Feeding Deer

Blanche, Doris and Tommy Cox feeding deer.

Aunt Josie

Josepine Hamilton was married to Young Brooken Cravens Jr. and was Percy Cravens' mother. I know she lived with Percy and Laura after the passing of her husband and they called her Aunt Josie. She had a respiratory ailment that she smoked some kind of medicine for. Dad said the kids would vye for the honor of who would get to light her pipe. She looks like a strong, formidable woman. I can see Percy's resemblance to her.

Near Deland

The Lilly's were good friends and neighbors of my grandparents where they rented a farm near Deland Illinois.

I am trying to figure out how my grandparents ended up in Deland. They were raised near Burnt Prairie and Fairfield Illinois. It appeared that Young Brooken Cravens (Percy's father) had a lot of land in southern Illinois (near Burnt Prairie) and seemed rather financially well off. Perhaps the depression hit the family hard. Or, I believe that Y.B. died in his 50's and maybe great- grandmother Josephine was not left well off financially?..Grandpa Percy farmed the land near Deland but did not own it.

This is not a flattering photo of Grandma Laurie and Mrs. Lilly but I admire the aprons.

The Cox Girls

Doris on the left (My mom in her typical pose) Aunt Ruth in the middle and Aunt Blanche on the right. Grandpa Charlie wanted boys. His names for them were Red, Tommy and Jeff!