I've realized that as the Walker cousins reach new stages in life, there is a bigger need for more frequent communication. What I have decided to do, is try to offer a solution. I've come up with a way for us to have an online bulletin board. This will be a good way for you to either share family information, or to learn something about the concerns of the family. Previously, our family updates have been made by phone and email, but occasionally someone accidentally gets left out of the loop.
My chemistry prof in college (Ted Rebstock) was from Elkhart so one day we were comparing notes about Indiana and he indicated his family was involved with Albright Church in Mishawaka. I then asked if he knew any Walkers. He didn't trigger on any names I threw out until I mentioned Howard. Then he said, "Oh, you mean Howie!" It turns out they used to ride to college together. Small world!
One of the first cousins I met in California was Sonny. Dad never referred to him by any other name. It was the 1980s before I knew he was Don Drake. He hitchhiked to Calif. around 1950 with a buddy and lived with us for a few months. Then in the mid 50s he visited us in Indiana with a 1955 Ford. The instrument cluster had 2 big red lights on it and he told me that if they came on the car would blow up. Boy was I scared!
Dad always referred to his brother Herb as Tennie.
As for me, Dad called me snickelfretz. I don't know where he came up with that.
It was only since I moved to Ohio that I ever heard anyone refer to John as anything but Johnny. Ed was always Edgar and Mary was always Mary Margaret. Part of the reason this happened to me was because my father moved to California in 1946 and as the family evolved, his memories remained as when he left.
Maybe there is just something about fathers and nicknames. My dad called me Sister-Baby-Dolls until I was at least 12 or 13. My brothers still call me sis.
Seems to me it was Eggie. Herb had nicknames for his children. Nicknames were common in the family but I'm not sure why. Did it come from the Moores or the Walkers?
The children of Herb Walker did have nicknames. My middle name is Dean, hence the nickname of Deanie. I still hear this from some of my mother's family. Linda had a nickname but she will have to tell you what it is. I don't recall Suzanne's nickname. David has a nickname but he can tell you what it is. I don't know about Jeff's nickname or if he had one because I had left home by that time.
As for Herb's nickname, Tenny. Most of the aunt's and uncle's knew this one. His real first name was Kenneth which he didn't like. He took it upon himself as a child to make his middle name his first, hence Herbert Kenneth Walker. By changing his name, he still retained Tenny. Doris could not pronounce Kenny and it came out Tenny. Also she could not pronounce Raleigh's name and it came out Watty. I always heard Doris call them by those nicknames and I thought that Raleigh's real name was Watty. The same was for Johnny and Eggie which I thought was their real names. By the way my other nickname on my mother's side was Sonny Boy and to this day, my mom's sisters call me Sonny Boy. I knew from a young age that H. Ray was Henry and that Grace was Mabel; however, I was informed that I should never use those terms in their presence or the wrath of God would breathe down my neck. We were told that we were to address Mary as Mary Margaret so as to not confuse her with Aunt Mary. How many know Donnabelle's first name? As for Lewis Calvin, where did he get the nickname of Tab? I've been told but have forgotten. I did know that Don Drake was Sonny Boy.
In her letters to Ray, Grandma Walker referred to Herb as Herbert so that started very early. From Dec. 17, 1918: "Baby Herbert is growing nice and is a bright little fellow, sleeps good and am never up at night so far with him."
Tom, you are right on about Grandma Walker calling my dad by Herbert. I based my story on what my dad told me when I was young. That would explain why his school records and military records all said Herbert Kenneth. Wish he were here to tell us the truth. Maybe his siblings called him Kenny as a nickname like I was called by my middle name. Does anybody know?
I believe I was a late teenager before I knew that Tennie and Tab weren't their real names. I heard Aunt Fern get mad onetime and use his full name, he was not a happy camper.
Grandpa H. Ray called me Stevie and I tell people today that the only person that ever called me that is dead...
Grandpa had nicknames for all of his kids. Garfield was referred to as Sonny. Garfield later changed it to The Chief. I don't know if it was from his Navy days or not. Howard's nickname was Dolly, and I personally heard Grandpa use it only once. He called Aunt Mary Sis. Dad was Shakes due to his RLS - half of the family has RLS including me! Edgar was and still is referred to as Eggie.
Dad calls me Kid or Steve most of the time. Coleen is referred to as Sis and Dave is fondly known as Shrimp.
Greg and I had pet names for each other growing up. His was Grace and mine was Peeve. I hated it, but we had a lot of fun together during the summers in Syracuse. Brian's nickname is Boo. I can't remember Karen's and Deb's.
Greg and I had a common friend that we named Motts. He was working at our local grocery store and lost control of five cases of glass jars of Motts applesauce on a 2-wheel dolly. There were plenty of witnesses!
I heard Tennie refer to Jeff many times as Fart. David had a nickname too, but I can't remember for the life of me what it was.
Garfield had nicknames for Barb and Suzie too, but I can't remember them either. He called me Squirt or Stevie.
I only know the origins of a few of them. I would love to hear the stories behind many of the others.
PS: It was a mission of mine for several years of my childhood to find out my Dad's nickname. Garfield and I had a special bond and he spilt the beans and my many years of incessant annoying.
Well, Tab referred to Herbert as a child. To add to the confusion, here is a letter Tab wrote to H. Ray in Paris in 1918:
"Dear Ray. I'm going to school now. How are you? I am all rite. I am in the 3A and my teachers name is Miss Alverson. We have a little baby and its name is Herbert. Did you get your Christmas box? I will close fore this time. I have no more to write. Your little brother Calvin"
Tab was really Lewis Calvin and again using middle names was common. Here is what I have about Donnabelle from Martha:
"Violet Donnabelle Walker was the fifth of thirteen children of Raleigh Clinton Walker and Mary Idessia Moore. Donnabelle was born January 11, 1908. We aren't sure why her middle name was used. As a young girl the family called her Donnie."
By the way, Grandpa Walker went by the name of Clint and Grandma was Dessie, both using middle names.
After many years in Hamilton Grove, my Mother didn't talk much and some time wouldn't acknowledge that we had come to visit her. When asked if she knew who I was, she said "you are Mr. Pest!" I was SHOCKED, but some of you probably know why she called me that.
Steve, some things in some stories are fiction. The RLS was not the reason. Don't ask about the non-fiction part. It is not for publication. Some things are sentitive. Here is one that is non-fiction that my Dad used when he wrote letters to me in college or in the service. I believe he used the same for my siblings but don't know for sure. Any way I have used it a few times my self. I guess I picked it up from him. Your Dad.
You have read that my brother Don was called "Sonny", which is true, but do you know what his real name is? MAURICE DONALD DRAKE, I didn't know that until late in his life, he sent me a check and signed it MAURICE DRAKE. I called him and asked why MAURICE DRAKE, he said the bank required his offical name on the checks. SURPRISE, SURPRISE. Uncle Don, maybe you could clarify if this is true or not. I always thought they called him Sonny to differentiate him from you.
Sorry Coleen, Steve and I used to call her cow queen or queenie for short.
I remember David A.'s nickname was "The Professor".
I too have many fond memories of Uncle Garfield otherwise known as The Chief. Whenever he saw me, he used the same phrase everytime, "Hey Davy Crockett, What's up?"
I stayed many summers with Grandpa and Grandma as I was growing up. Grandpa always disappeared in the morning and returned about lunch time. I asked him one time what he did when he left and he asked me if I wanted to go along and find out. So the next morning, he woke me up in the usual fashion of smacking my feet. We both got dressed and had breakfast then went out for the morning. I remember mostly stopping by local businesses where Grandpa was known by everybody and they greeted him with, "Hi Ray, whose your sidekick?" or something to the sort. I still remember Grandpa saying proudly, "This is my youngest grandson, Davie. He's Johnny's boy." We greeted everybody and when the visit was over we went to the next stop and had the same type of reception. I found out what Grandpa did, he visited his friends and went to the grocery store to pick up what was needed. Grandpa and I had several days like that.
