Title pageThe Lives of Otto and Milly
From about 1890–1955
Search photographs · Who’s who · family guide · The family farm · Read & listen to their letters
Otto’s familyMilly’s familyBoth familiesTheir life together · 1918 onward
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Title page
1FORWARD
Mama had always told me that she and Daddy had corresponded for two years before they were married and that he had proposed to her in a letter. So when Pete and I found their letters tied in ribbons in the attic when we moved to this house I decided I would read those letters and find that letter Mama had always mentioned.
Mama was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but later moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado where her folks became good friends of the Schaefers. Uncle Herb went to the same school Mama did but was older and in a different class. However the families always kept in touch and when they both lived in Denver, Colorado they again visited each other.
Mama was working in the telephone office in Denver and had a good friend, Anita Chance, and they traveled together on several trips during their vacations. When they said they were going to make a trip to see the Pacific Northwest and go as far as Seattle—Uncle Herb said to be sure and stop in and see Helen who was visiting her family in Centralia as the train passed right through Centralia.
Pictures were taken that day and sometime later Daddy wrote his sister, Aunt Helen, and asked if Mama would send him a copy of some of the pictures that were taken. When Aunt Helen told Mama this she replied she would not send pictures to a married man. But Aunt Helen told her it was Uncle Phillip who was married and that Otto was the single brother.
This is why Uncle Herb always claimed he was cupid but Aunt Helen claimed she was because she encouraged Mama to send those pictures to her brother Otto.
When I found so many pictures of Mama and Daddy I decided I could incorporate them with the letters and you would have more of an idea what your maternal grandparents were like.
The last time Aunt Helen visited their graves she commented to me: “These were the true lovebirds—their marriage was made in heaven.” This surprised me as I seldom ever saw my folks embrace or kiss each other—but always they showed admiration and respect for each other.
So this is telling of the lives of Milly and Otto Hilpert. You will notice Mama’s name was spelled differently in different records however. I just wish they could have known each of our children and I know they would be proud of their grandchildren too.
2Foreword · continued
Mama had saved a great many pictures that were not in albums as well as letters before she and Daddy were married, and paper clippings. Then Lowell going through the affects of Aunt Helen and Uncle Herbs as well as Hilperts and his own father found some pictures and letters Aunt Helen had received from Mama. He returned these to me a few years ago and also some of Mother’s friends returned some pictures from Wisconsin to me that they thought I might like.
I have copied the letters—each one of you will get the same. Also made copies of the paper clippings so all will have essentially the same although one of you will have the original.
I’ve tried to divide the pictures evenly but no two albums will have the same.
I hope you’ll find some time someday to look through these albums and get to know your ancestors a little better.
3Meet Otto and Milly
This album celebrates the lives of Otto Frederick Hilpert and Milly Dortzbach Hilpert: the families they came from, the home they made together, and the children and grandchildren who carried their story forward.
Otto grew up on David and Magdalena Hilpert’s farm beside the Skookumchuck River. Milly, a daughter of Peter and Ida Dortzbach, was born in Milwaukee and later lived in Colorado, where she worked in a Denver telephone office.
A holiday in the Pacific Northwest brought Milly to Centralia. Helen and Herbert Schaefer helped connect the two families; photographs from that visit led to letters between Otto and Milly. Their correspondence became a courtship, and they married in Denver on October 16, 1918.
Their life together took root on the family farm. Their daughter, Eileen Townsend, gathered these photographs, letters and memories so her children could know their grandparents better. Through her albums, that gift extends to later generations.
These pages follow Otto and Milly, their relatives and friends, from the early family photographs through their later years. Their letters offer another way to hear their story.
4Otto and Milly
Otto and Milly · Silver wedding anniversary
Meet the Hilpert family
David August Hilpert and Magdalena Gebhardt made their home on the farm beside the Skookumchuck River. Their eight children connect the people you will meet throughout this album.
Reinhold Hilpert
Selma Anna Hilpert
Johanna (“Hannah”) Hilpert Schaefer
Paulina (“Pauline”) Hilpert Reece
Elizabeth (“Hattie”) Hilpert Teeter
Otto Frederick Hilpert
Phillip Hilpert
Helena (“Helen”) Hilpert Schaefer
Otto and Milly are at the heart of this story. Their daughter, Eileen Townsend, gathered the photographs, letters and memories in the original four albums.
Use the family guide to follow names, marriages and generations. Green marks Otto’s Hilpert family; plum marks Milly’s Dortzbach family. Pages connecting both families use both colors.
6The Hilpert family
Who’s pictured
Front row: Helen · Phillip · Hattie · Otto
Back row: David · Magdalena · Selma holding her daughter Lona · Hannah · Pauline · Reinhold
The people in our story
David August Hilpert
1890 · Age 63
The people in our story
Magdalena Hilpert
1897 · Age 55
The people in our story
Magdalena & David
Summer 1897
The people in our story
Magdalena & David
Summer 1897
David Hilpert
David Hilpert came to America on the Amaranth, a bark of 548 tons burden (“burthen”). It sailed from Bremen (no date given) with a complement of 194 passengers, and arrived in the port of New York on January 24, 1853. On the manifest, signed by the ship’s master J. G. Probst, David and his family are listed as passengers Nos. 98, 99, 100.
David Hilpert, age 25, father (sex), silk weaver, from Prussia and destination New York.
Mary Hilpert, age 27 or 37 (an overstrike), mother, from Prussia, and destination New York.
Regina Hilpert, age 1 year 6 mos., daughter, from Prussia, and destination, New York.
Notes:
1. A bark was a sailing vessel with the fore mast and main mast square rigged and mizzen mast rigged fore and aft.
2. The ship’s log indicated six passengers were lost at sea. No explanation. May have died from disease or may have been washed overboard during stormy weather. Either fate was common in those times.
3. David Hilpert was originally from the Kingdom of Saxony. According to information in letter written to him by his brother August their original home and place of birth was a village by the name of Weih located near Nordhausen at the east end of the Hartz Mountains.
4. According to my dad’s recollections David Hilpert worked for a time in woolen mills in Lowell Massachusetts and later spent sometime in Lawrence Kansas with a man by that name. According the American Encyclopedia (sic) the town of Lawrence, Kansas was founded in 1854 and named after the treasurer of the New England Immigrant Aid Society, one Amos Lawrence.
It is likely grand-dad was among one of the groups of settlers sent to Kansas by the Society which was active in getting enough free
12David Hilpert · continued
settlers into the Kansas territory to prevent it’s being taken over by the slave interests of the Southern states.
Apparently grand-dad never discussed his first wife and daughter with either grandmother or their children. Until Lowell picked up the information by searching the ship manifests in the port of New York archives there was never any mention of grand-dad’s first family. What happened to Mary & Regina will probably always be unexplained.
The Hilpert Homestead
The original log house · built about 1872
The story
This picture was taken in 1892 in front of the original Hilpert log house built in about 1872. Grandpa & Grandma Hilpert were married in 1869. I was told Uncle Reinhold had a job and wanted a family picture. The first one I have found of Papa Otto when he was about 10. He often said Helen was 6 and didn't want anyone to touch her new dress.
Who's pictured
Front rowHelen · Phillip · Hattie · Otto
Back rowGrandpa Hilpert · Grandma Hilpert · Selma holding daughter Lona · Hannah · Pauline · Reinhold
The Hilpert Family
At home · July 10, 1892
The story
1892: House was turned slightly after this, and the porches added and the old log cabin removed. Lona Pitzer, born 1891, was the first grandchild.
Who's pictured
Left to right
David August Hilpert, Magdalena, Helena Christine, Phillip, Hannah, Selma (Hilpert) Pitzer with Lona, Reinhold, Hattie, Otto and Pauline.
The farm: a family home
Read the farm’s land records →
The farm is a thread running through this family’s story. David August Hilpert bought the land and built the original house and barns. After his death, Otto, Reinhold and Phillip carried on farming.
In later years Reinhold lived on one side of the property, while Otto lived in the farmhouse he built on the other. Eileen grew up in Otto’s house, followed by her daughter Martha and her grandson Isaac.
The buildings changed and grew, but the land beside the Skookumchuck River remained home. Visit the farm’s page for photographs and Isaac’s memories of the houses and generations who lived here.
16Places we called home
The Hilpert Farm
Between 1869 and 1889
The story
Hilpert farm between 1869 and 1889. The stumps in the distance are those of the original orchard before it was moved to the river site. Grandpa Hilpert (David August Hilpert) walked to Portland to get seedling trees, and then walked back to farm an orchard.
Places we called home
The Hilpert Farm
Looking west · About 1890
Places we called home
The Hilpert Farm
From the hill above the river
Places we called home
The Hilpert Farm
Across the years
The Hilpert farm
Looking east across the highway
Family together
The Hilpert Boys
About 1897
Who's pictured
Left to right
Otto · Phillip · Reinhold · Carl Pitzer Sr. (?) · David August Hilpert
Family together
The Hilpert Sisters
About 1897
Who's pictured
Family lives
Reinhold Hilpert
March 14, 1870 – September 30, 1954
The story
Reinhold was born on the family farm when his father, David August Hilpert, was 42 and his mother, Magdalena, was 28. He later made his home in a house on the same farm.
Reinhold and Lilla
Reinhold Hilpert was born on March 14, 1870, in Centralia, Washington. His father, David, was 42 and his mother, Magdalena, was 28. He was named after his cousin in Germany, Reinhold Leukroth (1850–1920).
He married Lilla Dora Harrison in Chehalis on October 29, 1906, two months after his father’s death. They lived on the family farm and had four children: Hamlet, Lowell, Shirley and Eileen. Eileen died shortly after her birth.
Hamlet and Garnet Lenore Perkins had one son, David Cary Hilpert. Lowell and Doris Althea Rutherford had three children: Renee, Gregory and Michelle. Shirley and Steven Fuller had a daughter, Marise.
Reinhold died in Centralia on September 30, 1954, at age 84, and was buried there.
Family lives
Selma Anna Hilpert
December 23, 1872 – January 5, 1965
The story
Selma was born on December 23, 1872, in Centralia, Washington, when her father, David August Hilpert, was 45 and her mother, Magdalena, was 30.
Family lives
Selma, About 1890
Selma, Carl and William
She married Carl Pitzer on November 11, 1890, at age 17. Their children were Apolonia (Lona, later called “Big Lona”), Leonora and Carl Jr. Lona was David and Magdalena Hilpert’s first grandchild. By 1895 they lived in El Paso, Texas; by 1910 they had returned to Lewis County. Carl Sr. died in 1915.
On October 6, 1917, Selma married William J. Wagner. They moved to Tacoma. William died in 1941 after 23 years of marriage.
Selma died on January 5, 1965, in Lewis, Washington, at age 92, and was buried in her hometown. Hattie and Helena were her only surviving siblings. Hilpert, Pitzer and Wagner are names used for this same Selma at different times in her life.
28Family lives
Carl Pitzer Sr.
The story
Carl died in Centralia on July 8, 1915, at age 47.
Johanna Hilpert
Johanna Hilpert, known as Hannah, was born on February 14, 1875, on the Hilpert family farm. Her father, David, was 47 and her mother, Magdalena, was 33.
She married Fred Schaefer. They had two children, Hilpert and Frederick. Hannah died on January 14, 1961. Hannah and Helen were sisters. Hannah married Fred Schaefer; Helen married Fred’s nephew, Herbert Clyde Schaefer.
Hannah and Fred Schaefer
Hannah Hilpert and Fred Schaefer, a pharmacist in El Paso, Texas, in two portraits from their wedding photography session.
31Pauline Magdalena Hilpert
Pauline Magdalena Hilpert was Otto’s sister. She married Frederick H. Reece.
Elizabeth Hedwig Hilpert
Elizabeth Hedwig Hilpert, known as Hattie, was born on January 8, 1880. Her father, David Hilpert, was 52 and her mother, Magdalena, was 38.
She married Robert Henry Teeter in 1902. They had five children over fourteen years: Alonzo Robert Teeter Sr., Selma Evangeline Teeter, Harold Otto Teeter, Vernon Teeter and Ethel Adams Teeter.
Hattie died in Tacoma on June 20, 1967, at age 87.
Hattie and Robert Teeter
Phillip Henrich Hilpert
Phillip Henrich Hilpert was born on the Hilpert farm on July 23, 1883. He farmed alongside his brother Otto.
He died on March 15, 1932. His death was ruled an accidental drowning in the Skookumchuck River.
Aunt Alice and Uncle Phillip liked to hunt, fish, dance, etc. and made many, many friends. When they died the Hoerlings (funeral home) stated these were the biggest funerals they had ever had.
Phillip and Alice Hilpert
Phillip married Alice Caroline Padham in 1915. Their three children were Frederick Phillip Hilpert Sr., Evelyn Lorraine Hilpert and Beulah Carol Hilpert.
