Book 2 - Nathan, Amy, Madison and Ethan Berga

Continued from page 64
circuit rider called out to the gathering crowd, “Any
one here wanna get married to her today” From the
back of the crowd came a shout, “I do!” The couple
were married that day; for one never knew when the
minister would pass through again. 70
Albert’s favorite leisure past-time was dancing at the
local grange. Annie Marie Krise, a local Squaxon Indian,
a great dancer, and a fine woman, caught Albert’s
eye. She agreed to Albert’s request for a date. However,
Albert would not marry her, since he believed that
an Indian would not make a good farmer. 70 Albert’s
log shanty was primitive and his work was
never ending. Still, he knew he needed a
wife to help run the farm; and children
to continue it. Annie proved him wrong,
marrying David Henry Whitener and
rearing five children on her farm in Kamilche.
Annie’s son, Don, would later
marry Albert’s son’s sister-in-law.
For a 37 year old widow, and a bachelor
of 45 to meet out west; could only
be arranged. Tony remembers the arrangement,
“A guy moved right next to
my dad’s farm, and told Albert about
this widow that lived up near Seattle
in Maple Valley. He volunteered to go
up and introduce them, and then they
got married. She come from Wisconsin
and lived with her brother, I guess it was
kinda hard for a widow to find somebody
then, but there was such a shortage
of white women over here, she came over lookin’ for a
husband.” 70
Albert hitched up his team and rode to Seattle, where
he married Nettie, January 22, 1910. Pioneer life was
difficult for even the best, and a widow in Nettie’s
time could not be so picky in whom she married. It
is doubtful that the couple had much of a courtship.
As with many unions in the West, this one may have
been out of necessity.
Nettie packed her things into her wooden trunk. which
carried her belongings from Wisconsin several years
72