**Newly revised biography as of 3/20/2024:
Winifred Rebecca Hyde was born to Dr. Alfred William Hyde and Anna Ridge Brumback Hyde on July 6, 1884 in Gary, Deuel Co., South Dakota. The family moved to Brookings, SD by 1888. Winifred attended South Dakota State College and was a member of the drama and Athenian Literary Society in 1907 and 1909. In 1907, Winnie is a member of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association). She attends a conference in Cascadia, Colorado as a delegate from the college. By 1910, she was a nurse at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan (see John Henry Kellogg and this famous sanitarium; sources come from the Brookings Register). She appears to have graduated from nursing school there in 1910 (see 1910 census of Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan). She took care of the famous composer of Red Wing, Minnesota but not sure if this was in Minnesota or in Michigan. She probably met Milo Edward Horn at the Michigan Battle Creek Sanitarium where he was likely a patient. (Their son Ross used to think that Winnie was a nurse in a sanitarium in Minnesota, but this was confused with their marriage there). They were married April 21, 1911 in Ivanhoe, Lincoln, Minnesota, and then moved to Palisade, NE. From what I've been told by her son Ross, they grew apple trees on their farm. Because he ate so much applesauce growing up, he grew to dislike it. He did say, though, that his mother was an amazing cook. (Later, in 1925, Winnie posts a recipe for her applesauce in the Los Angeles Times).
When Milo and Winnie were first living in Palisade, it appears that in 1913, Winnie wanted to move to Minnesota. This was about a year after her son Travis was born. Milo sold their home and belongings, but something happened, and they decided to change their minds. (My guess is that Winifred wanted to live near her parents and visit them again). Then it appears from newspaper articles in Palisade, that they wanted to move to Jackson, Michigan, about 45 miles away from Battle Creek, but this didn't happen either. They were only in Jackson, MI for about a month before deciding to return to the sand hills of Nebraska. Perhaps Milo was a patient at the sanitarium in Jackson, MI, but this is not proven. In 1914, they were living on the Domino Piedalue ranch; a cattle ranch. Then their daughter Rachel was born in 1914. In 1916, they were living at the George West ranch in Benkelman, Dundy, Ne and working. In 1916, their son Ross was born in Rollwitz, Dundy, NE. In 1918, the family visits Milo's father Thomas in Haigler. This was likely about the time that Milo's father remarried his third wife. Then in 1919, Milo and Winnie's son was born and died two months later of pneumonia; Herman E. Horn. By 1920, Winnie and family are living in Thayer, Dundy, NE and are renting. Not long after this census, they moved to Yorba Linda, California; probably with Milo's brother George. Charles was working at this time with the San Dimas Orange Grower's association and George was working as a citrus packer; possibly at the Sunkist Citrus Association on Yorba Linda Blvd (Yorba Linda Citrus Packing House). George lived in Yorba Linda on Arroyo Street. It is more likely that Milo, Winnie and family were living near George as it appears from records in Nebraska, that George was in Lux, NE 1920, right before leaving again for California; likely with Milo, Winnie, Travis, Ross and the newly born Chester Horn who was born 1920 in Lux, NE.
During their short time in Yorba Linda, CA, Ross Horn recounts how the Horn family lived near the Nixon family. (See the biography of Richard Nixon's father Frances Anthony Nixon on Wikipedia). Ross becomes friends with Richard for about two years and runs foot and bike races with him. Sometime in 1923 (before the fall of 1923), Winnie and Milo's son Melvin E. Horn is born; probably Yorba Linda. There are no birth records for him in Nebraska as there was for all of their other children, so this was probably the case. Then by the fall of 1923, the family returns to Nebraska and we find Travis, Ross, and Rachel attending the Palisade school. Winnie's father-in-law Thomas Horn dies in November of 1923. Milo husks corn for Jess Barlow and sells cabbage and tomatoes during this time. The kids continue going to school in 1924 at Palisade. By 1925, Winnie, Milo and family return to California and are living in Yorba Linda once again (see The Register of Sep. 15, 1926). Charles Horn's wife Gertrude dies by suicide July 18, 1925. Winnie and Milo are possibly working in the citrus industry again or Winnie is working in a cannery. There is also another citrus packing house in Yorba Linda called the Foothills Groves Packing House as well. Travis and Ross work in the citrus and walnut fields. There are lots of family stories handed down about their exploits during this time. Chester Horn recounts how one or all of them were trying to attend school and the principal confronted Milo and asked "why don't you work and let them go to school?" Chester also recounts to his son Raymond about the boxing competitions for money of Ross Horn with the Mexican immigrants in the fields and how he never saw Ross lose a fight.
