Skipper with two of his daughters in 1951

(never could get away from them)

Diedrich Daniels, Son of Michael and Katharina Engelen

married Sophie Elling, Daughter of Henry Elling Sr. & (mother unknown at this time).

Sophie (also: Sophia) was born near Hamburg, MN June 23, 1861; the daughter of of Henry Elling Sr. (mother unknown).

My genetic hard boiled egg fell out of the Diedrich and Sophie Daniels' tree. Sophie died young in 1917 from pneumonia (note gravestone below). Diedrich and Sophie are reported to have had 9 children, I only have a solid record of 8 (Martha Daniels is the highly probable unknown). I have no record of any children or marriage that my great grandfather Diedrich had after Sophie's death...apparently none.

Children of Diedrich and Sophie (Elling) Daniels

'Martha' is the probable missing child (Martha?) is assumed to have married OR relocated before this Census.

1910 U.S. Census (Young America township, Carver county, MN)

The Sons of Diedrich & Sophie

The Daughters of Diedrich & Sophie

I'm seeing a fabulous movie in this first portrait here...kind of a female version of 'The Sons of Katie Elder'.

Still missing Elizabeth!!

I might mention here that Auntie Lena was always considered a 'foxy chick' to us young huns. 

My papa's father, William, was a garage mechanic and aspiring musician who became a US rifleman in WWI and in his final reality he became far better unknown for playing his violin in the dark recesses of the many Seven Corners' saloons, playing for donated change while jet-fueling on aromatic bourbon. My mother always spoke quite negatively of grandfather Willy and never forgave him for failing to visit the family and kids - the family he squired - and forgot. He and his wife Irene had divorced and given Papa away to William's childless relative, Martha, and her stubborn Swedish husband, Axel, to raise. Grandfather Bill and his wife Irene both died young - if you consider the mid-fifties 'young'. Irene would marry twice more and have three more children.

Today...I have grandfather Willy's violin, no one else in the family wanted any part of it's curse. I look at it often, wondering why I, so twisted drunk in the exact same bars as my grandfather many years later...never knew of his history or his fate at the time. I may be an example of the suspect social-genetic theory that a boy always commits his grandfather's sins and successes out of genetic destiny. I often feel that I treasure the possession of his violin ultimately because no one else will...a sour duty laid before my feet.

( coming photo of Willy's violin - VERY SOON! )

Scandals do not end there of course, Willy's father Diedrich (my great grandfather) would stand on a soapbox on Seven Corners during WWI proclaiming "the virtues of the German people" while his own sons were fighting in American uniform. The mere mention of his name in the German family circle brings hidden faces and a strong stench of foul shame on what is deemed to be left of a tattered family name. It is whispered that the family name was changed at this time or just prior to this time - thus the promising and nagging rumor that maybe...just maybe, "we really were 'somebody' before all this". Unfortunately, no one has yet explained how they managed to change all the names of the prior buried ancestors...so I have come to assume that this family must have a large share of "crop circle" and "UFO" aficionados.

The Son of William Daniels & Irene Johnson

Earl Daniels

stay far away from these people!