Born in Vernon County, Wisconsin, on this date in 1884: my grandaunt Alma Larson (m. Raiten), half-sister of Isaac Larson.
Skeleton alert: Alma was the first child of Ole’s second wife, who had previously been the family’s housekeeper. However, she was born one month before Isaac, youngest child of the first wife, who lived a full year after the two births. This may help explain the rumored friction between Isaac and his stepmother, and his decision not to remarry after his wife died in 1928, leaving him with five young sons.
Sheila Geier
Jan 5, 2015
Hi George! Thank you for sharing this photo of my great grandparents anniversary.
I know so little about them and until now only one photo that my Mother shared with me. If you have any thing more on Alma I would so appreciate getting copies.
personal email is doxxielvr@tds.net
Would happen to know anything about Where in Norway Alma’s Husband John (Johan) came from? I haven’t found anything specific yet nor any info on his parents.
Thanks for any info. Happy New year. Sheila Geier
George
Jan 6, 2015
You are welcome. I do not know where in Norway John Raiten came from. I would bet it is somewhere in Gudbrandsdalen, as the entire Coon Prairie-Brush Creek settlements were from that region, where they speak a very distinct dialect of Norwegian. In the 1900 census, just before John and Alma married, he was a hired hand at Ole Larson’s, and his name was taken as “John J Johnson.” Another Raiten descendant confirmed he had used that surname, and said John had one or more brothers, some of whom may have kept the Johnson name. My informant didn’t know any more than that.