52 Ancestors 52 Weeks Bachelor Uncle Fairfax W Day

A Bachelor Uncle  Fairfax Day 1894 - 1966 

    Sadly I know very little about my great uncle Fairfax.  I know that he was born the 2nd of February 1894 to William Albert and Carrie Lockwood Day in Clinton, Big Stone County,  Minnesota.  He was the third child and third son.  At the age of 6 the year is 1900 and he is living in Moonshine Township, Big Stone, Minnesota and the family now has seven children William Henry my grandfather, Morris, Fairfax , Bernard , Dewey , Gladys and Grace.  Within a year the family will move to Mora Minnesota and a Lester will be born.
    In 1917 the family will be living in Sacred Heart Minnesota with the father opening a bank. Fairfax will not be working and is listed as medium height slender with grey eyes and black hair.  He will claim exemption from the military service stating he is crippled in both legs.

   By 1920 William Albert the father will have died due to a problem with diabetes. The family is left with out the main bread winner.
   The next date we know of is 1930 and Fairfax is living with his mother Carrie who has remarried to George Warner.  They are living in Shamrock , Atkin County , Minnesota and will move with mother and and step father to McGregor, Minnesota .  I have a picture of him and his mother and they seem happy living by a lake and fishing.
  The year 1946 his mother passes away and by 1950 he is renting an apartment in Minneapolis Minnesota.
   I do remember meeting him some where when I was a child and he seemed pleasant and gentle to me.
   His sister Grace and Gladys and brother Lester lived in the same city so I would think he saw and
attended family doings with them and their children.
   Fairfax passed away 4th of September 1966 at the age of 72 and is buried in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 2 Facing Challenges My Mama Faced

 Week 2

My mother faced her challenges every day. 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 February 28 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 my mama. 

She could of sat home and felt sorry for herself but she 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.. Most of all she loved her family.

On her death bed a minister visited. He asked her if she was ready?  Her answer was yes but I will miss my family.  I feel she is near me at all times , as I write this I feel her presence near me.

She is always reminding me to be good and not " naughty. 

Miss you mama.  

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 1 Thanking My Aunt Alice

Getting to know my ancestors better week after week


I am going to cheat a little and start with sharing my first post back in March 2009.  It was in honor of my aunt Alice Zion Moore who is the one who got me interested in my family history. It is her fault that I am drowning in papers, binders and photos. 
Many times I will share with my family something and I sense them thinking of something else, but later I will say something and they will comment " I remember that." Or they will bring up a piece of family history, rumor or secret. I feel a sense of happiness that maybe they were listening to me. 

I love my ancestors and know they are always near me. Sometimes I think of them as my guardian angels. 

Grandma Alta right hand side at graduation

One time I heard my grandma Alta Hall Zion's voice in my head.  She had passed before I was born.  I was expressing I wish I had known her as I gazed at her picture.  This voice within said you have.  I felt a feeling of comfort sensing her within me. 

So here is a copy of my first post.. my tribute to my aunt Alice 

My Aunt Alice Lives On In Me

 Aunt Alice and Uncle Houston on their wedding day

My interest in family history started many years ago. My father had a twin sister who had the genealogy bug. Aunt Alice was her name. She would come to visit from California with her husband in their motor home. I loved when she came. Into the house she would walk with her arms full of pictures, charts and graphs and tons of information of what she had found. They would travel the US visiting towns where our family had lived. She met many distant relatives. She love to visit with them. She would share family stories and search family bibles for information. She was very big on family reunions. Being that I lived in Minnesota and the reunions were in Washington I only made it once, but I remember how great it was. I have memories of my father's brothers playing horseshoes. Every one is gone now but I have the memories and the photos of that day.
She passed away several years ago but I feel she lives in on me. I have been working on my family history for over 10 years. My aunt Alice never knew all that we can find on the Internet today. Oh how I wish she was here to see it. One thing she did was pass on what she had in paper form with us and the Mormons genealogy center. She shared her pictures with several cousins so they are out there somewhere.
I love family research, the pictures, the family stories and visiting cemeteries. My favorite cemetery visit was in Boston. They have 2 or 3 old cemeteries. Somewhere buried there is a distant great grandmother that lived about 300 years ago. I have in my papers her name. I know I will come across it as I work at getting my papers, pictures and stories together.
I have started to put my information on Ancestry.com From there I have heard from distant family. Because of the Internet and Ancestry.com I have seen pictures of great great grandfathers I would of never seen if not for the Internet. This is the beginning of my genealogy blog. Hope that you will find it interesting as I share my stories and ideas I am using in my search.
My goals are to get organized and put together family books to show my children and grandchildren. By doing this I hope I can pass on the genealogy bug to one or more of them and maybe even one of you.
I have read many articles over the years on different aspects of family search. I plan to share with you in the next days what I am doing now and what I will be doing in the future to get my genealogy information organized so can move on with my treasure hunt of family roots.

So that is my first posting of 2019 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks.  I am still as unorganized but maybe this will be the year I  finish this challenge, get a little more organized and break down some brick walls.  I have broken a really BIG one for me and I will share that SECRET BRICK WALL I KNOW I HAVE BROKEN with you soon but you have to promise to keep my secret. 

By for now.. if by chance you think we are related please comment and get a hold  of me. I would love to hear from you.. Even if we are not related I would love to hear from you.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 6 Family Heirlooms

Family Heirlooms

This is the sixth week of Amy Coffin’s series on Abundant Genealogy.

Week 6 – Family Heirlooms: For which family heirloom are you most thankful? How did you acquire this treasure and what does it mean to you and your family

I have many family heirlooms.  How do I possibly pick  my favorite or what I am thankful for ?

I treasure my mother's wedding ring that I wear most days.  If I still had her I would not have it and would gladly give it back to her.  Same with my aunt Daisy's ring, she wore it to work and church and I admired it every time I saw it.  I would gladly turn it back over to her.  I have my grandmother's ring, I do not remember her wearing it but I also would love to give it back to her also.

I have vintage albums and family photos, other pieces of jewelry and glassware.  Any furniture I was given I have passed on to my boys already.  This is from my mother's side.

I have very little from my father's side. My grandmother died before I was born and we lived in Minnesota while grandpa Zion lived in Washington.  But I do have from that side my grandmothers autograph book from when she was a teenager which my grandpa wrote in before they married.  I have a souvenier from the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair that was given to my great grandmother Mabel Coleman Hall from great grandfather Arthur Hall.  I also have several bibles from that side of the family.

I also have letters and cards that both grandmother's wrote to the family and a couple letters from grandpa Zion. I love to see their handwriting.  I have letters from my mother to me and from my father to my mother.

I guess what I treasure most is the letters, with these I am seeing their thoughts and their hand writing.  They are still with me when I read them, as the jewelry when I wear it I feel they are still with me.

What family treasures are you most thankful for?

52 WEEKS OF ABUNDANT GENEALOGY 2012 WEEK 5

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin

• Week 5 – Life Experiences: Sometimes the challenges in life provide the best learning experiences. Can you find an example of this in your own family tree? Which brick wall ancestor are you most thankful for, and how did that person shape your family history experience?

I enjoy finding stories of strong women in my family. I love to look deeper into the family area and find women who have been pioneers in my opinion. I wonder what there lives are like what they felt or how they lived.
 Right now I am working on my Cheuvront family history story. Married to my Joseph Cheuvront is Elizabeth Ellsworth.  At the age of 18 in 1777 she marries and within the next 23 years she has 11 children and in 1800 she passes away from Thyroid fever at the age of about 41 years old. Her death comes just days after her son Joseph jr. has died of the same disease. I look forward to reading about this time period and adding depth to her family history in my writings.

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, January 29 through Saturday, February 4, 2012.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 4 Free OFFline Genealogy Tools

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 4 Free OFFline Genealogy Tools
A bit late but better late than never

This is Week 4 of Amy Coffin’s Abundant Genealogy series.  

Free Offline genealogy tools: Which free off line genealogy tool are you most grateful?  How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy.

My favorite off line tool is the National Archives in Washington DC. Takes a bit of work to get there from Minnesota, but I was able to go twice while my husband was at conferences in DC back in his working days.

I would get on the subway and travel to the right stop and then walk a certain path to find my way. At the end of my day I would back track to the subway and go back to our hotel. I felt so brave wandering by myself in this big city.

At the National Archives I would enter and pass the guards through the medal detector.  I had to get a pass with my name on it and then find my way to the right floors to find what ever I wanted to search for. I would fill my card with money so I could make copies of all the records I wanted.

I was fortunate to find the Civil War records of my great great grandfather John Lockwood.  Some of those papers are his application for a pension. How he stated he had pain and was able to not work like he used to do. My thoughts at that time were and still are " Poor Grandpa ".

To find Revoluntionary records on my grandfathers John Rouse. At ancestry is this file number  information on his War pension. I was able to copy many of these papers on him.

Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900
about John Rouse   my fifth great grandfather.

Name: John Rouse Pension Year: 1834 Application State: New York Applicant Designation: Survivor's Pension Application File Archive Publication Number: M804 Archive Roll Number: 2090 Total Pages in Packet: 112

I was able to also find information on my 5th great grandfather Joseph Cheuvront at the archives.  He also lived during the revolutionary war. Among my papers is a copy of a letter he wrote to his children and descendants about live a good life and not being sinful, the story of him arriving in this country and becoming involved with the Methodist and traveling with Rev Henckel.  I will have to find and share this some day with you.
If you by chance every find the opportunity to visit the National Archives it is a wonderful place to search for your ancestors.

