On 18 January 1858 Christopher R. Whitmore remarried, his new wife was Charlotte Caroline Keener. Charlotte must have been a remarkable women for at the age of 28 she had taken on a family of motherless children ranging in age from Thomas Jefferson age 16 to Edgar age 5. The couple would have seven more children by their marriage (Seven children was about the average number of children for a married couple in the first part of the 19th century). By 1860 Christopher had also grown more prosperous he was now
farming land worth $ 5,000.00 and had move moved to the township of President in Venango County. In 1860 President Twp was but a small township in the northwestern part of the state. The family farm was in a section which had belonged to the Iroquois people. About 1876 Christopher and Charlotte decided to move their family moved to Junction City Iowa and here in the 1880 census their household is as follows:
Christopher age 63
Charlotte age 50
Chesterfield age 23
Jessie age 21
Ella age 19
Anzoinetta age 10
Jacob age 10
David age 7
Henry age 4
Farming in the 1870's and 1880's continued to be dictated by the seasons. Wintertime for the Whitmore's, meant; butchering, fence mending, ice cutting, and wood chopping. In the spring, Christopher, Chesterfield and Jessie prepared and planted their fields. Summertime brought sheep shearing, haying, and threshing. In the fall, the men picked corn, the most difficult farm task of all. Charlotte, Ella and Anozonetta's ( Nettie) work also progressed according to the seasons. During the winter, the Whitmore women did
their sewing and mending, and helped with butchering. Spring brought renewed activity. The Whitmore women had to hatch and care for chickens, plant gardens, and do spring housekeeping. In an era with no corner grocery or convenience food, the summertime in frontier Iowa and Nebraska was when, the Whitmore women canned large amounts of vegetables and fruit. Canning often extended into the fall. Foods like apples and potatoes were stored for winter use ( In an age without refridgeration food was often stored in cellars). Throughout all the seasons, there were many constants in the Whitmore women's routines.Every-day meals had to be prepared, children cared for, and housekeeping done. With gardens to tend and chickens to feed and water, farm women had both indoor and outdoor work. Through their activities however, they produced most of their families' food supply.Social activities for the Whitmore's like most farm families were limited. Living on an Iowa or Nebraska farm meant a degree of isolation almost unimaginable to modern minds. The Whitmore's would have made but few trips to town. Most visits to the Junction City Iowa ( or David City in NE) were for a specific purpose and had to be planned well in advance. Typically Christopher or one of the boys would have to get their wagon ready, hitch the horses while Charlotte and her daughters would insure that they had food for the journey and a proper list for their shopping. Most such trips were to purchase items not readily available such as cloth, tools, sugar coffie/tea and salt. Besides their priviate devotions , bible reading and prayer attending church on Sunday was something that most farm families like the Whitmore's tried to due on a regular basis. Here the family would not only find religious solace for their troubles
(Death for Charlotte and Christopher was not some abstraction, they had both suffered the loss of their children to various childhood maladies.) The church was also a place of hope for their future where marriages and baptisms were celebrated, but here they also would find companionship and opportunities to socialize In Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska country schools were important social centers. We know from census data that Christopher and Charlotte sent their younger children to school as often as possible Here at these simple country schools they would gather with their neighbors several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.About 1885 Christopher and Charlotte moved their family to Central City Nebraska where they again took up farming. Christopher now in his 60's and Susan now in her 50's with their children decided to move to Nebraska. The couple's motivation for leaving Illinois is not explicit; perhaps, they were they wanted to take advantage of opportunities in this new state where cheap and available land would help sons Chesterfield and Jessie get off to a sound start. Another factor for Christopher may have been the adventure of starting off for a new land once again. Economic motivation may well have tipped the scale.
During the years 1873-1879, 1882-1885 and again 1893 -1896, American farmers suffered a series of sharp economic downturns where prices fell for farm commodities such as wheat and corn, sometimes as much as 25%. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa often fell into debt and then were forced to sell and move on. What ever their motivation, in the 1880's Nebraska was attractive territory for farmers and still seen very much as a land of milk and honey. Many newspapers in Illinois and Iowa during the 1870's and 1880's had advertisements and articles broadcasting the merits of the new state (Nebraska entered the union on 1 March 1867). One of these ads announced Nebraska had "the largest and finest crops, the best class of settlers and the cheapest land. This company offers long credit at a rate low interest. Stop renting a farm and start now for Nebraska."
The 1885 State of Nebraska Census reflects Christopher and Charlotte's family when enumerated at Centre City, Butler NE as:
Christopher age 68
Charlotte age 55
Anzonetta age 18
Ulyssess age 16
David age 12
Carrie age 9
Living nearby was their son:
Warren Chesterfield Whitmore age 28
Nancy Ellen Ames age 22
Gertrude age 3
May age 2
By the 1890 Census, (Most all 1890 U.S. census documents were destroyed in a fire, including those for Nebraska. ) the United States government officially declared the American frontier closed. The great era of western migration and settlement except for Alaska was over. Nebraska was now a settled state with many of the amenities of the more populated east. Christopher and Charlotte spent their latter days secure in the fruits of their labor and the love of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Christopher Whitmore died in on 11 July 1895 Charlotte lived near her daughter and her husband Christian Elgy where she remained until 1907 when she was reunited with Christopher. They are now buried together in Central City Cemetery.
farming land worth $ 5,000.00 and had move moved to the township of President in Venango County. In 1860 President Twp was but a small township in the northwestern part of the state. The family farm was in a section which had belonged to the Iroquois people. About 1876 Christopher and Charlotte decided to move their family moved to Junction City Iowa and here in the 1880 census their household is as follows:
Christopher age 63
Charlotte age 50
Chesterfield age 23
Jessie age 21
Ella age 19
Anzoinetta age 10
Jacob age 10
David age 7
Henry age 4
Farming in the 1870's and 1880's continued to be dictated by the seasons. Wintertime for the Whitmore's, meant; butchering, fence mending, ice cutting, and wood chopping. In the spring, Christopher, Chesterfield and Jessie prepared and planted their fields. Summertime brought sheep shearing, haying, and threshing. In the fall, the men picked corn, the most difficult farm task of all. Charlotte, Ella and Anozonetta's ( Nettie) work also progressed according to the seasons. During the winter, the Whitmore women did
their sewing and mending, and helped with butchering. Spring brought renewed activity. The Whitmore women had to hatch and care for chickens, plant gardens, and do spring housekeeping. In an era with no corner grocery or convenience food, the summertime in frontier Iowa and Nebraska was when, the Whitmore women canned large amounts of vegetables and fruit. Canning often extended into the fall. Foods like apples and potatoes were stored for winter use ( In an age without refridgeration food was often stored in cellars). Throughout all the seasons, there were many constants in the Whitmore women's routines.Every-day meals had to be prepared, children cared for, and housekeeping done. With gardens to tend and chickens to feed and water, farm women had both indoor and outdoor work. Through their activities however, they produced most of their families' food supply.Social activities for the Whitmore's like most farm families were limited. Living on an Iowa or Nebraska farm meant a degree of isolation almost unimaginable to modern minds. The Whitmore's would have made but few trips to town. Most visits to the Junction City Iowa ( or David City in NE) were for a specific purpose and had to be planned well in advance. Typically Christopher or one of the boys would have to get their wagon ready, hitch the horses while Charlotte and her daughters would insure that they had food for the journey and a proper list for their shopping. Most such trips were to purchase items not readily available such as cloth, tools, sugar coffie/tea and salt. Besides their priviate devotions , bible reading and prayer attending church on Sunday was something that most farm families like the Whitmore's tried to due on a regular basis. Here the family would not only find religious solace for their troubles
(Death for Charlotte and Christopher was not some abstraction, they had both suffered the loss of their children to various childhood maladies.) The church was also a place of hope for their future where marriages and baptisms were celebrated, but here they also would find companionship and opportunities to socialize In Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska country schools were important social centers. We know from census data that Christopher and Charlotte sent their younger children to school as often as possible Here at these simple country schools they would gather with their neighbors several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.About 1885 Christopher and Charlotte moved their family to Central City Nebraska where they again took up farming. Christopher now in his 60's and Susan now in her 50's with their children decided to move to Nebraska. The couple's motivation for leaving Illinois is not explicit; perhaps, they were they wanted to take advantage of opportunities in this new state where cheap and available land would help sons Chesterfield and Jessie get off to a sound start. Another factor for Christopher may have been the adventure of starting off for a new land once again. Economic motivation may well have tipped the scale.
