Friday, March 30, 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ WORK IS THE TOPIC ~ BOOKS ARE THE ANSWER

This week the topic is work for Sepia Saturday. We love to play but we all have to work at some time to pay the bills.



I have had many hats in my work world. I have worked at Pizza Hut. This was back in the 1970's. I managed to work my way from waitress to assistant manager. I enjoyed the work and the responsibility. Then new owners came in and they did not have female assistant managers. I could quit or go back to waitress only. I quit of course. I would love for them to have tried that today.
I worked in a Alcoholic treatment center for nine years as an aide. That was an interesting and rewarding time in my life.
I sold real estate for a few years. Fun work but hard work. Working on commission only can be tricky.
But the end of all end work was when hubby and I owned our own bookstore for over 15 years. That was the best. At one time we had two bookstores. The second store was beautiful but not a money maker so that was the end of that store.
Soon after we retired and went on to other adventures of traveling the United States.  We still dabble in the book business selling on the Internet.
As a child I loved the library and spent hours there. Wanted to even work in a library. That never happened but I did own a bookstore.  Life was great in our own book store. Life is still great as I wander used bookstores and smell and feel the old books.

Hope that you enjoyed reading about a small piece of my life today. You can read others sharing about work here at Sepia Saturday.  Grace

Thursday, March 29, 2012

TREASURE THURSDAY ~ ENVELOPE OF FAMILY PHOTOS 70 Years Old ~ A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

A small white envelope with photos can be a real family treasures. A way to glimpse at faces from years ago.

This photo was taken in 1941 on the 30th anniversary of my grandma and grandpa Days wedding. It was probably taken in either Mora or Ogalvie Minnesota at my grandparents home.

I see a picture of my mama in her late teens ( back row 2nd from left, next to her is my beloved aunt Daisy and uncle Don. Of course my sweet grandpa and grandma are in the front row on the right hand side.
It looks like grandma Grace is sittinga bit forward and straight so she appears taller than everone else sitting. She is surrounded by her husbands family.

What I can glimps at is a picture of my great grand aunt Grace and her first husband Lloyd.  I remember her but never met him. They are are the left hand side.

 Next to grandma Grace is my grandpa Bill's mother Carrie.  She is small and much older than my minds eye of her. I see a sweet soft gentle face and wish I had known her. I am guessing she was strong and a survivor. She survived the early death of her first husband.  She went on to meet a second man and lived a quiet life by a lake. I am guessing she was very happy in her later years.

I am glimpsing for the first time the face of great grandma Carrie's sister Stella and her husband Harvey. I know nothing about her at this time.

It is interesting to look at pictures that are over 70 years old. To see faces you remember and faces you never met.  To wonder what they talked about and how they felt about what was happening in the world at that time.

I bet the cake was good, my grandma made fantastic cakes. And of course there would of been coffee with cream and sugar. The table would of been set with the company dishes. They would of been placed on a crisp ironed table cloth.

I sure there was laughter and lots of talking about what was happening in their lives and the lives of those not there.

Grandma Grace's mother and step father were dead. Grandpa Bill's father was dead. Grandma Grace's siblings were not there with two having moved recently to Michigan and the others in the twin cities of Minnesota. No matter I am sure they had a good time at the party.

Thanks for stopping by for Treasure Thursday. If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you.

 I have shared this picture at ancestry for other family members to see and have.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

GETTING READY FOR THE 1940 CENSUS ~ USING CITY DIRECTORIES

We are nearing the time that the 1940 census will be available. Only days away from when we can begin to add to our family research trees.

Today I was on ancestry to see what is available in the city directories.  It is in beta only at this time so not all states are available.  The database is a collection of directories for U.S. cities and counties in various years. At this time it contains directories for the following states:
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas
  • Virginia
I decided to see what I could find on my great grand uncle Wayne Esler. His first name was Jessie but I only knew him as Wayne. He was found in the Michigan city directory.

Jesse W Esler
Gender:M (Male)
Residence Year:1939
Street Address:14 E Hobson av
Residence Place:Flint, Michigan
Occupation:Slsmn
Spouse:Mary E Esler
Publication Title:





Flint, Michigan, City Directory, 1939

I checked the city directory on Mary's name and she appears to not to be working. Jessie is living with his wife Mary. Looking at the directory I see he was a salesman at the Mills Bakery.  I have now found out some information about my uncle Wayne that I did not know or do not remember. He worked for a bakery as a salesman. They also owned their home.

In the 1930 census Wayne was living in Mora Minnesota with his mother and father at the age of 21.  Nine years later he is in Michigan and married to Mary.
What I would love to learn is Mary's last name, how they met and where they married.
Wayne was born April 1 1909 in Mora, Minnesota and passed away the 23 of February 1990 in Hillman, Montmorency, Michigan.

