Where is everyone

Well I have been traveling this week and no one else is contributing to this list. Come people this is not a Literary magazine. Give me some personnel family "something" so I know I'm not alone.

Response from Cousin Judith Bilrey

Judy is Martha Rutherford's second sister Eva's daughter. She is about my age. I sent Judy the link to the blog because I thought she might be interested about entries concerning the Moore Family. I also thought she might be a source for some good stories. This is her initial response. I will try to get more in dept stories from her.

Great idea, have some more info for your page. How do I include it and how much do you want to know about Great grandma Webb? You can include this if you want to. Bell as she was called wasn't her first name. I looked for her grave and found out that it was Mary Bell. She also had another child named Julia or Julie I can't remember what the spelling was on the grave stone. Bell had two children out of wed lock Grandma Agnes was one of them and Julie was the other one. I have a picture of Daddy Miles. I have since found out that there were a family of Miles' in Hoopeston. She was going to marry him but her family when he showed up to pick her up for the wedding told him that she didn't want to see him. She married Webb right before or right after Grandpa and Grandma Moore got married then, when grandma was 21 Charles was born. I think Bell was either 15 or 16 when she had Grandma. How much do you know about the feud between Grandpa Moore and his dad? I was 13 when I found out that great grandpa Moore was still alive. He died when I was 17. I went to his funeral. It is quite a story. Even to carrying guns because of what happened. The family feuds were quite interesting. I almost caused Grandma Moore to loose her life. If you want some of this information I have it. Aunt Eva tried to take her life over an adoption that didn't go through. We have a bunch of 1/2 cousins in Illinois. The original Moore farm is still over seen by a Moore descendent and they have a family gathering every year at Rooseville. Great Grandpa Moore is buried there. I guess I should have written down all that I know before I had my head trauma that caused me to loose so of the memories. It takes me telling some stories to help me recall other stories. Like lightning hitting the barn and grandma was on the ladder going up to get hay. It knocked her off the ladder and sent her sailing across the barn. It broke her false teeth in half and broke her ribs. She chased great grandpa Moore off of the farm with a buggy whip, because he called grandpa a name. Details are fussy but I can still remember some of them. I have written written several free verse poems about the farm and life with Grandpa and Grandma Moore. What all do you want???

Judy,

Mary Martha by J. E. McDaniel

When we moved to Montrose, Co our next door neighbors were two brothers George and Ebon McDaniel. They were older men both at or near retirement. I know they put up with a lot from Tom and I and the other boys in the neighborhood. Once Tom and I nearly burned down their house by setting the lot next door on fire. They were like grandparents to us. We could go there and get candy (white & pink peppermint disks) and George would let us hang around when he was working in his workshop or chopping wood. George died right before we moved to California and Ebon died a couple of years later. I always thought Ebon’s name was Edmond, but I have a little typed story he wrote about Mary that identifies him as J. E. McDaniel ("Ebon"). So here is the story.

At the time of which I write Mary Martha was the three and a half year old daughter of our next door neighbor, Royal Rutherford, principal of the high school. She is now six.

She came quickly across the porch to the kitchen door in which I stood. Her face was flushed. She was angry. Her little brown eyes were flashing. She looked up at me and said emphatically,
"I like my papa, but I do not like my mama."

"Mary Martha," I said, "You know you like your mama."

She replied more emphatically, "I do not like my mama."

Pointing I said, "Who gave you those nice white shoes."

She looked down at her little feet, and without raising her head she saidin a low almost inaudible voice, "My mama."

"Who gave you that beautiful dress?"

She looked and smoothed the dress with her hand. Her face brightened and she said firmly, "My mama."

"And who put that pretty red ribbon in your hair?"

She put her hand to the bow, smiles covered her face, and she said enthusiastically, "My mama."

"Now," I said, "You like your mama, don’t you?’

She nodded "Yes."

She turned about and, still smiling, ran away to her home and her mama.

"…….of such is the kingdom……."

May1,1952 J. E. McDaniel ("Ebon")

A few old family sayings

Grandma Moore – Land of Goshen!
This was an expression of surprise. I had to check my Bible for this but it was an area in Northern Egypt the Israelites went through during the Exodus.

Dad – You won’t amount to "A hill of beans"!
I always heard this as "Hellofbeans" and thought it was some form of swearing.

