300. Charles Thomas BAKER
Notes for CHARLES THOMAS BAKER:
All I know about Charles is that he worked for railroads. He lived in
Bluefield, West Virginia, Kansas, and Nebraska doing something for
the
railroads. Grandma Virna always gave us the idea that her father was
a
bookkeeper/accountant for the RR. I knnow he made fairly good money
and keep
his family in a nice house in Bluefield.
I was in that house several times as a child before Rosa Ann Baker
died and
before it was torn down for "progress". There was a service station
there
for a while. Now I am not even sure I could find it.
Notes for ROSA ANN BELL:
My Great grandmother was born either in Scotland or Ireland. She may
be
"Scots/Irish". Also, grand mother Virna Nita BAker (nee Lester) told
us
there was Scandinavian background somewhere as well. This is easy to
believe
because of the size of the Bakers. Not that all Scandinavians are
large. She
and all of her siblings were tall. Some of them were also very heavy
(stout
back then but now just plain old fat). I will never forget the image
planted
on my mind of my uncle John Baker going up the graveyard hill in
Roanoke at
his Sister Catherine's funeral. He was a big man. I believe he was
himself
buried in Bluefield WVA about 4 months after his sister was buried in
Roanoke.
Back to Rosa Ann Bell. I have spoken to her niece, my second cousin
Iris
Craig Santini. Iris corrected several things that her cousin Juanta
LesterJoos had misinformed her children about. One is the facts that
Denniston Bell was not the father of Rosa but one of her brothers.
Her
father was John Bell and his wife was named Barbara. Iris is not sure
of the
last name.
Grandma Rosa had a very interesting accent that could fit into either
Ireland, Scotland or even easteren Canada of the day for that matter.
I plan
a meeting with Iris in person to learn more.
More About ROSA ANN BELL:
Name (Facts Page): also known as Rosa Ann and Rosann
598. Virna Dita BAKER
Notes for VIRNA DITA BAKER:
It came as a surprize to me to learn that Grandma had a middle name.
Dita.
That is not a bad little name to me but it seems Grandma did not want
us to
know of it.
She had it rough but did well considering the obstacles, challenges
and
heartaches she endured. Though, as she would say, that is the way it
is with
all life in this vale of sin and sorrow.
>From all accounts I can discover, being only one, and that from
Grandma
herself and my memory, she had a happy childhood. She speaks of the
joy and
pleasantness that Charles Thomas and Rosa tried to bring to their
large
family in Bluefield. She never mentioned them living anywhere else
except to
say that she was born in Kansas.
She often compared her own husband's behavior toward his family to
that of
how her father cared for his. This gives insights into both. Curtis
was a
good husband and father except when he allowed himself to become
intoxicated. then he was a terror and everyone was afraid of him. The
alcohol finally cured him of his own evil by killing him. Grandma was
then
left with a sick daughter dying of TB, beautiful Mildred and three
little
ones to care for , but not alone. Her loving parents assisted and
aided her
as long as she needed them.
When her son Jim beame a family man he took his mother into his house
and
their she stayed until her death. Grandma was a fine addition to that
home.
It wasn't a perfect arrangement but all of us grandchildren learned
to
appreciate her. We also learned to respect the needs of the elderly.
Grandma wrote poetry and set some of it to music. I have a copy of a
book of
songs and poems she self-published. She included some prose, sort of
philosophy. Some of this leans heavily towards pantheism, I cannot
join her
in accepting these thoughts but I appreciate how she was able to see
the
handwork of God in all things.
Virna Dita Baker Lester was far from perfect. One of the things that
caused
us to differ was her decided prejudices against Afro-Americans. She
never
accepted the sub-Saharan African into her understanding of what was
human.
She never spoke a positive or kind word about them. I do not believe
she
ever had much contact with them.
Grandma is buried with her Baker family, and with Curtis, in
Bluefield. I am
not one ot go regularly to where the dead rest. If I ever get over to
the
Bluefield area I will go by the graveyard where they lie just to
reminisc.
More About VIRNA DITA BAKER:
Cause of Death: died of pneumonia- a complication of gyn cancer.
Cause of death (Facts Page): pneumonia/cancer
Fact 1: buried in Bluefield West Virginia with Curtis & Baker,s
Work: midwife in Bluefield, WVa
Curtis Francis(Fitzgerald) LESTER
Notes for CURTIS FRANCIS ( FITZGERALD) LESTER:
This is one grandparent I know but little about. I know he ws born in
the
Pilot section of Floyd County, according to my cousin Ronald Sidney
Lester.
According to cousin Janice Lester Miles Grandpa was born in Riner,
Virginia.
Then, I remember Grandma saying he came to Bluefield from Roanoke
when she
first came to fall in love with him.
I often wonder if alcohol consumption was a problem in his family. I
wonder
when poor little Curtis (speaking from a parents viewpoint) began to
use the
stuff. He would not have been born an alcoholic.
Those were the good old days of the Prohibition Act. So the alcohol
that
killed him should not have been around if legislation worked. So he
was
getting moonshine somewhere. There was plenty around because over the
years
I have traveled around people in every community have reported the
making of
illegal whisky.
He made life miserable for my grandmother and her children. My Uncle
Jim did
not seem to ever completely forgive his father.
I do not even know anything about Curtis Francis Lester's work
record, what
he did for work. Maybe he made money in whisky and that is why I do
not
know.
He lived a short life- August 27, 1882- February 25,1921. Thirty
eight short
little years! He never got to listen to a radio, missed the Great
Depression
and World War II. He never saw one of his grandchildren! Had he lived
a life
for longer living he could have made it to , say 68. Thirty more
years-1951.
