Elva Lorene Edwards, 85, of Arenzville died Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at Jacksonville Convalescent Center. She was born March 14, 1913, near Roodhouse, the daughter of Raymond and Nellie Mae Dyer Cummins. She married Curtis L. Edwards in 1933 in Jacksonville; he died in 1997. Mrs. Edwards was a homemaker. She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Beardstown and attended Birch Creek School near Roodhouse. Survivors: a daughter, Mrs. Marion (Shirley) Chute of Meredosia; three grandsons; seven great-grandchildren; four brothers, Orval (wife, Alvene) Cummins of Las Cruces, N.M., Ray (wife, Betty) Cummins of Tucson, Ariz., Floyd (wife, Mildred) Cummins of Roodhouse and Raymond (wife, Betty) Cummins of Mena, Ark.; and four sisters, Mrs. Lester (Mildred) Hoots of Patterson, Helen Reid of Murrayville, Mrs. Roscoe (Alice) Orten of Washington and Jean O'Brien of East Peoria. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Cody and Son Memorial Home, Jacksonville. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Greenfield.

Herbert Alexender Henshaw
Born May 28 1862, Perth, New Brunswick
He married Harriett Bartlett, Jan 7 1888
Harriett died Oct 2 1888
He then married Ida Lillian Sanford, Sep 2 1890.
Ida, daughter of Richard Harding Sanford & Rebecca Potter, was born May 23 1861.
Ida died Apr 24 1891, at sea on her husband's ship "Syanara"; buried at sea 225 miles from Cape Rio, Brazil.
On Sep 15 1891, in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Letters of Administration for the estate of "Ida L. Henshaw (formerly Ida L. Sanford), late of Bear River, married woman", were granted to Herbert A. Henshaw, "husband, of Bear River, master mariner" (Estate Folio H155, 1891). Will book page 181 further records "died at sea 24 Apr 1891"
He then married Phoebe Helena Lovely, Nov 14 1892. Phoebe was born Aug 12 1869.
About 1894 Herbert moved to New York City, where he was a seaman.b He became a U.S. citizen.
In 1940 "Captain Herbert" Henshaw was living in Staten Island, New York.
Herbert Alexender Henshaw died Sep 15 1947, Sailor's Snug Harbor Hospital Ward #9, Sailor's Snug Harbor, Staten Island, New York; buried Sep 18 1947, Sailor's Snug Harbor Cemetery, plot #16, row #10, grave #17. Herbert died from arteriosclerotic heart disease.

Source: Copyright � 1997-2005, The Hinshaw Family Association. All rights reserved.

Joseph Henshaw
Born Oct 2 1864.
He married Ada B. Jefferson, Feb 11 1888, Hession Line, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.
Ada, daughter of Harris and Melissa Jefferson, was born Jun 26 1869. Ada died Apr 20 1921, age 50 years, 10 months; buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Bear River, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Ada's obituary was published in the Digby Courier on May 6, 1921. He then married Mabel M. Crosby. Mabel, daughter of Joshua Crosby & Maria Perry, was born Jan 17 1873. In 1929 Joseph was living in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia. Joseph Henshaw died Jun 8 1940, buried United Church Cemetery, Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Mabel died Jul 6 1946, Deep Brook, Anapolis County, Nova Scotia; buried United Church Cemetery, Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.

Joseph Henshaw and Ada B. Jefferson
+-- Llewellyn Henshaw,
+-- Leota Mae Henshaw, 1889-?
+-- (child) Henshaw, ?-1901
+-- Ethel G. Henshaw, 1891-
+-- Walter R. Henshaw, 1892-

Source: Copyright � 1997-2005, The Hinshaw Family Association. All rights reserved.

Wallace Lenley Henshaw
Born Jun 18 1885, Canada. He married Helen M. Newcomb. Helen was born 1887, Massachusetts.
Wallace and family were shown in the 1920 census (Jan 13 1920), Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts:
Henshaw, Wallace L, head-of-household, age 34, born in Canada; parents born in Canada; rented home; occupation: proprietor, milk co.
Henshaw, Helen M., wife, age 33, born in Massachusetts; parents born in Massachusetts.
Henshaw, Wallace N., son, age 3 years 2 months, born in Massachusetts; father born in Canada; mother born in Massachusetts.
Henshaw, George E., son, age 7 months, born in Massachusetts; father born in Canada; mother born in Massachusetts.
In 1929 Wallace was still living in Salem, Massachusetts.d In 1940 Wallace was still living in Salem.
In 1974 Wallace was living in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts. Wallace Lenley Henshaw died Apr - 1974.
Social Security information for Wallace Lenley Henshaw: [Withheld]

Source: Copyright � 1997-2005, The Hinshaw Family Association. All rights reserved.

"Thomas Lennard, christened 23 May 1577 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England, buried 16 Nov 1638 in England. He was unmarried. CHRISTENING: Parish records of Sevenoaks, Kent, England FHL Film #1473690. GENEALOGY: An Account of the Families of Lennard and Barrett.

"I have been unable to discover much about either of Samson's sons Thomas or John. An ancient MS pedigree states that the latter died without issue, but does not give the date of his death. The same pedigree states that in 1628 Thomas was unmarried, and the Gray's Inn Register shows that he was admitted a member of that Inn on May 18th, 1596. We have some papers in a lawsuit brought more than a hundred years later against Thomas Earl of Sussex by which it appears that Samson bought a farm in the parish of Sundridge called Oveny Cakett's, and this farm and twenty acres of land in Brasted he settled on Thomas, whom it there refers to as his 'youngest son,' and makes no mention of the existence of John, so I think we may assume tbe latter died while still a child.

An ancient copy of this Thomas's will describes him as of 'Eveuns Green in the parish of Sundrish Kent.' He appointed his 'loving brother in law'Sir Francis Barnham his executor, to whom he left a legacy, and all the residue of his property to his godson Thomas Lennard, who was his greatnephew, being second son of 'Richard Lord Dacre. Sir Francis Barnham was granted probate of this will in November 1638; and the parish register of Herstmonceux records the burial of Thomas on November 6th in that year.

VISITATION: The Visitations of Kent, Taken in the Years 1574 and 1592; The Publicatitons of the Harleian Society FHL Book 942 B4h vol.75

Letters from Charles Lycurgus Chute to George Maynard Chute, Jr.

Vancouver, B.C.
February 24, 1952

Dear Mr. Chute

Many thanks for your letter and the family tree. I had no idea such a record existed. You know far more about my family than I did myself. I hadn't been back east since 1912 and lost track of my relations to a great extent. I suppose you got a good deal of information from Otis Chute. He was a little boy when I saw him last. I should like very much to see the book you speak of, but I doubt if it is in the library gere. It is wonderful how the records have been brought down through the years. I remember my grandmother was a Bowlby, a first cousin of Dr. Tupper, the father of Sir Charles Tupper. My uncle Joe had three daughters, I believe, they are married to men in N. S. Probably Uncle Charlie's family would know as they lived in Middleton near Melvern Square. William Chute did have a store in Clementsvale when I was a boy. Uncle Joe and Grandfather Chute set him up in business but he soon went broke. The last time I saw him and his family was (illegible). They were having a hard time & had several small children. I remember one, a boy, was a cripple.¹ You spoke of Lower Granville. That was where I was born. The name was later changed to Port Wade. My sister and I were raised by my grandmother on my mother's side. We lived about a mile from grandfather Chute's farm. His place is situated on the Annapolis Basin about 12 miles from the town of Annapolis which formerly was Port Royal, 1603 or so. About Gail Chute. I was talking with his wife on the phone. She said they had heard from you. I met him once at a lodge meeting (Masonic) and am interested to know if he is related to me. He and his father-in-law both said I looked very much like his father.

You are certainly to be commended on your work & expense in contacting so many. Do you intend to publish a book later?

About my sister: her name is Elizabeth Jane. Her husband's name was Harry Reynolds. They had twin babies many years ago and both died.

Addendum, March 9, 1952: I neglected to fnish this letter before. I have two friends at the lodge who are very well acquainted with the Chutes at Dauphin, Manitoba. We are anxious to know what relation they are to us. About my wife Margaret: she came out from Norway when a little girl. It is an old Scandanavian custom to name some of the family after the father's first name. His name was Thomas Larson, and the three oldest girls were called Thompson. Margaret was known to all her friends by that name. So after thinking it over, I wish you would change it to that. It is very unusual, I will admit.

Norma was born in Eureka, California on the 13th of April, 1924. She was married on December 3rd 1948 and lives at 3896 West 23 Ave, Vancouver, BC. They have no children yet. I was quite amused at what you wrote about Uncle George having so many children. I guess we are slipping, don't you think?

Well, this is quite a long letter for me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information you have given me, and again compliment you on your wonderful work.

I�m looking over your letters. I find that it is five years since we corresponded. I hope this finds you and yours well. We are quite well ourselves. I retired last summer and we sold our property and moved over with our daughter. They have a daughter named Charleen Elizabeth Browne. She was born [Private]. We have a large home and we are quite happy and comfortable here.

I took a trip back east in Aug/44. Went by train to Boston and then to N.S. by boat. I only had one day in Boston so didn�t get to see much. Had a fine time in N.S. Was there two weeks. I saw many old friends although many of my old pals had died. Drove up the valley and saw the four Chute brothers and their families. We stayed three or four days up there. I hadn�t been back east for 42 years. The last night I was at the old house at Port Wade they had a surprise party for me. There were over 30 present and the most of them I had gone to school with. They presented me with a purse of money before they left and I just about choked up.

