As a child of 9 years old, he went to work full time in coal mines because his father died in the mines.
Grandpa had 9 children. He was quite the entrepreneur, owning several businesses in his small Missouri town. A coal mine, a restaurant, a barbershop...
This picture was taken before he got married at age 20. Do the math - before 1909! He and a friend donned their best clothes for the shoot. I believe he worked in Colorado awhile as a single man. This photo may have been taken there. Don't you love it!
