Elizabeth A Watters Reynolds

 Elizabeth was the first born of James Watters and Sarah Jane Dingle Watters in year of 1868.  James is of Cornwall England, and a miner.  Sarah is of St Mary's River Nova Scotia.  Sarah is the daughter of a fisherman, Thomas and Margaret Leigh Dingle. According to the 1900 US Census, Elizabeth migrated to the US from Nova Scotia  with a son, James W Reynolds and I assume then husband George Henry Reynolds in the year 1889.  I say assume because I can't find any data about George Henry Reynolds before  1889 and nothing after 1892.  I have no idea where George came from or got off too, but he was in the picture for two children after James.  In the following couple of years, George and Elizabeth gives birth to George Henry Reynolds (II) and Flossie Jane Reynolds.  Both George (II) and Flossie's birth are registered in the city of Woburn Massachusetts.

Marriage Certificate

In 1907 Elizabeth remarries to a James McArdle of Lowell Massachusetts. In the 1910 US Census Elizabeth, George (II) and Flossie are living the McArdle house of Lowell MA.   George (II) marries twice, first to a Margaret Hodge of Lowell MA and then Edith Ruby Heaney also of Lowell.  Flossie (Florence) married a William Kershaw of Lowell MA

Obituary

In 1919 Elizabeth passes away at her daughters home in Lowell MA.  Elizabeth rest in the Edson/Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell Massachusetts. The bearers were sons James W Reynolds and George H Reynolds (II) and brother James L. Watters.

Today, 17 Feb 2014, while seeking other records for other relatives, I bumped into a record that I had not see previously;  Massachusetts Standard Death Certificate; issued 1919.

Death Certificate

The name on the above record is Hannah E McArdle, which is really Elizabeth A Waters Reynolds McArdle.  My grandmother used her given name of Elizabeth and middle name Anna at different times. Well, apparently she used Hannah too.  The above record has her parents as James Waters and Sarah Lee, which is not totally accurate as Sarah was a Dingle.  Sarah's mother was a Lee or Leigh depending of the record you look at.  This is an understandable error as the informant for the Death Certificate is James McArdle.

To find other posts about Elizabeth enter Watters or Reynolds in the search box  top left corner of this blog post.

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Early morning visit

A earlier visit brought it's end! 

Round about 4am Gandalf goes off on something in the darkness of the per morning light, which was more shadow and dark places than light. Not long after the standard warning barks, Gandalf's voice changed to something more serious. This was my signal to check things out. I slipped into some clothes, found the flash-lite, the .22 and exited the house. The sound of the door closing behind me brought Gandalf to my side, where upon he guided me to coop where something moved in the darkness. I could hear it rustling about the front part of the coop looking for a way into the chicken. Getting a bit closer, the smell hit me first then the scurrying skunk came waddling out the front of the coop. We escorted the skunk a safe distance away from the area, where upon it turned around and was heading back... Gandalf barked, I yelled and the .22 ended it all. So goes the Pepe this night!

Upon the night air

In the wee hours of the morning, Gandalf goes off on something in the field to the south. The urgency is his voice sets Gurl off, who is lying on the floor next to the bed. Damn she is loud! With both dogs barking I figured I best check things out. The clock read 1:30 am as I rolled out of bed heading for the front door. I didn't get but a step or two when I learn what the alarm was about ... Pepe Le Pew had entered the domain of Gandalf the White. The air was full of the scent of da skunk, to which gave me I little desire to go outside. But, after checking the cams that watch the coop, I saw Pepe roaming around trying to get in. Gandalf no worse the wear followed me to the coop with flashlite and .22 in hand. Can you image an old fat man wandering around in the wee hours chasing a skunk about the yard and trying to stay clear of the spray. Pepe the wiser headed for the woods. I returned to the house to watch the cams for awhile. No further evidence, so off to bed again... Not a hour later Gandalf and Gurl are alarmed and the aroma of Pepe was again in the air. I wasn't able to catch up to Pepe this night. So, I wish him a good night with warning not to return. Come morning Gandalf had a slight hint of a new cologne; Ode de Pepe Le Pew!

Things about my dad!

I don't have a good recall of my childhood, just bits and pieces here and there.  What I remember most about my dad was three or four things he would say.

If! If! If! Frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their arse.  I remember telling my girl this when they started playing THE WHAT IF GAME.

Two blind men came out to fight, back to back they faced each other.... the story goes on from there.

Righty tighty, lefty loosey!  Still use this one!

Don't let the bed bugs bite, but if they do you know what to do?   Bite them back!

SOTEBS was always the gift one was getting if asked.  SOTEBS for all I know this was my dads creation. It's an acronym for Shit on the End of a broom Stick.  I know it doesn't fit totally.

SOS was a food he seem to enjoy... Shit on a Shingle is what it stood for.  You may know as Creamed Chipped Beef over mashed taters, rice, scrabbled eggs!

He hated oil that would settle on top of spaghetti mac that was still in the pot.  So much so, he would start yelling at mom.  I have found myself sounding like my dad all to often.  I hate it!

But mostly I remember trips to the woodshed were a 2x4 was used.   I can't tell you how many times I've woke up during my life seeing that board crashing down on me.  I hated him for years, but come to realize, he was doing what he knew right or wrong.  I carried that hatred inside me for years and years and to this day I  will not bow down, even if you have a board in your hand.  I know the hated and anger within, messed with my life in so many a ways and I regret many things I can't correct.  But, I love my family and friends and I try very hard to stand up for those that are beaten down and need a hand up.  I will take that board for you if I can, I will protect you if I can.  I will...........................................................

