Thursday, March 31, 2011

Treasure Chest Thursday...UFI's

Okay... so something similar to UFO's [Unidentified Flying Objects], UFI's [Unidentified Family Images] are just as perplexing!

Here are some of my latest acquisition in UFI's...
...all of these photographs come to us courtesy of Talma Williams Clarkson, and are most likely members of the Williams family, from Monroe County, West Virginia.

Aren't these women simply lovely?
What a wistful expression on this one!

And look at this very lovely young lady!
She looks to be about 12-15 years of age.

And here we have two playful young boys with their gardening hoes. The youngest appears to be quite happy in his role, while the eldest looks quite perturbed!

And here we have a faded portrait of a very young infant.

This young lady is wearing spectacles, and what appears to be a short coat.

Here we have two youngsters.

And this almost appears to be the same two as above... look at the little boys brows...they seem the same.

And last... two young women.

If any one has any clues as to these women's identities, please be sure to contact me!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday...Bud and Josie McCormick

McCORMICK
L.W. (BUD)          JOSIE ANNE
1867-1944          1868-1953


Leonidas Wellington McCormick, aka: "Bud" was one of four children bron to Joseph Preston McCormick and Martha Caroline Bean [my gr-gr-grandparents daughter and sister to my gr-grandfather, William].

Josie Anne Williams was one of six children born to Henry Bunyon Williams and Margaret C. Kintzley.

It is through their marriage in 1892 that my blood family, and my "other mother's" family are tied! [Well, that is actually only one tie, the other is for another day!] It is the closest tie. [Love ya Mama Talma!]

Bud and Josie had two sons, Alvey Hovey [1895-1966] and Dwight William [1904-1977].

The couple is buried at...
...in Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia at this church and cemetery...

Bud's parents are buried at the southeast corner of the church [to the right of this snapshot] at the rear corner of the church building.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Amanuensis Monday....Bud McCormick Marries Josie Williams




































This is a copy of a marriage license issued for the nuptials of L.W. McCormack [Leonidas Wellington "Bud" McCormick] to Josie A. Williams.

The couple were officially wed on 30 Mar 1892 in Monroe County, West Virginia by Rev. John L. McCormack, at the home of the bride's father, Henry Bunyon Williams.

Bud was 24 and Josie 23 at the time of the marriage. He was born in Monroe COunty, and she in Craig County, VA.

Bud was the son of Joseph Preston McCormick and Martha Caroline Bean. Martha Caroline was the sister of my great-grandfather, William Bean.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sentimental Sunday

Eleanor Beane Ward and Jack Bean-Ashley.
Abt. 1936-1937
The dog's name was "Laddy".

Saturday, March 26, 2011

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #13

The challenge this week is:

Week 13: Sweets. What was your favorite childhood candy or dessert? Have your tastes changed since then? What satisfies your sweet tooth today?

Oh what a wonderful remembrance this was!

As most children from my generation, candy was a luxury item that we didn't get often. It was a real treat!!!

The corner market had penny candy, where you could actually get three pieces of candy for a penny!!! A real bargain when all you got was 25 cents a week in allowance!

While Mama wouldn't have stopped us from spending our entire quarter on candy if we wanted to, I was one of those kids always saving for something else. A new pair of skates, a new bike, a new Barbie, etc.

However, there were those times when we would be out shopping with Mama, and she would make a special stop at the confectioner's [candy store for those of you who don't remember them being called that!]. And yes... there were stores that sold nothing but the absolute best of handmade and hand dipped candies!  My favorite wasn't one of the expensive chocolates. Instead, my favorite was a simple box of eight hand dipped coconut bon bons.

Their pretty pastel colors always seemed feminine and dainty! I would bring the little box home and tuck it safely away in my dresser drawer where no one would find it but me! And I would eat one piece a day until the last piece was gone. Sometimes, when I knew it would be a long while between the gift of one box and the next, I would take a kitchen knife and cut them in two! So I could then have 16 days of glorious coconut sweet goodness to last me!!!

