Framed for Life

In 1925, after her father died, Ottie Rury quit school to go to work at Woolworth’s in Enid, Oklahoma.  It was there that she met Pearl Brown and they became friends.  Finishing high school was very important to Ottie so sometime in 1926 she quit working at Woolworth’s to go to work at the telephone company where she was able to work split hours that totaled 8 hours a day and then go to school for 4 hours.

Even though Ottie and Pearl no longer worked together they remained close friends and Ottie got to know her entire family.  In fact, Ottie began dating Pearl’s brother, Claude Brown, in the Spring of 1927.

I wonder where she found the time to see Claude since she was gone 12 hours a day with work and school.  Somehow they found the time and even visited nearby mountains, the 101 Ranch, the zoo, a small creek, went on picnics and close drives, as documented in her photo album.  Claude may have worked for Singer Pipe & Supply in Enid as well as owned a car, assumptions I’ve made based on photos in Ottie’s album.  The photos chronicle not only their activities but provide us with a glimpse of how much they enjoyed being with one another.

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Their first Valentine Day, as a dating couple, was in February 1928 and Claude gave Ottie a framed card.  Ottie must have cherished the card since she kept it throughout her life and today her daughter has it and is sure to explain its significance.

The card is a lithograph with an illustration of a girl with long, curly black hair wearing a pretty dress, necklace & bonnet and she is reaching out to touch the roses growing on a fence.  There is a bird flying high above her and another sitting on the edge of a birdhouse.  The sentiment on the card is a poem entitled “My Sweetheart” by Bert Bailey.  The card itself is under a piece of glass with a wood frame that has been painted  blue with iridescent gold trim on the outer edge.

Claude & Ottie were my paternal grandparents and when I first saw this framed poem among the memorabilia that I borrowed from my aunt, I thought my Grandmother must have framed it herself.  However, as I began researching it I discovered it is a motto print.  Motto Prints of the 1920’s were often purchased at the dime store and were machine printed sentimental poems placed under glass and in a frame that was painted or had embellishments.  Today, motto prints are collectible items found in many antique shops selling anywhere from $25 to $100.

This particular motto print was produced in 1928 by Gibson Art Company out of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is noted as G.A. Co on the card.  The poem on this card is attributed to Bert Bailey.  There was a famous Australian playwright and actor named Bert Bailey who was popular during this time period and he may be the author of this verse but I have not been able to verify that.

Of the many motto prints for sale, I found one that matches the one Claude gave Ottie and here is the description provided:

~1928 Gibson Motto Print ~ ‘My Sweetheart’ — A pretty vintage motto print titled ‘My Sweetheart’ ~ signed ‘Bert Bailey’ ~ dated 1928 G.A. Co., A Gibson Product ~ wood frame with gold gilt trim ~ top border print is iridescent gold measures 4 3/8″W x 6 1/2″H ~ back has hook for hanging ~ original frame.”

I’m including a few up close views of the details of my Grandma’s framed card and I believe you will agree that this is a motto print.

Claude & Ottie were married on October 1, 1930 and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in 1987.  Then 10 days later Claude died.  Ottie has been described as a sweet, loving and giving woman.  Clearly Claude saw those qualities and also saw that she was full of spice.  I have no doubt that from beginning until the end their relationship it was full of ’sweetness and spice’ as described in that poem Claude gave Ottie in 1928.

My Sweetheart

Sweethearts are dear
And sweet and sincere,
There’s something
about them that’s fine,
But there’s sweetness and spice
And everything nice
About that…
Sweetheart of Mine

by Bert Bailey, G.A.Co, 1928

References Used:

1. By a Motto Print for Your Mother by C. Diane Zweig at Antique Week describes some motto print history.
2. P&P Antiques has several Motto Prints for sale and provides images and a description of each one.
3. Funding Universe provides a short history of Gibson Art Company.
4. Live Performance of Australia provides biographical information on Bert Bailey.

Further Readings about Ottie on my blog:

• Papa was a kind and gentle man – about Ottie’s father, James Rury
• The Influence of Bliss — shares some history of the 101 Ranch
• Beach Costumes – see a little of the “Spice” my Grandmother clearly had
• 1930, her first road trip by car – other photos of Claude & Ottie and their honeymoon
• May 24, 1928 Commencement – the story of Ottie’s journey

This is my submission for Smile for the Camera, 20th edition “Valentine”.

Are They Willis Grandparents?

