Reunion - 50 Years of Findahls (1885-1935)

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My final entry in what became an 8 part series on the Family of Nels and Jessie Findahl, their children and grandchildren.  (1860-present)

April 1935 - The occasion is Grandpa Nels and Grandma Jessie Findahl's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

We're not certain of the exact location but Mom seems to remember it being held at a high-class Hotel somewhere in Galesburg, IL

Update 2021! -- Last Thanksgiving (2020) my Cousin Joanne Johnson Martinez (Daughter of my Aunt Betty Findahl Johnson) identified the building for me as Galesburg's Hotel Custer.  She added, "It still stands in downtown Galesburg. All rooms have been turned into an assisted living facility and no longer a hotel. Special parties and dinner theatres are held there upon request. But at the time the anniversary was held it more than likely was the fanciest place to have it in Galesburg. Good food too."

While searching the internet I uncovered some more information on Nels Olaf Findahl.   I learned he married Jessie on April 23rd, 1885 and that his father's name was Olof Findahl and his mother's name was Ellna.  It could be Nels' middle name was spelled Olof as well and may have been changed when he came to America or maybe we just have it misspelled.  Both versions are true spellings of real names.

An interesting thing about the date of marriage.  We had that same date as his birthday, however, I did uncover a photo from the year 1942 (shown earlier) with what appears to be my Aunt Betty's writing which states:  Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942 - Grandpa's 80th Birthday.

I would be inclined to believe now that April 5, 1862 is Nels' real birthdate given this information than what we thought previously.

This same source indicates Jessie's father as simply "SW. Thornberg" and her mother's name is Betsie.  We understood the father's name was Sven.  (Incidentally that information which I linked to earlier seems to no longer be available, disappearing almost right after I'd referenced it.)


In the 'front' row seated at the long table from left to right are Martha, Margie (my Mom), Betty,  and Gordon Findahl (son of Jessie & Nels with his family) followed by "Aunt" Sadie who came from California to attend (she is the sister to Jessie, sitting next to her), guests of honor Jessie & Nels Findahl, their son Frank (aka Uncle Bert) and his family, daughter Isabel & Shirley and his wife Florence.  The final two are Aunt Marcella holding son Bobby Findahl.  (Husband Virgil Findahl, Bobby's father & son of Jessie & Nels passed away two years previously.)


Along the back you will find the family of Mabel & Harry Findahl (son of Jessie & Nels) starting with the youngest son Kenny (standing) next to his mother Mabel (also standing) and then sons Wayne, Earl, Dale with their father Harry.  The next four people we  do not know.  The final three are the family of Helen (daughter of Jessie & Nels) & Willard Windom with Helen, their daughter Eileen & Willard.

2022:  Finally!  Some more information/photos about the Hotel Custer, Galesburg, IL

From a post card on eBay as identified only as being from the 'early 1900s'.  Judging from the cars that are drawn here, I'd say this may be pretty contemporary to my family gathering photograph.

Now *this* looks more like the early 1900s.  I found some more information about this hotel in an article located online:  On the evening of March 2, 1915, the hotel was opened by its owner, Charles Schimmel.

"The sentiment expressed was that the city was stepping up to better things in the building line and that the developments of the past few years would bring about results that would be lasting and bring Galesburg into prominence in a commercial way," read the Galesburg Republican-Register.

The day it opened, hundreds of Galesburg folks were allowed to tour the hotel and examine its features.  Schimmel received letters and telegrams of congratulations throughout the day.  In the evening, food was served in a program where over 100 "representative business and professional men of the city" were present.

Judge George W. Thompson spoke at the event:  "We have heard Galesburg boosted in the past few years but much of the boosting has been merely wind.  This is something more substantial," he said of the hotel's erection.

Mayor William O. Bradley said that "we have one fine building in this city erected in recent years - the C.B. & Q. depot - and it is fitting the we should have a hotel building in keeping with it."

Judge R.C. Rice told the crowd that, "when a stranger arrives in the city at the Burlington depot, rides to the business part of the city on a standard pavement, and strikes a spot like this he will know that he has arrived in a city."

Three interior illustrations of Hotel Custer which, until I blew them up to really look at them, realized these were not photographs.

This is how Hotel Custer looked during my day in the 1970s.

The history of the building continues: 

The Walton-Van Huffel Co. on South Chambers Street had done the structural steel work. 

The Knox Laundry on North Kellogg Street held the contract to do the hotel’s laundry. 

The Galesburg Roofing Co. took care of the building of the roof. Kellogg-Drake & Co. furnished the rugs, linens and curtains. 

The plumbing and steam heating work was done by J.P. Quigley of South Cherry Street. 

Willis Manufacturing provided the “fireproof” metal windows and Lawrence Brothers the silverware. 

The walls were built with Purington bricks. 

Many more Galesburg businesses provided other aspects of the building, too many to list here.

“It should be a matter of pride to all Galesburg residents that the furniture contract for the new Hotel Custer was awarded to a Galesburg firm,” the paper declared.

“The O.T. Johnson Company were the successful bidders and so have the honor of fulfilling the largest furniture contract ever undertaken in this city.”

There was a billiard room under the charge of Harry Silverman and a barber shop by L.B. Taylor. The was a drug store, dining room, ladies parlor and men’s smoking room.

But why was it named the Custer Hotel, when Custer was not the owner?

O.N. Custer’s newspaper explained the connection.

“The financial problem connected with the new Hotel Custer has been handled from the start largely by Messrs. O.N. Custer, who is a red-handed booster for everything that tends to build up Galesburg, and Mr. Charles E. Johnson, assistant cashier of the Bank of Galesburg and a man who is equally interested in the commercial growth of the city.”

The paper reported that as the hotel plans evolved, $65,000 in bonds were needed to help finance the project (equal to over $1.6 million today). This was toward the total of $125,000 (over $3.1 million today) the hotel would cost before furnishing.

“In recognition of the large part had by Mr. Custer in the financial problem which the enterprise presented the new fire-proof hostelry bears the name of the Hotel Custer… It is named after ‘General’ Custer of Commercial Galesburg.

The five-story (two more stories were added several years later) building was called “absolutely fireproof” and was made up of 100 rooms, which included modern plumbing and telephones.

The hotel would grow over the years, adding not only two more stories, but a ballroom. For decades, it was THE place to stay in Galesburg. Amelia Earhart and Carl Sandburg are among the famous names to lay their heads there.

In 1966, Bennie Amato bought the hotel and under his ownership the hotel declined in its prestige and quality. In the 1980s, it was again sold, this time to a developer who gutted the building and turned it into the Kensington.

Today, it stands as the Kensington, a supportive living home.

 Finally, since it is mentioned the hotel was originally 2 stories shorter, here's an illustration of the building as it was originally viewed upon it's opening in 1915.

1935 - The cousins all together in Galesburg, IL to attend their Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Front Row:  Betty, Robert (son of, at this time, the late Virgil Findahl and wife Marcella), Margie, Kenny & Shirley

Back Row:  Dale, Earl, Isabel, Wayne & Eileen (daughter of Helen Findahl & Willard Windom)

NOTE:  Dale, Earl, Wayne & Kenny are all sons of Mabel & Harry Findahl.  Isabel & Shirley are daughters of Frank & Florence Findahl.

A final look at Jessie & Nels Findahl with granddaughter Shirley.

Rare photo of just Jessie Findahl and her sister Sadie

Jessie Findahl at home.  (Nels passed away in 1950 & Jessie would follow in 1953)

"Dear Virgil" L. Findahl

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Doing a random search just moments ago rendered this information on Uncle Virgil.  In his teens, Virgil belonged to the Knox County Pig Club and on July 1, 1919 he bought a pig from the "Duroc-Jersey" breed of swine named "Critic's Belle".  This info I found here:  http://tinyurl.com/7qebaw6

Virgil (center) with parents Jessie & Nels who were visiting Detroit.

We believe Virgil worked at the Essex Motor Company in MI.

I've now learned that it pays to keep doing internet searches for information on ancestors as I'm continually finding new facts.

Virgil with brother Gordon, Nephew Dale and brother Harry once more enjoying their catch of the day together.

Virgil with his wife Marcella holding my mother Margie during the Christmas holidays of 1930.

