Those Ancestors - - They Just Keep Surprising Us.

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Seriously, you just never know what little tidbit of your ancestor's life may show up.  Or when.

Recently during a visit to Michigan, Mom brought along photos and such.  And, this!!!

Who knew??  I can tell you, I had no idea.  She believes this was around 1936?  I can tell you that badge was very well made, and preserved.  Well preserved.  

Indeed, they just keep surprising us.

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Leonard Trumbo's Tie Do Dahs

Copyright 2016, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

In the possession of this blogger now, thanks to the family and his daughter.

Our knowledge is limited as to the "history" of these tie bars.

Close up.  What we think we know, from his daughter:

"The Ford medal was probably given to him from the Ford Motor Co. as he worked for them so many years. Have several possibilities. I do not remember any particular event where that was given to him but remember seeing both (doo dahs/tie bars) in their bedroom in a box in the dresser drawer. It could have been given to him before I was born.... Maybe he got when he was in Detroit at the Ford school or could it have been a contest of some kind? He was chief mechanic for so many years. Another thought could it be a gift when he left Ford and started running the foundry and his own shop? I know Mom kept it and had in her possession when she passed away."

Close up and some thoughts by his daughter:

 "As for the other - since it has a T on it am assuming like you perhaps that it was a family thing and would love to know if it belonged to his Dad as I never saw my Dad wear either medal. I had forgotten about them until I saw them and was sorta thinking about why Mom never told me what they meant. So much had happened maybe she forgot she even had them in her stash." 

I spent a few minutes with Uncle Google and did not find any hints as to more stories/facts about the Ford Service Merit Club.  The search will continue as time permits.

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Big Ole Tractor

Copyright 2016, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Spending time with photos and documents from my family history.  Precious memories and now and then, something comes along that surprises me, sends me on research tangents and teaches me new.

Like this:

This photo came from my grandmother's collection.  It is undated, but, I am going to guess it is from around the Depression era.  This guess is based on the fact that I know the men.  One is my grandfather, one my uncle.

But, what caught my imagination and curiosity in this photo was the tractor.  The tractor has Peerless on the side.

Off I went to research.  The first tidbit I picked up was that "rubber" tires appeared on tractors after 1930ish.  I contacted friend Jan, this gal grew up in Nebraska and she knows her farm equipment.  She estimated the build time as between 1915 and 1925, due to the iron wheels.

I found this web site with image and a date.  

I still have no idea where the tractor came from or went to.  Too bad there is no fringe on top, eh?  

The research will continue.  Of course.

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