Life in 1987 - a look back - memories from the family journal

12/31/1986 – Kim worked, then spent NY Eve with Glen & Becky. Played Trivial Pursuit and put together a puzzle.

1/1/1987 – John quit smoking. Went shopping at JCP – A got pink shirt and black cords, B got bl/gy/wine sweater, C & M got shirts. M got new shoes. Did kite puzzle that A got for Christmas.

1/2/1987 – First snowfall. John home with kids, Kim smashed into guardrail (Erin Rd) on the way to

work. J & Kids went to lunch with K at BK. Busy day at work. A shoveled snow, B went out and played in snow, C went to D & D w/John. M made angels in the snow.

1/3/1987 – Stayed home. John went to Walter & Tony’s. Kids went to see McNeils. Played in snow. J is teaching kids to play D & D. Chicken, potatoes, corn & peas for dinner. Bought pants & shirt for Matt.

Books from library: Polar Bear, Everyone knows what a dragon looks like, Prehistoric life.

1/4/1987 – Went to Sunday School, and then sledding on Campagna’s hill with mom. Great fun, with only 2 broken legs & a ruptured spleen (jk). Dad & Matt stayed home. Had baths. Played D & D.

1/5/1987 – John was home from work. Went to lunch with Kim & Matt. A: Poured vinegar on everything in Science. Some smoked, dissolved, got etc. B: Dad picked up the kids C: Played D & D after school. M: Got a Pizza Hut Play kit. Brandon went shopping & to Aunt Gail’s with mom. A read “There’s a monster under my bed”.

1/6/1987 – Warmish (39*) Red sky at night. John went back to work. Kim talked to Bernie about house

on Park Ave. Brandon got pencils & crayons at the store. Adrienne got paper for school. Corey got his teeth bonded and got STICKERS! Matt didn’t want to go to Center because of Jessica Jackson. Got fine in mail from Waterloo.

1/7/1987 – Drizzly (mid 30s) Got another from Justice Bates. Also interest for savings account. J – 4.5 hrs at DuPont. Played D&D w/Adrienne. Kids all went to Center. Grandma Harris picked them up. Adrienne did latch hook in school. Brandon got the book “Animals of the Darkness” from L-W. Corey melted his snowsuit on the heater. Matthew went to Search (committee?) with mom, B & C, and to the library after.

1/8/1987 – Warm (mid 30s) light, powerdy snow. John stayed after for party for Joe Pleschok. Got a book club notice in mail. Slow day at work. Brandon got a perfect test in reading, made a monster in computer. Adrienne had music lesson in school. Corey got reading cards: yellow, green, red, blue, boy,

and girl. Matt moved to the Preschool room at Center.

1/9/1987 – A took a nap so she could go to D&D. B took his centaur to school, everyone liked it. C gets to have his life on the bulletin board at school on March 16-20. Matt got moved up to the Preschool

group at Center. K, B, C, & M went to the movie Gentle Giant (Ben) which everyone enjoyed. Went to Terre’s after & joined Adrienne and John for pizza dough at DiSalvo’s. Adrienne and Brandon have to pay $.25/day for lunch.

1/10/1987 – 4” of snow (34*), then rain. Winteree at Albion JH School. John, Brandon & Corey went. Brandon’s team won 3rd place overall. Corey’s team won the Tug of War. Matt went to town with just mommy this morning. We went to Penney’s (blue necklace and earrings), Goodwins (unicorn - $2.00), Post Office (get money order for ticket $35), Midtown Restaurant for ice cream cone, Corky’s for meltaways. In the PM went w/K & A to get groceries, and to the library. Read: “Magic Slippers”. Tacos for supper.

1/11/1987 – Warm, then cold and windy. Church Council installed. $905.75 in offering. Moved lots of

wood. Went sledding on Gallagher’s Hill. It was cold! Adrienne went bowling with Jessica Boyce. Kim

went to Bingo with Grandma H. Didn’t win.

1/12/1987 – Winter Olympics at Little People Center. Adrienne got cards to sell.

1/13/1987 – Brandon had Cub Scouts. Got Pinewood Derby car. Corey broke lamp in bathroom this AM, and had a bad day. John in Albany.

1/14/1987 – B went to Center, played with clay at search (?). Asked to be on Odyssey of the Mind team.

