South Dakota Scenes

Week 6: #52 Ancestors – Maps By Eilene Lyon Back in the late 1870s and early 1880s, promoters encouraged people to move to Dakota Territory. Naturally, land speculators played up the rich farmland and other selling points, not necessarily squaring with reality. My father was born in South Dakota, though he grew up in Oregon.... Continue Reading →

February 19, 2022 37

The Schoolgirl

Week 36: #52 Ancestors - School Days By Eilene Lyon There are very few school pictures handed down by my ancestors. I've shared some from my great-grandmother, Clara Ransom Davis, in The Schoolma'am. My grandmother, Reatha Gusso is an exception. She did save some class pictures, and even photos of her teachers. Reatha's photo albums... Continue Reading →

September 7, 2019 18

Tale of Two Adas

Week 37: #52 Ancestors – Closest to Your Birthday By Eilene Lyon In my last post in this series, I told you that my grandparents, Reatha Gusso and Everett Halse, were married on December 31, 1932.1 I squelched into existence on what would have been their 29th wedding anniversary, except that Everett had been gone... Continue Reading →

September 16, 2018 11

Reatha Gusso, 1932

Week 18: #52Ancestors – Close Up By Eilene Lyon Being an Army brat, I didn’t grow up close to my extended family. But I always had a special affinity for my paternal grandmother, Reatha (Gusso) Halse. Her home was in Corvallis, Oregon, and she worked at Oregon State University in the chemical lab supply room.... Continue Reading →

May 4, 2018 12