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 (who 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.
Lois Larson Hall
Oct 23, 2009
Just a minor labeling correction–Walt was born in 1913, not 1912 as date in the first picture states.
Second picture: gosh, wasn’t our grandfather a handsome man. The other fellow looks kind of like yet doesn’t really look like Axel. If that is Chester (born 1910 according to data from Aline’s book) he would have to be 3-1/2 years older than Walt, and there appears to less age difference that that. Carrol, I hope you chime in on this one. What do you think?
I have always thought I look alot like my dad and seeing these pictures of him as a toddler–wow–you could put my childhood pictures next to his and not be able to tell which is who. (It’s our plump little faces that are the dead give-away.)
Looking forward to next batch of pictures, George!
George
Oct 23, 2009
Thanks cousin. I always forget that Walt was 1-1/2, not 2-1/2 years older than Lovell. And, in the second picture, maybe the older one is Walt, and the younger is Lovell. Walt does not have such long hair visible in any other pictures, but the matching outfits and everything … could be. The pictures in the album were definitely not in chronological order.
Bonnie
Oct 25, 2009
These are so cool! In the matching outfit mystery photo, that has to be Isaac and Walt on the right. Could the guys on the left be Brunsvolds? Is there a Brunsvold boy slightly older than Walt? Clothing was most likely passed around between families and friends, and it would not be too unusual for two little non-siblings to be dressed in outfits made by one of the moms. Love the calf picture.
Bonnie
Oct 25, 2009
What about the background in that second picture? Looks like the ocean! Just an optical illusion?
George
Oct 25, 2009
Brundsvolds? Brilliant! There are five Brundsvold boys, very close in age to the five Larson boys. Let’s explore this. As for the “ocean,” I would guess it is either snow, or some glitch in film developing.
Lois Larson Hall
Oct 28, 2009
Bonnie, A+ for you if grades were being handed out!! Dad talked alot about the Brunsvolds. I’m glad you thought to mention them because it’s so highly likely that they’re included in the group photos. I recall on one of our trips to North Dakota probably in the late 40’s stopping in Billings (Laurel actually) to visit with some Brunsvolds, the name Con comes to mind, and I wonder if our cousin Con was named for him?
Uncle I
Oct 28, 2009
I agree that I tought that it could possibly be Con Brunsvold, even before I read Lois’s comment.
I am having a hard time deciding that Lucy’s picture of “Isaacs” is really Isaacs. To me it is hard to imagine the additions being made to that house as it stands today. Also, the hills in the background are hard to identify as being near our place. However, I could be wrong.
From the background in the group pictures, I think, they could possibly have been taken at Axel’s in Squaw Gap
George
Oct 29, 2009
I now think it is Con Brunsvold in that picture with Isaac and Waldemar. I have a photo of Con in 1972 when Mom visited him, and the resemblance is good – even after a gap of almost 60 years! The eldest Brunsvold boy, Howard, was about Walt’s age.
I don’t think it so likely that Brunsvolds are in the large group photos. There is no relationship to the Larsons, even by marriage, that I have yet discovered. The Amundson’s, on the other hand, are related by marriage, and I’m hoping Millie and/or Ray may recognize someone there.
Interesting about the house. I can visualize the addition all right, if the 1941 photo (and all others I have) was taken from directly opposite where the old “Louise” photo was taken. The hills in the background, though, I don’t know. It could well be that the group photos were taken at Axel’s. And certainly plausible that his original house might have been virtually identical to Smith/Isaac’s. An odd mistake for Louise to make when labeling the picture, though, unless she did it many years later.
Nesseth Connections « Ole's Blog
Oct 31, 2009
[…] Note the two girls standing dead-center, Grace and Ina Nesseth, daughters of Louis. Turning to the “Louise Larson” albums, […]