What I wish to tell you is that I am planning to g back again the latter part of June and stay two months or more. I expect to fly to Boston and stay a week there. I have many friends around there but especially I would like to visit the library and see that book you spoke of and also go to Ipswich and Dedham. Might find some old records. Have you every been back there? Would be interested to know how John C. who moved to Bridgetown had his family scattered so.

I see by your letter that he married Judith Foster. When I was a boy there was an old gentleman named Van Bruin Foster¹. He claimed he was a cousin of the Chutes.

I see Gail Chute sometimes. Was out to their place for dinner not long ago. He is captain of a tug boat and isn�t home much. They are very nice people. I haven�t met his father yet. He lives in Blaine, Wash and I hope to meet him as that is only 32 miles south of here.

Well, I have scribbled quite a letter. Hope to heat from you when you get time. If there is anything I can look up for you, let me know. By the way, did you ever get anything printed? Would like a copy very much.

You will be surprised to hear from me after about 10 years. I often look at our letters back and forward and wonder how you and your family are. There has been quite a lot of changes over the years. We are living on Vancouver Island, about 70 miles north of Nanaimo. We used to come up here fishing for several years. After I retired we decided to move up here. Margaret's sister and her husband had a service station up here and sold out so we came out here and had an Apt block built nine years ago. They have both died so we sold out and bought a duplex. Bill Browne started a radio station about a year after we came up. They have done real well and have a very lovely home at the beach about 8 miles from here. Charleen is 14 years old and is the young lady now. Margaret and I are quite well at present. I have had some operations and go into the General Hospital in Vancouver twice a year for a checkup. I haven't been east since writing to you. My sister is in a rest home at Annapolis Royal. Joe and Otis are both dead. Kenneth and Llewellyn are still living, Kenneth & wife at Margaretsville and Llewellyn at Melvern. John Chute died about three years ago. He lived at Blaine, Washington. Gail, his son, lives in North Vancouver. He is a tug boat captain. I call them up when I am in Vancouver. Roland I haven't heard from, for several years. He may have died. He is not in the Vancouver phone book. He compiled quite a folder of his family and sent me a copy. He must have given a lot of time and work to it. I had let him have your letters for reference to start. I would send you my copy if you would return it.

I saw in the Vancouver paper a Chute who died a short time ago. I forget his first name. There is a Will Chute who lives at Chemainus. I was near there one night at a Masonic meeting and called him up. Didn't get much information. I have intended to make a trip to Nova Scotia every summer but there seems so much to do around here and one should take a month off at least. I hope this will find you and family well and that you will receive this. Will be glad to hear from you.

I have been in Vancouver General Hospital for a few days for a general checkup. Am still in good shape. Thanks for your fine letter and the information, I found a good many interesting things that I didn't know. You certainly have a complete list of my immediate family. However, I can't quite make out the Joseph Chute on p. 69, Judson Chute & etc.

I am enclosing Roland's record.¹ The first part of it was copied from the record you sent me. I don't know how he got all of the information about his own family. I was born directly across the Annapolis Basin from where he lived & I sailed in vessels as a boy from our side. We carried lumber & cordwood from Clemensport to Boston, New York & Phila. Clementsvale is back of the Port. I am sure Elizabeth knows people who were his relatives as she traveled around the province a good deal as a delegate of the Baptist church. The Chutes are Baptists in Nova Scotia, or used to be.

Roland was a strong Baptist. If you look over about his family, you will find that their little girl died when she was two years old. He told me about it. The boy was 7 years old & they had a rifle hanging on the wall. The boy got it down & it was loaded & went off & the bullet went through the little girl. What a tragedy. I visited them several times before I came up here. If you like to send the record back I will send it down to Elizabeth, but there is no hurry. I should try to make another trip down, but as she in a home now I suppose it would not be so convenient. She is very well fixed financially. Says she may not go to the old home this year unless she can get someone to stay with her. Gertrude fell and hurt her back at Xmas time but I think she is home now from the Middleton hospital.

Was glad you got to see Llewellyn. Gertie only lives a little way further on at the homestead. She is a very fine woman & wish you had met her. I didn't know Otis & wife so well. She was very interested in the Chute history. Yes, we are very lucky to have such good health, especially at my age. I have belonged to the Masons for over 50 years and altho I don't drive a car anymore, the brothers take me all over the Island & I take part in the work still. Am glad you are able to see your family often. There is nothing like your own folks. I hope you are able to make this out. I don't write as well as I did.

Again, many thanks for your letter. Was sorry I didn't get to the library while I was in Vancouver, but will likely the next time I am in. So wishing you & your family the very best.

"We have a duplex and rent one side. Have a nice garden every year. I belong to two Masonic Lodges up here and still take part in the work. I have been a member for nearly fifty-two years. Also the wife and I belong to the O.A. (?) Pensioners. We have been very busy writing cards and letters the last few days. My sister Elizabeth Reynolds is staying at a boarding home in Port George for the winter. She is fairly well, but has arthritis in her back and is quite bent over. Norma and Bill & Charleen are real well. Bill has the radio station here and a substation in Campbell River - about 35 miles north. They have a very nice home at the beach about 8 miles from here. Also they have a farm with about 12 race horses. About half are brood mares. He races some in Vancouver during the summer ..."

Enclosed you will find list of my Grandchildren as near as I can get it. I can't seem to see Gerald to get date of his wedding or birthdate of his child, you will notice Mamie McKeil put names of her family on separate sheet of paper and as for my cousins, you write to Percy Chute at Island Falls, Maine, he can give you information about their family. Also Havelocks and Rays and probably uncle Handley's to (two?) girls. Samuel* had fits and some foolish glad to hear from you, like to hear from you at any time, hoping this is satisfactory, I am yours truly,

Thank you so much for your letter of Aug 16th, and the fine list of names and dates included. You certainly can be proud of your fine group of children and grandchildren. You hold the record among all the Chutes I have contacted.

As you suggested, I wrote Arthur at Doaktown 2 months ago, but have had no answer. Do you ever see him? Or, perhaps, if you can give me his sister Madeline's address, I can write her for the data.

I also wrote Ray at Smyrna Hills, Maine, but the letter was returned, marked that he had moved, leaving no new address. Do you know where he is now?

Neither have I heard from Percy at Island Falls.

I shall appreciate any further help you can give.

We have 6 inches of snow here and 15 degrees. But perhaps yours is much colder. Shall be glad to hear from you.

I received your letter of Nov 10. I never see any of Stilson's family, but I understand he has a son lives at Marrsville, N.B. (Nelson), you might get him there, if Percy would answer he could give you information on his brothers and sisters, also Ray and family, Havelock's family. I have put in an awful summer, my dear wife died suddenly last spring, we had been married almost 53 years, we had a good life and it is awful to live without her.

"...On the farm, the potatoes were poor so in the fall of 1923 Will & Henry Elliott (his brother-in-law) worked in the woods for Rankine & Abe Chute of Nashwaak - cut logs of spruce & fir. They should have made good money but they didn't take their pay when they came out of the woods at Christmas, & in the spring when the work was completed, they did not get paid from Chute at all."

Allison Whitman Chute was an Air Force Rescue Pilot. They retired to Kentville, Nova Scotia.

"I suppose you are wondering why I have not answered your letter, but we had some friends come from N.B. a week ago, so things have been kind of in a whirl but will try and write you a few lines tonight. I was just saying to my wife, I do wish I could have a talk with you because I could tell you almost enough to fill a book myself, but maybe some of it wouldn't be of any interest to you. My father is just 72 years old, and I know my Grandfather had a brother Edward, he was hurt in the lumber woods and died when his family was still very small. There was Leland, Abram, Percy, Stilson, Nelson and Edna. Percy lives at Island Falls Maine, Stilson lives at Doaktown N.B. Nelson lives in British Columbia and Edna lives in New Hampshire, her name is Mrs O. E. MacDonald. Her husband died some years ago. Now Abram married my father's sister Mary, he died 6 years ago, 5th of this September and she died 3 years this 3rd of September. They had one boy Perley, he's down in N.B. Now Granpa had another brother "Wellington", he lived in Smyrna Mills, Maine - he had I think 4 children there was Harley (dead), Havelock (dead) Ray and Jean. Ray lives in Smyrna Mills and Jean married a brother of Leland Chute's wife and I think they live in New Hampshire.

[Note: "Jean", mentioned here, may be the same individual identified by Rodney Cecil Chute and official record as Pearl Edna, known by another given name. She did marry a "Cameron", the same surname as Leland Chute's wife, Blanche Cameron, but until confirmation of this is found, I am keeping these two separated.]

Now my Father's brother David died when he was very young. His sister Annie married Alfred Morehouse and died about a year after her marriage and as I told you Mary married Abram Chute and they are both dead. There is just my Father living and how he would enjoy talking with you, I have heard him talk so much of the Chutes. I do hope I can get this all straight.

Now my Grandfather had several sisters - if you are interested in them I believe I could tell you quite a lot about them. I will tell you their names. There was Almira, Lydia, Rilda and Sarah, now if you are interested in them I believe I could tell you quite a lot about them, but will wait until I hear from you again. I do wish I could see you and talk with you, maybe it can be arranged sometime.

Now I am going to answer your questionaire and I will write some about my brothers and sisters. I do hope you can make this out. Now our mother died this 6 day of March very sudden it was quite a shock to us all, she was 69 years of age and always very active. She was sick just 2 hours. Guess it was her heart - it was some surprise to us all and my Father hasn't been very well since. I'm going to send your letter on to him and would he ever love to get a letter from you telling him about this, his address is Millville, New Brunwsick, c/o Mrs. Lester Hull if you would drop him a line he sure would appreciate it, if you would care to.

Now I don't know the name of Harold's youngest child, neither do I know the name of Gerald's, but I can find out if you need them. Dad was only married once, Mother's name before marriage was Wallace. I believe I can give you the names of nearly all of my sisters' children, but don't know their birthdates, if you want them you can let me know and I will get them for you. Guess I will stop scribbling for this time, will be looking forward to hearing from you again. Best of luck,"

Garfield Chute
86 Dufferin Street
Peterborough, Ontario
July 12 1951

From the Family Data Worksheet (GMC) of September 1, 1961, Rodney Cecil Chute described his occupation as Electronic Technician. At the time he was living on New Haven Road in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

From the 2002 Family Data Worksheet (JIC):

"I was born in Smyrna Mills, Maine to Ray Cecil Chute and Helen Mae Slader Chute. I lived my first seven years in Dyer Brook, Maine, where my parents farmed. The farming consisted of growing potatos in the summer and both father and mother cooked for a woods crew in the winter. At the age of seven, we moved to St. Albans, Maine - my memories are much better. I attended St. Albans Grammar School.

During the next several years my parents crop-farmed for Birdseye Frosted Foods, and during the summer mother worked in the canning factory. I attended Hartland Acadaemy in Hartland and majored in the study of agriculture.

I married on June 16, 1951 to Beverly June Nichols; we moved to Naugatuck, CT in October of 1951 where I worked for Risdon Manufacturing Company as a machine operator. In September of 1952, I entered the U.S. Military. I trained at Gorton, Georgia. While there, we lived at 1947 Walton Way in Augusta. In February of 1953, I drew orders to Germany where I spent the next 18 months at Wisbaden Air Base.

After returning home and being discharged from the military we lived the next years in Naugatuck, CT. I went to work for the United Aircraft Company as a grinder making parts for airplane engines. During the next three years I also attended the Connecticut School of Electronics in New Haven, where I graduated with an associate degree in Electronic Engineering.

I missed mentioning an important event: on July 28, 1955, we were blessed with a son, Dennis Rodney Chute.

I continued to work for United Aircraft for several more years during which time we were blessed with two more children Kevin Robert Chute and Cynthia Lois Chute.

In 1964, I went to work for the Timex Corporation in Middlebury.

Life got boring over the next several years work, and vacations in Maine seemed to be the substance of our life. We did manage to break it up in 1968 - we spent two months touring the States - it was an excellent education for our children. In later years we also made trips to England and to Germany.

I retired at age 55 and moved to Maine where I now reside. We built a log home on a 48 acre piece of land in 1987. It is now 2002. I am 71 and enjoying my children and grandchildren that have all settled on that 48 acres of land and are very kind to Bev and I.

There are many more highlights in my life but I will not bore you with them at this time."

Rodney was also a member of the Future Farmers of America; Beverley the Latin Club and the Glee Club.

Tribute written by Meaghan Chute

"When I was eight I moved from the state of Virginia to the state of Maine. For three years, while my family was building our own log home we stayed with my grandparents.

My grandfather, Rodney Chute, is an extraordinary man, and I am so glad that I get to live so close to him and see him on a regular basis. Everything he does amazes me, and I look up to him and respect him more then anyone I know.

Ever since I was young I saw him as a strong person. He spends more time outside then anybody I have ever met doing productive things. He chops his own wood for his fire, and he grows his own vegetables in a large garden in his backyard. My grandfather has always been a hard working man. Along with yard work and raising a garden, he and my grandmother used to babysit my younger cousin every day and he also had a part time job. My grandfather has retired at least five times. It has always been a joke in my family that we can't keep him at home. He says he's retiring, but he enjoys his job so much that he always gets a new one after retiring. A few years ago, we stopped throwing him retirement parties. There really was no point.

My grandfather is also a retired teacher. For three years I attended a private school in which he was a teacher. He kept his students in line, and pushed them to do their best. He was strict, yet loving. He's involved with our church, and with the youth in the church. All the kids call him "Grandpa" and I am honored to be one of this man's real grandchildren.

His smile makes me smile; his hugs make me feel at peace. I remember when I lived at his house every night we would make popcorn and tea, and then sit in a big comfy chair and read together. He helped to raise me, and now that I am an adult, he continues to encourage me in all my endeavors.

I want to celebrate my grandfather for all he has done and everything he continues to do. He keeps himself busy with things that make the world a better place to live in, and I am grateful for everything he has taught me. Without him I wouldn't know the difference between vegetables ready to pick and ones that aren't quite ready. I wouldn't know the unconditional love of an older adult who doesn't care about my mistakes, only about the progress I make in life. Without my grandfather I wouldn't be the person that I am today, and that is something I am very proud of. He helped raise me and I wouldn't trade all I've learned from him for anything in the world."

Letter from Rodney Cecil Chute, January 2003

"Hi Jackie: I was thrilled to receive your letter, Meghan's essay WAS A REAL TEAR JERKER IT TOOK ME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO READ IT THE FIRST TIME, I have received several letters of this type of past students but when it comes from a grandchild it hits home.

If you will bear with me I will attempt to clear up all the problems with my mothers marriages, It gets rather complicated as she married three times and all three men were closely related to each other.

First let's clear up the Chute-Hewins thing, Ellen Chute (my father's sister and a daughter of James Wellington) married Ernest Hewins. They had a son Coral Ernest Hewins, Coral was Helen Slater's first husband. Coral was accidently shot and died as a result of the wound leaving Helen with three young children Walter Thomas, Donald Coral, and Virginia Eldora.

This is where my father came in ( now you have to realize that Coral and Ray were first cousins.) My father was 20 years older than my mother and I am sure it was for convenience on my mother's part, I am sure my father loved her. All three of the children grew up treating Ray as their father. Helen divorced my father in the late forties. Shortly thereafter she married Hartley Fowler. Now here we go again: Rebecca O. Fowler, my grandmother and the wife of James Wellington, is Hartley's aunt. So my step-dad and I were actually second cousins. I will include as many of the Hewins work sheets as I have - I can furnish all the Hewins children's names and some information on most of them but there are a few I have lost contact with at the present time.

I did not receive any letter from you in November Or December.

In regards to the "Cassie Mae" in parentheses - her name was actually Cassie Mae Dora Black but she only used the Dora. Yes, my mother worked for H.C. Baxter Brothers cannery they were a division of Birdseye Frozen Foods. My wife's name is Beverley June Nichols.

About my father making anything from wood: he made practical stuff that he could sell, i.e., ax handles, cantdog handles, runners for sleds and sleighs, wiffletrees, etc. About the "pokey" What I actually was trying to say was "poker", which is a long slender piece of iron that he would heat red hot and burn holes in the wood as small drills were very scarce then.

About other relatives: there is one, my father's younger sister Perle - I can furnish you with some information on her. She spent time every summer with us, but strangely I don't remember her children well at all. I only remember that I didn't care for them. I probably felt they were invading my territory. But nonetheless here's what I know about my Aunt Perl. She did marry a Cameron his Name was Perley W.

Perl Edna Chute Cameron was born May 14 1886 in Zeland NB Canada. Of course her father was James Wellington and her mother was Rebecca 0. Fowler. She had three children: Lila Sara, Norman Kenneth, Beatrice Pearl. This lady married a Shaw. There are also four grandchildren: Lorraine Graig, she lives in Troy Ohio. Joan Reeves, she lives in Chicago. Sandra Schools, lives in Gramby Connecticut her telephone is 860-653-3533, her mailing address is 8 Oakridge Drive Gramby Conneticut 06035. I have talked to this lady on the phone and she seemed excited about filling out the family data work sheets at the time so I sent her �some but have heard nothing from her in about four months. There is one more, Cynthia Ramsey, she lives in Bedford Texas. There are also eleven great-grandchildren and five great-great-granddchildren. That concludes what I know about Aunt Perl. She did live to be over 100 and only passed a few years ago.

The cousin Cecil died in 2001. I can probably find some information on his family.

I love the questions it helps me remember and at this age I need some stimulation. I will be e-mailing you some pictures soon.

Hope I have helped,

Letter from Rodney Cecil Chute, Scouting Experience, January 2003

"This is page two about me. I would like to add that I spent several years as a scout leader, I am not sure of when I started or exactly when I gave it up but somewhere in between there was a lapse of approximately fifteen years more or less.

I began by being a committee man for the cub scout after a year of that I went on to become a cub master in Cub Scout Pack 109, we met at the Glendale Community Center in a place called Cotton Hollow in Naugatuck, Connecticut. After a few years when my boys were ready for the boy scouts. I became an assistant boy scout leader for Troop 109. Tom Horan was the scout master. I spent several years in this position. When my boys were at the age to become explorer scouts there was no place for them to go so I talked the Grange in Naugatuck to sponser an explorer post. When the Grange found that the Explorers was a coed group they immediately revoked our charter and I was left with a Post with no sponsor.*

[*For those unfamiliar with the term, the Grange is the short name for the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a fraternal organization, "founded in 1867 inspired by a desire to solve problems engendered by the War Between the States." Today, it considers itself "a suburban/rural family fraternity organization", although it is suffering from a dwindling membership crisis, as are many other fraternal organizations, who have had difficulty adjusting to a society moving rapidly towards gender equality, as the above incident indicates. Part of the Connecticut group, it can be found in the state web site, http://www.ctstategrange.org/whatis.htm.]

In looking for a new sponsor we were accepted by the Congregational Church in town and were presented with a huge basement area that they didn't use and allowed us to set up a wonderful meeting place there, with the understanding that when our charter was renewed the following year that we would renew as Post 102, because the church also sponsored a Pack and Troop 102. We operated very successfully from there for several years during which time were honored with having one of our members become president of the Connecticut explorer council, We also sent several delegates to the explorer congress in Washington D.C. From there our group became interested in emergency rescue and emergency first aid we taken in by the towns ambulance core and the town provided us with a vehicle to operate with, many of our group became Emergency Medical Technicians, and when they were old enough they joined the volunteer ambulance corps. Sometime during this time I was awarded the Silver Beaver award which is the highest award given to a volunteer in the scouting program. I left the post finally. It continued for several more years under different leadership and then dissolved.

This was a very important period in my life when I hope I may have helped some young person to become a better citizen, a better husband, a better wife, a person that would find what they wanted in life the right way.

Correspondence, Lillian Frances Chute Lopau and George M. Chute, Jr.

I am happy to give you any information I can that will help you.

We plan to be in Chicago in a week and I am going to the library and look up that book. I think it could be quite interesting.

I know my grandparents went to South Dakota and homesteaded a piece of land but they didn't stay long enough to acquire it. It seems like it was in Hamilton, South Dakota, I am not certain

Let us know when the book is completed. I would like to read it.

Worksheet Attached

My father's sister Mary Ellen Chute married John Peckham and had three children: Lillian Kathryn Peckham born April 20, 1898; Ethel Maria Peckham born Oct 30 1900 and died May 11, 1921; Annie Caroline Peckham born Nov 14, 1911.

My father's sister Annie Isabelle Chute married Fred Wright and had two children: William Wright born Dec 24, 1899 Deanville, Wis; Charles DeWolf Wright, born April 10, 1924, Chetek.

In case you want the exact dates I can write tp get them.

We were out to the World's Fair in New York and drove through the New England states. We drove through Naples, Maine and visited the old Chute Homestead¹ and Philip Chute - we also visited the two old cemeteries and found them very interesting. Several tombstones had William E. Chute on them so I suppose they are some of our ancestors.

I received this card that I am enclosing and I wonder if you can give me any information about this book. I am wondering if I should buy this book or wait until you bring your material up to date. I would appreciate an answer.²

If you want any further information or if I can help you in any way, please contact me.

¹Lillian Francis Chute Lopau paid a visit with her sister Gertrude Anne Chute Mahala to the Chute Homestead in Naples, Maine on May 19, 1964 and left their mailing addresses with Philip Conrad ("Phil") Chute, which he sent to George Maynard Chute, Jr. with the amused comment, "These girls stopped by today, their father was a William E. Chute and I caught them prowling around in the 'Chute Cemetery' down the road. Nice gals." At the time of this visit her address was on N. Nilson or Wilson, in Madison. Original is in their father's file.

Worksheet Attached

Vernie Lopau, Jr. lives in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He works in I.B.M. Sales - married Susan Mary Tradewell April 5, 1956 - her birthdate is [Private]. Children: Curtis Albert Lopau, born [Private]; Christine Judith Lopau, born [Private].

Alonzo ("Lonnie") Joseph Chute Passed away March 1, 1963. Lived entire life in Madison, Wisconsin. Engineer for Milwaukee, St. Paul railroad.

Leon Maxwell Chute passed away November 21, 1959.

William Paul Chute lives in Madison, Wis. Married Doris Ruth Larson. Children: Leon Paul Chute - birthdate [Private].

Gilbert Leon Chute in the army in Viet Nam. Married Sharon Louise Neihart April 29, 1966. Her Birthdate is [Private].

Gilbert William Chute lives in Madison, Wis. Has two children: Alan Chute and Janice Ann Chute, birthdate [Private].

Gertrude Anne Chute remarried Joseph F. Mahala Jan. 26, 1952. Lives in Madison, Wis.

Donald E. Nieman married Yvonne Magdalen Kessler Jan. 24, 1953. Her birthdate is [Private]. Live in Madison, Wis. Children: Jeffrey Gilbert, birthdate [Private], Debra Lyn, birthdate [Private], Lorri Ann, birthdate [Private].

Ronald Dean Nieman married Nancy Lee Hoxey Dec. 29, 1953. Her birthdate is [Private]. They live in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Their children: Julie Ann, born [Private], Michael Dean, born [Private], Jennifer Lee, born [Private].

Gertrude Ann Chute Mahala paid a visit with her sister Lillian Frances Chute Lopau to the Chute Homestead in Naples, Maine on May 19, 1964 and left their mailing addresses with Philip Conrad ("Phil") Chute, which he sent to George Maynard Chute, Jr. with the amused comment, "These girls stopped by today, their father was a William E. Chute and I caught them prowling around in the 'Chute Cemetery' down the road. Nice gals." At the time of this visit her address was on Herro Lane, in Madison. Original is in their father's file.

According to daughter Roselyn Chute "He was born in Germantown, Pa. in 1875, sailed to South America around 1885 with his parents and brother, Charles. My Dad returned to the U.S.A. about 10 years later, but the rest of the family remained there." According to other records, he was born 18 May 1874 in Boston, Massachusetts. We're trying to locate an official birth record for William Wilson Chute.

"Paul Jones Chute of Dartmouth Street, formerly of Franklin, died suddenly on Tuesday afternoon at his summer cottage at Stony Beach, Hull, after a day's illness. He was born in Roxbury, but lived for a number of years in Franklin where he was educated. When a very young man he became interested in musical comedies and travelled quite extensively with various outfits.

Later, he made a study of dancing with Mrs. Lilla Viles Wyman as instructor, and then went abroad and studied in Paris with Loie Fuller, fitting himself to teach exclusively aesthetic dancing, in which he was most successful. Of late, he gave considerable attention to the collection of antiques of various descriptions.

Mr. Chute, who never married, leaves besides his father, Rupert J. Chute, of the Boston Transcript, a sister, Mrs. Fannie Chute Darling of Franklin, a brother George Blanchard of Providence, two nieces, a nephew and two grand-nieces. The funeral will be held in Franklin on Friday in the Universalist Church, at three o'clock."

"Earle left us on April 18th; it was very sudden, only 1 day, an acute heart attack. He had been fine all winter, Keith was away in Toronto and I think the work had been too strenuous for him. Keith was married just 2 weeks later, May 3rd and they have been living with me this summer, but I am moving to a small village."

Wishing my family to have a better knowledge of our ancestral history, I am attempting to write down the facts as I know them. My sources of information are threefold: the family records, incidents told me by my elders, and my own experience through the years.

I find that my father's family came from England. The emigrant ancestor was Lionel Chute, born in Dedham, Essex Co., England about 1580 and married about 1610 to Rose Baker. They came to America about 1634, and settled in Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Having received a good education in England, he was qualified to teach the grammar school in Ipswich and came to be called "The old Ipswich schoolmaster."

Several children were born to them but the record is not clear, so I have to pass over two or three generations. It is not until June, 1720, that I can record the birth of another ancestor, John Chute. He was born in Rowley, Massachusetts. About 1740, he crossed over into New Hampshire and settled at Hampstead. He was married in 1745 to Judith Foster. Among their children was Thomas, born March 13, 1757, who was my great-grandfather. In 1759, he was taken by his parents to Nova Scotia, where they settled on a farm near Granville, Annapolis Co. In 1778, he married Sibyll Marshall. Fourteen children were born to them of whom Andrew, the sixth, was my grandfather.

On February 17, 1814, grandfather married Olivia Woodworth, born July 24, 1796. They had twelve children of whom John Milton, the youngest, was my father.

About 1840, they moved from Nova Scotia to Ontario and bought a 200-acre farm one mile from Lake Erie, near Pt. Burwell. It was here on July 28, 1843, that my father was born.

Grandfather was a Baptist deacon and on occasion could preach. He also had the largest house in the community, and Uncle Ezekial has told me of the meetings held in their home when the traveling preacher came to them.

Grandfather would kill a sheep, and grandmother and her girls would cook the meat and bake good things to feed their guests, who came from miles for the Sunday service. Among these good things were big milk pans of Indian pudding, made with milk, corn meal, sugar, molasses, eggs, and ginger. "Most delicious!" Uncle Ezekial said.

As a little girl I saw the remains of that first house, then used as a workshop below and a storage room above, with the stairs only a ladder fastened to one wall.

Later another frame house was built, and it was in this house that my brother Milton Augustus was born. I can dimly remember this house. Years later Uncle Freeman, who came into possession of the home, built a beautiful brick house using part of the second house for a summer kitchen and work room. This is the house I remember the best.

Grandfather's children all married and most of them settled in Ontario. Aunt Sarah Ann, the eldest daughter, married Andrew Harris and lived in Swampscott, Massachusetts, near Boston. Aunt Harriet married Burton Chute and they took up a homestead near Blue Earth City, Minnesota. Uncle Alfred was a Baptist minister and later moved to Iowa. [She may have meant "Illinois", as there is no record of Alfred being in Iowa for any extended period.] Uncle Freeman, when a young man, was a sailor on the Great Lakes. Uncle William was a volunteer in the Northern Army during the Civil War. Uncle Aaron went to California during the days of the "Gold Rush" to seek his fortune. He seems to have succeeded for he sent his wife some beautiful presents and finally started home but never arrived. He was traced to a hotel in Denver and nothing was ever heard of him after. He was only twenty-nine and left besides his wife three children - a son, Maynard, and two daughters. At the time my daughter was in school in Ann Arbor she met anther student, George Chute of Toledo, who was Maynard Chute's son.

Aunt Lovenie, I remember quite well as such a dear woman, somewhat like Aunt Mary McKerlie. Aunt Cynthia, next older than my father, was married at fifteen to Elisha McConnell. A story was told me of my father standing behind his mother's chair crying because he was losing his playmate.

At the death of grandfather in 1862, Uncle Freeman took over the management of the farm. In 1858, he had married Elizabeth Dodge. To them one son, Edgar, was born. Elizabeth died in 1961 and the next year Uncle Freeman married Rhoda Ann Warren, my mother's elder sister. There were three children, Warren, Harvey and a little girl Clara, who died when she was nine.

My father was the only one of grandfather's children that was born in Ontario when two of the older children were already married. A story was told of one time, when he was a little toddler and grandmother was giving him a bath, he slipped away from her and made a dash for the parlor where the young people were entertaining company! Among the guests was Eliza McConnell who later became the wife of Uncle Ezekial.

When my father was a young man, he went to Nova Scotia for a while and taught school. I do not know for how long, but, when he left, his pupils presented him with a fine leather-bound, family bible which is now in the possession of Ruth Chute Wills, brother Ellis' daughter.

Later, father went to Meadville, Pennsylvania and entered the Bryant and Stratten College. Our Civil War was in progress, and grandmother became possessed with the idea that he would be drafted into the Northern Army. She could not be convinced that his Canadian citizenship would prevent such action, and finally he was called home to give her peace of mind. She died in 1864.

Then my father went to Chicago and secured a position as bookkeeper for a sash, door and blind factory. I think he also took a business course in Chicago, but of that I'm not sure. On one of his visits home, father met Miss Lucy Warren who was helping her sister Rhoda that summer. A courtship followed, and before he returned to Chicago, they were engaged. They were married October 8, 1867. Before going for his bride, he rented some rooms and bought a few pieces of furniture in readiness for housekeeping. Among them was a walnut sewing stand that is now in my daughter' home.

On their wedding journey to Chicago, their goods had to be examined at the customs at Detroit and Pa went out to attend to the examining. They had quite a lot of things from both their homes, and before the customs officers were through it was time for the train to go on. Pa had just enough time to dash into the coach and leave Ma some money and tell her to go to the Adams House in Chicago and wait until he arrived on the next train. So the bride had to take her wedding journey alone.

They were married almost two years before I made my appearance, September 8, 1869. The following summer my parents feared the city heat for their baby, so Ma took me to Canada for a visit. Then Pa was stricken with a sunstroke, and we were called home.

Pa's health was not so good after that for a while, and he thought it might be best to leave the city. His brother William was living in Missouri and kept writing of the fine opportunities there and at last persuaded my father to move there. My parents were disappointed in the country and stayed only six months. A couple of incidents will show why. It was not long after the Civil War and feeling against the Yankees was high. Although Pa was a Canadian citizen, yet he came from Chicago, which classed him as a Yankee. It came to his ears that a certain gang had boasted they would "Clean out that - Yankee." My father taught a number of singing schools so it was usually late when he reached home. One night a rap came at the door and Ma, expecting it was Pa, jumped out of bed to admit him. But before unlocking the door asked who was there. A drunken voice drawled, "John, ain't you going to let me in tonight?" She hurried back to the bedroom and covered there while the pounding continued for some time, and then the intruder went away. Layer, when Pa came, she asked him three times who was there, until he became annoyed and said, "It's Milton, Lucy, why don't you let me in?" When inside, he asked her what was the matter, that she was trembling. She said, "I'm almost frightened to death", and told him the story. A neighbor to whom Ma told the incident the next day said they had heard it, and her husband had dressed, intending to go to Ma's assistance if the man got in. They knew the man to be a desperate character and it was just as well my father was not at home.

So at the end of six months my parents went back to Chicago. It was during these six months' absense that the great Chicago fire of 1871 took place. Their stay in Chicago could not have been long, because they went back to Canada where my brother Milton Augustus was born at Uncle Freeman's home August 24, 1872.

I do not know just when, but later my people moved to London, Ontario and Pa opened a music store in that city. It was while we lived there that brother Andrew Ellis was born December 7, 1874.

During this period, I started going to public school and attended my first Sunday School. I recall a Sunday School Christmas celebration, probably my first. It was held in the evening and Pa took me. The room where the meeeting was held was down a broad flight of stairs from the main lobby. Pa stopped at the head of the stairs to talk to someone, and I, waiting for him, somehow lost my balance and rolled to the bottom with Pa running to pick me up. I was not hurt but was a very humiliated little girl. I remember nothing of the program, but at its close some men brought in a clothes basket filled with big oranges and sacks of candy which were given to the children. Oranges in those days were a real treat.

London was not far from a number of our relatives, and I recall some happy times at their homes and them visiting at our house. The London fair was a yearly event in that part of Ontario and sometimes our relatives would come bringing a lot of provisions and stay with us during fair week. As we did not have sleeping accommodations for so many, my mother made "shake downs" on the floor for us children which we thought great fun.

My Grandmother Warren's home was three miles from London. Aunt Margery Harris and her family lived with her and we used to visit there sometimes. As I remember grandmother, she was an old, old lady with a band of snow-white hair showing beneath her black lace cap. I never saw her without the cap. She must have been about seventy then.

Aunt Maria Decker's home was seven miles from London, and I always enjoyed going there as there were children of about my own age: Clayton, who now lives in Deerborn, Michigan, and Addie who died a number of years ago. There were two younger ones, Warren and Clara, corresponding in age to my two younger brothers. One time when Aunt Maria and Uncle Lon were at our house they invited me to go home with them. I joyfully accepted and had a wonderful time until night came. Then I got homesick for my mother, cried, and Aunt Maria had to comfort me. I was there two weeks, and every evening there was the same performance.

Uncle Lon had a big sugar bush and this was in sugar time. We children would ride around the woods while the men gathered the sap and then played around the sugar house and watched the sap boiling down into syrup. One day Uncle "sugared off" at the house. He poured a lot of syrup into a big iron kettle out doors and when it was boiled enough we were allowed to have some syrup poured over pans of clean snow. It was delicious. Next some was poured into little patty-pan moulds to harden. Then Uncle stirred the syrup with a big wooden paddle to cause it to grain. The result was lovely soft sugar. I was taken home in a few days and had some of the patty cakes to take with me. [All together now: "Ohhhhhhh!"]

Aunt Sarah Watts lived at Ridgetown, and I was there one time in summer when phlox was in bloom. I loved the flower and its sweet odor, and now I never smell phlox but I'm taken back to Aunt Sarah's. Then Uncle Freeman and Aunt Rhoda lived forty miles away at Pa's old home. And in that vicinity lived uncles and aunts and cousins galore.

I think my father's business was not very successful, for when I was about ten years old we moved to Michigan and settled in Sanilac County. My mother's older sister Diadema had married a half brother of Uncle Alonzo Decker. He had been a lumberman years before. Aunt Dama was dead, but she left three sons Martin, Melvin and Daniel who lived in or near Deckerville.

That first summer we lived in part of Dan Decker's house on a farm southeast of Deckerville. The thing I remember best of our stay there was the wild blackberry crop. Bushes around the stumps, in the fence corners, and at the edge of the woods were loaded with the luscious fruit. Besides giving us all we could eat, Ma dried enough to nearly fill a twenty-five pound flour sack. That fall we moved to a house one mile north of Deckerville, and Pa taught the village school, Gus and I going with him.

That winter Grandmother Warren became ill and Ma took Ellis and went over to Canada to see her, leaving Pa, Gus and me to keep house. They were gone two weeks. My, but we were glad to welcome her back! I still have the little book, "Summer House Stories" she brought me. Grandma died February 27. Ma did not go over then. The following June 5, 1881, we had a new baby at our house, brother Frederick Vivian, which for me, a twelve year old girl, was a great event.

Exactly three months from Fred's birth, September 5, occurred the forest fire of 1881 which raged through three counties - Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola. I can never forget the horror of that day and night when we saw two woods, barns, and other buildings blazing and were prepared to leave our house if it caught fire. Blazing embers were flying through the air, and Ma put out two fires in our yard, one in the grass under her bedroom window. As it was, we proved to be much safer than people in the two northern counties where the forest was more dense. Many people could not reach the clearings in time and lost their lives. A number of houses in Deckerville were burned, among them, cousin Melvin Decker's home. My parents invited Melvin and his family to stay with us until they could find shelter. They were with us a week and then got rooms in the railroad depot. As soon as possible, relief came pouring in for the stricken people - lumber, clothing and food, for many families hadn't a thing left but their bare land.

I don't recall much of the following winter, except for the heavy crust that formed on the snow banks so we could walk along the top and seldom break through. Pa fastened a little box on our sled and we children used to take Fred for rides in it, up and down the road in front of our house. One time we must have turned too sharply, and over went the sled, tumbling our baby into the snow.

It must have been the next year that Pa bought a lot in Deckerville and built a house on it with a store front in which he opened a jewelry and repair shop. After we were there some time, a White Sewing Machine agent came along and convinced my father that there was a wonderful opening for sewing machines in that region and he put in a stock. The country had not yet recovered from the fire and there was no money to buy machines. As a result of this venture we lost our home and then moved to North Branch and started the shop over again. I was fifteen then. My cousin Julia Chute McConnell lived there. Her husband was the pastor of the Baptist Church at that time but moved away the next year. When I was seventeen I was baptised into the membership of that church and have found my Christian life a source of strength and comfort.

At nineteen I taught my first school - a spring term - and then went back to school for a time. This I did for five years until I had secured a second-grade certificate. I never used it, however, but went into a shop and learned to sew.

One year I taught in the Toyer District and boarded at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Toyer. They had a niece living with them, Agnes Watson, a girl about my age, with whom I formed a lasting friendship. During my stay there, a social was held in the school house, and Aggie and I went to it. She had invited a young veterinary, Dr. Daniel E. Seller, to attend, and I met him for the first time. Aggie's young man, John R. Dayton, of course was there to make the evening interesting all'-round. This was a Friday night, and Dr. Seller invited me to ride to town with him and also to attend an ice cream lawn social the next evening. We went to the social and had just been served our ice cream when down came pouring rain, and we had to run for shelter.

This was the beginning of the romance that culminated in our marriage three years later. Those three years were interesting ones. He always had good horses, and the delightful rides and little trips we took afford me many pleasant memories. One Sunday evening he came to take me to Clifford to church. It was a lovely evening and the neighbors were sitting on their porches. Our house was on a corner, so there were three ways we could turn. The horse was turned one way, went a step or two, planted her feet, and refused to budge. She was turned another way and repeated the performance. Then she was turned around , and off we went.

Among those trips were three to the Seller home in Huron County, where I met Father and Mother Seller, Tom and Maggie, with Maudie a baby, Annie McIntyre, Jennie and Archie. The second time we went was to attend the wedding of Jennie to John Coote. This wedding had a very sad ending, for the bridgegroom died three weeks afterward of what we know now was appendicitis. Mother Seller died a month later, so I did not get to know her very well. Dan and I were engaged then, but were not financially ready to set up a home. His health was not very good, so he went to Ada, Ohio, to take a course in Pharmacy, thinking that work would not be so rigorous as what he was doing. He finally secured his pharmacy diploma, and, seeing an advertisement in a Detroit paper for a pharmacist at Germfask, in the Upper Peninsula, wrote the man, Mr. Angus McDougall, who told him to come on.

Arriving there, he soon found that the drug store was more saloon than a place to dispense drugs. Mr. McDougall, seeing he was dissatisfied, kindly recommended him to the Chicago Lumber Company at Manistique which wanted a veterinarian for its camps. Things went well with Dan that year, and February 23 of the following winter 1898 we were married. Dan came down from the north on a Monday, which was fortunate, as that night a heavy snow storm blocked the railroads and highways so that otherwise he would not have been able to reach North Branch in time for his wedding on Wednesday. None of his family from Huron County could get through - roads drifted to fence tops. Grand Trunk trains from Canada were running so Aunt Maria, Uncle Lon, Addie and Jack Sifton arrived in time. Thinking of the company of that day is saddening. By far the larger number are passed on. Of the wedding party only Bertha Scott Hannon, my bridesmaid, and myself are living.

The following Monday morning Mr. Dow Kennedy, a friend of Dan's, took us to Clifford where we boarded a Pere Marquette train for our new house in Manistique. We arrived the next day and had to stay in a hotel for a week until my box of goods - bedding, dishes, etc., arrived from home. Our first home was three rooms on Oak Street, where we lived three months until another house Dan had engaged was vacated on Cedar Street where the State Savings Bank now stands.

There was a good Baptist Church in Manistique with Rev J.C. Rooney as pastor. I soon sent for my letter from the church in North Branch and was welcomed into this one, which has been my church home all these years.

There were many Indians living in and around Manistique when I went there. A section of the West Side was called Indian Town. The Indians used to make regular begging trips through the town and often offered baskets and berries for sale. I remember one fall when we had a whole crate of cranberres that Dan bought from an Indian. I was quite startled one morning while we lived on Oak Street. I was mixing bread at the kitchen table when I "felt" someone behind me. Turning around, I found an Indian woman standing in the doorway of the middle room. She had gone through two rooms without my hearing her. She asked for some soap, which I gave her, convinced that she needed it badly. She sat down by the table and watched me mix the bread and after she had rested got up and stalked out again.

Another day I was working at the back door when an Indian woman and a little girl came. The woman caried a bag nearly full of old clothing that had been given her. I had no clothing to donate but gave her a piece of custard pie and the little girl an orange. Instead of eating the pie, she took a piece of paper from the bag, wrapped it around the pie and tucked it down among the clothes and they went away."

[Jackie's Note: The woman that Minnie mentions, living in the Manistique area, would have been a member of the Sault Tribe of the Anishinabeg (Chippewa). Their Tribal Administrator has written an extensive and instructive general tribal history, providing a background to this meeting - which obviously seemed very strange to Minnie, but was normal and polite socializing for her unexpected guest. URL: http://www.saulttribe.com/index.php .]

"Huckleberries were usually a very abundant crop those years. They could be picked in many places at the edge of town. I have seen them sold for as little as four cents a quart and have enjoyed gathering them myself. One time that first summer Dan took Nettie Fuller and me out onto the old state road to pick berries. That road was seldom used, so he left the horse standing in the road. Looking up once we saw the horse had started for home. Dan had to run to stop him, or we'd have had to walk home about two miles.

Early in 1899, Pa and Ma moved to Manistique and stayed with us, storing their goods in a nearby building. Pa started a repair shop in a corner of the Westside drug store.

April 15th of that year, 1899, we had the joy of welcoming our first born - a little daughter - whom we named Clara Gertrude. Parents and grandparents and all thought she was wonderful. No child like her.

Sister Mary McKerlie lived in Gladstone and our two families visited back and forth for many years. The Christmas following Clara's birth, John and Mary and the three children came over to spend the day with us - such a happy day!

My mother was not well that winter, and in May she had an attack of La Grippe. Because of her weakened condition she had no resistanace and after two week's illness died the morning of May 22, 1900. This was the first break in our family and it was so hard to give up our dear mother. Pa stayed on with us, with an occasional visit with Gus in Chicago.

We lived four years in this house and then bought the old Waddell house on Pearl Street. On May 15, 1902, our little son Thomas Milton was born. All the help we were able to get in the house was a fourteen-year-old girl.

When Tom was three weeks old I took my first walk out of doors for a few blocks. When I returned both children were crying, and the little maid was trying to calm them. I had left Tom asleep on a pillow in the centre of my bed. Clara had an urge to see her baby brother, so reached up and pulled the pillow to the edge of the bed. And out tumbled baby and pillow onto the floor! Tom was not hurt, but he seemed scared out of his wits.

Shortly after moving into this house there was big fire at the iron furnace which was running at that time. Electricity was not yet installed in our house, and Pa had lighted a lamp to go upstairs to bed. We wanted to see the fire, so he put the lamp down on the hall tree seat and we stepped out onto the porch, closing the door after us. After some time we were ready to go inside and found ourselves locked out. I had forgotten the Yale lock with the night lock on. Storm windows were on, and everything snugged up for winter, and I had to do some thinking to get in. I went around to the north side of the house to my bedroom window and called Clara through the ventilator slot. She, not four years old, was sleeping in a little alcove off my bedroom. After repeated calls, I wakened her and made her understand that she was to open the door for us. Then I was in terror of that lighted lamp in the hall and cautioned her over and over not to touch it. Well, she opened the door and we got in and gave thanks that all was safe.

There were some bad fires in town about that time. I saw the old frame court house burn down. Some time later one of the big saw mills burned, in which two men, Henry Hamill and Herbert Norton's father, lost their lives. Then there were occasional fires at the furnace. This iron blast furnace, owned and operated by the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., was one of the best industries of Manistique for many years. Along about 1910 or 1912, it was closed and dismantled, throwing a good many men out of work.

We did not find the Pearl Street house to our liking, so we bought another house at 185 Cedar Street and had John McKerlie come over from Gladstone to make some necessary alterations. We moved into it in the fall of 1902. Pa's health had been failing for some time, and the next fall, October 25, 1903, he died. Both he and Ma lived to be sixty years old. Life had been hard for both and full of disappointments. They had high ideals and tried to teach them to their children. Pa had a fine tenor voice and loved to sing, so we always had music in our home. There were always good books and other reading matter for us. They were very hospitable and always had a welcome for relatives and friends.

That winter Aunt Cynthia Hughes came to stay with us and the following February 12, 1904, our second little boy was born, whom we named Earl Ramond. Then in June of that year Father Seller came to us. He made his home with us largely for the next twelve years, with now and then a visit to Mary in Gladstone.

It must have been about 1912 that Dan secured the Fort automobile agency and opened a sales room in a building he owned on River Street. Our first car was a high wheeler. When riding it, one was really "up in the air". One day we drove to Garden taking Mr. & Mrs. Goodwin with us. All went well until we were returning home, when our car stopped and the two men worked with it quite a while before we could go on. This was followed by other models that had a good sale in that region.

Another time Dan and I, returning from Garden, met a farmer and his wife with a crate of chickens in their wagon. Our car frightened the horses, which began to plunge around. The farmer frantically motioned, showing his alarm. So we pulled up at the road-side and stopped. Dan helped unload the chickens, lead the horses past the terrifying object, and reload the chickens and they drive off. Then we could proceed on our way. This was in the early days of the automobile.

In the spring of 1913, Ellis was very ill with pneumonia and I would have gone to him only Grandpa was ill at the same time. In August of that year I went with Mrs. John McLellen and Beryle to Denver to see our respective brothers. Ellis was better, but the poor boy did look so worn and sick. We were there a month. The night we left Julia went downtown with me to the train, and as I left the house Ellis stood outside to wave a last goodbye. I think we both knew we would not meet again in this life. He died the next March, and then Julia brought her baby girl Ruth, back to Chicago where they are still living.

In the spring of 1916, Father Seller was stricken down again and died in October after seven months of suffering. Mary and Annie came to us to act as nurses. Dan and his two sisters took the body to Harbor Beach where he was laid in the family lot. Then Annie went home to Illinois and Mary to Montana where the family had preceeded her.

I need not carry the events any further for you childen know them all: our different business ventures, and different homes we owned, the school days and graduations, Clara and Tom going to college, the marriage of each one and the coming of grandchildren. Then the death of your father, and my efforts to get adjusted to life without him.

There are two events I'd like to describe as they were such happy ones. When we had been married ten years, we celebrated with a "tin wedding". A heavy snow storm that day filled the streets, so Dan had Mr. Del Dodge take the horses and sleigh and go after our guests and take them home again. Mrs. Dodge prepared the refreshments. I don't remember what we had, but I do know we had lots of fun and were given a lot of tin ware. One gift was a sterling silver spoon with six tin spoons danging from the box. This from Mr. & Mrs. Mason Quick and Leona.

The next celebration was our thirty-fifth and was a complete surprise. The 23rd of February that year came on a prayer meeting night. The meeting was held at the E.W. Miller home. Upon arriving I was invited to go upstairs to remove my wraps, which was unusual. Coming downstairs, I noticed the dining room table was beautifully set for a party. At the close of the meeting in the living room our pastor, Rev. Grosa said, "I have something against one of our deacons that must be brought up now. Dr. Seller has been married thirty-five years today."

A nice program had been prepared after which we were presented with a basket of thirty-five red roses. Then our hostess invited us to the dining room, having the bride and groom lead, followed by the bridesmaid and best man, the flower girl and our respective fathers and mothers. I don't recall who these were, only Mr. & Mrs. King and Mr. & Mrs. Owen were among them. It was so lovely of our church people to do all this. We both appreciated their thoughtfulness, and the memory is a comfort to me now.

Of my mother's family, the record goes back only to my grandparents. Asa Kellogg Warren, my grandfather, was born March 22, 1798, probably in New Hampshire and my grandmother Clarissa Waters, June 27, 1802. They were married September 18, 1820. I do not know if they came immediately to Ontario, but eventually they did and settled on a farm three miles from London. Fourteen children were both to them, only three of them boys. Only one of the boys, Ira, grew to manhood. Lucy, my mother, sixth from the last, was born August 27, 1839, when several of her sisters were married and had children. Aunt Clarissa Bisbee died in 1855, leaving a little boy named Ira. My grandparents took him and cared for him for several years until his father married again and wanted him back.

Ma told an amusing story of the little boy. One time during the London fair the young people were entertaining a number of guests and after breakfast took them out for a tour of the farm. Coming to the barnyard one spruce young man put his hands on the top fence rail to spring over. Somehow he missed and fell face down into the dirt. Little Ira, who was with them said, "Say Mister, I don't like your digging up my Grandpa's barnyard."

I don't know what the early house was like, but I remember a good-looking two-story brick house. It really was three story for the basement contained workrooms, a dairy, kitchen and family dining room - besides storage rooms.

The only other member of Grandfather's family that I know of was his brother Ira, a doctor in Boston. He wrote a "doctor book" that was considered good. Aunt Margery had a copy. I have no knowledge of its whereabouts now. This brother and his family used to visit at grandfathers and one time gave grandfather a ladder-backed chair that I now have in my home. It must be over one hundred years old.

General Joseph Warren of Revolutionary fame was a family connection of a previous generation, probably through an uncle of Grandfather's.

Grandmother must have been a good executive to keep her household running smoothly. She detailed two girls to each floor for one week. They did all the work on that floor and at the end of the week were changed around. The girls who had the upper story were expected to do a daily "stint" of spinning. The spinning wheel was in the largest of these rooms. There was a slate roof on the house and sometimes it got pretty hot up there. Then the girls would remove all their clothing but a chemise, and one would walk back and forth at the wheel, while the other watched for possible interruptions.

Nearly all the bedding and garments for the family had to be made by hand, beginning with the wool from the sheep's backs. The only thing that was done outside the home was carding of the wool into rolls. Then it must be spun, dyed and woven before it was ready to be sewed into garments. Also, there was always the kitting of socks and mittens that grandma largely did herself.

There were two apple orchards and one of the jobs of the fall was the drying of apples. Grandma had a copper wash boiler that she bought by selling dried apples at three cents a pound.

I have told of my mother meeting my father one summer night while helping Aunt Rhoda and of their subsequent marriage. Her wedding dress was to have been a lovely brown silk, but Grandfather died in May preceding her marriage. So she wore a white barred muslin dress instead and had a white bonnet to wear with it. The silk dress was made up after she went to Chicago. Incidentally, I wore out the brown silk when I was young woman.

When Ma was buying her dishes in London, the dealer gave her a little glass pitcher saying, "Here is a pitcher that will hold just enough cream for two." I have the little pitcher now.

I was about three months old when Ma's next younger sister Maria was married to Alonzo Decker and they took their wedding trip to Chicago to visit my parents. It seems Uncle Lon had courted Aunt Maria in fear and trembling, fearing that his father, who as a very arbitrary man, might not approve of his choice. One day his father said to him, "Lonzo, mother and I are getting old, and we think it is time you married and brought a wife here. We can't think of any one we'd like as well as Maria Warren." Well, that was all the young man needed so he promptly proposed to his sweetheart and was accepted.

At Grandfather's death Uncle Ira took over the management of the farm. He and his wife could not have been good managers. Uncle Ira died in a few years and his wife and two childen moved away. Aunt Margery and Uncle Charles Harris came to live with Grandmother. I do not know all of the circumstances but there must have been a mortgage foreclosure. Anyway, Grandma had to leave the home she had worked so hard to secure, and died in Aunt Margery's home, I think in Ailea Craig.

It seems a pity that both my parents' childhood homes should have passed out of the hands of the family - both fine homes where large families had been reared in plenty. The Chute homestead went in much the same way after Uncle Freeman's death and his son Warren came into possesion of it.

This is the story of our family as well as I am able to tell it, a story over three hundred years. Let us hope we have made a worthy contribution to the development of our America.

Letters

I am enclosing three items for your family record.

My two brothers lost their wives since I last wrote you and are very lonely men. And in July, my niece, Ruth Ellis' daughter had a little baby girl, which brings them happiness.

Here are the items:

Died:
In Galien, Michigan, Lilian Christian Chute, wife of M.A. Chute.
In Los Angeles, Calif., Margaret Chute, wife of Frederick V. Chute.

Born:
To Geo. and Ruth Chute Wills, a daughter Carolyn Julia, born [Private].

Yours,

Would you like to do me a favor? There is a poem in your "Chute Genealogy" that I would so like a copy of. The title is "Put of the Old House Into the New", and was read by my father at Uncle Freeman's house warming. I would be very grateful if you would type a copy for me.

If you are still collecting data for your book here are some items:

You perhaps know of the death of Wendell Vreeland, my daughter's husband, January 17, 1952. About a month before that, their eldest son, Robert Wendell, was married to Barbara Kinzey and I have just received a message telling of the birth ... of a little son, Richard Wendell. Bob was a "Naval Reserve" and last spring was called back in the service and sent to a shipyard in Florida. He is a mechanical engineer.

Two years ago I think I wrote you of the death of my two brothers' wives, one in March and one in June. My brother Fred was married again this past fall to Mrs. Sophia Huber of Los Angeles. I do not know the date but think it was in Oct.

I have lost touch with my Canadian relatives, but am told that Jennie Bently Chute, Martland's widow, died a few years ago.

[GMC handwritten note at the bottom of this letter: "June 5, 1877: At that party, J.M. Chute read Will M. Carleton's "Out of the Old House into the New", with variations, which were very appropriate."]

[Jackie's note: It is possible that the poem being discussed here was originally (or later) published under a different title. The only poem that seems to fit this description is Will Carleton's Out of the Old House, Nancy, reprinted below. As you read it, it is obvious why this poem might have caused many a settler to simply burst into tears when they heard it, as Minnie relates in the next letter:

Out of the old house, Nancy � moved up into the new;  
All the hurry and worry is just as good as through.  
Only a bounden duty remains for you and I �  
And that�s to stand on the doorstep here, and bid the old house good-by. 

What a shell we�ve lived in, these nineteen or twenty years!        5 
Wonder it hadn�t smashed in, and tumbled about our ears;  
Wonder it�s stuck together, and answered till to-day;  
But every individual log was put up here to stay.  

Things looked rather new, though, when this old house was built;  
And things that blossomed you would�ve made some women wilt;         10 
And every other day, then, as sure as day would break, 
My neighbor Ager come this way, invitin� me to �shake.�  

And you, for want of neighbors, was sometimes blue and sad,  
For wolves and bears and wildcats was the nearest ones you had;  
But, lookin� ahead to the clearin�, we worked with all our might,         15 
Until we was fairly out of the woods, and things was goin� right.  

Look up there at our new house! � ain�t it a thing to see?  
Tall and big and handsome, and new as new can be;  
All in apple-pie order, especially the shelves,  
And never a debt to say but what we own it all ourselves.         20 

Look at our old log-house � how little it now appears!  
But it�s never gone back on us for nineteen or twenty years;  
An� I won�t go back on it now, or go to pokin� fun�  
There�s such a thing as praisin� a thing for the good that it has done.  

Probably you remember how rich we was that night,         25 
When we was fairly settled, an� had things snug and tight:  
We feel as proud as you please, Nancy, over our house that�s new,  
But we felt as proud under this old roof, and a good deal prouder, too.  

Never a handsomer house was seen beneath the sun:  
Kitchen and parlor and bedroom � we had �em all in one;         30 
And the fat old wooden clock, that we bought when we come West,  
Was tickin� away in the corner there, and doin� its level best.  

Trees was all around us, a-whisperin� cheering words;  
Loud was the squirrel�s chatter, and sweet the songs of birds;  
And home grew sweeter and brighter � our courage began to mount �         35 
And things looked hearty and happy then, and work appeared to count.  
 
And here one night it happened, when things was goin� bad,  
We fell in a deep old quarrel � the first we ever had; 
And when you give out and cried, then I, like a fool, give in,  
And then we agreed to rub all out, and start the thing ag�in.         40 
  
Here it was, you remember, we sat when the day was done,  
And you was a-makin� clothing that wasn�t for either one;  
And often a soft word of love I was soft enough to say,  
And the wolves was howlin� in the woods not twenty rods away.  
 
Then our first-born baby�a regular little joy,         45 
Though I fretted a little because it wasn�t a boy: 
Wa� n�t she a little flirt, though, with all her pouts and smiles?  
Why, settlers come to see that show a half a dozen miles.  
  
Yonder sat the cradle�a homely, home-made thing,�  
And many a night I rocked it, providin� you would sing;         50 
And many a little squatter brought up with us to stay,�  
And so that cradle, for many a year, was never put away.  
  
How they kept a-comin�, so cunnin� and fat and small!  
How they growed! �t was a wonder how we found room for �em all;  
But though the house was crowded, it empty seemed that day         55 
When Jennie lay by the fireplace there, and moaned her life away.  
  
An� right in there the preacher, with Bible and hymn-book, stood,  
��Twixt the dead and the living,� and �hoped �t would do us good;�  
And the little whitewood coffin on the table there was set,  
And now as I rub my eyes it seems as if I could see it yet.         60 
  
Then that fit of sickness it brought on you, you know;  
Just by a thread you hung, and you e�en-a�-most let go;  
And here is the spot I tumbled, an� give the Lord his due,  
When the doctor said the fever�d turned, an� he could fetch you through.  
  
Yes, a deal has happened to make this old house dear:         65 
Christenin�s, funerals, weddin�s�what have n�t we had here?  
Not a log in this buildin� but its memories has got,  
And not a nail in this old floor but touches a tender spot.  
  
Out of the old house, Nancy,�moved up into the new;  
All the hurry and worry is just as good as through;         70 
But I tell you a thing right here, that I ain�t ashamed to say,  
There �s precious things in this old house we never can take away.  
  
Here the old house will stand, but not as it stood before: 
Winds will whistle through it, and rains will flood the floor;  
And over the hearth, once blazing, the snow-drifts oft will pile,         75
And the old thing will seem to be a-mournin� all the while.  
  
Fare you well, old house! you �re naught that can feel or see,  
But you seem like a human being�a dear old friend to me;  
And we never will have a better home, if my opinion stands,  
Until we commence a-keepin� house in the house not made with hands.         80 

Source:  http://www.bartleby.com/248/964.html.

Will Carleton is possibly best known for his poem, Over the Hill to the Poorhouse.  To 
read more about the author and that particular poem, go to 

http://www.hillsdalecounty.info/history0053.asp

It was so kind of you to go to so much trouble to get the poem I asked for. I was so sure I saw it in the book you let me have a day or two. It must have been only the title I saw.

I thank you very much. If the opportunity comes I will look up the complete poem. I know that there was one verse telling of the death of a little daughter in the old house and my mother told me how Aunt Rhoda cried when that was read.

Shortly before that, their only little girl, Clara, had died and I believe that was the reason Uncle Freeman built the new house at that time, so that Aunt Rhoda would have so much to do she would have no time to grieve.

Did you know them at all? Perhaps not. You would have been a little boy when they died. I loved them both very much. You know they were both doubly related to me.

I am sure you will find your new work interesting but it will be harder until you have the run of things.

I wish you success. Thanking you again.

It has occurred to me that I have not written to tell you of the death of my brother, Milton Augustus Chute, last June 4th at the home of his daughter Mrs. Herbert Fritsch in Galien, Mich. He would have been 88 had he lived until Aug. 24.

I'm referring to your letter of Feb. 5th, 1960, I see you have not been informed of two more of Clara's granchildren, Bob's two little girls, Deborah Gene ... and Nancy Ann. I think you know Bob (Robert W.) lives in Rochester, N.Y. Clara's boy Victor Bruce is not married.

Charles Edmond her youngest son was married last Aug. 27 to Miss Linda Slocum of Hastings, Mich. Charles is the music teacher in the Webberville school. Linda is a junior in Michigan State and drives to E. Lansing each day.

I think you must have the death of brother Gus's wife Lillian in Galien, Mich. March 24, 1950. Brother Fred's wife Margaret is dead too and Fred has remarried again but I have not the dates of either event. Born to George and Ruth Chute Wills, a daughter Carolyn Julia ... brother Ellis's granddaughter. You may have this item. Brother Gus's daughter Dorothy Hanlon had four children, but I cannot give you particulars. Her address is Mrs. R. Hanlon, 312 Central Avenue, Sandusky, Ohio.

I wish you success in your book.

Your mother is evidently a year older than I. Last September 8th I was 91. Am fairly well but use a cane when I walk out, since my sight is not very good and my step not sure since I fell two years ago and broke my pelvic bone.

I sold my house in Manistique four years ago and have an apartment in Earl's home near Traverse City; Empire Route 1. However, for the last three winters I have been here with Clara as she is alone.

I think you know she is the librarian in the Delton schools. Besides her duties there is she is taking a course in Western [Michigan] U. in Kalamazoo. She goes to Kalamazoo every Tuesday after school to attend a class from 6 to 8. So you see she is a busy girl. She drives her own car and manages it beautifully. Wendell would be proud of her, as I am.

She went on a conducted tour to Europe last summer and had a wonderful time. Got home just in time to attend Charles' wedding. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing "The Passion Play".

I will be interested in knowing when your book is finished.

My best wishes to you and your family.

It has occurred to me that I have not written you of Charles� marriage last Aug. You probably have the item of his birth. But in case you have not, here it is: Charles Edmond Vreeland, born [Private].

He was married Aug. 27, 1960 to Miss Linda Slocum of Hastings, Mich., a very fine girl whom we all love.

Charles was only fourteen when Wendell died. I feel that Clara has done well in seeing to it that has secured a good education and is fairly well equipped for life. He graduated from Mich. State U. two years ago and has been teaching music (baroque and vocal music) in Webberville since then. He is to hold the same position in Bradley, Ill. next year. It is a town sixty miles south of Chicago and he and Linda plan to attend the Ill. U. this summer. He feels that this position in Bradley is an advancement and with a much better salary.

I�m telling you all this because you knew Wendell and Clara and I think you will be interested.

I�m sorry to hear of your mother�s ill health, and can fully appreciate how hard it is for her to meet the infirmities that come with the years. I have always been very active � have loved to walk, but now use a cane when I walk out for short distances, cannot get down on my knees or I cannot get back up and I don�t like it.

Hope you and all yours are very well,

As ever,

Minnie Seller

Earl Henry Chute was the owner of "E.C. Office Supplies", located at 512 1/2 St. Germaine, in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Claudia Chute wrote to George M. Chute, Jr., to let him know of the birth of their youngest daughter, Tammy Lynn:

"We have a baby girl - needless to say, we are all her slaves. The children just love her and spoil her. She is just getting big enough to laugh and "goo" and the other children just love to hear her." (26 Aug 1966)

Rachel, 84, eldest daughter of Chaloner William Chute and granddaughter of William Lyde Wiggett Chute was still living in 1962, as she wrote a letter to Emerin Semple Keene Chute, wife of Mervyn Lyde Chute, who was touring the United States for a year. It is evident how much involvement the Chute Family still had in the management of the Vyne, even though it had been placed in the care of the British National Trust. Emerin had written her a letter, apparently asking questions that George M. Chute, Jr. had put to her, for the family records. Her response:

"How nice to have met the other branch of the Family, and to find them so keen to know about our branch. I am sorry to say that I fear I cannot help about the date of Uncle Russell's birth at present. I have asked General Tremlette to look in the family Bible, but alas the entries begin with our generation." (Emerin adds the notation that either "General Tremlette", who was apparently the Vyne caretaker or manager and lived on the premises - or perhaps she meant the original Chute family Bible - was in the "National Trust at the Vyne".) I may be able to get the date off the tombstone in the Sherborne Churchyard when the weather improves. If so, I will send it off to you. But I am rather afraid that the inscription may be too difficult to read. At the present we are having several days of freezing fog. Today the fog has lifted & we have a white and lovely world, but I fear it is due to return this evening. I regret to say that the Tremlettes are giving up the job at the Vyne. He has looked very tired for some time & I think they would now like a little house of their own & have bought one in Cornwall. I gather it is up to the Littletons to find someone to take his place. It needs someone very knowledgeable to answer the multitudes of miscellaneous questions that people ask. I hope they will find someone especially nice." (1962)

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