Their first child Gertrude M Middling was born Feb 23, 1909 in San Francisco County. She passed away sometime before Casper and Fannie were recorded in the 1910 census on April 30, 1910. Our only records of her are a photograph (left) and a California birth record.
Their first son, Russell Benjamin, was born May 15th, 1914 on Vashon Island. Russ opened the first Tavern on Vashon after the prohibition. He also lived in California for a time managing a hotel and driving Taxi Cabs. Eventually he moved to Spanaway living with his youngest brother Bob and sister-in-law Mary.
Wesley Casper Middling was born May 13th, 1918 on Vashon Island. He married his childhood sweetheart Ruth Louise Strom, June 12th, 1936 in Port Orchard, WA. Yes really 1936 they were 18 and 16 years old! That’s something unimaginable to most of us. Against all odds, they went on to have a total of 12 children, Jack, Janet (Sis), Barbara, John, Frances (Snooks), Jennie, Gloria (Beano), Karla, Michael, Tina, Richard, and Shelly. From those children they had nearly 30 grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Robert John Middling was born October 6th, 1923 also on Vashon. Bob worked as a Mechanic and he enlisted in the army. He participated in WWII, enlisting for the Hawaiian division. He married Mary Milver Erickson June 23rd, 1948. She brought two children to the marriage, Gene and Shirley. They had a son together, Donald. They lived in Spanaway where he ran an automotive repair shop out of their home and helped Mary take care of her horses.
Left to right: Wes, Bob, and Russ
We have more family history to post in the next week or so, and over the next few months – if you have any interesting facts, photos, or anything else you’d like to share please let us know. Also, if you’re interested in writing a guest spotlight on a family member or members or even yourself we would be happy to put it up for all of us to share.
Pretty cool stuff....
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