Fearless Females Post 26 Fearless Females My Mama and Polio

March 13 ~ Moment of Strength ~ Share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.
So many of these postings around fearless females end up being my mother. She was the strongest sweetest woman you could meet.
She showed us her strength and courage from the day she was diagnosed with polio until her death in 1998. A day does not go by that I do not think of her and remember her with so much love. My mom came out of this horrible disease alive, many did not. She was handicapped, wearing a brace and using crutches her whole life.
This never stopped her. She could of sat home and felt sorry for herself but did not.
She raised my sister and me and had two more children. Arthur Jr who passed away shortly after birth and my brother David. She was involved in the church and my school. She is my inspiration.

She loved her family and loved God. She was sweet, kind and generous. Even if money was tight for us as a family if she knew a friend of ours needed a winter coat that person would get a winter coat. She loved cookies, playing Yahtzee with family and people watching.

Thanks for stopping by for fearless females.. hope that you come back real soon. Grace

Fearless Females Post 25 ~ Working Grandmas ~ 1910 Work Place

Fearless Females ~ March 12 ~ Working Girl

So many of my family members spent time in the home taking care of their families, but before marriage some of them did work.

I was surpised to find in the 1910 census that my grandma Grace worked as a telephone operator.  I do not remember her ever telling me that.  The census tells me she was 17 years old and living at home with her mother, step father and half sister Merle and half brother Wayne.

I do know that my grandma Alta taught school before marrying Grandpa Perry in Colorado. The year is 1910 and she is 17 years old and teaching in a public school.

Each of my grandmas worked before marrying after that they stayed home to take care of their families.
Thranks for stopping by lets keep saving together Grace

Fearless Females Days Post 24 Food Religion and Mama

Where does time go last day I posted on Fearless Females it was March 6th. Now it is the 11th and I have missed 4 days of postings if you do not count today.  Where have I been or what has been happening in my life to space out these postings I had wanted to do.   Life has happened I guess. I get all wrapped in hunting for treasures, going to auctions, dealing with things happening in the family or even coming down with a cold and spending some time in bed to get a jump on it. So for those days I missed I will link up to last years postings and maybe even the 11th day of March.  So please take a moment and read about some of my Fearless Females.

Fearless Females March 7th  Favorite Recipes

Fearless Females March 8th Diaries  this one is on my mama

Fearless Females March 9th  Family documents

Fearless Females March 10th Religion

Fearless Females March 11th Tragic or Unexpected Deaths this is from last year and is about my dad's mother my grandma Alta.  I never got to meet her and that is tragic because my dad loved his mama so much.

Well I am now caught up with Fearless Females through today. Time will tell if tomorrow is new or a repeat from last year.  Thanks for stopping by and if you think we may be related I would love to hear from you. Grace

FEARLESS FEMALES Post 23 HEIRLOOMS

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 6: Heirlooms

March 6 — Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

I have shared several postings in the past of family treasures.  You can view them by going here.  I have shared about wedding rings, bibles and bears made out  of fur coats.  I am blessed to have treasures from my mother, aunt daisy, grandmas and grandpas and great grandparents.  The best treasures in my opinion are the family bibles.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, hope that you will take time to read other postings. Grace

Post 22 ~ FEARLESS FEMALES ~ HOW DID THEY MEET?

March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

The story of my mother and dad meeting is sweet. Daddy was in town and docked as a merchant marine.  Went to church on Sunday and was invited to Sunday lunch at my grandma and grandpa's home.  He saw my mama's picture on the mantel, found out where she was working and went down to introduce himself.  That was in May and in October they married.  I love the story of how they met.

I do not know how any one else met in my family.  My own story is that my second husband was in town on business, happened to be a night club I was at and asked me to dance.

My first husband threw pop corn at my head in the movie theatre to get my attention.

I wish I knew how my grandparents met but I never asked. 

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, hope that you will come back for more of my Fearless Females.  Grace

Fearless Females Blog Post 21 Marriage Records

Fearless Females March 4 Marriage Records  — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Last year I posted that the only vintage marriage record I have is of my great grandmother Katherine Gallagher to Appleton Esler and it is into pieces. But I have it and it is beautiful.

