Dear Leona

About the Book

Did you ever wonder how your grandparents met? This book presents the story of the editor’s grandparents and offers a taste of small town life in the 1890’s Catskill Mountains. It begins with a mystery box in the 1990’s, a tragic death of the mother of two young boys, a shunning of a long-respected village resident and details of the six month distant courtship. All of this leading to the marriage of his grandparents – Leona Tinklepaugh and Morris Skidmore. This love story also provides a look at two villages in the Western side of the Catskills – Worcester and Summit -with glimpses into Jefferson, NY. Throughout are the names of many other residents in that area. Readers may find members in their own family trees, perhaps, as for the editor, with surprising connections.

About the Author

Frank Skidmore is the eldest grandson of Leona Tinklepaugh. In the late 1990’s his mother gave him a tied shirt box that had his father’s name attached. When he opened the box he found the courting letters his grandfather, Morris W Skidmore, had written to Leona in 1897. Frank’s family has long shown an interest in their history. His father had shared copious notes by Emma Fullington Skidmore (Morris’ mother)) and repeated stories of “the farm” in Jefferson, NY and summers in Summit in the Catskill Alps of NY. Both Frank’s parents discussed family history often. Their interest included membership in Wiltwych Chapter of DAR and artifact contributions to the Schoharie Old Stone Fort in the Catskills. Growing up in Gettysburg stoked his own interested in history leading to a degree in History at Bucknell University. Mr. Skidmore is also the author of several pieces on his uncle, a Marine in France during WW1, including Letters from the Dominie in the Schoharie County Historical Society Journal (Vol LXXXII No.2); Carl’s Homecoming in the December 2008 Camaraderie (Journal of the Western Front Association US); Carl Skidmore’s Family Learns of His Death in the May-June 2008 St. Mihiel Trip-Wire Newsletter. Currently in preparation is a book-length study based on correspondence of and about Private Carl Beard Skidmore provisionally titled A Voice from the Dead.