the masters families
Today I made piles of research for the various branches of the Masters family tree, and I figured that I had enough bare bones information to start writing something about them, so I did. Too bad Laura Ingalls Wilder never mentioned them in the "Little House" books. She mentioned them enough in Pioneer Girl to make up for it, though. To tell the truth, I read that Burr Oak spin-off book only once, and I can't remember if the Masters family is mentioned in there. Not that it matters.

I always wondered why there hadn't been more information about the Masters family crop up in newsletter articles over the years, especially in the Lore. Aubrey Sherwood's mother was a Masters. Why haven't photos of Genevieve Masters surfaced, especially since her daughter lived with Aubrey's family for a while? I'm hoping this is one of those cases where WTA is rationing the information and a lovely lispy-lipped looking photo of Gennie will eventually be published for our viewing pleasure.

I had an "a-ha!" moment today when I finally realized that Silas Masters was Samuel and William's brother, and Charles was his son. Their presence in Burr Oak has bothered me for years now.

Some comments as I scroll through Pioneer Girl, since I probably won't mention too much of the contents on the web page: (1) Why was Willie Masters shooting at Nannie? Demon liquor? (2) Uncle Sam Masters sounds icky, like it wouldn't have been safe to let your daughters around him too often. (3) Will's sister Matie was actually Mary Masters. Just how did she get Dr. Hoyt to marry her? (as if that one isn't obvious...) And what was the operation he performed on her that killed her? And was his mind on his wife's illness so much that he wasn't doing his best by Mary Ingalls when she was going blind? (4) Just realized I haven't a clue who "Cousin Lotie" was, except she was probably related to the Holts. (5) Willie Masters has that same icky streak Uncle Sam Masters had. (6) Hmm, Laura wrote that George Masters was just like his father. Seems like the lot of them were icky. Probably reason enough right there to leave them out of the "Little House" books. (7) In Pioneer Girl, Mary Power and Genevieve Masters are seat-mates.

Note to self: not a sign of Minnie Johnson anywhere, except as one of the younger girls. Does that mean that "Mary Power and Minnie" was really "Mary Power and Gennie"?
- posted by pioneergirl at 1:34 AM