A Smörgåsbord of Stories
When I started searching for my great, great grandmother, Caroline “Lena” Hesse, (1863-1914), I made a rookie mistake. I assumed that her parents were the adults listed on the 1870 census and on her marriage record. However, the first sentence of her Pioneer Mother biography … read more
Caroline (car-oh-LEE-na) Hesse (1863-1914), was a Dakota Territory Pioneer Mother. In 1932, her biography was written and included in the Pioneer Mothers Project. Last week we examined that one-page profile and learned a little bit of her life. Who was Caroline “Lena” Hesse? Who were … read more
The North Dakota Federation of Women’s Clubs instituted the Pioneer Mothers Project in 1929. They sought to collect biographical sketches of women who, prior to November 1889, lived in the area of Dakota Territory and who were married at that time. The State Historical Society … read more
Franklin Hesse (1861-1935) lost his parents at an early age. Seeking opportunity, he filed a homestead claim for land in Dakota Territory (D.T.) under the provisions of the 1862 Homestead Act. The Act granted surveyed public land to adult heads of families for a minimal … read more
Franklin Hesse, son of Magdalena Frees and John Hesse, was born August 11, 1861 in Neenah, Wisconsin. In Frank’s obituary: “He grew to manhood and received a common school education in Neenah, except for a few years in Ohio.” A few years in Ohio … read more
Back in the days before the Internet, genealogy research was slow. I kept my data in a 3-ring binder and worked in pencil. For queries, I wrote letters and included stamped, return envelopes. I conducted interviews with a cassette tape recorder. Everything was slower. Newspaper … read more