Family research is great. As I write on my uncle Wayne I can still hear his wonderful laugh.
If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you
Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY ~ Thomas Minear Millsaps 1752 - 1837




Thomas Minear Millsaps  was born on the 23 Dec 1752 in Staunton, Augusta, Virginia, United States and  died on the 1st of April 1837 in Randolph, North Carolina, United States.
Thomas is my fourth great grand uncle. Thomas is the brother of my ancestor Robert Millsap/ Millsaps




Monday, March 26, 2012

Mystery Monday ~ Searching For My Andrew Daly ~ Did I Find A Sister

Today for Mystery Monday I am posting two pictures.  I am hoping that you out  there will take a look and tell me if you see a family resemblance.

Is this my Andy's sister?  I have contacted others on ancestry who have this picture but so far no answers back.



I have written before about Andrew. When all you have is a picture and nothing else the hunting and searching can be a long lonely walk.


Take a peek at let me know what you think?  If you recognize either of these people let me know. They lived in Wisconsin late 1890's and early 1900's.

Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

Sunday, March 25, 2012

OBITUARY SUNDAY ~ JAMES W WOODMANSEE

Today for Obituary Sunday I am sharing the recently found obit. This is for James W Woodmansee. James is one of my third great grandfather's. His daughter Ann Woodmansee Millsap is my second great grandmother.

Decatur County Journal
May l9, l898
JAMES W. WOODMANSEE died Monday morning, about 9 o'clock, at the
residence of his son, JOHN WOODMANSEE, in this city, aged 8l years, 4
months and l5 days. Though a man endowed with a strong constitution he
had suffered the extremity of ill health for many months. He is
survived by six children--MRS. ANN MILLSAP of Hamilton County, Kansas;
JOHN WOODMANSEE of Leon, MRS. MARY MCLAUGHLIN of Decatur Township,
REUBEN S., of Indianola, GEORGE of Mt. Ayr, and MRS. SUSAN GRAYSON of
Ringgold County.
MR. WOODMANSEE was born in Clermont County, Ohio, December 3l, l8l6, the
youngest of six children of JAMES and AGNES (HAMMER) WOODMANSEE, natives
of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Ohio. In l820 they moved to Jackson
County, Indiana, where the mother died in l829 and the father in l847.
The deceased was married October 29, l835, to MISS RACHEL HAMMER, who
was born November l4, l8l9 in Jackson County, Indiana. In l849 he came
to Iowa and entered l60 acres of land on section 3l, Decatur Township,
and built a house l8 x 30. In March of the following year he occupied
the house with his family and thus became the first permanent settler in
Decatur Township. In l853 he built a grist mill and as it was the only
one in this section of the State, it was patronized by settlers within a
radius of fifty miles.
The deceased was an industrious and frugal citizen and had accumulated
considerable property during his life time. He was a good neighbor and
noted for his honesty. His departure has left us the example of a well
spent life and a good name. The funeral exercises were conducted at the
residence yesterday forenoon at l0 o'clock by ELDER STEVENS, after which
interment occurred in Woodmansee Cemetery, Decatur Township.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert  this was found on the internet

Thanks for stopping by Obituary Sunday. If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you . Grace

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Sepia Saturday 118 : Going Out Meet The Millsap Family

Tonight's Sepia Saturday is labeled Going Out. Ourselves or family members all dressed up to go out. You can read other Sepia Saturdays here.

This week I am going to be working on my Millsap / Millsaps family. This picture is of George Everett Millsap and family. George is the brother of my great grandmother Rachel Millsap Zion who married Jonathan Adam Zion.
Pictured with George is his wife Amanda SAMS and children Everett Ray, Anna E, Hazel, Jasie, Jessie, and William. Son Walter passed away before this picture was taken.
The Millsaps are all dressed up in their best for this family picture. The picture was taken about 1914.
I believe they were living in Missouri.
 More research needs to be done on this family to confirm that I have the correct names of some of the children. George last years were in Idaho. I did not know I had family that had gone to Idaho so this will be a new state to do some research in.
The parents of George and my great grandmother Rachel were Flavious Armenious and Anna Woodmansee Millsap. Flavious and Anna had a total of ten children.

Thanks for stopping by for Sepia Saturday Grace

Sunday, March 18, 2012

How To Lose A Relative With Out Really Trying Mistakes In Census Recordings

Today while sitting at McDonald’s sipping on my soda pop I am wandering Ancestry searching for sources on my McCormick Zion family. I especially want to see what and where his children are going. The 1850 census is missing my McCormick Zion but there is a Dion McCormick. Sure enough after clicking on the census there are my McCormick Zion and his family recorded. Trouble is the person who transcribed the census recorded him as Dion McCormick 55 with wife Elizabeth 52, son John 19 and son Andrew McCormick age 17. In truth this is really McCormick Zion and all the family members with the last name Zion not McCormick. I am hoping by this find I will see what happened to Andrew Zion.  Great family stories can come by searching for siblings of our ancestors. John aka Jonathan is my ancestor.  I may learn more if I can learn more about Andrew.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY SCOUTING

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt is a tribute to the 100th birthday of scouting in the United States.

