HENRY MAGNUS BOHNE death

age unknown

Died: 8 May 1957 Cardston, Alberta, Canada

Buried: 11 May 1957 Aetna, Alberta, Canada

Cardston News 16 May 1957

My mother's maternal grandfather died a couple years after I was born. His funeral was announced alongside another Cardston resident in the weekly 'Cardston News' after their funerals. Also in the same section of print we see his daughter and her husband, Magnus [and LuRay] Jensen from Hartley; my mother [a granddaughter], Mrs. Garth Forsyth; and his son, Hugh [and Zelma] Bohne from Lethbridge. 

Mary Hudson was the widow of Harold Hopkinson.

Her name is reported incorrectly in this article.

His biography and obituary were also published in the same 'Cardston News'. These news articles tell the names of many family members and friends. My father tells me that Mrs. Verona Merkley is in fact Veronica Merkley wife of Cal Merkley and that she taught dad Sunday School.

Whispering Hope  lyrics and music link below

The Teacher’s Work Is Done unknown lyrics/tune

 Hymn 142  Desert Sunday School Songs 1909

The grave of Henry Magnus Bohne lies between the graves
of his first wife, left-Laura Elizabeth Carpenter,
and second wife, right-Mary Hudson Hopkinson

I visited the Aetna cemetery in the late spring just after the flooding a few years ago. Many graves had heaved or sunk. Some had deeply hollowed pits 4 feet or more deep. My father and mother visit the family graves there regularly and help make sure the stones are set properly and not tipping. My father has often filled and smoothed graves or straightened monuments that needed to be leveled.

When my mother visited these graves with Aunt LuRay and the inscriptions were becoming illegible an inexpensive solution was suggested and implemented. Mother (at that time physically healthy and able) returned with her art supplies and carefully hand lettered in the shallow existing groove (with a brush) the names and dates in black paint. I remember helping take Aunt LuRay back to her father's grave to see the completed project.

Aunt LuRay lived in Cardston, near enough to visit her parent's graves when she wished. She was always pleased to know another generation was visiting ancestors last resting places. I heard my mother tell her mother about the graves and their condition several times. Grandmother, Elna Campbell [1909-2003], and her sister LuRay [1905-2001]were the last two living sibings. Grandma lived a bit further away in Hillspring and was not often able to make such trips.

When I ordered Great Grandfather's death certificate 50 years had not elapsed since his death and so on the photo copy I was sent (from the provincial archives) the cause of death had been 'blacked out' with a heavy marker. One day when I was sitting in the sunshine working on family history the light shone through the back of the certificate and I could read what had been written. It said the cause of death was, a) 'Hypo Static Pressure' 10 days [duration], b) 'Perforated bladder' 10 days [duration], c) Congestive Heart Failure 1 month [duration].

Whispering Hope 

Soft As The Voice Of An Angel
Breathing A Lesson Unheard
Hope With A Gentle Persuasion
Whispers Her Comforting Word

Wait Till The Darkness Is Over
Wait Till The Tempest Is Done
Hope For The Sunshine Tomorrow
After The Shower Is Gone

Chorus:
Whispering Hope, O How Welcome Thy Voice
Making My Heart In Its Sorrow Rejoice

Hope Has An Anchor So Steadfast
Rends The Dark Veil For The Soul
Wither The Master Has Entered
Robbing The Grave Of Its Goal

Come Then O Come Glad Fruition
Come To My Sad Weary Soul
Come Thou O Blessed Hope Of Glory
Never O Never Depart

CRUSTS OF BREAD

My mother baked 10 loaves of bread 3 or 4 times a week.
She raised 11 children. We ate a lot of bread.

photo courtesy of my daughter Kimber
she bakes a lot of bread for her family 

How many loaves do you think it would take to make 12 lunches most mornings (for dad and school)? And then give each of those lunch-eaters a 'snack' when they get home from school!

I love hot fresh homemade bread.
Let me rephrase ... I love homemade bread.
Being hot and fresh just makes it more edible.

By choice I would eat the crust in preference to the soft center. Many of my siblings feel the same way - too bad there are only 2 'heels' when so many vie for them. Mother taught us to share ... and take turns having the crusts at the ends of the loaves. I think she liked the middles - at least she sure gave her share away often enough ...

One way to share was to cut the crust in half; instead of one individual getting a large slice, two got a smaller piece. Another way to share was to 'gift' your part to someone. Mom instructed all of us about  the nobility of such an action - the giving of your piece (or turn for a piece) to someone else.

My spouse loves the soft, inner part of hot fresh bread. He prefers it to the crust. He likes crusts too, but when push comes to shove he chooses the inside. He has no contenders. I gladly 'sacrifice' and eat the crusts. If I insisted on sharing my crusts of bread he would be the one making the sacrifice.

I have one sibling that felt picked on if she was forced to have a turn eating the crusts. She never had to take her turn - she had lots of volunteers to pick from that were willing to trade. The real problem was only who she picked to 'exchange' her turn with and how often. Conversely another sibling only ate the middle after it was cooled a bit. He likewise never had any difficulty trading.

If I gave you the crust, would it be kind or mean? I most certainly would ask you which you want. I would be hoping you wanted the middle slices. At my grandmother's funeral some Uncles told about getting in trouble with their mom for opening the oven and pulling off the outside crust of the bread as it was baking.

Maybe a preference for crusts is genetic. I don't care for the soft inner center of the bread until it has completely cooled.

Bread from the store isn't quite the same. It is never warm and the crust is not very crusty ... usually more spongy. So in some homes it is the last slice eaten. I choose to eat it first.  It is at least as good as the other bread and I don't object. If you want to eat it I will gladly let you, however.

Is that a favor to you?
Or is it a sacrifice for me?

I asked my spouse that.
He waffled. He guessed it would depend our mutual desires.

He is correct, of course.
Our desires matter.

Desire motivates and inspires us to act - to love and hate; to share or shrug; to kindness or anger; to tact or cruelty; to laugh or cry at what we see, hear and feel; and especially to start or stop, endure or abandon, embrace or exclude given courses of action.

I think our perception matters as much, or perhaps even more, than our desire - if we think we 'have' to eat the crust or 'get' to enjoy it. If we feel we 'have' to share it or 'get' to give it.

How many other circumstances are like crusts of bread?
In what ways do I feel 'compelled'?
In what ways can I 'choose' to act?

Can I give you the benefit of a doubt? Can I believe you want to share the crust with me or do I think you are selfishly withholding it from me. Can I believe you intentionally sacrifice for my benefit when you give me the soft center because you perceive it as the best and most wonderful part? or do I think you are selfishly hogging the crust?

Can you believe that I ask if you prefer the crust or the middle not because I want the best part for myself but because I don't mind sharing?

And can you forgive me for sharing my 'crust of bread' - when you like the soft middle? And can you understand that sometimes I may only have crusts to offer?

Want to share a loaf with me?
It is all delicious!

TWO PETITIONS - BOTH NEED SIGNATURES

Preserve Marriage Washington

Washington Referendum 74 (R-74) 

signatures must be submitted by JUNE 6, 2012;
--
UPDATE:  These petitions need to be in by 31 of May so that there is time to tabulate etc and get them where they need to be BY June 6.

Protect Marriage Washington

Initiative I-1192

signatures must be submitted by JULY 6, 2012;

We, my husband and I, recently signed a petition to help maintain laws that preserve marriage as a relationship between 1 man and 1 woman by overturning the present governor's, (she who shall not be named) Marriage Equality LAW. 

We sought out a petition against the new law and signed it.
We patted ourselves on the back a little too soon.
Why is there always another wrinkle?
I suppose I should have realized it was too simple!

Yesterday we discovered there are two groups working towards the same outcome that do not seem to be associated with each other. For more details click links throughout this blog and read on ...  

At first we were confused ... are there two? [yes] had we signed both by signing one? [no] do both need to be signed? [yes]

There are other blogs and many other websites. Type in any of the titles or numbers to find your own links. I hope some of them help you learn more about these vital processes; opinions and responsiblities. 

I share below the reply to my husband from PROTECT MARRIAGE WA explaining the difference between the two:

Dear David,

Thank you for your inquiry. While we cannot speak for the R-74 people, basic marketing affirms that 2 are better than one. Having two similar items can actually build more interest as long as those in leadership support both. The synergy of two items can benefit both. We are actively supporting both petitions, R-74 and I-1192. Here is a brief [emphasis mine] explanation of the two pieces of legislation:

R-74 would allow us to vote on the same sex marriage bill that the Governor signed into law this last legislative session. When the signatures are gathered, the measure would be put on the ballot and we would vote to reject the legislation.R-74 is extremely important as it stops the same sex marriage bill until we have a chance to vote on it. If we do not get the signatures to get it on the ballot, we will have gay marriage in June.

 I-1192 strengthens the definition of marriage. It defines marriage as between one man and one woman and precludes everything else. The law previously has the definition as between a male and a female, which, unfortunately, in our present society is not a clear enough interpretation and we need language that specificl applies to human beings. Even if we did not have to fight the same sex marriage bill, we need the changes in I-1192. It also serves as a safety net should there be legal challenges to R-74 when it is passed.

