If you are a follower of this space you will already know that my last three posts have been about Woodside, Maplewood’s oldest home and the Rannells family that built it and occupied it for 70+ years. If you don’t know this you can find out by examining the following links.
In this post, I’m including some of the material obtained from the newspapers regarding Ned Rannells. I am also having a look at a couple of images, I believe were in his possession.
Ned was born in 1854 and passed in 1920. His father, Charles, passed in 1877. His mother, Mary Warder, passed in 1896.
This is great. I can say for certain that Ned Rannells, from what would one day be Maplewood, was a cowboy participating in the cattle drives in the 1800s that have been mythologized by countless articles, books, movies, and TV shows. He was there and I’d bet he’d say it was no picnic.
Among the documents and photographs in Ned’s tin box were a couple of images that I noted but didn’t pay much attention to at first. One was a stereopticon card of San Xavier cathedral south of Tuscon and the other was of the Casa Grande ruins not far from there. You run into these things in family papers that at first seemed unconnected to the story. Then I realized that Ned was in that area as a cowboy. A little more research showed that the images were produced during that period. I surmise he brought them back with him or sent them home as souvenirs.
I have more material on the Rannells family. Readers can expect to see it in the upcoming posts.
The books have been selling well for whatever reason lately. Much thanks to those who have recently purchased copies. Heck, I mean , thanks to everyone who has ever purchased a copy. The hardcovers are getting scarce. There are only about a half dozen left. If you want one, let me know or drop by Scheidt Hardware. When they are gone, there will not be anymore.
Enjoy our summer weather. It’s hot but there are no wildfires!
Doug Houser August 12. 2021
4 COMMENTS
Re: Sheriff’s Sale. Ned’s father (my second great grandfather) was a heavy alcoholic and a gambler. It is my understanding that he left the family in dire financial straits when he died. Charles squandered what had been a substantial estate.
Re: Sheriff’s Sale. Ned’s father (my second great grandfather) was a heavy alcoholic and a gambler. It is my understanding that he left the family in dire financial straits when he died. Charles squandered what had been a substantial estate.
Thank you so much, Doug. All fascinating. Ned’s brother, John, is my great grandfather.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome, Sue.