Ernest Whitney Haight
Due to my sudden decision to slap my Haight history together and get it to the Iowa Haight reunion in July of this year 1959 I am unable to include history to be written by Ernest Haight and his son Lyle.  Will try to mail it later for it should be one of the most interesting.  I shall try to briefly in a few words tell what E. W. Haight
did from birth to 1959.  It won't be much or good.
No one seems sure if Ernest Haight was born at Glenn Alphine Home in the hills, where his parents Fred and Laura Haight were living at the time.  It is  kind of the general opinion that Ernest was born at his grandparents house in Elk Twp., at his grand parents Grandma and Grandpa William J. Haight.
Anyway he was born that is for sure.
He grew up in the hills at Glenn Alphine Home helping with the many chores a farm boy had.  He had an older brother to guide (?) him as well as his parents.
He attended the same Brook Center school the other Haight Bro's attended in years to come.
 
 
It is my opinion that Ernest as a youngster, and a young boy, was one of if not the easiest son, of the Fred Haight's eight sons.  "to bring up".  He was even tempered- - not to daring - kind - considerate and usually did what he was told.
 He attended High School at Linn Grove for some time.
 Then in 1905 or 1906 or both went to Cedar Falls Iowa to go to the state college. No doubt had to make up some high school work.  Lather he batched with some others to go to more school.
 He meet when in Cedar Falls one fine girl - , who latter became his wife. Her name Maude Thompson who was born near Cedar Falls in 1882.  They were married in Lewistown Montana Oct. 10- 1910.
 Back to school days.  Ernest got out of school and tried teaching.  He taught different schools near his old home in Brook Twp. Iowa (I visited his school and did the kids like him?)  (He had a way of letting them do as they wished as long as they did their schoolwork )  Teaching about 50 years ahead of his time.  For that is the
was schools are now run in 1959.  Good?   Bad?  I don't know.
 Anyway along about this time 1909?  He decided to go west take a homestead and become a farmer.  ( Fifty years latter he is still farming home in Montana).
 His girl friend Maude Thompson had taken a school at Brook center school and was a good teacher.  ( I know for I, Dwight L. Haight went to school to her ).
 Earnest took a homestead about 35 miles north of Lewistown Montana being the first of the " Haights" homestead.  It was wide-open country.  He can tell many early day experience when he get to it.
 He broke most of his native sod with three horses and a walking plow. (Foot burner they were known ).  He horses names were - - Smoky - Prince and ? Crops were good but only a few Areas could be planted and so times were hard for them. Money? They did not know what that was.
 Though his wife Maude (Thompson) Haight who he had married October- 10- 1910 in Lewistown Montana took a Job teaching the Donkey Ridge school which helped some. Also Maude's mother took a homestead adjoining their (Ernest's) homestead and E. H. later brought it and it became part of the E. H. Haight spread.
 Ups and downs until 1918.  Then they built a new house standing and lived in by James Hamilton now in 1959.
 Earnest - Taught- Mazdeis - School - at Donkey - Ridge- Montana - days - she - was - sick or - in - bad - weather.
 
