A while ago I made a number of posts starting with my Great grandfather , moving to my grandfather and then my Dad.
I got reflecting on these posts and suddenly it hit me. I hadn't included and women!
I'm not going to look around for excuses as to why I left the maternal side of my family out.
My great grandmother died in 1911, the year before my Dad was born. Dad had no stories about her. She died of tuberculosis . I did not hear any of my relatives talk about her so I don't know what she was like.
I knew my grandmother well. As little boys we stayed with her the odd time. She was an older woman when her first grandsons appeared on the scene. She had four grand daughters by the time I showed up. The only thing I remember is that she sometimes told us stories. Her stories were of central European origin and were of wolves, bears and foxes chasing people across the land. Grandma was a very hard worker under very trying circumstances where she didn't have any modern conveniences.
This is the only photo I have of my grandma but it is just as I remember her. This was taken the year before she died.
I know lots about my mother who was a very hard working and caring person. she had to be hard working to look after us. My Mom lived a short hard life and died at age 59 .
So there are stories to tell about my maternal side of the family . I will have to rectify that situation.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThe woman in your life deserve a post too, love the old family photos.
Take care, have a happy day!
It shows a lot about me when I write extensively about the male side and the female side is an afterthought.
DeleteThe women in our ancestry are often lost through time. It is important to tell their stories. They did so much which was often taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we get for being a paternalistic society. I think it's changing.
DeleteFor various reasons I am more familiar with the maternal side of my family.
ReplyDeleteSomebody had a different point of view in your family.
DeleteBravo for giving the maternal lineage some equal time! I'll be interested to hear more!
ReplyDeleteThanks. There is quite a bit to tell about their lives.
DeleteI am glad to hear some stories about your maternal relatives, and since you have some stories hidden away, I look forward to learning more about them. Have a great day, Red! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes there are stories.
DeleteWell done with the material that you have.
ReplyDeleteWe had many photos at home but over the years they were destroyed of discarded.
DeleteAs a genealogist, I attempt to tell the story of my maternal branches but they are always hard to come by due to the social norms of the day. But I do treasure the ones I have found out despite the norms.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to think of the paternal side first.
DeleteIt's good to take a look back and remember. I'm looking forward to reading about the maternal side of your family.
ReplyDeleteUrban folks may not get all the story of rural folks.
DeleteSuch a cute picture of you and your mom. I’m glad you remembered that you had women in your history too!
ReplyDeleteA fuss is made about the first born!
DeleteYeah for some women in your life!
ReplyDeleteThere were some very strong women on both sides of the family.
DeleteBoth my grandfathers were dead and gone by the time I came along. My mother's mother took care of me until I was 3, when she died. I don't remember her. I did know my father's mother who as I recall ... looked a lot like your grandmother!
ReplyDeleteIn our day of "long ago" many people didn't live long enough to enjoy grandchildren.
DeleteGood for you for rectifying the situation. It was a hard life for all, but the women, too.
ReplyDeletewomen carried a huge load particularly in rural situations.
DeleteThe females in my family were very strong people and, in many ways, I know more about them than I do about the male members.
ReplyDeleteWe spend much more time with the maternal side when we're young.
DeleteWomen had hard lives back in the "good old days", and most had no choice but to be very hard working. My grandmothers had quite long lives considering.
ReplyDeleteThere were very few conveniences in grandma's day.
DeleteWhere would we be without the women in our lives. Nice old family photos, Red.
ReplyDeleteSad that not many of the old photos survived.
DeleteYour grandmother's stories sound like they came right out of My Antonia. Lives were hard all over the world.
ReplyDeleteAt that time there were few conveniences.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of you and your Mom! I bet your Grandmother's stories were wonderful. I hope you do tell us more about the women in your family.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed that people made photo's in those days, so nice to see them.
ReplyDeletewhat would we be if there were no stories by grand mothers :)
ReplyDeletei am glad you shared maternal side of your family specially ladies dear Red
your photo with your mom warmed my heart ,i have such images and i don't know why they make me cry little bit each time
Figured you'd get around to it. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you with your mom and enjoyed the memories of your grandmothers. They were a hardy bunch back in those days and there is much to be admired.
ReplyDeleteI'll be waiting to hear more about them, Red! Glad you thought of it!
ReplyDeleteI’m enjoying your family stories. This post leaves me with a question ... What happened to your mom? She passed early at 59.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you lost your mom at such a young age and sorry too that her life was so hard.
ReplyDelete