FISCHER PHOTO
From Charlie
From Charlie
About Me
- Alfred E. Thomas
- Hi, Jim Thomas here. I am doing this Blog and I appreciate any comments! Thanks
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38 comments:
Hey Jim, That picture turned out pretty good. The picture was actully from Roy & Rosie Fischer. Last year I was talking with them, their daughter, Deanna, lives up the street from me in the 1000 block of Eldridge and they go by here quite often in the summer, and I told Roy that I would like to have a picture of all of them. Rosie said that they had one and would get me a copy. It took them a while but they found it and Deanna made a 8 x 10 glossy copy. Charlie, March 30, 2009
Ya, I am pleased at how it turned out and if someone wants to copy it from this blog, they can. It looks good as a copy too.
Do you think they are lined up in ages? Like Dad and his brother and sisters were in a photo that I saw somewhere. Let me know if you have the ages, well I am sure Gene would know.
Yes, they are lined up by age. Grandma was not alive when the photo was made so they improvised another photo of her in her place of actual birth dates Aunt Hulda & Aunt Naomi were just before Uncle August (the baby) who was born the same day as our Uncle Joe. Roy & Rosie had this picture on the invitations last year. As for thier ages when the photo was taken, I do not know.
3/30/09 Lillian
Their age was between 40 & 60 because grandma I believe passed away at 60 and August died when he was about 40 I believe. So go up and down the line and put an age to each one.
BULLITEN:////////////**********
Our beloved IRVING Primary School will be closed according to District 150-Peoria
Please write to them for your protest. If they start to tear down the bldg I will get over there to get that corner brick out of the wall some kid pushed me into and bust my eyebrow open having 6 stitches needed bu Doc Cohen on hism office table. Dale 4/6
CORRECTION
Lets make that between 35 & 55 since they both are still living in Picture. Dale
Dale, I said Grandma was dead when that picture was taken. Someone superimposed grandmas picture from one when she WAS alive in a picture FROM when our Dad and all of his siblings were in it.
Uncle August got married at 40 and was 45 or 46, I believe, when he died. I'm not sure exactly but his daughter was only 4 or 5 when he died. When she was born our dad was 50 and she was his youngest and last cousin, fifty years apart. I think this picture was taken before he married, so he could have been in his late 30s. Grandma died when I was 14 and I had to be in my middle to late 20's when he died. I'm not at home to check the birth records that A. Naoma recorded. I just know you can not base it on Grandma's age at all. But I might be off with my thinking.
4/18/09 Lillian
Thanks for all input. I know that this could help others in our family who wants detail of our family.
Yvonne would like to have stories about our Dad ( Alfred E Thomas ). Yvonne remembers Grandma real well but she does not remember our dad.
If you have any comments put them here. ok.
Thanks
Yvonne, I want you to know that your dad had a different dad than Carol and I had.They remember a dad who actually spanked them. We can't imagine OUR dad spanking us. Grandma? Oh,yeah! She broke one of my dad's thick upholstery yardsticks on my butt! And I didn't do anything!! (Actually, that was probably the problem!LOL)Suzi
Funny Suz! I wonder just what it was like living at home with most of us gone. I remember Mom rocking you a lot and hugging you. I wonder if she ever had time to do that for me?? Too many little brothers and a sister in my first six years, then two more little brothers for Me to look after! Boy did I p,ray all night, when Mom & Dad went to the hospital, for a sister when I was 15. God heard my prayer! I guess you deserved all the hugs! Love you! Lillian 4/24/09
Sister Suz, please relay this account of your yard stick to Shane. ok.
When Shane was young, I used a yard stick on his arm to show him what I had to endure. He still remembers that and he was in 2nd or 3rd grade.
I too remember comparing welts from the yard stick with my twin. They were cool welts, almost like tattoo's.
The only difference between your yardstick hit and mine was the fact that I did deserve it, I am sure.
Maybe you didn't ??? Maybe
I'm chiming in here late - sorry. There is some discussion about August (and I have my story too), but Yvonne wanted more info about Dad.
Well, I knew him well - for over 30 years. He was very quiet but very sociable with the church group. Mom and Dad especially loved Church Choir and Paul Meister (the song leader).
Dad actually was one of the song leaders during church services. He would pull out his little "harmonica" and blew whatever note he felt like starting with.
