Ries Walder; a gate way to our ancestry. He represented courage and perseverance during a time when African Americans were degraded, deprived, dejected and demoralized all because of the color of their skin.  He exemplified fatherhood by working hard as a farmer to provide for his family.

In 1861, Annie Gray was born in Georgia.  She was the mother who birthed our generations into existence; a contributor to the foundation of our family.

It's not known how old Ries was when he moved from South Carolina to Georgia.  He met Annie Gray when she was 14 or 15 years old in Georgia.  He bought her some shoes and a dress and married her around 1880 in the State of Georgia. From this union 17 children were born, 10 boys and 7 girls.  Of the 17 children, 2 boys; Walter and Willie and 2 girls; Carrie (twin to Clara) and Addie apparently died in early childhood .  Another three (names unknown), apparatently died in infancy. The remaining children were: Mary, Maude, Ries Jr., Ira, Blanche, John, Eddie, Clara, Charles and Ellis.

The story has it that Annie was of Irish/Cherokee descent.  She was a very fair skinned woman, big boned and known for her strength in handling those sons of hers who were some peculiar characters in their own right.  Family historians tell a story of when the boys would go into town and cut up, word would get back to Annie and she would go into town, round them up and "manhandle" them all the way back home.  Annie was well respected in the town where they lived and people looked out for her sons.

Ries on the other hand was tall, lean and very dark skinned.  He was known to be low key and quiet, but no one bothered to confront him because he would let them "have it", so to speak.  Now, if you can think back in that era, a black man standing up against opposition during those times was a brave and courageous act.  Great Grandpa must have been blessed with Holy boldness because as family stories describe his characteristics he did not appear to be intimidated by the way of life that was dictated at that time.

Around the 1900's the family moved to Okfuskee, Oklahoma in the Township of Boley.  Story has it that Ries and Annie obtained approximately 80 acres of farm land.  Together they raised their children on the farm and Ries did general farming.  By 1910 Ries and Annie had been married for 30 years and only 11 of their children were living.

Most of the remaining children moved to California around 1941.  Ries also moved to California and lived with his daughter Clara Walder-Lawrence (Aunt Doll) in Bakersfield.  It is not clear why Ries came to California without Annie.  Some speculate that because they were an interracial couple they could not be seen traveling together.  Racism was high and vivid not only in the South, but in certain parts of the Northern states as well.  It is told that even Bakersfield was a densely segregated town back in the day.  Others say that Annie died in Oklahoma and Ries then moved to California.  What ever the reason, Ries remained living in California until his death in 1950.  The year of Annie's death is unknown.

The Walder children made their home in Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California where they lived the rest of their lives.  Most of them married and had families of their own.  And that is how we all come together as a family today.  Each and every one of us is a descendent of Ries and Annie Walder and related in some way.