On September 6, 1926, Winnie and Milo's daughter Frances is born and dies a few hours after birth. There is a newspaper article in the Register in 1926. Then two months later, their son Melvin E. Horn dies in Yorba Linda from diptheria. Ross Horn recounts this story to his daughter, but forgot Melvin Horn's age at the time. Both Frances and Melvin Horn's graves can be found at the same cemetery as Milo Horn's brother George Marion Horn, his wife Elizabeth Henger Horn, and their two children - Loma Vista Memorial Park. Confirmation was made from Loma Vista in March of 2024 that Milo Horn was their father, so Milo probably handled the burial arrangements for his wife Winnie. In 1927, Winnie and Milo's youngest son Martin Eugene Horn is born. He was the only one to be born in a hospital.
From a newspaper article in Nebraska, it appears that Milo, Winnie and family were back in Wauneta, NE. in February of 1929, John Horn, the older brother, visits; right before the stock market crash of October 1929. In April of 1930, Milo and Winnie with family are living in Hamlet, Hayes, NE. In November of 1930, Milo and Winnie are in the Benkelman post as part of a search party along with the rest of Milo Horn's brothers (except for Charles) and their respective families in the search for someone who was later found deceased. I believe this was Walter Edward Horn, son of Alfred and Nellie Horn (Milo's brother), who fell off his horse and died from skull injuries. Later in November of 1930, Milo gets arrested for illegal trapping and had to pay a fine of $405, which must have been an astronomical sum during the depression. They owned their home, which was close to the amount of this fine - worth $500 in 1930. During this time, Ross graduates from 8th grade at the Palisade school. Both Ross and Chester attend the Hamlet school in 1930 and 1931. In May of 1931, Milo and Winnie's daughter Rachel is very sick. It is possible that Winnie, Travis, Chester, Martin and Rachel move to Salem, Oregon at some point in 1931. Ross Horn has joined the Army. It appears that Milo stays behind to tie up loose ends and possibly to try and sell their home, property and/or pay his fine. He likely also stays behind after the death of his sister Ella's husband Sanford Denny by suicide in 1931.
Winnie writes a letter to a close friend in Hayes, Nebraska (Susan McMinn) in April 1932 and it is summarized in the newspaper indicating that the depression wasn't much better in Salem, Oregon than it was in Nebraska, but that her daughter Rachel seemed to be doing better. It appears by directory records, that Milo was a tree trimmer in Salem. Winnie likely worked at a cannery. In 1938, she apparently was trying to get work with the WPA; specifically the WPA sewing room in Salem, but was unsuccessful (see Milo's profile on an article that he wrote in 1938 for the editor of the Statesman Journal). Their son Chester was working delivering papers for the Statesman Journal. Milo had only worked one week in 1939. It appears that their son Travis' first wife died in Salem about 1934, but because the Salem Courthouse burned down in 1935, these marriage records are likely lost. The 1940 census in Salem also states that Milo was unable to work. The Horns appear to be living near a lot of cannery workers. Both sons were in the Army, and then Chester enters the Army as well after the 1940 census. When Milo dies shortly after this census in 1942 after being killed by a drunk driver, Winifred goes to court in July of 1942 and sues the man responsible; Robert Shattuc. He tries to say that Milo was negligent. In October of 1942, likely due to a lack of funds to fight the lawsuit and out of grief, Winnie decides to settle instead of continuing the lawsuit. From what her son's Chester and Ross recount, Winnie only receives $800; a paltry sum for her husband's death. In 1943, Winnie is Administratrix for the estate of Richard and Meryl Smith. Meryl Smith had died by suicide in 1938. In November, this estate is finalized, and Travis, Chester, Chester's wife Flo, and Martin are released from interest in the estate. Some time after this estate transfer, Winnie's daughter Rachel is put into the Oregon State HospitaI (called a mental hospital then) as indicated on the 1950 census. In 1944, Winnie appears to be renting out a couple of residences for extra money while her three oldest sons are in the war. Perhaps she was able to purchase some property from the Smith estate proceeds. On the 1950 census, her youngest son Martin is living with her and going to Willamette University and her son Ross, too, who was separated from his first wife. Ross was also attending Willamette University. This is the address that Winnie likely lives at the longest. There are lots of photos of the family visiting her here until 1962. Like her father, Winnie dies of pneumonia April 26, 1963 after a few months in a nursing home.
( Sources: Brookings Register, Benkelman Post and News Chronicle, Haigler News, Hayes Center Times, The Palisade Times, The Capital Journal (Oregon), The Register of Orange County, and The Statesman Journal (Oregon).
***Special thanks to my Cousin Carol Bruce who provided these wonderful photos of Winnie. She is a descendant of Winnie's Uncle George Walker Hyde.