Alas, there aren't any confectioner's in the rural area in which I now live, unless I am willing to pay a small fortune to purchase from the Greenbrier confectioner's! [Yep... I live just 1 minute from that glorious resort!] A half pound of bon bons at The Candy Maker would feed a third world child for a year! LOL

However... I found a wonderful chocolatier in Kentucky, and when dear hubby was driving a truck, he would stop in at Rebecca Ruth and purchase the most amazing bourbon balls in the world!

Touted as the inventor of the bourbon ball in 1919, this company delivers on confection pleasure! Although not cheap, at $30.50 for a pound... believe me when I say... this is a candy that makes the absolute best anniversary, holiday or Valentine gift for that someone special in your life! Hubby and I savor evey piece when we splurge for this purchase! 

And the good thing is that you don't have to head to the Bluegrass State  enjoy this treat! Rebecca Ruth ships all over the country! [No... I am not affiliated with the company in any way.... simply a HUGE FAN!!!]

Yep.... I've come a long way from the three-piece for a penny candy day to this $30.50 per pound delight, but it's oh so worth it!!!

What was your favorite candy as a child? And today?

Surname Saturday....SPAHR


Generation 1
1.




Cynthia Ann BEANE was born in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN. She was the daughter of 2. Walter Maxwell BEANE and 3. Lois Velleda DREHER. She married Johnnie Lee HENRY in Covington, Alleghany Co., VA, son of Joseph Wright HENRY and Betty Louise Rotge. He was born  in San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX.
Generation 2
2.
3.
Walter Maxwell BEANE was born in Waiteville, Monroe County, WV. He was the son of 4. John Monroe BEAN and 5. Mary Elizabeth FAUDREE. He married Lois Velleda DREHER in Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.Lois Velleda DREHER was bornin Georgetown, Floyd Co., IN. She was the daughter of 6. Henry Condar DREHER Jr. and 7. Irene Caroline BANET.
 
 
Generation 3
4.
Waiteville, Monroe Co., WV. He was the son of 8. William McHarvey BEAN and 9. Margaret Smith
PERKINS. He married Mary Elizabeth FAUDREE on 01 Dec 1935 in Covington, Alleghany, Virginia.
5.Mary Elizabeth FAUDREE



Generation 4
John Monroe BEAN was born on 15 Dec 1866 in Cincinatti, Ohio. He died on 10 Apr 1954 inwas born 03 Jun 1897 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia. She died 01 January 1975. She was the daughter of 10. Stephen Ledford FAUDREE and 11. Elizabeth CARNIFIX.
10.
He died on 16 Jan 1929 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, WV. He was the son of 20. Richard C.
FAUDREE and 21. Mary Margaret WICKLINE. He married Elizabeth CARNEFIX on 17 Dec 1878 in
Monroe County, West Virginia.
11.
1929 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, WV. She was the daughter of 22. George W. CARNEFIX and
23. Mary Susan DAUGHERTY.


Stephen Ledford FAUDREE was born on 08 Jul 1857 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, Virginia.Elizabeth CARNEFIX was born 08 Jul 1851 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, WV. She died 22 Jul
Generation 5
20.
Monroe County, WV. He was the son of 40. Lewis FAUDREE and 41. Mabelia HALL. He married
Mary Margaret WICKLINE on 28 Oct 1856 in Monroe County, Virginia.
21.
Elijah WICKLINE and 43. Elizabeth Lewis.


Richard C. FAUDREE was born in 1834 in Halifax, VA. He died on 01 Jan 1902 in Sweet Springs,Mary Margaret WICKLINE was born 1831 in Monroe County, Virginia. She was the daughter of 42.
 
Generation 6
42.
Springs, Monroe, West Virginia. He was the son of 84. Jacob W. WICKLINE and 85. Catherine
SPARR. He married Elizabeth Lewis on 08 Jan 1821 in Monroe County, Virginia.
43.



Elijah WICKLINE was born in 1799 in Monroe County, Virginia. He died on 27 Jun 1879 in SweetElizabeth Lewis was born 1795 in Virginia.
Generation 7
84.
1821 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, VA. He was the son of 168. Johan Georg WICKLINE and
169. Anna Christiana ROTH. He married Catherine SPARR.
85.
Margaretha SCHNAEDER.



Jacob W. WICKLINE was born on 25 May 1750 in Robeson Twp, Berks Co., PA. He died on 26 DecCatherine SPARR. She was the daughter of 170. Johan Frederich SPARR and 171. Anna
Generation 8
170.
He was the son of 340. Johan George SPARR and 341. Maria Catrina KAUFFMAN. He married Anna
Margaretha SCHNAEDER.
171.
Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of 342. Johan Christian SCHNAEDER and 343. Susanna
Margaretha UNKNOWN.



Johan Frederich SPARR was born on 01 Sep 1725 in Waldenburg, Neckar, Wuttemburg, Germany.Anna Margaretha SCHNAEDER was born 13 Feb 1729 in Switzerland. She died 08 May 1801 in
Generation 9
340.
Dover, York, PA. He was the son of 680. Hansford Jerg SPAHR and 681. Maria UNKNOWN. He
married Maria Catrina KAUFFMAN.
341.
Jul 1776 in Dover, York, PA. She was the daughter of 682. Georg Michel KAUFFMAN and 683. Anna
Maria BUHLER.


Johan George SPARR was born in Sitenburg, Schwrz, Wrtt, Germany. He died on 19 Oct 1777 inMaria Catrina KAUFFMAN was born 30 Jan 1703 in Waldenburg, Jagst, Wrtt, Germany. She died 16
Generation 10
680.
son of 1360. Jakob SPAHR and 1361. Anna Barbara STIBLE. He married Maria UNKNOWN.
681.


Hansford Jerg SPAHR was born on 16 May 1671 in Altenburg, Schwrz, Wrtt, Germany. He was theMaria UNKNOWN was born 12 Jun 1675 in Wuttemburg, Germany.
Generation 11
1360.
Jacob Jerg SPAHR and 2721. Maria KAHRER. He married Anna Barbara STIBLE.
1361.
Jakob SPAHR was born in 1646 in Altenburg, Schwrz, Wrtt, Germany. He was the son of 2720.Anna Barbara STIBLE. She was the daughter of 2722. George STIBLE.
 
 
Generation 12
2720.
Wuttemburg, Germany. He was the son of 5440. Jacob SPAHR. He married Maria KAHRER.
2721.
Germany. She was the daughter of 5442. Claus KAHRER.



Jacob Jerg SPAHR was born in 1616 in Wuttemburg, Germany. He died on 27 Mar 1682 inMaria KAHRER was born 1618 in Wuttemburg, Germany. She died 18 May 1689 in Wuttemburg,
Generation 13
5440.
+ 179i.. Jacob Jerg SPAHR was born 1616 in Wuttemburg, Germany, died 27 Mar 1682 in
Wuttemburg, Germany.
Jacob SPAHR.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Funeral Card Friday...Mary Faudree Bean

Not truly a funeral card, but rather a laminated obituary offered to the family by the funeral home following the death of Mary Faudree Bean  [1897-1975]

It reads as follows:
Entered Into Eternal Res
Wednesday Jan. 1, 1975
Mary Bean's
Rites Slated
GAP MILLS (RNS) -
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Bean, 77, died Wednesday in a Virginia hospital after a long illness.

Formerly of Waiteville she was born June 3, 1897, at Sweet Springs, a daughter of the late Steven and Katherine Carnifax.

She was a member of the New Zion Community Church.

Her husband, John, died in 1954.

Survivors include two sons, Walter of Gap Mills and Edsell of Keenan; one sister, Mrs. Zada Carter of Bumpuss, Va.; three step-sons, Emmett of Richland, Wash., Bill of Los Angeles, Calif., and Jack Ashley of Hinton; four step-daughters, Mrs. Audrey Harriff of Muncie, Ind., Mrs. Margaret Loper of Masurey, Ohio, Mrs. Rita Holland of Crab Orchard, and Mrs. Eleanor Ward of California, and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 1p.m. on Saturday at New Zion Church at Waiteville with Rev. Joe Larue and Rev. Sonny Wiseman in charge. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at Broyles-McGuire Funeral Home in Union after 11 a.m. today and the body will be taken to the church one hour prior to services."

There are numerous errors in this report, and should some day a researcher use this for a source, they will be sorely lead down many wrong paths!

The first major error is the names of her parents.