Uncle Phillip and Otto Hilpert were partners in their farming until Uncle Phillip got married. According to Hamlet Uncle Phillip was nearly cut out of the will when Grandpa Hilpert died and that Rheinhold and Daddy didn’t think that was right so each gave a portion of their land to him to farm and he had the use of the big barn and 1/2 of the cattle were given him.
Helena Christina Hilpert
Helena Christina Hilpert, known as Helen, was born on November 23, 1885, on the family farm in Centralia. Her father, David August, was 57 and her mother, Magdalena, was 43.
She married Herbert Clyde Schaefer on January 20, 1906, in El Paso, Texas. They had one child. Helen died in Denver on January 12, 1978, at age 92.
Her middle name may have honored David August’s sister, Christina.
Helen and Herbert Schaefer
Hannah and Helen were sisters. Hannah married Fred Schaefer; Helen married Fred’s nephew, Herbert Clyde Schaefer.
Helen and Herb helped bring Otto and Milly together. In Eileen’s foreword, Herb encouraged Milly to visit Helen in Centralia, and Helen encouraged Milly to send photographs to her unmarried brother Otto.
39Meet Milly’s family
Before she was Otto’s wife and Eileen’s mother, Milly was the little girl in this family portrait. Here she is in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in 1897, about seven years old, with her parents, Peter Dortzbach and Ida Falkenrath, her sister Annie, and her little brother George Karl.
Peter and Ida began their married life in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1889. Their children’s photographs help us follow the family from those early years into the lives and homes Milly would come to know. Their youngest child, Carl George, was born in 1906, nine years after this picture was taken.
As you turn the pages, you’ll get to know more of this family. Annie married Harry Otto Schmidt, and their daughters Dorothy and Valetta appear often in the album. Carl’s family appears too—with Matilda, known as Tillie, and later with Doris. Alongside the Dortzbachs, you’ll meet Ida’s Falkenrath relatives, another part of Milly’s childhood and family story.
A small note to help with the names: George Karl, the little boy in this portrait, died in childhood. The younger George Dortzbach you’ll see in later photographs belongs to a different generation. The family guide can help you keep everyone connected.
40The Dortzbach family
Cripple Creek, Colorado
Who’s pictured
Family picture of Peter and Ida Dortzbach in 1897 in Cripple Creek Colorado. Milly about 7, Ane about 6 and Georgie 4 years old.
Ida and Peter’s wedding
Milly as a baby
Milwaukee, Wisconsin · About six months old
Milly in a toy carriage
Ida Falkenrath
Racine, Wisconsin
A family photograph in El Paso
Who’s pictured
We think this is Aunt Hannah and Uncle Fred Schaefer in El Paso Texas with a son. (Hilpert?)
Pauline, Fred and Hilpert
Who’s pictured
Pauline, Fred and Hilpert Schaefer.
Hannah and her son
On the porch · El Paso, Texas
Hannah and her son
A second porch photograph · El Paso, Texas
Hannah and her son
A studio portrait · El Paso, Texas
Otto, perhaps age twenty-one
A postcard from Mount Vernon
The Ohio River · date not established
Printed postcard caption. Original historical color and handwritten signature retained; this is not an AI colorization.
52Addressed to Otto
The reverse of the Mount Vernon postcard
Original address. Postmarks show July 29 in Mount Vernon and August 2 in Centralia; the year is unclear.
53Otto on the old farm
An early view of Centralia
Clara Duber and a friend
Perhaps Alonzo Teeter
Lona Pitzer and friends
Otto and Phillip’s lease
January 10, 1911
Original document heading. Signed agreement between Otto F. Hilpert and Phillip Hilpert.
59The lease cover
Otto and Phillip Hilpert · 1911
Handwritten title on the original cover.
60At Mother Hilpert’s home
Probably about 1915. In front of Mother Hilpert’s home.
Who’s pictured
On the porch: Hattie Teeter and Selma Wagner and Grandma Hilpert.
On steps: probably: Alonzo, Harold & Selma Teeter, Lona Pitzer sitting next to post and Phillip below with Freddie Hilpert.
In front of the Hilpert farm house
In front of the Hilpert farm house in 1912.
Who’s pictured
Back Row: Joe Shirer, Leonora Pitzer, Hattie Teeter, Hannah Schaefer, Pauline Reece, Lona Pitzer, Selma Pitzer
Front row: Little Selma Teeter & Grandma Hilpert (Magdalena)
In front of the Hilpert farm house
In front of the Hilpert farm house in 1912.
Who’s pictured
Back Row: George Pitzer, Carl Pitzer, Otto, Fred Schaefer, Phillip, Carl Pitzer Jr., Bob Teeter, Magdalena
Middle Row: Joe Shirer, Lona Pitzer, Pauline, Leonora, Selma, Hattie, Hannah and Hilpert Schaefer (b.1899)
Front row: Harold Teeter (b.1906), Little Selma Teeter (b.1904), and Alonzo Teeter (b.1903).
Helen on Sammy
Carl Pitzer
Carl’s scholarship fund
A later addition to the Pitzer family pages
Text from the original cartoon. Handwritten date: 1/15/93.
66Remembering Carl Pitzer
December 18, 1978
Name from the original obituary. Newspaper date retained in the image.
67The Dortzbach Family in 1880
Who’s pictured
Back Row (Left to Right): Ane, Peter (Milly’s father), Paul, Kristine
Sitting: Father: George Dortzbach and Mother: Kjesten (Schmidt) Dortzbach
Grandpa Dortzbach’s family
Grandpa Dortzbach’s family: Mother Kjesten Schmidt Dortzbach born Sept 11, 1818, in Province Schleswig, Denmark, and died in 1899. Father George Frederick Dortzbach, born Jan. 8, 1828 near Nuerenberg, Bavaria. Ane Kathrine born Nov. 2, 1854 became a deoconess at age 25 for the Lutheran church. Ane Kristina was born Jan. 2, 1858 and died at age 35. Brother Paul was born Nov. 10, 1861. Grandpa, Peter, P. Dortzbach was born July 8, 1863 and Died May 23, 1942.
— Eileen Townsend
69George Dortzbach, 1889
Kjesten Schmidt, 1889
Kristina Juhl
Sister Ane in Flensburg
Paul G. Dortzbach’s family
Charles and Martha’s wedding
Four women in Racine
This picture was taken in the 1880’s or 1890’s.
Who’s pictured
Ida Falkenrath, Hulda Falkenrath, Ida Stelberg and Tilly Kummer.
Milly and Annie
Friends on the porch
Paul G. Dortzbach’s young family
Charlie and Ernst Falkenrath
The Falkenrath birthplace
Herman and his bicycle
Annie, George and Milly
Who’s pictured
Annie, George and Milly Dortzbach in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Kjesten Emilie Dortzbach (Milly) was born February 1, 1890 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is about 6 years old in this picture.
Milly’s fourth-grade class
Cripple Creek
Peter’s shoe shop
George Karl Dortzbach
A childhood portrait
The Schmidt family
About 1900
Who’s pictured
About 1900: Henry Schmidt, his son Harry O. Schmidt (Aunt Annie’s husband) & sister Dora Schmidt.
Green Mountain Falls
Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, 1909.
Who’s pictured
Peter, Ida, Annie and Milly Dortzbach.
Cripple Creek
Colorado · About 1903
Milly at home
Milly, her grandmother and Walter
Who’s pictured
Milly’s Grandma Falkenrath. Walter Brinkman (Milly’s cousin) Milly Dortzbach About 1904-5.
Milly’s grandmother
Milly’s Grandma Falkenrath
Viola Falkenrath
The Brinkman family
Who’s pictured
Charlie, Walter & Hulda (Falkenrath) Brinkman.
Milly’s year in Racine
Eileen’s recollections, filed under 1905
Milly was never strong and when she was 13 or 14 the Dr. diagnosed her condition as St. Vitis Dance a nervous disorder. He told Grandma and Grandpa Dortzbach they should move to a lower altitude than Cripple Creek, Colo. for her health. But Grandma had a sister, Hulda Brinkman in Racine, Wisconsin and they sent Mama there for a year to live with she and her Uncle Charlie Brinkman.
Aunt Hulda was very prejudiced against Catholics but the Catholic school was close enough to their house that Mama could walk there--so the decision was made to send her there. Each day Mama said Aunt Hulda reminded her she was raised to be a Lutheran and not to turn Catholic. Mama said the Sisters were always very considerate and kind to her.
— Eileen Townsend
102The Brinkman family
Eileen’s recollections, filed under 1905
Aunt Hulda and Uncle Charlie had one son, Walter. He was a little boy at this time and very precious but was always getting into fights after school. So Aunt Huldas way of handling this situation was to give him a spanking as soon as he got home and then something sweet to eat. When the neighbors called up to complain about her boy her reply would always be: “I’ve already taken care of that.”
Grandma Dortzbach went back to his graduation from Medical school in 1929. He was a Dr. for many years in one of the Dakotas and used a horse, pick up, and finally an airplane to cover his practice. He came to visit Bud and me with his wife Gay for a short while the day school closed in Bucoda in 1957. Mama had always longed for his visit.
— Eileen Townsend
103Milly’s school in Racine
Saint Catherine’s Academy · Filed under 1905
Original tuition card; the album places it under 1905. The card itself has no printed year.
104An outing by motorcar
Who’s pictured
Billy Edwards, Milly Dortzbach Harry and Annie Schmidt.
Valetta at two
Milly, a friend and Annie
Who’s pictured
Milly, friend and Annie.
Milly and friends
Harold Falkenrath
Ollene Falkenrath
Harry and Annie
Harry and Annie on the steps
An outing with family or friends
Milly and Annie in their Sunday best
Annie and Milly by the water
Milly at nineteen
Denver, Colorado · About 1909
Milly and a friend
Another portrait of Milly
Denver, Colorado · About 1909
Sister Ann
Harry and Valetta by the car
A family picnic
Who’s pictured
Pa, Annie, Milly, Harry, Ma, Valetta, Carl and friends about 1916.
Out in the motorcar
Milly, Harry, Annie and a friend · 1912
Who’s pictured
1912: Milly Dortzbach & friend. Harry & Annie Schmidt.
Milly and friends
The Marion apartments
Milly in Denver
Annie Hulda Dortzbach
The Schmidt contractor’s truck
Who’s pictured
1915. Uncle Harry on far left and his father Henry Schmidt on far right.
The Dortzbach family
About 1912–1913
About 1912-13.
Who’s pictured
Front row: Ida, Carl & Pete.
Milly and Annie Dortzbach.
Annie, Harry and Valetta
About 1916
Who’s pictured
Annie, Harry & Valetta Schmidt about 1916.
Lydia Falkenrath
Friends in Denver
Milly and Aunt Annie · About 1913–1914
Who’s pictured
About 1913-14. Aunt Annie is fourth from the left and Mama is the sixth one. They are with friends in Denver, Colorado.
Leaving Denver
Joy Riding
Milly and Dora · About 1914–1915
Milly’s school bill
Saint Catherine’s Academy · January 24, 1905
Name and institution transcribed from the original bill. The handwritten year appears to be 1905; an earlier transcription read 1903. This bill is distinct from the tuition card.
134Sister Ann
Katherine Anne Dortzbach
Sister Ann’s mounted portrait
Ernst and Clara
A wedding portrait
A triple celebration
The Falkenrath family in Racine
Original newspaper headline. Clipping has no visible date; retained beside Ernst and Clara’s wedding portrait as in the binder.
138Milly in the garden
Milton Lorenz Falkenrath
The family in the woods
Who’s pictured
Annie Schmidt, Ma, Pa, Milly & Carl Dortzbach about 1916.
Three on a bicycle
About 1910
Who’s pictured
About 1910: Milly & Annie Dortzbach and Harry O. Schmidt.
Annie and Harry’s wedding
Annie and Harry’s attendants
Who’s pictured
In front of the Marion Str. Apts. Annie Schmidt marries Harry O. Schmidt. I think, Billy Edwards and Betty Walters stood up with them.
Henry and Hulda Schmidt
Harry’s new car
Who’s pictured
Annie Schmidt, Milly Dortzbach and friends in Harry’s new car.
A drive with friends
About 1915.
Who’s pictured
Uncle Harry Schmidt driving the car. Aunt Annie standing on the left and Mama on the right, in front of the car, with other friends.
The Schmidt family
A motorcycle outing
Who’s pictured
Dora - Uncle Harry’s sister - Harry, Annie, Valetta & Dorothy Schmidt.
Milly and a friend
The Hilpert house
Visiting the calves
The Hilpert farm
Grandma Hilpert
Milly and a friend
A day on the Skookumchuck
The 1916 visit
Who’s pictured
Otto, Milly and Helena on the Skookumchuck, 1916.
