Getting From Here to There!

I find it interesting to look at my family’s travels to go from one place to another…and why they made the journey.  My mother’s family has been in the Lewis Clark Valley since the late 1920’s and they were in the general area since around 1910.  My father’s family came west in 1935 and settled up on Hatter Creek near present day Princeton, ID.  Each family had several crossroads before they arrived at their homes!

Mom & Pop Friddle with son Claude - about 1947

There is a story that my great grandfather, Pop Friddle, got into a bar fight and had to leave quickly from Mountain City, Johnson Co., TN.  I’ll never know if that is correct or not – but I do know that he came west in the early fall or late summer of 1910 and claimed a homestead up on Grouse Flats, Wallowa Co., OR.  Pop Friddle chose that location because his older brother had been there since the late 1880’s and their sister had moved there after 1900.  Pop had a brother who still lived in Tennessee but I doubt there was much opportunity for a young couple there – so they came west.  Pop came first and built a home on the homestead and my great grandmother came out in November.  She was 16 years old with a 1 year old child.  (That whole trip deserves a story all its own).  Anyway, Pop took Mom Friddle up to the homestead and then promptly left to work at his job for the railroad.  By the mid 1920’s, they had sold off their land and moved to Pomeroy, WA.  Mom Friddle wanted her oldest son to go to high school and Uncle Jack graduated from Pomeroy around 1927.  Soon after Jack’s graduation, they moved to Lewiston where Pop Friddle got a job with Irrigation district and Grandma Cappy could attend high school in the brand new Lewiston High School Building.  She graduated I 1930 and Claude graduated from LHS in 1942.  In 20 short years – Mom and Pop Friddle had moved from Tennessee where their families had probably lived in the area for decades and moved first to a homestead, then to a small town and eventually to a larger town with more opportunities.  That is quite a journey.

Grandma & Granddad Gage came from Mapleton, IA, sort of J  Granddad Gage was actually born in Duanesburg, Schenectady Co., NY.  His family lived in Knox and Esperance, NY as well.  IN 1908, his parents died and Granddad Gage brought his younger 3 siblings out west to live with their maternal grandmother.   Granddad Gage immediately went out and found a job and worked as the local postman for a time.  He eventually ended up working for Linus Brenner and courted my great grandmother, Florence Shawver.  She was born in Lyons, NE and had grown up there.  I suspect that Granddad Gage and Grandma Gage had met a few years before they were married.  Granddad’s uncle – Hugh Gallup was married to Grandma Gage’s sister, Jessie Shawver – so you might say there was an opportunity to meet.  After they married in 1917, the Grandfolks quickly had children and worked their farm in Mapleton, IA.  Things were good until the depression hit.  Granddad could make the payments on his farm but he couldn’t afford the taxes.  Rather than have the government take the land away – Granddad signed it over to his old friend, Linus Brenner.  They took their family to Philip, SD where there was supposed to be a great opportunity to raise cattle.  It wasn’t so great and within a year, they were traveling west to Idaho.  They lived in Dover, ID for several months, while Granddad looked for land.  The best deal that he found was land on Hatter Creek which was $ 8.50 an acre.  So the family moved to Hatter Creek in 1935.  I have an uncle who still lives on the Creek no more than a few hundred yards from the original home place.  We have family reunions up there every other year.  I heard someone say that their family had been there at the turn of the century and ours had come so much later.  Their line was dying off and we just seemed to be multiplying.  We normally have around 150 plus people at these reunions.  We all return to the home place to reacquaint ourselves with each other.  It is a grand tradition. 

Granddad & Grandma Gage - abt 1987

Granddad Gage and Grandma Gage left Hatter Creek about 1946 and lived in Potlatch, ID for a while until they moved to Lewiston, ID.  They weren’t done with their travels though…they lived in Genesee, ID and then went west to live on the ocean at Yachats, OR.  In 1975, they moved to Canby, OR to be near their widowed daughter…they were there until their deaths in 1990 and 1991.  I think they stayed in Canby, OR for the longest period of their married lives. 