Don’t be a pantywaist! This always meant don’t be a crybaby or a sissy. In later years I thought about it and panty was a woman’s under garment, so I imagined a straggly piece of elastic sagging around my waist with rotting pieces of fabric hanging from it. When I was staying with Mom a few years back an in a conversation she said "He was a panty waist" My ears picked up because I had never hear her say anything like that. I said what exactly does that mean? She explained it meant a little effeminate.

You won’t have a Pot to Piss In! It seemed like I heard this a lot. I always figured if I wrote a book about growing up I might call it "A Pot to Piss In". Because I was never going to have one. It was true the way I handled money and assets was a crime especially as looked at by people who grew up or came of age in the 1930’s and 40’s. One time on a trip I saw a post card with a large snake saying to a bunch of small snakes "You won’t have a Pit to Hiss In". It made me think of dad.

I'd rather ware out than rust out. What can I say classic Royal.

Mom - There will be War in Camp! I used to hear this as one word "Warincamp" which I wasn’t sure what it was but I knew it meant trouble.

Lost

"I was never lost, though I was once misplaced for three days." Daniel Boone.

When I was three, almost four years old my family moved from Prescott, Arizona to Montrose, Colorado. My dad, who had previously been a school teacher had a job working in a hardware store owned by his sister and her husband. We moved in November of 1945 right after the end of WWII. My mom was pregnant at the time and on February 2, 1946 my sister Mary Martha was born. I remember being out in the apple orchard at our new house making snowmen when they come home from the hospital.

I had never been lost that I recalled. Of Prescott, I had very few memories. I look at a picture of the old house and know certain things but I am not sure they are memories or just things I was told in latter years by people who did remember. We had a house on a hill with a garage underneath and stone stairs going up about 12 feet to a porch and inside. I seem to recall snow about 2 feet deep and cactus and an old well but not much else. I seems I was allowed some freedom to wander but never strayed too far from home.

Montrose was different. My brother Tom and I had more freedom. We had a large yard (a whole 1/3 of the block between the street and the alley). It was level and there was a sidewalk out in front. We had an orchard with many apple trees, lots of garden space, a playhouse, a coal-house, a chicken coop, and a garage. The house was two bedrooms, a long living room and dining room, a kitchen (with a cast iron wood stove and a pantry), a bathroom, and finally a large backporch/wash room.

Like I said, I had never been lost. Tom was a year and a bit older than I. I must have just turned four (4) when this happened. If I think back about it I sometimes wonder if he didn’t want to get rid of me. We were going to play follow the leader and Tom was the leader. We ran through some yards, gates, etc. and soon I had lost Tom (Tom was lost). I was OK "Tom was lost." I headed for home, but I didn’t know where I was. "I was misplaced." So I started to walk. We lived on South 4th Street. That meant there was 3rd St., 2nd St., 1st St., and then Main Street as one went north. Those streets were things I learned later as I grew up. I ended up on Main Street. A woman came out of her house and asked me if I was lost. I said "No" and started to cry. She whisked me into the house and called the police. I got milk and cookies and she worked my name out of me.

Somehow the police were there and I got to ride in the back of the police car; something I really wouldn’t want to do today. But it was 1946 and cars were different then. During the war they didn’t make cars. So the newest cars were made in 1940. My dad had a 1936 Ford sedan and I liked to stand up on the floor in the back seat and look over the front seat right behind the driver. A little one could see so much that way. So I’m standing in the back seat of the Police car looking forward and we go those four blocks back home (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Street). When we pull up in front of the house there is Tom sitting on the hood of the 36 Ford wondering why I’m in the police car. I see Tom and I know he is not lost anymore and I am so happy I start to cry.

Martha's List of family dates

June 2, 1890 Daddy (William Moore) born in Brown County, Indiana
Feb 17, 1893 Mother (Agnes Lucus) born in Hoopeston, Ill
Dec 4, 1912 Mother and Daddy Married in Danville, Illinois
Nov 27, 1913 Martha born in Hoopeston, Ill. Thanksgiving
June 5, (1917) William born in Hoopeston, Ill Died that fall (Sept 13, 1917)
1918-1922 Martha attended Lincoln Grade School in Hoopeston, Ill
1921-1922 Martha promoted at semester from 3rd to 4th grade
Feb 21, 1919 Gladys (Esther) born in Hoopeston, Ill
Dec 23, 1921 Eva (Agnes) born in Hoopeston, Ill
Jan 1922 Moved to farm near Oxford & Uncle Kirts (Daddy’s Uncle)
Martha attended Oxford School – by bus
May or Apr 1922 moved to farm North of Boswell, Ind. On Rte 41
Martha attented Boswell School until May 1929
Mar 1929 Moved to Ambia area in Ill. 1 ½ mile from state line
May 1930 (Martha) Graduated from Ambia, Ind H.S.
Sept 1930 (Martha) Entered ISNU at Normal, Ill (Note 1)
Jun 1934 (Martha) Graduated with B. Ed from Normal
Sept 1934 (Martha) started teaching business at H.S. in Mt Pulaski, Ill
June 1936 (Martha) to Greeley Colorado to start Masters
July 1936 (Martha) Meet Royal – through Gretchen (?)
Aug 1936 (Martha) Left Greeley for San Antonio (Texas to See Uncle John Daddy’s brother) Surprised to find Mother & daddy & girls there.

