Erik Lindblom

Erik Lindblom, born in Härjedalen, Sweden, was the son of Olof Lindblom and Brita (née Olofsson). Lindblom's father was a respected land owner and school master in Sweden. Born and raised in an iron and copper region, he had a fundamental knowledge of mining. Lindblom left Sweden at the age of seventeen. He came to the United States in 1886 and engaged in mining in Colorado, Idaho and Montana. Lindblom was naturalized as a United States citizen in 1894.

Career

In 1898, Lindblom went to Alaska where he met John Brynteson and Jafet Lindeberg. Late that winter they uncovered the first gold found in the Nome mining district, and founded the extensive mining interests there which would produce a large fortune.[1]

Lindblom invested the proceeds from his mining fortune in banks, transportation, and real estate. He would become president of the Swedish-American Bank of San Francisco and vice-president of the Pioneer Mining and Ditch Company of Nome, Alaska.[2] Lindblom was appointed Swedish Commissioner to the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition by King Gustaf V of Sweden and later was knighted by that monarch, being presented with the Royal Order of Vasa of the first degree.[3]

Lindblom invested in the Claremont Resort in Oakland, California, which was completed in 1915. Three years later, he took complete possession of the hotel. Lindblom died in 1928 at his residence at the Claremont Hotel. The Claremont Hotel would remain in the Lindblom family’s possession until 1937.[4]

Personal life

He was first married to Mary Anne Smith in London in August 1886 and had a son and a daughter. They were divorced in 1907. Lindblom subsequently married Hanna Sadie Sparman in June 1907.

Legacy
  • A statue of Erik Lindblom, together with Jafet Lindeberg and John Brynteson, stands in Nome, Alaska.
  • Jafet Lindeberg, Erik Lindblom and John Brynteson are all listed in the Alaskan Mining Hall of Fame.[5]
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References
  1. The Nome Gold Rush (by Larry Gedney. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks) Archived 2009-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "The three lucky swedes: John Brynteson, Jafet Lindeberg, & Erik Lindblom" (PDF).
  3. History of San Mateo County (by Philip W. Alexander. Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916)
  4. San Francisco County Biographies (Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 511, International News Service, San Francisco, 1913)
  5. Members by Induction Date (Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation)

Primary sources
  • Harrison, Edward Sanford Nome and Seward Peninsula: a book of information about northwestern Alaska (E.S. Harrison. 1905)
  • Carlson, Leland H. Swedish Pioneers & the Discovery of Gold in Alaska (American Swedish Historical Museum: Yearbook. 1948)
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