Jan's Family Blog

Treasure Chest Thursday- 1940 Census- Hearn Page

2012-04-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

It has been way too long since I have posted on this blog, but thought this would be a good time to get started again. What better way than to post family members as I find them on the 1940 census, starting with myself. Yes, my first name is Frances although I have never used it, always have been Jan or Janet to family and friends. I was named after two great grandmothers, Mary Janett Barwis Carroll and Sarah Frances Chiles Crow. They both died a few years before I was born. My grandfather is at the bottom of the first page. Right above him is Mary Davenport, the widow of one of my husband's ancestors living in the house where I was born in 1939! . Harold had never been to Oklahoma except to drive though until we married in 1987.

I can hardly tear myself away from the computer this week, I am either indexing these wonderful records or looking for family members. What sweet memories this census is bringing back.I remember most of the people on this page as a child growing up in Ada, Oklahoma.

The picture of me was taken five months before the 1940 census at the 321 W. 15th, the address in the census.

Letter from Uncle Jake - September 1, 1942

2011-05-30T20:47:00.003-05:00

Air Forces Advanced Flying School
Roswell School
Roswell, NM
8/1/1942

Dear Mom, Dad, Jan, Jed, and Verne,

Verne, if anything happens to Jack - Well those Japs haven't seen nothin-

I got a letter from Jack Saturday and a telegram Sunday evening. Looks like he is seeing 50 times as much of the world in 1/10 of the time as I am. I'll be over there in 5 months - We aren't getting leave, so if you can I wish you all come down around the 25th. I would like Ruth to come with you. I haven't said anything to her about it.
Mom, here is something I guess I had better tell you. Don't worry about me getting married. I am not going to even think about it until this is over. They say war changes a man. Well - I'd hate to get married and after all this is over discover that I had changed so much that my own wife wouldn't know me. God knows, I've changed too much as it is. When this is over I will have time to think about it.
We are in the flood stage part of the year. Been raining all day - all ships grounded - no flying -
Oh yeah- I got a big box of homemade cookies Friday. Sure good too- Who from? Ruth- Good cook.
Get paid today or tomorrow, will send you a little. After this month I will be able to help you more - But not much this month. It is going to take around $200 before I get through this month- All of our uniforms have to fit perfectly. The colonel is going to inspect each one individually for fit. Mine hasn't come in yet. I think I go downtown tomorrow and get measured again. The tailors say that our class has lost the most weight around the waist than any other class. We were measured for uniforms the first came here.
Was told an hour ago that we were going to get leaves. Today we do, tomorrow we don't. That's just how much they know. Go ahead and plan on me not getting one.
Well, Mom , I am nearing the end of a nine month search. A search for that commission. As the end is nearing you can't imagine how glad I am that it is almost over. I have about 60 more bombs to drop-my bombing is improving and if it keeps on I may be one of the few Distinguished
Bombardiers. As it I am now in the group known as Master Bombardiers. I hope I end up in one of the two classes- One more week (4 days) of groung school and I am through with Ground School. I wish I could tell you a little about the training I have gone through - but that will just have to wait until I am free to talk. I'm afraid that no one outside of pilots and bombardiers can appreciate the value of a good bombardier. A baseball team without a homerun slugger is just like an airplane without a good bombardier. When you read about some pilot flying one of those Flying Fortresses on a bombing raid or about a certain pilot destroying a munition plant - train etc, you can be sure that he drove the plane and the bombardier did the rest.
Of course we all like to have a good pilot because it is easier for us to bomb with a good pilot. 30 seconds after we see a target - we drop a bomb. From 12,000 feet-100 seconds after sighting- we drop- Don't say anything about any of that to any one.
Incidentally - I started out poor in my bombing - reason - too darn nervous- I'm not nervous now. One thing I can say - you really earn your commission as a Flying Officer. Something that can't be done in six weeks. "nuff said"
Papa Crow would sure be proud of his bunch now - All of us in the Army - one with a commission - one getting his- one trying to get one-None of us drafted-
Well will quit so I can get this off. Maybe my letters will be longer from now on - now that it is almost over.
Jake
PS. I am going to see George Anne & family Saturday.
Keep this telegram for me. Will send more money if you need it.

James America Hearn died in a plane crash September 1, 1943, one year to the day after this letter was written. Jack was my Dad, Verne was my mother and Jed was his nickname for my baby brother who was his namesake. We lived with my paternal grandparents during the war, my Dad was in the South pacific. Papa Crow was their grandfather. I do not know who the George Anne he mentioned in the PS is. Although he did say in this letter that he would not get married until after the war, a telegram dated September 29 said, Got wings, got commission and new wife, Ruth. I have transcribed this letter as written. Jake loved to use dashes instead of periods. It was a surprise to me that while reading this letter to my husband today I started crying. Crying because I never got to know this sweet young man who my mother said adored me and would spend hours rocking me when I was a baby.

In Honor of my Dad, Jack Olin Hearn

2011-05-29T15:42:00.007-05:00

Dad was a plank owner on the USS Greenwood DE679, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. I can remember my Mom and Grandmother sitting by the radio night after night listening to the war news and playing dominoes. For some reason this year the memories are clearer than ever before. I think because I have been going through letters and pictures taking during those years. Thank you Dad, Uncle Jake, Uncle E.C., cousins Glen Witcher, C. Russell, J.C Hearn, Alfred Crow, and Wilburn Crow for your service and sacrifice. Especially Jake and Alfred who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

A previous post" Eight Small Boys" has a picture of the cousins taken in 1925.

In Memoriam: James America Hearn ( Uncle Jake)

2011-05-27T22:30:00.004-05:00

I have vague memories of when my Uncle Jake was killed, but remember well all the wonderful stories about him that my family shared with me. He was a beautiful young man, that is reflected in the letters I have that he wrote home during the war. They told me how much he loved me and I miss not having him in my life growing up.

The picture was taken April 5, 1943 and he died September 1, 1943, he was 24 years old.

James Edward "Bud" Hearn 1942-2010

2010-07-03T15:42:00.001-05:00

James Edward “Bud” Hearn

Bud Hearn, 68, died June 9, 2010 at the home of his son in Phoenix, AZ. Bud was born February 14, 1942 in Ada, Oklahoma to Jack and Wanda Thornton Hearn. He graduated from Eureka Springs High School in 1960. After serving in the U. S. Navy he attended UCA and UALR. Bud worked for many years in the hospitality industry in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Florida, but had resided in Fayetteville for several years before moving to Phoenix last year.

His parents, sister Lynda Sue Lindstrom, brother Jerry Bob Hearn and nephew Steven Jay Bowen preceded him in death.

Bud is survived by a daughter Michelle Hearn Brasel (Russell) of Fayetteville, son Chris Hearn (Jennifer), Grandchildren David, Dylan, and Calista Hearn, all of Phoenix, AZ, sister Jan Hearn Davenport (Harold) of North Little Rock, a half brother Jack Hearn of Oklahoma City, OK, nephews, Todd Garrett of Jacksonville, Florida, Sean Hearn of Minnesota and niece, Kelley Land of Columbia, MO.

Treasure Chest Thursday

2010-06-10T11:28:00.001-05:00

I have a treasure chest full of family pictures, all special to me. But today this one is all the more special becasue I lost my little "Bud" yesterday. The picture was taken for our Dad who was in the South Pacific at the time, so of course we were on on our very best behavior. I will miss you Bud!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-09T10:16:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

There are no words to express the pain these panels represent.

