Letter from Norma Baumann

Conrad Montana

January 2, 1964

Dear Cousin Clarence and Family,

            Happy New Year to you all! We’re having what we call “weather breeder” weather-spring weather, chinook wind and temperatures up into the 50’s and above.  The wind is warm but penetrating as chinooks always are.  We had a bit of winter just before the holidays but the old year went out like a lamb and with it oh, so many of the old timers.  I don’t know when we’ve had so many deceased.

            Thank you so much for sending me your father’s family record.  I have copied it and will enclose it with this letter.  I appreciate your kindness and hope I can return something to you that may help you.  Do you have great grandfather Andrew Russell and Helen Hendry’s record?  Dad’s cousin, Gladys Shepard Flaherty Cleveland gave me a copy of her mother’s record of their family in Dakota and I’ll be glad to copy it for you.  I located a granddaughter of Grandpa Russell’s oldest sister, Jane Lillias Russell Lewis’s in Ipswich So. Dakota, a Mrs. Dan McIntosh, who was real thrilled to hear from me.  She was Harry Lewis’ daughter, a woman about my age who had never heard where Uncle Jim’s family had gone.  She and I have corresponded and I’ve enjoyed it as much but she doesn’t seem to know more of the family background than I have but I believe she would enjoy having any relations drop in to visit.  That’s the real reward of this cousin hunting is meeting folks by mail. 

            Uncle Bill’s wife, in her Christmas card,  enclosed a clipping from some old newspaper telling of great grandfather James McKeand and Catherine Gibson’s 50^th anniversary celebration in Janesville, Wisconsin, but no dates tho it does say they were married in Janesville when Wisconsin was a territory and that were both born in Wigtonshire, Scotland.  I had know they were Scotch but it was the 1^st proof  of where in Scotland to look—that is if ever I have money to have Scottish records examined!  Oh by the way, Uncle Bill’s name isn’t on you Dad’s record and his birth year I believe is 1889.  Uncle Harry wrote his birthday was May 28^th and he’d be 80 next May (this just came today).  Uncle Harry wrote as if he felt much better than last spring and summer!

            I have hopes of contacting the youngest Shepard boy through a mutual friend in Los Angeles I am asking her to check the telephone directory for a Hope Hugh Shepard—surely there would not another with that odd name.  At least if she can find the address I’ll write to him.  I know Gladys is dead and probably her husband Bruce Cleveland. 

            I just went and got out your fathers record and Uncle Harry’s birth date May 28, 1884 corresponds to the one he has as Duncan Roy but Uncle Harry’s middle initial is D so it maybe Duncan.  Uncle Roy’s name was Roy Wegg according to Aunt Neita and has birthday March 17, 1887 and Uncle William (William A) 1889 for he was just 6 years older than I am.  I can remember Vernell and I attended Uncle Charlie’s funeral it was in the summer of 1901.  I believe it was summertime for the service was held outdoors under a tree at Emmetsburg, Iowa.  This Robert Roy or Gibson I can’t remember at all possibly he died an infant and probably David Wegg too.  I have a picture of 6 children, your father, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Charlie, Uncle Harry, Aunt Doll (Elizabeth Mary), and Uncle Roy.  How come Aunt Eva wasn’t in it, I don’t know.  Possibly Uncle Bill wasn’t born or perhaps was only a tiny baby for Uncle Roy looks to not be more than 2.  Dad used to tell of carrying Nellie to school on his back, that must have been Helen C.  Gosh, I wish I’d asked more questions.  You’ll never know how much I appreciate this record for I’d had to make mine from memory of seeing the one Uncle Bill now has.  (Uncle Bill was sick in bed when Violet wrote, but in today’s letter Uncle Harry didn’t menion him so I guess he’s better.)  Please excuse this jumbled up letter—try to better next time.

            Love, Norma and do write please!