Our Shared Anniversary

In 1996 Shaun and I planned our wedding in the North Country after being a couple for six years. When we told my Grandma Patty about our proposed date (which was Saturday, August 24) she informed us that August 22 was a significant date in our family. She and my Grandpa Clinton Wear, her parents Marnie & John Rowland, and her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara & Alan Thompson were all married on August 22. So, we decided to marry on Thursday, August 22.

This year on my anniversary I visited the town where my grandparents, great aunt, and great grandparents (among other family) spent much of their lives. Farnam, Nebraska is a tiny town these days (official population 165), many of the old buildings have been razed, and none of my close family live there any longer.  The following is a brief tour of Farnam.

Great Grandparents, Roy & Alice Wear’s home

Great great Grandparents, Sam & Minnie Parker’s home – where my great grandmother Marnie and her sisters Jeannette & Louise grew up…

Great Aunt Jeannette & Uncle Burr’s home

Great Grandparents Marnie & John Rowlands home

The elementary school my mother and two previous generations attended

Farnam Hospital

On a hillside overlooking town is the cemetery… There we visited the graves of extended family and the new site of a bench commemorating my Grandma Patty. There is also a marker for my Grandpa Clinton Wear who was killed while trying to rescue a fellow Navy flier near the end of World War II.

with Betty Hoppe-Stevens who was instrumental in getting the commemorative bench installed at Farnam Cemetery

My Grandpa Clinton (Clem) Wear

Great Aunt Jeannette & Great Uncle Burr Parker (his was another Parker family in Farnam)

Great Grandparents Marnie & John Rowland

Great Grandparents Alice and Roy Wear

Great Great Grandparents Minnie & Sam Parker