Hello, Mary
I have read this story a dozen times, though I don't recall ever learning the family's name. I don't have "my library" with me, but from memory, the story was that these children attended a Singing School. [I believe this was a 'social' gathering rather than 'educational'.]
When the storm began all children were urged to remain with the Singing School group, but the
Presler children insisted on going home. They thought their team would find the way, and it wasn't far....
I believe they were driving a team of oxen, and when the animals' eyes froze over they floundered aimlessly in the deep snow. The boys finally killed an ox and huddled next to it for its warmth, but the oldest girl felt it was beneath her dignity, so she remained seated on the wagon, and there she perished.
I cannot figure out her name, but I've found S. W. and Didamia
Presler in several censuses:
1860 SPRING VALLEY,
FILLMORE COUNTY, MN
Soloman
Presler 35
Male Farmer, born NY
Diadema 33, Female born NY
Frances 10, Female born NY
Delva 8,
Male born PA
Melvin 7,
Male born PA
Chas 5,
Male born PA
Ida 2, Female born MN
1870 SILVER LAKE TOWNSHIP,
MARTIN COUNTY, MN
S. W. Presler 45
Male Farmer born
New York Didammia 44 Female "
Frances 20, Female "
Devillo 18,
Male Born
Pennsylvania Charles D 14,
Male "
Ida 11, Female
Minnesota George 7,
Male "
Fredrick 4,
Male "
Arminnie 5/12 Female "
Arminnia 5/12 Female "
(Note: Melvin, who was 7 in 1860, is not listed in 1870)
1880
WASHINGTON,
WEBSTER COUNTY,
IOWA Solomon W. Presler 54,
Male Farmer Didamia 53 Female
Keeping House
Francis W. 30
Male Cattle Herder, lost both hands & feet
Charles D. 25
Male Herding cattle, lost both legs
Ida M. 21 Female Without occupation
George L. 17
Male Herding
Cattle Fredrick J. 13
Male Herding cattle
two households away are listed:
Davillo A. Presler 28
Male Laborer, lost both feet
Louisa F. 35 Female born NY
Francis B. 8
Male born MN
Leone A. 4
Male born MN
Willie J. 1
Male born
IOWA (Note: Twin girls Arminnie & Arminnia born Dec. 1869 not listed in 1880)
(Note: Didamia Praslar born 1827-Sept. 19, 1897 in
WASHINGTON Twp,
WEBSTER COUNTY,
IOWA)
(Note: Solomon
Presler born Jan.1826 was living with son, Fred
Presler in the 1900
Colfax,
Webster Cty., Iowa census. In 1910 he was living with his son George L. Presler in
Staples, Todd Cty. MN. He died Nov. 22, 1911 in
Cass County, MN.)
[Spellings exactly as presented in Census and Death records.]
Obviously, I haven't found an answer to your direct question. Frances / Francis was listed as both female and male, with correct spelling for both genders. This person lived on.
Melvin, who was 7 in 1860 but not listed in 1870, might have been a victim of the storm, and I could be misreading the name, but the census enumerator clearly marked this individual as
Male.
If you are researching this family and would like to have snailed copies of these census pages, just let me know. And should you learn the girl's name, please advise. Now I'm curious....
Mary Lou