Saturday, August 28, 2010

Paul Kinsella and Angela Cooper Wed, By Sue Kinsella





















After dating for more than seven years – meeting in college, traveling Europe together when Paul had an internship in London and Angela had one in Paris, landing great jobs in Los Angeles even though they’d gone there with no contacts and no prospects – Paul Kinsella and Angela Cooper married in a gorgeous wedding in Newport, Rhode Island on August 21, 2010. The evening outdoor wedding overlooked Newport’s harbor and brought together many in the Kinsella and Lochner families to help celebrate.

Rosemary Kinsella, mother of the groom, looked absolutely beautiful in a rose-colored full-length flowing gown with a sparkling necklace. Cameron, Paul’s sister Kristin’s son and Tim Kinsella’s grandson, nearly three years old, was adorable as the ringbearer. After he had walked alone down the pebbled pathway leading to the ceremony lawn, he took one look at all the faces eagerly awaiting him and bolted. Fortunately, a close family friend was there to catch him and redirect him to head for his grandpa, Tim, who conveniently was standing near Paul, waiting for his bride. Angela was stunning in a white satiny dress that was as much sculpture as it was gown, with a feather circlet in her hair.

There were many individualistic touches: The wedding party came down the aisle to the Hawaiian version of “Over the Rainbow,” friends read touching poems and Kristin read romantic passages from Angela’s college blog about when she first met Paul. Pat Herdeg’s son and daughter, Brian and Alison, sang a spectacular a capella rendition of a favorite song, with boat sails floating by as backdrop.

Rather than a traditional wedding cake, there were lots of different flavors of cupcakes. Paul and Angela danced their first married dance to a medley of their favorite movie music, and Paul’s dance with his mother was especially tender. Then all the Kinsellas, Coopers, Lochners, and friends from all over the U.S. and Canada (and even Canadian friends living in Ghana!) turned into crazy dancers and had a blast.

The only snag I know of occurred the night before the wedding when Paul went to check in at the Hyatt that was next door to the wedding site. The hotel clerk looked at his reservation information on the computer and told him, “Yes, the Honeymoon Suite is all ready for you . . . In Newport, California!” Not only was it the wrong side of the country, but the Rhode Island Hyatt was fully booked and had no more rooms. Fortunately, Angela’s mother had pull and was able to convince the hotel staff that they did, indeed, have one more room.

The day after the wedding, when a ferocious rainstorm descended, we all realized how blessed Paul and Angela had been the night before with perfect weather for an evening outdoor wedding. We had a great time and it was so much fun to celebrate with family! Congratulations, Paul and Angela! May your marriage always be as breathtaking, romantic and loving as the journal excerpts Kristin read.

(BTW, I noticed that Angela immediately changed her Facebook name to Angela C. Kinsella. Welcome to the TaylorBakerCousins!)

Picture One: Paul and Angela ( Just married, as they walk down the aisle)
Picture Two: Cameron, Tim and Rose Kinsella
Picture Three: Sue Kinsella, Jill Kinsella (wife of Jim), Jen Kinsella (wife of Chris)
Picture Four: Rose and Paul
Picture Five: Angela and Paul (First Dance)

Monday, August 23, 2010

Welcome to the World, Olivia Eden Rooks!











Ann Taylor Catherman emailed me this news earlier this month:

JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE NEW ROOKS BABY HAS ARRIVED!!!

OLIVIA EDEN ROOKS --- 6LBS. 15OZS. --- 19 1/2 INCHES LONG -- BORN ON AUGUST 1, 2010 @ 5:53 AM

MOMMY & DADDY DOING WELL!!!! FULL HEAD OF DARK HAIR , LONG FINGERS, GOOD SIZE FEET SO WILL BE TALL.

HOPEFULLY WILL GET A PICTURE FOR YOU (PATTY) SOON TO PUT ON THE TAYLOR BLOG FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY TO MEET HER.

LOVE TO ALL,
GRANNY ANNIE

Olivia is the daughter of Jessica Rose Catherman Rooks and Erik Rooks, so the grand-daughter of Ann Taylor, great grand-daughter of Harold Taylor.

Last week, Mom and Dad (Aunt CB and Uncle Jack), Jim Kinsella, Sue Kinsella and her son Alex drove down to see Uncle Harold. They had a great day, and said Uncle Harold was at his smiling, energetic best.

