Thursday, January 01, 2009
Patricia Dockrey Is Wed
Patricia Dockrey Is Wed
Miss Patricia Ann Dockrey, daughter of Mrs. Irene Dockrey, 429 E. Jackson St., Alexandria, and the late Mr. Dockrey, became the bride of Larry Lee Lambertson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Lambertson, 701 W. Van Buren, Alexandria, on Saturday Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Epworth Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Anderson performing the double-ring vows.
Peggy Cassell, pianist, played bridal airs before the ceremony. Two bouquets of white [illegible] tied with blue bows decorated the altar. The family pews were marked with white bows.
Given in marriage by her brother, David Dockrey, the bride wore a white brocade street length dress. She wore a quarter length veil of illusion, a crystal necklace and matching earrings. She carried a Bible topped with white roses.
The bride's sister, Cynthia Dockrey, acted as maid of honor wearing a blue brocade dress with a shoulder-length veil. She also carried a bouquet of white carnations tied with blue ribbons.
David Nash served as best man, and ushers were Phillip Dockrey, the bride's brother, and Kenny Lambertson, the groom's brother.
Mothers of both the bride and groom wore blue dresses with black accessories and pink corsages.
A reception for the immediate families and grandparents of the couple was held at the home of the bride's mother. A two-tiered wedding cake centered the serving table.
Mr. and Mrs. Lambertson now are residing at 518 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, Va. The groom is stationed at the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth.
Guests of Mr. & Mrs. John Barger
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lambertson , Miss Karen Lambertson, and Everett Webber of Elwood, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Whisler and Glen Whisler of Arcadia, Mr. and Mrs. Clemon Lambertson were recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Barger and family.
Republican Women's Club of Pipe Creek Township
The Republican Women's Club of Pipe Creek Township met in the Republican headquarters. Mrs. Martha Lambertson presided. Mrs. Lambertson extended her appreciation to the committees who worked on the picnic held a [sic] Alexandria. They included Mrs. Mabel Procter, program; Mrs. Perry Cornelius, hospitality; Mrs. Letha Badger, registration; Mrs. Ethel Wimmer, decorations for the platform, and Mrs. Lambertson and Mrs. Audrey Frazee, co-chairman of the decorations. The next meeting will be held Oct. 5 at headquarters.
Shirley Lambertson Weds Virgil Patz
Shirley Lambertson Weds Virgil Patz on May 26
Miss Shirley Lambertson daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lambertson Sr., 402 Walnut St., Alexandria, became the bride of Virgil L. Patz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patz, 1301 W. 1st St., Alexandria, on Saturday, May 26 at 9 a.m. in the St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert F. Kreutzer, of Lebanon, officiating at the double-ring ceremony. Assisting Rev. Kreutzer were George Ross, Pat Matney, Charles Montgomery and William Montgomery, of Anderson.
Organ selections were presented by Mrs. Harry Beardsley, and vocalists at the nuptial high mass were Charles Mack, of Alexandria, and Mrs. Lawrence Staggs, of Anderson.
The chancel was decorated with bouquets of mums, snapdragons and palms. A white aisle runner extended to the altar.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride appeared in a floor-length gown of hand-clipped Chantilly lace and nylon tulle which featured a scalloped neckline, a fitted bodice and lace appliques on the bouffant skirt. The long tapered sleeves came to bridal points over her hands.
Her finger-tipped veil of illusion fell from a crown of seed pearls and sequins. She wore a single strand of pearls, a gift from the groom, and carried a white prayer book and a cascade arrangement of rosebuds, white streamers and lace.
The maid of honor, Miss Darleen Lambertson, sister of the bride, wore a waltz-length gown of shell pink satin which featured a square off-the-shoulder neckline outlined by a row of ruffled net. She carried a cascade of raspberry carnations.
The bridesmaids, Misses Ilene Mack, of Alexandria, and Jean Ann Fettig, of Hartford City, wore identically fashioned waltz-length gowns of net over taffeta. Tiers of figured nylon net ruffles accented the bodice, skirt and capelet. Miss Mack wore pale lavender and Miss Fettig was gowned in lime green. Both carried cascades of yellow and lavender carnations. All the attendants wore a triple banded cap of feathers dotted with rhinestones.
Frank Lambertson, brother of the bride, served as best man. Ushers included Joseph Rasteller Jr., Maurice Mehling, Larry Pierce and David Garner.
