Happy Holidays

In a conversation we recently had with TCWUTH she revealed that she is probably soon going to acquire a new telephone and that when she does she may depart from our family phone plan and start paying for her phone herself.

TOPWLH said that really wasn't necessary but TCWUTH played her "after all, I am a grown-up" card.

Undeniably true.

Another facet of her being a grown up now is that she isn't here today to arrange the nativity scene.  This has been one of her holiday tasks for many years.

This arrangement may be the first time ever for me.

In the second or third row left, right behind the M&M and in front of and in between Goofy and the Big O is the newest addition, the soldier we acquired at the gift shop at Westminster Cathedral when we were in England last June.

Some fan favorites didn't make the cut this year.  I downsized.  Notably absent are Superman and the Pink Power Ranger and that giant crowd of aliens.  Also possibly notable is the fact that it was 17F here today.

Happy Holidays.

From "Pathways", the Chapter entitled "Mother"

The first family history writing that I have access to is "Pathways", written by Edgar J. Jones.  A subtitle is Oak Grove, Oregon, February 1, 1937.

I believe that Edgar J. Jones, sometimes referred to as E. James Jones is the Uncle Jim of my childhood who I sometimes heard about but never really came to know.  I know that a 1928 letter reproduced in "Pathways" from George L. is addressed to: "My dear son James".  Edgar James was my grandmother's brother, my grand uncle, or maybe more commonly great uncle.

Here is how far we have come from 1937.  In his preface the author of "Pathways" notes that: "By using quantities of new carbon paper six copies of this book can be made.  One will go to John, one to Sylvia, one to George.  Will keep the original.  Disposition of the other two has not been decided."

One copy to his brother, one copy to his sister, one copy to George.  This George must certainly be the son of John Jones.  John, the elder son of G. L. lost his wife when his son George S. was three months old.  George L. and his wife raised the boy until he was 16.

So there were only six copies.  I remember as a child that we had a version of "Pathways" that was a carbon copy.  What exactly we had I do not know, but I do know that we had a copy.  It may have been one of the original six copies or perhaps somewhere along the line someone used some more carbon paper and retyped the manuscript.

Somewhere along the line in the early 90s, probably during his "first" retirement, Jim retyped the manuscript again, this time into a modern word processor.  I now have a clean copy although page numbers and page references do not always match up.

Within the next couple of months I am going to take the copy of "Pathways" that I now have and create a .pdf.  "Pathways" will go digital and anyone and everyone who wants to read it will have the chance to do so.

I read it again tonight.

There is a chapter of "Pathways" entitled "Mother".  Here is part:

"My contact with the Jackson's has been very limited.  After a search of many years for a picture of mother I finally secured one from Mrs. Hill.  I found out later I was supposed to return it.  I have not done so."

Mrs. Hill?  Jennie's brother Andrew Jackson had two children, the elder of whom married William Hill.  Mrs. Hill would have been Jim's cousin.  She had a picture of her father's sister, her aunt.  Jim borrowed the picture.  It was a picture of his MOTHER.  It was a picture of Mrs. Hill's AUNT.  He never got around to returning it.

Jim Jones was 17 months old the day his mother died.  This is his description of the picture of his mother Jennie, the only picture of Jennie Jones he and any of the rest of  us have ever had:

"I like to get out the picture during quiet moments and study the features.  It is an oval painting, 6x8 inches, very lifelike.  I do not know by whose hand it was executed, but on the back of the picture there is written the name, Dick.  It is an enlargement of a tintype picture, such as Sylvia has.  I should judge mother was somewhere in her thirties when this picture was taken."

"The picture shows long brown hair of fine texture, blue eyes, high and broad forehead, a straight nose and rather full lips which could smile sympathetically and understandingly.  She wears a gray suit and white neckpiece, collar and tie all in one.  On these features may be read refinement, intelligence, kindness, breadth of vision -- a personality anyone would be proud to claim as mother.

What do I know of her?  It seems I have felt her presence -- often.

She left this world shortly after I entered it . . ."

Though the day of change may be long deferred, it must come.

My paternal grandmother's parents, the blacksmith and the newspaperwoman.

George L. Jones, 26 January 1834 to 1 April 1931.  He lived to the age of 97.

Born in Wisconsin, he was the fifth of 14 children and the eldest son.

Part of the story of his life is described in "Pathways", a family history written by his son, Edgar James Jones.

