I interviewed mom many years ago and here is what she said:
Eleanor is her middle name and Granger her maidan name. Born 2 June 1918 in Newark NY. She was born at home and had 5 brothers and 1 sister (William, Robert, Howard, Inez (mom), Gilbert, Aldon, Virginia (Ginny).
Etta Phylena Newman was her mother & Floyd Enoch Granger her dad. Myra Newman was Etta's Mom and William & Harriet were Floyd's parents.
At 6 yrs old mom walked to school thru Hitchings Apple Farm 500 acres, in the fall when apples were ripe she would eat them all the way to school and all the way back. She learned to swim in the deep part of a creek 2 miles walk from home. At 17 yrs old she lived in Seneca County and attended the Waterloo school and graduated in class of 1937. She was baptized in a Methodist church in Cardiff at the age of 10. She also got married in same church in Cardiff. Mom was healed of Vericose veins in her legs and nightmares. Auntie Inez told her a story about trusting in God. Mom said to Auntie "aren't you scared with those guns in the house?" and she answered and told mom that when she put he head on the pillow at night she trusted that God would watch out over her while she slept and mom said she remembered that and her nightmares went away.
Mom and Dad married 23 Nov 1938 by Methodist minister's home Lester Schaff in Clifton Springs NY. They had Campbell's Vegetable soup and peaches for dinner that day. Phil's mother died in 1939 of brights disease -- they sold the house and moved into an apartment in Phelps upstairs. From 1941-57 they lived in 5 points (geneva exit) Joan and Bills moved that house to Rochester and lived in it for long long time. From 1957 to 1984 they lived at 106 Pearl Street Liverpool. In 1984 they moved into Old Mill Apartments.
Mom remembers digging stumps to pay the rent in the early days of their marriage. They had no insurance for surgery in those days (before 1956).
Dad's middle name is Edward and his dad died of cancer at age 45. His dad's name was Edward Ingram and his mom's name was Flora. Margaret Recter, Bob, Phil (dad), Alfred were Dad's siblings. Alfred died at age 7. Barbara showed me a journel of the days prior to his death. Everyone should read it.
Dad was born in Verrick NY which no longer exists. 22 Dec 1916. Lived on a 55 acre farm with horses. They sold the farm for $2700 and moved to Phelps -- Dad graduated class of 1935 as president & valedictorian of his class.
Dad often said Mom's eyes were to close to here heart because she got tears in her eyes often due to her big heart.
Etta (Newman) Granger her mom often said the world would be a strange place if everyone were the same.
Floyd Granger knew how to make Root Beer and load hay bails properly on trailer so they wouldn't fall of on the road during transport. He drank, smoked and was not good to Etta (grandma). When he had been drinking and came home mom said Etta would tell everyone to sit still and be quiet.
I also have fond memories of the truck rodeo's and how well dad did. Dad was the best truck driver in the world. The only two accidents he ever had were in snow storm he jackknifed to avoid crushing a car in front of him and the other was a car at a garage in a town lost its breaks and rolled down by itself into the street under his trailer.
I'd love to hear stories from any of you who remember them -- Mark
