1
John Greathouse Senior and Sarah McDade / Greathouse/Vandale pictures
« on: January 08, 2007, 11:05:40 PM »
The following was written by Elsie Lee Greathouse Collins (daughter of Charley Lee Greathouse), about 1974. There are a few nearly identical versions that she wrote of her life story; I have combined them into one letter.
MY LIFE
I was born September 3, 1895, at Greyhorse O.T. (Oklahoma Territory). Was named Elea Lee Greathouse. My father was Charley Lee Greathouse; he was born on December 30, 1872, in Kansas near Leeds, Kansas.
My mother was Ida Elmira Jones; don't know date of birth - year 1873.
My father was married to Ida Hopper - she died; they had one child, a girl named Belva. Her grandparents, the Hoppers, raised her. She married Jeff Craig and had three sons; she died & husband's whereabouts unknown. I don't know when he and my mother married; there was a boy born. I don't know how old he was when he died.
My father was shot by a U.S. Marshal. He was in the back of is wagon when his team & wagon came up to the gate. The horses had brought him home. My mother and a neighbor named Metcalf got the bullet out & he lived about a year later. Boney Jones, my mother's brother, and Jake, another brother & rest of family. My Dad's sister Verna and husband Orlando Walkling. My mother & Mrs. Metcalf, they drove cross country in Jake's wagon, and small wagon the Walklings was driving - to Kansas and other folks & relations waited for them to go to Round Mound Cemetery6 where he was buried. Most all of our relation are buried. It's 5 miles northwest of Waunita, Kansas. I was 18 months old when my father died.
My mother sewed, did washing, & odd jobs to try to try to make money to keep me. She married Barnet (Barney) Morrison - don't know when, but think I was about 2 or 2 1/2 when we lived in a house with an upstairs. She & I was upstairs & started down when she fell. I ran out to the field where Barney was plowing, and told him Mama had fallen down the stairs and couldn't get up.
I was sent to Kansas to live with my Dad's mother and two half brothers names Jeff and Art Kirby. My Grandma died when I was 13 and I went to live with my Dad's sister and husband Laverna and Orlando Walkling. I went to grade school till I finished then went to Emporia, Kansas to my uncle & wife Art & Ida Kirby. Went to high school & college, taught one term, and on December 22, 1912, I married a neighbor boy named Ivy Andrew Woodrum. We had one son LeVern Ivy Woodrum. He was born July 8, 1916. His father and I separated, and LeVerne was killed August 1935 in Kansas City [Missouri] in a truck accident. I came west in 1923 & worked in Portland. I met Ray Collins in August 1933 & we was married on November 18, 1933. Will be married 41 years November 18, 1974. I have a letter my other wrote to my aunt in 1896 & she spelled my name Elca. I did not know until my Aunt Verna passed away in 1970.
MY LIFE
I was born September 3, 1895, at Greyhorse O.T. (Oklahoma Territory). Was named Elea Lee Greathouse. My father was Charley Lee Greathouse; he was born on December 30, 1872, in Kansas near Leeds, Kansas.
My mother was Ida Elmira Jones; don't know date of birth - year 1873.
My father was married to Ida Hopper - she died; they had one child, a girl named Belva. Her grandparents, the Hoppers, raised her. She married Jeff Craig and had three sons; she died & husband's whereabouts unknown. I don't know when he and my mother married; there was a boy born. I don't know how old he was when he died.
My father was shot by a U.S. Marshal. He was in the back of is wagon when his team & wagon came up to the gate. The horses had brought him home. My mother and a neighbor named Metcalf got the bullet out & he lived about a year later. Boney Jones, my mother's brother, and Jake, another brother & rest of family. My Dad's sister Verna and husband Orlando Walkling. My mother & Mrs. Metcalf, they drove cross country in Jake's wagon, and small wagon the Walklings was driving - to Kansas and other folks & relations waited for them to go to Round Mound Cemetery6 where he was buried. Most all of our relation are buried. It's 5 miles northwest of Waunita, Kansas. I was 18 months old when my father died.
My mother sewed, did washing, & odd jobs to try to try to make money to keep me. She married Barnet (Barney) Morrison - don't know when, but think I was about 2 or 2 1/2 when we lived in a house with an upstairs. She & I was upstairs & started down when she fell. I ran out to the field where Barney was plowing, and told him Mama had fallen down the stairs and couldn't get up.
I was sent to Kansas to live with my Dad's mother and two half brothers names Jeff and Art Kirby. My Grandma died when I was 13 and I went to live with my Dad's sister and husband Laverna and Orlando Walkling. I went to grade school till I finished then went to Emporia, Kansas to my uncle & wife Art & Ida Kirby. Went to high school & college, taught one term, and on December 22, 1912, I married a neighbor boy named Ivy Andrew Woodrum. We had one son LeVern Ivy Woodrum. He was born July 8, 1916. His father and I separated, and LeVerne was killed August 1935 in Kansas City [Missouri] in a truck accident. I came west in 1923 & worked in Portland. I met Ray Collins in August 1933 & we was married on November 18, 1933. Will be married 41 years November 18, 1974. I have a letter my other wrote to my aunt in 1896 & she spelled my name Elca. I did not know until my Aunt Verna passed away in 1970.