Someone has to watch the sheep

While serving their mission at Haskell Indian Junior College, Mom and Dad spent a lot of time with the students and learned a lot about their home life on the reservation.  The students faced obstacles to their education that most of us would never even imagine.

Haskell Junior College Centennial Convocation
September 1984

to the family

from Dad

3 October 1984

Last evening about 6 p.m. one of the students came in and asked me if I could take him to the bus depot right away.  He got a call from his father saying that he needed him to come home and help get in the wood and coal for winter, because someone had to watch the sheep and the father couldn't do it all by himself.  So Martin had dropped out of school and was going to make two trips walking to the bus depot - about 3 miles each way.  Fortunately the LDS Student Association President saw him and told him to come see me about a ride.  When I talked to Manuel about going home, he didn't seem to resent it nearly as much as I did!  He just said that someone had to do it, and he would come back in January and start again.  Martin was looking forward to our volleyball tournament, and he loves basketball.  He hopes to be back and if so, he will play basketball in January.

Martin turned 20 last May, and he really is a good young man, and we will miss him around the Institute.  The parents of these kids really don't understand what it means for the students to have to drop out and go home like this.  I really felt bad to see him leave.

Can you imagine interrupting your semester

to go home and tend sheep?

DEAR Grandma and Grandpa,

Fancy stationery for the missionary grandparents

 to Grandma and Grandpa

on a mission in Lawrence, Kansas

from Mark

21 September 1984

I HOPE you are happy that I have BUNKBEDS.  I am in school now.  My teacher's name is Mrs. Baden.  I have P.E. every Tuesday.  I have library every Wednesday.  Nathan and Emily are in 2nd and 4th grades.  I hope you have been feeling well.  For my first time I have jumped off a high diving board.  Maybe we can go to Cherry Hills together again.     MARK

Mark and Grandma at Cherry Hills water slide - June, 1984

Grandma willingly "volunteered" to take Mark on the water slide, 

because he was too small to go alone.  Yeah, Grandma!

few people enjoyed letter writing like I do

Mixed in Dad's papers were several letters written by Aunt Lorena in the mid 1950's.  The following excerpt fascinates me, because she gets so much information into so little space.  Granted it's a little disjointed and wandering, but it gives me some names and possible family relationships to pursue in my effort to get to know the family.

I've left the spelling and punctuation as she wrote it.  It's open for interpretation!  And if you can shed any light on any of these people, please leave a comment.

October 4, 1954

to Florence (Mable's sister)

from Aunt Lorena

October 4, 1954

I do not know of great grand fathers family but always understood he was from a ____ family he was Jerimiah D. and I think his oldest son was too then there was Nancy, George, Linda, Jack and a little dwarf girl. Becky, Rebecca, I guess.  She never grew tall.  I do no know why, some sickness she had when she was small, I think.  She was about 4' or 3' 11 " I believe.

Another of the family then he married again but she was mean to Becky so he left her.  I never heard of a devorce and they weren't common then maybe he just quit her but I remember Granny Overturf she was small and quaint and had a family by her first man.  There may have been ones between but I don't think so her family got scattered in the war and in hunting then they got west to Dennison, Texas.  I don't remember any more if she and grandpa were married or the girl and Jerry Overturf, but they found them at Dennison and she was married to grandpa's oldest son you remember Aunt Melinda Bullock don't you.  Grandma's sister then Geo and Jack at Freewater.  Jack only had one girl and she is married and I don't know what become and Geo married a sister to Aunt Fanny.  Aunt Belle Patterson and he had two girls and a boy his girls moved to Portland and last I knew of children Eva had had a boy before she was married not her husband's and he died.  Jennie never had any and Jim married one of the coffee girl and raised two girls Gwen and Amy I think.  Jim was sort of a never to well when he was a youngster as I remember but he got a well drilling outfit and became a pretty well to do man and was considered all right.  It was rumored at one time he had bootlegged some though but never was prosecuted for it.  So Gwen is the last of the line I guess and she didn't write to one . . .   I guess she is in bad health and few people enjoyed letter writting like i do.

Luck go with you - 

My love to you

Aunt Lorena

Lorena and Nathaniel Shockley

I'll bet she had some great stories to tell!

. . . E mail - whatever that is

I laughed when I thought about the beginning of email and that none of us knew how to use it!

 

to the Family

from Jim

February 1996

Well, if you have not guessed by now, Tesi bought me a new computer for Christmas.  I am really just learning how to use it.  It is a Macintosh Performa 5215 CD.  It is really neat and does many things I cannot.

If it looks like I am having a lot of fun with it you have guessed right.  It does know how to spell, but I do not have a grammar check in it so you will have to forgive the long sentences and never ending paragraphs.

