Vera is the daughter of Alvin James and Mary Ellen "Ellie" Caudle Frisk, being their 3rd child and 2nd daughter born to them in Woodbine, Kansas where they farmed.
When she was just 2 years old her mother died from childbed fever about 6 weeks after the birth of her little sister Grace. Vera was placed with a family (not known if related), and her older brother Ray and sister Hazel were placed with relations. She was with this family until she was about 4 or 5, then she went to live with her Grandmother Matilda Joy Lindholm Frisk in Mountain Grove, Missouri, who had taken the baby Grace to raise. This came as a shock to her, it is told.
She had a childhood of living and helping on her Grandmothers farm. She had many stories of things. One day at church as a young woman a hadsome young man came in she had never seen before. Her Grandmother asked her what she was staring at, and she just said the guy I'm going to marry!
On February 2, 1934 she was united with Uel Ethan Dodd, who was that handsome young man. To this union 5 children graced their lives. They are Joseph Ethan, Irene Mary, Tom Alvin, Edna Matilda, and Vera Wilma in that order.
They farmed some where around Mountain Grove until the end of the 30's or early 40's , then sold it and bought land in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to farm. (Which the children still have and farm to this day).
When Ethan was drafted for WWII, Vera was pregnant with her 5th child, so they decided that it would be best if she moved to Oakdale – Modesto area of California to be near family, since most of her Aunts and Uncles were there, maybe even her Dad at that time, as well as her Grandmother who raised her. I don't know just when it was decided, but she and the 4 small children went when she was about 8 months pregnant with Wilma. Irene the oldest daughter told me that they were on a train that was also shipping cattle, goats and sheep. They had no food or water on the train for the travelers. That it was hot, so of course the windows were down, which meant they could smell the live stock. She did say that the train did make a stop from time to time so they were able to get something to eat and drink, but it wasn't for long, so no hot meals. She also said that when they got to California, one of the first things one of Vera's Uncles did was give them a fresh milk cow. So they always had milk and butter. They returned to Arkansas when Uncle Ethan came home at end of war. At sometime before the 1970's Vera battled a form of cancer (unknown by me what kind) and beat it.
When my parents (her brother Ray) and us 4 kids came for a visit in 1950. Farm being far out in the country, they had just gotten power out to them, and the week before coming they had just gotten their first refrigerator (having been using an Icebox). The house still had no indoor plumbing. Big pump in front yard for water. We got to play on their plow horse, in the barn and go fishing in the creek near by, which was cool to a kid of only not quite 4, that though a farm kid from CA, never had to rough it, nor had a creek near by to play and fish in. In the 1960's my parents moved back Arkansas, near her and Ethan, so got to see and I get to know my Aunt much better after that when visiting, with my husband and children.
She was a good wife, mother and cook. Every day she cooked for her farming family so they had a big meal each afternoon and night, don't know if she did also for breakfast, even after their children were grown and married. You could stop by and join in the meal.
She and Ethan were quite a pair. She was soft spoken but he was very out going and fun, and they had many good laughs along with the hard work of farming and raising their children, but managed to do quite well adding land and reaping profits from crops over the years.
She was widowed in 1996 after 62 years of marriage. Though her handsome young man was gone she had a happy life, with her children always around her taking good care of her.
On May 6th 2004 she and her daughter Wilma were in her house when she fainted. Her daughter knew by the way she was acting something was wrong, so rushed her to a hospital in Jonesboro. Vera was talking to her in the car on the way, when she passed out again. Doctors discovered that she had a slow cerebral hemorrhage that was inoperable. All of her children, many of her Grandchildren, Great and maybe even G-Great Grandchildren, her brother Ray, niece Dawna and Nephew John, rushed to the hospital. My husband and I had just moved to Missouri less than a month before, but were unable go down to Jonesboro to see her, because my mother-in-law had passed the day before, so we could only send love and prayers to her and famiy, as so many other of family who couldn't come did.
Vera quietly slipped way after a few hours, with her children, their spouces and a lot family all around her singing hymns.
