Bio: Danielson, Mary (Life Summary – 1963)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Danielson, Pearson

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 29 Aug 1963

On the nineteenth of next month, Grandma Danielson will celebrate her ninety-fifth birthday, if the Lord permits. How does one live to be ninety-five? In her own words, "Work hard and eat very little."

Mary Person's father lived on the Gota Canal which links the Vanern and Vattern Lakes in Sweden. Her mother died when she was only nine, so her next eldest sister virtually brought her up, and gave her first education. Since her father worked away from home, Mary took care of the movable bridge over the Canal, for two and a half years. When a ship came through the canal, she would work the winch which rolled the bridge out of the way, and allowed the ship to pass through. The hard work almost destroyed her health, so her brother brought her to America, to see if she could recover there.

She settled on the prairie near Chicago, and took a job as housemaid. One day a Norwegian immigrant named David Danielson saw her hanging out clothes, and decided this was the woman for him. He made up his mind he would have her, so they were married in February of 1893. This was the year of the World's Fair in Chicago, with much activity. However, after the Fair, everything came to s stand-still, and the Panic of the same year made it worse. A Danish family in their neighborhood actually froze to death in the winter. Danielson found enough work to keep found and shelter for his family.

Mary Became very ill after the death of their first child. The doctor left the room, announce to the family that she was gone. As her husband stood weeping by the bed, she opened her eyes and asked why he was crying. After that, he said he hoped he would be first to leave this world, since he could not stand to watch his wife die again. Nineteen years ago he close his eyes and slipped from this life.

Mary came to Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) to visit her sister in 1901, and again the next year. Four years after that, with three children, they moved up onto the farm where she now lives with sons Dave and Arendt, and Dave's wife, Naomi. Arendt was born after they settled here. Since her husband was often out building barns and houses for people, Mary worked hard to make a farm and a living.

A German proverb says that a woman's life should b "Kinder, Kuche, and Kirchef," "Children, Kitche, and Church." Mary bore, clothed and fed four children; she still keeps the kitchen going; and she has helped build three congregations, and is still active in her church. What would she do if she could not work? "I don't know what I would do if I couldn't work!"

One thing upsets her – when she has prepared a meal, and it is on the table, and the men folks are not there to eat it!

Although her eyes no longer can read the fine print, and her limbs do not permit her to do chores, her mind is keen and clear. If, when her birthday is celebrated, she cannot be found, it will be because she has run away from home: "I just can't stand to think of all that work, and somebody else doing it for me."