Ella McAdam Caufield

Ellen Florence McAdam was born the 20th of December 1884 in Westfield Township, Dodge County, MN. She was the youngest of the nine children in the Minnesota McAdam family.  In typical McAdam fashion, all her names are recycled.  She was named Ellen after a paternal aunt, Helen McAdam Scott, and Florence is in remembrance of her paternal great-grandmother, Florence Hamilton McAdam.  She was called "Ella" all her life - I did not know she was Ellen until I got a copy of her birth certificate.  She was the baby of the family, the youngest of the nine children of Matthew McAdam and Mary Burnet McAdam. 

Like her older sisters she too became at teacher, and like her sister, Janet she had a bit of wanderlust in her soul.  In the postcard below dated 1912 she is found in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota.

"Sentinel Butte, N.D.

March -4-1912

Dear Sister: - Have been looking for a letter from you: write -

Got a letter from home and Matt.  They are all fine. 

I finish here March 22. 

This has been a cold winter here -

Lots of love, Ella

- Write-"

Sentinel Butte, N.D. is in the southwestern edge of North Dakota.  I think that Ella had a very cold, lonely winter of it in 1912.  Sentinel Butte was part of Billings County until 1910 and in 1912 became part of a new county, Golden Valley.The vote in 1910 to create Golden Valley County was 837 for and 756 against. Shortly after the vote was certified, suit was filed against the Billings County Commission to overturn the result. The plaintiffs alleged that the certification of election was improper, and that certain pre-marked "unofficial" ballots printed by supporters of the new county were cast in place of official ballots, and should be voided. The trial court originally ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The county appealed to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which upheld the county's certification of the election. The court also ruled the pre-marked ballots were invalid, but that the number of invalid votes was not sufficient to overturn the election results. The court's decision upholding the new county was made on September 19, 1912, and Golden Valley was formally organized on November 13, 1912.

She also homesteaded 160 acres while in N.D.:

Ella continued teaching and travelling - she married Jack Caufield in Reno, NV.  They settled in Tillamook and had two sons, Waldo and Joseph Caufield.  I remember my parents driving our great-grandmother, Janet McAdam Waning up to Portland to visit the Oregon Zoo and her sister Ella.  We left Janet and Ella sitting at the dining room table - talking.  When we returned, hours later, they were still at the dining room table - talking!  It was the last time they would see each other as Ella passed away in Portland 13 January 1968.

How I Spent My Day - Oregon Football Fans

Who'd have thunk it!  Wow!  What a Game with a capital "G"! 

Final score - Oregon 42, California (ranked #6) 3

  Quinten might be interested to know that Joey Harrington was at the game and was with his father, one of the three honorary game captains. Barbara's sweater had the "correct" school colors for the game as the team wore mid-1990's retro uniforms in bright green and egg yoke yellow. 

Yes we are proudly flying an Oregon flag on our new flagpole.

Roadtrip to the Wright Observatory

Last Sunday (09-20-09) a couple of buddies and I went on a little road trip. I guess I better back up a little bit and say the trip happened because I had gotten a new car the weekend before. Yes, the Red Rocket is no longer my means of conveyance. I am now the proud owner of a 2002 Buick Le Sabre that I bought from a friend of dad. It is beautiful and I love it.

My two friends are John and Rodney. Rodney works for Eugene Sand and Gravel and spent the whole summer working on Hwy 242 so he made a great tour guide. John and I had a lot of fun mentioning what a terrible job the road crew did about every five minutes just to upset Rodney.It was an absolutely perfect morning. Our first stop was Proxy Falls.

What is so weird about Proxy falls is that there is no stream at the bottom. It just dies into this semi-stagnant pool. There is obviously some sort of fissure or lava tube under the pond . I've never seen anything like it.

Our next stop was in the lava flows. What an alien landscape. Sharp too!!

First Day of School Pictures

Connie W. September 1963

Beth and Edward September 1967

Beth and Edward September 1968

Edward and Beth September 1969

Edward and Beth September 1970 

I got glasses this year and was tagged with the nick-name

"Benjamin Franklin" due to the glasses and this blouse. 

Edward September 1973

1:45pm @ Clos du Bois

Tom-Cat has just gone outside to enjoy the sunshine.

He is one happy cat - see how he smiles!

It's 1:45pm and time for that long afternoon catnap!

