If for No Other Reason

Nancy Olson

Author House, Jul 10, 2012 - Biography & Autobiography - 362 pages

Mighty oaks stood guard at my country school, deeply rooted from the time before people began landing at Plymouth Rock. Their pungent perfume invited me to come and play. Their presence did not vary except in fall when their leaves turned brown and fell to the ground. They stood as strong as a bull and as independent as a Scotsman unaffected by the winds of circumstance. Such were our ancestors: the Olsons, Krugers, Matthews, Hamlins, and Mortons.

Each family came from similar backgrounds, but experienced life in different ways. These stories form a symbolic tapestry and create a record of our existence. Everyone may have similar experiences but none the same because we are unique individuals. These stories are important for future generations to ponder a time past and reflect on why we are who we are.

Vladimir Nabokov wrote, Important if for no other reason, than these tales will be lost if not recorded.

Contents

• We Survived Natural and ManMade Disasters: 1
• Washday was labor intensive for mother and disagreeable for me: 9
• Eat Your Bread Crusts was an order not to be disobeyed: 13
• Managing without running water: 17
• Our mothersa study in contrasts: 21
• Nancys vilified grandmother: 25
• Nancy becomes a teacher: 33
• Lost lunch tickets two solutions: 39
• Learning how to swim: 43
• Nancy is hired to teach sixth grade at Glenwoods elegant art deco edifice: 47
• Musing of cremation and tombstones: 57
• Neil saved Dads life: 61
• Orrin and Gerald Krugerbrothers who lived in two different worlds: 65
• Father was my hero: 71
• The Krugers not as gregarious as the Olsons: 75
• Marilyn Steve and Karen come to stay at the Olson farm: 85
• Well drive to Hancock and buy and new set: 89
• Jim organizes fellow landowners to avert placement of a hazardous waste site: 91
• Ive learned from you: 95
• Jims skill at mediation saves the day: 99
• State commissioner convention: 105
• Betty a chameleon: 109
• Coming to America: 113
• Grandpa Mortons embroidery: 123
• JL Morton Jr raised Shropshire sheep: 129
• The Monarch range restored life: 139
• The campaign for County Commissioner: 141
• Jim Olsonproblem solver: 147
• Approving significant legislation was satisfying: 151
• Jim serves on Lakeland Mental Health Board: 155
• JL Morton builds two bridges over Chippewa: 159
• Oak trees are especially dicey to fell: 165
• Grandmas favorite hens killed with a shotgun: 169
• JL Sr built bridges his son John built dams: 173
• Mildred Hamlin Morton played the piano every Sunday at the Sedan Presbyterian Church: 183
• Mildreds grandfather traveled to Minnesota in 1857: 187
• The Hamlin connection London England 1605: 191
• Mort Olson comes to Pope County1923: 197
• Jim started school knowing how to read: 205
• There was a fire ring: 209
• Ludwigs gift: 213
• The neighbors plant the corn crop: 225
• Our mini vacationtwo days: 231
• The farm house comes alive: 233
• The Glenwear girlsAlice and Lolly: 239
• Alley thought the other cats were an abomination: 241
• Twentyfive shellstwentyfour roosters: 245
• Does one size fit all?: 251
• Art is a symbol of the wonder of life: 259
• Jim and Vernon make a choice: 265
• Jim breaks up the fracas Gunnar calls the game: 271
• Sewing clothing on an ancient treadle machine: 275
• Country school Christmas1942: 283
• Twentyfour pies on Labor Day: 287
• The blizzard of the century1975: 291
• Als cow book records: 295
• Visiting the Lambies and Priestlyshaving tea at halfthree: 301
• Observations of a glorious August evening: 311
• Matthews take a trip by covered wagon1903: 315
• Afterword: 345
• Nancy A Olson: 346

About the author

Nancy Kruger Olson is a visual artist working the medium of pastel ink and wood prints. In 2000, she published We Flew with Our Own Wings. In 2009, she published Ruth (Matthews) Kruger’s diaries, Lovely Day. She is listed in a number of Who’s Who publications including Midwest, the World, America, and Education and Women. Nancy became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2003 by using the Matthews lineage as documentation. Nancy lives with her husband James in a rustic, light-filled, Danish cabin—a house that has a view of earth and sky.

Bibliographic information

• Title: If for No Other Reason
• Author: Nancy Olson
• Publisher: Author House, 2012
• ISBN: 1468597906, 9781468597905
• Length: 362 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / General