Memoirs by Mary Delilah (Baker) Rogers

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Baker Rogers Heaton

Contents 1 Overview 2 Transcription 3 Facts presented 3.1 Folio 1 3.2 Folio 2 3.3 Folio 3 3.4 Folio 4 3.5 Folio 5 3.6 Folio 6 3.7 Folio 7 3.8 Folio 8 3.9 Folio 9 3.10 Folio 10 3.11 Folio 11 3.12 Folio 12

Overview

This transcription is from pages of pencil draft memoirs written by Mary Delilah (Baker) Rogers in 1940, at the age of 81, five years before her death. It was written for her granddaughter Leona Lydia (Ogle) Odle. The original transcription was done by Cody Bruce Smith around the 1990's. He strove to keep all original grammar, misspellings, and capitalizations intact as written. He stated only adjusting a few punctuation elements for improved readability. All his additions are inside square brackets "[ ]" or footnotes with "*".

When I (Kent Smith) received the file from Cody (my uncle) in 2007, I moved it to a more current word processing application and added a few additional footnotes to what Cody had added using "*n".

After Cody's death in 2010, his family passed all his genealogical materials to me, but I have not yet discovered the original pages of her letter. If I do find it, I will upload the pages to this page for further review.

The original letter was written in small blocks of text per page (folios) and sometimes the page numbers were either altered or missing from some pages. Cody did his best to sort the unidentified pages in the order that best flowed with the rest of the copy.

Transcription

[First Folio,"Title Page" in Grandma Rogers' handwriting]:

                    To Leonia Ogle Odle

                       from Grandma

                       Mary D. Baker Rogers

                    This is to full fill a

                       Promise long
                       Neglected.

[Memoirs by Mary Delilah (Baker) Rogers [handwritten at 81yo, five years before her death] written for Leona Lydia (Ogle) Odle in 1940. Reproduced exactly from the pencil draft, verbatim with original spelling and capitalization -- some punctuation changed for readability by Cody Smith. Additional footnoted added by Kent Smith in November 2007.]

[Second Folio]
1                    1 Feb                                                                                                              1940

My Father Morris C Baker's Ancestors were Early Settlers of New York. The Bakers were From Holland. Grandfather Henry Baker Moved to Indiana and Settled at Lawrence Burge on the Ohio River, he was a Shoemaker. My Father was Born at Lawrence Burge, Deerborn Co., Ind. Oct. 5 1832. When he was 8 yrs old his Father moved near ButlerVille in Jennings Co., Ind. Grandmother Baker'sMaiden Name was Betsy Hunter. The Hunters wsere Scotc h and were Early settlers of Ny York [sic]. My Father. was a house Carpenter and School teacher untill he went west he didn't teach anymore.

[Third Folio]
2                    2
My Mother Lydia Elizebeth Heaton. Fathers{*4} People were from Conneticut [sic] to nerar Moors Hill Ind.{*5} they were Scotch Irish. Mother Mother name was Mary V. Faulkner.{*6} The Faulkners were Holland Dutch. Were Early Settlers of New York. They were Dutch traders. They come to Ripley County near Moors Hill. My G G Father had a Farm. Keep Cattle Sheep. They kept a store & they Sold their Extra Product at their own Store. Sold Cheese, Poultry & Cloth woven by the woman of the home. My GrandMother Mary.Was the oldest of Six girls and she was the weaver. She took lessons and Learnt to weave woolens & Cotten and Flax. She wove Many Beautiful Counterpains flanils [sic] Jeanes, Cottens, and Linen table cloths. She wove for others. Binded for the Home & Store. In Fact My Frinds [sic] have told me she wove long as she lived. her Sisters then were cheese maker, 2 Dress & Milliners

[Fourth Folio]
3 Feb                    3                                                                                                    1940

