After 2003, Al began a slow but steady decline in health. No longer able to care for himself, his son, Jim, moved in with him to help with the house and his daily needs. As time passed, he stopped cooking and took to eating out more. He lost his driving privileges and had to count on his son to get around.
By late 2005, Jim was forced to hire professional care givers to come into the home to assist him in caring for Al. Eventually this became a full-time situation as Al became less able to care for himself. By 2007, the caregivers were working 24 hours a day in the home.
In September 2007, fatigue and age caught up with Charles Albert Galford and he passed away in his home. During the later part of his life, he had always wanted, more than anything, other than to have lived no longer than his wife, was to have died in his home. In this, his wish was satisfied.
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Heart Breaks, 2003
As the years passed, life slowed for the two of them. At first, there was some travel. First to Florida and then to Oregon. There had even been a trip out East. Eventually this began to be too difficult for them and they stopped traveling.
Around 1998. Winnie's health started to deteriorate. She couldn't get around as easy and started to use a walker. Then, over time, her eyesight started to give way, and finally, she could only see shadows and shapes.
By 2002 life was a continuous series of trips to the doctor. These trips became her only times outside the house. Life was closing down for Winnie. Still Al stood by and did all he could.
By the beginning of 2003, she hardly moved at all and she lost the will to live. In March she quit fighting the deterioration and let herself surrender to the eventual. By August she was gone.
Al was lost. His life had been built on two women. Both were gone. He had been married for 63 years, deeply in love and devoted to his wife and now she was gone. It was believed by those around him that he would soon follow.
Around 1998. Winnie's health started to deteriorate. She couldn't get around as easy and started to use a walker. Then, over time, her eyesight started to give way, and finally, she could only see shadows and shapes.
By 2002 life was a continuous series of trips to the doctor. These trips became her only times outside the house. Life was closing down for Winnie. Still Al stood by and did all he could.
By the beginning of 2003, she hardly moved at all and she lost the will to live. In March she quit fighting the deterioration and let herself surrender to the eventual. By August she was gone.
Al was lost. His life had been built on two women. Both were gone. He had been married for 63 years, deeply in love and devoted to his wife and now she was gone. It was believed by those around him that he would soon follow.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Retirement, 1992
In 1992, at the age of 75, Al decided he would retire. At the time he was an electrical inspector for Saginaw Township. He had, over the years, been an electrical inspector for up to nine townships and communities at one time. These included Bridgeport, Buena Vista, Thomas Township, Monitor Township, Frankenlust, Saginaw Township, Shields, James Township, and Spaulding Township.
In his life he had been a typewriter repairman and salesman, a farm worker, a factory worker, an army man, an accountant, an electrician, and an inspector. He had worked at many different occupations but in the end the electrical trade won his attention and he stuck with it for forty-five years.
When he decided he had worked long enough he approached his youngest son, Jim, and asked him if it was alright with him if he quit working. Jim remarked that all Al's friends and peers had given up years earlier and he really didn't need his son's approval to stop working or to continue working anyway.
Al quit.
In his life he had been a typewriter repairman and salesman, a farm worker, a factory worker, an army man, an accountant, an electrician, and an inspector. He had worked at many different occupations but in the end the electrical trade won his attention and he stuck with it for forty-five years.
When he decided he had worked long enough he approached his youngest son, Jim, and asked him if it was alright with him if he quit working. Jim remarked that all Al's friends and peers had given up years earlier and he really didn't need his son's approval to stop working or to continue working anyway.
Al quit.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Heartche, 1981
In 1979, Al and Winnie moved yet again. Having lived on S. Jefferson for 22 years in contentment, they lived only eight years on Creekwood before moving yet again. this time they built themselves a 1400 square foot house in Saginaw Township, near where Al worked as an inspector. This would prove to be the ideal home, one they would live in the longest.
In 1981 Al began to have problems with chest pains. eventually he went in to the doctors who diagnosed heart blockages.
In 1981 Al began to have problems with chest pains. eventually he went in to the doctors who diagnosed heart blockages.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Empty Nest, 1965-1971
As the years progressed, the two boys grew. The eldest, Chuck graduated with honors, as valedictorian, from Saginaw High School in 1965, bound for the University of Michigan. The younger one followed, graduating in 1967, bounded for Central Michigan University. Four years later, Chuck was a law student at Yale University and Jim was earning masters degrees and working as a teacher.
For Al and Winnie, life was slowing down. The house was empty of children. Expenses, never a major issue, but still a problem, were now minor for two who spent little. Life was quiet and serene. Al decided to sell the house they had lived in since 1949 and build again. The new one would be the "ideal" house for his love. The Creekwood house was a ranch, with no basement, as Winnie now had severe arthritis. It was an all electric house, keeping with Al's orientation. It had nearly an acre of land and was Al's delight.
The two of them moved in in 1971 and sold the old house immediately.
For Al and Winnie, life was slowing down. The house was empty of children. Expenses, never a major issue, but still a problem, were now minor for two who spent little. Life was quiet and serene. Al decided to sell the house they had lived in since 1949 and build again. The new one would be the "ideal" house for his love. The Creekwood house was a ranch, with no basement, as Winnie now had severe arthritis. It was an all electric house, keeping with Al's orientation. It had nearly an acre of land and was Al's delight.
The two of them moved in in 1971 and sold the old house immediately.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
On Their Own, 1957
By 1957, Al had become the lead foreman with Schmerheim Electric, one of the largest electrical contracting firms in that area of Michigan. He was also on close terms with the owner of the company. At that point he probably could have continued on for some time, in a contented grove. Even if the conditions of the company had turned sour, as eventually they did, he was a union electrician, he would have just been picked up by another. After all, he now had his master journeyman card and that made him a highly sought after commodity on the market at the time.
However, Al wanted something different for himself, for his family. He was not happy. Oh, he loved the work and he made decent money. They had a home he liked and the boys were growing up, 10 and 8 now, but he he found he really did not like working for someone else. He wanted to be his own boss; he wanted to strike out on his own.
To set up as a contractor and to start up a business without a strong cash flow, without a client base, or a business plan was risky, but Al and Winnie had talked it over and they both were in agreement. Winnie would stand with him and help him out and he wanted this.
Things were very tight for a long time as Al built relationships up and gained clients. With Schmerheim, the clients were mostly commercial and industrial. In business for himself, without any helpers, he concentrated on residential and on service work. In the long run, the service work carried him. He was a gifted technician and troubleshooter. He gained accounts with firms needing someone who could maintain equipment and operations. The residential work, the bread and butter, brought in enough extra to allow him to do what he really loved doing. It would be another twenty years before he looked back again.
However, Al wanted something different for himself, for his family. He was not happy. Oh, he loved the work and he made decent money. They had a home he liked and the boys were growing up, 10 and 8 now, but he he found he really did not like working for someone else. He wanted to be his own boss; he wanted to strike out on his own.
To set up as a contractor and to start up a business without a strong cash flow, without a client base, or a business plan was risky, but Al and Winnie had talked it over and they both were in agreement. Winnie would stand with him and help him out and he wanted this.
Things were very tight for a long time as Al built relationships up and gained clients. With Schmerheim, the clients were mostly commercial and industrial. In business for himself, without any helpers, he concentrated on residential and on service work. In the long run, the service work carried him. He was a gifted technician and troubleshooter. He gained accounts with firms needing someone who could maintain equipment and operations. The residential work, the bread and butter, brought in enough extra to allow him to do what he really loved doing. It would be another twenty years before he looked back again.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Creating a Home, 1949
Settled into a pattern of life, Al now had a career under way. He was a foreman with Schmerheim Electric and a journeyman electrician. The small family still lived on 12th St., as they had for years. However, with Al, Winnie, the young toddler, Chuck, and Jean, Winnie's sister, all in the small apartment, it was too comfortable any longer.
Al was looking for a home of his own, his first. In his entire life, he had always lived in rented apartments or rented houses. Now, for the first time, he wanted to own a house of his own. He found a lot in East Saginaw, on S. Jefferson and decided to build his own house, to save money. After work each day he worked on the small 800 square foot house. His father-in-law, Edwin, who was working two full-time jobs at the time, was the only person helping him. The house had two small bedrooms, a living room, bath and kitchen.
While building it, Winnie became pregnant again. In June, 1949, she gave birth to their second son, James, a jaundiced heart-damaged child that Al described as "so ugly a baby, it was a good thing he was a boy." With the growing family, the apartment was now much too small. Fortunately the work on the house progressed and the family was able to move in about two months after the baby was born.
The home Al built for the family on Jefferson became their residence for the next 22 years. Both boys grew to manhood in the home and left before Al and Winnie determined it was time to leave the neighborhood, which had changed so much through the years. They watched long time and short-time neighbors move in and out, the ethic and racial make-up alter, and the crime rate rise during their tenure.
Al was looking for a home of his own, his first. In his entire life, he had always lived in rented apartments or rented houses. Now, for the first time, he wanted to own a house of his own. He found a lot in East Saginaw, on S. Jefferson and decided to build his own house, to save money. After work each day he worked on the small 800 square foot house. His father-in-law, Edwin, who was working two full-time jobs at the time, was the only person helping him. The house had two small bedrooms, a living room, bath and kitchen.
While building it, Winnie became pregnant again. In June, 1949, she gave birth to their second son, James, a jaundiced heart-damaged child that Al described as "so ugly a baby, it was a good thing he was a boy." With the growing family, the apartment was now much too small. Fortunately the work on the house progressed and the family was able to move in about two months after the baby was born.
The home Al built for the family on Jefferson became their residence for the next 22 years. Both boys grew to manhood in the home and left before Al and Winnie determined it was time to leave the neighborhood, which had changed so much through the years. They watched long time and short-time neighbors move in and out, the ethic and racial make-up alter, and the crime rate rise during their tenure.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Finding a Life, 1945- 1947
1945 - 1947 brought two monumental moments into Al's life. Having returned from the war, he sought to reestablish himself in Saginaw and in his family life. Though he had found work, a job, he did not have a career, something he believed he could spend his life at. This was important to him. Further, though Al and Winnie were together, they wanted a family. She came from a large family of 12 children, with relatives had had similar large families, or even larger. Al, who came from a single child atmosphere, had been around large families, having been raised with his uncle and extended family during his early childhood.
When Al had first come home from the service, he had trouble finding any work at all. He finally accepted the first job offered to him, that of an accountant. He hated it, as he found it boring. He received a paycheck which put food on the table and kept the rent paid, but he was miserable. To make it worse, Winnie no longer worked and, as it would develop, never would again. For for those first months, he was just plain unhappy. He wanted something different. He was looking.
He ran into a fellow named Joe Schmerheim, who owned an electrical contracting firm, Schmerheim Electric. With the economy really taking hold and a strong demand for housing,a construction boom was on. Joe was looking for more men all the time and he was willing to train them. He extended an offer to Al. He'd sponsor him into the union apprenticeship program and put him on the payroll. Schmerheim, at the time, was one of the biggest contractors around. The money was better than Al was getting. There were opportunities to move up, a skilled trade to be learned and he and the owner were on friendly terms. Al accepted.
