Fig.1 - Peter Gergen Family - Turtle Lake ND. I was born in Neosha, Wisconsin, on July 22, 1896, the eldest daughter and No. 3 in a family later to reach 11 members, 6 boys and 5 girls. I don't remember much about the early years, but have the impression of a very happy childhood in a deeply religious atmosphere. My Dad used to gather us all together to pray the Rosary in common every night and I remember I didn't enjoy it very much. Very often he called us together to listen to the reading of the Bible which we all loved. I remember it was a huge book with full page brightly colored illustrations which we never tired of looking at or hearing about. At other times Dad played the harmonica at which he was very talented - the gay music drew us all together to listen with delight. My Mother loved to sing and taught us many songs which we sang happily together.

I used to love to take care of my younger brothers and sisters even from the time when I was only 7 or 8 years old myself. I suspect that I was somewhat of a tyrant, but I think they loved me just the same. When I was 9 years old, my parents got a homestead in North Dakota near Turtle Lake and we all moved to our new home, a big farm with a small house. There we lived a simple and a very busy life. Dad worked extremely hard on the farm and my older brothers helped him. We all went to a small country school a mile from our home. I don't remember the early years in Dakota, except that I missed the hills and trees of Wisconsin. Dakota in contrast was flat prairie with nothing but farms and pastures. Like all farmers, we had horses, cows, pigs, chickens - all of which helped us economically. Some years later, we acquired another farm which became our permenent home in North Dakota. With two farms to operate, the work was heavy; but Dad hired men to help. He always insisted that we children should all have a good education. After the two older boys had finished grade school, he sent them to St. John's at Collegeville which at that time was a boys high school. As the years went on, all the children had an opportunity for higher education.

When I was a child, I had three great fears: dogs, boys and the dark. I hated dogs - even the smallest poodle filled me with dread. If the other children were going to a neighbor's to play and I knew there was a dog there, I would always find an excuse to stay at home, thus missing many a happy visit. I remember one time when I took my little brother with me to walk along a small river near home, there was a rather steep bank, but we managed to clamber down and were happily searching for pretty stones and shells when suddenly I heard a dog coming toward us yapping madly. I didn't stop to look - only grabbed my little brother and pulled him along as I ran as fast as I could along the bank trying to find a place to climb up. Struggling and panting, I finally pulled my frightened brother up the bank and stopped, unable to go another step. Of course there was no dog in sight. Most likely he was a little pooch who had followed us about ten steps! After that I often dreamed about dogs; and once when I had a high fever, I thought I was surrounded by dogs all barking at me.

Although I had six wonderful brothers, I never could stand other boys. When they came to visit my brothers, I always slipped up to my room or hid in the pantry. In school, I surrounded myself with my girl classmates so that I did not need to talk with the boys. At parties when the usual parlor games were played, I well-nigh died of embarrassment if I was partnered with a boy.

I was always afraid of the dark. I begged Mother to leave a light burning in the room when I slept with my two sisters. I know Mother worried as it had to be a oil lamp (there was no electricity in those early days; at least none in our home). But if there was no light, I became frantic. My brothers called me "fraidy-cat" but I didn't care. Even today - I am afraid of the dark. When I die, I hope there will be a lighted pathway to Heaven, like that in the prayer to St. Benedict: "aglow with countless lights".