FAMILY HISTORY
Jennie May Thatcher and Her Flowers
Quotes & summary of "Growing Flowers for Market" by Forrest Crissey
Jennie's cliping Book I, dated March 17, 1906 (newspaper source unknown)
"There are several choice and valuable building lots in LaGrange, Illinois - a residential suburb about sixteen miles from chicago - which are owned by a woman and were paid for from the output of her flower beds." So begins an interesting look into the life of our Aunt Jennie Thatcher.
The story of how Miss Jennie M. Thatcher became the pioneer of ameteur flower-growers for the Chicago market is like a chapter from a quiet New England romance ... a charming tale of thrift, persererance and industry, according to Forrest Chrissey, news reporter.
Jennie's father was Nathaniel Thatcher, a partner with Lewis Ellsworth in a flourishing and profitable nursery business for twenty-five years. In an unfortunate 1874 business venture, they met a decided reverse, Thatcher finding himself the possessor of mere remnants of the tree nursery - a commodity he was at liberty to take or leave, as he might choose. Miss Thatcher's reaction was that of true New England spirit as she was determined that those 'remnants' of a liflong business were no way of settling a partner's "bad debts."
She had worked as a seamstress, at the prosperous wages of $1.50 a day and had put aside quite a snug little sum. She at once informed the family that she would spend every cent of her savings to move the nursery stock from the Naperville business to LaGrange, een if they had to make a bonfire of it, rather than leave it behind. A homestead was bought in LaGrange and a small amount paid down on it with the balance being secured by a mortgage. All the energies of the family were instantly and fully dedicated to the lifting of the mortgage - and Miss Thatcher's nimble needle was reckoned quite as able an aid in this warfare as the strawberry bed or the blackberry patch. There was no bonfire. Instead, every tree, bush, vine, shrub and bulb was carefully planted and nurtured.
Early in the spring, as Miss Thatcher took a Sabbath stroll about the place, she saw that the Deutzia gracilis had burst into prodigal bloom. Its sprays of delicate white blossoms seemed all the more welcome because there were almost no other blooms in sight to offer rival charms.
"How nice they look!" she remarked to her father. "They are just as pretty as anything you can see in the window of a flower store in the city." Her own words contained the seed of suggestion which flowered into a rather daring determination. Very quietly - almost secretly - she cut a big basketful of the beautiful sprays and, next morning, put it upon her arm and took the cars (CB&Q or streetcar) for the city.
There were no wholesale florist shops in those days - only four years after the great Chicago fire - and so she went into the first retail flower store that came in her way. Lifting the cover of her basket, she displayed her wares to the proprietor.
"Those do look nice and fresh," he remarked, "but of course, there isn't very much demand for them. Besides, we have so much spoil on our hands, you understand, that we can't afford to pay what it's really worth to grow them."
Miss Thatcher, unfamiliar with the discouraging statements of the florist, heard many variations on this theme in the thirty years since then. However, the florist offered her two dollars for her blooms. She accepted eagerly and went her way rejoicing - and figuring on a new and unheard-of line of attach upon the mortgage. Her fare in and out had been thirty-five cents, but she concluded the returns were better than those to be had by sewing ten hours; and the work pleasanter. Next day, she was again in the city with another basket of gracilis sprays and a determination to learn how to turn all the "flower stock" from the old nursery to good account.
By going to another store, she learned that she had parted with her ware at too cheap a price, and that she must play the game of barter and trade. Her next offering was in the form of great clusters of peonies - the very early red variety.
Although her first season's experience in flowers did not leave Miss Thatcher with a bank account of sensational proportions, she saw clearly that there was something substantial to be made from this pleasant avocation, and she began to plan for the next spring so that every salable blossom should be marketed. The first of these was the fragrant plumes from the luxuriant clumps of lilacs - a part of the old nursery remnant that was not expected to yield anything but gratuitous springtime perfume. The choicest clusters of these white and purple blooms were cut and carried to the city, bringing the plucky vender ten cents a bunch for the white and five cents for the purple. Though they were bulkly and did not command a large price, they yielded so abundantly that the total revenue from the lilac busines was very satisfactory.
The peony beds also brought a fair return, particularly as they required very little labor or attention beyond being covered in the fall. For the early reds she secured a 'fancy' price and the late pink and white blossoms also sold well. Altogether, the peoonies averaged at least fifty cents a dozen and yielded generously. Year after year she worked to have the early ones earlier and to hold back the late varieties until they had little competition in the market.
The common snowball was in full bloom on Decoration Day and met a ready sale for that occasion with a single order bringing $7.50. In earlier years when "set pieces" were in greater favor, the globe of the snowballs were torn into pieces and the fragments used in a popular kind of decorative work. Now, however, there is little demand of this kind, and Memorial Day was about the only time when there is a reliable call for snowball blooms.
The close of Miss Thatcher's first full year in the business left in her hands a net profit of fully one hundred dollars and stronger determination to master the problem of growing flowers at home for the market. Although her bed of native Lilies-of-the-Valley had been decidedly profitable, she learned that the 'bells' of the imported variety were much larger and more numerous. Consequently she secured a thousand of the imported plants. The dainty sprays from these brought her as high as three cents apiece. All the leaves that went to market with the blooms were cut from the old bed of native plants. The first cuttings of Lilies-of-the-Valley were generlly made about the middle of May. The newly planted "valleys" do not bloom freely until at least three years of age when the harvest increases in volume for several years.
Indirectly, the bed of 'native valleys' led Miss Thatcher to one of her most signal triumphs. She became ambitious to grow "Jac" roses and, by dint of considerable inquiry, found a man who was willing to trade her a quantity of "Jacs" for an equal number of "valleys" taken from the original bed. These, however, did not meet the measure of her ambition, and she paid cash to another dealer for more plants of this favorite rose.
