Bigger Families; Faces From the Past

This story was published in one of my elementary school readers, and I remember its strong impression on me as a child. In fact, it's the only story in any reader that I remember from all my school days! (I got this text of the story from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6600/6600.txt. It's one story in a collection called "The Moccasin Maker," by E. Pauline Johnson. You can find a bio of Miss Johnson here: http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~pjohnson/life.html) The Nest Builder "Well! if some women aren't born just to laugh!" remarked the station agent's wife. "Have you seen that round-faced woman in the waiting-room?" "No," replied the agent. "I've been too busy; I've had to help unload freight. I heard some children in there, though; they were playing and laughing to beat the band." "NINE of them, John! NINE of them, and the oldest just twelve!" gasped his wife. "Why, I'd b...

These photos are all from the Canadian Archive, printed in "The Pioneer Years 1895-1914", by Barry Broadfoot, copyright 1976, Published by PaperJacks, Don Mills, Ontario.

with apologies to Patty for taking so long to post this - I got swamped by life and haven't added photos for over 3 months! Patty writes: My grandpa is the oldest brother at top right. His name was Guiseppe Pasquale. He was about 16 in the picture, His sister next left & 12. Flora is 10 & standing in front of Jean. And the baby is Salvatore (Sam) & he's 8. My great grandparents (the parents of these children) came over to New York's Ellis Island in, I think, 1907. They met on the boat; she was 14 & he was in his early 20's. We think he was a stowaway because he wasn't listed on the passenger list but is listed getting off at Ellis Island right above Great-Grandma's family. Hmmmm. Anyway my grandpa was born in 1912 so this picture is from the 1920's. And there was another child (boy) who was either stillborn or died in infancy, not sure which, born before Jean. My great-grandfather died when my grandpa was 12. So Great-Grandma had to go...

that arrived in the mail in the past week. I just love these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! (Please? I paid really good money for them! LOL) Here's one that I got to qualify for the MegaFamily board. Just a nice size family! The above photo says "Dr. Cosner, Dec. 1920" I love the chubby-cheeked toddlers, and the little one looks so cheeky with that grin, perhaps not quite as dignified as her doctor father!

Here are two more wonderful photos from Melanie. I love this first one particularly. Mom and youngest son are looking off to the side at some distraction. I would have been so annoyed if I were Ma! Melanie doesn't have names for this one. She only knows the people are from her mother's side of the family. Melanie writes: "This is a generation picture. I don't know the date, but I'm guessing it was taken in the late 1800's, early 1900's. Writing on the picture identifies each of the women, Grandma Schwartz, Dorothy, Great Grandma Johannes, Grandma Rosing. I am not sure if Grandma Schwartz and Grandma Rosing are both from the same generation (grandmothers of Dorothy?) or if Grandma Schwartz is the daughter of Grandma Rosing. I just know they are all from my mother's side of the family." My opinion, just going from the picture but not knowing the family, is that the women on either side are definitely related by blood, they look so muc...

Franz Zimmerman family, with the first 4 children - taken around 1905. (This is a guess based on little Erhard's birthdate and his approximate age in the picture.) The father Franz in this picture is the same Franz who is the son of Fritz Zimmerman in the second picture in the previous post from Melanie (the post just below this one). Franz was a farmer who lived in Wisconsin. Franz and Alma had another child, Roland, after this picture was taken. Both parents and all of the children were born in Wisconsin. Franz and Alma were married in 1896 in Wisconsin. Left to right Back: Walter (1901-1994), Franz (father 1869-1943), Herbert (1898-1928) Front: Hilda (spelled correctly 1899-1991), Erhard (1904-2006), Alma Hohenstern (mother 1877-1950) Franz and Alma Zimmerman's 5 children - taken about 1910 (This is a guess based on Roland's birthdate and his approximate age in the picture.) Left to right Back: Hilda (1899-1991), Walter (1901-1994) Center: Roland (19...

This is the same group Denise from New Zealand is from also. Melanie sent a number of wonderful pictures - and I am going to split them up just to make them last a little longer! These are really big pictures if you click on them, and definitely worth a look! Melanie also sent great family information - so if you're a family researcher who found us while doing research, welcome! Here is the August Justman family - taken around 1918 Left to right Back: Esther (1894-1978), Adela (1901-1996), George (1888-1928), Walter (1896-1975), Alvin (1890-1924) Front: Ella (1892-1953), Ernestine (nee Wendegatz, mother, 1866-1950), Malinda (spelled correctly, standing 1906-1992), Herbert (seated in very front 1908-1966), August (father 1856-1925), Paul (1887-1966) ***There were 2 other children who died before this picture was taken, Elmore (1898-1901) and Mathilde (spelled correctly 1904-1912). August was a farmer. He, Ernestine, and all the children were born in Wisconsin. Augus...