A long way from home
Milly and Anita visit the Hilpert farm
This is when we were a long way from home.
Who’s pictured
Milly Dortzbach, Mother Hilpert and Anita Chance, 1916.
Visitors at the Hilpert farm
Helena, Otto and Anita
Who’s pictured
Helena, Otto, and Anita Chance at the Hilpert farm in 1916.
Anita and Otto on the river
Skookumchuck River
Elizabeth Chance
Denver, Colorado
Anita and Milly at Marion Street
Milly at The Marion
About 1917
Milly at the telephone office
Denver
Telephone supervisors’ picnic
Denver
The telephone supervisors’ picnic
Denver · Chapter # 6
The telephone picnic
Aunt Selma
A portrait from the 1950s
Selma Hilpert Pitzer Wagner
Milly Dortzbach
Three poses · December 1917
Milly Dortzbach
Age 27
Milly Dortzbach
Age 27
Apolonia Hilpert
Age 25
Apolonia Hilpert
Age 25
The Thorlakson Files
Musings of Bob McDermid
Handwritten heading above a humorous list by Robert McDermid. Original corrections retained.
172Remembering Dick Thorlakson
Marvin Thomas · October 25, 1994
Closing sentence of Marvin Thomas’s signed tribute. Eileen filed this later family material in the earlier Thorlakson section.
173Meeting Dick in 1952
Dick appeared on U of W campus where I was a student in February of 1952. We met at that concert & I was dating Jim Giles who is pictured here also. We double date a few times.
Handwritten recollection beside the June 14, 1952 National Guard clipping. The writer is not identified; the spelling and wording are preserved. The copied newspaper image is not reproduced.
174Helena and Otto
Lona and Sigurd
Wedding announcement · Tacoma, Washington
Text transcribed from the original announcement.
176An announcement sent to Otto
Tacoma · May 4, 1918
Address transcribed from the original envelope accompanying Lona and Sigurd’s announcement. Postmarked May 4, 1918.
177Remembering Arthur Muchow
June 17, 1918
Original newspaper headline. The reverse is marked “6/17/18.”
178Pauline and Helen at Teeters’
In front of the new car
In front of our new car:
Who’s pictured
Milly, Papa and Mama and Carl Dortzbach.
Milly at The Marion
About 1918
Milly in Denver
Preparing for the wedding
I’m not sure when Daddy arrived in Denver with Aunt Helen but it must have been about September 10, 1918. She told me that his first effort was to buy a diamond ring to present to Mama but when he brought the first one back for Aunt Helen to see--she didn’t approve. She told Daddy that Billy Edwards, who worked in the bank, wanted to marry Mama and if he didn’t do better than that he might as well forget asking Mama. So he went back the next day and spent another $100 and bought a 2/3 carrot diamond. Apparently Mama accepted and plans were quickly made to have the wedding before Daddy felt he had to return to Washington.
Then Daddy caught the flu and was very, very sick. In fact Aunt Helen thought he might die before he could get married and continued to nurse him for 2–3 weeks. The Dr. told him it had affected his heart and from that time on he could no longer pass a test to get an insurance policy.
— Eileen Townsend
183Preparing for the wedding · continued
But plans for a wedding continued and the relatives that were close to Mama in Wisconsin were sent invitations as well as her sister’s family and a few close friends. Betty Walters, her maid of honor made her wedding dress which we still have.
Then an edict was made no more than 3 people could be in a room at a time because of the flu epidemic and they had to get a special dispensation to hold the wedding outdoors.
(This narrative was told to Eileen by both Aunt Helen and your Grandma Milly.)
— Eileen Townsend
184A ride before the wedding
Denver
Out for a ride in Harry’s and the Dortzbach’s touring cars a few days before the wedding. October, 1918.
Who’s pictured
Harry and Annie Schmidt. Carl Dortzbach. Otto Milly. Grandma Dortzbach and Valetta Schmidt.
On the Marion apartment porch
Who’s pictured
Milly, Otto and Grandma Dortzbach at the Marions St. Apts. 1918.
Otto and Milly in Denver
Grandma and Grandpa Dortzbach
Otto and Milly in Denver
Family gathered for the wedding
Who’s pictured
Viola, Aunt Mary Falkenrath, Annie Schmidt and Dorothy, Grandma Dortzbach, Oct. 16, 1918.
Family at the wedding
Denver · October 16, 1918
Who’s pictured
Pa, Viola Falkenrath, Annie & Dorothy Schmidt, Aunt Mary Falkenrath, 10/16/1918
Aunt Mary visits for the wedding
A welcome home
Reception at Mrs. August Hilpert’s
Opening words of the original newspaper clipping; exact publication date is not given.
193News of the marriage
Denver · October 1918
Opening words of the original newspaper clipping. Its wording is preserved.
194The wedding invitation
Denver · October 16, 1918
Opening text of the original invitation; original spelling retained.
195Otto and Milly’s wedding
Denver, Colorado · October 16, 1918
A second wedding portrait
Denver, Colorado
The wedding party
Denver, Colorado · October 16, 1918
October 16, 1918 Milly Dortzbach marries Otto F. Hilpert in Denver Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Attendants were: Betty Walters and Billy Edwards and Milly’s niece, Valetta Schmidt was the flower girl.
Otto and Milly are married
Denver · October 16, 1918
Opening text of the original announcement. Their new home is listed as Centralia, Washington.
199Family and friends gather
The outdoor wedding · Denver, October 16, 1918
Another moment on the lawn
Denver · October 16, 1918
The wedding in the newspaper
The Denver Times · October 17, 1918
Original newspaper heading. The printed name variants remain visible as reported; they are not used to silently change family identifications.
202An open-air wedding
The Denver Times · October 17, 1918
Original newspaper headline. Two columns preserved in album order.
203Their wedding in the news
October 1918
Original newspaper headline. Binder holes obscure a few words near the bottom.
204At home after the wedding
Nov. 1918.
Who’s pictured
Lenora Pitzer, Otto and Mother Hilpert.
Otto in the backyard
The tool and machine house
Beside the well
Milly and a child with the chickens
On the Skookumchuck
Together on the frozen river
Among the daffodills
Preparing the ground
Clearing the farm
March 17, 1919 · Another view
Making hay
An uncaptioned photograph
At the Tacoma depot
A family visit in Centralia
About 1919 or 1920
About 1919 or 1920
Who’s pictured
Aunt Hannah Schaefer visits her mother in Centralia, WA. Shirley Hilpert is standing by her and she is holding Lona Thorlakson, Aunt Selma Pitzer’s granddaughter.
At Priest Point
Washington
Who’s pictured
Milly, Hattie Teeter and probably Vernon Teeter at Priest Point, Washington on July 13, 1919.
Otto and his white team
Binding grain · About 1919
Friends at Forest
Washington
Who’s pictured
August 10, 1919. Otto Milly and friends at Forest, Washington.
Selma and her granddaughter
Milly and Bumpsky
Digging potatoes
Charles Frederick Dortzbach
One year old · About 1919
Anita Chance in France
Neufchateau
Anita’s service in France
The big barn
The smokehouse
Milly and the dogs
Around the farm
Rooms in the Hilpert house
Milly and Otto’s horses
Otto on the hay load
Another photograph at the rake
1919:
Who’s pictured
Alice, Freddie, Milly & Otto Hilpert. Phillip’s wife is on the rake.
Petting Otto’s horse
A street in Tacoma
Bumpsky by the chicken pen
Milly and Otto at Priest Point
Milly at Priest Point
At Priest Point
Horses and Bumpsky
At Forest
At Forest, Wash. Aug. 10, 1919.
Who’s pictured
Carl Dortzbach, (?) Grandma Dortzbach, (?) and Milly Hilpert.
A load of wheat
Who’s pictured
Otto on load of wheat. Milly, Lenora and (?). August 11, 1919.
The frozen Skookumchuck
Milly on the rake
Aug. 4, 1919.
Who’s pictured
Milly on rake, Alice and Freddie Hilpert and Grandma Dortzbach.
The motorcar
Milly on the porch
Evelyn Hilpert
Frederick Hilpert
Frederick and Evelyn
To Otto and Milly Xmas 1919.
Who’s pictured
Frederick Hilpert Aug. 1, 1916. Evelyn Hilpert, Oct. 3, 1918.
Freddie on the porch
Lenora Pitzer Heartshorn
Portrait with flowers
Remembering Lenora
P. S. (I just called Hamlet for a little more details about Lenora as I know she was the favorite in the family as far as Daddy was concerned. She was married to Gordon Heartshorn who was a cellist in a symphony orchestra. Lenora was 5-6 months pregnant and they ran out of fuel in their apartment in Seattle and she had pneumonia. They tried to move her to Aunt Selmas in Tacoma by ambulance and it broke down on the way and as Hamlet said, it was all down hill from then on. He also said she was chilled in the ambulance because she was in it for 4 hours before they reached Tacoma. I believe the folks said she died in the ambulance before they reached Aunt Selma.) No antibiotics in those days!
Eileen’s later postscript, placed after Milly’s February 26, 1920 letter to Helen and Herbert. These recollections are attributed to Eileen and Hamlet; original spelling and uncertainty are preserved.
255At Schaefer Park
Who’s pictured
Helen, Milly, and Selma Teeter. Schaefer Park sit in early 1920’s.
By the Skookumchuck
By the new house
Milly with the poultry
Across the Skookumchuck
Sept. 4, 1920:
Who’s pictured
The boy sitting up in the tree is Hilpert Schaefer-21 years. The boy sitting in front of me is Hamlet Hilpert-13 years. The other is Lowell Hilpert-age 10 years. The fourth is a spring chicken with a pail of nuts. This is taken across the Skookumchuck.
Clara Dortzbach
Fred Dortzbach
A visit from Buelah Sutton
Beside a stack of grain
Conflicting identifications
Milly in the corn field
Lona and Lenora
Otto in the corn field
Otto in the corn field
The farm in 1920
A view across the farm
Another view of the farm
1920
The south side of the farm
The farm across the oats
Loading hay
Beulah beside the river
Bumpsky by the chicken yard
Dorothy and Valetta
The Schmidt family
1920:
Who’s pictured
Annie, Harry, Dorothy & Valetta, Hulda & Henry Schmidt.
Valetta and Dorothy on the farm
Herb Schaefer
The Honore family at home
1920:
Who’s pictured
Carrie, Al & Helen Honore. Our whole family + part of our house.
Helen Elizabeth Honore
Charles and John Dortzbach
A note with the boys’ photograph
623 Carroll St. Akron, Ohio, Aug 25, 1920. Dear Uncle Peter & family, This is a picture of our two boys, to really know how dear they are you would have to see them. Charles is his father’s shadow and the baby is quite fond of him too. We are all well. Have had a cool summer here, quite a lot of rain too. Fred has hopes of soon getting Peter to America now, for ticket can soon be sent. Had a letter from Carrie a few weeks ago. With love and best wishes we are as ever, Fred & Clara Dortzbach. (This is Grandpa Dortzbach’s brother’s son Fred’s family.
Text beneath the photograph, as typed in Eileen’s album. Line breaks normalized; the source leaves its final parenthesis open.
285Dorothy and Valetta
Verna and a friend
Carl, Annie, Dorothy and Valetta
1920:
Who’s pictured
Carl, Annie, Dorothy & Valetta.
Grandma Dortzbach: two source dates
The Red Binder captions this photograph “1920 Grandma Dortzbach.” Green dates the identical photograph “Grandma Dortzbach. Feb. 6, 1922.” It appears once in the 1922 group, using the less stained Red print. Both original dates remain recorded.
289At the Schmidt farm
Ruth Falkenrath
A visit in Denver
A family group
Who’s pictured
Milly, Otto, Grandma Dortzbach, ? and Carl and girl(?). 1921
Together at Grandma’s house
Who’s pictured
Grandma Hilpert, Lowell, Hamlet, Lila, Otto, Peter Dortzbach, Evelyn and Shirley Hilpert. 1921.
Facing south at the farm
1921:
Who’s pictured
L to R: Bob’s car, Otto Salma Teeter, Grandma, Vernon, Hattie, Harold, Ring, Milly, Bob, Woodshed, Sour kraut barrel.
We are facing South.
The first load of hay
Helen, Grandma and friends
Who’s pictured
Friend & wife, Helen, Mrs. Schummer, and Grandma Hilpert. 1921.
Otto on the cultivator
Another family beach photograph
Snow on the farm
Christmas wishes from the children
We wish you a Merry Christmas, 1921 The place way back there is Grandmas.
Who’s pictured
Alice and Philips 3 children: Freddie 5 years old. Evelyn 3 years old and baby Beulah was born Feb. th. 1921.
Dorothy and the poultry
Feeding the chickens
Otto and Maud in the snow
Feeding the turkeys
Dorothy Marie Schmidt
Dorothy at three
Watering the horses
The farmhouse in snow
Building the barn
The east side of the farm
Outside The Marion
Valetta in the woods
The family together
About 1921!
Who’s pictured
Helen Schaefer, Lona Thorlakson holding son Kryl, Sig Thorlakson, Bill Wagner and Little Lona Thorlakson.
Family at the beach
Fred Reece
Lillian Falkenrath
Lillian Falkenrath
Sixty-five years together
Helen and Herbert Schaefer · Rocky Mountain News
Original newspaper text, published June 8, 1971. Preserved in Eileen’s Schaefer family grouping.
320Lena K Ricken
A picnic
Another photograph at the beach
The barn in November
The farm from Reinhold’s hill
The Dortzbachs and Hattie Wolf
1921:
Who’s pictured
Ma & Pa Dortzbach & Hattie Wolf.
A girl in the garden
Ma, Pa and a friend
Who’s pictured
1921: Ma & Pa Dortzbach & friend.
Grandma Dortzbach
A group outside the Marion
Who’s pictured
Grandpa Dortzbach’s brother Paulus and wife Kretine, son Fred and daughter Christina.
They had 4 other children: Carrie, Karl, etc.
Carl and Ma Dortzbach
The Honores on the Skookumchuck
Who’s pictured
Al, Carrie, Albert and Helen Honore on the Skookumchuck, 1922.
Charles Frederick and John William
The Honore family
Sent May 11, 1922:
Who’s pictured
Carrie, Al, Helen and Albert.
Carrie was Milly’s first cousin.
The Schmidt family
Who’s pictured
Valetta, Harry, Annie, Dorothy Schmidt, 1922.
Viola Falkenrath
Dorothy and a kitten
At home in Japan
July 1922: This was taken by our home in Kariuzawa Shinshu Japan.
Who’s pictured
Our maid, Michiko San and the boys Charles and John Dortzbach.
Ma and Pa at the Marion apartments
The Dortzbachs in Denver
1922:
Who’s pictured
Pa & Ma and Carl Dortzbach.
Viola and Lorraine in the garden
Carrie, Helen and Albert
Sent May 11, 1922:
Who’s pictured
Carrie Helen and Albert Jr. Carrie was Milly’s first cousin. Kaja, babe and Helen.
The Schmidt family
Who’s pictured
Harry, Dorothy, Annie, Valetta Schmidt, about 1922.
Albert’s first birthday
May 24, 1922: Taken on Babes first Birthday.
Who’s pictured
Carrie, Albert and Helen.
Carrie was Milly’s first cousin.
The families together
Sent May 11, 1922.
Who’s pictured
Fred Dortzbach (Carrie Honore’s brother) Clara D. Al Honore and children Charles, Clara - Helen - babe - Albert - Johny - Fred.
Aunt Selma
At the Bonte Hay ranch
July 4, 1922. On Bonte Hay ranch 7 a.m. before we started home.
Who’s pictured
From left to right,
front row: Mrs. Bonte, Mr. Bonte and brother Frank.
Upper row in Dortzbach’s car: Pa, Carl, Mr. Fish & Mr. Eisler.
About 8600’ high.
Outside The Marion
Who’s pictured
Grandma Dortzbach, Clara & Fred Dortzbach and boys. 1922.
Helen and Albert Honore
Lorraine and Viola
At Grand Lake
Who’s pictured
Grand Lake near the beautiful Mt. on (?) 9000’ high, in Colorado. Elsler, Frank (?) and Pa and Carl took it.
Milton and Ruth Falkenrath
Grandma Dortzbach
Source dates differ
Elmer Merrill Dortzbach
Shirley Hilpert
Valetta Schmidt at the river
Dorothy Schmidt at the river
Henry Schmidt’s funeral
Dorothy beside the creek
Dorothy on a swing
Harvest on the farm
Milly and Otto
Otto cutting grain
A second view of the harvest
The Honore family
1922: The Al Honore family.
Who’s pictured
Ialja or Carrie Dortzbach, son Albert and daughter Helen.
Starting a family
According to cousin Dorothy Mama and Daddy wanted a family but still did not have one. So her mother, Aunt Annie urged her to come back to Denver to see a Dr. and get help so she could get pregnant. This she did in early 1923. But as Velma always said, Mama was a very private person, so she never told this story to me.
— Eileen Townsend
364Civic Center, Denver
January 5, 1923
Views of Denver’s Civic Center during the family’s visit.
365Civic Center, Denver
January 5, 1923
Views of Denver’s Civic Center during the family’s visit.
366Civic Center, Denver
January 5, 1923
The decorated tree, photographed during the family’s visit to Denver.
367Carrie Honore’s new home
In the barnyard
A visit in Bucoda
Nov. 30, 1923. Bucoda, Wash.
Who’s pictured
Dorothy, and Annie Schmidt and Eileen.
A visit in Bucoda
Nov. 30, 1923. Bucoda Wn.
Who’s pictured
Dorothy Annie and Eileen.
Together in Denver
1923 Denver, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Annie, Harry, Valetta & Dorothy Schmidt. Ma, Carl & Pa Dortzbach, & Milly.
Together in Denver
1923 Denver, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Annie, Harry, Valetta & Dorothy Schmidt. Ma, Carl & Pa Dortzbach & Milly.
Dorothy and Valetta with their dolls
Digging Gooyducks
Digging Gooyducks--1923.
Who’s pictured
Peter Dortzbach, Bob Teeter Otto Hilpert, Shirley Hilpert Vernon Teeter, Bill Wagner Sig Thorlakson and Kryl T. Digging Gooyducks, 1923. Pa, Bob Teeter, Otto, Bill Wagner, Sig Thorlakson and children.
Christmas wishes to Aunt Milly
Who’s pictured
We wish you a Merry Christmas to Aunt Milly From Freddie, Evelyn and Buelah. These chickenhawks won’t catch chickens anymore. The larges is 4 ft. from tip to tip of the wings.
Milly and baby Eileen
Dec. 1, 1923.
Who’s pictured
Dorothy, Milly and Eileen.
Pa in the barnyard
A day at Hoggens Beach
June 17, 1923: Hoggens Beach:
Who’s pictured
Bill Wagner, Reinhold, Hamlet, Lilla Hilpet<?Milly & Otto,
Front row: Lowell Hilpert, Hattie Teeter, Sig Thorlakson, Selma Wagner, Pa Dortzbach, Bob Teeter Shirley Hilpert, Lona Thorlakson and probably Kryl Thorlakson.
Lorraine Virginia Lorence
Lorraine in a wicker chair
Valetta in a tree
Dorothy and her dog
Albert Honore Jr.
Herb Schaefer
Eileen at twelve weeks
Eileen at seven months
Hilpert Schaefer graduates
The Teeter and Hilpert families
1924:
Who’s pictured
Bob and Hattie Teeter, Milly, Otto & Eileen, Vernon Teeter and Grandma Hilpert.
Peter beside the creek
A family visit in Denver
Sept. 1924: Grandpa Dortzbach’s brother’s family visits in Denver, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Grandma & Grandpa Dortzbach, Clara, son, Fred Dortzbach and Aunt Annie and Fred"s children.
Selma Teeter
Visiting with baby Eileen
1924:
Who’s pictured
Milly, Hattie Teeter, Grandma Hilpert, Vernon Teeter and Eileen.
The Honore family at home
The Thorlakson family
Who’s pictured
Lona & Sig Thorlakson, Little Lona, Kryl, and Aunt Selma. July, 1924.
A sunny visit
Who’s pictured
Eileen, Vernon Teeter, Grandma Hilpert, Hattie Teeter and Milly. July 30, 1924.
Eileen was the only one looking toward the sun, so that caused her to squint her eyes so.
Eileen at six months
Eileen on the porch
Eileen with Marjorie and Leona
Who’s pictured
Mrs. O’Connors two little girls and Eileen (Marjorie and Leona) taken the last of Oct. 1924.
Eileen at six months
Another portrait of Eileen
Eileen at twelve weeks
The Dortzbach family
Carl, Ida and Pete
1923 or 1924.
Who’s pictured
Carl, Ida and Pete Dortzbach.
Remembering Herman Falkenrath
Racine
Original newspaper headline. The adjacent grave photograph records his death as May 20, 1924.
405Remembering Herman Falkenrath
Racine · May 1924
Original newspaper headline. Eileen’s caption: “Herman Falkenrath born Aug. 15, 1868 and dies in 1924. Grandma Dortzbach’s oldest brother.”
406Herman’s death announcement
May 20, 1924
Original newspaper headline. Handwritten date: “May 20 – 24”.
407Relatives gathered in 1924
1924:
Who’s pictured
Ernie & Charles Falkenrath, Bernhard, Charles Brinkman, William S. and Robert.
Charlie, Albert, Ernst and Charlie
Who’s pictured
Charlie Brinkman, Albert, Ernst, Charlie Falkenrath. 1924.
Hilda and Ida
Remembering their brother
May, 1924. Grandma Dortzbach went back to her brother Hermans funeral.
Who’s pictured
Ernie, Hulda Brinkman, Ida Dortzbach and Charlie Falkenrath.
Uncle Herman’s grave
Uncle Herman’s grave
Herman Falkenrath’s home
Verna and Harold
Lorraine and Harold
Eileen and Ring
In front of Hattie’s house
This was taken in front of Hattie’s house the day Hilpert left. Oct. 11, 1924.
Who’s pictured
Milly, Eileen and Otto.
Eileen was 11 mo. old.
An afternoon tea party
Lorraine and a neighbor
Eileen with a doll
Harold Teeter
Herbert at work
A family gathering
1924: A gathering following Uncle Herman’s funeral (Grandma Dortzbach’s brother).
Who’s pictured
Martha Falkenrath, Ida Dortzbach, Tilly Kummer, Clara Falkenrath, Ophelia, Louise Stelberg, Hilda Brinkman, Ida S. Ruth and Allen Haase.
Magdalena Hilpert
Grandpa’s shoe shop
Eileen and Gretchen
With the white horses
An eighty-third birthday
An undated newspaper clipping
Original newspaper headline; Society, by Zilda Deebach. No publication date is visible.
429A hike through the woods
Who’s pictured
The Honore’s: Helen and father and son on a hike through the woods, we were cooling off at a pool. 1925
Behind the barn
Feeding the pigs
Eileen, Gretchen and Elling
A visit in Denver
Who’s pictured
Grandpa and Grandma Dortzbach, Carrie Honore, Carl Dortzbach and young Albert Honore about 1925 in Denver.
Carrie and her children
Who’s pictured
Carrie, Helen & Albert Honore. 2/25 Carrie + children taken Feb. – 1925
Clara’s home in Virginia
Eileen and Ring at Christmas
A doll buggy for Christmas
The Dortzbach boys in Japan
About 1925: Omi Hachiman, Japan.
Who’s pictured
Charles 7, John 5, Elmer 3.
Fred Dortzbach’s children. Milly’s first cousin and brother of Carrie Honore.
Albert and Helen Honore
The Hilpert siblings
Aug. 1926:
Who’s pictured
Selma, Helena, Reinhold, Hannah, Otto, Pauline, Phillip, Hattie.
Selma Teeter
Otto and Pauline at Patterson Lake
Grandma and her daughters
Aug. 1926:
Who’s pictured
Grandma, Aunt Pauline, Helen, Hattie & Hannah. (Hilpert sisters.
At the Marion apartments
About 1926:
Who’s pictured
Peter Dortzbach, Hattie Wolf Roland, Karl Dortzbach.
The barn
In the chicken yard
Sept. 1926:
Who’s pictured
Pa, Otto, Eileen & Ring in the chicken yard.
Beside the shocks of grain
At the Marion
About 1926:
Who’s pictured
Ida, Fred & Clara,& Carl Dortzbach.
Peter’s nephew!
Sister Ann
1926
At Lake Patterson
Pa in September
A family portrait in Anderson
About 1926: Grandpa Dortzbach’s brother Paulus’ family.
Who’s pictured
(I think) Carl, Catherine Dortzbach Jensen Alvin and Carolyn. Anderson, S.C.
Eileen’s childhood certificate
Southwest Washington Fair · August 1926
Original certificate title and handwritten name. Dated August 1926; the archive filename says 1916.
454The Dortzbachs move west
Eileen remembers her grandparents
Grandma and Grandpa Dortzbach seemed to have moved many times during their marriage. When in Denver Grandpa had a shoe repair shop and a nice apartment house called the Marion St. apartments, 4-8. In about 1927 they sold their business and the apartments and took a trip to California. Grandpa bought a brand new house in Long Beach, California and then told Grandma about it. She was furious and never wanted it or liked it as her friends were in Denver and her daughter Annie in Pueblo and Mama here in Washington.
