Grinda Josephine (Hanson) Van Allen had a life full of challenges, including becoming a step-mother to six, including teenagers, when she was only fifteen, losing her husband when she was 29, and almost losing her young daughter at the same time. These were only a few of the challenges in Grinda’s life.
The Early Years
Grinda Josephine (Hanson) Van Allen was born February 4, 1885 in Richwood, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Magnus Hans Hanson, who was born in Wisconsin, and Mary Inga Anderson, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden. She was the fifth of ten children to be born to Magnus and Mary.
When Grinda was only two, her baby brother John died when only a month old. She was young enough that she wasn’t likely affected by his death. However, when Grinda was thirteen, she lost her older brother Martin (Norman) when he drowned while bathing in the river near Port Andrew, Wisconsin. Her oldest brother Elmer Lewis witnessed the drowning, making it all the more sad. This had to have been a very significant event in her young life.
The Marriage
Just two years later, at age fifteen, Grinda married John (Warren) Van Allen in Richland, Wisconsin who was a widower twenty-five and a half years her senior with six children. His wife had died the prior year and he was clearly in need of a wife. His oldest daughter was only nine and running a household would be a bit much at that age.
What attracted Grinda to a much older man with sons as old as she was is unknown. However, it must have been very challenging to take over running a household and deal with step-children, especially boys her age and older.
On the Move, Again, And Again
The following March, Warren, Grinda, and his children pulled up stakes and left for Minnesota. It was in Sleepy Eye in Brown County, Minnesota that John Warren, their first child together, was born on October 18, 1902.
The family’s stay in Minnesota did not last long, as their next child Jessie Wilma was born in Iowa on September 19, 1904. That was followed by another move to near Fremont, Nebraska, where their third child was born October 3, 1906.
Thus, in the first five and a half years of their marriage, they moved at least three times . . . and to three different states. What took them on this specific journey has yet to be discovered. However, the first move may have been made in conjunction with moves by a couple of Grinda’s siblings.
Life In Nebraska
The family settled into life in Nebraska, where Warren quickly became known for the fruits and vegetables that he grew. He had a reputation for excellence in his gardens and fields when he lived in Wisconsin, which he renewed in his latest home.
In 1911, he advertised for a farm with 160 acres and a home with enough room for his growing family, which implies yet another move. He may have needed more land or simply needed a bigger house as May would bring their fifth child. Three months after her latest child was born, Grinda was suffering with appendicitis. It is hard to imagine having a house full of kids including a newborn and being seriously ill.
John Warren’s Accident
Over the next couple of years, Warren and Grinda’s last two children were born. All appeared to be going well until they received word of Warren’s son Clarence at the end of May. He had died after a short illness. The nature of which is unknown.
Then on July 15, 1914, Grinda and Warren’s life took a turn for the worse. On that day, Warren was riding on his cultivator working in the corn field, when the seat broke. Warren received internal injuries in his fall from the cultivator. Despite an operation and expectations of improvement, Warren’s condition never seemed to improve.
Vivian Vera’s Accident
Over a month later, Warren was still ill when Warren and Grinda’s five-year-old daughter Vivian Vera was badly burned. On August 26, Vivian was playing in the kitchen with one or more of her sisters while Grinda was working in another room.
As they were playing, the oil stored on the shelf above the cookstove fell over and spilled onto the cookstove that had a fire burning in it. Standing in front of the stove, the flames from the hot oil encased the young girl’s clothing.
Grinda heard the ruckus and came running. She saw flames and smoke filled the air and grabbed Vivian. She wrapped her jacket around her daughter to smother the flames while she used her hand to beat out any flames that escaped.
After the flames on her daughter were out, Grinda turned her attention to the fire in general. However, by then the fire had mostly died out.
Despite Grinda’s efforts, young Vivian received serious burns. Vivian’s burns were the worst on her arm and shoulder. Additionally, her hair was greatly damaged. The newspaper described the burns as “ugly” and requiring the attention of a physician.
Death of Her Husband
Five days after Vivian’s accident, Warren succumbed to his injuries. With Vivian injured and being nursed back to health, the service for Warren was not held at the home as was customary. Instead, the service was held at the Bader Undertaking Parlor or the Seventh Day Adventist Church (accounts vary).
In the 8 years they had lived in the area, Warren had become quite well known. He was an expert fruit and vegetable grower, belonged to Modern Woodmen of America, and had even run for Nebraska state treasure on the Socialist ticket. He was so well known that his death was noted in various newspapers across the state.
The newspaper didn’t mention any of his children with his first wife in Warren’s obituary. Most were living in North Dakota and there is no mention of them coming to the funeral. It leaves the impression that perhaps the relationship with them had become strained. However, Floyd, the youngest who lived with Warren and Grinda at least until 1910, did come to help settle his dad’s estate.