They met little Olivia, along with Jessica, Annie and Kathy. AND, tomatoes were already in season, so Kathy gave them all some world famous Seneca Falls tomatoes (because Gordy and Kathy live in Seneca Falls and not Waterloo…).

As this crew of visiting Kinsellas made their way to my house, I too had the Seneca Falls tomatoes, and they were SO good! WAY better than store bought tomatoes, and Dad was heard to say, “I hate to say anything good about Seneca Falls tomatoes over Waterloo tomatoes, but these are great!” For their visit to MA, I think Dad only ate tomatoes, passing up even the lobster rolls I made.

So, Congratulations to Jess and Erik—Olivia is a cutie. And, glad that Uncle Harold is feeling well during this very hot summer season. And, Ann, I absolutely LOVE your new nick name—Granny Annie.

Picture One: Olivia
Picture Two: Four Generations—Uncle Harold, Jessica, Ann, Olivia
Picture Three: Uncle Harold and his tomatoes
Picture Four: Aunt CB and Olivia

And, THANK YOU to my sister Sue, for taking these terrific pictures! Great work…

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Rexford Taylor and Dene Chadwick’s Wedding: By Evelyn Taylor

Our Cousins Rex and Dene are enjoying their 69th Wedding Anniversary today!! Rex is the son, along with his brother Bryant, of Floyd Taylor, twin to Lloyd Taylor. Evelyn, wife of Bryant, remembers the big day...
Congratulations from all of us.

August 17th, 1941:

Rex and Dene had recently graduated from Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio. He got a job at General Electric Corp. in Schenectady, NY.

They came to LeRoy on their way there via train and were married in Floyd and Goldie Taylor’s living room, in front of the fireplace. The minister was from Rex’s Presbyterian Church, Evan M. Jones. Those present at the ceremony were family and friends. The attendants were classmates of the bride and groom.

Bryant and I made a trip to the florists to order flowers for the bride and house. This was Bryant’s wedding gift for them.

Afterwards, the newlyweds, parents of both, attendants, Bryant and I, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones went to Johnsonburg to have dinner at the Deerfield Inn, which was run by Rex’s Aunt Gertie Reynolds ( Goldie’s sister).

Rex, the Anniversary Boy Himself, adds:

What a thrill for the old folks to hear from you. Dene and I agree with what Eve has written.

After graduating from Hiram College, Eve mentioned that I had a job at General Electric. Dene could not find a job at the time and was living at home in Ohio. College friends were taking a trip to NYC so they brought Dene along so she could stop in Schenectady and spend some time with me.

During her visit, we decided to get married and live together in an apartment in Schenectady, so that's what we did on very short notice. When the college friends returned from NYC, we both rode back with them to LeRoy, where we were married as Eve says in her write-up.

It was on a Sunday afternoon and following the dinner at Deerfield Inn, the folks took us to the train in Batavia for our trip on a milk train(very slow) to Schenectady, N.Y. When we went to get on the train, my brother, Bryant, took my big Gladstone leather bag and put it on the train for us. What we did not know at the time was the fact that he also had a conversation with the conductor.

The conductor greeted us and assumed we wanted to sit together--he said that it might not be possible because the 7 or 8 cars were very full. He told me to grab my bag and for us to follow him. Car after car and the seats were all taken. When we got to the last one, he said he was sorry, but guess we would have to sit in separate seats and wished us "Good Luck".

When we turned around, there were plenty of seats!!! The conductor had gone thru before the newlyweds got on and told everyone to spread out so we could not sit together!! We easily found seats and when I went to put my bag in a rack, I found that I had been dragging toilet paper behind the bag!! Rest assured, all the passengers had a big laugh!!

We arrived in Schenectady in the wee hours Monday morning and I had to be to work at GE at 9AM. At the office gate, they would not let me in because I had forgotten my badge. I had to take the trolley back to the apartment to pick up the badge and return to the office again.

