For Love

I finally have all the documents in order to draw my conclusion to the Cleo Mallison Hughes and Illda Martha Austin debacle.

A baby girl was born to Dennis E Austin and Minnie (maiden name Daniels) Austin on 15 Mar 1895.  They had not named the baby yet.  Dennis and Minnie only had one baby which they eventually named Illda Martha Austin.  The Illda came from a Russian novel that Minnie was reading at the time and I'm pretty sure the Martha was Minnie's mom.  The baby was born in Toledo, Ohio.  Illda was born in Toledo, Ohio.  Granny Illda's birthday was 15th of March.  I feel it is safe to say that Illda, my grandmother was that unnamed child of Dennis and Minnie Austin.

I have in my possession 2 birth certificates or record of birth for my grandfather Cleo Mallison Hughes.  The record number is 181 on page 158in the County of Branch Michigan.  Earl Linn, the Clerk of Branch County, Michigan says that Cleo Mallison Hughes was born or 28 March, 1903.  His parents were Alfred J. Hughes of Coldwater City, Michigan, and Ella E Hughes of 1st Ward.  Alfred J Hughes was born in New York and was a carpenter by trade.  Ella was born in Michigan.  The date of record is May 14, 1904.

Now here comes the fun.

I have here in front of me the marriage license:

Up in the right hand corner, you can see the date is 1920.

Now here's a close up of the pertinent information:

Cleo claims that at the time of this license he is 21 years old.

Now Cleo was born in 1903.  Hmmmm.  According to my math, in 1920 Cleo would have been 17 years old.  I do believe 17 was too young to get married without your parents permission.

Illda claims to be 22 -- only one year older than her intended.  Illda was born in 1895.  In 1920 she would have been 25 years old.

I'm pretty sure that Cleo might not have known how old Illda was, but you can sure as hell bet that Illda knew that Cleo wasn't 21.

I wonder what old Ella Mallison Hughes thought when her baby boy brought home a 25 year old bride?  Of course, Ella made some questionable decisons herself.

Here is a picture of Cleo Mallison Hughes.  There is no date on it but I reckon he's around 15 or 16.

I think I look like him.  I grew up thinking that I was his favorite grandchild.  Maybe it's because we shared a face.

And here's a trio of shots of Illda Martha Austin.  I can't get it any lighter.  I'm guess she is around 11 as there is now date.

Illda Martha Austin

I haven't started working on this old gal yet.  I'm still trying to track down Dennis Austin's brothers, Wilbur and Claudie. Besides, there is only so much writing that you can do when you don't know anything.  Besides Wilbur and Claudie, I will be doing a little research on Fred Smith, who was an evangelist.  Dennis Austin became pretty serious about religion due to this guy. 

But today I'm laying down information on Illda Martha Austin.

This is what I know:

Illda Martha Austin was born on 15 March 1895 in Toledo, Ohio.  She died 14 November 1985 in N Fort Myers Florida. 

She was the only child of Dennis Austin and Minnie Daniels Austin.  They had been married quite a few years when Illda came along.  She was the only child. 

She once told me that she only went to school for one day and that it tramatized her so badly, her mom didn't make her go back.  When she decided to go to nursing school, they nursing board informed her that she had to have at least an 8th grade education.  So she went back to school and got her certificate in about 6 months. 

Before the nursing, she trained under her mother as a milliner. 

I remember my grandmother.  She actually lived with me for about a year after Cleo died.  She loved to hunt but most of all, she loved to fish.  She was a decent cook, could fry fish like nobody's business and had a knack for sweets.  She always had a horned toad as a pet -- even as a granny.  I guess it reminded her of her years spent in Texas.  She was a gardener of flowers and vegetables and ran Hughes Market with Cleo for 40 years.  She liked to play cards and play games.

From now on, when I remember a story that she told me I'm going to put it down here.  She told me that she was a nurse at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  I need to do some research and find out if that was a Catholic hospital.  Anyways, while she was there, a woman gave birth to a 14 pound baby boy and then the women died.  Illda told me that they nurses hid that baby in and around the hospital until the child was 6 years old.  I thought that sounded pretty terrible and she said that that child had 14 mothers who loved and adored him.  She never said what happened to him.

