Thornton Family#
Family photos from my grandfather’s letter about pre-war America. Captions were written by him.
I was born in my grandparents home at 236 East Ruth St., Decatur, Illinois, February 11, 1922. Notice the dress, customary for boys and girls.
This was me and my brother, Glenn; time and place unknown. Notice the wearing apparel, the latest style, but much to my chagrin, an object of ridicule. My cousins were ribald in their judgment of the Little Lord Fauntleroy suit. My chubbiness had also caught their attention. Mom had a discerning eye for style, and Glenn and were subject to her preference until we reached an age of rebellion. Bib overalls were my favorite choice.
Notice Glenn holding me off the trike. I was not interested in the camera, I wanted to replace Glenn. The sibling rivalry was obvious, however, I remained too mature in my memory of that scene. It took me years into my adulthood to realize Glenn’s feelings also were important.
Rena Yoder, Mom’s niece, was about nine years old at this taking. Her mother, Lillie, died when she was two or three years old. Lillie and Mom were deaf sisters. They went to the school for the Deaf, Jacksonville when they were children. Rena lived with us about three years. She was adopted out by her father, to some Missouri people. She really has little memory of her childhood. She was finally rescued from the Missouri people when she was fourteen or fifteen. They had abused her. Today she lives in Los Cruces, New Mexico.
Standing Lt to Rt: Versa Violet, Avery Marshall Allen, Mom, Rosa Rachel. Sitting Lt to Rt: James Alexander, Grace Gertrude, Hulen James, Dollie Annabelle, Williams Branch. Lillie Leota was not present. Location Marion County, probably Odin, Ill.
Pop is standing in the middle of this baseball team of the Illinois School for the Deaf. He was Seventeen. He was a pitcher. Jacksonville is about seventy miles west of Decatur, Ill. There was a deaf pitcher named Dummy Taylor that pitched for the White Sox. Pop liked it if people mistook him for Dummy Taylor. I believe his name was also Luther.
Pop is the first one on the left standing. I don’t know the date. Location is on the campus of I.S.E. This is the school mom and her sister, Lillie attended, too. I believe her cousin, Grace Shanafelt attended the School. Grace was a member of Mom’s Church in Decatur. It really wasn’t a church, it was a religious gathering attenuating attendance at each member’s home. All members were deaf. There was no minister. Everything, songs, prayers and sermons were arranged by the members. Every year a picnic was held at Nelson Park in Decatur. Deaf persons traveled to Decatur from all parts of the state of Illinois.
Grampa was born in 1868 Clinton Co. Ind. State of picture and location unknown.
Born in 1872 Clinton Co. Ind. State unknown. Location is side yard of Ruth St. house behind her may have been my home.
Grampa worked here as a construction foreman. In 1920, his mother, Nancy (Hall) Thornton and his brothers, Jesse and Charles lived nearby. In 1922 Grampa lived at 126 E. Ruth St. my place of birth.
Left to right: Aunt Mae Spears, Gramma, Aunt Meda wife of Uncle Oliver, and Aunt Dora Aldrich. The date may have been in 1918 or 19. Aunt Mae is holding Mildred, Aunt Dora is holding Gladys, Aunt Meda is holding Vera. I don’t know the boy in front. The location probably was Centralia, Illinois.
It must be just before I was born in 1922, probably January.
I am on the left sitting with Junior. It must be in the year 1927. Photo taken at the Ruth St. house. Notice Franklin St. in the background was a dirt road despite being a major road across lake Decatur on Rte 51.
I have my back turned to the camera.
Same date as above, prob. 1922-23.
During a visit to Rena’s home. She had been adopted to the family in Mo. She was 14 or 15 years old. Not long after this visit, Rena was removed from this home by legal authorities for child abuse.
Notice the dates are in August and September when films were developed. The top photo of Jim Yoder was taken July 5, last day of our vacation. We were driven home to Decatur by Uncle George and Aunt Rosa that day. Each picture taken was the tailend of our visiting vacation.
In 1928 I lived at 1077 So. Webster St. In the picture I’m on the left, junior is in the middle and Glenn is on the right. I was six years old, in grade 1-4 at Washington. Grade School, a mid-term student in my first year. Notice the cops worn by Junior and Glenn. They were very popular with parents, not so for me. I hated the cops, the shorts and the stockings because they were always falling down to my ankles.
Notice Glenn’s shoes, work shoes purchased by Pop, just before the school year. He believed in buying shoes to grow into so they would allow for growth through the year until the next purchase (usually the shoes were badly worn at the end of the school year; however, we went barefooted during the summer months.) I usually grew blisters from the loose fitting shoes at the beginning of the new school year. In the picture, I wore low cut shoes because at the time of purchase in September, I wasn’t due to enter school, not until January. I presumed my parents didn’t anticipate that for a head, or those were my church going shoes.
Same date as above, Glenn on far left, I’m 2nd from right with the loose sleeve. I was a squirmy kid. Children in the photo were, of an Italian family living next door.
I was 8. That is me on the left. Junior is in the middle, Glenn on the right. Rex is the pup. Notice the bib overalls. I was happy to wear these clothes, rather than knickers or shorts, however, the straps never stayed on my shoulders. I already was pressuring my parents to purchase pants without bibs or straps.
Notice the fence in the back ground with the cords strung along the fence. Mom liked to plant sweet peas as soon as the weather permitted. Pop always had a vegetable garden in the back yard, growing leaf lettuce, carrots, onions, radishes, etc. I loved yellow tomato preserves Mom canned every year.
Same date as above.
I’m in the middle, Glenn on my right, Junior on my left. The date is July 5. We are preparing to go home from our vacation visit with Aunt Rosa and Uncle George. (Mom’s sister)
Notice Glenn’s sad expression. He was mad because I had fired off a fire cracker, he claimed he’d lost the night before. Uncle Hulen wouldn’t let Glenn take it away from me. I look pretty smug.
Color photo included to show the likeness of Scott and Luke. It is Greg’s birthday. Scott is prepared to whup Greg with his belt.
Left side is me, Calvin Spears, Pop’s nephew is on the right. Picture taken by Bill Caldwell, amateur photographer and organist, we met that day who—
Cal and I were roaming about near the St. Louis Bridge in the southwest district of Decatur. Bill gave me the coat I’m wearing in the picture. Late that afternoon we returned to Bill’s home, and bedroom, where he tried to seduce us.
Cal died this month from cancer of the bladder. Despite many years of little contact, I feel a keen loss. As children we shared many hours of playing cowboy, pinochle, football, roller skating (He was a great skater) and staying over the weekend at each other’s homes.
Photo likely at Harry Wheeler’s house, next door to Aunt Mae. Harry was a musician who taught piano. He loved to visit our home to play our pump organ. After Mom died, we gave it to Harry. Mom got it via truck from Marion County along with an old phonograph with cylindrical records and an instrument of four or five strings and no neck. I have no memory why a deaf person received them, nor do Glenn, Rena or Uncle Hulen. Rena is now my oldest living Branch relative since Uncle Hulen died recently. Glenn and I are next. Perhaps Mom had been fascinated with those items when she was young, so she may have acquired them in an estate or probate we know nothing about. Perhaps, some day, finding time, money and incentive. I’ll visit the probate records in the Marion County Courthouse. I wouldn’t be surprised if large land holdings were established by the Branch family that resulted in two cemeteries being set aside for family burial. Perhaps my gt. Uncle George Branch became rich from oil royalties on his land. Both cemeteries are in the middle of a large oil field still producing today. The Branch Cemetery has an unproducing capped well within its confines. I knew of a trusteeship that was formed by an oil company. All heirs signed the papers so revenue could be derived to keep up the cemetery and provide stones for our ancestors. I’m sure the oil company profited hugely. Now that the well is capped, the cemetery is in need of care.
Around November 20, 1942 at Aunt Mae’s home. I’m on the left, Aunt Mae’s in the middle, and her son, Alfred Spears is on the right. I’m on a nine day Boot leave from Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Al is on furlough from Washington, I believe. He served (I think) all his time stateside as a military policeman. A salty sailor would quickly recognize I was fresh out of the Training Center, by my appearance. I had a single stripe on the cuff of my Navy jumper, my white hat was not worn in a salty way, and my neckerchief was tied too low. Two days after returning to the Navy, I was automatically promoted to first class seaman with three stripes on my cuff. That was Thanksgiving Day, Brooklyn, N.Y. That night I boarded my first ship as a Navy gunner.
On the left is Frank Aldrich, Aunt Dora’s son. I never saw Frank in uniform. He was still a civilian when I was home for Boot leave. He and I were dating girls that were close friends. I don’t believe Frank went overseas. Frank died of a heart attack in his forties, I believe.
Date unknown, probably just prior to his entering the Navy in 1944. It could be a high school photo. Luke served as a quartermaster petty officer on a mine-sweeper in the South Pacific during the War. He was discharged in 1946 and immediately used his G.I. Bill privilege by entering James Millikin University. He graduated summa cum laude.
Date uncertain, definitely in the winter, since I’m wearing dress blues with a Navy sweater under my jumper. I seldom wore that hat, preferring to wear a white hat unless for dress parade inspection. I have no memory of the posing, it surely is a studio photo. Notice my hair, normally very straight, has waves formed by a liberal application of hair oil and crimping.
Picture taken in Karamshar, Iran, by an enterprising Irani, who had developed a pretty good business. Notice my hands placed in front of my fly. I was concealing a rip in my britches. Crew members were permitted to go on liberty without dress uniforms. We were so indifferent to our appearance because we never met women, and native dress made our clothes seem like formal attire. Most of my denims (dungarees) rubbed me raw.
I’m on the right sharing the rickshaw. The Zulu native was making a living taking tourists for rides and posing for pictures. My shipmate is Waltz “Limp Jump.” We shared the same cabin on ship. Durban was beautiful, however any place would look beautiful after recently spending nearly three months in the Persian Gulf.
Preparing to take a cable car to the “Sugar Loaf,” looming in the background of the photo. I’m on the left, Willie “Limp Jump” is on my left and “Swede” is on his left. They were shipmates who shared my living quarters.
Notice the hats on the back of our heads and the neckerchiefs tied closely around our collar. Both are violations of naval regulations. The hats were required to be worn with the front resting about an inch above the eyebrows and the knot of the neckerchief located just below the “V” of the collar. Our hats were shaped in the manner shown due to the way they were folded and tucked into the back of our collar when we were “undressed” (out of uniform) during chow or activities, under a roof when not on duty. Most sailors appeared as we did in this photo. It was considered “salty.” Many wore non-regulation. Many blue tailors made uniforms which were overlooked by authorities, when sailors were on liberty or leave. They were not permitted during inspections (parade) or official duties. I didn’t wear tailored made; they were too expensive and a little too showy in my opinion.