Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Beauties

This past week I accompanied my parents to Fort Wayne, Indiana so that my mother could have a reunion with her siblings. Like most reunions we spent a lot of time talking about people who weren’t there. People who either I never met or who i remember their passing. And it got me to thinking about Fran.

Here we have Edith, Shirley and Fran Frantz. I don’t know when the photo was taken. I took a picture of it when we were going thru photos after Dick had died. Fran has shared memories of the family farm in her book MORE ACORNS FROM THE LITTLE OAK. Frank and Edith lived on a farm 2 miles north of Alamota in Western Kansas. There the Frantz’s had no electricity or indoor plumbing.  Instead, there were carbide lights which hung from the ceiling and oil lamps on the tables.

The Frantz’s had no indoor plumbing of any kind.  Their bathroom was an outhouse with three holes, two adult sized ones and a lower, smaller child-sized hole.  They bathed in a big tub in the kitchen by heating water and pouring it in the bathtub.  During the summer Frank would rig up an outside shower which was connected to the water tank on top of the tankhouse.  No electricity also meant no refrigerator.  Frank would bring home 50 to 75 pounds of ice to place in the icebox about every other day.  Their meat was stored in the locker in Dighton as it would not freeze in the icebox.  

I just love this photograph. I assume that it was taken at the house on the Frantz Farm. Perhaps it was a Sunday, and all of them were dressed up in their Sunday Best. Edith’s gown is simple but it’s so classic that it could be worn today. I love her shoes that cross several times. Shirley also has Stylish pumps and what appears to be simple dress. And Fran in her jumper with bobby socks and Mary Jane style shoes is just adorable. And the hems, while having different heel heights, their hems are all pretty even. From their shoes my eye is next drawn to their hands which are also placed the same. And then up to their faces. With Fran’s smiling expression to Shirley’s simple smile to Edith who looks like she could give you a world of knowledge with just one conversation. All beauties in their own right.

“I think the hardest thing for a mother is to make it possible for a child to be independent and at the same time let the child know how much you love her, how much you want to take care of her, and yet how truly essential it is for her to fly on her own.” -MADELEINE ALBRIGHT.

I found the above quote by Madeline Albright and thought it applied to Edith. She wanted more for her daughters and raised them to be independent, professional, thinking women who were ahead of their times. Thank you Edith for raising Shirley and Fran to fly on their own.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

JC Penny’s Photoshoot

Lately my social media feeds have been full of people who are going to JC Pennys to get their photos done. Their results aren’t as classy as the Anderson-Beldens achieved. I don’t know a date of when this gem was taken but I’m thinking very late 1980’s or early 1990’s. If someone knows please let me know!

At the focal point are Fran and Dick. Looking every bit the professionals that they were. Very put together and looking good. Behind them I feel the photo is two seperate groups. Those in suits and professional clothes and those dressed in casual clothes. It seems so evenly split too.

Leading what I call the suit group behind Dick are Kirk and Christy. Kirk’s rocking that Tom Selleck moustache. Behind Kirk also in a suit is Brent. Are those matching ties guys? Heading up the casual group is Deanna who I think is all in denim. She appears to have a tan so I’m thinking that perhaps this was taken during the summer. Next to Dee and also sporting the casual look is Wade in a white shirt and our last causal individual is Cris in a black shirt in the back row.

Did you know that JC Penny’s still has Portrait Studios? They do! I am challenging the Anderson and Belden siblings to go have a retro photoshoot done in honor of this photo and their parents. I would love to get us all together for a photo shoot, but don’t think we’d all be able to fit in the small JC Penny Portrait Stuidos but it would sure be fun to try!

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Cooking up Fun!

One of the funnest things to do when you’re a kid is to try new things. We all need to start somewhere, and it looks as if Nancy and Dick are having fun learning how to cook. Nancy has that bowl held tight, and just in case, so does Dick. Like all good brothers, he’s there to help her and ensure their bakery item gets made to the best of their ability. 

I love Nancy’s hair. She’s such a cutie. And Dick with his Levi’and long-sleeved shirt which would look normal today as it did then. I love how he has keys attached to his belt loop. That must be an Anderson genetic trait as his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons wear their keys this way. 

I like the wallpaper pattern in the kitchen and find myself wondering whose kitchen this was. Were they having fun at home or with Audie and Hazel? No matter whose kitchen it might be, I am glad we have this cooking gem to cherish and enjoy. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Mother and Son

For some reason, I just love photos of June and Dick when he was a child. To me, there’s something so unique in how they are together. I’m not sure where the photo might have been taken as there was nothing on the back stating location. But there’s still lots for us to look at, let’s start with Dick. 

For some reason he looks like a little star to me. I don’t think it’s all one outfit, but that he’s in serveral different items. Our base layer is comprised of a one piece combo. Pants and shirt all in one. Over that at first I thought it was a jacket, but it seems like it might be a sweater as well based on the cuffs and how it drapes on his arms. I also thought the hood was attached but upon closer inspection, I think that the hat is separate from the jacket. Why are baby shoes so cute? They just complete his outfit. And doesn’t he look ready to take a walk or run around a playground? 