Scouting was a fun time for a young girl in the 1960's.  I was in the brownies and then the girl scouts.  Every week we would have a meeting at the leaders home and work on badges.

Here is a picture of me in my girl scout uniform.  To bad that it is faded.

Thanks for stopping by for Sepia Saturday Grace

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Fearless Females Post 26 Fearless Females My Mama and Polio

March 13 ~ Moment of Strength ~ Share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.
So many of these postings around fearless females end up being my mother. She was the strongest sweetest woman you could meet.
She showed us her strength and courage from the day she was diagnosed with polio until her death in 1998. A day does not go by that I do not think of her and remember her with so much love. My mom came out of this horrible disease alive, many did not. She was handicapped, wearing a brace and using crutches her whole life.
This never stopped her. She could of sat home and felt sorry for herself but did not.
She raised my sister and me and had two more children. Arthur Jr who passed away shortly after birth and my brother David. She was involved in the church and my school. She is my inspiration.
She loved her family and loved God. She was sweet, kind and generous. Even if money was tight for us as a family if she knew a friend of ours needed a winter coat that person would get a winter coat. She loved cookies, playing Yahtzee with family and people watching.
Thanks for stopping by for fearless females.. hope that you come back real soon. Grace

Fearless Females Post 25 ~ Working Grandmas ~ 1910 Work Place

Fearless Females ~ March 12 ~ Working Girl

So many of my family members spent time in the home taking care of their families, but before marriage some of them did work.

I was surpised to find in the 1910 census that my grandma Grace worked as a telephone operator.  I do not remember her ever telling me that.  The census tells me she was 17 years old and living at home with her mother, step father and half sister Merle and half brother Wayne.


I do know that my grandma Alta taught school before marrying Grandpa Perry in Colorado. The year is 1910 and she is 17 years old and teaching in a public school.

Each of my grandmas worked before marrying after that they stayed home to take care of their families.
Thranks for stopping by lets keep saving together Grace

Monday, March 12, 2012

MONDAY MEMORIES ~ CAKE CAN MAKE ANY DAY BETTER ~ 1951 MEMORIES ~ TIME WITH THE GIRLS

No matter how the day is going a piece of cake with the girls can only make the day go better. The year is 1951 when this party took place. And I am sure the cake was homemade as was the frosting. The month is September and it is Janice's birthday, but September is my birthday and also my cousin Bonnies birthday. One cake can go a long way.  Janice is on the left, I am in the middle and Bonnie is in the high chair.  My one thought I am sure was "enough with the picture taking, how about some cake."

Thanks for stopping by for Monday Memories ~ Our pictures can tell our story. If you think we are related I would love to hear from you. Grace

Sunday, March 11, 2012

EASTER ALMOST HERE ~ NOW WHERE IS MY HAT AND GLOVES

Easter is almost here guys.  I always loved Easter, it meant a new hat to wear to church.  I am sure I did not get new gloves.  I usually wore an extra pair of my mother's.  But I did get a new hat for Easter and maybe a new coat.  Here are some of my youthful Easter outfits.
This is 1961, either someone said something funny to get me to grin or it is a bit of my shyness coming out.  That coat sure is busy for a little person. I never got to 4'11 and now am shrinking as I age at the moment I am 4 ' 10". Pretty big purse also don't you think.


A year later and another picture of me with my sister and cousin Bonnie. New hats, coats . My sister and I had matching coats, I think mine was beige and hers was blue. No purses in this picture. My sister is the only one wearing gloves and even is sporting a watch. This picture was 1962.



I just spotted this picture in my family album, same girls, coats and hats but this one is in color and this time my cousin Bonnie has the gloves on.  I guess they are the traveling gloves. And yes my coat is beige. I always loved that coat.


As we get closer to Easter I need to decide if I will find a fancy hat to wear to church or just go bare headed. Maybe I will even find a new coat for Easter.

Thanks for stopping by.. and if you think we are related I would love to hear from you. Grace

SUNDAY Obituary of Finnetta Gannaway Zion died the 12 August 1881 Pleasant Grove, Des Moines County, Iowa, USA

This last weekend I have been busy searching on ancestry and find a grave for relatives. Distant relatives but relatives.  I love to find the tombstones of family members.  It is that last piece of some ones life and when I see a family name on a tombstone I know that is my family.  If I am in the cemetery I will touch the stone and wonder about them.  If I am on line seeing a family stone for the first time I will touch my screen and wonder about this family member. 

