One side of the family descended from early arrivals from England. The other branch came later as migrants from Scandinavia. They all gathered in Jackson County. Then they scattered again.
Christine Sell was born in east-central Iowa on June 25, 1891. The story follows her from a farm in northeastern to northwestern Iowa, working as a domestic, and then marriage and motherhood. Tena's story is made richer by the many photographs she left us.
This is the story of Peter Thiesen's journey from a village in northern Germany to Iowa, then to Wisconsin, back to Iowa, and finally to a farm in southern Minnesota.
In December 1941, James Thiesen was 18 when the United States declared war on the Axis forces. He had graduated from high school the previous spring and was working on his parents and uncle's farm in Jackson County on the Minnesota-Iowa border. He might have thought this would be his life—working on the farm, getting married, and having a family. But the war inserted itself into the dream.
"Wednesday, January 1, 1873
A very nice day cutting and hauling wood to CS Hogan. Mr. Baily and Mather of Epworth called at our house to tell us there would be meeting that night."
This is how Thomas Jefferson Russell began his day book for 1873 when he turned twenty-five. The day book would describe his days corralling
horses, cutting and delivering wood, and some of his social life.
It also describes his journey across Iowa to Jackson County and the beginning of a life running his farm and courting soon-to-be wife, Emma.
A very nice day cutting and hauling wood to CS Hogan. Mr. Baily and Mather of Epworth called at our house to tell us there would be meeting that night."
This is how Thomas Jefferson Russell began his day book for 1873 when he turned twenty-five. The day book would describe his days corralling
horses, cutting and delivering wood, and some of his social life.
It also describes his journey across Iowa to Jackson County and the beginning of a life running his farm and courting soon-to-be wife, Emma.
A full listing of books can be found at blurb.com/user/craigpt