Not counted

Most of research, genealogical and otherwise, is a systematic, plodding process with few surprises. And then there are days where you find an ancestor's name on an unexpected document. 

This happened just yesterday, working through the shaky leaves on one branch of my family tree (for those people who only deal with the living, the shaky leaves are an indication that Ancestry's logarithm has turned up a potential source of information on a person; when your tree is extensive like mine, there are literally hundreds of leaves to sort through.). 

The leaf in question led to a birth certificate from Deer Lodge, Montana for my grandaunt Florence (my maternal grandmother's sister). Florence was the family 'keeper:' the one who stashed letters and objects and documents--neatly labeled in her square-block handwriting, and opened her home when her sister Ella was widowed, taking in more than one of her five children. Florence had two children of her own, as chronicled in the family history she so painstakingly curated and passed down, so I wasn't surprised to see a hint for a birth certificate with her listed as the mother (and her husband as the father). 

What made me gasp though--and I did gasp--was the information in the certificate. The first name of the child was blank. Perhaps they hadn't named her yet? Not unheard of. But then the date, March 21, 1910, which was years off from my records, and the notation, "stillborn." Florence and Claude's second child, a girl, was born dead. 

We have lost a daughter to stillbirth; the pain may be more subdued now, but things like this do jar me and tears well in my eyes: for my own pain, and now, for Florence's pain. I understand how wrought something as innocuous as the question, "how many children do you have?" is. The 1910 census where her small family appears is dated April 18, not even a month after she and Claude lost their daughter. "Mother of how many children?" it asks; column 10 asks "Number born" and column 11, "Number now living." Both columns in her entry say "1." For instructions to the enumerators state, "stillborn children are not to be counted." Even though they very much do. 

1910 Census

Letter: Florence to Claude, 1906

Letter, dated Morton, Minnesota, November 13, 1906 from Florence Richardson to Claude W. Street, Park City, Utah:

Did you get a wintry blast when you opened this epistle from the land of ice and snow, or has it warmed up on its way from the Arctic zone? My but it's cold and blowing and blizzardy and everything else, - all in this one short day too.

Your nice long letter came yesterday afternoon, and made me feel good. My you have a lively lot of Junior girls, from your account of society doings. Tell me what western girls are like. Are they all pretty like in those novels or are they just common everyday mortals? Are they lively and yet not loud, or are they a little bit bold?

It makes me so blue to think of that camping crowd reunion for I'll be just one too many when you aren't there to let me bore you, and I just know I'll be terribly lonesome for you. Of course it's lovely of Minnie Bell to plan it. Do you suppose that about George and Ella Hibbert is authentic? It seems to me they will make a funny couple. I never could jibe with Ella Hibbert, for some reason, although I know she has many good points.

I had such a pleasant visit over at Redwood Falls over Sunday. I went down Saturday noon and came back Monday morning on the early train. You perhaps remember that the nearest point to Redwood falls on the M&S St. S is two miles from town, so one has to take the bus over and have it call for one to go back. The old bus called for me first, so I sat down nearest the driver's box. The thing by little maneuvering holds eight people very nicely, but Monday morning there were eleven inside, and two on the seat with the driver. When we commenced to go down the half mile hill on the way to the station, those seven men and three ladies commenced sliding, settling down against me. I haven't recovered my natural figure yet, I was so completely compressed against the driver's box. The next time anybody catches me sitting in that part of the bus again, it will be because I had no choice.

Mrs. Hitchcock (to resume) had one of the teachers and the superintendent who was a jolly young fellow in to Sunday dinner. She has invited my aunt and me over for Thanksgiving, but I think we shall go over to Marshall as we were invited there first.

Where are you going to be Thanksgiving Day? Somebody surely will take pity on homeless little boys won't there?

Well I got a comical letter from Bernard today, and I expect to hear this, you've had one from Ella. What won't those crazy young ones do next! I'm sending you Bernard's, and if you would just as soon have me I should like to see Ella’s. Then we will have to do something to get even with them. What shall it be?

