Before I was Born
This is Probably the Oldest Picture I have. It is of my Grandmother
And Her Dad & Mom. And Three other People. My Gandmother is the
Little Girl standing between Her Dad & Mom on the Left side of the
Photo. Her Name at Birth was Jane Gladys Muriel Johnston. Born
July 29th 1904. Miles City, Montana. As She looks to be about 10 Years
old to me in this Picture. That would make it about 1915 when this was taken.
On the back of the Picture She has Written "My Mother, Dad, and I with
Mr and Mrs Williams and Son, Bill Next to Dad".
This Picture appears to have been taken at the same time as the above.
It is of my Gandmother and Her two Brothers.
On the Back it Says. "Charley, Muriel, Joe, Charley Left side.
Three of a Kind, Taken at Home.
This Picture is a little Blurry. Grandma looks to be about 16 or 17 here.
All we ever knew about Her Childhood Years is She Grew up in Miles City.
Her Mother died when Grandma was 16, So Her Dad sent Her out here to
Medford to live with Relatives. on the Back of this Picture is says.
" I and Neighbor Girl. "
This is Grandma's Brother Joe. I'am sure both Her Brothers Were older
then Her. I remember Meeting Uncle Joe when I was very young. I Guess
this is the sameone. Later on in the Photo Album He will be in 2 of
our family Pictures. On the back of this Photo is Written. "Aug 1917
Joe Johnston."
Charley Johnston. Aug 1917, I think Charley was Older then Joe. I dont
ever Remember Meeting Him.
This Picture really tells a lot about my Grandmother. I dont know if
that was there House or not. On the Back of the Picture is Written.
"Joe and I. some Neighbors." I cant tell witch one is Joe. It looks
LIke the Men are holding Skulls.? And My Grandmother is standing away.
allmost like she wishes to not be in the Picture or not even noticed.
I remember that about Her. She was allways kind of distant. not wanting
to be Noticed or not wanting to take any of the glory from another.
She was a good Christian Woman. And that is very Important to us.
Not to take any of the Glory.
I find this Picture to be very Strange. I have to asume this is the Miles
city area. I'am puzzled by the big bank of snow behind Her. How did it get
like that.? And why is the foreground untouched by snow.? Interesting.
Its hard to see in this picture. Grandma Has two little Dogs with her.
The Back of the Picture Says. "Me & Two dogs."
The Back of this Picture says."Mom & Moley Curtis." It's my Mothers
Hand Writing on The back of this Picture and I'am sure others down the
Road. This Picture could be taken here in Medford in the 1920's.
The Mt's in the Background sure look familiar to Me.
If I had only looked ahead one Picture I would not have had to Guess
about where the last two Pictures were taken. The back of this one says
"Mom. 1927" Gandma is Standing somewhere in south Medford area.
The Background is the Hills of Jacksonville. Oregon.
Grandma is 23 Years old Here.
This Picture is very small and a little Beat up. Its like a Wallet size
Photo. It must have been taken during Her Late Teenage Years. somewhere
in the Miles city area. On the back is Written. "I Cut my self off this.
I was no good. This is one taken the Sunday you were all up here.- you
never got one before did you.?" I have no idea what all that means.
I guess who ever took the Picture sent it to Grandma Later on.
She is standing on the very Left side of the Picture. looking Meek as
allways. God Bless you Grandma.
The only thing written on the back of this Picture is "Mom" Could be taken
in Miles City. Or Medford.
The back of this Picture reads."I didnt realize I looked so nearly
like a Squaw. Ellen wilson & I." Grandma is standing on the Left.
Both Gal's are holding Water Melons it looks like. Mabe its just me.
But the Horses they have there sure look a lot biger then any I have seen.
This Must be Grandma's High School Graduation Picture. Its in a Nice
decorative folding case. I have seen others of diffrent sizes at Moms
House. And she looks like she just Graduated. Right?.