Sentimental Sunday- Eight Small Boys

2010-01-10T15:00:00.000-06:00

Ada Weekly News, April 30, 1925 Ada, Oklahoma

Eight Small Boys In 1925,
All in Army, War Work

E. C. Hearn, 321 West Fifteenth has in the last few days been looking fondly at a picture taken in 1925 of eight small boys, all but one barefooted, and thinking a bit abut where those young men are scattered about.
Three of the eight are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Hearn and a fourth is a nephew who had just come in to be with them when the picture was taken. The lads were sitting along a concrete culvert in the 400 block on West Seventeenth. The "littlest" was E.C. Hearn Jr, who was scared or mad or something as he was obviously howling noisily. And where are they now? Either in military service or in defense plants.
E. C Hearn, Jr is with 45th Division.
Jake Hearn is in bombardier school in Santa Ana, California.
Jack Hearn is in defense work in Fort Worth, Texas.
Their cousin J.C. Hearn is in defense work in Mississippi.
Alfred and Wilbourn Crow, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Olin Crow are in the Army, Alfred at Abilene and Wilbourn with the Forty-fifth.
Glen Witcher, son of W. J. Witcher is at Camp Barkley in the Army.
And C. Russell, son of Mrs. W. J. Witcher is with the U.S. Marines at San Diego, California.
(My Dad, Jack Hearn is 4th from the right. Shortly after this picture he joined the Navy and served on the USS Greenwood- De-79). Of the eight boys, two did not survive the war, Alfred Crow and my Uncle Jake Hearn)

Surname Saturday- Barwis/Barwise

2010-01-02T12:18:00.001-06:00

My great grandmother Mary Jenett Barwise was born 17 April 1866, in Preston, Lancashire, England. My research has documented this line to a Joseph Barwise, blacksmith, who died in Maryport, Cumberland 26 May 1807. His son James was christened in Kendal, Westmoreland 25 August 1780. James migrated to Lancashire, going first to Lancaster, then Blackburn and Preston. The occupations of these particular Barwise men were either shoemakers or blacksmiths.

Mary Jenett and Agnes Barwise

This surname is of English origin and may be from the hamlet of Barwise in Westmorland, deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century "beorgas" meaning "hills".

Wordless Wednesday --Abel, Sally and "the turkey"

2009-12-30T11:51:00.000-06:00

Abel and Sarah Crow at 321 W. 15th, Ada, Oklahoma probably around 1925

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-23T14:01:00.000-06:00

My grandmother, Ida Bailey Mayfield Crow and her twin sister Ora Lucille Howard Crow,
born 24 October 1884, Sherman Grayson County, Texas.

Tombstone Tuesday-Reverend Francis Rattray (1743-1806)

2009-12-08T14:22:00.000-06:00

My GGGG Grandfather, Francis Rattray, born 21 February 1743, Barony, Glasgow, Scotland, son of Alexander Rattray and Janet Orr. Francis attended the University of Glasgow. He married Agnes Haynes ( daughter of John Haynes, woolcomber of Aberdeen) 3 December 1784 in Edinburgh where his occupation was given as schoolteacher. Next record found for Francis for the christening of my GGG grandmother Jenett Rattray 27 Nov, 1794)and her sister Mary Haynes Rattray, 9 April 1793 at the Howard Street Chapel (Independent) in Sheffield, Yorkshire England. There were three more children born to Francis & Agnes Rattray. They were John, Agnes and Francis. Their christening records have not been located.

Rev. Francis Rattray died 24 Oct. 1806 in Blennerhasset, Cumberland, England. He is buried in the churchyard at St Michael's in Torpenhow, Cumberland, England. One of the most thrilling moments in over 25 years of researching this family was to visit this beautiful resting place of my ancestors in 2002

Diocese of Carlisle, Bishops Transcripts, Parish of Torpenhow, Cumberland, The Rev. Francis Rattray, Presbyterian Minister at Blennerhasset, age 58 years,was b uried October 24th. The above ia a just extract of parish Register of Torpenhow of all the burials for the year 1806.
Witness our hands this 12st day of May 1807.
James Marshall
Officiating Minister at Torpenhow Thomas Martin Thos. Railton

FHL Film 0090669

2009-10-22T22:55:00.000-05:00

Sarah Frances Chiles was born 7 July 1851 at Hickman Mills, Jackson County, Missouri, the daughter of Alexander Chiles and Letitia Rice. Sallie married Abel Marion Crow 28 September 1870 in Grayson County, Texas. She died 28 February 1927 in Ada, Pontotoc Co., Oklahoma.