The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-23

Another mark of distinction that the
women bear is that Miss Sue Lowell
served as an army nurse during the
last year Of the civil war under Dorothy
L. Dix who was in charge. At that
time Shafter was colonel of the Seven
teenth regiment, c.. U. S. A. His pic
ture taken then at Nashville, Tenn,
where Miss Lowell was stationed. is
still in her possession.
After the war Miss Lowell taught in
Nashville. Indianapolis, and near her
Michigan home for several years.
Later, accompanied by her sister, she
came to- Topeka with her parents, ar
irving here November II, 1871
Taught in shawnee County.
Since then she has taught in the
Shawnee county schools about thirty
years. Her sister was engaged in the
same work about twelve years. Both
have done much for the African race
from the south occurred about the time
that the Misses Lowell came here.
Both of the parents Of the women
died several years ago.
Since the Misses Lovelrs retirement
from teaching several years ago. they
Sue Lowell is about 78 years old. Her
sister. Hattie. is about So.
The former has a distinct recolIec-
ton of Taft's father visiting them at
their michigan nome.
Taft's Father.
He was tall, dark and slender" said
Miss Lowell. He was never fat and it
seems strange that his son should have
been so corpulent. He used to come to
our farm for short visits. Father told
US that he was always very bright in
his studies.
''On the occasion of one of his visits
mother gave big dinner in honor of
h tn md fyrfA dc
several years after he was married, he
had boy with him. I wouldn't be sur
prised but that the child was Will
liam Taft. although do not remember
what his name was or how he looked
1T remember how father used to
hitch up old Nance to take Taft's
father to the train at Galesburg.
Mich, after he had spent a pleasant
time at our home. saw him last at
our home about 1867. think.
"How do remember the late Cen
eral Shafter? I know he was a wild
lad, good hearted but very mischiev-
Gus. His father. Hugh Shafter, was q
cousin of our father. Mr.. Shafter
came from Vermont to Michigan a lit
tie while before we did. We located
on land near his farm. Thus we saw
much of the family.
General Skaters Boyhood Franks.
what were some of the mischievous
things which the future general did
He was always into something. He
would no sooner get out of one scrape
than he would be into something else.
However, he would always take his
punishment and as far as 1 know he
never tried to lie out of anything. On
one occasion he had been caught steal
ing watermelons from the farm of a
man named Stetson. happened to
be at the Shafter home when Mr.
Shafter brought the boy in. The lad
stood with his back to the old fashion
ed open brick fireplace. WILL said
his father. have you been stealing
watermelons?? You know what is out
in the barn.
'The boy looked at him and grew
red in the face. Finally he said
Well. father, you know I never did
tell you a lie. 1t was this way. A lot
of US boys were looking at the melons.
Then we thought we would pull a few
of them just to see if they were ripe
or not. While we wero doing this
Stetson saw us and came after US
And, father, you just ought to have
seen US rum