She tells what she knows of her ancestors’ stories
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The roots of the family tree that merged in Margit have been surprisingly well documented by numerous family members. But here, Margit relates in her own words what she knew about her ancestors. You could read this account as a preamble for her own life story (see Margit’s Memoir).
But first, here’s a little background info about how this telling happened.
In September of 1970 when he was in the fourth grade Jonathan and his classmates were asked by their teacher to write a letter to a grandparent or other interested relative inquiring about how life was in the “olden days.”
They were told to ask about clothes, entertainment, school, doctors, houses, work, and immigrating to America.
Jonathan certainly knew which grandparent to write to. Within a week Grandma Mindrum had written him a ten page letter recounting major events in the lives of all his ancestors on his mother’s side. The entire letter was read out loud to his classmates. I though at the time it was much too rich a source of family background to be just filed away in his school papers and forgotten.
Even though there have been other family histories written, I thought perhaps others of the grandchildren would enjoy having a copy written by their very own grandmother. I have copied it almost exactly as she wrote it, even to the “Dear Jonathan.” Please insert your name and feel as though it’s meant for you.
In honor of Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary and in appreciation and thankfulness for everything they have meant to me I gladly make this family history available.
Frieda Nowland
November 1971
Margit Mindrum 