Upon her bed of "Jacs" Miss Thatcher lavished an amount of care, labor and tenderness that could not fail of a generous reward, and they gave her of their rich and fragrant blooms in a measure that fully satisfied her expectations. At first she tried to carry the blooms to market in boxes, but finally her father had an inspiration which solved the problem in a most original and satisfactory way. One morning he came into the home with his arms loaded with huge burdock leaves. Taking a cluster of the roses, he wrapped them in the folds of the cool, damp burdock leaf - the stem sticking out below the old armor which protected the blooms. This ingenious wrapping interested the florist, and when the burdock leaves were removed, the roses were invariably found to be in excellent condition - better than those handled in any other manner. The prices which she secured for the first-fruits of her investment in "Jacs" brought her fifty to seventy-five cents a dozen and she gradually increased the stock until she had not fewer than two hundred in blooming condition.
The climax of Miss Thatcher's experience as a grower of "Jac" roses came most unexpectedly. It was back in '88 before the modern American Beauty had crowded every other display rose to the wall. It was the day before the Derby was to run at Washington Park. Her beds of "Jacs" were at their best and she had never carried into the city so heavy a cutting from them as loaded down her baskets that day.
Most unexpectedly, however, she did not meet with a ready buyer for them. Either the florists to whom they were offered did not want them at all, or else the prices at which they would take the roses were too low. This was a keen disappointment to her, and not in her whole experience had she felt more discouraged than when she waslked down the steps into the flower shop kept by "Mike" Gallagher, one of Chicago's pioneer florists. She told herself that if he did not want them she'd ask him to put them in his refrigerator over night.
The moment he lifted the covering of the basket and saw the green stems of the roses - their heads hid in the hoods of burdock leaves, he exclaimed, "Just the thing! I've got the order for decorating the winner of the Derby tomorrow, and I'll make the saddle of Jac roses, that I will. But it will take a heap of them. And I'll need five dozen with long stems to do the bridle. Can you get me a lot more?"
Every available bloom was taken from the bushes the next morning, the two days' cuttings amounting to sixty-five dozen in all, for which she received $23.50. The "Duke of Norfolk," owned by "Lucky" Baldwin and ridden by "The Black Archer," was the winner. As the dusky jockey was lifted from his mount, a saddle of "Jac" roses was thrown upon the back of the big bay and nodding clusters tied upon his bridle while thousands of spectators yelled themselves hoarse at the spectacle. Even Lucky Baldwin, himself, almost wild with delight over his triumph, took little more quiet and abiding satisfaction in the event than did the woman who had grown the roses so cleverly massed into the shape of a saddle. She did not see the flourish of hats, parasols and handkerchiefs in the grand-stand.... The conclusion of this article could not be found in Jennie's Clipping books - believe me, we looked and looked for the missing words! Ntc
Editor's note: We descendants, both male and female, of Nathaniel and Lydia Carpetner Thatcher, do often, and with some rgularity, exhibit traits of thrift, ingenuity, creativity and industry - along with determination, perseverance and outright stubbornness - all in a polite manner - with respect and grace. (Some of us even have green thumbs) Thank you for DNA we can be proud of!
As a young girl and teenager, I remember Aunt May and Maud's side lot garden, under ancient oak trees, as a carpet of tall, pointed green leaves and the bigtest, most fragrant Lily-of-the-valley ai have ever seen. There were breen areas of round-leafed Violets - violets with blooms as large as a quarter; a big patch of them grew in my Dad's garden in Congress Park where we picked them and Mother showed them off in a beautirful vase set in the middle of our dining table. There were beautiful, fragrant flowers on our dining room table almost every season of the year.
Did I mention that Jennie May Thatcher was a red-head? Could that genetic trait be the overriding reason her obvious and apparent stubborn traits mentioned above seem more apparent, visible, obvious and blatant in those Thatcher descendants with red hair? My mother was a bit wary and concerned at the fat that I arrived with red hair (and I could never understand her apprehension). She seemed to think red hair made me unpredicatable - or some such thing. somehow she feared I would be just like Jennie ....
As for myself, I was fascinated by my great-aunt Jennie. I heard a lot about her from
dad and Mother, May and Maude, and learned more about her by reading her notebooks and clippings, discovering the things that interested her. I would love to have met her and talk with her. In my mind's eye, Jennie was a combination of the qualities of Dad and Mom, May and Maude - perhaps a bit more dynamic and definitely more colorful than any one of them. Not a bad combination - red hair or not! Nancy Thatcher Cerny 01 April 2010 \\
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
from Nancy in Mountain Home, AR
Since we didn't hear much family news for this April 2010 Blog, I'll just mention we have two cats living with Carol and me.
Daphne-Dum-Dilly has lived here twelve years. Then, last fall, a sneaky feline began cozying up to Carol. (Cats have a tendency to do that with her.) After some investigation, nobody claimed ownership of this odd-looking stray. A neitered male, he made strange noises - not like meowing or purring. He was quite thin with a very long body and lets, standing head and shoulders above Daphne and 1/3 more in body length.
Carol, of course, thought we should keep him. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of another cat - especially an indoor-ourdoor cat, but she persuaded me.
We took him to the vet who listed him as 7 years old but she would not speculate on what breed of cat hemight be. In spite of living in the woods, he had no ticks, no fleas, no worms or other disagreeables. He was healthy enough to allow in the house with my 'fat' cat.
I named him Galaxy Star Chaser because his spots are stars tht change shape as he moves. The two cats are learning to tolerate one another.
Since he has a look about him that is tall, long, lean, strange, odd and different from any other cat, I recommend you look him up on line at: www.Most-Expensive.net/Cat-Breed. That's our Galaxy! ntc \
THE SISTERS - by Marjorie
With April just around the corner, Nancy and I prepare for a new journey.