Al took to the work naturally. He breezed through his apprenticeship. Along the way, he made a couple discoveries. He was a very gifted electrician and he absorbed the trade's skills readily. Additionally, with his strong work ethic, Joe was willing to move him up and make him a foreman.
In the summer of 1946, Winnie informed Al she was pregnant and the due date was going to be in March. Both of them were overjoyed with the prospects. They were 28 and 29 at the time and life seemed pretty decent. Al finally had a career, doing something he found out he really loved doing and now they were going to have a child. As the months progressed, the pregnancy moved along without any trouble.
On the morning of March 24, 1947, Winnie was ready. She was in hard labor and it was time to go to St. Mary's Hospital. The only impediment to the plan was that there was a major blizzard raging and the city was snow-bound. No vehicles were moving, including ambulances. The only way they could get to the hospital was by way of sleds, which was what they ended up using that early morning.
The trip was extremely slow but the doctor and the nurses were waiting and ready when they finally arrived. The delivery was easy and Al and Winnie had their first child, a son, Charles Albert Galford, named after Al, as healthy and as perfect a baby as can be hoped for and can be expected.
When Al had first come home from the service, he had trouble finding any work at all. He finally accepted the first job offered to him, that of an accountant. He hated it, as he found it boring. He received a paycheck which put food on the table and kept the rent paid, but he was miserable. To make it worse, Winnie no longer worked and, as it would develop, never would again. For for those first months, he was just plain unhappy. He wanted something different. He was looking.
He ran into a fellow named Joe Schmerheim, who owned an electrical contracting firm, Schmerheim Electric. With the economy really taking hold and a strong demand for housing,a construction boom was on. Joe was looking for more men all the time and he was willing to train them. He extended an offer to Al. He'd sponsor him into the union apprenticeship program and put him on the payroll. Schmerheim, at the time, was one of the biggest contractors around. The money was better than Al was getting. There were opportunities to move up, a skilled trade to be learned and he and the owner were on friendly terms. Al accepted.
Al took to the work naturally. He breezed through his apprenticeship. Along the way, he made a couple discoveries. He was a very gifted electrician and he absorbed the trade's skills readily. Additionally, with his strong work ethic, Joe was willing to move him up and make him a foreman.
In the summer of 1946, Winnie informed Al she was pregnant and the due date was going to be in March. Both of them were overjoyed with the prospects. They were 28 and 29 at the time and life seemed pretty decent. Al finally had a career, doing something he found out he really loved doing and now they were going to have a child. As the months progressed, the pregnancy moved along without any trouble.
On the morning of March 24, 1947, Winnie was ready. She was in hard labor and it was time to go to St. Mary's Hospital. The only impediment to the plan was that there was a major blizzard raging and the city was snow-bound. No vehicles were moving, including ambulances. The only way they could get to the hospital was by way of sleds, which was what they ended up using that early morning.
The trip was extremely slow but the doctor and the nurses were waiting and ready when they finally arrived. The delivery was easy and Al and Winnie had their first child, a son, Charles Albert Galford, named after Al, as healthy and as perfect a baby as can be hoped for and can be expected.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
War and Separation, 1943-5
The War loomed large upon the people like Al and Winnie. Al knew he could be drafted eventually. When the war had started, the draft had excluded those who were married, but as the conflict wore on, the need for more troops caused the policy to change. Now even those men were subject to the call. Al realized he would have to go sometime.
As 1943 came around, his name came up and the Draft Board issued him his letter. He was to report. Winnie took it very hard. Notes and letters from the two of them show she was not bearing up to the pending separation well. The two of them had become inseparable. Al continued as always to maintain a public calm acceptance of what was to be. Privately, he was stressed over leaving his bride alone. They decided to have Winnie's sister, Jean, move in with her while he was gone to keep her company.
He wrote often, as often as allowed. She traveled to visit him while he was state-side, first in Virginia, then in New York. Once his training was done, he was shipped to the West Coast. Al had been trained as a code breaker in the Army. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he discovered he was to be made sergeant and given field command of a unit of code breakers. They were then assigned to a Navy ship sitting sail for the South Pacific.
They arrived in the Solomon Islands at the end of the lengthy Guadalcanal campaign (November 1942 - November 1943). From there, attached to the admiral's fleet, they began the island hopping toward Japan. During the campaign they were bombed, gunned, and, even once, had the ship hit by a kamikaze pilot. Fortunately in that case, the pilot struck just above the waterline and the ship's captain was able to direct the ship to port safely with a hole, and plane, in it.
At the close of the War, the fleet found itself in port, in Shanghai. The Navy had issued orders for it to stay as a force of temporary occupation. However, the Army unit was under no such orders. So Al and his men, lacking any orders, proceeded to sell and give away all Army issued goods they had to Nay officers to bribe their way onto a ship heading stateside. As they sailed toward California and away from the China docks, they watched Naval personnel carefully repainting Army jeeps, file cabinets, desks, and other goods from a dull green to a more appropriate blue.
Arriving in California at the San Diego base, they discovered chaos. Thousands of sailors and soldiers were there being decommissioned and sent home. The problems for this small unit was, in their haste and, perhaps improper departure, they overlooked the fact that they had no papers. The ranking authorities on base in San Diego were not inclined to overlook this. For several days they were detained. It looked like they might face a court-martial. After several days though, the deluge of men being processed was simply too much for the base to handle. The unit was given their discharge papers and told to leave. However, they were not given passage home. They each had to find their own way back to their homes.
Throughout the two years Al was in the Pacific serving in the Army, Winnie continued to work at Lufkin Rule. Winnie and Jean stayed in the apartment on 12th Street and Winnie wrote Al nearly every day. Virtually none of those letters survived the war. Though the two of them were always deeply in love, they were not sentimental people and the keeping of letters or mementos rarely occurred to them.
The separation did make Winnie a stronger individual and taught her independence. during this time she found she could support herself and was capable of good decision-making. The dominance of her mother and older sibling had, at last, been shook off.
The initial joy of being together again for this couple must have been incredible, as it should have been. Those who knew them, knew how much they meant to each other. any separation had to have been terrible for them. they quickly settled into life again on 12th Street. Jean continued to live with them. Al found work as an accountant. He hated it. Winnie lost her job with Lufkin Rule. It was given to a returning veteran.
As 1943 came around, his name came up and the Draft Board issued him his letter. He was to report. Winnie took it very hard. Notes and letters from the two of them show she was not bearing up to the pending separation well. The two of them had become inseparable. Al continued as always to maintain a public calm acceptance of what was to be. Privately, he was stressed over leaving his bride alone. They decided to have Winnie's sister, Jean, move in with her while he was gone to keep her company.
He wrote often, as often as allowed. She traveled to visit him while he was state-side, first in Virginia, then in New York. Once his training was done, he was shipped to the West Coast. Al had been trained as a code breaker in the Army. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he discovered he was to be made sergeant and given field command of a unit of code breakers. They were then assigned to a Navy ship sitting sail for the South Pacific.
They arrived in the Solomon Islands at the end of the lengthy Guadalcanal campaign (November 1942 - November 1943). From there, attached to the admiral's fleet, they began the island hopping toward Japan. During the campaign they were bombed, gunned, and, even once, had the ship hit by a kamikaze pilot. Fortunately in that case, the pilot struck just above the waterline and the ship's captain was able to direct the ship to port safely with a hole, and plane, in it.
At the close of the War, the fleet found itself in port, in Shanghai. The Navy had issued orders for it to stay as a force of temporary occupation. However, the Army unit was under no such orders. So Al and his men, lacking any orders, proceeded to sell and give away all Army issued goods they had to Nay officers to bribe their way onto a ship heading stateside. As they sailed toward California and away from the China docks, they watched Naval personnel carefully repainting Army jeeps, file cabinets, desks, and other goods from a dull green to a more appropriate blue.
Arriving in California at the San Diego base, they discovered chaos. Thousands of sailors and soldiers were there being decommissioned and sent home. The problems for this small unit was, in their haste and, perhaps improper departure, they overlooked the fact that they had no papers. The ranking authorities on base in San Diego were not inclined to overlook this. For several days they were detained. It looked like they might face a court-martial. After several days though, the deluge of men being processed was simply too much for the base to handle. The unit was given their discharge papers and told to leave. However, they were not given passage home. They each had to find their own way back to their homes.
Throughout the two years Al was in the Pacific serving in the Army, Winnie continued to work at Lufkin Rule. Winnie and Jean stayed in the apartment on 12th Street and Winnie wrote Al nearly every day. Virtually none of those letters survived the war. Though the two of them were always deeply in love, they were not sentimental people and the keeping of letters or mementos rarely occurred to them.
The separation did make Winnie a stronger individual and taught her independence. during this time she found she could support herself and was capable of good decision-making. The dominance of her mother and older sibling had, at last, been shook off.
The initial joy of being together again for this couple must have been incredible, as it should have been. Those who knew them, knew how much they meant to each other. any separation had to have been terrible for them. they quickly settled into life again on 12th Street. Jean continued to live with them. Al found work as an accountant. He hated it. Winnie lost her job with Lufkin Rule. It was given to a returning veteran.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Bay and Chickens, 1929
Ransom Abbott, Lillian Nichols, and Al Galford arrived in Oakland, California early in 1929. Ransom got his transfer and the new West Coast territory for Olympia Typewriters was the biggest and strongest they had, eleven states in total. He was happy to have been offered it. They quickly found a house to rent. this one even had a second little house on the lot. Maybe they could sublease it eventually and make a little extra cash in the deal.
Al was now 12 and quickly adapted to new surroundings and another new school. He helped around the house for his mother and, when he was allowed, he traveled with his step-father on his sales runs. It was warm, the neighborhood was alright, and he kept to himself, just like always.
Come the fall though, everything fell apart. The Stock Market collapsed in October. By the end of the year, no one was buying any typewriters at all and those who had placed orders had canceled them. Ransom had stopped going on sales runs at all. It was a waste of time. The little work Lillian had found initially had evaporated.
They bought some chickens and kept them in the spare house on the back of the property. At first they sold them for a quarter each and sol the few eggs too. After that they, when others were doing the same to get by, they just kept the eggs for themselves and started killing and eating the chickens to survive.
By mid-1930, they knew they were doomed if they stayed. They had no money left. Olympia had dissolved and there was no work in Oakland. So they decided to head back East. They packed their car and took off. When they left they lacked funds to make to back to the Midwest where any relatives lived that might help them. Their only plan was to go as far as they could on what they had and then to start working for money to move on until they got back.
For the next six months, that is how they traveled. At first, they drove straight through. After a couple days, they were broke. Then they started asking, as many others going both ways were doing, for work at farms and in small towns. when they found day labor, they ate, fill the car with gas and drove on. when they didn't, they stayed put until they located work to allow them to travel.
Eventually, they landed in Erlanger, Kentucky. There they found some relatives of Lillian. This would be but a temporary stop in the midst of the Depression.
Al was now 12 and quickly adapted to new surroundings and another new school. He helped around the house for his mother and, when he was allowed, he traveled with his step-father on his sales runs. It was warm, the neighborhood was alright, and he kept to himself, just like always.
Come the fall though, everything fell apart. The Stock Market collapsed in October. By the end of the year, no one was buying any typewriters at all and those who had placed orders had canceled them. Ransom had stopped going on sales runs at all. It was a waste of time. The little work Lillian had found initially had evaporated.