What I do have are wedding photos of some of my family members.  Here is the wedding photo of my great aunt Grace to her first husband.  I shared a picture of her yesterday with my aunt Daisy for Sepia Saturday.
I shared this picture before of my great aunt Grace before here with a story of what was happening in the world when she married. Fun interesting piece of history around her. Aunt Grace married in Minneapolis, Minneapolis. Her husband was about 13 years older than her and they never had any children. 
I do know my aunt Daisy adored her and we girls and Aunt Daisy would take the train to the cities every year to visit Aunt Grace and her sister Aunt Gladys.  I remember it being hot and she had no air conditioner.  We would want to stand in front of the fan and she would not let us. She was afraid we would catch a cold.  They may be one of the reasons I felt she was crabby. This time frame would of been in the late 1950's or early 1960's.  We would stay at an old hotel down town within range of the train station.  The name of the hotel is gone from my memory, but I stayed there in 1966 with my first husband when we visited Minneapolis on our honeymoon.  It is long gone like so many buildings of my youth.

Thanks for stopping by for another posting of Fearless Females, please take a moment and read some of my other postings. Grace

FEARLESS FEMALE Post 20 NAME SHARING WITH AN ANCESTOR

FEARLESS FEMALE ~ NAME SHARING TRENDS ~
Last year I wrote about being named after my two grandmothers. My mother's mother Grace and my father's mother Alta.  Alta was named after her grandmother Alta Cheuvront. You can read that story here.

I love my name it is after two important family members.  Some people do not like their names and want to change them but I have always been very pleased with my name. 

At this time I have people in my ancestry tree recorded. So far I have six Grace's including my self. The oldest one is Grace Spencer 1674 to 1714. She is my 6th great grandmother on my mom's side of the family.  Grace married John Day Jr with the Day name being passed down to my mother's father.
She and John had 12 children and she passed away shortly after the last child was born.

There are four people named Alta the oldest being my 2nd great grandma Alta Cheuvront and there are two of us with the name Alta as a middle name.

Do you have any naming practices in your family line?  It can be an interesting study.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, I hope that you will take a moment and look at some of my other postings. If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you . Grace

Fearless Female Post 19 Favorite photo of one of your female ancestors

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

Day 2 of Fearless Females, last year I posted a photo of my great grandmother Carrie Lockwood Day with her sister in law Anna Day Norton. Anna is my great grand aunt. 
This year I have chosen  a photo of Mary Cassell / Cossill who married John Henderson Zion son of McCormick and Mary (Gobble) Zion. She is one of my 2nd great grandmother on my father's side of the family.  This photo was probably taken around 1875.
One of the reasons I picked it was because I love her hat and I get the feeling she was a strong woman from her pose and the chose of hat. 
Mary was born on the 19 of Oct 1834 in Coles Illinois to Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Carmichael ) Cassell) and died on the 20th of Nov 1919 in Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa.  She and John had four children, Mary Elizabeth, William, Jonathan Adam ( my ancestor) and Etta.

Thanks for stopping by for another posting on Fearless Females. I hope that you will take a moment and look at some of my other postings.  Grace

Death Living

Fearless Females Blog Post 18 - Favorite Female Ancestor ~ HARRIET CARPENTER CHRISMAN ANDERSON COCOGNE

March will be Fearless Female Month over at Accidental Genealogist. I will post all or some of the prompts during the month of March. I checked to see what and how many postings I had accomplished last year. I posted 17 times during that month. You can read what I posted for March 1 2011 here. I had posted on three of my favorite women. I will attempt to use different family members

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

This March 1, 2012,  I have chosen my 3rd great grandmother Harriet CARPENTER ANDERSON COCOGNE.

Harriet was born December 13 1814 in Rome New York to Harmon and Phoebe CHRISTMAN CARPENTER and died December 5th 1908 in Wabasha Minnesota. She was married a total of three times.

First husband David CHRISMAN ( may of been a first cousin) married when Harriet was 19 years old. Harriet had two children by him, David Chauncey and Monica. Husband David CHRISMAN dies in 1836.
In 1837 Harriet marries Levi ANDERSON, they have 6 children together. The first being Betsey my great great grandmother. Other children are Abram, Phoebe, William, George and then Fairfax. In 1858 Levi dies, we have not found his obit or grave. There was a Levi Anderson who died 1860 found frozen to death, alcohol being the cause. We do not know if this is the same Levi Anderson of New York.
Third husband Charles COCOGNE  marries Harriet in 1872 and dies in 1900. Harriet dies in 1908 and is buried in the Pleasant Prairie Cemetery in Zumbro, Minnesota. Harriet lived to almost be 94 years old , she out lived 3 husbands and 5 children.
Harriet did not live to know that two of her grandsons would be murdered. In 1927 her first son David's son George is murdered in a neighbor dispute and in 1929 daughter Betsey's son George is murdered while doing his job as a guard at the docks in Duluth, Minnesota. This crime was never solved.
I am sure there is a lot to learn about Harriet and I have just started my search for her. I am pleased I was able to find her grave in 1999 and was able to leave her a flower at that time.
Some of the questions I have
1. Was first husband David really a cousin or not.
2. When did second husband die, did he die when family says or was he the Levi ANDERSON who froze to death.
3. What was life like for Harriet during the years she lived. I have the feeling that her father HARMON was a powerful controlling man over her and her second husband Levi.

Thanks for stopping by for my first Fearless Female posting. I hope that you will take a moment to look around at other postings and if you think we may be related I would love to hear from you.  Grace

Fearless Females ~ Post 17 ~ Social Butterfly

Fearless Females ~ March 17 ~ Social Butterfly?
March 17 — Social Butterfly? What social organizations or groups did your mother or grandmother belong to? Sewing circle, church group, fraternal benefit society or lodge? Describe her role in the group.

My grandmothers and mother were involved in the church mainly. Singing in the choir and working on church suppers. My mother was involved in the PTA at my grade school. Even though she was crippled from polio that did not stop her. If my father was not at home because of work we would take a taxi cab the 2 1/2 blocks to my grade school so she could go to meetings or volunteer at school functions.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females.. Grace

Fearless Females ~ Post 16 ~ Let's Do Lunch!

Fearless Females ~ March 16 ~ Let's Do Lunch!

March 16 — If you could have lunch (or another meal) with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why? Where would you go? What would you eat?

If I could have a meal with my female family it would be at my grandmother Grace's house and we would be having Sunday dinner.

The smells would be inviting and the food delicious. Sitting around the table would be my grandmother, aunt Daisy, aunt Lil and my mother. Also you would find the men of the family and my cousins.

We would eat roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. There would be olives, pickles and little slices of American cheese. And of course pie for desert with vanilla ice cream.

Recently we drove by my grandparents house and I though how fun it would be to live there. To be inside that house one more time.

thanks for stopping by as I post on my fearless females... late on my postings of course but I will get there eventually.. Grace

Fearless Females ~ Post 15 ~ Six-Word Tribute

Fearless Females ~ March 15 ~ Six-Word Tribute

Mother .. kind, loving, religious, beautiful, generous, funny

My mother was unbelieveable and I strive to be like her. I fall short alot of the time but then strive again.

The hardest time of my life was watching her leave us and I struggled with the pain for a year. As I write this the pain comes back to my chest.

She was the rock of our family.

thanks for stopping by for fearless female... Grace

Fearless Females Post 14 ~ In the News Polio Epidemic

Fearless Females ~ March 14 ~ In the News Polio Epidemic

When my mother got polio and was in the hospital her name was in the newspaper along with other patients with this horrible disease.

My sister and I went to Bay town Texas last year and made copies of the newspaper articles.

I posted about this awhile back and you can read that post by going here if you like.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females .. Grace

Fearless Female ~ Post 13 ~ Moment Of Strength

March 13 ~ Moment of Strength ~ Share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.
So many of these postings around fearless females end up being my mother. She was the strongest sweetest woman you could meet.
She showed us her strength and courage from the day she was diagnosed with polio until her death in 1998. A day does not go by that I do not think of her and remember her with so much love. My mom came out of this horrible disease alive, many did not. She was handicapped, wearing a brace and using crutches her whole life.
This never stopped her. She could of sat home and felt sorry for herself but did not.
She raised my sister and me and had two more children. Arthur Jr who passed away shortly after birth and my brother David. She was involved in the church and my school. She is my inspiration.

She loved her family and loved God. She was sweet, kind and generous. Even if money was tight for us as a family if she knew a friend of ours needed a winter coat that person would get a winter coat. She loved cookies, playing Yahtzee with family and people watching.

Thanks for stopping by for fearless females.. hope that you come back real soon. Grace

Fearless Females ~ Post 12 ~ Working Girl

Fearless Females ~ March 12 ~ Working Girl

Meet My Great Aunt 3x Removed the Postmistress of Greenwood Nebraska ... Catherine Coleman

One of my favorite working females is Catherine Coleman who I found at ancestry who was a post mistress. She never married and devoted her life to her family and career. You can read about her on an earlier post here.