We will take a bus tour to Washington DC. We are calling to get each others opinion on hat we are taking, what we think we need, what will the weather be like? We are used to jumping in the car and having plenty of room to take all we want and need, leave when we want, stop where we wnt and, in general, we are very independent. This is a new experience for us and it is with great anticipation for a fun, eventful and interesting trip. I can sit back and leave the driving and planning to someone else and Nancy can sit back and not have to read the maps or program Rhoda, my GPS (On-the-Rhod-A-gain). We are allowed one suitcase tht will be in the luggage compartment and one carry-on to keep with us. Now we are questioning what size carry-on. I will ring one of my old ackpacks for it sips closed to throw overhead and has plenty of room. I just need extra shoes, snacks and a sweater near as well as water to drink. We are expecting a fun time together - We'll let you know how things go. Marjorie
We'll meet in Springfield, MO on Wed., April 7; board the Sunnyland Tours and Travel bus in the wee hours of April 8th, and hope to arrive in Washington DC in time for the Cherry Blossoms and the Festival. Our return date is april 15th. Ntc
INSPIRATION
"If ever a time should come, ,when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." ---Samuel Adams ----- 1776
SPRING THOUGHTS
First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us.
and now before the eye can focus - Crocus
--Lilja Rogers
BED IN SUMMER
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
to have to go to bed by day?
---Robert Louis Stevenson
STORIES TO SHARE
Jennie's Clipping book #7, transcription nktc May 2003
ERECT A HANDSOME CLOCK
LaGrange State Bank Putting Up
Large Illuminated Clock on Corner of Fifth and Burlington
LaGrange is to have a large, illuminated clock place so conspicuously that it will be visible to commuters hurrying to and from Fifth avenue station, for which thanks are due to the LaGrange State Bank people who are leaving nothing undone that will contribute to the attractiveness of the new building or be an accommodation to the public.
The new clock stands about seventeen feet high on the southeast corner of Fifth and Burlington avenues, far enough out so it is not hidden by the trees and the large dials can be seen for considerable distance in all directions. It will be illuminated at night so that time can be read as easily after dark as at noonday.
It is a Seth Thomas clock and is guaranteed to accuracy so that hyrrying suburbanites can depend upon it. The company is putting it up with the guarantee that it will not vary a minute a month for five years and as the company's manager, W. J. Miller, lives in LaGrange, he will doubtless see to it that the clock is "on the dot."
The clock will be operated by weights and rests on a handsome iron standard that will make an ornament to LaGrange as well as a great utility.
NOTE: Being no date on this clipping (not unusual in Jennie's Clipping Books), I emailed the LaGrange Area Historical Society for help. Here is the response I received the following day:
The Seth Thomas Tower clock installation recorrds indicate that the clock was manufactured for the LaGrange bank in 1912. An article appraring in the Life newspaper on April 1, 1987 noted that the clock was installed in 1913 at the northeast corner of Burlington avenue and LaGrange roads and then moved to its present location in 1928. (I have no idea where its present location is....?) ntc \
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 little about managing a blogsite, but I learn something new each month. Thank you for your patience...
OK, I'M JUST SITTING HER WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU! Nancy y Te
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thatcher Magazine - March 2010
FAMILY HISTORY
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 ....
A THOUGHT TO INSPIRE YOU
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
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
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thatcher Magazine March 2010
FAMILY HISTORY - the Weather Diary
Jennie May Thatcher of LaGrange, Illinois, kept a Weather Diary, recording winter temperatures and conditions from Novembere 16 1916 until November 10, 1923. Her diary also refers to Lewis (Lew) E. Thatcher, her only brother, his children, Mabel and Maude (spinsters), Frank (wife Martha), Clarence E. (wife Margaret) and their children. The following are some of the hand-written entries made by Jennie in her Weather Diary:
1915, Nov 16 - First snow covered the ground; just dandelion in bloom.
1915, Dec 25 - 8 inhes of snow fell last night.
1916, Mar 22 - a thunder storm last night and again this morning came down hard, turned to snow blizzard, the hardest snow we have had this winter.
1917, Jan 5 - had week of fearful slippery weather, rained last night; will help get the ice off the walks.
(1917, April 1 - Jennie's 80th birthday)
1918, Jan 2 - 20 above, a lot of snow to shovel.
1918, Jan 12 - 10 below zero, still snowing and blowing awful. God pity the poor without much coal; everything blocked, our streets not plowed out, terrible, and so little coal to be had.
1918, Jan 13 - 4 below zero. Everything at a standstill - not a wheel turning on the burlington between Chicago and Downers Grove and I don't know how much farther. Lew down to Downers, got stalled near Hinsdale night of 11th - awful banks of snow. I am tired of shoveling out.
1918, Jan 15 - 2 below zero this morning, cold. Lew home first time since the 11th; got stalled yesterday, snow plows with four horses went through the middle of the streets to plow so the delivery teams could get through - I've never seen that done before.
1918, Jan 20 - 18 below zero, sun shining, nearly everyone short of coal and only 1/2 ton delivered to a person.
1918, Jan 27 - 8 above zero, snowed last night. I am sure tired of shoveling.
1918, Feb 12 - been warm several days now, snow melting fast - but plenty left yet.
1918, Feb 25 - 4 above zero, had two lovely warm days. It seemed so nice.
1918, Feb 28 - February couldn't leave us without giving a farewell snowstorm of about 4 inches and a good wet snow.
1918, Mar 1 - sun shining, comes in like a lamb'
1918, Oct 28 - set the clocks back an hour to the old time, how it rained today, a regular cloud burst.
1918, Dec 8 - a most beautiful day, like summer.
1919, Feb 28 - 34 aove zero. Commenced to rain ... then turning cold fast. March will come in like a lion ...
1919, Oct 2 - not anything hardly touched with frost, only in spots ... tomatoes and nasturtiums quite green yet.
1919, Dec 17 - 2 below. Cold & raw; this is the day they say the World is coming to an End.
1919, Dec 18 - 10 above. Snowed.
(1920, Jan 8 till Feb 15 temperatures with comment, occasionally about having to walk in streets or shovel snow.)
1920, Feb 29 - 6 above; February is giving us a cold farewell.
1920, Apr 20 - 42 above; such a storm last night, rain hail, thunder and lightening; grass covered white with hail as large as marbles ... some as large as chestnuts.
1920, Apr 28 - Terrible tornado.
1920, Nov 30 - Thermometer stolen!
1920, Dec 31 - 30 above; Good Bye 1920. (Jennie often wrote 'goodbye' or greeted a new month or a new year ...)
1921, Apr 1 - 26 above; my (84th) birthday; up to (nephew) Frank's for the day.
1921, Nov 7 - 30 above; (great-nephew, Clarence E. Jr.) Junior's birthday - 1 year old.
1921, Dec 6 - 24 above; Rose (Frank's daughter) at Hospital.
1921, Dec 31 - 32 above; strong wind howling; Good Bye 1921; How time flies; a very good year all around; now for our New Year 1922.
1922, Feb 12 - 26 above; Dorothy (Clarence and Margaret's daughter) sick - Scarlet fever.
1922, Feb 14 - 6 above; Lewis (Clarence and Margaret's oldest son) taken with fever.
1922, Feb 16 - 4 below; very cold; little Dorothy left us last night - it was sad for she was so sprightly - Scarlet fever; they laid her in the vault (as the )ground frozen hard ....
1922, Mar 12 - 30 above; father's (Nathaniel R. Thatcher) birthday ...110 years ago
1922, Mar 22 - 20 above; not a very good prospect for an early spring. Clarence's family are coming up for the day as Lewis to have their place fumigated; am glad (after round of influenza and death of 6-year old Dorothy).
1922, Nov 1 - Clarence & Margaret moved into their new home yesterday.
1922, Nov 18 - raining; went to see Clarence's new home yesterday - it is nice.
1922, Dec 25 - 28 above; a warm Christmas; going down to clarence's to spend the day; Lewis home and will go too.
1922, Dec 27 - 34 above - oh, this is a glorious day.
1923, Jan 1 - Now for the New Year of 1923; 18 above; south wind.
1923, Jan 14 - 36 above; rained hard all last night; my Mother (Lydia Carpenter Thatcher) left me 20 years ago today. Oh, it has been a long lonesome time. (Lydia died at 84 years of age).
1923, Jan 31 - 34 above; rained last night. Well, January 6ou have been a good month; not much cold weather. I have enjoyed it.
1923, Feb 2 - 22 above; Ground Hog's Day. A lovely time the ground hog gave us. He had better se MY shadow.
1923, Feb 3 - 4 below zero.
1923, Feb 4 - 14 below. Oh, it is cold.
1923, Feb 8 - 22 above; plowed sidewalk; Helen Whipple's daughter came her yesterday - nice visit; Mrs. Cass lives in Chicago.
1923, Feb 18 - 4 below, oh, I am tired of the cold weather.
1923, Feb 28 - 30 above; Good bye February, pretty good month; snowed most of the time. March 1923, I hope you have a nice month laid out for us.
1923, Mar 1 - 26 above; it looks like a nice day.
1923, Mar 12 - 34 above, oh what a night; rain, thunder, snow and oh, the wind did tear about; no lights on this morning. I think possibly some of the poles down.
1923, 15 - 32 above; another snow to clean.
1923, Mar 19 - 4 below; a good cold freezing wind and snow most of the night; my little oil heater kept my pipes from freezing.
1923, Mar 21 - 32 above; ruling wind for the next three months; it is southweat. Oh, that looks good for a ruling wind.
1923, Mar 22 - 23-38 above; Margaret is sick since the 18th...
1923, Mar 31 - 23 above; Awful weather; good bye March. You came like a lamb, out like a liion; hope April will give us better weather.
1923, April 2 - 36 above: Yester was my 86th birthday - well remembered; spent the day at Lew's.
1923, April 3 - 23-46 above; raining; let my first (of three) stove out. Went down to Margaret's. She still isn't well....
1923, April 15 - 34 above; snowed most oall day and trying to snow this morning. Oh, such weather for middle of April.
1923, May 9 - A beautiful spring day 32 above; round white with crocus; rained, sleeted, snowed, hailed all day yesterday. It looks as if everything was frozen; fruit, flowers, a hard time for farmers and gardeners.
1923, May 20 - Let my last stove out. We have had cold raw spring and a fire felt good and I used up all my coal.
1923, May 21 - got in 2 1/2 ton of chestnut coal from .... It is nice (weather) but feel the need of coal today. Oh, but it (coal price) is HOT: $42.24 I paid.
1923, Sep14 - 44 above; pretty cold for so early. I feel I can't wstart a coal fire so early. Too long to wait on them from now till spring. Lew's folks started theirs (coal furnace) yesterday. I am running my oil heater ....
1923, Oct 20 - 30 above; The first light freeze; had 2 days hard rain and oh, how the leaves have come down - a heavy crop of them this year. I was up to Matha's yeaterday and to Margaret's the day before.
1923, Oct 30 - The first snow storm of the year; ground all white.
1923, Nov 1 - 22 above; cold and clear; Lew quit the railroad lat night. He had been on it a good many years. Beltline then CB&Q conductor made a total of 55 years with the railroads. (Lew was72 years old on October 18th.)
1923, Nov 6 - 28 above; heavy frost; still no snow.
1923, Nov 8 - 28 above; cold raw wind. Yesterday (Nov 7) Junior's 3rd birthday.
1923, Nov 9 - 24 above; heavy frost.
1923, Nov 10 - 36 above.
That is where Jannie ended her Weather Diary. She died just six days later....
Be sure to read "Remembering Jennie" as the featured Family History in the March 2010 Thatcher Magazine.... ~ Nancy y Te
Jennie May Thatcher of LaGrange, Illinois, kept a Weather Diary, recording winter temperatures and conditions from Novembere 16 1916 until November 10, 1923. Her diary also refers to Lewis (Lew) E. Thatcher, her only brother, his children, Mabel and Maude (spinsters), Frank (wife Martha), Clarence E. (wife Margaret) and their children. The following are some of the hand-written entries made by Jennie in her Weather Diary:
1915, Nov 16 - First snow covered the ground; just dandelion in bloom.
1915, Dec 25 - 8 inhes of snow fell last night.
1916, Mar 22 - a thunder storm last night and again this morning came down hard, turned to snow blizzard, the hardest snow we have had this winter.
1917, Jan 5 - had week of fearful slippery weather, rained last night; will help get the ice off the walks.
(1917, April 1 - Jennie's 80th birthday)
1918, Jan 2 - 20 above, a lot of snow to shovel.
