Woodbury & Northway Grandparents

The Grandparents: Woodburys/Northways

The elder Northways were from Cleveland, Ohio and were the grandparents of Elmer Ellsworth Northway, the father of Barbara (Northway) Davis. His parents were Northway. The Woodburys were the parents of Jane (Woodbury) Northway and the mother of Barbara.

Northways


Cliff and Sadie were generous with all especially their 36 grandchildren of which Barbara Jean Northway Davis was the first and Meara Culligan was the last. As the clan gathered over the years the stories would come out and become legend in the ever-expanding throng. The last real family gathering with Cliff and Sadie present was at Tom Culligan’s (Tom is far right) home in 1974 and was a crowd indeed. Anniversaries were celebrated subsequently but never in such numbers at an assemblage, During that several day celebration the aurora borealis was seen over metro Chicago. Maybe God was celebrating too for all the years of prayers Sadie offered up to keep us all safe and well. Thanks Sadie and Cliff for it all.

Note: Relatives early during Civil War era in 1862 and beyond. This is Major Delos and Mrs Northway Union Army Officer. His sword is still in the family.

Photo Gallery
(Click for next Photo)
  • Elmer Ellsworth Northway II, “North” and his mother, June 1917.
  • North’s grandparents, Elmer Ellsworth Northway and Orra Hannah Kile Northway, note the “spiffy” hat.
  • North’s grandparents, Elmer Ellsworth Northway and Orra Hannah Kile Northway,
  • North’s parents, Georgiana "Dolly” Hannel and George SalemNorthway.
  • North’s mother, “Dolly”, Aunt Anna May, and Aunt Helen his father’s sisters and North.
  • Northway extended family in mid 1930s with Elmer Ellsworth on far left as young teen. North’s family were well off in Cleveland and his wife Jane referred to him having been raised with a “silver spoon…..” They all appeared well attired and well housed.
  • The Woodburys: Cliff and his father, Ezra J Woodbury, was a railroad man who lost his right hand in an accident with a train coupling.
  • Cliff in his forties
  • Cliff and Sadie with Jane much earlier during the 1920s.
  • Sadie at daughter Trixie’s wedding in 1948
  • Uncle Elmer, Cliff’s brother, in WWI in London in an aviator’s uniform complete with aviator’s; leather helmet and goggles, leather coat, gloves and high boots. Even the collar is turned up!
  • Cliff’s mother, Flora May (divorced from Cliff’s dad by1920) was remarried to Alfred Alberts known as “Brownie.”
  • This photo is mostly about the Culligan’s with Emmett rear left, two priests on either side of Emmett’s brother, and on left front Sadie, Mrs. Culligan and Anne Homer also known as “Auntie on the Corner.” Once Jane Northway was relating a story about “Auntie on the Corner and Fatty Aunt” and North was driving down the road in Arizona near their last residence in retirement, and he got so tickled about this story that he had to pull off the road before he had an accident. It was several minutes before he could regain his composure and drive on.
  • North’s parents, Georgiana (known as “Dolly”) and George Northway in their later years.
  • George Northway as a young man. This is both North and his son Steve, amazing.
  • Anne Kiron Gibbons, her 85th birthday party and was always referred to as “Sister”.
  • Aunt “Liz” Kiron Gorman and Auntie “On the Corner” Anne Homer in the back seat of a 1940s car. Note the classy hats, veil and looks!
  • North with uncle Elmer in "uncle’s” later years.
  • Woodbury’s home in LaGrange Park, Illinois. They built this house in the late 1930s when Jane was in high school. After they both had passed it was sold in 1984. There were many fond memories of the house, the basement and its yard in all seasons with its connection to the adjacent Forest Preserve.