Biography of Jane Gordon Webb
The last quarter of the nineteenth century seems from all accounts to have been the time of the greatest emigration from Europe and Great Britain to the growing country of the United States of America. The excitement of the adventure and the opportunities offered must have struck a responsive chord in a young Swedish girl in Helsingborg, Signe Nelson, and a young Scot, William Gordon, in Aberdeen, for they were among this group. They met in Lake Forest, Illinois and were married in 1895. These were to be my parents. William and several brothers had emigrated earlier and being interested in acquiring property and building had already established themselves in their trade of construction. A good number of these Victorian homes are still a part of the Lake Forest community. William died in 1906 (fell off a roof), leaving Signe with three small children and an unborn child—myself. Signe, a person of determination and great energy assumed the responsibilities of both father and mother, providing a good home, wise counsel and educational opportunities for each child. (Before I studied fractions I used to say "I am half Scotch, half Swedish, and half American." I wondered why people smiled.)
My grandchildren laugh when I mention that I was a kindergartener for three years. In those days school laws were very flexible. As the kindergarten teacher was a friend of my mother and since my mother had to work, this friend suggested that I attend kindergarten with the other children in the family.
I always like school—grammar school in Lake Forest, high school in Highland Park (Deerfield) and the Battle Creek Normal School of Physical Education at Battle Creek, MI. I was salutatorian of my high school class out of 66 students, and second in my class scholastically at Battle Creek. (Something like always being the bridesmaid and not the bride). Following graduation in 1922 I was director of Physical Education in the public schools of Dowagiac, MI and Lake Forest until I did become a bride, marrying Morris Webb in August 1925. The ensuing years were the best of my life—being the wife of a prominent business man, making a home, and then being a mother to my two children Sally and Stuart. I should add that Morris' family were pioneers in Rolfe, coming to the community when Rolfe was little more than a dot in the prairie and establishing Webb's Drug Store. We struggled through the depression years in the early 30's—a time of maturing. Morris died February 4, 1958.
I became a P.E.O. in 1928—a valued gift.
I have weathered the shock of widowhood and have learned to cope with life as it is measured out. My greatest pleasures are my children and grand children –six of them –with whom I keep in close contact.
Written for P.E.O. program. 1981.
The last quarter of the nineteenth century seems from all accounts to have been the time of the greatest emigration from Europe and Great Britain to the growing country of the United States of America. The excitement of the adventure and the opportunities offered must have struck a responsive chord in a young Swedish girl in Helsingborg, Signe Nelson, and a young Scot, William Gordon, in Aberdeen, for they were among this group. They met in Lake Forest, Illinois and were married in 1895. These were to be my parents. William and several brothers had emigrated earlier and being interested in acquiring property and building had already established themselves in their trade of construction. A good number of these Victorian homes are still a part of the Lake Forest community. William died in 1906 (fell off a roof), leaving Signe with three small children and an unborn child—myself. Signe, a person of determination and great energy assumed the responsibilities of both father and mother, providing a good home, wise counsel and educational opportunities for each child. (Before I studied fractions I used to say "I am half Scotch, half Swedish, and half American." I wondered why people smiled.)
My grandchildren laugh when I mention that I was a kindergartener for three years. In those days school laws were very flexible. As the kindergarten teacher was a friend of my mother and since my mother had to work, this friend suggested that I attend kindergarten with the other children in the family.
I always like school—grammar school in Lake Forest, high school in Highland Park (Deerfield) and the Battle Creek Normal School of Physical Education at Battle Creek, MI. I was salutatorian of my high school class out of 66 students, and second in my class scholastically at Battle Creek. (Something like always being the bridesmaid and not the bride). Following graduation in 1922 I was director of Physical Education in the public schools of Dowagiac, MI and Lake Forest until I did become a bride, marrying Morris Webb in August 1925. The ensuing years were the best of my life—being the wife of a prominent business man, making a home, and then being a mother to my two children Sally and Stuart. I should add that Morris' family were pioneers in Rolfe, coming to the community when Rolfe was little more than a dot in the prairie and establishing Webb's Drug Store. We struggled through the depression years in the early 30's—a time of maturing. Morris died February 4, 1958.
I became a P.E.O. in 1928—a valued gift.
I have weathered the shock of widowhood and have learned to cope with life as it is measured out. My greatest pleasures are my children and grand children –six of them –with whom I keep in close contact.
Written for P.E.O. program. 1981.