During the years 1873-1879, 1882-1885 and again 1893 -1896, American farmers suffered a series of sharp economic downturns where prices fell for farm commodities such as wheat and corn, sometimes as much as 25%. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa often fell into debt and then were forced to sell and move on. What ever their motivation, in the 1880's Nebraska was attractive territory for farmers and still seen very much as a land of milk and honey. Many newspapers in Illinois and Iowa during the 1870's and 1880's had advertisements and articles broadcasting the merits of the new state (Nebraska entered the union on 1 March 1867). One of these ads announced Nebraska had "the largest and finest crops, the best class of settlers and the cheapest land. This company offers long credit at a rate low interest. Stop renting a farm and start now for Nebraska."
The 1885 State of Nebraska Census reflects Christopher and Charlotte's family when enumerated at Centre City, Butler NE as:
Christopher age 68
Charlotte age 55
Anzonetta age 18
Ulyssess age 16
David age 12
Carrie age 9
Living nearby was their son:
Warren Chesterfield Whitmore age 28
Nancy Ellen Ames age 22
Gertrude age 3
May age 2
By the 1890 Census, (Most all 1890 U.S. census documents were destroyed in a fire, including those for Nebraska. ) the United States government officially declared the American frontier closed. The great era of western migration and settlement except for Alaska was over. Nebraska was now a settled state with many of the amenities of the more populated east. Christopher and Charlotte spent their latter days secure in the fruits of their labor and the love of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Christopher Whitmore died in on 11 July 1895 Charlotte lived near her daughter and her husband Christian Elgy where she remained until 1907 when she was reunited with Christopher. They are now buried together in Central City Cemetery.
On 18 January 1858 Christopher R. Whitmore remarried, his new wife was Charlotte Caroline Keener. Charlotte must have been a remarkable women for at the age of 28 she had taken on a family of motherless children ranging in age from Thomas Jefferson age 16 to Edgar age 5. The couple would have seven more children by their marriage (Seven children was about the average number of children for a married couple in the first part of the 19th century). By 1860 Christopher had also grown more prosperous he was now
farming land worth $ 5,000.00 and had move moved to the township of President in Venango County. In 1860 President Twp was but a small township in the northwestern part of the state. The family farm was in a section which had belonged to the Iroquois people. About 1876 Christopher and Charlotte decided to move their family moved to Junction City Iowa and here in the 1880 census their household is as follows:
Christopher age 63
Charlotte age 50
Chesterfield age 23
Jessie age 21
Ella age 19
Anzoinetta age 10
Jacob age 10
David age 7
Henry age 4
Farming in the 1870's and 1880's continued to be dictated by the seasons. Wintertime for the Whitmore's, meant; butchering, fence mending, ice cutting, and wood chopping. In the spring, Christopher, Chesterfield and Jessie prepared and planted their fields. Summertime brought sheep shearing, haying, and threshing. In the fall, the men picked corn, the most difficult farm task of all. Charlotte, Ella and Anozonetta's ( Nettie) work also progressed according to the seasons. During the winter, the Whitmore women did
their sewing and mending, and helped with butchering. Spring brought renewed activity. The Whitmore women had to hatch and care for chickens, plant gardens, and do spring housekeeping. In an era with no corner grocery or convenience food, the summertime in frontier Iowa and Nebraska was when, the Whitmore women canned large amounts of vegetables and fruit. Canning often extended into the fall. Foods like apples and potatoes were stored for winter use ( In an age without refridgeration food was often stored in cellars). Throughout all the seasons, there were many constants in the Whitmore women's routines.Every-day meals had to be prepared, children cared for, and housekeeping done. With gardens to tend and chickens to feed and water, farm women had both indoor and outdoor work. Through their activities however, they produced most of their families' food supply.Social activities for the Whitmore's like most farm families were limited. Living on an Iowa or Nebraska farm meant a degree of isolation almost unimaginable to modern minds. The Whitmore's would have made but few trips to town. Most visits to the Junction City Iowa ( or David City in NE) were for a specific purpose and had to be planned well in advance. Typically Christopher or one of the boys would have to get their wagon ready, hitch the horses while Charlotte and her daughters would insure that they had food for the journey and a proper list for their shopping. Most such trips were to purchase items not readily available such as cloth, tools, sugar coffie/tea and salt. Besides their priviate devotions , bible reading and prayer attending church on Sunday was something that most farm families like the Whitmore's tried to due on a regular basis. Here the family would not only find religious solace for their troubles
(Death for Charlotte and Christopher was not some abstraction, they had both suffered the loss of their children to various childhood maladies.) The church was also a place of hope for their future where marriages and baptisms were celebrated, but here they also would find companionship and opportunities to socialize In Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska country schools were important social centers. We know from census data that Christopher and Charlotte sent their younger children to school as often as possible Here at these simple country schools they would gather with their neighbors several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.About 1885 Christopher and Charlotte moved their family to Central City Nebraska where they again took up farming. Christopher now in his 60's and Susan now in her 50's with their children decided to move to Nebraska. The couple's motivation for leaving Illinois is not explicit; perhaps, they were they wanted to take advantage of opportunities in this new state where cheap and available land would help sons Chesterfield and Jessie get off to a sound start. Another factor for Christopher may have been the adventure of starting off for a new land once again. Economic motivation may well have tipped the scale.
During the years 1873-1879, 1882-1885 and again 1893 -1896, American farmers suffered a series of sharp economic downturns where prices fell for farm commodities such as wheat and corn, sometimes as much as 25%. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa often fell into debt and then were forced to sell and move on. What ever their motivation, in the 1880's Nebraska was attractive territory for farmers and still seen very much as a land of milk and honey. Many newspapers in Illinois and Iowa during the 1870's and 1880's had advertisements and articles broadcasting the merits of the new state (Nebraska entered the union on 1 March 1867). One of these ads announced Nebraska had "the largest and finest crops, the best class of settlers and the cheapest land. This company offers long credit at a rate low interest. Stop renting a farm and start now for Nebraska."
The 1885 State of Nebraska Census reflects Christopher and Charlotte's family when enumerated at Centre City, Butler NE as:
Christopher age 68
Charlotte age 55
Anzonetta age 18
Ulyssess age 16
David age 12
Carrie age 9
Living nearby was their son:
Warren Chesterfield Whitmore age 28
Nancy Ellen Ames age 22
Gertrude age 3
May age 2
By the 1890 Census, (Most all 1890 U.S. census documents were destroyed in a fire, including those for Nebraska. ) the United States government officially declared the American frontier closed. The great era of western migration and settlement except for Alaska was over. Nebraska was now a settled state with many of the amenities of the more populated east. Christopher and Charlotte spent their latter days secure in the fruits of their labor and the love of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Christopher Whitmore died in on 11 July 1895 Charlotte lived near her daughter and her husband Christian Elgy where she remained until 1907 when she was reunited with Christopher. They are now buried together in Central City Cemetery.
farming land worth $ 5,000.00 and had move moved to the township of President in Venango County. In 1860 President Twp was but a small township in the northwestern part of the state. The family farm was in a section which had belonged to the Iroquois people. About 1876 Christopher and Charlotte decided to move their family moved to Junction City Iowa and here in the 1880 census their household is as follows:
Christopher age 63
Charlotte age 50
Chesterfield age 23
Jessie age 21
Ella age 19
Anzoinetta age 10
Jacob age 10
David age 7
Henry age 4
Farming in the 1870's and 1880's continued to be dictated by the seasons. Wintertime for the Whitmore's, meant; butchering, fence mending, ice cutting, and wood chopping. In the spring, Christopher, Chesterfield and Jessie prepared and planted their fields. Summertime brought sheep shearing, haying, and threshing. In the fall, the men picked corn, the most difficult farm task of all. Charlotte, Ella and Anozonetta's ( Nettie) work also progressed according to the seasons. During the winter, the Whitmore women did
their sewing and mending, and helped with butchering. Spring brought renewed activity. The Whitmore women had to hatch and care for chickens, plant gardens, and do spring housekeeping. In an era with no corner grocery or convenience food, the summertime in frontier Iowa and Nebraska was when, the Whitmore women canned large amounts of vegetables and fruit. Canning often extended into the fall. Foods like apples and potatoes were stored for winter use ( In an age without refridgeration food was often stored in cellars). Throughout all the seasons, there were many constants in the Whitmore women's routines.Every-day meals had to be prepared, children cared for, and housekeeping done. With gardens to tend and chickens to feed and water, farm women had both indoor and outdoor work. Through their activities however, they produced most of their families' food supply.Social activities for the Whitmore's like most farm families were limited. Living on an Iowa or Nebraska farm meant a degree of isolation almost unimaginable to modern minds. The Whitmore's would have made but few trips to town. Most visits to the Junction City Iowa ( or David City in NE) were for a specific purpose and had to be planned well in advance. Typically Christopher or one of the boys would have to get their wagon ready, hitch the horses while Charlotte and her daughters would insure that they had food for the journey and a proper list for their shopping. Most such trips were to purchase items not readily available such as cloth, tools, sugar coffie/tea and salt. Besides their priviate devotions , bible reading and prayer attending church on Sunday was something that most farm families like the Whitmore's tried to due on a regular basis. Here the family would not only find religious solace for their troubles
(Death for Charlotte and Christopher was not some abstraction, they had both suffered the loss of their children to various childhood maladies.) The church was also a place of hope for their future where marriages and baptisms were celebrated, but here they also would find companionship and opportunities to socialize In Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska country schools were important social centers. We know from census data that Christopher and Charlotte sent their younger children to school as often as possible Here at these simple country schools they would gather with their neighbors several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.About 1885 Christopher and Charlotte moved their family to Central City Nebraska where they again took up farming. Christopher now in his 60's and Susan now in her 50's with their children decided to move to Nebraska. The couple's motivation for leaving Illinois is not explicit; perhaps, they were they wanted to take advantage of opportunities in this new state where cheap and available land would help sons Chesterfield and Jessie get off to a sound start. Another factor for Christopher may have been the adventure of starting off for a new land once again. Economic motivation may well have tipped the scale.
During the years 1873-1879, 1882-1885 and again 1893 -1896, American farmers suffered a series of sharp economic downturns where prices fell for farm commodities such as wheat and corn, sometimes as much as 25%. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa often fell into debt and then were forced to sell and move on. What ever their motivation, in the 1880's Nebraska was attractive territory for farmers and still seen very much as a land of milk and honey. Many newspapers in Illinois and Iowa during the 1870's and 1880's had advertisements and articles broadcasting the merits of the new state (Nebraska entered the union on 1 March 1867). One of these ads announced Nebraska had "the largest and finest crops, the best class of settlers and the cheapest land. This company offers long credit at a rate low interest. Stop renting a farm and start now for Nebraska."
The 1885 State of Nebraska Census reflects Christopher and Charlotte's family when enumerated at Centre City, Butler NE as:
Christopher age 68
Charlotte age 55
Anzonetta age 18
Ulyssess age 16
David age 12
Carrie age 9
Living nearby was their son:
Warren Chesterfield Whitmore age 28
Nancy Ellen Ames age 22
Gertrude age 3
May age 2
By the 1890 Census, (Most all 1890 U.S. census documents were destroyed in a fire, including those for Nebraska. ) the United States government officially declared the American frontier closed. The great era of western migration and settlement except for Alaska was over. Nebraska was now a settled state with many of the amenities of the more populated east. Christopher and Charlotte spent their latter days secure in the fruits of their labor and the love of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Christopher Whitmore died in on 11 July 1895 Charlotte lived near her daughter and her husband Christian Elgy where she remained until 1907 when she was reunited with Christopher. They are now buried together in Central City Cemetery.
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