CCSiegel – Roma Mary Grace

Fred Rasa & the Bank of Florence

On April 8, 1918, the Bank of Florence was founded by a group of local businessmen in Florence, Missouri, a town of approximately one hundred men and women. The organization was formed with H.A. Bremer as president, F. H. Rasa, vice-president, and P.W. Buehler as cashier. Frederick Henry Rasa, (1873-1937) was a farmer, stock dealer, businessman, civic leader, and my great grandfather. While it remained financially sound, the Florence Bank directors made the decision to permanently close the bank on November 9, 1934. At that time the bank held $45,125 resources.

Grandpa Siegel & His Cars

RMG Blog / By Michelle Spencer

November 5th marked the 135th birthday of Carl Christian Siegel, my maternal grandfather. To celebrate I wanted to highlight one of the things I have noticed while digitizing family photos- grandpa liked cars! There are many photos of Grandpa and his family with cars so I thought I would share a few today. Not being a connoisseur of old cars, I haven’t identified most so if you can recognize the make and model or have a memory related to it, shout it out in the comments. But first a little history behind automobiles….

Three Young Women, Gone Too Soon

1 Comment / RMG Blog / By Michelle Spencer

Several months ago, a friend from Florence, Missouri, asked if I knew about the deaths of three women in the United Church of Christ Cemetery. All three had been married but died as young wives. She wondered if I knew their stories. I knew one, and immediately went to work on the other two. May their stories never been forgotten.

A Day of Remembrance

RMG Blog / By Michelle Spencer

Today is a special day for me and for Roma Mary Grace. Thirty-one years ago today Roma Clara Josephine Rasa Siegel left the physical world and became a guardian angel. She was a mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend to many. To me she was an inspiration and since that day I have often felt her presence in my life. In her hometown of Florence, Missouri, Roma was not only the keeper of family memories, she was known as local historian.