Evalena "Aunt Lena" Springer Pennington Cavender Swindoll

The topic for this week is "Oldest", so I chose to write about my grandfather's, George Aubrey Springer's, oldest sister, Aunt Lena.

Evalena "Lena" Springer was born in Lawrence County, Tennessee on August 23, 1888 to George Andrew and Lizzie Louella (Busby) Springer.  George and Ella were married on December 22, 1886 and Lena was their first child.  When Lena was just 10 months old, she had a little brother, John Robert, born March 24, 1890.  Not long after that, this little family, along with other friends and family, moved from Tennessee to Ellis County, Texas.  After arriving in Texas, Lena's younger sister, Ruby was born January 14, 1892 in Dallas.

George, Ella, Lena, John Robert and Ruby about 1892.

Then a little brother was added, my grandfather, George Aubrey, born September 1, 1893 in Waxahachie, and another sister, Irma, born October 11, 1895.

Lena, John Robert, Ruby, Aubrey and Irma about 1896.

By the 1900 census, Lena was twelve years old, had lost her sister, Irma, and gained another brother, Raymond, born March 4, 1898.  Lena married William Ed Pennington on December 10, 1905, when she was just 17 years old.

Then brothers and sisters Philip born January 11, 1901, Doretha born August 13, 1902, Rudolph, born August 2, 1905 and Irvin Delford was born August 16, 1908.

Lena (far left seated) and her first husband, William Ed Pennington, John Robert (far right standing) and his wife, Mattie, and Lena's parents and siblings, including Irvin Delford, who lived less than 1 year.

Lena and Ed did not have any children, and Ed died December 29, 1919.

Lena and Ed Pennington

Lena's father, George had also died on May 27, 1919 at age 54.

George Andrew Springer

George Andrew Springer

In the 1920 census, Lena, a widow, is the head of her household and has her brother, John R. living with her, along with his wife and three children.

Then on January 5, 1921, Lena married Louie S. Cavender, who was just a few months younger than she.  But as fate would have it, Louie also died young on October 12, 1929, at age 40.

The 1930 census again finds Lena, a widow living in Ellis County, this time with a nephew, Bill Steward living with her.

Lena, after living alone for about 10 years, married her third husband, Claude Swindoll on February 15, 1940. During the years that Lena's mother, Ella, had been widowed and alone, she had lived with each of her children for one month at a time and then moved on to the next child.  Lena, of course had her turn caring for her mother, and it was during those visits, that Ella wrote two poems about her life with Lena.

As I Saw It Monday At Lena’s

Lena got up at about four-thirty,

The house upset and clothes all dirty,

She came down stairs with such a clatter,

You wondered what in the world could be the matter.

You jumped out of bed and went on a run,

But she’s already in the kitchen her breakfast begun,

She went to the cabinet and sifted some flour,

And the biscuits she made, you could eat by the hour.

She fried the eggs a very nice brown,

And told us all to come and sit down,

She washed her dishes, and put up a churning,

And went to see if the wash fire was burning.

So she went to washing in very great haste,

To keep any time from going to waste,

You see she wanted to get clothes on the line,

And get to the field a quarter to nine.

She plowed until the clock struck eleven,

How she knew was instinct given,

She grabbed a chicken by the head,

And in ten seconds that chicken was dead.

She dressed and washed and fried it for dinner,

And had it ready by twelve or I’m a sinner.

Then she rested till the clock struck one,

Then went to the field in the broiling sun,

So she worked all the evening through,

The gnats and flies were at work too.

So she came in at seven, she could see to work no longer,

So she fed the mules to make them stronger,

I won’t tell what else she did,

Else you’ll think I simply fibbed.

HARD CHAIR

I go to the kitchen when Lena is cooking,

The chair I sit on is good looking,

But for being hard it sure is the limit,

I can’t sit on it more than fifteen minutes.

I know my bones stick out,

Is what the trouble is all about,

But it looks like a place could be found,

Where I wouldn’t have to squirm around.

At first I take it flat,

I soon tire of that,

Then I lean on one side,

My misery to hide.

But that don’t seem to work,

On the other side I go,

Still hiding my woe,

Thinking an easy spot there may lurk.

Then I stand up a bit,

But that don’t make a hit,

So I go sit down in my room.

And that chair is certainly a boon.

* * * *

Family was always important to Lena.  She faithfully attended and even hosted Family Reunions at her home.

During one of Ella's visits to Lena's home, on June 28, 1943, Ella passed away.  And just four months later, on October 17, 1943, Lena's life also ended.  Lena was buried in Everman, Texas, where she would be joined in 1962 by Claude.  She was just 55 years old.  

Lena had outlived her parents, three siblings and two husbands.  She never had any children of her own, but was the step-mother of Claude's son, John Robert, who was just nine years old when his dad and Lena married.  I have heard stories about Lena and what a grand lady and hard worker she was and I wish I had known her.

'Til Next Time!
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