The Writer's Pen

We live in an age of digital cameras and smart phones. It has become easier to record history, both with pictures and videos. Gone are the days of clipping articles from the newspaper, photo albums sitting on the coffee table and carrying snapshots in your wallet. I may be a bit nostalgic, but I believe we lose something in today’s electronic world.

My great-grandparents all died before I was born. The only thing I know about them are names, dates and residences that are available on public records. Though I have heard stories about them from older family members, there are few pictures available. It must have been the rule of the day to sit stoically, since nobody smiled in these pictures.

My great-grandparents on my mother’s side were said to be total opposites. Franz Hembd had been a Prussian soldier who left Germany in 1868. Anna Eckoff was born aboard a ship coming to the United States, so she was a citizen even though her parents were not. They lived in Minnesota during the Civil War where Anna wrote poetry and verse that is still cherished by her family. I have seen pictures of Franz and Anna and their 19 children.

My great-grandparents, August and Bertha Rosenberg, both came from Germany where August had worked as a wagon maker. The Rosenberg family became quite prosperous as farmers in Minnesota, so Bertha Howe’s parents urged her to marry August. They raised five children during their 57 years of marriage. I have seen pictures of them, all quite stoic.

John Brockshus, age 12, and Anna Ahrens, age 9, arrived in the United States in the late 1860s. They were married in 1886, and bought a farm near May City. They had six kids before John died of influenza in 1901. Anna ran the farm, and lived there until she died in 1947. I have seen several pictures of her and the family, but only a wedding picture of John.

Peter Boernsen and Maria Jessen were married in Germany in 1884, and sailed to the United States shortly after. They were nearly penniless, and upon arriving in New York, spent some of their remaining money on a hat for Peter, since his had blown into the harbor. They took a train to Iowa where they worked as farmers and raised six children. I have seen pictures of them, and Peter was usually wearing a hat, though I’m not sure it’s the one he bought in New York.

By the time I knew my grandparents, Herman and Lena Rosenberg Hembd, they lived near Ocheyedan, about five miles from our farm. Grandpa had been born in Brownsville, Minn., and Grandma was born in Altura, Minn. They met when they were college students in Austin, Minn. They were married in 1917, and eventually moved to Ocheyedan in 1940. They were a handsome couple judging by their pictures, though I might be a bit biased.

When I was a boy, my grandparents, Henry and Dora Boernsen Brockshus, lived near May City, about 12 miles from our farm. They had known each other since they were kids and were married in 1913. Their families attended the same church and helped each other as needed. I think they were happy with their lives, though they didn’t smile in their pictures.

I have many memories of my parents’ and grandparents’ farm places: The basement barn built by Mennonites on the Brockshus farm, the creek with rocks that ran through the Hembd farm, and the big cottonwood trees on my parents’ farm. These places offered opportunities for adventure and exploring. Though pictures are available, the most vivid pictures of these places are in my mind.

Because we lived close, we would sometimes work with our extended families during the week and also get together with them on Sundays. There was always lots of activity when either side of the family joined up, and there were lots of albums with pictures of our families at work and play. “Who’s that?” or “Look how he’s grown!” was often heard when looking through the photos. When we were ready to leave, our grandparents would come out with a camera to capture yet another picture for their collection.

My parents, John and Marjorie Brockshus, were already grandparents when I got married. I had 5 siblings, and my wife, Rita Noble Brockshus, had 4 siblings. Our children – Justin, Melanie and Hillary – had more relatives than they knew existed. We tried to spend time with all of our families and took pictures on occasion. Someone would always yell, “Say cheese,” and we’d try to smile.

Though social media has taken over and people don’t have snapshots on their tables or in their wallets, it is my hope that families and their stories live on for years to come. Pictures give us insight into our past, present and future!

Roger Brockshus is retired and lives in Spirit Lake. Besides writing, he keeps himself busy with a small lawn business and also volunteers in his church and community. Roger and his wife, Rita, enjoy spending whatever time they can with their children and grandchildren.