Flashback Friday #9: My Great-Great-Grandfather

 
My Grandfather, Philip Bettens Storm, my Mother's father, was born in Escondido, California, July 9, 1892.
 
His Father, my Great-Grandfather, was Frank R. Storm.
 
His Grandfather, my Great-Great Grandfather, was William H. Storm.
 
William H. Storm was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, February 12, 1818. He married Martha W. Thomas and together they had seven children, only three of whom survived.
 
My Great-Great Grandfather was a surveyor before moving from Tennessee to Lampasses County, Texas, where he served as a district judge. In 1869 he moved to Escondido, California.
 

 
While he lived in Texas, he naturally paid taxes on such items that would be required by law. I wish I had been more successful in scanning this page but it's old, tattered and faded. It is a single page document recording payment on December 20, 1866 to United States Internal Revenue for the following:
 
1 Carriage, valuation over $50 and not over $100: Tax $1.00
 
and
 
1 Gold Watch, kept for use, valuation not over $100: Tax $1.00
 
Total tax paid: $2.00
 
Now, had he owned a pianoforte, gold or silver plate, billiard tables or yachts, they also would have been taxable.
 
Billiard tables...now that's where the government made its money...they were taxed at $10 each!
 

Flashback Friday #8: The Powers Girls

 
I never knew my Mother's mother, Helen Powers Storm, as she died before I was born. But I did meet her sister, Grace Powers, my great aunt.
 
This is portrait of my Grandmother and her sister taken in June 1914. Grace,on the left, was born on September 19, 1897 and would have been 17 years old in a few months. Helen, on the right, was born on January 28, 1893 and would have been 21 years old in this picture.
 

 
There is no date on this second photo of my Grandmother but judging by the off-the-shoulder dress, I'm guessing she was a little older than in the first photo.
 

 
I was in high school the last time I saw my Great Aunt Grace. I wish now that I had asked her to tell me more about her life growing up in the early 20th century. If you have some "older" relatives, now is the time to ask them about their lives. There is so much to learn from them but you must take the step now to record their memories for future generations. Don't wait!