Pictures of Granmom

Can you guess which one she is?

 

with some unknown guy

 

With one of her Vanmeter uncles

 

High School picture?

Must be 1935

Maybe 1944 or 45

One of my favorites: Great-Grandmother Emma, with Dorothy in the ringlets, her sister Bessie and Bessie’s daughter Emma in the bow. I’d guess this to be about 1915 or 16

Granmom with her nephew in the baby buggy. Martin is pretty hard to see in this one.

John David Earnest, Pansy Pearl Kandle  Earnest, Emma Vanmeter Earnest, Dorothy Merle Earnest, and Martin Earnest

Granmom’s family before she was born. This shot was taken on the Vanmeter farm Easter 1900 or so. The farm is on the corner of Harding Highway and Martin Ave. near Pole Tavern. That is where the Vanmeter clan gathered together every spring.

The Vanmeters at Easter, might be the same year. Our Great-Great Grandparents are standing third and fourth from the left, that’s Emma and John David next. Great-Great Grandmother Rachel Shoulders and Great-Great Grandfather “Burris” Isaac Burroughs Vanmeter. He fought in the Civil War. Since he was missing part of his trigger finger, he didn’t do much fighting. He did write letters for other soldiers.

John David Earnest & Emma Vanmeter

  

Granmom’s parents – the blacksmith and the bride

John and Emma married sometime before 1888. Emma died in 1918, from the great flu epidemic? John married again in 1930 to Elizabeth. Elizabeth who?

  

These are both printed on post card paper. John’s says “Matthews – Wildwood, NJ”

John David Earnest was born on 17 Sept. 1866 in Salem. His parents were Ephraim B. Earnest and Rebecca A. Garton. John died in 1946. He’s buried at the Old Pittsgrove Baptist Church graveyard in Daretown.

Rachel Emma Vanmeter was born on 27 Feb. 1868 in Upper Alloway Township. Her parents were Isaac Burroughs Vanmeter (Granmom said his name was Burris, I guess that is the South Jersey pronunciation of Burroughs) and Rachel A. Shoulders. Emma died in August 1918, buried also at the Old Pittsgrove Baptist Church graveyard.

John and Emma had 5 children. The first was Izetta Viola Earnest.  She died in infancy,  at the home of George Martin. Born and died in 1888. The baby was buried in the same graveyard. I have no idea who the Martins were or how we were related or acquainted with the family.

The second child, George Martin Earnest was born 26 Nov. 1889. He went by his middle name, Martin. He married Pansy Pearl Kandle. They had two sons, Martin and George. This nephew Martin is the one Granmom talked about. Martin, Granmom’s brother, died 24 Oct. 1952. He’s buried in the Bridgeton Presbyterian graveyard.

Pansy Pearl Kandle

The third child was Bessie Viola Earnest. She was born in Jan. 1892. Bessie married and had one daughter Emma Ellis. Bessie died in 1934.

The 4th child was Ervin Austin Earnest. Born in Sept. 1895. Uncle Ernie married Gertrude Brinkman. He died 1960.

Uncle Ernie and Aunt Gert

Then the 5th child, Granmom came along much later. Dorothy Merle Earnest was born 13 Oct. 1909.

The house in Bridgeton where Granmom was born. 33 Franklin Street. That is Great-Gramma Emma on the step.

Dortothy Merle Earnest married John Milton Earnest 29 Mar. 1930 (the same year her father remarried). They were married in the Methodist parsonage in Elmer. They couldn’t be married in Grandpop’s family Quaker Meeting (the actual meethinghouse is located on the property of the Atlantic City Area Friends, Absecon) Granmom wasn’t a Quaker.