Appendix B -- 1

WHY WE LIVE IN AMERICA

Two Strong Women Make Courageous Decisions

I live in America because my father and mother met, married, conceived, and bore me in
America. —In Laurelview, Oregon, to be exact. And they were there because two strong
women, my grandmothers, made courageous and crucial decisions. The part played by my
grandfathers is less clear because they died younger than my grandmothers and didn’t get to
tell the story to my generation. Here’s how the story unfolds: Dad was born in Woodford
Green, England in June 1896 and came to America at the age of 10 with his family. Mother
was born at Laurelview, Oregon in January 1897. Her parents came to America about 18 years
ahead of Dad’s family.

Now read this letter. As you read it think about two young single
maidens, two very attractive red haired Scotch lasses. One, Flo, the
younger has gone to Portland, Oregon as a governess. The other is a
maid-of-all-work in a household in Woodford Green, a London suburb.
Try to read the beautiful, but old-fashioned handwriting or trust the
printed version. I admire the letter’s literary style but my English-
teacher cousin, Ruth, is quick to point out that there is not a sign of Flora & Jane McBeath
punctuation. Never mind that. It tells the story very well. If we Ca. 1886

combine the information in the letter with the group picture taken 16
years later you will begin to see how the tale unfolds.

Jane Ann McBeath’s letter to her sister Flo, Side #1

 Appendix B -- 2

Jane Anne McBeath’s letter, side 2

 Appendix B -- 3
Our ancestor, then Jane Ann McBeath, wrote this letter on August 27th 1889 to her sister
Flo. Both sisters were then single. Because of the decisions they made then we were born
in America. Think of that when you read this is the letter. Notice the lovely handwriting and
the charming formality between sisters. It is indeed a letter from another century.

Kessock Ferry Inverness August 27th 1889

Dearest Flo

It gives me great pleasure to write a few lines to you in answer to your very kind and very
welcome letter and the Order. It is really good of you to send so much. Just fancy three
pounds. I don't know how to thank you enough but god will reward you. Father says to
thank you very much for him. He is very pleased indeed. I received the photos today. You
have made a splendid Photo and so has Agnes, and I think Mr. Linklater a fine looking
young man, and so does Mother and Father and, Flo dear, I may tell you I read your letter
to Father and Mother last night. Father said the young man seemed to do his best for you
and both said if he was as good (and) principled a man as you say he ought to make you a
very good husband. Of course it lies with yourself if you think you can love him and care
to serve him as his wife and companion for life. Now dear Flo I don't know how to
congratulate you most and if it be God's will that you should go together I hope, Dear Flo,
you will feel satisfied with what he gives. You must know if you can spend a Christian life
with your husband. It must be a happy and prosperous one so I hope, Dear Flo, I hope you
will judge wisely and not hasty. Just fancy yourself getting a man and such a nice house to
live all in one year, and me keeping company with Ted 4 years and have to wait one more
before we can afford to get married. Not money, but love, brings happiness. I hope you
will feel more settled next time you write.

The neighbors are all sending love to you and Mrs. Cameron, and Anna. I will bring your
photo up to Lina and Donald to see.

We had a very dry summer but it has turned rather wet now. Every one is very busy at the
harvest.

Goodby.
Write soon. I remain your loving sister, Nan

(I think she signs it "Nan". Perhaps Nan was a family nickname. Her full name was Jane
Ann McBeath.)
1 have corrected some, but not all of the punctuation and spelling errors in the original
because I want you to concentrate on the flavor and meaning, not the flaws. Notice how the
frugal Scotch lass uses every square inch of the stationery.

Question: What in the letter led me to suspect that my great grandparents perhaps could not
read? [Hint: See seventh line below “Dearest Flo.”]

The picture on the next page was taken 16 years later just before the Edwin Watkins family
emigrated to Portland, Oregon. Do you see a connection between the letter and the picture?
Look at the picture of William Watkins in his chapter. No doubt the photographer took that
pose at the same time as this one. Do you think that the adults in the picture were thinking that
the Edwin Watkins family would never again see England? Only old William seems to dread
this. [How I wish I had the photo of Mr. Linklater mentioned in the letter.]
 Appendix B -- 4

The Family of Edwin and Jane Watkins shortly before departing for America in 1906

Back: Edwin (Father) and William Watkins (Edwin’s father)

Front: Annie, Amos, Jane Ann (Mother), Flora, Alex
Photo by a commercial photographer in Woodford Green, a London suburb 1906.

I see Edwin proud of his family and confident that they will prosper in the new land. I see
William sad that he may never see the family again, and, perhaps fearing the loneliness. Even
so he must be proud of this group, his son so confident and able to dress his family so well. I
see young Annie feeling proud and responsible as the most grown up of the children. I see
young Alec being restrained by the steady hand of his grandfather—a mischievous lad, ready
for adventure, but more than a handful. I see Amos anxious to get the dress-up and posing
over with but gamely holding the desired pose. I see Flora, the baby of the family already
knowing that she will be a red haired beauty. I see a benevolent smile on Jane’s face. Does
she know something special?

Ted and Jane Ann married in 1890, the year after the letter was written. In the next 10 years
they established a household and had four children. Probably Ted got a promotion and, most
certainly, Jane quit her job as maid and spent full time caring for the growing family. The
home in the picture looks modest, almost poor, but the clothes are not those of poor people.
Most likely old William was living with them. What became of him when they moved?

Who paid for the tickets, arranged for a job in Portland, promised to welcome them on arrival?
I think that we descendants should thank the sisters, Flo and Jane, because I think that they
conspired to arrange the whole thing.
 Appendix B -- 5
I’m not sure just what route the Edwin Watkins family took to Portland. We know that they
crossed the Atlantic on the SS Lake Manitoba, and that they landed in Canada, probably
Quebec. They departed England Aug 15, 1906 and landed in Canada on Aug 25, 1906. These
are the dates shown on Flora Watkins’ inspection card for “Immigrants and Steerage
Passengers”. They chose a good season to cross and probably had a smooth crossing—very
important for steerage passengers who rode in the lowest and smelliest part of the vessel. The
card is stamped by the US Marine Hospital Service. Unfortunately it doesn’t specify the port
of entry so we must use other sources. Family lore has it that they crossed on the Canadian
Pacific Railway and came to Portland via Vancouver, BC. Since Jane was famously “Scotch”
[read frugal] I doubt they ate in the diner. I’m guessing she bought bread and sandwich
makings and fed the family out of a suitcase. You’ll note that the Watkins had the wit to wait
until the Indians were subdued and the trans-continental railroad built before they made the
trip. No covered wagons and scalping parties for them.

I have no doubt that Jane engineered the move to America, and that her sister, Flo, helped her
arrange it. Jane wanted a better life for her children than domestic service in class bound
England. So, I am sure, did Edwin, but he was no risk taker and probably would not have
made the move but for his wife’s urging. [After writing this I found Amos’ written memoir in
which he says that the Linklaters sent money for the passage, and that they traveled via
Canadian Pacific.

Johanna Marie (Vibbert) Larsen’s Courageous Decision

This picture shows the four children of Laurits and

Marie Larsen [She didn’t like the name Johanne and
never used it.]. The picture was taken in 1896, the
year of Laurits’ tragic death, perhaps to mark the
occasion. Laurits’ death worked a cruel hardship on
the Larsen family and most especially on Marie.
She found herself charged with the care of four small
children and pregnant with a fifth. The farm was
operating but not really complete. There were still
buildings to build, land to clear, and, of course, there
was the grueling daily management of the dairy
farm: cows to milk and feed, harvest to be brought
in, orchards to care for, fields to till and plant. There
was enough work to make both the farmer and his
wife bone weary at the end of every day.

Laurits died in the fall and winter was coming on.

Now Marie had to deal with all of this alone. You
may be certain that that year took courage and will The Larsen Children in 1896
Rear: Charles and Josie.
power. To her credit and to our good fortune she Front: Walter and Mabel.
persevered. She kept the two oldest, let the two
youngest stay with neighbors, and bore the child, Lily Laurene, my future mother. Somehow,
with some help from the neighbors she kept the farm running and saved it for her family. Soon
she had hired help and was able to recall the children. She drove herself and her oldest
children very hard to survive the crisis, but survive she did. Her farm stayed in the family for
65 more years. Three descendants still live on parts of the original property. Read her story in
her chapter.
 Appendix B -- 6

1904 The Widow, Marie Larsen weds Anton Naderer

Rear: Walter, Josephine, Charles Larsen
Front: Anton Naderer, Lily Larsen, Marie, Mabel Larsen
An important event—the only pictures I have of Grandma with her hair done nicely.