For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. Lambertson chose a pink dress with white accessories and a corsage of pink carnations. Mrs. Patz, mother of the bridegroom, wore a blue dress with white accessories and a corsage of blue carnations.
A reception was held in the parish club rooms. The serving table was centered with a five-tiered wedding cake decorated with roses and topped with a miniature bride and groom. Serving the guests were Miss Teresa Diamond, Mrs. Frances New, of Alexandria; Miss Maralyn Young, of Summitville, and Miss Betty Maxwell, of Anderson. Individual tables were decorated with bridal colors and centered with wedding bells. Miss Marjorie Gooding presided at the registration table.
For her wedding trip to Chicago, Mrs. Patz changed into a lavender silk dress with a matching linen jacket and a corsage of pink roses. Upon their return the couple will reside at 506 W. Van Buren, Alexandria.
Mrs. Patz was graduated from Alexandria High School and is employed as a secretary in the engineering department of Haynes-Stellite Co. Her husband was graduated from Alexandria High School and attended St. Joseph's College and Ball State Teachers College. He served two years in the U.S. Army and is presently employed as a clerk in the E and R department of Johns-Manville Co., Alexandria.
Local Men Active At Assembly: Rock, Bailey Attend: Lambertson To Be Doorkeeper
Local Men Active At Assembly
Rock, Bailey Attend; Lambertson To Be Doorkeeper
Madison County's Democratic members of the Indiana 1959 General Assembly will be sworn into office tomorrow, and most of them reported to the state capitol this forenoon for a preliminary rehearsal arranged for state representatives. A number of local Democrats will attend the Assembly opening Thursday.
State Rep. Robert Rock and State Rep. J.J. Bailey, both of Anderson, reported at the state capitol at 11 a.m. today for a rehearsal session to prepare for tomorrow's opening.
Other Democrat members of the State Legislature from this area who will report for tomorrow's Assembly opening are as follows:
John Kirkpatrick, Fortville, joint representative from Hancock and Madison counties.
Melvin Watson, Greenfield, joint senator from Henry, Madison and Hancock counties.
George McDermott, Alexandria, a Republican, is a holdover member of the state senate.
The only appointment confirmed thus far from Madison county for a post in the General Assembly is that of Robert Lambertson, Alexandria, as doorkeeper. Mr. Lambertson is Democratic chairman in Pct. 5 Monroe Twp. His wife is Mary Lambertson, clerk in the County Planning office.
Reps. Rock and Bailey are making plans for preparing a measure for presentation before the General Assembly that would assure protection for property owners against sale of their property for delinquent taxes unless they have been notified. The bill is designed to assure owners have knowledge of a contemplated sale and to prevent loss of homes through sale for taxes.
A number of prominent local Democrats will attend the Assembly opening, including Mayor Ralph R. Ferguson and others.
Commissioners Appoint Two to County Positions
Commissioners Appoint Two to County Positions
Members of the incoming Madison County Board of Commissioners, Ralph Thurston, north district, and Harold Foust, member-elect, middle district, today announced through the office of William Norton, Democrat county chairman, the selection of two new county appointees who will assume their duties Jan. 1 when the Democratic controlled board takes office.
Mrs. Mary Lambertson, Alexandria, is to be secretary in the commissioners office succeeding Audrey Welch, who is to become secretary in the planning body office.
Gene Brundage, 2724 East Lynn St., is to be county veterans service officer. Both appointees are Democrats.
Mrs. Lambertson was employed as clerk of the circuit for Joe Armington, county clerk in 1952 and 1953. She held the post of secretary in the commissioners office in 1956 and 1957. For the past two years, 1958 and 1959, she has been secretary in the office of the County Planning Commission and building inspector. She is the daughter of Ray Miller, president of the Alexandria Bank. Her husband, Robert Lambertson, is a precinct committeeman. They have one daughter, Nancy, 13.
Mr. Brundage, who will become veterans office, is 27 years old. He served in the Armed Forces from February, 1953, to February, 1955, with 29 months of that time spent in Europe as a message center clerk and company clerk. He was graduated from Anderson High School and attended Ball State Teachers College. He is a member of the Eagles Lodge, UAW Local 662 and attends the First Baptist Church. He worked as a real estate assessor in the township assessors's office and is now employed at Delco-Remy. He has a wife, Joyce Illise Brundage and two children, Gina Lynn, 3, and Brenda Gaye, 2.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Betty Fisher is Feted at Shower
Betty Fisher is Feted at Shower
Bethany - Miss Betty Fisher, bride-elect of John Barger, was complimented recently at a linen shower at the home of Mrs. Vernon Fisher, R.R. 3. Miss Linda Fisher assisted as co-hostess.
