Happy (soon-to-be) Spring everyone! Depending on where you live, spring could mean rays of sunshine and warmth, or blustery winds that alter your carefully crafted daily hairdo, or you might just be standing in front of your living room window sipping hot chocolate while waiting for the snowplows to come through and clear your street so you can actually go somewhere . . . (I'm in that last group).
Whatever your outdoor circumstances are at the moment, I hope you can find comfort and joy in each day. Sometimes we have to look a little harder to find something good in our life, but it is so worth it!
In case you missed it in the last post, we found the Rawles Big Book and had the whole thing digitized. You can access all of the pages in the link below. Feel free to download any photos for personal use.
(*Note: as you view the pages of the Rawles Big Book, you can zoom in or out, you can download any pages you want, and you can crop any photos - once downloaded - and make your own special book or project from home.)
In this blog post, we will focus on Norma Rawles Frye, the second oldest child of Eugene Carlton "Bob" Rawles and Kate Lee Orr. We will also do a spotlight on Thomas Edward Rawles, "Bob's" father. Be sure to also scroll down to the bottom and try out some of the delightful recipes that are true family favorites from Norma's clan.
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You are who you are because of them . . .
The Norma Rawles Branch
Born: Norma Lee Rawles on 31 March 1906 in Boonville, Mendocino, CA
Died: 14 September 1990 in Sebastopol, Sonoma, CA
Known as: Norma to some, and "Polly" to others
Stories contributed by: Keli Hanson and Jill Smith (both are Norma's granddaughters through Norma's daugher, Carolyn "Cara" Anstead)
Norma grew up as the second oldest of seven children that were born to E.C. "Bob" Rawles and Kate Lee Orr Rawles. They lived in Boonville, Ukiah, and Lakeport, CA. She married Jacob Leonard Frye at the age of 22 on May 27, 1928 in Lakeport. A few years later, Leonard (as he was known) and Norma moved to Eureka, CA and lived there for several years. Eventually, they moved south to Sonoma County, living in Cloverdale and Sebastopol for their final years.
Leonard and Norma on their anniversary
Leonard and Norma had 4 children: Normalee, Robert, Shirley, and Carolyn ("Cara").
1946: E.C. "Bob" Rawles on the far left, with Gene Jr. in his military uniform, June Carol in the middle ("Naynee"), Norma and Leonard Frye on the right
Norma wrote several wonderful memories and stories in a large journal, which has been shared with many family members. She is the one who penned such a beautiful description of Kate Lee Orr (shared in the last blog post). She described how Kate would get up early to work in the garden, while biscuit dough was rising indoors. Norma knew it was time to start getting up and dressed when she could hear her mother shaping the biscuits downstairs and preparing them for the oven. Norma described Kate in great detail, passing down several stories of how she lovingly cared for her family, as well as her home and garden.
We also learn in this journal how Norma came to be known as "Polly" for much of her life.
In her own words:
"There was a neighbor who lived on up the Point Arena Road on a ranch. He used to stop by our house every evening for a little chat before going on home. He would take me on his lap and sing "Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day". He finally called me "Polly Wolly", so that became my nickname, shortened to Polly and even Pol, because my cousin Everett Keppel couldn't say Polly. He said "Poddie".
Norma also shared a story that took place when their family moved out to their Uncle Bill Orr's ranch, known as Green Springs Ranch. It was located somewhere near Redwood Valley, CA off of Belle Arbes Drive. They moved to the ranch to help care for Bill's two young children, since his wife had recently passed away. Norma's mother, Kate Orr Rawles, was happy to be near her family for a while. This was around the year of 1911 or 1912.
In Norma's words: "On our way to school one morning, my brother (Darrel) and Alfred (Orr) told Delbert (Orr), if he would plant his piece of pie - a tree would grow and there would be pies for everyone. Delbert took his piece of pie out of his lunch box and gave it to Darrel and Alfred. They wrapped it up real good and covered it up with leaves. Of course, that evening Darrel and Alfred got to the "pie place" first and enjoyed the piece of pie. No doubt Delbert learned a lesson: Not to trust his cousins."
Norma played on the Ukiah High School basketball team. This photo was taken during the season that they went undefeated! She is on the left side, second from the bottom.
There are SO MANY good stories from Norma's journal . . . too many to share here. If anyone is interested in reading more about the "good ol' days", feel free to contact Cara Anstead or myself and we can lend you a copy of the journal. Norma's stories are detailed, heartwarming, and even hilarious.
From Keli Hanson: I cannot say enough great things about my Grandmother, Norma Frye. She was a very loving person and a wonderful grandmother. I don't think I ever saw her angry. Well . . . maybe once.
When we lived in Santa Rosa, Gramma would come and stay with us from time to time, dividing her time between all of her children. It was a very hot July. We had all just sat down for dinner. My Gramma was very hot, as we didn't have air conditioning. Her face was as red as a beet and she was so tired from the heat. My Dad (Bill Anstead), always the joker, could never help himself when it came to joking around with someone. (Not a good day for that!) He repeatedly called her "Cabbage Head". He had called her that many times before, but Gramma was not taking this on a day like today. One more time, and she grabbed the bowl of salad and hurled it at my Dad! All of us, except for my Dad, laughed and clapped!
When my sister (Jill) and I were 10 and 9, respectively, my Gramma came to our rescue! We were living in Cloverdale at the time. We had a lot of animals, as we were living out in the country. Our cat, Dinah, had just had kittens about a month before. One of the kittens, being curious as cats are, put his head in a mason jar! He tried to get out, but he was stuck! Jill and I panicked because pulling on him wasn't doing any good. We were sure that he was going to suffocate! We ran in the house, yelling for Gramma to help us. She came out, grabbed a rock and smashed the end of the mason jar so the kitten could breathe. We stood there in awe. She then carefully slid his head out. Our hero!! We always knew we could count on Gramma for anything!
One thing I will always remember about her is her compassion. She could always make you feel good. She put my mind at ease when I cried to her that I was clumsy and that the kids at school made fun of me. She told me that as a girl, she was also clumsy. She told me that I would grow out of it, and that my body was just trying to catch up with my legs! I looked at her and thought to myself, that if someone as wonderful as she was could live through being clumsy, I could too.
From Jill Smith: If someone could create the perfect grandmother, it would be mine. As long as I can remember, my Grandma has been a huge part of my life. She always lived very close to us for most of our lives.
I enjoyed sleeping over with her and talking with her about what was happening in my life until I fell asleep. I remember one night telling her that when I grow up, I want to be just like her. She laughed and said, "Oh no, you don't." I asked, "Why?" She replied, "Because I'm old and heavy and you wouldn't like that." I said, "I don't care as long as I can be like you."
One of the highlights of growing up was to have her tell me stories of her childhood and her family. I loved the story of when she and my Aunt Zola skipped school one day. They played at the creek and ate their lunches until they heard a school bell. They both figured it was time for school to be over, so they walked home. When they got home, their mother (Kate Orr Rawles) asked why they were home so early . . . They confessed and never did it again.
It sounded like such a happy time, even though it was hard during the Depression. One time, I asked if Grandma ever got angry with her parents. She told me she had - once - and how terrible she felt afterwards. I asked her to tell me the story. She shared that during the Depression, they didn't have much to eat. In fact, they either ate beans, rice or macaroni for almost every dinner. One day, a friend of Grandma told her they were having a delicious dinner and wondered if she could come over. When my grandma got home, she asked her mom what they were having for dinner. Great Grandma Kate answered, "Beans." My grandma looked at her mom and said, "Beans, rice and macaroni. Macaroni, rice and beans. That's all we ever eat!" Her mother, Kate, felt so bad that she almost cried. When my grandma saw the hurt look in her mother's eyes, and realized how she broke her mother's heart, she so badly wished that she could take back all of her words. My grandma said she doesn't remember ever being disrespectful again.
My grandma knew how to teach me what I needed, through love and stories. When she got older, she would share her time by living with her children. As one of her many grandchildren, I can say that we ALL wanted her to stay at our homes. Grandma always helped around the house and taught me to crochet and play canasta. She would always let me win! Grandma would help out in the kitchen by making dinner or doing dishses.
My grandma was a quiet, shy person, which I must have inherited. She always wore dresses. I never saw her wear a pair of pants. She never wore any makeup, but always moisturized with Oil of Olay. She smelled of powdery softness and loved to laugh.
Grandma had a way of making all of her grandkids feel special and they each knew they were her favorite. (Although I knew that spot was reserved for me, ha ha.) Now it's my turn to be the Grandma. I can only hope I can be a tiny bit of the wonderful Grandma she was.
Below: Jill Anstead Smith, standing in the back and holding her youngest child, Braden, along with Grandma Norma in the center, and Jill's daughters on the right: Ashley (red hair in front) and Danielle. Norma passed away soon after this photo was taken.
1984: Norma at the Rawles Reunion - "My favorite day of the year"
Our tree is strong because of our roots . . .
In this issue, we will get to know Thomas Edward Rawles.
(*I apologize for not having a photo of him . . . if anyone knows of an existing photo, please let me know!)
Thomas Edward Rawles was born on 22 Dec 1848 in Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa. He was the eighth child of 10 children born to Joseph William Rawles and Synthia Ann Bilderback. His parents were slowly and systematically making their way out west to eventually land in Anderson Valley, CA. They lived in Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and lastly Northern California.
Thomas was roughly 10 years old when they settled in Anderson Valley (1858). His father purchased a large tract of land in Boonville. Joseph W. Rawles, shortly before his death in 1881, was reported to own 1600 acres of farm and grazing land, and 3,160 head of sheep! As you might imagine, Thomas would have had no shortage of chores and things to keep him busy growing up.
On 29 August 1869, when Thomas was 20 years old, he married Louisa Jane Tarwater. Louisa's family had settled in Boonville around the same time as the Rawles family, having arrived approximately one year earlier. As one would expect in a small community, their paths would have crossed multiple times, and eventually they fell in love and got married.
Thomas and Louisa had three children together:
- Mattie Mabel Rawles (1870-1944)
- Eugene Carlton "Bob" Rawles (1872-1948)
- Leslie Alex Rawles (1884-1935)
The murder of Joseph W. Rawles Jr.: (CLICK to enlarge)
The Idaho World, 28 December 1871
They still have a lot of explaining to do . . . because I don't fully understand what happened. It appears that the children were with their mother, Rachel E. Gibbons Rawles in 1874, almost 2 1/2 years after the murder. Rachel lived until 1916, so why did someone else need to raise her children and become their legal guardians? Why couldn't she just move in with relatives for financial support and continue to raise them herself? She may have been dealing with some mental health issues and couldn't do everything on her own.
Dispatch Democrat, 30 May 1874
Evidence that Thomas E. Rawles (and Louisa) became the legal guardians of their niece and nephew.
In other articles that I found on Newspapers.com, Lawrance grew up and got married to Henry A. Singley. She worked as an election precinct clerk for many years in the Orr Hot Springs District, just north of Ukiah. They had 4 children together: Georgia, Theodora, Herbert, and Leonard.
Mendocino Coast Beacon, 18 December 1880
Joseph W. Rawles III grew up and married Hester "Hettie" Vestal. Together they had 9 children: Lenore, Beryl, Garth, Lyle, Hannah, Joseph IV, Norris, Geraldine, and Bessie.
Incidentally, Joseph W. Rawles Sr., the grandfather, was also living in the same household as Thomas and all the rest of the family members in 1880. Thomas was just 31 years old when the census was taken, during a time when he had several important responsibilities.
Thomas' father, Joseph William Rawles Sr., passed away on 15 April 1881, most likely at their home. He was 73 years old. Thomas was the administrator of his father's estate, and facilitated the sale of his father's earthly possessions. It is interesting to see who bought what, and for how much. (CLICK to enlarge)
Thomas was an accomplished hunter, when he wasn't at home tending to the homestead and family matters. Here is a wonderful article that I found, detailing a bear hunt that Thomas was part of. (CLICK to enlarge)
Cloverdale Reveille, 16 July 1881
A newspaper article in 1883 demonstrates how Thomas E. Rawles had some influence in the Boonville area. The article makes it sound as if whatever Thomas said was GOLD. :)
Mendocino Dispatch Democrat, 20 July 1883
An interesting trial came to light in a newspaper account from 1892. It described how Thomas E. Rawles accused E.B. Ball of maintaining "illegal game" in Boonville, which led to Ball being arrested and tried. The jury disagreed with the charges and released Ball. Ball then sued Thomas for "malicious prosecution" to the tune of $5000, a LOT of money in those days. The article ends with mentioning a new trial to take place, but I could not find further mention of this case. (CLICK to enlarge)
San Francisco Chronicle, 5 February 1892
Just a couple months later, in May 1892, T.E. Rawles is mentioned to be a "leading politician" in Anderson Valley.
Ukiah Daily Journal, 27 May 1892
When the Rawles family lived in the Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa area, which is where Thomas was born, there was a Township named after the Rawles family. Years later, in 1897, it was still going strong. I found a cute article about the farmers bragging about how much popcorn their fertile soil produced, compared to the neighboring townships. (Bottom half of the article below - CLICK to enlarge)
The Malvern Leader, 15 April 1897
Thomas was a popular man in Anderson Valley. Sometimes his word was considered gold, but sometimes there is a hint of something else in the gossip columns of the newspaper.
See for yourself . . .
September 1898 Ukiah Daily Journal
And if you want some more gossip, here you go, ha ha. The newspapers back then were like the Facebook of today . . .
Mendocino Coast Beacon, 22 October 1898 (CLICK to enlarge)
Despite some slight annoyances or concerns from a handful of locals, Thomas contributed in many ways to the community and lived an upstanding life. As a farmer and a hard-working man, he was confident in offering his opinions and expertise, as evidenced by the following article.
Mendocino Coast Beacon, 17 June 1899
The last articles that I found for him were regarding his death that took place on Christmas Day 1913. He was just 65 years old.
Ukiah Republican Press, 26 December 1913
Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, 2 January 1914
(Am I the only one who notices just a hint of snarkiness in that last sentence??)
Thomas Edward Rawles was a hard-working family man, that much is apparent. He advocated for many things in his community, and opened his heart to many extended family members throughout his life. I am eager to meet him in heaven someday and learn more about his colorful life.
Rustic Rawles Recipes
Grandma Norma's Double Fudge Cake
*Note from Jill Smith (granddaughter): This has always been our chocolate cake staple. My son-in-law just made it for my daughter's 35th birthday. I also added this recipe to a missionary cookbook when I lived in NYC. I'm sure it's been a favorite of many of our 400 missionaries as well. Grandma Frye was an excellent cook. I remember her teaching me how to make my first pie. Grandma passed down her talents to my mom, and I've enjoyed teaching my kids and now my grandkids!
3 cups all purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Combine in large bowl
3/4 cup oil
1 1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups water
6 Tbsp cocoa (3/4 cup)
Combine in saucepan over medium heat and bring to boil. Stir occasionally. Pour over flour mixture and mix with spoon until smooth.
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp soda
2 tsp baking powder
Dissolve soda and powder into buttermilk.
3 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring
Combine all ingredients and mix well with spoon. Pour batter into 9x13 pan (and make 6 cupcakes) OR use larger baking dish - 11x15. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Until toothpick comes out clean.
Frosting:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
4 Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp milk
Melt ingredients in saucepan.
Then add:
1 box powdered sugar (4 cups)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Mix well and pour over warm cake. Option: poke holes in the cake and then pour frosting over the top. Enjoy!!
Alabama Biscuits (Norma Rawles Frye)
*Note from Keli Hanson (granddaughter): This is one thing of many that made my Grandmother popular with all of the family members! She could make them in her sleep!
5 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
Combine in bowl. Cut in 1 cup Crisco into the dry ingredients.
1 yeast cake
2 cups buttermilk
Dissolve 1 yeast cake in 1/4 cup warm water with 1 tsp sugar.
Add dissolved yeast to 2 cups warmed buttermilk. Mix well.
Mix yeast/buttermilk mixture with dry ingredients. Cover and let stand 1 hour in buttered bowl.
Place on a floured board and knead a few times. Roll out 1/4 inch thick. Cut out biscuits and brush with melted butter. Stack 2 together. Place on buttered pan. Let stand 30 minutes to rise. Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes, until light brown in color.
Gram Kate's Persimmon Cookies (Kate Lee Orr Rawles)
"A smile is a light in the window of your face, to show that your heart is at home."
1 cup persimmon pulp
1 tsp soda (dissolved in pulp)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp brandy (optional)
Mix pulp, soda, then let sit. Cream butter, sugar and egg. Add pulp & soda.
Sift flour and spices 3 times:
2 cups flour
salt
2/3 tsp cloves
2/3 tsp nutmeg
2/3 tsp cinnamon
Add slowly to persimmon mixture.
Stir in:
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts
Drop onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
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