Advent Calendar : Christmas Cards

Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they
received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards
from your ancestors?

This year I'm behind in getting out my Christmas cards - I normally like to have them sent out during Thanksgiving weekend.  We ordered our cards late this year - didn't like what we saw at the store.  So far, the only card we have received has been from my employer. 

I've noticed the number of Christmas cards we receive dwindling each year.

My mom gave a response to this question as well:

My family sent Christmas cards and I can remember my mother especially looking forward to the cards with letters from friends from Colorado and Texas.   These two families were friends from the different bases that Dad was stationed at during WWII .   The couple from Colorado came to visit one summer during the late 50s or early 60s and I can remember them commenting on how green everything was as they came east.  The cards were always displayed somewhere in the house such as around the french door opening.

I send Christmas cards today but not as many as I use to.   I try to send letters to those who I don't see and often include a letter.  I always display them.   I don't save the cards anymore but when I was first married I did.   The kids would use them for craft projects as school or scouts.

The Christmas cards from our ancestors are mainly the beautiful embossed Christmas postcards that were mainly sent by Vera & Clarence Stuber,  Weldon's aunt and uncle.

I've enjoyed scanning the Christmas postcards from the collection of my great-aunt and uncle and displaying them here on the blog.

Bonnie Lambertson : 1938 Yearbook photo

My maternal grandmother, Bonnie LAMBERTSON, was a freshman in the 1938 Elwood, Indiana High School Crescent Yearbook, found at Ancestry.com.  She appears in the top row, far right.

I've cropped and rotated the image, and think that she looks a bit like my daughter at that age.

Wishing You A Merry Xmas

Miss Vera Haley
R.F.D. # 9
Portland, Ind.


Hello Grandma


How are you?  I am all O.K.


Dora T.


---
Postmarked December 13, 1910 Portland Indiana, this postcard was sent to my paternal great-aunt, Vera HALEY.  I'm not sure who Dora was, but Vera was only twenty when this was sent, and was not a grandma - so it must have been an inside joke.

Advent Calendar : Christmas Tree Ornaments

Did your family have heirloom or cherished ornaments? Did you ever string popcorn and cranberries?  Did your family or ancestors make Christmas ornaments?


I can remember making strings of popcorn for the tree as a kid - it was great fun,  but hard to keep from eating all the popcorn.  Eileen remembers the felt elves that had floppy hats and arms and legs were sort-of sewn together so you could hang them on the tree.  Her mom always liked to have a 'flocked' tree.


I know that my daughter and stepdaughters all have ornaments that they have made as a child that still are hung on the tree.  My mom & dad have purchased ornaments for each of the grandkids with have themes that correlate to what was going on in their lives - 1st Christmas, sports they were in, musical instruments, etc.


I asked my mom and dad what they remembered :

Dad said he strung popcorn as a child once.   I probably did too, but can't remember.   I can't remember as a child our family having any ornaments that were cherished or heirloom, but since my mother did crafts, we probably did make some.  However, as I had my own family,we saved the ones that our kids made at school and still have some.  I made a lot of Christmas ornaments at school and when I was a scout.   I can remember making Santas using toliet paper tubes that were given to the nursing home to put on the patients trays.  

Floyd "Wimp" Lambertson's Yearbook?

While searching at Ancestry.com, I was perusing the 1937 Elwood, Indiana High School Yearbook (The Crescent), looking for information on my relatives.  I found this image containing many signatures of classmates - and in the upper right you can see the name Floyd LAMBERTSON, with the nickname "Wimp" written underneath.

At first, I thought this might have been my maternal great-uncle's way of signing the yearbook, but now I am wondering if this was his actual yearbook, and somehow it ended up being imaged by Ancestry.com.  The reason I feel this way is that his name is printed, rather than in cursive.

I'm not sure how Ancestry.com obtained the copies of the yearbooks in its collection, but they have the Elwood, Indiana ones from the years 1937 through 1940.

A Joyous Christmas

Mr. Clarence Stuber
R.R. 4 Box 64
Portland, Ind.


You!  Why don't you write?  Are you alive yet?  Haven't heard from you for about a year.  Come out and visit our school.


From Wenceslaus  N.B. Aus soon if not sooner


----
Postmarked December 22, 1910


This card was sent to my paternal great-uncle, Clarence STUBER from an unknown correspondent - obviously a good friend and jokester.

Advent Calendar : Holiday Foods

Did your family or ancestors serve traditional dishes for the holidays? Was there one dish that was unusual?


For the most part, our family had the traditional dishes at Christmas.  One dish I remember was the jello that my grandmother made.  I remember that it was lime jello with some type of nuts and whipped cream.  I will have to see if mom still knows what that recipe was.  


