Comments on: Guest Post: Addie May Wood and the Value of Education

By: Maurine Ward

Maurine Ward — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:49:09 +0000

I’m not familiar with any Wood families, but knew of several South Davis people named Stringham and Pace. I used to drive along Fifth West in Bountiful every day and always looked for the cemetery. I’m glad to know this part of the Wood family history.

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:19:26 +0000

Thanks, Little Sister!

By: Sabra Collins

Sabra Collins — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:26:41 +0000

I really enjoyed this story about my Great-Grandmother too! Thanks for sharing this story…. I’m so grateful that someone in our family is so involved in our ansestors, when the rest of us fall short..(speaking only of myself). Thank You, Big Brother!!

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:46:38 +0000

CurtA- I have to get home to check my Ridges file, because I can’t remember if I have that history from Joseph. I do have the “Silk and Cactus” Ridges Family book by Kenneth L. Gray. You can e-mail me at the address above. Thanks!

By: kevinf

kevinf — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:39:35 +0000

Nice story. I love these family history stories that bring these ancestors to life for us. Too often, they are just names on a page, so I love it when we can find more about them to bring them to life for us.

Thanks for sharing, Grant, and look at how interconnected so many of these K’ninnies are. CurtA helped me with an important journal I needed for some of my research, just from something I posted here in a guest post. I love this little community!

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:02:17 +0000

Well, Clark. Thanks for the interest. I have a DVD disk with her complete story, or as much as we know. So, give me an address at my e-mail grant.vaughn@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy. Sadly, she was not able to continue her education. But happily, she married Bennett Peterson in 1903, had five children, one dying in infancy. Then tragically, she died in 1909 leaving four little children, one of whom was my grandfather, Glen Wood Peterson (1907-1987), who didn’t have any memory of his mother. (He did get a good step-Mom in Florence Pulley and eleven (!) more step-brothers & sisters). I don’t think Addie May’s children got much education. But some of her grandchildren did. And many of her Great and Great-Great grandchildren are well educated. (We’re all pretty smart, regardless).

By: CurtA

CurtA — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:59:58 +0000

Oops! Sorry, Grant (and Ardis), I was not reading carefully enough and didn’t write carefully either. But Grant, if you do not have Joseph’s history–about five typed pages–I have it, and can get it to you. Also, I note (more carefully) that George Cotton Wood’s older brother Peter, married Launa Pace, daughter of Edwin Pace, first Pariarch of North Canyon Stake and my wife’s great-grandfather.

By: Clark

Clark — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:40:01 +0000

I’m hoping for a “Part II” Did Addie ever get to return to an education? Did she raise children who valued education? Darn it, I want more than just a short story!

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:13:40 +0000

Aunt DeeAnn! (yes, my mom’s dear little sister). Thanks for reading and commenting. And much credit is due to you for connecting me with Addie May’s journal. And I should mention Cousins Shana Peterson Davis and Debi Peterson Harrison who also worked on this project!

And Researcher, thank you! Yes, I found Grace on newfamilysearch marrying Don Byron Colton. I’m so glad to hear more of that story.

And Ardis, yes, I agree she wanted education for education’s sake! (but also to get off the farm, I’m pretty sure.)

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:55:53 +0000

As poignant as the ending of her brief time at school, I think the most touching detail for me is that Addie May valued education purely for the experience of education — she wasn’t at school to earn a credential, and school wasn’t a stepping stone to something else. She was studying for the pure joy of learning.

Here’s to you, Addie May.