Who We Were, Are & Will Be Our Family: Dutton

Showing posts with label Dutton. Show all posts

24 July 2021

Obituary for Louisa Victoria Dutton (nee. Brindsen 1840-1915)

The Springfield News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri), February 14, 1915, Sunday, Page 5 --

Mrs. Lou Dutton Dies After Short Illness
After a short illness of pleuro-pneumonia, Mrs. Lou V. Dutton of 432 West I.ocust street, 75 years of age. died yesterday morning at her residence.
Mrs. Dutton was the wife of Captain H. J. Dutton of Company A. 33rd Illinois Infantry, a Civil War veteran. Besides the husband, Mrs. Dutton is survived by one son, Clarence A. Dutton, of Los Angeles, and four daughters. Mrs. A. O. Mack, Mrs. R. E. M. Mack, Mrs. G. A. Coover of this city, and Mrs. F. A. Dunlap of Kennewick, Wash.
Mrs. Dutton was born in Burford, Can, October 17, 1840. Left an orphan at an early age, she went to relatives in Illinois and was married at Metamora, Aug. 29, 1866. In 1869 she moved to Cedar county, Mo., where she lived until 1884, when she moved to Springfield.
Funeral services will be announced as soon as word is received from the son and daughter living in the west.

Louisa was the wife of my 2xg-grandfather Harvey J. Dutton, whom I blog about often.

19 July 2021

Another Case of Family Tree Serendipity (years 1668 and 1855)

"In 1668 Thomas Dutton [of Woburn] brought an action of slander against Michael Bacon Jr., who had charged him with being a thief…The following paper also appears as evidence in this case and is very valuable for its autographs: Wee whose Names are under written testyfy that Thomas dutton having lived amongst us in the Towne of woburne nere the space of tenne yeares, has bine very Industrus in his calling and and has not to our knowledg bine any way given to steall or to take any thing that is not his owne. Josias Conuars, William Johnson, Mathew Johnson, James Conuars, Samuell Conuars, John Broockes, Thomas Peirce, Samual Walker senyer, John Russell Junior, henry broockes, Isack Broockes, Edward win, Richard Gardner, John Russell Sen., John Carter.
"The plaintiff obtained a verdict of fifteen pounds."

-- Johnson, E. F. (1906). Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. United States: Andrews, Cutler, & Company, 3:83, footnote to Dutton.
-- AmericanAncestors.org,, Middlesex County, MA, Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675 (online database, 2003). Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.: 2:48, Dutton vs. Bacon.

Thomas Dutton (1621-1687) was my 8xg-grandfather, and Samuel Walker, Sr. (1615-1684) was my 9xg-grandfather.

One hundred and eighty-seven years later, in 1855, in the small town of Metamora, in central Illinois,

my 2xg-grandfather Henry Walker, Sr. (1829-1865) married my 2xg-grandmother Louisa Dutton (1833-1913). Direct descendants of Samuel and Thomas.

16 July 2021

Dutton marries Dutton? Be Careful.

From The Silver Blade (Rathdrum, Idaho), April 19, 1907, Friday, Page 3 --

April 18. -- S. S. Dutton 71, of Sagle, and Mrs. Mary S. Dutton, 60; of Rathdrum.

It would be very easy to presume this is the announcement of a husband and wife marrying. But just a little bit of digging discloses that Mary Dutton was in fact the widow of William Allen Dutton (1847-1905). Samuel Smith Dutton (1835-1914) was marrying his newly widowed sister in law Mary Sofia Dutton, (nee. Else, 1846-1926).

23 May 2021

Harvey J. Dutton -- Founder of Illinois State University Debating Society

From The Vidette (Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois), Tuesday, May 28, 1963 --

Debate Team's First Meeting Held In Candlelight Years Ago

By LINDA BLOYD

Friday evening, October 9, 1857, just four days after Illinois State first opened her doors, 14 serious-minded male students met by the light of a single flickering candle in a small classroom on the third floor of Bloomington’s Major’s Hall. Their purpose as expressed by their leaders, Harvey J. Dutton and Charles Irons, was to found a debating society which would "extend social relations and elevate moral character and intellectual attainments.”
Thus began the Normal Debating Society later to be known as the Wrightonians (or more familiarly as the "Wrights”). . . .

