Happy Thanksgiving!

Bob Greenley, World War II,
Someplace in the South Pacific

Happy Thanksgiving! Along with my grandparent's trunks, I recently started looking through my father's World War II memorabilia. And I found this Thanksgiving Menu. And better yet, his writing on the back ... from 70 years ago. My father served in the South Pacific for more than two years.  The war ended Sept. 2, 1945. Because my father was one of the last to arrive with his unit in 1943, he was one of the last to leave. He traveled home on the USS Guam.

I hope every one's Thanksgiving "goes off very nicely".

My father on the far right.  

The Greenley story ...

The research I've done about the Greenley history goes back about 240 years to Yorkshire, England. George Greenley was born in 1775 in Yorkshire, England.  George married Ann Pashby, July 23, 1797. They had six children that lived to adulthood.  I know four of the children immigrated to Iowa. The six children were: Richard, George, Bella, John, Benjamin, and Joseph. Richard, George, John, and Benjamin all settled in Dubuque County, Iowa. Richard was the first to arrive in 1831. John and Benjamin came together (with families) in 1838.  George arrived later (after the Civil War).

Flixton/Folkton, Yorkshire, England

The Greenleys who are reading this blog, are descended from John. John(age 33) and his wife Alley Jane (Dobson)(age 32) arrived in the United States July 18, 1838 with their children Ann (8), Jane (7), George (6), Elisabeth (4) , Maria (2) and William (1).  Also traveling with them were Benjamin (John's brother) and his wife Mary.

John and Benjamin followed their brother, Richard, to Cottage Hill, Dubuque Co., Iowa:

John and Alley's youngest son, William, is our ancestor. William married Adeline Radford. They had seven children.

Ellsworth Elmer Greenley 1864–1918

Elliott Eugene Greenley 1866–1928

Emma Ellen Greenley 1868–1936

Ervin Edwin Greenley 1870–1955

Duella Eliza Greenley 1872–1949

Alvin Watson Greenley 1874–1960

John Wilmer Greenley 1876–1955

Here is one of the photographs I recently received from Aunt Mary.  There are many professional photographs with a beautiful album that belonged to Ellsworth. Some of the photographs have "Greenley Photography" imprinted on the matte.  I went searching for a photographer in the census records,  and found in the 1900 census,  John W. lists his job as "Photographer."  I am working on scanning the photos for the next blog entry.

Top Row: Ellsworth, Emma, Elliot, Duella, John
Seated: Ervin, William, Adeline, Alvin