Mary Elizabeth's maiden name was FAUDREE not Cornifax. Her father was Stephen Ledford FAUDREE and her mother was Elizabeth CARNIFIX.

She was, indeed a member of the New Zion Union Church in Waiteville. And her husband, John, did die in 1954.

Survivors did include Walter, and EDSEL, her two sons.

Mary's sister was VEDA CARTER [not Zada! although she did have a sister Zenna who predeceased her, but her married name was BAKER]. Veda lived in Bumpass, Virginia.

The remainder of the article is correct, except for the spelling of step-son Emmett. The correct spelling of his name was EMMETTE.

One can easily see where this article could lead researchers astray! And makes one wonder where the obituary originated from. Remember to check all sources before making conclusions!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Treasure Chest Thursday...A Family Reunion

The Bean Family Reunion
1940... Hollywood, Monroe County, West Virginia
Top Row [L->R]:Judy Harriff, Audrey Harriff [1912-2002], Richard Harriff,  Emmette Beane [1910-1988], Leon Loper [1900-1946]
Middle Row [L->R]: Ozella Burdette Levisay [1885-1966], Margaret Beane Loper, Mary Faudree Bean [1897-1975], Edsel Beane, John Bean Sr. [1866-1954], Walter Beane
Front Row [L->R]: Hugh Burdette [1860-1944],  John Beane Jr. [1908-1972], Clara Levisay, Betty Miller Beane

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday......James P. McCormack

JAMES P.
SON OF
J.P. & R.A.
McCORMACK
MARCH 4, 1909
JANY. 12, 1910

Another little angel stone.

James P. McCormack was the son of Joseph Preston McCormack and Roena Ann Porterfield.

At first glance, one would wonder why this little lost boy is even in my genealogical tree. But bear with me.

Roena Ann Porterfield was married four times in her lifetime. The first time to my grand uncle, William Ballard Preston Beane, or my grandfather's brother [1859-1893]. "Uncle Billy", as I have always known him, died at a young age due to bleeding ulcers. Grandpa said he always had to drink milk and buttermilk to get any relief from the "terrible suffering he endured". Uncle Billy and Roena had five children together.

After Unlce Billy died, Aunt Roena married second, Joseph Preston McCormack [1842-1915].  It was Joseph's second marriage as well. He was a widower. His first marriage had been to Uncle Billy's aunt, [my great-grand-aunt], Martha Caroline Bean [1836-1893]. Aunt Martha Caroline was buried at the corner of the church in Waiteville when she passed. And when Joseph died, Aunt Roena made sure to bury him right beside her. When the church was added onto [about 1916 or 1917], the new addition is almost to their grave! There is about a 2 feet distance between the church's corner and their joint stone.

Aunt Roena and Joseph had 4 children together. The youngest one being James P.

So, while neither Joseph McCormack or Roena Porterfield are by blood related, they are both "uncle" and "aunt" through marriage. And while Joseph and Roena's four children are really of no relation to the Bean's... they have always been called "cousins". [No other way to put it, than my family history is terribly convoluted! I really must put it all down in a legible form one day, so that others can untangle the web that is formed by a genealogical software when saving this information!]

Aunt Roena went on to marry [third] after Joseph died to Samuel Lewis Bruffey [1858-1926], which ties the Bruffey's [of Methodism] to our tree.

When Sam Bruffey died, Roena then married Calvin Aliff [1856-1941].

Both third and fourth marriages remained childless.

Aunt Roena died in 1956. She is buried at the side of Uncle Billy at New Zion Union Church Cemetery, just a short distance from Aunt Martha Caroline and Joseph P. McCormack [her seond husband], and a short distance from her little angel son, James P.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Amanuensis Monday...William Bean to Rachel Wiseman


Know all men by these presents that
we William Bean & Joseph Wiseman
are held and firmly bound unto James
Burton governor of Virginia and his successors
in the penalty of $150 - this 20th November 1813 - ____  ____  ___
that there is no legal cause to obstruct
a marriage intended to be solemnized
between the William Bean & Rachal
-Wiseman then the above obligation
to be void else to remain in full
force.                                         William Bean {His Seal}
Clerk                                    Joseph Wiseman {His Seal}
J. Hutchison                                                                         




Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sentimental Sunday

My oldest son at one year of age, on Dechsendorf Lake in Germany, spring 1980.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #12

Here's our latest challenge!

