52 Ancestors 2021: Week 41: Changes

When I think about living through a lot changes - I think about my Great-Grandmother, Anna Elizabeth (Thompson) Sandefur. Nana was born out in the Smith Mills area of Henderson County on August 18th, 1916, and she passed away in Henderson on October 2nd, 2001. She lived a lot of life in those 85 years, let me tell you. 

When Nana was young, she went to school on a wagon led by horses. In the 1920's, my Great-Great-Grandfather, John R. Thompson bought a Model T and I have no doubt that my Nana was amazed at the vehicle. These were the days of no indoor plumbing -- Nana grew up with an outhouse. 

In the late 1940's, Nana had one of the first types of microwaves invented -- Radarange. Imagine going from cooking a TV dinner for an hour and a half in the oven to just a few minutes in a microwave. Well, even in the first microwaves, it probably still took several minutes but less time than the conventional oven. 

Nana lived through the first black and white televisions in the 1930's. She lived through the first color televisions in the 1950's. Nana saw the popularity of the telephone - to the point every house had a corded phone. She lived through party lines, where you'd share the line with six, eight, or ten people. She even eventually saw cordless phones in the 1990's. She also would have seen the invention of the 'car phone' or a 'bag phone' or a 'to go phone.' A predecessor to today's cell phone. 

Nana went from the days of automobiles being scarce to owning an Oldsmobile and driving a school bus for a living. She went from the days where women wore dresses and nothing else to finally owning a pantsuit in the 1980's. 

Nana went from the days that no woman had piercings to seeing women pierce their ears - even getting hers pierced. She went from the days where a woman's place was in the kitchen, that the wife had no job above the satisfaction of her husband and the care of her children.... to women becoming the primary breadwinners in the household. 

My Nana undoubtedly saw the changes in Henderson. She was born during the time of our original L&N train bridge which was in use between 1885-1931. She saw the building of the brand new L&N bridge which was finished May 1931. The old one demolished in 1933. 

My Great-Grandmother would have seen the expansion of roads. She saw the building of the original bridge going to Evansville in 1932. She saw the new bridge, now dubbed the southbound bridge, built in 1965. My Nana saw the days of everyone taking a train or ferry to Evansville slowly come to an end and the motor car became ever more popular. She saw the expansion of some roads going from dirt paths to paved asphalt, from two lanes, to four lanes or more. Nana would have seen the difference between cars being strictly manual transmission to the invention of an automatic. 

Nana would have seen the coming of fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, Hardee's and more. She would have witnessed some amazing price increases. Milk being roughly 36 cents a gallon in 1916, 48 cents in 1936, 97 cents in 1956, $1.68 in 1976, $2.62 in 1996.. I could go on and on. A gallon of gas in 1916 was 21 cents, down to 19 cents in 1936, up to 29 cents in 1956, 59 cents in 1976, and $1.23 in 1996. 

Nana would have lived through times of "going to town" was a treat and you'd only travel "into town" maybe once a week, sometimes every other week, usually on the weekend.. to literally living in town. She got to see the days of every neighborhood being their own town pretty much. Each neighborhood had their own school, their own corner market, their own hair salon, etc. 

My Nana saw the end of segregation in the mid 1950's. When she began driving a school bus, she was driving kids of all colors and nationalities. It was primarily a rural route, farming community kids. Nana saw Roe vs. Wade in 1973. She would remember Hoffa being the major news case in 1975 when he disappeared. She would remember the JonBenét Ramsey case of the 1990's.

Nana lived through America's involvement in WW1 (1917-1918) and our involvement in WW2 (1941-1945). Her husband, Henry Lloyd Sandefur, served in the Navy in WW2. Nana's brother, Jake, served in the Air Force in WW2. The Cold War -- 1947-1989. Nana lived through the Korean War -- 1950-1953. Vietnam -- 1955-1975. Desert Storm or the Gulf War in 1991. 

And even though she had Alzheimer's and probably couldn't have told you anything about what was going on... she was alive on September 11th, 2001, when the Trade Centers went down. 

She definitely saw a lot of change between the year she was born, 1916, and the year she died, 2001. I can only imagine how baffled she would be at some of the inventions between 2001 and 2021. Imagine having a computer the size of your hand and internet everywhere you go. I'm sure Nana would be floored at the prospect of FaceTime. Tiny vehicles would be another big adjustment for her... back in her day, cars were huge. 

I'm sure I could go on and on for several hours more about the things that changed in her life time, and now since her passing... but I'll go ahead and wrap this blog up. If you're able to -- leave a comment and let me know some of the things you've lived to see invented or the changes you've seen in your lifetime. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 36: Work

For the most part, I come from a long, long line of farmers. I do have a few ancestors who held different occupations though and I'm extremely thankful for them or else I'd have no "flavor" in my tree, haha. 

Starting off with my parents -- my Dad is a welder, pipefitter, and boilermaker. He's had numerous other jobs in the past though including working at fast food establishments, being a maintenance person at an apartment complex, and even working at a gas station until he found his way into welding. As a youngin', he worked in the tobacco fields, which was kind of like a right of passage back in those days.

My Mom has been unemployed since she was pregnant with me. Her last proper job was at Thornton's in about September of 1992. Prior to that, she worked at the Deli inside the Citi-Center Mall downtown, and had also worked at Riverside Downs racetrack, a beer distributor, a tax office, delivering newspapers, and of course as a youngin', she helped out in the tobacco fields. 

My Grandparents -- Granddad Glen was an ironworker and farmer. I don't know much about his work career other than that work took him to big cities like New York City, Chicago, and Kansas City, Missouri. Grandma Mina, as far as I know, was a waitress for most of her life. Here in Henderson, I know she worked at the Ramada for many, many years. 

Grandpa Jady was a jack of all trades who held many occupations in his lifetime and the most consistent one was farmer. At one time or another, though, Grandpa worked for the oil fields, worked as a maintenance shop foreman, drove a cement truck.. You name it, my Grandpa Jady probably done it. 

Grandma Glynda was a bookkeeper through and through. She was a tax preparer for many moons, but primarily she did books wherever she worked. She did books and secretarial work for many car lots, A.D.M, and her last place of employment was the Dodge Store. Grandma was exceptionally good at math... my weakest subject. 

As for my Great-Grandparents -- Clint Mefford worked in the coal mines - more appropriately, he was a manager of one, and that brought in decent money. It's been said many times that the Mefford family didn't really feel the Great Depression quite like my Blanford family did. Edith, his wife, as far as I know was a homemaker without ever having a true occupation. 

Doc Jones to the best of my knowledge was a farmer and his wife without occupation aside from housewife and fulltime mother. Looking back at census - in the 1930 census, he was a deckhand on a boat and in 1940, he worked for the W.P.A. 

Dick Blanford was a farmer through and through. In his later years, he ran an apple orchard and was well known for his apple cider. He worked a lot with livestock and ever so often you'd see his name in the newspaper for auctioning off either livestock or some old farm equipment. His wife, Lorene, was a stay at home wife and mother - which was a handful, trust me. They had a passel of children. 

Henry Sandefur did a little bit of everything in his life. He was a fireman on and off. I know he drove a school bus at one time or another. In the 1930 census, at just 17, he was working in a furniture factory (probably Delker Brothers here in Henderson.) In the 1940 census, he was working for the W.P.A. His wife, Anna, was a stay at home wife and mother until her children, or at least almost all of her children, were out of the nest. She became a school bus driver and that's the job she retired from in the late 80's. 

My Great-Great-Grandparents -- French Mefford was a farmer and his wife, Emma, did not work. Frank Bastin started out as a coal miner, then a foreman in the coal mines, and then in his later life turned into a farmer. His wife, Lena, did not work. We're getting back into the days where it just wasn't a thing for women to work whatsoever. Their one and only job was to take care of the house, husband, and children. 

Aaron Jones was a blacksmith, until his later years, then he began to farm. Bill White was also a farmer his whole life, either on his own farm, or labor on another's farm. Martin Blanford was a farmer as well - the Blanford's well versed in the nature of farming. It seems like that's quite literally ALL they did. 

Charles LaRue was a farmer as well. The LaRue's are a long line of farmers going back many, many generations. Eugene Sandefur in the 1900 census was a house painter, by 1910 and for the rest of his life until he retired - he was a mail carrier. I believe he mostly ran rural routes even though the family lived in town on Clay St. His wife, Ollie, in the 1900 census is given the occupation of 'weaver,' and that's the only time she's ever listed as having an occupation. 

John R. Thompson was a farmer - although I dare say his best money was made when they found oil on his property in Niagara. The Thompson's, too, are a long line of farmers. It seems like my Catholic lines (Blanford, Thompson, Nally, etc) are all farmers. Not sure if it really has much to do with the religion or not, but it seems likely that it does, at least to some degree. 

I could go on and continue listing my ancestors, but from this point, their occupations wouldn't change. I do believe with heavy certainty that all of my 3x Great-Grandfathers and probably 4x, and 5x, and so on... were all farmers. I can't think of a single one, off the top of my hand, that had a different occupation. 

Unfortunately, this blog is a bit boring and probably isn't as chalk full of information as some of my others but... what can I say? I occasionally have slightly boring ancestors, haha. Not really boring, I guess, but... their work lives were uneventful for the most part. Especially coming from long lines of farmers. I wish I knew more about the types of crops they grew. Sadly, I don't. 

52 Ancestors 21: Week 35: School

I don't really have any teachers or principals in my direct ancestor line -- but I do have relatives who have become teachers and professors. Namely, my Granduncle Charles was a university professor back in the day. He's been retired for a number of years now. He's 88 years old now and still kicking. I was lurking Ancestry yearbooks one time and found a couple of him when he was teaching in various places - namely Cincinnati. I loved seeing them. I have to share one with you!

He even signed their yearbook! He was teaching Spanish/Latin back then. But I know he's taught a many of subjects over the years. His last job, before retiring, was teaching G.E.D. classes at our small community college here in Henderson, Kentucky. He retired from that in the early 2000's. 

My Mom and I have a cousin named Diane who was a teacher for many years here at Henderson County High School - she taught a number of things from Typing I and II to business math, and even business law. Chances are if you went to county high in the 1970's, 80's, or 90's -- you had Mrs. Hughes. 

I also have a Grandaunt who was a teacher's aide for a number of years. I think at some point she might have taught science at the middle school, too, but, I'm not 100% sure. 

As for my direct ancestors - none of them really got much in the way of education. My Dad has a G.E.D, my Mom got some college education. Out of my Grandparents - only one graduated high school and that was my Grandma Glynda. 

For my Great-Grandparents - I know my Great-Grandma Lorene (LaRue) Blanford graduated Corydon High School in 1932 I believe. I think my Great-Grandma Anna (Thompson) Sandefur might have graduated Smith Mills High but I haven't found a yearbook to confirm it yet. 

Most of my ancestors quit school early because they got married and started raising kids or the men had to quit school and start working on the farm. That's why my Grandpa Jady quit school in the sixth grade. 

I wish I had more to write about - I know I've written before about how my Great-Great-Grandparents sold some land to the school board for the new Niagara Elementary School. Aside from that - I don't think any schools sit on my ancestors' land or any gave land for schools besides them. 

For my own feelings when it comes to school - I'm not a fan. I'm an outspoken advocate for homeschooling. I believe today's public school is full of indoctrination. They no longer teach your children how to think for themselves; they control 100% of what your children are learning. They teach them exactly what to think and if you don't fall in line, you're labeled 'unfit.' You're labeled 'different,' and different no longer is a good thing. They want your children to be cookie cutter robots with no ounce of individualism or individual thinking. Essentially, they want your children to be 'we are borg' from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Believe it or not - my Uncle Charles and my 'Granny' for all intents and purposes (one of my biggest supporters in my genealogy and a loyal reader of my blogs) believe and feel the same way I do about public schooling. Both retired teachers, both have seen the indoctrination from the inside and the outside. 

Anyway - I wish I had more to type up and report about for the 'school' topic but I truly don't. As always, thank you for reading - it means a lot!

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 32: In the City

 Now.. I could get really out of hand with this blog topic real quickly, I imagine. When it comes to city living - most of my ancestors didn't hail from large cities. Most of my ancestors were simple farmers and they stayed in their small farming communities. Geneva, Smith Mills, Niagara in Henderson County. Waverly, Morganfield (which I suppose is 'big') for Union County. Paradise, Ennis, Greenville and Central City (the latter two being the biggest) for Muhlenberg County. 

