Family Trace

Vivian (Baird) Timpson at her home on Segwun Ave. in Lowell MI in 1949. I remember playing in this yard which was a launching point for exploration into the orchard. In the late 1960s and 1970s there were two gnarly apple trees just across the yard and facing the house – they were next to the apple storage and processing barn. We used to hunt for Easter eggs in this yard. The eggs were plastic and had a coin or piece of candy inside. Sometimes the eggs were hidden in and around the trees. Later in the 1970s this is the yard where Charlie Brown (the dog) and after that “Fuzz” the dog ran around. I never really liked Fuzz all that much, but Grandpa (John J) adored that mutt.

If I remember correctly, Grandma (Vivian) used to work a little on her roses – so this must have been a long-time thing for her.

I suspect the Graham’s were friends and nearby apple farmers? But, I don’t know anything else about them or this picture – when it was taken?

I think the Palmer’s were friends of Edwin and Nellie Timpson. But I can’t say I can make sense of this card. It looks like it is written on the front of the card From F.L. Palmer and it is from Limon Colorado (a suburb of Denver). However the writing on the card indicates B.F. Palmer. I assume that B.F. (from Alto) was visiting F.L (in Limon). Additionally, the whole family looks like they’ve been rolling around in the mud – and I don’t think that is purely from the degradation of the image. And, I cannot tell what is on the table – I assume it is some sort of meal, but it may be gifts – no idea here? Anybody know anything about these characters.

Grace, Charles (standing) and John all at young ages. The handwriting is from Vivian (Baird) Timpson (John’s wife) and she refers to everyone in the image as they would have been referred to by her children (John R, Jerry E and Carol D).

John and his older brother Chuck in 1906. John Jacob was born on June 10, 1905 and died on January 1 1985.

From THE NEWS PALLADIUM, a Benton Harbor Newspaper. I found this on the internet. The date is July 19, 1951 and there is an article mentioning John Jacob Timpson:

B H Man On Apple Group

LANSING July Williams appointed a new state Apple commission today replacing five men whose terms had expired The new appointments all are for terms expiring July 1 1954 They John J Timpson of Lowell operator of 250 acres of apple ard Ralph F Foreman of former superintendent of horticulture at the Michigan State fair and an orchardist Andrew D Donovan of Lawrence a World War II veteran who owns a farm with his father Floyd M Fitch of Ludington who operates a apple orchard Oliver Lawrence of Benton Harbor former county er who operates his own fruit farm near Benton Harbor Families

This image was found untitled and was found with Vivian Baird’s collection along with another image of her brother Kendall Ray Baird who died very young. The other image of Kendall Ray was taken in Chicago as well. However this could be Vivian or one of her sisters? I don’t know if this child is a boy or a girl? I don’t know anything about the connection between Chicago and the Bairds. They lived in Bellevue Michigan which is near Lansing.

This image was made at Illinois Photocrafts Sudios. If you do an internet search on this you can find other pictures from the same time period with the same pony! Interesting to note if you look carefully at this image, there is someone standing on the other side of the pony – I assume to make sure that the child doesn’t fall off – so sweet.

I suspect this is one of the only images ever made of Kendall Ray Baird and probably the only mention of him anywhere, except an old archived census somewhere – and even that’s not certain? Hi Kendall!

Amazing image – I left it at high resolution – you can see the price of a banana split is 25 cents! Also, check out the Marlon Brando doppelganger dandy leaning on the counter to her left – too cool!

This is an amazing series of pictures that was taken around 1949 in (I’m pretty sure) Grand Haven Michigan at the cottage at Stickney Ridge. It’s amazing because it shows a fairly nuclear family with the three children in their teens. I’m pretty sure they would be about ages 13 (Carol), 15 (Jerry) and 18 (John). I’m not sure the exact date or the exact spread of their ages, but I think this is pretty close.

Meredith Timpson indicates the younger boy in these images is likely David Timpson, Eleanor’s son and her brother. This is indeed amazing as it shows a fun times at Grand Haven with an extended family comprised of John and Vivian Timpson and family as well as John’s mother Nellie and two of his nephews: Ken (John’s brother Chuck’s son) and David (John’s sister Eleanor’s son)

It’s obvious the camera was passed around and the images contain all of the Timpson children along with their cousin Ken (Chuck’s son) and Nellie (Winks) (John Jacob’s mother) and Vivian (Baird) (John’s wife and John R, Jerry E and Carol D’s mother) and David Timpson (Eleanor’s son).

Notice the glare that Carol is giving her mom from across this picture!

Carol’s glare at her mom continues in this picture.

Just the boys in this one – cousin Ken shows up in this picture – in the white T-shirt. He likely took most of the other pictures.

This might be the only picture I know of that has both John and Jerry in the same frame.

Nellie is quite out of focus here – Carol in the foreground reading a paper and John and Vivian in the back right. John has his customary cigar in hand.