ALBERT IVES CUTLER 1842-1931	ASBARINE CUTLER 1851-1915

As we have seen from earlier pages, Albert was unable to do heavy work as a result of his injured knee. In a day when all motive power was supplied by men and horses this was a factor seriously limiting his ability to advance his fortunes, and by 1881 he had four children whose future was of concern to him. Magnolia offered little beyond farming or related activities.

At various times Albert ( "A.I." to the family) tried developing nearby farms, once north of Magnolia, and once over near Logan. Not only was he held back by his stiff knee, but Asbarine ("Bene" to the family) was not really inclined to be enthusiastic about farming. As one of the family put it, "Aunt Bene never was cut out to do much hard work, and never did any." Also it was recalled that at one Thanksgiving dinner at A.I.'s place Bene's biscuits were of such a consistency that "you could knock a cow down with them."

Whatever her farming shortcomings, Bene had many sterling qualities. She and A.I. were a happy couple. While her background was touched briefly on Page 37, it is interesting enough to explore further. Asbarine Rebecca Dewell (spelled variously Duel, Dowell, etc.) was born on May 21, 1851 at Rochester, Cedar County, Iowa, the daughter of Samuel and Martha Ann (Walker) Dewell.

Bene's maternal grandfather Samuel Walker (1792-1843) and grandmother Rebecca (Dugan) Walker (1795-1875) both had been born in Tennessee, met and married in Wayne County, Indiana in 1817, moved to western Indiana in 1832, and to Cedar County, Iowa in 1842. He died the next year, leaving ten children including Bene's mother Martha Ann.

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