Albert B. Cleage was born in Tennessee in 1884. He moved to Indianapolis, IN in 1909 to attend Medical School. There he met and married Pearl Reed, who was born in Kentucky and came to Indianapolis as a small child. Soon after the birth of my father in 1911, the family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where my grandfather became the first black physician. After several years, they moved to Detroit.
In 1920 they bought a large brick house on the corner of Scotten and Moore Place on Detroit’s Old Westside. By 1925 they were the parents of seven children, my father Albert (14), Louis (12), Henry (9), Hugh (7), Barbara (5) Gladys (3), and baby Anna born in January of that year.
My grandfather’s medical office was several blocks away at 4334 McGraw. He and Dr. Grimes, a dentist, shared the space. My grandmother had plenty to do at home with seven children and didn’t work outside the home after she married.
My father, Albert Jr with his eighth grade class at Wingert Elementary school. The school was a block from their house. Henry, Hugh, Louis and Barbara were also students at Wingert in 1925.
Two of Albert’s siblings, Jacob and Henry, and their families plus his mother Celia were also living in Detroit by 1925. They lived within walking distance of each other. My great grandmother Celia lived with my grandfather. His sister Josephine still lived in Indianapolis. His brother Ed remained in Athens, Tennessee and died there the following year.
They were members of St. John’s Presbyterian church, where Albert and Pearl had been founding members. They had a car which Albert used for work. They took trips both in Michigan and to Indianapolis and Athens to visit family.
Saw the prompt to write about the lives of your family 100 years ago. Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
This is fantastic! Now I’m thinking about 100 years ago of my roots. Need to check out Saturday Night Genealogy Fun too!
This week asks if your grandparents knew their grandparents.
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun — Did Your Grandparents Know Their Grandparents?
As always, your pictorial history is second to none.
I’m so lucky to have so many photographs.
Hi Kristin – you are achieving loads via your researches … my uncle did ours for his father and his mother – going back into the 1800s – I’ve the record, and have looked at the various business connections, but as I have no children (nor do my brothers) I haven’t worried to go further … I gather ‘guess’ enough and I don’t write about them. Good for you – cheers Hilary
I do have children and grandchildren, but I mainly do it because I want to know more and more and then more. I even find myself curious about people not related to me and researching them because they had some tie to my family. Or sometimes not even that.
Another great story of your impressive family! I love the range of photos of the family as well as the places where they lived and worked. I did smile at your response above. We seem to suffer from a similar affliction – getting intrigued by unrelated connections. You re leaving an amazing legacy for your descendants.
I find all the stories intriguing!