Today I am featuring and remembering a family member through marriage.  This is the obituary of Finneta Gannaway who married one of my third great grand uncles Jacob C Zion.  Jacob was her second husband. Jacob is brothers to my third great grandfather McCormick Zion



 

On the 4th inst occurred the death of Mrs. Nettie Zion, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Shelladay, 4 miles northeast of New London.

Mrs. Zion was just recovering from a severe spell of sickness which had confined her to bed for several weeks,when she was again stricken down, this time with stroke of paralysis. In this, her last illness, she was unable to speak during the entire time, covering a space of more than 4 months, and a great portion of that time could not turn herself in bed.

The funeral took place at the church at Pleasant Grove, yesterday, and the remains laid to rest by the side of her last husband in the cemetery at that place. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Carter, of the C.P. church, of which she was also a member.

She was born in Buckingham county, VA, Aug.27th 1805. Was married to Wm. Williams, Aug. 1823, who died in 1833. Married again in July 1836 to Jacob Zion, who died Sept. 1869.

Her first marriage was blessed with six children, two of whom are yet alive, and three by her second, one of whom survives his mother.

Interesting family history tidbit is that Finnetta's sister Elizabeth " Betty " was married to Jacobs son John D. Zion. So John's sister in law married his father so she was his step mother and his sister in law.  And though only related through marriage interesting tidbit is that Finnetta's and Betty's parents William the 2nd and Sarah " Sally"  were cousins. Not sure if first cousins or later but still cousins which probably was some what common then.
Well that is it for Sunday Obituary sharing. Have a great day, and if you think we may be related please let me know.. Grace

Fearless Females Days Post 24 Food Religion and Mama

Where does time go last day I posted on Fearless Females it was March 6th. Now it is the 11th and I have missed 4 days of postings if you do not count today.  Where have I been or what has been happening in my life to space out these postings I had wanted to do.   Life has happened I guess. I get all wrapped in hunting for treasures, going to auctions, dealing with things happening in the family or even coming down with a cold and spending some time in bed to get a jump on it. So for those days I missed I will link up to last years postings and maybe even the 11th day of March.  So please take a moment and read about some of my Fearless Females.

Fearless Females March 7th  Favorite Recipes

Fearless Females March 8th Diaries  this one is on my mama

Fearless Females March 9th  Family documents

Fearless Females March 10th Religion

Fearless Females March 11th Tragic or Unexpected Deaths this is from last year and is about my dad's mother my grandma Alta.  I never got to meet her and that is tragic because my dad loved his mama so much.

Well I am now caught up with Fearless Females through today. Time will tell if tomorrow is new or a repeat from last year.  Thanks for stopping by and if you think we may be related I would love to hear from you. Grace

Friday, March 9, 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ FACIAL HAIR

Facial hair is the focus of this week’s SepiaSaturday.

My father and grandfather's were clean shaven but go back a couple of generations and I have some pretty hairy relatives.


This is John W Zion my great great grandfather born on 28 November 1831 in Indiana
and died on the 22nd of April1920 in Missouri.  He married Mary Cassell  and is related to me on my fathers side of the family.



This is Flavious Millsap with his wife Anna Woodmansee. Flavious was born on the 10 November1832 in Indiania and died on the 10 of April 1910 in Syracus Kansas. He is my great great grandfather on my father's side.

On my mother's side of the family we have more hairy great great grandfather's


This is Dwight Henry Day my great grand grandfather. He was born the 7th of August 1829 in New York and died on the 30 of June 1913 in Hammond Minnesota.


One more great great grandfather is Patrick Gallagher who was born in Ireland in 1830 and died on the 3rd of January 1898 in LaCrosse Wisconsin


Hope that you have enjoyed meeting some of my great great grandfather's hairy faces. Take a peek at others on Sepia Saturday postings by clicking link at top of the page. Grace

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Four Rules To Help You Do Your Family History Research

Oops I just got my hand spanked.  I had read a great article on rules to help you with your family tree research.  I guess I thought by giving full credit to the writer and linking to her I was praising her work and sending people to her writing and blog. I was wrong. I broke a copyright rule and got spanked by her. So I have rewritten my posting and taking her out all together.  So watch out guys even though I wanted to show how this helped me do my research I broke the copyright laws.

I love and hate Internet Research sites. So much of the information is just copied from tree to tree with wrong material being added and then it just multiples.
I love ancestry and have belonged for over a year. I love being able to find the census forms, possible family pictures and hooking up to possible relatives. But when I see my family trees in others trees and family members are just jumbled up with no thought I want to scream.

My last example was
1. My great grandma Katherine Gallagher Esler who is married to Appleton Esler. They married and had two children together Merle and Wayne.
2. Appleton was married at least once before and had two children these children are now Katherine's step children. This is Tillie and Russell
3. Katherine had my grandma Grace before she married Appleton.  Time period was early 1890's she did not marry the father whose name is Andrew.  My grandma is the half sister to Appleton and Katherine's children and step sister to Appleton's first two children. 
I will find trees that combine all children under Appleton and Katherine and that is bad enough, but what really got to me is to see the woman named Sarah who married the father ( Andrew ) of my grandma Grace now married to Appleton.
Appleton and Sarah never married and I am sure they never met. How some one happens to connect these two different families is amazing. All you have to do is click on Sarah's name and up comes Andrew.
I contacted this person to tell them of their error but who knows if they will ever even read my message and correct this stupid error that will be passed on and on.

Here are five rules to help with my family researching

Rule 1: Do Not Assume  Example is while working on one of my family lines recently, my research has the parents born in New York but as I am looking at different census one year had the mother born in Conn all other census reports say New York.  Either the census reporter wrote down the wrong name or who gave the information gave the wrong place of birth. Just because it is written does not make it true.  

Rule 2: Do Your Own Research  Go beyond the internet or just one census report or the death certificate or even the tombstone pictured on the internet. Use these as clues but look further find city directories these are a great source.  Search for family members who may have that missing information.
I am searching for the above Andrew in the first part of my blog story.  He never married Katherine after or before Grace was born.  All I have is a picture of Andrew.  I think I have found the right Andrew in the census but I am NOT posting this picture there on Ancestry.  What if it is the wrong one.
What I have found is a picture of Mary the sister of Andrew.  I have printed it and compared side by side. I see a resemblance but is it wishful thinking.  I have emailed the ancestor member who put up the picture of Mary to see if she might have a picture of Andrew. A picture of Andrew that matches my picture. Oh how I wish she would get back to me, but she  has not been there for over 6 months so I am not holding out much faith there.  But I can wait and wait and maybe some day I will hear back with an answer of Yes or No I have a picture.  In the mean time I will find others who have Mary and Andrew or their other siblings in the tree.  I will share these two pictures in a posting real soon and see what you think.  Is the nose similar, how about the lips. Are they related or not?

Rule 3: Treat Brothers and Sisters as Equals  Some times you can find some fun and interesting relatives.  Here is one Meet My Great Aunt 3x Removed the Postmistress of Greenwood Nebraska .  This was in the 1920's I find that exciting that she was busy and making her name in Greenwood Nebraska.  She never married and lived with her parents.

Rule #4: One Source Doesn't Equal Proof  Just because it is in the census does not make it correct. Even if it is on the death certificate that does not make it a fact.  Search, search and compare.

I love google to search for information. May never find anything but I am looking.  I really use swagbucks for my search because I get points every once in awhile. After I while I will turn these points into cash at pay pal or for a gift card some where. Have you tried out swag bucks for your search

Lets all follow these 5 rules of finding our family and  if we find a mistake that we know is a mistake lets take the time to pass on the error.  It may not get changed, but at least we have attempted to correct the error.

Thanks for stopping by lets all attempt to use these rules and use everything else as a clue only. Grace

FEARLESS FEMALES Post 23 HEIRLOOMS

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 6: Heirlooms



March 6 — Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

I have shared several postings in the past of family treasures.  You can view them by going here.  I have shared about wedding rings, bibles and bears made out  of fur coats.  I am blessed to have treasures from my mother, aunt daisy, grandmas and grandpas and great grandparents.  The best treasures in my opinion are the family bibles.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, hope that you will take time to read other postings. Grace

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Post 22 ~ FEARLESS FEMALES ~ HOW DID THEY MEET?

March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?


The story of my mother and dad meeting is sweet. Daddy was in town and docked as a merchant marine.  Went to church on Sunday and was invited to Sunday lunch at my grandma and grandpa's home.  He saw my mama's picture on the mantel, found out where she was working and went down to introduce himself.  That was in May and in October they married.  I love the story of how they met.

I do not know how any one else met in my family.  My own story is that my second husband was in town on business, happened to be a night club I was at and asked me to dance.

My first husband threw pop corn at my head in the movie theatre to get my attention.

I wish I knew how my grandparents met but I never asked. 

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, hope that you will come back for more of my Fearless Females.  Grace

Fearless Females Blog Post 21 Marriage Records

Fearless Females March 4 Marriage Records  — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Last year I posted that the only vintage marriage record I have is of my great grandmother Katherine Gallagher to Appleton Esler and it is into pieces. But I have it and it is beautiful.

