For Descendants of Christopher (Doc) Cranston & Bess Melby
In Rob Painter’s words . . . . . I would like to start by relating a journal that explains a part of, or what makes Dad, or (Bob) as you know him, Who he is. A good part of what makes a man is of course Mother. In this case that is Marion Cranston […]
Read More…Marion Writes a Letter – “From Your Mother” Dear One a Diary Belle Fourche, South Dakota At D. L. Owens home January 24, 1938 (This is the entry and voice of Marion Painter) Your Father and I don’t know who you are yet, but I am here waiting for you to come, while he stays […]
Read More…These photos were taken in September 1974 when Dick was a senior in High School. The gathering was to go to the football game. The view is from the windmill at Preston and Marion’s ranch northeast of Crawford, NE. In one of the photos, you can see the north side of the ranch house.
Read More…Jack Watson and Dick Painter also sent this letter to “one” – written in February 1938.
Read More…From Jack Watson and Dick Painter . . . . this is apparently a letter written to the Painter children by Marion in January of 1938 anticipating the arrival of a new family.
Read More…Apparently there was some sort of tradition in some of the Cranston clan families for having oyster stew on Christmas eve. Certainly I remember having it with Helen and Wood, and it looks like the same tradition was prevalent with the Painters and Melbys. So . . . . Here’s the recipe that I found […]
Read More…A collection of photos mainly with the Painters . . . . Marion and Preston . . . and a couple of good ones with Marion, Tip, Helen and Preston. Enjoy!
Read More…Here are some new photos that include Marion and Preston . . . . . taken around 1970, I think. Group photo was taken (I believe) at Preston’s funeral.
Read More…This photo was taken in Spearfish sometime in the early 1930’s. See if you can find Helen and Marion.
Read More…Here are some photos taken from the slides that Helen had. Please feel free to make comments regarding when they were taken and who the people are in the photos. I think some were taken at Mary’s wedding and some at Thanksgiving sometime in the sixties.
Read More…My Mother, the Laundress In the 1950’s and 1960’s Belle Fourche was a town of about 5,000 people. It was a time when kids walked everywhere or maybe rode their bicycles. Being the 5th of 10 children and starting at age 11, the oldest daughter at home, I was called upon to help my Mom […]
Read More…These are the locations taken from Google Earth of the various places where the Cranstons Lived in North and South Dakota. Haley Bowman Camp Crook (Giles and Nellie Graves) Ludlow Ladner Cave Hills Painter Ranch & Willett Place Jett Ranch
Read More…Marion and Helen stayed with “Auntie Pearl” in LaGrange, Illinois where they attended and graduated from Lyons Township High School. “Auntie Pearl” was Louise Pearl Burnside and daughter of Marcus Terry Burnside and Maude Taliaferro Cranston who was some 14 years older than her younger brother, Christopher “Doc” Cranston. Marcus and Maude married in 1883.when […]
Read More…As Dick Painter said, “Mom had anticipated this photo and wanted everything just right. Everyone had just the right clothes notice. Dan and Mary had tried using hydrogen peroxide and their hair was a little light colored. Ned did it and had me try it too. Our hair turned out an awful looking red so […]
Read More…I think this is the wedding photo of Preston and Marion Painter.
Read More…When Marion, Helen, Bill and Tip lived with Giles and Nellie Campbell at (I think) the Shaw place, Helen, Bill and Tip were playing down by the Grand River. One of them had to go to the bathroom (#2) . . . . went . . . and then covered the “stuff” with dirt. […]
Read More…These are Tip’s memories of Marion’s, Helen’s, Bill’s and his stepfather, Ole Melby.
Read More…Giles Campbell was the grandfather of Marion, Helen, Bill and Tip. He was married to Nellie and they are both buried in the cemetery just west of Camp Crook, SD. Photo of Giles as a young man provided by Jean Melby. ~ CCJ
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