At the age of 24 in 1858 George L. Jones joined a group with five other young men and went to Texas.  At the outbreak of the civil war his companions entered the rebel army but he made his escape to the north leaving several hundred dollars worth of property which he lost.  He enlisted as a private in the Union army (Company K, 30th Wisconsin Infantry), served three years and was mustered out an orderly sergeant.  He had eleven relatives who served in the Union army.

Pension records show that he was when enlisted 28 years of age, had blue eyes, black hair, dark complexion, was 5 feet 9 inches in height and was by occupation a farmer.

After the war he moved to Bloomer, Wisconsin, where he operated a blacksmith and wagon shop until 1880 when his health failed after which he engaged in newspaper work.  In June 1869, in Bloomer, he married Sarah Jane Jackson, the widow of Walter Gage and the mother of a daughter, Hattie.  His wife later assumed the name Jennie Jones.  They had eight children, only three of whom lived to adulthood.  They were John E. Jones, E. James Jones and Sylvia Melissa, my grandmother.

George L. Jones became a member of the Greenback Party and attended the National Convention in Indianapolis in 1876.  He was one of three on a committee who drafted the first platform of the party.  One of the other two was former Governor of Ohio, James B. Weaver.

The couple founded the weekly Bloomer Workman in July 1880 and operated the newspaper until it was sold in May 1886.

Three of the couple's children died of diptheria within eleven days in early 1882 and another died of the same disease in 1883.  Jennie was in 1883 pregnant with her youngest child, Sylvia Melissa, who was born May 15, 1883.  Less than a month later Jennie died of an overdose of laudanum on June 9, 1883, a death considered at the time to be a suicide.

George L. later lived at Weblake, Burnett County, Wisconsin where the Official Report of Burnett County Board of Immigration, Concerning the Resources of Burnett County, Wisconsin, published in 1902, described his life as having "an excellent opportunity to engage in the raising of cranberries and at the present time the spring brooks on his farm are filled with hundreds of speckled trout.  The visitor who stops there for a few hours wonders how any man can live in a great city after having seen how Jones and his family enjoy the pleasures of backwoods life."

In 1903 his daughter Sylvia married George Eugene Miller.  The third child of that union was my father.  Their fourth child was my Aunt Jane.

George L. entered an Old Soldier's Home in Orting, Washington, in 1915 and died there on April 1, 1931.  During his last years in the Old Soldier's Home he sent his Civil War pension each month to his granddaughter, Jane Miller, so that she was able to attend college where she was educated to become a teacher.

Sarah Jane Jackson Jones, known to the family as Jennie.  Born 1 March 1840, died 9 June 1883.

Jennie's great great granddaughter Emily Melissa Elvecrog Miller was born 100 years to the day after her death.  Also, Jennie's granddaughter and Emily's grand-aunt Jane Ruth Miller Brockett was born 28 years to the day after her death.

During the time that George L. and Jennie Jones operated the Bloomer Workman the following editorial entitled "No Looking Back", written by Jennie, was published in the newspaper:

"It was forty years from the inception of the anti-slavery movement in the United States to the achievement of success.  The struggle resulted in the freeing of four million or more people from one form of slavery, only to plunge them into another form of bondage.  Comparing the magnitude of issues involved, it would not be strange if the present contest for the liberation of labor should require a century of patient, sacrificing effort.  Men who live for themselves alone will not engage in such an undertaking.  They will do what the Tories did in the Revolution - stand by the powers that be and gather the crumbs that fall from the tables of their masters.  No faint-hearted followers after success need apply for a place in the ranks of men who are seeking exact justice for the masses of people.

The struggle will be too long and too fierce.  But brave, unselfish men who appreciate liberty and equal rights will not falter or turn back though they are assured the generations shall come and go before the complete triumph of the principles for which they are contending.  What nonsense to talk about a cause dying or being dead!  What better work can we do than to protest against the tide of injustice toward the masses of people - although there be no prospect that we shall gain the power to right these wrongs in our day and generation?  No!  A thousand times no!  We are right, and though the day of change may be long deferred, it must come."

-Jennie Jones, Bloomer Workman, December 28, 1882.

1971?

Well, actually the writing on the back of the first photo says Labor Day 70.

 I wasn't there.  I do remember the Fiat.  The writing on the back says: "4 cars, 4 people, 3 houses and 2 tricycles.  Photo by Sylvia's husband John."

Oleander Court?

The processor printed a date in the margin of these two.  1971?

I was in the Army in 1971.  My memory is a bit fuzzy but I think this must be late 1971 after I returned from Vietnam.  The first one doesn't look like any lamp Sylvia ever owned and the second one has a print that I definitely associate with Jim.

