Minnie Stratton

The above photo was found on Family Search.org and depicts, Minnie (back row, left) and her mother and sisters. Her mother is pictured in the middle, and next to Minnie (middle-back) is her sister Elsie, and Etta is to the right of Elsie. One of the daughters in the front is Melva, and the other is probably Zina, but I'm not sure which is which. The following info was also found on Family Search.org and is her biography.

Minnie Kartchner Stratton, December 26, 1870 - December 24, 1969: Minnie Kartchner, daughter of William Decatur Kartchner and Elizabeth Gale, was born on the 26th of December, 1879, at Overton, Lincoln County, Nevada. When seven years old, her parents were called to colonize Panguitch, Utah, then to Sunset, and on to Snowflake, Arizona. She did not remember anything of her birthplace, hut she recalls the many times her parents told her of the hardships they endured while settling a new country and pioneering the way. Her parents built a little log house in Snowflake in which they lived. Among her memories of early life in Snowflake, she remembers the scarcity of flour and the grinding of their own wheat, making biscuits each morning for breakfast - which her father had the habit of breaking open the biscuit and smelling it. Typical of girls of those times, she could cook and sew, scrubbed by hand the many washings taken in by her mother when her father lost his eyesight and was in bad health, and working in homes in town from the time she was thirteen for fifty cents a day to help out family finances.

Minnie's education was received in an adobe room with dirt floor. Limited though it was, education was a desire of hers, and she worked diligently educating herself. Her English and knowledge in general was exceptionally good, and it was due largely to her own efforts and determination.

One free and outstanding quality she had as she worked, was her constant singing: "Whistle While You Work,", "Sing a Merry Song," and "Things Will Be All Right," "Nothing Will Turn Out Wrong,". One day her father said, "Oh, Minnie, for goodness sakes, give us a rest." Later in life when she left home, he said to her upon her return, "It's been so lonesome. Sing us a song. I'll never get tired of your singing again." At the age of sixteen, she was a charming curly haired girl, enough so that one William Ellis Stratton, who lived across the street, was attracted to her and began seeing her often.

On October 4th, 1886, William Ellis and Minnie made the two week trip by team to the St. George Temple to be married. They were married on October 20th, 1886. They soon bought them a one-room log house, put a porch and a kitchen on it, and painted and fixed their first little home. There Mabel was born to them. After their second daughter, Zella, was born, they built the two-story brick house which was known and loved as the family home for many years until it was sold and then torn down. The land site is now where the Snowflake Post Office building stands.

Raymond, Leo, and Lena, added to the family number. Sorrows came as Leo was called home at the age of two. Soon thereafter two little twin girls, Minnie and Vinnie, were added to the family. In February, 1899, William Ellis received a call to the Southern States Mission. In spite of having to leave his wife, babies, and four other children, he gladly accepted. Though the twins were ill at the time of his departure, they felt that they must mast in their Heavenly Father and do as they were asked. Two months after he arrived in the mission field, one twin, Minnie, died. Minnie said that she was given courage and comfort to care for the family while he was gone.

Through the years, Mary, Elsie, Irene, Lorum, Leona, and Lynn were born, making a total of 13 children in all. Hard times made a scarcity of money, helped out by the Depression and the loss of savings when the bank closed. The family took in boarders - school teachers, students, and others, 68 in all, through the years to supplement the family income. Life was full of activity - farming, cooking, children to get to school, ironing and washing, church work, and family home evenings with singing together. With William Ellis and Minnie working together, they accomplished the necessary tasks each day. The dreaded diphtheria disease struck many of the residents of Snowflake, and two children, Mary and Virmie, were taken the same day. Then in 1910, Elsie, too, was taken. Minnie was always interested in her children's activities and accomplishments, praising and encouraging each one. All the children were taught well in gospel truths. Tithing and family prayer were never forgotten.

Minnie never shouted or lost her temper or let her tongue speak an unkind word. Honesty and square dealing were stressed to each child. Minnie always had time to serve the Lord, as well as others. She served as First Counselor in the Primary, in the Stake Primary, a visiting teacher in the Relief Society, in the Relief Society Presidency, and was President of the Snowflake Ward Relief Society.

Because of her service to others, and her sympathy, compassion, understanding, observation, insight, and vision, she was very gifted in writing poetry. She wrote many outstanding poems to friends, her sons, and daughters.

As time passed, two sons filled missions, and eight living children married and started their own families. In their sunset years, they spent their winters in Mesa, living with Mabel and Jesse Perkins, and working in the Mesa temple, and spent their summers in Snowflake. In November, 1936, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. After eleven years working in the Mesa Temple, William Ellis's health began to fail, and he requested to be taken home to Snowflake. After a short illness, on June 21, 1940, he quietly passed away.

The following years brought loneliness for Minnie, but she continued her work in the temple, and the kindness of family and friends helped to fill her days with joy. Many were the quilts, articles of clothing, embroidery, and crocheting that came from her handiwork in these latter years. Up until a short time before her illness, she was alert, attentive, and continued to write her poetry. She was 99 years old, and passed away on December 24, 1969, just two days before her birthday.

Minnie left her children priceless gifts that cannot be bought by money - a legacy for which all her posterity should be proud. At her death, she left six living children, 47 grandchildren, 174 great grandchildren, 132 great great grandchildren, and seven great great great grandchildren.

The information below was published in The Arizona Republic on Wednesday, December 27, 1967, and is about Minnie:

89 Years In Arizona--307 Progeny Mark her 97th Year....MESA--An Arizona Pioneer who came to Snowflake at the age of 8 "at the call of Brigham Young" yesterday celebrated her 97th birthday here. Mrs. Minnie Kartchner Stratton, who had 307 living descendants, moved to Snowflake from Overton, Nevada, with her father, who had two wives and families. They traveled in a covered wagon train.

Still alert, she recalled that when they arrived at Snowflake there was nothing but a ranch, w hich had one large adobe house and a few scattered adobe houses for Mexican workers. They traveled with other Mormon settlers whom Young dispatched to develop the area. Many of the men had plural families, she remembers.

Six generations were represented at an open house at which family and friends gathered in her honor, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mabel S. Perkins, 215 N. Hobson, where Mrs. Stratton spends the winters. Summers she returns to Snowflake, where she resided the year around until a few years ago. her husband, whom she married at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple in St. George, Utah, died there 27 years ago.

The Strattons were a farm family, and for a number of years Mrs. Stratton ran a boarding house for students. She said she attributed her longevity to "a clean life, not being afraid of hard work and faith in God." She has written many poems, which have been assembled into a book by a granddaughter, Neva Flake Foster.

Mrs. Stratton is the mother of 13 children, six of whom are living; 47 grandchildren, 155 great-grandchildren, 97 great-great grandchildren and two great-great-great grandchildren.

NOTE: Minnie Kartchner Stratton passed away two years later on December 24, 1969, a year and two days shy of her 100th birthday. Her survivors were children, Mabel, who married Jesse N. Perkins, William Raymond who married Millie Hunt, Lena who married Harvey Randall, Irene who married Bruce M. Flake, Lorum E., who married Annette Hakes, Lynn K., who married Fay Randall. At the time of her death she had 47 grandchildren, 174 great grandchildren, 132 great-great grandchildren, and 7 great-great-great grandchildren.

She was buried in the Snowflake Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona.