TREE TALK

TJ Banta, circa 1946 Theodore “TJ” Banta experienced profound loss and resilience by the time he married Verona Willard at the age of 27 in June 1906.   However, I did not realize the depth of his experience until making a surprise discovery while researching the “Find a Grave” database.   For context, Barbara and I were preparing for an extended research trip that included Ford County, Kansas.  I knew my maternal roots were deep in Kansas.  Bucklin, Kansas was where the Willard and Banta branches of my family tree came together with the marriage of TJ Banta and Verona Willard.  Their roots were so deep that their remains were brought from California back to Kansas to rest within the family plot at Bucklin.  Back to my surprise.  A “Find a Grave” search to see if other Banta relatives were buried in Ford County revealed two others: Birdie and Infant Son Banta.  They are buried in the same grave and share a headst...

I first learned the story of Nina Ruth Bernheim, my grandmother’s mother when I was a young boy.  Here is what I remember:  “Grandma, is that a picture of my mother?” I said, pointing to an old photo on her dresser. “That’s not your mother, Jerry. That’s my mother!” Grandma explained. “Wow, they look just like each other!” “Yes, they do, let’s see if we can find some more pictures, and I will tell you all about my mother.  She is your Great-Grandmother.”   Grandma gathered her album of old photos, yellowed newspaper clippings, and faded letters   “Let’s go see what we can find,” she said.   “I never knew my mother,” Grandma said, as she carefully opened her treasured album. “She died when I was a baby. Her name was Nina, the same as mine.  She grew up in Colorado and her parents died young."   Grandma used a few pictures to help tell the story. “This is my mother, Nina, as a girl," she said. "She is holding her little brother Arthur, who is f...

June McDonald Timm’s Connection to Jennie  Banta  McDonald    When I started the search for Jennie and James Banta it was the early 1990’s when the internet and email were not what we enjoy today.  “Message Boards” were very popular with family historians to mass communicate with people of similar interest.  I posted a request to collaborate with anyone who had any information on Jennie Brock Banta McDonald and James Banta.   I was thrilled 15 years later when I got a reply from June  McDonald  Timm letting me know that Jennie McDonald was her grandmother.  June was in her late 80s at that time, very clear, and shared memories of her grandmother.  She recalled sitting at her side as a young girl, listening to stories while learning to sew.  She remembered Grandma Jennie as a strong woman, no-nonsense, with a sense of humor, and a heart of gold.  She told of five husbands one she nev...

  Searching for James (1832-1881) and Jennie (1855-1932) Banta AI-generated image of James Banta riding in a lightning storm Rolling thunder shook the foundation and lightning filled the room with bursts of glare as heavy rain pounded the roof of their isolated farmhouse.  Young Jennie Banta was laboring hard to birth their second child, and it was not going well.  James needed help and this would not wait for the weather to clear.  He mounted his horse and raced into the stormy night to beg the doctor to come help.  The doctor agreed and arrived in time to successfully deliver a healthy baby girl into the world.  James however was not as fortunate, for he was struck dead by lightning as he rode back home.  A heroic act of chivalry to save the child he would never see.  A daunting future for the widow with a newborn, a two-year-old, and three step-children to raise alone on the Kansas prairie of the Wild West....

Gee Gee, 1966 When her first grandchild was learning how to talk, he pronounced "grandma" as “Gee Gee” (hard G as in geek).  Everyone thought that was cute, especially Gee Gee!  From that day forward she was Gee Gee to her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren that followed.     There are three things I remember most about visiting Gee Gee as a child.  First, she was unable to walk after breaking her hip and had to use a wheelchair to get around.  Otherwise, Gee Gee was very  sturdy and loved to hold and hug her little ones.  However it was the wheelchair that fascinated us. The big wheels, the handlebars to push, and the brake to stop.  We all begged to go for rides in the chair and take turns pushing her around the house.   It was a big deal for us!  Another fascinating thing was the piano she had in her living room.   All the kids loved to press on the keys trying to plunk out a melody or perform a re...

This photograph captures the joyful love of newlyweds after their secret wedding.  Marvin and Nina are the couple, and their brother-in-law, Doyle is standing by.  The photographer, Belle (Banta) Zeiler is very close to all three people in the picture, as she is Nina's best friend, Marvin's sister, and Doyle's wife.   Doyle and Belle were also newlyweds and the two couples were on their way to a reception in Bucklin, Kansas.  Taken in September 1928 with their Model T parked along a dusty road.   The rest of the story:  Marvin and Nina were high school sweethearts. They had great prospects for college after graduation.   He had a football scholarship to the University of Alabama and Nina was enrolled in the nursing program at Park College thanks to her grandmother's generous sponsorship. However, they soon discovered that they could not bear to be apart.  Marvin found his way to Nina and proposed.  She said yes and they quickly elop...

Hey everybody, check out my latest short story about events and ancestors of our family tree.    This story goes way back to Christmas Eve 1954!   Let me know what you think and any fun memories you would like to share.  In the Beginning The doorbell rang loud as the family gathered to exchange gifts at the Grandon home on Haviland Ave in Hayward, California.  It was Christmas Eve, 1954 and all had arrived hours before.  Who could be at the door this late they wondered?    When Grandma May answered the door no one was there.   Just a small, neatly wrapped, untagged package placed neatly on the doorstep.  “Well, it looks like we have a secret Santa in town!” she smiled, examining the box.    Everyone had the same curious look as she scanned each face looking for a clue as to who might know about this mysterious gift.   “Open it up Mom!” her children shouted, excited to see what had been left. Jerry and Pat gave ea...