Treasure Chest Thursday - Tiny Portraits

My Grandma Bean was born in 1897. She lived with us from 1965, until her death on January 1st, 1975.

On her dresser all those many years, sat a leather case, about 1-1/2" x 1-1/2". It was red leather with some kind of gold embossing. She kept the case closed, except for those moments when she would gaze lovingly inside. Many was the time when she would open the case and show me what her Mommy and Daddy looked lke.

These were the faces that looked back at me from those tiny little miniatures...

...these are my great-grandparents... Stephen Ledford Faudree [1857-1929] and Eliza Carnefix Faudree [1861 - 1929]. They died exactly 6 months and 6 days apart, he predeceasing her.

I have scanned these using high resolution and have excellent portraits hanging on my wall now.

Sometime in the mid-1990's, my Mother, thinking she was doing us a favor, removed these tiny portraits from their leather case, in order to have larger pictures made from them. When she did, the leather case in which they'd rested for nearly 100-years, simply crumbled. I was broken hearted to find this out. But was thankful the portraits were not damaged.

A few years ago, she gave these to me to safeguard.

These are my favorite portraits of ancestors. I think, perhaps, because I have such fond memories of Grandma Bean showing them to me, and of the absolute love for her parents that eminated from her when showing them to me.

Do you have a favorite portrait of an ancestor?

Treasure Chest Thursday - Faudree's Photos

While this isn't the clearest of snapshots, I have scanned these for better clarity, but wanted to give you an idea of what the originals actually looked like.

These tiny little portraits are a pair that my Grandma Bean kept tucked away in a small leather photo folder. Always kept in her undies drawer, and sedom brought out for us to see, these were my Grandma Bean's parents. The portraits were done about the turn of the century, hen my Grandma was about 3 years of age.

One the left is Elizabeth Carnefix FAUDREE [1861-1929] and on the right i Stephen Ledford FAUDREE [1857-1929]. [The couple died within 6 months of each other.] They had 10 children, my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth, being their eighth-born child.

Elizabeth's portrait is about the size of a quarter, while Stephen's almost as big as a half-dollar coin. Grandma treasured these tiny portraits. And as the one who keeps them now, I do as well. While I never knew either, I feel their presence with me often. And I know Grandma is looking on with pride.

Surname Saturday - December 12, 2009

Carnefix

Today I'd like to focus on one of my ancestral surnames that I can't recall ever having mentioned before. Carnefix.

Cynthia Beane [b. 1959]

Walter Maxwell Beane [b. 1937]

Mary Elizabeth Faudree [b. 04 Jun 1897 - d. 01 Jan 1975] married: John Monroe Bean [1866-1954]. Born in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia, she died in hospital at Clifton Forge, Alleghany, Virginia. And is buried at New Zion Union Church Cemetery, Waiteville, Monroe, West Virginia. She was the mother of three children.

Elizabeth Carnefix [08 Jul 1851 - 22 Jul 1929] married: Stephen Ledford Faudree [1857-1929].

George W. Carnefix [1831 - 1865] married: Mary Susan Daugherty [b. 1834] We are unsure of Deorge's birthplace, although we suspect Campbell County, Virginia. He died in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia. We are unsure of his burial place.

William Carnefix [1770- 09 Sep 1856] married: Nancy Holsapple [b.1792 - 1868] Born in Campbell County, Virginia, and died there. Burial place unknown.

William E. Carnefix [1730 - Nov 1812] married: Esther Maxey [1739 - 1812]

John Carnefix [1711 - 1752] married Unknown Chelsey

John Carnefix [all information unknown].

As you can see from this very basic outline, my family tie with the Carnefix line begins with my maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth Carnefix.

While I have the above information, I have to admit that information of that before William Carnefix and Nancy Holsapple is not my own, and I have not had time to verify. I'd like to think Santa would bring me a magical clock this year that would allow me to get 30 or 32 hours into each and every day! Oh what a help that would be! Perhaps then I could find the time to get to this line of my family!