Bayard Collier Thompson/Carmiencke was the first born son of Bayard Taylor Thompson and Alice B. Collier. Alice divorced Bayard ca. 1915 and married Albert Greenleaf Carmiencke who adopted Bayard Collier at the age of 10. We may never know what it was like to be Bayard Collier Carmiencke, Sr, and can only guess at the troubles he felt by the divorce and into marrage in the "Great Depression." He was frustrated at being too young for WWI and too old to serve in the military during WWII; All we can say is that he sadly had a nervous breakdown and died of cancer in 1957 at the young age of 52. His oldest son has one beautiful warm memory of sitting on his father's knees overlooking the Hudson River in Croton, NY., and being told a wonder science fiction type story of an advanced civilization under the surface of the earth, with monorail trains etc. The entrance to this wonder kingdom was at the base of an old oak tree. We pray that he goes from strength to strength in the Kingdom of God.
Bayard Collier Thompson/Carmiencke with his family in Floral Park, Queens, NY. ca. 1941.
Bayard Collier with Step-Father Albert Greenleaf Carmiencke; Below: Half-Brother, Lindon Bates
Carmiencke
Nana, Half-Brother Lindon and friend ca. 1925
Above: Pop at Farmingdale
School
Above: Letter of recommedation after
release from Otis Elevator 1930
A part of the continuing mystery of Great-Grand-pop hidden from his descendants, because of the divorce of his mother and subsequent adoption by his Stepfather Albert Greenleaf Carmiencke, is this certificate of literacy.
He must have graduated from High School, because we know he attended the Agricultural College at Farmingdale, L.I., New York. So why did he need a certificate of literacy?
