Elta Lee Frick Mechling 1873 - 1941 The Kennison kids did not get to meet and know our great-grandmother Elta, as she passed in 1941 at the age of 68 as the result of an apparent heart attack. We surely know of Elta's love and care for family from the character of her only daughter Josephine and the gentle demeanor of her husband Arthur. This couple helped raise our dad and his siblings when John Kennison abandoned his young family. This photo of Elta was on display for many years in the foyer area of Ginny's home. Elta is laid to rest alongside of her husband Arthur Shupe Mechling in the Sylvan Heights Cemetery in Uniontown . I traced her ancestry on Find A Grave and find that her roots are similar to Arthur's, coming from humble backgrounds in Europe, ultimately arriving in Philadelphia in 1767. Grandmother Jo proudly served in the Daughters Of The American Revolution due to this heritage. Here is the linage on her dad's side...
Comments
Gina, when did you say "Mrs. DeHaas's" birthday was? I'll send her a card (maybe).
The Porters
There was Frank, and Frankie, and Hester, and there was "Grand-dad (Hester's father What was his last name?)". Granddad had a pickup truck. Did Granddad have a farm? (You old guys must have been there). What was their dog's name?{Brandy} . What kind of car did they have? (Fords or Dodge?) Can you say "Predestination" ( as a Catholic how do you make sense of those Presbyterians)
Lena
When you think about the Porter's how can you not think about Lena! ( was there a relationship?) Lena and some sailor? (Kristin I know you made fum)
Standing on the Corner
I remember that corner! (among other things walking Mary Dell home from school, sitting on the porch at Ann Titus's we had that corner covered!). Do you remember the night Aunt Grace put her car (a Dodge) up the telephone poll at the curve there at the bottom of the hill on her way to the "West-End Bar"? She tired to use the windshield washer (below freezing) .
Hester's dad's name was Hickman. Granddad Hickman. He did own a farm somewhere I think but I don't believe that I was ever there.
Brandy Porter was Hester's dog but I never would have remembered that if you hadn't mentioned his/her name, Brian.
I don't know what kind, or even what color, cars Frank and Hester drove.
I can say Predestination, but it's a doctrine that I don't really understand. The sense that I make of those Presbyterians is that some of them are pretty good folks, Hester being a case in point. Grandma was a Presbyterian also so I would venture to say that some Presbyterians are saints! I've always thought that would be a religion worth looking into as it influenced someone as kind, gentle, loving and wonderful as Grandma was but I never have.
I don't remember anything about Lena and a sailor. I do remember how thin she was. How briskly she walked and how well she carried herself. I think I remember red hair too.
I don't remember Aunt Grace putting her Dodge up the telephone poll. Were any of her kids with her? Did she get hurt? Did she call our house for help? Must have been an awful night for her....
The corner was very special to Ann Titus, Barbara and myself. We held court on Ann's porch many, many times with lots of people. Kids used to cruise the corner to see who was there.
I do remember Lena and her red hair and how she walked. I do not remember a sailor. Didn't Cubby DeHaas live in that house for a while after he was married?
I remember Granddaddy Hickman's constitutionals and how he walked. I was never at the farm. Hester always called him Daddy.
Hester, LaDonna and mother did have a great friendship. I don't think that Mother kept up her end when she moved to KY. Maybe Bri and Jeff know better.
I always thought that Frankie drove a stick shift because he squealed the tires so much. It was an automatic - wonder how many transmissions he ruined?
I went back to the corner lots while LaDonna still lived there - to visit with Barbara. I followed LaDonna to her many houses in Uniontown - visiting when I went to Ginny's.
I agree completely with Gina about Hester and Gram - good people.