Ida Alicia Jewett Austill

Ida Alicia Jewett was born 10 September, 1888, in Olathe, Kansas, to Albert Decatur Jewett and Edna Adelaide Smith Jewett. Albert Jewett was a farmer in the vicinity of DeSoto, Kansas. The couple had another daughter, Emma Frances, who was born on 10 Dec. 1886.

When Ida was three years old, her father died as a result of sun-stroke when he was working in his fields. Edna Jewett took her two daughters to live at the near-by farm home of her parents, Benjamin Hubbard and Cynthia Smith.

The girls grew up in comfortable surroundings, with pleasant farm experiences and loving relatives.

In 1899 Edna Jewett married Peter Savage, also a Johnson County farmer, who lived in the area for fifty years. He was twice a widower and had a son and daughter - Will and Minnie. A son, Howard Emerson Savage, was born on 26 March 26, 1901, to Peter and Edna Savage. Ida often remarked about having whole, half and step relationships within the family. But all were close, and this closeness carried over into the next generation, with no feelings of differences in degree of relationship. To Ida's children, Aunt Minnie was as dear and beloved as Aunt Emma, who was known to several generations of relatives and friends as "Auntie".

Ida always worked hard. As a girl she sewed for friends and neighbors, and she and her friends especially enjoyed making the elaborate hats that were the style. She attended Baker University in Ottawa, Kansas, as did Emma.

Emma trained to be a teacher, a profession which she followed until she reached retirement age, watching several generations of students grow up. She was fondly remembered by former students; for many years she taught in one-room rural schools where she had all grades and was the enly teacher. In her later years she worked at the Kansas State School for the Deaf in Olathe, where she was a housekeeper and seamstress.

Ida Jewett studied business courses at Baker University; after completing the two year course, she returned to DeSoto and worked for a time in a store, keeping books. About this time she met Joseph Austill, a railroad worker. They married 16 October, 1912, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Austills made their first home in DeSoto, Kansas, and here were born their first three children: Maurice Albert in 1913; Margaret Frances in 1915; and Juanita Belle in 1920. The family were well-known in Johnson County, as both parents' families had lived there for many years. Ida was one of the charter members of the Young Women's Club, which is still an active organization. At the time of the club's 50th anniversary, Ida was happy to be able to go from Oregon to attend the celebration as an honored guest.

Maurice was a small, sickly baby, who needed constant attention; Ida has told how she carried him around on a pillow because he was so frail. Margaret from the first was a mother's joy: bright, beautiful, easy-going, happy and obedient. Juanita was sickly as a baby until the doctor advised Ida not to keep her swathed in layers of wraps in the heat of a Kansas summer!

As Maurice and Margaret entered school, Joseph and Ida decided that their children would receive better schooling in a larger community; they all their lives were to sacrifice to do anything that might make life better for their children. Joseph applied for and received the job as track foreman for the Santa Fe in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas; a town of about 10,000 people at that time and the seat of the University of Kansas; a town known for its good schools.