Royal & Martha from Baca County Book

This was written by Martha some time in the early 1980’s. Again it was published in the Baca County book. I used to have this image of the Rutherfords making a long trip from Texas to Colorado in covered wagons. There were two wagons and 40 or 50 head of cattle. I remember Uncle Bill saying (he was probably 4-5 at the time of the trip), “We put the girls up front so they would let us come in to town”. It was certainly not an easy trip for a family of ten.

I was working at a place in Concord, Ca (in the late 1980’s) and they had a map of the United States. I looked at the Texas Panhandle and found Ochiltree and looked across to SouthEastern Colorado. It was 200-300 miles. Not the magnitude of a trip I had thought. Then I remember my family moving from Montrose to Stockton the end of the summer of 1956. We spent most of the summer getting ready. We bought a 1952 Dodge Pickup Truck with special stake sides. Dad and I build a trailer on top of an old axle and build a plywood box 5x8 feet and an arched metal roof. It was a major under taking and we were going 1200 miles with Car & Truck.

We weighted the truck & trailer when we finally got to Stockton and they tipped the scale between 9000-10000 pounds. We hauled home canned goods, screws, nails, tools, etc. Everything out of the garage and work shop. I don’t think we left anything behind. Mom always said, “three moves is as good as a fire.” I am not sure that was true with dad. Once they came and helped me move when I lived in Walnut Creek. We got everything moved and there was dad out in the yard loading up old wooden fence sections, and taking down the built-in workbenches in the garage. There was nothing left behind.

Another thing of note here was the editor changed Horace & Madie’s last name from Retherford to Rutherford. Which might cause confusion for some

Royal and Martha Rutherford

Royal, youngest son of Annie and James Rutherford was born at Ochiltree, Texas, and January 19, 1909. He came to Baca County in July 1910, with his mother, brothers and sisters.

He grew up on a farm northeast of Vilas, attending school at Eureka and Vilas. He graduated from Vilas School and attended college at Greeley. He started teaching at Big Flat school before he was 18 years old. He taught at Wentworth, Vilas, Walch and Springfield.

While attending Summer College at Greeley, he met Martha Moore from Indiana. They were married in Hoopston, Illinois.

He served as superintendent of Springfield schools one year, then went to Sergeants to teach. Later he taught at Atwood, Sterling, and Montrose in Colorado and Prescott, Arizona.
They moved from Montrose to Stockton, California, where he taught until he retired, and where they still live. Martha taught 3 years before they married. After they moved to California, Martha returned to teaching and taught 17 more years. Royal spent 43 years in teaching and administration.

They have four children, Marjorie, Thomas, Richard and Mary. Royal and Martha enjoy their thirteen grandchildren who all live within a few hours drive of Stockton. Their daughters have also taught school.

Horace and Madie Rutherford [sic], Royal’s sister, moved to California about the same time as the Rutherfords. They had adopted two children, but Madie died while the children were small. When the children were 13 and 12 years old, Horace died also. Royal and Martha took them into their home. Linda studied police science in collage, is now married to a peace officer, and has a son and a daughter. Terry worked with the Boy Scouts and is now managing his own business.

Royal and Martha are retired in Stockton. They enjoy working in their yard and greenhouse, traveling, and visiting with their grandchildren. By Martha Rutherford

Annie & Family Come to Colorado from Baca County Book

The following is taken from a large brown book weighting about 10 pounds called "Baca County" Copyright 1983 Baca County Historical Society/ Specialty Publishing Co., Inc. There are also separate write-ups on Bill, Deet, Royal, and Turk, which I will add as I get time.

Annie Rutherford

Annie Verrell (Rollins) Rutherford came from Ochiltree, Texas in covered wagons. She arrived in Vilas in July 1910 with her six boys: Almon (Chuck); Rollins (Turk); Forest (Deet); Tom; James (Bill); and Royal, who was 1 ½ years old; and four girls, Lydia, Sarah, Margaret and Mary (Madie).