Murder in Racine

While doing some genealogy research, I came across a murder story in Racine Wisconsin.  Captain John Crangle seem to be ill of health and attacked his wife.  

Captain John was a Lake Michigan boat captain and was well known all about the lake.  John came from Ireland and quickly took to the way of the big waters of the Great Lakes.

Julia Crangle, Captain John's wife survived her wounds that came about her from this attack.  Julia too from Ireland and started life as Julia Nolan. Not only did Julia survive these wounds, she survived the bearing of 13 children.  This is one strong person!  This is one strong woman!

One of the strangest parts of this story was, Captain John just a bit earlier the same day was speaking with others about town.  So, what happened to cause such a thing and to come to such an end?

The following article is the whole story as told by the Racine Daily Journal, 20 July 1894.  I broke the story into parts for ease and the retelling of the story.  In beginning, we learned about the Terrible Deed! Now, the rest of the story.....

Part One... The community!  John was at the cigar store talking about steamers and reading the local newspaper.

Part Two.. The son's story of what happened. Charles is the tenth child and is about 16 years old.

Part three... Julia's injuries.  She is so lucky!

Part four.... Julia survives her wounds.  She does not share the reason for the argument!

Part five.... The Caption shoots himself

Part six.... The daughters are notified. Maggle who I think is Margaret the older is about 19 and Julia was 16 years of age.

Part seven.... Captain was in Ill health... was this the cause?

Part eight.... Thirty years in Racine WI with a bad temp at home.   Of the thirteen children I know the names of eleven.

Part 9...  The Children

Part 10... The scene was visit by thousands.  

This is such a sad event in the time of this family when at mid morning life stops and life ends.  Why am I re-posting this story, well there is a connect back to mine.. Katherine, child number 6, was married to my great uncle John Kennedy.  And while researching the union between John and Kate this story of tragedy was revealed to me.

This story was first posted in the Racine Daily  Journal, 20 July 1894, one year prior to Kate's marriage to John. By the year 1900 Kate too is widowed by an unknown reason.

Gandalf the White

Today, we set out today to pickup a new member for the Prairie Home Hobby farm, a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD).  We took off at 9 this morning for a 120 mile trip into the Dakotas.  Doesn't that just sound like some old western.  We pressed the Explorer into a westerly direction, passing through East Grand Forks MN and Grand Forks ND, toward Devils Lake.  Now, I haven't been out this way since 1983 when I  was stationed at the US Grand Forks AFB and was then sent to Alaska.  I just didn't have the reason to go west into the Dakotas after that.  Well, today we made the venture west to a little town call Doyon.   Upon reaching the farm of Bob and Marte, we were greeted by a pretty little girl that was dressed up in winter clothing with only her eyes and nose exposed to the raw wind on the Dakota cold.  Marte was at work, but Bob was there to show us the pups and the parent dogs.  Bob and Marte's farm is called the Tangled Tree farm.  There is a story there, but not now.  Bob whistled out towards the horses and yelled "Come here"!  Pretty soon a big white dog showed itself and stood in place long enough for another round of whistles and come here.  The old boy come running in a slow gait to where we stood.  There was a temporary cattle fencing blocking the dogs full approach.  I asked Bob if it was OK to greet the dog and was given the OK.  Bob spoke to the dog by name.. Gandalf its OK!.  Gandalf the White is the registered name for this impressive male LGD.  I swear Gandalf was near big enough to saddle.  Both Trish and I loved the name that was given the male.  He was a very well behaved dog and very much loved the attention.  So much so, he made his way around the house to an opening in the fence and then came over to us.  I let the old boy smell my hand for a bit before starting to pet him... he ate it up.  He then went over to Trish and got some more petting without knocked her to the ground.   We meet the pups mom and immediately decided to get a male pup if any.  Don't get me wrong the female was a great looking dog, but we both loved the size of Gandalf.  Bob gave us a bit of a tour around his farm while we watched the pups play bout the stead.

The Tangled Tree farm is built on a ridge running north and south, in the Dakota prairie pothole lands, just east of Devils Lake.  The farm stead is sheltered from the west winds by the ridge and a shelter belt of trees.  They have a good population of goats of a few variety, horses, cattle, chickens, turkey, cats and Maremma, the LGDs!  In building the Tangled Tree farm, Bob and Marte rescued an old farm house that Devils Lake was about to swallow by the expansion of Devil Lake.  The house was originally built in 1905. Nice rescue! I must say that Bob was a very pleasant man and we enjoyed out time chatting with him.

Without getting into a big history lesson, the Maremma is a distant Italian relative to the Great Pyrenees sheep dog. The name is pronounced as Mare like a female horse and Emma like a girls name.  If you are interested in learning more about the Maremma LGD, please follow this link.

While we moved about the stead, I kept my eyes on the pups activities.  All the females pups and all but one male pup stayed close to the activity of the visitors.  The one male I was watching was out on patrol with dad, who had returned to the pasture with the horses.  Next thing I knew, the pup was checking out a coop not far from where we stood.  His dad continue his path towards the horses.  Bob noticed I was watching the pup and gave it a call.  It responded almost immediately and was then selected as the new member of the Prairie Home Hobby farm.  We loved the name of Gandalf the White so much we asked if Bob mind if we too used the name. Bob had no troubles with that idea at all.   And so, Gandalf was placed into the Explorer.  Gandalf the White was so exhausted by his exploits, he slept most of the way home in the backseat.

In the days to come... both Trish and I will be posting updates about Gandalf on our blogs, so stay turned!