All About Pocket Knives

This is a pic of my Dad during the war. It was taken in about 1942. It just happens to be my birth year.....funny about that.
Tony.

I am posting this today on November 11, 2018 because 100 years ago today my great uncle Julius (my grandmothers twin brother) was in a limited way involved in the US effort in World War I. Julius had enlisted in July at the age of 31 and was assigned to basic training. After that he went into specialized training in the Balloon Replacement Detachment at Ft Morrison Va. He completed his training and was awaiting the order to ship out to France when like many other thousands of US servicemen, he contracted the Spanish flu on the east coast of the US. He was in a military hospital in New Jersey on this day 100 years ago when the war ended. He, unlike thousands of sick GIs there and millions of people worldwide survived the flu and returned home to South Dakota early in 1919. The balloon unit he was in would have been involved in sending reconnaissance balloons up on steel cable tethers to spot for the artillery and watch for troop movements behind enemy lines from the balloon baskets up to 5000 feet up. I don't know if he was an observer in the basket or with the ground crew which supported the 2 men in the basket aloft. The 2 men in the basket aloft had a very dangerous job as the Germans did not want anyone spying on them and would shoot down the balloons whenever they could. The men aloft were some of the first troops to use parachutes in warfare in case the German aircraft did shoot at them and cause the balloons to burst into flames. My grandmother Jane, and Julius also had a sister who was an Army nurse and was in France in a field hospital treated wounded soldiers for 13 months when the war ended on this day 100 years ago.

Somewhere in this photo of the 73rd OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY is a great,great uncle: William B. Davis. He served with the 73rd from 11 November, 1861 to 20 July, 1865.

He held positions of private, corporal, sergeant, sergeant major, first lieutenant, and captain. He also served as captain and acting adjutant, and as captain and acting assistant inspector general of the brigade.

This photo was taken on the main street of Chillicothe, Ohio in February, 1864, when the regiment returned to the front following a veeran furlough. They arrived in Chillicothe in January 1864 and stayed about one month.

Wanted to post this yesterday on Vetran's Day, the internet was down, so today it can go in the Old Family Pictures thread.
We have no pictures of Miss Joy's grandfather in uniform, but we have pictures of the Bible he had in his shirt pocket while he was in France in WWI. The Bible kept an enemy round from taking his life. The page inside the cover shows his name, James Redditt, Christmas, Florida and then the unit he served in. He was born in 1890 and died in 1960. This is a picture of Grandpa "Jim", his wife and 3 sons at the old cow pens on their ranch in Orange County Florida. This picture was probably from the mid '50's: Treefarmer

Great story and pics, Treefarmer.

Here are some old family pics....

Grandparents on mother's side. Built the Golf Ranch in Branson following WWII. Duncan Hines recommended their fried chicken. The also offered weekly square dancing, hayrides. Don offered golf demonstrations, trick shots, and coaching. That is all gone now, the property turned into condos. To visit there as a kid was a great treat.

This is the Luther Gore family in front of what I think is now the oldest home in Irondale, a suburb of Birmingham. My maternal grandmother, Rosa Lee, is fourth from the left.

My great uncle, John, second from the left was one of the largest men I have ever known.

Charlie Noyes

This is my Mom, upper left and her sisters.

Flappers from the Roarin’ Twenties.

I think that is the U. S. Highway 78 bridge across the Coosa River at Riverside, Alabama.

They frequented a nightclub called The Black and White, on Highway 78. That’s where my Mom and Dad met.

Charlie Noyes

This is my Wife's Dad (Tommy Anderson) when he was a kid......
You see how you can occupy your time when you don't have an "I pad" to play with?
Mike

Sarah’s grandparents. He was a horse drawn street car conductor and then an electric street car conductor in Woodlawn, a section in East Birmingham.

I have always thought that to be an exceptionally attractive woman.

Given the number on his cap, the photo was printed in reverse.

Charlie Noyes

Sarah’s father and twin sister, Earl and Pearl, in a goat driven Studebaker wagon.

The goat and wagon belonged to a traveling photographer, who apparently got around or there were more than one plying that trade.

Charlie Noyes

When tongueriver started this thread, he posted a picture of he and his dad from 1948, I knew we had a similar one of my dad and me but couldn't find it. Finally ran across two, one with mother and dad and one a little later with just dad and me.
The 1st picture was taken at my uncle's house, the 2nd was at my parents house. Both places were on the Goldenrod Road (at one time SR15A) about 5 miles east of the city of Orlando back in the day.
Treefarmer

Great stuff everyone! The "goat wagon" pics are awesome!

My mother and her father with her herford cow.

Cowboys and Indians and bluegills Philip. I was there too.

1st picture.
Papaw Fry built this house after the earlier one burnt. It is in the scene depicted on the label of my GEC knives. That is my cousin Dale , who was killed in Vietnam. He was a gunner on a helicopter, his Mommy Aunt Fern never accepted his death, as the casket was closed, eventually losing her sanity.

2nd picture.
I was standing in front of this house too in 1954 or '55. It is the photo on the label GEC's Tidioute #14s. Kinda weird.

3rd and 4th pictures.
Papaw Fry standing in front of the house I was born in ( also on my label), and on the porch with the dog.

Nobody's dad builds their own house any more these days, at least, very few do. Nice pics, Lyle, the dog and porch pic is iconic!

I really find this thread fascinating - the history in these family photos is priceless ...

Lyle - I agree with Glen that the photo of your Dad on the porch with the dog is just very classic in composure ...

Daddy and Papaw built that last little house I was born in too. Papaw would and could do about anything. He had stores, made tombstones, caskets, built stone fireplace, had a small coal mine, and a gambling house during prohibition when Mamaw and him had separated.

My grandfather Ivan and grandmother Tana.
The pictures are from the period 1938-1945.

Here are a few old family pictures that recently were shared with me by a cousin.

My mother (front row on the far right), her sisters and brother with their mother (my grandmother) third from the left, back row. Several cousins and me (second from the left, with my hat in my lap) on the steps at my maternal grandparent’s house. The house had four rooms: a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms, no indoor plumbing or running water. I recall the house having “coal oil” lamps, with no electricity or telephone until I was 6 or 8 years old, probably a few years after this picture was taken.
Ken

Thanks for your pics Ken. Sure do like this thread.

Enjoying these photo's from both sides of the pond. A lot of progress I enjoy but there are some very appealing thing in those photo's as well.

Wonderful pictures, Ken. Beautiful family.

Here is a picture of my mother.
She was born in March of 1920.

Wow! Your mom was beautiful FRJ! Mumbleypeg, yours too!