Christopher Camp

Friday, March 25, 2016

CHRISTOPHER HOMESTEAD HOMES

Thanks to our cousin Paul Christopher who provided the picture of the Christopher family

on their`place in North Dakota, just north of Medina about 1916.

Thanks to cousin Dennis Skofstad who restored it. Here is an email comment

from cousin Janet Well sharing what she and her husband Bill know about this photo:

"Bill and I looked a little more carefully at the photo and think the house faced south. Bill is a history buff and he says the homestead houses always faced south to be out of the north wind. Barns faced south too for the same reasons. There was a lean to on the north side that was there outdoor freezer. The north winds and snow kept it cold. When the weather warmed up the food supply was covered with straw for insulation. Two things we noticed on the picture-not much of a door,certainly no storm door that every home in ND has now. Also two of the windows are single pane with no storm windows. It must have been hard to heat the house. Also the chimney is on the far side of the house not in the middle which was common. Was that the original part of the homestead with the 2story part built on later? If only someone of the original family was still here to answer all our questions! Afterthought the south side of the buildings got the warmth of the sun which always shines on the south side here in the tundra!

Interesting thought- I have seen this picture all my life and never took note of all the details. The picture was probably taken by a photo studio that was located on the north end of Main Street. Staleys was the name. Dads books of medina pictures show it." Janet

...and more from Janet:
"I keep looking at that picture thinking it will give up some more info! Notice the wire fence at the bottom left of pic? Bill says that is sheep fence. Was it used to keep sheep out or keep kids safe? Always wondered what that gate was used for in the back of the car. The washing machine poses many questions. Imagine doing the laundry for that size of family! Wash tubs would be used in the house for baths. And butchering. Water would have to be hauled in, heated in boilers on cook stove and hauled out again. We think cold water washing is of our era but I'll bet they did a lot of that then too"

Here is another house that is similar, but not sure if this is Carl's first house
or Gus Olsen's house as they both lived near Medina at the same time.

Bessie (Christopher) Olsen holding Thelma, Inga Lydia pregnant with Glen, Carl Christopher with rake (?)
Alvin Olsen and dogs in front about the fall of 1903..who is taking the picture??Gus???

And what about this house below: Is it inside Carl Christopher's house, Gus Olsen's house or
Amund and Ingeborg Christopher's ?

Alvin Olsen with grandparents.

I love looking into this home and wish we could read the calendar on the wall
and also wish we could peek into their trunk for treasures from their lives long ago!

The houses are no longer standing and the Franklin car was traded away
(see newspaper clipping below written by Carl Christopher) but our
questions linger and our families will continue to honor their memory.

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Thanks to our cousin Jim Skofstad for finding this "On Line" book and to cousin Dennis Skofstad for sending
the link to me so I could send it on to the entire Christopher Camp. See e-mail entry below:

"My brother Jim does all the genealogical research in my family. Accordingly he sent me a reference to http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ndsl-books/id/11003/rec/25 which is the Medina, ND Diamond Jubilee book. It’s a marvelous piece of work, dedicated to uncle Glenn Christopher, with sections on the history of Medina by Glenn (pg6/PDF pg8), Carl Christopher family (pg 116/PDF pg 142), Bill and Janet Christopher Well (pg108/126), Glenn Christopher family )pg 136/162), the committees on which Glenn and Janet served (pg 219/273), a picture of the Feton Lumber company fire (pg 230/284) where Glen worked for years and more. The recounting of winters, threshing, and daily life are marvelous. The pictures are great. You may not have Glenn’s bio of himself. I think you’ll like it.

Dennis Skofstad"

****Just click on website and enjoy reading pages mentioned in email entry above. Thanks to cousin
Janet Well, I have a copy of this book, but until now, there was no way to share it with everyone. Enjoy.*****

Cousin Jim has also shared with us websites on Voss, Norway...our Christopher Origins..see his email is below:

"I thought I found a great web site on Voss, but most of the links don't work or take longer than I am willing to wait. It is: http://www.vosselag.org/vossgenres.html One link that has a lot of the same info is: http://www.vossnow.net/ It works better and has lots of pictures from the area. Enter Graue in the search box for some good pictures of the area." Jim

Other news of interest:

Barb (Paul) and Carl Erlandson's son, Adam, was married Oct 10, 20 14 in beautiful Hawaii..on the Island of Kaui to Louisa Lu. They had a baby girl, McKenzie Lu Erlandson, on March 14, 2016. Pictures will be coming on the Facebook page..Christopher Cousins-ND Roots

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Also some relatives have asked for this:

Millie (Pederson) Christopher, wife of Ken Christopher : Obituary notes are found on "Find a Grave.Com" :

Birth:	Apr. 21, 1921
Death:	Apr. 12, 2014 Phoenix Maricopa County Arizona, USA
Our dear mother, Mildred "Millie" Olson/Christopher, 93, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. A celebration of Millie's life for family and friends is scheduled in Phoenix, AZ on May 3, 2014, from 12:30 -3:30 pm where she lived at Mountain Park Senior Living Community Center, 4475 East Knox Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85044. She will be missed. A graveside service is set for 3:30 pm June 7, 2014 at the Almont Cemetery, Almont, North Dakota. Millie was born in 1921, at home on Bluff Dale Ranch, near Almont, N.D., to Jonathan and Emilie Sorum Pederson. Mildred was one of 6 girls growing up on the farm and going to school in Almont. She graduated from college at Dickinson State in 1942 and received her Master's degree from Western Oregon University in 1982. She pursued a career in teaching all grades including special education in North Dakota, Washington, and Oregon before retiring in 1985. Mildred married Everett Olson in 1940. They spent several years in the military before returning to Almont. They raised four boys Stuart, Charles, Dale and Wade on the farm in Almont. Everett had many occupations including construction, trucking, and bus routes as well as running the Farmers Supply store in Almont. Mildred taught school in the country school houses containing all grades while in Almont. In 1966, the family moved to Seattle Washington and then to Albany Oregon where Millie taught school in Harrisburg Oregon teaching special education as a result of getting her Masters in Education. In 1985 Millie married Kenneth "Ken" Christopher, who had known her from high school in Almont. They moved to his home on Flathead Lake in Polson MT. They both enjoyed summers in MT and then visiting family and friends and sites of interest all across America in their various 5th wheels and Motor homes during the 20+ years they were together. Ken passed away in 2009 and Millie moved to Phoenix to be closer to family. Survivors include two children, Stuart (Candy) Olson Phoenix AZ; Wade (Robin) Olson Laguna Hills CA.; a sister June Hove Shelton WA.; 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great- great grandchild. She is preceded in death by two husbands, Everett Olson and Ken Christopher; her parents Jonathan & Emelie Pederson, 2 children, Charles & Dale; 4 sisters, Eleanor Hillemann, Dagmar Stoeckel, Lillian Peterson and Ruth Britton; and 1 great grandchild, Liam Murray.

Burial: Almont Cemetery Almont Morton County North Dakota, USA

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

THE PAST IS YOUR PRESENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

THE PAST IS YOUR PRESENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

Last Christmas was my last post on this Christopher Camp Blog. Go to "older posts"
to view Vintage Christmas cards from the past. . Please share this post with
anyone who has interest asI may not have everyone's email address.

North Dakota winters in the 20's were very cold. Here's some stories from
Uncle Ken and Uncle Bob you might enjoy:

"In the winter, sometimes we'd take the sled maybe a mile or two down the road to the
school house. We'd take hay in the bottom of the sled box and a blanket over the top
and a lantern under the blanket to keep warm. Dad had a big robe and he had a coat made
out of it. He used to tell us that he had taken the hide off of old Madge (their horse that
had died) to make the coat. We didn't know how true it was but that's what he used to
say. Anyway, he would stand up in that cold weather with this coat on, and drive the
team over to the dance. We'd pick up neighbors, the Giesike's and so on. Except for
the Christensen's, they weren't speaking to us at the time. We went by their place,
I don't think they had any dancers anyway. Chris, I don't think he danced. So anyway
we went on our way and got to the corner by Jablonski's and Orsten's and spend the

night dancing. They always had a place to put the horses. Either that or we'd blanket
them good. Then when we came out after the dance the horses would be just white
with frost. Oh, it was good for us kids, we could get under the blanket if we got cold,
or else, run behind. That was quite an evening in those days."

"The one room school house was about 1 mile from the Christopher place.
The kids walk to school most days. In the winter it was so cold and snowy
sometimes they had to hold their arms in between the barred wires so they
wouldn't get lost. North Dakota winters were so cold that when the kids walked
to school, the oldest one would walk backwards and watch all the noses of the
little kids. As soon as he saw something turning white he would grab some
snow and put on it as protection from frost bite. It was always pretty chilly
in the winter. It was -30 or -40 sometimes but the wind always made it
colder than that."

"Christmas time was always big time for us. It didn't seem to make any difference how hard up the folks were, we'd always managed to get an orange or an apple in our sock and one toy and a few nuts. That was a big Christmas for us. That was pretty much the same every year."

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Grandfather Carl Christopher had only one sister, Brieta (Bessie) . She married Inga Olsen (Carl's wife) brother Gus Olsen. That is why all of us Christopher's and Olsens are double cousins. The story of Bessie and Gus Olsen appeared in the Medina N.D. Diamond Jubilee Publication in 1974.

Thanks to our cousin Jim Skofstad for finding this "ON LIne" book and to cousin Dennis Skofstad for sending the link to me so I could send it on to the entire Christopher Camp. See e-mail entry below:

Dennis Skofstad"

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Along with some pictures I have, Here is their story from the book:

Gustav C. Olsen, his wife Bessie, and their two children, Alvin and Thelma, came to Medina about 1903. Mr. Olsen filed on a homestead a few miles north of town. In addition to improving his property, putting in some crops and raising some stock, he conducted a real estate business in town. An old photo shows his office on the west side of Main Street with a sign over the door: "G. C. Olsen, Land Office."

Bessie, Alvin Thelma and Gus

With some surveying experience and a familiarity with land subdivision, he was instrumental in locating many early settlers on their properties. He later formed a partnership with a Mr. Batz, establishing themselves in a small building on the northwest corner of Main and Water streets where the store now stands.

Alvin and Thelma started to school in 1906 in a little one room structure north of Medina. The teacher was Mrs. Margaret Gleason. The building was used for many years after moved to other sites and back again. It no longer exists.

In 1907 Mr. Olsen moved his family into town. They lived in a two story building which still stands. It was on the west side near the creamery and across the street from the Preszler home. By now the family had increased in size. Raymond was born in 1904 and Elmer in 1906.Alvin and Thelma attended a school located where the present water tower now stands. It was a two story building with a large belfry.

Gus, Thelma and Elmer

In August 1908, Raymond suffered a ruptured appendix and died in the hospital in Jamestown. He is buried in the Christopher plot in the Medina Cemetery.By now Mr. Olsen had discontinued the real estate business and gone into the general store business under the firm name of "Remboldt and Olsen."

A sister, Mary, had joined the household and worked as a clerk in the store. Also another sister, Minnie, joined the family. She attended high school in Jamestown and college in Valley City.

Mary became the wife of Frank McCready, railroad station master. Minnie married Ray Gleason.

One of Mr. Olsen's interests was playing cornet in the town band. He pursuaded his son, Alvin, to take up the snare drum. He also organized and played cornet in a small dance orchestra with Pearl Olson, piano; Jack Stewart, violin; Alvin, drums. At times others played with the group - as: E. F. Langer, cello; Ray Gleason, trombone; Frank Carey, violin; Ross Jennings, clarinet.

About 1910 Mr. Olsen sold out the store business and joined Wm. F. Stege as Credit Manager in a new bank in Medina. Employed also at the time were Adam Preszler and Chub Opp. The Olsen family moved from the west side to the Dr . Todd house on east Water Street. The house is still there on a corner north of a church. Two more children were born. Harold in 1909 and Olive

in 1912.

Harold

Olive

In 1913 Mr. Olsen moved his family to Carrington, where he operated a garage business. In the fall of 1914, he moved his family back to Medina again to a home about a block north of the Todd house and east across the street. Here Esther was born.

With all this, Mr. Olsen found time to campaign as a Republican candidate for Representative to the State Legislature. His bid for the office was not successful, but he gained a wide acquaintanship which may have resulted in obtaining for Alvin a job in the office of Secretary of State in Bismarck.

In June 1916, Alvin moved to this job after completing three years of high school, the last two being in a new brick building built near where the present school stands.

In 1917 Mr. Olsen moved his family to Havre, Montana where he was employed as Credit Manager in the Havre National Bank. Alvin joined the family there shortly after. Alice was born in Havre in July 1917. Norma was born there in July of 1920.

Alice

Norma

In the years after that, the family moved many times, mostly in Oregon. The last move was to Oakland, California where Mr. Olsen owned and operated a "school store" . catering to the wants of school children nearby until his health faded. Gustav Karl Olsen died in Oakland of cancer on August 9, 1931.

Nothing much is said here about his wife Bessie, but it is understandable that with such a large family she had, plenty to keep her busy. A devoted wife and mother, Bessie Louisa Christopher Olsen died in Oakland on July 3 I, 1958 at the age of 80 years.

