Click for a larger image. Let us know in the comments if you would like GAP to post larger images of any of these.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Proofsheet - G&G 01
The following is a proofsheet of a roll of film that Ellen recently sent.
Click for a larger image. Let us know in the comments if you would like GAP to post larger images of any of these.
Click for a larger image. Let us know in the comments if you would like GAP to post larger images of any of these.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Found On The Interwebs - Bloody Tongue, Bald Head, and a Budding Political Future
Tyrel, Karla's oldest, not only made the second round in the Wyoming state wrestling tournament this past weekend (as a freshman!), he also was featured in a Casper Star-Tribune picture with the bloodied mouth he endured during a first round match.
Woohoo, we're proud of you, tough guy!
Former wrestler, and Tyrel's grandfather, Joe appeared recently in a Billings Gazette video about about his employer, Alternatives Inc., which provides treatment programs for inmates.
Joe's the old man at the end who looks like his nose is two inches from the computer monitor. He said that he was actually looking through the window, not at the monitor, and I'd probably tell people the same thing, too.
Lorna, Joe's wife, was featured several years back in a Billings Gazette article about her work at a "Congress" held by her company, Aware Inc., which provides services to persons with disabilities.
If anyone has other stories from around the Interwebs to post on GAP, send them our way!
Woohoo, we're proud of you, tough guy!
Former wrestler, and Tyrel's grandfather, Joe appeared recently in a Billings Gazette video about about his employer, Alternatives Inc., which provides treatment programs for inmates.
Joe's the old man at the end who looks like his nose is two inches from the computer monitor. He said that he was actually looking through the window, not at the monitor, and I'd probably tell people the same thing, too.
Lorna, Joe's wife, was featured several years back in a Billings Gazette article about her work at a "Congress" held by her company, Aware Inc., which provides services to persons with disabilities.
The Congress, which operates in much the same way as a state legislature, adopted 23 measures including one co-authored by Stutz that would provide flexible hours, more part-time employment and refresher courses in handling administrative chores. Aware delivers services for persons with challenging mental health, emotional and/or physical disabilities who otherwise would be served in a more restricted setting or not served at all.Is that a political career I smell brewing at the Stutz household?
If anyone has other stories from around the Interwebs to post on GAP, send them our way!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Earthquake in Chile - Sarah Is OK
GAP is not a great source for current events. Heck, we're lucky if we get items posted once a month! This one's important, though, so we wanted to get the word out quickly.
Sarah Landeen, who is on her mission in Santiago, Chile, is OK after the earthquake.
Ellen, her mother, wrote on Facebook:
UPDATE
Ellen just posted more information about Sarah on Facebook:
Sarah Landeen, who is on her mission in Santiago, Chile, is OK after the earthquake.
Ellen, her mother, wrote on Facebook:
There was an 8.8 earthquake in Chile last night. Sarah is serving in Santiago West and is on the coast, but (being the nervous mom that I am) I called Church headquarters this morning, and all missionaries in her mission are safe and accounted for. :) We hope that is the same for all missions in Chile.Sadly, many people have died in this disaster, which had 500 times the energy of the recent quake in Haiti. Please keep them and all who are suffering around the world in your thoughts and prayers. Please do what you can to help.
UPDATE
Ellen just posted more information about Sarah on Facebook:
I just got a phone call from Sarah in Chile. She is ok. Her house in intact, they have food and water, and there was no flooding from the ocean in her area. She said she woke up Friday night to the earthquake, they jumped under a table, stayed there until the shaking stopped. As of today, there is no power in her town, so she may not get to email tomorrow. It was so good to hear her voice!!!
Mystery Picture 100228
Oh my.
It seems we've gone almost the entire month of February without a mystery picture. Where does the time go? And, we don't even have a leap year to give us an extra day. It's now or never, so we chose now.
Ellen sent GAP some negatives with these and many other pictures. (Thanks, Ellen, and yes, the scanning is still progressing!) Unlike slides, negatives do not have the date that they were developed; we're guessing they are from the early nineties.
