Violet and Cousin Elma Hofer
daughter of Anna and Andrew Hofer
Living in Oneida at age 7, Violet begged and begged her dad to ride the horse the mile to school. She forgot about the barking dogs in between. When the dogs barked, the horse reared, threw the rider, and went back home. Violet walked to school from that day on.
Because of the drought, in 1934 Jacob moved his family to Mora, Minnesota, and bought 80 acres of woods. Jacob moved loads of rocks and felled trees to clear fields. Whereas other families in the area lived in log cabins, Jacob built a house. However, because he used green wood which later shrank, anyone who dropped something small enough on the floor was likely to have to retrieve it from under the house. In Minnesota, Jacob bought his daughter a violin. But Violet complained about practice, even climbing in bed and pretending to be asleep. Finally, dad gave up on lessons.
After five years, Jacob returned to Yale, SD, to live on and manage a farm for his brother John. Jacob bought Violet a Welsh pony which she loved to ride fast and bareback all over the farm. Such a good pony, he once stumbled dumping Violet, but patiently waited until she picked herself back up and remounted. Violet went to 9th grade in Yale for a couple of months before moving to Marion to attend high school where her brother Art was the band leader. She stayed with a family in their basement and babysat their 9 month old daughter in return for room and board. (recollections by Violet Tschetter Vegter)
Doris and Violet