My Grandfather Jeol [sic] Heaton was a timber contractor. Joel Heaton and Mary E. Faulkner{*6} were Married Near Moors Hill Ind. about 1824 or 25. They had 2 sons 5 girls. My Mother, was thired [sic] Daughter. She was Born neer Moors Hill Ind., in 1835. April 17. When she was 11 yrs She went to Illinois to Live with one of her Mothers Cousins. She lived in Ill. 5 yrs. She Returned home & stayed to Live with her Sister. There She met Morris C. Baker. They were Married March 1, 1854. Near ButlerVille, Jennings Co., Ind. 5 of us Children were Born there. My Brother Edmond, Born in Dec 1854 Bro Monroe Benton Nov 18. 1867 (1867--correction by G. Rogers later.){*7} I, Mary Delilah, August 19, 1859. Dewitt Clinton, Sept 23, 1861. Oliver Morton, Sept 17, 1864. Sister Jennie Born in Iowa, March 7, 1873

["Page 4" either missing or omitted]
[Fifth Folio]
5 March                    Kansas. 5                                                                                                    1940

In year of 1874 we had good crop Except 15 acre of late Corn. The Grass Hoppers got. The Corn was in the milk stage & Hoppers Eat Blades Shucks & Kernel Left Stalk & Cob. Hoppers were so thick couldn't see the Sun Many farmer further South near Eldoerado [sic] lost all their crop -- our Early Corn was good that fall Father Sowed all the Corn Field to wheat, Except the 15 Acre of Sod. Next Spring Planted the 15 to Corn & the wheat was fine. But Father wasn't in very good health and Decided he Couldn't live in Kansas. Sold out once more, got 2.00 Bu for Wheat once more we started for the Land of the "Big Red Apples". We first went to Bolivar Mo.* Stopped there two weeks. Looking for a good Location. Not finding anything to suit him. We went 2 more Days Drive to Warsaw. No Couldn't Stop there So they Moved on to Glascow,*** on the Mo. River. Staid there two Days.

[Sixth Folio]
6 Mo [Missouri]                    6 March                                                                                                    1940
[Both 6's, above, are written over erased 7's.]

Nearly Devoured with Miskitoes. Finly Decided to go to Keokuk, Iowa. After Six weeks from time we left Kan. We Landed in Keokuk Iowa. With the Miss. River on the East & Desmoines [River] on the South. Oct. 1875. "The govermet [sic] Canal was Nearly Completed" So There wasn't much work and the '73 Panic & By 1877 Busniss [sic] was Dead or nearly so. Mills Factories Foundrys Everything worse than what it is now (But what it will be next year if the New Deal. Continues) if it hadn't Been for the Rail Roads Many of those unemployd would of Suffered. The R R Bought up timber & furnished "Thousands of men work." by 1898 Father Didn't Even have a horse & CDart to haul us out. he went to Glenwood Mo. got a Job in the tember hired two teams wagons & moved April 1878 to the Country near Glenwood, Mo. Father was now about 50 yrs. to try too Build a new house well such is Life.

[Seventh Folio]
[8 --faint] 7--[darker]                    Now you Say "What Did I do                              1940
As I look Back Now I Suppose I was taking training as Nursery girl & Waiting Maid. Maid of all Work. When I was 10 yrs Every once in While if Mother Could spare me, Some neabor women that had 2 0r 3 little tots would need me to take care of the Babys for a week at a time!! Sometimes I would get aeful homesick, But never whimper for fear of Being laughted at as I got older I went to Iowa & I was Still needed By Some heighbors with Babys By time I was 14 neighbors needee me to help Cook. Especially in harvest times. Went to Kansas. Some one needed a nurse & Cook too. So By time I was 16 when we got to Keokuk. Soon I realy needed work and had no trouble getting & holding work. Sewing machines were not so Plentiful they Cost from 160 to 120. Dol A lady Learnt me to Run her Machine it was to hard for her to Run So sometimes I Run Machine from "7 am" till 12, then home. Back at 1- Run the machine untill 10 hours

[Eighth Folio]
9                    8 March                                                                                          1940
I got 5 cts per Per hour. That was the general Price & 1.50- to 2.50 for House work. I could get work all time But on Account of Mother health I stayed home Part time. I liked to Live in Keouk it was a Beautiful Place When I was 17, I Joined the Methodist & I Enjoyed it so much. When Im alone now I sing the Songs we Sung then & they Recall Many faces to me as I saw them then! At the time My Folk moved in April{*8} to Mo. I had a good Job So I Staid on there. Untill July 1st then took the train to Mo. Father & Bro had contracted for 800 a of timberland & were preparing to Build a new house. But were Living In a old log hut. with a Plank side Room they had nailed up to Do untill the New house Could Be Built. It was nearly Sundown when I got there & when I saw where Mother had Landed. "My Heart Sank Couldn't handle Keep Back the tears (and didn't after got to Bed. Mext Morning "Breakfast over

