A Young Gurina Maria Thomasdatter (1832-1904)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

I have been sharing with reader's to this blog that information, documents and records that was collected by my late cousin Ed Ostrom. Recently, I introduced you to Ed's great-grandmother Gurina Maria Thomasdatter. She was Ed's mother's mother's mother, also #15 on Ed's Names List, in  the great-grandparent generation. To learn about her timeline, you can read last week's article by clicking here.

This week we will continue the life story of Gurina Maria Thomasdatter, beginning with her birth and young life while she lived in northern Norway. Gurina was born on 05 January 1832, near the small town of Rana, known today as Mo i rana, in Nordland county (fylke), Norway. This location is very near the Arctic Circle, at the eastern end of the Ronfjorden fjord. Mo i rana is on the south shore of the fjord. Gurina was born at home on the family farm called Altermark that is uphill a bit from the northern shore of the fjord.

IMAGE: Satellite view of the Nordland area,
showing the Altermark farm where Gurina Maria
Thomasdatter was was born. Map from
Mapcarta.com.(1)

The following is a map of the larger area. You may recognize this map an earlier article. Gurina was born in a location near her husband's birthplace, so this second map was shown in his earlier article. If you would like to read more about this area review Gurina's husband's article by clicking here. We will cover this in a future article with Gurina in mind.

IMAGE: Map of Norway with the small
town of Mo i Rana highlighted. Map
from Wikipedia.com.(2)

As a small infant Gurina was baptized at the Råna parish church in Mo i Rana (66°31"N). I can't imagine traveling any distance in the area of the Arctic Circle (66°33'N) in January with a small infant, but I read that the European Arctic Circle has milder winter weather than the same latitude in the Alaska-Canada area because of the more temperate trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean. Here is a copy Gurina's entry in the register.

IMAGE: Parish register (official) no. 827A02, 1826-1841,
 page 34, Born and baptised (1832), highlighting line #2, for
Gurina Maria Thomasdatter, from digitalarkivet.no [3]

SNIPPET: Left page showing Line #2

SNIPPET: Right page showing Line #2

-------- translation of birth record --------

Baptisms   1831      [page] 34

1832   [about half way down the page]

Entry Number: No. 2

Stated Date of Birth: 05 January [1832 implied from title]

Date of Baptism: 28 January  [1832 implied from title]

The Child's full Name: Gurina Maria

Legitimate or illegitimate birth: legitimate birth

Parents' full names, occupation, and residence: Farmer Thomas Christophersen from Altermark and his wife Marit Mathiasdatter

Godparents' names: Elline Bek Revlan, Hans Elias. Altermark, Ane Jonasdtr.
        ibid., Elias Anders.Ansfiskaan, Dorthea Gulesdtr. Altermark,
        Pernilla Olsdatr. Maugnas

If Baptised at home, who performed the baptism:  ??

For illegitimate children, who reported this status: either the child's mother, or which known and trustworthy member of the Parish: [blank]

-------- translation ended --------

Gurina's mother, Marit Mathisdatter would die in 1845, when Gurina was thirteen. It would have been difficult to be motherless when you have just become a teenager when learning household chores, handicrafts and catechism needed her mother's help in teaching. Gurina's father would remarry in 1850.

When Gurina was 15 she was confirmed. In this entry the spelling of her name has changed to Gurine Marie Thomasdatter. She was confirmed at the Rana church in Mo i Rana. This is the modern name of that community, merging together smaller areas into one larger area.

IMAGE:  Parish register (official) no. 827A03, 1842-1852,
page 121, Confirmation 1847, highlighting line #59
for Gurine Marie Thomasdatter from digitalarkivet.no. [4]

SNIPPET: Left page showing Line #59

SNIPPET: Right page showing Line #59

-------- translation begins -------

Confirmations 1847    [page]  121

Entry Number: 59

Date of Confirmation: 27 June 

Full name of person confirmed: Gurine Marie Thomasdtr

Age: 5 January 1832 [15]

Place of birth: Altermark

Names of Parents: T. Kristophersen and Marit Mathisdtr

Religious knowledge, diligence, etc.: very good

When did the person have smallpox or get vaccinated: ??

-------- translation ends --------

The following is a photograph of the church where Gurina was baptized and confirmed. At that time it was called the Rana church. If this photo looks familiar, it was included the story telling of her husband growing up in the same area. But it is lovely historic church, urging me to share it here a second time.

IMAGE: The Mo Church in Mo i Rana, Norway, built
in 1724. The minister of this church completed the
register with an entry for Gurina Maria Thomasdatter.
Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons,
Mahlum, taken in November 2006.

Gurina's father was Thomas Kristophersen and he would marry a second time. In October 1850, after being a widower for five years, Thomas married Beret Dorthea Hansdatter. This would bring a step-mother into the home when Gurina was eighteen. Gurina would marry in 1856, but that is a story for another day.

Sources:

1.) "Mo I Rana," Mapcarta.com (http://www.mapcarta.com : accessed 29 August 2017).

2.) "Mo i Rana," Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org : accessed 18 July 2017).

3.) "Parish Register, Birth and Baptism Records," National Archives of Norway (http://www.digitalarkivet.no : accessed 22 Aug 2017), SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nordland, 827/L0390: Parish register (official) no. 827A02, 1826-1841, p. 34, Born and Baptized 1832, line No. 2, Gurina Maria Thomasdatter. Quick link to record: 
https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/kb20050427030366.

4.) "Parish Register,Confirmation Records," National Archives of Norway (http://www.digitalarkivet.no : accessed 22 August 2017), SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nordland, 827/L0391: Parish register (official) no. 827A03, 1842-1852, p. 121, Confirmation-1847, line No. 59, Gurine Marie Thomasdatter. Quick link to record: https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/kb20050427030720.

Thank you for stopping by today as I appreciate your company. Hope your week is going well. Next week we'll continue to explore Gurina's life story.

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-young-gurina-maria-thomasdatter-1832.html.

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. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Obituary for Louis P. Johnson (1865-1949)

Dear FOLKS,

Today's transcription project for Amanuensis Monday is the obituary for Louis Peder Johnson, born as Lars Peder Jorgensen. Louis was my great-grandfather's older brother, my 2x great uncle. I have learned that Louis and my grandfather, William Christian Johnson were close in their younger years and after they first arrived in the U.S. from Denmark, so it was fun to read this obituary and I wanted to share it with you.

I also found that this obituary created more mystery than it solved. I'll explain later in this article. This article was printed in the "Sisseton Courier," Sisseton, South Dakota. A volunteer member of GenGathering.com volunteered to go to the newspaper office for me and then sent me this copy in February 2016. My thanks for MWommer for helping me obtain this article.

