A HISTORY OF THE LEWIS HENRY BARNES FAMILY

Prominent Early Settlers of Hope Township
By Elizabeth (Libbie) Barnes DeBack

(Born April 1, 1873)
Lewis Henry Barnes, son of Minor and Emily Barnes, was born in Massachusetts(December 2, 1834) and moved to Connecticut, then to Long Island wherehe attended school in New York City, graduating in a class of 800 withhighest honors at the age of 16.

Shortly after graduating, he came with his parents to Michigan wherethey settled in Hope Township, which is now the Village of Cloverdale. Two of the houses still there at this time are the brick house just offM-43 now owned by Kenneth Reed, and the parsonage.

Lewis taught several terms of school, one being at the former SpragueSchool.

He was a carpenter by trade, a trade which he worked at during thesummer terms.  One of the houses which he built is now owned by CharlesJames, 2nd house north of Prairieville on the right side of the road.

Lewis was a soldier during the Civil War and was on picket duty inWashington DC the night Lincoln was shot.

He met his future wife (Christie McCallum, born Oct. 3, 1839) whileteaching, she being one of his pupils.  They were later married (Sept.12, 1861) and went to Cloverdale to live.  Seven children were bornthere.

They moved to Nickerson, Kansas, in 1876 where they took up severalhundred acres of land in order to keep the family together.  The father(Lewis) going ahead taking up the land and building a house.  Later,the mother (Christie) came by train bringing the seven children. One son was born at Nickerson in 1877 (John Malcolm).  After threeyears, the family were stricken with malaria fever.  Three of thefamily passed away, the mother, Albert, and Isabel.  (The Barnes familyis buried at the Fairview Methodist Cemetery, not at the Nickerson Cemeterycalled Wildmead .The cemetery is located 8 miles west of the Arkansas RiverBridge on old Highway # 50. At present time the church and cemetery areactive. This information is from the book Cemetery Records of Reno CountyKansas 1865-1978.)

Soon after that, the family moved back to Michigan at which timethe family were separated.  Frank and Alexander going to live withan Uncle, Alex McCallum, Ray and John to another uncle, John McCallum. Later, the youngest son, John, made his home with Daniel Thompson. The two girls, Elizabeth and Emily went to live with an uncle, MalcolmMcCallum.

Later, Lewis was married to Amanda Hayes (1882).  One daughterwas born, Florence McCrumb of Kalamazoo.

Alexander married Rose Leonard of Pellston, Mich. (no children). Ray married Fern Osgood (no children).  Frank married Metta (Mary)Pope of Hickory Corners and had one daughter (Laura).  Elizabeth marriedIsaac DeBack (1854-1944), had one daughter, Christie, who married ClintonCastle.  Clinton Castle was born on January 1, 1889 in Jackson, Michigan. Christie and Clinton had one daughter, Norma, in 1910.  Christie diedat age 24.  In 1930, Clinton married Elva Botsford (age 32) from Illinois.(Note:  Jean Goodrich Javidi is in possession of a journal writtenin 1880 written by E.A. Botsford, probably Elva’s father.  The journalis entitled “Wanderings in the Far West” which chronicles his journey fromthe north woods of Michigan to the far West and back).  Norma marriedRobert Cline and lived on the old DeBack farm at 7475 S. Norris Rd., Delton,MI.  Norma and Bob did not have children.  Emily married CharlesCollins of Prairieville, Mich., had 3 daughters, Mildred Christy of Parchment,Mich., Bernice Pennell of Kalamazoo, and Dorothy Righter of Parchment,Mich.  John married Mollie (Mabel) Payne of Cloverdale and had 2 daughters,Wildah and Marjorie.

 fter Lewis remarried, they moved from Gobels back to Hope Township,near the Mill Creek (Glass Creek), just east of McCallum school. After a few years here they moved to Cloverdale where he resided untilhis death.  The last few years were spent with his daughter ElizabethDeBack (the DeBack farm was at 7475 S. Norris Rd., near Prairieville). His death occurred on July 23, 1917.

While in the West (Kansas), many hardships were encountered. Fuel for the cookstove was corn and cornstalks, the children gathered driedbuffalo chips from the prairie for fuel.  Coal could be purchased,but was very expensive.

The following are excerpts from letters written by the family whilein Kansas to the relatives in Michigan:

(This is where Libbie’s narrative ends.  The letters were inthe possession of her granddaughter, Norma Cline, but were lost. When Libbie was very old, Norma and her husband Bob took her back to Nickerson,Kansas.  It was a wonderful visit for Libbie.  She was able tolocate their old homestead, met up with old friends, and found her mother’sgrave.)

 Robert Cline, who was married to Lewis and Christie’s greatgranddaughter, Norma Castle Cline, had this to say about Lewis and Christiemoving to Kansas:  “They had no business moving to Kansas.  He(Lewis) wasn’t a farmer.  He was a carpenter.  But his wife (Christie)talked him in to moving, so they’d get free land.  They didn’t haveanything.  In one of their letters home they talked about having $10to last them through the first winter.  Then they got sick from drinkingthe water and 3 of them died.”

 From 1870 Census, Hope Township, Barry County, Michigan (Sep 8, 1870, page 11 – Roll 661 p. 162)  Note:  This continuedonto another page, but it could not be accessed via the Web.
 

LEWIS HENRY BARNES AND CHRISTIE McCALLUM BARNES

By Marjorie Barnes Goodrich (1916-1985) and Jean Goodrich Javidi(1951-       )

Lewis Henry Barnes, son of Minor and Emily Barnes, and Christie McCallum,daughter of Donald and Isabella McCallum, were married on September 12,1861.  They lived in Barry County, Michigan.  Their son Benjamin(Frank) was already born and Christie was pregnant with their daughterIsabella, when Lewis joined the 13th Independent Battery, Michigan Light Artillery and fought in the Civil War.  Lewis was a Privatein the army and returned home around July 1, 1865.   After hereturned to Cloverdale, Albert, Alexander (Alex), Elizabeth (Libbie), Emilyand Ray were born.

In the mid-1870’s, the young family set out on a hopeful adventurethat was to end in sadness.  The railroad companies, promoting settlements,encouraged easterners to come west and take advantage of the land availablethrough the Homestead Act.  Perhaps hard times encouraged Lewis andChristie to leave their home in Michigan and start a new life, but it mayhave been the lure of free land that sent them to Kansas.  They settledin Nickerson in Reno County, a stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa FeRailroad.  At this time, Kansas had just recovered from a severe droughtand a two-year grasshopper plague.  But things were looking betterfor the farmers.  It is likely that the Barnes family grew wheat andcorn as cash crops.  While homesteading, Lewis and Christie’s lastchild, John Malcolm was born in 1877.

Pioneer life was difficult at best.  Settlers were often plaguedwith loneliness, poor sanitary conditions and the caprices of nature. But those who worked hard rewarded themselves with occasional leisure. Although Nickerson was located on a cattle route, settlers did not associatethemselves with the cattle drivers and spent their leisure time socializingwith friends, attending quilting bees, barn raisings and dances, and goingto church.

It is not known whether the Barnes family succeeded in their farmingexperiment, but it is known that their stay in Kansas was cut short bydeath.  Unaware of the causes and prevention of disease, the familybecame victims of what was simply called “bad water” (probably malaria). On September 10, 1879, fifteen year-old Isabella died. John later describedthat she lay down saying she didn’t feel well and died.  Likely, thedeath process was slower than John described, because a neighbor had givenher an apple, which she held in her hand until she died.  The apple,a precious memento to the family, was preserved and is, as of 1989 stillin the possession of Norma Cline of Delton, Michigan.  (Norma wouldhave been Isabella’s great-niece).  Isabella’s death was followedby her thirteen year-old brother Albert’s death on November 3, and thenby her mother Christie’s death on November 12.  (Christie, Isabellaand Albert are buried at Fairview Cemetery, Hutchinson, KS)

Without a wife, Lewis was unable to maintain his homestead and carefor his family and so he and his remaining children returned to Michiganwhere he placed his children in foster homes.

In 1882, Lewis married Amanda Hayes and had a daughter Florence byher.   Lewis worked as a carpenter, barn and house builder, andviolin-maker.  He made his last violin as an old man.  This violinwas of an angular geometric shape.  Lewis’ hope was to improve thesound of the violin while making it of a simpler design.  (The violinis now owned by Jeffrey Goodrich, Lewis’ great grandson, of Swartz Creek,Michigan).  Another violin made by Lewis is owned by his great granddaughter,Norma Castle Cline.  Lewis also made doll furniture in the 1870’sfor his daughter, Isabella, and again around 1910 for his great granddaughter,Norma Castle Cline.  The doll furniture is in now in the Bernard Museum,Delton, Michigan.  Jean Goodrich Javidi (Lewis’ great granddaughter)owns a drop leaf table and fern stand made by Lewis in the late 1800’s.

Lewis and Amanda lived in the Cloverdale area and Lewis became postmasterthere from June 6, 1892 until August 1, 1893.  Amanda died in 1893and Lewis did not remarry.

Lewis died in 1917 at age of 83 and is buried in the PrairievilleCemetery, Prairieville, MI.

Information about Lewis Henry Barnes Civil War Duty
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.htm  (National ParksService. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System)

Union Army Michigan Volunteers

13th Independent Battery, Michigan Light Artillery

Organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., and mustered in January 20, 1864. Left state for Washington DC February 3.  Attached to Camp Barry,Defenses of Washington DC, 22nd Army Corps, to May, 1864.  1st Brigade,Hardin’s Division, Defenses North of the Potomac, 22nd Army Corps, to July,1864.  Fort Foote, Defenses North of the Potomac, 22nd Army Corps,to October 1864.  1st Brigade, Hardin’s Division, 22nd Army Corps,to June, 1865.

SERVICE:  Duty at Camp Barry, Defenses of Washington DC, untilMay 14, 1864, and Fort Stevens during July.  Repulse of Early’s attackon Fort Stevens and the Northern Defenses of Washington July 11-12. Duty at Fort Foote until October and at Fort Sumner until December. Garrison Fort Reno until February, 1865.  Battery mounted and patrolduty in Maryland until June, headquarters of the Battery remaining at FortReno.  Dismounted June 15 and ordered to Jackson, Mich.  Musteredout July 1, 1865.

Battery lost during service:  1 Enlisted man killed and 13 Enlistedmen by disease.  Total 14.

LEWIS HENRY BARNES HOMESTEAD
Reno County, KS, Homestead Book 4, page 65
Certificate No. 3360
Application No. 6022

Whereas there has been deposited in the General Land Office of theUnited States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at WichitaKansas, whereby it appears that, pursuant to the act of Congress approved20th May 1862, “To Secure Homesteads to Actual Settlers on the Public Domain,”and the acts supplemental thereto, Lewis H Barnes has been establishedand duly consummated, in conformity to law, for the: South east quarterof section twenty four in township twenty two south of range eight westof the sixty Principal Meridian in Kansas containing one hundred and sixtyacres according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said Land, returnedto the General Land Office by the Surveyor General.

Now know ye, that there is, therefore, granted by the UNITED STATES,unto the said Lewis H Barnes and to his heirs and assigns forever.

In testimony whereof, I Chester A Arthur, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made Patent and theSeal of the General Land office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the tenth day of Decemberin the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty One, andof the Independence of the United States the one hundred and sixth by thePresident Chester A. Arthur.

By Wm H Crook, Secretary
Recorded Vol 7, page 482

C.W. Clark Recorder of the General Land Office
This instrument was filed for the record on the 20th day of NovemberA.D. 1893 at 4 o’clock P.M and duly recorded.
H.O. Barrett, Register of Deeds
Entered in Transfer Record in my office 20 day Nov 1893.
J.E. Eaton, County Clerk

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN “FRANK” BARNES

Benjamin Franklin Barnes was the first child born to Lewis and ChristieMcCallum Barnes.  He was born March 13, 1862.  On March 15, 1888,Frank married Mary (Metta) Pope. Frank and Metta had a farm in Augusta,Michigan.  Frank was an expert horseman and trained horses.

Their daughter, Laura was born in 1892. When Laura was 18, she ranaway and got married.  Frank and Metta disapproved of her marriageand disowned her.  A year after her marriage, Laura became ill anddied.  Frank and Metta suffered the rest of their lives for havingdisowned their daughter.

Frank died September 3, 1941, age 79.  Frank, Mary and Lauraare buried in Lawler Cemetery, near Augusta MI, Charleston Twp,  (nowlocated on the Ft Custer Reservation)

