NHF_CUSP_2001_Borkenhagen_Ervi
September 29 2001
Ervin Borkenhagen was born 9 May 1918 in rural Lewisville, Blue Earth County,
Minnesota, to Gus and Matilda (Salisburg) Borkenhagen. He was raised on the
family farm, remaining there until he was seventeen. He then moved to town and
started working as a blacksmith. In 1939, his father asked him to come back and
help on the farm, so Ervin took on that work as well. He was married in April of
1940 (wife Della Gieseke), and had one child by the time the United States entered
the war in December 1941.
During the war years, Ervin continued to work as a blacksmith and a farmer.
Because of his status as a farmer and father, Ervin received a deferment from
military service for the duration of the war. During the war he and his wife, Della,
had one more child.
When the war ended in 1945, Ervin continued to farm, but gave up
blacksmithing. In the following years, Ervin and Della had two more children. Since
retiring from farming in 1979, Ervin kept busy by working around his house and
taking care of his cabin. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Ervin is the grandfather of Daniel Borkenhagen, a member of the Oral History Project staff during 2001-02.
Ervin Borkenhagen died on 24 Jan 2005
Minnesota, to Gus and Matilda (Salisburg) Borkenhagen. He was raised on the
family farm, remaining there until he was seventeen. He then moved to town and
started working as a blacksmith. In 1939, his father asked him to come back and
help on the farm, so Ervin took on that work as well. He was married in April of
1940 (wife Della Gieseke), and had one child by the time the United States entered
the war in December 1941.
During the war years, Ervin continued to work as a blacksmith and a farmer.
Because of his status as a farmer and father, Ervin received a deferment from
military service for the duration of the war. During the war he and his wife, Della,
had one more child.
When the war ended in 1945, Ervin continued to farm, but gave up
blacksmithing. In the following years, Ervin and Della had two more children. Since
retiring from farming in 1979, Ervin kept busy by working around his house and
taking care of his cabin. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Ervin is the grandfather of Daniel Borkenhagen, a member of the Oral History Project staff during 2001-02.
Ervin Borkenhagen died on 24 Jan 2005
Digital
English
36m 30s
Ervin Borkenhagen, Interview, National Home Front Project, Washington College, Chestertown Maryland.
Interview was recorded by Dan Borkenhagen through Concordia University St. Paul for the Starr Center of the American Experience National Homefront Project
Amboy, Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States, NA [43.88801,-94.15663] [id:5016250]Lewisville, Watonwan, Minnesota, United States, NA [43.92329,-94.43747] [id:5034554]
Agricultural laborers--United States
Blacksmiths--United States
C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience (Washington College)
Concordia University--St. Paul
oral histories (literary works)
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Blacksmiths--United States
C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience (Washington College)
Concordia University--St. Paul
oral histories (literary works)
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American