The Wednesday Club

     Every town must have a "ladies" group whose sole purpose is to meet and strengthen the bonds of sisterhood.  We have many in my small town of South St Paul (including the Mid-Week Study group, not to be confused with the Monday Study group) and they have been in existance for 70 or more years.  So I found it amusing when I came across this article written in the  Warren sheaf, February 20, 1902.

 

   THE WEDNESDAY CLUB.

     The Members of the Warren Club Royally Entertained by the Argyle Ladies.

     EDITOR SHEAF:—Wednesday morning, January 12th, when the bells chimed the hour often in Warren, women could be seen coming

 

     from every direction, some came with their arms full of books, some with satchels and some with bags full of something, which I found

 

     out later was literature, and others with rolls after the manner of the Egyptians.  All were apparently in great haste and going in the same

 

     direction, toward the Great Northern Depot. By breaking my former record of speed I managed to reach the depot platform just as the

 

     Secretary of Wednesday Club arrived. The thought came to me that they must be having a meeting up the line somewhere and the secretary

 

     being young and inexperienced would be glad to give me the job of reporting the meeting.  When she had sufficiently recovered from her

 

     race with the train to be able to speak, she told me there was to be a meeting in Argyle and I was installed as reporter at once, was to pay

 

     my own car fare up and back, and they would board me.

 

     During the day many people in Warren remarked the unusual quiet the city was enjoying which led to the inquiry, why? Why, thirteen

     women had gone to Argyle that morning. The Wednesday Club were invited to meet with Mrs. Hunter, (who has been a member for years),

     And thirteen of these literary lights had accepted the invitation: it was these women that tried their speed down the street and through the

     alleys en-route to the depot.  The train came in due time and all were soon as comfortable as could be in a-crowded  coach. Some of the

 

     ladies were so very pleasantly situated, they seemed quite reluctant to leave the car, but when the precious burden was deposited in Argyle,

 

     all responded to roll call.

 

     Mr. Hunter met the delegation and piloted us through the city to his home, satchels, bags, bundles, rolls, and papers, all safe.  We received

 

     such a hearty welcome from our old friends and neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, it made us feel doubly glad to be there.  After the hand

 

     shaking was through with the book, bundles, rolls, were safely put away for future reference, and each had been informed that the others

 

     were either well or not very well, or somewhat better, and the weather had been sufficiently discussed, we were invited to lay aside our

 

     work and repair to the dining room, where the table was laid for the crowd. It would be easier for me to say what was not on the table

 

     than what was there. The menu covered all the delicacies of the season which we enjoyed to the fullest extent. (It was at this time I

 

     began to realize what a bargain I had struck getting my office as reporter.)

 

     The dining room was very handsome and appropriately decorated.  Mrs. Erikson produced a most elegant card, an appropriate drawing

     on the front and name of guest on the back, with national colors, forming in all a very unique and attractive souvenir of the occasion.

     After the dinner was over this constellation of eloquence, beauty and adornment was placed under the the guiding hand of Mrs. Hunter,

     who had charge of program.

 

     When our tasks for the day were ended and the clock struck the hour of four, (several ladies of Argyle were present to hear the program),

 

     all were invited with us, to Mrs. Melgaard for lunch. There was no time to lose before train.  Mrs. Melgaard has a lovely home

     and her table was laden with more good things than I can tell you about, everything au fait.  While we feasted we were cheered

     by piano music and all went merry until time for us to leave. Every minute of that day was thoroughly enjoyed. Women, books, bags

 

     and bundles were all safe in Warren Wednesday evening. The only regret was that the day didn't contain more hours.

     REPORTER

Although the little touches of elegance or protocal may have changed, not much else has. 

25th Anniversary of the Jensen's

While perusing through old newspapers the other day I came upon this notice of my great grandparents anniversary party.  It was in the Warren Sheaf., December 02, 1914, page 6.

"Last Sunday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jensen were made the victims of a pleasant surprise by a best of their neighbors and friends.  The occasion for this event, was the 25th, or silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. From about two o'clock in the afternoon until almost dark people were arriving at the Jensen home, each bringing vessel well filled with the very choicest of viands the land affords, which were placed on a long table stretching the full length of the spacious dining room, presenting a sight calculated to tempt the appetite of the most fastidious. And it would be but mildly stated, to say that all present did ample justice toward relieving that table of its great burden, and at the same time filling an empty void.

"After all had partaken to their hearts as well as stomach's delight, many basketsful of fragments remained. Supper being over, and everything cleared away the young folks engaged in music and various games and thus spent the time in a pleasant manner, while the men discussed all the topics pertaining to farming from the raising of alfalfa, clover, hogs and corn, and wound up on the outcome of the great European war, while the topics discussed by better halves, as overheard in part, was mostly concerning hats, frocks and pretty babies, and the price of poultry.  Well, maybe they did converse about other matters that we failed to catch.

"The bride and groom of a quarter of a-century, were the recipients of many beautiful presents appropriate to the occasion. At a late hour of the evening, after the self-invited guests had expressed their wishes for many years more of connevial bliss, they took their departure, realizing that it was good to have been there. Following is a list of the families represented at this gathering: S. J. Grandstrand and family; J. W. Swanson and family; C. E. Johnson and family; C. Poison and family; L. C. Jorgenson and family; J. W. Field and family; A. Lundin and family; S, Lundin and family; S. P. Jensen and family; Nels Jensen and family: Jens Jensen and family; Hans and Mrs. Christofferson, Mrs. Christofferson and daughters, of Stephen; Joseph Thorkildson and sister; Miss Magda, John Jensen and Jens Hanson."

Martin Jensen's 2nd wife

For many years I have tried to find information on the second wife of my great grandfather, Martin Jensen.  I have a photo of 2 women in a picture that my grandmother claims is Minnie and her daughter, but I have yet to confirm or find notice of a daughter born to Wilhelmina Louise Mott. 

But today, while going through some old newspapers on-line, I came across 2 articles about Mrs Martin Jensen. 

Mott-Jensen Nuptials
Married three weeks ago at Thief River Falls, Martin Jensen, veteran rural carrier out of the Stephen office, kept his matrimonial alliance a secret from his friends at this point until the forepart of the present week, when a box of fragrant "perfectos" made their appearance simultaneously with an announcement of the event.  The bride was Mrs. Wilhelmina Louise Mott, a former Thief River Falls resident, and the wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. Chas. Geflinger at his home in that city, on Tuesday, September 26. The bride and groom were unattended, and came to Stephen immediately after the ceremony, to make their home in Mr. Jensen's home just south of town. Stephen people will extend a hearty welcome to the bride, together with every good wish for the happiness and prosperity of the newlyweds.

Warren Sheaf, October 25, 1922, page 2

Coroner Clarence Hiaasen was called to Stephen Monday to ascertain the cause of the sudden death of Mrs. Martin Jensen. Mrs. Jensen was doing her household duties as usual Monday morning when she suddenly fell dead. At the coroner's examination the cause of death was attributed to acute dilation of the heart. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen had been married for only two months, and the sympathy of
many friends in this vicinity goes out to Mr. Jensen for his sad bereavement.
—Argyle Banner.


Warren Sheaf, November 29, 1922, page 5

My next move is to research Thief River Falls for more information on the Motts.