A Legacy Forged in Fire: The Remarkable Story of Timothy and Myrtle Patraw
- Tanya Jensen
- May 7
- 14 min read
A Fateful Morning
A kerosene jug, a closed door, and a split-second decision changed the Patraw family forever on a cold February morning in 1942. As Timothy Patraw attempted to rekindle a fire in the family's wood stove, the contents of the kerosene jug ignited unexpectedly. In his own words, "The kitchen door happened to be open, so I went to throw the jug out... At the very moment I threw the jug, she shut the door. The jug struck the door, and bounced back into the room. An instant later it exploded - and the whole room was in flames." Timothy’s wife, Myrtle and their teenage daughter Harriet were killed in the fire, leaving Timothy to pick up the pieces of his shattered family.
How does a family endure decades of economic hardship, factory labor, personal loss, and even a devastating house fire—and still leave behind a legacy of resilience and growth? The story of my great-great-grandparents, Timothy and Myrtle Patraw, is one of survival, hard work, and deep family roots planted in the Midwest. Their son Jack—my great-grandpa—is just one branch of a family tree shaped by love, labor, and loss.
Early Years in Rural Wisconsin
Timothy Marcell Patraw was born on June 21, 1889, in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, one of four children born to William Marcellus Patraw and Amelia Louise Forga. His childhood appears to have been marked by economic challenges typical of rural Wisconsin families at the turn of the century. The 1900 census reveals that his parents couldn’t read or write, and the family rented their home in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. By age 16, Timothy was already working as a day laborer in Weston, Wisconsin, according to the 1905 Wisconsin State Census. These early years of hard work probably toughened him up for what was coming – supporting the big family he'd eventually have.
Myrtle Ida Wilcox entered the world on September 17, 1891, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, born to Marvin John Wilcox and Ida Jentle Losey. Tragedy touched her life early when her father died of pneumonia in Rocky Ford, Colorado, on March 11, 1897, when she was only about six years old. The 1905 Wisconsin State Census shows 14-year-old Myrtle working as a servant while living with her mother at her grandmother Sarah Losey's farm in Sumner, Wisconsin. In 1912, at age 21, Myrtle filed a probate application for her father's estate, establishing herself as the "sole heir" to lots in the City of Rice Lake. Those lots in town probably gave her a little financial security as she started her own family.
Marriage and Growing Family
Timothy and Myrtle married on October 9, 1909, in Barron County, Wisconsin, when he was 20 and she was 18. Their early married life was spent in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, living with Myrtle's mother. The 1910 census paints a picture of financial insecurity, showing Timothy working as a laborer doing "odd jobs" and having been unemployed for 16 weeks of the previous year.
By 1916, the couple had moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where Timothy found work as a "helper." This began a period of frequent relocations throughout Saint Paul, with the family living at no fewer than nine different addresses between 1916 and 1935.
Timothy registered for the draft in World War I on June 5, 1917, described as being of "medium height, medium build, with brown eyes, dark hair and one ear defective. Timothy worked as a "finisher" at Waldorf Paper Products Company from approximately 1917 to 1926. The paper industry was booming in Minnesota during this period, with the state becoming a major center for paper production thanks to its abundant forests and water resources. Working as a finisher likely involved completing the final stages of paper production, including cutting, trimming, and preparing paper products for shipping. This was physically demanding work in a noisy, fast-paced environment, often with few safety regulations compared to modern standards.
Later, Timothy became a "grinder" at Union Brass & Metal Company from about 1930 to 1944. Metal foundries in this era were hot, dangerous workplaces where workers shaped and finished metal products. As a grinder, Timothy would have operated machinery that smoothed and polished brass and metal items, requiring precision and physical strength while exposing workers to metal dust and loud machinery.
The Great Depression impacted the family significantly, as it did for millions of American families. The 1930 census shows them renting a home for just $5 per month (equivalent to about $85 in today's dollars), with Timothy listed on the "unemployment schedule." By 1940, their situation had improved somewhat - they owned their home (valued at $1,200), and Timothy had worked all 52 weeks of 1939, earning $1,600 (approximately $33,000 in today's dollars). Their ability to purchase a home during this period speaks to their determination and resourcefulness during America's worst economic crisis.
Throughout these years, Timothy and Myrtle welcomed ten children into their family, raising them during some of America's most challenging times, including World War I and the Great Depression.
The Children of Timothy and Myrtle
Floyd William Patraw (1910–1996) worked as a machinist at American Hoist & Derrick and lived in Ramsey County. He married Tillie Anita Halvorson in 1934, and they raised four children together. Floyd passed away at age 85 from a heart attack, leaving behind 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Harold Gordon Patraw (1912–1979) served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and held various jobs including machine operator and building applicator. He married Lillian Hazel Monson in 1932 and they had three children. In 1963, he was living in Portland, Oregon, where he remained until his death in 1979.
Jack Leroy Patraw (1914–1985), my great-grandpa, worked as a laborer and truck driver. He married Helen Florence Grosvenor on August 29, 1934, and they had twelve children together. Family stories indicate that Jack and Helen once owned a bar called "Jack and Helen's" near the markets in Saint Paul. Family relationships were complex - some of their children were temporarily placed in foster care and later adopted by other families. Jack passed away on March 1, 1985, in Saint Paul at age 70.
