Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Emersons : A Celebration

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

I am again here to share a collection of family history information left by my late cousin Ed Ostrom.  This week we continue to discover the information we have about the Reinert and Dora Emerson family. Reinert and Dora were Ed's maternal grandparents.

 Reinert Immanuel Emerson (1870-1950) and Dora Elisa Nilson (1877-1965) were married on 23 July 1898 in Litchfield, Minnesota. For more details about this event click here. Their children wanted to honor their parents by holding a gathering. Early on they started letting family members who lived far away to get ready as we are having a party. When the appropriate time came about, they mailed following engraved invitations. Each of the children participated in the preparation as much as they were able. The majority of the organizing and planning would naturally be done by those who lived in the Seattle area.

IMAGE: Golden Wedding Anniversary invitation
being held in honor of Mr. & Mrs. R.I. Emerson.
From the digital files of Edwin J. Ostrom,
 original from scrapbook of daughter
Vivian Emerson Cowe.
------- transcription begins -------

 You are cordially invited to attend a
Family Reunion and Open House honoring
Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Emerson
on the occasion of their
Golden Wedding Anniversary
Monday, July the fifth
nineteen hundred and forty-eight
Seattle, Washington.

1:00 to 10:30 P. M.
12547 17th Avenue N. E.

-------- transcription ends --------

It is apparent that the event came around just as they planned. Decorations were planned and under construction, flowers were ordered, a cake was placed on order too. The local "Seattle Daily Times" newspaper was contacted about the event and the following article was published on 30 June 1948; found on page 12.
IMAGE: Seattle Daily Times,
Seattle, Washington article
announcing the R.I. Emerson
celebration. From the digital files
of Edwin J. Ostrom, original from
scrapbook of daughter Vivian
Emerson Cowe.
------- transcription begins -------
   R.I. Emersons Are Honored On 50th Wedding Anniversary

   A family reunion will be held Saturday and open house Sunday for Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Emerson, 12547 17th Av. N. E., in celebration of their golden-wedding anniversary.
    Thirteen sons and daughters and 36 grandchildren will be at the family gathering Sunday. It was the first time the entire family has been together in 27 years. About 200 invitations have been sent to friends and relatives for the open house the next day.
   The couple were [sic] married in Litchfield, Minn., in 1898. Emerson, a retired farmer, moved to Seattle from North Dakota in 1936.
   Hosts for the out-of-town sons and daughters are the Seattle members of the family; Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Baarstad, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ralston, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cowe, and Mrs. Ivene Yonaka.

    The visiting sons and daughters are Mr. and Mrs. James Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Emerson and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Emerson, of Eaglesham, Alberta; Mr. and Mrs. William Emerson, Minot, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Ditch, Grand Prairie, Alberta; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Olson, Kathryn, N.D., and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ostrom, Woodburn, Or.

-------- transcription ends --------

The big weekend finally arrived. As planned all of Reinert and Dora's children were able to attend. That is an impressive turnout as a number live far away. Their son William Emerson who brought his family from Minot, North Dakota, probably traveled the furthest of their children with nearly 1200 miles. Those who came from Canada traveled 810-850 miles. It is doubtful that any of them flew, that industry was still in its infancy with few airports. Reinert's brother Chris Emerson was also able to attend and he had traveled from Laporte, Hubbard County, Minnesota, a lengthy 1550 mile trip.

 We know that one son-in-law was unable to attend. Tom Ostrom, husband of Alice Emerson Ostrom was recuperating in a local Portland, Oregon hospital from a work accident that injured his back. This injury caused him to need surgery; followed by hospitalization for a bit while recuperating. Alice was determined to attend the party once she found that Tom would be in good care while she was away. According to notes from Tom, his wife boarded a train with their six children. The Ostroms and would arrive in downtown Seattle a little travel worn, but happy to see everyone there. Asked later, the Ostrom children were split nearly 50/50 on recollecting how the trip was made. Some say, "By bus." Others answer, "We took the train." They all agree that they were able to get to the back seat of the vehicle where they stretched out. Older ones would try to help their Mom with the youngest one. There was too much excitement for very much sleep... no nap that day. At today's speed a train or a bus trip is about 4 hours, so it could have been a toss up.

 Like the other travelers, they were able to stay with another of Alice's siblings who lived in the Seattle area. Fortunately hotels were not needed.

