Great-grandmother

The 76 year old Emma (Handeyside) Raymo and two of her great-grandchildren, Janice Bills and Ann Bills

Wayne, 1929

Next up: The old seat

Letters from Emma

After the tragedy of Arthur's death, his family received two letters from his 73 year old mother, Emma (Handeyside) Raymo. This first letter was written after Emma received word of Arthur's accident, but before he succumbed to his injury later that day:

Mar 19, Wayne, Mich.

My dear ones, one and all. Your message received and am so sorry to hear such sad news. But you will have to forgive any absence for I feel too poorly to make the trip, but Ralph, Fannie and Hazel will leave Detroit on the 11:15 tonight. They will be there before this letter does. I have been sick, not out of the house for six weeks. Not very good yet but my prayers will be for my son and your dear daddy that he shortly will be better and be restored to you all. May God bless you all. My sorrow is pretty near greater than I can bear, but I shall hope and trust to hear better news. From Grandma to all, Emma Raymo.  

Charlotte, my dear, I can't express my sorrow.

Once Emma learned the news of her youngest son's death, she wrote this letter:

Mar 20, 1926

My dear ones all. Just a few lines to tell you of mine and your sorrow. To think such terrible things can happen and how sorry that I am not able to be with you to help one and other, to help bear it together. But you, his dear children, help your dear mother to bear her grief. Be good and patient with her. Every one of you must help her to be brave and I will surely try to think and you will all be good and put your trust in God. My folks, Ralph, Fannie and I hope Hazel will be with you before you get this. My heart is too full to think so good morning. Love to all. Tell Uncle Ralph and Aunt Fannie, Melvin rested very good last night and is lots better this morning. Charlotte, do try and write to me when you get so you can and please don't forget.

From Grandma, who loved your daddy and loves his family. This is a sad thing to happen but I hoped your first message might prove too serious, but not so. Love to all.

Note: Ralph and Hazel were Arthur's siblings. Fannie (Norris) was Ralph's wife. Melvin (Raymo) was the son of Ralph and Fannie.

Grandmother, Uncles, Aunt and Cousins

The Raymo family matriarch in 1925 was Theodore's widow Emma (Handeyside) Raymo, photographed here at the age of 72. She is joined by, from left to right, her grandson Arthur J. Raymo, daughter Hazel (Raymo) Krumm, son Ralph Raymo, brother (uncertain?) John Handeyside, granddaughter Evelyn B. Krumm and son-in-law William C. Krumm.

NOTE: I had previously identified the unknown elderly gentleman as Emma's brother-in-law Owen M. Raymo, a druggist who lived in Nankin, Michigan. Upon further reflection, I believe it is more likely to be Emma's older brother John Handeyside (1846-1939). After Emma was widowed, she lived in Nankin in the home of her older brother John. The gentleman here appears to have a greater resemblance to Emma than Theodore. In 1925, John would have been 79 years old.

FURTHER NOTE: Examining this photograph more closely, it appears that John Handeyside is sporting a Freemason's pin on his watch fob, and William appears to have a Kiwanis Club belt buckle.

The Extended Family

The Raymo & Krumm Families, Chattanooga 1920

From left to right:

Arthur E. Raymo, Roger D. Raymo, Hazel Raymo Krumm, Emma Handeyside Raymo, Evelyn B. Krumm, Charlotte A. Raymo, Chester T. Raymo, William C. Krumm (Hazel's husband), Unknown Gentleman, Arthur J. Raymo

I don't know who the older gentleman on the right is, but I can make an educated guess. He may be Owen M. Raymo, brother to Theodore Raymo and Arthur E. Raymo's uncle. Owen lived in Nankin, Michigan and conceivably could have accompanied the widow Emma Handeyside and the Krumms on their visit to Chattanooga in 1920. He would have been 66 years old at that time.

The Kids

The four children of Arthur and Margaret Raymo with their grandmother Emma Handeyside, Dearborn, Michigan, 1911.

A year later in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee -- Arthur, Chester, Roger and Charlotte.

Emma Visits

In 1913, Arthur's mother Emma Handeyside, the sixty year old widow of Theodore Raymo, visited her son and family in their new home in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.

Emma with Roger and Charlotte.

Emma with her son Arthur and grandchildren eating Cracker Jacks.

The Raymo Farm

This 1897 photograph in Nankin, Michigan shows Emma and Theodore Raymo with their entire family; all their children, their spouses, and grandchildren. Emma and Theodore are seated in front.

From left to right are:

1. Herbert Avery and wife Evalena Raymo with their two sons, Leland and Ray.
2. Hazel Raymo
3. William Ralph Raymo and his wife Fannie Norris
4. Arthur Elsworth Raymo
5. Charles Hayes and wife Nora Ann Raymo with son Theodore
6. Leslie Theodore Raymo with wife Edith Smith

The Raymo farmhouse was on a 120 acre parcel of land that was divided equally between Theodore and his brother Owen Raymo after their father Mitchell died.

In the 20th century the farmland was eventually all sold away and was subsumed by the creeping Detroit suburbia. The Township of Nankin became part of the city of Westland in 1966.

Here is, approximately, where the farmhouse stood today, as seen in Google Street View:


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Emma and Theodore

Arthur Elsworth Raymo's parents were Emma Handeyside and Theodore Raymo, shown here in a 1895 photograph. They were married on 20 March 1870, when Emma was only 17 years old and Theodore was 28.

Emma was the daughter of English immigrants, Rodger and Ann Handeyside from Yorkshire. Emma grew up on a farm down the road from the Raymo home in Nankin, Michigan.

Theodore was the son of Mitchell Raymo and his second wife Margaret Denniston. Theodore was descended from many generations of Québécois. He lived his whole life in Nankin, maintaining the family farm and also serving as a school teacher.

Together, Emma and Theodore raised six children:

1. Evalena Raymo (1871-1906)
2. William Ralph Raymo (1872-1951)
3. Nora Ann Raymo (1874-1907)
4. Leslie Theodore Raymo (1876-1932)
5. Arthur Elsworth Raymo (1880-1926)
6. Hazel E. Raymo (1886-1974)