Queen Shake and Bake's Kingdom

Generation 2 of my Loghry Line—Joseph Loghry

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 16:04:08 +0000

Building upon the story of William Loughry (c. 1743-1837), the narrative turns to his son, Joseph Loghry (Loughry). While William’s generation cleared the thick Pennsylvania timber to forge an initial foothold in the wilderness, Joseph and his sister belonged to the second generation — the builders who transformed isolated homesteads into the industrial engines of new American communities.

Moving North to the Pulteney Estate

By 1808, Joseph joined his family, including father William and sister Mary, as the family migrated north from Pennsylvania across the state border into Steuben County, New York.

At the turn of the 19th century, Steuben County was a heavily forested frontier being actively opened to settlement through the Pulteney Estate. As the local economy evolved beyond subsistence hunting and small-scale farming, the dense white pine and hardwood forests presented an immense economic opportunity for families willing to supply timber for growing settlements downstream.

Harnessing the Canisteo: Sawmilling at Brown's Crossing

Setting down roots in the Canisteo River valley, the Loghry family quickly immersed themselves in the region's defining industry: lumber milling.

Joseph partnered with an Andrew Loghry (relationship unknown) to build and operate a sawmill at Brown’s Crossing. Together, they tackled the grueling work of turning raw logs into finished lumber:

Water Power: The mill relied on the swift flow of the Canisteo River to turn water wheels and drive heavy vertical saw blades.
River Logistics: Once cut, lumber rafts were assembled directly on the river banks and floated downstream during high water season toward southern markets along the Susquehanna watershed.
Community Hub: Brown's Crossing served not only as an industrial work site but as a key geographical marker for the familyâ€”the location where Joseph's parents, William and Nancy, would eventually be laid to rest.

Bridging the Frontier Generations

Joseph Loghry’s life reflects the shift from raw backwoods survival to established rural enterprise. Where his parents endured extreme isolation, Joseph helped establish the trade networks and industrial foundation of early 19th-century New York. Through the phonetic shifts in public records—from Loughry to Loghry—Joseph's work on the Canisteo River anchored the family legacy firmly in the soil and history of Steuben County.

Sources & References

Blog & Family Research Records

Jorgenson, D. (2026, March 16). Generation 1 of my Loghry Line — William Loughry. Queen Shake and Bake’s Kingdom. https://queenshakenbake.blogspot.com/2026/03/generation-1-of-my-loghry-line-william.html

Census & Tax Records

U.S. Census Bureau. (1790). First Census of the United States: 1790 (NARA Microfilm Publication M637). Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

U.S. Census Bureau. (1800). Second Census of the United States: 1800 (NARA Microfilm Publication M32). Pennsylvania.

Luzerne County Board of Tax Commissioners. (1796). Tax Assessment Rolls for Tioga Point (Athens, PA). Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA.

Land & Local Administrative Records

Steuben County Clerk's Office. (c. 1808–1830). Tax Assessment Rolls and Deed Index (Township of Canisteo). Bath, NY.

Pulteney Estate Office. (c. 1792–1815). Pulteney Land Office Records and Timber Conveyances for the Southern Tier. New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Albany, NY.

Local Histories & Regional Gazetteers

Clayton, W. W. (1879). History of Steuben County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia, PA: Lewis, Peck & Co.

McMaster, G. H. (1853). History of the Settlement of Steuben County, N.Y., Including Notices of the Old Pioneer Settlers and Prominent Men. Bath, NY: R. S. Underhill & Co.

Cemetery & Burial Transcriptions

Brown’s Crossing Cemetery (Canisteo, Steuben County, NY). Headstone Records and Transcriptions for William Loughry (1743–1837) and Nancy Loughry.

Generation 1 of my Loghry Line -- William Loughry

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:06:00 +0000

(Back in 2017 I wrote about William Loughry. This post weaves the personal facts into the broader historical context of Pennsylvania and New York during the period right after the American Revolution, showing what challenges the community faced, and what world was unfolding around William. That post can be found here)

The life of William Loughry (c. 1743–1837) reflects the rugged, migratory existence of the Scots-Irish and Irish immigrants who helped push the American frontier westward from the mid-18th century through the early Republic.

From the Old World to the Pennsylvania Wilds

Born in Ireland in 1743, William arrived in the American colonies during a period of massive transatlantic migration. Like many Irish immigrants of the era, he sought land and opportunity in Pennsylvania. By 1790, census records place him in Luzerne County, following a stint in the Susquehanna Valley’s "upper country."

The world William inhabited in the late 1700s was one of extreme physical isolation. Family traditions recount him moving ten miles from the nearest neighbor to clear a homestead—a common practice for settlers seeking unclaimed "backwoods" territory. This isolation carried a heavy toll. While William was away, his wife Nancy was forced to endure the death of one of their twin sons alone. In a testament to the harrowing reality of frontier life, she dug the grave and buried the child herself. In this era, the lack of infrastructure meant that families were their own doctors, carpenters, and undertakers.

The Revolutionary Context

William’s residency in eastern Pennsylvania coincided with the American Revolution. While specific details of his service are summarized in local histories and DAR records, the broader community in Luzerne and Northumberland counties was a flashpoint for conflict.

The region was a "shatter zone" where the Continental Army, British loyalists, and Iroquois Confederacy clashed. For a soldier like William, daily life during the war likely involved "ranging" duties—patrolling the borders to protect scattered settlements. The 1800 census confirms his status as a Pennsylvania soldier, a role that often entitled veterans to land bounties, which may have influenced his later move north.

Migration to the Southern Tier

By 1796, William was assessed for taxes in Tioga Point (now Athens, Pennsylvania). He lived in a society in flux; the post-war years saw a massive "Yankee-Pennamite" surge as settlers from Connecticut and Pennsylvania disputed land titles. By 1808, William and his family—including his son Joseph and daughter Mary—had moved across the border into Steuben County, New York.

Steuben County was then a heavily forested wilderness being opened by the development of the Pulteney Estate. The community was shifting from subsistence hunting to a timber-based economy. Documentation shows William and Michael Loughry’s names disappearing from Pennsylvania tax rolls as they transitioned to the Canisteo River valley. Here, the Loughry family participated in the defining industry of the region: sawmilling. Joseph and Andrew Loughry operated a mill at Brown’s Crossing, taking advantage of the river to move lumber toward southern markets.

A Legacy in Stone

William’s later years in Canisteo saw the transition from a frontier outpost to a settled farming community. He lived to the age of 94, witnessing the birth of a new nation and the industrialization of the New York interior. Though his name appeared with various spellings—Lockry, Loghry, or Loughry—a common occurrence in an era of phonetic record-keeping, his identity remained rooted in the land. Today, he and Nancy rest at Brown’s Crossing, their markers standing as a final record of a generation that traded the stability of the Old World for the grueling, transformative labor of the American frontier.

National Scrapbooking Day and Digital Scrapbooking

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Fri, 05 May 2023 12:43:00 +0000

What is National Scrapbooking Day?

National Scrapbooking Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in May. It is a day to celebrate the art of scrapbooking, which is a hobby that involves creating a visual record of memories. Scrapbooks can be filled with photos, journal entries, ticket stubs, and other mementos from special events.

History of Digital Scrapbooking

Digital scrapbooking is a relatively new hobby, but it has quickly become popular. The first digital scrapbooking software was released in the early 1990s, and it quickly became a popular way to create scrapbooks. I started digital scrapbooking about 2005, first using Photoshop Elements, and now Adobe Photoshop, and never went back to paper scrapping.

