Matilda McGee

Story of My Life by Matilda Palmer McGee: First, I will give you a little history of my parents, brothers, and sisters: My father's name is George Asael Palmer, and he was born 1st of Nov.-1862 at Heber City, Utah. He died 13 May 1838 at Kirtland, New Mexico. My mother's name was Lucity Stolworthy, and she was born 8 January 1865 in Centerville, Utah. She died 2 Nov, 1938 at Kirtland New Mexico. My Sister Lu Amelia was born 13 Jan 1883 at Orderville, Utah and married John William Burnham. Next was myself Matilda Palmer, and I was born 27 Nov 1884 at Snowflake, Arizona. I married Ulysses Smith McGee. Asael Ernest was born 20 Nov 1886 at Snowflake Arizona. He married Lois Foutz. Alma James was born 3 Jan 1889 at Snowflake, Arizona. Daniel Ray was born 26 July 1891 at Snowflake, Arizona. He married Ardell Ashcroft but they left no children. Alma James married Mabel Biggs. She died when their 8th child was born and the following year he married Ruth Adair. Thomas Zemira was born 19 Dec 1896 and died when about 6 weeks old. Iva Alzada born 30 June 1898 at Huntington Utah and she married Hugh L. Sterling. Sally was born 14 Aug 1901 at Kirtland, New Mexico, and married Claud A Decker. Cora was born 5 Feb 1894 at Huntington, Utah, married Henry Stasburg. Lima born 3 April 1907 at Kirtland married Vernie John.

Born at Snowflake, Arizona, where I have my first recollections. I can remember several childhood pranks I pulled. One day Mother gave me a pair of old scissors to go cut some Alfalfa (we called it Lucern then) for the pigs. My hair was braided in 4 braids 2 on each side of the head. I put the scissors back in my hair as far as I could then closed them but didn't think I done any damage as no hair fell off but when mother went to comb my hair and unbraided the 1 braid to her surprise most of the hair fell away from my head. Results she had to shingle my hair like a boys and I was afraid to let anyone see me as they all laughed at me and called me a boy.

It was here where I started school. Then in the fall of 1890 my father moved to Tropic, Utah, where we stayed until the spring of 1891 when he moved from there to Huntington, Utah, where my mothers folks live. I remember on our way from Tropic, Utah, to Utah we crossed the Colorado river at Lee ferry on the 20th of November in 1920. They loaded some Indians and their horses in the same boat the wagon mother was driving was in. Some of the horses were jumping around and mother got scared and cried, we children were behind the seat under the cover so we could not see very well and we were all frightened but we reached the other shore in safety.

When we got the Huntington father bought a lot across the street from grandma and grandpa Stolworthy and built a big one room log house with a fireplace in it. The spring of 1891 father homesteaded 160 acres about 2 1/2 to 3 miles from Huntington. Here he built a big 1 room house of sawed logs and a little later added a lean-to along one side. He also built a big barn and reservoir. To me that was the best ranch any where. In time a granary, cellar and claff house along with chicken coops and corrals. We had 3 to 4 close neighbors. One was Tomas Stolworthy (mothers brother). Then neighbors were from 1 to 2 miles away. We all went to school in a 1 room log cabin. Those were happy days. For amusement we had candy pullings, carpet rag bees and dancing.

OIne of Mothers brothers played the violin other men and boys around played the guitar, mandolin and harmonicas. We would all meet at one of the homes that had a large room. The home where the dances were held would take their beds out and move any other big pieces of furniture out. t Then after the dance was over and every one on their way home the people would set their beds up and make them and when things were in their place again, go to bed and enjoy a good sleep. I know as our home was the place of dancing quite often.

It was here on this ranch we lived when some of the children from each home took the milk cows out in the morning and herded them all day. We would take our lunch with us. Allie Stolworthy and I herded cows many a day. Some days other children would be with us. I remember one day we were about 1-1/2 miles from home when a terrible thunder storm came up we started for home with our cows. About a quarter to a 1/2 mile from home it started raining very hard, and it was here our path parted, she went one way to get home and another. Allie went on in the rain. There was a log cabin there that no one lived in. It had no windows or doors so I decided to stay in the cabin, and oh I will never forget how the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed. I was frightened nearly out of my mind. As soon as the rain quit I started for home. Mother was getting worried when the cows reached home and I wasn't with them.

It was here that my brother Zemira was born the winter of 1896. We saw lot of sickness and Zemira died when about 6 weeks old. The spring of 1899 Father and Uncle Tom decided to go to Old Mexico. They sold their ranches and we left to find a new home. After 3 weeks traveling we arrived on the San Juan River at a place called Fruitland, New Mexico, where Uncle Tom's father-in-law lived. We stopped to rest our teams and visit as Father had a 1/2 sister living there. While there the country looked good to them so they bought a ranch and the 2 families both lived in a 1 room house. While they were looking for the place to buy, the place they bought had a 3 room adobe house so we then moved into the 3 room house. When they got the land divided Uncle got the part with the house and, so Father soon had a 2 room adobe house built on his part.

Then Father filled a mission in the Southern States during the years of about 1903-1904. In the Fall of 1905 on Sept 8 I was married to Ulysses Smith McGee, and on February 16, 1906. I lost a baby girl, it was a premature birth.

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 30 2021, 9:57:14 UTC