An Irish-Catholic Tale, Part II

While CT wandered the country to escape the piety of his solemn wife, Mary Agnes raised their two children alone in Venice, California. (Editor's Note: After yesterday's post, Uncle Terry gave insight as to why CT married Mary Agnes. He heard she had $3000! That was a lot of money back then, but CT never saw a dime.)

I don't have the identity of the standing woman with the white blouse, but Mary Agnes is seated. Helen is the little girl, and the little boy who looks like the Dutch Boy who stuck his finger in the dike is Chester Cornelius. Thankfully, he went by the name of Chet.

It's unknown what guidance was given to Chet by his absentee father. Chet was a true handyman and quickly became a "Jack of all trades."
Chet in is bus driving outfit. I love the angle of his cap and his change dispenser.


Chet in his snazzy car. My own father could tell you the model and make simply by looking at the front of it. Unfortunately, Dad's in Arkansas and can't answer that question for me.



This picture would later become an ironic joke in the family. It's Chet. That's all I'll say for now.


Chet painting an automobile. As a painter's wife, I can't help but cringe when I notice he didn't mask off the windows.

Chet loved to pal around with his friend, Matt U. He and Matt took the ultimate road trip when they were in their early twenties. They traveled by car together across the country in 1925-26, stopping to work for a while in Houston, Texas, and then moving on to Bibbing, Minnesota to visit some of Matt's siblings.

According to Chet's journal, they had a pretty good time, along with some challenging adventures, as only bachelors in their early twenties can. They lived for a while with Chet's Aunt Kate, but were forced to move to a boarding house after she got tired of their late hours. Drinking and partying was the thing to do in the Roaring Twenties!

They stayed a whole year in Milwaukee, then Chet bought a 1923 Ford before they headed back to Los Angeles. It was time to get back to the family, and Matt's family was a big one of lots of brothers and sisters.

In fact, Matt had six sisters. But only one of them was named Rosie.

*Please note: All information is taken from conversations over the years. Information is also taken from emails and background biographies from Aunt Mary Ann. Any errors are mine alone! :-)