Jimmy
1. Mildred Neubauer (Jim’s mother) was born on January 19, 1907, in Chicago, Illinois. Both her parents were born in Germany and emigrated to the USA. Grandma Neubauer particularly enjoyed baking bread, while Grandpa Neubauer’s speciality was dandelion wine. Grandma Neubauer became sick in her later years and possibly had some form of cancer.
2. Mildred (right) and her sisters. (My guesses:) Mildred’s youngest sister Eleonore (Desmet) (center) and the middle sister Lydia (Kurth) (left). Mildred attended Tabor Lutheran School, as did her daughter Jean in later years.
3. Jim’s father was Adolph Neumann. Adolph and his Neumann ancestors did not arrive in the USA by the usual means. Though they may have originally come from Wuerttemberg or Pomerania, Germany, Jim’s ancestors first emigrated from Germany east into Poland.(c. 1801). It was in Russian-controlled Poland that Pauline Kunkel (May 22, 1860) and John Martin Neumann (September 28, 1860) were born—Adolph’s mother and father.
John Martin (Jim’s paternal grandfather), Adolph (Jim’s father aged 10), Martin, Pauline, (Jim’s paternal grandmother), Emil, Adelheid, Edward Jr. (infant), and Edward Sr. Neumann in 1914, several years after arriving in Chicago.
4. The Kunkels and Neumanns were largely farmers who likely migrated further east to the “wooded world” of Volhynia, in northwestern Ukraine, looking for new forests to clear in order to plant crops. After both Pauline’s and John’s families migrated to Volhynia, they met and were married in the Lutheran church in Rozyszcze on February 2, 1882 (both nearly 22 years old).
Emilie, Johnny, John Martin (Jim’s paternal grandfather), Edward Sr., and Albert Neumann in an unknown house in Chicago.
5. At the time, migrating from Russian-controlled Poland to Volhynia was still a move within the Russian Empire. However, when arriving in America, some families listed their country of origin as Poland, while others listed Russia. These ancestors primarily spoke German and generally did not learn Russian.
John Martin Neumann, Jim’s paternal grandfather, in his later years.
6. In Volhynia, John worked in the bogs cutting peat for fuel and in the forest making wooden shingles for roofs. Ironically, John and Pauline lived in a house of “interlocking boards with a thatched roof.” They had nine sons., of which Adolph (Jim’s father) was the ninth—born on November 19, 1904. (Pauline may have had two other children that miscarried or were still-born.)
Adolph (left) and his father John (middle) in Chicago. The person on the right has not been identified. This is the first time we see this house with the shingle siding and stone base with basement windows. The house is seen in multiple photos over many years, so it must have belonged to a family that lived there for an extended period..
7. By 1911, John and Pauline, both 51 years old, found their family surrounded by political upheaval and decided to emigrate to America. John, Martin, and Emil departed from Libau, Latvia aboard the SS Birma and arrived in the Port of New York on August 30, 1911. From there they entered Ontario, Canada, but finally settled in Chicago, Illinois on December 31, 1911.
Roughly a year later, on October 31, 1912, Pauline, Karl, and Adolph (8 years old) departed from Rotterdam, Netherlands aboard the SS Volturno and arrived in Port of Halifax,, Nova Scotia, Canada on November 11, 1912. They then joined the rest of the family in Chicago, Illinois.
Tabor Lutheran Church, 3542 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL
8. John and Pauline lived at 2632 Cortez Street. John was a very serious person. He was proud of his lawn and stereotypically scolded the neighbor boys when they played on it. He read his German Bible each morning and did a lot of “preaching” to the family. He read the German paper Abendpost and freely shared his opinions on world affairs. He never drove a car. He was a watchman (security guard) for a shoe company and later a porter at a tailor shop. Pauline was known for her sausage, soup, coffee cake, pączki (Polish pastries), white bread, and stollen (German Christmas bread).
When their son Edward moved to 4852 N Kenneth Ave., near Tabor Lutheran Church and School (above), John and Pauline moved into the upstairs apartment.
9. As both Mildred’s and Adolph’s families attended Tabor Lutheran Church and School, we can safely presume this was where Adolph and Mildred met. They began dating and were married on May 7, 1927, at Tabor Lutheran Church. Their daughter Jean would later attend the same school.
10. Adolph and Mildred initially lived upstairs at Grandma and Grandpa Neubauer’s (pictured) house on Karlov Avenue in Chicago.
Adolph and Jean at her wedding June 28, 1957.
11. When the doctor was delayed by winter weather, Jean (Simpson) was born on February 24, 1928, with assistance from Mildred’s sister Lydia. (Unsurprisingly, Lydia became Jean’s favorite aunt.) This was while Adolph and Mildred lived in the upstairs half of Grandma & Grandpa Newbauer’s house. Jean was slightly more than 12 years older than Jim. Jean remembered Grandpa Neubauer as a “great grandfather” who shared apples, read the funnies, and took she and Bob riding on the Chicago streetcars, where he was a conductor.
Adolph and Mildred later lived with Adolph’s brother, Martin and his wife Helen, until they could afford their own place. Bob was born October 31, 1929, seven days after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 began. Bob was slightly more than 11 years older than Jim.
12. Proud parents Adolph and Mildred welcomed James A. Neumann into the world o March 4, 1940, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. They are pictured here on the front porch of the first home they owned: 4651 N. Springfield Ave in Chicago.
13. Jim was baptized later that month. When Jim was born, Germany's military machine was gaining momentum, with the conquest of much of Western Europe anticipated. This may explain why Jim’s middle name was only ever “A” and not Adolph after his father. Adolph was also known to some family as “Uncle A.” This may have been a natural nickname or possibly a German man avoiding the name Adolph.
14. Baby “Jimmy” is seen here held by his mother.
15. Toddler Jimmy at the back door of the same house seen in Photo 7 above.
16. Jim with his mother, probably in nearly the same place as Photo 14 above.
17. Who is playing with Jim? Is this Springfield Avenue? Don’t think so, it’s shingle siding not lap siding.
18. Since Jim is wearing the same outfit as Photos 16 & 17, all three images were probably taken at the same house as Photos 7, 15. 52, & 53.
19. Jim and his bear sit for Jim’s first formal portrait.
20. Is this possibly a White Sox jersey? Bob and Jim were White Sox fans. Jean liked the Cubs.
21. Location?
22. Jim, his mother Mildred, and Mildred’s sister XX in front of what house?
23. Jim wearing a rather elaborate U.S. Army uniform. Assuming Jim was 4-5 years old here, Allied forces had gained the upper hand, and WWII would be nearing its end.
24. Jim with Uncle Eddie, Adolph’s brother? Too old to be in war!
25. Jim with his older brother Bob. This photo highlights their 11 year age gap.
26. The same uncle? as above, but Jim is clearly wearing a different U.S. Army uniform than previously.
27. In yet a third uniform, Jim is seen standing outside 6623 Oliphant Avenue, Chicago, the second home Adolph and Mildred owned. Here, Adolph fixed up the basement where Jim’s brother Bob and their cousin Dick often played ping-pong, hit a punching bag, and boxed.
28. Street view of 6623 Oliphant Avenue with the same door at the side of the house seen in the image with Jim in the U.S. Navy uniform (Photo 27). Edison Park Lutheran Church is across the street.
29. A young Jim standing outside the house on Oliphant Avenue. The location is obvious on the modern day view of the house (Photo 28). At this point,, Jim was attending Our Saviour’s Lutheran School in Norwood Park, Chicago.
30. There are report cards for Jimmy for Grades 2, 3, 4, & 5 (1946-1950)
31. Jim’s 5th Grade class photo (middle right near teacher), Jim already sporting his classic sun sensitivity.
32. Jim re-visiting the Oliphant house in 2009, roughly 60 years after the family moved to their next house on Nordica Avenue.
33. From 6623 Oliphant Avenue, the family moved to their third house on Nordica Avenue.
34. Despite the uniqueness of the beautiful front elevation, we’ve been unable to locate the house using Street View and therefore unable to figure out the exact address.
35. Jim recalls the area behind the house was a large open field where they used to play “cowboys and indians” and often built “homes” out of scraps of cardboard. Grandpa Neubauer would take the streetcar to the house and weed in this back garden.
36. Much like his father Martin, Adolph was quite particular in his Lutheran beliefs. As such, he often took issue with churches where the family attended, which resulted in the family moving quite often. This house at 4912 W Cullom Ave. was the family’s fourth home in Chicago: 4651 N. Springfield Ave, 6623 Oliphant Avenue, & Nordica Avenue being previous family residences. Jean mentioned a possible fifth residence on Monticello Avenue.
37. The modern day owners or their neighbors took the unusual step of asking Google to blur images of their homes, but they did not ask Apple Maps, so the house is still visible here on Apple Maps.
