Cynthia Anne Woodward Page

In 1885 she went with her father, William Riley Woodward, to a Grand Army of the Republic reunion in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Thanks to Beulah (Monk) Neiman for the wonderful book.

She was born in Nebraska, probably Kearney County, graduated from Minden High School in 1899, and taught at the Elm Creek School. Family lore has one of her students as Harold Warp - founder of Mindens Pioneer Village.
The Kearney County museum has school records indicating she taught at the Newark school in 1905, 1906, and 1907.



June 7, 1907 Miss Woodward arrived to make her home with her mother and brother.

In June 1907 she moved to the west 1/4 of Sec 7, 3n 46w (about fifteen miles northeast of Yuma, Colorado. She established residency there in January 1908. In December 1908 she certified that she had 7 acres under cultivation in 1908. She said she had built October 15, 1907 a 10 by 14 frame house with shingle roof and stovepipe chimney, good matched floor, one outside door, and two windows. Her barn was 8 by 10 frame, and the buggy shed was 7 by 10. The cistern had a 10-barrel capacity. She had 80 acres under a good 2-wire fence. Total valuation was $275.

One of the witnesses was Albert Monk, age 23, son of George P. and Mary Sides Monk. whom she married June 30, 1909. Another witness was Lizzie Carper, age 42 (Cynthias brother married Lizzies daughter). .

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Albert had filed in July 1907 for two quarters in 4n 46w, about six miles north, and first settled on it January 1908. One witness for his October 1913 proving up was Frank Woodward, his brother-in-law at that time. Frank said he had known Albert for ten years, so they had known each other in Kearney County, Nebraska.

Albert said that in 1908 he cultivated 28 acres, raising 600 bushels of corn and 23 tons of cane.
In 1909 he had 65 acres, raising 600 bushel of corn, 14 tons of cane, and 35 bushel of potatoes.
In 1910 he had 113 acres, raising 1400 bushel of corn, 12 tons of cane, and 65 bushel of potatoes. He had planted wheat, but didnt list any production.
In 1911 his 113 acres raised 250 bushel of corn, 3 tons of cane, and 4 bushel of potatoes. His production didnt include wheat.
1912 was better, with 375 bushel of corn, 1000 bushel of wheat, 280 bushel of oats, and 32 tons of millet. He had planted potatoes, but didnt list production.
In 1913 he had planted corn, oats, and potatoes. The 113 acres cultivated were: 90 acres in the north part of the Sec 9 quarter, and 23 acres in the se part of the Sec 4 quarter. The "improvements" were in the Sec 4 quarter. They were a habitable frame house, 14 by 28, with a shingle roof, lathed and plastered. It had a 10 by 12 addition, also lathed and plastered, with a rubberoid roof.
The frame barn was 14 by 28, with a board roof. One grainery was 10 by 18, with a shingle roof, another 8 by 10, with a board roof. The chicken house was 10 by 14, with a board roof. One hog shed was 10 by 16, another 6 by 10. The hog lot was fenced with woven wire, measuring 4 by 10 rods. Albert had a well, wind mill, and cistern. He also had a cave [a root cellar]. All the land was fenced and cross-fenced with 2 wires. He estimated the improvement value at $1,100.

Witnesses were Laymon R. Marshall, Frank F. Rowe, Frank M. Woodward, and Micheal L. Weekly, all of Yuma.


Her brother "Frank" and his wife Alice homesteaded near there, and her younger sister Ruby moved to the town of Yuma. Her mother moved to Yuma, living with Ruby for a while before her death.



May 29, 1914
June 26, 1914. "Albert Monk while riding sideways on a horse Wednesday morning, was thrown to the ground, the fall resulting in a broken wrist. Dr. Billsborrow set the bones, but it will probably be several weeks before Mr. Monk will be able to use the injured member.

September 29, 1916 "Albert Monk and family, of northeast of Yuma, were summoned to Minden, Nebraska Sunday night by a message stating that Mr. Monk's father, who has been sick for some time, was much worse."

