This is a story about a family out of the Modern Middle-Age Passage that raised above many challenges with courage and strength. Wesley Howell, the patriarch of the family, was born on September 4th1920, in the same hometown as Oprah Winfrey (Kosciusko), Mississippi. At a young age, he knew he wanted a life and family with Rosie Lee Harmon, who said, "I Will Marry You One Day". Rosie Lee Harmon, the Matriarch of the family, was born in 1925 in Canton, Mississippi. She grew up in Church, Teaching Sunday School at her local Church. She was devoted to her family and community, aspiring to be a dedicated member of her Church, Community, and family.
During the Start of World War II, Wesley, at the young age of 22, joined the US Army on December 13th 1942, as a (Military Police Officer). Stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, he served 2 years, 6 months, and 11 days. While serving in the US Army, Wesley kept his promise and married Rosie Lee in Canton, Ohio, on October 16th 1943.
Their life in Canton, Ohio, started after living in Mississippi during dark and difficult times, picking cotton to survive and avoiding Highly Racially charged communities. This made it very difficult to live and find work. Wesley and Rose eagerly join many other black families searching for a better life, deciding to take that emotional and Memorable Modern-Middle-Age Passage to Canton, Ohio, then to the Windy City "Chicago" in 1945.
While in Chicago, many black families relocated to the South-Side of town and worked at many of the businesses located nearby. Wesley found a job working at Chicago Slaughter Houses near the South Western side of the city, near 47th & Halsted. His brother J.B. also worked there with many blacks who migrated from the South looking for a better life. During this time, life for many black families was good. They lived in Chicago, enjoying more freedom than they ever had, living in the South. Wesley and many black men worked regular jobs and provided for their families, which was an honor and daily standard for all of the black families looking for a better life and a piece of the American Dream.
Now, Wesley and Rose were very excited about their new life in the Big, Windy City of Chicago. Many new experiences captured their young lives, being young and in love and with a new home in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Wesley and Rose soon began to visit the local clubs and nightlife, which was new and exciting in their young marriage. Wesley and Rose partied every weekend, and when the party and dancing were not happening, you could count on card games at their house with friends and family. One particular card game that was played on regular bases was "Bid Whist".
After several years of working in the slaughter house, Wesley decided to start a new career as an independent taxi driver. This new job provided a new way for Wesley to support his wife and start his family, and shortly thereafter, Stanley, the first son, was born.
