Twelve Things I Know

Last summer writer Susan Tweit posted on her blog "Ten Things To Be Thankful For" at a difficult time in her life. She said sometimes when we are stuck in our writing it is helpful to make a list. At that time I had kicked my writing into high gear, but felt I was making little headway. I sat down one night and wrote a list on a pad of paper about writing my book. I ran across that list tonight and decided to share it on my blog--both as a reminder to me and to encourage others. (My ten things ended up being twelve.)

Twelve Things I Know

1. Writing a book is totally overwhelming.

2. I have a great story.

3. I am committed to it.

4. I have more research to do.

5. I've found my writing style.

6. I have enough information to write the book.

7. I have great support from my family and friends.

8. I have an editor who is very interested in the book.

9. My prologue sets the stage for the book.

10. I will have to rewrite everything!

11. Life happens.

12. I WILL FINISH THIS BOOK.

As of tonight, the prologue is still the only part of the book completed. I wrote "Life happens" without knowing that one month later my mother-in-law, Helene, would go into the hospital and spend a month on the edge of life and death. She is home now after two months of rehab. But she has a long road to travel with much support needed from her family. Life happens.

The research piece is still happening, too. Last week I went to Google Books and started typing in names. I must say I was shocked to find that two of the cases I'm researching went to the Colorado Supreme Court. The court upheld the County Court's rulings. I should have been thrilled to find this, but I felt overwhelmed. If I missed this big piece of the puzzle, what other big pieces am I overlooking. But I also remembered this is a treasure hunt and each treasure comes when it is ready to be found and when I am ready to find it. Tomorrow I am going to the State Archives to look at the Colorado Supreme Court Cases.

I have added Twitter to my blog in the right-hand column. Twitter is a social network where you answer the question, "What are you doing now?" in 140 characters or less. I thought I'd just Twitter what I was doing with the book and research, but I've decided to go ahead and share what I'm doing at other times. Now you will know why the book isn't finished yet!

Rick Mountain and Cottonwood Gulch

Rick Mountain
Cottonwood Gulch

Tonight I took a closer look at the plat map and Ernest's land description. I realized the land the clerk had marked in the assessor's office was only 40 acres--the 40 acres I paid attention to when we visited the Rick Mountain Ranch. However, according to the deed, Ernest owned 160 acres.

The earlier pictures I posted are the 40 acres on the east side. The Rick Mountain and Cottonwood Gulch pictures above show the 120 acres to the west. This land is six miles up Cottonwood Gulch out of Salida.

Women Writing The West Conference

I spent the weekend in San Antonio at the Women Writing The West Conference. It was fabulous! It was good to see old friends and meet new friends. The women are so encouraging and supportive. I am so happy I found this group three years ago!

On Friday we toured the Alamo, shopped and ate lunch on the Riverwalk. I enjoyed visiting with my friend Jane Kirkpatrick and her husband, Jerry. Jane and Jerry are in the picture of the Alamo. Jane had a special weekend because she also received her WILLA Award at the conference for A Tendering In The Storm.

I enjoyed rooming with Heidi Thomas, whose novel Cowgirl Dreams will be released in January by Treble Heart. I also spent time with the other board members and had fun getting to know them better.

The highlight for me was meeting with my editor for my book about Ernest Christison and the cattle rustling. Ron told me I was on the right track and that he looks forward to continuing to work on the project. Yippee!

Ernest Christison's Land

John and I drove to Salida Saturday night. We visited with one of the present-day owners of the land that Ernest Christison owned in 1883. Glen's grandparents had lived on adjoining land in the early 1900's. His grandfather was George Everett, who wrote two books about the history of the area: Under The Angel of Shavano with Dr. Wendall Hutchinson and Cattle Cavalcade in Central Colorado from 1860-1966.

We drove up to the land on Sunday morning. John and I weren't sure if we could locate it positively without Glen, but we did--using the GPS and the map. The aspen were at their peak. The land is rugged, desolate and beautiful. How it sustained many cattle is a mystery to me. I guess that is why there was open range at the time. The elevation is almost 9,000 feet.

Check back for more pictures and details about our trip!

What Is History?

Robert Lowenberg and Gayle Christison Gresham

On Monday, I opened the newspaper and saw that one of my high school history teachers, Robert Lowenberg, would be giving a program at Castle Rock on Wednesday. I knew I couldn’t miss this!
When I was a senior in 1983 at the Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, I was selected to be in a small class called “What Is History” taught by Mr. Lowenberg. Mr. Lowenberg had a passion for preserving the historic structures in Castle Rock and recording their history. Mr. Lowenberg’s goals for the class were 1) to learn the skills and methods of an historian and 2) to do primary research, using written, physical and human resources within the community. Mr. Lowenberg spent the first five weeks exploring what history means and how we define it. Next, he divided the class into teams of two students and assigned each team a house in Castle Rock to research. Kathy Kirby and I were assigned the Memmen house, a small farm on the outskirts of Castle Rock (now surrounded by the town). Mr. Lowenberg drove us to the library, newspaper office, or courthouse each class period teaching us how to search old newspapers and census records, how to use grantee/grantor records for title searches, and how to interview the people who lived in the house and those who knew something about the house. Kathy and I discovered the house was once owned by John H. Craig, one of the founders of the town of Castle Rock. Two mayors of Castle Rock had also lived in the house.

Kathy and I wrote our term paper for the class and each included our impressions on “What Is History?” After attending Mr. Lowenberg’s program last night, I pulled out my old paper. How interesting to look back and see what I had learned and what I had to say about history. I used a quote by Carl L. Becker who said, “History is the memory of things said and done.” I wrote, “Memory is not always accurate even if it is written down.” That is something I really believe now! I also wrote, “Complications make the work hard, but they do not overpower the rewards.”

As to my expectations of how history and this class would affect my life, I wrote, “I believe I would like to be a historian, but it will probably just be a hobby. This class has been the best class I have ever had. I lived and breathed this class. It was so hard to come back from Castle Rock after reading about the people and town and try to concentrate on Chemistry [class]. I will always be able to use the skills I learned in this class. History is more than just the past to me now; it is the present.”

Twenty-five years have passed since I was in Mr. Lowenberg’s “What Is History?” class. I haven’t seen Mr. Lowenberg since I graduated from high school. Last night I introduced myself to him and he said, “Yes, I remember you!” I think that’s pretty good since there were over 400 students in my graduating class alone. I was happy to tell him I am still using the research skills and understanding of history I gained in his class.

Bob Lowenberg gave a presentation on “Getting To Know Castle Rock.” He also sold and signed copies of a book he put together in 1981 called Castle Rock: A Grass Roots History using the papers students wrote in his earlier classes.

It isn't often we have a chance to thank the person from the past who made a huge impact on our lives. I want to thank Mr. Lowenberg for his passion for history and for his joy in passing along what he had learned. That combination makes the best kind of teacher. And Mr. Lowenberg is one of the best. Thank you, Mr. Lowenberg.

Lynn Monroy, Graphologist

Left to Right: Lynn Monroy with Gayle Gresham

Those of you who have followed my journey in researching and writing about my family know that unexpected surprises are becoming common for me. Never knowing what will turn up next or who I will meet is an adventure that I love! Another opportunity opened through a member of Women Writing The West and I decided to pursue it to see what happens. Author Eunice Boeve wrote an e-mail to the WWW group about her cruise to Alaska. For Eunice, one of the exciting parts of the cruise was a daily program about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday and other men involved in the shoot-out at the OK Corral in Tombstone given by graphologist Lynn Monroy. Lynn had studied and analyzed the handwriting of the men on both sides of the conflict and gave an entertaining and enlightening program by showing examples of their handwriting and giving insight into their character. Lynn also chose three people randomly each day to analyze their handwriting and Eunice was one that was chosen. She thought Lynn's findings about her were fairly accurate. Lynn even pegged her as a writer!

After reading Eunice's e-mail, I decided to contact Lynn about my project. Lynn expressed her interest and said she would be in Colorado and perhaps we could meet. Yesterday we met at the Colorado State Archives so Lynn could look at the original letters and documents. I showed her a note that is signed by both Ernest Christison and Ed Watkins and a note that isn't signed but has the name of Watkins' ranch on it. I had hoped that maybe the note signed by both men was written by Ernest, but Lynn thought it was most likely written by the Justice of Peace or court clerk since it had seal on it. But she was fairly certain the note from Watkins' ranch was probably written by Watkins. She could tell that he was an educated man by the handwriting. I know he did go to college and was active in the literary society in Salida.

Lynn made copies of the notes and several other papers. She thought one of the lawyers must have been quite a character from his handwriting. Then I remembered finding a court case last for which Wilburn Christison was the county judge, so we looked in the file to see if we could find a document he had written. We found one! So Lynn had it copied, too, and will analyze it. I can't wait to learn what she discovers in the handwriting of all of these men. I also hope I can find a sample of Ernest's handwriting--even a signature would help.

Thank you, Lynn! This is exciting!

Lynn's sister, Renee, took the picture of Lynn and I in front of the prison record exhibit at the archives before they left for the airport. Thanks, Renee, for driving Lynn to meet with me!

And thank you, Eunice, for getting me in contact with Lynn! I appreciate all of my friends in Women Writing The West.

The Arrest

Mount Princeton - View from Gas Creek

Ernest Christison was arrested in June of 1883 near St. Elmo with seventy head of cattle that had altered brands. St. Elmo is on Chalk Creek which runs just south of Mount Princeton. He wasn't arrested by lawmen, however, but by a group of South Park cattlemen who took him and others with him on a three-day horse ride to South Park. Ernest and the others were brought before a Justice of Peace and then taken to the Fairplay jail.