Leaves on the Trudgian Tree

Exploring the lives of one Trudgian family in Galena, Illinois through the eyes of their daughter, Lillian, during the years of 1913 through 1931. Lillian's authentic diary entries explore the family, neighbors, what is happening in Galena, as well as, national events and of course the weather and the crops!

Name:
Location: Portage, Michigan, United States

Since all three volumes of "Lillian's Diaries: Whispers From Galena's Past" have been transcribed and published, I am currenting working on another book about the Trudgian (Tregian/Trugeon) family. This time it will be a novel based on historical events which involve my ancestors in Cornwall in the 1400-1600's. I have just started organizing my research so it will be a year or two before you will see it in the bookstore! I have just finished leading a Genealogy Class for beginners at my church. At the end of the six session class everyone had discovered some new information about their ancestors but there was, of course, many more questions to be answered. So I started the "Whispers From Our Ancestors" blog to provide a space for us to share our genealogical joys and roadblocks. Http://seekingourpast.blogspot.com is open to everyone doing genealogy - beginners to experts and all those inbetween.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Flinch! Have you ever played it?


Saturday, January 31, 1925: It is a warm day. The warmth broke up the roads and the creeks are running. Yesterday was a very nice day also. We baked and Len & Ruby went to town in the afternoon. Mother washed a few pieces.

Thursday, Mother cut out two night dresses* and partly made them. I felt tough* that day. Wednesday was quite cold in the morning. We didn’t know what to do about coming home. Everyone thought it too cold to walk from Station. I was in a terrible way to know what to do. At last we bought tickets to Scales Mound, thought we might get a chance* home but didn’t. Then Len came up with some hogs. But I was afraid I couldn’t stand to ride in the wagon. So Mother and I went to Galena on the noon train. We didn’t know how we would get out from Galena to home but we met Aunt Annie right away. So we had a dandy chance out. We had so much time we even went up to the library. Uncle Edd brought us home.

Wednesday when we were still in Apple River we called on Emily Elbren* and Mr. Leathlain* in the afternoon. Sadie came down to invited us all up to supper so we all went. Had a fine supper. Played flinch* till after ten then had popcorn and went home.


* Night dresses are what we,today,call a woman’s nightgown.
* Tough, as Deb told us last time, means not to feel well.
* Chance means catch a ride, as in hitch hike.
* Elbren & Leathlain - I cannot find any documentation of either of these surnames
in Apple River or the Galena area, so am not sure of their actual identity.
* "Flinch is a card game, played with a custom deck, invented in 1901 by A.J. Patterson. This deck has 150 cards, consisting of ten sets numbered from one to fifteen. Some variations use a 144-card deck. It is based on "Spite and Malice". Rules of play;
• The cards are dealt face down.
• The first player turns over his top card and if it is a one it is put in the middle of the table; if it is not a one it is put face up so that everyone can see it.The second player takes his top card,and again if it is not a one it is put face up; and so forth for the rest of the players.
• The first player goes again: if his face-up card happens to be a two it can be placed in the middle, on top of the one; or, if the face-up card is either one more or one less than another player's face-up card, that card can be placed on top of the other player's card. For example, if the first player's face-up card is a seven, it can be placed on another player's six or eight. If the player is able to get rid of his face-up card in one of these ways, he turns up his next card and attempts to discard it using the same methods. He continues until he is unable to discard any more cards. Play then continues with the next player.
• Note that cards may be placed in the middle only in ascending order,starting at one and continuing to fifteen, whereas cards may be placed on other players' cards
in either ascending or descending order.
• The object of the game is to get rid of all one's cards.
• If the current player's turned-up card could be discarded, but the player fails to
notice this, other players may yell "Flinch!". Source: Wikipedia

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A Busy Week of Visiting



Monday, January 26, 1925: Aunt Mag & Mother went calling this forenoon. This afternoon Sadie came down for us to help her start to make some forget-me-not beads. Then we called on Mrs. Price. Yesterday we went to the Presbyterian Church in Apple River*. Then in the afternoon we all went up to Uncle George’s. In the evening we went to the Methodist Church*.