What I do have are wedding photos of some of my family members.  Here is the wedding photo of my great aunt Grace to her first husband.  I shared a picture of her yesterday with my aunt Daisy for Sepia Saturday.
I shared this picture before of my great aunt Grace before here with a story of what was happening in the world when she married. Fun interesting piece of history around her. Aunt Grace married in Minneapolis, Minneapolis. Her husband was about 13 years older than her and they never had any children. 
I do know my aunt Daisy adored her and we girls and Aunt Daisy would take the train to the cities every year to visit Aunt Grace and her sister Aunt Gladys.  I remember it being hot and she had no air conditioner.  We would want to stand in front of the fan and she would not let us. She was afraid we would catch a cold.  They may be one of the reasons I felt she was crabby. This time frame would of been in the late 1950's or early 1960's.  We would stay at an old hotel down town within range of the train station.  The name of the hotel is gone from my memory, but I stayed there in 1966 with my first husband when we visited Minneapolis on our honeymoon.  It is long gone like so many buildings of my youth.

Thanks for stopping by for another posting of Fearless Females, please take a moment and read some of my other postings. Grace

OBITUARY SUNDAY ROBERT CHASSEL NOLTON Husband of ANNA JANE DAY

For today's Obituary Sunday I am sharing the obituary for Robert Chassel Nolton.  Robert was married to Anna the sister of my great grandfather William Albert Day. Robert passed away the 20th of July, 1937. His obituary was published in local newspapers.


picture is of Robert and Anna (Day) Nolton 1926

ROBERT NOLTON LAID TO REST. FUNERAL FOR PIONEER HELD ON THURSDAY: INTERMENT IN CITY CEMETERY.  Robert C Nolton passed away at the Montevideo hospital on Tuesday after being ill for only a few days and was laid to rest in the city cemetery following services at the home Thursday afternoon.  Rev Nelson of Minneapolis officiated.  Mrs. A. L. Thulin sang a solo.  Pallbearers were Andrew Weber, Peter Tebben, R. F. Kirschbaum, Christ Kirschbaum, George Barber and L. D. Hilton.  the death of Rob Nolton takes from the community one of its fine old pioneers, a gentleman of the old school who held steadfast to its ideals and principals.  While the modern generation take to its motor cars, Rob and wife preferred the horse and buggy and continued to use this one mode of transportation they had become so used to through the many years.  For more than 50 years the Noltons have lived on the same farm in Minnesota Falls township.  Always friendly and always willing to do his share, then a little more, the death of Robert Nolton takes from this community a fine citizen.  Robert C Nolton was born in Rome New York in 1856 and in 1876 was united in marriage to Anna Jane Day.  In 1884 they moved to Minnesota Falls and lived on the same farm for 51 years.  To this couple six children were born, namely, Charles and Mary deceasedm Mrs. Clara Gatchell of near this city, Lonzo Nolton, living on the home farm, Mrs Lura Garbusch of this city and George W Nolton of Sioux City, Iowa.  Besides the children, his wife , 16 grand children and 6 great grandchildren survive.

Thanks for stopping by to view Obituary Sunday

Saturday, March 3, 2012

FEARLESS FEMALE Post 20 NAME SHARING WITH AN ANCESTOR

FEARLESS FEMALE ~ NAME SHARING TRENDS ~
Last year I wrote about being named after my two grandmothers. My mother's mother Grace and my father's mother Alta.  Alta was named after her grandmother Alta Cheuvront. You can read that story here.

I love my name it is after two important family members.  Some people do not like their names and want to change them but I have always been very pleased with my name. 

At this time I have people in my ancestry tree recorded. So far I have six Grace's including my self. The oldest one is Grace Spencer 1674 to 1714. She is my 6th great grandmother on my mom's side of the family.  Grace married John Day Jr with the Day name being passed down to my mother's father.
She and John had 12 children and she passed away shortly after the last child was born.



There are four people named Alta the oldest being my 2nd great grandma Alta Cheuvront and there are two of us with the name Alta as a middle name.

Do you have any naming practices in your family line?  It can be an interesting study.

Thanks for stopping by for Fearless Females, I hope that you will take a moment and look at some of my other postings. If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you . Grace

SHIRT TAIL RELATIVES ~ MEET ALONZO ANDERSON AND FAMILY

A common phrase when I was growing up was shirt tail relatives. Just what does that really mean.  What brought forth these memories of past family phrases was a blog posting I read at It's a long long journey about shirt tail relatives.
 
Back in the fifties they would just say " oh he is just a shirt tail relative rather than he is your first cousin three times removed. Huh what do you mean first cousin three times removed? No wonder they just said shirttail relative.
I want you to meet one of my shirttail relatives that I just discovered on Ancestry.



