Reading and the Daugherty Family

At our house, we are getting a new roof, siding, windows, doors, and whatever is left. The windows in our basement are being replaced, meaning the massive bookshelves that Joe built have to be moved so the windows can be replaced. Good time to go through books...bringing some to the Heritage Center in New Richmond.

I came across The Prince and the Pauper. I loved this book, by Samuel Clemens (a favorite of mine) as a youth. I always check the insides of any book that I donate. Sometimes there is a special writing by the "gifter", making it a "no way...stays here" book. The writing on the this book was carefully written "David Russell Daugherty" Then a signature, the same. Lower down was included, Bonilla, S.Dak. There is no date on the book. It was published by The Goldsmith Publishing Company.

This got me thinking. I visited Bonilla, SD probably at the age of 3 and perhaps a bit later. I distinctly remember the building that Gram Irene Carrington Daugherty and Grandpa Fred Daugherty and Uncle Dave Daugherty lived. It was like a store...and I remember a machine for fixing shoes. You went upstairs and there was David's room. And there were books...so many of them...I remember Uncle Wiggly especially. I also remember an Uncle Wiggly game.

The love of reading was very obvious in this home that was also a business in the middle of a tiny town in the prairie. Note: Visiting Bonilla this summer, I came across an almost-ghost town. Very little exists anymore. A couple of homes, and that's about it. I remember a comfortable place to settle in and enjoy good literature. Mom always said that her grandmother, Irene Carrington Daugherty read alot to her children. Education was very important to her. Mom also relates the interest her grandfather, George Daugherty had in reading. When visiting her grandfather, you were assumed to be sitting quietly and reading.

I grew up loving books, with early children books embedded in my memory. I have my parents, grandparents, and David to thank for that wonderful love of the printed word.

Uncle David resides in Pennsylvania with his wife Maria.

More on Irene Carrington Daugherty - Beulah Daugherty Goehring

I'm looking slowly, through my looseleaf notebook for my grandmother, Irene Carrington's Autobiography. I'm not getting very far...right away are recollections of Beulah Daugherty Goehring (Mom's sister) of her parents and her childhood. I'd like to share portions of this writing that relate direct to Gram.

"My mother grew up on a farm north of Wessington that was the site of her parents' homestead. My mother told stories of going to Stratton school in the horse and buggy. School was in session only a few months of the year, and the farm children were to work the other months - this was more essential than schooling! She often told of coming home from school and unharnessing the horse when it was so cold their fingers would almost freeze handling the harness.

My mother always loved school and her happiest memories always seemed that which was associated with it. She always encouraged her children to read, and many evenings at home were spent reading aloud. Of any place we lived the first priority was, "How far is it from school?"

My parents had a big family to raise during the depression years which was quite a struggle. In spite of drought, grasshoppers and all of the elements against the SD farmer, we always had the necessities of life. My mother always put her family first. If there was a need for a new dress for the "speaking contest" or "county chorus", somehow we always had one, but Mom always went without so we would look nice. She sewed all our dresses until we were old enough to buy our own. I remember so many that she made when I was little, because I loved them so much. Even after these many years, I could describe the style and color of them.

Mom saw to it that we got our start in Christian Education by attending Tipton Sunday School. She tuaght several years herself and we seldom missed a Sunday. In the summer we would hitch up our Shetland Pony to the buggy and go to Bible school. We always made it without too many incidents, except when it rained, the wheels would enlarge to twice their size with the gumbo of the roads.

Mom taught us to love nature, as her father had taught her. Beware of the person who would destroy a bird's nest or any other of God's creatures! In the summer we would lie out on the grass at night and watch the stars. If we were lucky, we would see a comet zoom across the sky, or maybe catch a firefly. The quiet serenity of a hot summer evening, with no care in the world has a more stabilizing effect than the violence and crime on tv that modern children of today are exposed to.

Though I am the only one of the children left in SD and on the farm, there is a soft spot in the hearts of all the children of "Freddie and Irene" for farming and living close to nature."

