Cora May Jones Schouten
Cora May Jones Schouten, born 19 September 1866 in Jackson County, Iowa, and died 17 July 1951 in her daughter's home near Buck Grove. Cora's parents, Lyman M. and Harriet Jones moved to the Charter Oak area.
Cora was the 2nd wife of William Nessle Schouten, son of James Schouten of Dow City. He was born 30 Mar 1864 and died 03 Jun 1933. Cora's daughters, Mearl Nessle Schouten Winn and Helen Schouten Dawson were also from the area.
Will and Cora Schouten
Helen Dawson's mother was Jessie Coon Schouten, Will Schouten's first wife who was killed when a wagon rolled over on her after Helen was born. Helen was raised by Jessie's family in Dow City. My (Lynn Breese) grandmother is Mearl Nessle Schouten Winn. All the Schoutens are buried at Union Cemetery-Dow City, Iowa.
Cora was a teacher and an artist as well as a quiet, kind person. She always had a smile.
Grama Schouten, as we called her, did many things including oil painting and quilting. The oil painting was something she excelled at and she painted several beautiful paintings before she died along with many crafty items. "Pansies", below, is just one of her undertakings.
Using potato sacks, flour sacks, and whatever else she could find she fashioned quilts and clothing with the ease of a master. Several quilts that she made by hand, have been restored including the 'Red Quilt'. It contains names of the Schoutens, Canfields, Nessles, and first names. She did it all by hand possibly in or around early 1900's.
The red quilt is one of my favorites. Bringing back the past in red stitches and style she has identified several members of her husband's family.
There are a few more quilts that have been totally redone, so that they would remain preserved. Although the fabric is faded and the stitches loose, the past remains.
See Photo of the Red Quilt made by Cora.