Source: hand written notes by Charlotte Owen Erisman., apparently written in 1966. This is a continuation of the record kept by Rev. John Wilson Owen., who made a copy of the first 41 pages for his son, John Milton Owen. David Owen Erisman has original: Transcribed here by Miriam Owen Irwin, who added bracketed [ ] explanations or notes inserted into this text.

In Rev. John Wilsons Owen's hand:

p.39

"Ancestry of my wife, Minerva Wantz Owen.

I.Maternal Ancestry

Peter Rineman (grandfather) died in MO. Had issue:

1. Susan married Isa Shuman.

2. Mary Ellen married Martin Shaffer.

3. Charlotte Ann b. May 22, 1842. D.. July 6, 1917.

Married Eli B. Wantz."

Charlotte Erisman's notes begin here:

II Paternal Ancestry

p. 40

Noah Wantz (grandfather) married Mandelia Bricker. D. in 94^th year.)

Had issue:

1. Eli Bricker Wantz [Elias]

b.Jan. 1, 1841, d. July 2, 1893

2. Lydia Miller married Henry Warner

3. Samuel Miller

4. Amanda Miller married David Brown. [Aunt Mandy]

[No 2,3,4 may have been half brother [they were] to our grandfather Elias Bricker Wantz. Because when Noah died, his widow Mary Mandelia Bricker Wantz married a man named Miller. (perhaps it was Henry Miller.) Miller's Station near Manchester, MD is named after this family.)

When Grandmother Wantz-Miller died, all of the family inherited about $200. Each. (I don't remember ever hearing of this. Myrle Wantz Patti told me in 1966. Her father Stuart told his mother, Aunt Ida, that he got only $87. No one knows what he did with the rest of his $200.)

My mother [Minerva Wantz Owen] told me of their family going to Sam (?) Miller's funeral--it was all in German and they all giggled. (they were just children then) and their mother (my grandmother) was so embarrassed. The twins were about 24 years old when their greatgrandmother Miller died, and they inherited $200. Each.

Eli B. Wantz (1841-1893)

Married

Charlotte Ann Rineman (1842-1917)

Had issue:

1. John Henry Wantz (d. 2 weeks old)

b. Nov 20, 1863

2. Mary Mandelia Wantz [aunt Dee]

b. Dec 9, 1964

d. Feb 5, 1949

3. Sara Ellen Wantz

b. Aug 19, 1866

d. Jan 25, 1947

4. Samuel Stuart Wantz

b. Nov 22, 1868

d. April 9, 1959, Age 91 years

5,6. Sherman Rineman and Minerva Wantz [twins]

b. July 2, 1871

Minerva d. May 21, 1930

Sherman d. Aug 21, 1950

7. Ida May Wantz

b. July 11, 1873

d. May 15, 1967 Age 94 years

Note: One record says she was born at Littleton's Farm near Astonia, IL. Then the family moved to Nebraska.

8. Lillie Charlotte Wantz [Aunt Lily]

b. April 11, 1876

d. April 26, 1953

Aunt Dee was born in Carroll County, Maryland near Hampstead. 1864.

Aunt Sara was born in 1866 in Summum, IL

Uncle Stuart was born 1868 in Ipava, IL

Mother and Uncle sherman (twins) were born 1871 at Branson's Farm near Astonia, IL.

Aunt Ida was born 1873 at Littleton's Farm near Astonia, IL (Looks like the family moved a lot.) died June 3, 1955.

Aunt Lily was born 1876 in CassCounty, Nebraska, near Elmwood.

When Aunt Lily was stilla baby, they moved back to Baltimore. [stor of moving to Nebraska begins on Charlotte's page 49] about 1878 (?)

p. 42.

Additional Family History

2. Mary Mandelia Wantz (our Aunt Dee) was married twice. First husband was Will Sullivan [MOI note: Name Sullivan later crossed out.] had 2 little boys, both died of diptheria when about 2 years of age. First husband, Will died also.

Second marriage to Will Scott in 1907. He already had 2 children by a previous marriage (Emma Scott and George Scott) Aunt Dee never had any more children. Uncle Will died about 1925. Aunt Dee died a few years after father's death [John Wilson Owen] Feb 5, 1949.

p.43

3. Sarah Ellen Wantz (our Aunt Sadie) married Will Harper. They had 5 daughters, Ida, Belle, Grace, Emma and Ellen.

Ida and Bell married brothers. (Dan and Jim Rider) Both men were ministers, and lived in Boston (?)

