Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!


A few years ago, I shared the post below to commemorate Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I am still honored to be descended from so many of the people who made the arduous, but hopeful, journey across the Atlantic Ocean seeking a better life. I am amazed at their tenacity and the hard work to survive. I think we can all look to them as examples of faith, hope and determination, whether we are related to them, or not.

I have double-checked the links and made updates, where necessary. Please enjoy read. I have also linked to my post outlining my Mayflower ancestors.

How nice to have a day set aside to really pay attention to the things for which we can be thankful; like football, the parade, an overabundance of food, and our heritage!

Today, especially, many of us can look to the passengers of the famous Mayflower for examples of courage, endurance and faith. Through my parents, I am descended from at least 11 of those brave individuals. I love to read about them. Their stories are interesting and inspiring.

One of the things I learned about the Mayflower passengers recently, is that they were originally identified as 'saints' and 'strangers,' depending on their origins or reasons for making the voyage to America. Ultimately, however, any of them who survived the journey is considered a 'pilgrim.' I am descended from persons both saint and stranger.

If you would like to learn more about the Mayflower and her passengers, and possibly some of the more famous descendants of those passengers, I have included a list of links to very helpful sites. Be careful! You might find yourself reading and searching for a very long time. Enjoy, and be thankful!

Ancestry.com also has some great Mayflower resources ( from 'Search' drop-down box, select 'Card Catalog;' type 'Mayflower' into the keyword field; you'll be able to see the results list, but need account to see results within each database)

My Mayflower Ancestors


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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - Soulos

Tom T. Soulos
1885 - 1965
Tom Theodor Soulos was born on August 15, 1885, in Calaurkata, Greece. 
He registered for the draft in Seattle on April 26, 1942. He apparently never married. 
He died March 31,1965, in Seattle, King County, Washington. He is buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Festus La Chester
1909-1948

Festus La Chester (Lachester) was born in 1909 in Washington State. He was a Native American of the Makah tribe. His family appears on the 1913 Indian Census Roll showing his parents to be Sebastian and Jessie (Ward). He also had a brother, Donald, enumerated at that time. They lived at Neah Bay, Clallam County, Washington.

Festus married Ada Jimmicum. They had at least two children: Festus III (1931-2001) and Stella (1938-1953

Festus died on January 5, 1948, in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. He is buried in the Neah Bay Cemetery.

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - Aitchison

Clarence L. Aitchison
1905 - 1968
Mildred (Tepley) Aitchison
1910 - 1999

Clarence Aitchison was born on October 2, 1905, in Washington State. His parents were Andrew Rutherford and Margaret (Savage) Aitchison. He married Mildred Tepley on December 25, 1931, in Buhl, Twin Falls County, Idaho. Mildred was born on January 31, 1910. According to the 1940 U.S. census, she was born in Czechoslovakia. However, on the 1920 census when she was living with her widowed mother, her birthplace is listed as Wisconsin. Her mother, Annie, is a young widow at the age of 36, born in Moravia and having immigrated in 1904.

Clarence died on April 21, 1968, with Mildred following many years later on November 3, 1999. Clarence and Mildred are buried in the Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise, Ada County, Idaho.

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - Armatage

Samuel Armatage

Samuel Armatage is buried in the Georgetown Cemetery in Georgetown, Idaho.
Click here to view his find-a-grave memorial.


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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - Bemiss/Morgan

Bemiss

Fred J. Bemiss was the son of William Silas and Keziah (Nason) Bemiss. He was born on March 9, 1879, in Union City, Pennsylvania. He married Maud M. Morgan on March 18, 1904, in Gove City, Kansas. Maud was born on September 16, 1884, in Blanchard, Iowa, to Charles Clark and Virginia Caroline (Topping) Morgan. Freddie and Maud lived in and near Grinnell, Kansas, the rest of their lives.

Fred died on January 21, 1962, in Oakley, Kansas. Maud died on March 11, 1975, in Grinnell. They are buried in the Grinnell Cemetery.

Freddie and Maud are my great-grandparents.

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Sunday, September 15, 2013

One Man's Journey - Part XVIII

{previous}
Info on Prohibition at Wikipedia
 PHASE #3

The Move

I don’t recall that we were excited about this move. We knew we were going to a land where Christmas trees grew all over the place, where there was salt water, seashells and it rained a lot. None of these things we had seen. Neither Dad nor Mama, as far as I know, had ever seen saltwater or big cities.

It was in the evening when we boarded the train in Caldwell, so soon after we got started it was pretty dark. I don’t recall that we had eaten before we boarded, but Mama had prepared a large box or basket of fried chicken and other goodies, so we had a kind of picnic going.

Forty or fifty miles out of Caldwell we crossed the Snake River into Oregon. Dad pointed this out to us and the light from the moon, or maybe the train lights, made the water gleam. That was the last time we would see our beloved river for several years.

La Grande, Oregon

Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m not sure at what time it was that we arrived in La Grande. I’m sure it was before midnight. Dad woke u up to tell us where we were. I’ve wondered many times what their feelings were. They had left the place about 14 years before and had never been back to visit the cemetery or any of their friends. It must have been a heart-rending experience to be so close to their old home and their little girl’s resting place, and not being able to spend a little time in the area.

I don’t know how long the train stayed there, but it couldn’t have been much over 30 minutes. Neither Mama nor Dad left the train. I’m sure they felt too bad. If I could have only felt the loss as deeply as they did, I’m sure I’d have made a greater effort to get them back there. But, who knows what the cards will bring up in this life. I shall mention La Grande further along.

November 1918

If we changed trains to go to Spokane, I can’t recall. In any event, we did arrive there the following day to spend a few days with Aunt Gertie. This was the first large city we’d have ever been in, but as far as I know, we didn’t see any of it.

The only thing I can remember about the visit was meeting a man, I believe a friend of Aunt Gertie. This man wanted to keep me, promising that I would be educated and taken care of. I often wondered in later years if the guy had some cheap labor in mind. Perhaps that is unfair, but such a generosity makes one wonder.

about December 1, 1918

I don’t’ remember the trip from Spokane to Everett, but from there into Seattle, we saw some of the largest trees in the world and so thick. Wall-to-wall Christmas trees – the extent of the waters of Puget Sound fascinated us. We knew we were going to like it if we could just get into it. We didn’t realize at the time that the stuff was about two degrees warmer than a block of ice.

Seattle – 1918

Diller Hotel (1909), via Wikimedia Commons
It was rather dark when we entered Seattle, so missed a lot of goodies that we would catch up on later. I don’t know where we detrained, but we did stay at the Diller Hotel located on 1st Avenue just south of the Pike Place Market. I’ve no idea how long we stayed in Seattle, but it was at least a week, and perhaps a few days longer, and you can bet that Colonel and I made the most of it.


I believe that Seattle at that time consisted mostly of 1st and 2nd Avenues as main business districts. Of course, there was Ballard and a few other districts like it, but our traveling was restricted, so our visit remained pretty much to 1st Avenue and the waterfront where we had a chance to view the huge naval ships, as well as freighters and merchantmen. There were some two- three- and four-masted sailing ships in service and these lay at anchor in the harbor for us to admire and wonder about; especially, for two very green kids fresh off the farm. We had never seen a boat larger than the old double-ended that was still tied up way, way back on Snake River.

We had never seen a sailor before, i.e.; dressed in uniform, but we sure saw plenty in the days we spent there. Literally thousands of them; also soldiers, but not so many. Even though the war had been over for less than a month {Armistice: 11 November 1918}, there were quite a few foreign ships at anchor in the bay and their crews roamed the street and mixed with the U. S. sailors.

Before our coming, we had little knowledge of foreign people and/or of black people. Most of the blacks we had seen had worked for the railroads as cooks, porters, etc. But here there were lots of them, along with Japanese, Chinese, English, French and what have you. We had seen Chinese before because two or three had operated the restaurant in Caldwell. We saw lots of Filipinos also; many served in the Navy as cooks and busboys. Maybe more about Filipinos later.

First Avenue was lined with dozens of tattoo parlors, curio shops and cheap clothing places, as well as a large number of moving picture houses. All of these places were out to attract the servicemen and separate them from their money. There were many other attractions, too. I believe our range was from Pike Street Market to Pioneer Square. Without transportation, that was about our limit.

The movie houses were what attracted us most and we would get out of one and go into another. The cost was ten cents and candy, popcorn and other goodies were easily purchased. After going a lifetime up to date without much entertainment, we kind of went overboard. Most of the movie houses played westerns and had canned music out front, and I believe much louder than inside the theatre.
Seattle Police mounted squad (1912); Seattle Municipal Archive
We got by pretty well and learned a lot in the process. Colonel miscalculated one afternoon and stayed until after dark. Dad called the police, but Colonel showed up before the police found him. Happy ending. I must note here that there were many mounted police in Seattle (horses). As far as I know, there were no motorcycles or cars used. They wore the old coal scuttle helmets, which was curious to us.

Leave Seattle, early December 1918

Our Seattle visit over, we boarded a fairly large boat for Port Townsend. On the way up the Sound, Dad pointed out the many fortifications that were still manned for the protection of Seattle. These guns all pointed in a westerly direction, and I’m sure became obsolete shortly after the war ended as I don’t ever remember seeing them again.

We took the train from Port Townsend to Sequim, and all I can remember of this ride was the large virgin timber we passed through. I believe that Mr. Bradshaw picked us up at the depot and took us to Sequim’s only hotel. The dirt streets of the town had never been paved, so as a result of heavy rains, they were a mess. As long as you could get from one board sidewalk to another, you could do okay.

Dad managed to rent a fairly large house, two story, but all of our household goods had gone astray. I believe the stuff was finally located in Portland, Oregon.

This place was probably a bit over one-quarter mile from town center, and was just about one-quarter mile north of the high school. Between our place and town was a large tract of land that, to my knowledge, had never been logged; and we spent a lot of time exploring it. On our property was a large barn that apparently had been used in a dairy operation at some time. We spent quite a bit of time in this building hunting rats. Up to this point, we had never seen a rat, and were totally surprised at the size of the things. It didn’t take us long to get the old shotguns unlimbered and it wasn’t very long when we had the place cleared of the rodents. However, there was always a few around to keep us interested.

I don’t know if the schools reopened before we had arrived, but we did start to school as soon as we became settled. Colonel was in the eighth grade and I don’t know where the building was where he attended. The high school was a wood frame building and must have been quite old, since the English had had a settlement many years before. ???

I don’t recall all the subjects, but I do know we had Algebra, English, Modern and Medieval History, Shop, and I believe a science course that was interchangeable with the history class.

I should mention here that the Waldrons, Phil’s parents, lived across the intersection of the road from us. {The Waldron and Aitchison families became life-long friends.}
Phil Waldron was in the Army and had been in France for some time. I believe he returned home soon after the first of the year (Jan 1919). My first recollection of Phil was him setting on a bench, in full uniform, telling stories about the war to a group of old-timers who had never been beyond Port Townsend or Port Angeles in their lives. The bench was located in front of a store on a very muddy street in the middle of town. I believe Phil and Mary were married shortly after he returned home from France.

Blasting caps

I must pause here and tell you a story about an incident that could have ended my career at a very tender age.

One day, I was rummaging around in the barn when I found a metal can about the size of a snuff can, only a bit deeper. I tried to get the lid off, but it was rusted tightly. I knew something was in the can because it rattled when shook. Not being able to get the lid off, I took it outside looking for some tool that would allow me to remove the lid. On the top rail of the fence were two or three horseshoes. I took one down and tried hammering the lid off. It still wouldn’t budge, so I place the can on top of the fencepost, which enable me to apply enough force to the blows to remove the lid. In the can, I found what I thought were a number of rifle cartridges, maybe 10-12, or more. Since I’d never seen anything like that before, I took them to the house to show Dad. He just about flipped after he saw the battered can. He explained that these things were dynamite caps and were to be treated with extreme caution. I shall never forget the lecture Colonel and I got on the careless handling of dynamite caps. (Both of us handled many in the years following.).

First job

I believe it was right after the first of the year 1919 that I got my first job in Sequim. A Mr. Musgrove, or Musgrave, operated a small chicken farm just south of our place about halfway to the high school. I helped him in the evening and on Saturday and Sunday. I don’t know what amount I was paid. I would guess seventy-five cents or a dollar per day. The job entailed scraping dropping boards, feeding and other chores.

The Picture Show

Mr. Musgrove also owned and operated the local motion picture house and he asked me to take tickets. All I was required to do was stand inside the door and retrieve the stubs that Mrs. Musgrove had just sold at the window about six feet from where I was standing. I don’t know what I earned, but I was allowed to view a big part of the last show and it wasn’t too long that I was able to get Colonel into sit with me. I believe the house operated about twice a week, maybe three times, and always a couple of shows on Saturday and Sunday. It must be remembered that this was the only entertainment that was close. It was a long drive to Port Angeles or Port Townsend, and automobiles weren’t all that popular. They were comparatively costly to buy and upkeep was certainly a lot to be desired. Most mechanics were ex-blacksmiths who knew what they were doing when fixing a wagon or shoeing a horse, but certainly knew little about the internal combustion engine or any of the things it was sitting on.

The problem with transportation kept us pretty close to our home, so we did a lot of walking. Dad was able to get a few jobs and I believe he was busy most of the time.



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New Beginning

I've taken a bit of a hiatus from publishing anything on my blog. I became somewhat confused and disenchanted with the genealogy world, at large. Both unfair, unnecessary and pointless feelings on my part. I guess I allowed myself to think that the happenings 'out there' had to have an affect on my endeavors in the genealogy world in some way. I'm not sure why I let that happen. Human-ness, I suppose.

Anyway, one of the results of the pondering that ensued because of these feelings and observations is letting go of all of them. What happens 'out there' really, in the end, has very little to do with how I go about continuing my family history work. I will go on researching for myself and for others. I will go on learning everything I can about the family history world that will benefit me and those I teach, as well as those for whom I work. Regardless of how the genealogy world at large defines a genealogist, family historian, etc., I know what I can do and how I may go forward.

That figured out, and spoken in print, I am ready to get back to sharing some of our family history. I have a renewed enthusiasm for the research and for learning and for teaching. We'll see where it goes from here. 

Thanks for listening. :)

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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Memorial Day 2013 Tribute

My daughter wrote this beautiful tribute to those we honor on Memorial Day. It was posted on Facebook, and with permission, I share it here. Let us never forget.

Thoughts of Poppies
by Sarah Aitchison Jensen

“In Flanders Fields” and “Not to Keep” are arresting sentiments of love, sacrifice, and loss. They invoke great emotion and reverence for those who have given so much in the battle for man's freedom. On this Memorial Day, I'll celebrate the lives of those whom I had the privilege of loving beyond the events that made them men. I am living the legacy they built from the ashes of ruin and victory. 

I knew a young medic who with trepidation entered a concentration camp to liberate the dying and broken. I'll remember that he made the best cornbread I've ever had, loved to take the kids to get fresh donuts, and always had a puzzle ready to do with us when we came to visit. We've long since said goodbye, but I hold memories of his generosity, service, and gentleness within my heart always. 

I have had the privilege to know and love one who was just a boy when he stormed the beaches and was wounded. We've since lost him to the ravages of time and wounds that rob the mind of its faculties. But I hold dear the memories of gardening, cooking, shopping (lots of stores because he had to get the best deals), his sweet smile and his gentle spirit. His was a life of love and devotion. 

I knew a sailor, a hard working Navy man, who loved me enough to help with my education; who found great joy in a family barbecue, the sports channel, and his petunia beds. I wish he could have held more of my children, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to have known him, to know the struggles that shaped him, to know the love he had for his country. 

May we never, ever forget that the poems and songs are not just expression and emotion, they are the lives given of flesh and bone men and women. They are a lasting memoir to the struggles for autonomy. These are not just names etched onto rough, cold stone, no, they are our birthright, bought with precious blood; they are sacred. 

Today, when the rifle calls shatter the still morning air and the keening of the bugle stirs anew a sense of nation, of homage, of allegiance; choose to live that their sacrifice has not been in vain. Let these memories bring us to a greater resolve, one that imparts to us courage to stand for right and truth, faith to move forward, and hope that this great nation has not seen her best days; but has been given an immeasurable gift by the best we could give- our men and women who wear the uniform of liberty.  

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

I love teaching genealogy!

My day yesterday was full of helping people get started in their genealogical research. There was a lot of traveling involved to be able to meet with the different classes, but I'm so grateful for the opportunities to share this wonderful addiction hobby with others. I love it!

I drove an hour and a half to Port Angeles, Washington, to teach at the senior citizen center there. They have a fantastic facility that includes a computer lab. I've been teaching up there for more than a year, now. This month's class was fairly small, but still eager to learn. One of my sisters is going to assist me at the Forks Family Fair in May, so she and her daughter came along. This was their first time learning about doing family history research. It was fun for all of us.

The first hour, or so, was spent learning the very basics of genealogy. What is a pedigree chart? What is a family group record? How do we properly fill out those forms? Should we use genealogy software? What about sources and sourcing our information? I always enjoy making this presentation, and feel it is almost the most important as it creates the foundation for all of an individual's future experiences in family history.

During the second half of this class, I shared several websites which can form the base from which all internet research jumps. These sites are loaded with information that will then lead each researcher toward sites more suited to their specific research needs. I have often found that when I get myself stretched too thinly online, these are also great places where I can return and regroup. Obviously, there are many more sites which could be included in the list, but these can really get folks going.
I was also able to make the internet presentation at a class for the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Department in Poulsbo, Washington, last night. It was every bit as enjoyable, and the class expressed amazement at what can be found online. Just imagine how excited they'll be when they actually find information about their own families!

Maybe this list will help someone out there who is just getting started in their research. Or, maybe it will help some of you with more experience refocus. I know I've returned to these sites repeatedly. Hey. I have them bookmarked!

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

St. George Family History Expo - Tomorrow!

Wow! Family History Expos is ten years old! Pretty exciting. The St. George Expo starts tomorrow at the Dixie Convention Center. This is the ninth year St. George has hosted Family History Expos. 

The agenda is chock-full of a fabulous offering of presentations. This link will take you there. If you're in the area, don't miss it.

I'm disappointed to not be able to be there on Friday, but I'm stuck in the snowstorm in the Midwest. The upside is I'm stuck with grandchildren. :) I will be at the Expo on Saturday, though, and very much looking forward to it. Look for me at the 'Ask the Pros' booth. I'd love to hear about your research or try to help you out.


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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #6

Eugene Aitchison

My father-in-law, Eugene Aitchison, served in the U. S. Navy from 1945 to 1946. He was among the first sailors into Yokosuka, Japan, at the end of World War II. He achieved the rank of motor machinist third class.

Gene was born on January 21, 1921, in Alderwood Manor, Snohomish County, Washington. In 1929, his father, William Rutherford Aitchison, died there. In the 1940 census, Gene is enumerated with his mother (Ivy Ellen Youker Aitchison) and his brother, Bill; also in Alderwood Manor.

By  1945, Gene had joined the Navy and was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) which is in Kitsap County. He met Mary Wynne. They were married on May 15, 1945, in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Shortly thereafter, Gene shipped out with his unit to serve in the Pacific.

While he was overseas, Mary purchased a home in Suquamish, Kitsap County, Washington. They raised their family of seven children there. Gene died in 2002.

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Monday, February 11, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #5

William Rutherford Aitchison
I don't know when this picture was taken, but it is the most formal one we have of my husband's grandfather, William Rutherford Aitchison, as an adult. As an infant (a twin) he was photographed with his mother and brother. I featured their picture as #1 of this series.

William was born in on December 12, 1865, in Sullivan Township, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. He and his brother, Andrew Rutherford, were the third and fourth children born to John and Elizabeth (Ewing) Aitchison; William was the older of the two.

According to the 1920 census, William immigrated to the United State in 1892, naturalizing in 1893. On March 20, 1899, William was married to Ivy Johnson (her maiden name was later legally changed to Youker - story for later) in La Grande, Union County, Oregon. He and Ivy continued living there, where their first two children were born. When their daughter, Mildred, died at the tender age of three, they began making plans to move. Their little son, John, was just one month old.

In 1905, when their third child, William "Colonel," was born, they were living in Boise, Ada County, Idaho. William then moved his family onto land in western Idaho along the Snake River in Canyon County. They had two children when living there; Arthur (1912) and Elizabeth (1917;later Margaret Elizabeth).

In about 1919, the family went to Sequim, Clallam County, Washington, where some friends were living. However, by 1920, they had a home in Cedarhome, Snohomish County, Washington. This is now Alderwood Manor.

In 1926, Arthur was killed in a sad gunshot accident. This was devastating for the family. Then, in 1929, William R. died suddenly from a heart attack. They are both buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.


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Sunday, February 10, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #4

Aitchison family & friend, 1930
Many thoughts go through my mind when I see this picture. I love the clothes, the hair, the happy. I love how happy the children appear to be, especially my father-in-law, Eugene (Gene). He's the one in the middle. Grandma doesn't look quite as cheerful. Then, I remember that her husband died just the year before. They had moved to Snohomish County, Washington, by 1920. Gene was born in Alderwood Manor in 1921. His father, William Rutherford Aitchison, died April 29, 1929.

