Louis and John Gulde in Waycross, Georgia--1911

One of the most difficult moments in Eusebius (1858-1954) and Catherine Leineweber Gulde's (1857-1943) lives came in 1911 when their two older sons Louis (1886-1977) and George (1891-1950) convinced the couple to buy farm acreage near Waycross, Georgia. The Guldes had been farming in southern Rush County on the Anderson property north of Milroy, Indiana when they made the decision to leave the state. Mr. Anderson, who leased the land to Eusebius asked him to reconsider, but the Gulde's had never owned their own farm before.

The family loaded up everything they owned in the world including some farm animals and made the long journey to southern Georgia most likely on a train. Upon their arrival, they were shocked to learn that they had been hoodwinked. The land was a swamp and they lost everything. After realizing that they could not survive in Georgia, the family quietly moved back to Madison, Indiana. Louis and George went their separate ways as well. While the poor business deal did destroy their livelihood, the family still remained close.

In this photo Louis Gulde poses with his cousin John Gulde in Waycross, Georgia in 1911. More research is needed on John. Louis (on the left) had already married Missouri Winscott by the time this photo was taken. Louis and Missouri would eventually settle in Webster, Indiana, a small village in Wayne County.

Rosalia K. Gulde--1892

Rosalia K. (Rose) Gulde (1882-1960) poses for a photo after her first communion mass in Madison, Indiana around 1892. Rose was the oldest child of Eusebius (1858-1954) and Catherine Leineweber Gulde (1857-1943). Madison photographer G.L. Spaulding staged the photo to include important religious relics. In less than ten years she would marry Joseph Risk in 1901. Rose would spend most of her life in and around the Madison, Indiana area. She remained close to her parents throughout her life.

Carl and Rhetta Gulde

Carl Gulde (1898-1954) ran a barber school just west of downtown Indianapolis for many years. His shop is no longer standing. He resided at 944 North Oakland Avenue in the city. That home is still standing in 2011, but may not be long in this world as it is boarded up and in a less than desirable location of the city. His business card reveals that he called himself "Dr." Carl Gulde! I suppose if you put it on your business card then it must be true!

The top image is Carl Gulde's business card. In the second image is a photo of some of his graduates. You may learn more about Gulde's School of Barber Science in a previous post. Rhetta Gulde, his wife, poses for him on the grounds of Veteran's Home in Lafayette, Indiana. The couple would eventually move there due to his health problems. In the bottom photo, you can see that Carl had a great sense of humor. Stories abound among his nieces and nephews of his many pranks. He was clearly having fun in this photo taken around 1945 at the Veteran's Home. Carl remained a devout Roman Catholic till his death. Rhetta, who outlived him by many years, eventually remarried although she remained close to the Gulde's for the rest of her life.

Carl Gulde's Barber School in Indianapolis

Carl Gulde (1898-1954), the youngest child of Eusebius Gulde (1858-1954) and Catherine Leineweber Gulde (1857-1943), operated a barber school for many years in Indianapolis at 472 West Washington Street. He suffered some health problems after returning home from World War I. He had been stationed in Siberia during much of the war. A tall man, he eventually married Henrietta (Rhetta) Gannon in 1931. Unfortunately, none of their children lived into adulthood. Carl and Rhetta moved into the Veteran's home in Lafayette, where he died suddenly in 1954. Some in the family noted that the patriarch, Eusebius died shortly thereafter because of the shock of losing his youngest son.

In the top photo, a group of men pose in front of Gulde's College of Barber Science around 1940. Carl is not pictured here. In the second image, a group of students pose in the school in 1935. Carl is likely one of the tall men standing in the rear and center of the building. In the bottom image Carl Gulde (left) stands next to an unknown person in front of his barber school. He lost his hair prematurely.

Joseph Gulde in his backyard

Joseph Gulde (1896-1983) posed for this photograph around 1958. By this point in his life, his contracting business flourished, but his eyesight deteriorated. Large cataracts kept him from the job sites so he began to rely upon his sons and other workmen to run the business. Depressed by his situation, his daughter Barbara Gulde Schmall (1934-2004) encouraged him to take up art. He had always loved to draw so he started by painting by numbers, a craze that many Americans embraced during the 1950s and 60s. Eventually, he began to paint on his own scenes despite his failing vision. He would be quite prolific and dozens of his original paintings still exist. Many of those will eventually be featured on this blog. In this photo he stands next to Anna Ayres Gulde's (1901-1982) flower garden in the backyard of 330 East 6th Street in Rushville, Indiana. She loved daisies. He also never left the house without a hat.

Father Proudly Holds His Son--1937

Joseph Gulde (1896-1983) proudly holds his son William Franklin Gulde in the spring of 1937. The baby boy had been born on January 30, and was the last child of Joseph and Anna Ayres Gulde (1901-1982). Shortly before his birth, the Great Flood of 1937 struck the state of Indiana. Many people along major rivers perished. The Flatrock River spilled over its banks and emptied into downtown Rushville, but never rose to East 7th Street where the family rented a home. Shortly after the birth of little Billy the family moved into 330 East 6th Street. Bill was named for his maternal grandfather, William F. Ayres.

Joseph Gulde--1943

Joseph Gulde (1896-1983) poses in his backyard at 330 E. 6th Street in Rushville, Indiana. He already had a successful construction business by this point in his life. The house behind him is located on the northwest corner of East 7th Street and Cherry Avenue in Rushville.