Ole's Blog

In one of those albums at David Kasold’s is what must be the original print of the famous 1910 “shack” photo.This print, although smaller than the picture postcard I made my best copies from, is at least as clear, perhaps a little clearer. On the same album page is what appears to be the main portion of Isaac’s “real” house, located on Smith’s land claim.Lots of interest here. First, in the foreground, two sod structures that must be root cellars or other food storage. Cropping in a little closer, we can see parts of two vehicles.On the left, behind the tree branch, appears to be a horse-drawn wagon, and on the right, mostly hidden by the sod structure, is the rear of an open buggy, or perhaps a “horseless carriage.” And ramped up to the native resolution of my scanner,we can make out the figure of a man near the right corner, and possibly another human form framed by the doorway. This picture seems to be taken from the west.

I am guessing that the side with the door is where an addition was later built, giving the house its final and more familiar shape. If so, then the  picture below (by Uncle Ivan, approx. 1941) was taken from the opposite side, which became the “front.”Note the lean-to structure behind the house, which looks similar to the one in the foreground of the older photo, supporting my guess about the viewing angles. The final interesting detail is that the second photo was labeled “Isaac’s,” even though it must have been taken long before Smith “disposed of” his claim when he reenlisted in the Marines.

Next: more about the Nesseth’s.

Here is a large group photo from one of the “Louise” albums, one of the few that has a date attached. I emailed this to a couple of you a few months ago, after my first visit to cousin David K., but I got very poor copies then, using a hand-held camera. This time I brought along my own scanner and captured the best copies I could hope for.

A few general comments: 1) The background is positively the North Dakota, Larson brothers’ homestead country. That is a little vague in this photo, but others confirm it. 2) I admit I am very poor at ID-ing people from old photos. After literally hours of staring and comparing with all the other pics I have, and with all my family info, I can only guess at a handful of these folks.

Even the adults named without ? marks are open to question.  Here is another shot almost surely from the same occasion. Some of the same people are in it, wearing the same clothes, but there are key changes.

Both Walt and Lovell are there now. They are almost the only ones in either picture I am really certain about. Oscar and Olaf (if that is who they are) are now down in front; Axel and Isaac are missing, and Anna is standing behind that handsome dude with his sleeves rolled up, who is sitting next to Olaf. For a while, I thought that one might be Isaac, but the resemblance (in my eye) is extremely poor.

Thanks to Edna’s notes, and to other photos like the one below, I am sure I have her  and Lenora pegged.

But yikes! Who the heck are “Ruth” and “Lois??” They are in the group shots as well. They both look older than Edna, so must have been born between approx. 1898-1903. I have scoured the “Larsons and Slettens,” plus the Samuelsons, Moens, and even the Nesseths, and can find no one by those names that could possibly be them. The little tyke with the white collar is another huge mystery. He must have been born in 1915 (give or take a year), and there is no one in my records who fits.

At least one of the babes-in-arms is also unaccounted for. One is surely Harvey. Another could be Vernon, although he was only three weeks old on this date, and none of them look that young. But even if so, there is no one to match the third baby. So, pipe up, cousins! I need some serious help on this one.

Next: a new, early picture of “Isaac’s house.”

I just got back from a trip to northern California. The main purpose was to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 94th birthday, but I made a side trip to visit (second)  cousin David Kasold, the grandson of “Aunt Lucy,” Louise Larson. David has several old photo albums, apparently assembled by his mother Edna, but containing snapshots from Louise (most likely taken by Smith Larson). Some of these photos I have seen before, but most of them are new to me. The latter include the earliest photos yet of Waldemar and Lovell. The first one is positively Walt; a similar but less clear shot is labeled as such.

Walt c. 1914

Next is obviously Isaac and Walt on the right. The other man and child are less certain; after some very insightful comments (see below), I am fairly settled on Isaac’s close friend Con Brunsvold and his eldest son Howard (wh0 was about Walt’s age).

Isaac, Walt, and ?? c. 1915

Below must be the earliest photo yet known of Lovell.

Walt and Lovell c. 1915

Finally (for today), the two of them with a barnyard pet.

Walt, Lovell, and calf, c. 1917

This is a luxury, very few of these are labeled at all. Next: some large group shots with identity crises.

The drive from Dubuque to northern Vernon County, Wisconsin took longer than expected.

After a nice lunch at the “Badger Crossing” with Aline, Clarice, and Sam, we went to Brush Creek church and cemetery.

Brush Creek church

No one among us knew when the church was built. It must have been after the fire anecdote that Aline related in “Larsons and Slettens,” and prior to 1906. Great-uncle Axel’s wedding photo from that year (published in the same book) shows in the background the very artwork that is still displayed in the chancel.

Church interior

Out in the cemetery, Aline guided us to the graves of a slew of relatives. The first was Ole and his first wife Anne (Samuelsdatter).

Ole's stone

The stone was placed by cousin Aline relatively recently, prior to about 1980 when my mother photographed it.

Nearby is the grave of Ole’s mother, Anne (Larsdatter).

Anne's stone

Her correct birth date, as discovered in the primary sources, is 1801. Anne is buried alongside Ole’s sister Mari, Mari’s husband, and one child. Anne’s stone is very similar to those of the three Stigens; they must all have been placed by the Stigen family.

