I love my family and grew up around cousins, aunts, uncles (great aunts and uncles) and few great, great ones! Although I grew up with little in the way of material possessions, I was always surrounded by family! We told a LOT of stories and most involved some type of “you will not believe this…” moments. My family was colorful to say the least.
My dads mother “Granny” raised me, much like her own. Her 3 older brothers were war vets and all boxed, but Uncle Sammy Baker (Peniel Roy Baker) was a world champion. He fought in Madison Square Garden and during the Great Depression of the 1920’s he came home and lit a cigar with a $100 dollar bill. He lived with us for a bit and taught my brother and I how to fight, and he never took it easy on us! At his funeral 2 men in nice suits showed up, peered into the coffin and said “that’s him” and walked away…no one knew them, but it was kinda a cool moment. picture in Smithsonian He won 119 and lost 37 (16 of those losses were at the end of his career) and had 53 knockouts.
I did not know much about my mother’s side of the family with her mom being Italian (1st generation) and father being Armenian. I found out several years ago an interesting story, my grandmother was unbeknownst to her, raised by her uncle. Her real father, lived in Italy and was connected. It’s best to keep details in verbal form, but it was not safe for him to have family and be exposed.
A few other cool family moments;
Tim Baker (cousin) was a team captain on the 1957 Auburn National Championship team (for the record, I am an Alabama alum (1996) but this is still cool
Matthew Lyon (great, great great….something) was a congressman and the only one re-elected while serving a jail term and only one to serve for two separate states. He was the deciding vote for Thomas Jefferson to become president. He beat another congressman with his walking stick for calling him “chicken” and questioning his manhood.
Sammy Baker (great uncle) was a champion boxer and in the picture below he is 2nd from right to left standing with (from right to left) Nick Florio (trainer and future cut man for Muhammad Ali), Uncle Sammy, Jack Dempsey and Jack (Legs) Diamond. “Legs” owned the syndicate that Jack Dempsey and Uncle Sammy were under contract (and two unknown men, one was a bodyguard. Look closely and you will see a peashooter in his pocket).
I will add to this post as more stories are told and shared. My childhood was fun and it was great watching Uncle Doyle (my Granny’s brother) whittle and playing with cousins who I wish I could find and reconnect with. My first cousins are all part of my life in some fashion and I am glad my kids met many of them and have relationships with their cousins.
Alex Putman 