Lennie Eats Christmas Dinner at His Sister's Home and Celebrates at the Swede Church Several Nights In a Row

Before we finish up Lennie's Diary for the year 1898, I cannot resist posting this photo, taken approximately 1910, of Lennie and his single cylinder Thor IV motor bike. Note the dandy bike clothing. Lennie was always interested in the new inventions coming into the world at that time. He had a curiosity about many things and must have been a most interesting man and well-liked.

Sunday, December 25, 1898
Fred (Poff) staid in town. Ate dinner at Ollie's.
(Christmas Dinner was at Lennie's sister's home. Flora Olive "Ollie" Davis married Charles Schulz in August 1895. Nine months from this Christmas, their first child will be born...Lucile M. Schulz. She will be the first of three children. The second child, Leonard will be born in 1903. The third, Charlotte Olive Schulz, will be born March 1908. Sadly, Ollie dies giving birth. But the joys of those births, and the sadness of Ollie dying, are still in the future. And Christmas Dinner is an enjoyable family event, with undoubtedly, the entire Davis family...those that reside in Wakefield...in attendance.)

Monday, December 26, 1898
No School. Went skating. Went to Sweed Xmas tree.
(Lennie is possibly speaking of the Swedish Mission Church. Throughout the year he mentions attending social gatherings at various churches in town. But I believe his family may have been members of the Presbyterian Church for this is where Lennie and his future bride, Alma Matilda Gazina Kuckku, will raise their three daughters, Imogene, Marjorie, and Frances.)

Tuesday, December 27, 1898
A nice day. Helped clean house. Went to Sweed Xmas.

Wednesday, December 28, 1898
Fine day. Had a headack all day. Went hunting. Went to Sweed Xmas.

Thursday, December 29, 1898
A cold day. Blizzard in afternoon. Staid and visited Clara.

Friday, December 30, 1898
A cold day. Went to party at Mrs. Nobells.

Saturday, December 31, 1898
A nice day but cold. Went skating in afternoon. Went to party at Nanballs (sp?).

END (Lennie's word, not mine. He adds the following addendum to his 1898 diary:

I owe
Star Clothing $1.15
Rawlings Bros. $1.00
A Quimby $1.75
Ben Davis $ .50
(Ben is Lennie's brother, 8 years older than Lennie. Ben is still single, but on Christmas Eve, 1907, he will marry Anna Laura Weaver. The will have two children, Ivan and Dorothy. Ivan never marries. Dorothy marries Howard Beckenhauer and the couple will have 8 sons and one daughter.)

From family records, we deduce that Lennie had 9 siblings. Five of those siblings moved to Wakefield with the parents Josiah and Martha Jane (Crawford) Davis in about 1883.

Lennie will die in May 1946. His wife, Alma, will die in 1974. They are buried side by side along with Lennie's parents and his and Alma's youngest daughter and son-in-law, Ellis Edward and Frances Arlene (Davis) Peterson. Lennie's grandson and a granddaughter regularly visit the cemetery, placing flowers on their graves. Sometimes Jim brings his own daughter and grandchildren to visit the family gravesites in remembrance. It is a good thing to remember where you came from.

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