Category Archives: Hess Family

How old was I when that family event happened? A partial list…

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I am a 69 year old woman who loves to reflect on the history of her family throughout my lifetime.

Spending time thinking about how old I was when something happened helps me contextualize and process events in my life’s timeline. It also helps me to reflect on my own growth, and how events may have influenced my life and perspective. It can also aid me when I am discussing and sharing memories with others who were present at the time, helping me create a more accurate narrative of the past.

So here is a short little “how old was I” chart. My sisters can just do some simple math (is there simple math? LOL) to calculate their age at the time of these events.

1954

I was born. My father was 29 and my mother was 28 years old. My older sister was 2 years old. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president. When I was born, my Grandma Pet was 68 years old. Bones was 44 years old and Madalyn was 37 years old. My paternal grandfather, George Sr. was 63 years old and my paternal grandmother was 60 years old.

1955

I was 1 year old when my great grandmother Grayer, (Amelia Louise Grayer nee Wisthoff) died on 1 May 1955.

1957

In February of 1957, my older sister and I visited our paternal grandparents in Benton Harbor. There are photos of that event.

In November of 1957, my younger sister was born. I was 3 years, 9 months and 16 days old.

My brother-in-law, Chris, was born on 23 Apr. 1957 – (of course, it would take me years to meet him!)

My father began his work overseeing work at Willow Run Labs.

1961

My family and Aunt Babe took a trip out west to the Badlands, Cooley Dam, Mt. Rainer, San Francisco, Disneyland, Yellowstone Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marine Land. I was 7.5 years old.

1962

My family and Aunt Babe took a trip to Virginia – Williamsburg. I was 8.5 years old.

1964

This is the year of our house construction on Danbury Lane. I was 10 years old.

1964 and 1965: Robert Hess served as the personal representative of the U.S. Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and led teams of scientists through a field review of the Army’s Combat Surveillance capabilities in Europe and in Korea.

Gretchen coordinated the successful Christmas program at BUCC with an international theme.

1965

On 13 Feb 1965, our beloved Grandma Pet suddenly passed away. She was 79 years old. Mom was 39 years old. Uncle Bob was 47 years old. I had just turned 11 years old.

In August of 1965, Dad traveled to Japan.

1966

1 Jul 1966: Robert Hess receives 2nd highest Army award

Robert starts with HSRI – I was 12 years old.

Robert is Chairman of the building committee at BUCC and the new Addition is completed.

18 May 1966 – My great uncle Herman passed away. He was 88 years old.

1968

MAW had her brain surgery in 1968. I was approx. 14.5 years old and she was 16.5 years old. (I am not certain of the exact dates- please correct me on this date if necessary.)

1970

In 1970, I was 16 years old and I got my driver’s license.

31 May 1970: Robert Hess took me on a European trip.

President Nixon named Dad to the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee for 3 years.

December 1970 – this could be a possible date for MAW’s trip to Moscow.

1972

On my birthday in 1972, I turned 18 years old. I met Jack either that day or the week of my birthday. I graduated from Pioneer HS.

Tim’s father passed away on 6 Jul 1972. He was only 48 years old.

On 20 Jun 1972 my Great Aunt Minnie passed away. She was 93 years old.

1973

Mary Ann was living in France. Tour d’Aygosi 7, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France

Robert Hess was the Consultant of the Secretary of the Army’s Scientific Advisory Panel 

April – Mary Ann is getting ready to return to America after a year abroad

Jack is at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX (August 24th)

Jack is at the Defense Language Institute in Washington DC

Briarwood Mall opened in October

1974

11 Feb 1974: Linda Claire turns 20 years old

March 1974: Linda visits Jack in DC for spring break

3 Apr 1974: tornado in Hillsdale

April 1974: Khaki takes trip to Germany

4 May 1974: Mary Ann graduates from the University of Michigan

1 Sept 1974: Andrew Jacob Wiesner is born in WI (Of course, I would not meet Drew for quite a few years!)

Claire and Hillsdale friends spend spring break in Washington DC

18 Nov 1974: Jack Groshans has honorable discharge from the US Air Force

1974: This could be a possible date for Dad’s trip to Venezuela for the Pan American Health Conference.

1976

15 May 1976: I graduated from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. I was 22 years old.

20 Oct 1976: My great aunt Lucy (Grover’s sister) passed away. She was 89 years old.

1977

February 1977 to April 1982: Jack Groshans worked for the US Postal Service

13 Aug 1977: Groshans Wedding in Ann Arbor, MI – I was 23 years old.

1978

July 1978 I was the Sales and Catering Manager for Weber’s Inn until March of 1980

1981

My amazing daughter was born on 3 Jul 1981 at 7:11pm. We were living at 1460 Bemidji Street, AA. I was 27 years old.

1983

Madalyn died on 21 Jan 1983. Madalyn was only 65 years old. I was 28 years old.

September 1983- December 1984 Jack Groshans attended Washtenaw Community College

1984

I worked at Chi Systems as Fulfillment Manager for Hospital Purchasing Management publication.

17 Mar 1984: Robert Jack Groshans died (paternal grandfather of my children) he was only 57 years old.

8 Apr 1984: My niece Kristy is born

19 Jul 1984: This was my hire date at the Ann Arbor Inn as their Conference Manager

20 Sep 1984: Henrietta Spruhan Hess dies in Kissimmee, FL (mother of Robert Hess). She was 90 years old. I was 30 years old.

1986

3 May 1986 My great Aunt Babe passed away. She was 95 years old. I was 32 years old.

1989

8 Jan 1989: My nephew Charlie was born. I was 34 (almost 35 years old)

1 Apr 1989: My younger sister married Chris. I was 35 years old.

May 1989: I was hired at the Radisson as the Conference Manager.

1991

8 April 1991: I had genetic counseling and Chorionic Villus sample because of pregnancy risk factors at Hutzel Hospital while 3 months pregnant. Dad accompanied me to this series of tests.

2 May 1991: Blake is born

31 May 1991: Robert Hess retires and is named Professor Emeritus. He was 66 years old.

Aug 1991: Linda Claire Groshans left job as Conference Manager at the Raddison on the Lake

August 1991: Amy and I went to Valley View condos at Grand Traverse Resort with Grandma and Grandpa. Jack joined us for the last weekend. The Whitmers also joined us. Our family had a 16th floor brunch at the Grand Traverse.

31 Oct 1991: My amazing son was born at 3:25pm. I was 37 years old.

28 Nov 1991: My uncle George died at age 69 (born in 1922)

1995

I was divorced from Jack. I was 41 years old.

8 Aug 1995: Bones died. He was 85 years old.

1996

I started work at First Congregational Church. I was 42 years old.

1997

15 Aug1997: My nephew Kevin was born

1998

1 Apr 1998: Linda Claire Groshans purchases 2725 Yost Blvd (and sells house at 5431 Pratt Road, AA, MI)

2004

My Uncle Bob passed away on 9 Dec 2004. He was 87 years old.

2005

I started employment at BUCC and stayed until 2010. I was 51 years old.

2006

1 Jan 2006. Family friend Winnie Martin passed away. She was 92 years old.

25 Jan 2006: Aunt Ginny passed away. She was 83 years old.

My mother Gretchen passed away on 1 Nov 2006. She was 81 years old. I was 52 years old.

Juan James Hess 1850-1929

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Could be Juan and Dora Hess with George Sr yongest in middle of front row
Juan James Hess
Juan Hess pictured with his grandsons … Robert Lawrence Hess on the left and George Kellogg Hess on the right

When Juan James Hess was born on May 12, 1850, in Michigan, his
father, George, was 38 and his mother, Mary Ann Higbee, was 36. He married Dorothy
(Dora) Bishop on October 29, 1874, in Berrien, Michigan. They had four
children in 16 years. He died on January 15, 1929, in Berrien, Michigan,
at the age of 78, and was buried in Michigan.

The children of Juan and Dora:

#1 Hattie Hess 1875-1880
Died of Diphtheria at age 4 yr. 6 mo.

