Always Anxiously Engaged

Against the wishes of her husband

2013-05-19T22:08:00.000-04:00

My mother, Ida Stevens Clemens, along with my three sisters Fern, Jean and Betty, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1948.

It was in a day when women didn't always go against the wishes of their husbands, especially in West Virginia.

But, mom did.

When two missionaries from the Church knocked on her door, she listened to their brief message and invited them in. Having not been raised in a particular religion, she was intrigued by what they had to say. She writes in her journal:

"So now I have grown older now and have started to go too church by my self and with neighbors to the church nowon as the Jesus only church. And there where I met my husband to be I was 16 year old when I met him we all went to church at the same place he was baptized at one time in the Jesus only church before we were married."

Over a period of time, they returned and taught a series of "discussions", which eventually led to her commitment to be baptized with her girls. She gave up smoking her Camel unfiltered cigarettes. It was during this time that she and my sisters had many dreams that brought comfort to them as they made this decision. They recorded those dreams, and I have transcribed them. But, they are much too personal to let others read them.

They were baptized in the Guyandotte River in Logan, West Virginia. Sister Betty nearly floated away, but they grabbed her by the hair of her head.

Dad was not pleased.

The missionaries had become a bit pushy with him, and he wasn't real sure he liked it. So, like many others in this area of the country, they began to look northward. Dad had three stipulations for any area he would bring his family to:
1. A better job for him.
2. Better education for his three girls.
3. No Mormon church in the area!

On New Year's Day, 1950, they made it as far as Portsmouth, Ohio in a raging blizzard. Dad had an aunt living there, and they waited out the blizzard.

Mansfield, Ohio would become their home. All three of dad's conditions were met.

But, just four months later, Mormon missionaries were assigned to the Mansfield area. They tracted out my mom and sisters, and a small branch was formed.

Dad was befriended by others in this small LDS community. He was a heavy smoker. But, slowly he was beginning to realize that he needed this religion in his life. One day, while helping to put a roof on a church member's home and smoking away, a man teasingly asked him, "Clem, when are you going to give up those cigarettes?"

He looked at him and said, "The one you see me smoking here is the last one you'll ever see me smoke." He threw the butt over the edge and never smoked again.

Dad worked second shift, and Mom would have a pot of coffee waiting on him when he got home at about 11:30 pm. He would drink the whole thing. Mom told him that it was going to kill him, for she could feel the pounding of his heart through the mattress.

Dad was baptized in 1951, and was a faithful member all of his life. He was baptized in the YMCA swimming pool. The following week, they asked them not to meet there again, for the lint from their baptismal suits was clogging up the drains.

The church members complied, and the following week a gas line blew up the building.

I came along in 1955, and dad baptized me when I turned 8 years old.

Mom's decision to go against the wishes of her husband was not a popular one. When dad joined, it was even less popular, for many in his family disowned him. But, her initial decision affected thousands, for thus began her quest for her family's history. Dad would soon join her in that quest.

And, their love of genealogy passed right on down to me.

Wedding Wednesday - Lauritzen/Terry Marriage

2013-05-01T11:15:00.001-04:00

What a strikingly beautiful couple!

Peter Lauritzen and Mary Loanna Terry on their wedding day.

22 May 1901

Married in the Manti Temple, Sanpete County, Utah

This young bride and groom would eventually welcome twelve children into their family, with my father-in-law, Orson William Lauritzen being the tenth child.

At some point, it becomes just the two of us again.

Peter and Mary Loanna Terry Lauritzen

And one day, we become single again.

Peter Lauritzen, approximately a year before he died in 1962.

There is no credential war

2013-05-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

First let me say that I appreciate the comments that have been made, both publicly and privately, concerning my post of late last evening. It has been lively and enlightening, to say the least.

But, I do want to make one thing abundantly clear, that there was absolutely no intention of pitting the two credentialing programs against each other. None whatsoever. I don't work that way. I am a builder and a lifter, not one who tears down.

A few have made the comment that I must not make an assumption of an entire organization based on the actions of one or a few. Ummm...I'm a Mormon. I have dealt with this all of my life. How many times have the actions of a polygamous community been confused with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its teachings? Or a political candidate representing all Mormons? (That was certainly a hotbed! I felt like I was constantly putting out fires during the election.) Or the mainstream news organizations consistently tagging "Mormon" bank robber, or "Mormon" thief, or "Mormon" whatever...instead of just dropping the "Mormon" off completely.

I believe that for me and what I do, maintaining my AG and all of the requirements that go along with it are fine for me. And, not for one moment am I basing one as being superior over the other.
Both bring us as genealogists to a higher level of polishing our skills and helping us to learn things we didn't know we didn't know.

So, to all of my genealogy friends, rest assured that there is no problem. As a matter of fact, the individual that made the remarks still has my respect, for their skills are sorely needed in the professional genealogy world. I will not publicly name the individual to maintain the respect that has been so earned.

Again, I don't work that way.

Why I Will Not Seek Certification

2013-04-30T22:59:00.001-04:00

I have decided not to become a Certified Genealogist.

Now don't get me wrong. I AM a professional, having been accredited through ICAPGen for nearly fifteen years.

But, that is where it ends.

For several years prior to taking the test for accreditation, I thoroughly researched the difference between becoming certified through BCG (Board for Certification of Genealogists), and even going on to pursue that of being a CGL (Certified Genealogical Lecturer).

There wasn't a lot out there to help me at the time I was seeking the credentials that would identify me as a professional. Accredited Genealogists (AG) seemed to be more of a western thing, for the testing was done by the LDS Church at the Family History Library. Certified Genealogists (CG) seemed to be more well known, but I didn't know if I could pass the testing process.

Actually I didn't know if I could pass either of the testing processes.

I decided to become an AG for the Southern States.

It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I thought I was fairly good, but this process refined me and polished me. I submitted my paperwork and received word that it had been accepted. The next step would be to make an appointment at the Family History Library. This would not be a problem since we travel to Utah frequently to visit family.

At the time I tested, the Southern States included everything from Virginia to Texas. That was a bit of a problem for me, for I didn't really know much about Texas, or Louisiana, or the other states associated with the deep south.

But, I had to learn.

On a Wednesday in October, I dropped my oldest son off at the Missionary Training Center to leave for a two-year mission, drove to Salt Lake City with tears in my eyes, and began my testing that evening.

Little did I know how difficult the next three days would be. At the end of each day, I had to wait to find out if my test results came back at 90% or above. If they did, I would be invited back for the next day for more testing.

This went on until the final day, which included a minimum of four hours of an oral examination in a room with eight individuals from the Family History Library. Oh, my! I was grilled. I sweated bullets. I twisted in my seat.

But, I passed.

During the last thirty minutes, I was asked to leave the room while they discussed me. I gladly left! Soon, I was invited back in. A question was asked of me: If I were to be granted this Accreditation, what would I do with it?

I answered without pausing. I simply stated that I would take what I learn and teach it to others for the rest of my life.

They concurred that I had indeed passed the necessary requirements, and they felt good about the work I had done.

And, it's enough for me.

I have renewed my credentials every five years, as required. I have had to show that I am keeping up with current trends, both as a genealogist and as a speaker. I keep a spreadsheet showing the classes I have taught, as well as the many opportunities I have had for learning. I have almost as much to submit for renewal as I did at the beginning. I was the last person to be tested by the Church before the testing facility evolved into what is now known as ICAPGen (The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists).

Now, why do I even bring this up?

This past weekend was the annual OGS Conference (Ohio Genealogical Society), of which I am a frequent presenter. I love this event, for it's right here in my home state. People come from all over the country to attend.

A few conversations rolled around to my becoming "double credentialed". In other words, to add being a CG and CGL to my postnomial AG might be a good idea to consider. I was encouraged, for having been a professional for most of my life, it would not be hard to complete the process. However, I left the conference feeling this is not to be.

Though the two credentialing parties have different focuses, they are every bit as stringent. Methodology is used in both cases, with the exception that AG's must test in a specific area. (Since my initial testing, the Southern States have been divided. I am now accredited in the Mid-South.)

www.icapgen.org

One of the last people I talked to before leaving informed me that becoming a CG involved such rigorous testing that I would literally be astounded. Apparently, becoming an AG was a piece of cake compared to becoming a CG. I believe I had just been insulted. And, it takes a lot to insult me. All of the respect I had for this individual suddenly diminished, for it was obvious they had no respect for the process of becoming an AG.

So, I will maintain my status as an Accredited Genealogist and will not seek for more. Some people have no postnomials at all, and are every bit the professional that I am - and even more! I will continue to lift up and build the confidence of my colleagues.

And, I will take what I learn and teach it to others - for the rest of my life.

It all went up in smoke...well, almost all

2013-04-09T18:37:00.000-04:00

It was just about 18 months after my mom died in 1984 that my dad went on a research trip to Kentucky. My parents were wonderful genealogists, and had acquired many first-hand accounts from people that were born in the mid-1800's.

When dad returned, the only thing left standing on his property was the front door and the front wall of his house. Lightning had struck the house and burned it to the ground.

Mom and Dad in front of their cabin in Bath, Ohio

The local fire department had been there and did what they could, but most everything was gone.

Shortly afterward, I went through the remains with dad to see if anything could be salvaged. Behind the front door were wooden bookshelves that housed all of the research that he and mom had done. It should have burned. But, it didn't.

There were some smoke stains and some water damage, but nearly everything was salvageable.

Little Peggy at Kingwood Center. You can see some of the smoke damage on the edges

There was also a tall chest of drawers with the bottom four drawers burned. We pried open the top three, and there was all of his underwear. He said with his genealogy and his underwear and K-Mart, he would be just fine.

Nearly five years later, I received a letter out of the blue from a man in California. He had corresponded with my mother up until her death. He had found my name on the old "Family Registry" on microfiche at the Family History Center and wanted to know who I was. We connected.