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

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 3 Free Online Genealogy Tools

Week 3 – Free Online Genealogy Tools: Free online genealogy tools are like gifts from above. Which ones are you most thankful for? How has it helped your family history experience.

What is FREE Online Genealogy tools to use to help with my family research. There is  Roots Web which is part of Ancestry hopefully it will stay free. Then there is the LDS Family research .
My favorite place is the Duluth down town library. I do not spend enough time there but when I go I enjoy myself so much. I could get lost in the research area.
They have the local newspaper that dates back into the 1800's and I have been able to find information on the death of my great great uncle George Day in 1928. That is a story I have started here but it needs further telling. The question is do you share what was never told to you?  Do you share the full story ?

The library research room is better than a candy store. No calories but full of goodies. Shelves and shelves of books.
We also have a LDS Family History Center here in Duluth. I have not taken advantage of this as of yet. Went to one genealogy meeting there and looked around. With the Internet I do not take advatage of these free sites enough. One of my goals will be this year to change that habit.
Our local Genealogical Society meets on Monday nights and this is not a good night for me.

Thanks for stopping by, take a moment and read some of my previous postings. If you think we may be related some how I would love to hear from you. Grace

Week 3 Of 52 Weeks Of Personal History and Genealogy .. Cars

Week 3 of 52 Weeks of Personal History and Genealogy.. Cars..

For some reason I was never really interested in getting a car as a young teenager.
I was dating my first husband and he had a great old 1948 Ford Coupe that was fun to drive in. My sister had a cute little Volkswagon that she would drive us around in.
I do not really remember my first car. It would of been bought by my hubby #1 and me.
It would of been used and bought from the car lot that was owned by friend's father.
Now my father loved cars. He had many cars and was always coming home with a new car.



Here are two of his early cars. Bottom car is while they were living in Texas. License plate looks like it has a 194?.
First car is in Duluth and maybe and is a late 1960's Saab.
This is only two of the many cars my dad owned in his life time. Someday would love to see how many I could find photos of and put in an album.

Winter Memories Week 2 of 52 Weeks Of Personal Genealogy and History

Week 2 of 52 Weeks of Personal History and Genealogy. Winter Memories

I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota where winter visits us for months on end. Temperatures can get into the 20 to 30 below zero range and then you have the wind chill factor to deal with.

As a child I loved winter as long as it was not to cold to play outside. My sister I love to go sliding down our little hill or skating on the elementary school ice rink. We would skate when ever possible.

I got a pair of skis one year but never went anywhere with that. Went down a bunny hill once or twice. That was the end of that.

As a young adult the lakes would freeze and we could walk on the small lakes, watch people ice fish and go snow mobiling.

Now I prefer to be in a warm client during the winter. I am now living in Duluth after 22 years.
This is our first winter living north in five years. So far it has not been to bad but I know that will change any day.

Thanks for stopping by as I share my memories in a 52 week series.

New Years Memories Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History Week 1. How did my family celebrate New Years?

There are no memories of New Years as a child. My family was non drinking so there were no parties that they would of attended or had in their home.

As a young adult I would be at home with my own family and I would stay up to watch the Dick Clark New years show.


Later in life hubby # 2 and I spent a few times in Las Vegas for New Years. That is the place to be if you like rowdy fun, people.
If I am not in Las Vegas at New Years I am quietly at home waiting for New Years so I can turn off the light and go to sleep.
thanks for stopping by.. this is a week late but that is me I guess. Grace

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy Challenge 3

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge 3
Assess yourself! You’re great at researching everyone else’s history, but how much of your own have you recorded? Do an assessment of your personal records and timeline events to ensure your own life is as well-documented as that of your ancestors. If you have a genealogy blog, write about the status of your own research and steps you may take to fill gaps and document your own life.
This challenge runs from Saturday, 16 January 2010 through Friday, 22 January 2010.



