Donald & Alfreda were married during the great depression. Donald was 22 and Alfreda was 16 (even though the marriage certificate says '21'). Since work was hard to find in Ohio, they moved to Absarkee, Montana in May of 1931. Donald worked there on a ranch for room and board. After a year of ranching, they returned to Ohio and Donald worked on a dairy farm. After a few years as a farm hand, Donald went to work for Leroy Vanness as a painter. He retired from the Atomic Energy Plant in Fernald, Ohio as a painter.

Donald and Alfreda lived in the old Hann place near Riley. They did not have electricity and heated the house with a fireplace and kitchen stove. They did not have running water, but did have an outhouse. Kerosene lamps were used for lighting. They had a Model T Ford. When the creek was down, they could ford it, which was most of the time. One time, on the way to town, Donald got stuck in the middle of the creek. It was cold, so he left Alfreda and the 4 kids in the car with the heater going. Floyd and Marge were both over come with carbon monoxide. Alfreda couldn't wake them up. Luckily, she opened the car door and got out to wait for Donald to get back with help.

Donald and Alfreda lived mostly in rented farm houses. They bought their first house around 1947 near Okeana, Ohio. In 1954, they moved into their last home in downtown Okeana.

Residences

1914 - Hamilton, Ohio 1920 - Fairfield, Butler, Ohio 1930 - Hamilton, Butler, Ohio 1940 - Oxford, Butler, Ohio 1950 - Morgan, Butler, Ohio 1974 - Hamilton, Ohio