3-1. Ida Wantz Rider is a widow now [1966]. Her husband, Dan died from a heart attack several years ago. They had three children:

Violet Rider---She has children and grandchildren now

Lois Rider --lives in Florida because of arthritis. She has children

too.

Philip Rider -- he studied to be a pries, but "backed out" at the last

minute. He is still a Catholic. His father was a Protestant

minister.

[here 10 unnumbered pages have been added in place of p. 44.]

Ida lives in Canton, Mass. Now, with Violet perhaps?

3-2. Belle Wantz' husband was Jim Rider. They had one daughter, Dorothy. She is married but has no children. Belle died in 1962 and Jim lives with Dorothy.

3-3. Grace Wantz - married Bill Schaffer. Had no children. Grace was a nurse--

Shed took care of Aunt Carrie after Sherman died and inherited their property in Baltimore. Now lives at 36 E. Fourth Street in Frederick, MD

3-4. Emma wantz married Linwood Reese - had 1 daughter Virginia. Later Emma and Linwood were divorced. He married and moved to Chicago. She never remarried.

Virginia Reese married Howard Burnside. 3 children

1. Bonnie Burnsides married has 1 son.

2. Larry Burnsides was in the Navy on the "Enterprise" when they rescued the astronauts.

3. Phil Burnsides was killed by an auto when he was a H.S. senior--walking along a street. Struck by a truck thrown in the path of an auto which ran over him.

3-5. Ellen Wantz married Bob Kress. Had one son Bob, Jr. Later Ellen was divorced and married John Bobinette. He ran a restaurant or something in Baltimore. Now they live in Florida and own a laundromant. (doing quite well, they say.)

Bob Kress Jr. has turned Chatholic. He is married, has a son and a daughter and lives near Ellen in Florida. She lives on a large lot. Bob Jr. built his house on the back part of it).

Aunt Sadie died Jan. 25, 1947.

4. Samuel Stuart Wantz (our Uncle Stuart) married Ida Phillips--had 6 children:

4-1. Myrle Elva married John Patti--had twins sons, Stuart and Sherman, born March 4, 1915. Also a son Merle born Oct 3, 1916 who was killed in Brest, France, WWII, Sept. 2, 1944.

We stayed at their house when we went to Baltimore to Uncle Sherman's funeral, Aug 21, 1950. We moved into our new house [on Free Pike] the day after we returned to Dayton. (myrle and Inez came to Dayton to visit us and to attend Mark's [Erisman] wedding June 19, 1966--only cousins who came!) We appreciated their visit.

1. Stuart married Alma Phillips and they have one son named John Stuart, Jr. Myrle lives with them. The house is a duplex and Myrle lives upstairs.

2. Sherman married Edna Irley and they have one daughter named Sharon Louise. They live at Towson, MD.

4-2. Irma Elizabeth had 2 children. Her husband was Wm. Grove. She was killed in an auto accident Sep 23, 1938. (Buried Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore. Her children are:

1. Albert [Grove](wife Ellen) has 1 son Billy and (2) Betty's husband is Wilbur Wright. His son Bill Jr., Daughter Barbara. They live in Yakima Washington.

4-3. Preston Henry married Effie Slack. He died of cancer, April 7, 1944. Had 3 children/ Preston's wife, Effied died a few years after he did.

4-3-1. Joseph was wounded in WWII, now blind from diabetes. He married Loretta--has 1 boy.

4-3-2. Evelyn is married.

4-3-3. Raymond, also married.

4-4. Sherman Elias Wantz married Marie Sieland--had 4 children. (sons all over 6 ft. tall).

4-4-1. Son Preston, his wife Emily. They have 2 daughters, Ginger & Dolly. Preston is making a career in the Air Force.

4-4-2. Russel, his wife Ella "Booty" Horn, 2 living children, Linda and James. (James had a twin brother who died when a baby and James is blind, mostly from birth.) Russell works with Sherman, his Dad, as a carpenter.

4-4-3. Helen, has husband Ernest Dawson, & 3 children, Robert, Russell and Cindy.

4-4-4. Bob, married nancy S. Parks--he is in the insurance business and has 4 children, David, Robin (girl) Jeffrey and Sue Ann.

4-5. Inez Lily married Henry Wehrenberg (He died Oct 18, 1961) She lives with her son,

4-5-1. Fred and his wife Virginia. Birginia is of Polish descent--name has been Jorosinski) They have a daughter Inez who plans to be married soon to Charles La Pauze. (Married May 21, 1967) Virginia died____Fred remarried her niece, Beverly____.