IMAGE: Obituary for Louis P. Johnson,
printed in the "Sisseton Courier,"
Sisseton, South Dakota, published
after 19 February 1949.

-------- transcription begins --------

L. Johnson, Former Resident, Dies Friday

   Funeral services for Louis Johnson, 84, who passed away as the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Durfey, Alderwood Manor, Seattle, Wash., Friday, Feb. 11, at 6:20 p.m., were held at the Methodist church in Browns Valley Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m., with the Rev. S. A. Norlemann Jr., officiating.
   Interment was made in the Sisseton cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Reisdorf, Albert Spindler, Bernard Benzkofer, William Bonzelet, Clarence Larson and Orville Dobbs.
   Louis Johnson was born Jan. 4, 1865 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Johnson, and at the age of 21 years came to the United States. He was united in marriage to Margaret Krebs in 1888 and to this union three daughters and one son were born.
   Mr. Johnson came to this community in 1888 and followed the occupation of farming for over a quarter of a century, farming for over twenty years in Becker township, Roberts county and for a number of years in Folsum township, Traverse county, retiring from farming he moved to Browns Valley in 1937 where he has made his home, spending the past few winters in California.
   He suffered a heart attack at Seattle, Wash., from which he never recovered.
   He was educated in Denmark and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
   He leaves to mourn his passing, three daughters, Mrs. E. E. Coryell (Mathilda), Meridian, Idaho; Marie L. Johnson, Sisseton, and Mrs. Chas. Durfey (Eleanor), Alderwood Manor, Seattle, Wash.; one son, (Hans) L. H. Johnson, Morris, Minn.; two brothers, Carl and Andrew, Fresno, Calif,; one sister, Mrs. Marie L. Johansen, Monterey, Calif; 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
   He was preceded in death by his wife who passed away in Browns Valley in 1917.

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

While I received a copy of the original newspaper article, it is unfortunately unidentified and undated. Nevertheless it is a clear copy and I am glad to have it.

There are some points that could confuse other family researchers, as contrary to the obituary I have records that tell us contrary information about Louis's life story. Let me explain.

He married the widow Margaret Krebs about 1905, not 1888. Margaret was first married to Mr. Thompson Louis and had three sons by him. Louis would become the step-father of the three Thompson boys.

Louis had first been married in 1888 to Anna Peterson. Anna, like Louis, was a native of Denmark. Anna was the mother of daughters Mathilda and Marie. Anna died in 1900. Louis and Margaret would have children Eleanor and L.H. Johnson. It is likely the family informer of information to the obituary did not realize that part of Louis' family history.

Margaret Krebs Johnson died in 1917 and at age sixty. In 1925, Louis would marry a third time to Martha Hansen née Nash. It is thought that they didn't remain married long and were divorced after 1930. Martha would die in 1959 and is buried in Ventura, California. Martha wasn't mentioned in Louis' obituary and Louis wasn't mentioned in Martha's.

There were topics within the obituary that I found interesting too. I was able to learn more about Louis's farming history. I had seen these moves by the locations mentioned on the census records he was found in. The location changes mentioned in the obituary confirmed and added more information to his various residences.

I also took note with interest, that he spent the last few winters in California. It is likely that he spent time there as Fresno is where his brothers Carl and Andrew lived. There is a large Danish community in Fresno, Louis would feel comfortable there and the winter temperatures are very likable in California's central valley.

I didn't recognize the names of any of his pallbearers, they were likely neighbors and acquaintances from the Roberts County, South Dakota area. But I plan to double-check this and see if there are any interesting leads there.

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down; to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.

Thank you for stopping by today and letting me share this newspaper article with you. I also hope that your week has had a good start. And as always, I hope you have a great day.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/amanuensis-monday-obituary-for-louis-p.html.

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. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

#15 - Gurina Maria Thomasdatter (1832-1904)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

In this article I am introducing you to Gurine Maria Thomasdatter, she is the fourth of my late cousin Ed Ostrom's great-grandmothers. Gurine was Ed's mother's mother's mother. It has been my plan to, one at a time, introduce you to Ed's ancestors. I am pleased this week to share the documents and records that have been found so far for Gurine Maria Thomasdatter.

Last week we concluded the life story and anecdotes of Peder Christian Nilson (1827-1888). You can review these articles about Peder beginning here. We will now focus on the next person on Ed's genealogy Names List. For a review of Ed's genealogy you can follow this link...
http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/02/eds-name-and-genealogy.html

I am pleased in this article to introduce you to Gurina Maria Thomasdatter (1832-1904), number 15 on cousin Ed's ancestors list. Gurina is included in Generation #4, the great-grandparents generation. Grurina was one of Ed's great-grandmothers on his mother's side.

IMAGE: Gurine M. Thomsadatter
(ca. 1880). From the collection of
Edwin J. Ostrom.

Gurina M. Thomasdatter, born in northern Norway and she married Peder Christian Nilson, a young man who she met in her hometown. Her marriage to Peder was her second. She had married earlier to another man who died due to an accident. Along with the family's older children, Gurine would accompany Peder to America and they made their home in Minnesota.

Ed descended through:
* their daughter, #7 Dora Elise Nilsen (1877-1965), who married #6 Reinert Immauel Emerson (1870-1950)
* their daughter, #3 Alice Viola Emerson, who married #2 Edwin "Tom" Ostrom
* to #1 on the Names List, Edwin "Ed" Junior Ostrom (1944-2015)

INDIVIDUAL SUMMARY --

Name: Gurina Maria Thomasdatter [her birth name]. Alternate spelling to Gurine Marie Tomasdatter.

Sex: Female

Father: Thomas Christophersen Altermark (1776-1864) [alternate spelling of first name Tomas]

Mother: Marit Mathiasdatter (1794-1845)

SPOUSES, MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN --

Spouse 1 - Jens Peder Nilsen (1826-1859)

     Married - 16 July 1856 in Nord-Rana, Nordland, Norway [1]

Children with Jens Peder Nilsen

    1. Nils Christian Jensen (24 January 1857-04 February 1862)

    2. Marit Petrine "Mary" Jensdatter (23 October 1858-abt November 1898)

Spouse 2 - Peder Christian Nilson (1827-1888)
     Married - 30 September 1860 in Nord-Rana, Nordland, Norway [2]

