Paulina Hansena Hansen Nelson (Neilson)

Paulina was born in Norway, one of 6 girls and one boy. She lost her mother, Adrianna, when she was 9 years of age and then the younger brother when he was 2. It must have been a difficult time for a child. Her father Hans, remarried a woman named Pernilla, who had 6 children of her own from a previous marriage. Five of these were boys. In Grandma Annette's book she eludes to the difficulties the Hansen girls had with their step brothers. I'm sure it wasn't easy and the youngest two Hansen children were sent to live with Hans' sister to be raised for a time. I have also found that Hans and Pernilla had a daughter together, Adrianna Josephine born in 1862, I find no record of her after that time~I'm guessing that she possibly died as an infant~but only a guess. In 1862, Hans lost his only son and Pernilla lost a son too. In those days, death was a common occurrence.
In July 1864, the Hansen family came to America.They were dissenters from the state church in Norway and most likely were looking for religious freedom and a better life for their large family.  Landing in St. Peter, Minnesota where they stayed for about 4 years. During this time Paulina lived with the Lamoreaux family. She went to school and also helped out with the home. She was very loved by Mrs. Lamoreaux and always spoke of  her fondly. In 1868, the family moved to Lake Elizabeth, Minnesota where Hans would be for the remainder of his life. In 1871, Paulina went with two sisters to work in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They did housework, cooking and waited on tables. In about 1873-74 she went to work in the North Star Woolen Mills until it closed in the latter part of 1875. It was probably providential, as she returned home and met a very good looking blue eyed, dark haired Norwegian man named Nels L Nelson who was full of energy and an extremely hard worker. They married in November of that year. Eventually moving to a large property in Danielson Township in Meeker country, Minnesota. Here Paulina and Nels would raise 9 wonderful children, take care of his two aging parents and create a wonderful life not short on trials or hard work.

In Lester's book he writes this of Paulina, his Mother:
"For many years she had not been in the best of health. She had led a busy, hard working life, had brought up nine children and aided in the upbringing of several other children. She had been faithful to every duty. She was not a demonstrative woman or inclined to outward show of great affection although she loved her family. Throughout her life, she was a very religious woman and daily she read her Norwegian Bible, and this gave her courage and strength to go on with the duties of life. She could write but she was not a fluent or ready writer and he (Lester) never received from her a letter. In 1924 she became seriously ill and thought her mission in life had been ended and longed to "go home", as she expressed it. She had no fear of death but rather a longing that the journey be ended and she freely expressed it."
A great insight into how Paulina was thought of by her son Lester.
Paulina passed away on Mother's Day, May 11th, 1924. How fitting for a woman who had been such a wonderful Mother.