Grandpa/Great-grandpa Donnell

Samuel Russell Donnell, July 15, 1871-- October 1954

         Grandson Randolph Russell Donnell called him Bebop, for as a year old toddler, he wasn't able to say  those magic words, grandpa.  Unfortunately, his brothers, Sammy and Scott, and sister, Nancy Lisa, would never know their grandfather.  In his youth and middle age, he was a very handsome man, something, I am sure, that attracted his two future wives, Mildred Johnston and Irma Pust.  Randy would entertain his grandfather for hours while in his playpen that had been pushed next to Bebop's chair.  Samuel loved to watch him play and called him the "little geezer".    

        Samuel Russell Donnell was born July 15, 1871 at Spring Hill, Indiana.  He had three brothers and two sisters.  Samuel attended school in Hinksville, Ohio.  He became an assistant manager for the Hines Lumber Company in Forest Park, Illinois and had an interest in a taxi cab company.  His first wife was Mildred Johnston whom he married on November 16, 1918.  Tragedy struck the young newlyweds, for one year later in the year 1919, Mildred became a victim of the flu epidemic that swept the nation at that time in history.  When Samuel passed away in 1954, his coffin was transported by train to Greensburg, Indiana so that he could be buried along side her in the Greensburg Cemetery.  

Irma Amelia Pust caught his eye one day when she and her girlfriend were dining in a restaurant.  Irma often related that "he thought she was a movie star."    She was thirty years old and he was fifty-one when they married in Crown Point, Indiana in 1922.  Five years later, in 1927, they had one son, Samuel Randolph Donnell born when Irma was thirty-five and Samuel fifty-six.

          Sometime during their early marriage, Samuel and Irma  moved to Oak Park, Illinois and opened a cigar and card shop in Oak Park.  Irma managed the card section while Samuel managed the cigar and tobacco department.  They lost their business in the crash of 1929.  Irma related that foolishly, they kept pumping money into the shop in an effort to keep it going, but to no avail ... they lost everything.  In 1933, dead broke, Samuel, Irma and six year old Sammy moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin where they resided in the other half of a house owned by Irma's aunt (Louise Hoffman), affectionately referred to as Aunt Lou.  Samuel and Irma would live in that house on 922 State Street until their deaths; Irma inheriting the house when Aunt Lou passed away years later.  

After moving to La Crosse, Samuel found a job with the Linker Hotel on Main Street as an elevator operator.  In those days, all elevators required a person to push the buttons or maneuver the control lever ... no automatic and self service ones like today.   Unfortunately during his tenure as the Linker Hotel elevator operator, there was an accident involving the elevator, and Samuel suffered some debilitating injuries. (what kind of injuries is not know by this writer)   When I came to know him, he was already an old man suffering from Parkinson disease.  This would have been about 1949-50.  He spent most of his time sitting in a chair facing a huge picture type window and watching the traffic and activity on State Street.  He walked with a shuffle and his hands shook which is so characteristic of Parkinson disease.  At the age of 83, he passed away from complications of uremic poisoning known today as kidney failure.      

Samuel Russell was 79 when this photo was taken.  Irma is in her mid 50's and Samuel Randolph in his early 20's.  This is the Samuel I first knew when I dated his son in 1949.

Samuel's boyhood home in Kingston, Indiana.  Bebop told of how he and his brothers would take the family buggy and wash it in the nearby creek.  The boys room was the small shed to the right in the photo.  The house was built of sturdy red brick and was still in use in 1954 when Irma, Samuel Randolph, and I visited it.  The house has been in the family for years and years.

Samuel's parents were Luther Lewis Donnell and Cornelia Fitz Randolph Donnell.  They are buried in the Kingston Cemetery.  Sons Albert and Edward are also buried in the family plot.

Our family has five Samuel R Donnells starting with Samuel Russell, Samuel Randolph, Samuel Ray, Samuel Ryan and Samuel Rylan.  It is a proud name with a proud heritage.  

Young Everette Ray Strahl circa 1925-26

A RIDING THE RAILS ADVENTURE

Seventeen year old Everette Ray Strahl was not about to argue. He was looking down the barrel of gun. When he set out on his own in search of adventure, riding the rails ... a cheap form of transportation and generally safe ... he hadn't counted on this. Dutifully, young Everette slowly reached into his pocket and extracted a small wad of bills ... a very small wad ... and handed them over to the robber. When the robber turned and started to walk away with his loot, young Everette called out to him to "wait a minute". When the robber turned around to see what his victim wanted, it was his turn to look down the barrel of a gun. You see, the robber didn't bother to pat down the young man or even ask if he had a gun ... much to his misfortune ... for young Everette not only relieved him of his gun, but also of all the cash the robber now had. Looking at the bundle of bills, young Everette wondered how many other rail riders fell victim to this man. Now, it just so happened that a freight train was chugging slowing down the track toward them. Young Everette, still pointing the gun, motioned toward the freight and very politely suggested that the robber hop aboard the open box car as it passed and "just keep on going". The robber complied, after all, a gun pointing at you speaks more forcibly than words. The robber turned to look back at the young man standing along the track still pointing the gun. The young man gave him a friendly wave then pocketed both guns and the money as the freight chugged away down the track. He watched until the train was but a small worm in the distance and decided that he would definitely catch a freight going the opposite way.