Miss Fisher and Mr. Barger will exchange nuptial vows on Sunday, Aug. 5, at 2:30 p.m. in Bethany Christian Church.
A lace-covered gift table was centered with a bridal basket decorated in the bride-elect's chosen colors of pale green and yellow. The gifts were opened by candlelight.
Game prizes were awarded to Mrs. Clemon Lambertson and Mrs. P.K. Duncan.
Guests present were Mesdames Clemon Lambertson, Charles Barger, P.K. Duncan, Clarence Bagley, Ralph Hershberger, Charles Lambertson, William Wright, Guy Whisler, Omer Whisler, James Elmore, Miss Linda Fisher and the guest of honor.
Also invited were Mesdames Robert Walsh, Edward Bartley and Floyd Lambertson.
Mrs. Albert Smith will honor the bride-elect with a china and crystal shower this evening and Mrs. James Elmore will fete Miss Fisher at a miscellaneous shower Wednesday evening.
Lambertson - Farmer Wedding
Lambertson - Farmer
Miss Leila Ann Farmer became the bride of Frank Lambertson Jr. in a double-ring ceremony performed Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church at Marion by the Rev. James J. O'Neil. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Verlin Farmer, Summitville, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lambertson Sr., 402 Walnut St., Alexandria.
Baskets of white carnations and red roses decorated the altar.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a full-length gown of white satin and a net with a short, fitted jacket and long sleeves ending in traditional bridal points over her hands.
Her shoulder length veil of illusion fell from a scalloped bandeau of lace and seed pearls that framed her face.
Her crescent bouquet was of red roses, white carnations and lillies of the valley.
Her attendant was Miss Patricia Johnson, who wore a dress of aqua taffeta and lace with matching slippers, and with accessories in white. Her flowers were white carnations.
Best man was John Humphries of St. Mary's, Ohio, and ushers were Bob Armstrong and Virgil Patz of Alexandria.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
More Hagaman data
At the website, The Worcester Family, was an online version of Jonathan Worcester's The Worcester Family, or the Descendants of Rev. William Worcester. (W.W. Kellogg, Lynn, Mass., 1856) and Sarah Alice Worcester's The Descendants of Rev. William Worcester With a Brief Notice of the Connecticut Wooster Family. (E.F. Worcester, Publisher, Hudson Printing Company, 1914), which listed the children of Charles Sherman & Lydia (Moulton) Hagaman as :
1- Clara Eliza, b Jan. 14, 1869, d Mar. 29, 1904, St. Joseph, Mo.; m Jan. 14, 1892, Joe Postlewart. 2- Lydia Emeline, b Oct. 17, 1870; m Jan. 10, 1898, R.D. Ward.
3- Wallace Joel, b May 28, 1872; m Aug., 1901, Rose McCully.
4- Charles Albert, b Nov. 28, 1874; m Dec. 18, 1892, Gertrude Onslow.
5- Nettie Jane, b Mar. 31, 1877; m Feb. 5, 1899. Farmer.
I also found Charles Sherman Hagaman in the 1900 census of Rich Hill Township, Livingston County, Missouri, with wife Lydia, and son Charles. By 1910, Charles Sherman & wife Lydia were living in the same township next door to their son Charles, along with granddaughter Mattie Postalwait. By the 1920 census of Rich Hill Township, Livingston County, Missouri, Charles Sherman was living with his son Charles, listed as aged 75 and widowed.
A search of the Missouri State Archives Death Certificates did not turn up a match for Charles Sherman Hagaman. However, Lydia's death certificate from October 17, 1916 in Chillicothe shows that she was born January 15, 1849 in Bureau County, Illinois. Her father was given as Albert Moulton, birthplace unknown, and her mother as Emeline Philbrick, born in Ohio. The informant was her daughter, Nettie Farmer of Jackson, Miss. Lydia was buried in Edgewood Cemetery.
