52 Ancestors 2021: Week 49: Homemade

I think most of my ancestors were renowned for one thing or another - but probably none were more known for something than my Great-Grandpa and his apple cider or apple butter. After all, he did run an apple orchard. Just as renowned as he, though, was my Great-Grandma for her Jam Cake.

Apparently, every family has their own Jam Cake recipe and the Blanford family is no exception. There's variations of the recipe, too, depending on which daughter of Lorene's makes it. One uses pear preserves, and one I believe uses peach preserves. 

In the recipe box in the closet on the top shelf is the recipe for Jam Cake and Jam Cake Icing, which is almost more labor intensive than the cake itself. There also lies a recipe for apple cider and for apple butter. 

Apple butter is my personal favorite - I love it more than peanut butter, more than any jelly, jam, or preserve. I love it so much that I took a jar to school in first grade to share with my class. These days, you can't do that - the school would automatically assume you're trying to poison all the kids. 

My Great-Grandma also made a lot of pies and cobblers - as fruit was fairly plentiful when other things were not back in the Great Depression days. They would buy flour in huge sacks so homemade biscuits were a regular staple at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Blanford family also drank coffee and sweet tea in copious amounts - matter of fact, I'm pretty sure we drank it in our baby bottles. 

No, my story is not unlike any other farming family. They all survived on what they could and made what they had. In his later years, I hear my Great-Grandpa threw quite the fish fry. He had a lake that he kept stocked with catfish, bass, and other goodies. I've also heard tale of a few barbecues throughout the years. 

I wish I had some photographs of Great-Grandma Lorene cooking, but I do have a few of Great-Grandpa Dick and his apples and also cooking on the grill that I'll share. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 37: On the Farm

When I think of farming and my ancestors -- the number one person who comes to mind is my Great-Grandfather, Richard Jerome "Dick" Blanford. I was fortunate enough to meet Papa Dick when I was a baby - but sadly he passed away just two months prior to my third birthday. 

Dick Blanford was born on November 5th, 1913, in Union County, Kentucky, to Martin Allen Blanford and Mary Agnes Nally. He was the eldest child out of six total - only five surviving to adulthood. 

Dick had a modest upbringing, growing up in the areas of Smith Mills and Corydon in Henderson County. The area known as "Walnut Bottom" in census, actually. Unfortunately, when he was only thirteen years of age - he lost his mother, Mary Agnes, to tuberculosis. I can only imagine how that shaped him as a person. 

On July 11th, 1931, he married Miss Verna Lorene LaRue, the daughter of Charles Clarence LaRue and Carrie Annie Byrd. His brother, Thomas Allen "Tom" Blanford would go on to marry Lorene's sister Opal Lois LaRue. 

Dick and Lorene stuck to the Geneva and Smith Mills area of the county. According to my Grandpa, in his youth, they lived in three different places that burnt down before they settled on the Latta Place. It was a small white house at the very end of Star School Rd in Geneva.. and now it's no longer there. It used to be surrounded by cornfields and bayou. 

After they were older, Dick built a large house on Trigg-Hooper Rd. At this house, Dick did a lot of farming, a lot of raising livestock, and even had an apple orchard. It was at this house that his kids, grandkids, and even some great-grandchildren formed a lot of precious memories. It was this house that I remember very, very vaguely. 

I had a snippet of a memory, like a flash in a dream that he was holding me outside on his lap and I could remember looking up at the night sky. Mom said I was remembering watching Fourth of July fireworks out there, most likely on July 4th, 1995.. I was two years and five months old. 

Over the last few years, I've found numerous articles from the Evansville newspaper chronicling when Papa Dick would sell some livestock, donate to charity, or have an auction at his farm. It's been quite a neat trip back in time to see some of the things I have and read some of things I have. 

To this day, we have an aerial photograph of the house and farm on our wall. We have laminated pages from where he made the Features section of the newspaper for his apple cider, hanging on the wall. My Mom lost her maternal Grandpa when she was just 7 years old so she built a special bond, after that, with her paternal Grandpa. I think in his own way, he tried to make up for her not having her other Grandpa. Very much like my own maternal Grandma made up for me not having my paternal Grandma.

Unfortunately, after Dick passed, the farm was lost. Dick knew that all of his everything -- personal, real estate, etc, would have to be sold because he had a kid or two that were too greedy for their own good and nothing would be able to be divided properly and 'kept within the family.' No one would be able to 'keep' anything without another child being jealous of it. Matter a fact, my Mom says he used to proudly wear a hat that said, "I'm spending my children's inheritance." 

To this day - it still ruffles a few feathers that my Grandpa Jady was given the antique roll top desk of Papa Dick's, and it ruffles even more feathers that Grandpa Jady left it to my Mom when he died. I now have two antique roll top desks - one from each of my Grandfather's and I couldn't be happier. A genealogist needs a proper desk...two or three in my opinion. 

I wish I could remember what Dick was like. I don't remember his voice. I don't remember the apple cider or anything like that. I do remember the apple butter and the apple pie.. as my Grandpa continued to make it long after Papa Dick passed away. My Dad still uses the pie recipe to this day. I remember taking apple butter to show and tell in first grade. Back when we could actually take homemade food to school, share it with our classmates, and it wasn't against the law. 

On December 14th, 1995, Papa Dick passed away at his home in his sleep -- he'd battled prostate cancer for many years. He and Mama 'Rene are buried in Saint Louis Cemetery, which I affectionately refer to as "Blanford Memorial Gardens," because the front of the cemetery has a lot of Blanford tombstones showing from the road, including their own. 

If you visit the cemetery any time soon, maybe stop and introduce yourself to one of Henderson County's most influential farmers. Dick loved meeting new people, and he didn't view anyone as a stranger -- a trait his son, my Grandpa Jady, inherited from him. Sit down for a spell and maybe he'll tell you a story while peeling an apple with a pocket knife. You might learn something. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 23: Bridge

For the topic of bridge, I could probably sit here and try to think up at least ten different things I could write about. I struggled at first - because really besides my Granddad being an Ironworker and working on buildings and bridges, I couldn't think of a further back ancestor to write about. I can't think of any ancestors that would have regularly crossed bridges going here and there.

But then I got to thinking... I do have a lot of river ancestors. On my paternal side -- the Jones' and the White's lived in Mississippi County, Missouri, very close to the Mississippi River. On my maternal side -- my Blanford's and LaRue's lived down in the Geneva, Smith Mills, and Alzey Bottoms areas which is very, very close to the Ohio River. 

I know infinitely more about my maternal side and being that I still reside here in Henderson County today.. I'll write about them for this topic. 

Now, for the literal "bridge," part of this... I'm not too sure how often my ancestors went over bridges. I know there was a ferry in the Alzey Bottoms at one time. There was McDonald's Landing and also an Alzey Landing at one time. I believe the ferry might have moved a person between McDonald's Landing (Kentucky side) and the West Franklin area (Indiana side.) The Alzey ferry, it would have took you to Indiana but into the country -- you'd have still had to travel to Mt. Vernon if that's where you planned to go. Most people probably would have travelled to Uniontown, KY, and crossed directly to Mt. Vernon via their ferry. 

I mention the ferry to Mt. Vernon because my Byrd ancestors came from Posey County, Indiana, to Henderson County, Kentucky, and you guessed it -- settled into the Smith Mills/Alzey/Geneva area. Let's start with the nearest generation -- my Grandpa. Grandpa Jady was born at the old Henderson Hospital (Washington St) here in Henderson on July 31st, 1936. They lived, however, out in the Smith Mills area. 

According to my Grandpa, they lived in three different places that burned before finally settling on what was called "The Latta Place," at the end of Star School Rd in Geneva. Surrounded by corn fields and bayou - I'm sure it made quite an interesting place to grow up through the 40's and 50's. 

His parents - Richard Jerome Blanford was born November 5th, 1913, in Union County, KY (probably somewhere near Morganfield.) Verna Lorene LaRue was born October 9th, 1914, in Smith Mills. 

By the 1920 census, Richard and his family lived on "The Burbank Rd," which is in the Geneva-Smith Mills area. In the 1920 census, Lorene and her family lived in Smith Mills with no road name listed. 

In the 1930 censuses -- Lorene and her family have moved closer to Corydon and in fact, Lorene graduated Corydon High School in 1932 (after she married Richard Blanford as a matter of fact.) Richard and his family, in 1930, live on Trigg-Turner Rd, which again, is in the Geneva area. 

The first census that sees Richard and Lorene married was 1940 -- again, they live on Trigg-Turner Rd. This area, even today, is "Blanford stomping ground." This house that they live in, in 1940, is probably one of the "three that burned." The 1950 census will be released in April of 2022 and I would imagine by that point, the family will be on Star School Rd at the Latta Place. 

Going another generation back -- Martin Blanford in the 1940 census has moved from Trigg-Turner to the "Corydon Smith Mill Rd." Charles LaRue and his wife, Carrie, live on the "Back Corydon Rd," and it lists them as Smith Mills, KY. 

At their deaths - I know Martin Blanford had moved into the city of Henderson proper when he passed in 1968 - but he actually died in Evansville.

I believe the family still lived in Smith Mills when Carrie (Byrd) LaRue passed in 1955... and Charles LaRue lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Richard and Lorene, when he died in 1980. Richard and Lorene had built a wonderful house at 6149 Trigg-Hooper Rd in Geneva. That, too, is where they lived when they passed in 1991 and 1995. 

Let's go another generation back -- to my 3x Grandparents, John Byrd (1839-1922) and Maria Moore (1849-1932). Both were born in Posey County, Indiana. They married there in 1864 - and by the 1880 census, they'd moved their family across the river to the Corydon area of Henderson County. By 1900, they were in the Smith Mills area. 1920 - "Smith Mills Rd," as they call it. In the 1930 census, the widowed Maria is listed as being on "Sandefur Hill Rd," in Smith Mills. 

John and Maria (Moore) Byrd, Charles and Carrie (Byrd) LaRue, & Benjamin and Mary (Lawrey) LaRue are all buried in Smith Mills Cemetery. (Ben & Mary are unmarked, according to family story.)

To this day, the Blanford's, LaRue's, and Byrd's are still prominent out in the Smith Mills area and do a lot of farming in the community -- a lot of that farming is impacted by the Ohio River and the close proximity of it. Some of them even farm on Diamond Island, or at least, they used to. Not sure if they still farm the island today or not. 

I remember many stories my Grandpa would tell, talking about how the flooding of the river impacted their harvest in this year, and that year. Farming here in Henderson County -- our soil is wonderful (or so I've been told) but, if you live close enough to the river... it really is a constant gamble and sometimes, you don't come out a winner. Most gardens in our county can withstand some rain but, having backwater or headwater from the river on top of your field, a foot or more deep, for sometimes a week straight... a lot of times, you can't come back from that. It'll be a complete loss. 

