LETTERS REGARDING DESCENDANTS OF GIDEON BLACKBURN MCCORD
Letters and other sources give some information on the McCord families that descend from the Gideon Blackburn McCord family. They are given below with some additional notes added by myself.
Grandmother McCord is Martha Caroline Alexander, wife of Gideon Black-burn McCord. Letters from her are included later.
Carrie's maiden name is probably Wilcox, for there are numerous references to Ma and Pa Wilcox. The mother's name is probably Vinnie and Carrie has a sister Gracie. Carrie and Rolla married, probably in Topeka, KS on December 31, 1906 according to one of the letters to Harry. The divorce was probably in the second half of 1917 and may be better defined in letters subsequently added to the file.
George Rollin McCord family is frequently mentioned in the California letters and his family record has been given above. In addition to Aunt Mary and Uncle George, Gid(eon), Lois and Will(iam) are written about. Rolla must have kept in touch with the family for he recorded the genealogical data either from correspondence or a visit in the early 1920s on which most of our knowledge of the George Rollin's family is based. The three letters from Ella Jackson included below will also give us some information on the family. His wife, Mary J. Bullock, has the following on her family from History of Page County, Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Historical Society, 1880, p.638:
BULLOCK, JAMES, farmer, section 28, P. O. Blanchard; born October 19, 1811, in the county of Cornwall, Parish of St. Columb, England. His early life was passed on a farm. In 1834 came to America; his first act on reaching this country was to purchase a bible. He located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, remaining until March, 1835, when he went to Chenango County, remaining two years. In 1838 came to Van Buren county, Iowa. In 1840 moved to St. Louis, Missouri, from which place he returned to Pennsylvania. Came to Page county, Iowa, in 1857. Was married February 15, 1848, to Miss L. Ballen, a native of England. They have ten children: Lavinnia S., Mary J., Loveday A., George W., John T., Charles E., Olive C.(must be Oliver C.), Jessie D., William, and Alice. Owns 320 acres of good land. P.594, James Bullock had done preaching at the Three Forks Nodaway Baptist church in Buchanan Township.
Further information on the Bullock family is found in Pages from the Past, a quarterly periodical of Page County, Iowa:
December 1980 p.4 April 6, 1880 in Colfax Twp. Mr. O. C. Bullock married Miss Edith B. Bennett.
September 1982 pp. 6,11,15 Mrs. Oliver Bullock died July 2, 1886; Jesse D. Bullock age 22 and Mary Ellen Crabb age 17 obtained a license to marry in January 1885; From the 1860 Washington Twp., Page County Federal Census: 581/581 James Bullock, age 49, farmer, $2000 real estate, $300 personal property, born England; Loveday age 37, England; Larina, age 13, Penn.; Mary J. age 11, Penn; Thos. F., age 10, Penn.; Loveday A., age 8, Penn.; Susan, age 7, Penn; George, age 5, Penn.; John, age 4, Penn.; Charles age 3, Iowa; James, age 7/12, Iowa.
December 1978, pp. 9,15,16,18,24 1880 Amity and Colfax Twps., Page County Federal Census: Oliver C. Bullock WM age 20 and Edith B. WF age 17; W. H. Bullock WM age 25; James Bullock WM age 68, Lovedy WF age 58, John WM age 24, Jesse WM age 18, William WM age 15, Alice WF age 13, Loved Ann WF age 28. Graves in the Blanchard Cemetery, Colfax Twp. Row 8, 41 Mary A. 1864-88; 42 Edith Bennett 1862-86; Row 9, 45 James Bullock 1811-86; 46 Loveday Bullock 1823-1914; Row 11, 8 Judith T. Bullock, daughter of Trevor & Hazel Bullock Feb 20....Sep. 16, 1917; 9 James Richard Bullock, son of J. T. and Mollie Bullock, 1909-11; 10 Lou Bullock, dau of J. T. & Mollie Bullock, 1904-1907; 11 John T. Bullock, 1856-1935; Mollie V., 1869-1957. Row 14, 19 Nettie O. Bullock Aug 20, 1870-Oct 15, 1934.
March 1983 p.15 married in Blanchard Jan. 24, 1891 Wm. Bullock of Long Creek, Oregon & Alma N. Dunton of same.