Sept 1936 (Martha) Teaching at Mt Pulaski – last year
Dec 1936 Visit from Royal (Met family & spent Christmas with Martha’s family)
June 6, 1937 Married Royal at home near Ambis, Ind in Iroquois County, Ill &
June 1937 Visited some of Royal’s Family
Feton and Almon Conover in Lincoln, Nebr. (Royal’s brother & his Wife)
Sarah and Dr. H. O. in Wellington, Kansas (Royal’s sister & Husband)
Madie and Horace Retherford in Vilas, Colorado (Royal’s sister & Husband)
Royal’s Mother on the family farm. (in Baca County, CO)
Met his other brothers and Lydia (his sister)

Summer 1937 Graduate school in Greeley. I (Martha) typed Royal’s Thesis (5 copies with carbons)

Aug 1937 Royal received Master of Science Degree (Note 2)
Sept 1937 Springfield, Colo where Royal was School Superintendent
June 1938 Visited Mom and Dad – still on Jordon Place - in Indiana
Jun & July 1938 Sold Comptons (Encyclopidias) from Steam Boat Springs
Aug 1938 Sold Comptons from Lamar
Sept 1938 Moved to Atwood, Colo Royal was Supt. of Grade School & Principle of Logan High School

March 16,1839 Marjorie Rae born in Sterling hospital
Fall of 1939 Gladys (Martha’s sister)and Bob came by on honeymoon.
Dec 20, 1940 Thomas William born in Sterling Hospital
Sept 1941 Moved from Atwood to Sterling. Royal taught radio and photography in High School and Junior College.

Mar 29, 1942 Richard Lee born
Summer 1942 Royal worked at construction of Glider Base, Alliance Nebr. (Martha) I stayed in Sterling
August 1943 Moved to Prescott, Ariz to teach science in high school
Summer 1945 Royal went to Montrose, Colo. To work in Hardware ith Horace and Madie
November 1945 Chrilden and I (Martha) sold house. Went to Montrose.
Feb 2, 1946 Mary Martha born in Montrose, Colo.
Aug. 1947 Royal quit hardware for school job as Principal and Science teacher Montrose H.S.
Aug. 1956 Moved to Stockton, Cal. Royal taught at Webster Jr High. Martha did substitute teaching

Jan 1957 Martha took full time job at Edison H.S.
June 1957 Maejorie graduated from Stockton Jr. Col.
Sept 1957 Martha assigned to Marshall Jr.High and Royal to Edison H.S.
June 1958 Tom graduated from Stagg H.S.
Fall 1958 Tom joined the Air Force
June 1960 Richard graduated from Stagg
August 1960 Marjorie and Jim were married
Oct 26, 1963 Daddy (Willam Moore) died. Richard returned from Europe
June 1964 Mary graduated from Stagg
Sept 1964 Tom and Susie married
Jan. 1965 Horace Retherford died in Corona, Cal. Linda and Terri came to live with us
May 12, 1965 Michael, first grandson, was born (to Tom & Susie)
March 13, 1966 Robin was born (first granddaughter to Richard & Diane)

(Added by RLR. I have two lists of dates that I have combined. I have tried to stay faithfull to Martha's spelling and puncuation, but I know at times I edited. I have tried to put my additions in parenthesis (). I can sent copies of the originals to anyone interested. I will be publishing some letters from Royal & Martha when I get time.)

Note 1 - I have Daily Diaries or Journals by Martha written during her 3 years at college 1931, 32, and 33. If anyone would like to see these let me know.
Note 2 - I have a copy of Royals Master Thesis "The construction of an Objective Scale to Measure the Scientific Attitude, Habit of Delayed Response" This is also available.