She is my Aunt
By W. Loy Frisk Simmons
=======================================================
When she was just 2 years old her mother died from childbed fever about 6 weeks after the birth of her little sister Grace. Vera was placed with a family (not known if related), and her older brother Ray and sister Hazel were placed with relations. She was with this family until she was about 4 or 5, then she went to live with her Grandmother Matilda Joy Lindholm Frisk in Mountain Grove, Missouri, who had taken the baby Grace to raise. This came as a shock to her, it is told.
She had a childhood of living and helping on her Grandmothers farm. She had many stories of things. One day at church as a young woman a hadsome young man came in she had never seen before. Her Grandmother asked her what she was staring at, and she just said the guy I'm going to marry!
On February 2, 1934 she was united with Uel Ethan Dodd, who was that handsome young man. To this union 5 children graced their lives. They are Joseph Ethan, Irene Mary, Tom Alvin, Edna Matilda, and Vera Wilma in that order.
They farmed some where around Mountain Grove until the end of the 30's or early 40's , then sold it and bought land in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to farm. (Which the children still have and farm to this day).
When Ethan was drafted for WWII, Vera was pregnant with her 5th child, so they decided that it would be best if she moved to Oakdale – Modesto area of California to be near family, since most of her Aunts and Uncles were there, maybe even her Dad at that time, as well as her Grandmother who raised her. I don't know just when it was decided, but she and the 4 small children went when she was about 8 months pregnant with Wilma. Irene the oldest daughter told me that they were on a train that was also shipping cattle, goats and sheep. They had no food or water on the train for the travelers. That it was hot, so of course the windows were down, which meant they could smell the live stock. She did say that the train did make a stop from time to time so they were able to get something to eat and drink, but it wasn't for long, so no hot meals. She also said that when they got to California, one of the first things one of Vera's Uncles did was give them a fresh milk cow. So they always had milk and butter. They returned to Arkansas when Uncle Ethan came home at end of war. At sometime before the 1970's Vera battled a form of cancer (unknown by me what kind) and beat it.
When my parents (her brother Ray) and us 4 kids came for a visit in 1950. Farm being far out in the country, they had just gotten power out to them, and the week before coming they had just gotten their first refrigerator (having been using an Icebox). The house still had no indoor plumbing. Big pump in front yard for water. We got to play on their plow horse, in the barn and go fishing in the creek near by, which was cool to a kid of only not quite 4, that though a farm kid from CA, never had to rough it, nor had a creek near by to play and fish in. In the 1960's my parents moved back Arkansas, near her and Ethan, so got to see and I get to know my Aunt much better after that when visiting, with my husband and children.
She was a good wife, mother and cook. Every day she cooked for her farming family so they had a big meal each afternoon and night, don't know if she did also for breakfast, even after their children were grown and married. You could stop by and join in the meal.
She and Ethan were quite a pair. She was soft spoken but he was very out going and fun, and they had many good laughs along with the hard work of farming and raising their children, but managed to do quite well adding land and reaping profits from crops over the years.
She was widowed in 1996 after 62 years of marriage. Though her handsome young man was gone she had a happy life, with her children always around her taking good care of her.
On May 6th 2004 she and her daughter Wilma were in her house when she fainted. Her daughter knew by the way she was acting something was wrong, so rushed her to a hospital in Jonesboro. Vera was talking to her in the car on the way, when she passed out again. Doctors discovered that she had a slow cerebral hemorrhage that was inoperable. All of her children, many of her Grandchildren, Great and maybe even G-Great Grandchildren, her brother Ray, niece Dawna and Nephew John, rushed to the hospital. My husband and I had just moved to Missouri less than a month before, but were unable go down to Jonesboro to see her, because my mother-in-law had passed the day before, so we could only send love and prayers to her and famiy, as so many other of family who couldn't come did.
Vera quietly slipped way after a few hours, with her children, their spouces and a lot family all around her singing hymns.
