Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-10

GOLDEN GOSSIP.


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/. l. .
| 1T was my good fortune that my an
cestars came over in the Mayfiower'
said Miss South Church May hour?
replied Miss Hennepin. who did not
quite understand. Our folks made
their fortune in September wheat"
There are number of ladies in Mar
shalltown who can proudly boast of
the good fortune of having famous an
cestry of colonial days, and many more
like the lady who prided herself on be-
ing the descendent of a private in the
revolutionary war, saying her ances-
tor seemed to have been the only pri-
vate in the whole continental army"
We have a large and flourishing
chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. and still there are left
enough fortunately pedigreed ones for
another chapter which promises to live
and grow within the shelter of golden
bars and jeweled distaffs. And even yet
there are others who like the tories of
old, prefer to remain loyal to the parent
organization rather than cast their fate
with the struggling local-chapter colo
MES. In many homes the bit of old ma
hogany now holds the place of honor
among the household gods, and the pre-
cious old china pewter and brass of
by-gone days proudly hint that madam
had grandmother way down east
Said a Marshalltown lady to stran-
ger within the gates, My dear, the first
time l saw you, you wore a quaint old
locket, and / said to myself, that is an
heirloom, she must be somebody, 1 will
cultivate her. That good dame would
have her hands full today, cultivating
ladies who had heirlooms
1t is not considered nice in these lux
urious days to be yenturesome, poor
half-starved or of a fighting DISPOSE
ton, but it is heavenly to be kin to
some one who ventured, suffered, starry
ed and fought for the freedom of our
glorious country. And If you are only
kin to two or three fghters-well, you
may think yourself quite the whole four
hundred.
A woman troubled with curiosity,
who sort O. pities men in general and
Nsrshalltown men in particular, began
to wonder how it happens that the de-
scendents Of the revolutionary heroes
know you never hear much about our
men folks. or meet them very often in
society. and when you do they act as
it their minds were more on September
wheat than Mayflower fortunes, and
one can't ask them the necessary ques-
tons to find out if they are somebody"
and have any heirlooms really. truly
their own. A few days ago this woman
met man looking UP the family rec
ords, and for the first time in his life
deeply interested in American history.
and this instance revealed the know
ledge that many of our quiet men folks
were becoming enthusiastic over heir
looms ancestors and family records.
And, by the way, no one knows how
Fascinating this research becomes when
once we'll into it. How much more pre-
cious our country's history grows, and
how much greater and grander our
country itself becomes to the seeker of
the family history and its part played
in the great drama of colonial days. 1t
is indeed no foolish pastime, and the
work of our patriotic societies will one
day be more fully appreciated.
An unsuccessful effort was made, a
few years ago. to organize in our city
a chapter of the Sons of the American
Revolution, and again the subject is
under discussion. Marshalltown can
boast of veritable son of a revolu-
soldier. Among the members
of the Iowa society of the S. A. r. are
enrolled the names of c. n. e. Board
man, l.. S. Kilborn, S. 7. Packard, F. G.
Pierce, /. C. Speers, Z. L. Bradford, and
Mr., : q
Pittsburg, Pa, chapter. Besides these
fully t1edged members there are many
others in the city with wonderfully in
records of revolutionary war
ancestors hidden away among family
papers, which will come to light when
a chapter is organized. 1t always takes
some little incident to arouse enthusi-
asm on this subject, then one soon be-
comes victim to the family tree ma
MIA A visit to the old home in the far
east, legacy of old books and letters,
the research of some one bearing the |
same name, is oftimes the opening page |
IF a charming study in life's book of
history and romance.
Last summer a friend visited the old |
nome, and from the lips of an aged rel |
alive heard the story of Paul Reveres
,ide with a new meaning in 1T for him.
Your great grandfather" said the old I
ady, was hoeing in the field in the
linn light of early dawn when Paul Re-
yere's warning reached the little home,
md he dropped his hoe and ran" to be
me among those who gave to the Brit
sh, ball for ball
From behind each fence and farm
yard wall"
No period of the revolutionary war
stands out more clearly as a picture of
he awfulness of warfare than those
lays at Valley Forge, when Washing
on faced death, defeat and hunger,
Wondering If his God would
ever crush the tyrant, help the help
less, right the wrong"
To another Marshalltown man re-
earch has given the knowledge that
,reat- grandfather was one of the rag
red band of heroes who faced starva-
ion and death with Washington that
errible winter at Valley Forge.
When these scattered leaves from the
pages of the past are bound in the rec
,rds of a Marshalltown chapter of the
J. A. r. what an interesting volume it
will make. 1t will not be reading of
mere facts and incidents. but it will be
acts made alive thru the touch of fam
ly relationship. And then, when our