Looks like I should be able to find Lydia & her parents, Albert & Emeline (Philbrick) Moulton in the 1850 census of Bureau County, Illinois. The hunt goes on.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Charles Hagaman family - 1880 Livingston County, MO
In 1880, Charles was listed as "C. Hagaman", farmer, age 35, born New York, with his father born in New York and his mother born in Vermont. His wife, Lydia, was listed as age 31, born in Illinois, with father born in Vermont and mother born in Ohio. The rest of their children were listed erroneously as having their father born in Illinois and mother born in New York. Obviously the enumerator switched the locations of Charles and Lydia's birth. Their children were all listed as being born in Missouri, and included : Clara, aged 11; Lydia, aged 9; Wallace, aged 7; Charles, aged 4; and Nettie, aged 2. The name of the last daugther was a bit hard to read, so Nettie is my best guess.
In the 1870, the family was living in Chillicothe Township, Livingston County, Missouri. I have not found them in any later census records yet. Charles was a Civil War veteran, serving with the 18th New York Infantry.
Charles S. Hagaman b. November 16, 1844 Rochester, Monroe County, New York, d. after 1880 census, m. February 1868 Alexandria, Ohio to Lydia Moulton. Lydia b. ca. 1849 either Ohio or Illinois, d. October 17, 1916 Livingston County, Missouri. Their children :
i. Clara Hagaman b. ca. 1869 Missouri, d. after 1880 census
ii. Lydia Hagaman b. ca. 1871 Missouri, d. after 1880 census
iii. Wallace Hagaman b. ca. 1873 Missouri, d. after 1880 census
iv. Charles Hagaman b. ca. 1876 Missouri, d. after 1880 census
v. Nettie Hagaman b. ca 1878 Missouri, d. after 1880 census
Friday, December 26, 2008
James Austin Davis was insane
As of yet, I have not discovered all of the details about his life and why he ended up in the asylum. In the 1900 census, he is a resident of the Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane in Logansport, Cass County. In that census, he was listed as James A. Davis, born 1851 in Indiana. He died while still an inmate of the hospital on June 12, 1909.
Interestingly, in the 1880 census, he was shown as married. James had married Mary Ellen SWAFFORD on July 2, 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana. I have not found a record of their divorce, though they must have, as Mary Ellen eventually remarried. However, in the 1880 census, she is shown living with her father, Peter SWAFFORD, in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana, as his 24 year old single daughter. Austin and Mary Ellen had two daughters, Ida and Dealie, that should have been living with some relative, but I have yet to locate them in the 1880 census.
James Austin Davis was born circa 1850 in Indiana, probably Monroe County, the son of Austin and Fanny (RUNNELS) DAVIS. Mary Ellen SWAFFORD was born August 30, 1854 near Stinesville, Monroe County, Indiana, the daughter of Peter Kirkpatrick and Mary Ann (CROCKETT) SWAFFORD.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
William Cunningham family - 1910 Jay Co., IN
William was listed as a 75 year old farmer, born in Indiana, with father born in Virginia and mother born in Pennsylvania. He and Rachel had been married for 50 years. Rachel was listed as aged 71 years, born in Ohio, with both parents born in Ohio. She was listed as the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom were still living in 1910.
William's occupation was that of a farmer, which corresponds with other census records. In 1860, his occupation was listed as a shoemaker.
William was born February 1835 in Indiana, and married Rachel on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana. Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio, and died March 13, 1913 in Jay County, Indiana. Their children were :
i. Nancy M. Cunningham b. July 5, 1861 m. David Rants
ii. Catherine E. Cunningham b. 1861-1865
iii. Phillip L. Cunningham b. February 3, 1865 m. Eana Brake
iv. John W.M. Cunningham b. April 26, 1868 m. Leona A. Drake
v. Orinda Cunningham b. May 5, 1869 m. Elmer I. Pauling
vi. Martha J. Cunningham b. May 5, 1873 m. Elsworth Beard
Additional branch of the Jacobs line
Back in 2005, June Jordan had written to the list regarding sorting out the data regarding the various JACOBS families in Brown County, Ohio and what she had discovered regarding William. Turns out William was not of her line, but she did an excellent job in pointing future researchers in the right direction by retracing her steps and giving sources for where she found her information.
