Jacob Christian BOHLSEN

   Research Notes:

1900 U.S. Federal Census (called Jacob Bohlssen):

Age given: 55 years (Jul 1844)
Birthplace given: Germany
Dwelling Place: Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin
Occupation: [illegible]
Date of Emigration: 1870
How long married: 29 years

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TRANSCRIPTION OF A LETTER FROM HENRY BOHLSEN TO HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER LILLY.

LETTER POSTED 3/10/1921,
OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, USA.

TO MRS LILLY CARPENTER
DURAL ROAD,
HORNSBY
AUSTRALIA

Oshkosh, Wis.,
Sept. 30th, 1921.

Dear Lilly,
I keep my promise to write to you from far away. We arrived in San Fransisco, the 19th of July after a very pleasant voyage. My son and his wife met us at the pier. They waited four hours for us. My son has a Buick car and we have been all around San Francisco which is a beautiful town. We stopped here nine days then took a steamer to Seattle. It took three days to get there. From there we took a train to Auburn, Washington to see my daughter, and five days to see the town and surroundings. The climate there is wonderful, in fact it looked like one big paradise. We then took the steamer back to San Francisco, arriving there on Saturday and stayed with my son until Wednesday.

At 8 o'clock in the evening we took the Santa Fe railway to Oshkosh, Wisconsin via Chicago, which took four days and four nights. I can assure you we were knocked out when we arrived at Jacob Bohlsen's home. We had a hearty welcome. They do everything in their power to make us comfortable. Mr. Bohlsen, and Helen had their golden wedding the 29th of April last. They have a large family, two girls and five boys, all married. I am pleased to tell you they are doing well and having their own autos. We are having the time of our lives with them. We have been here a little over three weeks, but as the cold weather will soon set in, we intend to leave here 3 weeks from now.

We will go back to Chicago, and from there to Omaha, Nebraska to see Edith Bohlsen Kilmartin then to San Fransisco. We expect to be there by the end of October. My son wants us to go to Fresno and Los Angeles, Calif., so I don't expect to be back in Coffs Harbour till the end of January or February. I will be able to tell you more when I see you again.

We have seen some beautiful sights but my wife and I are somewhat disappointed in what we have seen. We have in Australia far superior natural scenery if once our Government can see its way clear to assist nature. Ours is in our opinion the best law, in America it is tyrannical. We would not live here forever. Our Australia law is far more human.

sincerely yours,
from Father. (HENRY GERARD BOHLSEN) ¹³²¹⁸

To date, I'm not sure which son of Henry it was who took him and his wife to see his brother Jacob and his family, and I have no idea who his daughter Edith Bohlsen Kilmartin was, unless he meant daughter-in-law, but even then, this remains a mystery.

   Events:

1. Relationship to Compiler. Great granduncle

2. Emigration: 1870, Oshkosh, Winnebago, WI, USA.

   Marriage Information:

Jacob married Helen on 29 Apr 1871 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. (Helen was born in Mar 1845, and died in Wisconsin, USA.)