Solomon has found a bit of sunshine on the craftroom floor.

Parvati is on the back of my chair, her brother, Padma is in my chair. 

Yes, my favorite cross-stitching chair is catnap central!

Cleo is in the sunshine on Lexa's bedroom windowsill - she is the only cat small enough to rest comfortably even on our extra-wide sills!

46th Annual Lane County Dahlia Show

This weekend is the 46th Annual Lane County Dahlia Show at the Wheeler Pavilion at the Lane County Fair Grounds.  As President of the L.C.D.S. Lexa has been super busy the last few days.  She even has an interview posted with KLCC about the show.  Click this link and you can listen to her:

http://www.klcc.org/Feature.asp?FeatureID=1329

Click on Speaker icon to access.

There was also an article in today's edition of the "Register Guard" newspaper:

"Area dahlia growers present free display to dazzle the eye"

By Randi Bjornstad The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Sunday, Sep 20, 2009

"Who knew dahlias came in such a variety of sizes, shapes and colors?

From breathtakingly huge, spherical semi-cactus blooms — in all hues of yellow, orange, pink and purple — to delicate pink singles and sparse, fire-engine red orchid styles, the Wheeler Pavilion at the Lane County Events Center is filled this weekend with thousands of showy flowers.

It’s the 46th annual Lane County Dahlia Society show. The judging is done, and all that’s left is the oohs and aahs. It’s a way for dahlia admirers to see the blooms they covet, jot down their names, and spend the winter planning their own colorful gardens for next year.

Of course, taking away a cash prize is by no means certain. Cheryle Hawkins, who not only helps judge but also is chairwoman of the annual show, carries with her a copy of the “point scoring deduction card” that makes contestants shiver in their shoes, because any little imperfection can help knock a flower out of contention.

But leave that to the experts. For the rest of us, the display is simply a rainbow of colors to behold."

In further good news, one of Lexa's entries made the "Head Table" as best in show for its form - a miniature ball!

Stewart Richards - Schoolboy

Another charming photograph.  This was in a collection of photos in the possession on Willard (Billy) Waning.  I think that he must have spent some time in Reading, MA before heading off to Montana.  There are several photographs with a Reading, MA studio label.  As this young man's parents were born in Maine, perhaps there was a "neighborly" connection.

According to the 1910 census, Stewart was born about 1900 to Fred and Nellie Richards.  I think he must be 5-7 years old in this photo.  I wonder what on earth the occasion was for the extraordinary outfit. 

Agnes McAdam Ingvalson

This photograph was labeled "Agnes McAdam and three other teachers, Blooming Prairie, MN".  I am guessing mind you, based on family resemblance, that Agnes is the woman on the far left.  That face resembles our great-grandmother, Janet McAdam Waning.  If anyone else has thoughts as to which woman is Agnes, let me know!

Agnes McAdam was born the 18th of May 1879.  She was named for her maternal grandmother, Agnes Robertson Burnet.  Agnes McAdam taught in School District #61 the 1910-1911 school year so perhaps the above photo is dated around that time. She married Albert Ingvalson the 25th of June 1914.  They had no children.  Albert died in 1964, and Agnes in 1972.  She was a regular and frequent letter-writer and the last of our great-grandmother's surviving siblings.

I love the style and mood reflected in this photograph - the dresses - especially the "bib overall" style dress and the umbrellas.  The confidence exuded in the stances of the four financially independent, educated, young women.  

School Girls @ 1900

This photograph was in the collection which belong to Janet McAdam Waning.  

The two young women are Effie and Evie Chapman and they are twins.  They were born in January 1888 and in the 1900 census are residing with their uncle Henry and aunt Catherine Chapman in Westfield Township, Dodge County, MN.  Perhaps they too attended school in School District #64 with the McAdam children.  Janet McAdam was old enough to have been their teacher in the 1890's.  After all these many years, the connection is subject to speculation and guess-work.  

Leroy E. Waning - School Days 1929

I think this is a charming school picture!  It is a photograph of Leroy E. Waning and was taken in 1929.  Leroy was born the 19th of June 1919 in Newcastle, ME.  He was the son of Elmer and Edna Godding Waning.   He grew up in Newcastle and was a 1937 graduate of Lincoln Academy. He was an avid trumpet player in grammar and high school.  He played solo for Admiral Bird when the admiral visited Maine.