Another source on the Bullock family is Page County History. Page County, Iowa Genealogical Society, 1984: p.462 Florence Bullock Wright;, born Dec. 18, 1887 near Blanchard, Iowa to Jesse and Ellen Crabb Bullock. She was second oldest of nine children. p.342 Casper Meade established his saddlery and harness business in 1868 the same year he married Lavinia Truthura Bullock. Lavinia was also a native of Pennsylvania and of English descent. Her parents moved to Page County in 1857, settling in the Blanchard area. The marriage of these two united two of the earliest families of Page County.
The Pinckney H. McCord family is often mentioned. He is Uncle Hal or Hall, his wife is Aunt Prude and Charlie and Frank are often mentioned and were visited in Topeka in the 1920s and 30s and visited us in Glen Ellyn as well. Their family records are included. Betty remembers visiting Uncle Hall in the soldier's home on one of their visits.
From Prudence McCord, c/o A. T. Cross ?, Topeka, KS, to Rolla McCord, Apr. 15, 1916 ??
Well Rolla I supose you think that I am not going to write but I have not felt like writing all winter but I am alone so will try what I can do. Your Uncle has gone on the road if he can stand it. Three weeks Sunday he sliped & sprained his ancle & it was not well but he thought he would try it & if he cant he will come home. He has not done a thing this winter & he was getting nervous to get to doing something. We have had a damp winter not as cold as last, but it is nice know (now?). We have most of our garden in. How I wish I could have some of your nice Flours. I hope that George will come, we would take a trip out their if we were able. Charlie went back on acount of the expence. They like it out here. The last we heard from Franks they weare they are still in Milford, it is about a year scince I have seen them. Jessie is Salt Lake City & has been for two years they have bought them a home. She is not well, she works to hard.
Well I think that I will stop with best wishes Your Aunt P S McCord
The Hall Alexanders are mentioned in Clay Center. James Hall Alexander was the son of Robert and Celestina Alexander. Both of his parents died in 1856 leaving four orphans. James Hall was adopted by Gideon and Martha Caroline McCord, Martha being his aunt, and ended up with them in Kansas. It is with James Hall Alexander's family that Martha Caroline spent her last illness. The following letter from one of James Hall's daughters to Martha Caroline Alexander McCord follows.
From Manhattan; Kans., April, 12th/'05 from Almeda {Alice}) who was 26 years old in 1905 and later married a Mr. Grant.
Dear Grandma, It was a pleasant suprise for me to hear from you this morning, and I know papa will be just as glad as I was.
I have been in Manhattan all of the time since Jan. and some of the time before that, I have been nursing in Dr. Silkman's hospital every since I came here the last time, I stay here in preference to Clay, because I get twenty dollars a week here and I got fifteen in Clay.
Papa is living thirteen miles south west of Clay he has been there four years, and is doing real well, he was not very well all winter, he was troubled with malaria, but wrote that he was feeling much better last week. Mamma is quite well now, she was sick with nervous prostration last fall, I staid with her two months, and done the work and she has been getting along very well since.
Mollie is living two miles east of Clay, her name is Hutchinson, she & her husband are going to Illinois to visit this summer, he rented his farm. Emma has been married two years this spring her name is Davis. Lettie was married a year ago in Jan. her name is Heath, they both live near home. Rob works on a farm near Oak Hill, the rest of the children are at home, the two boys are nearly men now they and papa are farming about two hundred acres of land this year, they have about 70 or 80 acres in wheat.
I have often thought I would like to come to Topeka for a few days and if there is a time when I am not busy, so I can get away I will run down for a few days and come to see you, I would like to very much.