There are many reasons why digital scrapbooking has become so popular. First, it is much easier and more convenient than traditional scrapbooking. With digital scrapbooking, you can create scrapbooks quickly and easily on your computer. You can also easily edit and update your scrapbooks as needed. As a digital scrapper, if you attend a scrapbook crop, you just walk in with your laptop. A traditional paper scrapper make multiple trips to carry in all their supplies. They look at you funny.

Second, digital scrapbooking gives you more creative freedom than traditional scrapbooking. With digital scrapbooking, you can use any photo you want, and you can add text, journaling, and embellishments in any way you like. You can also use a variety of fonts, graphics, and templates to create your scrapbooks.

Third, digital scrapbooking makes it easy to share your scrapbooks with others. You can easily upload your scrapbooks to the internet, or you can burn them to a CD or DVD. You can also print your scrapbooks out on high-quality paper.

How to Celebrate Scrapbooking Day

There are many ways to celebrate Scrapbooking Day. Here are a few ideas:

Create a new scrapbook page.
Participate in a challenge.
Share your scrapbooks with friends and family.
Attend a digital scrapbooking workshop.
Visit a digital scrapbook store.
Buy a new scrapbooking product.
Read a scrapbooking magazine.
Watch a scrapbooking video tutorial.
Join a scrapbooking online community.
Start your own scrapbooking blog.

No matter how you choose to celebrate Scrapbooking Day, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of preserving your memories.

Some resources:

May Scraplift Challenges: https://www.katiepertietdesigns.com/blog/may-scraplift-chain/

https://oscraps.com/blog/

http://scrapgirls.net/

https://the-lilypad.com/blog/

National Puppy Day: How to Celebrate

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 23:12:00 +0000

National Puppy Day is celebrated on March 23rd every year. It’s a day to celebrate the furry friends, who bring so much joy into our lives. If you have a puppy, or thinking about getting one, there are plenty of ways to celebrate National Puppy Day.

Here are a few ideas:

Take your puppy for a walk or to the park.
Play some fetch or tug-of-war.
Give your puppy a special treat.
Take some pictures of your puppy and share them on social media.
Donate to a local animal shelter.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, National Puppy Day is a great day to show your furry friend how much you love them.

Tips:

If you have a new puppy, be sure to take them to the vet for a check up and they get their vaccinations.
If you’re thinking about getting a puppy, do your research and find a reputable breeder or rescue organization.
Be patient with your puppy. It takes time for them to learn and adjust to their new home.
Be sure to provide your puppy with plenty of toys, cerci’s e, and love.
Enjoy National Puppy Day!

Patriot Spotlights: Abraham Wellman, Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 22:18:00 +0000

Abraham Wellman, my 4th great-grandfather, was born 12 Jan 1762 in Lynde Borough, New Hampshire, and died 21 Oct 1829 in Russia Township, Lorain County, Ohio.

Abraham’s parents were Capt. Jacob Wellman (b. 24 Apr 1720 in Lynn, Essex County, MA; d. 22 Sep 1797 at Lyndeborough, Hillsborough County, NH) and Jane/Jenne Johnson (b. abt 1723 in Lynn, Essex County, MA; d. 11 Nov 1783 at Lindeborough, Hillsborough County NH). Abraham had three brothers, Jacob Jr., James, John, and two sisters, Anne and Elizabeth.

On 17 May 1781 in Medford, Middlesex County, MA, Abraham married Rebecca Pearson (b. 29 Oct 1762 in Billerica, Middlesex County, MA; d. 1848 at Russia, Shelby County, OH). She was the daughter of James Pearson and Bathsheba/Bathshua Pearson. Her father James served in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War (A087052). The family moved to Belgrade, Lincoln County, ME about 1784 and to Russia, Lorain County, OH in 1825.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), as of Summer 2021, recognizes daughters from Jane, John, and Samuel.

Children of Abraham Wellman and Rebecca Pearson:

Abraham (b. 20 Feb 1782).
Anne (b. 31 Mar 1785 d. abt 1812) married Bunker Clark.
John (b. 22 Apr 1787).
Lois (d. 1 Aug 1825) married James Braley.
Fanny married (1) Chauncey Remington; (2) --- Washburn.
Emeline married John Young.
Jane (b. 26 Oct 1791 d. 26 Mar 1873) married Daniel Axtell.
James.
Samuel married Rebecca Tyler.
Rebecca married Russell Taylor Braley.
Ruth (b. 22 Feb 1806 d. 27 Jan 1840) married Lewis Delano Boynton
Eliza married Benjamin Haskell.

On 10 Apr 1777 Abraham enlisted for the town of Lynn for three years, the muster roll gives his residence as Lynn and it was dated at Van Schaick’s Island. Abraham Wellman served in Capt. Joshua Brown’s Company of Col. Timothy Bigelow’s Regiment of the Continental Army from 10 Apr 1777 to 31 Dec 1779. For two months in 1779, the payroll shows that he was sick and absent. At that time, he appears in Lieut. Osgood Carleton’s Company of Col. Lewis Nicholas’s Regiment of invalids, stationed at Boston. In Oct 1779 he was reported as doing duty in Boston. He also appears to have served in the Continental Army from the First Essex County Regiment, serving as a private for four months and as a corporal for eight months. He was then in Capt. Moses McFarland’s corps of invalids and received pay from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 1780. Abraham applied for a pension at Belgrade ME 27 Apr 1818 stating that he was severely wounded in the leg at Monmouth and was in the hospital for nine months.

Female descendants of Abraham Jenkins are eligible for membership in the DAR.

Sources:

Ø Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: A Compilation From the Archives. Boston, Massachusetts: Wright and Potter Printing Co. 1896-1908.

Ø Revolutionary War Pension File (1835). National Archives, #W, 4385.

Ø “Massachusetts, Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 Feb 2020); entry for Jacob Wellman and Jenny Jane’s 1743 marriage.

Ø Joshua Wyman Wellman. Descendants of Thomas Wellman of Lynn, Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts: Arthur Holbrook Wellman, 1918, pp. 120, 125, 180-184.

The 1918 Flu Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:20:00 +0000

Right now we are in the midst of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). Starting in mid-March, it started impacting our daily lives, how we gather, shop, and work. For my family, March 13 was the last time we gathered together in our home with our children and grandchildren for our Friday night tradition of homemade pizza followed by game night. Our daughter and our three grandchildren have only visited, always outside, just a handful of times since that date. Our son's family socially distanced for two and one-half months before letting us into their "bubble." So how does Covid-19 compare to the 1918 Flu Pandemic?

Both the 1918 virus and Covid-119 were "novel" virus, meaning it was brand new. No one had immunity to it and it was highly infectious, spreading through respiratory droplets.

The deadly 1918 virus seemed to first appear in Haskell County, Kansas, where newly mustered soldiers spread it to Camp Funston, Kansas in February 1918. Because of the gathering of men from across the country into such close quarters, this seemed to galvanize the flu. By the spring of 1918, 24 of the 36 largest army camps suffered outbreaks, and 30 of the 50 largest cities also saw outbreaks. The 30 largest cities were all close to Army bases. The 1918 flu pandemic hit in three waves: spring of 1918, fall of 1918, and the winter and spring of 1919.

