Two Important Events in Nana’s Life; Both on the Same Day

On June 18, 1913 the Senior Class of Sacramento High School held their graduation ceremony. My grandmother, Bertha Emma von Breyman was the first child in her family to walk across a stage and receive her diploma. Quite a feat considering she was the second to youngest of ten children.
Her mother was widowed when my Nana was five years old.  In order to attend high school Nana had moved to her sister’s home to care for the children and do household chores. Throughout her life she was proud of the fact that she had graduated from high school and always emphasized the importance of education. Each one of her six children attended some form of higher education, from the Navel Academy to Stanford, coast to coast, and points in between.
The graduation ceremony was in the morning. Wearing the same suit she had made for her graduation, she and Henry August William Lindgren went down to City Hall and were married the same afternoon. The picture at the head of this blog was taken at the Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco on their honeymoon. 

Fifty years later the family gathered in Sacramento to celebrate their anniversary.  The group from left to right:

Jack (deceased), Pat, Catherine (my mother) Henry and Bertha, Bettie, and Henry (deceased.)  Missing from the picture was Bill who lived on the east coast at the time.  Henry was the oldest, followed by Jack, then my mother, Bettie and Pat.  Bill is the baby of the family.

Point of the story?  

If you want to remember an important event in your life, schedule your wedding on the same day!  

 

Wordless Wednesday and a Lineup of Sisters

The von Breyman Sisters  in California.  No idea what date this was taken but probably in the 1950′s.

L-R:  Fredi Jackson, Minnie Schnitter, Louise Nugent, Ida Fletcher, Bertha Lindgren (my grandmother), and Amy Silva

 

We all made it to 65. We didn’t all get Social Security.

Since I celebrated my “Medicare Birthday” this week, I thought it would be a good chance to chronicle all of my female ancestors at the same age! . . . all the female ancestors that I have pictures of, that is! Each one of my grandmothers are either exactly 65 or a year on either side of it

Can you figure out who I resemble? Hint: it is not my mother!

My great-great grandmother, Amelia D. Gode, at least 65 years old
(my mother’s great grandmother)

My great-great grandmother, Catharine Auxer Niess, age 65
(My father’s great grandmother)

My Great Grandmother, Minnie Goda von Breyman, age 65
(my mother’s grandmother)

My great-grandmother, Carrie Carvell Niess, age 65
(my father’s grandmother)

Catharina Dorothea Schultz Lindgren
(my mother’s grandmother)

My grandmother, Nellie Viola Niess Sherman, 60+ years old
(my father’s mother)

My grandmother, Bertha E. von Breyman Lindgren
(my mother’s mother)

My mother, Catharine Dorothea Lindgren Sherman

. . . .and now you know who I’m named after!  My name is:
Dorothea (after my great-grandmother Lindgren and my mother)
Linda (after my grandfather, who was called “Lindi” and had nobody named after him!)
and of course, Sherman, carrying on my father’s name!

We all reached the age of 65, but only myself, my mother and my two grandmothers ever saw Social Security benefits.

Hopefully, there will be enough for my daughter to see!

 

Wordless Wednesday

This picture was taken in 1923 in Sacramento, California when my mother was four years old.  The family was visiting  my great-grandmother, Minnie von Breyman, from Hilo, Hawaii.

 

A Family Celebrates a 50th Anniversary

Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration for Henry A.W. and Bertha E. von Breyman Lindgren, June 1963, Sacramento, California (my grandparents)

L-R: Jack Lindgren, Pat Lindgren Kurtz, Catherine Lindgren Sherman (my mother), Henry Lindgren, Bertha Lindgren, Bettie Lindgren Adams, Dr. Henry Lindgren.  Missing: Bill Lindgren

 

Our Family’s Crowning Glory!

It runs in the family!  Some are finicky about their hair, others their hats. . . .and some neither!  It started long ago . . .

The Ephraim Niess family was probably on a picnic.  They lived in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and did own property that somebody farmed for them.  My great-grandfather, Edwin, is the oldest boy in the middle of the picture.  Since he was born in 1867, the picture had to have been taken after 1873 or so.  This family loved their hats!

My grandmother, Bertha Emma von Breyman graduated from high school on June 18, 1913 in the morning.  She was 16 years old and the first in her family to graduate from high school.  That afternoon, she and Henry A.W. Lindgren went down to the City Hall in Sacramento and were married.  Their honeymoon was to the Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.  This picture was taken there.  Her hat looks overpowering for such a young girl.  His looks great on him.

Ninety five years later, the Lindgrens great-great granddaughter graduated from High School in the windy Tehachapi Pass in California.  She did not get married the same day and she did not wear a hat.  But her crowning glory did blow in the breeze!

Hallie’s grandparents cover the hair (what little they have of it!) and their hats served a purpose.  It was December and we were on the observation deck of the Empire State Building.  We needed to wear those wool hats!

We always did try to keep with the styles.  Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t.