Friday, April 5, 2013

The Xavier Family Reunion of 1956 in Tacoma, Washington: Fritz and Anna (Xavier) Larson Set High Standards


Editor's note: Published as in-progress document, because articles from family or friends will come in over time! We anticipate several contributions, as I have posted on facebook asking for same. JX (April 4, 2013)

The Xavier Family Reunion of 1956: In Tacoma, Washington,
Fritz and Anna (Xavier) Larson Set High Standards 

John E. Xavier, Editor

Preface

     In March of 2013, this Xavier Family blog was finally brought to formal public notice (limping, incomplete, and in need of much work, for which my apologies!). Among the reasons for the roll-out was anticipation of a lot of family history coming forth in a Reunions Year, 2013. It made sense to use modern means to record it all, while going along, so a number of Xavier family members and friends could contribute. Several interesting aspects of family history always emerge as articles and stories are compiled,and those aspects furnish fresh material, including marriages, travel, children, grandchildren, and more.
     Xavier Family Reunions are counted as great sources of family history material, both from bygone years and from the new challenges of our own times. We can always add to articles or polish things up, as we have time or further information. 
     This blog solicits contributions from any and all Xavier family members about any Reunion. None of it has to be fancy, but if you request, I offer any kind of editing or polishing you see fit to inquire about. This article concentrates on 1956, but there is also another article inclusive of any and all Reunions, so email or facebook away! Thanks!

Introduction

     2013 marks yet another summer for a Xavier Family Reunion, a tradition since 1946 among the direct descendants of Rev. Karl Xavier (1869-1924) and his two families. Karl Xavier's first family was with Henrietta Randine Elizabeth (Larsen) (1864-1904)--of the Larsens with an 'e.' The second was with Bina Christine (Kamrud) (1880-1931) Other extended family members have attended Reunions from the Nordic areas, including Sweden, Norway, and Sami areas (Sapmi). Notable among those were Alf Isak Keskitalo and Anna Rustina Haetta from the Kautokeino area of Sapmi. Some families have also included foster children, exchange students, fiance(e)s, in-laws, and more. [1]
     Along those lines, my information has it that in 2013, Lois (Schiotz) Eid and husband Paul will attend. Lois is a descendant (grand-daughter) of Karl Xavier's sister, Marith (Xavier) Aasen (1874-1976). Marith and her husband, Rev. Anders O. Aasen were instrumental in keeping Karl's widow, Bina, and her seven children together following his early death in 1924. In all truthfulness, the Aasens kept Bina's family together as they persuaded Bina to move to 1414 Monroe Steet NE, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis should be chosen according to the Aasens, rather than to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a small city of about 15,000, as Rev. Aasen characterized it (correctly for the times) as a "cow town." (Karl and Henrietta's children, Magdalene, Paul, and Peter were by 1924 well-launched in education or employment.)
     In Minneapolis, Bina's family found a large urban area with ample opportunity for jobs, education, Norwegian fellowship, transportation, and church-related activity in Aasen's congregation, Immanuel Lutheran. The Aasen family thus became the most influential force in maintaining the sense of community in the Xavier family. For many years, the family of Anders and Marith also furnished a goodly supply of cousins of close to the same ages as the Xavier children.
     Later, in the 1930s, Rev. L.T. Larson, brother of Fritz Larson, became the pastor at Immanuel Lutheran, and became as important as Rev. Aasen in the Xavier family history. There were repeated examples of family community events or rites of passage, as Rev. Larson officiated as pastor at  Xavier confirmations, weddings, and more, including the wedding of Fritz and Anna. L.T. Larson also had the challenging task of officiating over the one World War II-related family funeral, that of Lt. Bjarne K. Xavier (1910-1944) who died in France while serving in the famed Third Army of General George Patton.
     These family events and rites of passage were a major part of the lives of the neighborhood and the Xavier extended family. Given the scattered geographic locations of extended Xavier family members in the year 2013, it is probably impossible for us at this time to understand the closely-knit communities in which the children of Karl and Bina Xavier grew up.
     In another example of joint family efforts, the 1930s, Fritz Larson and Karl Astrup Xavier worked their way to the Seattle-Tacoma area, as summer crew members for track repair and general laborers on one of two trans-continental railroads. (I solicit advice as to which one, the Northern Pacific or Great Northern.) Rather than return, Fritz found work in the Seattle area, and soon sent for Anna and her young children. In short order, all were on their way west, belongings sent along by railroad boxcar. The Larsons with an "o" settled into the Seattle-Tacoma area, and never moved back to the Midwest. Yet, in additon to hosting the landmark 1956 Reunion, Fritz and Anna made frequent visits to Minnesota.
     After World War II, the Xavier Reunion traditions were founded in both 1946 and 1951. in 1946, Elna (Johnson) Xavier, whose family had grown to love the the-orphaned Xavier siblings, offered the Johnson family farm in Watertown, Minnesota for a Reunion. For the next 25 years, this was the only Reunion where all nine surviving children of Karl, Henrietta and Bina were all assembled--until the Reunion in Mt. Lassen Park, California in 1971.
     In 1951, Magdalene ("Mag") and Toffil ("Toff") hosted the second Reunion at their home on Lake Pewaukee, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee. I recall my mother, Edith (Bethke) recounting several times that Mag severely remonstrated with her for leaving me and brother Paul with grandparents at the Bethke grandparents' farm in Minnesota.
     Then, in 1956, hosted by Fritz and Anna (Xavier) Larson, came the first of the "Three Key Reunions" that firmly established the tradition for what has now begun to approach seventy years. The 1956 Reunion, as has been true of each and every one since, developed a special and unique rhythm that was detectable even by the younger cousins. The 1956 Reunion should be a source of on-going pride by all members of the host family--the "Larsons with an o" in recognition of  the family landmark the 1956 Reunion has become.
     This article will now offer some initial comments, and more will be added later by several contributors; this article should soon become a multi-party memoir.
   
