Gladys Marie Van Horn
1898-1995

Gladys Marie Van Horn wrote a single journal which she began at the age of 95 at the request of her daughter, Elaine (Black) Swan. At the time she started writing she was living with her daughter and son-in-law in Marysville.

She wrote quietly, in short stories, remembering her life. Her daughter found the journal and has worked to place it online.

The following is about her train trip from Iowa, her life in Seattle during WW1, and Anacortes.

Train Trip

The years I spent in Iowa was the happiest time I loved my home my parents and the visits to my grandmas and to Perry Iowa to see my Aunt Mollie. This was the summer of 1917 and I did not want to leave Des Moines and go west to Seattle.,Washington. I wanted only to stay in Iowa. My new husband a contractor from Seattle would talk to my parents and I telling us how the climate was never cold like Iowa. He said the grass was green all year he said roses were in bloom even in winter. While in Iowa the blizzards came each winter tornados in summer,with thunder and lightening. Out in Seattle when it rained there was no thunder even then I would be happier in Iowa.Axel had finished the building of the Ford Building in Des Moines.We were leaving for Seattle.We left by train the Chicago Milwaukee train direct to Seattle.For some it would have been a thrill to me at 19 I was scared and as I looked back at my fathers and mothers faces and my little sister Mildred how could I get on this train and go clear across the world. my tears I held back the conductors said all aboard and I was lifted up over the steps of the pain and it began to move. We were ushered into a car with the beds all made up. I crawled into the lower bunk. The train started and was going faster.I had never been farther than 30 miles across the state of Iowa prarie. I had rode in buggies across Iowa.Next morning early the porter began clearing the beds in making seats for passengers to sit on the trip. Seats sat straight up, red velvet covered coaches were very narrow.The poter started a fire in a coal range in our car.And we took turns making our breakfast.As bacon began frying, coffee boiling it smelled so good.We had brought cereal, bacon, and we could purchase milk and eggs from the porter. The engine had a large smokestack. The only way it would run was to shovel coal constantly the black smoke poured into the coaches through the whole trip.To make the 2000 mile trip would take 10 days the train creeped along. we had left the 20th of Dec got thru the Dakotas finally here was Montana and the Rocky Mountains. It was snowing constantly as we began to descend up the mountains the train would back down ice was on the tracks we got somewhere in the mountains and snow slides came down one time we were partially buried in snow large boulders rolled onto our tracks the men were ordered to shovel the deep snow down the mountain one boulder I remember was so happy every man shoved and pushed for hours it seemed to free the tracks. We had to go through the Rockies before the next big blizzard.Our coaches grew so cold. We all rolled up in blankets.And we all prayed we would get through the mountains safely.We did make it there finely and entered into Spokane. Wa. Now I knew it would be green grass and beautiful roses no more snow.What I did not know was the Cascades ahead.Leaving Spokane we had to go across a high rail way bridge in the air with only iron bars holding it up. No sides on the track I felt sick fear everywhere people were crying for fear ice was on track.We moved so slow but we made it across. Oh how I wished I were back in Iowa. Snow slides were constant in the pass. Men on the train worked constantly on the tracks. I began to wonder why my husband could talk of roses and green grass. After awhile we got through the Cascades only to enter a long tunnel as we passed through the black smoke as it poured into the coaches. It chocked all of us. Our eyes burned and our lungs were heavy. We coughed clear to Seattle. As we looked at each other we were stunned our faces were pitch black. Before we left the train we used soap. But the black soot would not come off. In the depot we all bought soot removal I scrubbed as hard as I could. It took over a week to wash it all off. My new winter coat and clothes were ruined. I then saw green grass and roses in bloom It was raining but no thunder and lightening. I loved most the cold clear water to drink. Iowa had warm water in faucetts. Fresh salmon and oysters how good they tasted, Now we have electric engines, snowsleds, and dining cars.How much Elaine and I enjoyed these trips on vacation time together on the Empire Builder Train. It left Everett across Igaho,Montana, Dakota, and to Minnesota.There we changed to ride a bus to Iowa.

