Gramma Austin, Chapter 2

Gramma Austin, although not of wealthy parents, was always well fed and cared for.  She was raised rather genteelly by well-read and fairly educated parents.  George and Mary Washington's schooling would have been taken in the one-room Melrose Country School but they were progressive and made sure their children were educated.  The hard-working Wilson's were prospering, frugal and pretty much self-sustaining.  They lived off their land -- probably only having to buy flour, coffee and sugar.  The family was known as early pioneers of the county and well thought of in the community.  The Willis' and Wilson's had a large extended family and therefore, large, frequent family get togethers. 

There were occasions and motivation to have family portraits taken.

Shelby and Sarah Jane Bradley Willis were Mattie's maternal grandparents.  Mattie is the smaller child sitting on Grampa Shelby Willis' knee in this photo.  This is an early professional photo and the children, 5 boys mostly still in dresses and 2 girls, were out fitted in the latest Iowa fashions.  Imagine all the hand sewing that went into these little outfits.  I am pretty sure not a single one was "store bought".  Lyman Wilson, center back, was Gramma Mattie's oldest full brother, her oldest sister Laura is on Lyman's left.  Blond brother, Homer, is center front. Taken about 1891.   

These fine looking girls dressed in their Sunday best were granddaughters of James Blackburn and Martha Russum Wilson, first generation to come to Union County, Ia.  The photo was taken 1905.  I name them here lest they be forgotten:

Back:  Mattie Wilson and Madge Aikin

Middle:  Gladys Aikin, Alta Jackson and Lenora Jackson

Front:  Fern Bishop and Ruth Bishop 

A lot of the Wilson's were blonde and blue-eyed.  Gramma Mattie was too. 

Gramma would have been a typical girl of the late 1890s and 1900s.  She had chores at an early age, she was sent to country school, she attended Church with the family and learned to sew and darn.  She might even have been taught to card wool and to weave.  Gramma Mattie's grandmother had a "weasel" -- an appartus made to wind wool after it was carded and spun on a spinning wheel.  She had the spinning wheel too and probably a loom.  The little girls would have been taught to knit, maybe to crochet, to embroider and to hem.  The Weasel is in the Union County Historical museum out to McKinley Park.  My dad, Maddie's son Forrest repaired the weasel in the 1990s.  He and his cousin Merle Wilson donated it to the museum.  We'll have to go out sometime and see what all is there. 

I remember Gramma telling about having to gather eggs from the chicken house.  Her folks also kept geese.  The geese could be mean and would chase little girls across the yard.  Gramma said it hurt just awful if a goose nipped the back of your leg.  She might have carried a stick with her later, to rap that goose's head . . . but if she did, I'm not telling! 

Mary Willis Wilson and five of her seven children.  Her husband George W Wilson had seven children with his first wife Elizabeth Wright Wilson, then seven children with his second wife, Mary Willis Wilson.  Lyman, Laura, Homer, Mattie, Stella, (Harry and Clarence came later).  Again, a professional studio portrait taken about 1905. 

There is a lot of history in the Blackburn Genealogy Website if anyone gets the bug but just for something to think about, here is the lineage.

John Wilson, born 1763

  James Blackburn Wilson, born  1811

    Geroge Washington Wilson, born 1837

      Mattie Jane Wilson Austin, born 1890

        Forrest Marion Austin, born 1914

          Nancy Austin Hofmeister, born 1950

            Kristy, Erica, Craig and Johanna, born 1971-79

              Morghan, Jack, Gabby, Maddie, Joey, Audri, Bella, born 1999-2009