Scharlotte Mader/Morter Family
Brother Valentine Morter the Farmer, Raised a Family of Coal Miners, Bernice, Sullivan Couty, PA.

This is a wonderful story written by Ernest Hatton Jr., a descendant following the line of Valentine Morter's seventh child, daughter (Maria)Mariah Margaret Morter Beaver, born Dec 1868, PA, died 1940, buried as b 1867, d 1940, Shepherd Hills Trinity Lutheran Chapel Cemetery, Mildred, Sullivan Co., PA, husband Theodore Beaver, resident of Bernice precinct, township of Cherry, Sullivan Co., PA where many of Valentine's family members worked for the Northern Anthracite Coal Company, noted as the Murray Mines, PA.

I asked Ernest if he would tell us what life was like for his family in Bernice, Sullivan County, PA. Ernest Arthur Hatton Jr. has given The Little Wentz Family Site express permission to reprint his story as noted below.

"What it was like to live in Bernice

I'll ask my brother to take a photo of George Beaver and his son Mark and grandson. Both my father's and mother's families are from Bernice, Mildred and Sugar Hill. It seems like all of the families in Sullivan County are related in some manner. My mother's father was Gordon Exley and my great-grandparents were Mertie Potter and Henry Exley. Henry was the son of August Oechsley who is buried in Peace cemetery with the Dudichums. He was married to Caroline Shuster/Schuster. The Potters first settled in Forksville and my 2nd Great-grandfather enlisted in the Civil War with a letter from his father. I have the letter and two of his letters sent home during the war.

I lived there during World War II when my father was in the service and my brother Gordon and I spent the entire summers there before and after the war. My brother bought the home of George Hatton so that he could keep in touch with family members still living there. His main home is in Bucks County.

Growing up in Bernice was wonderful. We didn't have any luxuries but then again we weren't aware of that. Our home was a typical miner’s home and it's still standing. We never had running water and we used an out house. The only heat was in the kitchen and from the kitchen stove. We had a pot belly stove in the parlor but seldom wasted coal to operate that one. So essentially we lived in the kitchen during the winters.

We slept upstairs where it was just about as cold as it was outside. We would heat bricks in the oven and then put them in a sack which we placed near our feet in bed. We, of course, had heavy quilts. My grandfather would get up about five o'clock each morning and put more coal in the stove, close the door from the kitchen into the rest of the house and get the kitchen warmed up. We usually came down from upstairs not long after him and after a while went out to the chicken coup for eggs.

Our water was caught in barrels off of the roof so it was cold in the winter, though we did have a tank connected to the stove for a limited amount of water. We, of course, used a wash pan. The well for water was about a block away [in city slicker terms] and that was our water supply. We had a yoke carved by my great-grandfather which I have hanging over my fireplace.

My grandmother Hatton knew everyone and spoke three or four languages. She was German and an Orlowski. The winters were pretty tough but I can't remember complaining. Christmas was exceptional and all of my cousins came for the week from Binghamton. Elmira etc. We always went into the woods and cut down our Christmas tree. During the holidays the pot belly stove was always used so that we had room for everyone.

My aunt Edna would play Christmas Carols and we would sing until it was time to go to the midnight Christmas Service. My grandfather would run across the front porch and around the house ringing horse bells indicating Santa was coming and of course the kids headed for bed.

In the spring and summer we tended our garden and picked Huckle Berries, Raspberries, Black Berries, Tea Berries, Wild Strawberries and Apples. We also picked Dandelions for salads and wine. We did a lot of target shooting and roamed the woods. We often slept in the woods as boys. Wash day was the worse as I had to make five or six trips to the well. Canning days were just as bad.

Our school had all twelve grades. At lunch I would go down to Schaad's Dam for a swim, or to catch frogs, and when I got back to school, school was over! My teacher Mrs. Doyle finally made me cut a switch which I did but a rather small one...she sent me back out to cut a bigger switch. In those days you got switched in front of the class. I deserved it. She had great patients with me because she knew my father was serving. When I began to shave I drove down to the Loyalsock creek and took a swim and shaved there.

When we were young and the mines were busy we wait for my grandfather to come home and we sit on the lawn and finish what he had left in his lunch pail. He would challenge us to find a four leaf clover. My grandmother would just shutter every-time the sirens went of at the mines indicating a disaster of some sort.

