Shirley's Immediate Family

 

The Robbins Family
Back row, left to right: Jack, Bryan, Bill Jr.
Front: Marie, Bob with Joyce, Shirley
October 1942 - six years after the diary was written
5 Acres farm, Coopersville, Michigan

In nearly every entry of her diary, Shirley mentions either one or both of her parents and at least one sibling.  Her family was obviously an important part of her everyday life.  Here's a little background about the family she grew up in and how old they all were at the time of this diary.

Shirley's dad was William Bryan Robbins, Sr.  Born June 5, 1896 in Hesperia, Michigan (which lies on the Newaygo-Oceana County border), he was named for that year's Democratic presidential nominee  and famed orator, William Jennings Bryan.  Sometimes he was called Bryan and sometimes he was called Bill.  He came with his parents and siblings to Muskegon Heights, Michigan from Ensley Township in Newaygo County around 1916.  I'm calling him Bryan in this diary when I mention him, to clarify that it's not Bill Jr.  He was 39 and 40 years old during the year this diary was written.

Shirley's mother was Marie Lewis.  She was born May 15, 1902 in Whitehall, Muskegon County, Michigan.  Her family moved to Muskegon Heights around 1913.  She was 33 and 34 years old the year this diary was written.

Bryan and Marie met when Marie's maternal grandfather, John Wilkinson Sr., died September 10, 1917.  Bryan was working as a chauffer and drove the hearse for John's funeral.  They started courting the next few years, through Bryan's service during World War I in North Russia as part of the American-North Russia Expeditionary Forces (read more about his service at my AnceStories blog here).  When Bryan returned to the U.S. after his service, he and Marie married on Christmas Day 1919 at her parents' home at 1132 Hoyt Street, Muskegon Heights.  They lived there until after the birth of their first two children.  They had been married 16 years the year the diary was written, and celebrated their 17th anniversary the last week of 1936.

Robert Louis Robbins ("Bob") was their first child, born September 21, 1920 in Muskegon Heights.  He was my paternal grandfather.  Two years later in the same city, William Bryan Robbins, Jr. ("Billy") was born, on May 22, 1922.  Bob was 15 and 16, and Billy was 13 and 14 the year this diary was written.

Marie, with Shirley and Jack
Probably around 1929 or 1930

In 1923, the couple was enumerated for the Michigan census of WWI Veterans in the city of Muskegon, which borders Muskegon Heights on the north and west.  In 1924, they lived in Conklin, Ottawa County for a short time, before returning to Muskegon by the summer of 1925, where Shirley Marie Robbins was born August 14, followed by Lloyd Jack Robbins ("Jack") on June 3, 1927.  The family was enumerated in 1930 15 416 East Broadway, Norton Township, Muskegon County. However, Joyce Elaine, the "bonus baby", was born in Muskegon on December 26, 1933, 87 years ago today.  They lived on Broadway at least until 1935, then moved to their home on Austin Street, at what is now 2874 Austin, where this diary takes place.  Shirley was 10 and 11, and Jack was 8 and 9 when the diary was written.  Joyce was mostly two years old in 1936 and turned three the last week that the diary was written.

Joyce and Bryan (with doll), 1935,
 at the house on Austin Street,
 where this diary takes place.

At the time of this diary, Bryan was an unemployed, disabled WWI veteran.  He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and one of the triggers of his disorder was sudden, loud noise.  Because of this, it was nearly impossible for him to work in his trade, automobile mechanics, for a while.  In addition, there was wide-spread unemployment due to the Great Depression.  Bryan stayed home and cared for toddler Joyce, while Marie worked at the Amazon Knitting Mill, also known as the Amazon Hosiery Mill, in Muskegon.  Bob contributed to the family income by working on a farm in Grant, Newaygo County, about 30 miles east.  Billy, Shirley, and Jack attended the local elementary school (I'm still researching which one).  Billy had a paper route and Shirley did a lot of the household chores and even prepared meals and baked.

In skimming through the diary, I have not come across a mention of any family pets.  But I've seen photos of a dog named Jack taken around this time.  That has got to be confusing, given the fact that Shirley's younger brother had the same name!

Joyce with Bryan and a dog ("Jack"?)
on the back porch of the Austin Street house, 1934.
Notice the electric wringer washer.