[Ninth Folio]
[Faint] 8                    [Dark] 9 [Erased 8---Erased 10]

Dishes washed Shanty cleaned up men all off to work I walked up the Vally & Back. Mother was Bursy Planning Dinner & Singing Like a Lark. as She came out of the door I said "Mother are you Satisfied here" She Stopped came to me thew [sic] both arms about me & Said yes My girl Ive not Been as happy in a long time. Ive got all My Family with me and By Cold weather we'll have a warm house which we did, that was July 2- lovely Day Next day hot & Sultry that nite it stormed Rained & House Leaked terble I had hung up my wash dresses on the wall it Seemed that Everything in My Room was wet. Next Morning about 8 it stopped Raining & Bro Ed Came hurring [sic] in. he was going to a 4 of July Picnic & wanted me to go. The very idea & there My whole Dresses all Soaked with the Rain, and if I had went I wouldn't of knowed a sole Except Brother. A Boy was waiting out side for Ed After they Started of, Mother said it was Ja Rogers.

[Tenth Folio]
[9 marked out]                    10

After I had Been at home a week or two the girls of the naborhood Came to see me & Invited me over as Bro Eds girl was one of them we soon all were going Places and Meeting People from Different Communities & as winter Came the Snow Came to Stay. We had a Heavy Snow Before Thanksgiving & Every once in while more Snow until we never Saw the ground again untill march. fine Sleighing. Father Made a large Heavy Sled to haul heavy timbers & the Boys would Put the wagon Bed on that Sled & wed get a sled load of young folk. We went to Singing Schools & Lettering every week & a Party about Every two weeks. So the winter Soon Passed. Mr. Rogers was our Closest nabor. he sold out & Moved about 50 mile South of us and Ja went with them and I wanted to go Back to Keokuk the Folks I had worked for kept writing for me to Come Back. But

[Eleventh Folio]

                    B                              11

Father & Mother would not Consent to that. They Said No No, We have our Family all together again & they wouldn't give up. Well I was now Lonesome. Ja & I had Been Pardners at Parties & all Places we had went all winter & I missed him. We Corisponded & 4 of July he Came Back. So we decided we Couldn't get along without one another & Planned to make a home of our own. So in the fall his Folk Decided to move to the Arkansas River Vally & of Course Ja Couldn't go without me he wrote me then Come & on 7 of Nov. 1879 we were Married & on next Morning we took my trunk, Bagage, Bedding & all & started South. It was one of the sadest of mornings for when I left that Day the Home Circle of my Parents Was Broken for Ever. Never again Did we all Meet. Tears Run Down My face as I write this. for I have Learnt By Experience how their Hearts ached.to See me leave.

[Twelfth Folio]

                    C                               12

We Reached Dad Rogers about 3_30 that Day. They wagon were Loaded & waiting & we traveled 10 days as we had rain & mud. We never Reached the Ark Valley. But stopped a WarrensBerg Mo.** it was a Goal Mining & Stone query town School there Men got work & Ja & I Rented furnished Rooms & Begin House Keeping. Next Spring we moved to Warsaw Mo. to work again in the timber and there we Began Life in Earnest. We Had to Live in tents from May untill Oct in order to Live Near the Mens work. in fall they Built Cabin for to winter in. our Cabin was 12 x 14 ft a young married Couple of today Couldn't Possibley be Satisfied with the Furniture we started with. one Bedstead 4 chairs a Cupboard Made from a Dry good box a table Cook stove our trunks & quilt Box. But all we had was new & we were happy as Larks & one more yr & the stork Brought our first Babe & that was Life in a New Form. Edmund Lancelot Rogers, August 31 1881.

* (Folio 5) Grandma Rogers' handwriting appears to indicate: Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri. It also seems to fit the location, being about a two-day wagon drive from Warsaw in the direction of Kansas.
** (Folio 12) Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri.
*** (Folio 5) Glasgow, Howard County, Missouri, north of Boonville.

