stamatia
I remember when I began jewelry classes in Art School, and my Yiayia (grandmother) gave me a pink and black shoebox. It was filled with metalworking tools, like files and bits of sandpaper. There were scraps of sterling silver and small stones. Hidden within were little unfinished projects that she had begun: wax-molded rings cast of silver dollars, bent wire shapes, and cutouts. This beautiful moment, searching through the pink and black treasure chest, revealed evidence of a talent shared between generations.
I am inspired by the idea of strength, creativity, and character being passed from parent to child repeatedly throughout the decades. Not only through DNA, but by encouragement and nurturing. Because my family believes in me, I am proud to honor them by naming the product of my passion, my company, “Stamatia.” A family name.
greek immigration
My great-grandmother, Stamatia Andarakis Michalas, is pictured above with her husband George Michalas and two of their daughters, Maria and Cleopatra. Maria is my Yiayia, the cutie in front. She married Peter Varvares, and they had four children: three boys and one girl, my mother, Theodora Stamatia Varvares.
Stamatia Andarakis arrived at Ellis Island, New York on August 23, 1920, on the ship Themistocles. She was 24 years old. Many Greeks immigrated to the United States at this time to escape conflict with the Turks in their homelands. Stamatia’s family lived in Smyrna (Asia Minor), and escaped massacre by fleeing to an island off the coast of Tsesme. She was finally able to join her fiancée George Michalas, who came to America 6 years earlier to establish his business as a tailor, and they settled in St. Louis, Missouri.
iron in the blood
This is a picture of Jefferson L. McNemee, my great-great-grandfather on my father’s side. Jefferson was a Blacksmith. He was born in 1846 in St. Joseph, Missouri and worked in Doniphan County, Kansas. One of Jefferson’s eight children, Agnes Mae, gave birth to Albert Lee Hiles, my grandpa. Albert Lee and Maxine Hiles had two sons, with my dad, Bruce Richard, being the youngest. Dad has been instrumental in building this website and in providing lifelong artistic support. Again I find evidence of hereditary interests in my love of forging and welding, and in a distant relative who was a Blacksmith.
Jefferson’s father, John McNemee b. 1816 - d. 1902, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. Information supporting identification of his parents and siblings would be appreciated. Our best guess currently is that his parents were Adam G. McNamee and Catherine Grove. My great-great-great grandfather Henry Hiles b. abt. 1797 in Pennsylvania-d. 1886 in Braddyville, Iowa is also without documentation of his parents and siblings. Please contact me if you have information.