OUR PINEAPPLE COOKIE (AND APRICOT COBBLER) GRANDMA
OUR PINEAPPLE COOKIE (AND APRICOT COBBLER) GRANDMA
October 5th is the birthday of SUSIE ESTHER AMONETTE WADE ( the wife of Paul Wade) It has been 125 years since her birth in 1893! Suzie was born in Brydstown, Tennessee to John Louis Amonette and Katherine Boring. Susie was the 7th of 11 children, the 1st was stillborn and a girl Ivy and a boy Reuben born 8th and 9th both lived less than 6 months .Cynthia, the oldest girl died 6 months before her 21st birthday. Of the remaining 7 children, William Fredrick ( Ed) was the oldest followed by Flora , James, Mary Ellen ( Ellen) Then Susie , Lillie and Sallie Maude ( Maude). From her early teens on Susie was basically fatherless. Her father suffered from deep depression and anxiety and was concerned for the safety of his children and so admitted himself into an institution where he lived until his death in 1915 at the young age of 53. Flora married in 1906 and Ed moved to Washington in 1909 leaving mother and the 4 remaining daughters at home.
" In the early part of 1911 (Susie writes), " we decided we would like to move some place where we could be with more members of the church. We read in the Elder's journal ( a mission paper) about a branch of the church being organized in Kelsey, Texas a few years before and how it was growing quite fast. We discussed moving there and mother wrote the Branch President, telling him that she was a widow with 4 daughters to support. She asked him if he thought we could find a place to live and find employment to provide for ourselves. We waited and waited for an answer to the letter but one did not come. Finally we decided we would just go ahead and move to Kelsey. I was 17 at the time.
After we had lived in Kelsey for a while, the Branch President told us that he was really glad we were there. He then confided that when we had first arrived he was not at all happy to see us. He had received mother's letter and answered it advising us not to come. He said he thought we were probably looking for help from the church.
I don't know where his letter went but I am so thankful we didn't get it. If we had, I'm sure we would not have moved to Kelsey and I am sure my life would have been much different. If I had married, it would have probably been to a non-member because that's all that was there. All I can say is that I give thanks to the Lord for a lost letter! I'm sure the Lord had something to do with it getting lost!! "
Paul explains the following, "Samuel O. Bennion was the Mission President when Susie was about 21 years old. He persuaded Susie to go to Independence, Missouri to do housework for them.
While in the Mission home Susie received her Patriarchal Blessing. In that blessing she was told that the Lord was well pleased with her life. It also said she would have noble sons and daughters. It was quite a long blessing. I would suggest, ( still quoting Paul) that each of you, her sons and daughters, get a copy of Susie's Patriarchal Blessing for your home where it could be read by her posterity."
She worked one year in the Mission home and said that it was a good experience for her. When she went home she went to Kelsey school to prepare to teach. She did custodial work after school was out, sweeping floors, cleaning blackboards, etc.
Susie went with a few boys in Kelsey but did not become seriously interested in any of them.
"One morning, Susie explains," before school started I was standing at the window looking out when I saw three new boys. The largest one was red-headed. I guessed, without being told, that they belonged to the new family who had just moved in from Oklahoma. I didn't dream at the time that this particular red-headed boy would play such an important part in my life."
" One night as we were coming down the steps from one of our church meetings Paul, the red-headed Wade boy that I had watched come up the hill to school, asked if he could walk me home.
We had been friends, danced a lot together and had fun with the crowd but I was somewhat surprised that he would want to take me home because I was older than him.
After that he came to the Amonette home quite often--but not too often to suite me! In June 1920 Paul and I became engaged."
Four years earlier, in 1917 Susie's younger sister Lillie had married Chester Wade, Paul's older brother. On June 5,1921 Susie married Paul and sisters had married brothers!
The union of Paul and Susie was blessed with nine children, 5 girls and 4 boys were all born in Texas. Regina, Leotha, Alfred Byron ( A.B) , Gene Pauline, Rowan, EvaNell, Louis and Laree. The family moved to Arizona in 1941 on LaRee's 4th birthday. They lived in three different places then in June of 1951 they moved to Utah. they purchased a lot in Bountiful and later built a home there. On Sept. 1, 1960 , after 9 years in Bountiful they moved to Salt Lake City when Paul
became the custodian of the old Ensign chapel.
We grandchildren all enjoyed going to grandma's house in Bountiful and later in Salt Lake City.
Where ever she lived you could always count on finding in a lower kitchen drawer, easily accessible to grandkids, a bread sack full of her delicious pineapple cookies and if you were really lucky, a nice warm apricot cobbler on the stove !
Susie Esther Amonette was a pleasant , gentle and loving person and loved by all who know her. In her older years when her little body became frail , when she laughed, her whole body would shake. When she could no longer care for herself she remained gracious and grateful to all who lovingly and willingly served her. Though her body was slumped in her chair, it was obvious that her character was then and had always been as strait as an arrow!
We all love you and cherish your memory dear grandma Susie. Happy 125th Birthday!
Much love! The Grandparent Chronicles
Sources:* Wade/Amonette Family Good News -Special Commemorative Edition Honoring Paul Wade Vol 1 number 5 November 17, 1986
* Tribute to My Wife- Written by Paul Wade Oct 1, 1986
* FamilySearch.org Susie Ester Amonette Wade -Memories
we would encourage all to go to FamilySearch.org and record your memories there for all to enjoy!
*
" In the early part of 1911 (Susie writes), " we decided we would like to move some place where we could be with more members of the church. We read in the Elder's journal ( a mission paper) about a branch of the church being organized in Kelsey, Texas a few years before and how it was growing quite fast. We discussed moving there and mother wrote the Branch President, telling him that she was a widow with 4 daughters to support. She asked him if he thought we could find a place to live and find employment to provide for ourselves. We waited and waited for an answer to the letter but one did not come. Finally we decided we would just go ahead and move to Kelsey. I was 17 at the time.
After we had lived in Kelsey for a while, the Branch President told us that he was really glad we were there. He then confided that when we had first arrived he was not at all happy to see us. He had received mother's letter and answered it advising us not to come. He said he thought we were probably looking for help from the church.
I don't know where his letter went but I am so thankful we didn't get it. If we had, I'm sure we would not have moved to Kelsey and I am sure my life would have been much different. If I had married, it would have probably been to a non-member because that's all that was there. All I can say is that I give thanks to the Lord for a lost letter! I'm sure the Lord had something to do with it getting lost!! "
Paul explains the following, "Samuel O. Bennion was the Mission President when Susie was about 21 years old. He persuaded Susie to go to Independence, Missouri to do housework for them.
While in the Mission home Susie received her Patriarchal Blessing. In that blessing she was told that the Lord was well pleased with her life. It also said she would have noble sons and daughters. It was quite a long blessing. I would suggest, ( still quoting Paul) that each of you, her sons and daughters, get a copy of Susie's Patriarchal Blessing for your home where it could be read by her posterity."
She worked one year in the Mission home and said that it was a good experience for her. When she went home she went to Kelsey school to prepare to teach. She did custodial work after school was out, sweeping floors, cleaning blackboards, etc.
Susie went with a few boys in Kelsey but did not become seriously interested in any of them.
"One morning, Susie explains," before school started I was standing at the window looking out when I saw three new boys. The largest one was red-headed. I guessed, without being told, that they belonged to the new family who had just moved in from Oklahoma. I didn't dream at the time that this particular red-headed boy would play such an important part in my life."
" One night as we were coming down the steps from one of our church meetings Paul, the red-headed Wade boy that I had watched come up the hill to school, asked if he could walk me home.
We had been friends, danced a lot together and had fun with the crowd but I was somewhat surprised that he would want to take me home because I was older than him.
After that he came to the Amonette home quite often--but not too often to suite me! In June 1920 Paul and I became engaged."
Four years earlier, in 1917 Susie's younger sister Lillie had married Chester Wade, Paul's older brother. On June 5,1921 Susie married Paul and sisters had married brothers!
The union of Paul and Susie was blessed with nine children, 5 girls and 4 boys were all born in Texas. Regina, Leotha, Alfred Byron ( A.B) , Gene Pauline, Rowan, EvaNell, Louis and Laree. The family moved to Arizona in 1941 on LaRee's 4th birthday. They lived in three different places then in June of 1951 they moved to Utah. they purchased a lot in Bountiful and later built a home there. On Sept. 1, 1960 , after 9 years in Bountiful they moved to Salt Lake City when Paul
became the custodian of the old Ensign chapel.
We grandchildren all enjoyed going to grandma's house in Bountiful and later in Salt Lake City.
Where ever she lived you could always count on finding in a lower kitchen drawer, easily accessible to grandkids, a bread sack full of her delicious pineapple cookies and if you were really lucky, a nice warm apricot cobbler on the stove !
Susie Esther Amonette was a pleasant , gentle and loving person and loved by all who know her. In her older years when her little body became frail , when she laughed, her whole body would shake. When she could no longer care for herself she remained gracious and grateful to all who lovingly and willingly served her. Though her body was slumped in her chair, it was obvious that her character was then and had always been as strait as an arrow!
We all love you and cherish your memory dear grandma Susie. Happy 125th Birthday!
Much love! The Grandparent Chronicles
Sources:* Wade/Amonette Family Good News -Special Commemorative Edition Honoring Paul Wade Vol 1 number 5 November 17, 1986
* Tribute to My Wife- Written by Paul Wade Oct 1, 1986
* FamilySearch.org Susie Ester Amonette Wade -Memories
we would encourage all to go to FamilySearch.org and record your memories there for all to enjoy!
*
absolutely wonderful....how special to leave this legacy.....I remember her.....we visited her in bountiful...…..love this story of her life, never knew this when I was a young, self-centered child...thank you LeAnn McAllister Cherry ( Bill McAllisters daughter)
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