Ruth L. Davis is, in my mind, a truly wonderful personality. Gossip has it that she had a love but her older sister and provider wanted her to marry Olin Davis because he had a good job with the postal service. I do not have any real knowledge of her marriage but he was killed in a high speed one car wreck when the car he was driving drunk became airborne. I have no way of knowing how Aunt Ruth survived but she bought a home in San Bernardino, California, which had two rental apartments. Her husband was a postal employee and he must have left her government insurance and pension.
She worked and took care of her two boys as well as her daughter and her four children who had left her husband. She just seemed to be pleased to be wanted and needed and expected nothing in return. I have never heard her complain but was thankful and happy to be of service to others. I often chide her of being too humble and modest.
When we first visited her in San Bernardino, she had Charles Chester sitting in the living room with Russell Lee. They were both very friendly but never moving or working. Charles was epileptic and said he could not work and Russell Lee probably had acute depression. I had a great time visiting with them. Charles died in 1970, he had been married in Missouri and I believe had a child but there never was a mention of the marriage. Russell Lee died in 1994, he was divorced and had a fine daughter, Ruthie, who Aunt Ruth took care of a lot. Marguerite was separated from her husband. She and the four children lived in one of Aunt Ruth's apartments and taught school for years. Now, Aunt Ruth and her daughter are living in a nice manufactured home park for adults and are doing quite well. Marguerite is taking good care of Ruth and they seem very happy. Marguerites' children and grandchildren are a care but also a distraction from getting old. Ruthie, Russell's daughter, is very caring and visits a lot.
Aunt Ruth, born Dec.12, 1899, wants to live till Jan. of 2000 so she can have lived in three centuries at the age of 100. Shirley and I took her and Marguerite to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was 94 and she had a great time touring the casinos and Hoover Dam in a wheel chair. She does get around greatly with a walker ----------------------------------------------------------------- Letter from Aunt Ruth Cady Davis Saturday Nov. 11, 1989 A day to remember. Dear Tom and Shirley- Your wonderful letters, records and pictures pleased me greatly and Marguerite as well. Ruthie is very interested in family history. She and Aaron will be here for Christmas. I can't thank you dear people enough. I will try to reply properly but will undoubtedly leave out things I should mention. First, I will give you David's address. He is a very fine retired man, a Christian and does volunteer work. He has been very kind and thoughtful of Russ. They grew up together. He is tall, not at all like Cady-has a nice wife and home on highway 5 You travel that out of Kansas City You may know. Davis W. Moulder, 1104 Indian Creek, Lebanon, Mo. 65536 Phone 417-522-5068 We found all the records and materials very interesting. You have a real talent. The pictures are a joy to have. Do you know, I had always thought that Wilcox had two L's but of course they knew. Of course you know that Uncle Ed. Barton was a Confederate Vet? Was badly wounded said " tell them that I wasn't shot in the back. A funny thing that I may have told you. I heard Aunt Sally say " but you know Mary, our family never had slaves " Mary heatedly replied " You don't need to tell it " Your dad thought that they had slaves but mama said that it was a poor Negro family who lived in their shed. Mama was nursed by the woman, I mean physically. I am pleased that you visited Papa's grave - thank you- the cemetery is well kept. We have a cousin buried there. David's daughter, Nellie, died bearing twins - who survived. Do you know the remarkable account? It doesn't seem possible. What did you think of Limon and the plains. I suppose all is greatly changed . Limon was a dreary place when I was little and the horses were afraid of the Railroad. One horse, Prince, did all the work -Barney just along. There was alkali water that always made me ill. Why didn't we take water? About our family, there is so much to say and I don't know how long you will read. Ha. I think that Dr. Lee did not find Grandma's headstone because he was looking for Elizabeth Cady? I would have done that. I so much would like to know more about her- all gone now. How hard it must have been for her to go back to Wisconsin to her husband's funeral and pay the costs? It was good that Dr. Lee restored the headstone. How did people travel then? Was there a railroad? Wouldn't you like to know of their journey from Wisconsin? With four kids, Amanda a baby. I heard that Grandma died from Miscarriage. She had been out chasing something. Balcom seems to have been a man of some consequence from the headstone. but no doubt Grandma's family paid for hers! Poor lady leaving all those children! I had heard that each one was left a sum of money and had a guardian as they called him. Who raised Amanda? David and Ada? Strangely,Aunt Amanda never spoke of that or any of the past..She loved my father tho.
David and Jared prospered, my father raised a big family - I don't know how-isn't that shocking!!! I know that he was a hard worker and Mama also. I don't recall their ever speaking of being on a farm. He did have a livery stable, I recall. I don't know why they located in Humphrey - I'm surprised that it exists at all. I have often wondered if those dear little had ???? Mama never ceased to grieving, tears rolled down her face Wharton, Annie and Carrie. She felt that she was at fault. Thank you for caring. When they left Humphrey in 1901 they borrowed 200 silver dollars from Jared. Likely the only generous thing he ever did. He used to visit us in Lebanon in an old car. Said that he felt like Dr. Lee hardly welcomed him. How I wished that I had learned from him!!! Uncle David was so different. Alice was like him. Very outgoing. He also raised a big family. A son, Henry, lived north of us on the plains- something of a scoundrel. Shot deer out of season-delivered his own babies! Successfully too. Getting back to our journey to South Missouri in a covered wagon. Your dad, Alice, Sadie and me a nursing baby. They camped along the way always picking a poorer place. They were more welcomed there. The farm in the Ozarks was another story. Your dad must have told you about it. He was eleven I believe - a beautiful boy.., like Steve. They worked so hard. Could raise fresh peaches but no market- 30 miles from a railroad!!! they made another bad move, I think. They weren't young enough to pioneer. I might say that Uncle David and Aunt Ada- also Aunt Amanda and Uncle Flo and Roger all visited out there- different times and years. So there was family love. Papa worked much too hard - wasn't very well, had no medical attention. He had been building fence the day he died... I am surprised at the very old cemetery in Linneus being well kept. I thought that Linneus had died.................... Wasn't the courthouse moved elsewhere? Thanks again Lovingly Aunt Ruth