SierraBella

Yet Another 'Unknown' Photo

2005-07-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

Unknown Children, Essex England-

Upon going through the old family picture box this morning, I discovered this photo.
I have no idea who these children are, but the back of the picture is stamped Evelyn Studios * 36 Aldborough Road * Seven Kings * Essex * Tel. Seven Kings 4856"
Although much of the family originally hails from England, I'm not aware of our family keeping close contact with the British relatives since perhaps 1668.
The photograph is in excellent condition, and of course I'll keep it...
but who the heck are these people?

The End Of The Line

2005-06-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

The Grandson-

Since I've temporarily stopped with my ancestry search, I've decided to put a hopefully temporary end to this blog.
I may post again, but with the summer season I find it too difficult to continue with updating two blogs.
I will continue with my Sierra Vistas blog, so please come by for a visit... set a spell, and y'all come back now, hear!

This photograph is a very recent one, and he's the last of the line in my family! As none of my children are into genealogy, I'm hoping he might find some value in the work I've done. It could prove a nice shortcut one day with regards to some homework!

Pick Up Your Free Issue Now!

2005-06-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

the covergirl-
Sorry, I couldn't help myself!
Apologies to my great-great grandmother...

The Little Rascals?

2005-06-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Cousin Marian Martin, Uncle Fred and Mom-
I believe this photo was taken at my great-grandfather's farm in Maryland.
Many of the family members seem to always be posed in front of that bush!
I'm hoping to resume contact with cousin Marian Martin Hall, and that by posting her entire name will bring her, or a family member, to my blog through a Google search. We were in email contact until she and her husband took a New Zealand vacation. Perhaps they stayed?
Marian's mother was formerly the family historian, so I would like to hear of any information or family tales which may have been passed down.
So: Marian, Jack, Debbie, Cindy, Mike or Danny (the comedian) Hall comment on my blog, please?
The Little Rascals reference? I think my mother looks like Darla and her brother looks like Alfalfa in this picture. That's all folks!

Yes, It's a Meme-

2005-06-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

My fibbin' brother and me-

This is a little something I duplicate-posted on my Sierra Vistas site.

I am from coffee cake from Bisquick and Neapolitan ice-cream, because, well, there were six different opinions in our household.

I am from the pink stucco house in the fog, up the steep hill near the Pacific Ocean, where our books always had a musty smell.

I am from the camelia bush in the shade by the front door, and the sleddable ice-plant on the back hill.

I am from a Protestant/Agnostic mix and reserved, from Norman and Dorothy, Fred and Edna, and Earl and Alice.

I am from both picnic lovers and bathroom readers. (Paperbacks only!)

From "Take those wet clothes off, you'll catch your death," and "Be home by five" which was always dinnertime.

I am from Methodist, then Lutheran. Sunday school (fun) then church (oh so boring.)

I'm from Alamogordo New Mexico, via England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Austria and France, and from macaroni casseroles and Chef Boyardee spaghetti. (ewwwwww!)

From the time my next younger brother saved a boy from drowning (his explanation for coming home with mud up to his neck,) and the time my mother was putting little red X's on the family calendar where I helpfully marked off the days she'd missed, leading to the birth of my youngest brother... and the first (and only) time my mother swore! (This wasn't the same occasion.)

I am from the box of family pictures my mother always threatened to leave to me, which I now have, and in the process of sorting and scanning. Wonderful memories ensue each time I work at the task. All those familiar faces, and best of all... those smiles.

Ellen & Samuel Murray

2005-06-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Ellen Campbell Murray

Samuel Murray

My great-great grandparents.
Ellen Campbell was born May 12, 1839 in Ohio. She became a teacher before meeting and marrying Samuel on October 9, 1869.
Samuel Murray was born June 21, 1848 in Maryland. He was know to be a frail, sickly man, who suffered from diabetes, and perhaps TB. Samuel died January 21, 1881.
Ellen lived on, never remarrying, until she passed away March 22, 1918 during the influenza pandemic.
Although both Ellen and Samuel's families were farmers, they instilled the value of an education in their son John Edward (my great-grandfather) who became both a farmer and a teacher.
John Edward's daughter Edna became a nurse, and then a school cafeteria worker.
Her daughter, my mother, almost became a nurse, then changed course and was 3 units short of her teacher's degree, before marrying.
I worked as a telephone operator for several years before transferring to a facilities technician position. I retired at 48, and have moved back to the land.
We've gone full circle now. Although I don't plan to farm for profit, I do intend to grow food for our table.
Grapes grow well up here, so I just might learn to make wine.

So This Is How I Feel Today...

2005-06-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Daniel Boyd-
This woman is Mrs. Jane Elliott Boyd, mother of Margaret Boyd who is mentioned several postings before this one.
Jane was the eleventh of fifteen children born to her parents, and she subsequently gave birth to nine of her own.
No wonder she looks tired.
Oh, and Nick, there is no relationship to Mrs. Boyd and myself, just so you know.

