Allens and Holbrooks: Christmas, 1918

I wonder what life was life for our ancestors 100 years ago.  More specifically, who was alive and what would they have been doing that year, when the "war to end all wars" had just ended with an armistice the month before.  I've used the information in our family tree, and the 1920 census (which could be a little "off") to try to reconstruct life on that day. 

In the Holbrook line, my grandparents, Loren and Etta Stanard Holbrook, had been married for a little over four years.  They were living in or near Meteor, in Ferry County, Washington.  They were either on or near the Colville Indian Reservation.  At Christmas 2018, Loren was 35 and Etta was 29.  They were the parents of Ray, who was three years old, and Howard, who was eight months old.   In the 1920 census, Loren was the manager of a saw mill.  He had acquired land when he first went to the area in 1907-1908.  Ten years later, he may have still been suffering a little bit of culture shock, for life in a tiny community in Washington state was much different than life in Chicago Heights, Illinois, where he had been raised.  I wonder what gifts the boys received that year?

The boys were fortunate because all of their grandparents were still alive. Yes, one set was in Chicago and I don't know how often, if at all, they got to see those grandparents.  But Fremont and Phoebe Brown Holbrook would have doted on those boys, just as any grandparent would.  Fremont and Phoebe in the 1920 census were listed with no occupation.  They were both 62 years of age, and had three roomers living with them.  Two were machinists (one French speaking) and one a chemist, so dinner conversation may have been lively.  I hope Phoebe fixed a nice meal for them, and perhaps invited their son Ray for dinner, also.  I think Clark, who may or may not have been home from the war yet, may have already transferred his residence to Florida, so I don't know whether or not he was at Christmas dinner that year.  Still, knowing that the war was over and Clark was coming back would have been a cause for great joy at that Holbrook table. 

The other grandparents, Louis and Mary Alice Hetrick Stannard, lived much closer.  They lived across the Columbia River in Stevens County, and because they had to take a ferry to cross the river, it would take over an hour for the trip even though it was just about 25 miles from the Holbrook to the Stanard home.  It is very likely that the Holbrooks made the trip that day, as I know that Christmas was always important to the Stanards.  Louis and Alice were both 62 years old.  Louis is listed as a school teacher but he was also the assistant school superintendent,  The superintendent was their daughter, Elizabeth (Bess), who never married.  Quite probably "Winnie", (Elwin) was there, too, with his wife Bessie Moody and their children (not sure whether all the children were born yet, or not.) Bessie would die in 1920, but in 1918 the family was likely enjoying their Christmas.  They lived in Colville, Stevens County, not far from Hunters and a much easier trek to go "home for Christmas". 

So the Holbrooks and Stanards were in Washington State, and the older Holbrooks were in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  What about the Allen family?

Edward (Ed) and Edith Knott Allen were in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Their first baby, a boy, had died but there were four children in 1918 and Edith was about six months pregnant with the baby who would prove to be their last surviving child.  Ed was 50 and Edith was 40.  He was a self employed attorney, and rented a home for the family  Ed's parents had already passed on, but Edith's father was still alive.  John Wilson Knott lived in Yoncalla, Oregon with his son and daughter in law, George and Martha Knott.  Sometime during this time period, John (although I've heard that he went by the name "Wilson") preached his last sermon and went to a nursing home, where he lived out his days.  He was 82 years old in 1918, and that was about the age he was when he ended a lifetime of preaching. 

I don't think any of these families had much money.  The wealthiest, the Holbrooks of Chicago Heights, probably were middle class with upward aspirations, but the others were struggling to reach middle class status by Christmas of 1918.  Nevertheless, all of the families knew Jesus; two being ordained preachers (John Wilson Knott was Presbyterian, Louis Stanard was Baptist).  Christmas 1918 would have been a joyous one for all, for they knew what Christmas was all about. 

Merry Christmas, family present and family past!  And if future family, someone living 100 years from now, reads this, Merry Christmas to you, too!