52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 28 "Four Generation Photos"

FOUR GENERATION PHOTOS:

My paternal grandmother, Ella Anna Helene Wellhausen Schulte, had a long and productive life, living to the age of 93.  During her lifetime she was photographed three different times in four generation photos at three different stages in her life.

Today I will present photos of her as a granddaughter, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Here is Ella Wellhausen Schulte in 1921 holding her oldest son, Melbourne M. Schulte.  Sitting next to her is her grandfather, Wilhelm Schluessler, and on the far right is her mother, Amelia Schluessler Wellhausen.  This is a special photo of mine, as not too many photos exist of her grandfather, Wilhelm:

In 1948, 27 years later, my grandmother is again pictured in a four generation photo this time as the grandmother in the photo.  She is on the far left with her mother, Amelia Schluessler Wellhausen in the center and my mother, Eloris Kijak Schulte, holding me as a 2 month old baby.  To make this a "true" four generation photo my father should be holding me in the photo instead of my mother as my grandmother and great grandmother are really my father's mother and grandmother.  But I can take creative license in my blogging and it is a four generation photo in my opinion:

In 1983, 35 years later, my grandmother again appeared in a four generation photo.  This time she is the great-grandmother in the photo at the age of 87, with my brother, Jeffrey Schulte, in the center holding his daughter, Diane Schulte, and my father, Mylen Schulte, on the far right:

A humorous sideline to this photo is that my father showed this photo to a casual friend who asked him if the woman on the left was his "wife".  My father was insulted and remarked "that is my MOTHER".  He felt that he must look old enough to be married to the woman who was his mother but perhaps the friend thought his mother looked young enough to be his wife!  In any case it was the cause for much laughter in the family.

My grandmother was indeed blessed with a long life as evidenced by these two photos.  The first shows her with her older sister, Gertrude, when she was 3 years old and the second shows her at age 87 holding her great-granddaughter, Diane:

 

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 21 "Preservation"

KEEPSAKE ITEMS TO PRESERVE:

I have been very fortunate to have inherited many keepsake items from my parents, grandparents and even a few from great-grandparents.  These are very important to me and are items I want to preserve.  While I don't have children of my own, I am hopeful that my niece (with three young sons) or my nephew will one day continue to keep and preserve these items.

Here are some examples:

A six volume set of "The New Practical Reference Library Encyclopedia" dated 1915 which was owned by my great-grandfather, Rudolph Schulte (1869-1940).  The illustrations in these books are outstanding and they are handy reference guides to events in the world prior to 1915:

A German violin which also belonged to my great-grandfather, Rudolph Schulte (1869-1940).  Rudolph was an insurance salesman in the 1920's.  He had a client who could not pay his insurance premium so he gave Rudolph this German violin in exchange for his insurance premium.  The violin is dated from the 1850's:

A German prayer book which belonged to my great-grandmother, Bertha, nee Kramp, Kolberg (1860-1915).  She brought this book to the US when she immigrated on November 28, 1883 from Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Preußen. This area is now, in 2025, known as Tuchomko, County Bytow, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland:

My most prized possession is this cut glass mushroom lamp which belonged to my great-grandparents, Rudolph (1869-1940) and Juliane, nee Feucht (1870-1907), Schulte.  This lamp dates to the mid-1890's and was in their home throughout their marriage and later passed down in the family until I received it.  This lamp is special to me because it is the only item I have of my great-grandmother who passed away at the young age of 36:

A childhood roll top desk that was my father's (1923-1996).  I still use this desk today to hold office supplies and I have a desk lamp placed on top:

A Polish flute (or better known as a recorder) which belonged to my great-grandfather, John Kijak (1861-1945), who used this flute to call sheep while he was still living in Poland.  He immigrated to the US from Taniborz gm. Kleszczewo pow. Poznan woj. Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland) on June 19, 1882:

A photo album that belonged to my great-grandmother, Amelia, nee Schluessler, Wellhausen (1876-1963).  This type of album is frequently seen now in antique shops:

My mother's (1925-2016) cedar chest which she received for her high school graduation in 1943 from her parents.  Her parents had this cedar chest hidden in their own bedroom, covered with a quilt, for weeks before the graduation and my mother told me she never noticed anything different:

 All of these items are important to me and are all displayed in my home.  It is important to me, as a genealogist and family historian, that these items continue to be preserved.