Martha saved these things (lists, stories, letters) and did not destroy them so I will assume she did not mind if people read them once she was gone. She and I once talked about whether or not she should destroy some letters from Royal that were very personal. I told her it was up to her but that I personally would like to have them. They are still here and I will share some over time.

Richard

Martha – One Childhood Home.

From May 1921 to March 1929 I lived on a farm 1 ¾ miles north of Boswell, Ind. On route 41 South from Chicago along the Illinois, Indiana state line. While we lived there it was paved and we girls (3 sisters) enjoyed watching all of the activity and before it was opened to traffic we got to roller skate on it.

Since it was the main highway south to Indianapolis from Chicago we could watch the fancy cars go by especially on Memorial Day when they were going to the Indianapolis 500 (Auto Race). At that time I thought it would be heavenly if I could go to the race sometime. Now it is one of the last things I would like to do.

Most farmers moved in March. We moved to this place in May. The owner’s wife ran off with the hired hand (gossip said) and the owner tried to kill himself by jumping in the water that filled the basement in the spring.

This was also the time of boot legging in Chicago. One night someone in a big car stopped at our place & asked if they could park the car back of our barn. Daddy let them put it in the crib. We girls were excited & looked in the car & found it was full of boxes labeled "Ink." We didn’t under stand why Mother & Daddy were uneasy. The next day the men came for the car & gave daddy $10.00 – a small fortune at that time.
(added by RLR)

RF Rutherford Immediate Family

As you can see this is just a beginning. I don't have all of the names, dates, or places right. Please if you can help me with them send me an e-mail rlrutherford@triconet.org. If you don't want all of this information shown about you let me know. I will edit out whatever you don't like. I would like to keep at least the names as place holders. If you want to send me information about you and your family please send it to me or post it. Each Family will probably get a separate post

Husband: Royal Fairfax [sic] Rutherford
Born: 1/20/1909 Ogletree, Texas
Died: ? at Stockton, Calif
Father: Griffif Rutherford from Tennessee
Mother: Mary (Rollins) Rutherford from Texas

Wife: Martha Belle Moore
Born: 11/27/1913 in Hoopeston, Illinois (Thanksgiving Day)
Died: 11/25/2002 in Carmichael, Calif
Father: William (Bill) Moore born in Brown County Indiana 6/2/1890
Mother: Agnes ( ) Moore born in Hoopeston, Ill 2/17/1893

Children:
Marjorie (Marj) Ray (Rutherford) Greenwood
Born: 3/16/1939 Sterling, Colorado
Married: 1960 Stockton, Calif
Spouse: James Greenwood

Thomas William Rutherford
Born 12/20/1940 Sterling, Colorado
Married:
Spouses: Eini ( ) Rutherford

Richard Lee Rutherford
Born 3/29/1942 Sterling Colorado
Married: 1964 Ft Eutis, VA
1972 Walnut Creek, Calif
10/29/1993 Carson City, NV
Spouses: Diane (Ball) Rutherford born Texas arround 1946
Sandra (Stipelkivich, Biles, Lee) Rutherford born New York City Dec 1942
Anita Louise (Hutchinson, Lankford) Rutherford born Hanford, Calif Oct 1942

Mary Martha (Rutherford Siska) Cannizzaro
Born: 2/2/1946 Montrose, Colorado
Married: Stockton, CA October 1968
Alameda, Calif June 1991
Spouses: Robert Siska
Mike Cannizzaro

Guardians for: (this is a whole story in itself)

Linda Retherford adopted daughter of H. Retherford & Maide (Rutherford) Retherford
Born:
Married:
Spouses:

Terry Retherford adopted son of H. Retherford & Maide (Rutherford) Retherford
Born:
Married:
Spouses:

Grandparents by Martha (Belle Moore)Rutherford

I was named for my grandmothers. Martha was my father’s mother. She died when he was about 13 years old. Belle was my mother’s mother. My mother had a half brother a couple of years older than me. (His name was Charlie.) He was more like a brother to me than an uncle. We played cowboys and Indians as children. Read and discussed the same books and movies. Attended BYPU (Baptist Youth something) together & had charge of many of its activities. I stayed with my grandmother when we all worked at the corn canning factory. He (Charlie) never got to collage for financial reasons – his father died when he was in high school. He married the woman who was my college room mate when I was a freshman at Normal (now the Univ Ill ). I’m the one who broke up the close relationship by marrying a Colorado man and moving to the Colorado dust bowl. (more later)
(added by RLR)