Full Circle 184

 This Full Circle began when Mark left a comment on the blog.  His Grandmother was in the photo. 

Photo Number 2390

Mark shared some family information. 

 Thank you for contacting me.

The oldest one in the photo is Lavern Solum.  She is my grandmother.  She married Ed Fingalson and had one child, Violette.  

She passed away when my mother was 8 so obviously I never new her.  My grandfather Ed Fingalson also passed before I was born.

The youngest in the photo is Blanch Solum, but she was not he youngest child.  That would be Arnold.  He never married and passed away in 2014.

Arnold was a Korean vet and I knew him to be an excellent carpenter.  He was a good guy, too bad he isnt on the photo.  

Blanch married Roy Englund and had one son Richard.

Although I met Alvina and Blanch I never really got to know them very well.

I managed to meet Lawrence about 3 - 4 years before he passed.  

I never any of the rest of them.

Their parents were Knute and Esther Solum.  Esther Solum's maiden name was Leegard.

Blanch and Arnold lived in Detroit Lakes, MN.  (also where I grew up).

I mailed the postcard and it was received. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 183

This Full Circle began with a comment left on the blog.

Photo Number 1710

I mailed the photo in May of 2020.

Thank you ever so much for the photo of GH Clevenger.  I was young (25 years old) when he died so I didn't know him. He was a well known metallurgist then my father Galen William also was and I became a mining engineer.  Thanks again Jeff

Full Circle 182

This Full Circle started with an email.

Hello, I’ve bought a farm and house with original buildings that I live in and am restoring. I’ve been researching the property and found the original owner/builder’s name and a plot map showing what he owned. I live in Delavan WI near sugar creek.  Photo 1112 is the man who built my home and there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to try and hang that in my home could you help? Aaron

Photo Number 1112  H B Coleman

I mailed the photo.

Sorry for delay! Hope you’re staying healthy.  I got the photo, thank you so much.  I bought this house which is a very old farm. Original barn burnt down in the 30’s and a new barn was built shortly after. The house has a lot of original stuff and I have found clues all over property of what once was. I found a land owner map from 1875 with my property marked as a working farm owned by h. Coleman.  The adjacent property was owned by E.s Coleman. H. Coleman had a son so he must have given him the property. The was another H Coleman I found in Wisconsin, but it was early 1900s when he was young. This picture has to be my original homeowner. All the family is buried together just up the Road from here.  

Always nice to send a photo "home"  this time to a place...I was happy with that! 

Thanks for stopping by 

Full Circle 181

I received an email about an old postcard with the name Bonnie Bittner. 

 Photo Number 2116

I sent the postcard to Bonnie's daughter Paula.

I have received the postcard and in amazing condition.  Thank you so much.  It is a great service you all do for others.

Sincerely,

Paula,  Bonnie Bittner's daughter

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 180

This Full Circle began with a comment left on the blog.

Hello, and thank you so much for your kindness in posting these old forgotten photos online for families to find. Yes, this is indeed Robert Bower Eckles, born Apr. 11, 1910 in York, York, NE. and died Jan. 22, 1993 in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX. I am writing on behalf of his daughter, Sarah, who would love to have this photo!
How can we make this happen?
Chloe

Photo Number 2949 Robert Bowers Eckles

I mailed off the card.  Chloe had lots of information to share. 

Robert Bower Eckles, born 1910 in York, Nebraska, was the son of Dr. & Mrs. Warren Eckles.  (Dr. Eckles was an optician and an Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist.)

Robert graduated Harvard with magna cum laude honors. He was elected President of the Harvard Debating Council and was member of the Harvard Dramatic Club, the Hasty Pudding club and the Fifty-Four club. He was instrumental in putting the first international college debate over the radio, when Harvard debated Oxford in 1931.

During the summer of his Junior year, he taught modern history at York college in Nebraska.

After graduation, he attended Queen’s College at Oxford  University in England  working towards a PH.D. in history and earned a Doctorate in Philosophy from Harvard.

In 1935, he married Rachel Burhans Miller, teacher at the Bishop Lee Dramatic School in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was hired as head of the department of English history at Stephens College in Missouri, then taught at Culver Military Academy in Indiana and Ohio University, Athens, OH. before accepting a faculty appointment teaching European History and Western Civilization at Purdue University in 1945.

He published several articles, a textbook and two books: ‘The Dean: A Biography of A. A. Potter’ and ‘Purdue Pharmacy: The First Century.’ 

In addition, Robert served as a Fellow in the Royal Historical Society of Great Britain and a chair member of  the American Historical Association's Committee on Microfilming. He took a three year leave of absence from Purdue University to direct the Indiana Historical Society's Natural History Gas Project. He later became the president of the American Microform Academy in Boston, became the co-founder of the Midwest Conference on British History, and served as executive secretary and chair of the Advisory Committee on the Franklin J. Matchette Foundation.

Robert’s daughter, Sarah, remembers that her father was a bon vivant who was full of humor and cheer and could hold court almost anywhere.  He did a spot-on Truman Capote imitation, and had a fabulous sense of humor.  He was absolutely appreciated and adored by his students for all those years he taught.  He had a lust for knowledge, travel, books, brilliant conversation and fine food.  Sarah and her sister, Alison, used to joke that he was like an English country Squire, a refined gentleman and a fabulous host.  They remember him as being very generous and having a great spirit for helping others whenever he could.

Chloe also send some photos.

And a photo of Robert's daughter Sarah

Sarah sent me a lovely Thank you note.  

Dear Connie, Thank you so much for finding my fathers Robert Bower Eckles photo with his little drum!  Your generous gift to me and my friend Chloe is so wonderful  Sincerely Sarah

Full Circle 179

This Full Circle began when Karen left a comment on the blog.

Inez Nelson (Regan) was my mother. She and my father, Eugene Regan 
had 5 kids, Steve, Mare, Mike, Cath and Karen. Everyone’s info was quite correct about
Inez’s parents and date of birth and death. The card was sent to Iver’s Sister, my mother’s aunt.
I couldn’t believe that I stubbled on to this website, it has been a gift that these postcards were saved,
so we can see a part of our family history. By the way, intense guy thought maybe Ralphie may
want the photograph, Ralphie was our dad’s orange tabby cat. Karen

... and sent me an email.

My name is Karen , the youngest of 5 kids of Inez and Gene Regan.

I had responded to your website about the postcard of my mother’s 

baptismal picture. I couldn’t believe that she was on your website, she would

be in shock if she were still here. You mentioned that you could send it and if

you still have it, I would love it! I will pay the postage. I love that you got all

these photos and put them online, and it’s such a shame that others just

clean out their family’s homes and dump family history. I hope I am talking to

the right person. Thanks, Karen

I mailed the postcard.

Photo Number 971  Inez Viola Nelson

Karen sent a lovely card 

Thanks for sending the postcard of my mother from 1917 in her baptismal gown.  I can't believe how new the card looks from over 100 years ago..  Thanks for collecting all these cool cards and starting up such a great website, it means a lot to me to have this postcard in my hand! I threw in a few extra dollars for those who may not have the money to have a card sent to them.  Thanks for such a great service!  Karen

Full Circle 178

This Full Circle began with an email.

Photo Number 2913   The Enebo Children 

I mailed off the postcard to family. They shared the following information.

Anne Enebo Molmen 1902-1964 lived in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. She and her husband, Harold, raised three children. Anne was a Red Cross Nurses Aide during WWII and she was involved in her community. Anne was president of the Pioneer Daughter's Club in Fargo, North Dakota. Her hobby was painting foliage and grasses for winter bouquets

What a surprise to find my husband's grandmother on your website. We received the photo and appreciate your time and talents finding homes for these old photos. I am sending you a donation to help offset expenses.
Anne Enebo Molmen 1902-1964 and her husband, Harold, had three children. Anne was a Red Cross Nurses Aide during WWII and was active in community volunteer work. Her hobby was painting foliage and grasses for winter bouquets.
Sheldon and Diane 

Thank you for stopping by.

