- Mom & Dad as newlyweds (288 KB)
Did you ever see two happier looking people? They stayed that happy the whole time they were together. Dad was an excellent cattle rancher and a good trumpet player, having played in big bands through the '30s. Mom was a superb gardener, loving all plants, and a darn good cook. They both loved to dance and the term "made for each other" was never more true than when you saw them on the dance floor. Angels cried when they were separated at my dad's death after 48 years together.
- Great-Grandfather Charles Thomas Cockson (46 KB)
Charles Thomas Cockson was born May 31, 1838 in Alrewas, Yoxall, Staffordshire, U.K. He worked as a china painter in Cobridge and Liverpool before emigrating to the U.S.A in 1871 with his wife and two oldest children. He was given title to a homestead in Polk County, Nebraska in 1880. While enroute to visit family, hecaught pneumonia and died in London on June 5, 1900 where he lies in St. Pancras cemetery. He and Lucy had one daughter and four sons one of whom (Harold E.) was my grandfather.
- Bronwyn - 1995 (190 KB)
Taken at my surprise 50th birthday party.
- Geri's Wedding Day (264 KB)
June 22, 1963 Geri married Roger A. Erftmier in Butler Co., NE. They had two daughters, Kim and Tracy.
- Great-Grandmother Lucy Ann (Eaton) Cockson (48 KB)
Lucy Ann Eaton, daughter of police officer John Eaton of Burslem, Staffordshire, U.K. was born March 8, 1837 and married Charles Thomas Cockson Oct. 8 1864 in Cobridge, Staffordshire, U.K. They had a son and daughter before establishing a home in Nebraska, U.S. and three more sons while living in Nebraska. Lucy died April 14, 1909 and is buried in St. Bonaventure cemetery in Columbus, Nebraska, U.S.A.
- Chelsea - date unknown (362 KB)
Having fun at her aunt Geri's summer home.
- Future Wife Marj and Me - Summer 1966 (374 KB)
Back seat of Roger & Geri's Grand Prix. What a summer that was !! Month later I was in Marine Corps boot camp. Time rolls on.
- Great-Grandfather Francois Nicolas (90 KB)
Francois 'Frank' Nicolas was born July 15,1851 in Lorraine Province, France. That same year his parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth emigrated to Spring Bay, IL with him. In 1878 he married Sophia Fisher in Marshall Co., IL and moved to Butler Co., Nebraska, where they raised 6 children. The sole living daughter was my grandmother, Nellie Elizabeth. Francois died in Polk Co., Nebraska Nov. 16, 1926.
- Great-Great-Grandfather William Fisher (154 KB)
Wiliam Fisher was born about 1830 in Wirtenburg, Germany. He was a wagon maker in Spring Bay, IL. He and his wife Margaret had five children, the oldest of which was my great-grandmother Sophia.
- Harry & Marj - Married March 11, 1967 (230 KB)
Chapel at Camp LeJeune North Carolina was the site of our wedding. Two days later I went to the rifle range for a week of qualifying. After that two weeks of guard duty. After a month and a half, orders to Vietnam. Honeymoon? We loved every minute together. Three kids - Bronwyn, H.Bryce, & Chelsea.
- Great-Grandmother Sophia (Fisher) Nicolas (228 KB)
Sophia Fisher was born December 18, 1858 to William and Margaret (Ahrens) Fisher in Spring Bay, IL. She died October 22, 1914 in Butler Co., Nebraska.
- Great-Great-Grandmother Margaret (Ahrens) Fisher (181 KB)
Margaret Ahrens was born about 1845 in Hanover, Germany, one of five children. Her parents were John Ahrens (b.1810) and Katrina Knoll (b.1805).
The photos of William and Margaret were gleaned from a family picture taken in July, 1878.
- Marj & I in the '90s (205 KB)
Still crazy after all these years.
- Great-Grandmother & Grandfather Jarecki (88 KB)
November 16, 1862 Frank Jarecki was born to Valentine & Franceska (Bladzich) Jarecki in Poznan, Poland. His wife Veronica was born to Thomas P. and Mary (Skorupa)Podraza in Tarnov, Poland on April 15, 1868. They were married January 28, 1864 in Duncan, NE and raised ten children, among them my grandmother Josephine. Frank died November 4, 1947 and Veronica on July 11, 1950 in Columbus, NE.
- Elise Gray 7/21/01 (650 KB)
Two & 1/2 weeks after major kidney surgery. What a tough little girl!!
- Macho Harry - Hill 63 Vietnam - Oct. '67 (243 KB)
He hadn't seen nothin' yet!!
- Grandfather Frank Stachura (57 KB)
Frank Stachura was born April 21, 1880 in Polk Co., NE to Wojiec and Maryana (Micek) Stachura. He married Josephine Stachura on January 30, 1905. They raised five children, one of whom was my mother Louise. He died Oct 29, 1930 in Polk Co., NE.
- Bronwyn (Cockson) & Rex Gray (161 KB)
Married 4Nov,2001, Omaha, Nebraska.
- Bronwyn & Bryce (342 KB)
Young'uns on the farm - early '70s. Bronwyn was born Sept. 15, 1967 in Columbus, NE just after I arrived in Vietnam. Bryce was born Sept. 18, 1970 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- Grandmother Josephine (Jarecki) Stachura (86 KB)
Josie was born in Polk Co., NE on June 14, 1885 to Frank and Veronica Jarecki. She died January 18, 1976 in Osceola, NE.
- Bronwyn Ann's H.S. Senior (159 KB)
Graduate of Shelby, NE High School - 1985
- Grandparents Harold E. & Nellie (Nicolas) Cockson (294 KB)
Harold Edward was born to Charles T. & Lucy Ann Cockson on December 3, 1880 in Polk Co., NE. He died August 13, 1943 in Polk Co. Nellie Elizabeth was born in Butler Co., NE to Francois & Sophia Nicolas on July 20, 1886. She died May 15, 1965 in Columbus, NE. They were married November 24, 1908 in Bellwood, NE and had two children, one being my father Harold Joseph.
- H. Bryce's Senior (131 KB)
Graduate of Shelby, NE High School - 1988
- Mom & Dad's Wedding, Sept. 26, 1938 (108 KB)
Harold J. Cockson was born August 15, 1914 on our farm in Polk Co. Nebraska. Louise (Stachura) Cockson was born in Polk Co. Nebraska on March 9, 1916. They were married in Duncan, NE. Dad died July 20, 1986 about 75 feet from where he was born. Mom carries the Alzheimers cross at this time. They had two children - Geraldine J. (Geri) and me - Harold F. (Harry).
- Chelsea's Senior (170 KB)
Graduate of Shelby, NE High School - 1997
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