FINDING SUSANNA

George and Susan (Sherwood) Ashdown

In going through old family photos from the Sherwood family, I came across this photo of a man and woman. On the back of the photo it says that this is George and Susan Ashdown and that she is Richard, James and John's sister.   I knew that Richard, John and James were the Sherwood brothers who had come to the United States in the mid-1850's along with their father, Samuel, from Kent County, England.  I had known of the brothers for many years and have a few letters about them in the stacks.  This was the first indication that there had also been a sister. She has been a bit of a mystery. 

 

I recently traveled to Salt Lake City on the sad occasion of Homer Sherwood's death.  Homer was a beloved first cousin to my parents.  Attending the service marking the celebration of his life also provided an opportunity to connect again with many cousins from several generations.  I got to catch up on some of their lives and also to introduce some of them to our interesting shared family history.  Another blessing was also that I got to meet and visit with another Vandervort distant cousin with whom I am friends with through the internet. This very hospitable family also works at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake.

I only had a little time to spend at the Library but was able to document a little more information about the distant great aunt who is pictured above.  I knew that Richard, James and John had come to the US from Kent County, England in the mid-1800's.  I also knew that Richard and John had fought for the Union during the US Civil War. But I had never heard anything of the sister until this photo surfaced.  Being at the FH Library, I was able to access international records which I can't do from home since I don't want to pay the extra fees.

 Richard William Sherwood 1829-1889 - 1 of the 3 brothers of Susanna Sherwood Ashdown.

As I have worked my way through the various census and family records, it appears that what happened is that John, the oldest brother, was the first of the three brothers to emigrate to the US.  He must have emigrated in late 1846 or very early 1847 as on September 19th of that year he married Ann Williams in Palmyra, New York.  Their first child, a girl, was named Harriett.     

Richard Sherwood, John's brother, married Mary Ann Gulvin on January 3, 1851 at the East Sutton church in England, ceremony performed by Rev. George William Watson.  They left for America four months later and it appears that the younger brother James moved with them.  Samuel Sherwood shows up in the 1851 as a widower.

  William Richard Sherwood 1859-1929 - son of Richard William Sherwood, nephew of Susan  Sherwood Ashdown and brother of Susannah Sherwood Pratt.

Susanna Sherwood Ashdown had a niece, Susannah Sherwood, born in America, who it appears was named for the Susanna who stayed behind.  The younger Susannah, who went by Susie, married Arthur Pratt of Johnstown Center, Wisconsin.  Due to her chronic illness (consumption?) she only lived to her early 30's and had no children.  The link above will take you to a letter that she wrote to her step mother (and aunt) talking about her life.  Her husband Arthur was reported to be a loving and thoughtful man who later married again and had several children from that marriage. Susannah had one sister older than herself, Esther, named for her maternal grandmother.   Esther and Susannah were born in Marion Township, NY which was just a few miles from Palmyra.  When the Richard Sherwood Family joined the John Sherwood family in America, they stayed for 4-5 years in New York.  During the spring of 1856 the Sherwood Families moved to Lemonweir, Wisconsin and after the Civil War they moved to the farm just outside of Kendall where members of the family continued to own the land for about 150 years.

I found that the 1841 English census is the last time the family is seen together.  Samuel, the father and the two older children, Susannah and John, are shown living in Cucumber Hale cottage.  Harriett and the two younger children, Richard and James, are next door at what looks like Ransom Park cottage.  I know that when the census takers came around they listed people wherever they happened to be at the time.  So perhaps Harriet worked next door for the homeowner and the younger children were with her. 

1841 census with all known family members.

Harriett doesn't seem to appear in the 1851 census and Samuel is listed as a "widower" so this seems to be why she did not emigrate with the other family members.  Having to take care of estate details could also be the reason that Samuel did not leave at the same time as his sons.  Susanna doesn't show up in the 1851 census although George appears to be listed as married but no wife is named at that residence. We do not know if Susanna Sherwood Ashdown was married before she married George Ashdown and had grown children that had homes of their own at later census takings, or whether they simply had no children.  So far I haven't found her in the 1851 or 1861 English census and by the time she shows up in the 1871 and 1881 censuses, married to George, a lot of time has passed since she is last found in the 1841 census.   

1871 census with George and Susan Ashdown 

1881 census with George and Susan Ashdown

 All these old pioneering families are hearty souls who faced a myriad of trials in search of their goals.  I imagine that originally Harriet planned to travel with them.  Or maybe the loss of their anchoring wife and mother was the catalyst for the men seek better fortunes here in America.  The Sherwood sister Susanna stayed in England, but it's nice to be able to reach across the miles and the and the one and a half centuries and acknowledge her place in the family!