How are Charley & Fred, also Cousin Hall & Aunt Prude? I hope you are all well. I was sorry you was not well, and hope you will be stronger this summer, I wish you could come and see us. I knew Jessie was married but didn't know about the boy until last week, Mrs. Calvin told me. Well Grandma I will close
On the back of the last page Grandma appends the following note: I got a letter from Alice Alexander Hall Alexander Daughter. Your Pa will like to hear from Hall. I had not heard from them since your Grand Pa Died. I think I will go and See them this Summer I will close write tell all the news (letter must have been forwarded to one or more of the families)
From Martha Caroline Alexander McCord, 509 Buchanan St., Topeka Kan., Apr 20, 1905 To Mrs. Ethel Ecker, Elmo, Missouri, Apr 20, 1905
Dear Ethel I will try and write you a few lines. I am feeling quite well now. The rest of the Folks are not feeling very well. Prude has Rheumatism all the time and She worked all the (time?). Hall had it in his ankle and foot he is better. Jessie is not very well. She had indigestion. Baby grows like a Little Pig. Sweet as he can be. I dont think they will go to California. Will ? Dont like thare. We had a nice Rain this morning quite Windy to Day thing looks nice. We had a Freeze the other night. I am a fraid the fruit is hurt some. Did it kill ? berry ? thare I hope not.
How are the Sick Folks getting a long. Does your Pa get any Strength. Does your Ma still keep up. Has Lora moved on the Shepard place. You
said your Ma and Pa had not been to see you. It is not because the(y) dont want to. I hope they will get well and they will. How is your grandma.
I got a letter from Em. I heard Pearl had the School. Before that a girl told Jessie She was acquainted with Miss Adamnes ? How far does she live from you. She must have had a pretty time with her baby when they were sick. I believe I answered Odak ? letter Grandmother McCord
From Martha Caroline Alexander McCord, 509 Buchanan St., Topeka KS, Mar 29, 1906 To Mrs. Emma McCord, College Springs, Iowa.
I will try and write you a few lines. I am not feeling very well not sick but Lazy. We all had a spell this winter they called it winter lolagy ?. I was pretty sick for a day and night. I have not felt so well since.
We are having a nice Spring pleny of rain and quite warm. We had quite a Sorme (storm) Monday night. Rain Hail and Wind no damage done here. Very very nice here. Every thing putting out green. We have Radishe and Lettuce up. I think we are going to have an earley Spring.
I have not writen to you a bout Jessie Birth Day Preasant. Feb 3 she was thirty 2 had a Fine Boy. He is a nice big boy can Laugh and coo like a Dove. (Jessie McCord Hassebroek) Will her husband has gone to California to look for a location. If he likes (it) She will go. Soon it will be very lonley that way this would go ??
Well Em what are you all doing. I must hurry with this letter So you will get it before you get in the garden. How does Pearl and Harry get a long with their School. I mean how did they Stand the cold winter. I thought of poor Pearl often. How is Rolla what is he doing.
How is Mrs. Ed Brill ? and Baby. How long was the baby Sick. Mrs. Cole ? and Family and all the neighbors. Do you See Mrs. Beach ? girls. My love to her and Mrs. Bollard. I Suppose you had ? ? (heard of) Shorts Funeral. Poor man he gone to his long home. We dont mourn for him.
I wish I could see you all Once more. Does Rolla keep well. Are you having mutch rain. This is a nice Day. Hope it wont rain. Charlie Folks not very well. Ella has poor health. They have two pretty children. Ronald goes to School. Florence wanted to go. She not old enough. She just ?.
I will try and finish this third letter. This is a nice morning and I feel better. Hope this will find you well. I believe you said you was bourding (boarding) a School Mam (or Man) I think you have all you can do. I want you to answer this before you go in the garden. Tell all the news. If that ? is any has ? ? ?
I wish you could see our baby he is so Sweet and nice. We will be very Lonely if he goes away. Are you having nice weather it is so nice here. How I would like to stop in and take supper with you. I think Pearl and Harry will be glad when School is Out. Have you a new minister this Spring. I must close this the male man will be here Soon. I want to get this in the Office. I want you to get this before you get in the garden. So you will answer. I want to know where Osker C??? is and if he is married please tell me. This nice Day has turned out to be very Windy and Storme like Sunday ? warm.
