Olehere and There

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Loyd Oleson - Short Stint as a Wedding Photographer for the Faulkton National Enquirer

Monday, February 8, 2021

Garage Happy Hour !!

This is the new normal for most of America!

Our great COS neighbors - we are very happy here...

(Fortunately, many of our neighbors have been able

to get their shots already. We are on the list now

that CO has opened the list to 65+.)

One mile from the Grandkids, two miles from

Lowes and the Gym, three Miles from the Hospital

and King Sooper, four miles fom Home Depot in

case Lowes doesn't have it. Just wish the Restore

was closer. (Pike's Peak is clearly in site but

takes a whole bunch of time to get

there, especially if you hike.)

My Friend Steve Orndorf Wrote a Jungle Fishing Book!

Awhile ago, my Napa Pipe Workmate Steve wrote a book about his Fishing Misadventures with his brother Dave. Over the years, I heard the stories, usually as an adjunct to a weekly Quality Meeting. (He would be encouraged by the Plant Manager to give a brief descriptive summary of his latest yearly fishing trip.) He would probably disagree but I find him one of the best ad hoc speakers I have ever met. A Real Toastmaster So To Speak!!

If you like fishing, you might want to order his book. (If it is not already sold out!)

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Frederick Lewis Oleson and His Tractor - Breaking Ground Business

Fred Oleson, breaking ground at age 26, employing at least two men - two
families - whilealso being the main breadwinner, based on the 1910 census for
9 family members. His parents gone, his Dad died 6-years earlier, he was
needed to support his following family members:

Carrie - age 33,
Susie, age 31,
Elizabeth, age 29,
Fredericka, age 27,
Will, age 22,
Elnora, age 19,
Gertrude, age 15, and
Myron, age 10.

Fred was the Head of the Household, being a man, that was the proper
way to fill out the 1910 Census. I am not condoning the situation, I am
just saying that this is probably just the way it was. No doubt, all of the
adults were working as best they could find work and help support the
Nels and Marie Oleson Family Household.

Anna, the oldest in the Family had already moved into a farm house on a
quarter next to the Oleson Family farm - she was 36 and her husband Oren
was 53 with a son stepson Burton, age 24. Lillian Oleson, age 18, was also
living with the Strevel household.

Hans and Wilma - Our Wonderful German Hutschenhausen Neighbors

Hans and Wilma, our wonderful German Neighbor's in Hutschenhausen. Note the view out the back of the house!

Hans surprising the Girls with Easter Treats I think.

Hans and Wilma, our German neighbors in Hutchenhausen - still there, we are pretty sure of that.

Every Holiday, whether it be German or American, there would be a knock on the door with some sort of sweet chocolate treat (at least the way I remember it). They were very pleasant and considerate (great People of the Universe) and also very private and unassuming (great German people). We were so fortunate to have our D & SIL finding a place in Huts that would accomodate US and them. Such a pleasant experience - our life in Germany with Michael, Erica and our Grand Girls... (Q still just a sparkle in Michael's eye!)

Saturday, February 6, 2021

Moving Truck Mad Men: Doug and Deryk !!

Deryk is always willing to help anyone, family or friend.
I asked him to help me load two different trucks to get
our Lebanon possessions to Colorado Springs.

First: A16-foot truck was loaded and transported in early Fall.
Second: A 28-foot truck was loaded prior to closing just before Christmas.

Thanks Dude !!

Erica and Michael helped a bunch on the unloading end.
Thanks again you two !!

Overall, it was a pretty inexpensive move without a lot of drama.

Friday, February 5, 2021

Minnie House with two of her friends: Mae Corrine Ruhlman (later Bacon) and Cora Tanner

I found this photo today that was taken as these ladies were just turning teenage - probably 1907 or thereabouts. They likely had the picture taken at the Carnival that came through town. I was not able to research Cora Tanner... cannot find her in any of the programs that I access. However, Mae graduated from High School, went to Aberdeen to Teacher's College and got married at age 24 to Ernest Milles Bacon. They moved to Massachusetts, had kids and she died in Martin, Florida in 1975 at age 79. None of the information, including a picture of her was available on Find-A-Grave (FAG). I added the picture of the threesome, at least now Mae ha company in her FAG space on the internet.

Three healthy, nice looking teenagers in 1907! Probably really excited about their future... hopefully they were not disappointed with the way their lives turned out!

Elsie House at an Early Age: Minnie's Sister

Elsie House at Age 2 - Born in 1907.

Minnie Oleson's Younger Sister - Minnie was born
in 1894. Elsie always commented to people that she
was born in the "new brick house" that
her Dad built in Miranda, South Dakota.

