Aunt Jeannette

Aunt Jeanette graduated from college with honors. Not many women pursued education quite like Aunt Jeanette (college for women in the early 1900's were to go to find a man. lol Aunt Jeanette. Aunt Jeanette did find a very successful husband but was a very accomplished woman in her own right. and nothing of her life has been submitted to publishing yet. Another job for sleuth Ruth?? Aunt Jeanette was the second child and first daughter born to Monroe Parson Reed and Armenita Clemintine Chapin.
So she was Grandpa Harry's and Grandpa John Paul Reed's older sister. John Paul continued to have a great fondness and active correspondence the entirety of their lifes.
Jennette Reed Birth Sep 1886 in Missouri, Much of my Reed/ Chapin data, newspaper articles, photographs are because of this lady's generosity. Aunt Jeanette and Harry Chapin Reed's youngest child Helen Roberta Reed corresponded by written letter throughout the years. There are many letters but here-- I will write about where Grandma Ida Belle Hayley's father was born as reported by Aunt Jeanette. There are publications that Harry Chapin Reed was born in Texas but this is incorrect and Jeanette says she remembers the day he was born very well.
Dear Helen,
Your father, Harry Chapin Reed, was born at West Plains, Howell County, Missouri. He was born on Uncle Bob Reed's farm. This farm adjoined the town. In fact the road in front of his house was the corporate limits of West Plains. This was a large farm with 700 acres in cultivation; his house also was quite large, ten or twelve rooms. My father and mother lived across the meadow in a five room cottage which was in a much prettier location than the big house because it had beautiful trees around it. I remember one other house on the farm also a cottage where Uncle Bob's son lived....We left the farm shortly after your father was born. My parents moved into town. I remember to run away back to the farm alot to play in the clover and watch the bumble bees build nests in the ground-- and get stung. Also the waving wheat had a great fascination for me so that at harvest time Aunt Melie kept me tied in a chair in her kitchen where she could watch me because once I almost got caught by the mower blade. ...... and the letter continues for four pages in her lovely handwriting flowing from one subject to another telling all kinds of interesting stories of growing up in Howell County, Missouri mentioned aunts, uncles and cousins by name, description of locations such that we can put the pieces together to complete the REED family as it relates to our direct relatives.

So with Aunt Helen here in San Diego this week --- we are documenting and establishing more family connections as we prepare our data for current and future generations.