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MABEL ELIZABETH
GUMERSELL ERIKSON
October 17, 1896 -- August 10, 1990
“My memory of living at the Children’s
Aid Society in New York City, was
pleasant. I remember playing with the
youngsters. I played every day with my
favorite playmate, a little boy my size,
whose name was Frank Lewis. I was
four years old and would turn five on
October 17. I remember that we
marched to our meals waving small
American flags.
“One particular day, Mr. Tice, the
superintendent, spoke to us. He was a
very nice, kind gentleman, whom we all
liked very much. He told us that we
were going to take a long train ride
GUMERSELL ERIKSON
October 17, 1896 -- August 10, 1990
“My memory of living at the Children’s
Aid Society in New York City, was
pleasant. I remember playing with the
youngsters. I played every day with my
favorite playmate, a little boy my size,
whose name was Frank Lewis. I was
four years old and would turn five on
October 17. I remember that we
marched to our meals waving small
American flags.
“One particular day, Mr. Tice, the
superintendent, spoke to us. He was a
very nice, kind gentleman, whom we all
liked very much. He told us that we
were going to take a long train ride
and he would find a home for every child. He said that he would be going with us
on this trip. A number of ladies, called nurses’ aides, would also go and help him
with the children. We would be riding in a coach attached to a long train going to
the Midwestern section of the United States.
“The lonesome sound of a train whistle in the middle of the night still brings back
memories to me as I am sure it does for many of those orphans who took long train
riders to the Midwest.
“We left the train at Bigelow, Missouri, and then were taken to Mound City to the
Methodist Church. All the children were neatly dressed and looked as though they
had received good care. The date was January 18, 1901, and it was a very cold
day, with snow covering the ground.
“The couple who chose me was Charles and Mary Dukes. They led me out to a
one horse buggy. The Dukes had a fourteen-year-old daughter, Hazel, and two
older sons, Fred and Madison. They all called me ‘The Little Dutchman’ because
of the way I talked. When I became settled on the farm, I grew to like it and all the
animals.
“I married Paul Erikson and had two children, Paul Jr. and Norma. I was reunited
with my brother, Walter Gumersell in 1944, after being separated for 47 years.”
on this trip. A number of ladies, called nurses’ aides, would also go and help him
with the children. We would be riding in a coach attached to a long train going to
the Midwestern section of the United States.
“The lonesome sound of a train whistle in the middle of the night still brings back
memories to me as I am sure it does for many of those orphans who took long train
riders to the Midwest.
“We left the train at Bigelow, Missouri, and then were taken to Mound City to the
Methodist Church. All the children were neatly dressed and looked as though they
had received good care. The date was January 18, 1901, and it was a very cold
day, with snow covering the ground.
“The couple who chose me was Charles and Mary Dukes. They led me out to a
one horse buggy. The Dukes had a fourteen-year-old daughter, Hazel, and two
older sons, Fred and Madison. They all called me ‘The Little Dutchman’ because
of the way I talked. When I became settled on the farm, I grew to like it and all the
animals.
“I married Paul Erikson and had two children, Paul Jr. and Norma. I was reunited
with my brother, Walter Gumersell in 1944, after being separated for 47 years.”
Mabel (on chair) with foster sister