Two young couples share coffee in front of their tent, play on the beach, hold each other close as they pose for pictures. The girls are clad in bandannas and outfitted for outdoor adventures, the boys shirtless, tanning their skin. They glow with hope and vitality, these young bohemians in 1920 California.
When my cousin shared a collection of photos from my great-grandparents’ photo album, I was thrilled. I had never seen pictures of their young lives before and was surprised to see them looking so fun, adventurous and animated. I mean, fun is not the word that comes to mind when you hear the name Milton (no offense). These photos were dated 1920, before they were even married. There were many pictures of them with one couple; from the look of it, these were their best friends. When I asked my grandpa about this couple, Charlie and Carrie Ohlssen, he was stumped. He hadn’t met them and didn’t remember his parents mentioning them. Curious to learn more about my great-grandparents’ early lives and their friends, I began to investigate. What I found was a sad story and an explanation of why my grandpa had never heard of these two.
Carrie Lillian Getchell’s life was in disarray before she even opened her eyes in this world. She was born in late-1902, the youngest of nine children, her parents having separated while she was in the womb. [1] Her father, James Getchell, was an abusive alcoholic who had been jailed multiple times for abusing his wife and children. In September 1901, he assaulted his wife and was given a 90-day sentence. [2] At the beginning of 1902, he returned to his family, only to embark upon a months-long bender of drink and abuse after receiving a sizable inheritance from his father’s estate. His sister, Annie Kerrison, finally appealed to the authorities to put an end to it. [3] Mary, his long-suffering wife, was granted a divorce the following year. James continued to harass his former wife after the divorce, including soliciting money from her instead of supporting their nine children. [4] Mary Getchell remarried in 1904 to Edward Horace Mann. [5] The following year, James Getchell died of pulmonary tuberculosis. [6] All of this turmoil happened when Carrie was too young to remember, but nonetheless, must have had an impact on her life.
Growing up in her stepfather’s household was, if not calm, at least not newsworthy. The Mann-Getchell family lived in Hayes Valley and then the Mission District during this time. [7] In her teen years, Carrie met Charlie Ohlssen, who worked at Foster & Futernick book bindery with my great-grandparents, Milton DeBarr and Lill McGrath. Carrie married Charlie in August 1919, when she was only 16, and he 21. [8] Marriage at such a young age made me assume a purpose of escaping her stepfather’s house or pregnancy. Neither was the case, as Charlie was absorbed into the Mann-Getchell household and about 13 months later, Carrie gave birth to their daughter, Dorothy. [9] [10]
One would think this would be a joyful time, but less than two months after the birth of their daughter, Charlie filed for divorce, citing cruelty on the part of Carrie. [11] No details are available on the reasons for the breakup or the date the divorce went through. Charlie went on to marry Emily Silva on October 1, 1926. [12] In July 1927, Charlie published an ad in the paper saying that his wife had left him and he would not be responsible for any debts she incurred. [13] Charlie and Emily’s divorce was granted in January 1929. [14] At least in the years 1927-1928, Carrie was operating a beauty shop on 22nd street. [15] [16] Charlie and Carrie were again together at the time of the 1930 census, along with their daughter Dorothy, living at 602 Shotwell Street in San Francisco. Charlie is listed as an unemployed bookbinder and Carrie as not working outside the home. [17] That census was taken in the first week of April, and by mid-September, Charlie was found on a passenger manifest returning from Cherbourg, France. [18] It is a mystery what Charlie was doing in Europe in this period.
Charlie and Carrie parted ways again; by February 1932, Carrie had moved in with her sister, May Denike. On February 27, she complained to her sister of pains in her abdomen and bled throughout the day. At 7:30am on February 28, a doctor pronounced her dead, with abortion listed as a possible cause. She was only 28 years old. The official verdict of the inquest stated abortion “at the hands of parties unknown” to be the cause of her death. [19] Nonetheless, Mary Balkwell, a 70-year-old woman already facing charges for the death of Mildred Hendry in December, was arrested on March 3. [20] Called “the victim of an illegal operation,” Carrie’s name appeared in news snippets in the paper for a couple of days and then disappeared, overshadowed by the case of Mildred Hendry, for which Mrs. Balkwell eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received 10 years probation. [21] [22]
Carrie Getchell Ohlssen, the pretty, sprite-like friend of my great-grandma, then disappeared to history. She left behind a 12-year-old daughter and estranged husband. Charlie had a short-lived marriage in 1935 and lived to the age of 62, passing away in Alameda, California in 1961. [23] [24] [25] He was featured in an article about Alameda County’s bookbinding operations a year before his death. [26] Whatever led Carrie to seek the operation that ended her life, I’m glad some happy moments were captured in photos and remain.
