Wednesday, February 25, 2015
#52Ancestors: WK 8: MOORE, Franklin Wheeler
While this blog is Adams family, I'm extending my 52 Ancestors Challenge to include my paternal line. Which means I'm crossing the branches this week! From my paternal line: Franklin Wheeler Moore.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
#52Ancestors: WK 7: ADAMS, Eulaliah Louise
** cross posted to Lass Chronicles **
Week 7 (Feb 12-18) – Love. Which ancestor do you love to research? Which ancestor do you feel especially close to? Which ancestor seemed to have a lot of love?
When I decided to try the 52 Ancestors challenge, I didn't plan on writing about any family closer than my great grandparents. Though all of my grandparents are dead, it seemed...too close...to write about them. However, I don't think there is any couple more deserving of a spotlight about love.
Week 7 (Feb 12-18) – Love. Which ancestor do you love to research? Which ancestor do you feel especially close to? Which ancestor seemed to have a lot of love?
When I decided to try the 52 Ancestors challenge, I didn't plan on writing about any family closer than my great grandparents. Though all of my grandparents are dead, it seemed...too close...to write about them. However, I don't think there is any couple more deserving of a spotlight about love.
Eulaliah Louise ADAMS was born 15 June 1922 in Mt. Vernon, Texas. She was the first of four children for her parents, Benjamin Franklin and Sallie Lou [possibly Lue] (GREEN) Adams.
Polly, as she preferred to be called, was a no nonsense lady that loved her children and her husband. There are a few family stories about my grandparents that always make the rounds at holidays and birthdays.
First, let me introduce my grandfather: John Moore GARRETT, Jr. He was born 07 Aug 1919. He also, was the first child (of two) to John Moore (Sr.) and Sidney Carrie (GUTTERY) Garrett.
JM, as he was called, and Polly met at a dance. This is what my grandmother says on 17 Sep 1940:
The tiniest entry in her day: "Met J.M. Garrett, Jr. tonite."
Here's the version I have heard:
My grandfather met Polly at a dance. At the end of the night, he came home, woke his mother, and told her he had found to girl he was going to marry.
Either way, they did marry just a few months later on 23 Feb 1941. I even have their marriage license. Still sealed in an envelope. I refuse to open the envelope. I'll just have to get a copy of the record from microfilm.
Funny thing though, I have always heard my grandparents ran off to get married. They didn't tell anyone, keeping it a secret for several days and/or weeks. However, my grandmother's diary debunks that story.
Her diary does go on to say they didn't tell his parents until March 1. She tells her parents (via letter) on March 8. They are not pleased. Still, Polly and J.M. are completely in love. J.M. is serving in the national guard in Lockhart, Texas. Polly is still attending college at what was Southwest Texas State Teachers College.
They spend a large part of their first 18 months of marriage apart, seeing each other on weekends and holidays. On 25 Sep 1942, Polly boarded a bus that took her from Texas to Oklahoma to Missouri to Ohio to Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. She was reunited with J.M. on 29 Sep 1942. On 24 Mar 1943, Polly left Massachusetts to return to Texas. J.M. left with is unit on 31 Mar. They would not see each other again until World War II ended in 1944. During that time, my mother was born.
My grandmother lived with her in-laws during the war. She sent weekly pictures of my mother to my grandfather.
At the end of the war, J.M. and Polly settled in San Antonio, Texas. They bought a house. They had a second daughter in 1946. They lived a happy life until sometime between 1969 and 1970 when J.M. was diagnosed with cancer. He died 22 Sep 1971.
My grandmother never remarried. I asked her once why she never remarried. Her answer still brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. "Why? I married the perfect man the first time around."
My grandmother died 11 Dec 2009 in the house she bought with her husband. In the house she raised her two daughters. In the house that held both joy and sorrow and love. Lots and lots of love.
 |
| 17 Sep 1940 - Diary Excerpt - Eulaliah Louise Adams |
Here's the version I have heard:
My grandfather met Polly at a dance. At the end of the night, he came home, woke his mother, and told her he had found to girl he was going to marry.
Either way, they did marry just a few months later on 23 Feb 1941. I even have their marriage license. Still sealed in an envelope. I refuse to open the envelope. I'll just have to get a copy of the record from microfilm.
Funny thing though, I have always heard my grandparents ran off to get married. They didn't tell anyone, keeping it a secret for several days and/or weeks. However, my grandmother's diary debunks that story.
 |
| Saturday, 22 Feb 1941 |
 |
| Sunday, 23 Feb 1941 |
They spend a large part of their first 18 months of marriage apart, seeing each other on weekends and holidays. On 25 Sep 1942, Polly boarded a bus that took her from Texas to Oklahoma to Missouri to Ohio to Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. She was reunited with J.M. on 29 Sep 1942. On 24 Mar 1943, Polly left Massachusetts to return to Texas. J.M. left with is unit on 31 Mar. They would not see each other again until World War II ended in 1944. During that time, my mother was born.
My grandmother lived with her in-laws during the war. She sent weekly pictures of my mother to my grandfather.
At the end of the war, J.M. and Polly settled in San Antonio, Texas. They bought a house. They had a second daughter in 1946. They lived a happy life until sometime between 1969 and 1970 when J.M. was diagnosed with cancer. He died 22 Sep 1971.
My grandmother never remarried. I asked her once why she never remarried. Her answer still brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. "Why? I married the perfect man the first time around."
My grandmother died 11 Dec 2009 in the house she bought with her husband. In the house she raised her two daughters. In the house that held both joy and sorrow and love. Lots and lots of love.
 |
| J.M. and Eulaliah Louise (Adams) Garrett - circa 1941 |
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
#52Ancestors: WK 6: GREEN, David Edwin
** cross posted to Lass Chronicles **
This week, I grudgingly write a short entry about my second great grandfather.
David Edwin GREEN was born 07 Oct 1864[1] in Georgia[2]. He is the younger of two boys. His parents are David Edward and Elizabeth Ann (REYNOLDS) Green. Sadly, David Edward (the father) died just before the end of the American Civil War. His mother never remarried. His wife, Bessie, was the subject of Week Three. He and Bessie had thirteen children. He died 23 Sep 1943.
I write this week so briefly because David seems like a solved mystery. I feel no connection to him at all. Most of the people I research, I want to know more. There's usually a spark of interest. In David Edwin Green, there's just a gulf of disinterest. My goal for David Edwin Green is to reevaluate the records I have on him. Did he own property? If so, he should be in tax rolls. Did he service in a military unit? Is there more to him that I should know?
[1] Based on his headstone
[2] Based on multiple U.S. Census records
Optional Theme: Week 6 (Feb 5-11) – So Far Away. Which ancestor is the farthest from you, either in distance or in time/generations? Which ancestor have you had to go the farthest away to research?
This week, I grudgingly write a short entry about my second great grandfather.
David Edwin GREEN was born 07 Oct 1864[1] in Georgia[2]. He is the younger of two boys. His parents are David Edward and Elizabeth Ann (REYNOLDS) Green. Sadly, David Edward (the father) died just before the end of the American Civil War. His mother never remarried. His wife, Bessie, was the subject of Week Three. He and Bessie had thirteen children. He died 23 Sep 1943.
 |
| Obit: David Edwin Green Panama City News-Herald, 28 September 1943, Page 3 |
[1] Based on his headstone
[2] Based on multiple U.S. Census records
Optional Theme: Week 6 (Feb 5-11) – So Far Away. Which ancestor is the farthest from you, either in distance or in time/generations? Which ancestor have you had to go the farthest away to research?
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
#52Ancestors: WK 5: CALLAWAY, Dora
** cross posted to Lass Chronicles **
Like most of my 2nd+ great grandparents, I just know the basics (the average of 5) about Dora CALLAWAY. She was born about Jul 1849 in Georgia to John and Lavicy[1] (GERMON) Callaway. She is the youngest of eight. She spent most of her life in Arkansas. She married two men (outliving them both): Zachary Taylor ADAMS and George K. CROW. She had nine children (all with Z. Adams), two did not survive to adulthood. Her son, Welcome Adams, was my Week Two ancestor.
If it wasn't for a small selection of public records, I wouldn't know anything about Dora Callaway.
Funny thing, though. A few weeks ago, someone on Ancestry contacted me about being a DNA Match. The only person we share in our trees is John Callaway, Dora's father.
I should explain a couple things before I go on:
Now, let's talk DNA matches. I love AncestryDNA. Until I hate it. There are some big failures in the AncestryDNA tool. The absolute failure, in my opinion, is triangulation -- though "circles" is trying to help there.
Back to the person that contacted me. This person seemed excited and knowledgeable. Then I looked at the referred tree and noticed there's a big, glaring, ugly sign: no sources. Lots of dates for births, deaths, and marriages...no sources.
I don't understand this. If a person has worked on a tree for years (I've dabbled in my genealogy for 20+ years), doesn't it make sense to have sources?
I replied and asked about sources -- I was thinking maybe this person had a family bible. Oh, Holy Grail! Instead, I was told the sources were available, but all the info had been vetted via a family association.
Hit the brakes, buster! A family association? What is this? Where has this been? How have I never heard of this group?
I did a little Google searching. I did a little hunting on the group website. I'm not overly impressed. At least, not from a genealogical standard point of view. Again, the tree information I am looking at doesn't seem to have sources. There's nothing on the site that points to who runs the site or the group. The blog is years out of date. And, ok, I'm going to be a tech-snob but...they are using COMIC SANS for the site font.
There is a FamilyTree DNA Project. There seems to be a journal/newsletter. This group is been in existence since 1975, from what it says. Still, I hesitate to integrate any of the information into my tree. How do I know the John Callaway in their tree is my John Callaway?
I will most likely contact someone at the FTDNA Project -- they may be the group admins, as well; but I'm reserving most of my judgement for now.
[1] Her marriage license lists her as "Lavicy Germon."
Optional Theme: Week 5, Plowing through — We will likely be plowing through a lot of snow by this time. What ancestor had a lot of struggles to plow through? Or take it more literally… It’s up to you.
Like most of my 2nd+ great grandparents, I just know the basics (the average of 5) about Dora CALLAWAY. She was born about Jul 1849 in Georgia to John and Lavicy[1] (GERMON) Callaway. She is the youngest of eight. She spent most of her life in Arkansas. She married two men (outliving them both): Zachary Taylor ADAMS and George K. CROW. She had nine children (all with Z. Adams), two did not survive to adulthood. Her son, Welcome Adams, was my Week Two ancestor.
If it wasn't for a small selection of public records, I wouldn't know anything about Dora Callaway.
- The 1900 U.S. Census revealed she is a farmer that owns her own property and has a mortgage. This census also alerted me to the fact that two of her children have died.
- Her son's (Taylor Noah) WWI draft card revealed she remarried. Without that bit of information, I'm not sure I would have ever found her after the 1900 U.S. Census.
 |
| Profile View on Ancestry: Callaway, Dora |
Funny thing, though. A few weeks ago, someone on Ancestry contacted me about being a DNA Match. The only person we share in our trees is John Callaway, Dora's father.
I should explain a couple things before I go on:
- I'm obsessive about data...bad data is worse than no data at all.
- Until recently, my tree has been private because, well, genealogy vultures.
Now, let's talk DNA matches. I love AncestryDNA. Until I hate it. There are some big failures in the AncestryDNA tool. The absolute failure, in my opinion, is triangulation -- though "circles" is trying to help there.
Back to the person that contacted me. This person seemed excited and knowledgeable. Then I looked at the referred tree and noticed there's a big, glaring, ugly sign: no sources. Lots of dates for births, deaths, and marriages...no sources.
I don't understand this. If a person has worked on a tree for years (I've dabbled in my genealogy for 20+ years), doesn't it make sense to have sources?
I replied and asked about sources -- I was thinking maybe this person had a family bible. Oh, Holy Grail! Instead, I was told the sources were available, but all the info had been vetted via a family association.
Hit the brakes, buster! A family association? What is this? Where has this been? How have I never heard of this group?
I did a little Google searching. I did a little hunting on the group website. I'm not overly impressed. At least, not from a genealogical standard point of view. Again, the tree information I am looking at doesn't seem to have sources. There's nothing on the site that points to who runs the site or the group. The blog is years out of date. And, ok, I'm going to be a tech-snob but...they are using COMIC SANS for the site font.
There is a FamilyTree DNA Project. There seems to be a journal/newsletter. This group is been in existence since 1975, from what it says. Still, I hesitate to integrate any of the information into my tree. How do I know the John Callaway in their tree is my John Callaway?
I will most likely contact someone at the FTDNA Project -- they may be the group admins, as well; but I'm reserving most of my judgement for now.
[1] Her marriage license lists her as "Lavicy Germon."
Optional Theme: Week 5, Plowing through — We will likely be plowing through a lot of snow by this time. What ancestor had a lot of struggles to plow through? Or take it more literally… It’s up to you.
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