Grandma, Aunt Minnie, Uncle Herb

"Grandma" is Ann Eliza Crandall (1829-1912), 2nd wife of Edward Rose.  In addition to her son Bert Rose (Grace's father), Ann also had another child who survived to adulthood: Minnie Rose (1867-1958).

Minnie married Herbert Towler (1864-1920) and they had 2 children: Edward Herbert Towler (1892-1958) and Mertianna Towler (1894-1977).  The Towlers lived in Minneapolis at the time that this diary was written.

Edward Rose died in January 1906, and it appears to be around that time that "Grandma" began moving back and forth between the homes of her 2 children.  She started out at Bert's home, then lived with the Towlers from approximately October 1906 to July 1907.  She then moved back to Bert's home, but it appears from Grace's diary entries that she again moved out during 1908, and likely went back to the Towlers.

I have a couple of guesses as to how Grace met her future husband, Earl Derham.  One guess is that it was somehow through "Grandma", although it would have been accidental because Grandma was pushing her toward someone named Will, and had been for several years.  Later in their married lives, Earl and Grace would be pharmacists and operate a drugstore together.  During their 1908 courtship, it does seem that Earl works in a drugstore, based on Grace's diary entries.  In the 1910 census, Earl lists his occupation as salesman in a drugstore.  I have a letter from Ann Crandall Rose to Grace in which she indicates that she used to own a building in Corunna, and that she understands it is being turned into a drugstore, a change she approves of.  Did Ann once own the building where Earl works?  I need to research this.

Thursday, November 5, 1908

Papa and I went down to Grandma's in a.m.  She and Aunt Minnie went to Minn. at noon.  In evening Earl and I went to the theatorium and dancing club.  Got home at 12:30.  Did not get the milk.

Thursday, September 17, 1908

Ironed in a.m.  Meal Vaughbrot came in a.m. and stayed all night.  Mama took me downtown in p.m. I stayed at Grandma's for supper and went to Owosso to see "Paid in Full" in evening.  Home afterwards.  Show was fine.  Got here about 1:30.

Friday, September 4, 1908

We went down to Grandma's in p.m.  I saw Mable W., W.C., Rex, Will S., Earl, and Romaine B.  Dandy day.

Tuesday, September 1, 1908

Washed in a.m.  In p.m. I went downtown with Papa to get my shoes.  Went up to Grandma's for a little while and Mertie was there all alone.  Leah Eveleth and her mother had been here to see Mama when we got back.

Thursday, August 20, 1908

M. and I walked downtown in p.m. and called at Grandma's.  Stayed at Belle's for supper and came out home with the boys.  "Cheats."

Thursday, August 13, 1908

M. and I went over to Owosso in p.m.  In eve we drove down after the boys and had a circus.  "Curtains, sofa pillows, and candy."  "Rat."  Donald came home with us to do the chores and we took him back.  Aunt Minnie and children and Grandma stopped for a few minutes towards evening.  Chilt over in a.m. and told our fortunes.  Great.

Sunday, June 7, 1908

Bessie came up in the morning and just as we got thru eating dinner Earl drove up and we drove the horse all p.m.  Stopped to see Pearl Wren and had ice cream.  Saw Grandma and she told us that Edith Driscoll has been married a month.  Great!  At 8 o'clock Earl closed the store and we came home and ate ice cream again that he brought up.  Talked, danced, sung, and whistled in evening.  Took Bessie home at 10:30.  "Foolish."

Saturday, May 23, 1908

In p.m. went downtown to Dr's office for Mama's medicine.  Met Will Cook and we walked up to see Grandma.  Went down street and met Bessie C. and then to see Earl.  Such a time.  "Playing two parts."  Cook got mad because I did not tell him that I had other company but I thought he could take a hint without a kick.  "I will let that other fellow walk downtown with you."  Ha! Ha!  Saw him come out of Serr's saloon.  I should have thought he would have felt pretty cheap.  Dandy day.  Went to ballgame.  Flint Mutes - 6 and C.H.S. - 3.  Good game.

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Transcriber's note: From the 1907 Corunna Directory, it appears that the Serr family runs 2 saloons at 2 different addresses.  However, since Joe Serr has passed away earlier this month, and his saloon is run from his residence, perhaps only Adam Serr's saloon is open today.

Wednesday, May 6, 1908

Rained off and on all day and Bessie and I had planned to go to the ball-game between Greenville and C.H.S. but couldn't.  Talked with Will in evening.  Mama sat up and was dressed for the first.  Chilt told my fortune in p.m.  Took Grandma down to Belle's after supper.

Tuesday, May 5, 1908

Had a spat with Grandma but it did not amount to much.  Papa and Chilt went spearing and had fine luck.

