Hi: May I have your permission to post this on the Nevada Archives pages? You can see
the website at
http://usgwarchives.net/nv/nvfiles.htm
Gerry Perry, Manager
Nevada Tombstone & Obituary Projects
Nevada Archives
---- Betty Wiggins <bwiggins(a)widomaker.com> wrote:
I have found in the papers of a deceased Winnemucca woman the
hand-written
oral history of a woman, Martha Thornton (Leonard), who traveled from
Illinois to Nevada in 1869. Delightful story, with lots of history and
family information. I thought others would enjoy it. See transcription
below:
THE LIFE OF A PIONEER WOMAN
(By Patty Ann Campbell, Humboldt County High School)
This story is about the life of Martha Thornton. She was born in St.
Johns, Illinois, on January 1869. In June 1869, her family and grandmother
moved from Illinois to Unionville, Nevada. When she moved out west, it was
shortly after the joining of two railroads, the Central and Union, because
the golden spike was still there.
On the trip out west her brother who was only 6 years old put his head
out the window and lost his cap. He rushed to his mother and said “Tell
them to stop the train. I lost my hat.” Of course, they couldn’t , but it
was a joke on him all his life.
Martha’s grandfather had come out five years before. He got settled,
then sent for his wife, son and son’s family. When her father came out
here, he worked at the Arizona Mine til it closed down.
There was always the threat of an Indian attack in Unionville. So if
the Indians were going to attack at the mouth of the canyon, the people were
to signal the village to gather up at the head canyon by shooting a cannon.
If the Indians were going to attack at the head of the canyon the people
were to signal the village to gather down in the old Odd Fellows building by
shooting off a charge of dynamite.
When Martha Thornton was around 10 years old, she was one of the witnesses
of the Indian Scare of Unionville. The settlers knew the Indians were on
the warpath and ready for an attack from them. John Thornton, her father,
sent Martha down to get some cartridges at the store and to warn them of the
Indians. That night everyone went to sleep, but with their clothes on. At
2:00 A.M. in the morning, a charge of dynamite went off. Everybody was up
and armed in a minute. They waited and waited, but no Indians. Finally,
John Thornton remembered that there was a man up the canyon who was
blasting.
Martha Thornton was a witness of another historic event in Unionville.
It was the Great Flood of 1872. At that time, believe it or not, there were
no trees in Unionville, only one. Then her brother went and cut it down for
wood. During that time, everything came in wooden barrels. Out of the
barrels the people made their tubs, churns, and other things. Therefore,
being wood, they had to be kept in the creek to be kept from drying up.
After the flood, all churns, tubs, and everything were piled up down in the
mouth of the canyon.
When Martha was 16 years old, she went out of Unionville for the first
time since arrival. She went to Paradise Valley to visit her friend.
Martha’s best friend gave her a surprise party the night before she left.
Her best friend’s mother had an awful time trying to get Martha to put on
her best dress. Martha could not see why she should put on her best dress
to play cards. Finally she put it on. Martha’s card party turned out to be
a surprise party
On Martha’s return trip from Paradise Valley, she was sitting in the
window of the Germaine Hotel in Winnemucca when Melvin Leonard and his
professor passed by. Melvin commented on what a sad face. His professor
told him not to mind the pretty girls.
Five months later, she went to Dunn Glen to visit her mother. Her
mother was taking care of Mrs. Leonard. There she met Melvin and were
engaged.
Six months afterward she was married to Melvin A. Leonard on September
13, 1885. They were married by Mrs. Anne Thacker’s father, Mr. Fellows, who
was Justice of the Peace. They were to be married on September 12, but due
to the absence of Mr. Fellows the wedding was held on September 13, which
was a Friday.
On June 22, 1886, their first daughter was born. The little lady’s name
was Jane Leonard who is now Jane Davidson. Their second daughter, Orva, was
born July 12, 1888. Four years later their last daughter was born. Her
name was Mary Leonard, who is now Mary Hammock.
Martha Leonard’s husband taught school for 35 years in Unionville.
After Mr. Leonard retired, his daughter Orva Hammersmark taught school in
Unionville for 15 years. Jane Davidson has had the post office of
Unionville since 1907. She will have had the post office for 49 years in
June of this year. This is the post office that is being closed down this
year.
Martha has two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Six
generations have lived in their present home in Unionville. It was built by
Martha’s grandfather when he first came out west.
Introduction – This was told to me by Martha Leonard whose present home is
in Unionville.
Written by Patty Ann Campbell, about 1955
Transcribed by Betty Wiggins, September 2011
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