| A little more contrast and a little less "sunshine" shows a 3-year-old Bobby Stumpf (the curlyhead) enjoying the moment more than the others? |
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M.I. McCreight:
Banker, Tchanta Tanka of the Sioux, Conservationist, Author
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Letter from Grandma Stumpf (M. Catherine McCreight Stumpf)
In response to my request for information about her family of origin, for a project completed while I was a medical student at Hershey in May of 1977 Beck, dear:-- Here are some answers to some of your questions:-- 1. Yes, there was a family Dr. by the name of Fugate and, as I recall, he must have been 45 or 50 yrs. old. 2. Some of the diseases were pneumonia, whooping cough, diphtheria, merasmus, epilepsy. Rembrandt, Sr., died of epilepsy. 3. Mostly, mother and R.N. personal friend, cared for the sick. 4. Do not remember the home remedies that were used. 5. Yes, Jim + Jack were identical twins. 6. Yes, I lost two brothers as infants. 7. M.I. McC. was an “individualist” and an honest man. No one understood him fully—even his own family. This is the opinion of Grandad + Grandma. [R.N. and M. Catherine Stumpf] 8. Your great grandmother was a fine housekeeper and cook. She was very tender-hearted + lovable. She enjoyed a good social life. 9. M.I. McC. was a member of the draft board in W.W.I. [Here she wrote “He hated” then crossed it out.] Two sons were in the first W. War. 10. M.I. McC lost practically all his money during the Depression. His bank, of which he was Pres. survived and was not closed. 11. The family thought of itself as upper-middle class. 12. My dad influenced his two sons to work in a bank. Most of M.I.’s children had secondary educations. 13. M.I.McC. spent some time with his children. He was a family man. Sat. May 14th Beck, dear:-- G.dad and I have done the best we can in ans. your 13 questions. You might add this to the 7th question:-- He was a lover of the Indians and wrote some books concerning them. Do hope this will be of a little help to you. So glad you went to visit Melinda. It won’t be too long until she comes home and we will be so glad to see her. And we’ll be anxious to see you again, too. With love from us all – G-ma + G-pa. |
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Letter from Dad (Robert A. Stumpf)
In response to my request for information for the same project in May of 1977 Beck, My attempt as recollection: M.I.’s character – somewhat like what I’ve read and heard that Teddy Roosevelt was like. I think I remember Grandad using the word “Bully” when he approved of something or someone’s actions. Rather gruff-seeming but a pushover for little kids. Usually remembered to give us grandchildren a nickel or dime. Fed chipmunks, etc. at his kitchen window at breakfast (or any other meal.) Kept a pet fly one winter, wouldn’t kill it! After WWII (he was fairly old by then) he asked me to get an ax in the roundhouse and cut down one part of a branched hickory tree for him. I did so in the heat of a summer afternoon while he sat up on the porch up on the hill watching me. When I finished and sat on the porch regaining my breath, he offered no thanks but said it had taken me twice as many swings of the ax than it should have! Always interested in true history and current events. Seemingly rejected Christianity or at least the organised church after witnessing starving Indians in the West as a young man. I believe he witnessed “benign neglect” of Indians by nominal Christians. But he always made up a card at Christmas-time with original poetry, sometimes mentioning God, Christ, or Wa-ne-tah, and mailed them to family members, at least. Don’t know whether they went to friends, etc. Honest. I think Grandad was so honest that he couldn’t recognize a dishonest person. Conservative—had a tornado cellar built off his cellar of the house in Western Pa. But not overly conservative—invested in new industries, an original promoter of a cartage and storage company and a brewery in DuBois. Sold timber tracts but also reserved almost virgin timber tracts to be untouched. Grandma McCreight: [ Alice McCreight] I called her “The Duchess.” She always walked straight even when bent over with age, if you get my meaning. Refined, but jolly. Punned a lot. Quick wit. Fine bridge player. Kept up on current events, naming cabinet members at age 90. Also keeping track of Rick Nelson at that age. Fantastic memory. Truly hospitable. A Christian. Attended church alone (in later years after her children weren’t home) until her hearing got so bad she couldn’t make out music from preaching. It seemed to me that she related very well with young folk, giving advice in an almost subliminal manner so you didn’t know you were getting it. The above space is in case I remember more in the morning. Mom’s snoring so I better get to sleep. Enclosed check is to save your bond if you haven’t cashed it yet. Cash the check anyway and put in your account for reserve. Love, Dad |
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