596327

[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Oct 24, 1998]

Catherine Browner Drinnin, daughter of John Browner and Margaret O'Connor Curry Browner, was born at the Browner home, 1803 6th Street, in Columbus on January 4, 1870. In 1974 her father built a spacious home on the Browner farm two miles northeast of town and moved his family there.

She attended the District I Suburban School, the St. Francis Academy, and the Columbus High School. She was graduated from the Fremont Normal College. Before her marriage, she taught in Platte and Colfax Counties, and in the Columbus schools.

During the "Blizzard of 1888" Catherine Browner was teaching at the District 80 school. A newpaper story in the Columbus Telegram from January 12, 1963, recalls the memories of Plessie Drinnin, who at the time of the "Blizzard of '88" was 7 years old, and a student at the school. Plessie, incidently, was the youngest sister of Samuel Pomeroy Drinnin, Catherine's husband-to-be in 1895.

Plessie recalls that dark, dismal and cold day in January when she was seven years old. "It began snowing at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and by the time school was to adjourn for the day, the big heavy flakes had made all hopes of getting home look impossible," she said.

About 20 to 25 youngsters were in the schoolroom, including her four brothers and sisters and the teacher, Miss Browner. As she recalls, one or two of the pupils who lived near the school were told to follow a certain fence to their homes. The remainder of the youngsters spent the night in school.

She and one of her classmates were mae comfortable as possible on the small stage in the school, wrapped in coats of the other older pupils who planned to spend the night by the stove tending the fire. "We kept pretty warm, but I can remember the sound of the wind that night," Plessie said. My parents couldn't leave the house - you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."

Like many other parents, Mr. and Mrs. Drinnin failed to sleep that night. They later told their children that they were nearly certain that Miss Browner would not let them leave the school in such a storm, but they sat up all night by the fire, watching a ceiling lamp sway as the wind shook the house.

The next morning Dr. Drinnin shoveled out his homemade sleigh and harnessed his team. Plessie's clearest recollection of the ordeal was the ride home in the sleigh. "The horses were so very spirited that morning and I can remember the snow from their hooves hitting our faces. We were bundled in heavy blankets and quilts which mother had sent along. I'll remember that ride as long as I live," she related.

The snowbanks were as high as the trees, possibly 15-20 feet in depth.

Catherine Browner married Samuel Drinnin on Christmas Day, 1895 at St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus. They made their home on a farm near the Browner School, northeast of Columbus.

This is farm that my father grew up on, and lived all his life. My brother and sister and I also grew up here, living in the same house as the one that Samuel and Catherine moved into in 1895.

Samuel and Catherine had four children. Grace (my namesake), Samuel Phillip (my father), Joseph (Uncle Joe), and Margaret (Aunt Margaret).

Grandma Drinnin always said that she would live to be 100 years, and she did. She died on January 6, 1970, when she was 100 years and two days old. I remember visiting Grandma Drinnin, when I was a young girl, at the hospital in Norfolk, where she lived. She was a very sweet, soft spoken lady, with beatutiful white hair. She always seemed to enjoy our visits. I wish that I could have talked to her more about the old days, I'm sure that she had many interesting stories to tell.







[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Oct 25, 1998]

Catherine Browner Drinnin, daughter of John Browner and Margaret O'Connor Curry Browner, was born at the Browner home, 1803 6th Street, in Columbus on January 4, 1870. In 1974 her father built a spacious home on the Browner farm two miles northeast of town and moved his family there.

She attended the District I Suburban School, the St. Francis Academy, and the Columbus High School. She was graduated from the Fremont Normal College. Before her marriage, she taught in Platte and Colfax Counties, and in the Columbus schools.

During the "Blizzard of 1888" Catherine Browner was teaching at the District 80 school. A newpaper story in the Columbus Telegram from January 12, 1963, recalls the memories of Plessie Drinnin, who at the time of the "Blizzard of '88" was 7 years old, and a student at the school. Plessie, incidently, was the youngest sister of Samuel Pomeroy Drinnin, Catherine's husband-to-be in 1895.

Plessie recalls that dark, dismal and cold day in January when she was seven years old. "It began snowing at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and by the time school was to adjourn for the day, the big heavy flakes had made all hopes of getting home look impossible," she said.

About 20 to 25 youngsters were in the schoolroom, including her four brothers and sisters and the teacher, Miss Browner. As she recalls, one or two of the pupils who lived near the school were told to follow a certain fence to their homes. The remainder of the youngsters spent the night in school.

She and one of her classmates were mae comfortable as possible on the small stage in the school, wrapped in coats of the other older pupils who planned to spend the night by the stove tending the fire. "We kept pretty warm, but I can remember the sound of the wind that night," Plessie said. My parents couldn't leave the house - you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."

