One Hundred Years Ago Today (June 13, 1911)

One hundred years ago today the United States was still three years away from the first of the world wars that would shape the nation forever.  In 1911, now 135 years old, the U.S. faced many challenges and opportunities.  

Looking back at 1911, U.S. historians would rank some of the most  important facts about 1911:

• U.S. unemployment was 7.6%
• A first class stamp was two cents
• Princeton University won the NCAA football championship (shared with Penn State University)
• British Physicist Edward Rutherford discovered the structure of the atom
• American Geneticist Thomas Morgan shows that inherited traits are related to genes located at specific sites along the chromosome

In the midwestern U.S., the state of Nebraska was only 44 years old after being granted statehood in 1867.  One extended family had already been settled in the state for nearly thirty years.  Attracted to the state by the U.S. Homestead Act signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, this family migrated to Nebraska seeking opportunity and a better life.  The Homestead Act promised inexpensive land to those who settled on the land for five years, built a home and began raising crops.

What seemed a great opportunity, came with significant hardship.  Most of the best farm land was owned by the railroad companies.  Only the marginal farm land was open to the new settlers coming to the region.  Growing crops was not easy and the Nebraska winters were cold, the summers hot and often so dry that no crops were harvested.  Most of these Homestead Act immigrants found the challenge too difficult and they moved on.

But one family living near the Fillmore County town of Geneva, persisted and did not give up.  Maybe they were too stubborn to seek other opportunities.  But persist they did and this family planted, harvested, and had children. On this day 100 years ago today (6/13/1911) into this extended family was born a son named Theodore Robert.

Probably named after U.S. president (1901-1909) Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Robert (Bob) grew up in a difficult time.  As a child, the challenges of World War I made all Americans sacrifice.  As a young man, growing up during the Great Depression made finding a job difficult.  But despite the challenges Bob fell in love and married a young women named Florence.  With limited opportunities in Nebraska, Bob, his young wife and their infant daughter Shirley moved to California. 

Bob was later urged by his Nebraska family to return and be the principal farmer of the Yates homestead farm.  He agreed and returned to Nebraska despite a growing income and opportunity in the California citrus industry.

Back in Nebraska, he farmed the land, raised award-winning corn and started a successful beef cattle business.  He and Florence had a second child named William Robert.  

That second child born to Bob and Florence was me, William Robert Yates.  I am so fortunate to be the son of a such a kind and hard working man as Bob Yates.  I am fortunate to have had a father who cherished his family and his faith.  I am proud of my parents and the Yates family that took on the challenge to move to Nebraska and then flourished through difficult times.

Today, Brain Posts takes a break from commentary on clinical neuroscience research. Today is a day I remember my father (pictured above) born 100 years ago today.  Dad, Shirley and I love you so very much.  Although you have been gone for over 40 years, the Yates family lives on and we all strive to live up to the example of your life.

Photo above of Bob Yates watching as his corn wins highest yield competition courtesy of Yates Photography.  Photo below of me and my parents Bob and Florence Yates also courtesy of Yates Photography.  

Source for historical information on 1911 from Wikipedia.