4-5-2. Donald--married Jean Himmel. 2 children, Ricky and Wendy. He works in the engineering department with the telephone co. --also is a draftsman for landscaping and swimming pools. Donald died _____

4-6. Charlotte Ida married Carsten Beverly Wehrenberg (nephew of henry, Inez's husband) They have no children. Live in Bel Air, MD 108 Lynbrook Road. Carsten works for Martin's Aircraft Co. in Baltimore. Carsten died ______ Charlotte died ______.

About Uncle Stuart: whe mother died iin 1930 all of her brothers and sisters came to Dayton, Aunt Dee, Aunt Sara, Aunt Lily and Aunt Ida were here before she died and helped to care for her. I was teaching school at Fairview High School (English). Uncle Sherman came the day before she died and Uncel Stuart arrived the day afterwards. He had high blood pressure and didn't go into the cemetery at the time of the funeral. He was afraid the emotion would be too much--but he lived many years afterward. Was 90 when he died April 9, 1959. At one time they lived near Steffeys at Parkville, MD, suburb of Baltimore. We have a picture of their house there--Uncel Stuart built many fine things in that house--hand carved stair rails, etc. Before that they lived on Collington Ave. A snapshot of our old 1910 Ford is in front of their Collington Ave. home. Grandpa Wantz was a carpenter, so Uncel Stuart became a carpenter, too. Also his sons Sherman and Preston, and Sherman's son Russell. At the time of WWII Sherman went to Camp Meade and helped build the Army barracks there. (We didn't know that when Mark [Erisman] spent 6 months at Fort George H. Meade during the Berling Crisis in 1961.)

Later Uncel Stuart worked for G. Walter Lovell--a man who did restoration work on historic houses. Uncle Stuart specialized in making stairways and restoring hand carving etc. in cornices and wainscoting. Several famous Colonial houses on which he worked are pictured in a book we have called "The Living Past of America" by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. On page 82 in this book is the "Hammond-Hardwood House" in Annapolis, MD, built iin 1774. Uncle Stuart worked on this house. Also he helped in the restoration of "Stratford Hall" the birthplace of Robert E. Lee in Westmoreland Co., Virginia. Page 101 in the book previously mentioned. This house was built in 1725-30. And he worked on a house restored by the D.A.R. in Fredericksburg, VA, in which George Washington's mother lived. It is called the "Mary Ball Washington House" page 103 of our book. Special mention is made of the original mantels and paneling in this house. Uncle Stuart did work on them.

He also built furniture which his children still have--inlaid table, a desk, sideboard, dressing table, cabinets, etc.

Sherman Wantz was a carpenter, too. Later worked with his sons as contractors and builders. They specialized in building churches. Sherman was the first church builder in Baltimore to build the steeple of the church on the ground and have it lifted into place. He did quite well on the church business but later nearly went bankrupt, because the churches did not pay him for all the work he did.l He has retired now--his son Russell carries on the business. They do mostly repair business for an insurance company. Sherman gives estimates and subcontracts the work.

Page 45

5. Sherman Rineman Wantz (our Uncle Sherman) sometimes used Robert for his middle name. Was a prominent doctor in Baltimore. He married Carry Ford. They had 1 aughter who died at birth.

Uncle Sherman died Aug 21, 1950 and Aunt Carrie died Nov 10, 1953.

Uncle Sherman and our Mother (minerva Wantz Owen) were twins. They were born July 2, 1871. Illinois (I think in Monroe County.) Our son, Mark Sherman {Erisman] was also born on July 2--it was in 1937.

p. 46

6. Minerva Wantz Owen (our mother) never had a middle name. Neither did Uncle Sherman, tho he adopted his mother's maiden name Rineman [He needed a middle name or initial to enter the Army for WWI. (sometimes used "Robert" too.) Mother said her parents were so amazed at having twins that they never though of middle names.

Minerva Wantz and our father, John Wilson Owen, were married April 26, 1899 in Baltimore. Milton and I were their only children.

Mother died May 21 1930. Father died June 27, 1949. Milton died Oct 7, 1976

[Additional page added here:]

Gid added some info--so the strange handwriting is his.

Gid says Uncle George was born in October but we used to celebrate his birthday at Penn grove, I think it was in July.

