Southern Roots of Family History

I'm writing today from very sunny but windy southern California.  We have had some high temps but the Santa Ana winds have kicked up and they are doing their job.  I've had such a great time this week meeting new friends via their blogs.  I feel as though I have taken a trip across the USA, over to the UK, and ended my journey in Australia!  And, I have gotten so many new ideas for things I would love to create (one day....).

But, today I'm not going to share anything crafty.  Instead, I thought I would go down memory lane and tell you a little bit about the other side of my family tree.  I have shared in the past about my father's side of the family, which is Danish.  Today, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my Mother's family.

 

 This is a photo of my dear mother, Ferby.  She was born in Weiser, Idaho.  I think this photo was taken sometime in the 1940's.   I always thought she looked like a movie star in this photo.  My Mom's name was very unique.  She had an odd name in the days when it wasn't fashionable as it is now.

My mom's father, Russell*,  came from Chillicothe, Missouri.  His father, Daniel, my great-grandfather, was an attorney and a botanist.  Daniel came out west from the midwest and taught school.

Here's a picture of my great grandfather, Daniel.  Doesn't he look like a very stately man?  I never got to meet him but I think it would have been fascinating to know him.

Since my great grandfather was a botanist, he too loved art.  Here are two of his botanical pen and ink drawings that I am lucky enough to have....

My Grandpa's mother, Eleanor, also was from Chillicothe.  Her parents owned a mercantile business and I think they were a middle class merchant family with a home in town.  Here's is a picture of my great grandma who is known by the name of "Grandma Duty".

 

This photo was taken in 1897.  Supposedly she had her hair done by a French woman. (This photograph was made from an old photo my aunt had found hence the blurred image). Grandma Duty was quite the lady and I believe she ended marrying five different times (the last time to a John Duty).  I don't think she was pretty.  Unfortunately, my poor Grandpa and his siblings suffered due to her inadequate mothering skills.

My Grandpa ventured out west too and settled near Nez Perce, Idaho.  He met my Grandma and they had six children (one being my dear Mom) and lived until a wonderful old age.  Here's a picture of my dear Grandma....

She was a wonderful, warm, kind, woman.  She would never say a bad word about anyone.  She truly lived her life according to her faith.  I had a wonderful Mother, but my Grandma made such an impression on my life that I remember her teachings to this day.

My Mother had two brothers and three sisters so I grew up with lots of cousins.  All my aunts and uncles have passed away now.  And I've lost track of many of my cousins.  But, a couple of years ago, I was in Ft. Worth, Texas.  I knew I had some relatives down there - my Grandpa's brother, Mac, had settled in Texas.  In the early 1960's, Uncle Mac was visiting his son in Seattle.  He passed away unexpectedly and his casket was transported back to Texas on the train.  I remember as a young girl standing outside the train station in our town in Idaho with my grandparents as the train that had his body passed through.  It's an odd memory to have...

Through a cousin, I contacted these Texas relatives and had the pleasure to meet them.   One of these relatives was very much into family genealogy.  We chatted and I gave her some info on our family.  In fact, she had a hand written letter from "Grandma Duty".  It was so fun to go through her records.  As we were talking, she said, "here's something you might like", and she handed me a hand written letter to her Grandfather Mac (my Grandpa's brother) from my Mother!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw and held this letter.  It was from my dear Mom!  Written in 1946, way before I was even thought of.  She was kind enough to give me this letter and it's the only letter I have from my Mom.  Isn't it a small world.  That letter had been sitting in a drawer in Texas for over 60 years!  Amazing....

So, that's a snapshot into my other side of the family.  There's still more I can add (my Grandma's Hancock family who are true southerners) but I'll leave that until another time.

Lilly sends her wishes to each of you.  She thanks you for your kind comments.

Enjoy your day!
Pat

*I tried to find a photo of my Grandpa Russell but I have misplaced it somewhere.....