They had been to Washington to visit several times and decided they would move near Mama and sold their California home and kept enough for another house and put all of their savings into South American Stocks which was paying 11% interest which they figured they could retire and live on the rest of their lives.
— Eileen Townsend
455Living with Mama and Daddy
Eileen remembers her grandparents
The crash came and they lost everything but the little they saved to buy another house. The folks talked them into staying with them until they could relocate. They did buy a service station and two story house where the fire station is now located on Grandmound especially for Carl because at that time he was divorced and worked as a mechanic. They lived there for a while until Doris and Carl got married and then continued to live with Mama and Daddy until their deaths.
Mama often told Daddy she was so grateful he allowed them to stay with them. Grandma took over the cooking and Grandpa repaired everyones shoes, repaired things as needed and always kept busy. But neither were well and Mama made frequent trips to town to take them to a Dr. Grandmas legs were very bad with ulcerated veins and she seldom walked other than in the house. Grandpa had a severe case of eczema, hernias and the Dr. said he died of cancer of the stomach. They both died at home.
— Eileen Townsend
456Otto, Eileen and her doll
Eileen by the tree
Eileen at four
On the ferry
On ferry going to San Francisco from Berkley, California. April 17, 1927.
Who’s pictured
Albert & Helen Honore and Pete and Ida Dortzbach.
Eileen, Donald and Ring
Lydia and Fred’s wedding
Family and Ring
Who’s pictured
Milly, Otto, Ma & Pa Dortzbach, Eileen and Ring always has a flea.
In a California orange grove
Who’s pictured
Peter and Ida Dortzbach and friend in orange grove in California. 1928
St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego
St Patricks Day, March 17, 1928 San Diego, California.
Who’s pictured
Ma and Pa Dortzbach and friends.
Lowell’s graduation portrait
Peter Dortzbach
Dorothy with her violin
Dorothy plays the violin
On their travels
Dorothy with a parasol
Valetta with a parasol
Ollene Falkenrath
A portrait in the Schmidt family pages
The new home in Long Beach
A visitor on the farm
Friends at the California house
The new house in Long Beach
Who’s pictured
Grandpa & Grandma Dortzbach & friends by their new house in Long Beach, California.
The new home in Long Beach
Who’s pictured
Pete & Ida Dortzbach and friend by new home in Long Beach, CA 1928
Valetta on horseback
Valetta and her parasol
Dorothy and Valetta
Dorothy and Valetta in January
Grandma at the Grand Canyon
Roses in Victoria
The boat trip to Seattle
At the Hilpert farm
The Schmidt family
June, 1928:
Who’s pictured
Harry O. Schmidt family. Dorothy Annie & Valetta.
The Schmidt family
June, 1928:
Who’s pictured
Harry O Schmidt and family. Dorothy, Annie & Valetta.
Uncle Herb’s parents
Milly with her parents
Who’s pictured
Milly, Pa and Ma Dortzbach.
Tilly and Grandma Dortzbach
Grandma and George
George in September
Falkenrath brothers and Ida
1929:
Who’s pictured
Ernie, Charlie, Ida and Albert Falkenrath.
Grandma and the five sisters
Rec. Xmas 1929:
Who’s pictured
Pauline Reece, Helen Schaefer, Selma Wagner, Hattie Teeter, Hannah Schaefer and Grandma Hilpert.
Pa and Eileen
George with his two grandmas
Rec. Sept. 26, 1929:
Who’s pictured
The two grandmas, Mrs. Kinney, Ma D. and George.
Six cats and a canary
Tillie, George and Mrs. Kinney
Who’s pictured
Tillie, George Dortzbach and Tillie’s mother Mrs. Kinney. Sept. 26, 1929.
A family gathering
Who’s pictured
Grandma Dortzbach with brothers Al and Ernie (I think) and Aunt Clara. Aunt Hulda sitting down and children (?)
Pa and Ring
George with his family
Rec. Sept. 26, 1929:
Who’s pictured
Tillie, Mrs. Kinney, Ma Dortzbach holding George and Karl Dortzbach.
On the porch
Feb. 1929:
Who’s pictured
Pa, & Ma Dortzbach, Eileen and Otto.
A family gathering in Racine
1929 in Racine Wis.
Who’s pictured
Mary, Falkenrath, Ida Dortzbach, Charlie Brinkman, Ernie, Clara, Albert, Charlie and Martha Falkenrath.
(Grandma went back to sister Hulda’s funeral)
Remembering Hulda Brinkman
Racine
Original newspaper headline. The clipping uses “Hilda”; Eileen’s adjacent caption uses “Hulda.”
508George and Grandma
Who’s pictured
Mrs. Kinney, Carl’s first mother-in-law, George and Grandma Dortzbach, Sept. 1929.
Aunt Hulda’s grave
After Aunt Hulda’s funeral
Who’s pictured
Back row: Ernie, Charlie Falkenrath, Ida Dortzbach, Charlie Brinkman.
In front: Milton, Martha and Albert Falkenrath.
After aunt Hulda’s funeral. 1929.
Beulah in Dutch costume
Evelyn in Norwegian costume
A child on a stump
Pa and Eileen
Frederick Hilpert
Snow on the farm
Mrs. Dortzbach, Tillie and George
Rec. Sept. 26, 1929:
Who’s pictured
Mrs. Dortzbach, Tillie and George.
Funeral arrangements for Hulda Brinkman
Racine
Original newspaper heading. The notice prints “Hila”; Eileen’s other captions use “Hulda.”
519Eileen and Grandpa
Tilly and Carl Dortzbach
Breakfast by the river
Uncle Charlie, Eileen and Pa
1930
Who’s pictured
Uncle Charlie Brinkman, Eileen and Pa Dortzbach.
Hilpert and Hannah Schaefer
Eileen fishing
Pete and Al at work
The Hilpert and Gavic families
Who’s pictured
Milly & Otto, Pa & Ma Dortzbach & Eileen, Cousin Lillian Falkenrath Gavic & Carl Gavic & Bob Teeter.
The water is fine
July 1930. Come on in Albert, the water is fine. (special pose by Helen)
Who’s pictured
Albert, Carrie, Eileen & Helen.
Helen’s special pose
Uncle Fritz’s milk truck
Eileen and Cherry Blossom
A visit at the house
July 1930. I wonder if the scythe ever got sharp from the stick Al is using.
Who’s pictured
Grandma & Grandpa Dortzbach, Helen Honore, Milly & Al Honore.
Valetta’s Christmas portrait
A big load of hay
July, 1930: Hey Otto, here comes a big load, ready-go.
Who’s pictured
Uncle Pete, Al, Reinholt and Otto.
A summer swim
Watching the cows
A family visit
Who’s pictured
Milly & Otto, Pa & Ma Dortzbach & Eileen, Al, Helen Carrie & Albert Honore and Bob Teeter (Aunt Hattie’s husband.)
A gathering at Otto and Milly’s home
At Otto & Milly’s home, July 1930.
Who’s pictured
Herb Schaefer, Milly, Lillian Gavic, Reinhold & Otto Hilpert., Ma & Pa Dortzbach, Carl Gavic, Al Honore, Hattie & Al Roland (teachers from California) Mr. & Mrs. Schaefer (Herb’s parents, Bob Teeter & Hattie, Helen Honore, Helen Schaefer, Eileen & Albert Honore.
Harold Plumb
On the Skookumchuck
Two cuties
Helen and Billy
Verna Falkenrath
Eileen by the river
The Pioneer’s Picnic
At the Pioneer’s Picnic
Centralia, WA. Aug. 11, 1931. Pioneer’s Picnic!
Who’s pictured
Otto, Milly and Eileen Hilpert.
Ma and Pa at the picnic
Eileen and Shirley
At Shirley Larson’s home
Eileen by the binder
George at twenty-three months
Ollene’s graduation portrait
Together at Otto and Milly’s home
At Otto & Milly’s home, July 1930.
Who’s pictured
Herb Schaefer, Milly, Lillian Gavic, Reinhold & Otto Hilpert., Ma & Pa Dortzbach, Carl Gavic, Al Honore, Hattie & Al Roland (teachers from California) Mr. & Mrs. Schaefer (Herb’s parents, Bob Teeter & Hattie, Helen Honore, Helen Schaefer, Eileen & Albert Honore.
George by the trucks
Family and visitors
Who’s pictured
Ma & Pa Dortzbach, Charlie Brinkman, Aunt Hulda’s husband, Rev. Lucas and another minister.
The Hilpert Summer Resort
Visitors at the farm
1930:
Who’s pictured
Ma Dortzbach, Milly, Charlie Brinkman (Aunt Hulda’s husband) Rev. Lucas and another minister.
The Hilpert family
Aug. 1930:
Who’s pictured
Phillip, Hattie, Grandma Hilpert, Helen, Otto & Selma.
The Schaefers
1930
Who’s pictured
Helen Schaefer, Hannah & Hilpert Schaefer.
Half the gang is swimming
Helen at her chum’s house
Otto and Phillip on the binder
Tom Cox
Nellie Cox
The Dortzbach family
1931.
Who’s pictured
Grandma & Grandpa Dortzbach, Milly, Carl and Annie.
Helen and her children
11/26/31
Who’s pictured
Herman Falkenrath’s family: wife Helen, children: Verna, Lydia & Harold.
Isn’t Harold a big boy?
Eileen and Shirley
Feeding the cats and dogs
Bumpski and Eileen
Ruth Falkenrath
Ruth’s confirmation
Eileen and Shep
Phillip and Alice’s family
Remembering 1932
Aunt Alice died in January, 1932 from complications from some earlier surgery, I was told. Uncle Phillip could not handle this loss and became very, very despondent and depressed. No one really knew what happened but he disappeared in March leaving three children, Freddie, Evelyn and Beulah. Searchers came by the dozens looking for him night and day the first few days with no luck. Finally Uncle Reinhold and Daddy put up a $50. reward if anyone could find him dead or alive. Because this was during the depression this brought out many men and they searched the nearby hills and dragged the river.
A month after he disappeared his body was found next to a stump by the river bank and Daddy was asked to identify him. Mama said Daddy aged 10 years that day.
— Eileen Townsend
574The children and the estate
Daddy was made administrator of the estate which was a very trying time for him. Freddie moved in with his mother’s brother’s family: Harry Padham, and the girls moved in with their Aunt Bella--not too much later she died and then they moved in with their grandparents, the Padhams.
— Eileen Townsend
575A claim against the estate
July 1932
Eileen’s caption on the preceding binder page. Creditor’s Claim, estates of Alice Hilpert and Phillip Hilpert. The lower portion continues on the next page.
576The lower portion of the claim
July 1932
Lower portion of the same original form, turned upright. Overlapping lines are retained to show continuity.
577The search for Phillip Hilpert
March 17, 1932
Original newspaper headline; handwritten March 17, 1932 retained.
578Lillian Gavic
Eileen, Dorothy and Bumpski
July 24, 1932.
Who’s pictured
Eileen, Bumpski and Dorothy Schmidt.
Our blue and black Model T
Eileen, Dorothy and Valetta
July 24, 1932:
Who’s pictured
Eileen, Dorothy and Valetta Schmidt and Bumpski.
The girls and Bumpski
July 24, 1932:
Who’s pictured
Valetta & Dorothy Schmidt and Bumpski & Eileen.
The Falkenrath family
8/7/32:
Who’s pictured
Ernie 52 years, Clara 50, Milton 21, Ruth 14.
Ernie Falkenrath was Grandma Dortzbach’s brother.
A reunion on the farm
The banks of the Skookumchuck
Original newspaper headline. The handwritten year 1932 is retained; the article prints the daughter’s name as Irene.
585Harold Teeter
Leone Marlett
Hilpert Schaefer
Remembering Hilpert Schaefer
The El Paso Times · March 18, 1978
Original memorial card, preserving its floral border. Entered Into Eternal Rest, Thursday, March 16, 1978.
589A family gathering
About 1933:
Who’s pictured
Herb Schaefer, Kryl Thorlakson, Selma Teeter Thorson, Aunt Pauline, Bill Wagner, Helen Schaefer, Selma Wagner, Lona Thorlakson, Bill & Marjorie Thorson & Dick Thorlakson.
Doris and Carl’s wedding
Pa, Ma, Milly and Carl
Nov. 11, 1934:
Who’s pictured
Pa, Ma, Milly & Carl Dortzbach.
Dorothy, Eileen and Shorty
July 24, 1932:
Who’s pictured
Dorothy Schmidt, Eileen and our horse, Shorty.
George and his typewriter
Herbert Falkenrath
Ready for the Pioneer Picnic
See men are ready for Pioneer Picnic in Centralia, WA. 1932.
