Bio for CHRISTGAU, Elsie Bertha Wilhelmina (STERN) (b.1890 d.1986), Mower Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Rollins Submitted: February 2007 ========================================================================= Child of Ferdinand and Albertina Sukow Stern ELSIE STERN CHRISTGAU Elsie Bertha Wilhelmina Stern was born on July 8, 1890 at Dexter Township, Mower County Minnesota to Ferdinand and Albertina Stern. She was the fourth daughter and sixth child in the family. Like her siblings Elsie grew to adulthood on the Stern family farm in Mower County. She was confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in 1904. Elsie attended college and normal school training. She taught country school for many years and lived in many areas of southern Minnesota before her marriage. In the 1920 census she is living in Marshall Minnesota, and lists her occupation as school teacher. She married Arthur Christgau in June of 1924 (please refer to newspaper article announcing their marriage) at the age of 34. Art and his family lived in Dexter Township of Mower County where their parents farmed, and were a part of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Stern, Miss Elsie and Arthur E. Christgau Wedding Wednesday Afternoon: At the Trinity Lutheran Church, Maple City, Miss Elsie Stern youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.G. Stern was married Wednesday afternoon to Arthur Christgau,son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Christgau. Victor Christgau, brother of the groom was best man. The ushers were Edgar Christgau, brother of the groom and Irvin Stern, brother of the bride. The bridesmaids were Lillian Christgau, sister of the groom and Ethel Milbrad, niece of the bride. Clara Christgau Hanken was the Matron of Honor, and little Margaret Schwartz was the flower girl. A reception was held at the F. Christgau home. Mr. and Mrs.Christgau left Thursday for an outing around and about Duluth. They will be at home to friends at 307 Garfield Street after August 1st. (Maple City column) Mower County news June 12, 1924 page 2 . Art and Elsie lived in Austin following their marriage, living with and caring for Ferdinand and Albertina in the last years of their life. (Albertina died in 1929 and Ferdinand in 1941). They lived in Ferdinand and Albertina's house on Garfield Street in Austin. Art and Elsie never had a family of their own but were very supportive of and close to their nieces and nephews and extended families. Art worked for the school system in Austin for many years, and both Art and Elsie were successful State Farm Mutual Insurance Agents. Elsie was a wonderful cook and homemaker. The Christgau's hosted many family gatherings and dinners over the years at their home in Austin. They remained very active and involved in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church all of their lives. Art became Elsie's care giver towards the end of her life when she had memory loss and confusion. Eventually Elsie became a resident of a nursing facility in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota where she lived the last days of her life. She died two weeks after Art's death on September 14, 1986 at the age of 96. MEMORIES OF AUNT ELSIE AND UNCLE ART I have many fond memories of my Great Aunt Elsie and her husband Art. We were frequent visitors and guests of Elsie and Art through the years we lived in southern Minnesota. They were both warm, thoughtful people who reached out to their large families. Words I would use to describe Elsie would be"petite, warm, gracious, supportive, and interested in her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. As a small child I thought their two story house was "huge" when we went there to visit. Going back as an adult I was struck by how small the house looked in comparison to what I remembered. Art and Elsie loved children and I always felt welcome when we visited them. Elsie always took the time to "really" listen to a little kid and what I had to tell her about school, and my life. I always felt comfortable going to their house and she made each person she came in contact with feel special and important to her. Elsie had a large presence for a very tiny woman who probably was less than five feet tall. She always in my memory curled her hair with pin curls, and when she got older her hair became less and less (which I worry about now as my hair gets thinner and thinner). She used to tell me my long hair was beautiful and so thick. I remember her being very meticulous about her appearance and it makes me smile to think of little Elise driving their big Pontiac automobiles. I always was impressed by the fact she drove, because in my family both my mother and Grandma Lydia did not drive. It was almost an early form of women's lib in my estimation. Elsie was a wonderful hostess and cook. I remember going to her home for numerous dinners. She made German chocolate cake from scratch with wonderful coconut frosting, and my favorite cookies, Anise bars, which are a hard cookie with almonds and anise seasoning. Elsie kept many keepsakes and mementos. When she died many post cards and valentines from her country school days (1910-1912) were found, including cards received from Grandma Lydia, her other siblings, parents, friends and students. I am lucky to have many of these and enjoy seeing a brief glimpse of their lives in the first decade of 1900, (some of these are included in this family history). Art was also a very warm, friendly and gentle man. He used to entertain kids in the family by moving his ears with grimaces, and would repeat this trick as often as we asked him to. Elsie was a wonderful great aunt who I will never forget, and many of my fondest childhood family memories have connections to Elsie and her warmth and caring. ========================================================================= Copyright Diane Rollins 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm =========================================================================