They bought some chickens and kept them in the spare house on the back of the property. At first they sold them for a quarter each and sol the few eggs too. After that they, when others were doing the same to get by, they just kept the eggs for themselves and started killing and eating the chickens to survive.
By mid-1930, they knew they were doomed if they stayed. They had no money left. Olympia had dissolved and there was no work in Oakland. So they decided to head back East. They packed their car and took off. When they left they lacked funds to make to back to the Midwest where any relatives lived that might help them. Their only plan was to go as far as they could on what they had and then to start working for money to move on until they got back.
For the next six months, that is how they traveled. At first, they drove straight through. After a couple days, they were broke. Then they started asking, as many others going both ways were doing, for work at farms and in small towns. when they found day labor, they ate, fill the car with gas and drove on. when they didn't, they stayed put until they located work to allow them to travel.
Eventually, they landed in Erlanger, Kentucky. There they found some relatives of Lillian. This would be but a temporary stop in the midst of the Depression.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Two Weeks, 1940
Al and Winnie dated for five years. During that time, they both continued to hold their jobs at the Lufkin Rule Company in South Saginaw. Now though, with the two of them having been living at home with their parents, their small incomes had gone mostly into savings. Together they had made a little over a $1,000 a year for the past five years.
Al finally decided the time was right. He asked Winnie to marry him. She had been waiting for this. Both knew they were going to be together. They just needed some money saved and enough nerve to face the parents. In September 1940, they were finally ready to do just that. Except the order was not exactly as one normally expect. Instead of going to their parents and announcing their pending marriages or, as was commonly done, seeking permission, Al and Winnie got married first.
The two young adults arranged to meet one of Winnie's friends and one of Winnie's sisters meet them at the Justice of the Peace to serve as witnesses on September 27th and the ceremony was over quickly that afternoon. Soon after, they went first to Winnie's home and told Edwin and Ada Martindale the news, and then to his home and told Lillian and Ransom. Not exactly a joyous reception awaited them at either location.
Edwin was pleased and congratulated them. He liked Al and could have cared less what anyone else's feelings were on the subject. Ada exploded. She did not like the news at all. She let them know they had no business sneaking behind her back. Civilized respectable people came forward and sought permission from the parents first before they got married, not that she would have given permission to the likes of Al. Edwin ended that conversation and allowed the two newlyweds to leave.
Lillian was equally upset. Al belongED to her. He was her son and he had no right, no business going off and getting married and moving out on her. That was the end of the discussion. She simply did not want to discuss it or see him. He was to leave the house right then. Ransom was silent. He had learned in 12 years of living with Lillian that she ruled the family and his opinion; especially in regard to Al was probably not something that would be appreciated at a time like this. He choose to keep whatever thoughts he had to himself.
Al had rented an apartment on 12th St. in the north end of Saginaw. The new couple moved there immediately and set up their home. For the next couple weeks, they had no contact with either of their mothers. Edwin stopped by when he could, which wasn't often. He worked for the Eaton Corporation, a local manufacturer, and did double duty on his uncle's farm. By this point he had fathered 12 children, though two had not survived infancy, and he needed all the work he could find. Winnie's siblings and friends also kept up contact with the young couple.
After those first couple weeks, Ransom brokered a truce between Lillian and her son and his wife. As he pointed out to Lillian, she loved him too much to not have him in her life. She couldn't go on like this for ever. So Lillian contacted Al and invited the two over to her home for dinner and a visit.
Surprisingly, the evening went very well. Dinner was pleasant. There was no lingering animosity and Lillian seemed to be over her feelings toward Winnie. Everyone appeared to be relaxed and comfortable. After dinner, it was suggested that cards be brought out. The evening progressed. At some point, Ransom asked to be excused. He rose and left the living room. As he walked down the hallway of the family home, he stopped abruptly, staggered momentarily, then collapsed. He was dead when he hit the floor of a massive coronary.
Al finally decided the time was right. He asked Winnie to marry him. She had been waiting for this. Both knew they were going to be together. They just needed some money saved and enough nerve to face the parents. In September 1940, they were finally ready to do just that. Except the order was not exactly as one normally expect. Instead of going to their parents and announcing their pending marriages or, as was commonly done, seeking permission, Al and Winnie got married first.
The two young adults arranged to meet one of Winnie's friends and one of Winnie's sisters meet them at the Justice of the Peace to serve as witnesses on September 27th and the ceremony was over quickly that afternoon. Soon after, they went first to Winnie's home and told Edwin and Ada Martindale the news, and then to his home and told Lillian and Ransom. Not exactly a joyous reception awaited them at either location.
Edwin was pleased and congratulated them. He liked Al and could have cared less what anyone else's feelings were on the subject. Ada exploded. She did not like the news at all. She let them know they had no business sneaking behind her back. Civilized respectable people came forward and sought permission from the parents first before they got married, not that she would have given permission to the likes of Al. Edwin ended that conversation and allowed the two newlyweds to leave.
Lillian was equally upset. Al belongED to her. He was her son and he had no right, no business going off and getting married and moving out on her. That was the end of the discussion. She simply did not want to discuss it or see him. He was to leave the house right then. Ransom was silent. He had learned in 12 years of living with Lillian that she ruled the family and his opinion; especially in regard to Al was probably not something that would be appreciated at a time like this. He choose to keep whatever thoughts he had to himself.
Al had rented an apartment on 12th St. in the north end of Saginaw. The new couple moved there immediately and set up their home. For the next couple weeks, they had no contact with either of their mothers. Edwin stopped by when he could, which wasn't often. He worked for the Eaton Corporation, a local manufacturer, and did double duty on his uncle's farm. By this point he had fathered 12 children, though two had not survived infancy, and he needed all the work he could find. Winnie's siblings and friends also kept up contact with the young couple.
After those first couple weeks, Ransom brokered a truce between Lillian and her son and his wife. As he pointed out to Lillian, she loved him too much to not have him in her life. She couldn't go on like this for ever. So Lillian contacted Al and invited the two over to her home for dinner and a visit.
Surprisingly, the evening went very well. Dinner was pleasant. There was no lingering animosity and Lillian seemed to be over her feelings toward Winnie. Everyone appeared to be relaxed and comfortable. After dinner, it was suggested that cards be brought out. The evening progressed. At some point, Ransom asked to be excused. He rose and left the living room. As he walked down the hallway of the family home, he stopped abruptly, staggered momentarily, then collapsed. He was dead when he hit the floor of a massive coronary.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Love Comes, 1935
The Great Depression moved slowly on. For Saginaw it was a miserable time. This was an industrial city, dependent upon good economic times, the boom of the auto industry. Many had taken to the streets. More had left or gone on relief. Those with jobs were the fortunate ones.
The Work Progress Administration (WPA) was formed and the Resettlement Administration had begun to move poor families into the so called Green Belt towns, creating some 200 towns for relocated farmers to start over. FDR was trying many approaches to bring the economy back.
Al had been employed by Lufkin Rule Co. now for 2 years. After work, he sometimes joined fellow workers for a beer or went to local clubs were he could meet others. There he encountered another Lufkin employee, a young lady, Winnifred (Winnie) Martindale, a recent graduate. He danced with her. He asked her out. Soon they were dating regularly.
Al was quite taken with the young Winnie. Al was a quiet man, who kept to himself and had only a few associates. He'd learned over the years, he may pack and move anytime. It didn't pay to get in too close with others. Family were the only ones who move along with you and even those drop off and die as time passes.
However, this time he had discovered something he had needed in life. Throughout his 18 years, the only woman he ever was close to was his mother. Now he had feelings, deep ones for someone else. He allowed himself to develop those feelings. The two kept seeing each other. Neither mother was overly happy over the relationship as it developed.
Winnie was fifth living child from a large family. Her father, Edwin, liked Al and got along well with him. Her mother, Ada, did not like him. She wanted her daughters, all of them, at home working and contributing to that home. That was their duty, in her eyes.
Al's mother did not want anyone else coming between her and her son. She had raised him and he was her's. No one was ever going to measure up to her and no one was going to be adequate in her judgment. Ransom, Al's stepfather, knew enough to step away from this situation and keep his opinion, whatever it was, to himself, and to accept Lillian's view as his own.
For the next five years, as love blossomed, the situation remained static. Al and Winnie were in love. Nothing that was said, done or tried altered that. They continued to work at the same place. They saw each other every day they could and they planned their future, based upon the limited income they had. Al waited patiently for enough money to be available to do what he had already decided was the correct thing to do. No one and nothing ever would alter his opinion, not about Winnie or any other decision he ever made afterward.
The Work Progress Administration (WPA) was formed and the Resettlement Administration had begun to move poor families into the so called Green Belt towns, creating some 200 towns for relocated farmers to start over. FDR was trying many approaches to bring the economy back.
Al had been employed by Lufkin Rule Co. now for 2 years. After work, he sometimes joined fellow workers for a beer or went to local clubs were he could meet others. There he encountered another Lufkin employee, a young lady, Winnifred (Winnie) Martindale, a recent graduate. He danced with her. He asked her out. Soon they were dating regularly.
Al was quite taken with the young Winnie. Al was a quiet man, who kept to himself and had only a few associates. He'd learned over the years, he may pack and move anytime. It didn't pay to get in too close with others. Family were the only ones who move along with you and even those drop off and die as time passes.
However, this time he had discovered something he had needed in life. Throughout his 18 years, the only woman he ever was close to was his mother. Now he had feelings, deep ones for someone else. He allowed himself to develop those feelings. The two kept seeing each other. Neither mother was overly happy over the relationship as it developed.
Winnie was fifth living child from a large family. Her father, Edwin, liked Al and got along well with him. Her mother, Ada, did not like him. She wanted her daughters, all of them, at home working and contributing to that home. That was their duty, in her eyes.
Al's mother did not want anyone else coming between her and her son. She had raised him and he was her's. No one was ever going to measure up to her and no one was going to be adequate in her judgment. Ransom, Al's stepfather, knew enough to step away from this situation and keep his opinion, whatever it was, to himself, and to accept Lillian's view as his own.
For the next five years, as love blossomed, the situation remained static. Al and Winnie were in love. Nothing that was said, done or tried altered that. They continued to work at the same place. They saw each other every day they could and they planned their future, based upon the limited income they had. Al waited patiently for enough money to be available to do what he had already decided was the correct thing to do. No one and nothing ever would alter his opinion, not about Winnie or any other decision he ever made afterward.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Lillian Nichols, 1902 - late 1950's
Lillian Nichols, the mother of Charles Albert Galford, was a unique individual, especially for the times she lived in. She was born November 15, 1902, Lillian Nicholas, to Albert Nicholas, during his first marriage. Lillian's mother's name and circumstances are lost to history. It is believed she may have died giving birth to Lillian. Where Lillian was born is also not known. While she spent much of her childhood in and around Wellston, Ohio,it is known that Albert, her father had moved there at some point, having lost his employment in the mining industry.
Albert Nicholas did remarry after the death of his first wife. His second wife had a daughter, Flora, who was 13 years older than Lillian. Flora was a paraplegic and spent her entire life in a wheelchair. Given the places the Nicholas' choose to live, this must have been a very difficult existence for Flora. Lillian seemed to have treated her step-sister well and took good care of her in the years they were together.
Lillian was not a well-educated woman, even by the standards of the early 1900's. Before the age of 14, she had stopped attending school entirely. Albert and his second wife had a child, Clifford, when Lillian was 11. All evidence points to her providing most of the care for her brother throughout his upbringing. By the time Lillian was 15, she was working full-time either in local offices or as a dress-maker/seamstress. though lacking in formal education, Lillian, from an early age, showed a willingness to work and a strong sense of accounting and an ability in the dress business.
When she was 14, Lillian began to visit the vaudeville shows that came around. Wellston was located near Toledo and northeast of Columbus. Traveling shows passed through regularly and locals could travel to nearby Toledo to see performances easily. During one of the on-going tours, she met a worker of one of the shows, a set-up man named Charles Clarence Galford, 30 years old. They began seeing each other and the relationship became serious.
On March 14, 1917, at the age of 15, Lillian Nichols gave birth to her son, Charles Albert Galford. He would be known as Al from that point on. Charles Clarence, the father would be gone. Al was later told he died about two years after his birth of the flu, one of the epidemics that sweep the nation around the war years. From the time of his birth on, he lived with his grandfather, Albert.
There is evidence that Lillian was briefly married to Charles at the time of the birth of her son. She would have been 15 years old, though she did doctor legal documents to indicate she was 19, and Charles Clarence was 31 years old. The marriage lasted less than 2 years. She later told her son that Charles died during a flue epidemic. There is no evidence of this actually occurring.
Lillian stayed with her family, raising her son. Al was, always was, the focus of her life. His birth certificate was altered to indicate that Lillian was 19, not 15, and she used her altered last name, Nichols, not Nicholas. She never bothered to change the errors again.
From 1917 on, Lillian was the mother for both Al and Clifford. She worked full-time while they lived in Wellston and then cared for the two small children, who were only four years apart, when she returned home each day. When the family moved to Kentucky in 1920, she became the complete parent to both, as she no longer had employment outside the home.
When her father was murdered in 1926, her family dispersed; her step-mother and step-sister moved to Colorado. Lillian, now nearly 24, was an independent adult. She took Cliff and Al and headed to Ashland, to establish herself. She knew she had the ability to run a dress shop. Cliff, now 13, could help out after school. soon she was set-up and earning her way.
When she met and fell in love with Ransom Abbott, she still kept her focus where it always had been, directly on her son. She enjoyed her life with Ransom, she liked traveling, but nothing would interfere with her goal of seeing her son educated and raised into adulthood. Ransom did not get in the way. He understood the relationship and cared enough about both to assist. They were married in Ashland or at least she assumed his name at that time.
When they left Ashland, Cliff stayed. They moved first to Topeka, then to Oakland. With the Depression setting in, they left Oakland and headed back east to Kentucky. From there they tried Saginaw, arriving in Michigan in 1931 with nothing. A distant cousin assisted them back on their feet and they stayed there until 1940.
In 1940, having fallen in love, Al secretly was married. Lillian was outraged at her son and cut off communication with him for two weeks after the wedding. This was her son, who she had groomed and raised. She could not deal with anyone else having him, let alone someone making decisions involving him that she was not a part of. Ransom knew better then to become apart of this quarrel, but he also was aware that she loved her son too much for this to continue or to end their relationship.
After two weeks, Ransom convinced her that she could not cut her son off. She agreed and called him, offering to have the new couple over for dinner and conversation. The evening commenced, the meal went well, the conversation was pleasant. Later in the evening, Ransom excused himself briefly, left the room, and as he walked down the hall, collapsed, dying of a massive heart-attack.
Whether the events, the death, or what, within a few weeks, Lillian left Saginaw, moving to Detroit. Eventually she would meet another man, Frank Baldour, who she would spend the next 15 or so years with, until her death. She was only in her early forties at the time. Again, while no documentation exists of a marriage, she either married Frank or assumed his name. Each week, Al, the dutiful son, would make the drive from Saginaw to Detroit to visit, always respectful of her, as she was of him.
However, after Ransom, Lillian never again went back into business. She never attempted to try her skills. Though when she left Saginaw, she was only in her forties, the loss took something from her. Outwardly, she was a happy person, but she now was content to be a homebody. The inner-drive was gone. Later, when the leukemia came on, even that faded away. Yet her son remained, as she always wanted it to be.
In 1958, Lillian succumbed to the leukemia and passed. Al brought her back to Saginaw to be buried, to be near him.
Albert Nicholas did remarry after the death of his first wife. His second wife had a daughter, Flora, who was 13 years older than Lillian. Flora was a paraplegic and spent her entire life in a wheelchair. Given the places the Nicholas' choose to live, this must have been a very difficult existence for Flora. Lillian seemed to have treated her step-sister well and took good care of her in the years they were together.
Lillian was not a well-educated woman, even by the standards of the early 1900's. Before the age of 14, she had stopped attending school entirely. Albert and his second wife had a child, Clifford, when Lillian was 11. All evidence points to her providing most of the care for her brother throughout his upbringing. By the time Lillian was 15, she was working full-time either in local offices or as a dress-maker/seamstress. though lacking in formal education, Lillian, from an early age, showed a willingness to work and a strong sense of accounting and an ability in the dress business.
When she was 14, Lillian began to visit the vaudeville shows that came around. Wellston was located near Toledo and northeast of Columbus. Traveling shows passed through regularly and locals could travel to nearby Toledo to see performances easily. During one of the on-going tours, she met a worker of one of the shows, a set-up man named Charles Clarence Galford, 30 years old. They began seeing each other and the relationship became serious.
On March 14, 1917, at the age of 15, Lillian Nichols gave birth to her son, Charles Albert Galford. He would be known as Al from that point on. Charles Clarence, the father would be gone. Al was later told he died about two years after his birth of the flu, one of the epidemics that sweep the nation around the war years. From the time of his birth on, he lived with his grandfather, Albert.
There is evidence that Lillian was briefly married to Charles at the time of the birth of her son. She would have been 15 years old, though she did doctor legal documents to indicate she was 19, and Charles Clarence was 31 years old. The marriage lasted less than 2 years. She later told her son that Charles died during a flue epidemic. There is no evidence of this actually occurring.
Lillian stayed with her family, raising her son. Al was, always was, the focus of her life. His birth certificate was altered to indicate that Lillian was 19, not 15, and she used her altered last name, Nichols, not Nicholas. She never bothered to change the errors again.
From 1917 on, Lillian was the mother for both Al and Clifford. She worked full-time while they lived in Wellston and then cared for the two small children, who were only four years apart, when she returned home each day. When the family moved to Kentucky in 1920, she became the complete parent to both, as she no longer had employment outside the home.
When her father was murdered in 1926, her family dispersed; her step-mother and step-sister moved to Colorado. Lillian, now nearly 24, was an independent adult. She took Cliff and Al and headed to Ashland, to establish herself. She knew she had the ability to run a dress shop. Cliff, now 13, could help out after school. soon she was set-up and earning her way.
When she met and fell in love with Ransom Abbott, she still kept her focus where it always had been, directly on her son. She enjoyed her life with Ransom, she liked traveling, but nothing would interfere with her goal of seeing her son educated and raised into adulthood. Ransom did not get in the way. He understood the relationship and cared enough about both to assist. They were married in Ashland or at least she assumed his name at that time.
When they left Ashland, Cliff stayed. They moved first to Topeka, then to Oakland. With the Depression setting in, they left Oakland and headed back east to Kentucky. From there they tried Saginaw, arriving in Michigan in 1931 with nothing. A distant cousin assisted them back on their feet and they stayed there until 1940.
In 1940, having fallen in love, Al secretly was married. Lillian was outraged at her son and cut off communication with him for two weeks after the wedding. This was her son, who she had groomed and raised. She could not deal with anyone else having him, let alone someone making decisions involving him that she was not a part of. Ransom knew better then to become apart of this quarrel, but he also was aware that she loved her son too much for this to continue or to end their relationship.
After two weeks, Ransom convinced her that she could not cut her son off. She agreed and called him, offering to have the new couple over for dinner and conversation. The evening commenced, the meal went well, the conversation was pleasant. Later in the evening, Ransom excused himself briefly, left the room, and as he walked down the hall, collapsed, dying of a massive heart-attack.
Whether the events, the death, or what, within a few weeks, Lillian left Saginaw, moving to Detroit. Eventually she would meet another man, Frank Baldour, who she would spend the next 15 or so years with, until her death. She was only in her early forties at the time. Again, while no documentation exists of a marriage, she either married Frank or assumed his name. Each week, Al, the dutiful son, would make the drive from Saginaw to Detroit to visit, always respectful of her, as she was of him.
However, after Ransom, Lillian never again went back into business. She never attempted to try her skills. Though when she left Saginaw, she was only in her forties, the loss took something from her. Outwardly, she was a happy person, but she now was content to be a homebody. The inner-drive was gone. Later, when the leukemia came on, even that faded away. Yet her son remained, as she always wanted it to be.
In 1958, Lillian succumbed to the leukemia and passed. Al brought her back to Saginaw to be buried, to be near him.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saginaw, 1931
There they were, desolate, broke, and nowhere left to turn, living with relatives in Erlanger, Kentucky. Living with relatives who really could not afford to feed them and probably didn't want them there. Lillian's aunt gave her a name, a cousin who she had heard of, but never met, no one had met around there. His name was Bob Wilcox, and he was a moonshiner up in a town called Saginaw, Michigan.
Lillian and Ransom had no choices left. They loaded the car one more time and Al got in with them and they headed north, looking for Saginaw and the cousin no one knew. No one had contacted him. No one knew if he could or would be able to help Lillian and Ransom. but when you're flat out, anything is better than nothing at all, and that is all that was left at this point. The trip back across country from California had virtually destroyed them. They could not go on much further. If Mr. Wilcox didn't offer them any assistance, they were done.
When they arrived in Saginaw in 1931, the town was, like the rest of the nation, in the midst of the Depression. It was a city of about 50,000 and growing, with a strong auto industry presence, but who was buying. Lots of people were out of work here, just like everywhere.
They started asking around. Surprisingly, everyone knew their cousin. Bob Wilcox was very well known. They connected with him very quickly. Lillian introduced herself as his cousin, explaining her relationship and why they had come to town looking for him. She figured it made no sense to beat around the bush. He would either help them or tell them to go away. Might as well get it over with.
When she finished, Wilcox told her he would be happy to help. After all, they were kin. He took them to a house on the West Side of town, near Arthur Hill High School, which he owned and told them they could live there as long as they needed. He also set Ransom up in a small retail shop so he could sell and service office machines and another shop was found for Lillian so she could operate a dress shop business.
It seems Wilcox was the major bootlegger in that part of the state. He had business men and politicians in debt to him and was extremely wealthy. While he never made any attempt to involve his relatives in his more "improper" activities, he had no problems helping them when they came to him during those troubled times.
