MY PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS!

Previously, I had said that my grandmother (dad's mother) came from Germany at 18 years of age. Just imagine coming to a new country with only a small trunk no bigger than 1 1/2' by 2 1/2' by 1 1/2' high. This trunk was in an auction and I so wanted to get it, but had committed to going to a wedding in another town on the day of the auction. I sent one of my married daughters to the auction, in hopes that she would buy it. She asked me how high I wanted her to bid. By not seeing the trunk, I thought no more than $100. It sold just a little more than that to an antique dealer. A week later we saw the trunk in an antique shop for $450. I should have told her to bid higher that day. The history of the trunk was displayed on the tag to the trunk at the antique shop (we knew who had purchased it). It was soon sold for that amount. My grandmother was sponsored by another relative that was already here. I was named after this grandmother (my middle name). My granddaughter's middle name is the same. My grandmother was born 8-15-1864 and died 10-16-1931.

My grandfather (dad's father) was only 3 years of age when they came over on a sailboat. The whole family came from Switzerland. He had to learn to walk over again by the time they landed. Their sponsors were waiting for them when they came up the Illinois River. My grandfather's father had died within a few years after arriving. His mother remarried and I believe she died soon afterwards, also. He went to a foster family and eventually at 18 years of age he settled close to where my grandmother was living (a German community). They met and they had 9 children, my father was next to the oldest. My grandfather was born in 4-29-1853 and died 3-18-1943.

My grandmother passed away when I was about 5 years of age. The year was 1931. I do not remember too much about her, other than she was a heavy set woman and I remember going to the hospital and seeing her in the wheel chair in the hospitals sun porch. I do know that my dad thought very highly of his mother and conveyed that to us. He probably bonded with her when he was baking that bread so many years before. They had purchased a farm and lived there until they died.

My grandfather lived until he was 90 years of age. He remembered the fair in St. Louis and the first ice cream cones that came out. He asked if he should eat the vase too. He had heart problems and slept with many pillows to help him breath at night. He was hard hearing and when we would go to visit (1/4 mile away from our home), he would tell us (by tapping on our shoulder) we were getting loud when he was able to hear us. We were laughing and having fun with our aunt. Many times we would be at there home and the mail would come. After getting his mail, if he didn't understand something, he would trudge down to our house and Dad would patiently explain things to him, and if need be, take him to the court house, to tend to business. He died in his sleep at 90 in 1943.

The family spoke only German in the home until my dad was in grade school, and then they spoke English. I did not know that my dad had a brogue until I was married and my husband said that he did have a slight brogue. Much like Henry Kissinger.

Thought for the day--Our forefathers were quite courageous!