Back in the spring of 1950 a good number of people (for a small church) became new believers sparked by a preaching revival at the Assembly of God church in Drumright, Oklahoma. These folks "followed the Lord in baptism" in May, being immersed in the chilly waters (most likely) of the Tydol Lake on the outskirts of the city.
Among this number were some close family members: my grandfather, mother and father, brother, an aunt, and uncle. Here's a glimpse into that occasion:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Catulpa Tree in Drumright, Oklahoma
On July 1, 2011 I was in Drumright, Oklahoma, my hometown, a day early for the family reunion that was to take place on the following day at the community center. These trips are always pretty sentimental. I usually visit the cemeteries where relatives are buried. This day I visited the lot on South Duke in Drumright where my Grandma Carroll's home stood. She moved into this home in the summer of 1952 and remained there until her death in 1966. In 1952 I was just starting elementary school; in 1966 I was a sophomore in college. MANY memories are associated with times spent with my grandmother here.
The house was long ago removed from the property. The only reminder I had was to stand and gaze at the remaining catalpa tree that was in 1966 about half its current size (45 years ago!). I stood in the shade of trees that had grown up out of the "foundation" of Grandma's old house and remembered. The tree is not special (except that it has lasted all these years). It's not even a pretty tree. But for me, it helped me connect with very special emotions in a quiet time remembering my dear grandmother. To me it was a better monument than her tombstone out in Lawson/Quay cemetery near Yale, Oklahoma. It was HERE that we laughed and worked together (yes, you always worked when around my grandmother). After our work was done, we sat on the porch swing in the afternoon shade of the catulpa tree and were contented.
The house was long ago removed from the property. The only reminder I had was to stand and gaze at the remaining catalpa tree that was in 1966 about half its current size (45 years ago!). I stood in the shade of trees that had grown up out of the "foundation" of Grandma's old house and remembered. The tree is not special (except that it has lasted all these years). It's not even a pretty tree. But for me, it helped me connect with very special emotions in a quiet time remembering my dear grandmother. To me it was a better monument than her tombstone out in Lawson/Quay cemetery near Yale, Oklahoma. It was HERE that we laughed and worked together (yes, you always worked when around my grandmother). After our work was done, we sat on the porch swing in the afternoon shade of the catulpa tree and were contented.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Embedded PowerPoint - Family Photo Album
This is another embedded Powerpoint presentation that I actually have stored on my WindowsLive Public drive. Wanting to see how it works here.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Family Tree Maker 2011 Software
This is definitely not a paid advertisement... not even sure if this will work, but I'm attempting to link an embeded PowerPoint presentation here.
One needs to review this in full-page mode because I have so much in each slide, but I get an error when I try to do that. I have my settings for this file in WindowsLive set to Public. Not sure why I'm getting the error. I thought I followed directions.... oh, well.
One needs to review this in full-page mode because I have so much in each slide, but I get an error when I try to do that. I have my settings for this file in WindowsLive set to Public. Not sure why I'm getting the error. I thought I followed directions.... oh, well.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Relatives Found in Goodspeed Biographies
I heard of the Goodspeed Biographies when I first moved to Tennessee, about 19 years ago. However, this week was the first time that I actually found some of my relatives among them. This paragraph was published on the MOGenWeb site for Fulton County, Arkansas.
From Wikipedia:
"Goodspeed Publishing was a publishing company that wrote and published many works on local history and biography in the 1880s. The works were primarily divided into sections for each county they studied and provide an important snapshot of the lives and the economic situation that existed at that time. The works are viewed as a significant resource for American genealogists because they contain economic data and personal biographies of many prominent citizens."
The main character of the paragraph below is John L. Golden, my great-granduncle, the husband of my great grandmother's sister, Rachel. The article mentions the parents and sisters of Mrs. Golden, thus refering to my great-great grandparents, the Andersons, and my great-grandparents, the Lingles (highlighted with bolding). This is a good find, especially in that I learned the maiden name of my great-great grandmother.
"John L. Golden. Among the prominent farmers of Washington Township appears the name of the above mentioned gentleman, whose success as a tiller of the soil is second to none in the township. He was born in Weakley County, Tenn., on the 27th day of July, 1849, and since early youth has applied himself steadfastly to agricultural pursuits, and with what success may be inferred when the fact is mentioned that he is the owner of one of the finest tracts of land in this section of the county. He is the son of J. C. and Mary (Winn) Golden, both natives of Mississippi, and of English parentage. The father was born in 1824, was a tiller of the soil, and moved to Tennessee at a very early day. They were the parents of ten children, seven living to be grown: S. D. (deceased), W. W., lives in Lawrence County, Ark.; James H. (deceased), J. L., Martha, wife of Alexander Cannon; Jesse F., Lydia J., wife of George Dunivan. Mr. Golden was a Democrat during his life, and had accumulated considerable property which he lost during the war. John L. Golden commenced work for himself at the age of twenty-one, and has tilled the soil assiduously ever since. When first starting out for himself he was possessor of $85, one horse, a few hogs, and a little corn. He is now the owner of 249 acres of land, with about 140 acres under cultivation, besides having his farm well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, and all else to be seen on a well conducted farm. He left Tennessee in 1872, settling in Independence County, Ark., and there remained for three years. In 1875 he came to Fulton County and followed farming on rented land. He then bought a farm of eighty acres, improved the same, and in 1884 sold out and bought his present property. He was married on the 6th [p.282] of January, 1879, to Miss Rachel M. Anderson, and two children have been born to this marriage: Lula A., born August 2, 1883, and Luther F., born May 20, 1889. Mrs. Golden is the daughter of J. M. and Martha J. (Kelton) Anderson, natives of Tennessee, and the parents of five children, four now living: J. C. (deceased), Rachel M., Lucy A. M., wife of Jasper Rives, of Fulton County; Martha C., wife of Alexander Sanders, and Harriet L., wife of James Lingle, of Fulton County. Mr. Anderson came to this State in 1874, settling first in Stone County, and in 1875 moved to this county, where he has since resided. He has been postmaster at Ten Mile postoffice for thirteen years, and is a much esteemed citizen. John L. Golden votes with the Democratic party, and Mrs. Golden is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
From Wikipedia:
"Goodspeed Publishing was a publishing company that wrote and published many works on local history and biography in the 1880s. The works were primarily divided into sections for each county they studied and provide an important snapshot of the lives and the economic situation that existed at that time. The works are viewed as a significant resource for American genealogists because they contain economic data and personal biographies of many prominent citizens."
The main character of the paragraph below is John L. Golden, my great-granduncle, the husband of my great grandmother's sister, Rachel. The article mentions the parents and sisters of Mrs. Golden, thus refering to my great-great grandparents, the Andersons, and my great-grandparents, the Lingles (highlighted with bolding). This is a good find, especially in that I learned the maiden name of my great-great grandmother.
"John L. Golden. Among the prominent farmers of Washington Township appears the name of the above mentioned gentleman, whose success as a tiller of the soil is second to none in the township. He was born in Weakley County, Tenn., on the 27th day of July, 1849, and since early youth has applied himself steadfastly to agricultural pursuits, and with what success may be inferred when the fact is mentioned that he is the owner of one of the finest tracts of land in this section of the county. He is the son of J. C. and Mary (Winn) Golden, both natives of Mississippi, and of English parentage. The father was born in 1824, was a tiller of the soil, and moved to Tennessee at a very early day. They were the parents of ten children, seven living to be grown: S. D. (deceased), W. W., lives in Lawrence County, Ark.; James H. (deceased), J. L., Martha, wife of Alexander Cannon; Jesse F., Lydia J., wife of George Dunivan. Mr. Golden was a Democrat during his life, and had accumulated considerable property which he lost during the war. John L. Golden commenced work for himself at the age of twenty-one, and has tilled the soil assiduously ever since. When first starting out for himself he was possessor of $85, one horse, a few hogs, and a little corn. He is now the owner of 249 acres of land, with about 140 acres under cultivation, besides having his farm well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, and all else to be seen on a well conducted farm. He left Tennessee in 1872, settling in Independence County, Ark., and there remained for three years. In 1875 he came to Fulton County and followed farming on rented land. He then bought a farm of eighty acres, improved the same, and in 1884 sold out and bought his present property. He was married on the 6th [p.282] of January, 1879, to Miss Rachel M. Anderson, and two children have been born to this marriage: Lula A., born August 2, 1883, and Luther F., born May 20, 1889. Mrs. Golden is the daughter of J. M. and Martha J. (Kelton) Anderson, natives of Tennessee, and the parents of five children, four now living: J. C. (deceased), Rachel M., Lucy A. M., wife of Jasper Rives, of Fulton County; Martha C., wife of Alexander Sanders, and Harriet L., wife of James Lingle, of Fulton County. Mr. Anderson came to this State in 1874, settling first in Stone County, and in 1875 moved to this county, where he has since resided. He has been postmaster at Ten Mile postoffice for thirteen years, and is a much esteemed citizen. John L. Golden votes with the Democratic party, and Mrs. Golden is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
"New" Cousin Found!
It's always so exciting for me to hear from a "new" family member that happened across my website and consequently contacts me. There's always a hope that this new person will not only be willing to share information about their research, but will also be interested in staying in touch and willing to collaborate on genealogy.
What often happens, though, is that you hear from them once or twice, then time goes by and you think, "Oh, what happened to so and so?" You send an e-mail and it comes back undeliverable.
Of course, it's not that way with a few of those I've corresponded with over the years. Guess I shouldn't complain. One researcher and I have been in contact for about 30 years, though I've never met him. I wonder if other genealogists have this same hankering to build a community of related family researchers and keep the dialogue going on and on. Maybe we're just a little bit lonely in our search for ancestors and we just want someone to share the excitement when lost or hidden information is unearthed.
Anyone else out there ever feel this way? Any ideas on how to "keep them coming back"?
What often happens, though, is that you hear from them once or twice, then time goes by and you think, "Oh, what happened to so and so?" You send an e-mail and it comes back undeliverable.
Of course, it's not that way with a few of those I've corresponded with over the years. Guess I shouldn't complain. One researcher and I have been in contact for about 30 years, though I've never met him. I wonder if other genealogists have this same hankering to build a community of related family researchers and keep the dialogue going on and on. Maybe we're just a little bit lonely in our search for ancestors and we just want someone to share the excitement when lost or hidden information is unearthed.
Anyone else out there ever feel this way? Any ideas on how to "keep them coming back"?
Saturday, November 27, 2010
My grandmother's twin sister, "Elgi", died in 1923. Grandma (Eva Ballew Lingle) wasn't able to attend the funeral and for years wondered about her nieces, Elgi's two girls. Sometime many years later, probably in the 1960's, one of the nieces, Bernice Alexander, was looking for her Aunt Eva who she thought lived near Watts, Oklahoma and happened to stop at Chester Erickson's service station on the highway coming into the small town. She sought help and directions from the service attendant, Richard Quick, who happened to be Eva's son-in-law. He figured out who Bernice was looking for and was able to quickly help unite the women, since Grandma's home was only a couple of blocks distance from the service station. As emotional as Grandma was, I can bet this was quite a reunion.
I had looked several times for Elgi's grave, and finally came across it this year on Find A Grave. I wasn't looking in Creek County. I thought that they had lived in a different area of Oklahoma. Here's a link. Thanks to Find A Grave volunteers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)