchinson is buried (as well as Ira and Ellen Jensen of Gridley, CA, who courted and married in Metropolis and wished to be buried there), these two ruins are all that is left of Metropolis, which once had a population of over 1,500 people.

Mabel Fife, a young Ogden, UT school teacher, went out to Metropolis to spend the summer with her sister.

How did my mother and father meet? Here it is, quoted from the Randolph W. Fife Family History, p. II-14 (Published by McDowell Printing, Gridley, CA., 1984.)

"Two days after Mabel's arrival the Ward Teachers [home teachers, today] arrived for a visit, Harry Storey and Randolph Fife. Mabel recalls, 'I thought Brother Fife must be a married man, as he looked quite mature and wearing a mustache.' They stayed and chatted for quite awhile. After they left Hazel said, with a twinkle in her eye, 'seems as if we have some new ward teachers.' When asked why she continued, 'I believe they just wanted to meet my sister.' Hazel informed Mabel that Ran was not married. He was 5' 9 1/2 " tall, had blue eyes, light brown hair and weighed about 160 pounds."

Now there is a motivation for doing your home teaching! (Even to those to whom you aren't assigned.)

(I can e-mail these pictures, plus a few others, taken in Metropolis this past May, should anyone want them. Just let me know: jdfife1@cox.net.)

This photo of the Randolph Wilson Fife family was taken about 1938 in front of the home which "R.W." built on North Avenue (now Dewsnup Ave.) in Gridley, CA. Left to right, standing: Calvin Barnard, Gwendolyn Victoria (Bushman), James David (below Gwen), Randolph Erickson, Mabel Elizabeth (McDowell); seated, l. to r.: Helen Josephine (Stoddard), Randolph Wilson Fife, Florence Esther (Draper), reclining against father, and Mabel Victoria (Erickson) Fife . (If anyone can be more precise on the date, I would appreciate it. It apprears that Randy has just returned from the East Central States Mission, or is about to leave for that mission. I have lots of old family photos back to my great-great grandfather. Anyone want me to post them? Or e-mail them to you? --James

Just an anecdote: Helen Josephine always went by the name "Helen Joe." When she got her marriage license, Loren was surprised--he didn't know that her name was Helen Josephine. Years later, when she got her birth certificate to apply for a passport, she discovered that the doctor had simply put Helen Fife on her birth certificate.

An illustrious family member passes on

Dear Family and Friends,
Robert Lane Fife, my cousin, for whose kids I babysat when I was about 11 years old, and for whom I helped harvest and peddle melons to stores in Oroville, Willows, Maxwell and Colusa, Calif., recently passed away. Below are two notices from the Gridley Herald. He was a great influence in the lives of many, and a great emissary for the Church in the Gridley area. --Uncle James Fife

The Gridley Herald
Fri Oct 17, 2008, 03:20 PM PDT
Gridley, Calif. -

He was a master on the ivories, the maker of beautiful music, the instructor who taught thousands how to play the piano.

Dating clear back to Robinson Corner days, Robert Fife loved music and music loved him. We were lucky to be able to enjoy his talent, many were lucky enough to learn from him and many of us were lucky to call him our friend.

He was happiest behind his piano or tending to his beautiful roses, with wife Marvis. He always had time to show off their beautiful yard.

For many years Bob would play for the All Stars Dance Band, arriving home at 3 a.m., only to head out to the fields to start the irrigation water and other farm work. He received so many requests from parents for piano lessons for their children, he leased the farm and started teaching full-time. "Teaching kids to play the piano was a lot more fun than farming," Bob stated in a 2004 article in The Gridley Herald.

Over the years, I've heard so many say they had taken piano lessons from Bob. He played the piano over 80 years himself.

He could play anything, whether it was the beautiful theme song "Tara" from Gone With The Wind, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," music of the forties and fifties, patriotic songs or show tunes, this man had a talent that many envied.

He was church organist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 32 years, playing for weddings, funerals and meetings.

Bob served on the Gridley School Board for 24 years and musically supported all school functions from graduations to high school musicals, or choirs and teacher retirement parties.
We were lucky enough to have him as a member of Gridley Rotary Club and our songmaster for 49 years. Up until a few years ago, Bob would invite several of his friends to come listen to him play at his home and I consider myself one of the lucky ones who not only got to enjoy his talent, but enjoyed his friendship.

The piano may be quiet at his house, but many people will continue the legacy of Bob Fife and his beautiful music, as they remember the man with the soft voice and the talent admired by so many.

Fri Oct 17, 2008, 02:01 PM PDT
Gridley, Calif. -

A Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 17, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Gridley Third Ward, located on Spruce Street for Robert L. Fife, 91 of Gridley, California. He passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital of natural causes.

He was born on October 21, 1916 in Ogden, Utah. He was a long time resident of Gridley having graduated from Gridley High School, Class of 1935. He attended UC Davis receiving a Degree in Horticulture and landscaped many sights in the Gridley area. He played in the Marysville Symphony and also the Oroville All-stars Dance Band at Robinson’s Corner. He enjoyed Ballroom dancing having won First Place in many competitions. He was the Chairman of the Green and Gold Ball in Gridley for many years. He taught music to over a thousand students during his many years of teaching. He enjoyed traveling having traveled all over the world. He was a life long member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints having served in many callings including Bishop of The Gridley Second Ward, Stake High Council Member and in the Stake Young Men’s Presidency. Robert was also a member of Gridley Rotary Club for 49 years. He was very active in the community and always willing to serve when asked.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and 1 brother, William S. Fife Jr.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Marvis Fife of Gridley, CA; 3 sons: Allen Fife & wife Marge of Weiser, Idaho, Douglas Fife & wife Joyce of St. George, Utah, and David Fife & wife Norene of Everett, Washington; and 1 daughter, Barbara Ballard & husband Duane of Clovis, California. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

A Visitation will be held Thursday, October 16, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.

Bishop Charles Sannar of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Gridley Third Ward will officiate at the services.Interment will be held at Gridley-Biggs Cemetery.

(I will send one or more pictures later. --James Fife)

Congratulations Uncle James & Aunt Irene! We really enjoyed reading the article. What an amazing jam-packed fulfilling life you two have shared these last 50 years! Between the two of you, I think you have enough energy to supply an entire town :)
We love you,
Nels & Andrea Draper

Notes and Corrections for Peace Like A River

Book compiled and edited by David H. Epperson
Notes and corrections by Florence Fife Draper

Elizabeth Stewart Fife
1. Page 73 misidentification: photos of Alice and Elizabeth were switched.
2. Pages 138 and 140 the photos are switched. The biographies are correct.
3. Page 240 Incorrect photo, and Jane is not her middle name. (She does not have a middle name.)

Point of Reference:
On Page 129 Alice and Elizabeth are correctly identified. Compare pages because this one is a confirmed ID.

Once I asked my mother, Mabel Erickson Fife, why it appeared the women in the Stewart family seemed overlooked, in education and family history. Mother explained that Isaac Mitton Stewart had three wives and seventeen children. Most of the girls were born first, and the family did not acquire wealth until the boys were ready for higher education.

When our progenitor, Elizabeth Stewart Fife was widowed at age 36, with seven children to raise, Elizabeth’s brothers were still too young to help or understand her challenges.

The age difference explanation is reflected in the lack of information about Elizabeth in Peace Like a River.

Other than the misidentification of photos, and scarcity of information about Elizabeth, this book is a wonderful reference to the Stewart family history. Enjoy!


Elizabeth Stewart Fife and children
From top left, Isaac David Fife (born 2 Oct 1885), Leland Taylor Fife (born 29 July 1887), Randolph Wilson Fife (born 20 Feb 1892), Walter White Fife (born 28 May 1894), Joseph Barnard Fife (born 31 Oct 1896).

Front row: Iretta Elizabeth Fife born 4 Sep 1889, Elizabeth Stewart Fife born 3 Sep 1863, William Stewart Fife born 18 Oct 1883.

Stuff, Private Space and Honesty by Florence Draper

My memory has never been very good so I would always try to save some small token of a momentous occasion to remind me of the event. Following are some examples of what I saved.
Back to an early hair cut when I was about three years old. I hated watching my hair fall to the floor so my sister Gwen gave me a little light brown curl to save so I would always remember the color of my hair when I was three. She gave me a little silver colored container about the size of a quarter. Maybe it once contained rouge. I am not sure. But the small curl fit into the space exactly. Fast forward forty years or so. I find the container empty. I knew our newly adopted son had no idea why that bit of hair was important to me and why after more than forty years of saving I felt bad because it was gone. He had no idea why I was unhappy about finding the empty container.

At BYU I had a number of pretty rings in my jewelry box. I also had many roommates during the four years I spent in the dorm or Heritage Halls. Now I don’t remember what the rings looked like or who gave them to me except for the silver puzzle ring my brother-in-law Loren, a pilot, brought me from a foreign country. It was one of the few puzzles I could put together. Sometimes a date would take a ring off my finger to "examine it" and I would forget about it and never see it again. At any rate when I graduated the rings were gone except for the diamond I only take off to clean and it remains on my finger more than fifty years later.

Back in 1955 when I was twenty-one years old my mother and I traveled to and from Europe via the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the large ocean liners of the day. I saved two momentoes from that trip. One was a button emblazoned with the British Lion from the uniform of a young Scotsman about my age who ran one of the elevators. He gave it to me so I would remember him. He was astounded that after accepting an inviting with him to ride the elevator, when we stopped between floors I thought we were going to talk and get acquainted. I convinced him that I actually was innocent of his intentions and there was something to life besides women and hard liquor. Hence the momento from his uniform. I kept the button in my jewelry box for nearly fifty years when it disappeared.

Being on board ship was fun. Lots of dancing and game thanks to the recreation director. During one contest I was dancing with a young man from "Down Under." We won the prize for dancing the longest with a potato between our foreheads. I was given a small silver plated spoon with the Queen Mary logo on the handle. That also lasted in my jewelry box for some time.

While in Belgium visiting a few days with my brother James, there serving a mission for our church, in we were eating mussels in Brussels when I bit into a small pearl. It was a little larger than the head of a pin. Since it had been cooked it wasn’t a great color and wasn’t exactly round but I thought it amusing to be eating mussels in Brussels so kept that small pearl with the other memory helps in my jewelry box. It lasted there nearly as long as the button.

Back to my youth. My oldest brother served a mission in the Southern States. Years later a daughter of one of the people he baptized asked to stay at our house while she waited to accompany her Navel officer husband overseas. We were a three hour drive from San Francisco where she set sail after a month or so with us. She was fun to be with. I was about ten or eleven years old. Mother had purchased individual crystal salt and pepper shakers with silver tops. Mother set a nice table at Sunday dinners. When this new bride left our home we never hear from her again... or saw Mothers pretty little salt and pepper shakers. A shame she thought more of those than of us. Things are of very little value, not near the value of memories they evoke of people and special events.