Sources
[1] “In the Divorce Court,” (1903, January 27). The San Francisco Call, p. 13. Available at:http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34440278/
[2] “Midway Farmer Goes to Prison,” (1901, September 20). Oakland Tribune, p. 8. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34702923/
[3] (1902, March 27). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 7. Available from NewsBank: America’s News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB15324F24AA65A970@2415836-1531AF49807ABE62@6-1531AF49807ABE62@.
[4] (1903, May 17). The San Francisco Call, p. 30. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34440221/
[5] “California, County Marriages, 1850-1952,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLCB-1MD : 8 December 2017), Edward H Mann and Mary Getchell, 15 Oct 1904; citing San Francisco, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 974,858.
[6] “California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1979,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JNLL-8XH : 28 November 2014), James Getchell, 03 Nov 1905; citing funeral home J.S. Godeau, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, record book Vol. 06, p. 1-400, 1904-1906, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History and Archive Center.
[7] “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVGW-8W6 : accessed 9 August 2019), Mary A Mann in household of Edward H Mann, San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 151, sheet 9B, family 193, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 98; FHL microfilm 1,374,111.
[8] (1919, August 30). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 4. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANXNB-14EEC30F463671BA@2422201-14EAB6F5F1202F5E@3-14EAB6F5F1202F5E@.
[9] “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHWV-GDL : accessed 8 August 2019), Charles L Ohlssen in household of Edward H Manny, San Francisco Assembly District 25, San Francisco, California, United States; citing ED 62, sheet 6B, line 55, family 188, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 134; FHL microfilm 1,820,134.
[10] “California Birth Index, 1905-1995,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGN9-8SS : 27 November 2014), Dorothy Ohlssen, 13 Sep 1920; citing San Francisco, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
[11] “Divorce Suits Filed,” (1920, November 7). The San Francisco Examiner, p. 14. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34704972/
[12] (1926, October 2). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 14. Available from NewsBank: America’s News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view? p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB-14F39C7E438DA315@242479114EFACD39D39DC03@13-14EFACD39D39DC03@.
[13] (1927, July 17). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 65. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view? p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB-14F3483D1BE507E2@242507914F3442C6A770C6E@64-14F3442C6A770C6E@.
[14] (1929, February 1). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 12. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view? p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB-14F7E812689F3091@242564414F376C40F212C55@11-14F376C40F212C55@.
[15] San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1927, p. 2340. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
[16] San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1928, p. 1620. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
[17] “United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCDN-YMC : accessed 9 August 2019), Carrie Ohlssen in household of Chas H Ohlssen, San Francisco (Districts 1-250), San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 111, sheet 13B, line 86, family 254, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 198; FHL microfilm 2,339,933.
[18] “New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24FY-DXQ : 12 March 2018), Charles Ohlssen, 1930; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[19] “California, San Francisco County Records, 1824-1997,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23Q-SJN1 : 16 May 2016), Carrie Ohlssen, 28 Feb 1932; citing Death, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, San Francisco Public Library, California; FamilySearch digital folder 004878134.
[20] (1932, March 4). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 2. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view? p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB-14FD8CC60082DF94@242677114F6581737D1A7D5@1-14F6581737D1A7D5@.
[21] “Woman Held for Death,” (1932, March 5). Oakland Tribune, p. 4. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/33635082/
[22] (1933, January 13). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 22. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb-newsbankcom.ezproxy.sfpl.org/apps/news/document-view? p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2:142051F45F422A02@EANX-NB-14FD29E422C94E1A@242708614F658E7EDB97A9B@21-14F658E7EDB97A9B@.
[23] “California, County Marriages, 1850-1952,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8JJ-1DJ : 8 December 2017), Charles Edward Ludwig Ohlssen and Josephine Isaguirre, 13 Apr 1935; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,113,710.
[24] “California Death Index, 1940-1997,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGRX-4CM : 26 November 2014), Charles E Ohlssen, 04 Jun 1961; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
[25] “Ohlssen, Charles E. L.” (1961, June 7). Oakland Tribune, p. 37. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34705863/
[26] “Bookbinding Is Unending Task for Alameda County,” (1960, June 22). Oakland Tribune, p. 54. Available at: http://www.newspapers.com?product=newscomwc/clip/34706127/
In Sharp Relief 
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