Saturday, July 4, 2020

4th of July with Stu and Margaret (Miars) LeGault

Celebrations of the 4th of July come in all forms and fashions.  Sometimes they are spent on boats, beaches or parks. Sometimes with gatherings of friends and family.  Growing up in Central Illinois summer days were long and humid.  The 4th of July represented the mid-point of the summer season and school break. For my family, many July 4th celebrations took place at the home of my great aunt and uncle, Stuart and Margaret (Miars) LeGault.  

Margaret Irene Miars is my maternal grandfather's older sister. She was the daughter of Frank and Katie B (Saltonstall) Miars and was born on 15 July 1898. (1.). On 27 November 1927 in Pekin, Illinois, Aunt Margaret married Stuart LeGault. (2). Uncle Stu was born in Lockport, Illinois and came to Pekin as school age boy. (3). It is believed that Margaret and Stu met in Pekin when she was working in town as a domestic servant. (4) 

For much of their married life, Margaret and Stu lived on the north side of Chicago.  Uncle Stu was an official with the NCAA and worked football and basketball games for the Big 10 and other college leagues during the 1940's and 1950's.

When they retired in the mid 1960s they decided to move back to Central Illinois.  Their first house was the one I grew up in Brimfield, Illinois.  They quickly realized that the big two story house on U.S. Route 150 was too big for them.  My parents were looking for a home for the growing family so the LeGault's sold them their Brimfield house and found a small home in Elmwood which was better suited to their needs. They lived in that home the rest of their lives. 

Stuart and Margaret (Miars) LeGault; at their home in Elmwood, IL, ca. 1973. 

It became an annual event to have a picnic on 4th of July each year and then go watch the fireworks display nearby. Other Miars aunts and uncles in the area as well as my grandparents usually attended. On the way to their house,my siblings and I were given strict instructions to stay outside and don't touch anything if we went inside.  They had no children so their home was always veryneat and tidy and full of stuff that could be easily broken by small, dirty hands.

Upon arrival, everyone had to get a tour through the modest size garden that they had in their small backyard.  A large section of it was for flowers and at 4th of July they were all in bloom.  Aunt Margaret had a wide variety of flowers planted but her favorites were pansies and marigolds.  To this day, I think of her when I see those flowers. 

The picnic spread was laid out in their garage or drive way and there were always lots of goodies.  I especially remember though Aunt Margaret's brownies. I do not know what made them especially gooey and chocolaty but they were different from the brownies I was used to getting at home. Also, there were plenty of "vitamins" (AKA M&Ms).  Aunt Margaret always had at least one candy dish filled with them or brought them along with her when she came to our house.  We still have "vitamins" at our family gatherings today.  My mother would try to tell us that we could have "a couple" but Aunt Margaret always encouraged us to take a handful.

Does anybody have this recipe?  Please let me know because it belongs in our family cookbook!

Once it got dark it was time to pack up and head over to watch the fireworks.  I think back very fondly of these times at their house.  Memories of 4th of July as a child are centered around their home and the wonderful celebrations we had with our Miars family.

Miss you, Aunt Margaret and Uncle Stu!  I think about you often and the time we spent together.

Related Blog Posts -

Bibliography -
1.  Peoria County, Illinois, death certificate, unnumbered (1977), Margaret I LeGault, Peoria County Clerk, Peoria.
2. Tazewell County, Illinois, marriage certificate, unnumbered (1927) Stuart LeGault and Margaret I Miars; Tazewell County Clerk, Pekin.
3. Peoria County, Illinois, death certificate no. unnumbered (1983), Stuart E LeGault, Peoria County Clerk, Peoria.
4.  Polk's Pekin Illinois City Directory 1926 (Peoria, Illinois: Leshnick Directory Co., 1924), 165, entry for “Miars, Margaret.”



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