Richard Warren Patraw (1915–2003) also worked in the warehousing industry. He married Pauline Cecelia Gibis around 1932, and they had six children together. After Pauline's death in 1997, Richard married Catherine Julia Sullivan in 1999 at the age of 83. He was a decorated World War II veteran and lived to be 87 years old, passing away on January 9, 2003, in Saint Paul.
Geraldine Amelia Patraw (1917–2009) worked as a clerk while living with her parents. She married Oliver Parlen Skurdahl, with whom she had three sons. Geraldine lived a long life, passing away at age 91 on May 16, 2009, in Minnesota.
Virginia Kathleen Patraw (1919–2012) married Willmar Dale Treague in 1940, and they had five children together. After Willmar's death, she married Gilbert Schmidt on February 14, 1981. Virginia lived to be 93 years old, passing away on March 5, 2012, in Maplewood, Minnesota.
Phillip Clayton Patraw (1922–1987) worked at Armour & Company. Phillip married Wanda V. Wencel on August 30, 1941, in Dakota County, Minnesota. He eventually moved to Clark County, Nevada, where he passed away in May 1987.
Harriet Maxine Patraw (1926–1942) died in the house fire that claimed her mother’s life. She was only 15 and a junior deputy sheriff at her local school—a detail that speaks to her spirit and community involvement.
Gordon Timothy Patraw (1928–1996) served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked as a truck driver and married Catherine Julia Sullivan, with whom he had fifteen children. Gordon passed away from a stroke on September 27, 1996, in Saint Paul at age 68.
Norma Rae Lillian Patraw (b. 1932) survived the fire with severe burns and later married Charles Treague in August 1955 in Saint Paul.
The Tragic Fire of 1942
The devastating house fire on February 6, 1942, marked a tragic turning point for the family. The event occurred just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the country was focused on the war, the Patraw family was fighting their own battle at home.
At about 7:15 in the morning, the kids were still in bed and Timothy and Myrtle were in the kitchen. Myrtle was focused on her own tasks with her back turned to Timothy. As Timothy attempted to rekindle a fire in the family's wood stove, the contents of a kerosene jug ignited unexpectedly. In Timothy's own words: "The kitchen door happened to be open, so I went to throw the jug out... At the very moment I threw the jug, she shut the door. The jug struck the door, and bounced back into the room. An instant later it exploded—and the whole room was in flames."
The Minneapolis Star reported that the explosion was heard a mile away. Timothy and his 13-year-old son Gordon escaped with minor burns. Gordon jumped from a second-story window, a desperate act that speaks to the intensity of the fire. Timothy broke a window to rescue 9-year-old Norma, whose clothing was in flames. The newspaper described how "her clothing was in flames when her father rescued her" - an image that captures both the horror of the moment and Timothy's heroic efforts to save his daughter.
Tragically, Myrtle, 50, and Harriet, 16, perished in the fire. Newspapers reported that Timothy could "hear my wife screaming inside but the flames were so bad by then I couldn't even get near the house." These stark reports reveal the traumatic nature of the event and the helplessness Timothy must have felt.
Family stories passed down note that when the bodies of Myrtle and Harriet were found, "they both had their hands over each other like they reached for each other at the same time," suggesting a final, heartbreaking moment between mother and daughter.
Nine-year-old Norma suffered severe burns over "90% of her body" and was initially given "slight chance for recovery," but she did survive - a testament to advances in medical care for burn victims that had improved significantly by the 1940s. Harriet had been a junior deputy sheriff at District School No. 29, and her loss was felt beyond the immediate family, with her school community also mourning her passing.
News of the tragedy appeared in papers across Minnesota, including The Winona Daily News and The Evening Tribune in Albert Lea. It's strange to think that while the world was caught up in World War II, this family tragedy still made headlines across the state.
Life After Tragedy
Following the devastating fire that claimed Myrtle and Harriet, Timothy rebuilt his life. He married Florence C. Wagner on September 27, 1943, in Northwood, Iowa. The couple worked together at Luger Furniture in the 1950s, with Timothy making hinges for table tops and Florence assembling drawers. In his later years, Timothy worked as a sexton at Zion Lutheran Church, taking care of the church grounds and building.
Timothy lived to the age of 87, passing away on December 22, 1976, in Ramsey County, Minnesota. His obituary noted he was survived by nine children, 52 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren - a remarkable legacy that continues to grow today.
What They Left Behind
The Patraw story isn't just about tragedy or being poor. It's about plain old stubbornness and love that kept a family going through thick and thin. As their great-great-granddaughter, I'm amazed at what they lived through and overcame.
Timothy and Myrtle were just ordinary folks living through extraordinary times. They moved from country to city, survived two World Wars and the Great Depression, worked dangerous jobs in factories, and somehow raised ten kids through it all. Their lives were part of the bigger American story - the move to cities, the growth of industry, the economic ups and downs of the early 1900s.
They remind me that history isn't just made by famous people, but by factory workers, moms, and families just trying to get by. The toughness that got them through hard times, dangerous work, and heartbreaking loss still runs in our family today.
Their story - especially that terrible fire in 1942 - shows how fragile life can be, but also how strong the human spirit is. It shows how regular families like mine were shaped by the big events of American history, but also how they helped shape that history themselves, one day at a time.
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1940 U.S. Census, Ramsey County, Minnesota, population schedule, Rose Township, enumeration district (ED) 62-8, sheet 20A, family 395, Timothy Myrtle, Phillip, Harriet, Gordon & Norma Patraw. Digital images. FamilySearch. www.familysearch.org : downloaded 7 March 2025. National Archives and Records Administration.
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