Susannah loved to make country quilts in the style of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Several of them have survived within the family.
When Susannah was about 19 a most interesting Civil War Story is among recollections of her grandniece, Sarah "Nadine" Nye. (Nadine was raised by her grandmother, Sarah Minerva Kenoyer, Susannah’s younger sister).
Southern Confederate soldiers had occupied the Kenoyer farm at Sand hill in Scotland Co., Missouri.
Susannah’s father Rev. Samuel Kenoyer and three of his older sons were away serving as soldiers in the Missouri units of the Union Army. Rebel cavalry occupied Memphis, the county seat of Scotland County, and were foraging throughout the county for supplies. Word spread like wildfire that young men should hide out and arm themselves; that the women should bury their silver, jewelry and money. Also, any pretty young women should stay indoors and away from the windows. Sarah had the kids put out the sacks of wheat and oats where they could be easily found, but they tried to hide a large sack of sugar deep inside the barn. Ellis and Silas were working way out in the fields when they saw the horsemen coming so they just lay low. Sarah met them at the door and told them that they were Quakers and had no weapons, that the men folk were gone, that everything they needed was by the barn, so they had no reason to come inside. They were young and surprisingly well mannered. However, they did tear the barn apart and found and confiscated the sugar. Then they took all of the chickens and eggs. So, they "let em off easy." The Kenoyers had a two-story house with a deck. Susannah was up there in the window. She made faces, stuck her tongue out, and made hand gestures at the Rebs. This made them mad, and then they stole everything, including all of the horses and cows. Needless to say, Aunt "Sis" got punished for her patriotism! She was called "Sis" within the family. Later, Oklahoma family called her: "Nan."

Contributor: John Kenoyer (48068481) • [email protected]