In Honor Of

This month, I wanted to honor my grandma, who died last year on September 30 before having the opportunity to meet her first great grandchild.

Along with a couple reflective posts, I thought it would be nice to feature a couple old photos, from her family, once a week. Call it Throwback Thursday or Flashback Friday or some other alliterative cheesy-ness, I hope to take a moment each week to feature a photo.

You may or may not know this about me, but I was always very interested in family history (genealogy) and have over 100 pages written about my family history on both sides. Since finishing the book, I’ve taken a break (I wouldn’t say permanent, but you never know). Research is hard work, and I don’t have the time right now. But I hope I will again in the future, perhaps to write about my husband’s side of the family.

Without further ado,

My grandma is third from the left, Gen, sitting next to two of her cousins, Evelyn and Kenneth. The far left is her sister, Ethel. The far right? I don’t know. Plus, there is a cute puppy.

There’s quite a bit of history on my grandma’s mother’s family. My grandma’s mother was named Ida, and her mother and father were born in Switzerland, but emigrated separately. Ida’s father Gottfried (Godfrey) came to America because he had a choice of serving in the Swiss Army at 18 or leaving. He also had cousins in America already, and he came and joined them in that area. Ida’s mother Louisa (Louise) either emigrated with her parents, or by herself at 18 (records are unclear).

Godfrey and Louise married in 1895 and in 1900, Godfrey purchased over 80 acres of land which he farmed, parcels of which are still in the family, including the house. He was also a mechanic, and completed an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade in America which he had begun in Switzerland. In addition, he worked several steel mills and was known for being one of the best general workmen.

Their children included Martha, Ida (my grandmother’s mother), Erma, and Frederick.  All of these children lived a considerably long time. Martha went on to marry and have children which were my grandmother’s cousins, pictured above.

My grandma often talked about walking through fields around their house and finding “oodles” of arrowheads around. I am not sure where the photo above was taken, but I like to think it was on that farm.

The old house is still standing and in the family for over 100 years (Martha’s daughter Evelyn, pictured above, lives in it). Remarkable, and wonderful.

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