_Ezekiel MEAD _______
| (1773 - ....)
_George MEAD ________|
| (1806 - 1862) |
| |_Abigail OWEN _______
| (1782 - 1850)
|
|--Laura Ann
| (1830 - 1905)
| _____________________
| |
|_Abigail L. SHAW ____|
|
|_____________________
[9450] Family chart given by Rae to Dawne Pamplin and passed to Dianne Stevens 26 Apr 2006.
[4745] Per 1880 census Rebecca is an invalid due to Neuralgia.
Connecticut Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) about Rebecca Calkin Name: Rebecca Calkin
[Rebecca Calkins]
Marriage Date: 29 Nov 1841
Marriage Location: Sharon
Spouse: Ezra Levi
_Johann Adam FEY ____+
| (1800 - 1880)
_Adam FEY ___________|
| (1827 - 1905) m 1872|
| |_Anna THOMAS ________+
| (.... - 1848)
|
|--Emma FEY
| (1873 - 1879)
| _____________________
| |
|_Johanna REUTER _____|
(1838 - 1922) m 1872|
|_____________________
[6642] The cemetery isting for this person was Emma L. J. Maxwell Andrae gave Ammal J. which would indicate male rather than femate.
_Joshua HIGGINS Sr___+
| (1748 - 1824)
_James HIGGINS ______|
| (1782 - 1868) m 1802|
| |_Janet DOWNING ______
| (1753 - ....)
|
|--Joshua HIGGINS
| (1809 - 1882)
| _Thomas STEVENS _____
| | (1754 - 1828)
|_Elizabeth STEVENS __|
(1781 - ....) m 1802|
|_Catherine MCLEOD ___
(.... - 1828)
__
|
_Daniel STILLWELL ___|
| m 1837 |
| |__
|
|
|--John STILLWELL
| (1845 - ....)
| __
| |
|_Susannah ___________|
m 1837 |
|__
He may have been the Jacob Themout, widower of Hooghwyael, Darmstadt Germany, who md. Barbara Thewalt, widow b. Moxter, Germany, in 1736 (Acquackanonk Ref. Chbk.)
_____________________
|
_Augustus Vandroof VANDERHOOF _|
| (1828 - ....) |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Peter Vandroof VANDERHOOF
| (1849 - ....)
| _Andrew DECKER ______
| | (1807 - 1843)
|_Deborah DECKER _______________|
|
|_Phebe DEMOUTH ______+
(1814 - 1888)
_John Jacob WINTERMANTEL _+
| (1799 - 1879) m 1822
_Christian WINTERMANTEL _|
| (1842 - 1897) m 1865 |
| |_Salome WALTER ___________
| (1800 - 1883) m 1822
|
|--Wilhemina Julia WINTERMANTEL
| (1880 - 1959)
| _Johann Adam FEY _________+
| | (1800 - 1880)
|_Matilda Ella FEY _______|
(1845 - 1922) m 1865 |
|_Anna THOMAS _____________+
(.... - 1848)
[945]
The Wilhemina Wintermantle Story
Line 20 1289 E. Morrison Dwelling # 115 Household # 137
Line 22 972 Wasco Dwelling 37 Household 37
Tacoma Ward 3 ED# 244 1323 S. M Street Dwelling # 28 Households #'s 29 and 30 Line 23 - 29
January 2005
Dear Sarah, Hannah, Timmy, and Becky,
Tonight I want to tell you about my grandmother, Wilhemina Wintermantel! Isn't that a marvelous name? Try to say that five times fast. I'm not certain I've spelled it correctly. Actually, she was usually called Minnie.
Wilhemina Julia Wintermantle was born October 1,1880 in Ackley, Iowa, or as the 1880 census shows her family in June of that year, Geneva twsp, Franklin County, Iowa, p. 5 of the listing for that township. She was the ninth child of Christian and Mathilda Fey Wintermantel, both German immigrants to the USA. She joined 5 sisters, Rose, Matilda, Hedwig, Amelia, and Louisa, and three brothers William, Albert, and Herman.
In 1883, after her next sister, Clara, was born, the family traveled to Oregon on the first transcontinental train to become pioneers in Jefferson, Oregon. In "the Song of Yamhill" Gordon Zimmerman describes that train ride (p. 9 -11).
