Helfrich Siblings - abt 1930

Pictured are 6 of the 11 children of Jenny (Morgan) Helfrich Wessels. 

The names of her children are underlined. All others are either spouses or grandchildren.

Front-Back:

1st row: (grandchildren) Mary Frances Chambers, Wayne Forward, JoAnn Forward

2nd row: (grandchildren) June Standridge, Mildred Forward, Coral Chambers, Maxine Forward, Jean Forward, Dula Forward, Charles Forward, Hope Chambers, Wallace Standridge

3rd row: Dorothy Davis Brunson, Ann Helfrich Forward, Deloris Webber, Tony Helfrich, Tena Helfrich Standridge holding MaryJo Standridge (granddaughter), Kay Standridge, Gertie Helfrich Chambers, Glenn Forward, Bob Chambers, Henry Helfrich

Charles Lee Forward - Abt 1945/1946

This photo was taken about 1945 - don't know the exact date when Charles joined the Army but it was after the end of WWII. He tried to enlist during the war but the doctor told him that he had a heart murmur and would not pass him at that time. Also pictured are sisters, JoAnn (about 16) and Dula (about 21) *The girls look much younger than those ages so I will verify these dates with Charles and correct as necessary. This was taken at the "North Farm" where Glenn, Ann and JoAnn lived before moving to town (Hugoton). It is the present home of Wayne and MaryAnn Forward.

**If anyone has any additional information or corrections to the above, please let me know.

Kansas Cousins

Front: JoAnn Forward, Mary Frances Chanbers, Mary Jo Standridge
Back: Wallace Standrige, Charles Forward, Wayne Forward

Can you imagine trying to keep kids clean when all they have is the dirt to play in?! 

And no washers and dryers - just scrub boards, raw knuckles and clotheslines. 

I hope they had a bath more often than just Saturday night.

The Cousin Line-up:

Front to Back: JoAnn Forward, Mary Jo Standrige, Mary Frances Chambers, Wallace Standridge, Wayne Forward, Charles Forward, June Standridge, Dula Forward, Hope Chambers, Jean Forward, Maxine Forward, Mildred Forward, Coral Chambers.

My Sweet Parents

JoAnn Forward and Bobby Sessler have been Sweethearts since 8th grade (1942/1943). Here they are as High School Seniors (1946/1947). They married June 1, 1948 and celebrated their 62nd anniversary this year (2010). They are still just as in love as they were in these photos. No - scratch that - they are MORE in love than they were in these photos.

Sweethearts ~ 1946/1947

JoAnn Forward and Bobby Sessler

Uncle Mike ~ Home from the Navy

I'm not sure which photo came first but they were both taken in the winter time - notice snow in the first and heavy coats in the second. Uncle Mike was either leaving for the Navy or home on leave. Greg doesn't look much older in either photo. I'm guess-timating that he was around 2 years old so these photos would have been taken in/around 1952/53 

Dave, Mike, Greg, Grandma Sessler, Betty, Bobby

Dad (Bob), Greg, Uncle Mike, Uncle Dave Sessler

Sessler Family ~ June 1964

June 1964 ~ Amarillo Texas 

Grandpa and Grandma Sessler, Uncle Harry, Aunt Betty and cousin Carol Faye drove down from Hugoton, Kansas to see Uncle Dave, Aunt Ann, Debbie, Susie and baby David who were visiting us from Phoenix, AZ.

(l-r) Betty Sessler Tackett, Harry Sessler, Beulah Sessler holding Carol Faye Tackett, Dave Sessler, Warren Sessler holding baby David, Debbie Sessler, Susie Sessler (in front), JoAnn Forward Sessler, and me - Connie Sessler Miles

(l-r): Grandma Beulah Sessler, Susie Sessler (2), Grandpa Warren Sessler holding David Sessler (1), Debbie Sessler (4)

Forward Kids - Horseback

Charles, Wayne and JoAnn (holding her little dog) atop their beautiful farm horse. Mildred and Dula are in the shed and little cousin Dale Newman is standing behind. Notice someone in army boots is standing behind the horse, probably making sure the little ones don't fall off.

My Favorite Photos of Grandma & Grandpa Forward

This is my favorite photo of my grandparents, Glenn and Ann Forward. It is fun, natural, spontaneous and THEM! It's as though we've caught a little glimpse of affection between them as they are going about their own separate chores. I just love it!!

And this is another favorite. All dressed up and (probably) headed to church or a VFW banquet or maybe someone's wedding. (Maybe Mildred or Jean can fill in the blanks here.) I believe this was taken in front of their home in town - Hugoton, Kansas.


Note: I found another copy of this photo and on the back was written: "was taken after Nellie (Coulter) French funeral".

Forward Kids - A Photo Restoration

These wonderful old photos are deteriorating at rapid speed. The only way to preserve them is by scanning and digital restoration. I love this photograph of the Forward Kids in front of their (shed/garage -- it may have been called something else??) However, the photo was faded, torn and spotted. Here is the scanned original . . .

. . . and after restoration.

Pictured: Charles, Wayne and Dale Newman (cousin) on the horse (what was the name of the horse?)

JoAnn, Mildred, Maxine, Jean and Dula

Glenn Forward - Army Induction

Glenn Forward served as a truck and jeep driver in the Army during World War I.  This photo was taken on the day he was inducted into service. I don't think Glenn and Ann had been married long when he left for his military training.


Note: I love Grandmother's dress and striped stockings. She was a fashionable lady!

Glenn Forward and his "war buddies" - photo taken at the Hugoton Kansas Train Depot on the day of their induction into the United States Armed Forces. 

Note: I would love to know what is the significance of the sack hanging around their necks and what it is that they are holding in their hands. I am impressed that Grandpa is dressed so well as compared to some of the others. He took pride in his appearance.

The Wedding of Anna Helfrich and Glenn Forward

Glenn Forward (23) and Ann Helfrich(19.5)
on their Wedding Day~16 June 1918

Anna Helena Helfrich on her Wedding Day
(click on photos for larger view)

The Wedding of Anna Helfrich and Glenn Forward,
16 June 1918

back-front (l-r): Mrs. Jim Keefer, Harry Patterson, Dolly Hampton, Mrs Easter
Frances Helfrich, Anna Helfrich, Glenn Forward, Gertrude Helfrich
(middle) Deloris and Barbara (Helfrich) Webber
(sitting) Glenis McCoy, Ines Blow, F. Ray Easter, Hazel Hampton, Georgia Helfrich, Gladys McCoy

The Forward Kids - 1938

~1938~

These are the seven children of Glenn and Ann (Helfrich) Forward. I don't know the date of this photo for sure but guess-timated how old JoAnn looks and went from there. (Jean said she was 16 in this photo so that makes it 1938.) 


I love how everyone is in order by height - not age - and this same line-up is carried out through the years but with Mildred and Maxine (the oldest) moving down in the line as younger siblings passed them in height. I find it humorous that Charles' hat is sitting on the shrub behind him. I can almost hear his mother tell him to take off his hat. And even though he did - it is still in the picture. This photo was taken at their farm near Hugoton, Kansas.

A Blast From The Past - 1959

~June 1959~

This is a photograph of Grandpa (Glenn) Forward and his granddaughter, Mila Jean Hughes, daughter of Dula (Forward) and Jim Hughes. They were riding on Grandpa's tractor mower at his home in Hugoton, Kansas. What a little cutie Mila was at age 14 months.

Hugoton High School Football 1943-1947

Hugoton High School Football Team

1943-1944

1st Row (l-r): Kenneth Greenwood, 11-Vernon Parsons, 42-Lynn Taylor, 36-Johnnie Fulkerson, 37-Bobby Sessler, 33-Junior Brown, 31-Bill Warner, Coach Frank Mannott

2nd Row (l-r): 77-? Quattlebum, 55-Paul Nix, 40-Dean Anderson, Principal Siemens, 34-Vernie Betsworth, 23-Jack Barber, 41-Wade Greenwood

3rd Row (l-r): 35-Don Hardy, 43-Fred Horton, 30-Harry Sessler, 32-Gene Hardy, 38-Harry Forsythe, 39-Ralph Milburn, 63-A.J. Arnold


* Brothers, Harry and Bobby Sessler played football for Hugoton High. Harry was a Senior and Bobby was a Freshman. After Harry graduated, Bobby took his number 30 jersey for his remaining years at Hugoton High School.

Hugoton High School Football Team
1946-1947

1st row: 41-Alvin Webber, 58-Arthur Seeley, 49-Bernard Popejoy, 52-Bill Morris, 57-Kenneth Burditt, 56, Christopher Douglas, 43-Bob Sherily, 48-Verl Burrows, 46-Veron Mapin, 12-Roy Barber, 50-Val Barnes

2nd row: 23-Marvin Bradfield, 11-Eugene Campbell, 22-Dean Burrows, 16-Schrial Horton, 27-Harold Milburn, 18-Lewis Beavers, 25-Bill Cooper, 14-Lee Sturgeon, 24-Bill Brubaker, 28-Eugene Reser, 30-Bob Sessler, 20-Vernie Betsworth, Gene Walkamire

3rd row: 34-Dean Roehr, 42-Everett Hamilton Jr., 53-Bob Clark, 13-Alvin Beavers, Bob French, Bruce Richardson, Coach Binns, 25-Herbert Jennings, 19, Dale Horton, 31-Charles Harmon, 15-Verl Betsworth, 17-Roy Horton, Harold Wooten

Hugoton High School Varsity Football Team
1946-1947

Front Row: 19-Dale Horton, 27-Harlod Milburn, 18-Lewis Beavers, 25-Bill Cooper, 14-Lee Sturgeon, 31-Charles Harmon, 28-Eugene Reser
Back Row: 13-Alvin Beavers, 23-Marvin Bradfield, 26-Herbert Jennings, 30-Bob Sessler, 20-Vernie Betsworth

Hugoton High School Football

1946-1947

(l-r): 13-Alvin Beavers, 23-Marvin Bradfield, 26-Herbert Jennings, 30-Bob Sessler, 20-Vernie Betsworth