The one bit of genealogy that was pretty much unusable from the fire was the Cline genealogy. But, this man had it all, for he and mom had what each other had. His information made ours complete.

It was not by happenstance. Never.

Women's History Month - #13

2013-03-13T06:46:00.000-04:00

March 13 — Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.

Again, my mother is at the top of my list on this one!

My parents were raising their three little girls in the coal camps of West Virginia when Dad was drafted into the Navy. He was the only one in the coal camps to be drafted.

This left my mom and my three older sisters to fend for themselves while Dad was away at Pearl Harbor. Fern, Jean and Betty would have been around the ages of 7, 5 and 2 years old.

They were poor to begin with, and even poorer after Dad left. Mom managed to keep everyone fed, mostly with beans. Occasionally, the local butcher would see Mom coming and put back a nice piece of meat for her, assuring her that it wasn't horsemeat.

During this time, Mom also became very sick. Her father heard about it and came over from Kentucky to help care for her. When it became apparent that she was indeed, very, very sick, he made arrangements to have her taken to Columbus, Ohio and he brought the girls back home to Kentucky. Mom had a very serious goiter that was wrapping itself around her throat, threatening to strangle her. She lost a tremendous amount of weight, and it took a long time to recover.

For the remainder of her life, her neck bore a large scar that went from one side to the other where they had to operate to save her life.

Women's History Month - #12

2013-03-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

March 12 — Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation.

Mom stayed home.

Her mom stayed home.

For a time period, she did work at cleaning houses. She named me after one of the women whose home she cleaned - Peggy Sternbaum.

She also worked for awhile in the cafeteria of my grade school. I was always secretly excited when I would see her working, for it was a part-time job. She worked when she was called in. It always bothered her to see the amount of food wasted.

Image from Google, not my mother

Mom was always at home when I was at home. She was there to get me off to school in the mornings, and was there when I returned afterward. She kept the home running, just like her own mother had done.

Women's History Month - #11

2013-03-12T10:27:00.001-04:00

March 11 — Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?

Dad always talked about his little sister, Betty, who died when she was 3 1/2 years old.

Betty was born when Dad was two years old. She was the sixth child out of eleven that would come to that family.

One day, older sister Mary was rocking little Betty by a pot bellied stove that had a pot of beans cooking and bubbling away on the top of it. As she rocked Betty, she would "push off" with her foot against the stove. Each time she pushed, the pot of beans would move a little closer to the edge.

It eventually moved too close to the edge and fell right on to baby Betty and Mary. It mostly covered Betty, scalding her severely.

It took Betty three, agonizing days to die from the burns. What a terrible death! And, the terrible feelings that Mary must have had running through her 11 year old mind. The helplessness of her parents hearing her cries must have haunted them throughout their lives.

One of my sisters is named Betty in honor of this sweet little aunt that died so many years ago.

Women's History Month - #10

2013-03-10T22:14:00.000-04:00

March 10 — What role did religion play in your family? How did your female ancestors practice their faith? If they did not, why didn’t they? Did you have any female ancestors who served their churches in some capacity?

I don't believe religion played a big part in too many of my ancestors' lives. My sisters have told me that they did go to a few churches when they were growing up in both Kentucky and West Virginia. Mom did mind them going, but she drew the line when it came to visiting a snake handling church. That was off-limits in her book.

Again, I quote from mom's journal:

"So now I have grown older now and have started to go too church by my self and with neighbors to the church nowon as the Jesus only church. And there where I met my husband to be I was 16 year old when I met him we all went to church at the same place he was baptized at one time in the Jesus only church before we were married my mom & dad didn’t wants us to get married for I was the only girl at time that had and very younge I had several girls friends and was very happy Just staying at home and helping my mother with house work."

Church was a place for socializing. It was a place to commit oneself to the Lord. But, mom knew there was something missing in her life.

In 1948, two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on my mother's door, and her life was changed forever. She read the Book of Mormon, had some very spiritual and sacred dreams, and made her decision to be baptized with my three sisters, who were 9, 12 and 14 years old.

They were baptized in the Guyan River near Logan, West Virginia. The above picture shows them attending church at Mud Fork close to the time they were baptized.

Dad wanted nothing to do with the church. He also felt the missionaries were getting a bit too pushy with him. So, on New Year's Day of 1950, he moved the family to Mansfield, Ohio. He found a better job, better educational opportunities for his girls, and...no Mormon church.

Four months later, the area opened up for missionary work. Mom and my sisters were found, and the beginnings of the church in Mansfield began.

Dad joined two years later.

In 1948, women didn't usually strike out and do something like my mother did. But, she realized what was presented to her was the truth, and she wasn't going to run from it.

She changed the lives of her family, her ancestors, and me - who came along in 1955.

Women's History Month - #9

2013-03-09T10:24:00.000-05:00

March 9 — Take a family document (baptismal certificate, passenger list, naturalization petition, etc.) and write a brief narrative using the information.

I had to really give this one some thought.

Gilbert Stephens was an ancestor of mine who fought in the Revolutionary War. He served from Virginia, later moving his family to Morgan County, Kentucky.

