Treasure Chest Thursday

Henry Dreher, Jr.

[1902-1977]

This is a photograph of my grandfather taken about 1930.

Isn't he the handsome gentleman farmer?

Probably in Floyd County, Indiana.

Wordless Wednesday

Texas saloon, about 1894.

John Wesley Hardin [my husband's 1st cousin 4times removed] is standing center.

Tombstone Tuesday

Having finally run out of my own tombstone photos, I have been locating the graves of famous [or infamous!] individuals.

Today's is one of my political heroes of the past. And he is my husband's 1st cousin, 7 times removed.

American Patriot and Statesman, Patrick Henry.

The following BIO on Patrick Henry comes from FindAGrave and is written by Kit and Morgan Benson:

Birth:	May 29, 1736
Death:	Jun. 6, 1799
American Patriot. He is best remembered for his stirring phrase "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." Born in Hanover County, Virginia, he attended public school for only a short time, and was taught by his father, who had a good education. He began a career as a shopkeeper, but was a poor businessman and soon deeply in debt. He then studied law and received his attorney's license in 1760, which helped his oratory skills when he had to argue cases in court. In 1764, Henry was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he soon became a leader of the frontier people against the old, established plantation aristocracy. His speech in the House of Burgesses in 1765 against the Stamp Act is considered one of his greatest orations. In it he argued, "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it." In 1774, he was elected a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and the following year, to the Second Continental Congress. He left the Congress before the resolution for independence was put to a vote, to become Commander-in-Chief of Virginia's militia, a position he resigned in February 1776 when he realized his limitations and lack of military experience. A few months later, he became a member of the committee to write the Virginia Constitution. As soon as Virginia eliminated their royal governor and set up a constitution government, Patrick Henry was elected as its first Governor, and moved into the palace in Williamsburg, where the English royal governors had lived. A hard working administrator, Henry worked to solve the many problems caused by the American Revolution. He recruited the state's quota of 6,000 men for the Continental Army, as well as 5,000 men for the Virginia Militia. He obtained and supplied the Continental Army with clothing, shoes, and cattle, as well as lead and gunpowder for ammunition. He was reelected in 1777, 1778, 1784 and 1785. During his second term as Virginia Governor, he supplied the George Rogers Clark Expedition, which conquered the Northwest Territory from the British. In 1788, Henry served in the Virginia delegation to ratify the US Constitution. Although he was initially against ratification of the US Constitution because he believed it lessened the rights of the states, after its ratification, he joined the Federalist Party and supported the document. He was largely responsible for the adoption of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which we call the Bill of Rights. As public service had left Henry in debt, he returned to his law practice in 1788, and soon became a successful criminal lawyer. In 1794, he retired to his estate near Appomattox, Virginia. In his remaining five years, Henry was offered many public offices, including US Senator, Minister to Spain, Minister to France, Secretary of State in President Washington's cabinet, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, all positions which he refused. In 1796, he was elected Virginia Governor for a sixth time, but refused to take office. Finally, his close friend George Washington convinced him to run for representative in the Virginia State Legislature, and after winning the election, he died before he could take office. Inscription on crypt reads: In Memory of Patrick Henry Born May 29, 1736 Died June 6, 1799 His fame his best epitaph  Patrick Henry, as well as his second wife, Dorothea Dandridge Henry, are buried on the old Red Hill Plantation [now called the Red Hill Shrine] in Charlotte County, Virginia. The old Red Hill Plantation. The Henry and Carter Cemetery on Red Hill Plantation.

Mystery Monday - 9/27 Revealed

Yesterday we asked the Mystery Monday question...

What Is It?

The answer?

The Archimedes drill predates the Yankee screwdriver by a few hundred years, but it works much the same way. When you drive the handle down in a linear motion, the small chuck at the right end of the threads spins the drill.

I found the picture above on an antique site — this particular Archimedes drill was designed for jewelers, to drill tiny holes in soft metal. I’m sure the torque is nothing to speak of, and the RPM is somewhere just above a plain old screwdriver, but this actually makes it perfect for a few applications.

The drill below, sold by Garrett Wade, accepts bits smaller than 1/16″. Though tiny bits are easy to break, with a drill like this you’ve got way more control and will probably see the flex in the bit before you break it.

The fact that you can buy this tool new makes the antique even cooler — because somebody is still using these.

Congratulations to Greta Koehl for correctly guessing what kind of instrument this is!

Mystery Monday

What Is It?

Okay all you great antique lovers out there!

Here is a common item found in most 19th century workshops.

Can you tell us what it is???

Post your guess below or on your own blog and leave your link below.

[Answer will be revealed tomorrow.]