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Notes to Preface, Acknowledgements, and Introduction

[1]  See Johan U. Xavier, "List of Descendants of Nils Paul and Amanda Xavier,"  (Tacoma, WA: J.U. Xavier, 1960). We will soon add an appendix with other family tree-like references for family descendants, in some detail.
     Karl Xavier's first wife was Henrietta Randine Elizabeth (Larsen) (1864-1904), mother of Magdalene, Paul and Peter. Karl Xavier's second wife was Bina Christine (Kamrud), mother of Valborg, Anna, Bjarne, Karl Astrup, Valdemar, Mabel, and Borghild.

 End of Notes to Preface, Acknowledgements, and Introduction
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Part One

Fritz and Anna (Xavier) Larson: Hosts of the 1956 Xavier Family Reunion

    The 1956 Xavier Family Reunion was held at the Tacoma, Washington home of Fritz and Anna. The house was a rambling Victorian one, with a huge yard, a large carriage house, and a nearby vacant lot available for softball. The 1956 Reunion was the first, and therefore the standard of the "Three Key Reunions (1956, 1961 and 1966) that firmly set the framework, tone and traditions for the Xavier Family Reunions. Now a sixty- seven-year-old tradition, the Xavier Reunions are held every three years.
    The 1956 Tacoma Reunion was held with the usual 50 or so attendees, including goodly numbers of cousins reaching high school age or more and, of course, including cousins of much ages as well. A standing family topic of discussion was that Fritz and Anna had purchased the spacious property specifically with the reunion in mind. The home of Fritz and Anna was a very good location indeed for a Reunion.
     The 1956 Reunion was the introduction for many Midwestern family members to the stunning beauty of ocean, mountains and Pacific Northwest in general. One side trip included an outing to the Mt. Ranier area, with the eye-opening experience of mountainside snowball fights in August. It is with great restraint of my normal story-telling instincts that I spare the readers of my personal and losing struggle with altitude sickness.
     Another outing included an ocean-side visit. Karl Xavier III and I believe we have found an intact jar of Pacific Ocean water and sand from that outing. If we can re-find it from packing up my mom's estate, we will show it at this summer's Reunion, and may even be willing to offer views of the jar, for money. Or not for money.
     At a men'g golf outing, 86 yearl-old Uncle Johan Ulrik Xavier, brother of ancestor Karl Xavier, accompanied his nephews. All returned agog over Valdemar's hole-in-one, which passed into family lore. This lore was documented as an authentic and real achievement, from historic records by Mary Xavier LaBelle at a recent Reunion, thanks to Pacific Lutheran University Archivist, Kristin Ringdahl. MS. Ringdahl offered Mary a photocopy of Johan's diary entry which made note of that historic family moment, proving from impeccable sources outside of the golfers themselves that it had indeed all happened as told and retold.
     On the softball front, I recall vividly that cousin Alan Larson was almost unstoppable, with double after double to prove his prowess with a bat. At a recent reunion, Estes Park in 2007, I think, I reminded Alan of this and he recalled it similarly, surprised that anyone would recall. Well, now it is written for the ages.
     Further to the point of older vs. young cousin activities, I recall Jon Larson heading off to work, unable to give much time to the Reunion due to the demands of his job. Older cousins including Larson sisters Sharon and Kris, along with Barbara (Xavier) Farrell, took advantage of the open spaces for sunbathing.
     All of the Reunion activites involved an enormous effort for cooking and kitchen clean-up.The Tacoma Reunion included a lot of "pitching in" for the post-meal cleanups which also featured a lot of singing. However, it had become clear that the women still bore an unfair amount of the kitchen-related time and hassle factors, so this became the last Reunion of cooking in-house. Henceforth, Reunions had on-site eating facilities.
     Time weighs heavily on me of this April eve, and demoralized by snow on the 5th of April as well as by the press of time, I end this narrative with hopes of soon adding more.

Part Two: Remarks or Remembrances of Those Who Attended the 1956 Reunion

Many of these entries will be copied from facebook or email to begin with, and will be polished up or alphabetized over time.

     Here are some contributions! For which thanks.


  • Martha Mueller I remember the Birthday Party with cake and Aunt Mag bought us all gifts. I got aqua blue pedal pushers. We hiked in the Mt.Ranier foothills. Mabel was brave to tackle it, but was pretty frightened. We kids didn't know we should be frightened.
  • Joel V Xavier I was there, almost four. I don't remember a thing.