Johnny Elder (1935-2009)

It'll be 4 years since my Dad passed away. (9 April)

I miss him everyday.

Johnny was born 9 Dec. 1935 in the middle of the Great Depression in Perry County, Indiana.

His parents, Paul and Celestine, must  have had a tough time providing for the 4 children that came before Dad. He was sent to live with his Grandparents, Joe and  Spicie Gedling in Cloverport, Kentucky. I think Dad went back to live with his folks in 1943 when Spicie passed away. I know he was in Kentucky on his 6th birthday in 1941 because I remember him telling me about hearing about that attack on Pearl Harbor on his Grandparents radio.

Johnny and Brother Carl at the Lehman Co. picnic.

 

 Johnny had to deal with a lot of death as a young boy, his Brother James Randal died as a infant in 1937.

  Grandmother Spicie in 1943 and then his Father, Paul in 1950.

Dad didn't talk a lot about his father, I think that it still hurt. On a trip to Seattle in 1998 to a Seahawk game, I ask him a few questions about his Dad. He told me he was a hard worker, "Busted his butt everyday to feed us kids", he told me.  He loved baseball and was a fan of the Cleveland Indians.

 Johnny Yo-Yo Elder was a fine halfback and outstanding at running the hurdles.

 


Doing what high school kids did in the '50's (I wish I had that pic >>>>>>>>> when I was a teen)






























On 5 May 1958, Uncle Sam called and Dad headed to Ft. Knox, Kentucky for basic training and the off to Korea.














On 4 Nov. 1958 Dad and Mom were married.

The Army took them to Ft. Bragg, NC after Korea where Daughter Jeanine was born in 1960. Then to Orlando, Florida where his brother Joe was living. I recall Dad saying he worked at a cement block plant and hated the job. In 1962 Daughter Joan was born and in 1964 son Ed (me).  The family then headed north back to Indiana were son John was born in 1965.

1968 the family then headed west to Vancouver, Washington.

 Mom and Dad divorced in 1972.

Dad remarried in 1979 to Cherie Smith.

In 1984, I left Vancouver to join the Army, got married and stayed on the East Coast. In 1997 I came back with my family.

Mema and Grandpa with Danielle and Kailey.

Stepson Jim

Granddaughter Michon

Son John

  

Daughter Joan

                                               

Daughter Jeanine

Daughter Carrie

                                                                                                 

Sons Ed and John

Elder Men, Ed, John, John and John.

That familiar goofy smile

 

With the grandbabies (wish Michon and Brian were there)

4 Generations of Johns

Grandpa and Grandson

The last photo I have of my father. I was kinda walking around in a funk after you left us. 3 weeks later while mowing the back yard I broke down.

So long Dad. Have a Coke on me.

More odds and ends

Viola Mae Basham Elder and her cousin Mary Marcella Flood Laflin. 1909.
Viola is the first wife of my Great Uncle, Charles Layton Elder.

Viola was born in 1893 in Stephensport Ky. Daughter of Mike and Laura Rush Basham.

Sometime before 1910, Viola and her parents ended up in Chandler, Oklahoma with Uncle Charles Layton Elder living with them as a border. Not long after that Charles and Viola were married and moved back to Breckenridge Co. KY.

They would have 5 children in 7 years.

In 1922 at the age of 29, Viola died. She was laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery, Cloverport KY.

In 1924 Charles remarried and moved to Kansas.

Brigadier General Eugene V. Elder. My 2nd cousin 2 removed (His Grandfather, John Thomas and my GGGrandfather, Charles Coomes Elder were brothers).

General Elder served 38 years in the Army during WW1, WW2 and Korea.

William Ahl

 

Brother of my Great Great Grandmother, Melinda Ahl Beavin.

William was born 28 Sept. 1843 in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. The oldest child of John and Rhoda Pate Ahl.

William enlisted in the 3rd KY Cavalry as a Pvt. in 1861. He took part in the Battle of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. He was discharged 14 Feb. 1863 due to poor health

In Jan. 1865, William raised a company of state troops,  Co, A. KY Green River Inf.  Battalion. William held the rank of 1st Lt. and then later promoted to Captain.

In 1866, William married Rosina Walker. They had 6 children. In March of 1891 he was appointed Postmaster of Cloverport, KY. by President Benjamin Harrison.

In 1894 he was elected County Judge.

Then in 1911 he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Calling all Elders.....Or Beavins, or Gedlings, Walkers, Pates or Ahl.

Hoping to get some hits from anyone out there searching the name Elder.....Or Beavin, or Gedling, Walker, Pate or Ahl.

Anne Laura Beavin

Buster, Gladys, and Dick (Benidict?) Beavin

Charles Herman Elder and Family

 

 

Catherine Elder Burdett

Joseph K. and sister Dorothy K. Elder

James Leo and Nellie Beavin Elder

Verna Elder

Frank Logan Walker and sons, Roy, Felix, Abe and Lewis

Raymond and Ruth Elder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Ella Pate Skillman

More Stuff.

My Aunt Margie's Obituary Notice. I now know where she was laid to rest, but still don't know the date of her death. Obit was found in my Fathers old high school photo album.

Johnny Elder set a new field record for the low hurdles with 24 seconds.

 1953 Cannelton Bulldogs. Finished the season 4-4. My Dad, Johnny Elder and my Uncle, Carl Elder are in the photo.

 I wish Dad had taken the time to write on the back of these photos. I'm thinking this is his buddy Earl Hay from high school.

 Dad running the high hurdles in High School. Cannelton, Indiana. 1954

Another Year Gone

Getting close to saying goodbye to 2012,

This year all my children will be teens


































Son John Jarrett will be 13 on Dec 11th. He is no longer a little boy who likes to play with Legos. He now shaves. This was his first season in tackle football. I was impressed! He played like his hair was on fire.

Daughter Danielle Grace turned 16 in Nov. Now playing the piano and learning the guitar. Very talented with paint, watercolors and now learning chalk in art. She speaks her mind (Well she has since she was 2). On Dec 24th she leaves for a month, heading to Brazil for a church mission.

Daughter Kailey Marie will by 20 on Dec 28th. (Where did all those years go?) Dating a very nice young man, Eric. I hope all the best for her and just want her to always be happy.

This year I, for the first time, saw the face of my Grandfather.

I wish I had taken more time when my Dad was alive to ask him about Grandpa. He died in 1950.
He worked for a chair Co. in Cannelton, Indiana.