Setting the Record Straight

In the book "Unbreakable Dolls"  there is a lovely little story about Jane Pendley (McDonald. 2011. p54-59.).  However, there are details in that story that simply are not accurate.
Julie McDonald opens with a scene of Jane leaving Stroud, OK on a train with her father and mother and has Jane watching her brother out the window as he waved good-by.

However, what I know from stories my grandmother told me herself, she and her mother made that trip alone, without Jane's father.  This is further substantiated by the following letter which Jane's father, Charles Hutchinson, sent to her in 1940:

                                                                                                                                                                 S.A. June 1, 1940

Dear Jane and Family

This is the day I put you on the train for Arizona in 1910 thirty years ago June 1^st.  I received your letter addressed to Mayleane (unclear) about a week ago   We are not at that place but at 1900 .W. 42^nd.   I was glad to hear from you and know that you was all well.  Charley was over to see us last Sunday.  I had not seen him for three weeks and we are going out to Bellfower Sunday to see him and spend the day.  I intended to stay and see you when we left here and we are going to leave soon.  We will travle (sic) by bus but do not know weather (sic) we will come by Flagstaff or come in from the south by Phoenix.  I will go to town and stay at the bus station and see which is the best way.  I think we will leave sometime this coming week and I will drop you a line at least a day or two before we start.  It has been very pleasant here and we have enjoyed it out here.  We did not feel the quake in they had in the Imperial Valley.  The war is sure getting bad and it is bound to spread and may take in the entire world.  But the less we worry about it the better off we will be.  Well we will be seeing you soon I hope.  I will close with love to all and hope this will find you all well.    

                                                                         Dad & Bess

This letter clearly documents when Jane Hutchinson came to Arizona with her mother, and supports the fact that her father did not accompany them on that trip.  More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Charles Hutchinson's  love and concern for his daughter remained throughout her life, even though he would not be there to raise her during her growing up years.

McDonald, Julie. (2011).  Unbreakable Dolls: True Stories of Courageous Women Who Helped Settle Northern Arizona. Self Published.  Book available in gift shop at Slide Rock State Park.