I may have visited them both, my memory is a bit fuzzy.  I do know that I went back to Fort Stewart, Georgia, and served another six or seven weeks in the Army before receiving my final honorable discharge.

Hair cut

Our dafter scheduled an appointment with the family hair dresser for this time a cut only.  We live much closer to the family hair dresser than she does.  It makes sense for her to drop off our granddafter at our house for the period of time when the hair cut is in progress.

Plus, we love it.

She is mostly just unbelievably full of energy.  But she is just a small person and she does seem to have a bit of a lag in late morning.  It is too early for lunch, but . . .

She reacts very well to a glass of milk and some snacks.

For which she is plenty good, for now, with sitting in the chair.

She was eating Jim's cereal here.  She seems to like the crunch.

Her Mom came home, we all had lunch and then a couple of us took naps.

I had fun, TOPWLH had fun, we think both of our visitors had fun.

TOPWLH

The other person who lives here.

Here are some pictures of her family:

Nikki, Opal, Grace and Barbara.

Looks like Gustavus, could it be Jim's graduation?  I think so.

Bud and Opal at a Twins game.

That is not an indoor game at the Metrodome, clearly outdoors at the new stadium.

Wow, 1970?

The other person who lives here.

Baby in the rocking chair

The first baby to claim the chair:

And this one should look familiar too. The chair is wooden but very similar in appearance to the plastic ones that the newest baby now uses.

Complete with a Minnie Mouse bib.

It's hard to look right at you baby

December 1.

After committing to posting something every day for a month the drop off to not posting at all is a steep drop.

Last year on December 1 I posted Judas Priest from 1983.  I love that performance.

So this year I have also had a draft post of a music video ready to post.  Somewhat sheepishly I report that the music video I have had in draft form for the last three weeks is a little less metal.  This year I have a girl singer who is apparently a one-hit wonder.

But I like the version of her one hit performed with a back up band of Jimmy Fallon and The Roots.

Hey, I just met you and this is crazy, but here's my number.

I just like it.

Dedication

My November 2017 month of blogging every day for a month is dedicated to an early master of the selfie, my brother Jim.

1976:

Writing on the back says 1975:

And two from his glory days, 1961.  State champions.

State champions with their young coach.

Photo dump

Once I got into a scanning mode I scanned.

And I scanned.

And I ended up with more than I needed.

Some of these are really deserving of a look see so I am just going to throw several of them up.

Here is a really old cabin, it is the Anderson farmhouse at Yellow Lake before a later remodeling radically altered the appearance.

The writing on the back of the photo identifies this as Dick's Ranch on November 3, 1912.

The later remodel changed the direction of the roof.

This one is the bridge over the Yellow River looking back towards Dick's Ranch.

Here is the first born cousin of our generation with her parents, Albert, Anita and Leona Hoffman.

And the second born with his mother, Lillie and Tommy Miller.

This one is fairly well known in our branch of the family.

Here is Dad doing what he did a lot of in his life, working with a truck full of lumber.

And this one could fool a lot of people as front and center of the picture are my Dad and Mom and four children.

The writing on the back identifies the date as August 1946 and the occasion as the Sunday Buddy was baptized.  I was born in October 1946.  It is a great family photo though.

Back:  Marian, John Gomulak, Hansine and John McCune
Middle:  Lillie, Louise, Anita Hoffman and probably Richard behind Dad
Front: Jim, Sylvia looking at Mom instead of the camera, Tommy and Tom
The baby is not me, it is Buddy Hoffman.

Four generations

I have three of these in my photo archive, four generations of the same family all in the same photo.

One grouping is male, four generations of George Miller.

Taken somewhere around 1908.  That is George, George Lafayette, George Eugene and George Robert, aka Grossvater, GL, Fritz and Bob.  Bob was born in 1904 which is the background fact for my guess of 1908.

This one was taken in 1946 at the Anderson farm house.

Back row, left to right:  Gloria Hansen, Richard Anderson, Jake Hansen, Nels Hansen.
Front:  Jacobine Hansen (Hansine's mother), Hansine Anderson, Lillie Miller.
Child:  Sylvia Miller.

Four generations in a direct female line, Jacobine, Hansine, Lillie and Sylvia.

And a modern iteration, from 2016.

Opal, Barbara, Norah and Emily, four generations in a direct female line.

Progression

Progression.

On the steps at Grandma Anderson's house.

Dad liked to stop when we crossed the Continental Divide.  The Chippewa National Forest is in north central Minnesota.

1954, the last picture taken of Mom. 

Tommy's birthday.

Grandma Anderson probably made that cake.  Note on the back of the photo identifies the slightly unfamiliar face as Jarl Hansen.

I remember this one.

Saw Place.  I remember Jim's shirt too.  Sort of a turquoise with sort of gold print.  I think I remember having that skinny belt but I might be kidding myself there.

Thanksgiving weekend photos

I am positive that these were taken on Thanksgiving weekend.  Both taken by Jim, in one of the folders he gave me with old family photos these were included at the back.

TOPWLH took a look at this picture and declared that there is no way we ever bought that jacket for our little girl.

But Kelsey's jacket is at least similar.  It looks to me like that was the style for at least that one season.  Probably everyone who is their age has at least one of those jackets in their history.

Enhanced

I have had possession of Jim's loose leaf binders containing his genealogy research since shortly after his death.  In the past couple of weeks I have been looking for old photos and recently I looked into his binders thinking perhaps of posting some of his genealogy related photos.

I came across a section in one of the binders of original photos, not modern reprints, the original stuff.  I think we have seen these before but I don't know if the note from Richard to Conrad has ever been digitized before.  I had to scan it and then use an enhancement program that I have to improve the contrast to make the writing legible on screen.

This is the front side of a post card.  Left to right, Hansine, oldest child Lillie, Richard.

This is the backside, barely legible even in the original but it is a note headed Yellow Lake Wis, 5/8/15 beginning Dear Brother Conrad.

 I was able to enhance the contrast.

I received your card some time ago.  Was glad to hear from you.  We are all well hope you are the same. I see you have bought the man out that you worked for.  I'm sending a picture of our oldest girl and our self.  We have we have a baby girl 2 mounts old its going some isen't it with regards from us both.     Brother Richard

This one was taken perhaps the same day.  Hansine has the same dress on and I think Lillie does too.  Richard has removed his jacket but is wearing shirt and tie, the same rolled up trousers and what is probably the same hat.

Left to right, Minda, what must have been their prize cow, Hansine, Richard and Lillie.

We know Conrad wasn't there as Richard sent him a copy of the other photograph taken that day so the shadow of the photographer strikes me as most likely Jake.

As I said, these are both original prints, very ancient.  It is a pleasure to put them both into digital form.

Black Friday

Zoots, it appears that the temperature will reach the mid-50s here today.  Rain showers are forecast as well.  Most years precipitation on the day after Thanksgiving would be snow and would herald the arrival of winter.

Here's the last one from the previously unposted Michigan photos.

It just seems appropriate for black Friday.

Refreshing a skill set

Preparation of this meal is complicated in that there are lots of steps.  It is uncomplicated in that none of the steps are exceedingly difficult.  The trick is in timing everything to be done at the same time.

I haven't peeled potatoes much in the past few years but I have peeled a lot of potatoes in my life.  The technique is quickly relearned.

I have some pretty nice knives but my favorite for potatoes is a really cheap paring knife.  I suspect that it reminds me of the knives of my youth.  I choke up on the handle making the blade even shorter.  It works for me.

We went with a never frozen turkey again this year.

Here's a view of a lot of the stuff on the table and of our special guest.

Here's a look at the grown-ups, Norah is hiding behind her Mom.

It is probably apparent from the view through our patio door that winter has not arrived.  It was sunny and reasonable today, a great Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

An old photo from each side of the tree and a bonus

My scanner got to run again today after I looked through the old photo albums.

The first is George E. aka Fritz and his brother Charles Miller.  The note on the back estimates the year as about 1884.

 These are the six surviving (of eight) children of August B. Anderson.

Back row:  Richard (born 1877) and Conrad (1879).
Front row:  Frank (1865 in Sweden), Augusta (Lidbom, 1863 Sweden), Mathilde (1871, the second to be named Mathilde, her sister born in 1861 in Sweden, died here, possibly of diptheria in 1871), and Hanna (Erickson, 1874, the second to be named Hanna, her sister born in 1868 in Sweden died here in 1871 shortly after her older sister).

Richard looks about 18 or so to me, I estimate the photo to be 1895.

Lillie, born 1913.

I am going to guess 1917 for the photo.

I got a couple of other scanned gems but I also have at least one more Wednesday.

Would 1980 be a good guess for that DeKalb photo?

Because I have this one labelled in my photo file with what looks like a reference to 1980.

Your children look about the same age and it appears that in this photo I have the same green polo shirt that I am wearing in DeKalb.

This one is Deer Lake, of course.

This one is also labeled Deer Lake but 1982.

Photographer in all cases including yesterday's photo is Jim.  I have these in a folder on my hard drive labeled JQ scans.