Jessie Smith Young Stewart
Jessie Smith Young Stewart was born in Scotland and her name reflects the Scottish naming traditions, being named after her mother, Jessie Smith Young. In Scotland, Janet and Jessie are often interchangeable. Just as Jessie was named for her Mother, her Mother was named for her maternal Grandmother, Janet Smith. Jessie's father, Edward Archibald Stewart, and most of her siblings, though not all, came to America in the early 1900's after the death of her mother. Following is an excerpt, from John Duncan's, We Are All Margaret Haldane's Bairns: Jessie Smith Young Stewart was born in Scotland on 21 Sep 1899, arrived first to Salem, Massachusets in 1920. Jessie Smith Young Stewart married, Louis Alfonso Cahoon, son of Alphonso Francis Cahoon and Martha Lenora Haley, and also first husband of her sister, Mary Moss McMillan Stewart. (Louis Alfonso Cahoon was born on 21 Sep 1892 in Bourne, Barnstable, MA, died in Mar 1974 in Concord, Essex, VT and was buried in Victory, Essex, VT.) (Note 1, from Colleen Cahoon: Jessie ran off with her sister’s ( Mary M. M. Stewart) husband, Louis A. Cahoon, and they lived in New York prior to 1927, where Weecie (Jessee Louise) and Betty Ann (Elizabeth Ann) were born, then moved to Victory, Essex, Vermont, for the birth of their third daughter, Mary Jane. There they raised their children and Jessee’s nephews, Louis Jr., Edward, and sometimes James.) [Note 2, from Colleen Cahoon, Grand Niece of Jessie S.Y. Stewart Cahoon: After getting to know my Great Aunt, I tentatively asked “Aunt Jess” (which is what my father, Edward Stewart Cahoon, called her and what she preferred that I call her, rather than Great Aunt) why she ran off with her sister’s (my Grandmother Mary’s) husband?She sighed and took my hand between both her own, then rested all three gently on her lap. I had dared to ask the question and she was going to be sure that I stayed for the answer. She made me feel very safe and very comfortable. She began by telling me that the “ times were different then.” She further explained that she very naďve and her mother had told her, what her mother had probably been advised, which was very little in the “ways of the world”. When it came to men, the only thing she had been told was: “Kissing a man will make you pregnant, so do NOT kiss any, except your husband.” The look on my face must have reported to her, that I thought that was incredulous. She smiled and nodded, in agreement with my unspoken thought, “I know it sounds silly now, but at the time it was very serious. Especially as I believed it, having no reason to doubt it, you see. Newly arrived, things were exciting and different, but naturally, I did not have any interest in your Grandfather, though he flirted with me often, which made me nervous, but was also flattering and new for me. My brother, John, used to tease me unmercilessly about my full lips, so I was not used to compliments. In fact at times, I wondered if Louie was sincere or whether, he were teasing me like my brother. Either way I was not terribly concerned about the flirtations or taunts, which ever they were, initially. That changed of course, you see, when your Grandfather stole a kiss! Bearing in mind what my Mother had conveyed, I went crazy with worry, believing the stolen kiss had impregnated me! Raised religiously to be a “good girl”, I was beside myself with the fears and shames, of guilt and ignorance.” “I kinno regret having my wee bairns, nor coming to love Louie, later, but I do regret what my ignorance did, to the lives of my sister and her wee bairns, expecially to your father, who never got over the pain of it all, which is why I have loved him so dearly, even when he was naughty. I loved all of Louie’s boys, as if they were my own.” All of the above was conveyed in her lovely Scottish accent and with a genuine quality of peace, in acceptance of what really happened, right or wrong; silly or smart; almost as if I had received a confession, and that brought tears to my eyes. She saw that, patted my hand, released it, stood up and said, "Now, perhaps some pie?" Which did the trick, I smiled and she did too..... My Aunt Jess was a very warm and loving person. While my father resented what his father had done, he did truly love his Aunt Jess and corresponded with her for many years, as he also did with his mother. Later in life he made long drives, from Texas to Vermont, to visit her. In fact, I think he may have visited her more, than he had his own mother, who died years earlier.
Obituary: CAHOON, Jessie Stewart, 98, of Victory, died peacefully, surrounded by her family Tuesday July 7, 1998, at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab. Center in St. Johnsbury. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept 21, 1899, a daughter of Jessie and Edward Stewart and came to America in 1920. She worked as a Baker in Salem Hospital, Massachusetts until her marriage to Louis A. Cahoon of Buzzards Bay, Mass. She and her husband moved to Victory Hill Farm in Victory, Vermont, in 1927. Jessie was a homemaker for many years. She taught Sunday School at the South Victory schoolhouse and was a member of the Union Baptist Church for many years, where she enjoyed many church activities and fellowship over the years. After her children were born, she lived in Salem, Mass, where she was employed as a “substitute mother” for a number of years. She remained close to some of the families for whom she cared. She and her husband later retired to their home in Gallops Mills, Vermont, near Victory. Jessie carried on a wide correspondence with family and many friends. She touched the lives of many people in a meaningful way. She was known for her cheerful smile and loving spirit, her fine cooking skills, Scottish folklore, ready wit, and her love of the Vermont hills. Her gifts of hand-knitted mittens will also be remembered by many. She spent some winters with her daughter, Louise, in Indiana and her daughter, Mary Jane and son-in-law in Pennsylvania. She lived her later years as a widow with her daughter, Betty Ann (Elizabeth Ann) and son-in-law, Wayne Wright. Here she was a member of the Kennett Area Senior Center and honorary member of the Willowdale, Chapel. [ Note 3. from Colleen Cahoon: Jessie’s Gallop Mills home fell into the care of her grand-daughter Judith, daughter of Betty Ann and Wayne Wright. The Wright Family had lived many years with Jessie, in her later years, to assist her, though she was a remarkably sound woman, well into her senior years. In fact, Jessie had contracted and survived LOCK JAW, at the age of 87! A phenominial feat, at any age; this one earned her an entry into the medical journals! After Jessie’s death, possibly before it, Judith resided there, at Gallop Mills, while her parents returned to St. Johnsbury, possibly. The home burned down, to the woe of all who had ever visited there. The details of exactly when and how, are unbeknown to me. I miss the thought of it being there. Though it was very old, very slanted, and remote, it was located within walking distance of Moose River. There one could sit on the stones and wash their hair in the natural falls, that appeared at various points along the river. Leeches sometimes were present… but not always. Even now, I can see the old “inside-outhouse,” that had been connected, just outside the kitchen, but within the wood shed, attached to the house. This facility, underwent modernization to only minor degree, yet in no way proved offensive, as one might think it would. From there, I can walk back into and across Aunt Jessie’s slanted kitchen floor; pause to listen for the sound of her voice, from the other room; find grace with the treasure that the music of her Scottish lilt, lent to us all. While still in that place, I can also inhale the scent of Aunt Jessie’s famous apple pie, which the word, ‘delicious’ fails miserably, to properly accredit. Aunt Jessie’s home-made from scratch pies were absolutely, heavenly or devilishly, sublime! I will always hold Aunt Jessie’s memory dear, despite her early ignorance, she was a mighty fine lady.] |