Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - Part 19 - The Finale

This is the second part of Part 19 and is also THE FINALE on the book of  "Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock"....I am not positive as to when these memories were originally written but I do know it was before 1963 when my grandfather died. 

Nancy Schrock Priser was the eighth child of Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock.  She married Benjamin Frank Priser probably between 1875 and 1887. They had three known children John Wesley Priser (born: 11.23.1887), Fred Earl Priser (12.8.1892), and George W. Priser (2.22.1896).

Aunt Nan Priser Memories (Part 2):
(Written by Bessie (Schrock) Sherck)

The family was too large to all go to church in one buggy, so some always had to stay at home.  My father had a sweet tooth and said if they left him home he would eat all the scarps (preserves).

She said she remembered the first binder Grandpa had and how hard they still had to work to get the grain harvested.

Aunt Clara had a little rocking chair and one day as she was rocking her doll, she said "Blessed Jesus allus faln nuner" (Everything falls down).

She remembered when Father and Mother lived with them and the door that separated their part had a big crack under it.  Grandma had asthma and sneezed a lot.  Carrie liked to go to Grandma's too often so she would lie on the floor and listen if they called her.  When Grandma would sneeze she would say "Calling me Grandma? Well I come."

She said when she was 10 years old Grandma told her she would have to knead the bread because she want to make a new dress to go to my Mother and Father's wedding. So she did and was she proud of her nice bread. She told of the big bake oven and how Grandpa used to make the fire and when it was hot enough (they tried tit by putting their hand in to test the heat) he would pull out the fire and it was ready for the bread and pies.  He made a bench to put the pies and bread on until the oven was hot.  The bread went in first then the pies.  She had one iron pan  about 6 inches in diameter which, when the loaf was baked, would be about 10 or 12 inches high.  She said when it was done they used to cut the hot crust off and spread it with fresh butter, Oh, how good it was.

She also told about butchering day. With such a family 6 or 8 hogs had to be butchered.  They put the sides in a large jar and pieces were cut to fit the jar.  They put in one layer of side and one of sausage until the jar was full.  A brine, which bore an egg, was poured over it and when they wanted some buckwheat cakes it would be put to soak the evening before.  She said it was "Oh, so good."  The hams and shoulders were smoked with good old hickory and stored in the upstairs over the summer house.  I can almost smell and taste them now.  She said before they had sausage grinders they chopped the sausage.  She said Uncle Issac was good at that.  He was so active and used to dance around so fast.  Made sort of a a game of it.

The young people in those days did not have so many places to go, so entertained themselves at home.  They had games of hide the thimble, drop the handkerchief, and many others.  They sang a lot too while someone played the organ, but when things would get too lively like:

                                          Krinkly, cranky is the song,
                                          Sing it and dance it all the day long,
                                          From the top and to the toe,
                                          Sing and dance it as you go"

Grandpa would come to the door and say "That's is enough", and it was.

I can remember about 4 o'clock every  evening hearing Grandpa call "pe-pe".  It was time to start chores when he called the chickens.

I am very fortunate to be living so close to Aunt Nan in these wonderful last years of her life and have enjoyed helping her collect these memories to be handed down to future generations.  Her wonderful sense of humor and Christian spirit tell more than words of the atmosphere of Grandpa and Grandma's home and the influence of that home is still going on.

(Editor's notes: Again Nan Priser was Yost and Martha Schrock's 8th child. Her memories told to her niece Bessie Schrock Sherck who was Elias and Nancy (Hoover) Schrock's 2nd child. Elias Schrock was Yost and Martha Schrock's 4th child and one of Nan Schrock Priser's older brothers.

Paragraph 3: Clara was the 10th child of  Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock; Paragraph 4: Carrie was  Yost and Martha Schrock's granddaughter via their 2nd son Elias, she was also Bessie's (author of above) sister; Paragraph 6: Issac was second child of Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock).

Know anything about anyone mentioned in this post? Please contact me using the e-mail address to the right under my picture.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 19

Nancy Schrock Priser was the eighth child of Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock.  She married Benjamin Frank Priser probably between 1875 and 1887. They had three known children John Wesley Priser (born: 11.23.1887), Fred Earl Priser (12.8.1892), and George W. Priser (2.22.1896).

Aunt Nan Priser Memories (Part 1):
(Written by Bessie (Schrock) Sherck)

I invited Aunt Nan to spend a day with us to rehearse the memories of her dear old home.

While we made quilt blocks we talked and laughed as she told many interesting happenings.  I will try to write them as she told them to me.

She said Grandpa had a firey horse named Ben. One day he hitched Ben to the buggy and Grandma, Uncle Will, Aunt Sarah and a big basket of eggs in the buggy and started for town.  Now as they started, Grandma said, "Now do be careful".  "Oh," said Grandpa, "I'll saw him down", and at that he cracked the whip and off started Ben on the run.  The buggy hit a high spot at the side of the lane and spilled them all out, eggs and all.  They had a lot of scrambled eggs.  Aunt Sarah had a broken arm.

One time Aunt Nan went out the north way past the grape vines.  A pig pen was close by. When she came in the house she said, "I found a new nest at the sie sthall (pig pen) in the grass with one oye (egg) in it.  Dutch and English seemed to be mixed up badly in their talk.  Aunt Mary and Aunt Nan went to school together but one day Aunt Mary was not feeling well, so told Aunt Nan if the teacher asked why she did not come to tell her she was too "foul".  Now Aunt Nan knew foul meant rotten in English so she told the teacher she was too rotten.

Here is her recipe for fried cheese which she said Grandma used, which first came from the Weavers'.

• Scald clabbered milk until it can be crumbed between the fingers.  Put into a bowl and mix with 1/2 teaspoon soda to the gallon of milk and a pinch of salt.  Pour in a hot skillet in which butter has been melted.  Stir constantly until the curds are all creamy, being careful not to scrape the bottom of the skillet.  There will be a crust that can be taken out and eaten.

Once when Grandma was frying cheese, Aunt Sarah was standing by to get the crust and Grandma took it out and ran for the orchard and Aunt Sarah after her.  She did not remember which won but I should think they shared it as that was the spirit of the family.

Once Aunt Nan and Uncle Will were playing together in the back barn (Uncle Will always seemed to get the worst end).  Grandpa said they should not open the East door that went to the barnyard below.  Of course, like modern children, they wanted to open the door to see what would happen.  Aunt Nan unhooked the door and down one side went because the one hinge was off.  She told Uncle Will to run down in the barnyard and take the rake and push the door up so she could hook it again.  But instead the other hinge broke and down went the door and broke Uncle Will's collar bone.  When Grandpa came home he did not scold but said, "We'll wait until morning to see how he is".  Of course, by morning they found out it was broken.

Another time they were playing by the bake house.  Things were not going so well so Will called Aunt Nan an Alt Sow (Old Sow).  Grandma heard them and said the next one who said that would get penned up.  So Aunt Nan thought she would try to see what would happen.  Grandma heard her and in she went to the little hall between the bedroom and living room which also was the way to the cellar.  She said she slipped out and ran down the cellar and out the outside way.  She said Grandma let her go which sounds like Grandma.

TO BE CONTINUED LATER THIS WEEK - THE FINALE.

(Editor's notes: Again Nan Priser was Yost and Martha Schrock's 8th child. Her memories told to Bessie Schrock Scherck who was Elias and Nancy (Hoover) Schrock's 2nd child. Elias Schrock was Yost and Martha Schrock's 4th child and one of Nan Schrock Priser's older brothers.)

Sarah is presumed to be Yost Schrock's sister; Will was William Schrock (Yost and Martha Schrock's 9th child); Mary was Mary Jane Schrock (Yost and Martha Schrock's 6th child; Weavers were Levi and Emma Weaver...Emma was Yost and Martha's 5th child).  Hope all this makes sense!)

Know anything about anyone mentioned in this post? Please contact me using the e-mail address to the right under my picture.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 10

Della Amanda Sherck was the wife of Ira Eugene Weaver, who was the grandson of Yost and Martha Schrock and the son of Emma Schrock and Levi E. Weaver (Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 9)

Della Sherck Weaver Memories:

As I spent one summer at Uncle John Zimmerman's, the year Grandma Schrock died, I have many pleasant memories of both Grandpa and Grandma Schrock.  There were always so pleasant and so happy and contented it was a pleasure to have them around.  The next summer following, Grandpa Schrock had the front rooms and Uncle John the rest of the house.  Grandpa came over in Uncle John's part always to eat and any other time that he cared to.

I enjoyed hearing him in his room reading the Bible, praying and singing once a day ands sometimes more often.

I suppose it was the summer when Uncle John hired Ira to help on the farm that we began to take notice of one another, or maybe it was the cooking, as I have heard the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach.

(Editor's notes: John Zimmerman was Clara Schrock's husband.  Clara Schrock was the 10th child of Yost and Martha Schrock.)

Know anything about anyone mentioned in this post? Please contact me using the e-mail address to the right under my picture.

 

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 9

Ira Weaver Memories (part 3 of 3; read part 1 and part 2 for the full memories):

While Yost did a very masterful job of farming, he did not go in for show.  Three horse teams was about his limit. One day Yost was passing a neighbor's farm who had a 4 horse team in the field.  He called to Grandfather, "Gooked net des groose Yoslite?" ("Don''t this look big, Yost?")

Time went on. Aunt Sade passed away. Grandma passed on, and it became evident that a change was necessary.  For a while he rented to children, and then grandchildren, then sold the old homestead and gave a nice sum to each of the children.  I understand that a number of the children offered to open their doors to him..  Mother Weaver offered him the best room in her home.  The northwest room was chosen and evidently grandfather enjoyed himself the remaining days.

