Francis Frank RADEL

Notes:

                        The story of Anna Jane Law

    Anna Jane Law was born 8 May 1857 at Norristown Pennsylvania.  Her father was Joseph Davis Law.  Her mother was Nancy Ellen Hayes.  She was the oldest of nine children.  Her brothers and sisters were:  William Ervin, Joseph Davis, Emma Margaret, Nancy Ellen, Cora Elizabeth, Jamers Wallace, Matthew Lee, and George Washington.
    Francis (Frank) Radel age 37, a civil war veteran, proposed to her on horseback.  They were married May 13, 1877, at Stanberry, Gentry, Missouri, by Esq. Buttler. (The official marriage record was lost when the court house at Albany, Missouri burned.)  She was 22 when she married.  She was a Baptist, but not active.  
    They lived in Missouri where four of their six children were born.  They moved from Missouri to Nebraska in 1886, to homestead a large dry farm west of Wallace.  Corn was their main crop and they had lots of pasture land.
    Many times Anna rode to town on horseback to do her trading, carrying two children on the horse and also a basket of eggs.
    On this farm was a lagoon where they watered the cattle.  Rattlesnakes came to the tak.  George killed as many as seventy snakes in a day.  One day tragedy struck when Frank Edward, age five, was bitten by a rattler and died.  It must have veen madding for Anna to warch the poison spread through his body and know she was helpless to save her son.  At age 98 she recalled this as reporters were inter viewing her.
    This article from the newspaper shows how Anna Jane loved to have family and friends:  A crowd of friends and relatives gathered at the home of Mr and Mrs. Frank Radel and all proceede to enjoh themselves until noon when a fine dinner was served by Mrs. Radel.  After dinner the guests were led to a room where a surprise awaited them, in the form of a Christmas Tree and Santa Claus.  The tree held many presents for those present and everyone received something.  The guests departed to their homes thinking they had had a very pleasant time.
    Since her birthday and Mother's Day were so close to each other it was a family tradition to gather and honor their mother with a buffet dinner served at noon a custom here for as long as anyone can remember.  Anna looked forward to this time when she could be sith her friends and family, many made special trips from long distances to be there.
    Her husband Frank passed away in 1918 and she lived alone since his death.  She was the mother of six children:  George W., Clara Ellen, Lizzie Lucretia, Joseph Martin, Anna Rosena, Frank Edward.
     She loved to work in her garden and raised chickens until she was 90.  At age 97 she was the oldest resident of the Wallace community.  She was alert and enjoyed remarkably good health.  Every day she would dress herself and care for herself and when the weather was warm she could be seen in her yard.  She spent most of her time sitting in her favorite rocking chair.  She was heavy through the hips and got her chair really rocking to get out.  She ate pork meat every morning for breakfast.
    Leta, her grand                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     aughter tells of visiting Grandma Radel.  She was in her garden.  Her knees were stiff and it was hard for her to get around.  Buck Leta's husband offered to put up her hoe, but she wouldn't let him as she always got a knife and cleaned her hoe before she put it away.  She was very particular.
    At age 98, she was still taking care of herself, but had a lady living with her to do the housework.
    She died Aug. 18 at her home at age 99.  Funeral services were held in the Methodist Chruch.  She was buried in the Wallace Cemetery.
    Her obituary stated that she had a happy disposition, her home life was ideal and she will be remembered for her warmth and hospitality.  She had an intense love for home and family.

FGR: in possion of Debra Scott.; records includes pennsion,military,
        and news paper articles;

ORD: Batch 7205329, Sheet 43, Film 820212;