Incident in Illinois
Abraham Auxer
The following narrative is pieced together from fragments of records on file in the White County, Courthouse in Carmi, Illinois. It is impossible to determine how many documents are missing and have been lost. Without transcripts of the trials, we will never know the full account of the events which took place in the western district of White County, Illinois in 1816-1818.
Abraham M. Auxer and his family settled in the western district of White County, Illinois which is now known as Hamilton County. He brought his family from southwestern Virginia to the Illinois Territory between the years 1811 and 1816. He may have traveled the same route which Samuel Auxier traveled from southwestern Virginia into Kentucky. Perhaps, they visited the Blockhouse Bottom before boating down the Big Sandy River to the Ohio River to the Wabash River and then up the Little Wabash to Carmi, Illinois. Whatever their mode of travel, it was long and arduous. His son, Benjamin, was of age when they settled in the Territory of Illinois. Although they faced many dangers, the one of first problems Abraham may have faced in White County were his neighbors, the Comptons.
Allegedly, on November 12, 1816, Salley Compton entered the home of Abraham Auxer. She found the small chest in which Abraham kept his money and other valuables. After breaking open the chest, she removed 28 Spanish milled dollars, a string of various colored square beads valued at $1.50 and 2 rings. She also carried away several pieces of fabric. Sally took the stolen items to the home of Thomas Mays where she lived with his family.
Abraham Auxer was distraught over the loss as it could mean financial ruin for his family. He began talking to his neighbors about the theft. Accompanied by his son, Benjamin, and Archibald Standifer they went to the home of Thomas Mays. After Abraham had told Mays what had been taken, Thomas Mays showed him 10 ten Spanish milled dollars given to him by Salley Compton in payment for a debt she owed him, Abraham recognized the coins as part of the money taken from his chest. A search of the house disclosed the string of beads, the two rings and the cloth among Salley's possessions.
With just cause and witnesses, Abraham Auxer went to Thomas Rutledge, one of two Justices of the Peace of White County, and explained what had happened. On February 28, 1818, Thomas Rutledge had Salley brought before him and Justice of the Peace George McKenzie. Other members of Salley's family were requested to appear. John B. Compton came forward and under oath told Thomas Rutledge, George McKenzie and Isham Harrel in the presence of all the local people gathered that the reason his wife and his son Thomas had stayed away was to guard the children and protect their home. They were afraid to leave as they were positive that Abraham Auxer and his family would kill their younger children and destroy their property if they were they to appear before the Justices of the Peace as ordered. The records on file suggest that John B. Compton stated other slanderous things about Abraham Auxer. Thomas Rutledge wrote a scathing report and charges of larceny wee placed against Salley Compton. Constable John Farmer arrested Salley and she was bound over for trial during the spring term of the Superior Court at Carmi, Illinois.
Salley remained incarcerated three days until Daniel Hay, John Armstrong and John B. Compton made her bond. By this time the incident was well know throughout the county and was the number one topic of gossip among the local inhabitants.
The statements made under oath by John B. Compton and in the presence of their neighbors so incensed Abraham that he filed charges of perjury against him. Thomas Rutledge, Justice of the Peace, wrote in the warrant for John B. Compton's arrest that, in his opinion and from his own knowledge, Compton did, maliciously and willfully, attempt to make other false oaths while giving information to Isham Harrel. On March 4, 1817 Constable John Farmer arrested John B. Compton, John resisted arrest and Constable Farmer was forced to subdue him.
The date of May 5, 1817 was set to try John B. Compton for perjury and Salley Compton for felony theft. Constable Farmer traveled throughout the county issuing summons to prospective witnesses. For this duty the court paid him 5 cents per mile. William Field, Thomas Mays, Archibald Standifer, Benjamin Auxer and Samuel Craig were ordered to appear as witnesses on behalf of Abraham Auxer, Isham Herald, Lydia Herald, and Henry Hall were ordered to appear on behalf of Salley Compton. Frederick Farmer, James Rutledge, Isham Herald, James Young, John Taylor and George McKenzie were ordered to appear on behalf of John B. Compton. Since Illinois was still a territory, Eli Waller, Zepheniah Johns, Joseph Waller and James Mays were also called as witnesses for the United States. They were instructed to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter of controversy now pending and undetermined before the Superior court.
The juries were selected. Andrew Vance was chosen as foreman of the jury hearing the evidence in Salley's trial. John M. Graham was chosen as foreman of the jury in John B. Compton's trial. Without transcripts of the trials, we have no way of knowing what happened in court but it is safe to say that tempers ran high. The reputations of persons involved were being determined. The jury found Salley Compton not guilty of the theft of the 28 Spanish milled dollars. John B. Compton was found guilty of perjury.
Despite the final verdicts, tempers did not cool. On September 1, 1817 John B. Compton filed charges in the January term of the White County, Illinois court against Abraham Auxer and Thomas Rutledge, Justice of the Peace. John B. Compton declared himself to be a true, good, honest, just and faithful citizen of the Illinois Territory, that he had always behaved and conducted himself in a true manner and had never been guilty of law-breaking. He had deservedly obtained and acquired the good opinion and credit of all his neighbors and other good and worthy citizens of the territory until the time Thomas Rutledge committed several grievances against him. John B. Compton accused Rutledge of contriving maliciously to injure his good name and credit, and bring him into public scandal, infamy and disgrace and caused him to e imprisoned a long space of time in order to impoverish, oppress and wholly ruin him. Compton alleged that on March 4, 1817, under the semblance of being an officer of the peace, Rutledge joined with Abraham Auxer and several others and falsely and maliciously and without any reasonable probable or legal grounds or cause what so ever charged him with having maliciously sworn a false oath on the 28th day of Feb 1817 and wickedly and maliciously made the statement in writing.
Summons were issued for Thomas Mays, William Fields, Abraham Auxer and John Farmer to appear in court as witnesses for John B. Compton. The courthouse at Carmi was filled with spectators when the court found in favor of the defendant Thomas Rutledge. All charges against Abraham Auxer were dismissed.
John B. Compton continued on bad terms with several White County, Illinois citizens. On August 4, 1828, Compton was indicted by the grand Jury and charged with Assault and Battery with intent to murder Elam McKnight on August 1, 1828 by stabbing and cutting with a knife. John B. Compton was again found guilty by a jury of his peers.
We hope that Abraham Auxer's later years in Illinois were more peaceful than his earlier years. He died sometime after 1830 and is buried near Dahlgren, Illinois. Many of Abraham's descendants are living in central Iowa and other still live in Illinois. A creek which flows through Hamilton County was named after the Auxer family
by Judith Tickel Need as published in the Auxier Newsletter, November 1998
Sunday, March 7, 2010
PURVIS FAMILY
Purvis
Parents of Malinda Purvis
John Purvis and Sarah Ginn
by
Jane Van Gundy
John was born the same year his father died, an only child. He might have been raised by his Uncle William Purvis, since he migrated with William's family.
Other family histories do not include the following children as part of John's family: Sarah, Tabitha, and Mahala. (Could Mahala & Malinda be one and the same person?)
Residences & other events in his life:
Abt 1795 Culpeper Co, KY. He joined a party preparing to go west which consisted of the family of his uncle, William Purvis, the Burks, and possibly the Ginns, all from Culpeper Co. The journey took them through the mountains of MD and PA, then down the Ohio River on a flatboat.
Maysville, Mason Co, KY. Leaving the river, the journey would continue by land after his marriage and a short stay here.
1808 Hardin Co, KY, in the Licking River Valley near Elizabethtown, where son, William, was born. Sarah's brother, James, was in the next county east while her parents were 2 counties away.
1810 Fleming Co, KY. He and Uncle William were the only "Purvisses" in KY according to the census. They were neighbors, just 5 doors apart.
1811 His father being deceased, he was instead mentioned in the will of his Uncle James Purvis.
11/10/1814 Owingsville, Bath Co, KY. With the US threatened by British invasion on all borders, John enlisted in the 28th Inf of KY, commanded by Thomas Owings, and was sent to the Canadian border.
Following the War of 1812, he remained in the army for his 5 yr enlistment, serving as Pvt in 3rd Inf, Capt Daniel Baker's Co, because the 28th Inf had been disbanded. For his service he received 160 acres of land "to be located agreeably to the said act on any unlocated parts of the six millions
of acres appropriated by law for the original grantees of such military warrants; and this warrant is not assignable or transferable in any manner whatever."
1819 Bath Co, KY. Returning from the service he returned to farming.
1820 Bath Co, KY. He bought 70 acres of land.
1820 Sva (?) Co, KY. John was the only Purvis in the county at census time while William, Charles, and George, were all in Nelson Co.
1820s He became infected by "Illinois Fever" which was raging in KY and moved on.
8/7/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John voted at the Springfield Courthouse, the only Purvis listed.
10/3/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John and a Leroy Hill were named in early probate records in connection with the estate of a Jesse Southwick, both with notes due on 4/1/1829.
John sold some land to Thomas Morgan, details unknown.
1828/1829 Sugar Creek Twp, Sangamon Co, IL. He bought the county's first water mill which had been built in 1827 in Section 2 on Sugar Creek from A Lathrop. It was then used as a saw mill but he added a grist mill and ran a distillery as well. The distillery, "like others at that day, was extensively patronized." He sold out to Leroy Hill.
He sold more land, this time to Bennet C Johnson, other details unknown.
2/22/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Listed among the voters at the courthouse were John (Pervis) and sons, Isaac, William, and Thomas.
5/1830. Shelby Co, IL. County history said that on this date John, his wife and 2 children, George and Malinda, joined sons, James and John, who had already settled in the county. However, other records as noted below, indicate they moved later.
8/2/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Again voting at the courthouse was John G Purvis, William, and son-in-law, John Bracken.
1830 John was not listed in the census in either Sangamon or Shelby Co, indicating he was living with relatives as previously stated. Son, Isaac, was still in Sangamon Co.
It is unlikely that John ever owned land in either Shelby or Moultrie counties as no records have been found for him, only the children. He probably just came along with the family.
Sarah's family was among the early settlers of Noble Co, OH. John and James Ginn emigrated to Ohio early but moved west long before 1887. They were weavers by trade.
