Your GGPa's Grandma

Dear Byron,

A couple days ago I got a call from a cousin way up in Minnesota. His name is Loren Schmalz. He and his wife Eloise (my Aunt Elma's only daughter), found a picture of some of the Cordes sisters. They wondered if I knew anything about Louise Cordes, the sister of my Grandmother Ida who married my Grandfather Henry Franzmeier. I had to tell them I knew little or nothing. After they hung up I told your GG-Ma Sylvia about the call. She reminded me of a photo we have. I found it. Here it is.

Elizabeth (Wille) and Louis Cordes Family - 1888

This is my Grandma Ida's family photo when she was a young girl. That's her on the left, behind her little brother George. Behind her is Helen. To Helen's left are William, Emma, Louise and Lydia. On my Great-Grandpa Louis' lap is Amelia and on my Great-Grandma Elizabeth's is John. 

I grew up in Minnesota on a farm with Grandma Ida and Grandpa Henry. My middle name is Henry, after Grandpa. He died from cancer when I was only seven years old. I vividly remember him teaching me the hymn "Abide With Me" while I visited with him on the back porch of the big farm house where they lived. My parents, sister Elaine and I lived in a small house across the highway. One day soon I'll tell you more about that. 

A mile south of our family farm was another farm where Grandma's sister, Aunt Lydia lived with Uncle Eddie Franzmeier, as we called her husband. Uncle Eddie was my Grandpa Henry's brother. That made him my Great-Uncle, of course. 

As  you can tell by this, brothers married sisters. That was quite common in our community. Uncle Eddie's son, Arthur married Elma, the twin sister of my mother Thelma Turpen. Thelma introduced Elma to Art after she fell in love with my father Alvin, after whom I am named. Are you confused yet? 

It is interesting that you have ancestors who lived in Minnesota, both on your Grandma Cheryl's side and your Grandpa Derrick's side of the family. We'll get back to that another time. 

For now, just rejoice that you have so many in the family who love you, as do G-GMa Sylvia and I.