Saturday, April 25, 1908

Grandma and I drove downtown in p.m. and I got my jacket.  Bessie and I went to ball game.  Holly - 3 and C.H.S. - 9.  She rode home with us.  Rained.  Talked with Scottie and Fritz in the evening for about an hour.  The wind blew awful hard.

Monday, March 30, 1908

Ans'd W.F.C.'s and Hope's letters.  Went downtown in p.m. with Grandma.  Rec'd W.H.'s letter.  Mrs Gilbert brought some unions (sic) over in evening.

Monday, March 2, 1908

Snowed a little all day.  Rec'd letters from M.A. and Ella S.  Ans'd H.H. and W.H. letters.  Chilt over in p.m.  Grandma mad and hardly said a word all day.  She can get over it just as soon as she wants to for all I care.

Tuesday, Feb 11, 1908

Mama and I went down to Hawkins a little while in the p.m.  Mrs Gilbert was over while we were gone so she visited with Grandma.

Tuesday, Feb 4, 1908

Grandma, Mama, and I went downtown in p.m.  Nearly froze coming back.  Saw Emma and Grace Miller.

Monday, Jan 20, 1908

Grandma and I drove downtown in afternoon.  In evening Chilt and Mr Fenner were over.  Talked with Emma and Will C.

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Transcriber's note:  There are 2 Fenners listed in the Corunna directory in 1907. 

Sunday, Jan 19, 1908

My folks went over to Buckles and Grandma spent the day at Brands.  Winnie and I baked chicken and had a dandy dinner.  Chilt came over and told our fortunes.  Took Winnie back home about 6 o'clock.  Dandy day.

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Transcriber's notes:

The Buckle family lives about a mile down the road, about 6 properties east of the Rose farm.  Grace spells their name at least once as "Buckel", but primarily uses the "Buckle" spelling.

In 1908, the head of household was Fred E. Buckle, born July 1865, according to census records.  He died on December 31, 1909.
His wife is Agnes "Aggie" Buckle (nee Serr).  She was born May 1868.  In census records she consistently reports having 2 daughters, and no other children living or deceased.

The elder daughter is sometimes named "Z Romaine" and sometimes "Romaine Z" in census records.  She is 14 years old in 1908 when Grace wrote her diary. Therefore it most likely that when Grace refers to "Romaine B" she is more than likely referring to Romaine Bramwell, who is closer to Grace's age.  Romaine Buckle was born 10 Apr 1894 and died 20 Jul 1978 per the Michigan death index and Social Security records.  She married William Walter Knott around 1927, per 1930 census records.

The younger Buckle daughter is named Mildred.  She is not referenced in Grace's diary, so must have been too young in age for Grace to take much notice.

Sunday, Jan 5, 1908

Harry came up after W.H. about noon and he stayed a little while.  Will came up too.  Had a sick horse so he stayed all night.  Grandma and I had a spat that will hold us for a while.  Talked with Will C. in evening.

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Transcriber's notes:

W.H. is very likely Winifred Humphrey.  We know she is in town and it appears that Grace commonly refers to her as W.H., and that she often stays over at Grace's house when she is visiting.

Since they were looking for Harry Hawkins yesterday, is he our Harry today?

This entry refers to both Will, and Will C.  One Will is staying over at Grace's house, while she talks with Will C., presumably on the phone as she usually does.  From tomorrow's diary entry we know that the Will that stayed over at her house tonight, usually lives in Ann Arbor.  Ann Arbor is where the University of Michigan is located.  Will Soper attends U of M and the Corunna Journal has reported that he is in town.  It was reported when he arrived, and 2 weeks later when he left.

Will Soper graduated from Corunna High School in 1905, and his friend Ray Derham, who is Grace's future brother-in-law, graduated from CHS a year later.

"Grandma" is Ann Eliza Crandall (1829-1912), 2nd wife of Edward Rose.  Edward Rose died in 1906.  Their son Elbert "Bert" Lee Rose is Grace's father.

Thursday, Jan 2, 1908

Drove downtown in the afternoon and got Della.  Talked with Will C. over the phone in evening.

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Transcriber's notes:

I searched the Corunna Journal archives around this date but did not find reference to anyone named Della coming to visit.

Will C. is most likely to be Will Cook.  Will Cook has been a friend of the family's for at least a few years now. I have letters written from Grace's paternal grandmother (Ann Crandall Rose) to Grace, in 1906, when Ann was living with her daughter Minnie Rose Towler.  Will is mentioned several times in those letters, and once, Grandma mentions that she would really like to see Will and Grace become closer.  Will lives in Vernon, about 8 miles away.  In the 1910 census, there is a William Cook renting a room in Vernon.  That Will Cook is about Grace's same age, so I assume he is our Will Cook.  In 1908 when Grace is writing this diary, it appears that Will Cook is also a boarder in Vernon, as she mentions once visiting him with friends, "in his room".