Shirley (Durham) Hampton - 1939-2021

We're saddened to report that one of our Maiden/Durham relatives has passed away.  Cousin Shirley (Durham) Hampton, born and raised in Chadron, died earlier this week in Michigan.  Her obituary is included beneath the composite photograph below.

Our condolences to her husband – Chadron native Jim Hampton – and the entire Hampton family.

(More recent photo is above above at left;  

at right is Shirley's 1956 CHS class photo)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OBITUARY for SHIRLEY HAMPTON

Shirley Anne Hampton, of Northport, Michigan, passed away Monday, November 1, 2021, at her home with family by her side. Shirley was born on March 14, 1939, in Chadron, Nebraska, the daughter of David and Mary Lee (Miller) Durham. She graduated from Chadron High School in 1957.

She married James F. Hampton who survives her. Shirley was raised in Chadron, where she met and married the love of her life, Jim, who was the cornerstone of her life. The couple moved to East Lansing, Michigan where she supported Jim as he pursued his Ph.D. at Michigan State University. Shirley worked at The College of Education, The College of Horticulture, and The College of Chemistry during the early years of their marriage. The couple moved to Midland in 1963 where they raised their three daughters.

Shirley will be remembered and missed for her selfless devotion to her family and friends, always placing others' needs ahead of her own. The world is a better place having had Shirley Hampton here. She was involved in everything from preparing meals for grieving families at Blessed Sacrament Church to volunteering at Adams Elementary School to Brownies and Girl Scouts.

Shirley served as president of the Triskelion organization of Saginaw Valley State University and their consignment shop to raise money for scholarships for students attending SVSU.

Shirley was a gifted artist who enjoyed painting beautiful landscapes of the Leelanau Peninsula. She enjoyed quilting, knitting, and doll-making. Shirley was an avid reader and a wonderful cook and hostess.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, James, her children Julie (Michael) Marsden of Marshall, Michigan; Jodi (Ed) Loubert of Midland, Michigan; and Robyn (Gregory) Dorrien of Midland, Michigan. Shirley is also survived by her grandchildren John Marsden of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Andrew Marsden of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Jamie Loubert of Warren, Michigan; and Hope Dorrien of Ferndale, Michigan. As a well-loved active and nurturing woman, she leaves many more friends, family, and people for whom she cared deeply.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents David and Mary Lee Durham, and a brother, Gary Durham.

Interment of ashes and a private family celebration of Shirley's life will be held at a later date.  Shirley's family would like to thank the Palliative Care Team at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City and extend a very special thank you to our Hospice of Michigan Traverse City group - Tammy, Tonya and Renee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Michigan (Traverse City) or Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Published by Midland Daily News on Nov. 2, 2021.

80 Years Ago Today–A New Newspaper!

The front page of "Vol. 1 - No.1" of THE EAGLET, a school newspaper produced by elementary students at the Nebraska State Normal "Prep" School in Chadron, Nebraska back in 1941.  One of the contributors was 9-year-old  Jocelyn "Jackie" Maiden, a country lass – the youngest child of Bill and Leota Maiden.

This paper, and Jackie's front-page story, are timely and significant for several reasons.  First, it was published exactly 80 years ago this week!  The world was a different place – and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor just six weeks later was one of the most significant events in U.S. history.  December 7th, 1941 truly was a "day of infamy."

And her short story in this "first edition" of The Eaglet – along with others in the newspaper – demonstrates  a level of sensitivity and understanding about different cultures, even if some the words used might not be fully acceptable today.

In coming days, we'll add a few other stories from the paper.

Here is the text of Jackie Maiden's front-page story:

How the Indians Lived

There are different kinds of Indians.  Each kind of Indian has a different kind of house.  The forest and stream Indians live in tepees.  There is one Indian (tribe) that builds log houses.  These are the Iroquois Indians.  They are Eastern Indians.  The Navaho's build hogans which look like a bowl turned over.  They live in the southwest.

Now I will tell about their food and dishes.  Most Indians eat fish, corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, melons, potatoes and meats.  The squaws make most of the dishes.  They take stones that have been hollowed out by the water.  They use turtle shells, too.  They also make clay dishes.

We think that Indians are funny, but they have their ways and we have ours.

                                                                                – Jocelyn Maiden

We think the last paragraph is perhaps the most telling.  It is a recognition and suggested acceptance of the fact that we may have lots of different cultures – and that "they have their ways and we have ours."

