Ellen Wheeler, b. 1899 and Weaver Wheeler, b. 1895
Weaver is the oldest brother of my Grandmother Mabel Zella Wheeler Brown Brooks. I don't know the date of the photo above but I do know they were married around 1914 and they were both young when they married. He was born in the Lorimor, Iowa area south of Winterset. I believe that he was one of four boys and my grandmother was the only girl. Someday I will tell you the parents name, but that has not been found yet among all the things. Weaver was my Great Uncle.
I don't know this as a fact, but I am think this is their 50th wedding anniversary, in 1964. It is written on the back that he is 69 years old, which meant that he was 19 when they married. She is 65 in this photo which made her 15 maybe going on 16 years old when they married.
They were always called the Hardin County relatives, as they lived in that country near Iowa Falls, Iowa. He was at first a farmer, but eventually made his fortune investing in houses to rent to Junior College students who went to school in the town. They lived in Iowa Falls in very cramped quarters in their house as they rented two rooms upstairs to students also.
Weaver and Ellen had two daughters, Veda and Darlene. Veda didn't live in the area in later years and Darlene lived in Iowa Falls with her husband Ed and their two children.
The photos at right are either granddaughters to Ellen and Weaver, or the are their daughters. I need to research this more to be sure.
Because of this blog, I am finding new things each week. I am frustrated with it because I don't have the people to ask, but I do find that if I dig through the papers and the letters and the funeral cards that I will get it all figured out.
Check out the blogs from around the world who are also participating in Sepia Saturday by clicking here.
Through my wife's computer I am letting you know that I have to buy a new computer. I am down. I don't want to disturb her things so I will be off line for awhile until I decide what to do. I am busy using an extra screen to save all my photos and documents.
18 comments:
Oh I love these photo's, and what a story. Such a young couple to marry and how beautiful that they remained together. Veda (I think that name means truth) such a sad confused person. These days we would diagnose her as a 'Borderline Personality Disorder.' Darlene seemed level headed and self assured...You can observe the difference in the facial expressions.
Beautiful photos and wonderful memories. God Bless you. I am joining your Blog.
Oh...
I will appear as Faith, Hope, Love saves on your FOLLOW.
How interesting. Veda's children are adorable...and, of course, I am so curious about Veda because of her colorful life. I'm sure that caused her parents a bit of grief though.
WONDERFUL PHOTOS AND INTERESTING HISTORY. THAT OLD CAR IS A TREASURE TO SEE!
Yes,It can be difficult finding the detail after all those years.I guess this is further confounded when a relative has a "colourful life" .But it's a facinating journey for you.
Veda's children are bonny!
regards
tony.
I love the 50th anniversary photo. They look mellowed; aged with grace and hunour. The little girls are adorable. Funny how the black sheep people in our families are often those who give us most cause for discussion.
It must have been difficult at times, for Veda's parents. However, Darlene looks a picture of innocence doesn't she?
Families are complex groups, but they are still families in the end.
Really good photos & family history. I think you're getting it figured out quite well!
I hope you post more about Veda -- the black sheep are always interesting to me.
Look at that car! It's like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! :) Love the photos...especially this girls! :)
I enjoyed seeing them through the years. They look so happy on their 50th. Actually, that last picture could easily be me in the 1950s. I had a little plaid skirt and my hair was cut in a pixie cut just like that.
Sad tale about the black sheep daughter, wonder how it happens, but I have similar tales in my family. You are making progress and I would expect that photo to be of their 50th...those funeral cards are helpful with dates and I have just recontracted on Ancestry.com which is full of data that you might find interesting too, especially the 1930 census. I know it's frustrating to not have anyone to ask about these family things. I am in the same boat there with you! Hope you get your new computer and then can move ahead...sounds like its your time of frustration.
I love the photos and I love the names as well. It is the way that in those days surnames would be so easily transfered into Christian names. So was his full name Weaver Wheeler Brown Brooks? Good luck with your search for a new computer - I will keep a sharp look-out for the return of your ever-welcome posts.
No Weaver had a middle name but I can't find anything about it, yet. It was my grandmother who was married twice. She started off as being Mable Zella Wheeler. Then after two marriages she was Mabel Zella Wheeler Brown Brooks. I always knew her as Grandma Brooks even though she was Grandma Brown first.
Larry, we just bought an HP desktop computer (Windows 7) with a widescreen monitor. HP is a great computer - my laptop is one and I have had no problems with it at all.
It's nice that you have these terrific shots of your grandparents. They were handsome in their youth and stayed handsome into their old age, from the looks of it.
Doesn't everybody have a "black sheep" in the family? I know I do.
Kat
It is a treat to see the passage of time through old family photos. They certainly aged well by the time of their 50th!
Great family stories again Larry. You will get it all sorted out piece by piece..don't let it overwhelm you:)
Great photos. What a lovely idea to publish all these photos on a Blog. A great record indeed.
God bless.
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