LENA MAY WESTLAKE | THE WESTLAKE LINE
Lena May Westlake was a religious person, strict about honesty, anti-communist, believed in a conservative government, and worried about being in debt. She was the nurse and doctor for those of the family who might be sick. With the aid of a kit of medication and a “doctor book”, she saw to it that her family was taken care of. She appreciated small favors given her by the family. She thought al children should be big eaters and should use the energy thus gained toward constructive projects. A miniature golf course was constructed in the back yard in preparation for a birthday party, a worthy project.
Clarence Palmer held to the teachings of his father , George Bowman, and together they did strive to teach their children the principles given them. Strong on their ideas of politics and community involvement, they were active in many things.
When Grandpa Palmer visited from Ohio, Clarence took him to see Dry Lake. As the horse nad buggy came up over the ridge of the hill, there lay the lake before them. Clarence laid the whip on the horse and it took off at a fast gallop. Grandpa grabbed the sides of the buggy and yelled, “Clarence, ye dern fool, you’ll mire us down!”. So Clarence had his moment at Dry Lake which was indeed, just that, DRY. This too is our heritage: humor is as important as the other facets of life and we are grateful for parents who showed us how to enjoy life.
Lena May was a good cook, mindful of the source of all good things to eat and not be wasteful. She could cook up a tasty breakfast on a regular basis and also fix a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas feast fit for a king. Most of the food came from the farm itself: canned, preserved, dried, butchered, cured, smoked, rendered or processed in any way to feed the family.
She also cooked with particular people in mind and if you visited you were sure to find your favorite dish on the table.
At Easter time Lena made Easter baskets for each grandchild and prepared an egg hunt at the park. Christmas saw presents made for each one especially from Grandma. Seeing to other people’s wants and wishes was her goal in life.
Benjamin Harvey Westlake
born 27 March 11855 in DeKalb, DeKalb, Illinois
son of David Bond Westlake and Catherine Ann DuBois
married Rhoda Wood 14 Nov 111875 in Illinois
Rhoda born 3 Nov 1855
Daughter of David Wood and Ruth Carey
Children:
Hiram David Westlake born 12 May 1874, Illinois
Died 113 Feb 1940
Played the French Horn in the Philharmonic Orchestra
Lived in New York
Married
Gilbert Arthus Westlake born 1 Nov 1877 in Illinois
Died
Married
Children:
Glen, superintendent of schools in Chicago
Married Grace
Wesley, Wesley and father, Gilbert, had a feed store and Case tractor dealership store
Benjamin, all American basketball player for Illinois
Mabel Catherine Westlake born 3 Aug 1879 in Illinois
Charlotte Ann Westlake born 17 June 1882 in Illinois
Ethel Elizabeth Westlake born 24 Feb 1884 in Illinois
Died in DeKalb, DeKalb, Illinois
Lena May Westlake born 14 March 1886 in Sycamore, DeKalb, Illinois
Died 2 Dc 1957 in Newberg, Yamhill, Oregon
Married Clarence Leslie Palmer 9 Nov in DeKalb, Illinois
Children:
Mabel
George
John
Robert
Clarence, Jr
Portia
Ethel Maud West;ake bprm 21 April 1896 in De Kalb, Illinois
Died