The big day would arrive with the flowers, decorations, cake and guests all as planned and happy to be together.
IMAGE: Reinert and Dora, working together to
cut their anniversary cake. Photo from the digital
files of Edwin J. Ostrom.
IMAGE: Reinert and Dora surrounded by their 13 children.
Photo from the digital files of Edwin J. Ostrom.
The whole family. Three generations; Reinert and Dora are in the center.
Rows are left to right:
Back row:                Middle Row:            Front row:
1.  Oliver Emerson       30. Ed Ostrom          53. Irwin Emerson
2.  Karen Emerson        31. Alice Ostrom       54. Raymond Emerson
3.  William Emerson      32. DoraAnn Ostrom     55. Alan Emerson
4.  Dwaine Baarstad      33. Elsie Emerson      56. Gary Yonaka
5.  Jeanne Baarstad      34. Sylvia Emerson     57. Wayne Emerson
6.  Scotty Cowe          35. Vivian Cowe        58. Lynn Cowe
7.  Ole Emerson          36. Verola Ralston     59. Russell Emerson
8.  Ray Emerson          37. Leslie Ralston     60. Wanda Emerson
9.  Virgil Baarstad      38. Judy Emerson       61. Sheree Yonaka
10. Ivene Goemaere       39. Marion Emerson     62. LaFerne Ditch
11. Sharon Ostrom        40. Sonny Emerson      63. Janice Ostrom
12. Dorman Ditch         41. Monty Meyers       64. Gail Emerson
13. Ruby Baarstad        42. Geneva Meyers     
14. Willard Baarstad     43. Leontine Emerson   
15. Reinert Emerson      44. Sheryl Emerson    
16. Jack Meyers          45. Roger Emerson     
17. Dora Emerson         46. Gert Emerson      
18. Stuart Ditch         47. Jean Olson        
19. Faye Ditch           48. Estelle Olson     
20. Lola Ditch           49. Jerry Olson       
21. Doug Ralston         50. Ruth Emerson      
22. Darlene Ostrom       51. Janis Emerson     
23. James Emerson        52. Elwood Ostrom      
24. Martin Meyers       
25. Ray Olson           
26. Chris Emerson       
27. Morris Baarstad     
28. Aloris Baarstad    [IMAGE: from the digital family file of  
29. Marvel Baarstad     Edwin J. Ostrom]

What follows is an unidentified, undated newspaper article about the reunion with a little more human interest added than the previous one. This article cousin Ed initially received from Lola Emerson Ditch's daughter Faye. I could only find a transcription of this article in Ed's files.

 R. I. Emerson, 50 Year Wed,
Will be Honored At Reunion

   The Emerson family will come home to see mom and dad for a two-day reunion and open house next Sunday and Monday July 4 and 5 as the elder Emersons, 12547 17th Ave. N. E., mark their golden wedding anniversary.
   From the rich farm lands of northern Canada and the waving grain fields of Minnesota and North Dakota the Emerson’s 13 children will arrive in Lake City late this week to bring the entire clan together for the first time in more than 20 years.
   Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Emerson, residents of Lake City since 1936, were married July 23, 1898 at Litchfield, Minnesota.
   They farmed there until 1906 and then moved their family to Minot, N. Dak., where they lived and worked until Mr. Emerson retired and chose the Northwest for their future home.
   During the half century that Mr. and Mrs. Emerson have been wed they have watched their 13 children grow, strike out on their own and become successful all. Next Monday they will enjoy the fruits of their many years labor as their children join with them in the anniversary celebration.
   From Eaglesham, Alberta, Can., will come Mr. and Mrs. James Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Emerson and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Emerson.
   From Grand Prairie, Alberta Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Ditch will join in the festivities.
   Mr. and Mrs. Ray Olson of Kathryn, N.Dak., and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Emerson of Minot, N. Dak., also will be on hand.
   From Woodburn, Ore., Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ostrom will complete the out-of-town contingent.
   The other children, six in number, are residents of Seattle. They are Mr. and Mrs. Morris Baarstad, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Emerson, Mrs. Ivene Yonaka, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ralston and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cowe.
   Mr. Emerson’s brother – Chris Emerson of La Porte, Minn., arrived in Seattle last week to attend the reunion.
   Figure that is a full house for a celebration as things stand but then add the 36 grand-children who will be there to honor Mr. and Mrs. Emerson. Somebody’s going to have to move to the backyard!
   But the joy of a family being together after so many years will reign supreme over the two-day holiday event and the Lake City Emersons ask for nothing more.
   The open house will be held at the Emerson home, 12547 17th Ave., N. E., from 1:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. to which all the Emerson’s many friends in the community are invited.

 [end of article]

Now how did the anniversary couple feel about all this activity and the entire family joining them for their special day?  It was definitely an event to remember.

IMAGE: ..... like Sweethearts! Joyous, loved and very happy.
From the Edwin J. Ostrom digital collection.
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Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Glad you stopped by today. Have a wonderful week.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens. All rights reserved.
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