Everette Strahl was my father, your grandfather and great-grandfather, and yes, he did leave his father's farm and rode the rails when he was seventeen (between 1917-18). His was the era of hobos who spent their lives going from one to place to another hitching a ride on a freight car and knocking on doors asking to work for food. He couldn't have rode the rails for long as when he was 17-18, he joined the army and served probably in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, the military aviation service of the United States army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force, where he learned to fly a plane. However, World War I ended and so did his dreams of becoming a pilot. He never saw combat.

Everette Ray Strahl born August 27, 1901, died January 16,1983

Riding the rails was a common event after the Civil war, but it did not reach its peak until after the crash of 1929 and the resulting depression.

The Cookie Grandma

She was known to her grandchildren as the Cookie Grandma. Her grandchildren loved her and she them. When the grandchildren would visit her, she would whip out the mixing bowls, various ingredients and encourage their little hands to cream, mix and stir until the dough was formed. Then she would help them drop the cookies onto a baking pan and pop them into the oven. (Today, Scott and Nancy Lisa are the best cookies makers). Childhood memories are made of this, and the cookies treats were an added bonus.

She enjoyed telling stories about her grandchildren and even her great-grandchildren. (that last term got her a good laugh), and she enjoyed telling stories about her adventures traveling with Tom (grandpa Guenther) and me (grandma Guenther). Sometimes, I even wondered if I had been there (like the time we were at Yellow Stone Park, but that is for another time). She loved to tell about taking her granddaughter-in-law, Geralyn, and little five year old Allison to lunch one day. When they were finished eating and the waitress (oops, I guess they are called servers today) laid the check on the table, Allison grabbed it as quick as a flash along with the $20 bill Grandma had put on top of the check and headed as fast as her little legs could carry her to the cash register. Grandma was so astounded, all she could do was sit there with her mouth hanging open. Pretty soon, little Allison returned. "And she had the correct change!" Grandma exclaimed.

Then there was great-granddaughter, Kari Hoffman. Again, a five year old. When her mother introduced her to her great-grandmother, she looked up into Grandma's face and asked, "what's so great about her?" And then there is my own son, Gregg, who at about five or six was drawing a picture of his Grandmother (who was visiting us at the time). When he finished he proudly showed it to her, then after scrutinizing his picture again proclaimed, "I forgot the wrinkles!" Out of the mouths of babes.

And who was this amazing women, my role model, the woman who taught me how to be a good grandmother and to have a sense of humor, especially when it comes to children? My mother, Gladys Marie Riddiough Strahl. Mothers are very important in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. (If fathers feel left out, they will have to create their own blog!)

Now to the important stuff (that's a lol). Today was weigh in day. In the five weeks since I started the Nutrisytem plan, ten ... I repeat ... ten pounds are history. Both Grandpa and I like the food and the eating schedule. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies ... no added salt, no added butter. But ... lots of chocolate ... yes, I said chocolate ... my passion, but it is all balanced and adds up to less than 1300 calories per day, but never hungary. We are having swedish meatballs and pasta for supper tonight. "I really enjoy being on this diet," says Grandpa.

Well, all for now ... more stories to come and I plan to post pictures also.

One of the best things that happened to me was when Jackie and Nancy (her mom) tried to convince me to join Facebook. Not for me I replied adamently ... I prefer e-mail. Can an old dog be taught new tricks? You betcha. First thing I do after getting up in the morning is turn on the computer and wireless and call up Facebook. Gotta see the latest antics of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I think I have gotten to know my grandchildren so much better, though I do refrain from making comments on their page. (boy, is that hard) I do not feel that the miles separate us anymore, and they do know they have a grandmother that is interested in them.

Ya, Ross, I knew about that beer party you had when your mom was in Greece ... just hoped you cleaned up the house afterward. Michal, your photos are tremendous ... and I loved reading your blog ... by the way, did you notice, I used your "Storytime with Grandma" suggestion as a title for my blog. More doors open for me through my grandchildren like doing a blog after seeing Michals. Okay, Allison ... be sure to tell me all about Marti Gras. Stephanie, I promise I will post old family pictures with stories ... now all your cousins can share in their heritage with you. Andrew, what took you to Hartland? Wasn't that swimming pool a lot of fun to play in? Ross would not remember as he was just a toddler at the time. If you haven't caught Nacole on MySpace, it is worth the time to find the page featuring her and the band. (You can ask her for the URL) By now, Sam, Cheri and kiddies are in cold, cold, Ohio. Two years will be a long time.

Kenna will be off Las Vegas with her Dad and Wanda to celebrate her 21st birthday. And it looks like David is really into the zoo thing on Facebook. Grandpa and I are looking forward to a visit from Hannah, Caleb and Noah in July. I don't think I have missed anyone in this introductory blog. Thanks for your encouragement and interest.