Well what an idea that your pupils are afraid of your big nose! I'm not one bit, and if you were here I'd pull it for you just to show I wasn't.

Hoping you are enjoying less freezing weather than we, I am

Lovingly yours,

===

A double wedding took place on August 3, 1907, when the two Richardson sisters Ella and Florence married the two Street brothers Bernard and Claude. There is unfortunately no known photograph of the event.

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Letters: The Watson Family

Letter, Russell D Richardson to his daughter Madge Walsh, dated June 14, 1966:

Helen Watson is my first cousin, and therefore your first cousin, once removed. Her father, Charles Watson was my mother's older brother and they lived across the street from us in Northfield. Helen was one of seven children, next to the youngest, I believe. She graduated from Carlton in 1908 so she was probably born about 1886 and must be about 80 years old. She has never married, writes poetry and has published a book of her poems.

As a child I visited them frequently. Her mother, Ella Watson, was always baking cookies and pies and she was very generous with her goodies. Helen tells me that she is the last living member of her family and is living in the old family home. If you care to write to her for information about our family I am sure she would be happy to respond.

I remember her sister Clara especially because she was father's bookkeeper, and as my brother Fay and I worked at the store every day after school we came to know Clara a bit better than the other members of the family.

Charles Watson operated a leather good shop. He manufactured and repaired all kinds of harness and since we kept two horses (Fay and I had to do the chores of feeding, watering, currying, harnessing and driving the team down to the store before school) we had frequent contact with Uncle Charlie to keep the harness in repair. He was a good-natured John bull type of Englishman and both families had a fine friendly relationship.

The oldest brother, Earl Watson went into one of the three local banks. Elliott the second son became assistant postmaster and held this job all his adult life. Helen's youngest sister Marian was musical, married and moved away. Elliot, Clara and Helen never married. I suppose they were too happy and contented in their home life.

Genealogy studies can be fun. Hope you enjoy it.

Love, Dad

===

The Watson genealogy & family chart are presented here as Helen sent it to me [mrw], with a few additions, especially the date of death of John Watson, from Clemmie's scrapbook. 

The data on the Featherstone children come from a letter from L.R. (Ted) Featherstone to Jeanette Richardson Nelson, dated Red Wing, Minnesota, April 6, 1978:

…It brings up history from a long way back. I am 83 and these things happened when I was a boy.

My uncle Charles Featherstone married Amy Watson, a local girl whose father was a local preacher. Aunt Amy had several sisters and brothers - I can't tell much about that family. But one sister was married to a Richardson in Northfield. Occasionally they came to visit in Featherstone Township. There were two boys - Fay and Russell - with whom I played as a boy 70 - 75 years ago. There were also two girls that I remember-  their names are gone.

Aunt Amy died a long time ago… after her death we heard nothing from each other. When uncle Charles died many years later, I remember meeting Fay at his funeral but our contacts have been practically nil…

perhaps you have known all of these things but I am happy to have had some reason to recall days long gone that I enjoyed greatly.

===

Helen Field Watson died April 1, 1978 at the age of 92. She was a woman of many talents: a teacher, writer, and artist, and inspired affection in all those who knew her. The following is adapted from The News obituary.

Helen Field Watson in 1957

Helen Field Watson was born on the Nutting farm, later the Odd Fellows Home, at the West edge of Northfield on 5th Sreet. She graduated from Northfield high school in 1904, and from Carleton College with a BS degree in 1908. In 1929 she received a master's degree in biology from the University of Michigan and worked out of the universities biological station and Ann Arbor.

She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, 1914; She belonged to, and was president of several, organizations which gave an indication of the range of our interests: PEO, AAUW, SDEA,NEA, State Biology Roundtable, South Dakota State Poetry Society, the National League of Pen Women, et cetera.

Many summers of her life were devoted to study in a variety of fields: commercial subjects, plant life and ornithology, art, and writing. During her earlier years, she wrote science and nature articles. Her poetry appeared in anthologies and in 1949, her book of poetry, Field Notes,[1] was published. She illustrated the book, as she had some of her articles.

In 1961 she won the grand prize in a design contest conducted by the Red Wing Potteries for her "Snail on a thorn." In 1962, she had a one-man exhibit of 16 paintings on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. One of her oil paintings, which was among 30 from the Minnesota Rural Artists Association hung in Washington, DC, was entitled Monday and was of washing hanging out in the backyard of her Northfield home. 

She often travelled, to California, New York, and New England, and in 1952 spent six weeks in what she described as a "glorious, invigorating experience," traveling in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and England.

She first taught mathematics and bookkeeping at Saint James, 1909 - 1913. She devoted 1913 - 1914 to the study and active practice of social service in Chicago, returning to the classroom in 1915 to teach algebra and biology in Redwood Falls High School.

From 1921 until her retirement in 1953, she taught biology in the senior high school at Mitchell, SD. She kept an apartment in Mitchell for a year after her retirement, but was called to Northfield in the fall of 1953 by the serious illness of her sister Clara, and never returned to live in Mitchell.

Clara died in 1956, and Helen and her brother Elliot lived on in the family home on Winona Street. After Elliot's death in 1960, and that of her sister Mary Ann Schlattman in 1964, Helen was the last remaining member of her immediate family. Though in failing health, her mind remained clear to the very end.

Memorial service was held at the United Methodist Church of Northfield conducted by Rev. W.T. Horst. Interment, by the Bierman Funeral Chapel, was in Oak Lawn cemetery.

Helen Field Watson's headstone
Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield, MN

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===

1 Field Notes by Helen Field Watson: "This quatrain is typical of the work of Helen Field Watson, a new writer who has been represented in various magazines but now for the first time appears between covers. Both in form and content, she gives the impression of being an old hand; there is finesse, depth and lyrical grace to her work, which is equally at home whether dealing with fields and the animals in them or with the human world. The author, a resident of Mitchell, S. D., has embellished the book with several of her own drawings. Published January 1, 1949" (From Goodreads)

 

Birthdays

We lived at this time in our old house which was later moved off and the new house built on the same lot.

Fay Watson Richardson was born Sunday eve Dec. 10, 1893. Weight at birth 9 lbs. Was a very robust looking child, with an exceptionally well developed head, but he was subject to many severe sickspells until he was about eight years old. When 14 mo. old he had a very severe illness that lasted for a month. Was 13 mo. old before he had a single tooth. Did not walk alone after this illness until 18 mo. old.

Fay had measles when 2 ½ years old, at the same time other children were all sick. It was at this time he made such a friend of Mrs. Dr. Lynde who used to bring in picture books and entertain him. She was the only one he would let take care of him beside the family. He had whooping cough at five years, and was vaccinated at the same time and was very ill… He has also had chicken pox.

He commenced going to school with nearly seven yrs old. He didn't enjoy going to school and used to beg, and beg to stay at home. He would ask every morning, "What do I have to go to school for?"

Fay, Ruth and Russell were baptized on the same day [June 26th, 1898] and united with the church about six or seven years later…

- From Clementine Watson Richardson's Scrapbook

===

Letter from grandfather George Warren Richardson, dated Bruneau, Idaho, December 20, 1893:

My dear David & Clemmie,

I hasten to send you my congratulations. Another Grandson to perpetuate the Richardson name. I know you are pleased that the baby is a boy, and mother Lillie[1] and I both "rejoice with them that do rejoice."

I began to feel afraid that the family name would become extinct till George Alonzo[2] came to the rescue. Clara[3] used to try to comfort me and say, "Pa don't worry - there's time enough yet," but I was afraid her comfort would end in talk.

I presume the small boy will find a name before this reaches you but it will do no harm to suggest.

I think it would be a nice thing to have his name perpetuate the memory of his father and mother as well as the family name

Fay Watson Richardson

How would that do?

I have not rec'd Emma's weekly letter. Maybe she was too busy caring for her nephew. Well, your card brought the most important news.

