120 years

[Martin Jr.]

This is from a locket my mother's grandfather, Joseph, brought from Germany. Eustach Kaiser and his wife, Monica. Eusatach was born Jan 20, 1781 and died Sept. 18, 1849. He was Joseph's great uncle, and was a forester at the Castle Reisenberg in Bavaria. Monica and Eustach had 2 children, a boy and a girl born 1814 & 1815, both dying as children. The Castle owner was Baron Karl Friedrich Von Eyb. Eustach's sister's son, Gottlieb, my great, great grandfather, also worked as a forester.
Great grandfather, Joseph attended a seminary for a time and then went in to the construction business, and after a financial loss came to America in about 1882, his family following later. They settled near Wood Lake, NE in 1884 where they cut hay and baled it for a living. The hay was bought by a merchant named Michael Jordan, and shipped by rail east. Jordan had a store at Arabia, about 11 miles NW of Wood Lake. 11 miles was the distance that a steam engine could go at that time before getting more water.
Joseph's brother Karl came to America a few years later and also settled near Wood Lake. Karl's son moved to Wall, SD and raised a large family there.

[Jinglebob]

Are there still some living near Wall? Like Dale?

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Those are really neat Martin. They must be tiny to have fit in a locket, how'd ya git em so clear and blown up for posting on here? Pictures, no matter what kinda of ancestors are one of the neatest parts about researching.
My grandmother was born in 1904, I have, startin with her and grandad's weddin picture 6 generations goin back father to son in pictures. The last couple are copies of portraits that were done, because it was before camera's. And oh man are them some serious lookin folks. No smiling.
Some say it was because the exposure was so long when the picture was taken they didnt want them to smile or move. I was just thinkin, anyone else know of a different reason people didnt smile in pictures a long time ago?

[Jinglebob]

I've also heard because they had bad teeth, but I think what you heard was right. Try to hold a smile for a minute and not move your lips. They even had stands that you put your head in so you would stay in one position.
And then too, I think pictures were thot' of as being dignified.

[Martin Jr.]

These pictures were somewhat moisture damaged around the sides especially, mostly on the man's picture which is painted on paper. The woman's picture is painted on some kind of shell material. I scanned these and touched them up. The originals are about 1 1/4 inch tall.
I haven't had much contact with the family at Wall, have met some of them. There is a Dale, son of Harold. Harold lived at Wasta.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

They may be a lil water damaged as you said, but still priceless just the same. The water damage itself probably just adds to the story those pictures could tell.

[efb]

Our place was purchased by my wifes folks in 1867. We still have the original bill of sale for some of it. It has been in continuous operation by the family since. We bought the first tractor that was ever used on it.

I have a neat side saddle that my Grandmother rode to her wedding in Kansas. It looks like new. Guess I should take a picture of it and try to post it.