John's lineage is still under construction. Some say they were John Purvis, b 1755 Culpeper Co, VA, probably d bef 5/1777 in PA, m Eliza Ann Pritchard, 1775 in SC. She d 1792 Edgefield, SC.
I haven't verified any of this but am working on it. Anyway, if so, his lineage goes back to John Purvis, b abt 1650, d 1709-10 Middlesex Co, VA & Mary Shippey, b 4/12/1655 in St Martin Parish, Leicester, Eng, d 12/16/1720 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA.
PURVIS FAMILY
From Moultrie County
Record and History Book
Parents of Malinda Purvis
John Purvis and Sarah Ginn
by
Jane Van Gundy
John was born the same year his father died, an only child. He might have been raised by his Uncle William Purvis, since he migrated with William's family.
Other family histories do not include the following children as part of John's family: Sarah, Tabitha, and Mahala. (Could Mahala & Malinda be one and the same person?)
Residences & other events in his life:
Abt 1795 Culpeper Co, KY. He joined a party preparing to go west which consisted of the family of his uncle, William Purvis, the Burks, and possibly the Ginns, all from Culpeper Co. The journey took them through the mountains of MD and PA, then down the Ohio River on a flatboat.
Maysville, Mason Co, KY. Leaving the river, the journey would continue by land after his marriage and a short stay here.
1808 Hardin Co, KY, in the Licking River Valley near Elizabethtown, where son, William, was born. Sarah's brother, James, was in the next county east while her parents were 2 counties away.
1810 Fleming Co, KY. He and Uncle William were the only "Purvisses" in KY according to the census. They were neighbors, just 5 doors apart.
1811 His father being deceased, he was instead mentioned in the will of his Uncle James Purvis.
11/10/1814 Owingsville, Bath Co, KY. With the US threatened by British invasion on all borders, John enlisted in the 28th Inf of KY, commanded by Thomas Owings, and was sent to the Canadian border.
Following the War of 1812, he remained in the army for his 5 yr enlistment, serving as Pvt in 3rd Inf, Capt Daniel Baker's Co, because the 28th Inf had been disbanded. For his service he received 160 acres of land "to be located agreeably to the said act on any unlocated parts of the six millions
of acres appropriated by law for the original grantees of such military warrants; and this warrant is not assignable or transferable in any manner whatever."
1819 Bath Co, KY. Returning from the service he returned to farming.
1820 Bath Co, KY. He bought 70 acres of land.
1820 Sva (?) Co, KY. John was the only Purvis in the county at census time while William, Charles, and George, were all in Nelson Co.
1820s He became infected by "Illinois Fever" which was raging in KY and moved on.
8/7/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John voted at the Springfield Courthouse, the only Purvis listed.
10/3/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John and a Leroy Hill were named in early probate records in connection with the estate of a Jesse Southwick, both with notes due on 4/1/1829.
John sold some land to Thomas Morgan, details unknown.
1828/1829 Sugar Creek Twp, Sangamon Co, IL. He bought the county's first water mill which had been built in 1827 in Section 2 on Sugar Creek from A Lathrop. It was then used as a saw mill but he added a grist mill and ran a distillery as well. The distillery, "like others at that day, was extensively patronized." He sold out to Leroy Hill.
He sold more land, this time to Bennet C Johnson, other details unknown.
2/22/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Listed among the voters at the courthouse were John (Pervis) and sons, Isaac, William, and Thomas.
5/1830. Shelby Co, IL. County history said that on this date John, his wife and 2 children, George and Malinda, joined sons, James and John, who had already settled in the county. However, other records as noted below, indicate they moved later.
8/2/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Again voting at the courthouse was John G Purvis, William, and son-in-law, John Bracken.
1830 John was not listed in the census in either Sangamon or Shelby Co, indicating he was living with relatives as previously stated. Son, Isaac, was still in Sangamon Co.
It is unlikely that John ever owned land in either Shelby or Moultrie counties as no records have been found for him, only the children. He probably just came along with the family.
Sarah's family was among the early settlers of Noble Co, OH. John and James Ginn emigrated to Ohio early but moved west long before 1887. They were weavers by trade.
John's lineage is still under construction. Some say they were John Purvis, b 1755 Culpeper Co, VA, probably d bef 5/1777 in PA, m Eliza Ann Pritchard, 1775 in SC. She d 1792 Edgefield, SC.
I haven't verified any of this but am working on it. Anyway, if so, his lineage goes back to John Purvis, b abt 1650, d 1709-10 Middlesex Co, VA & Mary Shippey, b 4/12/1655 in St Martin Parish, Leicester, Eng, d 12/16/1720 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA.
PURVIS FAMILY
From Moultrie County
Record and History Book
BONHAM HISTORIES
BONHAM HISTORIES
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
HAMILTON BONHAM
JACOB BONHAM
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
by
Glen Peddy
Jacob Bonham lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania. On May 25, 1782 he marched under the command of Colonel Crawford into what is now Ohio to defeat the Indians who had been aiding the British. On June 9, 1782, Jacob Bonham died fighting the British and Indians at the Sandusky Massacre in Ohio.
Jacob's son, Ammariah Bonham, was born April 1, 1773 in Virginia and married September 10, 1795 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to Rececca Alexandria Wiley. She was born September 19, 1775 in North Carolina. Ammariah died after July 2, 1821 and before February 4, 1822 in Kentucky. Rececca died November 10, 1859 at Macomb, Illinois.
Ammariah's son, Hamilton Bonham, was born June 7, 1700 in Kentucky (or Ohio) and married December 26 1822 in Fleming County, Kentucky to Mararet Page. She was born in 1806.
Hamilton came to Illinois in 1833. He received his farm from the United States on March 11, 1836 In Jonathan Creek Township, Moultrie County (then Shelby). Hamilton died February 7, 1846 in Moultrie County, Illinois. Margaret Page Bonham married twice more. Second on January 7, 1847 to Edenezer D. Gillett in Moultrie County. Third to Lowery Trailer. Margaret died March 30, 1855. Both she and Hamilton are buried side by side in Jonathan Creek Cemetery.
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HAMILTON BONHAM
Hamilton Bonham came to Shelby County (now Moultrie) early in the1830's. He took a patent on 80 acres from the United State on 11 March 1836.
This was the SE 1/4 NE 1/4 and NE 1/4 SE 1/4 of Sec 32 T1 4N Range 3RD PM. In 1967 most of this described land was bought by Orris Drew.
Hamilton's estate was finally settled in1850. A partition and dower suit was commenced in Moultrie County circuit court at May term in 1850.
The court records read as follows:
Benj. Freeman and Polly A (his wife) & Tennessee Bonham by Benj. Freeman (his guardian) vs. Ebenezer D. Gillett, Margaret Gillett, William L. Bonham, Alexander Barringer, Thomas Adams, Martha Adams, and Albert G. Snyder, guardian of Elizabeth R. Bonham, Margaret Bonham, and Montravilla Bonham - Now come the petitioners rein by their solicitor and it appearing that the three last named defts. are minors, the court therefore appoints John Perryman Esq., their guardian ad litem, who answers said petition, and the other defts having been duly served with summons & being three times solemnly called, came not, but made default. And the court being fully advised in the premises doth order adjudge and decree that Margaret Gillett be endowed with the 1/3 part of the following (among other land) towit: - the SE NE of sec 3214N RGE 3rd P.M. and that partition of said land be made as follows to wit: - subject to said dower estate: - 1/7 part each to Benj Freeman, Polly A. Freeman, Wm. L. Bonham, Elizabeth R. Bonham, Margaret Bonham, and Montravilla Bonham and 1/7th part to Thomas Adams & Martha A. (his wife). Ordered further that Elijah Fleming, John H. Worth & John Perryman be and they are hereby appointed coms. to execute this decree & that they report to the next term of this court, and this cause is cont'd &c&c chy rec 0 page 43. And afterwards, at Nov. term 1850 come said coms. and make their report, which is by the court examined & approved, and for report said coms. say that after being duly sworn they went upon said premises and divided the same as follows: To Benj. Freeman lots 1 & 9 - to Lewis Bonham lots 2 & 10 - to Tennessee Bonham lots 3 & 8, to Thomas Adams lots 4 & 14 - to Rebecca Bonham lots 5 & 13 - to Margaret Bonham lots 7 & 11 - to Montravilla Bonham lots 6 & 12 - and that they assigned dower to Margaret Gillett, widow of Hamilton Bonham dec'd as follows "beg. at a stone 1/4 section corner, from which a black oak ?? I.D.S 20 degrees W 15.3 - thence; N 30 degrees W 9.00 links, to a post, thence; S 84.03 feet W 20.00 links to a post, Thence; 57 degree .03' E 9.00 links to a post, thence; N 84 degrees 03' E 20.00 to the beg." 18 acres - also 5 acres E end of NW SE 32-14-6 - all in sec 32 T 14N RGE 3rd Pm. Chy Rec "0" page 77.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
HAMILTON BONHAM
JACOB BONHAM
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
by
Glen Peddy
Jacob Bonham lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania. On May 25, 1782 he marched under the command of Colonel Crawford into what is now Ohio to defeat the Indians who had been aiding the British. On June 9, 1782, Jacob Bonham died fighting the British and Indians at the Sandusky Massacre in Ohio.
Jacob's son, Ammariah Bonham, was born April 1, 1773 in Virginia and married September 10, 1795 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to Rececca Alexandria Wiley. She was born September 19, 1775 in North Carolina. Ammariah died after July 2, 1821 and before February 4, 1822 in Kentucky. Rececca died November 10, 1859 at Macomb, Illinois.
Ammariah's son, Hamilton Bonham, was born June 7, 1700 in Kentucky (or Ohio) and married December 26 1822 in Fleming County, Kentucky to Mararet Page. She was born in 1806.
Hamilton came to Illinois in 1833. He received his farm from the United States on March 11, 1836 In Jonathan Creek Township, Moultrie County (then Shelby). Hamilton died February 7, 1846 in Moultrie County, Illinois. Margaret Page Bonham married twice more. Second on January 7, 1847 to Edenezer D. Gillett in Moultrie County. Third to Lowery Trailer. Margaret died March 30, 1855. Both she and Hamilton are buried side by side in Jonathan Creek Cemetery.
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HAMILTON BONHAM
Hamilton Bonham came to Shelby County (now Moultrie) early in the1830's. He took a patent on 80 acres from the United State on 11 March 1836.
This was the SE 1/4 NE 1/4 and NE 1/4 SE 1/4 of Sec 32 T1 4N Range 3RD PM. In 1967 most of this described land was bought by Orris Drew.
Hamilton's estate was finally settled in1850. A partition and dower suit was commenced in Moultrie County circuit court at May term in 1850.
The court records read as follows:
Benj. Freeman and Polly A (his wife) & Tennessee Bonham by Benj. Freeman (his guardian) vs. Ebenezer D. Gillett, Margaret Gillett, William L. Bonham, Alexander Barringer, Thomas Adams, Martha Adams, and Albert G. Snyder, guardian of Elizabeth R. Bonham, Margaret Bonham, and Montravilla Bonham - Now come the petitioners rein by their solicitor and it appearing that the three last named defts. are minors, the court therefore appoints John Perryman Esq., their guardian ad litem, who answers said petition, and the other defts having been duly served with summons & being three times solemnly called, came not, but made default. And the court being fully advised in the premises doth order adjudge and decree that Margaret Gillett be endowed with the 1/3 part of the following (among other land) towit: - the SE NE of sec 3214N RGE 3rd P.M. and that partition of said land be made as follows to wit: - subject to said dower estate: - 1/7 part each to Benj Freeman, Polly A. Freeman, Wm. L. Bonham, Elizabeth R. Bonham, Margaret Bonham, and Montravilla Bonham and 1/7th part to Thomas Adams & Martha A. (his wife). Ordered further that Elijah Fleming, John H. Worth & John Perryman be and they are hereby appointed coms. to execute this decree & that they report to the next term of this court, and this cause is cont'd &c&c chy rec 0 page 43. And afterwards, at Nov. term 1850 come said coms. and make their report, which is by the court examined & approved, and for report said coms. say that after being duly sworn they went upon said premises and divided the same as follows: To Benj. Freeman lots 1 & 9 - to Lewis Bonham lots 2 & 10 - to Tennessee Bonham lots 3 & 8, to Thomas Adams lots 4 & 14 - to Rebecca Bonham lots 5 & 13 - to Margaret Bonham lots 7 & 11 - to Montravilla Bonham lots 6 & 12 - and that they assigned dower to Margaret Gillett, widow of Hamilton Bonham dec'd as follows "beg. at a stone 1/4 section corner, from which a black oak ?? I.D.S 20 degrees W 15.3 - thence; N 30 degrees W 9.00 links, to a post, thence; S 84.03 feet W 20.00 links to a post, Thence; 57 degree .03' E 9.00 links to a post, thence; N 84 degrees 03' E 20.00 to the beg." 18 acres - also 5 acres E end of NW SE 32-14-6 - all in sec 32 T 14N RGE 3rd Pm. Chy Rec "0" page 77.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
Hagerman
Hagerman
The following is from
The "History of Lycoming County, Penna."
by John F. Meginness, 1892.
HAGERMAN'S RUN
Hagerman's run, which drains the northern slope of Bald Eagle mountain, and emerges through a wild and romantic ravine, flows through the borough. The original reservoir of the Williamsport Water Company was built at the mouth of the ravine. It is now used by Gottlieb Fulmer as an ice pond. When there was a demand for more water the company built a storage reservoir further up the ravine, which is used in connection with its larger reservoir in Mosquito valley.
This stream takes its name from Aaron [Farmer] Hagerman. He was born in Holland about 1754 and came to this country before the Revolutionary war. After landing he settled in New Jersey, when he married. When he came to the West Branch is unknown, but it was probably after peace. He settled on the run which now bears his name, near where Koch's brewery stands. There is no record to show that he took up land, but the family tradition is that he moved across the river and located on the west side of Lycoming creek, on what was afterwards known as the Everett farm, about 1790. There he purchased eighty acres, which he added to in later years. By referring to the assessment list of Lycoming township in 1796 and 1800 his name will be found, together with his son James. In 1800 his age was given at forty-six, and that of his son at twenty two.
Aaron Hagerman and wife had four sons and four daughters, viz: James [farmer, Trustee of Cemetery, wife Christiana]; Isaiah, (born, December 9, 1786; died October 1, 1861,) [Church Elder]; Susan; Mary; Amariah; Samuel; Sarah, and Hannah. Mary married Peter Vananda. Isaiah, who is well remembered, married Rebecca Drake. They had nine children, viz: Asenath; Julia Ann; Mary; Jane; George; Augustus H.; Joseph; Elizabeth, and Sarah. Julia Ann married Samuel Strayer and was the mother of Mrs. S. L. Gage, of Williamsport.
Also mention: William and Margaret Clark Hagerman ?? and John and Lydia
Wheeland Hagerman ?? , no mention of family members..
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
The following is from
The "History of Lycoming County, Penna."
by John F. Meginness, 1892.
HAGERMAN'S RUN
Hagerman's run, which drains the northern slope of Bald Eagle mountain, and emerges through a wild and romantic ravine, flows through the borough. The original reservoir of the Williamsport Water Company was built at the mouth of the ravine. It is now used by Gottlieb Fulmer as an ice pond. When there was a demand for more water the company built a storage reservoir further up the ravine, which is used in connection with its larger reservoir in Mosquito valley.
This stream takes its name from Aaron [Farmer] Hagerman. He was born in Holland about 1754 and came to this country before the Revolutionary war. After landing he settled in New Jersey, when he married. When he came to the West Branch is unknown, but it was probably after peace. He settled on the run which now bears his name, near where Koch's brewery stands. There is no record to show that he took up land, but the family tradition is that he moved across the river and located on the west side of Lycoming creek, on what was afterwards known as the Everett farm, about 1790. There he purchased eighty acres, which he added to in later years. By referring to the assessment list of Lycoming township in 1796 and 1800 his name will be found, together with his son James. In 1800 his age was given at forty-six, and that of his son at twenty two.
Aaron Hagerman and wife had four sons and four daughters, viz: James [farmer, Trustee of Cemetery, wife Christiana]; Isaiah, (born, December 9, 1786; died October 1, 1861,) [Church Elder]; Susan; Mary; Amariah; Samuel; Sarah, and Hannah. Mary married Peter Vananda. Isaiah, who is well remembered, married Rebecca Drake. They had nine children, viz: Asenath; Julia Ann; Mary; Jane; George; Augustus H.; Joseph; Elizabeth, and Sarah. Julia Ann married Samuel Strayer and was the mother of Mrs. S. L. Gage, of Williamsport.
Also mention: William and Margaret Clark Hagerman ?? and John and Lydia
Wheeland Hagerman ?? , no mention of family members..
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
FOUR FAMILIES ALONG JONATHAN CREEK
FOUR FAMILIES ALONG JONATHAN CREEK
by
ORRIS DREW
The story starts about 1794 or 95 in Tennessee. A young Job Bolin marries Pricilla ? and they start a family. They have a little boy, James, in 1796 and then Job dies. Pricilla marries Archibald Standerfer and they have their first child together in 1798 or 99. They move to Illinois before 1820 and one final known child, Franklin in born.
Meanwhile, in 1792, over in South Carolina, Langston Drew with his wife, Nancy and three little boys sell the last of their inherited property and start west. They are next found in 1811 in Gibson County, Indiana, with two boys and four girls. The oldest boy, John, marries and several children are born before the family moves to Hamilton County, Illinois, around 1818, where a couple more children are born. John's children are Margaret, Sarah, Chesley, James, Paulina, John, Frederick, and Madison, John Drew moves north to Shelby County, Illinois in the late 1820s and onto Jonathan Creek in 1830.
And over in Fleming County, Kentucky, Isaac Fulton Jr. and Elizabeth Bennington Crail have married and started a family of five-- Martha, Thomas, Isaac, John B., and James. They all marry in Fleming County. Thomas marries Patsy ? and has one Child, Jane, before moving to Jonathan Creek about 1830. After the move to Illinois, Thomas and Patsy Fulton continue to have children until her death. Besides Jane, who I've already mentioned, they had Margaret, Elizabeth J., John, William W., Arminda, James and Martha, nicknamed Patsy. Patsy ( the mother) dies 27 January 1845, probably from complications of childbirth. Thomas probably hired a housekeeper named Elizabeth Fletcher. That may or may not be a true statement, but we do know that Thomas Fulton married Elizabeth Fletcher 17 November 1845. He was 48 years old and she was fifteen. At this time I have no idea where Elizabeth Fletcher came from to Moultrie County nor who her parents were. Thomas and Elizabeth Fletcher Fulton have five children before he dies 18 November 1856. They are Thomas, Zerelda, Amy, Isaac and Robert R. Fulton.
John B. Fulton came to live on Jonathan Creek in 1838. With him were his wife, Amy Hardin, and five children --Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Isaac and Angeline. After they arrived on the banks of Jonathan Creek, they had Barnabus, Permelia and John B. Then of 14 December 1847, Amy Hardin Fulton dies. John B. married Martha Ann Mathews on 24 December 1850. They have Eliza, James, Thomas, Wesley and David. John B. Fulton dies 22 December 1863 and on 31 January 1866, Martha Ann Fulton marries Albert Berry. They have no children.
Now also in 1830 came the Standerfer's up from Hamilton County, Illinois to Shelby County, Illinois. In the history book, History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois ( Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887) on page 88, it tells of the Standerfers coming to what was then Shelby County (now Moultrie County which came into being in 1843) and settling in what is now Jonathan Creek Township about seven or eight miles northeast of the present Sullivan, Illinois. In the history book, Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Cos., Illinois ( Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough & Co., 1881) on page 274 it tells that Archibald Standerfer and his family came to what would be Jonathan Creek Township in 1830. Also on page 46 of the same publication it notes that he was an early settler. In an unpublished work entitle, Bolin 1-2 by Norman Bolin, the writer tells of an interview with H.E. Bracken, grandson of James Bolin, wherein he tells states that James Bolin with his half-brothers, Jerry, (Jeremiah), Frank (Franklin), and Arch (Archibald ) and their sister Sally (Sarah) came to Moultrie County at the same time. Although Mr Bracken could remember no others, William also came with them, as did their sister Elizabeth. Their brother Job stayed in Hamilton County as he was already married and evidently his wife wouldn't leave her family. James Bolin was already married at this time and they came to the creek with four little children. Elizabeth Standerfer, the oldest of the Standerfer children was married to Ben Auxer.
On 10 December 1857, Elizabeth Fletcher Fulton, widow of Thomas Fulton marries Franklin Standerfer, who had been married to Paulina " Polly" Drew. In 1858, in Moultrie County, Illinois their son Franklin is born. It is likely he had some full brothers as Elizabeth is only 28 at his birth. I have no further records.
In 1860, the census records show the five children of Franklin and Paulina, the five children of Elizabeth and Thomas and their son Franklin. So, with the first "family" of Thomas Fulton being eight children and second being five and the first family of Franklin Standerfer being five, the family is now nineteen and encompasses all four families.
The combined second generation of the four familes is forty-three. Standerfers with eight, including stepson James Bolin, Tom Fulton with thirteen, John Fulton with thirteen and John Drew with eight.
Now the mixing takes place! William Standerfer marries Margaret "Peggy" Drew 10 December, 1829. Archibald Standerfer Jr. marries Sarah " Sally" Drew 14 April 1830. Franklin Standerfer marries Paulina "Polly" Drew 18 March 1841. Chelsley Drew marries Malitha Bolin 26 September 1844 ( She was 14) . William Bolin marries Jane Fulton 6 September 1847. Then Madison "Matt" Drew marries Martha Ann Standerfer 8 March 1857. Martha Ann is third generation, daughter of Jeremiah Standerfer. Andrew Standerfer marries Zerelda Fulton 19 July 1866. Andrew and Zerelda are step-brother and sister of Franklin Standerfer-Paulina Drew-Thomas Fulton-Elizabeth Fletcher family.
Thomas Fulton, son of Thomas marries Mahulda Elizabeth "Huldy" Drew 14 November 1867. She is third generation daughter of Chelsey and Malitha Bolin Drew. Benjamin Standerfer, third generation son of Archibald Jr. and Sarah Drew Standerfer marries Martha "Patsy" Fulton, daughter of Thomas in Douglas County, Illinois in May 1867. Margaret Bolin, daughter of William and Jane Fulton Bolin, marries Charles William Drew (first cousins and both third generation) 4 February 1882. Thomas D. Fulton, son of John , marries Amy Bolin, third generation daughter of his cousin Jane, 7 May 1883.
Then suddenly about 1883, the Standerfers are gone from the creek. Only one family even remains in Moultrie County. That is the family of Oliver Standerfer, son of Benjamin and his first wife, Jane Moon. (Grandson of Archibald Jr. and Sarah Drew Standerfer). The same is true of the Fultons. One family, David, youngest son of John, and his descendants remain on the creek. Shortly after 1900, only one Drew family remains on the creek. Charles Drew and some of his descendants still remained after 1900. Most of the Bolin family do not leave the area.
And now, at the beginning of 2000, the name Fulton is represented on the creek by Elvon Fulton, grandson of David, youngest son of John. The last of the Thomas Fulton's family left the area shortly after 1880. Charles E. Bolin, of the line of William and Jane Fulton Bolin is the only one with the Bolin name living on the creek. And Orris Drew, of the line of Chessley and Malitha Bolin Drew is the only one with the Drew name. When these three men die or move off the creek, the names will leave with them. Elvon Fulton never married. Charles Bolin's only son left the area some time ago and Orris Drew only had daughters.
In the late 1880s members of the four families owned most of the 21 sections (640 acres in a section) of farmland along the Jonathan Creek. At the beginning of 2000, descendants are only in six sections and have collectively no more that 2400 acres.
Possibly because of a need to improve their situation, or a desire for adventure, the lives of these four families along Jonathan Creek have forever touched and enhanced the history of Moultrie County, Illinois.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
by
ORRIS DREW
The story starts about 1794 or 95 in Tennessee. A young Job Bolin marries Pricilla ? and they start a family. They have a little boy, James, in 1796 and then Job dies. Pricilla marries Archibald Standerfer and they have their first child together in 1798 or 99. They move to Illinois before 1820 and one final known child, Franklin in born.
Meanwhile, in 1792, over in South Carolina, Langston Drew with his wife, Nancy and three little boys sell the last of their inherited property and start west. They are next found in 1811 in Gibson County, Indiana, with two boys and four girls. The oldest boy, John, marries and several children are born before the family moves to Hamilton County, Illinois, around 1818, where a couple more children are born. John's children are Margaret, Sarah, Chesley, James, Paulina, John, Frederick, and Madison, John Drew moves north to Shelby County, Illinois in the late 1820s and onto Jonathan Creek in 1830.
And over in Fleming County, Kentucky, Isaac Fulton Jr. and Elizabeth Bennington Crail have married and started a family of five-- Martha, Thomas, Isaac, John B., and James. They all marry in Fleming County. Thomas marries Patsy ? and has one Child, Jane, before moving to Jonathan Creek about 1830. After the move to Illinois, Thomas and Patsy Fulton continue to have children until her death. Besides Jane, who I've already mentioned, they had Margaret, Elizabeth J., John, William W., Arminda, James and Martha, nicknamed Patsy. Patsy ( the mother) dies 27 January 1845, probably from complications of childbirth. Thomas probably hired a housekeeper named Elizabeth Fletcher. That may or may not be a true statement, but we do know that Thomas Fulton married Elizabeth Fletcher 17 November 1845. He was 48 years old and she was fifteen. At this time I have no idea where Elizabeth Fletcher came from to Moultrie County nor who her parents were. Thomas and Elizabeth Fletcher Fulton have five children before he dies 18 November 1856. They are Thomas, Zerelda, Amy, Isaac and Robert R. Fulton.
John B. Fulton came to live on Jonathan Creek in 1838. With him were his wife, Amy Hardin, and five children --Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Isaac and Angeline. After they arrived on the banks of Jonathan Creek, they had Barnabus, Permelia and John B. Then of 14 December 1847, Amy Hardin Fulton dies. John B. married Martha Ann Mathews on 24 December 1850. They have Eliza, James, Thomas, Wesley and David. John B. Fulton dies 22 December 1863 and on 31 January 1866, Martha Ann Fulton marries Albert Berry. They have no children.
Now also in 1830 came the Standerfer's up from Hamilton County, Illinois to Shelby County, Illinois. In the history book, History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois ( Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887) on page 88, it tells of the Standerfers coming to what was then Shelby County (now Moultrie County which came into being in 1843) and settling in what is now Jonathan Creek Township about seven or eight miles northeast of the present Sullivan, Illinois. In the history book, Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Cos., Illinois ( Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough & Co., 1881) on page 274 it tells that Archibald Standerfer and his family came to what would be Jonathan Creek Township in 1830. Also on page 46 of the same publication it notes that he was an early settler. In an unpublished work entitle, Bolin 1-2 by Norman Bolin, the writer tells of an interview with H.E. Bracken, grandson of James Bolin, wherein he tells states that James Bolin with his half-brothers, Jerry, (Jeremiah), Frank (Franklin), and Arch (Archibald ) and their sister Sally (Sarah) came to Moultrie County at the same time. Although Mr Bracken could remember no others, William also came with them, as did their sister Elizabeth. Their brother Job stayed in Hamilton County as he was already married and evidently his wife wouldn't leave her family. James Bolin was already married at this time and they came to the creek with four little children. Elizabeth Standerfer, the oldest of the Standerfer children was married to Ben Auxer.
On 10 December 1857, Elizabeth Fletcher Fulton, widow of Thomas Fulton marries Franklin Standerfer, who had been married to Paulina " Polly" Drew. In 1858, in Moultrie County, Illinois their son Franklin is born. It is likely he had some full brothers as Elizabeth is only 28 at his birth. I have no further records.
In 1860, the census records show the five children of Franklin and Paulina, the five children of Elizabeth and Thomas and their son Franklin. So, with the first "family" of Thomas Fulton being eight children and second being five and the first family of Franklin Standerfer being five, the family is now nineteen and encompasses all four families.
The combined second generation of the four familes is forty-three. Standerfers with eight, including stepson James Bolin, Tom Fulton with thirteen, John Fulton with thirteen and John Drew with eight.
Now the mixing takes place! William Standerfer marries Margaret "Peggy" Drew 10 December, 1829. Archibald Standerfer Jr. marries Sarah " Sally" Drew 14 April 1830. Franklin Standerfer marries Paulina "Polly" Drew 18 March 1841. Chelsley Drew marries Malitha Bolin 26 September 1844 ( She was 14) . William Bolin marries Jane Fulton 6 September 1847. Then Madison "Matt" Drew marries Martha Ann Standerfer 8 March 1857. Martha Ann is third generation, daughter of Jeremiah Standerfer. Andrew Standerfer marries Zerelda Fulton 19 July 1866. Andrew and Zerelda are step-brother and sister of Franklin Standerfer-Paulina Drew-Thomas Fulton-Elizabeth Fletcher family.
Thomas Fulton, son of Thomas marries Mahulda Elizabeth "Huldy" Drew 14 November 1867. She is third generation daughter of Chelsey and Malitha Bolin Drew. Benjamin Standerfer, third generation son of Archibald Jr. and Sarah Drew Standerfer marries Martha "Patsy" Fulton, daughter of Thomas in Douglas County, Illinois in May 1867. Margaret Bolin, daughter of William and Jane Fulton Bolin, marries Charles William Drew (first cousins and both third generation) 4 February 1882. Thomas D. Fulton, son of John , marries Amy Bolin, third generation daughter of his cousin Jane, 7 May 1883.
Then suddenly about 1883, the Standerfers are gone from the creek. Only one family even remains in Moultrie County. That is the family of Oliver Standerfer, son of Benjamin and his first wife, Jane Moon. (Grandson of Archibald Jr. and Sarah Drew Standerfer). The same is true of the Fultons. One family, David, youngest son of John, and his descendants remain on the creek. Shortly after 1900, only one Drew family remains on the creek. Charles Drew and some of his descendants still remained after 1900. Most of the Bolin family do not leave the area.
