My Grandfather ran a small novelty shop just outside Branson Missouri. The two children in the photo are my uncle and aunt. Aunt Dottie and uncle Thorton are posed by the WELCOME sign. There were 18 children in that family, and they all called the Branson place home. the novelty shop behind the kids was the source of income for the entire family. Many of the kids were off to the service while others were coming into this world. My uncles and aunts treated me with respect and kindness.
The photo to the right has my uncle Dwight and Aunt Mildred with their family. I remember the day when the ice cream wagon came to our house on linwood st. in springfield Mo. It was a hot summer day and Uncle Dwight's family had just arrived, we could hear the familiar ring, ring of his bell. every one had ice cream treats, including my brother and sister and I. our house always had more than enough space to accommodate both families. Single bath and a small kitchen was ample space for all families. Uncle Dwight was dads brother.
All ten members of Dwight's family would arrive in one single vehicle. They would depart from Sulphur Louisiana late in the evening after Dwight would get off work in the chemical plant, and they would drive all night and arrive in Springfield in the early morning just in time to have breakfast with us. It was a great time for us all. What wonderful meals we had with Uncle Dwight's family.
My Grandmother is on the far left next to my father, Alva was his name also. I am not sure but I think the kid on the far left in the plad shirt is yours truly.
The photo to the right is from My mothers village in Germany. That is where my father met her. I think she is in the center.
Above is my grandfather with a couple of her sons. I am not sure who they are, but both are obviously in the service.
To the left is the novelty shop, where my grand parents sold what they made and imported.
If you look close at this photo, there is a merry go round that my grand father built for his children. He was an inventor, and craftsman.
As I mentioned my father had 17 brothers and sisters. This is the early years of his brothers and sisters. Uncle Vernon to aunt Betty.
The picture above is my father as a child, and to the right is him ready to ship out.
This is my grandfathers train station where he worked as a telegraph operator. The box car in the background is where the family stayed, and my father was born there.

Tthis is my grandmother as she draws water from the well house.I remember doing this several times as a child. The well house was in front of the home.

Mary, and Harry younfg and in between kids.
To the right is a photo of them later in life, still more kids to come. The shutters in the background has the letter H on them, The H is for Hazell
Welcome to the family page
My father often spoke of Kitchen Police (KP), something that he had to do when he was in the service. He was not happy with the responsibility, but he never the less did his best at the job. Dad seldom smiled for photo's, but in this case we have a rare photo. My father was in the military police.