Mary Heichelbech

Mary William "Bill" Heichelbech (née) Knott, aka Dot. Seen here at the St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana in 1923. She was my grandmother and I had never seen her at this age before. I love her outfit and her smile. 

My Whirligig Fair Book

I wanted to share with you some pictures of a book my great grandmother, Ruth Stemm wrote and illustrated, published in 1929. She was a very talented artist, though little of her work survives with identification. I say that because she supplied Virginia Snow Studios and other art and ad agencies with artwork for advertising and may not have always been credited. This colorful, delightful book has such sweet images. She dedicated it to my grandmother, Marylu (aka Mary Lura aka Mother Mary) and Billy (aka William Bruce aka Uncle Bruce). These photos were generously sent to me by my uncle Larry. I love to see our family's artwork!

Amanda Smoker and William Wesley Stemm

It's been so long since I last posted they've gone and changed the format of Blogger. Whoops. Upwards and onwards.

Here we have Ruth Stemm's parents, my g-g-grandparents, Amanda Smoker and William Wesley Stemm. Hand-written caption by Uncle Bruce Morgan (my grandmother's brother). Date this was taken is unknown, but I would guess 1890s or later. Her parents were Jacob Zook Smoker and Mary Anne Smoker (nee Smiley). I read somewhere that the Elkhart Smokers got their name from the Mennonite Smucker, which lines up with family lore that Amanda's parents did not want her out a-courtin' because they were very strict, devout, and modest. It seems strange to think about 'regular' people marrying a Mennonite today, but back then the differences would have been fewer considering that most people were poor, modest, and working the land.

I have no info about his parents. Seems like I heard they were farmers as well, but I have no source info now on that.

I do have the census from 1900 showing these two, my grandmother Ruth and her sister Winifred. I've never heard anything about Winifred. I read somewhere that she married a Williams. Not sure if that's correct. The fact that both have parents born in Pennsylvania adds a little anecdotal evidence to
the Mennonite theory.

I found Amanda's grave here. And found some info on William through findagrave. From the Thursday, December 5, 1935 Rochester Sentinal:

Friends in this city have received word of the death of William W. STEMM, aged 76, which occurred at his home in Goshen Tuesday after an operation. Mr. Stemm for over fifty years was a traveling salesman for an Indianapolis paint house and Rochester was in his territory. The deceased was one of nine children. He was born near Silver Lake. He was a brother of the late Ira STEMM of this city. The widow, two daughters and two sisters, survive. Funeral services were held in Goshen Thursday afternoon.