The Goat Cart

 

Even though I don’t know the origin of this post card it’s so delightful I couldn’t resist posting it.  The back of the card says “Mrs. Sherman from Margaret.”  Mrs. Sherman was my husband’s  Great Grandmother and and we assume the card was hers since it was with others she’d collected.  Goat carts were used in the early 20th century and probably earlier as well, and came in a variety of styles. This one looks like a one person buggy of the sort that would be used with a horse if it were full sized.  Carts were more than a novelty… they were used for transportation to school or church, there was a type for carrying things like garden produce, and I’m sure many, many others.  Since goats are pretty strong for their size and usually willing workers a “goat cart”  would be practical transportation.

Written for “A Festival of Post Cards”  Carnival of Genealogy

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, May 19, 2009, All Rights Reserved

Picture is the sole property of Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington

Aunt Ura

Aunt Ura

This portrait was among several inherited by my husband from the possessions of his great-grandmother Susan (Leach) Sherman. It’s quite a large portrait measuring 20″tall by 16″wide and you quickly see that the portrait has been touched up to a considerable extent, in fact the clothing looks like it’s been painted on. In comparing her hair style style to picture samples from various eras, it appears that this portrait could have been taken in the 1860′s although that’s far from clear. And her dress with a little white ruffle and bow at the neck compares with dresses from the 1860′s and 1870′s as does the smooth (vs puffed) sleeve. This dignified and stately lady is only identified (on the back of the portrait) as “Your Father(s) Aunt Ura.” Unfortunately we don’t know to whom Susan Sherman was addressing that statement. Since the portrait was in with very similarly styled portraits of Solomon Leach and Susan (Higley) Leach, Charles Leach, and Milton Higley, it’s probable that Aunt Ura was connected to either the Higley or Leach lines. But just what the relationship is we have no idea. Yes, Aunt Ura, we’d really like to know who you are!

Written for the “Smile for the Camera” Carnival of Genealogy, January 9, 2009. Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, All Rights Reserved.

Portrait is the sole possession of Susan J. and Howard D. Edminster.

Beatrice Ruth

Beatrice Ruth Sherman

Born June 7, 1907 in Rexton, Michigan

This beautiful little girl was my husband’s Mother, Beatrice Ruth Sherman, known as Ruth. Look at her ornate little stroller complete with a leg rest and beautiful back rest design. What a lucky little lady.

The Sherman Family, Ruth, Johannah and Will

Ruth looks to be about 12 years old in this picture of the family so we assume it was taken about 1919. Quite the young lady. Ruth married George Shelby Edminster and they were parents to my husband and his brother. Sadly, Ruth died of diptheria November 29, 1933 after the stillbirth of twins. My husband was just a little boy then but still remembers his Mother’s body being taken from their home.

Written for “Smile for the Camera” November 9, 2008

Copyright Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington

…Clay Pipe and a Shot of Whiskey

Mr. Ed’s great grandmother, Susan Sherman who was a right prim and proper lady was fond of telling him the reason for her longevity was that she smoked a clay pipe and had a shot of whiskey every day. So was there truth to her statement or was she just having fun at his expense? We don’t really know, but we do know Susan lived to the age of 102 years!

Born in Arbela Township, Tuscola County Michigan on December 12, 1859 to Susan (Higley) and Solomon Leach, she grew up with brothers Alison and Grant, and sisters Vera and Mary. On March 28, 1880 she married a handsome young man named Moses Benjamin Sherman who had come “west” from Pennsylvania a few years earlier. Susan and Moses became parents to Martha, William and Murry.

William (Will) Sherman worked in the woods in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he met and married Johannah (Josie) Hartwell, daughter of William Hartwell and Mary Jane Edgeworth. Josie and Will’s daughter Ruth was my husband’s Mother.

Like many other families the Shermans gradually moved westward. Moses worked for the railroad and the 1910 and 1920 Federal Census schedules show them settled in Drummond, Montana where he was a “Stationary Engineer” for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He retired in 1938. They lived in a log house next to the RR tracks and Susan said the local indians would come by regularly and she’d provide them with food; in return she was well liked and respected by them.

Moses, Susan and Martha Sherman near RR Water Tower

Moses & Susie by the Train

Their final move west brought the Shermans to Tacoma, Washington and it was there Susie lost her dear Moses on December 5, 1942.

Susie lived on and was active in the Violet Prairie Garden Club, Tacoma African Violet Society and Order of Eastern Star. She enjoyed quilt making and made many lovely quilts over the years.

The last time my husband visited her, Susie greeted him and told him to sit down a minute, that Moses was down at the barn, harnessing up the horses and would be back up to the house shortly. That was about two weeks before her death on July 3, 1962 at the age of 102.

But back to the clay pipe and shot of whiskey….. my husband did see the pipe but never actually witnessed her smoking it. As to the shot of whiskey… well, I guess some mysteries are never quite resolved.

Susan Viola Leach Sherman