He served in the Air Force as a sergeant during WWII and received the American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon with Four Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Victory Medal.

He was employed at Round Top Farms and local boat builders as a boats craftsman.  He apprenticed for his father and uncle who laid the original phone lines for Nash Telephone, and later obtained his master electrician's license.  He worked for Bath Iron Works where he became foreman of the electrical department.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed researching property deeds in Lincoln County and Brooks, ME where his family originated.   

Leroy was a 2nd cousin to James W. Waning, and died in Damariscotta, ME the 10th of July 2008.   

Margaret Upton - Punctual and Regular Attendance - 1926

As we begin a new school year, I thought this award for "Punctual and Regular Attendance" could provide inspiration to the current year's students! Margaret Upton received this certificate for the 5th grade school year.

Kierstyn, Quinten, Mikaila, Riley, Liliane, Gretchen, Thomas, Christian, Halle, Matt, and Will - Here's to a super school year!

Otto D. Upton - School Year of 1902-03

Otto D. Upton as a young boy.  He was born the 31st of May 1890 in Spring Creek, Warren County, PA to James Monroe Upton and Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton. 

The Cover - Note the photograph of the teacher on the cover page.

*

Inside Page #1 - This was an end of school-year memento.

*

2nd Page - The school year 1902-1903

Garland Intermediate School

Pittsfield Township

Warren County, PA

*

The class list for 1902-1903.  Otto Upton and his brother, Parney Upton are both listed.

And some final uplifting thoughts as the summer recess began!

Below you can see Otto with his family in the 1900 census.  They were probably related to the Holmes and Osborne families on the same page as those are surnames from previous generations.

Robert McAdam (the younger) - Teacher 1940

Janet McAdam Waning had a brother named Robert McAdam.  She also had a nephew, Robert Wallson McAdam - the son of Thomas McAdam and Marie Elizabeth Sorenson.  This post details what I know about Robert Wallson McAdam - honestly not all that much!  

Robert W. McAdam was born 1 March 1902 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. The above photograph is him as a young school boy.  He took up the family profession and in the 1930 census is a teacher in Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota - boarding with a local family there.

  

 I do not think that he ever married - I cannot tell for sure as I have not ordered his death certificate.  He died 15 July 1997 at the age of 95 in Hawley, Clay County, MN.  He is buried with his parents in the Catholic Cemetary in Blooming Prairie, MN.   

We do have a letter he wrote to his Aunt "Nat" in January of 1940.  It gives us some taste of his personality, and some insight into the struggles and demands of a teacher in rural Minnesota. Blue footnotes provide additional details re people mentioned in the letter. 

"Blooming Pra., Minn.

Jan. 21, 1940

Dear 'Nat',

Old King Winter seems to have caught up with us at last.  Last week it was below nearly all the time; Thursday morning over 20 degrees below.

I still drive back and forth to my school.  I make 33 miles everyday.  I bought a 1939 (new) Dodge last April and have over 19,000 miles on it now.

Last summer in August I made a 8,000 mile trip with some friends with me.  We were in nine states.  We drove to the Black Hills, then through Wyoming to Montana.

We drove along the south side of Montana through Hardin, Billings, Livingston, Bozeman to Belgrade.  We stayed there with relations of these people with me.  The mountains were so pretty there.  I thought of you when I stopped in Livingston.  Didn't you live near there once?  Wasn't Wilsall near Livingston?

We went from Belgrade directly to the Park and entered Yellowstone from West Yellowstone entrance.  We saw the Fountain Paint Pots, several geysers including Old Faithful. I took lots of pictures both movie and still, of the bears, geysers, falls, lake.

I certainly enjoyed the Park alot.  I suppose you saw it when you lived at Wilsall.  From there we drove south and west through Grand Teton Nat. Park.

I understand that if I would go into or out of the Park on the Cody or Red Lodge-Cook City Road I would see some marvelous scenery enroute.

Thank you so much for those walnuts.  Agnes (1) brought us some for Christmas.  They were lovely indeed.  Hope I get out to Oregon some time and see you.  I hear you're supposed to be a grandma soon (2).  What a fortunate grandchild!

It seems so long since you were here (1935).  Just think, Agnes has called on us three times this last fall.  Isn't that remarkable? (3)

Don't I use some foxy stationery? (4) Well, it fills the bill.  You're probably glad if I write on anything, just so I write.