It struck Philadelphia with a vengeance in September 1918, quickly overwhelming the city's ability to deal with the dead. This second wave was dramatically worse. It could set in suddenly, killing patients within days or even hours after symptoms began. The virus would cause their lungs to fill with fluid and lack of oxygen would turn their skin blue and they would suffocate. Like Covic-19, this flu was a hot political subject in the United States. Some cities became ghost towns except for the municipal workers in masks. In most areas, gathering places from schools to saloons were shuttered and public meeting banned. This flu hit many in the prime of their life, with half the U.S. dead between the ages of 16 and 40.

The cycle of infection in each locale typically ran from six to eight weeks; then the incidence of flu dropped off sharply. As survivors gained immunity and the killer virus mutated, the pandemic burned itself out. In Philadelphia, where 4,597 people died from the disease in one October week, influenza had all but vanished by Armistice Day less than a month later.

During this time, the U.S. was getting involved in World War I. Young men were being sent off in parades. Women were starting Red Cross chapters and making bandages and such, sending their men off in a proper way. It was all very patriotic and the pandemic became mixed in with the patriotic fever.

In 1918 people were told to wash their hands, don't cough on people, stay at home, stay away from other people. It was the patriotic thing to do to not cough on people and stay home if you were sick. Some U.S. cities implemented mandates, describing them as a symbol of "wartime patriotism."

This flu was sometimes referred to as the Spanish flu in newspapers even though the first known case was reported at an army base in Kansas.

It has been reported that then-President Woodrow Wilson downplayed the virus. President Wilson later contracted the virus.

Create Memories

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 18:40:00 +0000

Today is Grandparents Day. Both of my grandfathers had passed way before I was born and I was fairly young when the grandmothers passed away. My maternal grandmother lived in the same city I did and she died when I was six and my paternal grandmother did not live close and died when I was eight.

I have vague memories of going to my maternal grandmother's where she lived with her son (Uncle Bill) and playing outside her house (no memories of the inside other than a kitchen table and some mean dogs) and taking her sandwiches after Uncle Bill passed away when I was three. Then later she moved in with my Aunt Alta's family before moving in with another son, Uncle Roy. After she moved in with Uncle Roy, I can picture her sitting in the chair next to the door. After she died, that is where Uncle Roy always sat. I’m not sure if it was the same chair or had been replaced, but he was sitting in a chair in that same location when he died I believe.

My other grandmother visited us occasionally from where she lived in Southwest Iowa when other family members came to visit. I don’t believe I ever visited her where she lived there. My sisters told stories of her coming to stay when I was born to help my mother out and how she made tomato soup with water instead of milk like they were used to.

I really wish I had more memories of them. This makes me wonder what memories my grandchildren will retain. I hope they remember our trips to the zoo, Science Center, Living History Farm, vacation trips we have taken, cooking, family dinners, Friday night pizza, and game night. I hope I have been able to create memories for my own grandchildren so in 45 years they don’t say, “I don’t have many memories of my grandmother other than her sitting in a chair.”

Brick Wall Busted

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:09:00 +0000

Back in 2017 I wrote about my brick wall I've been trying to break for 25+ years. Today I have finally smashed down that wall!

While preparing to talk with a US/Canada research specialist at the Family History Library next week, I was gathering all the information I have found, updating my research paper on Rebecca Anna Jones. A couple items popped out to me.

The 1895 Iowa census was the one and only time her birth location included a county name: Keokuk County, Iowa.
Her death certificate, stating she was born in 1855, listed her father's name as John Jones and mother's maiden name as Johnston.

Not to muddy the waters, I've gone off on several wild-goose chases where a Jones married a Johnston and had daughters Rebecca or Anna in the mid-1850s. But in those cases, I've been able to disprove in each case these Rebecca's were not my great grandmother.

This morning I decided to search on Ancestry.com for John Jones in the 1856 Iowa State Census for Keokuk county--a specific time, location, and name. I chose 1856 because this would be the first census my Rebecca should show up in and because of the one source that said she was born in Keokuk County, Iowa. To my surprise, I found a John Jones household consisting of:

John Jones, age 28, born in Virginia, farmer

Nancy Jones, age 28, born in Illinois

Arminda Jones, age 7, born in Iowa

Matilda Jones, age 3, born in Iowa

Rebecca Jones, age 1, born in Iowa

Sarah Johnson, age 14, born in Illinois

Of course, Ancestry had some transcription problems, including listing John's age as 18 and Rebecca's age as 7. But what was exciting was the last person listed, Sarah Johnson. Remember the death certificate that said mother's maiden name was Johnston? Johnson and Johnston are very similar. Could this be Nancy's younger sister? [Ancestry.com Operations Inc, "Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925," database, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 4 Aug 2020), entry for John Jones in 1856 census; John Jones, age 28, born in Virginia, farmer; Nancy Jones, age 28, born in Illinois; Arminda Jones, age 5, born in Iowa; Matilda Jones, age 3, born in Iowa; Rebecca Jones, age 1, born in Iowa; Sarah Johnson, age 14, born in Illinois.]

I also found John and Nancy with another daughter in Keokuk County in the 1850 U.S. Census. [1850 U.S. census, Keokuk County, Iowa, population schedule, District 26, p. 253A, dwelling 502, family 530, John Jones household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 4 Aug 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 185; John Jones, age 23, born in Virginia, farmer; Nancy Jones, age 23, born in Tennessee; Zerukdam age 5/12, born in Iowa.]

The next step was searching for a marriage of John Jones and Nancy (possible maiden name of Johnson or Johnston). Success!!! [Ancestry.com, "Iowa, Compiled Marriages, 1835-1850," [database on-line], Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Aug 2020), entry for John Jones and Nancy Johnson.]

While searching on Ancestry, hints popped up for some family trees. I decided to take a look and found a tree with some of information I have found plus several more generations. The exciting part was that the owner of this tree and I share DNA. Turns out we share 15 cm, and as it turns out, we are 3rd cousins one time removed, both descended from daughters of John Jones and Nancy Johnson.

David See, Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 17:33:00 +0000

A little three years ago on March 7, 2017, I wrote about my 2nd great grandfather, David See. Some further information has been found regarding his death.

The following article was found in the Weekly Graphic, published on April 28, 1893, stating he died near Fry Station.

We knew from his pension file that the family had resided in Iowa until shortly before his death when they relocated to the area of Kirksville, Missouri and that he was not of a clear mind. The records went as far as saying he was insane in his later years and the family barely survived on the pension they received for his service in the Civil War.

The Weekly Graphic article stated that he died near Fry Station, where his family passed the winter in a tent which was poor protection against the storms. I could not find any information on Fry Station during this time period, so I wrote the Adair County Historical Society seeking information. Blytha Ellis, President of the Adair County Historical Society and Museum provided much information.

Fry or Frye Station is believed to have been a railroad station on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (C B & Q) Railroad line which once went through Adair County, Missouri. This track went east and west through Adair County through the towns of Kirksville and Novinger, Missouri. This line was originally the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad and was later bought out by the C B & Q and the line was shortened. Also between the two towns of Kirksville and Novinger there was a river called Rye Creek. Near this creek was a small village named Frye, which was also on the railroad line. It had a post office and a school. The first school was builg about 1868 as far as the historical society can determine. The name of Frye and Rye seems to have been used interchangeably for this village and also for the creek. This area was considered river bottom land which was excellent for growing crops, unless the rivers and creeks flooded out over the crops. The Chariton River is very near this location also, and Rye Creek is a tributary of the Chariton River.

Blytha Ellis said the location of Fry/Frye Station could be described as north of State Highway 6 and a short distance east of Novinger, and east of the Chariton River. There is now a road that runs along the area of Rye Creek called Rye Creek Road, and both can be found on a map. The community of Frye Station was in Nineveh Township.

Novinger (Adair County), Missouri: The People, the Town and the Surrounding Communities, published by Novinger Renewal, Inc., Novinger, Missouri, April 2001.

The question remained what drew the family to Missouri?

I did find some See family members buried at Bear Creek Cemetery in Adair County, not far from the Fry/Frye Station area. Research on these Sees goes back to William See (1784-1813) and his wife Elizabeth "Betsy" Auxier (1786-1858). Unfortunately, I have been unable to tie this William to David See, though I am sure they are probably related.

I found a website on the City of Novinger, where I found the following: "A few little shanties were put up in the town for the temporary use of the tie (railroad ties) workers but when the timber around the place had been cleared off and the tie business was closed up, the tie workers left and their shanties were torn down or converted to other uses. This industry was at its height from about 1885 to 1895." I found this interesting and a possible reason why the family was in this vicinity in 1893. David See was not in good health and was unable to adequately support his family. When he died in 1893, he had six sons ranging in age from 13 to 26. Could the family have moved to the area for the sons to work in the tie industry, supporting the family of 12 (of which only three children qualified for pension)? Of course, I have no way of knowing how many of the family members had relocated to Adair County. But the timeline is perfect. The family was in Story County, Iowa in 1885 and by 1893 the family is living in a tent at "Fry Station" in Adair County.

Blytha was a great help in my research of this area. She contacted Glenda Young, who is head of the Novinger, Missouri, Renewal Committee. Glenda referred to her to the following book: "Novinger (Adair County), Missouri: The People, the Town, and the Surrounding Communities." published by Novinger Renewal, Inc., Novinger, Missouri, April 2001.

According to this book, Fry was founded because the railroad needed coal to fuel its steam engines. The coal industry was a long time in the future, although coal was being mined in the area that was to become Stahl and also along the Rye Creek and Hazel Creek bottoms. The railroad sunk a shaft near the track on Rye Creek about two miles east of Novinger. This mine was called the Fry Mine and was said to have had a shaft only 50 feet deep. The railroad built a coal chute there so that coal could be loaded on the train from either direction. This was the only coal chute between Novinger and Quincy, Illinois before the railroad reached Stahl. A boarding house existed for the miners between 1885 and 1892. The track still existed in 1903 according to an article in the Kirksville Democrat on January 9, 1909, stating that a coach of the westbound passenger train left the track east of the "Frye Station."

After reviewing this information about the coal chute, I also have to wonder if the family moved to this area for the sons to work as miners.

I will probably never know why the family was residing in Adair County, in 1893. Was it to find work for the older sons in the family? Was it to be by family? Was it for health reasons? I do need to try and find more information on the other Sees living in this area.
__________________
Sources:
Weekly Graphic, 28 Apr 1893, p. 3, col. 1; digital images, MyHeritage (http://www.myheritage.com : accessed 26 Nov 2017), In Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, 1836-1922.

Blytha Ellis, Kirksville, Missouri [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,] to Debbie Jorgenson, e-mail, 27 Mar 2020, "Fry Station 1893 -- What and Where Was It"; privately held by Jorgenson, [(E-ADDRESS) & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Norwalk, Iowa.

"Novinger (Adair County), Missouri: The People, the Town and the Surrounding Communities." published by Novinger Renewal, Inc., Novinger, Missouri, April 2001.

Happy belated birthday Sesame Street!

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:58:00 +0000

On November 10, 1969, the first episode of Sesame Street aired. I was a 15-year-old and was completely unaware of the show until the summer of 1970 when I volunteered to screen incoming kindergarteners for vision problems. This was before kids attended preschool before entering kindergarten. My job was to show the soon-to-be kindergarteners a flashcard with the capital letter "E," telling them it was a table and they were to show me which way the legs were going. I had all these little kids telling me that it wasn't a table, but the letter "E." I was pretty amazed that they knew their letters and commented on it. A few mothers told me that the kids had been watching a show called Sesame Street.

Flash forward seven years and I now had a little girl that loved Sesame Street. We purchased several Sesame Street albums that she would listen to each day, including the Count climbing stairs, (One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. I climb the stairs one at a time.), and Just One Me.

In addition, we had a number of Sesame Street books, including The Ernie & Bert book, a story about a chain reaction of why Ernie wants Bert to put the pan on his head. It seems it is because Ernie broke the piggy bank, so he put the money in the cookie jar, causing Bert to inquire about where the cookies went and Ernie says he put them in the milk bottle. So Bert wants to know what happened to the milk and Ernie says he put the milk in the flower vase. After each time Ernie explains where he put something, Bert wants to know what happened to the item that was originally there. It goes on and one...the flower from the vase is in the kangaroo's pouch, the kangaroo's young one is in the bird's nest, the birds are in an ice cream cone, the ice cream is in the egg box, the eggs are in the soap dish, the soap is in the crayon box, the crayons are in the fishbowl, and the fish is in Bert's cowboy hat. Bert is pretty exasperated by this time and wants to know what is he going to wear when he plays cowboy. Ernie puts the pot on Bert's head and says "Ride 'em, cowboy!" My husband and I read this book so many times (my husband using his best Bert and Ernie voices), that even 40+ years later I can tell the story without reading the words.

Now I'm a grandmother of seven and the youngest one is three and he LOVES Elmo. We watch lots of YouTube videos of Elmo and the other Sesame Street characters. He has a limited vocabulary at this time, but he imitates the characters' laughs and grunts and you know which character he wants to see. We dance and I sing along with the videos and this is one of his favorite activities for us to do together. I think I enjoy Sesame Street more now (when I have more time to sit and watch with my grandson) than when my daughter was younger and I would be cleaning or cooking while she watched the episodes.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street! You've gotten better with age. I love how you address acceptance, diversity, compassion, and friendship.

Message to my Grandchildren

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 00:55:00 +0000

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together ...

there is something you must always remember.

You are braver than you believe,

Stronger than you seem, and

Smarter than you think.

But the most important thing is,

Even if we're apart...

I'll always be with you."

~The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

The other night the family was all over to celebrate an early Christmas and exchange gifts. Grandchild #6 was feeling under the weather. (Quite under the weather!) He was snuggling with me and started up a conversation about dying, and how do we know when we will die. Quite a serious conversation.

I've always been a big fan of A.A. Milne and Winnie the Pooh and came across this quote I think is what I want to leave behind for my grandchildren, positive reinforcement for each one of them that the best gift they have to give is to be their best selves and a reminder that, when my time here on this earth comes to an end, I will always be with them.

My Favorite Christmas Song

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:59:00 +0000

Do you have a favorite Christmas song? I love Christmas music, but I believe my favorite song is Silver Bells. This song reminds me so much of being a young child and going downtown (not the mall) to shop, happy people bustling down the street, Christmas lights on the sidewalk and streets, ringing bells, and seeing Santa in the windows of Younker's Department store.

Silver Bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

Year them ring

Soon it will be Christmas Day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

Hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of streetlights

Even stop lights

Blink a bright red and gree

As the shopper rush

Home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch

See the kids rush

This is Santa's big day

And above all this bustle you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

Hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air

There's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

Very soon it will be Christmas day.

