Mr. and Mrs. Niels Johnsen immigrated from Denmark
The story of the Niels Johnsen family seems to be typical of an immigrant family arriving from a foreign country and settling in the Columbia Basin. Toward the end of the story, this may be this week or next, see if you can spot a name familiar to most people living in the Basin. Read on.
The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.
Today we begin the story of the Niels Johnsen Family:
Mr. and Mrs. Niels Johnsen were born in Denmark. They came to the United States when they were 21 and 20 years of age. The couple was married at Mabton, Wash. in 1913, following a courtship started in Denmark.
They raised a family of 10 children. Their oldest son Marvin was born at Mabton. Katherine was born at Krupp (Marlin).
They then moved to a homestead near Wilson Creek, where they farmed for a few years. In 1921 they moved into town, by then Andrew and Thora were born.
Niels went to work for the railroad. That winter all became ill with the flu. Through the kindness of neighbors who hauled them firewood they were able to keep warm.
The next winter with lots of snow and drifts it was almost impossible to get around. Niels tunneled out to his cows and to the road.
Francis and Jack then joined the family circle. When Thora was about 5 years old, she fell into an old cistern at the Martin Christanson farm. It happened in the afternoon and Dr. Thompson from Odessa didn't arrive till later that night. Thora was unconscious for several days.
Around 1928 there was an outbreak of scarlet fever. Francis and Andrew both got it. The family was quarantined for several weeks. Just before Christmas they were told if they would fumigate they could be out again. That night a dear friend, Mr. Norcross and family came knocking on the door.
Everyone had nearly passed out from the fumes, so they had to awaken the family by taking them outside to revive. We can be thankful to them as they saved the lives of the family. They also had brought baskets of food and candy, besides a decorated Christmas tree.
Niels shot a lot of cottontails for food that winter. The family has seen several floods while living in Wilson Creek. They had to leave by boat for higher ground several times. Afterwards it was such a mess to clean up. Niels would drill holes in the floor and with water hoses and nozzles, brooms, shovels all would set to work and clean.
The family would have fresh fish to eat as during the flood, as Niels would spear carp from the receding water.
Andrew who had suffered a bad heart after having scarlet lever died on May 3, 1930. By this lime Jack, Lottie and Bertha had joined the Johnsen clan.
Niels was on the volunteer fire department and saw several large fires, such as the Grandstall Store and the school house, The fire bell was something that old timers would remember. Once you heard it one would know what it was and dread it, especially in the middle of the night. One winter Niels went into Idaho to work in the woods with his brother Otto. But he hated being away from his family, so quit and came home. He then went to work for Jake Keller at the Union Grain Warehouse, where he worked for 18 years.
The people of Wilson Creek will remember Niels for all the vegetables he raised after the town put in the irrigation system. The family and friends will always remember the sledding hill behind the family place. Many enjoyable hours were spent there. One winter Niels killed a coyote with a pitchfork when it attacked him.
I'm sure people of Wilson Creek remember the times of the blizzards that left many without lights and water for several days. And the dust storms, especially the one that took the life of Mr. Foster when he got stuck in the tumble weeds and got out to check and died there.
By now Peter and Eileen, the two youngest, joined the family. When Peter was about 4 years old, he was playing over at Mr. Laws and was bitten by a rattlesnake, but the quick thinking of his mother saved his life. Marvin their oldest son was drafted in World War II and was sent to France, where he lost his life in action in August of 1944.
The American Legion Post was named in his honor. Inger was named the Gold Star Mother of the American Legion Post Auxiliary. Peter joined the Navy during the Korean War and saw duty in many parts of the world.
Niels was night Marshall of the town till he retired. He will also be remembered for his love of sports, baseball, roller skating and fishing.
Inger had open heart surgery and lived just a month, passing away on August 2, 1969. Niels lost his life when his home burned on January 5, 1970.
Jack died of a heart attack on September 2, 1975. He had polio when a baby and was crippled all his life. Jack worked for the city and also took care of the cemetery. He had been the mail carrier for several years.
Of the remaining children, they are Katherine, Mrs. J.C. Carson of Kettle Falls, they have two daughters and two grandchildren; Thora, Mrs. DeForest Fuller, of Moses Lake, they have two daughters, one son, one Grandchild; Francis who lives in Wilson Creek, they have six sons, two, grandchildren. Lottie, Mrs. Oren Wright, Phoenix, Arizona, they have three daughters, one son, four grandchildren.
Also Bertha, Mrs. Jesse Vanhorn, Sandpoint, Idaho, they have three sons, one daughter, four grandchildren; Peter lives in Richland, they have one daughter; Eileen, Mrs. Gar Jones, Edmonds, they have one son, one daughter.
Francis, who has lived all his life in Wilson Creek, has worked for Sam Gross family for the past 37 years.
The Grant County Historical Society has compiled several volumes of Grant County history. The books are available for purchase at the Historical Society Museum gift shop in Ephrata.
I bought the series in 2009 and secured permission to relay some of the history through this column.
Memories of Grant County, compiled from taped interviews by the Grant County Historical Society.
Today we backtrack a bit and then continue the story of Coulee City, by C.K. "Slim" Jolly, recorded July 13, 1976:
I am wondering just what it would be like to all of a sudden from our present style of life to just go back 80 years, all at once, or to come from 80 years ago to our present life style.
I think that would be worse, to come from 80 years ago to what our lifestyle is now, because I think it would just about scare a person to where he would find a hole and climb in it. Don't you think?
Just think of all that hay that was put up at that time. They used to use a pitchfork and wagon and now the hay goes into a stack without touching it by hand. Even pick it out of the field and stack it and 'touch it by hand. I wouldn't want to go back to that era. I kinda like our lifestyle. Some people talk of the good old days, but in the time I can remember, back when I was 12 to 14 years old, I kinda like our style of living. I really do!
There is one thing I didn't mention. Right at our home, on the four corners north of Leahy, the Indians used to come and get water, and camp. I can remember that my brother and sisters and I would sneak around keeping out of sight of the Indians, because we didn't know for sure just what they'd do. And you know, their youngsters were doing the same things to us. I thought that was kinda interesting at an Indian encampment.
My brother and I were coming home from school one day and there was a rock no higher than that table there, kinda sloped down, but anyhow my brother and I climbed up on this rock. I got down and I told him to get down, and he said no that it was too high.
"I'll get hurt, and I want you to help me," he said. I wouldn't help him because I knew it wouldn't hurt him and so, being kinda independent, I went home.
My mother said, "Where's Dan," I said, "Oh, he's up there," "Up where?" "Up there on that rock." "What's he doing there?" "Well, he got up there and wouldn't come down. It wouldn't hurt him if he fell, but he couldn't fall." Mother went down and he was laying on the rock asleep. She went home, got a switch, but I was the one who got the switching.
I suppose all of you know where Pilot Rock is, up on the west side of Grand Coulee, the highest point until you get clear over to Waterville. You can see it from Davenport and Mansfield and many areas so they named it Pilot Rock.
The early settlers tell me they used it as a landmark for traveling from one area to another. Carl Lewis might be interested in photographing that from the air. It is right in the corner of my field, just outside of my field and what was Vern Adams' ranch.