Wednesday, February 12, 2025

JUST A PEDDLER

Again we go into the past, the deep past, to see what we'll find.

Judy was going through a box of family documents and pictures the other day and found a business card of one of her great uncles, Forest F. Williamson.

This was from the early 20th century and showed evidence of his travels to the American Southwest, long before we (Judy and I) came here.



"Uncle Forest", as he was known to Judy in those days, must have had quite a few adventures as he traveled from northern Kansas to New Mexico and Arizona and all the way back to Indiana to visit his family.

The Interstate Highway System was far in the future and I'd expect many of the roads he drove weren't even paved yet.

Nevertheless, the other side of his card shows his modesty.


21 comments:

Should Fish More said...

As an aside, I've traveled to Chimayo several times. There's a blanket/rug factory there that turns out quality goods, as well several local vendors and artists and weavers. I have several blankets and rugs from those visits.
There is, at least there was, a great restaurant there, some of the best food I've had in the SW.

Catalyst said...

Forest had a brother, Chester, who went to Texas and later New Mexico where he homesteaded. He also traded with the Native Americans and one of his three wives was a Navajo. He lived in Albuquerque and later Tucumcari, where he died at age 93. Judy has written an unpublished novel based on him. Small world, eh?

Anonymous said...

Great historical find. Nice piece. tc Light/Breezes

JayCee said...

How fascinating. He must have had an adventurous time with all that travelling.

Catalyst said...

Just a business card. 😉

CheerfulMonk said...

That's so refreshing in this time of self-aggrandizement.

Catalyst said...

I think so.

Catalyst said...

Oh, ho-ho, Monk!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

If you had some business cards printed for yourself, I wonder how they would read... "B.B.Taylor - Prescott Valley, Arizona - Just A Bull In A China Shop"

Granny Sue said...

What a neat thing to find. My ex-husband's aunt was married to a Williamson. He was a professor at WVU, but I have no idea where he was from. I never met hi., but Aunt Dora was a pretty cool lady.

Catalyst said...

F.B. Taylor, if you please. I know I shouldn't tell you this but my first name is Franklin, same as my father's.

Catalyst said...

Who knows, we may be related, and not just through Adam & Eve.

Debby said...

What a life he must have led! Did he ever marry?

Catalyst said...

He never did.

Val said...

I'll venture that he was a better version of "Mr. Haney" from Green Acres!

Red said...

I'm sure the just a peddler was a good sales gimmick.

River said...

"Just a Peddler" providing a very much needed service I'd say.

Margaret said...

A life of travel and adventure, especially in those times. I imagine he could tell some rousing stories!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Hey Franklin, another strapline might be "Judy's butler".

Travel said...

Great pieces of history.

Ellen D. said...

That is a treasure. How interesting!