Cousins

Beth Emmert and James Waning

This photo was taken in Wendling, Oregon in 1926.  Beth is  about seven years old and James is fourteen.  They are both very dressed up - spiffy!  I especially admire Gramp's shoes! 

Great Day - Part Two

Quinten's last hockey jamboree for Cross Ice. Next year he moves up to Squirts!

A boy and his Pamp

Ready for action

Dad caught the celebration after one of Q's many goals. I love how the other team is laying on the ice, vanquished.

Great Day - Part One

The birthday girl and her pile of presents.

Kierstyn loves penguins and had asked me to make her a penguin cake.

One of Kierstyn's favorite gifts was a Reggie Bush bobble-head. It was Mikaila's idea.

Pamp and the kids. We have been having such a good time.

Happy Happy Birth Day Day!

Lexa, Kierstyn, and Kristi

Christian, Kierstyn, Will, and Matt - 1996

Matt, Kierstyn, and Will - 2005

Kierstyn - 2010

Our Grandfather's Grandfather

James Ambrose Waning

James A. Waning "hung out" in the Waning guest bedroom - at least his portrait did!  I don't know if you ever noticed it there on the wall as the room was quite dim and the portrait dark.   

James was born in Maine in April of 1836, the third of nine children of Jacob Waning and Lucinda Tozier.  Sometime before 1866 he married Margaret McManus, and together they had four children: Hattie, Joseph, Nellie, and Willard (Billie).

Margaret died of consumption in February of 1881 - she was only 36 years old.  Our great-grandfather Willard (Billie as he was known) was just six when he lost his mother.

Sadly Hattie and Nellie also died young, Hattie in 1892 at the age of 26, and Nellie sometime before 1903 when she was 31 or younger. 

Joseph Waning left Maine as a young man and moved to Massachusetts where he lived the rest of his life.  Billie too left Maine; first to Massachusetts, then Montana, and finally Oregon. 

James Ambrose ended up a widower with no children close by to care for him.  He spent the last years of his life living with distant relatives who cared for him - I need to look at letters I have from genealogical research I did in the early 1980's and I can provide the name of the folks who care for him.  James died the 9th of November 1915 at the age of 79.  

Wilsall Cowmen - November 1917

Ed Swandahl, Homer Mather, Austin Swandalh, and Billie Waning

I think this group of men are quite dashing in their own ways!

The back of the photo was titled "Wilsall Cowmen", and according to additional information on the reverse side, it was taken in November of 1917 in Chicago, IL.  I would image that our Great-grandfather, Billie Waning, and the three other men, had come by train with their cattle to take them to Chicago and to market.  Based on their dress, they had a bit of time to "cut up the rug" while in the Big Windy City!  It looks like a celebration, so perhaps they got a good price for their stock!   

In the 1910 census Austin Swandel is a 20 year old hired hand living in Little Elk School District in Meagher County, MT. By the 1920 census he lived in School District 21 in Park County as a stock farmer.  He was married to Ella, had become a naturalized citizen (Norwegian) and had a daughter Gladys.

In the 1920 census, Homer Mather is 34 years old farmer.  He was born in Iowa and is married to Clarabell, with two young girls, Mary and Doris and living in Horse Creek, in Park County.

In the 1920 census, Edward Swandal is single and 22 years old.  He is from Norway and had not yet become a citizen.  He was listed as a stock farmer living in School District 21 in Park County, MT.  

Fearless Females - Margaret Upton Waning

Margaret Upton - 15th birthday

17th June 1930

One of the genealogy blogs I read regularly suggested posting a photograph of a "Fearless Female" family member as Tuesday's post.  Well, to start off the series, who else would I nominate but Margaret Upton Waning?  I won't attempt to enumerate her many acts of courage - such as enduring a series of shots in her eye for the treatment of her macular degeneration!

I choose to honor Grams as a "Fearless Female" for her cross country car trip the summer of 1937. She drove her father's new Nash thousands of miles; from Oregon back to Blooming Prairie, Minnesota; on to Spring Creek, Pennsylvania; and finally Rochester, NY - visiting McAdam and Upton family members along the way.  

Long before interstate freeways came to be, Margaret made the journey on narrow, two-laned paved, gravel, and dirt roads.  She safely piloted the Nash which also carried her mother, Elsie, and her two younger sisters, Ellen and V'Ona.  She also was responsible for the daily maintenance of the auto. She mentions in a postcard about the vehicle over-heating. 

Later this summer I will write a more detailed post about this iconic journey!        

Great-Grandfathers and Great-Grandchildren

Matthew McAdam and Beth Emmert

For many years, after the death of his wife, Matthew McAdam spent winters in Los Angeles with his step-daughter, Mary Burnet Emert and her family.  Mary and Harry Emert had one son, Robert Emmert.  Robert and Marjorye Emmert had one child - a daughter, Marjorye Elizabeth Emmert.  She was born in Los Angeles in April of 1919 and called Beth.  I date this photo to the summer of 1920.  Matthew looks to be an indulgent Great-Grandfather!

James Waning and Kierstyn - 1994

Seventy four years later, Matthew McAdam's grandson, James Waning had the opportunity to pose with his Great-Granddaughter, Kierstyn! James Waning looks pretty indulgent too!

Cousins - 2001

Waning Girl Cousins - 2001

Margaret and Janet McAdam - circa 1878

Margaret and Janet McAdam original photo

Margaret and Janet McAdam - restored photo

For me, this photo is our jewel in the crown!  How many folks have a photograph of a relative as a young child.  I am so pleased with the restoration - the additional details of shoes and petticoats.  I think this was taken about 1878 - Janet appears to be about three years old.  Perhaps a copy of this photo was sent back to Glasgow to the girls' maternal grandmother, Agnes Robertson Burnet!