SNGF - Come Sunday Afternoon

Again I'm late with the SaturdayNight Genealogy Fun challenge issued by Randy Seaver over at GeneaMusings.

Here's Randy's challenge:

Hey, genealogy readers and champions - it's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!

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

1)  Pick one of your ancestral lines - any one - patrilineal, matrilineal, zigzag, from a famous ancestor, etc.  Pick a long one if you can.

2)  Tell us which position in the birth order that your ancestor was in each generation.  For example "third child, first son."  Also list how many children were born to these parents.

3)  Share your Birth Order work with us on your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, in a comment on Facebook, etc.
 Well, that didn't look like a ferocious challenge, so I've stepped into the waters:

Cynthia Ann Beane [1959...]- first born child of Walter and Lois Beane. Four children total.

Walter Maxwell Beane [1937...]-  13th child of John Monroe Bean and first for his wife Mary Elizabeth Faudree. 15 children total.

John Monroe Bean - [1866 - 1954] sixth born child of William McHarvey Bean and Margaret Smith Perkins. Eight children total.

William McHarvey Bean - [1832 - 1890] 12th born child of William Bean and Rachel Wiseman. 13 children total.

Rachel Wiseman - [1790-1856] 4th born child of Joseph Wiseman and Elizabeth Bateman. 11 children total.

Joseph Wiseman - [1759-1836] First born child of Isaac Wiseman and Elizabeth Davis. 11 children total.

Isaac Wiseman Jr. - [1738-1818] First born child of Isaac Wiseman Sr. and Mary Marshall. 10 children total.

Isaac Wiseman Sr. - [1700-1779] First born child of Thomas Wiseman and Elizabeth Renberg. Eight children total.

Thomas Wiseman - [1680-1716] Son of Thomas Wiseman Sr. and Mary Morlon. Unknown if any siblings.

Sentimental Sunday

Emmanuel Clements, Sr.

1845-1887

Great-Grand Uncle of my husband.

Surname Saturday - Clements

Following my husbands line once more, today we will explore the CLEMENTS family:

1. Johnnie Lee HENRY was born in San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX.

2.Joseph Wright HENRY was born on 20 Sep 1927 in Fulton County, KY. He died on 16 Nov 1993 in

Batesville, Panola, Mississippi. He was the son of 4. William Lee HENRY and 5. Emma Louise

PETTIE. He married Betty Louise Rotge on 30 Jul 1947.

3.Betty Louise Rotge was born 30 Aug 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas. She died 05 Jul 2003 in Jourdanton, Atascosa, Texas. She was the daughter of 6. John Cornelius ROTGE and 7. Ora Lee

Sparks.

Children of Joseph Wright HENRY and Betty Louise Rotge are:

+ 1. i. Johnnie Lee HENRY was born in San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX, married

Cynthia Ann BEANE in Covington, Alleghany Co., VA.

ii. Allan Ray HENRY was born 22 Sep 1950 in Bexar County, Texas, died 29 Jan 2001 in

Pleasanton, TX, married Aramadina L. Castillo 02 Jun 1979 in Bexar County, Texas.

6.John Cornelius ROTGE was born on 16 Jan 1910. He died on 09 Jun 1983 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas

He was the son of 12. Peter ROTGE and 13. Lillie Mae Surber. He married Ora Lee Sparks in 1930.

7. Ora Lee Sparks was born 26 Oct 1914 in Bandera, Edwards, Texas. She died Aug 1982 in San

Antonio, Bexar, Texas. She was the daughter of 14. William Jacob Sparks and 15. Laura May

Clements.

Child of John Cornelius ROTGE and Ora Lee Sparks is:

+ 3. i. Betty Louise Rotge was born 30 Aug 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, died 05 Jul 2003 in

Jourdanton, Atascosa, Texas, married Joseph Wright HENRY 30 Jul 1947; married Edwin

Darl CUSTER 16 Jun 1972 in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX; married Harold W.

MILLARD 16 Jan 1982.

14. William Jacob Sparks was born on 11 Mar 1883 in Erath County, Texas. He died on 12 Sep 1944 in

Kerrville, Kerr, Texas. He was the son of 28. Newton Caddell Sparks and 29. Theodora Perrylee

McCarty. He married Laura May Clements on 15 Apr 1906 in Bandera, Texas.

15.Laura May Clements was born 12 May 1890 in McCullough County, Texas. She died 06 Oct 1969 in

Hilltop Convalescent Home, 7602 Louis Pasteur Dr., San Antonio, Bexar, Texas. She was the

daughter of 30. James Thomas CLEMENTS and 31. Anne Caroline TENNILLE.

Children of William Jacob Sparks and Laura May Clements are:

i. Beulah Bessie SPARKS was born 13 Sep 1905 in Texas, died 15 Mar 1975 in Greenville,

Huntsville, Texas, married Claude SHERMAN 21 Oct 1923.

ii. Lela V. Sparks was born 1906 in Bandera, Bandera, Texas, married Pink LEE 03 Dec

1922.

iii. Newton Jacob SPARKS was born 23 Oct 1910 in Texas, died 27 Sep 1991 in Hunt, Kerr,

Texas, married Pearl Elizabeth BEAVER 15 Dec 1931.

+ 7. iv. Ora Lee Sparks was born 26 Oct 1914 in Bandera, Edwards, Texas, died Aug 1982 in San

Antonio, Bexar, Texas, married John Cornelius ROTGE 1930.

30. James Thomas CLEMENTS  was born on 30 May 1843 in Missouri. He died on 22 May 1897 in

Dewitt County, Texas. He was the son of 60. Emanuel CLEMENTS and 61. Martha Balch HARDIN.

He married Anne Caroline TENNILLE on 11 Jan 1872 in Gonzales County, Texas.

31. Anne Caroline TENNILLE was born 11 Nov 1858 in Texas. She died 14 Oct 1936 in San Antonio,

Bexar, Texas. She was the daughter of 62. George Culver TENNILLE and 63. Amanda J. BILLINGS.

Children of James Thomas CLEMENTS and Anne Caroline TENNILLE are:

i. Virginia Clements was born 10 Aug 1875 in Gonzales County, Texas, died 13 May 1957 in

Galveston, Texas, married Nathan Jesse CARTER 29 Jan 1896 in Gonzales County,

Texas.

ii. Viola Clements was born 26 Jul 1877 in Gonzales County, Texas, died 07 Jan 1965 in

Yarrington, Lyon, Nevada, married William Harvey PITTMAN 02 Oct 1895 in McCullough,

Texas.

iii. Crawford Clements was born 10 Sep 1879, died 07 Sep 1880.

iv. Emma Clements was born 09 Sep 1881, died 06 Jun 1962, married Thomas Henry

CAFFALL 24 Jul 1901.

v. James Thomas Clements was born 26 Feb 1883 in Kimble County, Texas, died 06 May

1956 in Los Angeles, California, married Nellie Mae POACH 07 Sep 1901 in Hilto, Elk,

Nevada.

vi. Ella Clements was born 03 Jul 1886 in McCullough County, Texas, died 1969 in Bishop,

Nueces, Texas, married Hardy PHILIPS 23 Jun 1911 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas.

vii. William C. Clements was born 07 Dec 1888 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, died 29 Aug 1928 in

Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, married Stella Ellen GRIFFIN 22 Jan 1922 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas;

married Otillio Clara OEHLER 26 Jun 1918.

+ 15. viii. Laura May Clements was born 12 May 1890 in McCullough County, Texas, died 06 Oct

1969 in Hilltop Convalescent Home, 7602 Louis Pasteur Dr., San Antonio, Bexar, Texas,

married William Jacob Sparks 15 Apr 1906 in Bandera, Texas; married Jack LANGFORD

1930.

ix. Lela Dee Clements was born 18 Apr 1892 in Dewitt County, Texas, died 07 Jan 1952,

married Leslie Randolph COBB 18 Sep 1911.

x. Nancy Ann Clements was born 17 May 1894, died 05 Apr 1896.

xi. Bessie Edna Clements was born 13 Dec 1896, died 25 Aug 1925, married Plenny Louis

NELSON 22 Dec 1912.

120.William CLEMENTS was born in 1753 in Augusta, Virginia. He died about 1830 in Tennessee. He

was the son of 240. John CLEMENTS and 241. Elizabeth Keturah THOMPSON. He married

121.Unknown POLK.

60. Emmanuel CLEMENTSwas born on 10 May 1813 in Kentucky. He died on 02 Jul 1864 in FreestoneCounty, Texas. He was the son of 120. William CLEMENTS and 121. Unknown POLK. He marriedMartha Balch HARDIN on 20 Jul 1836 in Marshall Co., MS.

61. Martha Balch HARDIN was born 04 Jan 1817 in Wayne County, Tennessee. She died 26 Mar 1867

She was the daughter of 122. Benjamin HARDIN and 123. Martha Ann BARNETT.

Children of Emanuel CLEMENTS and Martha Balch HARDIN are:

i. Benjamin H. CLEMENTS was born 10 Jul 1837, died 04 Jul 1858.

ii. William Barnett CLEMENTS was born 21 Sep 1839, died 21 Jun 1862, married Mary Ann

Harrison YOUNG 21 Oct 1861.

iii. Mary Jane Rebecca CLEMENTS was born 14 Dec 1841, died 11 Mar 1919 in Roswell,

New Mexico, married Wiley Wadkins KIMBRO 22 Jan 1860; married James Madison

DENSON 09 Mar 1865.

+ 26. iv. James Thomas CLEMENTS was born 30 May 1843 in Missouri, died 22 May 1897 in

Dewitt County, Texas, married Anne Caroline TENNILLE 11 Jan 1872 in Gonzales County,

Texas.

v. Emanuel D. CLEMENTS was born 26 Feb 1845, died 29 Mar 1887 in Senate Saloon,

Ballinger, McCulloch, Texas, married Mary Ann ROBINSON 03 Jun 1866.

vi. Martha Elmyra CLEMENTS was born 26 Feb 1845, died 17 Jun 1846.

vii. Margaret Ann CLEMENTS was born 30 Nov 1847, died 12 Jan 1851.

viii. Joseph Hardin CLEMENTS was born 01 Dec 1849 in Limestone, Texas, died 16 Mar 1927

in Roswell, Chavez, New Mexico, married Sarah Jane TENNILLE 04 Aug 1870 in

Gonzales County, Texas.

ix. Minerva Elizabeth CLEMENTS was born 11 Dec 1851 in Limestone City, Freestone,

Texas, died 19 Aug 1928 in Ranger, Eastland, Texas, married Ferdinand Jackson BROWN

Abt. 1867.

x. John Gipson CLEMENTS was born 14 May 1854 in Limestone City, Freestone, Texas,

died 17 Oct 1932 in Miles, Runnels County, Texas, married Celia Elizabeth EVANS 04 Nov

1875 in Gonzales County, Texas.

Family Recipe Friday

Family Recipe

Take 1 Daddy, mix with 1 Mommy.

Add two little sisters.

Warm with love and affection.

Results are one happy family!

Here I am in October 1961 with my very own real, live baby doll!

My little sister, Eydie!!!

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Treasure Chest Thursday

Irene Banet and one of her brothers.

Probably about 1920.

Love the old wagon in the background!

And all those fluffy, fat chickens!!!

Mystery of Mona Lisa Is Over

Discovery's investigations have uncovered the birthplace, adulthood home, and last residence of one of Florence, Italy's most reknown individual's. Mona Lisa.

You can view the documentary short on the Discovery of Mona Lisa on Discovery. And even view what may have been the site of her final resting place.

Wordless Wednesday

Tombstone Tuesday

GENL. ROBERT EDWARD LEE

Lee Family Crypt

Lee Sarcophagus

General Robert Edward Lee

1807-1870

The entire Lee family is buried at the Lee Chapel

Lexington, Virginia.

Mystery Monday

What Is It?

Answer below.

What Is It?

This is a butter churn!

Cornish, Curtis & Greene Butter Churn  At first this antique churn's design looks like a crazy idea, but as soon as you start to spin it, you instantly realize that this fellow had come up with a winner. Because he hooked up his supports at opposing diagonal corners, this puppy revolves almost effortlessly because it is so out of balance.  I have had square churns that were just mounted on opposing parallel sides, and they were slow, off balance, and not at all interesting to see in operation.  This one on the other hand is super both in looks and action, and will be a highlight of the churn collection.  The stencil and writing that remain attest to this fact, and it has info on several of the side panels about all the awards it won at the state fairs and such.  I imagine that it won even more than these.  This is the smallest #1 size, and I would estimate it at about 5 or 6 gallons. 

Sentimental Sunday

Otis Lee and Lorene Banet Lee's home about 1990.

Here, many years ago, stood the tall, Victorian home that I remember from my childhood where my grandparents lived.

Uncle Otis and Aunt Lorene bought the place from Grandma and Grandpa Dreher, and tore the old house down and built this small modern home.

Uncle Otis passed away in 1986 and Aunt Lorene [my Grandma Dreher's sister] passed away in 2005.

The home was in Floyd County, Indiana.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - The Time Machine

Randy Seaver, over at GeneaMusings brings us yet another great SNGF challenge!

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

1) Determine which event in your ancestral history that you would love to be a witness to via a Time Machine. Assume that you could observe the event, but not participate in it.

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

Wow! There are so many great events that I would like to have been there for... that I am certainly not sure which one right away to choose from!

So... after giving this a little careful thought, I decided that I'd like to climb into my Time Machine and head way to...
....
....
....
1803. To a mountainside in Monroe County, [West] Virginia. To a couple named William and Sarah Bean. At this time, they have at least two young sons, and possibly a third: John, William and Roy.

