This weekend I talked to a few of you about the Eckersell Family research project. Just like Uncle Berry's history, there are lots of photos, a few documents and some history and time lines which we have compiled over the years.
Mike and I are hesitant about making a family book to sell again since it involves reams of paper and would be about $50.00 per unit. Then there's the hassel of collecting money and delivering the books. The Eckersell info amounts to about three times as much as the Berry research - I have 4 binders and a tote full of information.
We feel dispersing the photos and info is so important to others also doing research, so we've decided to try a "Blog Book" format. We're making this up as we go, so if you have any good ideas to improve the project or add material to it please email us at kkhamblin@gmail.com. !
With our "Blog Book" you are free to copy what you want for your own records. You can take the raw photos and trim, enhance or edit them in Photoshop then place them in a Word document just the way you like. All we ask is that the credit line and date be included on the time lines and stories written by us. That way folks will know when the info was generated and who to blame for mistakes. Thanks to technology, Family Group sheets are available from the Family search programs on line, so accessing those documents shouldn't be hard and they're all ready typed! Thank you computers! The "Blog Book" will help you know where more research needs done, then you can pull out the old paper and pencil.
The majority of photos and documents came from the Eckersell house after Uncle Berry passed away. Four generations lived in the red brick home before the flood and these are the photos left there after each generation passed on. They might not be the best photo of any individual, but they are what we have on our side of the family. We've worked with Bill and Dorothy to identify most of the photos. We're grateful for all their help and advice.
If you have a better photo, please scan it and email it to the "Blog Book" so we can include it. We will give you the credit line and a big thanks for helping bring the Eckersell history to life.
The plan is to highlight each generation with a chapter as we travel back into history. We'll share the experiences of Immigrants, Pioneers, early Americans, poverty, wealth, happiness and sorrow.
Since Uncle Berry is all ready on the blog, let's say Chapter #1 deals with Berry and his sisters Dorothy, Charlene and Maridawn. If you read his history you will see we have mentioned the girls a little all ready. For the sake of privacy we'll let Charlene and Maridawns' families volunteer what information they would like to have included. Mom will tell us what she wants included. We'll have pictures of the girls in Chapter 2, History of Wilford.
So here's the tentative outline for the first section:
Chapter 1: Dorothy, Charlene, Maridawn and Berry
Chapter 2: Wilford and Cora
Chapter 3: James McPhail Eckersell and wife, Diana Taylor (touching briefly on their children other than Wilford)
Chapter 4: James Eckersell and wife, Henrietta McPhail
Chapter 5: Adam Eckersell and wife, Hannah Burrows
Filling the water barrels must have been one of his jobs when he worked for the Woods Livestock Company. Wilford started working for them about 1919. This series of pictures has Camas written on it. Spencer, Idaho and Redrock, Montana are addresses written in his little account book. The photos are in black and white, but scanned in on the pinkish side. 
Left to Right: Small children by side of wagon are Med Simmons and Wilford Eckersell. With bicycle :Jesse Nelson and Dale Turman. 2nd Wagon: Roy Simmons and Howard Eckersell, 1st Wagon: Jack Eckersell, Joe Beesley, Bill Eckersell on box and James Eckersell on horse. First wagon has Jack Eckersell and Joe Beesley with Bill Eckersell on the box. Names are spelled according to caption found on back of photograph from Wilford Eckersell Collection.
Wilford his father and brothers stacking hay south of Rexburg where the radio station was in the 1940's and 50's. Can anyone tell us what street location that would be now?
Wilford and his brothers and sisters about 1902 prior to May's death
Wilford looks about 12 in this photo, so it may have been taken about 1906 or so. The school postcard, marketed by H. D. Dodge, has a complete list of the kids in pencil on the back and some are labeled on the front. There is the same doorway as in Photo #1. Students look a little older don't they? Thirty six students as opposed to the 27 in Photo #1. Also look at the students' height both in relation to the school teachers on the back row of each photo and the number of rock layers (7 as opposed to 5 in Photo #1). Also, there must be a story behind the gloves on James in the front row. 
Back of this picture is labeled "Wilford E School Picture" .
