This is a photo of my great grandmother (mom's mom's mom), Julia Ann (Read) Forrey, and her family. She was born in Ohio in 1846, and told her children about crossing the plains in a covered wagon when her family moved to Iowa during her childhood. There she married Henry Bascom Forrey, after he returned from the Civil War. They moved to Kansas. She had nine children, and my grandmother was the youngest (the little girl in the front).
After her husband died in 1908, Julia moved to Idaho, where several of her children were living. She later moved to California, where her two youngest daughters, Edith and Ethel, had moved, marrying the Stoner brothers, Peter and George. She must have done a good job raising her children, as they certainly took care of her for 30 years, trading her off from one to the other. She lived to about 90. She was senile for many years before she died. When she was living with my grandparents, it was my mother's job to follow her if she went out of the yard, and make sure she got home safely. She died when my mother was 7. My mother also told that her grandmother would get bored, and always wanted to help. Her daughter kept some twine and knitting needles around (this would have been during the depression). When Julia asked what she could do to help out, Edith would give her the twine and knitting needles, and tell her that she really needed a dishrag, and could she knit her one. That would keep her occupied for several hours. She didn't remember that she had just knitted one the day before. The family had drawers and drawers full of dishrags. I did not manage to inherit any, unfortunately. I believe they had all worn out before I was born.
Back row: Ethel, Hattie, Henry Nelson, Josephine, Laura
Middle row: Ella, Henry Bascom (father), Julia (mother), Albert
Bottom row: Edith, Ira