In the next year William Bean, the elder, will die and leave Sarah a widow with three young sons to raise alone. No money. And only a rocky, cliff-like dwelling to call home, along a valley that is filled with tumbled boulders from thousands of years before. Nothing can be raised here but goats, and a little timber cut. That is all.

It is this time I'd like to come to, prior to William's death, so that I could sit down with him and find out about his ancestry. Where he actually came from; Ireland? Scotland? What part did he play in the American Revolution? [It is passed down through the family that he fought against the Americans in the war, after being conscripted into service and brough here against his will.]

Could I take a notebook with me on this time journey? If so... I'd take meticulous notes of his ancestry. Find out about his childhood. His courting the daughter of the wealthy James Bane, and eventually marrying her.

Was there bad blood between Sarah and her father? Is that why he left her only one pound in his will? And why doesn't she turn to her family when William dies? Could I, knowing what is to come, convince her to turn to their aid later?

Is there some way I could prevent those young boys from being separated from their mother next year, when she is forced due to lack of funds to place them all in indenture-ship? John in February, as the eldest, to learn farming. William and Roy in September, to learn blacksmithing.

Roy runs away and is never heard from again. What happened to this little boy?

So much tragedy and heart ache will come to this family in such a short time! How could I go back and not attempt to change the hands of fate???

Ahhh... but if I did... would I then cease to exist? Simply changing the fates to the point where I might never be?

Perhaps it is a good thing that we cannot do this... but how I would love to know William's story!

The gentle giant... the man... the husband... the father.

Highlight's This Week

Dick Eastman announced on his blog EOGN

“Ancestry.com is extending its relationship with NBC for a second season of the TV series “Who Do You Think You Are?” that features celebrities discovering their family history. The company has signed a new contract with NBC that calls for it to sponsor the program and to provide marketing and research.”

Is everyone else doing the happy dance???

Another Eastman blog announcement told us of the cemetery tragedy in KY.

Cemetery in Eastern Kentucky Bulldozed  

This is simply heartbreaking!

The California Census of 1852 [the Gold-Rush years!] is now online according to Ancestry.com’s blog!

Amy Coffin of We Tree Genealogy Blog  is celebrating wedding Anniversary 2008, 2009 and 2010 this week! This is awesome! And a great story!!!

Thanks to Megan Smolenyak for pointing out Woman Says Quaker Oats Led To Longevity  

 I just adored this story! This 100 year old ate Quaker Oats every day of her life! [And she’s a certified genealogist too!]

Jean-Yves Baxter’s Genealogy Blog brings us another great story on a WWII war heroine’s recent death and burial plans. 

The Genealogy Wise reminded us that genealogy can be found everywhere!

Thanks for another great Dick Eastman post on his EOGN  newsletter Using Your Mothers Maiden name for “Security”. I’d often felt this wasn’t secure, since ANYONE could uncover that little fact! Thanks Dick for confirming what I already believed!

It's been a great week of genealogy news and articles!!!

I'm so lookingforward to this upcoming week!!!

Surname Saturday

Once more I am following the lines of some of my hubby's family. Today I'd like to take on a journey of the Rotge family ancestry.

1. Johnnie Lee HENRYwas the son of 2. Joseph Wright HENRY and 3. Betty Louise Rotge. He married Cynthia Ann BEANE.

2. Joseph Wright HENRY was born on 20 Sep 1927 in Fulton County, KY. He died on 16 Nov 1993 in

Batesville, Panola, Mississippi. He was the son of 4. William Lee HENRY and 5. Emma Louise PETTIE. He married Betty Louise Rotge on 30 Jul 1947.
3. Betty Louise Rotge was born 30 Aug 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas. She died 05 Jul 2003 in
Jourdanton, Atascosa, Texas. She was the daughter of 6. John Cornelius ROTGE and 7. Ora Lee Sparks.

Children of Joseph Wright HENRY and Betty Louise Rotge are:

+ 1. i. Johnnie Lee HENRY
       ii. Allan Ray HENRY was born 22 Sep 1950 in Bexar County, Texas, died 29 Jan 2001 in Pleasanton, TX.



6. John Cornelius ROTGE was born on 16 Jan 1910. He died on 09 Jun 1983 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas.

He was the son of 12. Peter ROTGE and 13. Lillie Mae Surber. He married Ora Lee Sparks in 1930.

7. Ora Lee Sparks was born 26 Oct 1914 in Bandera, Edwards, Texas. She died Aug 1982 in San
Antonio, Bexar, Texas. She was the daughter of 14. William Jacob Sparks and 15. Laura May
Clements.

Child of John Cornelius ROTGE and Ora Lee Sparks is:

+ 3. i. Betty Louise Rotge .




12. Peter ROTGE was born on 25 Jun 1872 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He died on 15 Jul 1956 in San

Antonio, Bexar, Texas. He was the son of 24. Jean Rotge and 25. Anna Annette Martin. He married
Lillie Mae Surber on 15 Nov 1902.

13. Lillie Mae Surber was born 29 Jan 1881 in Texas. She died 26 Sep 1932. She was the daughter of
26. John W. SURBER and 27. Visa Ann SURBER.

Children of Peter ROTGE and Lillie Mae Surber are:
i. Julius Otto ROTGE was born 19 Nov 1903 in Texas, died 12 Jul 1982, married Minnie Bowie Tupin 03 Jan 1925.
ii. Annie Mae Irena ROTGE was born 10 Feb 1906 in Texas.
+ 6. iii. John Cornelius ROTGE was born 16 Jan 1910, died 09 Jun 1983 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas,
married Ora Lee Sparks 1930; married Eva Clara HUBBLE 15 Oct 1936.
iv. Joseph Jessie ROTGE was born 21 Sep 1912 in Texas, died 24 Dec 1987.
v. Ruby Martha Ann ROTGE was born 21 Jul 1915 in Kerr County, Texas.
vi. Stillborn ROTGE was born 21 Jul 1915 in Kerr County, Texas.
vii. Robert Roy ROTGE was born 17 Jan 1922, married Edna Lenora Hubble 16 May 1942.
viii. Stillborn ROTGE was born 17 Jan 1922.



24. Jean Rotge was born on 24 Dec 1829 in Paris, France. He died on 06 Jul 1887 in Goliad, Texas. He

married Anna Annette Martin.

25. Anna Annette Martin was born 15 Sep 1839 in Paris, France. She died 25 Sep 1917 in Goliad,
Texas. She was the daughter of 50. Antoine MARTIN and 51. Louise GUEDON.

Children of Jean Rotge and Anna Annette Martin are:

i. Hippolite Rotge was born 30 Oct 1856 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 05 Dec 1933.

ii. Louise Maria Rotge was born 27 Dec 1858 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 07 Feb 1945.

iii. Anna Rotge was born 1861 in Treas Haute, France.

iv. John Joseph Rotge was born 07 Sep 1864 in Treas Haute, France, died 06 Jan 1945 in Goliad, Texas.

v. Joseph Ernest Rotge was born 07 Nov 1868 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 09 May 1957 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, married Esther Emiline SURBER 29 Nov 1900.

vi. Elizabeth ROTGE was born 15 Sep 1871 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died Houston, Texas, married E.N. HARRIS 27 Oct 1900.

+ 12. vii. Peter ROTGE was born 25 Jun 1872 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died 15 Jul 1956 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, married Lillie Mae Surber 15 Nov 1902.

viii. Adelaide Rotge was born 1878 in Goliad, Texas, died Houston, Texas, married William R. HOWARD 04 Oct 1889.

****

And here it is that our information for the Rotge line ends. Perhaps one day someone will be able to break through beyond this wall, and find more on this very fascinating line!

Follow Friday

Today I'd like to share with you a great book I just finished reading.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately regarding biographical studies on various individuals of history. One of my all-time favorite individuals is General Robert E. Lee.

This particular book was received from Tyndale Publishing and is in "The Generals" series. It is titled simply "Lee: A Life of Virtue" and is written by John Perry, published 2010.

I am enamored with Robert E. Lee. The man was a Virginian first and foremost. An American second. Always putting the welfare of his country first. The Civil War nearly broke his tender heart, his worries causing him to prematurely gray.

A sound belief in his God, and a firm love for his family kept him grounded and his roots firm in the Virginia soil.

Tragedy and heartabhe seemed to follow this family. But they perservered.

Want to get a rare view into the life of some of your favorite historical persons? With the cooler months of fall and winter coming at us, now is the perfect time to curl up next to the fireplace and enjoy reading about them.

That's my plan!

Treasure Chest Thursday

Following WWI, which great-grandmother Dreher [nee: Josephine Benzel] called "the Great War" [dying before the onset of WWII], the government sent those mothers who lost their sons overseas free passage for a trip to their burial sites.

While great-grandmother had never been any place except Indiana and Kentucky, she was not about to miss the opportunity to stand over the grave of her fallen son.  Unfortunately, her son did not make the journey to the foreign shore, before dying from illness. He was buried at sea, although a memorial marker stands in France for him.

As the ship came to the longitude and latitude documented as his eternal resting place, engines were cut, and great-grandmother was allowed a few minutes to stand over the "grave" of her lost son.

She sent but one letter home during her voyage, and this is it:

It is addressed to:

Mr. H.C. Dreher

c/o Fe Banet

Georgetown, Ind

U.S.A.

[H.C. Dreher was her husband, Henry Condar Dreher Sr.]

This is a single sheet of paper provided for her, folded and mailed as an envelope or post card.

Inside:

It reads:

"on S.S. Presedint Roosefelt - May 28

Dear Children here I am almost in

mid ocean. have seen 2 whales and

a school of flying fish it sure is

wonderful. I am well and sure

injoying myself hope you are all well

Mother Dreher"

[sic]

This is the second portion of the interior [think of a sheet of paper, folded once, twice and then a third time].

This interior portion is actually the ships menu.

You should be able to click on the image to view it better.

This is the back of the "envelope" when completely folded. The front side being the addressed portion.

A quick search on Ancestry.com and we were able to locate an image of the actual ship great-grandmother made this adventure on:

Great-Grandmother passed away on 12 December 1932 at the age of 67. I am told she never forgot the trip she made and spoke often of it. And especially the kindness of the captain in stopping the vessel over the place where her son was interred.

Josephine Benzel Dreher made this trip in 1931.

Josephine Sophie Benzel Dreher

1865 - 1932

Wordless Wednesday

Precious Baby - 1939

Tombstone Tuesday

John Wayne

[aka: Marion Morrison]

 Tombstone Inscribed: " Tomorrow is the most Important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. John Wayne 1907-1979"

 (Scenes include the Alamo & Monument Valley)

John Wayne

B: 26 May 1907 - as Marion Morrison in Winterset Iowa

D: 11 Jun 1979

Burial at:

Pacific View Memorial Park

Corona Del Mar, Orange County, California

Photos: courtesy of FindAGrave.

Mentionable Monday

This Week’s Highlights


"Rock Creek Cemetery Found!!"
By I Never Knew My Father
Fantastic account of a long-looked-for cemetery! Loved this…it’s every tombstone hunters dream come true!


Ancestry.com Blog
Discovering Names In Unexpected Places
A story of finding family names on a little wallet sized photo after enlarging it!



Dick Eastman’s “5 Best Free Websites To Learn Foreign Languages” over on EOGN  gave us some great ideas on how to learn that language we’re dying to be able to read in order to get through some of those brick walls!



Jean-Yves Baxter brings us the “World's Oldest Stock Certificate Found In Dutch Museum's Archive” on their blog, GeneaNet
This wonderful stock certificate is for the Dutch India Company and was issued in 1606!!!





Michael John Neill brings us Might Does Not Make It Right on their Genealogy Tip of the Day blog.  Just because a date is repeated several times in a document, doesn’t mean that it’s correct!



Japan Says Over 230,000 Listed Centenarians Can't Be Found – was found on GeneaNet’s blog More than 230,000 people listed as alive and at least 100 years old in Japan cannot be found, including 884 who would be 150 or older.



Genealogy In Time
Had a great article in their newsletter, “50 Best Genealogy Brickwall Solutions”.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some of the new ways I will be trying to overcome an insurmountable brickwall!

Sentimental Sunday

Walter Beane

about 1960

Aboard an air-craft carrier.

United States Navy.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Your Sports Teams

Randy Seaver over at GeneaMusings issued another fine challenge for this Saturday evening:

"It's Saturday Night -- time for more Genealogy Fun for readers of Genea-Musings.

I almost did a 9/11 SNGF theme but realized that that isn't fun, it's real life.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Recall your favorite sports heroes and teams of your childhood, and how you supported them.
2) Tell us about them in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a comment on Facebook."

Okay, so Randy... for some of us this is an impossible challenge! Some of us weren't sports fans of any kind growing up!!!

Although I gotta tell you... Joe Namath almost won me over when he wore the pantyhose!!! [Remember Beauty Mist???]



I simply was never the sports fan. However, if there was one sports idol I looked up to, It would have had to have been Billy Jean King. I was simply for any woman, at the time, who could prove she was as good as a man! LOL [Remember when that was so all-fired important to prove??? Bra burnings, and protests?] We've come a long way baby!!!

Billy Jean King - Wimbledon 1980

Billy Jean King - Mandela Day - 2009

So how did I support her?

Uh... well, she's the whole reason I decided to pick up a tennis racket. Loved the game for many years, then moved where there wasn't a court for hundreds of miles, and haven't played in more than 30 years now! [Still no courts here!]

However, I didn't miss a chance to belt out at the top of my lungs while driving in my car...

"I Am Woman" - [the Helen Reddy version]

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

I'd say that pretty much gives my support to her and every woman who attempted to make it easier on the younger generations who were still to come!

I'd say we all made a difference! Smoldering bras and all!!!

How Will I Remember 9/11?

GeneaBloggers posted the following today:

"How Will You Remember 9/11?