Cameras, Cameras, Everywhere

2005-06-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Grandfather Nicht & Dad-
I've previously posted about my grandfather Earl Francis Nicht, shown above with my father. This picture, showing the ever present cigar clamped in his mouth, is how I remember him.
Grandpa was born, and remained in Rochester, New York. I don't know whether the family's love of cameras was due to their close proximity to Eastman Kodak, or just a hobby (aside from music) they developed. (Developed- bad pun intended!) I do remember visiting Rochester and hearing tales about George Eastman. Perhaps my grandfather knew George. They may have come in contact at the Rochester Democrat newspaper, where grandpa worked as a lithographer.
Most of the family photographs were taken by the men in the family, so I'd guess this picture was taken by my grandmother. In the few photos actually showing the Nicht men, you will always see a camera- if not in front of their faces, it will be hanging around their necks, ready to take another picture.

A Familiar Face

2005-06-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Alice "Luscalate"
Sorting out the Lescalleet family has been a difficult task, due to the varied ways in which the surname has been spelled. Even now, different spellings are commonly used. The most unusual are found in the old census records. I happened upon both Paskyler and Susclelect during my research.
The picture of Alice, shown above, was labeled Ohio. Her parents William and Elizabeth were born in Maryland and moved their family to Ohio sometime between 1850 and 1860.
I believe William to be the cousin of my GGG-Grandmother Ann Lescalleet.
There was a slew of comments on yesterday's post from one Nick Danger who (by the final comment) was curious as to what I look like. Of all the antique family photographs in my possession, Alice and I are the most similar.
My hair is blonder, thanks to highlighting. My mouth and nose are slightly different and my chin not so large, but all in all- she and I look much alike! I rarely scowl, though.
So here's to you Nick- me, circa 1870 ish!

Prudy Campbell

2005-06-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

Prudence Campbell Crawford-
Among my inherited photographs was this one, labeled "Prudy Crawford, Graham Missouri." It wasn't until several months ago that I discovered she was Prudence Campbell, sister of my great-great grandmother Ellen.
Prudence was born about 1840 in Athens County, Ohio.
The 1870 census shows her still single, living with family, and employed as a teacher.
She married a short time after that, to a William E. Crawford. They lived in Missouri, and had two daughters Josie and Edna, before her death in 1880.
I need to do more research on Prudy. During those times, a 30 year old school-marm spinster wasn't something to be proud of. I'd love to know whether she was a mail-order bride.
Maybe her Civil War veteran brothers hooked her up with one of their war buddies who'd settled in Missouri? And maybe they paid him?

First Coed - Ohio University

2005-05-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Maggie Boyd 1846 - 1905
Although I find no relationship to Maggie, I have inherited photographs of her, as well as her parents. Once again I believe my Campbell family had collected and saved these photos of their friends and neighbors in Athens County Ohio.
Margaret Boyd was the youngest of nine children born to Daniel and Jane (Elliott) Boyd in Carthage Township.
Maggie's parents placed great value on education. Five of their children became teachers. One child became a lawyer, one a physician and another became both a minister and a teacher.
Maggie graduated from the University in 1873, as the first woman graduate.
I've been lucky most of the old photographs I inherited were labeled with both name and town or county. I have done research on all these photos in an attempt to discover whether they're ancestors, or not.
I happened to Google Daniel (Maggie's father) and stumbled across the Boyd Collection at Ohio U. They were kind enough to photocopy and send me some items of interest. I was able to provide them with scanned photos of the three Boyds. The picture above was of a younger Maggie, which they didn't have.
As yet, my children have little interest in my family search. I'm sure the antique photographs of non-related people will be of even less interest. This is why I'm adding notes to my living trust with regard to where these pictures might be donated. There is one post-it note already affixed, regarding the Boyd family... "Please donate to Ohio University."

My Great (and I do mean Great) Aunt Peg

2005-05-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Margaret Ann Larue Murray, about 1920-
Great-Aunt Peg, my maternal grandmother's sister, was born about 1913 in Carroll County, Maryland. She was the youngest of three sisters who were left motherless during the influenza pandemic, on March 11, 1917.
Their father John Edward Murray kept the family intact, although his wife's Shipley family offered to take in the girls. As a teacher (and a farmer), he made sure they received a good education. Aunt Peg frequently mentioned his lessons on the importance of being thrifty, something she held dear to her heart.
My mother corresponded frequently with her Aunt. Soon after my mother's death in 1992, I received a letter (from Aunt Peg) written on the backs of those AdServer coupons we all receive in the mail... a full 10 pages of closely written script in which she'd finished the leftover ink of three different pens! It was entitled "My History Of The Family" and included her memories, as well as stories passed down through the family. Note: Last year I transcribed this letter, and forwarded it to The Shipleys Of Maryland for their archives.
Among the information found on the document was the fact that Aunt Peg had obtained her Masters Degree in Education, something of which I was unaware. She taught for forty-two years in Carroll County schools before retiring.
There are a lot of stories in those pages which I choose to retell at a later date... ahhh, blog fodder!
Although engaged once, she never married, and passed away in January of 1996. In typical Aunt Peg style, she always considered herself "an unclaimed blessing."
She may have been unclaimed, but she truly was a blessing.

Further note: My stats show that several people have Googled "great aunt peg" and come to this posting. If they were indeed looking for "the great aunt peg" who is a porn star, well what can I say except I'm sorry!

Cousin Abe?