Here are some differences between the two petitions:

First, Initiative 1192 was filed before the Governor signed the gay marriage bill into law... while the Referendum 74 had to wait to be filed until the gay marriage bill was signed.  Initiatives attempt to establish "new law", while referendums can only challenge existing laws. 

Second, both Initiative 1192 and Referendum 74 serve respective purposes.  1192 both strengthens our existing State Law as well as creates "new law" with the clarification in the language that will prevent gay marriage from being legal.  Ref. 74 challenges the same-sex marriage law with the intent to overturn it.  Ref. 74 also has the ability to suspend the gay marriage law (which is supposed to go into effect in June) until the voters have a chance to voice their positions in November.

Third, the language in Initiative 1192 has "positive verbiage"... in other words, it is clear to the reader that they are supporting (voting yes for) marriage to be between one man and one woman (based literally on the biblical model in Leviticus 18).  The language in Ref. 74, by law, must contain the wording from the gay marriage bill and will have "reject verbiage" in its description... for example, Ref. 74 might say something like "reject marriage equality and reject exemptions for religious institutions". 

In each case... we must clarify for voters that they simply need to remember to "VOTE TWICE for MARRIAGE" when they see 1192 and 74 on the November ballot.  Yes for I-1192 and Reject (R) for R-74

I-1192 was written by a lawyer and reviewed by the legal staff of several ministries and organizations. It was reviewed by the Secretary of State and met the requirements of Washington State before it could be distributed.

As soon as the R-74's were available, have had them at all of our events and encouraged everyone to sign both.

Fourth, the deadline for 1192 signatures is July 6th... the deadline for Ref. 74 is June 6th.

If you need any more information or would like copies of I-1192 or R-74,or if you need more information,  please feel free to contact us.


-Protect Marriage Washington

We will let you know if we learn anything new.
Watch for updates.

And please share any important information you know.

JOSEPH ARNOLD and JENETTE AMELIA AMES nee AUSTIN marriage and family

Joseph Arnold Ames
Jenette Amelia Austin

Married: 1 May 1882
Trenton, Cache, Utah, USA

Sealed: 9 November 1882
Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah

Joseph Arnold Ames family with all 9 living children. 

Circa 1904, William Henry Ames (Papa's grandfather)

 is on the back row at the far right.

Picture from Baron Family Web page - contacts not functioning

Papa's paternal great grandparents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -[referred to herein as 'the church'] . They believed that life began before their existence on earth and will continue after their existence here.

Their parents, (Clark and Frances Ames, and William and Agnes Austin) and some of their grandparents, experienced the rigors of pioneer travel and settlement as they moved west and established homes and communities.

These people also believed that God, as a loving father, provided a way for all of his children to obtain and have genuine happiness as part of everlasting existence and that every person may have all the joy/happiness that they sincerely desire. Their core beliefs helped them accept and endure many privations and sacrifices as they were asked to help colonize new areas several times.

Assignments often included moving their families and beginning to build again in another frontier area. They were also expected to be at peace and work with the people that might already be in those areas, including the nomadic Indians that might be friendly or hostile.

The 1860 Utah US census, page 222, shows several Ames families (including Joseph's father and grandfather) living in Brigham, Cache, Utah. A few pages later on page 245 we see William Austin and his family in the same place.

The 1870 Utah US census shows both families have moved but are in the same general area. Joseph is with his parent's and 7 siblings at Portage, Utah as described in a short biographical sketch below, and Jeannett Amelia with her parent's, 4 siblings and a house keeper with the same surname, is at Bloomington, Rich, Utah Territory (now partly Bear Lake County, Idaho). See map below.

Some descendants from the Baron family share a short history online that tells us a bit more about the family, [From the Salt Lake area the Clark Carter Ames family moved into the southern Utah 'Blue Grass Country', and from there to Portage, which was in northern Utah.] "He lived there for nine years. Each year they planted crops but were unable to harvest them, except for two years, because the grasshoppers and crickets were so thick. They dug trenches and filled them up with dry straw or weeds to make a sleeping place for the insects, then got up real early and burned them and killed many of the insects.

"[Joseph Arnold Ames] met his future wife, Jennet Amelia Austin while living there as her parents lived at Trenton just a few miles away [about 20 miles southeast] ." 

In 1880 Joseph, age 22, lived with his parent's and siblings at Trenton,Cache, Utah. Note that the father's profession is a farmer and all the boys in the family have 'laborer' listed as their profession. Pioneer children shared the heavy labor of establishing homes and obtaining the necessities of life from the prairies and mountains of western America with their parents.

1880 Trenton, Cache, Utah US Federal Census

The Austin family are also at Trenton in 1880. The census taker recorded Jennett Amelia's name as Janet. Her age is given as 14 on the June Census. Her birthday later that year in October would make her 15.