Additional footnotes (and the folio numbers in the footnotes) from Kent Smith
*4 (Folio 3) This “Fathers People” refers to her Mother’s Father.
*5 (Folio 3) Moores Hill, Dearborn, IN.
*6 (Folio 3) & (Folio 4) The document shows both “V” and “E” as the middle initial for Mary Faulkner. This surname may also appear as “Falkner.”
*7 (Folio 4) There was a correction noted in the transcription that “G. Rogers” changed the date to 1867, but the 1860 US Federal Census for this family shows “Monroe B” as 3 years old (born about 1857).
*8 (Folio 8) Following the timeline in the letter this would be April 1878.

Facts presented

Folio 1

• Leona (Ogle) Odle is a granddaughter to Mary D. (Baker) Rogers.

Folio 2

• Mary D Baker's father is Morris C Baker.
• Morris C Baker was born on 5 October 1832, in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn, Indiana.
• Morris C Baker was a house carpenter and school teacher, but stopped teaching after heading West.
• Morris C Baker's ancestors were early settlers of New York, from Holland.
• Morris C Baker's father is Henry Baker.
• Henry Baker married Betsy Hunter likely sometime before 1832.
• The Hunter ancestors were early settlers of New York and Scotch.
• Henry Baker was a shoemaker.
• Henry Baker moved to Lawrenceburg, Dearborn, Indiana, (located on the Ohio River) sometime before 5 October 1832.
• Henry Baker moved his family to Butlerville, Jennings, Indiana, about 1840.

Folio 3

• Mary D Baker's mother is Lydia Elizabeth Heaton.
• Lydia Elizabeth Heaton's father is Joel Heaton (from Folio 4).
• Joel Heaton's ancestors were Scotch Irish from Connecticut and moved to Moores Hill, Dearborn, Indiana.
• Lydia Elizabeth Heaton's mother is Mary V Faulkner.
• The Faulkner ancestors were Holland Dutch traders, who were early settlers of New York and came to Ripley County, Indiana. (Dearborn and Ripley Counties are adjacent and Moores Hill is on the border of Ripley County.)
• Mary V Faulkner's father had a farm with cattle and sheep. They also had a store to sell their extra product (cheese, poultry, woven cloth by the women of the family.
• Mary V Faulkner was the oldest of 6 girls and was the weaver of wool, cotton, and flax.
• Mary V Faulkner's other sisters were cheese makers, dressmakers, and milliners (headwear makers).

Folio 4

• Joel Heaton was a timber contractor.
• Joel Heaton married Mary E Faulkner about 1824 or 1825, near Moores Hill, Dearborn, Indiana.
• Joel and Mary had 2 sons and 5 daughters.
• Lydia Elizabeth Heaton is the 3rd daughter, born on 17 April 1835, near Moores Hill, Dearborn, Indiana.
• Lydia Elizabeth Heaton moved to Illinois to live with one of Mary Faulkner's cousins, about 1846, and returned about 1851 to live with "her sister."
• Morris C Baker married Lydia Elizabeth Heaton on 1 March 1854, near Butlerville, Jennings, Indiana.
• 5 children of Morris Baker and Lydia Heaton born near Butlerville, Jennings, Indiana, were:
  • Edmond, b Dec 1854,
  • Monroe, b. 18 Nov 1867 (but the 1860 census shows a Monroe B, 3yo (b. 1857)).
  • Mary Delilah, b. 19 August 1859.
  • Dewit Clinton, b. 23 September 1861.
  • Oliver Morton, b. 17 September 1864.
  • Jennie, b. 7 March 1873, in Iowa.

Folio 5

Folio 6

• Mary Delilah Baker on April 1878, moves to the country near Glenwood, Missouri.

Folio 7

Folio 8

Folio 9

Folio 10

• James Bowdine Rogers is referred to as "Ja" by Mary.

Folio 11

• James Bowdine Rogers is referred to as "Ja" by Mary.
• James Bowdine Rogers married Mary Delilah Baker on 7 Nov 1879.

Folio 12

• James Bowdine Rogers is referred to as "Ja" by Mary.
• James and Mary's first child is Edmund Lancelot Rogers, b. 31 August 1881, in Warsaw Missouri.