Sweet Baxter -- March 14, 2002 to March 15, 2016

Our home is so very quiet now.  No little barker standing at the top of the stairs welcoming us home or complaining about the wait for dinner or his need to run outside to take care of business.  .

He started his life with us at about ten weeks.  He was born March 14th and we picked him up over Memorial weekend while down visiting family in Oregon.   He captured our hearts from that very first day.  We had met his sister and realized we had found THE CUTEST PUPPY EVER!!!  Puppy Schipperke's look like miniature bear cubs before their noses grow out and while they still have only their soft undercoat. I am always irritated that I can't tell for sure which of the penta-puppies in the photo is Baxter. 

When we first moved to Snohomish County he was only a year and a half old.  Sometimes we would add a bandana to give him a little flair -- one time I pulled it up over his nose and christened him "Bandit Dog."

Schipperkes have a lot of fur so he was always happy to go for walks in the winter.  While summer hikes left him a bit worn out with the heat, with winter hikes he was still going strong when the rest of us were feeling rather frozen!

This was what he thought about the summer heat! Taken during our spectacular 2015 Summer!

 

 

Baxter was very social and originally thought every dog was his friend. He wasn't so sure about that after he almost became an hors d'oeuvres.  He was very accepting of the cats when he was a pup, but became less tolerant as he got older.  Here he is with "his own cat" Duncan. They had a rough and tumble relationships -- but at the end the cat was giving Baxter a bath.

It's obvious Baxter does not trust Duncan and is pretty wary of what might be coming!

 He loved people too and always had a fun time welcoming all the "Men's Bible Study guys" as weekly members of his pack.  He also  hoped that chocolate chip cookies would fall from the sky.  He had been known to snatch a cookie from anyone who neglected to keep theirs safe.  Here he is at the top of the stairs waiting for the entry of one of his "boys." 

He loved going to Pacific Beach and chasing gulls.  In spite of being a "Belgian Barge Dog" he didn't particularly like getting wet so generally stayed away from the surf. 

He was the perfect sized dog to have sit on your lap.  He hated being picked up and held but was fine with sitting on laps.  He much preferred his paws to be on terra-firma!

Schipperke's have annual "blowouts" and it takes a lot of brushing to get their undercoat loosened up and separated from the dog.  We laughed that we could have made another dog from all this extra fur!

We liked the "festive dog" look during the holidays but he wasn't so enthusiastic.  He hated the bells on that neck scarf and went to work on chewing all the bells so that they didn't make noise.  We finally took the bells off but still made him wear it!

He went on our neighborhood camping trip to Orcas Island and had a fun time!  We had a good time with the neighbors although our idea of camping runs more toward Comfort Inn.

When circumstances warranted the necessity of it -- he hated the "cone of shame."

A couple of years ago he had a paw infection of some sort -- don't remember details. He started out with blue "shoes" and with a cover to keep his paws dry (He didn't like the latter).  His later "shoes" were hot pink. While he didn't like the rain covers as they were slippery, he tolerated the "shoes" well because his paws were not hurting and he could take walks while he healed.

He started having seizures in 2012 but that was controlled by medication.  He was getting a bit arthritic the last few years, but that just slowed him down a bit.  It was the lump on his shoulder diagnosed as cancer that ultimately was his undoing.  As he declined he remained patient, rarely whined or complained and kept his dignity to the very end.  On his last day he just laid in our arms, mostly mine. 

We call our sweet Baxter the world's best dog because he was always amiable, good tempered and tolerant of all the pick-ups, hugs and snuggles that he got on many occasions.  He was always ready for a good walk and loved when the Seahawks played -- as he was a fan of the other dogs who attended the games and of the occasional snack that dropped from the sky!  His devotion to his family and family friends was primary in his short but well-lived life.  He loved our teacher friend who was the best dog-sitter one could hope for and we always knew he was in good hands when we left town.  He adored me and spent many hours lying beside my desk while I worked -- giver of  unmerited (by me)  trust and devotion. 

Good bye my sweet little friend.  I hope that all dogs DO go to heaven and that my late sister Venca was able to meet you and escort you to Jordan's other side.  Here you were at Pacific Beach in 2010.  two years later she passed on.  May your journey be peaceful and joyful as you follow her into the light.  

The 60's and a Walk Down Memory Lane

I came across a letter written in 1969 which brought back a lot of dusty memories.  During the last few years of the 1960s our family had lived in Wiesbaden, Germany while my dad was assigned there as a member of the US Air Force.  We always kept up on both national and international news as we were a long ways from home and we were all very aware of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR.  In my high school as a part of  Mr. Braun's Civics class we had to read Time Magazine cover to cover with weekly quizzes and required class discussions. 

