How I Remember My Ancestors

Submitted by: Susi Pentico (SusiCP@aol.com)

Remember, think, recall,
Yes, I recall them all.

Or at least sometimes my brain thinks so.  I never knew this would turn into such an extensive file of names and people.  Not to even mention the history that is tied in.

I have always been a big History buff, since small.  If History was taught via genealogy, the indepth knowledge that children would learn would be overwhelming.

I remember my Great GrandMother ARCHER.  She was really the daughter of Lydia TROWBRIDGE, who married George EASTMAN of N. H..  We wrote letters from when I was about 8 years old until she passed, when I was a senior in high school. 

Her name was Margaret Mae EASTMAN; she died in 1958.  She lived a hard, and exciting life, depending on which side of the fence you sat.  She was well-bred, well-schooled, trained and had money.   Her husband's family also was financially well off, so to speak.

She lost her husband in the 1930's; he supposedly dissappeared on a freighter headed to Russia with grain from his farms in Iowa and Minnesota.  The family stories swim around her husband big time.  Many say he went to Australia to get away from Iowa.

Great Grandma had him declared legally dead, later.  Then she married a Mr. ARCHER.  I still have some of her letters in my trunk. 

If we ever find where her husband went, it will make a book unto itself.

Her daughter was my Grandmother.  My Grandmother left me with many memories.   She even lived with my husband and I several different times while coming to visit with her son. One time I was privileged to have her for almost six months.  But she said California winters were too cold and went back to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Victoria Mae (Ida ) FOULK married at age 15, lying on her marriage certificate with the help of her future husband's Uncle.  (He is another story). 

Grandma Ida married Carl Fremont JONES in Blue Mound, Minnesota.   After the marriage, which caused a major rift in family, both sides said they married beneath each other's families.  My Grandfather and Grandmother lived with his brother LaMonte in Waterloo, and worked in LaMonte's store.   When LaMonte talked of selling the store, Grandad went to Wyomng to be near another family member William DREW.  Grandma came out later on the train with my dad; he was 13 months old at the time. 

Dad was the only child born in Iowa.  All the others were born in Wyoming.   They divorced in late 1820's in Wyoming.

Granddad JONES was college educated and spoke seven languages. He was a Chef in his own right, schooling in Paris, so I am told; I have not checked it out, but have some of his knives.  He also cooked on ships that ran up and down from Alaska to California.

He was a shepherder in his older years; he said he preferred the solitude of the range and closeness with the animals.  I truly believe he talked to the animals like some people write about.  He was of Indian heritage and taught us many of the things that had been passed down to him.

My Grandmother was also of Indian heritage. Her family worked with herbs and she said her Grandmom' s family were Indian healers.  She never took pills until too old to make the medicines she used on her own.  She talked of digging the herbs and roots and leaves and flowers to use to make one well.  I only wish I had written it all down or had at that time a tape deck to record all the stories she told.  She, and my two Aunts walked from Iowa to Wyoming one Thanksgiving year after a major squabble with her Mom.  They, of course, made up - but  it was a long, long walk for many days.  Talk of determination or stubborness - wow!

Philip MOYER was a wagonmaster during the Revolutionary War. His son worked with him.   His Grandson John MYERS was born in Dauphin County, PA, in 1809.  He married Sarah FOLK/FOULK.

Sarah's brother Peter FOULK (FOLK) married Catherine (Indian lady); down the line the children's children married again.   This is the partial lineage of that stubborn, strongwilled  but loving Grandmother.  She was also from the the Roger EASTMAN and Rev. Caleb TROWBRIDGE lineage - all very hardy people.  Abijaha EASTMAN married Esther THOMAS (stb proven with the Thomas lineage :>)} ( This Indian lineage was a SACHEM in MA).

One of my favorite memories of my Grandad Carl F JONES was the method he used to get my brothers and sisters not to cry.  If my brothers or sister would start to cry because of a scolding or falling and getting hurt, Grandad would run to kitchen counter, grab a jar or cup or glass, and quickly run over and put the item next to my siblings cheek, saying.,"I have to catch them steers, can't let them get away".  It never ceased to have the siblings suddenly start to laugh or look so startled they could no longer cry.  I remember when my brother asked him about the steers and his telling of cowpunching and not letting the animals roam off and get hurt and that was what he was doing with their tears, not letting them fall to floor and get hurt.

I remember these Grandparents and Great Grandparent very fondly. 

I also remember with delight my Grandfather on Mom's side who taught us about our family history in a different way than Grandad JONES.  Grandad HOFFMAN had this big, old, heavy, dark outside, leather, thick, picture book. :>)  I could hardly wait to visit him and we would look at the pictures and he would tell his stories of his family and his Grandmom's family and cousins and other relatives. He talked of when his dad, Franklin HOFFMAN, took him back to Pennsylvania to meet his kin that they left behind when his Dad was only 11 or so walking behind a covered wagon moving to Iowa.

Franklin's dad was in the Civil War. Franklin's Great Grandfather Henry HUFFMAN was in the Revolutionary War as a Militaman and a Ranger in Washington County, PA, and as a Virginia Milita man before moving to SW PA..  Grandad was forever pleased with his ancestors and wanted us Grandchildren to be happy with who we were and to share this information with our famlies in the future. 

Granddad's brother-in-law was another one that shared many stories about the SCOTT family with us.  Great Uncle Dan was a large man more than 6'6" and he balanced my sister and myself on each knee and would tell us stories.  I was 12 the last time I saw him and my feet did not hit the floor sitting on his knee. 

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