Historic Home of John, Thomas, Fannie Ducklow

Located Ashippun Township, Dodge County, Wisconsin

'Three Photos: Circa 1887, 1985, and 2008

[Published July 25, 2009]

 

Thomas and Elizabeth’s sons John and Thomas and their sister Fannie all shared a farm home together as adults from about 1870 to 1892 (see footnote).   At times, sister Lucinda may have lived there too.  This home was the second of at least three homes owned by Thomas and his children.  It was not likely built by or for Thomas, but rather purchased by him as his success as a farmer grew.  The best guess for its original construction is about 1860.

This home lies about two miles south and west from the original Thomas and Elizabeth Ducklow homestead in Ashippun Township. Sometime during this period of the Ducklow ownership a professional photographer from Hartford took a picture. Lucinda, Fanny and their father Thomas were standing in front.  The best guess of the year this was taken is1887. See footnote.

 

Above: John, Thomas, and Fannie Ducklow Farm Home in Ashippun Township, Dodge County, Wisconsin.  Circa 1887.  Lucinda is on the porch, father Thomas near the horse on the right and Fannie on the left.  The other person on the horse on the far left is unknown.

Fellow genealogist Esther Northfield Ducklow along with her husband Willis were actively researching the Ducklow family history in the mid- 1980s.  While on a research trip to Ashippun Esther took a picture of this home. As you can see, the front porch had been enclosed.  But by studying the roofline and window locations, as well as the location of the chimney, you will determine that it is in fact the same home.

Above: Prior Ducklow Farm Home. Circa 1985.

Last fall (November 2008) Jane and I traveled to Ashippun Township and took this picture of the same home.  Someone had taken the effort and expense to restore the porch. It looks like the home has been largely returned to its original glory.

Its very cool to have realize that pictures of this home cover over 120 years!

 

Above: Prior Ducklow Farm Home. November 2008

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Footnote: John’s brother Thomas had died in 1885.  Fanny and father Thomas both died in 1892.  John sold his farm moved to the City of Oconomowoc after their deaths.  He went on to marry his first wife Blanch Townsend in 1899.

 Footnote: The first photo in this posting is part of the Michael Jon Holman photo collection.  His mother, Anna Ostenson Holman, daughter of Lucinda,  identified this photo sometime after the death of her father Gunder Ostenson (December of 1932) and before her death (October 1980).  

The image that follows is her notation on the back of the circa 1887 photo.  It reads: "This is my Mother's home north of Oconomowoc before she was married and her sister Fanny and I suppose thats her father.  Mother is one on the porch.  The home is brick and it was still there when my father died in 1932. We drove by there.  Wonder who was on the horse in the back there!"

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Early Death of Parents
[Updated January 21, 2009]

Sadly, one theme that reoccurs in the greater Ducklow family is the premature death of a parent. There are a numerous stories in the family history where one parent has died before the youngest child has reached the age of fifteen; here are six that occurred near the turn of the twentieth century:

(1) Gunder Ostenson, husband of Lucinda Ducklow Ostenson completed raising their daughter Anna Elizabeth Ostenson when wife Lucinda died from Tuberculosis at age 52 in 1918. Their daughter Anna was 14 years old when her mother died. Anna went on to marry at the young age of 16 to Willard Holman.

(2) Lucinda Ducklow Ostenson was the second wife that Gunder had out-lived. His first wife, Anna Stenson Ostenson, died at age 40 in 1902. Anna left Gunder with three children to raise: Ruth age nine, Hattie age seven, and Edwin age four. As a farmer this was a large burden to bear. His solution was pragmatic: re-marry quickly. Lucinda Ducklow, at age 37, wed Gunder just a few months after his first wife’s death and she immediately took over the role of mother to Gunder’s young children.

(3) John T Ducklow and Kathryn Nicholson may have married for the purpose of raising a semi-orphaned nephew. Kathryn’s sister-in-law, Mary Grooms Nicholson, died when she was in her 30s. She left behind two sons: George, age ten, and Van, age 14. Their father, James Nicholson, was unable to care for his young sons alone after their mother passed. Mary Groom’s parents took in Van. John and Kathryn Ducklow adopted George very shortly after they were married in 1904. This was John’s second marriage as his first wife Blanche Townsend died in 1903. John and Kathryn raised George Nicholson as their own son—they legally adopted him and George's name became George Nicholson Ducklow.


Lynn Shaw Ducklow
Circa 1908, age 2.5 years
Young boys were frequently dressed in a gown to make diaper changing easier. Curls in young boys hair was also popular at this time - there is no explaining hair styles!
Cropped Photo from Deb Ehlers Good Collection




(4) In 1911 Eva Shaw Ducklow had to finish raising her youngest son Lynn [see photo above] alone when Charles died at the age of 58. Lynn was only nine years old when his father died unexpectedly from complications of gallstone surgery. Lynn’s older brothers had reached adulthood: William was 26, Elmer was 22 and Charles Jr. was 20 at the time of their father’s death.

(5) Willis Francis Ducklow, son of Frank Erwin Ducklow and Francis Mary Prine, was born on April 9, 1910. Tragically, seventeen days later his mother died. She was 28 years old. The offical recorded cause of death was measles, but apparently the delivery of Willis was difficult. The combination of a weaken immune system and loss of blood caused her death. Baby Willis was raised by his Grandparents, George and Emma Ducklow, as Frank was not able. They were aged 58 and 57 at the time. Family lore has it that on the hour Willis was being baptized in one church, his mother was being eulogized during her funeral in another church.





Nellie Ducklow LaGrander, circa 1909, about age 28
Son Clair George LaGrander, about age 12
Daughter Isla LaGrander, about age 6
Son George Merle LaGrander, about age 4
Photo from the Esther Northfield Ducklow Collection





(6) George A LaGrander, working as an engineer on a logging train, was fatally injured in a train coupling accident, being crushed between the bumpers of two cars on April 7, 1905. He was taken home and did not realized how badly he was hurt. He "laughed and played with the children until the end came in a few hours" [see footnote]. George was only 30 years old upon his death. He left behind wife Nellie LaGrander nee Ducklow age 28, son Clair George, age 8, and daughter Isla, age 23 months. Nellie was also pregnant with George Merle LaGrander who was delivered seven months after George's death [see family photo above]. About six years later, Nellie wed Albert Davis, in October of 1911. Albert helped Nellie finish raising her children to adulthood.

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Who are these people in relation to the heads of the greater Ducklow family, Thomas and Elizabeth Ducklow? Lucinda was Thomas and Elizabeth's 14th and last child. Gunder Ostenson was Lucinda's husband. John T Ducklow was Thomas and Elizabeth's third child and their first son. Kathryn Nicholson was John T's second wife. Charles Ducklow was Thomas and Elizabeth's seventh child. He married Eva Shaw. George Ducklow was the sixth child of Thomas and Elizabeth Ducklow; George married Emma Hamilton and Frank Erwin was their son, Willis their Grandson. Nellie LaGrander was the first child of George and Emma Ducklow. She married George LaGrander.

Footnote: Quote on George LaGranders last hours came from his obituary published in the Spring Valley Sun April 1905.

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