Their children were:
Zella Merle Monk - married Charles Piper
Beulah Monk - married Doyle E. Neiman
Dallas Albert (Bert) Monk - married Jennie Kathryn Oman, daughter of Olaf and Hulda Oman
Phoebe Monk - married Carroll Josh
Gilbert Dale Monk - married Elsie Mosher
William Woodward Monk - married Arliss Shaffer
The Yuma Pioneer of November 6, 1919, reported
Mrs. Mary Keenan came in from San Diego, California, Monday afternoon to visit her sister, Mrs. Albert Monk. Mrs. Monk has been very sick, and for a time it was feared she would not recover, but is now reported to be practically out of danger.


C. H. Woodward, who had been visiting with his sister, Mrs Albert Monk, and mother, Mrs. Jennie Woodward, and other relatives, left for his home at Archer, Nebraska, Monday afternoon.


June 26, 1914. Albert Monk while riding sideways on a horse Wednesday morning, was thrown to the ground, the fall resulting in a broken wrist. Dr. Billsborrow set the bones, but it will probably be several weeks before Mr. Monk will be able to use the injured member.

September 29, 1916 Albert Monk and family, of northeast of Yuma, were summoned to Minden, Nebraska Sunday night by a message stating that Mr. Monks father, who has been sick for some time, was much worse.

July 14, 1921 "Mr. and Mrs. Albert Monk took their little son Billy to Denver Saturday in hopes of securing benefit for his eyes. Pearl Johnston stayed with the other children during their absence."

1923 Albert Monk erected a new windmill tower last week. He was assisted by L.R. Marshal, Arch Josh, and the latter's brother George.

February 26, 1925 "Last Friday Albert Monk and L.R. Marshall drove to Newark, Nebraska to attend the funeral of George Monk, which was held on February 17. They returned Saturday."

April 30, 1925 "William Woodward of Newark Nebraska was visiting at the home of his sister Mrs. Albert Monk Sunday.


"Bert", Zella, Phoebe
Beulah, Albert, "Billy", "Anna", "Dale"


September 1927
" Mrs. Mary Monk and son Leslie, accompanied by the three children of the latter and a niece, Miss Velma White, all of Kearney, Co., Neb., have been visiting at the Albert Monk home the past week. Mrs. Monk and Leslie are mother and brother of Mrs. Albert Monk. During their stay they visited other relatives and friends in Yuma County. "

Wray July 1948
"Mrs. Mary Monk, aged grandmother of the Monk families, who was here last week from Newark, Nebr., to visit at Wray and Yuma, was the guest of honor at a picnic on Sunday at City Park. Attending were the Bert Monk, Dale Monk, Doyle Neiman, Carroll Josh and Charles Piper families and Mrs. Anna Monk. "

August 31, 1950
" Seventy relatives from Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska were in attendance at the annual Monk family reunion which was held on Sunday in the Elks park at McCook. Those going from this community were the Doyle Neiman. Dale and Bert Monk, Charles Piper and Carrol Josh families and Mrs. Anna Monk. Grandmother Mary Monk of Newark, Nebr., returned home with the Colorado relatives. "

All were supporters, if not members, of the Pleasant Valley Church. We all have memories of Grandma Monk, but probably none of us remembers Grandpa.

Beulah said he loved to eat corn, and hated casseroles. He would say "if you're going to eat peas, then eat peas."
He wore overalls most of the time, and always underwear. He had one set of winter underwear, and one for summer. He would wash off in the tank, not bathing in the house.
He didn't play many games, like cards or board games, but liked baseball. He was usually the catcher or umpire at games.
He liked to sing, with a good bass voice, when Zella or Grandma played the organ.
He would usually bring chocolate candy home from town for Grandma. Beulah said Grandma and Grandpa never showed any affection in front of anyone.
The most enjoyable times for Beulah were planning for Christmas or for Sunday dinner guests. At Christmas Grandpa would give each of the six children a dollar, and that was to be used for seven presents.
Their first car was when Beulah was five/six years old. Her most vivid memory of it was the snap-on side curtains.


