Focusing on Estella Vorhies Smith, Eugene Vorhies, LeRoy Vorhies

 Review of my great-grandmother and her siblings

Estella Mae Vorhies Smith ( 1876-1959)
Eugene Vorhies (1877-1964)
LeRoy Vorhies (1879-1944)

These three ancestors were the children of John McLaughlin Vorhies ( 1850-1939) and Ginevra Withrow Vorhies (1855-1922), my great-great grandparents. I never knew my great-great grandparents but they lived where I grew up. They established the family in Greene County, Iowa along with Ginevra's parents, Joseph and Sarah Withrow. All of the above mentioned family members are buried in the Scranton Township Cemetery. Growing up, I used to visit the cemetery with my mother who told me about their lives. I have always felt a closeness to them.  This might be why I have chosen them as one of my first genealogy review blogs.

I did know two of the three Vorhies siblings.  Estella was my great-grandmother with whom I spent a great part of my childhood.
The post January 1, 1900 tells of her marriage to Hiram Smith. This was reviewed last post.

I also knew her brother, Uncle Gene. He was actually my grandmother's uncle but we just called him Uncle Gene. I wrote a blog about Uncle Gene titled Eugene Vorhies (1877-1964).  It is highlighted at the beginning of this writing. I hope you will review it along with Estella's wedding post.

The third son, LeRoy, died just the year before I was born. Stories made him seem like quite a character but one thought of highly in the family.  It was the summer of 2015 when I wrote about Uncle Gene. I also wrote about Uncle Roy, but left it in draft form and never published it. Why? I have no idea now. It may be that I wanted to research something else or I wished to include some yet unfound photos. Well, the time has come.  My next post will be from the draft I wrote of Uncle Roy.

Sleigh Bells Ring

While coming through the airport recently, I noticed a decorated sleigh used as a reminder of Christmas long ago. It made me think of  some family photos I have always enjoyed.  The photos are from the winter of 1938 and 1939. Driving the sleigh is my great-great grandfather, John Mac Vorhies. The lovely passenger is his daughter, my great grandmother, Estella Smith.

 

The sleigh bells in the photo are in my basement. Hope I remember to tell some family member how special I think they are.  Maybe my New Year's Resolution should do with labeling all those heritage items I have.

After the Hunt - Mondays With Mary

The week after the big deer hunt is full of calendar entries about cutting up the deer and the awful weather.  I also notice that so many temperatures are recorded at ridiculously early morning times. I am beginning to think I might be adopted. ( I am not a morning person)


 Tuesday, December 12, 2000

-10 degrees @ 4 a.m.  Cold all day around 0.
Lewis's & Ashley out to cut up doe deer. 
Took meat to Lohrville for bologna 
& dried.  Vern coughing & catching cold.
Al Tubra called to-nite.

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

4 degrees @ 5 a.m. warmed to 13 degrees today
light snow all day    another 3 inches
Vern coughing bad.  I fixed cold medicine
for him.  Leonard out to clean out yards. 
read & napped in p.m.

Thursday, December 14, 2000

1 degree @ 3 a.m. Vern still feeling bad
Lewis out to cut up deer. back quarters
no good.  I went to Carroll to get hair set &
groceries.  Don Buenting brought shells from his brother
 Vern of Va.  I did dog & chicken chores.

Friday, December 15, 2000

12 degrees @ 4 a.m. warmed up to 20ties
another 2 inches of snow in p.m. I wrote
X cards all morning.  Vern still not feeling
 good.  R & L Sabus came & got us & we went to
 Arcadia Xmas party. misting & slick

Saturday, December 16, 2000

21 degrees @ 5:30 a.m.  dropped to 3 degrees below
Blizzard all day. I wrote Xmas cards,
 did the chores, didn't go to David Wright's
 reception.  Margie called for our anniversary. Dorothy Sharon & Darlene Antisdel called     Vern still not over cough.

December 16, 1941

On December 16, 1941 my parents were married in the Scranton, Iowa Methodist parsonage.  My grandmother, Nina Grisso, was their witness and only guest as I understand.

The only other story I know about this wedding was that Mom had purchased her wedding blouse in Cedar Rapids and was riding home on December 7 with her Aunt Ardea and Uncle Steve when they learned of the bombing in Pearl Harbor.

The year I was married, we celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a surprise party in their home near Bagley, Iowa.

We celebrated their 40th in Scranton at a hall, but the day is mostly remembered for its bad weather.

Their 50th was a big celebration on the farm. Their 60th was a part of a birthday celebration (Dad 80) and a family reunion for both the Grissos and the Wrights. Again, we were at the farm.

Now they are both gone along with other much loved family members. Maybe the departed are all together celebrating Mom and Dad's 75th wedding anniversary today.

Family Traditions- Mondays With Mary

One of our very special family traditions was what we called Deer Camp.  Here are Mary's notes from 2000.

Friday, December 8, 2000

21 degrees & 3 a.m. 
 Straightened up basement.
Went to quilt & get my Xmas
articles at C.M. site.
Dean D -John G- Eldon B came at 3:30 p.m.
Dave G got here at 9:15 p.m.
Ray & Linda S and all us hunters went
to Bull Pen for fish & fries.  Home at 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 9, 2000

21 degrees @ 5 a.m. warmed up to 30ties SE wind
potatoe soup and chicken and noodles for lunch.
3 buck deer in p.m. at R Sabus. Eldon B, Steve & Leonard Reetz got them      Cloudy  stormy
 looking all day.

Sunday, December 10, 2000

18 degrees @ 3:50 a.m. getting colder all day
Got 5 does in a.m.  David G left for home at
12 p.m. Waukee hunters left at 3:15
brought 1 deer to basement in p.m.
to be cut up
Started snowing about 7 p.m.

Monday, December 11, 2000
 
0 degrees at 3:30 a.m. snow & blowing
all day.  8-9 inches.  I worked on
income tax all a.m.  read in p.m.
ham & beans to-day.  Talked to Marige
to-nite.  No school all over state.