REMEMBERING JENNIE by Nancy Thatcher Cerny
Jennie was the first child and only daughter of Nathaniel R. and Lydia (Carpenter) Thatcher. Although her birthday is Apri Fool's Day, 1837, Jennie was no fool. She was an only child until age fourteen when her only sibling, Lewis Ellsworth Thatcher was born 18 October 1851.
Our Jennie would be considered a bright and cheerful young girl, an outgoing spinster and wholesome woman of her time. She was well educated, found pleasure and success in wielding a sewing needle as a seamstress and took a hands-on interest in her father's nursery business. She was not only informed but was involved in growing and successfully selling plants and flowers. At the same time, she was attuned with the political temperment of the times, the Civil War and WW I, as well as a woman's role in society. Her family, being of moderate means, was viewed in the community as intelligent, productive, honest and respected. Although Jennie would never be considered an equal to her father, or any man, she was, in fact, his business administrator, advisor and partner. At the same time she was able to maintain all her feminine demeanor, behavior and social standing in their somewhat snobbish community, being invited and attending important teas, dinners, meetings and activities with those women considered the social backbone of LaGrange, Illinois.
She never married. Even in one of the last conversations I (Nancy) had with my oldest brother, Lewis - great-nephew of Jennie - he mentioned again the rumor that Jennie had a suitor at the time of the Civil War. It was said the man returned from that conflict sans an arm and Jennie refused to marry him. Specuation has it that this was not a real romance but an acquaintance; that he had fought on the 'wrong' side of the war; or that Jennie knew the burden of labor would fall to her if she married a man with one arm. Nobody knows for sure. But, I do remember my dad saying there was a gun kept at her house; one with an unusual butt stock, especially designed for balance when in use by a person with just one arm.
The family knew Jenny was the spirit of renewal when her father's business partnership in Naperville went bankrupt. Nathaniel apparently was disheartened and possibly depressed while Jenny was angered to action. She encouraged, insisting, their nursery stock be moved with them to LaGrange and a new business developed from it. And so it happened. The Thatcher Nursery became known particularly for its giant Lily of the Valley, its fragrant French Violets, Snowball and Lilac bushes and blooms and their Jack Roses used to blanket the winning horse following some important horse race.
Winters were long in northern Illinois and Jennie not only kept the home fires burning, but she kept correspondence with friends and relatives, she filled scrapbooks of clippings from newspaper articles and alone, after her parents had died, she kept a Weather Diary from 1915 till 1923. She had a great interest in family genealogy and some of us, three generations later, have taken up the same interest - using her notes, books, clippings and diary. They have been a treasure to us - colorful pieces, shards perhaps, like the chips in a kaleidscope - as they continually present beautiful yet ever-changing pictures of our family history.
Here is a brief flimpse of our Aunt Jennie, alone in her LaGrange home. Her brother Lewis, a railroad man, lives less than a block from her house with his wife Min and two spinster daughers Mabel and Maude, while his sons Frank and Clarence, with their families, each resides about a mile away. Jennie is 78 years old. She is seated at the secretary, a small, carefully crafted desk with a drop-leaf writing surface. Though it is near to one of her heating stoves, a shawl is wrapped about her shoulders; her steel rimmed glasses rest upon her nose as she dips a pen into the ink pot and writes a brief, or perhaps wordier notation in a little 3 1/2" x 6" black notebook - her Weather Diary: {Jennie's Diary from Nov 16, 1915 until Nov 10, 1923, is presented as a separate Thatcher Magazine Blog.}
November 10, 1923 is the last entry in the Weather Diary. Jennie May Thatcher died just six days later. The diary entries in March and April of 1923 bcame increasingly more difficult to read. The weather diary seemed to contain more commentary May through October of that year, then went back to a more succinct weather format October 31 to the end.
Family legend has it that Jennie aadmitted to not feeling well on the 16th. She made her way to the home of a neighbor - where, it is said, she laid down on their couch and she died.
Good-bye Aunt Jennie. You have been an effetive diarist and collector of our family history. You left for us a rich heritage and an admirable personality for our females to imitate. Oh, how we have pored over your notes and books and clippings and felt a warm closeness to you, like gathering together around one of your stoves or enjoying a visit on one of your nice, warm days. We send our Love To You... from five or six generations of Nathaniel R. and Lydia (Carpenter) thatcher descendants ....
~ ~ ~
I have more articlels to share regarding our interesting, amazing, feisty and fascinating, red-haired Aunt Jennie May Thatcher. (Family members who knew her believed her red hair had something to do with her feistiness. Subsequently, Thatcher descendants are both thrilled and apprehensive when a new baby arrives with red hair.) Jennie told us about the Zouves through clippings and our Lake Circus relatives in photographs; her scrapbooks are full of interesting items and poetry you will want to know about; the LaGrange newspaper printed articles about Jennie, the people and things of special interrest to her.... I am sure you recognize now that Jennie had a particular interest in weather because she WAS a nurseryman. She was also dedicated to her famiy, her community and her country. Through it all, our Aunt Jennie May thatcher was a lady. - Nancy y Te \\
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
From the Commonwealth of VA from Sandy:
-Hello from the tundra of Virginia. We have had enough snow - Burt and Samantha shoveled out half the driveway ... only one car got out for a couple of days. We never lost power but Bob and family were without power several days - having to cook on the BBQ and light with candles. Jim and Bob were able to get his long driveway plowed. Still, he had to park at the top of his hill to get out to go to work. We are now toasty and warm - and hope we are through with the white stuff !!! @ Sandy
Take a Look at Beth's Latest Artwork:
@ her proud Father Robert {This is really a unique book presentation. @ Nancy y Te}
LaGrange Update from Joyce:
-Helen is doing well - may need to haveanother surgery to correct her cataract surgery.
-Sandy and Art will be going to Alaska in June.
-It is four years since Dad (Ralph) died. I miss him every day. Guess we were closer than I realized, but I know Sandy, Art and I spent his last few years with him doing all the things he enjoyed doing.
-Violet will be coming this weekend - it will be crazy for sure as she never slows down.
-I will be taking her to watch chuck's boys play basketball.
-We are under a winter storm watch - We may get 12 more inches of snow - Yippeeeeee. I love snow. (Yep, I am weird.) @ Joyce
FYI about Aspirin - from Bruce:
-If you take an aspirin, take it at night. Aspirin has a 24-hour 'half-life' therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the aspirin would be strongest in your system. AND Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest - years. When it gets old, it smells like inegar... @ Bruce
Some Trivia from Dugthatch:
-Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled 'gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden' thus, the word GOLF enterd into the English language.
-The cose of raising a medium-size dog to age of eleven = $16,400.
-If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse h one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. Thanks, dugthatch
THE SISTERS by Marjorie
For the past three years, Nancy and I have been meeting in Branson every three months to attend OWL (Ozark Writers League) meetings. I also joined OWL even though I am not a writer; I figured that the group pays for speakers, door prizes and time and energy to put on a good meeting, so I too should contribute.
Even though I do not write, I do learn from the speakers. You can apply organization, attitude, confidence and energy into anything and everything you do. The speakers cover all these topics and some are also photographers, discussing their skills and knowledge. Because of the electronic world we live in, short story writers, web masters, monthly topic writers and most other writers now do their own photography to go along with their stories.
This month, March, is the annual Art, Photography and Craft Contest at the OWL meeting. I thought of entering the photo part of the contest the past two years but never did. This year, I have again thought of entering.
For starters, I spent days going through my photos in the computer. I wrote down the path to find the photos later for some are in unmarked or mixed folders (something to fix on a snow or rain day). I purchased photo paper (I like matte best), matting for the pictures, cardstock to back the pictures and two-sided tape. I am now ready and organizaed - or so I thought. I downloaded the photos I wanted to review into their own folder, which I called CONTEST. I pulled up one photo at a atime, looked it over and decided 'yea' or 'nay.' I then cropped the yeas and again decided on the ones I may want to use or eliminate. Once satisfied with the photos I wanted to use, I went about printing them. You can submit 4x7 "or 8x10" photos. Each must be matted, but not framed, having identifying information on a card attached to the back of each entry photo. Well, that is clear on what they want so, off to printing.
I could not get them to print 8 x 10 size photos. I went into the layout and even put in a one inch grid, dragged the photo the eight inches and ten wide, then struck the print key. The printout was NOT 8x10. I tried many things with no satisfaction. I walked away from the project for a few days, complaining to all that would listen. I decided I had to check on the printer. I thought , "Maybe I have to tell the printer what I need."
After another round of page set-up (layout), I think I have it figured out. So, pushed the print and I now have an 8x10" printout. I cropped the 8"x10" paper and taped my print to the mat. Finding the photo paper was not very heavy, I had to add the card stock to the bak for a sturdy unit.
I did get five or six photos ready and submitted my count of photos to be entered to the committee. Nancy had been working on her photos to be submitted, too. We are looking forward to February 20th and the contest.
Best of all, Nancy and I will have a day to enjoy together. by Marge
THE SISTERS by Nancy
In the past few years, Marjorie and I have joined our interests and efforts. We not only admire and encourage one another in our individual projects, we have found some interests in common. Living in this e- world, we cannot be a writer without digital photography or a photographer without words - at least in publication. Learning together, we have fun and may become world famous in our successes.
