I had a number of great-great uncles and aunts with whom I was close. These uncles and aunts were the siblings of my Jones, Daugherty, Barmes great-grandparents.

Uncle Alphie was the younger brother of my great-grandmother, Mary Belle Jones Clary, and the son of Joel Monroe Jones & Anna Greenlee Jones. he married Clara Gunhildt Swanson who was born in 1913 on the ship that carried her family from Sweden to The United States.

Uncle Alphie was born and raised in Boone Township, Madison County, Indiana, but lived in Chicago from the 1920s until the early to mid 1950s. He was dashing, dapper, witty, a master prankster, and an instigator for my own mischievous side.

In July 1969, I was seated between my great grandfather, John William Garrett Clary, and Uncle Alphie as we watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.

These photos are of Uncle Alphie with Aunt Clara and their adopted son, Jimmy. I only use “adopted” to show how long adoption has been a part of our family.