I took some way awesome photos yesterday. They were awesome because of the subjects and the purpose behind the photo. (Not because of my camera or my eye for photography - because I think that eye might need glasses!)
My father in law has been really excited to take a father/son/grandson photo at a historic home in a nearby town. The home was one of his ancestor's homes. Actually, it was his great-great grandfather's home that was constructed in 1910. This guy was so excited about the house and his name that he emblazoned it on the front stoop.
The 1910 Mr Haid is the first generation of Haids born in America. His father, the original, was born in Switzerland and traveled by ship via the Atlantic, Gulf, and the Mississippi River to settle in central Missouri during the mid 1860s. The family still resides on the original farm.
The family legend has it that this little boy traveled with his parents and grandparents. The grandfather became very ill and died. He had a burial at sea. I believe that his parents didn't live too long, either, but he lived for quite some time.
I don't know much about this 1910 Mr. Haid Junior. I suppose I haven't asked that much though. I did a quick web search and learned the following information:
Biographical Sketch of Daniel Haid, Jr., Franklin County, Missouri
>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1888.
**********************************************************************
Daniel Haid, Jr., dealer in general merchandise, grain, etc., was born
in Gasconade County, Mo., two miles west of Berger in 1859, the son of
Daniel and Teressa (Speckhals) Haid, natives of Switzerland and Germany,
respectively. When still quite young they came with their parents to
the United States, located in Gasconade County, where they were married,
and where the father of our subject still resides. He is a thorough-
going well-to-do farmer and general trader. He is a man of good busi-
ness ability, and one who has the esteem of the entire community. He
is now living with his second wife, Mrs. Barbara Smidt, nee Zeilmann.
His first wife died in 1872, at the age of thirty-six years. Daniel
grew to manhood on the farm and secured a fair education in the country
schools. He was then occupied on the farm, where he remained until
1883, when he, in company with Albert Labhardt, engaged in the general
merchandise business at Berger. At the end of one year Mr. Labhardt
withdrew, and since then Mr. Haid has conducted the business alone,
with unusual success, and having quite a capital invested in his busi-
ness. He has erected a large elevator, and is quite extensively en-
gaged in the grain trade, and bids fair to soon become one of Franklin
County's leading business men. He cast his first presidential vote in
1880. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the German Evangelical
Church.
That is a pretty detailed bio. Sounds like this family used to be rich! Bummer that they didn't leave any flashy jewels to be passed down to me. Or crystal stemware. Or vacation houses in France. Or wineries. Or whatever. I married for love, not money.
A little more digging and I found this:
I also know that he had two sons and that the home was passed to the son without his namesake. I think the other brother got the farm land or the business. I don't know for sure.
I do know that my husband's direct family did not inherit the house and its inhabitants are cousins that I've never met and my husband doesn't think he's ever met. My father in law remembers going there when his aunt and uncle lived there for parties.
I bet that 1910 Mrs. Haid had some fabulous adventures. There is a grand ballroom in the home. Can you imagine ME in a house with a BALLROOM? What parties I could throw. Spring galas. Holiday balls. And we could have even had a series finale of LOST formal affair.
I would, of course, have to have a full staff to clean it all. And a florist. A gardener. A pastry chef.
But I would NOT have a nanny for this little laddie.
He could have a Latin tutor or something, but not a nanny. I enjoy him too much to share with another caregiver!
My son was such a good sport about having his photo taken.. There were dogs and unfamiliar faces for him to wave and smile to. I think he might grow up to be as photogenic as his father.
And here is a photo of my husband's immediate family.
His father and younger brother are sitting next to him, and I am sitting next to my mother in law. I think its a really good photo, even though it was 97 degrees (for real) and at least 5 of us were sweaty, hungry for lunch, and ready for a nap.
I wouldn't be surprised if this photo makes it into my mother in law's Christmas card.
I think I might have the most photogenic husband in the world. Seriously, he cannot take a bad picture! I realize it could be my rose colored glasses, but I doubt it. He is also a fine sport for posing for pictures and tolerating his photo being made.
Many people I know don't humor me and feel apprehensive about having their photograph taken. I think those worries make the photo that much less beautiful because the anxiety and stiffness show. I think self consciousness screams in photos, louder than in real life.
This is a nice photo too, but perhaps too much light. I think I may try to photoshop this one to improve the contrast.
These last photos are action shots. They were taken on burst mode and occurred quicker than a wink. My little boy is a QUICK crawler these days. He barreled past me and found a ball to play with. I like these photos, too.
These photos were taken on Father's Day and I know it was significant for my father in law. He feels so proud of his grandson and sons, and he thought it was so neat that the house is 100 this year. It was somewhat of a hassle to get packed up after early church and travel in the car for three hours to be there for six hours, but I find consolation in the fact that the photos are awesome and my family enjoyed each other's company.
