I really feel that a movie or documentary could be done on this great aunt of mine, the sister of my grandfather, Fred I. Daugherty. She deservably played a pivotable part in many, many people's lives. I know I have met her, as we visited SD many times, but simply can't place a face on those memories.
Mabel Gertrude Daugherty McGirr
Mabel lived a long life (from 1890 - 1986). You may have heard the story of Mabel caring for all of siblings at the age of 10 or 11. Aunt Beulah and Helen McNeil say that when GGrandmother, Catherine Elizabeth Delong Daugherty, knew she was dying from childbirth and she made Mabel promise to care for her children. There were seven living children. Mabel was not to seperate the family or let them be adopted out.
When Catherine died (1901), Mabel took the place of her mother. Mabel was too little to knead bread on the table. She used a sitting chair and placed her breadbowl on it to knead the dough. Nearby neighbors wanted to adopt baby Helen but kids said, "You can't have our baby". When Mabel married Jack McGirr, she took the 3 younger children to live with her. Aunt Hattie Daugherty Place would come over once a week to help with the laundry.
There are many more instances that Mabel took children into her home and gave them attention and love. I'll close this post now, but Mabel merits much more attention in the future.
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