Erik Lindblom

Erik Lindblom (1857-1928) was a Swedish-American gold prospector. He was one of the "Three Lucky Swedes" who founded and developed the Nome mining district.

Early life
Erik Olof Lindblom was born on June 27, 1857, in Härjedalen, Sweden, the son of Olof Lindblom and Brita (née Olofsson). Lindblom's father was a landowner and a schoolmaster in Sweden. Born and raised in an iron and copper region, he had a fundamental knowledge of mining. His father had died when Erik was young and his mother struggled to support the family. Lindblom found work as a tailor and travelled around Europe for work, finally ending up in London. In 1886, he married Mary Ann Smith, the daughter of a London tailor, and soon after, the couple moved to the United States. He engaged in mining in Colorado, Idaho and Montana. Lindblom was naturalized as a United States citizen in 1894.

Mining career
In 1898, Lindblom went to Alaska where he met John Brynteson (1871-1959) and Jafet Lindeberg (1874-1962). 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Hannah Ulrika Sadie Sparman in June 1907. They had one son.

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.
 * Lindblom Creek, Nome, is named after him.

See also--

 * Nome Gold Rush