38. This 2020 Apple Maps view of Cullom Ave shows where Jim was seen standing at the top of the steps (Photo 36). The screens have been removed from the front porch.
39. Jim in the kitchen of Cullom Ave.
40. While living on West Cullom, Jim attended St. John’s Lutheran School from 1950-1953 (Grades 6-8). The school was within walking distance of the new home on Cullom Ave.
41. Google Street View of St. John’s (Evangelical) Lutheran School (left) and Church (right).
42. Jim’s Grade 7 class photo (top left).
43. The other side of the kitchen on Cullom Ave. Note the wallpaper.
44. Jim in the dining room on Cullom Ave. Note again the wallpaper.
45. Jim inside the Cullom Ave house. Adolph was a professional wallpaper hanger. Jim recalled that, while papering the house, Adolph fell from scaffolding he had assembled and was injured.
46. Outside the Cullom Ave house.
47. Adolph and Jim at a local farm. The bag says Morton Salt Company, but it’s likely the bag was repurposed to hold something else.
48. Jim with a dog at the farm.
49. Jim holding puppies with XX where?? Who was Cathy?
50. Jim holding puppies with XX where?? Cathy?
51. Did one of the puppies become the family pet? Is this backyard Dittmar???
52. Back Row: Mildred, Mildred’s sister?, Pauline?, Martin. Front Row: Jim, Adolph, and Adolph’s brother? The photo is taken in the now classic home seen in Photos 7, 14-16, & 18.
53. Solo picture of Jim on the same day as in Photos 52 & 54.
54. Jim and his mother at an unknown cemetery. Perhaps the family was gathered in Photo 52 for a funeral. Clearly, both of Jim’s paternal grandparents were alive in that photo.
55. Jim’s 8th Grade class photo. (Jim if third row from the top, second from the right.)
56. Jim in the backyard of Cullom Ave, likely before his 8th Grade promotion.
57. Jim in the backyard of Cullom Ave, the ribbon possibly indicative of his now having attended his 8th Grade promotion from St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran School. After graduation in 1953, the family moved to Whittier, California.
58. In 1953, the family made a big move west from Chicago, IL to 1224 Dittmar Drive, Whittier, CA (now 13932 Dittmar Drive). Jim continued his education as a freshman at California High School in Whittier.
59. This photo of Jim and Jean, probably taken in front of Dittmar house, highlights their 12 year age gap. Same dog as Photo 51.
60. Jim washing a c. 1949 Frazer Manhattan four-door—an American luxury automobile built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation for model years 1947 through 1951. The little boy helping Jim is Paul Neumann, son of George and Dorothy Neumann.
61. The backyard at 1224 Dittmar Drive, Whittier with his dog. Notice the railroad tracks. Jim referred to this as the “orange throwing” house because he and friends threw oranges at passing trains. The former tracks have since been replaced by the Whittier Greenway Trail, paralleling Lambert Road.
62. Years later (c. 1956), in the driveway at Dittmar Drive, Jim washing the delivery truck when he filled in for a driver who went on vacation. Helms Bakery was well-known in Southern California from 1931 until 1969—famous for its "Daily at Your Door" delivery service,
63. Jim’s bakery truck parked in front of 1224 Dittmar Drive. The bakery was primarily based in Culver City, though Helms had no retail stores. All of their bakery items were sold by trucks, which drove to neighborhoods throughout Southern California—sort of like the ice cream truck.
64. By the end of the 1960s, however, truck deliveries were becoming passe due to fierce competition from ever-expanding retail stores. The Helms Bakery concept was no longer financially viable and the business closed in 1969—some 13 years after Jim had his temporary job.
65. Storage at the back of Jim’s bakery delivery truck. The various drawers held fresh bread, donuts, pastries, and other baked goods. Some former employees or individuals with knowledge of its operations started a smaller-scale bakery in Whittier under the name Holms Bakery. This bakery adopted a similar delivery model and even the familiar color scheme of the Helms Bakery trucks.
66. Jim in front of 13932 (1224) Dittmar Drive in November 2021, roughly 64 years after he left the house to attend college. The front elevation, side driveway, and rear garage remain recognizable.
67. Adolph and Mildred in front of the Dittmar Drive house.
68. Jim’s 1957 high school graduation photo from California High School in Whittier.
69. Jim in front of California High School, Whittier, in November 2021, roughly 64 years after graduating.
