Fresh Starts

Hello again, for anyone that's still reading my sparce little blog. I noticed over the course of three years, I've only written 86 blog posts. I was most consistent in 2015 when I, along with my SIL, tried to blog along with No Story Too Small by writing a blog post each week after being given a prompt. That year I wrote a total of 38 posts. I feel a little burned out, or researched out, as far as my own line is concerned and this year I thought I might use the 52 Ancestors prompts to blog about my step-parents and their lines. I have two siblings from my step-mom and one from my step-dad, and maybe they would like to know a little about the lines we don't share.

This week the prompt is fresh starts and I figured this new focus could give me a fresh start on my blog starting with my brother, Tyler's 3rd great grandparents, Joseph Jackson Gossett and Lillie Belle Childers.

Joseph Jackson Gossett was the 8th of at least 12 children born to Levi Jackson Gossett and Harriet Meranda Couch. He was born in 1872 in Coleman County Texas.

Lillie Belle Childers was the daughter of Willis William Childers (sometimes misspelled as Childress) and Lottie Windham. Lille was born 16 April 1887 in Mississippi, most likely in or near Kemper County where the family was enumerated in 1880.

By 1900, three year old Lillie, along with her family were living in Rains County, Texas while her soon to be husband Joe was living with his family some 200 miles away in Throckmorton County, Texas.

On 03 March 1907 they somehow came together in Montague County, Texas and were joined in holy matrimony.

The next thirty years would be spent in Texas. Montague and Garza Counties, respectively. They would have at least 7 children, and bury at least two. The 1910 Montague census only lists Joe, Lillie and six month old Daisy (Tyler's great grandmother). But Lillie is marked as the mother of two children, only one living. And in April 1933 their son Willis Hugh Gossett, at the young age of  17 died from kidney failure; specifically acute parenchymatous nephritis. He is buried at Terrace Cemetery in Post, Garza County, Texas.

I wonder if this is what prompted for them to leave Texas to make a fresh start in California. As a mother I couldn't imagine leaving my buried children behind so soon after burying them. Just a few short years later this older couple with their two youngest children, Edward Arnold  (18) and William Carl (15), along with their married daughter Nell and her husband Acie Forston, can be found living in Ontario, San Bernardino, California in the 1940 census, stating that they lived in Pomona California in 1935.

Acie Forston is found twice in the 1940 census. Once living with his in-laws and the other living as a boarder in the home of Fred and Helen Chance also of Ontario. His age is listed  a good 10 years older and he says he lived in Garza, Texas in 1935.

Joseph and Lillie can indeed be found in the Pomona directory for the year 1937. He is listed as a laborer and they live at 678 E State Street. They can be found in the directory living at that same place for the following two years.




Then living on Washington Street in Ontario, California for the year 1940. As you will see below in voter registration records.

The next record found is Lillie's obituary. From The San Bernardino County Sun, Saturday, 17 April 1942.

1942

Newspaper articles would suggest that Joseph soon remarried to a Sarah Stewart Lee but by July of 1944 he charged cruelty and asked for a divorce.

After this I find very little mentioned, aside from the obituaries of Joseph's siblings listing him as a survivor.

Joseph Gossett would live 26 years after the death of his wife and alone bury at least two more children, Daisy Bird Gossett Moore in 1949 and Edward Arnold Gossett in 1955 who died from injuries sustained in a wreck.

At the time of Daisy's death she had two children. Marian Marie who was 20 and Jimmy Dale who was only 10.

Here is the city directory for Elmer and Daisy the year she died.

Joseph Gossett registered as a Democrat in the years 1938, 1940, 1950, 1952, and 1950. Most likely voting for Truman in '48. His address changed with each registration. Here, in 1950, he lived on Cucamonga Ave, in '52 1035 E A St, and in '54 1033 East A Street.

I did find one record where his wife, Lillie, registered as a Republican in '38 but she was a Democrat again come '40 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected over Wendell Willkie

As you saw from the obituary for Lillie, she was taken home to Texas to be buried where her son Willis and other family were buried. Joseph, on the other hand, at the age of 84, was buried in Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario, San Bernardino County, California where at least two of his sons are buried, also.

Until next time,
Becky

The Great Listen -- Test

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving Day at my husband's parents' house and then with my mom on the following Saturday. While at my mom's house I sat down to interview her parents using an app on my phone called StoryCorp.   This app is very user friendly. You can use your own questions, or there is a multitude of questions they have for you to choose from. If you choose their questions they will pop up on your screen with a little check mark in the bottom corner for you to tap after that question has been answered. Then the next question will show up -- like digital index cards. Your interview can be as long as 45 minutes and I have found the audio to be pretty good quality. Once your interview is complete and you have given it a title, summary, and chosen a few tags/keywords/labels you can then choose to download it to your device or upload it to the StoryCorp website. Once it is uploaded to the website there is an option to share it and there is even an embed code to add to your own personal website or blog, which is something I am very excited about.

Whether or not genealogy is your thing, I encourage you to take the time to sit down and listen to your family members. Have your children interview you. Interview your children. Are you going on a long road trip? Pass the time interviewing one another.


I plan on adding a transcription as I get time. To listen to the interview from the StoryCorp website click here.



