Family photos...

I love nothing more than old photos and heirloom treasures. My mother sent these to me and I had to post. 2 reasons

 1: gives me another place to store them.

 2: to share with you. And I hope they are fun for you too. 

This is my Great Aunt Lillie. My Lilley is named for her.  She was my grandpas favorite sister. She whistled all the time I'm told. She is beautiful. I haven't asked but I am certain I met her. But suppose I could be wrong. I was tiny if I did. But I remember walking to her home with my grandma I think. 

   When Lilley was 10 mths old I was on the phone with my grandma. I told her Lilley had started whistling. I thought it was so amazing cause she was so young. She got excited and said she was so excited and asked if I knew the greatest thing about that. I thought she'd say age. But she was thrilled cause it was just like great aunt Lillie! Lilley loves that too!

   The cats were my grandmas favorite breed. Siamese of course. Not sure if they are hers or aunt Lillie's.  

   The next lady (I find her so beautiful) is my Grandmas mother. Great Grandma Pauline. Florence Pauline Distler. I only saw her 2 maybe 3 times. She lived in Indiana. I went there once. I was 3. I remember the trip. And I am so thankful I do! My grandma thought the world of her mother. A very kind woman. She had 3 children. Wayne, Joan (my grandma) and Richard. 

    (Now my brain is on overload... Am I remembering all this correctly??)

Other than my amazingly handsome ( not to mention super ornery! you can see it cant you!) grandpa (far right) and his mother next to him. I would not have know the names. But thankfully my mother explained it. Here is her writing. 

  

"  The picture with dad & aunt Grace with Grandma & Grandpa was taken in May 1946.

Great grandpa was born in 1865 (died 1947) so he was 53 when my dad was born.  Great grandma was born in 1878 she was 40 when my dad was born."

And a little more history from her....

"Great grandma's parents were Lillian (1858) & Peter (November 23, 1850). They had 3 kids, Orrin (1875), Grandma Louella (1878), John (1877). Lillian & Peter married March 1, 1875. Peter diedMarch 20, 1885. Lillian married Charles Skinner in 1889 & that same year a son, Charles Henry Skinner was born. Charles Henry died November  1950 in Oregon."

Add a generation to her talking of course to put it with my time. ;) 

My Joelle grace was named for Aunt grace. She even was able to meet her! I didn't take pictures though. I felt odd taking pictures of people then. I've always regretted it. 

The first James Young. At least in the run of 3. Sadly it stopped with my uncle. He has 2 daughters. Obviously not named James. :)

    Again here is my mothers words with this.... (I love history. Mainly family history. Not just my family. Just down to the person level, rather than blanket events)

    

"My grandpa James Alexander Young. Your great grandpa. No date on it but taken by a Minneapolis Kansas photographer.  He was a teenager when he immigrated to America. He still looks like a teen in that picture. James Alfred was my dad. James Allen my brother. "

   So fun! Was a fun surprise in my inbox! Makes me want to go back to ancestry.com to dig more!