This is Alonzo D Anderson and family. My family Day history book has his name spelt as Llonzo so there can be a little confusion there. 
While paging through this Day family book to scan and post some pictures at Ancestry I spotted this picture of Llonzo 1859 to 1928 and his wife Mary Nellie Everett Anderson 1860 to 1916. Pictured with them are daughter Coite 1890 to 1986 and son Clyde1883 to 1948 . I had no idea who this person was or why they were on a page of Days.
While updating my Anderson family on Ancestry I was working on Abraham Anderson the brother of my 2nd great grandmother Betsey Anderson Day. While searching records for his children I found Alonzo and his wife and children. Here is my shirttail relative who played with another shirttail Day relative. This is the Anderson that was mentioned in my Day family history book. Mystery solved I know who this family is now. Alonzo is my first cousin 3rd time removed or as grandma would of said a " Shirttail relative "

Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

Friday, March 2, 2012

Sepia Saturday 115 : Games or How About Just Playing In A Puddle

Sepia Saturday 115 : Games 


This week for Sepia Saturday the topic is games. I could not find any pictures with people playing games with in my family photos. While searching through piles of old photos I found a bag full of photos of my Aunt Daisy. Aunt Daisy was my mother’s sister and was a big part of my life. My mother got polio back in 1952 and when we moved from Texas back to Minnesota, aunt Daisy would take us girls to places my mother could not. She would take us to the fair every year and we would take the train from Duluth to Minneapolis once every summer. She never married and always called us girls, my sister, two cousins and myself her kids. In the later 1960’s my parents bought a large house and moved my grandmother and my aunt Daisy to live with them. After grandma died, aunt Daisy continued to live in the lower level of the house until they sold the house and moved to a senior high rise. For the first time ever Aunt Daisy had her own apartment. Age was creeping in and she had a tendency to save to many meals in the refrigerator. My cousin Bonnie would go and clean it out every week to help keep things tidy.

So for Sepia Saturday I am sharing a darling picture of my Aunt Daisy playing in a puddle of water. With her is a young version of my great aunt Grace Day Crosby. Funny seeing pictures of aunt Grace young because she was always old to me. I remember her old, serious and a bit crabby. Here she is young, pretty and smiling and enjoying her brother Bill’s first child. I like this picture of her and aunt Daisy. Every one is young and happy in old photos.

I think I will post some more pictures of a young aunt Daisy soon. Until then thanks for stopping by, how about taking a moment to pull out some old photos you have. Lets find young and happy people of long ago to make us smile. Grace

Fearless Female Post 19 Favorite photo of one of your female ancestors

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

Day 2 of Fearless Females, last year I posted a photo of my great grandmother Carrie Lockwood Day with her sister in law Anna Day Norton. Anna is my great grand aunt. 
This year I have chosen  a photo of Mary Cassell / Cossill who married John Henderson Zion son of McCormick and Mary (Gobble) Zion. She is one of my 2nd great grandmother on my father's side of the family.  This photo was probably taken around 1875.
One of the reasons I picked it was because I love her hat and I get the feeling she was a strong woman from her pose and the chose of hat. 
Mary was born on the 19 of Oct 1834 in Coles Illinois to Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Carmichael ) Cassell) and died on the 20th of Nov 1919 in Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa.  She and John had four children, Mary Elizabeth, William, Jonathan Adam ( my ancestor) and Etta.

Thanks for stopping by for another posting on Fearless Females. I hope that you will take a moment and look at some of my other postings.  Grace





Thursday, March 1, 2012

TIMELINE THURSDAY ~ HARRIET CARPENTER NEW YORK to MINNESOTA 1811 - 1905



For Time Line Thursday I am continuing with Harriet Carpenter my third great grandmother who I posted on earlier today.

1811 December 13 Harriet is born to Harmon and Phebe (Chrisman) Carpenter in Rome, New York

1820 August 7th Harriet is living at home with Herman Carpenter. There are 9 people in the home 2 males 10 to 15 years, 1 male 26 to 44 years and 1 over 45 years old. There are 3 females under 10 years, 1 who is 16 to 25 years old, and 1 who is 26 to 44 years old. 4 persons are engaged in agriculture and 1 is a foreigner not naturalized.

1830 Harriet marries Daniel Christman in Oneida county, New York. Not sure if he is a cousin or not.

1831 Son David Chauncey Christman is born name later has Carpenter added to it

1833 daughter Monica Christman is born New York

1835 son David is adopted by Harriet's father Harmon and mother Phebe New York

1836 or 1837 Death of husband Daniel Christman Rome, Oneida County, New York

1837 Harriet marries Levi Anderson in Rome, Oneida county, New York

1838 Daughter Betsy Ann  is born New York

1839 Son Abram Jackson is born New York

1840 daughter Phoebe is born New York

1846 son William is born New York

1848 son George is born New York

1848 son George dies

1850 son Fairfax is born New York

1850 September25 census Rome, New York has Levi age 40, Harriet 36 and their 5 children Abraham 13, Betsy 11, Phebe 9, William 5 and Fairfax living and farming next door to Harriet's parents where Harriet's other two children are living ( David 19 and Monica 16 )