Like my Great-Grandmother, Anna (Thompson) Sandefur. She was born in Smith Mills, lived most of her young life out there and then married. After marriage, they settled down in the heart of the city of Henderson - or rather, the heart of the east side. Then moved their family out to Niagara, which is where Grandma spent most of her young life until she decided to spend a year up in Chicago with her older sister. 

A lot of my Thompson Great-Granduncles moved to Chicago from Henderson County (the Niagara area.) Hell, Nana's youngest brother, Uncle Jake, ended up moving to Henderson, Nevada. Lived in Vegas for quite a while too I believe or at least worked there in the casinos, after having lived in Chicago for decades. 

Most of my Mefford relatives stayed in the Ennis community of Muhlenberg County until they got a bit older - then they'd retire to the Greenville or Central City areas. On the Jones side - a lot of them grew up in Wyatt, which is a tiny, tiny almost village like community and when they got older, they made the move to the bigger town nearby - Charleston, Missouri. 

For my Henderson County ancestors - mostly they stayed in the county until they got on up there in age and they'd move to Henderson into the rest home or moved in with a child for them to be cared for. Henderson isn't even that bustling of a town - but it is our county seat and the biggest town in the county. However, we're tiny compared to Evansville, right across the river or Owensboro, to our East by about 30 minutes. 

I imagine for my Great-Great-Grandparents - Henderson was like a huge town to them. Same with my Mefford ancestors - I imagine Greenville or Central City was huge to them. I believe my Great-Great Mefford Grandparents even ended up in Louisville with family a couple of times. That had to have felt like a humongous city to them. 

I wish I had some actual stories to share. Really the only ones I know about are like when my Nana would take Mom and Jay into town on the weekend and sometimes get them an ice cream or some candy. Both of my parents have made the comment that when you grew up as far out in the county as Niagara, going into town on the weekend was a big deal. Even bigger deal to go over to Evansville and shop somewhere like Sears.

Having been raised in the city of Henderson and living here my entire life - Henderson isn't huge to me whatsoever. I've visited cities like St. Louis, Nashville, and Louisville...now THOSE are large cities. Even Evansville and Owensboro feel tiny in regards to those three. 

I've gained a whole new appreciation for Henderson, though, now that we have the farm house out south of Sebree. Webster County is tiny. Even their county seat - Dixon - is way, way smaller than Henderson is. The area the farm is in... it's remote. Maybe not horse and buggy down a dirt road remote but... compared to being raised in east end Henderson - it's remote. It's desolate. It's B.F.E. 

Given the option between city living or farm living - I'd have to pick the convenience of city living. However - being out at the farm is nice to 'rest' and 'recharge,' if you will. It's nice to be able and go out there and not have to worry about the 'hustle and bustle' of city life in a way. There's a strong sense of 'everyone helps everyone' out there that big towns, even like Henderson, doesn't have. There's a kindness in strangers that is lost in a town as big as Henderson. 

Anyway - I realize this wasn't a super long blog on my behalf. I wish I had some great story about an ancestor travelling far from home and witnessing a big BIG city for the first time... but I just don't have one. I know my Nana got to travel to some bigger cities because her son worked for an airline and he could get her on some pretty cheap flights to certain places... but I just don't know those stories. I was too young to ask her about them. 

For now, this will have to do for the topic of 'in the city.' One day, I might delve more into how different Henderson is between let's say the 1960's and now in the 2020's. Now that subject, I could probably get pretty windy on. 

The Stigma Against Young Genealogists

When people try and tell me there isn't a stigma or some type of vendetta against young genealogists -- I roll my eyes every time. Here's a great case to show that there absolutely is a stigma against those who do genealogy and are under the age of.. well, let's shoot for about 50 years old. 

Now, as Daniel did, I'd like to point out that americanancestors dot ORG is the NEHGS and this IS NOT their blog. This is americanancestors dot INFO. But whoever created this blog absolutely infringed upon NEHGS and wanted their blog to be "credible" and "believable" and get a higher number of readers. Absolutely intentional. 

Look, I'm woman enough to admit that as a young genealogist, I've made some mistakes. In my own tree, when I was younger, I chased whatever lead I could find. I was a teenager. I didn't know any better. I thought anyone older than me and who had researched longer than me must have known everything....and they didn't know jack squat. 

When DNA became available for me, that helped me fix A LOT in my tree. Like a whole lot. I hadn't gone down many wrong branches but, I had a lot of stump ancestors it helped me get past. 

I'm even woman enough to admit that I've chased the wrong lines in a clients tree before. Especially if it's a super common name like Smith, Johnson, etc. I mean, in one given area, do you know how many John Smith's or Bill Johnson's there are? It's insane at times! 

But not every young genealogist is in it as a "money grab" and doesn't know what the hell they're doing. There is a stigma in ANY profession that if you don't have a fancy $$$ degree or certifications that cost a bunch of $$$ then you don't know what you're doing. 

I have proved a lot of those fancy $$$ certificate holders wrong over the years. I have proved a lot of "I've been doing genealogy for 50 years" people wrong. I have disproved family Bibles. I have disproved personal family history books written in the 1960's and 1970's. 

Genealogists work with something called the G P S. Genealogy Proof Standard. The GPS talks to you all about how as a genealogist, you can make an educated guess/theory based on all the evidence you've found. That's something I've used for years to help me with Joel Gibson and his descendants. Guess what? I finally found court documents to back up my GPS theories about Joel. Theories I made when I was a teenager. Stick that in the ol' pipe and smoke it. 

This blog was clearly written by someone I'd say over the age of 60 and they have been put to shame by a young, business, local, amateur genealogist. Sorry, but I'm not sorry you got your booty whipped by someone younger than you that you probably called a 'whipper snapper,' when they did it, lmao. 

There is a stigma in today's society that the only way someone can think "they know what they're about" with you is if you have a $$$ degree or $$$$$$ certifications. That simply isn't true. It's like schools today pushing kids to get a $100,000 degree from a 4-year-university and then only end up maxing out with a $18/hr job, whereas they could forego a university and go to a trade school and top out at much higher than that, without all the debt a university leaves you with. 

I wasn't born with a silver spoon. I don't have the $$$ to convert my religion and attend BYU for a fancy bachelors, then masters, then perhaps doctorate degree in genealogy or family history. I desperately wish I did. That said, I sure ain't willing to put myself in debt or my Dad in debt begging for the money to go to a prestigious university for that $$$ degree. Genealogy is the one and only thing that would EVER tempt me enough to go back to school. You're talking to a woman who doesn't even have a G.E.D. because, I'm doing just fine without it. 

I also don't have the luxury, time, or money to do a certification right now in life. Maybe when I'm older and have a bit more time, money, and luxury on my hands to be certified through the AGS or BCG, I will.. but for now. I'm making due. 

I've been at this for 21 years. I started at 7 years old in the genealogy department of HCPL. I learned how to do research the old way. Sure, by 2000, HCPL's genealogy department was a far cry more updated than it was in 1970 I have no doubt. But I learned without a computer. 

Does a computer help with genealogy now? Absolutely. Especially in C19 era. Has Ancestry, FamilySearch, and other websites been a huge help to genealogists, professional or enthusiast? Absolutely! People get mad at us "technologically savvy" genealogists but hey, we've discredited work done 50+ years ago because we now have hard documents to look at thanks to Ancestry and the like. 

We can now, sitting in our kitchen chair in the United States, look at documents scanned in on Ancestry from Germany, Russia, and the like. We don't have to travel places anymore to get what we need. Does traveling help and is it fun? Absolutely. But traveling to these courthouses that are 1,000 miles away... with gas almost $3.00/gal is NOT something you have to do. In today's age, you can call a courthouse or funeral home or cemetery office those 1,000 miles away and within a week, someone will fax you or email you a copy of the document you requested. 

That does NOT make me any less of a genealogist. Doing a binder for $210 instead of $3,000 doesn't make me any less of a genealogist. Working with DNA for $100 instead of $1,000 doesn't make me any less of a genealogist. I'm a small business owner and I know for a fact, I'd have never sold a single binder yet if I'd have started them at $3,000. But I'm enough of an educated woman to know at $210, I'm not turning a profit. That's why at the start of the year, my prices will go up again on everything. I know my worth. You don't get to determine that for me. A piece of paper from a college or certification board doesn't determine that for me. 

