A Fan and an Old Photograph

Orel Pearl Williams (1870-1962),

wife of G. A. Britton, was my grandmother.

Pearl Williams, wife of G. A. Britton -- 1928
This photo was made just prior to their 40th wedding anniversary.

I knew the pretty white-haired lady as Grandma Britton; others called her Pearl. I frequently accompanied my father when he went to visit Pearl and George. My first visit was when I was just a baby. They were living then in southeast Missouri, in Ripley County, near the Arkansas line. My very first memories are associated with my second visit there when I was three years old. They are enhanced by a photograph made by my aunt at a family picnic.

Years later when the Brittons returned to the home area of their youth in Henry County, Iowa, it's the living room that I remember. It was overflowing with photographs and memorabilia; the associated stories appealed to me. On one particular visit, Grandma Britton brought out a photograph for my dad and gave me a lovely fragile fan.  Now, both are in my possession. The occasion at which the photo was made was a 4th of July celebration during their courtship. Pearl was prepared for the sun and heat with her parasol and the fan in her lap.

Pearl Williams and G. A. Britton, 4 July 1888

The couple wed on New Year's Day, 1889. When they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, I was one of the many guests. I was much impressed with the elaborate anniversary cake, and to this day have a well-preserved tiny frosting bird that was on my own piece of the cake.

--genieBev (Genealogy Beverly)

For ideas about how to do Family History, visit:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentutor/

He Came Back to Iowa -- twice

George Albert Newell Britton (1866-1953)

was my great grandfather. 

George Britton, 1938

George, son of Robert Britton and Margaret Jane Anderson, was named after a popular minister of the area, Rev. Albert Newell, and in turn my father acquired the name of Newell from his grandfather, George.

George had 7 sisters and brothers; I knew the three youngest, all girls. Their father died in 1880; their widowed mother lived on until 1913, and was survived by all 8 of her children.

On New Year's Day, 1889,

George married Orel Pearl Williams, in New London, Iowa.

In the company of his Williams inlaws, G. A. Britton took his family to Texas in 1894. The Galveston hurricane and flood of September 7 and 8, 1900, was responsible for their return to Iowa. Two weeks after the disaster, they were able to leave by train, later sending two young men of the Williams family back to load any salvagable goods on to railroad boxcars for transport to Iowa.

In 1912, just a few weeks after the New Year's Day marriage of their daughter, Edna, in New London, Iowa, the local newspaper for that area announced: "Geo. Britton and family and Mr. and Mrs. Louis DeLong left Wednesday for Naylor, Mo., to make their future home. They leave a host of friends here who regret to see them leave, but who wish them all possible success in their new location." (March 6, 1912). Cotton was one of the crops in Ripley County, Missouri. They also kept a flock of chickens.

Upon retirement from their Missouri farm, George and Pearl returned to New London. A family portrait was made on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary.

The G. A. Britton Family, 1939

Left to right: Edgar, G. A., Edna, Pearl, Forest

Except for the years they lived in Texas and Naylor, Missouri, George and Pearl were residents of New London in Henry County, Iowa, up until the time of George's death; although he died in neighboring Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, 11 July 1953. Pearl died in New London almost 9 years later.

--genieBev (Genealogy Beverly)

For ideas about how to do Family History, visit:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentutor/