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"My Life"
by Grace Makings
I was born in a sod house May 26, 1894 about straight south of Culbertson, Nebraska just south of the Driftwood Creek.
There were no crops that year so my family went by covered wagon to Pawnee County, Nebraska. Were about 3 weeks on the way. On Jan 2, 1896 we started west again. There were a couple of other families and some young men, on horse back, driving the stock.
It was very cold some of the time but we had a stove in the covered...
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"My Life"
by Grace Makings
I was born in a sod house May 26, 1894 about straight south of Culbertson, Nebraska just south of the Driftwood Creek.
There were no crops that year so my family went by covered wagon to Pawnee County, Nebraska. Were about 3 weeks on the way. On Jan 2, 1896 we started west again. There were a couple of other families and some young men, on horse back, driving the stock.
It was very cold some of the time but we had a stove in the covered wagon. Would have to buy fuel and feed for the stock along the way. Amy had her 16th birthday, Jan 30, 1896, on the way.
We arrived some time in February and lived on a farm, "The Bowman Place". Ollie was born there Dec 25, 1896. (I remember some of the things that happened there)
Jesse and Amy both got married in 1897.
We moved a few miles farther east, on a homestead in the spring of 1898. Mattie was born there May 13, 1899.
All this time in the west we lived in sod houses. For a while on the homestead we just had dirt floors. We were poor financially. We used kerosene lamps and have to use "grease lamps" (lard was put in a shallow pan with a strip of heavy material in it with one end on the edge for a wick).
Washing was all done on a washboard. Flat irons were heated on the wood burning stove to do the ironing. Our mother made our clothes by hand and knitted most of our stockings and mittens.
Our butter was made in a stone churn with a wooden dasher.
When we went to church, or anywhere, father and mother would sit on the spring seat of the wagon and we children in the back with a quilt over some hay. The first few years (just one year, I think) I went to school, we walked about 3 miles to a sod school house. Later a frame school house was built just 1 mile from home.
I had 2 brothers and 5 sisters. The six of us that were still at home had measles in 1905 and Ernest took a cold before he was fully recovered and died the next spring, Mar 23, 1906.
In the summer 2 Church of God ministers, John M. Harrington and a Rev. Seaton were speakers at a camp meeting in Trenton, Nebraska. We all attended. Had a tent and all.
In the spring of 1908 we moved to the Cornell neighborhood and into a large frame house. Alma was married there May 14, 1908.
In the fall our family went by train to southern Missouri south of Springfield, but came back in the summer of 1910. Dora taught the Makings school in 1910. After her school closed, we went to Missouri again. Dora taught the Victory school and I the White Oak school in Douglas County, Missouri.
Amy's family came down there by covered wagon but decided not to stay so sold their outfit and went back by train. Charley and Carl were born that fall, Nov 29, 1911.
We came to Nebraska again in 1913. I got the Smith's school. Taught there 3 years, 1913-1915. Then taught Dyke school in 1916, Moses school in 1917, Smith's again in 1918. Then back to Dyke in 1920. Taught the Haining school in 1919.
I was married to a young farmer Weaver Makings, May 3, 1921. He had just served in the first World War. Was called in the first draft call in 1917. Fought in the most important battles over there. We lived in the little house on the state line until Oct. Then moved to a farm west of Atwood, Kansas.
We bought the home place and moved there to the stone house in the fall of 1922. We lived there eleven years. We decided to take a homestead in Park County, Colorado. Sold the farm to Fred Underhill and started to Colorado May 8, 1933 (Weaver's 40th birthday).
We lived in Mrs. Wilmont's house from May 10 to Sept 17. Built log buildings on the homestead and moved there Sept 17, 1933. Weaver started carrying the mail from Buena Vista to Trump. After proving up, we sold the homestead and bought the new house Lew had just built on Hi-way 24. This was May 1939.
Glen and Laura Lee went to school in Hartsel. Glenn graduated from High School in spring 1940. Lew bought the house back and they moved into it and we moved into the cabin.