The front yards of all the homes had barbed wire in those days to keep the cows out when they came home from the pasture. We took turns taking a bath in the kitchen in a big tub and yes, it was only a couple of times a week.

Our shirts were sometimes made out of feed sacks. My grandmother would take us along to pick out the sacks. We did everything for ourselves. Cut our hair, pulled teeth, fixed our shoes [made soles and put on heels] seldom went to a doctor. Whiskey/hot toddy was the first step and then mustard plasters etc. We learned to do everything for ourselves.

We ALWAYS had a good meal and wanted for nothing of importance. Good family life and wonderful relatives. It was a good life.

Sometimes I'd spend time on the old farm on sugar hill with my great-grandmother. They had bees and I learned how to handle them. Back then you basically just learned not to be threatening and if you did get stung to not make any quick movements just keep on doing your job.

There were three Potter farms, one in Forksville which was the farm of George Whitefield Potter, later; there were the farms of Daniel Wellington Potter and George Gilbert Potter. James Blaine Potter, son of George Gilbert Potter, also maintained a place on his father's farm. Later Daniel Warren Potter would own the farm of Daniel Wellington.

The Potter off-Spring were spread through-out the area and no doubt had other farms and businesses as noted in the notes within the genealogy of the families. I experienced farm life having lived near my great-grandmother until I was a young man. I spent the years during the Second World War, and my summers, with my Hatton Grand-parents who lived just a short distance from the Exley Farm, once the Potter farm.

In those days it was quite primitive. Out houses were common and electricity was fairly new to the area. There was no water within the Hatton home. The Exley farm house did have a pump inside. The Hattons didn't have a phone. The Exley farm did, but I can remember trying to recall how many rings indicated the call was for them.

It wasn't an easy life, the choices were few. My father had decided to move to Philadelphia and attend college at Temple University. My Grandfather Exley, son of Mertie Potter Exley, had become quite successful and was a member of the Mayor's Cabinet in Philadelphia. He left the farm hoping to become an artist, but instead attended the University and became an exceptional engineer. His story I have presented in detail within my book. He did compose music though and wrote a song titled "If I Were an Artist" which was recorded. He was an exceptional man.

My GG-Grandfather Charles Hatton and wife, the former Alice Ann Walby, had settled on the property next to the Potter place. My father and mother would later meet at the Exley Farm. Charles Hatton gave the Exley's permission to use part of his land. That land became known first as Hatton's Field while it was being farmed and later as Hatton's Woods as it is today.

I am fortunate that I know the history of our families having been a part of five living generations I was told of our history. My personal observations I will note here for those who may not have experienced the life on a farm, or the life of a miner. I am quite proud of my family heritage as the experience of not having very much to having a better life, in terms of possessions, gave me insight and ability to understand the life of many Americans I can fully understand the life of most because of my personal experience.

I didn't know my GG-Grandfather Charles Hatton. He was killed in a mining accident before I was born. Unfortunately, a brother and son George Hatton age 18, also died in mining accidents. I did know my great-grandmother Alice Hatton. I was the only one with her when she died. I was in her room asking questions about the family and she passed away. My Grandfather Charles William Hatton, known as Bill Hatton, died when I was in my twenties from black lung, so the mines took its toll on our Hatton family.

My grandfather's brothers had left early to join Henry Ford in Michigan when he was just starting and they remained with the Ford Motor Company until they retired. Of course, they were successful having started at the beginning. Alfred died early though, he had been gassed in World War 1 and though he returned to the Ford Company he lived a much shorter life.

The area where the Exley farm was, and still is located, is called Sugar Hill, as I mentioned before this was the former Potter farm. My mother never experienced life on a farm because my grandfather provided an exceptional life for her. My mother's parents had nine children and a wonderful large home in Philadelphia plus a beautiful summer log home in the Pocono Mountains. I was born in the Philadelphia home of my grandparents.

Those that left Sullivan County became quite successful and those that stayed preserved our heritage in ways I can't describe. There was something about going back there that made you aware of whom you really were and it had nothing to do with success or money. It was the feel of real values and a chance to "fill up again" on what counts. It's strange but it hasn't changed very much yet. I guess in time it will.