Children  with Peder Christian Nilson
    3. Jensine 'Sina' Antonette Nilsen (04 February 1861-05 January 1903)
    4. Nille 'Nellie' Christina Nilsen (25 Febraury 1863-11 January 1943)
    5. Petrine Brigithe Nilson (13 May 1865-Aug 1868)
    6. Thomas Nilsen (16 August 1868-16 October 1934)
    7. Peder Bang Nilsen (16 August 1868-26 August 1868)
    8. Petrine Julie Nilsen (26 January 1871-22 March 1881)
    9. Anna Josephine Nilsen (27 November 1872-03 May 1953)
  10. Jakob Andreas Nilsen (06 January 1875-17 November 1887)
  11. Dora Elisa Nilsen (13 Jan 1877-10 October 1965)

  12. Gina Marie Nilsen (23 December 1878-27 September 1887

TIMELINE FOR GURINE MARIE THOMASDATTER --

Birth:  05 January 1832 - Råna, Nordland, Norway at the family's Altermark farm [3]

Baptism: 28 January 1832 - Råna, Nordland, Norway at parish church [3]

Confirmation: 27 June 1847 - Råna, Nordland, Norway at parish church [4]

Residence: 1865 - Sjonæs farm in Mo, Nordland, Norway [5]

Emigration: 26 May 1866 - boards the Bark Alder for Quebec, Canada [6] 

Residence: 1870 - farming in Irving Township, Kandiyohi County, then called Monongalia Co., Minnesota [7] 

Residence: 1875 - in Irving Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota [8]

Residence: 1880 - Union Grove Township, Meeker County, Minnesota [9]

Residence: 1885 - Union Grove Township, Meeker County, Minnesota [10]

Residence: 1895 - Union Grove Township, Meeker County, Minnesota [11]

Residence: 1900 - Union Grove Township, Meeker County, Minnesota [12]

Death: 26 January 1904 - Meeker County, Minnesota [13]

SOURCES AND RESEARCH NOTES (notes in blue) --

This source list id the result of selecting and adding sources to the Factsto the Ed Ostrom's Family Tree on Ancestry.com. This tree is 'synced' with his tree I keep on my desktop copy of Family Tree Maker, version 2017. I used the report publishing function and created an Individual Report for Gurina Maria Thomasdatter.

The source list that is provided by Family Tree Maker is not presented in the format suggested by the book "Evidence Explained." This book's author is Elizabeth Shown Mills and in it she defines a format to cite a source that has become the standard format for genealogists to use. I am trying to complete the citations in the standard format, but as I am still a beginner, there are going to be mistakes found.

1.) "Norway, Select Marriages, 1660-1926," database and digital image online, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2017), citing original data from Norway, Marriages, 1660-1926, FamilySearch.org; Jens Peder Nilsen, and Gurine Marie Thomasdatter, 16 July 1856, FHL Film # 307101, originally from the Mo, Nordland, Norway official Parish Register.

2.) "Norway, Select Marriages, 1660-1926," database and digital image online, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2017), citing original data from Norway, Marriages, 1660-1926, FamilySearch.org; Peder Christian Nilsen, and Gurine Marie Thomasdatter, 30 September 1860, FHL Film #307101, originally from the Mo, Nordland, Norway official Parish Register.

3.)  "Parish Register, Baptism and Birth Records," National Archives of Norway, (http://www.digitalarkivet.no : accessed 22 August 2017), Mo, Nordland, Norway official Parish Register Number 827A02 1842-1852, Baptism and Birth records, page 34; showing Gurine Marie Thomasdtr on line #2. Quicklink is https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/kb20050427030366

4.)  "Parish Register, Confirmation Records," National Archives of Norway, (http://www.digitalarkivet.no : accessed 22 August 2017), Mo, Nordland, Norway official Parish Register Number 827A03, 1826-1841, Confirmation records 1847, page 121; showing Gurine Marie Thomasdtr on line #59. Quicklink is https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/kb20050427030720

5.) "1865 Census for Mo," online database, Norway's National Archives (https://digitalarkivet.no/en : accessed 11 July 2017), County: Nordland, Municipality (1947): Mo, Nord-Rana, Gegoraphic area: Mo Prgj. Mo sokn, Census District: 002 Den faste Skole, Rural residence: 0001 Sjonæs, Løpenr/Bnr: 303a, household of Peder Nielssen.

The 1865 Norway Census provides us with the following information:

Residents:
*line 001 - Peder Nielssen -- age 39, born at Mo Præstegjæld, head of the household, married, farmer who owns his own farm
*line 002 - Gurine Thomasdatter -- age 33, born at Mo Præstegjæld, married, his wife
*line 003 - Marit Jensdatter -- age 9, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, wife's daughter from a previous marriage
*line 004 - Jensine Pedersdatter -- age 5, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, their child
*line 005 - Nille Pedersdatter -- age 3, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, their child
*line 006 - Petrine Pedersdatter -- age 1, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, their child
*line 007- Abelone Nielsdatter -- age 33, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, young female servant [likely Peder's sister]
*line 008 - Johanna Jørgensdatter -- age 30, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, young female servant
*line 009 - Petrine Johnsdatter -- age 22, born at Mo Præstegjæld, single, young female servant
*line 010 - Christen Holgerssen -- age 68, born at Mo Præstegjæld, married, retired farmer
*line 011 - Berit Andersdatter -- age 70, born at Mo Præstegjæld, married, his wife

6.) "Skipslister Bergen-Quebec 1865-73," online database, Norway's National Archives (https://digitalarkivet.no/en : accessed 11 July 2017), lines 1928-1932, Port Bergen, Year 1866, Month May, Day 26, The Peder Nielsen family, ship Adler.

This Ship's List incorrectly states Gurine's name as Oline, on line 1929. Then later on the list it gives Marit's last name as Pedersdatter, it should be Jensdatter, she was Peder's step-daughter.

*line 1928 -- Port of Bergen, date 26 May 1866, Peder Nielsen, last residence Sjonæs , male. age 39. birth place Helgeland, Ship Adler
*line 1929 -- Port of Bergen, date 26 May 1866, Oline [Gurine] Thomasdatter, last residence Sjonæs , female. age 34. birth place Helgeland, Ship Adler
*line 1930 -- Port of Bergen, date 26 May 1866, Marit Pedersdatter [Jensdatter], last residence Sjonæs , female. age 7. birth place Helgeland, Ship Adler
*line 1931 -- Port of Bergen, date 26 May 1866, Jensine Pedersdatter, last residence Sjonæs , female. age 5. birth place Helgeland, Ship Adler
*line 1932 -- Port of Bergen, date 26 May 1866, Nille Pedersdatter, last residence Sjonæs , female. age 3. birth place Helgeland, Ship Adler

7.) "1870 United States Federal Population Census," database online with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2017), citing National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm publication M593, roll T132_7, Image 396853, family history library film: 830427, Census place Irving, Monongalia (now Kandiyohi County), Minnesota, Peter Neilson household, page 4, lines 28-33.