According to her research, my William was the son of Jacob and Hannah (JOHNSON) JACOBS of Monongalia County, Virginia. Doing a quick Google search on Jacob, looks like there is quite a bit of information out there on him in the early records of Monongalia County - where he may have crossed paths with my Lemaster relatives - looks like I have some letters to write, etc.
William had at least two sisters, Rebecca who married Samuel Frazee, and Hannah who married a ________ Harbert. Samuel Frazee was a Revolutionary War veteran, as was Jacob Jacobs.
The email also gave information regarding Sybil Littel's sister, Rhoda Rilea, who was the widow of Revolutionary War veteran, Richard Rilea. Richard died 1839 in Brown County, Ohio.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Runaway Chew women
April 25, 1781: Gloucester County, April 23, 1781 To all whom it may concern, whereas my wife Elizabeth Chew, regardless of the Solemn obligation of matrimony, hath, during my captivity with the enemy, been guilty of the act of incontinency ....Aaron Chew
April 5, 1748; Whereas ANNE, the wife NATHANIEL CHEW, at the head of Timber-creek in Gloucester County, has disposed of some of her said husband's goods, without his knowledge, and ran him in debt; this is therefore to desire all persons not to trust her anymore on his account, not to buy any goods of her that she may offer to sale, for he will pay no debts of her contracting, nor allow of her selling any of his goods, from the date hereof. NATHANIEL CHEW
Both of these were quotes taken from the book "Runaway Women, Elopements And Other Miscreant Deeds, As Advertised In The Pennsylvania Gazette - 1728 -1789. (together with a few abused wives and unfortunate children)." Compiled by Judith Ann Highley Meier. Published by Closson Press. 1993.
I'm not sure which Aaron Chew family that this information relates to, and I believe that the Nathaniel Chew mentioned is the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Clark) Chew, who married Anne Gibbons. More research will need to be done to try to tie these records to individuals in my database. The book that these snippets were taken from sounds like an interesting read. Early newspapers are always full of juicy family tidbits.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Miss Hazel O'Bryant Entertained a Party of Friends
ENTERTAINED HER FRIENDS
Miss Hazel O'Bryant Entertained a Party of Friends at Her Home Tuesday Night.
Miss Hazel O'Bryant entertained at her home on West Jefferson on Tuesday evening, in honor of her birthday anniversary. A very enjoyable time was had by all, the evening being spent with games and music. Refreshments were served after which the guests collected around the mysterious table, waiting until a late hour to see it move.
Those present were Dora Frank, Bessie Horne, Winnie Hurlock, Eva Schwinn, Bessie Bowers, Thera Carver, Jennie Kendall, Shirley Pickard, Pearl Coffin, Thurman Hall, Omer Broyles, Hugh Kerr, Allen McKenna, Carl Jones, Ashel Cunningham, Otto Frank, Doxey Pickard, Jay Crouse, Howard Brattain and Ray Hupp.
[Hazel O'Bryant was my maternal 2nd-great grandaunt. She married Jesse WRIGHT on June 10, 1916 in Madison County, Indiana]
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Cousin Kellie's Blog
The blog does a good job of telling the story of how they live, deal with current events and their relationships with family and friends. Many years down the road this will be something her kids and grandkids can look back upon and say 'remember when?'
North Carolina has a lot of interesting history, and we share a lot of Quaker ancestry that came from areas such as Guilford and Chatham counties. I hope to someday be able to visit her and see some of the historic sites that she's chronicled in her blog.
Google Books fill in the gaps
I began by searching on the Philbrick line and came across a copy of Rev. Jacob Chapman's "A Genealogy of the Philbrick and Philbrook Families: Descended from the Emigrant, Thomas Philbrick, 1583-1687". My connection to the Philbrick family comes through my paternal 3rd-great grandmother, Emeline PHILBRICK (1820-1881) who married Albert MOULTON. As I had very little data on the family in my database, I was eager to see what this genealogy had to say. Through this genealogy, I was able to add seven more generations to this line. As I did other study on collateral lines, I was also able to learn more about colonial America and the Province of New Hampshire.
Soon I found myself searching for other collateral lines and learning about ancestors who came over during the Great Migration with the Winthrop Fleet. I finally had to remind myself to just stick with one task at a time. The good thing about Google Book Search is that you can add titles to "My Library" and go back search or browse to your hearts' content later.
The great thing about Google Book Search is that you can search in your pajamas and at any time of the day, something that is especially nice during these winter months when you don't want to venture out. They are continuing to add other libraries to their search database, and just recently added several magazines to the search capabilities, such as Life. Check it out!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Richard Alderman Land Entry: Madison County, Indiana
Richard's land entry was made August 1, 1839 in Madison County, Indiana in Section 22, Township 19-N, Range 7-E. The patent number was 2953 and the land office was the Indianapolis land office. Richard's 40 acres were authorized by the Land Act of 1820.
No. 29563 Land Office, Indianapolis December 20 1836
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED, That, in pursuance of Law, Richard Alderman of Madison county, State of Indiana, on this day purchased of the Register of this Office, the lot or North East quarter of the South East quarter of section number Twenty two in township number Nineteen north of range number Seven East containing Forty acres, at the rate of one dollar and twenty five cents per acre, amounting to forty dollars and cents, for which the said Richard Alderman has made payment in full as required by law.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT KNOWN, That, on presentation of this certificate to the COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, the said Richard Alderman shall be entitled to receive a patent for the lot above described.
A. St. Clair, Register
Land Office at Indianapolis
Dec 20th 1836
I Richard Alderman of Madison county, Ind do hereby apply for the purchase of NE qt of SE section, No. 22 Township No. 19 N. Range No. 7 E. containing 40 acres and ___ hundreths, according to the returns of the Surveyor General, for which I have agreed with the Register to give at the rate of $ 1 25 per acre.
Richard Alderman
X
his mark
I, Arthur St. Clair, Register of the Land Office, do hereby certify that the lot above described contains forty acres ___ hundreths as mentioned, and that the price agreed upon is $ 1 25 per acre.
A. St. Clair
Register
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Alex man was on Oklahoma at Pearl
Alex man was on Oklahoma at Pearl by Jim Bannon.
When we put together our special Pearl Harbor anniversary section recently, we contacted some people in this area who were survivors of the attack.
Another survivor turned up later, and even though we couldn't get his story in the Pearl Harbor section, I thought it deserved telling.
John M. High is 72 years old now and lives in Alexandria. On the morning of December 7, 1941, he was a ship's cook first class serving on the battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma, anchored along battleship row at Pearl Harbor.
High has been in bad health recently, suffering two heart attacks and a stroke and his story was told to me by his son, Charles, of Anderson, who works at Delco Remy.
When the attack came, High was in his bunk, since he had just come off nightwatch.
The Oklahoma was hit hard. It caught fire and, though it did not sink, it rolled over. Many on board lost their lives.
John High managed to get from below deck to the main deck. Smoke and fire were everywhere. He jumped over the rail and swam through burning oil to safety.
His son says the one story that sticks out in his mind that his father tells of that day is the one about a Catholic priest. It seems several men on the ship were trapped by flames and the only way out was through a porthole.
The priest, a portly man, helped push 12 men through that porthole to safety. But when he tried to get through he got stuck and drowned when the ship capsized. "He saved those 12 men but he couldn't save himself," the younger High said.
He said his father never talked much about Pearl Harbor and World War II. He talked more about it after he had his first heart attack, Charles High said.
A twist on High's story was that his parents were notified their son was missing in action. High was from Rowesburg, W. Va. The message they received read: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, John M. High, is missing following action in the service of his country."
The message added that to prevent any possible aid to the enemy, the parents should not divulge the name of the ship he served on or where it was stationed.
Then on Jan. 2, 1942, his parents got the wonderful news that John was, indeed, safe. John High went on to serve the rest of World War II with the Navy in the Pacific, serving on several different ships.
He went almost nine years without seeing his parents, from 1936 to 1945.
How did he get to Alexandria? He met his wife while in the Navy. She was from Alex and when the war ended they settled there. High worked at Pierce Governor in Anderson for awhile and then joined Haynes Stellite Corp. in Kokomo. He retired from Cabot Corp. (which bought Haynes) in Kokomo.
"My father is a very patriotic person," Charles High said, "He has a great love for his country."
[John M. High married my maternal great-aunt, Clara Ellen Wright- TJL]
Day of Infamy : Alex Man Survived Pearl Harbor
Day of Infamy: Alex Man Survived Pearl Harbor by Stephen Dick
It was the Day of Infamy. 50 years ago. Sleepy Pearl Harbor Navla [sic] Base in Hawaii, where reveille had been about an hour old. Sailors were waking up, taking showers, ands [sic] finding their way to the mess decks for a steaming cup of coffee.
The ships were lined up in port. On Battleship Row were some of the Navy's mightiest warships, named after the states. The USS Arizona has become the most famous but sitting two ships away, outboard from another battleship, was the USS Oklahoma. On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, a first class cook named John M. High, already a five-year veteran of the Navy, was preparing chow for his shipmates. Just another Sunday morning, the ship probably in holiday routine.
While the men ate their breakfasts, the waters 200 miles north of Oahu were infested with Japanese ships including six carriers loaded with warplanes. Around 8 a.m. the squadron of Japanese bombers snaked around the mountain ridges that bordered Oahu. Past the mountains and over the sea the bombers turned north toward Pearl Harbor and dropped their lethal cargo on the unsuspecting men below. For a half hour 183 planes decimated much of the US's second fleet. Twenty ships were damaged, many sunk, including the USS Oklahoma where John High, like his shipmates, may have thought the apocalypse was upon them.
High went topside, saw the carnage, and knew his ship was going down. The ship had suffered repeated torpedo assaults. He had no recourse but to jump into the water which was covered with burning oil. High suffered some mild burns and was forced to swim under water to shore.
Soon his ship lay on the bottom of Pearl Harbor along with the Arizona and others. Also at the bottom were his naval records. He was listed as missing in action for six weeks after the attack. When High, who was from West Virginia, ran into a man he knew from home, the man was incredulous. "We thought you were dead." he told High.
John M. High is alive to this day, and makes his home in Alexandria. He moved here in the late Forties with his wife, Clara Ellen Wright, who was from Alexandria. Because he survived Pearl Harbor, where 2,000 soldiers and sailors died, High was honored last Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the attack, by the Alexandria Veterans of Foreign Wars where he was made an honorary member.
High is not the youth he was when he heard and felt the Japanese bombs falling that morning. At 72, he suffered a stroke two years ago and does very little nowadays. But Clara said he enjoyed the ceremony on Saturday. "John got emotional about it," she said.
When he was 22, however, he was more worried about getting his pay than he was about the historical significance of the bombing. When he tried to get paid, long after the attack, he was told he'd have to wait because of his missing records. High told the Navy he'd be going home. He got paid, and spent the war years in the Pacific on a number of ships. Clara could not recall their names but said he was often in combat situations.
In 1945, with the war over, John was transferred to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. There he met Clara, a WAVE, who had joined the Navy from Alexandria. They married in 1945. He was the chief commissaryman at Great Lakes until his discharge in 1947.
The couple came back to Alexandria to make their home. John worked at a number of jobs including Stellite in Alexandria. He was transferred by that company to Kokomo and retired from there in 1984.
The couple had two sons, Charles, who served with the Army as an MP, in El Paso, Texas, and Phillip, who also joined the Army and spent time in Korea.
During the years where the war retreated into memory, John and Clara frequently went to reunions of survivors of the USS Oklahoma. There the stories and memories flowed. A compartment full of men had sunk with the ship, but in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor they had made enough noise to be heard. When they were rescued by divers, they had spent time in pitch black darkness with water up to their necks. Then there was a priest aboard from Dubuque, Iowa, who rescued many men by forcing them out of a small porthole into the water. The priest had perished, however, as he was too large to fit through the opening.
Clara said that attending the survivors' reunions was like getting together with family. One reunion took place in Hawaii and a survivor from Mississippi was told by his doctor that his health wouldn't allow such a long trip. He told the doctor he'd rather be dead in Pearl Harbor than alive in Gulfport. He went and he returned.
The last reunion the Highs attended was in, aptly enough, Oklahoma City in 1990. Because of John's illness they did not attend the 1991 reunion, and will likely miss the 1992 get-together in Norfolk, Va.
But the memories and heroic actions of men under extreme conditions remain as an inspiration to us all. As VFW Commander Bill Tankersley said at Saturday's ceremony, "America answered the call and the rest is history."
The USS Arizona remains at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, a memorial to that day of infamy, and a reminder that we live in a volatile, unpredictable world. And what of the USS Oklahoma? She was raised and was going to be repaired. But as tugboats were pulling her out to sea, the lines broke and the ship sank again. The Navy let her rest. It was her men, not herself, that answered the call 50 years ago. John High was one of those men.