2005-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

At the Lincoln Memorial-
I've learned a few things in the short time that I've been researching my ancestry. One of the most important is that one needs to locate specific records. This would include census documents, newspaper articles, and birth, death and marriage records.
I've perused the various ancestry message boards looking for clues of my own ancestry, and sometimes found valuable information. Before adding any of this newfound information, I like to double-check the data. I've seen hundreds of family tree errors, due to people outright copying unchecked information from others.
My mother used to tell us we were descended from William the Conqueror through our Shipley family, and I've seen that indicated on several sites. As I've not yet found the true father of Adam Shipley (supposedly the first of our family to arrive in America,) I cannot claim this as true.
Then there is the enigma of Abraham Lincoln's heritage.
I did some extra research yesterday, and found the two common beliefs about his family were about equally divided.
The side I'd like to believe states that Abraham was the son of Nancy Hanks, who was the daughter of Lucy Shipley. Lucy was the daughter of Robert Shipley Jr., who was the son of Robert Shipley. Robert Sr. was one of Adam Shipley's six children.
I'm descended from Robert Sr. as well, and also from Robert's brother Peter, so of course this story appeals to me.
The other side believes Abraham was the illegitimate son of Nancy Hanks, and that her mother may have been named Lucy, but not Shipley.
Apparently Abraham Lincoln's body is now encased within tons of concrete, and not available for DNA testing, so we may never know the truth about his birth.
I guess there are some things only a mother knows for sure.

Who Should I Poke Fun At Today?

2005-05-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Me & Some Of The Family, about 1992-
Anyone who has read this blog before knows I always poke fun at my dead relatives. I do attempt to do so with a semblence of humor.
Today's photo allows me several options, although I don't believe anyone in this picture has passed away (yet.)
Now there's my sister, the leggy blonde on the left. Her only fault, other than being leggy and blonde is her extreme tardiness! She actually will be late for her own funeral. Nuff said.
I can't pick on the children, shown in the front. Both my nephew, and my youngest daughter, are still young enough to be innocent of any wrong. So far...
My brother, shown with the bubble over his head deserves a bashing! He was the person who suggested I blog. Thanks dude! Just what I needed, yet another vice.
My son, sitting on the wall next to my brother is old enough to make fun of, but has no faults I can think of at this moment. He did, however, fall asleep on the grave of one of our Shipley ancestors on this trip!
My husband, wearing a plaid shirt, and just in front of my son, isn't feeling well so I'll have to leave him alone (today.)
Then there's my 2nd cousins husband Jack, standing next to my hubby. He and his wife were kind enough to give us the tour of Washington D.C. I hadn't lived there since the age of 5, so truly appreciated the offer. No problem there, except for the one little misdirection which sent us the wrong way down a one-way street!
This leaves me, the one posed in the middle with sunglasses. I'm not without fault, but this is my blog, so I'll list just one of my imperfections: I poke fun at dead people. But you already knew that...

Myself Revealed!

2005-05-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Me, about 1956, topless!
I was tagged by Cheesecakey to reveal three things about myself, a multiple question quiz, which I posted on my Sierra Vistas site.
As I wasn't able to figure out how to post that information onto this blogsite, please bear with my stupidity!

The Spittin' Image

2005-05-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Earl Francis Nicht, born 1901
My grandfather, Earl Francis Nicht was born in Rochester, New York, in May of 1901.
By the age of 18, he was shown as a "printer" working for the "Daily Paper."
I remember him working as a lithographer at the Rochester Democrat Newspaper. In his home was a photograph of himself at work, with his usual round eyeglasses, a visor, and the huge cigar clamped in one side of his mouth. He appeared more like a bookie than a lithographer.
For some strange reason, whenever I'd see a movie with Edward G. Robinson I'd think of him. Perhaps in my mind I held my grandfather in this earlier time period, where men were gents, women were dames, and organized crime figures were somewhat idolized. Sure, they were gunning for the G-Men, but they were also burning mortgages and paying a pretty penny to those who would harbor and feed the mobsters along the way.
The photograph above shows my grandfather long before his resemblence to Edward G. became apparent.
What frightens me is the fact that this picture looks exactly like my grandson! It's pretty obvious the grandson will be quite a bit taller than his great-great grandfather. I wonder if his grandchildren will see a resemblence to some actor who specialized in criminal roles, like James Gandolfini.
Of course it may just be those cigars.

Happy Mothers Day

2005-05-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Mom, about 1952-
* I'm posting this early, as I may not be writing this week due to expected company *
My mother Dorothy Murray Warren Nicht was born in Maryland, in October 1932.
As a child, she lived on her Grandfather Murray's farm. Her memories of childhood spent on that farm consisted of running, quite fast, down a slope and breaking an arm. There was also the dreadful chicken incident where she learned just why it wasn't a good idea to name any of the resident chickens, which is also the day she refused to eat that particular Sunday dinner.
Mom attended nursing school, and almost graduated. She realized this wasn't a good career choice while attending a thumb amputation surgery. Fainting didn't bode well for a future nurse.
She was later a student at Towson, working toward a teaching degree; but as was common in those days, she fell in love, married, and quit school.
My mother gave birth to four children, and was lucky enough to stay home and care for us.
This woman never ever cussed... except once. Mom was driving, with us children, when another driver cut her off. She slammed on the brakes, and out of her mouth came the word shithead! We were totally shocked, but began giggling after recovering from the horror that our mother had said a bad word!
She went back to college to pick up the three units she was short, when we were older. An interest in Hospice care ensued, and she dived into more classes.
My father passed away, at the age of 59, in 1992. She followed several months later, also at the age of 59. We all feel she died of a broken heart.
Of course my mother is much missed. Her unfailing love and sense of humor most of all.
I can see (in my mind's eye) my mother watching from afar. And you know what she's saying whenever one of her children suffers the slings and arrows thrown by others... "shithead!"
Shithead Indeed!

A Blast From The Past

2005-04-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Brother Rick & Me about 1964-
The idea for this posting comes from a fairly recent post by christian v.. It also incorporates some thoughts from an email I received several years ago.
Some memories of growing up in the early 1960s:
You could play outside, or just sit on the curb, until either a meal was served, or it was time to get ready for bed. (Yes, we were taught about strangers with candy but it wasn't a common reality.)
We built tree forts, played hide-and-go-seek and freeze tag. There were hula hoops and skates that required keys to affix them to your shoes. Penny candy really cost a penny! A run through the sprinkler was a treat. Playing cards were clipped to the spokes of one's bike to make a cool sound.
You could go home for lunch during the schoolday, and bring friends. Mom's (mostly) didn't work, and usually didn't drive. Why bother, there was only one car!
Girls had headbands and bobby pins, and a bit later there was lip gloss!
You were wary of the dangers of the wringer attachment on the washer. Television was a sacred thing... only Mom & Dad were allowed to touch it.
You might not like your teacher, but you respected him/her. One's parents never ever took sides against a teacher.
On the downside, freezers needed a weekly defrosting, unless you were the type of people who only needed ice.
TV dinners tasted of cardboard... well some things never change.
Restaurants were all closed on Mondays, and grocery stores were all closed on Sundays.
Sunday morning broadcasting consisted of only religious programming. (I did love "Davey and Goliath.")
Jello salads were plentiful, and (I believe) considered one of the food groups.
Telephone lines were shared, and called party lines. This was only a good thing if your neighbor was a gossip.
Lunchmeat was either bologna or olive loaf. Don't offer up Spam, that was baked with a pineapple slice atop, and served for dinner!
Women frequently wore both curlers, and a mumu to the store.
Smoking was allowed everywhere. People even smoked in the grocery store! This was another good reason to wash your fruit and vegetables upon arriving home.
Last, but not least, if you were real bad, there was the belt!

The Legend That Is Susie ' Fairchild '

2005-04-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is actually Eliza Webster (Webstar!)
Off topic once again!
Yesterday, one of my favorite blogsites susie had a celebrity visitor- Rosie O'Donnell...
How cool is that?
Susie's comments have now soared to over 100 for that single post! * update- the tally has now grown to 127 *
If you haven't seen her site yet, you should.
What does Eliza Webster (pictured) have to do with this?
Not a damn thing!

Here's To Distant Cousins!

2005-04-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Amelia Cook Conaway- courtesy of Len E.
While searching the message boards on ancestry.com, I recently found a distant cousin!
He's been kind enough to share gravesite photographs from Maryland, and much information of which I was previously unaware.
This photo, for instance, is the tombstone of a common ancestor of ours, Amelia Cook Conaway. She was my GGGG-Grandmother, born August 1780. She died June 14, 1865 in Carroll County, Maryland; and is buried in the Ebenezer U.M. Cemetery in Winfield, Maryland.
To most, I suppose, gravesite photgraphs might seem macabre. In ancestry search, these are quite valuable.
Due to environmental pollution, many grave markers are becoming unreadable.
There are many "Lost Cemeteries." One such cemetery was known as Adam's Garden, and was the family plot of Adam Shipley III and his wife Ruth Tevis (or Tivis.) The markers are long gone, and the land is now occupied by Springfield State Hospital near Sykesville, Maryland. A monument was erected on this site in 1984.
What I'd like to know is what happened to the bodies? Are they lying somewhere below the Hospital grounds?
I hope they're resting in peace!

Could This Be Husband # 2 ?

2005-04-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

George Arnold & Carrie Shreeve
Although George Arnold is written on the backside of this old photograph, I've been unable (so far) to identify him. Many young men during this time period went off to WWI and disappeared from record. As far as I know, Arnold may be his middle name.
Carrie Louisa Shreeve is another story. She was the daughter of my Great-Great Aunt Keturah Louisa Shipley and her husband Jabez G. Shreeve.
Carrie was born March 30, 1887 in Carroll County, Maryland. She was an only child, so George is definitely not her brother.
Carrie married J. Wilson Zepp about 1907, and he subsequently died in August 1918.
Her next husband of record was Charles Walter Oursler. They married sometime after 1930, in Maryland.
Both the 1920 and 1930 census' show Carrie as widowed, but since there is a 10 year gap between the two census, it's entirely possible there was another marriage during that time.
She was obviously a lovely young woman, and suitors were probably plentiful.
Carrie died in June 1983, and was buried next to her first husband J. Wilson Zepp.
I met her husband "Charlie" Oursler when I was a young girl, but I don't recall ever meeting Carrie.
I have 3 or 4 photos of Carrie, but no pictures of either of her known husbands (although they could possibly be among my "Unknown Photos" collection.)
It's not wise to speculate about these matters, but it sure looks like this is a wedding photograph to me!

