Pa Flagg

My great-grandfather, John Fletcher Flagg, known to his children and grandchildren as Pa. I have to say I think this is one of the most amazing photographs I have ever seen. The fact that it is my ancestor is just a bonus. His expression and posture reveal so much about himself and his life. From his disconnected gaze we can see the toll life had paid upon him by this point. It is almost as if you can see straight into his soul.

Pa was a heavy drinker and what my granddaddy, his son-in-law, called a "real rounder". This apparently meant, in not so many words, that Pa liked to have a good time. In fact when I showed this picture to him a few years ago he commented that Pa was "probably drunk" in it. Still he was adored by his wife, children and grandchildren. I remember my nanny telling me stories about him when I was young, especially the story about the day he died in 1960. She had a hallway in her house lined with 3 framed pictures of her father at varying stages of his life which I loved to look at as a kid. I could tell even as a young girl that he had been a great hero to her and her siblings, who I was very close with.

Pa was born in 1899 on an old plantation farm called Montpelier in Caroline County Virginia. He had an identical twin brother, Roderick, whose life would be cut short in 1936 when he accidentally drowned in the Mattaponi River. In 1916, Pa went to Michigan to enlist in the Army and served as a Cavalryman in the Great War. After returning home he married Ethel Wright Stevens, known in the family as Bum. Between 1924 and 1937, they had 5 daughters and one son. Like many Virginians, Pa worked as a farmer and merchant all of his life. On Jan. 3, 1960, he died suddenly of a heart attack. Gone but never forgotten.

Ruth, Raymond, Reba and Ralph c. 1916.

My great great-grandmother, Ruth Cash Tucker Campbell with her three eldest children, Ralph, my great-grandaddy, Gordon Raymond and Reba Odessa. Ruth was the youngest of all my great great grandparents and was younger than several of my great grandparents on my mother's side.

Born in Amherst Co. Virginia in 1889, Ruth married Gordon 'Homer' Campbell in 1909. After 1916, Ruth and Homer moved to Lynchburg where Homer started a number of successful stores. In 1929, their only daughter, Reba died at the age of 14 after a long illness. The depression hit Homer hard and he was forced to move the family down to Pittsylvania Co. Va, where he took up the life of a share-cropper. At the time of her death in 1974, Ruth had been widowed for 24 years and buried two of her children, her eldest, Ralph, having died in 1971.

Nan as a Fairy.

My grandmother, Joan Walton Flagg Campbell, as a girl. She remains, a decade after her death, a fiber of my being, and a light in the darkness for me. My love.

My Mom and Her Mom c. 1968.

A photobooth strip, likely taken on a family vacation in New Jersey, of my mom and grandmother. Photobooth pictures are so classic and this one has all the features that make them so. My grandmother's glasses are just great and my mom looks so happy.

Grandma.

My Grandmother, Evelyn Marie Todt Bennett, to the far left. Pictured as a teen in the late 1930's with her sister Rita, center, and a friend. I love how much she looks like my mother in this picture.

Grandaddy and Melvin.

My grandfather, Theron Dale Campbell (b. 1930) and his little brother Melvin Densmore Campbell (b. 1933 d. 1999).

I love grandaddy's hat and Melvin's yo-yo. A classic American image in my opinion.

Uncle Dick, c. 1919.

Charles Richard Bennett, my great uncle. Dick was born in 1915 to John and Adelaide Bennett. He was the 4th of 15 surviving children.

Dick was the only one of 9 sons whos hair was left long like this. Like 7 of his brothers he participated in the Second World War.

Late Edwardian Wedding: Joseph and Edna Todt, 1914.

These are my great-grandparents, Joseph Jacob Todt and Edna Mary Hemler on their wedding day. They were married in October of 1914 in Hanover, Pennsylvania. In the first image, Edna is seated next to Joe and their bridesmaid and groomsman stand behind them.

Edna's gown and boots are just lovely and the scans do not do them justice. Her boots are typical Edwardian canvas button-boots with a Louis heel and poined toe. The dress, that appaears to be of satin and lace, is an example of Art Nouveau.

Early 20's Style and Later 20's Style: Aunt Mildred.

This is one of my great-nanny's older sisters, Mildred Hailie Cyrus, who was born in 1903 and married Rudy Watson around 1929. The first photograph shows her in about 1927 in a mid-1920's knee-length dress with pleated skirt. The second, taken earlier in about 1923, shows her in an early 20's ankle-lenghth, silk gown with a drop waist.

The change in her dress and hair are very interesting to me. I find that she even looks younger and more vibrant in the later photograph. This is a perfect example of the transition between early 1920's fashion and the very different styles that came into vouge by the end of the 20's. In a way it illustrates the progressive nature of the decade itself.

Alice Mae and Reva Cyrus.

Matching portraits of my great-nanny's younger sisters. Taken on their father's farm in Concord, Campbell Co. Virginia in 1928.

Alice Mae was born in 1916 and is still living. Her younger sister Reva Vivian was born in 1919 and died last year. These photographs were given to me by Alice a few years ago.

Great-nanny and great-grandaddy 1928.

My great grandparents Ralph Vernell Campbell and (Myrtle) Hazel Cyrus. A studio portrait most likely taken in Lynchburg Virginia sometime in 1928, the year of their marriage. At the time they were married, Ralph was only 17 and Hazel 18. Their first child, my grandaddy, was born in 1930.

I love Hazel's gloves and Ralph's ascot is just great. Neither of them came from money in the least. These were their best Sunday cloths to be sure.