Grandfather was never enthusiastic about portraits and almost refused to have his picture taken.  Grandmother, however, had her's taken and all the children shared with each receiving their picture.  One of these pictures was placed in grandfather's room on the stand.  He cherished it so much that he consented to have his taken.  We prize both of them highly.

When Grandfather came to the Weaver's he brought his buggy, low sides, wide seat and faithful Old Ben.  Most people considered Ben to be too fractious for a man the age of Grandfather.  I often wondered how he got the harness on this tall horse, for grandfather was rather short in stature.  Grandfather succeeded in getting the harness placed, including the bridle, all this time Ben was admonished with the familiar 'Ho Ben!' 'Ho Ben!'  Bem was ;ed carefi;;u tp tje biggu wjere 'Ho Ben!' was repeated until he was fastened to the buggy with the last trace and grandfather, having a firm hold on the reins, would step in the buggy, Ben prancing all the time, they were off on high.  We were always apprehensive of grandfather's safety but Ben always brought him home, usually on high.  It was a sad day when grandfather and Ben parted.  Grandfather with a smile, which he carried to the last.  He wore well ke[ppt short whiskers.  Grandmother with her smile and prayer veil which she wore continuously.

The old Homestead could tell a lot of stories of romance.  I know of one which probably does not mean much only to those directly interested.  A girl of sweet sixteen was employed one season, between high school terms, by Clara Schrock Zimmerman, to do house work at $2.00 per week.  At this time, John Zimmerman employed the writer to help on the farm.  It was that occasion that gave rise to appreciate the jolly good times, good dinners and, while the writerprobably wasn't very serious, there was somewhat of a  'girl of my dreams' in his eye and thinking, all unbeknown to Della Sherck (Weaver) I am quite sure.  It was the beginning.  One year later in June the first attempt was made to win her affections.  I offered to see her to church one Sunday evening in June.  Della accepted.  This continued for five years and then the wedding on Ap;ril 15, 1906.  Fifty years later God spared us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

The demands of Cousin Clyde Cripe for memories is responsible for all of this story.

(Editor's Notes: Paragraph 2 - I have still not been able to identify who Aunt Sade, if she lived at home until she was 32 did she have issues that should cold not live on her own and if so, what were they?; Mother Weaver was  Della Sherck Weaver, wife of Ira Eugene Weaver

Know anything about anyone mentioned in this post? Please contact me using the e-mail address to the right under my picture.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 6

Jasper Sherck Memories

I can't think of very much that went on there.  I remember being there at an oyster supper.  I remember when Clara Zimmerman said supper was ready and the oldest boy should bring his girl.  Harvey went first, then Willis, then Henry Krack, then Edd. then myself.  That was the first time mama and I ate together.  I remember we had a wonderful time.

I remember threshing at your place one time.  It was very warm and us boys took our shirts off.  Grandpa was standing by and he said if you are going to take anymore off let me know.
(editor's note: oysters were a tradition in my family on Christmas Eve.  Mom said it was an old family tradition and I'm fairly sure this is where it came from. 

Jasper Sherck was the husband of Clara Adaline Weaver (daughter of Levi Weaver and Emma Schrock, grand-daughter of Yost and Martha Schrock.  I do not know last names or relationships of Harvey, Willis, or Edd mentioned in paragraph 1 nor do I have a Henry Krack listed in my genealogy program.  Clara Zimmerman was born Clara Schrock, 10th child of Yost and Martha Schrock)
Know anything about anyone mentioned in this post? Please contact me using the e-mail address to the right under my picture.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Memories of Yost and Martha Schrock - part 5

Bessie Schrock Sherck was the first daughter of Elias and Nancy (Hoover) Schrock.  She was born on October 18, 1883.

Bessie Sherck Memories:

As I remember grandpa and grandma's home I think of an ideal Christian home.

A home where the grandchildren were always made welcome.  Many times I remember as I walked up the lane to the front gate grandmother would be there to meet me.  I remember staying there one week to help out while Aunt Sarah went on a vacation.  Each evening we had family worship.  I still can hear grandpa pray in Dutch, although I could not understand many words.  I knew he was sincere by the way he prayed and lived after he prayed.

I remember, too, the big cantelopes they had and it was there I learned to eat them cut up with sugar and cream.  And the old milk house where the good fried cheese and fresh butter were kept.  The long trip she had to take to get them.  I remember the old orchard with the snow apples and I can still see grandmother quilting for the children and grandchildren.  I can almost hear grandpa coming up the road humming gospel hymns as he drove the old horse.  All in all, it is their ideal Christian home that has been a highlight in my life.

(Editors Note:  I am not positive but I think 'Aunt Sarah' is Yost Schrock's sister born September 10, 1834.  The only other Sarah I could find in my genealogy program is Sarah (Miller) Schrock who was Yost Schrock's mother and therefore Bessie's great-grandmother.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren