Johan Alfred Eriksson was
born on 3 April 1836 in the parish of Hallingberg in Sweden. On
3 April 1836, he emigrated from the Älmarsum farm in Hallingberg
for America. In transit, he connected with other Swedes who were
heading for Swedebend and then he came with a group from there
to be among the first settlers of the new community of Kiron.
He was single but his neighbor knew the perfect companion for
him so when she arrived from Sweden, their wedding became the
first for the new settlers. John first farmed the land where the
present day town of Kiron now stands. Later he bought more land
in Stockholm section 9. He was a farmer until he retired in a
new home in Kiron shortly after it was laid out. In 1908 he was
named vice chairman of the building committee for the new church.
He died in 1919 and is buried in the Kiron Cemetery.
