Claude
Claude Melvin Greek (1885-1945)
Claude was born on July 22, 1885, At that time his parents John Henry Greek (1855-1919) and Mary Elizabeth (Williford) Greek (1857-1933) were living on a farm near the village of Princeton in Gibson County, Indiana.
Family of John Henry Greek and Mary Elizabeth (Williford) Greek
Claude as a toddler.
Family of my great-grandparents John Henry Greek (1855-1919) and Mary Elizabeth (Williford) Greek (1857-1933) taken at their farm in Princeton, Indiana, at about 1887.
From L to R: Charlie; John Henry; Dave; Mont; Claude; Mabel; Mary Elizabeth
John Henry and Mary Elizabeth had three children that died in childhood:
Elbert Floyd (1888); Clyde (1890); and, Maude (1894)
I don't have any photos or information about Claude in his childhood and school years.
In his late teens he worked in the car barns of the Southern Railway in Princeton, IN.
He worked as a carpenter repairing damaged freight and passenger cars.
It was reported that he suffered from iron filings in his eyes
(no OSHA in those days) that caused him to suffer for years
painful ulcers in his eyes.
Claude as a young adult (Teen?)
Claude (on right) with his brother Dave.
Claude and Mayme's wedding photo.
Claude and Mayme at their home in Princeton, IN, around 1906
Claude Greek's family. Photo taken in Moreno, CA, at about 1910.
Back row from L to R: Claude; John Fremont (Mont) (1891-1960); John Henry;
David Bruce (Dave) (1887-1933); and, Charles Williford (Charlie)(1884-1929).
Front row: Mayme holding son Clarence (Bud) (1910-1988);
Carletta Margret (Colette) (Sister Mary Luke, O.P.) (1909-1927);
Mary Elizabeth holding Irene Cecilia (Sister Colette, O.P.) (1909-2000).
Claude and Mayme moved to Riverside, CA, with three children in about 1910. At that time Riverside was the orange capital of the country. Claude got a job working as a horse wrangler taking care of the horses used to haul the orange crops.
Greek Family at the Beach (Probably Newport)
Greek Family at the Beach (probably Newport)
Claude is on the left. Picture was taken at about 1917
Claude and Mayme's Children at their
orange grove ranch in Highgrove, CA
The Greek children at the orange grove ranch in Highgrove (Riverside), CA, circa early 1918. L to R: Clarence (Bud) (1910-1988); Carletta (Colette) (1907-1929);, Raymond Bernard (Ray) (1916-2001); Irene Cecilia (1909-2000); Alice Marie (1912-2002).
Alice's leg is supported by a brace: she was stricken by infantile polio at the age of two.
Claude and Mayme had 4 additional children: Richard F (Dickey) (1918-1921); Roland Edwin (1921-2008); William Leonard (Bill) (1923-1971); and, John Melvin (Jack) (1928-1994).
Dickey died of ptomaine poisoning at the age of 2 eating from a can of Van Kamp's pork and beans.
Claude and Mayme With Some Family circa 1930
From L to R: Ray; Bill; Alice; Mayme in front of Jack; Rollie; Claude.
Claude and Mayme
I didn't have much contact with my Grandpa Claude as I was growing up. He did visit us when we were living in Los Angeles just before he died in 1945 at the age of 60.
One of the things I remember was being told his last job was that of a laborer on a road gang, probably in Riverside County.
Claude (right) with brother Mont (left) and sister Mabel next to her husband Roy Stoddard.
Claude and Mayme with granddaughter Sharon (Ray and Virginia's child) born in November, 1942.
Claude shortly before he died in 1945.
Claude's grave in Evergreen Cemetery, Riverside, CA.