I think there is a great and wonderful experience from those times that is probably still found in many places in America. It is the close family life where family communications flowed all the time and respect for each member was precious. I think my most favorite time was Christmas. My brother, Gordon, and I would go out into the woods and chop down the Christmas tree. All the families came home over the holidays so the house was full. Everyone arrived just before Christmas and left a day or so after. We attended midnight service and it was very, very cold and often snowed or there was snow on the ground. Later we would sing carols as my aunt played the piano by the “pot bellied stove". Sounds like I'm quite old, well I'm not really. It was a place in the mountains that "progress" had forgotten.

My grandfather Hatton would sneak outside and run across the front porch ringing bells and pretending to be Santa Claus. I suspect he wanted us to go to bed so that he could. There wasn't any heat in the house except for the kitchen stove and the pot belly stove in the living room, or parlor. That meant that we would take bricks heated in the oven and put them in sacks which we placed near our feet in the bed because there was no heat upstairs, or down, once the stove fire started to diminish. In the morning my grandfather would get up first and start a fire in the kitchen stove closing all the other doors and that is where we spent most of our time until the other section of the house was heated by the pot belly stove. When there weren’t others visiting, the kitchen was the only heated area.

There was a large Beechnut tree in the yard that I often wondered about, simply because there wasn't another Beechnut tree in the entire county. I later found out that it was from England and the Forest of Dean.

My father was just getting established in Philadelphia when he was drafted into the service during the Second World War, he served in the Air Force. The result was that we lost everything he and my mother had gained simply because it was impossible for my mother to raise three young children and maintain a home. Of course, people took advantage and our furniture and car, all that my parents had gained had to be sold for very little. My father was gone and my mother had to sell everything. We, my brothers and I were very young. I'm sure I'm the only one who remembers. We then went to live with my grandparents in Sullivan County until the end of the war. I, and my brother Gordon, attended school there and waited and prayed for the war to end.

The school was simple. I remember being asked to bring a pencil, a tablet, spoon and bowl. The food was made at school and it was the very best. I had a great fault during my school days. After lunch I would go to a place called Schaad's Dam fully intending to return to school before the lunch hour was over. I "never did". I always returned to school after school was over. I can remember returning and wondering where everyone was!

This prompted my teacher to give me a switching. She had been very patient with me for quite sometime and I believe she really knew I was caught up in exploring the woods and stream, but she had no choice. The process was that I was supposed to go outside and cut a switch. While outside, I thought it would be kind of stupid to cut a big switch, so I cut a very little switch. Mrs. Doyle, my teacher, and my Dad's also, sent me back out to cut a proper size switch. I did, and then was switched at the front of the class. Today, this would be a really "BIG DEAL" with attorneys and wall to wall 24 hour news. Then, it was understood by me and my classmates as a deserving, long over due, punishment. I loved that teacher! She was so good to me.

I know that this may not seem like genealogy, but it really is, because it's a glimpse into the past and gives a person a fairly good idea of how it may have been at even an earlier time.In fact, my great-grandmother told stories about her father who had fought in the Civil War. I placed a few copies of his letters home within this Site. She told me that the family arrived in America very early and that we were descended from Mayflower passengers. Of course, I thought that was interesting and I'm grateful that I remembered as much as I did. My cousin Robert Exley, a generation older than I, kept everything and was kind enough to give me copies of what I didn't have.

Someone suggested that I write stories for children for this Christmas. I think this is a good story and it's true.

I think what I hated the most was wash day. You see we didn't have a well close by so I, a little guy that I was, had to go to a well about 100 yards away and bring back two buckets of water at a time. I used a yoke my grandfather had carved. I still have it hanging over my fireplace. Anyway, it took buckets and buckets of water and I was so tired by the time all the wash was done. I hated that day and if given the choice I would have worn dirty clothes! During the canning season it was the same.

There wasn't a bath tub because we didn't have running water so it was necessary to take a bath in a tub in the kitchen. So there you were in the kitchen bathing with everybody around. Fortunately we got use to it. I'm sure there will be some who will remember these days and lived as we did, but quite a few who will find it hard to believe.

What wonderful lessons were learned and what a “wonderful life it was”! It really was. I guess a book could be written that kids would enjoy. Certainly, there's a different view of life that many aren't aware of.