Until next time,
Becky

The Chillicothe Constitution 15 May 1936 Newspapers.com

Transcription:


Interviewer: This is Becky Drake and I am interviewing my Grandma and Grandpa Melson, Thanksgiving 2017 (Sat 11/25/2017). We are in Siloam Springs, Arkansas



Becky Drake: Ok. Grandpa, what was Thanksgiving like when you were growing up? And where did you celebrate it?


Leroy Melson: Always at my mom's house. Always good. Seems like we always had company.


Becky: So cousins came over?


Leroy: Her sister, Aunt Bea. You probably know about her


Becky: Yeah


Leroy: They were always there. Especially during the war, they was around us all the time, while Dennis was in the war.


Becky: Yeah


Leroy: We always had it together most of the time. They lived about half a mile up the road... quarter mile... half a mile... quarter and a half mile up the road (laughs).


Becky: Was this in Oark?


Leory: Eh, out on the mountain there, South of Oark.


Becky: Okay. Did Grandpa's family ever come or just Grandma's family? Did Grandpa's brothers or sister ever come?


Leroy: Yeah, Tobe and Annie, his brother and his wife, come once, once for sure, pretty regular, I can't remember how many times but they was there.


Becky: What kind of food did she cook? What kind of food did your mom cook, for Thanksgiving?


Leroy: Uhh, we had a pecan pie always.


Becky: Always had a pecan pie.


Leroy: Because we had a pecan tree out in the yard.


Becky: Oh really? Neat!


Leroy: I would gather them up, crack them, and she'd make 'em. She made them pretty..every little bit ... every time I wanted one all I had to do was crack out a couple of nuts and she's make me one.


Becky: Wow, that's great. What about you, Grandma, what was the first Thanksgiving you remember?


Reba: Really I can't remember any when I was at home that they was anything different than just a regular day. I don't think that we made a big thing out of Thanksgiving.


Leroy: After we got married I spent Thanksgiving at her house. They celebrated Thanksgiving (referencing the fact that they were married the day before Thanksgiving 1955).


Reba: Yeah sometimes


Leroy: Her mother (surely bound to before ?)


Becky: Your sister said you guys didn't celebrate birthdays much either, so you just didn't many holidays at all?


Reba: No


Becky: Huh, was that just your family or just that area or...?


Reba: None of my family did ya know momma's brothers or sisters and them, it just wasn't any different than any other day.


Leroy: I remember we always had pork of some kind Momma always butchered a hog right before Thanksgiving.


Becky: Yeah, I had read somewhere where a lot of people butchered their hogs right around Thanksgiving.


Reba: But after we got married, we celebrated it. And we would go over to Momma's and Daddy's a lot of times at Thanksgiving after we got married.


Leroy: And deer hunted.


Reba: Yeah


Leroy: That was when we lived in Tulsa


Becky: When you lived in Tulsa you'd go back and deer hunt?


Leroy: Yeah, during that Thanksgiving season. Three days. Got three days deer season.


Becky: What do you remember most about your mom, Grandma Bondell? What do you remember most about her?


Leroy: Ah, she worked all the time. SHe was busy all the time. And she'd always... I remember when I used to smoke... and hiding out smoking and she'd give me, she got to where she'd give me quarter so I could buy a pack of cigarettes.


Becky: Really? She would pay so you could have cigarettes? Wow.


Leroy: Cigarettes was 21 cents, 22 cents, and they'd have 3 pennies down the side of the package.


Becky: Really?
Leroy: Yeah. And uh, the machines, put a quarter in the machine and you get a pack of cigarrettes with 3 or 4 pennies in it up the side.

Thanksgiving Past

Its nearly Thanksgiving and once again as I get ready to prepare my portion of the numerous meals I will be attending over the next few days, my mind always travels back to the food served at my Mammy's house at Thanksgiving. There are a few items I miss dearly every year because they just aren't made or served at other family gatherings. And there are a few items that are served and always take me back and I can remember just the person who brought it when I was growing up.

This post is going to be my attempt at preserving my memory of my childhood (think pre-teen) Thanksgivings. The morning would be early. Dad and I would get up and bottle feed any calves he may of had at the house. Then we would head to "the mountain" where he owned land and kept his cattle herd. We may have needed to put out hay depending on the weather or just drive through and do a head count and check on any new or expectant mothers. Then I would be dropped off to the busy scene taking place at my Mammy's (his mom), while he would go about tending to any other chores.

As I've written before, before age 12, I spent every other weekend with my Mammy. I was dropped off Friday night and would stay all day Saturday and then would be taken back early Sunday morning for church and would stay for lunch and a few hours afterwards. When I would walk in her door it was often pretty quiet. You might hear the radio coming from the kitchen or the hiss and bobble of her pressure cooker, and maybe, just maybe, her singing along with that radio when you first came in. But on Thanksgiving there was much more noise going on. The TV would be on getting ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, younger kids would be scattered, and Mammy, Aunt Cathy and Aunt Jeannie would be busy bees in the kitchen. The house was WARM and overtaken with smells of food. So much food.