When I told my superior what had happened, he had a big laugh and so did those in the department-especially, when they found out Dene and I were married on Sunday. We were married on "less than a shoe string" then and are blessed to still be together 69 years later!!
Love to you and your family from two 91 year olds,

Rex and Dene

Picture One: Rex and Dene
Picture Two: Evelyn Taylor, Dene and Rex, 2010
Picture Three: Back row are Rex, Dene, Mrs. Chadwick(Dene's Mother), Mr. Harry Chadwick(Dene's Father), Mrs. Evan Jones, Goldie Taylor(Rex's Mother), Rev. Evan Jones, Evelyn. The front row is Bud Mitchell(a friend), Floyd Taylor(Rex's Father), Bryant Taylor(Rex's Brother)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Ethel Baker and Lloyd Taylor’s Wedding, By Jim Kinsella



As you can imagine, Aunt CB helped Jim along with this ‘take’ on Ethel and Lloyd’s Wedding day—the people, the flower colors, the details are all as correct as they both could make them…

September 30th, 1915—Lisle, NY



Ethel Baker looks at herself in the mirror. She is of average height with clear green eyes and long brunette hair done up in a bun. While she has the wide “Borthwick” face of her grandmother, she also has the light brown hair of her father, a “Baker.” It is her attentiveness that makes her so special, something she learned from her father. While talking to her you feel you are the only one in the world who matters. She smiles as she thinks, “I’m home…and the day has finally arrived.” It is Ethel’s wedding day.

"Breathe in slightly, Ethel," quietly comments her Aunt Florence as she begins buttoning up the beautiful white wedding dress. They are preparing in the bedroom of Ethel’s parents, right outside the parlor where the ceremony would be performed.

“Stay off the bed!” Aunt Florence suddenly says with a stern tone while she continues buttoning Ethel’s dress.

Little Ruth Spencer, only four, immediately pushes away from the bed which she had begun crawling onto and runs over to hug Ethel, her favorite. Ruth is the ring-bearer and flower girl in Ethel’s wedding. Her grandmother was Ethel’s Aunt but she died young so her son, Ed, became very close to Ethel’s family.

On top of the bed are all the wedding gifts which will be shipped home by train in a few days. The gifts, numerous and beautiful, are ones commonly given at such farm weddings, consisting of silverware, china, cut-glass and linen.

Lillian runs to the bedroom door, opens it a crack, and peeks into the parlor. At the far end of the parlor stands an arbor of evergreens with ferns and white asters attached. Their mother, Aunt Nell, and even Grandmother Nancy, are attaching the last decorations of pink and white to the large green board behind this which will serve as a backdrop for the ceremony. "It looks like everyone’s here," reports Lil as she smoothes a fold in her blue crepe de chene dress. "How do I look?"

"You look beautiful," says Ethel softly.

She glances down at the ring on her right hand, a garnet surrounded by seed pearls. Lloyd had given this to her last Christmas after writing her folks and asking for her hand in marriage. Both had been so excited when they finally told her about the letter. She was their first child to be married.

"Is the groom ready?" asks Aunt Florence. She hands Ethel a bouquet of yellow roses. Ethel takes it with a smile; she’s always been close with her Aunt Florence. This is the Aunt who helped Ethel paint her wedding dishes with a gold trim, the dishes they are using today.

Lil looks through the crack she’s allowed the bedroom door to open and beckons Aunt Nell over. "Is the groom ready?" she whispers.

With a smile stolen from a cherub, little Aunt Nell pokes her head in for a moment and replies, "Not yet, but I'll knock when he comes out."

Ethel looks from one Aunt to the other. Aunt Nell, who disappears back into the outer room, is quiet, loving, and married to big, boisterous, good-natured Dell Barrows. Nell, like her brother Byron and her niece Ethel, expresses fascination in anything anyone has to tell her. Her sister, Aunt Florence, who continues to fuss over Ethel like a prize mare, is not the same. She’s direct to the point of tartness and not averse to speaking her mind, though she can also be kind and capable. She’s married to Uncle Frank Young, a man so socially adept that Ethel doesn’t know a soul who doesn’t love him.

Ethel glances at herself in the mirror and smiles. “I’m ready,” she says. Her sister Lil quickly opens the door and walks out into the kitchen.

The guests are arranged on chairs in the next room, the parlor, mainly relatives of the bride but several of the groom’s family had arrived by car the night before. As the bridal party enters to stand in the back of the room, the guests all turn their heads.