Corey went to Center after school. Matt made a snowman. Kim got perm, look like Little Orphan Annie.

John home at 8:15pm.

1/15/1987 – Brandon had to stay after for Odyssey. Its going to be a play about Boston Tea Party.

Adrienne had music lesson. It went okay. John went to U of R. Kim got eyes examined. Matthew made

mittens at Center. Corey got a book “Biggest, longest, best”. Pizza for supper.

1/16/1987 – John went to D & D again. Brandon went with him for a while, but didn’t do too good.

Brandon and Kim went to Penney’s and bought – B: karate suit ($4.99), sweater ($4.99), undershirts; C:

Velour B/W shirt ($3.99), sweater ($3.99); J: gloves ($4.99). Stopped by Gail’s with Small Business

Survival Course information and went to Bells. Saw Steve Garrety (H/S bus driver) at work. Got W-2 from work. Hash & peas for dinner.

1/17/1987- John went to Cub Scout Committee meeting. Bernie E. from Kodak called. Did spring

cleaning. Kim and A went to library. Adrienne got “5 Chinese Brothers” for Storyteller’s Contest. Corey

worked hard on moving wood. Matt heard “Dreams” by Peter Spier. Chicken Chow Mein w/rice for

supper. 

2/21097- Groundhog Day. He saw his shadow, so there will be 6 more weeks of winter.

2/3/1098- Adrienne was very helpful after school. A, B, & C came home after school. Brandon had Cub Scouts, they are making placemats for the Blue & Gold Banquet. Corey worked hard at school. Matt stopped at the store with mom. His day was good. He was up early. Dad went to Ithaca and Corning. Rent going up $10. New person at DMV – Rose Johnson. Gave Gail permanent.

2/8/1987- The basement is wet, weather is warm enough that the snow is melting on the north end.

Watched Labyrinth and Back Moon Rising.

2/10/1987- John went to Business First. Matt & Corey made a heart mouse. The electricity was off in Albion today. Adrienne is studying rocks and minerals in science. Brandon saw a heart dog in Mrs.

Thomas’ room. Got invited to Tom & Jeanne’s wedding in Hilton 3/27 at 6:00pm.

2/11/1987 – John went to the U of R and someplace else. Kim went to lunch with Gerry. Came home & went to bed. Feeling bleecky, John fixed pork chops, applesauce, creamed corn, and green beans for supper. Brandon made a heart dog. Matt brought January Brings the Snow home.

3/27/1987- Matt is 4 today! John & I took the afternoon off and picked Matt up at Center. He had his picture taken. We went to Terre’s he got a transformer Big Wheel. The kids and John put it together.

Birthday party at momo & pappy’s that night. Matt got little people, sunglasses, puzzle, underoos, 3 shirts and 4 pants, 2 pairs of pajamas, and a little transformer toy. It was a great day. Kim & John went to Tom and Jeanne’s wedding. A & C stayed at Mo & Pap’s. B & M at Becky and Glen’s. Us, too.

4/12/1987 – Went to Rochester. Bought 3 piece suits (13.97@) for C & M. 2 piece pants outfit for M ($1.97), He-Man shirt for B ($3.97), shoes for C & B ($12 & $15). Purchased box set of Chronicles of Narnia ($16.95-15%) with the kids pop money. Matt got Bernstein Bears and the Sitter. Read the complete book: “The Littles” by John Peterson on the way, “Out of the Nursery, Into the Night”. Had supper at Glen & Becky’s (spaghetti). Brandon stayed over. Read the last chapter of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” at home, and Matt’s new BB book.

8/2/1987- Mo and Pap came down to celebrate their anniversary (36) and B’s birthday (8). We were

going to the Amherst Museum Colony Fair, but it poured so we went to the Buffalo Museum instead.

Not a really great time, but okay. Stopped at Lockport on the way home and picked up presents for

Brandon. Matt got a Slime Creature from Outer Space.

8/3/1987 – Brandon’s birthday – 8years old. Brandon in Rochester with Momo & Pappy for the morning. John brought him home at noon. Played at Steve and Todd’s in the afternoon. Kim quit at 4:00 and made a chocolate chip cake with white frosting + M&Ms. Had a treasure hunt for presents. Brandon got Insectaur, Rambo, Legions of Power, shirt, belt (G&B, M&P) and He-Man sword and shield, and Legions of Power(us), $5.00 from G&L, and from G &GH.

8/4/1987 – Today, the kids went to the Library and bought some candy for the way home. We played

with Legions of Powers for about 1.5 hours. I read them some books (babysitter). They swam and played at playground for an hour. They also played with friends. We took a walk, played Sorry and Monopoly.

8/5/1987 – We started playing with Legions of Power for 2 hrs, engaged in a battle. We read a book and

went to the library to return books. We played Sorry and Monopoly before lunch. We also went for a

walk. They played at Steve’s house, dodge ball, around-the-world, and baseball.

8/6/1987 – Today, we began with Legions of Powers, protecting our castle. We then went to the

playground. We had relay races and obstacle courses. After their swimming lesson we again played at

the playground. We also read some books, before lessons. They ended the day by playing with friends.

Got Adrienne’s Mumford and Renaissance Fair pictures in the mail.

8/7/1987 – The day began with some reading that included some fairy tales, birds and Wordbird.

Brandon and Corey had a lot of fun playing the beginner games in swimming. All enjoyed free swim and Adrienne liked the water polo game. We took a walk to the library and got the tapes and more books. We ended the day by watching Bernstein Bears.

8/17/1987 – Adrienne spent most of her day with Melissa. Brandon, Corey and Matt went with Lisa to

the park and came back and ate. They rested and then Lisa read to them.

8/18/1987- The kids played Monopoly in the morning with Lisa. Then they did chores and played until

3:00 pm in the pool with their friends. They came in and did the rest of their chores and Lisa read to

them. 

8/19/1987 – The kids watched a movie and did their chores. We went to the park. The kids came home

and played in the pool until about 2:00. They the ate and rested while Lisa read to them.

8/20/1987 – The kids played Monopoly in the morning while showing Donna (new sitter) “A Christmas

Story” for a while. Then they did their chores and ate lunch while watching the second half of the Price is Right. Then they went outside and played in the pool, both in the morning and afternoon. Around 1:00 they came in and put puzzles together. We went to the library and exchanged books. I read to them.

Then we drew on the porch, and watched He-Man at 3:30, and Facts of Life at 4:00/

8/21/1987 – Adrienne 10 years old – The kids ate breakfast, I read to Brandon. They played outside until lunch time. They watched a movie and played outside with the neighbors. I laid out in the sun (sitter), and the kids did their chores. They also listened to records. Then Brandon was taken to the doctor’s. We went and got the leaves and watched She-Ra.

8/22/1987 – Adrienne had a slumber party with Melissa Stanton, Julie Hughes, Maureen H., and Theresa Miller. Tacos, angel cake, chips, etc. Had 2 treasure hunts. A got 2 necklaces, 2 sets of earrings, one from Tamara and a jewelry box. Watched Labyrinth. The boys went to Lakeside Beach.

11/25/1987 – Matt had Thanksgiving at Head Start. Took time off and went to it.

11/26/1987 – Had Thanksgiving at Glen & Becky’s. Brought turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, noodle pudding, cranberry sauces, spiced apple rings. Grandma Skelly was there with Momo & Pappy. Played euchre (?) – probably pinochle – after supper.

James Alexander Stark, an extraordinary woman.

5 Sep 1878 - 19 Aug 1917

My great-grandmother was an extraordinary woman. She was the second daughter of James Alexander Stark and his (second) wife, Nancy Elizabeth Owsley. She had an older sister, Susan Emma, three older Stark half siblings, three older Brown step-siblings, and six younger half siblings from her mother's second marriage. 

Growing up, I had always been told her name was James Alabama Stark, but that she was called Allie. It was only a few years ago, when I started seriously researching her, that I found her actual name was James Alexander Stark, after her father who died five months before she was born. I knew she was born in Missouri, in Hickory County in 1878, so the only pre-marriage census that is extant is the 1880 one.  But I couldn't find her in any 1880 Missouri census. 

I had 2 clues to her parents. Her father's name was James Alexander Stark, and her mother signed permission for her to marry with the name Nancy E Brown. So I starting looking for Nancy Stark in the 1880 census, and found her, now a widow living on Main St in Cross Timbers, Hickory County, Missouri. She was the head of household that included the 2 Stark children, and her brother and sister with the last name of Owsley. I hadn't known her mother's maiden name, so this was a breakthrough.

The only catch was that the children were Emma, age 2, a daughter and  a son, James A., age 1. But wait, what if the enumerator just asked the ages and names of the children, and unbeknownst to Nancy, recorded her baby girl as a son? This was confirmed in her grandfather's will, written just months after she was born - as granddaughter James Alexander Stark. 

I will that at marriage or when they become of legal age that my executor pay to Susan E. Stark and James Alexander Stark, daughters of James A Stark and my grandchildren, the sum of Ten Dollars each.

From the Will and Testament of Pleasant Stark, dated 9 December 1878

Little is known of Allie's childhood. Her mother married a widower, William Samuel Brown, when Allie was about three years old, and from this marriage, six children were born. And so it was, that just after her 17th birthday, Allie married John C. Agee, age 21. For the next 12 years they remained in Hickory County, Missouri, where Allie gave birth to at least six children, two sons dying in infancy. 

In 1907 or possibly 1908, the family packed up and moved out west. We know that they took a trip in May 1907: "John Agee and son Guss and family started last Wednesday overland in a covered wagon for a trip through the Ozark country for the benefit of Guss's health." 

AI tells me a trip by covered wagon from Hickory Co, Missouri to Lemhi Co, Idaho would take between 4 and 6 months, would require meticulous preparation of up to a year in advance, and often was preceded by the family selling off their goods and property. This occurred in Oct 1907 (30 acres of land) and Nov 1907 (joint sale of goods between John and his brother-in-law Tilden Johnson). This leads me to believe that the fall and winter were spent getting ready and the two families probably left in the spring of 1908. Tilden and Ida Belle Johnson would only stay a short while out there, long enough for their son Harry Giles to be born, but they were back in Hickory County for the 1910 census and every one thereafter.

John and Allie lived on Sandy Creek and would have one more child together, Virginia Velma, who was born in October 1910, but died the same year. This is what a cabin on Sandy Creek looked like in 1934, theirs was probably less elaborate.

They separated soon after. Allie and her remaining children (Walter, Mettie, Minnie - my grandmother, and Elizabeth) moved out into Salmon, where Allie worked to provide for them as a cook, either on ranches or at the Yellow Jacket mine, according to a 1995 letter from my uncle. 

Allie, Minnie and Elizabeth Clarissa c. 1908

In 1913, a life changing event occurred. Allie was working on the Brown ranch as a housekeeper for a 60 year old man. She was by now divorced from John and keeping company with a young man named Guy Buster. One night while Allie, Guy and her 15 year old son, Walter, were out walking they met Mr. Brown, coming from the other direction.

All Idaho, U.S., Old Penitentiary Prison Records, 1882-1961

Guy Buster, 1913

Mr. Brown told Guy to leave, and started hitting him with his walking stick. Guy then proceeded to shoot him 3-4 times. He claimed self-defense. Both Allie and Walter supported and testified to that claim. Guy was first convicted and sentenced to 10-30 years in the penitentiary, but the conviction was later overturned, a new trial took place in 1915, and it was overturned a final time in 1917. 

It was about this time that Allie left Idaho and went to Dillon, Montana, where she worked in the Acaia cleaning establishment. In 1917, she contracted erysipelas, a Streptococcus A bacterial skin infection, and died a month later in August, 1917, leaving four minor children Walter, 19, Mattie, 17, Mattie, 14 and Lizzie, 10, and a $94.00 funeral bill. 

The funeral home still exists today, and sent me a copy of this bill, and was very helpful in trying to obtain for me the actual location of where she is buried. 

We went west this summer, and that was one of my main objectives, but all I could find out was that she was likely buried in the churchyard of the First Baptist Church, where the funeral was held. However, when the church moved into town, the marked graves were disinterred and the remains taken to Mountain View Cemetery. There is no record of her in the cemetery, so her final resting place remains a mystery. Wherever she is, may she rest in peace.

Harvest soup

I made a soup today, which gave new meaning to homemade (or homegrown). It was a potato-leek soup, it was our first successful attempt at growing them.

I sauted 5 cups of freshly harvested leeks them in some butter and garlic until soft.

Added a pound of potatoes (also from the garden), homemade chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.

Although the recipe didn't call for it, I added some baby corn that was in the refrigerator. After coming to a boil, it simmered for about 15 minutes. We removed the thyme sprigs and the bay leaf and used the immersion blender to make it smooth. A final check of the seasoning before adding 1/2 cup of heavy cream, or in our case, coconut milk.

So what did we think? We definitely won't use the baby corn again, it made the soup sweet, and took away from the delicate taste of the leeks. We ended up grating cheese in it, and then I added the last piece of kielbasa to the leftovers. I would make it or something similar again, and I'm excited to grow more leeks!

Mamie Van Epps, an extraordinary woman (1897-1993)

Mamie Hope Van Epps (1897-1993) was by all accounts an extraordinary person. She was the only daughter of Cora Bateman and Elmer Van Epps, having two full brothers (Charles and Glenn Van Epps), two half-brothers from her mother (Levi Nazer and William Henry Nazer) and at least one half-brother from her father (Fred Van Epps).

The Van Epps children were born in Waynoka, Oklahoma, but by the time Mamie was seven, the family had moved to a farm in Robinson, Kansas, where her grandmother, Mary Howe Bateman (my second great-aunt) lived. One or more of Cora’s brothers also lived in the area. The year 1909 was a difficult one for the family. Things were not going well between the parents, Cora and the children were now living in Everest, Kansas. On June 2, Mamie’s half-brother, Fred Van Epps, who was 20 years old and about to get married, shot and killed himself in Oklahoma. Sixteen days later, Mamie herself was shot accidentally, by her mother, who mistook her for a burglar. It appears that she fully recovered, though.

For the next few years, Cora and the children struggled, with everyone pitching in to help. Then, in 1914, when Charles was 19, Mamie, 17 and Glenn just 14, their mother died. It is in their mother’s will that we find out that she has two other sons, Levi and William Nazer, who she leaves $25 each. Mamie is left $50, and her brother split the remainder of the estate after the bills have been paid.(Will of Cora Van Epps, Newspapers.com - Brown County World - 13 Nov 1914 - Page 4)

Mamie now starts working full time, in 1915, she joins the Hiawatha Steam Laundry as their bookkeeper. While working there, she takes some civil service exams in Leavenworth, and despite not having gone to high school, manages to score high enough to land a job with the adjutant general. The local newspaper is quoted as saying “The success of Miss Mamie Van Epps, the laundry worker who has secured a civil service appointment in Washington at $1,100 ayear, is another instance of what: an ambitious boy or girl can do when they try. Miss Van Epps' schooling has been limited; she has worked for the support of her widowed mother. Business men and others who know Miss Van Epps have always had a good word for her because of her unusual activity. She studied and prepared herself for the examination and passed with creditable grades.” (The Kansas Democrat - 14 Feb 1918, p. 5)

Mamie seems to enjoy her time in Washington, sharing her experiences in letters, telling in one report to the local newspaper “that she is working in the Receiving and Recording Department of the Sanitary Division of the General Surgeon's office. She helps in keeping the record of the sick and wounded in the different hospitals here and in France. Recently, in her days' work, she found that her brother, Charlie, had the mumps while he was at Jefferson Barracks.” (Brown County World - 8 Mar 1918 - Page 4).

In all she spends about 2.5 years in Washington, coming home for visits, and in February 1920, when her father, Elmer Van Epps dies. By summer, she has advanced as far as she can without a diploma, and leaves Washington to work in the railroad office in Detroit, Michigan. In September, she comes home and finishes high school, where she is awarded the first of several scholarships she receives to attend Kansas University. She is featured in an article in 1922 Topeka Daily Capital where she describes how she can pay her fees, board, room, laundry bill, insurance dues, books and still have money to buy a new spring bonnet on $1.10 a day. Among her many jobs are working in the school cafeteria, child care, waitressing, and her most unique – contacting each female high school graduate offering to send an itemized account of her expenses at the University of Kansas and tips for living frugally, for the sum of 15c. (Brown County World - 14 Apr 1922 - Page 6). But it isn’t all work for Mamie, as she is active in several activities, including the Snow Zoology Club where she is an officer, as well as being a member of the K. U. delegation to the International Student Volunteer Convention in Indianapolis. She receives her A. B. Degree from the University of Kansas, and will later earn a B.S. from the University of Arkansas in home economics.

In September 1924, Mamie marries Willmont Stacey Van Epps in Benton, Arkansas. She is 28 and never married before, he is 36 and recently divorced with one child. His previous occupation was as a physician and surgeon, specializing in eyes, but after his marriage he settles on his farm. It is interesting to note that on his marriage license he claims to be 36, or 12 years older than Mamie, but in every census for the rest of his life, he is actually 20 years older (Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969). When he dies, in 1952, after 28 years of marriage, he is 75 years old (Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969).

Mamie worked as the county and district home supervisor of Farmers Home Administration in Little Rock for 16 years. After her husband’s death in 1952, she moves to Missouri, where she becomes the Lawrence County, MO home agent in December 1953, only to resign her post six months later, to go to New Mexico to teach native Americans. (Although if this actually happened, I can find no reference to it). Sometime around 1955 she became the home economics adviser for the State Department for three years in Cochbamba, Bolivia, South America (obituary The Monitor, McAllen, Texas - 24 Mar 1993 – p. 42), coming home in May 1958 (Florida, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1898-1963).

Mamie married and outlived two more husbands, Ralph Barnum in 1958, until he died in 1963; and Elmer Reynolds in 1964, until his death in 1981. Following her marriage to Ralph, she moved to Texas, where she lived out her life, dying in McAllen, Texas on 24 Mar 1993.

She lived a full life that spanned most of the twentieth century. She lived through two world wars, the depression and throughout it all sought to help those people hardest hit by serving in a variety of government positions. And she spent her retirement years doing genealogy!

A note about sources My sources included the following: 1900, 1910, 1930, 1940 US Census; 1905 Kansas State Census; Arkansas Marriage Certificate; Texas Death Certificate; 1925 University of Kansas Yearbook, 1958 Florida Arriving Passenger list.
Thirty articles from various newspapers in Kansas, Missouri, Washington, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, accessed through Newspapers.com

Recommendation for further study – I see I haven’t accessed the 1920 or 1950 US Census, and I only have one official marriage certificate, the other marriages are documented through newspaper accounts. I would like to learn more about the common surname she shared with her first husband, and whether they were related in any way. I would also like to learn more about her three half-brothers, about whom I know very little.

How she is related to me – She is my 2 cousin twice removed, our common ancestors are Nancy Mudgett and Nathan Howe, Jr (my 3rd great grandparents), from Great Valley, NY.

Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

Who was Orretta/Rettie L/Lauretta/Laura Squires/Wilbur/Wade/Hall/Gavitt?

Here are the facts that most people know and accept:

She was the daughter of George E Squires (1831-1901) and his wife, Elizabeth Hale (1834-1920). She had two siblings, Priscilla "Nettie" (1857-1947) who married Charles E. Markham, and Walter J. Squires (1859-1930) who married his first cousin, Grace Hale. She was born 9 Jun 1869, in Little Valley, NY. In the 1870, 1875 and 1880 census, she is listed as Orretta (ages 3 and 13). (1870 and 1880 United States Federal Census for Little Valley, Cattaraugus, New York); (Little Valley, Cattaraugus,New York, State Census, 1875).

By 1892, the household, still located in Little Valley consists of George, 63, Elizabeth, 58, Walter, 33, Grace, 15, Florence, 6 and a Rettie L. Wilber, 24. (Little Valley, Cattaraugus,New York, State Census, 1892). Upon discovering that Grace was the wife of Walter, my first thought was that Walter had been married before and Florence was his daughter. But I could find no evidence of that being true. This is the first significant name change - from Orretta to Rettie L, and from Squires to Wilber. There is only anecdotal evidence supporting this, a news clipping for Whig St saying Mrs. Eugene Wilbur visited friends in Bradford recently. (Is this Lauretta Squires??)This is right above a blurb about her brother, Walter. Not the most solid evidence. (The Post, 17 April 1889)

Another news clipping (The Post, 22 Jul 1896) mentions Miss Laura Wade of Bradford and her mother, Mrs. G. Squires of Elkdale, visited at C.E. Markham's. So we know that her sister is Mrs. C.E. Markham, her mother is Mrs. G. Squires, and there are no other female siblings, which leads me to believe that Miss Laura Wade is another alias. In 1896 and 1897, the Bradford city directory (U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995) shows a Laura Wade listed as a dressmaker.

Her father's obituary, in 1901 does not list the names of his children, only that he has 3 adult children.

Her next name change comes in 1905, when, as Lauretta Squires, she marries Willie E Hall on 5 Nov 1905, in Olean (New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967). Of interest is this news clipping: Miss Florence Squires and Mrs. Ed Hall were in Olean Tuesday (The Post, 22 Dec 1904). Is this Florence and her mother? If so, she is going by Hall almost a year before the actual marriage. She keeps the Hall name until at least 1920, we find her in 1910 in Bradford, PA living with Willie E Hall, 38 at 37 High St. She is known as Laurette Hall, 39 and has given birth to one child, who is still alive, but not living with them. (1910 United States Federal Census, Bradford Ward 5, McKean, Pennsylvania). By 1920, she appears not to be with her husband anymore. She lives at 28 West Washington St, where she is listed as single, and the "housekeeper" for S.D. Foley, but also as a dressmaker with her own shop. Also in the household is Florence N. Wilber, a boarder and a dressmaker.(1920 United States Federal Census for Bradford Ward 3, McKean, Pennsylvania).

In November, 1920 her mother, Elizabeth Hale Squires dies. Her obituary says she is survived by one son, Walter of Whig street and three daughters, Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Flossie Wilbur of Bradford and Mrs. Jeanette Markham of this city (Salamanca Inquirer, 13 November 1920). Notice that she is identified only as "Mrs." Hall, her sister is Mrs. Jeanette Markham, and her daughter is misnamed as the child of Elizabeth, but with her own first name.

Sometime after her mother's death, she returns to New York, and in 1925 is living on Atlantic Ave, Salamanca with Charles Gavitt, using the name Laura. She dies on 2 Jan 1927, at the age of 57. In not one of three different obituaries is her given name mentioned, she is referred to as Mrs. Charles Gavitt, in each one. Besides her husband, she is survived by her sister, Mrs. Charles Markham, her brother, Walter Squires, and a daughter, Mrs. Florence Wilbur.(Democrat and Chronicle - 1927-01-05; Salamanca Inquirer, 7 January 1927; Cattaraugus Republican, 5 January 1927).

Through thirteen official sources, and seven pieces of social media, we can put together a general timeline that includes at least four men Eugene (?) Wilbur, ?? Wade, Willie (Ed) Hall, and Charles Gavitt. She had a daughter, who was raised at least until the age of 10 by her grandparents, but who followed in her footsteps as a dressmaker. She lived primarily in Cattaraugus County, New York, or across the border in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and in the end was buried where she began life, in Little Valley, New York. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253677426/gavitt)

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this dual timeline (1943/1973) book with midwives and music at its core. In 1943, a young girl who calls herself Songbird shows up in the yard of a midwife who lives with her four sisters, wounded in the shoulder by her father, because she won't drink a potion to abort her baby. Although hiding and caring for Songbird could bring danger to the sisters, they decide to do it. For four months, she stays there, endears herself to even the dissenting sister, and gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. When her father shows up a few weeks later, wanting to sell the child, Songbird and Bertie (the midwife sister) take off from their home in the back woods of Sevier county (Smoky Mountains, TN) and with the help of a pair of pastors, take the child to Nashville, where he is adopted by a loving couple. I will stop here and not share the 1973 plotline, but it's well worth your time to read it yourself.
I definitely plan to seek out more of her work.

View all my reviews

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars - Sometimes the stars align and you find a book that is just right at the right time. This book, about three orphaned witches taken in by a motley crew that includes an older gay couple who've been together for 50 years, a middle aged woman, who acts as household manager, and a thirty-ish male librarian with trust issues. They decide they need a witchy tutor for the girls to help them accept themselves and master their talents, and Mika Moon fits the bill. Mika herself grew up without a family, as female witches die young if they give birth. Primrose, the self-appointed leader of the English witch group, took her in and used a series of nanny/tutors to raise her, while being mostly absent. One of Primrose's steadfast rules is that witches need to be solitary, for the protection of all. Mika has been alone, lonely and found it hard to trust others for much of her life. But she finds herself with strong feelings for the girls and their caretakers, much to her chagrin.
This book is about finding ourselves, and our places in the world, and taking risks, and it really spoke to me.

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