Weaver and Glenn worked. Weaver was working on construction and had a bad heart attack, Coronary Throm., Dec 20, 1940. Was in Salida hospital for 10 days. Then Lew and Ray took us to Denver. Weaver to Fitzsimmons Hospital. The kids and I went to Raymond's, Dec 31, 1940. Later we moved into a motel or cabin.
Weaver was there in the hospital until July 15, 1941. Glenn and Laura Lee and I went to Trenton June 23, 1941. Glenn worked at the Co-op and for Vern Pennell. I rented Smith's apartment July 9. I went to Denver on the train and Raymond took us to Trenton July 16, 1941.
I worked at the sewing project at the Tin Hall. We bought the little house and we moved into it Jan 17, 1944. Glenn bought the yellow house and we moved into it Jan 17, 1944. We bought Ma's (Makings) house and moved into it Sept 24, 1945. Laura Lee took a beauty course under Fern Bacon. She graduated from High School May 1949- went to Anderson College.
I worked at the Army Air Base at McCook from Feb 21, 1944 to Dec 1945. Worked at George's Grocery from May 1946 to Feb 1947. Then at Jack's Cafe from Feb 1947 to Sept 1949.
Weaver and I went to Colorado with Grace and Verne that fall. Weaver died Feb 28, 1950. I took Grandma Harrison in April 1950-1951, Mrs. Smith June 1950 to Oct 28. She was a dear friend. I had bonded with her 3 years while teaching their school. She died in my home Oct 28, 1950. I took Mrs. Roose June 1951 to June 1952.
I went to North Carolina to be with Laura Lee. Paula was born Oct 15, 1952. I came home and took Mrs. Williams again Nov 20, 1952 to Oct 20, 1952. I went to Detroit Nov 5, 1953 to take care of Paula while Laura Lee worked in a Beauty Shoppe. Came home May 9, 1954. I sold my house Aug 31, 1954 and moved into Ball's house Sept 25. John Makings died Dec 12, 1954. I went to stay with Mabel awhile.
Laura Lee got sick and called me so I went to Royal Oak, Michigan April 4, 1955. Karen was born May 5. I went to Morrison Hall, Anderson College as house mother, Aug 31. Was there from 1955-spring of 1960. On June 25, 1958 I went to Portland Oregon, till July 9 then went to Nebraska. Bertha and Jeanne visited in Nebraska, and Colorado and took me home to Anderson. June 1959 I went to Glenn's until July 17. Lew and Faye went to Glenn's to see me.
I went to Indianapolis and took care of the girls while Laura Lee worked. Back to M. Hall again in Sept. Had to see Dr. Killey. Had a stomach ulcer. I retired in the spring of 1960 after camp meeting. Took S. Security and my widow's pension and went to Glenn's until June 1961. To Laura Lee's until 1962. Springs in the summer and to the coast with Raymond's. Visited Mattie's in Portland, Robert's and Lawrence's on the coast and Charlotte in Salem, Oregon. Went to Crescent City, California. Saw the ocean several times. I had seen it in 1924 when Weaver, Glenn and I went to Oregon for awhile.
Before this Lew died Sept 9, 1964. May 9, 1965 Kenneth's brought Faye down. Bernice's came after her in two weeks. I left for Indianapolis May 23, 1965. Took care of Genie McNay while Jene and Becky went to Europe. Went to Laura Lee's in Anderson until Aug 9. We went to Florida. Saw the Atlantic. Had fun on the beach. Went to Marine Land.
I got sick, Inner ear infection and stomach ulcer. Went to the hospital for 12 days. Doug and the girls went home and Laura Lee stayed at Burquist's. We flew to Indianapolis by jet. I started home again Sept 30, 1965 a ten day visit with Darlene. They took me to Kearney and Glenn's came there after me Oct 10th.
Bernice Stock came after me May 25, 1966. We went to Trenton and Cornell cemeteries for Decoration.