My grandmother Hatton was of German descent. She was a very well liked and respected woman. It was her father and his brothers that made it possible to build the Lutheran Church. The Hatton family helped and the stained glass windows have the names of our various family members. The family remained a part of the church for many generations and up to this day. My grand-uncle Albert Exley was very much involved in these later years when the rest of us were spread all over the country. When he died a beautiful monument was placed in memory of him in the front of the church. However, most are buried there. There aren't very many who aren't related.

My 4th Great-grandfather George Whitefield Potter born [1806] married Camilla Bliss [born 1808] was the daughter of Charles Bliss and Abigail Rowley. She met George Whitefield Potter in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York. After their marriage they moved to Towanda, Bradford County, PA and later to Forks, now called Forksville, Sullivan County, PA., where they are both buried.

The families went in various directions. Some chose to remain on the farms others traveled to the cities and accomplished a great deal. They were farmers, miners, businessmen, bankers, congressmen, contractors, composers, authors and more. I think what surprises me most is when I hear someone say, "I couldn't have descended from that family, my family has nothing"? What a foolish thought.

Families are made up of people who make varying decisions and follow many paths. The great mistake is to never go home again.

Ernest Arthur Hatton Jr.
Genetic Genealogy
View Video at http://www.hannibalsquare.org
Winter Park, FL
International Society of Genetic Genealogy

Copyright © Ernest Arthur Hatton Jr. This material may not be reproduced or republished in any format without prior written permission."

Additional articles of interest: 1906 photo of Bernice, PA and history excerpt from Sullivan County Genealogy Project, Settlers IX: The Descendants of Andrew McDonald. The Andrew McDonald family is not part of our Morter line, but this story recounts historical information about Bernice and provides a photo of the town as it existed at the time Valentine Morter's family lived in the area.

Memories from her daughter Caroline Carrie Ailers Bliss Anderson and her husband Joseph Anderson Family

Hannah died before my dad was born. The only story I know is that about Carrie, and that Byron, Carrie's first born by Joseph Anderson, was a short heavy set person and was a mean lady. I really don't know for sure about this, that was what was told.

When Carrie and Joseph were married they took a wagon trip to Washington to see James and Lena Anderson. My grandfather, Byron, was just a little boy when this happened. This has gotten my curiosity up in the picture about the little boy. I am wondering if this would be my grandpa, Byron?

Recipes: well my Grandpa loved ham and beans, corn bread.

It has been many years since my grandpa, Bryon has been alive, and it is getting harder to remember such things. My grandpa died when I was 16. My grandma lived until, 1994. And this was very hard for me. I miss her very much, she taught me a lot. And I feel like her talents live on thru me. She taught me about cooking, cleaning, sewing, and the faith and love and the beauty of ones self and others. I could write a book about her and my grandpa in the memories of the life as I know. The one special memory I have of my grandpa is that he loved to play his harmonica and spoons. He loved the Grand Ole Opry and listened to Paul Harvey religiously.

I remember he worked for the Denver Ice Company for many years and took us to his work a few times and he introduced us to Dry Ice. My sister and I had a lot of fun with that. When I was little my grandpa was in a train and car accident, near gates Rubber plant in Denver. I remember looking at the picture in the paper laying on the floor in our living room. I was about 4. I was really mad because they wouldn't let me in to see him in the hospital, I had to stay in the kiddy area, Mom and dad went to get grandpa in a wheel chair, and brought him to see me. When I find the article I will send you a copy if you want. My grandpa was retired and was out mowing his yard on time and he had tripped and pulled the lawn mower backward and the mower cut the top of his foot. How I remember this I don't know, but there was blood everywhere in the house when my mom and I went over to help him.

From this point, grandpa and I were pretty much together a lot, we would go for walks in the park and collect cans from extra spending money and for Ice cream. We worked in his garden that was so big! He had everything in it. Gosh I can go on and on. If I was to describe my grandpa, this is how he was. He was about 6' tall and very smart, he could fix just about anything. He loved to whittle, smile laugh, hard working, and loved all of his grandchildren. He was devoted to his wife and family. He would help anyone who needed anything. I never heard him say no very much. I see a lot of my grandpa in my dad, Jim. I truly believe our roots live through our parents and so on. My grandparents are my guardian Angels and if it wasn't for them I probably wouldn't be here today.

