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Charlotte was born in a small village in Yorkshire, England. Her father worked in a factory, and as soon as the children were old enough they were 'let out' to work. Charlotte began helping in homes at the age of 10. Three of her older brothers immigrated to Iowa. Charlotte liked to read the long, interesting letters they sent home. Her brothers persuaded her parents to come to Iowa. An older brother and sister remained in England, while the rest sailed for America. Charlotte was 11 years old. It took 2 weeks to cross...
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Charlotte was born in a small village in Yorkshire, England. Her father worked in a factory, and as soon as the children were old enough they were 'let out' to work. Charlotte began helping in homes at the age of 10. Three of her older brothers immigrated to Iowa. Charlotte liked to read the long, interesting letters they sent home. Her brothers persuaded her parents to come to Iowa. An older brother and sister remained in England, while the rest sailed for America. Charlotte was 11 years old. It took 2 weeks to cross the ocean, and she suffered from bouts of sea sickness.
They took a train to Iowa and they found the area where her brothers were living had many families who had come from England. The family settled on a farm near Maxwell.
Charlotte went to work in the household of a kind and considerate family who had recently moved from England. Their farm was large and she had much work to do. When they traveled to visit their relatives, she went with them. And on one of these visits she met George Cheville. He was a young man working on the farm of the relatives. He had been born in Canada, and his parents had come from England. His parents died when he was young, leaving younger brothers and sisters to support. He was short, energetic and friendly. They married on February 25, 1887 in Nevada, Story county, Iowa. The original date was supposed to be February 26, but a winter storm was brewing and they were afraid the road to Nevada might be closed on the appointed day.
Their first home was a log cabin on a farm near Maxwell and Collins. They had no well of their own and carried water from a long distance. Later they were able to purchase a farm which they called Pleasant Hill, it had a well. They bought livestock and built a new house and barn. Charlotte and George raised 3 daughters and 2 sons on this farm. The children attended a school a mile from the farm, and on Sundays they walked a mile in the other direction to attend a Protestant church school. Charlotte sang as she worked and delighted to have her children sing with her. She worked a vegetable and flower garden and their household was pleasant and happy.
When George's health began to fail they sold the farm and moved to an acreage near Rhodes in March, 1911. They spent the remainder of their lives on their farm one mile east of Rhodes. They joined a church nearby and watched their son Roy and daughter Cora as they were baptised in a small lake that was used as a railroad reserve. It was a cold day in January and the ice had to be chopped before the baptism could take place.
She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1915 the members of their church purchased land and a country schoolhouse to move onto the land. The Cheville family helped to tear down the schoolhouse and haul the parts to the new site. The schoolhouse was rebuilt and within 2 years the church was dedicated. Charlotte sang in the choir. Charlotte loved to sing, that's the way it always was, she sang for joy. At first she was too nervous to look up. Her children encouraged her "You can do it, pretend you're ironing clothes and singing to yourself." Soon she went on to sing solos. Often at a wedding or other special occasion, the request would be "Ask Aunt Charlotte to sing."
George and Charlotte lived to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. At the age of 85 Charlotte suffered a paralyzing stroke and was not expected to live. She recovered, and she was determined not to surrender to being an invalid. She massaged her paralyzed hand and practiced speaking until she regained the use of her left arm and hand and her speech returned completely. Her mind was clear and her interest in reading never lessened.
The Christmas following her stroke her son Roy took her hand in the rest home and said "Mother, we are going to sing a duet."
"Oh Roy", she protested, "my voice isn't suitable for singing... but we can try." Together they sang "The Old, old path", "Star in the East", and "Away in a Manger".
On Nov. 13, 1966, at the age of 95, Charlotte died. A great-grandson, only a little fellow, was perplexed about what had happened to his grandmother. When he went to the cemetery and saw the tent over the grave, he said delightedly, "I know where Grandma is... she has gone camping!" He could visualize his great-grandmother doing something wonderful, singing and enjoying the great outdoors.
Funeral services were held Nov. 15 from the Methodist Church at Rhodes.
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The information about Charlotte came from M Cheville, who graciously shared family records with our family.
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