Zelma Simmons Hunt is a person I know well. She is “Mom” to me, but I know her in a different way now, and in a more complete way at this closing time of her life.

Mom was always home when I was young. She was always there for me as I grew older for advise or whatever I might need. It was always a comfort to me.

I’m David James Hunt the oldest son of Dave W. Hunt and Zelma Simmons Hunt, my parents. I wanted to record reflections on my mother to share with my brother and sisters and my children.

I believe my first memory involving Mom was when my baby brother David and I were standing at the window looking out on a rainy gray morning. David was so young. He had pulled himself up to the window sill hanging on with one hand (because he couldn’t walk yet) and holding a bottle he was sucking on, with the other. I was kneeling beside him sucking on his earlobe. I remember so clearly Mom coming to us and hugging us and asking me if I would like a bottle too, which I got. Evidently, I had just been weaned. This was the beginning of her countless acts of compassion toward me. She was sensitive to our tiniest needs.

Zelma Simmons Hunt is a person I know well. She is “Mom” to me, but I know her in a different way now, and in a more complete way at this closing time of her life.

I was born in Logan, Utah to Frederick William and Maretta Althea Simmons on March 16, 1906.

(Friday 25 January 1985). Zelma called Margie to report that Dave had been to the doctor yesterday after a night of panting for breath. Dave has an enlarged heart—twice its normal size—and fluid on the lungs. I don’t think he was told about the enlarged heart, although he knows it is “out of kilter.” The doctor prescribed digitalis for his heart and another medicine for the lungs. If he isn’t improved Monday when he goes back to the doctor, he’ll be put in the hospital.

It is an honor and a privilege to be able to speak at Dave’s funeral. I’ve thought about him more or les constantly for the last few days; and having this responsibility to speak here, I’ve had to try to be organized in my thinking. As I’ve done so, it has struck me rather forcibly how very organized and structured Dave’s life was.

I was the baby of the family and my dad’s little girl until the day he died, even though I was in my thirties at the time of his death. My place was on his lap until I was way too old, and being held became an irritation to me. I always felt loved, never received a spanking nor remember being corrected with harshness or even impatience. In his presence I felt I was perfect and therefore tried to maintain that image for him. I remember a gathering at the house one evening when I was six or seven. I can’t remember what I was doing, but I looked over at Dad and thought he might be shaking his head “no.” The movement was so imperceptible I wasn’t sure I was seeing it, but I stopped doing whatever it was that bothered him. I was rewarded by a softening around his mouth. Then I knew.

Patriarchal blessing given by Joseph Keddington, Patriarch, upon the head of David William Hunt, son of James Hunt and Christana C. Folkman, born May 12, 1907, at Baker, Oregon.

Zelma Simmons

Zelma Simmons

David W. Hunt

David and Zelma Hunt

Pedigree Chart

It is with feelings of gratitude that I take my pen to inform you that we are all well at present. Thanks be to God for it and I hope this will find you in the same state. We left Liverpool on the 16th of June at 6 o’clock in the evening and were towed out 20 miles by a steamer and the next morning we were a little west of the Isle of Man. They came round the west of Scotland as the wind was more favorable for the north Chanel than the South. On the 19th we sailed past the Mull of Kintyre, the Island of Isea and other parts in the west highlands so near that we saw sheep and other cattle feeding and on the 20th we passed the North of Ireland. The weather at that time was very cold and wet.

Andrew McCornack

Dear Friends, Elgin 17th. Feb’y 1841
We received your letter of the 7th. of April and were happy to hear that you were all in good health and comfortable. We also have enjoyed pretty good health for the most part excepting Janet.

