Aunt Sadie's Memoirs, Part 5: Brother Lindholm, Uncle Jesse, and Grammy Crabtree

This is the fifth excerpt from my Aunt Sadie's Memoirs. Previous posts were: Part 1and Part 2 (Life on the Farm), 3 (Separated From the Family),  and 4 (Life With the Thomas Family).

Sadie's school: Milo High School, Milo, Maine
Source: Contributed by Jim Degerstrom
(be sure to visit Jim's blog by clicking on his name) 

Aunt Sadie continues:

Well, it is 1933 and I am a freshman at Milo High. The resident minister at the time was Brother [Ernest Paul] Lindholm. He was a really dedicated man and very solemn. He said he was called to be a missionary to Africa but he needed a wife before he could go. He was very sweet on Hope [Hope Crabtree McLeod, 1910-1993] when she visited but I guess his feelings were not reciprocated. I considered him a "stuffed shirt." He eventually married a nice Pentecostal girl from the Dover Foxcroft Church, went ot Africa, and was gored to death by a wild buffalo.*

From Clair: This is the only photo I have
of Sadie's brother, my
Uncle Jesse Hayward Crabtree, 1908-1950

I am going to relate a funny anecdote that is my "Jesse" story. Every one of us had their own "Jesse" story.

Our brother Jesse was retarded because he ate raw beans as a toddler and had numerous convulsions. Mama [Edith Giberson Crabtree, 1880-1946] never forgave herself for this tragedy and her dying wish was "Take care of Jesse."** He was part of our childhood and we all cared about him. He would sing folk songs to us and sit on the porch and [swing his feet] and sing his way through the hymn book. He was good-natured as long as he was fed and was a wonderful worker. Sometimes ignorant people teased him. He would get wanderlust and run away and hitch hike to Milo to see Auntie [Sarah Crabb Thomas, 1867-1938]. He was most welcome because of the work he would do and Auntie loved him too. 

We were ensconced at the dinner table with Brother Lindholm preaching when Auntie broke wind (commonly called a fart). Well, all the Aunts vanished into the adjacent pantry until they could stop giggling. Lindholm remained solemn and eventually the Aunts came back and the dinner resumed. Jesse spoke up and said, "Oh well, everyone makes a mistake once in a while."

I would like to mention some of my impression on living with Grammy Crabtree [Sarah Ann Kinney Crabtree, 1842-1935]. She was all but blind with cataracts and I would stay with her if Auntie had to go out. My main job was to help keep her away from the stove. She was "feisty" and we had many battles, which we both enjoyed. Her wit was keen and I could never get the best of her. Everyone who knew her has a funny story to tell about her sharp rejoinders. 

I went [home to the family farm in] Beaconsfield [New Brunswick] every summer vacation with a dozen or so pretty dresses, which I happily shared with Anna and Gladys. 

Next: Losing Dickie

****

*From The Pentecostal Evangel, Dec. 21, 1940, page 8 (http://ifphc.org/pdf/PentecostalEvangel/1940-1949/1940/1940_12_21.pdf)

YOUNG MISSIONARY CALLED TO HIS REWARD 

The announcement made in the last issue of the Evangel concerning the death of Ernest Paul Lindholm, missionary under our appointment to the Belgian Congo, will have come no doubt as a shock to many friends of our beloved brother who was young both in years and in missionary service.

Brother Lindholm was born in Turlock, California, August 24, 1907, and passed away in the Congo on November 26, 1940. He was a graduate of Glad Tidings Bible Institute and for four years prior to sailing for the field held a license with the New England District. For some time he pastored a church at Milo, Maine.

In June, 1939 he was united in marriage to Grace Wallace. A few months later the couple sailed for the Belgian Congo, locating soon after arrival at Nobe together with Gladys Taylor and Angeline Pierce. At this new station Brother Lindholm has taken charge of building construction, in addition to language study and other missionary activities. 

The cable sent to us from the Congo conveyed no further information other than the brief message, "Ernest Lindholm with Jesus." We sorrow not for our departed brother, but we do think of the one out on the foreign field who has been left a widow, with the care of a six months old baby. Our sympathy is extended to Mrs. Lindholm and our prayers surround her, that through the deep waters of affliction
she may realize that comfort which the God of all comfort and grace alone can supply.

**Jesse died four years after his mother, and four years before his father. He was buried with them in the Evergreen Cemetery in Houlton, Maine.