1851 son Welcome Wallace is born New York

1857 August 1 Harriet's mother Phoebe dies in Rome New York

1857 December 5th Harmon's will says that Harriet Carpenter is to receive Ten dollars payable to her by her son David Chrisman now called David Carpenter 2nd following the death of her farther Harmon Carpenter

1858 Husband Levi is supposed to have died

1860 June 12 Father Harmon Carpenter dies in Rome New York

1860 July 28 census in Rome New York has Harriet living on a small farm with sons Fairfax age 12 and Welcome age 9. Son David now known as Carpenter is living next door with his wife Lovina on land inherited from Harmon's will. 
Interesting note is that there is a Fairfax Anderson living with a Abraham Christman and wife Betsey and their family this is Harriet's sister and brother in law. That census was taken the 22nd of June, 1860 and they were living in Oriskany, New York. Fairfax is 11 years old. I think this is the same Fairfax and he is counted twice in this census.

1868 Harriet relocates to Wabasha county, Minnesota

1870 Harriet is keeping house in Mazeppa , Wabasha County, Minnesota on land valued at $1200. Living with her is daughter Phebe 25 and sons Fairfax 21 and son Welcome age 19

1872 24th of September Harriet marries Charles Noel Cocagne in Wabasha, Wabasha county, Minnesota

1880 25th of June census Harriet and Charles are farming. No one is living with them.

1885 May 1st census has them living in Zumbro, Minnesota

1895 Harriet and Charles are in Zumbro, Minnesota

1899 5th of September death of eldest son David Chauncey Christman Carpenter in Rome New York. David was adopted by Harriet's parents and is the only child to have stayed in New York. He dies of stomach difficulty

1900 27th of February death of Harriet's 3rd husband Charles Cocagne in Zumbro, Wabasha county, Minnesota

1900 census on the 6th of June Harriet is 88 years old widowed and living alone. She is landlord Daughter Betsey and son Abraham are living near by. The 1900 census has her first marriage in 1830 and had 9 children 7 living still.


1905 December 5th Harriet dies in Zumbro Wabasha county, Minnesota. She is buried next to 3rd husband Charles at Pleasant Prairie ( Dale) Cemetery.  I have seen her tombstone. Other family members are buried in same cemetery.


This is a good start for my time line on Harriet much more needs to be found and added.
Thanks for stopping by, check out some of my other timelines.  If you think we may be related I would love to hear from you Grace

Fearless Females Blog Post 18 - Favorite Female Ancestor ~ HARRIET CARPENTER CHRISMAN ANDERSON COCOGNE

March will be Fearless Female Month over at Accidental Genealogist. I will post all or some of the prompts during the month of March. I checked to see what and how many postings I had accomplished last year. I posted 17 times during that month. You can read what I posted for March 1 2011 here. I had posted on three of my favorite women. I will attempt to use different family members

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

This March 1, 2012,  I have chosen my 3rd great grandmother Harriet CARPENTER ANDERSON COCOGNE.
Harriet was born December 13 1814 in Rome New York to Harmon and Phoebe CHRISTMAN CARPENTER and died December 5th 1908 in Wabasha Minnesota. She was married a total of three times.
First husband David CHRISMAN ( may of been a first cousin) married when Harriet was 19 years old. Harriet had two children by him, David Chauncey and Monica. Husband David CHRISMAN dies in 1836.
In 1837 Harriet marries Levi ANDERSON, they have 6 children together. The first being Betsey my great great grandmother. Other children are Abram, Phoebe, William, George and then Fairfax. In 1858 Levi dies, we have not found his obit or grave. There was a Levi Anderson who died 1860 found frozen to death, alcohol being the cause. We do not know if this is the same Levi Anderson of New York.
Third husband Charles COCOGNE  marries Harriet in 1872 and dies in 1900. Harriet dies in 1908 and is buried in the Pleasant Prairie Cemetery in Zumbro, Minnesota. Harriet lived to almost be 94 years old , she out lived 3 husbands and 5 children.
Harriet did not live to know that two of her grandsons would be murdered. In 1927 her first son David's son George is murdered in a neighbor dispute and in 1929 daughter Betsey's son George is murdered while doing his job as a guard at the docks in Duluth, Minnesota. This crime was never solved.
I am sure there is a lot to learn about Harriet and I have just started my search for her. I am pleased I was able to find her grave in 1999 and was able to leave her a flower at that time.
Some of the questions I have
1. Was first husband David really a cousin or not.
2. When did second husband die, did he die when family says or was he the Levi ANDERSON who froze to death.
3. What was life like for Harriet during the years she lived. I have the feeling that her father HARMON was a powerful controlling man over her and her second husband Levi.

Thanks for stopping by for my first Fearless Female posting. I hope that you will take a moment to look around at other postings and if you think we may be related I would love to hear from you.  Grace

 I am nowhere  done searching for my roots. For my missing family members.  So many to fine so little time.  This has been a hard few years ...