He died when Naomi was six months old, but "was a good Grandpa".
The story is that Beulah was named after one of his girl friends, and Phoebe after Grandma's mother. Beulah said that Grandpa preferred to call Phoebe "sister."
Beulah also told Judy that Grandpa never changed a diaper or was allowed in the room when it was being done. Not only did they not show affection to each other, they showed little to their children. It wasn't that they didn't care for them, but their Quaker background. They never played any game with face cards as that would be sinful. They never were allowed to dance.
Grandma NEVER took a bath or a shower. She washed off with a wash cloth and a bowl of soap & water. The children were never allowed to see her unless she was fully dressed.
Grandpa smoked in the barn or outside. They found heart medication in the barn after he died. He never told anyone that he had a heart problem.

Grandpa and Grandma slept in the kitchen in a pull out bed. The boys slept in a bunk room or out building most of the time and the three sisters slept crossways on one bed.

The children were close, with the three daughters marrying within nine months, and continued that closeness. For example, in 1943 Charles and Zella were living in Paoli (about twenty miles north) with children Lowell and Phyllis. Charles was teaching in the Paoli school. When June was being born in June 1943, "Bert" had just married Jennie. (Phoebe was the matchmaker here, with Bert meeting Jennie in January and presenting a diamond on Valentines Day). While Jennies father was moving a house from Vernon for Bert and Jennie, they lived in Cynthias three-room house. Lowell and Phyllis stayed with Bert and Jennie. Phyllis probably doesnt remember, but she accompanied new aunt Jennie everywhere, especially on trips to the cistern to get water for the house.


January 3, 1935

February 18, 1937

Piper family 1950
September 3, 1953 "Mrs. Anna Monk received word Sunday morning her mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Monk had passed away at the hospital in Kearney, Nebaska, after two years of being bedfast. The Monk families went to Newark, Nebraska to her funeral on Tuesday. Sympathy is extended to the relatives from this community."

February 7, 1957

November 19, 1964



1990s Christmas gathering
Jennie, Dollie (Penton) (Yenter) Monk, Dale
Carroll and Phoebe Josh, Leah (Tuell) Piper and Charles.

We lost Dale in 2001, Phoebe in 2002, Beulah in 2010, Jennie in 2011, Arliss in 2013, and Dollie in 2017, so now have none from that generation.

Because Rodney was born in 1953, this was probably taken in 1954 or 1955. It was the ten male cousins. If anyone has a photo of the ten female cousins, we would appreciate it.



Thanks to Ann (Josh) Alberda for the photo.

As of 2019, of the twenty grandchildren, eight are deceased - Kenneth Monk, Roberta (Monk) Holsclaw, Lowell Piper, Carroll (Sonny) Josh, David Josh, D.E. Neiman, Rodney Monk, and Patty (Monk) Spellman.

"Grandma" wrote many letters and poems. Some were transcribed by Beulah, and included in a booklet. Some were about her granddaughter Patty Monk, born in 1944.

June has provided three letters that Cynthia wrote to her oldest daughter Zella in the mid-1950s. They reflect her interests and her love for her children and grandchildren.

There were twenty grandchildren, of which I am one ( Bert and Jennie's son).


MISS JENNIE OMAN AND BERT MONK WED IN PRETTY CEREMONY

Miss Jennie K. Oman became the bride of Mr. Dallas Albert (Bert) Monk, Sunday, May 16, 1943, at 12:30 p. m. in the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Oman, where a beautiful and impressive wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Lloyd M. Balfour. The bride, entering the room on the arm of her father, and the groom entering from the opposite direction, took their places in front of a beautiful bouquet of flowers, to the strains of "I Love You Truly," played on the piano by Mr. Wm. Monk, brother of the groom. The bride was beautiful In a light blue crepe dress, and her bridal corsage was of white gardenias. The groom was attired in a dark blue business suit. Only the immediate relatives of the bridal couple and a few close friends of the bride witnessed the ceremony.

Immediately following the ceremony, the groom's brother played another appropriate selection. At one o'clock a sumptuous wedding dinner was served at the bride's home. The outstanding decoration, in the center of the table, was the angelfood wedding cake, on top of which was placed a miniature bride and groom, standing under an arch from which was suspended a dainty little wedding bell.

In addition to the bridal couple and the bride's parents, the guests present were the groom's mother, Mrs. Cynthia Ann Monk of Yuma; the groom's three married sisters and their families, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Piper and son, Lowell, and daughter Phyllis of Paoli; Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Josh and son, Carrol Dean, and daughter, Ann Marie, of Wages; Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Neiman, and daughters Naomi and Judy of Holyoke; the groom's brother, Mr. Wm. Monk of Greeley; Miss Ollie Fincher of Wray; Rev. and Mrs. Lloyd M. Balfour and daughter, Louise and son, Leslie of Wray; and Mrs. Wm. Carlock of Wray, who assisted with the dinner. The bride's mother and the groom's mother each had a corsage of sweet peas. The bride and groom received many lovely gifts.

Following the dinner the bride and groom departed on a honeymoon trip for a few days among relatives of the bride at three different places in Nebraska, Plattesmouth, Lyons, and Thedford, and among relatives of the groom in Kearney County, Nebraska.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Oman of Wray. For a number of years she has taught in Yuma County, and for the past two years has taught at Wages. She is a very active and faithful member of the Wray Christian Church and has a very pleasant and likeable disposition and a thoroughly Christian spirit and character which has gained many friends for her wherever she has gone. The groom is a son of Mrs. Cynthia Ann Monk of Yuma. At present, he is engaged in farming near Wages, where he is respected as a young man of sterling character and where he has a wide circle of friends. The newlyweds will make their home on a farm about fifteen miles north of Eckley.

June 1943 Mrs. Morris Kimber, Mrs. Margaret Starr and Miss Ollie Fincher complimented Mrs. Bert Monk, recent bride, when they entertained at a shower in her honor last Wednesday evening at the Morris Kimber home. Refreshments were served at the close of a pleasant social evening. Among those invited were the Mesdames Olaf Oman, (Mrs. Monk's mother), Ray Burge, William Carlock, Ernest Price, T. A. Brethower, LJoyd Balfour, R. F. Hefner, Audrie Brown, J. W. Banister, Roy Houston, Delbert Weir and the Misses Margaret Bradley , Elnar and Esther Unger, Dorothy Myers, Agnes Carlock, Merle Scheible, Violet McConnell, Naomi Garton, Velvin Brown, Alvira Banister, Alberta Cottingham, Joy Starr and Maxine Weller."



1946 "1946 Mr. and Mrs. Bert Monk and family entertained Mr. and Mrs. Ted O'Neal and family, Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Oman, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Oman and Shirley Kay and Mr. and Mrs. George McGinnis and family at Thanksgiving dinner." "

September 1948 "O. H. Oman entered St. Joseph's hospital in Denver on Monday and yesterday submitted to major surgery. His son-in-law, Bert Monk, accompanied him to Denver and planned to return home last night. Mrs. Monk is spending the week with her mother who is somewhat improved from her illness.

August 1950 "Seventy relatives from Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska were in attendance at the annual Monk family reunion which was held on Sunday in the Elks park at McCook. Those going from this community were the Doyle Neiman. Dale and Bert Monk, Charles Piper and Carroll Josh families and Mrs. Anna Monk. Grandmother Mary Monk of Newark, Nebraska, returned home with the Colorado relatives."

March 13, 1952 The Oman and Monk families had a surprise basket dinner on the Bert Monk family on Sunday and presented them with gifts as a housewarming in their new home. Present were Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Oman, Mrs. Anna Monk, the George McGinnis, Herbert Oman, Charles Piper, Dale Monk, Doyle Neiman and Carroll Josh families and Gus Wiklund.


Bert and Jennie took their first commercial flight in 1969, going to Grand Junction, Colorado.


Their custom cutters, the Burl Dillingham crew from Covington, Oklahoma had just finished their wheat harvest in July 1971, Jennie's sister Annie Sundquist taking this photo, and Bert died that night.