Al was again enrolled in school. Due to Lillian's practice of year-round schooling through the years, Al was actually now ahead of his proper grade level. So much so that that he would graduate in 1933 at the age of 16. Following graduation, he was fortunate to find work in Saginaw. He began his labors on an assembly line the Lufkin Rule Co., a manufacturer of folding rulers, earning $ .37 an hour, a sum which, in those days, was considered fairly decent. Life was good.
Lillian and Ransom had no choices left. They loaded the car one more time and Al got in with them and they headed north, looking for Saginaw and the cousin no one knew. No one had contacted him. No one knew if he could or would be able to help Lillian and Ransom. but when you're flat out, anything is better than nothing at all, and that is all that was left at this point. The trip back across country from California had virtually destroyed them. They could not go on much further. If Mr. Wilcox didn't offer them any assistance, they were done.
When they arrived in Saginaw in 1931, the town was, like the rest of the nation, in the midst of the Depression. It was a city of about 50,000 and growing, with a strong auto industry presence, but who was buying. Lots of people were out of work here, just like everywhere.
They started asking around. Surprisingly, everyone knew their cousin. Bob Wilcox was very well known. They connected with him very quickly. Lillian introduced herself as his cousin, explaining her relationship and why they had come to town looking for him. She figured it made no sense to beat around the bush. He would either help them or tell them to go away. Might as well get it over with.
When she finished, Wilcox told her he would be happy to help. After all, they were kin. He took them to a house on the West Side of town, near Arthur Hill High School, which he owned and told them they could live there as long as they needed. He also set Ransom up in a small retail shop so he could sell and service office machines and another shop was found for Lillian so she could operate a dress shop business.
It seems Wilcox was the major bootlegger in that part of the state. He had business men and politicians in debt to him and was extremely wealthy. While he never made any attempt to involve his relatives in his more "improper" activities, he had no problems helping them when they came to him during those troubled times.
Al was again enrolled in school. Due to Lillian's practice of year-round schooling through the years, Al was actually now ahead of his proper grade level. So much so that that he would graduate in 1933 at the age of 16. Following graduation, he was fortunate to find work in Saginaw. He began his labors on an assembly line the Lufkin Rule Co., a manufacturer of folding rulers, earning $ .37 an hour, a sum which, in those days, was considered fairly decent. Life was good.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Kansas, 1928
Topeka was, is, the state capital of Kansas. In 1928 the population was nearly 64,000. The city served as a hub for the state. Situated in the center of a major farming area of the country, Topeka was a rail center, with many crops and finished farm products and beef being moved from the agricultural core to major cities and markets elsewhere throughout the country.
There in the midst of it was the main store of Olympia Typewriters. Their store was on the main floor and on the upper level was an apartment. there Ransom, Lillian and Al moved when they came west from Ashland, Kentucky in 1928. Ransom was given a seven state territory to work through the Midwest and the apartment as part of his pay. His parents were in Topeka and he figured life was going to be pretty good for the three of them.
Al was immediately enrolled in school. He was eleven years old now and had been going to school year round since he was four. That is one thing his mother, Lillian, never missed. Wherever they landed, Al attended school, whether he walked, rode, or traveled by train. In Topeka, he also got to go out on the road with Ransom some. The two of them got along well and Ransom liked having the youngster with him. Lillian didn't seem to object to Al traveling with Ransom on his routes.
However, a different problem arose. At first the problem was between Lillian and Ransom's parents. They just did not like each other. They were comfortable around one another. As time passed, they began to quarrel. The arguing intensified and outright hostilities erupted. Ransom took Lillian's side in the spat, much to his parents dislike. It became evident the arrangement of living near one another was not a good one.
There was the other matter too. As would often occur, Lillian and Ransom began to get that feeling again, the feeling of wanting to move once more. Ransom went to his bosses and talked to them. They knew he was a good salesman. They offered him another territory, an even better one. The West coast, an eleven state territory, was available, if Ransom wanted to take it. He would have to move to the Oakland-San Francisco area and be based out of there.
Ransom and Lillian were thrilled. They could get away from Ransom's family, move to a new home in a different part of the country, and Ransom would be getting a promotion, all at the same time. Ransom grabbed the offer and they packed their automobile and took off for Oakland, California. It was the start of 1929.
There in the midst of it was the main store of Olympia Typewriters. Their store was on the main floor and on the upper level was an apartment. there Ransom, Lillian and Al moved when they came west from Ashland, Kentucky in 1928. Ransom was given a seven state territory to work through the Midwest and the apartment as part of his pay. His parents were in Topeka and he figured life was going to be pretty good for the three of them.
Al was immediately enrolled in school. He was eleven years old now and had been going to school year round since he was four. That is one thing his mother, Lillian, never missed. Wherever they landed, Al attended school, whether he walked, rode, or traveled by train. In Topeka, he also got to go out on the road with Ransom some. The two of them got along well and Ransom liked having the youngster with him. Lillian didn't seem to object to Al traveling with Ransom on his routes.
However, a different problem arose. At first the problem was between Lillian and Ransom's parents. They just did not like each other. They were comfortable around one another. As time passed, they began to quarrel. The arguing intensified and outright hostilities erupted. Ransom took Lillian's side in the spat, much to his parents dislike. It became evident the arrangement of living near one another was not a good one.
There was the other matter too. As would often occur, Lillian and Ransom began to get that feeling again, the feeling of wanting to move once more. Ransom went to his bosses and talked to them. They knew he was a good salesman. They offered him another territory, an even better one. The West coast, an eleven state territory, was available, if Ransom wanted to take it. He would have to move to the Oakland-San Francisco area and be based out of there.
Ransom and Lillian were thrilled. They could get away from Ransom's family, move to a new home in a different part of the country, and Ransom would be getting a promotion, all at the same time. Ransom grabbed the offer and they packed their automobile and took off for Oakland, California. It was the start of 1929.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Dresses, Typewriters, and Love, 1926-7
The move to Ashland was easier than the move from Weston to Offut. Lillian, Al and Cliff traveled by train and it only took a day. Ashland was only 60 miles north of Paintsville, where they boarded. They knew no one in Ashland, but they were able to find a place to stay.
Lillian quickly found work in a dress shop. As she did easier in life, she quickly adapted to this line of work and was successful. She was making enough to support the three of them. They found life more pleasant then in the mining towns.
Soon she encountered a young man who had also moved to Ashland from the north, a traveling salesman. Ransom Abbott sold typewriters throughout that portion of the country for Olympia Typewriters of Topeka, Kansas. Lillian and Ransom hit it off and started to see a lot of each other. Soon they decided to make a family life together.
For the next several months, through 1927, the four of them lived in Ashland. Ransom traveled extensively through neighboring states, selling his typewriters and Lillian continued to work in the dress shop. Al and Cliff attended school.
Then Olympia offered Ransom a new territory, the home store territory, in Topeka, with living quarters over the home store. Ransom and Lillian discussed the situation. Both were individuals who suffered from wanderlust and wanted to move frequently. The offer was too good to pass on. So they decided to head for Topeka.
However, this time they would move on without Cliff. Lillian's younger brother decided he did not want to move any more. Instead, he was going to drop out of school and get a job there in Ashland and settle down. He was 15 by this time. So once again, the family was splitting up. Once again, as the family said their good-byes, it would be the last time they would see or hear from each other in their life times. Lillian, Ransom, and Al were heading to Topeka.
Lillian quickly found work in a dress shop. As she did easier in life, she quickly adapted to this line of work and was successful. She was making enough to support the three of them. They found life more pleasant then in the mining towns.
Soon she encountered a young man who had also moved to Ashland from the north, a traveling salesman. Ransom Abbott sold typewriters throughout that portion of the country for Olympia Typewriters of Topeka, Kansas. Lillian and Ransom hit it off and started to see a lot of each other. Soon they decided to make a family life together.
For the next several months, through 1927, the four of them lived in Ashland. Ransom traveled extensively through neighboring states, selling his typewriters and Lillian continued to work in the dress shop. Al and Cliff attended school.
Then Olympia offered Ransom a new territory, the home store territory, in Topeka, with living quarters over the home store. Ransom and Lillian discussed the situation. Both were individuals who suffered from wanderlust and wanted to move frequently. The offer was too good to pass on. So they decided to head for Topeka.
However, this time they would move on without Cliff. Lillian's younger brother decided he did not want to move any more. Instead, he was going to drop out of school and get a job there in Ashland and settle down. He was 15 by this time. So once again, the family was splitting up. Once again, as the family said their good-byes, it would be the last time they would see or hear from each other in their life times. Lillian, Ransom, and Al were heading to Topeka.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Death and Retribution, 1926
Al was approaching nine when the shadows returned. His grandfather was the breadwinner in the family, but his mother, Lillian, was the center of the universe. Lillian was always the center of the universe. She was strong and steady, and he knew she looked out for him. Now though there was trouble. Albert was quarreling with some men, brothers, a group of locals. They seemed to be always arguing with Albert.
Albert became concerned enough about the developing fight that was brewing between him and the other family that he decided he had better take some action. He was an outsider. If things heated up too much, and it certainly appeared headed that way, he would not be getting any help from the sheriff or his neighbors. They all would either side with the brothers or would just look the other way. Albert sent for some help he could trust.
Soon two men arrived in Offut. One was Bob Nicholas. He was a moonshiner from Ohio. The other was William (Will) Nicholas, a sheriff from Colorado. Both came armed. Both men moved into the Nicholas shack in Offut. They made themselves comfortable, but they were wary and ready for whatever situation arose. With their arrival, tempers seemed to ease and the feuding took a back burner.
A couple months after the brothers had come to town, one morning a miner albert knew came running to the house. He told Albert there had been an accident in the min and Albert was needed right away. As superintendent, Albert had to go. He dressed and left, following the miner to the mine entrance.
As he entered the mine, several of his antagonists were waiting, hidden behind rocks and such, armed with rifles and shotguns. As he entered the mine, they opened fire on Albert, killing him immediately. As he fell, they scattered to their homes, leaving his body at the entrance to the mine, with a shotgun blast in his back.
Soon word came back to the Nicholas home in Offut that Albert had been murdered and his body lay in the mine. Bob and Will left and went and collected their brother's remains and brought him back to the house. They helped the women lay Albert's body out on the kitchen table, as was the practice in those days. When they had finished with that task, they prepared for their next one.
Bob and Will carefully and calmly armed themselves. Beginning that very day and for the next two months, they traveled through the nearby hills, as they hunted their brother's murders. Even the day they paused for his funeral, they returned to the hunt. In the course of those weeks, it was reported they killed 4 or 5 men involved in the murder and severely wounded several more. The feud was now very much out in the open.
One evening, after a couple months of the on-going feud and fighting, the sheriff finally came to the house to speak with the two brothers. At that time, he cautioned them that he could no longer ignore the continued feuding. The escalated shooting warranted public scrutiny now. As outsiders, they were subject to arrest and prosecution. He strongly suggested they both move on. After he left, the family discussed the situation. It was agreed it was time for Bob and Will to leave, so they depart immediately, with both returning to Ohio and Colorado.
The rest of the family continued to talk about the local situation. They also knew their safety was compromised. With the two brothers gone, the other family was likely to come looking for them to take revenge on them. However, there was disagreement as to where to go. Flora and her mother wanted to move out west. They had relatives in Colorado. Lillian did not want to move out west. In the end the family split. Flora and her mother did go to Colorado. Lillian, Clifford and Al moved to Ashland, Kentucky. This would be the last time they would see or hear from each other again.