ALEXANDER HAMILTON “ALEX” BARNES

Alex Barnes was born April 15, 1868 to Lewis and Christie McCallumBarnes. Alex worked for a time as either a lumberjack or at a lumber millin Pellston, Michigan, and there he met and married Rose Leonard. Alex and Rose did not have any children.  They lived their last yearsin Kalamazoo on a street near the creamery on Portage Street.  Theirgreat-niece, Jean Goodrich Javidi, remembers visiting them just beforeAlex died.  “My only memory of visiting Uncle Alex and Aunt Rose wasjust before he died in 1956.  I was 5 years old and our family wasliving in Kalamazoo at the time.  Their house was a two-story homeand had a sun porch on the back where we sat for what seemed a long time. The sun-room was cluttered with furniture and stacks of paper and booksand the entire house smelled of cats.  Aunt Rose and Uncle Alex werevery old and could not take care of things as they had when they were young. Aunt Rose’s needlework was everywhere.  She did beautiful work andmost of it was done in dark colors that were popular when she was young. I remember a black and multi-colored granny square afghan that was verypretty.  I now own some crazy quilt squares that Rose made. After awhile, my mother and grandfather (Marjorie Goodrich and John Barnes)allowed me to go upstairs to see Uncle Alex.  He was so old and thinand was lying on the bed in a room with all the shades drawn.  Wewere told to be very quiet, but I don’t think Uncle Alex was conscious. I knew my grandfather was sad, but I was too young to understand what wasgoing on.”

Alex died on June 6, 1956.  He and Rose are buried in the PrairievilleCemetery in unmarked graves, since they could not afford a tombstone.

RAY LINCOLN BARNES

Ray Barnes was born to Lewis and Christie McCallum Barnes on November2, 1870.  After his mother died, he was sent to live with his uncleJohn McCallum.  Ray married Fern Osgood on October 27, 1921 when hewas 51 years old.  Ray and Fern did not have any children of theirown, but did have a foster son (last name Hayward).  Ray and Fernlived on a farm at the intersection of Otis Lake and Pine Lake Roads nearCloverdale, Michigan.

ELIZABETH (Libbie) BARNES DeBACK, Christie DeBack Castle, Norma CastleCline

Libbie Barnes was born on April 1, 1873 in Hope Township, Michigan. She moved with her family to homestead in Kansas, but their venture wascut short when her mother, sister and brother died of malaria.  Thefamily moved back to Michigan where she went to live with her uncle, MalcolmMcCallum.  In 1892, Libbie married Isaac (Ike) DeBack.  Theylived on Ike’s father’s farm at 7475 S. Norris Rd., north of Prairieville,MI in Orangeville Township.  The original house was a log cabin, whichis part of the existing house. Eventually Libbie and Ike inherited thefarm and the family continued to live and farm at the same location.

In 1894, their only child, Christie, was born. Christie married ClintonCastle and had one child, Norma, born in 1910.  Christie died in 1918at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.  Norma does not have memories ofher mother.  Clinton remarried in 1930 to Edna Botsford.  Theyhad one son, Frederich, who was killed in World War II.

After her mother’s death, Norma Castle was raised by her grandparents,Libbie and Ike.  Her father, Clinton, lived in a small house rightacross the road and saw Norma daily.

Norma remembers that the Pottawatomie Indians would come every yearto camp in the woods across from their farm to gather herbs and roots. She also remembers Gypsies coming to camp in the same place.  TheGypsies made them uneasy, as they were fearful of being robbed.

Norma’s great-grandfather, Lewis Henry Barnes, lived with the DeBacksas an old man and died at their home in 1917 at the age of 83.  Lewiswas in relatively good health as an old man and would often walk to Cloverdale(several miles) when he wanted to visit.

Norma attended high school in Hastings, Michigan.  After goingto Western Michigan State Teacher’s college in Kalamazoo, she taught atFalk School, the one-room schoolhouse she had attended (located on thecorner of Guernsey Lake and Norris Roads) and at Blake school, anotherone-room schoolhouse nearby on Keller Road, but didn’t like to teach verymuch.  She eventually worked for Hastings Mutual Insurance Company,from which she retired.

In 1939, Norma married Bob Cline.  She met him at a square dancewhere Bob was the caller.  Bob said he looked across the room andsaw Norma and knew that she was the girl for him.  After they gotmarried, they lived in a duplex on Walker Road in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They later bought a house on Halbert Road in Battle Creek after Bob wasdrafted into the army.   Bob served with the 1489 Engineer Maintenenancein the Philippines.  Bob was discharged from the army as a MasterSergeant and returned to work at Stan Lasson Pontiac/Cadillac in BattleCreek where he was a mechanic.  Around 1950, Bob and Norma moved backto the farm on Norris Road because Norma’s grandmother Libbie was no longerable to care for the farm.   Bob farmed and worked for ClarkEquipment until the 1960's when he realized he could make more money byjust working and not farming.

Bob and Norma retired around 1976 and purchased a winter home inOrlando, Florida.  They continued to come back to the farm every summerwhere they hosted a 4th of July picnic for the Goodrich family, whose grandfatherJohn Barnes was Libbie Barnes DeBack’s brother.   On their lasttrip back from Florida, Norma’s health was declining.   BecauseBob was unable to care for her, Norma was admitted into Thornapple ManorNursing Home in Hastings.  She remained in good spirits in spite ofher health and longed to go home to the farm once more.  As a finalact of love, Bob granted her wish to go home one more time, by having thefuneral director drive Norma one final time into the driveway upon herdeath on October 17, 2001.  Norma was 91 years old.  She is buriedat Prairieville Cemetery, Prairieville, Michigan.

Obituary
Emily Barnes Collins
Died March 11, 1959
Address at time of death:  128 Glendale, Parchment, Michigan

Passed away early Wednesday morning.  Mrs. Collins was bornApril 5, 11875 in Barry County, the daughter of Lewis and Christie Barnes,and had been a resident here for the past 30 years.  She was a memberof the Union Methodist Church of Parchment.  Mrs. Collins is survivedby 3 daughters, Mrs. Richard (Bernice) Pennels of Kalamazoo, Mrs. Forrest(Mildred) Christy and Mrs. Glen (Dorothy) Righter of Parchment; 2 sistersand one brother, Mrs. Isaac (Elizabeth) DeBack of Delton, John Barnes ofKalamazoo and Mrs. Ray (Florence) McCrumb of Kalamazoo; 4 grandchildrenand 5 great grandchildren.

Buried at Prairieville Cemetery, Prairieville, Michigan

JOHN MALCOLM BARNES

By Marjorie Barnes (born February 22, 1916 and Jean Goodrich Javidi(born March 9, 1951)

John Malcolm Barnes was born in Nickerson, Kansas on May 16, 1877to Lewis and Christie Barnes.  After his mother’s death, the familyreturned to Barry County, Michigan.  His father, unable to care forthe children, placed them in foster homes.  John was placed with hisUncle John McCallum along with his brother Ray.  John was very cruellytreated in this home.  He recounted that he had the end of his tongueclipped off for lying.  One day, his brother Frank, made a surprisevisit to John and found that he had been severely beaten with a cane (Johnwas about 4 years old at the time).  Shocked and angry over this,John’s father saw to it that John was place in another home.  He wentto live with the Daniel Thompson family.  The Thompsons had no childrenof their own and liked having John around.  They raised John to adulthood. When Mr. Thompson died, he willed everything to John.

As a young man, John found work as a butler for the Walldorff family(their land was located near the Clarence and Ina Payne farm near WallLake on Walldorff Rd.).  While working for the Walldorff’s, John metand married Mollie Payne.  They both lived and worked at the Walldorff’safter their marriage.  In 1898, John and Mollie’s first child, Wildah,was born.

Around 1904, John and his family moved to Kalamazoo where he workedfor a brief time for the gas company before obtaining a job as a firemanfor the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad (the G.R. & I was later boughtout by the Pennsylvania Railroad).  A fireman had the difficult jobof keeping the furnace of a steam engine stoked with coal.  Later,John became a railroad engineer and retired from the Pennsylvania Railroadin the 1940’s.

As John and Mollie earned more money, they were able to buy theirfirst house at 728 (house number as of 2005)  Millard Court in Kalamazoo. Their second daughter, Marjorie, was born there in 1916.

They later moved to a larger home at 714 S. Park St. in Kalamazoo,where Mollie kept boarders from Western State Teachers College (now WesternMichigan University).

 Wildah married Gerald VanAvery in June of 1920.  Marjoriewas the flower girl at the wedding.  Gerald had been a soldier inWorld War I and was gassed when he was in Europe.  Gerald was a pharmacistand worked at his father’s drugstore on North Burdick Street in Kalamazoo. Wildah died in 1922 (age 23) of diabetes.  Gerald remarried a yearlater and remained close to the Barnes family for the remainder of hislife.  In 1924 Gerald opened the VanAvery drug store on North St.and Westnedge Ave. In 1947, ill health caused by his gassing in World WarI forced him to close his store.  Gerald and his wife Gladys had 2children:  Marjorie (named after Marjorie Barnes) who died when shewas 7 and Charles.  Gerald died when he was 68.

Marjorie met her husband Durward Goodrich while she was working incivil service in Ft. Custer, near Battle Creek.  Durward was in thearmy.  They married on February 14, 1948 and had 7 children: Joe,Judy, John, Jean, Jim, Jeff and Jane.

