February 1910

Before sharing the February 1910 diary pages, here's a cool image, above. The photo was taken in 1894 (16 yrs before this diary) in the nice parlor of their large Egeland farm house. MaryOP is backed by her eldest daughters, LenaFP (left) and MaryHP and her Bible is on the table before her. In 1894 ((I've stared a lot, in higher resolution, at the calendar to our right behind her)), MaryOP is 41 yrs old -- so this is about about 7 yrs before much of the family moved to Kalispell MT. Above the calendar and high on the wall --on either side of the bull-horns displayed there-- are old photos of her Olsen parents, Henrietta C. P. & Ole Hanson (both gone),, and of her parents-in-law Paulsen, Anna Marie and Paul Fredricksen, then still living. I share this now because I don't think we'll find a circa 1897 diary to share! ... unless you know where such is? Do tell.
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February 1910 Diary:

George and his wife Annie might then have been living in Fargo, as she notes the address in the back of diary (for some time in that year) as Room 7, Bower Block, Fargo N.D. Annie's family was mostly in Fargo.

MaryOP is mediating some business deal between her 10th-born George and his brother-in-law. Ras S. Rasmussen. MaryOP is big on sending religious tracts esp. to her children who, in her view, might be 'going astray' somehow; a Mother on a Mission. She's always ordering tracts from places for someone. When she writes letters to "Lord" they are more of earthly business than heavenward; Carl Lord was president of her bank, Ist National Bank in Cando with his brother Harry Lord as associate of same. I wonder if the "S. mortgage' at the end could be her farm property at nearby Starkweather... ?

Will and wife Olga will be relocating to Bisbee, some to the north where her Nelson parents/ some family lived. A photo of them in some later posting...

Someone help me figure out who Carl Nelson is -- it is so famiiar I can taste it ! --[I should know.] Could this Grandma be Sine Nelson, wife of John Ed Nelson, also parents of Annie and Edwin? she/ they lived in Fargo. If so, it's odd that MaryOP doesn't mention this lady is also Mother of George's Annie and Lillian's Edwin ... >>> YO,, Cousin Ed Nelson in Wichita just e-replied to my question and he thinks it is indeed Carl, the (then) 13 yr old little brother of Annie & Edwin. 'Grandma Nelson' has relatives in Bisbee -- so indeed maybe so. (The Wichita Ed is a grandson of Lill (Paulsen) and Edwin Nelson, who will marry in 1-1911. Thanks, Ed!)

- - - - MaryOP often uses a W for the letter V, fitting her Danish English tongue.

Yay! -- This could be the key to WHERE in Texas MaryOP and her 3 youngest Girls lived for a while, after moving out of the new Albert-built home (Kalispell MT) where he had been horrifically killed in an accident in 1904. MaryOP couldn't stand to live in there further with those memories... She took the girls to the coastal region of TX, as she [I do believe] wanted to board a ship there, back to Denmark. Each of the girls had a trunk for the trip. But the girls didn't want to move to Denmark and talked her into moving back to Towner County, ND -- and they soon did. Beeville TX is not named for buzzy bees but for a leader with the last name of Bee. Annie Krogstad, daughter of MaryOP's just older brother, Christian Olsen, lived in so. MN, and is conferring with her Aunt about land Mary might've owned. [at end of this posting is more about MaryOP's siblings, incl Christian -- parts of what's known (due to research by Amy Michelsen, Dale Paulsen, me, others) -- but a good overview; a "View" indeed! Photos were mostly provided by cousin Kenn Woll. Thanks!]

Photo below is of Annie (Mrs P.A. Krogstad) and children:

"Mrs. Mathias" is MaryOP's sister-in-law, another Mary -- Albert's youngest sister. There's Lots of Marys in this extended family, so she distinguishes them by quoting the husband's first name; this one is Mary (Paulsen), married to Mathias PaulsOn.
This photo I've cropped from a 1901 Full Mathias-Mary family studio photo. This shows her (in her early forties) with a twin baby; she had born 12 children by then-- two more would be born after this photo. Very unfortunately, Mathias died late in 1909 {two months before MaryOP wrote the above-mentioned letter to her) leaving "Mrs. Mathias" with 13 living children, only one of whom was married. You'd think giving birth to 14 children within 22 years would've done HER in --but he died. I see some similarities between her and brother Albert. Here's the tired and determined Mary "Mathias" in 1901. She was born in 1866, 13 yrs after her brother Albert and wife MaryOP. 'Our' Mary was very good at visiting and writing to Widows -- an area of much experience in 1910, so she could empathize and sympathize. In 1910, this Mary 'Mathias' lived in Blooming Prairie MN, at a rural route address.

