Today marks the 162nd anniversary of the birth of my 2 times great aunt, Emmer Estelle Lee, 11 October 1856.  Aunt Emmer was the daughter of Charles Norton Lee and Esther Jenks.   She was followed in birth order by her siblings: Effie Clarissa [my great grandmother] (1859), Lewellyn (1862), Hannah Almira (1864), Marietta (1870), and Ora (1874).  Emmer was the only child that did not live to adulthood, dying at the age of 5 on 23 March 1862.  But, I have always wondered why the name Emmer?  OK, it is obvious, Grandfather and Grandmother Lee had a sense of whimsy in creating names when they got around to naming their last daughter, Ora Lee (say it all together, as one word).  And the tradition of having fun with names continued to other generations.  I was named Patrick, but called Rick (guess how many times I have had to explain that).  My mother was named Jmae (try explaining to your teachers that you are not stupid, that you really do know how to spell your mother’s name).  One of my favorites was my cousin Bruce Edward’s mother told the SSA (you know the government office whose initials are ass, backwards) around the time he was 17 that his name was Bruce Lee, without telling him.  He could have kicked himself silly when he found out!

I have never figured out the meaning behind Emmer Lee.  What possessed then to choose that name.  It does not appear in either the Lee or Jenks family pedigrees.

Anyway, to gg aunt Emmer, who was always a child, Happy Birthday! 🎈🎂🎈🎁