Years ago, I sent for his pension file from the National Archives. It was a large one, costing a total of $72! The day it arrived was indeed a happy one. And, nothing else got done in my house for several days as I read through it.

Gilbert was entitled to bounty land for his service in the Revolutionary War. We were a country that was cash poor, but land rich. The last years of his life was spent trying to secure the necessary proof needed for his land.

Then, he died. Wife Nancy Osborn Stephens was left to continue on with the quest. And, this quest went on for years.

She spent those years trying to produce the needed proof of her marriage to Gilbert. Many, many documents are included in the pension file that attest to witnesses having known them all of their married life, and that they were indeed married.

It wasn't good enough.

Even their sons wrote that their parents were indeed married.

That wasn't good enough.

Nancy asked a man to go back to Virginia to see if anyone was alive that could remember the wedding, which took place at Thomas Leadingham's home, where she was a servant.

The man went, but died when he was there.

One of the final pages in the pension file indicates the following:

Nancy states that after years of trying to prove she was indeed married to Gilbert Stephens, "she expects she will not be able to produce any public record of her marriage".

This absolutely touched my heart. She was 88 years old and couldn't remember if she was married in 1796 or 1797. Dozens of friends and relatives stated their knowledge of Gilbert and Nancy being husband and wife, including her own brother, Jesse.

But, none of it was good enough.

In the end, she actually was given the bounty land due to her and Gilbert.

She died a very short time later.

Women's History Month - #8

2013-03-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

A favorite subject of mine is the discovery of journals and diaries left by our ancestors.

March 8 — Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.

My mother was not an educated woman. Her handwriting and spelling were sometimes a challenge to figure out.

But, during the later years of her life she began writing down her memories. I recently transcribed these journals, and have included the following:

Ida StevensClemens’ Personal Journal Writings

Written by her own hand during the later years of her life – probably 1970’s

"Chester Lee Clemens & Ida Stevens

Wedding Day Feb 1 1932

We were married on a mondy in morehead Ky in Rowan co it was a cold day muddy& some Ice & Snow. Richard Hill& his wife Alice took us to morehead in Clem Father old 27 chev car. Clem put the Battery in the car and got acid in his eyes he look like he was crying all day. We had a late meal in Shouder Ky

When we got home it was dark the neighbors was there to bell us. That beat on dishpans shot off Guns and rode Clem on a pail down to the Store they fell down and Clem just sit on the rail and thay couldint get up. We all finley arrived at the Store we Bought candy & cigar and treated ever one and thay Bought us a pair of pillows forour bed. Chester walked to Olive Hill and got me a dress for the wedding & a Scarf he Started about 4 AM in the morning and was back before 8.AM. My dress at the neck line. He wore a Navy Blue Surge Suit. We stayed all night at my dads House in Lawton Ky a big 7 room house up the Hollow behind Watt Hillman Store. We had a big dinner at my mom and Dads House the next day and we went down to Chester mom & Dad House the next day we Stayed at my mom and Dads House till we went to House Keeping the 29 of March 1932. We builted us a nice too room House. We had 1 bed 1 dresser a big pot belled Stove in one room. The kitchen. We had a cook Stove a big round table and a dish Shelf. And Clem Bought us a big Sow Hog so we had our meat for the next winter. We had a garden & caned & dad give us a young Jersey cow. Clem didn’t make much at that time he only made .20 pr Hr 12.00 a week to live on he worked 10 Hr a Day"

All of her original spelling has been retained. She even drew a sketch of her first cookstove.

These are priceless!

Women's History Month - #7

2013-03-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

Here comes a yummy challenge for today!

March 7 — Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.

Mom was an excellent cook, as well as her mother. She wrote down recipes, but more often than not, she cooked by "feel" and by "sight". When I was cooking along right beside her, I'd ask her if I was doing it right. She would take the spoon or the dough and say, "Here, let me feel it." She could just tell.

By far, my favorite of her dishes was chicken and dumplings, one that I try to fix today. But, it never quite tastes like hers.

This is a photo I found on a Google search that is as close-looking to hers as I could find.

Chicken and Dumplings

1 whole chicken, cut up

Stick it in a pot of water and boil it till it's done.

Take it out, let it cool. Tear it off the bone.

To the broth, add:

Some cut up carrots

Some cut up celery

One big old onion cut up

Salt and pepper

Start making the dumplings:

Flour (I think about 2 cups)

Crisco (I think about 1/2 cup)

Salt

Cold water

Start mixing up the dumplings, but add the water just a spoonful at a time till it feels right. Roll it out on the counter with some flour on it. Cut the dumplings out with a can smaller than a Pet milk can. Or you can leave the dough in a ball and drop them in by the spoonful.

Add the torn up chicken back in. Let it boil.

Start dropping the dumplings in. Cover them up and cook them till they're done. (About 20 minutes).

Sit down and eat.

In her later years, she often just used Bisquick or a can of biscuits that she cut up. But, I liked the homemade ones the best.

Today, I fix them a little differently. I add frozen peas, a can of light chicken broth, sometimes a can of light cream of chicken soup, parsley, and I trim off any fat and skin. But, each bite makes me think of mom.

Women's History Month - #6

2013-03-06T08:36:00.000-05:00

On a cold a snowy Ohio morning, I'm thinking of the women in my family...

March 6 — Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

It is unfortunate that a fire occurred about a year and a half after my mom died. Many of the items in that house fire would have come to me, for none of my sisters like old things.

Me...I love old things. Perhaps I love them too much! I treasure them. I think of how they were used, how they were made, how they were worn.

But, two things stand out in the possessions I do own:

My sister found a cast iron skillet in my dad's possessions when she was cleaning out her garage. It is similar to the one above. I cleaned up the rust that was on it, re-seasoned it, and now use it every day.

I can't help but think of the many pans of cornbread, biscuits, fried potatoes, fried chicken, fried pies, fried anything that must have come from that skillet. It has "Wegner's 1891" imprinted on the bottom. It's one of the best.

The next items are just as dear:

I inherited three bonnets that my mother and grandmother wore. Mom's favorite is on the far right. How well I remember the days she wore it as she tended her magnificent flowerbed, pulled weeds, and worked in the garden under blistering sun. I believe I still have the pattern she used to make it.

These mementos take me back to a time when I can envision the people who used them, and they allow me to cherish them even more!

Women's History Month - #5

2013-03-05T09:29:00.001-05:00

Onward we go with the lives of valiant women!

March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

My mom used to tell me that she and dad met at church. Then, she would later say that they didn't really grow up going to church. So, I'm not sure how they met, other than the fact that Dad worked at the limestone quarry where Mom's father, Corb Stevens, was the foreman.

The old limestone quarry at Lawton, KY. It was later a mushroom factory, where the conditions were perfect for growing mushrooms.

My dad's parents, Richard Lee and Fannie Collier Clemens. The story about how they met is unknown to me.

My mom's parents, Corb and Bertha Gearheart Stevens. The story about how they met is unknown to me.

How sad it is that these people that I knew so well in my life have stories that will never be known to me. I can only surmise that their love story echoes that of my parents; they married because there wasn't anything else to do.

In eastern Kentucky, opportunities for going beyond the few counties around one's home were few. You married who you knew; those your parents knew, those you went to school with, those you saw at church, those that lived up the holler.

Oh, if I could just have about five minutes more with each of them!

Women's History Month - #4

2013-03-04T09:43:00.002-05:00

And, the fun continues...

March 4 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

My good parents, shortly after their marriage in 1932.

My parents lived in eastern Kentucky. Mom told me they got married because there wasn't anything else to do.

Chester Lee Clemens and Ida Stevens were young hillbillies living in Carter County, Kentucky. Ida's father was the foreman at the local limestone quarry where Chester worked. Dad married the boss's daughter.

On the morning of 1 Feb 1932, Dad was working on the car that would take them to neighboring Morehead in Rowan County. Battery acid spilled into his eyes. They flushed them out, but his eyes continued to tear up all day, and he spent the day wiping them.

The judge kept reassuring him that it wasn't going to be that bad.

They married during the Depression, but Mom always said they never knew there was a Depression going on. They made do on very little. They had $7 to their name, and bought a hog with that money.

Their long marriage survived economic bad times, illnesses, World War II, Dad's service in the Navy at Pearl Harbor, poverty, working in the coal mines and living in the coal camps.

Through it all, Mom was a strong woman who raised four strong daughters.

Women's History Month - #3

2013-03-03T21:03:00.002-05:00

This challenge has been exciting! I am enjoying the rediscovery of the love of my ancestors who were women.

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

Well, I wasn't named for anyone in my family tree - or so I thought.

I was actually named for the woman my mother worked for. She cleaned house for a woman whose husband was a supermarket owner in my hometown. I quote from mom's journal:

"I Ida Clemens lived at 294 East arch St in 1955 and that is where our baby Peggy Lynn was borned I was 41 years of age when she come to live with us. Betty Lee was passed 16 years of age when Peggy Lynn was borned ever one sure was shocked. I worked for Peggy & Dave Sternbaum when we learned we was going to have here the Saints here give us a Shower we just had every thing we needed. She was borned on 8 July 1955 at 10 oclock inthe Mansfield Ohio General Hospitial in Richland co. Dr Bonar was the Dr that delivered hir. My Dr was out of towon on Vacation Dr Robert Allison. We had to much company to seethe new baby. And the weather was Hot."

Mom was actually about six months' along when she felt she should go to the doctor, where she was informed she had "Cupid's tumor." All she heard was the word "tumor". Then he informed her she would be having a baby in the middle of the summer.

However, I have now discovered several women named Peggy in my family tree. Most were named Margaret, though I was not. It really does seem to be a family name.

The most unusual name I have found is one that I have blogged about before - that of John Ellen Offill. I just don't understand why in the world she was named John. Her grandfather's name was John, as well as her husband's. She's a beautiful woman.

But, her name is John...

