William Harson Elsworth
and
Minnie Alta Learned Kisner

Elsworth and Minnie Kisner ca 1890

Click photos for larger view

Elsworth and Minnie Kisner ca 1925

William Harson Elsworth Kisner was born November 22, 1869 in Triconnel, WV. He married Minnie Alta Learned February 25 in Augusta, KS. Minnie was born March 22, 1872 in Jackson Cty. MO to Precley Curtis and Margaret Robinson Learned.

The following was written by Ula Kisner Garst: probably in the 1970's ( Ula, daughter, died ca 1980))

 

William Harrison Elsworth Kisner and his wife, Minnie Alta Kisner lived on a farm, 20 miles south of Alva, at Galena, Oklahoma. (There is a Galena, Oklahoma no more, it was only a small general store and post office.) Elsworth, as mama always called him was the father of six girls, Della, Ada, Ruby, Neva, Mildred, and Ula. (A son was stillborn.) Elsworth was of medium height, dark-haired, blue eyed and wore a mustache (red). He was a hard worker and when he was alive and well the farm flourished. When I was small, I remember the farm with horses and cows, many cows to be milked, chickens, hogs, a dog and several cats. There was always two big gardens, with every kind of vegetable imaginable. The big garden in the field contained watermellons, muskmellons, tomatoes, potatoes, turnips and etc. At the south end of our big yard was two or three rows of black walnut trees which extended for about 1/4 mile. We always had black walnuts for cakes, candies, or for just eating. The children liked to play tarzan in those black walnut trees. One of my largest scars is the result of playing tarzan and falling on some old farm machinery. We had a big Alberta Peach Orchard east of the house. People would come from miles away to buy our peaches. At peach time we canned, preserved, and had fresh peaches as much as we wished. In our apple orchard at the north of the house we had yellow apples, late red apples and early red apples. Besides the Alberta peaches, we had red Indian peaches and big cling peaches. There were many rows of blackberries, and a row of dew berries. Mildred and I and any of the grandchildren who happened to be at the farm often carried boxes and playthings to the orchard to play house or just to play. When papa got ready to clean the orchard, he would say, "You take those things away, and don' bring them back." He would threaten to spank us but I remember only one spat on the behind he gave me and that was because I was making a lob-lolly with my bare feet in his driveway. Papa was a good farmer and raised corn, and many other crops. He also was an engineer on a big threshing machine and did threshing for people every summer. Mother used to go cook for his crew when my sisters were large enough to stay at home and take care of the younger girls. Papa had a beautiful bass voice. One of the neighbors used to say he sat behind papa at church just so he could hear him sing. Mamma helped people in the community in many ways. She was good with sick people and was called many times to help (without pay). She helped at the birth of many of the neighborhood children. The farm where we lived is not in existence now. But perhaps you remember, Max J., thedriveway to our house was lined with big cottonwood trees. There was a big hill beyond the cottonwood driveway. When there was snow, we used that hill for a slide. We also had wheels from an old buggy that we sat on and guided down the hill with ropes tied to the axles. We went to a community Sunday School and Church almost every Sunday and many times people were invited to come home with us for Sunday dinner. Minnie Kisner was a large boned woman, at one time she weighed close to 200 pounds. She had red, wavy, long hair. Mamma was an attractive woman with a wonderful personality. She never saw a stranger. Mamma often read to the family in the evenings. We just couldn't wait until the chores were done to have her finish a chapter she had begun. She was a good seamstress and made most of the clothes we wore. When we washed, it was an all day job. Water was heated in a big vat, and after washing the clothes with a washboard the clothes were boiled in that big vat. They were then rinsed with bluing in the water and hung on the line to dry in the sun. Minnie was a wonderful cook. We had a cellar and it was lined with jars of canned fruit, vegetables and meats. Cabbage was kept in big jars for kraut. Watermellons were kept under straw for later use. Papa even made beer and wine in later years, because the docter advised him to drink them moderately.