Little Wentz Cousin News

Watch video of interview by Cousin Terry of Holly, describing the event

Watch Video Interview by Cousin Terry of Holly, CO

Read more about the tornado and view pictures from DenverChannel.com.

Hannah Wentz Family
Biography Harvey Anson Bliss (1858 - 1905), Husband of Caroline Carrie Ailers Bliss
photo reprinted with permission of D. Schmidt August 7, 2007

Stories from Osborne, KS, book "They Came"
Osborne County Genealogical & Historical Society
307 W Main St
Osborne, KS 67473

"Anson Harvey Bliss, son of Chauncey M. and Caroline M. Campbell Bliss, was born November 8, 1858 in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. He came to Kansas with his parents, five brothers and sisters. Grandmother Bliss and Mary Burke, a foster daughters of his parents, and others. They left Cottage Grove, Wisconsin in the spring of 1870. On August 3, 1870 they arrived in Osborne, Kansas and spent the fall and winter in the Dave Willis stockade. Chauncey Bliss moved his family to a homestead in Independence Township, there each of the three older boys took a homestead.

Anson "Harvey" married Carrie C. Ailers, September 5, 1897 in Osborne, Kansas. Carrie, daughter of John and Hanna Wince Ailers, was born November 10, 1878 in Osborne County, Kansas. They lived in a dugout on land now owned by Wendell Mock (1977).

The children born to A. Harvey and Carrie were Dewey, born July 14, 1898 in the dugout in Independence Township, married Ramona E. Rohrer, August 11, 1942 in Smith Center, Kansas; Ruth Caroline, born July 19, 1900 in White Horse, Oklahoma, married to Stanley Becker in Tacoma, Washington, died July 6, 1977 in Tacoma, Washington; Maude Pearl, born March 5, 1903 at Cawker City, Kansas, married Herbert Bandy in Seibert, Colorado; Laura B., born September 20, 1905 in Hancock Township, Osborne County, Kansas, married Leonard Clair Casteel in Smith Center, Kansas.

A. Harvey, Carrie, and baby son, Dewey, went by covered wagon to White Horse, Oklahoma and were there three years or so when they came back to Cawker City, Kansas by covered wagon. They brought three cows with them. They then returned to Osborne County and purchased his father's homestead in 1905 after his mother passed away. On this place stood the only frame house between Covert and Osborne, Kansas. It was a stopping place for travelers. Several marrages and many babies were born there. Wooden pegs that held the house together are still in the possession of family members.

The son Dewey, was later adopted by John and Meda Carlin and now goes by the name of Dewey Carlin.

A. Harvey passed away May 28, 1905 on his father's homestead which he owned. He is buried in the Bristow Cemetery, Independence Township. His wife Carrie, passed away in Denver, Colorado, June 23, 1945. She is Buried in Denver, Colorado.

Submitted by Mrs. Dewey Carlin, daughter-in-law

As a side note: Anson put his three cows mentioned above to good use

June 1900 Federal Census, Anson Bliss was indicated married to Carrie Ailers, residing in Tilden, Osborne Co., Kansas. Anson Bliss, born Nov 1858 WI, married 2 years, was working as a Milk Haller. Other household members were wife Carrie, born Nov 1877 KS, one child born, one child living, son George D.(Dewey) Bliss, born Jul 1898, born KS, father born WI, mother born KS. Also residing in the household was Carrie's Aunt, Hannah Wentz Ailers' daughter Maggie Ailers, age 12, born Oct 1887 KS, father born Germany, mother born PA.

Postcard from the collection of Oscar L. Mcmillan, son of Wreatha Jean Bandy McMillan Haanstra, grandson of Mauddie Pearl Bliss Bandy, courtesy of L. Nichols. Notation on the back of the postcard "Picture of farm house in Seibert, Co is a post card from Charlotte Bliss Anderson to Mrs. Hannah Ailers, her mother in Osborne, KS."

"Hello ma this our home I guess you remember the farm house. the water was about 3 in deep do you see the bridges we have to walk on there was still snow on the ground when this was taken so good by from Mrs. J.C. Anderson."

This postcard invites some further intrigue as to whom was the author of this note to Hannah Wentz Aliers. "Charlotte" Bliss Anderson, legal name Caroline Carrie Ailers Bliss Anderson, was married to Joseph E. Anderson. Carrie's sister, Lena Mary Ailers Anderson, was married to Joseph's brother, James. C. Anderson. The author of this postcard was noted to be Mrs. J. C. Anderson, which would place Lena Mary Ailers Anderson as the writer.

