Sky Woman Lives in Me

December 28, 2018

Dear Family and Friends and Everyone reading this blog,

I hope all had a wonderful Christmas.  Have a healthy, happy 2019!  I cannot believe how fast this past year has gone!  I was hoping to write a blog earlier but caught a virus and then a flu bug, (before the virus was gone)!  These two illnesses knocked me off my feet!   Well, I am better now, so here I share my continuing story with all of you.

My Grandson, Luke, was here for Christmas.  It is a blessing to be a grandmother.  This little fifteen month old boy was checking everything and anything out!   Here’s Luke at a farm checking out the billy goats!

I have done further research on Grace Thumbo, who was a servant at the turn of the century, along with my Great Grandmother Sophia Huff.  I have mentioned wanting to find descendants of Grace who many still alive and residing in Arizona. She had married a man named Max Pelchu in 1905. They had three sons. Much to my dismay,  all of her descendants have passed on. Tuberculosis was rampant during the early 1900’s. Her husband, Max, son Paul both passed of this terrible disease.  I am pretty sure Grace also succumbed to tuberculosis.  Her other two sons were raised by an Uncle, who also died from tuberculosis. Grace probably died around 1915 and was buried in an unmarked grave at the Arizona State Hospital. Sadly, a fire destroyed all records from this hospital, including information on the cemetery where Grace was buried. I have been able to give this information to the descendants of the Tomlinson Family of New Jersey, where Grace was a servant. The Tomlinson Family loved Grace!

Above is a photo of the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School Farmhouse.  Here is a website to go to for information on current efforts to keep the Farmhouse and fix it up. The goal is to have this Farmhouse as place for descendants of  the Carlisle Indian Boarding School Students and everyone, to meet up when visiting Carlisle. The only other place to meet up is at the cemetery.  For the indigenous children who were forced to attend Carlisle, I feel it is fitting to honor them with a renovated Farmhouse, where visitors can share stories and the true history of these children and their families. If you have any questions you can contact the Farmhouse Coalition. Their e-mail is https://www.gofundme.com/carlisle-indian-school-farmhouse&rcid=r01-154024865326-872a3e051ff74848&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_Louellyn White, PhD (Akwesasne Mohawk)CIIS Descendant,Carlisle Indian School Farmhouse Coalition Founder and SpokespersonEMAIL:  cisfarmhousecoalition@gmail.com

Well, a year ago in December, 2017, Barbara Smith passed away. She was 99 years old. She was instrumental in helping me research the Quaker Family where my great grandmother worked as a servant for ten years. Barbara Smith will always be in my heart. I am grateful to have met this wonderful lady. Here is a photo of Barbara and I. 

Here is a photo of my other grandson, Clyde.  Clyde was born in July.  He too, is

a blessing from Our Creator!

I sincerely wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  May 2019 be a healthy, good year for all.  Hoyan, Oneida word for Happy New Year, is only days away. Oneidas celebrate the New Year by making donuts and other treats and going outdoors from house to house, yelling “Hoyan, Hoyan!” …giving the donuts and treats to children in the neighborhood. Grandma Millie told me she and her family traveled by sleigh or horse drawn wagon on New Year’s Day morning.  They all screamed “Hoyan”!  She said it was fun and she loved it. So, I say, “Hoyan, Hoyan to all of you!  Thank you for reading this blog. Please share this blog because I don’t know if Facebook is sharing this.  Sincerely, Roberta (Bobbie) Capasso, a proud member of the Oneida Indigenous Tribe of Wisconsin (formerly from New York State)