Here Comes the Bride All Dressed in....Alice Blue Lace

March 14 - Newsmakers? Did you have a female ancestor who made the news? Why? Was she famous or notorious? Did she appear in the social column?

Ellen (Johnstone) Borgreen
29 Jun 1935

Here we have two separate news items pertaining to the marriage of Ellen Johnstone and Carl Borgreen. I love the detail the papers went to, to describe the wedding, the decor, the reception and every detail in-between.
I wish there was a wedding photo. I would love to see the dress and turban she wore with the little veil. But I'll be happy that we have this clipping that describes it so beautifully. It may be the best we ever have. 

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger

March 13 - Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation

Mary Alice (Coleman) Johnstone

Our story begins in July of 1930 when Great Grandpa William H. Johnstone finally went to see a doctor about what had been ailing him for some months. The diagnosis; Rectal Cancer. His wife,  Mary Alice (Coleman) Johnstone, was likely the primary caregiver.  Their daughter, Nell (Nurse Nellie of yesterday's post) was only 17 years old at the time, and still in school.  The other 7 siblings were also either working to help out or in school. William would eventually become so ill that he could no longer work and on Oct. 16 1933, he passed away at home. He was 48 years old 


But there is more to this story. Mary Alice's mother, Mary Coleman, was living with them all these years. And while William was ill, she herself was suffering with something unknown, but she didn't see a doctor until May 27, 1932 and by June 14th 1932 she was gone, at the age of 71. Her diagnosis? Cancer of the bladder with extensive metastasis. Did she tell anyone that she was ill, or did she suffer in silence for as long as she could bear it? 


As I read the supporting documents, I have to wonder what Mary Alice and her children went through during these years. Times were tough anyway and then we have two deaths right at the beginning of the Great Depression. How on earth did they carry on? One thing is made clear through this research, though. Grandma Nell was always so terrified of cancer. Now I know why. Now I understand.

Working 9-5

March 12 - Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation

Nurse Nellie

Ellen "Nell" (Johnstone) Borgreen graduated from the Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in 1933 at the age of 21. .She worked for two years in the office of Dr. C.H. Peterson, of Great Falls, before marrying Carl Borgreen in 1935. Nell then spent the next 24 years as a wife, mother and homemake. 


When Carl died suddenly and tragically
in 1959 at the age of 53, Nell was forced to return to nursing as a way to support her family. She spent the next many years working at Park Place and Cascade County Convalescent Hospital. 


I remember going to work with Grandma when I was little. I enjoyed the residents, but I remember hating the hospital smell. Grandma always had fun with her patients. She was ballsy and brash and I think they all loved her for it. She always had stories to tell from work. I'll share a couple here.


One day she heard someone talking in the closet. When she opened the door an elderly lady yelled "I'm not done yet!" The poor woman thought she was in confession. How did she get in the closet in the first place? Another resident got tired of listening to her talk and pushed her wheelchair into the closet to "shut her up."


There was one lady who always had to be busy. She constantly needed something to keep her occupied. Grandma got some hand towels from the laundry and asked the lady to please help her fold them. Just as she was folding the last one, Grandma "accidentally" knocked the pile over and she had to start again. The lady happily folded towels all afternoon.


As a single mother, Nell had to deal with latch key children. She had instructed the boys not to watch TV while she was at work. They promised that they wouldn't. But as soon as she got home, she put her hand on top of the TV and felt that it was still warm. Not to be outdone, she took a pair of scissors and cut the "damn cord" off the TV. Well the next day the boys just rewired it, and watched TV all day. I don't remember how this story ended. I was usually too busy laughing at the thought of her cutting the cord and them wiring it back on again.


There are many more Nell stories, but I can't do them justice here. No one can tell them the way she did.

Sunday go to Meeting

March 10 - What role did religion play in your family? How did your female ancestors practice their faith? If they did not, why didn't they? Did you have any female ancestors who served their churches in some capacity?

Katherine (Wanger) Marxer

Great grandma Katherine Marxer lived out in the country on the family homestead with husband Joseph and 14 children. There wasn't a church nearby and a trip to town was an overnight affair, so they worshiped at home. The Marxer's were from Eschen Liechtenstein and were Catholic. Katherine kept a Bible by her favorite chair and they would all gather upstairs to pray every night.

Johanna "Jennie" (Felt) Borgreen

Johanna Borgreen came from Sweden, so naturally, she was Lutheran. I posted about her prayer book earlier this week. It's written in Swedish but tucked in between the pages are clippings from an American newspaper of little Bible verses. So the book is something that she kept close to her and used regularly even after coming to the U.S. Mom told me that they belonged to the Lutheran church in Great Falls.

I'm not sure if or how any of my female ancestors served their church, but some research of church records in Great Falls will probably tell the tale. I'll add that to my list of things to look for in the future.

But what does it all mean?

March 9 - Take a family document (baptismal certificate, passenger list, naturalization petition, etc.) and write a brief narrative using the information

This is Johan August "Gust" Johansson Berggren's certificate for moving out. Gust was a 20 year old bachelor at the time he left Ossjo Westergard, Ljunga parish in the county of Kronobergs, Sweden in 1883 and headed to America.Though considered a minor, he was free to marry at this age. According to the document, he'd had cowpox, was able to read, had a passable knowledge of Christianity and was entitled to Holy Communion. It also states that he'd "been on the interrogations and was enjoying civic trust". He was too young to have completed military service, was registered for the census and was planning to move to America. The document is dated 9 Jun 1883 and is signed by his pastor...last name Svenson


transcription provided by Yvonne Henriksson

Are you wondering why I chose the document of a man to answer this blogging prompt for Women's History month?

Sometimes the women's stories are found between the lines of their father's or husband's stories. This document, which has been in my family's possession for decades, held the clues to a host of other pieces of the puzzle. No one could read the document and I'm fairly certain that no one tried. It was kept safely in a bundle of other "important family papers" but remained a mystery until it was posted online with a plea for help. When the translation arrived in my email, the floodgates opened and the hunt was on. It's slow going with this brickwall ancestor and his wife. But I will chip away at that wall, one little chunk at at time until I find what I'm looking for.

March 6 - Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don't have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

Prayer book of Johanna "Jennie" (Felt) Borgreen

Inside cover of Jennie Borgreen's prayer book

Jennie Borgreen's prayer book 

This little prayer book was given to me last year, by my mother. I can't read a word written in it, as it's entirely in Swedish, but I treasure it none-the-less. I also use this book several times a year. I'm an historical

re-enactor and one of my "characters" is a woman who lived in my community from 1870-1919. She was the second school teacher here and started the first Sunday school. She was instrumental in the founding of the Episcopal church and her husband became the first mayor of our town and served many years as a judge. This prayer book serves as a prop for my reenacting and as long as no one asks to see it close up, my secret is safe.

I hope that Great Grandma Borgreen would be happy to know that her little prayer book was still being used and appreciated and that from time to time it was getting out into the world and serving a new purpose, rather than languishing in a drawer or box in some dark corner.

Put a ring on it...

March 4 - Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Marriage certificate of Edward and Marie Marxer

They were married on 24 Feb. 1936 at St. Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls MT. It was a small family wedding. The bride's maid was Louise Marxer, Edward's sister, and the best man was Mike Reddish. The wedding day was cold and the snow deep. The bride's bouquet of roses was frostbitten in the cold. The wedding party headed out to the ranch in the early afternoon. The car made it as far as Eden than needed to be towed by a team of horses the rest of the way. When they arrived at the house the whole community was there to greet the new bride. They played games, told round stories and tall tales and sang songs. Later they rolled the carpet up and pushed the furniture out of the way for an impromptu dance in the living room. They partied until the wee hours of the morning.

This story was told by Edward and Marie in the county history "A Century In The Foothills 1876-1976"

page 319

Marriage certificate of Joseph and Katherine Marxer

Joseph and Katherine Marxer

Joseph and Katerine Marxer were married in St. Paul MN in 1884. They lived there for a couple of years before coming west to homestead near Great Falls MT. Joseph was a stone mason and helped to build many structures in and around Great Falls. He built the home that he and Katherine would raise their family in with his own two hands. They eventually went into farming, but when Joseph had to go to town for work or supplies, he'd walk the 10+ miles in order to save on livery fees for the horses. When he returned home, he'd carry all the food and supplies for his family on his back. Joseph and Katherine had 15 children over the years.

Marriage certificate of Carl and Ellen Borgreen

Ellen "Nell" (Johnstone) Borgreen

Carl Borgreen

Carl and Ellen Borgreen were married on 29 Jun 1935 in Great Falls MT. There is some speculation that they met when Ellen was serving as a nurse to Carl's mother. According to an article in the Great Falls Tribune, they were married at 9:00 am at St. Ann's Cathedral. Gertrude Johnstone and Chester Hillstrand served as attendants. Ellen wore a floor length gown of Alice blue lace with a white turban and short veil. She carried Ophelia roses and gypsophilia."Mr. and Mrs. Borgreen left at noon on a motor trip to AZ and CA and will return to Great Falls about July 20."

Marriage certificate of August "Gust" and Johanna "Jennie" (Felt) Borgreen

Gust and Jennie Borgreen in later years

Gust Borgreen left Sweden and came to the U. S. in 1883 and made his way west to WY. In July of 1891, Jennie Felt arrived in Rock Springs WY and by Dec. of that year the two were married. Based on documentation, I speculate that a relative of Jennie, named Andrew Felt, came to WY in 1890 and sent for her the next year. Many questions surround these people. Was Andrew her brother or related some other way? Did Andrew already know Gust or did they meet in WY? Did Jennie know that she would be married just 6 months after arriving in the U.S? I told you we weren't done with Jennie Felt yet.

Namesake

Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

March 3 - Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you've come across in your family tree.


My name is Jennie and I was named after my Great Grandma Borgreen.  


Jennie Fält was born on 22 May 1868 in Nävlinge, Kristianstad, Sweden  . On 16 Jul 1891 she arrived the U.S. traveling directly to Rock Springs WY. Research shows an individual named Andrew Felt was already living in Rock Springs and I suspect he was her brother. She married Grandpa Gust Borgreen on 5 Dec 1891 and the mysterious A. Felt served as witness.


 Gust and Jennie reportedly homesteaded in Rock Springs, but as yet, no land patent has been found. By 1898 they had moved to Belt MT with three of their 7 children. The rest would be born in MT.


While living in Belt, they appear next door to one Andrew Felt and family on the 1900 census. Four children were born in MT bringing the grand total to 7. They moved to Great Falls by 1905 and resided there until they passed. 


Jennie passed on 14 Apr 1936 and Gust on 6 Apr 1946. 


We'll visit Jennie Felt again, as she is my brickwall ancestor. I have not been able to locate the parish in Sweden where her baptism record is kept, so have not been able to identify her parents or any siblings. She is a stubborn woman, this great grandma. But with time and persistence, I will find her.


[ETA] almost immediately after posting this, I DID locate the parish register where I found a record of the date she left for the U.S. I haven't found a baptism entry, but she may have not been baptized in the same parish. Regardless, one baby step forward and I'm very excited about that.