Page 4

7. Ida May Wantz (our aunt Ida) was married to George W. Steffey. She was born July 11, 1873 and died May 15, 1967. They had one son Gideon Hutchinson Steffey--our cousin Gid.

Aunt Ida outlived all of her brothers and sisters. Uncle George was born Oct 22, 1871. Died Aug 4 1960. Gid married Avalon Birch [Birch then crossed out] of Worcester County, MD. They had 2 children:

1. James Richard Steffey

2. Natalie May

Richard marreid Billie Lefler and they had one son named Jimmy.

Natalie married Robert Freeman and they also had a son named Danny (Daniel Carey) b.Apr 11, 1960.

p.48

8. Lillie Charlotte Wantz was our Aunt Lily. She begin spelling it this way when she found it recorded Lily in the family Bible. After she Lillie until she was married). Aunt Lily was married to Milton Ensor and they had 2 daughters--Naomi an dRuth. Lily died April 26, 1953. Uncle Milton Ensor died Mar 2, 1942.

1. naomi's full name is Naomi Charlotte. Naomi married Grady Crowell and they had 2 children, Milton and Lillian.

Milton is not married [note added saying Milton Ensor is married now] but Lillian is married to Bill Varner and they have 2 children, a boy Billy and a girl, Rosemary.

2. Ruth married Lake Hobbs, and they have one sone, Charles. He is not married.

p.49

Wantz Family

Aunt Dee told me many things about the family but I didn't write them down--so I have to rely on my memory.

The parents, Eli and Charlotte Wantz lived in Baltimore, Maryland. Father Wnatz called "Pa" was a carpenter. Many people were going West--and when Aunt Dee was a baby (about 1865) her parents decided to go, too. Several of their cousins had already settled in Illinois, and wrote vivid descriptions of the wonderful West. They said "Goodbye" to all their Baltimore relatives--moved to a farm in Illinois. It was near the Platt River [note Platt River is in Nebraska] and Aunt Ida is not sure, but thinks their farm was in Monroe County. [note Aunt Dee said near Astonia and Ipava.] Monroe County is much further south. See page 41 on back of 41.

p.50.

Here Aunt Sara and Uncle Stuart and the twins were born--one of the sisters (either Mary Ellen or Susan) had also just had twins. None were known this time. (None since either, except Uncle Stuart's daughter Myrle--she had twin boys (see page 44.)(and our David and Jan had twins (Joel Christian and Margaret Ann) July 12, 1973.

When Uncle Sherman and Mother [Minerva Wantz] were quite small--the family moved further West. Some of the cousins had ventured as far as Nebraska.

p.51

and they wrote that "if you thought Illinois was wonderful you ought to see this new land in Nebraska." So the family settled on rich farm land in Nebraska. Here Aunt Ida was born and then Aunt Lily. [note Aunt Ida. One record says she was born at Littleton's Farm near Astonia, IL--then the family moved to Nebraska.

The farmin was very successful at first--and Mother recalled happy days on the paraire--walking across fields to school, putting apples outdoors on the fense posts to freeze in winter--delicious to eat--almost like ice cream!

And then one summer when their garden and fields were growing beautifully a plague of grasshoppers descended on their farm and all their neighbors' farms

P52

For miles around. Mother described how they came--like a cloud that darkened the sky. The Chicken went to roost. The family watched from the windows of the house and the grasshoppers settled down and began to eat. They were so thick that you couldn't even find a place big enough to put down your finger without touching a grasshopper. Grandfather tried beating at them with a shovel, etc. but there were too many. When they rose up into the sky again and flew away (perhaps several days later) what had been a beautiful garden was stripped bare. Mother said there wasn't a sprig of anything green left--the

p.53

cabbage stalks stuck up out of the ground like bare sticks. The fields of grain were gone completely.

Grandfather Wantz felt like leaving everything and returning to Balitmore--but his cousins persuaded him to stay. Such a thing had never happened before, they said--and it will never happen again. So the family stayed. That winter the government fed them--each family was allowed so many barrels of dried beans and crackers. Everybody got so tired of eating beans, but they existed through the winter. The next spring the farmers planted all their fields again. It looked like it was going to

p.54

be a most successful crop--but then one day they came again--grasshoppers all over everything! Grandfather said he had had it! No more farming--he's going back to Baltimore and be a carpenter again. The rest of the cousins stayed--so we probably have lots of relatives in Nebraska now, but I don't know what their names might be. The grasshoppers never came again. [note added Wrong! They still come and have come many times. Now airplanes spray them and kill them. Fields are also irrigated now--so farms are prosperous. Grandfather should have stayed.!!]

