Della Kurtz-School Memories

As the school year begins, thoughts of what school like for our ancestors passed through my thoughts.  I remembered this collection of my Grandmother's school years.  The memories are in a scrapbook album, made by my cousin, Donnee Shaffner Stibal.  Her notes indicate that the original copies of the diplomas are in her files.  The diplomas were large and she states that the copy was reduced in size.  A picture of a rolled up diploma with a ribbon comes to mind, but I have no idea if that is how Della Kurtz received her diploma!


Della Kurtz was my grandmother who was born in Muncy, Lycoming, Pennsylvania on 29 October 1886.  She was the daughter of Emanuel D. Kurtz and Mary Etta Deewall.
Della married John F. Shaffner in 1913.

These are her report cards

Top Left:  Second Intermediate  1896-1897

Middle top:  Freshman

Top Right:  Sophomore 1902-1903

Bottom Left:  Junior  1903-1904

Bottom Right:  Senior  1904-1905

Her diploma from Department of Public Schools

1902

Della Kurtz 1905

Graduation

Donee wrote that Aunt Edith (Della's sister) gave the picture to Donnee when she graduated from High School

Della Kurtz's Salutatory speech in 1905

 Della's High School Graduation

 Della's Diploma in 1905

Don Shaffner DVM

In honor of my Father's birthday on 18 November 1919.

The majority of his life was spent as a veterinarian.  Although ranching was his 1st love, 

he enjoyed his work as a veterinarian.  

He was good at what he did, he mentored many and served his profession in many organizations.

Even today when faced with a problem or issue, I think WWDD!

Returning from World War II and the benefit of the G. I. Bill, Don knew that Veterinary School was something he could do.  Growing up on the ranch gave him knowledge of working with animals and while ranching was in his blood; he knew it wasn't possible to ranch with his brother and his father.  The ranch just wasn't large enough.  He was discharged from the Army on the 23rd of June 1945.  I am not sure when he applied for Veterinary College but his letter of acceptance was written on August 30th.   I wonder when he physically received the letter.  It didn't give him much time to report to college by the 17th of September!

He was accepted to Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine.  

One of courses he had to take was anatomy.  

 They worked on embalming and on embalmed horses

 

Because of Don's knowledge of animals, he told stories of how he would teach the class on how to 

lay a horse or a cow down on the ground with a ropes.   

After 4 years, Don graduated in May of 1945

Attending Don's graduation was (L to R)

Estella Shaffner, Dean Shaffner, Della Shaffner (his mother), Don (in graduation gown), Calla Lloyd (Mom's mother), George Shaffner and John Shaffner (his father)

and in front, Donnee Shaffner

(Don & Helen were married in July of 1946)

In order to practice in Montana, he had to pass the exam. 

His license number was 177.

I was fortunate enough to accompany Dad to his 50th Veterinary College Class reunion in 1999.  

Each veterinarian  told of their career and accomplishments.  Each had amazing stories and many told how much receiving an education with the G. I. Bill meant to them.

Someday I will try and write his story, but without his twinkling blue eyes telling the story, not sure I can do it justice! Let's just say, it was a tad different than those who were bragging!

  

Don and Helen returned to Dillon in 1949 where he went to work at the Dillon Veterinary Hospital.   He was able to purchase the hospital in 1961 and sold it in 1979.  He continued to 

maintain his veterinary license for several years because obtaining his education and license was 

very important to him.

 My sister & I spent many hours working along side Dad, both in corrals and the Veterinary Hospital.  As I write the stories, there are tons of memories; but I can still smell the inside of the clinic;  the odor of medicines, vaccines, Nolvasan, Clorox and animals!

Tattoo pliers for Brucellosis ID

1945-1975

The pliers were even welded to keep on working!

They saw lots of cow ears and green paint!

Don Shaffner

18 November 1919-25 October 2009

He was born 98 years ago today

1866 January 19 John Lloyd writing to his brothers & sisters

The original letters have been donated to the Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla, Washington.