"The Latta Place," that I mentioned before, was on the bayou in Geneva -- and we all know the bayou was fed by the river and rainwater. I imagine at times, that fact made farming the cornfields around Latta Place a daunting task. There is a cemetery not too far away from the Latta Place -- it's kind of like the "Geneva Community Cemetery," but it started out as the Clay family cemetery... known today just as "Clay Cemetery." 

When you look at a map, it's hard to believe that the cemetery itself doesn't get flooded. When I first became curious of going out to that cemetery - I asked my Grandpa numerous questions. Apparently the road will occasionally flood, due to the bayou, to get back to the cemetery... but the cemetery itself won't flood. I was very surprised to learn this fact. 

There are many other cemeteries in the Alzey (especially), Smith Mills, and Geneva areas that aren't as lucky. Matter of fact - a lot of them have been lost to time due to the river. I believe it's the old "Alves family cemetery," that was lost during one of the big flooding events - most probably the 1937 flood took the last of it. The Alves family is an old one in our county with a lot of money and had a lot of land back in the day. A lot of them are buried next door to me in Fernwood Cemetery but before Fernwood came into existence (1852 was its first proper burial in its new location) the family would bury their deceased in the family cemetery in the Alzey area. 

The 1937 flood was probably the most detrimental to the Alzey area here in Henderson County and the Scuffletown bottoms (out near Spottsville/Beals). The city of Henderson, while it does have some low-lying areas in town that will flash flood... we have a motto: "on the Ohio, but never in it." The city proper (city limits) doesn't flood unless it's a torrential downpour (flash flooding) or the area right on Canoe Creek, which of course, is fed by the Ohio River. 

The "top" part of our county is impacted by the Ohio River, but we also have the Green River that cuts through the Eastern part of our county and impacts the Spottsville, Bluff City, Hebbardsville, Niagara, and areas surrounding them. Some of my ancestors lived in the Niagara area - but not too close to the river.. not enough to be impacted by it. But there, too, was a ferry there that I imagine they utilized quite often. 

That's a story for another day, of course. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 8: Power

When I think of the word "power" in genealogy, a lot of ideas come to mind... I could write about a powerful ancestor (someone who had a lot of influence, or perhaps was political), an ancestor who lived through something powerful (like an epidemic or a pandemic or a natural disaster), but the biggest thing I think of is... a strong patriarch and matriarch of the family. 

When I think of "power couple," a couple different sets of my ancestors come to mind, but I think today, I'll talk about my Great-Grandparents -- Richard Jerome Blanford and Verna Lorene (LaRue) Blanford. Dick and Lorene were the parents of 13 children -- the very first being a stillborn baby girl (premature birth) and #11 being a stillborn baby boy (full term birth). 

Dick and Lorene were the proud parents of: Charles Richard (1933), Kenneth Eugene (1934-1993), James Allen "Jady" (1936-2015), Jerry Lee (1938-2008), Delores Faye (1940), Mary Virginia "Ginny" (1941), Martha Ann "Motts" (1943-2020), John William "Johnny" (1944-2009), Linda Ruth (1947), Joseph Earl "Jody" (1951-1982), and George Edward (1953). Stillborn baby girl in 1931 and stillborn baby boy in 1950. Out of those children, only five remain.

Only eight of their children had children of their own -- making them the Grandparents of 29 grandchildren. Their last son, George, was born the same year that the first Granddaughter, Marcella "Marcy", was born -- 1953. 

Out of the Grandchildren, only three have passed away -- the first to pass away was Jerry Ray Blanford (1959-1969). He was killed in a car crash that also injured his brother Phillip and his late mother, Lottie. The second grandchild to pass away was my Uncle, James Allen "Jay" Blanford Jr (1965-2014). The third grandchild to pass was the eldest -- Marcella Louise "Marcy" Blanford Batey (1953-2018). 

Richard and Lorene were wed on July 11th, 1931. Lorene passed away just a few months shy of their 60th wedding anniversary. Lorene passed on May 8th, 1991, after a long hard battle with breast cancer. Dick lived a few more years -- long enough that I had a chance to meet him (his great-Grandchild); he passed away on December 14th, 1995. 

Dick was one of six children born to Martin Allen Blanford and Mary Agnes Nally before her young death at the hands of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1927. Lorene was one of eleven children born to Charles Clarence LaRue and Carrie Annie Byrd -- three of those children dying in either infancy or shortly thereafter. 

Richard was born November 5th, 1913, in Union County, KY. Lorene was born October 9th, 1914, in Henderson County, KY. Both of them, even in childhood, spent most of their years living in the Smith Mills area and then continued to live there even after marriage. 

According to my Grandpa, they lost at least three houses to fire when he was a young boy. They eventually settled on a place at the end of Star School Road (in the Geneva area) called "The Latta Place." I'm guessing because the prior owners of the house were the Latta family. The house was a bit eerie -- at the end of a road, surrounded by cornfield all around. The bayou also wasn't too far away. 

As of a few years ago...all of the land has been sold, the house is gone, and it's all farmland now. In the late 1970's, Dick and Lorene had a house built for them on Trigg-Turner Road. In fact, my Grandma Glynda helped make out the blue prints for it. That was the house they lived in until they passed away. It was a large house with a library and everything. My Mom has several stories of going fishing out there. 

In fact, Dick had apple trees and ran his own orchard. He was known for making his cider as well. In the "power" aspect -- Dick was a relatively well known man in the community. He was a farmer his entire life and sold many a cow, bull, pig, and horse at livestock shows. He made it into the newspaper on several occasions for auctions of farm equipment, auctions of livestock, or for donating to charity (usually a 4H type program.) 

My Mom says that there was always a coffee pot going and an urn of tea in the Blanford household. We love to talk and we love to spend time together -- but like with every family, when the Grandparents pass away...the family fractures a bit. My Mom sadly, other than at funerals or family reunions, didn't see her cousins much after her Grandparents passed...and I'm experiencing the same thing now. If it wasn't for Facebook, I don't think we'd talk to any of the family anymore... it's not like anybody drops by to have a cup of coffee, not in the COVID days. 

I don't have very many memories of Dick.. I can remember watching fireworks out at his house one Fourth of July -- probably the Fourth of July in 1995, I would have been a little over two years old. It's a very very vague memory.. I wasn't even sure it was a real one until I talked to my Mom about it and she realized that's what I was remembering. I can't remember it, but we found photos from that summer, where apparently I must have caught my first fish as well. 

Hanging on our wall here at home, we still have an aerial picture of his house and farm... the last I heard, they'd turned that house into a fishing or hunting lodge or something. We also have a laminated copy of the front page of the Features section of The Gleaner that he was featured in for his apple orchard and apple cider years ago. I have a lot of things that were passed on to me from them.. well, given to my Grandpa, then to my Mom, then to me. 

We have an early 1900's roll-top desk that belonged to my Great-Grandfather. I one day want to make that my genealogy desk but.. our house isn't cleaned up enough to get it in here. One day it will be (a girl can dream anyway.) 

I'm a lot like my Great-Grandmother Lorene -- apparently she had a knack for genealogy as well, as she wrote into a newspaper in Evansville once seeking information for her Dad's side of the family. She also loved to do crossword puzzles... I love to do them, too. Apparently it's a LaRue thing to like puzzles and working with your mind. Her father, Charles LaRue, loved them as well. 

Being a prankster and a jokester also runs in the Blanford and LaRue family genetics. Apparently my Grandfather and Great-Grandfather alike... the cornier the joke, the more they loved it. I, too, am a connoisseur of corny jokes. "Dad" jokes. "Pun" jokes. Whatever. The cornier the better. According to my Mom, Dick had a hat that said, "I'm spending my Grandchildren's inheritance," and he wore it with pride. That's the type of jokester that I am as well. 

I guess I could sit here and type for ages about Dick and Lorene.. but I'll wrap this on up and say, they're a prime example of who I think of when I hear the word "power," or "patriarch" or "matriarch." Without them, the family has slowly started to fracture into pieces...branches of the family tree forking out and going their own way. They were two amazing, incredible, and powerful people in their own rights...and made even better together with their family. 

Richard and Lorene are buried in what I call "Blanford Memorial Gardens" here in Henderson -- Saint Louis Catholic Cemetery. Next time you're there, say hello to them if you can. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 5: In The Kitchen

 

The above photographs are from two separate occasions -- I believe the top photo was a summer get-together. Grandma, Uncle Charles (Grandpa's brother), Grandpa, my Mom, and my Dad. (Grandma & Grandpa are my Mom's parents). A lot of times during the summer we would have ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, and salad.

The bottom photo is from Christmas -- Grandma would always wear that sweater. You can see that it was Christmas by how many loaves of bread were there....for lots of ham sandwiches. Lots and lots of ham sandwiches.

Looking back in retrospect, I wish I had more photographs of us cooking in my Grandmother's kitchen before life threw us a huge curveball. Now my Grandparents are gone and we no longer have the house.. So many memories. So many holidays spent cooking in that kitchen. So many meals ate at that dining room table. So much coffee consumed. So many laughs, so many good conversations, and even some bad ones. 

Growing up, it was tradition to have holiday dinners at my Grandparents house. Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, for sure. But sometimes we would have little get togethers for birthdays -- mine (February 12th), was always held at my Grandparents house. Sometimes we'd get together for their anniversary (March 31st), or sometimes we'd get together on a random Thursday in the middle of August. 

We'd usually go over and have a meal with them on their birthdays -- Grandma was born June 13th, and Grandpa was born July 31st. Sometimes we'd have a meal for my Mom's birthday, January 8th.. or her younger brother, his birthday being January 11th. Sometimes we'd go over for New Years Eve. 

It didn't matter the date.. it didn't matter what food was being cooked. You could always count on a pot of coffee going, a cookie jar full on the dining room table, and a lot of good conversation leading to laughter and smiles. For my Grandma, cooking was something she picked up from my Grandpa after they married. My Grandma's Mom -- Nana -- didn't allow her children into the kitchen with her, when they were young. 

Whereas, my other Great-Grandmother -- Lorene -- allowed her children into the kitchen. Not to mention, my Grandpa had picked up some cooking skills in the Army in and around 1960, prior to marrying my Grandma in 1962. Growing up, my Grandma allowed her kids into the kitchen, and when it came time, she more than allowed her Grandchildren into the kitchen with her. 

I would usually spend the night at their house the night before a big holiday dinner. Take Thanksgiving for instance.. Grandma and I would wake up sometimes at 5 o'clock in the morning to get the oven pre-heated and the turkey into the oven in time for it to be done by 11 AM. Sometimes the last guest wouldn't leave until 10 PM and we'd be cleaning the kitchen until midnight. It just depended on the holiday and who came over. We Blanford's, well, we love to drink coffee and talk. In fact, we probably talk a lot more than your average person. Probably why our jawbones are so thick...it has to compensate for how often we wag our tongues. 

Growing up, I've heard stories of the Blanford kitchen. My Mom said they used to keep urns of coffee and urns of sweet tea going. Matter of fact, you'd have to brew multiple urns a day. In the Sandefur kitchen, you'd have some unsweet tea, because Nana's husband, Poppy, was a diabetic. 

In the Blanford kitchen, you would find Lorene making a delicacy known as Jam Cake. Every southern family (or it seems more prevalent in the south) has their own Jam Cake recipe and most women will take their recipe to the grave with them. I thankfully have my Great-Grandma's recipe. 

In the Sandefur kitchen, you would find Nana making her signature Oatmeal Date Cake, or perhaps her 7-Up Cake. She was also rather famous for her zucchini bread. According to my Mom, Nana made a blackberry cobbler that was delicious. She would also make a homemade chocolate syrup for ice cream or to drizzle over hot brownies. 

Unfortunately, Lorene passed away before I was born... but my Nana lived until I was eight years old, in 2001. So Nana would come over for every holiday dinner at my Grandma's house until she passed. Until she wasn't able anymore, she would always help my Grandma make deviled eggs, banana logs, or Waldorf salad. 

Deviled eggs and banana logs kind of became the traditional "staple" at every holiday dinner. You might have ham for Easter, turkey for Thanksgiving, and ribeye steaks for Christmas, but one thing was for sure: you were probably going to have green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and banana logs. 

Another thing a Blanford kitchen never lacked... brownies or pie. Blanford's are notorious sweet eaters. My Grandpa's cookie jar was never barren. In fact, many times growing up, I helped my Grandpa make homemade apple butter, apple pie, pecan pie... I can still remember the smell of the kitchen when we'd cook together. It never smelled better than when we would make homemade apple butter. It was a family affair, too. 

Another thing we'd do in the kitchen/dining room was snap beans and can. I've canned a lot of green beans in my day, and other veggies like tomatoes and corn. We shelled a lot of purple hull peas and canned those, too. 

I firmly believe that's what is wrong with today's generation of kids...they don't snap beans or shell peas with their Grandma in the kitchen anymore...and boy does it show. They haven't been taken out into the front yard and told to pick a good switch from the tree and had their rear-end lit up enough either. Grandma's were infamous disciplinarians and my, oh my, my Grandma and Great-Grandma were good at it: they had previously been school bus drivers and we all know just how little crap they take. 

I have a million other things I could talk about, when it comes to food...but this topic was specifically "in the kitchen." One day, I'll write about the BBQ's and fish frying that my Great-Grandpa Blanford would do. He also had an apple orchard and made homemade apple cider. But those are topics for another day.

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 4: Favorite Photo

 

This is a photograph of my 2x Grandparents -- Martin Allen Blanford and Mary Agnes (Nally) Blanford. I *think* it was from their wedding but I could be wrong. He's in a suit and she's in a white blouse with a nice hair-style so.. I'm thinking wedding. 

This photograph is one of my most treasured possessions, and it was one of my Grandpa's favorite pictures, as well. You see, Mary Agnes died very young. Let's talk about Martin and Agnes for a few, shall we?

Martin was born on February 28th, 1888, in Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky, to Samuel Blandford and Mary Olive Oatman "Ollie" Raley. 

Mary Agnes was born November 6th, 1894, in Smith Mills, Henderson County, Kentucky, to Thomas Sidney Nally and Matilda Catherine McBride. 

On January 7th, 1913, in Union County, Kentucky, they wed, most likely in one of the Catholic churches -- Sacred Heart or Saint Peter's is my guess. 

They were the parents of six children -- one whom died/stillbirth. Of the living children, three were sons and two were daughters. 

On January 28th, 1927, at the young age of 32, Mary Agnes Nally passed away from pulmonary tuberculosis. She had been sick with this for about two years, according to the death certificate. She left behind children who were only 14, 12, 9, 6, and 4 (roughly) in ages. She was laid to rest in Saint Peter's Catholic Church Cemetery in Waverly, Union County, Kentucky. 

Thanks to an awesome group on Facebook called "Random Acts of Photo Restoration," I was able to get the crinkles fixed in the photo of Martin and Agnes. For the first time, I could really truly see Agnes' beauty. I used MyHeritage to help colorize the photograph and used the Remini app to "clear" up the photo a bit...and this is the final product. Martin and Agnes in all their glory in circa 1913. 108 years ago. 

If you're ever in Waverly, stop by Mary Agnes' grave and tell her hello. 94 years after her death, she is still deeply missed. There probably isn't anyone alive today who remembers her in person, as her children are long gone, siblings as well.. but, her Grandchildren feel her absence as the Grandmother they never got to know. My Grandfather would look at this photograph on his desk and think of his Grandfather, who didn't die until 1968 (my Grandpa would have been 32 in 1968)...but he always longed for a relationship with the Grandmother who died so young. It apparently shaped his father, Richard Blanford, who was their oldest child, in ways that I can't even imagine. 

Tuberculosis took another one of my 2x Grandmother's at a very young age... but that's a blog for another day. I'll wrap this one up by just saying.. remember your ancestors who died young, because without them.. you wouldn't be here today.

52 Ancestors 2020: Week 3: Long Line

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, 2020 Challenges

Week Three: "Long Line."

Long line could be taken in a lot of ways. I could talk about the long line of bus drivers I descend from or the long line of jokesters I come from. Maybe the long line of farmers in my family. But I thought the best thing to talk about when it comes to "long line" is how far back my roots in America go on each branch of my tree. Or at least...the ones I've confirmed the furthest back. 

Firstly, my Mefford line. I have three of them, you know. My 3x Grandparents were first cousins...and then my 3x Grandfather's parents were double first cousins. *Yes, that is banjos you hear playing in the background.*

The first Mefford, or Meffert, in America was Andreas Meffert, born January 2nd, 1707, in Hessen, Germany. He migrated to America with some of his sons in 1749, coming in through, I believe, the Port of Philadelphia. Andreas or as he became to be known as, Andrew, spent the rest of his life living in the Washington County, Pennsylvania area, where he died on August 13th, 1760. His widow, Anna Magdalena Haas Meffert is said to have made the move down to Frederick County, VA, where she died in 1765. 

I descend through their son Casper Mefford. It's interesting to note, and I'll add it right here, that Tom Hanks and Mr. Rogers also descend from Andreas Meffert -- through his son Johannes "John" Meffert. Tom Hanks didn't know about his Meffert lineage until he went to portray Mr. Rogers in a biopic a couple of years ago. A couple genealogists put their heads together and found the connection. Imagine my surprise when I open an article to see the name "Andreas Meffert" in it. I about fainted. 

Anyway -- Casper Mefford was the first to use the spelling Mefford and keep it. He was born August 27th, 1741 in Hessen, Germany, and migrated with his father in 1749. He married miss Maria Siegler in Philadelphia on March 30th, 1763. Eventually, Casper, Maria, and their family migrated south to Virginia where Casper died on November 23rd, 1805, in Rockingham County. Casper's widow, Maria, passed away April 16th, 1816, also in Rockingham County. 

From Casper, I descend from his son John Mefford. John was born October 8th, 1764, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On January 8th, 1787, in Rockingham County, Virginia, he married miss Mary Lemon. By the 1820 census, John and his family were living in the Logan County, Kentucky, area. John died in Logan County on April 18th, 1842. John's wife, Mary, preceded him in death by at least two years. 

From John, I actually descend through two of his children. Twice through his son, Jacob; and once through his son, George. 

George W. Mefford was born January 11th, 1789, in Rockingham County, Virginia. In approximately 1811, probably in Rockingham County, Virginia, he married miss Anna Hudlow. By the 1830 census, he was living in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He died in Butler County, Kentucky, on October 24th, 1877, and his tombstone still stands. Anna preceded him in death on November 19th, 1859, in Butler County...and her tombstone still stands, too. 

As for his brother, Jacob -- he was born May 11th, 1790, in Rockingham County, Virginia. He married miss Susanna "Susan" Hudlow on December 21st, 1808, in Rockingham County. By the 1820 census, they appear to be living in Logan County, Kentucky. Jacob died in the Muhlenberg County area in roughly October of 1835. Susan reportedly died the following year, in 1836.

From George, I descend through his son, Andrew Jackson Mefford, who was born February 25th, 1817, in what was probably Logan County, Kentucky. On July 10th, 1839, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, he married miss Catharine "Katie" Mefford -- his double first cousin. Catharine was the daughter of Jacob Mefford & Susan Hudlow. She was born January 28th, 1817, in Logan County, Kentucky. Katie passed away August 26th, 1855, in Muhlenberg County, leaving Andrew a widower. 

Andy re-married and eventually passed away on July 28th, 1873, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. From Andy and Katie, I descend through their son, George Washington Mefford. George was born July 13th, 1847, in Muhlenberg County. On March 19th, 1868, in Muhlenberg County, he married miss Amanda Hardison -- his first cousin. 

Amanda "Manda" Hardison was born December 14th, 1848, in Logan County, Kentucky and was the daughter of John A. Hardison and Mary Anna "Annie" Mefford. Annie Mefford was a sister of Catharine "Katie" Mefford, thus making her a daughter of Jacob Mefford & Susan Hudlow. Annie was born circa 1819 and passed away sometime between 1860 and 1870. 

As for George & Manda -- Manda passed away on August 23rd, 1918, in Muhlenberg County. George outlived her and passed away on January 30th, 1930, in Muhlenberg County. From the two of them came only two daughters and two sons. I descend through the eldest boy, French Mefford. 

French Mefford was born April 2nd, 1874, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. On February 7th, 1898, he married miss Emma Lillie Turner in Muhlenberg County. French died April 24th, 1955, in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Lillie passed December 14th, 1964, in Greenville, Muhlenberg County. 

From them was born one son and three daughters. I descend, of course, through their son -- Clinton "Clint" Mefford. He was born July 29th, 1903, in Ennis, Muhlenberg County. He married the lovely Edith Mae Bastin on June 26th, 1926, in Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky. He preceded her in death on October 3rd, 1965, in Greenville. She went on to re-marry and lived until April 11th, 1988, passing in Daviess County, Kentucky. 

Their son, Glen Bastin Mefford, was my Grandfather.. and he sadly passed away on August 11th, 2020. From Granddad Glen to Andreas Meffert was nine generations. Nine generations between Granddad and the first Meffert to land on American soil. Even though, in 1749, we weren't quite the United States, were we? We were the British Colonies of America, I believe? 

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Anyway... the second line I can talk about, that goes back even further in American history -- is my mother's maiden name, Blanford. It originally was spelled Blandford before someone dropped the middle D. We hailed from the area of Dorset, England. Just a short distance from the actual town of Dorset is a little place called Blandford Forum and I believe that's where we originated from. We got our last name from the town, more than likely..so who knows what our last name was before Blandford. Or perhaps...the town was named for us. Hmph!

Thomas Blandford was born about 1648 in the Dorset area of England. He is the furthest back documented Blandford I can trace. I believe he came to America around the year 1673, although it could have been as early as 1660. I had previously believed Thomas was a son of a John Blandford & Dorothy Wright, but, there's not a lot of concrete evidence to back that up. 

We know Thomas married Tabitha Wright on June 13th, 1678, in Calvert County, Maryland. The Blandford's at this point are starting to become well documented here in America because they're Catholic. And let's face it... Catholics keep phenomenal records. Thomas passed away in Prince George's County in 1698. Tabitha survived him until 1701. Tabitha had previously had children with William Mills -- that's also a very old name in Catholic America coming over from England. 

From Thomas & Tabitha, I descend from their son, Thomas Blandford. Thomas was born in either late 1678 or early 1679, Calvert County, Maryland. Around 1697 or so, he married Sarah Beaven. They both died in Prince George's County around 1749. 

From Thomas & Sarah, I descend through John Blandford. John was born roughly in 1709 in Prince George's County. His first wife was an Elizabeth Hagan, but his second wife, was a woman named Eleanor, who he married around 1751. Her last name right now remains a mystery. John passed in Prince George's, in 1770. 

From John and his second wife Eleanor, I come from their son, John Baptist Blandford. John Baptist was born about 1758, likely in Prince George's County, Maryland -- and around 1773, he married Elizabeth Clarke. Sometime after that, they made the "Great Catholic Migration" from Maryland down to Eastern Kentucky. John & Elizabeth both supposedly pass in Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1797. 

Their son, John Baptist Blandford, comes next in my lineage. He was born about 1774, likely in Prince George's County, Maryland, and married miss Catharine Hagan on November 12th, 1795, in Nelson County, Kentucky. The Hagan's, too, are an old English Catholic family. John passed away, probably in Nelson or Washington County, Kentucky, in 1818. Catharine eventually migrated with her children to Union County, Kentucky, where she died May 7th, 1859. It is likely she was buried in Saint Vincent / Sacred Heart Cemetery but no tombstone exists today. 

Through them came a son named Richard B (probably Baptist) Blandford. He was born about 1810 in likely Nelson County, Kentucky. Through his second wife, Rosella Jane Boone, whom he married November 9th, 1847, in Union County, Kentucky, I descend. Richard passed away sometime between the 1860 and 1870 censuses, leaving Rosella as a widow. Rosella passed away in 1910 in Union County, Kentucky, and too, is likely buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery with no existing tombstone. 

From Richard & Rosella came a son named Samuel "Sam" Blandford and it is through him and his two wives that he populated present day Union County, Henderson County, and even some of Daviess County with Blandford's. I think even some crossed over the river into Evansville, Indiana. 

Samuel Blandford was born April 15th, 1860, in Union County, Kentucky and he married his first wife, October 8th, 1883, at Saint Vincent Church, in Saint Vincent, Union County, Kentucky... her name was Mary Olive Oatman Raley, "Ollie" for short. The Raley's, too, are an old English Catholic family. 

Ollie preceded Sam in death on June 16th, 1906, in Union County, Kentucky. Sam married again and eventually left his second wife a widow on February 1st, 1916, in Union County, Kentucky. I believe both Sam & Ollie are likely buried in Saint Vincent Cemetery, but again, no tombstones have been found. It's plausible they could be interred at Saint Peter Catholic Cemetery but, again, no tombstones have been located. 

Sam & Ollie bore several children, their son Martin Allen Blanford being my ancestor. Dad Blanford, as he was called, was born February 28th, 1888, in Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky. He married the beautiful Mary Agnes Nally on January 7th, 1913, in Union County -- likely at Saint Peter Church. Agnes bore him six children before the good Lord called her home at an early age -- just 32 years young, on January 28th, 1927. She died of tuberculosis. The Nally family, too, is an old English Catholic family. 

Dad Blanford married again and lived a long life -- he passed away April 24th, 1968, in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Dad & Agnes' first son, Richard Jerome Blanford, was my Great-Grandfather. "Dick" as he was known, was born November 5th, 1913, in Union County, Kentucky. 

On July 11th, 1931, probably in Holy Name Catholic Church, he married miss Verna Lorene LaRue and to them 13 children were born. They both lived long, but hard lives at times. Lorene passed away of breast cancer on May 8th, 1991. The LaRue's had been in Henderson County for quite a while, and Lorene and her immediate LaRue family were Catholic, but I don't believe the LaRue's were always Catholic. I'll talk about them again in a minute. 

Dick passed away from prostate cancer on December 14th, 1995, in Geneva, Henderson County, Kentucky. I actually had the pleasure of knowing my Great-Grandfather, just for a short while. I turned three the February after his passing. 

Their son, James Allen Blanford, who passed away six years ago today.. was my Grandfather. 

From my Grandpa Jady to Thomas Blandford of Dorset, England, are ten generations. Ten generations between the first English Blandford in America to my Grandpa. 

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For my LaRue kin -- we came to America as French Huguenots. As defined on Wikipedia -- "Huguenots were French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism." Now, my LaRue line can be traced further back into France than just what I'm going to talk about but -- my French Huguenot ancestor is my 9th Great-Grandfather, Abraham LaRue or "Le Roux". 

As per Wikipedia -- "The LaRue family and its descendants trace their ancestry back to the French Huguenot Abraham LeRoux, who sailed to America with his family around 1680 as part of a mass exodus from France. According to LaRue descendant and author of Six Generations of LaRue and Allied Families, Otis M. Mather, several attempts to trace Abraham's family to a particular individual or locality in France have been unsuccessful. However, Don Holland Watson began the search in 1961 and, along with his two sisters, visited Germany and France on several occasions, tracing the family from the sub-province of Lalloeu in France to Mannheim, in Germany, and from there to the USA, then tracking the family until modern times, all across the USA in personal visits.

Although there are dozens of family traditions describing in various ways how Abraham and his family first arrived in America, all sources agree that some of the LaRues were murdered during or soon after the Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572, and afterward scattered across Europe and, eventually, America, where several members of the family were reunited.

Abraham LeRoux (LaRue) settled in New Jersey, where he died in 1712, leaving behind a son named Peter. Peter had three sons of his own; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from which sprang the LaRue families of Virginia and Kentucky."

Peter died in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1783. I descend from his son, Isaac LaRue Sr. Isaac was born 309 years ago today -- January 11th, 1712, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Around 1743, he married Phebe Carmen, and reared at least ten children who went forth and populated Kentucky & Virginia with LaRue's of all kinds. On March 20th, 1795, Isaac Sr dies in Frederick County, Virginia. 

From him, comes my 6th Great-Grandfather, Jacob LaRue Sr. Jacob was born May 1st, 1744, in Frederick County, Virginia. He married twice and had a slew of children with both women. I descend through his first wife, Mary Frost, whom he married in 1765 in Clarke County, Virginia. She died in 1804. Jacob eventually moved with a number of his descendants to present day Hardin County, Kentucky, where he died September 15th, 1821. 

My 5th Great-Grandfather was Samuel LaRue -- born about 1781 in Virginia. He married miss Elizabeth Dodge (Dodge is a very old American last name with roots in very early New England American history) on June 2nd, 1801, in Hardin County, Kentucky. Elizabeth passed in 1821 and Samuel shortly after in 1826. They mostly had daughters, which meant the LaRue last name was starting to die out... but they had two sons; one being my 4th Great-Grandfather. 

Josiah "Si" LaRue has been a tough man to trace down. He was born about 1804, likely in Hardin County, Kentucky, and by October 13th, 1828, in Floyd County, Indiana, he married miss Mary Castleman (old German family). They remain, however, in Hardin County in subsequent censuses. It seems they both die between 1850 and 1860. They had at least eleven children -- mostly sons, so the LaRue last name makes a come back! 

A lot of Josiah & Mary's descendants end up in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and even further west. I descend through their son, Benjamin Hardin LaRue. Ben LaRue was born about December of 1844 in probably Hardin County, Kentucky. For some reason, by the mid 1860's, he's made his way to Henderson County, Kentucky, where he marries miss Mary Philapine Lawrey. 

I'm unsure exactly when Mary passes away, but it was between the 1880 and 1900 census. She's likely buried in Smith Mills Cemetery in Smith Mills, Henderson County, Kentucky. Ben LaRue reportedly died on New Years Day 1901 and his will was probated on January 30th, 1901. He, too, is likely buried in Smith Mills Cemetery. 

They, too, had eleven children -- one of them being my 2nd Great-Grandfather, Charles Clarence "Dad" LaRue. Dad LaRue was born June 8th, 1883, in Henderson County, Kentucky. On April 27th, 1904, also in Henderson, he married Carrie Annie Byrd and they, too, had eleven children -- but only eight that survived past a few years old. Carrie predeceased Dad on June 29th, 1955.. and eventually Dad LaRue re-married, 

In 1973, Dad LaRue and his daughter, Verna Lorene LaRue (my Great-Grandmother) wrote into the local Evansville newspaper column "Bish Says" to try and get information on his parents. 

She goes so far as to say "Never heard his father mention any relative." Well -- Ben LaRue had eleven siblings and apparently, he'd never talked about them, either! Eventually, my Great-Grandmother received an answer from this article and came into contact with descendants of Josiah LaRue -- Ben LaRue's father -- who lived out in Kansas. My Mom, her parents, and my Great-Grandparents -- Dick Blanford and Verna Lorene LaRue, went on a road trip and went to Kansas to meet these cousins of Lorene. 

My Great-Grandmother might be gone, and my Great-Great-Grandfather might be gone, too, but.. I've solved the LaRue lineage. I don't, however, know exactly why Ben LaRue didn't talk about his parents or siblings or where he came from. I know he was born in 1844 and I believe his parents might have died between 1850-1860... but.. he still should have been old enough to have known who they were, known their names and whatnot. He had 10 siblings.. he should have at least known their names.. I suppose dementia could have played a factor. By the time he wanted to tell his son, Charles Clarence, about his family... maybe he didn't remember. 

The Lawrey line, too, though, has proved a tough nut to crack. That's a story for another time. 

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These are my furthest back and most well documented "overseas to America" lines. I do have my Sandefur, Gibson, Moss, Hazelwood, etc lines back to the 1700's but, I haven't made the official "jump over the big pond" with them. Not verified anyway. So perhaps I'll talk about those ancestors another day!