I obtained this photocopy of a photo several years ago but no longer recall the details of who I obtained it from or why.  I always thought the description on the back was written by my mother but she isn’t as sure about that.  On the back it says:

Ms. B.H. Willis
Winfield
R1, Alabama
Grandmother & Grandfather
of John H. Willis

Unfortunately this information isn’t enough yet to be helpful in knowing who this couple is.  My grandfather was James Thomas “Tommy” Willis born in Fayette County, Alabama.  Winfield, the city noted on the back of the photo, is in Fayette County, Alabama. We have no idea who Ms B.H. Willis or John H. Willis are or were.

In thinking about details that might help identify this photo I know that I’ve obtained a small number of copies of photos from my grandfather’s siblings.  I rather doubt that this came from them or the names would make sense to us.  Several years ago I went to Fayette County and visited with a descendant of John William Willis and Margaret Bell Willis nee Gilpin so it’s possible the photo may be from them but the names don’t match anything I have.  Or, I may have found photos in the local library and thought they were significant.  I’ve been trying to recall the details but I just can’t.  One thing for sure is that this an excellent example of what not to do when you get a photo.

Some specifics on my line are that my grandfather James Thomas “Tommy” Willis was born in 1904 to Zedic Hamilton “Hamp” Willis and Mellie Jane Willis nee Welch.  I’ve wondered if these may be Tommy’s maternal grandparents, William Thomas Welch and Mollie Mouro Welch nee Sanford.  I have a photo of Tommy paternal grandfather, James Franklin Willis, and he doesn’t look like the man in the above photo.

Here’s a link to my website that shows my grandfather’s pedigree chart with all the names, dates, and a photo that we have so far.

Can you help me identify this couple? If you have any information that may be helpful (dating the photo, names, location, etc.) in identifying this couple or the names on the back I would love to hear from you.

I’m Still Here

In case you’ve been wondering why I haven’t been blogging…

I’ve just been doing other things.  My kids turned 18  and we’ve been planning our summer vacation that will celebrate their graduation from high school.

I get pretty obsessive sometimes about making sure I look at all the deals out there before deciding on anything.  This time is no exception to that.  I have spent untold hours hunting, thinking and planning over the past few weeks.  I’m actually sick of doing it at this point.  We finally settled on flying in to London where we will stay several days then head over to Paris for several more days.  Then we’ll probably rent a car and drive into Belgium and The Netherlands for several days before flying out of Frankfurt, Germany.  We have the tickets and have taken care of our lodging reservations for both London and Paris but we still have to figure out the rest of the places where will visit.

I checked out several DVDs and books from the library, of course, to help us decide where to go and what to do.  Now that we’ve got our tickets I’m re-reading everything very thoroughly to create some suggested itineraries for the rest of the family to review.  Some of the activities that we may do have tickets that need to be purchased soon.  Thankfully, some of my most memorable moments on vacations are the free things like picnics and enjoying the scenery.

Not to worry, I’ll slow down on my vacation planning and settled back into my researching my family history and blogging.  Then during and after the vacation I’ll blog about our trip.

Eva and January (Tombstone Tuesday)

For Eva, the month of January had many significant events.  She was born January 7, 1883, married January 11, 1902 (age 18) and died on January 12, 1922 (age 39).  Yesterday my Mom wrote about Eva’s marriage in her post Happy 108th Anniversary! and a few years ago I wrote about Eva and her death, which I’m reposting today.

Eva enjoyed singing duets with her sister, Violet. Her daughter, Virginia, remembers her soprano voice singing “Come with me Josephine in my flying machine”, “When Johnnie Comes Marchin Home”, “Bluebird of Happiness”, and “There’s a Long Long Trail Awinding”. Eva was a member in the Loyal Order of Moose, The Legionaires of Oilton, Creek, Oklahoma and attended church regularly.

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Virginia’s mother died on January 12, 1922 in Oilton, Oklahoma. The photo shown here was taken in 1917 and is Eva and her daughter, June. Eva gave birth to Albert Edward Fox (her 10th child) on December 21, 1921.

Based on the information on her death certificate, Eva may have had a heart disorder and she had a stroke (cerebral apoplexy) during her 20 minute labor with Albert Edward. Typically this causes the person to loose consciousness and they lie motionless then their lungs collect fluids, which results in pneumonia. Eva was apparently unconscious from her stroke from Dec. 21, 1921 until her death at 8:00 Jan. 12, 1922 (22 days). Eva did develop pneumonia acute and pleurisy and she died 10 days later from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Edward also developed bronco-pneumonia when he was 7 days old and he was sick for 3 days before he died on January 1, 1922. He was buried on January 2, 1922. Eva and her son, Edward, are buried with one another in the Highland Cemetery in Oilton, Oklahoma. Eva has a headstone in an Oilton cemetery but Edward does not, as you can see in the photo that has her sons Joe and Leonard standing by her headstone.

