Wordless Wednesday

The Beane Sister's

1962

Tombstone Tuesday

Andy L. Morris and Lucy E. Morris

Hylton Cemetery

Glace, Monroe, West Virginia

Maintenance Monday

Doing away with the negative connotations of "Madness Monday", I am now choosing to not blog a regular post on Monday's, instead using that day to gather up all the loose ends and provide maintenance to either my own research, or that of my clients.

I hope you will join with me in providing a "Maintenance Monday" for your own home or business office!

We will of course, return to our regularly scheduled postings tomorrow!

Sentimental Sunday

Waiteville School

[Waiteville Community Building]

Waiteville, Monroe, WV

This old school house held four classrooms.  It covered the kindergarten through junior high school grades. For many children in the community this was all of the education they ever received.

For those who decided to travel to Gap Mills to go to High School, they often walked over Peter's Mountain on Sunday, and boarded with other families. Walking back home on Friday evening after the last class, or on Saturday morning. [We're talking on rough trek!]

After the school closed in the 1960's, the Board of Education kept the rights to the property. And later sold it to the community. Today the building has been kept up in pristine condition, and is a wonderful community building. Complete with a small gym, the building is used for community and family events. And this is where my family holds theirs biennual reunion.

At our next reunion, in August 2011, we will be using the building for the entire weekend. We will be bringing our sleeping bags, cots, tents, and campers. And we will be spending an entire weekend together! [Can you tell I can hardly wait??? And I've got to wait a whole year yet!]

This old building stands a silent reminder of those who chose to learn, and who didn't have it quite as easy as we did, or our children, or grandchildren.

Here is where my Dad and several of his siblings attended school. It sits in the heart of the tiny Waiteville community. A place that will forever mean "home" to me.

Siesta Saturday

You got it!

Siesta Saturday is my new non-blogging day! On Siesta Saturday's, I will be sleeping in late. Maybe staying in my pj's all day long!



But definitely resting from the hectic, often too busy, life-style that I have given myself. It's time to slow down and take a siesta!!!

Follow Friday

Today I'd like to introduce you to Old Stones Undeciphered.

Have you ever been somewhere and felt right home? Met a person and felt instant kinship?

That's how I felt when I visited Old Stones Undeciphered. The author of this site, Lisa Wallen Logsdon has this to say regarding herself: "I am a part of each and every one of my ancestors back to the beginning of time. I have a unique DNA. Only God can truly know me."

Lisa Wallen Logsdon

I was instantly intrigued and felt right at home reading Lisa's posts. A kindred spirit! Her love for her family is such a genuine feeling in her posts. And her love of her ancestry and ancestors is equally felt. So often we read the technical posts by other researchers, and the "heart" just isn't it. But Lisa's is truly felt in her every word.

Each time I visit, I am touched in some new way. Sometimes gently. Sometimes overwhelmingly. Always with a reverent love of family.

If you're longing for a feeling of genuine ancestral power, just visit Old Stones Undeciphered..

Treasure Chest Thursday

Henry and Walter Dreher

abt. 1947-1948

Henry Condar Dreher, Jr. [1903-1977] and Walter Louis Dreher [1900-1970] were two of the ten children children born to Henry Condar Dreher, Sr. and Josephine [Josie] Sophie Benzel Dreher.

Henry was my maternal grandfather.

The Kiss In Time Square

The nurse known around the world for a kiss in New York's Times Square at the end of World War II has died.

You may not recognize the name Edith Shain, but, you'll recognize her in the iconic life magazine photo taken on August 14, 1945.

She passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday. Edith was in San Jose in February, lobbying for a national holiday celebrating the "greatest generation."

Shain is survived by two sons, six grand children and eight great grand children.

She was 92 years old.

Wordless Wednesday

Clyde Baker, Zenna Zane Faudree Baker, Mary Faudree Bean, Veda Faudree Carter, Melvin Carter, Dicky Carter

Bumpass, Virginia

1967

Last Oglala Code Talker Dies

Clarence Wolf Guts sits on the steps of his son's home in the town of Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in this 2004 Journal file photo. Wolf Guts died Wednesday, June 16, at the age of 86. .