For 1918 Ernest built a good house.  I, Dwight Haight worked for Ernest and Maude that summer and helped build on the house a well as work in the fields.
 Came the winter of 1918 and 1919 - - and the dry summer of 1919 which broke most all farmers.  Freed - and hay was sky high.  Those who did not loose their stock in the hard winter found them not worth but a few paltry cents in the spring. Far less than the feed they had bought.
 How anyone lasted through the following years in Montana is a mystery. Perhaps ninety percent did not.  They just quit.  Ernest did not.  They tightened their belt a few notches each year and kept on.  Ran - out - of- 8 punched - new - holes - in - Belt.
 Lets see here I missed a couple important events.
 ***************************************
Lyle Francis Haight - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 was born at Suffolk Montana on June - 8 - 1914.
Beryl Margaret Haight. - 1 - 2 -2- 2. was born same place July - - 12- 1917.
            ****************************************
 Came the early thirties or late twenties and E. W. had a sale moved to South Dakota.  (Aberdeen) Harder times than ever.  No work and Lyle had six months to a year of hospitalization.  Eventually recovered enough to go to school but has never really been a wall man since.
 Beryl was a constant companion of her fathers and an out door girl.  Rode horses - did chores and was a natural farm girl wife and woman.
 Beryl went through high school and college and married Everett Peterson 6/6/1938/ having three children.  One died of cancer when seven years old.  Beryl and Everett Peterson lived on various farms.  Then she was stricken with cancer and passed away in Missoula hospital after a years misery, taken with all the courage in the world.  She died 5/24/1957 and is buried at Helena Montana near her son Terry.
 Lyle went through college - - joined the weather bureau and has worked five years or so on Cape Hattaras - five or so at Butte Montana.  Five or so at Great Falls Montana and has now been in the Helena Office for five or so years.  Have a few too many years but they are approximate, Lyle never married.  Has lots of fun just doing the
things he wants to do. - Fly Model airplanes - Tinker with Steam Engines - Pictures by the thousands - -
re - modeling a house he bought and?  Chasing women.  Not enough I am afraid for it looks like he is doomed to batchelorhood.  Good?  Bad?  Who knows ?  He seems to like it.
 
Lets skip back to E. W. and the dry thirties when we left him in Aberdeen So. Dak.
 He and his family came back to the ranch in about 1928 or thereabouts and again started farming from scratch.  Taxes had taken most of their land.  They had the land where the building stood,  They bought a milk cow or two.  Got a few horses - planted grass - hay and got a started in cattle.
 Latter crops again became good.  They sent their kids to college bought a better car and things looked real good,  Then Maude became ill quite sudden and for several years Ernest had to care for her.  It was not easy.
 Came triple A. A. A. and more crop payments and more and better prices with World War - 2 - and then in 1946 his wife Maude passed away and is buried in Lewistown Montana.
 Ernest lived alone - buying cattle in the spring - running them in the summer and selling in the fall.  Thus no need of winter-feeding.  He made some money.
 Along about or on 6/11/1949 Ernest married (Second) Sylvia Haight.  Sylvia Haight had been Mrs. Rex Haight but Rex had died in 1943 leaving Sylvia widow with two kids * ( Scott and Hardy ) .
 Sylvia was teaching in Missoula Montana about 300 miles from where Ernest was living and farming.  Not so nice for newly weds.  So after a couple of years of this Earnest sold the Suffolk spread and bought an irrigated one fifteen or twenty miles north of Missoula - Montana on an Indian reservation.  He continued to buy cattle in
the spring run them through the summer - - sell them in the fall - at a profit.  (Most of the time ) . Sylvia
continued with her teaching job at the college.  A job formerly held by her first husband - - Rex Haight - -.
 Now in 1957 she quit - maybe 1957 it was - anyway she quit, started to college, and got her Masters degree.  Why? To prove she could I guess for it is their intention to move onto the ranch north of Missoula and kind of semi retire.  Sylvia to paint, write, raise  chickens, garden and sleep; in other words just do as she wants to
do. Ernest likewise but you will no doubt find him out in the hot sun with a shovel irrigating or running after
some steer that got through the fence - or digging post holes - building a coral - or some other job to hard for us younger punks to do.
 However now May 1959 he just got out of hospital and several operations and this may slow him down some.  If any Haight (Unless it is Howard or Kenneth) can take things as they come Ernest Haight can.  No complaining - just grinning and looking on the brightest side of everything.
Written by Haste or Dwight L.  Haight - May -27 -1959.

I was born June8, 1914 in a log cabin on a farm in Fergus County, Montana where my fatherhad homesteaded in 1910. My parents were Ernest Haight and Maude (Thompson)Haight who were both born and raised in Iowa.
 
 

Some of my firstmemories are of the excitement and confusion attending the moving fromthe top of the hill down to where the folks were building the new house,this must have been the summer of 1917. I can remember Uncle Dwight drivinga wagonload of furniture and sitting in a kitchen chair instead of theregular wagon seat. I also remember being kept away from the blasting forthe cellar. Remember too, the women folks sending me out to tell grandfatherHaight he shouldn't be carrying bundles of shingles up the ladder to theroof.
 