My happy clients, my success in finding biological families for almost a dozen people now... that is what determines my success. 

*mic drop*

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 31: Favorite Name(s)

 I've been working on my family tree for a long, long time -- twenty-one years now. I've come across a lot of interesting names of direct ancestors and some neat ones in collateral lines as well. The topic for this week (Week 31) is "Favorite Name" or in my case... "Favorite Name(s)." 

I could probably go all out and include names of distant cousins that are a favorite of mine, but, I think I'll just stick to direct ancestors for this. Of course, with each name, I'm going to give you a little biography about that said ancestor. I hope you follow along and enjoy. 

Mina Geneva

This is the name of my paternal Grandmother. Unlike the usual pronunciation, her name is MY-NUH, instead of MEE-NUH. The middle name, Geneva, is just like the little town in Henderson County named Geneva. JUH-KNEE-VUH. 

My Grandmother Mina was born on July 5th, 1934, in Wyatt, Mississippi County, Missouri to parents Edward Lee "Doc" Jones and Lorene Gertrude White. Grandma was the eldest of seven children.

Her first marriage was to Donald Lee Hendrix in about 1952 -- shortly after, he went off to fight in the Korean War. I don't believe he was over there very long before he got injured and was brought home. By September 29th, 1954, they became parents of a bouncing baby girl. On December 31st, 1957, they added a little boy to their family. At the time of births of their children, they lived in California. 

Marriage life wasn't bliss for Donald and Grandma... they eventually divorced. Sometime in late 1964 - she met my Granddad Glen. I believe they met in the town he was stationed in the Army -- Hammond, Indiana. By January 30th, 1965, they married in Evansville, IN. 

For them, they welcomed their first child, my father, on August 20th, 1965 - and then a daughter on August 26th, 1967. Both were born while the couple lived in Indiana. By about late 1968 or early 1969, they moved back to Kentucky. For sometime, they lived on the Henderson/Webster county line at a place called "The Tapp Farm" but then eventually bought a farm at the corner of Highway 416 and Upper Delaware Rd in Niagara. 

This is where they were living in 1970/1971 when my Dad met my Mom and Uncle Jay for the first time. Dad and Uncle Jay became immediate best friends and remained so until my Uncle's sudden death on July 5th, 2014 -- what would have been Grandma Mina's 80th birthday. 

Dad bounced around a lot when his parents decided to separate and he's lived in, I jokingly say, probably all of the lower 48 states. But primarily he's lived here in Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas. 

It was here in Henderson where Grandma Mina was living, Woodland Apartments actually, behind where my other set of Grandparents lived, when she drew her last breath on July 10th, 1982 - just five days after turning 48 years old. She died of a massive coronary infarction -- heart attack; and yes, heart problems run rampant in the family. 

My Grandma Mina died almost a full 11 years before I was born. You know they say that you can't miss something you've never had. You know, they say you can't grieve for a person you never met, or never knew, or passed long before you existed.. but I mourn her and grieve her and miss her every single day. Ever since I was little, I've wondered what she would have been like to know in person. 

The closest I've come to that is in my dreams. I've NEVER heard her voice... never. Not on a recording, no video tapes, no cassettes... but I've heard her and spoke with her in my dreams. The closest I've come to actually 'meeting' her was using the enhance and animation tools at MyHeritage and the Remini app. 

That little animation might be weird to some people.. might creep some out. It might be morbid to others. For some who actually knew my Grandma, they might say, that it's nothing like her.. but it's my favorite photograph of her (one with my Granddad) and she's just so beautiful... and to see her move around, to look around, and smile.. it's just incredible. The animation tool for still photos reminds me a bit of Harry Potter and how pictures can move. Like the photos of Harry's parents - Lily and James. They died when he was just a toddler.. The moving photographs, in a way, make me feel like the person isn't really gone. That they're still here, living in everything we write about them, say about them, talk about them, etc. 

Glynda Jane

My maternal Grandmother's name has always been ever bit as beautiful to me as my other Grandmother's. I love the unique spelling of Grandma's name - even though it's still pronounced GLEN-DUH. Her middle name, Jane, whether she had realized it or not until she was much older, came from her Grandmother's middle name, Janella. 