(People say it is still there being used as a storage shed.)

The detail in this orginial 1909 photograph is really
quite good - the photographer is not noted. Did you
notice the bird with a mouse hanging is flying in the
background. Not sure what the car model is but it has a
fancy taillight, perhaps an oil lamp that needs to be lit!

When Elsie died, someone suggested that Loyd
handle the estate, which he did. Elsie's scrapbook
was given to the family as part of the estate
documentation process. It has some pretty special
pictures in it which someday I would like to
document as a "Special Tribute" to her. I would
tell you up-front however that this picture was one
the "Most Special of the Bunch." Not often you can
hold a picturethat is 111 years old in your
hand to examine in detail.

Thanks Elsie, Maxine and Loyd for your
preservation efforts on behalf of the family.

Proud of This Purchase !!

Proud of this Score: Not easy to get per the
Master Distiller that I know. I am practicing
taking pictures of Great Whiskey's in case
my connection falls into his Dream Job and
needs a Product Photographer that works
for Product as Renumeration. Thats me!

So far the Paper Towel Background
treatment is working well...

Retired at Forty - Going Back to School But (secretly) Really Hoping to Become a Master Whiskey/Whisky Distiller

What else comes in packs of 40: According to the internet
only Crayola Crayons sold in England.

The cake looked like an Australian Outback Forest Fire!
Holy Mackarel - we had to turn the industrial stove fan on to evacuate the dense smoke.

Nana and the Girls made the ice cream.
Michael's Favorite: Tillamook Vanilla Base,
with crumbled Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
draped with Caramel Syrup.

(Oops forgot that the recipe calls for bananas too.)

Elsie and Curly Have Been Good Friends from an Early Age - they both love to dance!

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Josephine Mueller Eaton's Half Brother George Orville Evans

What an amazing family history the Evans/Mueller book presents. Of course, there is no book, only a few ancestory sites that document their life adventure. To my knowledge, this is the only documented picture of Josephine's half brother - several sources say so.

This man and his wife were wonderful people that fed and respected the Mexican Migrant Workers that were so essential in California, especially during WWI. Kindness, respect... what novel virtues and George and his wife had them...

God bless him. Enjoy the post! Much, much more detail about the Evans Family shown on the Ancestory site. It is actually my favorite avenue of Ancestory exploration... so much drama!!!!!! Best regards, Doug.

Obituary for George Orville Evans
Aug 27, 1973 "World War I Vet laid to rest today"
Funeral services were held this morning at Eversole Mortuary for George O Evans. Evans, a World War I veteran, died last Friday in a Ukiah hospital at the age of 85.

A resident of Ukiah for the past 42 years, Evans leaves his wife, Beatrice, and three children, Harold Cooper, U.S. Navy, Donald Evans of Malibu, and Bobby Cooper of Fresno, and a step-daughter, Bernice Roberts of Napa. Ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive.

About George Orville Evans:
He was born in Orient SD in 1888 and was sent at the age of 4 by his mother, Sarah, to an Orphanage in Davenport, IA. His brothers were all sent there when his father abandoned the family. They resided there for at least 2 years and returned to live in Faulk County and then Hand County.

At the age of 16, George went to Aberdeen, SD and then, in 1906 out to San Francisco.
He wrote home about being in the Great Earthquake of San Francisco.

In Portland, Oregon in June 1917 he registered for the Draft and was a WWl Army veteran.
By 1920, he was in San Francisco again and working as a Longshoreman. He would travel to Midland, Texas (1928) to Big Springs, Texas (1928) to King County, Washington (1930).

In 1935, he married Elizabeth Marie in Santa Clara California and the "Redwood Journal" of April 16, 1935 had the following: "In Garney Home, Mr and Mrs George Evans of Cecille Grill have rented and moved into the former Carie Garney home on State Street just south of the library."

(The Cecille Grill was in the Cecille Hotel on State St. George Evans didn't register to vote until 1940 when he appears in the Great Register for the first time. His occupation was listed as cook.)

His Social Security Application (Feb 2, 1937) has him living at 510 S Dara Street in Ukiah and working as a cook at Gould's Restaurant.

By 1943, this is in the "Redwood Journal" MEXICAN LABORERS FINE TYPE, FARMERS, RESTAURANTEURS SAY

Mrs Betty Evans and George Evans who are responsible for making the Mexican laborers feel at home at an American table, give those men who are working in local orchards a splendid recommendation for courtesy, consideration, good manners.

