"My Parents"

Mae's father, Carl Evald Charnquist, was born May 4, 1868. Her mother, Hannah Hanson, was born October 20, 1864. Their families moved to Nebraska from Sweden when they were very young. Carl's father, also Carl, was a Methodist minister with a church in Nebraska, but later moved to Texas. Hannah's father, John, celebrated his birthday with his granddaughter, both born May 1. "One time he was 90 and I was 19."

After Hannah and Carl Evald were married in 1889 (?), they moved to Omaha, but later moved to Genoa, Nebraska. Mae's father made a living tuning pianos, but she says "dad was never home." Mae's mom was a housewife, but later went to work. "She had a tough life having to work to support her family. She was also a good Christian woman," Mae wrote.