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| Rev. Clarence Philo and Nettie Martha England |
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| Nettie Martha England nee Smith. Aka Grandma E. |
When Nettie Martha Smith was born in-between Missisquoi Bay and the border with the United States; in North Pinnacle, Saint Armand, Quebec, Canada, on August 7th, 1870. Her father, Luther Rominor Smith Sr. was 56 years old, and her mother, Chestina, was 39. Nettie was the eighth of nine children born to her parents Luther & Chestina Smith. Her mother began having children at 21 years of age, and finished twenty years later in 1872 at the age of 41 years. Nettie followed in her mother's footsteps. She was the wife of a Baptist Pastor, Clarence Philo England, whom she called C.P. They married on June 30, 1892, in Dunham, Quebec, Canada. Also at the age of 21 years. Together they had six children in twenty years. Nettie lost her first and her last children. Both at young ages. She died just one year after she wrote this letter. Passing away on January 22, 1963, in Sutton, Quebec, Canada. She lived a long, happy and healthy life to the age of 92 years.
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| Rev. Clarence Philo & Nettie Martha England The year of the photo is unknown to me at this time. Photo probably taken by their son, Gordon Philip England. |
Now onto the letter!
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| Grandma Nettie England, reading a letter on her front porch. |
Dear Helen,
Christmas must be over but I rec'd some cards after the 25th.
I've written a lot of letters but-haven't answered yours which I was very glad to rec'; also it-was nice for Ruth to write. Please thank her for me.
(Note: Ruth Sylvia, nee Lorimer (Wenham-Haukenfrers)) is the eldest daughter of Ellsworth Leornard & Helen (Howie) Lorimer.
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| Ellsworth and Helen Lorimer January 1972 Clipped from pg. 22 of the Howie Family Cookbook. |
In fact all your family are very active.
I used to buy a lot at Eaton's, and think I would enjoy it now if I could have you wait on me.
Such work now is very common for married women, but really too much for 'real' home-makers. I wonder if Ellsworth will go to help Clarence, no doubt they are anxious to get their work done. Sometimes I've imagined that your father would like to get all his children to Calif., but don't you think B.C., just as good a place for your children? C's and Evelyn's letter was quite interesting and pleasant to hear except about Ralph B's family, although she thought they are doing quite well taking care of themselves.
(Note: I'm guessing that Ruth might have got a job at Eaton's, I don't think Helen was working there. The T. Eaton Company Limited commonly known as Eaton's, was a Canadian retailer that was once Canada's largest department store chains. B.C. is short for British Columbia. C's and Evelyn is Clarence and Evelyn. Ralph B's is the Bywater family. Helen being the first Howie grandchild, Clarence being the second, Arthur the third, and Grace Marion the 4th. Grace Howie married Ralph Clark Bywater, and she had just past away September 22, 1957, leaving her husband with five young children: three boys and two girls.)
Those little girls are very young 7 & 9 to do much work. Do you know when Ralph's wife left him? Perhaps they are just as happy. Ralph must love his children as he is determined to keep them all together. David now 15 grown to be almost on quite a young man is at High School. He won't for get his mother. May be a great help to his brothers and sisters.
I wonder how many of your cousins you remember.
The Hastings girls are both married and Cristel has boy & girl. Carol (a daughter) she lives either in Washington or Oregon.
(Note: I'm on page 3, and have some clues to research. Who is Cristel and Carol Hastings? This was not easy at first to find, but once I discovered that Austel Hastings, who was already in my tree should be Cristel. Then the light went on for me. She was listed in the 1940 U.S. Census as Austel and I never had anymore on her. I need to go back to the 1940 census and correct her name. The best clue here being a sister named Carol Hastings. I then put 2+2 together. They must be the daughters of Hollis Barnes Hastings (1902-1990). He was a farmer living in Hillsborough, Somerset, New Jersey in 1940. He is one of my 2nd cousins 1X removed. His mother was Myrtle May Barnes (1876 - 1972), she was the daughter of Altha Almeda Smith (1854-1941). Altha being #2 of Luthor & Chestina Smith's nine children. Her younger sister being my Great Grandmother Nettie Martha Smith. So, Altha is my 2nd great aunt. Hollis Barnes Hastings married Iva Margaret Eastwood, nee Fultz. (1902 - 1981). Together they had the two girls mentioned in the letter. Cristel Elizabeth (Hastings) Lucia & Carol Ann (Hastings) Lundy. Solved that puzzle! Cristel's two children are George Hastings Lucia and Margaret Louise Lucia. Their father John Donald Lucia unfortunately past away in 1984. I now have some more new cousins. George has a daughter named Carly. I also found some very sad news here. Margaret had a son Ray Mathew Wendel. He was in a tragic automobile accident at the young age of 16. He was driving and lost control. Went off road and the vehicle turned upside down in a creek where he drowned (1989-2006)).
Hollis Hastings lives in Richford, but Mary H. Hilgerson has bought a house in Neshanic N.J. and this may be her last year teaching. A real Yankee now I believe.