The 1870 US Census gives us the following information, again Marit is listed with the wrong last name, should be Jensdatter:

*line 28 - dwelling no. 31, family no. 33 - Neilson, Peter -- age 42, male, white, Farmer, value of real estate $500, value of personal property $150, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*line 29 - Neilson, Gurine -- age 38, female, white, Keeping house, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth, cannot write
*line 30 - Neilson [Jensdatter], Marit -- age 11, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth, attended school part of the year
*line 31 - Neilson, Jensine -- age 9, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth, attended school part of the year
*line 32 - Neilson, Nellie -- age 7, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*line 33 - Neilson, Thomas -- age 1, male, white, born in Minnesota, parents of foreign birth

8.) "Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905," online database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2017), citing the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN, microfilm roll MNSC_10, Kandiyohi County, page 653, lines 14-22, Peder C. Nelson household

The 1875 Minnesota State Census provides us with the following information, including that Gurine's first name was incorrectly stated as Maria. Step-daughter Marit Jensdatter's name is entered as Mary Nelson:

*line 14 - Family No. 17, Nelson, Peder C. -- age 48, male, white, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 15 - Nelson, Maria [Gurine] -- age 43, female, white, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 16 - Nelson [Jensdatter], Mary [Marit] -- age 16, female, white, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 17 - Nelson, Jensine -- age 14, female, white, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 18 - Nelson, Nellie -- age 12, female, white, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 19 - Nelson, Thomas -- age 6, male, white, born in Minnesota, parents born in Norway
*line 20 - Nelson, Petrine -- age 4, female, white, born in Minnesota, parents born in Norway
*line 21 - Nelson, Anne -- age 2, male, white, born in Minnesota, parents born in Norway
*line 22 - Nelson, Jacob -- age 1, male, white, born in Minnesota, parents born in Norway

9.) "1880 United States Federal Population Census," online database with digital images, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2017) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FHL film #1254626, citing Nation Archives and Records Administration, Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 626, page 230A, image 0186, Union Grove, Meeker, Minnesota, Peter C. Nelson household, lines 3-12.

The 1880 US Federal Census gives us the following information:

*line 3 - Nelson, Peter C. -- white, male, age 52, married, farmer, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 4 - Nelson, Gurine -- white, female, age 48, married, keeping school [??, probably keeping house], cannot write, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 5 - Nelson, Jencine -- white, female, age 19, single, at home, born in Norway, parents born in Norway
*line 6 - Nelson, Nellie -- white, female, age 17, single, at home, born in Norway, parents born in Norway.
*line 7 - Nelson, Thomas -- white, male, age 12, single, at school, born in Minn, parents born in Norway
*line 8 - Nelson, Petrina -- white, female, age 10, single, at school, born in Minn, parents born in Norway
*line 9 - Nelson, Annie -- white, female, age 8, single, born in Minn, parents, born in Norway
*line 10 - Nelson, Jacob -- white, male, age 5, single, born in Minn, parents, born in Norway
*line 11 - Nelson, Dora -- white, female, age 3, single, born in Minn, parents, born in Norway
*line 12 - Nelson, Jennie -- white, female, age 1, single born in Minn, parents, born in Norway

10.) "Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905," online database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2017), citing the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN, microfilm roll MNSC_33, Meeker County, page 565, family 37, Peter C. Nelson household.

The 1885 Minnesota State Census reports for the peter C. Nelson family. Jensine's name is incorrectly written as Christine:

*Peter C. Nelson -- age 57, male, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*Gurnie M. Nelson -- age 53, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*Christine [Jensine] Nelson -- age 21, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*Nellie C. Nelson -- age 20, female, white, born in Norway, parents of foreign birth
*Thomas Nelson -- age 16, male, white, born in Minn, parents of foreign birth
*Annie Nelson -- age 12, female, white, born in Minn, parents of foreign birth
*Dora Nelson -- age 8, female, white, born in Minn, parents of foreign birth
*Gena Nelson -- age 6, female, white, born in Minn, parents of foreign birth

11.)  "Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905," online database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2017), citing the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN, microfilm roll V290_76, Meeker County, page 10, family 81, Peter C. Nelson household. 

The 1895 Minnesota State Census reports for the Gurenia Nelson family. Gurine's first name was misspelled:

*Gurenia  Nelson -- age 64, female, white, born in Norway, male over 26, farmer, parents of foreign birth
*Thomas Nelson -- age 26, male, white, born in Minn, male over 26, farmer, parents of foreign birth
*Dora Nelson -- age 18, female, white, born in Minn, parents of foreign birth

12.) "1900 United States Federal Population Census," online database with digital images, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2017), citing Nation Archives and Records Administration, Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 775, page 8B, microfilm roll 1240775, Union Grove, Meeker, Minnesota, ThomasNelson household, lines 70-72. 

The 1900 US Federal Census tells us the Gurine is now a member of her son Thomas's household and gives us the following information, including that Thomas and Julia were likely married only one month earlier, 1/12 is crossed out, leaving a zero: 

*line 70 - Nelson, Thomas -- head of household, white, male, born Aug 1868, age 31, married, zero years, born in Minnesota, parents born in Norway, farmer, not been unemployed, can read, can write, speaks English, owns his home, free of mortgage and its a farm rather than a house, farm schedule is 129

*line 71 - Nelson, Julia -- wife, white, female, born Dec 1870, age 29, married, zero years, has no children, none are living born in Norway, parents born in Norway, arrived in the U.S. is 1892, been here 8 years, can read, can write, can speak English

*line 72 - Nelson, Gurina -- mother, white, female, born Jan 1834, age 66, widowed,has one child, one is now living, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, arrived in the U.S. is 1866, been here 34 years, can read, can write, can speak English

13.) "Minnesota Death Record Index," Minnesota Historical Society (http/www.mnhs.org : accessed 23 August 2017) for entry Nilsen, Gurnia M [sic Gurina], Certificate number 1904-34-450, Death 26 January 1904, Meeker County.

CREDITS --

I would once again like to thank Randy Seaver of Genea-musing [http://www.geneamusings.com/] for his good work at writing about his genealogy. His ideas on formatting, page layout, etc. have been so helpful to me while I work on improving my skills at blogging.

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/15-gurina-maria-thomasdatter-1832-1904.html.

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. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Newspaper Article for Lura Shinn Brown (1897-1998)

Dear FOLKS,

Today's Amanuensis Monday project is to transcribe a newspaper article that spot-lighted Lura Ellen Shinn Brown. Lura was my maternal grandmother's sister and after my grandmother passed away, she also became my step-grandmother. To many in our family she was the only Grandma Brown they knew, as on 03 March 1973 she married my widowed grandfather, Eugene John Brown.

