Creating Fiction from History: 10/19/2022

RonLynn Peltzer was born in 1789 to James and EvaLynn Peltzer of Leitch's Station in the Territory soon to become the State of Kentucky. Her father and mother, along with about 18 other settlers, were the first white inhabitants of Campbell County, in what would soon be northeast Kentucky.

RonLynn's father had served as a Corporal under Captain David Leitch during the Revolutionary War. In fact, the Peltzers and the Leitchs had become close friends, as both had immigrated from Europe at about the same time; Leitch from Scotland and Peltzer, an Ashkenazi Jew from Germany.

RonLynn entered this life in the usual way, not long, indeed, after arriving in Campbell County, but she was blessed with an unusual name, especially for the era in which she burst into this world.

Her uncle, Ronald Beckman, had met his Waterloo in the waning years of the War and so when the Peltzer's first child was born, even though she was of the female persuasion, she received what was in essence a male name, even though her mother's 'Lynn' was added to it, making it feminine.

Here may be pictured a sixteen-year-old RonLynn in her uncle's military uniform. Her mother, who was an excellent seamstress, had re-fashioned it into this dress which her daughter wore in honor of both her uncle and her father, who was soon headed back overseas to fight in the Napoleonic Wars.

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.