Once Mom and Pop Friddle moved to Lewiston and then to their home on Thain, they stayed there for the rest of their lives.  Pop Friddle died in 1955 and Mom Friddle survived him by 25 years and died in 1979. 

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Think how different life was 70 years ago today before the news broke about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  People  had probably gone to church since it was Sunday and were preparing to enjoy their day of rest.  In a few short hours, everything changed!

My grandmothers were both young wives with young children.  Grandma Marian lived in North Dakota with her husband and two children and her father in law.  I’m sure winter was making its mark.  Her parents were still living up at the loggie at Hatter Creek.  Granddad Gage was nearing 50 years old and Grandma Gage was around 45.  They still had 7 children at home.  Their oldest two were already married and their second son, Bernard, was already in the military, in training.  Grandma Cappy was in Lewiston, ID.  She had recently had my mother in October of that year – so she, too had small children to care for.  Her parent’s and younger brother lived next door and her husband was working at hauling lumber down from his best friend's lumber mill, running a ranch and working at the Potlatch mill.  After that day, their lives were never the same.

Neither one of my grandfather’s served in World War II.  Grandpa Frank had flat feet and was not a candidate for military service.  Grandpa Richard was probably refused entry into the military.  As a rancher and farmer, he was needed at home far more.  All of Richard’s brothers were probably too old but I know that he had a least one nephew who served as well as his brother-in-law.  Grandpa Frank didn’t have any brothers, only sisters – but Grandma Marian had two brothers and two brother-in-laws who fought in World War II.  By the end of the war, both of Grandma Cappy’s brothers were in the war both fighting in the thick of the battle.  But on that day 70 years ago all of this was yet to come.  On that day, people were in shock and fear.  I’m sure they wondered what was to come and most of them gathered around the radio the next day to learn what the President had to say.

Before 10 years ago, I could only imagine what it would have felt like – to be an American on the December 7, 1941.  After September 11, 2011 – I understood.  It was weeks before Americans of 70 years ago saw the horrors of the Pearl Harbor attack on movie newsreels –we saw everything happening in front of our eyes on the television.  I remember watching in disbelief as the World Trade towers collapsed thinking of all the people who had died and their families.  Now I look at those old newsreels and know that many were affected – in big cities and small communities.  My grandmother and her two brothers both lost a classmate in Pearl Harbor that day.  He was from the tiny town of Princeton, ID.  Around 2400 people died that day and he was one of them.  Today, 70 years later, there are about 2,500 to 3,000 survivors still alive.  Their numbers are dwindling but let’s hope our country will keep their memory alive and honor their sacrifices in the years to come. 

Christmas Catalogs

Sometimes I miss getting those big Sears & Roebuck or JCPenney catalogs in the mail.  I realize that I am dating myself, but they were especially fun to get at Christmas.  Those catalogs were an education to both parents and kids as to what the newest toys were out there.  I can still remember when the Christmas catalog would come in the mail.  The only way I could get first crack at it was to be home while the others were still at school.  Even then I would lose custody as soon as they got home.  We were also lucky enough to have Uncle Jack’s catalogs to peruse and I was fortunate to get one all on my own.

Uncle Jack and Aunt Hilda were my maternal grandmother’s brother and sister-in-law.  We really didn’t get a chance to see them that much but it was always a special occasion when we did.  Jack & Hilda owned a “Ben Franklin” store in Santa Rosa, CA.  As storekeepers, they rarely had holidays off especially at Christmas time.  Jack & Hilda would send up catalogs for us kids before the Christmas season and we would thumb through these catalogs with great intent.  Mom actually had to tell Jack to send us up two each.  That way we wouldn’t fight over the catalog.  The second one was for our orders.  By the time we sent the catalog back to Jack with our individual requests that first catalog was well used so the 2^nd one was kept pristine so it was easy to read.  I’m sure Mom made us tailor down our requests.  Hilda would always add a few items that were more practical…knowing Uncle Jack – he took great fun in filling our requests.

When my parents had my sister, money was very tight.  They were essentially a newly married couple only in their 2^nd year of marriage and they had a baby that needed a lot of medical care so the bills were high.  They didn’t have much to buy Christmas presents with that Christmas in 1961.  In fact, they were counting on a shipment from Jack and Hilda to help with Christmas.  Jack & Hilda sent up the big care package through the mail…but as things sometime go – it took longer than expected.  In fact, it was Christmas Eve and the box still hadn’t arrived.  Mom reasoned that my sister as a baby wouldn’t know the difference – but Mom certainly did and was heartbroken that the box hadn’t appeared.  The postman knew that Mom and Dad were waiting for that box, so when he went back to the Post Office after his route, he saw that the box had arrived.  He loaded the box into his truck and brought it up to Mom and Dad’s house.  Mom was thrilled – they would be able to have Christmas after all.

Uncle Jack & Aunt Hilda

Jack and Hilda have both passed away and remain only in memories…just like those old catalogs.  There are still a few reminders of the gifts they gave us though.  My sister has a stuffed Santa Claus that has been well loved and is almost falling apart.  She no longer puts him out but he is in a treasured place.  I think that Santa was in that first box of gifts that Jack & Hilda sent up that arrived on that late Christmas Eve afternoon.  I have a little vest with my name on it and a Santa Claus that only fits a stuffed bear now.  I look at that vest and have to smile.   

Levi's Unknown Daughter

I’ve been researching Levi Pennington and his wife Elizabeth Henson for over 15 years now.  Many years ago I was told my John French that Levi Pennington and his wife were my 4^th great grandparents.  This was near the beginning of my research so it was very exciting to reach back into the 1700’s.  Although I would later learn that info I was given for Levi’s ancestry was incorrect…it was a great start.

About five years ago, I started seeing rumblings on the New River news list about a Hiley who was married to a James Lewis.  The researcher said that they had thought Hiley’s last name was Pennington but they weren’t sure.  I probably have one of the more complete Pennington gedcoms in the Ashe Co., NC area.  Hiley was a complete unknown to me.  So, when I was asked about Hiley, it forced me to reexamine what I thought I knew.

Hiley was born between 1816-1818 in Ashe Co., NC and married James Emmett Lewis in August of 1837.  According to a widow’s pension application, James Lewis was shot in the side and later died of his wounds.  Hiley was left with 8 children ranging in age from 27 to age 5.  She died at Sturgill, Ashe Co., NC on 4 Nov 1895.

One thing that seemed common in the grandchildren of Levi Pennington, if there were several boys, there was almost always one named Levi.  Hiley’s youngest son was named Levi Franklin Lewis.  That name got me to thinking…most of us who research Levi and Elizabeth believes that there anywhere from 14 to 16 children.  The oldest daughter we know for certain is Edy Pennington.  There is one other daughter named Dora that we believe is connected.  However there is a time period between 1815 and 1818 that could have had another child.  There were not many other men living in Ashe Co., NC at the same time frame that could have been the father.  In the 1820 census, there were two females between the ages of 0-10 – these two girls could have been Edy and Hiley and not Dora as previously thought.

Later that same year, one of our small band of researchers got a document that probated Levi Pennington’s will in 1887.  Listed on that document was Hiley Pennington Lewis’ name amongst the children of Levi Pennington.  With that document, many questions were answered…but also many more begged for answers.  

However, we now know for certain that Levi Pennington and Elizabeth Henson had a daughter who married a James Lewis…and before a few years ago – most of us didn’t know she existed.

Christmas Tree 2011

Yesterday I went down to the Christmas tree lot to select our Christmas tree for the season.  I have to admit that paying for a Christmas tree is probably cheaper than the process that we did as kids and we definitely get a nicer tree - but it sure isn’t as fun!

My Mom was fun – she was strict…but she was fun and creative.  My first memories of going out to get a tree must have been when I was five or so.  Granny Shearer went with us and Granny, Henry and I stayed behind while the rest went to get the tree.  Granny was too old to tromp through that snow and Henry and I both had too short of legs.  By the time the rest had come back with the necessary trees, Granny and I had filled our time up with making baby snowmen.  We would drink the hot cocoa that Mom brought in a thermos and then the real fun would start.  Dad would connect our sleds to the back of the car and drag us all over the place.  I was too young for most of this fun – but was allowed for short rides.  We would then begin the process of going home.  All of us singing Christmas songs made the ride go that much faster.

Usually, more than one tree was necessary – a tree for our home, a small tree for Granny, and another tree that would be used as filler and for wreaths.  You might wonder why we needed one for filler.  The sad fact is Mom was also very picky about her Christmas trees – they needed lots of branches and no blank spots.  No matter how good a tree looks in the woods…there are always problem areas by the time you put it up.  So, Dad would have to get his drill out and he would drill holes in our tree and insert the branches where Mom told him.  There was always a bit of grumbling about this process but it was entertaining for us kids.  Then we would add the lights…those big bulbs that needed strong branches just to hold them.  I think they were 15 watt bulbs.  Dad’s eyes roll today at the cost of electricity when we used to put those bulbs on the tree, the house and the big spruce out front. 

Our cat Cinder peeking out after all the presents had been opened!

Next we began to add the ornaments.  There were homemade ornaments that we kids had created which I’m sure had to be put in the pride of position in the front of the tree.  We also had ornaments that Mom had made in ceramics and old bulbs that had been passed down as well as new ones that Mom had bought.  Back then, there were no fancy Hallmark ornaments to display.  Then it was time for the garland and that was strictly Mom’s domain.  She would add the garland arranging it in sweeps and drapes around the tree.  When she finished – it was time for our favorite activity – putting tinsel on the tree.  We just didn’t put one box or a single strand on one branch – we put clumps on.  Mom would later go back and thin out our clumps and make sure that we good coverage throughout the tree.  It seemed that we always had back ground music on from the TV.  For several years it seemed like either the Bing Crosby Christmas special was on or the Bob Home Christmas special was blaring across the TV.  It seems sad to me that kids today don’t really know about the silly fun of those Christmas shows. 

Christmas Tree 2011 - Not as spectacular as
when it is dark and the lights are twinkling,
 but definitely pretty.

By the time I was about 12, the Christmas tree was Mom and my project.  The rest of the kids had pretty much lost interest.  It was still Mom’s tree and many of the same decorations were still hanging on its branches.  By this time we had twinkling lights with a controller that allowed us to control the speed.  In our opinion, we had beautiful old fashioned Christmas trees that sparkled with colors, gold garland and silver tinsel. 

Yesterday, my sister-in-law helped me put up our tree.  Every year they are different but still beautiful.  It isn’t my sister-in-law’s style of tree – but like I told her, we are all products of our mothers.  My mother’s tree never had bows or ribbon decorating the branches and I doubt if my tree ever does.  There are a lot of Christmas trees that I like and I appreciate their beauty…but I love our tree and am always somehow sad to take it down.  However, I know a new one will spring up during the next year at Christmas.

Uncle Carl...

Several years ago – I found a number for Geneva Hansen.  She was the daughter of Joe Friddle and Bessie Silver.  I called her and made plans to drive to Coue d’Alene, ID which was where she lived.  At the time I met her she was in her 90’s – still living at home and still very sharp.  She was a bit puzzled as to why I wanted to talk to her, but there was definitely a great reward. 

Geneva was old enough to remember living up on Grouse Flats with her parents and grandfather, Albert Friddles.  Albert was my great grandfather’s older brother and was probably the closest father figure that he had.  Albert was actually 34 years older than Pop Friddle (David Carl Friddle, my great grandfather) and was the one who encouraged him to come out west and homestead up on Grouse Flats which is in Wallowa Co., OR.

Geneva recalled when she was a little girl she thought that Uncle Carl (Pop Friddle) was her favorite person in the world.   Whenever he was around, Geneva would follow him around like a puppy.  She loved is deep voice, big laugh and hugs.  My mother used to say that Pop Friddle gave the best bear hugs.  I’ve always heard stories from my mother and my great uncle about Pop Friddle, but it was great to hear stories from someone else who had a completely different perspective. 

Geneva told one story about a Christmas when she was young – probably about 1920.  Evidently they were having a Christmas party at their church. Pop Friddle being a large and husky man must have been the obvious choice to play Santa Claus.  So, he dressed up in the red suit and beard and made an entrance at the party.  He looked nothing like his normal self.  Geneva was one of the younger children who they were trying to surprise with Santa.  Geneva said that she took one look at the man in the red suit and went running towards him shouting “Uncle Carl, Uncle Carl”  - They weren’t able to trick young Geneva and she was so thrilled to see her favorite uncle.

Pop Friddle as he must have looked around 1920.

Geneva told me that that Christmas was one of her favorite memories as a child.  They didn’t have much but they did get oranges and nuts and perhaps a toy at Christmas.  They were much simpler times and Christmas was a simpler celebration…but that Christmas party so long ago was still very fresh in Geneva’s memory.

Geneva passed away a few years ago at the age of 94.  She was the last of her family – her 3 other sisters, parents, and husband had all preceded her in death.  She spent the last few years of her life living in Everett near her daughter.  What a lovely lady – I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. 

A Life Too Short

It seems sad to me to see a mother die at a young age with small children.  It doesn’t matter if it happened several decades ago or several weeks ago.  My great great grandmother was one of those young mothers who died too young.  Buena Vista lived only 21 years which is far too short a life!

Buena Vista Bailey was born sometime after April 1872 probably in North Fork Twp., Ashe Co., NC.  Her father was Jasper L. Bailey and her mother’s name was Margaret.  Her father was recorded in the census in 1870 in Ashe Co., NC and in 1880 he was in Johnson Co., TN.  Margaret was only listed in the 1870 census and dies before the 1880 census.  Her last name is unknown but I think it might be Dozier. 

Buena Vista married John Dooley Dollar on 21 Apr 1889 when she was about 16 years old.  I would imagine that she was very small in stature.  My great grandmother and her siblings were all very small people.  Mom Friddle, Buena Vista’s youngest child, never quite got to 5 feet tall and never weighed over 95 pounds…so I imagine that Buena Vista was also very small.  Buena Vista had the following children:

• ·         Claude Elmer Dollar b. 7 Oct 189 Johnson Co., TN d. 9 Nov 1972 Arvada, Jefferson Co., CO m. Carrie Landus m2. Erna Louise Stede
• ·         Bessie Dozier Margaret Elizabeth Dollar b. 7 Aug 1892 Johnson Co., TN d. 20 Jan 1983 Jefferson, Ashe Co., NC m. Reece Barker
• ·         Sophie Vestelle Dollar b. 28 Jan 1894 Shingletown, Johnson Co., TN d. 8 Feb 1979 Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., ID. m. David Carl Friddle

John Dooley Dollar holding Sophia, Claude on the left and Bessie on the right - Taken about 1895

Buena Vista died on 14 April 1894 probably in Shingletown, Johnson Co., TN.  Beyond when she died and the general location – I know very little about the circumstances.  I imagine she might have died of the effects of childbirth as she had had my great grandmother in late January or perhaps she died of quick consumption which was common during that time period.  I can only guess at the circumstances but it seems rather sad that her husband was left with three children all under the age of 4.  Like any young father, he relied on family.  John Dooley Dollar’s father, Alexander Monroe Dollar and step mother, Lulu took the children in so John Dooley Dollar go work.  Eventually John Dooley Dollar remarried to Cleopatra Gentry and had several more children.  The older two children went to live with their father and new stepmother – but my great grandmother stayed with her grandfather and stepmother, Lulu.  Lulu was the only mother that she had ever known.  I suspect that Buena Vista might be buried in an unmarked grave in the Wesley Methodist Chapel Cemetery in Shingletown or she could be buried somewhere behind the home place where my great grandmother grew up.

When I went back to North Carolina in 2001, I met the granddaughter of Bessie Dollar Barker.  Betty had inherited a memorial frame from her grandmother which noted the birth and death dates of Buena Vista Bailey and included a picture.  I suppose that this was the only way that the young children that she left behind would ever be able to remember her. 

Photo from the Memorial frame.  Buena Vista Bailey - taken about 1890 or so.