Where There's a Will
My Grandfather Bert was an outdoorsman, cowboy, and sheriff in Kansas closely associated with United States Marshalls at that time. He studied short hand during that period of his life and had so much expertise that he was able to become a Court Reporter. He wrote many articles in the local papers and also to the government and was politically active as a republican his whole life.
Bert was an excellent keeper of his word, his word was bond. As a cowboy and trail boss he herded cattle and after a large thunder and lightning storm when his cattle were dispersed he rounded up many cattle from the area and made sure that those branded went back to their owners. He then became foreman of a large ranch in Winona and was given a pearl handled revolver engraved with the owner’s and Bert’s initials. After his death his wife gave the gun to Bert’s namesake but the gun was stolen and the younger Bert was broken hearted. Bert had land and a ranch with cattle of his own but a blizzard buried the cattle and partially blinded him. It was time for him to become more involved with his country.
In Kansas in the late 1800 wheat became a huge crop where land was plowed under, planted with wheat and left to harvest and the land was then plowed under again. My Grandfather Bert wrote letters to Kansas legislators and the president of the United States, Grover Cleveland, protesting that the plowing up of the land led to erosion and described the delicate balance between land and incessant winds. His words were not heeded and later in the ‘30’s Kansas became a dust bowl.
He loved parades and when he was sheriff he would ride two of his horses standing on their backs and racing down the street.
After his fourth term as sheriff expired he became Clerk of the District Court and he was re-elected for several years without opposition. He was well loved by his community.
Finally he bought a mercantile store in Kansas which the family shared in running until his death at 56. He had four daughters and they and his wife loved him dearly and were so proud of him.
Heirloom
Crystal handed down from Jim's mother which was said to be damaged but we can't find the damage.
Oldet Ancester
This is my great grandmother Petrie born 1849 and died 1929 at 80. She was born Alice McMillan. She is not my oldest relative but may have been my most interesting. After marrying my great grandfather Foster Morse she then married Alexander Petrie and their daughter June Petrie married Leon Weaver and later Frank Weaver. The Weavers and June were known as a team who performed at the Grand Ol Opre and in movies. Grandma Petrie was deaf and one of her grandaughters at a young age told her teacher "My grandmother is dead and she uses her fingers". There were many more funny stories that have been past on about her.
My mother-in-law was a strong woman. She was a pilot and once with her mother on board flew under the Golden Gate Bridge. Her first husband was killed in action, shot down in his fighter when my husband was just 4 months old. He never got to see his son. It must have been very hard to go through his death having his child. She was a good mother and went on to marry again and had two more children. I miss her very much we had a close bond. She raised a sweet boy who is my dear husband. Pictured: My mother-in-law and my husband's dad.
