“Surname Saturday” is a prompt used by a lot of genealogy bloggers. I’m trying out using prompts to see how I like it. It’s a bit embarassing to start with the family of Viola Templeton because I know so little about them. But I’ve been sharing a little about my (step) grandmother Viola Templeton Hockensmith this week, so it is what it is.

Viola and Timothy Templeton

Viola Nell Templeton was born May 1, 1902 to Ernest M. Templeton and Erma Wandler Templeton on the family farm near Junction City, Kansas. She had one brother, Timothy, born about 1904. Viola lived all of her life in Geary County, Kansas.

Viola’s father, Ernest M. Templeton was born about 1874 in Michigan. In the 1880 census, he is 6 years old, living with his family in Perry, Shiawassee County, Michigan. The other children in the home are William J., age 16; Mryta (or Myrtie?), age 14; Marion L., age 12; and Allen T., age 10.

At age 32, Ernest M. Templeton is married to Emma Wandler and living in Lyon, Geary County, Kansas with their children Viola and Timothy.

Ernest M. Templeton is the son of Timothy M. Templeton and Hannah J. ?. Timothy M. Templeton was born in New York in November of 1834.

That’s all I’ve got.

I hope that these posts the last few days about Viola Templeton will inspire my Hockensmith kin to share what they know about the family. I’d love to know if Viola shared any stories about her childhood with you, if you have any of her recipes, if you have pictures, and just your memories of time spent with her. Please comment or email and we’ll continue the conversation.