James and Mabel Carmichael's Oldest Child:
James Jr.

Baby James Jr.

We have a portion of a letter Mabel wrote on March 2, 1910. Presumably it was saved for the recipe included: "...when you have buttermilk. It is Ina's mother's.
1 egg
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup buttermilk
1 scant cup white flour
2 cups graham
One loaf. I'd like to try it but haven't the buttermilk. How does your gas work now? I wish I had made the baby's white shirt now to put on him when I go calling. He has woke up so I am going to weigh him and get him ready for bed. He is 4 mo. old tomorrow. The only trouble is time flies so, he isn't going to be a baby half long enough. Most everyone thinks he looks like me now. He weighed 11-7/8 lbs. Must close with love, Mabel" To view original letter, click here.

There were numerous baby photographs in the box from Jean Marquardt, including many duplicates. One can tell how celebrated James Jr's birth was!

James Jr. walking tall!	James Jr. as a toddler	James Jr. age 4

Birth announcement, sent to Mr. & Mrs. G. T. Sleggs, Mabel's parents.

James' senior portrait?

James was deaf his entire life, attributed to a case of German Measles that Mabel contracted during her pregnancy. He attended the Rochester School for the Deaf, where he learned to finger spell and read lips. He wore hearing aids, and Georgia remembers that Aunt Ruth told her that the first time James heard a bird sing, he said, "What's that?"

When James turned 18, his parents threw him a "coming out party", which was held at a private club on East Avenue (Susie thinks it was Locust Hill).

As an adult, James lived at home with his parents on Seneca Parkway and worked at Hickcock, which made high-quality leather products. After Granny and Poppy died, James lived at 15 Savannah Street, Apt 5N, Rochester, and his siblings looked in on him frequently and invited him to family functions. Diane LeClair remembers that Uncle James came to dinner at Jean and Herb Marquardt's every Thursday night.

James was in a bowling league for many years and always enjoyed watching professional games on TV after he quit playing. He also attended antique shops and sales regularly. James had a large toothpick holder collection, and upon his death in 1984, they were divided between his nieces and have been on prominent display in each niece's home since.

I remember that Uncle James smoked a pipe, and that he always gave my sister and me $2 for every occasion. Diane remembers that James had a best friend named Adam George Fisher, whose hobby was sending birthday cards to people. Any other Uncle James anecdotes? Contact me.

James Carmichael during the 1960s and 70s
Jean and James, Christmas Eve, Late 1970s	Linda and Diane visit Uncle James in his Nursing Home, early 1980s

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