Albert became concerned enough about the developing fight that was brewing between him and the other family that he decided he had better take some action. He was an outsider. If things heated up too much, and it certainly appeared headed that way, he would not be getting any help from the sheriff or his neighbors. They all would either side with the brothers or would just look the other way. Albert sent for some help he could trust.
Soon two men arrived in Offut. One was Bob Nicholas. He was a moonshiner from Ohio. The other was William (Will) Nicholas, a sheriff from Colorado. Both came armed. Both men moved into the Nicholas shack in Offut. They made themselves comfortable, but they were wary and ready for whatever situation arose. With their arrival, tempers seemed to ease and the feuding took a back burner.
A couple months after the brothers had come to town, one morning a miner albert knew came running to the house. He told Albert there had been an accident in the min and Albert was needed right away. As superintendent, Albert had to go. He dressed and left, following the miner to the mine entrance.
As he entered the mine, several of his antagonists were waiting, hidden behind rocks and such, armed with rifles and shotguns. As he entered the mine, they opened fire on Albert, killing him immediately. As he fell, they scattered to their homes, leaving his body at the entrance to the mine, with a shotgun blast in his back.
Soon word came back to the Nicholas home in Offut that Albert had been murdered and his body lay in the mine. Bob and Will left and went and collected their brother's remains and brought him back to the house. They helped the women lay Albert's body out on the kitchen table, as was the practice in those days. When they had finished with that task, they prepared for their next one.
Bob and Will carefully and calmly armed themselves. Beginning that very day and for the next two months, they traveled through the nearby hills, as they hunted their brother's murders. Even the day they paused for his funeral, they returned to the hunt. In the course of those weeks, it was reported they killed 4 or 5 men involved in the murder and severely wounded several more. The feud was now very much out in the open.
One evening, after a couple months of the on-going feud and fighting, the sheriff finally came to the house to speak with the two brothers. At that time, he cautioned them that he could no longer ignore the continued feuding. The escalated shooting warranted public scrutiny now. As outsiders, they were subject to arrest and prosecution. He strongly suggested they both move on. After he left, the family discussed the situation. It was agreed it was time for Bob and Will to leave, so they depart immediately, with both returning to Ohio and Colorado.
The rest of the family continued to talk about the local situation. They also knew their safety was compromised. With the two brothers gone, the other family was likely to come looking for them to take revenge on them. However, there was disagreement as to where to go. Flora and her mother wanted to move out west. They had relatives in Colorado. Lillian did not want to move out west. In the end the family split. Flora and her mother did go to Colorado. Lillian, Clifford and Al moved to Ashland, Kentucky. This would be the last time they would see or hear from each other again.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Life in Appalachia, 1920's
Leaving Weston in 1920, Albert took his family south, heading for the coal country in Johnson County, Kentucky, in the far southeast portion of the state. The family left Weston in an old Model A Ford. Now Ford actually produced two Model A's. One, the one most people recognize, was produced in the years 1927-1931. However, Ford also made another, earlier, Model A in 1903 and 1904. This was a hand-built, non-production-line automobile. For Albert Nicholas to still have one in 1920 was testimony to his mechanical skills and to his lack of monetary level.
Piled into the small vehicle were Albert, his wife, Lillian, Flora, and Clifford, along with all their worldly possessions. The trip, on good roads, had there been many, would have taken three days. Most roads in 1920 were not that good, being dirt and mismanaged. Likely the driving portion of the trip took closer to a week, with stops and nights spent in or around the automobile.
When the family arrived within about twenty miles of Offut, Kentucky, their final destination, the roads ended. From that point on, there were only footpaths in the hills. The Model A was abandoned and the family traveled on by foot, walking the path, carrying their belongings. Gorges and rivers were crossed using rope bridges. This last portion of the journey took the family another five to seven days to complete.
It must be recalled that Flora, the eldest offspring, now 31 years old, was a completely disabled individual, having spent her life in a wheelchair as a paraplegic. To transport her, along with the others and their belongings, meant carrying her and her chair the entire twenty miles. One can only image the difficulty of the task, let alone the horrible experience for Flora to have to undergo this.
Offut was a company-owned set of houses built into the side of a hill just a few miles northeast of Paintsville, Kentucky, the county seat of Johnson County. Miners working for the Northeast Mining Company lived in the 12 shacks in Offut and worked in mines near Whitehouse, farther to the north. Travel between Offut and Paintsville and Whitehouse, company headquarters, were either by train or by walk paths.
Al and his Uncle Clifford were sent into Paintsville to attend school daily. Flora, Lillian and the mother stayed in Offut and took care of the home. Albert was employed as a superintendent in the mine by the Northeast Mining Company. Northeast rarely hired outsiders, having a strong policy of hiring locals. This would eventually be a problem.
All shopping, as with any mining family was done at the company stores. In this case, Albert and his people did their shopping in Whitehouse. The children went to school in Paintsville. Al and Clifford rode the train each day to school and back again, a distance of some 12 miles. they ate their lunch in town at the restaurant on the main street. That in itself was an education. Every day, as they sat eating, they watched the coming and going of the people in Paintsville.
One day, while eating lunch, they watched two men come up the street from opposite ends of the street. They stopped in the middle of the street, right in front of the restaurant's windows. The two exchanged words, stepped back from each other, drew pistols from their belts, and then they proceeded to shot each other. Al and Clifford watched as the two men killed each other right in front of them as they ate. After they fell and died, other townspeople resumed their business in the street, as if nothing had happened. Eventually men came along and picked up the remains and cleaned up after the fight, and life went on as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
For six years, the Nicholas family lived in southeast Kentucky, while Albert worked in the mines. Life may not have been good, but the family was together, Albert was providing for his own, they had a home, and things were going alright. As Al would find out in the first half of his life, these were not the times to get content. Something was lurking in the shadows again.
Piled into the small vehicle were Albert, his wife, Lillian, Flora, and Clifford, along with all their worldly possessions. The trip, on good roads, had there been many, would have taken three days. Most roads in 1920 were not that good, being dirt and mismanaged. Likely the driving portion of the trip took closer to a week, with stops and nights spent in or around the automobile.
When the family arrived within about twenty miles of Offut, Kentucky, their final destination, the roads ended. From that point on, there were only footpaths in the hills. The Model A was abandoned and the family traveled on by foot, walking the path, carrying their belongings. Gorges and rivers were crossed using rope bridges. This last portion of the journey took the family another five to seven days to complete.
It must be recalled that Flora, the eldest offspring, now 31 years old, was a completely disabled individual, having spent her life in a wheelchair as a paraplegic. To transport her, along with the others and their belongings, meant carrying her and her chair the entire twenty miles. One can only image the difficulty of the task, let alone the horrible experience for Flora to have to undergo this.
Offut was a company-owned set of houses built into the side of a hill just a few miles northeast of Paintsville, Kentucky, the county seat of Johnson County. Miners working for the Northeast Mining Company lived in the 12 shacks in Offut and worked in mines near Whitehouse, farther to the north. Travel between Offut and Paintsville and Whitehouse, company headquarters, were either by train or by walk paths.
Al and his Uncle Clifford were sent into Paintsville to attend school daily. Flora, Lillian and the mother stayed in Offut and took care of the home. Albert was employed as a superintendent in the mine by the Northeast Mining Company. Northeast rarely hired outsiders, having a strong policy of hiring locals. This would eventually be a problem.
All shopping, as with any mining family was done at the company stores. In this case, Albert and his people did their shopping in Whitehouse. The children went to school in Paintsville. Al and Clifford rode the train each day to school and back again, a distance of some 12 miles. they ate their lunch in town at the restaurant on the main street. That in itself was an education. Every day, as they sat eating, they watched the coming and going of the people in Paintsville.
One day, while eating lunch, they watched two men come up the street from opposite ends of the street. They stopped in the middle of the street, right in front of the restaurant's windows. The two exchanged words, stepped back from each other, drew pistols from their belts, and then they proceeded to shot each other. Al and Clifford watched as the two men killed each other right in front of them as they ate. After they fell and died, other townspeople resumed their business in the street, as if nothing had happened. Eventually men came along and picked up the remains and cleaned up after the fight, and life went on as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
For six years, the Nicholas family lived in southeast Kentucky, while Albert worked in the mines. Life may not have been good, but the family was together, Albert was providing for his own, they had a home, and things were going alright. As Al would find out in the first half of his life, these were not the times to get content. Something was lurking in the shadows again.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Labor Day 1924
Labor Day, September 8th, in the Appalachians, a strange day for coal miners. Mines never stopped digging, greed's always there. Coal had to come out of the ground. Thousands of tons of coal were needed and someone was going to bring it up. So men worked down below, while those above acted like it's a holiday. There were no days off, no weekends, no scheduled shut-downs. The mines ran, everyday, day in, day out, 365 days a year.
When you worked for one of the two companies in the area, Consolidated or Northeast, you worked, when they said and where they said. They owned you. You lived in one of their company houses, you shopped in a company store, and you worked on company property, so they ran your life. Maybe someone somewhere was celebrating Labor Day, but in mining country, it was just Monday.
Strangers had come to town, come to Paintsville. That in itself was unusual. Paintsville was small, only 4,000 people lived in the area and they were pretty much cut off from the outside. No real roads, just paths. The only way in or out was the railroad and the two mining companies owned the rails. Most the trains were coal, with an occasional passenger car and a daily run between the small villages in the area.
Yet here they were, several hundred odd looking fellows. They're dressed for a party, dressed for a parade and they were going to have one. Marching from one end of town to the other, people lined the streets to watch. White robes and pointed hats, rows after rows of them, moving down the street. Locals watched these men marching down their main street, but these men weren't from around here.
These robed-wonders had never been much in these parts. Up north they caught on, in Ohio and in Indiana. Down south, they got real popular, spreading their messages throughout the states. However, here in Kentucky and over in Tennessee, where a series of these parades and rallies were occurring, trying to drum up new members and public support, they just never seem to had caught on.
Hell, as far back as the Civil War, no one in these parts had actually made up their mind one way or the other. Some locals had sided with the Union, some with the Confederacy. Johnson County, where Paintsville was the County seat, was a border county in a border state. The mixed feelings had lingered. By the turn of the century, coal had taken over and no one had any time for such nonsense. The company didn't allow anyone any private time and when men weren't working, they were either drinking, fighting, or sleeping.
Even now, there were many more observers then participants; many more making fun of the paraders, then those doing the parading. If the intent was to impress, the intent failed. If there was a plan to build a groundswell of support, it did not materialize. The robed-ones came to town, and they left, listening to the laughter die behind them.
They weren't here for anything else either. They formed at one end of the street, lining up in rows, with their robes covering them and their hoods hiding their faces. Then they marched down the street to the far end of town, making a lot of noise. When they got there, there were a couple speeches, which no one other than the fellows in the robes bothered to listen to, and then they all got on the next train and left again.
That day they provided both the labor and the entertainment, and the mining went on.