**Newly revised biography as of 3/20/2024:
Winifred Rebecca Hyde was born to Dr. Alfred William Hyde and Anna Ridge Brumback Hyde on July 6, 1884 in Gary, Deuel Co., South Dakota. The family moved to Brookings, SD by 1888. Winifred attended South Dakota State College and was a member of the drama and Athenian Literary Society in 1907 and 1909. In 1907, Winnie is a member of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association). She attends a conference in Cascadia, Colorado as a delegate from the college. By 1910, she was a nurse at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan (see John Henry Kellogg and this famous sanitarium; sources come from the Brookings Register). She appears to have graduated from nursing school there in 1910 (see 1910 census of Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan). She took care of the famous composer of Red Wing, Minnesota but not sure if this was in Minnesota or in Michigan. She probably met Milo Edward Horn at the Michigan Battle Creek Sanitarium where he was likely a patient. (Their son Ross used to think that Winnie was a nurse in a sanitarium in Minnesota, but this was confused with their marriage there). They were married April 21, 1911 in Ivanhoe, Lincoln, Minnesota, and then moved to Palisade, NE. From what I've been told by her son Ross, they grew apple trees on their farm. Because he ate so much applesauce growing up, he grew to dislike it. He did say, though, that his mother was an amazing cook. (Later, in 1925, Winnie posts a recipe for her applesauce in the Los Angeles Times).
When Milo and Winnie were first living in Palisade, it appears that in 1913, Winnie wanted to move to Minnesota. This was about a year after her son Travis was born. Milo sold their home and belongings, but something happened, and they decided to change their minds. (My guess is that Winifred wanted to live near her parents and visit them again). Then it appears from newspaper articles in Palisade, that they wanted to move to Jackson, Michigan, about 45 miles away from Battle Creek, but this didn't happen either. They were only in Jackson, MI for about a month before deciding to return to the sand hills of Nebraska. Perhaps Milo was a patient at the sanitarium in Jackson, MI, but this is not proven. In 1914, they were living on the Domino Piedalue ranch; a cattle ranch. Then their daughter Rachel was born in 1914. In 1916, they were living at the George West ranch in Benkelman, Dundy, Ne and working. In 1916, their son Ross was born in Rollwitz, Dundy, NE. In 1918, the family visits Milo's father Thomas in Haigler. This was likely about the time that Milo's father remarried his third wife. Then in 1919, Milo and Winnie's son was born and died two months later of pneumonia; Herman E. Horn. By 1920, Winnie and family are living in Thayer, Dundy, NE and are renting. Not long after this census, they moved to Yorba Linda, California; probably with Milo's brother George. Charles was working at this time with the San Dimas Orange Grower's association and George was working as a citrus packer; possibly at the Sunkist Citrus Association on Yorba Linda Blvd (Yorba Linda Citrus Packing House). George lived in Yorba Linda on Arroyo Street. It is more likely that Milo, Winnie and family were living near George as it appears from records in Nebraska, that George was in Lux, NE 1920, right before leaving again for California; likely with Milo, Winnie, Travis, Ross and the newly born Chester Horn who was born 1920 in Lux, NE.
During their short time in Yorba Linda, CA, Ross Horn recounts how the Horn family lived near the Nixon family. (See the biography of Richard Nixon's father Frances Anthony Nixon on Wikipedia). Ross becomes friends with Richard for about two years and runs foot and bike races with him. Sometime in 1923 (before the fall of 1923), Winnie and Milo's son Melvin E. Horn is born; probably Yorba Linda. There are no birth records for him in Nebraska as there was for all of their other children, so this was probably the case. Then by the fall of 1923, the family returns to Nebraska and we find Travis, Ross, and Rachel attending the Palisade school. Winnie's father-in-law Thomas Horn dies in November of 1923. Milo husks corn for Jess Barlow and sells cabbage and tomatoes during this time. The kids continue going to school in 1924 at Palisade. By 1925, Winnie, Milo and family return to California and are living in Yorba Linda once again (see The Register of Sep. 15, 1926). Charles Horn's wife Gertrude dies by suicide July 18, 1925. Winnie and Milo are possibly working in the citrus industry again or Winnie is working in a cannery. There is also another citrus packing house in Yorba Linda called the Foothills Groves Packing House as well. Travis and Ross work in the citrus and walnut fields. There are lots of family stories handed down about their exploits during this time. Chester Horn recounts how one or all of them were trying to attend school and the principal confronted Milo and asked "why don't you work and let them go to school?" Chester also recounts to his son Raymond about the boxing competitions for money of Ross Horn with the Mexican immigrants in the fields and how he never saw Ross lose a fight.
On September 6, 1926, Winnie and Milo's daughter Frances is born and dies a few hours after birth. There is a newspaper article in the Register in 1926. Then two months later, their son Melvin E. Horn dies in Yorba Linda from diptheria. Ross Horn recounts this story to his daughter, but forgot Melvin Horn's age at the time. Both Frances and Melvin Horn's graves can be found at the same cemetery as Milo Horn's brother George Marion Horn, his wife Elizabeth Henger Horn, and their two children - Loma Vista Memorial Park. Confirmation was made from Loma Vista in March of 2024 that Milo Horn was their father, so Milo probably handled the burial arrangements for his wife Winnie. In 1927, Winnie and Milo's youngest son Martin Eugene Horn is born. He was the only one to be born in a hospital.
From a newspaper article in Nebraska, it appears that Milo, Winnie and family were back in Wauneta, NE. in February of 1929, John Horn, the older brother, visits; right before the stock market crash of October 1929. In April of 1930, Milo and Winnie with family are living in Hamlet, Hayes, NE. In November of 1930, Milo and Winnie are in the Benkelman post as part of a search party along with the rest of Milo Horn's brothers (except for Charles) and their respective families in the search for someone who was later found deceased. I believe this was Walter Edward Horn, son of Alfred and Nellie Horn (Milo's brother), who fell off his horse and died from skull injuries. Later in November of 1930, Milo gets arrested for illegal trapping and had to pay a fine of $405, which must have been an astronomical sum during the depression. They owned their home, which was close to the amount of this fine - worth $500 in 1930. During this time, Ross graduates from 8th grade at the Palisade school. Both Ross and Chester attend the Hamlet school in 1930 and 1931. In May of 1931, Milo and Winnie's daughter Rachel is very sick. It is possible that Winnie, Travis, Chester, Martin and Rachel move to Salem, Oregon at some point in 1931. Ross Horn has joined the Army. It appears that Milo stays behind to tie up loose ends and possibly to try and sell their home, property and/or pay his fine. He likely also stays behind after the death of his sister Ella's husband Sanford Denny by suicide in 1931.
Winnie writes a letter to a close friend in Hayes, Nebraska (Susan McMinn) in April 1932 and it is summarized in the newspaper indicating that the depression wasn't much better in Salem, Oregon than it was in Nebraska, but that her daughter Rachel seemed to be doing better. It appears by directory records, that Milo was a tree trimmer in Salem. Winnie likely worked at a cannery. In 1938, she apparently was trying to get work with the WPA; specifically the WPA sewing room in Salem, but was unsuccessful (see Milo's profile on an article that he wrote in 1938 for the editor of the Statesman Journal). Their son Chester was working delivering papers for the Statesman Journal. Milo had only worked one week in 1939. It appears that their son Travis' first wife died in Salem about 1934, but because the Salem Courthouse burned down in 1935, these marriage records are likely lost. The 1940 census in Salem also states that Milo was unable to work. The Horns appear to be living near a lot of cannery workers. Both sons were in the Army, and then Chester enters the Army as well after the 1940 census. When Milo dies shortly after this census in 1942 after being killed by a drunk driver, Winifred goes to court in July of 1942 and sues the man responsible; Robert Shattuc. He tries to say that Milo was negligent. In October of 1942, likely due to a lack of funds to fight the lawsuit and out of grief, Winnie decides to settle instead of continuing the lawsuit. From what her son's Chester and Ross recount, Winnie only receives $800; a paltry sum for her husband's death. In 1943, Winnie is Administratrix for the estate of Richard and Meryl Smith. Meryl Smith had died by suicide in 1938. In November, this estate is finalized, and Travis, Chester, Chester's wife Flo, and Martin are released from interest in the estate. Some time after this estate transfer, Winnie's daughter Rachel is put into the Oregon State HospitaI (called a mental hospital then) as indicated on the 1950 census. In 1944, Winnie appears to be renting out a couple of residences for extra money while her three oldest sons are in the war. Perhaps she was able to purchase some property from the Smith estate proceeds. On the 1950 census, her youngest son Martin is living with her and going to Willamette University and her son Ross, too, who was separated from his first wife. Ross was also attending Willamette University. This is the address that Winnie likely lives at the longest. There are lots of photos of the family visiting her here until 1962. Like her father, Winnie dies of pneumonia April 26, 1963 after a few months in a nursing home.
( Sources: Brookings Register, Benkelman Post and News Chronicle, Haigler News, Hayes Center Times, The Palisade Times, The Capital Journal (Oregon), The Register of Orange County, and The Statesman Journal (Oregon).
***Special thanks to my Cousin Carol Bruce who provided these wonderful photos of Winnie. She is a descendant of Winnie's Uncle George Walker Hyde.
