The Children's Blizzard

   Today is the 129th anniversary of the Great Blizzard. It is also known as the Children's Blizzard because it hit without warning around the time many were walking home from school. Our "Family Tome," called simply, The Family of Soren and Anne Sine Jensen 1842-1974, contains the following story on page 2:

   "On January 12, 1888, the birthday of Sine Jensen, the Great Blizzard struck. The morning was crisp and clear. The older children went to March School, about 2 miles southeast of the homestead. The older boys of the family went to school only in the winter when there was no farm work to be done. A Miss Erwin was the teacher.

   Around noon the temperature started going down. The wind came up and snow started to fall. The teacher would ot allow any of the children to leave, as the storm became worse and worse. When it became evident that the parents would not come for their children, the teacher had the older pupils help dress the younger ones in all the clothes they had. She asked Jens Jensen, her oldest pupil, eighteen years of age, to lead them, each holding another child's hand. Jens held onto the barbed wire fence in the lead, and the teacher was at the end of the line. The group, moving single fiel, left the school blindly, guided only by the barbed wire fence. Approximately two hours later, they reached the Erwin place, three-quarters of a mile northwest of the school. All were safe and Mr. and Mrs. Erwin cared for them until their own parents could come for them late the following afternoon.

   When the storm finally abated the next day, Soren set out on horseback to search for his children. After an unsuccessful visit to the schoolhouse, he went to the Erwins, hoping they might have some information. Here he found all the children safe and sound. Jens Jensen was ever after known as March School's Blizzard Hero. Peter, Nels, Mary, and Andrew also were among the pupils who were well taken care of by the Erwins."

There are many, many stories of both survival and loss from this terrible day. A great book to read for more information is The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin.