My last post wrapped up my fill-in-the-gaps project through my maternal 3x great-grandparents. Before I begin on my 4x great-grandparents, I thought I’d take a little break–and give you a little break.
Switching over to my paternal grandmother and her family of origin who lived in Elmhurst, Illinois. Grandma’s parents, Frank and Margarethe (Wendel) Klein, had a lovely farmhouse that is still standing today.
Here it is more recently:
The farmhouse was complete with barn, cow, chickens–even a fish pond and gazebo. I know that once my father (who was very very young) threw a Roman candle in through the upper window of the barn. I can’t remember who told me, but it was either my father or his twin brother Frank. Since I highly doubt my father would tell on himself, I suspect Uncle Frank told me. In the following photos you can probably see the window where the Roman candle went in!
In these photos are my grandmother, Marie, and her mother Margarethe, along with their cow. In one of the photos, my great-grandfather Frank is turned from the camera. That is nothing new. With all the family action shots in existence, there isn’t one clear image of Frank’s face. You would almost think he was hiding from someone or something. Maybe he was. Who knows.
My great-grandmother looks like such a fun person. It’s a shame she died while my father and his siblings were still so young. Here is another photo of Margarethe, my great-grandmother (Grandma’s mom), colorized by my new genealogy research treasure, 2nd cousin Bill Stade.
The Family Kalamazoo 
In the tragic circumstances this is an apprpriate post.
Thanks, Derrick.
My condolences on the loss of a family member. As for your story — I love it. Those are the stories that bring ancestors to life, all of whom have secrets!
Thank you very much!
My heart is with you- my condolences to the whole family Luanne… These pictures are wonderful and brought a smile. Look at her side saddle on a cow, awesome and you know what else is fabulous – that hat!!!! The coloring job on her picture is perfect. Amazing the house is still standing. Who ever they are they did a wonderful job renovating and updating it.
Thanks on behalf of the family, Sharon.
Can you imagine keeping those feathers from getting crushed when you’re not wearing the hat?!
The house is gorgeous, and it has some kind of designation now, i believe. Like historic farmhouse or something. It might be a county thing? I wish I could remember right now.
Haha! Love the title of this post!
Thank you! 😉
Great stories – and awesome photos, as only you can rustle up!
Thanks so much, Luanne!
Thank you, Sheila! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
My thoughts are with you and your family as you grieve the loss of your young cousin.
It looks as though whatever updates were done to the farmhouse over the years, the original architecture of the building was respected. I just love the cow pictures. Marie and Margarethe looked as though they were having an awful lot of fun in the setting of up of that photo session.
Thank you, Liz. It’s such a difficult time. I agree about the house. I may have mentioned above (somewhere) that I believe the house was given a historic farmhouse designation. Haha, I think my grandmother’s mother must have been a lot of fun.
Yes, you did mention that the house was given a historic farmhouse designation. That was so good to see. People have done some very bad things to historic houses in the name of “improvements.”
I can imagine! Kind of like in the movie Beetlejuice . . . .
She does look like a happy woman—wonderful photos. And I bet Frank was just camera shy. Some people hate having their picture taken for no reason other than they hate how they look in photos. I am one such person.
I hope your cousin’s family is doing okay. Such an awful loss.
Thank you, Amy.
Haha, yes, he was probably camera shy. But it’s so funny how he never gets caught unaware even when the family is roughhousing on the lawn.