Week 12: Movies. Did (or do you still) see many movies? Describe your favorites. Where did you see these films? Is the theater still there, or is there something else in its place?

In my early teens, I grew up in a Naval community in Norfolk, Virginia. So I was able to attend the theater and see many movies! On Saturday's my friend Debbie or Ruth and I would go to the matinee's! Here for 50 cents we got to see two movies AND a cartoon!

Sadly, on my last trip through the old neighborhood, the theater is no longer there. [To be quite honest.... I can't even remember the name of the place! Sad... huh?]

There were two movies that stand out in my memory....

Surname Saturday...Clements

1.


Generation 2
2.
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.
Jourdanton, Atascosa, Texas. She was the daughter of 6. John Cornelius ROTGE and 7. Ora Lee
Sparks.


Generation 3
6.
He was the son of 12. Peter ROTGE and 13. Lillie Mae Surber. He married Ora Lee Sparks in 1930.
7.
Antonio, Bexar, Texas. She was the daughter of 14. William Jacob Sparks and 15. Laura May
Clements.


Generation 4
14.
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.
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


Generation 5
30.
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.
Bexar, Texas. She was the daughter of 62. George Culver TENNILLE and 63. Amanda J. BILLINGS.


Generation 6
60.
County, Texas. He was the son of 120. William CLEMENTS and 121. Unknown POLK. He married
Martha Balch HARDIN on 20 Jul 1836 in Marshall Co., MS.
61.
She was the daughter of 122. Benjamin HARDIN and 123. Martha Ann BARNETT.


Generation 7
120.
was the son of 240. John CLEMENTS and 241. Elizabeth Keturah THOMPSON. He married
Unknown POLK.
121.


Generation 8
240.
Carolina. He was the son of 480. John CLEMENT and 481. Katherine WATSON. He married
Elizabeth Keturah THOMPSON between 1751-1752.
241.


Generation 9
480.
Virginia. He was the son of 960. William CLEMENTS and 961. Anne TAYLOR. He married Katherine
WATSON on 26 Feb 1723.
481.


Generation 10
960.
Amelia, Virginia. He was the son of 1920. Benjamin CLEMENTS and 1921. Judith PARKER. He
married Anne TAYLOR.
961.
She was the daughter of 1922. James TAYLOR and 1923. Mary GREGORY.


Generation 11
1920.
Southampton County, Virginia. He was the son of 3840. John Francis CLEMENTS and 3841. Lydia
BLIGHTON. He married Judith PARKER.
1921.
Richard Chirugeon PARKER and 3843. Judith BURTON.


Generation 12
3840.
County, Virginia. He was the son of 7680. Jeremiah CLEMENTS and 7681. Edith PIERCE. He
married Lydia BLIGHTON.
3841.
Virginia.


Generation 13
7680.
1657 in Upper Chippokes Creek, Virginia. He was the son of 15360. Geoffrey CLEMENTS and
15361. Elizabeth FULLER. He married Edith PIERCE.
7681.


Generation 14
15360
Oxfordshire, England. He was the son of 30720. Jeremiah CLEMENTS and 30721. Agnes
WEBSTER. He married Elizabeth FULLER in 1590 in London.
15361
London, Middlesex, England. She was the daughter of 30722. Cuthbert FULLER.


