GeneaDiva's History, Genealogy and "Stuff"

Matrilineal Line

2011-10-02T13:22:00.001-05:00

From Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - List Your Matrilineal Line(s)

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Hey genealogy buffs - it's Saturday Night again -- time for more Genealogy Fun!!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
List your matrilineal line - your mother, her mother, etc. back to the first identifiable mother. Note: this line is how your mitochondrial DNA was passed to you!

Maternal grandmother, Mary Ada WOODS (1904 Paducah, KY- 2002, Piggott, AR) Married Jessie JAMES.

Great-grandmother, Alberta Virginia Neff (1872 Kingsport, TN- 1963 West Memphis, AR), married James William WOODS.

Great-great grandmother, Sarah Catharine WILL (1842 Shenandoah County, VA- 1936 Jackson, Madison County, TN) Married Samuel Henry Neff.

3rd great-grandmother, Sarah RUDDLE (c1798 VA- after 1860 Shenandoah County, VA) married 2nd to George WILL.

4th great-grandmother, Elizabeth BOWMAN (1780 VA- 1806 Shenandoah County, VA) married Isaac RUDDLE (1759-1833) (AKA Riddle, Ruddel, Riddel).

5th great-grandmother, Barbara Unknown, died after 1825 Shenandoah County, Virginia, wife of John Bowman (son of Christian Bowman).

I have not had my mitochondrial DNA tested, but am curious as to what it would reveal about my female ancestors. I need to find out who Barbara is and where she was born. I haven't located her maiden name or a marriage record yet. I know her first name from chancery court papers in Shenandoah County, Virginia. She could be my immigrant ancestress or not....This definitely helps me to know I need to research Barbara and see exactly what is known about her and her life as well as her extended family records, females living in Shenandoah County, Virginia during this time period as well as other events going on during her life. She is living in America in time for the Revolutionary War, birth of USA, and George Washington becoming first President as well as the first six presidents of the USA. Living in Virginia, she was probably very aware of the political climate of her day.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-20T18:04:00.000-05:00

Fairview Cemetery, Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee

2011-07-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings provided a fun

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Your "Heritage Pie" Chart

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Ah, Genea-folks, it's Saturday Night again - are you ready for more Genealogy Fun?

Your mission tonight, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents with their birth, death and marriage data (dates and places). [Hint - you might use an Ancestral Name List from your software for this.]

2) Determine the countries (or states) that these ancestors lived in at their birth and at their death.

3) For extra credit, go make a "Heritage Pie" chart for the country of origin (birth place) for these 16 ancestors. [Hint: you could use the chart generator from Kid Zone for this.] [Note: Thank you to Sheri Fenley for the"Heritage Pie" chart idea.]

I've decided to participate in this fun challenge.

I've listed my sixteen great-great-grandparents in an earlier post here.

I'm a true southern girl with lots of orange blood running through my veins.

This is the Face of Genealogy

2011-06-05T16:59:00.001-05:00

One Spring day in 1983 I desperately wanted to know more about my dad's family, like who was his grandfather? I mean, I knew my grandfather Tull's name and I remembered my paternal grandmother and several great aunts and uncles, but aside from that I really knew absolutely nothing about my dad's family. I didn't even know my great grandpa Tull's name although I had heard stories about him.

My dad was lying in an intensive care unit bed, connected to a ventilator and other life support and I was almost in a panic not knowing the names of my family and if something happened to my dad, how would I ever learn this information. Well, thankfully, he recovered and as soon as he was extubated and moved out of ICU, I started asking questions and taking notes. I've been searching for family ever since!

Above is James Dennis Tull and his wife, Hester (Hettie) Ann Johnson Tull and their family. In addition to my great-grandparents, James Dennis and Hettie, my 2nd great-grandmother, Rebecca Jane Cox Johnson (1841-1941) is in the photo. Carson Matthew Tull, the oldest and tallest fellow is my grandfather, who died long before I was born. I remember Carson's brothers, Jasper Newton (Uncle Jack) and Henry Bruce (Uncle Bruce). I definitely remember my Aunt Frankie, standing left of picture, (Frankie Dorthy Tull Isom). She was one of my favorite great aunts. The lady sitting front left is Hettie's first cousin, Hannah Ferguson. Hannah was daughter of Carroll Ferguson and Rhoda Adaline Cox Ferguson. She came to live with the Tull family after the death of her parents. The sweet baby is Aunt Nellie Jane Tull Riley. She died during the birth of her fourth child in 1938, so I obviously never got to meet her either.

These are precious faces to my family and they are definitely the first faces to come to mind when I hear the term "Face of Genealogy" or in this case, "Faces of Genealogy"

Profile Pages on WikiTree

2011-03-22T20:43:00.002-05:00

I've recently joined a genealogy site called WikiTree and as I've played around with it I've discovered I can create Profile Pages of places, things, events, etc. I decided to create a profile page for my father's WWII military unit, the 146th Combat Engineer Battalion. I've had fun working on this project and Chris Whitten of WikiTree has actually helped me embed a couple links. He has explained exactly how to do this, but for whatever reason I haven't been able to recreate on my computer. I'll keep working on it.

The really exciting thing about this profile page is # 1 it is public (my choice of privacy) and # 2 anyone on the www can add additional information, people, pictures, memories, etc to this page. I haven't found a lot written about the 146th and have hopes others will find this page and add to the history of the unit, therefore preserving the unit history of this important outfit during WWII. My dad earned seven battle stars while serving with this group. Some of their campaigns were: Invasion of Normandy, 6th June 1944, Omaha Beach; Liberation of Paris, Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland + others. I was fortunate to locate one of my dad's army buddies and he graciously sent me a timeline of his (and my dad's) travels, battles, etc. He also sent me pictures and I am blessed to have my dad's WWII scrapbook.

Stay tuned as I add a few pictures and a timeline to this profile.

Additionally, I have created several other Profile pages related to my family history. The public profile pages are:
1. Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee
2. Rose Creek United Methodist Church, formerly of Rose Creek, McNairy County, Tennessee
3. Rose Creek School, formerly of Rose Creek, McNairy County, Tennessee
4. Weona Methodist Church, formerly of Weona, Poinsett County, Arkansas
5. Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
6. McNairy County, Tennessee

These are my public profile pages and anyone is welcome to contribute or link their family to these pages. I'm looking forward to adding to these pages as well as creating additional profile pages.

McNairy County Cemeteries

2011-03-06T16:38:00.000-06:00

Today I added 82 pictures of headstones from Bethel Springs Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Additionally, I added another 49 pictures of headstones at Buena Vista Cemetery. Some of these are repeats of earlier pictures, but there are some new ones too.

I have photographs from twenty one McNairy County Cemeteries posted on my Flickr account. I posted an earlier blog with links to various cemeteries here.

I hope someone finds a photograph they need or want for their research.

Enjoy!!

Reunions

2011-03-05T19:14:00.005-06:00

How many Reunions or similar type gatherings do you attend in the course of a year?

I was working on my WikiTree, which started me thinking about this as WikiTree provides a venue to create a profile for an event, place, building, unrelated people, reunions, and family mysteries. This seems pretty cool to me and I've added one to my tree which is still a work in progress as I have fun just seeing how useful this will be to me and maybe invited guests.

In 2010 I attended the following reunions or annual events:

1. New Years Party at my sister's home. This has been an annual tradition for at least five years. We meet at her house to bring in the New Year. Generally we have all sorts of snacks and a pot of chili or other crock pot meal. The highlight of this night (at least for me) is the home made ice cream and the fireworks. We have enjoyed the Wii and other games and the youngest crowd enjoys watching the count down from New York. We rarely have the same group of people at this party. It is generally friends, friends of friends, kiddos and their friends. A good time is had by all.

2. The annual New Years Day gathering at my Mom's. We have to eat our hog jowl, black-eyed-peas and greens. It just wouldn't be New Years without it. As our family is growing by leaps and bounds we decided to combine this with our Christmas gathering. It worked out great and we plan to continue this as an annual Christmas and New Years party.

3. Easter is a big event at church. After some good preaching we meet in the fellowship hall for a delicious pot luck meal and the younger set hunts Easter eggs. I list this as a special event as our entire family strives to make it to church on this day and Mother enjoys having us all there on the same day. A fun afternoon with family and church family is always special.

4. First Sunday in May is another annual event in the life of my family. We have Decoration Day at Moore School House in McNairy County, Tennessee. We visit the cemetery after church and then we motor to a cousins home and have a delicious spread of all the southern goodness one can dream. We have great visits with extended family and friends; swap yarns, stories and other tales. Then we go back to the cemetery for more visiting. The really interesting thing about this reunion is this family starts with my great-grandmother and her sister and their descendants. Two little girls born right before the Civil War and 150 years later their families still meet twice a year for good fellowship. This has been an annual event as long as I can remember. 2010 was a rare exception, however. We had major floods and tornadoes preventing travel to the cemetery or anywhere else for that matter. Mother and I went to the cemetery a week later and left our floral memorials, but it just wasn't the same without seeing so many friends and family. This is one of my favorite traditions.

5. June brings my college reunion. Mother and I graduated from the same college and for the last few years we have attended this event together. I generally have only attended the major milestone years and mother has been more faithful to attend on a regular basis. Since mother can't drive in Memphis, I've started going every year just to be with her. She enjoys catching up with old classmates and I also see a few people I know even if no one else from my class attends. My daughter went with us in 2010 and we had a little adventure in Memphis after the reunion. We have already received our invitation for 2011.

6. Summer brings at least one and sometimes two reunions for my children on their dad's side of the family. We do our best to attend at least one of the reunions. I was really disappointed we didn't get to attend their extended family reunion as it was held near the cemetery where their great-great grandparents are buried and this is a cemetery we haven't been able to visit yet. We did attend their dad's immediate family reunion and had an enjoyable day visiting with their family.

7. Labor Day Weekend brings two reunions I wanted to attend. Our grade school reunion at the local Park or Firehouse is a tradition of several years for me. It is generally hot, but the food is plentiful and good as is the company. I attended a rural grade school, which closed several years after I left. The building burned and later was demolished to make room for road construction- progress! It is good to reminiscent with many people from all age groups. My dad attended this same school as a boy growing up, so occasionally see one of his childhood friends too. It is always good to see old friends.

8. Our family started a new reunion last year for our McIntyre cousins. This is for descendants of my great grandparents, John and Jennie Cooksey McIntyre. A small group of us met and had a very good time sharing food, pictures, Bible records and stories. This reunion conflicted with my School reunion, so I'm going to see if we can change it to later in the day for 2011. I can't wait until our next reunion and hope more family will attend.

9. Thanksgiving brings our annual Saturday after Thanksgiving Reunion with our Cooksey cousins and kin. We meet at a local firehouse and my children call it the Firehouse Thanksgiving. We've met for as long as I can remember. Folks come from several states to partake of some good southern hospitality and food. This is a day we look forward to all year long. Although this is extended family, these are the cousins and family we grew up seeing on a regular basis. We played together on most Sunday afternoon when I was a youngster. Our families go back one hundred fifty years and I hope the next generation will continue to honor our traditions and carry on for their children and grandchildren.

I'm sure I must have missed an event, but I was impressed with nine reunion type events in a single year. I know 2011 brings a major milestone for my high school graduation, but haven't heard anything about a class reunion. Twenty Twelve will be the Centennial anniversary at my college; already making plans to attend this momentous occasion.

What about you? What reunions or other annual events are you planning to attend in 2011?

Happy March

2011-03-02T18:10:00.003-06:00

I realize I haven't blogged in several months. I decided I needed to at least post a note to let my readers know I'm still here. Life takes center stage for now and I'll post as soon as possible.

Happy March and Happy Spring. I know I am ready for these warmer days, daffodils, forsythia, the smell of a fresh mowed lawn and so much more.

Happy New Year

2011-01-08T19:16:00.002-06:00

I know it is a week late, but Happy New Year. I hope everyone will have a prosperous and joyous 2011!

My genealogy goal for 2011 is to pour through those Tennessee Death Certificates just as soon as ancestry posts them. I did a happy dance when I received the email from ancestry with this good news. The email just didn't say when this would happen. That's okay, I'll be checking every day!

I had good success with the Tennessee Death Transcriptions posted on familysearch beta and know I will be able to find additional information and records when the actual images are posted on ancestry.

Enjoy the Holidays

2010-11-27T16:39:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and will have a Merry Christmas! This is a busy season for me. I enjoyed two family functions this weekend and will spend the next few weeks decorating, shopping, cooking, attending Christmas events and just enjoying the season. Most of all, I will remember my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for his birth, death and resurrection and most of all I'm happy to have received the free gift of salvation. Peace on Earth this Christmas Season!

Woodville Cemetery, Chester County, Tennessee

2010-07-05T17:49:00.002-05:00

Woodville Cemetery lies nestled off Highway 225 south in rural Chester County, Tennessee. It is just north of the McNairy County line. This is a very wooded cemetery with cow pastures all around. The Woodville Church is located North of the cemetery. I'm not sure if this is the same church associated with the cemetery or if there was a church associated with this cemetery.

This is not all of the markers by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe on a cooler and hopefully cloudy day, I can go back and take a few more photographs. There are unmarked graves here and, of course, there isn't a sexton to consult or a record of who has been interred here.

This cemetery seemed to start mid 1800's. It is still currently in use and is well maintained. In the last few years they have started using the North Section of the cemetery. I haven't taken any pictures of the graves in this area.

Historic Purdy Cemetery is Vandalized ...Again!

2010-06-19T10:45:00.009-05:00

According to the local newspaper, Purdy Cemetery escaped the May 1st tornado only to be vandalized a few days later. Why people try to destroy this historic cemetery in McNairy County is beyond me. It doesn't do any good to even ask Why as the people who actually vandalize cemeteries aren't likely to be reading a blog, especially a blog about a historic cemetery in their hometown.

I have visited Purdy Cemetery several times in the past few years, so decided to locate pictures I have taken at various times and upload to Flickr.com. I think found 57 pictures this morning from a New Years 2009 visit. Please know most of these markers are difficult to read, which is why I have posted multiple copies of the same monument.

I hope posting the link here will help preserve a small part of McNairy County, History. I'll keep looking more pictures and will upload as I locate.

More Cemetery Photographs on Flickr

2010-06-06T10:07:00.002-05:00

Today I have posted about 50 photographs from Curtis Hill Cemetery in Northwest McNairy county, Tennessee. Curtis Hill has Homecoming or Decoration Day first Sunday in June every year. The cemetery was beautiful Saturday night (June 5th, 2010) and I couldn't resist stopping and taking a few photographs.

Enjoy

My Cemetery Photographs on Flickr

2010-05-31T16:31:00.005-05:00

What would a cemetery outing be without a camera? Generally, I try not to leave home without the camera. I have posted several cemetery pictures on my flickr.com account and thought I would use this blog as a way to organize the digital photographs as well as share with interested family, friends, or others who might find a marker they are seeking. I think most of these pictures can be searched by last name too.

Alabama:

Coal City Cemetery, Jasper, Walker County, Alabama (54 photos)

Randolph and collateral lines

Arkansas:

Holly Springs, Harrisburg, Poinsett County, Arkansas (3 photos of Carl James New)

Maple Grove, Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas (5 photos)

Marked Tree Cemetery, Marked Tree, Poinsett County, Arkansas

Missouri:

Maple Cemetery, Caruthersville, Pemiscott County, Missouri (7 photos)

James and Dycus families- poor quality pictures- sorry, smudge on my lens.

Tennessee:

Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (USA) (36 photos)

various counties in Tennessee- interested in any Sixth Tennessee Cavalry Markers

Chester County:

Hurst Cemetery (38 photos)

Palestine Cemetery (10 photos)

Joseph and Sarah Rogers Cox Family

Woodville Cemetery (18 photos)

Hardin County:

Crump Cemetery, Crump, Hardin County, Tennessee (5 photos)

Peery family

Shiloh Methodist Church, Shiloh, Hardin County, Tennessee (9 photos)

Madison County:

Ridgecrest Cemetery, Jackson, Tennessee (18 photos)

Riverside Cemetery, Jackson, Tennessee (22 photos)

McNairy County:

Adamsville Cemetery, Adamsville, Tennessee (5 photos)

Buena Vista (114 photos)

Good Hope Baptist Cemetery, Good Hope Community, McNairy County, Tennessee (75 photos)

Gravel Hill, Gravel Hill Community, McNairy County, Tennessee (48 photos)

Lake Hill, Bethel Springs, Tennessee (8 photos)

Liberty Cemetery, Forty Forks Community, McNairy County, Tennessee (66 photos)

Mars Hill, Leapwood, McNairy County (45 photos)

McCalip's Chapel (9 photos)

Mt. Pleasant, McNairy County (84 photos)

Very old cemetery in South west part of county, many unmarked graves in this cemetery.

Mt. Vinson Methodist Cemetery, Stantonville, McNairy County, Tennessee (22 photos)

Moore School House, North West McNairy County (296 photos)

New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery, New Hope Community (35 photos)

New Salem, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee (52 photos)

2010-05-31T07:53:00.005-05:00

Memorial Day

In honor of Memorial Day I want to remember the soldiers in my family and community who have served The United States of America so valiantly. Taps came to my mind this morning as I was thinking about my dad, so did an online search for the lyrics and these are the stanzas which bring tears to my eyes as I think about what our soldiers have done for us, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and our US borders. I especially want to memorialize my daddy, Warren Tull, today.

TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.

While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.

Lyrics from Lyrics Mode

Photo: Flag flying at Mars Hill Cemetery, Leapwood, McNairy County, Tennessee, 29 May 2010, digital image, private collection, [ADDRESS WITHELD FOR PRIVACY PURPOSES], Selmer Tennessee, by GeneaDiva.

2010-05-08T18:29:00.008-05:00

From Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings we have received our Saturday Night Genealogy Fun as follows:

"Hey genealogy buffs - it's Saturday Night again -- time for more Genealogy Fun!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1) List your matrilineal line - your mother, her mother, etc. back to the first identifiable mother. Note: this line is how your mitochondrial DNA was passed to you!

2) Tell us if you have had your mitochondrial DNA tested, and if so, which Haplogroup you are in."

What a nice way to remember my Maternal Line for Mother's Day.

a. me

B. Mom

C. Mary Ada Woods, (1904 Paducah, KY - 2002 in Clay County, Arkansas); married Jessie James.

d. Alberta Virginia Neff (1872 Kingport, TN - 1963 West Memphis, AR); Married to James W. Woods.

e. Sarah Catharine Will, (1841 Shenandoah County, VA - 1936 Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee); Married to Samuel Henry Neff.

f. Sarah Riddle/Ruddle/Ruddel, (1798 Virginia - between 1860-1870 Shenandoah County, Virginia); Married 2nd husband, George Will.

g. Elizabeth Bowman,( between 1770-1780 probably VA - 1806 Shenandoah County, Virginia); Married to Isaac Riddle/Ruddle/Ruddel(1759-1833).

h. NOT sure as I haven't done the actual research beyond this point. There are lots of trees on ancestry with different information listed. I haven't seen any PROOF as to her mother. There are two Isaac Ruddles who married ladies by the name of Elizabeth Bowman. This can be confusing in the early records when the names are the same. They are both of the same family of Bowman's and Ruddel/Ruddle's from early Virginia Records.

I have not done any DNA testing.

Tombstone Tuesday

2010-04-12T19:09:00.004-05:00

This is one of the Confederate Burial Trenches at Shiloh National Military Park in Hardin County, Tennessee. Notice the soft blanket of wildflowers covering the grave for the anniversary of the battle.

Spanish American War Poem

2010-04-05T09:58:00.005-05:00

Although I haven't stumbled across a direct ancestor who served in the Spanish American conflict, I thought I would post this poem I found in the New Market Shenandoah Valley Newspaper published in 1898. The poet, William Greenway Russell, Jr, expressed what many people were thinking during yet another conflict for American Soldiers.

(click picture to enlarge)

Who Do You Think You Are

2010-03-27T16:09:00.006-05:00

I've been watching the NBC series, Who Do You Think You Are, for the past few Friday nights and decided to come up with a list of ancestors whom I need NBC and their genealogist expert assistance. My list is long so hold on tight.

1. Elizabeth Tull, born about 1815 in South Carolina. South Carolina, Maybe? Or is it North Carolina? Depends on the census year. Elizabeth just drops out of the sky into Hardeman County, Tennessee on the 1850 census with her five children who are born in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. She doesn't have a husband living in the household, but there are clues and collateral relatives, one of whom may be her mother or mother-in-law, living next door. Elizabeth acquires property in 1866 in McNairy County, Tennessee and she sells same property in 1886 while she is living in Mississippi County, Missouri. There is a family letter about 1888 when she is living back in McNairy County, Tennessee and that is the last one hears from Elizabeth. She doesn't have a marked grave, a death certificate, a newspaper article or an obituary, a will nor a probate record. She certainly didn't fight in any wars or vote.

2. Milly Patridge/Partridge. Milly is a twelve year old girl, born in Tennessee about 1838, living with a Vincent Cook(sey) family in McNairy County, Tennessee in 1850. The lady I suspect to be her mother lives nearby as does her sister, who is also a young girl living in the home of other people. Milly or Millicent is illiterate, never marries, never owns property, votes, never pays taxes, doesn't have an obituary, will or probate record. Every census she is living in the household with a different family. The 1880 census provides a relationship to head of family and Milly, age 45 born Tennessee, is listed as a servant. She never appears in the census again. I strongly suspect I know who her parents are, but I really want proof and then want to take her back to the next generation. McNairy County has record losses especially marriage records prior to 1862. Chancery court, probate, wills and guardian bonds are missing prior to 1850 too.

3. Mary Ann. Mary Ann, do I even know your maiden name? I have oral family history which may or may not be correct. I know who your mother is as I have her civil war widow's pension with her maiden name recorded. According to her civil war Pension her marriage occurred before you were born, but oral family history says this was her second marriage and you are a child of the first marriage. As a cousin pointed out, she had a difficult enough time proving (without a marriage record and being illiterate) who her husband was, much less being able to prove a first husband. Again, we're talking about an illiterate lady who doesn't own property, vote, pay taxes, have a death certificate,will or probate,etc. Mary Ann was born about 1839 in Tennessee. She is living with her mother, Nancy Adcock Vaughan and either her father or step-father, John Vaughan in District 7 of DeKalb County, Tennessee. Mary Ann married Daniel Cooksey probably in McNairy County, Tennessee about 1857, well before marriage records are available. Daniel, Mary Ann and their small family of two daughters, left McNairy County for Woodruff County, Arkansas about 1861 according to oral family history. Daniel is killed or dies there and Mary Ann brings her little girls back to McNairy County where they live for the rest of their lives. Mary Ann Cooksey died in 1913- the year Tennessee didn't require death certificates. Mary Ann, also called Polly, has a marked grave at Moore School House in McNairy County, Tennessee. Mary Ann never voted, owned land, paid taxes, had a will or a probate record, guardian record, etc. Mary Ann does have an obit, which stated her grandfather was "John Hancock, signer of Declaration of Independence". I was able to pretty quickly determine she wasn't a granddaughter of John Hancock. Her mother, Nancy Adcock Vaughn, is buried unmarked at Mt. Pleasant cemetery in McNairy County, Tennessee by her husband, union veteran, John Vaughn (sometimes Vaughan).

Sarah Rogers Cox. Sarah Rogers was born 1821 in Tennessee. She married Joseph Cox in Hardeman County, Tennessee in 1837. I would love to know who her parents are. I probably need to do some work on her myself. Other genealogist have worked on her ancestry without success, but I admit I haven't done all I need or should do for her. I know she isn't listed in a will or probate in Hardeman County. She does not have a death certificate, a will or a probate record, or an obituary. She does have a marked grave at Palestine Cemetery, Chester County, Tennessee.

Hester. Hester is found in two records. According to the 1850 census, Hester was born about 1809 in Tennessee. She is living with her older husband, Willis Johnson, in Graves County, Kentucky. Her son, Abraham Johnson, had a Bible Record and her name is listed with a birthdate of 28 June 1809. Hester disappears after the 1850 census, never to be heard of again. I haven't located a burial record, death record, marriage record, will or probate record for Hester or her husband, Willis Johnson. Were they living in Kentucky when they died or had they moved to Missouri or Tennessee? Her sons are living in Tennessee in 1860 and I think I found one of Willis' sons by a first marriage in Missouri in 1860. Willis did own land and pay taxes in Graves County. This is probably one I need to do more work on too, but again, we're talking about a county with significant record losses.

Okay, NBC, all I need are time off work with pay and expenses to research these female ancestors. These ladies all happen to be my paternal ancestors and I would love to find their families. I know they are just waiting on me in some obscure court record, land record, etc. I possibly could crack these cold cases at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee except for Hester and who knows the answer to her ancestry may be there also or maybe in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Kentucky archives. I'll be waiting on NBC's call letting me know an all expense trip to Nashville is mine. They will have a Tennessee genealogist waiting for me and will work exclusively with me until we solve these mysteries.

Well, I can dream.....

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

2009-12-12T20:06:00.003-06:00

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has selected a great Christmas Saturday Night Fun topic:

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Another Wish List
Welcome to SNGF -- it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!

I think that we all want lots of imaged and indexed databases online for our pajama-clad viewing pleasure... so for this week's SNGF, let's express our wishes for databases we want the genealogy companies to bring to us:

1) Define one or more genealogy or family history databases, that are not currently online, that would really help you in your research. Where does this database currently reside?

2) Tell us about it/them in a blog post on your own blog or GenealogyWise or Facebook, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment to this post on Facebook.

Okay here goes:
1. Tennessee Death Record Images- currently on microfilm at Tennessee State Library and Archives.
2. Arkansas Death Record Images- Arkansas Department of Health has the original records. I am not sure if these records have been microfilmed. It would be nice to have an electronic database online.
3. Alabama Death Record Images- FamilySearch.org has the index with abstracts. It would be great to have the record images as well.
4. The Jackson (TN) Sun Newspaper - Jackson Madison County Library has it on microfilm and so does the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
5. Jonesboro Sun Newspaper (Jonesboro, AR). Genealogybank.com has 1904-1923. I would like to see this expanded though at least 1990.
6. Union Civil War Pension records- National Archives has the records.
7. Tennessee Confederate Pension Files- Tennessee State Library and Archives currently has the records.

Okay, I know my list is long. I will stop here for tonight. A big shout out to Familysearch.org for posting Texas, Georgia and South Carolina Death Record Images online. Also a huge thank you for the Alabama Death Index abstract. A big thank you to ancestry for posting the South Carolina Death Record images and a huge thank you to the Missouri Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, for starting this process with the Missouri Death Certificates online. Every state needs a Robin Carnahan.

Also a big thank you to FamilySearch.org for the Arkansas marriage records and to ancestry.com for Tennessee and Missouri Marriage record images.

Merry Christmas

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - How many ancestors did you "meet"

2009-08-29T20:07:00.004-05:00

It's Saturday Night, time for some Genealogy Fun! Randy Seaver posted: Here is your challenge for tonight (or whenever you read this):

1) Write down which of your ancestors that you have met in person (yes, even if you were too young to remember them).

2) Tell us their names, where they lived, and their relationship to you in a blog post, or in comments to this post, or in comments on Facebook.

Here is my short list:

1. My father: Warren Matthew Tull (1923-1991). He was born at Rose Creek, McNairy County, Tennessee. His father died when he was ten so his mother moved to Weona, Arkansas to be near family. Daddy and Mother moved to Tennessee in 1952 and have lived on the same farm since then.

2. My Mother- living on our family farm.

3. Ethel Mae McIntyre Tull Williams, my paternal grandmother (1898-1973). She was born in McNairy County, Tennessee. After her 1st husband, my grandfather, Carson Tull, died in 1933- can one say in the middle of a depression- and left her with three children to raise, she moved to Weona, Arkansas to live near family. She later lived at Cherry Valley, Arkansas and Stantonville, Tennessee prior to moving back to Bethel Springs, Tennessee. She lived at Bethel Springs, Tennessee just down the road from my family my entire life.

4. Jessie James, my maternal grandfather (1900-1986). Jessie was born in Jasper, Alabama. His family moved to Amory, Mississippi when he was young and then to Gibson County, Tennessee and then to Booth Point, Tennessee. He also moved to Caruthersville, Missouri, where he met my grandmother. He lived in Weona, Arkansas when I was born and later moved to Marked Tree, Arkansas about 1962 or 1963.

5. Mary Ada Woods James, my maternal grandmother (1904-2002). Grandma was born in Paducah, Kentucky, but moved often as a child as her father followed the building trade. He was a carpenter and times were difficult, jobs were hard to find and keep. She lived in Metropolis, Illinois, near Little Rock, Arkansas, near Jonesboro, Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas and Caruthersville, Missouri. She also lived in Weona, Arkansas when I was born and later moved to Marked Tree, Arkansas. Grandma moved to Campbell, Missoui about 1992 and lived there fairly independently the rest of her life. She died at the hospital in Clay County, Arkansas a few weeks prior to her 98th birthday. She loved to crochet and finished her last piece in December 2001.

6. Alberta Virginia Neff Woods, my great-grandmother (1872-1963). Bert or Bertie was born to an ex confederate soldier and his wife. Samuel Henry Neff and Sarah Catharine Will Neff, married in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1867 after the Civil War and by 1872 they had moved to Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennessee, where their third child was born. Sarah Catharine is said to have been so home sick for her home in Virginia that she named her daughter Virginia after her home state. By 1880 the Neff family had moved to Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee. Samuel is listed as a farmer on the census, but family legend says he worked for the railroad. He died fairly young and left Sarah C. with ten children to raise. Bert married in Jackson, Tennessee and sometime after the birth of her first child, they moved to Paducah, Kentucky. She had at least two children there before moving to Metropolis, Illinois by 1910 where her youngest (to live to adulthood anyway) was born. They moved often and stayed with relatives near Little Rock, and Jonesboro, Arkansas. They finally settled in Blytheville, Arkansas where her husband died a few days before the 1930 census taker arrived, but he is counted on the census because he was living on the first day of April 1930. From 1930 until her death in 1963 Grandma Woods, as I called her, moved lived back and forth between her children in Paducah,Kentucky and Weona, Arkansas. I remember her living with my grandparents in Weona, Arkansas. She was basically blind by the time I was born and she sat in her rocking chair most of the time. She enjoyed listening to the television and visiting with her family. Apparently she had several strokes and was in a nursing home in West Memphis, Arkansas when she died a few hours prior to her 91st birthday.

Sixteen Great Grandparents

2009-08-09T13:26:00.006-05:00

It is time again for Saturday Night Fun - Thanks to Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings. Well, this is Sunday afternoon, but I will participate just a little late.

1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Here are my Great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. One will note I have several blanks. This is a work in progress.

1. Jasper Newton TULL, born 23 Feb 1842 in Alabama, maybe Walker County, son of Elizabeth _____________ and Unknown. Jasper died 9 May 1928 in Chester County, Tennessee.

2. Franky MORTON, born 29 Dec 1837 McNairy County, Tennessee to William MORTON and UNKNOWN. Franky TULL died 23 Dec 1884 McNairy County, Tennessee.

3. Woodson Johnson, born 10 Sept 1847 Graves County, Kentucky, son of Willis JOHNSON and Hester _______________. Woodson died 9 Feb 1921 Graves County, Kentucky.

4. Rebecca Jane COX, born 8 May 1841, Hardeman County, Tennessee, daughter of Joseph COX and Sarah ROGERS. Beck JOHNSON died 13 Nov 1941 Hardeman County, Tennessee.

5. Not proven, but alleged to be John Pink MCINTIRE, born 6 Dec 1848, McNairy County, Tennessee, son of William McInTYRE and Miranda HORN. John Pink McIntire died 7 Jan 1929, District 2, McNairy County, Tennessee.

6. Milly PATRIDGE or PARTRIDGE, born about 1838 Tennessee and died after the 1880 census, probably in McNairy County, Tennessee. Milly was the daughter of William and Nancy PATRIDGE or PARTRIDGE.

7. Daniel COOKSEY, born about 1821 in Tennessee to parents unknown. Daniel died about 1865 in Woodruff County, Arkansas according to oral family history.

8. Mary or Polly ____________, born Jan 1842 in Tennessee to Nancy ADCOCK and either a first husband to Nancy or it is possible she is a daughter of Nancy's husband, John VAUGHN, although oral family history reports Mary was a daughter of Nancy and a first husband. Mary COOKSEY died Feb 1913 Rose Creek, McNairy County, Tennessee.

9. ____________________ JAMES (Alleged to be William Ephraim JAMES, who was born about 1835 Tennessee and died between 1875 and 1880 Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi).

10. _______________ MYERS (Alleged to be Lydia Ann MYERS, born about 1842 Tishomingo (now Alcorn) County, Mississippi, daughter of Riley MYERS and Sarah LAWSON. Lydia Ann JAMES died after 1880 probably Alcorn County, Mississippi).

11. James RANDOLPH, born 2 Oct 1833 Lawrence County, Alabama, son of John D RANDOLPH and Frances BROWN. James died 16 Oct 1888, Walker County, Alabama.

12. Alcey Drucilla POE, born 4 July 1832, Boley Springs, Fayette County, Alabama, daughter of James POE and Mary McMILLAN. Alcey RANDOLPH died 21 Feb 1907 Jasper, Walker County, Alabama.

13. Unknown WOODS, Unknown WOODS was born in ARKANSAS and he probably died near counties of Faulkner, Lonoke, or Pulaski, Arkansas between 1875 and 1880.

14. Unknown, was born in ARKANSAS and she probably died near the counties of Faulkner, Lonoke, or Pulaski, Arkansas between 1875-1880.

15. Samuel Henry NEFF, born 10 Dec 1839 Jefferson County, Tennessee, son of Capt. David Tennessee NEFF and Lydia PENNYWITT. Samuel died 25 Nov 1887, Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee.

16. Sarah Catharine WILL, born 22 Nov 1840 Shenandoah County, Virginia, daughter of George WILL and Sarah RIDDLE or RUDDELL.RUDDLE. Sarah NEFF died 3 March 1936, Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee.

My 16 great great grandparents were all born in the Southern United States as were their parents. I'm not sure about their nationality since most are documented in the United States prior to the Revolutionary War. I guess they are just Heinz 57 like me.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- My Genealogical Threes

2009-08-01T16:09:00.003-05:00

It's Saturday Night and Randy Seaver has posted our assignment as follows:

Tell us your three responses to the questions:

* Three genealogical libraries I frequent
* Three places I've visited on genealogy trips
* Three genealogy societies I belong to (or want to)
* Three websites that help my research
* Three ancestral graves that I've visited
* Three ancestral places I want to visit
* Three brickwall ancestors I want to research more

# 1 Three genealogical libraries I frequent are A. The Memphis and Shelby County Main Library in Memphis, Tennesse. B. The Tennessee State Library and Archives and C. The Jackson Madison County Public Library- although not as often as I would like.

# 2. Three places I've visited on genealogy trips: A. Jasper, Walker County, Alabama; B. Weona and Harrisburg, Arkansas and C. Richmond, Virginia.

# 3. Three genealogy societies I want to belong to (just waiting on my children to complete college) A. DAR; B. Daughters of Confederacy and C. Tenessee Genealogical Society.

# 4. Three websites that help my research: A. ancestry.com B. footnote.com C. findagrave.com I will go on and name a few more here: usgenweb; genealogybank.com, google.com; books.google.com and a beta site called familysearch record search.

# 5. Three ancestral graves that I've visited: A. Abraham Randolph buried at Farguson cemetery in Lawrence County, Alabama- one of my Revolutionary War ancestors; B. Coal City Cemetery in Jasper, Alabama, where I have many Randolph ancestors and C. Pinegar Cemetery, Graves County, Kentucky to visit Woodson Johnson's grave. I've visited many graves over the years and I could write many blogs just on ancestral graves I have visited.

# 6. Three ancestral places I want to visit: A. Shenandoah County, Virginia; B. I would love to take a road trip through Arkansas and stop at almost every courthouse as I have ancestors or my children have ancestors in most counties in Arkansas and C. Road trip to South Carolina especially Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, and Greenwood Counties.

# 7. Three brickwall ancestors I want to research more: A. Tull line, B. John Franklin James and C. Willis Johnson and his wife, Hester, who are living in Graves County, Kentucky in 1850.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Time Travel!

