Aren't they just the bee's knees? As I began digging into my family history, it dawned on me that I didn't know who my grandfather was. And by the time I was old enough to remember her, Grandma Ruby was a little old lady on her own. No one ever mentioned a grandpa, and I didn't think to ask.
My sister filled me in on his name recently, and someone on Ravelry suggested checking this amazing grave search site. And there he was! Turns out Lester passed away when my dad was about 8 months old, at the ripe old age of 29. That explains the lack of family stories about him.
More digging around online, this time through old census papers. Grandpa's parents, Robert and Rebecka were farmers in Kansas, and parents to 9 children. They lived one plot of land up from Grandma's parents, Nathan and Myrtle, who had 8 kids of their own. Here's a picture of Nathan and Myrtle, possibly taken around 1940...
Lester literally married the girl next door. In later census reports, several of the grown up children on either side of the family are there, living with their own families and working alongside their parents. How cool is that? I can't help but think that the world might be a little better place if we did a better job of sticking together as families these days...
I love these photos. It's so great how you've been able to dig up all this info about your family history.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways two matching, and two splendid, photographs. And a fascinating story. Learning about other people's family histories can be nearly as fascinating as learning about your own.
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic photos and how lovely that you were able to find out more about your grandfather, how sad that he died so young. Their wedding photo is gorgeous and I love your grandfather's pose! Your great grandparents look as though they have many stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteAh yes to have family all around to support each other. Love the wedding photo. He has a very dashing hairdo!
ReplyDeletenext time i see a bee, i'll check out for its knees... but lovely pics!!
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ
Very nice photos. I am especially intrigues by the first one. It's impossible to know, but I have a sense that they might have just had an argument before the picture was taken.
ReplyDeleteI just love looking at old family photos and trying to piece together the history. Mine is quite complex, but still, there are similar old photos to look at and wonder..
ReplyDeleteSuper photos and a delightful history!
Following on Christine H.'s comment.... It seems to me that in many of the old wedding photos the brides look so hesitant, or uncertain, or sometimes downright unhappy. Maybe an argument, or maybe just trepidation.
ReplyDeleteHow great that you're working on your family history. I agree about families sticking together.