It seems like it was easier to get all of the family together when I was a kid than it does now. I can remember on Christmas Eve gathering at my grandmother WRIGHT's house for dinner and on Christmas day, after opening our presents, we would head over to my grandmother LeMASTER's.
The parties were the main times that we were able to all come together as a family. At my grandma WRIGHT's it was a smaller crowd because of the family size, but we had cousins on both sides that were about the same age. There were always someone to play games with.
As an adult, the holiday parties have shifted to my in-laws and my parents. We don't always get together exactly on Christmas eve or Christmas day, but we manage to try to assemble at some point during the holidays to exchange gifts and catch up.
As I recall, we would open a few gifts on Christmas eve that came from Grandma and relatives. One particular I remember was the year I opened up a box of rocks. As the shock was settling in, grandma brought out the real gift, a pogo stick, which was too large to wrap. I never did figure out quite how to use that thing, but I still remember receiving it.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Family Milestones: December 6th
My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, Charles Riggs WRIGHT, married on this date in 1890 in Innisdale, Madison County, Indiana to Bertha Cordelia LEONARD. Charles was the son of Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my John William WRIGHT. Bertha was the daughter of Stephen Sylvester and Susan (TODD) LEONARD. Charles was born November 11, 1870 in Madison County. Bertha was born March 6, 1873 in Madison County, Indiana. They raised 4 children in Monroe Township where Charles was a farmer and salesman. Bertha died February 26, 1950 and Charles remarried to Nellie FETZ. Charles died November 23, 1967 and is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.
My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Maud LAMBERTSON, married on this date in 1896 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Francis F. FISHER. Maud was the daughter of Carey W. and Clara E. (COOK) LAMBERTSON, and the younger sister of my Charles Wilson LAMBERTSON. Maud was born June 19, 1878 in Darke County, Ohio. Francis was born December 7, 1871 in Indiana, the son of Uriah and Elizabeth (HOOVER) FISHER. After their marriage, they lived in Hamilton County, Indiana and Jefferson County, Illinois. Francis died between 1920 and 1930, and Maud remarried to Will HAYSE. Maud died April 9, 1952 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois and is buried in the Old Shiloh Church Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
My paternal 5th-great grandparents, Deacon John PHILBRICK and Sally JEWETT, were married on this date in 1770 in Hollis, New Hampshire. John was born February 23, 1748 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire, the son of John and Judith (SANBORN) PHILBRICK. Sally was born March 7, 1749 in Hollis, Province of New Hampshire, the daughter of Samuel and Sally (________) JEWETT. After their marriage they raised a family of 8 children in Hollis and Weare, New Hampshire. John died July 31, 1780 in Weare, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. I do not have Sally's death date.
My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Seth W. BEALS, married on this date in 1863 to Sarah E. ADAMSON. Seth was the son of Nathan C. and Elizabeth (CHEW) BEALS, and the younger brother of my John T. BEALS. After their marriage they resided in Rogers, Benton County, Arkansas where they had at least 3 children. Seth died August 3, 1909. Nothing further known at this time.
My maternal 5th-great granduncle, John KIMMER, was born on this date in 1795. John was the son of Nicholas and Sarah (FAYLER) KIMMER, and the younger brother of my Elizabeth KIMMER. Nothing further known at this time.
My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Minerva PIERCE, was born on this date in 1846. Minerva was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE. Minerva married December 31, 1868 in Madison County, Indiana to Daniel SIGLER, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHANK) SIGLER. Daniel was born May 1844 in Indiana. They raised a family in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana where Daniel was a physician. Minerva died August 31, 1902 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana and was buried in the Elwood City Cemetery, Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.
My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Maud LAMBERTSON, married on this date in 1896 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Francis F. FISHER. Maud was the daughter of Carey W. and Clara E. (COOK) LAMBERTSON, and the younger sister of my Charles Wilson LAMBERTSON. Maud was born June 19, 1878 in Darke County, Ohio. Francis was born December 7, 1871 in Indiana, the son of Uriah and Elizabeth (HOOVER) FISHER. After their marriage, they lived in Hamilton County, Indiana and Jefferson County, Illinois. Francis died between 1920 and 1930, and Maud remarried to Will HAYSE. Maud died April 9, 1952 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois and is buried in the Old Shiloh Church Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
My paternal 5th-great grandparents, Deacon John PHILBRICK and Sally JEWETT, were married on this date in 1770 in Hollis, New Hampshire. John was born February 23, 1748 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire, the son of John and Judith (SANBORN) PHILBRICK. Sally was born March 7, 1749 in Hollis, Province of New Hampshire, the daughter of Samuel and Sally (________) JEWETT. After their marriage they raised a family of 8 children in Hollis and Weare, New Hampshire. John died July 31, 1780 in Weare, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. I do not have Sally's death date.
My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Seth W. BEALS, married on this date in 1863 to Sarah E. ADAMSON. Seth was the son of Nathan C. and Elizabeth (CHEW) BEALS, and the younger brother of my John T. BEALS. After their marriage they resided in Rogers, Benton County, Arkansas where they had at least 3 children. Seth died August 3, 1909. Nothing further known at this time.
My maternal 5th-great granduncle, John KIMMER, was born on this date in 1795. John was the son of Nicholas and Sarah (FAYLER) KIMMER, and the younger brother of my Elizabeth KIMMER. Nothing further known at this time.
My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Minerva PIERCE, was born on this date in 1846. Minerva was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE. Minerva married December 31, 1868 in Madison County, Indiana to Daniel SIGLER, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHANK) SIGLER. Daniel was born May 1844 in Indiana. They raised a family in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana where Daniel was a physician. Minerva died August 31, 1902 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana and was buried in the Elwood City Cemetery, Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.
Advent Calendar - December 6 - Santa Claus
Today's advent calendar theme from Geneabloggers is Santa Claus. Did you ever write a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list"? Do you still believe in Santa?
I'm sure that I wrote a letter or two to Santa Claus at some point growing up, though I cannot remember any particular letter. I believe that one time we left a note for him telling him where we were because we had gone to Tennessee to visit my aunt and uncle. I do remember an incident with my daughter at my parents house where a note was left for Santa while we went out, and when we returned there were presents. This even is captured on VHS tape, and reminds me that I need to transfer those tapes to DVD format.
I can remember visiting Santa at the local Elks lodge and sitting on his lap with my list. I know that my parents probably have a photograph or two when we did this. Also, there are recordings where dad asked us each what we wanted for Christmas. One incident with my brother and Santa occurred when he started out his wish list with "First, let me tell you what you forgot to bring me last year...". You can believe that gift was under the tree that year!
I believed in Santa long after many of my schoolmates stopped believing, I guess I just couldn't prove that he didn't exist. I never caught my parents playing Santa, nor did I ever sneak around looking for presents. I guess I was a good little boy! LOL!
As an adult, I do not place much emphasis on Santa, and try to keep our household focused on Jesus. Our house doesn't have much in the way of Santas. But I understand the joy that the little ones who still believe find in anticipating what lies under the tree on Christmas morn.
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