These are the scenes of my childhood. Department store windows would be all decorated for the season, with Younker's window standing out among all the others. The big corner window at 7th and Walnut would have a real live Santa sitting there and you could visit him and tell him what you wanted for Christmas. It was a very magical time of the year. Please take a minute to listen to Andy Williams sing "Silver Bells."

"Silver Bells" was originally written for a movie called "The Lemon Drop Kid," starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in 1951. Jay Livingston and Ray Evans were reluctant to write a Christmas song as they never made the hit list. The song was based on department store Santas and Salvation Army workers "tinkling" bells on New York street corners. The song became a huge hit when a year later it was re-recorded by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards.

Life at Our Whitehouse

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 14:53:00 +0000

I am still here, just haven't been blogging. While I'm still active sitting on a community board and a genealogy board and the Daughters of the American Revolution, I've been doing very little else. My scrapbooking is way behind, including Project Life for 2018 which is only done through week 34 (the end of August). I haven't even been taking many pictures, so I am not sure what I will be able to find to complete the year. Any ideas?

I started the year out good, scrapping every week, as you can see and then hit a slump. Here's hoping 2020 will be better.

Suddenly I Am Alone

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:46:00 +0000

Losing my father in 1992 at the age of 38 was traumatic. I was unprepared for him to go, but life goes on, leaving my mother, two older sisters, older brother, and I as our new core family unit. A family unit that got stronger. Stronger that was until the very unexpected loss of my brother in 2004. Now it was just us girls, Mom, Sandy, Linda and Myself. Our bond grew stronger, taking care of our mom and sister Sandy. Then Sandy left us in 2013, followed by mom in 2014. Now it was just the two of us, Linda and I.

Linda was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in December 2016 and in September 2017, she too left me. Suddenly I am alone. Who will now remember the stories? Who will I call when I want to vent?

When your parents and siblings die, you face all kinds of other adjustments and emotions as well. I didn't just lose the people themselves; I lost the role they played in my life. Suddenly I am alone.

When mom died, I lost the custodian of generations of knowledge, keeper of family memories. She was the last person who could possibly identify all those people in the photo albums, who knew all the family stories, and how to make egg noodles from scratch. Suddenly I am alone. I've lost the custodian of my past.

The same can be said of my sisters. They knew the family secrets. They remembered relatives I do not because of the difference in our ages. The ones I would call when something good or bad happened. The ones I called when I was sad, lonesome or bored. The ones who I would call to brag to about my children or grandchildren. Suddenly I am alone. Who can I call to share details of my day with?

What I have found, though, is that their deaths opened the scrapbook of my memories, when we were all younger, in both good and bad times. I will hold these memories close to my heart and treasure them daily.

Twisted Trees, parts 2 and 3

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 20:58:00 +0000

My last post was about the union of Nathan and Charity (Cook) Thornton, second cousins. Today's post will be on their daughter-in-law Rachel Haworth (wife of Riley Thornton). Let me see if I can explain these next twisting braches of my family tree.

Rachel Haworth was the daughter of William Perry and Ruth (Wright) Haworth. William and Ruth were first cousins, sharing the same grandparents, James Frederick and Sarah (Wood) Haworth.

And before I forget it, Ruth Wright and Charity Cook were 1st cousins once removed through the Wright family. John Wright, the patriarch of the family had a number of children, including Charity Wright b. 12 Nov 1742 and James Wright b. 28 May 1753.

Charity (Wright) married Isaac Cook. Their son, Thomas Cook, was the father of Charity (Cook) Thornton.

James Wright, their son, married Sarah Haworth (another twisted branch of my tree) and they had a daughter, Ruth Wright, making her granddaughter of John Wright.

Twisted Trees, part one

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 15:04:00 +0000

I previously posted about my Thornton relatives and their land purchases in Polk County, Iowa. Today I'm going to take you back to the beginning of the Thornton family that I have proven.

Thomas Thornton (6th great grandfather) was born about 1709, the son of William Thornton. About 1734 he married Martha Boykin. Thomas died in 1762 in Northampton, North Carolina. It is believed that Thomas and Martha converted to the Quaker religion, probably converting in Virginia. Before this, they were part of the Puritan sect of the Church of England. They left Virginia and went to North Carolina, among a large Quaker neighborhood, including the Cooks, Wrights, and Wells, all part of my Quaker heritage.

Thomas and Martha had two known children: Thomas A. (b. about 1739, d. before April 1783) and Rebecca Thornton (b. 21 May 1743). Thomas A. was my 5th great-grandfather and Rebecca both a great-aunt and my 5th great grandmother, hence one part of my twisted tree.

Thomas A. Thornton (5th great grandfather) married Elizabeth Williams on 11 May 1760 in Perquimans, North Carolina, and died before April 1783 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. They had four sons, including Thomas J. Thornton (b. 11 Oct 1762, d. 10 November 1834) (fourth great grandfather). Thomas J. was born 11 Oct 1762 in Snow Camp, Orange County, Province of North Carolina, Great Britain Colonies. He married Abigail Spencer in 1792 in North Carolina, and they had a number of children, including their first-born son Nathan Thornton (3rd great grandfather)

Rebecca (5th great grandmother and great aunt) married Nathaniel Henderson and among their issue was Kezia Henderson (4th great grandmother), (b. 1774, d. 1857) who married Thomas Cook (b. 1770, d. 1840). They had a daughter, Charity Cook (b. 1805, d. 1853) (3rd great grandmother) who married Nathan Thornton (b. 1799, d. 1878) (Thomas, Thomas, William, Thomas) (2nd cousins). Charity Cook Thornton was named after her paternal grandmother, Charity (born Wright) Cook, a famous Quaker Minister. (Newlin, Algie I. Charity Cook A Liberated Woman. Friends United Press, 1981)

Nathan Thornton's Land Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 17:10:00 +0000

I attended a genealogy conference where Lisa Louise Cooke was speaking. In a session on Google Earth, she mentioned using the Bureau of Land Management's website to look for land patents. So as soon as I got home, I went and checked out my 3rd great grandfather, Nathan Thornton. I knew he came to Iowa about 1845 and settled in Polk County, near present-day Ankeny.

I learned between March 1, 1850, and May 1, 1855, he acquired approximately 496 acres of land. Wow!!! What was interesting to plot these purchases out on Google Earth and see what was there in the present time period. I still do not know where his homestead was, but I would assume he built a home on land in his first purchase.

His first purchases were on March 1, 1850 in :

160 acres in Twp - Rng 080N - 23W Section 29, SW 1/4:

Section 29 -- SW 1/4 (160 acres)

He purchased the entire SW 1/4 (lower left quarter) of section 29. (See pink dot in center of section. this is the center of the section.) This piece of property is east of I-35 and across the street from the cemetery he deeded to the church along with Mr. Adamson and is buried in. Today this property contains Hickory Lake and some newer homes.

40 acres in 080N - 23W Section 18, SE 1/4 of NW 1/4:

Section 18 -- SE1/4 of NW 1/4 (40 acres)

This purchase of 40 acres in the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 would be mostly undeveloped land just east of the interstate with a fewer newer homes going up. Nathan would later add more land in this section: 88 acres in the north half of the NW quarter (top 1/4 over to about the north-south road east of the interstate) on Dec 30, 1852; 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 (east of north-south road at the bottom of the box) on Sep 15, 1854; and 40 acres in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 on May 1, 1855.

