John Luther and Julia (Hasstedt) McGinnis Family - McGINNIS | Hasstedt

I wanted to share one of my favorite older family photos. This one is for my Hasstedt/McGinnis family, though you may well have seen this photo before. ​

John Luther McGinnis and Julia Margaret Hasstedt are here with their five oldest children. In the back is my great grandmother, Grace Edith McGinnis. The four boys are Grant, Loyd, Virgil, and Martin. Julia may well have been pregnant with the next child - there would eventually be nine!

At the time of this picture they lived in Sheridan County, Kansas near Grainfield.

Julia's parents, Jacob Hasstedt and Julia Katherine Henning were both immigrants from Germany. They spoke both German and English in their household, but the younger Julia only spoke English with her children. In fact, I was told a story about how Julia's brother, Rudolph (Rudy) would often speak in German with Grace and teasingly rib her for not understanding it.

I just love Julia's Edwardian pompadour. And Grace's careful ringlet curls. And Virgil's baby blond curls. It may be difficult to tell here, but John has blue eyes and was tall - according to his 1918 draft card. He worked as a mechanic for a time but eventually took a position as janitor at the Ordway School. He was apparently much beloved.