Virginia's Adoption...

Charles tried to keep the family together for about 10 months before he consented to adopt out the three younger children in September of 1921.  He chose to place them with families in Snowflake and Shumway, about 30-45 miles south of Holbrook.  Willard and Vina Denham adopted Ross and Marjorie was taken by Willard's parents, Franklin and Dicie Denham.  Ross was almost three years old and Marjorie almost eight at the time.  For some reason Virginia, five, was not adopted by the Denham's although sources indicate that might have been the plan originally.  Virginia related to her children that she remembered being brought alone to a family in Snowflake.  Whoever brought her there left her, slipping out without telling her when she was busy playing.  When she found they were gone she started to cry and cried all night.  The next morning the family she had been left with brought her back to the person who was trying to place her and told her they did not see it working out. Nettie and Joseph Rencher were approached about adopting the little girl without a home.  Nettie wrote the following: 

"In the fall of 1921 a friend came to our home with two beautiful little girls. She said their mother had died and the father had been determined to keep his five children together, but after doing this for more than two years and making a living for them also he had found it a difficult task. Their nearest relatives were in Kansas. Then the child welfare of the county persuaded him to place the three smallest children out for adoption. The friend said that she and her husband were adopting the oldest little girl and the welfare board and judge of the county, who was chairman of the board as well was an old friend of ours,  wished us to take the youngest one.
 
It was a staggering proposition. I had wished so much for another daughter and Beth had hoped for a sister, but this was different - assuming the great responsibility of bringing up the child of someone else. After serious thought and earnest prayer we took the dear child with grateful hearts, and from that day to this no parents ever had a child that brought them more comfort and  joy than our dear Virginia has brought to us."

Virginia later related that when she walked through Nettie's gate into the Rencher front yard she felt a complete peace and calm come over her.  She felt at home.  She didn't cry one tear and loved her adopted parents her entire life.  They were very good to her.

Virginia's Adoption Papers

Note Charles' signature on the above papers.  It must have been heart-wrenching for him to sign the legal papers giving away his three youngest children to strangers, and yet at the same time I imagine he felt relief knowing that they were going to be taken care of by good families.  

Virginia's birth certificate