 

Remember alsothe sleigh rides in the winter, to Herbert's, Ray's and to Burl's aftera long day of visiting the wonderful sleep you got snuggled in the strawwith the creaking of the runners and the sound of the horses hooves fora lullaby. Also remember listening to Aunt Eva play the phonograph overthe telephone, especially the record "Cohen at the Telephone".
 
 

The excitementthat attended the annual freight shipments from Sears and Wards, everythingfrom groceries to Christmas presents.
 
 

Trips to Lewistownin the Model "T" in the early days was a two day trip as we "Saved" ourbusiness until we had enough visits to the dentist, doctor, clothing stores,etc. to make the trip worthwhile. Usually the county fair was includedas part of the fall trip, what fun that was!
 
 

Also rememberthe 4^th of July picnics such immense piles of fried chicken,salad, pies, cakes, ice cream we ate until we couldn't move but beforeyou knew it us kids wee back to see what was left for a snack!
 
 

First schoolingwas received partly at home and partly over at the "Corner" in a littleone room shack with either mother or Aunt Mable as teacher, Slid undera barb wire fence one winter and nearly scalped myself, still have thescar. Dr. Sears in Winifred sewed up the wound. In the fifth grade MissMae Strong taught. Then in 1925 we moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota whereI entered the 6^th grade, quite a change from a little countryschool. That spring I became ill with a chest infection and very nearlydidn't pull through.
 
 

Mother and Ispent the summer of 1926 in Iowa with Aunt Lena (Mother's sister) and GrandmotherThompson, while Dad went back to the ranch in Montana. In the fall Dadcome back to Iowa and we moved up to Rochester, Minn. Where I entered theMayo Clinic. Dr. Harrington removed 7 ribs in my right chest in what forthat time was very radical chest surgery. I was all winter recuperatingso missed a year of school. We moved back to the ranch in the spring of1927.
 
 

In the seventhgrade, back in the "Corner" school, Mrs. Alice Hamilton was the teacher.Had a 4-h club that next summer raised corn as our project. Cecil and Igave a demonstration on "The Methods of Curing and Storage of Seed Corn"at the County fair in Lewistown and won a trip to the State Fair in Billings,where we won the silver cup for Champion Boy's Demonstration Team.
 
 

Uncle Ray movedto Lewistown the fall of 1928 so Gertrude could start High School. I boardedwith them and Cecil and I went to the 8^th grade at the JuniorHigh School.
 
 

More 4-H workthe summer of 1929 and Kenneth Clary and I competed in the corn-judgingcontest at the Fergus County Fair. Our team won a trip to the Sate Fair,so Kenneth and I took the train to Billings for what I believe was my firstextended trip away from home alone. As I remember Kenneth and I placedsecond in the Billings competition.
 
 

Started HighSchool and in De. 1929 Gertrude and I along with 54 other Montana 4-H Memberstook a trip to the International Stock Show and 4-H Congress in Chicago.What an exciting trip that was, the Montana Delegation had a special Pullmanand did we run that poor porter ragged!!
 
 

Continued onthrough High School without too much excitement. Took part in most allof the Class Plays and Music Dept. Operettas, either in the cast or asa member of the stage crew. Was on the Student Council as Class Representativefor all four years. Graduated in June 1933 and was one of the lucky seniorsto be elected to the National Honor Society.
 
 

That summerthe family took a trip to Great Falls, Missoula, Bozeman and the YellowstonePark.
 
 

In the fallof 1933 I enrolled as a freshman at the University at Missoula, livingat the Boy's dormitory. Several of my High School chums were living therealso so I did not feel too lost.
 
 

In my Juniorand Senior years I worked as laboratory assistant in the dept. of Physics.After the earthquakes of 1935 at Helena a special seismograph was installedat the University to record any more severe shocks that might occur. Iwas nursemaid to the machine but it never operated, as there were not moresevere quakes.
 
