Family Information

Memory Lane

Memory Lane

Memory Lane a place for Hostager memories and other musings. Don't be shy. Send me your stories so I can post them here!

Carolyn Turner

Mentioned: Selmer Hostager, Henry Hostager, Roger Hostager. Nels Hostager, Nettie Hostager, Dick Vaaler

I actually spent time on the farm with my Grandmother and great-Aunt Nettie when they went down in the summer to clean and can for Selmer and Henry.  Mother said when Nels was alive (he was a bachelor, too) the farm was in good repair - he could fix anything and was a hard worker. He was a very nice man, my mother really liked him a lot but he died and from then on things started to be neglected.

Selmer and Henry were getting old and went on soil bank so didn't farm much anymore. Nels made wagons for other farmers in the area.  They were all good workers but Selmer was the fun one, had a mischievous sense of humor and liked to go to the beer joints  - especially when my grandfather was visiting.  Everyone like Selmer and I adored him.

Onetime I put my hand into a hole by the chicken coop and a rat-trap snapped on my hand and I went running all the way out into the hay field where Selmer and Henry were haying crying all the way for Uncle Selmer.  My Grandmother and great-Aunt were right in the summer house canning which was a lot closer but I wanted Selmer!  He never forgot that!

Isn't it strange that so many of the Hostager men were bachelors??

Here's another thing I remembered - one of my best friends, Jaye Vaaler, is married to Dick Vaaler - Dick grew up in Cannon Falls and everytime we get together (it seems like, anyway) he says, "are you related to Roger Hostager?".  Now up until now I have always said, well he must be a shirt-tail relative but I've never met him - he must be from the 'other Hostager family'. Dick played basketball for Cannon Falls and apparently they were great rivals of Wanamingo.  I wonder if your Dad remembers him?  Dick and Jaye live in Golden Valley now but Dick lived in Edina many years and has three sons.  I don't think any of the Vaaler's live in Cannon Falls anymore but they drive through there occasionally.