Wedding Photo of Lillian & George Carlsen

March 31, 1912

The Romance

of George Carlsen & Lillian Hansen

My Grandparent's, George and Lillian Carlsen, met and married in Withee, Clark County, Wisconsin, at the Nazareth Lutheran church. My cousin, Lois Freeman, relayed their family story to me. 

Apparently, both the Carlsens and the Hansens  were  members of the church (Nazareth Danish ). At one time my paternal Great Grandfather, Fred Carlsen, and my maternal Great Grandfather, Hans Hansen, were opposing candidates for deacon of the church. When Fred Carlsen was elected, Hans Hansen, thinking of himself as such a 'big shot', was outraged and the feud between the Carlsens and the Hansens was fueled.  My Grandparents romance began when they sang together in the church choir, much to the dismay of the two feuding families.  Nevertheless, their romance persevered and they were united in marriage on March 31, 1912.