 

Mother had movedto Missoula my sophomore year so I lived at home my last three years. Igraduated in June of 1937 with a degree in Physics and Mathematics.
 
 

In the fallof 1937 was unable to get a job so went out to Yakima, Washington and workedin the orchards and fruit warehouse during the fall. Was back home forChristmas and then taught the month of January as a substitute teacherin a little town in Wyoming. In February 1938 I went to California andvisited Uncle Burl at Palo Alto for a few weeks then went back to Missoula.There I joined the staff of the WPA Correspondence school that suppliedcourses for the boys in the CCC Camps. I also took some courses at theUniversity that I had not had time to take before. The WPA school was takenover by the State Dept. of Public Instruction when the established a CorrespondenceSchool for the grades and Hight School. I continued to work at the schooluntil Feb. of 1940 when I was offered a position with the U.S. WeatherBureau in Butte, Montana. I bought my first car, a Plymouth coupe (usedof course), and took off for Butte and a life as a Weather Forecaster.
 
 

I spent twoand 1/2 years at Butte and was then transferred to Savannah, Georgia. Beforeleaving Butte the Draft Board grabbed me but as soon at the doctor sawthe scar where the 7 ribs had been removed he said, "Don't ever finishundressing. You just flunked your physical". After about six months atSavannah I was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia for about four months. InJuly 1943 I was transferred to "Far Famed" Cape Hatteras on the North CarolinaCoast. The Cape is a long (8 miles) narrow sand bar running along throughAtlantic Coast. The island averages 1/4 of a mile to 3 miles in width.The highest spot on the island is about 90 feet above sea lever but mostof the island is only about 5 or 6 feet above sea level. The island ispopulated by people of English descent who settled the area about 300-350years ago. They are of the same stock as the "hill billy's" of the Carolina-KentuckySmoky Mountain region and both groups still speak Elizabethan English.At least the oder folds do, the young folks travel more and listen to theradio so they are losing the distinctive accent.
 
 

In 1944 I wasalmost in the center of one of the most violent hurricanes of history.I.R. Rannehi II, the famous authority on hurricanes said in 1952 concerningthe "Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944" that "there is no definite proofof a more violent hurricane in the records". The pressure at Hatteras droppedover tow inches (from 30.09 to 27.85) during the passage of the storm.The winds reached estimated velocities of 134 miles per hour. (The windinstruments blew down at 30 miles per hour before the storm really gotgoing good) The amount of rainfall was impossible to measure as the raingauges were completely covered by the sea-tide during the height of thestorm. Hundreds of thousand of dollar's worth of damage was done to thecoast but the loss of life was very low considering the violence of thestorm.
 
 

To go back amoment when I first went to the island in 1943 the German submarines werestill operating off the Eastern Coast. I did not see any torpedoed boatsas many Hatteras people did the year before but I did hear and feel manyexplosions, either torpedoes or depth charges or both. I used to see theblimps on the sunrise anti-sub patrol whenever I was on the early morningshift.
 
 

In 1948 I wastransferred to Great Falls, Montana where I worked until January of 1951when I transferred to Helena, Montana, where I am a Forecaster in the StateClimatological Office. In the fall if 1957 I bought an old small houseand am keeping busy trying to fix it up. I spent this last winter makinglike a plumber, installing a new hot water tank and all new copper pipes.The next project is to replace the old obsolete electric wiring. Its lotsof work but a welcome change from office work.
 
 

Written May30, 1959 at Helena, Montana

Signed

Lyle Haight
 

1934

Beryl Haightmet Everett Fred Peterson at Missoula, Montana in the spring of 1934 whenEverett was attending a track meeting at Missoula. They both attended theState "U" at Missoula. Beryl going the full four years and graduating inJune 6, 1938. Everett going but two years and working at various jobs untilBeryl's graduation.
 
 

1938

Beryl Haightgraduated from college at Missoula at two P.M. June 6, 1938. At Five P.M.the same day she was married to Everett Peterson at the First MethodistChurch at Missoula, Mont. By the Rev. Vande Mark.
 
 

1938-1939

Everett andBeryl leased and ran a service station in Missoula until the spring of1939. Worked on construction until fall of 1940.
 
 

1940-1944

Worked at AssayOffice in East Helena at the Smelter Beryl keeping the house and Everettbringing in the bacon.
 
 

1944-1945

Worked for stockrancher Harry Shaw at Cardwell, which is near Whitehall, Mont.
 
 

1945-1948

They moved backto Helena where they lived and worked on various ranches for about threeyears.
 
 

1948-1949 Againworked at the smelter in East Helena for about one year.
 
 

1949-1954

Rented a 320A. irrigated farm two miles north of East Helena where we for five yearslived a happy life. Raised spuds, cattle, wheat, etc.
 
 

1954-1957

Lived firston our farm we had bought just north of Townsend, Mont. The Canyon FerryDam flooded much of the place and we had to move into the town of Townsend.Tried to farm parts of the place not flooded & still trying it in 1958.
 
 

1955-1956

Beryl and EverettPeterson took a vacation going to New Mexico, Las Vegas and other point'ssouth. Both were very well as far as they knew. Upon returning to the ranchBeryl (Haight) Peterson suddenly learned she had cancer.
 
 

For over a yearshe was in and out of the hospital at Missoula Mont. Staying part of thetime with her father, Ernest Haight in Missoula and when possible goinghome to Townsend, Mont. Ernest and Sylvia Haight lived in Missoula andwee very kind to Beryl. Sylvia Haight once said "I never had anyone aroundwho had the pleasant personality and disposition that Beryl had even thoughshe was very sick person". Those are not Sylvia's exact words but it washer thought.
 
 

Beryl died inthe St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, Mont. 5-24-1957. She was laid torest at the cemetery 3 miles north of Helena, Mont. Known as the ForestVale Cemetery.
 
 

Beryl and Everett'seldest child Terrence Everett Peterson is buried in the same cemetery.
 
 

Everett Petersonwith his two living children continued to live for a time in Townsend sellingmachinery and the children _________________________________________________________________________________________keepinghouse. Late in 1958 Everett with his two children, Bonnie and Fred moveda hundred or so miles east to White Sulphur Springs where he is in partnershipwith his brother Keith Peterson in an up and coming hardware store. Bonnieis finishing her last year in high school. Fred is going to school andworking part time in the store. Well he is helping anyway.
 
 

Beryl (Haight)Peterson and Everett had three children.
 
 

Terrence EverettPeterson born E. Helena Mont. 12-13-1939. He died of cancer in the hospitalat Great Falls, Mont. At the age of six on 5-11-1946.
 
 

Bonnie Margaretwas also born in E. Helena 10-14-1941.
 
 

Fred ErnestPeterson the third and youngest was born E. Helena, 12-24-1946.
 
 

(It could beany or all were born in Helena and not E. Helena)
 
 

A LITTLE ABOUTBERYL'S HUSBAND AND HIS FAMILY
 
 

Everett FredPeterson was one of three sons all born in or near Forsyth, Mont.

Leonard Gordon5-11-1913

Everett Fred9-26-1916

Keith Irving8-9-1919

The parentsof these three boys were Fred Lewis Peterson 2-2-1885 in Kansas and MableWestaby 8-8-1889 at Forsyth, Montana.

They were unitedin marriage 8-26-1911 at Forsyth, Montana. Fred Peterson, Sr. parents caomefrom Denmark to Kansas. He with his wife and children made the trip fromKansas to Montana in 1889 by covered wagon drawn by oxen. The family walkedthe most of the distance to lighten the load. They settled on Horse Creek.Fred Peterson's parents homesteading. Fred going to school and finallyto college. (Pullman in Washington for one place). He obtained a good educationreturned to Forsyth taught homesteaded and married 8-26-1911 to the daughterof the ferry operation a certain Mable Westaby. This ferry operated acrossthe Missouri River. She well remembers fear of Indian raids and being bundledup and rushed to a safe place. (They hoped) This was not far from wherethe Custer Massacre took place and not long afterwards.
 
