Monday, June 23, 2008

INTRODUCING TWO CRITES FAMILY CHILDREN

Hayden Crites holding his new born brother Tanner in 2006.
(click on image to enlarge it.)
Hayden Theodore Crites and his brother Tanner Holden Crites are among the recent additions to the Crites family history. They are the grandsons of Ted and Ruby Crites. Ted was the youngest son of Leona Belle (Weaver) and John Franklin Crites.
Hayden is now 6 years old and little Tanner is 2. Tanner was born in Brussels, Belgium. Their father Ken Crites is the Senior Manager for the Global Consulting Services Department of the Cognos Company.

Here are the boys' lineage.

John Weaver (I), John Weaver (II), John S. Weaver (III), John S. Weaver (IV), Leona Belle Weaver Crites, Theodore Kenneth Crites, Gregory Paul Crites, Kenneth Richard Crites, Hayden Theodore Crites / Tanner Holden Crites

William John Crites, Josiah Crites, John Franklin Crites, Theodore Kenneth Crites, Gregory Paul Crites, Kenneth Richard Crites, Hayden Theodore Crites / Tanner Holden Crites


Bartholomew Siegrist, Solomon Sechrist, Jacob Secrist, David Secrist, Mary Ann Secrist Crites, John Franklin Crites, Theodore Kenneth Crites, Gregory Paul Crites, Kenneth Richard Crites, Hayden Theodore Crites / Tanner Holden Crites

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Souvenir Painting from a County Fair c. 1920 (click on picture to enlarge)

The author James Mitchner wrote in his book Hawaii about a stone goddess being left behind on Bora Bora (thousands of miles away across the open seas). At the risk of his life, a new Hawaiian paddled all the way back and brought the little figure to his new home. There the goddess Pele was worshipped until the old religion was destroyed by Christian missionaries. The sacred rock ended up as a paper weight on the desk of a businessman in Honolulu. All the man knew was that it was somehow important to his family.
This little painting was done as a momento of a long ago state or country fair. It was one of those "dazzle the farmers" type of semi-art works that are occasionally sold as art today in motel room sales.
But, the old painting is very precious to me! It hung all my childhood (and, I think the youths of my brothers and sisters) usually in an entrance hall to where ever we called home. It symbolizes to me the security of a home that was far from financially secure, but a place where unconditional love was ready to surround us all.
Today, the painting is in the living room of Genevieve and Owen Rebbe in Cedar Falls, Washington.

WASHINGTON STATE IS STILL THE WILD WEST

(click on photo to enlarge it) Look at the far right fence post.
Nature does an excellent job disguising things, so you'll have to look hard to see the visitor to Karla and Jim Barton's garden this week in Washington State. Karla, the great, great grand-daughter of Mary Ann (Secrist) and Josiah Crites, lives on seven beautiful acres of land near Lake Stevens, Washington. Three of the acres must remain in their natural state, which invites lots of interesting neighbors to her yard.
When Karla and her sister Karen were small girls, their grandfather Bill Fecht was walking down the road from his home to pick up the afternoon mail. He watched as the two children played at the edge of a forest of fir trees and blackberry bushes. Their pet duck was flying into the air and the girls were throwing sticks at something. To his terror, he saw a mountain lion being chased away by the girls defending their pet. He went to their rescue and all were safe, including the duck.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

BYRON GAWTHROP

Byron Gawthrop (Click on Photo to Enlarge)
The date of this photograph is unknown. There is a woman on the buckboard, she may be Aunt Ida. Ida May Crites was the sister of John Franklin and Albert Crites.

Richard Byron Gawthrop
b: 23 December, 1855 in Oswego (Mills), Indiana
mother: Sarah (STEPHENS) (c-342) --- father: Richard GAWTHROP (c-341)
m: 1) _____________ to Polly Ann KUHN in
m: 2)______________ to Ida May CRITES (c-219) in _______________
d: ___________, 1923 in _________________________
bur: __________________ in ______________ Cemetery, in _______________

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

JANNE AND JERRY FECHT

Janne and Jerry Fecht at Janne's 50th Van Muys High School reunion in May 2008. Janne had over 1000 students in her graduating class. Her husband is Gerald Fecht, who maintains this blog.