Women's History Month - #2

2013-03-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

In continuing on with Women's History Month, the following challenge question was issued:

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is my mother, Ida Stevens Clemens. It was probably taken in the 1940's in either Kentucky or West Virginia. Mom was born in 1913, so my best guest is that she was in her early 30's.

This photo has always been one of my favorites, because it shows a young and happy woman that seems so happy and vivacious. It was post-Depression in the hills of Appalachia, yet she glows.

I did not know my mother when she was young. I was born when she was 41 years old, and in 1955 that was considered "awfully old to be having a baby". Most of my friends had grandparents that were the age of my parents.

But, this shows my mom just full of life. What a beautiful young woman she was!

Women's History Month - #1

2013-03-03T20:10:00.001-05:00

This month, I have decided to accept the challenge given by Lisa Alzo for Women's History Month.

Half of our pedigree belongs to our female ancestors. They are just as important, yet many times remain silent entitites. Many did not have voices in ownership of land and property, or even in choosing their own life partner.

Yet, they are ours.

For the first day of challenge, I include the following:

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

I have thought a lot about this one, and decided that my favorite female ancestor is the unknown one. We all have one.

The above photo came from a CD that contained many photos of my husband's ancestors. Many, if not most of the photos are labeled. This one is not. It is simply entitled "Unknown Jensen Girl".

She's unknown to us, but perhaps someone knows who she is.

She must have a story to tell. She probably grew up with her family. She was probably part of the early Mormon pioneers making the trek by handcart to the Salt Lake Valley. She may have fallen in love, married and had a family.

We just don't know.

Yet her story deserves to be told. I just wish we knew what it was...

Helping another...just because

2013-02-03T21:04:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I received a phone call from the Temple President in Columbus, Ohio. A lady who was not a member of our church had called the temple, wanting to know if someone could help her find out something about her family. She wasn't even sure who her father's family was.

President Brandt said, "Point her to Peggy!"

I called the woman, told her who I was, and reassured her that I was someone she could trust. She was African-American, and was elderly. I asked her a few questions, again reassuring her that she need not fear me, and told her I would get back with her as soon as I had something.

Her family was not that difficult to find. I spent part of an afternoon doing some basic research and locating her family in census records, death records and obituaries.

I ended up taking her family back to the Civil War days. Imagine that! Clear back to the days of bondage.

I called her again to tell her I found some things she would be interested in, and asked her for her address. Again, she was a bit hesitant, but I told her that once I sent the items to her I would shred her phone number and address.

I sent sixty pages of her family's history to her.

I didn't hear from her for a couple of weeks. I just chalked it up to an "Oh, well" moment, and went on my way.

Then, the phone call came. She was beyond ecstatic!! She had shared the information with her children and grandchildren, and they were excited to take it to the next level. I told her that it might be a challenge to get beyond the Civil War, and that she should refer to the web sites I had given her in my letter to her.

This was one of those wonderful, feel-good moments that come in helping another. I don't know if Miss Pauline will ever know her pre-Civil War family, but what I sent to her brought her and her family great joy - which in turn, gave me great joy.

Do I Have Enough Proof? Reading to the end of the line.

2013-01-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

I have been stuck on one of my Collier lines for years. I guess my parents were, too.

This is a photo of Anna Walker and John Beauregard Collier, my father's grandparents. He knew them well. John was named for his father, John B. Collier. After that, we've always been a bit unsure.

I use this particular slide in the classes I teach, for it shows that not all handwriting was atrocious. This is actually pretty good! Once you get into the mode of reading it, the lettering begins to flow.

The record on the left shows that John B. Collier and Rebecca Roberts asking for permission to be joined together in the holy state of matrimony. It is dated the 20th day of February 1852 in Lee County, Virginia.

The record on the right is the minister's return, stating that he joined them together in the holy state of matrimony on 22nd day of Feb 1852. It is dated 3 Mar 1852.

I have not ever been able to find the parents of John. I have scoured the records and the cemeteries and the courthouses of southwest Virginia trying to find something to prove who is parents were. I did keep running across a man by the name of Aaron J. Collier, a physician. He is quite prominent.

I ordered microfilm records of Lee County, Virginia and searched them carefully, only to send them back to Salt Lake City. On a whim, I reordered a birth register for the area to once again see if there was anything I had overlooked.

As a young genealogist, I didn't always look all the way across the page. In the above slide, you be able to see LeGrand Collier's record of birth. His father, John, is in the right column. It is about one-third of the way down.

Now you can see the second page of the ledger where Rebecca Collier is listed as his mother. This is where I always stopped.

If you continue on to the last two columns, you can see where the informant is listed as A.J. Colier. His relationship? "G.F."

I'm pretty sure this is the Aaron J. Collier, physician, that I have seen in so many records. But, the relationship has me hopefully optimistic.

Could "G.F." be "grandfather"? Could it? Please, could it?

Could it be little LeGrand's grandfather and John's father?

I know it will take more work to prove this relationship, but it's more than I've had in the past. And, I might have had it earlier if I had just read to the end of the line!

How Pawpaw Got His Name

2013-01-01T14:22:00.000-05:00

My maternal grandfather's name was Corbett Sullivan Stevens.

Pawpaw was born in 1892 in Winkler, Elliott County, Kentucky. We think.

Corbett Sullivan is not really a Kentucky name. It has no hillbilly roots. And, there is absolutely no namesake, no naming pattern, nothing that would elude as to why he was given this name.

His own father died at a very young age. He was only 27 years old, and his mother eventually married again.

The Stevens name is quite common in eastern Kentucky. Many of them are descended from Gilbert Stevens/Stephens, a Revolutionary War patriot who eventually moved to Morgan County, Kentucky. It has not been difficult to follow his descendants.

My mother often said that Pawpaw didn't really know his own birthdate. When asked to provide one for military service or Social Security, he basically made one up. The date he made up was 6 Sep 1892. Apparently, it was good enough.

Recently, I was talking with my uncle, the last of the long line of children from Corb and wife Bertha's family. I asked him if he had any idea how his father had gotten his name. Uncle Dick replied that he thought he was named after a prize fighter.

A prize fighter?

I came home and began to do a Google search on anything about the name Corbett Sullivan. A whole new world opened up to me.

James J. Corbett was quite the prizefighter. He was a professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. His father brought the family from Ireland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Corbett

His most famous fight was against John L. Sullivan, which took place on 7 Sep 1892. Now, scroll upwards and look at the birthdate of my grandfather again.

John Sullivan was the first American athlete to earn over a million dollars. He was born in the South End of Boston to Irish immigrant parents, and was known as The Boston Strongboy. In 1892, he agreed to defend his title by fighting Gentleman Jim Corbett in New Orleans. Tickets went for the hefty price of $5-15, and the venue was filled with 10,000 spectators.

Corbett was younger and faster, and was able to dodge the blows from Sullivan. After 21 rounds, it was over. Corbett had won the fight against Sullivan. Later, Sullivan remarked, "If I had to get licked, I'm glad I was licked by an American."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L._Sullivan

Apparently, news of this fight made it all the way to the hills and hollers of Eastern Kentucky. And quite possibly, my mother's family knew of it.

Now, do I know for sure that my grandfather was named in honor of this famous fight? No. I don't know that I'll ever know that for sure. What I do know is that for several earlier generations, there is absolutely no one named Corbett or Sullivan in the Stevens family of Eastern Kentucky.

I am grateful for www.wikipedia.com for providing the information necessary for this blogpost. I would never have known about it otherwise.

A grateful heart, and it's written down!

2012-12-30T21:19:00.001-05:00

Can I ever be grateful enough?

My mother was one of the most influential people in my life. She taught me to appreciate all the parts of my life - both the good and the not-so-good. She was not a despondent person, and I never once saw her depressed.

One thing she emphasized to me a lot was the attitude of being grateful. She said that if I whined about things too much, the Lord just might give me something to whine about. She had learned this from her parents, who learned it from their parents, who learned it from...

Because of her good example, I have tried to be grateful for all things in my life. I am thankful for the good times, when life has been a bit flush and is going smoothly. But, I am also thankful for the trials that have come into my life. They have taught me to appreciate the good times. And, there is usually a lesson to be learned.

A few years ago, my sister gave me a small, skinny, spiral-bound blank book. It was cute, but I didn't really know what I was going to do with it. Then, one day it dawned on me what it would be perfect for - a gratitude journal!

It took me two years to fill it up, for I would do it during the passing of the sacrament (communion) at church. It was a perfect time to reflect on just how much the Lord has done for me in my life.

Some of the things that are included may seem a bit odd when first looking through it. There are the normal things, like family, grandchildren, home, husband, parents, etc.

But then, I stretch it out to include things that we may take for granted. In the words of a very wise man: "Sometimes the things we take for granted are the things other people are praying for."

These have grown to include: good dental care, tears, my five senses, technology, windshields, hair, etc. The list goes on and on.

I could fill volumes with the things I am thankful for. And, I intend to do just that. I want my posterity to see and notice those things that their grandmother did not take for granted.

And, it's in my own handwriting. It would be much easier and much faster to do such a volume on the computer, but I want them to know what my handwriting looked like. I would give anything to see what some of my ancestors' handwriting looked like.

So, 2012 is coming to a close, and so is my fourth Gratitude Journal. Next week, I'll begin a new one with a whole new list of things to record.

And, it will be different than all of the previous ones. The older we get, the more of a reverence we have for life...including our own.

Mapping Our Family's History

2012-12-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

I love maps!

I have always loved maps. From the time I was a young girl, my father would place a road map into my hands and I would follow along the route, never once having to ask "are we there yet?" He told me how proud he was that I could read a road map, for none of his sisters could.

Mr. Kerry and I taught our own children how to read maps, supplying them with their own mini-road atlas as we crossed the country. Those children were very good at orienteering during their Army years.

But in tracing one's genealogy, it's nearly impossible to create an accurate history without using maps. I have my own collection, and they are not up for borrowing in my family. Y'all just get your own!

Once, when I was teaching a series of genealogy classes, the subject of using maps was being emphasized. I brought some of the most important ones that I have that show nooks and crannies and creeks that contain family names in Carter County, Kentucky.

One gentleman suggested to me that I needed a Hildebrand map. Okay, what's a Hildebrand map? He said just call the public library in Roanoke, Virginia, and they would direct me on how to get one.

So, I did. They said they had all of them, and wanted to know which one I wanted. I didn't know, so I asked them what they had. When she told me, I knew I had to have them all. It would cost $96. I asked if they took Visa, which they did not. But, she said just send a check in the mail. She would go ahead and send the maps. My sisters shared the cost.

When they arrived, nothing else in my house got done. Nothing. I perused these maps for days - and I still do! Mr. Hildebrand was a cartographer who lived in Virginia. He devised these Settlement Maps that show the residences of people in the county, and the year they first appeared in the county.

The above map is for Franklin County, Virginia, and comprises the years 1786-1886.

How I wish there were more "Mr. Hildebrands" for all of the areas I research in!! He has done a project that to me is more valuable than most anything else I have. My sisters and I have spread these maps out and highlighted family members. Months later, we return to the same map to highlight more.

Other states may have similar maps. Some may be called a settlement map, others may be a simple plat map.

He's no longer alive so that I may personally thank him. But, I will forever be indebted to him.

J.R. Hildebrand Settlement Maps

•Roanoke Farms

•Fincastle County

•Wythe County

•Town of Salem

•Original Grants, Roanoke

•Beverly Patent, Orange & Augusta

•Borden Grant, west of Blue Ridge

•Pulaski County

•Rockbridge County

•Franklin County

•Augusta County

•Botetourt County

•Bedford County

•Montgomery County

Roanoke Public Library
706 S Jefferson St. – Roanoke, VA 24016
540-853-2473

We Were All Beginners Once...And, Will Be Again!

2012-11-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

There has been much talk in the past week concerning "Drive By Genealogists" and some of the effects on beginning genealogists.

I have been an educator in the genealogy field for more than thirty years. Although I teach intermediate and advanced classes, some of my fondest memories have come in the classes I teach for those that are just getting their feet wet.

They are anxious to get started, but a little bit nervous, too. At this point in their quest, they don't know about all of the "rules and regulations."

And, I'm not going to tell them.

I give them weekly assignments to get them started. They are given a couple of pedigree charts and six family group sheets with the following challenge for the coming week:

Fill out the pedigree chart as completely as you can.

Always capitalize the last name!
When recording the place of an event, always include the county. Always. not everyone was born in a town, but everyone was born in a county.
Begin recording the date in a standard genealogy format; 27 Nov 2012. This can really help to avoid confusion if using just numbers.
When recording the grandmothers, use the maiden name. Always.

For the family group records, fill them out as follows:

For #1, your family as it appears now.
For #2, your family showing you as a child, with all siblings living or deceased, who they married.
For #3, your mother's family, showing her as a child with her siblings and who they married.
For #4, your father's family, showing him as a child with his siblings and who they married.

I encourage them to contact every living relative for family stories, obituaries and funeral cards, etc.

And, I also encourage them to write down where the information came from and who possesses the obituary, family bible, birth certificate, discharge paper.

I do not tell them that those sources must be written in a certain format. That's for later on. However, emphasis is given that someday when they're gone, their work will have more credibility if they can show where the information came from.

As they cross the stepping stones into published family histories and family trees on the internet, don't assume they are either right or wrong without looking first to see if their sources were documented. If they aren't, that doesn't mean they are to be discarded; just use that information as a springboard to take you to the original sources and find out for yourself. Then, you document it!

Some people may do nothing more than just the above minimum homework of a pedigree chart and some family group sheets. And, that's fine.

Some may go forward with gusto and pursue a lifelong love of their family's history. And, that's fine.

The last thing I want to do it completely overwhelm them at first. I want them to feel this is something they can do. And, if all they do is simply write that the information came from an obituary in a shoebox in the top of their aunt's closet, that's fine with me.

We were all beginners once, and we are again; each time we begin a new family line or discover a new maiden name, we are beginning our research again! Hopefully, those that are seasoned are a bit more thorough than when we first started out.

I want each student to feel this is something they can do. The refinement can come along the way.

Tombstone Tuesday - Stones by a cabin

2012-10-23T20:16:00.000-04:00

While going for a beautiful autumn drive a few days, I happened upon a cabin I've been meaning to stop by for several years. It is known as Workman Cabin, and is situated in the southwest corner of central park of Loudonville, Ohio, not far from where I live.

It was built on the original homestead about 1840, which was located about three miles from the town. People had covered it with a type of siding. It was removed and restored. Later, it was moved on the back of a flatbed truck when it was donated to the local historical society.

Leaning up against one side of it were two tombstones, that of Hezekiah Clemens, who died in 1812. I'm unsure of his relationship to the family.

Beside him is the tombstone of Jerutia Workman, wife of Morgan Workman.

What a beautiful centerpiece for this little town! I wonder how many drive by and never give it a second thought...