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Show While they were living in that location, John K was grieved by the death of his mother, Wilhelmina, who died on 23 October 1900, at the age of 53 years. She had seemed much older and John K realized and appreciated how her life's experiences had taken their toll. Their lives had been so intertwined that his sense of loss was magnified after her death. A week later on the 31st day of the same month, Katie's and John K's first child, a son, was born in the little rented house, and he was named Vearl Jay. THE HOUSE In the spring of 1901, John K bought their first home-in the southeast part of town. It was called the old Shoemaker Olsen place, although at the time of purchase Inger Marie Anderson owned it. Five years were apparently required for John K to pay for the new house as the deed was recorded in 1906.3 The two-story frame house seemed very large to the young, new owners. The parlor and bedroom were the biggest rooms, the dining room and kitchen somewhat smaller-all on the main floor. A stairway door opened from the kitchen and led to two bedrooms above. A one-room, rocklined cellar was beneath the dining room. On a slight rise of ground a rod northeast of the house stood a water pump for a well. A long, rock, one-story h a m was called the "rock barn". It served as a tool house and wood 76 |