If this sounds like “The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew,” I guess it is much the same in larger families. Since Elizabeth, my sister, was 1 1/2 years older, she was often annoyed with me and I gave her all the space she wanted. She was a doll and everyone said so. Most of all she was very bright, the best in her class, no foolishness, as we grew older she often called me, “Silly-Sally”.” Elizabeth was very straight laced. She was good at cooking and all house work and did a splendid job of 4-H Club work, her sewing was always best, even though she stitched the sewing machine needle through her finger nail once, it didn’t stop her. We would set around the table and play cards, Flinch, or Old Maid & such. She always caught on so quickly. I was glad when the toddlers needed attention, cards were not my thing! I also liked our old Brindel Cow, she was getting so old, and gave such good milk all those years. I was sent out one evening in the lane in front of the house with a baby bottle and told to fill it up by milking “Old Sweet Brindel.” In the process she moved her foot, I was bare fot and her foot went down on my big toe, I knew if I excited her she would leap and my toe would be flat. The lord gave me the thought to gently push her hip and when she moved to pull my foot away. Thank God for all his help, my toe didn’t even turn blue! Adolph bought my brother Erhardt an old white blind gentle horse. Erhardt was plowing in the garden with his own horse at the age of 7, he hung onto that plow for dear life. Our Buddy and that horse were great pals for years.
Aunt Sis
The Trap Door….by Aunt Sis
In the celing of the upstairs hall was a trap door. Sometimes it would not be completely closed around December and we were sure Santa was up there preparing our Christmas, as there was a window up there that rought in the light of the evening sun and we were sure some on was up there and we decided it must be Santa. The thought alone made us a happy group of little folks. We must be good and mind our parents. This hall lead to an unfinished room we called, “up above the kitchen,” it too held magic. There were many old wonderful things stored from Adolph’s childhood to Theresa’s Childhood. Adolph was 23 when he married Theresa 18 years of age, when Theresa heard us in this room, she would quickly call us to come down stairs and leave those treasures as the were! SAFE!
Grandpa Matthias’ Clock….by Aunt Sis
On the shelf of Grandpa Matthias’s room was a laarge clock that chimed on the hour. We children loved that clock. He also had a picture of the old rugged cross where Christians were clinging to be saved from death and the evil power of the devil. It really did put the fear of the Lord in me. Then on my Confirmation day Rev. K.F. Schroeder gave me my verse, it was, Psalms 111, verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praises endure forever. I loved singing in choir, I loved Bible class and young peoples meetings, later I lived teaching Sunday School also. I often think of the young lady who was interviewed as a released prisoner of war, they asked her what her favorite prayer was and she said, “Be near me Lord Jesus I asked thee to stay, beside e forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and take them to heaven to live with thee there.” I knew then she was a Sunday School teacher even in prison
Uncle Vernon’s Story (part 11)
Elizabeth and Justin married while we lived at Schubert. They moved into a completely furnished 5-room home: a new kitchen, dining room, living room and two bedrooms. Justin had a good job. I suppose he must have saved his money. He was in his late twenties when they married.
I’m not sure how this happened, but I believe that one of the families that Sis worked for in Jefferson City moved to St. Louis and they took her along with them. Later, she met and married Ted Kuegele. Their wedding took place at Honey Creek. Ted’s dad officiated at the wedding. We had the chiverie at our house (Selma’s). We were very poor at Selma’s. The farm was smaller yet than the one at Schubert with no electricity.
I rented ground from Uncle Henry and also Uncle George Miller. I did go to Eugene high school one year while at Selma’s place. Naomi was born on Selma’s place in 1941. Margie started taking confirmation instructions from pastor Bultman then, along with Gilbert Stressnor. She was confirmed in a separate adult class and not with the regular 8th grade kids.
Uncle Herbert’s Pictures… Aunt Sis
When I was 4 1/2 years almost, 1923 my Uncle Herbert Sommerer had finished college and come for a visit saying he was going to, as the saying goes, go out and seek his fortune. He had a Kodak camera that took lovely pictures. I have some he took that day of Brother Erhardt (Buddie) & me. Uncle Herbert played the violin. He smoked a pipe and he was a very happy fellow.
Years went by, Adolph missed him, Grandpa Matthias missed him, they would spend quiet hours wondering where he was and what he might be doing. About 1928 or so I remember getting close enough to listen to the longing in Grandpa Matthias’s voice and see the tears, wondering where his son was and was he ok? A few years later Grandpa died and years passed, I got married to Ted J. Kuegele in St. Louis. We had an apartment in Clayton. At that time Ted was in the Navy when word came about 1944 that Herbert Sommerer was found in his apartment with a bad stroke and could hardly talk. He had been a cook at a large hotel. His sisters Dora, Margaret, and Yetta each came and stayed a few days with me as they visited Herbert at the old St. Louis Hospital. When he was well enough Aunt Dora had him brought by ambulance to her home at Honey Creek where she cared for him till her death, then he lived longer with his nephew John Erhardt at their home place. Uncle Herbert, when I visited him at the hospital he tried to ask me something so I guessed he wanted to know about his father Matthias so I said Grandpa Matthias loved you very much and missed you and cried because he was lonesome for you and wondered about you but he is dead now. Always remember, he always loved you and never forgot you! Uncle Herbert was a lovely precious soul, My Sweetheart!
Things I remember about Theresa & Adolph Sommerer… by Aunt Sis (part 1)
Things I (as a young child that is) remember about my parents,Theresa & Adolph Sommerer. They were always doing something. They were going to School meetings at Honey Creek or East Union School where Adolph learned his 3 R’s. Theresa & Adolph still have those school mates as their best friends. I remember box suppers, Halloween parties at school, lots of music. Theresa & Adolph loved music programs and Adolph saw to it that new teachers were anxious and able to put on such plays with rousing music on many occasions. These same schoolmates whose children are still our good friends, would meet at each others home for wonderful meals & dancing. I still remember being sent to bed and wake up about 11:00 pm, in my nightie I sat on the stairs and watched them dance, and laugh and have such fun. The electric lights were all on downstairs. Very few folks had electric lights in 1920, that is a lovely spot in my heart, when I try to remember, “did Mom & Dad ever have fun?” You bet they did!