1880 Trenton, Cache, Utah US Federal Census

The couple were married 2 years later. The biographical sketch mentioned above tells us, "They were married 1 May 1882, and went to the Salt Lake Endowment House and were sealed to each other 9 November 1882, traveling there by covered wagon, together with another young married couple, bent on the same mission. It took them several days to make the journey. They had two sons born to them while living at Trenton." [Joseph Austin Ames,18 April 1883 and Hyrum Clark Ames, 29 May 1885]

Latter Day Saints [LDS] believe that for their family relationships to continue after this life that their marriages and families must begin with a covenant and promises not only between the couple but also between the couple and God. Such marriages are called 'Eternal Marriages'.

Adherents of the LDS faith believe authorized representatives of God, who have proper authority, must preform these covenant marriage ordinances. This is referred to as being 'sealed' together. Usually the sacred covenants of Eternal Marriage may only be made in a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sometimes when a temple was not available some (but not all) sacred ordinances could occur in another temporarily designated place.

When Joseph Arnold Ames and Jenette Amelia Austin began their family the nearest place an Eternal Marriage could be performed was in such a temporary structure, located in Salt Lake City 100 miles from the area where they lived. It was completed in 1855 and became known as the 'Endowment House'.

Salt Lake City Endowment House circa 1880

The nearest and only temple of the church was approximately 400 miles away at St. George, Utah. It was completed in April 1877. A temple in Logan, Utah ,only about 20 miles or a days journey, was under construction but it would not be complete until May 1884 - 2 years after they married. Another temple was being built in Salt Lake City, Utah, but would not be completed for another 10 1/2 years.

Temples were built with volunteer labor and donated materials for the most part. Men were assigned shifts to work. Women and children also helped in every way possible. On 18 May 1877 as work commenced on the Logan Temple, Church President Brigham Young is reported to have told the people at the dedication of the site, "We require the brethren to go with their might and erect a temple and from the architect to the boy who carries the drinking water and the men who work on the building, we wish them to understand that wages are entirely out of the question. We are going to build a house for ourselves and we shall expect the brethren and sisters, neighborhood after neighborhood, ward after ward, to turn out their proportion of men to come here and labor as they shall be notified . . ."

Another report states, "Roughly 25,000 people worked on the Logan Temple. Rocks and timber used for the temple were hauled from the Temple Fork area of Logan Canyon. As completion of the temple neared, women in the area were asked to make carpets for the temple, since commercially made carpet could not be bought in Utah at that time. The women spent two months working to hand make two thousand square yards of carpet."

Joseph Arnold Ames, Jennett Amelia Austin and their parents and siblings lived, worked, attended (and served in) the congregations of this place and era. We can be assured that they assisted in the work of these building programs. The names of Jospeh's father and mother, Clark Carter Ames and Frances Jane Beavans are inscribed on a memorial plaque to the pioneers of Bear Lake Valley inside the tabernacle at Paris Idaho.

A Cache County history tells us, "The construction of the [Logan] temple cost approximately $608,000.00. Of this amount the Church appropriated $37,000.00 and the people in Cache Valley and northern Utah donated the remainder in cash, labor and supplies. This was a great undertaking at that time and shows what can be done by strong determination and united effort. To construct the temple it took 1,000,000 feet of lumber, 256,000 cubic feet of rock, which weighed nearly 20,000 tons; 18,000 bushels of lime for mortar for the walls, 96,000 bushels of sand and 40,000 pounds of plaster of paris. 24,000 pounds of white lead for paint, 5000 pounds of rope to build and bind scaffolding, 24,000 pounds of nails, 13,000 pounds of metal for roofing and large quantities of glass for the windows were also used.

The Logan Temple will always stand as a monument of hard labor, sacrifice and sincere devotion to a cause of the early settlers of Logan and Cache Valley. Upon entering the Valley from any point it is the first object to greet the eye. It stands out in bold relief and at certain hours of the day when the sun’s rays strike it, it has a beautiful luster about it. Hundreds of tourists and strangers have praised its location and the style of architecture. It will always be … evidence of how well the early settlers in this section builded."

Frontier travel, whether 100 miles or 400 miles, was difficult and expensive, at best, and potentially fraught with many perils and hazards. A team of horses pulling a buggy or wagon usually traveled 15-20 miles per day. Note that this young couple made the arduous 100 mile trip to Salt Lake to solommize their marriage and be sealed together for time and all eternity 6 months after they were first married. Note also that November is after seasonal work such as planting and harvest, that families absolutely must attend to for survival, is complete.

In 1995 the Presidency of the church issued a proclamation to the world regarding doctrines about marriage and family. It states succinctly beliefs taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout its history.