And now, at the beginning of 2000, the name Fulton is represented on the creek by Elvon Fulton, grandson of David, youngest son of John. The last of the Thomas Fulton's family left the area shortly after 1880. Charles E. Bolin, of the line of William and Jane Fulton Bolin is the only one with the Bolin name living on the creek. And Orris Drew, of the line of Chessley and Malitha Bolin Drew is the only one with the Drew name. When these three men die or move off the creek, the names will leave with them. Elvon Fulton never married. Charles Bolin's only son left the area some time ago and Orris Drew only had daughters.
In the late 1880s members of the four families owned most of the 21 sections (640 acres in a section) of farmland along the Jonathan Creek. At the beginning of 2000, descendants are only in six sections and have collectively no more that 2400 acres.
Possibly because of a need to improve their situation, or a desire for adventure, the lives of these four families along Jonathan Creek have forever touched and enhanced the history of Moultrie County, Illinois.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
Grace Eleanor Bolin
Grace Eleanor Bolin
I was born Grace Eleanor Bolin on a Tuesday, Dec 29, 1896 at Arthur Illinois.
These are some of the things I can remember my Mother telling that I did when I was very young and don't remember doing. I guess about the first was when I started walking, then we have to climb next. In the 18 and early 1900's the salt, pepper, sugar, syrup and jelly were left on the table to save steps. Also when the dishes were washed and dried, they were never left to dry like we do now, enough dishes to set the table for the next meal were stacked in the middle of the table and covered. I was walking but it wasn't known yet that I was starting to climb. One day Mother said she went outside for a little while, when she came in I was setting in the middle of the table playing with the dishes. Then another time I wanted a spoon to play with in the dirt, Mother would not let me have it so I was mad and went outside when I passed the window I made a face at her and she happened to be looking that way. I guess I got my first spanking for that.
One time my Dad had killed a skunk and cleaned it so Mom could use it to get the grease to mix with turpentine to grease us with when we had a cold. She roasted it and pulled it out on the oven door to cool. I went in the kitchen and was very quiet. When she went in to see what I was doing I was pulling a piece of meat off the skunk and she was horrified when I ate it before she could get it away from me.
I can sort of remember one day she said my Dad was in the kitchen reading, the door was open so he said - Grace, go shut the door its cold. I went over and put my hand on the door and said - No the door not cold, but of course I had to shut it anyway.
About the first I can remember was our neighbor across the road. Always when Mom took us there, Mrs. Floyd would say - Gracie, don't you want a cookie? Of course we all got a cookie. One day we went over and went in, there was four of us then. I followed last and when I got to the door I stood there and said - Mrs. Floyd, do you have a cookie. Right quick Mom said Gracie, when I get you home I will whip you. The old lady said No Annie, that is just what I have been waiting for. One day over there Nellie, the oldest girl was swinging us in the old barrel stave hammock and I rolled out. I wasn't hurt but I sure cried, it hurt so bad to think her of all people she would let me roll out and then swing over me before she could stop.
I must have been four or five when we had a red milk cow with a small black and white calf, every time I would go any farther than the well the old cow would run at me, she never let me get closer to the fence than the well. I remember her.
I remember when Grandma Bolin and Great Grandma Purvis, Grandma Bolin's Mother lived with them, they both had pneumonia at the same time, both died and were buried the same day. Ruth and I both had pneumonia at the same time. The Dr. set by the bed all day and night and gave us each a tablespoon of whiskey every hour. I remember once they gave us each a tablespoon of castor oil. Ruth kept hers down but mine all came back up on my pillow. Tom Floyd was setting close to me and I was a the foot of the bed, he reached in his pocket and got a few pennies and gave them to me, He was Mrs. Floyd's oldest son.
Ruth and I were better so they let us get up and dress and go into the parlor for the services before they took Grandma and Great Grandma to the cemetery, then we had to go right back to bed. They had pennies laying on one's eyes, I wanted to know why and Mom said it was to keep her eyes shut.
At that time and years later they were always kept at home and were buried as soon as they were dressed and taken straight to the cemetery and not very many went. The casket was put in a home made wooden box and set in the back of the wagon or a spring wagon. That was in Jan. 1902. It wasn't long till Grandpa stayed with us and Aunt Pencie was married and her and Uncle Henry lived on Grandpa's place. Aunt Pencie had a house down in the creek bottom, after she was married they moved it down to our house to make it bigger.
My Dad was having trouble and the Dr. told him to sell the place and fix up a covered wagon and just travel, he said he had consumption, which is now called tuberculosis. I think it was the next year that we started moving in the covered wagons. Dad drove one and his father drove the other. We started school in Illinois, I was in the first grade when we came to Montana the first time. We went to the Kerlew school and lived on the place where Harry and Grace Mittower live now, the place then belonged to Siples, Dad sold it to Charlie Rose. While there I had a man teacher and I didn't know men could teach school. I sure was disappointed when I saw him.
I can remember we stopped at Grandpa Pippey's house and us girls Ruth, Ester and I went for a walk and coming back we seen such a big yellow cat setting by a bush, I know it was the biggest cat I have ever seen. I can't remember much about the trip moving, but I know when we got to the big bridge at Stevensville the horses were afraid because of the high steel top. Barney the big footed horse was afraid, we set there for a while and then forded the river. Mother was so afraid the water would wash the wagons down the river, Dad was sure Barney would run away and he knew he couldn't hold him. We couldn't have stayed there long because in April 1904 Norman was born in Benton city, Missouri. Where we lived in Missouri was a nice big white house and was close to school. That was where we bought the new Surrey with the fringe around the top. A surrey is just a two seated buggy and you use two horses to pull it instead of one.
One time three men were putting on a show, three blind mice, and stayed at our place over night and blacked their faces to look like Negro’s, it was put on at the school house and we went to see it. When we were small they went to all the Barnum & Bailey shows to see the circus. That year the mice were so bad they ate up everything and there was no grain crop, so they left there. Once when we went by a school house at noon or recess, the kids were playing ball and they all stopped to look at us, as one kid said - Oh look at the gypsies another one said no they are not gypsies, just look at those big horses. Mom said it was somewhere in Missouri.
The second year I was in school we were back in Montana, lived down across the railroad track where the highway is now. Dad worked for Whit Flowers. It was that year that Lizzie Rose started to school. She later was one of Virginia' s teachers. It was there that I made my first biscuits and Mother got bawled out when my dad came in and caught me rolling them.
Then we were in Canada one time, I remember one time when it was terribly cold and a couple of men drove in to our house and wanted to stay over night. My Dad told them to sleep in the wagon they were driving. I think they gave them some covers and they slept out there. Mom was so worried because she was afraid they would freeze to death. dad said they had so much whiskey inside that they couldn't freeze and they didn't.
One day going to school we seen a huge snake by the road, back of its head was a large bulge. We wanted to know what it was, Grandpa said it had swallowed a frog so he took out his knife and caught the snake and cut into it and out came a big frog and hopped away.
Norman was just walking, he had a real pretty blue and white checked pleated skirt and blouse, the little boys then wore them till they were three or four years old. I know we were there in the summer time as we were working in the garden one day and later Norman went back and pulled up the row of green onions we had for winter onions.
Grandpa used to walk to school with us every day and come after us in the evening because there were so many range cattle. One day they were gone and Grandpa didn’ t get home in time to come after us so the teacher had a boy take us home on his horse. He was the meanest kid in school. He put Ruth up, then Esther and was going to put me up
in back. I wouldn’t get up there and slide off, no matter what he said, I wouldn’t get up there. He would say Grace, the cows will get you. I didn’t care, I would walk and walk. I did, but he wouldn’t walk even if I didn’t get up. I walked by the horse all the way but the cows didn’t bother me.
We didn’t have any fruit there only dried peaches, apricots and apples. they didn’t raise any fresh fruit but in the pasture along the creek we found real nice strawberries and had a short cake, it was sure good.
Once we went to Washington, we lived in Ritzville for a few weeks. The whirl winds were sometimes awful bad, we lived close to a Catholic church.
One time we went to Texas and stayed three weeks, Grandpa had a sister there at Houston. It was right on the coast and sometimes the storms were terrible. They had one lemon tree that had one lemon on it, it looked like it was as big as a pint cup. They wouldn’t pick because they wanted to see how big it would get.
One time we stopped along the river, there was a turn in the road and a real wide place, was a perfect place to camp with trees close to the river. We stayed there a few days and Dad put up a rope closeline and Mom washed, seemed like all the time till she got our clothes all washed. While there I remember our Dad said if we took a hair out of the horses tail and put it in a can of water it would turn into a snake, of course the next morning we went to look but there was nothing in the can but water.
I don’t know where it was, Dad worked sometimes in a lumber yard hauling lumber.
When we lived in the Ozarks in Missouri we had a big peach orchard on a hill side. We had a garden and peanut patch and a couple of rows of sweet potatoes and white potatoes down between the orchard and the creek. It was sandy down there. They cut a tub full of potatoes to plant. Ruth and I had to carry that tub down there to plant, it was so heavy we just couldn’t carry it any farther so we set it down. Then a big snake came crawling our way, we picked that tub up and run as hard as we could and didn’t even know we had anything.
I was eleven then and Ruth was twelve. Our sister Ester who was nine and a half died there late in august just after school started. She had a sore throat for several days. (diphtheria)
Ruth and I had been at the neighbors one afternoon and going home we seen some small animals playing in the road. We had to go through a big woods, we slipped up easy and grabbed one by the tail, they were small, about like kittens. We thought we might have a bear and we run and kept watching for an animal, a bear or something. We got home and Dad said - Well you got a coon, He put it in a box and let us keep it overnight and turned it loose.
We left there after they got the sweet potatoes and peanuts in. We had a big gunnysack half full of peanuts and a wagon box rounded up with sweet potatoes but the other potatoes didn’t make anything. That fall they went back to Illinois and Grandpa died in February 1912. We left there that spring and went back to Montana, as badly broke as anybody could get. We traveled in the wagons for about three years part time. I just can’t remember much about it, Mother said we moved to Montana seven times from other places. We lived in a house across the creek from the Cherry place for a while, then Dad bought the Cherry place back from Roy Everson’s Dad and we lived there till late fall and Dad built a log house across the river from Bulie Lidell. The next spring Fritz, Frank and Johnnie were born.
I remember evenings, Grandpa Bolin would set by the fire and us kids all set around with s small one or two on his knees, and h would sing to us. One was:
Old Dan Tucker went out a hunting,
First thing he saw was an old sow rooting
Her nose in the ground and her tail up a shaking
Was too late to get his supper
Washed his face in a frying pan and
Combed his hair with a fine tooth comb
Supper’s over and breakfasts a cookin
Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
Then there was one about Mr Bull frog wit a courtin to see Miss Molly settin on a lilly pad, but I can’t remember any more of it.
Our Dad died at Stevensville, Montana in February 1927.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
I was born Grace Eleanor Bolin on a Tuesday, Dec 29, 1896 at Arthur Illinois.
These are some of the things I can remember my Mother telling that I did when I was very young and don't remember doing. I guess about the first was when I started walking, then we have to climb next. In the 18 and early 1900's the salt, pepper, sugar, syrup and jelly were left on the table to save steps. Also when the dishes were washed and dried, they were never left to dry like we do now, enough dishes to set the table for the next meal were stacked in the middle of the table and covered. I was walking but it wasn't known yet that I was starting to climb. One day Mother said she went outside for a little while, when she came in I was setting in the middle of the table playing with the dishes. Then another time I wanted a spoon to play with in the dirt, Mother would not let me have it so I was mad and went outside when I passed the window I made a face at her and she happened to be looking that way. I guess I got my first spanking for that.
One time my Dad had killed a skunk and cleaned it so Mom could use it to get the grease to mix with turpentine to grease us with when we had a cold. She roasted it and pulled it out on the oven door to cool. I went in the kitchen and was very quiet. When she went in to see what I was doing I was pulling a piece of meat off the skunk and she was horrified when I ate it before she could get it away from me.
I can sort of remember one day she said my Dad was in the kitchen reading, the door was open so he said - Grace, go shut the door its cold. I went over and put my hand on the door and said - No the door not cold, but of course I had to shut it anyway.
About the first I can remember was our neighbor across the road. Always when Mom took us there, Mrs. Floyd would say - Gracie, don't you want a cookie? Of course we all got a cookie. One day we went over and went in, there was four of us then. I followed last and when I got to the door I stood there and said - Mrs. Floyd, do you have a cookie. Right quick Mom said Gracie, when I get you home I will whip you. The old lady said No Annie, that is just what I have been waiting for. One day over there Nellie, the oldest girl was swinging us in the old barrel stave hammock and I rolled out. I wasn't hurt but I sure cried, it hurt so bad to think her of all people she would let me roll out and then swing over me before she could stop.
I must have been four or five when we had a red milk cow with a small black and white calf, every time I would go any farther than the well the old cow would run at me, she never let me get closer to the fence than the well. I remember her.
I remember when Grandma Bolin and Great Grandma Purvis, Grandma Bolin's Mother lived with them, they both had pneumonia at the same time, both died and were buried the same day. Ruth and I both had pneumonia at the same time. The Dr. set by the bed all day and night and gave us each a tablespoon of whiskey every hour. I remember once they gave us each a tablespoon of castor oil. Ruth kept hers down but mine all came back up on my pillow. Tom Floyd was setting close to me and I was a the foot of the bed, he reached in his pocket and got a few pennies and gave them to me, He was Mrs. Floyd's oldest son.
Ruth and I were better so they let us get up and dress and go into the parlor for the services before they took Grandma and Great Grandma to the cemetery, then we had to go right back to bed. They had pennies laying on one's eyes, I wanted to know why and Mom said it was to keep her eyes shut.
At that time and years later they were always kept at home and were buried as soon as they were dressed and taken straight to the cemetery and not very many went. The casket was put in a home made wooden box and set in the back of the wagon or a spring wagon. That was in Jan. 1902. It wasn't long till Grandpa stayed with us and Aunt Pencie was married and her and Uncle Henry lived on Grandpa's place. Aunt Pencie had a house down in the creek bottom, after she was married they moved it down to our house to make it bigger.
My Dad was having trouble and the Dr. told him to sell the place and fix up a covered wagon and just travel, he said he had consumption, which is now called tuberculosis. I think it was the next year that we started moving in the covered wagons. Dad drove one and his father drove the other. We started school in Illinois, I was in the first grade when we came to Montana the first time. We went to the Kerlew school and lived on the place where Harry and Grace Mittower live now, the place then belonged to Siples, Dad sold it to Charlie Rose. While there I had a man teacher and I didn't know men could teach school. I sure was disappointed when I saw him.
I can remember we stopped at Grandpa Pippey's house and us girls Ruth, Ester and I went for a walk and coming back we seen such a big yellow cat setting by a bush, I know it was the biggest cat I have ever seen. I can't remember much about the trip moving, but I know when we got to the big bridge at Stevensville the horses were afraid because of the high steel top. Barney the big footed horse was afraid, we set there for a while and then forded the river. Mother was so afraid the water would wash the wagons down the river, Dad was sure Barney would run away and he knew he couldn't hold him. We couldn't have stayed there long because in April 1904 Norman was born in Benton city, Missouri. Where we lived in Missouri was a nice big white house and was close to school. That was where we bought the new Surrey with the fringe around the top. A surrey is just a two seated buggy and you use two horses to pull it instead of one.
One time three men were putting on a show, three blind mice, and stayed at our place over night and blacked their faces to look like Negro’s, it was put on at the school house and we went to see it. When we were small they went to all the Barnum & Bailey shows to see the circus. That year the mice were so bad they ate up everything and there was no grain crop, so they left there. Once when we went by a school house at noon or recess, the kids were playing ball and they all stopped to look at us, as one kid said - Oh look at the gypsies another one said no they are not gypsies, just look at those big horses. Mom said it was somewhere in Missouri.
The second year I was in school we were back in Montana, lived down across the railroad track where the highway is now. Dad worked for Whit Flowers. It was that year that Lizzie Rose started to school. She later was one of Virginia' s teachers. It was there that I made my first biscuits and Mother got bawled out when my dad came in and caught me rolling them.
Then we were in Canada one time, I remember one time when it was terribly cold and a couple of men drove in to our house and wanted to stay over night. My Dad told them to sleep in the wagon they were driving. I think they gave them some covers and they slept out there. Mom was so worried because she was afraid they would freeze to death. dad said they had so much whiskey inside that they couldn't freeze and they didn't.
One day going to school we seen a huge snake by the road, back of its head was a large bulge. We wanted to know what it was, Grandpa said it had swallowed a frog so he took out his knife and caught the snake and cut into it and out came a big frog and hopped away.
Norman was just walking, he had a real pretty blue and white checked pleated skirt and blouse, the little boys then wore them till they were three or four years old. I know we were there in the summer time as we were working in the garden one day and later Norman went back and pulled up the row of green onions we had for winter onions.
Grandpa used to walk to school with us every day and come after us in the evening because there were so many range cattle. One day they were gone and Grandpa didn’ t get home in time to come after us so the teacher had a boy take us home on his horse. He was the meanest kid in school. He put Ruth up, then Esther and was going to put me up
in back. I wouldn’t get up there and slide off, no matter what he said, I wouldn’t get up there. He would say Grace, the cows will get you. I didn’t care, I would walk and walk. I did, but he wouldn’t walk even if I didn’t get up. I walked by the horse all the way but the cows didn’t bother me.
We didn’t have any fruit there only dried peaches, apricots and apples. they didn’t raise any fresh fruit but in the pasture along the creek we found real nice strawberries and had a short cake, it was sure good.
Once we went to Washington, we lived in Ritzville for a few weeks. The whirl winds were sometimes awful bad, we lived close to a Catholic church.
One time we went to Texas and stayed three weeks, Grandpa had a sister there at Houston. It was right on the coast and sometimes the storms were terrible. They had one lemon tree that had one lemon on it, it looked like it was as big as a pint cup. They wouldn’t pick because they wanted to see how big it would get.
One time we stopped along the river, there was a turn in the road and a real wide place, was a perfect place to camp with trees close to the river. We stayed there a few days and Dad put up a rope closeline and Mom washed, seemed like all the time till she got our clothes all washed. While there I remember our Dad said if we took a hair out of the horses tail and put it in a can of water it would turn into a snake, of course the next morning we went to look but there was nothing in the can but water.
I don’t know where it was, Dad worked sometimes in a lumber yard hauling lumber.
When we lived in the Ozarks in Missouri we had a big peach orchard on a hill side. We had a garden and peanut patch and a couple of rows of sweet potatoes and white potatoes down between the orchard and the creek. It was sandy down there. They cut a tub full of potatoes to plant. Ruth and I had to carry that tub down there to plant, it was so heavy we just couldn’t carry it any farther so we set it down. Then a big snake came crawling our way, we picked that tub up and run as hard as we could and didn’t even know we had anything.
I was eleven then and Ruth was twelve. Our sister Ester who was nine and a half died there late in august just after school started. She had a sore throat for several days. (diphtheria)
Ruth and I had been at the neighbors one afternoon and going home we seen some small animals playing in the road. We had to go through a big woods, we slipped up easy and grabbed one by the tail, they were small, about like kittens. We thought we might have a bear and we run and kept watching for an animal, a bear or something. We got home and Dad said - Well you got a coon, He put it in a box and let us keep it overnight and turned it loose.
We left there after they got the sweet potatoes and peanuts in. We had a big gunnysack half full of peanuts and a wagon box rounded up with sweet potatoes but the other potatoes didn’t make anything. That fall they went back to Illinois and Grandpa died in February 1912. We left there that spring and went back to Montana, as badly broke as anybody could get. We traveled in the wagons for about three years part time. I just can’t remember much about it, Mother said we moved to Montana seven times from other places. We lived in a house across the creek from the Cherry place for a while, then Dad bought the Cherry place back from Roy Everson’s Dad and we lived there till late fall and Dad built a log house across the river from Bulie Lidell. The next spring Fritz, Frank and Johnnie were born.
