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ALICE FRANCES PEAVEY BIOGRAPHY Alice F. Peavey was born in West Waterville, Maine on March 7, 1862. She was the daughter of Charles and Sarah Messer Peavey. At birth she was extremely small and the family worried a lot about her. It was evident from the start that she was a beautiful little girl. All of the Peavey's in Maine were highly patriotic. President Lincoln to them was a real hero. When Alice was but a small girl, almost still a baby, she was kissed by Abe Lincoln. Abe was speaking in a big hall. Charles and Sarah had gone to hear him. They were sitting on the end of a row, next to the isle with Alice sitting on her mother's lap. Abraham walked by, stopped, stooped down and kissed Alice, then went on down the isle. Our Peavey's sure supported him in the war so I am sure he kissed a child of an appreciative family. The old tin type picture of Abe and his wife are still keepsakes in the family. Alice always kept them. Alice was about four years old when her father had to leave Maine because of his lung trouble. She even at that tender age had learned to love the tall pines of Maine. When she was old she spoke of, "back home in Maine and the beautiful pine trees". Her family moved her to Clearfield and Gravity, Iowa. She later operated a boot & shoe repair shop as well as a millinery store there with her mother. She had grown into an extremely beautiful lady and she could model the hats so they were appealing to almost anyone. She was tall, slim, shapely, and her facial features so alluring. Her skin was milky white and her eyes blue. He speech was proper and very English. Even when old she never let her stay out west take her accent away. She left the "R" silent and all the other things that denote the English. For a while her family had gone into Nebraska to prove up claims on homestead acres. This was barren land, void of the tall trees of Maine. Her home was built by her father and brothers out of sod. Even this did not stop her from being a fashion show girl. She posed for pictures on her horse, wearing a fancy gown and holding a matching parasol to keep her skin delicate and white. She would have been the lovely bride of some young man had she ever found the one she wanted. It was her fortune that she did not choose a mate. Vera says she was engaged once and her fiance was killed, so she never looked again. There seems to be a special loyalty and closeness in the Peavey families of that time. Alice's brother Arthur lost his young bride and refused to let any other take her place. Alice not wanting him to be alone all his life stayed with him. Their Uncle Archie and Aunt Eva had done this in Maine and I suppose to them it seemed the logical thing to do. Also these Peavey's were very proud and I would imagine that Alice was comparing her suitors to her brother. There seems to be a rare specialness not easily duplicated and I assume no one could attract her. When she was still young, she and Arthur left the family and went into California. The gold areas were to rough and unmannerly so they moved up north into Oregon. Later they took out homestead at Nez Perce, Idaho. Here they farmed and lived most happily for several years. The land was rich and the ranch set on the edge of a canyon full of Alice's love pine trees. They kept writing the loved ones trying to entice them into moving out west so they could all be back together again. One letter was stuffed full with a gigantic head of wheat, the like of which was not seen in Iowa or the Dakotas. This brought the rest of the family west. Alice and Arthur retired from the homestead and moved to Lewiston, Idaho where they bought into real estate and became landlords. They owned several houses in downtown Lewiston and Arthur was a partner in the Star Second Hand Store. They purchased more property in Clarkston, Washington and moved to Libby Street. Alice and Arthur again found themselves without the pines so they planted two small pine trees in their front yard. When Alice was nearing her declining years she stood looking up at the towering tree and spoke of how they planted the tree because they missed the trees of Maine. As of 1978 one tree still stands in silent tribute to them. Her home was moved and a church built there. Now the tree waves in a lullaby of gospel sounds. I am sure Alice would be pleased. Alice had an attic in this house and up there she had all kinds of antiques and momentos. Another quality that lingers in the Peavey blood line is that of sentimentality. This makes memories sacred and cherished and love strong and important. Therefore things are kept or collected as a way to grasp at passing time and refuse to let it vanish. She even had antique clothing up there. Maybe a way of clinging to youth and remembering when she was a match in beauty to any girl. One often trys to read the mind of an old maid, but an extremely beautiful one is much more intriguing. I remember a very shapely old full length bust. Then in the living room in the window sat a crystal glass and all around the large glass yellow canary birds of plastic were balanced so they swayed and teetered a little. Only another hint to the observer that she treasured her memories. The sod house looked so barren and forsaken amid the vast open space of a rolling Nebraska prairie, but to make it home, hanging in the doorway was a cage with the family canaries. Alice had a sweet tooth for brown sugar and she was a good New England cook. I remember as a small child attending a family reunion at her house. To start off my memory seats me in the corner at a small table set up for children. I see the long table with all the grown ups seated. On the table is the most scrolly delicate looking dishes. I admire my fancy soup bowl soon to be filled with oyster soup and small crackers. Then the whole meal. I can almost relive the smell of the crackers in the oyster soup in my mind because it tasted so good after waiting longer than usual to be fed. At this time her brother passed away of an unexpected heart attack. She lived in her house all alone. Her little pistol was kept loaded by her side that she carried with her on the Peavey homestead at Nez Perce. She leased the farm to her nephew, Hallie Peavey. Later she sold it to him. Finally her eyes began to fail her and she was almost blind, then her mind began to wander. She had to be cared for at Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake Washington ten months prior to her death on January 26, 1951. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was buried at Vineland Cemetery, Clarkston, beside her brother Arthur. They have matching head stones. Written by Hallie June Peavey - Information from Tombstones, Hattie Peavey Bible records. Memory of Everett Peavey, Hallie Peavey, & June Peavey |