|
a.
|
Note: of Carlton County, MN removes the children from Henrika Mattson as sheis no longer able to care for the children The Court ordered that:
Herman was on his own and working somewhere in International Falls.
Celia (13) was sent to the farm of a Gustafson **.
Lydia (11) was also sent to this farm **.
Henry (8) Sent to Owatonna
Lempi (6) Sent to Owatonna .
**My Mother always said they worked them like slaves.
Henry is 8 years old when he arrives at the Owatonna State Home.After a few months he is placed on the farm of a John Larson ofMonticello, Mn. Things seem to be going very well because after about6 months the Larson's write to Owatonna School stating they want toformerly adopt Henry. The school denies the request stating they liketo have a child with a family about two years before they will grantadoption. Things then go down hill fast. After about a year JohnLarson becomes ill and is forced to sell his farm and move toMinneapolis. He wants Henry to live with his friend who is more thanwilling to care for "Henry Larson". Owatonna agrees but Henry isheartbroken and wants to return to his family. After several attemptsthey are forced to return Henry to Owatonna. Can't get any worse?Just wait....
When Henry returns to Owatonna he is given a physical and it isdiscovered he has tuberculosis (TB) He is sent to a local Hospital.On 18 May 1915 he is sent to the Walker Sanatorium in Cass County, Mnas he is not expected to survive. Henry for years thought he wasadopted by the Larsons. This never happened. He was always a ward ofthe State. Not much is known about the following years except inabout 1924 Henry is released from the University Hospital inMinneapolis.
Henry spelled his last name as Matson. One T
Henry apparently led a pretty sad life. He drank a lot when he wasyoung and had a problem with gambling. His wife left him in 1926,about 2 1/2 years after they were married stating the above problems.She finally divorced him in 1933. He continued his life-style, ofgambling and curousing, for many years. He was known at times tocarry a revolver and was a heavy gambler. As with most gamblers, hedied broke with nothing to show for his life.
I remember him as being a nice guy. A fancy dresser, who was a ladiesman. He always had a "big" deal just around the corner...that neverhappened. He lived in Miami for 20 years and was a car upholster whenhe worked. In his letters he was always "planning" to come to Calif.and visit us and go home to Minn. to see his family. This, of course,never happened. He was in a car accident and was hurt fairlyseverely. When he was in the hospital they discovered other moreserious problems. He died at age 49 from complications of aperforated ulcer and bilated broncial pneumonia.
Note: On 14 May 1913, about 18 months after John's death, The Probate Court
|
