Anna (Annie) Amanda Phelps Sierra

Annie Amanda Phelps was born in Missouri March 28, 1856.  Her parents were William H. Phelps and Anna Amanda Patton who were born in Tennessee.  Annie was raised a Quaker (Friends of Society).  This religion began in England with George Fox 1624 1691.  As a child I remember asking my mother what nationality my grandmother was and she would answer, "She is a Quaker."  After researching I came to the conclusion that my grandmother was of English descent.

In the late 1870"s or early 1880"s, Annie and her brother H.W. Phelps and mother Anna Amanda left Missouri and went to California by covered wagon.  The reason for moving to California was to escape an embarrassing situation for the Governor of Missouri, John S. Phelps, Democrat 1887- 1881.  The Governor and father of Annie, William H. Phelps, were related.   H. W. Phelps sold liquor to the Indians, which was against the law.

Annie met Celso Tornes Sierra after moving to California and they married on July 5, 1888 in San Bernardino.  Annie was 27 and Celso was 26. Five children were born in San Bernardino, Magdalena (Madeline) on April 14, 1884, Cecilia in 1885, Carl in 1889, a girl Felicia in1886 and another child, sex unknown.  Felicia died at a very young age and the other baby was born dead.  These facts were reported in 1900 census.  Celso and Annie moved to Fresno where Alma their last child was born in 1893.  My grandmother, Annie, must not have had an easy life.  The family lived in Fresno and Turlock in the San Joaquin valley where they did some farming.  Celso was a carpet layer and upholsterer working in furniture stores.  With Celso having asthma.  it was very difficult for him to work the year round.  My mother told me that grandpa drank a lot and Annie would send Carl Jr. out in the early evening to look for his dad in bars and bring him home for dinner.  Grandpa's stepfather, Charles T. Schuppert, bought a home for Annie and Celso in Turlock about 1911 making life a lot easier.  

Magdalena and Cecilia left home about 1907, keeping in touch with their parents by post cards.  According to my cousin Helen, they both went into show business.   They danced on the stage and also taught dancing, both married a few years later.  Refer to biography of Magdalena and Cecilia.

In the middle 1920's Celso and Annie had a small chicken farm just south of Hayward.  I visited them in the summer where cousins Walter and Helen would be staying.  Their mother, Alma, was divorced and working so Helen and Walter were more or less raised by our grandparents. After a couple of years on the chicken farm Annie and Celso moved to Berkeley on Tremont St.   Carl Jr. bought his parents a two story Victorian house on 57th. St. in Oakland, California. This was converted into two apartments, which earned income for Annie and Celso.

Annie died at the home on Tremont. St. in Berkeley, September 28, 1929.  She was cremated and interred in the Garden of Memories at the Memorial Columbarium on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland California.

Things I remember about Grandma.

1.    She would say, "There hain't no such word as ain't".

2.    She wore long black or gray skirts, high neck long sleeve white blouse and black vest.  When going shopping she always wore a wide brim black hat with a big bluish black feather on one side.  Her shoes were black and above the ankle closing with shoe buttons.

3.    She made cousin Helen and me identical white dresses trimmed in lace and pink ribbon that were very stylish in the late 1880's.  

4.    I remember Grandma giving me baths when I visited her on Tremont St. in Berkeley, in a four-legged white tub in one inch of water.  In those days there was a gas water heater that had to be lit with a match when hot water was needed.  So hot water was precious.

5.    Grandma had hair like corn silk and I loved to watch her brush her long hair every night.  She wore it with a bun on top of her head

6.    She made the biggest and best biscuits I have ever eaten and I loved her very much.