The local papers used to often publish five generation family photos. We didn’t manage five generations on the planet at the same time, but I’m thankful for a few photos with four generations.
I was a month old when his was taken July 4, 1944, before Dad flew up from Texas to drive us back with him. Mom and I stayed with her folks, Clabe and Leora, while they still farmed near Minburn, Iowa, although all five sons were off to sever in the war. One of Leora’s brothers had driven their mother, Laura Goff, to Minburn from their home in Omaha. The first four-generation photo of my motherline.
Dad’s Side
Grandpa Kenneth Neal, Doris (standing in for Dad) with baby Joy, Great Grandpa O.S. (Swain) Neal. I was Kenneth the Ruby’s first grandchild. Since it looks like Mom is still wearing a maternity top, this was probably right after we got “home” (Wilson’s Minburn farm) after the hospital.
Dad, Warren Neal, was in Texas training advanced cadets, so this one is an almost-four-generation photo. Swain Neal died shortly after WWII so I never got to know him, except through Mom’s stories. Swain and Nellie Neal were favorite neighbors when the Wilsons lived in the town of Dexter during the Great Depression.
If you’ve read Leora’s Dexter Stories, O.S. Neal is the man who hired Doris to work in the Dexter Canning Factory in 1935. (This is also the lineage that leads to Mayflower ancestors.)
Wonderful treasures, Joy.
80 years ago already!
It sure goes by quickly!
Family through the ages. Beautiful pics Joy.
Thank you, Brian!
The man on the left in the last photo reminds me of Charles Lindbergh!
He does, doesn’t he? More about Grandpa Kenneth tomorrow, his birthday!
I had forgotten—you’re so right, Joy! Those “generational” family photos were a mainstay in local newspapers. Thank you so much for sharing these with us. 🥰❤️🥰
Bless you, Vicki!
Right back at you, dear Joy! 🥰❤️🥰
Great history and great photos, Joy.
Thank you, Tim!
What a fabulous treasure…
Thank you, Annette!
What wonderful photos! I only have one photo (that’s not nearly as clear as yours) with me as a baby, my mom, grandma, and great-grandma. However, I did get a photo with my dad, me, my daughter, and her daughter (my only grandchild) before dad died.
They are precious, aren’t they!
What a precious photo! Considering the year, I’m guessing there weren’t too many four generational families living in those days.
There were two more just on Mom’s side before the war ended, and four more on Dad’s side before Great Grandpa died shortly after the war. You’re right, though, Baby Boomers came later!
Fascinating, Joy! It’s great that you know your family’s history so well and have those wonderful pictures!
Thank you, Tim. I’ve been collecting family stories all my adult life! They were “normal” before then and I didn’t even think about them. It’s sure fun now!
I love multigenerational photos! You have some good ones.
The family “keeper” ends up with them. The young Ronnie Goff is the only one in that group still living.
These are wonderful four generation family images. It’s interesting to see the two different time frames with you as a baby and then as a young girl. The expressions on both your mother and Leora’s faces appear to be the same in both pictures. 🙂
Nancy, they both were reluctant to show their teeth! Leora’s teeth were bad, ending up with dentures. Mom had a gap between her two front teeth.
💕 How fortunate you got to “meet” great-grandparents. Very cool photos.
Yes, thank you, Eilene. Great Grandmother Laura Goff (born in 1868) lived (with her daughter Leora Wilson) until my freshman year in college. How I wish I’d asked about her childhood!
I love these pictures Joy. Up until mom passed away 3 years ago, we had 5 generations in our family!
Oh, you’ve been blessed! They used to share photos in the local papers about families with five generations, but not so much lately.