Harvey James Dutton (1836-1928) was my 2xg-granduncle. I blog about him more than anyone, but he was a great man and there is a lot written about him. And like a lot of family historians, I go first for the low hanging fruit.

14 May 2021

Harvey J. Dutton Sends His RSVP in 1927 at Age 90

From an article entitled MANY LETTERS RECEIVED BY HOMECOMING COMMITTEE:

OLD GRADUATES FROM MANY PARTS OF COUNTRY TELL OF THEIR DESIRE TO ATTEND I. S. N. U. HOMECOMING, as published in The Vidette (Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois) Wednesday, November 2, 1927, page 1 --

. . . One of the most interesting of these letters received by Miss Cooper was the one from Mr. H. J. Dutton of Springfield, Mo. The letter is as follows:

“Dear Madam:

“Yours of the 6th inst. at hand and contents noted. In reply I desire to say that while I thank you very sincerely for your kind invitation to attend the Normal Homecoming, believing that I should very heartily enjoy meeting even the very few who may remember me as a Normal student, the meeting comes too late in the season for me to attend for more reasons than one.

“Had the date been a month earlier I should have been strongly tempted to attempt the trip, notwithstanding my fourscore and ten years.

“Because of the uncertainty of favorable weather and the further fact that on the date mentioned I have planned to be on my way to Florida where I have been spending the winters of late years. I am constrained to deny myself the pleasure of meeting with you.

“I do, however, send most cordial greetings to any and all who may remember me. Should be very glad to receive an account of Homecoming. My Florida address, is: Zephyrhills, Florida.

“Very truly and sincerely yours,

“H. J. DUTTON.”

“P. S. I deem it unnecessary, for a person of my age to make any apology for using pencil.”

The writing in this letter was legible and consistent. Mr. Dutton was graduated from this institution in 1861.

Of the letters the university Homecoming Committee received, this was the only one they decided to publish in full. He would pass away only two months later, at his winter home in Zephyrhills, Florida, at age 91. Harvey James Dutton (1836-1928) was my 2xg-granduncle on my Father's paternal side.

26 April 2021

Obituary For Harvey Rowan Mack (1895-1969)

From the Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, Missouri), 30 Sep 1969, Page 22 --

HARVEY ROWAN MACK

Harvey Rowan Mack, 74, of 2324 Mt Vernon, died at 1:15 p.m. Monday in Foster Nursing Home here.
A lifelong resident of Spring field, Mr. Mack had been in ill health for two years. He was veteran of World War I, and had retired after working for Frisco for 40 years,
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Mary Ann Witt,, 2324 Mt. Vernon, Mrs. Patricia Lee VeHorn, Rushville, Ind.; three brothers, Lester, 721 West High, Robert, Brighton, Earnest, 404 East Madison; a sister, Mrs. Edith Helfrecht, 827 West Whiteside; eight grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Klingner Chapel with the Rev. William Spindler officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.

As I discovered here Harvey Rowan Mack was the blessed young man who inherited his grandfather Capt. Harvey J. Dutton's officer sword that he carried in the Civil War.

21 April 2021

Artifacts

I read with some excitement recently that very soon scientists will be able to affordably retrieve the DNA of our late ancestors off of family artifacts and test it for us. This is very exciting! Genetic genealogy has been a gift to my research, and it is easy to imagine what is on the other side of the horizon, in example identifying nameless faces in photographs of our ancestors.

I have always enjoyed that existential connection to my ancestors. It feels special to walk where they walked; to visit a building they lived in, and to handle something they touched and owned a hundred years ago. They were real people with lives, and artifacts make them more real to me.

About a year ago I set about locating the same regimental flags that my gg-uncle served under and my gg-grandfather died under in the Civil War. It took a couple months, but I finally tracked them down, there are two sets, one is stored away in the McClean County (IL) History Museum, the other is stored in the State Armory at the state (IL) capital Springfield.

The bug that bit me next was trying to track down my gg-uncle Capt. Harvey J. Dutton's (1836-1928) officer's sword from the Civil War. I talked about the prospects with my cousins. First I would need to research all his descendants, then try to locate and make contact with them, all without knowing if the search was going to be fruitless and all my time wasted. With most family artifacts it only takes a few generations of separation before families forget what made it special in the first place? Who did it belong to? Why did we keep it? So I asked in my mind, did the sword become a toy that people played with? Did it get sold in a garage sale?

No. I decided no, unless I had direction, I was not going to go down that road. And then this happened. I discovered a newspaper story, from The Springfield News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri), 25 Jan 1928, Wednesday, Page 3 --

DUTTON PROPERTY LEFT TO SEVERAL CHILDREN

Each of the five children of the late H. J. Dutton, Civil War veteran and for many years a resident of Springfield, is to share in the estate, according to the terms of the will filed yesterday. A property on East Harrison street is left to Florence E. Mack, property in Florida goes to Clarence A. Dutton, a son; Norma E. Mack receives a property on Lyon avenue, Bertha I. Dunlap will have the property on West Chestnut street, while a property on West Locust street goes to another daughter Gertrude L. Coover, and her husband Guy Coover.

A sword carried by the veteran in the war between the states is bequeathed to a grandson, Harvey R. Mack.

R. E. M. Mack and A. O. Mack are appointed executors of the will.

Uhh, yeah, where I am from? That counts as "direction." Besides, when that bug bites you, sometimes you have to wonder if it is an agent of providence?

Harvey Rowan Mack died in 1969, in Springfield, Missouri. He had two daughters. And so it begins.

03 August 2020

Civil War Relatives

For the last month I have been obsessed with the Civil War, from a family history perspective. I have been working on getting the National Park Service to give the grave of my gg-grandfather a marker; I have been researching the current location of the regimental flags for the 33rd Illinois, and I have been researching the oral history that one of my gg-grandfathers was a Union spy.

In the meantime, I did put together a list of all my grandfathers and granduncles who served. I have not done cousins yet. This list is complete as best as I can determine (the seven names of gg-grandfathers have been bolded; the five names of those who died in service have been italicized) --

RANK NAME REGIMENT STATE COMPANY

Henry M. Walker, Sr. 33rd Illinois A

Capt Harvey J. Dutton 33rd Illinois A

Horace S. Dutton 108th Illinois E

Charles H. Chesley 8th Cavalry Illinois K

John P. Chesley 13th Illinois G

Leonard Chesley 13th Illinois G

Sgt Luman F. Ward 98th New York D

David Ward 2nd Artillery Ohio C

Corp Arthur H. Needham 2nd Cavalry Iowa E

John H. Needham 155th Ohio A

Horatio E. Needham 29th Iowa E

Sgt George E. Needham 177th Ohio A

Benjamin E. Needham 41st Ohio D

Samuel R. Porter 17th Illinois I

Lt Col Dr. Frank G. Porter -- Surgeon --

Alexander W. Porter 39th Pennsylvania B

Sgt John W. Porter 39th Pennsylvania B

Corp Alfred Gibson 33rd Kentucky D

Sgt David Gibson 27th Kentucky E

Thomas R. Gibson 35th Kentucky B

William Gurwell 14th Ohio E

Jesse Jones 13th Kansas B

Lt Edward W. Hall 3rd Iowa B

George Hall 26th Illinois K

Corp Levi Hall 33rd Illinois C

Wilbur Hall 2nd Artillery Massachusetts M

Josiah McKee 33rd Illinois C

-- Twenty-seven names in total. All blue, no grey. My gg-grandfather James G. Gurwell is said to have served, but I can find no record, so he is not included. Six of these Illinoisans were at Vicksburg, and their names are cast in bronze inside the Illinois memorial there.

Expanding the list to include cousins will be quite a chore but is within my plans. I know that will expand my connection to the 33rd Illinois even further, at last count I had seven ancestral relatives in that regiment. And I am not sure, but I think I have one Gibson cousin who went to Texas and fought on the side the Confederacy, ruining my perfect record of all Union ancestral relatives.

02 July 2020

Ask and You Shall Receive: Civil War CDV

(Click to Enlarge.)

True Story. A few days ago I was lamenting I did not have a Carte de visite of my 2xg-uncle Capt. Harvey J. Dutton (1836-1928) and two days later I stumbled across one on the Internet! I wasn't even looking for it! Could someone being looking down on me?

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

22 June 2020

Obituary for Julia Emma (Dutton) Owens (1847-1920)

From The Springfield News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri), 9 Nov 1920, Page 7 --

MRS. J.E. OWENS

Mrs. J.E. Owens, age 74 years, died at 1:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the residence of R.E.M. Mack, 501 High Street. The home of the decedent was at Joliet, Ill., and she was in Springfield visiting relatives. She was a sister of Mrs. Harry J. Dutton, 501 West High street. She is also survived by the following nieces: Mrs. R.E.M. Mack, Mrs. A.O. Mack, and Mrs. G.A. Coover, all of Springfield. She is also survived by two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Marklow, Joliet, Ill., and Mrs. Madge Dunlop, Colorado Springs, Colo., both of whom formerly lived in Springfield. No funeral arrangements are made, pending the arrival of the daughters.

-- Identified Error: She was the sister of Mr. Harvey J. Dutton.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

20 June 2020

At Least Five Civil War Ancestral Relatives Have Their Names in Bronze

(Click to Enlarge.)

From a Vicksburg Mississippi website:

The Vicksburg National Military Park, established by Congress on February 21, 1899, commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg during the Civil War. The 1,800 acres of the park are dotted with over 1,300 monuments, the most impressive being the Illinois Monument, which was dedicated on October 26, 1906 and modeled after the Roman Pantheon. On its walls are 60 bronze tablets which record the names of the 36,325 Illinois soldiers who participated in the Vicksburg campaign.

On those bronze tablets are the names of at least five of my ancestral relatives, most notably my gg-grandfather Pvt. George Hall (1845-1908) --

-- Three other more distant ancestral relatives 3xg-uncle Pvt. Josiah McKee (1844-1921), and First Cousin 4x removed Pvt. Levi W. Hall (1841-1923) and First Cousin 4x removed Pvt. William P. Lamphier (1839-1865) --

-- And finally we have the ancestral relative of whom I am the most proud, 2xg-uncle Capt. Harvey J. Dutton (1836-1928), who was only a Lieutenant at Vicksburg. He was also shot in the leg in the battle and kept fighting --

(Click to Enlarge.)

-- The Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were both completed on the same date -- July 4, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg got most of the attention from the press at the time for a number of reasons, including that it involved the defeat of the great General Robert E. Lee, and happened closer to Washington D.C. But arguably, the Battle of Vicksburg was much more important to the ultimate Union victory. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory at Vicksburg gave the Union Army control of the entire Mississippi River, and cut off the Confederate deep south from the supplies of the commodity-rich southwestern states like Texas.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

19 June 2020

Thirty-miles and One Hundred Years

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I have never had a familial affinity for Illinois. My heart has always belonged to Nebraska. It was Nebraska that I associated with family, and my family history. But truth be told, Illinois could reasonably lay a claim to my heritage. Direct ancestors of both my father and mother made homes here. And startlingly they did it only thirty miles apart from each other.

(Click to Enlarge.)

Around 1855 in Woodford County, in and around the town of Metamora were my Dad's ancestors 3xg-grands Aaron and Submit (Clark) Walker, my 2xg-grands Henry and Louisa (Dutton) Walker Sr., and my g-grandfather Henry M. Walker, Jr. Also my 3xg-grandmother Nancy (Smith) Dutton.

At the same time, only thirty miles away in McLean County, in and around the town of Danvers were my Mom's ancestors 3xg-grands Jeremiah and Jane (Combs) Hall, and also 3xg-grands William and Sarah (Moore) McKee.

One hundred years later in northern California, my Mother from Phoenix, Arizona would meet my Dad from Dix, Nebraska, get married and produce me.

As I currently reside in Illinois, this state reminds me of her involvement in my development everytime I travel her highways, and of course visit the graves of my deceased ancestors. I am blessed that I live so close to where I can walk the same ground my ancestors walked on.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

18 June 2020

Capt. Harvey Dutton Recommends Two Enlisted Men for Promotion (1864)

Tigerville, La
Nov 3rd, 1864

Col. I. H. Elliott,

In accordance with your instructions of yesterday I would recommend Sergeant Sylvester W. Durflinger and Corporal Rasselas P. Reynolds of Co. A 33rd Ills Vet Vol Infntry for the positions, spoken of, in Col. Bryant's Regt.

Sergeant Durflinger has never been examined except by the Regim't'l Board. Corporal Reynolds passed examination before Col. Currie's board in the city last spring and was recommended for 1st Lieut.