Eva’s physician, according to the death certificate, was a Dr. Wilson.  Virginia, my grandmother, told me that the Doctor was a black man who lived with his wife just down the street and he had his own hospital.  She remembers that her Mama really like him and Virginia thought that the doctor and his wife were really nice people.  Virginia was a young child at that time and she was fascinated with how white the palms of the doctor’s hands were.

Virginia was not quite 8 years old when her mother died. She recounts: “When Mama was going to have the baby she sent me to the country to be with friends. Before Mama died she sent word she wanted to see me. But when we got to town they had already taken her to the church. I went through the door and told them I wanted my Mama. They said ‘Kid get out of the way!’ I don’t know what happened then. The next thing I remember was being with the Harrah’s. I have no idea where my brothers were.”

Mr. Harrah may have owned the Barber shop, Theatre, and Grocery Store in Oilton. Mr. Fox may have owned a hotel across the street from the Harrah’s. According to the local papers, Mr Harrah was appointed as the younger Lineberry children’s guardian.  By February 1922 Willie and Bernita were their guardians and Willie escorted his younger brothers and sister to Virginia to be cared for by their father’s siblings. In the Oilton Gusher March 23, 1922 a notice to Creditors of Eva Fox to respond within 4 months to S. C. Harrah, Administrator.  –Posted: Aug 26, 2007

Further Readings:

• Tombstone Tuesday: Eva Fox
• Excerpt from Eva’s Story — an historical fiction my mother is writing of Eva
• Week #15 Genealogy Prompt List some vital signs — the challenge to understand Eva’s birth certificate

Red Sails Tucked Away

I just couldn’t help myself from wanting to know more about the photos and menu when I saw them tucked into the book.  The items are: a Red Sails Inn menu, photos of the outside and inside of the Red Sails Inn, and newspaper clippings about the book.

I had heard of the book before and when I read my great grandmother, Maude Rury’s obituary, it provided the details of it (see my post and then there’s Maude).  My aunt let me borrow the 1936 book, The Tuna Industry of San Diego, and while it is not a topic I would choose, it is a book that my great grandmother was involved in so it piqued my interest.

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The newspaper clippings, though no source is noted, are about the book & a similar WPA project (see the further readings below).  However it is not obvious to me why the menu and photos have been kept.  The restaurant serves sea food and specifically tuna but it seems there must have been more reason to have kept these 8 x 10 photos.

The Red Sails Inn menu says the owner is Joseph Y Viery and gives the address as 654 Harbor St. Foot of G. St. San Diego.  It’s clear that they served breakfast as well as lunch and dinner.  The most expensive item is the top sirloin steak for 60 cents.

When I did a quick search, I found on the Red Sails Inn website that “the original Red Sails Inn was founded in 1935 by Joe Viery on the old Fisherman’s Wharf at the foot of Market Street, near G Street.”  The website also has a photo of the restaurant that is very similar to one we have.

In the 1930 census living in Eden, Alameda County, California there was a Joseph Y Viery who was born in Azores Islands, Portugal.  He is buried in Livermore, California in the St. Michael’s Cemetery and based on the death index he died in December 1952.

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The photo of the outside of the restaurant has the Bell System logo, on the right edge of the building, showing the name “Southern California Telephone Company” and according to the Early Los Angeles Telephone Service website: “…the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company took over the operations of the So. Cal Telco in 1947.”  I found a website that shows the history of the Bell System logos and the one in the photo at Red Sails Inn was in use from 1921-1939.  This photo also has an old car but I’m not good at dating cars though this seems to be from the 1930’s time frame.  I’m wondering if this photo was taken near the time when the restaurant opened in 1935, which would have been the year before Maude’s book was published.

The other photo is of the inside of the Red Sails Inn and on the back of it, probably written in my great grandmother’s handwriting, it says:

Red Sales In. ft. G_ St_

Mr. Jos. Y. Viery

proprietor

Additionally, in the upper right hand there is a number 4 with a circle around it.  Possibly an indicator that there were others in a series.

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This photo shows flowers on the counters that appear to be like those at a funeral and I wonder if this photo was taken in 1952 after Joseph Viery, the proprietor died.  There are no people, no dishes or prepared food in the photo.  The clock indicates it is 2:20 and I would say that is in the afternoon based on the amount of light visible through the windows.  The name of the restaurant is visible in the decor so we know this is the Red Sails Inn.  We can see that they sold cigars, beer (Rainier & Pabst), wines (Hungarian Tokay), Chase & Sanborn coffee, ice cream (and a mixer for shakes or malts) and Hershey’s bars, which match the menu.   In the lower left hand corner it says “Photo, The Sensor Studios, San Diego, Calif”, which I found listed as a photographer in a book called The High Seas Tuna Fishery.  That photo shown in that book is very similar to a photo in my great grandmother’s book but none of the photos in her book provide a source.