(Note: I just solved above who Hollis Hastings is, but now a new clue. Who is Mary H. Hilgerson? I see that she is a teacher in Neshanic N.J. Hopefully that helps! I looked at the younger sister of Hollis. Mary M. Hastings. Sure enough, on the 1930 U.S. Census she is listed as a teacher. I didn't have any more information on her past 1930. So, I searched using the parameters: teacher, Neshanic, and Hilgerson. I found her! She married Sgt. Douglas C. Hilgerson in Somerset, New Jersey in December 1950. I wasn't able to find if she was able to retire from teaching in 1962. I hope so! She lived till age 70, passing in May of 1976. Followed by her husband Douglas Hilgerson in August 1982.
Harvey Clark's Nancy a graduated nurse married a Dr. and lives in North Carolina.
(Note: Oh boy, the clues are getting a bit more challenging wouldn't ya say? Who is Harvey & Nancy Clark? The first born SMITH, of Luther Rominor Smith (1813-1902) was Nancy Viola Susan (Smith) Clark. She was Nettie's eldest sister . The first out of the nine children born to my second great grandparents Luther Rominor and Chestina (Ewins) Smith. So this makes Nancy my second great aunt. She married Potter Hazzard Clark, January 14, 1880. They only had one child before they both past away. Nancy passing in 1904 in Richford, Franklin, Vermont, age 51. Potter Hazzard then moved out west to Seattle, King, Washington leaving his young little son with the in-laws, Uncle Luther Rominor Smith Jr.(1861-1927). Luther Jr. was a farmer, and he sure had more than his share of tragedy in his life. I will share here one such story, but look for more posts in the future. As for Potter, unfortunately life did not get better. Potter caught Pneumonia when he went out west to Seattle. He died from this illness March 04, 1905, age 53. Just one year before the Great San Francisco Earthquake. It was this little boy, left behind with no parents; Harvey Merritt Clark (1896 -1971) that Grandma England is referring too in her letter. Harvey Merritt Clark worked on his Uncle Luther Rominor Smith Jr.'s farm. He was strong, eager and a healthy young man when he joined the Canadian Military, December 10, 1914 at the age of 18 years, 6 months. He stood 5'8", had a 38" chest, hazel eyes, and brown hair. According to the Canadian military records, he was a healthy young man. He earned $15 per month starting in March of 1915. He was discharged two years later as medically unfit in November 1917. His war ravaged body was left fairly damaged from all that I could dare to read in the medical reports.
Too many surgery's to remove all the metal pieces. I also read about fractures healing, loss of sensation in his limbs, a hernia operation and tumors in his scrotum, not to mention a G.S.W to the neck. Wow! The checks were much larger from 1917 - 1919 about $70 per month all going to his Uncle Luther. I couldn't read it all, it was all too sad. The good thing is that he did survive the war and all his major injuries. A true War Hero! When Harvey got out of the hospital he married Winnifred, "Winnie" Frances Perkins (1894-1967). Not sure exactly yet when they got married but I found they did have children, Edgar Miles Merritt Clark born to them in 1920, and now I have discovered "NANCY!" Yes, I found Nancy the Nurse who married the Doctor and moved to North Carolina. Nancy Frances (Clark) Jordan. She married May 18, 1960 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina to Dr. Graham Alexander Bruce Jordan (1931-1979). That was a major sad story, yet a great discovery. More new 3rd cousins yet to discover!
Your children if they should hear about all of yours and Ellsworth's second & third cousins could say Yes as I know a woman did when visiting a patient whom none but relatives could see. (4) She told me it was through Adam her relationship came. We hear quite often about B.C's over the Radio, but not about the fallout shelters like Diefenbaker's. (Note: she is referring to the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, John Diefenbaker with whom she kept frequent correspondence. I just learned this little tidbit, but read below as I tried to translate the unknown name to Defiant Raker.)
Has Ellsworth built - any?
I am old enough not to want one in this world.
We have a lot of snow, more than last-year. I don't know whether or not your Uncle Arthur will get here this winter.
Train service not so good as it used to be, so last-time he came in winter 2 days were spent here and 3 in stations or train.
I believe they still like N. Liskeard. As usual on Christmas & Birthdays they have lovely flowers delivered to me fresh from Knowlton. It is good I have Esther & Gordon with me. They both keep busy. He typing. She mission circle, Ladies's aid and other things. I do hope you and yours will have guidance and help from above for 1962, no matter this page is full. A whole sheet wouldn't hold my love,
Grandma E.
(Note: so, here I think she is thinking about friends and family who can visit loved ones in the hospital, and is in a way trying to make a lie seem just okay to meet the ends. I have no idea who the friend is, or who Adam was. I don't know her humor, maybe she is being funny here and remarking on Adam & Eve. If so, then she is very much like me here in her way of thinking. Obviously we are all related in some way, form, or fashion. So if you make the trip to the hospital to visit someone, they sure as better let you in to see them, just say; "we are related!" Hmmmm, B.C's... am I seeing this correctly? In the military we use to refer to glasses as BC's. Short for birth control on account they made the person wearing them to ugly to ever get a date. I've researched: bombs, and fall-out shelters. I am just not understanding this term from the 60's as it relates to bomb shelter devices, and what the hell is a raker? Hmmm... you've got me here. Let me know, please, if you know what she is referring to. (Update: my mistranslation has been solved. She was referring to Prime Minister Diefenbaker. ) As to the times, and her question, "Has Ellsworth built-any?" Remember this is the 1960's, and fall-out-shelters are all the buzz! Have a quick listen to some music I found from 1962 by Dore Alpert!
Here is "Fallout Shelter"!
As for my Great Grandmother being "old enough" not to want a fall-out-shelter in her world, let us remember, she was born in 1870! She is 92 years "Young" when writing this letter to her grand-daughter Helen Lorimer. The "Uncle Arthur" here is actually one of her sons. Grandma E. outlived three of her six children. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Uncle Arthur; Twice! Once at a family reunion at my Uncle Robert Howie's house in Menifee California, and then again he came to Seattle, Washington once to visit me in the 1990's when I lived there. I'm sorry, I have no clue! I Googled, N. Liskeard. That is a place in England, not sure if I know here what Grandma E. is referring to. Esther & Gordon are her remaining children. Gordon England the famous pulp fiction author, and Esther, my great-aunt, well, my sister in genealogy! I will write a story here one day, I hope soon on all her work into family history and genealogy.)
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| Rev. C.P. and Nettie England |
There we have it, "The Letter Never Sent!"
Are you excited? I know that I am. We have just covered I believe from the 1813's through to today. About 205 years! We have traveled from the east coast on Canada, and Vermont, to North Carolina in the south, and then out west to Seattle, Washington, in 1905. Way before the famous Space Needle being built some 56 years later in 1961. In a four page hand written letter you can learn so much, don't you think? This letter has really taken me on a wonderful journey. Now you can see that if just this one four page letter can do so much, just imagine what journeys I might embark upon as I begin turning the pages of thirty years of my great grandmothers journals. I hope you have enjoyed this letter as much as I have, and my personal comments I have added for those of you who don't know what or who the heck I am talking about. Maybe, possibly, I will be able to find and share with you many more great stories from the journals.
I'm sorry that I don't have very many photographs to share here to make this letter, and historical journey more exciting. I just discovered all of this! If you are related to anyone in this story, or a child, or grandchild of anyone in this story. Please contact me, and share any/all family photos you might have! I was going to place a link here to the Howie Family Cookbook for those of you who don't have a copy, but I can't find it right off. The LDS library in SLC has digitized a copy, and made it available online to read.
Today's story comes from my paternal family line. More than this, it is my father's, mother's, mother. Nettie Martha (Smith) England, if we are looking at this from a DNA perspective. Is up the mitochondrial line from Helen (Howie) Lorimer. Helen's mother was Ruth Augusta (England) Howie, (1895-1935). Ruth's mother was the author here, Nettie Martha (Smith) England; and her mother was Chestina (Ewins) Smith, wife of Luther Rominor Smith. I haven't yet talked about DNA in any of my blog posts. So today is a good starting point for reference. The haplogroup for the mtDNA for these women is V15. That links back to the Sami people of the north. Try Googling Sami People Eyes, just for FUN!
I didn't plan to, but I am going to leave you with a sad ending to this story. I think the greatest part of this entire journey was learning more about our World War I, Canadian War hero; Harvey Merritt Clark. He fought overseas during war. Took shrapnel and a bullet, yet survived to raise a family which continues on today. I hope to one day get a chance to get back and read more in-depth his Military Medical records. By the way, Harvey lived to be 74 years old, with two children that I have found living so far. He ended up with chronic bronchitis, and chronic emphysema for the last 3-4 years of his life. The end wasn't so great. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, May 5th, 1971 with severe coughing. While still in the hospital, his heart finally gave out two weeks later, on Tuesday, May 18th, 1971 at 2:50 PM. I guess he probably knew what to expect. As his wife, Winnifred, "Winnie" also died from chronic emphysema just four years prior to Harvey. Winnie was 72! She entered the hospital with very similar symptoms as Harvey on Friday, January 27th, 1967. Winnie also had emphysema for several years. But there was a medical accident just three days after her checking into the hospital. She died on Monday, January 30th, 1967 at 7:35 PM at the age of 72. The same day the crew of the U.S. Space Mission Apollo 1 lost their lives to a tragic fire in the space capsule. I could probably locate each of these three men: Lt. Co. Virgil "Gus" Ivan Grissom (Swedish roots), Lt. Col. Edward Higgins White II (Mayflower Connection), and
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| Robert Bruce Chaffee |
Here is a visual to try and make this easier to see:
Here is the letter:
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