MaryOP is one Strong lady! (Having 13 kids is not for wimps.) Although not feeling well, she hauls a five gallon tank of kerosene up the stairs from the cellar -- 40 lbs, yes? And tanks don't hang on as a child would, to help one hold-lift them up.

She means "Angrove and Volstad," I do believe-- a mission charity which collects things for the needy --the address is in Minneapolis. She donates money and clothing. The Presbyterian Church in town [how much fire damage we don't know] functioned as a congregation from just 1906 to 1912.

It's 36 below zero, that's 68 degrees colder than freezing -- but deep Winter is the season for butchering as the meat then freezes fast. Rasmus is married to Lena, MaryOP's second daughter. MaryOP paid $9.50 for a bunch of meat -- see her expenses page, after Feb 28 below. In the ca 1904 photo page below (thanks to Larry Smith, Rasmussen historian) a winter butchering day is documented, the year that MaryOP left for warmer climes >> like the day in Feb.1910 with Ras and workers near Cando. This (below) is at the Kalispell MT home of Chris Rasmussen and Dagny, Larry's grandparents) with Jim Rasmussen (2 of Ras's married brothers) and AnnaCPR (MaryOP's 3rd daughter), with Rasmussen parents at left and 2 younger brothers at right..

These are tough lasses! It's -34 and the Girls went to a school supper -- with cake in hand.

John is the kindly father of the Segerborg family with whom Albert & Mary and 7 Paulsen kids stayed (I believe it was in their barn) when first arriving in Towner County, ND from southern MN. The Paulsens lived there while building their own house, and stayed friends lonnng after.

Such an icy, exhaustingly wet mess! -- plus a 'stormfull' night to finish it off.

38 degrees below zero,, yet The Girls made it to Literary meeting. No heated car or insulated ski-pants; just dresses with many stockings and, if in a horse carriage (which I doubt, in town and all), a lap rug for warmth. A heated brick, at least. Mangling (flat-press ironing) was a way to warm and hands.

A freshening of linens outside in those ice cold temps... They'd reheated them near the furnace once inside again,, yes? Brrrrr!

I'm not glad she was very, very tired --but I am glad she could admit it when she was.

'Mrs. Miller' is Dorothea (nee Paulsen, sister of Albert) who lived in Blooming Prairie, a piece north of Albert Lea MN. She had five children when her husband Peter Miller died, a year before Albert did. Not only did these women have this Albert connection, but widowhood, too. They wrote each other a lot.

MaryOP is famous for her letter writing! Her three letters above include one to a publisher for a Cookbook -- in her expenses list, it's a "Kogebog," the Danish, cost of $1.00;. 20 half-penny Easter cards; and Sunday School books. The month kindly ends with a sweet 12 degrees above with soft, seemingly thawing winds - -

Her month's cash-out:

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Now some "thumbnail" basic info and photos of MaryOP's family of Olsens, and this shows why I took an extra day to post this! Certainly not a total of what we know about this family -- [other research done by Amy Michelsen, Dale Paulsen, myself, others] -- but it's an overview, quite literally a View thanks to Kenn Woll and his Grandma for the photos, and his sharing thereof.

First is MaryOP's parents in a Danish photo: Henriette Conradina (Pedersen) born ca 1816, she died 1893, MN -- and Ole Hansen born ca 1809, he died in 1874, just a year after they got to MN. Quite progressive, this Danish photography studio: she has her arm tucked into his prim elbow! This was very badly faded when cousin Kenn Woll obtained it [I think from his Grandmother Mary (Paulsen) Fredlund] so he had a professional restore it to its current nice condition. Taken circa late 1860s / early 1870s:

Their six xhildren were born in Denmark --and they are:

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1.) MARIE ('Mary') FREDRIKKE OLSEN, born Feb 26, 1839; she died Aug. 10, 1893, a few months before her mother died. Here's a ca 1870 photo of her with husband Rasmus Jorgensen/ 'Skrea' (1838-1919) They had two children, also in the photo: Anna Kirstine ('Stenna') and little Jorgen/ 'George.'

Here, some years later, the same: Rasmus "Skrea" and Marie (Mary) F.O. Jorgensen.

I see similarities between Marie/ 'Mary' and her 14 yrs younger sister, MaryOP, yes? The photo has the name 'Krauser' erroneously scribbled onto the Studio name -- but no; Kraushaar 'Crowser' was married to their daughter Stenna.