A great newsletter - colorful and newsy

I am anxious to learn all that I can about his computer.  It does have a modem, Don.  I know you asked me about that.  It also has E mail, whatever that is.  I just need to learn how to use it.

I do know how to print in color and use the clip art that came with it.  As you can see it can be a lot of fun.  I guess my letter will be over when I run out of pictures.

 Our computer skills have come a long way!

Jimmy, Tesi, Jim, Brittany
May, 1997

You'll graduate today

Eldon at high school graduation - May 30, 1946

to Eldon

from his father, Jesse Butler

 May 1946

Your High School days are over.

Your books are laid away.

Your troubles and worries are over -

You'll graduate today.

We wish you every happiness,

and may the years unfold

a bright and happy future

and your clouds be lines with gold.

But if the time should ever come

when the sun don't shine as bright,

and the storm clouds seem to gather,

and your days are dark as night.

But always remember this my son

and hold your head up high.

The sun is bound to shine again

and the clouds go floating by.

Oh never, never do a thing

to darken your fair name

or cause your mother or your dad

to bow their heads with shame.

But always strive to do your best 

even when your skies are gray

and may we always be as proud 

as we are of you today.

Keepin it cool

Davis home on the ranch near Haswell

 to Davis Families - Round Robin

from Lou Butler

28 February 1999

in response to a letter and pictures 

compiled from sharing memories at a Davis family reunion

Looking at those pictures of the ranch site really brought back a lot of memories.  One of my memories which I have told about often, was the summer I was there when Grandpa Davis and Uncle Johnny built a "refrigerator" of sorts north of the back porch of the ranch house.  They built a frame out of 4 x 4's and 2 x 4's and put in a few shelves and then covered it with several layers of wool sacks.  They then piped the water to it from the line that came down from the well up on the hill to the south of the ranch house and let it fill a top shelf and drip down all sides.  The breeze then went through the wet burlap, and it was surprising how cool it kept the butter, etc. in the refrigerator.

I am amazed and fascinated by their ingenuity!

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

News from an 11 year old granddaughter in Germany

to Grandma and Grandpa Butler

from Amy - granddaughter

Fall, 1989

Dear Grandma and Grandpa

How are you?  Im fine!!  Chucky's bike got Stolen again.  And Tom got his nose stuck on the car Door window.  And Jeremy was playing at boyscouts And bumped his head hard.  And me and dad Are sick and my mom is taking good care of us.

* * * * * * * * * 

I can't wait until you come And have cristmas with us.  It will be like old time.

* * * * * * * * * 

Im so proud that my Grandma and Grandpa are in the MTC it sounds Wonderful.

by, love you,

Amy

Amy - Grandma - Carol - Beth
May, 1990

Bet this letter made Grandma's day!

"We come from great people."

Grandma Della with Callaway grandchildren
Velda (on lap) - Nyda Dell - Delvin - Lowell
circa 1943

to Round Robin

from Nyda Dell Marx 

(daughter of Mary Florence Davis Callaway)

1 June 2009

Dear Cousins,

Did you know that Grandmother Davis was working in her parents' restaurant on roller skates when she met Grandpa?  One of the men slapped her on the behind, and she dumped a plate of spaghetti on his head.  Grandpa was working cattle and had stopped for a meal.  Grandpa was impressed with this spunky, pretty girl.  This is part of our family history - we come from great people.

Wouldn't that have been fun to see?  

I wish I had a picture of a young Della Davis. . .

. . . too busy to even breathe

Della and Harker Davis (center)
50th Wedding Anniversary
30 October 1939

Lou Butler is 3rd from right in the third row (just in front of the window)

I hope you can enlarge the picture on your screen 

to Della and Harker Davis

from Lorena Arnold Shockley (Harker's half-sister)

1 January 1940

I surely am proud of the picture you sent me, and for an outdoor picture of a group it is extremely clear and nice.  I always thought you had a lovely family and then too, I think it almost more wonderful to raise so many to maturity and to still be here to rejoice in your golden wedding, than the Golden Wedding itself and that is something to be proud of.  I think it is marvelous to be spared to each other for the full 50 years and then to have never lost but the one child is quite as rare.

I intended to write and congratulate you on your Golden Wedding Anniversary but right then we were too busy to even breathe except that it was natural and necessary.  I had a bunch of beet toppers and potato pickers to board - from 10 to 17 for five weeks and while they were here we were extra busy - maybe you can imagine.  I did enjoy it even if it was a lot of hard work for us.  Then after they left we were behind with some of our other work and the letter was just put off from day to day.  I had that present wrapped and ready 3 or 4 days before we got it mailed.  Please do not think hard that I did not write.