2009-07-11T16:13:00.003-05:00

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has posted the Saturday Night Assignment:
It's Saturday Night, time for some Genealogy Fun after your frustrating week of finding phantom ancestors in online family trees and trying to keep up with everybody on Twitter, Facebook and Genealogy Wise.

Here is your assignment for this Saturday Night (if you decide to accept it, of course - you can't have fun if you don't try):

1) Let's go time travelling: Decide what year and what place you would love to visit as a time traveller. Who would you like to see in their environment? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?

2) Tell us about it. Write a blog post, or make a comment to this post, or on Facebook, or in Genealogy Wise.

Let's begin in Hardeman County, Tennessee Summer of 1850. It would be hot and dry with the corn tasseling in the field and time to pick blackberries. I would visit the homes of Elizabeth Tull and Mary Tull. I hope they would answer the door. Maybe we could sit on the front porch and sip some sweet tea while we talked. I have lots of questions for these two ladies:

Where are your husbands? Who are your husbands? What is your exact relationship with each other? Where have you been? Tell me about your journey from Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to Tennessee. What was your trip like? Did you come by a "Tar Wagon" or did you come by boat, train, horseback? Did you come by yourself or did you come with other family members? Who are your other family members? Where were each of your children born and Who is their daddy? Last, but not least, Who are each of your parents and where are they from and oh yeah, Who are your grandparents? I'm sure each answer would lead to a dozen more questions and they would call me a nosey busy-body, but I have been seeking these answers for many years.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

2009-07-04T20:43:00.015-05:00

Let Freedom Ring!!

It's Saturday Night on the Fourth of July - let's have some Genealogy Fun! If you're reading this on Sunday morning, or even later, it's not too late for you to participate.

Here is the assignment for tonight:

1. Think of the best Fourth of July you remember from your childhood.

2. Think of the best fourth of July you remember from your adulthood.

3. What did you do today?

4. Write about one, or all, of them on your blog or in Comments to this post.

Okay here goes:

I remember two Fourth of July's from my childhood. The first one I remember my dad was farming in the Little Hatchie Bottom below our home and mother decided to surprise him with a wonderful picnic lunch. I remember we had fried chicken, slaw, fresh veggies from the garden including cucumbers and onions in a vinegar.sugar mix (yummy). The best part was the hot blackberry cobbler right out of the oven and sweet iced tea. We sat on the creek bank with the tailgate of the truck as our table. Mother really laid a nice spread for that particular Fourth of July. After eating we frolicked in the ice cold creek.

The second childhood Fourth of July I remember was one time my dad and I slipped off to pick blackberries and we let the time get away. We stopped by an elderly neighbor's house and sat a spell. Finally, Daddy said we needed to be getting home in time for lunch so mother wouldn't be mad. The problem was the elderly neighbor never changed their clock so we were an hour late for lunch. Daddy remembered this as we walked home- about 1.5 miles through the woods. I don't remember if mother was upset or what we had for lunch. I do remember walking in the woods, fields and pastures with my Dad and of course, the blackberry cobbler for dessert.

As an adult my favorite Fourth of July would have to be when my son was a baby. My husband took us to a great spot to watch the fireworks over the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee, where we lived at the time. I had never seen spectacular fireworks like these. In fact, we didn't even shoot firecrackers growing up.

Today I went to the parade in Selmer, Tennessee. The Fourth of July parade lasted all of five minutes. I did see two very cute Boy Scouts as well as several local beauty queens, a couple firetrucks and two tractors.

I have never seen a street preacher in our town, but we had one today. From the little I heard, he was preaching truth from the Bible, but I prefer my preaching in a different venue and not quite so loud. I do thank God we live in America where he has every right and freedom to preach on the street corner. Let Freedom Ring!!

Preach it brother!

This is a real American Hero. My sister said this gentleman was a WWII Veteran who served in the Pacific Theatre fighting the Japanese. She didn't know his name.

I spent some time reading old newspapers to see how Independence Day was celebrated in earlier times. I found they generally had lots of toasts starting with a toast to the Constitution of the United States of America, A toast to memory of President George Washington; toast to "our little Navy"; toast to our soldiers, a toast to the current President; toast to the Declaration of Independence; toast to the Congress and Senate, and a host of other toasts ending with a toast to the Fair (women). In general they had lots of fireworks or firing of the cannon, parades, dancing, bands, poetry, speeches and lots of merry making to celebrate the Birthday of our great Country. Tonight we sat around the pool just enjoying a beautiful night and then the lightening and thunder came. we need a little rain, so no complaints, just back inside to the computer.

Happy Independence to all!!!

Revolutionary War Ancestors

2009-07-04T13:46:00.006-05:00

A List of my ancestors who helped bring the United States of America to fruition:

1. Abraham Randolph (1762-1837)

2. John Will (1740-1815)

3. Isaac Ruddell (1759-1833)

4. Archibald Ruddell (1727-1786)

5. James Poe (1743-1827)

6. Jacob Pennywitt (1751-1813)and here

In their memory I will list the words of the Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Thanks to USA Flag Site for the words

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Which genealogist would you like to meet?

2009-06-27T23:29:00.000-05:00

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Which genealogist would you like to meet?

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Which genealogist would you like to meet?

2009-06-27T23:14:00.004-05:00

Randy Seaver has posed the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun question:

1) Identify one genealogist that you would like to meet. The person could be living or deceased.

2) Why do you want to meet with this person?

3) What would you talk about? What questions would you ask this person?

4) Write about your choice on your blog or in Comments to this post.

I would like to meet John Wayland (1872-1962) of Shenandoah County, Virginia. Dr. Wayland did so much research and published many books related to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Additionally, I would be distantly related to him through the NEFF family.

I would love to ask him so many questions, but specifically what happened to George and Catharine Will during the civil war? Was your mother talking about my George Will, when she wrote "old George Will died"? I'd ask him to take me driving around Shenandoah County and point out all the cemeteries,churches buildings and homes my ancestors used while on this earth. I'd ask him to be my guide at the Virginia State Archives in Richmond. Oh, just to sit and talk with him about all my ancestors in Shenandoah and Rockingham County.

Here is a quick link about Dr. John Wayland with a picture: here .

Oakleaf Hydragea

2009-06-20T09:52:00.004-05:00

I finally have a Hydragea planted in my yard. I actually have six, but this one looks the best so far. This is an oakleaf hydragea (Hydrangea quercifolia). We'll see if I can keep it alive.

Confederate Monument at McNairy County Courthouse

2009-06-19T20:00:00.006-05:00

This memorial to McNairy County Confederate Soldiers is on the McNairy County Courthouse lawn, Selmer, Tennessee. Click on the picture to make reading easier.

Regiments from McNairy County:
18th (Newsom's) Tenn Cavalry
21st (Wilson's) Tenn Cavalry
13th Tenn Infantry
27th Tenn Infantry
31st Tenn Infantry
39th (Avery's) Tenn Infantry
154th senior Tenn Infantry

Tribute in Stone to McNairy County Soldiers

2009-06-19T19:22:00.022-05:00

Last Saturday (June 13, 2009) I took a few pictures of the statues on the McNairy County Courthouse lawn. This blog shows photographs of the Military Marker honoring the soldiers from McNairy County who gave their all serving the United States of America. Be sure to enlarge the photographs to easily read the names.

WWI Soldiers: Barnhill.Brown.Burks.Byrd.Carter.Curtis.Doles.Evans.Forsythe.Gaddy.Hair.Hamilton.
Howard.Hurst.Ingle.Jopling.Lee.McDaniel.Michael.Moore.O'Neal.Overton.
Robinson.Saulter.Taylor.Whitley.Wood

World War II Soldiers listed: Barnes.Bateman.Boleyn.Bolton.Brown.Burkeen.Butler.Calvery.Clayton.Cox.Crabb.
Damron.Delaney.Eason.Farris.Finley.Floyd.Forsythe.Gage.Gilchrist.
Gray.Harris.Heathcock.Hill.Hockaday.Hughes.Hurley.Johnson.Kelley.King.
Kirk.Lane.Lipford.McCormick.Mealer.Meek.
Melton.Mitchell.Moore.Mullins.Murphy.Nolen.Olive.
Parmely.Patrick.Plunk.Randolph.Ray.
Rowsey.Sipes.Smith.Srygley.Steen.Sullivan.
Taylor.Tedford.Varnell.Walker.Wardlow.
Whittaker.Whitten.Wilson

Korean Conflict: Burks.Cox.Gilchrist.Rowland.Sharp.Smith

Vietnam: Chandler.Crowe.Dillon.Hill.Hudson.Keistler.Miller.Wolfe

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Three Things

2009-06-13T19:42:00.000-05:00

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Three Things

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Three Things

2009-06-13T19:25:00.004-05:00

Saturday Night Genealogy fun should be fairly easy this week: Three things I have learned about genealogy or family history TODAY.

1. The local Historical Museum in town has a donated genealogy collection. I need to make an appointment to go by to review it.

2. I finally found my Woodson Johnson on the 1900 census. I've only been looking for him twenty-five years. I had searched the soundex for both Kentucky and Tennessee many years ago, but didn't locate him. He probably wasn't listed in soundex as no children in the home. I have been seeking him in ancestry census records forever without success. I was just determined tonight I would find him. I went back through my notes and knew I had searched parts of the Graves County, Kentucky census manually so now it was time to search across the line in Weakley county, Tennessee manually if necessary. I started with all Johnson's in Weakley County, which I've done already, but I decided this needed to be done yet again, so as I'm going down the list I found this Mont or Mard Johnson, born 1845 Kentucky. I thought to myself, weird name for someone around here. So, knowing the birth year was close and the birthplace was correct I opened the record and there was Woods Johnson, age 54, born Sept 1845 Kentucky with father born North Carolina and mother unknown. His 2nd wife, Mary was listed as born 1862 Kentucky. They were listed as married times twenty years, which would be correct as they married August 1879 and the census was taken June 1900. As I searched this page and several pages forward and backward it was so easy to see why anyone would have difficulty indexing this civil district. The handwriting was atrocious. When I looked at the index by page almost every name had a least two possibilities and most still didn't look correct. So, I had a little genealogy happy dance this afternoon as I added Woodson Johnson's 1900 census information to my database.

3. I learned I have a blog comment seeking additional information on one of my ancestors. I definitely need to respond tonight.

Thanks Randy for a quick, but fun Saturday Night Genealogy Project.

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Where were they in 1909?

2009-06-06T20:14:00.000-05:00

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Where were they in 1909?

100 Years Ago... Where Were They?

2009-06-06T19:29:00.007-05:00

The Saturday Night Genealogy Topic is to tell which ancestors were living in 1909 and where they were living at that time (Or in 1910).

My parents weren't born yet.

My paternal grandparents, Carson Matthew Tull and Ethel McIntyre were still living in the homes of their parents in 3rd districts and 2nd districts of McNairy County, Tennessee. Carson was 14 and Ethel would have been age 11.

My maternal grandparents, Jesse James and Mary Ada Woods would have also been at home with their parents. Now my maternal grandparents moved around a good bit as children and based on the 1910 census Jesse James would have been age 9 in 1909 and living in Gibson County, Tennessee. Ada would have been 5 years old and living in Metropolis, Illinois.

My great grandparents were all living in 1909 as follows:
James Dennis and Hettie Johnson Tull would have been about 38 years of age and living in McNairy County, Tennessee.

John Pink McIntyre, age 42 and wife, Jennie Cooksey McIntyre, age 52, would have been living in 2nd civil district of McNairy County.

John Franklin James, age 46 and wife, Nancy Dorenda Randolph James, age 42 would have been living in 3rd civil district of Gibson County, Tennessee.

James William Woods, age 37 and wife, Alberta Virginia Neff (Bert or Bertie), age 37 were probably living in Metropolis, Illinois. They moved around a good bit following the building industry as Grandpa Woods was a house painter.

I had six great-great grandparents living in 1910:
1. Jasper Newton Tull, age 67, would have been living in the 10th civil district of Chester County, Tennessee.
2. Woodson or Woots Johnson, age 62, was living in Magisterial District 1, Graves County, Kentucky. He was living with Mary Finley, whom he married in Kentucky. The problem is I haven't discovered a divorce record between he and his first wife, (# 3)Rebecca Jane Cox Johnson, age 67, who was living in the home of her daughter, Hettie Ann Johnson Tull, 3rd Civil District of McNairy County, Tennessee.
4. John Pink McIntyre, Sr, age 61 was living in 2nd civil district of McNairy County, Tennessee.
5. Mary Ann Cooksey (maiden name unknown), age 67, was living at Rose Creek, 2nd civil District of McNairy County, Tennessee. She is not located 1910 census, but do have an obit for her from the local newspaper when she died in 1913.
6. Sarah Catharine Will Neff, age 69, could have been living anywhere. I locate her on the 1900 census and the next record for her is her death in 1936. She does have a death certificate and an obit in 1936. She was also listed on her son's WWI draft card as living in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1917. She could have been in Jackson, Tennessee (highly likely), Pemiscot County, Missouri, Mississippi County, Arkansas or Craighead County, Arkansas. She probably lived with first one child and then another and wasn't enumerated by the census taker.

Okay, Let's see if I have any 3rd great-grandparents living in 1909:

1. Sarah Rogers Cox, age 88, died Sept 1909 in Woodville, Chester County, Tennessee.
Sarah is the only 3rd great-grand parent I find living in 1909.

Well, checking my addition would show
grandparents = 4
great grandparents = 8
great-great grandparents = 6
3rd great grandparents = 1
Grand Total = 19 living direct ancestors in 1909

This little exercise also shows that most of my ancestors lived within one hundred miles of where I currently reside.

Sunday, 7 June 2009- one edit: Sarah Rogers Cox was 88 years of age, not 80.

How to Win a War

2009-05-23T16:32:00.004-05:00

This is an advertisement in the Indianapolis Star May 1918. The American people were fired up about The World War and were willing to do whatever it took to win the war.

Be sure to click to enlarge picture to read the entire ad.

The Battle of Davis Bridge

2009-05-17T18:30:00.010-05:00

Recently I stopped by The Battle of Davis Bridge near Pocahontas, Tennessee which is in the far Southeastern corner of Hardeman County, Tennessee. Here is a link for additional information regarding this short battle in 1862.

The Battle of Davis Bridge is on The National Register of Historic Places. As evidenced by these photographs, Davis Bridge needs some improvements. According to this news release in August 2008, a transportation enhancement grant in the amount of $929,132 will be granted to the Tennessee Wars Commission for the Battle of Davis Bridge Visitor Center project in Hardeman and McNairy counties. Let's hope the work starts soon to preserve this historic site.

.

Washing Clothes Like Our Ancestors

2009-05-09T11:22:00.002-05:00

This came to me in an email and I thought I would post here. Thanks to the original author- whoever you may be.

Warshing Clothes Recipe" -- imagine having a recipe for this ! ! !

Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: this is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.

WARSHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.

Sort things, make 3 piles

1 pile white,

1 pile colored,

1 pile work britches and rags.

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.

Spread tea towels on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

My Wordle

2009-03-14T22:09:00.002-05:00

Wordle

Years Wrinkle the Skin.....

2009-03-11T17:57:00.001-05:00

Grandma Woods

2009-03-07T15:30:00.005-06:00

Grandma Woods is the only great grandparent I actually remember. Her name was Alberta Virgina (Neff) Woods. She was born 29 April 1872 in Kingsport, Tennessee and died just hours prior to her 91st birthday on 28 April 1963 in West Memphis, Crittendon County, Arkansas.

Grandma Woods was the first child of Samuel Henry and Sarah Catharine(Will) Neff to be born in the state of Tennessee and oral family history states she was named Virginia as her mother was homesick for her home in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Grandma Woods had eight brothers and sisters and with the exception of two little sisters who died young, most of the rest lived to be about eighty or more. One brother died at age 60 and one sister died about five months prior to her 80th birthday.

By 1880 the family had moved from Kingsport, Tennessee to Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee where Samuel Henry Neff was listed as a farmer on the census. Oral family history reports he worked for the railroad. Two of his brothers also moved to Madison County, Tennessee about the same time. Samuel Henry Neff was originally from Jefferson County, Tennessee, but after the civil war circumstances were such the Neff family couldn't live in Jefferson County, so they moved back to their home in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Samuel Henry Neff met and married his cousin, Sarah Catharine Will. Samuel died 25 November 1887 and left Sarah Catharine to finish raising the children by herself. Alberta Virginia, or Bert as she was called by the family, was fifteen years old when her Dad passed away.

Bertie Neff married James William Woods 22 July 1894 in Madison County, Tennessee. They moved often following the building trade. James was a house painter. Their first child and possibly a second child were born in Jackson, Tennessee, but by 1900 they were living in Paducah, Kentucky where my great aunt Catharine and my grandmother, Mary Ada Woods, were born. They were living in Metropolis, Illinois by 1910 and by 1920 they had moved to Blytheville, Arkansas. My grandmother told of moving often and her father being out of work a lot so they were dependent on the mercy of family. James W. Woods died April 5, 1930. When the census taker came around on April 8th James W. was listed as head of household although he had been dead 3 days. Of course, he was still living on April 1st so he should have been counted. The census taker did it right.

After the death of James W. Woods, Bert stayed first with one daughter and then another. She lived in Paducah, Kentucky as well as Weona, Arkansas. She would spend the summers in Weona sewing for her granddaughters. Mother told me she would make them each 6-8 dresses every summer. She said her fondest memory of Grandma Woods was of her sitting on the front porch swinging and reading her Bible. She attended the Weona Methodist Church when she visited Weona. She came to permanently live in Weona about 1946. In her later years she was blind, but enjoyed listening to the television and visiting with her family. My memories of Grandma Woods are of her sitting in her rocking chair. She had been admitted to the hospital a few days before she died after suffering a series of strokes. She died just a few hours before her 91st birthday. She was buried in Blytheville, Arkansas beside her husband at the Maple Grove Cemetery. She had lived as a widow for thirty three years.

Her children were:
1.Lena May Woods Born: 16 May 1895 in Jackson, Madison Co., Tennessee d: 26 Mar 1953 in Detroit, Michigan Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky.

2. Franklin Woods Born: Bet. 1896 - 1900 d: Bef. 1900 in TN/KY.

3.Frances Catherine Woods Born: 18 Jul 1902 in Paducah, Ky d: 06 Jul 1991 in Paducah, Mccracken Co., KY Burial: MapleLawn Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken Co., KY

4. Mary Ada Woods Born: 09 Apr 1904 in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky d: 29 Jan 2002 in Piggott, Clay County, Arkansas Burial: 01 Feb 2002 Marked Tree Cemetery, Marked Tree, Poinsett Co., AR

5. Virgil Neff Woods Born: 14 Aug 1910 in Metropolis, Illinois d: 26 Feb 1987 in Bakersville, California

6. Louis Henry Woods Born: Abt. 1915 in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas d: Bef. 1920 in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas

March- Women's History Month

2009-03-01T18:07:00.002-06:00

Since it is Women's History Month, I will try to write about some of my female ancestors this month. I will start with Jennie Cooksey. Her real name was Nancy Jane Cooksey. She was born April 1857 in McNairy County, Tennessee, a daughter of Daniel Cooksey and his wife, Mary. Jennie had one sister, Mary Anne Elizabeth Cooksey, who was born 4 May 1859. Jennie and Mary Anne Elizabeth had a rough childhood. Between the 1860 census and 1865 Daniel moved his family to Woodruff County, Arkansas and then he had the audacity to die. Mary Ann had to bring her little girls back to Tennessee with a civil war raging all around them. She somehow made it back to west Tennessee and moved in next door to her mother, Nancy Vaughn. Nancy's husband, John Vaughn (AKA Vaughan) was a soldier with Sixth Tennessee (USA) Cavalry during this time. Life was extremely hard in the 2nd district of McNairy County with both the confederates and the union living off the land and the area was very divided politically. Both sides were conscripting any available man for their army. I don't know if John Vaughn was a volunteer or invited to join the Union army without the option of saying no, but at any rate he served and received an honorable discharge.

After the civil war life remained poor for the Cooksey family. According to the 1870 census John nor Nancy Vaughn could read or write. Their daughter, Mary Ann Cooksey apparently could read, but not write and according to the census neither of her daughters could read or write. They were probably too busy scratching out a living to worry about school.

Mary Anne Elizabeth married Alexander Campbell Williams in 1878. A.C. was a union veteran, having served with 1st Alabama Cavalry. I suspect he came to the second district of McNairy County as it was a little friendlier to Union Veterans than his former home in Northern Alabama.

Jennie married John Pink McIntyre, Jr when she was 28 years old. It was uncommon for girls to marry at this late age and I don't know how it came about that they married. She was also about nine years older than Babe, as John Pink was known. Babe McIntye lived in the neighborhood and they had probably known each other all their lives. John and Jennie had five children in 13 years. My grandmother, Ethel, was their youngest child, born 1 May 1898. I remember Ethel talking about her mother and her grandmother, but I was a child and didn't write information down. I actually have memories of sitting on the porch talking to my grandma and writing down information, but what happened to it is any one's guess. I sure wasn't trying to find out about my family history at that point. I just enjoyed stories of "olden times".

Jennie died much too young in 1919 of TB according to her death certificate. The really sad news is her husband remarried in December after she died in July and he already had a four year old daughter with the woman he married. I wonder if Jennie knew about that and if so, how did she react to this information. Maybe that is why she seems so sad, tired, and lonely in the picture I have of her. I suspect she had an extremely hard life.

I honor Jennie Cooksey McIntyre (April 1857-4 July 1919) today for Women's History Month.

Snow! Let it Snow!

2009-03-01T17:59:00.003-06:00

In West Tennessee we awoke to a beautiful snow this morning. Even though it is March 1st and my daffodils are blooming and we are more than ready for spring, this was our first snow.

It's so easy to be enthusiastic about snow when one receives it infrequently. Believe it or not the snow is already 95% melted out of my yard.

My sister lives about 15 miles west and they had about five inches as opposed to my 2 inches. I couldn't wait to get over to her house and play in the white stuff. What a great way to get a good cardiac workout on a cold day. We had so much fun walking in the woods and fields. I snapped over 100 photos.

The Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-02-20T18:13:00.003-06:00

Harriet sent me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thanks Harriet.

Here are the rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award:

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate other bloggers.

4. Link to those sites on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.

I read so many interesting blogs I couldn't begin to pick five favorites, but I will list a few I try to read daily.

1. Ginger writes the most interesting blogs about art and wow, does she have great recipes to share.

2. I couldn't go even one day without checking in with Randy as he updates the latest genealogy news of the day as well as providing many fun tips and tricks for the genealogist.

3. Stuck in Customs has the most amazing photography and he posts a new photo every day from somewhere around the world. Viewing this blog is a daily treat I give myself.

4. Betsy loves her husband, waterfalls and birds among other things and always has a delightful blog.

5. Itawamba History Review is one of my many favorite genealogy blogs.

It was difficult to only select five blogs for this beautiful award.

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-02-16T11:03:00.004-06:00

Palestine Cemetery, Chester County, Tennessee. My third great-grandfather, Joseph Cox. His wife, Sarah (Rogers) Cox is listed on the back of this marker.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-11T08:34:00.000-06:00

My daughter and I just playing around in the driveway one afternoon. We're anxiously waiting on the weather to improve so we can get back outside.

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-02-10T11:00:00.000-06:00

Palestine Cemetery, Chester County, Tennessee. This is the marker for my great-great grandmother, Rebecca Jane (Cox) Johnson

Happy Anniversary

2009-02-03T11:15:00.001-06:00

My parents would have been married 59 years ago today. Warren Matthew Tull and Mary Frances James married 3 Feb 1950 Weona, Poinsett County, Arkansas.

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-02-02T10:54:00.001-06:00

Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee. The grave markers for Jasper Newton Tull and Franky (Morton) Tull

Where is Spring?

2009-01-31T11:10:00.003-06:00

Is anyone else as ready for Spring and Summer as I am?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T02:53:00.001-06:00

MaryLizabeth is deep in thought!

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-01-27T12:32:00.003-06:00

Third great-Grandmother, Miranda (Horn) McIntyre at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, McNairy County, Tennessee

Road Trip: Back in Time

2009-01-25T18:45:00.027-06:00

The Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #4 is to take a genealogy day trip and blog about it. Mother and I took such a trip in March 2007, so here are some of the highlights.

Mother, Flat Stanley and I took a Day Trip to Arkansas in March 2007 with the primary purpose of visiting the Marked Tree, Arkansas Museum. I had heard they had most of the artifacts from The Verser Clinic in Harrisburg. Mother's first job as a Registered Nurse was working for Dr. Joe Verser at the Verser Clinic in Harrisburg in 1950. Here she learned how to deliver babies, administer anesthesia, coordinate clinic patients as well as surgical patients and was a jack-of-all nurses. The one regret I have is I didn't take a video recorder to capture her telling me about all the interesting instruments and equipment from Dr. Verser's office. She was able to explain each piece of equipment as well as reminiscing about working at the clinic. She had stories about Dr. Verser and Dr. Forrester.

We left home early on a Saturday morning and motored through Memphis, crossed the Mississippi River and were pleasantly surprised to find a speed limit fo 70 miles per hour once we got through West Memphis. It only took us about 30 minutes from the time we crossed the river until we arrived at the Marked Tree Museum which was next door to First Methodist Church.

The picture above was actually taken when we returned home on Saturday night, very tired from a busy, but fun day.

The Marked Tree Museum, Marked Tree, Arkansas

Ready to deliver a baby

Mother with the nurse manequin. The nurse has on her cap and mother always wore a cap, but she wouldn't have tolerated the hair hanging loose.

One of the medicine cabinets.

The refrigator was an antique even in 1950. Mother said General Electric would call or come by and want to swap this refrigator for a new one. Notice the motor on top of the refrigator. She said it always worked very well.

I made many pictures of equipment from the clinic while we were there, but we saw other interesting things too.

This is the 1946 Marked Tree High School Graduating Roster- Mother's Class. The highlighted names have died. The lady running the museum called her husband, who was one of mother's classmates and he came by to see us. That was a nice surprise. I will not post their names or pictures to protect their privacy.

First Methodist Church, where my maternal grandparents (Jessie James and Mary Ada(Woods) James) were members. I also attended Sunday School when I would visit my grandparents. One summer they tried to add me to the Sunday School roll as I had been there several Sundays in a row.

The Dairy Queen- oh how many times did we walk or ride our bikes to the Dairy Queen for snow cones or for soft serve ice cream? This was at least a daily treat when we visited my grandparents. It hasn't changed much from the 60's and 70's.

My grandparents first home in Marked Tree. I think they built this house about 1963. Later two lots across the street came up for sale and they purchased the property and build their home in the middle of the two lots so they would have more yard.

Next a visit to the Marked Tree Cemetery to visit Grandma and Granpa's graves. They are the only family we have buried in this cemetery. Mother has many old friends buried here though.

Marker for Jesse and Ada James. They purchased this marker many years ago and even before they died someone vandalized their marker by breaking or removing the vases on either side.

Somehow one of my cameras was switched to black and white mode, which I didn't realize until I returned home. It seems appropriate for this picture as this is the Verser Clinic in Harrisburg, Arkansas, where mother started her first job in 1950. She says the building looks just the same.

Next we stopped by the Holly Springs Cemetery in Harrisburg to make a picture of an uncle's grave. Carl New was married to my Dad's sister, Myrtle Tull. They were married in Poinsett County. Myrtle is buried in McNairy County, Tennessee with the rest of her family.

.

This picture seems more appropriate in black and white too. Weona is the community where my parents were raised and this is all that is left of it today and Old Weona has totally disappeared

We took the back roads from Marked Tree to Blytheville. We saw this painting on the side of a building in downtown Lepanto so had to stop and make a quick picture. James R. Hendrix was a local WWII hero.

On to Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas. We stopped to visit mother's maternal grandparents' graves. James W. Woods and Alberta Virgina (Neff) Woods. Mother couldn't remember visiting this cemetery since 1963 when Grandma Woods died. We had a little trouble locating the graves, but I finally remembered where they were buried.

One can tell the sun is on it's way down by the time we reach the Missouri State line and it is time to stop and use the facilities. I wanted to stop in Caruthersville, but we just didn't have time.

We had taken the time to stop for a snack once all day and by the time we reached Dyersburg, Tennessee we were starving and ready to eat. The Catfish Galley was delicious.

It was too dark to visit mother's paternal grandparents' graves in Dyersburg. I think that will be another fun trip.

Well, I can't get spell check to work, so please forgive my spelling errors, I will clean it up later.
All pictures taken by me March 2007.

Another Genealogy Happy Dance

2009-01-25T14:20:00.006-06:00

Since ancestry has added the South Carolina Death Record images I have been in hog heaven as we say in the south.

Yesterday I had another genealogy happy dance. My children have a great-grandmother who has a very long South Carolina History with her ancestry going back to at least the late 1700's in South Carolina.

Their 2nd great-grandmother, Emily Elizabeth Spence (1852-1956) had two full sisters, Eliza Spence born about 1887 and Maggie born 1895. I lost Eliza after the 1900 census and couldn't find Maggie after the 1910 census. I knew both had died before 1948 when their father, Marcus Spence, died as they weren't included in his obit.

Saturday, I decided, would be the day I would try to locate Maggie and Eliza in the South Carolina Death Records. I had already searched the George Death Records from 1914-1927 online at Family Search. The search engine allows to search for parents names and different combinations of data that isn't currently available for the South Carolina Death Records on ancestry. Marcus Spence was living in Georgia during the 1920 and 1930 Federal Census, so it was worth a few minutes of my time to see if I could locate either of these women in Georgia. I didn't locate them in Georgia so decided to do some old fashioned hard work with the South Carolina data. I started with Eliza, searching in Anderson County and then moving to surrounding counties. Although she was listed as Eliza in the 1900 census she could go by Lizzie, Liz, her unknown middle name, or other nicknames. I didn't locate Eliza after about an hour of searching so decided to search for Maggie. Again, I started in Anderson County searching for Mag* born 1895 (+/- 5 years). I quickly found Maggie L. Barnette who died in Anderson County in 1939. She was listed as being born in Piedmont, Anderson County and her father was listed as Mark Spence, born Piedmont, Anderson County, South Carolina and mother listed as Laura Lee, born Piedmont, Anderson County, South Carolina. Maggie was listed as a female, white, married and husband was listed as M.E.Barnette. I was very confidant I had my Maggie, so I quickly headed to the 1930 census. I didn't locate Maggie or anyone whose initials began with M.E. in the census. I also checked the 1920 and still didn't think I had my Maggie. I decided to go to the WWI Draft Card collection as men were usually listed with complete full name and date of birth. I immediately hit pay dirt with Mack Eugene Barnette, living in Oconee County, South Carolina. He completed his draft card in June 1917 and listed his place of birth as Anderson County. He is married with two children and has his mother to also support. I then went to the 1920 census and focused on Oconee County, South Carolina. I immediately found an Eugene M. Barnett (indexed at ancestry as Eugene W.) with wife named Maggie. His mother was also living in the household. I then quickly found them in the 1930 census in York County. Well, I still wanted a little more proof that this couple was indeed my Maggie Spence, daughter of Marcus and Laura (Lee) Spence. This sounds sort grim, but I had learned with the Missouri Death Records I could locate the wife's maiden name on the young children's death records. Sure enough I located a Barnette child dying in Oconee County 1920. I opened the record and father was listed as Mack Eugene Barnette born Anderson County and mother was listed as Maggie Lee Spence, born Anderson County with informant as Mack Eugene Barnette. I'm confidant this is my Maggie and I now add this family to my data with documentation as I had a nice little happy dance. I also have Maggie's middle name as Lee and in the 1930 census she was listed as Margaret so I have a complete name for her too: Margaret Lee Spence.

I still haven't located Eliza, but eventually I will hopefully locate her too.

Carnival- Genealogy Happy Dance

2009-01-22T18:57:00.014-06:00

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is: "The Happy Dance. The Joy of Genealogy. Almost everyone has experienced it. Tell us about the first time, or the last time, or the best time. What event, what document, what special find has caused you to stand up and cheer, to go crazy with joy? If you haven't ever done the Happy Dance, tell us what you think it would take for you to do so." This next edition will be hosted by Becky at kinexxions. Thanks Becky! The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1st.

Although, I've had many genealogy happy dances over the past 27 years some of my most memorable and favorite dances occurred at the beginning of my genealogy adventure.

I remember sitting in the ICU with my Dad very sick on life support after coding several times the past 2 days. It dawned on me that I didn't know anything about my family. I knew my grandparents' names and I had heard stories about Grandpa Tull and Grandpa McIntyre (my great grandpa's)and I knew both of his grandmother's had died before he was born; however I didn't even know their first names. I remember thinking if Daddy gets out of here I'm going to find out who we are.

Several weeks later, Easter Sunday 1983, Daddy was transferred to a private room and I couldn't wait to start asking questions and the same afternoon, my maternal grandparents drove over from Arkansas to see him and I started peppering them with questions too. Never mind, I didn't know all the right questions to even ask and I certainly didn't write everything down as I should have. This was a joyous occasion and when Daddy was finally discharged from the hospital I picked him up in a brand new camaro and told him I had taken about 10 days off so we could do our family tree. Daddy didn't know a lot either as his dad had died when he was ten years old, but he knew who to ask. We started visiting most of the older people in the community. I still didn't know the questions to ask but we were making a good start. I suppose the first actual happy dance happened while visiting an elderly lady whose mother was a Tull. This lady had a "document" which was actually a rather crude drawing documenting our "two Tull ancestors marrying" and it traced both of their respective families back to our immigrant ancestor and then the lines went forward to the 1900's. I can still remember the excitement that I finally "knew" who we were and where we came from. This lady was kind enough to let me borrow this document and have it copied. I didn't even own a camera or a tape recorder so I didn't take any pictures. Every day was a happy dance, because everyone we visited knew lots of information and they in turn sent us on our way to the next person, cemetery, etc. We'd visit someone to talk about one ancestral line and end up learning more about another line entirely. One man had a copy of the 1850 census in book form and wow, was I impressed when he showed me my ancestor (who later turned out not to be my ancestor at all). I was driving the rest of my family crazy with all my excitement.

Sometimes we'd call ahead and sometimes we'd just be driving down the road and Daddy would say, "I think so and so lives here, let's stop see what he knows", so we'd stop and visit awhile. A somewhat somber dance was visiting the Mt. Gilead cemetery where Daddy had attended many funerals over the years, but someone had sent us over there to see the grave of his great-grandpa, Jasper Newton Tull. As we drove over to the grave Daddy got very quiet and was looking around. We just sat in car for a few minutes not saying a word and Daddy finally said, "I came to this funeral when I was about five years old. I remember coming with my parents in a wagon". Well we got out to see the grave and sure enough Jasper Newton Tull had died in 1928 when Daddy was about five. At that moment it all came back to him, but he didn't remember ever meeting his great-grandpa.

I had only been researching my family 3-4 weeks when an article came out in the Sunday paper that the Memphis and Shelby County Main Library was going to have a series of classes on genealogy research. I read the article and finally had a name for what I was doing and knew I had to attend these classes. This was a happy dance in an of itself as on the first night I received some forms to help me document the information I was receiving as well as information on the library's holding and how to use these holdings. Every week I showed up for class and learned so much I'd go to work just walking on air. So now in addition to visiting people I was spending every waking moment at the Memphis library reading actual census records on microfilm, learning about soundex, ordering records, etc. I was becoming a "real genealogist" with lots of happy dances moments.

My maternal grandparents (Jesse James and Mary Ada Woods) were getting on in age, so I had to get back to Arkansas and start filling out forms with them as well as their siblings. My grandparents and I started taking little road trips to visit their siblings and cousins. This was a win-win as Grandpa had someone to do the driving so they could visit and I had the opportunity to meet relatives as well as visit courthouses, cemeteries, churches, etc gathering more information on the family. Every visit was a happy dance as I would collect marriage records, grave records, more names and places. I found my first Revolutionary War Soldier in Alabama and couldn't wait to get back to Memphis where the librarian helped me find his pension number and ordered the microfilm for me. I printed out fifty large slick pages of this pension record. I've copied it several times and now it available at my finger-tips on footnote.com.

I'm grateful for all those genealogy happy dances, because if I hadn't started my search fairly young in life, I wouldn't know most of what I know today as my grandpa and his sisters told me things I still can't prove even though they had perfect information as to people, places, and even pictures, etc. I can find all the people, places, etc they told me about, but still cannot prove my great-grandpa's parents or that his siblings (their uncles and aunts) are actually his siblings. I still believe they are and some day I am going to be able to do another genealogy happy dance when I find the correct document or documents to prove they knew what they were talking about.

I hope every new and aspiring family genealogist has as many happy dances as I've been privileged to enjoy along the trail.

I can't find a single picture of my 1983 camaro or of my grandparents and me as we took road trips and I don't have any pictures of my Dad, the people or places we visited, but I do have wonderful memories of the time we spent together, the friends we made and all the fun we had.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-21T08:51:00.001-06:00

Winter. Digital photograph. Privately held by Geneadiva, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Selmer, Tennessee. 2007.

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-01-20T08:40:00.001-06:00

This is the marker for my great-grandmother, Hester Ann(Johnson) Tull. She was the daughter of Woodson Johnson and Rebecca Jane (Cox) Johnson. She was the wife of James Dennis Tull. According to her death certificate she died of tuberculosis. She is buried at Palestine Cemetery in Chester County, Tennessee. Her mother and maternal grandparents are also buried at Palestine as well as numerous other family members.

Her husband, James Dennis Tull is buried unmarked at Vandale Cemetery, VanDale, Arkansas.

Tombstone for Hettie A. Johnson. Digital photograph. Privately held by Geneadiva, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Selmer, Tennessee. 2007.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-14T01:01:00.001-06:00

Both my parents were raised in a now nonexistent place called Weona, Arkansas. It is located in rural Poinsett County in North East Arkansas. This town was started by the Tschudy Lumber Company and my mother's family moved to Weona in 1927 with my father's family moving there in about 1934. My maternal grandfather, Jesse James, was a foreman for Tschudy Lumber Company and later Weona Farms. The Weona Methodist Church was built as a place for worship and both my parents were members here.

Old Weona Sign. Digital photograph. Privately held by Geneadiva, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Selmer, Tennessee. 2007.

Weona Methodist Church 1940's. Scanned Image. Privately held by Geneadiva, [Address for Private USE], Selmer, Tennessee.2009

Jesse James beside his Weona Farms Truck, Weona, Arkansas.Unknown date. Scanned Image. Privately held by Geneadiva, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Selmer, Tennessee.2009

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-01-13T12:34:00.001-06:00

This is the grave marker for one set of my great grandparents: James William Woods and his wife, Alberta Virginia (NEFF) Woods. James William Woods is one of my so called brick walls; one of those ancestors that appears out of thin air. We have a piece of paper stating he was born at Cabot in Lonoke County, Arkansas 5 Dec 1870. The problem is Lonoke County didn't exist in 1870. By 1880 James Wood is an orphan living in the home of a local dentist in Faulkner County, Arkansas. He is 9 years old born in Arkansas with birthplace of parents unknown. Later Dr. Brown moves back to Jackson, Tennessee and takes young James with him. James meets and marries Bertie Neff and they start a nomad's life, following the building trade as James Woods was a painter by trade. They move to Paducah, Kentucky for the 1900 census and Cairo, Illinois for the 1910 census and to Blytheville, Arkansas for the 1920 census. My maternal grandmother, Mary Ada (Woods) James told of moving often and her father being out of work so they would live with various family members. Thanks to her I was able to locate his sister in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Woods family finally put a little root down in Blytheville as they stated there through the 1930 census. James Woods died 5 April 1930 and the census taker showed up on the 9th. As James was living on the 1st of April he included him in the census. At this time Alberta starts a 30 year journey as a widow. She lives back and forth with her children in Kentucky and Arkansas and finally when she dies a few hours prior to her 91st birthday she is brought back to Blytheville and buried at Maple Grove with her husband. We have no other family buried in this beautiful cemetery.

AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors: Who Are Our Brickwall Ancestors, and Why Aren't We Blogging About Them Regularly?

2009-01-12T21:02:00.000-06:00

AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors: Who Are Our Brickwall Ancestors, and Why Aren't We Blogging About Them Regularly?

http://geneadiva.blogspot.com/2009/01/brickwall-where-is-one-document-to.html

Brickwall: Where Is the One Document to Prove Father of Jasper N. Tull

2009-01-11T16:45:00.015-06:00

Miriam at Ancestories: Stories of my Ancestors wrote an interesting blog entitled Who Are Our Brickwall Ancestors, and Why Aren't We Blogging About Them Regularly?
She suggested writing a detailed post about one of our brickwall ancestors on a regular basis. She provides a great outline for doing just this so I decided to take her up on it.

My first brickwall is the father of Jasper Newton Tull, my 2nd great-grandfather (1842-1928).

There are several mysteries surrounding Jasper Newton Tull, but the big one is: Who is his Daddy and what is his mother's maiden name?

What one document would solve this mystery?
A. Birth Record - Birth records weren't kept in the South until the 20th century.
B. Bible Record- Haven't located one and was told the Jasper Tull family Bible burned in a house fire.
C. Will or probate- not found
D. Obit (although secondary I would be happy to receive one)
E. Marriage record for the correct Elizabeth to a Tull about 1834.
F. Deeds- So far the deeds I have found don't provide the information.
G. Christening or Church Record- fairly rare for Baptist churches in the South as Baptist do not christen.
H. Death Certificates of the children- secondary source, but something to work with.

Okay, so what do I know?

When I started my genealogy adventure many years ago I was provided a paper that said Elizabeth, maiden name Tull, met and married James Tull in Nashville,Tennessee and listed their children. Genealogies for both Elizabeth and James are online back to immigrants Thomas and Richard Tull of Somerset County, Maryland. Where is the proof?

# 1. I have not located a marriage record in Davidson or surrounding counties for Elizabeth Tull and James Tull or any other combination of Tull's.
# 2. Places of Birth given for the children on the 1850 census indicate Alabama would be a more likely place to locate a marriage record.
# 3. I have searched Alabama marriage records ad nausem without locating a marriage for Elizabeth to a TULL. Allegedly the Tull family lived in Walker County, Alabama, which would explain not locating a marriage record as early marriage records have been lost along with the courthouse on more than one occasion.
# 4. So I thought the best way for me to locate the actual father and find the mother's maiden name would be to start from scratch with what I actually can document so I did and I still haven't located the one record which will solve the mystery.
# 5. The very first record of Jasper Newton Tull's existence is the 1850 census where he is living with his mother. His youngest sibling is 3 years old born Tennessee. I have checked probate and guardian bonds for Hardeman County, Tennessee without results. Additionally I have checked Tennessee State Library and Archives for Newspapers on Microfilm and didn't locate a newspaper in the area for 1845-1850 time period.
#6. I have interviewed various family members with oral history reporting Jasper Newton Tull told someone he "didn't guess he had a daddy, but his mother was a good woman". I can't image a woman in the 1830-1860 time frame having five children without a husband and then moving back and forth between three states.

The first record I located for Jasper Newton Tull is the 1850 census in Hardeman County, Tennessee where Jasper is living with Elizabeth Tull. He is 8 years old stated to be born Alabama. The household is as follows:

Elizabeth Tull, female, age 36 born North Carolina
William Tull, age 15 born Alabama
Jackson age 10 born Mississippi
Jasper, age 8 born Alabama
Nancy, age 4 born Mississippi
Denniss, age 3 born Tennessee

On either side of Elizabeth Tull and her family live these Tull families:
House # 1176 Ervin Tull, age 35 male, farmer born Georgia
Judy, age 31 born Tennessee; can't read and write
John age 12 born Tennessee
Mary, age 7 born Tennessee
Mahalia, age 2 born Tennessee

HH # 1177 Elizabeth Tull (see above)
HH # 1178 George Tull, age 24 farmer, born Alabama
Mary, age 55, born Maryland
Jefferson, age 18 born Alabama
Angeline, age 32 born Georgia

So now, I have a group of people to research rather than a single family. A quick timeline from the 1850 census information:

Tracking these three families by birthplace would indicate:
1795- Maryland- Mary (___) Tull gives this as her birthplace.
1814- North Carolina or possibly South Carolina: Elizabeth (_) Tull birth
1816- Georgia as birthplace of Ervin Tull
1818-- Georgia as birthplace of Angelina Tull
1826-- Alabama as birthplace of George Tull (He later gives place as Dekalb co., GA)
1832-- Alabama as birthplace of Thomas Jefferson Tull
1835-- Alabama as birthplace of William Tull
1840 -Mississippi as birthplace of Henry Jackson Tull
1842- Alabama as birthplace of Jasper Tull
1846- Mississippi as birthplace of Nancy Tull
1847- Tennessee as birthplace of Denniss
(Ervin Tull is obviously in Tennessee by 1838, but he didn't marry in Hardeman County, Tennessee and I haven't located a marriage record for him.
1840 census- Ervin Tull is in Tennessee and the number of people living in his household indicate Mary, Thomas Jefferson and Angelina were probably living with him- subjective on my part.

1840 census- do not find a TULL in Mississippi or Alabama (various spellings and various repositories for 1840 indexes, microfilm and images).

Next, I looked at Land records for early Hardeman County:
G.W. Tull did purchase land (I can't put my hand on the deed or the date), but he purchased from well known land dealer and other than the acreage no other information such as neighbors whose land shares a boundary.

1860 census:

1860 census: Hardeman Co., TN; D11 exclusive of Middleton; post office of Middleton; page 213A; 11 August 1860
937/886; W.M. Tull, age 25 (female); __blank_______/$1580; born AL
Elizabeth age 45 born AL (marked cannot read or write)
Jackson age 19 born AL
Jasper age 17 born AL
Nancy age 16 born MS
Daniel age 12 born MS

Note W.M. is a female. I think this is William Morgan and misidentified as a female by enumerator- subjective.
Elizabeth is now listed as born in Alabama and Denniss, now called Daniel is listed as born in Mississippi.
Middleton, Tennessee is on the southern boundary line with Tippah county, Mississippi. Yes, I've checked early Tippah county records- another county with lost records.

Next household is John Tull, age 35 born Alabama (born c1825)
Arena Tull, age 35 born Alabama
Mary Tull, age 23 born Mississippi
John Tull, age 19 born Mississippi
(I don't know any of these folks)

Irvin Tull and his family are also living in the 11th Civil District. Next door to Irvin is his son, John Tull and his new wife, Tabitha McCarver.
Next door to John is T.J. (Thomas Jefferson Tull) and his wife, Maranda J. (McCarver) and their two children. They made a trip to Kentucky for the birth of their first child, George W. and came back to Tennessee for Stephen's birth in 1859.

George, Mary, and Angelina are not in Hardeman or surrounding counties. G.W. is finally located in Van Zandt County, Texas living alone. He now gives his birthplace as Georgia. Mary and Angelina haven't been found in the 1860 census.

Next up in the timeline is the 1861-1865 time period- The Civil War or the War of Northern Aggression as it is sometimes called in the South. What happened to these various Tull's during the war?

George Washington Tull enlisted 20 March 1862 at Canton, Texas as a private Pvt Co I, 15 Reg't Texas Cavalry.
No record has been located for Irvin or his sons, serving.
Oral Family History tells us that Jasper Newton Tull marched to Corinth, Mississippi, danced all night, stepped into the woods to relieve himself and didn't come back. Where he spent the war years isn't known.
Henry Jackson Tull enlisted at Ripley, Mississipi Co H 7th Mississippi Cavalry (Faulkner's Cavalry) in August 1862. He didn't stay too long though as he is listed as deserting a month later. He would have gone to Ripley to join as it would have probably been the closest place to their home in the southern part of Hardeman County, Tennessee.
No record has been found of William Morgan serving on either side. So, the question remains where did these three young men of military age spend the war years? The area of Hardeman and McNairy Counties in Tennessee was not a pleasant place to be during the war as there was an internal war going on with the Sixth Tennessee (USA) Cavalry and the Confederates and their families of this area. Many of the people where Elizabeth lived post 1866 fought for the Union. A study of the Civil War in Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi will reveal there were many battles and skirmishes in the area as well as pure terror and violence.

The next record for the family of Elizabeth Tull is:
1866-She purchases land in McNairy County, Tennessee (Deed Book I, page 526) from H.J. Tull. I have checked the Deed books at the McNairy County court house on several occasions and do not find where H.J. Tull acquired this land.

1869, Feb. Henry Jackson Tull marries Martha Berry in Hot Springs County, Arkansas.
1869, Dec- Nancy Tull (daughter of Elizabeth, sister to Jasper) Marries Thomas Crangle in McNairy County, Tennessee. He is born in Ireland and served both the CSA and Union during the Civil War.
1870, Jan: Jasper Newton marries Franky Morton, daughter of William Morton.
1870 census: Mary Tull (c1795 MD), Angelina, George W., and Thomas Jefferson Tull are all living in Van Zandt County, Texas.
Irvin.Ervin Tull and family are living in Lauderdale County, Tennessee
Elizabeth is living in Civil District 3 of McNairy County, Tennessee with her son, Noble D. Tull. (Dennis)
Jasper and his new wife, Franky are living in 2nd civil district, McNairy County, Tennessee.
Nancy and Thomas Crangel are living in 3rd civil district, McNairy County, Tennessee.
William Morgan Tull is not to be found, but don't worry he shows back up in 1880.

So, Okay, The family made it through the Civil War and have scattered a good bit, but still no clues as to the husband of Elizabeth or father to Jasper, William Morgan, Henry Jackson, Noble Dennis or Nancy Tull.

I like to play my families like an accordion so will go back in time again.
I have a historical newspaper subscription and one day typed in Tull for the state of Georgia. Now TULL is difficult with ORC as it brings up every full and about anything else with ull. Image my surprise when I found the following Ad:

No Headline (Legislative)
Date: 1835-11-26; Paper: Georgia Telegraph
This entire product and/or portions thereof are copyrighted by NewsBank and/or the American Antiquarian Society. 2004.

Agreeable to an order of the county court of Walker, Alabama, when sitting for ordinary purposes will be sold on the 1st Tuesday in December next before the courthouse door in the town of Carrrollton, Carroll County, Georgia
Lot of land # 159 10th dist. Carroll County for the benefit of the illegitimate children of Mary Tull; Sept 13, 1835, Allen Ruff, guardian.

I read this ad twice before it clicked that I could be reading about my family. Oral Family History has said the Tull's came from Walker County, Alabama. The name RUFF was familiar to me as George W. Tull had a biography published stating he was born in DeKalb County, Georgia to Stephen Tull and Mary RUFF.

I immediately started checking Georgia census records and didn't locate this set of TULL's or a Ruff household with these apparent members present. When I checked information for the Georgia Land Lottery, I located this:

Georgia land Lottery: 1827
CARROLL Co, GA - 1827 LAND LOTTERY S-Z
Each lot consisted of 221 Acres and cost of $18.00.
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by:

Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm

SEC DIST LOT NO. NAME RESIDENCE CAPT. DIST.

5 10 159 Tull's, Mary illegit Dekalb County Bakers Carroll County

This lines up with the ad above with exact Lot and District and County of Carroll. So more questions than answers: Why did they move to Alabama; When exactly did they move to Alabama? I located an Alen Ruff in Carroll County, Georgia 1830 census. The oldest male in the household is listed as 40-50 years of age (born 1780-1790). The only female is age 20-30. I also found an Allen RUFF in Lowndes County, Alabama in 1840 born 1800-1810 and possibly the same man and family 1850 in Ittawamba County, Mississippi. The 1850 census indicates he was born 1800 Georgia and his oldest son, was born 1837 Alabama with subsequent children born in Mississippi, so he follows closely the same migration pattern of Mary Tull and her family.

There is an Allen Ruff serving: January 19, 1829 in Carroll County, Georgia:

The Inferior Court met this day agreeable to adjournment
present their Honors THOMAS W. BOLTON, E. M. HIBBLER,
THOMAS LADD and the court then proceeded to draw the
grand & petty juriors for the Superior and Inferior
courts.

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Sue Moore

Table of Contents page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/carroll.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm

I have checked Dekalb County records and Carroll county, Georgia Records online and so far have not found even a glimpse of these Tull's.

Here is a loose tie that actually connects Elizabeth and her children to Mary Tull:
1880 census, McNairy County, Tennessee household of William M. Tull. There is a John Tull, age 17 born Tennessee listed as a COUSIN. Cousin John is a son of John Tull and Tabitha McCarver Tull and grandson of Irvin Tull. His full name is John Ervin Tull and he marries a McNairy County girl and later moves his family to Pemiscott County, Missouri along with other descendants of Irvin Tull. In the south a lot of people call people cousin who may not actually be cousins, but this boy has come from Lauderdale County, Tennessee to live with William Morgan Tull so I highly suspect a family relationship.
1884- Elizabeth Tull is living in Mississippi County, Missouri and sells her McNairy County property.
1886- Elizabeth is once again living in McNairy County when she receives a letter from her daughter, Nancy Crangle and her son Jasper receives a note from Thomas Crangle. The Crangles are still living in Mississippi County, Missouri.
Elizabeth dies sometime between 1886 and 1900 census. Her grave has not been located nor has an obituitary, death record, probate or will.

In hopes a death record might provide the clue:

Nancy Tull Crangle dies 1890 in McNairy County, Tennessee (Information from Thomas Crangle's Union Pension Record). No death record available. Her grave, death notice, will or probate have not been located.

William Morgan Tull dies 1905- no death certificate for this time period. Have not located an obit, will or probate. He is buried at New Salem Cemetery, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee with a marked grave.

Henry Jackson Tull dies 1917 Clark County, Arkansas. I sent for his death record once and was told he didn't have one, however it is indexed on ancestry.com as well as in a book I have- so I need to send for it again and write the information exactly as listed in the index. Henry Jackson is buried with marked grave at Caddo Valley Cemetery, Clark County, Arkansas.

Noble Dennis Tull died 1923 McNairy County, Tennessee. He has a death certificate with his son Daniel as informant. Parents aren't listed. He is buried marked grave at New Salem, Bethel Springs, Tennessee.

Jasper Newton Tull dies 1928 McNairy or Chester County, Tennessee. I have searched indexes at the TSLA and have not located a death certificate for him. He is buried marked grave at Mt. Gilead Cemetery, McNairy County, Tennessee.

Much research has gone into other Tull's in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama as well as Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. I have tracked each of the above families and their descendants for several generations, collected oral family history as well as other records without finding the one magic document to prove the father of Jasper Newton Tull. I don't have any circumstantial evidence either.

My next task is to order the Henry Jackson Tull death certificate- can't believe I don't have that document in my possession.

I probably need to do some more Georgia work on the RUFF family (deeds, will, probate,marriages, etc).

I welcome any suggestions, feedback or critique.

Is This the Robert Bruce TULL Family

2009-01-11T13:27:00.007-06:00

Is this for sure the Robert Bruce Tull Family?

Robert (Uncle Bruce) and his wife, Alice Adora (CAGLE) Tull had seven children with the oldest son, Robert Hampton born 1900 and the next child, a daughter, Cora Suzanne, born 1901. The oldest girl is much taller than the oldest boy in this picture. Maybe she is standing on something or maybe she is growing quickly and brother hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, or maybe this isn't the Robert Bruce Tull's family.

Robert Bruce was born 22 June 1873 in McNairy County, Tennessee, the second son of Jasper Newton Tull and Franky (MORTON) Tull. He married Alice Cagle 4 June 1899 in Lamar County, Texas. He kept in contact with his Tennessee family as his father visited him at least once in Texas.

If this is the Robert Bruce Tull Family the picture would have been taken about 1911 as the youngest child was born in 1914 and Child number Six was born 1909.

Children of Robert Bruce and Alice (CAGLE) Tull are:

1. Robert Hampton Tull, Born: 26 Mar 1900 in Lamar County, Texas 2. Cora Susanne Tull, Born: 01 Jul 1901 in Texas
3. Bonnie Bee Tull, Born: 07 Apr 1904 in Texas
4. Pearl Irene Tull, Born: 17 Jan 1907 in Texas
5. James Leonard Tull, Born: 05 Sep 1909, Texas
6. Herbert Gaylord Tull, Born: 17 Nov 1909, Texas
7. Vernon Genning Tull, Born: 21 Jun 1914 in Red River County, Texas
.

Purdy Cemetery

2009-01-10T03:35:00.006-06:00

Purdy Cemetery is considered one of the more historic cemeteries in McNairy County, Tennessee. Purdy was the first county seat and many of the early businessmen lived in Purdy and are buried in one of the Purdy Cemetery. The Purdy cemetery I am writing about is the one across from the Fielding Hurst Home, also known as the Dodd Home.

Purdy Cemetery is covered at findagrave with pictures of many of the markers and a google search of Purdy brings up many interesting articles. The McNairy Geweb site has several interesting newspaper articles from 1924 describing " Old Purdy" as well as other historical information.

This row of markers is actually more intact than the rest of the cemetery.

This is one of the Wisdom family markers. Four members of the family are listed:
Jane, wife of W.S. Widom born ?May 14, 1810 and died Oct 19, 1852
Reed, son of W.S. and J. Wisdom born Oct 1844 and died Jan 25, 1845
Mary, daughter of W.S. and J. Wisdom born May 25, 1834 and died March 12, 1838
Lee, son of W.S. and J. Wisdom born July 9, 185_ and died Feb 5, 1858
The marker has faded making it difficult to read.

Asa Bell, a Sixth Tennessee (USA) Civil War Soldier has two markers providing biographical information. He is listed as Dr. Asa Bell with complete birth date of June 12, 1843. The death date is missing; however one can see he was a member of the masonic organization. His second marker indicates he was a Serg Maj for Company A of the Sixth Tennessee cavalry (USA) during the Civil War.

Maud Joseph (Kindel) McIntire is the only person buried in this cemetery who is a collateral relative for me. She was married to my third great-grandfather's brother, B.S. McIntire. Maud was the daughter of Dr. W.C. Kindel, a physician and druggist in Purdy. She was the granddaughter of a Judge Barry. Maud is buried in the Kindel Row with two of her sisters nearby. B.S. McIntire doesn't have a marker. I don't know if he had one and it has been destroyed or if he never had one. He was also a civil war soldier. He served with Company K of the 10th Tennessee (CSA) Cavalry. He was wounded at the "Battle of Savier in East Tennessee" on the 28th of Jan 1864 and his leg was amputated below the knee on the 29th of January 1864 at Dandridge, Tennessee. He later was listed as a dry goods merchant at Purdy. B.S. McIntire died Sept 1899.

This is a brief snapshot of Purdy Cemetery. I included the link to GoodSpeed's records for McNairy County, Tennessee which has an article about many of these early settlers.

References:
1. The McNairy County Tennessee Genweb site at http://www.tngenweb.org/mcnairy/index.html
2. Goodspeed's Tennessee History
McNairy County Biographical Index from Goodspeed's Tennessee
3. McNairy County Tennessee Historical Records
4. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee (online at footnote.com) NARA, Publication Number M268; Military Unit: Tenth (De Moss') Cavalry, I-Y AND Tenth and Eleventh (Consolidated) Cavalry, A-M. Records for B.S. McEntire and also B.F. McEntire.
5. digital photo images by me on 1 Jan 2009

Winter Carnival

2009-01-08T20:29:00.006-06:00

It is time for Genea-Bloggers Carnival of Genealogy with the topic celebrating winter.

Sunset from my front yard looking across my neighbor's home

Living in the sunny south we don't get much snow or ice or the winter sports that go with it. I looked though old family photographs and didn't find any pictures of my family in winter scenes other than Christmas. I have pictures of my children building the rare snowman and pictures from a trip to Michigan a few years ago in January. However, none of these are scanned and ready to go so I will write about winter in general.

Winter is nesting time for me as I prefer to be home early- before dark. It generally offers awesome sunrises and sunsets on days the sun actually appears. Winter is the perfect time for hot soups and chili, hot chocolate and coffee. Although winter is probably my least favorite season there is much to enjoy. The quiet with the rare snow we receive in the south as well as more time to curl up with a good book or to surf the web.

My favorite winter activity is following men's college basketball as they shoot for the road to the final four. My favorite team is University of Memphis and I like the ACC and the SEC conferences.

Another of my favorite winter activities is cemetery hopping. I find there are fewer mosquitoes and ticks as well as creepy crawlers. The trees have shed their leaves and it is easier to spot abandoned or old cemeteries. The grass is dead and much easier and safer to find and read the stones. New Years Day 2009 I went to Purdy Cemetery in McNairy County and took a few pictures. I didn't go to take a census, but just went with some out of town folks and family to show them the one of the most hallowed grounds in this area.

Purdy Cemetery, McNairy County, Tennessee

I also enjoy going to National and State Parks in the winter. The rates are lower; one can find great weekend deals and the wildlife is spectacular. This is the perfect time to watch the bald eagles nesting at Reelfoot Lake in North West Tennessee and now that we have Eagles at Shiloh National Military Park it is time to check out their winter habitat.

There is nothing like sitting by the window drinking hot chocolate and watching the many beautiful varieties of birds as they feast on the variety of food I provide on the coldest weekends of the year. I have seen 20 cardinals and I can't count the number of blue jays I've had a one time as well as woodpecker (several varities) and many many other beautiful birds. Now if I just had a good zoom camera to capture these jewels.

Wishing everyone a happy winter.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T00:01:00.001-06:00

I'm so looking forward to sunshine, spring, and flowers.

Happy wordless Wednesday!

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-01-06T22:40:00.004-06:00

My Dad died 18 years ago today with the weather was much like today (Cold and rainy). I still miss him and think of him daily. Today was the funeral of a good friend's father and I couldn't help but think of my dad. Our Dad's were the same age and both died in January and it was cold and rainy for both their funerals. This is a picture I quickly found. I have several better pictures and I think I already have posted one of his military marker on my blog. This picture was made Memorial Day 2006 at Moore School House Cemetery, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee.

Genealogy Meme for January

2009-01-06T22:23:00.002-06:00

The latest Meme going around and how fun it is.

The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicize
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
2. Researched records onsite at a court house.
3. Transcribed records.
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents) .
6. Joined Facebook.
7. Helped to clean up a run-down cemetery.
8. Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook.
9. Attended a genealogy conference.
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
12. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter. (Does webmaster count? If so then yes!)
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
17. Researched outside the state in which I live.
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
19. Cold called a distant relative.
20. Posted messages on a surname message board.
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
22. Googled my name.
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
29. Responded to messages on a message board or forum.
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
31. Participated in a genealogy meme.
32. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
33. Performed a record lookup for someone else.
34. Went on a genealogy seminar cruise.
35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
36. Found a disturbing family secret.
37. Told others about a disturbing family secret.
38. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
39. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
40. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons).
41. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure.
43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
47. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
45.Disproved a family myth through research.
46. Got a family member to let you copy photos.

48. Translated a record from a foreign language.
49. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
51. Used microfiche.
52. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
53. Visited more than one LDS Family History Center.
54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
55. Taught a class in genealogy.
56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents.
60. Found an ancestor’s Social Security application.
61. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.(used to)
62. Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches.
63. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
64. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
65. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
66. Visited the Library of Congress.
67. Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower.
68. Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
69. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
70. Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
71. Can read a church record in Latin.
72. Have an ancestor who changed their name.
73. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
74. Created a family website.
75. Have more than one "genealogy" blog.
76. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
77. Have broken through at least one brick wall.
78. Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
79. Borrowed a microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
80. Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project.
81. Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
82. Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
83. Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War.
84. Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
85. Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
86. Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor.
87. Use maps in my genealogy research.
88. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
89. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
90. Visited the National Archives in Kew.
91. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
92. Found a cousin in Australia (or other foreign country).
93. Consistently cite my sources.
94. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.

95. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
96. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
97. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
98. Organized a family reunion.
99. Published a family history book (on one of my families).
100. Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
101. Have done the genealogy happy dance.
102. Sustained an injury doing the genealogy happy dance.
103. Offended a family member with my research.
104. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.

Now, I just need to plan a few trips so I can do some more genealogy Happy Dances- my favorite dance.

Forty Things Meme

2008-12-09T20:22:00.002-06:00

Forty Things about me Meme:

1. Do you like blue cheese? No.

2. Have you ever done something you regretted? Yes.

4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? grape.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes. I have white coat phobia.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like one every blue moon.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? "White Christmas"

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water.

9. Can you do push ups? No.

10. Favorite hobby? Genealogy.

11. Do you have A.D.D.? Yes.

12. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Procrastination.

13. Middle name? Ann

14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? "I need to go to bed", "I need to be doing laundry rather than surfing" and "what is new on ancestry?"

15. Name 3 drinks you regularly have? Water, water, and hot chocolate.

16. Current hate right now? cold weather.

17. Favorite place to be? HOME!

18. How did you bring in the New Year? Went to my sister's, played games, made homemade ice cream..

19. A place you would like to go? All the southern archives.

20. Name three people who will complete this: I don't know.

21. Do you have slippers? yes.

22. What shirt are you wearing? white turtle neck.

23. Do you like sleeping on satin? no.

24. Can you whistle? NO.

25. Would you be a pirate? No.

26. What songs do you sing in the shower? none.

27. Favorite girl's name(s)? Katalin, Mary, Elizabeth, Millicent.

28. What's in your pocket right now? no pocket.

29. Last thing that made you laugh? my son.

30. Favorite bed sheets as a child? I only remember white sheets.

31. Worst injury ever? almost severed my toe by stepping on a ninja sword.

32. Do you like where you live? Yes

33. How many TVs do you have in your house? Three

34. Who is your loudest friend? Kim.

35. How many dogs do you have? one.

36. Does someone have a crush on you? I hope so!

37. What is your favorite book? The Bible.

38. What is your favorite candy? Fudge.

39. Favorite Sports Team? University of Memphis Men's Basketball.

40. What song do you want played at your funeral? I don't know.

Christmas Meme

2008-12-09T20:09:00.004-06:00

Christmas Meme:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like all my gifts wrapped in the same paper or same theme.

2. Real tree or Artificial? -I like real, but pulled out the artificial trees this year.

3. When do you put up the tree? Generally Thanksgiving Weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Bride Doll. It was my last doll.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom.

8. Easiest person to buy for? my children: I take them to the store with me so they can select their primary presents.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? "White Christmas", "It's a Wonderful Life" really, all those old black and White's. I used to stay up on Christmas break and watch the "late movies".

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All the time.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything; chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, fudge, fruit cake, floating island.

16. Lights on the tree? yes, clear twinkling lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? "Silent Night", "Joy to the World"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Cold weather, rain, crowds and # 1: It is dark at 4:30 p.m.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love angels.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey, ham, dressing, veggies.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? something I can't have.

Woodson Johnson 1847-1921

2008-11-19T19:23:00.007-06:00

Woodson or sometimes called Woots Johnson was an interesting character. He married my 2nd great-grandmother, Rebecca Jane Cox, in McNairy County, Tennessee in April 1869 and in May 1870 they had their first child, my great-grandmother, Hester Ann Johnson, known as Hettie Ann.

By August 1870 Woodson is living in Fayette County, Tennessee with his brother, Abram (Abraham Johnson). Rebecca Johnson, his wife, and baby daughter, Hester or Hettie, haven't been found on the 1870 census yet. Interestingly Abram and his wife, Lucy, have a one year old daughter named Rebecca.

By the 1880 census Woodson has moved back to Graves County, Kentucky and marries again, although there hasn't been a divorce record located for Woodson and Rebecca Jane Johnson. Rebecca Jane and daughter, Hettie are living with Rebecca's parents' Joseph and Sarah Cox in the 1880 census.

Family legend says Woodson Johnson killed someone and had to flee the country and another legend was he was eaten by wild hogs. I think I disproved the wild hog legend when I located him in 1880 in Graves County.

Woodson didn't have the pleasure of watching his only daughter grow up and have children. Woodson and Rebecca both outlived their daughter, Hester Ann Johnson Tull. Woodson never met his five grandchildren or his 2 great-grandchildren who were born prior to his death.

We may never know why he left his wife, Rebecca Jane and moved back to Kentucky.

Woodson was the son of Willis Johnson (c1790 NC) and Hester born 1809 Tennessee. Both parents have disappeared by 1860 when Woodson and his brother, Abraham are living with a Henry Johnson in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Family Politics

2008-11-02T16:22:00.005-06:00

As far as I know my family has always been interested in politics and always exercised their right to vote.

Lately, I was thinking about the female members of my family and how they might have voted. Once it dawned on me that my maternal grandmother had the right to vote in her lifetime, I asked her who was the first president she voted? She never missed a beat and immediately said, "whoever grandpa told me to vote for." In this instance my grandfather suddenly had two votes to cast in any election and I'm sure this was the case their entire married life.

My paternal grandmother died when I was a child. I know she always voted, because I can remember my dad transporting her to the polls. She was eligible to vote in 1919 when she turned 21 years of age, so her first Presidential election would have been 1920. I don't know for sure who she voted for, but I'd wager she voted for Warren G. Harding. She named my father, Warren, after President Harding. I know I wouldn't name a child after a President if I hadn't voted for him. My father was born June 1923 and President Harding died in August 1923.

Picture from Atlanta Constitution, June 19, 1912 at footnote.com

Election Study Fun

2008-11-02T15:42:00.004-06:00

My family enjoys politics as in we discuss it ad nauseam, but do not have any desire to run for office or serve as an elected official.

Four years ago we celebrated the Presidential Election by doing an election study. We all learned a good bit about the election process. Additionally we got together with some like-minded friends and had a Convention Party at one home where we watched the final night of the convention with our candidate giving his acceptance speech. We went all out with balloons, party streamers and even served desserts we knew our candidate enjoyed. We had a special cake baked and we had yard signs lining the entire driveway. We all made our own political signs to wave during the speeches. We had a fun test about the election. I have lots of pictures (not digital), but I hesitate to post as I would give away our political affiliation. Our town had a big political rally on court square a few days prior to the election which was well attended. Then we had an election night party where all guests had a map to color either red or blue as the state was called. Again with lots of fun and fellowship this was a fun event for the entire family. Alas we all had to finally go home as it became obvious a winner would not be declared anytime soon. January 2005 we had an inaugural party with the same friends. We enjoyed a southern dinner, games and good fellowship as we watched the festivities on television.

We created a scrapbook of all the fun things we did and the children made a lap book as they studied and learned new things about the electoral process.

This year both children are eligible to vote. Three generations voted early at our local courthouse. We recognize the awesome privilege as well as the responsibility to vote. My mother is 80 years of age and she believes her first president to vote for was Eisenhower. I first voted in the 1980 election and this is my children's first time to vote. We took pictures of everyone voting and then a group picture in front of the early voting sign to commemorate this historic election.

" Quince Preserves"

2008-11-02T14:54:00.006-06:00

My family has always called the Asian pear a quince. I don't know why we call it by a different name, but nevertheless this is what we have known this fruit by for more than fifty years.

Mother's tree produces the nicest and biggest fruit of any tree. The fruit is always high in the tree so we usually wait for it to fall to the ground and then quickly gather enough to make preserves. Quince Preserves are best served with hot biscuits or the syrup is really good on pancakes.

Yesterday we gathered enough to make several jars of preserves and today I made the preserves. I was so happy as my jars sealed immediately.

Here is Mother's recipe for Quince Preserves:

Wash and peel the fruit
cut into thin slices
place in bowl and add sugar (plenty)
allow to set 2-3 hours or even overnight is good

Cook on top of stove in large pan. Cook on high until boiling then decrease heat.
Cook until fruit is transparent (at least an hour).

Stir and do not allow to scorch or burn.

While hot pour into sterilized fruit jars and make sure the lids are tightly in place.

Make sure lids seal and one is ready for a great treat with hot biscuits or pancakes.

The Wall That Heals

2008-10-17T18:16:00.008-05:00

The opportunity to visit the Vietnam Memorial Traveling wall came along today and I gladly accepted the opportunity to visit it again. The Wall is so moving. I have a difficult time putting my feelings into words. I cry each time I visit and come away with a profound sense of gratitude and thankfulness for all of our United States Service Personnel, but a special thanks for the people who served so gallantly in Vietnam.

I didn't know anyone who served in Vietnam, but I remember when James Larry Kiestler died in Vietnam. His extended family lived near us and I remember my parents discussing his death. I know my father went to the funeral home and I see Larry's marker each time I go to the cemetery. It always reminds me some gave their all for us and Larry was one of those 58,000 who died in Vietnam from 1959-1975. Although I didn't know Larry, I always check the wall for his name. His name is located at 23 West line 37.

James Larry Kiestler was born 28 May 1948. He enlisted from Chicago, Illinois with his Vietnam tour beginning Oct 11, 1968. He was killed 1 June 1969 Quang Tin, South Vietnam. He is buried Moore School House Cemetery, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee.

Thank you Larry for your service. Thanks to all our Vietnam Veterans for their service.

Information: Vietnam Memorial Wall
2. Marker at Moore School House Cemetery, Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee
3. The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Traveling Wall; Panel 23 West, line 37- visited at the VFW in Jackson, Tennessee 17 Oct 2008

WhooHoo! Civil War Pension Records

2008-10-14T19:30:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited to see Footnote.com is adding the Civil War Widow's Pension records. I have enjoyed the Confederate Compiled service Records and have gleaned valuable information about my confederate civil war veterans and now this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about my collateral relatives and neighbors who served in the 6th Tenn Cavalry (USA). Many of their widow's obtained a pension. I ordered four pensions last year before the price increase at the National Archives. I only received two of the records as they couldn't locate the other two. I know the other two records exist as there are cards for both listed on ancestry as well as other published sources.

The Revolutionary Pension Records and the Civil War Collection make Footnote one the most valuable electronic repositories. I've have enjoyed other records on footnote.com, but these are my favorite records so far. I eagerly look forward to checking the site for additional records.

Birthday Tribute

2008-10-03T21:03:00.005-05:00

Well, today is a special day for one young man named Johnathon. Happy Birthday and may you enjoy many more!

Events I hope he will remember or at least recall for his grandchildren one day:

"A Long, Long, Long time ago, ....... You were born" - theme from Star Wars

Washington, D.C. The U.S. House approved President's Bush's Seven Hundred Billion Package to rescue Wall Street, the banks and mortgage companies. The news accounts promote this as a way to prevent a United States financial collapse. Kudos to Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Representative from the great state of Tennessee for voting NO to this bailout package. Yo, John Boy, you and yours will still be paying for this many years from now.

Sarah Palin did win the Vice-Presidental debate last night-

Working at the University is a pretty good first job for a young man.

All English composition Papers shall be done in either blue or black ink or better yet, typed- what a concept.

Happy Birthday seems more special when it comes from a sweet young lady.

Your first Presidential Election will be here in one month and one day- Are you ready to vote in a very historic election?

Church Camp is just eight months away.

Just for Fun: My 1992 do

2008-09-15T20:56:00.000-05:00

Colleen over at Orations of McOhodoy has offered a challenge to all genea-bloggers: go to Yearbookyourself.com and create one or more photos of yourself using their graphic interface. Then create a post of your phreaky photos and Colleen will roll them all up into one big post!

Here's my photo. Don't you just love the white hat under the 1992 do?

Decisions, Decisions, What Heirloom would I Save?

2008-09-06T19:44:00.007-05:00

Julie at http://juliemc77.livejournal.com/4474.html has selected the following Meme: Family Heirlooms

"In a disaster, if you had to evacuate, what heirlooms would you take with you?"

I can think of many things I would like to protect and save. Of course, I would like to save all of my pictures and the documents that explain my life and my ancestors' lives and my computer with all my genealogy data and all of my books. Well, I guess anyone can get the picture. I'm sure we're all very similar.

Seriously as soon as I saw the focus of this meme I immediately thought of three things:

1. My maternal grandmother, Mary Ada Woods James (1904-2002) made this afghan for my college graduation in 1979. I have other afghans she crocheted for me, but this is the most special.

This beautiful bedspread was crocheted for my mother as a wedding gift from her aunt, Lucinda Jane Ferguson James in 1950. Mother bought the thread and Aunt Cindy crocheted. Aunt Cindy could crochet and watch television or a movie at the same time. She didn't need to see what she was crocheting. I have used this as a table cloth for special occasions. It is definitely one of my favorite items.

Last, but not least is my paternal grandmother, Ethel Mae McIntyre Tull Williams (1898-1973), Family Bible. She recorded her children's birth dates as well as all of her grandchildren. It is the primary document for my father's birth and of course, It has my birth listed too as well as other family dates.

As I'm typing this I look to my left and see my father's WWII portrait and a special painting of my great-grandfather's family. I would definitely grab those two pictures off the wall as I ran out of the house.

10 Essential Books in my Genealogy Library

2008-09-06T17:44:00.005-05:00

The next Carnival of Genealogy Topic is 10 Essential Books in My Genealogy Library. My collection is heavy on Tennessee Research and I think it is essential to also have a few good reference books on the shelf too.

Wow, If I could keep only ten of my genealogy books which ten would I select?

The book I use the most is: Ancestory's Red Book edited by Alice Eichholz, Ph.D., C.G. Copyright 1991.

I've had this book for many years and although there are more current editions, this one works great for me. It generally stays open near my work station and a day rarely goes by that I don't use it as a quick reference. Most of the information in this book can be found on the Internet, but it much quicker just to turn to the state needed and quickly find the county or look at the map to see adjacent counties.

My mother gave me Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian by Elizabeth Shown Mills for my 40Th birthday. Maybe I will get Ms. Mills newest book for my 50Th birthday. Although not used as much as Red Book, it still is in easy reach of my desk.

As I do a lot of Tennessee Research My Sistler collection is still very relevant to my research: # 3. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists transcribed and indexed by Byron and Barbara Sistler, Evanston, Illinois, 1977.

# 4. 1830 Census for Middle Tennessee, Transcribed and Indexed by Byron Sistler. 1971
1830 Census for East Tennessee, Transcribed and Indexed by Byron Sistler
1840 Census for Middle Tennessee, Transcribed and Indexed by Byron Sistler

# 5. 1850 Census- Tennessee Volumes 1-8. Transcribed by Byron and Barbara Sistler, 1974.

#6. Early Tennessee Marriages 6 volumes total also by Byron and Barbara Sistler, Nashville, Tennessee. 1989.

I have other Sistler volumes, but I use these the most and I highly recommend the Sistler Collection for any serious Tennessee researcher. These very nice hardback books were a gift to myself in May 1999 when I received a nice bonus from my employer. I can still remember when the box arrived and the wonderful smell of a big box of new books and not just any books either, but genealogy books. I didn't have Internet at the time and this gift was a lifeline to me. I had small children at home and couldn't go to the library very often so it was more than a luxury to own these wonderful books. I'm still grateful for that nice bonus.

Number 7 would be what I call My Cox Collection. This is a set of local records transcribed and printed by R. Harold Cox of Bethel Springs, Tennessee. This collection includes census, marriage, cemetery, and death certificate abstracts for McNairy, Chester, and Hardeman Counties in Tennessee. Harold compiled these books for his own use and the request was so great that he started printing them for others. I'm thrilled to own this nice collection and would love to have my books bound so I can use them for many years to come. My books are rather worn with pages tucked inside other pages and a few are just plain "ragged" and need to be replaced.

Number 8. The newest books to my collection are: Family Maps of Walker County, Alabama and Family Maps of Fayette County, Alabama. These laminated nice spiral bound books are by Gregory A. Boyd, published in 2007 by Arphax Publishing Co, Norman, Oklahoma. Mr. Boyd has taken the General Land Office of the Bureau of Land Management records and plotted the patent for the genealogist. This book provides not only where my ancestor's land is located, but shows it in relation to all his neighbors as well as the waterways and roads nearby which makes it especially valuable for the researcher in counties such as Walker and Fayette with record losses.

Number 9. Collier's World Atlas and Gazetteer, published in 1944. The world as we know it has changed a lot since World War II and this book has been an excellent reference for locating the names and boundaries of various counties.

Okay, I'm down to the wire and I have to narrow down to my final essential book. Well, I have other volumes, but I think I will list a book that is on my want list rather than a book I actually own. I would like a copy of Black's Law Dictionary (First Edition, 1891). I noted that Wholly Genes has a copy of CD . A CD is great, but I would really like a copy of 1st, 2ND or 3rd edition. I like to hold books in my hand and thumb through leisurely and savor the experience of the book.

Maternal Longevity

2008-07-20T18:05:00.012-05:00

I noticed one of the Carnival's was about AGE. I didn't get a chance to write an article in time for the Carnival, but as I thought about age I immediately thought of my grandmother and her maternal ancestors, who definitely have a history of longevity.

This is a picture of my grandmother, Mary Ada (Woods) James, her uncle, Charles Neff, her mother, Alberta Virginia (Neff) Woods and her sister, Lena Mae (Woods) Holt.

Grandma Woods (Alberta Virginia Neff Woods) died just hours before her 91st birthday. She was born April 29th, 1872 and died April 28th, 1963. Think of the changes she saw in her life. She was born just a few years after the civil war. Both her father and grandfather had fought for the Southern Cause. Her father died fairly young leaving his wife to raise 7 children by herself. Alberta, Bert as she was called by the family, and her siblings had difficult lives, but they persevered and several lived into their nineties. Charles Robert Neff, pictured above, died at age 91. Another sister died at age 93.

Grandma Woods and Uncle Charlie Neff

My maternal grandmother, Mary Ada (Woods) James was born April 4, 1904 and died Jan 29, 2002. She was healthy and lived at home until about a month prior to her death. She lived alone until about a year before she died.

This was her last Thanksgiving (2000) to travel to Tennessee. She is feeble here, but still able to complete her Thankful card and share Thanksgiving with her Tennessee daughter and family. I think she did make her famous rolls for Thanksgiving too. She crocheted her last afghan in December 2001 and died in Feb 2002. I still miss her.

This was probably about 1997 and she is visiting Tennessee. We always enjoyed her visits and took every opportunity to make those four generation photos.

This was her 88th birthday party in 1992. She is pictured with my daughter, who was turning two. She looked great here and this is about the time she left her home in Arkansas and moved to Missouri to be close to family. She had lived alone very independently for five years, but it was time to at least live in the same town as one family member. She remained fairly independent until a month prior to her death. We did a timeline at her funeral and it was amazing the things that took place during her lifetime, from women being allowed to vote to a man walking on the moon to the Internet and so much more. She lived through two World Wars plus Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Sept 11, 2001.

My great-great grandmother was Sarah Catharine(Will) Neff. She died at age 96. She too had a very difficult life. She was a child of 2nd marriage for both her parents. Her mother was forty two years when she was born in 1840. It wasn't long until the Civil War occurred and there was heavy fighting in their homeland of Shenandoah County, Virginia. I don't know any details, but both of her parents died between 1860 and 1870. Her brothers and half brothers all fought for the Glorious Cause. The Yankees tried to starve the people in that area and they saw many atrocities. After the war my 2nd great-grandfather NEFF moved his family back to Shenandoah County, Virginia. They had been living in Jefferson County, Tennessee since 1837, but their home was shelled during the war and I just don't think they could stay in Jefferson County as they had fought for the South and Jefferson County was a Union County even during the war. So Sarah Catharine Will met and married her distant cousin, Samuel Henry Neff. Samuel Henry saw opportunity back in Tennessee to work for the railroad so they packed up and moved to Tennessee. They first moved to Kingsport, Tennessee and by 1880 were living in Madison County, Tennessee. He died in 1887, but Sarah Catharine didn't die until 1936. She raised seven children after Samuel Henry Neff died. Her obit was published in the Jackson Sun and it indicated she had lived in Jackson, Tennessee for the past fifty years. I have not found Sarah Catharine in the 1910-1930 census, but I do have a copy of her Tennessee Death Certificate as well as her Obit. My mother remembers when she died as she stayed with neighbors so my grandparents could attend the funeral in Jackson, Tennessee. Mother would have been about 9 at the time. Allegedly she was buried in her black taffeta wedding dress. I would love to have a picture of Sarah Catharine Will Neff.

Of course, there are many reasons these ladies lived longer than the average lady of her day, but as I have thought back through their lives and had many conversations with my grandmother I think the prevailing characteristic was they were able to adapt to change and loss. They all suffered much loss in their lives and lived through many changes from frequent moves to loss of children and other family. I knew my grandmother well and she handled loss better than anyone. I don't know if she "stuffed" it inside or what, but she just seemed to adapt to whatever life handed her and I'm sure my great-grandmother must have also. Great genes don't hurt either and I hope I have inherited some of those.

P.S. My mother is going strong at 80 and she has an 84 year old sister.

Ask and You Shall Receive!

2008-07-20T17:57:00.003-05:00

I posted last week about Alice Mae Meadows Meredith and I lamented I would like a picture of her. Well, today, I have one.

I called her granddaughter, Marie Meredith Massengill, a few days ago and asked her if she had a picture of her grandparents. She said she though she had one of Alice. I asked her if I could come and make a photograph of the picture and she said she would find the picture and call me. She called and today I went over and photographed a picture of the picture.

This is Alice Mae (Meadows) Meredith born May 1873 in Illinois to John W. Meadows and his wife, Minerva Patrick Meadows.

Alice married Ulyses Grant Meredith in Cole County, Missouri 20 July 1887 and they were the parents of 8 children.

Alice died 15 March 1949 in Morton, Woodruff County, Arkansas and is buried unmarked in the Pumpkin Bend Cemetery.

A Random Saturday in July

2008-07-12T18:19:00.009-05:00

My daughter and I decided we needed to motor to Tupelo this morning. Tupelo has the nicest mall in our vicinity. Of course, Miss " My size zero's are falling off of me" needed new jeans from American Eagle. The mall was a good place to walk after our shopping was complete. After shopping we headed to Olive Garden for " light lunch" which we enjoyed very much. I tried the Venetian chicken in Apricot sauce with just barely steamed broccoli and asparagus- delicious. She had shrimp pasta alfredo with steamed zucchini.

Now the fun really begins.

What would a trip to Tupelo be without stopping by to see Elvis? It was 100+ degrees today, so we did not tarry.

This is the home Elvis' family lived in when he was born in 1935. I'm sure this was the typical "shotgun" house many people lived in during those depression days. I remember many such houses in rural West Tennessee.

This 1939 Plymouth is on loan to the Elvis Presley Home. It has been determined from an interview Elvis did late in life that he and his family left Tupelo for Memphis in a 39 Plymouth. Of course, the color is not known. The article stated they had the trunk packed and the rest of their belongings tied to the roof. Their truck probably didn't look quite as good as this restored model.

This is a groom getting ready to tie the knot at the Elvis Chapel. We never did catch a glimpse of the bride, but due to the heat, we didn't stick around either. We wish them well.

Every woman from 0-90 wants her picture made with Elvis and I'm no different.

We stopped by the Natchez Trace Visitors center in Tupelo (Trace Milepost 266). We visited an exhibit for the early Indians of Northern Mississippi and participated in a demonstration by " Mr. Pat" a re-enactor and volunteer for Pioneer days in Northern Mississippi and Middle Tennessee. He is the best. Here he is helping one of the other visitors with her Native American Costume.

Almost home and my daughter said, " Oh we passed Pappy John's, please turn around." So I practically did a U turn in the highway to return to Pappy John's for a very fine Bar-B-Q Sandwich. If you ever drive through Selmer, Tennessee, be sure and stop by Pappy John's for some mouth watering delicious Bar-B-Q; oh so yummy yummy. Beware, you will know by your greasy lips you have been well fed. This is a copy of the menu posted on the drive through window.

Alice Meadows Meredith

2008-07-11T19:35:00.003-05:00

Here's a little synopsis of Alice Meadows Meredith's life.

She was born May 1873 in Illinois, probably Jersey County, Otten Creek. This is where her parents, John W. Meadows and Minerva (Patrick) were living when the 1870 census taker found them.

I checked the Index to Register of Births 1857 -1900+
Courtesy of IL Regional Archives Depository, Univ. of IL, Springfield
From microfilm copies of the original book
Jersey County, Illinois has birth records online from 1857-1900;
There aren't any Meadows or possible spellings listed. People weren't as concerned with registering births and deaths in the 1870's as we are today.

By 1876 John W. Meadows and his young family is living in Portage des Sioux Township, Saint Charles County according to the Missouri 1876 census.

I thought John W. and Minerva had died by 1880 as the children are living with their maternal grandmother, Cynthia Vasser Patrick Puckett in Cedar Township, Callaway County, Missouri. When the Missouri Marriage and birth images came online there was a child named Dora Elizabeth Meadows born in 1883 with father being John W. Meadows, age 38 (correct age) born Cole County, Missouri and mother as Tina Root, age 25 born Michigan. The most interesting thing is this child had two birth records with same information, except one listed the medical attendant as L.J. Puckett of Cedar City, Missouri. Although a marriage record for John W. Meadows and Tina Root was not located that didn't mean they didn't marry.

The second reason I decided John W. Meadows didn't die prior to 1880 was on Alice Meadows and Grant Meredith's Marriage record in Cole County, Missouri July 1887 her father, John W. Meadows, gives his assent for the marriage. He is obviously still living in 1887.

Alice does indeed marry Ulysses (spelled many ways) in July 1887 Cole County, Missouri. He gives his residence as Cedar City, Callaway County and she gives her residence as Cedar City, Callaway County, Missouri. I wonder why they married in Cole County. I'm certainly glad they did since the image of their marriage record is online at ancestry.

Alice starts a life of being a wife and motherhood and several more moves. By 1900 they are living in Randolph County, Arkansas.
Alice M.; wife; May 1873; age 27; married 11 years; 4/4 children; IL/MO/TN; reads and writes and speaks english.

According to the 1900 census they would have still been living in Missouri as late as 1898 when youngest daughter on census, Cynthia, born August 1898, was listed as born in Missouri.

By 1910 they are in Woodruff County, Arkansas where the Meredith family planted roots and where many remain today.

I looked for several years before I found the Meredith family in 1910. Remember when one had to go to a library with soundex and microfilm records? Every time I want to complain about ancestry I remember what a time I had not only finding this family, but many others. Yes, The best I remember there was indexing issues with this family on 1910 census, but it is a lot easier to sit at my home computer and search (even with the dial-up) than it was to drive two hours to the library with Arkansas census records and sit there most of the day cranking film by hand only to later find out I was searching in the wrong state or county.

Here is a few memories of Alice Mae Meadows as told to me by her granddaughter, Marie Meredith Massengill:

Marie remembers when she was about six years of age they would stop at Grandma Meredith's and eat supper before going home from school. She stated Grandma Meredith always had either white or pinto beans and cornbread to eat.
She states Grandma smoked a cobb pipe and didn't have any teeth. She said she was a wonderful christian lady who quoted long passages of scripture at a time. She introduced Marie to the LORD. Marie said she didn't attend church until she was about 16, but Grandma Meredith had quoted scripture and told her about the love of Jesus from the time she was a little girl.

Alice Mae Meadows Meredith died Tuesday, March 15, 1949 in Morton, Woodruff County, Arkansas and is buried in the Pumpkin Bend Cemetery. Here is a copy of her obit from an unknown Arkansas newspaper. It was provided to me by her grandson, Murl Meredith.

Mrs. Alice Meredi(cut off)
Mrs. Alice Meredith, of Morton, aged 77 years, died Tuesday, March 15, 1949. She was born May 14, 1872. Surviving are eight children, John Meredith, Marvin Meredith, Ulyses Meredith, Clarence Meredith, Ernest Meredith, Mary Robinson, Effie Midgett, and Synthia Holt, 60 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Now, I would really like to have a photograph of Alice Mae Meadows Meredith.

Hydrangeas at the Memphis Botanic Garden

2008-06-15T18:31:00.007-05:00

These two are Lemon Wave

Lanarth White

Unknown to me Hydrangea- failed to copy type, but it was beautiful.

Blushing Bride or Hydrangea macrophylla

Annabelle Hydrangea or Hydrangea arborescens

Cancer Survivor Park

2008-06-15T18:22:00.004-05:00

River Heights

2008-06-15T18:15:00.003-05:00

One night last week after work my sister, daughter and I went to River Heights in Crump, Tennessee to eat catfish. As good as the catfish tastes, the view is the absolute best thing about this restaurant. River Heights sits high off the ground as it has been under water more than once, but the view of the Tennessee River is spectacular especially in the late afternoon. Above is the view from our table.

College Reunion

2008-06-07T20:34:00.007-05:00

This is mother 1948 or 1949 as a student nurse at Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, Memphis, Tennessee.

This is me May 1977 at my "Capping ceremony" at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. This signified I had passed the first year of college at Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis and was ready for my second intense year of academics and clinical.

Today my mother and I attended our college reunion, her 58th and my 29th. Although we graduated from the same school this is the first time we have attended the reunion together. That made it more special for me as we reminisced 2 hours to the reunion and 2 hours home about our various college days and how they were alike and how they were different.

When she started school in 1947 she was taught how to take vital signs and make beds and immediately started working on the floor. She selected Baptist School of Nursing as the nursing students wore white hose as oppossed to black hose which they had to wear at the Methodist school of Nursing across the street. I selected Baptist because this is where she really wanted me to attend. She was expected to work nights at the hospital and attend classes at the school during the day. They actually were part of the staffing for the hospital. By the time I arrived we were not suppose to be part of the staffing pattern, but when I was a senior, the floor supervisors definitely took into account they would have a senior student nurse team leading one end of the hall. We were both able to graduate and immediately start work with very little orientation. I think my orientation consisted of completing paperwork for insurance and other benefits and maybe a skills check off and within one week I was the 11-7 charge nurse for a fifty bed oncology unit.

Mother has completed a journal article about her college days and in Winter 2008 I videotaped her telling me about her college days. I wish I had done this prior to her stroke as she would have been much more verbal.

We both recieved an outstanding education and have always been proud to say " I am a Baptist Grad."

I will try to scan a picture of the Old Baptist Hospital downtown or the School of Nursing and post at a later time.

photo of Mary Frances James in personal collection of geneadiva, Selmer, Tennessee.
photo of Geneadiva in personal collection of Geneadiva, Selmer, Tennessee.

Confederate Memorial Day Service at Shiloh 2008

2008-06-05T16:19:00.010-05:00

The Confederate Memorial Day Service at Shiloh was rained out, but here are a couple pictures I snapped right before the big deluge.

The 51st Tennessee Infantry was in full authentic confederate uniform. This was my favorite pose. They look like they are just waiting for the battle to start. A great big Thanks to the 51st Tennessee Infantry for being at Shiloh in full uniform on a very hot and then rainy day.

Nathan Bedford Forrest (AKA Steve McIntyre) was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Sorry I missed his speech. His uniform was impressive.

The CSA Monument at the largest burial trench is beautifully decorated with the stars and bars.

Joel Cross: Corp Co E 10th MI Volunteer Infantry

2008-06-05T16:04:00.003-05:00

Joel Cross was born between 1818-1820 In New York. By 1860 he is living in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. At some point in time he joined the 10th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. The 10th Michigan unit missed the Battle of Shiloh as they didn't leave the state of Michigan until April 22nd, 1862. Their first taste of war and of the south was at Pittsburg Landing after the Battle of Shiloh. They assisted with building trenches and fortifications. They entered Corinth, Mississippi after the Confederates left the area. The following website gives a detailed history of the 10th Michigan: http://users.aol.com/dlharvey/10thinf.htm

Joel Cross made it back to Michigan and is listed as living in Sanilac County in 1870. The 1890 Veteran's Census lists him as living in Kalkaska Township in the County of Kalkaska, Michigan. He is listed as Corp E. 10th Mich. Vol. Inf. (1890 Veterans' census online at ancestry.com)

Although Joel didn't participate in the actual Battle of Shiloh I have posted one of the many Michigan Monuments at Shiloh here as a tribute to him and his Michigan comrades.

Hagy's Catfish Hotel at Shiloh, Tennessee

2008-06-05T15:50:00.004-05:00

One of our favorite local places to eat is Hagy's Catfish hotel, located at Shiloh, Tennessee. This wonderful eatery sits on the edge of the Tennessee River and it is so peaceful to sit by one of the big windows and watch the river as it flows North and to watch barges, small boats, large boats, fishing boats, and people sking. When the water level is low it is run to walk down to the edge of the river and scout for driftwood.

The food is delicious and my favorite is either all you can eat whole catfish or catfish filets with french fries and salad. They serve the meals family style and their fish is out of this world. The hushpuppies are good too. I've always been too full to even try a dessert at Hagy's.

James Neff: Union Solider from Ohio

2008-06-05T15:41:00.004-05:00

This is a tribute to James Neff, a Union Civil War Soldier from Ohio.

Although I do not know anything about James Neff I notice his grave marker at Shiloh National Cemetery each time I visit. His grave is one of the first ones visible at the top of the cemetery. I've often wondered if he is a very distant relation as many of our Virginia Neff's moved to Ohio in the early 1800's.

James was killed or died soon after at the Battle of Shiloh on either April 6th or 7th 1862. Being a Union Solider with better records, I'm sure his family knew of his demise. He also has a marked grave so he either had identification on him or someone identified him as James Neff from Ohio.

Maybe one of his family members will find this tribute to Soldier Neff so I have included a picture of his marker and of one of the Ohio Markers at Shiloh.

Captain Jacob Pennywitt, Revolutionary War Soldier

2008-05-17T11:28:00.008-05:00

Jacob Pennywitt is my 5th great-grandfather. I knew he was in the right age frame to have participated in the Revolutionary War, however he died in 1813, prior to being able to apply for a pension. I have not located a pension record for his widow, Margaret Harpine Pennywitt, who died in 1835 either.

Due to the uncommon surname I decided to search footnote.com Revolutionary Pension Files to see if I could locate information on Jacob or other Pennywitt relatives who may have served in the war.

Immediately I started finding great records and was able to track Jacob Pennywitt, from an Ensign in Military District # 9 of Old Dunmore County, Virginia in 1775 through 1781 as a Captain.

He married in 1782, so I wonder if he officially retired from the Army.

I have created a story page on footnote.com to reflect the information I located for Captain Jacob Pennywitt which is spelled in various ways in these documents.

Now if I could do this same thing with my Bowman and Riddle.Ruddle.Ruddell ancestors, also from Shenandoah County, Virginia

Mother's Love for Her Three Girls

2008-05-09T10:17:00.007-05:00

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
And everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

Photograph from July 1964, Bethel Springs, Tennessee; in my personal photograph collection.

Poem: Author unknown, From personal Memory.

Posted for 1ST EDITION
Smile For The Camera ~ A Carnival of Images

http://www.footnotemaven.com/2008/05/i-smile-for-camera-reminder.html

Decoration Day

2008-05-04T17:20:00.008-05:00

This is a snap of the Moore School House Decoration Day 6 May 2006.

This is my oldest great-nephew standing by the marker of his fourth great-grandmother, Mary Ann Cooksey.

Decoration Day is still very popular in West Tennessee. Beginning the first Sunday in May through the 1st Sunday in June the cemeteries in McNairy County, Tennessee as well as surrounding counties, have their Decoration Day. Many are on Mother's Day and several are the 4Th Weekend to commemorate Memorial Day. I attended one today at Moore School House in rural North West McNairy County. My father is buried there as well as one set of grandparents, one set of great-grandparents and 2 great-great grandparents. There are many unmarked graves there so it possible I have another 2ND great-grandparent and possibly third great-grandparents.

I remember as a child when Decoration Day would be a much bigger event than it is today. We would go to the cemetery on Friday or Saturday and help clean the graves as well as place our flowers. Sunday was the big day when the cemetery would be the most beautiful. We had dinner on the ground, which Moore School House still has today. We would see cousins and far-flung kin that we hadn't seen since last Decoration Day. We would stay most of the day visiting. It was a time of catching up on all the extended family news as well as a family history lesson. Celeste Higginbottom would go with me from grave to grave taking the time to tell me how I was related to each one and how one person would connect to another. When I started my genealogy pursuit in 1983 I was very grateful she and my Dad, as well as many many others, were still living and I had the opportunity to go back to the cemeteries with them and take notes. Now, I'm careful to take my children to the cemetery as well as nieces and nephews and last year I had the honor of taking great-nephews to the cemetery for the first time. They had no clue what I was talking about, but we have to start young and make it an annual event. It is so much more than placing some pretty flowers on the grave. It is a time of reflection, socialization, commitment to our family and to history; it is a time to even look forward. Today I discussed buying my own marker and having it placed on one of my plots. That will seem weird to go to the cemetery and see a stone with my name engraved on it.

digital pictures by me on Sunday, 6 May 2006 at Moore school House Cemetery, McNairy County, Tennessee.

World War II Hero

2008-04-20T10:49:00.003-05:00

Warren Matthew Tull's World War II Story

Daddy volunteered for WWII by signing with the U.S. Army. He wanted to go in the Navy, but his mother wouldn't sign the papers, so he went into the Army. He thought the Navy would be better "because one would always have their bed with them".

He entered boot camp at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. After boot camp he departed the good ole U.S.A. on the Troop Ship, Andes on 19 April 1943 from New York. He landed in Casablanca, French Morocco on 27 April 1943.

He soon earned his first of seven Bronze Stars for the Battle of Tunisia. This was soon followed by the Battle of Sicily.

Daddy credited his 21st birthday, June 6, 1944 with the day he became a man both literally and figuratively. He was 2nd Wave Omaha Yellow at Normandy Beach in support of the 1st Infantry. He never forgot the horrors he witnessed on this one day. He told of so many bodies on the beach it was difficult to walk without stepping or stumbling on one. He told of using bodies as a refuge to hide behind. Of course, he told of taking that beach with all odds against them. He said If one didn't believe in God prior to that battle they certainly believed after the battle was over. He really didn't talk much about his WWII service, but he would share a little about D-Day since it was his 21st birthday- a birthday to remember for sure.

Paris was liberated in August 1944 and he was there; however the pleasure of being in Paris for liberation was short lived as it was on to Belgium and Germany where he was attached to the 28th Infantry Division.

If Normandy wasn't a big enough battle he endured the Battle of the Bulge on a very cold December 1944. This was another battle of epic proportions. His Engineer Battalion supported the 1st and 2nd Infantry Division for this great battle.

After the Battle of the Bulge they crossed the Rhine River and reached Kassel April 3, 1945.

At some point he visited a concentration camp and made 2 pictures which I keep in my Bible to this day. He warned us to never forget the horrors of the War and told us it could happen again. He said it was better to fight on another Country's soil rather than the U.S.A.

After the war ended in May 1945 he stayed in Marienbad, Domazlice, and Pilsen, Czechoslovakia until Sept 1945. He has many pictures of beautiful Czech women in his scrapbook.

September 1945 they went to Camp Miami at Rheims, France and from there to Le Havre Fort in France.

The wonderful day of Oct 8th, 1945 finally arrived when he boarded a C4 Liberty ship Freighter which had been converted to a troop ship called Marine Wolf. He finally landed in New York again on 17 Oct 1945 and from there he came home and was honorably discharged on 23 Oct 1945 at the Jefferson Barracks in Missouri.

My New Favorite Tennessee Genealogy Web Site

2008-04-17T19:42:00.003-05:00

The following is my favorite Tennessee Web site at the Moment:

http://register.shelby.tn.us/

The death, marriage, and divorce index has been invaluable. The one BIG ERROR I keep finding on the death record index is county of death is being listed as Humphrey County when I know they died in another county. I have found at least five with Humphrey County, Tennessee listed as the place of death.

Here is an example of the information available on Death Record Index (State wide) for 1949-2005:

JAMES JESSE 07-03-1986 / 86 SHELBY [NOT GIVEN] / AR MARRIED M WHITE 24454

James, Jessie died 07-03-1986, age 86, died Shelby County; county of residence not given. Home State: AR. Married, Male, White, Certificate # 24454 and an immediate link to purchase a copy of the certificate.

The Archives includes Papers and Books from The West Tennessee Historical Society. There are excellent records from the Martin Luther King Assassination Files as well as several invaluable Shelby County Indexes and the actual Death Certificate Images from 1848-1956.

If one has Tennessee relatives (even 20th and 21st Century) this is a site I wouldn't want to miss.

Missouri Trip

2008-04-17T18:04:00.005-05:00

Mother and I motored to Missouri last weekend. It was extremely cold and windy so we stopped in Dyersburg, TN in order to buy a jacket for someone who left their jacket at home. We noticed the Forked Deer, Obion and Mississippi Rivers were all exceeding their boundaries. In fact there were was little land between these three bodies of water. We saw beautiful water fowl, egrets and gulls. They were certainly enjoying the weather even if we weren't. Mother saw her youngest sister for the first time since the first of December and they were both excited to see each other. We played Shanghai-Rummy and enjoyed our visit. I left mother to visit at few days and I came back to Tennessee. Although it was cold, windy and rainy on Sunday I managed to stop at one cemetery in Caruthersville, Missouri. I didn't have any problems finding the cemetery, but once inside the gate I realized this massive cemetery was beyond me. As I sat and pondered how to locate the primary graves I sought I remembered one of mother's cousins, called information and wha-la her phone is ringing. Oh Shucks, No Answer. As I am pulling out out the cemetery my phone rings and it is the cousin. Thank goodness for caller-Id. She was able to give me precise directions to the two graves I wanted to photograph and of course there was other extended family buried beside them. Not only was I able to photograph the graves, most importantly I made contact with cousins we haven't seen or talked with in several years. I now have her home and cell phone numbers and should keep in touch.

I attempted to upload a couple pictures but received an internal error- whatever that means.

Road Trip

2008-04-10T17:09:00.003-05:00

Mother and I are taking a little road trip Saturday. We are going to Missouri to see her sister. Mother had open heart surgery in January and consequently has had several strokes post-operative. So, this trip will really be interesting and sad too as her sister is in the process of selling her home. This will most probably be our last trip to Missouri to see her sister as her sister will no longer be living in Missouri. I hope to be able to take a video of mother and her sister playing cards, talking, acting silly and having a good time. I've only done two video-tapes of my mother. One was the week prior to her surgery and the last one was the week after her first set of strokes. I'm trying to remember all the questions I've ever wanted to ask my mother and I am feeling an intense pressure (self-imposed)to record either orally or by video as many memories and stories as possible. Mother lost her ability to talk several times with these strokes. She has regained most of it back, but her spontaneity is gone as well as her affect is much different. I'm grateful she can answer my questions and her memory is good. I've been going through her journal jar, asking the questions and taking dictation. I made mother a nice journal several years ago and gave her a journal jar in hopes she would occasionally journal. I went through the book last week and she has journaled about her college days. There are a couple other pages where she dictated and either my sister or I recorded what she told us, but I was disappointed she had not journaled more. To be honest I didn't think she would journal much, so I occasionally go over and interview her. I have a nice collection of these interviews on paper. I just wish I had been more proactive with the video recorder.

The above picture is in my personal collection of March 2006 when Mother and I went on a road trip (with Flat Stanley) back to Arkansas to visit her hometown in Weona, Arkansas. We had so much fun that trip that I should probably blog an entire article in celebration of the trip.

University of Memphis

2008-04-06T20:08:00.003-05:00

The University of Memphis Tigers are playing Kansas Jayhawks tomorrow night in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome. Tip off will be about 8:20 central standard time.
G
O

T
I
G
E
R
S
!!!!!!!!
Both my mother and I attended our first year of college at what was then Memphis State and I've always cheered loudly for the Men's Basketball team especially back in the mid 1980's.

Oh, wouldn't it be exciting to be at the game tomorrow night? I will be at my mother's cheering and doing my own tiger dance.

Randolph Family of Walker County, Alabama

2008-04-06T15:30:00.005-05:00

Today I uploaded cemetery pictures from Coal City Cemetery in Jasper, Walker County, Alabama to my flickr.com website. I will post the link here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margaretann/sets/72157604415372257/

John D. Randolph was born about 1798 in Greenville, South Carolina and moved with his parents, Abraham and Lydia (Dill) Randolph to Alabama by 1820. John D. Randolph married Frances Brown 23rd of May 1824 in Lawrence County, Alabama. They moved to Walker County, Alabama about 1837 when they became Charter Members of the Sulphur Springs Primitive Baptist Church. John D. Randolph died in Walker County the 28th of Feb 1870 and is buried in Kitchens Cemetery.

Four of his children are buried at Coal City Cemetery: James Randolph (my great-great grandfather) born 1833 in Lawrence County, Alabama and died 1888 in Walker County, Alabama; William Randolph (1828-1900); Lydia (Randolph) Brown, wife of Robert Brown (1832-1881) and John Brown Randolph (1840-1915). Additonally, Thomas Brown Randolph's wife was buried at Coal City.