That's a pretty incisive perception for a nine-year-old girl.  That's a very young Jackie Maiden at left.   She always was a smart cookie – and cute!

 

Maiden family was among Dawes County pioneers

(Editor's Note:  The following story is among the many chronicled in "A Compendium of History, Reminiscence & Biography of Western Nebraska," an illustrated book published in 1909 by the Alden Publishing Company of Chicago.)

William H. Maiden holds a prominent place among the foremost agriculturists of Dawes county, Nebraska. His home is on section 5, township 34, range 47, where he has been located for many years past, and his well appointed home and well cultivated fields bespeak the man of taste and progress, and no one stands higher in the estimation of his fellowmen and associates than he. He is among the leading old settlers in this region who has take an active part in the development of the section from its very beginning, and richly deserves the success which has come to him.

William H. Maiden family - ca. 1900

(L-R) Dora, William J., and William H. Maiden)

Mr. Maiden was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1848. His father, George Maiden. was a farmer and old settler in Illinois, and was one of those who lived in that section of the country at the time of the Black Hawk massacre. He married Sarah Templeton, American born, of Scotch blood.

In 1856 the family moved to Tama county, Iowa, and there our subject grew to manhood, remaining at home with his parents up to the time of his twenty-first birthday, assisting in the farm work, and attending the country schools, where he received a fair education, for those early days. He left home in 1877 and came into the Black Hills, working for different freighting outfits in that vicinity, and part of the time being manager of the mail route from Fort Pierre to Deadwood, remaining here up to 1880. He then returned to Iowa, where he was married to Miss Dora E. Derrick, whose father, John C. Derrick, was a farmer of German descent, and her mother was Adelia Kellogg, raised in New York state. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Maiden, William J., now twenty-one years of age and living on a farm adjoining that of his father.

Mr. Maiden and his family lived in Iowa up to the spring of 1886, farming there in Carroll county, then came to Dawes county, Nebraska, and settled on his present homestead, landing here on March 8th. This farm was located in section 5, township 34, range 47, and he at once began to build up a home, putting up a dugout, in which they lived for two years, then built a better house of the same kind and lived in that for nine years. 

During the first years they went through many hard times, witnessing the drouths, and was obliged to work in the roundhouse at Chadron and any odd work he could get to do in order to support his family. He kept on improving his place, however, and has now a ranch of eight hundred acres, about seventy acres of which is in alfalfa and plow land, with the balance in hay and pasture, as he engages extensively in the stock business, raising a large number of cattle and horses for market each season. The ranch is located on White river, and is well supplied with natural timber of all kinds, and he has it well improved, all fenced, and everything in first-class order.

Mr. Maiden is a strong Democrat and an ardent admirer of William Jennings Bryan,and takes a keen interest in local and national politics. He has served as school director for four years, also as school treasurer for five years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maiden leap-frog fun?

If the lives of the Maiden girls out on White River during the 1930's were challenging, they weren't without fun.  Here, Jackie, Dorothy, Betty and Letty (Lettie) engage in a bit of tomfoolery with a couple of unidentified young people at the bottom of this undated photograph.  This photo was likely taken on the Maiden homestead northeast of Chadron, Nebraska  (Betty Love Jolovich collection)

Betty's Perfect Attendance - 1932

Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich racked up some enviable school attendance reports in 1932.  These monthly report records were shared with us by Betty's daughter, Janice (Love) Tenold.  To see a larger version of this document – along with other Maiden family images – visit our Maiden Family Gallery.

90-year-old Betty Love Jolovich, dies in Sheridan – the last of her Maiden family generation

They were called the "Greatest Generation."  And in so many ways they were – those durable youngsters who grew up during the Great Depression and who knew the horrors and sacrifices that came with World War Two.

Betty Love Jolovich was of that generation.  She died at her home last week (3/22/17) in Sheridan, Wyoming at age 90.

Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich
(1926 - 2017)

Born May 27, 1926 in the family farmhouse 14 miles northeast of Chadron, Nebraska, Betty Belle Maiden was the fifth daughter in the family of Bill and Leota Maiden.  She attended school on the home place and later at the Normal Prep School in Chadron.

On June 20, 1944, Betty married Marlin Love, an Army buddy of her brother Henry.  They honeymooned back to his home in Iowa on a motorcycle.  Alas, the old 1932 Harley-Davidson broke down in western Iowa, and they had to hitchhike the rest of the trip!

After Marlin was discharged from the Army, they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, where they arrived December 4, 1944. The Loves would spend the rest of their lives in Wyoming, mostly in and around Sheridan, where they raised their four children.

Marlin Love died in 2000, and two years later, Betty married Paul Jolovich.

In addition to her parents, Betty Love Jolovich was pre-deceased by her first husband, Marlin Love, and by her sisters Minnie Scott, Nettie Drake, Lettie Miller, Dorothy Lewis, and Jocelyn Allen; brothers David Weston, William Weston, Henry Maiden, and James Walter Maiden.

She is survived by her second husband, Paul Jolovich of Sheridan, and by her children Beverly Reinke and Sandra Mosley of Sheridan, son Matthew Love of Gillette, and daughter Janice Tenold of Rapid City; and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Her ashes will be spread near those of Marlin's up on the mountain in their beloved Big Horns, where the couple volunteered for so many years.

💙

Note:  The passing of Betty Love Jolovich marks the end of the Maiden family members who were of that "Greatest Generation."  She was the sole remaining child of Bill and Leota (Durham) Maiden, both born in the late 1800's.  None of the Maiden lives was easy, and that took a toll on some of them.  But it didn't hamper a tremendous sense of humor among a few of the Maiden girls – including Betty.  We'll always remember her infectious laugh, mischievous smile, and her keen wit.  None of us will soon forget this special lady.   We are adding a few additional photographs of "Aunt Betty" to the Maiden Family Gallery.

When penny postcards really were....a penny!

You can take a closer look at this old postcard -- and lots of other early family photographs -- in our Maiden Gallery.

Found during a sojourn to Hulett, Wyoming

It's been 67 years since Jackie Maiden graduated from high school at Hulett, Wyoming.  We recently explored Hulett, which was home for her parents, William J. and Leota Maiden for a few years in the 1940's and '50's.  We were pleased to see "Jocelyn Maiden" and her class photo still adorning the hallway wall at the newest Hulett school building — likely the third school building in the history of the small Crook county community.  To get a closer look at this image -- and other Maiden family photographs -- go to our Maiden Gallery.

Late 1920's photo of Derricks and Maidens

This snapshot was taken on the old Maiden place about 14 miles northeast of Chadron, Nebraska, probably in about 1929.  We can identify several of the people — but not all of them.  The five children standing in front are (left-to-right):  Lettie Maiden, Henry Maiden, Nettie Maiden, Betty Maiden, and Dorothy Maiden.  The dapper fellow standing in the back at left is either Monroe Derrick or his brother William Derrick; others in the back (l-r) are Leota Durham Maiden, Dora Derrick Maiden, William Joseph Maiden, Minnie Maiden (partially hidden), an unidentified lady, and the elderly lady in the black dress at right may be Nettie Derrick Bouma.  The Derrick-Maiden relationships can be a bit confusing.  Here's a simple explanation for the relationships in this photo only:  William (Bill) Derrick (and Monroe) is a nephew to Dora Derrick Maiden, who is the mother of William Joseph Maiden.  Cora Derrick Bouma is a half-sister to Dora Derrick Maiden.  Question:  what are the names of the dogs, to whom do they belong, and — more importantly — who is taking the picture?

Ray Scott passes away at age 77

Cousin Ray Scott passed away April 26, 2015 in Olympia, Washington.  He was 77 years old. Ray was the son of Bryan and Minnie (Maiden) Scott.  He grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood of north Chadron, taking a job sweeping out Joe Lichty's barbershop when he was just seven years old — followed by a job of setting pins at the bowling alley when he was 12.

After graduating from Chadron Prep in 1955, Ray married Melody Thomas of Chadron.  He went to work for a time with the Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company and also had worked for fire departments in Rapid City, South Dakota and Gillette, Wyoming.  In the 1960's, Ray and Melody moved to Orting, Washington,  to where several other family members had moved.  He soon took a job as a fireman for the Olympia fire department, followed by a stint as a fireman for the Boeing Corporation.

Ray later worked as an over-the-road truck driver for Puget Sound Truck Lines and Arrow Truck Lines.  He retired in 2002, but after a couple of years, chose to return to work part-time with a security firm.

Ray is survived by his wife, Melody, and daughters Debby and Ramona, and sons Joe and Robert, as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.  A daughter, Mona, died in an automobile accident in 1994.

A classmate of Ray's at Chadron Prep, Doug Wilson of Lincoln, Nebraska, had kept in touch with  Ray, and he also visited with Melody after Ray's passing, noting that "Ray will be remembered for his sense of humor, caring ways, and the interest he took in the well being of others."

A few years back, long after Ray had finally retired, Ray wrote to his cousin, John Miller, and said, "…I've had a whole lot of fun getting to where I'm at; I've got 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and most of them have spent a lot of time crawling all over 'Papa.'  I wish we hadn't lost Mona,, and I wish I hadn't hurt a lot of people that I did, but all in all, if God has got a sense of humor, I think I'll be all right!  Ray."

We wish we'd kept in touch and had known Ray better, but sometimes we allow day-to-day life to get in the way of important things.  Our heartfelt condolences go out to Melody and all of the Scott family.  

Rest in Peace, cousin Ray.

About Martha Merritt Norman

Labeled "Grandma Norman," this is a photo of Martha Merritt Norman, who lived most of her life in Iowa, giving birth to 10 children, at least eight of them were girls.  Martha's granddaughter, Leota (Durham) Maiden would also raise a large family of mostly girls.  Martha Norman lived from 1835 to 1901.  She died in Cherokee, Iowa.  For a bit more about Martha Merritt Norman -- and a few more photographs as well -- visit our Maiden Gallery.  (Thanks to Doug Henderson for sharing this picture)

Which Maiden witch is this?

This witch flew in to Sugarland Ridge in Sheridan, Wyoming, on Halloween of 2014.  Scary as she may be in this photo by the Sheridan Press, we're convinced that she's "good witch" Betty (Maiden) Jolovich, accompanied by her daughter Jan (Love) Tenold at left and husband Paul Jolovich at right.  The young princess in the foreground is unidentified.  Witch Betty is holding the new "Stealth 88" broom, which celebrates the number of years she's been bewitching folks.

A WWII-era photo at 6th and King in Chadron

Probably taken in the winter of 1944 at 6th and King in Chadron. This motley crew of cousins -- all grandchildren of William J. and Leota Maiden -- includes (in the back) Ray Scott, Johnny Miller, Leota Scott and (in the front) Linetha Miller.   We're advised that John and Lettie (Maiden) Miller rented the small house that sat on the southwest corner of the intersection at 6th and King Street, across the street west from the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

J. B. finds another artistic outlet...

"She ain't much to look at, but she's hell for stout."

That's a quotation from grandfather William J. "Bill" Maiden that echoes back to me occasionally as shared by brother John, who remembers the phrase from grandad's description of items he crafted over the years.  I well remember some of those items, including a small sewing stand that sits in the corner of our den.

And while its rustic style doesn't fit most modern tastes, it surely was built "for stout."  In earlier years, I even stood atop the wooden stand -- something that now causes me to shudder, fearing the damage that could have been caused to what has become a treasured item.

But if style and aesthetics weren't high on grandpa's list, that doesn't mean the Maiden family line was devoid of such traits.  In fact, creativity and a flair for artistic endeavors can be found in several descendant lines.

One such person is Johnny Davis of Denton, Texas, a great-grandson of Bill Maiden and a son of Bruce and Linetha (Miller) Davis of Madill, Oklahoma.

Like several of his cousins, young Johnny Davis, now 47 years old, was enamored with rock music back in the '70s and '80s.  Soon he was cranking out music in a rock band, all adorned with hairstyles and attire of the time -- probably to the chagrin of his parents.  But we're pretty sure they recognized his propensity for "the arts," though it would manifest itself in ways they might not have predicted.

Now married and the father of two boys, Johnny Davis has developed into a top-rate artists.  His favorite subject seems to be motorcycles.  We've seen several of his pieces, and they're extraordinarily good -- and usually extraordinarily large.  But now his creative juices are flowing in a new direction.

Johnny has become an editorial contributor to the flashy Ride Texas magazine, a quarterly publication out of Austin that focuses on the best back roads in the Lone Star state.  He's crafted an engaging narrative about an old-time general store that adorns the roadside in the north Texas hamlet of Rosston.

He had passed through the town a few times in recent years -- had noticed the weathered wooden building that houses the Rosston General Store -- but had never stopped.  Sparked by memories of a story he had read earlier about the decline of such unique places, and having passed over opportunities to visit the store, Davis saddled up on his motorcycle and headed toward Rosston.

"I was so enchanted with this place and its friendly clientele that I opened  my saddlebag, got my camera, and took a quick snapshot of my motorcycle next to the hitching post," he wrote in the latest (December 2013) edition of Ride Texas.

Of course, we're delighted at the description that Johnny shares about the Rosston General Store and his experience there.  But we remain utterly fascinated by his skill as an artist, capturing things on canvas in a way that few are able to do (photo above).

Perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised, since his mother, Linetha Davis, has been turning out wonderful paintings for several years.  You'll find some of those in our Davis Gallery.

Now, we'll have to add a place for son Johnny!

But perhaps his greater accomplishment is as a stay-at-home dad for a pair of cute sons, Eli and Isaac, and as a husband to Kathleen,  who recently earned her Ph.D.

It's fun watching the development of the "younger generations."

Maiden descendant a drone pioneer

A few years back, we posted a 2010 news story about young Brandon Tenold of Reva, South Dakota, who was then delving deep in to amateur radio and already had garnered a number of accomplishments at an early age. Now he's making a mark in another related technology. 

For the past few years, Brandon has begun working with radio-controlled aircraft, a hobby that has intrigued him greatly, and one which is closely related to an item that is in the news almost daily: drones. Of course, the military has been using drones for years, and the technology has significantly altered military and rescue operations worldwide.

When Amazon's Jeff Bezos unleashed his vision of drone delivery of Amazon-ordered products, the topic was elevated to coverage by CBS' 60 Minutes. And the potential of drone services has mushroomed throughout the economy -- including some potential services in the range country of the Dakotas and Wyoming. 

That was the focus of this televised report done by KELOland Television. Brandon is a grandson of Gene and Janice (Love) Tenold of Reva, South Dakota. And Janice is a granddaughter of William and Leota Maiden, who were the inspiration for this website.

                                                             

A holiday celebration of Loves

A cold and snowy night -- in a place we'd never heard of.

But the moment we walked through the door, we were delighted at what we found.  We were guests at a family reunion to honor Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich at a remote guest ranch about 17 miles north of Buffalo, Wyoming.  

We've lived in South Dakota and Nebraska for a good number of years, and we've traveled quite a bit throughout Wyoming, but we'd never heard of this place:  The Ranch at Ucross.

Jan (Love) Tennold and her siblings -- Sandra, Matt and Beverly -- orchestrated this special reception and dinner to honor their mother, who is the last living child of William J. and Leota (Durham) Maiden.  They couldn't have chosen a nicer place.

But we have a feeling that no matter where they might have assembled, there would have been an outpouring of warmth and love that would have filled the room.  We counted 25 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other assembled family.  And we were fortunate enough to live close enough to receive an invitation the the festivities.

The afternoon was a time for family members to visit, tell stories, and catch up on activities.  From California and South Dakota to Arizona and Wyoming, there was an abundance of stories and lots of reminiscing.  What great fun for cousins and kinfolk to be able to come together for a holiday reunion.  The group paused long enough to be captured in the photo below.  You'll find a higher resolution version of this photograph in our Maiden Photo Gallery.  And we're working on compiling all the names for a caption, so please lend a hand!  A simple e-Mail note will do!

Following a reception and dinner at the Ranch House,  the group reconvened at the Lodge to view  an hour-long video that Larry and Karen Miller recorded at Betty's home in Dayton in 2008.  

We can think of no other way to celebrate the Christmas season that family coming together to share memories -- and to show affection for the lady who helped make it all possible:  Betty Maiden!  

With a gloomy medical diagnosis, this remarkable lady faces the future -- however short or long -- with great dignity and grace, and still nurturing the keen sense of humor that she has embraced for her 87 years.  While doctors count her future in months, we all know that her spirit -- and our memories of her -- will be alive for generations to come.  What a lady!

The Saga of Ed Durham

We've always been a sucker for a good story, and they're particularly enjoyable when they're true.

Having spent the better share of the past decade in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota, we've become somewhat familiar with the rich pioneer history that permeates these hills and surrounding prairies.  Of course, lots of indigenous people staked claim to much of this region, and -- in fact -- still do.

Having grown up in Dawes County Nebraska, just a few hours south of historic Deadwood, South Dakota, we've always known about the raucous history of this little mining town.  But during much of the past year we've been researching pioneer attorney Henry Frawley, who was not only successful in the courtroom, but who also amassed a hefty amount of real estate across Lawrence County.  Frawley was prosperous, but he was also considered something of a showboat.  One writer characterized him as the "F. Lee Bailey of his time."  Of course, Frawley practiced a good century before Bailey would make a name for himself in American jurisprudence.  

While researching Henry Frawley, I came across a fine book about the early pioneer days in the Black Hills written by John McClintock.   I found some interesting material about Frawley, but I also came across an intriguing article about one Ed Durham.