I have taken very little time to write about myself in my family book. I have done very little journeying also. This is one area it would be helpful to work on. How I wish I had more from my ancestors in their handwriting. I have a few letters or cards from grandparents but nothing from my great grandparents. I was reading http://taylorstales-genealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/52-weeks-of-genealogyweek-3.html posting. She has put into her family research all the places she has lived .. 18 of them .. will make it easier for her descendants in the future.
That could be an interesting task to do.
I could write about where I was when I heard John F Kennedy had died ( 9th grade gym class).
Where I was and my feelings about the 911. How I did not sleep for days.
How about how I met my first husband or my second husband. I am not sure my children even know when or where I met their father. ( I was 15 and went to a movie with my girlfriend, told our parents we were going to the library. He was 4 rows behind us , sitting with his buddies.
My " What If " ? What if I had gone to a junior prom with with Peter B instead of cancelling out because..... he did not sound excited when I called to say yes. How silly a girl I was.
" What If ? when Mike J asked to date me. What could of become of that? I did not date him because of silly reasons. I was a preachers daughter and was a good girl, but he wanted me to not wear makeup, not cut my hair, skirts longer. If only I had talked to my mom or grandmother about him. They may have encouraged me to go out with him.
He went to Vietnam and died. Who knows if that could of changed the course of his history but we will never know. I think of him now and wish I had at least given it a try. At least I would of gotten to know him better.
We all have so many " What If " in our lives. But then again we go the course of life we choose. That brings us the husbands we had and have. The children and grandchildren in our lives. The places we have lived and will live. The people we have met that have brought meaning into our lives.
So many things to journel so that some day our great great grandchildren will know more about us then we know of our great great grandparents.
For now I am printing out some of these posts. At least it is a start.

Are you reasearching and doing a time line of your life. I would love to hear your comments.

Thanks for stopping by... Grace

52 Weels To Better Genealogy Challenge 2

Well here is the challenge for week 2 from http://www.geneabloggers.com/52-weeks-challenge-2-local-public-library-continued/

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge 2
Go to your local public library branch again. Examine the local history, archives and/or special collections section. Ask a librarian if you don’t know if your library has special collections or where they are located. Be sure to check the reference section, too, as many of the newer and more valuable books are held in that area. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections.
This challenge runs from Saturday, 9 January 2010 through Friday, 15 January 2010.

I am glad the second week is going to the library again. I have not been there. I jumped in the last day of week 1 Friday late at night and had planned to go on Saturday.

That changed when I was informed I was on the schedule to work Saturday afternoon. This job is just during the tax season. I hope that they get the schedule worked out so I know what I am doing.

So I have this next week to find a day I can go to the library and see what they have. My early post on the library reported that they had a large are relating to the history of the South. At that time I did not think I had any ancestors from the south. After going through my family history last night on my Zion line I noted that I have Bela Millsap born 1797 in Green Tennessee He is my 3rd great grandfather. By 1830 he is in Indiana.

This is a picture of Bela late in life. He is pictured with his second wife who has just died. I look forward to finding more about him and his first wife Elizabeth McGuyer in the future.
That is the mystery of genealogy, your family history, there is always more to search for. It is an unending mystery.
Thanks for stopping by... I hope that you will visit again ... Grace

Public Library Challenge Part I (52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - #1)

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy.. This is the challenge put forth by Amy Coffin (and hosted at http://www.geneabloggers.com/52-weeks-challenge-1/The challenge period will be Saturday through to the following Friday.


Week 1:
Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.

Well of course I am late again. Did not pay attention and did not know about the challenge until tonight, Friday night the last night.

First off need to find the closest library in Richmond. There is one I have been meaning to visit so many need to take a ride there and see what they have in genealogy.

Second guess I need to sign up for a library card.

I just did a search at http://www.swagbucks.com/ for libraries in Richmond and my library is the George Memorial Library. From their Internet site I found the following information.

MAIN LIBRARY
George Memorial Library (GML), the main library in the system, has the largest collection of materials in the Fort Bend County Libraries system. GML has a particular focus on large-print books, parenting, Spanish-language books, teen materials, literacy materials, and text books from LCISD and FBISD.
GML also houses the Genealogy and Local History Department on the second floor of the building; the department's resources focus on the southeastern United States and includes materials relating to the history of the South, federal censuses, genealogy, and the Civil War. The Joe Grillo Science Center is located in the Children's Department on the first floor.
WiFi Access George Memorial Library provides free WiFi access to the public throughout the building. Contact the Adult Reference Department at George Memorial for more information and connection instructions to use your personal laptop at the library.
Printing and Scanning Printing from the public access computers is accomplished through the use of network laser printers. You must use a library card to print. There is a cost.
Microfilm copies The Genealogy and Local History Department at George Memorial Library has several microfilm reader/printers available to the public. Copies are 10¢ per page and payment is by coin.
I do not think many of my ancestors were in the south eastern area of the US but will take some time soon and see what they have for me to look at.
They do have a large section about the civil war. I have an interest in the Civil war and had one great great grandfather and his brother fought in the civil war. I have a collection of Civil war books that I still need to read.
Sounds like I have alot to see tomorrow and in the future.

Well need to plan a trip to the library tomorrow. Will let you know what I see.

Thanks for stopping by ... Grace