When you worked for one of the two companies in the area, Consolidated or Northeast, you worked, when they said and where they said. They owned you. You lived in one of their company houses, you shopped in a company store, and you worked on company property, so they ran your life. Maybe someone somewhere was celebrating Labor Day, but in mining country, it was just Monday.
Strangers had come to town, come to Paintsville. That in itself was unusual. Paintsville was small, only 4,000 people lived in the area and they were pretty much cut off from the outside. No real roads, just paths. The only way in or out was the railroad and the two mining companies owned the rails. Most the trains were coal, with an occasional passenger car and a daily run between the small villages in the area.
Yet here they were, several hundred odd looking fellows. They're dressed for a party, dressed for a parade and they were going to have one. Marching from one end of town to the other, people lined the streets to watch. White robes and pointed hats, rows after rows of them, moving down the street. Locals watched these men marching down their main street, but these men weren't from around here.
These robed-wonders had never been much in these parts. Up north they caught on, in Ohio and in Indiana. Down south, they got real popular, spreading their messages throughout the states. However, here in Kentucky and over in Tennessee, where a series of these parades and rallies were occurring, trying to drum up new members and public support, they just never seem to had caught on.
Hell, as far back as the Civil War, no one in these parts had actually made up their mind one way or the other. Some locals had sided with the Union, some with the Confederacy. Johnson County, where Paintsville was the County seat, was a border county in a border state. The mixed feelings had lingered. By the turn of the century, coal had taken over and no one had any time for such nonsense. The company didn't allow anyone any private time and when men weren't working, they were either drinking, fighting, or sleeping.
Even now, there were many more observers then participants; many more making fun of the paraders, then those doing the parading. If the intent was to impress, the intent failed. If there was a plan to build a groundswell of support, it did not materialize. The robed-ones came to town, and they left, listening to the laughter die behind them.
They weren't here for anything else either. They formed at one end of the street, lining up in rows, with their robes covering them and their hoods hiding their faces. Then they marched down the street to the far end of town, making a lot of noise. When they got there, there were a couple speeches, which no one other than the fellows in the robes bothered to listen to, and then they all got on the next train and left again.
That day they provided both the labor and the entertainment, and the mining went on.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Wellston 1916-17
Wellston Ohio was a small farming community situated south and west of Toledo, due west of Bowling Green. Beautiful soils, farmed since the days when Daniel Boone had lead settlers into the Ohio Valley and its' regions prior to the Revolutionary War. Weston was small in those days, numbering only a couple thousand in the area.
One was an Irish family headed by Albert Nicholas. He worked the farms in the area, providing for his family, now consisting of his second wife and her daughter, Flora, 27, from a previous marriage, who was confined to a wheelchair for life. Albert had also been married before but his first wife had died giving birth. That event had left Albert with a daughter, Lillian, who still lived with Albert. Lillian was 14 years old. Albert and his second wife had a child of their own, a son, Clifford, who was 3 years old at the time.
Albert was never a farmer by nature. He worked in the fields to put food on the table for his family. Albert was a miner. He had always worked in the coal mines and that is where he wanted to return. It was work he knew and was good at. Over the years, he had rose to good positions in the companies he worked for. He longd to return. Problem was no one was hiring just then. so he waited, doing what he needed to do to feed his growing family.
Lillian liked to attend the vaudeville shows that came to town from Toledo and Columbus. In those days, they were top drawing entertainment for most towns and cities and traveling shows toured the country. One particular show had stopped in for an extended performance. Working with the show as a set-up man was a guy, Charles, 30 years old, mature and worldly to young Lillian. They met and hit it off. A romance ensued and a pregnancy resulted. In March 1917, a son, Charles, was born to the happy parents.
Lillian continued to live with her parents in Wellston while she raised her infant. In order to assist her, she needed to obtain work, so she doctored the birth certificate and other necessary papers and assumed the age of a 19 year old. She took work first in an office, then in a dress shop, work she would return to time and time again throughout her adult life.
During those first two or three years young Charles, now called Al affectionately after his grandfather, would spend nine months of the year in Weston, living in a house the family rented. However, each summer, Al was sent to a great aunt's farm. Though very young, Al remembered those summers fondly as some of the best times of his youth, peaceful and playful.
Like all things in life, the times in Weston eventually came to an end. Albert had been working as hired help on farms. Money was not that good and it was hard to make ends meet. Albert was offered work in the mines, as a supervisor, in the Eastern Kentucky fields, and he took it. Life was going to change for the Nicholas family.
One was an Irish family headed by Albert Nicholas. He worked the farms in the area, providing for his family, now consisting of his second wife and her daughter, Flora, 27, from a previous marriage, who was confined to a wheelchair for life. Albert had also been married before but his first wife had died giving birth. That event had left Albert with a daughter, Lillian, who still lived with Albert. Lillian was 14 years old. Albert and his second wife had a child of their own, a son, Clifford, who was 3 years old at the time.
Albert was never a farmer by nature. He worked in the fields to put food on the table for his family. Albert was a miner. He had always worked in the coal mines and that is where he wanted to return. It was work he knew and was good at. Over the years, he had rose to good positions in the companies he worked for. He longd to return. Problem was no one was hiring just then. so he waited, doing what he needed to do to feed his growing family.
Lillian liked to attend the vaudeville shows that came to town from Toledo and Columbus. In those days, they were top drawing entertainment for most towns and cities and traveling shows toured the country. One particular show had stopped in for an extended performance. Working with the show as a set-up man was a guy, Charles, 30 years old, mature and worldly to young Lillian. They met and hit it off. A romance ensued and a pregnancy resulted. In March 1917, a son, Charles, was born to the happy parents.
Lillian continued to live with her parents in Wellston while she raised her infant. In order to assist her, she needed to obtain work, so she doctored the birth certificate and other necessary papers and assumed the age of a 19 year old. She took work first in an office, then in a dress shop, work she would return to time and time again throughout her adult life.
During those first two or three years young Charles, now called Al affectionately after his grandfather, would spend nine months of the year in Weston, living in a house the family rented. However, each summer, Al was sent to a great aunt's farm. Though very young, Al remembered those summers fondly as some of the best times of his youth, peaceful and playful.
Like all things in life, the times in Weston eventually came to an end. Albert had been working as hired help on farms. Money was not that good and it was hard to make ends meet. Albert was offered work in the mines, as a supervisor, in the Eastern Kentucky fields, and he took it. Life was going to change for the Nicholas family.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
George II, 1700 -1800
George II (1683 - 1760) sat upon the throne. It was the mid-1700's. The British Kingdom of England and Ireland was a contested monarchy. George was the least capable of the four Georges and lacked the strength of either his father or his son. Scotland was in revolt, France was at war and Spain was an enemy. The colonies were being settled in the New World.
The Hanovers were never a close family. George II, even in childhood, choose to side against his father in state affairs. He despised the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and spoke out against his policies. Walpole was the power under George I. Most believed when the son rose to the throne, Walpole would be gone from the political scene. However, when George II seized power, his advisers proved inadequate, almost from the first, and, from necessity, he had to turn back to Walpole to get his government in shape. Quickly the former Prime Minister reinserted himself under the son, through the Queen, and, once again, Walpole became the true power in the Isles.
During his reign, George II fought wars against France and Spain, France's ally. On the domestic front, he was faced with an unruly Scotland and the Jacobite movement, which arose in both Ireland and Scotland over the right of succession and the rightful king, the Hanover heir or one of the Stuarts, who had been dethroned to place the Hanovers in power initially.
As he fought on the continent, he sent English loyalists into Scotland and Ireland to hold the commoners in check and under his thumb and to deal with the Jacobite rebellion. After aborted attempts under George I, and George II, history shows only four actual attempts to overthrow the rule of the Hanovers and return the Catholic Stuarts to the throne. The Irish rose up against the Hanovers in 1688, as soon as James Ii was cast aside. They sent an Irish brigade to France to fight against the English in the continental wars. In 1689-92, the Scottish highlanders fought against the lowlanders and the English. In the end they too swore an oath to George. The Stuarts lead a rising in 1715 but it had little success and the English easily defeated them. In 1745 George II raised an army to crush the Jacobite uprising, the last battles fought on English soil.
Against this backdrop, those who did the King's bidding, earned the King's favor. One of the King's desire was to deal with the Scots. Against this troubling rebellion, George sent those most loyal, both royalty and commoners. Those who held the Scots or Irish in their place were rewarded, with land grants, first in Ireland, then in the new colonies, in America.
All through the eastern seaboard, loyal subjects of the throne arrived, bearing grants from George. Many of these were fro the middle colonies, Virginia, Georgia, the Carolinas. A large section of the Shenandoah Valley was given to settlers in such a manner, awarded by George II for the loyalty shown in service to the throne, in putting the rebels down and serving as mercenaries for the King. Many such land grants were landed out during his reign for this type of service. It saved the King funds and helped to settled the British held lands in America with people loyal to the monarchy.
One such man was John Galford, given a land grant for a holding in the Shenandoah for his prior service. He settled near other families with similar histories. His wife and he had four sons and they cleared the wilderness from their land and grew crops and began to make a life, something like a farm life in southern England.
It has been alleged that John was of Scottish heritage and he or rather his son, John Thomas Galford, was awarded the land grant by George II. John Thomas Galford was born in 1757. He would have been 3 years old when George II died. It is not possible for the land grant to have been issued to him. Equally, it is not possible for the grant to have come from George III. By the time George III was on the throne and John Thomas was even 15 years old, the War for Independence was under way.
Looking at the other issue, given the likelihood the grant did come from George II, who did issue such land grant freely, it had to have gone to John Galford. Of course, he may have passed it on to his son. Either way, it is not possible for John Galford, or his children, to have been of Scottish decent. George was extremely prejudiced against both the Scots and the Irish. They were Catholic, he was Protestant. He was at war with them. They sided with the Stuarts against his family, the Hanovers. Historically, this would have amounted to one of the most unique grants ever issued.
Anyway, the Galfords settled in the Shenandoah. They had 288 acres provided in the original grant, though part was sold off. John had four sons. three sons apparently liked the valley and they stayed and their children and their children's children stayed.
Eventually one son decided to join the western migration, following paths set by the likes of Daniel Boone and others before him. He moved out of the Valley and headed west across the Appalachians, stopping in the Ohio Valley, near modern-day Columbus. There he settle down and began to settle down again.
The other three sons stayed in the Valley and their children and grandchildren settled the Valley and moved into homes of their own there in throughout northern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. Distant offspring of these sons still reside in these places today.
The Hanovers were never a close family. George II, even in childhood, choose to side against his father in state affairs. He despised the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and spoke out against his policies. Walpole was the power under George I. Most believed when the son rose to the throne, Walpole would be gone from the political scene. However, when George II seized power, his advisers proved inadequate, almost from the first, and, from necessity, he had to turn back to Walpole to get his government in shape. Quickly the former Prime Minister reinserted himself under the son, through the Queen, and, once again, Walpole became the true power in the Isles.
During his reign, George II fought wars against France and Spain, France's ally. On the domestic front, he was faced with an unruly Scotland and the Jacobite movement, which arose in both Ireland and Scotland over the right of succession and the rightful king, the Hanover heir or one of the Stuarts, who had been dethroned to place the Hanovers in power initially.
