What did your Grandparents do for a living ?

hollydolly

hollydolly

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Location
London England
We've talked before about ourselves about our parents too.. but what did your grandparents do for a living ?

Both my grandmothers had a ton of children, so I understand they probably did part-time work of some sort.. not sure about my maternal GM who had 9 kids , but I know my paternal GM, went out cleaning.. but I suppose she had her hands too full with 16 kids..

My Paternal Grandfather had his own Cobblers shop...

My Maternal Grandfather was a Stone Mason..
 

My maternal grandfather died in WW1, the grandmother died of the Spanish flu 6 months after my mother was born.
My paternal grandparents raised me, Grandpa was a contractor, Grandma did housework for rich folks.
Grandpa got hurt while doing a job for a local doctor, he was unable to leave the tent we were living in at the time had to stay out of the sunshine. Grandma got on the county aid and supplemented the income with the house work . Grandma also worked with a son-in-law building the house we would live in for many years.

My father never coughed a dime for my care!
 

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My dad's father had a laundry business when they lived in Chicago. My dad worked with him as a child. He later graduated from law school. They were originally from Russia. My dad's mother died when I was 4 & I never knew anything about her.
I never knew anything about my mom's parents - except that they were Middle Eastern & they were crazy.
 
My paternal grand parents homesteaded farmland near Havre Montana. My father was born in a sod house on the Montana prairie, gored by a bull, became a great trout fisherman, nearly froze to death going to the outhouse at 6:00am, but went on to get a pilots license, start his own business, became an accomplished golfer, and met his maker at Pebble Beach, California.
 
My grandparents all immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900's. My Paternal GPs had a farm in Eastern Colorado. My Maternal GPs settled in Central City, Co. where Grandpa began working in the silver mines. Eventually, he bought a Saloon...which is still there today.

The thing I never found out was how did my parents meet...growing up quite a distance from each other.
 
My paternal grandparents were farmers and they also raised pigs for the Smithfield Ham that was located in Smithfield, Va. at that time.
My maternal grandfather had a clock/watch repair shop in Detroit. My maternal grandmother died of undiagnosed diabetes when my mother was only six.
 
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Paternal Grandfather had a horse & buggy & sold stuff. He died young, 38. His wife, my grandmother, was a factory worker.

Maternal Grandma was LPN and factory worker. Her husband, my grandfather, was always referred to as "Willie The Bum." Seems he found work disagreeable.
 
Paternal Grandfather was a well driller. Worked all over, the US including Puerto Rico, France, Egypt, and Indochina (old name for Vietnam) that I know of. Drilled a drinking water well for Paris that at the time (early 30s) was the deepest well ever drilled.
Paternal Grandmother never worked outside the home. In later years she told me she really regretted not having a career, but it just wasn't done in her time and place.

Maternal Grandfather got a degree in Agriculture from the University of Georgia, 1914. Worked for Purina Mills out of school, then in 1928 opened a cotton seed business, timing could not have been worse. After that failed he got a job as a county agent with the new Soil Conservation Service, did that till he retired at age 60. He lived to 99, collected his government pension more years than he worked...
Maternal Grandmother taught school, wish I knew more but she died when I was very young.
 
My paternal grandfather died young, my poor grandmother, she re-married and her second husband died young too, although he was a victim of WW2 bombing. Paternal grandmother had a fish & chip shop where her grandson stayed during the long school holidays. How the lady spoiled her grandson, how I still love and miss her to this day.

My maternal grandmother never worked, her husband, my grandfather, was a police officer. They only had one child, my mother. Sadly she passed away aged just 33. My maternal grandparents both lived until they were 95 and died within months of each other. My wife and I seem to be mirroring their lives.
 
win231 said:
My dad's father had a laundry business when they lived in Chicago. My dad worked with him as a child. He later graduated from law school. They were originally from Russia. My dad's mother died when I was 4 & I never knew anything about her.
I never knew anything about my mom's parents - except that they were Middle Eastern & they were crazy.
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so that's where your mother got it from.. :sneaky:
 
Maternal grandparents were tenant farmers. GM died young in childbirth delivering their 9th child, baby was still born. GF died a few year later, tried to exit a truck that was still moving a little while being parked. Fell and was caught under the wheels.

Fraternal grandparents, GM never worked that I know of. GF was a fisherman/oysterman on the Chesapeake Bay. My father died young at 36. My Mom made sure we got to go see them every summer. I loved them and their place very much!!
 
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