Ancestry.com and The 1940 Census

Ancestry.com sent the following message today regarding the 1940 Census, which will be released in only 2 days!

The National Archives and Records Administration will open the 1940 U.S. Federal Census on April 2, 2012—the first time this collection will be made available to the public. Once we receive the census, we will begin uploading census images to our site so the public can browse them. Initially, this collection will be what we call a browse-only collection. This means a person can scroll through the pages of the census districts much like you would look at a microfilm or a book. At the same time, we will be working behind the scenes to create an index of the census that will eventually allow people to search for their family members by name as they currently can with all other censuses on Ancestry.com. Note also that the 1940 U.S. Federal Census will be accessible free of charge throughout 2012 on Ancestry.com.

WDYTYA - Rita Wilson

Okay, I was bad. 

I totally missed the first ten minutes of tonight's Who Do You Think You Are on NBC. [I was up to my elbows in soapy dishwater, and totally lost track of time!]

By the time I got to the television, got it on and NBC tuned in, there she was...

...Rita Wilson, and I think she was in Bulgaria? Greece? Well, as I said, I missed the first few minutes.

I was so swept up into the immediate emotions of this episode, that I never even picked up my pad and pen to take notes!

The tears came. They went. They came again. And they went again. Only to return yet again!

What a totally awesome episode! Absolutely, hands down the best ever of any season so far!

Wilson learns some starling facts about her father, that might have way layed some, and through her own tears, lets us know she considers this man, her father, a hero.

In case you haven't seen it, I won't spoil it for you, since I didn't take notes, as I said. But I will tell you, get the box of tissues before you watch it!

I just may have to go watch it again. Yep... it's that good!

Thanks NBC and WDYTYA for a night of true pleasure!

Sympathy Saturday - No Funeral - No Grave

Here's a tip for you if you are researching your family tree, and can't find any information regarding a funeral, or find a grave for a relative.

Consider that the person may have been cremated!

In this case, unless someone living can clue you in, or an obituary turns up telling you this bit of fact, you may need to spend the money needed to order a death certificate, which usually lists how the body was disposed of [ie: burial, cremation, etc.]. Sometimes this is the ONLY way to determine for sure what happened to your ancestor when the died.

Family Recipe Friday - The Gathering Fraud

This post won't actually include a recipe, mainly because I can't remember it!

This story takes place well over thirty years ago, when I was living in Germany and was a US military wife. Once a month the Company Commander's wife would hold a meeting of the NCO Wives from the company. This would usually be in the form of a tea, and occasionally was enjoyed with a Bunco game.

On this particular occasion it was tea. Each wife from the group was to bring an appetizer, and the commander's wife would supply a variety of tea's for us to try.

Money was extremely tight for us, and I simply didn't have anything to take. But I didn't want to be the odd man, er...odd woman, out. So I tried to think of something that I could take from what was already in my pantry.

I found a box of English soda crackers. Okay... so what could I make to put on crackers?

Then this brain storm hit me. I took two cans of potted meat, added some spices [for the life of me I can't remember all of them, I know mustard and dill were among them, as well as parsley]. I then added a little cornstarch, thinking it would thicken the whole thing. And it did. I tasted it, and didn't think it was too bad.

I put the concoction in a pretty bowl, covered it with plastic wrap and took it and the box of crackers to the event.

Was I ever wowed! The commander's wife took me aside and whispered in my ear, "Cyndi, goose pate is way too expensive! Next time go for something a little less expensive. However, if you should ever invite me over for dinner... I'd love some more!"

Over the years we have come to call this the great "gathering fraud", and have laughed many, many times over the time that I made potted meat take the place of goose pate'!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Jim & Fannie

Many years ago, when I was just into my teens [don't ask how long ago that might be!], a lovely couple came to our home, in Norfolk, Virginia for an afternoon of coffee, cake, and questions regarding our family and what my Dad could tell them about it.

Well, it would seem that the man was actually a second cousin [or what some would call, Frirt Cousin, once removed]. And this couple were attempting to put together our family history, back to our earliest ancestor.

I look back at that day now, and am ashamed of myself! All I could think about, as a 13-year old, was "when is Mom going to let me excuse myself so I can go bike riding with my friends?" Yep, as a 13-year old, I had no interest in my family history. Finally, after a few pleasantries, and I'm sure I was doing much squirming, Mother excused me so that the adults could talk.

It was hours later before I came back, and when I did, the visitors were gone.

During my college years, I wrote a brief history of our family, if you can call it that, and that was the extent of my interest. I was too busy living in the moment to ever look back at what my ancestors might have done before me.

Fast forward 29-years. A family reunion is scheduled for the summer. Up until now, I have managed to be busy, working, or out of town, for each one. [Our reunions are held biennually.] Dad caught me. "I'd really like for you to go with me. You've never been."

Dad has a way of showing big puppy dog eyes when he wants something bad enough. "I'll be there," I'm sure I said it reluctantly.

Texican and I had only been married three years at this point. He was already working on his family tree on the Internet, using a free genealogy program called PAF [Personal Ancestal File] from a site called  Family Search. "What do you know about your family?", he asked me one day.

What did I know?

Well, I knew that my Dad's family came from West Virginia. That my Grandpa had been married three times, having out-lived his first two wives, and my Dad had 14 brothers and sisters from those combined marriages. And... and.... and that's about it.

With his encouragement, I download a free copy of PAF and began filling in the blanks, beginning with myself.

It went very slowly in the first couple of weeks. I filled in what I knew, which, as I said, wasn't much. Then I read some of the guides and hints on Family Search for finding out more. The obvious next step was to ask the living.

I didn't know it then, but my own Dad was actually a walking, talking family historian! The more I asked, the more he knew! Many of the things seemed fantastical and exaggerated to me, and I was doubtful I should record them.[Come to find out... I was later able to provide documented proof of every wild tale he told me!]

Then Dad asked me, "Do you remember the summer before we moved here that we had visitors to our house in Norfolk?" I'll be honest, I didn't at that time. So Dad brought out the picture above to show me...  "Now do you remember them?"

And I did.

Dad said that Jim and Fannie Beane had been putting together the Bean family history for years. And Fannie had even written it all down and had it in a book. "Can I see the book?"

Well, it was a moderate sized spiral bound book. And Mother took it to the office with her and faithfully copied every single page of it for me.

I poured over that book! I spent hours and hours working on filling in my family history with that book and my PAF software.

When I had filled in everything Jim and Fannie had put into the book, I wanted more. I still had thousands of questions unanswered.

"You'll be able to ask some of the people at the reunion when we go," Dad assured me.

And I did. I was introduced to Phillip, who told me quite a bit about the questions I asked. I explained to him that basically all I had so far was what Fannie Beane had put into her book, and that had left so many questions for me!

"Would you like to meet Fannie Beane?", Phillip asked.

Now, before I ever met this woman, I was in awe of the tremendous amount of research she and her husband had done to put together this book, and we're not talking computer time here. We're talking searching through old musty records, and really digging! And not in one place. We're talking all over the United States!

When I shook Fannie's hand that first time, I was hooked for life. And this wonderfully, kind woman instantly made it her goal to be my mentor.

Fannie and I wrote back and forth for years. She never quavered a bit in sharing everything she had regarding our family. Good or bad. And when she didn't readily have an answer, she would make me stop and think, about different ways I could research to get that answer.

See, by the time I met Fannie, she'd had a stroke, and was in a wheelchair.

But her willingness to continue to help this very naive researcher was beyond the norm. Fannie even sent me some of her research to continue on in her stead.

And see that smile above? In the few years I was granted knowing this precious lady, I never saw her without it!

Fannie became more than my mentor. She was more than a woman in a wheelchair to me. Her stature was beyond measure. I admired and loved her. And in all ways genealogically, she was my hero.

Fannie Margaret Bell Beane passed from this life in May 2010, and there are moments still when I think... "I've got to let Fannie know what I found!" But then, I'm sure she knows that.

Fannie left her huge amount of research to the State Archives at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Which is where I hope mine will go when I must leave it behind, as well.