Frank McCord has a pretty little girl he lives at Millford ? Riley. Write soon Love to all good by Your mother McCord
From Ella Jackson (daughter of George Rollins McCord) Sebastopol, California, Jan. 24, 1905 To Martha Caroline Alexander McCord
(Originals of these letters sent to Tom Jackson)
Dear Grandma and all. I received your welcome letter several days ago. Was very glad to hear from you again. Was glad to know that you were feeling well. Some of our family have been sick for the last 2 months. Ralph (the one next the baby) first got sick about the middle of Dec. Took the Whooping Cough and had Pneumonia fever. Was pretty sick for over a week. Then Pearl and the baby both took the Lagrippe and was so awful sick. We had to have the Dr again. Pearl was sick 3 days then. As soon as she was better the Dr gave her medicine for a tape worm. (about a month before this she passed a piece of one.) The medicine was so strong that she threw up most of it so that we didn't get it after all, that is all of it. We got about 10 feet of it. The medicine made her so awful sick for over a week I didn't know wether she would live or not. She looked like she had green Jaundice. But she is pretty well now. We will give her another dose for the tape worm before long. Pearl hadn't much more than got well than the baby took Pneumonia fever. He hadn't been well a week when Elmer (my oldest boy) took Pneumonia or lung fever. He was different from the little children. We came very near loosing him his fever got up to 106 1/2. He has been out of bed now a week. And I do hope we wont have...sickness this winter...the reason we have...time was because...of the Whooping Cough...a blessing that I keep...able to wait on them. I get pretty tired sometimes though.
The folks at Healdsburg were all well last week. Except Clyde, his eyes were hurting him terrible, but getting better. Lois husband is never stout, his work is to confining indoors. Lois wrote, she guessed they would go back to Kansas in the spring sure. I hope they will have good health where ever they are. We expect Fred and family home anytime, don't know whether they will go back or not. They are well and doing well.
I must bring this...hoping to hear from...I expect you are...of winter there now...How is everybody ...Iowa and Kansas? With... your Granddaughter. Ella (piece of last pages torn off)
From Ella Jackson, Sebastopol, Calif. March 11, 1905
Dear Grandmother and all. I will now try to answer your ever welcome letter. Which I received a few days ago. I sent your letter up to Pa 3 or 4 days ago. We were sorry to hear of you all being sick. But glad you are getting better. And hope this finds you well. So Jessie has a fine boy. I congratulate her from my heart. What would this world be if there wasn't any boys in it. I have 5 living and 1 dead, and hope that is my share. We are all pretty well now but colds.
The weather has been very warm here the past 2 weeks untill day before yesterday it clouded up. Was cloudy yesterday with some rain in the mountains. Rained here today part of the time. These changes in the weather are good for bad colds.
We have quite a lot of spring garden made. But are going to make more. we live in the edge of town, have a good sized lot. You have had some pretty cold weather there, haven't you?
Sebastopol is about 9 miles from Healdsburg. I haven't been up there since in October. Just once since we moved here. Was up once last summer while we were camped here. That makes twice in nearly a year. I am going up again though this month if nothing happens. Lois and her husband are going to Kansas the first of April And I want to go up before she leaves. They are going to Allen Co. the name of the town is Bayard. It isn't so very far from you.
Yes Grandma there are fleas here. And if there are any mistakes in this letter, you can blame the fleas, for they do bite like everything.
True (Truman) was here a few minutes today. He said everybody was about as usual at Healdsburg. Clyde and family have moved out in the country about 3 miles. Pa hasn't heard from that mail Route yet. There was some mistake a man got it that never applied for it. They have been trying to straiten it out I believe. I guess Fred is going to stay down there another yr. ? They are well. Send me some of the letters you get from Iowa. How are they? Write soon. Love to all. From your Granddaughter Ella Jackson
From Sebastopol, Calif., April 11, 1905.
Dear Grandma and all. I received your very welcome letter a few days ago. Was sorry to hear that you were not strong. Hope this will find you better. We are all pretty well now, since the children got over the Whooping Cough.
The weather is nice and warm, almost like summer. The apple trees are in full bloom. Everything looks green and nice, everything growing fine. I guess there will be good crops of everything here this year. We had no late frosts that hurt anything much. The late rains didn't hurt things but little. Our garden looks fine. We are living right in town, but we manage to have a little garden. I don't like to live in town either. John is at work on the electric railroad, with his team. He is camped about 6 miles from here. Comes home Saturday nights when possible. We may all camp out again when the weather gets settled.
I always send your letters to Pa. I haven't heard from them since I sent your last letter. I was up to Healdsburg about 2 weeks ago. They were all as well as usual there. Fred and family have come back from Fresno. They were well, but tired out. Fred and Clyde VanDevere (Lois' husband) have bought a cigar stand and candy shop so that they (Lois and husband) have given up going back to Kansas for the present at least. If they shouldn't happen to like it, as well as they think they would and get a chance to sell out, they will very probably go then. Lois terribly dissapointed.
Well I suppose your cold weather is over back there by now. And you are beginning to look for thunderstorms, hot weather, and cyclones. We usually have just one thunderstorm a year and that is in February. I will close for this time. Write soon. Love to all. your Granddaughter Ella Jackson
From Lois Van Deveere, Healdsburg, CA, Jan. 2, 1912 to Rollie McCord
Dear Cousin
Now I dont owe you a letter but Papa got your card yesterday and he is just as near sick as any one dare be and be on his feet, so I told him I would ans. your card for him, the rest of us are all real well except Iva ?? she is never well any more. Clyde is working hard all the time and myself too most of the time. I took the Forelady job again in the Packing House again this Fall and we have been working since Sep. but not every day now since Nov. we commenced again today. Gee it was cold this Decm. ? nearly freezed my little toes off the same is fine but when the frost is so thick it takes a long time to warm up. We have never had such cold nights here in Cal. before that I know off.
See by your card Rollie you are still at the same place. How do you like it out here by now and does Carrie like it too. Hope you both do for it would be hard to live some place you did not like.
Rollie you spoke of Cousin Fred (P. H.'s youngest son) being dead. Say what did he die off and was he sick long and what is the matter with Aunt Prude? poor thing that is to bad. Now Papa said for you to ans. this right away and tell us all you know about it for he is anxious to hear all the pictulars. We have not heard from any of the folks back their for a long time. They are like you write once in a year. Now if you dont ans. this I will slap you in the kisser, when I see you. Cousin Char. or Ella have not written to me since I got home. How are they well I hope.
Papa wanted to know where Aunt Emm. is and how she is and also Pearl said he would give any thing to see them (he) and Mamma too talk of you all so much.
Did Santa Claus treat you pretty good Rollie. He was very good to all of us better than expected for we hadnt been so very good. We have bought us a little home and have a dandy little cow, chickens and lots of canned fruit. Will have a nice garden soon now.
Rollin and wife live here in town. Rollin bought back the Barber shop and is doing fine. Will and Gid are in the City. Gid is a Barber. Jule is in Stockton now. Chas is home Fred is in Modock Co. Ella is in Sebastopol about 30 miles from here so you see we are scattered all around. Clyde lives out of town about 3 miles. They have another baby boy 7 months old. That makes them 5 children.
Now Rollie I am going to stop for I have to get up early in the morning and I am tired tonight and have the head ache too. Now please answer this right away wont you for Pa and all of us are anxious to hear how Aunt Prude is.
I will close now and hope to hear from you soon. Closing with love to you both I am as ever your Cousin Lois Van Deveere
From Lora Clark (daughter of John Morrison McCord), Elmo, Missouri,
Sept. 15, 1914 To Mrs. Emma McCord
Dear Aunt
Yours of the 24th at hand. Ona asked me to answer for her. In regard to Pa's last sickness; it was very brief. The heat had been intense for several days. And he complained of being weak and tired. One day near the middle of the week, Eva called the Doctor. He said it was acute indigestion and nothing serious at all. Pa kept up, was up the street several times a day but still complained. Saturday he got the mail a 10 A.M., read the papers, discussed war news, made notes as statistics and population of different cities. And ate a very hearty dinner. After eating he said he had eaten to much, it hurt him and complained of choaking, sat in the yard all evening, ate no supper, said he would be ready for a good Breakfast. Lee made him some ice cream after supper but he didn't want any of that, said he would rather die than suffer all night as he had all afternoon, that he was better then and would rest good. Sat in the yard till 9:30 P.M.
Ona brought his chair in and he came in got ready for bed, wound the clock as usual, as he lay down he said "Eva I didn't lock the back door." Lay down on his right side folded his arms and crossed his _at ?. Ona sat down at the bedroom door and had hardly got seated when she thought he had nightmare. She went to him and she saw the the change, told Eva. And he breathed once and was gone, without a move of any kind. Eva called help and it was just 9:40 P.M. that he was pronounced dead.
