The Diogenes Club
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Jennie, Lafe
Charles LaFayette Reeves and his sister, Jennie Melissa Reeves. Jennie was my great-grandmother and the curator of this album.
Jennie was born Sept. 22, 1869 in Lansing, Michigan. Before accompanying her family to Centralia, Washington Territory in 1889 she briefly taught school.
She married Theodore Jacob Hoss in Centralia, Feb. 20, 1890. They were something of a power couple, both of them deeply involved in politics and social groups. Although Centralia was and remains a very conservative town, Theodore and Jennie were outspoken progressives.
Jennie died in Centralia on Valentine's Day, 1952.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Morty Comix # 2676
Morty Comix # 2676 was placed behind the canvas of a painting in a pizza joint/sports bar where I enjoyed a great sub sandwich for lunch. Tumwater, Washington.
Lafe
It would appear this tintype was also taken during the 1872-1884 Reeves mystery years where I did not find any documentation on their location, only unconfirmed stories.
Paul Tumey Covers Short Run
[Image from Paul's article]
Paul Tumey wrote a nice summation of Short Run 2013 for Comics Journal. A few old Newavers can be seen in this report. Lots of photos. Check it out at this LINK.
Aunt Eunice
Written on album sleeve: Aunt Eunice
Printed on verso: Lutges, Cor. Jefferson Ave. and Griswold St. Over Ives Bank, Detroit
Eunice E. Upham (1840-1897) married Richard Samuel Baylis (1830-1886) in 1861. She was born in Ohio but spent most of her life in Michigan.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Lafe
Tintype
Barely legible on verso: Lafe
Charles LaFayette Reeves (Aug. 18, 1862-June 4, 1939) was better known as Lafe. He was the older brother of my great grandmother, Jennie.
Lafe accompanied his family from Michigan to Centralia, Washington Territory in 1889. He married a woman named Elizabeth (Bessie) in 1903 and they both were Christian Scientist converts. When my grandmother Leona survived the influenza epidemic in 1918 she credited Lafe with her recovery.
Lafe was a barber and I only recently learned worked just 7 miles from my home over in Elma, Washington during the early 1900s. In spite of the expression in this photo, he is remembered as a big, friendly man who was also a ventriloquist.
Charles and Bessie had no children. We visit their graves every year and the headstones are eroding away down there in Centralia.
OK, now here's a mystery for you research wizards. Between the birth of Sidney A. Reeves (Lafe's youngest sibling) in Michigan, Mar. 28, 1872 and the year 1884 when the family is safely back in the Wolverine State but a bit further north, I cannot account for the whereabouts of the Reeves family. There are some pretty wild stories, all unconfirmed, which include George Armstrong Custer and Little Bighorn. I'll get to it eventually here. It would seem this tintype of Lafe was taken during this lost chunk of time. And he looks worn beyond his tender years. There's a good story somewhere in there.
Aunt Miranda
Printed: F.B. LeClear, East Main St., Head of Cooper St., Jackson, Mich.
Miranda Upham was the daughter of Alvin and Clarissa (Wheeler) Upham. Her married name was Miranda Swarthout.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Short Run 2013
OK, so I'm the Howard Hughes of comix. Except poor.
Anyway, our old friend Jim Gill sent photos of Short Run 2013 to share. This annual comix event takes place in Seattle. I have never been to it but a couple of conspirators are attempting to lure me to the 2014 show.
Jim's photos are on FaceBook. I am not personally on FaceBook and probably never will be, so I cannot comment on these. Here's Jim's link:
https://www.facebook.com/james.gill.395017/media_set?set=a.10151847341617333.1073741828.523782332&type=1
The Art of Rube Goldberg-- more news and links!
The new book The Art of Rube Goldberg is getting some buzz and Morty the Dog stalwart reader Paul Tumey (a Goldberg and Screwball Comics scholar and a contributor to the book), sends along these links worth checking out:
'Art of Rube Goldberg' more than crazy contraptions
LA Times
The Art of Rube Goldberg Book Party
Photos by Guy Coombs
The Art of Rube Goldberg
TV Interview with Jennifer George
(author and Rube's granddaughter)
The Art of Rube Goldberg Celebrates Chain Reactions
Wired
Rube Goldberg's marvelous machines
Boing Boing
Sid
Written on album sleeve: Sid
Written on verso: S.A. Reeves, 1891, Mrs. Theo. Hoss
Printed: T.R. Williams, Centralia, Wash.
Sidney A. Reeves was the youngest of three. He was born Mar. 28, 1872 in Michigan. When the Reeves family moved to Washington Territory in 1889 he was still a teenager. In this photo he is 18 or 19 years old.
They tell me he was employed as a butcher and was an avid hunter. He never married and lived with his sister Jennie and her husband Theodore Hoss until 1920. Eventually he moved to the country where he raised hunting dogs.
Sid died in Centralia, Washington Aug. 21, 1938. He is buried in Centralia's Pioneer Cemetery under a rapidly eroding simple headstone.
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