My Life – Hattie Beshey Morrison
She was the youngest daughter or Frank and Jane Beshey. She was the niece of Alexander Beshey.

My eldest grandson, Emory McNee asked me to write the story of my life. I was born June 20, 1896 in Hamilton County, Iowa, the youngest of eight children. Two brothers, Edward and Charles, and five sisters, Rosa, Anna, Julia, Ella and Ada. Our parents were Jane and Frank Beshey. My grandparents were Catherine and Julian Claude and Mary and Louis Beshey.(Catherine was a second wife,it was Julia and Julian Claude and Joseph and Mary Beshey.)
My father and his parents came to the United States from Alsace Lorraine when he was one year old. They homesteaded in Hamilton County. When I was five years old my parents moved to Woolstock in Wright County. We lived on the farm which I still own. I had a wonderful mother and dad, and have many wonderful childhood memories.
I attended school in Woolstock. One of the highlights of the year was the community July 4 celebration which was held in our grove on the farm. Everyone brought basket dinners and we always had fireworks.
One Christmas we all went shopping to Webster City. We had to take the bobsled and team of horses as there was lots of snow. But when it was time to come home the temperature had climbed, the snow had melted on the dirt road and we had to drive in the ditches the entire eight miles home.
I still remember all the good meals my mother cooked on the wood cookstove. Of course, we didn't have refrigerators in those days, so all the food had to be carried to the cellar after every meal.
My sister, Ada passed away very young leaving two small children, Kenneth and Hazel Boughton. My parents raised them, and I helped take care of them. I think they were three and four years old at the time of Ada's death.
I was married September 8, 1914 to Irvin Joe Morrison. He had a five room bungalow build on the west edge of Woolstock and we moved into it when we were married.
Our first baby was stillborn and a boy. Two years later LaVonne was born, four years later Clarine was born, and when Clarine was four Verldean was born.
I have eight wonderful grandchildren and seven wonderful great grandchildren.
Irvin worked in a grocery store when we were married earning $90.00 a month. When I inherited the farm in 1916 we sold our house and moved onto the farm. But a year and one-half later Irvin was offered a job in the State Bank in Woolstock and we moved back into town. We lived there for sixteen years and our three daughters grew up and attended the Woolstock Public Schools.
Our social life consisted of the Methodist Church activities and belonging to card clubs. We also had a silent movie theater in town and movies were shown on Saturday nights.
Then the depression started and both banks in town closed. But Irvin had an insurance business and bought the Champlin oil station.
Later we moved to Webster City where Irvin worked as a bookkeeper for the John Deere store until he passed away.
I feel I have had a wonderful life and still have a wonderful family. I have so many great memories.
I am enjoying living in Minnesota very much, and hope the good Lord will grant me a few more years on this earth, especially if I can continue to have good health.
Hattie Grace Beshey Morrison, December 24, 1981