Introduction To Seattle

I met a Mrs Hayworth who was like a mother to a scared little farm girl I saw nothing but Scandinavians in Seattle.I hated them as I wanted to be with Americans.Mrs Hayworth took me in as a friend and like a sister. We were both pregnant but didnt tell each other.We had our babies the same week.She wanted a boy and I wanted a girl.She got the girl and I got the boy.I wouldnt tade my boy for 10 girls after I saw this beautiful baby who never cried.Her baby cried night and day.She named her Gertrude. Mr Hayworth was a Marine Sergeant.He dressed in Navy Blue,gold strips, and worked in a recruiters office.After the war years he became a barber.They were strong Catholics.After awhile we lived in Lynden,Wa where Axel helped built the Chicken noodle factory.It was a Dutch and English town.We were treated royally.We had a upstairs apt with the lady who owned the dept store there.The banker next door was with us all the time.Gifts were given us from everywhere.We were invited out to dinner after dinner.I loved these nice people.It has taken me years to get over my homesickness.I am a Iowan in my heart.

The Terrible Flu of 1918

I was living in Seattle Washington in 1918. I was a mother to my new son Arthur Donald. At this time WW1 was going on in Europe. Young men were being trained in miltary.The shipyards in Seattle were busy building ships along the piers of Seattle.Suddenly without warning a strange sickness hit all of the northwest.I could see a cemetery in the distance from where I lived and evey day I heard the trumpets blowing their last fairwell to the young men falling dead.Hundreds of young men died like this. My neighbors a Scandinavian couple owned a nice home and had just adopted a baby boy as they could not have children.We visited back and forth,laughed together because she was so happy to have this little baby at last. Next day she and her husband and baby were all dead. The flu killed them.Axel my husband was struck down in bed.I called the Norweigan doctor and he came right out.The doctors face was covered by a mask.He gave each of us medicine and he brought bottles of brandy with him.He boiled some water and poured some brandy in it.He stayed and treated Axel.I took the medicine but refused the brandy.Somehow we got through this.The doctor supplied us with face masks and we were told to stay indoors and out of stores.We were told to let no one in our house.We were told everyone was a germ carrier.Whole famlies died doctors could not carry the load.Brandy was being sold to only doctors. Where the sickness came from is a total mystery. The flu today is milder as the 1918 flu killed.