#2 Perry B. Hess 1880-1880
Died at 2 months of age

#3 Robert DeMontel Hess 1882-1907
He had a very quiet wedding on October 22nd, 1904 to Miss Alice King.
The wedding was quiet and had not been announced because of the
bereavement of Robert over the loss of his mother Dora who had passed
away on Oct. 15, 1904. Both Robert and Alice were graduates of Benton
Harbor college. Robert and Alice had a daughter Hattie Lenore Hess who
was born in 1905. In the 1910 census both Alice (now the widow of
Robert) and their daughter Hattie Lenore were living with Alice’s parents.
Robert’s death certificate shows that he died from abscess contributed to
by appendicitis.

#4 George Kellogg Hess, Sr. 1891-1969 (my grandfather)
Birth September 6, 1891 in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, USA
Death January 10, 1969 in Saint Cloud, Osceola, Florida, USA
Marriage to Henrietta Spruhan on June 25, 1921. George and Henrietta
had 2 sons…George Kellogg Hess, Jr. and Robert Lawrence Hess

News Articles:

20 Dec 1924 The News Palladium Benton Harbor, MI Juan Hess
20 Dec 1924 The News Palladium Benton Harbor, MI
Jan 15, 1929 Obit for Juan Hess

January 15, 1929, The News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI

17 Jan 1929 Juan Hess
17 January 1929

A Great Lakes shipwreck and my family connection. Urial (Uriel) Higbee 1822-1868

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My photo from 1998 when I visited the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. I did not know then that I had a family connection to a well known Great Lakes shipwreck.

In 1998, I posed for photos at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. I looked great that summer day. My blonde hair was long and wavy. I had some rather fine sunglasses and so I kept striking a pose by various boats and nautical items in the museum. What I did not know then was that I had a connection to a Great Lakes shipwreck.

I did have some nautical connections. After all, my father had served on a heavy cruiser named the USS Oregon during WWII. But I had personally never had any nautical experiences of my own. I had never been on a ship for a voyage of any sort. My nautical experiences had been only been to travel by canoe along the river, a rowboat on a lake, or paying for a steamboat tour.

Still, I felt a deep connection to all things nautical and certainly a bond to the amazing Great Lakes. After all, I am from Michigan and as the expression goes, “4 out of the 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.” I loved the Great Lakes so much that most of my vacations as an adult centered around going to a cottage on the Oscoda shores of Lake Huron. Every morning while at Lake Huron, I walked to the beach with coffee in hand and watched the massive Great Lakes steamers that plowed through the water. I telepathed my sincere good wishes to the crew who worked on those massive freighters.

The Great Lakes shores have plenty of tourist shops and I would often visit them and see the sad books about Shipwrecks. It tore at my heart and although many folks are eager to purchase this type of book, it seemed much too sad for me. I would not even pick up the book to look at any possible sad illustrations or photos.

Many of us probably know the Gordon Lightfoot song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” I still feel profoundly sad to hear the song. Here are some of the lyrics that stress the dire historical moment.

“And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?

The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too
T’was the witch of November come stealin'”

It was in 2006 that I became fascinated with researching genealogy. My beloved mother had passed away that year and I was anxious to find all the family stories that I forgot to ask her about. During my searches on genealogy web sites, I had a bone chilling moment when I realized my family had a strong connection to the Great Lakes ship wreck of the Hippocampus. My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ann Higbee Hess, was the big sister of Urial Higbee. It was Urial (my 2nd great granduncle) that perished and was lost in this well known shipwreck.

I started to read the very type of story that I had spent years avoiding in those gift stores. As I read, I looked at a pen drawing of the Hippocampus. The artist had pictured it in the angry swell Lake Michigan’s waters. Seeing the illustration wrought me with profound sadness. The same lakes that have always fascinated me with their majesty also could cause unspeakable loss.

Here are articles from the Saint Joseph Herald newspaper from 12 Sep 1868. This was one of the first articles that I found and it was very unnerving to see what may have caused the disaster. A story that literally hinges on a tired ship captain taking a day off and a load of too many peaches being placed on the ship.