Saturday in the afternoon we called on Lena Fisher and heard their radio. Then we went to the store awhile. Friday, Uncle George, Aunt Lizzie, Sadie and Naomi were down in the evening.

Thursday, Len helped Butchers saw wood. We didn’t know if we should try to walk to the Station and go to Apple River that day or wait and have Len take us to Scales Mound on Friday. At last we got the car ready and Ruby and Len did some chores and then we went to Scales Mound. We went out on the five o’clock train. We surprised them, although they were looking for us for quite awhile. Uncle Henry & Helmer were up there having the car fixed. They were at the Aunts’ for supper and stayed awhile because we were there. Tillie Trevethan and two children came there also.

Wednesday, just as we were ready to eat dinner, the Atwater Kent radio man came and wanted to leave a radio on trial. But we didn’t let him do it. We felt as if we would have to buy it once it was in the house. We ironed, baked bread, coffee cake, cookies and made applesauce. We also cooked apricots and etz. Got new auto licenses. Ours is 277301. Len’s is one less.

Tuesday we washed. It had thawed quite a little. Len, Ruby & I went up to Johnny Tippet’s that evening. I took up a string of beads that I made for Ethel. (like Ruby’s.) green, white and yellow daisy beads. I got $2.75 for them. We heard the radio all that evening. Monday we all went to town in our car. The roads had thawed in some places.

Len, Ruby Mother & I went to town to church on Sunday morning. Had a temperance sermon. That evening we all went to Aunt Annie’s. Tresidders were up there also.

*[note the picture on the right above]"In the year 1858, the people gathered in the school-house to listen to the teachings of Rev. S. S. Guyer, a Methodist circuit-rider, and in the same year, a Methodist Sunday-school was organized, by T. F. Hastie, in the railroad office. This was soon transferred to the school-house. Two years after, the Methodist Church, a good frame building, was erected, costing about $2,000, and seating three hundred persons. At present, Hans Lamont is the Sabbath-school Superintendent. The church was dedicated by Rev. Peter Cartwright, a pioneer of Methodism in Illinois. The ministers in succession have been: Revs. J. Clendenning, E. B. Russell, J. M. Clendenning, J. Odgers, H. U. Rey­nolds, S. 0. Foster, T. L. Olrnsted, A. D. Field. Joseph Crummer, Joseph Caidwell, Thomas Cochrane, concluding with the present pastor, Rev. D. W. Linn." Source: http://genealogytrails.com

*[note picture on the left above] "The Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Reynard, in April, 1861, at the residence of Mr. Vroman, when Joseph C. Jellison was made elder. From this time, the association took no action until 1864, when Rev. J. W. Cunningham came, reorganized the society, and caused the church to be built. Rev. Rufus King was their first permanent minister. He was followed by Rev. G. M. Jenks, then John Cook, D. B. Gordon and E. B. Miner, who remained until 1876, since which time the church has been unable to maintain a regular pastor." Source:http://genealogytrails.com. I don't know if this church is still an active one or not.

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Something Extra II

The 52 Week Genealogy Challenge is now in it's third week and this challenge was to think about how we - you and I - are documenting our existance for the future generation of genealogists. At first I was taken back....I know I have dispaired when my ancestors haven't labeled a photo, or recorded where their home was or in the case of Lillian - especially in her later years - put her diaries somewhere safe and let those that cared about her know what treasures they are...so they wouldn't have been thrown in the garbage after her death. But what have I done? It took some thinking!