16 comments:
My chemistry prof in college (Ted Rebstock) was from Elkhart so one day we were comparing notes about Indiana and he indicated his family was involved with Albright Church in Mishawaka. I then asked if he knew any Walkers. He didn't trigger on any names I threw out until I mentioned Howard. Then he said, "Oh, you mean Howie!" It turns out they used to ride to college together. Small world!
One of the first cousins I met in California was Sonny. Dad never referred to him by any other name. It was the 1980s before I knew he was Don Drake. He hitchhiked to Calif. around 1950 with a buddy and lived with us for a few months. Then in the mid 50s he visited us in Indiana with a 1955 Ford. The instrument cluster had 2 big red lights on it and he told me that if they came on the car would blow up. Boy was I scared!
Dad always referred to his brother Herb as Tennie.
As for me, Dad called me snickelfretz. I don't know where he came up with that.
My nick name was and according to some it still is "Johnny"
It was only since I moved to Ohio that I ever heard anyone refer to John as anything but Johnny. Ed was always Edgar and Mary was always Mary Margaret. Part of the reason this happened to me was because my father moved to California in 1946 and as the family evolved, his memories remained as when he left.
Snickelfritz must be a Walker thing. My mother called me that when I was young (a long time ago!)I guess I outgrew it at some point.
Maybe there is just something about fathers and nicknames. My dad called me Sister-Baby-Dolls until I was at least 12 or 13. My brothers still call me sis.
Here's my two cents worth. It's been a long long time so tell me if I'm wrong, but didn't Edgar have a nickname.
Seems to me it was Eggie. Herb had nicknames for his children. Nicknames were common in the family but I'm not sure why. Did it come from the Moores or the Walkers?
The children of Herb Walker did have nicknames. My middle name is Dean, hence the nickname of Deanie. I still hear this from some of my mother's family. Linda had a nickname but she will have to tell you what it is. I don't recall Suzanne's nickname. David has a nickname but he can tell you what it is. I don't know about Jeff's nickname or if he had one because I had left home by that time.
As for Herb's nickname, Tenny. Most of the aunt's and uncle's knew this one. His real first name was Kenneth which he didn't like. He took it upon himself as a child to make his middle name his first, hence Herbert Kenneth Walker. By changing his name, he still retained Tenny. Doris could not pronounce Kenny and it came out Tenny. Also she could not pronounce Raleigh's name and it came out Watty. I always heard Doris call them by those nicknames and I thought that Raleigh's real name was Watty. The same was for Johnny and Eggie which I thought was their real names. By the way my other nickname on my mother's side was Sonny Boy and to this day, my mom's sisters call me Sonny Boy. I knew from a young age that H. Ray was Henry and that Grace was Mabel; however, I was informed that I should never use those terms in their presence or the wrath of God would breathe down my neck. We were told that we were to address Mary as Mary Margaret so as to not confuse her with Aunt Mary. How many know Donnabelle's first name? As for Lewis Calvin, where did he get the nickname of Tab? I've been told but have forgotten. I did know that Don Drake was Sonny Boy.
In her letters to Ray, Grandma Walker referred to Herb as Herbert so that started very early.
From Dec. 17, 1918:
"Baby Herbert is growing nice and is a bright little fellow, sleeps good and am never up at night so far with him."
Tom, you are right on about Grandma Walker calling my dad by Herbert. I based my story on what my dad told me when I was young. That would explain why his school records and military records all said Herbert Kenneth. Wish he were here to tell us the truth. Maybe his siblings called him Kenny as a nickname like I was called by my middle name. Does anybody know?
I believe I was a late teenager before I knew that Tennie and Tab weren't their real names. I heard Aunt Fern get mad onetime and use his full name, he was not a happy camper.
Grandpa H. Ray called me Stevie and I tell people today that the only person that ever called me that is dead...
Grandpa had nicknames for all of his kids. Garfield was referred to as Sonny. Garfield later changed it to The Chief. I don't know if it was from his Navy days or not. Howard's nickname was Dolly, and I personally heard Grandpa use it only once. He called Aunt Mary Sis. Dad was Shakes due to his RLS - half of the family has RLS including me! Edgar was and still is referred to as Eggie.