Biography of Jane Gordon Webb
The last quarter of the nineteenth century seems from all accounts to have been the time of the greatest emigration from Europe and Great Britain to the growing country of the United States of America. The excitement of the adventure and the opportunities offered must have struck a responsive chord in a young Swedish girl in Helsingborg, Signe Nelson, and a young Scot, William Gordon, in Aberdeen, for they were among this group. They met in Lake Forest, Illinois and were married in 1895. These were to be my parents. William and several brothers had emigrated earlier and being interested in acquiring property and building had already established themselves in their trade of construction. A good number of these Victorian homes are still a part of the Lake Forest community. William died in 1906 (fell off a roof), leaving Signe with three small children and an unborn child—myself. Signe, a person of determination and great energy assumed the responsibilities of both father and mother, providing a good home, wise counsel and educational opportunities for each child. (Before I studied fractions I used to say "I am half Scotch, half Swedish, and half American." I wondered why people smiled.)
My grandchildren laugh when I mention that I was a kindergartener for three years. In those days school laws were very flexible. As the kindergarten teacher was a friend of my mother and since my mother had to work, this friend suggested that I attend kindergarten with the other children in the family.
I always like school—grammar school in Lake Forest, high school in Highland Park (Deerfield) and the Battle Creek Normal School of Physical Education at Battle Creek, MI. I was salutatorian of my high school class out of 66 students, and second in my class scholastically at Battle Creek. (Something like always being the bridesmaid and not the bride). Following graduation in 1922 I was director of Physical Education in the public schools of Dowagiac, MI and Lake Forest until I did become a bride, marrying Morris Webb in August 1925. The ensuing years were the best of my life—being the wife of a prominent business man, making a home, and then being a mother to my two children Sally and Stuart. I should add that Morris' family were pioneers in Rolfe, coming to the community when Rolfe was little more than a dot in the prairie and establishing Webb's Drug Store. We struggled through the depression years in the early 30's—a time of maturing. Morris died February 4, 1958.
I became a P.E.O. in 1928—a valued gift.
I have weathered the shock of widowhood and have learned to cope with life as it is measured out. My greatest pleasures are my children and grand children –six of them –with whom I keep in close contact.
Written for P.E.O. program. 1981.
The last quarter of the nineteenth century seems from all accounts to have been the time of the greatest emigration from Europe and Great Britain to the growing country of the United States of America. The excitement of the adventure and the opportunities offered must have struck a responsive chord in a young Swedish girl in Helsingborg, Signe Nelson, and a young Scot, William Gordon, in Aberdeen, for they were among this group. They met in Lake Forest, Illinois and were married in 1895. These were to be my parents. William and several brothers had emigrated earlier and being interested in acquiring property and building had already established themselves in their trade of construction. A good number of these Victorian homes are still a part of the Lake Forest community. William died in 1906 (fell off a roof), leaving Signe with three small children and an unborn child—myself. Signe, a person of determination and great energy assumed the responsibilities of both father and mother, providing a good home, wise counsel and educational opportunities for each child. (Before I studied fractions I used to say "I am half Scotch, half Swedish, and half American." I wondered why people smiled.)
My grandchildren laugh when I mention that I was a kindergartener for three years. In those days school laws were very flexible. As the kindergarten teacher was a friend of my mother and since my mother had to work, this friend suggested that I attend kindergarten with the other children in the family.
I always like school—grammar school in Lake Forest, high school in Highland Park (Deerfield) and the Battle Creek Normal School of Physical Education at Battle Creek, MI. I was salutatorian of my high school class out of 66 students, and second in my class scholastically at Battle Creek. (Something like always being the bridesmaid and not the bride). Following graduation in 1922 I was director of Physical Education in the public schools of Dowagiac, MI and Lake Forest until I did become a bride, marrying Morris Webb in August 1925. The ensuing years were the best of my life—being the wife of a prominent business man, making a home, and then being a mother to my two children Sally and Stuart. I should add that Morris' family were pioneers in Rolfe, coming to the community when Rolfe was little more than a dot in the prairie and establishing Webb's Drug Store. We struggled through the depression years in the early 30's—a time of maturing. Morris died February 4, 1958.
I became a P.E.O. in 1928—a valued gift.
I have weathered the shock of widowhood and have learned to cope with life as it is measured out. My greatest pleasures are my children and grand children –six of them –with whom I keep in close contact.
Written for P.E.O. program. 1981.
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