One Beginning: 1850's? [sic]

Frankfurt, Germany. William and Amelia (Nee Bonert) Raasch wanted to migrate to the New World- America. Amelia awarded five hundred dollars in an essay contest, was enabled to purchase steerage. the journey began. Aboard ship a storm raged for days. People feared for their lives. William, a German Baptist lay preacher trusted God for whatever would happen. The ship arrived safely. The people were eating "moldy" bread but all survived. (Forerunner of penicillin.)
 William and Amelia settled in Wisconsin. Many children were born: Robert, Gustavus (remember this one called Gus), August, Ida, Hulda, Martha (special), William, Emma, Amos, Lewis and Henry. father William and son Gus set out for Kansas to homestead. Gus, a young teenager was left at the one room log house in Kansas while is father returned to Wisconsin to move the family. The trip was over six months duration. Martha with he other younger brothers driving geese most of the way. The Raasch family settled on a farm. Things going well. All working "hard to succeed".

Another family moved to Kansas from New York state. Sometime in the seventeen hundreds a Lovelace family moved from England to North America settling in New York. The one we are concerned with was named Daniel, who married a widow, Elizabeth (Graham) Stevens. Elizabeth had two sons by Stevens who served in the Union Army (Civil War), both died in Andersonville prison, a confederate military prison in Georgia. Daniel Lovelace and Elizabeth had four children. George, William Benjamin (remember Will), John and Harriet. Daniel drove a freight wagon from Kansas City to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Gone six months at a time. Elizabeth managed well. Son Will attended Illinois University studying law. As a farmer in the North he was often a County Officer requiring a knowledge of legal practice.  Will rode a black stallion to school. Popular method of transportation in those days. Had a brief encounter with Jesse James that proved uneventful. Will's brother George found a wife in that large Raasch family, Ida. Many children were born of this union. Will had his eye on Ida's little red haired sister, Martha. Will was ten years older than sixteen year old Martha. Theirs was a clandestine romance. One winter's evening, heavy deep snow on the ground, Hulda and Martha were milking the cows in the barn. Martha's cow was moving a lot (Martha was causing this) not being able to milk the cow. Hulda the stern, impatient one said "I'm not waiting for you to finish milking" off to the house she went. Martha was waiting for that moment. Leaving the pail by the cow, walking backward through the snow, to a grove of trees. A sleigh was waiting. Will Lovelace had wanted to get his bride to be. They eloped that winter evening. After awhile it was decided in the Raasch household to check on Martha. Amelia, of a stern nature suspected a run away, proclaimed dire punishment for Martha, even a flogging with a harness trace. Martha's brother, Gus who had been her confidant made the calm statement, "The next time you see Martha, she will be a wife."
Will was eventually accepted as a loved son in law, getting along with the stern Amelia. William, Martha's father was a serene man with a smiling face that came down the generations.
Four children were born to Will & Martha.  Alphonso William, 1880, Desdemona (Dessie), 1883, Gustavus Adolphus, October 9th, 1887 -Dad-, Harriet Rovilla, 1891 -Aunt Hattie-.

Part 1

Paul gave me (Louise) this blank book for only one reason. Write in it everything you can remember about families ending with the modern- day Berrys.
December 25th, 1997

The year was nineteen hundred and sixteen. The day February eighteenth, One AM. A baby girl was born, not with a loud cry, but rather, lethargic. Due to the "new" medicine from Germany, "Twlight Sleep" that was to greatly reduce the pain of child birth.
 This eight pound baby was dipped in cool water then warm water. the doctor bouncing the body back and forth. The baby finally protested with a loud wail and everyone was happy.
 An hour later a baby boy was born. He was very lethargic After sneezing a few times, respiration diminishing, he slipped away after two hours.
 A little pine box was made and lined with blankets. Family members and other relatives made the trek to Bogey Cemetary, an area close to Cordice, Oklahoma, although the mailing address was Foss, Oklahoma.
  Clyde, the older brother who was almost six years of age, was saddened by the little boys departure.

 Gus and Millie Lovelace lived on a farm in the rural area of Washita County, Oklahoma. Dr. Walker had already determined that twins were to be born. Just four months before on November fourth nineteen hundred and fifteen, he had delivered twin boys at the Agin's house. Thedonia was Millie's older sister. Very lovely babies.

  William Thomas Jones known as "Pa" (not pronounced like "paw" but "Pa") lived with Gus & Millie. He was Millie's father. The other daughters being Donia and Minnie, Millie's twin sister.  Their mother had died a few years previously. The baby girl was named Louise for this grandmother.

 June twentieth, nineteen seventeen, Roy Bert was born, taking a place left empty by Baby Lawrence.
 Louise and Roy were very close. Clyde was born April 20th, 1910 at Pastal, Oklahoma in Texas County, the panhandle, where Millie homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, building and living in a half dug-out.  Gus and Millie moved to Kansas for a couple of years, returning to Oklahoma where Louise and Roy would be born. Gus was not drafted in the army because of Roy's birth and the war ended November 11th, 1918.
 At that time shortly after the end of the war Gus & Millie & Pa moved to Dewey County town of Oakwood. They rented a farm west of Oakwood. Aunt Donia, Uncle Charley Agens rented a farm across the road. Uncle Jones Lovelace and Aunt Minnie (We called her Sis) with daughter Rudy lived on the same road. They later returned to Washita County living out their lives there.
 Uncle Charlie and Aunt Donia moved several times in Oklahoma. Living in Watonga until a move to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Later Aunt Donia moved to Apple Valley, California until her death in 1968.
 A farm was bought south of Oakwood in 1921.
Louise remembers:
Christmas time at the west of Oakwood place. Grandparents Lovelace. Aunt Hattie (Gus' sister) and daughter Helen to visit. Going to Sunday School and church in Oakwood and "Speaking Pieces" (poems). The Indians coming by to pick up dead cattle.
 Hi Fieldcamp's body returned from France and all the folks gathered in town to honor him. Memory of his mother weeping was impressed on Louise.
 Settled on the farm south of town, 1922 was a momentous year.
 July 31st, a baby boy was born and named A.W. Louise and Roy never let him forget they had both got a "switching" because of the racket they were making in an apple tree close to the house. You see he was born before the doctor arrived and was Gus nervous! Louise and Roy were picked to watch him a lot and he was called "Dub".
 Louise started school that year in September. Clyde was in the sixth grade by that time. A covered wagon transported us to school in the morning. Walked the 1 1/2 miles home after school. Louise could read and write before entering school as Millie believed in teaching the very young. She used the phonic system. Knowing the multiplication tables by second grade a must! Louise liked school and report cards were special graded by the percentage. Pa was the first to see Louise's report card. He was always pleased with the good "marks". Pa was a very special grandparent.
 October 1924, another little boy arrived, Dennis O'Brien, a beautiful baby according to his sister! He learned to play the guitar and sing. Singing specials at church.
 The popular song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was a favorite of his. On June 14th, 1939, he went past the rainbow as the Lord said "Come sing for me in heaven". Septicemia (blood poisoning) four months shy of fifteen years.
 April 15th, 1927 a baby boy arrived, William Thomas, Pa's namesake. He was cute. Along with Charles Lindbergh flying solo to Paris, France, a big year.
February 7, 1931 Louise finally had a sister, Martha Jo. She was named for the paternal grandmother. Louise wanted Jo added.
 Living on a farm was great. Plenty of good food and a lot of space to run and play as a child. Birthdays and Christmases always with family celebrations. Easter meant the beginning of Spring. Always a new dress to wear to church.
Nearly everyone in the town and farms attended church.
1929, "The Great Depression" occurred In previous years cotton sold for $100 a bale, that year, $5. We had plenty to eat but money was scarce. Clothes were "patched" (Mended) over and over. Two pairs of shoes were a a luxury. We made it.
Louise graduated from High School in 1934 wanting to attend teacher's college. The tuition being $75. Working for $5 a week didn't count up very rapidly. During this time Louise met the man, Jesse that started the "Berrys" and that's a whole new story.

Married January 28th, 1936.

"...the Man, Jesse..."

Prologue

Late last year, Cameron and I got the genealogy bug. I had never seen Cameron show an interest in his family history and the history buff in me was thrilled. We signed up for a free trial account on Ancestry.com* and started our research. I knew that my Dad had a journal that my Grandma Berry had given him, filled with as much family history as she knew. It turns out, there's quite a bit that my Grandma remembers or had recorded.
As I sifted through the Internet records, I could match them up to Grandma's journal. It was amazing! While reading through the journal, I laughed, I cried and missed Grandma Berry terribly. I hope to keep the story of the Berry family alive and well. She has truly created a rich legacy that centers around Jesus.

I hope that all of  you enjoy reading this as much as I did. If you have any pictures that you'd like to e-mail me, let me know! I'll be more than happy to put them on here.

Enjoy!!


**Click here to see our family tree on ancestry.com.**

P.S. Sometimes the journal is difficult to decipher. I'll do my best to type accordingly and figure it out!

Josiah & Grandma Berry on Halloween 2007