Neils Miller PEDERSEN

                       THIS IS MY SWEET GRANDFATHER ON MY FATHER'S SIDE.  I WAS HIS FIRST GRAND-
    CHILD AND HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO TEACH ME.  HE MADE SURE I SAID ELEVEN
    CORRECTLY.  HE WAS THE FAMILY BARBER AND EVERYONT CAME TO HIM FOR THE BOYS
    AND SONS HAIRCUTS.  HE WAS A LARGE MAN, SIX FEET TWO INCHES TALL AND WELL
    OVER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS.  HE WAS ABLE TO MEET HIS FIRST GREAT
    GRAND SON BEFORE HE DIED.  HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL CRITICALLY ILL WHEN REED
    WAS SIXWEEKS OLD AND WE TOOK REED TO MEET HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER.  GRANDFATHER
    WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIS NEWEST LITTLE BOY, HE SMILLED AND RAISED HIS ARMS
    TO TOUCH AND HOLD HIM BUT WAS SO WEAK THAT HIS ARMS FELL BACK ON TO THE
    BED.  HE WAS A GREAT MAN.  NOT TOO RELIGIOUS BUT A MAN OF GREAT COMPASSION
    AND LOVE.
    FOR AN OCCUPATION HE RAN A SECOND HAND STORE.  IT WAS LOCATED ON STATE
    STREET AND WAS CALLED THE CHECKER STORE, BECAUSE A GAME OF CHECKERS WAS
    ALWAYS IN PROGRESS THERE.  IT WAS A PLACE WHERE MANY PEOPLE CAME JUST TO
    TALK AND PLAY A GAME OF CHECKERS.  I'M NOT SURE OF THE LIVING HE MADE, BUT
    I GUESS I WAS SUFFICENT FOR HIS AND GRANDMOTHER HANNAH'S NEEDS.  I KNOW MY
    FATHER HELPED THEM WITH MONEY AND FOOD ITEMS ALL OF HIS LIFE. AND AFTER
    HIS DEATH MY MOTHER GAVE GRANDMOTHER HANNAH $50.00 A MONTH TO HELP HER
    SURVIVE.