Mollie and John were married 54 years.  After Mollie’s deathfrom cancer, John sold their large house on Park Street and moved to 809Wallace Avenue.  He spent his later years keeping up his property,visiting his daughter Marjorie (whose husband was in the army) and travelingwith his friend and former co-worker, C.E. Layne.  During parts ofthe 1950’s, Marjorie and her children lived with John while Marjorie’shusband was stationed overseas.

John died on January 1, 1961 of a stroke.

Mabel (Mollie) Payne Barnes (1877-1952)

 Mollie Payne was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on July 9, 1877. That same year, Mollie’s parents Elem and Francis purchased a farm nearCloverdale.  Mollie’s life on the farm was hard.  She cared forher younger brothers and sisters and helped with chores, cooking, canningand baking.  Spare time was precious and rewards were few.  Molliedreamed of leaving the farm and moving to town.

In 1898, Mollie married John Barnes.  White wedding dresseswere just becoming the fashion and Mollie begged her mother for one. Her mother insisted that she wear black, since black dresses were moretraditional and more serviceable.  Mollie always resented that blackdress.  She was a fine seamstress and for the rest of her life alwaysmade herself stylish clothes

Mollie and John lived for a time at the Walldorff farm on WalldorffRoad near Cloverdale, where they both worked.  Their daughter Wildah,was born while they were there.

A few years later, the family moved to Kalamazoo, where John workedfor a coal and gas company before getting a job with the Grand Rapids andIndiana Railroad (later bought by the Pennsylvania Railroad).  Johnfirst worked as a fireman and later was an engineer.  They boughttheir first home on Millard Court in Kalamazoo.  John and Mollie didn’thave much.  John built Mollie kitchen cabinets from old orange cratesand Mollie made curtains to cover them.  Even though life was a strugglefor them, Mollie remembered these days as the happiest in her life.

A son was born to John and Mollie, but died in infancy.  Mollieand John’s third child, Marjorie, was born in 1916.

Mollie was an outgoing and friendly person.  She quickly madefriends in Kalamazoo through her memberships in the Eastern Star and bridgeclubs.

Mollie was an excellent cook and skilled needleworker.  Shemade many embroidered and crocheted tablecloths, as well as other beautifulthings for the home.  Once she made a lace tablecloth for a womanwho paid her by giving her a diamond ring. 

Mollie was very fond of nice things and throughout her life collectedfine crystal, silver and jewelry.  Just before the stock market crashedin 1929, Mollie took all of her and John’s savings from the bank and purchaseddiamond rings.  Not knowing the future, John was furious.  Butit was that seemingly imprudent act which kept them from losing all theirsavings when the banks failed.

There was another time Mollie seemed to have an insight into thefuture.  Just when the United States entered World War II, Molly purchasedhundreds of pounds of sugar, thinking that there might be food rationing. She was right, and unlike most people, she always had a cake around forcompany during the war years.  In fact, she had purchased so muchsugar that there was still some left when she died in 1952.  Duringthe War, Mollie and John would drive to her nephew Clarence’s farm whereshe would visit Clarence’s wife Ina and trade fabric and sugar for eggsand produce.

Not nostalgic, Mollie seldom spoke of her early years.  To herthey represented hard times and were best forgotten.  She hated longdresses, claiming they were cumbersome and constantly filthy from pickingup mud and tobacco juice that men spit everywhere.  She was one ofthe first women to shorten her skirts and cut her hair as soon as it wassocially acceptable, claiming that her long hair gave her a headache. Mollie was truly a modern woman.

In a day when women had few work options, Mollie made money. She opened a boarding house in their home (714 S. Park St., Kalamazoo)to students from Western State Teacher’s College.  These were funyears for Mollie and her daughter Marjorie and they made many lasting friendshipsduring this venture.

One of the saddest events in Mollie and John’s lives came in 1922. Her daughter, Wildah, became suddenly ill and died from diabetes. At that time there was no control of the disease.  Mollie became severelydepressed and Wildah’s death shadowed the rest of her life.

1948 was an important year.  Mollie and John celebrated their50th wedding anniversary, their daughter Marjorie married Durward Goodrich,and their first grandchild, Judy, was born.
In the early 1950’s Mollie found out she had cancer.  Beforeshe died, she alarmed her husband by burning letters and family mementos. She died in 1952 and is buried in the Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo.