Joe retrieved an April '05 e-mail from Margaret ["Mag"] about Grandad Madden's sisters and forwarded it with his comments today:

[Mag entitled her email "the more I fish the bigger the fish"

"A portion of the message lists Denzil Sanford Madden, b. 1-22-1872 in Olney, IL d. 2-6-1942 in Hardy, AR. Denzil's brothers & sisters were Harve Madden, Springfield, MO. Neil Madden, Illinois, Christy (Madden) Woolridge, Thayer, MO., Lily (Madden) Angelos, Mattie (Madden) Sedalia, MO., Carrie (Madden) Springfield, MO., Goldie (Madden), Denver, Co., and Springfield, MO., Bell (Madden) no info given, Josephine, who died young."

"Sue found this photo of Irene Browning, 1837 Grant Street, Denver, CO." From a recent Blog.

Remember the old saying. "The waitresses must get their food free, they are all fat? I believe it must have been Lily Madden Angelos or her husband Nick? who said that when we took them to the bus station in Marshfield to catch the bus back home, after attending Granddad's funeral services?

The Irene Browning, l827 Grant Street, Denver, CO is not mentioned in the long email but it could be a daughter of Goldie (Madden)?

I will make a hard copy of this & keep it in my family tree folder.

Bro Joe]

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Rose and I were sorting through photos and kept finding ones of Nick Angelo, an intriguing name and an interesting face. Now we know, from Margaret and Joe, that he must have been our grandfather's brother-in-law. That would make him our great uncle. We'll post more of these old photos when we have time.

Rose remembers that when Grandad Madden was ill, shortly before he died, some unknown relatives visited. They prayed over him, and some prayed in an 'unknown tongue.' This was the explanation later to the awe-struck Catholic Rose who was astonished at the display. These relatives were probably some of Grandad's siblings or their offspring?

All this family history will add a great deal to our 100th birthday gathering next year. Someone more knowledgeable than we are will have to sort out this who's who of Madden/Felin/Lafoe/Stone lineage.

In other news, Donald called yesterday. He and Vita plan to spend the Christmas Holiday with their daughters and their families.

Shirley has been in her Christmas baking mode. She makes delicious goodies that are supposed to be fruit cakes. However, she makes them without the fruit and with lots of nuts and whiskey. We are left not knowing what to call them (everything we come up with sounds pretty awful) but enjoying it anyway.

I spent a good part of yesterday with my son Christopher. We shopped, ran errands, oversaw some work we are having done on the Oakland House, and ate. He is one pleasant young man to spend time with. Rose and I made a rash deal with him that we would pay $10/pound for any weight loss. (This was back when losing weight was just a plan.) The deal has cost both of us dearly. And he is still losing!

Mark and Karen dropped in last night. They and their young adult offspring are headed to Vail, CO, for a week of skiing on January 1.