As always, the first picture can be clicked on to view a much larger image. The second, picture with the numbers over the heads can be clicked on to view a somewhat larger image. Some of the faces are easier to see in the third picture, so we threw that in for good measure. If you leave comments with the names of the people, we will fill in the numbered list as people are identified.
1 - Grandpa
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 -
6 -
7 -
8 -
It seems we've gone almost the entire month of February without a mystery picture. Where does the time go? And, we don't even have a leap year to give us an extra day. It's now or never, so we chose now.
Ellen sent GAP some negatives with these and many other pictures. (Thanks, Ellen, and yes, the scanning is still progressing!) Unlike slides, negatives do not have the date that they were developed; we're guessing they are from the early nineties.
As always, the first picture can be clicked on to view a much larger image. The second, picture with the numbers over the heads can be clicked on to view a somewhat larger image. Some of the faces are easier to see in the third picture, so we threw that in for good measure. If you leave comments with the names of the people, we will fill in the numbered list as people are identified.
1 - Grandpa
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 -
6 -
7 -
8 -
Moss Mustache - Revisited
One of GAP's earliest posts had pictures from the 1970s and 1980s of family members wearing moss mustaches. On a recent trip I decided to revitalize the moss mustache craze of yesteryear, bringing it into the 21st century.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Locked Out!
In the short period since we last ran a Family Blog Roundup the blogs for The JEM Show and for Wyoming Toomer have switched to invitation only access. And, GAP is not invited! Perhaps we overstayed our welcome? In any event, we have updated the label on the Family Links list on the right to reflect that they are "invite only". If the status changes, please let us know.
In the meantime, you can add family links or add family Facebook links if we have missed any.
In the meantime, you can add family links or add family Facebook links if we have missed any.
Then and Now - Olympics
Mr. GAP and family visited beautiful Vancouver last week to catch a women's hockey match at the Winter Olympic games!
Our trip took us through Seattle, but unfortunately we did not have a chance to call Lori. (Hi, Lori!) I guess we will have to go back!
Joe, my dad, told me that Grandma and Grandpa took the family to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 when the Space Needle opened, but I have not yet seen any pictures from it. Does anyone have a story or two to share about the trip?
This was our family's second trip to the Olympics, the first being in 2002 to the Salt Lake Winter Olympics when Boyd was three months old.
He is on the far right in the top picture, which provides a nice then and now comparison.
At the Salt Lake games we attended the women's halfpipe competition in Park City with Karla and Brian Toomer, as well as with some friends -- very good friends (our children's godparents) -- from Montana.
We crashed at the farm with Grandma and Grandpa, who were enjoying some unseasonably warm weather. We could not have asked for better hosts!
We also attended a women's hockey match in Provo with Lucas. I should get a more recent picture of Lucas so we can do a then and now of him, too.
We vowed at the time that if the Olympics ever came back to our neck of the woods we would have to attend again. Since we were in Montana when the Vancouver games were announced, we told the boys their whole lives that we would take them to the 2010 games. Although we now live in Virginia, a promise is a promise, so we went.
Now, if the Olympics ever come back to our neck of the woods again....
Our trip took us through Seattle, but unfortunately we did not have a chance to call Lori. (Hi, Lori!) I guess we will have to go back!
Joe, my dad, told me that Grandma and Grandpa took the family to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 when the Space Needle opened, but I have not yet seen any pictures from it. Does anyone have a story or two to share about the trip?
This was our family's second trip to the Olympics, the first being in 2002 to the Salt Lake Winter Olympics when Boyd was three months old.
He is on the far right in the top picture, which provides a nice then and now comparison.
At the Salt Lake games we attended the women's halfpipe competition in Park City with Karla and Brian Toomer, as well as with some friends -- very good friends (our children's godparents) -- from Montana.
We crashed at the farm with Grandma and Grandpa, who were enjoying some unseasonably warm weather. We could not have asked for better hosts!
We also attended a women's hockey match in Provo with Lucas. I should get a more recent picture of Lucas so we can do a then and now of him, too.