Rebecca Wentz Family, nickname "Grammy",
from Cousin M. Service

Memories of her daughter Ada Leon Little Moro Family

Ada married Stojan Moro, who was from Croatia. They had seven children, four of whom made it to adulthood. This would be Alva, John, Annabel and William. Unfortunately, they have all passed on. I am the oldest of the ten grandchildren, but I am probably the only one that spent a lot of time with my aunt Alva.

Aunt Alva, my mom's sister, was the historian of the family and that is where I heard many a tale. My Aunt vividly remembered her grandpa "William J. Little". She talked about him often. She was almost thirteen when he passed away and she really loved him. She always said that he had a "cute" personality."

When the Wentz's originally left Pennsylvania it was about 1870. They went to Glen Elder with a number of other farmers. There is mention of the Pennsylvania Dutch coming to that area of Kansas and settling there. One story grandma Ada used to tell is that her mother, Rebecca, had red hair as a child and when they went to get supplies from the nearby fort, the Indians wanted to barter for her because they were so taken with her. Of course her parents said No! My grandmother Ada could speak a little German and I wonder if she picked that up from her mother Rebecca.

When we were younger and visited grammy and Hoolier, it was him and not her that was the host. She always sat in her rocking chair and Hoolier was the one making coffee and passing out pieces of pie. He was much more talkative than she was. I think I mentioned before that he referred to her as "Mama". He really idolized her and doted on her.

The only things I can remember "Grammy", Rebecca, saying to us children was "Hi honey", and "would you like a cookie". Most of the time we played on her lawn while our parents visited inside.

You probably also know that is where Rebecca was born. Her children were all born there KS, too. After Hoolier passed away, Rebecca lived with Mae and Mona. I guess the TV was on one night and she came out and accused them of having men in the house. I think they were watching Maverick. They all had a good laugh over that one.

You also wondered if that was Aunt Mary Preston with him William J. Little at the 1910 Exposition in San Diego, and the answer is yes.

I don't know why they all left Glen Elder, but I suspect is was the economy. Why they ended up in Escondido, I don't really know. My sister Kathy, who is 16 years younger than me remembers a number of things about Grandma Ada. She, being younger, used to go with my mother Annabel and aunt to visit her. She says that Grandma Ada really missed her brother Billy. She used to talk to Kathy about him.

There was much mystery surrounding the older two and why they left home early. Grandma Ada always maintained that it was their disapproval of their mother’s remarriage. However, I have a picture of Minnie with her mother Rebecca taken when she was probably in their mid twenties and then there is the one of Billy with Hoolier taken at about the same age. I know that grandma Ada always complimented Hoolier as a step parent. I guess he treated the three girls well.

My aunt Alva told me that just before William J. Little died he was living with them and sleeping with my uncle John. William J. Little apparently died in bed and was found there by my uncle.

You mention Aneurysms in your family. My mom and uncle William both died of ruptured aortic aneurysms. Uncle Willie, or Bill, to most of his friends had a sudden onset of the attack and died a few hours later. My mother was told that she had the aneurysm growing in her, but that it was inoperable. After her diagnosis, we had her for six more years. Her cousin Dorothy, Mae's daughter, also had a large one supposedly the size of a football, but was operated on successfully and lived several more years after that. My mother Annabel died just one month shy of her eighty-fourth birthday.

Grandma Ada died of heart failure on the operating table while they were removing her big toe. She had cut it too deeply and ended up with gangrene. I think she was eighty seven. There is a lot of longevity in the family.

From Cousin Service "I remember that they used to kid my grandmother, Ada, about a western film star called Art Accord. There was supposed to be some sort of a relationship there. My grandmother married my grandfather (Stojan Moro) when she was 14, so I don't know if there was much time to have this "crush". I mention this because you thought that your grand parents might have worked in the old westerns."

From Cousin Service "Ada had her first child at 15 who only lived for a day. Her name was Pearl. The next year she had Aunt Alva, who was given the middle name of Pearl. Aunt Alva was born in 1916. I heard her mention her marriage many times. She would recount the story of how she skipped down the isle with her doll and best friend Mary, who was married to "Pete" (Pero). Mary died when whe was in her early thirties of some sort of liver problem. Grandma (Ada) would tell us that she was only fourteen."

From Cousin Service "after my Aunt Alva was born in 1916, and sometime before my Uncle John was born in, I believe 1918, my grandparents seperated. While they were seperated they gave my Aunt Alva to Rebecca and Hoolier because they did not think they were going to reconcile. While Grandma (Ada) was seperated she did meet and date Art Accord. The family remembers Grandma (Ada) recounting "that he used to hold her hands and tell her that they were "beautiful hands that were made to make little round bisquits for him".

101 Ranch Cowboy, Art Acord, born 1890, Stillwater, OK, was working as a stuntman for the Dick Stanley Wild West Show 1910 and The Buffalo Bill Wild West Show 1911. His silent movie career began in 1910 with the Selig Polyscope Company's film Pride of the Range and D.W. Griffith's The Two Brothers. His career would continue to flourish, as he was cast in films of the time, The White Medicine Man 1911, Coals of Fire 1911, George Warrington's Escape 1911, War on the Plains 1912, The Indian Massacre 1912, The Battle of the Red Men 1912, The Lieutenant's Last Fight 1912, The Outcast 1912, A Soldier's Honor 1912, On the Warpath 1912, The Frontier Child 1912, Custer's Last Raid 1912, The Invaders 1912 and The Claim Jumper 1913. Art Acord stared in over 100 films till his death in 1931. IMDB List of Films and Bio and Photo, Art Acord

From Cousin Service regarding Stojan Moro family "his cousin's name was Elia, not Elijah. He had a brother named Leo. His cousin George, who was nicknamed Laurlie, was the cousin that lived in Los Angeles and actually worked for him. My grandfather was a cement contractor and many of his workers were slavs. If I remember right, Elia went back to live with his brother Leo in Fresno."

From Cousin Service "Grandma Ada and Grandpa Stojan lived in Alhambra on El Pasao Drive just off the San Bernardino Freeway. Before they put in the freeway there used to be a Red Line that went into downtown LA. My grandmother was a professional shopper and I spent many a day on the Red Car so we could buy the merchandise and then return it the next day."

From Cousin Service "Grandma Ada, in her day, had auburn hair and green eyes. According to her, she was quite a catch. We had a lot of characters in our family. The Moro's were very prominent in the Slavic communtiy of Los Angeles. Seems like all of them knew who each other were and what was happening in their families. My father was also from Croatian parents. Stojan was a cement contractor and did alot of business in the Temple Steet area."

William J. Little Family, nickname Dad Little, husband of Rebecca Wentz,
from Cousin B. Rogers

Who Remembers "Dad" Little
Writing From California Reader About Old Timer

The following letter was received by the Sentinel of Glen Elder, KS newspaper last week. The writer is not known by the present editor but the old timers will doubtless recollect.

Dear Sir:

We have been reading your paper out here for quite a while, and enjoy the home town news, you certainly have a very interesting little paper.

But most of all we enjoy reading of the "early history" and of the facts, concerning early history of those folks that saw the first house and other things that are necessary for the beginning or foundling of a town such as Glen Elder, Kansas in the late 60's and early 70's.

My father-in-law, Wm J. (Bill) Little lived in Glen Elder when the town was first started. He came to Glen Elder about 1870 or 71.

He is now 85 years of age and would like to know if any of the early settlers remember him. The following are some of the facts, concerning early history of Glen Elder.

Dad Little claims he was the first man to do any work in the town, this work consisted of helping Charlie Davis put up the first store in Glen Elder.

A man by the name of "Whip" built a dwelling house. Then "Seidling" built the first blacksmith shop. Then Dad Little says "Vallette" built a store. Later Dad became a cowboy, working for John Schooley who lived on Walnut Creek and boarded at "Gores".

Dad Little remembers when Glen Elder was called the town of New Hampton.

Dad also worked for old Perry Rice, burning lime, also worked for old man Lundy. Dad also remembers when the Indians made the raid on old Glen Elder down by the old mill site. Dad Little lived five miles N. W. of town. Dad was there when the Whites were butchered by the Indians.

He sends his best regard to Glen Elder and all his old acquaintances of the early days and he is still able to enjoy the Sunshine and Roses out here in God's country.

Yours very truly,

William J. Little Family, husband of Rebecca Wentz,
from Cousin B. Rogers

Rarely do we have the opportunity to know what posers in a photo were thinking or doing at the time a picture was taken, however, this time we do.

William James Little stopped to pose with his sister, Mary E. Preston, at the "Meet me in San Diego booth" Panama-California Exposition 1915 along with many other exposition visitors.

Exposition visitors pose in front of "Meet me in San Diego Exposition Calif. 1915" screen background, Noko paper; "J.R. Collins 711 H. St., San Diego, Cal." printed in caps on back of some

man dressed in suit and hat, right hand in pocket

man seated with pistol and rifle, woman standing, both hold large fish on cane

man seated, woman standing, both well dressed

man in suit standing, hand and hat on table

2 women dressed as cowboy & Indian

man and woman wearing hats

From The Journal of San Diego History, Fall 1990, Volume 36, Number 4

"The Southwest on Display at the Panama-California Exposition, 1915 By Richard W. Amero

Images from the Article

After five years of unrelenting effort, San Diego celebrated the official opening of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park on January 1, 1915 . At midnight , December 31, President Woodrow Wilson, in Washington , D.C. , pressed a Western Union telegraph key. The signal turned on every light on the grounds and touched off a display of fireworks. The gates to the Exposition swung open. A crush of from 31,836 to 42,486 people on the grounds cheered, waved banners, threw confetti, sang "I Love You California," and snake-danced their way to the Isthmus, or fun street.1 "

Charlotte Louise Wentz and Lorenzo D. Brown Family
from Cousin L.Campbell, Granddaughter of Robert Augusta Brown

TIME LINE FOR CHARLOTTE LOUISE 'LOTTIE' WENTZ, child of Conrad Wentz and Charlotte Mander.

B.c. 1867 Sullivan Co., Pa.

1870-Pa. Census, Forks Twp., Sullivan, Pa. Age 3.

1880-Ks. Census, Cawkers, Mitchell, Ks. (Located under name spelling of Vauctz). Age 13.

1885-Mar. Probate Records of Conrad Wentz. Located in Germantown, Smith, Ks. Age 18.

1885-June. Located in Kirwin, Ks.

1888-2 Feb. Lottie Gave birth to my grandfather, Robert Augusta Brown. His father is unknown, although Lorenzo D. Brown adopted him. I have found no records.

1892-I April. Lottie Wentz married Henry Bretthauer, Red Cloud, Webster, Ne. Witnesses were Henry Bretthauer, Sr. and August Stumme (Jr.).

1893-10 June. Lottie Wentz divorced Henry Bretthauer. (Their child, Laura Bretthauer was about 3 months of age). Laura Bretthauer married Ernest R. Watts).

1895-10 June. Lottie Wentz married Lorenzo D. Brown, Fairfield, Clay, Ne.

1896-June. Lottie Wentz gives birth to Mabel Brown, born Clay Co., Ne.

I can find no further mention of Lottie Wentz in any records that I've been through. She is not on any census record with Lorenzo Brown.

The 1900 , Clay Co., Ne. has her children living with Lorenzo Brown (Mabel Brown is his daughter. Robert and Laura are listed as step-children.

1910 Clay Co., Ne. Census has Robert listed as step-son and Mabel as daughter. In the 1920 Clay Co., Ne. Census, Lorenzo Brown is alone. We have no early family pictures.

By 1913, Robert Augusta Brown is married to Bernice Evelyn Ringer, later they will move to Mississippi where Robert worked for a lumber mill for a few years.

In the 1920's he moved his family to Skagit Co., Wa. and was a farmer.

I remember going from Oregon to Wa. to visit. Of course, my brother and I did what we were told not to do. Under no circumstances go into the bull field, what a challenge!! We spent most of the day on a large stump with the bull trying to charge us. When it was noticed that we were among the missing, grandpa found us. He came into the field and gave the bull a smack on his behind and the beast ambled off. We were not to try and ride the cows, we rode the neighbors!!

One of the uncles had a retired race horse. again, leave the poor beast alone. Was it our fault that he came up to us under a tree? We both scampered up and away we went. That horse didn't stop until it got tired. My brother hit the ground early on and I kept going. When you are on a farm there is a lot of fun/trouble to get into.

Hope this helpful to someone.