The congregation knew to wait until he blurted out his first song words. Then they chimed in.
He absolutely loved his grandchildren. After returning from Albq, he would go on and on about Schelli and Sean. Sean and Dad played "horsey" a number of times on their living room floor.
He was self conscious with strangers but very creditable when he spoke to them about his upholstering. He enjoyed bantering at times but wasn't very good at it. He envied the way Paul Meister could tell a joke or attract attention and get people to laugh.
He had a burning desire to be self-employed. He was very content working alone in his shop on Jefferson street in Washington. Mom held him back for many years insofar as being self-employed is concerned.
He made "peanuts" in his upholstery business and could have commanded much more. Many of his customers were quite well to do. But he was afraid or reluctant to ask for "top dollar".
He was a perfectionist in his work and his people knew it. He had word-of-mouth customers that would be the envy of many business owners to this day.
During his dying days, various friends from the church would stop by to pay their last respects. He was not afraid of dying. He said that the only thing he would really miss would be his grandchildren.
He never preached much to us kids and was very reluctant to discipline us. When he did, he would have to get mad because he did not want to do it. The only thing that propelled him to spank us was to get mad AND with the encouragement of Mom. "Alfred - will you make this kid mind???" This was heard over and over by your Dad, I guess.
He was not one to sit and talk with his children. At least when I was growing up. He never showed interest in our activities, school work or future.
He just wanted to get lost in his work and after work, he enjoyed reading a good book while chomping on an apple. He really enjoyed the story of Corry Ten Boom (misspelled?).
He was private and very lay back and enjoyed his work, his travel, his grandkids, church and choir.
That's about it in a nutshell.
Well Brother John,
you summed it up pretty good with memories of Dad & Mom. But Dad did talk to me a lot when I was with him. When I lost my first boyfriend, he came into my room to console me with a story from his past about his girlfriend that he thought was his. When he went to her house which was somewhere up near Chicago, he found her sitting on her porch swing with another fellow. Needless to say, he went back home without saying anything to her. Later after I had children he was in his shop while I was there helping him and he told me of a person that had lost one of their children in death. Then the person repented and found his salvation through Jesus Christ, but he had to wait until he lost a child before he turned his life over to God. That was before I had repented! I thought about it for a long while and sure did not want to have a child die before I gave my life to God! He cared for his children with a lot of love even tho he may not have talked about personal things because he let us know that he wanted us to know the important things in life such as to obey him & Mom and anyone that was in authority by his own actions. He was very well thought of, a very good Christian, Dad, Husband, Grandpa, and a good example for us all! Yvonne, he loved you very, very much. He could not stand to have us (his kids) do without at Easter or Christmas. He would go downtown to the stores the last day before the holidays when everything was put on sale at the end of the season and get us something because he did not make much money for extras for a large family. He was a Master Upholsterer taught by Master Craftsmen from Germany's Trade Schools right here in Peoria! Once a friend told me that she learned at ICC that a friend of hers, dad was a Master Upholsterer and there was no one in our area that was as good as him. She said it was our Dad. She told her instructor that she knew him. I was very impressed to hear this. He wanted to meet all of his family again in Heaven and I hope too, that we do not disappoint him. Of course there will be no tears in Heaven but lets all make Dad happy!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year too. Love Lillain 12/11/09
Maybe the guy sitting next to his "would-be" girlfriend was the girl's brother?
John, the way I took it from Dad was: She was sitting way too cozy to be her brother. Anyway, we would not have the family we are if he would have butted in and married her instead of Mom! Don't you think? 11/13/09
Dale said, I'll give some info for grandchildren maybe a few at a time so as to not make it long reading.
I recall on two different occassions Dad & I was somewhere and the time was right after Pres. Roosevelt died and Truman became Pres. Some people came by us as we were walking downtown and came right up to Dad and asked him if he was Pres Truman as the new pres had his picture out quite often suddenly. Check it out with Dad's picture and compare to truman especially when dad wore his wide brimmed hat like truman. I wished Jim could locate both pictures and publish them. Job for you Jim.
John mentioned his harmonica in church leading the congregation in singing. My knee has artritus from dad banging his tuneing fork on it as I had a nice bony knee he told me. I felt real important I could help.Later 12/18/09
Wow, I love the memories here.
This time of year reminds me of Dad & I, and I am sure John was there too but, I remember the Christmas display on the side window of Block & Khul store. I know I prob don't have the correct spelling but I remember watching the figurines go around etc. It was neat. And then for that special memory was Dad waiting for mom on the corner and Dad loved carmel popcorn as he shared it with me. ( I still love Carmel Popcorn )
Yes, that was fun to go downtown at Christmas & see Block & Kuhl's & Bergner's window displays. I seem to remember the carmel popcorn too. Also about Dad looking like Truman....Whenever we saw the previews of World News before a movie at a theater(loong, loong ago before television), when Truman was on the news, I always told my friends I was with that he looked like my Dad with or without his hat on. I can believe that someone would have thought he was Truman! 12/18/09
Dale said,
I was with dad alone for some reason on a xmas outing and he took me to 5th floor block & kuhls to see santa. My first opportunity to sit on santa's lap and was quite bashful. After much prodding of what I wanted for xmas, I looked across the aisle and saw a little red paddle car. I knew santa had powers Dad did not have and I said I really wanted that one. Everything O.K. he said, just be good till xmas. Xmas AM no car, no more faith in Santa. That's when we three boy's decided to take over with paper route funds. 12/19/09
Thanks, everyone, for the recollections. I liked reading them and it helps piece the Thomas family a bit in my mind.
Would you all feel comfortable emailing me some things about your childhood? Whatever you recall-traditions, routines, school, grandma and grandpa, etc? I really didn't feel the need to get the Thomas family stories since I lived in Illinois with you all for so long...kind of took it for granted and focused more on the Hechel side. Now I realize I want more info from each side of my family. Email dad if you are willing to share more stories and he can email them to me. Thanks!!
I guess I was sort of a daddy's girl growing up. I never knew him without white hair. One Sunday he took me to visit another church with him and I remember a man asking me if I was his granddaughter. I also remember my first fist fight in middle school. Becky Rider and her friends taunted me always. It was when tight or straight skirts came into vogue. Of course, a tomboy like me had no use and that style played right into my victory with Becky. She and her girls picked a fight with me. I got a lucky slap in on the side of her head and it made her so mad. She charged after me ready to kick me but failed to remember that straight skirts have very little kicking allowance. Her leg went up a few inches and all I had to do was grab her foot and land her. I ran off to the only safe place I had - my dad's shop. I sat on his cutting table, swinging my legs, trying to explain what had happened. He continued to work with his mouth full of tacks. He told me that he never liked fighting much. He preferred words. When he was faced with bullies, he always tried to talk his way through it first before choosing violence. He was glad I won and didn't kick a person down. His shop was my haven. As soon as I discovered that burning mashed potatoes would anger mom and she would expel me to the shop, well....could have been the beginning of my dislike of cooking. In my dad's shop, I could have pretend customers to whom I would sell fabrics and decorative tacks. A small stash of wood pieces became boats and various other sculptures. The big heater on the wall became a good hair dryer in the winter as long as I didn't get caught wasting heat. I would pray at night that if one of my parents had to go, please don't take my dad first. As in life, Someone Wiser saw differently and took him first. My last visit with him was the Christmas before he died. We were at Lillian's and dad sat in the chair in the corner. Everyone was bustling with good-byes and I was very aware of his silent presence in the corner of the room. I also felt him watching me as I moved around, dreading the moment that I would have to tell him good-bye, both of knowing that it would probably be the last time. It was. I thought I couldn't bear the death of the man who seemed to be able to love as much as he did. To this day, I can hear the rumbling of his voice and the smell of Corn Husker's lotion as he held me on his lap one night I was sick. Mom and I weren't the best of friends when I was in high school. I have often thought of my prayers about dad not going first. Without his journey, I would never have discovered how strong mom was. What a stoic, compassionat person she was. The grandmother that my children cherish and find strength in. The motto in our family has long been "It's a gay life if you don't weaken." Sean remembers some about his grandpa, Schelli, like Yvonne, really has no memory. But both cherish their grandmother.