My school year is half way through.  Four and a half months more and I'll be out again. (A bird out of a cage).  Did you ever feel captive when you were teaching school?  I sort of like this school better than the one I had in '35, '36 , and '37.

The children aren't so snotty here as they were in Dist. 42.  This one is Dist. 37.

I had my Christmas program on Wed. Dec. 20 and let out on the 22nd.  Had a stage, Santa Claus and everything.  Had quite a crowd too.  I don't care much about Christmas programs but if you're a teacher that's one thing you can't get out of very well.

I can't think of anything else to write and I supposed Sophia(5) has either written or else told you everything in the news line when she made her trip last fall.  She covered a lot of territory in a few days.   

I should have let Sophia take my movie camera with her, gave her a few rolls and let her film all the relatives.  Wouldn't it be swell to see you in a small movie?

It didn't dawn on me until too late or I would have tried to show her how to operate such a camera (they are a little bit complicated to load until you catch on) and she could have brought back pictures of you, Ella, etc and Aunt Mary , Cousin Robert(6) etc if she had gotten around to them all.

I hope you come back east some time again.  Supposed Oregon is warm now while Minn. is cold.  Well, good bye and say hello to Jimmy, his wife, and Willard.

Lill (7) got alot of holly from aunt Ella in Oregon.  All of us got a spray of it.  I thought the leaves had points on them but this species doesn't seem to fall in that category.

Good bye,

Robert

The folks as well as myself are feeling pretty good now."

FOOTNOTES:

1 Agnes McAdam Ingvalson -  a younger sister of Janet McAdam Waning.

2 Barbara Ann Waning was born 12 February 1940 - the first Waning grandchild - an anticipated event!

3 Janet McAdam Waning returned to Blooming Prairie,MN in October 1935 to attend the funeral of her older sister, Margaret McAdam.  It was the last time she ever visited her family home.  

4 Foxy stationery in lined composition paper - something a teacher would have easy access to.

5 Sophia - Sophia Ingvalson McAdam - the widow of Janet McAdam Waning's brother, Robert McAdam.  Yes we recycle names in this family!

6 Refers to several family members:

Ella McAdam Caufield - a younger sister of Janet McAdam Waning.  She lived in Tillamook and then the Portland area.  Had two sons Waldo and Jack Caufield - our grandfather was reasonably close to those two cousins.  

Aunt Mary - Mary McAdam Emert - oldest 1/2 sister of Janet McAdam Waning.  Lived in Ohio and then moved to Los Angeles.

Cousin Robert - Mary's son Robert Emmert (yes he changed spelling of the last name from Emert to Emmert) - also in L.A.

7 Lill - Lillian McAdam Gillette - daughter of Thomas McAdam and older sister of Robert W. McAdam.

       

   

Winston Churchill High School September 1974

Okay guys - never let it be said that I feared public humiliation!

Here are my unedited journal entries from my first week of high school - sophomore year at Winston Churchill High School.

"September 3

Well I said I'd write.  Today I registered for all my classes at W.C.H.S.  Got a bunch of garbage like a library card, bus ticket, handbook and stuff like that. 

Eight classes, I think I must be an idiot.  It's all because Mom wants me to take Orchestra.  Saw most everyone: Caryn, Jane, Wendy, Paula and Tammy.

Mom is more excited than I am about school.  She keeps asking me what I'm going to wear.  I don't care, I'm not looking forward to school and I really don't know why.

Venetia M* starts 7th grade and Mom wants me to be nice to her.  I have Spanish with Lisa B* and Angie G* and all those wonderful people.   

Aunt Mary hasn't finished the clothes I wanted to wear tomorrow."

"September 4

Today wasn't one of those days that come under the heading of WOW!  I doubt I can find my first 3 classes tomorrow.  English 10 seems okay.  Health teacher Mrs. Pusateri is very enthusiastic so that class should be good.  Mr. Myers Social Studies is weird, laughs too much.  I'm not impressed with Mr. Pf...Mr. Lewis is a much faster conductor than Mr. Krysl, I can hardly keep up.  Mrs. Nicolson is a good math teacher if a bit abrupt.  Got my lockers.  I rushed around like a stupid sophomore...I'm suffering from a downer, I'm the only one with 8 classes I feel like a visitor from Mars.  Right now I have a headache and I think I'm going to throw up.  Mom said I act just like she did and she wishes she could help."

