Advent Calendar : Holiday Parties

Did your family throw a holiday party each year? Do you remember attending any holiday parties?


My family would gather together on Christmas Eve at my Grandma Wright's house and then on Christmas Day we would gather at my Grandma LeMaster's. It was a fun time to get together with family. As a kid, the holidays were one of the main times to see my cousins.


As kids, at Grandma Wright's house we would always pose for a family picture. It was a way for the kids to keep track of how tall we were. Grandma Wright had a plastic Santa that had a scroll with a list of each one of our names on it. Today, my parents keep up this tradition with their grandkids.

December 1971

Grandma LeMaster's house was always packed with our large family and there was always a lot of food - plenty of mashed potatoes, noodles, etc. After lunch would be the passing out of presents, then watching sports and falling asleep on the couch.

December 1983

One year that stands out in my memory was a Christmas party which must have been in 1983. My grandmother Wright was very ill, and had been living with us. She wanted to go to Anderson where her sister was having a Christmas party. The weather was blizzard-like conditions, but she was determined that we had to go. Somehow, dad was able to drive us through the drifting snow and bitter cold to my great-aunt's house so we could spend some time with them. I don't remember much about the party other than the fact that weather-wise, we should have stayed home, but the visit made grandma happy. She passed away the next spring.

A Merry Christmas

Mrs. Clarence Stuber
Spencerville Ohio
R.R. # 3


Dear Children


We got home 5.15 __ & __ did not get out wanted ___ to ____.  I went to church.  Revival closed.  my stomach is hurting me this morning did not feel good all night. ate to much.  glad we got to go to your house.  come home when you can. sure is raining this morn.  Hope you both stay well. 


Ma.


----
This postcard, postmarked January 5, 1931, was sent to my paternal great-aunt, Vera (HALEY) STUBER.  "Ma" would be Vera's mother, Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY.

Tombstone Tuesday: LeMasters

Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), LeMasters marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009

Gerald Walker LeMASTERS and both wives, Mabel Agnes (KANTNER) LeMASTERS and Pearl L. (SMITH) LeMASTERS, as well as daughter, Maxine, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Gerald was born January 15, 1896 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS.

Mabel was born November 9, 1898 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Henry and Estella (BROWN) KANTNER.

Gerald and Mabel were married November 22, 1919 in Jay County, Indiana.  They had 3 children: Maxine Elizabeth, Marjorie Nadine and Eva Roberta.

Mabel died January 3, 1927 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Gerald married secondly on November 24, 1929 to Pearl Lovina SMITH, daughter of Samuel E. and Mary E. (BIBLER) SMITH.  They had two children: Mary Marie and Robert J.

Pearl was born April 23, 1894 in Jay County, Indiana.

Daughter Maxine Elizabeth LeMASTERS, was born August 20, 1920 in Jay County, Indiana and died April 2, 1931.

Smaller markers next to the larger marker spell the surname LeMaster.

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.

Alex Man was on Oklahoma at Pearl

[This post originally appeared on this blog December 7, 2008.  In memory of the Pearl Harbor attack, I'm reposting]


Source : Anderson Herald-Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, Sunday, December 8, 1991.

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 atDelco Remy.

When the attack came, High was in his bunk, since he had just come offnightwatch.

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. inKokomo. 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."

Source: NARA Record Group 331, Muster Rolls of Ships based at Pearl Harbor, 1939-47, Oklahoma, BB 37, Muster Roll, 1941, June 30, image on-line at Footnote.com

[John M. High married my maternal great-aunt, Clara Ellen Wright- TJL]

Ida (Davis) (Hancock) Morris (1874-1900)

Ida (DAVIS) (HANCOCK) MORRIS was my maternal 2nd-great grandmother, the wife of both Samuel HANCOCK and Carrie/Carvie MORRIS.


The following facts about Ida's life are known:

• Birth: She was born July 2, 1874 in Owen County, Indiana, the daughter of James Austin and Mary Ellen (SWAFFORD) DAVIS.
• Marriage: She married Samuel G. HANCOCK on August 28, 1892 in Monroe County, Indiana.
• Census: 1900 - believe she is the Ida D. HANCOCK, inmate, at the "Door of Hope", Center Township, Marion County, Indiana.
• Marriage: She married Carvie A. MORRIS on July 19, 1900 in Monroe County, Indiana.
• Death: She died August 2, 1900 in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana. Cause of death was tuberculosis.
• Burial: She was buried August 2, 1900 in the M.E. Cemetery, Owen County, Indiana.

The following facts need additional research and/or documentation to complete my research:

• Census: 1880 - I have been unable to locate her in the 1880 census.  Her father, Austin, was enumerated in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana - as insane.  Her mother, Mary, was enumerated in her father's household in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana as a single woman.  
• Marriage: A copy of her marriage record transcript may provide additional clues.  Would also like to clear up information on Carrie/Carvie MORRIS, as I have been unable to locate records of him after the marriage.
• Obituary: Have been unsuccessful in locating a copy of her obituary in any of the local newspapers of the time.

Ancestry of Ida (Davis) (Hancock) Morris, Ahnentafel # 30 in my ancestry:

Ahnentafel # 60 : James Austin DAVIS (c1850-1909); Monroe Co., IN>Cass Co., IN

Ahnentafel # 120 : Austin DAVIS (c1824-1851); Monroe Co., IN

Ahnentafel # 240: John DAVIS (unk-1845); Virginia>Monroe Co., IN

Related blog posts:

• Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Who is your MRUA?

• James Austin Davis was Insane

• Ida D. Hancock - "Door of Hope" - Indianapolis, Indiana

• Ida Davis (1874-1900)

• Mystery Man : Frank Fletcher or Carrie Morris?

Advent Calendar : Santa Claus

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and
“make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Yes, I can remember sending letters to Santa Claus and sitting on his lap.  I believe that there are pictures somewhere out there with each of us on Santa's lap when he visited the local Elks lodge.

As an adult, my perspective on the whole "Santa" concept has changed.  There is too much emphasis on Santa, not enough on Jesus, in my opinion.  Which is one reason why you won't find Santa on our wrapping paper, greeting cards, etc.  We're not militant about it, it's just a choice.  I have no problem with others anticipating the jolly old elf. The song "Where's the Line to see Jesus?" gives my perspective.

My mom gave me the following response to this prompt:

What kid doesn't make a list and/or visit Santa.   I can remember making a list and my mother told she'd mark one off when I was naughty.   So I put the things I wanted the least at the top just in case she marked it off.  

I remember taking my children, Travis, Jason, and Michelle to the Elks to visit Santa Claus.   The one memorable visit to see Santa  was when Jason started the conversation with Santa by saying, "Let me tell you what you forgot to bring me last year!"   It was a toy chain saw which he did received for Christmas.

Yes, I still believe in Santa Claus.   Santa Claus represents to me the spirit of Christmas.  The greatest gift brought to us was Jesus.

My mom and dad enjoy playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for their grandchildren.  I did manage to locate some evidence of their adventures.

Amanuensis Monday: Lambertson 50th

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

1939 - 1989

The Family of

Martha and Harold Lambertson

request the pleasure of your company

at an open house to celebrate their 

Fiftieth Anniversary

on the nineteen of November

nineteen hundred and eighty-nine

from two to five in the afternoon

First Baptist Church

Fellowship Hall

Elwood, Indiana

The Lambertsons

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lambertson, 1303 S. D St., Elwood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Elwood.

Harold Lambertson and Martha Phillips were married Nov. 25, 1939, by the Rev. R.W. Sage.

Mr. Lambertson is retired from Delco Remy, and Mrs. Lambertson is retired from the office as recorder of Madison County.  They are active members of the Elwood First Baptist Church.  They also are members of the Republican party.  Mrs. Lambertson worked for the party for over 50 years and was a precinct committeewoman for several years.  She belongs to the Pipecreek Women's Republican Club, Madison County Country Club and the American Business Women's Association.

They are the parents of Ronald Lambertson, Middletown, and the late Cecilia "Cissy" Wright.  They have two grandchildren, two step grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and two step great-grandchildren.

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.

Christmas Greeting

Mr. Clarence Stuber
Spencerville, Ohio
R.R. # 5


New Corydon, Ind.
Dec. 24, 1920


Dear Uncle; 


I am looking for old Santa tonight.  I expect I will see aunt Vera tomorrow wish I could see you too.  We are all well hope you are the same.  I wish you a Merry Xmas.


Your little neice,


Mildred Miller


---
This postcard postmarked December 24, 1920, was sent to my paternal great-uncle Clarence STUBER, by his niece, Mildred MILLER.  Mildred was the daughter of Galen and Mary (HALEY) MILLER.  Clarence was married to Mary's sister, Vera.

Ancestor Approved Award

Sunday I was notified by Susan at Long Lost Relatives.net that my blog was being recognized with the Ancestor Approved award.

The award comes with the following requests:

1. List ten (10) that you have learned about your ancestors that surprised, humbled or enlightened you.

2. Pass the award to ten (10) other genealogy bloggers.

What things I have learned about my ancestors:

1. Some ancestors created volumes of newspaper accounts, court records and other vital records, while others seemed to disappear into thin air.

2. There is a fair amount of inter-connectedness among my family lines.  It seems the farther back I trace, I see the different family lines ending up in the same locales.

3. Almost anything can be found in the paper, especially stories of divorces and other scandals.  Back then, apparently libel laws weren't as stringent - but the accounts make for more colorful reading.

4. Faith in God was vital to my ancestors. I've discovered fair number of ministers, elders and Sunday School teachers from a variety of Protestant denominations in my family.


5. The economic, political and social conditions that cause people to switch careers or move across the country today are some of the same ones that caused my ancestors to do the same.  Understanding what was happening in historical perspective can explain some of the decisions they made.


6. Many of my ancestors were willing to fight for what they believed in, whether it be in the military or in politics.  


7. Most of my ancestors were here before the American Revolution, but documenting their journeys after they arrived has proven to be the most interesting.


8. The stories that the present generation remembers about the past generation are important and need to be preserved, even if they are biased or colored by their perspective.


9. Not all of my ancestors were saints, and the sinners weren't as bad as I'd imagined.


10. My ancestors didn't always get along with the other members of their family, but neither do I, so I needn't be so quick to judge.


I am going to pass the award on to the following bloggers :


Donna's Genealogy Blog - Donna Moughty


Renee's Genealogy Blog - Renee Zamora


Roots and Rambles - Marian Pierre-Louis


A Geek Girl Does Genealogy - The Geek Girl


John Brown Kin - Alice Mecoy


Leaf, Stem, Branch and Root - Kevin Thompson


Penny's Genes - Penny


Reflections from the Fence - Carol 


She Finds Graves - Kellie Walton


The Canty Quest - Debbie Golding


These blogs are ones that I follow daily through my Google Reader.  If you're not already following them, I would strongly urge you to check them out.

1897 Directory : Portland, Indiana

My dad has been "downsizing" a bit here recently and has been giving me family history items and other ephemera that I'm in the process of scanning, extracting and posting to the blog.  Using my new Flip-Pal scanner, I'm posting here some family I've found in the 1897 Directory of Portland, Indiana.  Dad's copy is the 1982 reprint, and it is still available for purchase for $5.00 (a steal!) from the Jay County Historical Society.

As I went through the directory, I scanned pages that contained surnames of interest in my research.

The Arthur E. Graves listed here with wife Carrie is the only one that is known to be family, but I've included the others in case someone else knows them.  Arthur was married to Carrie Mae HALEY, daughter of George W. and Mary Jane (SHERRICK) HALEY.  Carrie was my great-grandaunt.  She and Arthur were married in 1895 in Jay County.

There were several HALEY families listed in the directory, but the only one I know for sure is my family is Ora HALEY, listed as being of school age, living at 289 Robert Huey.  She is the sister of Carrie GRAVES (above), and living in the same household.  There were multiple HALEY families in Portland, and I've yet to sort them all out.

The Mary J. KIMBLE listed here is my paternal 2nd-great grandmother, Mary Jane (SHERRICK) HALEY KIMBLE, who was widowed and remarried in May of 1897 to Robert KIMBLE.  Why Robert is not listed in this directory, I'm not sure.  I do not know if the other KIMBLEs listed are of his family.  

Notice that Mary KIMBLE, Ora HALEY and Arthur & Carrie GRAVES were all living together at 289 Robert Huey.  Today, this street does not exist.  According to the street cross reference, Robert Huey was Meridian extended, from Votaw to North Corporate line.  Today this is all part of Meridian street.

I've yet to identify which PETRY family that Stella belongs with; another avenue of research.

The J.W. Wehrly listed here was John William WEHRLY, son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY.  John was my paternal great-granduncle.  Later in the directory, the surname is spelled alternatively as Wherley.

Source: A City and Business Directory of the City of Portland, Indiana (1897) (Defiance, Ohio, USA: The Hubbard Company, 1982 (reprint))

Advent Calendar : Outdoor Decorations

Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?


I don't remember anyone in my neighborhood decorating with lights quite like we did.  We lived out in the country, but you could see our house for miles.  Dad really went all out with the lights, the plastic outside decorations, etc.  We had everything from Santa and sleigh up on the roof, the Nativity, Frosty the Snowman, etc.  Not to mention all of the strings of lights along the rooftop of the house and garage.  I remember one year the lights on the garage were left well until springtime.


I haven't tried to keep up this particular tradition, though I imagine I will when I get grandkids.  Right now the only outside lights I use are net lights in the bushes, and I do have a plastic Frosty the Snowman that I inherited a few years ago (see below):


Mom says: 

I don't recall  people decorating as much outside during the 50s and 60s as they do today.    My dad made a star with lights and placed it outside on the chimney but mostly our family decorated the inside of the house. 

 We probably started decorating when Travis was 2 and cried after watching "Frosty the Snowman" because Frosty had melted.   We bought a large snowman and put it outside to show him that Frosty came back and we've been decorating ever since (40+ years).   We enjoy decorating outside with lights mainly for the granddaughters. 

Yes, they gave me Frosty - so I will always know that he's still around.

Hearty Greetings for Christmas

Mr. Clarence Stuber

Spencerville Ohio

R.R. # 5

New Corydon, Ind.

December 22, 1922

Dear Uncle Clarence


I am anxious for Santa to come.  I wish you could be here for Xmas.  Bring Trixy and come with Aunt Vera.  I have a cold.  Hope you are well.


From Mildred 


---
This card was sent to my paternal great-uncle, Clarence STUBER, by his niece, Mildred MILLER.  She would have been 4 years old when this was written.  Mildred was the daughter of Galen and Mary (HALEY) MILLER.  Clarence was the husband of Mary's sister, Vera (HALEY) STUBER.

Sunday's Obituary : John Cooper LeMaster (1935-1953)

Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, June 10, 1953, page 2.


Pfc. John C. Lemaster



Ft. Recovery - Funeral services for Pfc. John Cooper Lemaster, 18, who died in Korea of mortar shell wounds March 27, 1953, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Riffle funeral home with the Rev. Robert McCleary in charge.  Burial will be in Spring Hill cemetery.


The body will arrive here Wednesday morning.  An honor guard from American Legion posts of Ft. Recovery and Portland, Ind. will conduct military rites.  The youth attended elementary school here and junior high school at Portland.


Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lemaster; a brother, Larry, in the Army; a sister, Donna Jane, at home; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lemaster, Portland, and Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Gibbons, New Weston, and a great-grandfather, John Burkey, Portland.


----


There is a memorial to him at the FindAGrave website, which states that he died at Pork Chop Hill.


The obituary has his grandparents wrong, they were Chesley and Clara (BURKEY) LeMASTER.

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 : PETRY

The PETRY surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are German.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 37 : Barbara Petry (1802-1880). Barbara was born May 28, 1802 in York County, Pennsylvania.  She married in 1821 in Stark County, Ohio to Johannes 'John S.' Wehrly (1802-1876).  The lived in Seneca and Preble Counties, Ohio after their marriage before locating in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, and were the parents of 9 children.  Johannes died November 10, 1876 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara died August 27, 1880 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 74 : George Petry (1762-1823).  George was born August 1, 1762 in Strausburg, Germany.  He immigrated with his father in 1764 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the "Jennifer" from Rotterdam.  He married circa 1785 to Maria Catharina Kaltreider (1762-1815). Maria was born September 13, 1762.  They raised 7 children in York County, Pennsylvania, where George was a Brethren minister.  Maria died April 15, 1815 in York County, Pennsylvania.  George married secondly to Susanna ________ (1762-1852), with whom he had no children.  Susanna was born July 25, 1762 and died November 13, 1852 in Preble County, Ohio.  George died June 1, 1823 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Both are buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, York County, Pennsylvania.


Ahnentafel # 148 : Steffan Petry (1729-1793).  Steffan was born June 18, 1729 in Germany.  He immigrated in 1764 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the "Jennifer" from Rotterdam.  The name of Steffan's first wife is unknown. She died before Steffan immigrated to America. They had 5 children, including George, above.  Steffan married secondly to Anna Danner (1730-1804), with whom he had 3 children.  Anna was born December 6, 1730 in Pennsylvania, and died January 10, 1804 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Steffan died January 11, 1793 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Both Steffan and Anna are buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, York County, Pennsylvania.


Related blog posts :

• Today in my database: Barbara Petry (b. May 28, 1802)

Christmas Holly

Miss Vera Haley

Portland Ind.

R.R.

Leila

---

This postcard was postmarked December 23, 1918 Portland, Indiana and was sent to my paternal great-aunt, Vera HALEY.  I do not know who Leila was.