There was another article that I found which gives greater context to the type of storm. This article appeared in the Herald-Palladium (St. Jospeh, MI) on 30 Nov 1981.

Herald-Palladium (St. Jospeh, MI) on 30 Nov 1981)

A full accounting may be found at the website Maritime History of the Great Lakes https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/53039/data

Urial (often Uriel) died at the young age of 42. He had been born in 1822 and had clearly lived in the North during the Civil War before his death in 1868. As I mentioned earlier, Urial was a brother to my 2nd great grandmother Mary Ann Higbee Hess. Mary Ann lived from 1813-1874. She was 54 years old when her brother Urial drowned. (Mary Ann Higbee is #LZ2G-HRP on Family Search. org.) You can read my blog about Mary Ann Higbee Hess at https://tellinglifestories.org/2017/12/17/mary-ann-higbee-hess-1813-1874-my-2nd-great-grandmother-a-story-of-a-michigan-pioneer-woman-and-mother-of-12/(opens in a new tab)

When Uriel Urial Higbee was born on April 4, 1826, in Sandusky, Ohio, his father, James, was 46 and his mother, Mary, was 43. He married Sarah Louise Dodge in 1844. They had five children during their marriage.

John Andrew Bravin 1922-2011by Linda Claire Groshans

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When John Andrew Bravin “Uncle John” was born on March 1, 1922, in Meduno, Udine, Italy, his father, Anibale, was 31 and his mother, Lousa “Louise” Melosso, was 22.

In the 1930 US Census, Uncle John was only 8 years old. He was living with his family then at 924 E. 10th Street, Altoona, PA. The census indicates that both of his parents were born in Italy and that the family language in their home was Italian. In this same year, his younger brother Louis was 5 years old and his sister Madeline was 3 years old. Both Louis and Madeline were born Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Uncle John was a US veteran. He was in the US Marine Corp during WWII and served as a Sergeant.

He died on February 10, 2011, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, at the age of 88, and was buried there.

Here are a few photos from the Groshans family photo collection:

Uncle John Bravin holding his nephew Jack

William Sprague 1609-1675 an American Colonist and my ancestor by Linda Claire Groshans

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William Sprague was my 9th great grandfather.

LCG photo of a meadow

photo by Linda Claire Groshans

When William Sprague was born on October 26, 1609, in Upwey, Dorset, England, his father, Edward, was 33 and his mother, Christiana Margaret Holland, was 31. William’s father was a fuller by trade.

William married Millicent Eames on May 26, 1635, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. They had 12 children in 18 years. He died on October 26, 1675, in Hingham, Massachusetts, at the age of 66.

William was one of the first planters in Massachusetts. He had arrived in Massachusetts Bay having left from Upway, Dorsetshire, England in 1628. He probably traveled on the ship Abigail. He traveled to the colonies with his brothers Ralph and Richard. They were some of the first settlers in Watertown and Charlestown. William moved to Hingham in 1634 with his future father-in- law, Lt. Anthony Eames.

North America Family Histories 1500 to 2000 Sprague Families in America

Source: North America Family Histories 1500 to 2000, Sprague Families in America

North America, Family Histories 1500 to 2000, Sprague Families in America

Source: North America Family Histories 1500 to 2000, Sprague Families in America

From source: Great Migration Study Project…”By 1636 William was a proprietor and in ensuing years received several grants of land. He served as a fence-viewer, constable and disbursing officer as well as a selectman in 1645.”

I thought that it was most interesting that in his will, part of his estate were his books valued at 8s.

New England, The Great Migration and the Great Migration begins Vol. 3 P W

Source: Great Migration and the Great Migration Begins Vol. 3 P-W

William Sprague, Sr., my 10th great grandfather died the 26 day of October, 1675, but ” not a stone tells where he lies.”

how we relate

Here is how I relate to William Sprague, Sr.

 

Web sites that tell of William’s life:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35310519

You can purchase this book on Amazon:  The Genealogy Of The Sprague’s In Hingham: Arranged In Chronological Order, To The Fourth Generation, Counting From William Sprague, One Of The First … England, In The Year 1628.

On the free website FamilySearch.org the ID# for William is LT3K-KCD

 

 

Martha Ellen Spruhan 1918-1991

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One of my father’s first cousins was Martha Ellen Spruhan.  On my Family Tree on  Ancestry.com, I have done extensive research on the short life of Garrett Denny Spruhan, who was Martha’s father. He died at the age of 28. He had married Marion Parks at the age of 25 and they had their only child, a daughter, Martha Ellen Spruhan (the subject of this blog.) 

Martha Ellen was not yet a year old at the time of her father’s decease.

Martha Ellen was born on March 3, 1918 in Terre Haute, Indiana. She died in 1991 at the age of 73 in Rockford, Illinois. During much of her life she resided in Chicago, Illinois.

Martha E. Terrill from the Register Star, Rockford Ill, May 24, 1991

The 1940 census shows that Martha who was still single at age 22, lived with her widowed mother at the home of her maternal grandparents, the Parks of Chicago at 7523 Seeley Avenue. This same census indicates that she was employed as a corespondent for a mail order.

At age 23 Martha was married Earl B. Terrill, Jr. They had 2 sons. Martha’s husband seems to have applied and received several patents.

This is the death notice for Martha Ellen’s husband:Earl B. Terrill, Jr. 12 Nov 1966 Chicago Tribune, IL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Ellen Agens 1894-1919

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Jane Agens Hess

My paternal grandfather,George Kellogg Hess Sr., had a first wife before he married my grandmother. His first wife, Jane Agens, died at a very young age from tuberculosis. George and Jane had no children together.

One day, I had the stark realization that my very presence on this earth was because my grandfather chose to re-marry. I wanted to make sure that my family story included the story of his first wife, and the great love that my grandfather shared with her. In my mind, their story is also a part of my life story! 

My father told stories about my grandfather’s romance and devotion to his first wife. My father told me that even when his father was not allowed into the sick room, he would sit outside her window and read to her. I pictured that sweet scene many times. I found a photo of my grandfather seated on a window sill. I do not know the date of the photo, but have imagined this could have been him waiting on his wife.

George Kellogg Hess, Sr. on a window sill

George Kellogg Hess, Sr. 1891-1969

Jane Ellen Agens was born on June 5, 1894, in Ludington, Michigan. At the age of 22, she married George Kellogg Hess on April 21, 1917, in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She died on March 7, 1919, at the age of 24, and was buried in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

The ID# for Jane on FamilySearch.org is 9DD5-PN7.  This is a free website.

This is the link for Jane on FindaGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97244185.

St. Joseph Saturday Herald, 1 June 1912. This article shows that Jane and my Grandfather had attended school together.

My winter clothing in the 1950’s and beyond

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1950’s

Hess girls in snow suits on the back porch of Harbrooke 1956

photo on our back porch in Ann Arbor, MI -1956

Linda with Madalyn Klotz at the Rotunda

At the Christmas Rotunda in 1956. Linda Claire and family friend Madalyn Klotz

There was a photograph taken in 1956. A loving father had posed his 2 little girls who were wearing their full winter gear. The girls stand on the back porch of their home in Ann Arbor, MI. If you had been a passerby, I expect that you would have found the scene very endearing. Maybe you would have muttered, “how cute”. Maybe you would have just walked past with a new smile on your face. A father delighting in his sweet children was a good thing to witness.

My sister and I were the 2 little girls in the photo. She was 4 years old at that time and I was a toddler at the age of 2. The wonderment is that when I describe our outfits that were so overly heavy and bulky, that the carry away impression is still so stinkin’ cute.

