Fearless Females: Moment of Strength

March 13 — Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.


I'm not sure which story to write about regarding courage or strength in a difficult situation, as there are many that come to mind.  My mother dealing with cancer.  My grandmother Bonnie losing her husband when he was 53.  My great-aunt Vera losing two babies.  My great-grandmother June being an orphan at 2. Everyone who survived the economic hardships of the Great Depression.  The list could go on and on.  For many, the concept of hardship was simply unknown, addressed as just "part of life".  Today we take so much for granted and we look back and wonder how they made it.  They made it because the alternative - to give up, was simply not an acceptable alternative.


As I look at my family history, I note that so many of the stories of the women in my family have been untold, and thus lost to history.  What bits and pieces I can cobble together are told from the perspective of the men in their lives through the lens of the social and economic history of the period.  I'm glad that I've been able to interview my mother and father recently about those relatives they knew, before another generation's tales are lost.


Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

Photo: Terry Wright On Horseback

Terry Wright on horse

This is a photo of my maternal uncle, Terry WRIGHT, seated on a horse at the Wright farm.  In the background you can just make out the head of his grandpa, Virgil WRIGHT.  The original is in the collection of Mike Walsh.

Fearless Females: Working Girl

March 12 — Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation.


While I remember my mother being at home with us for the most part, I do remember that she worked as a substitute teacher in the area.  Before I was born, mom was a elementary school teacher in Muncie, Indiana at Roosevelt Elementary. She obtained her undergraduate in elementary education and master's degree in library science from Ball State University. Once we were old enough to be in school, she tried to go back into the schools full time, but was having a hard time finding work. She was a substitute teacher at Orestes Elementary and Frankton schools, covering for maternity leaves. Eventually, a position opened as the children's librarian at the Alexandria-Monroe Township Public Library.  She worked there for a number of years before a position opened up as the head librarian at the Alexandria-Monroe High School.  She worked there until she retired.  She's still active on the local public library board, and volunteers at the school libraries as well.  Books are in her (and my) blood.


My grandmother Wright worked in a factory in the 1950s for a few years to earn money to buy a new refrigerator.  The story was that she went to work to buy a $500 refrigerator and left owing $5000 because they bought a new car.  Later, she worked for a few years at the junior high school in the cafeteria.  I just found this fact out last week, when I came across a photo of her from the school yearbook.


My grandmother LeMaster didn't work outside the home, though she was an Avon representative for many years.  I remember a couple of times when we stayed with her going out on delivery runs.


Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month