My Mother. Jane Ellen Starboard. Born 1931. And Her Brother
Frederick Starboard. I Beleve He was Born in 1934. Mom Looks to be
about 12 or 13 Years old here. So that would make it about 1944 I Guess.
They Spent most of there Childhood liveing in the Applegate. The End of
Forrest Creek Rd. to be Exact. And that is not very far from where I
attend Church each week.
This is My Grandmothers Father. I dont remember what His first name is.
He died in 1944. The Year this Picture was taken. On the back is Written.
"Grampa Johnston. 1944. Dad was county Commisioner of Carter County at
Elealaka. Was Elected to a six Year Term in June 1921."
Grandmothers First Husband was Fred Starboard Sr. My Mothers Dad.
For some reason He and Grandma Split up when Mom was just a very
young Girl. Mom never knew the reason why. Grandma just would never
talk about what ever happend. So sometime in the late 30's or 40's
Grandma Married Shelva Roy Hale. Seen in this Picture with Grandma.
Shell was ok I guess. He was Grandpa Shell to us. He drank alot and
there was lots of Problems because of that. Grandma would have to
finnally leave Him because of His Drinking in 1974. He died in 1975.
This Picture must have been taken up on forrest Creek where they
lived untill about 1966. He allways had that old 1950 Chevrolet
4 Door sedan with the Rare Sun Viser. Written on the back of the
Picture. "1953"
On the Back of this Picture it says. "1949 Mill Shed." What is interesting
about this Photo. Is its location. Mom told me not to long ago. that Shell
had worked at a small Lumber Mill when She was growing up. And that Mill
was exactly where my
Church is located today. I can tell by looking at the
Mt's behind it. The Mill was Probably just slightly North of where
the indoor Sanctuary is now.
This is my Mother. When she was a Gang Member. No. sorry. Kidding.
The back of the Picture says. "april 1953 Do you Reconize the Jacket."
She is 22 here. Four years later She would meet my Dad. and I would be
Born in April of 1960. I'am sure the Photo was taken up on Forrest
Creek.
Long before I was Born. Mom was a Biker. As you can see. This is Probably
taken in the Early 1950's
According to Mom. This is the Original Grandma Hale. Shell's Mother.
She died long before I was Born. The Back of the Picture says.
"1952. Nancy Hale." The House Directly Behind Her Belonged to
Shell's two Brothers. Bob & Joe. Shell and Grandma would begine living
There in 1966 When both Bob & Joe would Die in the same year.
The House is still there today on the Hill. On Ridgeway drive Medford.
It became Grandma Hale's house to us. And we spent a lot of time there.
untill Grandma had to move out in 1974.
Nancy Hale. Nov 1954 She died right after this Picture was taken.
I saw Her Gravestone a few Years ago. She was Born in 1861.
Uncle Fred. (Moms Brother.) And Aunt Ginger on the left side of this
Picture. My Dad on the Right side. With His allways Present Ciggarette
in His hand. Mom must have been the camara Person. The date on the Picture
is "jan 1959" That means my older Brother John is just about to be Born.
And My Cousin Dennis is just Months old. My Dad Died in 1988 from the
Ciggaretts. Uncle Fred died in 1999. And Aunt Ginger died in 2008 the
day after my 48th Bithday.
Mom & Dad's Wedding Day. Late in 1957. I think. This is a Really nice
Picture. But I just could not get rid of that little bit of Glare at
the Top. Pictured from Left to Right. Shell Hale, Grandma Hale,
My Mother Jane, My Dad Charles Jr. My Grandma Bennett. (Dad's Mom)
And Grandpa Bennett. This is the only Picture I have of my Dad's
parents. Charles Sr & Opal Bennett. There is a whole lot I could Say
About them Including My Dad's Brother. Freddie. But I'am not going to.
It would all be Nagitive. So Lets leave it at that.
Ok here is my second Round of Adding Pictures to the Album. Here is
Grandma Hale agine. This Picture is agine Probably taken in the
Miles city area. And Grandma looks to be In Her later Teens.
On the back of the Picture is wrote "Hazel & I."
