This week we are spending a few days in Linn County Camping. Since I have been studying the Coquillettes, I decided I would visit the Linn County Genealogical Society Library. I had noticed that Lessie was the only child of James that stayed in Linn county and was buried in the Prairieburg Cemetery. It was noticed that she died when she was 38 years old and wondered if we could find anything on her. Below is her story as she wrote it in 1891 and at the bottom is what I found in the library. It was not the outcome I had expected. With that said, here is the story of Lessie Coquillette, Daughter of James and Celestia, Sister of Nettie Sheldon.
You can get to all this information at www.jasonscanlan.com
Until The next One
J
History of Lessie Coquillette Whitney.
My name is Celestia [Lessie} Permelia Whitney. I am the 4th daughter of James and Celestia Coquillette. I was born April 8th, 1859, in McHenry County, Illinois and lived in Illinois until I passed my six year when I came to town with my parents and brothers and sisters. I remember little of my life in Illinois. And nothing of my journey west. I always was a wild sort of girl, full of fun and mischief.
When I look back at my past life, I think my early school days were the happiest I ever knew. I had two dear friends, Mary Foneo and Maggie Caldwell. Mary lives in Dakota with a happy family of her own, consisting of a husband and four children, three sons and one daughter. Maggie, the dearest of the two, is in her narrow home in the city of the dead. It seemed like losing a sister when Maggie died.
Oh. Such pleasant times as we used to have when we were young and carefree. One by one, my brothers and sisters were married and left home to go to home of their own. When I was 15. I commended to go with the boys and one bright and pleasant evening, George P Whitney and I went to singing school together, and as we seemed well suited in each other society, we attended many places of amusement together for two years when we were engaged to be married.
The winter before I was 18, I started on a trip West and had my first ride on the cars. I went to Carroll Iowa where my uncle Daniel Wayne and my brother Wilson lived. I want to spend the winter with my uncle family and attended the Carroll School. I arrived safely and was met at the depot by my cousin Wellington, then a younger man of 22. With him I went to uncles and there we found a small tea party assembled. They were all strangers to me except brother Wilson and his wife. The party did not last long and after the company were gone, it did not take long for me to retire and fall asleep and dream of strangers. The next morning was Saturday, and I went to Wilson’s and stayed until Monday, when I started to school. I was in school of 100 pupils, and they were all strangers to me, but it did not take long to get acquainted. I found many dear friends and spent a very pleasant winter. It was there, I was converted, but I did not unite with any church. On April 8th, my 18th birthday, I arrived at home leaving a host of friends, some of whom I have never seen since. But I was glad to get home once more to my friends here.
George P Whitney and I were married December 18th, 1879, near. Waubeek, Linn County, Iowa. We remained at his fathers through the winter, and we commanded housekeeping near Prairieburg on my 21st birthday, April 8, 1880. Here, Harley Jay was born November 1880 and we thought our happiness was complete. February 22nd, 1882, Kevin Dudley came to be a playmate of Harley. On September 10th, 1883. Cora Leona was born. Our happiest was very great when we had two boys and a fine baby girl to love care for. We lived in this home for seven years when George thought it was best to move. On March 1st, 1887, we moved on a place 3 miles West of Prairieburg. Here, Arthur Dayne was born June 15th, 1889. I have made but one trip west since my Carroll trip and that was on September 9th, 1890.
Sister, Mary Green and I started to make a visit to our parents, brothers and sisters who lived in western Iowa. We left Cedar Rapids at 12:00 o'clock at night and arrived at Galva, Ida County, Iowa where our parents, Sister Julia and brother Percy lived, taking them by surprise. We visited with them a few days, then father and mother took us to the town of Aurelia, where we took the train to Fonda on our way to visit Sister Emma at Havelock. We expected Charlie at Fonda to meet us and then we would have a ride of 28 miles to his home. Charlie was not there, so got our dinner and hired a livery rig to take us across. We had a cold, disagreeable ride and arrived there at sundown on the 13th of September. After we made our visit there, Charlie and Emma took us across the Prairies to Odebolt, Sac County to visit Sister Nettie. We started early in the morning with a 70 mile ride before us. We stopped at noon and ate our dinner with a widow woman near Sac City. After dinner, we continued our journey and arrived at Nettie’s after dark. We were very tired but after a nights rest we felt alright. The next morning, Emma's little girl got lost. We all searched for her, but she was found by a neighbor and he brought her back. Charles and Emma started home the next morning. Wednesday, September 24th, Mary, Nettie and I started for Audubon to visit our brother Wilson, but just as we reached Odebolt, the train started. So, we went back to Nettie’s and stayed until the next day and then we went. Wilson met us at the depot. His wife was away on a visit to friends in Linn County, but his daughter Grace was home. The next day Wilson took us riding to see the town and we took the train at 10:00 o'clock for Galva. We arrived there at 4, stayed all night and took the train at 10 for Cedar Rapids. We reached Cedar Rapids at 8 at night and the next morning, September 27th, took the seven O'clock train to Central City. We arrived at 7:00 in the morning and rode out to our home with the Prairieburg mail carrier and found all well. I joined the Methodist Church at Prairieburg in the spring of 1890. I can say I am just as happy as I was when I went to housekeeping 11 years ago. That which grieves me most is father's poor health, and that parents and brothers and sisters are so far away from me. But the same God watches over all and through it. Has been years since we have lived in the same house. The time will come when we will be gathered home to part no more.
The following is from Prairieburg Cemetery Book at the Linn County Genealogical Society Library.
Mrs. Whitney, who has been at the asylum at Independence for a few weeks, hanged herself in her room at that place Saturday, July 25, 1897. She was brought home Monday and the funeral was held at the M.E, Church, a large concourse of people attending. She had been expected home in a short time and her death was a severe shock. She leaves a Husband and four children who, with other relatives, have the sympathy of the entire community.
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