I found an old newspaper clipping of this article recently. I'm not exactly sure when and in what paper it was published, but it is likely around September 1920 as it is recounting Margaret Sandman's 88th birthday. It's an interesting article and I thought others might be interested.

Sandra


RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS SINCE DEER RAN WILD OVER FARMS

PIONEER RESIDENT RECALLS THE EARLY DAYS IN COUNTY

Mrs. Margaret Sandman of Long Coulee Has Forty-two Great Grandchildren



A postal shower, including seventy cards from California, Kansas, St. Paul, La Crosse, West Salem and other places received on Tuesday September 28, reminded Mrs. Margaret Sandman of Long Coulee, that she was passing the eighty-eighth milestone on the highway of life.

Mrs. Sandman is one of the oldest pioneers of La Crosse County. Although born in Germany she has been a resident of Wisconsin for seventy-four years, of which the last sixty-seven were spent in this county. Coming to Long Coulee forty-four years ago, she has since made this locality her home.

Mrs. Sandman enjoys the rare distinction of having forty-two great grandchildren, ranging in age from less than a year to twenty-one. In all, she has had eighty-four descendants, eleven having passed away.

Although many of her kin live at a distance, she is literally surrounded by relatives. Living within the radius of a mile of her, are seven grandchildren, married, and residing on well improved farms. Within this circle also reside two of her daughters, one son, and their families.

Born in Germany

Mrs. Sandman was born in Hannover, Germany, in the early part of October, 1832, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sprehn. The family was poor; and in order to have their daughter confirmed a year earlier, and thus ready to go out and earn a living, the date of her birth was recorded as September 28, since only those whose birthdays occurred before the last day of September were eligible to confirmation on the following Palm Sunday.

Her mother died when the child was only five years of age, leaving Mr. Sprehn with a family of four sons and two daughters. Although their education was not neglected, the children all had to work hard. Mrs. Sandman recalls many hours spent while a girl in piling turf which her brother cut to dry in the sun for fuel; and many a day has she spent with flax -- first weeding the young plants, then cleaning it, and finally spinning it into linen thread. She is still in possession of the old spinning wheel which her own mother, many decades ago, used in Germany.

Comes to America

In a few years, her father married again and in 1846 he set sail for the United States with his wife, two sons and two daughters, the elder sons having come to this country the year before, settling near Milwaukee. On the same boat, which was thirty-six days in crossing the ocean, was the young man who, in later years became her husband. Reaching New York, the party went as far as Albany by steamboat, and then took the canal boat for a six days' trip across the state in Buffalo. Many times during this tedious trip members of the party got off the boat, and walked along the banks of the canal; and whenever a lock was reached, all passengers were required to debark, till the boat had passed safely through. It was on such occasions that many new introductions to conditions peculiar to this country, were made. For the first time, they saw and tasted ripe tomatoes, but the taste was then considered quite disagreeable.

Experience With "Kitten"

On a beautiful moonight evening, as the the young men were walking along the bank, they spied a little black and white kitten. They decided at once to make friends with it, as they had not seen a pet for nearly six weeks. They later learned that our American term for that kind of kitten is "skunk" and although they dragged their clothing in the water of the canal for days afterward, it was some time before they could resume their social rank among the rest of the passengers.

From Buffalo, the party came by the way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, and it was during this part of the journey that Mrs. Sandman passed her fourteenth birthday. Reaching Milwaukee, the party was met by the two brothers who came over the year before; namely: Henry Sprehn, father of Fred Sprain of West Salem, and Mrs. Stoetekluh of Barre; and Frederick Sprehn, father of Mrs. Rachel Miller, who resides in State street in this City, Louis Sprehn of Barre, and George Sprehn, president of the State Bank of West Salem.

In the vicinity of Milwaukee, the family spent the next seven years. The city, upon their arrival was in the throes of an epidemic of fever and ague, and there was scarcely a dwelling where at least one occupant was not ill. Mr. Sprehn and other members of the party settled on farms a few miles out of the city, while Margaret Sprehn was employed in the city as a domestic, receiving as low as three shillings a week. Her first employer was Mrs. McCormick, whose husband kept a grocery store in the city. Looking at the young applicant, the lady seemed to doubt her ability, and as a trial requested that she sweep the parlor floor. The girl realized that to her a great deal depended upon the success of her work, and she spared no pains to do it well. Upon reviewing the work Mrs. McCormick hired her, and with this family the girl served for the next six years.

Come to La Crosse

In 1853, three young men of this party, namely Deidrich Sandman, Fred Sprehn and Herman Sander, came to La Crosse county in search of land for a home. They each bought a quarter section from the government, in Bostwick Valley, where they constructed log huts, after which Mr. Sprehn returned by foot to Milwaukee to get several of those who had been left behind. Coming to this part of the state with him in the autumn, were two brides-to-be; one of them being Margaret Sprehn, and the other, Marie Oenrich, who soon after married Herman Sander. Their son Louis Sander is today manager of the Farmers' store in West Salem. The marriage of Margaret Sprehn to Deidrich Sandman occurred on October 14, 1853 at the Talmage House in LaCrosse.

Was Shepherd Boy

Mr. Sandman also was born in Hanover, Germany. His father died when the boy was quite young, and a few years later his mother passed away. Mr. Sandman was a shepherd in the old country, and his love for sheep remained with him till the last. Not only did he faithfully watch the flock intrusted to his care, but he further improved the time by knitting socks and mitts from balls of yarn fastened to a hook which was attached to his vest. His pay was meagre, but by the time he was twenty-one he had saved more than enough to pay his way to America. He tried to persuade friend Fritz Miller, to come to this country with him. When informed by the latter that he hadn't the means to come over with him, Mr. Sandman offered to pay his way for him. Just before sailing Mr. Sandman visited the Miller home, but was met at the door by the young man's mother, who came at him with a broom for trying to coax her son away. However, eighteen years later, Mr. Miller did come over here, bringing his family to Bostwick Valley, where they settled, and in later years, two of his sons, Fred H. and Henry F. were married to daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Sandman.

Meet on Boat

Mr. Sandman's first acquaintance with the Sprehns was on the boat that brought them across the ocean. He came with them to Milwaukee where he spent the next seven years at farm work. Although he never made more than $110.00 a year, in those seven years he managed to save $700, which he used to establish his new home in Bostwick Valley. During his first summer there he made himself a pair of overalls and a jacket, using a darning needle and some yarn to do the sewing with. However after the arrival of his bride, he never again cared to wear the suit. He and his young wife lived for nine years in the log house which he had built, and then they had a frame building erected. Although the latter is now fifty-eight years old it is still standing and toady is occupied by William Thielker and family.

Indians Beg Food

Mr. and Mrs. Sandman often were visited by the Indians, although none ever offered to do them any harm. They often came to beg for meat or flour. At one time, three Indians came, each with a sack in his hand for flour. Mrs. Sandman put a generous amount from her bin into each sack, but it did not quite satisfy, and the Indians then indicated by gestures how full they desired the sacks to be filled. On another occasion, the Sandmans were visited at butchering time, and then their guests begged for meat. They were offered a generous portion of beef, but refused it, pointing to the pork, which was their preference.

Many Deer on Farm

Mrs. Sandman clearly recalls the time when deer ran wild on their farm and especially of their eating of the young tops of a crop of rutabagas.

Coyotes, also, were numerous about their home until one winter when the snow was deep, covered with a hard surface. The slender legs of the coyotes pierced the crust of snow, and they became literally stranded. So many were shot that winter that they never were troublesome after that. Wolves were very common, and destroyed many sheep in those early days.

Snakes are Numerous

But perhaps nothing gave more alarm than the monstrous rattlesnakes that infested the low lands on Mr. Sandman's farm and vicinity. Many were seen measuring as large around as a man's arm. On one occasion upon entering her house, Mrs. Sandman found a large rattler coiled up under her cook stove and at another time she opened a trap door to go into the cellar, when a weird rattling sound warned her not to go further. Mr. and Mrs. Sandman lost a number of cattle poisoned by these reptiles.

Move to Long Coulee

After a residence of twenty-three years in Bostwick Valley, during which time they had prospered, Mr. Sandman moved his family to the farm in Long Coulee now occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. R.H. Halvorson, where he spent the remainder of his days. Nine years previous to his moving to Long Coulee, Mr. Sandman had purchased the farm now owned by his grandson, Orville Bratberg, the adjoining farms comprising 360 acres of land.

Mr. and Mrs. Sandman reared a family of nine children, as follows; Mrs. Anna Miller of Great Bend, Kansas, who passed away last July; Mrs. Dora Bruegeman, who died nearly forty years ago; Mrs. Sophie Miller, of Kansas, whose death occurred in 1912; Mrs. Amelia Bratberg, of Holmen, and Mrs. Adelia Esmiller, Great Bend Kansas, twins; Mrs. Rachel Miller of West Salem; Mrs. Mary Weingarten, Long Coulee; W. D. Sandman, retired farmer living in West Salem, and Robert D. Sandman, manager of Holem Produce association, Holmen.

Mr. Sandman's death occurred on May 3, 1885. Mrs. Sandman resided on the farm with her sons for a few years, later going to live with her daughter, Mrs. Weingarten, with whom she has resided for the past twenty-five years. As Mrs. Weingarten's daughter, Emma, and husband have purchased the homestead, there are today living under the same roof, representatives of four generations.

Have Happy Reunion

A happy reunion occurred eight years ago on Mrs. Sandman's eightieth birthday when she was surrounded by her six daughters, two sons and their respective husbands and wives. A photograph of the seventeen taken on that day is a happy reminder of the occasion.

Two Double Weddings

Twice, Mrs. Sandman has witnessed among her granddaughters, the unusual ceremony of a double wedding, in which not only were the brides sisters but also the grooms were brothers. The first occurred in 1907, when Miss Ora Bratberg became the wife of Ben Lee, and Miss Lila Bratberg was married to Ludwig T. Lee. The other occurred six years later, when Miss Emma Weingarten was united to John B. Berg. and her sister, Miss Vera, became the wife of wife of Albert B. Berg.

Mrs. Sandman is enjoying fairly good health for one so advanced in years. Although she spends a large portion of the day in bed, she is able to help herself, and often sits up, dresses herself and sits in her chair. Her mind is wonderfuly alert and active and she keeps abreast of the times by reading the daily papers. Mr. Sandman at once became a subscriber to the first paper printed in La Crosse, and his subscription never lapsed. The La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press is daily delivered to "Mrs. D. Sandman". She is also a subscriber to other newspapers and periodicals.

A number of persons from a distance have been recent callers on Mrs. Sandman. In June, her niece, Miss Emily Sprain of Eldora, Iowa, came here on a visit, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Esmiller, of Great Bend, Kansas, were here in August, to visit the latter's mother. A nephew and his wife Mr. and Mrs. Gust Dittmar of Milwaukee, visited her a short time ago. Mr. and Mrs. Tollef Tollefson, of Troutdale, Oregon, old-time friends of Mrs. Sandman, visited her the first of the month. At present, her son-in-law, Fred Miller, of Great Bend, Kansas, is visiting at Holmen.

(Editors Note: The Tribune and Leader-Press is indebted to Mrs. V. S. Keppel of Holmen in the writing of the foregoing story of Mrs. Sandman's life.)