Very Respectively,
Your obedient servant,

H.J. Dutton
Capt. Co. A 33rd Ills Inft.

If anything more than this is necessary please inform me.
H.J. Dutton capt.

19 March 2016

Coincidence?

I was researching the soldier named Luke Dickerman, Co. A, 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment, Civil War, mentioned in the previous article on this blog. He lied about his age and mustered in at only sixteen years of age. He mustered in as a Private and mustered out as a Sergeant.

He served under my 2xg-uncle Harvey James Dutton, who mustered in as a Sergeant and was promoted all the way to Captain before mustering out.

I just discovered Luke Dickerman named his first born male child "Harvey James Dickerman."

Coincidence?

Copyright © 2016 by Kevin W. Walker

27 August 2015

Wounding of Lt. Harvey Dutton (1836-1928) at Battle of Vicksburg

From -- Marshall, A. O., & Schultz, R. G. (2009). Army life: From a soldier's journal : incidents, sketches and record of a Union soldier's army life, in camp and field, 1861-64. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press.

As night began to approach orders were passed along our lines for our troops to withdraw. As it grew dark we did so. Those in the most advanced and exposed conditions coming first. Sadly we wended our way back to the lines we had held before making our charge upon the rebel works of Vicksburg.

One of our most disgusted men was Lieutenant Dutton. He had been struck upon the leg by a small, nearly spent ball. The ball was not going with force enough to break the skin, but as it happened to strike upon a tender cord the injured part commenced to swell, and by the time we withdrew he could hardly use his foot, and was obliged to hobble along as best he could. To be so lame without any wound to show for it he thought disgusting.

25 July 2015

Dutton Letters, part 6: The Death of Harvey Dutton

This is a letter from Harvey James Dutton's daughter Norma (Dutton) Mack to her cousin Effie Mae (Ricketts) Kern --

Springfield, Mo.
Jan 27, 1928

Dear Cousin Effie,
I received your letter and what a comfort it is to know wherever Papa went he was loved and respected by all. I have had such nice letters from his friends in Zephyrhills.
It was a shock to us when we got the telegram of his death as Gertrude had a letter that was written on Saturday and he was just fine and having such a good time for the weather had been good all fall. On Sat. he ate something that did not agree with him but on Mon. he wrote to Rowena and said that he felt a little sick on Sat. but was all right on Monday. When he wrote Tuesday afternoon he (papa) walked 5 blocks and played dominoes all afternoon went back to the hotel ate a hearty supper and went calling in the evening. That night took a couple of pills went to bed but had to get up before day to go to toilet--but was the first one of the boarders out to breakfast--he said he did not want anything to eat--but wanted his cup of hot water (which he always had) said he had a pain in his left side. Mrs. Hart (the Hotel Lady) said she would get the hot water bottle. Papa got up form the table started for the reception hall went about three steps and fell dead. They picked him up but he was gone.
Write again and I will answer.
Love,
Norma

And so the great man dies. He body was returned to Springfield, Missouri, and Hazelwood cemetery next to his wife and sister. Click here to see his FindaGrave Memorial. His newspaper death announcement and obituary are here. There are many, many other posts on this blog about the great man.

24 July 2015

Dutton Letters, Part 5: Uncle Harvey Dutton Writes Nephew Lyford Kern the Catholic

I love this letter. Out of all the Dutton letters that Linda has shared with us so far, this is the one I enjoyed the most. In my introduction to the Dutton letters, I wrote that perhaps the most rewarding experience for a family historian is to learn the presumptions he made about his ancestors based on his research were found in fact true. This letter was that confirmation for me. Remember you can click on the pics to enlarge them.

This is Harvey J. Dutton, age 88, writing to his grand-nephew Lyford Kern, age 21, son of Harvey's niece Effie (Ricketts) Kern. Lyford converted to Catholicism and became an ordained priest.

Zephyrhills, Fla. Nov. 13, 1924
Dear nephew,
Dilatory as usual in answering letters. Perhaps if I had a typewriter the novelty of using one, or rather learning to use one might make letter writing less of a task. Was very much interested in what you said in letters of Sept. 8 about your visit home, high water from some same. Snapping sweet corn, helping neighbors threshing, etc. but while you gave yield per acre you omitted to give numbers of acres or price per ton, which would have given me some idea of the profits of "specialty farming."
You see, I am very much interested in how your folks are prospering on their new farm. Your mother wrote me that they hoped to make arrangements to meet the unpaid balance (what it was I never knew) without giving a mortgage. Hope they succeeded for a mortgage is anything but a cheerful companion. As I have said before, I do not care to discuss Roman Catholicism. But do not for a moment think that I consider your claims for said church borne out by the facts as recorded in the history of the early churches. However, the efforts of any organization to correct former bad practices is to be commended. Referring to your last letters I will say that had I answered before election I might have expressed some anxiety as to the result. Not that I had any fears that Davis or LaFollette would be elected, but that they might carry enough states to throw the election into congress which I looked upon as almost a calamity, foreseeing the result. But the people have spoken & in no uncertain terms.
So you were for Davis. Isn't that another departure from your early training? Seems to me all the Kerns were Republicans or Prohibitionists. I believe George Ricketts was a Democrat. Well! Clarence wrote me that he should support the renegade Republican, LaFollette. Another source of regret to me. Another case of influence of environment. Labor unionism. Well! He may be proud to be numbered with the tail-enders. And you, I suppose, are elated with the idea of being counted with the solid south. Shame on you, George and Clarence too. But I have one consolation. The rest of my children are living up to their early training & they are voters too. Three of them helped to carry Missouri for Coolidge. I lost my chance to vote by coming away before the election & depending on a friend to send an absentee ballot which he failed to do. Just received a letter from Bertha, who writes "I suppose the result of the election suited you. It does us." Was shocked that Clarence is a Socialist. She writes further that LaF. "cooked" himself with his course during the war. Clarence writes that he admired LaF's course in congress during the war. Which of the two, Clarence or Berta, is the better American?
Must either wind up as put off further writing till another day. Speaking of your chum Tom Dillon and Roberta, you say you guess you can trust him with her. Is Roberta really so dangerous? Liable to lead him astray, corrupt his morals, is she? From my acquaintance with her I had formed a different opinion. As I owe her a letter, shall have to warn her.
Left Sprg. Nov. 15th Arrived here 18th. Nicely located. Brought a comrade with me, so I have a roommate. His first trip south. Health is good. Eats fair.
Should be glad to hear from you whenever convenient.
Sincerely.
H.J. Dutton

Clarence (Dutton) was Harvey's son. Bertha (Dutton) was Harvey's daughter. George Ricketts was Harvey's brother in law, married to Harvey's sister Laura, and Lyford's grandfather. Roberta (Kern) was Lyford's sister.

Eighty-eight years old, and a mind as sharp as a whip. God I love this man --

Fondly remembering midwest farming, he opens on Lyford not giving him the requisite information to understand everything about how his family is doing on the new farm. Mean-spirited? No. Just an old senior saying "Don't hold back on account of my age, don't discount my mind, son." Since the next paragraph is about his parents might needing to take out a mortgage, it might also be true he was wanting to know if he needed to help his niece financially.
His remarks about the Catholic church also seemed to be pointed and sarcastic, but inoffensive. He holds back any overt counter-fire, choosing the subliminal so as to stay true to his own beliefs but not to hurt.
As repeated over and over, the Duttons are devout Christians (primarily in the Methodist tradition), including strong advocates of the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of liquor, and thus they were conservative Republicans. This is what Harvey keeps harking back to with comments such as the young generations "early training."
When Lyford says he supported the Democrat Davis in the '24 presidential election, there is backstory. The Democratic south was still in part beholden to the KuKluxKlan, and the first party nominee was Alfred Smith, the Governor of New York. But to the south he was a "Northerner" and he was, gasp, CATHOLIC! So the Democratic south rejected him in favor of Ambassador John Davis from West Virginia to be the Democratic nominee. So Harvey is taking the screws to his Catholic nephew "elated to be counted with the solid south." Hehe.
But the Republicans too had internal struggles, the progressive brand of Republicans in the tradition of Theodore Roosevelt, enticed Sen.Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin to make a third party run. This is what worried Harvey, that the Republicans would split their vote and make way for the segregationist Democrat which is what happened in 1912 when a third party run by Teddy Roosevelt opened the door for Democrat Woodrow Wilson.
Harvey's son Clarence, a tradesman cabinet-maker, was pro-union so supported the progressive LaFollette. Clarence would say to his father that his "early training" was still true to moral issues, leaving Harvey the only opening of calling Clarence a "socialist."
Harvey refers to Bertha versus Clarence based on their opinion of La Follette's antiwar stance during World War I (and desire to pay Germany reparations after). Clearly liberal. Harvey a conservative, and veteran and hero of the Civil War, clearly sides with Bertha.
We continue to see Harvey's wit in the closing paragraph where he deliberately twists his grand-nephew's words about his sister Roberta dating a friend, and threatens to tell Roberta what Lyford didn't say.