Who’s pictured
Grandma, Carl and Grandpa Dortzbach
Tilly and George
The visit to Denver
A November family gathering
Nov. 11, 1934:
Who’s pictured
Otto, Ma & Pa Dortzbach, Eileen, Milly, Doris, Bernice Vasmer, George Helman.
Aleine and Herbert’s wedding
Bernice and George
Nov. 11, 1934:
Who’s pictured
Bernice Vassmer, George Helnman and Snowball.
A November visit
Nov. 11, 1934.
Who’s pictured
George Helnman, Bernice Vassmer, Carl and Doris Dortzbach.
Doris and Carl are married
A Grange bus trip
Remembering Magdalena Hilpert
Pioneer women taken by death
Original newspaper headline; handwritten death date February 21, 1935 retained above the article.
605Magdalena in “Yesteryears”
A later remembrance of February 22, 1935
Original retrospective clipping. Publication year c. 1950 inferred from “15 YEARS AGO”; Eileen filed it under 1935.
606Magdalena Hilpert
Mary Ann Falkenrath
Beside the red barn
The family in Pueblo
July 1, 1935, Pueblo, Colorado:
Who’s pictured
Harry, Annie S. Milton Falkenrath Dorothy & Valetta Schmidt. Clara Falkenrath, Ida D. Ernie Falkenrath Peter Dortzbach.
The family in Pueblo
July, 1935 in Pueblo, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Harry Schmidt, Milton Falkenrath, Dorothy Schmidt, Ruth Falkenrath, Valetta and Annie Schmidt, Grandma Dortzbach and Ernie Falkenrath.
Milly, Otto and Bumpsky
Grandma Hilpert and Kryl
An August visit
Aug. 1935:
Who’s pictured
Otto, Eileen, Kryl Thorlakson, Mrs. Price (Aunt Selma’s friend) Lona Thorlakson & Mrs. Price’s granddaughter.
Helen and Johnny’s wedding party
Who’s pictured
March 24, 1935. The wedding party just before Helen and Johnny Hansen left on their trip. Albert Jr. and Carrie at extreme left. Al took the picture so he isn’t on it, but dog "Pal" is.
Marcely Boyce
Eileen’s eighth-grade graduation
Valetta Schmidt
Eileen’s eighth-grade graduation
George with his tools
Visitors in Gibson Valley
Family and friends at the Hilpert home
Original newspaper column heading. Filed under 1936 in Eileen’s album.
621In Herb’s sun parlor
A roadside photograph
1936:
Who’s pictured
Hilpert Schaefer, Lona Thorlakson, Pauline Reece, Catherine Pitzer, Herbert Schaefer, Carl Pitzer.
A Seattle visit
1936:
Who’s pictured
Herbert Schaefer, Gus and Lona (Pitzer Thorlakson) Goodman Lona Thorlakson, Catherine Pitzer (Carl’s wife) Helen Schaefer and Carl Pitzer, in Seattle.
In front of the pie cherry trees
July 1936: In front of the pie cherry trees.
Who’s pictured
Uncle Al and Aunt Mary Falkenrath, Pa & Ma Dortzbach & Eileen.
The ferry to Gig Harbor
July 1936 going on ferry from Tacoma to Gig Harbor, WA.
Who’s pictured
Ida Dortzbach, Mary Falkenrath, Selma Wagner, Eileen Hilpert, & Peter Dortzbach.
Feeding the silage cutter
Dorothy’s automobile accident
Two newspaper clippings · Filed under 1936
Original newspaper headlines. Both the portrait clipping and the accompanying report are preserved.
628Albert at Boy Scouts
Aunt Mary and the family
July 1936:
Who’s pictured
Aunt Mary Falkenrath, Grandpa & Grandma Dortzbach, Al Falkenrath (Grandma’s brother) and Otto.
At Aunt Selma’s house
1936:
Who’s pictured
Selma Wagner, Ida Dortzbach, Bill Wagner, Mary Falkenrath, Pete Dortzbach in front of Aunt Selma’s house in Tacoma, WA.
Keeping cool in Pueblo
June 19, 1936
Original newspaper headline. Dorothy Schmidt and Carrie Burge cool off on a 400-pound cake of ice. Newspaper date strip and handwritten message retained.
632A snowy outing
Together on the farm
Who’s pictured
Grandma Dortzbach, Otto, Helen and Herbert Schaefer, Milly and Grandpa Dortzbach, about 1936.
With King and Bumpsky
June 10, 1937.
Who’s pictured
Annie, Eileen and Papa. King and Bumpsky.
The Friesen family and George
Who’s pictured
The three of us, Frank Friesen, George Dortzbach and myself.
Mr. & Mrs. Friesen who raised George, Tilly Kinney Dortzbach passed away when he was about 3.
George and his grandmother
Selma Wagner and Joe Shirer
Grandma Rowswell and Dickie
Grandpa in the garden
At West Port
June 5, 1937: At West Port.
Who’s pictured
In front: Eileen, Annie, & Milly.
In back: Otto and Pa.
Ma and Pa Dortzbach
Carl, Pa and Uncle Ernie
July 29, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Carl, Pa and Uncle Ernie Falkenrath and Skippy.
Carl, Dickie and Doris
May 30, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Carl, Dickie & Doris Dortzbach.
Milly, Eileen and Otto
May 30, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Milly, Eileen & Otto.
George Dortzbach
Al’s handmade desk
Visitors from Racine
July, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Ernie Falkenrath, Grandma Dortzbach, Clara Falkenrath from Racine Wisconsin & Grandpa D.
Working the field
Bumpsky in the grass
Milly and Dickie
Doris, Dickie and Eileen
Who’s pictured
Doris and Dickie Dortzbach and Eileen about 1937.
A visit with Skippy
July 30, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Aunt Clara, Uncle Ernie Falkenrath, Grandma Dortzbach and dog Skippy.
Dorothy Schmidt
Papa and Skippy
A visit with the Hilpert sisters
1937:
Who’s pictured
Aunt Helen Schaefer holding Honey Boy, Catherine Pitzer, Selma Wagner, Pauline Reece, & Hattie Teeter.
Fishing on the Skookumchuck
1937: Fishing on the Skookumchuck,
Who’s pictured
Aunt Clara Falkenrath, Pa Dortzbach and Carl.
The silo men
Eileen and the dogs
The Schmidt cousins visit
June 13, 1937: Uncle Harry Schmidt’s cousins come to visit.
Who’s pictured
Johnny Schmidt, Otto, Papa, Carl & Dickie, Doris, Mama, Dora Schmidt, Mrs. Schmidt, Eileen & Milly & Bumpsky.
A visit from the Schmidts
1937:
Who’s pictured
Milly, Dickie Dortzbach and Bumpsky in front. Carl, Doris, Pa & Ma Dortzbach, Otto Hilpert, Johnny Schmidt, Dora and Mrs. Schmidt, (Uncle Harry’s cousins) and Aunt Annie.
Bobby and Sally Jo
Annie and Mama
Fred and Clara’s family
Who’s pictured
This is Grandpa Dortzbach’s nephew Fred Dortzbach and his wife Clara and their children sent Christmas 1938. I stayed with this family in Washington D. C. in 1948 when I made a trip to Europe. Charles — 21, Dec. 29, 1938. John — 19, Feb. 27, 1939. Elmer — 16, Aug. 9, 1938. Mary — 12, June 2, 1939. Xmas 1938.
Beside the car
1937:
Who’s pictured
Reinhold Hilpert, Helen Schaefer, Pa Dortzbach’s back & Eileen.
With a fish at West Port
At West Port, Washington. July 28, 1937.
Who’s pictured
Papa, Mama, Aunt Clara and Uncle Ernie.
With a fish.
The Falkenrath family
Who’s pictured
Ernie, Clara, Milton & Ruth Falkenrath, July 11, 1937.
Ruth’s graduation portrait
Karen in August
Grandpa’s back and Otto hiding
1937:
Who’s pictured
Reinhold Hilpert, Helen Schaefer, Eileen, Grandpa Dortzbach’s back and Otto hiding.
A July family visit
July 1937:
Who’s pictured
Carl, Grandma Dortzbach, Clara Fallkenrath, Milly, Eileen Otto, & Grandpa Dortzbach.
Eileen, Otto and Milly
May 30, 1937:
Who’s pictured
Eileen, Otto & Milly.
Walking toward the dock
July 28, 1937: West Port, WA.
Who’s pictured
Aunt Clara & Uncle Ernie Falkenrath, Mam and Papa walking toward the dock.
What Albert made
The Honores visit again
The Honore’s visit the farm again in July, 1938.
Who’s pictured
Grandpa & Grandma Dortzbach, Al Honore, Milly, Otto & Eileen Hilpert and Albert Honore.
The Honore family
Who’s pictured
Helen & Albert, Carrie & Al Honore about 1938.
Dickie in the basket
Aug. 1938.
Who’s pictured
Eileen, Uncle Carl & Dickie Dortzbach in the basket.
Doris, Dickie and Shirley
Aug. 1938:
Who’s pictured
Doris, Dickie & Shirley Dortzbach.
Dorothy and Henry’s engagement
The Denver Post · May 8, 1938
Original newspaper headline. The Denver Post masthead and Sunday, May 8, 1938 date are preserved above Dorothy’s engagement announcement.
679Dorothy and Henry’s wedding
June 5, 1938: At Dorothy Schmidts and Henry Bracks Wedding, 849 East Evans Ave. Pueblo, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Front row: Dora & Hulda Schmidt, Henry & Dorothy Brach, Valetta Schmidt, (Henry’s brother I think) Grandma & Grandpa Dortzbach attending their first grandchild’s wedding.
Henry and Dorothy’s golden anniversary
A later keepsake beside their wedding photographs
Original anniversary invitation, with Eileen’s caption attached over the reproduced 1938 wedding photograph. Preserved in its binder position beside the wedding.
681Eileen as Princess
Carrie’s visit to the farm
July, 1938:
Who’s pictured
Pa & Ma Dortzbach, Carrie Honore, Milly, Otto & Eileen and Albert Honore Jr.
Eileen in July
Before leaving Denver
Helen and Albert in the garden
Milton visits the farm
Who’s pictured
Milton Falkenrath came to visit with Jo & Elmer Saget and Tony Hudec, and Otto Hilpert on left.
Carrie Honore’s home
Carl and Doris’s family
March, 1939:
Who’s pictured
Richard 3 years old. Shirley 1 year, 8 mo. Doris Ann 8 months, Carl & Doris Dortzbach.
George in Los Angeles
The Honores’ home
Helen and Carrie at home
The anniversary gathering
Anniversary picture. They were very disappointed in these pictures that were taken by a fly-by-night that stopped by on the day of the celebration.
Who’s pictured
In back row: Doris holding Shirley and Carl Dortzbach, Annie Schmidt, Milly and Otto Hilpert.
Front row: Grandpa Dortzbach, Eileen holding Doris Ann and then Grandma Dortzbach.
Fifty years together
Peter and Ida Dortzbach · March 23, 1939
Their golden anniversary
Working on Helen’s car
Honored by the Lady Grangers
Society · March 24, 1939
A golden anniversary open house
Society · March 27, 1939
Ella and Fred Ames
Together in March
Who’s pictured
Pete & Ida Dortzbach, Fred Ames (Doris Dortzbach’s father) Eileen and Milly Hilpert, March 1939.
The Dortzbachs and Ames family
Who’s pictured
Pete & Ida Dortzbach, Ella and Fred Ames (Doris Dortzbach’s parents) and Milly D. Hilpert. March 1939.
Eileen and the pioneer court
August 2, 1939
Original newspaper headline. The separate date strip, photograph and full printed caption are preserved.
702Hattie and Al Roland
On the 1939 trip
Princess of the Pioneer Picnic
Visiting the Honores
Fair at Treasure Island in August, 1939. Part of the time we stayed with the Honores.
Who’s pictured
Standing: Helen Honore, Otto, Eileen, and Albert Honore.
Sitting: Mama and Al Honore.
At the campsite
At Treasure Island
Visiting friends in Los Angeles
Who’s pictured
Aug. 1939: Otto and Milly visited Otto Gautchi, Jeanne and Marie Wilson in Los Angeles.
Just off the plane trip
Aug. 1939: Just off the plane trip:
Who’s pictured
Otto, Milly & Eileen.
Jeanne in Los Angeles
A group in the anniversary pages
A corner view of the Honore home
Their golden anniversary
Albert Honore
The Oregon coast
Milly on the California coast
Aunt Selma Wagner
Otto and Milly at Diamond Lake
Crater Lake
Tony Hudec and Ruth Sorenson
Eileen graduates
Buelah and Rex’s wedding
Eileen in her graduation dress
Lona and Eileen
The filbert orchard
Billy, Bobby and friends
Who’s pictured
Billy Thorson, Bobby Teeter and two friends.
The children named are Aunt Hatties grandchildren.