Women were encouraged to not marry if they wanted to work in the postal system in the early 1900's. Catherine never married and in the 1930's census she is listed living alone and renting

Thanks for stopping by to read about my fearless females. .. Grace

Fearless Females Post 11 ~ Tragic or Unexpected Deaths

Fearless Females ~ March 11 Tragic or Unexpected Deaths. To me I find the death of my grandmother Alta tragic since she died in the middle of her life of cancer to the brain. I never was able to meet her but I have letters that she wrote to my parents those last months. She was always so upbeat but her hand writting was changing.

Grandma Alta Hall Zion born June 26, 1892 in Evansville Wisconsin to Arthur R and Mabel (Coleman) Hall.

Alta married Perry June 11, 1913 in Taylor, Nebraska. They had 5 children, John, George, Alice , Arthur ( my dad) and Joe .

Grandma Alta died February 21, 1944 in Winlock Wisconsin.

I treasure the letters of have from her as some of her vintage china and the fact that my middle name is her name. It is my connection to this wonderful wife, mother, daughter and grandmother.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females. .. Grace

Fearless Females Post 10 ~ Religion

Fearless Females: March 10: Religion

Religion was important in our family with my father being a minister. I have no female members that were active in any real capacity of the church like a minister.

They always were very active with going to church more than once a week, singing in the choir and being Sunday School teachers.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless females. Previous post shows the church my great grandmother was a member at. Grace

Fearless Females Post 9 ~ Family Documents

Fearless Females: March 9: Family Documents
The picture shows Fairfax, George Warner and Great Grandma Carrie holding her granddaugher Helen ( son Lester's daughter)

Among my family papers on my mother's side I have a certificate of Church Membership for my great grandmother Carrie Lockwood Day Warner. She is the mother of my grandpa Bill.

This certificate tells me that she became a member of Grace Lutheran "Pineneedle" in McGregor Minnesota ( Sandy Lake) on the 10th of May 1942. The minister was Rev C Zimmerman

I also have a real picture postcard showing the inside of the church from that time period.

I have a feeling that this was a happy time in her life. She was married for a second time, first husband has passed away. She was living on a lake with George Warner her husband and her son Fairfax probably lived near by.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females. I am behind but slowly trying to catch up.

Fearless Females Blog 8: DIaries, Letters, and Journals

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 8: Diaries, Letters, and Journals
Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.

I have letters written by my mother and both of my grandmothers. I shared a letter here my mother wrote 9n June 8th 1952 when she was not feeling well. With in days she was in the hospital with Polio.

Here is another letter she wrote on June 11, 1952 Baytown Texas

Dear Daisy

Just a short letter to explain about the contents of a small package I'm sending you. Its sort of a joke package although I know you'll like what I've sent you. the joke package conatins about four cucumbers. Some people gave them to us and Arthur and I just do not like cucumbers. I thought of you folks and how you like them and how you paid 35 cents for two one time. Ha! I don't know if thse will be good or not and maybe you have all you want and they may be cheap but never the less I think you can use them or give them to someone. I hope they do not spoil onthe way to Minnesota. The joke will be on me if you open them and find 4 rotten cucumbes. They were nice and firm when I mailed them.

The people that gave us the cucumbers gave us a big bag of potatoes. ( you know are scarce they are? or are tehy plentiful up there?) Potatoes are like gold to us and as scarce as hens teeth. They ration them out 10 pouns to a person here and most of the time you can't find them at all.

Well we found out what Marys fever was for . She broke out today with chicken poxs. My kids are like me. They get all kids diseases. I'm glad they are getting them young before they start school and in this warm climate they have everything mild. They say chicken pox will not scar. We must of had small pox when we were little. Your real sick with small pox but chicken pox is a much milder disease. mary was a little sick Friday but really hasn't acted to sick any of the time. She's wanted to play and run around all the time. I try to keep her quiet but doctors say if they feel able to play it won't hurt them. Her appetite wasn't so good Thursday Friday and Sat. Well I''ll say by now I'm much better myself.

I know you'll let mom and dad and the rest have a bite or two of the cucumbers but I remember you are especially found of them. Like I am of tomatoes ha! You paid 79 cents for some for me once 2 or 3 huh? Ha! We paid the freight remember.

Love and kissses Muriel and all

Fun old letter and it is written on company letter head of a company my father probably worked for. She was frugal and would of used this paper rather than buying stationary. I have her letters in mylar sheets and in a three ring binder to protect them.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females and hope to see you again soon... Grace

Fearless Females Post 7 Favorite Recipe

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 7: Favorite Recipe
March 7 — Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.

My mother made Watergate Salad for family gatherings. Easy and tasty treat. We still make it for large family gatherings. I have shared the recipe over at my food/coupon blog. You can get the recipe here if you like.