Cecil Mary (White) O'Brien(61 records)
1895 - Cecil White is born in Volga Iowa.
December 15 1895
In the 1895 Iowa census, Cecil's father Wendell is listed as a farmer, his religious beliefs are 'none'. her mother Blanche is listed as 'keeping house'. Wendell E. White is 35 years old Blanche (Tenney) White is 28 years old.

  • Cecil White O'Brien (1895-1989)

    Early Years

    • Parents:
      • Father: Wendell E. White
      • Mother: Blanche White
    • Childhood:
      • Rural Iowa upbringing
      • Early cooking and homemaking skills
      • Mentored by aunt Eva
    • Education: Volga school system (documented 1900)

    Family Life

    • Marriage:
      • Spouse: Frank O'Brien (1916)
      • Children: Mary, Neil, Francis
      • Farming partnership until Frank's death (1945)

    Community Leadership

    • Organizations:
      • Volga Senior Citizens
      • Sacred Heart Society
      • National Council of Catholic Women
    • Youth Development:
      • Founded Volga Bluebirds
      • Long-term 4-H Club leader
      • Focus on girls' education and development

    Later Years

    • Activities:
      • Continued community involvement
      • Needlework hobby
      • Lived with daughter in Chanhassen, MN

    Historical Impact

    • 94-year lifespan witnessed major changes
    • Exemplified Midwestern values
    • Sustained community engagement
    • Strong family connections
     
    • 107136_CecilWhite.mp3 Podcast
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  • Cecil White was a direct descendant of Peregrine White, who was born on the ship Mayflower in 1620. Peregrine White
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    1900 - photo of Cecil
    Vintage Photograph Theme
    A photograph of Cecil and other students from early in her school years. See the yellow arrow that points her out in the photograph. In this photograph there is snow on the ground, and most of the students appear to be chilly.
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  • 1900 U.S. Census for Sperry Township, Clayton County Iowa.

    The 1900 U.S. Census has Cecil listed as born in 1895. She is 4 years old.
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    1905 - traveling with "Gam" to aunt Ida's
    CECIL AND GRANDMOTHER EMBARK ON GUTTENBERG JOURNEY
    Page 4 of The Mail Press, published in Strawberry Point, Iowa on Thursday, August 17th, 1905
    ↑
  • It reads:
    "Mrs. L. White and grand-daughter Cecil left Tuesday for a visit at Guttenberg."

    • Ida and her husband Sumner Miller live in Guttenberg.

    • L. White is Lura White.
     
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    1907 - postcard from Cecil, 11 years old, to her mother and sister
    CECIL WRITES MOMMA: GUTTENBERG VISIT BEGINS, BASEBALL GAME AND GUESTS EXPECTED.
  • "A.W." might be her sister Alo White. If it does say "Gam" then that likely means a grandparent. Caddie is her aunt, the sister of Blanche and Eva. Family lore says that Cecil sometimes remarked her mother could be cold, and the plaintive "momma why don't you write' supports that .
     

  • Postcard from Cecil to Her Mother and Sister

    Postcard Details

    On July 27, 1907, 11-year-old Cecil White wrote a postcard to her mother, Blanche White, and her sister, Alo White, while they were visiting relatives in Britt, Iowa. The postcard, postmarked at 3:00 PM in Volga, Iowa, provides a glimpse into the local happenings and Cecil's experiences during their absence.

    Content of the Postcard

    "Dear Alo and mamma:
    I received A.W. postal this morning. Guttenberg is here but I have not seen one that I know of yet. Momma, why don't you write. I expect we will be very busy after we come from B game. Hartmonds are coming tomorrow."
    – Cecil

      Additional Context

      Blanche and Alo returned from their trip to Britt, Iowa, on Tuesday evening, as noted in the Clayton County Journal, published August 2, 1907. This confirms the timing of events mentioned in Cecil's postcard.

      Source: Postmarked July 27, 1907, Volga, Iowa; Clayton County Journal, August 2, 1907


       
      • Scrolled Parchment Theme
      July 27, 1907, was a Saturday. A newspaper article published Aug 2 shows there was a ball game the previous Saturday, the 27th, between Guttenberg and Volga, which matches the date of her postcard. Cecil is writing that the Guttenberg ball team and baseball fans are in Volga. Cecil writes: • "Guttenberg is here.." She might be referring to the store when she writes • "we will be very busy once we come from the B game".
      "Gam wants to know if Caddie is coming home with you..I guess all the ??? are home from ???"
      "Gam" was a term commonly used to refer to a grandmother. "Gamps" would have referred to a grandfather (as in "grand-pa"). At this time, both of Cecil's grandmothers were alive (Lura Celinda White and Polly Ann Tenney.)
      CECIL CORRESPONDS FROM VOLGA WHILE MOTHER VISITS AUNT IN DISTANT BRITT
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      MRS. WHITE AND DAUGHTER ALO RETURN FROM BRITT
      This is a png image file
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      1910 - U.S Census, Volga City Iowa
      1910, CECIL IS 14 YEARS OLD
      Cecil is listed as 14 years old in the 1910 census for Sperry Township
      April 15 1910
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      1911 - Travel to Dubuque; a visit to Britt; a visit to Alo at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa
      CECIL WHITE RETURNS HOME FROM DUBUQUE
      Page 5 of Mail Press, published in Strawberry Point, Iowa on Thursday, August 24th, 1911
      Cecil came home from Dubuque on Monday

      Cecil White's 1911 Travels

      Summer Travel Chronology

      • July: Visit to Britt, Iowa
        • Traveled with aunt and uncle (Gus Lee, jeweler)
        • Cecil's age: 15 years old
      • August: Return from Dubuque
        • Arrived home on Monday
      • Visit to Mount Vernon
        • Purpose: Visit sister Alo at Cornell College
        • Travel Party:
          • Mrs. Blanche White (mother)
          • Cecil White
          • Mrs. Thomas Conboy (Eva)
          • Arthur O'Brien (Alo's future husband)
        • Transportation: Automobile
        • Distance: Approximately 80 miles
        • Notable: Overnight stay due to rain
        • Return: Monday afternoon

      Historical Context

      • Shows early automobile travel challenges in 1911
      • Documents period before Alo and Art O'Brien's marriage
      • Demonstrates Cecil's independence at young age
      • Illustrates family's support of Alo's college education at Cornell College
      CECIL WHITE DEPARTS WITH LEE FAMILY FOR BRITT VISIT
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    • Page 6 of The Register And Argus, published in Elkader, Iowa on Thursday, July 27th, 1911
      • Scrapbook Entry Theme
      Journey to Britt, Iowa
      Fifteen years old, Cecil travels with her aunt and her aunt's husband, the jeweler Gus Lee, to their home in Britt, Iowa, for a stay.
      CECIL WHITE'S RAINY AUTO ADVENTURE: OVERNIGHT STAY IN MT. VERNON AFTER VISITING ALO
      This is a png image file
    • Mrs. Blanche White and daughter, Cecil, Mrs. Thos Conboy and Arthur O'Brien made a trip to Mt Vermon, Sunday by auto to see Alo White. On account of rain they stayed in Mt. Vernon over night arriving home Monday afternoon.
      • Vintage Travel Journal Theme
      Mount Vernon Excursion
      Blanche, Cecil, Eva, and Art O'Brien drove to Mount Vernon, which is a distance of approximately 80 miles, to visit Alo, where she was going to college at Cornell College. Art and Alo were not yet married
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