Mrs Evans has been serving the public for 15 years; she starting the work beside her mother as a very young girl, and Mr Evans has served many more years. They both state that they have never seen a hundred people at meals who were quieter and more polite than the laborers who are here to aid in the harvest of the valley crops.

Mr and Mrs Evans took on the task on a 30-hour notice. In that time it was necessary to gather not only dishes, but food and equipment. The last hours in particular were almost impossible ones as the men came in nearly 24 hours ahead of the first announced schedule and were served dinner on arrival.

The Rainbow Cafe was fitted to serve 200 men. 100 at a time. and these 200 are served in an hour, according to Mrs Evans. Coming in from the orchards direct for dinner each man is clean washed, hands and face, and hair neatly combed. They are served by 10 waitresses, each one of whom recognizes the courtesy of the men they serve.

The first few days they said "Thank You" in Spanish, called all the women "Senorita". Now they use the English equivalents and have learned the English names of much of the food served to them. They enjoy the music furnished "canned" and learn the selections they like by number on the machine, instead of name. They are very orderly and not once has there been the slightest disturbance at meal time.

FOOD - Beans are the staple food on the menu and the men eat more beans for breakfast than for dinner. American hot cakes form an international like that will not soon be broken. They eschew butter, which leaves precious stamps for meat. Dessert is a problem. Particularly something sweet for the lunch bags which go to the fields with the men each day.

SHE CAN COOK - A 16-year-old girl, Betty, Heffley solved on her own initiative this problem. Mrs Evans tried local bakers and San Francisco firms for cookies or cupcakes, something for lunches, but sugar ration was a bar to each appeal. Betty secured the recipe for those luscious, puffy cupcakes from Ferdinand Valette and she made 300 at a clip. Encased in the regulation corrugated paper cups they are a tempting morsel in the paper bags which constitute lunch baskets. Because the workmen use a minimum of sugar the quota for the restaurant met the cupcake recipe.

DRINK MILK - The men are milk drinkers, consuming 30 gallons daily. Two hundred loaves of bread are a daily standing order, part of which goes into sandwiches for the lunches. Meat sandwiches, oranges, cake form the lunch. Fresh grapefruit, eggs, hot cakes. fried potatoes are served for breakfast. The men are not greedy in the least and they clean their plates in the most approved style of the Clean Plate Club.

DINNER MENU - Friday night, 150 pounds of salmon cut in thick slices were baking in the big ovens and a great kettle of hot Spanish sauce was ready to pour over it. Potatoes, string beans, a green salad bowl, with plenty of tomatoes, were ready. Besides beans and tomatoes, vegetables are not relished. But food not to their taste is left on the plates without a single comment or complaint. The Evans have an order a ton of beans, so whatever comes the main dish is there each meal, cooked as nearly as possible as the men enjoy it the most.

George Evans was a cook in Mexico at one time on a construction job for the United States.

Desserts are a problem. Fruit is high and scarce. Jello is difficult to obtain in quantity. Mr and Mrs Evans have a deal on for cheese. Whereever possible they buy in Ukiah but time and the quantity required have forced out of town purchases.

He was separated from his 1st wife on Sep 15, 1946 and married Beatrice on March 13, 1947. His divorce from Elizabeth was modified on June 25, 1948 to give George visitation rights to his 4 children.

And, the Busy Bee Cafe (owned by George and 1st wife) was in the paper requesting to sell liquor (this Cafe was given to his first wife in their divorce settlement).

925 East 2nd, Redfield, South Dakota - House Fix-Up Expenses and Other Interesting Home Accounting Entries

A Hunting License to the State was $2.10 and I bet
the extra charges were for "Stamps." A Duck Stamp
was maybe 10-cents or perhaps that was tax... not sure.

Ted and WandaYvonne Blair must have gotten married
in 1951. (I checked, they were married in Marin, CA
on September 21, 1951. Ted was in the Air Force
and stationed near there - they must have met
there. They were both 21 when they married. I
suspect that there were few, if any Eatons at the
California wedding.)

The cost of their Wedding Gift was $5.30. If a haircut
was $1.00, then the cost of the gift was 5-times higher.
In today's world, the cost of a haircut might be $20.00,
so the equivalent Wedding Gift would be $100.00.

That seems reasonable. How things have changed but
how they remain the same in many ways.

I plan to go to Ancestory to find out if Loyd's Brother
Fritz had a Family loss - typically what you would do
if they lost a loved one, would be to dedicate a Mass.

Nice to get a raise. According to my interpretation of Loyd's
income, he appears to net $127.60 twice a month. That would
put his raise from Pinky at the REA at about 5%.
Thanks Pinky! Will buy you a cigar...