Daisy Galbreath Arrives - 1896

Daisy Galbreath Arrives - 1896

My mind exploded after visiting Chicago’s Columbian Exposition (1893). My thoughts, day and night, were filled with the sights, the sounds and the mystery of the Fair exhibits. This diversion kept me from dwelling on the lost of Alta and two sons in 1891. My son Max and I kept the house running – but not very well. Sister Olive, other relatives and neighbors were such a big help. Winters were difficult. However, living with God’s creations - the animals, fruit trees, soil, and other crops made me feel closer to him.

My 60-acres plus Dad and Henrietta’s 40 acres were manageable thanks to our hired men and young neighbor boys. In the mid to late 1890s I had some 15 acres of peaches, 10 acres cherries plus apples, pears and plums. Also carried on general farming and maintained well-cultivated fields. My financial resources increased each year. I was able to improve buildings and purchased the latest in modern machinery and accessories. Money was also available for loaning to relatives such as Alta’s siblings who were starting up farms. Alta’s father James had passed in 1889 while her mother Mahala lived until 1900.

Thanks to the match making skills of Olive I was married a second time to Daisy Galbreath on February 26, 1896. The wedding was at Daisy’s parents home near Pierceton IN east of Warsaw. I was old enough, at 39, to be Daisy’s father as she was 22. Alta was also 22 when we were married in 1886. Daisy was a good looker, stylish dresser and full of energy. And yes, Daisy was a little princess. This could have been because she was the youngest of 14 children. Her father Samuel had 7 with his first wife and 7 with Daisy’s mother - Margaret Black Hibbets. My brother-in-law Sam Galbreath’s father Joseph (wife Eliza Bricker) was a brother to Daisy’s father Sam. This was a bit confusing at times. Connecting to the Galbreath clan doubled my relatives’ list. The Galbreath Reunion photo was taken in the summer of 1896 when Daisy was caring our son Bill. That same summer we attended the Overhiser Cousin’s Reunion, which was started in 1893.

Our son William McKinley was born on Christmas day 1896 and joined 9-year-old Max. Big brother Max was great with his stepbrother and both boys loved the farm pets and animals. Death came calling again. Max started having problems with his sugar levels and died from diabetes complications on December 21, 1899.

Note – above written by Martin Overhiser based on mostly facts and some conjecture.

At the Farm March 1, 2010

Trimming continues and the family is consumed with school activities. The Federal and State tax returns have been filed. Now to pay the property taxes. Our father, Albert Wayne Overhiser, passed away on December 2, 2008 just before his 92^nd birthday. Allan misses stopping at Dad’s house every evening to help him get settled for the night. Now that we are living through the second great depression/recession we are reminded of what Dad would tell us about living in the 1930s. “Things were not that bad, we always seemed to have ice cream.” May your dessert be ice cream with frozen peaches or blueberries?

Question: What do you call a truckload of apples spilled down the mountain?

An applanche

Albert and Max at Chicago World's Fair - 1893

Albert and Max at Chicago World’s Fair - 1893

The 1893 Fair in Chicago was also known as the World’s Columbian Exposition to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the new world. It was dedicated in 1892 and was opened to the public May 1, 1893 through October 30, 1893. My sister Olive Galbreath and their oldest son Merritt (11) convinced Max (8) and me to go with them to the Fair. Merritt and Max always enjoyed playing together at family gatherings. It had been two years since Rosco, Alta May and our new infant had passed and this was a nice break from the farm at the end of a great harvest.

Merritt was helped through college and dental school by his parents with the understanding that he would help his brothers (Roger, Joe, Clyde and Otto) with their college expenses, but he did not. This became quite a sore spot in that family. One of his brothers did, however, also become a dentist. After training in Spokane Merritt and his wife, Bess, settled in Chicago where he had been so impressed in 1893 by the Fair.

We started our trip on Saturday October 7, 1893 by having Sam Galbreath take all four of us to stay overnight with my sister Ida and her husband Charlie Osborn. They lived 3 miles to the West on a 40-acre farm. Ida always had a kind disposition and loved to serve others. She did not have much use of her withered right arm but did become a teacher and was able to control the kids. When she was 4 she was playing near where we were clearing some land and a large falling branch hit her right arm. After that she started using her left hand for everything and her right arm stopped growing. She always wore a black glove on her tiny hand and pinned it to her dress. Her handicap did not slow her down. She did it all: cooked, washed dishes, canned, and made her own clothes. She and Charlie were very active members of the McDowell Church a mile West of their farm.

Well, back to our Fair trip. Sunday morning Charlie took us to South Haven to board the Lorain L. steamer to travel across Lake Michigan to Chicago. On the boat, which was very crowded, we got to talk with Chief Simon Pokagon. I had met him once before. The boys were fascinated. The Chief lived in Lee Township to the east of us. He was traveling as a special “Chicago Day” Fair guest to give a speech, ring the Bell of Liberty for the first time and be in the parade on Monday the 9^th. He told the boys about his new pair of pants that he had purchased for $1 at the Locota store. This was the same price for each of our round trip boat tickets. The Chief’s father (Chief Leopold Pokagon) sold the Chicago area to the US Government in 1833 for 3 cents an acre. The Chief said he had spent his whole life trying to get paid for that land and met with Presidents’ Lincoln and Grant pleading that his people get paid.

We stayed in Chicago Sunday and Monday nights returning home on Tuesday. What an eye opening experience. We got to see the latest inventions, newest products, and experienced the “Midway” area. We all enjoyed the amusement and carnival area with its sideshows. Rides included the very first Farris Wheel that was 264’ high. Each of the 36 cars held 60 people. One of the cars carried the John Phillip Sousa band that played daily. We read that 1.5 million people rode the Wheel the first month of the Fair.

I was most impressed with the Westinghouse electric building. There were several displays showing different methods for generating electricity. I thought the Dynamo electrical generator might be used at our farm. Some of the new products included: Cracker Jack, Juicy Fruit Gum, the hamburger, Quaker Oats and Shredded Wheat. Could not help but think of the 1871 Chicago fire and all the smoke we experienced at the farm. We did not see any evidence of the fire, only new and modern buildings and facilities. What an uplifting experience for all.

Note – Martin O spun the above tail based upon facts and some speculation. Want more information about the 1893 fair and take a “virtual tour” go to this website:

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/WCE/official.html

At the Farm February 1, 2010

The farm family is traveling lots this winter to and from the Fennville schools as the kids are in several activities. Inside the paper work is being worked on and tax returns prepared. Trying to loose less each year is Allan’s goal on the farm. That is an old, old story with farmers. They always hope to make some or more next year. On the expense side of the equation, Allan has added a chain saw that is at the end of an extension device for trimming. So here is how they trim: hedge most trees with a huge power hedger, thin out the bigger branches with the chain saw and then do the hand trimming. Trees need to be thinned out in the middle so sunlight gets to the fruit.

Question- what do you do if you see a blue peach? Try to cheer it up!

Don’t forget fruit!!