GENEALOGY AND RANDOM THOUGHTS

HATTIE SMITH DIARY, entitled LEST WE FORGET – 1905/1906,
Transcribed by Jeanne WALLENDAL JESSIE

This photo is the possession of Jeanne Wallendal Jessie.

Hattie Smith was born on August 16, 1871 in Valton, Woodland Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin, the first born child of James Madison Smith and Elizabeth Holderman. Six more children were also born to James and Elizabeth: Mary, Daniel, Alice, Noah, Robert, and ?. Mary was a dressmaker in Valton. Noah was struck and killed by lightning in 1906.

The Post Office came to Valton in 1866 and Alonzo McCoon was the first Postmaster. Lester Clemens was postmaster for a few years. During the presidency of Cleveland, Bill Gibbons had the job. For three years after 1909 Dell Mortimer was postmistress. Hattie Smith took it over in 1912 until the Post Office was closed permanently.

Hattie was an old maid and a very particular person. Her little house had 4 rooms. It was beside the Friend’s Church parsonage in Valton, home to one of the oldest Quaker churches in Wisconsin. The Friends parsonage was built in 1915 while Orin and Oshea Hutchens were pastors. Hattie Smith wrote in her diary for that year that the ladies were making carpet for the floors. She also mentioned drilling the well. The man that did the work drew off quite a bit of the cost, so that they had only about $44.00 left of the bill. Lona Mortimer was the carpenter in charge of the building.

The family was of the Quaker (Friend's) faith. Here is a record for Hattie.

Quaker Membership Records Valton & Ironton Monthly Meetings; Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Monthly Meeting: Valton
Name of Member: Smith, Hattie
When Received: Apr 14, 1909
How Received: Request
Male: Associate:
Female: X Associate to Act:
Minor: Non-Resident:
County Where Born: Sauk
State Where Born: Wis.
When Born: Aug 16, 1871
Where Married:
When Married:
Parents: Jas. & Elizabeth (Holderman) Smith
When Released: Mar 22, 1936
How Released: Death
Remarks:
Page Number: 15

She wore pantalets under her dresses and the ruffles stuck out below the hem, I think. Here's the definition of pantalets: Women's long underpants, extending below the skirt, usually with a frill around the bottom of each leg, worn by women in the first half of the 19th century.

She also served as a correspondent for Reedsburg and Baraboo newspapers for many years.

Wisconsin State Journal | Madison, Wisconsin | Thursday, March 26, 1936
Funeral services for Miss Hattie Smith, Valton, who died Sunday, were held Tuesday afternoon from the Friends church, Valton, Miss Smith had been in ill-health for several years. She had made her home with her cousin, James Mortimer, the past winter. She served as a correspondent for Reedsburg and Baraboo newspapers for many years.The following information about Hattie's community service are from the History of Valton, Written by Gilbert Mortimer and Transcribed bySheryl Marie (Flynn) Osborn

"Sunday school teacher's training class
This group was organized in 1916 when Rev. Sidney Hochkiss was pastor of the Wesleyan Church and Viola Smith was pastor of the Friends. The first meeting on November 28 was at the Friends parsonage. They elected the following officers: David Dunnett-president, Hattie Smith-secretary, Blossom Land- treasurer and Rev. Sidney Hochkiss-teacher. There were 22 charter. The class met on Tuesday evening regularly. On December 12th the class was so large that they had to go to the Friends Church.
In the next few weeks this was an up and coming class, but by late spring more and more seemed to be losing interest for some unknown reason, the attendance dwindled down to four. The last record of a class meeting being held was June 26, 1917."

"Reedsburg Times (Wisconsin) March 17, 1922
A very enjoyable party was given at the Guerdon Mortimer home Friday evening, the occasion being Mr. Mortimer's birthday anniversary. The evening was spent in playing games and social visiting and later refreshments of ice cream and cake were served. A beautiful birthday cake with 26 candles tasted as good as it looked. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. George Nash of Bethel, Rev. and Mrs. R. P. Targgart, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Thompson and children, Clarence and Norma, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Mortimer and Hattie Smith."

Hattie was secretary of the Valton Cooperative Creamery (1918-1919).

The Post Office came to Valton in 1866. Alonzo McCoon was the first Postmaster. Lester Clemens was postmaster for a few years. During the presidency of Cleveland Bill Gibbons had the job. For three years after 1909, Dell Mortimer was postmistress. Hattie Smith took it over in 1912 until the Post Office was closed permanently.

These are news notes I found in the newspapers.

Reedsburg Free Press (Wisconsin) April 11, 1918
VALTON: Hattie Smith spent last Tuesday at the William Hutchins home on Cream Ridge.

Wisconsin State Journal Saturday December 4, 1920
Miss Hattie Smith of Valton is a guest at the home of S. Thompson.

Reedsburg Times (Wisconsin) June 16, 1922
Hattie Smith spent a day last week with her cousin, Mrs. Jay Leatherberry, northwest of town.

Stay tuned for pages from Hattie Smith's diary. Thank you for reading my blog. Jeanne Wallendal Jessie