Campbell was 29 tears old when the year 1916 began.
He loved his job and had just been given his citizenship papers. Jeanette had agreed to marry him and he was totally happy. He was writing to Scotland to tell his mother the news when he received a letter from his dear sister, Helen. His mother had died of a sudden stroke at the age of 55. He was deeply saddened by the news and sorry that he could not share his new found happiness with his mother.
The distractions of his new life were many. He had met Jeanette's family at a family dinner at her home. It was a bit overwhelming as everyone talked at once, even her ancient French grandmother who swore in French when things got too noisy. But they all made him feel welcome and he was happy.
He found a nice, new two-flat apartment and rented the whole second floor, consisting of two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, bath, spacious living room, and a glazed-in front porch. Campbell did not want a church wedding, so they were married in the St. Edwards rectory by the priest. They honeymooned at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago where Campbell had rented the honeymoon suite for a week.
A generous check arrived in the mail from the Bank of England - a wedding gift from his grandmother and uncle Edward still living at Lignwood. Following the check, a huge crate arrived by surface mail from Scotland filled with silver, linens, wool tartan blankets, and family photographs.
By this time, Jeanette had finished with all the furniture shopping and they were very comfortably settled in their new home. Campbell continued working at Sears, and had several promotions so that he enjoyed an executive position at Sears and liked it. War fever was sweeping the country at this time fed by the popular songs of the day - Irving Berlin's "Over There" and "The Yanks Are Coming!" Campbell came home from work to find that his home was being taken over by his wife's family who loudly visited every day. Everyone talked of "joining up" and defeating the "HUN". The naive patriotism was everywhere. Campbell, who loved his new country, finally made the decision and enlisted confident that he would be gone for only a few months.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
My Great Grandmother Marte Valk
Great Great Grandmother of Maureen Valley (Moyer)
Great Great Great Grandmother of Christopher Valley
My great grandma as her daughter Martha Beck is my grandma...
Yes, I remember her well. She died when I was nine years old, and I remember her Catholic funeral at St. Edwards Church in Chicago.
Her name was Marte Valk. Marte being the French for Martha.
I remember that she was small in stature, pretty, and always wore black or dark brown taffeta or silk long dresses, and always wore her cross around her neck as she was a devout Catholic. She carried a little vial of holy water in her pocket, and whenever there was a thunder and lightning storm she would go from room to room in the house sprinkling holy water everywhere. She was an excellent dressmaker, seamstress, and one of the things I loved to do was sit in the big chair in the corner of grandma Beck's dining room with her looking at fashion magazines.
She deplored the flapper fashions of the Day with all the short skirts, and never wore a skirt above her ankles. She lived to be 99 years old, but oddly never seemed old to me. She swore beautifully in French, loudly and long whenever anything displeased her, and didn't realize that the only person who understood everything she was saying was my father Campbell Stewart as learning French was a part of his education in Scotland. She adored my mother Jeanette as she was so beautiful and sometimes would take my face in her hands and cluck her tongue and mutter "Scotchie" in what I thought was a disapproving way! I loved being with her!
Marte Valk - my French/Dutch great grandma!
Great Great Great Grandmother of Christopher Valley
My great grandma as her daughter Martha Beck is my grandma...
Yes, I remember her well. She died when I was nine years old, and I remember her Catholic funeral at St. Edwards Church in Chicago.
Her name was Marte Valk. Marte being the French for Martha.
I remember that she was small in stature, pretty, and always wore black or dark brown taffeta or silk long dresses, and always wore her cross around her neck as she was a devout Catholic. She carried a little vial of holy water in her pocket, and whenever there was a thunder and lightning storm she would go from room to room in the house sprinkling holy water everywhere. She was an excellent dressmaker, seamstress, and one of the things I loved to do was sit in the big chair in the corner of grandma Beck's dining room with her looking at fashion magazines.
She deplored the flapper fashions of the Day with all the short skirts, and never wore a skirt above her ankles. She lived to be 99 years old, but oddly never seemed old to me. She swore beautifully in French, loudly and long whenever anything displeased her, and didn't realize that the only person who understood everything she was saying was my father Campbell Stewart as learning French was a part of his education in Scotland. She adored my mother Jeanette as she was so beautiful and sometimes would take my face in her hands and cluck her tongue and mutter "Scotchie" in what I thought was a disapproving way! I loved being with her!
Marte Valk - my French/Dutch great grandma!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Recruitment (Chapter 8)
Campbell went down to the big recruiting station on Clark Street in Chicago's Loop. The big stone building was decorated with yards and yards of red, white, and blue bunting and American flags everywhere. A Salvation Army band played the National Anthem over and over again. Pretty young girls passed out doughnuts and coffee and American flags to all the young men lined up to "join up" and save the world for Democracy!
It was December, 1916.
When he returned home to Jeanette, a letter was waiting from his uncle Edward in Scotland. His mother's mother, Annie White Campbell, had died at the age of 82. The tiny Quaker lady who had been married to his grandfather and had lived at Lignwood all of her married life had passed on leaving Uncle Edward in sole charge of the Estate. Edward was a bachelor who loved traveling, the seashore, and hiking in the Highlands. He also loved Campbell and wrote to him frequently.
Campbell signed up with the stipulation that he had to put his affairs in order. So, he notified Sears of his decision, wrote to his uncle Edward, and went downstairs to tell his landlord. Adolph and Gerta Hopf were the owners of the building, and Campbell decided to pay them a years rent in advance so that it would be available to him when he returned. They were happy to do so. Mr. Hopf owned a watch and clock shop just a few blocks away on Elston Avenue. He did well in his shop as he was an expert watch and clockmaker, trained in Switzerland and Russia. They had a sixteen year old son named Eric who worked as an apprentice in the shop. Eric was also studying to be a radio repair person and had several radios that he tinkered with in his downstairs room. Radio was a whole new field at that time. Eric also helped in the maintenance of the two-flat keeping the small yard space and larger yard in the back grass cut and neat. He often carried the young Mrs. Stewart's laundry baskets outside for her after she had finished washing in the basement. It was June, 1917. Campbell was assigned to basic training in the huge army training center in Georgia. They locked up their flat in Chicago and she followed him there and lived in a boarding house for three months while he took his basic training.
After taking tests, Campbell was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps based on his bookeeping, accounting, and organizational skills. This was to be a whole new adventure for him, almost as exciting as coming to America had been and he was quite relieved to be away from Jeanette's family for awhile!
And, so Campbell boarded a packed troop ship bound for France.
It was December, 1916.
When he returned home to Jeanette, a letter was waiting from his uncle Edward in Scotland. His mother's mother, Annie White Campbell, had died at the age of 82. The tiny Quaker lady who had been married to his grandfather and had lived at Lignwood all of her married life had passed on leaving Uncle Edward in sole charge of the Estate. Edward was a bachelor who loved traveling, the seashore, and hiking in the Highlands. He also loved Campbell and wrote to him frequently.
Campbell signed up with the stipulation that he had to put his affairs in order. So, he notified Sears of his decision, wrote to his uncle Edward, and went downstairs to tell his landlord. Adolph and Gerta Hopf were the owners of the building, and Campbell decided to pay them a years rent in advance so that it would be available to him when he returned. They were happy to do so. Mr. Hopf owned a watch and clock shop just a few blocks away on Elston Avenue. He did well in his shop as he was an expert watch and clockmaker, trained in Switzerland and Russia. They had a sixteen year old son named Eric who worked as an apprentice in the shop. Eric was also studying to be a radio repair person and had several radios that he tinkered with in his downstairs room. Radio was a whole new field at that time. Eric also helped in the maintenance of the two-flat keeping the small yard space and larger yard in the back grass cut and neat. He often carried the young Mrs. Stewart's laundry baskets outside for her after she had finished washing in the basement. It was June, 1917. Campbell was assigned to basic training in the huge army training center in Georgia. They locked up their flat in Chicago and she followed him there and lived in a boarding house for three months while he took his basic training.
After taking tests, Campbell was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps based on his bookeeping, accounting, and organizational skills. This was to be a whole new adventure for him, almost as exciting as coming to America had been and he was quite relieved to be away from Jeanette's family for awhile!
And, so Campbell boarded a packed troop ship bound for France.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Back in Chicago & the War (Chapter 9)
Back in Chicago, Jeanette was settled in her lovely new flat. She invited a younger sister, Gertrude, to live with her. Gertrude was unmarried and happy to be out of the crowded house of her parents. The two sisters spent their time sewing on Jeanette's new Singer sewing machine, going to silent films, and going to church. Jeanette made friends with the wife of her landlord who lived downstairs, Gerta Hopf.
Gerta Hopf was a sweet, kindly woman. She taught the two young women to cook and shop for food, and enjoyed their company. Jeanette did not know it at the time, but she had made a friend for life!
Back in Scotland, uncle Edward did not like the idea of Campbell going into the army. James was still pursuing the life of a farmer. Dear Helen had finished her training and was a nurse in the Crimean conflict. Nan was still in London with her two children, her estranged husband with the Black Watch in France. Uncle Edward was so fond of Campbell and worried about him! They all wrote frequent letters to him. Campbell always loved Helen's letters. He used to say that her handwriting looked like a little bird had stepped in a puddle of ink and walked across the page! Her letters were always full of love and encouragement.
Campbell's arrival in France introduced him to war almost immediately. He was driven to a quartermaster Corps station, issued a helmet and a pistol, a truck and a Driver. His job was to deliver food and supplies to the men in the trenches. They were to drive through rural France on roads pockmarked with dangerous holes made by the shells. Also, the constant threat of German snipers and/or attack. Campbell had been chosen because he could speak French having learned it in school. So, he was able to communicate with the French farmers in the area. As he neared the trenches, the death and destruction was everywhere. But, it was the life in the trenches that he found most appalling - warfare at it's most cruel.
Men stood for days in a foot of water when it rained. And, as they died, were stacked up in piles where their still standing comrades would attempt to keep the rats off of them. Shelling was constant. Men slept standing up. When the supply truck arrived, they were given hard tack, dried meat, some clean water to drink, and emergency medical supplies. They begged for cigarettes.
Campbell had never seen such misery. But he returned again and again to the supply center, each time bringing wounded or corpses back with him. And all the while the shells kept coming. Every once in awhile a soldier would go "over the top" firing at everything he saw. There were times when he and his driver barely made it back because of snipers.
But then there was just one fateful time!
The shelling was getting heavier and dangerously close. The driver ducked under the truck. Campbell jumped into a nearby trench, landing at the bottom and covering his head. That is all he remembered. The truck was demolished, the driver killed, and Campbell knocked unconscious by the concussion of the massive shell that had exploded overhead. Amazingly,he had no serious outer injuries, and awoke on a litter being carried by two corpsmen.
He tried to see them, but could not focus his eyes, and so began the toughest battle of his life!
Gerta Hopf was a sweet, kindly woman. She taught the two young women to cook and shop for food, and enjoyed their company. Jeanette did not know it at the time, but she had made a friend for life!
Back in Scotland, uncle Edward did not like the idea of Campbell going into the army. James was still pursuing the life of a farmer. Dear Helen had finished her training and was a nurse in the Crimean conflict. Nan was still in London with her two children, her estranged husband with the Black Watch in France. Uncle Edward was so fond of Campbell and worried about him! They all wrote frequent letters to him. Campbell always loved Helen's letters. He used to say that her handwriting looked like a little bird had stepped in a puddle of ink and walked across the page! Her letters were always full of love and encouragement.
Campbell's arrival in France introduced him to war almost immediately. He was driven to a quartermaster Corps station, issued a helmet and a pistol, a truck and a Driver. His job was to deliver food and supplies to the men in the trenches. They were to drive through rural France on roads pockmarked with dangerous holes made by the shells. Also, the constant threat of German snipers and/or attack. Campbell had been chosen because he could speak French having learned it in school. So, he was able to communicate with the French farmers in the area. As he neared the trenches, the death and destruction was everywhere. But, it was the life in the trenches that he found most appalling - warfare at it's most cruel.
Men stood for days in a foot of water when it rained. And, as they died, were stacked up in piles where their still standing comrades would attempt to keep the rats off of them. Shelling was constant. Men slept standing up. When the supply truck arrived, they were given hard tack, dried meat, some clean water to drink, and emergency medical supplies. They begged for cigarettes.
Campbell had never seen such misery. But he returned again and again to the supply center, each time bringing wounded or corpses back with him. And all the while the shells kept coming. Every once in awhile a soldier would go "over the top" firing at everything he saw. There were times when he and his driver barely made it back because of snipers.
But then there was just one fateful time!
The shelling was getting heavier and dangerously close. The driver ducked under the truck. Campbell jumped into a nearby trench, landing at the bottom and covering his head. That is all he remembered. The truck was demolished, the driver killed, and Campbell knocked unconscious by the concussion of the massive shell that had exploded overhead. Amazingly,he had no serious outer injuries, and awoke on a litter being carried by two corpsmen.
He tried to see them, but could not focus his eyes, and so began the toughest battle of his life!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Campbell's Blindness (Chapter 10)
Campbell was brought to a field hospital. Doctors there thought the vision problem was just the result of shock, but as the problem persisted, he was finally sent to a special hospital for the blind in rural France. It was staffed by excellent French doctors, and their diagnosis was Optic Atrophy due to trauma to the optic nerve in his brain caused by the massive concussion when the shell exploded overhead.
Campbell was rapidly losing his sight.
He was devastated and did not want to return home in this state. He became deeply depressed, and the doctors kept him there another couple of months, but finally had to send him on a hospital ship with other wounded soldiers back to America.
Back in the States, he was given his discharge papers by a young officer who accompanied him to Chicago. He was eligible for a full pension given to blind veterans. He was given no therapy. The veterans could not accommodate the thousands of shell shocked, maimed, and wounded young men who returned. So Campbell returned to the flat in Chicago and began the process of learning to live as a blind man. He was so depressed that he could barely speak. Gertrude moved hastily back home and Jeanette was left as his sold caretaker.
It was NOT a happy homecoming.
To make matters worse, the entire country was in the midst of a devastating influenza epidemic that was claiming many lives. Campbell and Jeanette stayed close to home and were not affected by the flu but three members of Jeanette's family had died due to the flu. Mrs. Hopf sent hot food up to the young couple and cheered them with afternoon pots of coffee and her wonderful "Kuchen" (coffee cake). Jeanette became pregnant right away. Campbell's depression continued and he would sit for hours in the basement next to the furnace. In desperation, Jeanette sat down and wrote to Uncle Edward and Campbell's sister Helen in Scotland telling them of Campbell's state of mind.
Edward and Helen were devastated to hear of Campbell's blindness and swung into action. Edward, the executor for all of the family fortune and also the estate of James Stewart, made a trip to London where all the family banking was done. He arranged for Campbell to receive his large portion of his inheritance in view of his misfortune and because he was the oldest son. So, the Bank of England handled it all at Peter's direction.
A month later, after crossing the Atlantic, taking a week to do so, who should arrive at the door of the flat but Helen...suitcase in hand and ready for action!
Campbell was rapidly losing his sight.
He was devastated and did not want to return home in this state. He became deeply depressed, and the doctors kept him there another couple of months, but finally had to send him on a hospital ship with other wounded soldiers back to America.
Back in the States, he was given his discharge papers by a young officer who accompanied him to Chicago. He was eligible for a full pension given to blind veterans. He was given no therapy. The veterans could not accommodate the thousands of shell shocked, maimed, and wounded young men who returned. So Campbell returned to the flat in Chicago and began the process of learning to live as a blind man. He was so depressed that he could barely speak. Gertrude moved hastily back home and Jeanette was left as his sold caretaker.
It was NOT a happy homecoming.
To make matters worse, the entire country was in the midst of a devastating influenza epidemic that was claiming many lives. Campbell and Jeanette stayed close to home and were not affected by the flu but three members of Jeanette's family had died due to the flu. Mrs. Hopf sent hot food up to the young couple and cheered them with afternoon pots of coffee and her wonderful "Kuchen" (coffee cake). Jeanette became pregnant right away. Campbell's depression continued and he would sit for hours in the basement next to the furnace. In desperation, Jeanette sat down and wrote to Uncle Edward and Campbell's sister Helen in Scotland telling them of Campbell's state of mind.
Edward and Helen were devastated to hear of Campbell's blindness and swung into action. Edward, the executor for all of the family fortune and also the estate of James Stewart, made a trip to London where all the family banking was done. He arranged for Campbell to receive his large portion of his inheritance in view of his misfortune and because he was the oldest son. So, the Bank of England handled it all at Peter's direction.
A month later, after crossing the Atlantic, taking a week to do so, who should arrive at the door of the flat but Helen...suitcase in hand and ready for action!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Aunt Helen (Chapter 11)
Helen Stewart's arrival and the sound of her voice made Campbell weep for joy!
It was the sound of HOME and the Highlands of Scotland.
Wise, loving, kind Helen took in the situation at a glance - Jeanette - beautiful, young, and about to give birth. Helen knew what she had to do and set about doing it right away! She fixed a little space for herself on the glazed-in heated porch, then set about the rehabilitation of her brother, and the saving of his family! Helen went downtown the next day and bought a typewriter, a ream of paper, a sturdy cane, AND a radio!
Young 18 year-old Eric Hopf, who lived downstairs, helped her with this last purchase as he was working in the large Philco Radio Store downtown. The radio was the latest model in 1919. It had a huge "horn" speaker and two sets of earphones. Helen sat Campbell down at the dining room table and patiently taught him to type. In three months he was typing very well! The radio put him in touch with the world again as he loved sitting with the earphones on listening to the news of the world - the ravings of the latest Evangelist preacher, and the strange new popular music called JAZZ! He was typing his own letters now and corresponding with Uncle Edward in Scotland and Nan in London. Helen subscribed to the two major newspapers in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the Daily News, so that they were delivered every day to the front door and she and Jeanette read the news hot off the press to Campbell every day!
Helen painted the sturdy cane that she had purchased white to identify Campbell as blind. She took him out and about for walks and trips downtown to the Loop. She patiently taught him how to identify curbs and how to use the cane for maximum safety. They rode streetcars everywhere as Chicago had an excellent transportation system. His account had been established at the First National Bank downtown so he was welcomed there and visited often with the president of the bank along with Helen. Back at the flat, Helen also spent time with Jeanette, helping her to fix up the extra bedroom as a nursery.
It was the sound of HOME and the Highlands of Scotland.
Wise, loving, kind Helen took in the situation at a glance - Jeanette - beautiful, young, and about to give birth. Helen knew what she had to do and set about doing it right away! She fixed a little space for herself on the glazed-in heated porch, then set about the rehabilitation of her brother, and the saving of his family! Helen went downtown the next day and bought a typewriter, a ream of paper, a sturdy cane, AND a radio!
Young 18 year-old Eric Hopf, who lived downstairs, helped her with this last purchase as he was working in the large Philco Radio Store downtown. The radio was the latest model in 1919. It had a huge "horn" speaker and two sets of earphones. Helen sat Campbell down at the dining room table and patiently taught him to type. In three months he was typing very well! The radio put him in touch with the world again as he loved sitting with the earphones on listening to the news of the world - the ravings of the latest Evangelist preacher, and the strange new popular music called JAZZ! He was typing his own letters now and corresponding with Uncle Edward in Scotland and Nan in London. Helen subscribed to the two major newspapers in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the Daily News, so that they were delivered every day to the front door and she and Jeanette read the news hot off the press to Campbell every day!
Helen painted the sturdy cane that she had purchased white to identify Campbell as blind. She took him out and about for walks and trips downtown to the Loop. She patiently taught him how to identify curbs and how to use the cane for maximum safety. They rode streetcars everywhere as Chicago had an excellent transportation system. His account had been established at the First National Bank downtown so he was welcomed there and visited often with the president of the bank along with Helen. Back at the flat, Helen also spent time with Jeanette, helping her to fix up the extra bedroom as a nursery.
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Children (Chapter 12)
Martha Mary Stewart was born to Jeanette and Campbell while Helen was still visiting them. Once again, Helen was a huge help, not only to Campbell, but to Jeanette, as well. She taught Jeanette how to cook some of Campbell's favorite Scottish dishes - Scotch broth with lamb, barley and vegetables, oatie cakes, scones and steak, and kidney pie. She taught Jeanette basic hygiene as to the care and feeding of the baby. Her experience as a nurse in the war served them all well!
Campbell's other sister, Nan, decided to come to America, as well, and she arrived in Chicago the day that Jeanette discovered that she was pregnant again. She stayed at a hotel downtown with her two children, and after a few months stay, decided to move to Vancouver, B.C. where there was a large Scottish community. Her children were of school age and she wanted them to be educated in Canada. Helen decided to follow her there as Campbell was doing so well. His rehabilitation was complete, he had made many friends downtown and in the community, was interested in the world about him, and was coming up with real plans as to how to invest his money. He was in the process of buying a house in the beautiful suburb of Sauganash, just starting on the N.W. side of Chicago.
Jeanette gave birth to their second child, Anne Gertrude Stewart. Later to be called Nancy. This was followed in rapid succession by the births of two more children - Irving Eugene Stewart and Helen Scott Stewart.
Jeanette, like her mother, was a good Catholic, so the priest was there when she was rushed to the hospital to give birth to a fifth child. She was ill with failing kidneys when the child was stillborn. She was baptized Jeanette. Mother gave up her Catholic faith after that and was converted to Christian Science. She recovered and her sister Gertrude once again moved in with the family to help her in her long recuperation.
Campbell's other sister, Nan, decided to come to America, as well, and she arrived in Chicago the day that Jeanette discovered that she was pregnant again. She stayed at a hotel downtown with her two children, and after a few months stay, decided to move to Vancouver, B.C. where there was a large Scottish community. Her children were of school age and she wanted them to be educated in Canada. Helen decided to follow her there as Campbell was doing so well. His rehabilitation was complete, he had made many friends downtown and in the community, was interested in the world about him, and was coming up with real plans as to how to invest his money. He was in the process of buying a house in the beautiful suburb of Sauganash, just starting on the N.W. side of Chicago.
Jeanette gave birth to their second child, Anne Gertrude Stewart. Later to be called Nancy. This was followed in rapid succession by the births of two more children - Irving Eugene Stewart and Helen Scott Stewart.
Jeanette, like her mother, was a good Catholic, so the priest was there when she was rushed to the hospital to give birth to a fifth child. She was ill with failing kidneys when the child was stillborn. She was baptized Jeanette. Mother gave up her Catholic faith after that and was converted to Christian Science. She recovered and her sister Gertrude once again moved in with the family to help her in her long recuperation.
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