Temperence Meisenheimer

This was written by Mildred Farmer -Snyder who lived in Carbondale, Illinois, born in early 1900's. Temperence was her great grandma. This story is about Temperence's daughter Cora Farmer Meisenheimer.

" My Grandma" I was thinking today of some of the things I did while growing up with her. She was my paternal grandmother, who took me to raise after my Mother died of tuberculosis, when I was seven years old. She was Cora Meisenheimer - Farmer, known by everyone as Aunt Cora. She was called when every new baby was born or where ever anyone was bad sick and needed help.She never refused to go, no matter what the situation was. She was left a widow at the age of 20, with 2 children to raise. My father, Harry Farmer and his sister, my Aunt Lena Farmer. So she moved back with her mother and took care of her all the years she lived. It was a big farm with lots of natural wooded area where there was hickory nut trees, walmut trees, pecan trees, a perfect paradice for wildlife, which probably influenced my love for animals, Squirrels, rabbits, birds of all kinds were everywhere. I was 7 years old when I went to live with her. My Dad worked for Illinois Railroad, and could not take care of a little girl. But my one brother Rex Farmer did live with our Dad most of the time. My life was a happy one. There was a great grandmother, Temperance Meisenheimer, my Grandmother, Cora Farmer, and my Spinster Aunt Lena Farmer. There were no men around except at crop time, we sometimes had a hired hand. I learned at an early age, how to milk cows, ride a horse, clean stables, feed stock, and it was always pounded into my head that all animals were fed and watered before we were. Probably why I want to make sure animals are cared for now. I learned how baby animals were born, and, baby pigs and how chickens were hatched from eggs. Everything about life and nature were a natural learning process for me. There was no other entertainment. This was the early 1920's. We had no electricity, no plumbing, no modern conveniences, but I never once thought of us being poor, and never heard the word underprivileged. We were all in the same situation, and accepted it as the only way of life. The days were filled with chores, into the summer you raised garden and canned foods for winter and the evenings were spent sitting around the Kerosene lamps, reading or sewing, making quilt blocks, learning to crochet rugs, First you tore old ragged clothes into strips, then tacked them together with a needle and thread, then rolled them into balls. We also talked a lot about family, friends and what had been done and what was yet to be done before winter set in. People communicated back in those days. I spent many a hour in the horse & buggy with my Grandma. I went everyplace she went. We always went to Carbondale on Saturdays to take the cream, eggs & butter to customers or to the stores. You truly traded back then, you traded what you took in for flour, coffee, sugar, salt, etc., all the things you didn't get naturally from the farm. Grandma would usually get some sliced bologna & cheese & crackers & we would eat on the way home. You didn't have to quiet the buggy horse, you just lay the reins down & she took us home. It was on these hours & loves of life, love, close relationship that my Grandma taught me about life, love, compassion for other people and for animals, and respect for your elders. There was nothing she didn't talk to me about and without realizing it, my memory cells were storing all this information, which I have called to use many times through my life. She was a wonderful teacher, without even knowing it. She just simply passed on to me her philosophy of life which was very simple and uncomplicated. Just treat everyone else the way you would love to be treated. She was only 63 years old when she was taken away for us. By that time I was 16 years old and had a six month old baby. She only got to see that great grand child a short time, but how proud she was. I have often wished she could have lived to pass on some of her wit and wisdom to both of our girls. They have loved her as I did. I can just see her sitting on the front porch, in her rocking chair,putting her bare feet on the porch floor. She loved to rock and sing. Also to talk and visit with all her neighbors. I did all I could do for her, cared for her day and night until she died. I tried in the only way I knew to repay her for giving so much of herself to me. I feel sure she's up in heaven keeping all the angels in line. She was one Grand Lady!