To me June will always be the very essence of style and grace. Her outfit is just so simple that you could wear it today and not be out of place. From her white shirt, dark skirt and open-toed shoes she is ready to hit the town with her child and wear him out so that he will take a good nap. 

Here we have a better look at Dick’s cute outfit. Look how pointed his hat is. June certainly has her hands full keeping him in her arms. He looks like he will take off running the minute he’s put down. And the good old Kansas wind seems to be blowing. I’m not sure but based on June’s short sleeves, this must have been taken during the spring or fall. 

I sure do miss their smiles, laughter, and fun times. If you haven’t yet subscribed to this page, I’d love to have you added to the subscription list. Just sign up with your email below. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

A Night Out

I’ve found many of these photos. Of Dick dressed up and out socializing, whether it was with Sherigay or Fran, he seemed to love going out. 

I’m unsure about dating etiquette in the 1950s, but they are attending a formal dance, possibly for school. I love how there are empty Pepsi-Cola bottles on the table. It also appears that there is a camera behind the bottles. What the bowls might be for is a mystery. They could have been there for dinner, but they could have been for snacks too. 

At any rate, Dick looks handsome in his white suit coat and black tie. Sherigay is lovely in a baby blue formal gown and what appears to be a fuschia orchid corsage. I wish we could see more of their outfits. Their tablemates are also cute. The young woman appears to be trying not to look at the camera, but she is, and her date is talking to possibly friends on the other side of the table from them. 

Even though they aren’t dancing in the photo, it’s a lovely reminder to get out of the house for a night out with your date/spouse/friends and enjoy life. 

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Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Charles Weber

This is Charles Fredrick Weber. His name is written on the back of this photograph along with an address. 320 Francis, Jackson, Michigan. I found his photo among photos we were lucky to get when Charlotte passed away. I knew the Webers were Charlotte’s family, but had not done much research into the family besides her father, Arthur. So who were the Webers? 

Wait, did I type research in that last paragraph? It’s been a LONG time since I’ve done any family research. I canceled my ANCESTRY.COM subscription in 2022 as I hadn’t been using it. I didn’t want to re-subscribe, but I became frustrated as I looked for Charles on free genealogy sites. So last night at like 10pm, I did it. I deceided to re-subscribe to Ancestry.com. And that’s all I’m gonna write about my going down the ancestry rabbit hole, if you want to hear more, go over to the podcast and you can hear all the tea (from the urban dictionary “tea is the best kind of gossip) about that. 

Once I had signed my life away to the Ancestry website (AKA the Church of Later Day Saints or Mormons as they are who owns Ancestry.com), I started looking for Charles. And while I found stuff, I’m not sure how to feel about it. 

Charles Fredrick Weber was born June 23, 1879, to John and Emma Weber in Jackson, Michigan. He was the 4th of 5 children born to John and Emma. Charles is the younger brother of Charlotte’s father Albert who was the 3rd child born to John and Emma. John was born in Wurttemburg, Germany, on December 27, 1845. I don’t know when he immigrated to the United States, but I hope to locate it in the National Archives information. In the 1880 census, John indicated his occupation as that of Butcher. In a city directory from 1890, he lists his occupation as a farmer. 

Emma was born on August 18, 1854, in Ohio. After her death, though, her children always reported in the census that she was born in Germany. I wonder if because that was where their dad had been born, they assumed their mom had also been born there. Emma died at the age of 31 on May 8, 1885. John died six years later at 55 on April 25, 1891. A fire in 1921 destroyed almost all of the 1890 census records, so we do not know what John might have reported. At six years of age, Charles was now without a mother. And by the time he was 12 his father had also died. 

Through the years, I found Charles had many occupations. When he was 20 and should have been listed as an adult on the census, they recorded his age as 10 years old. In 1910, at age 30, Charles was recorded as a Timekeeper for an auto shop. I’m not sure all that this job might have included, but I am assuming he did the bookwork for the auto shop. In 1920, at age 40, Charles was recorded as being a Book keeper for an office with steel products. In 1930, at age 50, Charles was also recorded as being a bookkeeper for a construction department. 1940’s census is interesting. It records wages earned the previous year. At age 60, Charles indicated that he had earned no money in 1939 and worked no weeks in 1939. The street is written in the margins of this census and written as Francis. By the time we reached the 1950 census, I thought for sure Charles’ working days were concluded, but no, he listed he worked 40 hours a week, and his occupation was secretary at the Masonic Lodge. The 1950 census was interesting in that both he and his oldest sibling Emma, whom he had lived with all his life stated they had never been married. 

Charles only ever lived at one address, that of 310 Francis. This street is now called Martin Luther King Jr Dr, and where their house stood is now a parking lot.  

According to the US Death Index, Charles died on February 8, 1977, and is buried at the Mount Evergreen Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan. He is buried alongside his parents, brother John and sister Emma.

