Mary Ann sat next to James, who was next to her father Richard, who was next to Jacob Thompson, and Rhoda Thompson sat next to her husband Jacob. But her maiden name was Evans, and Mary Ann wasn't sure if Rhoda was a cousin or an aunt, but she was a relative from back in Indiana. Thomas Martin stood behind Mary Ann's father, -- he was an in-law, because Mary Ann's brother David was married to Virginia Martin. It felt so safe and secure to grow up in the middle of relatives, and even though they moved from Indiana to Iowa and now to Oregon, their relatives moved with them.
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| Richard's map of Irish Bend on the Willamette River |
Everyone wanted to see the map - again. After pouring over it night after night back in Iowa, it was still the touchstone for their dreams of a lush farm on the river. Mary Ann kept saying she couldn't wait to see their new place, and James kept telling her to not expect too much, it would be just bare land at first. She heard him but she didn't listen, and went to sleep populating her new home (yet to be built) with furniture (also yet to be made). Hope was what made them keep going. It was a good thing.
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