Benjamin Rush, 1746-1813. Except for a cousin who once got into a barfight with Jack Ruby, our family doesn’t talk about being related to famous people. Except for Dr. Rush. My mother says she thought about naming me for him. Mom, Rush O’Keefe thanks you.James Arthur Nichols Isch, my grandfather.Mr. and Mrs. James Arthur Nichols Isch (Agnes, or “Mubo”), my grandparents in McGehee, Arkansas. I never met my grandfather, but Mubo was great. As exotic as it sounds (especially for South Arkansas), my grandfather was Jewish and Mubo was Catholic. My other grandparents (below) were Baptist and Presbyterian. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?Benjamin Shelby Matthews (whom I WAS named for). Shelby Matthews (lower right) with his brothers Bill, Earl, and stepbrother Hugh Dawson.Mary McDonald Matthews, grandmotherMary Matthews and her sistersMatt (second from right) with cousins (from left) Sue Pitt, Chuck Dodds, Shelby Kaider), Pennye Presley (on blanket), Drew Presley, Nick Isch in El Dorado around 1956.With brother Nick in McGehee, Arkansas (probably around 1957)With brother Nick and cousins Drew and Pennye Presley in Baton Rouge, 1959.With Mom (Anne Isch) and Nick in our new Easter clothes in Batesville in 1961.Schatzie, World’s Greatest Dog. (Don’t try to tell me that she wasn’t part of the family.)With Nick, Michele, and Meghan in San Francisco, around 2000.With Nick, Michele, and Meghan in New Albany, Mississippi, 2003Baton Rouge Thanksgiving in the 1980’s. For some context, Meghan (the baby) was born in 1985. Front: Brian Spears, son of cousin Ralph, Kathryn Schopfer (second cousin), Jimmy Spears (son of cousin Ralph, Mary Matthews (grandmother). Back Row Left to Right: Carlton Spears (uncle), Pennye Presley (cousin), Chuck Dodds (cousin), Charles Dodds (uncle), Mary Elizabeth Spears (aunt), Bettye Anne Mahony (second cousin), Eleanor Dodds (aunt), Patricia Spears (cousin Bob’s wife), David Presley (cousin), Anne Isch (mother), Bob Spears (cousin), Michele Isch (sister-in-law), Meghan Wilmoth (niece), Arralee Presley (aunt), Nick Isch (brother). Joe Presley (uncle), Ralph Spears (cousin), David’s ex-wife, David Presley (cousin), Tim Bratton (Shelby’s ex-husband), Shelby Bratton (cousin). I guess I was taking the picture.