Imagine, if you will, my sister is in a girl’s brown heavy weight woolen coat that reaches to just above the knees and flares at the bottom. It has 2 large pockets on the front of the coat and is closed with 3 big over sized buttons. Worn underneath this coat are a matching pair of woolen snow pants that are fitted with shoulder straps and a bib front. Her dress had to be shoved down inside of the snow pants.  The hat, which was part of the same coordinated set, was actually more of a tie-on wool bonnet with a big front brim and unbelievably thick straps. Once the hat was tied on under her chin, it was difficult to have room for a simple nod. But wait, there is also a muffler (now called a scarf) that also had to fit around the neck.  The outfit was completed by adding a pair of knit mittens tied to a string. The rubber boots in this ensemble made up their own story. You see, you wore your street shoes and had to pull on your boots over your shoes! How? There was a trick. That trick seems more like a tall tale than the truth.  You had to pull a plastic wonder bread bag over your shoes and then yank the boot until it fit over the shoes. Then you had to do  a strange boot dance as you hopped around trying to assure that the heel of your shoe was fully engaged inside of the boot.

In the photo, at 2 years old, I was wearing a more sensible one piece snowsuit. The snow suit must have been sold as a set, because the bonnet style winter hat (there was no hood) displayed all of the design elements from the silky snow suit. My boots were red. Were all girl’s boots red in the 50’s? Again, like all boots they had to be placed on over my shoes. To be exact, my lace up Buster Brown sturdy walking shoes.

In 1959, 3 years after the photo I just described, my father posed me once again in a winter scene for a photograph. I was 5 years old. I was smiling “to beat the band.” My delight was because my sister, neighbor friends, and I had just completed an architectural marvel. A nearly 10 foot long snow tunnel. You had to crawl through the tunnel on your belly, but somehow it was just wonderful. The fashions had already changed from 1956 to 1959. In the more recent of the photos, my waist length snow jacket has a hood. My hands are bare in the photo, but you can see that both pockets seem overstuffed with what I presume must have been my mittens. I must have proven myself able to keep track of my mittens, because there are no longer strings or clips attached to my sleeves. Oh…and the boots are still the brightest of bright red color.

Linda Claire by snow tunnel at Harbrooke

This photo is from 1959

1970’s

Linda Claire on skis

My photo from circa 1970 at our home in Ann Arbor, MI

Oh, how great were the winter weather looks from the 1970’s. In still another photo taken by my father, I was sporting the very popular winter faux fur puff ball hat with big pom-pom ties. Hard to understand now, but at the time that was a very fashionable look! During this time era, I was a skier. On the slopes, I also sported corduroy knickers worn with tall woolen socks. The knickers always had a fancy leather strap and metal buckle to keep them tight at the bottom which was just below knee level. A thick ski sweater was made from scratchy wool but kept you warm on the slopes. Frequently, you could wear your stirrup pants underneath the other clothing as an additional layer of warmth. The 70’s was also the first time that I remember wearing thermal long underwear.

I suppose the reason that I have so many photos of my winter garments was because my father loved being outdoors in all of the seasons. Every winter, he poured an ice rink in our backyard. Starting in my teens, we went to the ski slopes and we had always taken winter hikes through the quiet woods surrounding our home. My father pointed at the various trees and told us their names. We listened to the birds and knew who was “talking.”

I grew up loving winter. That makes me a sort of odd duck. After all, I mostly hear folks grumble and complain about the cold. I just bundle up and go out. Of course, I am very grateful that boots advanced to the point that no wonder bags need to used to put them on.

I hope you like winter too. I hope you see children playing in the snow and smile.

Gretchen Ream and Robert Hess – 1945

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FEBRUARY 1945

Robert and Gretchen wedding announcement Feb. 1945

On 14 Feb 1945, Robert Hess proposed to Gretchen Ream. Gretchen was 19 years old. Robert was 20 years old. As the article above states, Robert was a V-12 trainee in the University of Michigan Engineering School. The date of Robert’s entry into active service had been 1 July 1943. Gretchen and Robert had met in 1943, so they actually waited to become engaged. In 1943, Robert’s residence was at 426 Hamilton Place, Ann Arbor, MI and Gretchen lived with her mother at 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor.

At the time of their engagement, our country was still involved in WWII which we had entered the war in December 1941 after Pearl Harbor. In 1945, Gretchen was a secretary for Economy Baler Co.

APRIL 1945

On 1 April 1945, Easter Sunday, the photo below was taken of Gretchen and Robert having fun with a bike and a wagon. It was one of Robert’s favorite photographs.

with text Gretchen and Bob Wagon Easter Parade 1945

On 10 April 1945, Gretchen’s brother Robert Ream received a Purple Heart after his leg injury.