Full Circle 177

These are “The VanSickel Photos”  I believe it began by contacting a relative on Facebook in May of 2018.
I believe I mailed the photos in May…I hope I did…usually I make a note saying Photos mailed and the date.  I have tried to contact Carol…but she was having computer problems.  I searched through all my photos and could not find them so I think I may have mailed them in May.
Hi Connie
I would be very interested in the VanSickel photos.  2932 - 2936
The younger Henry VS was my Grandfather and Sanford and older Henry were Gr. & Gr. Gr. Grandfather's.
Thank you,
Carol

Hilton VanSickel Photos Number 2932

Laura Blake VanSickel  Photo Number 2933

Most likely Great Grandpa Henry Watson instead of VanSickel  Photo Number 2934

Uncle Sanford VanSickel  Photo Number 2935

Henry and Hilton VanSickel  Photo Number 2936

Hilton VanSickel Obituary from Carol a family member.

More info from Carol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 176

This Full Circle began with an email.
Hi there,
Your blog is so interesting. In my own way I have been reuniting old photos with descendants of the subjects. Good for you.
I would like to know if the photos can be purchased. A dear friend and cousin just found her birth family through DNA and I would like to send these photos of her great grandfather to her as a gift. She just completed her PhD while working full time and raising three children. She would be so grateful.
If you don’t sell the photos maybe a copy made from the original would work.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Joan
I explained that I had a number of Beaulieu photos
Connie,
You have no idea how thrilled I am to find these photos.  I am going to get them framed and send them to Kim.  Her mother was a out of wedlock child of Helen Elizabeth Killian who was put up for adoption.  Kim has been welcomed with open arms into the Killian family and has even been blessed to spend time with Lena’s (her grandmother youngest brother and her grand uncle, Gerald Killian, sho will be 98 on January 1st. 
They met for the first time at the  Killian reunion that I hosted in County Longford Ireland in May 2017.  Attached is the backstory of the Killian Homeplace.  There is no one on this earth who will cherish receiving any memento of her family history more than Kim.  She is a wonderful human being.
If you could send the 793 portrait of Her great grandparents, Alex and his wife and the 983 photo of the ladies in the hats.  I’m not sure how the other Beaulieu girls are related to her but they’re certainly the same family.  If you would like to send the one of the (973) three ladies as well, I’m sure she would love to have it.  But I don’t want to take advantage of your generous offer.  Whateveryou send will be amazing.
Thank you in advance for this wonderful gift.  You are an angel!
Joan
PS if you ever go to Ireland you will always be welcome at the Killian Homeplace
I mailed off the photos.

Alex Beaulieu  Photo Number 793

Photo Number 983

Photo Number 973

Millie Hart Photo Number 1310

Little Boy and family Photo Number 2905

Joan got the photos, I had mailed them in a empty chocolate box.

Hi Connie,
Your beautiful chocolate box full of treasures arrived today. Again, I can’t thank you enough.  I’m going to turn them around and send them out to Alex’s great, great granddaughter, Kim Pickett in South Carolina.  Once she gets them, I will do the full circle comments and I assume (hopefully) that she will do the same.  I will also drop you a note with my contribution to your overhead.
Thanks again, Connie…you’re wonderful
Joan
Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 175

This Full Circle began with an email.

Greetings,

With respect to the Leithe pictures on your website:

I am Matthew Paul Sullivan, great-grandson of Myrtle Leithe, or as I and the rest of my generation called her "Gram"

see: http://gordonrosalynd.tripod.com/green/d264.htm#P6139

Matthew Sullivan < Rebecca Peterson < Lorraine Weltzein < Myrtle Leithe

Anyways, perhaps some of the following is of interest to you:

In addition to the 4 listed on your webpage, Even Leithe and Bertina Myhre had one other child, Knut Even  who along with Konow died in childhood.

Mabel died before I was born.