The 88 acres from the patent issued on Dec 30, 1852, were originally granted "to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of the United States," a Private Smith in Captain Wild's Company Tennessee and had been returned to the General Land Office, "with evidence that the same has been duly located upon the North fractional half of the North West quarter of Section eighteen in Township Eighty North of Range Twenty three West in the district of Lands Subject to Sale at Iowa City Iowa Containing Eighty Eight acres and Ten hundredths of an acre."

One month later, in April 1850, he purchased:

48.14 acres in 080N - 23W Section 7, SW 1/4 of SW 1/4:

Section 7 -- SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 (48.14 acres)

This land he purchased is now a golf course in Ankeny.

Land Patents for additional land were issued on May 1, 1855:

80 acres in 080N - 23W Section 30, SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 (40 acres):

and 080N - 23W Section 31, NW 1/4 of NE 1/4 (40 acres):

This area would today be the airport's offices and hotels across the street.

So when you drive up I-35 through Ankeny, you will be driving where my ancestors farmed.

Here is an overview of the land owned by Nathan Thornton (see purple outlined sections):

In case you wondered how many sections are in a township and range, see below. Note how they are numbered.

My Thornton Line

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 14:48:00 +0000

My maternal grandfather, Roy Clinton Thornton, was born at Berwick, Polk County, Iowa on 6 June 1885. He was the son of Martin Luther Thornton and Rebecca "Anna" Jones. He was employed as a miner at the time of the 1900 and 1910 U.S. Federal Census, living in the same household as his parents and siblings.

At the age of 27, Roy or LeRoy, as some sources list him, married Anna May Rouse at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa on 15 May 1912. Roy completed only six years of school. His occupation at the time of his marriage was listed as a coal miner.

Roy and Anna had the following children :

Children of Roy Clinton Thornton and Anna Mae Rouse

William Martin Thornton b. 1 May 1913, d. 26 Nov 1957
Carl Roy Thornton+ b. 30 Jan 1915, d. 23 Sep 1990
Doris Lucille Thornton b. c 15 Nov 1916, d. 13 May 1918
Russell Claude Thornton+ b. 19 Aug 1918, d. 20 Feb 1958
Virgil Franklin Thornton b. 3 Jun 1920, d. 21 Oct 1962
Kenneth George Thornton+ b. 12 Dec 1922, d. 19 Apr 1988
Alta Neomi Thornton+ b. 21 Jul 1924, d. 26 Dec 2010
Gladys Irene Thornton+ b. 1 Jan 1927, d. 22 Nov 2014
Baby Thornton b. c Apr 1929, d. c Apr 1929

Roy Clinton Thornton and Anna Mae Rouse appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, enumerated 8 January 1920. Their children William, Carl and Russell were listed as living with them. Roy Clinton Thornton and Anna Mae Rouse appeared on the 1925 State Census of Des Moines Ward 7, Polk, Iowa, enumerated 1 January 1925, as Leroy Thornton. Their children William, Carl, Russell, Virgil, Kenneth, Alta and Irvin were listed as living with them. Roy Clinton Thornton and Anna Mae Rouse appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Lee Towonship, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, enumerated 19 April 1930. Their children William, Carl, Russell, Virgil, Kenneth, Alta and Gladys were listed as living with them. Roy Clinton Thornton died on 25 January 1937 at Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States, at age 51. He was buried on 27 January 1937 at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States; Lot 33, Block E.,

Gets First Job In Five Years--Then Dies on Way to Work.
     Roy Thornton, 51, of 4118 Bowdoin St., started from his home Monday morning to go to work at his first job in five years.
     On his way to the job he suffered a heart attack. He died on his way to Broadlawns General hospital.
     The job Thornton was to have started was at the Wood Brothers Threshing Machine Co., near E. Fourteenth St. and Aurora Ave.
     During the time Mr. Thornton has been out of work, the family has been supported by three sons. Billy has a WPA job, Roy, Jr., is in a CCC camp at Centerville and Russell is in a CCC camp at Indianola.
     Besides these sons, Mr. Thornton is survived by his widow and four other children, Virgil, Kenneth, Alta and Gladys.

Funeral services were being arranged at Hamilton's funeral home.1

Citations

[S815] Iowa, Polk, 1910 U.S. census, Ancestry.com, Digital images, T624, Des Moines Ward 6, enumeration district (ED) 146, sheet 4A, p. 6598 (handwritten), dwelling 85

[S823] Iowa, Polk County, 1900 U.S. census, FamilySearch, Digital images, T623, roll 454, Lee Township, enumeration district (ED) 0098, sheet 5A, p. 77A (stamped), 1191 (handwritten), dwelling 92, family 98, M. L. Thornton household, accessed 14 Jan 2018

[S62] Compiler: Pioneer Sons & Daughters Genealogical Society, Polk County Iowa Marriages 1846-1866, Record Type: Polk County, Iowa Marriage Records.

[S948] Iowa State Archives; Des Moines, Iowa; Volume 4, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Digital Images of Marriage Certificates Ancestry.com, Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937," marriage certificate 27611 (1912), Roy Thornton-May Roush accessed 28 Jan 2017.

[S36] Iowa. Des Moines, Des Moines Tribune, "Gets First Job in Five Years--Then Dies on Way to Work," 26 Jan 1937.

[S65] Hamilton Funeral Home Record, Des Moines, Iowa.

[S927] Iowa Department of Health, FamilySearch, Digital Images of Death Certificates, Iowa, Death Records, 1921-1940," death certificate 87-109 (1937), Roy Clinton Thornton, accessed 31 Mar 2017.

[S66] Laurel Hill, Cemetery Records, Record Type: Cemetery records

[S847] Iowa, Polk, 1895 state census, population schedule, citing p. 291, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1.022.098, Lee Township, p. 291, dwelling 1067, family 1088, line 4, Myrtin Thornton; (https://familysearch.org)

[S21] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch," database, FamilySearch, accessed 2 Apr 2017), entry for Roy Clinton Thornton, person ID L71Y-S2X.

[S823] Iowa, Polk County, 1900 U.S. census, FamilySearch, Digital images, T623, roll T623-454, Lee Township, enumeration district (ED) 98, sheet 5, p. 77A (stamped), 1191 (handwritten), dwelling 94

[S35] Iowa. Des Moines, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Digital images, Roll: 1643081, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed 19 Jan 2015)

[S23] Iowa, Polk County, 1920 U.S. census, Ancestry, Digital images, T625, roll Polk County, Des Moines Ward 7, enumeration district (ED) 169, sheet 11, p. 213, dwelling 242

[S34] Iowa, Polk County, 1925 State Census, population schedule, Des Moines, p. Polk County, line 69-77, Leroy Thornton; (http://ancestry.com)

[S24] Iowa, Polk County, 1930 U.S. census, Ancestry, Digital images, T626, roll 677, Des Moimes, enumeration district (ED) 0069, sheet 40A, p. 40, dwelling 541

June 6, 1944, D--Day Invasion at Normandy

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 12:39:00 +0000

June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, is considered the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. On this day in history, Allied troops (approximately 156,000) invaded Western Europe, completely overwhelming the German forces.

While my father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he never talked about his experiences or where he had been. Now I wished I had bothered asking him about them.

Wesley enlisted on August 26, 1942. While searching Ancestry.com, I came across U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls and found my father, Wesley Earl Loghry, on MUSTER ROLL OF THE CREW was "change of resting" on the U.S.S. LST 383 on March 1, 1944, coming from BuPers C.L. 25 & 208-43. More research is needed to figure out what that means.

