Wednesday, October 30, 2013

A Grandmother's Hope

   In order to prepare for a most likely lean Christmas season, I am making most of our gifts.  One project I'm doing involves needlepoint. I am not a crafty person.  It is good for me that God blessed me with a daughter who LOVES all things crafty because it forces me to cultivate that part of me. 
   When I was about Mookie's age (9), my Grandma Murray tried so hard to get me interested in embroidering a dish towel.  That side of my family is into any kind of sewing arts big time.  There was hardly a time we would get together for a family gathering that someone wouldn't have some kind of project in hand.  The walls at my Grandparents' house displayed wonderful pieces that were done by my grandmothers, aunts, mom and cousins.  They were lovely!
   I remember Grandma letting me pick out my pattern, showing me how to do the stitches like it was yesterday (this is one of my most vibrant childhood memories).  She tried so hard to get me going on it.  She'd keep it at her house and mention getting it out each time I'd visit (to which most of the time I'd decline).  She'd brag to her friends about how small and even my stitches were, how similar they were to her mother's.  And what happened to my first dishtowel?  It is still unfinished in a box in the attic.  My poor grandma!  It pains me that I didn't take a greater interest then.
  Yesterday when I picked out my pattern, it all came rushing back.  It was like I could hear my grandma re-telling all the instructions she laid out for me more than 25 years ago.  Each poke of the needle & drag of the floss brings back sweet memories of a grandma I miss so dearly even though she's been gone 17 years.  It also makes it very, very obvious to me too that no matter if your child is interested in what you are doing together it's the time taken and encouragement and trying to impart something that you enjoy in a non-pushy manner that matters.  It sticks. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Guess Who?: Atchison

My Atchison batch + some tintypes:
W. Babberger - photographer
Conklin - photographer
Hill - photographer
J. C. Hill - photographer
Possibly a Beeson or Locker. J. M. Munn - photographer
Kleckner - photographer
Kleckner - photographer
Most likely children of Philo Mauzey.  McLeod - photographer
My tintypes:
I sincerely hope that this is my
gggg-grandma Charity Beeson (b. 1803),
but I don't know

Guess Who?: St. Joseph & Unknowns

If you see anyone you know, drop me a note! :)
J. T. Needles, St. Joseph, MO - photographer
Uhlman, St. Joseph, MO - photographer
Probably Albert Isaacs (son of Amos & Ally),
taken by H. S. Stovall, Weatherby, MO


The following pics are totally unmarked:(
postcard picture

Monday, October 7, 2013

Guess Who?: St. Joe & Atchison

These are a series of other unknowns.  Some I think I have figured out, and I can narrow down the family branch on the St. Joeseph ones, but I need to know who they are! Let me know if you can help:)
no photographer's mark,
but he looks very similar to a picture
I have of the sons of
Amos and Ally Isaacs of St. Joseph, MO
Memorial photograph.
I'm thinking this is Samuel Isaacs,
 son of Amos and Ally Isaacs


Thinking this is Ally Jane (Judah) Isaacs,
the resemblance to Ally's daughter Addie is striking
J. S. Saurman, St. Joseph - photographer
Speculating that this is either Levi or Samuel Judah,
brothers of Ally Jane (Judah) Isaacs
The only one in this post from Atchison,
he has similar features, so I included him
J. W. Souder, St. Joseph, MO - photographer
W. J. Rea, St. Joseph, MO - photographer