Her own mother tongue, a 1763 form of Swabian, was her only language until she was in her late 20s when she learned to speak English. Though incredibly wise, she would never have been considered “learned” in any sense of the term. Because of her familial duties, she dropped out of school quite young. When she was old enough, her parents hired her out as a cleaning woman and “babysitting,” though this latter term is far too tame to describe the kind of care she gave. Though she helped with all things on the farm, she helped more in the house, more in the cooking and baking, and more in the kid rearing than her brothers who would spend their days in the field. With seventeen kids, it really couldn’t be otherwise. I’ve done everything I can to live up to her cooking and baking skills, but I’m afraid I’m not the perfect heir.īorn in August, 1911, the oldest girl of seventeen children, Julitta Kuhn found herself not just the oldest sister but the unofficial second mom of the family. She was the best cook and baker I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve met quite a few. It was also, I believe, a rather great life. She passed away from this world into the next eleven years ago. At least if they are, they’re more than unaware of it. Probably few who passed my grandmother on the street would have thought of her as a “great woman.” Yet, I would beg to differ.