On 13 Apr 1945, Gretchen and Robert attended the Slide Rule Ball at the Michigan Union. She saved her dance card, autographed by the entertainer Louis Prima and his band.

Senior Ball 1945 Robert and Gretchen Hess (1)

On 21 April 1945, Robert and his brother George Hess graduate from the University of Michigan with honors.

1945 Engineering

MAY 1945

10 May 1945 – this article is about Gretchen’s brother, Robert Ream who was receiving the Oak Cluster.

Robert Ream news article wounded twice

 

On 2 November 1945, Robert Hess was appointed an Ensign in the US Navy.

Midshipman Graduation

Robert Hess served as Junior Division officer, main engines division, on a heavy cruiser at sea and later as auxiliary Division officer on a pair of light escort carriers.

On 30 November 1945 and 8 December 1945, Helen Mayer (Gretchen’s Aunt) hosted bridal showers.

Bridal Shower

On 15 December 1945, Gretchen and Robert were wed.

Invitation to wedding of Robert and Gretchen 12.15.1945

Robert and Gretchen Hess Dec 1945 wedding cake

On 16 Dec 1945, Robert and Gretchen began their honeymoon. I am fairly sure that their residence was 719 Oakland Ave., Ann Arbor, MI (see 1947 Ann Arbor Directory below- note that in 1947 George and Ruth Hess lived at 1107 Oakland Ave.)

719 Oakland

 

Amelia and Grover Ream lived in California for approx. 3 years.

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Grover and Amelia Ream 1915

My maternal grandmother was Amelia Grayer Ream and my maternal grandfather was Grover Cleveland Ream.

I was aware that my maternal grandparents had “visited” California, but it is only  recently that I realized my grandparents actually lived there for a period of time that was approx. 3 years long.

This blog showcases the materials that I have collected to show this “California” time frame of my grandparents life.

Grover and Amelia were married on 26 Sept 1912 in Ann Arbor, MI. The photo below indicates that after a honeymoon, they resided at 554 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI.

Grayer Ream Wedding in AA news Sept. 27, 1912

It seems that they only stayed in Ann Arbor for a short while after their wedding.

The article below is from 11 November of 1913. It appeared in the Ann Arbor News as an announcement of the birth of twin boys. Our family was told the boys were named Richard and Robert.

The article reads: Twin boys were born November 7 to Mr. and Mrs. Grover Ream of Santa Clara, Cal. Mrs. Ream was formerly Miss Amelia Grayer of this city.

 

1913 Nov 11 Twin Boys Ann Arbor News page 3

The article below was published in the Ann Arbor News on 19 August 1915. As you can see, Grover and Amelia have left California and on their way home to Ann Arbor because Amelia’s father is dying.

19 Aug 1915 Ann Arbor News page 3

My mother told me that the picture below was taken in California. It is a photo of her parents with an unknown man on the left side of the photo.

Amelia and Grover ream with unknown man in California

This timeline of facts suggests that Grover and Amelia moved to California shortly after their 1912 marriage and returned to Ann Arbor, MI in 1915.

26 Sep 1912 marriage in Ann Arbor MI

7 Nov 1913 birth of twin boys in Santa Clara, CA

3 Nov 1914 Voter registration records for Grover C. Ream in Santa Clara, CA

19 Aug 1915 Grover and Amelia return to Ann Arbor because her father is dying.

 

Other:

In this link from January of 1915, carpenters are told that things are looking brighter for jobs in Ann Arbor https://books.google.com/books?id=fxo2AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA26&lpg=RA2-PA26&dq=carpenters+union+512+of+ann+arbor,+mi&source=bl&ots=LTUsQheyDM&sig=Ha9RxOkg2jVOSnmOnG86tmOGsac&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwij84nlvevLAhUHmoMKHSlGC2sQ6AEINDAG#v=onepage&q=carpenters%20union%20512%20of%20ann%20arbor%2C%20mi&f=false