Family of Norman Iddings RENO and Lola BOWEN

Husband: Norman Iddings RENO

Wife: Lola BOWEN

Child 1: Living RENO

Child 2: Living RENO

Note on Husband: Norman Iddings RENO - shared note

LETTER WRITTEN FROM WESTFIELD HOSPITAL, NY FEB 2, 1974:

DEAR FOLKS,

ABUNDANCE TODAY IS HAVING 3/4 OF A SMALL CRACKER LEFT OVER OR RATHER SAVED FROM A FORMER (1200 C A DAY MEAL) TO GO WITH 1/3 OF A GLASS OF SKIM MILK.

I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND GRANDPA RENO TELL ABOUT THE TIME IN THE CIVIL WAR WHEN THEY MARCHED ALL DAY AND RAN ONCE IN A WHILE TO REST THEN ON GETTING THE CHANCE FOR THOSE WHO HAD NOT DROPPED BY THE WAY THEY LAY DOWN TO SLEEP WITHOUT SUPPER. A MAN RUSHED UP ON HORSE BACK AND SAID THE REBS SHOT THE HORSES ON THE FOOD WAGON AND THEY WERE TO FORM RANKS IN 1 HR. AND GO AGAIN. GRANDPA AND A "BILL" SNEAKED OUT WITH 2 SILVER SHILLINGS TO TRY AND BUY SOME FOOD FROM A FARMER, BUT THE FARMER SAID HE HAD NONE, SO GRANDPA TOOK OUT HIS "DIRK KNIFE" AND SAID IF SHILLINGS DO NOT TALK "DUTCH" THIS KNIFE WILL.

THE NET RESULTS WERE THE WIFE SHOWED UP WITH ABOUT A PINT OF SMALL POTATOES AND A LIKE AMOUNT OF SHELLED CORN. THEY GOT BACK TO CAMP FOR ROLL CALL OK AND HE SAID POTATOES NEVER WERE AS GOOD OR WELL COOKED AS THE "DUTCH" KIND. AS THE TIRED MEN STUMBLED THRU THE DARK NITE TO MEET AT THE 2ND BATTLE OF BULL RUN, GRANDPA AND "BILL" ATE A KERNEL AT A TIME AND GAVE A FEW AWAY. THE WAY TO ENJOY HARD CORN IS "SOAK UNTIL IT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH, THEN SWALLOW SLOWLY ABOUT A KERNEL PER MILE." YEARS LATER WHEN WHEN GRANDMOTHER CUT UP THE OLD ARMY COAT TO MAKE MITTENS FOR JOHNNY AND LOREN FOR CHRISTMAS SHE FOUND 2 KERNELS OF STRIPED CORN WHICH BECAME THE ANCESTORS OF "QUAIL TRACK", AND RED EARS THAT WERE HUNG BEHIND THE STOVES AT EACH PLACE FOR SEED EACH YEAR, AND MANY A FARMER FOR MILES AROUND CAME TO GET A LITTLE SEED TO START SOME OF OLD MAN RENO'S GOOD CORN.

NOW WE BUY CERTIFIED HYBRID AND IT MAY YIELD MORE BUT SURE LACKS COLOR.

OH, YES, THE 1200 C DIET HAS TAKEN OFF 20# IN THREE WEEKS AND IS STILL WORKING BUT SLOWING UP; IF ANY ONE NEEDS IT AND WILL USE IT I CAN GET IT FOR YOU.

THE TWO DOCTORS AGREE THAT THEY WILL TAKE AT LEAST ONE TWO OFF NEXT THUR, WHICH WILL REDUCE ME EVEN MORE; I WILL WRITE AND TELL YOU IF I ADVISE IT FOR THE REST OF YOU AFTER THEY DO IT; SOME OF YOU NEED TO ADD #, SO IT WOULD NOT BE WORTH TRYING.

LETTER 2/19/1974:

ABOUT SIXTY YEARS AGO I HEARD JOE AND LAFE TALKING OF MANY EVENTS OF THEIR YOUTH AND AGREEING AS BROTHERS ON THE WHYS AND WHATS OF MANY THINGS ABOUT THE OLD RENO TREE THAT STOOD SOLID AND TRUE AS THEY SAY IT, EXCEPT FOR BROTHER SAM WHO HAD WILD AND CRAFTY SONS BUT ALL BECAUSE OF THE, TO THEM, UNWISE SELECTION OF A WORLDLY AND CRAFTY WIFE; WHICH, HOWEVER, HE ENDURED TO THE BITTER END. ONE STORY OF THEIR "PAPPY", A HARDY OLD MAN OF FAIR AND JUST DEPORTMENT AND A MAN OF INDUSTRY, WIT, AND GRIT WAS THAT EACH FALL HE FELL VICTIM OF THE "RUEMITIZ" WHICH MADE HIM BEND OVER A CANE BY THANKSGIVING AND A CRIPPLE ON CRUTCHES BY NEW YEARS, WHO BARELY EXISTED ON BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES, SAUSAGE, AND FIXINGS TILL PLOWIN' TIME IN THE SPRING, WHEN THEY HELPED HIM TO A WALKING PLOW, WHERE, BAREFOOTED HE DRAGGED ALONG BEHIND THE PLOW WHILE THE BARE COLD FRESH SOIL SEEMED TO SLOWLY PULL THE "RUEMITIZ" OUT OF HIS SYSTEM. ON THE FIRST WAY AROUND A SMALL BEAR CUB ROLLED OUT OF THE BRUSH AND "PAPPY" PICKED IT UP WHERE IT CLUNG TO HIS SHIRT WHIMPERING AND HANGING ON FOR "DEAR LIFE"; MAMA BEAR THEN APPEARED, THE HORSES BOLTED FOR THE BARN AND PAPPY MADE A CLOSE 2ND WITH MAMA BEAR 3RD AND THE BOYS SHOT HER WITH LOADED MUZZLE LOADERS THAT MOST BOYS HAD AROUND IN THOSE DAYS, AND JOE, AT LEAST, STILL KEPT WHEN I KNEW HIM FIFTY YEARS LATER.

WHAT WAS THE REAL PROBLEM TO JOE AND LAFE WAS THAT PAPPY NEVER HAD "RUEMITIZ" AGAIN.

Note on Wife: Lola BOWEN - shared note

TWINBROOK MEDICAL CENTER, 3805 FIELD ST., LAWRENCE PARK, ERIE, PA 16511-1999.

Sources

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