I do my best to emulate what my mentor taught me. To assist where I can, and encourage those who try.

I cannot think about ever having done what I have done thusfar without standing upon the shoulders of Jim and Fannie Beane.

Heroes. And my true treasure.

Wordless Wednesday - Children's Dinner

Left to Right: Cyndi Beane, Eydie Beane and Regina Lobdell

About 1964 or 1965

Tombstone Tuesday - Rev. John Wiseman

IN MEMORY
OF
Rev. JOHN
WISEMAN
who departed this life
Jan. 22 A/D/ 1842
Aged 81 years, 5 months
& 4 days.

John Wiseman was born 18 Aug 1760 to Isaac Wiseman and Elizabeth Davis Wiseman in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

John married Sarah Green [1763-1847] on 10 May 1786 in Berks County.

John became an influential Methodist minister, having some of his first sermons heard at the old Rehoboth Church, located in Keenan, Monroe County, [West] Virginia. He was ordained by Bishop Asbury.

Later he traveled into Ohio where he and his family settled and pioneered.

John and Sarah had twelve children.

He is buried at...

New Salem Cemetery located in New Salem, Fairfield, Ohio.

Kris Williams and Genealogy - Or Ghost Hunting!

Love this video with Kris Williams from Ghost Hunters and the SyFy channel.

Kris gives us a little background on her own love for genealogy, and then tells us of a paranormal experience she had when searching a cemetery. Enjoy!

Amaneunsis Monday - Dryden Eppling Death Record

Dryden B. Eppling

Death Record

From Monroe County, West Virginia

Sex: Male

Color: White

Age: 50 years

Occupation: Farmer

DOD: Oct. 20th, 1888

Married

Nationality: American

Birth Place: Giles County, Virginia

Resident of this State: 8 years

POD: Laurel Branch, WV

COD: Consumption

Duration of Disease: 8-months

Place of Burial: Waiteville, WV - Oct. 22, 1888

Undertaker: P.N. Doss & Joseph A. Duncan

Undertaker Residence: Waiteville, WV

D.C. Pharr, M.D./ Residence: Gap Mills, WV

Review: Finding Your Roots on PBS

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. played on PBS this evening at 8 p.m. [EST]. And I have to say I enjoyed it immensely.

Celebrities discovering their ancestry this evening were long time musicians and friends...

...Branford Marsalis and...

...Harry Connick Jr.

I was a bit disappointed that none of the research done to locate these ancestries was shown. Documents appear, as if by magic, in a neat scrap album, and Gates lays the story of each family out for the guest. Great stories by the way. And I was interested.

I can only find one real flaw with the show, and it's simply one that I have had with Mr. Gates when watching other programs he has commented on. It is in regard to the Civil War.

"It all comes down to slavery" he has said.

I think Mr. Gates should do a bit more research on the actual reasons behind the Civil War. Slavery was but a small part of it, an integral part to be sure, but a small part.

I was terribly pleased to see the little wager made about the DNA with the five gentlemen from the barbershop! How often do we hear someone say, white and black, that they have Native American blood in them. That myth ran through my own family's history as well! [Our DNA showed less than 0.1% Asian.]

In closing, let me state that I did enjoy the show. Very much. And I will be watching the next episode. It's a pleasing way to pass a Sunday evening at home.

I give the show...

....Four Stars.

Sentimental Sunday - All Those Orphan Photos

I am sure I am not alone when I say I collect the photographs of my family. I have, literally, thousands. And, of course, along the way, there have been those photographs which were unidentifiable. Oh, they came from numerous sources. They were, perhaps, found in a box of grandmother's old photographs; or Uncle's tobacco box after he passed away; or tucked in some distant cousins Bible.

I cannot bear to part with any of them, thinking that perhaps one day I will find the identity of these individuals. And so, for the next few weeks, I will be posting some of this collection on Sentimental Sunday's. I can't think of a more appropriate title!

SNGF

1) What was the #1 song on the day you were born? Or on your birthday when you were 18? Or when you married? Or some other important date in your life.

2) Go to http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1 and enter the date and select from UK, US or Australia record lists. Note: the first date available is 1 January 1946.

Alternatively, go to http://www.joshhosler.biz/ and enter the month and date and see a list of songs for each year since 1940.

3) Tell us what your results are (If you are sensitive about your age, don't list the date or year... ) on a blog post of your own, a comment to this post, in a Facebook status line, or in a Google Plus Stream note.

On the day I was born: Mack The Knife by Bobbie Darin

On the day I turned 18:  You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone

On the day I turned 21: Woman in Barbara Streisand

On the day of my first marriage:  Fly, Robin Fly - by Silver Convention

On the day of my last marriage: My Heart Will Go One by Celine Dion

Thanks Randy for another great SNGF!

Sympathy Saturday - An Old Timey Wake

Many years ago, when I was married to my first husband, I was exposed, for the first time, to a real old-fashioned wake.

When MawMaw Jones [aka: Della Mae Morris Jones: 1897-1977] passed away, her family had the funeral home prepare her body, and then bring it back to the house. The front living room was cleared out except for sofa and chairs. Extra chairs were brought in from the funeral home. The coffin was placed against the wall, and everyone in the immediate family sat up all night long with the body. Keeping a "Wake" over it.

This was a new, and unusual practice to me. I had been raised in the city, and we simply didn't know anyone who brought the body to the house! Much less stayed up all night with it! I found it a bit creepy actually, and prayed the whole night for morning and sunlight!

In our own family, one visits the funeral home the evening before the funeral, and has a "visitation" where family and friends gather. Mourners stand by the coffin and look in at the deceased. I am ever tickled, at times near the point of guffawing out loud, when someone leans over, stares at the deceased and says, "He/she sure does look good, don't ya think?"

Uhm... excuse me! They're dead! Do you really think dead looks good on them?

I'm one of those individuals that does not visit the funeral home when either [A] I didn't know the deceased, or [B] I didn't visit them when they were alive! I know so many people who will go to a visitation because the deceased was someone related to someone they knew. In other words, someone you are an acquaintance with [say a co-worker] has a relative who dies, the curious will either attend the visitation or the funeral. They will tell you "I'm here outta respect." We all know the truth... they are there because of curiosity, or morbidity!

If I either didn't know the deceased, or I wasn't friends or close family with them... I do not attend. Plain and simple.

I am also one of those individuals who do not send flowers to a funeral. I figure if I'm going to send flowers, I'll send them to the living. NOT to decorate someone's grave! More often than not, I'll cook a meal, or provide financial assistance if the survivors need it [I live in a rural area, where nearly everyone is financially strapped, so a monetary gift to the surviving family is the norm for our neck of the woods, as well as cooking a meal or dessert.]

Following the funeral in our area, family and relatives gather back at the deceased's house. And a huge meal is spread. Usually by friends, and church members.

When Grandma Bean passed away on 01 Jan. 1975, we all gathered back at my parent's house, as she'd lived with us for ten years.

My Great-Aunt Veda on 03 Jan 1975, followig Grandma's funeral.

Chairs were brought into the living room to make extra seating. A huge feast was spread in the dining room, and folks wandered in and out, fixing themselves a plate and taking it elsewhere to eat.

After an hour or so, those who were there out of curiosity began leaving one by one. Some attend just for the food! Some of those there "out of respect" began leaving about the 90-minute mark. While close family were there until the wee hours of the morning.

When Granny Dreher died in 1989, Mama shipped her body back to Indiana, so she could have her funeral there, and she could be placed to rest next to Grandpa. Her "visitation" began at 10 a.m. the day before the funeral, and lasted until 11 p.m. Talk about exhausting! And after her funeral the next day, family gathered at my Aunt Ethel's, and were there until the very late hours of the evening. I simply felt I could not go on, and had to drive back home the next day, an exhausting 8-hour drive!

My husband and I have decided that we want to be cremated, and forego a lengthy visitation and funeral. Should family wish to gather and say goodbye, let them share a toast of my favorite whiskey, and scatter my ashes to the four winds. Let them not weep as I join my ancestors, but instead, let them rejoice at my homecoming.

Now that's a send off to me!

Who Do You Think You Are - March 23rd 2012

Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen this episode of WDYTYA then you may want to forego reading this post until after you have seen it.

Tonight's epsiode of WDYTYA featured actress Helen Hunt.

Hunt began her journey meeting Prof. Marc Dollinger, from the Center for Jewish Studies and to whom she hoped would assist her in finding out more about her Bavarian Jewish immigrant Gr-Gr-Grandfather, Gustave Rothenberg, who died in 1900 from typhoid. She traveled to Pasadena after finding out that her Gr-Gr-Grandmother, Florence moved to Pasadena, California with four children after the death of Gustav. She wanted to know why, and how she fared.

At the turn of the century there was great growth in Jewish immigration, especially in California. But eventually, because of the huge population growth, Jews became ostracized and people became prejudiced. Florence married a man by the name of Roberts before 1920, when she is found on the Census with him.

Florence died at the age of 86, and her death certificate gave Helen her next clue. Florence's father was listed as William Scholle.

And so Dollinger presented Hunt with a passenger list showing Wolf Scholle arriving in New York. He was listed as a farmer.

By 1853, the New York Business Directory listed Abraham Scholle as a clothier on Bowery St. with his brother/ partner as running the family business in San Francisco.

William had gone to San Francisco in the midst of the heyday known as the Gold Rush.

So Hunt headed to San Francisco to learn more about William. Here she met with Prof. Stephen Aaron - Professor of American West Studies.

William was found in the first California Census in 1852. He was listed as a clothier.

His business was listed in an 1855 newspaper. Shortly afterward, his brother Jacob joined him in San Francisco.

In the 1870 Census, William is shown with his family and three domestic servants, proof of his growing financial well-being.

Aaron shows Hunt portraits of the family. Here she sees not only her gr-gr-grandfather, but also her gr-grandmother as a child.

In an 1874 newspaper, an article lists the men of the city with a purported wealth of more than $1 million. William and Jacob Scholle are listed.

Aaron sends Hunt to visit with Frances Dinglespiel who has a similarity of ancestors she wants to share with Hunt. An 1890 newspaper showed both Dinglespiel and Hunt's gr-gr-grandfather's joined in an effort to bail out the failing Nevada Bank. This bank later became Wells Fargo Bank.

Helen is now moving on to find out more about her Hunt ancestors.

So she is on to Portland, Maine where she knew her gr-gr-grandfather, George Hunt, had come from. Here she met with local historian Herb Adams.

George Hunt was a major importer/ exporter. He traded fine Maine lumber for West Indies sugar. His wife, Florence, was a leader in the Temperance movement, which actually started in Portland, Maine.

Hunt went to meet with Prof. Carol Mattingly. She stated that the WCTU [Women's Christian Temperance Union] began because alcohol use was becoming rampant, and with it the rise in domestic abuse and violence. Not just against the women, but also against the innocent children. Women rallied arount the Temperance call to fight the domestic abuse.

Augusta Hunt was so involved that she actually gave the opening address at the 11th WCTU Convention.

Mattingly showed Hunt portraits of Augusta. She stated the woman was extremely active in the movement in the 1880's and 1890's. Mattingly sent Hunt to see Prof. Shannon N. Risk - Progressive Women's Studies.

Risk stated that Augusta was very involved in the WCTU. A biography of Augusta in a Women's Rights book from the early 20th Century states that she was instrumental in starting day care, free kindergarten and establishing female guards for female inmates in prison.

As the Temperance movement gained momentum, the Women's Rights Movement was born.

In her 70's in 1917, Augusta helps to push a vote for the Women's Vote privilege in Maine. It was voted down by the public. However, the movement was already afoot, and 12 states had accepted the women's vote by this time. In 1920 the 19th Ammendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote, when Augusta was 77 years of age.

Risk shows Hunt the 1920 voter's registration, showing Augusta Hunt as registered to vote in District 6 that year. Augusta's lifetime of working toward and for her goal was coming to life.

But did she actually get to vote?

In a 1932 newspaper, Augusta is honored with an article celebrating her 90th birthday. Here she is touted as being the FIRST woman to cast a ballot. Sadly, Augusta passed away just 10-days after the newspaper article was printed.

In the closing, Helen Hunt is seen doing a rubbing of her gr-gr-grandparents monument in the cemetery.

"To be first is something that can never be undone," Hunt says.

Moved to tears, she whispers, "That is amazing."

You can betcha that I'll be tuned in to see next weeks WDYTYA on NBC at 8pm. Will you be there?

Family Recipe Friday - Granny's Corned Beef and Cabbage

Granny Dreher was a wonderful cook, and this was one dish that she simply excelled in! And it's perfect for St. Patrick's Day, or any day! Granny used to make this in the oven, but in her later years, she utilized the slow cooker.

Granny Dreher's Corned Beef and Cabbage



 

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
• 4 large red potatoes, quartered
• 1 pound carrots, cut diagonally into quarters
• 3 cups water
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 corned beef brisket (2-1/2 to 3 pounds), cut in half
• 1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges

Directions

• Place the onion, potatoes and carrots in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine the water, garlic, bay leaf, sugar, vinegar, and pepper; pour over vegetables. Top with brisket and cabbage.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf before serving. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandpa's 1945 Chauffer's License

CHAUFFERS LICENSE

YEAR                             ISSUED TO                                  FEE

1945                                                                                      $1.00

            NAME                                HENRY C. DREHER   

      ADDRESS       R.R. 3     GEORGETOWN, INDIANA

AGE - 43      RACE - White     SEX - Male    EYES - Blue            

# 59688                                                         

                        

Wordless Wednesday - Emmette Beane

Emmette Lorimer Beane - 1911

Tombstone Tuesday - James Wiseman

JAMES WISEMAN

JAN                                    

1759                                      

 [Inside Medallion reads:

JAMES WISEMAN

A SOLDIER OF

THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION"]

James Wiseman was born January 1759 in Berks County, Pennsylvania to Isaac Wiseman [1700-1779] and Mary Marshall [1721 - 1790]. It is believed that he married a woman named "Lydia" about 1783, and the couple had twelve children.

According to the stone marking his grave, he was a soldier in the American Revolution.

He is buried at Reyburn Cemetery...

...Peru, Miami, Indiana

Maritime Monday - Emmette Beane

Emmette Beane - abt. 1944

Emmette Lorimer Beane was born 12 Jul 1910 in Monroe County, West Virginia to John Monroe Bean [1866-1954] and Ada L. Burdette [1883-1929]. He was the second child born to Ada, while John had three children from a previous marriage, so Emmette was his fifth.

In 1935, at the age of 25, Emmette married Katie Carlisle. This marriage ended in divorce. And in 1940, he married Elizabeth Miller.

Emmette served in the US Navy during WWII.

Emmette enlisted on 17 Dec 1943, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Following training, he became an Engine Mate and was stationed aboard USS BUTTRESS from April 1944 until August 1945, when he'd already been promoted to EM1C [Engine Mate First Class].

Following the war, Emmette and his wife settled in Monroe County, West Virginia. A few years later they moved on to Washington state.

Emmette died in 1988 from cancer. He was my Dad's brother.

Sharing Memories (Week 12): Things That Go Bump in the Night

Over at Olive Tree Genealogy, each week we are given a prompt for leaving our memories behind for our descendants. This week we are to write about things that scared us when we were a child. Those things that go bump at night.

Image Via Here

There really weren't that many things that I feared at night. I had a nice sized bedroom all to myself. And I can really only recall being frightened at night a time or two. Both times I was frightened was because of noises I heard coming from my tiny closet.

My closet couldn't have been more than 3-ft. x 3-ft. in dimension. And since the bathroom was next door to my bedroom, my closet butted up against the bathtub in the bathroom. [The two shared a common wall.] It wasn't until I became a teenager that I realized what had caused the noises coming from my little closet.

We lived in a split-level home. Our bedrooms were on the top level, living room, dining room and kitchen on the middle level, and den, laundry and utility room the lower level. Directly beneath my closet, on the lower level, was the utility room. And directly beneath my closet sat the furnace and the hot water heater.

You got it... one time I am certain the noise was simply the furnace. And another, the hot water heater.

It wasn't until I was much older that I had an experience with the supernatural that I became scared of the dark! And even now, on occasion drive my hubby crazy with leaving a light on so I can see in the night!

Anyone else require a night light as an adult?

Sentimental Sunday - All Those Orphan Photos

I am sure I am not alone when I say I collect the photographs of my family. I have, literally, thousands. And, of course, along the way, there have been those photographs which were unidentifiable. Oh, they came from numerous sources. They were, perhaps, found in a box of grandmother's old photographs; or Uncle's tobacco box after he passed away; or tucked in some distant cousins Bible.

I cannot bear to part with any of them, thinking that perhaps one day I will find the identity of these individuals. And so, for the next few weeks, I will be posting some of this collection on Sentimental Sunday's. I can't think of a more appropriate title!

Surname Saturday - Pettie/ Petty

We recently were able to break through another brick wall on my husband's family tree, his Pettie/ Petty line. And so we will revisit this line today.

Generation 1

1.

Johnnie Lee HENRY was born in 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 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.



Generation 2

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.


Generation 3

4.

William Lee HENRY was born on 17 Jul 1892 in Cayce, Fulton, Kentucky. He died on 24 Jan 1965 in

Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. He was the son of 8. Sterling Price HENRY and 9. Fannie UNKNOWN. He

married Emma Louise PETTIE.

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.


Generation 4

10.

Timothy Martin PETTIE was born in Jul 1854 in Tennessee. He died between 1910-1920. He

married Elizabeth Ann WILLIAMS in 1883.  Until recently, this was as far as we had been able to locate on this line.

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




Generation 5

20.

Balaam Baldwin PETTY son of Thomas PETTY and Lydia MAYNARD was born in May 1816 in

North Carolina. He died after 1900 in Kentucky.

21. Amanda Rachel McKEE daughter of Elizabeth UNKNOWN was born in 1819 in North Carolina.




Generation 6

40.

Thomas PETTY son of John PETTY and Unknown was born in 1787 in Chatham County, North

Carolina. He died in 1863 in Stonewall, Smith, Tennessee.

41.

Lydia MAYNARD was born in 1795 in North Carolina. She died about 1862 in Stonewall, Smith,

Tennessee.



Generation 7

80.

John PETTY son of Thomas PETTY and Unknown was born in 1756 in North Carolina. He died in

1837.

81. Unknown.

***No this isn't a giant leap forward.... but it has taken us farther than ever before!

Family Recipe Friday - Crustless Coconut Custard Pie

Crustless Coconut Custard Pie

3 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. flour

3/4 cup sweet coconut - shredded
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash of salt

Mix all ingredients together with electric mixer. Pour into greased pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

 

***This is  loely recipe that my Granny Dreher used to make. It takes merely minutes to prepare, and a short baking period. You can omit the coconut if you want. If you do, you can add a little nutmeg for flavoring.

 

This is one of my favorite "go-to" last minute desserts!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandpa's Driver's License

Henry C. Dreher's 1964-1965 Driver's License

Henry Conrad Dreher

Date of Birth: 12-31-02

Color Eyes: Blue

Weight 230

Color Hair Brown

Height 6-2

Issued 1-64

Expires 12-65

Issuing State: Indiana

City: New Albany

Wordless Wednesday

John Monroe Bean

ca. 1870

Tombstone Tuesday - Isaac and Elizabeth Wiseman

ISAAC WISEMAN

1738 - 1818

ELIZABETH WISEMAN

1738 - 1808

**This stone is located at the head of the graves.

ISAAC WISEMAN

2 CL PVT PA MILITIA

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

AUG 18  1738        MAY 3  1818

**This stone is located at the foot of the grave.

Isaac Wiseman was the son of Isaac Wiseman, Sr. [1700-1779] and Mary Marshall [1721 - 1790]. He was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania. And he served in the American Recolution as a 2nd Class Private in the Pennsylvania Militia. About 1784 he moved his family to Rockingham County, Virginia. And about ten years later they moved into Monroe County, [West] Virginia.

At the time that the couple arrived in Monroe County, it was still being marauded by Indians.  The Rehoboth was built fortified with logs, and had gun port openings for the settlers to fire from if needed.

Isaac and Elizabeth, and several of their children, were influential in establishing, along with the community at large, as well as Edward Keenan, the Old Rehoboth. They are buried at the NorthWest corner of the church, next the cemetery boundary [there is a cattle fence there today]. Their graves, as you look at the photo below, are to the right, and at the far back corner, below Edward Keenan's. The couple lie between their son Joseph and his wife, Elizabeth, and their grandson John, and his wife, Mary.

Amaneunsis Monday - Bean Indenture

William Bean's Indenture Contract:

Dated 18 Sept. 1804

"This indenture made this 18th of Sept 1804 one thousand eight hundred and four between Jas. Christy owen Neal Robt Johnston and henry McDaniel of the one part overseers of the poor for monroe County and henry Smith of the other part witnesseth that the so overssers doth bind an orphan boy named William Bean aged twelfth years to the said henry Smith of the county aforesaid and State of virginia to Serve the said henry Smith until he arrives at the age of twenty one years, during all which time the Said William Bean Shall faithfully Serve his Master and all his lawful Commands obay he Sall not suffer any Damage to be done to his Said Masters goods without giving him notice thereof he Shall not frequent Still houses or taverns he shall not play at Cards dice or any unlawful game or at any time abscond himself from his masters business without his Masters leave he Shall not commit fornication nor Contract matrimony during said term but as a true and faithful servant shall truely and diligently Serve his Said Master until he arrives at the age aforesaid and the henry Smith in Consideration thereof doth Covenant and agree to have the so William Bean taught the art trade or Mastery of a Black Smith and provide for him a sufficiency of everyt thing thats requiset for an aprentice during the term of his aprenticeship likewise he is to have him taught to read the holy Scriptures planely to write a plane hand and arithmatic through te rule of three which Education he is to be thoroughly acquainted with at the Expiration of his time and also to give him Such freedom dues as the law direct taking Care to have Said aprentice instructed in the Principals and duties of the Christian religion as far as Said Master is Capable In writing whereof the partys have interchangeably set their hands inscribed this day and year above writen Signed Sealed ad delivered in the presents of - John Hinchman - Owen Neal - Henry Smith - Jas. Christy"

The above document's transcription is verbatim, spelling and gramatical errors intact.

*************************************************



Sentimental Sunday - All Those Orphan Photos

I am sure I am not alone when I say I collect the photographs of my family. I have, literally, thousands. And, of course, along the way, there have been those photographs which were unidentifiable. Oh, they came from numerous sources. They were, perhaps, found in a box of grandmother's old photographs; or Uncle's tobacco box after he passed away; or tucked in some distant cousins Bible.

I cannot bear to part with any of them, thinking that perhaps one day I will find the identity of these individuals. And so, for the next few weeks, I will be posting some of this collection on Sentimental Sunday's. I can't think of a more appropriate title!

SNGF - How Many Surnames

Thanks to Randy over at Genea-Musings for this latest Saturday Night Genealogy Fun!

It's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!

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

1) Go into your Genealogy Management Program (GMP; either software on your computer, or an online family tree) and figure out how to Count how many surnames you have in your family tree database. I Had to use the search function under Help to find out how to do this!

2) Tell us which GMP you're using and how you did this task. I am using Family Tree Maker 2010. I opened up the tree I use for my personal family files, which includes both my family tree and my husbands. Open Plan -> Tree [desired tree] -> Options

3) Tell us how many surnames are in your database and, if possible, which Surname has the most entries. If this excites you, tell us which surnames are in the top 5! Or 10! 3,121 surnames. Top 5 surnames are: [#1 being the one with the most names] #5: Henry; #4: Banet; #3 Wiseman; #2: Beane; #1: Bean

4) Write about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, in a status or comment on Facebook, or in Google Plus Stream post.
Thanks again Randy for a great Saturday evening challenge! Can't wait for next week!