I cannot understand why Emma does not get my letters oftener than once in two or three weeks. I have failed to write every week a few times, but I am sure some of my letters have been lost. We are getting along nicely. Mother has the contract for the school six months more (that is six months after the first quarter). She is as busy as she can be training her scholars for her Christmas performance. I am getting along well with the work on the circuit. There has been an addition to my missionary appropriation of $150 - and this extra amount came all in a bunch.

Yesterday I got my wire fence around my stockyard and stable and around the house, so I am nearly ready for winter before Christmas. Weather cool and pleasant, no snow in the Valley. We both send love and Christmas greetings to the Father - Mother and all the children - including Emma.

Affectionately,

This will have to do for Emma this week

===

Letter from grandfather John Watson, dated River Falls, Wisconsin, December 14, 1893:

My dear David,

I received your card announcing the Birth of a son. I'm glad to hear that Clemmie and the boy are doing well. I hope he will prove to be a great blessing to you and grow up to be a good man and an useful citizen.

I have not been feeling well for more than a month past. I suffered from Heart failure, was over a week confined to the house. I got round a little but did not feel well. Day after Thanksgiving I was taken down again and have not been out of the House since, but I am feeling better and think I will be able to go out in a day or so.

Mother got Home this morning from a two weeks outing and joins with me and love to Clemmie and all the Richardsons.

Yours lovingly,

===

Letter from Helen Field Watson, to Russell David Richardson, dated Northfield, Minnesota, June 1, 1966, in reply to his request for help in getting a passport:

Dear Russell,

I surely can authenticate your birth date.

Clara's carefully kept diaries have come into use many times when we wish to find out when or where someone did something. She began keeping them in 1893.

In April of 1895 she was staying at your home helping to care for the children. She writes: Sat. 20. Uncle Dave went for Mrs. Meade & Dr. Greaves about five o'clock. A little baby boy came this morning about 8:15. Uncle Dave took Ella, Florence, and Ruth out to Maggie's.[4] I took Fay out for a ride. In the afternoon I took him over to Mrs. Weeks and she helped me amuse him… and more about that day…

California could hardly be lovelier than our Minnesota now. My back lawn and garden seemed beautiful to me - probably more so because I'm yard man and gardener.

I'm glad I could be of a little help to you!

With sincere interest,

===

Letter, Florence Richardson to her brother Russell, dated Morton, Minnesota, April 18, 1907:

This should reach you on your 12th birthday, if it does not tarry on the way. It is very, very hard to realize that you are celebrating your last birthday before entering your "teens," but at the rate you've been growing this year you'll be a young man shortly. Congratulations!

As spring advances, I suppose you and Fay are finding almost more work in the way of odd jobs, than you can do. Very soon school will be out and then you'll be free to work and play as you wish. Do you realize that six weeks from today is Decoration Day? I can scarcely wait till school is over.

I received Ruth's and mamma's letter to-night. I am so sorry that mamma has been so poorly. I do wish she could manage to do less work.

To-night after school Floyd Patten took Aunt Emma, Miss Brown and me riding way out into the country. We went out to Patten's farm, tied the team, and then rambled all through the woods, gathering what few flowers we could find.

I went to a home-talent play here last evening, which was rather good. It lasted rather late, and consequently, I have been sleepy all day. One just has to go to what few things like that do come along, or they don't like it at all.

Well Russell, I must say, "good-night." Wish we could have bought you something decent here. Give my love to all the rest of the family.

Most lovingly
Your sister

===

Letter, Emma Richardson to Russell, in the same envelope:

Florence and I have not forgotten that you have a birthday this week - but we haven't been able to find anything that we thought you would care for, so we each send you a quarter and you are to get but you most wish whether it is a new book, an ice-cream soda or as Florence suggests, a new bell for "Cherry."

You are certainly to be congratulated on 12 years well spent; At the same rate 10 more will finish your education and fit you for some useful place in life.

Meanwhile, grow tall & strong, earn & save as much as you honestly can without being stingy; But above all be the sweet, happy, helpful boy that you have always been.

We are proud of Our Boys and feel sure that they are making the right sort of men.

Your affectionate

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===

NOTES:

1 GWR married November 17, 1889 as his second wife Rachel Elizabeth Silver, who was born March 11, 1844 and predeceased him, dying March 18, 1907.

2 The first grandson, born February 26, 1892 to Frank and Alice (Dibble) Richardson. Up to this time all the grandchildren had been girls. George A. attended the School of Mines at Lead, S.D., served in WWII, came home in ill health and died March 8, 1922. David Fay Richardson's two sons, Fay and Russell, were the only other grandsons; They survived to have issue.

3 Owen Richardson's wife, Clara Milne.

4 Probably Maggie Milne Lyman.

Richardson Family Chart

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Richardson Family Papers: Volume II | Introduction

By Madge Richardson Walsh, 1991

Ruth Catherine Richardson 1910 

Northfield High School graduation portrait

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A MEMORY BOOK

Ruth in the family parlor of the
D.F Richardson home, Northfield, Minnesota

In Volume I of these annals, Florence Richardson Street reminisced about her parents, D.F. and Clemmie Richardson, and her brothers and sisters. She looked back to the time they lived in Northfield, Minnesota before the turn of the century, up to 1908. By then, Florence had married Claude Street and had her only child, Paul. Ella, the oldest sister, married Claude's brother Bernard (it was a double wedding) and had Harold, the first of her five children.

In Volume II, we have a diary and a series of articles by Ruth Richardson Smith, third child and youngest sister (these are being shared courtesy of her children). In her Private Diary, Ruth gives us a con­temporary account of the period 1907 - 1909, written during her teenage years at North­field High School, and illustrated with her own charming drawings.

Some of the gaps in the Diary I have been able to bridge with clippings from the Northfield News. For these, I shall forever bless the unnamed souls who indexed the newspaper. I also owe thanks to local Northfield teenager Reenie Martin, who spent a good part of her 1983 summer vacation in the library, reading microfilm to find the articles on my want list and making copies of them.

As her sisters did, Ruth went to Carleton College (Class of 1914, though she did not graduate). She worked as a nurse at St. Luke's in St. Paul for a year until moving to Suther­lin, Oregon in September, 1913 with her parents. On April 29, 1916, at Suther­lin, she married Arthur Gerald Smith, rancher.

Their first child was not born until 1921, and her early years on the ranch were lonely and often demanding. During this time she wrote an account of her experiences; later, during the Depres­sion when cash was hard to come by, she offered her writings to the editor of the Roseburg News-Review. The news­paper published her articles anonymously as Letters of an Oregon Bride. Though the incidents were true, the names were fictional (but she used quite a few family names and some individuals were composites).

The first series of 12 letters appeared daily from January 17 to 30, 1934 (six days a week - there was no paper on Sunday). These were so popular that she was "persuaded" to continue the series for an addi­tion­al 15 letters. These ran from April 17 to May 3, 1934. The letters covered an apparent time period of two years. The newspaper was in the habit of run­ning such serials - romances, mysteries, or adventure stories - by then-popular authors never heard of since (except for one, perhaps - Ben Ames Williams). But they were fictional, and the Letters were unusual in being true.

Ruth told no one that she was doing this, though Art must have known. Florence thought he might have considered it a reflec­tion on him that she had so rugged a life. Her children say they watched for the articles eagerly, never suspecting their own mother had written them.

Many years later, she got permission from the news­paper to publish the Letters as a book. Early in 1963 she sent a big envelope of them in manuscript to her sister Florence, asking her to type them. "Hurry!" Florence was astounded at the hidden talent of her sister; "I've never appreciated Ruth before."

Florence did have the letters typed before she died in July, 1963; but nothing more was done, and Ruth her­self died the following year.

The only "editing" of the Letters I found necessary was to correct the typist's obvious mistakes, and to add occasional clarifying remarks or illustrations.

The text of the remembrance read at her Memorial Service con­cludes this volume.

Ruth Richardson Smith has left us a true "Memory Book" to pour over, evoking times past in a style that is refresh­ingly ingenuous, often humorous, sometimes poignant: truly a gift of herself.

Madge Richardson Walsh 

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