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| Notes for James Mathew Beyer |
According to the 1920 census, James Beyer lived at 701 Canton Street, Harrisburg in 1920. He appears to list his occupation as "Foreman Building" Wife Mary is 32, Daughter Mary is 7, and son Edwin is 5. Robert Beyer is not yet listed. Census must have been taken very early in year, since things changed dramatically at the end of January and beginning of February.46
A story my father (Robert Beyer) told about his father. His father was apparently christened Jacob. In his early teens he confided in a priest that he no longer liked the name. My guess is that in turn of the century America he found it too Germanic. The priest said words to this effect. "Well, in the bible, Jacobus is the same thing as James. So your name could also be considered to be James."So the boy went home and announcede that from now on he wanted to be called James.
His fatehr Philip came home for dinner, and at the table that night, one of the boy's aunts (presumably one of Philip Beyer's sisters) turned to the boy and said "Jakey, pass the salt." He didn't move a muscle. "I said Jakey, pass the salt." No response. The aunt turned to Phillip, and said: "Your son is ignoring me." Philip turned to the boy and asked him why he wasn't responding. "My name isn't Jakob any more. It's James." Silence came over the table as everyone awaited an explosion from the family patriarch. A moment turned into 2 or 3. THen Philip turned to his sister and said: "The boy says his name is James." And from then it was.47 |
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