Lutie Etta YEAGER

  General Notes:

The "6 yr old" photo of Lutie was taken in Coldwater, Mich at the A.G. Gowdy studio.
Lutie reported that there were family relatives living in Michigan, so this may be a clue for search.

  Birth Notes:

"I . . . was born in Wolcottville, IN. Dr. Broughton was the attending doctor. We lived in a house just across the street from Grandpa and Gramma (sic) Dickinson.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Birth: Index to Birth Records, Bk H2 p 13, 15 Sep 1882, LaGrange Co, IN. ¹ Date of birth in Birth Index, LaGrange Co, IN, agrees with family records and as stated by Lutie (Lura) Yeager Gingrich.

• Residence: Childhood home, 15 Sep 1882, Wolcottville, LaGrange Co, IN. "I . . . was born in Wolcottville, IN. Dr. Broughton was the attending doctor. We lived in a house just across the street from Grandpa and Gramma Dickinson."

• Residence: First move, Abt 1888, Lima, Noble Co, IN. "My parents moved to Lima (now Howe) IN (where) I started to school. . . I remember many concerts, picnics and other entertainments . . . our family took part in."

• Travel: Columbian Exposition-World's Fair, Summer 1893, Chicago, Cooke Co, IL. A highlight of her childhood. She recalled the great Museum of Science and Industry with awe.

• Residence: Multi-family move, 1896, Bierne, Clark Co, AR. "In 1896 the Yeager Bros. and a number of others started for Arkansas . . . 27 full fare and two half fare people came by train from Cromwell, IN to Beirne, AR. There were three freight cars full of big horses and household goods." There Lutie's father and Yeager relatives built a hard timber sawmill and a general store for employees. Lutie tells more of this big family adventure in her own personal story.

• Graduation: High School Days, Abt 1897, Kindalville, Noble Co, IN. After the move to Arkansas, the family decided that Lutie must go back to Indiana to get a proper high school education. She probably stayed with relatives while there. A photograph of her with cousin Lena Dickinson taken in Wolcottville is from this period. On the back of photo Lutie has writen "Lutie Yeager and Lena Dickinson, taken in Wolcottville, Ind when there to go to school in Kendalville."

• Marriage: Lutie Yeager marries Ivo S Gingrich, 19 Jun 1900, Bierne, Clark Co, AR. ² The couple were married in the Beirne Baptist church by the Rev. J. J. Haines, pastor. (Lutie's mother was a Baptist.)

• Residence: Family moves to Texas, Abt 1917, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. After many changes of residence during their married life, in their decision to relocate in Brownwood, a larger town with more job opportunities, they found a permanent residence.

• Religion: A lifetime Methodist, Abt 1920, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. Lutie's grandmother Mercy M was from early day Methodists; her husbands family were members of the German Methodist Church. Her mother, Ella, was a staunch Baptist. So we're not sure how Lutie made the decision to joing this church. We know from her obituary that Mercy M was quite active in the Hope Methodist Church, but our first indication that Lutie was so involved comes indirectly at first from knowing that the family were active enough to arrange for daughter. Marion, to be married in the Coggin Avenue Methodist Church, Brownwood, TX in 1924.
She was a contributing member well into her later years, often as an officer in the women's groups and by teaching Sunday school classes.

• Occupation: Self-employed, Abt 1929-1958, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. Lutie was a master seamstress. Not only was she able to make and use personalized patterns for her clients and family members, adjusting them as they grew/gained/lost weight, but she was able to copy any high fashion style.

Before or during the early depression years, in the 1930's, she worked for a time for the most elegant womens clothiers in Brownwood. The rich women of the town would come in with couturiere designs from New York and Paris for Lutie to copy.

Later she worked from her home with a group of loyal clients. Her work was always in demand, and as the years went on and she wanted to work less, she disappointed many women by refusing to keep them as clients.

Some of her most beautiful work was done for her family. She made gorgeous "little girl" dresses for her two granddaughters, handsome tailored suits for both sons and daughter and later her granddaughters. Her oldest grandson, who loved bright colors, had little boy overalls in bright red. For her family, having to begin wearing a growing number of "store-bought" clothes was painful. Nothing fit in that same, beautiful way.

• Organizations: Spanish American War Aux., 1940-1969, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. Ivo Gingrich, Lutie's husband, was a proud veteran of the Spanish American War. Both husband and wife were actively involved in Spanish American War Veterans groups, holding local and state offices at times.

• Hobbies: New friends, painting, crafts, Abt 1942-1950, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. Lutie had taken classes in art when she went back to Indiana for high school, but hadn't had time or money to continue this hobby after her marriage until about 1942.
During World War II, Brownwood was home to Camp Bowie, one of the army's largest bases. Housing for officers was all but unavailable on base, so answering a request to "do your patriotic duty", the Gingrich family changed their already small quarters into three apartments, keeping one three room for themselves. They rented the other two. This led to moving into a different circle of acquaintances. Families felt welcomed, and several continued to correspond during later years, sending photos of their growing families.

Although patriotism was the sounding bell for this move, the added money it brought in made it possible for Lutie to pursue her art once again. She did many small paintings in watercolor, pastel and oils. Her painting were copies from magazine pictures she saved -- and always the painting were more beautifu than the originals.

She tried her hand at some craft projects as well -- well remembered were her flower baskets -- made with cut and painted pinecones.

• Voter Registration: Republican, Abt 1945, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX. Lutie also worked many years at local, state and national elections. She ended up as precinct judge, always taking her responsibility most seriously.

• Death: Stroke and long decline, 15 Jun 1969, Odessa, Ector Co, TX. Lutie had her first stroke in 1964. With both hers and her husbands poor health they moved to Odessa to live with their daughter and grandson.

• Funeral: Church service and interment, Jun 1969, Odessa, Ector Co, TX. Service was held at Odessa's First Methodist Church. Later friends in their long-time home town attended a graveside service at Greenleaf Cemetery, Brownwood, TX where she is buried between her husband and son, Bill.

Lutie married Ivo Schuyler Gingrich on 19 Jun 1901 in Beirne, Hempstead, AR. (Ivo Schuyler Gingrich was born on 14 Sep 1878 in South Bend, St Joseph, IN, died on 14 Mar 1967 in Odessa, Ector Co, TX and was buried on 16 Mar 1967 in Greenleaf Cemetery, Brownwood, Brown Co, TX.)