Stigen stones

Anne Samuelsdatter’s brother, Ole (Samuelson), is also buried at Brush Creek, as are his wife and at least one son, Sidney.

Several of Ole Larson’s children are there, including Smith Larson.

Smith's stone

I had thought that Smith was a merchant marine. Maybe that was after he was a US Marine? I also heard for the first time that Smith had died after losing a leg with gangrene. Unclear how long that was before his death, or what kind of injury the leg had suffered. Other details are needed on these questions.

On the Moen side, Anna Moen’s parents, Gunder and Maria, are buried at Brush Creek.

Gunder Moen's stone

There are lots of other Moens there. When I get home and see the Moen book, I will try to figure out which ones are related.

So for myself, and all the grandchildren of Isaac Larson, we have four great-grandparents and one great-great buried at Brush creek. There are some more great-greats at Coon Prairie, coming up in a later post.

Sorry this is taking so long. I’m just really busy right now.

I recently learned that I can search US census records for free using HeritageQuest.com by logging into my account with the local public library (from home). This was a great discovery, as I have used up my “free trial” at Ancestry.com, and a subscription with them is too expensive.

It took a few hours of frustration searching the 1880 census for Wisconsin, but I finally located Anne Larsdatter! I tried “Anne Larson;” there were a few in Vernon County, but none near the correct age (approx. 79). I had already found Ole and “his” Anne Larson, along with their eldest children, Smith, Louise, and Magnus; but mother Anne was not with them. I suspected she may have been living with daughter Mari and her husband Hans Hanson Stigen (she is buried next to them at Brush Creek cemetery). I tried “Hans Stigen;” there were none in all of the US. I tried “Hans Hanson;” of course there were a zillion of them, 14 in Vernon county alone, but none that matched the family I was looking for. I tried “Mari Hanson,” no success.

Finally, exploring alternative spellings, I tried “Anna Larson” (the more phonetic spelling of the first name). Well, there was one of the approximate age (80), so I went right to the image:

1880, Whitestown township, Vernon county, WI

Shucks. I have never heard of any Martin Larson, wife Metta(?) or daughter Ella. But something didn’t look right. Martin was 23 years old, and “Mother” Anna was 80. Well sure, those Norskie women were tough, but 57 years between mother and son?! Fishier than lutefisk. So I took a broader view:

Bingo!! I hadn’t thought to try the alternate spelling “Hansen!” Nor “Mary” for Mari. There was the whole family, exactly as depicted in “Larsons and Slettens.” Apparently Martin Larson was a hired hand, and the census taker just confused whose mother Anne was.

So there we have it. As usual, I didn’t check with Aline first; chances are she already had this info. Maybe she even knows who those other young Larson’s were. I don’t think they’re in her book though. Hoping to make more progress today on Helene Olsdatter’s immigration.

Here are two clips from the first filmed trip to N. Dakota, by Walt and family, approx. 1942. The first must be of a Nelson boy(?) with Lois, then Irene and sisters, and ends with some good old-fashioned family fun.

43-id-1

The other clip has two or three other families – I have no clue who.

43-id-2

I think I recognize the school building (Squaw Gap?) from the still photo below, and the nearby badlands also look familiar. The still was taken at the time of Grandpa’s funeral in Skaar, 1969. It was just months before Lovell died, & is probably the last picture of the five brothers together.

So, if you recognize the folks in the videos, especially the second one, please chime in. Lots more of these ND folks awaiting recognition.

From approx. 1948, Myrna, Marcia, Irene and her parents (I think), Kenny and George in parade costume, etc.

49-Walt

Then about 1956-57, Walt, Marcia, Myrna, Lois, Kenny. Cut to the only picture I know of, of Grandpa Larson with a big grin on his face, followed by some more showing-off by George, with Ron, Marcia, and Ivan in the background. Never let it be said that I only embarrass others with these clips, and spare myself!

56-walt

Coming next: some more identity questions. Sharpen your memories, cousins.

Up until very recently, my parents’ home movies were the earliest I had seen. That was until I got the DVD disk from Cousin Myrna. So, sue her, not me, if any of these put you over the edge as one of the stars. Uncle Walt was on the job as videographer by approx. 1942. In the earliest scenes: Lois, Kenny, and Darlene:

1941loisken-3

Next, Darlene & Duke the dog on July 4, and Kenny et. al. in Autumn Leaves:

1942daruncle

Finally, Irene with birthday cake (?-don’t know whose; Lois’ 6th is coming later); Lois & Ken’s tea party, and some men smelting on the Cowlitz River. I think the one in the hat is my Dad(Lovell), age about 27. Enjoy.

1942_irene_e_al

Here are some movie clips from 1949-50. First, a family reunion at 4316 Pacific Way, 1950. Featured are Isaac, all five sons, plus Aunt Irene and her sister Vera (? – help me out on this, cousins), and some horseplay by Darlene, Lois, Kenny and Myrna. I inadvertently left the sound on this one – mostly just noise, sorry.

50-reunion

Some of you remember how my Mom loved to make costumes and dress up the kids. Parades were a cherished opportunity. Here are a couple of examples from 1949-1950 featuring me, Kenny, Myrna, Marcia, and some other kids, all outfitted by Reatha.

49-50-parades