McBain, Michigan USA
Evart William Ardis was born in McBain, Missaukee County, Michigan USA on
1913 May 4. His father was Samuel George ARDIS, keeper of the Ardis General
Store in McBain. His mother was Katherine Burk ARDIS, daughter of a Scottish
horticulturist and landscaping contractor in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA.
Samuel met a handsome and artistic woman, Katherine Burk, and asked her to
marry him. Katherine's family were Presbyterian, as were Sam's. Her father was
strong-willed Scotsman who worked as a horticulturist, nurseryman, and landscaping contractor in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan USA. Among his credits were the
design and installation of all the landscaping on the campus of what is today
Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.
Small Town Life
Samuel and Katherine did well in McBain. The general store was
successful and they were eventually able to build a large and beautiful
Victorian home on Euclid Street, in McBain. They began to have children and both
Samuel and Katherine were active in supporting the activities of the
Presbyterian (later Dutch-Reformed) Church and the public school system. Several
times each week there would be overnight guests in the large house; visiting
preachers, teachers, lecturers, and politicians. While Samuel spent long hours
tending the store, Katherine not only kept the house and tended to the family
needs. She spent long hours at the school and church and had a reputation as a
hard-working volunteer, and as an organizer. Hungry children always knew they
could appear on the Ardis' rear porch and be fed. Several families unable to
provide for themselves would receive a daily visit from Katherine, or one of her
friends, with a complete home-cooked meal. Somehow, Katherine even found time to
pursue her art in the form of drawing and painting... something she would pass
on to at least one of her children (SEE Katherine
Ardis Ux).
Small-town life was good to them. Still, gaining fulfillment may have been a
challenge for both Katherine and Samuel. Visitors would often remark on their
beautiful home and the "good life" they seemed to be leading. Still,
Evart remembers his father often replying, "You know, God made the
countryside... but the Devil made small towns!"
Whatever limitations they may have seen in the local environment, Samuel and
Katherine were determined that it would not limit the development of their
children. It was always made clear that there was a whole world out there, and
that it was the duty of each child to engage and master it. Ardis children were
not to be mere "by-standers," or passive "watchers." And
yet, it was very much the expectation that this "engagement" would all
be done in the Calvinist manner; with a strong sense of duty... and of
restraint. How could it be any different, in this community of 350 souls, almost
all of whom were either Dutch Reformed or Ulster Scots Presbyterians?