Like many other parents, Mr. and Mrs. Drinnin failed to sleep that night. They later told their children that they were nearly certain that Miss Browner would not let them leave the school in such a storm, but they sat up all night by the fire, watching a ceiling lamp sway as the wind shook the house.

The next morning Dr. Drinnin shoveled out his homemade sleigh and harnessed his team. Plessie's clearest recollection of the ordeal was the ride home in the sleigh. "The horses were so very spirited that morning and I can remember the snow from their hooves hitting our faces. We were bundled in heavy blankets and quilts which mother had sent along. I'll remember that ride as long as I live," she related.

The snowbanks were as high as the trees, possibly 15-20 feet in depth.

Catherine Browner married Samuel Drinnin on Christmas Day, 1895 at St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus. They made their home on a farm near the Browner School, northeast of Columbus.

This is farm that my father grew up on, and lived all his life. My brother and sister and I also grew up here, living in the same house as the one that Samuel and Catherine moved into in 1895.

Samuel and Catherine had four children. Grace (my namesake), Samuel Phillip (my father), Joseph (Uncle Joe), and Margaret (Aunt Margaret).

Grandma Drinnin always said that she would live to be 100 years, and she did. She died on January 6, 1970, when she was 100 years and two days old. I remember visiting Grandma Drinnin, when I was a young girl, at the hospital in Norfolk, where she lived. She was a very sweet, soft spoken lady, with beatutiful white hair. She always seemed to enjoy our visits. I wish that I could have talked to her more about the old days, I'm sure that she had many interesting stories to tell.







[4246.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Dec 4, 1998]

Catherine Browner Drinnin, daughter of John Browner and Margaret O'Connor Curry Browner, was born at the Browner home, 1803 6th Street, in Columbus on January 4, 1870. In 1974 her father built a spacious home on the Browner farm two miles northeast of town and moved his family there.

She attended the District I Suburban School, the St. Francis Academy, and the Columbus High School. She was graduated from the Fremont Normal College. Before her marriage, she taught in Platte and Colfax Counties, and in the Columbus schools.

During the "Blizzard of 1888" Catherine Browner was teaching at the District 80 school. A newpaper story in the Columbus Telegram from January 12, 1963, recalls the memories of Plessie Drinnin, who at the time of the "Blizzard of '88" was 7 years old, and a student at the school. Plessie, incidently, was the youngest sister of Samuel Pomeroy Drinnin, Catherine's husband-to-be in 1895.

Plessie recalls that dark, dismal and cold day in January when she was seven years old. "It began snowing at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and by the time school was to adjourn for the day, the big heavy flakes had made all hopes of getting home look impossible," she said.

About 20 to 25 youngsters were in the schoolroom, including her four brothers and sisters and the teacher, Miss Browner. As she recalls, one or two of the pupils who lived near the school were told to follow a certain fence to their homes. The remainder of the youngsters spent the night in school.

She and one of her classmates were mae comfortable as possible on the small stage in the school, wrapped in coats of the other older pupils who planned to spend the night by the stove tending the fire. "We kept pretty warm, but I can remember the sound of the wind that night," Plessie said. My parents couldn't leave the house - you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."

Like many other parents, Mr. and Mrs. Drinnin failed to sleep that night. They later told their children that they were nearly certain that Miss Browner would not let them leave the school in such a storm, but they sat up all night by the fire, watching a ceiling lamp sway as the wind shook the house.

The next morning Dr. Drinnin shoveled out his homemade sleigh and harnessed his team. Plessie's clearest recollection of the ordeal was the ride home in the sleigh. "The horses were so very spirited that morning and I can remember the snow from their hooves hitting our faces. We were bundled in heavy blankets and quilts which mother had sent along. I'll remember that ride as long as I live," she related.

The snowbanks were as high as the trees, possibly 15-20 feet in depth.

Catherine Browner married Samuel Drinnin on Christmas Day, 1895 at St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus. They made their home on a farm near the Browner School, northeast of Columbus.

This is farm that my father grew up on, and lived all his life. My brother and sister and I also grew up here, living in the same house as the one that Samuel and Catherine moved into in 1895.

Samuel and Catherine had four children. Grace (my namesake), Samuel Phillip (my father), Joseph (Uncle Joe), and Margaret (Aunt Margaret).

Grandma Drinnin always said that she would live to be 100 years, and she did. She died on January 6, 1970, when she was 100 years and two days old. I remember visiting Grandma Drinnin, when I was a young girl, at the hospital in Norfolk, where she lived. She was a very sweet, soft spoken lady, with beatutiful white hair. She always seemed to enjoy our visits. I wish that I could have talked to her more about the old days, I'm sure that she had many interesting stories to tell.