In this Picture It apears to be agine in Miles city area. And Grandma looks
older now. She is Holding a Cat. I Remember as a Boy. She allways had
Cat's around the House. But. Never did the Cats ever come
into the House. They were to stay outside and kept the Rodent
population down. They were not really Pets like today.
The Next Picture. I cant tell where it might have been taken.
Grandma's two Brothers. On the back of the Picture it says
"Left Joe - Right Charley" I would Guess Them to be around 6 & 7
Mabe? Grandma was Younger I know. I have Several Pictures of Joe.
And a few of Charley. Joe died sometime in the 80's. Charley.
I have No Idea. There last Name was Johnston.
This is Shells Parents. Edward & Nancy Hale. This Picture must have been taken
in the 30s or 40s And by that time they would have been here living in the
Valley. Yesterday I took a few Pictures of there Grave Stones
here in Medford. Edward & Nancy and there Kids. Shell, Robert, Joe, Atha, Had
Migrated here to the Medford area from Ashland Kentucky. sometime in the
20s or 30s. And that is How Grandma & shell Met. Mom says Nancy had to leave
Edward because of his Meaness in the later Years. And that was True for
Grandma Hale in 1974. She had to Leave Shell for the same reason.
The Next 3 Pictures are of Shell and Grandma. The first one was taken in
1952 at Crater Lake.
The last two I'am sure are older Pictures. Probably taken about the
Time they Met. Around 1930.
The Picture is Stamped Aug 59. Grandma is Standing somewhere in Medford.
Roxy Ann Peak is Standing very Prominent Behind Her.
I think this was just after Edward Hale had Died. 1950. From Left to
right. Shell, Nancy(Mom), Atha, Bob? & Joe.?
These two Pictures are of The old Cabin at the end of Forrest Creek Rd.
My Mother Grew up there. I think the first Picture is the oldest
And in the Second Picture. I dont know who the People are. But if you
Look very closely. You will see the Door is Open. And You can see Shell's..
Now Dan's Old Solid Oak Rocking Chair.
Just inside the Door. You can only see part of it. Cool. I love that Chair.
This Next Picture is of Mom And Her Brother Frederick. Probably taken
about the time the Next Picture is taken. On the back is Written.
"1951 Jane in Her Gown & Cap." And in the Final Picture of My Mom.
She is at Diamond Lake. I'am sure it was before She met my Dad.
The Mt in the Background is Mt Bailey. I allways Planned to climb it.
didnt get to. Now I'am to old and Fat.
Now we Move on to my Dad. He was Born in Colorado. And Raised in Southern
California untill Moving up Here with His Parents sometime in the late 40's.
In this First Picture My Dad is in His Teenage Years I can only guess..
He was Born in 1928.
Here My Dad is standing in the front Yard of His Parents House.
820 Marshall Ave in Medford. The Propertie is completely Unrecognizible
today. He has His ever Present Ciggarrett in His hand. This Must have
been taken about the time He met my Mother. 56 - 57.
Dad's Parents Had a Small Dumptruck Bussiness back in the 50s & 60s.
Dad worked for them off & on. I remember when I was 5 or 6 getting to
go on the Truck with Him. I still remember that to this day.
I dont remember this Truck. It is a 1948 or 49. So This Picture is
Probably taken before He & Mom Met.
My Dad and Uncle Frederick. Mom's Brother.
Dad Had a Brother Named Freddy. He was a Mess. Well anyway. This Picture is
I think taken at Diamond Lake.? I can't really Tell. I think it is Probably
before any of Us Kids were Born.
This is Shell in His Army Photo. The Picture is Framed and Encased in Glass.
I Tryed about 25 times to get a good Picture of it. Kept getting a bad Glare
from the Glass. Finnaly I Had to take it out side and lay it down on the Ground.
And finnaly got this Picture of it. Shell would be about 24 in This Picture.
It Says. ""Private Shelva Roy Hale. Comp K 41st US Inf. Inlisted April 16
1917.""
go to My Beginning on Earth