John Lloyd, who is my3rd great grandfather wrote this letter 151 years ago to his brother, Robert,  in Grainger County, Tennessee.  John talks about his family, who had died, the ages of children and who might get married.  He mentions his father's estate, who died in 1857; 9 years earlier, was telling his brother what to do with his share of the inheritance.  

I transcribed exactly how he spelled the words.

Enjoy reading and imagine living in that era.

Benton County State of Oregon  January 19 1866

Dear Brother and Sisters and to all whom this may consern

I once more sit down to write to you owing to our national troubles and there being no mail facilities I have not wrote for 4 or 5 years past  I received no answers from 2 or 3 of the last letters that I wrote to you

I am enjoying good health though the tender mercies of indulgent god and I sincerely hope this letter may find you and the family connection enjoying the like blessing---it is reasonable to suppose that some of the connection has gone to their long homes since I have heard from you---my Dear Brother I have had but one letter from you since the death of our Mother   I will now I will state something about my family conserns   my second wife died last fall  I raised five Daughters they are all dead—I have 4 sons living 3 of them is married and has settled in Washington Territory near 400 miles from me---William the youngest son and myself lives to gather.  He is not married but I expect he will be in less than a month—the boys is all making a comfortable living—William the youngest child will be 25 years old the 21^st of February next---my health is good—I am able to work for my living—I am in my 70^th year—I have a plenty in my hands to live without work—all of my Daughters was professors of religion—I have 2 sons that is not----

Brother Robert as to Fathers estate—I am at a loss what to say—as your section of the country as been torn to pieces with internal wars---I think it is quite likely property of the country is destroyed—if there should be any thing coming to me—I would like to have things so arranged that my oldest Daughters children who live in Platte County Missouri could get it—if this letter comes to hand—I want you to answer it and write to me—what the state of affairs is in relation to Fathers estate is------so I will change the subject to a more pleasing theme—There has been quite a revival of religion this fall in some localities laterly I have seen the most visable displays of divine power that I ever witnezzed in my life.  I think I was made to exclaim and say with poet---sovreighn grace alone has power to subdue a heart of stone—it and the moment grace is felt-Then the hardest heard will melt---Politiks has been a bone of contention and the bane of religion among us—the churches is held to gather politicaly and not religiously—it is lamentably true that politiks appears to be the bond of union in the churches instead of the internal love of god shed abroad in the hearts of the members—I will state prices    wheat  $1  oats 75 cents per bushel   pork $10  per hundred beef cattle on foot  $5.50 per hundred   good horses from $150 to 200 a piece   our currency is gold   no property sold in this country for greenbacks   yet there has been a great many debts paid off in greenbacks—I had to take over $1400 where I had loaned gold—the only thing the Republicans and Democrats agree in is in abusing the greenbacks.  The people in Oregon has great reason to be thankful we have no fighting no roling in this country in consequence of the war-----

If Robert is dead or moved away I hope some the family connection will be so good as to answer this letter—I shall no more hopeing to meet you in heaven above where all is love on andams peacefull shore where parting will be no more—

                        John Lloyd

N. B.  this letter is intended for all of the family connection

These are the original letters which have been digitized.

Lida Lorene Shaffner Gibbons

Lida Lorene Shaffner

Lida (Lyda) was the older sister of my grandfather, John Fanoit Shaffner.  

Lida was born 16 February 1885 to John Martin Shaffner and his wife, Elizabeth Deborah Fletcher in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.

Vida's brother's & sister were Willard Fletcher Shaffner (1881-1973), Ettie Viola Shaffner Mayer (1883-1915), John Fanoit Shaffner (1887-1991), Bert Lawrence Shaffner (1889-1957), and Walter Ruskin Shaffner (1899-1916).

Lyda married Harold Clinton Gibbons on 23 September 1904 in Lindlay, Steuben, New York.
I have been unable to find a marriage license.

From "The Patriot", Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Thursday, 29 September 1904

page not given, column 6

Lida and Harold had 2 children:  Earl C, born 23 April 1905 and Alida Alice born 27 June 1907

Lida died on 7 March 1908.

She was 23 years old.

Lida's death certificate

The cause of death was Uremia with contributory issues of Pyelitis & chronic valvular-affections of Heart; both mitral & aortic regurgitation since June 1907.

My grandfather's note states that she died in Harrisburg while visiting her husband's family.  He also stated that she had rheumatic rheumatism was a child.

From "The Patriot", Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 10 March 1908

Mrs. Lydia Shaffner Gibbons, wife of H. B. Gibbons, died Saturday morning after a lingering illness. She is survived by a husband and two children.  The funeral was held from the home of W. B. Gibbons, 613 Emerald Street, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment was private.

Lida is buried at the East Harrisburg Cemetery.

The undertaker was E. H. Fracklen, 1312 Derry Street, Harrisburg

Lida Lorene Shaffner

Lida Lorene Shaffner

Grandpa Shaffner, her brother, spelled her name two different ways

I think this is an older Lida than the other pictures

Earl Gibbons 1907

Picture was labeled by Grandpa Shaffner, Lida's brother.

I assume he identified the picture correctly.

Alice & Earl Gibbons, children of Harold and Lida

Harold was born in April of 1905 and Alice was born in June of 1907

Lida died in March of 1908

Locating the children, I would guess this picture was after 1908

Harold, Alice and Earl Gibbons

Looking at the size of the children, I would assume this picture could have been taken by Vida's death in 1908

Lida, Ettie and Williard Shaffner

About 1890 per Grandpa Shaffner

Lida was born in 1885, Ettie was born in 1883 and Willard was born in 1881

Lida would be 5, Ettie would be 7 and Willard would be 9 years old

Photo take by C. W. Steinmetz, Harrisburg, Pa

The pictures came from a scrapbook that Donnee Shaffner Stibal assembled with Grandpa Shaffner's help.  Grandpa was very good about labeling pictures.

Grandpa Shaffner is John Shaffner

A letter from the Oregon Territory on 14 November 1852

John Lloyd from Benton County, Oregon Territory is writing to brother, Robert in Grainger County, Tennessee.

Nancy and John Lloyd went to Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1845.  They never saw their daughter Jane again.  She had married before they left Missouri to George Murphy.  He writes that his father in law, Abner Walker has been dead over 3 years and Cousin William Smith and his wife are both dead.  He is amazed his parents are still alive.  

The price for commodities is very interesting:  Wheat is $3.00 a bushel (not much different than today's prices!)  Beef is 8 cents per pound on the hoof.  Donation land was awarded to those who were on the land before December 1, 1851 and must remain on the land for 4 years.  Head of household received 320 acres if they settled between December 1, 1851 and 1853.  And he said that the best land in his area has been claimed.

To:  Mr. Robert Lloyd

                Rutledge  Granger County  Tennessee

Return address:  Jennopolis O.T.

                                Nov 30 52

Oregon Territory   Benton County November 14 1852

Dear Brother and Sisters and to all the family connection  

this leaves me and mine in moderate health through the mercies of an indulgent god hopeing this may find you and yours in health and prosperity

   Dear Brother  we received yours of July 27^th  October the 31 with pleasure as it was the first we had received in 3 or 4 years   we never expected to hear that both of our aged parents was a living again   the young may die but the old must die and our brother in law has falling victimz to the monster death  while our aged and feeble parents is still on the stage of action   my family connection in Oregon is all well except William Miller that married daughter Eliza   his health is bad and fear will never be good   he has a consumption  the childrain is all making out well   our oldest Daughter Jane that was married in  Missouri still remains there   they talk of coming to Oregon if they can sell their land but I think it is ___ certain about their coming   Cousin William Smith and wife is both ded   Abner Walker father in law has been ded over three years  there has been the largest emegration this season that ever came to Oregon in one year  they were not molested by indians on what is called the north rout but the Indians killed 11 men on the South rout  no women or children murdered that I have learnt     the  ____nation  (emegration) suffered much with sicknez and there has been quite a number of deaths among them  they are all into the settlement by this time as I am told  there teams failed and they got out of provisions all the latter part of emegration lost probably over half of their cattle that is take them one with another   they must have suffered in the extreme if had not been for the hospitality of the people in the valley who contributed largely in money and provisions  also went out with teams and helped them across the mountains

I will now say something about my own affairs    we are doing well and getting on well as respect the things of this fife  I have put up a good house which is in an unfinished state though we are living in it  I have got it weathered  boarded the chimneys up windows in floars in not laid  doors shutters hung in part I have done the work or nearly so with the exception of the chimneys I suppose it will take me until next fall to complete the house and paint it off

Dear Brother Oregon is a remarkable easy country to live in particularly for those that has many cattle   a man in Oregon with good milch cows can realize more clear money free head from them than he can from the labor  the same number of Negro men in the states unless it is in cotton or sugar growing states   cows sell here from 75 to 100 heifer calves of good stock at weaning time can not be purchased at $50  per head   I would like to buy some at this time at the above named prices if I knew where to find them    wheat crops was light this season  wheat is worth $3 per bushel which sets hard on the new emegrants  though them that has been in the country long enough to get a good start can pay $3 easier than to pay 50 cts in the states   I will try to give prices of produce and groceryes   coffe 331/3 cts   sugar 12 ½ cts  butter 50 cts  cheese  371/2 cts   beef is worth 8 cts per pound on foot  hogs $8 per hundred    grass oats $1.25 per bushel  Irish potatoes $2 and 2   50 cts per bushel in market  beef in market is worth 12 to 15 cts  groceryes is unusualy high at this time  I purchased my groceryes last season at the following prices  coffe 10 cts   sugar  10 1/3 cts  syrup 28 cts  dried fruit 10 cts  salt $2 per hundred   course boots $2 to 3 per pair  rice 10 cts per pound  dry goods has been low for some years past but is scarce and high at this time though there is plenty to supply the wants of people  dry goods and groceryes has been shipped to this country in abudance here tofore and sometimes they could not get anything like cost for their goods-I will say Oregon is a healthy country there is but few fevers among the people though consumption and breast complaints is not very uncomon  I have not seen the first of fever in the country yet there is some cases of fever in Oregon   Dear Brother you requested me to give you some information about Oregon   I have nothing new to write as respect the country   I wrote to you about the donation Bill which gives 640 acres of land to heads of family who settled on the same prior to the 1stt day of December 1851 and remains on the same four years     Said Bill Allso gives 320 acres to heads of families who settles on the same between the 1^st day of December 1851 and 1853 at which time the donation Bill (proves) (expores)  the best of the land is claimed in the section of the country where we live-- ---

  We have three childrain living with us the youngest which is Boys they are going to school at this time  

Nancys health is not good yet she is in better health at this time than what she has been in for the three past    I have enjoyed very good health generally speaking   through life I am now in my fifty seventh year have worked very hard most of the time and do more work at this time than any man of my age that I am aquainted with but I am failing fast  and in a little time my Sun will set to rise no more   we wish to be remembered to father and Mother and all the family connection  may heavens shortest blessings rest upon and abide you all so fare you well excuse bad writing and selling omision of words  JC

                                                                John Lloyd

                                                                Nancy Lloyd

These original letters were digitized and have been donated to Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla, Washington

Another letter from Oregon dated April 29, 1852 One hundred sixty four years ago!

John Lloyd was writing to his brother Robert Lloyd and his brother in law, Benjamin Mitchel (who was married to Anny Lloyd)  from Marysville, Benton County, Oregon

To:  Robert Lloyd or Benjamin Mitchel

                                Granger County Rutledge Tennessee

Return address:   ______ Wils

                                Oregon  ______1852

                                                                1852

Oregon Territory  Benton County April the 29

Dear  Brothers and Sisters also parents if alive   this leaves me and mine in the enjoyment of moderate health through the mercies of god hopeing this may find you all in health and prosperity

It does look like my relations have forgot to write to us for we have not received any letters from any of the connection in east Tennessee in the last 3 years we have wrote several times we get letters from North Carolina and Missouri if you have not learnt it I can inform you that father in law has been dead 2 or 3 years      Cousin Betsy Smith died about a year ago     I have wrote to you stating our youngest daughter Melinda was dead but as we have no evidence of our own letters coming to hand we will state again that Melinda died July 4, 1850 with the consumption not long before she was takin sick she embraced a hope which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both Sure and Steadfast and which entereh into that within the veil wither the foreruner for us is entered. 

