Albert Takes A Wife - 1886

Albert Takes A Wife - 1886

The rose color of her cheeks made me think of peach blossoms in the spring. Yes, I always was smitten by Alta May Usher’s beauty. We both attended the EUB Church at Leisure. She lived a mile south of the Church just past Uncle Wilshire and Aunt Mary Johnston’s farm. With mom gone, I got to thinking about taking a wife and Alta May was my top choice. After courting her for a short time I suggested marriage and she was very excited and enthused about the idea. Our marriage (January 21, 1886) started out the same year the Statue of Liberty was being constructed.

Alta May, at age 22, became mother to my siblings still at home (Charles 19, Mary Ann 16, and Minnie 12). Plus dad lived with us until the summer of 1886 when he married a second time. It was a good match. Henrietta (Fisher) Warfield had lost her husband, had two young children (Fred and Clara) and needed help caring for her farm 3 miles straight south of us. We were back and forth between the two farms a lot and raised most of our hay on Henrietta’s place. The peaches were becoming our most profitable crop. We were able to invest in new orchards and make some improvements to the house during our first years of our marriage. Household expenses were very low. We paid 10 cents a gallon for kerosene to light the house at night. Evenings were always a joy as we cast away the cares and distractions of the day by playing games and reading to the boys.

Tragic struck the family again in 1887 and sister Olive saved the day. My sister Mary Ann became pregnant by a neighbor boy (Herschel Adkin - 18). They did not get married and Otto was born 4/26/1887. Do to complications, Mary Ann died 9 days later (May 5). Sam and Olive adopted and raised Otto until he was 12 (1899). Then Otto moved to live with his father’s family – Herschel and Eda Adkin who then had 3 boys (Bob 4, Roy 2 and Harry a new born). Later in life Otto Galbreath and Herschel Adkin jointly owned a dance hall east of Pullman on Upper Scott Lake. There was never any animosity between the families. Mary’s death was just one of those things that happened.

In 1888 I took out a mortgage for $2,000 and other money changed hands. As a result, Alta May and I ended up owning the main 60 acre farm. Brother Lonson and Minnie lived across the street. Olive and Sam took title to the 40 acres on the corner, although they lived ½ mile north of the store on the west side of the street. Olive and Sam Galbreath deeded the 40 acres over to my brother Charles and Minnie after they were married (6-21-1891). Dad and Henrietta lived on her farm. (Photo L to R me, Alta May, Henry, Minnie, Lonson, Olive & Sam)

As for our children, we first had Maxwell Glen and then Rosco Glen (see photo). Yes, we always had at least one dog on the farm. The most tragic year of my life, 1891, started out with the death of two and a half year old Rosco. Shortly after our third baby died at birth and Alta May died of complications. My new family had been reduced to Max and me. I felt the same pain in my gut and tornado in my head as I felt when mother and Mary Ann passed. My head told me they are all at peace. I prayed for God to give me a cheerful heart. On the outside I kept positive as the farm and house needed running and 5-year old Max needed me to be strong.

Note - above written by Martin O based on facts and some speculation. Were you at the 100th Overhiser Cousin's Reunion? It was held in 1993 on the same site where Otto and Herschel once owned a dance hall.

2010 At The Farm

The fruit trees are resting. All is well - Cold, wind, snow and looking for signs of spring. May all be well with you in 2010.

Eat fresh, canned or frozen fruit!