Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandad Casey's belt buckles and a special treat for Karin

 Here are a few of Grandad Casey's belt buckles that I talked about in Tuesday's post. The one on the top was worn for many years. To Grandad it represented the Appaloosa horse breed he loved and raised. The horse on the buckle looks a lot like Ogallala Chief a Grand Champion stallion born into his hands. The other buckles he made himself while they lived in Arizona as snowbirds, Grandma hated the cold Midwest weather. Silver smithing was a hobby he picked up in Quartzsite along with rock hounding and gold mining. If you look closely in Grandma Vera's jewelry box you can see her buckle that matchs the one on the right. I wonder what happened to the belt with his name on it? I will have to ask my mom.

This picture is for my dear friend Karin, I'll let her explain it!

Tombstone Tuesday - Loyal Edward "Casey" Jones

Loyal Edward "Casey" Jones my maternal Grandad

Grandad Casey was born in Ogallala, Keith County, Nebraska on January 1, 1915. The 1920 US Census finds him in Winter Creek, Scottsbluff, Nebraska with his parents Lewis and Goldie (Skidmore), along with his siblings Arleu and Darline. Grandad was a truck driver, a construction worker, and above all a cowboy to his very soul. He always wore jeans with a sharp crease, a t shirt with a pocket for his cigarettes, the traditional cowboy boots and a belt with a big fancy buckle. If he was "going out" the t shirt was exchanged for a starched western shirt. Driving those trucks served him well, he could back a 35 ft. horse trailer into a single door shop in one smooth motion. Most little girls dreamed of having a pony, I owned one before I was even born. I was his only grandchild, he adored and spoiled me. I adored him right back.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandma Jones' Jewelry Box

In addition to a love of dancing Grandma Vera had a fondness for clothing and jewelry. This is one of her jewelry boxes. It's interesting what collects in this type of box. Tucked in the top lining there are sewing needles, a few more are scattered through the compartments along with a plastic bag of buttons and a thimble. A dog's name tag "Bosco", some Mexican coins, a pill box, a souvenir toothpick holder from The School of the Ozarks, jewelry findings and loose stones, a stretchy beaded hat band, and a car key. The jewelry is mostly nicer costume stuff, there are pieces made by my Grandad of turquoise, fire agate, and silver, a few tie tacks she had been safe keeping, two bolo tie slides, four watches, some fancy western shirt collar points, and four belt buckles. I'm so glad I have this box, it still smells like her and her house. When I am missing her I can open it up and take a deep breath and remember.

Tombstone Tuesday - Vera Sybal McDaniel Jones

 Vera Sybal McDaniel Jones my maternal Grandmother

Her death date was not yet engraved on the stone when this photo was taken

 and is October 20, 2007

Vera Sybal McDaniel was born in Eldorado, Jackson, Oklahoma on December 4, 1918. The 1920 US Census finds her still living there with her parent Posey Reed and Dora Isabell (Dawson) along with her siblings Edith, Sidney, and Nicebell. Grandma Vera came from humble beginnings, her family did cotton farming in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. She had many stories of them picking the fields. She was a small feisty woman, in her younger days she road a motorcycle, and drove a long haul truck. She had a life long love of dancing. She met my Grandad when he came into a coffee shop where she was a waitress and after a few meetings he asked her to a dance. I spent a lot of time with these grandparents, there are many more stories to tell!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandpa Baker's coffee biggin and cup

This is Grandpa Baker's French enamelware coffee biggin and his demitasse cup. Grandma Jo told me that he enjoyed making and drinking his morning coffee with this set up. Grandma was a perked coffee kind of gal and there was always a pot on the stove.

The thing that I find funny about this is Grandpa Baker was a big man, 6'4" and probably over 250 lbs. I don't have many memories of him but I do remember him being BIG! It makes me chuckle to think about his large hands holding that tiny cup. He also always had a pet parakeet or love bird. So there seems to have been a delicate side to this rough and tumble law man.

As you can see I'm still running behind this week on these posts, bear with me while I get the hang of this!

Tombstone Tuesday - Roy Henry Baker

Roy Henry Baker my paternal Grandfather

Grandpa Baker was born in Springfield, Missouri on July 5, 1888. The 1900 Census finds him living with his parent John D Baker and Virginia (Jennie) Shaw Baker in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri. Also in the household are Roy's siblings Harry E, Edith M, and Ella B. Grandpa Baker was in law enforcement for a large part of his life and also worked in the oil industry. Grandma Jo used to tell the story of how they met, he pulled her over and gave her a speeding ticket. Tall tales abound in this branch of the family tree, some of them are actually true. The story that he was a Texas Ranger is one of the those, my sister has his badges and I was able to acquire his oath of service. I'm glad we were able to prove that story, I will continue to work on the rest of them!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandma Jo Baker's sugar bowl

This is one of Grandma Jo Helen Baker's treasures, it tells a story about her. It says that she loved beautiful things and had a very feminine streak under that farm woman exterior. When I was a small girl she worked in a neighborhood thrift store. I imagine looking at the broken and repaired lid that it might have come from that shop. Someone had discarded it and Grandma still saw beauty in it so it came home with her. Grandma and Grandpa didn't have much money, many of the things they owned were rescued cast offs from others. This is a trait she passed on to me.

Tombstone Tuesday - Jo Helen Denby Baker

Jo Helen Denby Baker my paternal Grandmother

Grandma Jo was born in Missouri on May 12, 1906. The 1910 US Census finds her in Melrose, Curry, New Mexico with her parents Claude and Adele (Pollack) along with her two older sisters Esther and Erma (Irma). Melrose's claim to fame is having William Hanna of Hanna-Barbera Productions born there. William Hanna was also my Grandma's maternal first cousin, she was very proud of his success. While writing this I Googled Melrose and found it is a "village losing population due to rural exodus". I also learned it is on Highway 84 which is also Denby Ave, this will require more research!