As he fought on the continent, he sent English loyalists into Scotland and Ireland to hold the commoners in check and under his thumb and to deal with the Jacobite rebellion. After aborted attempts under George I, and George II, history shows only four actual attempts to overthrow the rule of the Hanovers and return the Catholic Stuarts to the throne. The Irish rose up against the Hanovers in 1688, as soon as James Ii was cast aside. They sent an Irish brigade to France to fight against the English in the continental wars. In 1689-92, the Scottish highlanders fought against the lowlanders and the English. In the end they too swore an oath to George. The Stuarts lead a rising in 1715 but it had little success and the English easily defeated them. In 1745 George II raised an army to crush the Jacobite uprising, the last battles fought on English soil.
Against this backdrop, those who did the King's bidding, earned the King's favor. One of the King's desire was to deal with the Scots. Against this troubling rebellion, George sent those most loyal, both royalty and commoners. Those who held the Scots or Irish in their place were rewarded, with land grants, first in Ireland, then in the new colonies, in America.
All through the eastern seaboard, loyal subjects of the throne arrived, bearing grants from George. Many of these were fro the middle colonies, Virginia, Georgia, the Carolinas. A large section of the Shenandoah Valley was given to settlers in such a manner, awarded by George II for the loyalty shown in service to the throne, in putting the rebels down and serving as mercenaries for the King. Many such land grants were landed out during his reign for this type of service. It saved the King funds and helped to settled the British held lands in America with people loyal to the monarchy.
One such man was John Galford, given a land grant for a holding in the Shenandoah for his prior service. He settled near other families with similar histories. His wife and he had four sons and they cleared the wilderness from their land and grew crops and began to make a life, something like a farm life in southern England.
It has been alleged that John was of Scottish heritage and he or rather his son, John Thomas Galford, was awarded the land grant by George II. John Thomas Galford was born in 1757. He would have been 3 years old when George II died. It is not possible for the land grant to have been issued to him. Equally, it is not possible for the grant to have come from George III. By the time George III was on the throne and John Thomas was even 15 years old, the War for Independence was under way.
Looking at the other issue, given the likelihood the grant did come from George II, who did issue such land grant freely, it had to have gone to John Galford. Of course, he may have passed it on to his son. Either way, it is not possible for John Galford, or his children, to have been of Scottish decent. George was extremely prejudiced against both the Scots and the Irish. They were Catholic, he was Protestant. He was at war with them. They sided with the Stuarts against his family, the Hanovers. Historically, this would have amounted to one of the most unique grants ever issued.
Anyway, the Galfords settled in the Shenandoah. They had 288 acres provided in the original grant, though part was sold off. John had four sons. three sons apparently liked the valley and they stayed and their children and their children's children stayed.
Eventually one son decided to join the western migration, following paths set by the likes of Daniel Boone and others before him. He moved out of the Valley and headed west across the Appalachians, stopping in the Ohio Valley, near modern-day Columbus. There he settle down and began to settle down again.
The other three sons stayed in the Valley and their children and grandchildren settled the Valley and moved into homes of their own there in throughout northern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. Distant offspring of these sons still reside in these places today.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
823 AD
As dawn broke, from the shadowy mists along the banks of the rise, the Celts massed near the ancient town of Exeter. By the thousands they had come, from Cornwall in the west and Wales to the north, to stand in the land of the Dumnonii,to fight the hated invaders, the Angles and Saxons, those foreigners trying to take their lands from them, as they had once seized them many long decades before from Brits and Picts. The problem was the local tribes, the largest of the Celtic groups, the Dumnonii, inhabitants of Dumnonia (Devon), were allies of the Saxons, not the West Celts. Dumnonia had fallen to Egbert and the Saxons back in 802 and was ruled by them.
Dumnonia's principal town, Exeter, lay to the northeast. Twenty-one years ago the Saxons had first come here to fight with the Celts. The Dumnonii had stood and fought, but the Saxons had overrun them. then no help had come from the Welsh and Cornish tribes. Over the years, the Dumnonii had bred into the Saxon, paid tribute to their Saxon lords, and now served the Saxon overlords.
They massed on the Down and formed the shield wall, locking their shields and readying themselves. They could see their enemies coming from the east now. Six or more to one they were outnumbered, but still they stood and waited. They were Celts, descendants of Gaul. They had held off the Romans and kept their tribal lands mostly independent and they would beat back the encroaching Saxons too.
Year after year the Saxons had come from the east and every year they took more and more land. Every year more and more Saxons appeared and less and less Celts survived. Still they fought on. It was their way and this was their land. Though the tribes rarely fought together, today they united against the common foe. Here on the Down they would stand in the wall. Here by the river's ford, they would show the Saxon the might of the Celtic swords and bows.
Dawn broke, the shadows lifted, and the Saxon shield wall had formed up and was pressing forward. It was longer than the Celts' and there were many in reserve, with two or three lines following the first one forward. Soon the two shield walls came together and sword and shield clashed. All along the walls men lunged, pushed and stabbed, seeking an advantage, trying to push forward, attempting to drop their adversaries and collapse their wall. All morning the walls held and the fighting was at a stalemate. It appeared the mighty Saxon force would not go west any further this day.
By mid-day the Saxons lead by King Egbert were engaged the entire length of the shield wall. The Celtic tribes, though greatly outnumbered were holding the high ground along the Down.
One Celtic leader, for whom the battleground would later be known for, was from the Dumnonii, one of the major tribes of western Britain, and he was named Gaflffordd. The Dumnonii were a large contingent in the fighting force that day and Gaflffordd was a local leader of the Dumnonii, most likely the landholder of the battlefield, leading his men on their shield wall. Given that the battle occurred on his lands and the Dumnonii provided a large number of troops to the battle, tradition suggests, Gaflffordd occupied a position somewhere in the middle of the shield wall that day, a position of some honor, normally left of the king. However, this day he lead them against other Celts.
Early in the afternoon, the Saxons and their Dumnonii allies renewed their efforts and pressed their advantage in numbers against the shield wall. Slowly as the afternoon began, the sheer force exerted by the Saxons began to force the Celts back. The wall began to break in spots and men started to fall as their legs were cut from under them, their shields were knocked aside, or they were simply overwhelmed by the power of the Saxons. As they fell, the second line killed them where they lie. The front line kept moving forward. As this occurred, the ends of the Saxon shield walls started to turn toward the center, bending the Celts into an arc,pushing them into a closing circle.
By mid-afternoon, the outcome of the battle was obvious. The Saxons were overrunning the Celtic wall and the Celts were breaking and running from the field of battle. Cornish and Welsh fighters fell, died, or ran to save themselves. Ten thousand had come to do battle, but over half would die that day on the Down and half again would be killed over the next few weeks, as Egbert's son with 40,000 men kept the pursue up, chasing them into Wales and Cornwall.
Never again did the Celts of Wales and Cornwall mount a full out army to stand against the Saxons. From that point forward, they became mercenaries, bandits, and guerrilla fighters, incapable of a complete defense of their homelands. Eventually they faded into history, back into the shadows.
As for the Celtic leader, Gaflffordd, he lived on after the battle. History shows his ancestors becoming Saxons and, using the Saxon name Gavulford. Eventually the descendants would settle on a slightly different spelling, a "place name", meaning Gaul's ford, the place by the river where people crossed, where a mighty battle occurred in 823 AD.
For fifty years following the battle at the Down, Egbert and his sons enjoyed peaceful rule in southern England from Kent across to Cornwall, including Wessex.
Dumnonia's principal town, Exeter, lay to the northeast. Twenty-one years ago the Saxons had first come here to fight with the Celts. The Dumnonii had stood and fought, but the Saxons had overrun them. then no help had come from the Welsh and Cornish tribes. Over the years, the Dumnonii had bred into the Saxon, paid tribute to their Saxon lords, and now served the Saxon overlords.
They massed on the Down and formed the shield wall, locking their shields and readying themselves. They could see their enemies coming from the east now. Six or more to one they were outnumbered, but still they stood and waited. They were Celts, descendants of Gaul. They had held off the Romans and kept their tribal lands mostly independent and they would beat back the encroaching Saxons too.
Year after year the Saxons had come from the east and every year they took more and more land. Every year more and more Saxons appeared and less and less Celts survived. Still they fought on. It was their way and this was their land. Though the tribes rarely fought together, today they united against the common foe. Here on the Down they would stand in the wall. Here by the river's ford, they would show the Saxon the might of the Celtic swords and bows.
Dawn broke, the shadows lifted, and the Saxon shield wall had formed up and was pressing forward. It was longer than the Celts' and there were many in reserve, with two or three lines following the first one forward. Soon the two shield walls came together and sword and shield clashed. All along the walls men lunged, pushed and stabbed, seeking an advantage, trying to push forward, attempting to drop their adversaries and collapse their wall. All morning the walls held and the fighting was at a stalemate. It appeared the mighty Saxon force would not go west any further this day.
By mid-day the Saxons lead by King Egbert were engaged the entire length of the shield wall. The Celtic tribes, though greatly outnumbered were holding the high ground along the Down.
One Celtic leader, for whom the battleground would later be known for, was from the Dumnonii, one of the major tribes of western Britain, and he was named Gaflffordd. The Dumnonii were a large contingent in the fighting force that day and Gaflffordd was a local leader of the Dumnonii, most likely the landholder of the battlefield, leading his men on their shield wall. Given that the battle occurred on his lands and the Dumnonii provided a large number of troops to the battle, tradition suggests, Gaflffordd occupied a position somewhere in the middle of the shield wall that day, a position of some honor, normally left of the king. However, this day he lead them against other Celts.
Early in the afternoon, the Saxons and their Dumnonii allies renewed their efforts and pressed their advantage in numbers against the shield wall. Slowly as the afternoon began, the sheer force exerted by the Saxons began to force the Celts back. The wall began to break in spots and men started to fall as their legs were cut from under them, their shields were knocked aside, or they were simply overwhelmed by the power of the Saxons. As they fell, the second line killed them where they lie. The front line kept moving forward. As this occurred, the ends of the Saxon shield walls started to turn toward the center, bending the Celts into an arc,pushing them into a closing circle.
By mid-afternoon, the outcome of the battle was obvious. The Saxons were overrunning the Celtic wall and the Celts were breaking and running from the field of battle. Cornish and Welsh fighters fell, died, or ran to save themselves. Ten thousand had come to do battle, but over half would die that day on the Down and half again would be killed over the next few weeks, as Egbert's son with 40,000 men kept the pursue up, chasing them into Wales and Cornwall.
Never again did the Celts of Wales and Cornwall mount a full out army to stand against the Saxons. From that point forward, they became mercenaries, bandits, and guerrilla fighters, incapable of a complete defense of their homelands. Eventually they faded into history, back into the shadows.
As for the Celtic leader, Gaflffordd, he lived on after the battle. History shows his ancestors becoming Saxons and, using the Saxon name Gavulford. Eventually the descendants would settle on a slightly different spelling, a "place name", meaning Gaul's ford, the place by the river where people crossed, where a mighty battle occurred in 823 AD.
For fifty years following the battle at the Down, Egbert and his sons enjoyed peaceful rule in southern England from Kent across to Cornwall, including Wessex.
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