While it seems like I found out much about Charlotte’s Uncle Charles, I feel that I didn’t find much. Because I believe that there was much more to Charles Weber than living in the same town all his life and being a bookkeeper. Hopefully one day we will know more, but until then Uncle Charles is a complete mystery. 

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Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Hazel and Cris

Some people are bigger then life and even though I never met her I’m convinced that Hazel was such a person. Just her demeanor in photos seems to indicate that she was in charge no matter the situation. 

Hazel Mae Lundberg was born May 17, 1897, in Riley, Kansas, to William and Emma (Peterson) Lundberg. Riley is located 20 milies northwest of Manhattan, Kansas. Hazel was the 6th child of 7 born to William and Emma. 

Hazel married Ross McDonald in December 1915 and divorced him three years later in December 1918. Our June was born on June 18, 1916. After divorcing Ross, Hazel married August “Audie” Katz in October 1919. Our June told me that in her mother’s photo album, there were old photos that looked like someone or many others had been cut out of the images. We assume that someone was Ross. Hazel had three more children with Audie, Robert, Donald, and William. 

Cris and Kirk have fond memories of her. Cris remembers playing Canasta with her in her retirement home. They couldn’t be beaten, and some betting may have been going on, but Cris never saw it. Kirk drove her car a couple of times. It was as massive as a boat and did not have power steering. Cris remembers Kirk struggling to turn the vehicle. 

Here we have Hazel and Cris in March of 1973. Hazel looks casual as she’s holding Cris in her arms. In every photo I see of her, she always comes across as extremely chic and fashionable. Cris, on the other hand, seems highly mischievous. In any case, we are blessed to have this photo of them together. 

Those people who are prominent in life leave large holes when they are gone. I am sure this was the case in Hazel’s life. May we always remember her and pass her life stories down to future generations so they, too, may be large in life. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson · 2 Comments

New Year New Things

Hello! I have not seen you in so long. While you might not have missed the photos and ramblings, I feel that I owe you an explanation for my absence. 

The past several years have been hard for many of us. Covid, at times, has hit us hard, and while no one I personally know has lost their life to the virus, it has definitely shaped how we act. In the midst of the pandemic my husband and I became grandparents. Our grandson has been a blessing and a joy to be around. And when his sister arrived in May of 2022, things got real busy. The time that I spent researching photos and writing my blogs was now spent with them. 

I faced letting these pages go or needing to do something with them. So I did. I looked at the videos I had made last with my yearly reviews and went from there. My goal is to be with you every week through the blogs AND my new adventure of a podcast. 

While I might be late reviewing these postings, I felt they deserved acknowledgment. So sit right back and enjoy this short (and I do mean SHORT) video, looking back on the postings from 2021 and 2022.  

Please like and follow my channel on YouTube 🙂

If you haven’t subscribed yet please do so! And feel free to follow me on Facebook and Instagram – I can’t link them here due to Facebook restrictions, but you can find me at mandersongenealogy on both sites! Hope to see you all there. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson · 1 Comment

Hope for the New Year

Hope this finds you well on the eve of 2024!  2023 has not been super good to me but I’ve been healing from my total knee replacement and hopefully 2024 will be amazing.  One of the great things I’ve been working on is getting my blogs back up and going.  It was a lot of work, but that’s a story for another day :-).  I also have a surprise and hope that you all will like it.  

Please take the opportunity to subscribe to the blogs. This way, I won’t have to send the postings to you. They will just show up in your inbox when I publish them. Hopefully, it will save me some time, which seems to be in short supply here lately. 

While 2023 did not turn out the way I had hoped (they did not use vibranium in my knee replacement – sad day for me and Black Panther), my hope is that 2024 will be great for all of us.  

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Hazel & Audie

Hazel & Audie Katz, year unknown

Along with the photos of the travel cabins and Dick and Nancy with Audie we have this photo of Hazel and Audie.  I love photos of Hazel and Audie.  They always seem so glamorous and fun.  They lived and managed travel cabins and seemed exciting with their 4 children in a town called Manhattan…Kansas that is. And here we have Hazel and Audie at what I feel is their best.  Even if Hazel’s eyes appear closed she still exudes an aura of excitement.  

I believe this photo was taken sometime in the late 1940’s very early 1950’s.  Hazel is rocking the classic housewife look, very put together from head to toe.  From her earnings and necklace to her cute little sundress to her espadrille shoes, Hazel is ready or whatever adventure comes her way.  And right by her side is her man Audie.  Her adventure co-pilot, dressed in what appear to be simple slacks and shirt, but rocking a neat haircut.  Audie has the air of chill and calm about him.  And they both appear to just be waiting for things to get started.  Whatever that may be. 

While Hazel and Audie are the first thing I notice after awhile my eye starts to wander.  To the brush around them.  And then the telephone poles and finally I see the rooftops just over Audie’s left shoulder, (your right).  And I wonder to myself “Where are they?”  And then I think, “And what are they doing?”.    So this 4th of July as we get dressed to go to family get-togethers or perhaps out for fireworks, may we all be rocking the classic look of Hazel with the clam presence of Audie.  🙂