The first month that we lived in Germany-- February 1967--  we spent a weekend in Garmisch where we enjoyed a true Bavarian winter.  On Sunday morning when we were packing to return home I walked out on the hotel balcony.  The church bells were ringing all over the town and lazy snowflakes the size of quarters were drifting slowly down.  I thought -- "I am going to like it here." History was all around us.  The US military resort had belonged to Hitler's regime only 25 years before, now it was all Americans. Germany was firmly divided West and East.  We had bombing drills at school and worried about possible evacuations.  We were very aware of the Soviet bloc countries on the horizon.  As the 1960's were coming to an end, we seriously wondered if we would have a country to return to as the news was often filled with reports of riots and mayhem throughout the United States. 

We read reports of the anti-war demonstrations; the riots at the Democratic Party national convention in 1968.  We read about the militant Black Panther  movement and saw the pictures of riots in Watts and other cities throughout the land.  There were bombings in New York City and Washington DC by the Weather Underground and the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society).   Their goals were to overthrow the US government.  While it is easy to think that people were "just being hysterical" about communism back then, in reality there were a lot of people who supported communist ideals and were working against the United States, including people like Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dorn -- who are still today (and in our educational system) proud today of their goals and methods.  The "fall" of the USSR gave access to a great deal of documentation showing the inroads that the communists had made inside the US government as well.

Americans at home could also see the breakdown of society going on around us.  My parent's friend Marie, who wrote to them in 1969, was writing that she was looking forward to receiving their annual "Christmas letter" talking about the past year and the adventures that they had had. In looking around at the chaos in the United States at the time, Marie wrote:

916 Mt. View Dr.,

Rapid City, So. Dak. 57701

Dec. 5^th., 1969

Dear Ones:
            Here it is nearly Christmas again and am I looking forward to get your travel lodge [travelogue] each year and I just wonder where you are and what you are doing until I get our wonderful report and the dear Lord will bless you in your time, money and effort in putting these out as it is such an enlightenment to me to get them.
            I do hope that you are all well and enjoying life to the fullest as we never know when our time comes to be put on the shelve as it happen to me two years ago.  I have had three heart attacks but am on the way up and up now so I guess I am here for a purpose yet.
            At the present time I am at the intensive and extensive care center but expect to be out sometime after the first of the year but I have been here since Mar. 27^th., so it is getting rather tiresome and it will seem good to get home again.
            What do you think of the world’s condition????? To me I am looking for Our Savior’s return soon as no one will be able to straighten out the mess we are in.
            I had company from Portland Ore., about three weeks ago and he said “Two years ago my wife and I went to Hawaiian Islands and I visited with some of the high up politicians and they said “Mr. Drew we were terrible disappointed when the United States accepted the Islands as a state” and he said “why?? You are all 100% Americans” and they said “O! no” and Hosey  [Hozy] said “what are you then” and they said “ a very small minority of us are 100% Americans the rest are communists and now you have Cuba on one side, the islands on the west and communist battleships south and north of you and the troops in Europe.”  Mr. Drew said “I was shocked beyond words and then to top it off Agnes and I just took this 35 day Buss tour and we have been through Canada, then down thru and on to Wash. D.C. and we stopped at the Mayflower Hotel and when the Buss drew up to the door the men were there to unload our baggage and a policemen on each side of the door and said, ‘March right into the Hotel and stay right in here till the Buss pulls up to the door at 7 A.M. in the morning.’ And Hosy said I stepped up to the Policeman and said “do you mean that I can’t take my own wife out on the street and window shop” and the policeman said I mean just that and Mr. Drew said, “why this is the capitol of our U. S. A. and the policeman said ‘I know it but if you step outside the Hotel you will take your life in your own hands, we can’t protect you.’ So Hosy said “we went into our Hotel and I sure got an eye opener.  I have read a lot but I still couldn’t believe it till I seen it with my own eyes.”  Mr. Drew is a college mate of Govern[or] Hatfield of Ore. And a staunch Nixon man but what can the do with a mess like this???
            I am so glad we know the Lord and nothing is impossible with HIM so about all we can do is to look up and pray for HIS will to be done.
            I am so burden[ed] for the coming generation, our children and grandchildren unless there is a change soon, as the Devil is sure working overtime and I don’t mean maybe.
            We have 5 Nursing Homes here now; I sponsored two of them and boosted the other three and when they were completed they would not let me be Adm. of either buildings because I am too old but they never refused my money. In other words, communists took over and everyone seems to be afraid to say or to do anything. I went to seven different lawyers here and they told me they don’t want to mix in it as they might lose some votes so now all I can do is trust the Lord. He is still on the Throne and He is so good to me and has provided for me till the Lord calls me HOME.  Praise His Holy Name.
            So dear Ones when the clouds get so thick all around us there is always one way we can look and that is UP.
            I was so thrilled to hear about Sweden as both of my parents were from Sweden so I am pure Swede and always wanted to see that country, so you can imagine my thrill to get to read about that country and also the other countries for that matter.
            Have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year and lots of love,
                                                Your sister in Christ,
                                                            Marie Sheldon
 P.S.  When are you coming home??

At the time Marie wrote this letter, we parents had moved back to the US from Europe and my parents were now stationed at McChord Air Force Base and lived in Tacoma, Washington.  They had spent three years in Germany and were planning on retiring from the military in the next year or so.  We had spent our almost three years in Europe visiting as many places as we could.  We had camped a month at a time each summer, one through Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway), one through France and Italy and one summer visiting Spain and Portugal.  Every long weekend we traveled somewhere and a few times Dad had temporary duty and he took the whole family along to experience another place.  We never took this amazing opportunity to travel for granted!

Looking back on Marie's words, it is easy to think that her view is just typical thoughts of old people as they look at modern society.  Her belief that communists were her local enemies instead of corrupt politicians seems a little over the top.  However, God did answer the prayers of Marie and others who could see the nation tottering on the brink of chaos.  As has happened at various times and places throughout history, the grace of God stepped in and again pulled society back from that brink of judgement for another generation. 

As the Vietnam war wound down due to media-driven pressure and as the draft was ended (the draft being the strongest motivation for all this dissent) these organizations lost their prominence (but not their goals) and the chaos declined. At the same time a new Christian spiritual awakening began in California with the "Jesus Movement" and the "Azusa street revival" and the charismatic movement in both the protestant and catholic churches. This had a far-reaching impact on American culture with the advent of contemporary Christian music.  The record label, Maranatha Music, began as part of the ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.  This also resulted in hundreds of radio stations providing venues of teaching and music across the country and around the world.   

Civilizations have  risen and fallen throughout history.  It is easy to fall into the trap of either thinking that nothing is going to change or of worrying about everything being out of control.  Obviously we still live in very dangerous times and we are not immune from war or rumors of war any more than civilizations past.  But we too can call upon the Lord to aid us throughout all of life's challenges -- whether our own individual crises or large national ones.  It is also a temptation to feel that God has abandoned us but that is also not true.  2 Chronicles 16:9 reminds us "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."  And Daniel 2:21 says "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding."  Like Marie so wisely noted, when the clouds are everywhere we need to look UP!  Marie lived nearly ten years after this letter was written -- but her words are still here for anyone who wants to learn from her life! The faithfulness of God never fails!  When things look dark, we need to look to see what God has planned in spite of how things are reported in the news. 

But one thing I do know for sure!  The 60's are WAY overrated! 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

Afterward -- here are a couple of links showing one of the nursing homes that Marie had established and that she apparently also lived at during this time if the address is any indication (when not in the hospital).  The same building was applied for the historical register (unknown by me whether that was accomplished).  I found this information and also discovered the Hozy Drew and his wife Agnes did live in Washington and also in Oregon at different times and shows up in the 1940 census.

Gilbert Hahn and Ruth Volzka 65th Wedding Anniversary

My parents sent long newsy Christmas letters to their friends and relatives (and I was apparently infected with the same virus). At Christmas time in 1991 my parents received a card from Gilbert and Ruth Hahn and enclosed was a newspaper clipping describing their 65th wedding anniversary celebration in Racine, Wisconsin. Ruth's mother, Mary Weber (born in 1870), was sister to my Grandfather Herman Weber (who was born in 1879).  Mary Weber married August Volzka.  My Grandfather married Susan Sherwood.  Ruth and my father were cousins.  But the fact that Ruth was married 3 years after my father was born was an example of the fluidity of generations in families that have many children over a long period of time. 

The reference to the 1992 Weber reunion would be to the annual summer event often hosted in Wonewoc, Wisconsin.  And with this news article, when a couple reaches 65 years of marriage, it's enlightening and encouraging to hear their advice on long-term marital success!  Gilbert lived about another four years after this anniversary celebration and Ruth lived about two more years after that until she followed.   

Gulvin Children Reunited and Family Mystery Solved

A few years ago when I began researching family history, I came across a cousin of my grandmother named Myra Gulvin.  She had never married and moved around quite a bit, often acting as housekeeper for friends and relatives who needed assistance, particularly when mothers had passed away leaving younger children who needed care.  It took quite awhile but slowly I pieced together the fact that she and her siblings had all ended up in various places.  Their parents, Richard and Ann (Towne) Gulvin had disappeared from the census records by 1870 and the children didn't show up together.  I finally realized that they had been orphaned and had been split up.  I did find a letter showing that Myra knew about some of them at least.  This week I came across a letter from Myra to my grandmother telling about a wonderful family reunion that the siblings had had decades after their parents had passed away.  Richard and Ann Gulvin had passed away in 1866 and 1867 respectively.  The oldest of the five children, Martha, was ten when her father died and the youngest child, Richard, was only two.  The reunion of siblings had been written about in the Lafayette paper.  I don't have the exact dates, but the newspaper clipping was in a letter dated July 1934. Following the rest of the newspaper article is the letter that Myra wrote about the event.  

Maywood, Ill

July 17, 1934

Dear Cousin Susan,

            I have just been reading over your nice long newsy Xmas letter and guess we are quite as too negligent and live such a quiet life here that there is so little to write about it seems useless to write.  However I sure enjoyed your letter and this morning it seemed like having a talk with you once again.  I’m glad you all really liked the scrapbook. I really liked it myself when it as all done – it was the very prettiest one out of several that I made last year. I think we must have had the same kind of weather that you had up in Wisconsin. We have had a very dry hot summer so far and in some places the crops are in bad shape.  I have just returned from a most delightful visit in my old Indiana home town at the home of my brother Richard. We had a family reunion at his home.  Sisters Mattie and Grace came and of course brother Charlie lives there so he was with us two or three evenings a week.  We had a picnic in the woods down in Fountain County where we were born.  Besides us five Brother Charlie’s family were with us all but the oldest one, he works for the Monon Rail Road and couldn’t get away.  However there were twenty of us in the family with only two outsiders, two youngsters visiting their sister, the wife of one of Charlie’s boys.  Charlie’s children are all married and he has seven grandchildren, all boys but two.  Well we had a lovely day visiting, taking pictures and doing justice to all the good eats that the various overtook.  It was rather warm but we just forgot that part of it and had a good time.  I am sending you a clipping from a Lafayette paper which will tell all the rest; you might send it out to Salt Lake to George and Dora if you please. I only had three, am keeping one and sent one to your Aunt Marian. I thought your bunch would be the most interested in the occasion of my [family] so that is why.

            The day of the picnic the  daughter of a lady who used to know our father and mother took us girls for an auto ride down through that part of the County where we used to live and we saw the actual spot where the house stood and where our brother Charlie was born and where Father died. And we have found the spot where our parents are buried and the brothers are looking after it. Isn’t it splendid after all these years to know just where they were laid and to be able to feel there will be someone to look after the place in the years that are ahead.

I guess my family are all well at present tho I haven’t heard from any of the Delevan branch for some time.  Sister is with Hattie in the Worth part of Wis on a vacation trip.  I am about as usual, have my ups and downs as the old ladies say. 

            If you think our Salt Lake friends would like to read this letter and you are so minded just send it along for them to read.  I haven’t even made my bed and it is nine o’clock so think I better close at this time.  With love to all

                                                            From Cousin,  Myra J Gulvin

Myra herself has written her age on the bottom of the photo.  The photo was taken two years later, but she lived five more years after this family reunion.

Badger Squab Yards -- Raising Pigeons "Back In The Day"

          Back in the day when my dad was a teenager he started his own business supplying squabs to food suppliers as well as other farmers.   In an addition to the family personal mail box, he created a sign for his business which has now come to me.  Their home, Spring Brook Farm, was just a couple of miles outside of Kendall, Wisconsin (near Tomah or Sparta or further yet to La Crosse -- if you know your way around Wisconsin!).

In 1996, four years before he died, I was able to corral my dad and got him to dictate memories of life on the farm.  One afternoon he discussed his foray into breeding and selling pigeons.

          "When I began high school I started myself another project.  I started raising White King pigeons and selling breeding stock and marketable squabs.  I continued with pigeon raising until after I graduated from high school (about a total of four years).
         "I started out raising pigeons with four pair, bought from a pigeon raiser in Melrose, Massachusetts.  I bred the flock up until I had about 38 mated pairs, plus pairs that I had sold.  I had one big male pigeon that I hand fed when he was pushed out of his nest when he was little.  Normally pigeons lay two eggs at a time, but somehow this pair laid three.  They kept feeding two of them but just left this one aside, so I took him in and started hand-feeding him by chewing up grain and stuff and feeding him with my lips.  While he started out small, he became one of the biggest pigeons in my loft, weighing almost two pounds.  The average male pigeon weighs about 1 and 1/4 lb.  Toby and I became real close.  He liked to ride around on my shoulder or sometimes on the top of my head.  When he would ride on my head I would like to run fast to see if he would get airborne.  I liked to run with him with his wings outstretched.  Sometimes I could do it, get him airborne.
         "Toby was generally a good -natured bird.  My parents raised Silver-Laced Wyandotte chickens, which are rather large, probably averaging about 12-13 pounds for hens and 14 to 16 pounds. for roosters.  Sometimes when we would feed the chickens, Toby would decide, “Hey, there’s a free meal.  I’ll have some too.”  He would saunter up to the long feeding trough and commence to eat with the chickens.  Now if the chickens treated him right and didn’t make any bad moves toward him, he would just eat with them.  But let one chicken forget its manners and peck at that pigeon, and Toby would clear all the chickens away from the feeding trough by just slapping them with his wings.

         "He had powerful wings.  He knocked some of those chickens silly, they’d stagger around the yard because he always hit them in the head.  After he had finished all he wanted, then they could go back and eat.  It didn’t take the chickens long to learn not to make a bad pass at Toby.  That pigeon could really hit hard with his wings.  One time I happened to reach toward one of the chickens when he swung at the chicken and he accidentally hit my hand instead.  It raised a welt on my hand."

My father introduced my mother to his favorite pigeon, Toby and they also became friends. 

Here is mom with Toby at the family's farm and it looks like one of the apparently oft-abused chickens is loitering in the background.

        

About 25 years later we enjoyed feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square in London -- this photo of my father and brother is one of my favorites!  And it always starts in my mind the full orchestration of the sound track "Feed The Birds" from the Mary Poppins movie whenever I see it.

 

And even a few decades further, my daughter raised pigeons for a little while and we all had a very fun time with them.  She also hand raised a chick she named Amber.  The pigeons would fly around the neighborhood during the day and would come home in the evening and settle in for the night.  She became interested in pigeons partly by hearing Grandpa's stories but also by reading the Mysteries Through History chapter book called The Night Fliers.  It seems that none of our family pigeon photos are digital, so none are readily at hand.

Heartfelt Birthday Greetings George to His Father, Will Sherwood

George's father - William Richard Sherwood

 

In 1920, a little over a year after coming home from fighting in WWI, George Stevens Sherwood was making his way in the world.  He had not stayed long at home after returning and seemed to feel a restlessness and a need to find his own way.  His sister Susan and her husband were co-farmers with their parents and would later take over the farm (buying out their siblings interest).  His half-sister, Dora, and her husband Guy Lindsey, were in Utah.  He headed West with many others during this era and worked at several different jobs.  At the time of this letter there was still a year to go before he met the love of his life.  At this particular time he was working for the Mutual Coal Company in Rains, Utah.  He penned this missive in honor of his father's 61st birthday (he was born August 28, 1859).  This coming week will mark Will Sherwood's 154th birthday anniversary.

 

Rains[1], Utah – Aug 24 -  20

Dear Dad,
            While I’m not exactly in a nice frame of mind to write a cheerful birthday letter, it’s about the only chance I’ll get I guess, so here goes.  Now I’d better explain why I’m on the peck, so you’ll know none of you are in any wise to blame.  Guess I’ve told you all from time to time about our trouble with the Gen. Man of the company butting into the Engr end of the game.  Now, not having learned anything in the last botch he made, he has come around this afternoon with another change.  Of course as per usual it is the eleventh hour when the whole thing is laid out and work started on it.  I’m afraid my nervous system won’t stand much more of this.  Wish I knew how the drill proposition would turn out, so that I knew where to jump to and I’d quit tonite.  It may look foolish to you as long as it’s not my money or my layout that is getting balled up, but after helping in my small way to get the work laid out right, its more than I can stand to see a bull-headed, pot-bellied hardware merchant come up here and make a mess of it.  It’s killing my interest in the work entirely so I’ll be glad to get out.  I’m seeing clearer every day that I’m too set in my way to work for someone else, but in this case I know we are right, and that’s the appreciation we get for it.  That old bird ought to be in a home for feeble minded instead of Gen Man. Of a new company.  Well, I got the money you sent O.K. and sure hope the drill is a success.  Thank you for your promptness. 
            And now for the Best Wishes for your Birthday.  Wish I could be with you, but in my absence just think of me as you celebrate for I’ll be with you all in spirit if not in flesh.  And “Dad” just remember as you pass this milestone that I’m trusting you will take good care of yourself so that you will be with us for many more.  I’m a little inclined to believe from what sis and mother write you are kind of forgetting to ease up, and I need you, Dad, I sure do.  Are money matters getting so tight you have to work so hard?

            If so, let me know and will try to devise some scheme to ease up the situation.  For you promised to let me know if all was not well.
             It is a damp, chilly, rainy night as I sit here in my cabin writing this and thot’s of home are cheerful so I pen the following:

George Stevens Sherwood - during the time he lived and worked in Rains           

THOUGHTS OF HOME

 

When a fellow’s young and carefree

And the world is mostly joy
He takes his Home for granted
For you see he’s mostly boy.

But when you leave the old home tree

And round the world you roam
You get to dreaming more and more
 Of the love and peace of home.   

Even on shell scarred battlefield,

Crouched in a blood-smeared hole
There comes a fleeting moment
When you search your blighted soul.

Memories flit swiftly past you

As you crouch there all alone;
And the ones that grip you hardest
Are the memories of home

In your billet, tent or dugout

Sky above you painted red
With the flame of ceaseless battle
Gothes droning overhead

When you crawl into your blankets

Lice infested, damp and cold
You go to sleep a dreamin’
Dreams of home and days of old.

Life may toss you like a puppet

Into cities' sordid din
You may drift into a wilderness
Where man has never been

But when you’re feeling lonely

Sorter useless, down and out
And you try to feel more cheerful
Why - its home you think about.

Wherever you may wander

Whatever you may do
No matter who the fellow is
You’ll find this one thing true

Whenever he gets lonely

His thots turn evermore
To the lovin' warmth and comfort
Of the Home he’s yearnin’ for

                    Stevens Sherwood* -  August 24, 1920

                     [Copyright 2015 KSL]

 

            Well, if you have lived through that, I’ll ring off and give you a much needed rest.  Excuse the pencil, my pen faded out at the crucial moment, but I didn’t take the hint and lay off.

            Now I’ll close with Birthday Greetings to “The Best Dad in the World.” From

                                                                        His loving son

                                                                                    George

Love to all

* * * * *

*George Stevens Sherwood AKA Stevens Sherwood apparently liked the idea of using his middle and last names as an alternate pen-name.  Stevens was his mother's family name and his grand parents were David Eastman Stevens and Rosina Jane Richardson Stevens, both born in Topsham, Vermont and married there and then almost immediately moved to Wisconsin..

---

[1] Now a ghost town; http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ut/rains.html

Robert A Richardson Writes of Life on Vermont Farm in 1871

 

 

 In mid-October of 1871 Robert and Rosina (Healy) Richardson of Vermont, replied to a letter from their daughter and son in law, David and Rosina Jane (went by Jane) Stevens who were living in Iowa at the time.  The family had just heard about the great Chicago fire the week before and were all worried about the several extended family members who lived in Chicago or who had been traveling there recently. 

 Rosina penned a letter all consumed with family and concern about the fire.  Robert wrote his own missive to the children, all about local business, his and theirs.  He remarks that he was becoming deaf so maybe he had not heard about the fire, but more likely he had left worrying about that to his wife and was intent on letting them know what was happening in regards to the family fortunes on the farm and to what he had done with the check they had sent to him. 

 David and Jane owed Dr. Smith money for something – maybe property; maybe past medical care.  The letter doesn’t enlighten us. It sounds like Robert had an additional $5 of their money from the past and added it to whatever they were paying to make the funds go further. But the letter, written by the old farmer, gives a sense of life on a Vermont farm as winter was approaching. And I love how after his recitation, he also tossed in the cat (who no doubt was critical to the success of the farm, specialist in rodent control!).

Topsham Oct 15 1871

 

Dear Children – I want to see you very much but cannot today - how soon I cannot tell.  I am getting Deaf.  I want but little, the grain crop is light, the wheat crop is from 5-10 bushels from a bushel sowing, oats about the same, corn is light, potatoes is good. They are worth from 20 to 30 cents per bushel.  Corn is worth $1.00, oats 45 cents, wheat $1.50, hay $15 per ton.  There is no sale for that, but tho at any price there is 10 sellers to one buyer.  Cows $25, yearling $14 to 15 this year.  12 to 25 oxen, one third less than one year ago.  Sheep in good demand, wool is rising.  It is worth 60 cents per pound.  Business is dull, money is scarce, but we got enough to eat and we nought to complain. We shall get along some way if it is a hard one.  We raised 55 bushels of oats, 125 potatoes, 20 of corn, 25 tons of hay.  We have 30 sheep, one pig, 7 cattle, one horse, 30 hens, one cat. 

            David and Jane we received your check and went to town to Dr. Smith the next day last. [Paid] up the interest for two years, the interest and bonus amounted to one hundred, $114 19 cents. I had 5 dollars of your money and I paid it.  The interest is paid to last August. The bonus until next August the 20^th. I think it is all right. 

                     I am your well-wisher
                                                        R. Richardson

 Robert A. Richardson.  This photo was taken on the occasion of his 80th birthday

 in 1885. He was born in Bath, New Hampshire January 8, 1805

and passed away on the 6th of April 1889. 

His signature from this letter above.

Above left are David and Jane Stevens.
Robert was the son of Robert Fletcher Richardson and Dorcas Hardy Richardson of Bath, New Hampshire.  His maternal grandfather Jesse Hardy, fought in the Revolutionary War under the command of Captain Gates.  His paternal grandfather, Zechariah Richardson former of Francestown, New Hampshire also fought in the Revolutionary War.

The Weber Kids Have the Measles!

Bill, Mary, Robert and Carl in 1929, not quite two years after these events.

In 1927 my father, Robert, his sister Mary, and his two brothers, Bill (older) and Carl (younger) all had the measles during November.  My grandmother kept a record of the events for some reason and it is enlightening to read now.  I highlighted below the two best parts of the experience for them!  It looks like the kids had the "hard measles" rather than the "3 day" based on length of time and their aversion to light. 

Bill, Robert, Carl and Mary - around this time period.

Interesting that they were both suffering through the measles -- bad -- and getting electric wiring in their old 14 room farmhouse -- good -- at the same time.   This is a fun trip back in time.

Sunday	October 30th	Robert ill in bed with earache and stomach.
Monday	October 31st	Started wiring for electric lights
Tuesday	November 1st	Mary brought home from school with headache
Wednesday	November 2nd	Billy in bed with headache
Thursday	November 3rd	Had doctor for Robert.  Billy & Mary went to school.
Friday	November 4th	Mary ill when she came home from school
Saturday	November 5th	Billy and Mary “drooped” around all day.  Mary started breaking out late at night.
Sunday	November 6th	Mary broke out in measles Saturday and Sunday at night.  Billy started breaking out Sunday afternoon.
Monday	November 7th	Billy started breaking out Sunday and Monday at night
Friday	November 11th	Rash practically all gone on Mary.  Carl was very restless during night
Saturday	November 12th	Carl had high fever during night.  Very quiet all day. Billy and Mary up around house
Sunday	November 13th	Robert had high fever during night.  Carl vomited after supper, coughs a great deal.
Monday	November 14th	Wire men came to finish wiring of house. Carl not well – looked as if he were going to break out. Men had doors open a great deal and day was cold. Carl had several blotches on face by supper time.
Tuesday	November 15th	Kept Carl and Robert both in bed. Men finished wiring and left Carl broke out some of face and body.
Wednesday	November 16th	Carl pretty well broke out except feet and hands. Robert also pretty well broken out.  Carl can’t stand light.
Thursday	November 17th	Both broken out pretty well all over.  Don’t want any light.
Thurs, Fri, Sat	Nov 17, 18 & 19	Very restless and hard to care for.  Don’t want me out of sight a minute.  Can’t stand light, especially Carl.  Robert had earache and passed blood in stools as he did after earache of Oct 30th tho not so much.
Sunday & Monday	Nov 20 & 21st	Felt pretty good and were hard to keep in bed. I had a pretty good sleep Monday night, the first good sleep in weeks. Rash pretty well gone
Tuesday	November 22nd	They were dressed and played on the beds.
Wednesday	November 23rd	Billy and Mary went downstairs toward evening.
Thursday	November 24th	We are all thankful to be able to eat Thanksgiving Dinner together.
Friday	November 25th	Herman’s Birthday and all getting along fine
Thursday	December 1	All out of quarantine
Saturday	December 3rd	All went to town. Got Billy suit ($11) at Schankes; Robert overcoat ($6), cap ($1) and mittens ($.50) at Schankes; Carl mittens ($.50) at Schankes; and Mary black oxford shoes at Doyles.  End of entry.

   Good reminder of the childhood diseases that families faced simply because there were no vaccines for them yet available. The one drawback of the magnificent vaccines that we have is that rarely do people see what the disease looks like -- whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, mumps.

 Susan, the writer of these events, working on some task.