I became curious about the USS LST 383 and did some research. This ship was an LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship which was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Newport News, Virginia. It launched on September 28, 1942, and was commissioned USS LST-383. During World War II, this ship was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater. Campaigns it participated in included Sicilian occupation July 9-15, 1943; Salerno landings September 9-21, 1943, Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings January 22-March 1, 1944, and Invasion of Normandy June 6-25, 1944.

USS LST-383 high and dry on the beach at Normandy, June 1944 from https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160383.htm

He continued to appear on the MUSTER ROL OF THE CREW of the U.S.S. LST-282 for the quarters ending March 31, 1944, June 30, 1944, September 30, 1944. These dates place him at the Anzio-Netuno advanced landings (change of resting March 1, 1944) and Invasion of Normandy June 6-25, 1944.

On November 20, 1944, the USS LST 383 was decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom and commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM-LST-383 and participated in the Malaya Invasion. The United Kingdom didn't keep it very long, either, transferring and selling it to the Netherlands East Indies Maritime Customs on June 10, 1946. The USS LST-383 earned four battle stars for World War II service.

Further research showed Wesley was transferred on the U.S.S. Wyoming for the month ending May 31, 1945, date of sailing from NOB, Norfolk, Virginia to ATB, Little Creek, Virginia. He still is on the U.S.S. Wyoming on the Report of changes for the month ending April 30, 1945, as received on April 22, 1945, from ATB, Little Creek Virginia. The last record I have been able to find shows him on the USS LSM-R 504's Report of Changes on June 11, 1945, as received.

Immigrant Ancestors

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:47:00 +0000

With all the talk about immigration, immigrants, building a wall, or having to pass a test to come to the United States, I started thinking about my immigrant ancestors. They came for a variety of reasons, including to escape poverty, religious freedom, to avoid prosecution, and the promise of cheap land and a fresh start.

My earliest immigrant ancestors that I have found is probably one of the following:

Macuth Pratt who was born about 1595 and married in 1619 in England, immigrated about 1637.
John Pearson who was born 18 Jun 1615 in North Yorkshire, England who immigrated in 1637.
Jeremie Swayne. No information is known about him other than he married a woman by the name of Mary and their son, Maj. Jeremiah Swayne was born on 1 March 1642/43 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, placing immigration before 1 March 1642.
Thomas Starr who was born in 1565 in New Romney, Kent, England and died before 2 March 1640/41 in Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts (no immigration record found), placing immigration before 2 March 1640.

My most recent immigrant ancestor was Barnabas Lowell who was born about 1800 in England and was reported to be a pirate. He married twice in the United States with his first child born in 1832.

During this approximately 200-year span, dozens of my ancestors came to America. Here are a few more of my immigrant ancestors:

George Merriam, born about 1603 in England and his wife Susan (married 16 October 1627 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England) immigrated before 21 Jul 1643, when their son Samuel was born in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
Thomas Axtell, born 26 January 1618/19 in England, and his wife Mary Starr immigrated as early as 1643, for, in October of that year, Thomas purchased five acres of land in Sudbury, Massachusetts of Edmond Rice, who himself had come from Berkhamstead five years earlier.
William Thornton was born in 1620 in England. His son William was born 27 Mar 1649 in Gloucester, Virginia. Immigration between 1620-1649.
Abraham Wellman, who was born in January 1642/43 in England, married Elizabeth Cogswell in 1668 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, placing immigration between 1642-1668.
Capt. John Smith, born in 1621 in England. He married Catherine Elizabeth Morrill on 1 August 1647 in Roxbury, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America. This would place immigration between 1621-1647.
Isaac Morrill, the father of Catherine Elizabeth Morrill, was born in 1588 in England and died on 30 December 1661 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. He immigrated between 1630 (birth of Catherine in England) and 1661 (his death).
Capt. John Kittredge was born on 22 May 1623 in England, and residing in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts on 25 September 1660, where he received a five-acre grant of land in Billerica. John Parker is called "his master." Immigration between 1623 and 1660.
John French was born in 1635 in England. He married Hannah Burrage on 3 July 1663 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Immigration between 1635-1663.
John Scarborough, II, emigrated to Bucks, Pennsylvania in October 1682. In 1684 he returned to England to bring the rest of the family to America and never came returned to America, remaining in London until his death on 11 April 1706.
George E. Haworth was born before 1680 in England. About 1699 he came to America to be free from religious prosecution, traveling with his sister Isabella and her husband. In 1699 he wrote a letter to his mother telling her about the journey, the death of his sister, her husband and baby, and about his sister already in America.
George Ludwig Zeh was born in 1680 in Germany. He married Margaret Tschudi in 1720 in New York. A George Zeh was listed in Rupps, page 448, as a number of males 21 in 1710-11 in Livingston Manor, New York. Also on page 465 of his book, it says 33 families of Germans who came to New York in 1710 settled in Schoharie and George Zeh's name was on the list, as well as listed on the membership in Tulpehocken Church in 1743-46. Immigration between 1680-1720, probably 1710-11.
Margaret Tschudi was born in 1684 in Frankendorf, Basel, Switzerland. She married George Ludwig Zeh in 1720 in New York. Immigration between 1684-1720.
Thomas Cook, born 29 August 1704 in England. Son Isaac was born 1742 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Died about 1752 in York County, Pennsylvania. Immigration between 1742-1752.
Francis Brandon, born 1738 in England, married Mary Elizabeth Asher in 1765 in Culpeper, Virginia. Immigration between 1738-1765.
William Loughry, born about 1743 in Ireland, and his wife Nancy Purdy, born 1 September 1748 in Ireland. This couple immigrated before 1772. I do not believe they were married at the time of their immigration.
Philip Roush was born in 1800 in Germany. Daughter Sarah Ann Rous was born 22 November 1844 in Ohio, placing his immigration between 1800-1844.

Special thanks to Olive Tree Genealogy and Lorine McGinnis Schulze for the idea of blogging about my immigrant ancestors.

Summer of my 12th year

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Wed, 09 May 2018 16:29:00 +0000

June 1, 1967 Des Moines Register

The summer of 1967 I was 12 years old and had just "graduated" from elementary school. I lived in Des Moines, Iowa with my parents, older brother, sister, and nephew. With everything going on in my life, it could have been a terrible summer, but in reality, it was a great summer.

In May, my dad's union, the Des Moines Local 310 of the United Rubber Workers (URW) went on strike, what would turn out to be the longest strike in rubber industry history, affecting all of the major rubber manufacturers workers union's history and lasting 91 days.

My family was typical for this period--dad was the breadwinner and mom stayed at home taking care of the house and family. With dad on strike, he was not bringing home his regular paycheck. But that didn't stop him from taking care of his family. He went out looking for work. Our neighbors on both sides of us (one worked in a warehouse and another for a moving company) found extra work for my dad. In addition, he started knocking on neighbors' doors asking if they wanted their house painted. My dad earned a lot of respect from me for not sitting around waiting for work to come to him, but instead going out and finding or making jobs in order to take care of his family, all the while continuing to picket and put up blockades.

July 3, 1967, Des Moines Tribune, page 1

My brother had enlisted earlier in the year on a deferred enlistment and come September would be going into the Navy. With the Vietnam War, he was probably safer in the Navy, but there was still a lot of fear. In Vietnam, 1967 was the year of the Allied offensive. At home, anti-war protestors were all over the news changing "make love, not war," while pro-war Americans carried banners urging people to support the troops.

The summer started off with a picnic at Riverview Park for being on the safety patrol during the school year. Once summer started, my days were mostly spent at the local swimming pool with my friend Jill and frequently my 4-year-old nephew Jeff. Jill's mom would usually drop us off at 1 p.m. and my mom would pick us up around 4. We would get so dark from all the time spent in the sun. After swimming we would go to the concession stand for snacks. I almost always would get popcorn. Something about the swimming pool's popcorn was so good. Evenings would be spent reading books or magazines, lounging around outside as our house just had a window air conditioning unit in the living room, and listening to music. My interest in music was more Paul Revere and the Raiders and a group called Dino, Desi, and Billy (Dean Martin's son Dino, Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball's son Desi, and their friend Billy.

Our family never did go on vacation, but I never felt left out. While going to a drive-in movie was an occasional treat, during the summer of 1967, the drive-in movie theatres admitted the striking Firestone workers and their families for free. Because of this, we went to the drive in a lot. We would pop a big bag of popcorn and take a cooler with our Pepsi.

Come August, a trip to the Iowa State Fair with my sister, nephew, and mom would have taken place. I would have also gone one day with my cousin Candy and we would be on our own to roam the Fairgrounds.

Come fall big changes were on the horizon, including going to a different junior high than my elementary school friends and my brother leaving for the Navy, but the summer of 1967 was a wonderful time to be 12.

Who is Nancy Jane Rummans Mother?

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:51:00 +0000

Nancy Jane Rummans was born on 22 December 1849. The birth location, according to family tradition and 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. Federal Censuses along with the 1895 Iowa State Census, was Missouri. Her death certificate, however, listed Illinois. On 15 March 1866 she married George Eldridge Loghry in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. They were married by a Charles Gates, pastor of Congregational Church.

But who were her parents? And where was she born? This has been a big mystery I set out to clear up.

Her father's birthplace according to 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. Federal Census consistently states Virginia and her mother's birthplace was Illinois.

The 1925 Iowa State Census was the first hint as to mother's name. This Census states she was born in Illinois, father was John Rummons, born in Virginia, and mother's name was Heater, born in Iowa. Why has she changed her birth location?

Finally in 2017, Iowa Death Records, 1920-1940 were made available by the State Historical Society of Iowa. Her death certificate listed her father as John Rummans, born in Virginia and her mother as Fannie Heeter, born in Illinois. The informant was a daughter of Nancy Jane.

Death Certificate: Nancy Jane Rummans Loghry

Further research found Nancy in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census in Boone County, Missouri, as a one-year-old born in Missouri, in the household of John Rummons (wife Frances Rummons). Also in this household were several other children, including a four-year-old brother John, also born in Missouri.

1850 U.S. Federal Census

In addition, I found a John Rummans in the 1840 U.S. Federal Census in Boone County, Missouri, indicating the family most likely had been residing in Missouri since at least 1840.

1840 U.S. Federal Census

This helps support that Nancy's mother was Fannie Heater and that Nancy was born in Missouri. Further research is needed, but for now, I'm confident that I have finally found Nancy's mother and birth location.

Genealogy Serendipity

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 15:56:00 +0000

Last week, while leading my Legacy User Group (genealogy software) a new individual joined our group and her last name was See. I’m sure my eyes lit up and I said, I'm sure we are related. My great grandmother’s name was Hattie Jane See, and I joined The Daughters of the American Revolution under John See. Unfortunately I’ve never met any See relatives. Later towards the end of the class, I asked her and she said she was descended from David See and Anna Lowell (the daughter of my murdering pirate), my 2nd Great Grandparents. Not only are we related, it is closer connection than I had initially hoped for.

She contacted me later and it turns out that her grandfather provided the burial plot for my grandfather. Her father is still living and I've got my fingers crossed that he might have more information on my great grandmother. I'm so excited to get to know her and her father better.

I am an orphan at 62

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 23:51:00 +0000

Linda 1946-2017

It's been awhile since I've written. Last December, right before Christmas, my last remaining sibling was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized. As she was unmarried and her daughters lived out-of-state, I gladly stepped up to take her to her doctor appointments, helped her discuss end-of-life decisions, etc. At the beginning of August, she had an adverse effect from her chemo treatment, ended up in the hospital and was sent to a care facility for "rehab." The pain was so severe at this time that she was unable to participate in her rehab treatment and we had to move her to a different care center. I was able to get her on hospice care, and she sadly passed away on September 14, 2017.

Dennis 1948 - 2004

Since her passing, I've missed the sisters celebrating our birthdays in September and October, a tradition we started when we lost our brother at the age of 56. So now I'm 63 and am an orphan, having lost my dad in 1992, brother in 2004, oldest sister in 2013, mother in 2014, and Linda in September 2017.

Sandra 1943-2013

Gladys 1927-2014

I hate it. There is no one to call to gossip with or share news stories with. There is no one to call to ask, do you remember? No one to answer family questions. There is no one to call to commiserate with when I feel like life is not fair. There is nothing crueler in life than having no birth family left. I almost feel like there is no need to have a telephone anymore as my sisters and my mother were the ones I called all the time.

And to think that other families let small things get in the way of their relationships and do not talk with one another or go out of their way to avoid being together. Do these people realize what they are missing? You can't take back the years you did not speak.

So if you have a parent or sibling you haven't spoken with, do me a favor and call them up. Tell them you love them and miss them terribly and you are sorry that you let anything get in the middle of your relationship. Will you do this?

As my brother ended all emails and correspondence,

Friends and family forever.

I would describe each of my brothers, sisters, or cousins when we were young this way:

noreply@blogger.com (QueenShakeNBake) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:31:00 +0000

How do I describe my brother and sisters "when we were young" when they were 11, 8, and 6 1/2 years older than me? We weren't young together. When I was five, my siblings were 12, 13, and 16 and were teenagers.

Although my brother and I shared a bedroom until I was about eight, all I can remember about this bedroom was bunk beds (I had the bottom) and a crib in the bedroom because we frequently had my cousin's son staying/living with us. I believe it was hard for my brother in a household of sisters and the only boy. He turned to his friends and scouting and never seemed to be at home. He was outgoing and friendly.

Sandy, my oldest sister, was a hard worker, working at candy stores, either downtown or out at Merle Hay Mall. People flocked to her (and my younger sister) and the evenings would be spent outside in the summer with several young men visiting them. When I was eight she gave birth to my nephew. Although married, the marriage was already on the rocks and she was living at our house with her son. After graduation from high school in 1962, she went to work for Higgins Ford and frequently came home with a new car she had bought. Saturdays would be spent shopping with Sandy, my mom, and her son, cruising around in whatever vehicle she may have owned at the time. If it was summer, the car most likely was a convertible.

Linda graduated early from high school in January of 1964 and went to work at a local insurance company and then married in July of 1964 and moved out. Her and Sandy hung out a lot, scooping the loop, etc.

My closest cousin, Candy, was just one year and one week older than me. We were very close, staying at each other's house. I loved staying at her house, with all the trees for climbing, and the explorations we did. Candy had a sister about 10 years older, a brother about five years older, and a sister about five years younger. We also had other older cousins, the ages of our older siblings. Out mothers (sisters) both sewed and on a couple of occasions, made us matching dresses for Christmas.