My Story, The Gandolph Story

Last time I spoke that I was born to somewhat ungoodly parents. This time I'll talk about my goodly parents, the Gandolphs. It happened around the 5th of May 2004 when I arrived with my younger brother on my now parents doorstep. They had done foster care for many years and so were very much aware of how to take care of kids.

As for me, because of the abuse I endured, I didn't trust adults. I was afraid of anyone who was bigger than me. I was afraid of being in this strange home with parents that were like the grandparents I never knew. They were sweet. They were kind and they were frustrated that I couldn't keep my mouth shut. (I still have trouble with that though not as bad). Whenever I ate food I couldn't keep it down. My parents say otherwise but looking back I was quite the troublemaker.

Yet... they never struck me. I could only think of one occasion where I got roughed up a bit.  But on that one occasion, I made a major stupid mistake and so I think of it as justified.  I look at the many life lessons, the multiple discussions that were had, and the suffering I gave them as a teenager and wondered: How in the world did they deal with my crap? My own question was answered by the loving chastisements of my father, "James, could use your head more than just a hatrack?"

As a man, I look back on that advice and I am grateful for what my dad said. I have strived from that time forth not to use my head as a hatrack. Below is me with my family. This photo is a couple of years old. I'm the one sporting the "Bob Ross" look. I love my family very much. and wouldn't have it any other way.

An Introduction of Myself and my Ancestors (...mostly about them)

I was not necessarily born of goodly parents. My family history was never talked about much and with much disappointment was not granted the opportunity of hearing those stories. I had to find them myself. Honestly, as much I would have like to hear those stories it has been rewarding to find out about my biological ancestors.

My ancestor Rufus Dempsey Rimer was born the second of November 1880 in Rogersville, Tennessee. We know that he married Lula Belle Compton in Cement, Oklahoma. However, before that time we don't know much about him. In 1900 he is listed with no occupation being that he's 21 at this time. But at the same time, it also makes sense because his father, Isaac Newton Rimer was a Baptist minister and they made a lot of money. (Though somehow that money didn't get passed to me.)

I was lucky enough to get a picture of Rufus from cousins who were related into the family.

It was interesting to see a man so clean shaven in a photograph. I'm making the assumption here that he learned that particular trait from his dad. The two children in the middle are Lula Mae and Eula Catherine Rimer. Doing my research and finding these odd names reminds me of when I move to a new place and someone has an odd name like Katrielle. Who names their kid that? Then I look at some of the names of my ancestors and become less concerned.

Looking further in the 1920 and 1930 censuses it doesn't seem the ministering bit didn't pass on to him; (Mormons are going to take term a bit differently Haha.) as he is listed as a farmer for those years. What I would like to know is why Rufus didn't study religion like his father did and if he was religious at all. This is also an assumption, but since he was the last child born in his family he probably was a tad bit rebellious or one of his elder brothers took the reins in that regard.

I will say this, the more I research about my ancestors the more questions I have and that makes family history more interesting.