She is my Aunt
By W. Loy Frisk Simmons
=======================================================
Vera is the daughter of Alvin James and Mary Ellen "Ellie" Caudle Frisk, being their 3rd child and 2nd daughter born to them in Woodbine, Kansas where they farmed.
When she was just 2 years old her mother died from childbed fever about 6 weeks after the birth of her little sister Grace. Vera was placed with a family (not known if related), and her older brother Ray and sister Hazel were placed with relations. She was with this family until she was about 4 or 5, then she went to live with her Grandmother Matilda Joy Lindholm Frisk in Mountain Grove, Missouri, who had taken the baby Grace to raise. This came as a shock to her, it is told.
She had a childhood of living and helping on her Grandmothers farm. She had many stories of things. One day at church as a young woman a hadsome young man came in she had never seen before. Her Grandmother asked her what she was staring at, and she just said the guy I'm going to marry!
On February 2, 1934 she was united with Uel Ethan Dodd, who was that handsome young man. To this union 5 children graced their lives. They are Joseph Ethan, Irene Mary, Tom Alvin, Edna Matilda, and Vera Wilma in that order.
They farmed some where around Mountain Grove until the end of the 30's or early 40's , then sold it and bought land in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to farm. (Which the children still have and farm to this day).
When Ethan was drafted for WWII, Vera was pregnant with her 5th child, so they decided that it would be best if she moved to Oakdale – Modesto area of California to be near family, since most of her Aunts and Uncles were there, maybe even her Dad at that time, as well as her Grandmother who raised her. I don't know just when it was decided, but she and the 4 small children went when she was about 8 months pregnant with Wilma. Irene the oldest daughter told me that they were on a train that was also shipping cattle, goats and sheep. They had no food or water on the train for the travelers. That it was hot, so of course the windows were down, which meant they could smell the live stock. She did say that the train did make a stop from time to time so they were able to get something to eat and drink, but it wasn't for long, so no hot meals. She also said that when they got to California, one of the first things one of Vera's Uncles did was give them a fresh milk cow. So they always had milk and butter. They returned to Arkansas when Uncle Ethan came home at end of war. At sometime before the 1970's Vera battled a form of cancer (unknown by me what kind) and beat it.
When my parents (her brother Ray) and us 4 kids came for a visit in 1950. Farm being far out in the country, they had just gotten power out to them, and the week before coming they had just gotten their first refrigerator (having been using an Icebox). The house still had no indoor plumbing. Big pump in front yard for water. We got to play on their plow horse, in the barn and go fishing in the creek near by, which was cool to a kid of only not quite 4, that though a farm kid from CA, never had to rough it, nor had a creek near by to play and fish in. In the 1960's my parents moved back Arkansas, near her and Ethan, so got to see and I get to know my Aunt much better after that when visiting, with my husband and children.
She was a good wife, mother and cook. Every day she cooked for her farming family so they had a big meal each afternoon and night, don't know if she did also for breakfast, even after their children were grown and married. You could stop by and join in the meal.
She and Ethan were quite a pair. She was soft spoken but he was very out going and fun, and they had many good laughs along with the hard work of farming and raising their children, but managed to do quite well adding land and reaping profits from crops over the years.
She was widowed in 1996 after 62 years of marriage. Though her handsome young man was gone she had a happy life, with her children always around her taking good care of her.
On May 6th 2004 she and her daughter Wilma were in her house when she fainted. Her daughter knew by the way she was acting something was wrong, so rushed her to a hospital in Jonesboro. Vera was talking to her in the car on the way, when she passed out again. Doctors discovered that she had a slow cerebral hemorrhage that was inoperable. All of her children, many of her Grandchildren, Great and maybe even G-Great Grandchildren, her brother Ray, niece Dawna and Nephew John, rushed to the hospital. My husband and I had just moved to Missouri less than a month before, but were unable go down to Jonesboro to see her, because my mother-in-law had passed the day before, so we could only send love and prayers to her and famiy, as so many other of family who couldn't come did.
Vera quietly slipped way after a few hours, with her children, their spouces and a lot family all around her singing hymns.