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

I HAVE SHARED A FEW CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM YEARS PAST THAT HAD BEEN SAVED BY INGA CHRISTOPHER. (If you missed those, go to "older posts" on this page and look for Dec 2011) THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THESE TREASURES. SHARING THESE WITH ALL OF YOU MAKES CHRISTMAS EVEN MORE SPECIAL TO ME. SO HERE ARE A FEW MORE...I am including the written side also so you can see the handwriting of our family members from years ago. .

from John Davis Charleson's family (Carl Christopher's half brother)about 1920

From Inga's father Christ Olson 1911 Pequot MN

from Oscar Christopher 1917 (Carl's youngest brother) to their mother Kjestina)

from Clara Olsen (Inga's sister) 1927

from Mary (Inga's sister in Edmonton, Canada) 1928

ENJOY CHRISTMAS!!!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

100 year celebration/reunion-Frenchtown Pond-Montana

To honor my father's memory, Lester - born 100 years ago, my daughter Sara, her three children and I visited his grave in Anaconda, Montana.

Hannah and Eden Bingham

Sara, Hannah, Eden Bingham

On Sunday, August 10, 2014, We also celebrated with a family reunion in Frenchtown at the Pond with about 37 people. Many liked the area and want to have another reunion there next year. Some are interested in attending the larger Olsen Family Reunion in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota next year. They hold it on the 2nd Saturday each August and this year they had 147 attending as pictured below.

Olsen Reunion 2014- Pequot Lakes Minn.

George Barb, Faye Goldie, Lana Roger, Donna, Roy

Some attending the Christopher Reunion were brave enough to dress up in Viking costumes to honor our Norwegian ancestry. Many were interested in the Christopher Family History binder and the Olsen Family History binder containing information and pictures of family members.

Roger, Faye, George, Roy

Good food, swimming, visiting was enjoyed by all attending. Do you know how to make Norwegian cupcakes????

Troy Bingham

Dawn, Riley, and Michael Wahl

Goldie, Barb & Carl Erlandson

Wyatt and Kelsey Indreland with Eden Bingham

and

Rory, Abby, Goldie Indreland

and Cathy (Olsen) from Spokane came the farthest....She also made it to the California Olsen Reunion in June this year.

Cathy Nefzger

Some of us were tired after the long day.

Eden Bingham

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

CHRISTOPHER TWINS -100TH BIRTHDAY

On August 5, 1914, twin boys were born to Carl and Inga Christopher at their home. Lauren Ivan was born first, then Lester Carl. Their grandmother, Bessie Christopher and neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, served as midwives who came to the home in Peterson Township just north of Medina North Dakota. As the twins were the 5th and 6th children, everyone else had to leave the house until they were born. Siblings Glenn, Clifford, Roy and Ruth helped take care of the boys as they grew. As more siblings joined the family
( Kenneth, Vernon, Bob, Doris, and Don, ) they learned to adjust to surviving during the depression by growing all their own food and hunting wildlife. All the children shared the one upstairs bedroom and they also shared the work on the farm. In addition to raising normal farm animals, the twins remember raising skunks for their fur which they sold in nearby towns. The twins both attended Medina schools and joined the Conservation Corps in Medina. For fun they enjoyed boxing, hunting and fishing. Lester worked on the Charley Peterson family as a ranch hand for a while.

As young men, the twins often would hop a frieght train and travel out west to get odd jobs. They would pick apples in Washington and be ranch hands for ranchers all over North Dakota and Montana. When they came to the Jocko Valley in Montana, they liked it so much they decided to stay. Lauren married Lillian Sanders from Arlee in 1939 and they farmed for a while, then worked in the shipyards of Portland. They moved back to Arlee, when Lauren got a job at the Burea of Land Management. They also and harvested hay, and raised cattle on their ranch, the old Sander's place, but sold it in 1957 and purchased the Jocko Store. They operated that business together for 28 years, while raising their family of seven: Faye, Alice, George, Donna, Roy, Roger, Rick. They sold everything in that little store- from food, gas, dry goods, and nickel ice cream cones. The store kept everyone busy seven days a week.

Lauren continued his Reclamation job until he retired from 30 years service in 1978 and started a new farm. He and Lillian enjoyed 54 years of marriage.

Lester served in the Army stationed in Texas and California.
Lester married Blondie Billington in 1941. They had two children; .Goldie and Lana.

Goldie and Lester

Lauren's family

When the children from both families were together they had some difficulty telling which of the twins was their dad. Some children laughed, some cried, but always they had good fun together.

Lester, usually called Chris, moved to Anaconda in 1949 and worked as a carpenter for the Anaconda Company. He maried Ethel Simonson there and worked until he had Parkinson's disease.

The Christopher siblings manage to get together at times and enjoyed many Family Reunions.