Each year, GeneaBloggers takes time to remember the events of September 11, 2011 and encourages genealogy bloggers all over the world to post about their own memories of that day. We’ll do a roll-up of members posts starting at 8:45 am EDT – please join us."


First... my family lives in a mobile home park that limits what we can and cannot do out of doors. However, we are flying our flag proudly on Saturday to commemorate this great tragedy in our country's history. Beginning at sundown, candles will be lit in every single window, showing that we remember each individual who lost their life that day.
 
 

 
Second... I like to take time to remember the day itself. Just a simple introspective look into my own life. How well I remember having the radio on as I worked, playing softly in the background, when the news of the first plane hitting the towers came across. I almost missed it!
 
I quickly cut on the television and a live feed was already in progress. I saw the second plane hit live. I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw that, knowing that a second plane was no accident. When realization came that it was an attack, and word came of the other two planes... I fell to the floor on my knees, literally.
 
I grabbed the phone and called my husband at work.
 
He was choked up as he said, "We're watching it here, too."
 
I hope and pray that I never forget the sick feeling I had that day. I am certain it was similar to the feeling many had the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, or when Fort Sumter was fired upon, or when the first shot of the American Revolution rang out. A feeling of, "God Help Us!"
 
It certainly changed my life. The little things that used to rattle me, simply don't matter any more. I was such a perfectionist before, wanting everything to be exactly as I planned it to be. Now... things are simply things... it's the people that's important in my life. The family and friends. And the community of friends that I share online as well.
 
While my possessions are appreciated, and some even treasured, I know my world wouldn't end if I lost them all tomorrow. What I would be lost without, are those people who are so dear to me.
 
And that's the greatest gift of all.
 
For that, the tragedy of 9/11's harshest of hard lessons, I think the people of this nation learned alot about themselves and each other that day.
 
Who can ever forget the heroism and the images displayed from the tragedy?
 
Or seeing those who couldn't find their loved ones, and the simply not knowing, as they searched, waited, prayed, and the awful truth of learning the worst.
 
As a nation our hearts bled. But as a nation we rallied together. We saw our young boys become men, and our young men become heroes.
 
We saw a people who united under the greatest of circumstances, who responded in a time of need, as in no other.
 
Who could ever forget that day???
 
Never... as long as I live... do I intend to forget it, or the lessons it taught me. THAT would be the greatest tragedy of all.

Surname Saturday

Another brick wall in my husband's research, the Williams family:

Johnnie Henry - He was the son of 2.Joseph Wright HENRY and 3. Betty Louise Rotge.

2. Joseph Wright HENRY was born on 20 Sep 1927 in Fulton County, KY. He died on 16 Nov 1993 in

Batesville, Panola, Mississippi. He was the son of 4. William Lee HENRY and 5. Emma Louise PETTIE. He married Betty Louise Rotge on 30 Jul 1947.


5. Emma Louise PETTIE was born 16 Jun 1895 in Columbus, Hickman, Kentucky. She died Aug 1985
in Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. She was the daughter of 10. Timothy Martin PETTIE and 11. Elizabeth
Ann WILLIAMS.

11. Elizabeth Ann WILLIAMS was born Feb 1854 in Kentucky. She died Aft. 1930. She was the

daughter of 22. Jessie H. WILLIAMS and 23. Rebecca wifeofJessieWilliams.was born Feb 1854 in Kentucky. She died Aft. 1930.

22. Jessie H. WILLIAMS was born in 1817 in Kentucky. He died before 1880. He married Rebecca

wifeofJessieWilliams before 1840.

23. Rebecca wifeofJessieWilliams was born 1820 in Kentucky.
 
And here the trail runs cold! Again, it is my hope to one day push beyond this wall!

Follow Friday

Whenever I find myself with a little bit of time just to "explore" online, I love going to this blog, Cemetery Explorers.

The unusual mausoleums and tombstones captured digitally on this blog never fail to keep me captivated for hours at a time! Even looking back over those shots I've seen before, I am held mesmerized!

Let's face it, I am a cemetery hound, but no one has captured better shots than this!

The author has this to say about the blog:
"I created this blog to show people that cemeteries are wonderful places full of history, architecture and sometimes an occasional ghost story. I hope everyone enjoys what this blog has to offer whether you're an amateur explorer, history buff or just somebody willing to learn about these beautiful places..."

Simply put, this is one of the most lovely cemetery blogs I have ever seen! I hope you'll take the time to visit Cemetery Explorers, it's a spot worthy of your time!

Treasure Chest Thursday

William McHarvey Beane

1937

Corporal - United States Marine Corps

Son of John Monroe Bean, Sr and Ada Burdette Bean.