Grace Irene Simpson Hefley - My Great Grandmother
52 Ancestors in 52 weeks #2
I never met my Great Grandmother Grace. She died before I was born. But, through research I know she was born 8 February 1890 in Downs, Osborne County, Kansas. Oral history said her family lived in a sod dug out when they first arrived in Osborne County.
Grace had three brothers, Charles Henry and William Edward both older and born in Keokuk County Iowa and one younger brother Ernest "Ernie" Leroy also born in Downs.
Her parents William Henry and Mary Jane Hill Simpson were farmers, so I would assume she grew up helping her mother in the house and doing farm chores. The 1940 census states she attended school through the eight grade.
She married John Henry Hefley 20 November 1909 in Downs, Kansas. She miscarried her first child in 1910. She went on to have three children: Mildred Mae born 1912; Howard Henry born 1914 and Lee Earl born 1917 (my Grandfather.)
From photos that I have seen of her, she was a large women. Oral history said that she had thyroid problems which caused her weight gain.
She died 20 October 1959 in Downs, Kansas and is buried in the Downs Cemetery.
This is exactly as I remember them, except Grandma wore glasses.I understand it was after the birth of her last child, Lee, she was hospitalized for quite awhile and something caused the change in her health and the weight gain. Dad, Lee, was actually cared for the first months of his life by a neighbor Cory Addison due to Grandma's health problems. j
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard this story, thanks!
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