The proclamation says, in part:

"THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

A historical event this couple may have experienced soon after forming their family was reported thus in a special to the 10 November 1884 Deseret Evening News in Paris, Idaho:"Six distinct earthquake shocks were felt here this morning. The first, at seven minutes before two, was terrific and lasted over half a minute. Five other shocks, comparatively slight, occurred at brief intervals afterwards; the last at twenty minutes after four. The shocks were felt through the valley as far as heard from. Considerable damage to houses is reported, and some moveable articles were broken, although nothing serious occurred. People were affected as if by sea sickness. The movements of the first were severe shocks from northeast to southwest, and then a swaying motion from north to south. The others were from east to west.

The Salt Lake Tribune 13 November 1884 gave a much more flamboyant account: "This small berg and surrounding country was thrown into a fever heat of excitement by a terrible shock of earthquake. It began at 1:56 a.m. by a low, rumbling noise, accompanied by a slight trembling, sufficient to cause a rattling of windows, stoves, etc., and was followed in about 10 or 15 seconds by a most terrific shock, throwing books, dishes, etc., from their shelves and rocking houses to and fro almost akin to a vessel at sea. This was followed at exactly 2 a.m. or about four minutes after the first shock, by another shock much lighter than the first, and again at 2:53 another shock was felt, but was so slight as to be hardly noticeable.

"As the election of our President has been the all absorbing event of the world for the past week, it is quite safe to attribute this subterranean disturbance to the glaring error of the American people, but if the mere possibility of Cleveland's election should cause such a revulsion on the part of Mother Earth, what must we expect on the 4th of next March?" [The day he would take office].

Grover Cleveland's predecessor was Chester A Arthur. He took office when James A. Garfield was assassinated in the fall of 1881. A journalist Alexander McClure would later write, "No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted as Chester Alan Arthur, and no one ever retired ... more generally respected, alike by political friend and foe." He declined to serve a second term. One of the central issues in 1884 appears to have been corruption in politics.

In 1884 women had the right to vote but Jennett Amelia Ames was only 19. Utah Territory granted women that right in 1870. It was the second territory to do so (Wyoming also) and no state allowed women this right. The right was revoked by antipolyamy forces in 1887 and not won again until 1895, after much campaigning.

The new law was adopted with a constitution that would see Utah become the 45th state in the union on 5 November 1895 with a provision that "the rights of citizens of the State of Utah to vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female citizens of this state shall enjoy equally all civil, political and religious rights and privileges." They won a right granted at that time only in two states, Wyoming and Colorado. Idaho granted women this right in 1896.

Map of Pioneer Communities in Utah and Idaho 

The third child to join this young family was born in Mound Valley, Idaho. The Baron family sketch again enlightens us about the Ames family and their move to Idaho,"They then went up into Idaho where land was open to homestead. [Joseph Arnold Ames] homesteaded 160 acres in a valley which was called Mound Valley because of the many mounds made by Indian graves. He gave his father 40 acres of this land and a part of it for a school house and a church house. He also sold part of it to two brothers by the name of Bennet and retained only 40 acres of this land for his own use. He built a log house on it and there his oldest daughter [ Marcia Frances Ames] was born 2 February 1888. Seven more children were born to them while living there.

William Henry Ames, Papa's grandfather, was born in Weston, Oneida, Idaho (later Franklin County) 4 June 1890. He is the 4th child and 3rd son in his family. Our records say all of his younger siblings are born in Mound Valley: Amy Amelia Ames 17 July 1892, Leroy Ames 14 September 1894, Elmer Azel Ames 24 October 1896, Althea May Ames 27 March 1899, Ida Ione Ames 11 August 1902. Ella Lorene Ames, the youngest daughter, was born 8 October 1905 and died one year and one month later on 4 November 1906. She is buried in Mound Valley.

Draft cards for both WWI and WWII for Elmer and Leroy both state they were born in Cleveland, Idaho now a ghost town.

1 Joseph Austin Ames, 3 we think  is William Henry Ames,
6 a descendant thinks this is Marcia Ames,  
9 Joseph Arnold Ames,
10 Jennett Amelia Ames nee Austin, circa 1942

"[Joseph Arnold Ames] was active in civic matters. Being clerk of the Board of trustees for the school for many years he had the responsibility of getting the school district free of debt, hiring teachers and all things connected with the school. He was Superintendent of Sunday School for many years and always active in church duties. He had many talents superior to most.

"He was able to take a forked stick, hold it tight in his hand and locate wells for everyone in the valley. He located wells for nearly everyone for 50 miles around. By grasping the stick tightly he would walk over the land and the stick would turn toward the ground. He could tell them how deep they needed to go to find water. He was much in demand for measuring hay as he could always tell within a few pounds just where to cut for a ton of hay.

"He had a severe case of small pox and nearly lost his life at one time. He was always friendly and well liked by everyone. A traveler always could find food and a bed when they came to his door. He could talk to the Indians in their own language and they were all his friends.

Joseph Arnold Ames, left, with his son Hyrum Ames and his son 

"He was a ward teacher to the end of his days, never too busy to stop whatever he was doing to go teaching whenever he could get his companion to go. In the spring of 1919 he sold his farm and moved to Ucon, Idaho and bought 40 acres of land there. This he farmed until his health was so impaired that he couldn’t go on. He died there 6 March 1933 and was buried in Ucon, Bonneville County, Idaho, on 9 March 1933.

FRANCES ALOIS HUCKINS history

-

Born: 22 April 1875, Neponset, Bureau, Illinois
Some records say Frances is born in nearby Peoria. 

-

Father:  James William Huckins (1843-1909)
 Son of Johnathan Crawford Huckins born 1802 

     and Abigail Aldrich born 1804

-

Mother: Mary Elizabeth Middleton (1856-1909)

Daughter of James Middleton born 1804 
     and Elizabeth Hisong born 1822
-
Fannie's father was born in eastern Canada at Montreal, Quebec. This area was also frequently referred to as 'Canada' [or previously 'Lower Canada', meaning closer to the mouth of the river - distinguished from 'Upper Canada' an area further 'up' the river]. 
-
Many early immigrates to North Amercia, especially from England, France and other areas of Europe, traveled up the St. Lawrence River and through the Great Lakes along the waterway chain connecting the east-central interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean.
-
 Montreal was the furthest point  the largest vessels could reach at that time. The remainder of this 'highway', extending deeply through 2 of what became the largest Canadian provinces, connects 9 states along the US/Canada border. It was traversed in segments in smaller vessels.

Encyclopedia Britannica 2004 map showing Great Lakes and St Lawrence River

-
Wikipedia tells us, "People during the era routinely traveled huge distances, and the river was the principal route for people, supplies, arms, and commercial goods. Despite the need to portage past the Lachine Rapids, Niagara Falls, and other shallow rapids, the St. Lawrence was far easier to travel than rugged, inland routes. The importance of the St. Lawrence as the primary water route for shipping American goods westward receded with the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, thus allowing a more southerly route stretching from New York City to Lake Erie to serve settlements in the Midwest." 
-
The population of this area included many immigrants. It also included many Loyalists that fled to Canada during the American Revolutionary War, and Native Americans that were expelled from the US at that time. The War of 1812 significantly impacted the area around the Great Lakes as the US declared war on Britain (Canada was a British territory) and poorly prepared and motivated American and British forces both captured and lost disputed territories. It was a war neither side really wanted or had the means or manpower to prosecute. Britain in particular was preoccupied with Napoleon and the French.
-
Fannie's mother was born in Elkhart, Indiana. It is just east of the southern end of Lake Michigan. That area and its many resources lie between the tips of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and were commonly used by many Native American tribes well into the 1800's. 
-
From Richard Dean Taylor we learn: The village  platted as 'Elkhart' in 1832, near the convergence of 3 streams east of Lake Michigan had been 'fluidly' occupied by small Indian, trapper, and early missionary camps and settlements for centuries. It became the Town of Elkhart in 1859. Like many other river towns of the era it was situated on busy and well known trade routes with many heavily used trails and roads. Steamboat transport reached a zenith for a short few years and died out suddenly as the railroad arrived in the 1850's. "In 1850 the town had a 780 inhabitants and by 1870 2,053." Population and commercial interests expanded exponentially and in 1875 Elkhart incorporated as a city.
-
The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, that killed and injured hundreds, and destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city of Chicago was one of the largest disasters of the 19th century in the United States . As the city was rebuilt it reshaped the economy of this region.
-
Fannie's parents were married in Stuart, Guthrie, Iowa 18 June 1871 (500 miles west of Elkhart) and their first child, a son they name Burton Blanchard Huckins was born there on March 10, 1872.  The family appears to be steadily migrating west.  
-
Neponset, where Fannie was born, is a small village in Illinois (about halfway between Elkhart and Stuart) with a total area of approximately one square mile, all of it land. The community was established in 1855 when the newly completed Central Military Tract Railroad (later renamed the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad) built a station there.
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Soon afterward, the US Post Office was moved to Neponset from Brawby, a hamlet formerly located two miles north of the present village. It was named for the Massachusetts hometown of Myron Lee, the railroad's first agent at the Neponset station.
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We do not know why Fannie's birthplace is contrary to the usual pattern and westward movement we see this family experiencing and 250 miles is a long way to go 'back east' by horse and buggy or wagon. We do know that she was born at a time when Railroads were rapidly expanding. This allowed people to travel much greater distances safely in more comfort and significantly reduced the time journeys took. Did they travel by rail? We do not know. Maps of railroads do show rail travel may have been available and did radiate out from the Great Lakes region, particularly near the southern areas of Lake Michigan.
-

Possible railroads that may have been available for use.