   As to my health it has been generally very good my wife’s health has been bad for several years though rather better than somon  at this time      yet we are going down the Steeps of time and our sun will get to rise no more      we have not joined any church since we came to Oregon as there is no church in reach of us but the Methodists and all the most of them knows about religion I think is to talk about it if the Methodists would learn to do as well as to say and wach as well as to pray or rather coming over a form of prayers they would be less objectionable with me but to their to own master they stand or fall

I can inform you that Nancy Mculloch and her daughter Mary has joined the Baptist church   I will now say a little about Oregon  where the grass grows through out the year with the exception of July August and September and the last named month also if we have rain which is seldom the past  grass has been good for the last three years so we have no feeding of cattle and horses to do   Oregon is an easy country to live in money plenty porvisions plenty of groceryes plenty and cheap inproportion to the money in the country   I will give you a short history of prices   horses comon from 150 to 250 dollars    sows and calves 50 to 75 dollars    oxen 100 to 150 dollars   bacon 25 cts per pound    sugar 8 to 12 cts per pound   coffy  19 to 18 cts per pound  labor  2 dollars per day     gold is easy obtained in the county and the gold brings  the merchant dire of all nations to California and Oregon

  My dear relations I have no expectations of ever seeing any of you in this life   god almighty has blessed us with the good things of this world in abundance since we came to Oregon       may god bless you all both Spiritualy  and temporaly and grant that it may be all your happy lots to live as you would wish to die  so fare you will      

                                                John Lloyd

                                                Nancy Lloyd

write to me and direct your letters to Benton County  Marysville  Oregon Territory

Yes, these are the original letters and I transcribed them the best I could!  Some portions are hard to read.

But we learn how difficult it was to communicate across the miles in April of 1852.  Can you imagine going years without knowing about your parents or your family?

I learned that he has a Cousin Betsy Smith and that is daughter died of consumption.  And he wasn't fond of Methodists!

Nancy Mculloch and her daughter, Mary,  joined the Baptist Church.  Somehow they are related, but I am still working on that!  I do know his mother's maiden name was Mculloch.

The price of commodities in Oregon is interesting! Sugar is 8 to 12 cents per pound! (today's market price is from 74 cents to $1.00)   Coffee is 19 to 18 cents per pound.  And people worked for $2.00 a day.  And gold is easily obtained!

And no expectations of ever seeing family again.  

But the best part is having their signatures.

Pickle recipe from 1855-Sweet Crock Pickles

An idea for those extra cucumbers!  Tis the season!


This recipe has been in use since 1855.  My mother gave me the recipe and I can not find her recipe card for further information.  Luckily I submitted the recipe for the church cookbook!  Since my mother gave me the recipe, I suspect it may have been handed down in her family.

Sweet Crock Pickles

Cucumbers (enough to fill 1/2 gallon crock)

2/3 cup salt

1/2 gallon vinegar

4 T. canning salt

4 T. sugar

4 T. dry mustard

1/2 cup mixed pickling spices

Small piece of gingeroot and horseradish

3 lbs. sugar

Wash and dry small cucumbers.  Put into stone crock.  Sprinkle with 2/3 cup salt and over that boiling water.  The next morning, remove pickles from the crock and wipe dry again.  

Lay the cucumbers back in the crock.  Mix vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard and spices together and pour over pickles.  Be sure there is enough liquid to cover pickles.  If not, make 1/2 of the liquid recipe and add to the crock.  

Weigh out 3 pounds of sugar and each morning, add a handful of sugar to the crock.

Stir the pickles.  Do this until the sugar is used up, the pickles will be usable after 2-3 months.  The pickles may be left in the crock in a cool spot (basement) or maybe be sealed in jars.

They are crisp and spicy!