At first they lived in a camp house in Vilas, but soon moved to a place one mile southeast of Vilas. Then for a short time they lived 3 miles northeast of Vilas in a rock house which was known as "Robbers Roost", while they were drilling a well and digging a half dugout on the place she homesteaded in 1911.

She lived on her homestead until death in 1944, except for two winters 1912-13 and 1926-27 which she spent in California for her health.

Her children grew up on this homestead. Tom and Margaret met accidental death as young adults. The other eight helped in developing businesses and farmlands around Vilas. Tom, Turk, and Almon ran Wheeler’s Garage in Vilas and Turk and Almon ran freight trucks for him.

Royal and Madie taught school in Baca County several years. Tom taught also and was teaching at Blaine at the time of his death. Both Royal and Madie later moved to California. She was living in California at the time of her death. Royal taught in Stockton, California until he retired.

Almon moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he worked for Burlington Railroad for 45 years. After his retirement he spent several winters with his brother Bill. He lived in Lincoln until his death. His widow, Peton (Yokley) Rutherford still lives there.

Sarah married Henry Blanchart. They studied chiropractory in Davenport, Iowa, and then practiced chiropractory in Wellington, Kansas. After his death, she continued to practice until she was seriously injured in a car wreck in 1973.

Lydia worked in Wheeler store in Vilas. She married Glen Yokum and they lived on a farm on Bear Creek, 2 miles north of Vilas. Later she helped start Home Demonstration Clubs over the county. Her last years were spent in Springfield. She worked in Traders Store, also she gave much of her time working for the Republican Party.

The life of Annie Rutherford goes on through the lives of her children and grandchildren and their accomplishments.

By Leatha Rutherford Hein

Annie Rutherford's Will

Royal F Rutherford was the youngest of twelve or thirteen children of James Griffith Rutherford and Annie Verrell Rutherford whose maiden name was Rollins. Their children were as follows:

Sarah – Married HO Blanchat who was a chiropractor. Sarah also studied under Palmer and became a chiropractor.

Mary also known as Maide married H. Retherford they worked in and then owned several hardware stores. Their last store was in Montrose, Colorado. Starting in 1945 Royal worked at their store in Montrose. He was trying to get out of teaching. I don’t think he got along with his brother-in-law. After about a year he quit and took the job as High School Principle in Montrose. The Retherfords were the adoptive parents of Linda & Terri Retherford.

Lydia – married a Yokum. In southeast Colorado the Yokums & Rutherfords were close families.

Almon also know as Almond Conover – Married Featon and lived in Lincoln, Nebraska

Rollins also known as Turk. Acquired land during the dust bowl and died a very rich man.

Forest also know as Deet – Married had several children. One story I recall about Deet was he was working at a line shack or some place a way’s out in the country and a couple of the brothers went up to see him. As they went into the building under the table was a rattlesnake. Deet went and got a pitchfork and picked the snake up and threw it out the front door. He said to the snake, "Now stay out, if you come in here again I will have to kill ya."

Thomas (electrocuted himself accidentally in late teens or early twenties. He stood on a wooden fence and touched an electrical wire. He was trying to show that if he was not grounded the electricity would not go through his body. Sadly he touched a nail or wire on the fence and the electricity did go through his body). Royal’s first son Thomas William was named after Royal’s brother Tom and Martha’s father William Moore.

James also known as Bill – Had two wives with the first he had 5 boys and 1 girl. The second Opal still lives on the family farm. The oldest boy is about the same age as Royal's son Tom.

Royal - Married Martha Bell Moore and had 2 daughters (Marjorie & Mary) and 2 sons (Thomas & Richard).

Royal used to tell a story about one of his brothers who was bragging about how much he ate. He said, "I et six eggs." One of the sisters corrected him, "You mean ate, not et, ate." He looked around with a frown on his face and said, "Maybe it was eight I et."

I will have to work on this list. I am not sure how to come up with the three or four missing kids.


LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
ANNIE V. RUTHERFORD.
************************
I, ANNIE V. RUTHERFORD, of Vilas, County of Baca and State of COLORADO, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and mindful of the uncertainty of human like, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any and all wills by me at any time heretofore made.

FIRST: It is my will and I direct that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid.

SECOND: I will and bequeath to my beloved Children, viz:
LYDIA R.YOKUM,
ALMON R. RUTHERFORD,
SARAH W. BLANCHAT,
ROLLINS R. RUTHERFORD,
FOREST W. RUTHERFORD,
MARY H. RUTHERFORD,
ROYAL F. RUTHERFORD,
the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) each.

THIRD: All the rest, residue and remainder, of my estate, real and personal, and whatsoever and wheresoever situate, I will, devise and bequeath to my beloved son, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD, to have and hold as his own, absolutely, and I make this devise and bequest in appreciation of, and in partial return for the faithful and unselfish service he has rendered me, and the loving care he has bestowed upon me.

FOURTH: I nominate and appoint my said son, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD, executor of this my last will and testament and exonerate him from giving any bond whatsoever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF: I have set my hand and seal this 12th day of January, A.D. 1944.
ANNIE V.RUTHERFORD (SEAL)

On this the 12th day of January, A.D. 1944, the above and foregoing instrument in writing was in our present signed, sealed, published and declared by ANNIE V. RUTHERFORD, to be her Last Will and Testament, and we, at her request, and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as attending witnesses thereto.

Roy P. Mathews
of Springfield, Colorado

Earl Huges
of 415 Colorado Ave., Pueblo, Colo.

New Baby Martha's Letter from March 29,1939

This letter of Martha’s came out of a small group of letters that were saved by her Mother and found by Martha after her mother died. Marjorie was born March 16, 1939.

March 29, 1939

Dear folks,

At last I am home & busy as can be spoiling Marjorie. Can you imagine me taking care of a baby. I almost have to pinch myself to believe it. I was ready to come home early Sun. but it was necessary to wait for the Dr.’s. O.K. at noon, but he never came at noon and we waited & waited & finally Royal went to get the girl and when he came back I came home anyhow without seeing the doctor. It was about five Sun. when I finally got home. Of course you can imagine the company Sunday night & I was really tired but they were finally gone by about nine o’clock. Can you imagine Royal getting up to get Marjorie and clean diapers for me at 2 o’clock. Oh boy, it is great to be home again. You can understand how great it is to sleep on Royal’s arm again. I got to sit up an hour Sat morning and longer in the afternoon. Then I sat up all day Sun & now I feel about up to par again. About all I do is take care of Marjorie & she has been so good and cried very little. She has had the hiccups several times after eating. She eats at 6am – 9 – 12 – 3 –6 – 10 – 2 – 6. I give her her bath before the 9 o’clock feeding. This is quite an experience for me – she is so little & helpless & I feel awful helpless about her.

My problem now is to get clothes to wear. It is as bad as being pregnant. I have to make things open down the front.

I’ll have to wash for her about every other day. Of course Harriet does that now. We are paying her four dollars a week. Not bad. I will probably keep her two weeks.

When I got your letter we gave up hopes of seeing you Easter. Just a work of warning – don’t surprise us because if you can’t come Royal may attend the Prin. & Supt. meeting at Boulder Thurs. & Fri. of next week. He doesn’t have to, but I am going to encourage him rather than just stay here over vacation. If he stays here he will work at school all the time and I think it will do him good to stay away from there for a few days. The contacts one makes at such places are pretty good too. So don’t just drop in on us.

We got notice of a science job in Wyoming. The town is about 5000. I’m not so thrilled over it because I think Royal can do better. Our contract for here has been approved. Plans for a gym are moving right along. Unless we can get something very good my vote would be to stay here another year. I do think Royal is getting tired of the responsibilities and the kicks in the pants that come to any principal. Some people are going to try stirring up another commotion here as a hang over from last year. We are getting impatient to get in a larger place where we can stay long enough to really fix up a home.

Will you tell Miss Long how much I appreciated her letter – I probably won’t get to write her.

