Aunt Sis contributed this photo she had of Emma "Nanny" (Weber) Phelps. Thanks Aunt Sis!
My Mom also had a chance to chat with Sis about Nanny and her husband William C. Phelps. This is how Sis describes William C.: Tall and slim. Although she was small so he may have just appeared tall to her as a child. Calm, never heard him raise his voice. Not boisterous. A gentle person. Not the image of the person we have been led to think he was. She said she never saw him drink! Said that Nanny was the one who liked her beer. Said it was the empty beer bottles on the door step that upset her mother and caused her concern that people would thing of them as "topers".
Here are a few things she remembers about Nanny: Nanny told Anna to not let Sis, Jess and Nancy to eat the wild garlic that they loved to eat because she did not want kisses from garlic eaters.
Sis also remembered that "Nanny cried a lot after [her husband] died. She took good care of him while he was sick w/cancer."
Nanny took the Phelps kids to the zoo now and again but hated the monkeys. Would not go to see them.
Nanny had a sharp tongue. Expressed her feelings freely regardless of who's feelings might be hurt. She had diamonds and wore them. Sis has a pair of her diamond earrings and I remember Nancy had her engagement ring made from 7 or 8 small diamonds of Nanny's. She had her hair and nails done weekly.
Interesting to get impressions of Nanny from someone who remembers her well.
