“It’s been quiet. My, this place smells stuffy. It could use a good cleaning,” said Addie. I have some free time, and I’ll help you do cleaning if you have the time.”6
“Yes, been here five weeks now, mainly building and stocking shelves. I hope to open the counter soon so customers can come in for their needs,” replied Will, using his red-checkered handkerchief to dust off the table and chairs he had set against the wall. Come sit a spell.”
Addie and Will spent the next two hours talking about their respective families. “So are you married yet?” Will finally asked.
“No, and have no prospects. There’s a shortage of eligible men around here,” replied Addie. “What about you?”
“Same story, only no women either,” said Will, which brings up this question. “Just how are we related?” Dad said we are third cousins. Do you know what that means?”
“Well, let’s see,” Addie said thoughtfully.” I think our great-great-grandparents were brother and sister or, perhaps, sisters, not quite sure. That’s a long, long time ago. No one in the family seems to remember that far back. My father barely remembers his grandfather, much less his great-grandfather. Mother vaguely remembers her great-grandmother.” There was a long pause, broken when Will said, “I’ve been thinking. Here we are both in the same mess, why don’t we spend some time together? It seems we have a lot in common. Surely our blood lines are far enough apart so this won’t matter.”
“This is true,” said Addie, “no one on my side of the family knows where your side starts. It’s just been passed down that we are third cousins.”
“That’s about the way I heard it,” Will said. I think I’ll start writing down our heritage so there will be a record.”
“That is a good idea. Now let’s get busy and clean this place up,” said Addie as she opened her pocketbook pulling out the apron she always carried in it. “You do have a broom, soap, water, and a pail?”
“Yes, and some vinegar and old newspapers to use cleaning the windows,” replied Will.
Little more was said the rest of the afternoon other than the discovery that both were born on the same day, just five years apart. After Addie left, he went back to restocking shelves.
Both had busy schedules, but for the next three years, they spent their free time together, building a relationship that would last the rest of their lives. On March 18, 1911, they were married.
Note: The ad for the store appeared in the Potsdam-Herald-Recorder of July of 1915. Similar ads appeared for years previous. Other stories in this chapter appeared at various dates.
Chapter 8
An Offer
After their marriage, the couple moved into the apartment above the store. Addie continued her work as a court deputy, taking a break in early 1912 for the birth of their first child, Ralph. With the help of her mother attending the baby, she returned to her job as a court deputy. December 17, 1913, the Potsdam New York Courier & Freeman newspaper reported she was reelected to the job.7
Two weeks later, the family not only celebrated the coming New Year, there was also a huge party for Will’s sister Winifred, who married Emory Tupper precisely at midnight.
Will’s job with Bell was nearing completion. His store continued to expand as demands for electric lights grew and he spent time not only selling electrical supplies across the counter but also installing electricity in area homes. Life was good for the couple. Their families would get together often for social and religious events. Usually there was a notice posted in the Potsdam newspaper so relatives and friends were aware of the gathering.
On March 17, 1917, Addie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Florence Elizabeth. Tragedy struck immediately, for little Florence died before the day was over. Heartbroken, Addie did not return to her job. After the funeral, Will, thinking Addie might be depressed, suggested she could help herself and him by keeping the counter open all day in the store.
“Look, Addie,” Will gently suggested, “there is nothing we can do to fix this. We must go on, hard as it seems. Right now, there needs to be someone in the store at the counter while I’m out installing electricity. You can keep Ralph with you and always go upstairs if you need anything.”
“I’ll be just fine, Will. For whatever reason God has seen fit to allow this to happen. Remember Job from the Bible? After he lost all his possessions including his sons and daughters, he said, ‘the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.’ When it was all over, God gave him twice as much as he had before. I believe that through the pain.”
Will was skeptical. “I don’t expect God will give us healthy twins any time soon, if ever,” was his reply.
“Now don’t be cynical or sacrilegious,” cautioned Addie. “We must go on by faith that there’s good reason for our situation.”
“Very well,” he replied. “Meanwhile think about what I proposed. I have no business partner and don’t want to hire someone to stand around in an empty store. With you here, it assures all the income is ours. Think it over.”
Addie’s younger sister, Gertrude, graduate of Potsdam Normal School was teaching in New York City. She was there about two years when she became very sick. The doctor gave her some medicine which seemed to help. She improved enough to board a train and return to Potsdam. Before leaving, she sent Addie a telegram asking her to meet her at the Rutland Railroad Station in Potsdam.
“Oh, Addie,” she gasped struggling to breath, “don’t get too close. I think I’m sick with influenza. It’s a plague going through the city. I had to get out of there for some fresh air. I’m sure am glad to see you.”
“I’m really glad to see you too. This place isn’t the same since you’ve been gone, and I don’t care how sick you are,” Addie replied as she hugged her sister. “Will and I will take you to Mother’s. She has a spare bedroom all made up for you. We will both nurse you back to health.” Gertrude did improve, but it was short-lived. On April 2, 1917, she passed away. She was thirty-two years old.8
In less than a month, Addie had come face-to-face with death for the second time. It shook her faith. She said some years later when relating the story, “For the first time in my life, I actually wondered where God was. It took me a long time to realize it wasn’t God’s doing, but Satan’s in hopes I would blame God. It’s like I’m reliving the Biblical story of Job.”
Death engulfed Addie again later that summer. Her mother’s sister Abigail died August 1. “All I’m doing is burying my family,” Addie cried, “is there no relief? I am reliving Job, and I am not as strong as he was.” Will did his best to comfort her. He wanted to remind her what she had said to him about Job earlier but wisely chose to be silent. She thanked him profusely for trying to comfort her adding, “Will, I have to do this on my own. I’ll be all right.”
Business increased more than expected over the next few years. It required more inventory and supplies and were now delivered on a daily basis. Addie agreed to cover the counter, keeping busy restocking shelves as Ralph roamed the store. Will was covered up with installations, forcing him to schedule work, something not done previously.
In July of 1918, Addie gave birth to a healthy baby boy which she named Keith Wesley. The Wesley came from her father’s