Here is my transcription of a letter that Illda wrote to her Grandmother Elizabeth Austin and Grandfather Leman Austin.  The spelling and punctuation is exactly as written, but I did take the liberty of breaking it into paragraphs.

Denver Colo.,

          Saturday night

          My dear grandparents:

Both your letter and card rec'd today.  And I thank you so much for the rembrances.  But Grandma why did you do it?  You had already given me my birthday gift.  But never mind I will put it with my fund. 

I have something to tell you. Guess.  I told you the undertakers were after me.  So I gave them Mr. Wood's address + told them to try him just once more.  + if they couldn't get any satisfaction to let me know + I would take care of it.  So yesterday didn't Opal my step sister, call me up and say she had just rec'd a letter from her father, saying to tell me not to pay one cent as he was coming + would settle as soon as it gets warm.  Well between you + I dears it can't get hot any too quick to suit me.  I surely hop he (paper torn) But it's almost the same old story over every time. 

So here are my plans as I have made them.  Save every cent I can.  Stay here till he does something.  If he fails I can just hand them over the money and come.  If he pays it I can use the money to come on.  A girl has no show against a man of that kind.  And I haven't seen him for most a year + a half.  We never know where he is. (Page torn) Denver is headquarters for him.  He has plenty of money to travel all over the globe. But not enough for this. 

Did I tell you Edna Kelly was very ill + is still.  Organic Heart Trouble.  They don't expect her to live.  And she wanted me to come so badly.  Now she is better + so I've promised to stop over a couple of days on my way home to you.  My only real home now. 

And Grandma I am so sorry about that awful indigestion.  Have you (paper torn) tried "Pape's Dapepsins"?  They are splendid.  We were never without them.  And one night last winter Mamma had an acute attack + all we could get from the drug store was "Bellans".  Well they stopped the pain + relieved her of all that awful gas.  They are a compound of charcoal + pepsin.  They help me, too.  And now do be careful + not over do it.  When I come I will do it all the (paper torn)  You and Grandpa are just to rest and give me your orders.  I just love to work + it will be such a change.  Only I must hurry and get a job, pretty soon after I get there, because when I get there I won't have a cent left.  Grandma thank you so much for those stamps.  No, I won't send anything back.  But sometimes I put stamps + on envelope + forget + send it away + that you had done so, too.

I think that's lovely of you to offer me my ticket to come + I appreciate it even if I don't act like it.  But you can see that isn't whats keeping me.  Never mind.  I've got a hunch that it won't be  much longer.

This is the end of the letter.  On the top of the last page, there was a sentence or two that was ripped through.  The only thing legible is the signature, which Illda signed as Dennie's Girl -- which is what I believe her gran called her.  

Dennis E Austin

Still working on my great grandfather, Dennis E Austin.  When I first started doing family tree research, all I basically had was my grandmother's name Illda Martha Austin  and a large envelop full of letters.  It was the letters and the little bits I gleaned from them that sent me on my way.  When I was trying to figure out which Dennis Austin was mine, this letter was the one that determined it.  Claudie is Dennis younger brother.  Just a brief mention, but it's there.  Again, I transcribed the letter myself and didn't correct any spelling or punctuation.  I did break it into paragraphs for easier reading.

11 am Sunday June 19-10

My Dear Parents:

We rec’d your Dear letter + was so glad to hear you were both well.  I am sorry you are feeling so blue though Mother. And for your own sakes you should try and throw it off.  For don’t you know anytime you can’t live in old Mich in comfort – you still have a home and care coming in the only Houston Tex.  Now please don’t forget that while I live you will always find me ready to make this good too. 