I have the usual documentation all in one place....my birth certificate, baptism certificate, diplomas from high school and colleges, marriage certificate, and I have even started planning my funeral. I have made scrapbooks of our wedding, special occasions - like my 50th birthday - and each of the girls' weddings. But that still didn't seem enough! Then I remembered 2 books I had received as gifts. 1 from our oldest daughter, Heather - entitled "The Story Of A Lifetime: (which I think she gave me 10 years ago) and the other one recently received from Tambi, our middle daughter, for Grandparents' Day, entitled " A Grandparent's Book". Both have hundreds of questions about your life - everything from your first pet to your first kiss - all your dreams and disappointments are exposed and in each is some sort of a genealogy tracing - who are my parents, grandparents, children, etc. The more I thought about these books the more I thought how wonderful it would have been if all my ancestors had kept one - and given them to me! Then I would know all the little stories that round out the statistics and make all those dates and places into a real person - with dreams and plans and loves and disappointments! So I have renewed my plan to work on these books daily and to get them back to the giver! So future generations, when you want to know my story ask Tambi or Heather for the book!

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Winter Socialization

Saturday, January 17, 1925: Raymond went up to Aunt Annie’s to go to town with Uncle Edd to go to Apple River yet on the noon train. Feel tough* today.

Friday was snowy in the forenoon. In the afternoon Raymond Dittmar came from Aunt Annie’s. He had come there Wed. We baked bread & coffee cake, two cakes and a batch drop cookies. Len, Ruby, Raymond & I went to the party at Bonhoff’s Wednesday eve. We walked over the hill. Had to put on leggings and wade thro. Quite a few were there when we got there and they kept on coming till about ten oclock. Over seventy were there and they dance & dance. So many came from Schapville way. I was rather disgusted with the whole affair. They jumped around like Indians. Of course, we had to sit or stand in a corner. Mrs. Heller, Agnes & Blanche & Mrs. Winsicker were there so we had a few to talk with. We started for home at one oclock in the morning.

Thursday, Len went to Raymond’s to help his father cut wood. He had gone to Scales Mounds first so Mother had went along up to Aunt Lizzie’s. Then she went to Mrs. Stauss’ to supper. That afternoon Ida and Loretta Fiedler came down to tell us there was going to be a party at Bonhoff’s tomorrow night. They talked as tho they (Fiedlers)were getting it up*. I had supposed it would be a dance.

Both Tuesday and Wednesday were clear and cold. Ruby made a apron. Mother ironed some. On Monday it was snowy and I sewed a little.

* What do you suppose "I feel tough" meant? I tried to research it, with no results.
* “Getting it up” means to organize or be the host of an event

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Something Extra

I am doing Thomas MacEntee's "52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge" on Facebook. Since I am co-leading a group of new genealogists I thought I would do the challenge and pass it on to the new seekers of family history as it is geared towards the new genealogist, but as Thomas says it is always possible to pick up new ideas no matter how long you have been searching for your family roots. The first two challenges were to go to your local library and the local history, archives and/or special collections section and if you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections. I must say, I was a little disappointed. I had donated Lillian's Diaries: Whispers of Galena's Past to the room, and was happy to find it there, but was unable to really figure out how the room is organized and how one interacts with it. The room was open and lit, but no one was anywhere to be found [in other libraries there have been volunteers or in some cases a librarian in the room to help]. The room is very, very tiny and works as a display area for things, like a giant wooden checst on the floor, military hats and uniforms here and there and locked display cases of books and whatnots. There is no card catalog, no directions as to usuage of books, magazines, etc. There was a small area of books on "doing" genealogy and most of the rest was on local and state history. I wonder where Lillian's Diaries will be placed once it it is moved from the Newly Added shelf.

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Monday, January 11, 2010

A Life Just Like Ours

If the dates were removed wouldn't this sound very much like our lives today? Lots of company one day and then none for weeks afterwards? The census being taken? Economic hardships for some in difficult times? Cleaning the kitchen shelves?


Sunday,January 11,1925: All but mother went to town to church in our car. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down to dinner. This afternoon Fielders came down. This evening Tresidders came up. I guess all came in one day. We won’t have any company again for a long while.

On Saturday Dad, Len, Ruby & I went to town in the afternoon in our car. A radio man came on Friday afternoon. After he was gone,the census man came. We baked.

Thursday was a nice day. Mother went up to Aunt Annie’s in the morning. Uncle Edd brought her home in the eve. She washed for Aunt Annie. In the afternoon Ruby & I went up to Clara Engel’s. They seemed glad to see us. Vivian wanted in the worst way to come home with us. I guess they have had a rather hard time getting along. Seemed to be very economical.

Len & Ruby took chickens and cream of Scales Mound on Wednesday. Mother and I cleaned the kitchen shelves that afternoon.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Another Year Begins

Tuesday,January 6, 1925 was a nice day. We ironed. Yesterday, Len, Dad & I went to town by car. We also washed. Raymond Strauss* called here in the afternoon. We got a sheep.

Sunday, Len & Ruby went out to Schapville to church in the forenoon. They didn’t come home to dinner but went to Raymond’s. That afternoon we walked to Aunt Annie’s. We had also planned on going over to Johnny’s in the evening, but Henry & Minnie Weis came there,so we didn’t go. We were thinking that maybe Len & Ruby wouldn't go up to Aunt Annie's - but they did. So we went over and heard their radio for awhile before we came home. I hadn’t heard much radio before. We heard programming from San Antonio Texas & Omaha etz.

Saturday would have been a very nice day to go to town but we didn’t have very much to do there so we didn’t go. We all went up to Aunt Annie’s in the evening as I was anxious to know how she was. She looked like she was feeling bad yet.

Friday we just baked and swept upstairs after spending Thursday - New Year's Day quietly at home. Mother came home from Aunt Annie’s that afternoon. She had staid up there all night as Aunt Annie was sick, She felt better New Year's Day but was still weak. It had been cloudy all day and snowed a little in the afternoon.

* Raymond Stauss is Len's brother, who lives in Scales Mound, IL. This is the first diary of volume II of Lillian's Diaries: Whispers of Galena's Past. There is a gap in the diaries between 1919 when the first volume ends and 1925 when the second volume will start. In these gap years, Ruby - Lillian's sister - married Leonard Stauss and they are now living in the Trudgian homestead.

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Wishing You a Happy New Year

1926 has drawn to an end in Lillian's time. I hope that you have enjoyed reading her words about life in 1926. I would welcome your feedback on how the entries have been presented and the level of interest you think this format will generate. I am still transcribing the entries exactly as she has written them for the next volume of "Lillian's Diaries" which WILL BE PUBLISHED IN 2010 but can easily make the common corrections that I have made in the blog format. Please either leave your comments on the blog or email me at joneslinks@charter.net.

I will continue making entries, This time going back a year and presenting 1925 in the next blog entry.

So finishing out 1926 for Lillian; Friday, December 31, 1926: Busy today making bread, saffron cake, a cake and pies. Len went to town by car with feed to grind. The roads were quite good. I got Len to ask the Aunts and Uncles to come down tomorrow. They haven’t been down for a long time and the roads are good. The last day of nineteen twenty-six.

Thursday was a lovly day. Len went out to Schapville to get a stock hog that W. Wulff brought. We ironed and made cookies. I felt some better today and Dad seemed some better also. He was just a trifle better on Wednesday which was a nice clear day. Mother had walked up to the Aunts’ that afternoon, but they were down to Martha’s and just Dan was home so Mother didn’t stay long. Uncles Edd & Dan came down that evening and we had baked bread.

We all got up very late on Tuesday. After Dad ate his dinner he felt sick and vomited all afternoon. John had wanted us to come down there to hear the radio in the evening. So Mother staid home with Dad and Len, Ruby, & I went down. We heard most of a good sermon, singing & etz. Dad had felt very poorly all day Monday. In truth he felt almost too weak to sit up much. He has been poorly for quite awhile now and is very thin.

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