On December 6, 1978, I was stricken with a heart attack. This event had a dramatic effect upon my life and my thinking. In the first place, I realized that I am mortal, and was not going to live forever. If there was something that I had left undone, I should be about doing it. I originally intended to record for my children and my grandchildren something about my own life. One thing seemed to lead to another and soon I had not only a personal history, but a family history.
During my adult life, my mother obtained a copy of the original text of Great Grandfather Peter Woodhouse's autobiography. Although Peter's grammar and spelling were crude, the feelings and experiences in his writings were inspiring. In his final paragraph, he asks his son, Milt to continue his story. I concluded that I might well take on Peter's challenge, and do what I could to piece together the lives of our ancestors.
It was an interesting idea because I've always had an interest in our family's history. This was stimulated by conversations I was fortunate to have with my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I had the privilege of knowing my parents and all but one of my grandparents well (Orlo Martin died before our parents were married). This opportunity coupled with what they told us about their lives enable us to tell their stories, and so the project unfolded.
PURPOSE
The purpose in writing this family history is from a sense of obligation to those that have gone on before us so that succeeding generations will know something about their lives and their struggles to make America the land of opportunity. If it had not been for their fore-sight, we might be living a peasant-type of existence in a foreign land. Great-grandfather Peter Woodhouse said it well; "As pioneers we are worthy of some consideration at your hands for what we have done in developing this part of Wisconsin and making it habitable for those that were to follow. We cut roads through the wilderness, built bridges, and smoothed down the rough places, and you are enjoying today the benefits of our sufferings and privations in opening up a new country."
It was never my intention to see how far we could trace our ancestry, but rather to describe their lives and the times in which they lived. It was also not my intention to glorify their lives. These families have not been perfect. They have fallen into the traps of being human. As far as we know, no one had a criminal record, but there were troubles with gambling, alcohol, desertion, divisions within the family, and lack of initiative.
It was also my intention to include the history of our country and its effect upon the lives of our ancestors. Peter Woodhouse summarizes my purpose well, "Every man has a history. The great majority remain unwritten. Man's experiences are wide and varied, sunshine and shadows chasing each other as he labors for happy results in the daily routine of life." I have written this history to describe some of the sunshine and shadows that have entered the lives of our ancestors and ourselves.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
Although the process of writing this history has been long, it has been filled with many rewards. We have learned much as we pondered the evidence and details of their lives. One very striking similarity seems to predominate. We come from people who were impoverished in their homeland, but who had unusual determination to change their condition. To improve their circumstances, they were faced with difficult choices. Word had been received that America was "the land of opportunity". And so they came, leaving all they knew and loved behind. According to Aunt Lizzie Lyons, "We had no idea of the hardships that would face us in this 'land of opportunity' and often longed to be back in our native land." Picture the hardships these people faced, the winters were far more harsh than they had anticipated, at times they were near starvation, some lived with marauding Indians though they feared most of all the deadly poisonous rattlesnake, cabins were crudely built, sickness and death were a common part of life, and for some even access to other families was limited. Meeting the needs of everyday life was a tremendous challenge.
As you go back through the stories of their lives, you will begin to understand how the success of future generations is determined by the struggles and accomplishments of those who have gone on before us - whether it be in material possessions or lessons and values learned in the art of survival. Although what we do in our daily lives - the choices we make and the example we set - doesn't seem of much consequence at the time, it ultimately has a profound effect upon those that follow.
SOURCES
Sources of information included:
Books: The Travels of Peter Woodhouse, by Peter Woodhouse,
edited by Thomas Barden
My Mother's Life Story, by Aunt Lizzie Lyons
(history of the Lyons Family)
Early Adventures on the Western Waters, by Mary B. Kegley of Pulaski, Va.
The Encyclopedia Britannica
Other publications: "Bagley through the Years"
"History of Bloomington", Bloomington Library - Bob Patterson
"The Key Family History" by Arden Key
Other Key Family facts from Edna Millen
"The History of Blake's Prairie" by Elizabeth Scott Wegman
Rockford Morning Star - "Early Pioneers in Illinois"
Other: Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin
Court house records - Court cases, wills, estates, and obituaries.
Traveled to:
Milton and Hook Norton, England - origin of Harris family
Pulaski Virginia - Home of Martins, Pecks and Wysors. Assistance from Mary B. Kegley, Attorney and genealogist.
Conversations with: Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers and sister, and Bob Patterson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This was first written long hand as I do not have the ability to think and use the computer at the same time. Since I am not a good typist, there was much editing and correcting to be done. If it had not been for the Feaver's computer this would not have been possible. Daughter Sandra Feaver has put in long hours in editing and correcting. Daughter Kathryn Eden has helped in collecting information and then through their computer has put this in its final form for the printer. Without their help, this might not have gotten beyond the hand written version.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
It is impossible to avoid mistakes and omissions. This is bound to happen. We checked and rechecked to prevent them, hoping to eliminate all of them, but this, I'm sure was impossible. Our best hope is that those that remain will be few. Those which remain are certainly unintentional.
FAMILY REUNION
This book begins with the story of my life - where I intended it to begin and end. But as I developed my life's history, I began to be drawn to a study of my family's history. I realized more and more that what I am is very much dependent on the chain of people and events who came before me. My history is really the history of my people. The lives of my family - those who provided my heredity and environment are organized around my parents, the ancestors and descendants of Roy and Ada Martin.
Blake's Prairie and the communities that surround it is the area our ancestors chose to build their homes and their lives. Reunion on Blake's Prairie seemed a fitting title because it was my hope to bring these people back to life in the stories that follow. Imagine if you will, all of us gathered together for a massive family reunion...
It's a gathering of 200 years of ancestors and descendants of the Martin, Key, Woodhouse, Lyons, and Harris families. Hosting the reunion are Roy and Ada Martin at their little house on Blake's Prairie where they started their married life. Ada has been working on food preparations for weeks, and as the big day approaches she sleeps less and less. Cakes, cookies, and homemade rolls are stashed in the modern day freezer. Everyone has been asked to bring a dish to pass, but Ada prepares food as though she is solely in charge.
Roy, too, has been working hard. He and the boys have mowed the field, set up tables, and brought in hay bales for sitting. As he finishes his tasks, he heads for a walk in the woods to ponder and anticipate the day ahead.
Grandma Carrie Harris has volunteered to spruce up the site with flowers from her garden. She has been pruning and watering for weeks in preparation. A piano will be brought in, so Frances Martin Morrissey has pulled out her supply of sheet music to bring along.
It will be an exciting day of laughter, tears, sharing, and song ... Welcome to our reunion.