George Q. Erskine was born December 1, 1828, in Winchester, Cheshire, New Hampshire.
The 1860 United States census showed Geo. Erskin (age 31, born in New Hampshire, farmer) married to Ellen (age 22, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Caledonia, Racine County, Wisconsin. Children Rosalia (age 2, born in Wisconsin) and Amalia (age 6 months, born in Wisconsin) also lived with the couple.
The 1870 United States census showed Geo. Erskine (age 42, born in New Hampshire, collector of internal revenue) married to Helen (age 32, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Caledonia, Racine County, Wisconsin.
Page 580. George Q. Erskine, Secretary of J. I. Case Plow Co., came to Racine in October, 1852, and entered the law office of Doolittle & Cary; in 1853, he was admitted to the bar, and the firm became Cary & Erskine, which firm continued for one and a half years; he then entered upon that active business career for which he is distinguished, and for seven years was engaged in shipping and freighting, contracting with railroads for wood, and in the manufacture and shipping of brick, which branch of business he pursued exclusively for twelve years, although interested in it until 1873, making twenty years in all; he was a member of the Legislature in 1865, and in April, 1867 was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue,
Page 581. which office he held until July, 1875; he has been connected with the Plow Co. since its organization; is a Director in the Manufacturer’s National Bank, and also a stockholder in the Racine Silver Plate Co.; he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, of Fargo, Dakota Territory, and is still connected with that institution. Mr. Erskine is one of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Church. (The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879)
The 1880 United States census showed George Erskine (age 52, born in New Hampshire, manufacturer of plows) married to Helen (age 42, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Racine, Wisconsin. Children Helen (age 21, born in Wisconsin) and Ethel (age 20, born in Wisconsin) also lived with the couple.
Two years later, in 1888, the railroad was built through the region and George Q. Erskine, who was then president of the National bank at Crookston, purchased the homesteads of Martin Rathstock, Mr. Mitchell and Daniel Cameron, a pioneer whose name is given to one of the local lakes, and platted the village of Erskine, selling the lots privately. (Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota, W. H. Bingham & Co., Minneapolis, 1916, Page 246)
George Q. Erskine succeeded Mr. Baker (the first president of The First National Bank of Crookston) as president… (Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota, W. H. Bingham & Co., Minneapolis, 1916, Page 132)
The 1895 Wisconsin census showed Geo. Q. Erskine living in Racine, Wisconsin.
The 1900 United States census showed George Erskine (age 71, born in December 1828 in New Hampshire, capitalist) living in Fargo, North Dakota.
Succumbs To Injuries. Mrs. George Erskine of Crookston Dies From Gasoline Explosion. Crookston, March 20. – The entire city of Crookston was terribly shocked yesterday morning when the sad news of the death of Mrs. George Erskine was given out, for although it was known that she was suffering excruciating pain, no one thought that she would not recover from the burns that she received the evening before, in the fire caused by the gasoline explosion. Mrs. Erskine whose husband for many years was the president of the First National bank of this city and is connected with some of the largest industries here at the present time, was cleaning some costly laces and silks in a basin of gasoline, when the treacherous stuff exploded and, being alone at the time and unconscious after the accident, no one has learned or will ever know just how it happened. Mrs. Erskine was 64 years old. (The Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Tuesday, March 20, 1906, Volume 3, Number 280, Page 2)
George Q. Erskine died January 15, 1908, in Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota.