Search
Last Name:
First Name:
    

 Notes


HomeHome    SearchSearch    PrintPrint    Login - User: anonymousLogin    BookmarkBookmark

Matches 1 to 100 of 10560

      1 2 3 4 5 ... 106» Next»

   Notes   Linked to 
1 "ADAMS John Quincy, Esq., son of John, President of the United States, and Louisa Johnson, second daughter of Joshua, Esq., of Great Tower Hill, at London. Gazette of Sept. 23, 1797" Family: F12152
 
2 "Bartholomew, and Mary Broadly, Jan. 23, 1690-91" Family: F3610
 
3 "Benjamin, and, wid. Sarah Phillbrick, Jan. 14, 1707-08" Family: F1035
 
4 "Capt. Thomas Savage was married to Mary Simmes the daughter of Zechariah Simmes Pastor of the Church of Christ in Charlestown by Increase Nowell, 15--7th month."  Family: F11527
 
5 "Daniel, and Susannah Aisten, Dec. 4, 1750" Family: F12923
 
6 "Dorothy, jr., and Samuel Wots of Haverhill, int. Nov. 5, 1727" Family: F3179
 
7 "Ebenezer, 2d m., and Hannah Smith [June 24, 1766]" Family: F12494
 
8 "Ebenezer, and Abigail Sallis of Beverly [July 6, 1747. Beverly Rds.]" Family: F12493
 
9 "Elizabeth Drake, widow and relict of Richard Drake late of Boston..., carter, heretofore the relict widow of Samuel Judkin late of Boston aforesaid, sawyer, also deceased, and Hannah Judkin of Boston aforesaid, spinster, the only surviving daughter of the said Samuel Judkin deceased by the said Elizabeth," sold land in Boston to "Richard Sherren of Boston aforesaid, victualler" [SLR 14:328-31; Kempton Anc 1:361]. Family: F13268
 
10 "Hannah [Colby], of Amesbury, and Isaac Colby, 2d m., Apr. --, 1757." Family: F3613
 
11 "Hannah, and Benjamin Abbott [of Rumford. int.], June 23, 1742" Family: F3712
 
12 "Intentions of Marriage, City of Springfield, Jan. 12, 1887, between William F. Hopkins of Springfield, aged 41 years, by occupation a car builder, he was born in Montgomery, VT, and was the son of Herman & Mariam. This will be his second marriage. And Elthea E. Campbell of Agawam, aged 28 years. She was born in Agawam and was the daughter of ______. This will be her first marriage." Family: F11049
 
13 "Jesse, and Frances M. Perry, May 18, 1837" Family: F2065
 
14 "John Cole son of Isaac Cole was married to Susanna Hutchinson daughter of the late William Hutchinson of Road Island" [BVR 34], son of Samuel Cole {1630, Boston} {GMB 1:433-34] (despite what the Boston vital record states)." Family: F11492
 
15 "John Gorome and Desire Howland married [1644]" Family: F12769
 
16 "John, 2d m., and, wid. Sarah Bradley, June 11, 1751" Family: F13000
 
17 "John, 5th, and 'Ms.' Deliverance Dodge, int. May 28, 1768" Family: F12873
 
18 "John, and Sarah Foot of Salem, at Salem, Nov. 24, 1719" Family: F7179
 
19 "Jonathan [John. int.], and Sarah Heath, Nov. 4, 1807" Family: F2057
 
20 "Lydia, and Henry Chandler, widr., Nov. 28, 1695" Family: F3714
 
21 "Mitchel [Corllies. int.], and Elezebeth Barker, Dec. 14, 1771" Family: F1586
 
22 "Mr. Moses Emerson and Mrs. Mary Bradbury both of this town joined in marriage in this town before the Rev. Mr. Scales June 25 1767" Family: F2350
 
23 "Mrs. Francis Pinchon, the wife of Mr. Willia[m] Pinchon," was admitted to Roxbury church, "she was a widow, a matron of the church at Dorchester, where Mr. Pinchon married her. She came with the first company, anno 1630" [RchR 77]." Family: F10805
 
24 "On the thirteenty day of October one thousand and eight hundred and fifty five Henry Cotepland (hard to read) of Sutton, yeoman, Bachelor, and Elizabeth Goad of the same place, spinster, were after the due publication of Banns united in holy matrimony in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, by me, [illegible], Minister. Signed Henry Coupland, Elizabeth Goad, John W. Kelvey, Anne Coupland." Family: F11042
 
25 "On this sixteenth of September eighteen hundred and forty, Peter Laraway, yeoman, and Mary Golland, spinster, both of Dunham, and both of full age, were married after publication of banns in presence of the following persons." Chas C. Cotton, Minister. s/ Peter Laraway. s/ Mary Golland. s/ (?) Lilby or Lilly. s/ Jonas Laraway. Church of England.  Family: F10812
 
26 "Peter, and, wid. Elizabeth Kingsbery, Dec. 11, 1672" Family: F12915
 
27 "Rebecca [Felton], and Joseph Houlton, int. March 6, 1730-31" Family: F7174
 
28 "Richard Kimbole" and "Liddea Welles" Family: F12140
 
29 "Richard, of Dover, and Rebecca Houldride of Haverhill, May 21, 1660" Family: F1954
 
30 "Ruth, and James Davis of Dover, Nov. 5, 1728" Family: F3043
 
31 "Samuel Bass & Bethiah Nitingal Married by Sam. Sewall Esq. on Oct. 14, 1706." Family: F10538
 
32 "Samuel, and Mary Johnson [of Hampton], Dec 14, 1681" Family: F2973
 
33 "Sarah" intentions Family: F12135
 
34 "Sarah, and William Hukly of Hampton, Dec. 30, 1700"  
35 "Sarah, and William Page of Lunenburg, July 11, 1733" Family: F13002
 
36 "The first marriage in this place, is of Mr. Edward Winslow to Mrs. Susanna White, widow of Mr. William White" [Prince 190]. Family: F9843
 
37 "Thomas, jr., and Elizabeth Walcutt, Feb. 15, 1738-9" Family: F3465
 
38 "Timothy, Dea., and Patty Emerson of Salem, NH, int. Mar. 22, 1812" Family: F2361
 
39 "William, Capt., and Mrs. Abigail Stickne, Feb 14, 1733 or 34" Family: F3269
 
40 "Zebedee and Repentance Bennett, Aug. 6, 1761" Family: F12939
 
41 "Zebedee [dup. (Lt.), dup. and int. of P.] and Lydia [dup. and int. Lidia] Loring Jr. [int. of P., dup. (first w., ch. Capt. Caleb Esq. and Lydia), see Caleb, b. Oct. 2 1704], Aug. 8, 1737" Family: F12941
 
42 13 Jan'ry 1706/7 Icabod Robey Maryed Mary Cass. Family: F399
 
43 1850 census of Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 17 August 1850:

- Ordway, Jacob, age 28, occupation Shoemaker, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Lydia A., age 17, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, George L., age 1, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4846
 
44 1850 census of Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 29 August 1850:

- Foster, Jonas, age 34, occupation Farmer, real estate value $1,300, born England.
- Foster, Rebecca, age 35, born New Hampshire.
- Foster, Charles, age 1, born Maine.
- Turney, James, age 13, born Ireland.

They are living next door to Rebecca's father:

- Ordway, Ebenezer, age 64, occupation Laborer, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Elisabeth, age 72, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4843
 
45 1850 census of Johnstown, Rock County, Wisconsin, enumerated 8 August 1850:

- Fellows, Joseph, age 34, occupation Farmer, real estate value $2,000, born New Hampshire.
- Fellows, Ellen P., age 24, born New Hampshire.
- Fellows, Francis, age 2, born Wisconsin.
- Fellows, Edward, age 4 months, born Wisconsin.

 		Family: F13491
 
46 1850 census of Orange, Grafton County, New Hampshire, enumerated 24 October 1850:

- Kimball, Gilbert H., age 34, occupation Farmer, property value $1,500, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Sarah, age 40, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Gustavus F., age 14, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Newton A., age 12, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Nelson F., age 7, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4839
 
47 1860 census of Catlin, Vermillion County, Illinois, enumerated 15 June 1860:

- Kimball, G.H., age 44, occupation Farmer, real estate value $500, personal property $600, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Sarah, age 50, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Newton A., age 23, occupation C. miner, born Massachusetts.
- Kimball, Nelson F., age 17, occupation Farm Hand, born New Hampshire.
- Kimball, Marian, age 5, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4839
 
48 1860 census of Concord, Ward 1 [Penacook], Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 10 June 1860:

- Ordway, Plummer, age 40, occupation Day Laborer, personal estate value $25, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Dolly, age 32, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Eunice M., age 13, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Charles P., age 10, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Edwin D., age 9, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Sarah J., age 6, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4845
 
49 1860 census of Concord, Ward 1 [Penacook], Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 9 June 1860:

- Ordway, Jacob, age 38, occupation Day Laborer, real property value $200, personal property $25, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Judith, age 22, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, George, age 11, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Clarinda A., age 2, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4847
 
50 1860 census of Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 14 June 1860:

- Foster, Rebecca, age 45, real estate value $1,500, personal property $425, born New Hampshire.
- Foster, Charles, age 11, born Maine.
- Smart, William, age 35, occupation Farmer, born New Hampshire.

They are living next door to Rebecca's father:

- Ordway, Eben, age 75, occupation Day Laborer, real estate value $75, personal property $30, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Elisabeth, age 79, born New Hampshire.
- Call, Luke, age 65, occupation Farm Laborer, personal property value $40, born New Hampshire.
- Call, Olive, age 58, born New Hampshire.
- Call, Luke, age 31, born New Hampshire.
- Call, George, age 20, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4843
 
51 1870 census of Boscawen, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 24 June 1870:

- Martin, Alden K., age 36, occupation Carpenter, born New Hampshire.
- Martin, Hannah J., age 27, occupation Keeping House, born New Hampshire.
- Diamond, Esther, age 87, Infirm, born New Hampshire.
- Farnsworth, Willie O., age 16, occupation Works in Cabinet Shop, born Canada.

 		Family: F12987
 
52 1870 census of Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 22 July 1870:

- Foster, Jonas, age 59, occupation Farmer, real estate value $400, born England.
- Foster, Rebecca, age 56, occupation Keeping House, real estate value $3,200, personal property value $300, born New Hampshire.
- Foster, Charles P., age 21, occupation illegible, born Maine.
- Elliott, Alfred, age 37, occupation illegible, born New Hampshire.
- Elliott, Laura, age 35, born New Hampshire.
- Elliott, Josephine, age 7, born New Hampshire.
- Elliott, unnamed, age 2 months, born New Hampshire.
- Terry, Mary, age 20, occupation Works in Cotton Mill, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4843
 
53 1870 census of Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 6 August 1870:

- Ordway, Jacob, age 48, occupation Farmer, real property value $500, personal property $200, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Judith F., age 31, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Alice C., age 12, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Ira J., age 7, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Edith, age 5, born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F4847
 
54 1870 census of Ward 1 (Penacook), Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 6 August 1870:

- Ordway, James M., age 62, occupation Farmer, real estate value $600, personal property $100, born New Hampshire.
- Ordway, Hannah M., age 46, occupation Keeping House, born New Hampshire.
- Small, James R., age 28, occupation Works on R.R., born New Hampshire.
- Small, Carrie L., age 17, occupation Keeping House, born New Hampshire.

James and Hannah Ordway are Carrie's parents.

 		Family: F8289
 
55 1900 census of Franklin, Ward 3, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, no date of enumeration:

- Small, James R., age 58, married 31 years, born November 1841 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation Farm Laborer.
- Small, Carrie L., age 47, wife, married 31 years, mother of 13 children with 10 still living, born April 1853 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.
- Small, Joseph L., age 18, son, single, born August 1881 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation Laborer at Saw Mill.
- Small, Frances E., age 14, daughter, born April 1886 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation At School.
- Small, Melvin A., age 12, born February 1888 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation At School.
- Small, Carrie G., age 8, born September 1891 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation At School.
- Small, Gracie M., age 5, born June 1894 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.
- Small, Earle E., age 3, born January 1897 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.
- Ellis, Carl, age 7, grandson, born April 1893 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire, occupation At School.
- Ellis, Flora M., age 5, granddaughter, born March 1895 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F8289
 
56 1900 census of Webster, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumerated 5 June 1900:

- Drown, Oscar A., age 51, married 25 years, born January 1849 in Massachusetts, father born Maine, mother born Massachusetts, no occupation listed.
- Drown, Hannah J., age 56, married 25 years, mother of 4 children with 3 still living, born June 1843 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.
- Drown, Alice M., age 22, daughter, single, born June 1877 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.
- Drown, Fred H., age 18, son, single, born March 1882 in New Hampshire, both parents born New Hampshire.

 		Family: F12988
 
57 5. The Family Turns Westward Again

Just as it was with my father in the New Hampshire of the "Fifties" so was it with my brothers in Iowa during the early "Eighties". My family all seemed to take the western fever at about the same time. But before I begin the tale of the trek toward the Dakotas, let me catch up a bit with the family history. During the years, 1874?1875, four weddings took place in our family. Lue and Anna were married September 15, 1874 (the birthday both of Lyra and Theresa.) Frank and Ada's wedding was in March of '75, my own with John A. Kennedy June 26th and Lyra was married to Earl Coman, June 30th of the same year.

After Lyra's marriage she and Earl were living in Marion until soon after the marriage a disastrous fire destroyed his flour mill and threw him out of employment. They moved into the country then and were living on the Cooper place between Marion and Cedar Rapids when I made my first visit to them after my marriage. Robbie was but then but a month old, his father attending the World's Fair at Philadelphia and writing me charming letters of the wonderful sights he was seeing. Mothers with babies in their arms had a peculiar charm for him then; the Chromo, "Fast Asleep" he brought to me from this Fair and it still hangs on my living?room wall. Poor Robbie had a sad time that summer suffering dreadfully from colic (I supposed), not getting any relief from the hot baths which seemed the best thing I could do for him. When his father returned he fed him on Soothing Syrup rather to my dismay, prejudiced as I was against that medicine for fear of its effect on the nervous system. But the child ceased to suffer. It was on this Cooper place that Mary Coman was born. After Frank and Ada left to make a home for themselves, Earl and Lyra moved into our old home to make a home for father. There they remained until 1882 when they listened to the call to "come West" and followed the rest of the family to Dakota.

Sister Theresa was teaching at Oelwein where she met the fine young man of Welsh descent, Benjamin Davis, whom she afterward married. Her wedding was in 1878. Frank had gone away earlier to Center Point where he learned the wagon makers' trade. Then after his marriage at twenty two with the red?cheeked and vivacious Ada Crawford, had established himself either there or elsewhere. I cannot now recall all these family details for I was away from home, and the years since then have been many. Lue had built himself a home and started a small business at Center Point. When Robbie was a year old I visited Lue and Anna there, just after the arrival of their first?born and only child, Roy. I remember Lue lying on the floor delightedly watching our baby as it lay on its back kicking its heels in the air. He loved babies and would have welcomed a quiver full of his own, though he never had but the one!

Lue was the first of the family to go westward. In 1881 he started for South Dakota to take up a homestead. The Davises must have gone soon after for Theresa's boy, Earl, was born in Mitchell, S.D. in 1882. Earl Coman took up a claim in the Fall of 1881 near Letcher, and moved his family on it in March of 1882. Frank and Ada settled near them about the same time. Lue must have taken out a claim for father also, for about this time he sent word to father that his claim was in danger. So father hurried to Mitchell, together they fixed up a bed of straw and put in a stove, so that, as father said, he could cook up an egg or two as wanted. Lue also plowed and planted a few acres. Father was still young enough to enjoy it all and the property was never contested. Other members of the family may have had just as interesting experiences as Lue in this westward pioneering, but not having his natural gift for writing, and not so near to me in age and associations, it happened that he was always the one to write. I am impelled to set down here extracts from some of his letters, humorous and otherwise.

Center Point, Sept. 6, 1881

Arrived home from Dakota Friday night. Was so muddy and demoralized when I got to Frank's that I left Bill and Major my dog, borrowed $10.00 and put out for home. I said "borrowed", perhaps should have said "took it". I knew no way in which I could get any land for that amount of money and have a faint suspicion J.A. was equally ignorant.

The "Great Expectations" with which I started out dwindled fearfully. I had a contract with Anna's brothers to break 10 acres of land for each at about $4.00 per acre and had taken a plow with me, to carry out the plan. But both gave up their claims, one being nearly all water, and the other gravel. So this left me about $75.00 short. I also intended to sell my outfit but one horse died and I could hardly get back with one.

Fortunately the railroad being just to the Missouri, there were horses in abundance. When the letter came from J.A.K. with the $35.00 I was about cornered ?? had but 10 cents left the last day and no feed for horses. My two months fight with mosquitoes by night, long grass, wind, sunshine and rain by day had almost used up my clothes.

A new pair of boots I put on the day I started were worn thro nearly half way around, one pair of pants had vacated in several large places, and the next pair fast following. Of the four shirts I took in starting, one was left at Frank's and two were worn and sweated thro from waist to shoulder in frantic efforts to escape mosquitoes and persuade Bill (the mule). The fourth shirt, tho present­ing a very dejected appearance, I was sacredly keeping for Sunday use or sudden visitors; so when I had entered my two claims and laid in a supply of horse feed, I immediately invested in some foot wear, a pair of pants, socks, vest and calico shirt, the outfit costing $8.25, and felt so good I accepted a friend's invita­tion to stay over Sunday. Had the pleasure of hearing a grand sermon by one of the Yale Band and enjoyed the honor of being introduced to him by the F. F. Vs of Mitchell as Deacon McCurdy from Iowa, as tho there was only one in Iowa and he in a $9.00 suit of clothes! Of course I did not faint or step in it, but I wanted to lick the man who told him I was a deacon."

Again on September 14, 1884 he wrote to me thus. "I shall never forget that pilgrimage, how I started from Center Point with only ten cents in the world, to work my way out and back through Dakota. I think lots of men would never have started but I got there, and with John's $35.00 laid the founda­tion of what the future shall bring."

It seems to me that these families who settled on those treeless prairies in their hastily built homes not properly tightened against the frosts and piercing blizzards must have suffered. But they carried high hearts ?? those frontier men and women ?? not unlike those who 300 years ago "Moored their bark on the wild New England shore". Not so strenuous an experience perhaps, but well worth the grateful and lasting admiration of their children. Brother Frank once said he thought that instead of paying Government for their land, the Government should pay the early settlers for their hardships in breaking it in!

One necessary item in the westward movement of all the members of my family was the selling of the farm at Marion to our old neighbor, Mr. Bowman. Afterward it was quite a source of regret to Father to find that an excellent spring had been developed from the stone quarry on the place near Indian Creek which bordered the farm. This would have made a welcome addition to his rather scant income, but went instead into the water supply of the city of Marion. When I was in Omaha in February, 1936 and had the pleasure of a visit with the Willie Bowman who had been in my earliest kindergarten group, he told me that this spring furnished all the city of Marion with water!

 		Family: F703
 
58 Abigail [Corliss], and James Pearley, Nov. 17, 1788. Family: F41
 
59 Abigail [Webster], and Joseph Baily, jr., Feb. 14, 1710-11. Family: F13315
 
60 Abigail [Webster], and William Moulton, May 27, 1685. Family: F3284
 
61 Abraham How & Hannah ward Maryed the 26 of March [1657] Family: F13222
 
62 Abraham [Fitts], and Sarah Tomson, May 16, 1655. Family: F13252
 
63 Abraham [Fitt], and Rebeca Birdly, Jan. 7, 1668. Family: F13253
 
64 Abraham [How] Jr. and Mary How, Nov. 14, 1695. Family: F13224
 
65 Abraham, and Sarah Clement, June 10, 1645.  Family: F8682
 
66 At least one living individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. Family: F10162
 
67 All Hallows Barking parish, London Family: F12152
 
68 Amos [Ordway], and Dorothy Bailey, Nov. 27, 1800. Family: F3508
 
69 Andover records cite "Ebenezer, and Mary Burnet of Reading, int. Oct. 15, 1768" Family: F3466
 
70 Ann [Corlis], and John Robie, Nov. 1, 1677. Family: F1558
 
71 Anna [Corlis], and Jonathan Crowel, Sept. 16, 1784. Family: F6614
 
72 Anna [Goodale] and Samuell Ware, July 24, 1745. Family: F2621
 
73 Anna [Hinds] and Samuell Walker, --- --, 1728. Family: F2619
 
74 Anna [Ordway], and Amos Eaton, 2d m., Mar. 29, 1796. Family: F3509
 
75 Anna [Walker] and Solomon Goodeale, May 18, 1732. Family: F2620
 
76 Anne [Emery], and James Ardway, Nov. 25, 1648. Family: F1404
 
77 Anne [Webster], and William Salmon, Sept. 29, 1703. Family: F3288
 
78 Anthony, and Hannah Plumer, int. Mar. 21, 1711 Family: F3274
 
79 as Abigail Thirston Family: F13078
 
80 Asa [Haseltine], and Mary Ober, Dec. 6, 1763. Family: F3254
 
81 Asa [Ladd], and Sarah Merrill, Dec. 28, 1757. Family: F8975
 
82 At least one living individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. Family: F10798
 
83 Bartholomew Allerton and Sarah Fairfax had at least four children.  Family: F9604
 
84 Benjamen [Holmes], and Mary Burbank, Oct. 7, 1734. Family: F1055
 
85 Benjamin (Holms) [Holmes], and Mary Burbank of Bradford, int. Sept. 29, 1734. Family: F1055
 
86 Benjamin Gage and Mary Keyes were step-brother and sister. Family: F8632
 
87 Benjamin [Ordway], and Anne Morse, Dec. 30, 1762. Family: F2097
 
88 Benjamin [Pearson], and Hanah Thurston, Jan. 20, 1679. Family: F13487
 
89 Benjamin, of Newbury, and Phebe Buck [July 3, 1781] Family: F13062
 
90 Betsy [Corlill] [Corliss. int.], and James Emerson, June 22, 1790. Family: F6621
 
91 At least one living individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. Family: F10688
 
92 Both Rowley vital records website and Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850: Rowley - V1, pg. 301 (NEHGS), cite the marriage date of Ebenezer Gove and Elizabeth Stewart as March 28, 1728. The IGI website displays the New Hampshire card citing date March 28, 1768. Given these cards were hand transcribed from the original town records, I believe this is a scribe's error and the card is off by 40 years.  Family: F12514
 
93 Both the groom's and bride's cards for the marriage of David Corliss and Abigail Taplin cites only date and place.  Family: F92
 
94 Both the groom's and the bride's cards for the marriage of Isaac Ordway and Betsey Hall cites only date and place.  Family: F6501
 
95 Bride's residence is cited as Cambridge.  Family: F11047
 
96 Bridgewater marriage record says "Adna [int. Adnah] Winslow Cliff." Family: F10530
 
97 Brookbury Family: F11293
 
98 Calus [Hinds] and Gennet Memastea, Sept. 6, 1742. Family: F2624
 
99 Catherine [Hines] and Nathan Bruce of Oakham, Nov. 6, 1787. Family: F13335
 
100 Chapter III SHADOWED YEARS

1. War Times

Meantime Matthew's year at Hopkinton had passed. Lincoln was calling for "300,000" more; tension was high and excitement everywhere. Lurandus and Matthew enlisted in August in 1862 in the same Company H. 20th Iowa Infantry, under Capt. Gray whose wife had always been so kind to Lyra and me. Everybody was going to war. The boys, Henry Wallace, Cam Vaughn, George Wynn and Clark Dodd, with whom we had been having such gay times, would come over to call. Lyra and I would try bravely to sing with them the stirring popular songs of war, ? "Rally round the flag, boys" "Battle cry of freedom" "O, you'll not forget me, mother," etc. but it was useless. We had to slip into the bed room so often to hide our tears, we finally gave it up. Oh! the tender messages, the useless and ridiculous little things we tucked into their knapsacks, ? anything to show our love for these idolized brothers. Then we all went together to see them off, the railroad coming no farther west at that time than Cedar Rapids. There a great crowd gathered, with tears, heart breaks and cheers for the Union. As the train moved away I saw Matthew's face in a window searching eagerly, my heart told me, for one more glimpse of the face that had become especially dear to him. We waved and tossed our arms frantically to get one more glimpse of recognition from those dear eyes we were never to look into again, but the train moved slowly on. The great crowd surged about and hid us from each other and we turned sadly away homeward, the broken family, never to be reunited again.

The following summer came the siege of Vicksburg and the unhealthy work in the swamps and trenches. Both brothers were taken very ill. They floated down the river, getting their first taste of ripe figs, to Camp Carrollton, on Lake Ponchartrain, about 12 miles from New Orleans. Here Matthew died on September 3rd, 1863, of chronic dysentery. His last words, "It is alright, it is all for the best", showed the consistently Christian spirit that had guided him since our mother's death. Indeed, I think it was always his spirit, as shown in the faraway New Hampshire boyhood, for the brother of one of my schoolmates told Helen when we visited there in 1906, "The teacher would let us sit beside Matthew when we were good, because he was always kind to the little ones." Both boys had been promised their furloughs and were eagerly looking homeward when the steamer arrived, but Matthew was dying. The surgeon told Lue he must go on that boat at once or he would never get home. He went on board as the dear brother breathed his last and the faithful friend, Clark Dodd, closed his eyes and followed him to the grave. He now lies in the beautiful cemetery at Arlington Heights, Washington. But father! When Lue reached home, father's first words were "Where is Matthew?" It was a heavy blow and I think he always grieved for him afterwards.

After the second year of the dreadful war not one of our chums was left at home. Lyra and I like other girls learned to harness the horses to the big wagon and drive alone when neces­sary. We both belonged to the "Good Templar" lodge and drove or walked the one mile alone, or sometimes on horseback. There was one young man, John Greer, who was also a member, the only one I knew who had not enlisted. His sister Jennie, a very sweet girl was a favorite with us, but I was a radical. In my blind patriotism and ignorance I could see no reason why he should not enlist as my brothers and other friends had. One day I found a poem entitled "The stay at home Ranger, Sweet Little Man," I committed it to memory and one night at Lodge recited the whole thing straight at him. Poor young man! for how should I know, he might have had the best reasons in the world for not enlisting and probably did. How he must have suffered! It was diabolical. Only a year or so later I was quite indignantly shocked when brother Lue told me that the southern "Ladies" on the streets of New Orleans spit upon the union soldiers. But this was not one whit worse than my treatment of the luckless young man. I don't know what became of Johnny Greer, but at this late day I take a retributive delight in laying the rod over my own shoulders for the meanness that was in me then ? in those early days.

I was in Chicago at the time of Matthew's death but returned at once and was soon engaged in teaching at St. George between Marion and Cedar Rapids. With the close of the term a great thrill came to me. Mrs. Stevens, one of our early church friends, knowing of my great desire since Matthew's death to be doing something tangible in work for soldiers, and thinking me older than I really was, had sent my name to Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer who was then organizing diet kitchens for the comfort of our sol­diers. Soon after there came to me a hasty note torn from the corner of a coarse business ledger, an order to report at once at headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. This scrap of paper precious as tho embossed in gold, I kept for twelve years, until it was burned in the fire that destroyed our home in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1877.

I had taken my responsibilities as teacher very seriously and this, with my share of house work and the long tiring walks to school (I sometimes rode our faithful old Dolly and then sent her home again), above all, grieving for my beloved brother Matthew and anxiety for Lue, still in the army, had lowered my vitality and caused some fear for my health. Thus it was not thought best for me to undertake the strenuous work mapped out for me in the south, and Dr. Ristine, our family physician advised a rest. I was soon on my way to Chicago for another visit.

Before I leave these Civil War memories I must add a word about our feeling for Lincoln. The great change of sentiment that took place was reflected in my father's attitude. If there is one thing more than another that just happened in my life of which I am proud, it is that my father was born in the same year as Abraham Lincoln. All thro the War, with my older brothers away in the army, father and I companioned much together. Even before its outbreak we discussed politics and followed pretty closely the trend of public affairs, and when the announcement came that Abraham Lincoln had been nominated for President, there came such a look of surprise, disappointment, even sorrow, into my father's face, and in a voice of deepest consternation he exclaimed, "That unknown man!" But in the agonized years that followed we came so to lean upon and love and trust that unknown man that when, one Saturday morning the black news came that Lincoln was assassina­ted, the tears streamed down my father's face as I had never seen him weep before or since. It was as if the heavens were falling.

 		Family: F703
 

      1 2 3 4 5 ... 106» Next»

  

This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding ©, v. 8.1.2.1, written by Darrin Lythgoe 2001-2012.