 

A message of appreciation goes to my cousin, Ina, in Poland for the correct wording of my ancestors' Polish home villages.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 14 "Multiples"

THE SCHLUESSLER TWINS:

In all my years of genealogical research I have not uncovered evidence of many multiple births in my direct line.  Recently I did learn from newly released church books from Tangen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Preußen (now Tagowie, County Bytow, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)  that my 4th great grandfather, Joachim Kautz was a twin.  Joachim and his twin brother, George Kautz, were born August 12, 1759 in Tangen to parents Joachim Kautz and Anna Marie Jarke. This was an interesting discovery for me and only the second set of twins in my direct line.  Definitely more research will be needed on these twins to see if I can flesh out more information on them.

For the purposes of this post, though, I am featuring my great-grandmother and her twin brother.  Emilie Auguste Christina Schluessler and her twin brother, Albert August Christian Schluessler, were born November 25, 1876 in Sterling Township, Macomb County, Michigan to parents Wilhelm Schluessler and Emilie Schauer as their 4th and 5th children.  As I was 15 when my great-grandmother passed away I did know her well and she often discussed the fact that she was a twin.

Both Emilie and Albert were baptized on December 3, 1876 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fraser, Macomb County, Michigan.  It is interesting to note that their two middle names mirrored each other.  Each baby had 3 godparents but none of their godparents were family members.  

Eventually Emilie would marry George Wellhausen on February 14, 1895 at St. John's and twin brother, Albert would marry Anna Auguste Quandt (Annie) on September 4, 1909 in Detroit.  Both families settled in the Utica/Sterling Township, Michigan areas and raised their respective families there.  

Albert Schluessler passed away on November 7, 1944 in Utica and he is buried in Utica Cemetery.  His wife, Anna (Annie), 14 years younger than him lived to the age of 102 passing away on February 25, 1993 in Utica, Michigan.  She is buried with Albert in Utica Cemetery.

My great-grandmother, Emilie Schluessler Wellhausen, passed away on May 25, 1963 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and is buried with her husband, George Wellhausen, in Utica Cemetery as well.  George Wellhausen died on April 8, 1938 in Utica.

Left to right:  Emilie Schluessler Wellhausen, Annie Quandt Schluessler, Albert Schluessler, Helena Schluessler Herz Rine and son Edwin Herz, Catherine Quandt (mother of Annie Quandt Schluessler).  Picture was taken before 1928:

This is all pretty much dry material in the research on one's family.  While names, dates and places are vital, other interesting facts add flavor to the story.

When I began my research in the 1970's, I questioned my grandmother, Ella Wellhausen Schulte, about her family.  She mentioned to me one day that she still had an aunt living.  This surprised me as my grandmother was then 82 years old herself.  She explained that the wife of her Uncle Albert (her mother's twin brother) was still living as her aunt had been much younger than her uncle.  In reality Annie Quandt Schluessler was only 6 years older than my grandmother.

I suggested that we go and visit her aunt but my grandmother didn't feel inclined to do that.  She made excuses such as "Aunt Annie won't remember me", "I haven't seen or talked to her in years", etc.  I took it upon myself one day to just telephone Aunt Annie in Utica.  I explained who I was and she was very gracious and pleased to hear from someone in the family.  Of course, she knew who my grandmother was and she invited us to come visit her.  She also mentioned another niece, Helen Steffen, and wondered if she could come with us to visit her as well.  I set it up with her and THEN told my grandmother!

Once everything was arranged and my grandmother was assured that her Aunt Annie was eager to see us my grandmother was on board.  We contacted my grandmother's cousin, Helen Rine Steffen, who was also excited to pay Aunt Annie a visit.  

We found Aunt Annie, at 88 years young, to be gracious and pleasant.  She had baked a cake and served us cake and coffee.  She had a beautiful home where she still lived independently and showed us her beautiful flower gardens that she tended herself.  Her daughter-in-law had come to visit as well and we had a wonderful afternoon.

Aunt Annie Schluessler (in center) with nieces, Ella Wellhausen Schulte and Helen Rine Steffen in 1978:

Not long after my grandmother gave me a box of old photos and what did I find but a photo of these same 3 women, standing in the same position, dated 1918 - 60 years previous.