Readers of Maiden Archives know that the Durham name figures prominently in our ancestry.  A direct line ancestor of ours from Pennsylvania, David A. Durham (b. 1848) was father to Leota Irene Durham, who married William Joseph Maiden in 1915.  Thus came the Durham linkage to the Maiden clan that is the subject of this web site.

Knowing this, the following article piqued my curiosity.  We've not yet done any genealogical research to see if the Ed Durham discussed here was kinfolk, but we do know that we have Durham relatives still living in the Black Hills region of Wyoming.  

So, here's the short sad saga of Ed Durham, from McClintock's 1939 book, Pioneer Days in the Black Hills.

More photo detective work needed!

Thanks to Ray Scott for sharing this undated photograph

Lots of "cousins" are included in this undated photograph that was apparently tucked away in a picture box belonging to the late Minnie (Weston) Scott and discovered by her son, Ray Scott.

We know several of these folks, but we need help in identifying others.

Let's start in the back row, standing from left-to-right: Sorry, we don't know the first fellow, but the others are: Aleatha "Toots" (Drullinger) Case, Minnie (Weston) Scott, and Bryan Scott.  Kneeling in front are Sharon Case, Unknown, and John Case.

We can't be certain, but we'd guess that the lad in the front with his back to the camera might be Delbert Case, a younger brother to Sharon.  Of course, it could have been any of a number of boys.

And we think that the two unidentified gentlemen in this photograph are Drullingers.  No location is listed, but it most likely was taken in Chadron, Nebraska, around 1950.

Can you help?  Send us an e-mail with your thoughts and suggestions.  Thanks!

Were they really cowgirls?

Friendship is such a wonderful thing.  After a series of career moves over the years, we’ve chalked up a healthy list of people we consider good friends – from Iowa and Oklahoma to Mississippi and Pennsylvania.

Except for Nebraska friends with whom we grew up, most of those friendships were established and developed over just a few short years.  But in many instances, we’ve kept in touch with these friends from elsewhere and continue nurturing the friendships.

We’re intrigued by the fact that so many people of our parents’ generation were often life-long friends.  People with whom they went to school, worked, and grew old.  Friends who confided in one another and – during good times and bad – helped each other.

Such was the special and long-time friendship of Lettie Miller and Gladys (Warren) Beamish.

We’ve heard stories of how these ladies, hard working but fun loving, used to celebrate Halloween to the fullest extent – dressing up in some remarkably innovative costumes.

It tickled us recently when we came across this old photo – taken in about 1947 on the Vince Braddock place north of Chadron.  We don’t think it was Halloween, although it may well have been in October.  No doubt about it, they were in costume!

Billy Beamish – about four years old – is shown at the left with his dog Ringo.  They both seem a bit bewildered by the antics of the two gunslingers on the right, Lettie (Maiden) Miller and Gladys (Warren) Beamish.

This image, we think, captures the light-hearted antics that these two ladies shared with one another.  Perhaps folks who’ve known them and their spouses -- John Miller and Warren Beamish  -- might contend that the girls' tomfoolery was a way of complementing the more reserved (some might say dour) personalities of their husbands!

Far be it from us to assign such motives.  In any event, these two ladies did have fun!

Lettie Miller passed away in Chadron in 1998 at age 77.  Gladys Beamish still lives in Chadron and remains quite active for a young lady in her 80’s!

Were you there?

The little lapel pin shown here was generated to promote a Maiden Family Reunion over the 4th of July holiday in 1984.

Only trouble is, we don't know which Maiden family line was promoting the event -- or where it took place!

We'll have to admit that our memory chip isn't as robust as it once was, but these little pins (we found two tucked away in a chest) have really befuddled us.

At first, we confused it with a family reunion that took place out in the Pacific northwest in about the same era.   Then, we recalled that the gathering was actually a reunion of Durham family members.  Our records include a written notice about a "Durham Family Reunion" on August 14, 1982 at the Rainier Sportsman's at Rainier, Washington.  It was organized by Helen Vincent and Tom Durham.  Tom, we believe, was a grand nephew of Leota Irene (Durham) Maiden.   We did not attend that reunion.

Our Maiden family tie with the Durhams was through  Leota Irene Durham (1891-1951), the daughter of David and Alatha (Norman) Durham.  She married William J. Maiden (1886-1972), the son of William H. and Dora (Derrick) Durham at Belle Fourche, South Dakota, 15 December 1915.

We'll hope that a Maiden cousin somewhere might happen across this posting and provide us with information about the 1984 Maiden reunion.