Irene Carrington Daugherty's Funeral - June 17, 1993

I've been thinking a lot about my grandmother, Irene Carrington Daugherty. This week my bridge group had lunch at the historic Lowell Inn in Stillwater, Minn. Gram used to spend summers at our house in New Richmond, WI and uncle David would work at a canning factory and Gram made the very special salads at the Inn. She was pretty proud of that as there is a lot of pride in anything that is served there.

I must have been at an art camp near Hayward, WI at the time of Gram's death. I remember coming home and Joe telling me about the upcoming funeral. My dear brother Marlin had called. Within hours he, myself and 14 year old Betsy (Joe's & my lovely daughter) drove to Delmont in the Southeastern part of the state. I remember that we stayed at Uncle Al and Aunt Beulah's home. I remember seeing cousin Peggy in the Goehring's upstairs bedroom. Barb, Peggy and I had the most wonderful conversation together. A very special memory.

I believe we got to the church just in time for the funeral, in Wessington, SD. Gram had a female minister officiating. I enjoyed her description of a woman in the prairie during an economically difficult time. I learned a lot about this grandmother who I hadn't tried very hard to love. I felt very close to Gram that day. The Rev. Dona Behmer gave many of us a sense of healing that day.

Here's a synopsis of her obituary..."Irene Daugherty was born Irene Carrington on October 19th, 1897 to Lucius and Rosetta (Wilson) Carrington north of Wessington, SD.

On May 3, 1920, Irene married Fred Daugherty Jr. (note: His father wasn't Fred, but he had an uncle Fred)at Miller. They farmed in the Wessington-Bonilla area until 1950, when they moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. Irene worked at the School for the Deaf and Blind until her retirement. After her retirement she moved to Delmont where she lived for five years. She then moved to Huron and lived there until the past several years when she became a resident of the Armour Nursing Home.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a Senior Volunteer.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Betty Daugherty of West Point, Neb., and David and Maria Daugherty of Allentown, Pa.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Dale Hostvet of Luck, Wis.; Dolores and Ben Johnson of Rochester, N.Y.; Beulah and Alton Goehring of Delmont; 22 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Note: As of this posting, Dale Hostvet, Dolores and Ben Johnson, and Beulah Goehring are deceased.

She was preceded in death by her husband July 27, 1955, a son, George Daugherty, a brother, Hugh Carrington, and five sisters, Mildred Daugherty, Mae Gould, Laura Daugherty, Gladys Phillips and Elda Meyer.

Irene died Thursday morning at the Wagner Community Hospital at the age of 95."

The music included Rev. Mark Sargent as soloist and JoAnne Sargent as Pianist. I only mention this as Mark is a third cousin of mine. His mother, Helen Dague Sargent, was the daughter of Adelaide Brachvogel, Rosella Wilson's daughter. The casket bearers were lst cousins (of mine) Doug and Curt Goehring, Kim & Fred Daugherty, Doug's son Cory, and Kirk Daugherty, son of Ivan and Joan Daugherty, Mom's cousin.

Gram was buried in the Wessington Cemetery. Uncle David spent time with me there and related a great deal of family history. I will never forget being out in the prairie, with the wind blowing, and listening to David's voice, with his ever- present western twang.

Mom and Dad had just arrived in Valdez, Alaska to help my sister Mary and her husband Bob with their new infant so were unable to attend. I remember the event as being really thoughtful, yet a celebration of Gram's life. She had been in a nursing home for awhile, not remembering much...though she knew "her people". I haven't seen Peggy since, nor Uncle David and Aunt Maria. I just wrote to the Johnson girls to see if they had some insight concerning our grandma. She was a dear woman who was often misunderstood by her close family. I have read some of Irene's letters to Mom and there was a strong loving feeling very evident in them. Mom speaks, with love, of what her parents did for her in order to continue her education. I really need to spend some time thinking about Irene (no middle initial) Carrington Daugherty.

Daugherty Family - Miranda Jean DeHaven (1911-1991)

This is why I love this blogsite. There are so many interesting questions and so many places to at least start to find answers. The previous post concerned an article that Miranda Jean DeHaven, aunt of Jean DeHaven the muleskinner and mother's first cousin, had written concerning a Wessington blacksmith and Theodore Roosevelt. While I'm not related to the first Jean by marriage, nor to this particular blacksmith, I wanted to know more about the writer. I found an article about the Walz family, whom Jean married into. It's interesting to note that a sister of Jean's husband Robert Chaussee Walz was married to Siguard Anderson, Governor of SD from 1951-55. He has a long and respected list of accomplishments, as does our Jean.

Here is what I found on walzfarmerfamilies.net concerning Miranda Jean DeHaven (1911-1991). "Jean DeHaven Walz, passed away Thursday night, August 15, 1991 at University of Utah Medical Center, after a long battle with cancer. She was the daughter of Albert DeHaven and Eva Iddings. Note: Mother's aunt Helen Daugherty DeHaven married this Albert's son Thomas.

Education included graduation from Wessington, South Dakota High School, B.A. degree at Northern State College, Aberdeen, South Dakota, M.A. degree at U of South Dakota of Vermillion, graduate work at University of Colorado. Educator for over 40 years teaching primary and secondary schools in South Dakota, Iowa and Montana. She was an instructor and professor at Univeristy of South Dakota and South Dakota State University and retired as Professor Emeritus of English in 1977.

Charter member of the South Dakota Commission on the Humanities and served as secretary, vice-chairman and chairman. She was a member of the planning committee that founded the Federation of Public Programs in the Humanities and was elected as a charter member of the Federation's Executive Committee. She was chosen to serve as a panelist and reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1981 she received the Distinguished Award in the Humanities, South Dakota. She was an active member of the American Association of University Women, South Dakota, serving on the board for 18 years and as state president for two years. In 1972 A.A.U.W. Fellowship money in South Dakota was named in her honor.

She was an active community volunteer and served as chairman and board director member for the Community Cultural Center; chairman of the Brookings Area Betterment Committee and active in the First Baptist Church while at Brookings (S.D.). Member of PEO Sisterhood in South Dakota.

Married Robert C. Walz in Great Falls, Montana. She and her husband retired to Salt Lake City. While in Salt Lake City she was a member of the PEO Sisterhood, and A.A.U.W."

Elsewhere in the site: "After high school and a year at the University of South Dakota, Robert (1920 - 2005) took a job with the City of Vermillion. Across the street from city hall was a bowling alley, and it was there he began a relationship with Jean DeHaven, his high school math teacher. Bob and Jean had three sons, Living Walz of Kansas City, Missouri; Living Walz of Salt Lake City, Utah' and Clark Allen Walz."

This may be the last mention of this Jean on my blogsite (you never know, though), but I just had to know more about this excellent writer.

Daugherty Family - Wessington

I love this story written by Jean De Haven Walz, aunt of Jean DeHaven, first cousin of my mother, Helen Daugherty Hostvet.

Jean titles this, "Teddy Roosevelt and the Wessington Blacksmith". I only wish that Grandpa Fred's brother, Robbie, would have been the blacksmith mentioned. He was not...the honor goes to Jimmy Cowell, one of two or three blacksmiths in Wessington, S.D.

"I was five in the year 1915 and had just moved to my first metropolis - the central South Dakota community of Wessington, boasting around 650 souls. I had lived first in a sod shanty on a homestead in Capa (now a west river ghost town.) Capa had maybe thirteen inhabitants - counting cats, dogs, and rattlesnakes.

My cattle buyer, horse trader, auctioneer, entrepreneur father (Albert DeHaven) next moved his wife and five children to a bigger, more settled village - attractive and treeshaded Forestburg. The even larger community of Wessington presented a challenge to me. I did a fair amount of exploring.

One day I met Jimmy Cowell - one of two or three blacksmiths in Wessington. Jimmy was a squat, solid, reddish-bearded man - not too clean, even greasy in his heavy blacksmith's apron. He was also by nature taciturn, as he worked or lounged outside or inside his long, two-storied, shed. We somehow became friends as I - always talkative - tagged at his heels. As I spent pleasant summer afternoons in his company, it didn't bother me that the good citizens of Wessington and vicinity had little to do with him, except to use his professinal services. He was a good blacksmith.