Myrtle and Evelyn lived together in Minneapolis after the the death of Myrtle's husband Oscar,

When I was young we would visit them, or vice versa at least once a week, they did most of the babysitting for my parents as well, so I have many good memories of both of them.

Myrtle was the only of her siblings to have children, both of whom you mention on your blog.

Both Ruth and Lorraine are still living though neither is in good health.

Lorraine and her husband Earl are living in the Good Samaritan nursing home in Battle Lake MN

Anyhow, if you are willing to part with them I would like the Leithe photos and cards, and am willing to compensate you for them within reason

Yours,

Matthew

                                                      Funeral Card  Photo Number 2322

Myrtle and Evelyn Leithe  Photos Number 2323

 

Myrtle Leithe  Photo Number 2532

Hopefully the photos arrived safely.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 174

This Full Circle began with an email from Lincoln wondering if I still had this photo because  he was a friend of a family member.  Lincoln asked his friend about it.

Turns out is my friend’s grandfather. He is very excited to see the photo. He really loved his grandfather.

I mailed the photo.

Oram R Lawry Photo Number 1809

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 173

This Full Circle began with comments left on the blog.

From Edith:

What a wonderful surprise to find photo number 2036 during a random search on my family today. I had to send you my thanks. . I have the same postcard sent to my grandmother by “Susie” but there was no reference to the name of the baby and I didn't know which one it was until I read it on your site. Ruby Loretta was my 1st cousin 1x removed. The actual children in this family were Richard Stuart, Rena May, Pearl Amanda, Thelma Katherine, Robert Leonard, and Ruby Loretta. I knew Richard Stuart, a favorite cousin of my Dads and I have met Robert Leonard's son. Arthur, Rebecca, Mary and Will were siblings of the children's father, my great Uncle Dick, Susie's husband. Rebecca was my grandmother. Your wonderful act of sharing these photographs has brought a happy surprise to me and my family. Thank You so much.

Ruby Loretta Casteel  Photo Number 2036

Thank You so much. I have emails in to my sisters to see if they would like the photo. Actually, I sometimes correspond with Suzie's grandson and will also check to see if he would like it. Otherwise, there's me. There's a chance I will meet others from this family connection. I don't think the last generation were in touch like they were in Suzie's day.

I mailed the photo.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 172

This Full Circle began with a comment left on the blog by Chris.

Hi Folks - I stumbled across this page by accident during a web search and am glad I did! I am related to the Aanund Flaat pictured here. MJM and LarsI are correct about his identity and emigration from Evje in Norway to Bygland, MN. I am not sure about the connection with the Knutsons - I am not aware of a family connection but maybe there was a business connection or they were just friends.
I am in contact with a descendant of Aanund Flaat who may be interested in the physical photograph.

Ben Knutson and Aamund Flaat and a unknown Photo Number 2469

Chris put me in touch with his relative Nate and the photo was mailed off.

Hi Connie,

I looked and I do not actually have that particular photo.  If you could send it to me that would be great!

thanks!

Nate

Thanks for stopping by.  If a relative of Bens comes by I can email them a copy.

Full Circle 171

This Full Circle began with an email.

Hello,

I am a descendant of the Hans and Kari Hanson family that you show in your Photo #2907 on Forgotten Old Photos.  Hans and Kari are my great great grandparents and their son Hans is my great grandfather.

I was very excited to see the photo and would love to purchase it if it is available.  Please let me know.

Thank you,  Cheryl

I mailed the photo to Cheryl.

Hanson Family  Photo Number 2907

Cheryl wrote back;

I was thrilled to recieve your package and actually hold the portrait of the Hanson Family in my hands!  What a wonderful piece of family history!  I will treasure it as I am sure my children will one day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you for sending along your research notes as well there are a few middle names and dates I had not seen before so I can really use the info.

I included facts I have learned about Hans Hanson and Kari in the last email I sent. ( I was reading it when it just disappeared from my computer screen)  Most of the recollections I sent were passed down from their son Peter.  There is no direct information set down by the couple and my great grandfather Hans Jr  died before I was born.  Hans Jr wife Inger was still alive when I was a small child, though she also came over from Norway (1886), age 17 but she did not speak English so I did not know her well.

I am sending you a small compensation for your time and trouble, though it is nothing compared all the happiness you spread.  I will check back on your blog from time to time to see what’s new.  There are some very nice stories from your grateful families. Thank you again for everything.  Sincerely Cheryl

I sent Cheryl an email copy of Mrs. Chris Milsten  Photo Number 2002 and Full Circle Number 156  and she was sure that she is in the photo second row center.  Cheryl hopes to identify all the family members in the group photo.

Mrs Chris Milsten

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 170

This Full Circle began with an email.

Hi Connie,

I have stumbled on your blog a number of times over the years and absolutely love seeing the photos and what you do.  I've done the same thing (on a MUCH smaller scale), but have found it unbelievably satisfying to get photos back to family members and researchers. At any rate, I finally found a photo on your blog that I can get full circle! It's photo number 1976.  I'm helping a friend and her brother put together a family history for their 84-year-old mother for Christmas. They wanted to explore their mother's mother's family because their grandmother didn't know her father until later in life (she was raised by her paternal grandparents). The two girls in the picture would have been my friend's grandmother's first cousins.  Amy (Manthei) Lundquist (1906-1987) lived her entire life in Minneapolis and, as someone mentioned, Fontella (Manthei) Campbell died at the age of 20 in 1927. I'd love to get a high quality scan of the photo to give my friends to present to their mother with the family history.  As you'd probably appreciate, when you want to know more about family, it's fun to put faces with names. And they are a wonderful family who suffered much tragedy.  Their great-grandfather, Frank Chamberlin, was the younger brother of the mother of the pictured girls, Finis (Chamberlin) Manthei.  Amy is named after her grandmother, who died at age 48 leaving several younger children.  Thanks, Connie, and keep up the good work. I love this blog!

Sincerely,

Brendon

I mailed the photo to Brendon on May 19 2018.

Amy and Fontella Manthei  Photo Number 1976

Hi Connie,

I received the photo of Amy and Fontella Manthei yesterday. Thank you!  I'm happy to reimburse you for your expense, and will be mailing that soon.  I appreciated your letter, and if it's okay, I'd love to write back a little "full circle" info when my friend presents the photo to her mother.  This will really make our project for her come to life!  Thanks again.  I absolutely love the work you are doing.

Sincerely,

Brendon

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 169

This Full Circle began with a comment left on the blog.

Ray Setterlund  Photo Number 1453

I mailed the photo and followed up with another email asking if it arrived safely?

Yes Ma’am.

I was going to wait to get some detailed info from my Uncle to share with you and your readers.

I really do appreciate your effort and have enjoyed going back through your blog. I have shared the link with several family members, some of which still live up in the frozen tundra. One cousin is in Brainerd.

More to follow

Thanks again Mark

I can always add information from relatives anytime.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 168

This Full Circle began with an email.

Percy Armstrong  Photo Number 1998

Hello Connie,

I was searching for records of my relatives to get inspiration for names for my daughter to be born in August and I came across your blog.

Percy is my great-grandfather.  He and Elsie had two daughters, Yvonne and Dorothy.  Dorothy is my grandmother.  She married Joe Dodgen whose son, David, is my father.  My wife and I live in Humboldt, IA which is just 20 minutes from Fort Dodge where Percy and his family lived.  My grandmother passed away a few years ago.  We would love to get this precious photo of her father back into our family.  Please let me know if that is possible.  Thank you! Joel

I mailed the photo.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 167

This Full Circle began with a comment on the blog from Grandaughter Dora.

Luella Drewlow  Photo Number 2683

A few days after she left a comment I got an email.

Thank you so much for offering to return the photo to her family. Luella (my Grandma) passed away last Thursday and we will lay her to rest and celebrate her life in just a couple of days. Here is a link to her obituary, so others can learn more about the beautiful (inside & out) woman in the photograph.

She will be greatly missed, and this lost, but now found photo, of her will be greatly treasured.

Thank you so much for the work you do to reunite old photos with the families/friends of those in them.

Dora 

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 166

This Full Circle began when I contact Vivian the family historian.

Connie,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

While Jack and Florence don't tie into my direct line (Florence is my 8th cousin 3x removed), I'd love to have it and put it on my website (I'm working on a major update now).  If anyone directly related to them contacts me, I would be happy to pass it along to them.

Jack Gudbaur  Photo Number 2506

The young boy in the picture is Jack Allen Gudbaur, who appears to be about 6 months old in the picture, putting the date of the picture as Saturday, November 25, 1916 (he was born April 3rd of the same year). Jack grew to join the Army Air Corps during WWII and lived in a number of states.� He married twice (that I know of), divorcing both times. Jack had two sisters and a brother, all of whom outlived him. In fact, one of his sisters and his brother married siblings from another family Jack died at the age of 77 in Oregon

His mother, Florence Arvilla Lombard, who married his father Leo Ross Gudbaur approximately a year before Jack's birth, is the one who sent the postcard  From what she wrote, it sounds like she may have been visiting her parents in Sandpoint, Idaho when the picture was taken - perhaps for the Thanksgiving holiday. She and Leo lived in Sagle, Idaho at the time, not far from Sandpoint. She was also several months pregnant with Jack's sister, which may have been another reason for the visit "home" - to tell her family.

The Lombard side of Florence's family can be traced back to when they arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630.   Her line moved to Barnstable, then Truro, Massachusetts (on Cape Cod) for a few generations, then north to Maine for a couple more generations, before beginning to move west to Portage County, Wisconsin, where Florence was born. Her parents moved the family to Idaho when she was a young girl.

The postcard was addressed to Leo's father, Alfred Fremont Gudbaur and Leo's stepmother, Ellen Bradley. They married about 15 years prior, when Leo was a young teenager, and lived in Copeland, Idaho at the time - about 55 miles from Florence, Leo and Jack. Ellen died on Halloween in 1925, when a train hit her automobile at a railroad crossing. Alfred also died in an automobile accident 9 years later when he ended up in a ditch with a skull fracture from the crash. Sadly, Leo's only brother also died an accidental death when he was 32 years old (about 8 months after Ellen's death) and broke his neck in a fall.

Jack's father, Leo, died in 1952 at the age of 65. His mother, Florence, died in 1973 at the age of 79.

Thanks for stopping by.

Full Circle 165

This Full Circle began when a gal left a comment on the blog.

I am the great-grand-daughter of Lewis H. Gilbert, brother of Edgar T. Gilbert. I am not able to identify any direct descendants for Edgar, and he is buried with Lewis and the rest of Lewis's family in Mount Hope Cemetery, as mentioned above. There is a collection of family photos lining the staircase of the house Lewis built in 1907. It would be lovely to reunite Edgar with his family if you still have the photo.

Edgar T Gilbert Photo Number 1882

I mailed the photo and didn’t hear anything else…so I declare this photo Full Circle.

Connie,

It’s amazing to think this photo made its way from Rochester, NY to Minnesota.  I was actually researching Edgar’s father, Truman Gilbert who was from central New York and an early pioneer to Clintonville (now, South Elgin) Illinois in 1835.  After his first wife died, Truman married another woman, Ann Ryder, who is the mother of Edgar and Lewis.  Both young men and their mother made their way back east to Rochester after Truman died.  Lewis became a dentist and Edgar a manufacturer of “shoe polishers and similar articles.”  Edgar also holds a patent for a cork shoe-liner which was supposed to improve comfort in your shoes/boots.

I currently live in New York City with my husband and 2 children, but my mother still lives in the house where I was raised in Rochester; the house Lewis Gilbert built in 1907.  Since I’ve begun my work on ancestry.com I’ve been labeling several old photographs that were in the attic and lining the staircase wall with them.  So glad you found Edgar!

Thanks for stopping by.