"Sept 5, 1974

"Today was better to say the least.  I knew my way around to classes and I could take my time.  Don't think Mr. Pf. and I are going to get along at all.  I don't like the way he teaches class *. Said a dumb think in Anc. Civilizations today.  Asked if the Greeks didn't influence us (U.S.A.) because didn't at one time everyone speak Latin.  Mr Myers asked me what language did the Greeks speak?  I couldn't think what they'd speak.  Greek of course! 

  

Went to Farrells for Kristal's birthday.  Cousins were noisy as usual.  Kevins grown up and is acting human at long last (Kevin O*)."

Looking back at age 15 from the perspective of age 50, I must say, wow - alot of angst there!~

All photos in this post are from 1974! Kristi's was take in the Spring as was the Coast picture with me and Mom.  The one above is Gramp's birthday in March 1974.  The top photo is my 8th Grade (Kennedy Junior High) Graduation in June 1974. Literally every girl in the 8th grade used the same Simplicity pattern to make this dress  - only difference was the fabric chosen.  We all looking like "Little House" extras! 

* BTW Senor Robin Pfeiffer became one of my very favorite teachers - I had him for Spanish all three years at Churchill.

Janet McAdam Waning - A Teaching Career 1893-1910

I believe the above photograph of our Great-grandmother, Janet McAdam Waning was taken round 1900-1910.  I know from the photography studio that she was still living in Minnesota and that her sister Ella had moved to North Dakota to teach.  I like this photograph as I think this is the age / face that taught school in Minnesota and Montana.

According to notes written by Janet, she began her teaching career in 1893 when she was just eighteen.  Years earlier her parents, Matthew and Mary McAdam donated the land to build a school - so School District #64 resided on McAdam property.  It is most probably where the McAdam children all attended school, and it is where our Great-grandmother began to teach.

  

    

    

I love this school year souvenir from 1897. It is worth noting that Janet's father, Matthew McAdam, was still involved in education and acted as the treasurer for the school district.  Looking at the class list, Janet taught her sister, Ella Florence McAdam, and her brother, Robert McAdam.  Also attending school was Albert Ingvalson - a future brother-in-law (he married Agnes McAdam).

Sometime a bit later Janet McAdam furthered her education at Southern Minnesota Normal College.  The school was located about sixteen miles to the south of Blooming Prairie so she did not have far to travel.  She was in residence at Harpman Hall in the fall of 1898. 

Here are a couple of the autographs she collected from school mates.  The college was regional in nature - she has autographs from young men and women who lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. Being a frugal Scot, Janet's autograph book is a stationary sampler from G. Schleuder of Austin Minnesota.  In reading the sentiments left below there may have been a romance which went awry.

Janet outlines her teaching career as follows, "Began to teach when 18 - year 1893 - Taught 6 1/2 yrs in Dist. 64 - Taught 1 year in E.E. Dennis District - 1 year in Noble and Geo. Dennis Dist. - and two years in Mont. = 10 yrs.

   

In 1900 census Janet McAdam is enumerated twice.  Once with her family in Westfield Township, Dodge County, MN.  Note the spelling of her name - it reflects the Scottish pronunciation "Jenett".

The other enumeration places her as Nettie McAdams, a teacher boarding with the Elmer Dennis family in Redolpho Township Mower County, Minnesota. Note the Ingvalson family lurking below on the same page!

By 1909 Janet McAdam has moved to Montana.  Here is a postcard from March 1910 requesting that she again teach in Big Timber, Montana.

The end of April finds her at School District #43 in Sweet Grass County, Montana.  

Janet McAdam was an industrious woman.  While in Montana she attended Abbot's Business College in Billings and received qualifications to teach in Yellowstone and Park Counties.

I really do not know much about how or when she met Willard Lowe Waning, her future husband.  The only story I ever heard was that she could play the piano well enough to "chord" at community dances.  Perhaps that is where they met.  They married in February of 1911 and her professional teaching career ended.   

One last story to share.  Gramps (James W. Waning) told me that his mother kept a blackboard in the kitchen of their home in Wilsal, Montana.  Living on a sheep ranch as a young child, Gramps drew what he knew best - the ranch, the out-buildings, the sheep in the fields and pens.  One afternoon upon returning from school he discovered that his mother had taken the chalk and opened the gates of the pens - and the sheep were all running amuck! 

That is where that sly Waning humor comes from!