These images were in an old photo album with Lee family ephemera. We believe the primary woman in the photos with the flat-topped hat is Dora J. (Russell) Aiken, as there is a postcard from there written to “Mrs. Samuel Lee,” who would have been Dora (Aiken) Lee. It was signed “Mother.” Alternatively, it could be Louisa M. (Brandenburger) Lee (1859-19340) sometimes called Maria Louisa Brandenburger (German folks swapped first and middle names back and forth), Samuel J.’s mother who married Samuel Lenton Lee (1849-1932), but we do not have a known image of her to compare. Seems like if it was Louisa, she would have included her son and written to “Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lee.” So I am betting on Dora J. Russell being the woman in these pictures.

If anyone has these same or similar pictures, please use our “Contact Us” form or leave a comment so we can compare and share! We are very interested in more information about these photos.

Click on any of the images to enlarge.

In Yellowstone Park, Aug-Sep 1921:

Buffalo Bill’s gravesite was a popular place to visit:

Unknown places in Colorado(?):

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Family photo treasure chest.

 

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Copyright 2013-2014 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

 

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Edith Roberts Luck visited her son and his family every year for Christmas (as well as many Easters, plus the birth of every baby to help out). She would take over the cooking and had quite often sent ahead, through the mail, a big box of cookies and sometimes gifts in with them. She would package the cookies tightly in the plastic tubs that you could get ice cream in, or sometimes they were just loose in the package. (That was dangerous- open the box and cookies for the grabbing and stuffing in the mouth were right there- no opening of tight lids to slow down a family hungry for Grandma’s cookies.) She would use popcorn to cushion the cookies- those were the days before styrofoam pellets, and besides, popcorn would be food-safe, right? Sometimes it would make the cookies smell/taste like popcorn, but hey, she was a farmer’s daughter, and grew the best corn in her garden that I ever tasted.

I always wonder if these recipes were from her mother, Ella V. Daniel Roberts. They cooked for tables full of farm workers at harvest time, and packed a lot of calories into those meals to keep the workers going. These sugar cookies would have helped with that.

Making these sugar cookies and using the cooky cutters passed down has always been very special, especially with our own children, niece, and nephews. It is a family tradition to be thankful for; having such an excellent grandmotherly-type grandma is something I am very grateful for too. One of the best compliments I ever got was from my brother who said that I would make a great grandmother. With Grandma Edie as a role model, I do hope that will be true.

Here is Edith Roberts Luck’s recipe, typed on her old, well used typewriter:

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Family treasure chest of pictures and recipes.

 

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Lloyd Eugene “Gene” Lee was born 06 Sep 1907 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Samuel J. Lee (1879-1964) and Dorothy Adele Aiken (1884-1953).

We are guessing that this letter was written possibly when he was about 8-11, so that would be around 1915-1919. (Kids learned to write later back then than they do now.)

Transcription:

“Gene Lee

1038 Grandview  [return address]

[To:]

North Pole

Mr. santa clau [torn paper]”

Including that return address was vital, so Santa could find his house- no GPS or online directories for Santa back then. ;D

Transcription:

“Mr. santa clause

I want a hat a coat

a football a tran [train] a some [looks erased]

soldier game some books

a blackboard some games

a little santa clause.”

The request for the ‘soldier game’ may help to put the date around 1918 when World War I was in progress, although little boys always seem to want to play soldiers, whether with toy soldiers or today’s more sophisticated video war games.

Asking for a hat and coat first, necessities of life in the St. Louis winters, shows how tough economic times were at the end of the nineteen teens, and how practical people had to be everyday.

Even for Christmas.

 

Happy Holidays to all our family and readers!

 

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family treasure chest ephemera, in possession of author.

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c1900:

From left, in back: William Goodson, Jodie Goodson, Joel Abner Goodson, Emily Pridy Goodson, Vina Goodson Sitze, Effie Goodson Sitze.

In front, from left: Henry Goodson, Gilbert Goodson.

Not in photo: John Goodson, Nellie Goodson, Corie Goodson, Rachel Goodson.

 

c1950:

The Goodson Family

From left, in back: Gilbert Goodson, Henry Goodson, Vina Sitze, Nellie Underwood, Corrie Moyer

In front, from left: Will Goodson, Effie Sitze, John Goodson, Rachel Shell

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Family photo collection.

 

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The more things change, the more they stay the same…

 

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Marion [Ohio] Daily Star, 11 May 1881, Vol. IV, No. 182, Page 4, Column 4. Reprinted with the kind permission of the newspaper for non-commercial use.

 

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