". . . a most unique travel conveyance on the Northern Pacific Railroad and the C. B. & Q (Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy.) The lines had started to run immigrant trains from Chicago to St. Paul to Portland, Oregon. As soon as the new Northern Pacific Line opened in 1882, they charged only one dollar for a family to go west in a special boxcar that had water tanks overhead. The family's animals were stabled in one end of the car, their farming implements were placed in the other end, and their furniture, beds, and tables, etc. were placed in the center of thecar for use. Coal stoves for cooking were also installed in these special boxcars. Straw, hay, and water were provided at division stops along the way."
I have a small hand-written journal that Christian kept during the trip. They settled near Jefferson, Oregon which is south of Salem, the state capitol. Minnie's youngest sister, Eleanor Charlotte, was born there in 1885. The family stayed there for 9 years. I have a small remembrance book that Minnie had all her friends sign when she was leaving Jefferson at the age of 11.
In 1892 the family moved on to Canby, Oregon in Clackamas County south of Portland. Christian farmed there until he died in 1899. Minnie attended the Mundorff School in Canby and later taught there. Her sister Eleanor, whom they called Ella, married a Mundorff. In those days a young woman did not need a lot of education to be considered a capable schoolteacher. Many young women taught after they graduated from 12th grade until they were married. We don't know why Minnie taught only one year, nor what she did between that time and the time she married George Zimmerman in 1904. We do know that she was an accomplished piano player and was highly skilled in needlework. Perhaps she was working on filling her hope chest during those years. Or, her father having died in 1899, perhaps she had to help the older boys with the farm work. Knowing my grandmother even as little as I did, it is very hard to imagine her doing outside farm work. She was always a very proper lady. She always waited for her gentleman (husband or son) to open the door for her and carry her packages into the house. This fact was reported to us by one of her neighbors when my family visited in the late 1950s.
In 1904 she married my grandfather, George Edward Zimmerman, who had grown up on a nearby farm. Judging from the account of their moves given by my dad (see notes for George) the early years of her marriage must have been adventurous. They were married in Canby, but lived in Asotin and Anatone, Washington, which are two towns in the far SE corner of the state. And my dad, their only child, was born in Tacoma, Washington which is on the Puget Sound south of Seattle. And remember, people didn't have cars to run around in in those days. At another time my dad spoke of living at Outlook, Washington which is in the southcentral part of the state south of Yakima. And he wrote about living in Astoria, OR. However after WWI the family settled in Portland, OR where Minnie and George lived for the rest of their lives. The 1920 Census shows them living on Morrison St in Portland. By the 1930 census they were settled in their home that George built at 3142 NE Wasco St. Minnie lived there the rest of her life.
I never had the opportunity to know my grandmother well. She was my only grandmother as my mother's mother had died before I was born. I especially cherish the few memories I do have of her which I will share with you now.. Thelma (my mother) lived with the Zimmerman family after her mother died and until her marriage to Forrest (my father). She told about Minnie helping her sew her wedding dress. Minnie insisted that every stitch be perfect. She checked them. The imperfect ones had to be torn out and resewn.
After Forrest joined the navy in 1942 and before Dianne was born, Jon lived with Maw and Dad, as we called Minnie and George. When Forrest was sent to Hawaii for the duration of the war Thelma and Dianne joined Jon and they lived there until 1946 when Forrest returned and moved the family to Boston. Since I was less than three years old by the time we left, I have very few memories of that time and those few don't include Maw.
When we lived in Massachusetts I can remember our excitement when the mail brought a box from Maw and Dad. Sometimes she sent handmade little dresses for me. Another time Maw sent a huge peppermint candy. Our Mommy said we had to save it to make ice cream. The ice cream she made with it was wonderful.
Another time while Maw was talking on the telephone to us, she was in the attic and accidentally stepped between the joists and put her foot through the downstairs ceiling. We all thought that was terribly funny to think of Maw stuck in the ceiling. I'm sure she didn't! Another thing she sent was little stories she had written for Jon and me. One was Goldbug Sam for which our mother started to make illustrations. I have assembled those drawings and transcribed the story into a book. Others of these stories that I still have are The Candy Trees, The Flying Dutchamn, and Puffy the Kitten.
