Buster, Charlie, Hettie
The Diogenes Club
Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Theodore and Jennie Hoss
I have been told this is a photo of my great-grandparents, Theodore and Jennie (Reeves) Hoss, on their wedding day, Feb. 20, 1890.
Theodore Jacob Hoss was born in Wisconsin in 1863. Part of his childhood was spent in Nebraska. The Hoss family arrived in Washington Territory in the mid-1870s.
Theodore and Jennie were a power couple. She "became the leader in every group she joined," according to one family member. The Red Cross and the GAR were two groups where she was active, and she was indeed the State Chair of the GAR for a year.
He was a progressive Democrat who was a frequent candidate in a conservative Republican county. Occasionally he'd get elected to a city or county office. His runs for the legislature were not successful.
How radical was he? As the Democratic nominee for US Congress in 1918 he stood for equal wages for equal work for men and women. That was pretty radical.
But he was also a successful businessman and had a role in starting Centralia's first electric utility and streetcar line. Theodore died in 1947.
Theodore and Jennie are buried in Centralia's Pioneer Cemetery
Saturday, December 21, 2013
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Favorite Movie Quotes: Schindler's List
Jennie's Mother
My great-great grandmother. Although this has an 1889 date, I suspect this photo was taken at a much earlier year. In the late 1880s she survived Typhoid Fever, but died as a result of complications from surgery for cancer in 1892 shortly after she turned 50.
She lived in Centralia, Washington for a brief time, 1889-1892. I have a copy of a letter she wrote back to relatives in Michigan about her impressions of this area. It's very charming and hopeful.
Unfortunately, no one in my grandparents' generation was old enough to remember her, so I didn't get any firsthand accounts of what she was like, except that she was terribly missed by her family.
Loyal S. Kincaid
Printed: Marvin, Grand Ledge, Michigan
On verso: To Aunt Melissa, a Merry Xmas
Age 3 mo., 23 days
Height 2 1/2 ft.
Weight 17 lbs.
Loyal Kincaid was born July 30, 1890 in Michigan, died June 1, 1968. He served as a private in World War I.
Aunt Melissa was my great-great grandmother, Lydia Melissa Reeves, who would've been living in Centralia, Washington in 1890.
Interesting to read this early use of "Xmas." A little digging shows the term has actually been around a lot longer than I suspected.
Eunice Baylis
Written on album sleeve: Eunice Baylis
Printed on verso: S.T. Speechly, Ground Floor Gallery, No. 72, South Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Negatives Preserved. Pictures Enlarged.
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. She was an aunt to Jennie Reeves, the keeper of this album.
Unidentified
Photo of unidentified child.
On verso: S.T. Speechly, Ground Floor Gallery, No. 72, South Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Negatives Preserved. Pictures Enlarged.
With a little superficial poking around I discovered the photographer was Susan T. Speechly, who lived from 1844 to 1915.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Unidentified
Although there are no markings on this tintype or the album sleeve, I am guessing the woman on the right side is my great-grandmother, Jennie Reeves, standing behind her brother Charles LaFayette "Lafe" Reeves. If so, this was taken in the 1880s.
The Thomas Jefferson Song
He wrote "All men are created equal"
But he forgot to add the sequel
"... unless they are slaves at Monticello."
Thoughts of despots he abandoned
But he bought a chunk of land single-handed
-- Louisiana Purchase --
He was a paradox and a complicated fellow.
He's got the historians all fussin'
The revisionists all cussin'
But he's my distant cousin
So I'll cut him some slack.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sidney
In the album sleeve, in the handwriting of an old person, under the young man on the right, is written: Sidney.
Sid Reeves was born in 1872, which might help in dating this photo. The boy on the left is unidentified.
Frank Lloyd Wrong!
Sarah sent me an email concerning this house for sale in McCleary, Washington and one of the most entertaining real estate pitches it has been my pleasure to read. This dwelling always fascinated me as I walked by it occasionally.
The realtor used the term "Frank Lloyd Wrong" to describe it. Brilliant! Why anyone in Western Washington would construct a building with a flat roof is beyond me. I spent 8 years of my upbringing in a flat roof mobile home out here, so I know of what I write firsthand. We had lots of buckets!
The William McKinley Song
William McKinley
Was a little bit weird
First President since Lincoln
Without a mustache or beard
He was not all that exciting
And I wouldn't be lyin'
People didn't really vote for him
They voted against Bryan
Imperialism and capitalism
McKinley couldn't get his fill
But in this land of plenty
When we hit Century 20
An anarchist's bullet
Spelled the end of Bill
I think he was a good man
Who was led astray
So many Presidents
End up that very same way
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