As members of OWL, we meet in Branson for quarterly seminars, workshops, lunch and and an excuse to spend a day together at the College of the Ozarks. That's the college Lewis (Bud) supported and was proud of during the many years he lived in Missouri. OWL is the perfect excuse for Marjorie and me to learn about the elements of publication. After all, Frank was editor and publisher of the annual Family History News and together they photographed and documented Shop With A Cop each year - a project Frank took special pride in. He even tried to help me learn to manage a digital camera. While Frank and Marjorie were writing, photographing and publishing, I wrote some stories for publication - including the annual OWL anthology, Echoes Of The Ozarks. All those OWL seminars were put to our best use when Marjorie and I tried to walk in Frank Speer's shoes to edit and publish the 2009 Family History News!
We did try to meet OWL's latest photography challenge. Although both of us will be entering a few pics, I admit to having a cheap little camera that happened to catch a couple pretty shots. Marjorie, familiar with a camers, has some fantastic photos for this competition. I'm sure we will see her name in the headlines - but we have to wait until the end of May to learn the results! @ Nancy y Te
In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. ~ Kathy Norris
It is not work unless you would rather be doing something else. ~ J. M. Barrie
STORIES TO SHARE - Nancy's recollections:
I must have been really young when I remember all three boys, Clitz, Roy and Ralph, lying on the living room floor on Sunday morning, reading the newspaper funnies. I would walk over them and sit on their backs and ask them to read the funnies to me. I remember them laughing and acting as though the cartoons were funny but I didn't get the joke. So, I couldn't wait until I was able to read them myself. Later, I would sit on the couch with Ralph or Roy helping me read the funnies word by word. It took years before I figured out what was funny about the funnies.
I believe I was in kindergarten or first grade when both Roy and Ralph attended Congress Park School. Most of my life is a blank but one thing I remember is that the three of us were late - on at least one occasion. roy grabbed one of my hands and Ralph the other and they ran as fast as they could up the alley from out house to the school. My feet never touched the ground! Then, another time, it must have been after Roy went to high school, we were going to be late again so Ralph took my wrist and started running up the alley; actually dragging me, stumbling, tripping and trying to run sideways to keep in step with him. I'm sure I felt very lonely when I walked to school all by myself after Ralph graduated. @ Nancy y Te
INTERESTING STUFF: Thatcher, a 2010 OLYMPIAN
Were you watching the 2010 Olympics at Vancouver, B.S.? Did you catch a glimpse of #5, a forward on the U. S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team?
Joyce sent an email February 12th: Hey Aunt Nancy - there is a Karen Thatcher on the US Women's hockey team from Blaine, Washington - could she possibly be a relative? We saw her on TV last night and boy - if she doesn't have some of our Thatcher traits - (Maybe just wishful thinking.)
Here's the scoop @Wikipedia, Google, USAhockey.com and friars.com:
-2010 Olympics at Vancouver, British Columbia - Karen E. Thatcher, a forward, wearing number 5, was selected to represent the United States as a member of the 2010 U. S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team.
-Karen 5'8" and shoots left handed, was born 29 February 1984 at Douglas, Massachusetts. She played hockey from about 1998, including as a 'friar' for Providence College where she earned a biology degree in 2006.
While we hadn't known of Karen E. Thatcher, Olympian, until now, she may (or not) be one of our relatives. Certainly her facial features (much like a blonde version of our own Joyce) could make her one of us. Karen's ability to play hockey is definitely reminiscent of Joyce - who had to hide her feminine identity with heavy goalie armor and her long red hair twirled up in a helmet. Joyce surprised everyone as an outstanding goal tender in those days when 'girls' were not allowed to play hockey - or be sharpshooters in the Army or torpedo handlers in the Navy or even pilot a helicopter with the First Cavalry. Oh, how times have changed!
The good news is that Karen may be a Thatcher relative. The sad news is that any blood connection we may have with her would be many generations back - through a son of Capt. Bartholomew Thatcher (Revolutionary War era) or rearlier. It makes little difference however, since we are confident a Thatcher is a a Thatcher and a winner is a winner. The championship playoff between the U.S. and Canada took place on February 25th when the U.S.A. team took SILVER. Congratulations, Karen; you are the first family member we know who brought home an Olympic medal - and Silver at that... To see for yourself, all you need do is Google Karen Thatcher/USAHockey Magazine or go to USAhockey.com.
Welcome to our Thatcher family, Karen. Nice to Meet You ! Nancy y Te
BLOG
This BLOG is intended as a magazine of monthly editions with five major categories: Family History, Family Newsletter, The Sisters, Inspiration, Stories to Share.
Family members are welcome to contribute to the blog, Thatcher Magazine, by accessing the editor through either 'comment' space on the blogsite or by emailing nktcerny@suddenlink.net or phoning (870) 425-8264. (You can use snail mail if you prefer.) To date, I know only how to manage (transcribed) print information (no pictures, cut/paste, sophisticated presentations).
OK. I'M JUST SITTING HERE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU ! Nancy y Te
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