So Grandfather sold the farm--packed all their belongings in a wagon and one of the cousins drove the family to the railroad. It was several days' journey--and they had to spend at least

p.55

one night at a farmhouse. Grandmother told how they concluded along the raod in the wagon, how tired all the children got. Finally toward evening they came to a farm--the houses were far apart and they were afraid to try to drive on any further. So they turned into this lane and came up to the house. The farmer's wife was so glad to see someone. It was so lonely living way out there. She welcomed them--said she's make beds for all the children on the floor. So after supper she went out doors and brought in armloads of blankets and quilts that she had been airing out on

p.56.

the clotheslines and strung out on the fence. Grandmother had noticed allthis bedding hanging outdoors as they drove up in their wagon--but she hadn't though anything about it.

That night as the "old" folks sat around talking and the children were all asleep on their quilts on the floor--the farmer's wife said the reason she was so glad to have company was they they had just had so much sorrow. Their only son who had been ill for years with consumption (T.B.) and had just died. The funeral was the day before--and all the bedding on the line had been his. Grandmother looked around the room at

p.57

all her sleeping children and she was frightened but didn't dare show it. She says she didn't sleep a wink all night--just prayed that her children wouldn't catch the disease (and none of them did.) They left I their wagon early the next morning--and finally that day they got to the railroad station and started back to Baltimore.

The whole family told stories of things that happened on the long train trip. Mother [Minerva Wantz Owen] saw her first negro when the porter on the train came into their car. She was terrified when he put

p.58

his hand on her head and said "Hello." Mother tried to say "quit" but was so frightened that the word sounded like qu-'at and the family always teased her about it.

Aunt Lily was a lady--but did such a sweet thing. She lifted up the cover of their lunch basket and got out a hard roll and tried to chew it. She was still just a "milk drinking" baby , so they all thought that this was cute.

With so many children, the parents gave responsibility to the older ones to look out for the smaller ones. Aunt Ida had charge of my mother [Minerva], and Aunt Sara had to take care of Uncle Sherman.

p.59

They sometimes got off the train when it stopped to take on water, etc. One day after the train started again--a train man came into the coach leading Sherman and said "Does this little boy belong in here?"

Grandma said, "Why its Sherman! Sadie, whatever happened?" and Aunt Sara said -- "Well, he wouldn't get on when it was time to get back on the train--and I wasn't going to be left behind." So she just got on and didn't say anything about Sherman.

p.60

The Train man saw him standing alone as the train started to go, so he scooped him up and brought him along, knowing that he must belong on the train since there was no town for miles around where the train had stopped for water!

Uncle Sherman always declared he had it in for Aunt Sara even when they were grown up--because she has come so near leaving him behind somewhere out West.

p.61

Mother [Minerva Wantz Owen] never went to school again after they got to Baltimore. Often they didn't bother to educate girls--so she never got father than the 3^rd grade.

Uncle Sherman, however finished school--and even worked his way through medical school and became a doctor.

Mother went to work in a cotton Mill in Baltimore while she was just a little girl. No child labor laws in those days. Later she worked in a department store. She was a cashier in the store. Her place was high up in a corner of the big room--and clerks sent money flying in pneumatic tubes up to her cashier cage. She would

p.62

make the correct change and send the little round container back through the tube. She worked as a milliner, too--trimmed hats (as a young lady.)

She read a great deal, and practically educated herself. After she and Father [John Wilson Owen] were married, he should help her with English grammar and spelling, etc. Eventually she taught a SS class at High Street Church here in Dayton--over 100 women in the class--many of them were college educated and they never dreamed that her schooling stopped at the 3^rd grade. She was cultured and poised--and a darling!

p.63

As the family of young Wantzes were growing up, they lived in a very unusual house in Baltimore. It had been bult by a wealthy family who decided to live abroad--so the house was rented to the Wantz family with the idea that they take care of it. It was located on a large landscaped "estate"--flowering trees and exotic plants had been brought from all over the world. The house was called "The Oaks." A curing drive came from a gate--and passed in front of the door of the house and then went out another gate. Elegant! [diagram: see photocopy of this page.]

p.64.

The owners of the house urged Grandfather Wantz to buy it, but he thought it was too large. Anyway, the family lived there many years and always referred to the many happy times they had at "The Oaks."

Soon after the family moved from this lovely home to a more modest rented house. If only Grandfather had bought the place--the price was very low for such luxury--the finances of the family might always have been very good.

As the City of Baltimore grew--"The Oaks" mansion was sold and torn down. At the location of that lovely estate many fine homes were built. So it would have been a good investment. We used to pass the place sometimes on our trips back to Baltimore and mother would say--"Here's where "The Oaks" stood--that wonderful house."

p.66 More Facts

John Milton Owen was born on March 13, 1900 on East German Street (now Liberty Street) Chambersburg, PA. He died on Oct 7, 1976. He was 76 years old.

Charlotte Margaret Owen (Erisman) was born Mar 2, 1905 at 20 E. Locust Street, Mechanicsburg, PA. 1928. Pictures of these places are in our photo albums.

p. 67 Family Burial Information.

Father (John Willson Owen and Mother (Minerva Wantz Owen are both buried in Memorial park Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio. Milton is also buried there.

Mother's parents, Charlotte and Eli Wantz are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. On Roland Ave. Uncle Will Scott is there too.

Father's parents, Rev. Wilson Owen and Margaret A. Owen [n. Thompson] are buried in cemetery in Chambersburg, PA.

p.68

Father's grandfather, John Owen is buried in Fort Loudon Cemetery, Franklin Co. PA.

Father's great grandfather--Abraham Keefer is buried at Keefer's church Franklin Co. PA.

Father's grandmother Elizabeth Keefer Owen (Betsy) is buried at Lurgan, Franklin Co., PA.

Father's [John Wilson Owen's] guest grandparents (Wm. And Margaret Beard)(see p.21) and his grandmother [probably on mothers side] are buried in cemetery of Rock Spring Presbyterian church--4 miles from Chambersburg, PA.

p.69

Photos of these graves are in our blue photo albums. 1928.

An uncle, Rev. Alexander Owen--once president of Otterbeing College--is buried at Oakville, Chumberland Co., PA

Extra page between 67 and 68

Aunt Dee is buried in loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. Aunt Lily gave her this plot. Uncle Milton Ensor's first Wife, (Fanny Gannon) is buried there too.

Uncle Sherman and Aunt Carrie dare buried at Druid Ridge cemetery. Aunt Carries' parents (Ma and Pa Ford) are there too.

Uncle Stuart and Aunt Ida Wantz are at Druid Ridge, too.

Uncle George Steffey is buried at Greenmount near Manchester, MD, near Hanover, PA. Aunt Ida Steffey same place.

Aunt Sara is at St. Mary's too. (?) Aunt Lily and Uncle Milton are at Lincolnton, NC

Unnumbered page: The Homestead Act

Newspaper clipping from the Trotwood Sentinel Nov 5, 1980:

"Under the Homestead Act orginally

passed in 1862, more than a million

families received title to over 248 million

acres of public land in the western United

States."

It was this Act that inspired Grandfather Wantz to take his family West. They lived first in Illinois and then in Nebraska.

If the grasshopper plague had not discouraged farming--our family might have owned property in Nebraska today!!!. They returned to Baltimore after Aunt lily was born.

Looks like they moved a lot.

1894 Aunt Dee was born in Carroll County MD, near Hampstead.

1866 Aunt Sara was born in Summum, IL.

1868 Uncle Stuart was born in Ipava, IL.

1871 Mother [Minerva] and Uncle Sherman (twins were born at Branson's

Farm near Astoria, IL.

1973 Aunt Ida was born at Littleton's Farm near Astoria, IL.

1876 Aunt Lily was born in Cass County, NE, near Elmwood.

Letter postmarkd March 2, 1925 from Minerva Wantz Owen to her daughter, Charlotte Owen while she was in Otterbein College at Westerville, Ohio.

Sunday Night 9:o'clock. March 1^st.

My own sweetheart,

I'm sorry I didn't get this letter in the aft. Mail. So my little girl would get it on her birthday. I've been thinking a great deal about you today. In fact I've been living over again this day just 20 years ago. I remember so many little things I did that day. I recall how I tried to put everything in order in the house that day. When I washed the supper dishes that evening I was so careful to leave everything in apple pie order. I thought perhaps it might be the last time I would ever wash those dishes, and I remember Milton played on the floor (p2) all that evening till bed time with his blocks. And when I told him he must go to bed, I said, sweetheart, you must put all your playthings away tonight, for Mother won't be able to come downstairs.