Dad calls me Kid or Steve most of the time. Coleen is referred to as Sis and Dave is fondly known as Shrimp.
Greg and I had pet names for each other growing up. His was Grace and mine was Peeve. I hated it, but we had a lot of fun together during the summers in Syracuse. Brian's nickname is Boo. I can't remember Karen's and Deb's.
Greg and I had a common friend that we named Motts. He was working at our local grocery store and lost control of five cases of glass jars of Motts applesauce on a 2-wheel dolly. There were plenty of witnesses!
I heard Tennie refer to Jeff many times as Fart. David had a nickname too, but I can't remember for the life of me what it was.
Garfield had nicknames for Barb and Suzie too, but I can't remember them either. He called me Squirt or Stevie.
I only know the origins of a few of them. I would love to hear the stories behind many of the others.
PS: It was a mission of mine for several years of my childhood to find out my Dad's nickname. Garfield and I had a special bond and he spilt the beans and my many years of incessant annoying.
Well, Tab referred to Herbert as a child. To add to the confusion, here is a letter Tab wrote to H. Ray in Paris in 1918:
"Dear Ray.
I'm going to school now. How are you? I am all rite. I am in the 3A and my teachers name is Miss Alverson. We have a little baby and its name is Herbert. Did you get your Christmas box? I will close fore this time. I have no more to write.
Your little brother
Calvin"
Tab was really Lewis Calvin and again using middle names was common. Here is what I have about Donnabelle from Martha:
"Violet Donnabelle Walker was the fifth of thirteen children of Raleigh Clinton Walker and Mary Idessia Moore. Donnabelle was born January 11, 1908. We aren't sure why her middle name was used. As a young girl the family called her Donnie."
By the way, Grandpa Walker went by the name of Clint and Grandma was Dessie, both using middle names.
After many years in Hamilton Grove, my Mother didn't talk much and some time wouldn't acknowledge that we had come to visit her. When asked if she knew who I was, she said "you are Mr. Pest!"
I was SHOCKED, but some of you probably know why she called me that.
Steve, some things in some stories are fiction. The RLS was not the reason. Don't ask about the non-fiction part. It is not for publication. Some things are sentitive. Here is one that is non-fiction that my Dad used when he wrote letters to me in college or in the service. I believe he used the same for my siblings but don't know for sure. Any way I have used it a few times my self. I guess I picked it up from him.
Your Dad.
You have read that my brother Don was called "Sonny", which is true, but do you know what his real name is?
MAURICE DONALD DRAKE, I didn't know that until late in his life, he sent me a check and signed it MAURICE DRAKE. I called him and asked why MAURICE DRAKE, he said the bank required his offical name on the checks. SURPRISE, SURPRISE.
Uncle Don, maybe you could clarify if this is true or not. I always thought they called him Sonny to differentiate him from you.
Sorry Coleen, Steve and I used to call her cow queen or queenie for short.
I remember David A.'s nickname was "The Professor".
I too have many fond memories of Uncle Garfield otherwise known as The Chief. Whenever he saw me, he used the same phrase everytime, "Hey Davy Crockett, What's up?"
I stayed many summers with Grandpa and Grandma as I was growing up. Grandpa always disappeared in the morning and returned about lunch time. I asked him one time what he did when he left and he asked me if I wanted to go along and find out. So the next morning, he woke me up in the usual fashion of smacking my feet. We both got dressed and had breakfast then went out for the morning. I remember mostly stopping by local businesses where Grandpa was known by everybody and they greeted him with, "Hi Ray, whose your sidekick?" or something to the sort. I still remember Grandpa saying proudly, "This is my youngest grandson, Davie. He's Johnny's boy." We greeted everybody and when the visit was over we went to the next stop and had the same type of reception. I found out what Grandpa did, he visited his friends and went to the grocery store to pick up what was needed. Grandpa and I had several days like that.
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