On This Day : March 22

1629 - William JOHNSON born in Canterbury, Kent, England.  William was the son of Edward JOHNSON and Susan MUNTTER.  William was my 9x great-grandfather.


1676 - George EDGE died in Little Barrow, Whitley, Cheshire, England.  George was the son of Rycharde EDGE and Alice BUSHELL.  George was my 10x great-grandfather.


1687 - Isaac PIERCE born in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Isaac was the son of Samuel PIERCE and Lydia BACON.


1719 - Enoch PIERCE born in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Enoch was the son of Samuel PIERCE and Abigail JOHNSON.


1754 - John PIERCE born.  John was the son of Enoch PIERCE and Mary MASON.


1768 - George BROWN born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.  George was the son of Alexander BROWN and Elizabeth WRIGHT.


1788 - Elisha MAXSON married Rebecca WILCOX.  Elisha was the son of Samuel MAXSON and Ruth ROGERS.


1802 - William Haines WOOLSTON born in Burlington County, New Jersey.  William was the son of Samuel WOOLSTON and Hannah HAINES.


1812 - Elijah W. CHEW born in Carpenter's Landing, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Elijah was the son of Elisha Dunham CHEW and Elizabeth HERITAGE.


1826 - Rebecca WHITE died in Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.  Rebecca was the daughter of Jeremiah HAINES and Hannah BONNELL.


1844 - James BALES born.  James was the son of Benjamin BALES and Nancy WRIGHTSMAN.


1844 - Lydia BALES born.  Lydia was the daughter of Benjamin BALES and Nancy WRIGHTSMAN.


1845 - Aaron BALES married Eunice BROWN.  Aaron was the son of Aaron BALES and Alice MANIFOLD.


1850 - Margaret L. SLOAN born.  Margaret was the daughter of Henderson SLOAN and Rebecca A. SWAFFORD.


1862 - Amos BOYER died in Franklin County, Ohio.  Amos was the son of Martin BOYER and Anna BENNETT.


1862 - Sarah CHEW died.  Sarah was the daughter of Joseph CHEW and Elizabeth THOMAS.


1865 - Austin P. WHITE died.  Austin was the son of George WHITE and Ellen E. PIERCE.


1872 - Michael SHIRK died.  Michael was the son of Michael SHIRK and Barbara FLICKINGER.


1879 - Robert James LEE married Elizabeth A. CARLISLE in Ray County, Missouri.  Robert was the son of Burrell Russell LEE and Elizabeth W. NAIL.


1952 - James W. CUMMINGS died in Jackson, Tennessee.  James was the son of Wyatt CUMMINGS and Margaret HENSON.


1961 - Arabel MULLIN died in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  Arabel was the daughter of John Marlin SWAFFORD and Octavia Elmira HAYES.


1963 - Elias A. PIERCE died in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  Elias was the son of Edmund G. PIERCE and Catherine GROENENDYKE.

Mom's March Gardening Tip - Potatoes

People always ask us about how to grow potatoes since we've been successful doing so.   We've grown Russet, Yukon, Red Norland, Red Pontiac, Kennebec, Irish, and Superior.   We have narrowed down the type to Kennebec (because they store well), Yukon (they make delicious mash potatoes) and either Red Norland or Red Pontiac.   If I can find them, I will plan Superior which is a early season potato.

People have said to plant them on Good Friday but sometimes that's too early for planting as the soil is too wet.  We have found that the first week of Aprli is a good time.  Two weeks before we're ready to plant, we cut them into seed pieces.  These pieces can vary.  Be sure that there is at least one good "eye" in each seed piece.  We let them  cure for a couple of weeks to make sure they have formed a good "eye".

We use the trench method of planting potatoes which involves digging a shallow trench, about 6" deep and placing the seed potatoes in the trench, eyes facing up. You then cover the potatoes with a couple of inches of soil. As the potato plant grows, soil is continually hilled up along the sides of the plants. This keeps the soil around the developing tubers loose and keeps the surface tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which will turn them green and somewhat toxic. Hill soil whenever the plants reach about 4-6" in height. You can stop tilling when the plants begin to flower.  Space rows 24 to 36 inches apart. The 24 inch spacing is often beneficial because the plants shade the soil and prevent high soil temperatures that inhibit tuber development. 

We sprinkle Preen over the soil after they have been planted.  Mulch is usually beneficial in growing potatoes. After the potato plants have emerged mulch can be applied to conserve moisture, help keep down weeds and cool the soil.

Harvest potatoes after the vines have died. Handle as gently as possible during harvest. Because the tubers develop 4 to 6 inches beneath the soil surface, a shovel or spading fork is a useful tool for digging potatoes.

They keep in the garage or basement for several weeks in their natural dormancy. Store over the winter in a dark room at a temperature between 38° and 40°F with high humidity.  I have read to store them in a paper sack.   Do not refrigerate potatoes or store them with onions.

Gardening has been such a big part of the family tradition that I thought I'd better get as much information written down from mom and dad as soon as possible to pass on.

On This Day : March 21

1735 - Mordecai MENDENHALL married Charity BEESON in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Mordecai was the son of John MENDENHALL and Susannah PIERSON.  Charity was the daughter of Richard BEESON and Charity GRUBB.  They were my 7x great-grandparents.


1754 - Nathaniel KENYON married Eleanor UTTER.  Nathaniel was the son of Peter KENYON and Naomi WELLS.


1770 - Jacob LEMASTERS born in Pennsylvania.  Jacob was my 4x great-grandfather.


1663 - George MENDENHALL born in Mildenhall, Wiltshire, England.  George was the son of Thomas MENDENHALL and Joane STRODE.


1669 - John MARIS born in Inkborough, Worchestershire, England.  John was the son of George MARIS and Alice ________.


1681 - Mary PRICE born.  Mary was the daughter of Robert PRICE and Sarah WEBB.


1735 - Elizabeth WRIGHT born in Dairsie, Fife, Scotland.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert WRIGHT and Elizabeth HENDERSON.


1749 - Anna Catherine Elisabeth RULLMANN born in Schnathorst, Westphalia.  Anna was the daughter of Heinrich Hermann RULLMANN and Catherine Marie KAHRE.


1771 - Molly PATRICK born.  Molly was the daughter of John PATRICK and Janett McPHEETERS.


1793 - Alexander CROCKETT married Elizabeth WATKINS in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  Alexander was the son of David CROCKETT and Elizabeth ________.  Elizabeth was the daughter of David WATKINS and Hannah ________.  They were my 6x great-grandparents.


1801 - Joseph SILLS born in Pennsylvania.  Joseph was the son of Joseph SILLS.


1817 - Amos SUTTON married Sarah LIPPENCOTT in Greene County, Ohio.  Amos was the son of Cornelius SUTTON and Elizabeth APPLEGATE.


1852 - Martha HECK married Walter P. TAYLOR in Bracken County, Kentucky.  Martha was the daughter of William HECK and Phoebe WILEY.


1852 - Daniel T. COY died.  Daniel was the son of John COY and Almira PIERCE.


1867 - Edmund W. PIERCE born.  Edmund was the son of Albert Orlando PIERCE and Elizabeth Williams PIKE.


1868 - James J. SWAFFORD born in Ray County, Missouri. James was the son of John B. SWAFFORD and Nancy Rowena MILLARD.


1871 - Joel BALES married Merry C. ABBOTT.  Joel was the son of Amer Jackson BEALS and Harriett HIGGINBOTHAM.


1876 - Emma C. WHITE born in Warrick County, Indiana.  Emma was the daughter of Thomas WHITE and Rebecca Ann MATTHEWS.


1878 - Lulu Blanch HUBER born.  Lulu was the daughter of Walter F. HUBER and Emeline YOUNG.


1882 - Levi JACOBS died in Effingham County, Illinois.  Levi was the son of William JACOBS and Sibell LITTELL.


1893 - John Aaron SWAFFORD born in Cumberland County, Tennessee.  John was the son of James Andrew SWAFFORD and Rebecca James SHERRILL.


1897 - Joseph Oscar SWAFFORD born.  Joseph was the son of James Wesley SWAFFORD and Emma SETH.


1908 - Roy CHIVLARE married Annie BEASLEY in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Roy was the son of Alpha Revis CHIVLARE and Clara Belle FOLLOWAY.


1948 - Jesse Walter SWAFFORD died in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Jesse was the son of Aaron W. SWAFFORD and Elizabeth SHIRLEY.