Uncle Albert hunting
Dorothy in April
Paulus Dortzbach’s family
Mother’s Day
Who’s pictured
This is part of Grandpa Dortzbach’s brother Paulus’ family: Taken on Mothers Day, May, 1940. Grandma Dortzbach and our baby Janet (3 mos. old.) Catherine Dortzbach Jensen and her daughter Carolyn . Karl, Judy & I.
Sorry Alvin, Catherine’s son is not on this one. He leaves for Marine Aviation Corps. Dec. 15th. He is already a corporal. Is such a splendid fellow.
Mother’s Day
May 12, 1940
Who’s pictured
This was taken “Mother’s Day” May 12, 1940. Janet was nearly 3 mos. old. Catherine Dortzbach Jensen is on the end and is next to her daughter carolyn who is nearly 14. The others of course are of “us” and Grandma Dortzbach.
Valetta Schmidt
About 1940
Eileen outdoors
Donna Else Brack
Donna’s baptism
Valetta and Davidson’s wedding
Remembering Peter Dortzbach
Peter Paul Dortzbach
May 1942
Original newspaper heading. The handwritten note “DIED MAY 23, 1942” is preserved.
738The family at the Dortzbach grave
Denver, Colorado.
Who’s pictured
Annie, Hulda, Harry Schmidt. Dorothy & Donna Brack.
Herbert’s three children
Uncle Albert Falkenrath’s grandchildren and Herbert’s children:
Who’s pictured
Mary Ann 7 years 10/8/42 James Herbert 2 years 10/21/42 and Richard Albert 3/21 is 9 months.
The family on May 17
May 17, 1942: Papa died May 23, 1942:
Who’s pictured
Otto, Milly, Grandma D. Doris, Joan Karen Annie, Bumpsky, Dickie, Grandpa Dortzbach, Shirley and Doris Ann.
Fifty-three years together
The Dortzbach family gravestone
At the family gravestone
Parents and their children
May 17, 1942: Papa died May 23, 1942.
Who’s pictured
Milly, Annie, Carl, Ma & Pa Dortzbach
Donna Brack
With their grandchildren
May 17, 1942: Papa died May 23, 1942.
Who’s pictured
Grandma D. Dickie, Grandpa D. Doris Ann, Joan Karen, an Shirley.
A family visit to the cemetery
May, 1943.
Who’s pictured
Annie, Dorothy and Donna Brack, and Harry O. Schmidt.
The family together
May 17, 1942. Papa died May 23, 1942.
Who’s pictured
Doris, Otto, Carl holding Joan Karen, Grandma D, Annie Schmidt, Dickie, Grandpa D. Doris Ann and Shirley Dortzbach.
Emma Evy
A silver anniversary greeting
October 1943
Otto at sixty-two
Original tinted anniversary portrait · October 16, 1943
Milly at fifty-three
Original tinted anniversary portrait · October 16, 1943
Henry Brack Jr.
Date uncertain: 1943 caption / 1944 letter
Clayton “Zeke” Campbell
Saturday night—October 16, 1943
Eileen planned a surprise party on her Mother and dad’s 25th wedding anniversary. The Gibson Card Party club came--brought sandwiches and Eileen had a beautiful wedding cake decorated with roses and Milly and Otto written on it. Four silver candles lighted and lunch served from a lace covered table--buffet style.
Seven silver half dollars were presented from the club.
A beautiful swing rocker from Annie and Harry of Pueblo, Colorado and Mother Dortzbach and Carl and Doris and family and Eileen which surely surprised us. Eileen picked it out in Hoquiam and had it delivered to the house.
Hulda Schmidt of Pueblo, Colo. sent us two silver dollars. Aunt Clara and Uncle Ernie, cousins Ruth and Milton of Racine Wis. sent $10.00 bill.
Those taking part in the silver half dollars at the card party but could not attend were Mr. and Mrs. Vern Enberg, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Severns, and Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Luman. Ada Enberg brought a lovely glass and silver dish.
By Milly D. Hilpert
As transcribed in Eileen’s album. Line breaks normalized.
756A keepsake from the anniversary
The Gibson Valley card-party group
Silver foil and the surviving cord are preserved as scanned.
757Silver anniversary keepsakes
October 16, 1943
Original newspaper heading, retained as printed. The silver ornament and handwritten anniversary note remain in their original arrangement.
758Silver wedding wishes
Otto and Milly’s twenty-fifth anniversary
Original greeting-card cover and accompanying signatures, preserved together as Eileen arranged them.
759Eileen begins teaching
Christmas with Helen
Lee and Marion Walking
The Dortzbach children
Who’s pictured
Dickie, Shirley, Doris Ann and Joan Karen Dortzbach about 1943.
Uncle Ernie and Aunt Clara
Eileen begins teaching
Milton and his car
The Falkenrath family
Who’s pictured
Ernie, Clara, Milton & Ruth Falkenrath.
Ruth and Clara Falkenrath
Donna E. Brack
Remembering Ida Dortzbach
Annie and Harry at home
Ruth and Tony
Milton Falkenrath
Eileen at twenty-one
Eileen in Seattle
Remembering Anna Schmidt
Original heading. The complete notice for Mrs. Anna H. Schmidt is preserved.
776Oakview Grange
Feeding Molly
1945:
Who’s pictured
Milton Falkenrath, Joe & Elmer Sagket and Tony Hudec feeding Molly.
Twenty-five years of membership
February 18, 1946
The bicycle trip
1946: Our bicycle trip from Sea Side Ore. to Huntington Beach, CA.
Who’s pictured
Jo Stroebel (Forner) Eileen, Velma Reden (Fredicson) Yvonne Konerup (Lahti) Betty Wall (Thompson).
The Dortzbach family
August 1946--I think at their home in Pe Ell.
Who’s pictured
Doris, Carl, Dickie, Joan Karen, Doris Ann and Shirley Dortzbach.
Carol Bush
No friends like old friends
1945: No friends like old friends:
Who’s pictured
Mrs. Kaestner, Mrs. Henry Loomis, Milly Hilpert.
Fred Dortzbach’s family
Fred Dortzbach’s family. (Grandpa Dortzbach’s brothers son.) Taken in September 1945.
Who’s pictured
- Catherine (John’s wife)
- Fred
- Clara
- Mary
- Jane (Charlie’s wife)
- Elmer
- Margie (Elmer’s wife)
- John
- Joan (John’s daughter.
- Charles
- Donna, Charles daughter.
Ann’s second birthday
A skiing friend
Beside Reinhold’s woodshed
Dorothy and Henry’s home
Donna and her dog
Clayton Campbell
Marjorie Thorson Van Diest Martin
The Hilpert family together
At Uncle Otto’s--Centralia, WA. Sept. 19, 1947.
Who’s pictured
Rheinhold, Otto, Selma, Pauline and Helen.
An afternoon on the farm
On the farm, afternoon Sept. 19, 1947.
Who’s pictured
Lilla Hilpert, Selma Wagner Otto, Rheinhold & Milly Hilpert, Pauline Reece and Helen Schaefer.
Karen Gavic
At Aunt Hattie’s place
At Aunt Hattie’s place--Gig Harbor, WAsh. Sept. 16, 1947.
Who’s pictured
Left to right: Selma Wagner, Pauline Reece, Hattie Teeter, Helen Schaefer.
Eileen by the filbert trees
Reinhold and Otto
Calling Skippy
On the farm. Afternoon of September 19, 1947.
Who’s pictured
Milly & Otto, Selma Wagner, Reinhold Hilpert, Pauline Reece, Lilla Hilpert, and bending over is Helen Schaefer calling Skippy.
In the old orchard
At Aunt Hattie’s
Sept. 1947: At Aunt Hatties place in Gig Harbor, WA.
Who’s pictured
Hattie Teeter, Hannah Schaefer, Selma Wagner, Helen Schaefer.
The old white house
Eileen at Rolland School
Ruth and Kenneth’s wedding
— Eileen Townsend
803Ruth and Kenneth’s wedding
Racine · April 1947
Original newspaper headline. Handwritten date: 4–14–47.
804Don Channing
Don Channing
Honoring Don Channing
February 27 · year not printed
Original newspaper headline. The clipping does not print a publication year.
807Eileen’s long trip
June 18, 1948
Teaching kindergarten
The 1948–49 school year
The Dortzbach children
Eileen’s European bicycle trip
January 29, 1949
The lower parts of the columns are folded over in the scan, hiding some text.
811Susan Marie Brack
Ruby and Morris’s wedding
Walter at fourteen weeks
George Calvin Dortzbach
Christmas in Kansas
Xmas 1948: Witchita, Kansas:
Who’s pictured
Henry; Dorothy, Rich, Donna & Baby Susan.
Bill Thorson
Calves on the farm
Picking pie cherries
Emma visits Milly
Emma Evy
Emma and Eileen
Aunt Hannah and Aunt Selma
A photograph from the Bracks
Rec. picture on Feb. 18, 1950 of Dorothy (Schmidt) Brack’s family.
Who’s pictured
Left to right, Donna, Dorothy, Henry, Baby Susan and Dickie.
Fred Dortzbach’s family
Who’s pictured
Back Row - left to right: Catherine (John’s wife), John, Fred, Jane (Charles’ wife), Charles, Elmer, Lee (Mary’s husband).
Front row: Joan (John’s daughter), Jackie (John’s son), Clara, Donna (Charles’ Daughter), Karl (Elmer’s son), Margie (Elmer’s wife), Kay (Elmer’s daughter), Mary.
Dec. 26, 1949
Names in the family photograph
Eileen’s notes and the original identification card
Eileen’s handwritten heading. The card identifies the December 26, 1949 group on the preceding page.
826The Kelm family
Who’s pictured
1950. Ruth (Falkenrath) and Kenneth Kelm and 2 oldest children.
Sally Jo Teeter
Eileen and her kindergarten pupils
Eileen on her wedding day
October 16, 1951
Eileen’s wedding portrait
Waiting for the music
Otto, Eileen and Mary Lou · October 16, 1951
Who’s pictured
Otto and Eileen Hilpert and Mary Lou Dortzbach waiting for the music to begin. October 16, 1951.
Eileen and Bud
Centralia · October 16, 1951
Bud and Eileen
Just married
Centralia · October 16, 1951
Family at the wedding
A candlelight wedding
Eileen and Bud Townsend · October 1951
At the Hunter House
At the Hunter House where the reception was held.
Who’s pictured
Back row: Uncle Abb, Otto Hilpert, Mel Phillips, Wilt Johnson, Alice Gee, Milly Hilpert, Carrie Keir, Frank and Eileen Townsend and Mary Lou Dortzbach.
The flower girl
Mary Lou in her flower-girl dress
Mary Lou in Seattle
High school initiation
Bobby Teeters
Cutting the cake
Thanks for your lovely gift
Eileen and Bud
Original card wording. The wedding photograph, flower decoration and scalloped edges are preserved together.
845Leaving for California
On the honeymoon
Visiting Al and Carrie
Remembering Kaja Honore
A later clipping in Eileen’s Honore family grouping
Original newspaper heading. Handwritten date: May 30th 1972.
849Doris Dortzbach
The four oldest girls
Who’s pictured
Shirley, Doris Ann, Joan Karen, Marry Lou Dortzbach, Spring 1951 in Cottonwood, California.
Doris and Carls four oldest girls.
The Bracks at Christmas
Xmas 1951: The Bracks:
Who’s pictured
Dot, Henry, Donna, Dick & Susan.
Milly’s twenty-five years in the Grange
August 18, 1952
Original certificate title and handwritten name. Certificate 2293 recognizes twenty-five years of continuous membership.
853Milly D. Hilpert
Eileen remembers her mother
Mama was a high strung person. Easily upset and everything was pretty black or white in her vision. She liked to sew and made most all of my clothes and her own and quite a few for Carl’s children as well as those she knew about that were in need. Often times she ripped up used coats or dresses with nice material and reversed the material and made it over in something like new. She had worked in a millinery store before she worked in the telephone office and sometimes made her own hats or one for some friend.
Mama played the piano very well and always practiced with the children when they were having school programs. Also was musician at Oakview Grange for many years. She gave a few piano lessons for free and some she thought could pay she charged 50 cents a lesson.
— Eileen Townsend
854Milly D. Hilpert · continued
Eileen remembers her mother
Mama had a lot of health problems. Poor feet, back troubles, numerous headaches, down in bed two weeks at a time with flu and three heart attacks. The morning she died she promised to play a solo at Grange and then went out to feed the cats but when she didn’t come back in the house Daddy found she had already passed away. This was just one week after my birthday on November 18, 1952.
Mama knew we expected a baby and had bought me a pretty maternity dress for my birthday. It was black which I wore of course to her funeral. How I would have loved having her see and know each of our children. She would have loved it too!
— Eileen Townsend
855Remembering Milly
The Daily Chronicle
Original newspaper headline. Eileen wrote “Nov. 18, 1952” beside the clipping.
856Family and King
1952:
Who’s pictured
Otto and his dog King, Aunt Selma, Lona Thorlakson Steele and Rusty Steele, Hattie Teeter, Bud Townsend and Aunt Hannah Schaefer.
Ben J. Brack
Becky Cole
Eileen and Martha
Papa Otto and Martha Ann
Easter Sunday
Otto’s hospital receipt
Lewis County General Hospital · June 28, 1953
Text from the original receipt. Dated June 28, 1953, with a service entry dated June 22, 1953.
863La Verne and Martha
Velma and Roy
March 13, 1953:
Who’s pictured
Velma and Roy Fredrickson marry at Mrs. Taylor’s play house. Bud & Eileen are their attendants.
Martha Ann Townsend
Aunt Hattie and Martha
Happy New Year
Christmas greetings
Christmas with Papa Otto
Who’s pictured
Martha, Papa Otto and Bill Christmas 1954
Eileen and Bill
Christmas at Papa Otto’s
Aunt Lona
The Fish family visits
1954: The Fish’s visit at Cinebar.
Who’s pictured
Kent, Virginia, Ruth, and Martha and Eileen.
Martha in the kitchen
Shirley and Doris Ann visit
Aunt Hattie
Greetings from the Bracks
About 1955: The Henry Brack’s:
Who’s pictured
Richard, Susan, Ben John & Donna.
At the Centralia farm
1954:
Who’s pictured
Aunt Hattie Teeter holding Bill at the Centralia farm house with Eileen and Papa Otto.
At Cinebar
1954: At our little Cinebar house:
Who’s pictured
Papa Abb Townsend, Aunt Hattie Teeter holding Martha and Papa Otto.
Martha and her kitty
Richard Dortzbach
Remembering Otto
A life on the family farm
Shirley Dortzbach
Centralia College scholars
A later family clipping · c. 1976
Original newspaper headline. Approximate year inferred from the companion clipping’s 1962 school start and fourteen-year span.
885Fourteen years of friendly competition
A later family clipping · c. 1976
Opening words of the original newspaper caption. The lower edge is damaged; no missing words reconstructed.
886Otto Frederick Hilpert
Eileen remembers her father
Daddy was a large raw boned man and Uncle Carl always said he was the strongest man he ever knew. He had very large hands and feet and his feet gave him a lot of trouble because he had such big bunions. Often times he would soak his feet when he came in the house in the evening following his chores. He always changed his clothes in the evening and usually read the paper or the magazine until 9:00 p.m. when he listened to the news on the radio.
One never heard Daddy complain, if something hurt he usually said: “It was causing a little mischief” but he never swore. He seldom seemed sick or saw a Dr.
Daddy was soft spoken and a planner. He designed the barn, tool shed, pump house etc. but didn’t trouble anyone with his ideas until he was sure that is what he wanted done and then it was done.
— Eileen Townsend
887Otto Frederick Hilpert · continued
Eileen remembers her father
He often played his harmonica in the evening for a while and sometimes he would while Mama played the piano. Many times he did this at Grange and there he seldom missed a meeting. Mama thought he had a very dry wit and he was good at mimicking the way some of the neighbors spoke.
A number of boys helped him when extra help was needed during hay or grain harvesting and often they would come back and reminisce about the good times they had together and the good meals Mama had served them when they helped.
After Mama passed away Dr. Kling called me in to tell me Daddy’s heart was much worse than Mamas had been and that I should know about it. So when he became ill I thought he was having a heart problem but instead it was a uremic poisoning and he was only in the hospital 3 days before he died.
— Eileen Townsend
888The Hilpert Farm
Centennial Farm history · 1991 enclosure
Original printed heading. The farm history is reproduced as written, including the dates in its ownership table.
889A century of family farming
Washington Department of Agriculture · February 27, 1991
Opening sentence of the original letter signed by C. Alan Pettibone.
890The family farm
An illustration preserved in the album
Descriptive label and artist’s signature. No original caption or date accompanies the illustration.
891Hamlet’s recollections · 1
Hamlet Hilpert
Centralia, Washington
Dec. 3, 1990
Dear Ms Lang:
In accordance with your letter of 16 November 1990 I have enclosed the draft pages (annotated) describing the Hilpert farm.
I appreciate receiving the copies of documents from the Homestead case file and those relating to the Military Land Bounty Warrant file. They clarify some of the confusing oral information that has come down. But they also intensify curiosity about David (August) Hilpert’s activities (work, travel, associates etc.) in the years 1849–1858. Information is only oral fragmented bites. For instance, what was he doing—what did he do in the California gold fields when he experienced a face-off with a grizzly bear?
It has been reported that in later years, when he told about that incident he was asked, “what happened”? He replied, “the bear looked at me and I looked at the bear”! Apparently after a proper interval of silent protocol, there was a mutual face-saving back-off by both parties.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
892Hamlet’s recollections · 2
The experiences he had during the walking trip from Portland to Denver are also sketchy. Apparently he traveled for a time along the Snake River in the company of two French-Canadian Hudson Bay employees. During the night encampment they were surrounded by a band of Indians that engaged in noisy hulla-balloo and dancing which proved to be a rite to drive away evil spirits because the band was suffering from a small-pox epidemic. Treatment consisted of the patient spending enough time in a sweat cave to become properly par-boiled when he/she would dash, whooping and yelling, into the very cold water of the river. The cure was no better than the sickness since the patient with rare exceptions ever survived.
During the same night one of the numerous Indian boys attempted to steal a slab of bacon grand-dad was guarding by using it as a pillow. The would be thief was driven away by a solid whack with a hatchet.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
893Hamlet’s recollections · 3
Because the documents relating to the acquisition of the farm were recorded in Olympia September 14, 1863 it is doubtful the Denver trip would have been attempted that late in the year. It would require approximately three months and there would have been the risk of the mountain passes (The Blue Mountains in Oregon and the ranges of the Rockies in Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado) being blocked by snow.
My father once told me grand-father had visited the iron mining regions in Minnesota. Because the ground of the 40 acre parcel (SW 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec 22) was similar to what he had seen in iron regions of Minnesota, he dug an exploratory shaft into the hill side on that property with the hope of finding an iron deposit. The entrance to that hole was still there in the 1920’s.
It has also been told that during the time he was in Kansas he associated with a man by the name of Lawrence who founded the town of Lawrence, Kansas.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
894Hamlet’s recollections · 4
Several years ago when Mrs. Herbert (Helena) Schaefer, my fathers youngest sister was visited I asked her if she could tell me anything of her father’s travels, particularly in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. She rather tartly commented, “Papa was a bum”.
It has also been told that after he located on the farm in 1858 that he and a friend spent some time exploring or prospecting in the Okanogan country.
The interval between the meeting of David Hilpert and Magdalena Gephart and their wedding was a brief three weeks. In response to quizzing by mother why she succumbed so quickly to grand-dads courtship, grandmother replied, “Papa was a pooty man”.
They remained in San Francisco for a few weeks while grandfather was employed by a man named Smith. When time approached to continue their trip Mr. Smith found excuses to delay payment of wages grandfather had earned. So he took direct action. He called upon Mr. Smith poked a pistol into Mr. Smiths mid-section and said, “Now Mr. Smith I will have my money”! He got it!
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
895Hamlet’s recollections · 5
They must have arrived in the Waunch Prairie area in the late summer of 1869 and stayed overnight with a German family, friends of grand-father. The next day he and grandmother, much to her chagrin, walked to the farm where she was shocked to learn that the beautiful farm that grand-dad had described to her, proved to be a small clearing in the forest, and the house a shack furnished with a “bed, table and dishes” that had been neglected for several years.
Mrs. Herbert (Helena) Schaefer told me a few years ago “Ma-ma said, ‘I was so shempt (ashamed) papa made me valk to the farm on mine veddingk trip’”.
For a six foot fellow a stroll of a couple of miles through the forest was no problem. For a little woman like grand-mother who had to hold her chin up to scratch 4′10″, and pregnant, the experience was no thrill.
When one considers what my grand-parents accomplished during the twenty years following that disastrous (in grand-mothers opinion) experience he has to be amazed.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
896Hamlet’s recollections · 6
A picture taken about 1898 with a model 122 Kodak box camera by my aunt (Mrs. Fred Johannah-Schaefer) shows the farm and buildings—the house, three barns, a machine shed, a pig shed, a prune dryer and huge wood shed. Also in place but not visible in the picture was a smoke house, a creamery, a root cellar and poultry house. And of course in those days before in-door plumbing there had to be the bippy. The fields were fenced with split cedar rails and a substantial remnant of the first orchard of 400 trees visible. In addition a second orchard had been set out about 1890 with many improved varieties of apples, pears and stone fruit which included:
Apples: Northern Spy; King; Gravenstien; Waxen; Newtown; Astrican—Purple & Red; Ben Davis.
Pears: Butter; Bartlett; Pickling; Spice; Clap Favorite; Russet.
Prunes: Green Gage; Italian; French Petite; Nectarines and Plums; Purple Bradshaw; Yellow Bradshaw.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
897Hamlet’s recollections · 7
Cherries: Black Republican; Royal Ann; Bing and Lambert; Montmorency.
Also the garden had Berries—Logan, raspberry, gooseberry and red current. In addition there were permanent beds of rhubarb, horseradish, catnip, marjoram, thyme and chives.
Live stock included a milking herd of 10–12 cows, herd bull, steers, 15–20 swine, draft animals—horses and oxen and a noisy mixture of poultry, chickens, guinea fowl, ducks, geese and turkeys. Also there was an ever changing population of domestic cats that keep the rodent population under control and three or four dogs which discouraged predators, coyotes, raccoons, etc. from raiding the poultry flock. A stand in the front yard was occupied by 6–8 bee hives for honey production.
Fruit from the orchard and vegetables from the gardens were canned and preserved in immense quantities. Cabbage was shredded and put down in stone crocks as sauerkraut. Green beans and cucumbers were pickled in a similar manner.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
898Hamlet’s recollections · 8
Apples were run through the cider mill. Most of juice was put into a rack of 50 gallon barrels stored in the dairy barn for vinegar production. The rack held 12 barrels. The cider barrels were stored in the root cellar. Before filling the cider barrels had to be sterilized with unslaked lime to destroy any wild vinegar spores.
Pigs were butchered in the fall. Hams and bacon were cured and smoked. Fat was rendered into lard. Other meat was ground and stuffed into sausage casings made from the entrails, when an animal was killed and bled the blood was collected to be used in the making of sausage. The head was boiled until the meat could be stripped which was then made into head-cheese.
Milk was separated, the cream sold to a local creamery, the skimmed milk was fed to the pigs, except that kept for house hold use—cream churned into butter and skimmed milk allowed to sour (clabber) and made into cottage cheese etc.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
899Hamlet’s recollections · 9
House hold routine was a continual activitity. Laundry day was also baking day. The wood burning kitchen range had to be fired to heat wash water, therefore the oven was charged with baking bread, cakes, pies etc.
By standards of the time my grand parents family lived very well. But it required long days of continual work seven days per week. And they were sixteen hour days. No one seemed to hurry but no time was wasted. After the noon meal was cleared away, the dishes washed and dryed grandmother might have time to relax in her rocking chair. But even then she would take up her sewing basket or knitting. It seemed she was forever knitting lace. Her windows were dressed with knitted lace curtains, pillow cases, table linnen etc. were trimmed with her knitted lace as were hers and the girls clothes.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
900Hamlet’s recollections · 10
During the first fifteen years of her married life she gave birth to nine children. The fourth born about 1878 was still born following that birth she needed medical treatment. none being available in the area, grandfather borrowed $100 from a friend to finance a trip to San Francisco. Grandmothjer took her then youngest daughter (Johanna) about 2 years of age, with her. the two older ones, my father Reinhold age 7 and his sister Selma about 5 remained at home with grand-dad. While in San Francisco to supplement her meager cash resource grandmother cut and sold her hair for $5.00. Considering medical standards of the time she was fortunate to find a doctor who could treat her successfully.
Of the many buildings described previously only the machinery shed and the house remain. And the latter has been drastically remodeled and renovated and is now occupied by my son and his family.
This letter is already far more lengthy than I had intended, but I hope it gives some conception of what it took for a pioneer couple to get established in a frontier environment.
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
901Hamlet’s recollections · 11
Sincerly yours
Hamlet Hilpert
Hamlet Hilpert to Ms Lang, December 3, 1990. Family recollections as included at the end of Eileen’s White binder; these oral accounts are not independently verified. Source spelling retained; line breaks, quotation marks and the fruit-list layout normalized.
902Title page and pages 1–902 are ready to read. Use 0 for the title page. More pages will follow.