Minnie
Vautrin's grand niece Judy Vautrin-Lewis:
Dear Mr. Kent,
I received your book in the mail early this morning and I have just
finished reading it. I felt like I was right there living this terrible
event that took place in history. I know some of it was fiction but
as I read it the fiction and the parts that really did happen all became
one bringing me sometimes to tears. I wish I could have some of your
talent for writing to tell you how much I appreciate all your hard work
and what a talented author you are.
Aunt Minnie made a impact on all the Vautrin family starting with my
Aunts who always looked up to her so much as little girls and young
women always staying in touch with her throughout the years she was living.
They passed the importance of education and faith to us the ten cousins
and we to our children. One of my cousin's daughter adopted a baby
from China five years ago partly in memory of Aunt Minnie. Yesterday ,as
I was visiting my Mother. I stopped at Aunt Minnie's grave to place a
large yellow mum plant which was her favorite flower for her birthday
this month. Every time I stop there I always think how I wished I could
have known her.
In two parts of your book you wrote about her father being a gruff
old man. I thought since you are also a historian maybe you would like
to know somethings about him. He was deeply loved by all his grandchildren
and especially my Mother who got to know him after her marriage to my
Father. He was born in France and was one of seven children. When he was
fourteen years old the Franco-Prussian war started. He and his friend
were taken prisoners of war. After being held prisoner for ten months
he escaped with a team of horses which he sold and received enough money
for fourth class passage to America. When he was sixteen he arrived in
Paxton Illinois as a apprentice blacksmith. Minnie's Mother died in child
birth as well as the baby. He later married again and the lady as my
Aunts tell me was very good to the two children. When he became alone
my Grandfather brought him to Michigan to live with him, my grandmother
and their four children until he died.
Once again thank you for a wonderful book that
I will probably read it several times again.
Sincerely,
Judy Vautrin-Lewis
