Questions about William Gaston Lynskey

Charles Lynskey and Jim Biller, November 8, 1999

The following is a copy of an email between myself, Charles Lynskey, and Jim Biller. Jim had just sent me a email about my Grandfather – William Gaston Lynskey.

November 8, 1999.

Dear Jim,

How perfect! I can begin to explain what your first story means to me. I spent many a day in Grandpa's shop watching as he showed me time and time again how he put together each part of his feeder. I was always awe struck and never tired of his stories nor his reflections. How I truly miss those days, thank you so very much for sharing your precious memories. I will soon add to the "I Remember" section with my stories.

I will add any story you send me - one by one to the web site, in the "I remember" section. You can review them for any errors and let me know. I will not change or correct them with syntax or grammatical changes. It is my position that these short stories should be a reflection of the writer - nothing more -nothing less. How perfect - eh? (Oh, one small exception, I did modify your date to say November 8, 1999 instead of 1999 - just an attempt to be more accurate with dating everything).

I will send out a template by the end of the week for your side of the family.

In the interim, there are a couple of things I need to ask you.  Maybe there are some short stories here, maybe not - although a paragraph on any given subject is better than no knowledge at all.

1) Do you know the reason behind why Gaston was called Gaston and not William or Bill. Did anyone ever have a knick name for him Gas, or some other?

2) On the web site, is a picture of the Forman and Biller Tree Company with Gaston and the gang. Could you do a small story on that picture and I'll include it with it.  Names and dates would be nice if you know any.

3) Grandpa used to always tell me about his friend that he used to go down to the river and play with. They had worked out a sign language of sorts so that the other kids wouldn't know where they where going. For example, he would make a wiggly sign down his arm - meaning to go down by the river (or something like that) - do you have any recollection of these events?

That's all for now, don't want to burn you out!!

Best Regards,

Chuck

Dear Chuck:

In answer to question no. 1, I believe Gaston was always called just Gaston. I believe Lucille can fill you in on why he was named Gaston. I never heard him called anything else. No. 2, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I have many pictures of the crews with Gaston in many of them. No. 3. I believe he was talking about Curtis, his first cousin who lived in the now defunct house about 2000 yards past the Wm. Lynskey house. In the 30's, John Lynskey lived there, brother to Wm. Lynskey, with his wife Della, and Wilborn was still at home. John's children were: Curtis, Elmer, Wallace, Katherine, Mary (Hackett) and Wilborn. Gaston's playmate was Curtis. Mom and Gaston both talked about their shenanigans. Like the time they ruined the Girls dolls by giving them medicine. Since they were made out of something that wasn't waterproof, pouring water down their mouths made them fall apart. Or the various "secret clubs" they formed with special badges made out of a piece of ribbon with a nut or something attached. It would cost each other kid about a nickel to get into the club and once most were in, Curtis and Gaston would disband it and start another secret club with a different badge and code. They were both intelligent boys with good senses of humor and it stayed with them into adult life. I always enjoyed seeing Curtis and when he and Gaston got together, watch out.

In case you didn't know it, There were two farms at that time. Martin eventually bought out the John Lynskey part. But then, they worked the two farms together and had, in addition to John's 6 and William's 3, the Shumate orphans, Ernest, Mable, Maggie, and Fred. I honestly don't know where they put them all in those tiny houses. My Great Uncle John's house was even smaller than Grandpa's. (The Shumates were the children of Emma Lynskey, a sister to Wm. and John.

I'm far from burnt out.

Jim

Dear Chuck,

My records say that Gaston was named after a priest named Gaston Payne, son of a Warrenton Lawyer, Rice W. Payne, who raised the money to build St. John's Church in Warrenton.  On the dedication day, about 1861, Gaston Payne was baptized in the church. He later became a priest. He died about 1930. Hope this helps.

Jim