Aunt Annie Schluessler (center) with nieces, Ella Wellhausen Schulte and Helen Rine Steffen in 1918:

Undoubtedly they had seen each other during the 60 year interval but it was an interesting photo in any case and another example of "multiples"!  

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 10 "Siblings"

MY GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR SIBLINGS:

In my ancestral research, between the 1400's to the late 1800's, it was very common to see enormously large families with a child having perhaps 12, 14 or even a greater amount of siblings.  By the time I researched down to my grandparents' generation, families began to be much smaller.

My focus in this post is to discuss the siblings of my 4 grandparents, all of whom were born in the 1890's in Michigan.  

MY SCHULTE FAMILY:

My paternal grandfather, Elmer Meyer Schulte, was born August 4, 1894 in Detroit, Michigan to Rudolph Myer Schulte (1869-1940) and Juliane Feucht (1870-1907).  Unfortunately my grandfather was an only child as his mother died very young.

But an interesting feature that I discovered was that my grandfather had two cousins who were all born the same year as him.  My great-grandfather, Rudolph Schulte, and two of his sisters, Elizabeth and Ida Schulte, all had babies born in 1894.  These 3 cousins were as close growing up as though they were siblings as indicated by the following photo.

Left to right:  Mamie, Elmer and Evelyn in 1900:

This sweet photo shows Mamie Schulte, (1894-1958), who was born May 9, 1894 to Ida Schulte, followed by my grandfather, Elmer Schulte, (1894-1968), and then Evelyn Hauer, (1894-1988), born April 1,1894 to Elizabeth Schulte and Felix Hauer.  All 3 children were born in Detroit, Michigan. 

I can clearly remember family gatherings in the 1950's when both Mamie and Evelyn, along with their families, would be present for the festivities.  It was clear that though my grandfather had no siblings of his own, he certainly considered Mamie and Evelyn as close as siblings could be.

MY WELLHAUSEN FAMILY:

My paternal grandmother, Ella Anna Helene Wellhausen, was born November 15, 1896 in Detroit, Michigan to George William Wellhausen (1869-1938) and Emilie Auguste Christina Schluessler (1876-1963).  My grandmother had two siblings, Gertrude and George Wellhausen, Jr. as depicted in the following photos.

In 1900, Gertrude and Ella Wellhausen:

This adorable photo shows Gertrude Wellhausen, (1895-1973), who was born April 10, 1895 and my grandmother, Ella, (1896-1989), appearing in a contest for the "Dancing Darlings" of Macomb County, Michigan.  They won the contest and were featured in the local paper at that time.  Their baby brother, George, (1906-1985), had not been born at that time but he would appear in later photos with both his sisters and their mother.

May 19, 1942 with siblings Gertrude (Wellhausen) Kolberg, George Wellhausen, Jr. and Ella (Wellhausen) Schulte, with their mother Emilie (Schluessler) Wellhausen:

and in approximately 1955, the three siblings again, George, Gertrude and Ella with their mother, Emilie, looking over their shoulders:

My grandmother and her two siblings were extremely close through the years.  I even have very fond memories of my great-grandmother, the above Emilie (Schluessler) Wellhausen, as she lived until 1963 when I was 15 years old.  As a child my brother and I often had our great-grandmother Wellhausen babysitting us when our parents had an evening out.

MY KIJAK FAMILY:

My maternal grandfather, Joseph Kijak, was born August 3, 1892 in Bay City Michigan to Joannes Albert Kijak (1861-1945) and Marianna Rubis (1874-1918).  My grandfather had three sisters, Anna, Martha and Rozalie, however, I do not have any photos of them together.  In recent years I have been able to receive individual photos of my grandfather's three sisters as follow.

Joseph Kijak (1892-1960) in 1912:

and, again in 1945:

Anna Kijak (1894-1995) in 1940:

  

Martha Kijak (1896-1992) with husband Samuel Mills in 1920:

Rozalie Kijak (1898-1969) in 1915:

MY KOLBERG FAMILY:

My maternal grandmother, Ella Emma Louise Kolberg, was born August 8, 1895 in Stevensville, Michigan to August Gottlieb Kolberg (1854-1920) and Bertha Kramp (1860-1915).  My grandmother was the youngest of the six children that her parents had that lived to adulthood.  These children were Hedwig (1880-1956), Amelia (1887-1963), Kurt (1890-1935), Robert (1892-1950), Hugo (1894-1951), and my grandmother, Ella (1895-1973).