Axel Elaine Swan's comments

My mother at this part of her story doesn't write about her marriage to Axel and his death. She lived in a large boarding house. They had many young Norweigan fishermen who lived upstairs. They spoke English with thick accents. They were all kind to Axel herself and the two little ones. At Christmas a hugh tree was up. The women of Norway Lodge made a hugh Smoregesboard.Axel played the accordian It was a wonderful Christmas One day when mom was pregnant with Doris a beautiful one woman came to her door with a suitcase in hand. She spoke Norweigan and just a little English. She said her name was Anna Weekan.She was engaged to a Axel Blackrud and he was too send for her. When he didnt she came on her own. She started to cry when she found out Axel was married.My mom felt sorry for her and asked her to stay. She was a wonderful friend to my mom.She married a Norweigan fishermen.. Shortly after Axel had a fall down a elevator shaft. He developed a goiter in the throat He told my mom the night before his surgery he was talking to his deceased mom and dad. Mom took this as a bad omen and begged him not to have the surgery.He died the next day on the surgery table.It was Jan 1922. Doris was 2 and Donald was 4.Mom was devastated. She was mad at her dad because o the wedding to Axel so she didnt ask for help from him or notify him of Axels death. She said Axels sister Ragna removed Axels things. She did not speak to mom.Mom got very sick with a infected mastoid and was put in the hospital and had a high fever and was delierous. The two little ones the Norweigans cared for while she was so sick.Finally her dads address was found and he came right out. She refused any help from her dad. The Catholic sisters felt a warmer climate would help her.So they boarded a train to Los Angeles.She loved the warm weather and the beautful flowers in the convent she was staying. They took her by boat to see San Jaun Capistrano. She watched Silent films being filmed. She was stopped by a producer to ask her to be in a film which she declined.When she recovered she went back to Washington. She saw a ad in the Seattle paper of a man named George Shaw who was fishing in Alaska needed a lady to helpHe was a older man in his 50's mom said she would take the job,The man said his wife had died a short time before. leaving little Leonard..George Shaw offered to marry her and off she went to Anacortes She said he was old enough to be her father. He was very kind to her and her 2 little ones who were 4 and 2.He owned his own home. He built Doris a little playhouse. He owned a mortuary.Anacortes was called a Austrian town as the Slavic people were emigrating there. Mom got to know them well. The Suryan family lived right across the street. Little Mary was the same age as Harry. Harry was the baby mom had with George Shaw.Mary and Harry were inseperable. Mom had a little red wagon and Harry had a little black doll. They each took turns holding the doll on way to town. Marys mother came over one day crying holding a new baby who was very sick.She couldnt speak English.Mom took the baby and worked on it and made a mist and the baby survived. After that every morning salmon and fish were put on her doorstep as a thank you from the Austrian familys. Mom helped teach them English. They called her the American Rose.Mom loved aprons and always wore one. She said one day Doris age 2 hurt her foot. Mom was putting iodine on her sore and Doris let out blood curling screams bringing the neighbors running to the house to save her from the cruel mother. But they ended up holding her down and getting iodine on toe. After his dad died little Donald said dont worry I will be the man in the family and will take care of you.Mom was not in love with Mr Shaw.She fell in love once in her life with Deloss Grayson in high school and they pledged their love to each other. But it was not to be as her dad arranged the marriage to Axel. Mom greived for her lost love until the day of her death. On her last day she said oh to see Deloss Graysons beautiful blue eyes.After being married to George Shaw for about 6 years she received a long distance call from Seattle Deloss was there.He begged her to leave and bring her three children to Iowa. Her heart said pack as fast as you can and be with the man you love. So she went home deciding what to take. She walked in the house to see George Shaw with the 3 children cuddled next to him.Donald said daddy took me fishing. Doris had a new table he hade made her. She looked at the love the children had for their dad and never had contact with Deloss again.She heard later he married late in life.Harry George Shaw her youngest developed polio. He was chosen as the poster boy for Anacortes. The USS Constitution visited Anacortes and Harry was carried on board.The Depression was hard in Anacortes. Mom worked in a sewing room and often her fingers would bleed.She also worked in the cannery. She quit when she saw 2 Austrian women get in a knife fight.She never drove a car and walked everywhere.Harry gave her quite a fright one day when he disappeared. The police looked everywhere only to find he was hiding under the bed.Mom said there was a squatters village on the waterfront and people used boxes to cover themselves.Often they would come to her house begging for food.They knew her father shipped a big box of food every month. It always had a big ham and sugar.Mom loved to bake.I still remember her cinnamon rolls in oven.

marriage clipping

3 July 1917

The marriage of Miss Gladys Van Horn and Mr Al Blackrud of Seattle,Wash., will be solemnized this evening at the home of the bride's parents Mr and Mrs Grant Van Horn 917 Seventeenth Street. The Rev. Elmer E. Higley pastor of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church will read the ring service at 8pm in the presence of 20 relatives and close friends after which refreshments will be served. The bride will wear a white net and lace gown and tulle veil held in place with lillies of the valley lillies.Her bridel bouquet will be roses and valley lillies. Among the wedding guests will be the grooms sister and husband Mr and Mrs Charles Peterson of Seattle Wa and Mr and Mrs Ivyl Harris of Linden,Iowa Mr Blackrud and his bride will leave this evening for Minneapolis for a short stay before locating in Seattle,Wa.

Her favorite jumbo cookies

one cup shortening or use margerine I like margerine
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
one half cup hot water
3 eggs beaten
several tsp cinnamon or more to taste
5 cups sifted flour I use more cinnamon for flavor
Cream margerine and sugar add beaten eggs stir well
Melt baking soda in the hot water
Add to mixture beat well
Mix in cinnamon nuts and raisens as desired
Last add flour, little at a time until just right drop by tsp on cookie sheet First bake 2 or 3 to test add more flour if needed add a little untl they stand up put cookies on a sheet far apart to bake at 425