There were 9 grandkids when I was growing up: Mitch, Amie, Jennifer, Me, Jeff, Jeremy, Mandi, April and Matt.  And in my mind we were "grouped" like this. Mitch was the oldest and separated from any other boys by at least 7 years. He was usually with his Dad or Bampy doing chores. Then there was "the girls" Amie, Jen, and myself who would help out setting the table, fixing glasses, things like these. Then there were "the boys" Jeff and Jeremy (brothers) who were often hunting with their Dad, Uncle Tom. Then there were the young ones - Mandi, April and Matty Pat, playing and occupying themselves in the back part of the house. [This is how I remember it-- Of course things change as we age and start having jobs, and boyfriends and girlfriends. But this is my default memory - probably late 80's early 90's]

When you entered Mammy's house you were in her 'dining room' where she had her large oval table often covered in a white lace table cloth. She had a china cabinet that housed her special dishes. I'm trying to get a picture from Aunt Jeannie, of the pattern. Until then, I think these are what they looked like. Johnson Brother's Heritage Hall Collection.

I was close in the image above. Here are the pictures sent by Aunt Jeannie


These dishes were only used on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was also able to find this add in the 1982 Sears and Roebuck Spring Catalog:





 She also had a special silverware set we used on these holidays. They were kept in the original wooden box similar to the one pictured below:

And we used red drinking glasses like these (red was one of her favorite colors - her carpet was also red).



Then the long buffet tables were brought out (sometimes set up in the middle of the living room -- sometimes in the dining room against the sliding glass door). They were draped with a flat sheet that had a pretty pattern and is where the grandchildren sat. There were usually 18-20 of us total. We required lots of room.

Now for the meal and who I remember making it. I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong. Some I am dead certain of - others not so much:

The Turkey and Ham - Mammy, Cathy, or Jeannie. It seems like Cathy made at least one of them (I think the Ham) it may have changed from year to year.

Then there was giblet gravy, and glaze for the ham (Aunt Jeannie made the glaze - and is hand down one of the things I miss every year - I've asked for her recipe and am patiently waiting..... I know it had pineapple juice, brown sugar, and mustard -- I was right minus one thing. Vinegar. And just like many of us she doesn't measure she just mixes and tastes til it's just right ). I'm not sure who made the gravy.

The dressing - Mammy or Cathy(?) -- I hope someone chimes in and helps me out here. Then there was the typical stuff-- we had mashed potatoes, corn (mixed cans of regular corn and creamed corn), green beans (not the casserole). Rolls (sometimes homemade - most often just the brown and serve rolls)

Then there was Aunt Lynn's Sweet Potato Casserole (another favorite):

Mix together:

• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg; slightly beaten

• 1/2 stick butter; soft

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

Topping: Melt one stick butter. Add one cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup chopped pecans. Mix together and sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake in 350° oven for 30- 35 minutes.

[Now whenever my brother-in-law's parent's join us at the Drake Thanksgiving, his mom Joyce makes this and hers is nearly the same thing -- if not exactly.] 

There was always a pickle tray with both black and green olives (Jenny loved the black olives and would put them on her fingers.), sweet and baby dills, sometimes mammy's mock apple rings, and there were always pickled beets (another favorite of mine).

Below is a recipe I have used from a cookbook Mammy gave me one year or Christmas.





Then there was Mammy's stuffed celery sticks. Man I loved those. I've never had them anywhere other than her house except for two maybe three occasions where Dawna made them for me. They're a unique item and are nearly impossible to find a recipe that mimics hers online. I've never felt like many would enjoy them or be adventurous enough to try them to find out so I haven't ever made them myself to take places. But this year I am taking them and one other Mammy item - for the sheer reason that I'm nostalgic and get a terrible "homesick" feeling every year around this time. If nobody likes them but me - that's okay. Because I love them.

Now this recipe may or may not be hers - it is the best I have come up with:

Mammy's Stuffed Celery

• 4 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese

• 5 Tbsp mayo (heaping)

• 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix together and stuff into cleaned prepared 3" lengths of celery.

Then there were her Ham and Cream Cheese Pickle Wraps

All she did to make those was take a slice of wafer meat (ham) and add a bit of cream cheese down the center. She then would place a pickle spear on top and roll. Voila!

And funny enough while scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day, a souped up version of her little appetizer came up. I plan on trying the new version this year simply because I made a batch of jalapeno jelly and need ways to use it. Here it is from Better Homes & Gardens.





And then finally there was dessert. I will never be able to list all the desserts. I'm sure I will forget some. I know we had pecan, pumpkin, and chocolate pies, banana pudding, a jello salad (with marshmallows and nuts, maybe cottage cheese). Mammy LOVED that kind of salad. Here is my maternal great grandmother Bondell's recipe in her own handwriting on the back of an envelope:

Below is a recipe Mammy circled in one of her old cook books she gave me. She may have used this one:



I think Amie would make a chocolate cake, and sometimes made an apple pie. I think there was cherry as well and a cheese cake too. But my all time favorite was Grandma Nall's mincemeat pie. I think she and I were the only one's that liked it. But I'm glad she brought it because it was great. That pie filling was one of the first things I made when I started canning.

Pear Mincemeat
by Willie Nall (pg 31 of "Cook Book; Favorite Recipes From Our Best Cooks")
Fun Fact: This is a pie filling - a dessert. Because of the name 'mincemeat' the people who put the cook book together placed it under the heading: Main dishes - Egg, Casserole, Cheese, Pasta. Since I'm the only one in my family who cares for this, and while I'm not above doing so, I don't usually make entire pies just for myself; I have used it as an add-in to a warm bowl of oatmeal or on my pancakes.

