It's all about Mom and her family history and to present.

This post and others to follow will be dedicated to my dear mother.  

I will post pictures and history until Mother's Day and it will all be about Mom.

(Unless of course something else pops into my head and I veer off).

My Mom, Emma Jane Paxson Leach was born in Green Springs, Missouri, on July 4, 1919.

She is the fifth of eight children, and claims to have been raised mostly by her older sister who is still living and is 10 years older than Mom.  (Mmmm, let me see, that would be 103 years old.)

This is Mom on her 90th Birthday!  

Taken at the coast where we rented three homes and had a weekend party for her.  

This is in January, 2007 when we all went to Irrigan, Oregon

and helped Aunt Faye and Uncle Al celebrate their 75th anniversary

 This is my Mom, Emma Jane Paxson Leach when she was quite a bit younger.  

Am not sure when it was taken.

She, Lord willing, will celebrate her 93rd birthday on July 4th.

 This is the wedding picture of Mom's parents,  'John and Nora Paxson' , more commonly known as

Albert John Arthur Paxson, born March 3, 1876 in Jackson, Mississippi 

and Sarah Elnora Romine Paxson,  born April 6, 1883 in Winnigan, Missouri.

More of their family history later. . . let's do pictures now.

 Above is the Paxson and Romine families.  I have put names to them as best I could.

Just click on the picture to make it bigger so you can read them.

Aunt Faye is in the front so the picture is taken about 100 years ago.

Feedback on names and year would be appreciated!

 Above is Ottimer born in 1903, Faye (just turned 103 in Feb.) and Alva who died several years ago.

 Above is Grandma Nora Paxson with her son Pete.

Above is picture of Mom's sisters Alva, Ivah (her daughterNancy in front) and Faye.

This was reprinted in 60 but taken in '46 or 47.  

Nancy died from a head injury when she fell off her horse and was buried on her 16th birthday.

She was my favorite cousin.

 and younger still!  I think in 1964 but I can't read the calendar!

 This is Mom's Mother Sarah Paxson, at least that is what Mom tells me.

 Above is Aunt Ivah on left and Aunt Alta in front and behind, Aunt Faye.

 This is my grandparents as I remember them.

 Here is Mom  in April 2010 seeing her great grandson, Riggs

(Cristy and Dan Ripplinger's boy)

 This taken at Kathy's on a visit in October, 2011

 Our son Tim and his grandma in 2009

Last picture of us at Mom's house, taken weekend of her birthday in 2005

Mom's last visit with her favorite sister, Ivah who was in a foster home with Alzheimer's.

More to follow. . . 

Grandma's Diary 1948-52 March

My Grandma's Diary 1948-52 March

More Pictures of Don and Cora Leach's family . . .

This is Grandma holding Ray and Lena in front of the old log cabin which was originally built on the homestead.

Don, Cora and family Move to Missouri in 1929

Don Leach Family moved to Missouri in 1928 and back in 1929.  The Leach School was stolen while they were gone.  Read on. . .

Here is a picture of the homestead application which Don Leach turned in and paid $66 to get the section of land in Minnesota.  It was 160 acres.

And they began to raise a family and farm.  In the winter Grandpa cut wood to sell and this went on for years, even when we were kids in the 50’s.  I remember these two horses, Whisper and Rex, that looked like huge horses.  Uncle John told me that they were bought as wild horses brought in from Montana because they were cheaper.  Then there was a  man who came through with a stud to breed the horses.  He also said that Grandpa was a “horse whisperer” without the name.

So they started their life and raised 5 kids up to school age.  The Leach School was built on Grandpa’s property and stayed there until it was stolen during their absence to Missouri.  Let me back up a bit . . .

Grandpa and Grandma Leach moved back to Missouri in 1928.  They did this because Grandma was so lonesome for her family and home.  So off they went in a “touring car” with a little tent attached to the side of it.  They had a one burner stove where Grandma cooked their meals and they slept in the tent as they traveled.    It took about a week to make it to Missouri.  But in less than a year, they moved back to Minnesota because there just wasn’t a living to be made in Missouri.  There was not even enough food to eat.  My Uncle John says he was about seven years old when they left for Minnesota again.  “I was so excited!” John says, “Because we were going home”.   My dad, Jack, would have been nine years old.

 Above is the family as they said goodbye in Missouri to move back to Minnesota in April 1929.
Left is John (I am sending this to him to verify that) Lena with dark hat, Renee Foster Davis, Cora's sister with Etta (adopted daughter of John and Della Leach) right by her, unknown man, Charlie Davis (Rena's husb), John Leach (G'pa's bro) with pipe, Don Leach and Cora.
Front row: 3 unkn kids of Rena's and maybe John's, Phil, Jack (Davis girl) Ray and Charlie Leach, son of Great Uncle John and Della.
Don's brother, John died in Warrenton, MN and I remember Daddy taking us to see him as he lay on his death bed.  He is buried there and Dad later took a picture of his grave.

Below is a picture of Grandma Cora and her oldest child and only daughter Lena on that same day saying goodbye.