About Retirement

2005-04-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Margaret Kaufman Campbell, abt. 1802 - 1880
I was recently searching census records, and suddenly realized- back in the olden days, people rarely retired!
While tracing one gentleman through the decades I noticed he'd been working on the railroad for many years. His final census entry (at the age of 76) showed him living with his widowed son-in-law, and still showed him employed by the railroad, as a security guard.
Some people love their jobs and intend to work until they drop, but I believe most of us plan on retirement at some point (usually as soon as possible.)
Although I was divorced about 11 years before retirement, and therefore lost half my assets, I was able to retire on schedule.
How you ask?
Pay off all debts, especially credit cards! Credit cards are just legalized loan-sharking. I keep only two, and pay the entire amount owed upon receipt.
If your employer has a savings plan available (especially if they match a percentage of your investment) you should invest. As you (hopefully) receive raises over the years you need to up the percentage you're investing. If you job jump, roll that puppy over.
Think! What do you intend to do with your retirement? Travel? Kick back and go fishing? Are you happy where you are, or do you want to relocate?
I found a site yesterday which I enjoyed. There were quite a few questions, but the results were interesting. findyourspot gives you something like 25 locations where you might like to live. Due to my answers, all suitable towns happened to be located in Alaska, Montana and Colorado. I currently live in California...
Don't count on Social Security! 'Nuff said.'
As you get closer to retirement, you'll need to estimate a monthly budget. Don't forget the little things that add up, like haircuts, manicures, magazine subscriptions, Christmas and birthday gifts, and those emergency (and costly) home repairs.
So how does Margaret (pictured above) enter into this subject matter? She went to live with one of her many sons as she grew old. Now that is something I refuse to do!

At Least Somebody Came By For A Visit

2005-04-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Lone deer in front of the garage-
I have two blogsites which I update frequently. It seems my (few) fans look at either one or the other, but not both. Hey, I'm happy to have any readers whatsoever! Bless you all.
This story is a duplicate of today's story on my Sierra Vistas site. Although this is a tad off my usual 'style' for this blog, I wished to include it.

Allow me to preface this story with the fact that I've been suffering from both allergies and neck problems for the past week, and been self medicating with both NyQuil, Advil, and most anything I can get my hands on-
My sister-in-law called real early yesterday morning and left a voicemail informing us that she, her husband and two other family members were running late, and they wouldn't be here until noon.
I happened across this message while waiting for my morning coffee to appear, around 9:15, and was flabbergasted. I didn't remember making any plans whatsoever!
Could I have actually held a conversation with someone while under the effects of the previously mentioned medications and not remembered?
Horribly embarassed, I woke my husband, gulped some coffee and roared into motion. I showered, swept, dusted, vacuumed and tidied up the bathrooms.
Since most of our guests choose to spend the night, I made up the guest bed as well.
Noon came and went.
1pm, 2pm, 3pm also came and went.
Now I have one sister, and if she were this late I wouldn't be surprised. She's been to our home 5 or 6 times, and gets lost every time! One Christmas, she called late and lost as usual. She didn't know where she was, but she did say it was snowing... it wasn't snowing here! The last time we got together she called en route to inform us she'd left extremely early (for once.) We were elated! She called again, about 15 minutes after she should have arrived and said "we're almost there, which Yosemite exit do I take?" We live somewhat between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe... sister was only 2 hours late that time.
Anyway, about 3:30 I fired off an email to sister-in-law, asking where they were (and mentioning we'd been expecting her special deviled eggs as well.)
It turned out sister-in-law has been sick, stressed, and had meant to dial the other SierraBella and Mr. SierraBella in their lives. (Who would think with such an uncommon name this could happen?)
All I can say is at least my house is clean...

Say Cheese... Please?

2005-04-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

Ellen Campbell Murray, 1839 - 1918
Born Ellen Campbell, in Athens County, Ohio, in 1839. She was my great-great grandmother.
She became a teacher and later moved to Carroll County, Maryland, sometime between 1860 and 1870.
She married Samuel Murray on October 9, 1869.
Ellen appears to be the only one of her eight siblings to leave Ohio. I wonder just how this marriage came about.
Was she deemed a spinster schoolteacher and had an arranged marriage forced upon her? Both her father, and father-in-law (to be) came from Ireland, perhaps there is a connection there.
Her future husband was a farmer, and not likely to travel to Ohio on a lark. (ROADTRIP- hitch up the buggy and let's go!)
I do know that Ellen's parents met, and married, in a section of Frederick County, Maryland, which later became Carrol County.
An entire segment of my Lescalleet family also moved to Ohio, from Maryland, in the same timeframe.
Samuel Murray's mother was Ann Lescalleet, so my best guess is the families kept in close contact after the move. I like to imagine the families had some kind of get-together, maybe a wedding, reunion, or even a funeral, bringing about a meeting of the two.
Ellen passed away during the influenza pandemic, in 1918, bringing an end to her story.
I do wish, however, there was at least one photo in which she was allowed to crack a smile.