We vowed at the time that if the Olympics ever came back to our neck of the woods we would have to attend again. Since we were in Montana when the Vancouver games were announced, we told the boys their whole lives that we would take them to the 2010 games. Although we now live in Virginia, a promise is a promise, so we went.
Now, if the Olympics ever come back to our neck of the woods again....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Updates
We love it when GAP gets comments on older posts! Please feel free to contribute comments to any post, regardless of when it was originally posted. We update the posts as the comments come in, so you may want to peruse and comment on old posts from time to time. Darrel Crawford recently posted his first comments on on Mystery Picture 091019 and Mystery Picture 091027. Thanks, Darrel!
A Soldier and His Horse
Ellen provides the following story and picture of Grandpa. Thanks, Ellen!
GAP has posted other stories about horses, but this is the first we've heard about Grandpa and his horse in the war. Does anyone know its name? In fact, does anyone have other stories about Grandpa and Grandma from the war years (where he was, what he was doing, what Grandma was doing, etc.)?
While going through some of Grandpa Stutz’s papers, I found this picture and asked him what it was. He said that when he was in the army during WWII, he was stationed in the town of Garmish-Parkenkerchen at the time that the war ended. While he was there, he found this horse that was starving in an abandoned stable. He saved it and nursed it back to life. This is a picture of Grandpa riding the horse. He said he gave the horse to another soldier when he came home.
GAP has posted other stories about horses, but this is the first we've heard about Grandpa and his horse in the war. Does anyone know its name? In fact, does anyone have other stories about Grandpa and Grandma from the war years (where he was, what he was doing, what Grandma was doing, etc.)?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Family Blog Roundup 100204
There has been a bunch of family blog activity since our last roundup (in November!). Almost every blog in the group has been updated, and there are tons of pictures, so check them all out via the Family Links section of the right hand column. Be sure to suggest any others that GAP is missing.
Of particular note is the addition of The JEM Show blog (Jeremy, Emlyn, Millie) to our list. Welcome to GAP! We wonder if the blog will be renamed with the arrival of Millie's little brother, which according to the blog countdown is in just 53 days.
Also of note, Stutz Ohana recently had its first update since August 2008 with lots of good news from John and Nicole's family. Woohoo!
Of particular note is the addition of The JEM Show blog (Jeremy, Emlyn, Millie) to our list. Welcome to GAP! We wonder if the blog will be renamed with the arrival of Millie's little brother, which according to the blog countdown is in just 53 days.
Also of note, Stutz Ohana recently had its first update since August 2008 with lots of good news from John and Nicole's family. Woohoo!
1943 Reunion Letters to Howard
Thanks to Ellen for sending these!
“Stutz reunions have been an important part of our lives,” Mildred Stutz records in All You Immigrants, p. 215. “The first Stutz reunion of which I have record was held August 25, 1943 on Viv and Verena’s farm near Cardston, Alberta.” She goes on to say that they were not in attendance because it was Howard’s 25th birthday, but that the family all wrote letters to him telling how much they missed having him there. I came across those letters the other day and thought you might enjoy reading them and feeling the spirit of the Stutz family in those early years.
(From Howard’s brother, Lee)
Sorry you aren’t with us today, Howard. Just disposed of eleven quarts of ice cream, five chickens and a sack of spuds, which of course was nothing compared to what we would have done had you been here too. Plan to come next year. – Lee
(From Howard’s brother, Clifford)
Wish you could have been able to make a visit home while we were here. The family have gone all out to show us a good time. Half of our time has been spent in eating – and not brown flour gravy and potatoes. Dad claims that what we have had to eat is the regular rations but I notice most everyone has put on weight since we arrived. If you have changed as much as Rowan, I wouldn’t know you. He was a complete surprise. Hope we will be able to see you before many more years elapse. Everyone has promised to pay us a visit. We would like the same promise from you. -- Cliff
(From Rowan’s wife, Gladys. Rowan is another of Howard’s brothers)
It is as hot as fire outside and also in the house. We are all full and the kids are as cross as bears. How would you like to be here, although we wish you were here. We hate to see Cliff and family’s visit end but we have enjoyed them here. Guess I had better close so someone else can write and I had better get my share of the dishes done. Be good and take care of yourselves. – Gladys O.
(From Cliff’s wife, Gladys)
We have certainly had a grand time here and enjoyed meeting all the family for the first time. We thought a month would be a long time to visit, but really 30 days have seemed a very short time. You will have to plan to visit us in the near future so we may become acquainted with your family. I have eaten so much ice cream today, I will never be the same again. Mother Stutz says you and Cliff are somewhat alike. The first day we were here Cliff could see everything that needed fixing, trees trimmed, etc. Next day he fell into the old ways and couldn’t see anything that needed doing. All he has been doing since is eat, fish and sleep —almost. Write us soon. – Gladys
(From Howard’s sister, Fern)
Chicken and taters gulped down my throat,
Poor old tummy begins to bloat.
Followed by salad, ice cream and cake,
Wonder how much more it can take.
Tummy starts aching, feels mighty sore,
A person would think I couldn’t eat more.
Another dish of ice cream and more cake
You can tell that tummy is of pre-war make.
Wish you were here to relieve some of the strain
We’re all going to be sick and you’re to blame.
If you hadn’t made your home ‘cross the line
You’d all been here with us, your plate beside mine!
Anyway, we sure does miss you all. – Love Fern
“Stutz reunions have been an important part of our lives,” Mildred Stutz records in All You Immigrants, p. 215. “The first Stutz reunion of which I have record was held August 25, 1943 on Viv and Verena’s farm near Cardston, Alberta.” She goes on to say that they were not in attendance because it was Howard’s 25th birthday, but that the family all wrote letters to him telling how much they missed having him there. I came across those letters the other day and thought you might enjoy reading them and feeling the spirit of the Stutz family in those early years.
(From Howard’s brother, Lee)
Sorry you aren’t with us today, Howard. Just disposed of eleven quarts of ice cream, five chickens and a sack of spuds, which of course was nothing compared to what we would have done had you been here too. Plan to come next year. – Lee
(From Howard’s brother, Clifford)
Wish you could have been able to make a visit home while we were here. The family have gone all out to show us a good time. Half of our time has been spent in eating – and not brown flour gravy and potatoes. Dad claims that what we have had to eat is the regular rations but I notice most everyone has put on weight since we arrived. If you have changed as much as Rowan, I wouldn’t know you. He was a complete surprise. Hope we will be able to see you before many more years elapse. Everyone has promised to pay us a visit. We would like the same promise from you. -- Cliff
(From Rowan’s wife, Gladys. Rowan is another of Howard’s brothers)
It is as hot as fire outside and also in the house. We are all full and the kids are as cross as bears. How would you like to be here, although we wish you were here. We hate to see Cliff and family’s visit end but we have enjoyed them here. Guess I had better close so someone else can write and I had better get my share of the dishes done. Be good and take care of yourselves. – Gladys O.
(From Cliff’s wife, Gladys)
We have certainly had a grand time here and enjoyed meeting all the family for the first time. We thought a month would be a long time to visit, but really 30 days have seemed a very short time. You will have to plan to visit us in the near future so we may become acquainted with your family. I have eaten so much ice cream today, I will never be the same again. Mother Stutz says you and Cliff are somewhat alike. The first day we were here Cliff could see everything that needed fixing, trees trimmed, etc. Next day he fell into the old ways and couldn’t see anything that needed doing. All he has been doing since is eat, fish and sleep —almost. Write us soon. – Gladys
(From Howard’s sister, Fern)
Chicken and taters gulped down my throat,
Poor old tummy begins to bloat.
Followed by salad, ice cream and cake,
Wonder how much more it can take.
Tummy starts aching, feels mighty sore,
A person would think I couldn’t eat more.
Another dish of ice cream and more cake
You can tell that tummy is of pre-war make.
Wish you were here to relieve some of the strain
We’re all going to be sick and you’re to blame.
If you hadn’t made your home ‘cross the line
You’d all been here with us, your plate beside mine!
Anyway, we sure does miss you all. – Love Fern
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Pumpkin Patch Pictures
"Ask, and ye shall receive." GAP asked, and we certainly have received! Ellen sent a story, Andrew sent two patriarchal blessings, and Craig also sent a story. In addition, Ellen sent a box of slides, negatives, and pictures that are currently being digitized. Finally, there is more stuff from Ellen in the email inbox that we need to go through, too! Thank you everyone for the family history information for GAP to post!
Can we keep this train rolling? GAP could still use plenty of help, and we're open to publishing pretty much anything family related. Old stuff, new stuff, whatever stuff is just fine. Send to stutz at montana dot com and GAP will take care of the publishing logistics. Or, if you want to be involved on an on-going basis, drop a line and ask to be an author!
Today, we have some pumpkin patch pictures from the Stutz farm taken in what looks like the late 1990s, though I do not know the specific year. They include Ellen's family and Grandma and Grandpa and are from the recent batch of materials Ellen sent. We recognize almost everyone, but we'll make this an interactive posting. Drop the names, year, and any stories in the comments and we'll update the post with new information.
The pictures have not yet been edited to remove the bars on the side that are part of the scanning process. By way of comparison, though, these pictures, when clicked, are 1/25th the size of the images that we send out on disc each year. You can look forward to these pictures (and more!) on the disc that goes out this Christmas.
UPDATE
Ellen writes in the comments:
Can we keep this train rolling? GAP could still use plenty of help, and we're open to publishing pretty much anything family related. Old stuff, new stuff, whatever stuff is just fine. Send to stutz at montana dot com and GAP will take care of the publishing logistics. Or, if you want to be involved on an on-going basis, drop a line and ask to be an author!
Today, we have some pumpkin patch pictures from the Stutz farm taken in what looks like the late 1990s, though I do not know the specific year. They include Ellen's family and Grandma and Grandpa and are from the recent batch of materials Ellen sent. We recognize almost everyone, but we'll make this an interactive posting. Drop the names, year, and any stories in the comments and we'll update the post with new information.
The pictures have not yet been edited to remove the bars on the side that are part of the scanning process. By way of comparison, though, these pictures, when clicked, are 1/25th the size of the images that we send out on disc each year. You can look forward to these pictures (and more!) on the disc that goes out this Christmas.
UPDATE
Ellen writes in the comments:
I remember when we took these pictures. It was on a sunday afternoon in October and we came to Provo in our sunday clothes. Picture #3 is of Melissa, Sarah and Emily Landeen with Grandma. Picture #5 is of David and JR Landeen. The first two pictures look like Kenni Lynn Wilcox's children. Notice the giant Pumpkin. It made a wonderful jack-o-lantern.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A Story of the Revolution - Sarah Lucille Keith Allen (1975) (Introduction)
The previous two posts are the essay "A Story of the Revolution" written by Sarah Lucille Keith Allen in 1975. This story ties into the Stutz line as follows:
The story is written in these posts exactly as it was sent to me by Craig. I broke it into parts -- one part per post -- because it is rather long to put in one post. I believe it was Craig who provided the explanation of the family relationship; it was not part of the original story and I thought it provided a good context for the story, so I put it in this introduction.
Thank you Craig for sending this story to me! It was especially helpful that it was already transcribed into an electronic format, making it easy to post and share with the family. If anyone else has stories transcribed or electronic versions of Grandma's books or other family documents, please send them along!
- Mildred Robison Stutz (Grandma) is the daughter of Ward Albert and Sepha Abbott Robison
- Ward Albert Robison was the son of Willis E. and Sarah Ann Ellett Robison
- Willis E. Robison was the son of Benjamin Hancock and Lillis Andree Robison
- Benjamin Hancock Robison was the son of Joseph and Lucretia Hancock Robison
- Joseph Robison was the son of Joseph and Cornelia Guinal Robison of whom this story tells
The story is written in these posts exactly as it was sent to me by Craig. I broke it into parts -- one part per post -- because it is rather long to put in one post. I believe it was Craig who provided the explanation of the family relationship; it was not part of the original story and I thought it provided a good context for the story, so I put it in this introduction.
Thank you Craig for sending this story to me! It was especially helpful that it was already transcribed into an electronic format, making it easy to post and share with the family. If anyone else has stories transcribed or electronic versions of Grandma's books or other family documents, please send them along!
A Story of the Revolution - Sarah Lucille Keith Allen (1975) (Part I)
This story began two centuries ago. How long it seems to look back. And how remote we feel when we try to peep into the lives of our ancestors who came to the shores of America so many years ago. Strong and stalwart, they left their native lands to seek a spot somewhere on the face of this great round earth where they might worship God in their own way. With the life blood flowing vigorously through their veins with the high ambitions and hopes of youth, our grandfathers and grandmothers came to this vast continent – rich with buried treasured of gold, silver, copper, iron and unknown minerals; its mighty streams un-forded and unexplored; its wonderful woodlands and immense plains of grass and flowers. This choice land was protected by two great oceans; a land of promise to all who came for peace and freedom and to worship God; and a refuge for the oppressed of all nations.
Among those who came and settled in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, a little Dutch colony, was a young girl, Matilda Collier, who came with her parents to this new land. They were many weeks crossing the great Atlantic Ocean during which time they passed through hardships and privations not a few.
Matilda, as she grew, was trained in all helpful and womanly ways. She was frugal cheerful and had a winning way. We hate to relate it, but truth compels the statement that she was remarkably noted for being the homeliest young lady in the colony.
James Albert Guinal was the most handsome young Englishman that ever set foot in stirrup or shouldered his musket and knapsack in defense of his country. The homely Matilda, with her sprightly ways, womanly dignity, sparkling wit, and above all her true and loving heart and noble soul, won the love of James Albert Guinal and with the consent of her parents they were married. “And merrily rang the bells and happy were the few months of wedded bliss.”
Dark clouds were gathering from the east. From the parent country came oppression and tyranny threatening the existence of all her struggling children who, weak in number but strong in the sense of right, full of faith in that God who rules among the nations of the earth declared that this country should be free. All of her valiant sons armed themselves as best they could and fought for their liberty.
Among the first to enlist in the service of his country was James Albert Guinal. With sorrowful heart but cheerful countenance his loving wife helped and encouraged him all she could. After joining the soldiers in defense of his country he was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant under General Washington. Bravely he pressed to the front of the battle; nobly he fought thinking of home, of wife and of the unborn child, dreaming of the peace that would come after the war was over, when he could sit in tranquility by his fireside with his loved ones around him. But that could never be for he fell in the Oriskany battle that was fought near the Mohawk River. “After James Albert Guinal was wounded he arose to his knees and prayed for his wife, his unborn child and or his country.”
His wife Matilda mourned for him. She was grieved that her child should never know his father. She walked alone through the pine-scented forests carpeted with delicate flowers which grow profusely in the rich, damp earth. What an ideal place to rear a family in peace and love.
The time arrived for delivery; after many hours of travail her child was born, not a son, but a beautiful daughter, possessing many of her mother’s virtues and her father’s good looks and manners. As little Cornelia grew, her mother taught her to revere her father’s good traits, for he was an honest man and brave soldier.
Among those who came and settled in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, a little Dutch colony, was a young girl, Matilda Collier, who came with her parents to this new land. They were many weeks crossing the great Atlantic Ocean during which time they passed through hardships and privations not a few.
Matilda, as she grew, was trained in all helpful and womanly ways. She was frugal cheerful and had a winning way. We hate to relate it, but truth compels the statement that she was remarkably noted for being the homeliest young lady in the colony.
James Albert Guinal was the most handsome young Englishman that ever set foot in stirrup or shouldered his musket and knapsack in defense of his country. The homely Matilda, with her sprightly ways, womanly dignity, sparkling wit, and above all her true and loving heart and noble soul, won the love of James Albert Guinal and with the consent of her parents they were married. “And merrily rang the bells and happy were the few months of wedded bliss.”
Dark clouds were gathering from the east. From the parent country came oppression and tyranny threatening the existence of all her struggling children who, weak in number but strong in the sense of right, full of faith in that God who rules among the nations of the earth declared that this country should be free. All of her valiant sons armed themselves as best they could and fought for their liberty.
Among the first to enlist in the service of his country was James Albert Guinal. With sorrowful heart but cheerful countenance his loving wife helped and encouraged him all she could. After joining the soldiers in defense of his country he was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant under General Washington. Bravely he pressed to the front of the battle; nobly he fought thinking of home, of wife and of the unborn child, dreaming of the peace that would come after the war was over, when he could sit in tranquility by his fireside with his loved ones around him. But that could never be for he fell in the Oriskany battle that was fought near the Mohawk River. “After James Albert Guinal was wounded he arose to his knees and prayed for his wife, his unborn child and or his country.”
His wife Matilda mourned for him. She was grieved that her child should never know his father. She walked alone through the pine-scented forests carpeted with delicate flowers which grow profusely in the rich, damp earth. What an ideal place to rear a family in peace and love.
The time arrived for delivery; after many hours of travail her child was born, not a son, but a beautiful daughter, possessing many of her mother’s virtues and her father’s good looks and manners. As little Cornelia grew, her mother taught her to revere her father’s good traits, for he was an honest man and brave soldier.
A Story of the Revolution - Sarah Lucille Keith Allen (1975) (Part II)
Matilda and Cornelia had a very good neighbor, Peter Miller. Peter was a strong young man, measuring six feet-two inches in his stockings. He was very kind to them and often helped them in many ways.
Peter had a stepfather, a wicked man, who would invite the Indians to kill white people. The Indians would give him the scalps, which he would sell to the Tories for eight dollars each; nor cared he where they came from – man, woman or child – it mattered not, so great was his lust for wealth and his greed for gold. He was also abusive to his wife, and he hated and feared Peter. He would have been glad to have Peter killed. But for Peter’s superior strength and size he dared not attack him.
One day Peter stood leaning on his hoe, a large clumsy tool, homemade, as were most of the implements used at that time. His stepfather came up with a band of hostile Indians and said to the chief, “Go and make Peter work.” The chief went toward Peter, brandishing his long knife over him, and told him to work. Peter did not look up, nor flinch, but stood still, his eyes cast down, still leaning on his hoe. The chief thrust his knife in a threatening manner as though he would kill Peter. Then Peter raised his great hoe as if to strike, then quickly whirled, jumped the fence and was soon lost in the forest. From there he went and joined the army and fought bravely.
After many days he returned. His mother’s house was large with two doors on one side. His stepfather saw him coming and, feeling that there was not room in the same house for both of them, he started to run out of one door as Peter entered the other with a hatchet in his hand. Peter, seeing his stepfather fleeing before him, as the Philistines before Samson, threw his hatchet with such force that it caught the back of his stepfathers head, fastening a portion of the hair into the side of the door frame. There it stayed for many years, the government keeping the old house for a relic; nor would they allow anyone to withdraw the hatchet.
Peter resumed his normal life with his mother, free from the hatred of the wicked stepfather. He remembered his friends, the Guinals, and frequently visited and helped them. Peter learned to love the mother, Matilda, and told her of his love. Nor was his suit rejected. There was on problem, however. Matilda’s parents were opposed to her marriage. So determined were they to stop the marriage that they shut her up. “But love is stronger than iron bars, and laughs at locksmiths.” So with Peter’s help she escaped and they were happily married.
The little girl, Cornelia, grew up and married a young Englishman named Joseph Robison. They had a son whom they named Joseph, after his father. They still lived in the little Dutch colony, Charleston, Montgomery County, New York. As they spoke the mother tongue, the young Joseph learned to speak Dutch before he learned the English language.
A few years after the war, they moved farther west, leaving about eight hundred acres of rich land with personal property in New York. The heirs were advertised for, but as they did not go back to prove their title, the property was kept for a long time as unclaimed soldier’s property. It was finally disposed of by the government.
“And now on this the 26th day of Oct. 1900, I, Isabella Pratt Robison, grandchild of Joseph Robison junior, great-grandchild of Joseph Robison senior, great-great-grandchild of Matilda and James Albert Guinal, am sitting here, about 2000 miles west of where all these things happened and looking back through all these years, and thinking of the wonderful inventions and the flight of time of the great changes – social, religious and physical – and am wondering what my great-great-grandchildren will be writing about me in one hundred hears hence.”
And now I, Sarah Lucille Keith Allen, a great grandmother, am sitting here near the birthplace of my mother, Isabella Pratt Robison Keith, hoping that my children down through the ages will love and revere their great ancestors.
Sarah Lucille Keith Allen
Dec. 28, 1975
Manti, Sanpete County, Utah
Peter had a stepfather, a wicked man, who would invite the Indians to kill white people. The Indians would give him the scalps, which he would sell to the Tories for eight dollars each; nor cared he where they came from – man, woman or child – it mattered not, so great was his lust for wealth and his greed for gold. He was also abusive to his wife, and he hated and feared Peter. He would have been glad to have Peter killed. But for Peter’s superior strength and size he dared not attack him.
One day Peter stood leaning on his hoe, a large clumsy tool, homemade, as were most of the implements used at that time. His stepfather came up with a band of hostile Indians and said to the chief, “Go and make Peter work.” The chief went toward Peter, brandishing his long knife over him, and told him to work. Peter did not look up, nor flinch, but stood still, his eyes cast down, still leaning on his hoe. The chief thrust his knife in a threatening manner as though he would kill Peter. Then Peter raised his great hoe as if to strike, then quickly whirled, jumped the fence and was soon lost in the forest. From there he went and joined the army and fought bravely.
After many days he returned. His mother’s house was large with two doors on one side. His stepfather saw him coming and, feeling that there was not room in the same house for both of them, he started to run out of one door as Peter entered the other with a hatchet in his hand. Peter, seeing his stepfather fleeing before him, as the Philistines before Samson, threw his hatchet with such force that it caught the back of his stepfathers head, fastening a portion of the hair into the side of the door frame. There it stayed for many years, the government keeping the old house for a relic; nor would they allow anyone to withdraw the hatchet.
Peter resumed his normal life with his mother, free from the hatred of the wicked stepfather. He remembered his friends, the Guinals, and frequently visited and helped them. Peter learned to love the mother, Matilda, and told her of his love. Nor was his suit rejected. There was on problem, however. Matilda’s parents were opposed to her marriage. So determined were they to stop the marriage that they shut her up. “But love is stronger than iron bars, and laughs at locksmiths.” So with Peter’s help she escaped and they were happily married.
The little girl, Cornelia, grew up and married a young Englishman named Joseph Robison. They had a son whom they named Joseph, after his father. They still lived in the little Dutch colony, Charleston, Montgomery County, New York. As they spoke the mother tongue, the young Joseph learned to speak Dutch before he learned the English language.
A few years after the war, they moved farther west, leaving about eight hundred acres of rich land with personal property in New York. The heirs were advertised for, but as they did not go back to prove their title, the property was kept for a long time as unclaimed soldier’s property. It was finally disposed of by the government.
“And now on this the 26th day of Oct. 1900, I, Isabella Pratt Robison, grandchild of Joseph Robison junior, great-grandchild of Joseph Robison senior, great-great-grandchild of Matilda and James Albert Guinal, am sitting here, about 2000 miles west of where all these things happened and looking back through all these years, and thinking of the wonderful inventions and the flight of time of the great changes – social, religious and physical – and am wondering what my great-great-grandchildren will be writing about me in one hundred hears hence.”
And now I, Sarah Lucille Keith Allen, a great grandmother, am sitting here near the birthplace of my mother, Isabella Pratt Robison Keith, hoping that my children down through the ages will love and revere their great ancestors.
Sarah Lucille Keith Allen
Dec. 28, 1975
Manti, Sanpete County, Utah
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