Monday, November 01, 2010

A Day With Dad

I spent Halloween day with my dad.  I'm not often able to spend a lot of time with him alone, so it was good to be able to "hang out" for a bit.  We spent the day driving around his old stomping grounds in Jay County, Indiana where he showed me the places where our family members lived.


We spent time at the Mt. Zion and Salamonia cemeteries, identifying family members and discussing their relationships.  Most of dad's maternal ancestors were from Noble township and are buried at Mt. Zion.  His paternal ancestors were from neighboring Madison township and are buried at Salamonia.


Salamonia Christian Church (1842-1999) Church Bell

Not being from the area, I was glad that dad was able to show me where his grandparents, Eli & Cora (METZNER) HALEY lived, and stories about where he would go squirrel hunting with his dad.  We didn't stop and take pictures, as the house is no longer there, but it was good for me to get a sense of where the land was in relationship to other members of the family.

It was interesting to find out exactly where the "Lookout Hill" farm that my Civil War veteran 4th-great grandfather, Luman Walker Lemasters, had his farm.  His son, Arthur, lived in the house later, and dad remembered being on this farm.


We also scooted over into Ohio, since we were so close to the state line.  Dad told me how his aunt Vera and uncle Clarence would go to church over in Fort Recovery, Ohio.  We drove over there and while we were there stopped and took a look at the monument and the fort, something I had never seen before. It definitely looks like a neat place to visit, will have to make a trip over there in the summer when they have displays open.

My dad, the History teacher, Fort Recovery, Ohio
31 October 2010

We came back into Jay County, and drove around the countryside, with dad pointing out where LeMaster relatives lived (and some still do).  We traveled several gravel roads and little villages of the county.  Dad showed me a couple of places where he used to live and told a few good stories.  Overall, it was a good day.

Dad told a few humorous stories about my uncles that I need to write down, but won't publish yet.  One interesting one involved a 'church key'.

Some things I didn't know about my dad:
  • that he used to squirrel hunt with his dad; I've never heard him talk about hunting
  • some of the jobs he had at the mill in Portland and Fisher Body
  • that he could have been an investor in a golf course we drove past on the trip; never knew he had ever hit a golf ball
  • where his old girlfriend lived (though I wasn't supposed to tell mom)

I learned a few things about my dad and my family on this trip, and I hope that I continue to discover more.

Amanuensis Monday: Wishes For Your Recovery

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.





Wishes for Your Recovery


Until  you're well completely And your health is back to stay, Good wishes will be with you To cheer you on your way!


"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed in Thee..." Is. 26:3


Your brother-in-law


E.C. Kunce
July 10, 1964


[backside]


Bradley, Illinois


Dear Vera, 


Hope this finds you feeling much better in every way.  That you are able to sit and get about and to be eating better.  Suppose you will be going home sometime after Sunday July 12 or not later than Tuesday or Wednesday.  Suppose Clarence will be ready for you to get back home.  Hope Elnora will know how to cook and wait on you when you get home.  I am getting along OK.  Cooking and washing dishes each meal so far.  I may go out today yet I don't have time to go out as I have been busy typing and getting ready for Sunday and the Broadcast taping this Friday P.M.  These pens don't want to work on this paper I have used 4 different pens.  I will write a note to Elnora & put in the save postage.  Ha! Hope you are Better.  Eugene.


This "get well" card was sent to my maternal great-aunt, Vera (HALEY) STUBER, by her brother-in-law, Rev. Eugene C. KUNCE, who was married to Elnora, Vera's younger sister.  Elnora must have been staying with Vera and helping to take care of her.  The broadcast referenced must refer to a religious service that was taped.  Sure would be interested to locate one of those on tape.  Clarence was Vera's husband.


This card was found among some papers that my father located.

John Newmark at TransylvanianDutch started this Monday genealogy meme, which has quickly spread throughout the Geneablogger community. I am excited to be a participant and transcribe the records of my family.

Making progress

I updated my GEDCOM today at Rootsweb, as part of an attempt to maintain a backup of my data.  Sometimes I forget to update that database at least once per month.


Yesterday, I spent the evening sorting through a pile of genealogy notes that I had stuffed into a manilla file folder.  The file folder was bursting at the seems because there were so many pages.  A lot of these were print outs of emails, websites, etc. that I had visited as far back as 2007!  As I started reading them and extracting the information into my Rootsmagic database, I was embarrassed to discover that some information I had recently been looking for had already been in my hands for 3 years.  Bad genealogist!  


Making progress is like eating an elephant, you have to do it "one bite at a time".