Ethel sees her mother, Kate, standing over next to her grandmothers, excitedly talking about something. Probably how much preparation this took, she thinks. Her mother, in a simple white dress which she had bought special for this occasion and with her bobbed hair, looks wonderful to her daughter.

Just in front of her mother stands Ethel’s brother Adin, kind, easy-going, quiet and shy, he’s talking to one of the groom’s brothers. Adin, never at ease in “dressed up” clothes, looks very uncomfortable in his suit and as usual his hair always looks as though he’d survived a hurricane.

Coming towards Ethel now is Byron Baker, her father. Almost sixty, he shows more spring in his step today than he has in many days. He places the pocket watch he was looking at back in its tiny pocket of his pants, pats his vest smooth where it covers the watch, and proudly greets his oldest daughter.

“Hello, Pa,” murmurs Ethel. He leans in to kiss her on the cheek.

“Good afternoon my little girl,” he responds. “Your big day is here.” He turns back to scan the room. Many of the relatives are from his wife, Kate’s side, his own uncles having either died or moved away years before.

Situated along the wall in the center of the parlor, the groom’s older sister, Clara, arranges herself and the music at the Baker piano. Kate Baker, the mother of the bride, sets up the few items needed by the pastor on a small table at the head of the parlor near the arch, the guests seat themselves on the chairs and chests, and Byron Baker, the father of the bride, waits with Ethel in the kitchen.

Byron notices Pastor Prout look over at him so he nods his approval for the service to start. He mentions something to the two men standing near him, the groom and best man, and then the pastor nods to the groom’s sister at the piano. Clara starts up Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

As they reach the altar, Byron slips his hand from his daughter’s and places hers on Lloyd’s outstretched one. Lloyd, slightly taller than Ethel, was dark haired, blue-eyed, and five years younger than his bride. Together they turn to face the pastor and walk under the evergreen arbor while Lillian and Floyd file in alongside.

The pastor, Reverend Prout, begins the Congregational service. “Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join this Man and this Woman in holy marriage…”

“By the authority committed unto me,” booms Reverend Prout, “as a Minister of the Church of Christ, I declare the Lloyd and Ethel are now Husband and Wife, according to the ordinance of God, and the law of the State: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

“You looked beautiful up there,” gushes Grandma Nancy Baker as she hobbles over to sit at the end of the Bridal table. One of her ankles has been bothering her this fall, not a surprise in a 77 year old.

“Thank you,” Ethel responds with a huge smile to this woman that she loves so much.
Nancy’s eyes twinkle as she adds, “Your grandfather and I also had a fine day like this. I hope you the same joy in your marriage that we had in ours.” Lloyd nods his thanks and she takes her seat.

As the guests find their spots at the tables, some of the neighbors emerge from the house carrying large crocks of soup, the first course of this three course wedding dinner. Once these are set on each table Reverend Prout stands up at the Bridal Table and gives a Blessing.
As the Baker neighbors come to remove the empty soup bowls and large crocks of soup, more come out with the second course; platters of potatoes, squash, spreads of chicken, turkey, and ham, trays of pickles and bread.

After the third course, an assortment of cookies including Kate’s famous lemon sugar cookies, and a number of pies, all served with coffee or tea, the guests get up and visit freely.

Afterward, as Ethel and Lloyd hurry to the car they are bombarded by handfuls of rice handed out by Lloyd’s brother Leon.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Westward Ho, the Wagon, By Eve Taylor

Eve is wife of Bryant, son of Floyd, twin brother of Lloyd….

We did not trek westward by covered wagon as our pioneer ancestors did almost two hundred years ago. We did not go as part of a wagon train through the wilderness. But, in 1968, in our family, we were blazing our own trail to a new life, a new country, and new adventures.

Our transportation was the modern version of a covered wagon, an RV motor home. Our trail was not ahead, but behind us. The wagon master was my husband, Bryant C. Taylor. As I am sure my pioneer counterpart did, I did the cooking and washing, and tried to keep the peace in the little space. Two adults and three teenagers in a 26-foot motor home made for chaos at times.

Our daughter, who was twelve years old, took along a guitar she did not know how to play, but was hopeful of learning. In Mexico a huge sombrero that covered one third of our bed was added to her treasure trove, along with Barbie dolls and assorted stuffed animals.

The older son, age nineteen, zealously guarded two shopping bags of his record album collection ( before cassettes and compact discs), so that they would not break. Taking up much needed space was a hairdryer with case and bonnet. This was hauled out daily to dry his hair as straight as possible. Curly hair was not “in”.

Our sixteen year old son could not part with a barbell set he had received at Christmas even though he did not use them once on the trip.

There were many items necessary to keep the RV on the road. These few extras meant headaches for the wagon master. The trail of abandoned belongings started as soon as we reached Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia. As I recall, the beach balls were the first to go. Thus started a trail of Taylor “treasures” across this vast country! However, the kids valiantly fought with the wagon master, and each had his most prized possession still in hand upon arrival in Australia.

My time of tears came in Los Angeles when the RV was sold, and all the familiar dishes, cooking utensils, and linens were given to the manager of the RV Park. The wagon master felt terrible to see the RV sold since it had been a dependable home for two and a half months, and he had driven it for thousands of miles.

Almost thirty years later, my husband and I had a chance to experience RV-Wagon-ing again. How different it was! We had ten more feet of space, and all the ‘mod cons’ as they say in Australia, which means, modern conveniences. There were just two of us, and therefore, no need to get rid of things for extra space. We could take anything we wanted.

Yes, we enjoyed it, but in retrospect, nothing could compare with our first covered wagon experience with our family and the trail we left behind.

Picture Two: Mitch, Pam, Evie, Bryant, Lance

Sunday, August 1, 2010

August Birthdays, 2010: Part One











Uncle Harold’s family celebrates August with:

Ann Marie Taylor and her husband, Dennis Catherman, Gordy Mills (husband of Kathy Taylor), and Zachary James Alberts ( Judy’s son) all blowing out candles on birthday cakes.

Aunt Esther’s family has Andrew Taylor Lochner ( Ted’s son) as the Birthday Boy.

Aunt Ruth Maney’s family has two birthday kids this month--Matthew Stephen Maney ( Dan’s son), and Timothy John Maney ( Michael’s son).


Picture One: Ann and Dennis
Picture Two: Gordy
Picture Three: Andrew and his mom, Judy
Picture Four: Zach

August Birthdays, 2010: Part Two











Aunt Doris’ family has lots to celebrate this month:


Charles William Francis Hawkes ( Uncle Bud), Heather Walker Towlson ( Cindy’s daughter), Justin Aaron Walker ( Cindy’s son), and Justin’s son, Nathaniel Walker.

Aunt CB’s family has Timothy M. Walker ( Kristin Kinsella’s husband) as the Birthday Kid of the month.

Picture One: Justin and Nathaniel
Picture Two: Heather
Picture Three: Uncle Bud and Aunt Doris
Picture Four: Cameron Walker and daddy, Tim Walker

August Birthdays, 2010: Part Two






















Aunt Sylva’s family has these August Birthday Kids:



Sylva Christine Emhof Jenkins ( Sylva’s daughter), Jeffrey Emhof ( Freddy D’s son), and Kathleen Marie Arnold ( Linda Emhof’s daughter).



Aunt Gladys’ family celebrates with these Birthdays:

Laurel Amy Wood Decker ( Gladys’ daughter) and her husband, Paul J. Decker, Alicia Lynn Osterhout (Wendy’s daughter, granddaughter of Gladys), and Nicholas Smerchansky ( son of Beth Barron).

Aunt Phyllis’ family has Rebecca Dingman Henderson ( Ronnie Henderson’s wife) as the August Birthday Person.

Picture One: Aunt Sylva, Beth and Nick at Baker Reunion, 2009
Picture Two:Christine
Picture Three: Paul and Laurie Decker
Picture Four: Alicia
Picure Five: Ron and Becky

August 2010 Birthdays, Part Four











And, to finish off, we have Leonard Baker ( grandfather of Ethel, Adin, Lil and Ruth,)
Florence Baker Young ( Aunt Florence),

Twins William Lloyd Taylor and Daniel Floyd Taylor
and

Thomas Taylor Doran (son of Florence Taylor Doran, sister of Floyd and Lloyd Taylor)

Picture One: Leonard Baker, taken 1895
Picture Two: Florence Baker Young
Picture Three: Lloyd and Floyd, 1910
Picture Four: Joan and Tom Doran