The only relatives of Warren that attended were one of his half-siblings and his step-father, who traveled from Wisconsin for his funeral. In Grinda’s family, only one sister-in-law and a brother made the trip. It is not believed that they had any close relatives in the Fremont area.
Life Without a Husband
So, Grinda was a 29-year-old widow. She was the step-mother to seven adults, who ranged from nineteen to thirty-one years of age. Additionally, Grinda had four step-grandchildren that she may not even have known about. In any case, Warren’s children with his first wife were hundreds of miles away and not there to help Grinda.
Grinda had seven children to feed. They ranged in age from less than a year to almost twelve with four children under age five.
She must have had a pile of medical bills and it is unknown what crops were able to be harvests. However, knowing midwestern farm spirit, it is likely that the local families helped the family. In addition, the Modern Woodmen of America provided $3000 to the family and Grinda collected an insurance policy.
Another Death Before Moving On
Only a few months after Warren died, Grinda’s mother died. She was only 61-years-old. It is unlikely that Grinda made the journey to Wisconsin for her mother’s service. It would have been both expensive and challenging to make the trip with her children.
The following month Grinda purchased a house in College View (Lincoln), Nebraska. It was unclear what made her choose this area other than it was a city and provided more opportunities for work for a woman than a smaller farming community.
Grinda and the kids began life in a bigger town. I don’t know if Grinda went to work right away after the move. However, by 1920, she was doing domestic work in private homes. It is unclear how she would have managed to work with young children that weren’t school age. By 1920, however, all the children were attending school. At that point, her oldest daughter Jessie would have been old enough to watch the younger children.
The children seemed to adjust, joining school, sports, and other activities. Some of them joined the local garden club. Clearly, they had gotten their father’s green thumb as multiple of them won awards.
The kids also had their share of diseases, which no doubt added more stress and challenges to Grinda’s life as a single mother. For instance, Josephine and Jessie had scarlet fever in December 1916. They missed two weeks of school and surely someone had to look after them during their illness. Similarly, John and Josephine both had influenza during the great flu epidemic. And, a couple of them also had the mumps.
Who Needs Trouble
By June 1919, John Warren Jr. was plenty old enough to help support the family. I am sure the family could have used some extra cash. An older man likely played on that need when he got John involved in a scheme with several other boys and young men to steal various items. The man enticed them by promising to buy the stolen items from them. It wasn’t worth it as John was sent to the State Industrial School for his part in the crimes despite testifying against the man who instigated the entire operation.
Death of a Sister
In the summer of 1921, Grinda received more bad news. Her sister Anna and Anna’s husband had both drowned near their home while bathing in the Wisconsin River. Anna had been enjoying herself when she was caught in the current. She called out for help. Her husband attempted to swim to her, but he sunk under the surface of the water for some unknown reason. Anna went under a short time later.
Their five-year-old adopted daughter and Grinda’s father, who was nearly 70 years of age, were unfortunate witnesses to the incident. Neither could do anything to remedy the situation beyond calling for help. Many people came to help. Unfortunately, it was a recovery operation rather than a rescue.
Grinda received word of their deaths and made a trip to Wisconsin to attend the funeral.
More Accidents
Donna
In 1922 disaster struck again when Donna, Rod’s grandmother, was struck by a car that was “going at a lively rate of speed.” Donna was drug 25 to 30 feet and the skid marks were said to have been at least 50 feet. Donna saved herself from worse harm by grasping tightly onto the front axle of the car.
Kenneth “Kenny”
In 1926 it was Grinda’s youngest child Kenneth’s turn to get hurt. This accident occurred while he was playing football. The injury left him with a broken left elbow and required the attention of multiple physicians.
Kenny Again
In 1929, Kenny went to work for the Smith Baking Company. He wasn’t on the job long before he lost three fingers and part of his palm. A major court case ensued that lasted several years and included a fight over whether he was 15 or 16. And, if he was 15, whether the company knew or should have known his age. Click here to read all the details.
Grinda, Herself
In 1931, Grinda was injured when the car she was a passenger in was hit from behind as the car slowed to turn into a farm driveway. All five people in the car were injured, some critically. Grinda was on the lucky side as she received lacerations to her hands and face as well as a chest injury.
In The End
Grinda died in 1966. She had certainly been through a lot. Despite all the drama, trauma, and challenges in her life, she had managed to live to be 81 years of age. She outlived all of her step-children except Floyd, the youngest. Grinda also outlived seven of her nine siblings.
Prompt: Challenging
#52Ancestors52Weeks