23 July 2015

Dutton Letters, Part 4: Uncle Harvey Checks In

Springfield, Mo Feb. 8, 1923
Mrs. Effie Kern
Eureka, Ill.
Dear Niece -- Yes, I find it much easier to put off writing than to get right down to business. Then I have been somewhat Handicapped with a sore eye for a couple weeks but eyes are alright again.
Glad to get your letter also one from Roberta a few days later indicating that her sprained fingers did not prove serious. Hurrah for Scoville. Hope his success will prove an incentive to renewed effort. We have had a remarkable winter so far. Not a bit of snow until Sunday morning Feb 5 and then just a little flurry but the temperature dropped to 5 above Monday night. 3 or 4 inches of snow fell but it is almost gone now. Today is bright sunshine. Temp now 11 a.m. 42 in the shade north side of house.
Folks all well as usual. I am gaining very slowly. Manage to get around the house without cane or crutch but cannot go up or down steps without help of cane or crutches. I take a little outdoor exercise every a.m. and p.m. & am truly thankful that the weather has been such that I could do so. Have just come in from a trip around the block.
I think I shall have to ask you to excuse a short letter this time as I wish to write to Roberta while the "spell" is on. Hope you will write again soon. Can you give me Madge's address?
Sincerely yours
H.J. Dutton

Harvey James Dutton (1836-1928) was 87 when this letter was written, Sounds to me like the elderly gentleman had decided to sit down and catch up on his letter-writing. Effie (Ricketts) Kern was Harvey's niece by way of his sister Laura Ella (Dutton) Ricketts. Roberta (Kern) age 17 and Scoville (Kern) age 15 were Effie's daughter and son. We have determined "Madge" is Margaret Owen, Effie's cousin, and Harvey's niece by way of his late sister Julia Owen.

Tomorrow we continue with the chronicles of the Dutton Letters with an absolutely great letter where Harvey gives us a peek into his head writing about religion and politics to his Catholic nephew. Stay tuned.

Copyright © 2015 by Kevin W. Walker

22 July 2015

Death of Julia (Dutton) Owen, cont'd. (Dutton Letters, part 3)

This is a transcription of a letter from Harvey James Dutton to his niece Effie (Ricketts) Kern, daughter of Harvey's sister Laura Ella (Dutton) Ricketts, on the occasion of the death of Harvey's sister, and Effie's aunt, Julia (Dutton) Owen.

We read yesterday that Julia's daughter Mabel considered bringing her body back to Metamora, IL to be buried in the Norman Dutton family plot, but the plot is full. So the decision was made to bury her in Harvey's family plot in Springfield, MO, where the remains of Harvey's wife Victoria already lays.

We also read that Harvey was taking the death of his sister hard.

Springfield, Mo Nov. 11th. 1920

My dear niece and family,
You have doubtless been informed of the sudden death of sister Julia. No doubt you were greatly shocked by that news. It was indeed a shock to us for while we knew she was very sick, were led to believe there was no special danger. Julia seemed to be enjoying her visit so much. Had visited with Elva several days and a week ago yesterday I went with her over to Gertrude's. She intending to stay a few days. That evening about 6 o'clock Gertrude telephoned Norma that Julia was awful sick and wanted her to come over. We went right over. Took Elva with us. Called a Dr. an osteopath, and that suited Julia although she objected to calling any Dr. Said she was sure she would be all right by morning. Thursday morning she seemed quite a little better. (I should have added it was a case of indigestion) As Gertrude's baby was quite unwell, Julia was brought back here to Norma's, and while all pain was relieved, her breathing became labored and pulse irregular Sunday. While she seemed no worse as she did not improve as we thought she should, called another Dr., an Allopath. He said the cause of her shortness of breath was the condition of her heart. Later on he said it was asthma. I cannot give all the particulars. Monday about 10 a.m. Rowan wired Mabel and Madge that their mother was very sick. She died 1:30 p.m. Monday. Ed and Mabel arrived Tuesday 7:00 a.m. Funeral Wednesday 10 a.m. Burial by the side of my wife in Hazelwood Cemetery here.
A great disappointment to me. Plansa all changed though I think I shall go to Zephyrhills, Fla. May go next week. Kindest regards to all. Shall be glad to hear from you.
H.J. Dutton

Elva (Dutton) Mack, Nora (Dutton) Mack, Gertrude (Dutton) Cover are all daughters of Harvey Dutton. I finally figured out who "Madge" was, Margaret Owen, sister to Mabel Owen, both daughters to Julia. Rowan Mack was Nora's husband.

Here is a pic of the Dutton family plot. Lousy picture, only showing three of the eight graves and the memorial, but it is the best one I have. That middle grave belongs to Julia's husband James Owen. Remember you can click on pics to enlarge.

Here is a pic of the marker for Harvey Dutton and his wife --

And next to him the marker of his sister Julia --

21 July 2015

The Death of Julia Owen (nee. Dutton, 1847-1920), The Dutton Letters, part 2

Julia (Dutton) Owen was the daughter of Norman and Nancy (Smith) Dutton, and the half-sister of my 2xg-grandmother Louisa (Dutton) Walker.

Metamora, Ill
Nov 9, 1920
Dear Effie,
I'm afraid I was rather sudden with my sad news, but I called you as soon as I got Mabel's telegram. I had just gotten a letter from Mabel this eve. Saying her mother had one of her old spells of indigestion. He cousin Elva had written her and she was quite worried.
The telegram was phoned me from Peoria as near as I can remember. It was something like this: "Mother died Pm. Buried Wednesday in Uncle Harvey's lot in Springfield."
Doesn't it seem like a horrid nightmare? I.m so glad we had such a nice visit this summer -- who of us thot it would be the last.
I must write to Mabel, and some others.
Sincerely,
Myrtle

JULIA EMMA OWEN: "May your days be filled with happiness and all your shadows fly away." Aunt Julia

Effie Mae Kern (nee. Ricketts, 1881-1952) was the niece of Julia (Dutton) Owen through her sister Laura Ella Ricketts (nee. Dutton, 1854-1887). We have not yet discovered who is Myrtle Ellis.

Friday a.m.

Dear Myrt,
We are home from our sad journey and just feel stunned -- I am enclosing the letter I received from Elva Mon a.m. just before I wrote you. Then we sent a telegram for them to view immediately mother's condition. I could not help but be uneasy and we got a wire about 11:30 saying the Dr said her heart was bad and we had better come. we left at 1:15 and she died about 1:30 but of course we didn't know it until we got there.
I'll always feel they should have let us know sooner altho the Dr assured them she would be all right. Of course it was our first thought to bring her to Metamora but I seemed to remember mother said there was no more room in Grandpa Dutton's lot and Uncle Harvey wanted her buried where he will be and her name will be put on his monument where Aunt Lou's already is and also Uncle Harvey with just the space for dates left. And after all she will be among her own people. If we had intended to stay here for always of course I would have brought her here. But of course Ed and I want to be cremated so she would have been alone here too--So I guess it was best after all--but it was hard to leave her away down there. Uncle Harvey is all broken up over it all. They were to have left for Florida next Monday. How thankful I am! If it had to be that it happened before they went.
Write to Madge -- of course she would have liked to come but it was out of the question. The flowers were beautiful and I never heard a better funeral sermon, I can't write more now. Will write to Effie soon. Wish you would send this to her and Elva's letter too.
Write to me when you can.
With love, Mabel

This letter came down to us through Effie's estate. The letter from Elva was not included among this bunch, I don't know if Linda has it. Elva Mack (nee. Dutton, 1867-1952) was Harvey's daughter and would have been writing from on location. I am not sure who Madge is yet.

My son Ralph and I have visited the Dutton family plot in Metamora a couple times and it is indeed full.

Tomorrow I will complete this story line with the letter from Harvey, and a look at the memorials.

Copyright © 2015 by Kevin W. Walker