1918, Jan 12 - 10 below zero, still snowing and blowing awful. God pity the poor without much coal; everything blocked, our streets not plowed out, terrible, and so little coal to be had.
1918, Jan 13 - 4 below zero. Everything at a standstill - not a wheel turning on the burlington between Chicago and Downers Grove and I don't know how much farther. Lew down to Downers, got stalled near Hinsdale night of 11th - awful banks of snow. I am tired of shoveling out.
1918, Jan 15 - 2 below zero this morning, cold. Lew home first time since the 11th; got stalled yesterday, snow plows with four horses went through the middle of the streets to plow so the delivery teams could get through - I've never seen that done before.
1918, Jan 20 - 18 below zero, sun shining, nearly everyone short of coal and only 1/2 ton delivered to a person.
1918, Jan 27 - 8 above zero, snowed last night. I am sure tired of shoveling.
1918, Feb 12 - been warm several days now, snow melting fast - but plenty left yet.
1918, Feb 25 - 4 above zero, had two lovely warm days. It seemed so nice.
1918, Feb 28 - February couldn't leave us without giving a farewell snowstorm of about 4 inches and a good wet snow.
1918, Mar 1 - sun shining, comes in like a lamb'
1918, Oct 28 - set the clocks back an hour to the old time, how it rained today, a regular cloud burst.
1918, Dec 8 - a most beautiful day, like summer.
1919, Feb 28 - 34 aove zero. Commenced to rain ... then turning cold fast. March will come in like a lion ...
1919, Oct 2 - not anything hardly touched with frost, only in spots ... tomatoes and nasturtiums quite green yet.
1919, Dec 17 - 2 below. Cold & raw; this is the day they say the World is coming to an End.
1919, Dec 18 - 10 above. Snowed.
(1920, Jan 8 till Feb 15 temperatures with comment, occasionally about having to walk in streets or shovel snow.)
1920, Feb 29 - 6 above; February is giving us a cold farewell.
1920, Apr 20 - 42 above; such a storm last night, rain hail, thunder and lightening; grass covered white with hail as large as marbles ... some as large as chestnuts.
1920, Apr 28 - Terrible tornado.
1920, Nov 30 - Thermometer stolen!
1920, Dec 31 - 30 above; Good Bye 1920. (Jennie often wrote 'goodbye' or greeted a new month or a new year ...)
1921, Apr 1 - 26 above; my (84th) birthday; up to (nephew) Frank's for the day.
1921, Nov 7 - 30 above; (great-nephew, Clarence E. Jr.) Junior's birthday - 1 year old.
1921, Dec 6 - 24 above; Rose (Frank's daughter) at Hospital.
1921, Dec 31 - 32 above; strong wind howling; Good Bye 1921; How time flies; a very good year all around; now for our New Year 1922.
1922, Feb 12 - 26 above; Dorothy (Clarence and Margaret's daughter) sick - Scarlet fever.
1922, Feb 14 - 6 above; Lewis (Clarence and Margaret's oldest son) taken with fever.
1922, Feb 16 - 4 below; very cold; little Dorothy left us last night - it was sad for she was so sprightly - Scarlet fever; they laid her in the vault (as the )ground frozen hard ....
1922, Mar 12 - 30 above; father's (Nathaniel R. Thatcher) birthday ...110 years ago
1922, Mar 22 - 20 above; not a very good prospect for an early spring. Clarence's family are coming up for the day as Lewis to have their place fumigated; am glad (after round of influenza and death of 6-year old Dorothy).
1922, Nov 1 - Clarence & Margaret moved into their new home yesterday.
1922, Nov 18 - raining; went to see Clarence's new home yesterday - it is nice.
1922, Dec 25 - 28 above; a warm Christmas; going down to clarence's to spend the day; Lewis home and will go too.
1922, Dec 27 - 34 above - oh, this is a glorious day.
1923, Jan 1 - Now for the New Year of 1923; 18 above; south wind.
1923, Jan 14 - 36 above; rained hard all last night; my Mother (Lydia Carpenter Thatcher) left me 20 years ago today. Oh, it has been a long lonesome time. (Lydia died at 84 years of age).
1923, Jan 31 - 34 above; rained last night. Well, January 6ou have been a good month; not much cold weather. I have enjoyed it.
1923, Feb 2 - 22 above; Ground Hog's Day. A lovely time the ground hog gave us. He had better se MY shadow.
1923, Feb 3 - 4 below zero.
1923, Feb 4 - 14 below. Oh, it is cold.
1923, Feb 8 - 22 above; plowed sidewalk; Helen Whipple's daughter came her yesterday - nice visit; Mrs. Cass lives in Chicago.
1923, Feb 18 - 4 below, oh, I am tired of the cold weather.
1923, Feb 28 - 30 above; Good bye February, pretty good month; snowed most of the time. March 1923, I hope you have a nice month laid out for us.
1923, Mar 1 - 26 above; it looks like a nice day.
1923, Mar 12 - 34 above, oh what a night; rain, thunder, snow and oh, the wind did tear about; no lights on this morning. I think possibly some of the poles down.
1923, 15 - 32 above; another snow to clean.
1923, Mar 19 - 4 below; a good cold freezing wind and snow most of the night; my little oil heater kept my pipes from freezing.
1923, Mar 21 - 32 above; ruling wind for the next three months; it is southweat. Oh, that looks good for a ruling wind.
1923, Mar 22 - 23-38 above; Margaret is sick since the 18th...
1923, Mar 31 - 23 above; Awful weather; good bye March. You came like a lamb, out like a liion; hope April will give us better weather.
1923, April 2 - 36 above: Yester was my 86th birthday - well remembered; spent the day at Lew's.
1923, April 3 - 23-46 above; raining; let my first (of three) stove out. Went down to Margaret's. She still isn't well....
1923, April 15 - 34 above; snowed most oall day and trying to snow this morning. Oh, such weather for middle of April.
1923, May 9 - A beautiful spring day 32 above; round white with crocus; rained, sleeted, snowed, hailed all day yesterday. It looks as if everything was frozen; fruit, flowers, a hard time for farmers and gardeners.
1923, May 20 - Let my last stove out. We have had cold raw spring and a fire felt good and I used up all my coal.
1923, May 21 - got in 2 1/2 ton of chestnut coal from .... It is nice (weather) but feel the need of coal today. Oh, but it (coal price) is HOT: $42.24 I paid.
1923, Sep14 - 44 above; pretty cold for so early. I feel I can't wstart a coal fire so early. Too long to wait on them from now till spring. Lew's folks started theirs (coal furnace) yesterday. I am running my oil heater ....
1923, Oct 20 - 30 above; The first light freeze; had 2 days hard rain and oh, how the leaves have come down - a heavy crop of them this year. I was up to Matha's yeaterday and to Margaret's the day before.
1923, Oct 30 - The first snow storm of the year; ground all white.
1923, Nov 1 - 22 above; cold and clear; Lew quit the railroad lat night. He had been on it a good many years. Beltline then CB&Q conductor made a total of 55 years with the railroads. (Lew was72 years old on October 18th.)
1923, Nov 6 - 28 above; heavy frost; still no snow.
1923, Nov 8 - 28 above; cold raw wind. Yesterday (Nov 7) Junior's 3rd birthday.
1923, Nov 9 - 24 above; heavy frost.
1923, Nov 10 - 36 above.
That is where Jannie ended her Weather Diary. She died just six days later....
Be sure to read "Remembering Jennie" as the featured Family History in the March 2010 Thatcher Magazine.... ~ Nancy y Te
Saturday, February 6, 2010
February Update
Since the direct link to LadyKatherine's website isn't working well, I recommend simply Googling Thacher's Woe - the letter to accessing this beautiful website.
Good luck. Nancy y Te
Good luck. Nancy y Te
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thatcher Magazine - February 2010
FAMILY HISTORY
There is a Thatcher Island located off the coast of Massachusetts.
While I cannot prove we are related to Anthony Thacher, for whom Thatcher Island was named, Anthony's letter is an historical document of interest to our Thatcher Family (as we are probably related). Related or not, a Thacher is a Thatcher so I think you should see for yourself the letter Anthony wrote to relatives in England following the tragedy. EUREKA! While searching for the letter online, which is faster and easier than finding a copy in my closet full of files, I not only found the letter, but presented beautifully on a website with lots of information about the Thatcher family - in England. To read the letter and get a peek at these English Thatchers, go to http://www.ladykatherine.net. The webmaster is Lady Katherine deCourtenay. Note: There are a few listings for other "lady Katherine" sites that we are not related to us - or so I would hope!
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
Congratulations to Glenn Cerny's daughter Cheryl and her husband Tony on the birth of a baby boy, John Armeo Campanaro who arrived September 14, 2009, weighing in at seven pounds and six ounces. Photos reveal a head of reddish hair (just like John;s Grandfather, Glenn was born with).
Kudos to Robert Speer's daughter Beth on winning Hallmark contest. Bob sent an email: Need to brag on my daughter. Beth is an Artist and teacher. To prove to her students that this teacher can do what she teaches, Beth took some pictures of her kids (twins Jesse and Jordan), made a card and entered the card in a competition with Hallmark. Here are the results (One of her boys is in a Croc costume). http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/page/WINNERS/sub/Gallery/contest/ThatsMotherhood/do/det.
Winter Whites: Missouri and Arkansas were in the path of severere winter storms again this January. This time, like experienced scouts, Marjorie and I were prepared - but Carol and Colleen were smart - because they boarded a plane for Hawaii the day before the deluge of ice and snow and won't return until it has melted. It seems Nancy and Rich Grenvish, like all you Illinoisians, are tired of shoveling snow so they will turn into snowbirds and head for Alcapulco in February.
THE SISTERS
Nancy and Me
It was Labor Day weekend and I was not wanting to stay home on a long weekend. I needed to keep busy, so I called Nancy and asked, "What do you have planned for the weekend" and I invited myself to visit her for a few days.
While there, I suggested Nancy put a few things into a suitcase and come back to Bolivar with me. We could do some daily trips and use my home as a base for sight-seeing. Nancy said, "Why don't we go to Eureka Springs?"
I hadn't brought extra clothes or money for an extended week away but there is always the mad money and the plastic. Nancy and I left her house Sunday morning and enjoyed a pretty drive. I got us lost in Eureka Springs with its winding, narrow streets. We discovered the GPS doesn't work on the side of a mountain. After going in a circle two or three times, we ended up going in the same circle - but the opposite way. How that happened, I don't knoow. We pulled into a hospital parking lot, read the road map and, as we left, found ourselves only a block away from our motel. We Parked at our motel and bought passes to hop on and off the trolleys for the rest of our tour and visit to this unique old town.
We met and talked with many interesting people in Eureka Springs; artists, winemakers, shopkeepers, railroad station keepers and other tourists. We visited a lot of art studios, then hit the tourist shops. Eureka Springs is one of the top ten artist colonies in the United States. One shop sold sox; all kinds of sox. Some of the sox had themes, some had licensed icons and some were just plain sox, and yes, we did buy sox as they made for interesting and unusual gifts.
Another shop we visited had a little bit of everything you might want as decoration in your home. The best thing about this shop was that we were about half-way through the shop when we noticed the ceiling. It was all doors! Doors with windows, solid wood doors, carved wood, you name it and they had it. All were painted white and hung flat to the ceiling. We asked permission to take photos and the proprietors were glad we noticed their uniqueness. They also complimented Nancy on how nice she looked in her summer hat. We liked that shop!
We took a trolley ride up to the end of town and to the beautiful Thorncrown Chapel. It is an unusual building, in the shape of praying hands, made entirely of glass with wooden pews inside. It is set in a peaceful area in the woods. We caught the last trolley back to the crowded tourist town and our motel. We had fun on this last minute journey. And we will be taking more short trips - planned or impromptu. MAS
A THOUGHT TO INSPIRE YOU
Take your successes seriously. Make light of your mistakes.
Celebrate the best in you, Forgive the rest.
STORIES TO SHARE
Josephine is my English friend, a writer and artist, living in Gainesville, Missouri. I wrote about her in the FamilyHistoryNews 2009. Recently I wrote her of my aching back, dimming eyesight, trouble learning to blog and hobbling on injured toe after kicking a chair. Through Josephine, I do occasionally hear from her brother Ivan and this is from Ivan in Fishgard, West Wales to me:
Dear Nancy the world is a wonderful place.
Just stop kicking chairs and slow down the pace.
A good Welshman's cure is quite simple, you know.
Take a stiff drink, stick your foot in the snow.
Our Cariad tells me your bloggings on track.
give up the gymnastics and ease your poor bak.
I'm quite sure the ether both crackles and sparks,
But don't over-blog or you'll glow after dark.
We hope you're soon better and back with the flow.
No more chair kicking, not with the same tow.
Here is the land of the leeks and the song
We oldies are fine, still creaking along.
Take care of yourself in the land of the free.
you will always be famous, our own Nancy y te.
Translation from Welsh to American: Cariad = Sister; Land of the Leek and the Song refers to the Welsh tradition of wearing a leek on some obscure Saints day and the Welsh are renowned for their beautirful singing.
It is because of Josephine and Ivan that I sign my Blogs (and some of my stories) as Nancy y Te.
EDITOR'S NOTE & ABOUT THIS BLOG...
I have wanted to set up a website or blog for the past two years. The preoblem: I am electronically challenged. I cannot even program phone numbers into my cell phone. Like The Little Train That Could, I was determined to find a way - Marjorie and I even attended a seminar/workshop lat year) - with a lot of help from everywhere. As of January 2010, the BLOG, Thatchermagazine.blogspot.com, is a reality. The primary subject is Thatcher family history from the time of Adam and Eve to current events.
In 1900s our Thatcher family lived within walking ditance of one another. By 2000 our members were scattered from sea to shining sea. Although we come together each August in reunion, most of us would liek to stay in touch and informe dudring the rest of the year. The solution: a BLOG.
This BLOG is intended as a magazine with monthly editions and five major categories: Family History, Family Newsletter, The Sisters (Marj & Me) Stories to Share, and Other Interesting Stuff.
Family members are welcome to contribute to the blog 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 (transcribe) print information (no pictures, cut/paste, sophisticated presentations).
OK. I'M JUST SITTING HERE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU... Nancy y Te
There is a Thatcher Island located off the coast of Massachusetts.
While I cannot prove we are related to Anthony Thacher, for whom Thatcher Island was named, Anthony's letter is an historical document of interest to our Thatcher Family (as we are probably related). Related or not, a Thacher is a Thatcher so I think you should see for yourself the letter Anthony wrote to relatives in England following the tragedy. EUREKA! While searching for the letter online, which is faster and easier than finding a copy in my closet full of files, I not only found the letter, but presented beautifully on a website with lots of information about the Thatcher family - in England. To read the letter and get a peek at these English Thatchers, go to http://www.ladykatherine.net. The webmaster is Lady Katherine deCourtenay. Note: There are a few listings for other "lady Katherine" sites that we are not related to us - or so I would hope!
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
Congratulations to Glenn Cerny's daughter Cheryl and her husband Tony on the birth of a baby boy, John Armeo Campanaro who arrived September 14, 2009, weighing in at seven pounds and six ounces. Photos reveal a head of reddish hair (just like John;s Grandfather, Glenn was born with).
Kudos to Robert Speer's daughter Beth on winning Hallmark contest. Bob sent an email: Need to brag on my daughter. Beth is an Artist and teacher. To prove to her students that this teacher can do what she teaches, Beth took some pictures of her kids (twins Jesse and Jordan), made a card and entered the card in a competition with Hallmark. Here are the results (One of her boys is in a Croc costume). http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/page/WINNERS/sub/Gallery/contest/ThatsMotherhood/do/det.
Winter Whites: Missouri and Arkansas were in the path of severere winter storms again this January. This time, like experienced scouts, Marjorie and I were prepared - but Carol and Colleen were smart - because they boarded a plane for Hawaii the day before the deluge of ice and snow and won't return until it has melted. It seems Nancy and Rich Grenvish, like all you Illinoisians, are tired of shoveling snow so they will turn into snowbirds and head for Alcapulco in February.
THE SISTERS
Nancy and Me
It was Labor Day weekend and I was not wanting to stay home on a long weekend. I needed to keep busy, so I called Nancy and asked, "What do you have planned for the weekend" and I invited myself to visit her for a few days.
While there, I suggested Nancy put a few things into a suitcase and come back to Bolivar with me. We could do some daily trips and use my home as a base for sight-seeing. Nancy said, "Why don't we go to Eureka Springs?"
I hadn't brought extra clothes or money for an extended week away but there is always the mad money and the plastic. Nancy and I left her house Sunday morning and enjoyed a pretty drive. I got us lost in Eureka Springs with its winding, narrow streets. We discovered the GPS doesn't work on the side of a mountain. After going in a circle two or three times, we ended up going in the same circle - but the opposite way. How that happened, I don't knoow. We pulled into a hospital parking lot, read the road map and, as we left, found ourselves only a block away from our motel. We Parked at our motel and bought passes to hop on and off the trolleys for the rest of our tour and visit to this unique old town.
We met and talked with many interesting people in Eureka Springs; artists, winemakers, shopkeepers, railroad station keepers and other tourists. We visited a lot of art studios, then hit the tourist shops. Eureka Springs is one of the top ten artist colonies in the United States. One shop sold sox; all kinds of sox. Some of the sox had themes, some had licensed icons and some were just plain sox, and yes, we did buy sox as they made for interesting and unusual gifts.
Another shop we visited had a little bit of everything you might want as decoration in your home. The best thing about this shop was that we were about half-way through the shop when we noticed the ceiling. It was all doors! Doors with windows, solid wood doors, carved wood, you name it and they had it. All were painted white and hung flat to the ceiling. We asked permission to take photos and the proprietors were glad we noticed their uniqueness. They also complimented Nancy on how nice she looked in her summer hat. We liked that shop!