When we lived in Lexington she came to visit us once for about a month. I believe I was in first grade at the time so it would have been 1949-1950. She taught me to make folded strings of paper dolls. I was enchanted and was soon making strings of boys and girls, dogs and cats, houses and cars. Also during that trip she tried to teach Jon and me a little German. I still remember Du bist wie eine Blume and Du bist ein Essel! (You are like a flower and You are a jack ass!). Also during that visit she told stories about growing up in a large family. Unfortunately all I can remember is that her older brothers were pretty naughty at times and there were an awful lot of dishes for the girls to wash. She lavished attention on us children and we were sad to have her leave us.
When our mother died in 1952 it was very hard on Minnie and George to be so far away and so helpless. This is the letter she wrote to Forrest soon after.
"Dear Darling Folks - That was hard news to take. She was beautiful and sweet and everybody loved her. We can never forget her. I suppose from what I wrote you that I'm not able to work but George has developed into a GOOD cook and gets well balances meals. He sure is good. We and others wonder why God lets these things happen. We will never know until that glad morning when we will meet again. I'd like to be of some comfort to you.
What can we tell the children? All my love goes to children. How can they understand? About us coming back there, it just makes us feel there is some good we still can do. God bless and help all of you. Maw"
It's not clear from this letter if it was before or after her stroke. If before, why isn't she able to "work?" Is she recuperating from an accident? If after, from my understanding she couldn't have written the above letter, and would not be considering a trip to Boston. So I think it is the first. Thelma died at the end of October. About three weeks later Minnie suffered a severe stroke. Jon and our dad went out to Portland at that time and Jon remembers that she was comatose during the time of their visit. She was bedridden for the rest of her life. Grandpa George took care of her at home for the next six years with some help from his niece, Violet Moore. Twice after my Dad remarried we drove out west to visit. I remember that my grandmother was pleased when I played the piano and she gave me all her old piano music. I wish I had kept it all. Judging from that music, she must have been a quite talented pianist. It's funny my dad never said much about it. Maybe it's because she had tried so unsuccessfully to get him to play piano. Another thing I remember is that although Maw was in her late seventies, totally bedridden, and unable to speak more than an occassional word at a whisper, she still had her black hair.
Minnie loved to collect beautiful dishes. My brother and I have quite a number of pieces that we inherited from her. I have stored photos of them in the photo section of her family tree branch. There is a set of Limoge china for 12, a footed glass jewelry box, and a lovely plate with a picture of a lady in it, and many other items. I also have her metronone and several pieces of jewelry. The gold locket is one of my very favorite pieces. I have some lace that she made. I included a bit of it in the wedding quilt I made for Dawne and Jason. She left a little box with my name on it. Inside were pictures of each of her parents and the names of her grandparents and the names of all their children, her aunts and uncles. This information was very helpful when I began to research my family tree. She died at home on the 16th of February, 1959 and was buried at Canby near her parents.
Minnie was a good wife and a devoted mother. She was very proud of her brilliant son. It must have been very disappointing to her to have him take his family off to the other side of the continent. In those days people didn't just tear across the country for a visit like they do now. I am glad for the one visit we had with her at Lexington. I didn't get to hear all her stories or to know her well but I know she loved me very much and I'm grateful for the time we did spend together.
Love,
Granny
From: "Jon Zimmerman"
I don't know. I do know that she 'failed shortly after our mother's deth. When pop and I went out there, she was comitose.
W²
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dianne Z Stevens"
To: "Jon Zimmerman"
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 3:46 PM
Subject: Maw
Here's another question. I have a note she wrote to our dad shortly after our mommy died. In it she talks about not being able to work and George having to do the cooking. Had she broken an arm or something? I can't believe the note was written after her stroke because I didn't think she was still able to write after the stroke.
Dianne
Zimmerman, George E. Head age 40 MN Can OH OCC: Mechanic- Iron works
Minnie J. Wife 39 IA Ger Ger
Forest E. Son 10 WA MN IA
Zimmerman, George E. Head Owns $6000 Radio age 50 m at 24 MN CAN OH occ: Sheet metal worker in Bldg trade
Minnie J. wife 49 23 IA GER GER None
Forrest E. son 20 s WA MN IA None
Zimmerman, George E. Head 30 M1 5yrs MN Can PA OCC: Tinsmith at Hardware store R
Minnie J wife 29 M1 5yrs IA GER GER
Forrest son 3/12 WA MN IA
Mundorf, John Head 28 M1 5yrs KS GER PA Laborer at odd jobs R
Ella C wife 25 M1 5yrs OR GER GER
Lowell L son 3 OR KS OR
Druschel, Mitelda mother-in-law 65 wd GER GER GER
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