Grandma Ethel Ema – A Mystery
by Elouise
Ethel Ema Eckel, Feb 1889 – Jan 1918
This elegant woman has been frozen in my mind most of my life. Hanging on the wall just like this. I don’t know when this picture was taken.
I’ve seen only two other photos of her. One was taken a year after she married Grandpa Renich, my Dad’s father. She went with Grandpa to Korea as a missionary. Here it is.
Ethel Eckel Renich in Korea, 1911
It was this photo, in fact, that got me more than a little interested in knowing more about her. The contrast between before and after is stark.
The other was taken of her in a TB sanatorium, surrounded by others visiting her, I assume, on her death-bed. A formal, somber photo. If I find it, I’ll post it, too.
When I was growing up, I rarely heard about Grandma Ethel—except that she died of TB. The year she died, Dad was 4 1/2 years old. He didn’t remember much about her.
Ethel Ema Eckel married my grandfather in May 1910. She died in January 1918, only 28 years old. She’d given birth to five children; my father was the third-born.
I love mystery stories. Grandma Ethel’s life is a mystery. I have hunches and ideas, but not much data, and precious few stories about her.
During the last few weeks I’ve begun poring through old family records, looking for anything that might help me find a link from her to my father and to me. I know of two: My grandfather, and TB. Perhaps there are more? I’m certain there are.
Why is it so important? Without it, my story has gaping holes. I can speculate, but I’d really like more to go on than a beautiful portrait and a few bleak photos.
I also care about women’s history. We’re far more than sometimes sparse records seem to indicate. I’m not on a major research project here. Just a woman wanting to know more about her ancestress.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 28 July 2015
Family Photos from formal portrait and photo album
Telling the Truth 
Thank you for posting this. What a wonderful picture of your grandmother. I am a grandson of a Methodist missionary to Korea, Victor Wellington Peters, and am working on a project to preserve the legacy of these wonderful people.
May God bless you richly!
Byron
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Hi, Byron. Your comment sent me back to that early post. Still a mystery. Your grandfather’s name is awesome! I wish you well in your research and writing. It’s a period and place most people have never heard about. I fear my paternal grandfather was not a good fit for the task. He was quite the tyrant with his family. But that’s another story. Blessings to you as well!
Elouise
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Hi, Elouise. I have a connection with Andong ,Korea. I lived there over 50 years ago as a Presby. missionary kid.
I saw several mentions of your grandmother, Ethel Renich, in a book I just got—the book is Opening of the Andong Presbyterian mission 1909-1911-From the Papers of Sadie and Arthur Welbon by Priscilla Welbon Ewy.
. It-can be bought from Amazon. There is a wedding photo of the Renichs in the book and SEVERAL REFERENCES to her. Ethel, your grandmother, talks about her new baby, Elizabeth, in a letter. She was a neighbor of Sadie Welbon, another missionary in Andong.
Hope this will be helpful.. My family left Andong for Taejon when I was very young so I don’t remember much about it.
Alice Kingsbury Keene, NH
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Dear Alice,
I’m so grateful for your comment! I’m also astonished that you found my old post about Grandma Ethel! Sadly, she had to return to the USA due to her health. She died of tuberculosis with family members around her bed. My father was the only child (of 11) who had TB. She was the first wife (5 children), followed by a second wife. My paternal Grandfather wasn’t known for being a kind father. Very sad indeed. I’m going to check out the book you’re reading,and see what I can learn.
Elouise
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