Birdie in the Wildwood: The Story of Olive Birdie Austin Smith

Can you imagine packing your family and a few belongings into a covered wagon and having your two oxen take you on a journey to find "happier times"? That is exactly what Olive Birdie Austin Smith's parents did when she was a baby. Being early settlers in the late 1800s, they were in search of finding somewhere to settle that would offer their family a better life. A community with a mill that would offer jobs and the promise of a school for their children to get an education. But after settling outside of Pine City, MN, near the St. Croix River, the mill went under, and the school was never built.

Struggling to find work and working hard to survive poverty, Birdie's family lived through many hard times. Just when her father had saved up enough money to buy some property and build a small house, diphtheria swept through, infecting her older brother, causing him to become deathly ill while he was a few miles from home. Being nearest to one of their neighbors, he stayed with them until he could get better. Their small community rallied together to help take care of Birdie and her siblings while her parents were staying at the neighbors to take care of her brother. Sadly, one of the neighbor girls became infected and died. Feeling responsible, her father paid for her medical bills and funeral, wiping out much of his savings for their new home.

This is one of many stories my great-great-grandma tells of her childhood years. She wrote this memoir to fulfill a promise made to her beloved husband, Clair. I am grateful to have been able to transcribe her handwriting so that I can carry out my Grammy Roberta's wishes to pass this story on to future generations.