7lbs pears, cut up, not peeled
1 orange, not peeled, cut up
2 lemons, not peeled, cut up
2lb raisins, 1/2 ground, 1/2 whole
5 c. sugar
3/4 c. vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
2 lb oleo (this must be a typo - I think it should read 2 Tbsp)
Cook 30 minutes and seal in hot jars.

I have two jars left from that batch and guess what... I'm making this - even if I have to eat the entire thing myself.

This is the best I can do at recreating the memories that flood back to me this time of year. In raising my kids it sometimes seems like we haven't really had much in the way of tradition when it comes to Thanksgiving. They aren't all 3 at the same place at the same time year after year. But maybe they will remember it differently. I have asked them to list their favorite food items and who makes them in hopes that they can get the recipes for when they become older and make Thanksgiving their own.


Hashbrown Casserole, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole and Sister Schubert's Parker Rolls from Nanny Nay Nay's,  Buttermilk Pie from Grandma Reba, Aunt Lisa's cream corn, Nan's leftover turkey salad for sandwiches, Nan's coleslaw, Grandma Marilyn's Possom Pie and Minnie's Oreo Pie.

This is all they could come up with in the hussle and bussle of getting ready before school while their mom peppers them with questions about things they don't really care about or understand in the moment. We have recipes for several of the items but if you made the list and haven't already hand written them, I would appreciate that. I think Grandma Reba's Buttermilk Pie is the only one I have that's hand written.

Do you have any favorite recipes that are unique only to your family? If so, I encourage you to snag up those recipes from those who make them, if they're willing to share, because some day you will want to recreate memories and serve certain foods and you will really wish you had that recipe.

Until next time,
Becky

Marriage(s)

Today's blogging prompt is once again coming to you from the Instagram photo-a-day prompt put out by Genealogy Girl Talks #brickwall

If you're a regular here you know I am not a consistent blogger and not even a consistent Instagram-er these days. Sometimes it feels like I've gathered up all the information I can find that can be proven that is within my financial reach. I've just recently had to cancel many online subscriptions, limiting my research even more. But let's not focus on the have nots but expand and dissect the haves, shall we?

I can remember years ago when I stared researching this branch of my tree. It started with my 2nd great grandmother Julia Emaline Bohannon. She was the second wife of my 2nd great grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Melson. Those who can recall him, called him 'Grandpa Harrison'.

I found their marriage license showing they were married 2 June 1912 in Johnson County, AR by his father Francis Marion Melson who was a JP.  Both resided in Oark. He was 22. She was 20.

Here's the part of the story you may not pick up on if you don't know to look for it. Or haven't been privy to some old time gossip. It was only a few weeks earlier on the 15 May 1912 that an unwed Julia had given birth to her eldest child, Odis Earl Melson.

You may have noticed earlier when I said she was the second wife of Benjamin Harrison. He was first married to a Miss Ethel M. Roberts. She was from Catalpa. They were wed on 7 June 1908. Rumor has it she gave birth to a child and the babe did not survive. The marriage didn't last and Grandpa Harrison moved on to another love interest. But he refused to marry Julia until he knew her child would survive. And luckily for those of us who descend from this union, the baby survived and at least 3 more children were born. My great grandfather Obie Zearl, another son, James Francis, and a daughter Della Marie.

But this isn't the marriage that first popped into my mind when I decided to write today. I want to go back one or two generations further. Try to keep up as I myself can get lost quickly with all the information I'm about to lay out.

Julia was the daughter of James Pleasant Bohanon and Oma Boen. This marriage was the first time I remember using my investigative skills as a genealogist.

In the 1900 Boston and Goodwill Townships of Madison County, AR Julia is listed with her parents James P and Oma. James was 45 born Sept 1854. Oma was 43 born Dec 1856. They had been married 20 years and she was the mother of 9 children. Only 8 surviving. Children living in the home were: Nathanial (Sept 1882), Mary L (Aug 1885), Sarah E (Feb 1888) Julie E (Oct 1889) Madamie (June 1893) and William J (July 1896). That's six children.

When I go to find the marriage record of "Pleas" and Oma I find a record in Newton County dated 30 July 1881 for a J P Bohannon (age 26)  to a Miss Oma Horton. (age 23)

When I began to search for Oma Horton born about 1856 I found the 1880 Newton County Census had an Oma Korton living with the Robert Mooney family-- household 64 family 67. Oma is grouped as household 64 family 68 with two young boys William T  (age 7) and John R (age 3). It says she is married (not widowed) but no other people are listed in this family group. These two boys adds her total to 8 children living. I'm not certain if the baby that died was a Boen or a Horton.

So what was Oma's maiden name and how is she connected to the Mooney's? Are these her parents?

There is a marriage record transcribed as Nely A Mooney to David Horten found on Family Search.  I believe it to be my Oma and her fist marriage.



When I added Oma's parents to my tree, Robert and Zilpha from the 1880 census, I discover something doesn't fit.

A marriage record shows up transcribed as W N Mooney and Zilpha Bowen

I believe the 'N' is actually an 'R' for William Robert Mooney. They married in Webster County,  Missouri, in 1865 when my Oma was 9 years old.

A little more research reveals that Zilpha was first married to James Boen and they had the following children. William Spencer, Sarah, Oma N, Christopher Columbus, and Nancy Emaline.