When the towers of the World Trade Center fell on Sept. 11, 2001, Clarence Wolf Guts asked his son to call the U.S. Department of Defense to see if the country needed his code talking abilities to find Osama Bin Laden.

Wolf Guts was in his late 70s at the time, so his son, Don Doyle, did not make the call, but said the request personified his father's love of country.

"He still wanted to help. He was trying to still be patriotic," Doyle said.

Wolf Guts, 86, the last surviving Oglala Lakota code talker, died Wednesday afternoon at the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs.

A Native American code talker from World War II, Wolf Guts helped defeat Axis forces by transmitting strategic military messages in his native language, which the Japanese and Germans couldn't translate.

"He's the last surviving code talker from the whole (Lakota) nation. It's going to be a little like the passing of an era," Doyle said

**Read the rest of this report here.

Tombstone Tuesday

Maxwell Bean

1919-1923

Maintenance Monday

Doing away with the negative connotations of "Madness Monday", I am now choosing to not blog a regular post on Monday's, instead using that day to gather up all the loose ends and provide maintenance to either my own research, or that of my clients.

I hope you will join with me in providing a "Maintenance Monday" for your own home or business office!

We will of course, return to our regularly scheduled postings tomorrow!

In Honor Of Father's Day

To honor the first man in my life today, let me first say, he was, is, and will always be, My Hero.

You see, my Dad was a career Navy man. He was in the Navy when he met and married my Mom, in 1958. And all through my young life I saw very little of him, because he was away at sea, serving his country. The time he got to spend at home was precious to us. My earliest memories are of us saying our prayers each night and asking God to protect our Daddy, all those onboard his ship, and bring them all safely home.

As I grew older, and got into the various scrapes that a teenaged daughter can and will get into, my Dad was right there every time to make it all right.

When I was heartbroken over a failed marriage, my Daddy was right there again, with arms wide. And he became a surrogate "Dad" as well as grandfather to my five children when their own father abandoned them.

My youngest daughter says she is changing her last name. So poignant is her decision. She no longer wants the last name she was born with, from a father who left her and her siblings when she was pre-school age. Instead, she wants a hyphenated name. My Daddy's last name, hyphenated with my husband's last name [her step-father], because she says those are her "real" father's.

Her declaration of this decision has hit me right here at Father's Day in such a powerful way.

We ARE who we are because of the blood that brought us here. We are "So & So" [last name - Smith, or Jones, etc.]

Yet we ARE who we are, because of those who raised us. Who instilled in us our more's, our reasoning, our thought processes, or moral fiber.

I thank God I was raised by a man, who although not there in body all the time, was ALWAYS there in spirit! Who spent time daily penning home letters of his love and regards for his wife and daughters. Who never once, not for an instant, turned his back on us. Who willingly took on the adoption of two little boys in need of a father and mother, when no one else would. Who later willing took on the assisting of raising not of two, but of five little children [mine] when their father walked away from his family. A man who has done without many, many times to provide for his family. A man who has bled and suffered for his family. A man who gave his youth and vigor for his country.

My hero. A true hero. My Dad.

Walter Beane - 1973

We are a culmination of not just our fathers. But of our forefathers as well.

Henry Condar Dreher, Jr.

1903-1977

My maternal grandfather.

John Monroe Bean, Sr.

1866-1954

My paternal grandfather.

Henry Condar Dreher, Sr.

1863-1925

My maternal great-grandfather.

William McHarvey Bean

1832-1890

My paternal great-grandfather

Francis [Frank] Isidore Banet

1863-1945

My maternal great-grandfather.

Stephen Ledford Faudree

1857-1929

Although my paternal granfather had passed from this life five years before I was born, there is no doubt that John Bean has impacted my life in a HUGE way! Not the least of which is my love for family history.

My maternal grandfather also impacted my life in another HUGE way! I spent a great deal of time with him over the years of my childhood.  He passed on his love for reading and education of oneself. He used to say, "You need to learn something new each and every day!" He was a scholar. Of just about everything he could put his hands on!

It seemed only fitting that John and Henry guided me even from beyond the grave. I truly believe that.

After a terrible marriage that did result in five of the best children God could have ever blessed me with, I believe that John and Henry guided me to a new love. To a man who showed attributes of both of these men who impacted my life.

And it seemed even more fitting that this man would ask me to be his wife thirteen years ago.

Do I need to prove to you that they [John & Henry] guided me beyond the grave to the love of my life?

Here he is. The man that I teasingly call the "Texican" in my blog posts.

The proof, you ask?

His name is John Henry. My friend. My love. My husband. And the best Dad in the world!!! [Next to my own of course!!!]

Happy Father's Day!!!

Sentimental Sunday

Texicanwife

18 Sep 1988

Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia

After what seemed a long journey, and with 5 very small babies in tow, this [very overweight!!!] twenty-something young woman graduated with a degree in nursing!!! A divorced Mom raising her kids on her own, she went on to enjoy a 13-year career as a nurse.

Today she is a genealogy research consultant, a writer, and a very happy grandmother!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Okay, so I'm actually doing this on Saturday night for a change!!!

Here's Randy Seaver's challenge from Genea-Musings:

"Hey genea-funsters, it's Saturday Night! Time for more Genealogy Fun.

Your mission for Father's Day, if you decide to accept it, is to:

1) Determine who is one of the most prolific fathers in your genealogy database or in your ancestry. By prolific, I mean the one who fathered the most children.

2) Tell us about him in your own blog post, in comments to this blog post, or in comments on Facebook."

This one was a "no-brainer" for me!

John Monroe Bean

1866-1954

The most prolific father in my ancestry was my own paternal grandfather, John Monroe Bean, who fathered fifteen children. [He lost his first two wives while young.] However, he didn't become a father until he was 30 years of age, and fathered his last child when he was 77 years of age!

John married [1] Blanche Crosier [1875-1902] in 1895, and fathered Rita, Lama and Pauline.

John married [2] Ada Burdette [1883-1929] in 1907, and fathered John, Emmette, Audrey, Margaret, Bill, Max, Eleanor, Eloise, and Jack.

John married [3] Mary Faudree [1898-1975] and fathered Walter, Edsel, and Roy.

Of the fifteen children, Margaret, Bill, Jack, Walter and Edsel are living.

Of the fifteen children three did not live to adulthood. Max died in 1923 at the age of 4 from whooping cough. Eloise died in 1925 at the age of 16 months from tuberculosis. And Roy died in 1946 at the age of 3 from a ruptured appendix.

One adult died young. Pauline died in 1925 at the age of 22 years and 11 months from tuberculosis.

All of the rest went on to marry and have families of their own.

Having A Fun Afternoon!

Look who made the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine!!!

NOT!!!!

Still it was a lot of fun making this [and another one over on Texicanwife Daily] at Fake Magazine Cover. And it was absolutely free!!! I printed off the results, and they're remarkable close to the ones you pay $35 for in the catalog's!!!

Canadian Woman Falls...Wakes Up With Scottish Accent

Siesta Saturday

You got it!

Siesta Saturday is my new non-blogging day! On Siesta Saturday's, I will be sleeping in late. Maybe staying in my pj's all day long!

But definitely resting from the hectic, often too busy, life-style that I have given myself. It's time to slow down and take a siesta!!!

Follow Friday

Today I'd like for you to check out Hills Hollows Valley Plains.

While the author posts frequently, it's not to the point of inundating you with their prose. So that each time you go to take a look a this informative, and pleasantly written site, you are in a for a treat of both mind and senses.

Hills Hollows Valleys Plains is an experience through genealogical avenues and adventures that you won't want to miss! So check it out!!!

Treasure Chest Thursday

Eydie Beane Dunbar, Mary Faudree Beane, and Cyndi Beane Henry

12th Street, Norfolk, Virginia

May 1967

This is one of the few photographs taken with my Grandma Beane, my Dad's mother. It was taken in May 1967. Grandma was 70 years old in this photograph [or would be 70 in just a few days on June 3rd of that year!]

Grandma came to live with us just a short 18 months before.

She was a quiet woman. And I remember she always smelled of Gardenia Bouquet talcum powder.

She seldom used a handkerchief, but she always kept a tissue tucked up under the edge of her sweater sleeve, close at hand.

She wore white tennis shoes as she got older, because they gave her better "grip" she said, and she stayed more comfortable. She kept these clean by daily dusting them with talcum powder.

