Senior Sampler
Stories I have written for the Senior Sampler, my special thanks to Pete and Barbara Leadenham, editors
My Father Knew Pancho Villa
My father knew Pancho Villa, and supported the Mexican revolution by providing peaches, apples, and beef to the revolutionaries. With gunfire ringing in his ears, he held a family meeting, where we all voted to travel to Utah for safety from the war. We would never see home again. Love, grit, and hard work enabled our family to once again prosper in this new land. We owe much to the Americanos who took us in. You can learn more about us and your own ancestors at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saurday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am.
Daddy My Feet Hurt
“Daddy, my feet hurt! I can’t walk anymore.” I looked down at his feet and saw the blood soaked cloth that wrapped them, I then looked back at the trail of red for as far as I could see. Cradling him in my arms for the longest time, I then hoisted him upon my shoulders. He felt so light. Weariness and cold, the neverending pain from pulling this cart from dawn to dusk had distracted me from noticing his pain. I will treat his feet when we stop for the night I thought. When we arrived at camp I reached to lower him down, he was not in pain…he would never feel pain again. You can learn more about us and your ancestors at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saurday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am.
Are You Related? Series
“I have since been in many battles and skirmishes, but I have never witnessed such slaughter and such wild fighting as the British storm of Ticonderoga.” Those words were written by one of Increase Childs fellow soldiers prior to Increase’s joining ‘Putnam and Rogers Raiders,’ the eighteenth century version of today’s green berets. During the French and Indian wars, the Raiders were sent deep into enemy territory to disrupt the opposition forces. On one of Increase’s first assignments the Raiders were ambushed by Indians, and bitter fighting ensued. Vastly outnumbered, the Raiders fought off their attackers, unfortunately their commander major Putnam was taken prisoner. Learn more about Increase, and the fate of major Putnam; are they your relatives? Learn more at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saurday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am
Short Story 1
Musket balls, a full one half inch in diameter, rained down on the vastly superior British force sent to take Fort Carillon. 17,000 British and American fighters against 4,200 French and Indian defenders behind the walls of Fort Carillon, failed to take the fort, losing over a thousand men in the attempt. Increase Child, an American, fighting for the British, distinguished himself that day, enough to be noticed among the many brave souls that fought. He was selected to join ‘Putnam and Rogers Raiders,’ the eighteenth century equivalent of today’s green berets. Learn more about Increase in future stories, find if he is one of your ancestor’s at a FREE Family History Event. The Genealogynow Expo March 14/15 from 9am – 5pm at the Institute Building, 943 East 400 South, Saint George, Utah 84770, URL: genealogynow.org email [email protected]
Short Story 2
In the late 1800’s, about 30 miles north of St. George, lived Richard Robinson and his family. Poor in material things but rich in spirit, Richard found happiness in his life, and was considered a jokester by many. Richard owned two pairs of trousers, one for work one for church. His church pants were made of striped grain sacks, the stripes running down the outside of the legs. One day he ripped his work pants and hurried home to get them fixed, while his wife sewed his pants, he sat at the table in his shirt and underwear. When a neighbor lady walked in Richard warned her not to look under the table. Curiosity got the better of her, and when she glanced under the table her face reddened and she rushed out of the house. Find out how this lady got her revenge on Richard in a future article. Are you related to Richard? Learn more at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saturday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am. For more information go to www.genealogynow.org
Short Story 3
The day major Putnam was taken prisoner by the Indians in the French and Indian war, Increase Child, a member of Putnam and Rogers raiders, had five musket balls pierce his clothing rendering him no harm, the Lord was watching over him. Major Putnam was tortured by the Indians and did not talk, the Indians made preparations to burn him alive until a French officer stepped in and saved his life. A prisoner exchange was negotiated between the British and French, major Putnam was returned to his unit. After recovering, major Putnam, now Lt. Col. Putnam, rejoined the raiders as their commanding officer. Are they your relatives? Learn more at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saturday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am. For more information go to www.genealogynow.org
Short Story 4
Clotilda Godwin enjoyed visiting relatives in Virginia during the revolutionary war. Clotilda, a strikingly beautiful young woman loved the attention she received while riding her horse in the city of Williamsburg. Her loveliness even more noticeable this day as she rode around dressed in a brilliant blue dress. A group of American soldiers in a hurry stopped to talk to her about the British redcoats close behind. This fork in the road, and Clotilda, could mean the difference between capture, and freedom. Only moments after the Americans had disappeared from view, the redcoats appeared startling Clotilda, who reached down to sooth her horse. The British officer, thinking Clotilda could furnish information about the rebels, questioned her. Her beauty, charm, and wit engaged the young officer for what Clo’ reasoned to be enough time for the prey to have escaped. With a cheerful disposition she told the officer exactly the direction the Americans had gone. Disbelieving her, the British took the other fork in the road, thereby ensuring the safety of the American soldiers. Learn more at a FREE Family History Event, The Genealogynow Expo, Held Friday and Saturday, March 14th, and 15th at 943 East 400 South in Saint George, starting both days at 9am. For more information go to www.genealogynow.org
Sunny's Divine Inspiration 1
Nancy Ruth Schweer, ‘Sunny’ to her friends, was a little over five years of age in the early forties, and today would be a turning point in her life that would last her a lifetime. Born to parents that did not want children, and if they did, they wanted a boy. Sunny was destined to make her mark on society. After school she was expected to help on the Illinois farm, today was no different, wash the blades of the tractor drawn plow, and apply grease to prevent them from rusting. With the cleaning done Sunny set about greasing the blades, when the sun reached the exact spot in the sky necessary to shine through the holes in the metal tractor seat, and break the shadows at Sunny’s feet into shiny dots. This was Sunny’s, as she would tell it, Divine Inspiration. Sunny noticed the seat of the tractor, that it was metal, as was the steering wheel, and gear shift lever. Find out Sunny’s thoughts and actions in future Senior Sampler editions. Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Sunny's Divine Inspiration 2
Nancy ‘Sunny’ Schweer, at five years old was helping out on her parents, Illinois farm, she cleaned the blades of the tractor drawn plow and had noticed the pattern at her feet made by the sun shining through the holes on the tractor seat. This was a moment, as Sunny called it, of Divine Inspiration. Sunny’s father often got help during the plowing and harvest seasons from the neighbor’s hired hand, who after work for the neighbor, would come over, climb on the tractor, start it up and off he would go, never wasting time on pleasantries. He was very tall, wafer thin, and strode, almost mechanically wherever he went. Looking at the pattern made by the sun shining through the tractor seat, Sunny’s five year old mind figured that if the blades needed greasing to prevent rust, then surely the tractor seat, steering wheel, and gear shift lever, which were all metal, needed greasing too. When the greasing was done she spotted the hired hand leaving the neighboring farm, striding toward the tractor for an evening of plowing. Sunny felt it prudent to hide behind a nearby hedge, which offered a good view of the tractor. Within seconds after the hired hand climbed on the tractor, the air turned blue with words no five year old should hear, Sunny’s father came running from the barn to see what all the noise was about.
Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Sunny's Divine Inspiration 3
Sunny, Nancy Ruth Schweer, had very mixed feelings, between joy and dread, as she watched the neighbors hired hand climb down from the tractor which she had recently greased the seat, steering wheel, and gear shift lever. Her father had come to see what the ‘ruckus’ was about, and expressed his sympathy to the hired hand while helping remove the grease from him, and the tractor with gunny sacks. It was late before Sunny entered her home, where mother said “Off to bed with you, my girl, and no supper.” That same evening mother and father were entertaining a neighbor couple, and Sunny, being inquisitive, crept down the stairs to listen. What she heard was her father’s opening statement, “Do you what that girl of mine did today?” Of course Sunny strained even harder to hear what was being said. Once father had recounted the events of the day, the laughter was so loud and infectious, Sunny feared she might be heard. Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Sunny's Divine Inspiration 4
Nancy Schweer, ‘Sunny,’ received her nickname from Grandpa. To Grandpa, Nancy was his ‘ray of sunshine, hence the name ‘Sunny.’ Grandpa was a big man, a big man with big hands, with one hand he was able to pick up a ripe watermelon. Grandpa and Sunny would laugh often. This was a time like those with Grandpa, only Grandpa wasn’t here, and Sunny was the subject of her parents, and their visitor’s laughter. Sunny had greased the seat of her fathers tractor, and father’s helper from the neighboring farm had fallen afoul of it to the seeming delight of all, except Sunny, who had been sent to bed without supper.
Walking home from school the following day, Sunny noticed the long willow stick in the hand of the neighbor’s hired hand. Sunny knew the meaning of this, but was not too worried about it, after all she was in the prime of her life at about five and a half years, and he was an old man, over thirty. By the time she reached home, Sunny’s legs were red at the backs of her thighs and calves, and her respect for the hired hand had grown immeasurably with the amazement that such an old man could move so fast. Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Walking home from school the following day, Sunny noticed the long willow stick in the hand of the neighbor’s hired hand. Sunny knew the meaning of this, but was not too worried about it, after all she was in the prime of her life at about five and a half years, and he was an old man, over thirty. By the time she reached home, Sunny’s legs were red at the backs of her thighs and calves, and her respect for the hired hand had grown immeasurably with the amazement that such an old man could move so fast. Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
Sunny's Epilogue
Recently I wrote about Nancy Ruth Schweer, or Sunny, and her adventures while growing up. Nancy died in 2003 of an aneurism after being sick for many years. A year and a half after her death, the collection arm of the medical provider who cared for Sunny for the last few years of her life, wrote her that her condition may have been the result of an accident, and if that were to be the case, some party may be financially responsible. This is her husbands reply to that letter.
1. Please send any future mail to Nancy, care of St George Cemetery, Plat K, Block 9, Plot 1, 700 East St. St George, UT 84770. Ask the mail carrier to remove the flower vase in the headstone, and to drop the mail through the hole above her casket. She may come up and check it from time to time.
2. If you would like to get the story directly from her, have your clairvoyant go to the cemetery. Nancy should be there if she is not on the Oprah show. The Plot is easy to find. It is adjacent to 700 East St., just above the bus stop.
3. I am not aware of any injuries to her resulting from an accident. I’m not even aware of her being in an accident on or about 3/1/2003. However, for your purpose and to be certain, you may want to check with God, He should know what happened since he called her home.
Very truly yours, Her widowed husband.
Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
1. Please send any future mail to Nancy, care of St George Cemetery, Plat K, Block 9, Plot 1, 700 East St. St George, UT 84770. Ask the mail carrier to remove the flower vase in the headstone, and to drop the mail through the hole above her casket. She may come up and check it from time to time.
2. If you would like to get the story directly from her, have your clairvoyant go to the cemetery. Nancy should be there if she is not on the Oprah show. The Plot is easy to find. It is adjacent to 700 East St., just above the bus stop.
3. I am not aware of any injuries to her resulting from an accident. I’m not even aware of her being in an accident on or about 3/1/2003. However, for your purpose and to be certain, you may want to check with God, He should know what happened since he called her home.
Very truly yours, Her widowed husband.
Is Sunny one of your family? Find out at the Family Search Library, located at 162 N. 400 E. 2nd Floor, St. George. Visit us at genealogynow.org