James died in 1862 and ten years later in Oct 1872 his eldest son William Spencer became the guardian of Oma, and Christopher Columbus and  three years later in September 1875 was appointed guardian of the youngest sibling Emaline. (records found on Family Search : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979; Johnson; Guardian bonds and letters 1856-1913 vol A-C; images 154/496 & 171/496)

And yet all of this is still not what I had planned to write about in the beginning.

James 'Ples' Bohanon.

With a common name like James we can go back to that 1900 Boston and Goodwill Townships of Madison County, AR census. We know he is born about 1854 in Arkansas. And in 1910 you can find the family again living in the Mulberry Township of Johnson County household #14. Did you know that starting in 1910 you can often find a little number beside the 'M' for married indicating the number of marriages a person has had. And interesting enough this census shows that both James and Oma are on their second marriage.




I know that he and Oma married in 1881 so now to find him in 1880.

Strangely enough I find him (age 24) all the way up in Ozark, Lawrence County, Missouri married to a Perline Bohannon (age 44) and her father Elijah H Bohannon.(age 61)

Can that be right? His wife's maiden name was the same as her married name? And she is 20 years older than him?

A little more digging and I can find a marriage record out of Newton County, Arkansas for Perlinia W. Bohannon and James P. Bohannon (twenty years age difference) married in February 1875

Were James and Perlinia related? And how strange for a young man to marry a much older woman.

I can place young James with John J (1821)  and Julia E Bohannon (1833) living in Richland Township, Newton County, AR in 1860 with siblings Mary, Holly, Mira, William, Sarah, and Nathaniel.

And in 1870 living in Jefferson Township with his parents and siblings.


Perlina is found in 1850 living with her father Elijah and mother Lucinda and several siblings in War Eagle, Madison County and in Kings River in 1860 no record of the family at all in 1870.

Now finally here we are at the #brickwall.

James Pleasant Bohannon's father was John J "Ibe" Bohannon. His mother was Julia Elizabeth LNU. Records indicate that John was from White County TN the son of John Bohannon Sr. and Holly 'Holla' Bohannon. In fact John's middle name comes from his Uncle Pleasant Robinson who married his father's sister Lucinda Jane. The only  marriage record I can find for a John Bohannon and Julia Elizabeth are out of Roane County TN in 1842 to specifically an Elizabeth Easter who in later census records also goes by Julia E Bohannon I believe that to be a completely different John and Julia who end up settling in Missouri.


Julia Elizabeth was the daughter of ??? I believe she is the namesake of my 2nd great grandmother Julia Emaline Bohannon Melson and I would love to fill in the missing branches of her tree.

Julia Elizabeth married John J "Ibe" Bohannon:

Their children were:

Mary, Holly Louisa, Myra, William, Sarah Cazada, James Pleasant and Nathaniel Jobe.

Until Next time,
Becky Drake

W is for Written Words

This past week I was fortunate enough to have been given several family documents and letters to go through and scan. My maternal grandfather's first cousin, on his mother's side, brought over an old Family Bible with the copyright date of 1903, an original marriage license from 1893 and several letters and pictures. All belonging to the John Thomas and Lou Elmer (Reynolds) Bynum family. Today I want to share with you one of the letters and add a little bit of perspective into the time frame.

Sidney, Kinchen, John Thomoas, Lou Elmer, baby Grace. about 1903

According to the family Bible, J T and Lou had seven children. The children who are the main topic of this post will be Sidney and his younger sister, Grace, aka Mrs. Herbert A Williams.

Sidney was born on Christmas Eve in 1895 and registered for the draft 5 June 1917.

While carefully looking through the pile of old papers that were lying on my grandparents' kitchen table, I came across this tiny, yellowed, wrinkled envelope postmarked Nov 6 1918 with the address: Base Hospital Ward 12, Camp Pike, AR and it peeked my interest.

Folded and laid inside the worn envelope is a 4 page letter Sidney had written to his sister Grace. It's dated 11-5-18 and begins Mr and Mrs Hurbert Williams....

At the date of his letter Sidney was still single. Grace and Herbert had been married for a little over two years. She married at the very young age of 15. They had a young one year old son named Norman Onis Williams. He had celebrated his first birthday in Aug.

Nearly one month to the day after this letter was written, Herbert would die of pneumonia on December 5, 1918. Then tragically, three months later, Grace would die from wounds sustained when her dress caught fire from the open fire place in the home. She died several days later due to the burns March 3, 1919

At the start of this post, I had only intended to include Sidney's letter, but I think I'll close with an undated letter from Grace to her mother. I can infer the date is between Aug of 1917 and before the winter of 1918 because she mentions her son and the fact that the weather is hot.

Here is Grace's letter.

 

I am so grateful that Stanley and Frances were kind enough to share these treasures with me. It's my hope that they will now live on and be discovered by some direct line descendants of Sidney and Grace.

Until Next Time,

Becky

I was recently given a couple photo post cards that I wanted to include here in this post. No dates but the back of the card on the left says "From Sidney to Mama" "Sidney and K L Bynum". I believe Kinchen is sitting and Sidney is standing. Also - I believe the card on the right to be Sidney on the right with his leg flung over possibly his brother-in-law Herbert Williams. But there is no writing at all on this card. This is just a 'best guess' Herbert married Sidney and Kinchen's little sister Grace in 1916. He was 19. She was 15.

