Timmers Oral History

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Family Folklore -- John Lindsey 1852

Samuel Lindsey Jr.: Rememberances

Family History

8 Wheel Log Wagon

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Lindsay International
Jones Cty GenWeb Project

Wayne Cty GenWeb Project

[Update: 8/22/2002:  Betty Timmers wrote me to say that "The author of the 'oral' history was Frank's (Timmers) mother, Aileen Timmers."]

Dear Alyce and Joe: — Well here goes. I will no doubt digress from time to time as something I will be telling you may call for side remarks. But I will swear on a Bible that what I am telling you is to my knowledge, the truth.

I met Uncle John in late 1917; I was living with a family in San Francisco. He came to tell this family “Goodbye” - he had enlisted in the Army, and was on his way to Basic Training and eventually France. He was an old friend of this family - Aunt Margareth, Uncle Gustav — their daughter Frances (my chum) their Son Henry and two nieces — Helen and Dora. When Helen was 8 and Dora 6 their Father remarried, and their Step—Mother did not want them, so Aunt Margareth made a home for them. Then my Father remarried, and I too ran into Step-Mother trouble - and Aunt Margareth again opened her heart and arms and took another stray into the fold. I was 18 - Frances - 18 - Henry 16 - Helen 23 and Dora 21.

When Uncle John Left to go into the Army he was Agent for the Southern Pacific Co. at Mt. Eden, Calif. He started as Baggagemen for the So.Pac. at Hayward, Calif. He was with them 46 years when he retired in 1956.

Uncle John was born Dec. 20th, 1888 in Black Creek, Wisc. His Father, as you know, was Frank Arnold Timmers - his Mother Wilhelmenia (Minnie) Yentz. They were married when both were 16 - I was told this by the Aunts and Uncles on his Mother’s side. His Mother died at 24 leaving four little children — Lillie was 7 — Jessie 5 — Alice 3-1/2 and John 2. What I learned from John and other relatives, they went to live with their Grandmother Yentz. But Frank Timmers wanted his family with him, so not too long after Minnie’s death he married a lady by the name of Amelia, hoping to create a home for all of them. But Amelia (your Grandmother Alyce) wanted no part of such an arrangement — so again he was separated from his children. Back to Grandma they went, but it was impossible for her to take care of them indefinitely, so Lillie was taken by Aunt Caroline and Uncle Frank Parks (her Mother’s Sister) Jessie was adopted by Rem and Frances Burdick and taken to Laurel, Miss. Rem Burdick and Frank Timmers were partners in a saw-mill — or some such - in Black Creek, Wisc. Mr. Burdick wanted to move to Laurel, Miss. where he thought there were more opportunities, so they dissolved the partnership. Alice was taken by Aunt Mary Timmers and Uncle Ho White — Aunt Mary was your Grandfather’s Sister, and went to live in Green Bay. John stayed in Black Creek with Grandma. John said his Dad would come by and see him on his way home from work. He would throw him in the air and they would have a happy little while together. This time he was really separated from his children. Lillie was taken to Kincardine, Ontario, Canada — Uncle Frank Parks was transferred to Canada. Jessie was in Laurel, Miss., Alice in Green Bay and John was still in Black Creek. Aunt Caroline and Uncle Frank Parks had two small children, and Lillie was trained to be a Mother’s helper, and nursemaid. At least that is what I was told by John’s Aunts and his Sister Alice - she was very bitter toward Aunt Caroline.

Then Grandma died - I don’t know just how old John was, but I think around 9. He was taken by his Aunt Emma (little Emma) Yentz Peterman and Uncle Charlie Peterman (newly—weds) in Appleton.

Now a little rundown on Grandma. She was married to a man named Yentz and they had a good sized family. Those that I met and remember well (after Uncle John and I were married) were Aunt Caroline Yentz Parks - Uncle Bill Yentz, Antigo - Aunt Emma Yentz Peterman Appleton (they later moved to Kalamazoo, Mich.), Aunt Mary Yentz Boll Antigo, and there was Uncle Herman (Tony) Yentz, Appleton. He and Aunt Mary Boll were married. And, of course there was Uncle John’s Mother, Minnie Yentz Timmers. Grandma had a Sister who was married to a man named Prieve. Grandma Prieve died and Grandpa Yentz died so Grandma Yentz and Grandpa Prieve got married and she raised her family and his — Uncle John never knew Grandpa Yentz. There were at least five Prieve’s — Emma (big Emma) who in later years lived in San Diego, Calif. — Uncle John Prieve (Uncle John was called Johnny) Uncle Herman (Kelly) Prieve, Aunt Susie Prieve, and Elsie Prieve - Elsie was a Prieve - the only child of the second marriage. The 6 years or so that Uncle John spent in the bosom of this wonderful family were happy years. They loved him and he loved all of them dearly. The Uncles Herman (Tony and Kelly) bought him his first bicycle. And those were his Uncles Herman (Tony and Kelly). These were the formative years, and went a long way toward molding the man he became.
 

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