I remember evenings, Grandpa Bolin would set by the fire and us kids all set around with s small one or two on his knees, and h would sing to us. One was:
Old Dan Tucker went out a hunting,
First thing he saw was an old sow rooting
Her nose in the ground and her tail up a shaking
Was too late to get his supper
Washed his face in a frying pan and
Combed his hair with a fine tooth comb
Supper’s over and breakfasts a cookin
Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
Then there was one about Mr Bull frog wit a courtin to see Miss Molly settin on a lilly pad, but I can’t remember any more of it.
Our Dad died at Stevensville, Montana in February 1927.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
Grace Eleanor Bolin
Grace Eleanor Bolin
I was born Grace Eleanor Bolin on a Tuesday, Dec 29, 1896 at Arthur Illinois.
These are some of the things I can remember my Mother telling that I did when I was very young and don't remember doing. I guess about the first was when I started walking, then we have to climb next. In the 18 and early 1900's the salt, pepper, sugar, syrup and jelly were left on the table to save steps. Also when the dishes were washed and dried, they were never left to dry like we do now, enough dishes to set the table for the next meal were stacked in the middle of the table and covered. I was walking but it wasn't known yet that I was starting to climb. One day Mother said she went outside for a little while, when she came in I was setting in the middle of the table playing with the dishes. Then another time I wanted a spoon to play with in the dirt, Mother would not let me have it so I was mad and went outside when I passed the window I made a face at her and she happened to be looking that way. I guess I got my first spanking for that.
One time my Dad had killed a skunk and cleaned it so Mom could use it to get the grease to mix with turpentine to grease us with when we had a cold. She roasted it and pulled it out on the oven door to cool. I went in the kitchen and was very quiet. When she went in to see what I was doing I was pulling a piece of meat off the skunk and she was horrified when I ate it before she could get it away from me.
I can sort of remember one day she said my Dad was in the kitchen reading, the door was open so he said - Grace, go shut the door its cold. I went over and put my hand on the door and said - No the door not cold, but of course I had to shut it anyway.
About the first I can remember was our neighbor across the road. Always when Mom took us there, Mrs. Floyd would say - Gracie, don't you want a cookie? Of course we all got a cookie. One day we went over and went in, there was four of us then. I followed last and when I got to the door I stood there and said - Mrs. Floyd, do you have a cookie. Right quick Mom said Gracie, when I get you home I will whip you. The old lady said No Annie, that is just what I have been waiting for. One day over there Nellie, the oldest girl was swinging us in the old barrel stave hammock and I rolled out. I wasn't hurt but I sure cried, it hurt so bad to think her of all people she would let me roll out and then swing over me before she could stop.
I must have been four or five when we had a red milk cow with a small black and white calf, every time I would go any farther than the well the old cow would run at me, she never let me get closer to the fence than the well. I remember her.
I remember when Grandma Bolin and Great Grandma Purvis, Grandma Bolin's Mother lived with them, they both had pneumonia at the same time, both died and were buried the same day. Ruth and I both had pneumonia at the same time. The Dr. set by the bed all day and night and gave us each a tablespoon of whiskey every hour. I remember once they gave us each a tablespoon of castor oil. Ruth kept hers down but mine all came back up on my pillow. Tom Floyd was setting close to me and I was a the foot of the bed, he reached in his pocket and got a few pennies and gave them to me, He was Mrs. Floyd's oldest son.
Ruth and I were better so they let us get up and dress and go into the parlor for the services before they took Grandma and Great Grandma to the cemetery, then we had to go right back to bed. They had pennies laying on one's eyes, I wanted to know why and Mom said it was to keep her eyes shut.
At that time and years later they were always kept at home and were buried as soon as they were dressed and taken straight to the cemetery and not very many went. The casket was put in a home made wooden box and set in the back of the wagon or a spring wagon. That was in Jan. 1902. It wasn't long till Grandpa stayed with us and Aunt Pencie was married and her and Uncle Henry lived on Grandpa's place. Aunt Pencie had a house down in the creek bottom, after she was married they moved it down to our house to make it bigger.
My Dad was having trouble and the Dr. told him to sell the place and fix up a covered wagon and just travel, he said he had consumption, which is now called tuberculosis. I think it was the next year that we started moving in the covered wagons. Dad drove one and his father drove the other. We started school in Illinois, I was in the first grade when we came to Montana the first time. We went to the Kerlew school and lived on the place where Harry and Grace Mittower live now, the place then belonged to Siples, Dad sold it to Charlie Rose. While there I had a man teacher and I didn't know men could teach school. I sure was disappointed when I saw him.
I can remember we stopped at Grandpa Pippey's house and us girls Ruth, Ester and I went for a walk and coming back we seen such a big yellow cat setting by a bush, I know it was the biggest cat I have ever seen. I can't remember much about the trip moving, but I know when we got to the big bridge at Stevensville the horses were afraid because of the high steel top. Barney the big footed horse was afraid, we set there for a while and then forded the river. Mother was so afraid the water would wash the wagons down the river, Dad was sure Barney would run away and he knew he couldn't hold him. We couldn't have stayed there long because in April 1904 Norman was born in Benton city, Missouri. Where we lived in Missouri was a nice big white house and was close to school. That was where we bought the new Surrey with the fringe around the top. A surrey is just a two seated buggy and you use two horses to pull it instead of one.
One time three men were putting on a show, three blind mice, and stayed at our place over night and blacked their faces to look like Negro’s, it was put on at the school house and we went to see it. When we were small they went to all the Barnum & Bailey shows to see the circus. That year the mice were so bad they ate up everything and there was no grain crop, so they left there. Once when we went by a school house at noon or recess, the kids were playing ball and they all stopped to look at us, as one kid said - Oh look at the gypsies another one said no they are not gypsies, just look at those big horses. Mom said it was somewhere in Missouri.
The second year I was in school we were back in Montana, lived down across the railroad track where the highway is now. Dad worked for Whit Flowers. It was that year that Lizzie Rose started to school. She later was one of Virginia' s teachers. It was there that I made my first biscuits and Mother got bawled out when my dad came in and caught me rolling them.
Then we were in Canada one time, I remember one time when it was terribly cold and a couple of men drove in to our house and wanted to stay over night. My Dad told them to sleep in the wagon they were driving. I think they gave them some covers and they slept out there. Mom was so worried because she was afraid they would freeze to death. dad said they had so much whiskey inside that they couldn't freeze and they didn't.
One day going to school we seen a huge snake by the road, back of its head was a large bulge. We wanted to know what it was, Grandpa said it had swallowed a frog so he took out his knife and caught the snake and cut into it and out came a big frog and hopped away.
Norman was just walking, he had a real pretty blue and white checked pleated skirt and blouse, the little boys then wore them till they were three or four years old. I know we were there in the summer time as we were working in the garden one day and later Norman went back and pulled up the row of green onions we had for winter onions.
Grandpa used to walk to school with us every day and come after us in the evening because there were so many range cattle. One day they were gone and Grandpa didn’ t get home in time to come after us so the teacher had a boy take us home on his horse. He was the meanest kid in school. He put Ruth up, then Esther and was going to put me up
in back. I wouldn’t get up there and slide off, no matter what he said, I wouldn’t get up there. He would say Grace, the cows will get you. I didn’t care, I would walk and walk. I did, but he wouldn’t walk even if I didn’t get up. I walked by the horse all the way but the cows didn’t bother me.
We didn’t have any fruit there only dried peaches, apricots and apples. they didn’t raise any fresh fruit but in the pasture along the creek we found real nice strawberries and had a short cake, it was sure good.
Once we went to Washington, we lived in Ritzville for a few weeks. The whirl winds were sometimes awful bad, we lived close to a Catholic church.
One time we went to Texas and stayed three weeks, Grandpa had a sister there at Houston. It was right on the coast and sometimes the storms were terrible. They had one lemon tree that had one lemon on it, it looked like it was as big as a pint cup. They wouldn’t pick because they wanted to see how big it would get.
One time we stopped along the river, there was a turn in the road and a real wide place, was a perfect place to camp with trees close to the river. We stayed there a few days and Dad put up a rope closeline and Mom washed, seemed like all the time till she got our clothes all washed. While there I remember our Dad said if we took a hair out of the horses tail and put it in a can of water it would turn into a snake, of course the next morning we went to look but there was nothing in the can but water.
I don’t know where it was, Dad worked sometimes in a lumber yard hauling lumber.
When we lived in the Ozarks in Missouri we had a big peach orchard on a hill side. We had a garden and peanut patch and a couple of rows of sweet potatoes and white potatoes down between the orchard and the creek. It was sandy down there. They cut a tub full of potatoes to plant. Ruth and I had to carry that tub down there to plant, it was so heavy we just couldn’t carry it any farther so we set it down. Then a big snake came crawling our way, we picked that tub up and run as hard as we could and didn’t even know we had anything.
I was eleven then and Ruth was twelve. Our sister Ester who was nine and a half died there late in august just after school started. She had a sore throat for several days. (diphtheria)
Ruth and I had been at the neighbors one afternoon and going home we seen some small animals playing in the road. We had to go through a big woods, we slipped up easy and grabbed one by the tail, they were small, about like kittens. We thought we might have a bear and we run and kept watching for an animal, a bear or something. We got home and Dad said - Well you got a coon, He put it in a box and let us keep it overnight and turned it loose.
We left there after they got the sweet potatoes and peanuts in. We had a big gunnysack half full of peanuts and a wagon box rounded up with sweet potatoes but the other potatoes didn’t make anything. That fall they went back to Illinois and Grandpa died in February 1912. We left there that spring and went back to Montana, as badly broke as anybody could get. We traveled in the wagons for about three years part time. I just can’t remember much about it, Mother said we moved to Montana seven times from other places. We lived in a house across the creek from the Cherry place for a while, then Dad bought the Cherry place back from Roy Everson’s Dad and we lived there till late fall and Dad built a log house across the river from Bulie Lidell. The next spring Fritz, Frank and Johnnie were born.
I remember evenings, Grandpa Bolin would set by the fire and us kids all set around with s small one or two on his knees, and h would sing to us. One was:
Old Dan Tucker went out a hunting,
First thing he saw was an old sow rooting
Her nose in the ground and her tail up a shaking
Was too late to get his supper
Washed his face in a frying pan and
Combed his hair with a fine tooth comb
Supper’s over and breakfasts a cookin
Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
Then there was one about Mr Bull frog wit a courtin to see Miss Molly settin on a lilly pad, but I can’t remember any more of it.
