Photo of Olga Hulltin, Nellie (Berg) Pellymounter, Nettie Ove and Florence “Flora” (Berg) Glanville of Thief River Falls, Minnesota (taken abt. 1912).
millinery and the ove family
Beginning in the 1500’s, Italian merchants from Milan, known as “Millaners”, would travel throughout northern Europe selling fine women’s fashions and ornaments. Eventually, the term, milliner, came to be used for the artisans who created women’s bonnets and hats.
During the 19th and early 20th century, hats were a staple of every fashionable woman’s wardrobe. Although Nettie’s mother, Maren “Mary” Ove worked as a milliner, I have very few photos of the Ove girls wearing hats. During a recent visit to my sister’s house, I was excited to discover the above photo. For more information about ladies hat styles of the early 20th century, follow this link.
Nettie’s story
Nettie Marion Ove was born in 1890 in Baldwin, Wisconsin to Maren “Mary” (Haselhaugen) Ove and Jacob Ove. The Oves moved to Minnesota sometime before her sister, Ida (Ove) Conlin, was born in 1892. Father, Jacob, left the family during her teen years, which may explain why Nettie never married, although she lived to 98 years of age. After Jacob’s departure, Mary began millinery work and Nettie sold her mother’s wares in a local department store. Eventually, Nettie took a job as an accounting assistant for the railroad, where she worked until retirement. Nettie died in Billings, Montana on August 26, 1988.
Doug Peterson
December 13, 2020Hi Michelle,
My name is Doug Peterson. I’m 72 years old born in 1948 living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Nettie and her mother lived with my grandmother, Thea Thompson, on Cleveland Avenue in St. Paul just south of St. Thomas University. For some reason Nettie came to my mind one morning recently when I woke up – I must have been dreaming about our family. As I remember Nettie worked for the Northern Pacific railroad and returned to Montana when she retired. I thought that she had family there, but I wasn’t aware that she was born in Baldwin, Wisconsin. If she was born in 1890 she would have retired maybe around 1955? I can’t remember how long that they lived with my grandmother or when she (they) moved to Montana but I think it must have been before 1960 – about the time my grandmother sold her house and moved into a smaller apartment – I would have been about 10 years old at the time. I assume that her mother passed away before she moved but I can’t remember that happening. I know that I heard about Nettie after she moved but eventually we lost track of her. It was nice to know that she lived a long and hopefully healthy life. My grandmother passed away in 1979 I think in her late 80s. Her husband, Ephram, passed away in the 1940s before I was born so I have no memory of him. I remember Nettie and her mother as very nice women and I know they provided a lot of company for my grandmother. My grandmother had four daughters two of which lived in St Paul, one in nothwestern Wisconsin and the other who lived out east with her husband but returned to the twin cities area in the late 50s. All of Thea’s daughters and their husbands have passed away. I have a sister and eight cousins on that side of the family. One of my cousins has spent a lot of time on our family’s genealogy and I will pass your information about Nettie on to him. Do you live in the Twin Cities? Thank you for the information and I hope to hear from you!
Michelle
December 15, 2020Doug, It is so wonderful that you connected! I only met Nettie a few times, but she was an absolutely inspiring and beautiful woman and I had so much respect for her from a young age. I actually have quite a few photos of Thea, Nettie, and my great grandmother, Ida, together when they were young. I will send you an email!
Doug Peterson
December 19, 2020Michelle,
Nice to hear from you! I’m looking forward to receiving the pictures that you’re going to send. Since sending you the first message I have spoken with a cousin who is a few years older than me and who has done a lot of genealogy research work for our family. He and his mother also lived with my grandmother during WW II. He thought that Nettie and my grandmother grew up together in Thief River Falls, MN – I didn’t know that. A lot of people that lived here in that era worked for the railroads. My grandfather on my father’s side of the family worked for the Great Northern Railroad which was also headquartered in St. Paul. If there is anything that you might have questions about our family I’m that my cousin, Bruce Johnson, would be available for you.
I hope that you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and are all healthy!
Doug Peterson
Michelle
December 19, 2020Yes, I sent an email and would love to connect further. Please let me know if you don’t receive the email.
Doug Peterson
December 24, 2020Hi Michelle,
I found the pictures and the email you sent – thanks! The pictures are great! I don’t recognize any of the people in the pictures – I don’t remember when my grandparents moved from Thief River Falls to the twin cities but I do remember my mother who was born there saying that she and her sisters would take the train there in the summers to visit relatives. They could ride on the train for free because my grandfather worked there. Surprisingly I’ve never been to Thief River Falls but still want to visit – we know where my grandparents lived when they were there.
Doug
Michelle
December 27, 2020I am glad you enjoyed the pictures. I have never been to Thief River Falls either, but hope to visit someday. That is interesting about your grandfather working at the train station…what a fun connection!