But before long, new friends, school, a pony of my own and other such pleasures for children of small town life made me forget Jimmy Cowell - no, not forget, just not find time for.

When I was in high school, I mentioned to my brother-in-law, born and raised in Wessington, this early admiration of mine for Jimmy Cowell, and he told me the following story. Of course one needs to understand first the excitement of the daily arrival of the 10 a.m. train which broke the monotony of small town life.

That monotony was certainly shattered, one particular day, when Jimmy Cowell appeared at the station - shaved, clean, dressed in his very best and driving a rented team hitched to a likewise rented Studebaker wagon.

In the wagon were groceries, a tent, and bedding - all the supplies needed for a camping or hunting expedition. None of the inquisitive gapers dared ask questions of the broadly smiling Jimmy. The train pulled in, and who should get off but Teddy Roosevelt! He and Jimmy greeted each other as long-time, sturdy friends. Teddy threw his gear into the wagon. The two friends climbed onto the wagon seat and off they drove.

At the time my brother-in-law told me the story, what they did for several days before Jimmy delivered his famous guest back to the 6 p.m. train going east, was still shrouded in mystery. It was, however, strongly held that they disappeared 20 miles into the Wessington Hills to camp and hunt. Rumor, supported possibly by hints dropped by the blacksmith himself, had it that they had met and forged a mutual admiration when Teddy had visited the North Dakota Badlands, living the life of cowboys and regaining some lost health.

Now let us skip ahaead a few more years. I was a freshman or sophomore at Northern State Teacher's College Aberdeen when, one noon, I dashed into the apartment shared with my sister, a teacher in Aberdeen High School, opened a letter from my mother (Eva Eddings DeHaven), and read: "Jimmy Cowell died this week. Imagine the surprise when people entered his upstairs living quarter - which no one had ever seen - to discover it filled with lovely and beautifully refinished old, solid walnut furniture."

Here was a man who lived in his own isolation, ignored, sometimes shunned, looked down upon, but a man who could befriend a lonely five-year-old. Who could ask for more than he had; a rich and enduring friendship with a magnetic leader of his country and a love of beauty - the beauty of fine design in wood?

I'm glad I knew Jimmy Cowell."

Note: At the time of this writing, 1989, for the South Dakota Magazine, Jean was living in Brookings. I'd like to find out more about her. I need to get in touch with DeHaven relatives that have E-Mail. I think I'll send Deanne Rowen a note.

Pepper Family and Thomas Shawcross - Honora Alice Pepper

We've been going through Thomas Shawcross' notes on his branch of the Pepper family. We're now looking at Honora Alice Pepper...beautiful name.

"Known as Nora, she became my (Thomas Shawcross) great-grandmother after marrying Joseph Shawcross. Nora appears to have placed a strong value on education, religion and the temperance movement. Almost all of the pictures of her in her later years show her reading a Bible. She died of breast cancer at the age of 63."

I'll include a bit of her obituary found in the Williamsport Pioneer, August 17, 1923,here..."daughter of Jacob and Naomi Pepper, was born in Vermillion County Illinois, March 1, 1860 and died at her home in Indianapolis, Ind., August 11, 1923, aged 63 years...

She was married June 26, 1880 to Joseph Shawcross, son of John and Margaret Shawcross, with whom she lived in happy contented life 43 years. To this union were born four sons, an infant and Raymond C. who preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her sad departure her husband, two sons, Joseph Wilbur and Orry LeRoy...

She was a good wife and a devoted mother whose love for her children was undying...Funeral services were held from the M.E. Church at Rainsville...Burial was in the Rainsville Cemetery."

Thomas Shawcross encludes some interesting Pepper letters. He also lists other descndants of the Peppers.

"I suspect the Pepper(s) family was German but I don't know this other from speculation on the...history of Frederick County, MD. Long before there were any settlements in Frederick County, parties of Germans passed through it from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to seek homes in Virginia. The principal route was over a pack horse or Indian road that crossed the present Pennsylvania counties of York and Adams to the Monocacy where it passed into Maryland. Once in Maryland the road passed through Campton's Gap and crossed the Potomac at several fords. The first German settlement in Frederick County was as early as 1729 in the village of Monocacy (Creagerstown), which was the first village beyond the lower part of MOntgomery County in Western Maryland. Here around 1732 the first German church, which was known as the Log Church, was built in Maryland. "

Thomas gives information on the Irish in Frederick County, maryland and the French and Indian War. Very interesting reading.

"As the tide of German immigrants increased, a more direct route to Western Maryland was established. The immigrants landed at Annapolis and later some at Baltimore. From there they traveled over the bad roads of that time to their destinatins in the valley of Monocacy. The Maryland officials early appreciated the value of the German settlers to the province and did all they could to encourage the movement, as the Germans were looked upon as a thrifty, industrious and God-fearing poeple who were a benefit to the community."

I've enjoyed Thomas Shawcross' letter and works. He has my total respect and I hope to continue our relationship of letters.

Pepper Family - Thomas Shawcross - continued

Continuing a document from Thomas Shawcross...my fourth cousin, onced removed...

Thomas next includes a picture of his great-great grandmother, Naomi Francis (1819-1895) and her obituary. The year of Naomi's and Jacob's wedding..."That same fall they, in company with a brother-in-law - ex-Sheriff James Hampson - and his family came in wagons to the new state of Illinois, and settled at Chillicothe, Peoria County. From there they moved to Circleville, Tazewell County,. After remaining in this county a few years, they moved to Indiana."

Another source in the Attitca, Indiana newspaper says..."Mrs. Jacob Pepper died at her home in this city Wednesday night of lat week of paralysis of the brain. She lived but an hour after the attack." Thomas writes "Paralysis of the brain was the term used then for what we now call a stroke." He also writes, "It was considered newsworhy that the Peppers had fourteen children who all lived to be grown. Large families were common, but a zero mortality rate was unusual."

Of their children:
Sarah - Thomas knows little about her. "She was listed as Mrs. Sarah Reifsnyder of Kankakee, Ills."
Susan - "She married Henry Welch in 1857."
Mary - "She married Allen Mounts in 1857. She had a tumor and her remains were taken to Attica by the Wabash train for interment."
Caroline - ..."died in Independence, Indiana in 1865.
Martha - "Married Henry Ritenour in 1864 and married S.B. Mathis of Williamsport in 1898. She appears to have a jolly soul...moved to Williamsport to operate their crocery story."
Margaret - "Maggie Peppers married John Short on Dec. 18, 1873...was buried at Antioch Cemetery in Dillon Twp, Tazewell County."
Charlotte - "...died in Danville, Illinois in March, 1870. I suspect that Charlotte was married and died at about the age of 24 years, perhaps after giving birth."
Jacob - .."was a grocer. In May, 1888, he died in Green Valley, Illinois where he owned a store...It is interesting to note that his name is spelled (on advertisements) as Pepper on one, and Peppers on another. Jacob appears to have been partners with the Mr. Short who married Margaret Pepper Harris...Jacob married Alice A. Tuttle on Feb. 22, 1872...(they)were buried in Green Valley Cemetery, Tazewell County, Illinois.
Elizabeth - ..."married her first cousin William Brown in 1876."
Anna America..."In 1880, at the time of her sister Nora's marriage to Joseph Shawcross, Anna was already married to Joseph's brother Austin, and all four of them (Anna, Austin, Nora, and Joseph)were sharing quarters and farming in Vermilion County Illinois. Austin owned the farm and Joseph helped him work it."
John W. - "John is listed in the Tazewell County marriage index as having married Clara E. Copes on Sept. 28, 1882...John, a farmer...died in Tazewell County, Illinois, April 2, 1921."
Delia Sydna - "...married Mathias David Misner, of Attica, Indiana. Prior to marrying Mr. Misner, she may have been married to Henry L. Hamson...Syd was a member of the Women's Chritian Temperance Union.
William - ..."died in Indianapolis in 1934. His first wife was Eurma Edward...second wife was Emma B. Schaffer. After William Pepper died, his widow Emma married my (Thomas Shawcross) ggrandfather Joseph Shawcross.
Honora is next...a perfect time to stop this posting. Will continue the Pepper saga.