We took a trolley ride up to the end of town and to the beautiful Thorncrown Chapel. It is an unusual building, in the shape of praying hands, made entirely of glass with wooden pews inside. It is set in a peaceful area in the woods. We caught the last trolley back to the crowded tourist town and our motel. We had fun on this last minute journey. And we will be taking more short trips - planned or impromptu. MAS
A THOUGHT TO INSPIRE YOU
Take your successes seriously. Make light of your mistakes.
Celebrate the best in you, Forgive the rest.
STORIES TO SHARE
Josephine is my English friend, a writer and artist, living in Gainesville, Missouri. I wrote about her in the FamilyHistoryNews 2009. Recently I wrote her of my aching back, dimming eyesight, trouble learning to blog and hobbling on injured toe after kicking a chair. Through Josephine, I do occasionally hear from her brother Ivan and this is from Ivan in Fishgard, West Wales to me:
Dear Nancy the world is a wonderful place.
Just stop kicking chairs and slow down the pace.
A good Welshman's cure is quite simple, you know.
Take a stiff drink, stick your foot in the snow.
Our Cariad tells me your bloggings on track.
give up the gymnastics and ease your poor bak.
I'm quite sure the ether both crackles and sparks,
But don't over-blog or you'll glow after dark.
We hope you're soon better and back with the flow.
No more chair kicking, not with the same tow.
Here is the land of the leeks and the song
We oldies are fine, still creaking along.
Take care of yourself in the land of the free.
you will always be famous, our own Nancy y te.
Translation from Welsh to American: Cariad = Sister; Land of the Leek and the Song refers to the Welsh tradition of wearing a leek on some obscure Saints day and the Welsh are renowned for their beautirful singing.
It is because of Josephine and Ivan that I sign my Blogs (and some of my stories) as Nancy y Te.
EDITOR'S NOTE & ABOUT THIS BLOG...
I have wanted to set up a website or blog for the past two years. The preoblem: I am electronically challenged. I cannot even program phone numbers into my cell phone. Like The Little Train That Could, I was determined to find a way - Marjorie and I even attended a seminar/workshop lat year) - with a lot of help from everywhere. As of January 2010, the BLOG, Thatchermagazine.blogspot.com, is a reality. The primary subject is Thatcher family history from the time of Adam and Eve to current events.
In 1900s our Thatcher family lived within walking ditance of one another. By 2000 our members were scattered from sea to shining sea. Although we come together each August in reunion, most of us would liek to stay in touch and informe dudring the rest of the year. The solution: a BLOG.
This BLOG is intended as a magazine with monthly editions and five major categories: Family History, Family Newsletter, The Sisters (Marj & Me) Stories to Share, and Other Interesting Stuff.
Family members are welcome to contribute to the blog 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 (transcribe) print information (no pictures, cut/paste, sophisticated presentations).
OK. I'M JUST SITTING HERE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU... Nancy y Te
Saturday, January 23, 2010
TODAY HAS POSSIBILITIES
Today we are having a bit of 'weather.' It is smoggy, foggy, dull and dismal but I'm not going to complain (much) because last year at this time my two cats and I were preparing for the impact of a winter storm. It arrived: 'The infamous ice storm of 2009' left a huge swath of people in five states trapped and without electricity. Being more fortunate than some, I survived with no heat in my house; at least I had a house - and water - and food. So, this nasty day is not worth complaining about! My computer is up and runnning. I am in contact with the world. I'm going to research lighthouses.
My focus began with Captain Walter C. Dibrell (1875-c.1973), a cousin, and superintendant in charge of U. S. Lighthouse Service 16th District, Alaska c.1900-c.1930. Then I switched from looking at the lighthouses he tended in the Pacific to lighthouses located in the Atlantic - switching from Dibrell to Anthony Thacher, another cousin, for whom a little island off the coast of Massachusetts was named Thatcher Island. My family knows it as 'Thatcher's Woe' since it was so named because Anthony Thatcher survived a disastrous shipwreck there in 1635. We only know this because he wrote about it in a letter to Peter Thacher, his uncle and a prominent man of the Church of England.
Today held more possibilities than expected: I learn something new about lighthouses; I became reacquainted with a couple cousins I hadn't thought about for months; I remembered to be grateful for surviving a major storm; and, I figured out how to add a new post to this blogsite--PTAH DAA. Nancy y Te
My focus began with Captain Walter C. Dibrell (1875-c.1973), a cousin, and superintendant in charge of U. S. Lighthouse Service 16th District, Alaska c.1900-c.1930. Then I switched from looking at the lighthouses he tended in the Pacific to lighthouses located in the Atlantic - switching from Dibrell to Anthony Thacher, another cousin, for whom a little island off the coast of Massachusetts was named Thatcher Island. My family knows it as 'Thatcher's Woe' since it was so named because Anthony Thatcher survived a disastrous shipwreck there in 1635. We only know this because he wrote about it in a letter to Peter Thacher, his uncle and a prominent man of the Church of England.
Today held more possibilities than expected: I learn something new about lighthouses; I became reacquainted with a couple cousins I hadn't thought about for months; I remembered to be grateful for surviving a major storm; and, I figured out how to add a new post to this blogsite--PTAH DAA. Nancy y Te
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Year; New Beginning
I survived 2009 and have stepped into 2010 with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
In order to survive this year in comfort, I have chosen simpler and easier resolutions:
#1: I will be grateful for the physical, mental and spiritual balance in my life.
#2: I will be selfish; I will go places, do things and enjoy people who make my life happy.
#3: I will search for inspiration that enriches my well-being (then share it with others).
#4: I will laugh every day (whether I feel like it or not).
#4: I will read and write every day (as I am fortunate to have enough sight to do so).
#5: I will turn up the music and dance (as I am fortunate to have energy to do so).
#6: I will enjoy the fruits of life, and the vegetables and chicken-fried steak and chocolates.
#7: I will appreciate every of the 1,440 minutes I am given, one day at a time, in 2010!
Perhaps I have chosen these 7 resolutions because it is too late in life for me to live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse. I find life at a slower pace more personal, more colorful, detailed, hopeful, energetic, serene and more rewarding. Hurray for 2010.
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