Generation 15
30720
WEBSTER in 1577 in Hunts, England.
30721
Je. remiah CLEMENTS was born in 1550 in Hunts, England. He died in England. He married AgnesA.gnes WEBSTER was born 1553 in England. She died England.
G.eoffrey CLEMENTS was born in 1570 in Devonshire, Oxfordshire, England. He died in 1609 inE.lizabeth FULLER was born 1579 in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, England. She died 26 Aug 1633 in
Jeremiah CLEMENTS was born on 08 Nov 1607 in St. James, London, England. He died on 17 MarEdith PIERCE was born 1607 in London, England. She died 1644 in Virginia.
John Francis CLEMENTS was born in 1632 in Gloucester, Virginia. He died in 1719 in Isle of WightLydia BLIGHTON was born 1632 in Gloucester, Virginia. She died 1719 in Isle of Wight County,
Benjamin CLEMENTS was born in 1650 in Gloucester, Virginia. He died on 09 Jul 1728 inJudith PARKER was born 1650 in Virginia. She died 1744 in Virginia. She was the daughter of 3842.
William CLEMENTS was born in 1670 in King William County, Virginia. He died on 28 Feb 1760 inAnne TAYLOR was born Abt. 1679 in Gloucester, Virginia. She died Abt. 1720 in Amelia, Virginia.
John CLEMENT was born in 1704 in Hanover, New Kent, Virginia. He died in 1793 in Amelia,Katherine WATSON.
John CLEMENTS was born in 1725 in Augusta, Virginia. He died on 19 Aug 1777 in Rowan, NorthElizabeth Keturah THOMPSON was born 1729 in Augusta, Virginia.
William CLEMENTS was born in 1753 in Augusta, Virginia. He died about 1830 in Tennessee. HeUnknown POLK.
Emanuel CLEMENTS was born on 10 May 1813 in Kentucky. He died on 02 Jul 1864 in FreestoneMartha Balch HARDIN was born 04 Jan 1817 in Wayne County, Tennessee. She died 26 Mar 1867.
James Thomas CLEMENTS was born on 30 May 1843 in Missouri. He died on 22 May 1897 inAnne Caroline TENNILLE was born 11 Nov 1858 in Texas. She died 14 Oct 1936 in San Antonio,
William Jacob Sparks was born on 11 Mar 1883 in Erath County, Texas. He died on 12 Sep 1944 inLaura May Clements was born 12 May 1890 in McCullough County, Texas. She died 06 Oct 1969 in
John Cornelius ROTGE was born on 16 Jan 1910. He died on 09 Jun 1983 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas.Ora Lee Sparks was born 26 Oct 1914 in Bandera, Edwards, Texas. She died Aug 1982 in San
Joseph Wright HENRY was born on 20 Sep 1927 in Fulton County, KY. He died on 16 Nov 1993 inBetty Louise Rotge was born 30 Aug 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas. She died 05 Jul 2003 in
Johnnie Lee HENRY was born San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX. He was the son of 2.Joseph Wright HENRY and 3. Betty Louise Rotge. He married Cynthia Ann BEANE in Covington, Alleghany Co., VA, daughter of Walter Maxwell BEANE and Lois Velleda DREHER. She was born New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.

Generation 1

Friday, March 18, 2011

Family Recipe Friday... Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes
Both of my grandmothers made this delicious dish, and their backgrounds were quite diverse! Dad's mother came from the hills and hollows of West Virginia, while Mom's mother from a French family having married into a traditional German family.

Both made this dish the same way.

Mama carried on the making of this dish, and I continue today.
Here's our fried green tomatoes!

Ingredients

  • 4 large green tomatoes
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Directions

  1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
  2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal,  and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in cornmeal to completely coat.
  3. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

Please note that my grandmother's would have fried the tomatoes in lard. And they would have drained them on tea towels. [Let me also state that yes, there is indeed a difference in the flavor of tomatoes fried in lard rather than in vegetable oil! How "enlightened" we have become!] Nevertheless, this is simply a tasty and delicious way to use up the garden's bounty!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

What A Wonderful Surprise!

I was simply tickled pink today when I received the One Lovely Blog Award from Leslie Ann over at Lost Family Treasures.

There are three simple rules for each recipient of this award
  1. Acknowledge the award by posting on your blog.
  2. Nominate 15 other blogs that you think are lovely.
  3. Contact each person to let them know that they have been nominated.
With that in mind... my nominees were easily chosen, as each of these are blogs which I read regularly through Google Reader, and are ones that I would sorely miss if not available!

These are my nominees:
1. Creative Gene

2. Elyse's Genealogy Blog

3. Your Ancestral Family Blog

4. Granny's Genealogy

5. Paula's Genealogical Eclectica

6. Relatively Curious About Genealogy

7. The Educated Genealogist

8. Apple's Tree

9. Before My Time

10. Be Not Forgot

11. Documenting the Details

12. Genealogy Fun

13. Georgia Black Crackers

14. Life From the Roots

15. World War II London Blitz Diary 1939-1945

While this award isn't a recognition of status or fame as a blog, I am passing it on in the spirit of it's name. One Lovely Blog. These recipients express to me what a blog should be, an experience that enlightens, entertains, and educates.