Then he would have had the chance to see most of his grandchildren.
Well, we can't change histories books. These are His-stories anyway.
God
knows the hearts of men and will mercifully do for them what is best
for
all.
My notations of Curtis F. Lester's alcohol problems are not to bring
him
down but to point to any reader the danger of being a drinker. You an
add so
much more unhappiness to others lives that would be better to leave
off. In
turn you can add so much more to your own.
More About CURTIS FRANCIS ( FITZGERALD) LESTER:
Cause: complications of alcoholism
600. Maury Owen BAKER
Notes for MAURY OWEN BAKER:
Maury Baker was killed young in an accident.
601. Fannie Iris BAKER
Notes for FANNIE IRIS BAKER:
Her husband's first name was Ted. He was instrumental in some
celebrated
military work. They retired between the Virginia towns of Burkesville
and
Crew. Myself and my brother John visited them there with grandmother
Virna
in the early 1950's. John went back again with sister Rosa in toe.
They used
a lot of lard in cooking and we each came back home fat. We did not
use lard
at home. Ted was a very intelligent and talented gentleman as I
remember
him. He spent each morning doing the crossword puzzle in the paper,
probably
from Richmond.
Ted and Fannie were childless. Ted was Fannie's second husband. Noone
has
yet told me the name of her first. (2, 12,99).
607. Curtis Francis(Fitzgerald) LESTER
Notes for CURTIS FRANCIS ( FITZGERALD) LESTER:
This is one grandparent I know but little about. I know he ws born in
the
Pilot section of Floyd County, according to my cousin Ronald Sidney
Lester.
According to cousin Janice Lester Miles Grandpa was born in Riner,
Virginia.
Then, I remember Grandma saying he came to Bluefield from Roanoke
when she
first came to fall in love with him.
I often wonder if alcohol consumption was a problem in his family. I
wonder
when poor little Curtis (speaking from a parents viewpoint) began to
use the
stuff. He would not have been born an alcoholic.
Those were the good old days of the Prohibition Act. So the alcohol
that
killed him should not have been around if legislation worked. So he
was
getting moonshine somewhere. There was plenty around because over the
years
I have traveled around people in every community have reported the
making of
illegal whisky.
He made life miserable for my grandmother and her children. My Uncle
Jim did
not seem to ever completely forgive his father.
I do not even know anything about Curtis Francis Lester's work
record, what
he did for work. Maybe he made money in whisky and that is why I do
not
know.
He lived a short life- August 27, 1882- February 25,1921. Thirty
eight short
little years! He never got to listen to a radio, missed the Great
Depression
and World War II. He never saw one of his grandchildren! Had he lived
a life
for longer living he could have made it to , say 68. Thirty more
years-1951.
Then he would have had the chance to see most of his grandchildren.
Well, we can't change histories books. These are His-stories anyway.
God
knows the hearts of men and will mercifully do for them what is best
for
all.
My notations of Curtis F. Lester's alcohol problems are not to bring
him
down but to point to any reader the danger of being a drinker. You an
add so
much more unhappiness to others lives that would be better to leave
off. In
turn you can add so much more to your own.
More About CURTIS FRANCIS ( FITZGERALD) LESTER:
Cause: complications of alcoholism
Notes for VIRNA DITA BAKER:
It came as a surprize to me to learn that Grandma had a middle name.
Dita.
That is not a bad little name to me but it seems Grandma did not want
us to
know of it.
She had it rough but did well considering the obstacles, challenges
and
heartaches she endured. Though, as she would say, that is the way it
is with
all life in this vale of sin and sorrow.
>From all accounts I can discover, being only one, and that from
Grandma
herself and my memory, she had a happy childhood. She speaks of the
joy and
pleasantness that Charles Thomas and Rosa tried to bring to their
large
family in Bluefield. She never mentioned them living anywhere else
except to
say that she was born in Kansas.
She often compared her own husband's behavior toward his family to
that of
how her father cared for his. This gives insights into both. Curtis
was a
good husband and father except when he allowed himself to become
intoxicated. then he was a terror and everyone was afraid of him. The
alcohol finally cured him of his own evil by killing him. Grandma was
then
left with a sick daughter dying of TB, beautiful Mildred and three
little
ones to care for , but not alone. Her loving parents assisted and
aided her
as long as she needed them.
When her son Jim beame a family man he took his mother into his house
and
their she stayed until her death. Grandma was a fine addition to that
home.
It wasn't a perfect arrangement but all of us grandchildren learned
to
appreciate her. We also learned to respect the needs of the elderly.
Grandma wrote poetry and set some of it to music. I have a copy of a
book of
songs and poems she self-published. She included some prose, sort of
philosophy. Some of this leans heavily towards pantheism, I cannot
join her
in accepting these thoughts but I appreciate how she was able to see
the
handwork of God in all things.
Virna Dita Baker Lester was far from perfect. One of the things that
caused
us to differ was her decided prejudices against Afro-Americans. She
never
accepted the sub-Saharan African into her understanding of what was
human.
She never spoke a positive or kind word about them. I do not believe
she
ever had much contact with them.
Grandma is buried with her Baker family, and with Curtis, in
Bluefield. I am
not one ot go regularly to where the dead rest. If I ever get over to
the
Bluefield area I will go by the graveyard where they lie just to
reminisc.
More About VIRNA DITA BAKER:
Cause of Death: died of pneumonia- a complication of gyn cancer.
Cause of death (Facts Page): pneumonia/cancer
Fact 1: buried in Bluefield West Virginia with Curtis & Baker,s
Work: midwife in Bluefield, WVa