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I haven’t done a thorough job researching this but I think I’ve done enough to satisfy my initial curiosity.  Perhaps my great grandmother simply acquired these photos and menu of the Red Sails Inn due to her involvement in writing the book or maybe Mr. Viery is mentioned in the book (though I haven’t found that yet) or perhaps she and Mr. Viery were friends.  Maybe these were simply items that Maude collected for the library displays.  Whatever the case, I think these items are interesting and certainly might be more so for the Viery family.  I’ll probably never know why my great grandmother tucked them into this book.

Now I’m trying to decide if I want to thoroughly read this book.

Further Readings:

Click to read

Booklet of 2 newspaper clippings on tuna industry displays at the library, which were arranged by Maude Rury.

Click to read

Click to read

That Flip Chair – Treasure Chest Thursday

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She always kept them high above my head sitting on top of the refrigerator and every time that I went to my Grandma Virginia’s house I’d ask her to get them down, which had to have been a reach for her.

Midge

I thought the gold colored, wire mesh design and swirling movement on the backs was pretty.  I played with the chairs for hours, sitting my 1963ish Midge Barbie doll (without bendable knees) in them.  I think the backs look like an outline of a woman’s head wearing her hair styled into the popular 1960’s Flip.  I suppose these chairs reminded me of one of my favorite shows during the mid 1960’s, “That Girl”.  Watch this 56 video clip to see that flip hairstyle and I believe you’ll recognize it in the chair backs.

One day I must have asked Grammy if I could have the chairs and she gave them to me.  That was probably when I was somewhere between the ages of 6 & 8 (1966-68).  When I had them home, I sat my 8″ Marmee of the Madame Alexander Little Women series in them as a way to display her.

Today these chairs reside in one of my curio cabinets as a reminder of my Grammy.  I have no idea where she got them and I don’t think they are made of any fancy material.  I’ve never seen others like them.  Perhaps I need to call them “the flip chairs” or ‘that flip chair’.

The love seat measures 9″ high x 8 3/4″ long x 4 3/4″ depth and it is 3 1/2″ to the seat.  The single chair has the same dimensions except it is only 4 3/4″ wide.  They have no markings of who, where or when they were made.

Update from my Mom:

Though I’m not positive, I would guess those chairs were something that had been a cosmetics display item. A lot of those sort of unusual things mother had came to her as outright gifts/bonuses or as something that had been used as a part of a particular cosmetic or perfume promotion.

Oklahoma School Days – Wordless Wednesday

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The Old Gent – Tombstone Tuesday

July 12, 1896
Marceline, Missouri

It looks queer that the old gent cant get along with his children what does he expect to become of himself does he ever expect to die or not I would like to know; If he does where he will find himself.

…I wish the children could stay together in peace at home. Ask Papa to treat them kindly and look out for that Great day coming by and by and be ready to meet his God in peace and all of you do the same…

– letter from Jacob Lineberry to his brother Leander (son’s of George A. Lineberry)

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My great grandfather died before his father so I do not know if his father’s choices improved.

The two upright stones in the Alex Lineberry Cemetery in Hebron, Virginia have lichens on them giving them the appearance of enduring the elements for many years.  Yet these stones are for individuals who died long after my great great grandmother, Rhoda Lineberry, whose headstone is next to theirs and looks less weathered.  (I wrote of her last week in Such A Good Mother).

The headstones pictured above are for George Lineberry, my great, great grandfather, his son Thomas and daughter-in-law Lucinda. In the photo of Thomas & Lucinda’s headstone, notice George and Rhoda’s headstones in the background.

I just received these photos this week but I’ve written of George several times so I encourage you to read the posts in the section below labeled ‘further reading’.

Further Reading:

• George & Rhoda’s Increase
• Lineberry Legacy – Jacob discusses his father’s temperament
• The Wool Overcoat & Trying Times — A story about George in the Civil War

“Biggest Radio News in 7 Years”

“Electric tuning.  Sensational! Amazing! Modern! Here’s the instrument you’ve always wanted.  No dial twisting, no groping, no guessing.  Push a button, there’s your station” (1937 RCA 811K ad, see below)

The walnut, teak and mahogany radio has been in Keith’s family for years.  Last year we had the unexpected opportunity to get our 1938 RCA 811K console radio repaired and refinished.  I journaled about our adventure and have updated the progress on my post entitled Old Radio.  To add to that, this weekend Keith narrated a video about this cool antique radio.  So now you can actually see & hear the beautiful radio.  In this fascinating 12 minute video Keith describes the radio, what all we’ve done to it plus he shows you the “magic eye” and the superheterodyne tuner.