Monkeyshines

2005-04-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

Me & "Monkey Muggs"
Since I appear to be the oldest blogger poster around, I'm betting none of my readers will know who this monkey is! (I don't mean the one in the hat.)
Oh, we're not related either... just roommates for several years.
J. Fred Muggs was a baby chimp who appeared on The Today Show in the early 1950s to boost sagging ratings. He appeared, along with Dave Garroway for 13 weeks and was well loved by the audience.
I didn't know this until I just now Googled his name. One article, dated about 1998, claimed he was still living!
I doubt whether I watched The Today Show at such a young age, heck- I don't watch it now.
My toy is now long gone, but not forgotten. Here's to you Monkey Muggs!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

2005-04-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Dad & Ted in the washtub, about 1940-
I'm unsure whether this photo was posed, or whether this was truly a bath.
My grandmother's house was old, in fact it still had the (disabled) gas fixtures high on the walls from the pre-electric era. This home on Cottage Street in Rochester, New York, also had at least one bathroom.
This picture may have come from their previous residence on Wyndham Road, which I don't recall ever visiting.
The manner in which the boys are hiding their faces leads me to believe it's a bath... but dear God where are those bubbles coming from?

Take My Wife... Please!

2005-04-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Edward Campbell, 1843 - 1924
Edward Campbell was born in Ohio, fought in the Civil War in the 32nd Infantry, Company K, and later became a farmer.
He didn't marry until about 1916, when he was 73 years old!
As a child I'd heard tales about a Great-Aunt Cora who was considered the family hillbilly, or as my Grandmother said "Hill William." This woman supposedly ran around barefoot, played fiddle and smoked a corncob pipe!
While researching the family, I've always kept my eyes open for anything on a Cora, and finally found her about a year ago.
She's actually my Great-Great Aunt through marriage.
Cora E. Bailes was born in 1881. She married a Samuel C. Kelley in 1897, had two sons, and was widowed sometime around 1910. Cora married Edward Campbell at the age of 35, (he was 73.) They had one son together, Edward Jr., who supposedly died when the bus in which he was riding rolled off a mountain.
I have a great number of 'unknown' people in old photographs, so I just might have a picture of Cora, but I don't recall any photos of a barefoot woman, playing a fiddle and smoking a corncob pipe. Darn!

NOT A Happy Camper!

2005-04-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Dewey, Harris Ferry, West Virginia
Darn these photos!
I have pictures of a Mr., Mrs., Coleman and W.M. Dewey. All were labeled Harris Ferry, West Virginia. I have no idea who these people are.
Coleman, being an uncommon name, was the moniker I chose to begin the search. Would you believe it- there were two Coleman Deweys to be found in Harris Ferry in the same general time period!
From what I've read, the process of photography (in those bygone days) required one to sit, perfectly still, for a long period of time. Therefore one rarely sees a smiling portrait. A smile can falter during this long procedure, therefore the subjects were directed to keep a straight face.
When I spend a great deal of time trying to research these photos, I imagine, should I look into a mirror, this is the same expression on my own face. I too am not a happy camper!

Just The Facts, Ma'am

2005-03-31T13:52:00.000-08:00

John Edward Murray and sister Lois-
A recent comment was posted which leads me to believe people are thinking I'm creating these stories.
No, I'm not the inventive type, although I surely wish I were.
All the photos on this blog are family pictures handed down to me through past generations. All the photos on my Sierra Vistas site were taken by me, either on or near my property.
I piece together my stories (on this blog) through both research, and family lore.
Research includes browsing through census records, old newspaper items, family wills, and sometimes Googling. It's truly amazing what information one can find online.
I simply piece together this information, and attempt to add a little humor to what is normally an arid subject matter.
By the way, the attached photo shows "My Little Eddie" mentioned on the previous post.

Good Golly Miss Mollie...

2005-03-31T13:13:00.000-08:00

Miss Mollie Johnson, Westminster, Maryland
From the information I was able to dig up, (pardon the pun) Miss Mollie was a school teacher. She was born about 1857, and her given name was Mary E. Johnson.
Inscribed on the back of her picture is the message "To My Little Eddie."
Eddie was my great-grandfather John Edward Murray, born in 1871.
The little I know about schoolteachers back in those days consists of the facts:
Once married, female teachers were required to relinquish their jobs.
All teachers were expected to act as role models. They were to maintain proper decorum, both on and off the job.
Miss Mollie appears to be an attractive young woman, and I'll bet she didn't remain single (and therefore teaching) for long.
One thing about this photograph puzzles me though- She seems to be rather fancily dressed for the prim and proper times she lived in, and good God- she's wearing earrings!

Oh Henry!

2005-03-29T17:11:00.000-08:00

Henry Watson, Cheshire Ohio
Again, not related as far as I know.
I do know Henry was the son of John and Philamena Watson, and had a sister Ellen. He was born in 1841, in Ohio.
My interest in his picture comes from not just the unusually ornate border, but from the cords and tassels inked in by hand. Did Henry painstakingly add this artistry? I rather doubt it, as he was shown as a farmer in the 1870 census, and still living with his family (at the age of 29.)
Perhaps the recipient of this photo had (shall we say) special feelings for him?
The likely female suspects would have been either my great-great grandmother Ellen Campbell or one of her two sisters. All three married, but none to Henry Watson.
It could be likely that Henry served alongside one of Ellen Campbell's brothers in the Civil War. If this were the case I would doubt Henry would have bothered (or dared) to add the artwork.
No, I prefer to believe a love-sick Campbell girl was just doodling.

Happy Easter!

2005-03-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

Grandfather Warren & Me Easter 1955, Alamogordo, New Mexico-
Whether you celebrate Easter Sunday by attending church, sharing a meal with friends and family, hunting for eggs, pigging out on chocolate, or a combination of these events- I wish you all a very Happy Easter!

Sally Smith, You Devil You!

2005-03-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Sally Smith-
I found Sally's photo, along with pictures of her husband Hiram and daughter Jerusha, among my 'antique' photographs from Ohio.
I don't believe we're directly related. My ancestors from Athens County apparently collected pictures of their friends much like we now collect trading cards.
I've pieced together their story through census records only.
Sally (aka Sarah) Congrove Smith was Hiram's second wife, the first died before 1868. By the 1870 census, about when the photo shown above was taken, Sally and Hiram had a two year old daughter.
Hiram passed away before 1880, where I find Sally and daughter Jerusha living in the town of Troy. Sally is about 37 years old, and we now find she has a 22 year old named Russel Wheeler living in the household. His occupation shows "working on the farm."
I'll bet he was busy plowing the fields!
The next available census is 1900, and as you probably guessed- Sally and Russel are married.
I wonder if this was the cause of some local scandal?
By 1920 Sally was widowed once again, and I'm afraid to look any further into this matter. Period. There may just be another young man "working on the farm" in the next census.

Well She's Not Betsy Ross-

2005-03-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Unknown woman with an American flag-
Yet another of my unknown photos. I believe she might be my great-grandmother Eva Diggs Warren.
The location shown is obviously not the residence of anyone in my family tree. We're just not the sort to own pillared mansions, and if we did, I'd like to know what happened!
Actually, I'd think this picture was taken in the Baltimore area, and the woman is posed in front of a museum or library.
Perhaps I'm descended from an aristocratic and genteel family, and was stolen away by gypsies... just a thought.

Rochester Farm

2005-03-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

John Edward Murray & Jack-
My great-grandfather John Edward Murray was a farmer, assistant court clerk and (dearest to his heart) a teacher.
He purchased Rochester Farm, which was just outside the town of Westminster, Maryland in 1912.
My mother had told us how the farm had once been a stop on the Underground Railroad, and I took great pride in thinking my great-grandfather had assisted slaves to freedom. Realizing now that a former owner of the farm had been the one to give aid really burst my bubble.
As a child, my mother lived on that farm. She once found a corncob doll stashed deep inside the root cellar. I asked, but she didn't remember what became of it.
I visited the farm once, just prior to it being sold. My only memories of this visit were seeing a portrait of my great-grandmother (who for some strange reason I thought was a witch) and getting a look at the door to that root cellar. I wanted to go inside but was told it was too dangerous.
Just another of my missed opportunities...

My Aunt Joyce

2005-03-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

Aunt Joyce Moriarity
My father's only sister, the last of his siblings, passed away Friday March 18, 2005 at the approximate age of 83.
Aside from a few fleeting memories of my youngest years spent in New Mexico, Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, most of my recollections span from 1962 when we moved to California.
Luckily my father worked for United Air Lines by that time, and we were able to visit our families in Maryland and New York twice a year.
I have many happy memories of visiting my paternal grandmother in Rochester. Aunt Joyce lived just down the street, and although she was a hard working mother of three boys, she always made time to visit with us.
As her boys got older she was able (several times) to fly out and visit us as well. My last real visit with her was about 1972. By that time I was living on my own, and had heard that Joyce was hoping to (again) visit San Francisco. I was able to kidnap her for an entire day and take her to Fisherman's Wharf and a few other tourist spots in the vicinity. Her dearest souvenir was a loaf of sourdough bread she planned to take home and share. We also purchased sourdough starter, but as I remember, it later failed to work in the Rochester climate.
Joyce turned to the Mormon faith in her late 40's, with the zeal of all converts. Thankfully she didn't try to convert the rest of us 'heathens.' Her conversion initiated the interest in our family lineage, and her research gave me a tremendous amount of hard-won information with which to begin my own research.
Thank you Aunt Joyce, and may you rest now.

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

2005-03-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Brother "Rick" and Me, circa 1963
What can I say about my brother Rick?
He's imaginitive, for one thing. To explain just why he (and his bike) were entirely covered with mud, he once claimed he'd saved another boy from drowning in the three inch deep local creek. The bike was necessary to this heroic deed because the mud was "like quicksand!"
Generous also comes to mind. He allowed me to borrow his treasured Stingray bike with the new banana seat, sissy-bar and speedometer, so I could see it truly would go 60 mph downhill... It did.
As an adult, he always had an endless supply of both bawdy and/or sick jokes.
Our parents both passed away in 1992 at the age of 59. Rick's visits gradually became fewer and farther between, finally ending around 1996.
Is he now a mercenary or a spy? Perhaps he's somebody's father, God forbid?
Maybe he thinks I'm still mad about that last collect call he made to me- the one where he needed to tell me he'd won $8,000 playing stud poker?

What NOT TO WEAR down at the farm

2005-03-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Marian & Great Aunt Olive
One can only imagine Olive's discomfort at having to pose in front of a barn. She was raised on this farm along with her two sisters, but obviously turned her back on the simple life.

Who Is This Woman, And What Is She Doing?

2005-03-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Unknown woman, doing chores?
Yet another of my unknown people in photographs. This one may have come from either my Maryland relatives, or the New York clan.
I was thinking her clothing style dates this picture to the 1940s, or maybe the 1950s. But what exactly is that 'thing' she's holding?
She appears to be cleaning house, but I believe it would have been far more important to have that pillar repaired!
UPDATE!
A friend just emailed to offer some information on this photo, and I believe she's nailed it! She believes the woman is pumping water from a cistern well, and that a trough is what's shown behind the pump. Thank you EJ!

"There's A Whole Lotta Butcherin' Goin' On"

2005-03-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

Unknown folks, possibly Fred. W. Warren Sr. and Jr. on the right-
I found this photo in the trunk-like box previously mentioned...
Are these children happy that their calves are going to become Veal Piccata? Do they realize the men's attire suggests a not so happy ending for their pets?
My Mother spent part of her childhood on a farm in Maryland. She learned early on that it wasn't a good idea to assign names to livestock after a grim chicken incident.
All I can say is ewwwwwwww!

EUREKA ! (or so I thought...)

2005-02-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Fred Warren and other orphans, circa 1912 - 1913
It appears the scanning project has paid off, sort of...
I looked closely at this photo in which my grandfather Fred is the boy standing on the far left. He appears to be 6 or 7 years old, dating this photo to about 1912 or 1913. Realizing he must have been orphaned several years earlier than I previously thought, I revisited the 1910 Baltimore census. I found 3 year old Fred, and his 8 year old sister Dorothy living as boarders at the "Nursery, Child's Hospital." I finally had his sister's name and birth year! I found Dorothy in the 1920 census living with Roy and Pearl Thomas in Virginia, where she was shown as their niece. She disappears from sight afterward. Norfolk County Virginia, seems to have no online marriage records, effectively halting my search for either a spouse for Dorothy, or her aunt Pearl's maiden name. Hopefully more clues will arise during the scanning project.

Scanning Family Photos-

2005-02-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Hall Family (cousins)
My Mother always kept a trunk-sized box of photos in her bedroom. Although I kept after her to put these photographs in albums she declined, laughingly claiming she was leaving that job to me after she was gone. Well... she passed away in 1992, leaving me that darn box!
Luckily (for me) many of the pictures had names, and sometimes dates written on the backs.
I'm now beginning to scan and file this legacy.
Thanks Mom!

Fred Wilson Warren, My Grandfather-

2005-02-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

Fred Wilson Warren
Born August 1, 1906 in Maryland, and died October 1975. Fred's parents were (supposedly) Charles Warren of Virginia and Eva Diggs. As the family story goes... Fred's mother Eva died in the influenza epidemia around 1917/1918. His father had at least one other child, a daughter, and couldn't care for the both of them. He placed young Fred in an orphanage, from which Fred ran away. The 1920 census shows him, as a boarder, living with a non-related family in Baltimore. He was 13 years old.
To date I have been unsuccessfull in finding Fred's parents in the 1900 census, or any of the family in the 1910 census.
Why is it, by the time we're old enough to ask questions about 'things,' the people we need to ask have passed away?

Searching For The Shipleys Of Maryland-

2005-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

Martha Carroll Gertrude Shipley

According to most of my research, my Shipley family can be traced back to Adam Shipley, who was born about 1650 in Yorkshire, England. He arrived in America in February 1668, along with nine other young men, transported by John Pawson, a merchant from Yorke, England. Adam performed his time of service, and by 1675 had received the fifty acres of land due to him under the incentive plan.
Many people claim his father was Hugh Shipley "a Gentleman grantee of the 2nd charter of The Virginia Company, 1609." I question this statement. Why would Adam need to indenture himself to John Pawson when his father was "a Gentleman grantee?"
My Great-Great Uncle Ulysses Shipley was one of the founders of The Shipleys of Maryland. He was quoted in a newspaper article (Frederick Post, Frederick, Maryland) dated September 15, 1926 as saying the family was descended from two brothers from Cardiff, Wales, who settled in Elkridge Landing, Maryland, in 1734. This obviously doesn't match the Adam Shipley story which is commonly held.
Searching the "Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500's - 1900's" found online at Ancestry.com, I found several early Shipley immigrations:
Adam 1668 to America
Richard 1661 to Virginia
Robert 1667 to Port Uncertain
Robert 1670 to Barbados
Robert 1671 to Barbados
On yet another site I found a Joseph Shipley from London who sailed "Xpmas" 1635, at the age of 21.
Perhaps we'll never know the true story of the Shipleys, but in the meantime I will be keeping an open mind on the subject.