The New Normal Mental Arithmetic

<div>Small hardback textbook with reddish-brown covers that both have large black ink stains splashed across them. The front cover has the title and author in large black lettering, with a decorative border around the edges and floral flourishes above and below the words. Inside the front cover and on the first three pages, there are colorful paint doodles and words, as well as the name and address: "Henry Hansen, 1786 Duane St, Astoria, Oreg." Underneath the address is a date: "February 13, 1908." There are also many "scratch" math problems written in pencil on many pages. The back cover is blank, but the inside of the back cover is also decorated mostly in practice math problems. At the top of the inside back cover, you can see where the page before was at one time adhered to the back cover, and was ripped away sometime in the past, leaving part of Henry Hansen's name. Throughout the textbook, there are discolorations and stains, as well as pencil marks and writing. On p. 9, there are two notable names written in "childish" pencil cursive: "Arthur" and "Alice." See below for more information about them. Size of textbook: 4.5" x 6.75"</div><div><br /></div><div>**Using the city directories, we searched for the address "1786 Duane St" and were able to find Gunder and Minnie Hansen who lived there from 1906 - 1913. Gunder (1853-1925) and Minnie (1873-1963) Hansen had six children, in order from oldest to youngest: Henry, Mary, Gertrude (Gertie), Edwin, Alice, and Arthur. Using the Clatsop County school census records, we were able to find that, on average, the children were all born two years apart. So, in 1906, Henry is listed as being 14 years old, making his birthday circa 1892.</div><div><br /></div><div>**The textbook was printed in 1901, but the date written in "childish" cursive in the front says, "February 13, 1908." Henry would have been 16 years old that year. Would he have still been using this book?</div><div><br /></div><div>**However, when you see the names "Arthur" and "Alice" also written in the book, also in "childish" cursive....could Henry's youngest brother and sister have used the book later? Arthur was 5 years old in 1908, and his older sister Alice was 8. It seems more likely that it was Alice who did a lot of the cursive writing here. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>**Using the city directories, we determined that there must have been more than one "Henry Hansen" in Astoria in the early 1900s. The "Henry Hansen" mentioned here would have been 18 in 1910, and there is a "Henry Hansen" listed that year as a laborer working for the Clatsop Mill Company - but no address. He remains the most mysterious sibling of them all. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>**Some of the family's work experience from the city directories: </div><div>--Gunder shows up first in the 1904 directory, working in the George Sanborn Cutting Co. He was probably already married then, since he had all 6 children by then. He is listed this year as living at 1780 Duane St.</div><div>--In 1906, he is listed as working as a clerk for the Oregon and Navigation Company. This is the first year they are listed as living at 1786 Duane St.</div><div>--From 1908 - 1910, Gunder is listed as working as a carpenter for the Astoria and Columbia River Railroad as a carpenter; living at the 1786 Duane address. </div><div>--The 1913 City Directory lists Gunder - and Minnie this time! - still living at 1786 Duane, but now he is working with the Cleaning Department of the City of Astoria. He is listed as working for them through 1921, but in 1925 he and Minnie are listed with only their address, no occupation. He would have been 69 years old in 1922, so it would make sense for him to be retired before his passing in 1925 (age 72). </div><div><br /></div><div>**Alice Oletha Hansen Sather (born August 12, 1900)  is listed in every city directory until her death on October 30, 1989. In 1918 she is listed as a laundress for the Troy Laundry, and she lived with her parents on 1812 Franklin. In 1920 she is listed as working as an attendant with Dr. Ross Hoskins, dentist. Dr. Hoskins' office was in the Page Building on Commercial Street, which unfortunately burnt to the ground in the "Great Fire of 1922." In the 1925 directory, she is listed as working with the Troy Laundry again (in their new building, because their old one was destroyed in 1922 as well.) Then we know that she marries Trygve "Tom" Larsen Sather (7/3/1887 - 12/25/1976) in 1926, and continues to live in Clatsop County her whole life. First they lived on Franklin Street, then moved out to Rural Route 1. Her husband has a company called "Sather and Gagnet Transfer Company" in Jeffers Gardens with a partner named Peter Gagnet. Alice has no listed occupation again until 1946 when she starts working for the Columbia River Packing Association cannery. She works there until she has to live in the Clatsop Care Rehabilitation Center until her death on October 30, 1989. </div><div><br /></div><div>**The other siblings are more difficult to find in our quick resources. Only the older ones are listed in the 1921 directory. Arthur is listed as a painter with Victor Bloech, and living at 528 Franklin Street. A Henry Hansen only has a name and a residence at 504 Franklin Street. Edwin is listed as being an "oiler", and also lived at 528 Franklin with his sister and parents. </div><div><br /></div><div>**Edwin J. Hansen married Ruth Boebert in Clatsop County in 1926, then moved to Los Angels and had at least two children: Walter and Edwin, Jr. Unknown burial place. </div><div><br /></div><div>**Arthur H. Hansen lived in Washington for a time, then moved to Massachusetts. A 1950 census lists him as a widower. Born Jan. 6, 1902, Died Oct. 17, 1966, buried in Suffolk County, MA</div><div><br /></div><div>**Mary Hansen married Daniel Doran in 1913. They lived in the Lewis and Clark area of Clatsop County with four children, and he is listed as a fisherman, longshoreman, and cannery worker. She is listed as Martha Marie, and dies in 1939 in her early 40s. Buried in Warrenton</div><div><br /></div><div>**Gertrude E. Hansen appears to marry Hugh John McGuckin but cannot find many records for her. Her husband is buried in Warrenton - but she isn't? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>