Don’t be disappointed over Marjorie's name. I couldn’t show partiality so I didn’t name her for anyone. We just liked the name.

Love Martha

[the following was written in as a last minute thought at the top of letter. rlr]

I wrote Aunt Eva & mentioned that I hoped you would come out Easter. Maybe you had better write her & tell her what you plan to do. I may have blundered by writing that.

Alliance Construction

August 6, 1942 almost exactly 8 month’s after Pearl Harbor. Royal was working a summer job as a government inspector at a new (being build) glider base in Alliance. His letter says Alliance, Colorado but I had thought that it was in Nebraska. I got out the Road Atlas and couldn’t find an Alliance, Colorado. I searched the web no Alliance, Colorado. There were lots of different kinds of alliances in Colorado, but no towns with that name. I was thinking this place just disappeared. Finally I checked Nebraska. There it was about 125-150 miles north of Atwood; Colorado was Alliance, Nebraska. Martha & Royal lived in Atwood and he had been teaching in Sterling. At this point Martha must have been in Atwood with 3 kids (Marj 3 ½, Tom 2, Dick 6 mo.). I think at the end of this summer they moved to Prescott, AZ where Royal almost doubled his teaching salary. Even if you find this description of the construction project boring be sure to read the letter all the way to the last sentence.

320 W 3rd
Alliance, Colorado
Apron #1 Runway #16
Station 27+80
Time 5:00 P.M.
August 6, 1942

I thought it might be interesting to write from the reservation for once. The above information will locate my car almost to the foot. I have been on shift for only an hour. The afternoon crew – except concrete finishers have gone. The finishers are sitting on their bridges over the runway waiting for the chemical action of the mix to harden the concrete sufficiently to it stand up when the joints are cut. One finisher is going along the side of the runway edging the new slab. Two are sitting in the shade of a light house. On my left a big grader just went past. This grader is preparing the sub-grade in runway #12 in order that the form can be set. On my right the mechanics and grease monkeys are swarming over Paver # 535E and Paver #501E getting them ready for the night shift (starts 8:00 Pm –until 6 a.m.). My car is parked in runway #14 and just ahead of the car is four more light houses. (Really a 110 volt Kohler light plant with a small house about the motor. A mast with two 1000 watt lamps mounted on top. Also in the distance sit at interval 50 gallon drums that contain paraffin dissolved in some volatile material used in a spray gun to spray the finished slab – This prevent evaporation of the inherent moisture in the concrete which makes it unnecessary to cure the concrete by spraying with water. This process is called the Hunt Process. This material also contains a red dye that fades in light in about two hours. If it did not fade it would cause such great absorption of heat by the concrete as to drive out the moisture before the curing process was complete. (A dark red surface being a good absorber of heat rays – a white surface being a good reflector.

One of the grease monkeys is now going over the concrete finishing machine. Checking the motor and oiling the machinery. This machine carries the levelers or screeds that work back and forth across over concrete. On the finishing machine are the rubber boots worn by Negro puddlers and the shovels that the use to level the freshly poured concrete in the runway. Just behind the finishing machine of the floaters cart is the bull float. The bull float is worked by two men and is used to level off the concrete and pack it.

One of the mechanics has now just left the mixer and has rolled the wheel barrow in which the vibrator is moved down the runway out to my right on the slab. The vibrator is a little gasoline motor with a mechanical contrivance added that can be used to vibrate the concrete between two adjoining slabs or at a contraction joint. The vibrator is used by two men – they get 80-$1.00 per hour. [not sure what he meant here rlr]

In the distance on my left men swarm around new buildings like flies – barracks, storerooms, warehouses, and a thousand and one buildings are being built. In the same area men are laying water pipes, sewers, hanging light and telephone wires, and building up the utilities that go with a modern city.

In the distance on my right giant dirt haulers, (turnapoles) are driving like mad digging out dirt in one place and hauling it to another in order to prepare grade for another airplane runway.

