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As
you just read on the Index
page, a few days ago I got the idea to change the name of
EtnaNews.info and in attempting to send out the notification email
to my list, my email service was shut down because I had exceeded
my sending capacity. (I guess a new rule put in
that I didn't know about!)
Sooooooo I was 'dead in the water'
for a few days . . . but now I'm back at it again. And as history/herstory
attests . . . And speaking of 'good women' here are a few for you: Wayne Meek's grandmother, Alice Meek, was a well-known midwife. The story goes that she was called out one night for a delivery and found out it would be twins and they were breech. She knew she was in over her head on this one, so she jumped in the buggy and her horse hightailed them to the home of a Doctor she knew. When he came to the door, she explained the situation and he replied: "Oh, I can't do that anymore, I'm retired and I no longer have a medical license." She pulled a gun out of her apron pocket, pointed it at him and said matter-of-factly: "Your license has just been reinstated!" I imagine he got in the buggy with her! This next story came from Dennis Sovy, descendant of Leon & Mary Sovey, and was written up in the 1962 issue of the Siskiyou Pioneer with the photo of (daughter) Rosa Sovey in front of her Confectionery Store (where the Etna Library now is). (The author of the story was Reita Campbell) I'll print more of the story in a later post . . . but wanted to share this part as it goes right along with 'you can't keep a good woman down'. . . "To support his family, Leon farmed the creek bottom land as well as he could, but repeated high water robbed his land of much of its fertile soil. He raised a large flock of sheep which could be grazed on the nearby hillside, often called "Sovey's Hill.*" In the season when he could be spared from home, he worked on neighboring farms and eventually went to Shasta Valley where he worked on the farm of 'Doc' Williams. While the husband was away from home, his wife (Mary) cared for the family which eventually increased in size to eight children. Many were the hardships which this wife and her family experienced. She gradually learned to speak a very 'broken English' but never did she entirely master the language (she was born in Nicaragua). Neighbors were few and a distance of about a half mile separated her from the town of Etna. Only a short time after their arrival in the area the Modoc War broke out and the husband, Leon, volunteered his services to the forces in Fort Jones. While this war was a considerable distance away, the people of Scott Valley feared an uprising of local Indians. For the sake of protection, a delegation of citizens from Etna called on Mary Sovey in order to persuade her to move from her home and live close to the people of Etna. The men even had a house ready for her and her family but Mary had said 'she would move no more' and, furthermore, she was not afraid of Indians. A day or so later several Indians came to the door and announced they had come to kill the mother and children. Although Mary was frightened inwardly, she managed to push the children into a back room, always facing the Indians. She had no gun and, in fact, no weapon of any kind. Again the spokesman for the Indians, Squirrel Jim, announced that they had come to kill her and her family. Then he said, "See! I have new gun." Assuming a casual manner, Mary said, "Oh . . . let me see it." Proudly the Indian handed her the gun; then Mary stepped back quickly, aimed the gun and ordered: "NOW, you get out of here . . . all of you . . . and don't come back." The Indians looked at each other foolishly and then departed. Fortunately, they did not return. It was three weeks before Mary and her children saw another human being. The air seemed so still that Mary wondered if everyone in the town had been massacred. Then came the good news: the Modoc War was over! Leon did not return immediately for he had been wounded in one leg, this wound he carried for the rest of his life." * Dennis Sovey plans a visit here and we are trying to figure out where Sovey Hill was. The story mentions: 'farming the creek bottom, nearby hillside, half mile to Etna'. Let me know if you know the answer to that!
And speaking of incredible women, I paid a second visit to 99 year young Mildred Hughes today so I could see her doll collection. Yowie!!!!!!!
You can listen in on our conversation from this link. Note: The link will open in a new Browser window. Once the recording begins, just click on the 'Can't Keep a good woman down' Browser window to see the photos. (adjust the sound on your computer) These are ones that Mildred talks about . . .
We talked a little about two of Mildred's first dolls and then went to her bedroom to see a few (!!!!!) more of her dolls. You can listen in on our conversation from this link. Note: The link will open in a new Browser window. Once the recording begins, just click on the 'Can't Keep a good woman down' Browser window to see the photos. (adjust the sound on your computer)
and
the wolf!
Amazing the words to that nursery rhyme came back to me just seeing the doll! Mildred had 'passed the cookie tray' the last time I visited, so I thought I would bring a treat this time. Waking up this morning and looking out the kitchen window to see snow in the mountains on a windy, brisk Autumn day made me hungry for pumpkin pie . . . so I made one to share with Mildred.
P.S. I don't think this part got on the tape. We were talking afterward about Mildred being 80 years old when she began making and collecting these dolls. She said, 'At 80, I wondered who these 'old people' were that people talked about!!!!!' Certainly, not Mildred! In joy! Che'usa Thanks
for * * * * * *
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