She fought the scoundrel and won...

A while back I was doing a google search for "Colorado historical newspapers," but what my fingers typed was "California historical newspapers." I didn't realize my mistake until I clicked on the first hit. When I found I was at a California site I decided to run my standard list of research names. Little did I know that I would hit upon information I not only wasn't expecting to find, but it was information I knew nothing about. The first thing I learned was that my great-great grandmother, Minnie Prehn, didn't have an easy life (I'll write more on her life later).

One of the newspaper articles showed she was a woman with a lot of fight in her.

Don't underestimate the value of newspapers in family history research. You can find information there that you won't find anywhere else. Sites such as GenealogyBank, Newspaper Archive and Ancestry have put newspapers at our fingertips (but for a usage price).

Today I had lunch with some friends at a cute little tea shop.

At the end of our meal the check came with a small individually wrapped Dove chocolate for each of us. Inside the wrapper is something called a "Promises Message." I thought mine could be referring to genealogy:

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."

I will repeat this to myself every time I hit another brick wall.

A woman of substance...

Quite by accident (a random google search) I found that the Arizona Historical Society in Tempe had 2 boxes of items belonging to Reamy Fitch and his wife, Helen Klingler. Although Reamy is not my direct line, I was intrigued and we arranged to make a stop on one of our trips.

Among the items were copies of Christmas letters Helen sent out every year. Helen was quite an accomplished woman. Every Christmas letter included a poem she wrote. Here is one of her poems:

She was also a painter

I feel so blessed to have "happened" on these little pieces of Helen and Reamy's life. I would have enjoyed knowing them. I believe we were guided to finding this information. When I later checked to see if their work had been done, I found all had been done except their sealing to each other. Reading their letters, I could feel their love for each other, and know they would want to be sealed together for eternity.

Home sweet home...

I'm not sure if this is "home sweet home" or the "Bates Motel." This is the home on Tennessee St., in San Francisco, California where David Windsor Davis and Melvina (Johns) Davis lived for a time. The backyard was solid rock and dirt had to be hauled up there so they could have a vegetable garden.

It looks Bates motelish to me...it has everything but granny at the window in a rocking chair.

The strength of a woman...

The following is from "History of Butte County" (California) by George C. Mansfield, page 216, and is based on an article published in The Union Record newspaper, 11 Jun 1864.

Indian Troubles
"During the absence of Thomas Morgan from his residence in Mesilla Valley , about a mile from Pence's, on Saturday last, June 4th, his wife, going out after wood, noticed the cattle rising and staring in the direction of a little flat; and looking to discover the cause she saw the head of a man visible beyond some fruit trees. Returning to the house and going upstairs, so that she could see over the intervening trees, she beheld seven Indians creeping towards the house, the foremost one leaning upon a gun. Terror stricken at the fate which seemed about to overtake herself and her three little children, but with prayerful resolution to save her little ones, if possible, she immediately took them and, going out through the back door and keeping the trees between them and the red fiends, started for Mr. Merithew's house about a mile off, carrying her youngest child, two years old. Finding no one at home, she went to Mr. Knox's, a half mile further, and found protection. A party of men was soon raised, who hurried to Mr. Morgan's; but the Indians had fled. After knocking four or five windows to atoms, taking all the clothing and nearly all the bedding, and destroying the furniture, etc. Several stones were found in the house, which had been thrown through the windows. There is no doubt but the Indians would have butchered the family, if they had found them in the house. The carelessness of the authorities with regard to these treacherous red devils will yet, we fear, result in the butchery of more of our citizens. Cannot some way be devised to rid Butte county of these pests?"

I am awed by the bravery of my great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Williams Morgan (pictured above), in the face of such terror. After reading accounts of other incidents in the county, Elizabeth had reason to fear for their lives.

Coming home...

Daniel Clifford Davies served in WWI. He registered for the draft on 5 Jun 1917, and entered the army 28 May 1918 as a private in company F 47th Infantry 4th Division. He was overseas from 13 Oct 1918 to 4 Apr 1919. Below is a copy of his draft registration:

He mustered out 7 Apr 1919. Below is the telegram her wrote to his mother on 12 Apr 1919 letting her know he was coming home. She must have been overjoyed to have her boy home safe and sound.

Some gave all...

James A. Blay sent 3 sons to war - only 1 came home. Harry was killed; 4 days later his brother Will was killed, then Frank was injured a few days later. I wonder how our ancestors survived such heartache.

If you build it, they will come...

Some of my favorite pictures are those of the trailer built by Robert William Johns - obviously using skills learned while working at Fruehauf Trailer Company. I love all the homey touches.

This is Margretta sitting in the back of the trailer. Notice they had a stove.

Linoleum on the floor, decorated pillows and wall coverings.

Even a clock on the wall! Do you think the cat traveled with them?

And so it began...

David Davis & Melvina Johns, on their wedding day, 30 Jan 1923. I don't know where the photo was taken, but I don't think it was in front of the court house.

I recently found their wedding announcement in the Yampa (Colorado) Leader newspaper, 9 Feb 1923 issue, on page 1.