In spite of all this activity grass and weeds grow right in in the untraveled spots. Beautiful wild sunflowers are blooming unmolested 50 feet from this spot.

Alliance is getting a wonderful airport from this project. The business people are getting more business than they can take care of. But all is not gold that glitters. The usual stragglers are here. There are fights in the new Negro town, the usual influx of disease is here. Gamblers, pickpockets etc. are on every corner. Many of the personnel have been in every state in the union and they know all the answers. Many local people will be spoiled by high wages. Much of the high wages is being paid to greedy landlords. Leon Hendersen has kept the groceries from being a racket. But liquor stores and other vendors are really cleaning up. I must close this and read some in my book. I will be glad to answer questions Sat. morning in person. Any other personal service I can render will be gratefully tendered.

Thursday Evening Letter

If we look at Martha's dates in the blog we see that she and Royal meet in July 1936 in Colorado. In August 1936 (only two or three weeks after they met) she left Colorado to return to Illinois and her teaching job. I am not sure when the plans were made but they decided to get married after the end of the school year and live in southern Colorado. So there was a year of letters with a brief visit of Royal to Illinois at Christmas time. This letter was written sometime before that Christmas trip.

Anyone who has ever has a long distance romance via letters may identify with this. There is a need to write as often as you can and many times during the day you think about how to tell the other about what is going on around you. You can only say I love you and want you so many times so you must begin to find different ways to get the message across. This is certainly a different view of a man we all knew and loved. I have tried to reproduce this letter as close as I can to the original. It is in italics to be similar to the original hand writhing.
RLR

Thursday Evening
(your Sunday Letter)

Dearest,
May you enjoy teaching your Sunday School Class, I bet they will think a lot of the love of the Lord is being showered down when you give them one of those big smiles. I know I should if I could just enjoy such.

A poem Midmorning by Edgar Ward

Know that the dawn has found me
Eager and earnest and Strong
My feet on the way set soundly,
My throat sounding a song.

Know that the dusk shall find me
Glad of the way I trod
The day of my grief behind me
And lifted unto God.

I am now in the office. The lady teachers are having a big Ping-Pong game. I just had to run a group of high school people away to keep them from taking the table. Mr. Lewis and I are both working. He in his office and I in mine. We just ordered some aquarium plants to get the aquariums started again. We shall order some fish later. He wants some guppies and a pair of angel fish. I am not spending much money: however, as I realize there are very important things for all the money I can save.

Mr. Lewis just came down he is going to challenge a pair of the lady teachers for a Ping-Pong game and we are going to show them how it is done.

I might have an automobile after tomorrow. It all depends on whither the man trades or not. We play Lamar a game tomorrow night; I might drive home from it in a new gunmetal, Tudor V-8 built in trunk, exhaust heater, 97 Carburetor, and six ply tires. Don't you think I'd make a good salesman.

Well, dear it would be grand to see you tonight. Every night since I saw you in Denver has been wasted as far as my romance goes. I have maybe put in some light licks on this putrid gray paper (What Judge you by your heart!) Does this paper make you sad when I write thereon? If so, thee must let me know at an early date so that thou needst not be so provoked. Willst thou do so me love? Please, me love do let me know about this matter the next time thou dost take thy pen in hand. Well just remember some artist can make a person cry by one stroke of the brush, my mother always could with one stroke of the hair brush. But when one becomes a man he must put away childish things. Yea, put them far away.

I am rambling on at great length in this letter and saying nothing which means that in my memoirs these letters maybe published as Great letters of a Great Man or the man that we all knew. Perchance they may be taken for a modern Novel if anything I wrote was of Importance. Of course, dear I naturally expect you to be interested since I love you truly, and intend to drag you off to my den in the "Dust Bowl". Does that not make chills go up and down your spine? I was afraid so. But the early days of June must find the knot tied and the pair ready to travel to Northern Colo. I say must of course I mean, with the willingness and consent of the governed. We'll settle all that in the shant Christmas vacation. Time can't go too fast.

This is the goofiest letter I have written, but I feel that way.
Love Royal