Bessie Means
also written Bessie, Aunt Bessie in the book
Biography
Carol's family visited Bessie and Harry Means and their unnamed children. Occupation also recorded as “Managed Camp Mansur, the Boy Scout Camp, with Harry Means.” (Bernie's Chapter). Lived on Campbell’s Island with Harry Means before they took over managing and living at Camp Mansur. Merlin's mother and the narrator's aunt. According to Merlin, Olive would get Bessie to switch him often. Bessie was on the way when Olive and Dan married. One of Floyd's four full siblings; the passage collectively describes them as two brothers and two sisters without individually assigning gender. Identified as Floyd and Clarence’s natural sister. Had already left home to marry Ira Ringering by the time of the inheritance. Contracted diphtheria in 1917 and was cared for by Ira. Left home to marry him in 1919.
Timeline
1917
Bessie's diphtheria quarantine
The sheriff quarantined Ira, Olive, and Dan at the farm when Bessie contracted diphtheria. Ira nursed her; Floyd and Clarence ran away to avoid quarantine.
History of the Guild Family1919
Bessie marries Ira
Bessie left home to marry Ira upon his return from army service.
History of the Guild Familydate not given
Visits to the Means family
The family visited Bessie and Harry Means and their children, as well as a family named Rogers nearby.
Carol's Chapterdate not given
Bessie Means worked at the state hospital
Carol remembers Bessie working at the hospital; no position or dates are stated.
Carol's ChapterAfter living on Campbell’s Island
Harry and Bessie Means move to manage Camp Mansur
Harry and Bessie took over managing and living at the Boy Scout Camp.
Bernie's ChapterBefore the inheritance, perhaps about 1918
Bessie leaves home to marry Ira Ringering
Ira had just returned from World War I.
History of the Guild FamilyAfter Dan lost the property
Clarence joins Bessie's household
Clarence traveled to live with his sister and her husband.
History of the Guild Family
Stories mentioning Bessie
- Fourth of July with a Favorite UncleMerlin fondly recalled Daddy's Fourth of July visits to family reunions in Brainerd. He loved seeing his favorite uncle and the entertaining Aunt Gertie. Daddy's new cars made relatives think he was rich. The visits stopped sometime after Bernie and Bob were twelve or thirteen, disappointing the family.
- Merlin Remembers the Older GenerationMerlin recalled disliking his grandmother Olive, who stuck her tongue out at him and prompted his mother to switch him. He related that Olive had five children before meeting Dan Guild and moved in with him after Clarence Vosberg died. Olive and Dan married quickly because Bessie was expected, a revelation that still disturbed Merlin. Dan was remembered as quiet, mechanical, and a poor dirt farmer. The account says Olive had eight children by three husbands and Daddy had five half and three full siblings; it separately calls Gertie Dad's stepsister.
- Family Visits and Long Sunday-Style DrivesCarol recalls that the family never took what she considered a real vacation. Daddy visited his relatives in Brainerd, sometimes taking Iris or the boys, but Carol never went or met her paternal grandparents. He also took the family on long drives toward the Wisconsin border. They visited Bessie and Harry Means and their children in Cordova, and a family named Rogers nearby. Bessie worked at the East Moline State Hospital.
- A Frightening Summer Ride and a Childhood MisunderstandingOn a muggy summer night, the narrator's father took the boys and a .22 rifle to Harry Means's home on Campbell’s Island. Sent by Bobby to listen at the screendoor, the narrator overheard that they had to shoot someone and assumed a man would be killed and dumped in the river. The boys heard a rifle shot and waited terrified in the closed car. Much later, the narrator overheard Harry explaining that his hunting dog had been put down with Daddy's help. Embarrassment kept the narrator from telling the story until adulthood.
- Dad's Beginnings and Family ResemblancesThe family recounts Floyd Raymond Guild's farm birth, parents, inherited appearance, and full and half-siblings. They remember the infant death of Harold Herman and state that eight of Olive's ten children lived well into old age. The passage contains conflicting ages and dates for Olive and calls the Vosburg children both half-siblings and stepsiblings.
- An Unexpected Inheritance and a Granary HomeAn elderly bachelor left his wooded 160-acre property and operating sawmill to the poorest family in St. Mathias Township. The township elders chose the Dan Guild family. Floyd and Clarence saw a hopeful future, while Olive feared Dan would ruin their good fortune. Dan, Olive, Floyd, and Clarence made the windowless granary livable by sealing its open slat-work. Bessie had already left home to marry Ira Ringering, recently returned from World War I, and Pearl had died of diphtheria at 16 a year earlier.
- From the Old Farm to a New Start in MolineFamily memories follow Dan and Olive on the Falk property, the mysterious driveway inscription, Myrtle's minnow sales, and Bessie's diphtheria quarantine and marriage. After Dan lost the property, Clarence moved to Bessie's home and Floyd stayed with Uncle Bernie, learning horse care and practical jokes. Gus Falk helped Floyd move to Moline and find work in 1921. Relatives admired his success, and visits and reunions continued through his parents' later years. The passage preserves contradictory dates in Olive's calendar account and the boys' refusal to admit writing the inscription.
Referenced in
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