By Eilene Lyon Lloyd Richard Halse (1902-1957) Lloyd was the fourth of eleven children in the Guy and Mabel Halse family. He had no children, but took younger brother Al under his wing like a son. He twice married the same woman, Berdyne Ulven (1901-1998), but it was not a close relationship. Lloyd preferred the... Continue Reading →
The Eckermann Ranch
Found Photo Project #7 By Eilene Lyon I found this family portrait in an antique store in Sandpoint, Idaho. The only information on it is a name written in pencil on the back: Arthur Eckermann. I was astonished to discover this is a unique name and found him quite quickly. This does not show the... Continue Reading →
From the Vault: Merit Badge
By Eilene Lyon This one goes waaaaay back to the early 1970s. I was surprised to find this in my “vault.” I started out in Brownies, as signified by the wing badge on this sash. This was during the years we lived near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. I may have been in Girl Scouts for a year... Continue Reading →
Goes by Grandma G
Week 14: #52 Ancestors – Begins With a Vowel By Eilene Lyon My great-great grandmother, Olive (Springer) Gusso, was born into a large family of first-generation Americans in 1870. Both her parents were German-born immigrants, Charles Springer of Heidelsheim and Margaret Delle of Mainz. The Springer family moved from Wisconsin to South Dakota when Olive... Continue Reading →
Bio Bite: Hazel Mildred Halse
By Eilene Lyon Hazel Mildred Halse Sturm (1899-1959) Hazel Mildred Halse was the oldest daughter in a family with eleven children in Codington County, South Dakota. In addition to her school work, she had to help her mother with domestic chores and caring for her younger siblings. Her mother, Mabel Cutting, married at sixteen. All... Continue Reading →
The Picketwire
By Eilene Lyon First, the name. Legend has it that an unauthorized expedition of Spaniards led by Antonio Gutierrez de Humaña and Francisco Leyva de Bonilla, came to what is now southern Colorado in 1594 (a much-disputed legend at that). On their way home, Humaña murdered Bonilla in order to make off with all the... Continue Reading →
An Only Child
Week 15: #52Ancestors – Solitude By Eilene Lyon I’ve previously mentioned The Putterer’s great-grandfather, Arlon F. Lyon, only in passing. Arlon was born in Chenango County, New York, in May 1860 and was a rarity for the era: an only child.1 His father, Cyrus R. Lyon, was 29 when Arlon came along. His mother, Lucy... Continue Reading →
Cakes on Fire!
Week 13: #52Ancestors – Light a Candle By Eilene Lyon Both my parents turn 87 this year. I have no way of knowing if they will make it to 90 or not (we do hope so!), but there is some precedent for achieving that milestone or more in my family tree. This is just a... Continue Reading →
Just-a-Mere Clubs
Week 12: #52Ancestors – Membership By Eilene Lyon My paternal grandmother, Reatha Halse, has several photos in her album from 1945 labeled Just-a-Mere Club. They were taken in Corvallis, Oregon. Her sister-in-law, Loretta (Frydendall) Halse, was also a member and probably got Reatha involved. (In 1945, Loretta was soon to be the ex-Mrs. Al Halse.)... Continue Reading →