Letter to Alma Caldwell - Brenton Family History

3 May 1939
Miss Alma B. Caldwell
RFD#5, Lebanon, Indiana

Dear Alma

My ever grateful thanks for the loan of Brenton family histories,- thereby, something I have long wished for, became a glowing reality those marching generations, valiant souls, coming into a trackless wilderness, making it into a great beautiful garden with paths, highways, and freedom for children of God to learn of him, revive echoes of Thanatopais. "So live--inevitable summons--go--as one who wraps his cloak about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

Alma,- those pioneer mothers ~ Those great big families to care for under pioneer conditions. I wish we had a history of their courage and endurance.

In the 1870's, as a child, I saw something of another pioneering movement,- (going "out--west") - from the portico of the big house our grandfather built. Down the old Strawtown road they went West in springless covered wagons, and there were even slow ox teams taking young fathers, tired mothers, and shy children to a new unknown place of mystery, to build new communities.

In the 1920's in Chicago's Art Institute I viewed a sculptor's dreams of "The Pioneer Mother" reproduced in bronze, in a contest for a great prize,- trying to express the soul of the mothers of pioneers who helped to make history.

Those big families in the Brenton progenitors make an "embarassment of riches" in searching out Revolutionary ties. Glen and Will Woods tried on, and I vaguely remember that Wallace Curtis did too - uniforms that Brentons wore as soldiers of the Revolution. Unc brought to Indiana some things he wanted to keep - so - whose were those Blue and buff uniforms big boys, grandchildren, tried on? Our own Great-grandfather's, perhaps, and he married in 1781,at close of the Revolution, to Elizabeth Steele say the records you have. Son Samuel 4th child, born in 1786 in Philadelphia at home of relatives as family journeyed from another state, as Unc told me, or rather as I remember the story; they stayed with said relatives a few months, supposedly at home of a brother of Robert B., said to have been a physician, but who used the spelling Brinton. Sometime in the years in Kentucky Robert Brenton was commissioned a "Captain" by the then governor of Ken. named Eldridge or Etheridge. That can be substantiated as Tiffin Brenton, Leb., had that original commission the last I knew of it, after mother's death. He would probably be pleased to let you copy it, so getting the year of issue etc., Then a letter or visit, to Ken. State House, Frankfort, Ken., might possibly clear the records straight to the Revolution. As surely he, Robert Brenton could not have been made a Captain except he had had previous military experience. The estate of Robert was settled up at Flemingsburg, Ky., Fleming Co. --- his son Samuel,"Unc," was the administrator. I have no accurate dates, just memories, but from the family history it was just about a century ago.(1838 to 1840)

Could Lieutenant James Brenton of Virginia have been the father or the brother of said Robert? "Unc" said three of his uncles came to Indiana -- Peter, Andrew, and Adam. Brothers (?) of our ancestor Robert?

Descendants of Peter Brenton, Petersburg, Pike Co. Indiana had clear lines for DAR and I learned this through Mrs. Beulah Gray, editor of newspaper in Otwell, in Pike Co. who told my daughter, Mary, that she assisted them in getting their records and papers traced. I do not know the lady, but have read some letters she wrote Mrs. Lucy Taylor concerning her family.
Mrs. Gray is a grandmother, carrying on in a great manner, editing her local paper and just tremendously interested in an active way in the pioneer history of old families in her county. Why not write or visit her?

Clues such as these and small bits of information sometimes lead to goldmines of real big facts as we have found in clearing the Robertson records. Alma, Dear, you have the permanent settled address and the necessary prestige to fill a great white sheet with almost lost records. I would be most happy if I could help. Crystal mailed the package containing your papers on "Brenton, Brinton" and all the other things you so kindly permitted me to copy, from Jamestown, a week ago last Friday. Thanks again.

All my love and hopes will boost for your success.

Lelia

P.S. Mary has written that they would come tonight for a Sunday visit with us, May 14th.

Submitted by: Peggy Curtis Smith
[Original in possession of W. Morris]