Our Dad died at Stevensville, Montana in February 1927.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
I was born Grace Eleanor Bolin on a Tuesday, Dec 29, 1896 at Arthur Illinois.
These are some of the things I can remember my Mother telling that I did when I was very young and don't remember doing. I guess about the first was when I started walking, then we have to climb next. In the 18 and early 1900's the salt, pepper, sugar, syrup and jelly were left on the table to save steps. Also when the dishes were washed and dried, they were never left to dry like we do now, enough dishes to set the table for the next meal were stacked in the middle of the table and covered. I was walking but it wasn't known yet that I was starting to climb. One day Mother said she went outside for a little while, when she came in I was setting in the middle of the table playing with the dishes. Then another time I wanted a spoon to play with in the dirt, Mother would not let me have it so I was mad and went outside when I passed the window I made a face at her and she happened to be looking that way. I guess I got my first spanking for that.
One time my Dad had killed a skunk and cleaned it so Mom could use it to get the grease to mix with turpentine to grease us with when we had a cold. She roasted it and pulled it out on the oven door to cool. I went in the kitchen and was very quiet. When she went in to see what I was doing I was pulling a piece of meat off the skunk and she was horrified when I ate it before she could get it away from me.
I can sort of remember one day she said my Dad was in the kitchen reading, the door was open so he said - Grace, go shut the door its cold. I went over and put my hand on the door and said - No the door not cold, but of course I had to shut it anyway.
About the first I can remember was our neighbor across the road. Always when Mom took us there, Mrs. Floyd would say - Gracie, don't you want a cookie? Of course we all got a cookie. One day we went over and went in, there was four of us then. I followed last and when I got to the door I stood there and said - Mrs. Floyd, do you have a cookie. Right quick Mom said Gracie, when I get you home I will whip you. The old lady said No Annie, that is just what I have been waiting for. One day over there Nellie, the oldest girl was swinging us in the old barrel stave hammock and I rolled out. I wasn't hurt but I sure cried, it hurt so bad to think her of all people she would let me roll out and then swing over me before she could stop.
I must have been four or five when we had a red milk cow with a small black and white calf, every time I would go any farther than the well the old cow would run at me, she never let me get closer to the fence than the well. I remember her.
I remember when Grandma Bolin and Great Grandma Purvis, Grandma Bolin's Mother lived with them, they both had pneumonia at the same time, both died and were buried the same day. Ruth and I both had pneumonia at the same time. The Dr. set by the bed all day and night and gave us each a tablespoon of whiskey every hour. I remember once they gave us each a tablespoon of castor oil. Ruth kept hers down but mine all came back up on my pillow. Tom Floyd was setting close to me and I was a the foot of the bed, he reached in his pocket and got a few pennies and gave them to me, He was Mrs. Floyd's oldest son.
Ruth and I were better so they let us get up and dress and go into the parlor for the services before they took Grandma and Great Grandma to the cemetery, then we had to go right back to bed. They had pennies laying on one's eyes, I wanted to know why and Mom said it was to keep her eyes shut.
At that time and years later they were always kept at home and were buried as soon as they were dressed and taken straight to the cemetery and not very many went. The casket was put in a home made wooden box and set in the back of the wagon or a spring wagon. That was in Jan. 1902. It wasn't long till Grandpa stayed with us and Aunt Pencie was married and her and Uncle Henry lived on Grandpa's place. Aunt Pencie had a house down in the creek bottom, after she was married they moved it down to our house to make it bigger.
My Dad was having trouble and the Dr. told him to sell the place and fix up a covered wagon and just travel, he said he had consumption, which is now called tuberculosis. I think it was the next year that we started moving in the covered wagons. Dad drove one and his father drove the other. We started school in Illinois, I was in the first grade when we came to Montana the first time. We went to the Kerlew school and lived on the place where Harry and Grace Mittower live now, the place then belonged to Siples, Dad sold it to Charlie Rose. While there I had a man teacher and I didn't know men could teach school. I sure was disappointed when I saw him.
I can remember we stopped at Grandpa Pippey's house and us girls Ruth, Ester and I went for a walk and coming back we seen such a big yellow cat setting by a bush, I know it was the biggest cat I have ever seen. I can't remember much about the trip moving, but I know when we got to the big bridge at Stevensville the horses were afraid because of the high steel top. Barney the big footed horse was afraid, we set there for a while and then forded the river. Mother was so afraid the water would wash the wagons down the river, Dad was sure Barney would run away and he knew he couldn't hold him. We couldn't have stayed there long because in April 1904 Norman was born in Benton city, Missouri. Where we lived in Missouri was a nice big white house and was close to school. That was where we bought the new Surrey with the fringe around the top. A surrey is just a two seated buggy and you use two horses to pull it instead of one.
One time three men were putting on a show, three blind mice, and stayed at our place over night and blacked their faces to look like Negro’s, it was put on at the school house and we went to see it. When we were small they went to all the Barnum & Bailey shows to see the circus. That year the mice were so bad they ate up everything and there was no grain crop, so they left there. Once when we went by a school house at noon or recess, the kids were playing ball and they all stopped to look at us, as one kid said - Oh look at the gypsies another one said no they are not gypsies, just look at those big horses. Mom said it was somewhere in Missouri.
The second year I was in school we were back in Montana, lived down across the railroad track where the highway is now. Dad worked for Whit Flowers. It was that year that Lizzie Rose started to school. She later was one of Virginia' s teachers. It was there that I made my first biscuits and Mother got bawled out when my dad came in and caught me rolling them.
Then we were in Canada one time, I remember one time when it was terribly cold and a couple of men drove in to our house and wanted to stay over night. My Dad told them to sleep in the wagon they were driving. I think they gave them some covers and they slept out there. Mom was so worried because she was afraid they would freeze to death. dad said they had so much whiskey inside that they couldn't freeze and they didn't.
One day going to school we seen a huge snake by the road, back of its head was a large bulge. We wanted to know what it was, Grandpa said it had swallowed a frog so he took out his knife and caught the snake and cut into it and out came a big frog and hopped away.
Norman was just walking, he had a real pretty blue and white checked pleated skirt and blouse, the little boys then wore them till they were three or four years old. I know we were there in the summer time as we were working in the garden one day and later Norman went back and pulled up the row of green onions we had for winter onions.
Grandpa used to walk to school with us every day and come after us in the evening because there were so many range cattle. One day they were gone and Grandpa didn’ t get home in time to come after us so the teacher had a boy take us home on his horse. He was the meanest kid in school. He put Ruth up, then Esther and was going to put me up
in back. I wouldn’t get up there and slide off, no matter what he said, I wouldn’t get up there. He would say Grace, the cows will get you. I didn’t care, I would walk and walk. I did, but he wouldn’t walk even if I didn’t get up. I walked by the horse all the way but the cows didn’t bother me.
We didn’t have any fruit there only dried peaches, apricots and apples. they didn’t raise any fresh fruit but in the pasture along the creek we found real nice strawberries and had a short cake, it was sure good.
Once we went to Washington, we lived in Ritzville for a few weeks. The whirl winds were sometimes awful bad, we lived close to a Catholic church.
One time we went to Texas and stayed three weeks, Grandpa had a sister there at Houston. It was right on the coast and sometimes the storms were terrible. They had one lemon tree that had one lemon on it, it looked like it was as big as a pint cup. They wouldn’t pick because they wanted to see how big it would get.
One time we stopped along the river, there was a turn in the road and a real wide place, was a perfect place to camp with trees close to the river. We stayed there a few days and Dad put up a rope closeline and Mom washed, seemed like all the time till she got our clothes all washed. While there I remember our Dad said if we took a hair out of the horses tail and put it in a can of water it would turn into a snake, of course the next morning we went to look but there was nothing in the can but water.
I don’t know where it was, Dad worked sometimes in a lumber yard hauling lumber.
When we lived in the Ozarks in Missouri we had a big peach orchard on a hill side. We had a garden and peanut patch and a couple of rows of sweet potatoes and white potatoes down between the orchard and the creek. It was sandy down there. They cut a tub full of potatoes to plant. Ruth and I had to carry that tub down there to plant, it was so heavy we just couldn’t carry it any farther so we set it down. Then a big snake came crawling our way, we picked that tub up and run as hard as we could and didn’t even know we had anything.
I was eleven then and Ruth was twelve. Our sister Ester who was nine and a half died there late in august just after school started. She had a sore throat for several days. (diphtheria)
Ruth and I had been at the neighbors one afternoon and going home we seen some small animals playing in the road. We had to go through a big woods, we slipped up easy and grabbed one by the tail, they were small, about like kittens. We thought we might have a bear and we run and kept watching for an animal, a bear or something. We got home and Dad said - Well you got a coon, He put it in a box and let us keep it overnight and turned it loose.
We left there after they got the sweet potatoes and peanuts in. We had a big gunnysack half full of peanuts and a wagon box rounded up with sweet potatoes but the other potatoes didn’t make anything. That fall they went back to Illinois and Grandpa died in February 1912. We left there that spring and went back to Montana, as badly broke as anybody could get. We traveled in the wagons for about three years part time. I just can’t remember much about it, Mother said we moved to Montana seven times from other places. We lived in a house across the creek from the Cherry place for a while, then Dad bought the Cherry place back from Roy Everson’s Dad and we lived there till late fall and Dad built a log house across the river from Bulie Lidell. The next spring Fritz, Frank and Johnnie were born.
I remember evenings, Grandpa Bolin would set by the fire and us kids all set around with s small one or two on his knees, and h would sing to us. One was:
Old Dan Tucker went out a hunting,
First thing he saw was an old sow rooting
Her nose in the ground and her tail up a shaking
Was too late to get his supper
Washed his face in a frying pan and
Combed his hair with a fine tooth comb
Supper’s over and breakfasts a cookin
Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
Then there was one about Mr Bull frog wit a courtin to see Miss Molly settin on a lilly pad, but I can’t remember any more of it.
Our Dad died at Stevensville, Montana in February 1927.
copied from twillastinytreasures.com
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