 

Fred Petersontaught Montana School from about 1902 to 1953 almost fifty years. He retiredas principal of the East Helena School in that year to the quiet life ona farm south of Missoula near Corcalis, Montana. He has one son livingnear there Leonard and Grace Virginia (Haight) Peterson.

Signed thisday Nov. 30, 1958 by a son of Fred Peterson and husband of Beryl (Haight)Peterson
 
 

COPY OF LETTERFROM BERYL MARAGRET HAIGHT PETERSON

OCTOBER 2, 1956

ST. PATRICK'SHOSPITAL

MISSOULA, MONTANA
 
 

DEAR DWIGHT& ANN,

YOU ARE VERYFAITHFUL WITH YOUR LETTERS AND I APPRECIATE IT A GREAT DEAL. SURELY DIDENJOY THE VISIT WITH YOU IN MISSOULA, THOUGH WAS VERY PROVOKED WITH MYSELFFOR NOT ASKING ANN ABOUT THAT WONDERFUL NEW GRANDCHILD DOWN IN BOZEMAN!
 
 

LYLE WAS INGREAT FALLS LAST WEEK BUT MISSED SEEING BOTH OF YOU. HE HAS SOME FINE PICTURESOF THE COUSIN REUNION IN MINN.
 
 

WE WERE INTERESTEDIN YOUR QUOTES FROM THE BOOK YOU ARE READING. OF COURSE, MY RESPONSE TOX-RAY HAS BEEN SO GRATIFYING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT WE HAVE HAD HIGHHOPES. AS FOR THE MEDICAL EXPLANATION OF "SPONTANIOUS REMISSION" I PREFERTO CALL IT DIVINE HEALING BECAUSE I KNOW IN A FEW CASES PEOPLE ARE ABLETO DRAW ON THE POWER OF THE LORD TO THAT EXTENT. IN FACT I AM SURETHAT IN MY OWN CASE ABSOLUTE FAITH AND CONCENTRATED PRAYER HAVE SAVED MYLIFE. I BELIEVE IN IT, AND HAVE HAD AMAZING HELP FROM FRINEDS AND RELATIVESWHO PRAY WITH ME. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER GONE THROGUH THE OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCEOF A DIVINE BLESSING CAN NEVER DOUBT AFAIN WHAT CONTROLS OUR LIVES.
 
 

WELL, WE ALLHAVE OUR OWN WAY OF INTERPRETING THINGS. I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT DEALTO HELP ME, TOO. YOU HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL AND IT MEANS AN AWFULLOT TO ME. WHEN A GUY GETS DOWN HE NEEDS THAT HELP.
 
 

COME SEE US.
 
 

LOVE,

BERYL PETERSON

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------THISIS ONE OF THE LAST LETTERS WRITTEN BY BERYL BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY AT ATIME SHE WAS ENJOYING LIVING SO MUCH. OR SHE WAS UNTIL STRICKEN WITH CANCER.

(DWIGHT L. HAIGHT)
 
 

Descendants of Ernest WhitneyHaight 5-22-1884 Elk Twp., Buena Vista County, Iowa married 10-10-1910to Maude Isabelle Thompson at Lewistown, Montana. She was born 10-13-1882at Bristow, Iowa and died 9-25-1946 at Lewistown, Montana. Buried at Lewistown,Montana.
 
 

Lyle Francis Haight 6-8-1914at Suffolks, Fergus Co., Montana

Beryl Margaret Haight 7-12-1917at Suffolks, Fergus Co., Montana married 6-6-1938 to Everett Fred Petersonat Missoula, Montana. He was born 9-16-1916 at Forsyth, Montana. Beryldied 5-24-1957 buried at Forest Vale Cemetery, 3 miles north of Helena,Montana.
 
 

Beryl and Everett Peterson

Terry Peterson 12-13-1939Helena

5-11-1946 Great falls
 
 

Bonnie Peterson 10-14-1941Helena

Fred Ernest Peterson 12-24-1946Helena, Montana