She was a wonderful cook! I remember well her homemade biscuits before she quit cooking! But my favorite, was her egg custard! Just a tiny hint of nutmeg in every velvety bite! [I've tried for years to get my custard to come out like hers, but I just somehow can't quite get it the same! And does anyone else still make egg custard, or am I strange in that that wonderful treat reminds me of a dear grandmother?]

When she was older, she was very thin, and she would sit with her legs crossed. BOTH of her feet sat flat on the floor when her legs were crossed at the knees!!! It often looked like she had her shoes on the wrong feet! I can remember teasing her so over this, and her familiar reply was "Oh, pshaw girl!"

Grandma had once taught mute children to speak using their hands. It was from her that I learned the basics of "signing".

Grandma once told me of how Grandpa cut her hair with a pair of very sharp shears. He was over 30 years her senior, and somehow as he cut her hair in a shingle [a short hairstyle], he slipped, and snipped the tip of her ear. It bled for the longest time. She laughed about it, but said it really was a serious thing then, as they had the hardest time getting it to stop bleeding, and Grandpa felt so guilty for the injury! [My Grandpa died in 1954, 5-1/2 years before I was born.]

I treaure each and every memory I have with Grandma Beane. The older I become, the more treasured each of those memories becomes.

Wordless Wednesday

Zenith Road

Gap Mills, Monroe, WV

1910

Tombstone Tuesday

CROSIER

Earl E. (Don)                      Rossie M. Wickline

May 28, 1893                    April 13, 1894

Sept. 27, 1976                    Jan. 20, 1974

Carmel Cemetery, Gap Mills, Monroe, WV

Earl Edwin "Don" Crosier was born in Monroe County [his birth record states he was born 24 May 1893] to Randolph Crosier and Annie Rebecca Smith Crosier. He was one of at least 5 children born to the couple.

Rossie M. Wickline was born in Centennial, Monroe, WV to Monroe Jackson Wickline and Lorenda Workman Wickline. I am not sure if there were other children born to this couple or not at this time.

Don and Rossie were the parents of three daughters: Alma, Gaynelle and Jean Marie [1928-1929].

While there is a very [very] distant tie to me as far as a genealogical tree is concerned [something like 5th cousin 2x removed, or whatever that means!], there is a much stronger tie. You see, when I first moved to West Virginia as a teenager, Don Crosier became my surrogate Grandfather. As a matter fact, when we talk about him today within our family it is always as "PawPaw Crosier".

There is a bond of love there that time does not take away. And there are times when I miss that dear old man so, his love, his warmth, and his counsel!

No, family does NOT always mean that someone falls within our family tree. But that they are bound to us in ways that no familial tie can ever understand.

Maintenance Monday

Doing away with the negative connotations of "Madness Monday", I am now choosing to not blog a regular post on Monday's, instead using that day to gather up all the loose ends and provide maintenance to either my own research, or that of my clients.

I hope you will join with me in providing a "Maintenance Monday" for your own home or business office!

We will of course, return to our regularly scheduled postings tomorrow!

Sentimental Sunday

Built between 1840 and 1842, this house sat upon over 100 acres of prime farm and timber land on Potts Creek in Monroe County, [W] Virginia. It is constructed of log, and in about 1915 was covered over with clapboard. Here is the house in a photograph taken about 1925. The front of the home consists of 2 stories whereas the back was a single story addition.

This was the home that William M. Bean built for his wife, Rachel Wiseman, and their children.

In the 1970's the home was renovated once more. While the original log structure remains intact [including windows and doorways that are no longer used], the exterior has been resided once more, and a much larger back extension, that is also two-storied was added. The southern chimney was removed, and a bay window was installed.

Outbuildings that were original to the property are long gone.

Across the road and beyond a large field, hidden on a hillock in the forest, lies the family cemetery, where William and Rachel lie buried.

The house faces a beautiful gap between two mountains, into Virginia.

This, is my oldest known ancestral home in the United States. For William and Rachel were my great-great-grandparents.

Siesta Saturday

You got it!

Siesta Saturday is my new non-blogging day! On Siesta Saturday's, I will be sleeping in late. Maybe staying in my pj's all day long!

But definitely resting from the hectic, often too busy, life-style that I have given myself. It's time to slow down and take a siesta!!!

Follow Friday

On this Follow Friday, I'd like to introduce you to Genealogy Geek.

While the author of this blog does not truly identify herself, she does have this to say:

"So, who the heck am I? I’m the wearer of many hats and master juggler of the to-do list. I’m a mom, wife, geek, life-long student, should-have-been-librarian, family Keeper Of The Records, and ex-Borg with penchants for genealogy, technology, photography, publishing, lovable labs, and dark chocolate.


You’re still reading? OK…I started researching my family’s history longer ago then I can remember, but do have the application I filled out for my great-grandfather’s Civil War military papers. I was 13. I was a geek even then. Over time I’ve expanded my research lines to include McMullen, Hansford, Jensen, Bradell, Griffin, and Dill.

I grew up and studied at the University of Colorado, Boulder, receiving a bachelors in biology and doing post-graduate work in evolutionary genetics. Post-college work has included time at a landscape architecture firm, Boeing, Microsoft, and Virginia Mason Research. And now? Trying to combine my many interests into a new and wonderful career."

I've absolutely fallen in love with this blog! This lovely lady writes a sense of humor that is rare! She actually makes her posts FUN  to read!

Visiting Genealogy Geek  is a refreshing breath of clear, pure, genealogy fun!

Treasure Chest Thursday

The above document is a marriage bond between Thomas Branch and William Clements of Amelia County Virginia, dated 15 Jul 1836.

Clements was long thought to have died about 1830 in Tennessee. And his daughter Nancy has often been remarked upon to have wed a Hickman L. Harvey. Although no proof has ever been turned up to provide definition for eith of these claims.

However, tucked away among William Clements Revolutionary War records, I did find the above Marriage Bond. This does provide us with proof that William lived beyond 1830 [at least until Jul 1836!], and was at that time still in Amelia County, Virginia.

It also shows Nancy marrying Thomas Branch rather than Harvey!

At long last, one brick wall may be hurdled!!!

Wordless Wednesday

L->R: Mary Faudree Bean, Daisy Miller Baker [child unknown], Richard "Dick Baker

About 1940

Tombstone Tuesday

Elizabeth B. Hedrick

June 25, 1862

Sept. 20, 1952

Viranda Elizabeth Bean was born 25 June 1862 in Monroe County, WV to William McHarvey Bean and his wife Margaret Smith Perkins Bean. She was one of 8 children born to the couple.

On 01 June 1879, just before her 17th birthday, "Betty" married James Joseph Hedrick [1859-1934], son of Moses Hedrick and Mary Elizabeth Chennault.

Betty and Jim had 11 children: Bert, Margaret, Clara Belle, Cora, Lulu, Myrtle, William, Clyde, Hazel, Gretna and James.

Betty died on 20 Sept. 1952 in Greenbrier County, WV. She is buried next to her husband at the Salem Cemetery, Organ Cave, Greenbrier, WV.

Leave Video Messages At Home!

Check out this Video Memo Recorder  here!

This little $39.99 device attached by magnet to your refrigerator, and allows you to leave a video and voice message for your family!

Maintenance Monday

Doing away with the negative connotations of "Madness Monday", I am now choosing to not blog a regular post on Monday's, instead using that day to gather up all the loose ends and provide maintenance to either my own research, or that of my clients.

I hope you will join with me in providing a "Maintenance Monday" for your own home or business office!

We will of course, return to our regularly scheduled postings tomorrow!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Come Sunday Morning!

Once again, I get about to reading the Saturday Night Genealogy Challenge on Sunday Morning!

Here's Randy's latest challenge:

"Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Feeling Lucky?
from Genea-Musings by Randy Seaver

Hey genealogy enthusiasts - it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!!


Your mission tonight, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1) Go to http://www.google.com/ and enter a search term and click on the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

2) Try your name, your local society, favorite genealogy terms, whatever you want. Do at least three, and as many as you want if you have time. Be creative! Have fun!

3) What did you learn from this exercise?

4) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, as a comment to this post, or as a Note or comment on Facebook. "

So, here are my searches:

Cyndi Beane Henry: [1] http://www.thegraveyardrabbit.com/2010/04/meet-cyndi-beane-henry-author-of.html
Cynthia Beane Henry: [1] http://www.123people.com/s/cynthia+beane

Beane: [1] http://www.llbean.com/  [yeah, go figure! a way-way-way-back connection - MAYBE!]

Beane + Monroe + County+ WV: [1] http://www.worldfamilies.net/forum/index.php?topic=2580.25 [shows my own tree/ pedigree]

William Bean+WV: [1] http://local.yahoo.com/info-13017096-bean-william-h-bean-bean-moorefield [a directory listing!]

William Bean+1792: [1] http://www.onforward.net/Allans/default.htm?page=Bean-William-ind00329.htm [not the right William Bean!]

William Bean+Monroe County: [1] http://www.us-census.org/image-index/wv/monroe/1820/a-c.htm [an index of the 1820 Census, of which I have a copy]

Bean Family+ Monroe County: [1] http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/e/v/a/Tanya-J-Evans/GENE4-0005.html [a tree of Tennessee Bean family members - not related]

So, what did I learn from this exercise?
 
Well, I had never really tried the "I Feel Lucky" button before. And in 4 of the 8 queries I did find relevant material for my search request! Which pretty much amazed me!!!
 
However, with so little actual info coming up relevant to my search query, I probably won't be using the "I Feel Lucky" button frequently in the near future!
 
But I did so enjoy the exercise! Thanks Randy for another fun genealogy challenge!

Sentimental Sunday

Surname Saturday - Changed To Siesta Saturday

You got it!

Siesta Saturday is my new non-blogging day! On Siesta Saturday's, I will be sleeping in late. Maybe staying in my pj's all day long!

But definitely resting from the hectic, often too busy, life-style that I have given myself. It's time to slow down and take a siesta!!!

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge #23

Thanks to GeneaBloggers for the following Challenge in the 52 Week Challenge!

"Description Week 23: Come up with a personal genealogy challenge of your own. Each person has different research goals and experiences. Use this week to come up with your own challenge, and then take the steps to accomplish it. Genealogy bloggers are encouraged to share their ideas and challenge their own readers."

This week, my Genea Challenge for you is to visit Footnote. This is a website that offers documents that cover everything from the Revolutionary War right up to the Vietnam Conflict. I've been able to locate records here that we've been unable to pinpoint at NARA!!! I rely on Footnote nearly every single day!

Play around with the names of those individuals you would like to learn more about on this site. And then write about it on your own blog.

I'd love to hear from you and if you were able to locate something new in your research!!!

Follow Friday

Today I'd like to introduce you to La Mia Famiglia. This little blog is written by Jennifer who simply describes herself as "I'm still evolving..."

Jennifer

This blog is a little refreshing look at another individual's journey as they discover more about their family and their ancestry, as well as their lifestyles and culture.

Jennifer writes pleasingly and you will leave her blog with a heartfelt, "Ahhh".

I hope you'll take a few minutes and go over to La Mia Famiglia, you'll be glad you did.

Treasure Chest Thursday

Pauline Bean's Grade Report

God's Bible School

Cincinatti, Ohio

Wordless Wednesday

Annie Caroline Tennille Clements standing in the back, with daughter-in-law, Stella Griffin Clements,  and her children.

Tombstone Tuesday

McCORMICK

ANDREW JACK                    NANNIE BEANE

1871-1948                    1873-1945

Andrew Jack McCormick was born 1871 in Craig County, Virginia to Jonathan McCormick and Margaret Counts. He was one of at least 2 sons born to the couple.

Jack married NannieMalinda M. Beane 15 Nov 1893 in Waiteville, Monroe, WV.

Nannie was born 20 Jun 1872 in Waiteville to William Bean Jr. and Margaret Smith Perkins. She was the youngest of 8 children born to the couple.

Jack and Nannie had 9 children: Ethel, John, John Ella, Okey, Kathleen, Margaret, Ralph, Virginia and Charles.

Nannie died 22 Dec 1945 in Waiteville. Jack died in 1948. The couple are buried at New Zion Union Church Cemetery in Waiteville.

Nannie was my paternal Grandfather's sister.