Trips with Dad

Dear Dad..... 

Trips with Dad

Our summer vacations were often centered around a trip "home" to Minnesota to see family.  I remember one summer, late June probably, driving in the truck.  I'm thinking mid 70s.  We were taking a route we don't normally take somewhere in Wyoming.  We ended up on this remote pass through the Rockies (for some reason "Bear Mountain Pass sticks in my brain) -- there was six feet of snow on either side of the truck, and it was summer by all accounts!  (Being a kid from California, this was shocking!)  As we climbed up the steep pass, I remember Dad watching the gas gauge.  Because we were on unfamiliar roads, it was hard to say when the next gas stop was going to be.  (That was before you could ask your GPS unit!)  We crept our way up to the top, and then pretty much coasted down the backside.  Even though there were concerns about having enough gas, I was confident that Dad knew how to get us down to somewhere to get some gas.  Sure enough, at the bottom of the peak was a gas station.  A huge sigh of relief from Mom!

I couldn't find an archived picture of it in our stacks .... 

I'm sure there were too many worries about the drive than the scene, 

but it looked a lot like this one!

7/27/2013

Danielson or Pederson?

I've been trying to locate information about my grandfather, Harold, and his mother, Christine, over several decades.  Of course, the one solid source of information, my paternal grandmother Myrtle has since passed on.  But even when she was living, she didn't speak much about her husband Harold's history, or of his mother.   So I started my own investigation over the years, and have even more questions now.

Harold was born in 1900.  The most expedient way to track him as been through the Census records.   Working backwards, in
1940 he's married, living in Rural Marshall Co, MN.
1930 he's single, lodger with Theo Bergman, MN
1920 he's single, laborer to Ole Bergman (Theo's father)
1910 he's listed as nephew to Pete Hendrickson (so my assumption is he's Christine's brother)

Nothing else was found under Harold Danielson, however in checking the 1905 Minnesota State Census, I find Christine listed, age 33, and under her name I find Harold Pederson, age 4.  The age timeline follows in line with Christine through the other years I found her in the census.  And if Harold was born in 1900, in 1905 he could easily be 4 when the census was taken, before his birthday had arrived.  The above photo, line 51 shows Christine, and line 52 shows Harold.  It also shows that they both have been a resident of the state for 1year 8months, and in their current residence for 6 months.

Which leaves me with a number of questions, of course.  Most of all, why is his name listed differently?  A census taker error?   Where did they live the other 1year 2 months in MN?  and based on the way she is listed as servant, is she working for the Henry Nystrom family?

I searched Harold Pederson, there is one born the same year as my Harold in the same location to a Simon Pederson.

It's been told down through the family that Harold arrived in New York with Christine in 1903.  Again, time wise, this would fit with census information that in 1905 they'd been in MN for 1 year, 8 months.  However, I have not been able to find either of their names on any incoming ship manifest.  Were they using different names before arriving?  Did she come to this part of MN because her brother was already there?

So many questions, no solid answers.
Sometimes I think my grandmother was right:  "let sleeping dogs lie"
She never wanted to share or reveal whatever it was she knew.

My Hero

Dear Dad .....

My Hero

A firm but loving touch

is what you gave to me.

You helped me learn to be strong

and stand on my two feet.

But when I needed you

You were there all of the time.

You are my dad, my hero,

And you’re the apple of my eye.

Dad, you are truly irreplaceable!

I love you :) 

7/27/13