With love, Most sincerely, your sister 

 

All washed up

Canyon Picnie - Spring, 1967
Don is 2nd from left on front bench

to Mom and Dad

from Don - a new BYU freshman

18 September 1967

 Yesterday Steve and I washed all of our dirty clothes.  It was much easier than I thought it would be, and I don't think it will be a problem at all.

9 February 1968

Friday afternoon I washed my clothes and studied health at the same time.  This was fine except for the fact that I forgot to use soap.  It took me about four hours to wash that particular day.

Does this look like a guy who could get confused about laundry?

57 years later

This letter was stuck between the pages of the memory book from Jess and Mable's 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.  It must have come as quite a surprise to them.

to Jess and Mable Butler

from Almee Sires Johnston, Mable's former school teacher

 February 2, 1972

Mable with younger siblings - circa 1916-17

"Dear Mable and Jesse,

"Do you remember Almee Sires who was the teacher in the Intermediate Room at the Haswell School in 1915-16?  Well, I am she, and we read in the Pueblo paper of your 50th anniversary on Feb. 5th so wanted to send congratulations and good wishes for many more happy anniversaries.  

"A good many years have passed since that year at Haswell, when you, Lemmie and Garnons were in that room.  While teaching in Haswell I was invited to stay overnight in your home.  It was winter time, and I was shown the meat room - meat stored on shelves around the room.  I have never seen so much meat in a private home and such good looking meat.  At that time it was a common practice to stay overnight one night, during the school term in the homes of the pupils.  You had a nice, congenial home in which to live.

"Many changes have taken place since you were here, and new people live in and around Haswell.  

"I wish all teachers could have had as nice pupils as I had!!"

Post script:

A Google search for "Almee Sires" brought this interesting result:

Appleton City Journal

Appleton City, MO

11 April 1913

 J.A. Sires and family, who for a number of years have been residents of this portion of St. Clair County, left last Tuesday for Haswell, Colorado, where they anticipate making their future home. Their daughter, Miss Almee Sires, who is teaching the Prairie Home School near Monegaw Springs, will finish her term of school before joining the family in Colorado. (Osceola Republic)

Appleton City Journal

Appleton City, MO

16 April 1914

Prairie Home:

A party was given at home of L.A. Morris on last Saturday night in honor of Miss Almee Sires who leaves for the Western countries this week. Quite a crowd was present and all had a nice time and plenty of good music was rendered.

 *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Last Friday, April 3rd, was the last day of school. Had it not been for shortage of funds, school would not have closed until April 17th. 

Miss Almee Sires has been teacher here for the last three terms, her first and last terms taught in Missouri. She anticipates leaving for Haswell, Colo., soon for her parental home. Her parents moved to above named place last December. She will be greatly missed by Missouri friends as well as Prairie Home pupils. We can gladly say she has reached with much success during the three terms.

They, teacher and pupils, were planning for an entertainment on the night of the 17th, but on receiving the sudden word that on account of shortage of money school would be two weeks shorter the program then was sadly put aside. Consequently a "'Big Dinner"' was planned by patrons instead. In which every one of whom were present of such an eventful occasion to partake of the many delicacies - dishes too numerous to mention, did ample justice to all. They presented her with a quilt made by friends and pupils of the district, with name of each on block. The pupils also gave her a beautiful locket. They felt as though they could not do too much to show her how much they have appreciated her genial and liberal kindness shown during the three successful terms.

It is regretted to the utmost her leaving the State of Missouri entirely. However, such being the case, we will all join in extending our sincere wishes to her in getting along just as nicely in her future western school teaching as her past.

She not only has the name of being the kind of a teacher any school would be glad to have as an example before their children, but also is a perfect lady, with her mild, sweet disposition.

"'One Who Knows"'

She was obviously a well loved teacher.  
I would love to have talked to Grandma Mable about her.

It gets a little bit wild around here . . .

to the family

from Mom (Leona)

August, 1978

Kari, Jamie Ann, Kristi - September 1978

I just finished a two week stint of taking care of Jamie Ann, followed by a two week period of taking care of Kristi and Kari.  During this time we had Tommy, Chuckie, Jeremy, and Amy several times for two day periods.  It gets a little bit wild around here, but it's fun.  I usually look a bit haggard and wonder if this can really be vacation.  

Jeremy and Jamie Ann - Spring 1978

One morning I had Jamie, Jeremy and Amy all by myself.  I took Jamie out of her bed and bathed her, and then let her play while I got Amy up and bathed her.  Then I put Amy in the crib with a toy while I gave Jeremy a bath.  About that time Jamie got in my lipstick and put it around her mouth like a little clown.  It must have been hard work, because she broke a brand new lipstick in three parts.  At that same time Amy decided she had been good long enough and started yelling.  I couldn't leave Jeremy alone in the bathtub, because he kept standing up.  I was happy to see Uncle Don [Carpenter] come in the door.  Between the two of us, we managed to get all three babies ready for the day.

