There are many ancestors I’d like to invite to dinner if I had the chance. My great grandmother, Margaret (Jones) Jackson used to dance on tables when she was a little tipsy. That’d be entertaining. My great great aunt, Marie (Pacheco) Cosma, must have been an awesome person since everyone including my mom called her…
Category: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
A Friendship Reborn After Decades of Neglect
My grandma and grandpa had to uproot their family during the Depression in hopes of finding work. When they moved from Oakland to Salinas, my grandmother was like a fish out of water. She found friendship in her sister-in-law’s sister, Eva Nunes. The young mothers found common cause. There was a 40 year gap in…
The Smiling Bride
I have several favorite photographs. But, a wedding photo from the early 1900s, has captivated my interest ever since the day it fell into my hands Not Your Usual Dour Turn of the Century Wedding Photo You ever notice that no one seems particularly happy in old wedding photos? It seems that the gravityy of…
A Fresh Start in Oakland: The House at 1935 E. 25th Street
I’ve written many times about how my great grandfather fled Hawaii when he was diagnosed with leprosy. They had a fresh start in Oakland, California, but what kind of a fresh start was it really? I found many details about the home they lived in when they first arrived. At the end of the article,…
52 Ancestors Week 40: My Grandfather was Married on the Same Day as His Great Grandfather
In the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Series, Week 40’s theme is birthdays and anniversaries in October. I’ve already written about my Grandma Lassalle and about my maternal grandparent’s marriage. Who else could I write about? In going through my database, I found something of interest. My maternal grandfather and my maternal great grandfather chose…