638 E. Columbia Avenue

Colville, Washington

I was born in Marion County, Iowa January 22, 1857. My father William Berry died when I was 6 months old. Mother, Rachel (Pendroy) Berry, was left on a little farm with us 5 children. Namely Margaret Jane, later Mrs. T.S. Donnel; Mary Elizabeth later Mrs. M.E. Stickels; Sarah Ann who never married, my brother Tom Berry, and myself. Of these Mrs. Stickels of Spokane Washington and myself are the only ones living.

I attended school and when thirteen years old went to live with Grandmother and Grandfather Pendroy. Grandmother read her German Bible and I read Grandfather's Bible through to him, partly by candle light. He passed away when I had been there a year, as I stayed that winter with Grandma. She taught me to sew and with her help I pieced a quilt in evenings. Then I returned home and helped my brother with the outside work until 1880.

Alex Masteller and I were married December 2, 1880. We lived on Mother's farm. I taught school at home in 1882 and 1883. In 1885 we moved to North Dakota and settled on our homestead.

In those days women gave the last touches to the log cabins, making them very clean and neat in appearance. The small windows were draped in white, the side walls and ceilings were covered in white muslin and a few pictures were hung on the wall. The floors, (If there were any) were partly covered with home made rugs and skins.

We were often aroused in the night to find rain coming in through the sod roof, having to store groceries, linen, and almost everything under the bed to keep them from being ruined. Then pans and pails were placed under the leaks. We had wild roses and some tame flowers in the garden. Buffalo skulls and deer horns made seats near the cabin door. The latch string of the home made door hung out to all travelers.

Rev. E. P. Royce, a Methodist Minister, held services at the home of Uncle Jim Pendroy, Dec. 30, 1885 and during the year 1886. We attended these services. Later we organized a Sunday School and ladies Aid.

In 1886 I taught school in Johnnie Pendroy's log cabin near our home. The children furnished their own desk and seats - no two alike. I wore felt boots to school. The children wore gunny sacks wrapped around their feet for overshoes. We all took our shoes along. My school closed with spelling matches and other entertainment with the old and young taking part. Lanterns were used for lights.

Our folks were out picking berries to sell, and one day brought home a 3 week old deer, and we raised it on the bottle. Kept it one year. Deer were quite plentiful, and also geese, ducks and fish which were quite a help as other meat was scarce.

Fay was born in Dec. 1888. When she was a year old I took her to visit our relatives in Iowa. We took the train at Towner and A. J. went to the Red River country for threshing.

Lenna was born in Aug., 1894. In 1896 we traded sheep for cattle and moved back to Mouse River. Then we rebuilt the log cabin, changed the sod roof to shingles, had an upstairs; Which seemed very good to me as the children were to start to school, and I boarded the teachers. I, the same as neighbor women, did the usual housework, planted gardens, raised chickens, made soap from the wood ashes, cooked for the neighbor men who came to assist our husbands with such work as building, branding, dehorning cattle, butchering etc.

In 1900 we purchased our first rubber tired top buggy. Although we had a spring wagon before, we were very proud of our top buggy. In 1902 the river overflowed, and again in 1904. Both times were forced to move to the prairie for a few weeks. It was also necessary to take our stock to the prairies. We had trails to with blizzards and prairie fires. The good Almighty sent rain and snow that saved our hay and buildings from disaster. The winter of 1906 A. J. and I spent with relatives back in Indiana. We came back in spring and took up our usual work on the farm. In 1910 we again built on to the log house.

In 1912 we went to Colville, Washington to visit at the home of my oldest sister, Mr. And Mrs. T. S. Donnel. The next summer we built a larger barn on our farm. In 1915 we bought our first car. The winter of 1916 we again spent in Iowa and Indiana. The winter of 1922 we spent visiting in Washington, California, and Iowa. Came back in the spring and moved to Velva. Having more spare time than before, I took some lessons in oil painting, and painted a few pictures for my children.

During the years we spent in Velva, we still enjoyed visits of old time friends. During the years we have been blessed with seven grand children.

We celebrated our Golden Anniversary in 1930, also our 54th Anniversary in 1934, and our 55th Anniversary on Dec. 2, 1935. We enjoyed good health and lived happily until Mr. Masteller passed away May 1, 1936.

Shortly after his death, I came west and am now living in the home of my daughter and family, Mr. And Mrs. V.E. Cowell, Colville Wash.