Friday, February 22, 2013

The Fascinating Life of Truena Geddes

Truena Geddes
Truena Jane Geddes was born in 1871 in Highland Village, Colchester County, Nova Scotia to James Geddes and Susannah Dechman.  She was my 2nd cousin, 3 times removed.  One of eight children, she must have shown her independent streak at an early age.  Described as having dark, flashing eyes and dark hair that glinted with copper streaks in the sunlight, it is a wonder she wasn't snapped up by some young lad of the Village.  But Truena had ideas of her own and as a young woman, she made her way to Boston where she opened a little store that sold fine ladies wear.

Later in life, she began to spend her winters in the millionaire's playground of Palm Beach, Florida where young debutantes and society women eagerly purchased her dainty wares from her little shop on the corner.  It was here in Palm Beach that she came to the attention of Colonel George Clinton Batcheller of New York.  A widower, George was 80 in the summer of 1913 and a very wealthy man.  His business was manufacturing ladies corsets and his factory employed over two thousand women who made his high end ladies fashion.  He was taken by the lovely young woman and proposed marriage.

George Clinton Batcheller
After much deliberation, Truena finally accepted and the two were married in Boston on September 18, 1913.  From very humble beginnings, the life of New York high society was a huge adjustment for the lovely young woman but her happy personality and kind demeanor quickly endeared her to all she met.

On January 25, 1916, George died at the age of 84 leaving Truena a millionaire many times over and as a young widow, her thoughts turned to her old home.  She returned to Nova Scotia to assist her brother, Amos in caring for their widowed mother.

Never one to take a back seat, Truena quickly became involved in the life of the village and soon set out to build a new home on the family farm.  Within two years she had renewed her acquaintance with William Edward Spencer (my 3rd cousin, 3 times removed) and the two married on the 29th of October 1918.

Truena and William's Home in Great Village
During the building of their home, Truena decided she wanted electricity, which was not yet available in the town.  She petitioned the authorities in Truro and was turned down because she lived too far from the existing electric grid.  So, being the independent lady she was, and having plenty of resources at hand, she decided to generate her own power by using the grist and carding mill belonging to the Peppard family.

William and Truena spent much of their time travelling the world and supporting many good causes in Great Village.  She took particular interest in preserving local farmlands and marshes.

William died on July 9, 1949 and Truena followed him in 1953.  Both are buried in the Mahon Cemetery in Great Village.


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6 comments:

  1. hipocampelofantocameMay 26, 2014 at 3:19 AM

    I am Malcolm L. MacLeod,Jr, MD, who is a grandson of TRS.
    She is pretty much responsible for my life, and had a log cabin
    built to house me when I first visited her in 1937. Since that time
    we became fast and close friends, and I miss her so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joy LakingJanuary 25, 2017 at 5:22 PM

      Dear Malcolm
      You are a granson of TRS?? I thought that she didn't have any children. I am working on a play about Truena. If at all possible could you please contact me> joy@joylakinggallery.com.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 15, 2014 at 3:55 PM

    Pretty sure the house in the picture was built for Amos Geddes, Truena`s brother. Her house was on the Station Road in Great Village.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    June anonymous: you are correct. The Spencer farm was on Station Rd, now a B&B known as "Willie Ed's".

    ReplyDelete
  4. hipocampelofantocameJuly 13, 2018 at 12:08 AM

    Joy Laking: Truene had no children of her own, but her favorite sister Etta had one child, my father Malcolm. Etta died at an early age, and Truene took care of my father from the age of three or four until the rest of his life. He grew up in NYC and became friends with Fred and Estelle Astair and shared an apartment with them both in NY and London. Dad got a PhD in English from UVa in 1934, the year I was born, and taught English at the University of Florida in Gainesville. AuntTrue, as we called her, and I were close friends, and she paid for my education at UVA (MD). She died during my first year (1952), and went went to Great Village for her funeral. I have many artifacts from the 72nd Street house in NY, and the beautiful house in Great Village in
    my present home. I treasure them, as I do her memory and friendship.

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    Replies
    1. Rosalee PeppardFebruary 7, 2019 at 6:57 AM

      Dear Dr Macleod,
      I have just seen your post this morning. What a remarkable living connection. I am a women's musical oral historian www.rosalee.ca . A few years ago, Joy Laking invited me to work with her to create the music and develop the script for your Aunt True's life's story as a musical. As an historian, I have put countless hours of research into your Aunt's story and would love to be in direct contact with you. I am committed to celebrate your Aunt - truly. Your help would be absolutely invaluable. I want you to rest assured that Joy and I are doing this as a personal and private project, with no other motive than sharing your unique Aunt's beautiful story in a beautiful art form. Would you consider contacting me to help us get make sure her story is true? Thank you for your consideration. I am so happy to see you here.Thank you so much for sharing!

      In HERitage and Harmony,
      Rosalee Peppard

      please reply to rosalee(at)rosalee(dot)ca

      Delete

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