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- 1856 BIRTH: WA TERR: Letitia A Chambers born 14 Oct 1856
1874 MARRIAGE: WA TERR-Yakima: Letitia A Chambers md Ira Livengood 28 June 1874
1900 Census: WA,Yakima-Cowich Prec: Film #1249267, 22/107/3/73, Dw 56/56:
LIVENGOOD, Latitia 43/WA bn Oct 1856 (Ind/MO) md 24 yrs, 7/7 children; May V-dau
21/WA bn Dec 1872 (MO,WA); Harvey-son 7/WA bn Nov 1892;
Christopher-son 10/WA bn Jul 1889
1910 CENSUS: WA,Yakima Cco-Cowiche Pct: HerQuest-pg 20 (5B), April --, Dw 71/75: Luttisha A Livengood 53/WA (TN,MO) md, 7/7 children living, wife of Ira Livengood
HIST: Pioneer Woman, pg 137: "Letitia. Grandmother Letitia, named after her grandmother, Letitia Dezel Chambers, to me, was a perfect example of the pioneer women who help develop the beautiful state of WA. She endured many of the hardships of early pioneer women, washing clothes on a washboard, using one of the heavy irons heated on the stove, with none of the modern conveniences we have become so accustomed to as necessities.
The only modern convenience, I remember, was a pump for water installed on the porch so it did not need to be carried a distance. However, there was no sink, only dishpans. She baked all the bread, pies and cakes, because in those days there were no bakeries. We lost my mother when I was about 13 yrs old (she was only 36) so I borrowed many a loaf of bread from my blessed grandmother. She must have baked extra, knowing I might have a need for some during the middle of the week.
Grandmother did all the milking of the cows and looked after the milk. I've wondered how she managed to keep the milk, unless it was in cans and placed in the creek that ran thru the farm, to keep it cool. Later they had a separator in what was called the milk house. Even though she worked with the cows she never wore pants or jeans, only the long dresses and aprons to the ankles, as was the style in those days.
In addition to looking after her own 7 children, there was always additional relatives or friends staying with Grandma. If there were any strays without a home, they just found a place with Grandmother. Even after most of the aunts and uncles were married, I cannot remember sitting down to dinner at Grandma's with less than 8-10 people and this was not a family get-together.
Grandmother's house was 2-story, with a large addition for the kitchen and dining. There was a dark stairway to the bedrooms upstairs; a long hall with the rooms, 5 as I recall, off each side, most without doors, maybe curtains. The house was surrounded with beautiful big trees, and in the yard were many various colors. There were holly-hocks, old fashioned lilacs and old fashioned yellow rose bushes, with all the thorns. All the family gathered each 4th of July for a big picnic, usually with home made ice cream. However, I remember one 4th. Ice cream was bought in North Yakima, and the hotter the weather, the ice cream did not melt. It must have been made with cornstarch. In the main part of the house was a parlor which was seldom used and a sitting room, fairly large, as it was divided for a bedroom for Great-great-grandfather Thomas Chambers, who came to live with Granmother when he was ill and quite old. He died at the age of 88 in 1911.
My grandmother spoke the Indian language fluently and many times the Indians would stop on their way from the mountains to bring her huckleberries and fish, often dried.
In 1878 Granmother was alone on the farm in Cowich, when she was warned there would be an Indian uprising. Grandfather was freighting for the government from Pt. Simmons to the the Dalles. She took her tiny baby in her arms and walked to the Ahtanum, across country, about 15 miles, to her aunt's home to get her Uncle John McAllister to come home with her. She must have left my mother, Anna Rebecca, home with someone. Another time, to show the strictness of their girls in those days, my mother and Aunt May drove into North Yakima to see a show with a couple of young men, of course in a horse and buggy. They were due home at a certain time and when they did not arrive on time, Grandmother started out on foot and met them at the top of the grade into
Cowiche and made them walk home with her, about 3 miles. One wonders why she did not ride her horse, Blue.
My Uncle Harvy was having some difficulty with his wife and thought the best thing to do was to shoot himself. In talking over the idea with Grandma, she said that was quite a good idea and asked him what gun he was planning to use and just where he expected to perform this little job. He decided to put off the idea at that time.
Letitia was born 14 Oct 1855 and died 28 Sep 1928. She was one of 4 children of Thomas Chambers and America McAllister Chambers. Her father was son of Judge Thomas McCutcheon Chambers and Letitia Chambers, who came by wagon to Oregon in 1840 and Washington Territory in 1848, settling on what is now Chambers Prairie near Steilacoom and Lacey. Thomas was born in Tenn in 1823 in the old home of Andrew Jackson, a cousin of his mother. Her father, James was killed in the Indian Wars on the coast in 1856. Submitted by Ethel Elliott Reilly
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