Autobiography
of
Matilda
Gibson-Kennett
This is such a great
opportunity to catch a glimpse into the past! I want to thank Mary June
Butler for sharing this wonderful treasure with us! This autobiography of Matilda Gibson Kennett appeared in the
Jefferson Bee Newspaper, (Iowa) August 27, 1936. Matilda was 97 years old at the time of this recollection
(born Dec. 28, 1838). Matilda died (Oct.
24th, 1936), not too long after this article was printed at the
age of almost 98, and was the oldest living person in Greene Co, IA. As you read along you will have the opportunity to really
“get a understanding” of the lifestyle of our ancestors! Matilda Gibson Kennett is the
G. Grandmother of Mary June and sister of my G. Grandfather
Albert J. Gibson I came to Greene County, Iowa with my parents,
brothers and sisters in the spring of 1852. We settled in the edge of
the timber where my father bought 700 acres of land at two dollars an acre. (*Northeast
of Scranton) What fine nice land it was! Everything grew
so big! We had all kinds of wild game, fish, and wild fruit, but very
little money. Our nearest trading post was Des Moines a little less
than one hundred miles distant. With horses and bad roads the trip was
quite an undertaking. When we first came there were no neighbors, no
schools, and no churches within miles of our home. We would get very
lonely, especially on Sunday as we were raised by Quaker parents and Sunday
was indeed a sacred day. As time pasted people began to take up the
land. Weren't we glad when we could have playmates! My father had
"Law Books" and could help the others in "taking up"
land.
There were five wagons in the train. The
Indians on the way did not molest us enough to cause great alarm, although we
were really frightened a number of times. When we reached Denver, which was then little more
than a fort, we with a large number of others were detained a few days on
account of the hostility of the red men. Contagious diseases among the children were
terrible and the Doctors did not then know how to handle the
situations. Therefore, most every family would lose two, three and even
four children. Also the Doctor had to drive so far with horses to reach
a home. Well we had our sorrows and joys: hardships and
good times. Hardships that would seem great indeed today but we were
taught to be brave; to work, and to make the best of everything as it came
along. We were thankful for our blessings too! Although there were six boys I never remember of
any serious quarreling among them. I never heard my Father curse or use
bad language. When I was eight years old I remember that I tried to
coax my Mother to tell me what "swearing" was. By our hardships and sacrifices we were made
strong and grew to womanhood and manhood. And we were able to hold our
heads up and be brave and carry on and come out victorious and now when
younger generation are sort of inclined to laugh at the old folks ways, just
remember it was the hardships they were willing to brave, that gave them this
lovely country with all its beauty and conveniences that can now be enjoyed
by our children and there children. Notes: Matilda’s father: Archelaus Hiram Gibson,
mother: Hulda Carson Gibson--husband Valentine Kennett, their twin girls were
Lavina & Melvina Kennett, and the two children who died in Colorado were
Matilda’s siblings, Isaac and Ann Gibson). The Gibson & Kennett families returned to
Greene Co, IA, but the time is uncertain. (I calculate by Spring or Summer of
1862). Matilda and Valentine Kennett
were back to Greene County by April of 1862, as their 2nd. set of
twins were born, George Riley and Henry Wiley. Albert Gibson and wife Mary were back to Greene Co some time
before July 1862, as their 2nd child, Henry L. Gibson was born
there. (Their 1st child
Anne Aliza was born in 1859, before they left for Colorado). |
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