1909
DW: [name_f]Ebba[/name_f] [name_u]Merritt[/name_u] (Kidd) [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 43
DH: [name_m]Haskell[/name_m] [name_u]Larkin[/name_u] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 46
DD: [name_u]Gabriele[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 21 (single)
DS: [name_u]Temple[/name_u] [name_m]Verner[/name_m] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 21
- DW: [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f] Medousa (Loden) [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 20
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- DS: [name_m]Errol[/name_m] [name_m]Lyman[/name_m] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], infant
DD: [name_f]Zibiah[/name_f] Merob [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 18
- Courting: [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] McKinley [name_m]Anthem[/name_m], 26
DD: [name_f]Marilla[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 10
DD: [name_f]Orly[/name_f] Brionie [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 9
DS: [name_f]Lovis[/name_f] [name_m]Aldrick[/name_m] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 9
DS: [name_m]Solon[/name_m] [name_u]Perry[/name_u] [name_u]Banks[/name_u], 2
In this calmer decade, the [name_u]Banks[/name_u] family continues to grow rapidly. Soon after Marilla’s birth, [name_f]Ebba[/name_f] becomes pregnant with another set of twins who are born in 1900, which the family takes as good luck for the next century. These twins are named [name_f]Orly[/name_f] and [name_f]Lovis[/name_f], and they both become cunning troublemakers who are inseparable. The farm continues to expand after the birth of the twins, and all energy is focused on running the property as they buy more land. With six children already, and entering their 40s, [name_f]Ebba[/name_f] and [name_m]Haskell[/name_m] decide to stop having children. They focus on growing the farm and building up more of a reputation in their community, becoming established voices. However, in 1907, a surprise baby boy is born, and he is named [name_m]Solon[/name_m], being the sweetest and calmest of the seven [name_u]Banks[/name_u] children as the youngest of all.
The three oldest children, [name_u]Gabriele[/name_u], [name_u]Temple[/name_u], and [name_f]Zibiah[/name_f], are now all 18 or older. [name_u]Gabriele[/name_u] is independent, with dreams of someday becoming a doctor and moving to the big city. However, [name_f]Ebba[/name_f] and [name_m]Haskell[/name_m] try to convince her to stick around and marry in town, and thus [name_u]Gabriele[/name_u] remains single, conflicted between her family and her dreams. Her twin brother [name_u]Temple[/name_u], however, is not so conflicted, loving the town and wanting to continue the [name_u]Banks[/name_u] family there as the eldest son. He marries a childhood friend a year younger than him in 1907, named [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]. [name_m]Haskell[/name_m] gives them a small plot of his land where they build their own home, and in 1909 they have their first child, a little boy named [name_m]Errol[/name_m]. Finally, a man in his mid 20s named [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_m]Anthem[/name_m] is courting [name_f]Zibiah[/name_f] after the death of his first wife. [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] has an established farm in the next town over, and while [name_f]Zibiah[/name_f] is not in love with him she knows such a marriage would give her a comfortable life. Thus the two are courting as 1909 comes to a close.