Ola Brogren

"May 22, 1995:  Lester took me to Pierce to doctor.  Had some radishes and onions from the garden. Rained this evening -- first since a week ago Saturday.
May 23, 1995:  3/4 inch of rain last night.
May 26, 1995:  Patty B., her girls and Della W. here in the morning.  Della is interested and does make quilts.

I can probably find Della on facebook.  I wonder if she remembers this visit.  I imagine she was able to view as many quilts as she had time to look at, and discuss as many as she had time for.

From my previously-mentioned treasure trove box, here is the section in the Winside history book (1942) on Ola Brogren.

"Ola Brogren was born December 11, 1852 in Brobru, Sweden.  When he was 16, he went to Westraby, Germany, to obtain work.  A serious famine in Sweden caused many other young people to do likewise.  His first job paid him about 5 cents a day.  He worked on a farm.  In 1863, he moved to Fahmarn, Germany, which was located on an island, where he also worked on a farm, his top wages here being about $30 a year and he worked himself up to a foreman.

In 1874, he was married to Dorothea Margareta Kahler and some time later in 1881, Mr. Brogren came to America, located first at Omaha where he worked on a section at $1.40 a day.  His wife joined him a year later and in 1888 they rented a farm near Elkhorn and started farming.

In 1891 he bought a quarter section of land 1 mile west and a mile north of Winside for $13 an acre and the family moved on this place which was their home until October 10, 1912, when Mr. and Mrs. Brogren moved to town.

Though 90 years old Mr. Brogren is still active and on occasion gets out his cross-cut saw and fells a tree.  He experiences unusually good health for a man of his years and gets around well.  He enjoys telling a joke and as his daughter, Mrs. Anna Andersen, will tell you, "he always sees the bright side of life no matter what happens."

Mr. Brogren can speak five languages, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and English.  One impression he leaves with you in relating his life's experiences; it is this:  America truly is a wonderful land!

Mrs. Brogren died April 7, 1941.  Surviving children are:  Hans Brogren, Gretna; Mrs. Emma Stahl, Randolph; Mrs. Anna Andersen, Winside."

Going out on a limb here, but I think I would have liked Mr. Ola Brogren very much.  I wonder if he gave Grandpa hints on cutting down trees.  I know Ola's great-great-grandson Dale cannot be left alone with a stand of trees and a chainsaw unless one is expecting no standing trees when they come back.

The photo of Dorothea, Grandma Anna and Ola was taken in 1938.  Look at those working-man hands.