I expect to buy two more lots soon + if on any of the 6 vacant lots you would like to have a garden the whole year round with a cow and chickens + fruit why I guess we could find a chance to put up a nice cozy 4 room + bath cottage + you won’t need to have the blues at all for I am by myself I could make a painter out of Father I know.  With your chickens eggs + milk @ 10 cents per quart + garden I don’t believe you would ever feel but what you had plenty.  I can’t imagine what the matter can be up there for I feel that Claudie should be all that three boys would be to you located right next door as it seems to me when I feel how far away I am.  I am going to write him today although he has not answered my last letter + I don’t want to wait any longer.  I shall take it myself to talk to him just as an older Bro has a right for I know that he little appreciates the natural responsibility that is his + would be mine were I located so near you.

I have never asked you nor have you told me our your deal in the place where he lives + I cannot think he would do anything but right by you, and if it is anything of this nature you must tell me + If I cannot advise I can at least have the chance to help you.   I wish so much I could have a good visit + help you to see the bright side.  I am glad to say that I don’t have the sour stomach I used to have.  I think the climate + being busy all the time that I just work, eat + sleep + don’t think @ all.  I have been rushed some for the last two weeks, but tomorrow I put on another man + get caught up a little.   There is lots of work in sight + now that I am by myself = free to look after it I can make much more than I could with a partner.

I got up this am @ 5 + done my garden work befor the sun got up.  I tore out root and branch 8 hills of cucumbers that were bearing fine.  I bet there was a wash tub full of all sizes on them but I had to take them in ten armfuls + put them around the peach plum + fig trees in the chicken yard, then I took the sickle and went after the tomato vines + I pruned them sure so a little more sun could get in.  I have 8 tree tomatoes that stand up nice + the fruit has a chance to ripen.  All I have to do is drive a stake + tie the stalk to it.

I wish you could come to dinner today.  Roast veal new potatoes green corn sliced tomatoes sliced onions + cucumbers.  Ice tea.  But no pie or cake.

Now I happen to think when is that note due + do you want it renewed with int at 8 per.   Write and let me know in your next letter more about your business affairs  + also if your int with what you raise on the little place keep you.  I don’t know but it seems to me that when I see men with no business ability with the price of $200 lot with a $600 cottage on it + sell the whole thing for from $1500 to $1800 that there are better things than digging.  That’s why I am t???g into lots any time some one wants that particular location.  I will finish paying for them in a lump sum + negotiate a loan with the lumber Co + double my money + get 8 per cent on the bal of purchase price even if one has to hold the lots the int + taxes are not ¼ of what the regular rise in price is.  When $1 a foot is tacked on to them regularly twice a year helps some.  Well I have written a whole lot + said nothing + I must save a little room for the women folks so I will say good bye – try to cheer up.  With best love + kisses to you both I am always your Dennis

There's More to Me Than Being a Drake

Sometimes I get hung up on my families.  It's fun researching the Drake side of me for several reasons.  First, there is a paper trail.  When we start getting way back, many of my family were men who owned their own businesses and men of the sea -- not just sailors, but men who owned their own boats.  Later we became farmers, but that was much later.  Most of the men in the family read.  We came from money and I think we treated our women -- wives, mothers and daughters as equals.  There has been a lot of stuff written about the Drakes.  And, you can spend weeks and weeks jumping from Drake family tree to Drake family tree on Ancestry.com.

But sometimes I've got to suck it up and spread my time around.  I mean, why continue to go over someone else's research on an already well documented family.  So today I'll give you a little background on Illda Martha Austin Hughes.  

Considering she lived with me for about a year, I really don't know much about her.  I know that she was born 15 Mar 1895 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio.  Her mother was Minnie M Daniels, a milliner, and her dad was Dennis E Austin, a railroad man.  As a kid, I knew that Illda LOVED Texas.  I remember them closing the store for a few weeks and racing off to Texas.  Galveston.  I knew that Illda and her husband Cleo, had bought land in Texas and were planning on retiring there.  I knew that at one time, Illda had been a nurse.  She had bad eyes, she had bad feet, and she had bad legs.  She was a good cook and a good artist.  She was very quiet and shy, but every once in a while, she would whisper a zinger that would have me laughing all day.  She had a temper.  She always told me that she was Irish.  She worked like a dog in their grocery store.  She wasn't very tall.  By the time she came to live with me, I towered over her.  I'm thinking she was around 5'0" or 5'2"

Here is a picture of her: