This is my 2nd great grandmother named for her mother, Testamiar "Tet" Brundage Desmond (her name is also misspelled). Some records have the spelling as Testimiar and some Testamiar and others some strange misspellings. The family uses the spelling Testamiar as the correct spelling.
Contributor: Carol Solomon (49435752)
Fifty-six years of wedded life and still sweethearts, happy, blithe and contented, with not a care to mar their declining years, is the lot of Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Woodard, of Fulton Street, Silver Beach Addition to Bellingham.
The bride of fifty-six years ago is now 76 years of age and the groom 77. At the time the troth was solemnized in marriage, P. R. Woodard, aged 21 years, led Miss Testamiar Desmond, aged 20, to the altar. The happy event occurred in St. Claire, St. Claire County, Michigan, September 14, 1852. The groom was born in Bath, Steuben County, New York, August 20, 1831, and the bride was born in Canada November 24, 1832. Their parents migrated to the then new State of Michigan. Manhood and womanhood attained. Dan Cupid played the role of matchmaker, and the lives of the young man and woman were sealed by an accommodating minister as one.
A smiling world, full of bitter and sweet, has crowned their career during their fifty-six years of pilgrimage in the United States. Migration formed an important epoch in their lives, for during that time they had lived in practically every state in the Union before they cast anchor in Bellingham.
About nine years after the marriage of the happy couple, the Civil War broke out and the patriotic husband offered his services to his country. He was assigned to a position in the quartermaster's department, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, as master of transportation, and had the direction and care of 500 army teams. The war at an end he returned to his home, and then the pilgrimage that ended on the shores of Lake Whatcom began. A volume would be required to record the details that befell them during the thirty years' time consumed in arriving in Washington Territory.
In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Woodard arrived in Whatcom, now a part of Bellingham. Allurements were offered on the wild shores of Lake Whatcom, and location of a government claim was made. Mrs. Woodard was the third woman to establish a home on the lake. In a few months many others followed. She decided that a postoffice was necessary, and after a series of letters had been interchanged between the applicants and the Washington, D. C., authorities, a commission came authorizing Mrs. Woodard to serve as postmistress. The postoffice was christened Woodlawn and was duly accepted by the postmaster-general. The name is still borne by the ranch formerly owned by the Woodard family.
The mode of travel to Woodlawn was vastly different to the present electric line that extends to Silver Beach, making connections with the commodious steamers that call at the way points to the head of the lake at Park. Only a crude trail marked the course from Whatcom to the lake, and a dugout canoe was pressed into service on the way to the homestead. Provisions had to be carried on the backs of the sturdy pioneers and at the nearest point dumped into the dugout and paddled home.
Mrs. Woodard says she enjoyed the pioneer days despite the hardships that had to be borne. Describing the wildness of the scene, she recited an interesting episode that occurred near their cabin in 1884. The children were playing in an open place near the cabin. One of them ran into the house and said that a "nice doggie" was crawling along a log toward them and wagging his tail. Mrs. Woodard, out of idle curiosity, went out to see the "dog." To her horror, a big cougar was stealing toward the children and was on the point of pouncing upon one of them. She arrived at the critical moment, and is firm in her belief that the animal would have carried one of the children away.
The aged couple express themselves as perfectly contented with the race of life thus run.
"We don't care to go back to our younger days." they jointly exclaimed. "We are satisfied with the trip. We were happy all the way through. We had our ups and downs, but all trifling things pass away from the memory and are forgotten. Here on Lake Whatcom is a happy place for an aged couple to spend their declining days. As the sun arises in the morning and casts a gleam over the still waters of the lake it is a source of comfort. As it goes down, leaving a trail of gold and red, it bids a fond goodnight. We don't like the wear and tear of the city and are content to enjoy life here."
Four children, three boys and one girl, are the living descendants of the couple: Homer, of San Diego, Cal.; William, of San Francisco; Harry and Mrs. Thomas Murray, both of Bellingham.
American Reveille, November 8, 1908
Contributor: Carol Solomon (49435752)
Fifty-six years of wedded life and still sweethearts, happy, blithe and contented, with not a care to mar their declining years, is the lot of Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Woodard, of Fulton Street, Silver Beach Addition to Bellingham.
The bride of fifty-six years ago is now 76 years of age and the groom 77. At the time the troth was solemnized in marriage, P. R. Woodard, aged 21 years, led Miss Testamiar Desmond, aged 20, to the altar. The happy event occurred in St. Claire, St. Claire County, Michigan, September 14, 1852. The groom was born in Bath, Steuben County, New York, August 20, 1831, and the bride was born in Canada November 24, 1832. Their parents migrated to the then new State of Michigan. Manhood and womanhood attained. Dan Cupid played the role of matchmaker, and the lives of the young man and woman were sealed by an accommodating minister as one.
A smiling world, full of bitter and sweet, has crowned their career during their fifty-six years of pilgrimage in the United States. Migration formed an important epoch in their lives, for during that time they had lived in practically every state in the Union before they cast anchor in Bellingham.
About nine years after the marriage of the happy couple, the Civil War broke out and the patriotic husband offered his services to his country. He was assigned to a position in the quartermaster's department, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, as master of transportation, and had the direction and care of 500 army teams. The war at an end he returned to his home, and then the pilgrimage that ended on the shores of Lake Whatcom began. A volume would be required to record the details that befell them during the thirty years' time consumed in arriving in Washington Territory.
In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Woodard arrived in Whatcom, now a part of Bellingham. Allurements were offered on the wild shores of Lake Whatcom, and location of a government claim was made. Mrs. Woodard was the third woman to establish a home on the lake. In a few months many others followed. She decided that a postoffice was necessary, and after a series of letters had been interchanged between the applicants and the Washington, D. C., authorities, a commission came authorizing Mrs. Woodard to serve as postmistress. The postoffice was christened Woodlawn and was duly accepted by the postmaster-general. The name is still borne by the ranch formerly owned by the Woodard family.
The mode of travel to Woodlawn was vastly different to the present electric line that extends to Silver Beach, making connections with the commodious steamers that call at the way points to the head of the lake at Park. Only a crude trail marked the course from Whatcom to the lake, and a dugout canoe was pressed into service on the way to the homestead. Provisions had to be carried on the backs of the sturdy pioneers and at the nearest point dumped into the dugout and paddled home.
Mrs. Woodard says she enjoyed the pioneer days despite the hardships that had to be borne. Describing the wildness of the scene, she recited an interesting episode that occurred near their cabin in 1884. The children were playing in an open place near the cabin. One of them ran into the house and said that a "nice doggie" was crawling along a log toward them and wagging his tail. Mrs. Woodard, out of idle curiosity, went out to see the "dog." To her horror, a big cougar was stealing toward the children and was on the point of pouncing upon one of them. She arrived at the critical moment, and is firm in her belief that the animal would have carried one of the children away.
The aged couple express themselves as perfectly contented with the race of life thus run.
"We don't care to go back to our younger days." they jointly exclaimed. "We are satisfied with the trip. We were happy all the way through. We had our ups and downs, but all trifling things pass away from the memory and are forgotten. Here on Lake Whatcom is a happy place for an aged couple to spend their declining days. As the sun arises in the morning and casts a gleam over the still waters of the lake it is a source of comfort. As it goes down, leaving a trail of gold and red, it bids a fond goodnight. We don't like the wear and tear of the city and are content to enjoy life here."
Four children, three boys and one girl, are the living descendants of the couple: Homer, of San Diego, Cal.; William, of San Francisco; Harry and Mrs. Thomas Murray, both of Bellingham.
American Reveille, November 8, 1908
This is my 2nd great grandmother named for her mother, Testamiar "Tet" Brundage Desmond (her name is also misspelled). Some records have the spelling as Testimiar and some Testamiar and others some strange misspellings. The family uses the spelling Testamiar as the correct spelling.
Contributor: Carol Solomon (49435752)
Fifty-six years of wedded life and still sweethearts, happy, blithe and contented, with not a care to mar their declining years, is the lot of Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Woodard, of Fulton Street, Silver Beach Addition to Bellingham.
The bride of fifty-six years ago is now 76 years of age and the groom 77. At the time the troth was solemnized in marriage, P. R. Woodard, aged 21 years, led Miss Testamiar Desmond, aged 20, to the altar. The happy event occurred in St. Claire, St. Claire County, Michigan, September 14, 1852. The groom was born in Bath, Steuben County, New York, August 20, 1831, and the bride was born in Canada November 24, 1832. Their parents migrated to the then new State of Michigan. Manhood and womanhood attained. Dan Cupid played the role of matchmaker, and the lives of the young man and woman were sealed by an accommodating minister as one.
A smiling world, full of bitter and sweet, has crowned their career during their fifty-six years of pilgrimage in the United States. Migration formed an important epoch in their lives, for during that time they had lived in practically every state in the Union before they cast anchor in Bellingham.
About nine years after the marriage of the happy couple, the Civil War broke out and the patriotic husband offered his services to his country. He was assigned to a position in the quartermaster's department, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, as master of transportation, and had the direction and care of 500 army teams. The war at an end he returned to his home, and then the pilgrimage that ended on the shores of Lake Whatcom began. A volume would be required to record the details that befell them during the thirty years' time consumed in arriving in Washington Territory.
In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Woodard arrived in Whatcom, now a part of Bellingham. Allurements were offered on the wild shores of Lake Whatcom, and location of a government claim was made. Mrs. Woodard was the third woman to establish a home on the lake. In a few months many others followed. She decided that a postoffice was necessary, and after a series of letters had been interchanged between the applicants and the Washington, D. C., authorities, a commission came authorizing Mrs. Woodard to serve as postmistress. The postoffice was christened Woodlawn and was duly accepted by the postmaster-general. The name is still borne by the ranch formerly owned by the Woodard family.
The mode of travel to Woodlawn was vastly different to the present electric line that extends to Silver Beach, making connections with the commodious steamers that call at the way points to the head of the lake at Park. Only a crude trail marked the course from Whatcom to the lake, and a dugout canoe was pressed into service on the way to the homestead. Provisions had to be carried on the backs of the sturdy pioneers and at the nearest point dumped into the dugout and paddled home.
Mrs. Woodard says she enjoyed the pioneer days despite the hardships that had to be borne. Describing the wildness of the scene, she recited an interesting episode that occurred near their cabin in 1884. The children were playing in an open place near the cabin. One of them ran into the house and said that a "nice doggie" was crawling along a log toward them and wagging his tail. Mrs. Woodard, out of idle curiosity, went out to see the "dog." To her horror, a big cougar was stealing toward the children and was on the point of pouncing upon one of them. She arrived at the critical moment, and is firm in her belief that the animal would have carried one of the children away.
The aged couple express themselves as perfectly contented with the race of life thus run.
"We don't care to go back to our younger days." they jointly exclaimed. "We are satisfied with the trip. We were happy all the way through. We had our ups and downs, but all trifling things pass away from the memory and are forgotten. Here on Lake Whatcom is a happy place for an aged couple to spend their declining days. As the sun arises in the morning and casts a gleam over the still waters of the lake it is a source of comfort. As it goes down, leaving a trail of gold and red, it bids a fond goodnight. We don't like the wear and tear of the city and are content to enjoy life here."
Four children, three boys and one girl, are the living descendants of the couple: Homer, of San Diego, Cal.; William, of San Francisco; Harry and Mrs. Thomas Murray, both of Bellingham.
American Reveille, November 8, 1908
Contributor: Carol Solomon (49435752)
Fifty-six years of wedded life and still sweethearts, happy, blithe and contented, with not a care to mar their declining years, is the lot of Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Woodard, of Fulton Street, Silver Beach Addition to Bellingham.
The bride of fifty-six years ago is now 76 years of age and the groom 77. At the time the troth was solemnized in marriage, P. R. Woodard, aged 21 years, led Miss Testamiar Desmond, aged 20, to the altar. The happy event occurred in St. Claire, St. Claire County, Michigan, September 14, 1852. The groom was born in Bath, Steuben County, New York, August 20, 1831, and the bride was born in Canada November 24, 1832. Their parents migrated to the then new State of Michigan. Manhood and womanhood attained. Dan Cupid played the role of matchmaker, and the lives of the young man and woman were sealed by an accommodating minister as one.
A smiling world, full of bitter and sweet, has crowned their career during their fifty-six years of pilgrimage in the United States. Migration formed an important epoch in their lives, for during that time they had lived in practically every state in the Union before they cast anchor in Bellingham.
About nine years after the marriage of the happy couple, the Civil War broke out and the patriotic husband offered his services to his country. He was assigned to a position in the quartermaster's department, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, as master of transportation, and had the direction and care of 500 army teams. The war at an end he returned to his home, and then the pilgrimage that ended on the shores of Lake Whatcom began. A volume would be required to record the details that befell them during the thirty years' time consumed in arriving in Washington Territory.
In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Woodard arrived in Whatcom, now a part of Bellingham. Allurements were offered on the wild shores of Lake Whatcom, and location of a government claim was made. Mrs. Woodard was the third woman to establish a home on the lake. In a few months many others followed. She decided that a postoffice was necessary, and after a series of letters had been interchanged between the applicants and the Washington, D. C., authorities, a commission came authorizing Mrs. Woodard to serve as postmistress. The postoffice was christened Woodlawn and was duly accepted by the postmaster-general. The name is still borne by the ranch formerly owned by the Woodard family.
The mode of travel to Woodlawn was vastly different to the present electric line that extends to Silver Beach, making connections with the commodious steamers that call at the way points to the head of the lake at Park. Only a crude trail marked the course from Whatcom to the lake, and a dugout canoe was pressed into service on the way to the homestead. Provisions had to be carried on the backs of the sturdy pioneers and at the nearest point dumped into the dugout and paddled home.
Mrs. Woodard says she enjoyed the pioneer days despite the hardships that had to be borne. Describing the wildness of the scene, she recited an interesting episode that occurred near their cabin in 1884. The children were playing in an open place near the cabin. One of them ran into the house and said that a "nice doggie" was crawling along a log toward them and wagging his tail. Mrs. Woodard, out of idle curiosity, went out to see the "dog." To her horror, a big cougar was stealing toward the children and was on the point of pouncing upon one of them. She arrived at the critical moment, and is firm in her belief that the animal would have carried one of the children away.
The aged couple express themselves as perfectly contented with the race of life thus run.
"We don't care to go back to our younger days." they jointly exclaimed. "We are satisfied with the trip. We were happy all the way through. We had our ups and downs, but all trifling things pass away from the memory and are forgotten. Here on Lake Whatcom is a happy place for an aged couple to spend their declining days. As the sun arises in the morning and casts a gleam over the still waters of the lake it is a source of comfort. As it goes down, leaving a trail of gold and red, it bids a fond goodnight. We don't like the wear and tear of the city and are content to enjoy life here."
Four children, three boys and one girl, are the living descendants of the couple: Homer, of San Diego, Cal.; William, of San Francisco; Harry and Mrs. Thomas Murray, both of Bellingham.
American Reveille, November 8, 1908
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