Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, March 20, 2018

No Small Start: 1878

Teasdale, Utah today.

Grandma’s parents, Sylvester and Mary Coleman Williams were married in 1878 and lived in Escalante, Utah until after their first three children, Florence, Gustavus and Jane were born.
Then, hearing that there was good land to be had, they moved to Teasdale, Utah about 1882 so they could take up homestead.
Many of their extended family followed: both sets of grandparents as well as Great-Grandma’s Uncle and Aunt. These family members settled in or near Teasdale. Great-Grandpa’s homestead was about a mile and a half from the townsite.
There, five more children were born (Grandma Stringam was number five of the eight).
The first few years, the family lived the entire year in the log house they constructed on the farm, but later on Great-Grandpa Williams built a house in town and they lived there during the school months. Definitely more convenient to getting children to school.
Ten years after they moved there, Great-Grandpa died of Dropsy (Edema) of the heart.
Leaving Great-Grandma with eight children between the ages of 14 and one, a homestead that still had to be ‘proved up’ (Each homesteader had to live on the land, build a home, make improvements and farm for 5 years before they were eligible to "prove up") and medical bills of over $200.00 to be paid.
In Grandma Stringam’s words:
“My mother was a very quiet woman but she was a hard worker and a good manager. When Father died, he hadn’t proved up on the homestead.
But she took over with a will. Within ten years, she had proved up on the homestead, built a barn and granary and paid Father’s bills.
The granary which was built is still standing and usable today (1974 when this journal was written).
Mother firmly believed that an idle mind was the devil’s workshop and kept us busy, even if she had to send us to the neighbours to do so.”
The neighbours she sent them to most often were her mother (my Grandma Stringam’s Grandma Coleman) or Aunt Sarah May. Aunt Sarah May had a large family of young children, so my Grandma Stringam often helped her with the washing or with the house-cleaning or putting up fruit in the summer and early fall.
Back to Grandma Stringam:
“Mother told us never to take money for this because my aunt had a large family and not too much to do with.”
I think this world needs more women like Great-Grandma Williams.
Great-Grandma  Mary Coleman Williams


20 comments:

  1. I agree. Not only is this a testament to the strong will of women, but to the need to be a good member of a community.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't imagine the fortitude she carried how wonderfully remarkable!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly wouldn't have carried on so well! Eight children! AND debts AND responsibilities. Yikes!

      Delete
  3. Amazing! Our pioneer ancestors were unbelievably strong.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, she was incredible! I had strong women in my family as well..both my grandmothers and my mother...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Survival of the fittest....and your family was some fit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can't imagine how tough her life was. What an incredible woman.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She was just far back enough that I didn't know her at all! So glad I have caught a glimpse now...

      Delete
  7. The world does indeed need more like her. Heroes. An accolade they would reject. Wrongly.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree the world needs more like her. Did she ever get to a point where she could take it a bit easier, I wonder?

    ReplyDelete
  9. The world certainly could do with more women like your great grandma.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strength and responsibility. In short supply any more . . .

      Delete
  10. Hi Diane, I was just nominated for the "Sunshine Blogger" award and was asked to nominate three other bloggers. I love your beautiful, personal writings so I picked you! Here's the link...http://lauriestonewrites.com/2018/03/21/sunshine-blogger-award/

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting! Drop by again!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


Grab and Add!

Search This Blog

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?