-
We see Fannie's siblings born further and further West. Eventually 4 brothers and 3 sisters (8 children in all) join the Huckins family. The youngest is born one year before she marries.

Locations of some events in Fannie's life. 

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George Augustus Huckins 1877, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa;
Daisy D Huckins1879, Gray, Audubon, Iowa:
Cora (also called Corrie) Huckins 1881, Gray, Audubon, Iowa;
Alonzo Benjamin Harrison Huckins 1883,
       Hill City, Pennington, South Dakota;
Bertha Mabel Huckins 1885, Gray, Audubon Iowa;
Clarence Wilford Huckins 1889, Olreichs, Fall River, South Dakota.
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1880 Cameron, Audubon County, Iowa

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The 1880 census shows James and Mary Huckins living in Cameron, Audubon, Iowa with 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. It is about 12 miles west of Gray on the map above - so near that the locating tag for Gray disappears behind the tag for Cameron. Frances Alois is 5 years old. Her father is working in carpentry.

1885 Cameron, Audubon County, Iowa

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The 1885 Iowa State census for Carroll, Warren County (26 miles south of Cameron - not on map above) shows Fannie A Huckins, age 10, with her parents and sibings. The birth place for her youngest sister, Bertha  Mabel Huckins born 15 January 1885, is listed as Gray. Her father is farming and is subject to military service and entitled to vote. Women in Iowa did not have the right to vote until Congress passed an amendment in 1919. There are columns to designate if people can read and write but not even one person on this sheet is checked - perhaps the census taker did not feel it was necessary information.
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Spouse: James Andrew McNicholl

Married 6 June 1890
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In March 1910 her husband of 20 years died where they are living at Grangeville, Idaho. She is a widow at age 35. Her father died 8 months before then and on the census in June we see she is head of household in Washington State living with her daughters, 3 brothers, her mother and a nephew. 
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She remarries a gold miner named Roy Dougherty (spelling varies) that has lived in her mother's boarding house while her father was the foreman of a mine on the Lower Methow in Okanogan County Washington. They live in California and Oregon. 
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Died:17 May 1918, Weatherby, Baker, Oregon 

Buried: 1918 Malheur, Malheur, Oregon

SUNSHINE CUPCAKES

'Bunny Corn' was .25 per bag after Easter.

sort out all the broken peices - kids will love to eat them for you

I wanted to try out these sunny cupcakes.
I bought a boat load of Candy Corn - and needed it!
Well, really only half of it ... do you need some?

Too much good sweet stuff! 

I made miniature cupcakes - 1 tsp of batter per cup - from a plain yellow cake mix that was on hand begging to be used up. I split it and only mixed half at once so I could bake them in stages. I whipped 2 eggs, 1/2 plus 1/8 cup water, and 1 Tablespoon of oil together and then added that to each cake mix part (measured in halves). Half a batch made 48 mini cupcakes.

I cooked some lemon pudding/pie filling and used a decorator bag to squirt it into the centre of each cupcake. Just plunge the point of the tip into the centre and squeeze - be careful not to overfill. This gave an subtle lemon flavor to the finished product.

I iced these with a bright lemon yellow butter cream frosting - made with butter of course! I always use about 2/3 butter and 1/3 shortening. Keep it spreadable but not thin.  And don't skimp on the coloring - put in LOTS! To achieve a shiny smooth-ish surface dip a flat edged table knife of spatula in a glass of warm water and swipe it across the frosting. Allow it to set slightly but not dry before decorating. Working with 3-5 at one time seems to work.

Now came the fun part. Drop on 2 mini chocolate chips for eyes - use your imagination and keep them near the centre-ish.

Snip off a chunk of 'peel-and-pull' red licorice - approximately 1 inch - more or less, and peel it apart. Because these cupcakes were so tiny I also snipped the licorice in half lengthwise with scissors.

Pinch on piece into a 'U' and  set it below the eyes (almost touching) for the smile.  Exact position will vary and add character.

This fellow was one of the first - I learned to make the 'U' more narrow 

Make sure to start with a tight 'U' as it tends to pop wider - it will 'relax' a bit.

