The following is taken from a booklet that was written for Albert and Elsie’s 65th Wedding Anniversary celebrated on August 14, 1983. Their actual 65th anniversary was January 15, 1984. The booklet was written by Vi Johnson and Kristin Peterson from information supplied by relatives. Susan Flatau provided much of the information from the great records that she keeps. The majority of the information from the booklet has not been modified, but more photos (and some text) have been added.

Albert Edward Flatau - growing up

Albert was born on the Flatau homestead on August 18, 1898. This was the home that Minna and Theodore built in the early 1890s. Today (in 1983) the original house is still standing and is located on the northwest side of Devils Lake. Only the center of the house existed when Albert was born. Later the log portion of the house was added and in 1914 the southern portion was built.

Albert’s mother, Minna, passed away from Typhoid Fever three months after he was born. When Albert was a year old his father married Emma Quade in 1899.

When not needed for farm chores, Albert attended school through the fourth grade at School District #233, also called the Flatau School. The Flatau School was located near the site where the Flatau cemetery stands today. Albert’s teacher was Lillian Murrill.

At seven years of age, Albert remembers herding cows in the brush to keep them from getting into the field crops. He also remembers herding pigs in the fall of the year to eat the grain along ditches that were not caught at harvest. Several times while herding the pigs a passenger train would arrive in Luce at 11:30 a.m. and blow its whistle. This noise would get the wolves to howl and this, in turn, would scare the pigs. They would make a mad dash towards home and Albert, fearing a harsh reprimand, would be in close pursuit.

Flatau Family (home) - Kinstories (home) - Johnson Family - Susag Family - Beckman Family
Granquist Family - Anderson Family - Stout Family - Walker Family - Peterson Family - Morris Family - Cauble Family