I have many photos and stories of my grandmother as I was extremely close to her.  Here are a few pictures of my grandmother and her siblings.

Robert, Ella and Hugo Kolberg in 1902:

Robert Kolberg confirmation in 1908:

Ella Kolberg confirmation in 1910:

Kurt and Edna (Filbrandt) Kolberg at their wedding on October 22, 1913:

Kolberg siblings in 1942 (brother Kurt had already passed away):

Kolberg sisters and sisters-in-law in 1945 at the 50th birthday of Ella:

The sisters-in-law, in the back row, were:  Irene (deCaussin) Kolberg, wife of Robert Kolberg, Edna (Filbrandt) Kolberg, widow of Kurt Kolberg and Gertrude (Wellhausen) Kolberg, wife of Hugo Kolberg.

The Kolberg sisters in the bottom row were:  Hedwig (Kolberg) Kuse, wife of Emil Kuse, Amelia (Kolberg) Mielke, wife of Edward Mielke and my grandmother, Ella (Kolberg) Kijak, wife of Joseph Kijak.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

From Whence I Came - George William Wellhausen

GEORGE WILLIAM WELLHAUSEN

Here I am with my final post in the "From Whence I Came" series that I began at the beginning of this year.  Over this year I have posted on each of my four grandparents and seven of my great-grandparents.  This post, today, will complete the series when I post about my eighth great-grandparent.

George William Wellhausen was born December 28, 1869 in Detroit, Michigan to Charles Ernst Wellhausen and Christina Graumann.  He was their fifth child and first son with daughters Bertha, Augusta, Caroline and Anna born prior to his birth.  Two additional sons, Edward and Charles, would be born after George's birth.  In later years, George would become the father of my paternal grandmother, Ella Wellhausen Schulte.

While George was born in Detroit the family soon relocated to Clinton Township, Michigan in Macomb County where he met his future wife, Amelia Schluessler.  They were married on February 14, 1895.  This was Valentine's day which makes me wonder if he was a romantic man!

Together George and Amelia had three children - daughters Gertrude and Ella and son, George, Jr.

I do know that my great-grandfather enjoyed hunting and fishing as my uncle, Melbourne Schulte, relates that his grandfather taught him both sports which were activities that my father was definitely not interested in.  Obviously George enjoyed his hunting with his younger brother, Edward, as well as these photos depict:

Over the years George tried farming but it proved too strenuous for his health conditions.  He later ran a General Store which was more suited to his health.  He was also civic minded and served as the Clerk of Utica, Michigan from 1917-1918 and as Mayor of Utica from 1920-1921.

George was particularly fond of his granddaughter, Alvis Jean, who was born to his son, George, Jr. and wife, Eleanor.  I have several photos showing Alvis with her grandpa and it is obvious that he loved having her around as this photo taken July 1, 1935 shows:

Anolther photo taken in 1935 shows George Wellhausen, Jr. holding his son, Lynwood with Alvis Jean standing in front of her grandpa, George Wellhausen, Sr.  What the dog's name was is anyone's guess but I am betting it was the hunting dog!

Tragically, Alvis would pass away at the age of 5 after an accident.  Her death greatly affected George perhaps contributing to his own death a few years later.

George Wellhausen passed away on April 8, 1938 in Utica, Michigan and he is buried with his wife, Amelia, in Utica Cemetery.

Following George's death my uncle, Mel Schulte, asked his grandmother Wellhausen if he could have his grandfather, George's, car which he desperately wanted.  George had taught his grandson how to drive and had let him drive this car around their property on different occasions.  Amelia agreed to sell the car to Mel for $300 but not until Mel had proved to her that he had the money readily available.  We have had some good laughs about that remarking "that definitely sounds like great-grandma" who was known for her frugal ways.

A few years ago my uncle Mel submitted the story about the purchase of his first car along with a photo to Reminisce Magazine who selected the story and photo for their yearly calendar.  He was mighty proud of this selection and the memories of his grandfather that this evoked:

While I never knew my great-grandfather, George Wellhausen, I have been thinking of him on this the 152nd anniversary of his birth.

Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte

From Whence I Came - Emilie Auguste Christina Schluessler

EMILIE AUGUSTE CHRISTINA SCHLUESSLER

Emilie Auguste Christina Schluessler (known as Amelia) was born November 25, 1876 in Sterling Township, Macomb County, Michigan to Christian Friedrich-Wilhelm Schluessler and Ernestine Emilie Auguste Werner (aka Emilie Schauer).  She would one day become my paternal great-grandmother, mother of my grandmother, Ella Wellhausen Schulte.  Amelia was the 5th and final child of Wilhelm and Emilie Schluessler, however, hers was a special birth in that she appeared with a twin brother, Albert.

She would be the only great-grandparent that I actually knew as she did not pass away until I was 16 and I remember her well.

On December 3, 1876, Amelia was baptized in the Lutheran faith at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fraser, Michigan.

I don't have much information about her childhood or school years but I do have a photo of my great-grandmother in a school play.  This photo was a tin type and scanned very well.  The young man with her in the boat is unknown.  Despite knowing my great-grandmother, I naturally knew her as an elderly person and seeing her as a young girl in approximately 1890 was very interesting:

On February 14, 1895, again at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fraser, Michigan, Amelia married George Wellhausen.  They had a wedding party of three couples and began their married life in Sterling Township, later moving to Utica, Michigan.

George and Amelia had two daughters - Gertrude and my grandmother, Ella, followed 10 years after Ella's birth by a son, George, Jr.

Here is a photo of mother and daughter, Amelia Schluessler Wellhausen and Ella Wellhausen Schulte in approximately 1925:

George and Amelia Wellhausen with grandson, Lynwood Wellhausen, in approximately 1935:

While Amelia's husband, George, passed away in 1938 at a young age, she continued to live in Utica and later lived with her daughter, Gertrude in Detroit.  She was very social and enjoyed being with friends and family though one of her favorite things to do was to visit the cemetery where her husband was buried, sit there and eat lunch.  Hmm, sounds spooky to me but it was known that "great grandma loved to go sit in the cemetery".  Too bad she didn't utilize that time in the cemetery for genealogy research which she could have documented and shared with her great-granddaughter!

Here is a photo of Amelia in approximately 1942 with her three children, left to right, Gertrude Wellhausen Kolberg, George Wellhausen, Jr. and Ella Wellhausen Schulte:

Here she is again with her children in approximately 1955.  This is the great-grandma that I remember:

On May 25, 1963 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Amelia Wellhausen passed away at the age of 86 and she was buried with her husband, George, in Utica Cemetery, Utica, Michigan.

My memories of my great-grandmother are of her babysitting my brother and I at different times and as an always pleasant and smiling person.  She had a good long life, financial security and her grandchildren gave her pleasure.  One could not ask for more.  

Today I am thinking of her on this 145th anniversary of her birth.

Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte

From Whence I Came - Ella Anna Helene Wellhausen

ELLA ANNA HELENE WELLHAUSEN

Ella Anna Helene Wellhausen was my paternal grandmother, born on November 15, 1896 in Detroit, Michigan to George Wellhausen and Amelia Schluessler.  She was their second daughter and a son followed 10 years later.  While the family had originally lived in Sterling Township in Macomb County, Michigan where their first daughter was born, they had moved temporarily to Detroit to live with Amelia's sister and that is where my grandmother was born.

Interestingly, I don't know if my grandmother was even aware of being born in Detroit.  She always swore to me that she was born in Sterling Township and was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fraser, Michigan.  She sent me on a good number of wild goose chases when I began my genealogy research.  Quite by accident while researching my Feucht family and THEIR connection with Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit, I came upon the baptismal record of my grandmother showing she was indeed born in Detroit and baptized there as well.  When I informed her of this she said she was never aware of it.  She told me that she could remember her mother speaking of the brief time the family had lived in Detroit with her mother's sister but she didn't realize that she was actually born there as well.

As young girls Ella and her sister, Gertrude, took part in a dancing competition and were named the "Dancing Darlings of Macomb County".  They certainly did look darling and their sisterly relationship lasted for Gertrude's entire life with Ella assuming caregiver duties when sister Gertrude's health declined:

Ella did grow up in Sterling Township with her older sister and younger brother.  She attended St. John's Lutheran Church where she was confirmed but I have no idea where she actually went to school.  Here she is on her confirmation day:

I also do not know how she met my grandfather, Elmer Schulte. I am guessing that they met through her aunt, Helena Schluessler Herz, whose sons were friends of Elmer but I don't know that for certain.

