Some excerpts from The Barbour Family 'Memory Book' from One Man's Family.
HENRY BARBOUR, born 1875. Married 1896. Father of Paul, Hazel, Clifford, Claudia, Jack. Founded the Henry Barbour Stock Brokerage House, 1912. With Henry - and partly from him - I learned what an important and stabilizing thing a family can be in this fast changing world. As he once said: "If we, by example, can in some small way further the desire in America for family tradition and family loyalty, we will have served a worthy purpose."
CLAUDIA BARBOUR, born August 1, 1912. Married on May 6, 1931 to John Roberts, Jr. (Deceased 1933). Daughter Joan born May 3, 1933. Claudia married Captain Nicholas Lacey, Bart., June 24, 1935. Divides her time between their home in San Francisco and the Sky Ranch, which Nicky bought in 1935.
PAUL BARBOUR, born June 4, 1897. Married June 1918 to Elaine Hunter (Deceased July 1918). Much of Paul's time away from the flying field is spent being a good father to Teddy, whom he adopted in the Summer of 1933.
CLIFFORD BARBOUR, born August 1, 1912. Twin brother of Claudia. Married Sept. 19, 1937 to Ann Waite (Deceased 1938). "J.D." born Oct. 16, 1938. Clifford entered his father's business August 10, 1934. When Clifford was in bed with a broken ankle last Spring, he said: "It's a good idea for people to be sick once is a while. It gives them a chance to slow down, and kind of get acquainted with their families." That's what gave me the idea of making this book - as a way of getting acquainted with some of the things about my family I had forgotten.
HAZEL BARBOUR, born March 11, 1900. Married William Herbert, May 7, 1932. Twin children Martin Henry ("Hank") and William Barbour ("Pinky") born January 30, 1933. Daughter Margaret born Aug. 2, 1936. When Hazel was a little girl. Father Barbour used to say: "Hmph! Won't that child ever be anything but all legs?" Now he admits she's one of the most gracious and courageous mothers he has ever known. Hazel herself says: "Naturally my chief interest is making a wellrounded home for Hank and Pink and Margaret. Beyond that I ask very little... simplicity, a little pleasure and a great deal of pleasant contact with the family."
JACK BARBOUR, born January 13, 1917. Married Betty Carter, Deo. 18, 1936. Jack says: "Betty's the swellest wife a guy could have" - and Betty says: "Being married to Jack is more fun than I ever had in all my life." Jack and Betty have been married over three years now - and I've learned this from both of them: that when young people of the newer generation decide to marry, they try with everything that's in them to make their relationship solid and honest. They seem to see in marriage and a home not only something pleasant and exciting in itself - but one of the few sure, stable institutions that are left them in this changing and uncertain world. Claudia says: "Betty's a pretty wise young wife... When she calls Jack 'My great big wonderful man' he does ex¬ actly as she wants him to. Even Jack admits: 'The reason Betty and I get on so well is she goes her way - and I go with her' ."
NICHOLAS LACEY, born London, England, Oct. 6, 1907. Husband of Claudia, and' father of Penelope. Nicholas deserves a full page in this book. ..because I have learned from him that a son-in-law can be so generous and considerate, so open-hearted, that he wins his way into the heart of the family. As Nicky himself says: "Joining a new family's like reading a good book - with something new and interesting on every page." Nicky married Claudia June 24, 1935, at our home in Sea Cliff, with Clifford as best man. When Nicky went to get the license, they asked him if he was looking for a hunting license and he said: "No, the hunting is over. I want a license to marry the girl I've found."
In the Summer of 1935, Nicky bought the Sky Ranch where he raises thoroughbred horses, and where he and Claudia and the children spend their Summers and a lot of weekends. Here is a snapshot of Claudia beside the swimming pool they built last Summer. The whole ranch covers 400 acres - and much of it is woodland.
FANNY BARBOUR, born 1878, married 1896. Voted by the Barbours the most loving, tolerant, and kindly mother that they ever had. Knowing her generous nature, perhaps the best we children could wish for her is what she wished for herself - when she said, just a little while ago: "All I ask or hope for the years ahead is a repetition of all the good years that lie behind me. I have your father and I have you children. What more could any woman ask? I will find strength in Hazel's strength, anticipation in Claudia and Nicky's anticipation, and pleasure in Clifford's pleasure. I will find food for thought in Paul's reflective nature, and I will find youth and the excitement of being alive in Jack and Betty's new found happiness. Mine will be a future running over with good things. "
By
Paul Raven ·
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