Elizabeth, or Aunt Betty, was about 12 years old in this picture. She was an attentive older sister and treated Gene well throughout her life. She married Richard Keniston in 1941. Aunt Betty died in 2000.

The other child in the picture is Grandon Waldron. Grandon was a lifelong friend of Gene's. They played together as children, hunted together as adults and spent many happy hours socializing. Grandon, or Wally, died in 2005. The family has many pictures that include Grandon.

I don't know who took the picture. It is obviously a posed one. I'm glad it was taken, and especially glad it was preserved.



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Friday, February 8, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #3

Eugene Aitchison
My father-in-law, Eugene Aitchison, served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was stationed aboard ship in the Pacific. He was on one of the first ships to arrive in Yokosuka, Japan, after the official end of the war. This photo is of a drawing done by a street artist there in 1945. The kanji wording on the right is said to say 'Aitchison.'


This post is part of the February Photo Collage Festival.

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Sunday, February 3, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #2

Albert Delbert Gibler

This photo is from a Gibler family collection. Albert was born on 25 August 1863 in Decatur County, Iowa. His parents were Edward Franklin and Rachel Catharine (Bellew/Ballou) Gibler. He married Susan C. Johnson of Mercer County, Missouri. Albert died on 1 October 1932 in Mt. Moriah, Harrison County, Missouri, and is buried in the Hamilton Cemetery in Harrison County. He was actually my husband's 1st cousin 3 times removed.

I first discovered Albert (A.D. Gibler) when I was searching for information on Albert Delbert Gibler who was born in 1843. Most of the records showed that this Albert served in the Civil War and died during that conflict in Port Hudson, Louisiana. However, many records had confused the two men and merged their information. Through careful research, I was able to separate the two in my own family records.

A.D. Gibler was born just one month after his uncle's death, leading to the conclusion he was named for the fallen hero. Albert (1843) was born to James David and Sarah Margaret (Sams) Gibler in Ohio. The family removed to Jones County, Iowa (1852 census); Linn County, Iowa (1856 census); and then to Decatur County, Iowa, by 1860, where they stayed. Albert enlisted in Company I, 34th Infantry regiment on 15 October 1862 which was organized in Burlington, Iowa. He died of "Pernicious Mt. Fever" in an Army hospital on 20 July 1863. (Ancestry.com. U.S., Registers of Deaths of Volunteers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.)

So while this picture is of one Albert Delbert Gibler, the memories of both men may be honored through their shared names.

This post is part of the February Photo Collage Festival.

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival - #1

Elizabeth (Ewing) Aitchison, 1866
her twin sons, Alexander Rutherford &
William Rutherford (foot showing)
born 12 December 1865
Elizabeth Ewing was my husband's great-grandmother. She was born to James (or John) and Jane (McCartney) Ewing on August 3, 1839. We are told she was born in what became Chinguacousy, Peel County, Ontario, Canada. In 1851, this family was living in Sullivan sub-district of Grey County, Canada West (Ontario).

On August 3, 1861, Elizabeth married John Aitchison in Grey County. They became the parents of ten children, including these darling little twin boys. William Rutherford Aitchison is my husband's grandfather. I love that they made sure his little foot was exposed to keep it clear which baby was which.

Elizabeth died from peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix in Sullivan on September 5, 1901. She was 62 years old. She is buried in the Knox Presbyterian Cemetery in Grey County.


This post is part of the February Photo Collage Festival.

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Friday, February 1, 2013

February Photo Collage Festival

I just think this is such a fun idea! Since I've already written some brief biographies on about four generations of my own family, I've decided to join in on this challenge with pictures from my husband's family. I haven't done much work on his lines for quite some time. This should spur me, for at least one month.


Here is my collage
(Much to my chagrin, I don't have 28 pictures! I've had to duplicate some of the people.
 Now, my project may be to get more pictures while I still can.)


This post is part of the February Photo Collage Festival.

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - Avery

Byron Humphrey Avery
1890 - 1963
photo courtesy findagrave.com
Byron was the son of Austin and Nettie (Osborn) Avery. He was born on September 16, 1890, in Woodston, Rooks County, Kansas. He served in World War I. He was admitted into the National Soldier's Home in Hot Springs, South Dakota, in October 1933. He died there on July 15, 1963. His burial took place on July 18, 1963. He was my great granduncle.


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