Ella and Elmer were married on Christmas Eve, 1917 in Waco, Texas before my grandfather shipped out to the war in Europe.  Here is a wedding photo of Elmer and Ella:

When Elmer returned from WWI, several years later, they began their family life in Detroit.  Together they had three children - sons, Melbourne and Mylen (my father) and daughter, Marilyn.  Their life was rather affluent.  Both my grandparents inherited money from their parents and my grandmother never had to work outside her home.  Here are Elmer and Ella with their oldest son, Melbourne, ca 1922:

Ella raised her children, belonged to several clubs and activities with other women friends and socialized with family frequently.  She and Elmer had several very nice homes in various areas of Detroit.

Here is a photo of Elmer, Mylen and Ella Schulte ca 1942 in Detroit:

Another photo of Elmer and Ella with their oldest son, Melbourne, and daughter, Marilyn, ca 1942 at Marilyn's confirmation in Detroit:

In later years they built a home on Springer Avenue in what was East Detroit, Michigan and is now called Eastpointe.  The home is still standing today in the same pristine condition I remember it though it was unusually designed in that the living room faced the backyard with a large picture window overlooking a long balcony:

When Ella's sister, Gertrude, needed assistance due to failing health, Ella and Elmer moved back to Detroit to Gertrude's home on Engleside Drive.  While living there my grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 24, 1967:

They were living in Detroit when my grandfather passed away on January 21, 1968.  Following his death my grandmother continued to care for her sister until Gertrude had to be placed in a nursing facility.  At this time my grandmother rekindled a childhood relationship with a man who had also lost his wife.  Within a few years of my grandfather's death, my grandmother remarried to Robert Bloss who she had known since they were 5 year old children. Their marriage was short lived as Robert was not in the best of health and he passed away soon after their marriage.

Ella continued her independent life in several apartments after the death of Robert.  She maintained her own home, did her own cooking and cleaning and continued her activities with family and friends.  She lived independently until the age of 90 when her fading memory forced her to enter a nursing home.  On December 28, 1989, at the age of 93, my grandmother passed away and she is buried with my grandfather in Gethsemane Cemetery in Detroit.  Both her sister, Gertrude, and her much younger brother, George, had predeceased her.

I was fortunate to have known all four of my grandparents.  My grandmother, Ella Schulte, I knew the best as I grew up in East Detroit and she and my grandfather lived there as well.  While she was a good Christian person she was not what I would characterize as a loving grandmother.  I really think that children annoyed her.  She didn't like having children in her home and she complained royally about crumbs or disarray.  My grandfather, on the other hand, was a wonderful loving person.  Memories of my grandmother are many but they are memories more of a gruff, unsmiling person who my grandfather tried at all times to soften up.  I can remember the times he would grab her in a hug and kiss her only to have her gruffly push him away.  It was something he never minded and his humor and good nature lasted his whole life.  My grandmother's aloof, gruff ways continued through her entire life as well.

The one thing that she did do for me, though, was to initiate my love for genealogy.  I can remember in 1977 that she showed me an onyx ring with a small diamond in the center.  She told me that she had worn a diamond necklace on her wedding day in 1917 and that necklace had 3 diamonds in it.  Over the years the necklace broke and she had the 3 diamonds set in 3 different black onyx rings.  

This conversation led to questions from me about her childhood, extended family, etc. and I was off and running on research.  I was fortunate that she remembered not only her parents but her grandparents and great grandparents as well and her memory was sharp.  She did share much information with me over the years though she tempered it with quite a bit of false information that had me running down false leads.  Her comments at those times were "you don't need to know the truth" or "just let sleeping dogs lie".  Luckily I was able to discern the truth from the fiction and when confronted with my facts she would confirm my data.  I do have to give her the credit for my love of genealogy and she did give me all my grandfather's war medals as well as the medals of my great-grandfather.  She also gave me funeral home guest books, photos, cemetery deeds and burial records.  Initially she told me she was saving all these items for one of her grandsons but as none of them had any interest she did finally allow me to take possession of the memorabilia and I am grateful for that.

When all is said and done, while she was not a loving, affectionate grandmother, she was a good person and she led a very good life.  Her health was good, she had no undue financial problems and she was able to build a life that suited her.  

Today I am thinking of her on this 125th anniversary of her birth.

Copyright 2021, Cheryl J. Schulte