Graduation

Of the seven children of Betsy and Edward Walker who survived to adulthood, all but the oldest Lily graduated from Washburn University. After nearly two decades of living in rural Morris county, Edward and Betsy moved to Topeka so their children, all their children, could receive as much education as possible. Thus set in motion the belief and tradition that women as well as men deserved the chance to attain a college education. In all it's a tradition that has continued for more than 100 years. Eula, the second oldest daughter, was born in 1884. I'm assuming she graduated from Washburn in 1906. Pictured here are the four Walker sisters at the time of Ada's graduation from Washburn. From the top it's Eula, Grace, Edna and Ada at the time of Ada's graduation in 1916.







The tradition continued into the next generation. Pictured here are Ethel, Helen and Mary Grace in 1942.



And yesterday two more joined the ranks of college graduates with the graduations of Kelly and Frances from the University of Kansas. To honor the tradition we gathered all of the Walker female descendants we could find and with the help of Scott took their picture. Those of us here on the steps have degrees from KU, Kansas State University and Colorado State University. Now more than 100 years since the first female Walker graduated we have four generations of college graduates. The men have also continued the tradition, but today we're highlighting the women.

Mother's Day

Rebekah Sharpe nee Hutton circa 1855. She looks glum but as Steve pointed out to me recently people were not told to say, "Cheese." Because the eye of the camera had to be open for several seconds to allow enough light, people were told to hold still. [I've decided that she spelled her Rebekah this way because that's the inscription on her grave marker. Her son years after her death spelled it Rebecca, but I'm going with Rebekah.] She gave birth to 12 children with at least four not making it to adulthood. It was the death of her youngest child that brought the family to homestead in Parkerville Kansas.



This is Betsy Walker nee Sharpe with Edna Jessie in 1895. Gussie remembered that this portrait which includes the whole family was taken on Thanksgiving Day because the pharmacy was closed for the holiday. Betsy gave birth to nine children and only seven lived to maturity. One child that died was Gussie's twin, but the other appears to have been hers and Edward's first born, a boy who possibly was named Thomas.


The third photograph is of Edna, Allan and Ethel taken circa 1917. Edna and EA were married in 1913 and they became parents with Allan's birth in November 1914. Ethel was born in January 1917. Helen followed in 1920 and Mary Grace in 1923.


Finally, the fourth photograph is of Mary Grace Morgan nee Burkhardt and Susan in May of 1950.

A century of mothers.

CORRECTIONS FOR FRIDAY'S POST

For some reason I messed up a few names. I'm guessing I was in too much of a hurry. But anyway it's Eula and Frank Faust, not Epps. And I errored in Allan's name. I always can remember it's two a's, but I should also remember it's two ll's. In honor of Gussie's picnics, Lee and I and the boys tried one this weekend at Potter Lake in Lawrence. Dominic had a better time than Cameron because Cameron didn't care for the clock aka the Campanile.