It was an awful shock but after we had time to think it was not wholly unexpected. We were issuing an invitation for their golden wedding, some of them were out. And when they got theirs Pa said may be we will both live that long but cant expect to much longer. And the one left must not grieve for the other the separation will be so short. Ona is bearing up bravely but we see it is wearing. She had a sick spell Sat & Sunday of last week. Caused by nervousness, is better now.
Eva is still in the central office. Onand & Lee both live near. Bertha & Frank are at C.S. yet. We live on the Hardcastle place. We will or have sent you a Current Press. I dont know whether Lillie got your invitation mailed or not, we were sending you one. Aunt Emma we sent those messages c.o.d. because the agent said they would receive more prompt attention that way.
I am sorry you are not well; there is lots of sickness here, this has been a hard summer very hot and dry, crops short, prices soaring. Ona got a letter from Uncle Hall but none yet from Uncle George. One from Pearl also received which we appreciate, will ans soon. Tell her the particulars of this is for her too. I have several to write and am getting around as fast as possible. I am glad to hear from you. Ans and will do likewise. Excuse this writing my nerves are on edge this morning. Your Loving Niece Lora Clark, Elmo, Mo. R-1
From a Cousin Jennie, possibly Topeka, probably written about 1920 to Emma McCord
Dear Cousin Emma I can't tell you how glad we were to get your card today. We got a Christmas Card from you a year ago with your address, but could not make it out, and we tried in every way to find where you were. And I said to Jim I expect we will get a card from Emma Christmas time and then maybe we will get the address so it came tonight.
There has so many things happened since we last heard from you. Why dont you come back on a visit we will be awfully good to you. I suppose Jim has told you lots of news. I was just called to the phone and the word comes that Mr. Driskel died last night. He and his wife was living with Millie and they had just moved to Council Bluffs. He has been such a suffer for a number of years it is a releaf to him.
Frank McCord was asking me to night if I would ask you for the boys address. He wanted to write to them. Franks Mother is living with him and she is such a care like a child and it looks like she would not be her long. When you answer this letter say something about her in it and I will take it down and read it to her. I hope Pearl and familie are well. I heard she had two little ones. Ross Pollock is home from camp. Pearl is keeping house for her father. Now Emma please do write and tell me all about yourself. Your old friend lots of love Jennie
Wishing you all a happy New Year. Turn over a new leaf and write often to us.
EMMA ALMIRA CARVER AND LENA PEARL MCCORD 006
1856 Born in Nora, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, 16 September
1860 My mother died.
1860 -62 Lived with my aunt, Mrs. Turner.
1863 Father married Mary Fuller.
1869 Moved from Nora to Nodaway County, Missouri. They went in
a covered wagon, cooked biscuits along the way.
1872 Two years of county school at distance of two miles.
1873 Attended the Amity Academy, Iowa. (College Springs)
1877 Married. Lived on a farm one year.
1878 Moved to another farm for six months. Then to College
Springs.
1879 Broke up housekeeping. Taught school 8 months.
1880 Moved into the house where my first child was born.
Stayed till spring and moved to another house till next
spring.
1881 Moved south of Blanchard for six months then back to town
1882 over a store till spring then moved to east part of town
1883 in a house we bought and where second child was born. Next
1884 spring moved to Kansas and rented a home in the country.
1885 Next spring we moved to Leonardville and built a house 1886 where my third child was born.
Lena Pearl McCord begins the notes at this date.
1887 Wm. McCord, my father died.
1889 Mother and we three children moved to grandfather's farm in
Missouri (Nodaway County), near Blanchard, Elmo and Braddyville. My half-brothers Herman and Clifford were taken under mother's wing.
1892 We move to College Springs and lived in five rented houses
1893 when mother builds her own with $500 from grandfather's
farm.
1893-97 Rolla, Harry and I attend grades in College Springs,
also Hermie and Clifford for a time.
1898 I graduate from grades.
1899 I enter college preparatory.
1900-01 I attend college preparatory and study voice.
1902 Teach first country school west of town, Farquhar School.
1903 Teach 5th grade in town.
1904 4th year in college, also studying voice and piano.