The Estate of James M Lemmond

James McCullough Lemmond(s) was my 5th great grandfather. He was born around 1779 and is the son of Robert Lemmond and Elizabeth Jane McCullough.

I haven't found many records for James that document his life other than he is mentioned in his father's Will, along with brothers, William, John, Robert, Cyrus and Mars and sisters, Elizabeth, Nancy and Ann. There is a marriage record for him in Mecklenburg County, NC, where he and James Todd were bound for the sum of 500 pounds and he made application to marry Elizabeth Moore 26 March 1811.  And in 1820 I think he is enumerated with the middle initial 'P' next door to either his widowed mother-in-law Margaret Moore.

James most likely succumbed to an epidemic known as 'the fever' that started in Schuylkill River and spread across the nation sometime in early 1824 around the age of 45 and his wife died soon after in 1828 A child also died in this time frame but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I wanted to use the post to show you how Will's and Estate records can fill in the blanks and provide hints and sometimes confirm theories. But you have to read every little snippet and name that you can make out.

Let's start with the Will of James M. Lemmond.

In the name of God amen.  

                                     I James M Lemmond ? being in a declining state of health in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory do make and ordain and constitute this my last will and testament. 1st - I will that all my just debts be paid by my executor hereafter to be named. 2nd - I will and allow my beloved wife Elizabeth Lemmond to have my land where I now live for the purpose of raising my family and when the youngest comes of age then an equal division to be made amongst them.  I also allow her to have all my household furniture consisting of all my beds and one cupboard and stand of drawers and one table with all things belonging to the house for her use and the family. I also will that my wife shall have my black mare and I also allow her to have all my farming utensils for her own use and my familys. I also allow her to have all my stock of cattle for her use and my family's use. I also all her to have six yearlen hoggs for her use and familys. I also will that Rebecca Moore live in her house. 3 dly - I will that my smith tools be sold at publick sale with some turning tools to the highest bidder. 4th - I will that my clock with one rifle gun with pouch be sold. 5th - I will that my shot gun be sold and one grindstone and hangings be also sold with my saddle also. 6th - I will that one middle sized pot and one large dutch oven be sold. 7th - I will that all my barrels and some kegs be sold but one meat barrel and one meal barrel with one salt barrel to be for the use of my family. 8th - I will that my riding chair and one two gallon jug be sold. 9th - I will that my steele trap be sold with one trunk also. 10th - I will that a watch that was given to my son John Lemmond be sold and that money put out upon interest until he becomes of age. Lastly I do hereby ordain appoint and constitute Andrew Moore my executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills making and appointing this and this only as my last will and testament. Given under my  hand and seal this 24th day of January 1824.     Signed by James M. Lemmond and witnessed by Joseph Flinn and WMK Lemmond

 First thing we need to do is take note of the names and any relation given to us. We know his wife's name is Elizabeth. That corresponds with the marriage record. Then two individuals with the last name Moore (wife's maiden name) are mentioned, Rebecca and Andrew. Third is an individual with the same last name as James, WMK Lemmond. And lastly Joseph Flinn.

Luckily, I was working on Elizabeth Moore's line earlier this week and a few names are fresh on my mind. Joseph Flinn married Hannah Moore 19th of Oct 1812 in Mecklenburg County, NC. I believe Hannah to be a sister of Elizabeth. I suspect Rebecca and Andrew are also siblings. And WMK Lemmond is James' brother, William K Lemmond who married Betsey Todd. (Remember James Todd was a bondsmen to James and Elizabeth's marriage - note - look for connection).

Next thing to notice is that James and Elizabeth have a son named John who is NOT of age, meaning he is not 21 as of 1824 and that there's possibly others that are young as well as he mentioned that the property would be divided once the youngest child comes of age.

Now for the daunting task of going through his Estate with a fine tooth comb. His estate is made of a file with lots of scrap pieces of paper as well as a few ledgers.

• The first piece is a receipt dated May 23 1829 and it says $6.38 was paid in full by Andrew Moore the executor to Dan Alexander
• The second is a receipt for the tuition of the children of Betsy Lemmond dated 10 Nov 1828. Names mentioned: Dan Alexander and Mary V. Towle
  
• Next is a ledger receipt from Josiah Montgomery against the Estate of Elizabeth Lemmonds 6 March 1828 and on the bottom for Andrew Moore paid in full dated Feb 1829
• Next is a continuing ledger from Josiah - many things are hard to make out but it would appear he was a blacksmith. I can make out that he made shoes, welded shoes, mended a saddle..... mending a wheel....sharpening a shovel. 
• Next is a ledger that mentions James P. Henderson as the guardian for 'said heirs' though so far it doesn't say who those heirs are.... also mentioned are notes for John Howel(?) and Milley Tarlton(?) other names mentioned on this ledger are Wm Lukey, John Sloan, Levy Parker, Dan Alexander is the JP as well as an Abner Hunter? (last name illegible) 
• Next couple pages tell us they were still dealing with his estate in 1831 & 1832 and James P Henderson is still mentioned as a guardian.  
• Another ledger mentions the names John Sloan (sherrif?) Isaac Alexander (clerk) Jos Walker and wife, John Irwin (muslin for burial), Cooper & MGin, Wm Smith, David Parks, John MGins (for schooling), Prichard & Neckley (making coffin) another receipt says Prichard & Nichols, Andrew McNeely, Alenson Alexander (lease of horse), Alexander Robinson (for a bushel of corn), Josiah Montgomery, Margaret Ripley (another says Riley - for the clearing of fence by S M Riley and one iron bound cage), John Irwin (funeral Articles), James Asbury, Calvin G. Alexander (schooling), John Sloan (tax), William K Lemmond (schooling), Thomas Hunter, John A. Howel (pull and hull corn), Joseph R. Sample (pull and hull corn), 
• Next is a ledger against the Estate of Mrs. Lemmond, James widow: most likely from the mercantile ran by William Smith. Items purchased are silk, calico, sugar & coffee, ribbon, Moroco hat, book muslin, quart of wine ....
• A receipt for Elizabeth's coffin dated Feb 24, 1829
  
