Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Creating Fiction from History: 2/2/2022

Rosie, or more correctly Rosa Lynda Cabellharo, was born April 1, 1927, to Daniel and Felice Cabellharo. Proud to belong to one of the original Mexican families who inhabited the small town of Farmersburg, Iowa, Rosie was now about to turn 15. The Cabellharos were good Roman Catholics; that, coupled with their ethnicity, meant quinceanera!

In a nation emerging from the greatest depression ever known, as well as still reeling from Prohibition, Farmersburg was not ready to send any of her sons to the second World War currently fomenting in Europe. The call had been made though and Daniel Cabellharo would answer to the dismay of his wife and children, especially their youngest, Rosie. As a first-generation Iowan, Daniel was proud to sign up for the Armed Services, as the only Hispanic enlistee from Allamakee County.

Growing up in an America coming out of an economic depression, Rosie never had it easy. Though Daniel was able to keep his job at the local ironworks, he was one of the lucky few. Coming from an ethnic minority, as he did, this was somewhat surprising. Felice had to take up mending, ironing, and washing clothes to supplement her husband's meager income. Even young Rosie knew the value of a good day's work as she scrubbed walls and floors for some of the more well-to-do denizens of the surrounding towns, as far away as much larger Waukon, where she regularly cleaned for one of the Steele Brothers and his budding family.

This column utilizes photos of unknowns provided by the Jefferson Valley Museum to create a possible scenario for the photo. The stories are not historically accurate, for the most part; the authors do research the photos but take liberties for creative purposes.

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.

 

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