I went to Colo. Springs Aug 21, 1966 home Oct. 2. Then went again Nov 27-Jan 8, 1967. I moved out to Colo. Springs to live in Faye's apt. Nov 5, 1967. In Nov 1968 I had more stomach ulcer trouble and was in Penrose Hospital several days. I went to Laura Lee's in Anderson by jet in spring of 1968. Went again in Feb 19, 1969. They were in Alexandria. Came home Mar 6, 1969. Oct 9, 1969 I went to Trenton by bus for Mary's funeral.
May 24, 1970 I flew to Indianapolis again. Was there for Paula's graduation and camp meeting. Flew home June 21, 1970. Went to Glenn's Dec 23, 1970 for Christmas.
July 24, 1971 Laura Lee's came to Colo. Springs and stayed all night. Went to Denver after services at South Gate. Came again July 30. Then I went with them to Estes Park July 31. We went up Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake, to Big Thompson Canyon. Up Mt. Evans on Aug 2, to Central City. Home Aug 3. They started home after lunch, Glenn's were there, too. Then I went to Oldhams in Aug 1972.
Paula and John were married May 4, 1974. I flew to D.C. April 22, 1973. Home a month later. Laura Lee flew out to Colo. Springs July 6, 1974 for my 2nd eye surgery. I went to hospital July 7, 1974. (right eye) Carol and Dale were married June 30, 1968. Greg was born Aug 17, 1970. Terry and Mary were married Aug 14, 1971. Machelle Makings born Dec 9, 1973. Timmy Styles born Aug 4, 1974. Aug 15, 1975 I had surgery at Penrose- 3rd time. Laura Lee came for 2 weeks.
I lived in Colo. Springs until May 1976. Faye sold the house. I had a yard sale and gave away stuff. Glenn's came after me the last of May 1976. I got sick in June, went to Perkins County Hospital. There was no room in Golden Oaks so I went to Indian Hills Manor, Ogallala, on July 20, 1976 till May 31, 1979. Came to Golden Oaks June 1, 1979.
While I was in Indian Hills Laura, Paul's, Karen, and Jamaica came in a van. We all went to North Platte, had pictures. They went on to Estes Park.
While at Indian Hills, 1977, I went to Hastings to Dr. Geiger for my left eye surgery. April 25 (I think) had cataract surgery. Stayed at Darlene's at Harvard. Laura Lee came for about a week. Dr. Geiger turned the care over to Dr. Yoew at Grant. Came home to Indian Hills on May 7, 1978. Maurice's birthday. Glenn's and Terry's came to Darlene's and I came home with them. Had my lens changed once. Eye was fine for maybe, 3 years, then gets dimmer all the time. I use 2 kinds of drops in it. In May 1981 I got sick, went to hospital here.
Sam Cemer died June 5, 1981. Carol's birthday. In June 1980 went to Nealeigh reunion in Trenton. Ben and Belena and Hulda and Bill have come to see me several times. Glenn's took me to Haremza family Thanksgiving dinner at Hulda's in Ovid, Colorado 1979 or 1980.
Laurene and Boyde came March 26, 1982 and again Sept 4, 1982. Inez, Buck and Charlotte came Oct 3, 1982. Charley and Ruth came after the 2 funerals (don't remember the day). (Carl & Clarence, Orval Oct 22, 1982.)
I have arthritis so use a wheel chair nearly all the time. 1983 I used a white cane, then a walker, now a wheel chair. Nov 10, 1983 I had something like a light stroke. Blood didn't get to part of my brain and suddenly I couldn't move my legs or arms. Dr. said it would improve with medication and time. It has some, but I'm so helpless.
I gave my heart to the Lord and was baptized by Rev. John Underhill in a little stream outdoors, in my early youth and although I haven't done much or witnessed as I should I really trust Him. He answers my prayers and has blessed me so much. His daily blessings are countless.
Grace died Aug 23, 1989 in Grant Nebraska. She now lays beside her husband Weaver in the Trenton Cemetery, Trenton Nebraska.
This "obituary" was sent to me by FAG Contributor RGE #479514447. |
