My dad recently sent me this photo of my grandmother’s “Uncle Charlie & Uncle Ed Coppenbarger circa 1914.” I love seeing the old photos of these two uncles, but I am particularly happy to see them posing with this old Model T and Harley Davidson, both of which are about 100 years old! I also love Uncle Charlie’s riding outfit, and the way Uncle Ed is posed. “Uncle Charles & Uncle Ed Coppenbarger circa 1914” from the Stewart Family Photo Collection My dad did some research on these early Harley Davidsons. The 1914 to 1916 models looked very similar. He...
Last week, I attended my local DAR meeting and the guest speaker was retired Colonel and Vietnam veteran, Albert Nahas. Colonel Nahas has written a photo documentary book, Warriors Remembered, highlighting the images and stories behind 100 Vietnam memorials in the United States. Part of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo taken by me, 2010) Several of those memorials include special images like a face without features or a dog tag without a name. Those images are to memorialize those who weren’t killed during the war, but who died as a result of the war. For example, some died later...
In 1847, the people of Ireland were suffering from mass starvation during a time period we now call the Irish Potato Famine. As I am continuing to research my Boyers family, I came across a newspaper article that mentions Robert M. Boyers (1788 in SC-1871 in TN) who I believe is either a brother or first cousin of my ancestor, John M. Boyers (~1801 in SC-aft 1870 possibly in TN). (Both men were born in South Carolina and lived in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee in 1830.) The scene at Skibbereen, west Cork, in 1847. From a series of illustrations by...
Two years ago, I traveled to Kansas to visit with an aunt and uncle and view the incredible genealogical collection they’d inherited from my Great Aunt Beulah, the one who got me interested in genealogy in 1998. A couple of months ago, I discovered my dad had also inherited a large amount of photos and other items from his mother. Between the two of them, I imagine we have hundreds of photos and other old documents for this family. Years ago, my dad and his Aunt Beulah created this composite family tree. The primary couple, Emil Peters and his wife...
In the news… Charles Wentworth, L. E. Tibbits, Willard Wentworth and William Peters have put telephones in their residences last week. – Ashton, Kansas, 1906 [see source below] Alexander Graham Bell placing the first New York to Chicago telephone call in 1892, only 14 years before “my” family got telephones installed in Ashton, Sumner County, Kansas (photo from Wikipedia) It’s hard to imagine a time when getting a telephone installed at your house was news! I’m wondering if they were among the first to get phones in this small Kansas town. I believe these four men (& their households) were...
As I was working on my Boyers family, I came across a curious entry on a 1850 census record. One of the children in the household is listed as “Unchristened Boyers.” After finding this record, I searched Ancestry for all census records for an individual with the “first name” listed as “unchristened.” There were 84 results. Some of these were actually listed without a first name, but a researcher has added “unchristened” to the name field. All of the other 83 children are babies who appear to be less than 12 months old. 1850 U.S. census, Cocke County, Tennessee, population...
May I present, Doctor Franklin Boyers? He’s only 10 years old, so this is quite an unusual given name. I guess this is one way to make sure your child grows up to be a doctor! 1870 U.S. Census, Prentiss County, Mississippi, pop. sch., Booneville, page 423 [printed], dwelling 47, family 47, Mary Boyers household; microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls, roll 746; (Washington: National Archives and Records Administration), digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 June 2016). P.S. Summer is almost over and my intense genealogy course is, too. I hope to be blogging regularly in just a couple of weeks!
While researching my great, great grandfather, Reuben Houston Ward (aka Rev. R. H. Ward), I came across this short, sweet newspaper article today: LINDEN, Sept. 22.-(Special.)- James W. Lewis, Circuit Court Clerk, and Miss Dickson were married by Rev. R. H. Ward at his residence on March Creek Sunday afternoon. The couple came to his residence in a buggy, and stopping under the cool shade of a beech tree they called for the minister. He went out and while seated in the buggy they were united in the bonds of humanity. The newly married couple started at once for Linden. Lewis-Dickson Marriage,...
Two weeks ago, I visited Clinton County, Pennsylvania with three of my dad’s first cousins. We spent some time at the Ross Library in Lock Haven briefly researching our Stewart, Merrill, McClintock/McClintick, and Close families. Entering Ross Library, Lock Haven, Clinton Co, PA Ross Library has a wonderful card catalog. Each card indexes a specific person and record. The records I saw included the Clinton County marriage license docket 1894-1897, the library’s “local history/memorabilia” albums and photograph collection, and various newspapers including: the Clinton County Times, the Clinton Republican, the Clinton Democrat, and the Lock Haven Express. I believe the library...
Yesterday, I drove to Clinton County, Pennsylvania with three of my dad’s first cousins. One of them, Tom, I had met last year. But, his two sisters, Sally and Ellen, I had just met. We spent part of the day at the Ross Library in Lock Haven, and also ‘toured’ three cemeteries looking for our ancestors headstones. Robert & Frances (Quigley) Stewart’s headstones at Dunnstown Cemetery in Clinton Co, PA While I’d seen a photo of the headstone for my 4th great grandparents, Robert and Frances (Quigley) Stewart, I was surprised at the size of it! Laid to rest in...