Thanks Suzi, My sentiments exactly. Dad was my solace, my confidant, my advisor. I also remember times in his shop, only as a married gal. It was in the shop that he told me about the person that found the Lord and repented after the loss of a child. He also told me many, many years ago when I was young, that "it took a stronger person to say NO than Yes." He was talking about smoking at that time. I have never forgotten it. I've told many others the same thing. All my friends smoked and I just never wanted anything to do with it. I'm very thankful to all the aqdvise I got from him. Mom & I did not see eye to eye often either and Dad usually consoled me. But as you noted, Mom became a strong person and we enjoyed many trips and other fun times with her. My children remember her fondly as well. Kathy & Mindy took their friends to go shopping, out to eat, etc. and their friends still today call her Grandma too. In fact, last night I was at Kathy's and her friend, Deb, talked about Grandma as if she was her own! Karen and her girls enjoyed many things with her. She got to hold Nathan, Kevin's last son, when she was in the hospital before she died. He was born October 16,1993. They brought him for her to see when he was about six weeks old. She was well loved. Wow, we have a lot of good memories here. Can we print these to keep, Jim? Each of us kids could go on and on reminiscing. What a book we could write about our lives! Happy New Year everyone! January 2, 2010
Dale said,Dad is thought of as only three words can describe him-Humble-Niave-Stern
I was still at home yet and one day came around the corner of house by his shop and he was talking to a salesman. I asked him what he was doing and he informed me he was taking an ad out in the yellow page and I asked him why he did that as he was booked for 6 months with work and he really needed to raise his price so he could get caught up. I dismissed the salesman and received a not to friendly look as he left.
Dad thanked me for that and said he seemed like a nice cordial salesman and he didnt want to say no. Yes Niave.
We all know the humble nature dad had and sometimes we mistook that as being weak of nature and not man-ley. I could use a good dose of his humbleness.
We all knew when to shape up when he would raise his dander. Stern and man-ley you bet. 01/05/10
Dale said, My first spiritual adventure was a nite we boys wanted to go to the YMCA with dad and he was being evasive with us so I had one other direction to go and that was out to the wood shed off the back porch of Bryan st and I proceeded to pray liked we did in church to let the Lord know how bad we neede to go that nite with dad. I walked inside and dad asked if we were ready to go and found out how powerful prayer was. Walking down to the Y dad told us of our new arrival soon to come into the family. As I watched my birtday coming closer I really was excited and remember my birthday morning waking up real early and ran down stairs to see Clara and was told I had a beautiful little sister to share my birthday. I only wished it would have been a few years difference instead of thirteen years that I could have shared more of my life with our little sister rather than being off in another young man's world.01/05/10
After being discharged from the army in March 1956 I had my job waiting for me at Caterpillar Tractor Co., however in Nov. 1957 during the Steel Strike in Detroit I was layed off. I could not fined another job so I helped Dad in his upolstery shop in the garage behind the house on Jefferson St.
One day we were working and a lady from, I believe Havana, IL came in. She wanted Dad to re-upholster two older but nice looking chairs and she wanted them before the Xmas holidays. She was planning to put them in the window of her shop. Dad was very busy and told her that he did not think he could have them done by then, but she was very persistant and told him to try very hard and deliver them to her store when they were done.
Dad spent many hours of overtime on the on the project and he knew that he could not finish both. He wanted me to help him deliver the chairs (one finished the other not). He worried all the way down to her shop and did not know how she would react with the job not completed.
We carried the completed chair in first and she she really liked it and then he told her about the other not finihed one and he then, suddenly came up with the idea for her to put two signs on the chairs (one BEFORE and the other AFTER)
She was very thrilled and short of doing cartwheels, summersaults and clapping her hands she headed for her office and we went out to get the other chair. When we left to drive home we noticed that she had already had the signs on the two chairs in the window.
By the way, when we helped Dad deliver chairs etc. he always told us to carry them thru doors with both of our hands on each side of the furniture so as not to damage the woodwork or chairs etc. He said "Knucles will heal".
I always wondered why I could not type very well and had to use the one finger technique.
Gene - Jan. 10, 1810 "oops" 2010
I always make mistakes like this when jumping back and forth from letter writing, making out checks after working on genealogy.
I'll repeat: Everyone sign & date their notes as follows:
Gene - Jan. 10, 1710 "Dang it" 2010
We don't want people with the name "Anonymous" in our Family History, but maybe we should re-name those that use it to Anonymous ?. Thomas (Including their spouces, children, Grand Children also).
It's lunch, "goodby"
Hey not a bad idea, thanks. I'll do that by changing the names to N.N. as they sometimes did in many of the old german records, if/when we get another blog with no name or dates attached to it.
P.S. Just click on the Name/URL 0 and fill in your name before you click on the tab to Preview or Publish your blog.
Gene Jan. 10, 2010
Brrr! We are really having winter this year, aren't we all? It must be the global warming Gore is making so much money on! I believe John is on to something with Mexico! Must have all the heat down there. I'd like to head way down south somewhere for sure! Even Tenn and points south have been getting al lot of snow too. Oh well, just 4 weeks of Feb. and March 8th I am going to Tenn with some girlfriends to a Mountainfest Quilt Show in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area for a week. I have a 3 bedroom log cabin rented for us. Bob will stay home with whatever winter we will be having then. Just thought I'd let you know we are staying indoors, Bob has a chest cold for a week now. The kids are all well and all have jobs, fortunately. Hope everyone is doing good these days! 2/6/10
Good luck with the quilt show and have a nice time, Lil. Hope Bob kicks that chest cold. I have been fortunate this winter. But YES - we get snow here in MX. Take a look at our backyard and see what Andrea, Jenny and Valeria have done.
Go to www.mexicolivingandvacations.com
You might have to scroll down a little ways but ck a title something about Diego.
This is for everyone.
John
Hey, I forgot - after you get inside the www.mexicolivingandvacations.com website, click on "Visit My Blog".
You will even see some buffalo in MX. I shot this north of Chihuahua City about 235 miles so. of Juarez.
John
Sister Lil, I have to comment on your statement about Al Gore. I think this was a naive statement and I think you should stop watching Glen Beck. Now .. after saying this, please go to my Political Blog and put your comments about Al Gore or any other statements you would like to make about Politics there. ok.
I would love to debate this with anyone.
Thanks
Bro Jim 2/17/10
Sister Lil, I have to apologize to some extent about my previous post here. I am very sensitive about my political views and it came out here.
However I do like to debate politics, just ask brother John. ok.
Which brings me to this question for you. Are you sure and did you witness our birth. Is Brother John truly my twin. hehe
We have some great discussions some times.
Everyone tells me how different we are. So this is why I ask my question.
Love you ... Brother Jim posted 2/18/10
Bro Jim - I agree with you. I think we need to leave politics out of this part. Would be fun to get someone other than me to post on your political blog. What silly notion is this that if it snows there is no global warming? Oops. I'll look for this sort of thing on your political scene. Maybe we actually were the twins like so many thought when I was in high school. Proud to be your sis! Suzi
Thank you Sister Suzi for your comments. I appreciated them.
Hey to all, I put a 2nd post for Memories at the top of the page here. I and others sure have enjoyed reading them so keep it up. Post something about anyone of our family. ok
And for Political items, I would like to read some others who have different thoughts or agree from what I do. If you want go to the link and read my Political side. ok
Thanks
Jim is right on this comment - we do have some heated debates. After leaving one restaurant, I told Jim I think the others in the restaurant thought we were really mad at each other. Jim said, "We WERE!"
But it's hard to really debate Jim because his only debate is "He's stupid". This does not lend toward a useful and insightful debate. I want the FACTS as long as I am the one interpreting them.
Actually, I don't like hardly any politician. But just don't tramp on my Constitutional rights and let me lead MY life the way I want.
Guess I'll have to study up for my next "debate" with Jim.
Well, it has been some months since last commenting here. I'm trying to get Jim to switch to a WordPress blog where we don't have to find a bunch of "anonymous" comments.
Maybe some day we can migrate to WP.
It is Feb. 26, 2012 as I write here. Andrea is in Juarez with her uncle and cousins to visit her aunt from Monterrey, MX.
The two oldest girls and Jenny and Chuy (Cindi's boyfriend) are here for the weekend. I took them out for breakfast earlier. Then Chuy and Cindi went shopping and fixed some tacos, etc.
Things are very busy for me but I can't complain too much. Especially since this month has been the best in several yrs.
Let's get this economy rolling again (this is a hidden political comment).
When people ck this website to see what's new, they should always leave a comment. That way others will comment as well - hopefully.
Later
John Thomas
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