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| Martin & Ida Nelson Wedding photo June 1903 |
We are first introduced to Ida in Grandma’s book, when she is mentioned
as Grandma’s first teacher in 1899. She wrote this little poem for her in the
summer of 1899, July 2~
Dear Etta,
May peace attend your future hours
And love bestrew your path with flowers
And may you ever have a friend
True as the one there lives has penned
Your friend and teacher,
Ida A. Nelson
Just a little background on Ida that I have been able to piece
together.
She is listed in the 1880 Census in Swede Grove, Minnesota. Along with
family member; John (father), Christine (mother) and sisters Annie, Matilda,
Ellen, Selma, and Hulda. In the 1885,
1895 and 1900 Census the family is living in Union Grove, Minnesota. Both of
these towns are in close proximity to Danielson where Grandma was raised.
In the 1900 census, Ida along
with three of her sisters are listed as “teachers”. John and Christine were
married in 1875 and immigrated to the US in 1880 from Sweden. There is a lot of discrepancy
as to the ages of these young women since most of the census records have
different ages for them~ confusing. Annie is listed as a dressmaker and Matilda
(later called Emma) was working as a store clerk.
In the fall of 1899, Ida resumed teaching Grandma’s class, but for some
reason resigned at the end of that year. In the 1900 census, Ida along with
three of her sisters are listed as “teachers”. John and Christine (her parents)
were married in 1875 and immigrated to the US in 1880. There is a lot of
discrepancy as to the ages of these young women since most of the census
records have different ages for them~ confusing. Annie is listed as a
dressmaker and Matilda (later called Emma) was working as a store clerk. The
family members are listed as follows: John~ 68, Christine~ 58, Annie~24, Emma
Matilda~ 23, Ida~20, Ella~19, Selma~17, Hulda~16.
In January 1903, she and Martin Nelson were engaged to be married. They
had been “dating” for almost 5 years so was very well known in the Nelson
family. During the winter and spring prior to the wedding, Ida would come and
spend a week or two with the Nelson family. She and her four sisters had moved
with their invalid father and mother to Litchfield. She was not teaching during
this time. It was also during this spring, that Martin’s father Nels purchased
a farm for them in Cosmos which was about 2 miles from the family farm. Ida
took great care in the purchases for the house; she especially loved her
Victorian themed parlor. With fancy flowered carpets, beautiful lamps and
cushioned furnishings it must have been very lovely. She must have been so thrilled
and happy to marry such a good looking, kind man as Martin. His family at this
time was quite well to do and he could afford to purchase nice things for her
and their new home.
She was quite tall and lovely. Her wedding dress was made by a
Litchfield dressmaker. “It was made of silk crepe overlaid with what I now know
was silk organza, and was beautifully made with much shirring across the
flounce of the skirt and across the bodice and sleeves. There was a yoke of
delicate heading, a train and a long train length veil.”
They were married on 17 June 1903, at Grandma’s family home. It must
have been quite a gathering. When young people were married back in those days
and in the country, most everyone was invited and came. So they must have had a
huge gala affair. Her sister Ella apparently wrote up an article about the
wedding event in the town newspaper. Here are a few lines penned so many years
ago…
“…a ceremony uniting two of Meeker County’s most estimable young
people. Little Etta Nelson (grandmother) showered roses before the bridal
couple as they entered the spacious parlors. A sumptuous repast (feast) was
served to guests at tables on the outside lawn by six young ladies handsomely
arrayed in white. After a short honeymoon, the young couple will make their
home on their farm in Cosmos…”
The two honeymooners went off to Minneapolis for a short honeymoon.
There was work to be done on the farms as it was summertime. In September of
that year, the two love birds were not well. It was decided that they should
move to Litchfield for the winter to recuperate. They did so reluctantly but must have seen the
move as a good one. Her father passed away in September after a lingering
illness. He was most likely cared for by his wife and other four daughters who
most likely took care of Ida and Martin during this time of illness too. They never did regain their strength and
return to the lovely little farm home that Ida had so carefully and beautifully
arranged. They had consumption or tuberculosis as it is known today. This is a
horrible disease that attacks the lungs and then other parts of the body. Many
succumbed to the disease in the early 1900’s and these two were amongst those
who died. Martin passed away in Litchfield on Friday, 22 January 1904 and his
sweet Ida followed him only a month later on the 22 February, 1904. They were
buried in the Litchfield Ripley cemetery.
The pictures show her as beautiful and stately and Grandma adds her
kindness and grace.
One ending note. In Grandma’s book she tells us that Ida’s mother had
passed away some years prior. Not so from the census records I found. The last
record I have seen, thus far, is the 1905 Census in Litchfield on Marshall
Avenue which lists Christine, Annie, Emma, Ella, Selma and Hulda. The rest of their lives are a mystery that I
am trying to piece together.
They
smoothed her tresses of dark brown hair;
On her
fare head of stone they laid it fair;
With a
tender touch they closed up well
The
sweet then lips that had secrets to tell;
About
her brows and beautiful face
They
tied her veil and her marriage lace
And
over her bosom they crossed her hands
“Come
away,” they said, “God understands”.