  
  

• Receipt for promising to pay Andrew McNeely also named John F McNeely signed Betsy Lemond
• Next up is a receipt for the schooling of my 4th great grandmother Margaret Adaline Lemmond. 
  

• Next is a receipt for cambric muslin for the burial of an unnamed child of James and Elizabeth
  

• March of 1824 a receipt promising to pay Andrew Moore $16.66 signed by Betsy Lemmond and Joseph Flinn
• A March 1827 ledger from Thomas Hunter for purchases made... pound of tobacco, bushel of salt, sugar and coffee, quart of whiskey, one and a half bushels of oats, more tobacco, 
• Next a receipt that tells us that James P Henderson is guardian of five children. 
  

• There's a receipt dated 30 Jan 1830 for $7.50 paid to John Howel for covering a shed and clearing land belonging to the heirs of James M. Lemmond.
• Next is an inventory of items belonging to James M. Lemmond and what they brought at auction. 
• There is a receipt dated 7 Jan 1824 signed my James M. Lemmond to Andrew McNeely. 
• Next is a receipt with several dates; 13 March 1828, 31 March 1824, 25 Oct 1827, dealing with Andrew Moore executor of James Lemmond. This tells me that James died before 31 March 1824 if Andrew as already dealing with his debts.
• Next is another receipt signed by the widow Betsy Lemond to her brother Andrew for the same date as above, 31 March 1924
  

• There's a receipt for $1.26 for beef supplied to the family by Allen Baldwin. 
• Dated 16 Sept 1824 a receipt for $.80 for schooling signed by James Parham. 
• Dated 18 Nov 1825 a receipt for $7.59 for family expenses of Elizabeth Lemmond, widow... signed by Joseph Flinn
• Next is a ledger from William Smith, the earliest date is 1819 and ends 1823. Items purchased: Wash bowl, white flannel, allspice, cheese, rum, postage for pamphlet, sugar & coffee, calico, shawl, more sugar and coffee, and a quart of wine, and dated 1824 it says sugar for widow. I'm attaching an AD from The Charlotte Journal from 1831, that I believe speaks of this same William Smith: 
  

• Next is a receipt dated May 1824 to William Cromwell for making coffin.
  
    

• Next is a receipt dated 29 June 1821 while James was still living, promising to pay $15 by 1 Jan 1822, I'm including it because of his signature.
  
   
• Next is a paper dated Feb 1832 and mentions former guardian James Henderson resigned and  Joseph Walker is appointed. *Note* Joseph Walker married Jane Lemmond 28 May 1831 in Mecklenburg County, NC.
• Next is another paper dated  27 Feb 1832 where Joseph is specifically appointed guardian of Joseph M. Lemmond, orphan of Joseph M. Lemmon.
• Next is a paper exactly like the previous dated 27 Feb 1832 except it pertains to my branch. Thomas Rutherford is appointed guardian specifically of  Robert and John Lemmond. *Note* Thomas Rutherford married Margaret A. Lemmond that very same day in Mecklenburg County, NC
• Obviously you can see these papers are not in chronological order because the next one is the guardianship papers of James P Henderson being appointed guardian of all 5 children Adaline, Jane, Robert, John and James dated 29 Feb 1828 (We were told earlier that there were 5 Lemmond children - We finally have them named. Margaret Adeline, Jane, Robert, John and James ) 

• After this is another guardianship paper dated 24 Feb 1824 and a Robert Lemmond (a brother to James M. Lemmond Sr) is appointed guardian of John Lemmond. And that's the last paper in the file. I didn't include every single paper, only the one's that I felt held any pertinent or interesting information. 

From the information provided I have been able to confirm hunches on Elizabeth's family and piece together the siblings of my ancestor Margaret Adaline. I discovered that she and her sister were living with their spouses in Union County, GA by 1840 and then both families (Rutherfords and Walkers) migrated to Tippah County, Mississippi. These names would explain names you see in the children of Margaret Adaline Lemmond Rutherford: (1)William Williamson Rutherford (middle name comes from Thomas's mother's maiden name) (2) James McCullough Rutherford (middle name comes from James Lemmon's mother's maiden name) (3) Thomas Franklin Rutherford ... hmmm this is my ancestor. Who is he named after??? (4) Elizabeth Jane Rutherford (Elizabeth for Adaline and Thomas's mother and Jane for James Lemmond's mother and Adaline's sister)  (5) John Lemmond Rutherford (for his mother's maiden name) (6) Robert Walker Rutherford (for his Uncle who was married to Adeline's sister Jane) (7) David Flynn Rutherford (for James Flinn who was Margaret Adaline's uncle by marriage)

No to try to hunt down those pesky brothers. There's a John Lemmons married to a Nancy with 4 children living in Tippah County in 1850. I believe this to be brother John.. He ends up in Gonzales Texas. Robert can be found in 1841 in the Mississippi State census living in Tippah County but I never find him again and James Jr. can be found with wife Frances and three children living in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.... maybe... it could be a cousin with the same name as there is a grown 24 year old Cyrus Lemmond living there as well.

I hope I've left you understanding the benefits of wading through all the receipts and what can come of  trying to make out the terrible handwriting of the 19th century. I love being able to see exactly who handcrafted the coffins of my 5th great grandparents and how communities come together to care for the widows and orphans. I also love that I was able to find signatures for both of them and take note of the fact that they spelled their name L-E-M-O-N-D. The benefit of blogging this out is that I can come back later if I need to search through the various names mentioned throughout. I wish I could find more records on this family but for now I am satisfied at the progress I've made.

Until next time,
Becky 

My 10 Favorite Resources

This post is just as much for me as it is for you! There are a handful or resources that I am always using and then there are a few that have been very handy, but I don't need to use them very often. I end up forgetting what they were and have to scour social media for clues. I decided today that I would write a blog post about all the different sources I use. They are almost all free, though some will require you to have an account.

1. Family Search: This site is very similar to Ancestry, only its free. There are often times I have been able to find actual images, not just transcribed records, on Family Search, while the transcribed information from an index is all that's available on Ancestry. I like that I can narrow my search down to individual states. There are also indexes on Family Search that I use often (like probate records) that aren't searchable per-se, but that can be clicked through, image by image, until you can find your record. Family Search will also let you know if there is record loss in a particular county which would explain why you know something is a fact but can't back it up with records. This most often occurs in counties that saw a lot of first hand battle during the Civil war when homes, buildings and whole towns were sometimes burned to the ground. 
2. Bureau of Land Management: I love to look through the Land Patents listed on the BLM site and even using the map to get a better idea of where my ancestor lived.
3. Buncombe County, NC Register of Deeds : I realize this resource is very specific, but if you trace your family back far enough, North Carolina, is a pretty big hub for Colonial History. This site not only has land records, but it contains a few marriage and death records as well
4. Texas Land Grants: Again another State specific site but I have a HUGE amount of family from Texas. I have found land records on this site from at least 3 ancestors and if I ever felt like filling out the paperwork these would grant me access into the Daughters of the Texas Republic. 
5. Newspapers.com : This is a paid for site and has been my favorite for newspaper archives. There are others out there and I have found some information in GenealogyBank's newspaper archives that weren't available on Newspapers.com. But I don't find their database to be very user friendly. 
6. Chronicling America: This is a free site. I have rarely used it and can't really remember a time that I found anything but you may have better luck. 
7. The Gateway to Oklahoma History: This is also a free site for Oklahoma newspapers, books, and various other collections. For free newspaper searches in the Oklahoma and surrounding counties from other states, I really like this site. It is exactly like the next resource on the list.
8. The Portal to Texas History: Like I stated before. I have a vast amount of family from the great state of Texas. I have found many articles on this website that weren't found on the paid for Newspapers site.
9. Missouri Digital Heritage: This website can sometimes be difficult to maneuver from the home screen. There are a few places I regularly search on this site. Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre -1910  ; Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1966 ; Missouri Provost Marshal Database, 1861-1966
10. Fold3 : I love this site. It isn't just for your veterans. It contains Native American records, and Pension applications. These can sometimes contain a wealth of detailed information in the form of affidavits from neighbors, and family friends. They contain first hand accounts from people during that time period. In one such record an acquaintance of my 5th great grandfather spoke of going to the blacksmith  near the close of the Revolutionary War, and speaking with other men of the community about the turbulent times.
    

    

    ... I have a distinct recollection of one pertickular conversation that took place at Robert Grays blackmsith shop between said Upton and my self and Robert Gray. Under whom said Upton learned the trade of Gunn Smith. we were all speaking of the many trials and hardships that we went through during the revolutionary war all of us having served in said war .....

    And a non-direct line ancestor of my husband had letters from members of her community writing to complain that her pension was acquired by fraudulent testimonies and that her son(s) were using her pension to drink and lay around rather than support their mother. These are stories. Not just records. They paint the bigger picture and provide insight into the mindset of the people of a certain community and era. Or in the case of my 5th great grandfather let you know that he was a gun smith and that he learned the trade from a Mr. Robert Gray.

 With all these resources, the one thing I want you to understand is that genealogy isn't a quick click here and there. There is So. Much. Time. invested in researching. It isn't a quick hobby. And sometimes, it costs money. In having hard copies and viable records, more often than not, you have to pay for those records. And some genealogy sites are worth the subscription fee. It also takes creativity. Many records are filed under phonetic spelling using dialects. When you have an ancestor with the surname Lassater you have to think of all the various ways this name could be spelled -- Lasater, Lasatar, Lassiter, Lasiter, Lassator, Lasator.... you get the point) So when you think of people you know who research and share their information with you, keep in mind, like so many other labors of love, it does require investment of time and money. We do it for ourselves and all those we love. We hope you appreciate our efforts.


If you have a website you use often in your genealogy research and its not on my list, would you mind sharing it with me?


Until next time:
Becky Drake