It is with feelings of gratitude that I take my pen to inform you that we are all well at present. Thanks be to God for it and I hope this will find you in the same state. We left Liverpool on the 16th of June at 6 o’clock in the evening and were towed out 20 miles by a steamer and the next morning we were a little west of the Isle of Man. They came round the west of Scotland as the wind was more favorable for the north Chanel than the South. On the 19th we sailed past the Mull of Kintyre, the Island of Isea and other parts in the west highlands so near that we saw sheep and other cattle feeding and on the 20th we passed the North of Ireland. The weather at that time was very cold and wet.

Herbert F. McCornack

Herbert F. McCornack

Written to Walter E. McCornack of Chicago, Ill. on the occasion of the Centennial celebration of the arrival of Andrew and Helen McGeough McCornack in America, from Scotland.

Maria Eakin McCornack

Andrew McCornack

Thomas Condon was born in County Cork, Ireland, on March 3, 1822, in the village of Ballynafauna, two miles west and south of a sizable town, Fermoy. His father was John Condon, his mother, Mary Roche Condon. Of Mary’s immediate family we know nothing; of John’s, only that his father, Michael, lived on a small fruit farm, and was known by the affectionate nickname “Bebe.”…Bebe had his fruit farm but was, we must suppose, a tenant farmer who had managed to pay his rent and hold on to his two or three acres and a small cottage, but had not the land or the means to sublet and provide subsistence for all of his grown children.

Tradition says that (William the) Conqueror granted the Condons lands in southern Ireland because there was not enough in England to satisfy his followers. About six hundred years later Cromwell confiscated most of the Irish lands and gave them to his English followers. The date of this dispossession is given as 1657 and in its record, the Condon Estate in Cork is mentioned. The City of Cork was not far away, but much of the property was on the Funcheon River, a tributary of the Blackwater….

Ellen Condon McCornack

Ellen Aurelia Condon

Cornelia Judith Holt

Thomas Condon

In August of 1953 I was driving from Minnesota to Florida and fortunately was not on a tight schedule; so, I decided to go through Brookline, Missouri, the birthplace of my Mother. In our younger days Mother had told us of many things that occurred in “Old Missou” before she and her brothers and sisters went to Oregon. Brookline was not an impressive place. Obviously no rain had fallen for some time, and compared with the green fields of Iowa, that I had just driven through, the country looked pretty forsaken. I understood then why Uncle Claude, the older brother, had decided to go west when he was old enough.

Elwin A. McCornack was born into a family of considerable achievement and pride.
All of his grandparents had come west, pioneers, and that was a real achievement in itself, as they had left the comfort of home and familiar things to challenge the unknown. The journey was hazardous, whether “across the plains” as the McCornacks came, or “around the Horn” (the southern tip of South America), as came the Condons.

Nancy Frizelle Adams

Rod, Janet, Andy, Bernice McCornack

Adam Kerns

Condon Carlton and Elwin A. McCornack

Elwin A. McCornack

Elwin A. McCornack

Adam Kerns

Luther Cooley with his wife, Susannah, and four children, came to Clarke County, Iowa in a covered wagon in 1856 from Indiana. He was a farmer. He died at the age of 39 of pneumonia after getting too hot sowing flax and taking cold. Evidently it was muddy in the field, and his tracks could be seen for weeks after. In those days sowing was done by hand broadcasting, and on foot, of course. He left Susannah with seven living children. An eighth child had died at the age of 5 months. Two years after Luther’s death Susannah married her hired man, William Decker, and had two more daughters.

Luther Cooley

Grandma lay upon her bed—she seemed to be asleep,
I tiptoed from her room to freshen up and sweep,
So restlessly she slept, her breathing very slow,

Calista Jane Danner Cooley, age 96

Early Days
Luther Cooley, Albert’s father, came from poor, but honest, Scotch stock, who migrated to America on cattle boats. They settled in Ohio, near where the Dunbars lived.

Albert and Calista Cooley Family

Albert and Calista Cooley

Adam Kerns

In the name of God. Amen. I Didrick Fernsler in Shenandoah County and State of Virginia, am Ailing and weak of the body, though of sound and perfect memory and understanding; have taken into consideration How all things visible in vain and all men mortal, and as it pleased God to bestow on me his blessing of Earthly Goods I thought this for my last Will and Testament do make and order. How to do these with after my death as Followeth, first it is my will that my beloved wife Elisa Margret Shall have of the moveable Property her bed and bedstead and her chest a small Iron pot and one Pewter Basin and three spoons exclusive of her share which Shall not be Appraised, Further it is my will that my Beloved wife shall have one cow which she may pleased to take, also one hog the choice of five, and my son Frans Shall have his bed and bedstead Exclusive of his share which is also not to be appraised; the Remainder of my moveable Shall be appraised and Sold and the money Shall be Equally Divided among all my children their names are as Follows, Henry Fernsler, Frans and Catherine Gauer, Elisabeth Werdenberger, John and Christina Peters, Peter, Barbara Rousch, Frederick and William Fernsler, these are my Ten Children Those my Ten Children is to have in Equal Share of all Both my moveable and real Property; the Plantation where I now live on is to be appraised and Sold and my beloved wife is to have the one Third of the Money as Long as She liveth, after her death the Remainder is to be divided among my Children also the other two parts is to be Equally divided among my ten children my oldest son Henry has already got sixty pounds which is to be deducted out of his Share. How I Intend this for my last Will and Testament and Ordain my beloved Son Peter Fernsler and Michael Crous to Administer according to this my last Will, I Suscribe this my Last Will with my Own hand before Witnesses this Eleventh day of march in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Six. Witnesses: Jacob Hammon, Diderick (his mark) Fernsler, George Nees, Jacob Hammon At a court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday the 12th day of September 1808 This Last Will and Testament of Dedrick Fernsler Dec’d in the German Language and a Translation thereof in the English Language was Exhibited to the Court and the Original by the oaths of Jacob Hammon Sr & George Nees Witnesses thereto and the Translation thereof proved by Ephraim Rinker which translation is ordered to be recorded, Peter Fernsler the surviving Executor therein Named refused to Qualify as and Executor Michael Crous the other Executor being Dead, Therefore administration with the Will annexed is Granted to Samuel Watton he having Affirmation entered into bond with George Bird…Died between 11 March 1806 and 12 Sept 1808.

January the 20th day 1759
In the name of God, Amen. I Arthur Johnson of the County of Augusta and Colony of Virginia being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God for it calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian manner by my executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give divide and dispose of the same in the following manner and form I give to my well beloved sons John Jonson and Andrew Jonson the tract of land I now live on and a small survay lying on a gully called the Hunters Gully to be equally divided in two equal parts, and I give and grant one survay unto my son Arthur Jonson lying and bounding of Ellias (?) Herrin line and I leve my Dear and Loving wife all the moveable estate with the use of the plantation providing she dose not marry and if she should marry she is to enjoy the third of my moveable estate with the third of the plantation so long as she shall live and the remainder part of the moveables to be equally divided amongst the remainder part of my loving children which is Jane Jonson and Sarah Jonson and Mary Johnson and I suppose my loving wife to be with child of now to have an equal share with my loving daughters. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and other former Testaments Wills legacies Requests and Executors by me in any ways before this time names willed and requested ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written I allow and appoint my loving wife to be my whole executor

When David Johnson’s ancestors first came to America, I have no way of determining. (As the name would imply, it is of English origin.) His father, Arthur Johnson, was a native of New England, but moved to Virginia sometime before the Revolutionary War, settling in that part which is now West Virginia. He was a member of the militia force of southwest Virginia, which fought the fierce Indian battle at Point Pleasant on the Kanawha River in 1774 under General Andrew Lewis when Lord Dunmore was Governor of Virginia. He was a Revolutionary soldier and it was my mother’s understanding that he fought at Bunker Hill. How that could have been, and he in the militia of Western Virginia, I do not know, and yet it seems certain that he was one of the heroes of the Revolution.