Frederick Severin Selle (1893 - 1979)

Born 6 Feb 1893 in Lake Crystal, Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Margaret (Suder) Selle — married 30 Dec 1947 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Died 16 Dec 1979 at age 86 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA

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Biography

Frederick (Fred) Severin Selle was born in 1893 at Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county, Minnesota. He is the son of Ole Selle and Olia (nee Olson) Selle.

In the 1900 United States Federal Census for Lake Crystal, Minnesota ^[1] we find Freddie Silli with his father Ole Silli and his family (all literate and able to speak English). It appears Ole was still using the Norwegian spelling for Silli in 1900:

• Silli, Oluf - Head of household - Mar 1858 - married 12 years - born in Norway - naturalized citizen in 1880 in Pa.
• Silli, Olia - wife - Jan 1864 - wife - born in Norway -
• Silli, Marie - daughter - Mar 1889 - single
• Silli, Ingvald Oscar - son - Dec 1890 - single
• Silli, Freddie - son - Feb 1893 - single
• Silli, Otto - son - Dec 1894 - single
• Silli, Mabel - daughter - Sept 1897 - single
• Silli, Andrew - father - Sept, 1819 widower - born in Norway
• Silli, Marah - sister - May 1860 - single - born in Norway

By the time of the 1910 census, "Freddie" has become "Fred S. Silli". His family is listed as it was in 1900 except that Ingvald is spelled Engvald, Marit is now Mash and two daughters have been added to the family: Helen D., age 7 (which suggests a birth date of 1903) and Annie W., age 5 (which suggests a birth date of 1905). It appears his father, Ole was still using the Norwegian spelling for Silli in 1910. ^[2].

On May 31, 1917 Frederick Severin Selle registered for the WW-I draft with the draft board in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. His home address was Lake Crystal, Minnesota, where he was born, but he was then attending Marquette College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a medical student. He is described as tall, slender, black haired and brown eyed. The form was filed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[3] This is the first time his surname appears in the Anglicized form, Selle.

In about 1919, when he was 26 years of age he married Lucia Galecki, who was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on 5 December 1898.^{[4] [5]}

In the 1920 census Fred (age 27) used the Anglicized version of Selle (which is pronounced the same as the Norwegian name, Silli) for his surname. Fred S. Selle lived in Hope Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota. He is married to Lucia (age 21); she was born in Wisconsin. He is recorded as being a physician and surgeon in general practice^[6] Lucia's parents are of German birth.^[4]

They had two daughters while residing in Minnesota - the youngest was 8 years of age in 1930 (according to the 1930 census) so they must have remained in Minnesota until about 1922.^[7] This is confirmed by checking US City Directories, which show Fred S Selle practicing medicine in Winthrop, Sibley County, Minnesota in 1921 & 1922.^[8] Winthrop lies 40 miles north of his hometown, Lake Crystal, and would have been conveniently close to family.

In birth records for Sibley County in Minnesota, we find Patricia Jean Selle born to Frederick Selle and Lucia (nee Galecki) Selle on 18 September 1920. Her birth certificate number is 1920-33024.^[9] We also find Marion Lucia Selle born November 26, 1921 in Sibley County, Minnesota.^[10]

In 1923 through 1933 Fred S Selle (a physician) lived at 8133 185 Hillcrest Drive, Wauwatosa/Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA . His wife Lucia shows on the listing in 1926, 1928, 1929, 1932 (presumably an editorial decision on whether to include the spouse accounts for the inconsistency).^[11]

In 1930 we find Fred S Selle ( 37 years of age) living on West Center Street, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a home valued at $12,000 which he owns. He has a radio (the first scheduled radio broadcast was transmitted on Nov. 2, 1920). His age at marriage was 26, which would put his marriage in about 1919. He is a physician, working on his own account. He is also a veteran, having served in WW1. His wife is Lucia E Selle (age 31 & born in Wisconsin), and his children, all daughters, are Patricia J Selle (age 9 & born in Minnesota), Marion L Selle (age 8 & born in Minnesota) and Lois L Selle (age 6 & born in Wisconsin). Lucia’s parents were born in Germany.^[4]

On April 26th 1940 Fred Selle is living in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Hillcrest Drive in house #8133. His occupation is Physician – Surgeon. He worked 52 weeks in 1939. He is head of household and living with his wife Lucia Selle (age 41), and daughters Marion Selle (age 18) & Lois Selle (age 15).^[12]

He was living in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with Mrs. Lucia Selle at 8133 Hillcrest Drive at 49 years of age when he registered for the World War 2 draft on April 27, 1942.^[13]

Lucia passed away in 1945.

Marie M Suder and Fred S Selle married 30 Dec 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.^[14]

In the 1950 US Census for New Berlin, Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA we find Marie S Selle (age 44) and born about 1906 in Pennsylvania living with her husband, Dr. Fred Selle (age 57) and his brother Otto Selle who was employed operating the farm.^[15]

Dr. Selle died at Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA in December of 1979.^[16] A grave stone for him is found in the Lake Crystal Cemetery, Lake Crystal, Minnesota.^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census for District 0010, Lake Crystal, Blue Earth County, Minnesota
2. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census for Census Place: Lake Crystal, Blue Earth, Minnesota; Roll: T624_691; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0009; FHL microfilm: 1374704
3. ↑ U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards - available online through Ancestry.com for a fee
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Tyler, Lincoln, Minnesota; Roll: T625_842; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 115; Image: 547
5. ↑ age of marriage reported in the 1930 census
6. ↑ Here there are several interesting artifacts in the recording. Lucia is legible, but only if one knows what Fred's wife's name is already. And Fred's occupation is recorded on the line above - suggesting that the 4 year old son of his neighbor was a physician and surgeon in general practice.
7. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: 2599; Page: 10B; Enumeration District:0373; Image: 775.0; FHL microfilm: 2342333
8. ↑ The City Directory for Minneapolis, Minnesota includes sections for towns around the state, including Winthrop, Minnesota.
9. ↑ Minnesota Historical Society People Finder
10. ↑ MHNS Birth certificate
11. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
12. ↑ Year: 1940; Census Place: Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: T627_4502; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 40-64
13. ↑ U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards - available online through Ancestry.com for a fee
14. ↑ Wisconsin Marriage Records, 1820-2004
15. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census for Wisconsin; Waukesha; New Berlin; 67-49A
16. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JL3G-3M3 : 9 January 2021), Fred Selle, Dec 1979; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
17. ↑