{{Short description|American politician (1782–1844)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = James Earickson | image = James Earickson.jpg | office = State Treasurer of Missouri | term_start = January 1, 1829 | term_end = December 1833 | predecessor = Nathaniel Simonds | successor = John Walker | birth_place = Kent Island, Maryland, US | birth_date = {{birth date|1782|12|7}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1844|6|11|1782|12|7}} | relations = David R. Francis (grandson-in-law) | party = Democratic | state_senate2 = Missouri | term2 = August 1828 – January 1, 1829 | death_place = Howard County, Missouri, US }}
'''James Earickson''' (December 7, 1782 – June 11, 1844) was an American politician. He served as the State Treasurer of Missouri from 1829 to 1833.
== Biography == Earickson was born on December 7, 1782, on Kent Island, Maryland,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Political Graveyard: Broaddus family |url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/families/21389.html |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=politicalgraveyard.com}}</ref> moving to near Glasgow, Missouri – prior to its incorporation – in 1818. He moved onto a farm in Howard County in 1828, on a larger property; his house was presumably the first brick house in the county. When Glasgow was platted, parts of the town was planned atop land sold to them by Earickson.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Missouri State Past Treasurers - James Earickson |url=https://www.treasurer.mo.gov/content/about-the-office/1james-earickson |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=www.treasurer.mo.gov |language=en}}</ref>
A Democrat, Earickson was elected to the Missouri Senate in August 1828. He was appointed State Treasurer of Missouri on January 1, 1829, after which he moved into a log house in Jefferson City. He earned $730 per year as treasurer. The treasury room of the Missouri State Capitol at the time was a small room with iron windows, and the state funds were stored in a barrel constructed of iron; the fund was counted in Mexican silver dollars at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Missouri_Historical_Society_Collections/hXLV6eZsFSQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=James+Earickson+Missouri&pg=RA1-PA16&printsec=frontcover |title=Missouri Historical Society Collections |date=1900 |publisher=The Society |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref> After his tenure ended in December 1833,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Walter Bickford |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/An_Illustrated_History_of_Missouri/THBRtpB5R9QC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=James+Earickson+Missouri&pg=PA622&printsec=frontcover |title=An Illustrated History of Missouri: Comprising Its Early Record, and Civil, Political, and Military History from the First Exploration to the Present Time, Including an Encyclopaedia of Legislation During the Administrations of the Governors from M'Nair, 1820, to Hardin, 1876 ; with the Topography, Geology, and Geography of the State ; Historical Sketches of Religious Denominations ; of Schools and Colleges ; of the Counties Separately, Embracing Narratives of Pioneer Life, Personal Reminiscences, Description of Localities, Soil, and Climate ; Agricultural, Commercial and Educational Advantages, and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens |last2=Durrie |first2=Daniel Steele |author-link2=Daniel Steele Durrie |date=1876 |publisher=A.J. Hall |pages=623 |language=en}}</ref> he returned to his Howard County farm.<ref name=":1" /> He owned slaves.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 September 1844 |title=100 Dollars Reward! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/168496515/?match=1&terms=James%20Earickson |access-date=2025-12-26 |work=The Vermont Union Whig |pages=4}}</ref> He later served as a judge, and in the 1830s, he presided over the case of George M. Hinkle and other Mormon leaders.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jesse |first=Richard Henry |author-link=Richard Henry Jesse |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Missouri_Literature/lNj2sBHWQ5YC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=James+Earickson+Missouri&pg=PA157&printsec=frontcover |title=Missouri Literature |last2=Allen |first2=Edward Archibald |date=1901 |publisher=E. W. Stephens |isbn= |pages=155–157 |language=en}}</ref> By his decision, Mormons were exiled from Howard County.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=Brigham Henry |author-link=B. H. Roberts |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Missouri_Persecutions/NXC4K3_OegIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=James+Earickson+Missouri&pg=PA332&printsec=frontcover |title=The Missouri Persecutions |date=1900 |publisher=G. Q. Cannon |pages=332 |language=en}}</ref>
Earickson had a wife, Rebecca Malone, with whom he had three children. He died on June 11, 1844, aged 61,<ref name=":0" /> in Howard County.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 1844 |title=Died |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/49666547/?match=1&terms=James%20Earickson |access-date=2025-12-26 |work=Boon's Lick Times |pages=3}}</ref> His granddaughter, Jane Perry, was the wife of Governor David R. Francis.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist}}{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box | before=Nathaniel Simonds | title=Missouri State Treasurer | years=1829–1833 | after=John Walker}} {{s-end}} {{MOTreasurers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earickson, James}} Category:1782 births Category:1844 deaths
Category:Farmers from Missouri Category:State treasurers of Missouri Category:Democratic Party Missouri state senators Category:People from Glasgow, Missouri Category:People from Queen Anne's County, Maryland Category:People from Missouri Territory Category:19th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly