Mom turns 100 today!

Helen Lloyd

Today is my mother's 100th heavenly birthday.

Helen Lloyd 1929   

5 Years old

 A press release in the Waitsburg Times (Washington) announced that on Thursday morning, August 14, 1924, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lloyd.  The young lady weighed 9 1/2 pounds.  

Helen grew up in Waitsburg, Washington; the home of her ancestors Albert Gallatin Lloyd and Lois H. Jasper who moved to Walla Walla County in 1859.  History and family were very important to Helen.  

 I searched her first scrapbook for a baby picture.  I am still searching!  But I found a picture of Helen on her trike at age 5.   She started her first scrapbook in 1930 when she was 6 years old.   The scrapbook contains her homemade Christmas cards as well as the original school and recital programs.  Piano and music is one memory we all have of Helen.  I remember the day when the piano arrived!  It was a huge purchase for Mom & Dad,  but it was important for Mom to continue her passion of playing the piano.

Her First school program in 1932. 

She was 8 years old

Helen was "Polly" in the school Christmas program on December 22, 1932. 

The play was "Polly's Christmas Eve and the setting was a room in Polly's house on Christmas Eve.

Her first piano recital was in 1932 when she was 8 years old!

It was at the Presbyterian Church in Waitsburg on May 19, 1932. 

 Helen played 2 piano selections, "Waltz" and Criss Cross.  

Don & Helen Shaffner

Helen

Happy Birthday Mom!  

 

Heirlooms 2024 52 Ancestors in a Year

Heirlooms are items that are handed down from generation to generation.  Some heirlooms are items that our ancestors may have used.

Our family heirlooms include tools used in the industry of agriculture.  Some could still be used today.  My husband mounted our collection on a board and hung it in alcove by our front door.  

#1 Scythe—used for cutting grass, hay or grain by hand

#2 corn planter-used for planting by hand

#3 Hames-used in horse collars for work horses

#4 Loose Hay cutter-loose hay stacks was a common way to store hay & divide hay between the landlord and farmer

#5  Railroad spike puller

#6 Draw knife-to trim wood or lumber

#7  Trowel-used with concrete to smooth it out

#8  Hand drill-used in carpentry

#9  Potato fork-used to dig potatoes

#10  Wrench-pipe wrench

#11 Sugar beet fork-used to lift sugar beets from the ground to the truck when harvesting by hand

#12 Hay saw-to cut loose hay or even hay in bales

#13 Ice saw-used to cut ice blocks from frozen lakes or river for refrigeration 

Branding irons were used on horses or cattle and were heated by a wood fire.  In modern days they might be heated with propane.

The Diamond X brand was recorded in 1884 in Montana by my husband’s great Grandfather.  It is still used today.  

The S Bar brand is my brand and still used today. It was a gift from my father. 

 

2024 Immigration 52 Ancestors in a Year

 One of the goals of any genealogist is to track the ancestors across the pond to the United States.  There are several websites with passenger lists to help.  Sometimes it is very hard to identify one’s ancestors due to name spellings and name changes.  Very seldom is the port of departure known which makes the search difficult.  

In the Gabel family I believe I have correctly identified my husband's great grandparents on their arrival in the United States, on 10 June 1907.  The passengers were Heinrich (Heinrich Phillip) Gebel, age 41, Mary, (Katherina Margaret)  age 39, Philip, (Heinrich August) age 5, Catherine, (Molly) age 3 and Anna, 11 months.  Anna’s name has a line drawn through it.  The ship, SS Arconia left Libau (Libau, the German name for Liepāja, Latvia) on 20 May 1907.  Heinrich Phillip stated that they were going to his brother’s; Henry Gebel at 925 S. W, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Crowding in from Europe --- Ten Steamers Bring 2,003 Cabin and 7,323 Steerage Passengers

The Russian East Asiatic line's steamship, Arconia, arrived last evening from Libau and Rotterdam.  She brought five cabin and 1,124 steerage passengers and some general cargo.  She will dock at Beard's stores, but there is a long list of ship ahead of her before her passenger can be landed.  Ten passenger steamers arrived yesterday and Saturday:.......(newspaper clipping from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) 10 June 1907, page 7, Column 3.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Main Office; Corner of Washington and Johnson Streets., Brooklyn.  Telephone call (for main office and all Brooklyn branches), No. 6200 Main

(Newspapers.com)  viewed 24 April 2017

On 13 May 1907, the passenger ship, SS Noskwa set sail from Libau and arrived in New York on 31 May 1907.  On board was August Gebel, age 26, his wife Catherina, age 23 and Anna, 11 months, and a line was drawn through her name.  They were going to Heinrich Gebel, 925 S. W., Lincoln, Nebraska.

Heinrich Phillip & August are both going to their brother, Heinrich or Henry Gebel at the same address in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Research has proven that Phillip & August are brothers.  And they had a brother Henry.  

But Anna??  Who is she?  And why is her name crossed out on the passenger list?  Research at Ellis Island indicated she was never on a ship.  What happened to her in Lativa?  Was Anna sick at first sailing and her uncle agreed to take her 7 days later?   Did she pass away in Latvia?  Is there a grave?  Is there a death record?

Many questions but doubtful if the answers to Anna will ever be discovered.

Earning a Living 2024 52 Ancestors in a Year

Earning a living in agriculture has always been tough, sometimes mostly just subsistence life.  Many of my ancestors were involved in Agriculture. There were farmers who left Missouri to travel the Oregon Trail to find more land in Oregon to farm, ancestors who farmed as well as having a meat market, and there were homesteading ancestors too.  

My father, Don Shaffner, was raised on a ranch in Beaverhead County, Montana.  His father was a homesteader but earned a living by working on a telegrapher for railroad.  During the dirty ’30’s, my grandfather had to move his family & rent a farm near Dillon but he always had a job on the Union Pacific Railroad to keep food on the table.  When he couldn’t pay the rent on the land, the family moved back to the dryland farm.  Dad can remember him arriving at the farm after a day of working in town, and the car would barely slow down but Grandpa would have his foot out the door ready to leap out and begin work on the farm.  But he did what he had to do to earn a living.

Dad always wanted to ranch.  His older brother stayed home during World War II to help their father on the ranch.   Dad joined the National Guard during college to provide extra money.  His unit was activated during World War II.   During military service, Dad returned home for a visit and realized that he wouldn’t be able to ranch with his dad and brother.  But the G.I. Bill would provide an education to become a veterinarian.  And still remain in agriculture in his beloved Beaverhead County.

Don Shaffner 

looking over his ranch and cows

After practicing veterinary medicine in Beaverhead county for over 10 years, he was able to purchase a ranch from his brother.  It wasn’t large but he had achieved a goal, buying Hereford cows and a brand; he was in business.  Thus his spare time from the veterinary hospital was spent working cattle; his love.  With the ranch he involved his wife and his daughters.  His daughters learned the value of hard work, love of the land and agriculture.  

Trailing the cattle to summer pasture

Learning earning a living!  

Memories of Mom-Helen Shaffner

On the 22nd anniversary (1 July 2001) of Mom’s death (Helen Lloyd Shaffner), I am reflecting on the impact her life made on me, as well as her family and friends.

Mom grew up in Waitsburg, Washington.  Her ancestors were pioneers in Walla Walla County after traversing the Oregon Trail in 1845 and 1854.  Helen graduated from Waitsburg High School and learned to play the piano as she grew up.  After graduating she attended Washington State College in Pullman, Washington where she met Dad, Don Shaffner, who was from Dillon, Montana.   Don was a veterinary student.  Don & Helen married in 14 July 1946.

While Mom grew up in an ag community as her Dad had a farm as well as a meat market; Dillon, Montana was totally different agriculture and life.  She attended her first Labor Day rodeo event in Dillon in 1946.  She was astounded at the life of a cowboy and rancher as well as the watering holes (bars) on Main Street.

Labor Day 1946

Dillon, Montana

Mom married a veterinarian, yet she had allergies to all animals, was scared of horses and really didn’t like cats or dogs all that much!  Her fear of horses came from an incident with a runaway horse on her Dad’s farm when she was a teenager.  Falling off and breaking her back was probably the source of her fear.

Mom handled her fears and allergies as she learned the veterinary life.  When the Veterinary Hospital needed a bookkeeper, Mom began a new role.  When Dad bought the ranch, she learned another type of life, ranching.  She often had to hold my sister’s & my horse while we saddled and rode off from the ranch buildings to help Dad, either trail cattle or whatever task he had for us.  Mom would watch us ride off and then drive back to the house in town.   She handled her fear (not always concealed well) but she did it.  It had to be hard to watch her daughters ride off by themselves to go check cattle in an area known as the Rocky Hills which was also home to rattlesnakes.  The one fear she never conquered was driving the road to the ranch when muddy.  She might stop on the hill and breathe while those following her attempted to stop, but she did it.

I think Mom may have gotten on a horse a maximum of 3 times after she married Dad in 1946.

This is a rare picture of Mom on a horse.  A fear she never really got over.  But she did it!

Gail Kuntz, Helen Shaffner, Don Shaffner

Mom’s great love was music.  She played the piano and the organ as well as taught piano.  She  accompanied soloists and played for weddings & funerals in Dillon in many different venues and churches.  Helen was the organist for 40+ years at the Dillon Presbyterian Church.

I remember when Mom was able to purchase a piano for her home, she was so happy!

Helen playing the organ and accompanying a soloist.

Mom was also known for food.  She often took a dish to a family who had a death, or bazaars, hosting a party, hauled meals to the ranch or wherever we might be trailing cattle.   Here would came Mom loaded with everything one might need to feed a crew.  Helen often packed saddle bag lunches for the crew which to this day are legendary.  The lunch might be ready at 3 AM when we left the house, but the hard boiled eggs were peeled, salt & pepper was included too.

The lunch she provided on Monday after the parade on Labor Day weekend was and is still legendary!  Mom was efficient and organized and fed at the very least a rough estimate of 30-50 people.  

Helen baked & frosted the cake.

Picture was taken at the ranch

Sewing was another of Mom’s talents.  She remade coats to fit her daughters along with shirts, skirts and dresses.  She loved to quilt. I often wonder how she did it all.

Cathedral Window Quilt

Don & Helen Shaffner

Mother definitely made an impact on my life, my sister's life as well as so many others.  She was mentor, teacher and through out her life conquered a fear or two.  A remarkable life she led!  It is hard to believe she has been gone for 22 years.  I think of her often and when faced with a problem, I ask myself; "What would Mom do?"

 

#9 Gone too Soon 52 Ancestors in a Year

My grandfather, George Marvin Lloyd, was my mother’s father.  He was also known as “Pinky” or Marvin as his father was George Martin Lloyd.

Pinky on his horse

Marvin was born on 21 June 1896 in Walla Walla County, Washington.  After attending school in Waitsburg, Washington, he attended classes at Washington State College in Pullman, Washington. He continued his education with a business college course in Portland, Oregon and  returned to Waitsburg working at First National Bank as bookkeeper.  He married Mary Caroline (Calla) Summers on 15 August 1918.  They lived in Waitsburg with Pinky entering the family business “Lloyd Meat Market” eventually becoming the owner when his father died in 1925.  

1918

  

Another newspaper article told about George M. Lloyd's purchase of the new All-Crop Allis Chalmers harvester in 1913, cutting and threshing 5 acres of barley just west of town, belonging to O. M. Conover.  This was the first grain threshed in this locality this season.

(The Times, Waitsburg, Washington, Pioneer Portraits, Seventy-Five Years ago, July 11, 1913;  4 July 2012)

While touring the Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla, Washington, I had a chance visit with a docent who know George M. Lloyd & told me about his missing fingers.  The Docent, a friend of the Lloyd family, knew that the Indian women would make him gloves to fit his hand with the missing fingers. (The Lloyd's had a relationship with the Indians for many years as they camped on the Touchet River on their farm)   In 1915, George lost his fingers as the result of his hand being caught in the knives of the sausage machine at his father’s meat market.  Sadly, I don’t believe his gloves were passed down in the family history collection

Lloyd's (Lloyd’s Meat Market) is one of the oldest firms in Waitsburg, having been established in 1889.  Besides a retail meat business the firm engages in the buying and selling of livestock.  Last year "Pinky" bought about $50,000 worth of livestock and poultry in this community, and these figures are increasing each year as our farmers realize the value of diversified farming.  He has his own slaughter house and also his own ice plant.  The crystal ice machine recently installed is almost unique in a community of this size and insures Waitsburg an ice supply free from bubbles, opaque spots and impurities. (Newspaper clipping in 1929)

Another newspaper clipping told of how George Marvin planted grass to improve the land.  He used Smooth Broome Grass & English rye grass to create a better sheep pasture as well as stop erosion. Pinky has 75 ewes that he considered “My Breed” due to the crossing & double crossing of sheep breeds in his flocks.  He did introduce two newer hybrids developed in Idaho to his flock.  Several young people took his lambs to show at fairs.  His son took lambs to the Junior livestock Show in Spokane in 1946.

Spokane Junior Livestock Show 1946

George Marvin Lloyd Jr. & Richard Archer

But at the show in 1946....

RAGEDY STRIKES YOUNG SHOWMAN - A tragic note was struck in the junior livestock show yesterday when the father of one of the young showmen was fatally stricken with a heart attack in the Stillman Hotel.  George M. Lloyd, 50, Waitsburg farmer, who brought his young son, George Jr., 11, and young Richard Archer, also of Waitburg, here to display stock at the show, was found dead by the boys shortly after 6 in the morning.  The Spokesman-Review yesterday carried a picture of young George and the Archer boy displaying one of their animals.  Besides George, Mr. Lloyd is survived by his widow and two daughters at Waitsburg.  The body is at Ball & Dodd's.  The lambs which young Lloyd was to show will be exhibited by friends when the class is judged today.  He has returned to his home in Waitsburg. (Spokane, Washington,Spokesman Review, 12 May 1946, page 10, column 4, Spokane, Washington)

Gone Too Soon

George Marvin (Pinky) Lloyd

I learned a lot about my grandfather through newspaper articles as he died in 8 May 1946, a few weeks before my parents, Helen Lloyd & Don Shaffner were married on 14 July 1946.  The wedding had been planned and Mom said it difficult but they had to go through with it.

My grandfather, George M. Lloyd, was someone I would have loved to have known.  The newspaper articles indicate that he was industrious as well as trying new things. I am sure he knew lots of his family history too.

2023 #3 Out of Place 52 Ancestors in a Year

2023 #3  Out of Place   52 Ancestors in a Year

This was a difficult idea for a topic.  At some point it seemed like many of mine or Leroy’s ancestors were "Out of Place".  Moving to America from Russia was certainly "Out of Place".  Traveling across the Oregon Trail was “Out of Place”.  But there was a Lloyd “Out of Place” in Montana,

This is a very "Out of Place" for a member of this family.   Most were engaged in agriculture, primarily farming in Walla Walla County and eastern Washington.  William Ray Lloyd lived a different life than his parents and brothers & sisters.  He was a gambler and a cowboy.

William (aka Tony) Ray Lloyd was the third child of Albert Gallatin Lloyd & Lois Jasper.  Tony was born in Walla Walla County on 10 June 1861.  

In the 1900 U.S. Federal census, Tony is located in Fort Benton, Montana on the 27th of June.  He was single.  He was a boarder and the head of his household was a saloon keeper.  Tony’s occupation was a gambler. I presume he lived in a hotel or above the saloon.   In reviewing the census, Fort Benton was definitely a town in the “Wild West”.   There were several occupations of salon keeper and gamblers and people listed as boarders.  Tony was apparently living in a neighborhood of “ill repute” as the neighbor was a “whore house keeper” and her girls were listed as boarders.

I suspect that Tony followed the Mullin Road to Fort Benton.  The Mullin Road was connected Fort Benton, Montana which was the last point of steamboat travel on the Missouri River; to Fort Walla Walla near the Columbia River.  Fort Benton began as a fur trading post.  The discovery of gold in Montana and Idaho created a boom town of outlaws, merchants, madams and others seeking their fortune.  There were also trails into Canada.  

Maybe Tony left his life as a gambler, and returned to th life of a cowboy.  He was definitely “Out of Place” on the wide open prairie of Montana.

Takes His Own Life: 

 W. R. Lloyd Stabs Himself Fatally on the Prairie Near Hays

 Milk River Valley News, 1 March 1905

Malta, Montana

Word was brought to this city the middle of last week that a dead man was found one mile west of Hays, some forty odd miles south of here, and that the body was found on the old Mission road to Chinook, with two large gashes on each side of the throat, while an ordinary pocket knife was lying by the side of the corpse, plainly telling how the deed had been accomplished.  In the absence of the county corner, Justice of the Peace G. W. Vennum, left for the scene and by driving all night reached the place of suicide early Sunday morning.  The body was found by John Cochrane, while he was hunting cattle and the authorities were at once notified.  At the inquest several witnesses were examined and the body was identified as that of W. R. Lloyd, better known as "Toney", who had been engaged in doing some contract work at Zortman for Harry Kellar, and who was supposed to be on his way from Zortman to Forgart's ranch in the Bear paw mountains, where he had secured employment as a ranch hand.  Lloyd was 44 years of age and well known in and around the Little Rockies where had lived for some time.  His folks were located at Waitsburg, Wash., and two brothers arrived yesterday evening to take the body home with them for burial.  The coroner's jury composed of W. H. Granger, Jay T. Rhoads and Ernest Whetstone, all of Havre, brought in a verdict that the deceased came to his death by his own hand.  The body was brought to Harlem and will be shipped from here to Washington for burial.

TONY LLOYD FOUND DEAD - 

March 3, 1905

newspaper clipping from the "Waitsburg Times

Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lloyd received word Sunday that their son William R. Lloyd better known as Tony Lloyd had been found dead on the prairie about 40 miles from Harlem, Mont., on Saturday, Feb. 25.  He was found by a stage driver and had probably been dead three or four days.  Two jagged gashes in the neck indicated the cause of death while nearby was a dull pocket knife with blood which would indicate that Tony had met with foul play or had committed suicide.  No particulars have been received but the family do not believe it is suicide.  Wesley Lloyd left for Harlem Monday and will return with the body, arriving here Friday afternoon.  The funeral will take place from the farm home near this city, probably Saturday afternoon.  William R. Lloyd was 43 years of age and unmarried.

Funeral Notice 

The originals are in the Lloyd family collection

Tony's headstone at the City Cemetery in Waitsburg, Washington

Tony's headstone also has the name of his brother who died in 1891