Jamie Ann- 1978

 Jamie does exactly what she sees us do.  She got her mother's eye make up and put it only around her eyes.  She looked so funny!  She managed to get Dad's paint brush when we were out of the room.  She only painted on the walls where her grandfather had painted.  She had big blobs of paint on two walls where she had dipped the brush in the paint and painted the same spot many times.  She got hold of the window cleaner and sprayed my clean sliding glass door just as she had seen Cordy clean the windows.  We have to be pretty careful of what we do in front of Jamie.  We have to be even more careful of where we put things and how long we leave her when she is quiet.

Jeremy, 21 months - Amy, 9 months (early 1979)

That Jeremy is a darling little baby.  He wants to do everything the big boys do.  He really figures out how to get what he wants.  He never makes the same attempt on something more than once or twice; he always tries something else.  I feel like I have done a day's work when I take care of him for a couple of hours.  He adores Amy, and he is very gentle and careful around her.  He hits anybody else if he doesn't like what they do, but he kisses Amy all the time.  I don't know how a child that age can realize that another child is his baby and show such unselfish love for her.  The only time he hits her is when he tries several times to put a little toy in her hand and she doesn't take it.  He loses patience!

Aren't grandkids wonderful!

" . . . grateful for what we have"

This letter was written over 25 years ago but sure sounds familiar.

to Don, Lynn, and family

from Dad (Lou)

October 13, 1983

Lou canning in the kitchen at 39 Meadowbrook - 1983

"We really feel like we have been blessed to have all four of you boys working hard in the Church and all employed in these very difficult times.  The "Today Show" has been running a series on the "new poor" for the last week or so.  It showed and interviewed many people who are now living on the streets, in cars, parks, etc.  Also showed people who are now getting their food from the trash dumpsters behind the stores (and being run off by store employees), gleaning in the fields this fall for all left over crops, soup kitchens being overwhelmed by the numbers of people, and church groups and clubs trying to help, etc.

"So, this helps us to be especially grateful for what we have.  Speaking of what we have - Mother and I have canned lots of tomatoes, apples, peaches and pears this fall and should have canned a lot more, but at least we got started.

"We bought a neat gadget to make juice from tomatoes, grapes, etc and to make apple butter.  We also bought a steam canner which is a lot easier.  We made a lot of jelly and jam also.  You know how much I like them!  We should have plenty for fall this year without buying any."

And this is what Leona did following the canning!

Corresponding with the past

In the process of sorting this week - yes, I still have a bookcase that is almost full of notebooks - I came across a collection of letters written to and from Lou.  None of them was particularly remarkable, and it was a hodgepodge group of authors and dates.  Most of them contained nothing more than a summary of daily activities, highlights of trips taken, or thanks for a gift received, but I was drawn to them in spite of, or maybe because of, their ordinary contents.

A hand written letter is becoming a memory of the past.  In this era of email, instant messages, webcams, and cell phones with unlimited minutes, the idea of writing ones thoughts on paper and mailing it to another person is all but obsolete.  But letters offer an insight to family history that is different from more formal writings.  Sharing routine details about daily life, personal letters allow us to vicariously experience life in a different time and place.  It's hard to imagine a time when a radio would have been an exciting purchase, but it 1941 it was certainly newsworthy.

"Did I ever write and tell you we traded in our old Radio and paid in the money Harker gave me on a new R.C.A. Victor?  Well I did and we do enjoy it so much and it makes a nice remembrance of him, too.  He said what was left to use for something for myself and the children that were home and we decided we would rather have a radio than anything else for our old one was completely worn out and we enjoy a radio so much.  I wanted you to know what we used it for."

 to Mable and family

from Aunt Lorena (Harker's half sister)

January 5, 1941

I've posted before about the Davis family Round Robin letters and recently got this information from Donna Mae Bagby (Lou's cousin) about its origin.

"You asked when the Robin was started.  Uncle Norman started it in the l940's sometime to go to his brothers and sisters (13 of them).  It has gotten lost quite a few times and we have had to restart it but hopefully it will continue.  All of the siblings are gone now so is a cousins' round robin and many, like you had not read it until after their parent passed away so is quite new to many but thankful so many are interested and willing to keep it going.  Thanks to my mother - she laboriously typed off the letters on a manual typewriter starting with Don and My marriage in 1951 and I have all those copies and am trying to get them bound in booklets for our daughter Pamela who will keep them."

So this year I'm going to focus on letters, posting excerpts from Lou's large collection.  His grandparents, brothers, sons, and other assorted family members are represented in the letters, and I'm hoping we can get a glimpse into history as well as the not so distant past.