"My husband Angelo was raised by Joe and Mamie. He is the oldest grandson. He made his life with Joe until the age of 10 ½, when Joe died suddenly. Grandpap Joe called my husband Angelo, even though his birth name was William S. Hall. Joe and Mamie attempted numerous times to officially adopt him, but they were never granted permission."

"Mamie had a nervous breakdown after Joe's death, and she and Angelo moved in with one of Joe's daughters, Eleanor, for a couple of years, before returning to the family home. Angelo and I and our two daughters live in Watson, just a stone's throw away from the house Angelo was raised in. The home remains pretty much the same. When Joe and Mamie purchased it, it was part of the mining camp. Our home is also one of the camp homes."

"Grandpap Joe always had a dog, and loved animals. He was a very small man, about 5' 4". He worked long hours, and he and Mamie were rather poor. Most people were in those days, and owed most of their paychecks to the company store. The site of that store is about a block from the family home. Joe and Mamie had a big garden and canned everything they could. They also had a chicken coup in the yard that supplied eggs and many meals. As far as we can tell, Joe and Mamie had nine children, one of which died in infancy."

"Joe was well liked and well respected in the area. When he died, the body lay in state at the home for two days. Angelo remembers the many friends and neighbors who came. Some sat with the body around the clock during those two days. The funeral log lists over 100 people."