Kramer-Hanson-Possin Families

Marie Lydia Hanson

Written on back: (Post card) "Miss Olga Verkins - From Miss Marie Hanson - Dear Cousin Olga: Here is a picture of my big doll. how do you think she looks? Let me know if you get this. Olga. From your little cousin Marie. PS - When are you coming down to see me, Olga?"

NOTE - Marie Hanson was born in 1905 and was about 6 years younger than Olga Verkins. The photo cannot be a picture of Marie’s daughter (her “doll”) because the card was addressed to MISS Olga Verkins from MISS Marie Hanson. That means the writing on the back of the card was actually done by her mother, Lena Kramer-Hanson. Marie appears to be 6-9 months old in the photo which means it should be dated in 1928 from Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The reference to “coming down to see me” was because Trempealeau is downriver to the south from Winona, Minnesota where Olga lived.

1905 at Trempealeau, Wisconsin

Joe Johnston and Lydia Spier-Johnston

This photo is marked on the back that it is Joe and Lydia Johnston. Assuming this was their daughter, Julia, pictured with them, she was born in 1919 and her age would date this photo to about 1921-1922. But I have some doubts this photo is correct for the following reasons:
• The older fashion clothing style (1900-1910) in the photo does not seem to match the supposed date (1921-1922) of the photo.
• The absence in the photo of their son, Georgie, who was 5 years older than the daughter.
• The man in the photo does not seem as short in stature as the photo of Joe in 1927.
• The relative young age of the man in the photo does not fit with the age of Joe in the photo from 1927.
• The older clothing style seems to date the photo to around 1900-1910 which was before the daughter was born.

1921- Location not known

The original Kramer House

The other photos which show this same view of the house differ in that there is a roof covering over the screen door on the left and a large tree out past where the dog is sitting on the chair.

Between the differening photos, I don't know for sure which is the oldest. Was the roof covering added or was it removed and the tree cut down?

It appears that one flower pot to the rightof the dog on the chair seems to be elevated off the ground; it may be sitting on top of the stump of that removed tree. This would suggest that the roof and tree were removed and this photo would be the newest. That might date this photo to about 1930.

about 1930 in Trempealeau, Wisconsin

Louise Kramer-Verkins and Henry Verkins

They were married in 1895 at Trempealeau, Wisconsin at age 24 and 22. In this photo they appear to be not much older than when they were married. By 1900 the US Census shows that they had moved to Winona, Minnesota. Because the photography studio was in Arcadia, Wisconsin, this was probably taken shortly after they were married and before they moved to Winona.This photo is probably dated about 1898.

estimated to be about 1898 at either Trempealeau, WI or Winona, MN

Front: Louise Possin and husband Christian Kramer
Baby: unknown
Back row: probably Amelia Kramer (wife of William Crivits); either Emma or Lena Kramer.

Unknown who the men are. Perhaps Louis Spier and Julius Kramer

If the woman holding the baby was Emma Kramer, then the baby could have been Lydia Spier. If the woman was Lena Kramer, then the baby could have been Lena Hanson.

Christian died in 1910 at age 81 so his age in the photo is probably somewhere in his 60-70s.

about 1895 - Probably in Trempealeau, Wisconsin