Elva Maurine (Couch) Kirkpatrick (1899 - 1984)

Born 30 Sep 1899 in Hesper, Douglas, Kansas, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Oct 1984 at age 85 in Exeter, Tulare, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sally Lyon [send private message]

Biography

Elva Maurine was born in 1899 in Hesper Kansas. She passed away in 1984 in Tulare, California. My grandmother was a truly remarkable woman. Her mother died when she was two years old. As she told her story to me: Her father, Stephen Couch, was not interested in marrying again. Stephen attempted to raise his Three children (Harold, Howard & Maurine) himself. One winter the children got sick with a bad flu. Stephen had to go out and plant the winter wheat before the first snowfall. Grandma remembered huddling around the kitchen stove with her two older brothers. All they had to eat was cold oatmeal. After a few weeks of this misery, a box of fresh oranges arrived. It was a gift from an uncle who lived in California. Stephen was sold on the idea of moving out to California and planting oranges. They sold the farm and went out to join Uncle Tillman Couch in Lindsay California. Times were hard. Grandma's eldest brother, Harold, had the idea of starting a nursery for orange trees. "We set about collecting cast away tin cans and oranges that had fallen off the trees. We planted and watered them and they grew. We sold the little trees to new incoming farmers. Soon we each had a savings account. We went to a nearby lake with our horse and wagon to haul the water in barrels. It was my job to direct the hose to the little trees. I enjoyed the work. I was with my brothers and I felt useful." Soon Grandma's mother's family found out that Stephen was making the little girl work. They took her away from her father and brothers. Grandma went to Boston to live with two Nowlin aunts. Her aunts adored her and dressed her to the height of fashion. Soon, it was decided in the Nowlin family that Maurine would be less spoiled if she lived in Kansas on her uncle's farm. Clifford Nowlin had three girls about Maurine's age. Grandma was home-sick for her father and brothers. She was told she could one day be united with her family when she was growed up. Grandma couldn't wait to be growed up. "They took my clothes away from me and I had to wear an old farm dress! That is when I decided to learn to sew." There was a kind old grandmother at the farm who taught her how to sew. I have a photo of this woman, but am not exactly sure just who she is. Eventually Maurine growed up and was allowed to go back to Lindsay to be with her father and brothers. She went to Lindsay High School. One day she was driving her horse and cart through town when a young man drove through town in a car. "He scared my horse. I didn't know who he was." Her girlfriends told her he was Frank Kirkpatrick. Her friends were all interested in Frank. Maurine thought he was a "Hot Shot." Then Frank asked Maurine to go to a dance. They had to get permission from her father, Stephen. Stephen thought it would be okay, but only if they had a chaperone. Maurine was eighteen years old at this time. Friends John and Mary were chosen for the chaperones. Frank courted Maurine for about two years. He had to wait for her to go to secretary school at Lawrence Business School in Lawrence Kansas. After graduating Maurine wanted to have some work experience. She moved to Oakland California with her brother Harold. She found a secretarial position working for a businessman in San Francisco. She took the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. Frank and Maurine were married in Lindsay ................and went to live in Monrovia California. My mother, Frances Maurine, was born March 9, 1924. Howard Kauffman was born December 25,1927, a Christmas baby. John Owen was born September 15, 1930.

Sources

• Personal recollection of events witnessed by Sally Durfey-114 Lyon