Mathilda Olson's father, Ole S. Olson immigrated from Christiana, Norway in the year of 1866.
He and his wife, Martha came to Minnesota with three children. Three more children were born
before Martha passed away in 1880. Mathilda was only five when her Mother died. She was
baptized and confirmed at the Rolling Forks Church near Glenwood, Minnesota. . After her
Mother's death, she was raised by her older sister, Hannah. She was raised on the farm in
Rolling Forks Township and was responsible for much of the cooking and cleaning around the
house.
He and his wife, Martha came to Minnesota with three children. Three more children were born
before Martha passed away in 1880. Mathilda was only five when her Mother died. She was
baptized and confirmed at the Rolling Forks Church near Glenwood, Minnesota. . After her
Mother's death, she was raised by her older sister, Hannah. She was raised on the farm in
Rolling Forks Township and was responsible for much of the cooking and cleaning around the
house.
| Pioneer Women |
Mathilda met William Houck in Duluth while she was working at the St. Louis Hotel as a laundress, and
he was working at the Spaulding Hotel as a janitor.
he was working at the Spaulding Hotel as a janitor.
They were married in Duluth in 1904. They lived in a house on West First
Street in Duluth, Minnesota. Their first child Lloyd was born in the spring of
1905. Their second child was my Mother, Gladys Mildred Houck who was
born in the winter of 1907. Mathilda's third pregnancy resulted in twin girls,
Vivian and Myrna, in the fall of 1911. After the birth of the twins, the family
moved to Bear River, Minnesota where they homesteaded in a cabin for three
years.
They lived off the land, and raised vegetables, chickens, cows and pigs. During
this time, Billy (William) worked in Duluth. Mathilda and the children stayed on
the homestead so that they could file a claim on the property. Mathilda earned
extra money by driving their horse and sled through the snowy and rough roads
as a school bus. She would heat bricks and place them on the floor of the sled
under a blanket to keep the children's feet warm.
Street in Duluth, Minnesota. Their first child Lloyd was born in the spring of
1905. Their second child was my Mother, Gladys Mildred Houck who was
born in the winter of 1907. Mathilda's third pregnancy resulted in twin girls,
Vivian and Myrna, in the fall of 1911. After the birth of the twins, the family
moved to Bear River, Minnesota where they homesteaded in a cabin for three
years.
They lived off the land, and raised vegetables, chickens, cows and pigs. During
this time, Billy (William) worked in Duluth. Mathilda and the children stayed on
the homestead so that they could file a claim on the property. Mathilda earned
extra money by driving their horse and sled through the snowy and rough roads
as a school bus. She would heat bricks and place them on the floor of the sled
under a blanket to keep the children's feet warm.
One winter while they were living
in Bear River, the logging camp in
Buel, near Hibbing, MN, needed a
cook. Mathilda went to work in
the camp as a cook, and Billy and
his brother, Earl, worked at the
logging camp.
in Bear River, the logging camp in
Buel, near Hibbing, MN, needed a
cook. Mathilda went to work in
the camp as a cook, and Billy and
his brother, Earl, worked at the
logging camp.
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In 1918, Billy bought a new house in
Duluth when they had satisfied the
homestead on the cabin. In the fall of
1918, a Spanish influenza epidemic
struck the country. On October
11,1918 all public gatherings were
forbidden, all schools, theatres and
churches were closed The following
day, October 12th, was the beginning of
one of the worst forest fires in the history
of Minnesota. It was reported that
11,382 families registered for aid, 2,100
were injured and 106 died of flu and
pneumonia. It was later estimated that
more than 1,000 people were lost, many
of whom were never identified."
"This is Duluth, Dora Mary MacDonald,
published by the Central High School
Printing Dept. 1950, Duluth MN.
We soon had a cow and fared quite well. But not many days later we were all sick with the “flu” bug that was sweeping
the country. My older sister Gladys came down with pneumonia. I can still see my Dad on his knees praying that God
would spare her life. And that God He did. We were taken to the hospital they took people to the “poor farm” in, and
the boys pelted it with snowballs as the horses clopped along. There was no room at the Hospital for us so we were
admitted to the nurses home next door. We were all so thankful for this merciful respite. Soon we were well enough to
go home except my sister who was till fighting for life. But now she had some help to make it."
The family later moved to a house on East 2nd Street in Duluth where Billy and Mathilda spent the rest of their lives. Billy
died in 1939 from a heart attack at the age of 63. Mathilda died in 1945 throat cancer at the age of 70.
the country. My older sister Gladys came down with pneumonia. I can still see my Dad on his knees praying that God
would spare her life. And that God He did. We were taken to the hospital they took people to the “poor farm” in, and
the boys pelted it with snowballs as the horses clopped along. There was no room at the Hospital for us so we were
admitted to the nurses home next door. We were all so thankful for this merciful respite. Soon we were well enough to
go home except my sister who was till fighting for life. But now she had some help to make it."
The family later moved to a house on East 2nd Street in Duluth where Billy and Mathilda spent the rest of their lives. Billy
died in 1939 from a heart attack at the age of 63. Mathilda died in 1945 throat cancer at the age of 70.
In a story written by my Aunt, Myrna, the family didn't know about the fire until the
day they had planned to move to their new house. Their new house had been
destroyed. The hospitals were full and the National Guard Armory was opened to
the refugees.
"On the day our Dad came to bring us to our new home we were very aware of
something strange about his behavior. We found to our dismay he had been
fighting fire for days but could not save our beautiful home on the Fairview Rd. So
they took a long hard look at the situation with the conclusion we still had our
health and more importantly, each other. So hitched old Clive up to the wagon for
the last time and drove off. Leaving the only home I had known in all my short life
at Bear River, Minn. The buildings have succumbed to the ravages of time. But
the memories remain in all their rich detail. That was October 12, 1918.