ALME, Erik

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 162

Erik ALME, County Treasurer, Alma [on the Mississippi River in Buffalo 
County, Wisconsin], was born in Bergenstift, Norway, 29 January 1837.* He 
immigrated to America in 1854, and landed in New York City. His first 
permanent location was in the town of Nelson [northwest of Alma, in Buffalo 
County], in 1856, on Sections 11, 23, and 13 [submitter did not check plat 
maps of Nelson Township for verification of section numbers], and his 
occupation has been farming, until he took the duties of County Treasurer, 
which position he was elected to in 1879. He was also a member of the County 
Board in 1870. [Erik ALME also served as Treasurer of the Buffalo County 
Agricultural Society.] He was not burdened with cash on his arrival to this 
country, but by industry and economy he has accumulated considerable money, 
and is in comfortable circumstances.

On 06 October 1860 he [Erik ALME] married Ellen ERIKSON, born in Norway in 
1835. They have seven children [all born in Wisconsin]: (1) Annie [Anna, 
born about 1862]; (2) Christie [born about 1864]; (3) Erik [born about 
1866]; (4) Carrie [born about 1869]; (5) Thomas [born about 1871]; (6) 
Emma S. [born about 1874]; and (7) John O [born about 1876]. Members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

[* Place and approximate years of birth for children from the 1880 Census of 
Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, p 340 A. Erik the father, a farmer, is 
aged forty-two, inconsistent with the birthdate given in the biography; he 
should be forty-four. Ellen, his wife, is forty-five, consistent with the 
year of birth given in the biography. Erik "ALINE" who resided alone in 
Alma, Buffalo County, is identified in a transcription of the 1880 census as 
having the occupation of Buffalo County Treasurer. Erik "ALME" was Buffalo 
County Treasurer according to this biography, according to the section on the 
history of Buffalo County in the same source, and according to the 1919 
History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties. Erik ALME is mentioned in the Buffalo 
County, Wisconsin, biography of Endre E. ANDERSON, who settled in Nelson 
Township, not Alma. When the ANDERSON family reached Buffalo County, they 
resided with Erik ALME until Mr. ANDERSON could find a suitable place for 
settlement in Nelson Township.]

[The subject of this biography appears to be Erik ALME born at Alme, Sor 
Fron, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, on 04 February 1837, who emigrated to 
Wisconsin in 1854, the year given in the biography. The gard (farm) Alme is 
in Sor Fron (south Fron) in the flyke (county) of Sogn og Fjordane, in 
western Norway. The bygdebok for Fron would give the history of land 
ownership in this area and the genealogies of landowners. The Erik ALME who 
was born on 04 February 1837, died in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, 05 August 
1920. Submitter is not researching this surname. The information included 
in brackets is added only to support (or disclaim) the information given in 
the biography before submitting it to this website.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly