Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday (a day late) - Epps

Mary E. Epps
born March 31, 1872
died December 26, 1892
20 years old
daughter of 
Thomas Riley and
Sarah Ellen (Gothard) Epps

Oakley Cemetery
Oakley, Logan County, Kansas

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Backward Glance - Minnie May Harper

I'm pretty sure Minnie was very short! This is the only picture I have of her. It was taken on her wedding day to James Orson Brownell. They were married in Hiawatha, Kansas, on August 30th, 1894. The family story is that she is standing on a box next to James!

Minnie May was the daughter of  James Paxton and Barbara Cowger Harper. She was born on January 17, 1874, in Wolf River Township, Doniphan County, Kansas. Her parents' families were some of the earliest settlers of the area.

James and Minnie had six children: Fannie, Corrine, Marguerite, Myrtle, Elwinna and Erma. Most of the time, they lived in, or near, Leona, Kansas. In 1910, the family was located in Gaeland Township, Gove County, Kansas. 

James died in 1925 in Stockton, Rooks County, Kansas. Minnie was in Wolf River Township at the time the 1930 census was taken. She died on July 22, 1947, in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas. I believe she was living with one of her daughters there. She and James are both buried in the Stockton Cemetery.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Colorado Family History Expo - Day One

I've been enjoying myself at the Family History Expo in Loveland, Colorado, today. I've attended some great classes. I've also taught a couple of classes, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The exhibit hall is full of friendly vendors with tempting treasures. The halls and classrooms are full of friendly, smiling people who love genealogy. I can hardly think of a better crowd!


The weather in Loveland is practically perfect. Look at this gorgeous blue sky! Now, off to explore before the sun sets behind the Rockies.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Stevens

Baby Stevens
buried at Lewis Cemetery
Ray County, Missouri

Interesting headstone
There is no other identification
for this baby, but the Lewis Cemetery
is primarily a family cemetery.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Backward Glance - Happy Father's Day!

Speaking of fathers...

I don't think I've ever called my dad "Father." That title just seemed too formal and distant. He has always been "Dad" or "Daddy." My dad was very involved in my activities, encouraging me to improve and excel. I didn't always appreciate him, or the encouragement; but, I certainly do now. His love for his family has been implicit in his behavior.

My dad called his dad "the old man." I'm not really sure why. He was old, to be sure. He was already 53 years old when my dad was born. But, from the stories Dad has shared (for which I am unspeakably grateful), "the old man" was healthy, strong, loving and actively involved in the lives of his children. From father to son?

The lives of our "fathers," or, those who have gone before us, have probably been fairly ordinary lives. They probably didn't think about how they would be remembered generations down the line. But, isn't each one of us a product of the lives they lived, the choices they made and the legacies they've left?

I, for one, am grateful for the fathers in my life and the fathers in my lineage.

Happy Father's Day!


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Bemiss

William Elmer Bemiss
born 17 April 1906
died 13 August 1948

'Elmer' suffered from a heart ailment for many years before succumbing to a heart attack as he was getting ready to go to work. He never married. He is buried at the Grinnell Cemetery in Grinnell, Kansas.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Backward Glance - Isabella Hargreaves

Isabella Hargreaves was born on July 22, 1854, Burnley, Lancashire, England. She was the eighth of nine children born to John and Elizabeth (Dobson) Hargreaves. They resided on Godly Lane, which is now called Ormerod Road. There is an interesting article about Godly Lane and the Godly Lane Cross here.

On August 5, 1874, Isabella was married to John Richard Hoyle at St. John the Evangelist in Accrington, Lancashire, England.  John and Isabella resided in Accrington when their eldest son, John Richard, was born in 1876. Their second son, William was also born there in 1879. The family emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the same year. William died there in 1880. Three daughters were born to them in Hamilton: Mary Elizabeth, Annie and Isabella.

By 1888, the family was living in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were enumerated there on the 1891 Canada Census. Four more children were born in Regina: Sarah Ellen, James, Lucy and Benjamin Hargreaves.  Two daughters died there, Sarah in 1902 and Isabella in 1906. The family returned to Hamilton shortly thereafter.

Sometime after removing to Hamilton, Isabella visited her son, John R. Hoyle, at his home near MacLeod, Alberta, Canada. Two pictures have been shared with me by a descendant of John's adopted daughter, Nellie Walsh.

  

Isabella died on September 17, 1925, at the age of 71 in Hamilton, Ontario. Her address at the time was 321 Cumberland Avenue. She is buried in the Bartonville Cemetery in Hamilton.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Aitchison/Ewing

Headstone of Elizabeth Ewing (1839-1901)
wife of
John Aitchison (1834-1921)
Both were natives of Scotland

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Backward Glance - Keziah Nason

Born on June 7, 1821, in Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York, Keziah was the daughter of Ezra Washburn and Phoebe (Brown) Nason. She was the third of six children. Between 1827 and 1832, Ezra moved his family to Greenfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania, where their youngest child, Phoebe, was born in March 1832. The family was enumerated in that place on the 1840 Federal Census. However, they are found in French Creek, Chautauqua County, New York, on the New York State Census in 1845.

Keziah was married to Silas Thomas Bemiss on April 27, 1853, in Greenfield, Pennsylvania. They had two children born to them: William Silas and Phoebe Silinda. Both of the children were born in Pennsylvania. They lived in Erie County until 1884, when they removed to Gove County in western Kansas. 

Keziah died in Grinnell, Gove County, Kansas, on between August 18th and 25th, 1888. She is buried in the Grinnell Cemetery.