This past December we listened to traditional Christmas songs played through the original 1938 speakers.  Our teenage daughter has already asked to one day be the owner of this radio, which I think is a clear indicator of how neat this radio is.

Click to begin the video

Here is an ad for the radio that appeared in Life Magazine in 1937.

Click & then zoom to see the details

Note:  I got a video camera for Christmas and have been anxious to use it and my editing software.  Before I switched last spring to a Mac I was using Adobe Premiere Elements but now I’m learning Final Cut Express.  This video is my second one to edit with the new software and I’ve still have much to learn.

Ed Garee’s Stories

When Ed was 90, in 1964, his daughters asked him to write his autobiography.  He had many accomplishments and had many fascinating stories of his experiences.  As you might expect his autobiography includes dates, places and people but it also includes many of his humorous & interesting stories.

Ed was born September 23, 1873 in Greenwood, Kansas.  He lived in El Dorado Springs, Cedar, Missouri as a young boy and by 1896 he was in Noble, Cleveland, Oklahoma where he lived until his death at the age of 93 in March of 1967.  Many of his stories were of his years in Missouri and, of course, Oklahoma.

Several years ago I transcribed his handwritten stories and placed them on my website, Ed Garee’s Stories.  Today, I added an index of the names and places Ed mentioned in hopes of helping genealogists and historians.  The links in the index go to my genealogy database.  When you click on the thumbnail image below it will open the pdf version of Ed’s stories, which includes the index.

Index	Page Number
Acer Saccharum	14
Barber, Ira E.	4
Becknell, Earnest	5
Bender	1
Caddo Maple Tree	14
Casey, Frank	10
Cooper, T.B.	4
Cross, Dr.	13
Cruce	3
Dawson, Jim	3
Dean, Harry	11
Dean, Stella nee Garee	10
Dyer, Sid	3
Ellinger, R.F.	13
Ellinger, Ralph	10, 11
Ellinger, Ralph Mrs.	11
Everett, Harrison	10, 11
Fergusson, Miller	13
Force, Susan	1
Force, William	1
Frye, Vernon	14
Garee, C.E.	13
Garee, Eva nee Dunaway	11
Garee, Francis	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Garee, Jacob	1
Garee, John	1
Garee, Rebecca nee Hamilton	1, 2, 5, 6
Garee, Rhoda	1
Goad, Mr.	14
Goodwin, Wes	3
Griffith, Laura	3
Hobbs, Bob	12
Hobough, Charles	7
Hobough, Charley	13
Hoddington, Mr.	2
Holliday, Clyde M.	11
Indiana	1
Indiana, Whitewater	1
Jenson, Howard	14
Johnson-Graham Ranch	10
Kansas	2, 4
Kansas, Butler Co.	1
Kansas, Eureka	2
Kansas, Greenwood Co.	1, 2
Liston, G.M.	4
Liston, S.C. Mrs	4
Logsden, Mr.	2
Martin, Granny	7
Miller, Professor	5
Missouri	1
Missouri, Cane Hill	5
Missouri, El Dorado Springs	3, 4, 6
Missouri, Jerico	4
Missouri, Saline Co	1
Missouri, Vernon Co.	2
Morris, Dick	3
Murphy, Dr.	1
Noble	1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Ohio	1
Ohio, Diamond	1
Ohio, Ravenna	1
Oklahoma	9
Oklahoma, Logan Co.	7
Pennsylvania	1
Peters, Joe	13, 14
Peters, Wayne	10
Ridgeway, Robert	8, 9
Rucker, Bob	13
Rucker, Robert	14
Sexton	4
Sheets, E.L.	10
Shriver, J.A.	10
Shriver, Jim	11, 12
Spencer, Wes	13
Swartz, Ona	2
Symcox, A.H.	8
Wagner, Arthur	7
Wantland	13
Wantland, C.F.	11
Wantland, Charles	11
Washington	1
Wells, Dr.	3
Whitehead, Mr.	10
Wiggins, Jennie nee Garee	1
Wiggins, William	1
Wise, Miss	7
Woods, S.B. Mrs.	4

Further Readings:

Costume – Ed and his sister, Elda
F.A. Garee at the Oklahoma State Fair – Ed & his father
Garee Family – several articles & photos on My Tree House
Garee Poster - Ed’s grandfather, Jacob Garee
History of Noble – by Ed’s daughter, Elizabeth Bullard
Travel Across the River -  Ed’s bridge