Our Family Through The Years

Mom was so good to record every small development as I grew.

Dad blessed me and named me after him. Mom was living with grandma and grandpa Lindsay in Ogden, Utah while dad was at dental school at USC in Los Angeles, California. My name was originally going to be Steven J. Lindsay, but a little name spelling dispute arose between parents and grandparents, so my dad solved the problem and named me James... after him. You can see the cross out on the black and white birth certificate.

This little change set the stage for our first son... Steven James Lindsay.

My mother, Elsa, worked as a military secretary and had outstanding shorthand skills, so she was able to write down my blessing and transcribe it. She used her skill all my growing up years.

I was born in Ogden, Utah, but mom and I moved to California to join Dad. He was able to locate a home in Los Angeles, near dental school at the University of Southern California. Mom and Dad shared it with another couple to make it affordable for both families.

Mom's little calendar from her desk.

I was born in the Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden, Utah on October 27, 1946. It was a cold, windy and snowy Sunday evening at 5:49 PM.

My mother and father were both born in Ogden, at homes, not in a hospital.

I was delivered by Dr. Draper, and weighed 7 pounds 13 1/2 ounces at birth.

Dad was in dental school in California and could not be there for my birth, but he sent her this telegram and a bouquet of roses.

Notice that the baby announcements went out stating that my name was Steven J. Lindsay. This was in my mother's handwriting.

A lock of my hair 12 days after birth.

Hair from me at about a month. Where is all this hair coming from... was I bald in spots due to a little clip here and there?

I bet the hat was to hide the hair clip spots.

Looks like a good head of hair here.

Me, James and my grandpa Heber Joseph McKell. We were in the back yard of my parents new home in Los Angeles.

My grandpa Heber Mckell and grandma Cornelia McKell came to visit us in LA.

Great Grandma Elsa Lindsay called her father Great Great Grandpa Heber McKell "Daddy", so I got my first haircut from my Mom's Dad.

Nice haircut grandpa... Thanks!

Grandma Iretta Fife Lindsay, me (James III), and my dad James Jr. at our LA home.

Grandma and Grandpa Lindsay and me at their home in Ogden Utah.

Grandma, me and my Dad and Grandpa Lindsay, Ogden Utah.

Me and my Mom with Grandma and Grandpa Lindsay, Ogden Utah.

Me and my Grandpa Lindsay, Ogden Utah home on 28th Street, just off of Harrison.

Grandpa Lindsay, my Dad James Lindsay, Jr, cousin Jim Steele (Aunt Ruth's son) and me James III.

The Lindsay "men". Me and Grandpa Lindsay (James Sr.), my Dad (James Jr). Sons of aunt Ruth; oldest to youngest Jim, Vern and Walter. Fran second husband to Ruth and unknown man.

Little guys in the front; James III and Walter. Next five bigger guys behind us; Grandpa Lindsay Sr, aunt Ruth, Grandma Iretta Lindsay, Jim Steele, Vern Steele. The back four: Dad James Jr, Fran steele, unknown man, Mom Elsa Romane McKell Lindsay. The picture was taken in the back yard of aunt Ruth's home on Jackson Street in Ogden, Utah.

Me, James Edward Lindsay, III and my Mom, Elsa Romane McKell Lindsay.

Mom and Julia, my first of five sisters.

First day of kindergarten. I have my name tag pinned on my shirt.

Me and my friend and neighbor, Gary Elifson.

Kindergarten school picture.

Me, Dad and Julia, part of a damaged family photo.

Stephen Foster Elementary School, Compton, California, first grade, Mrs. Tart

First grade

Julia on the far left and me in the middle with my sweatshirt on. The collie next door, "Lady" had pups and were holding them.

Me, James and Julia

Lindbergh Elementary School, Lynwood, California, Second grade, Miss Prior

Me, James, Grandma Cornelia McKell, Janene (my aunt), Julia

Lindbergh Elementary School, Lynwood, California, third grade, Miss Songer

James, third grade.

Lindbergh Elementary School, Lynwood, California, 4th grade

My mother, Elsa Romane McKell Lindsay, standing in front of our new home in Lynwood on 12221 Waldorf Drive.

Cousin Jim came from Ogden to live with us while he went to college. He stayed in my bedroom and he was like a brother to me. He later met Charlene Johns through the M-Men and Gleaners (Young Single Adults) program and they fell in love and married in the temple.

Jingles was the family dog, but I felt that he was more mine because I fed and watered him and cleaned up after him... most of the time.

Julia and Danny Shelton (my friend from the neighborhood and from church) holding Jingles.

We had a small backyard enclosed with a cinder block wall. I loved to run on the top of the wall as a short cut home from my friend's home and a great way to escape.

Patrice

12221 Warldorf Drive, Lynwood, California

Mark Twain Elementary School, Lynwood, California, 4th Grade. Mrs. (sister) Shumway. Sister Shumway was in our ward and always stayed in close contact with my parents.

Cousin Jim going home to leave on his mission to Germany.

I signed up for the swim meet and entered the competition. I was really nervous swimming in the pool at night with the lights on. I could look down and see how deep the water was and it really made me nervous. It must have been what gave me the extra strength to swim fast enough to beat everybody to the finish line and win the backstroke event. I received a small trophy and that was the only trophy I ever won.

This is a print from a linoleum block I carved in seventh grade shop class.

I won a sales award for selling magazine subscriptions. Dad bought a few for his dental office and the rest I sold to friends and neighbors. I sold more subscriptions than anyone else in the 5th grade!

I was selected to represent our scout troop at a special leadership training summer camp in the mountains. It was a fun camp, but as one of the younger scouts it was a learning experience in many ways.

Hostler Junior High School, Lynwood, California, Seventh grade

I went to the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Colorado Springs. The scouts rented a train to take the boys from Southern California to the Jamboree via many sites along the way. We stopped to see the Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City and Temple Square, on to Colorado Springs for 10 days and then home via Yellowstone National Park, San Fransisco and back to Los Angeles. It was quite a trip and a great scouting experience at the Jamboree. We saw President Eisenhower, Elder N. Eldon Tanner, the Blue Angles Jets, many famous people spoke to us at campfires and we also had a small tornado roll through the camp.