Virgil is at the top center standing between his father Nels (on the left) and Edward Donaghue (his brother-in-law on the right).  Standing on the left of this trio is sister-in-law Martha.

In the center row:  Wife Marcella, Marcella's mother, Virgil's mother Jessie, unidentified person, family friend Cecil Little.

In front:  Niece Betty and Cecil's wife Ruth Little

Photo taken on the East side of Detroit at Virgil & Marcella's home.

June 1, 1932 :  Virgil relaxes with wife Marcella, friends Cecil and Ruth Little, Martha & Gordon Findahl, parents Jessie & Nels all surounding my Aunt Betty and mother Margie.

We believe this was taken at the newlyweds Cecil & Ruth's apartment home on the East side of Detroit.

In one year Virgil would succumb to lymphatic leukemia which would take him quickly at the young age of 30.

Virgil & Marcella had a son Robert who was born in May 1933.  Virgil would be gone by the end of June.

Bobby Findahl at Christmas 1937

Family friends Cecil & Ruth Little, my Grandma Martha,  unidentified friend of the family, Robert Findahl, Robert's uncle Edward Donaghue, Robert's mother Marcella & Step-father  Steve Foley and unidentified all together for Bobby's confirmation.

Another nice photo of Robert Findahl from his confirmation.

My mother remembers that cousin Robert would go on to become a teacher of Electronics and I would meet him with my mother later in life when he opened up an art gallery in Detroit at the Renaissance Center.

Some newspaper clippings promoting Robert Findahl Galleries, Inc. in Detroit.  (A reminder of what the Renaissance Center was like before General Motors set up residence in that building.)

Bobby Findahl passed away in 2008.

Virgil Leroy Findahl, the youngest sibling in the Findahl Family.

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Aunt Helen B. Windom

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Given that Helen was alive through much of my life it is unfortunate I have so little in terms of information or photographs of her.  On the other hand, her daughter Eileen is the one grandchild of Jessie and Nels of which I have the most memories.

Helen Bernice Findahl (Windom) was the second daughter born to Jessie & Nels after her brother Gordon (shown on the left) and before Virgil (shown on the right).

Judging by the ages of the children here, I would think this was taken during the later part of the first decade of the 1900s

Brother Gordon, Mother Jessie, Sister-in-law Florence (holding niece Betty), Helen Windom, husband Willard Windom, Gordon's wife Martha, Brother Harry & his wife Mabel.

Photo from mid 1920s taken in Galesburg, IL.   I think it's the earliest photo we have of husband Willard.

Mother Jessie, brother Gordon & Helen during the 1930s

Daughter Eileen, Margie (standing in front of her mother Martha and next to sister Betty) & Mother Jessie Findahl (1930s- from the same time as the previous photo)

Brother Gordon, Helen, parents Nels & Jessie, brother Harry, Aunt Sadie (Jessie's sister), brother Frank (Uncle Bert) - 1940s

(I did my best to try and correct the extreme angle of the original photograph)

Daughter Eileen - 1940s

Eileen & husband Eldie Long 

Grandpa - Gordon R. Findahl

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Working with these priceless archives I can't help but begin to feel closer to relatives I had not known in life.  Even the anecdotes which survive, however factually muddied they may have become with the sands of time, do not distract from the clarity of an expression on a face caught in a moment of light and printed on each of these visual treasures.

Sometimes I imagine which of Grandpa Gordon's character traits I may touch when I interact with my own mother, my Aunt Betty or one of my cousins.  Either way, what a wonderful thought to know we can live on through each other as long as no one remains an island.

Second Seaman Co. - U.S. Naval Training Camp, Seattle, WA

Where's Grandpa?

As best I know Grandpa went into the Navy because of the United States' involvement in the Great War (1917-18).  I'll let him tell you in his own words (found written on the back of the above image) where he can be located in the photograph.

Please select!

Gordon R. Findahl

I am so happy to have found another copy of this photo used initially in my Facebook Album for Grandpa. This has reproduced so much better. (More of Grandpa Gordon's photos can be found on my original Facebook photo album of him here: Gordon Findahl (1896-1958))

There is a news clip from his obituary that says he came to Detroit, MI from Galesburg, IL in 1918.

We don't know much about his Navy service and up until now all we knew was written in his "Memorial Tribute" book which states he was a World War 1 veteran discharged September 30, 1921.

Just recently I found a copy of "Knox County, Illinois - The Honor Roll 1917-1918-1919" on the internet (digitized by Google) published in 1920 stating Gordon was a "Seaman, Second Class, U.S.N..  Entered the service at Chicago, June 3, 1918; to U.S. Naval Training Station, Seattle, Wash.; in service 6 months; discharged Dec. 9, 1919.  The link to this information is here:  Knox County, IL - Honor Roll 1917-19



Grandparents & Friends:

Friend Al Nystrom & Grandpa Gordon (ca. early 1920s)

Al was a good friend of Grandpa Gordon from Galesburg, IL.

Back Row:  Charles Heidel, Edna Wendler, and others we can not identify at this time.
Front Row:  Anna Heidel, my Grandma Martha & Grandpa Gordon

This is a companion photo to one that can be found here in my Grandmother's photo album:  Alternate Photo

This looks like a Halloween party.  Also, I feel certain we incorrectly believed this was taken in Galesburg, IL.  Instead it  looks like the living room at a friend's home in Detroit.

At the very center of the photo is my Grandmother's good friends Edna Wendler & her sister Adelaide Boike who were Detroit people. (I'd mentioned earlier that I knew Adelaide's daughter Dorothy through my mother.)

In the front row there is my Grandmother with her hand on Grandpa and the fellow next to them front and center kind of ducking down a bit still looks very much like Carl Swanson, a Galesburg friend of my Grandpa's, which threw us off as to the location of the photo originally.

Grandpa Gordon and Grandma Martha's Marriage Certificate (December 23rd, 1922) although Grandma's last name Kulick is misspelled

Gordon & Martha Findahl

Good friend Cecil Little and Grandpa

Gordon & (most likely) a friend from work (October 1938)

Grandpa Gordon came to Detroit from Galesburg and began working at Ford Motor Company around 1920.  Of some documents that have survived I wanted to share this interesting recognition of a proposal Grandpa made for process improvement.  Grandpa made other proposals throughout his career at Ford.

This letter was included because the signature of Henry Ford II was hand written.  (Later anniversary recognition letters were not as personalized.)  Grandpa would go on to work at Ford until his death in 1958.

Grandpa was a foreman at Ford Motor Company, shown here being recognized for his years of service.

Grandpa Gordon with daughters Betty and Marjorie

Grandpa at home with his cousin Ione Thomas from California and daughter Marjorie

This lady is Ione (Thornburg) Thomas, daughter of Frank Benjamin Thornburg (Grandpa's Uncle) who is mentioned at the beginning of the family blog here:  The "Original" Findahl Family

Ione and Art Thomas had fraternal twin boys, Ted and Jack and lived in Corona del Mar and Pasadena, CA.

I got this information from the niece of Ione, Annie Oakes (who is also mentioned with Frank Thornburg at the link above) as my mother Marjorie was unable to remember her name, but when talking to her she seems to recall it was one of Ione's sons that took this photo.  This photo served as the link of bringing us and Annie Oakes together via the internet and another 'cousin' Linda Corbett.

Cousin Annie now lives in Spokane, Washington and is from Salt Lake City, Utah.  I remember how my mother used to say Grandpa Gordon always wanted to take Grandma to see Utah, but Grandma never was much of a traveller and they never made it there together.

Grandpa with daughter Betty, mother Jessie & Granddaughter Joanne (early 1950s)
Galesburg, IL

Grandpa Gordon and Grandma Martha (late 1950s in front of my parents' home in Detroit.)

Gordon Findahl at home in an early color photo (1951)

Grandpa Gordon died in 1958 but he still lives on in our hearts.








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Harry & his Family - Harry E. Findahl

As mentioned previously, Myrtle Lillian (who was born two years after Uncle Bert) died at an early age in 1912 --the day after the Titanic left on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City.

Uncle Harry was born about two years after Myrtle (in 1891) and he would eventually marry Mabel E. Wilson and they would have four boys: Dale, Earl, Wayne & Kenneth.  Mabel and Harry lived nearby to Harry's parents Jessie and Nels which allowed them to more easily look after the elderly couple.  Jessie would come to stay with them after Nels passed away until her own death three years later.

Back Row:  Harry Findahl is holding son Kenny, brother Gordon is holding my mother Margie, parents Jessie & Nels Findahl

Front Row:  Harry's sons  Wayne & Earl

Late 1920s in Galesburg, IL

Harry Findahl is shown front center with his wife Mabel holding son Kenny behind him.

To the left of Harry is brother Gordon holding daughter Marjorie and behind them is wife Martha.

To the right of Harry is niece Isabelle with her mother Florence directly behind her (wife of Uncle Bert)

Harry's three boys are left with Wayne, Dale & Earl and Marjorie's sister Betty is in front of them.

This must be about 1929 or 1930 in Galeburg, IL

Very early 1930s time frame, with brothers Dale, Earl, Wayne and Kenny in front.

Cousin Isabelle to the left and cousin Eileen to the right.

Uncle Harry with his brother Virgil's son, Robert Findahl taken during the summer of 1934 in Galesburg, IL

Another photo from the same time period of 1934 with cousin Eileen and Kenny both watching over baby cousin Robert.

Left to Right is father Nels Findahl, my Uncle Paul's father Victor Johnson, Harry, brother Frank (Uncle Bert), my Uncle Paul Johnson (who would marry Betty Findahl), and I can't positively identify the last person.  (Mom thinks he might be Willard Windom, Eileen's father.)

As a side note, I noticed brother Frank's name on Mom's wedding gift list noted as "Uncle Burt".  It was my first inclination to spell it that way, however, since his middle name was Gilbert, I'll stay with "Uncle Bert" for the purposes of our story.

Nice photo of Dale Findahl and his wife Beulah with children Harriet & Howard during a visit to Belle Isle, Detroit, MI

Updated February 21, 2014
In late 2010, I had the pleasure to meet over the internet cousin Mark Findahl, who is the son of Howard (shown above). Mark reminded us that his grandfather's name is actually Harry Dale Findahl and I wanted to add that records show he was born on Feb. 21, 1916 & passed away on Dec. 18, 2001 in Galesburg, IL.

On Sunday, Mark telephoned us to let us know that his grandmother, Beulah Ursula (Pearson) Findahl had passed away the day before, Feb. 15, 2014.  She was 95.

Born Feb. 2, 1919 in Henderson Grove, IL she married Harry D. Findahl on July 29, 1937 in Muscatine, Iowa.

Harriet & Howard

Robert Findahl (Virgil's son), Gordon, Beulah & Dale Findahl (with children Howard & Harriet seated in front of them), Martha and her daughter Marjorie Findahl & Christine Foley


Seated in front of Robert is Lillian Foley and this photo was taken somewhere on the East side of Detroit near Roseville, MI

Christine & Lillian were step-sisters to Robert.  I believe he also had a step-brother Edward from information I found on the internet.

Earl & his father Harry Findahl

Earl Findahl

Earl passed away early this year 2010 at the age of 92

Cousin Eileen and Wayne Findahl

This was taken in July of 1943.  Wayne passed away in 2002

Wayne Findahl and his wife Florence

Mabel with her grandchildren Harriet & Howard, her son Wayne, Bob Johnson (my Uncle's brother), husband Harry Findahl, Martha (my grandmother), Mabel Johnson (my Uncle's mother), Beulah, Eileen & (my mother) Marjorie

(Added November 2010) -- We did eventually find this photo of Paul Kenneth Findahl and his new bride Jenelda from the Spring of 1950.

(Added March 2011) -- Just posted another photograph of Kenny Findahl in his Navy uniform from the early 1940s here: http://tinyurl.com/4ua477e

For now we leave our family to enjoy the summer of 1943:

Marjorie, Eileen, Bob Johnson, Wayne & father Harry Findahl at his home, Galesburg, IL

Earlier I'd posted that we didn't have an exact date of Harry's passing, however I just found information on the internet stating his name and date of death as being in June of 1965.  If I'd ever met him it would have been during a visit early in my life to Galesburg and, of course, I wouldn't remember it being so young an age.