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)

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?

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!

The Maiden kids - late 1930's

While preparing a new picture calendar for 2012, I was digging for some old photos that might help spur memories of years gone by.  This one popped up, and I was delighted to include it in the calendar.

I had seen this photograph before, but it'd never captured my imagination the way it did today.  Perhaps it's the unique personalities of the six Maiden girls -- and one boy -- reflected in their faces and clothing.  Or it might be the contrast of the dry earth barnyard with Grandpa Maiden's bold new barn looming in the distance.  Whatever caught my attention, it's allowed me to examine more closely and enjoy this glimpse of yesteryear out on White River in Dawes County, Nebraska.  There's no date on this photo, but from the apparent ages of those in the picture, I'm guessing this was taken in the late 1930's.

In the rear (left-to-right) are Nettie, Henry, and Betty Maiden.  In the middle are Lettie, Minnie, and Dorothy.  Jackie is in front.  I can't see clearly enough to determine who is to the rear right, closer to the barn.  Perhaps Ray Scott -- Minnie's son -- is the boy, but I can't be certain.  I don't believe that's Grandpa Maiden back there, but again, that's just a guess.

I wish I could remember that barn.  I've been told that Grandpa William J. Maiden was very proud of it.

Apples from the John C. Derrick tree

Some years back, while researching the 1927 drowning of William Weston in White River north of Chadron, Nebraska, we had the pleasure of chatting by telephone with Winfred Dalrymple, a distant "cousin."  He told me that he  and his family were visiting the Maiden family north of Chadron when young William drowned while trying to save his sister.  She survived the ordeal.  

Winfred's grandfather was Albert John Derrick, a son to the much-discussed John C. Derrick. Also, his grandmother, Martha (married to Albert John), was a Maiden.   

It's another example of the maze of relationships that would result when someone married into a family to which they were already related by marriage.  We've found it several times in the Derrick family -- with both the Maiden and Miller families.  And -- more than once -- its complexity has caused this writer to fall into a "relative" stupor.

Alas, we've lost touch with the Dalrymple clan, but hope that we can reconnect one day soon.  He lived in the Seattle vicinity when we chatted in 1994.   Finding the photograph above, which was tucked in the back of an envelope, was quite fun -- especially since someone had taken the time to write down who was in the picture!  If only they'd also dated it!

I find it intriguing that many of these old photos reproduce so well.  This original black & white photo is 2 x 3 inches.  It  hasn't been particularly cared for over the years, but the clarity and resolution is still pretty good -- a testament to the quality of the camera and lens used in capturing the image.

We're guessing the photo was taken in about 1924 or 1925, before young Weston drowned.  Shown left-to-right are Dorothy Maiden, Bobby Dalrymple, Henry Maiden, Winnie Dalrymple, and Lettie Miller.

Lettie's Little Red Book

Kids have a fun way of leaving their mark in history. Oh, sure, they can become rich and famous, but harken back to their youth, and you'll find kids are pretty much the same everywhere -- more than a bit nonsensical!

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In foraging through materials belonging to my mother, Lettie Miller, I came across a delightful little "Autograph Book."

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Long before television and computers (text messaging was sending morse code via Western Union!) these little autograph books were one way that youngsters could pen a message to their sweethearts and other friends. Little would they realize that most of the kids who signed these books would depart their lives for marriage, the military, or otherwise to seek their fortune elsewhere in the world.

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This has dozens of entries -- most penned by friends of my mother. Some of them were written by teachers or parents, and it's easy to identify them -- they're a bit "less clever" and more philosophical. Since there are many entries from young people in Lead, South Dakota, I believe she had the book both in Lead and later in Chadron, Nebraska, which is where she spent virtually her whole life, except for that one snippet of time in Lead. She stayed with her older sister, Minnie (Maiden) Scott.

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I've transcribed a few of these messages, and they're a hoot! I found many of the poems and sayings repeated by several of the youngsters, so few of the items can truly be considered "original." Nonetheless, it reflects the youthful lightheartedness that kids bring to every generation. Some would call it foolishness. I call it fun!

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YOUR MOTHER / EILEEN MEYER / ELIZABETH BUTLER

SISTER MINNIE / ETTA RED BOY / LUCILLE MORRIS

MARGARET ROBERTS / SISTER BETTY / LOIS CASEY

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CLARA LIDMAN / WARREN BEMISH / ARTHUR EDLUND

DELIA MARGARET HOPPE / FRED MILLER / NETTIE MAIDEN

DORIS WEYMOUTH / JOHN MILLER / MAUDE PACE

LILA NIXON / BESSIE GILLAM / W.J.M. (FATHER)

WM. HENRY MAIDEN / LAWRENCE DRULLINGER

ARLENE CAVANAUGH / EARNEST NORMAN, JR.