Creation Date

before 1900

Count

1

Description

Brown bowl with light gray/tan stoneware trim; interior brown; used to hold milk for cream for separating. Letter from Dorothy Durkee reads: Milk bowl, owned by “Lena”, Mrs. Manley Lord - before 1900 - The Lords were some of the early citizens of Morris - I do not have any dates, but some where in the history of Morris paper should tell of the Lords Golden Wedding (Morris Tribune 1/5/1934) - so that may give some information about when they came from New York State to Morris. Lena was 15 years old when she and Manley ran over to the minister and were married - No legal papers in those days. Lena
used to tell me the story. Her sister had a ht shop in the family home, Lena helped herself to one of the fancy hats so she would have some special garb for her wedding. All the family were gone so she and Manley decided that was the time to get married (12/30/1883) - The minister asked no questions, even supplied the witnesses. When the family came home the new bride and groom made their announcement! (I think Lena was connected to the sponsors, there was a relationship there but I’ve forgotten in the 60 some years). Lena’s father was very angrya nd stormed over to the pastor. He said “Did you marry Lena?” “No” the minister said, “Manley Lord did” - Then she said the family had to decide how they were going to live. Manley was a little older, how much, I don’t know. Manley worked in the feed business and soon it was decided it would be good
Bowl was broken at some point and has been repaired with a strong yellow glue.




































for them to go west so the young Lords and some Spooners came to Morris. As time went on Manley was properous and a leading early settler in Morris. They had a home in Morris in the area where the “Chimneys” is built- Everone had their own cow and small barn. In the summer time a young boy was hired to herd all the cows so they could eat the abundance of grass growing in the prairie area - the part of Morris where the Villa and countless homes are.
When the boys brought each owners cow/cows home the owner, or his wife
milked her and set this bowl or a bowl like this on shelves in their cellars - a screen or cheese cloth covered the milk, the cream rose to the surface and the housewife had a skimmer - (no doubt you have some of those) was used to take the cream off the milk - when enough cream was saved it was time to make butter
Some ladies made cheese too - In 1941 - Lena Lord gave me the bowl, and the great story. The bowl fell off a shelf so is pretty sad, but the history does not shatter.
If the cow produced well they had many of this kind of bowl. A cow owner might sell milk to those who had no cows.
As time moved on someone started to havest ice and ice boxes were available, the ldies thought they were blessed with such a modern piece of wonder.
This is a short story about one of the tasks the early settlers had.
Dorothy Jesness Durkee

Geographic Notes

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