Finally position a few candy corn to make sunshine rays around the perimeter of the cupcake.  Be sure to keep the base of each well onto the cake. TIP:  angle tip upwards (see left centre above). This will help them to not slip and droop - that was not fun to fix - not too hard though.

I preferred the look of fewer with a slight space
between fewer candy corn

If your candy corn are drooping or slipping off put them closer to the centre and use fewer that are spaced further apart. Drooping may also mean your icing is a bit too thin or soft. If they won't stick your icing is too dry - just put a small dot under each one.

The simplest way to transport these to an event is to carry them in the pan/s they baked in.

Notice not all of them turn out perfectly smooth -
the rougher guys  were eaten just as quickly though.

These were simple, inexpensive and fairly fast to complete.

Welcome back SUNSHINE!!

NEIL SNOW FORSYTH death

My father's father, my paternal grandfather, lived in our home in Kimball Valley, Alberta for a few years prior to passing away. I remember him well. He attended many family events and was generally of good cheer and was of sound mind.

August 1972 Garth Forsyth with his father
Neil Snow Forsyth - likely at Chrystal's blessing.
Grandpa would be 93. Notice how tall they are
compared to each other. Dad is about 6' tall. 

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Grandpa Neil Snow Forsyth was fiercely independent and a hard worker. He was very strong even though he was not a large man. My father fills each minute with productive activity of some type. Once day Papa mentioned this to him. He scoffed and said, "My father could always do twice as much work as I ever could. Even when he was in his 70's he could out work me."

Neil's own history tells us, " May 24, [1964] I rented the Workman house to Barry Beamer for a year at $35 a month. I spent the next day fixing it up some. Then I did a small finishing job for Mrs. Able. It took me 4 days to finish and I asked Garth to come and pick me and my tools up on the 4^th day. He and Jean came about 4 PM and I wasn't through so Garth stopped to help me finish. Mrs. Able went out and asked Jean in, but she said she would wait in the car. She started telling Jean how fast I was and how well I had done the work. Jean asked how old she thought I was, she said about 65. Jean told her I was 85 in Aug, she was sure surprised."

When Papa and I married my father was double Papa's age. Papa worked on dad's construction crew and said Dad could work circles around him and do twice or more the work of any man he knew ... he never knew my grandfather.

August 1976 - Ruth and Neil Snow Forsyth on his 97th birthday.  

Family often met at the Kimball Park near the St. Mary's River bridge in August to celebrate Grandpa's August birthday. His children and grandchildren that could, always came. On his 97th birthday 2 cakes cut into tiny pieces didn't go very far. He passed away less than a year later. His second wife accompanied him to that reunion and celebration. He married the widow, Ruth Spencer Rassmussen, 2 years after Grandma Chloe died. They traveled extensively and attended the temples together and generally shared the aging process for about 10 years. Her birthday was on August 10th.

Grandpa had one great and pressing agenda prior to his death. He wanted every person in the family to know the reality of Jesus Christ. He wanted to be sure each one of us personally heard and knew that he knew Jesus Christ is the son of God. He wanted us to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is on earth today as it was anciently (as described in the Bible). He wanted us to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. He also especially wanted us to know that temple covenants and ordinances are for eternity - forever. He often spoke of Grandma Chloe and the 51 years they had shared. He told us these things many, many times.

age 95

My mother's sewing machine was tucked into a corner of the room that became his bedroom and living area. He was very hard of hearing but I would ask him to tell me about his life and he could sit for hours and do so. I was young and they were nice stories. I don't remember most of them.

One story I remember was about his grandmother Sally Adams. She knew Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the Prophet Joseph. She told him about her experiences with that family and that they were good and honest people. She told him personal experiences about the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon and that she knew those things were truth. She was a reliably honest person. So was he. He was known, in the little town of Cardston where he kept a grocery store and a hotel, for his honesty and integrity.

Near the last of his life my grandfather needed special nursing care my mother and father were unable to provide he so was moved into the Cardston Auxilary Hospital, a long term care facility. He had always wanted to live to be 100 years old but as the indignities of aging took their toll he began to wish he might not. Whenever possible my parents would bring him out home for a visit - at first sometimes overnight and nearer the end of his life for increasingly shorter time periods.

Neil Snow Forsyth summer of 1975 about age 96

Grandpa Forsyth did not want to have a body that needed to be cared for like a baby. His keen and independent mind often rebelled. When he died it was a relief and blessing for everyone but oh how he was missed. It was like a part of our foundations of life were missing. He was ... he was ... well, he just WAS!

Cover of funeral program

Funeral program for Neil Snow Forsyth

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Died:  17 April 1977 Cardston, Alberta, CANADA

Buried: 20 April 1977 Cardston, Alberta, CANADA
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