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2.) (baby) Christian August Olsen, born ca Feb 1842, died June 1842. No photo. The tradition was that if a baby or child died, the next child of same gender would be given the same name as the 'lost' one. So his name will live on, given to the next son born 8 yrs later.

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3.) PETRINE ANDRESINE OLSEN was born July 23, 1846; she never left Denmark. I know little about her -- I don't believe she married or had children. I recall MaryOP adding after the fact to a May 1907 diary page something like 'my dear sister Petrine died today' --when she'd heard or read word from her MN brother.

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4.) CHRISTIAN AUGUST OLSEN, named for the baby brother who died 8 yrs earlier, was born 1850 in Denmark, where he was well acquainted with his wife-to-be, Marie Hanson. I BELIEVE STRONGLY that there exists a pre-emigration, pre-marriage sweetheart Photo of Christian and Marie, seated side-by-side, as there is for our MaryOP and her sweetheart Albert, all from the same small location on the island of Fyen, Denmark. Can anyone help me find the Chris-Marie photo? .Dale Paulsen, would/ could you help me, please? Christian and Marie H. Olsen had 7 children, four of whom died; surviving were three daughters, one is referred to above (Feb 12.) .Marie died 18 yrs before Chris did, so the following solo photo was taken sometime during Chris's widower years of 1911-1929. the year C.A.O. died.

[ Darn ! I thought I had uploaded the Chrstian Olsen photo !! I did -- and it's gone. Can't re-add it. I'll include it, next month as a visual comment to myself and you! ]

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5.) "Our" MARY (OLSEN) PAULSEN was born 1853 in Denmark and died 1940 in Minot ND. In this cropped Danish ca 1972 studio photo of then 'Maren Olsen' and her future husband "Albrecht"/Albert Paulsen were well acquainted, 'promised.' They married 1873 in so.MN soon after she arrived in MN. There they had 9 of their 13 children-- then moved to Egeland ND where the last four were born. [Two of the 13 did not survive beyond young childhood. I share the Danish maiden of age 19 look so you can compare her younger face with her siblings.

- - - -- And next is a photo taken nearly 30 yrs later of Albert & Mary O.Paulsen, then married for 28 yrs. The photo is cropped from the ca 1901 family photo of their Paulsen troops.

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6.) Lastborn LUDVIG OLSEN was born 1855 in Denmark, then to Albert Lea, and then lived many years in /near Los Angeles CA. We know he was in CA already 1910 as MaryOP notes his address as 615 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles Cal. in the back of this diary and then in 1929 he is listed in his bro Christian's obituary as a survivor (still in or near Los Angeles, would then be about age 74.) Before leaving Albert Lea MN he was a tailor and had a shop on Main Street. >> Does anybody want to take on the challenge of finding more about Ludvig and Christine's life, possible children, other family and death dates in CA, and previously, Albert Lea? The photo below is with his wife, Christine ___(? name), location unknown. Do notice his crisp, well-tailored, classy suit - -

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Comments from Readers:

>>> Re: Again, the "Axel Hanson" mentioned as 'Axel" in last month's diary (Jan. 15th) -- Ralph Rasmussen and wife Lois recently found an OLD Atlas of the area and thus could report that an Axel Hanson had land right next to George & Annie Paulsen, thus so well known to the family that MaryOP could and did mention him on a first name basis. (The other Axel in the area was Axel Nelson, with whom MaryOP had farm dealings -- but of course she might have made a "typo" regarding the name, and both could be the one Axel.) >> Thanks, Ralph!

>>> Re: My comment in last post (Jan. 16) that maybe a MAN had burned when MaryOP wrote "Tilskovs hired mans Shake burnt up this Morning, from the Stove" -- I had worried to you that could his hired hand "Shake" might have burned ?!? -- but my sister, Cindi Paulsen gave me the good idea that 'Shake' more likely is MaryOP's way of writing 'shack' with her typical capitalizatioin of nouns. So, yes, let's assume it was the unnamed hired man's Shack that burned, not he. .. Thanks, Cindi!

>>> Please remember that I welcome Reader comments re: further ideas about, illuminating additions to, and corrections of my comments or re: MaryOP's entries. ---> I heartily invite that so please use my email mapptree@gmail.com for such (but no other general fwd'ings, please) with the referred-to diary date included in text. Thanks --

Signing off until the 1st of March,

-- Marsha Paulsen Peters

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