1905 Teach country school east of town.
1906-08 Teach in Shenandoah Schools.
1909 Study voice in Chicago during the summer, then resign
1910 from school and study one year with Frank Baird.
1911-13 Teach in Highland Park, Illinois.
1914 Marry Luther Hill and live at 6234 Dorchester Avenue,
Chicago.
Mother lived in College Springs till 1908 when she moved
to Topeka, Kansas on Clay Street, living with Rolla. She then
lived with me in Highland Park. When I married, she lived one
year across the street with Caroline. The next year we four lived near Jackson Park on 63rd or 67th. The following year we moved to Cottage Avenue in Glen Ellyn and mother was ill there
for nine months, passing away in a private sanitarium west of Wheaton in 1924.
Jean recorded some notes on a trip to College Springs with Mother in 1950. Mother born in Blanchard, Iowa in 1882; moved to Leonardville, Kansas in 1883 where they lived on farm of Grandfather McCord (Gideon Blackburn) which was owned by Uncle Hall (P.H.), who was sheriff of Riley County; in 1890 moved back to the Niles Carver home after step-grandmother Carver died. In 1892 Grandmother built the little house in back of the "elms" house and Rolla, Pearl and Grandmother and Grandfather McCord stayed there while Grandmother and Harry stayed on the Carver farm. In 1893 lived in a house near the cemetery with Clifford and Hermy. In 1898 the "elms" house was built.
College Springs Current Press - August 7, 1924
Death of Mrs. Emma McCord
Mrs. Emma McCord, a former resident of this place, died August 1st at Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the First Methodist church, Glen Ellyn, and the remains accompanied by the two sons, Rollie and Harry, were brought to College Springs where services were held in the M. E. Church Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. G. L. Brown. Burial took place at Maple Hill cemetery.
Obituary
Emma Almira Carver McCord was born Sept. 16, 1856, and died August 1, 1924. Her life was bounded by the common duties of home and family, neighbors, friends and church. For all that it was a life rich in experiences, sacrifice and devotion.
Born in Nora, Ill., located in the northwest corner of the state in 1856, she was five years old when her mother died. Shortly afterwards her father and three brothers enlisted at Rockford in the Union army,
her father becoming fife Major, oldest brother, chief Bugler in a cavalry regiment, and youngest brother, only thirteen, drummer boy with his father.
As a girl she appreciated some of the tragedy of having dear ones absent on southern Battlefield.
Fifty years later she suffered mingled pride and grief when another war called her own sons. Not long after the Civil War came the incidents of the journey by wagon across the Mississippi and overland to Nodaway County, Mo., where they located, later moving to Page County, Iowa, where the greater part of her life was spent and where her body will have its last resting place.
In early womanhood she married Wm. J. McCord. A part of her married life was spent on a new Kansas homestead. The father of her three children died there. The period while they were growing up was the most significant of her life. Accepting the lot of widowhood, it seemed that her supreme purpose henceforth was service to others.
She spent herself not only on her own children but helped bring up her two half brothers who were of the same age as her own.
Her work was the indispensable happiness which cannot be bought with money.
The day was too short for all she had to do. Instead of lamenting as she would have been justified, in doing her duties to her own household, her sympathies were with every case of distress in the neighbor-hood. Emma McCord was sent for in times of emergency and misfortune and there was a gentleness and strength about her that soothed many a troubled person.
With all this she found time for church work and no one probably ever responded more loyally to the call of the church. Her character was completely engraved with the spirit of unselfishness and merging of her own life in that of others.
In this way she lived the Christian life and deserved her Christian experience.
MCCORDS AND RELATED FAMILIES IN PAGE COUNTY, IOWA AND NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI
From The Diary of Emma Louella McCord 1952-56 the McCord reminisces are extracted below. I have added parenthetical comments: Anyone interested in all the branches of the family should consult the original.
Now my Mother's family: Her parents were John and Eliza Clark (nee: Williamson). I don't know nationality of either. John's father was named George, who was one-armed, and lived to be up in his nineties, I think. Grandpa John's brother Billy Clark married Dad's sister, Libby Snodderly.
John and Eliza had three girls and two boys: Granville, Clara, Emma, Lulu and Arthur.