Lura had a very long life, born on 27 February 1897 in Casey, Guthrie County, Iowa and dying on 27 August 1998, at the age of 101. Lura was a widow three times over, having outlived three husbands, Local Francis Bowers, William Cornelius Rule and my grandfather. She was the daughter of David Wesley Shinn and Sarah Jane Parr.

This fun article told of one of her birthday celebrations.

IMAGE: Newspaper article about Mrs. Lura
Brown printed in the "Vandalia [MO] Leader"
on Thursday, 03 March 1988, page 5. [1]

-------- transcription begins --------

Mrs. Brown surprised on 91st birthday

   Mrs. Lura Brown, resident at Countryside Manor, Vandalia, was surprised Feb. 26 for her 91st birthday, which was Feb. 27. Mrs. Margaret And Terry, Farber, brought birthday cakes and ice cream for a party for all the residents and workers at the home honoring Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Terry also pinned a corsage on the honoree, who formerly was a Farber resident.

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

Source:

1.) "Mrs. Brown surprised on 91st birthday," Vandalia [MO] Leader, Thursday, 03 March 1988, page 5; copy of original in Brown-Shinn Family Archives files, privately held by Darlene M. Steffens, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,], Lincoln City, Oregon, 2017.

A copy of the original article was sent to me by Lura's family shortly after it was published in the paper. Fortunately this copy included the name of the paper and details of when it was published. I was a lucky person the day this article arrived in the mail.

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a good day and a great week.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/amanuensis-monday-newspaper-article-for.html.

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. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

Life in America for Peder C. Nilson (1827-1888)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

I missed you all last week. Sorry to have seemingly disappeared with not a word to you. I was diligently working on another family history project and time got away from me. You know how that is, life happens. But I am back and feeling energized to tell you more about Peder Christian Nilson, one of my late cousin Ed Ostrom's great-grandfathers. Peder was Ed's mother's mother's father. Earlier articles have told about Peder's young days in what is now Mo i Rana, Nordland fylke (county), in northern Norway, very near the Arctic Circle. I also wrote about his marriage to Gurine Marie Tomasdatter and in 1866, their decision to come to America. You can begin to read these earlier articles by clicking here.

Today, I want to share with you Peder's life after arriving in America. To begin, this trip, they left home on 09 April 1866. The family, including Peder, Gurine and four children arrived in Quebec, Canada on 02 July 1866 aboard the Bark Adler. A bark (also barque) is a sailing ship with at least three masts holding square sails. The trip lasted several weeks, beginning in Bergen, Norway on 19 May 1866 and arriving in Canada on 02 July 1866.

Dora has told in her story that the family's arrival in America was in Racine. Wisconsin. This is a port on Lake Michigan. It has not been recorded how the family traveled the distance from Quebec but it is likely they boarded another boat that traveled from Quebec to Wisconsin. It is possible that they used an ox driven wagon from Racine to their destination in Minnesota.

By 1870, the Nilson family is found enumerated within the federal census, living in Irving Township, Monongalia County, Minnesota. Before the year 1870 was over, Monongalia County became part of Kandiyohi County. A look at the layout of Peder's land shows us that his homestead was located in two counties.

IMAGE: Peder Nilson's homestead was in two
counties - Meeker and Kandiyohi

The Nilson house was in the Meeker County portion of their homestead and that is where their daughter Dora Elise Nilson tells of her birthplace. It is unclear to me why the 1870 U.S. Federal Census enumerator records them in Irving Township, Kandyohi County, but he did.

I have found the land grant document that was issued to Peder for his 80.0 acre plot in Irving Township and let me share that with you. It is a fill-in-the-blanks form. I have used italics in RED to reflect the information that was added. My comments will be shown in square brackets [ ].

IMAGE: Homestead Certificate
No. 3313 for Peder C. Nilsen

-------- transcription begins --------
285  [hand stamped]

The United States of America,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING:

Homestead Certificate No. 3313 }
Application 6573 }

Whereas, there has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a CERTIFICATE of the Register of the Land Office at St. Cloud Minnesota, whereby it appears that, pursuant to the Act of Congress approved 20th May, 1862, "To secure Homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," and the acts supplemental thereto, the claim of Peder C. Nilsen has been established and duly consummated in conformity to law for the North half of the North East quarter of section twenty-four in Township One hundred and twenty one of Range thirty three in the district of lands subject to sale at St Cloud Minnesota containing eighty acres. according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said Land returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR GENERAL.

Now know ye, That there is therefore granted by the UNITED STATES unto the said Peder C. Nilsen the tract of Land above described: To have and to Hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances  thereof, unto the said Peder C. Nilsen and to his heirs and assigns forever:

In testimony whereof, I, Ulysses S. Grant, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

{L.S.}

Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, and of the Independence of the United States the One hundredth.

BY THE PRESIDENT: U.S.Grant

By D.D. Cane, Sec'y.
S.W. Clark, Recorder of the General Land Office

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

Peder would remain in this location throughout the rest of his life. He would continue to farm and be a good neighbor to the area. In early 1888 he began to build a new house for the family. He was using trees to make the lumber taken from his forty-acre plot of land near Lake Kronis. He became ill and this turned into pneumonia. It was his third episode of this lung infection and he passed away while at home on 18 April 1888.

Upon his death, he left young children for his wife to raise alone. Their youngest was only 10 years old. It was very difficult times for his surviving family. But we learn that his son Thomas was able to take over the work of the farm. Thomas was nineteen and he would see to it that the house his father started to build was indeed built according to his father's plans.

I recently was able to obtain a copy of Peder's grave marker. He was buried near his home at the Nordland Lutheran Church Cemetery in Hawick, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. A very generous volunteer member from Find A Grave.com has allowed me to use his photograph here. Thank you to Kevin Thompson for his kindness.

IMAGE: Grave marker for Peder C.
Nilson. Used with permission by
Find A Grave volunteer Kevin
Thompson.

Peder Nilson was the first of cousin Ed's great-grandparents to die; he was sixty-one years old. It is sad that he left young children behind. His wife Gurine would remain a widow, never remarrying. Peder Christian Nilson was a hard working family man. As with all beings, there comes an end to one's life. It is time to say "Hvil i fred bestefar." [Rest In Peace Grandpa.]

Please join me next week when I'll introduce another member of my cousin Ed's family. I hope you have a great week.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/life-in-america-for-peder-c-nilson-1827.html.

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. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Obituary for Sally B. Loss (1786-1872)

Dear FOLKS,

Today's Amanuensis Monday transcription project is the obituary of my 4x great-grandmother. Sally O. Brooks married Benjamin Loss about 1806 in Vermont. They had a number of children and were active in village of Townshend, Windham County, Vermont. In roughly 1842 the family joined the Mormon Church, the church of Latter Day Saints.

Sally would follow the teaching of Joseph Smith and then Brigham Young and as her obituary states, she moved to various church settlements until finally reaching Salt Lake City in the fall of 1848.

This is a simple newspaper article and I am pleased to share this with you today.

IMAGE: Obituary for Sally Loss who died
on 20 March 1872 in Salt Lake City.

-------- transcription begins --------

108

DIED

At the residence of Jacob Peart, in the 14th Ward of this city, March 20th, SALLY, wife of Benjamin Lass [sic], of York state.

Deceased was born July 9, 1786, in Windham Co., Vermont, and joined the church in 1842 She moved to Nauvoo in 1844, which place she left in 1845 and went to Mount Pisgah. From the latter place she moved to Winter Quarters, and thence to Salt Lake in the fall of 1848.

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

Source:
1.) "Died'" obituary, 03 April 1872, page 3 [labeled 108], column 4, Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah.  Found on microfilm at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008.

My connection to Sally Brooks Loss is through:
   me, then:
   my father: William Richard Johnson, who married Marilyn Eileen Brown
   his mother: Olena Marie Haner, who married first Alfred Miriam Johnson
   her father: Warren Warner Haner, who married Anna Ostrom
   his mother: Sarah Malantha Loss, who married first James Haner
   her father: Benjamin Brooks Loss, who married Almira Reynolds
   his mother: Sally O. Brooks, who married Benjamin Loss

It was fun to find Sally's obituary in the Deseret News. It confirmed that the family had moved from Vermont, following along with the Mormon movement as they progressed to Salt Lake City. Sally was connected to my father's mother branch of the family tree.

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down; to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.

Thank you for stopping by today and letting me share this newspaper article with you. I also hope that your week has had a good start. And as always, I hope you have a great day.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/amanuensis-monday-obituary-for-sally-b.html.

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. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Memorial Card for Olena Culbertson (1903-1996)

Dear FOLKS,

Hope you are having a good Monday! This week I am transcribing the memorial card that was given to those who attended the Celebration of Life that was held for Olena M. Culbertson some days after she passed away. Olena Maria Culbertson née Haner was my father's mother... my grandmother.

You are right, this project is a quick one for me to transcribe as it has only a few words, but it is also one that not many have seen. So with a busy week for me, I thought to present this card to you. I hope you enjoy.

IMAGE: Outside of the memorial card for
Olena M. Culbertson.

-------- transcription begins --------

[left panel / back of the folded card]
She will always be in our hearts!

[right panel / front of folded card]
A Legacy to Remember

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

IMAGE: Inside of memorial card for
Olena M. Culbertson.

-------- transcription begins --------

[right panel / inside of folded card]

Olena M. Culbertson
August 1, 1903
to
September 8, 1996

You have passed from our sight
but not from our hearts!

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

This card repeats an error of Olena's birthday. Her baptism certificate from a church in Minnesota that her grandparents attended tells of her 21 August 1903 birth. To read that document click here. This is the birth date we so often celebrated with her. Olena was born in South Dakota, if a copy of her birth certificate is requested from South Dakota, what is supplied is a "delayed" birth certificate, issued many years after her birth and it also incorrectly claims her birth date was 01 August 1903. In the many times I have looked at this record, tonight while transcribing it, is the first time I noticed this mistake. Uff-dah!

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down; to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you. Today's example is one of those incorrect facts that I overlooked.

Thank you for stopping by today and letting me share this newspaper article with you. I also hope that your week has had a good start. And as always, I hope you have a great day.

-- --  --

The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/08/amanuensis-monday-memorial-card-for.html

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. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens

The Nilsons : According to Dora (1877-1965)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Here we are again. It is Wednesday when I share with you some of the stories that my late cousin Ed Ostrom collected of his ancestors. Of late, we have been learning about Peder Christian Nilson, one of Ed's great-grandfathers. Peder was Ed's, mother's mother's father and like Ed's other great-grandparents, Peder was born in Norway.

Dora Elise Nilson (1877-1965), wife of Reinert I. Emerson and daughter of Peder and his wife Gurine Tomasdatter, would in 1959, sit down with one of her children to tell her life's story as best as she could remember. A while back, I included the portion of Dora's memories that held her own immediate family... husband and children. That segment can be read by clicking here.

Today, while continuing to tell Peder's story, I want to share with you the first part of Dora Elise's story.

Dora Elise Emerson's Memoirs - Part II

by her daughter, Vivian Emerson Crowe

written in 1959

In Dora's own words:

It is with mixed feelings that I start this episode of my life. I was born January 13, 1877, in Meeker County, Union Grove Township on a farm of 160 acres, eighty in Kandiyohi County. My parents were God fearing, hardworking people. Coming from Sjonæs, Råna in northern Norway with four children. My mother’s first husband, Jens Nilssa, drowned in November 1858 while fishing in a sailboat that capsized during a storm. To their union Christian and Mary were born. Christian died in Norway.

In September 1860, Mother married Peder Christian Nilson, my father. To this union was born Jensine ‘Sina’, Nellie and Petrine, they were also born in Norway. They came to America the 9th of April 1866 and landed in Racine, Wisconsin. Sometime later they moved to Minnesota and took up homestead. Their first home was a log house built on a hill. The soil was very fertile and there was lots of moisture, consequently, there was an abundance of tall wet grass. There, Thomas and his twin brother Peter were born. When Tom and Peter were infants, there was little hope for the survival of baby Thomas, as he was puny and sickly. Peter was strong and robust, but the stronger baby was taken in death when just a few days old.

Sometime later they moved to Meeker County and built on a very nice location below a long hill with the hill to their north to shut out the cold north wind. Here we would often ski. This new location was flat and a desirable home-site. My father planted several rows of poplars to the west and north, he also planted apple trees and Mother moved wild plum trees from areas around, thinking that they would never survive. I can remember as a child picking a great many apples and plums my Mother knew would never bear.

The barn, granaries and machine sheds were to the east. At this home site, Anna, Jacob, myself, and a little sister Gina were born. We were a large, happy family. One incident I recall vividly, I was five or six years old. I teased my older sister Sina to give me coffee. She paid me little attention. However, when any demands reached a provoking stage, she promptly filled a cup half full of coffee, went to the pantry and filled it with salt. When I was to drink it, I saw the salt and tasted its bitterness and stamped my feet in anger, but I never teased for coffee again. When I was about six, my father’s parents came to America from Norway. I can vaguely remember my parents going to the funeral of one of them.

My father was a sincere, devout Christian. He spent most of his leisure time reading, making and mending nets. He was of medium height and weight and had black curly hair. He was of a more stern nature than my Mother who was of a mild temperament, patient and long-suffering, yet she demanded obedience and respect. She was rather plump and short with blond or golden silky hair. She read her Bible much of her spare time.

IMAGE: Peder and Gurine Nilson, circa 1880.
From the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

Sister Sina taught our home school. I was proud when she asked me to visit school one day. A boy by the name of Reinert Emerson was charged with the task of building the school fires, a duty he cared little for. One day he decided to rid himself of the job by building a fire a little too good, the stove got so hot the finish peeled off the desks. He was discharged of his fire-building duties.

I recall one Sunday when my brother, Thomas was to take Sina back to her boarding place where she taught school, my sister Anna and I went along purely for the ride. When we had gone a short distance one of Sina’s suitors came in a cutter, he was quite determined to take her himself. He jumped out of the cutter and was going to tie his horse to our sleigh, when Thomas jerked the reins for a quick getaway. This suitor would often come to our house after we were all in bed, go upstairs and sit in a chair beside Sina’s bed and plead for her to marry him. Tom played a trick on him one time by putting several stovepipes in front of the stairs, creating a thunderous noise when leaving in the dark, naturally arousing the entire household.

In those days, a number of young people would gather at our home and sing and play “last couple out,” a favorite game of those days. I cannot recall celebrating Thanksgiving, but always Christmas and the Fourth of July. My strongest childhood memories of Christmas were stringing popcorn to decorate the tree. I never knew of such a thing as a present. We always had a special Christmas dinner and the stove was given a special polish. One Fourth of July, Tom took Anna and me to Spicer to see a prize fight, it was the first one I had ever seen and I saw it all night in my sleep. I can remember the entire neighborhood having picnics at Lake Kronis.

I went to Union Grove School in Meeker County. This Reinert Emerson went to a nearby school at Irving. We often met at Church meetings near his schoolhouse. I saw him occasionally at his sister Ida’s home, who was a young bride and a dear friend of mine.

Nellie, my older sister, was married to Andrew Hendrickson. I so vividly remember their wedding day because of an unusual incident. Before the wedding, Andrew brought groceries in his wagon for their wedding and carried them to the house in the wheel-borrow. I felt that this mode of transportation was most unique and this whole thing was new to me. I do not recall any of the wedding itself, but do remember when they left to take up a homestead at Ft. Ransom, North Dakota. In due time Sina went there to teach; staying with Nellie, there she met P. Anderson who was also homesteading there. They were married and spent the rest of their lives in that vicinity. Nellie and Andrew moved to Seattle in their early years of married life.

About 1886, a diphtheria epidemic scoured the vicinity taking little sister Gina in its grip. Anna stayed home to care for her. I was out in the fields with Father, Mother and Thomas making hay. I felt ill and had a terribly sore toe. I begged them to let me go home. I too had the diphtheria bug; my sore toe became infected as a result. Mother had to take over, as Gina now was very ill. Dr. Fair from Paynesville was called and gave her medicine in powder form to gargle. In those days powders were prepared in little paper squares. He would repeat after his instructions, “Do you hear, do you see, do you understand?”

Gina passed away in the middle of the night. Anna and I slept upstairs, she heard Father and Mother weeping the loss of their youngest. Anna awakened me to tell me Gina had died. To this day, I have a feeling of remorse at the seemingly indifferent attitude I had, “Now,” I thought to myself, “I can have her doll.” Anna, Gina and myself had all received dolls from Sina for Christmas, they were lovely dolls with wax faces. When it was cold, we would wrap their faces for fear they would crack. I was not content with just mine, but now I could have two. Our little sister was eight years old and I was nine and a half. When they loaded the coffin in the wagon, I can remember my Mother held fast to the wagon weeping. She had to fumigate the entire house, but in less than a month Jacob, thirteen years old, became ill too, he developed a bad infection on his leg. The doctor was called again, same medicine and same instructions. Late one afternoon, they could see he could not live long without help. Father started off to a neighbor, Hogan Johnson, to get the doctor. When he had gone but a short distance, Mother saw Jacob was dying and sent Anna to tell Father it was too late. I do not remember the funeral proceedings, this death was a heavy blow to my father, I do remember Father had some nice verses framed and on the graves of Jacob and Gina.

My parents had sent Thomas to Willmar for advanced schoolwork at the Seminary. They did not write him concerning the illnesses and deaths for fear of his missing school. However, a neighbor boy was also attending school and he had heard and told Thomas. He immediately came home; he seemed to grieve more than the rest as he felt he had at times been anything but kind to Jacob.

While the children were sick with Diphtheria, Abalone would come to help my Mother. She would take her dress off and hang it on a tree outside. She kept another dress that she would wear while helping Mother with the sick children. She was a sister to my mother’s first husband, Jens. They were great friends, chumming together like sisters. I recall one day. Gina and I were sent to her house on an errand. She walked a short distance with us on our return home. While walking with us she held her hands on her side and complained her “hoga needed cleaning!” Naturally, we assumed she was saying her “side” needed cleaning. This frightened us and we ran all the way home. Mother explained that ‘hoga’ meant garden! When Zacharias Johnson, Abalone’s husband, was in the fields he would holler the one-half mile to tell his son to run to the Post Office for his tobacco. He and Father each had forty acres of timber at Lake Kronis. This was wood each fall for fuel and rough lumber. They were wonderful good neighbors!

I remember as a child too, eating a lot of fish, pike and pickerel. Father would spend many evenings making and mending nets. He would put a nail in the windowsill, secure his nets and mend them. Mother carded wool, wove material for clothing, made her soap and candles. She also made all the underwear, especially for the men folks from hand-woven fabrics.

In the spring of 1888, my father was hauling lumber for our new house; during much hardship, he encountered pneumonia. It was his third attack. For sixteen days and nights my mother did not undress, as she was his only nurse. He passed away in March of that year. As custom was at that time when deaths occurred, the neighbors would come and pleat muslin cloth in preparation for burial. They would take complete charge of preparing the deceased for burial. Coffins were always purchased but the outer boxes were made at home. It was also the thing of that day that at this trying period, the family prepared a large dinner for all of those who came for the funeral. Mother had a neighborhood girl, Olive Hendrickson, come and help bake.

Then Thomas got sick. He had gone on horseback fourteen miles to Atwater to summon the doctor for Father. He too had diphtheria. Olive promptly went home and no more dinners were served for funerals. Tom recovered, but as a result of the illness, his legs were so weak for months, he would fall for the least thing in his path. At this point Tom had to take over the work and management of the farm. He was nineteen years old.

The house was built as Father had planned. We moved in before the stairs were finished There was a temporary ladder installed in its place. Tom slept upstairs, Mother and I in the bedroom downstairs. Anna was away at school. Tom had a bad head cold and was delirious, he came down that rickety ladder to our bedside and pleaded with Mother to set him on his feet. He said he was standing on his head!

One of my duties was to go to the Post Office for the mail, a distance of four miles. I would run, then walk a few steps, then run again. Once I was caught in a heavy rain shower. There were two ladies ahead of me who retreated to the nearest farm house but I stood under a tree. I was too bashful to go in at first but finally built up enough courage to go in the house. They gave me some honey from the comb, which I did not like.

Some years later the Post Office was moved closer to our house. I would ride sidesaddle on ‘Lizzie,’ she being mean and lazy. Those days ‘a lady’ never would straddle a horse. It was considered very un-lady like and you would risk being the talk of the community! ‘Lizzie’ had a sister named ‘Victoria’ not only a more agreeable nature but also a more refined mare. We often had to wait hours for the mail carrier. Once I tied ‘Lazy Lizzie’ to a post. She got tired of being tied and put her weight on the rope. Of course, it broke and off she’d go. There was so much luscious grass along the way. She would eat and run and eat and run and eat and run. When the postman arrived, I would gather the mail and start walking, nearly catching up with her but she would arrive home before me, and Mother seeing the horse without its rider, would naturally be worried.

I remember once riding ‘Victoria’ to another Post Office and store. I was riding in a full gallop, a hole in the road caused her to fall to her front knees. Over her head I went. She promptly got up to start up again and saw me on the ground. She threw herself back not wanting to step on me. From then on, I loved her dearly. She did not want me to mount her again after this incident. I had to stand on an elevated object, like the fence post, to mount. I would often hug and caress those two dear animals.

Tom asked me one day to fetch the five young horses that were in a pasture a few rods west of the house. They were all by the gate waiting to get to the barn for their feed. I untied all the halter roped, lowered the gate rails and led all five prancing to the barn. With consternation, my brother met me, scolding me for handling them all at one time.

When I was sixteen, Anna and I went to Willmar to take up dressmaking. We rented an upstairs room. Tom hauled a load of wood for us thirty miles by horses. The woman had two girls, ages 9 and 11. The eleven-year-old would scrub the kitchen till it shone. The floor was entirely bare of paint but was so clean she would kiss it.

The following year Anna was sent to the teaching seminary at Willmar. When she got her certificate, she went to Ft. Ransom to stay with Sina. When she was finished with a term she asked me to come and we’d go home together. There were many young people that would gather at Sina’s home. They would sing so lustily; the neighbors would hear them far and wide. They also played ‘last couple out’ and had square dances. One of these I went to, but refused to dance. I had had a Christian teacher who spoke very sharply against dancing. I made up my mind never to dance. He also was opposed to usage of by-words such as “my goodness” or “for goodness sake.” This was good as I did not have to break myself in later years. He advised our speech should be “yay,” “yay,” and “nay, nay” as the Bible teaches.

Some years later, my girlfriend, Thea Ditmarson, her brother and her father and myself were going to Willmar for a week’s church convention. The son was along to take our team of horses back when we boarded the train. Mr. Ditmarson was driving and as we were going down a steep hill, the tongue dropped down and plowed into the deep sand. The horses became frantic, both men hollered for them to stop! Mr. Ditmarson pulled so hard on the reins he was pulled out of the buggy. Then I said, “Whoa;” when they heard my familiar voice they stopped immediately!

Thea and I stayed at my Uncle Andrew Johnson’s house. My father’s half- brother lived in a large house and lodged four men delegates who were staying there for the convention. The mother and oldest daughter did most of the work, cooking for all of us. Thea and I could have been a great deal of help but it was not fashionable in those days to accept help from strangers and-we didn’t have enough sense to offer! I apologized many years later for this act of inconsideration.

I often spoke poems at Christmas programs. I recall Andrew Borsheim would tell me I was the only one he could hear. Our cousins from Willmar, Julia, Ida and Mary would come to visit us. Their mother was my father’s half- sister. Ida had been in contests speaking on prohibition. She had won several medals. Nettie Anderson, a neighbor girl and I had some material from her and spoke in a contest in one of the neighborhood schools. Often in the evenings, we would have spelldowns at our schoolhouse. Brother Thomas and another young boy would usually win.

Another episode with Nettie Anderson I shall never forget. We were going to try out a boat. It was rather a large watertight box! The men had made it to ford themselves through a slough to put up a fence for the cattle. We would push the boat with sticks. The boat came too close to the fence so Nettie stood up to push the boat away from the post. This resulted with a splash into the muddy water up to her hips. When I saw she was in no apparent danger, I had a hearty laugh! Her pretty white dress was a sight to behold! Her dress was washed and hung to dry. A few years ago, she wrote to me at Christmas time, mentioning the incident and said, “Your mother didn’t even scold us!” Nettie and I got the same amount of head marks in spelling one year at school. We each got an autograph album for our achievements.

I cannot remember if I was fifteen or sixteen years of age when several Evangelists came to our community. The rumors were that two young men had been baptized in a lake close by. I was happy to hear this as I had been reading in the Bible a great deal. I would go out in our grape arbor where I had a hammock and read my Bible and Black Beauty. I knew the two young men that were baptized. I admired them and thought they were brave and respected them for obeying the Bible. When I read my Bible, I discovered it was so different from what I had been taught. I wished I had someone who could explain why they were practicing so differently from the Bible teachings. Occasionally, other Evangelists would come to the community, I went with others to those meetings. God spoke to me several times to make peace with Him. I was timid and refrained, but one evening the women speaker saw I was under conviction, she came and spoke to me. I immediately surrendered to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit. For the first time, I had peace with God and felt clean in my soul. All my sins were washed away. My name was written in the Book of Life.

My half-sister, Mary was sick one winter. I went to her home to help with the work. For this, my brother-in-law bought me a bicycle and with this I would go to church three miles away and the Post Office three or four miles away. I would also often go to see my dear friend Ida, whose brother, Reinert, I would often meet there. I suppose it was at this time that a romance was building between us. 

---- the remainder of Dora's story, as I mentioned earlier can be read here. 

It has been a real pleasure to share Dora Nilson Emerson's memories with you. It tells of the hardships, adventures and experiences endured by early homesteaders of Minnesota. I am very thankful that individuals in my cousin Ed's family shared these memoirs with him, so I can tell them now.

Thank you for joining me today. I am hoping that you have had a good start to your week.

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