She is my Aunt
By W. Loy Frisk Simmons
=======================================================
When she was just 2 years old her mother died from childbed fever about 6 weeks after the birth of her little sister Grace. Vera was placed with a family (not known if related), and her older brother Ray and sister Hazel were placed with relations. She was with this family until she was about 4 or 5, then she went to live with her Grandmother Matilda Joy Lindholm Frisk in Mountain Grove, Missouri, who had taken the baby Grace to raise. This came as a shock to her, it is told.
She had a childhood of living and helping on her Grandmothers farm. She had many stories of things. One day at church as a young woman a hadsome young man came in she had never seen before. Her Grandmother asked her what she was staring at, and she just said the guy I'm going to marry!
On February 2, 1934 she was united with Uel Ethan Dodd, who was that handsome young man. To this union 5 children graced their lives. They are Joseph Ethan, Irene Mary, Tom Alvin, Edna Matilda, and Vera Wilma in that order.
They farmed some where around Mountain Grove until the end of the 30's or early 40's , then sold it and bought land in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to farm. (Which the children still have and farm to this day).
When Ethan was drafted for WWII, Vera was pregnant with her 5th child, so they decided that it would be best if she moved to Oakdale – Modesto area of California to be near family, since most of her Aunts and Uncles were there, maybe even her Dad at that time, as well as her Grandmother who raised her. I don't know just when it was decided, but she and the 4 small children went when she was about 8 months pregnant with Wilma. Irene the oldest daughter told me that they were on a train that was also shipping cattle, goats and sheep. They had no food or water on the train for the travelers. That it was hot, so of course the windows were down, which meant they could smell the live stock. She did say that the train did make a stop from time to time so they were able to get something to eat and drink, but it wasn't for long, so no hot meals. She also said that when they got to California, one of the first things one of Vera's Uncles did was give them a fresh milk cow. So they always had milk and butter. They returned to Arkansas when Uncle Ethan came home at end of war. At sometime before the 1970's Vera battled a form of cancer (unknown by me what kind) and beat it.
When my parents (her brother Ray) and us 4 kids came for a visit in 1950. Farm being far out in the country, they had just gotten power out to them, and the week before coming they had just gotten their first refrigerator (having been using an Icebox). The house still had no indoor plumbing. Big pump in front yard for water. We got to play on their plow horse, in the barn and go fishing in the creek near by, which was cool to a kid of only not quite 4, that though a farm kid from CA, never had to rough it, nor had a creek near by to play and fish in. In the 1960's my parents moved back Arkansas, near her and Ethan, so got to see and I get to know my Aunt much better after that when visiting, with my husband and children.
She was a good wife, mother and cook. Every day she cooked for her farming family so they had a big meal each afternoon and night, don't know if she did also for breakfast, even after their children were grown and married. You could stop by and join in the meal.
She and Ethan were quite a pair. She was soft spoken but he was very out going and fun, and they had many good laughs along with the hard work of farming and raising their children, but managed to do quite well adding land and reaping profits from crops over the years.
She was widowed in 1996 after 62 years of marriage. Though her handsome young man was gone she had a happy life, with her children always around her taking good care of her.
On May 6th 2004 she and her daughter Wilma were in her house when she fainted. Her daughter knew by the way she was acting something was wrong, so rushed her to a hospital in Jonesboro. Vera was talking to her in the car on the way, when she passed out again. Doctors discovered that she had a slow cerebral hemorrhage that was inoperable. All of her children, many of her Grandchildren, Great and maybe even G-Great Grandchildren, her brother Ray, niece Dawna and Nephew John, rushed to the hospital. My husband and I had just moved to Missouri less than a month before, but were unable go down to Jonesboro to see her, because my mother-in-law had passed the day before, so we could only send love and prayers to her and famiy, as so many other of family who couldn't come did.
Vera quietly slipped way after a few hours, with her children, their spouces and a lot family all around her singing hymns.
She is my Aunt
By W. Loy Frisk Simmons
=======================================================
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Their names and dates with marriage date in the middle. 3 Feb 1934.
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