2:08 p.m. - 2007-06-28
The early years
Thursday, June 28, 2007
OATMEAL AND KISSES - THE EARLY YEARS....
Patty Jean came from a long line of strong female ancestors. Her mother, Josephine Crim was born on October 22, 1901 in Coles County, Il. She married Arthur Tecunsem Hill (11-2-1897) on August 31, 1919 in Okmulgee, Ok. She wasn't even 18 years old when she married and moved to Oklahoma.
Patty Jean's grandmother was Alice Smith (Jan. 1872 - Coles County, Il.) Alice married Charles H. Crim (June, 1871 - Charleston, Il.) on May 28, 1891 in Charleston, Il. They had several children as was the custom in that time. First born was Bessie in 1892, Gage in 1894, Henry in 1895, Orlie in 1897, Mary in 1898, and Harold in 1900. The story goes that Charles expected strict obedience from his wife and children. Alice's job was to keep house, do laundry, cook and have children. Apparently Charles also believed that Alice was just another possession. He was a businessman and did well financially.
In 1901, Charles met another woman and decided to divorce Alice. His excuse was that Alice had been unfaithful because she got pregnant with another child, Josephine. He threw Alice out during her pregnancy and she went back home to live with her family. In the Court records of the divorce, Charles claimed an adultrous relationship between Alice Smith Crim and James Dawson. Charles got an uncontested divorce, retained the sole custody of the first 6 children. Alice was to have no contact with any of her children! The divorce was granted on 9-2-01 and Charles married Bertha Kerns 6 weeks later! Isn't THAT interesting! Alice was over 7 months pregnant with Josephine but Charles denied being the father. Josephine was never listed in any CRIM records either.
Alice Smith Crim went to live with her parents. It is unknown how Alice Smith Crim came to meet James Dawson and it is further unknown if she had any relationship with him prior to becoming pregnant with Josephine. But they did live in the same town and in all probability, her parents were acquainted with the Dawson family.
Records on Jame Dawson indicate that a William Dawson fought in the Revolutionary War, a son, George Wiley Dawson was killed in the Civil War. His widow, Nancy Dawson and children moved to Illinois after his death. Nancy Dawson was living at 103 W. Walnut, Charleston, Il in the 1900 census with a son, James W. Dawson, who was 46 and divorced. Two of James's brothers moved to California between 1900 and 1910. Nancy Dawson died in 1911. James Dawson was a policeman. Perhaps that is how he became acquainted with Alice's family. After James and Alice were married and had children; he went to California to visit his brothers. He remained there for about 6 months and died there. His body was shipped back to Charleston and he was buried in the Mound Cemetary in Illinois. Alice died in 1923 and was buried next to James Dawson.
No record of a marriage between James Dawson and Alice Smith Crim Dawson has been located but they could have married in another area. James was 46 years old and Alice was 28 years of age. They lived at 103 W.Walnut with his mother, Nancy. After Nancy's death, James and Alice continued to live in the same house raising their children. After James's death, Alice Smith Crim Dawson started her own business with a boarding house at the same address.
Josephine was born on October 22, 1901. No birth certificate has been located to confirm if she was named as Crim or Dawson. Old neighbors did recall Josephine and named her as a Dawson. A former boarder between 1919 and 1920 remembered her along with her younger sister, Lucille and a little brother, James Leonard Dawson. Josephine Dawson lived at 103 W. Walnut with her mother and worked at the Charleston Cone Plant in the 1918 census. The Cone Plant was owned by Charles Crim!!!! It appears that Alice discussed her relationship with the Crims with her daughter, Josephine , because Josephine mentioned her grandfather, Rufus Crim in a diary in later years.
Rufus Crim (Nov. 1844 in Delphi, Indiana) married Lydia Brusmon (1850 - Illinois) on May 9, 1866 in Coles County, Il. They had 6 sons, one of which was Charles. In his later years, Rufus was in and out of a mental hospital in Kankakee, Ill after 1904.
So, Alice Smith Crim Dawson is now raising three children, alone. Josephine was growing up and she was a very pretty young lady. She was an incurable romantic with a flair for the dramatic. She wrote stories and poems and expressed herself in any written way she could. I am sure she would have been a flapper if she could have found her way to the speak-easy taverns with music playing.
Instead she used her creative outlets by writing limericks and poems....
"you tell -em salad, - I'm dressing!"
"you tell 'em pony - I'm horse!"
"you tell -em cricket - Katy did!"
"you tell 'em photograph - You've got the record!
***
"The thing that goes the farthest towards making life worthwhile
that costs the least and does the most is just a pleasant smile"
****
"When I am dying, lean over me tenderly
Stoop as the yellow roses droop in the wind from the South.
So I may -when I awake- if there be an awakening
keep what lulled me to sleep - the touch of your lips on my mouth"
****
"Bananas are yellow, watermelon cut thick
You'd better write me pretty damn quick!"
*****
Call me back - Pal of mine
Let me dream once again
Call me back - to your heart - Pal of mine
Let me roam once again down in old Lover's lane
As I did in the days gone by..
Let me live in your arms
Let me thrill with your charms
Let me kiss those sweet lips so divine
Let me gaze in your eyes where I'll find Paradise
Call me back to your heart - Pal of mine"
***
All that's beautiful is seen in bewitching Josephine.
And what a world would living mean with a girl like Rosaleen
Seems like life would be divine with a girl like Madeline
****
Phil and Bill are a pair of twins
Alike in looks and coos.
When Ma gives them their little baths
Sometimes poor Bill gets two!
***
The "U" stands for the Union eternal
The "S" for the Stripes and Stars
The "A" for the Army undefeated
The victor in a dozen wars,
The "U" stands for Uncle Sammy
The "S" for our Ships in stern array
The "A" for the Almighty One who guards us.
That's the meaning of U-S-A!
***
A youth who lived over in Corning
Said the girls always start me scorning
At night they fake-up a wonderful make-up
but, gosh, they look tough in the morning!
***
Mary had a swarm of bees
She loved their buzzing lives
They, too, loved their Mary cause
their Mary had the hives!
***
Mary had a little lamb when first she came to town
And Mary was a modet girl and wore a long, long gown.
But styles of dress are changing now, her gown is cut in half.
Who cares a damn for Mary's lamb - when Mary shows her calf?
***
John Tillman Hill (Oct. 17, 1856 - Cumberland Co., Il) married Louisa Florence Oldham ( August 28, 1859 in Wabash, In.) on Febuary 9, 1882 in Cumberland Ct., Il. They had six children. Walter, Leota Maude, Sadie Minnie, Grace, Belvia, and Arthur.
Walter became a carpenter and builder and moved to Okmulgee, Ok. His youngest brother, Arthur, moved with him. Walter developed Parkinsons's Disease and could no longer work. He returned with his family to Illinois. His wife went away to find work and after 2-4 years, the children joined her. Walter killed himself at his sister,Grace's house in the early 1930s, probably due to sadness.
Arthur remained working in Okmulgee. He returned to Charleston for a short time and married Josephine Crim Dawson on August 31, 1919. They moved back to Okmulgee, Oklahoma but Josephine often returned to Illinois to visit her in-laws and her own family.
BABY BOY
I think God took the midnight blue
to make my Jimmie's eyes.
And little stars to twinkle too
When baby laughs or cries.
I think God took a wee dove's coo
To make my baby's words
They sound so much alike those two
God's babies and God's birds.
I think God took a lily white
To make my Jimmie's skin
They are so delicate and white
Just like my baby's skin
I think God took the laughter
And all the other joys
For my own earthly happiness
God made my Jimmie boy.
written 1921
Josephine became the mother of a baby boy but her days of romance and drama were far from over........