One thing that Grandma Wright's Christmas was known for was the red punch.  Always served in big punch bowl with Santa mugs.


Grandma LeMaster always cooked big meals - mashed potatoes, noodles, probably ham, deviled eggs as well, I can't really remember.


Dad just remembers having big meals for the holidays.  


Mom remembers going to Grandma Wright's as soon as her dad came home from working at the Post Office.  She can't remember what they ate, but it was probably ham.  Then they went to Anderson to Grandpa Lambertson's and Helen's house where she had party food.


Mom said her mom always had Christmas punch.  At first, it was red punch but when they realized that it made all the grandchildren have 'red' mouths for pictures she switched to a green punch, which mom still serves every year as a tradition.  My niece Lauren asks for it at every holiday.

Christmas Punch

Makes 36 servings 

2 cups sugar                                    6 cups water

3 packages lemon-lime koolaide         2 liters lemon-lime soda

3 cups pineapple-grapefruit juice*       1 quart lime sherbet

1/3 cup lemon juice

About 2 hours before serving, stir half of the lime sherbet in punch bowl to soften.  Mix sugar, koolaide, juices and water together in large pitcher.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  (This could be done ahead of time and chilled).  Blend into the sherbet that is in the punch bowl.  Scoop remaining sherbet on top.  Carefully pour in 7-Up or any lemon-lime carbonated beverage.

*If pineapple-grapefruit juice is not available, mix 1 1/2 cups of pineapple juice and 1 1/2 cups of grapefruit juice.

** Freeze 7-Up ice cubes with drained marschino cherries in the middle for color.

Analyzing Blogger Stats

The information provided by Blogger's Stats over this past month has been pretty interesting to analyze.


My most popular post this month was my review of the Flip-Pal scanner.  Not surprisingly, this scanner has become my favorite new genealogy toy.  I'm sure that this post has been one of the more popular because of my posting a link on Twitter.  Using Twitter to post about blog posts has increased some traffic to the blog.


It would also appear that by using the widget for "Popular Posts" has allowed some of those posts to have even more page views.  In other words, the popular posts end up becoming more popular.


Some of the search terms and links that have caused people to land at my blog are pretty interesting as well:

Most of the referrals have come from Google, but Facebook and Geneabloggers are well represented.


One of the more interesting search terms was "suicide daughter married james dwiggins"!  Why didn't this person contact me?  This sounds like a great mystery.  I'm not aware of any suicides involving the Dwiggins family in my research.  Two searchers were looking for "Dr. Chew Salamonia Indiana" - my ancestor.  Who were you?  You didn't leave any comments.  


I'm glad that I've added this feature to my blog, and I've turned off my own tracking, so in the future this will be even more accurate.  I'm glad to see that links to my Facebook profile and occasional tweets have also brought visitors to check out my blog.

Wordless Wednesday: Ord W. LeMaster family

Ord W. LeMaster, Ruth P. (Haley) LeMaster, Paul, Idola, Juanita, Weldon

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Wedding Wednesday: Davies & Glunt

Because you have shared in 

Our lives

By your friendship and love, we, 

Laura Elizabeth Davies

And

Jared Charles Glunt

Together with our parents

Rev. and Mrs. Douglas Davies

And

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glunt

Invite you to share the beginning of our new life

Together when we exchange

Marriage vows

Saturday, the twenty-fourth of October

Two thousand nine

At half past four o'clock in the afternoon

First United Methodist Church

Gas City, Indiana

Reception immediately following

Roseburg Event Center

Laura Davies is my paternal first cousin.

Wedding Wednesday – a great way to display those old wedding photos or scan wedding invitations and announcements! Suggested by Carol of Reflections from the Fence and in use by several genealogy bloggers.

Advent Calendar : The Christmas Tree

Did you have a real tree of was it artificial?  How big was the tree?  Who decorated the tree?  What types of Christmas trees did your ancestors have?


As a kid, most years our family used an artificial tree, though I do remember one year using a live tree.  The live tree left a mess with lots of needles.


As an adult, we've always had an artificial tree.  I started out using one that was handed down to me, but when it became too worn I picked up a good deal on one at an "after-Christmas" sale that we've used for the last few years.


Our trees were probably 6 feet tall or so.  As a kid, the tree seemed really tall. 


Growing up, we would put up and decorate the tree around my mom's birthday, on the 10th or so.  Everyone would help decorate.  I can remember having both a rotating star (60s relic - wish still had) and an angel for a tree topper.  


As an adult, we seem so busy that we put up the tree when we can.  This year it is not up yet, which seems later than normal.  Usually right after Thanksgiving it will go up.

I asked my mom about her Christmas tree memories as well:

I can remember having a real tree as a child.   The artifical trees became popular and so we started having one.   I think my dad did the lights and with my mom decorated it.   We put our tree up on Dec. 10th, my birthday, therefore it was only up about 2 weeks.   Mom took it down right after Christmas.   Our trees were green but I think one year we had an aluminum tree with the color wheel.   My mom liked to decorate and later her trees were all done in gold decorations.   

Christmas Greetings

Mrs. Vera Stuber
Spencervile, Ohio
R.R.


12-19-1923


Dear Vera


With love greetings for a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year from Aunt Carrie G. 710 Washington Ave. Bay City Mich.


----
This postcard was sent to my paternal great-aunt, Vera (HALEY) STUBER by her aunt, Carrie Mae (HALEY) GRAVES.  Vera was the wife of Clarence STUBER; Carrie was the wife of Arthur GRAVES.

Tombstone Tuesday: John H. and Bertha L. (LeMasters) Yaeger

John Henry and Bertha Fidelia (LeMASTERS) YAEGER are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Bertha is my paternal great-grandaunt.


John was born October 4, 1874 in Jay County, Indiana.  I do not know his parentage.


Bertha was born May 31, 1874 in Darke County, Ohio, the daughter of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LeMASTERS.


John and Bertha married May 20, 1903 in Jay County, Indiana.  They had 6 children, and lived in Clay County, Indiana where both were teachers.


John died in 1963.  Bertha died March 16, 1922 in Clay County, Indiana.


Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Amanuensis Monday : 25th Wedding Anniversary: Charles & Carol (Kaderly) LeMaster

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

Source: The Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, April 25, 1990, page 3

LeMaster couple celebrating 25th

Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Chuck) LeMaster, RR 6, Portland, are celebrating their 25th Anniversary today.

The former Carol Kaderly and Charles LeMaster were married April 25, 1965, at the Collett Nazarene Church.  They have lived in Jay County all their lives where Mrs. LeMaster is employed as a retail clerk at Bearcreek Farms.  Her husband is employed at Sheller-Globe Hardy Division, Union City.

The couple has three children, Karen LeMaster, a nursing student at Ball State, Brian LeMaster, an employee of Hull Bros., Fort Recovery, and Ronnie LeMaster, a senior at Jay County High School.

They will celebrate with a trip to Hawaii.


Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Sunday's Obituary : Emma Catherine (Leonhard) Haley (1866-1925)

Source: Mrs. Emma Catherine Haley obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, July 17, 1925, page 1

HALEY RITES ARE TO BE HELD 2 P.M. SUNDAY

WIFE OF ANDREW F. HALEY, OF NOBLE TOWNSHIP, SUCCUMBS THURSDAY P.M.

AFTER LONG ILLNESS CAUSED BY DIABETES

Deceased Had been Resident of Jay County for Past Fifty-nine Years

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Catherine Haley, 59, wife of Andrew F. Haley, who died at her home eight miles northeast of Portland yesterday afternoon, following a long illness of diabetes, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Mt. Zion church, nine miles northeast of here.  Interment will be made in the Fort Recovery, Ohio, cemetery.

The deceased had been ailing for the past year and one-half and had been seriously ill for the past four weeks.

Mrs. Haley was born in Noble township, Jay county, February 8, 1866, daughter of John Philip and Christena (Theurer) Leonhard, the father being a native of Germany.

The following children survive: Dr. C.O. Haley, of Chicago; Mrs. Ernest Chalfant, of Portland, and the following brothers and sister, Jacob, George and Henry Leonard, of Noble township, Jay county; John, of Plymouth, Ind.; William, of Fort Recovery; Christena Leonhard, of Noble township, and Mrs. George Cull, of Noble township.  Three grandchildren also survive.

-----


Emma Catherine LEONHARD married Andrew Frank HALEY, son of George Washington and Mary Jane (SHERRICK) HALEY, on November 3, 1887 in Jay County, Indiana.


Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Surname Saturday : SMITH

The SMITH surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are unknown.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 19: Olive Jane Smith (1846-1913). Olive was born June 23, 1846 in Cass County, Michigan.  She married August 4, 1866 in Jay County, Indiana to William P. Wehrly (1845-1909).  William was born November 2, 1845 in Preble County, Ohio.  They raised 13 children in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana where William was a farmer, mortician and sawmiller.  William served in Company I, 130th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.  William died June 16, 1909 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Olive died January 6, 1913 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 38: William P. Smith (1815-1894).  William was born July 25, 1815 in Clark County, Ohio.  He married October 3, 1836 to Prudence Maxson (1817-1890).  Prudence was born June 15, 1817 in Greene County, Ohio.  They had 4 children and lived in Cass County, Michigan and Jay County, Indiana.  William was a minister and farmer and served in Company I, 130th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.  Prudence died February 22, 1890 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  William died April 19, 1894 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 76: Jacob Smith (c1792-1866).  Jacob was born circa 1792 in New Jersey.  He married circa 1812 to Jane Elliott (c1792-aft1860).  Jane was born circa 1792 in Georgia.  They were living in Cass County, Michigan in the 1850 census and Eldora Township, Hardin County, Iowa in the 1860 census.  Jacob died October 18, 1866 in Hardin County, Iowa.


Related blog posts:

• Olive Jane (Smith) Wehrly (1846-1913)

• Tombstone Tuesday: William P. and Prudence (Maxson) Smith

• William P. Smith household: Jay Co., IN and Richardson Co., NE

• Jacob Smith household: Hardin Co., IA

• Today in my database: William P. Smith (b. July 25, 1815)

Hearty Thanksgiving Greetings

Dear Uncle -


We are all well. Hope you both are the same. You will get this a day late.  We have been busy.


Elvin


----


This postcard was addressed, but apparently not mailed, to my paternal greatuncle, Clarence STUBER.  It was written by his nephew, Elvin MILLER, son of Galen and Mary (HALEY) MILLER.

Family Recipe Friday: Oyster Dressing

Today's recipe comes via an email from my mother, regarding her mother's recipe:

Bonnie  (Lambertson) Wright made oyster dressing at Thanksgiving especially for her husband, Bill.   He had acquired a taste for them while stationed in Biloxi Miss during WW II.  Bill like it so much that he would pick out the oysters of the dressing and eat them so Bonnie started chopped them up much to his dismay.  I make it each year in memory of dad and to carry on the family tradition.  Weldon is the only one who enjoys eating oyster dressing. In fact, he and I are about the only ones who eat dressing at Thanksgiving.   I prefer a sausage & cornbread stuffing.  

While this is not the one Bonnie used, it is very similar.  I cut this recipe in half when making it forThanksgiving.    

    1 pint oysters, drained; reserve liquid                       
    1 medium onions, chopped                                       
    2 stalks celery, chopped                                       
    6 tablespoons butter                                           
    8 slices stale bread, cubed into 1/2 inch pieces               
    1/2 teaspoon thyme                                             
    1/4 teaspoon sage                                              
    2 tablespoons lemon juice                                      
    Salt and peper                       

                          

Saute onion and celery in butter until soft, about 3-5 minutes.   Add bread cubes and saute until browned, about 7 minutes.   Remove from heat and add herbs and oysters that have been sprinkled with lemon juice.   Fold in gently, adding some of the reserved oyster liquid for a more moist stuffing.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  


Bake in a greased 1-quart casserole dish at 350 for 25 minutes.   Makes 4 cups.




Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist.

A Thanksgiving Toast

Mrs. Clarence Stuber
Spencerville, Ohio
R.F.D.


Nov. 28 Dear Niece -


Don't let this little card scare you and think some thing wonderful will happen because I am writing, but I have thot [sic] of you often since Nin wrote you was not well.   Hope you are better by this time.  Would love to hear from you.  We are all well wish you could eat Thanksgiving dinner with us.  This has been a lovely day, had back door open all the time and no fire.   


As ever your big Auntie Carrie


Beckie Thetsky was sewing for me last week made over Ma's plush coat for me put belt in it and _____.


----
This postcard was sent to my paternal greataunt, Vera (HALEY) STUBER from her aunt, Carrie (HALEY) GRAVES.  The Nin mentioned was Carrie's sister, Nina (HALEY) ZORN.  I cannot make out the year, but it must have been after 1910 as the Graves family was living in Midland, Michigan by then.

Thanksgiving Greetings: November 27, 1922

Mrs. Clarence Stuber

Spencerville, Ohio

R.R. # 5

Dear Sir;  Monday morn.

I washed about forgot to send this I believe it will be a nicer day than I expected this morning. I thought I wouldn't write a letter for I would see you Thursday I hope it is nice.  We are all able to work don't do much but do a little.  Hope you both are well.  Hope to see you Thanksgiving.  It is mail time.

Mildred

----

This postcard was sent to my paternal greataunt & uncle, Clarence and Vera (HALEY) STUBER, by their niece, Mildred MILLER, daughter of Galen and Mary (HALEY) MILLER.  The postmark is New Corydon, Indiana November 27, 1922, a Tuesday.