Christmas Letter - 1917

Watching Downton Abbey I remembered the letter that I had found in Laura's collection of Walker-Sharpe memorabilia. The letter is from Annie Cooke Walker Younger Croston to Betsy Sharpe Walker written December 7, 1917. Annie is Edward's sister who was four years younger than he. Also surviving is a letter from Ada to Laura remarking on how fond Betsy was of Ann and her family. In this letter from 1917 Annie writes of her children and other relatives. She had a son, Charles, and a daughter, Sarah Beatrice whom she called Beattie from her marriage to Charles Younger. From her marriage to Samuel Blakely Croston she had four daughters, Mary, Henrietta,[Etta], Isabella and Lalla.

Russia Hall in England drawn by Lalla Croston

Dovedale; 9 Rockville St

Rock Ferry

Dec 7^th 1917

My dear sister

We received the college syllabus and thank you very much for sending it. We are all going on wonderfully well. Though of course we have to pay much more for food etc and coal.

My brother is not at all well; got a bad cold awhile ago and I think it has settled in his back (lumbago I think). My girls are all very busy – Mary and Belle at their offices and Etta at her teachings. Lalla, of course, is busy with her . . . . classes, painting and dress making so her days are filled up I can assure you. Sarah and the girls and boys are doing well. . .. . Mere are of the girls going to be married in the spring, both marrying farmers so that will be all right for they are both good cheese makers. Etta is now living with us – her husband is in the R.G.A. [Royal Garrison Artillery]. We are hoping he will be able to come home for Christmas. Beattie and her two girls are doing nicely at her farm. Muriel the eldest makes cheese and butter. Norah is still going to school. Charlie my son is not at all strong. He is a farmer and Leslie his eldest boy just about 16 years (has only 2 boys and Beatrice just the 2 girls) attends as well as he can to all outside.

Well dearest Bessie we all wish you all a very Happy Christmas and we thank the Lord for all his goodness to us and  . . .  Your loving sister Annie E Croston

This is the wedding of Annie's daughter Etta with her two sisters, Belle and Lalla and her brother Charles. As another note connecting Edward and Betsy's family to Annie's, Edna wore Etta' s veil at her wedding to Edgar in 1913.

Annie mentions in her letter that Etta's husband is serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery. In a photograph from after the war it appears he lost his arm during that service. From another letter in Laura's collection is one between Ada and Lalla from the 1960s. Reinforcing the connection Ada named her second son Donald Croston Smith. Annie died the next October at the age of 67.

Happy New Year 2012

Ray and Steve celebrate the new year of 1950 in the Topeka apartment.

The celebration continues.

Merry Christmas from 1953

Sally, Steve and Susie

Photographs used for the 1953 Christmas Card.

Happy Birthday, Cindy!

A couple of images of Cindy from past Christmas cards, way past cards.

My memory from Cindy's birth is the sugar cubes Dad brought us from the hospital. I know Grandma and Grandpa Morgan came to Shawnee to babysit us, we three older ones, but I don't remember if we treated them well or not. I also don't remember when Thanksgiving was that year, but through the magic of the Internet, I can report it was on the 25th so Cindy was born on Saturday, the 27th.

Through the years her birthday became entwined with Thanksgiving. One memorable year there were candles on the turkey. Which by my measure was over the top, but as the older sister I tried not to be too upset about it.

So here's to you, Cindy. May you have a great day and many more.

The infamous picture. You can understand my jealousy.

Happy Birthday Steve!

Here a couple of pictures of Steve in his early years.

Steve on our first Christmas in Shawnee in 1951. He got this very cool train set that came with a board.

This picture is also from 1951 in Topeka before we moved. Pictured are our two grandfathers, on the left is E A Burkhardt and on the right is Ray Morgan, Sr. Sitting on EA's lap is Chris and on Ray's is Steve. Chris was born in March of 1947 and Steve in October 1947 so Chris is clearly the older gent.

1950s Styling

Sally and I in January 1953 showing off the latest in Russian headscarves. Not really, but vegetation hadn't really taken root yet.

This one is dated January 1953. I think it's self-explanatory. It's hard to know why these styles of sofas didn't stay chic. But as I remember it hid the dirt well. As you can tell Steve was serious about his cowboy gear. I'm sure he'll know who he was - Roy Rogers? Gene Autry?

Happy Birthday, Mary and Helen!

Happy Birthday to both Helen and Mary Grace. The following are just a few pictures through the early years.

This photo is of Allan, Edna, Helen and Ethel when Helen was very young. From looking at the trees I'm guessing it was probably warm day in November 1920.

Helen and Mary in a professional photograph circa 1924.

And last, but not least, is a picture of the three sisters from the early 1940s taken in from of the house on Jewell.