Congratulations!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Treasure Chest Thursday

Emmanuel Clements and his wife, Martha Balch Hardin Clements

Emmanuel [aka: Mannie, not to be confused with Mannen] was born 1813 in Kentucky, as the son of William Clements, and his mother is only to have been known by her surname, Polk. He was one of at least ten children born to the couple.

After William died about 1830 in Tennessee.

In 1858, when Emmanuel's brother John died, he and his wife adopted John's children. Emmanuel and Martha had arrived in Texas about 1837, with a 640 acre land grant in Liberty County, shortly after their 1836 wedding.

Mannie and Martha had eleven children, including James Thomas Clements, aka: Jim. Jim rode with his first cousin, John Wesley Hardin, the rather infamous western outlaw.

Martha was sister to James Gipson :Gip" Hardin, who was the father of John Wesley Hardin.

Mannie and Martha are Texican's great-great-great grandparents.

Mannie and Martha's son James Thomas Clements married Annie C. Tennille.
Their daughter, Laura May Clements married William Jacob Sparks.
Their daughter, Ora Lee Sparks, married John Cornelius Rotge.
Their daughter, Betty Louise Rotge married Joseph Wright Henry.
I am married to their son.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I'm Not Jumping On The Macavo Bandwagon Yet!

Mocavo [http://www.mocavo.com/] is a new genealogy search engine that is being reviewed by many researchers in the genealogy community.
So far, I have seen only excellent reviews of it. It seems to work with serious lightening speed, and crawls through a multitude of free genealogy sites, allowing researchers to look without having to pay an exorbitant fee! Hurray for that!

However, I did go to the Mocavo  site with high expectations, after reading four separate reviews this morning.

Sad to say, I was seriously disappointed.

For each of the four names I input-ed into the search engine, using the specified quotation marks around the name I was searching for, I was indeed quickly the recipient of dozens of web sites where my ancestor was mentioned!

However, each and every site I was referred to was a web message board. These were not informational sites, but rather simply message boards. In order to locate where my ancestor was even mentioned, I had to read down entire pages of messages, many having nothing to do whatsoever with ancestry as writers complained over sites being hacked, or arguments and bullies on the sites were present, etc., until at long last I located no information about my ancestor, but rather only someone elses question regarding if anyone had any information regarding the ancestor in question!

I can't say that I'll be using the system, unless it improves drastically.

But that's just this researcher's humble opinion. If you have other experiences, please feel free to post them here! We'd love to hear your positive experience with Mocavo!

Wordless Wednesday

Mannen Clements and his wife, Lilah Turner.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday

ALLAN RAY
HENRY
SEPT. 22, 1950
JAN. 29, 2001
BELOVED SON

Allan Ray was the son of Betty Louise Rotge and Joseph Wright Henry.
He is buried at...


...Sunset Cemetery
Mountain Home, Kerr County, Texas

Allan was cremated and he lies at the foot of his mother's grave.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Amanuensis Monday - Petition for County Name

The above is a transcription of the petition signed by county residents to name the county wherein they lived Gonzales County, Texas.

It is signed by George C. Tennille. He is one of the original Austin settlers in Texas, and was the father of Annie Tennille Clements.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sentimental Sunday - Betty and Her Children

Betty Rotge Custer and Her Children - 1999
Back Left to Right: David, Sandy, Gary, Jo and Johnnie
Front Row Left to Right: Richard, Betty and Alan

This was the last photograph taken of everyone together.

Alan passed away in 2001.
Betty in 2003.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #11

This weeks challenge is:

Week 11: Illness and Injury. Describe your childhood illnesses or injuries. Who took care of you? Did you recuperate in your own bed, on the couch in front of the television, or somewhere else?
I was rarely sick as a child. However, whenever I was sick, I was brought to the living room sofa, and covered in homemade quilts. Mama always gave us Coca-Cola and saltines when we weren't well.  A soothing cool, wet facecloth was folded and placed to our forehead.

I had the usual ailments of a child born in the 50's. I suffered through measles, mumps, chickenpox, and my fair share of poison ivy outbreaks! We weren't taken to the doctor when we went through these ailments when I was a kid. Neither were any of my friends! Our Moms gave us baby aspirin for fevers, and kept us hydrated and fed. We were allowed to have the television on all day as we lay on the sofa, but it wasn't a big deal back then! What kid wanted to watch the stuff that was on during the daytime??? [I mean... unless you were into daytime game shows, and soap operas!] We didn't have cartoons, except for Saturday morning!

As long as a headache didn't accompany my illness, Mama always made sure I had my latest book with me. I read nearly all of the classics by the time I was ten or twelve. My Mama's father was a scholar, and he passed on his love of reading to Mama, who passed it on to me. I am never without at least 2 books going today! And as a kid... the worst punishment in the world was for Mama to tell me that I couldn't read!!! So, when I was sick, I'd curl up on the sofa and read the day away! [What could possibly be more fun than traveling down the river with Huck Finn on a raft?]

Once, right after we had moved from the last rental, to the new house Mama and Daddy had bought, I was running out the back door, which had a storm door, and I sent my hand and arm through the top panel of glass! I cut my wrist bad enough for a few stitches. But, other than sympathy for the discomfort, that did not require any time lying abed for healing.

My worst injury came when I was a mere two years of age. We were visiting my Grandma Bean in West Virginia. My cousin, Johnny, and I were playing together in the front parlor. Johnny was only 2 months older than I. He playfully pushed me, and I stuck out my hand to catch my fall. My left hand landed right on the red-hot wood stove that was used to heat the room.

You might ask how I can remember that? I can remember every detail! From the moment of the burn, to wetting pant from the pain, to screaming constantly, "Mommy, Daddy, help me! Somebody help me!" Mama holding me in her arms as Daddy drove the hour to the nearest doctor. The pain was so horrendous! I can remember even the smells in the doctors office! But more than anything else, I can remember the instant relief of pain when the doctor put the silvadene on my hand and bandaged it! He even teased me about not bandaging the tip of my thumb and telling me that I would need my Mommy to knit a stocking cap for my thumb when I went out in the cold!

And I remember the fascinating I had when we got back to my Grandma's house, and there on the stove was the skin from the palm of my hand and fingers! And yes, I mean all of the skin!!! Daddy took a pocket knife and scraped the skin off while I cried because I thought my hand was still on the stove, even though they tried to comfort me and show me I still have my hand that it was just the outer layer of skin! As a two-year old, I was sure he was scraping away my hand! [To this day... my right hand is noticeably larger than the left. The length is almost a full knuckle longer than the left hand, or about half an inch!

I had my share of bumps and scrapes. But the next serious item didn't come until I was 12, when it was discovered I had a cancerous tumor in the roof of my mouth. I didn't realize that the roof of my mouth was supposed to be concave, it had been flat for so long I simply didn't notice it. And the dentist didn't seem to be interested in that until I was 12. An x-ray revealed a dark mass had filled the cavity of the roof of my mouth. It required immediate removal. There was also a small one on my lower jaw, on the outside of the gum. I had these removed in the dentist's office. Afterward, the dentist informed both Mama and I that if he'd known what was going to happen, he would have sent me to a surgeon in the hospital. The removal of the tumor in the roof of my mouth involved bleeding. ALOT of bleeding. [My dress was ruined.] When it got out of control the dentist called for an ambulance, but it was slow in coming, so he did what he had to do to keep me from bleeding out. He cauterized the surgical site. And yes.... I was wide awake during this ordeal. And no.... to this day the smell of burnt meat will make me nauseas!!! As the cauterizing tip was applied to the roof of my mouth, the smoke from my own burnt flesh curled up and into my nostrils. And NOTHING could have prepared me for the pain of that!!! [Afterward, I got my first hint of how wonderful codeine is for pain relief! ha ha] I was coddled afterward with cold, non-acidic drinks and ice-cream for several days as my mouth healed! And this didn't require lying on the sofa, but I did recline on the recliner in the den alot. [With Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys!]

And that's about it! I simply was not a sickly child, except for the normal illnesses. A few injuries, but nothing major.

What about you????