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Posts about West Point, and its inhabitants.

Happy 104th Birthday, Georgie!

This week would mark Georgina’s 104th birthday. We lost her in 2004, but here are a few pictures to remember her by.

Georgie in 1928

Warmth For The Winter: Chopping Wood For Grandma

Grandma Link’s house didn’t have central heat. She had two oil stoves, and two wood stoves. Ed Geers delivered the oil, so that was no problem. But someone had to cut the firewood. And that someone was us.

A Midday Cacophony: West Point at Noon

When you think about a small town, do you imagine that it’s a quiet place? I certainly do. And, for the most part, West Point was a pretty quiet place. You might hear a teenager’s hot rod once in a while. And there was certainly some noise from the grain elevator down the street, at least at certain times of year. But much of the time all you would hear is birds singing, and the wind through the trees.

Back to School in 1934

When we get to this time of year, I always think of back to school. I thought I would share a few pictures from Georgie’s collection from 1934 in West Point, Iowa.

This is the Orchestra at St. Mary’s. The people were not named on this picture.

Isadore and Teresa Kempker Link Family

Isadore Link was born in New Vienna, Iowa, on April 4, 1860, and lived most of his life on a farm northwest of West Point. He was the son of William J Link and Mary Ann Sauter.

Isadore married Teresa Kempker on April 17, 1882. Teresa was born on October 10, 1859, the daughter of John and Catherine Kempker.

A picture of Isadore as a young man (not sure of the date) and Teresa from the 1890s.

They had a large family and most of the family stayed in southeastern Iowa, living in and near West Point and Burlington.

Picture of the Isadore Link family on their farm, taken in 1903. Standing in the back are William and John. Across the front is Isadore, Leo, Ada, Charles, Kathryn, Albert, Teresa holding Robert, and Louise.
Picture of the Isadore Link family on their farm, taken in 1903. Standing in the back are William and John. Across the front is Isadore, Leo, Ada, Charles, Kathryn, Albert, Teresa holding Robert, and Louise.

Isadore died on February 24, 1944. Teresa died on March 21, 1913, when Robert was just 10 years old.

Isadore and Teresa are Walt’s great grandparents.

Discharged in good order – Gerhard’s military service record

Last week, I showed Maria Catherina Krumpelmann’s birth certificate and the process used to translate it. That was not the only document that was translated for us. Today, we’ll take a look at Gerhard Wellman’s service record. The same process was used as in the other document.

An original German document about the service of Gerhard Wellman in the late 1870s.

Even in the 1880’s, you needed a copy of your birth certificate

In a previous post, I discussed the challenges one can encounter when translating a document. Translation becomes more difficult when the document is more than 100 years old.

Going on a class picnic – 1934 West Point Iowa

There was a message on our voicemail from a gentleman who went to school in West Point. It was delightful to talk with him. I wasn’t aware that there was a West Point Iowa Facebook Group, and I have enjoyed reading bits of the West Point Bee and seeing pictures posted on the group.

I thought that a glimpse of the school picnic from 1934, taken at the Fairgrounds would be fun pictures to share this week.

Who is Brigham Emkey, and Why Does Mom Talk About His Place?

When I was a kid Mom would always talk about the “Brigham Emkey” place. Or maybe it was “Brigham Empty”. Or “Bring ‘Em Empty”? She said it all as one word, like “BrighamEmpty”, and it was hard to tell. But the BrighamEmkey Place was where Mom lived as a little girl, and she told a lot of stories about it. But I could never figure out the name.

You Gotta Love Computers, or A Shirttail Relation

As you may know, Michelle and I somehow got appointed as the keepers of family history, lore, and photographs in my family. I’m pretty sure the vote took place when I wasn’t present…

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