GRANVILLE married Lora McCord, Lee's oldest sister, and they had ten children, but only raised five. Alice, Louie, Alta, Nona and Elmer.
Alice married John Blackford and had one girl and three boys. Opal (who married a Blanchard), Eldon, Ercil, and Lee.
Louie married Pearl (Doc) McCowan and had at least five children: Merrill, Orrie, Hazel, Vern, Leona and Zora. Maybe they had another one. I forget.
Alta married Eddie Bishop. They had no children, but raised two or three of Eddie's brother Page, after his wife died.
Nona married Warren (Darby) Stanton. They had two girls and three boys: Joan, Darby, James, Walter and Dorothy. Stanton's had a grocery store in College Springs, and managed to send all of their children to College. All the children married. Nona sold the store (1962).
CLARA, my mother, had three children: Me, Leroy Arthur, and a baby girl that died at birth, and mother died soon after. Only I lived to grow up.
(EMMA and LULU'S stories were not copied here.)
ARTHUR was three years older than I. Was a short man, jolly, liked to dance, sing and was a dandy caller at a square dance. He married Adah McCord, Lee's youngest sister. They raised four children: Rowene, Irene, Herman, and Inez, and lost their last baby. Grandma McCord thought it was on account of how we had to eat during the first war, but I don't know. Rowene was just two weeks older than Joe. She married Roy Davidson and had two children: Lucille and Merlin. Lucille married and in a little while died. Rowene grieved so that I think it hurt her health. Merlin married and had a baby boy. I hoped that would help console Rowene, but she died soon of heart trouble. Irene married Wilbur Davidson, Roy's brother, and they had three boys: Wayne, Ben and Leo. All married, but I don't know them. Herman married Opal Apple and they had three boys: Elvin, Marion, and Larry. Elvin married, and after eleven years, they had a baby boy...guess that was quite a jubilation. Inez, the youngest girl, was kind of sickly for quite a while. Had an operation and got better. Married rather late in life to Steve Jenkins, a widower with four children, I think. Steve died in 1961 of cancer.
Now for the MCCORD family. Lee's father was John Morrison McCord. He was troubled with Exzema a good deal of his life. Probably allergic to something but they hadn't learned about allergies then. He had taught music, ran a butcher shop, did carpenter work, and held minor offices. John's mother (Martha Caroline Alexander McCord), who lived to be in her nineties, lived with them some. I heard of at least three of John's brothers, Will, Hall and George, and one sister, Matt (Martha N. McCord Peebles). She was working in some kind of institution, and a pan of oil, or wax, on the stove got afire, and she carried it out of the house and was burned, so she died.
WILL McCord married Emma Carver, and they had three children: Rolla, Pearl and Harry. Rolla, who went to Chicago and worked in the Red Cross (YMCA), was married and came to Coin once with his wife and daughter. Harry also went to Chicago, and there was a rumor that he was a professional gambler, but that was only hearsay. Pearl also lived away, married a man named Hill. They were all at home in College Springs when we were married. The father had died long before.
HALL McCord I never saw. I think he lived in Kansas, but not sure.
GEORGE McCord married Mary Bullock, and they had six boys and two girls when they lived on the old Booth place near College Springs. Of George's boys I can't remember all their names, but there was: Will, Fred, Truman and Julius. He was the one they didn't name till he was old enough to talk, and when asked what they should name him said "Julius Caesar, By_____", so Julius he was. Of the girls, there was Ella and Lois. I never knew these people, but because of what happened, and was, I thought, interesting.
Old Mr. Searcy lived to the west of George's farm, and he had a young wife, and this is how come: His boy, Will, was engaged to her and went to Chicago to work, and she had her wedding clothes made, and just before the wedding he wrote "I can't marry you, my wife won't let me." He had married someone else. Sure was a jolt, but what could she do? Well, time passed and old Mrs. Searcy was burning trash in the yard and got burned and passed on. And, Will's wife gave birth to a boy, and died. Old Mr. Searcy asked the Yates girl to marry him, and so did Will. She accepted both, married the old man, and wrote to Will the same thing he had written her before. The old man cut him out of his will, passing it on to the grandchild (Will's son?).