Grandma Glynda was born on Friday, June 13th, 1941, at a house that's no longer standing on Letcher St. here in Henderson. She was delivered by Dr. Walter O'Nan, the father of Dr. William O'Nan, who delivered me. Grandma was the fourth born child of Henry Lloyd Sandefur and Anna Elizabeth Thompson. In all, they reared six children. 

She primarily lived out in Niagara for most her young life and graduated from Henderson County High School, Class of 1959. Right after graduating, she moved for a year up to Chicago, IL, to live with her eldest sister, Carolyn. She ultimately returned home to Henderson - the Chicago life just wasn't what Grandma wanted after all. 

I believe my Grandparents met at the bowling alley through mutual friends -- little did they know at the time, they were third cousins. Fate eventually took its course and they were wed on March 31st, 1962, at Bellfield Baptist Church out in Anthoston. 

They had two children -- Mom on January 8th, 1963, and Uncle Jay on January 11th, 1965. They lived out in the Niagara area until finally moving to town in I believe 1976. 

Employment wise, Grandma did a little bit of everything when it came to bookkeeping, secretarial style work. The last job she worked was bookkeeping for Dodge Store and she retired in February of 2010 I believe. Sometimes I wonder if that's what slipped her into this sickness was stopping working and losing her 'routine' so to speak. 

I could type out the Lifetime movie or New York Times bestselling novel that needs to be told about the whole kidnapping and wrong-doing of my family involving my Grandma's heartless, no-good younger siblings but.. I'll refrain. 

My Grandma Glynda was my best friend.. she tried her best to make up for the fact that my other Grandma, Mina, was already deceased. In fact, they'd been friends with one another for a small time - their sons being best friends and all. I always wondered what Grandma Mina would think about sharing a Granddaughter with Grandma Glynda.. Now I guess they're in heaven together and Grandma Glynda is filling Grandma Mina in on everything about my childhood. I have no doubt when I get up there, my Grandma Mina will know me like the back of her hand. 

I miss my Grandma a lot. I played around, too, with her photos on the enhancement and animation features on MyHeritage and Remini app. It's nice to see her smile and come back to life again. Especially at an age that's much younger than I knew her as. 

Grandma was my first genealogy best friend. I'm so, so, so thankful to her for encouraging my love of genealogy and my curiosity to know our family history. I thank her so much for taking me out to the Gibson Cemetery that very first time and letting me soak in the love my ancestors had to give. Without that, I'm not sure the genealogy bug would have ever bitten as hard as it did. 

Janella and Camilla

I've always loved the name of my Great-Great-Grandmother and her twin sister. Mary Janella and Camilla (it's rumored Camilla had a first name as well. They, perhaps, might have both been named Mary as a first name) were born on October 20th, 1882, the twin daughters of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia "Vannie" Gibson. 

They were the second and third children of seven -- the last two being another set of twins. Twins run in the Nally or the Gibson... or perhaps both families. It seems all my Catholic last names - even Thompson and Mattingly - are known for twins... but the Nally's especially so. 

Janella and Camilla married brothers -- John Rowan and Samuel "Sam" Thompson. Janella and John R. married on October 28th, 1902, in Henderson County - likely at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. I know on July 1st, 1903, she was 'baptized' in Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church... so perhaps they married elsewhere and she converted to Catholicism. The Gibson's were not Catholic but the Nally's generally were. 

Janella and John reared eight children, one of which was my Great-Grandmother, Anna Elizabeth. When Janella was a child, they lived more in the Corydon area (typical of Gibson's) but after she and John married, they moved towards Smith Mills. My Great-Grandma, Anna, attended and possibly graduated Smith Mills High. 

Later in life, John and Janella bought land out in Niagara. Matter of fact, oil was found on their land and they became quite wealthy from it. They sold a portion of land for the new Niagara Elementary School that still exists today - they lived next door. The house, unfortunately, was torn down sometime in the 1990's. 

After John's death in 1959, Janella continued living in the house with her son T. Stron and her daughter, Margaret "Milka." Milka suffered from St. Vitus Dance in which she got from having strep throat as a child that went untreated. Milka passed in 1964, then it was just Janella and Stron living together in the old house. It never had indoor plumbing (shocking, I know.) 

By 1970, they had moved Janella to the old Medco rest home here in Henderson and she passed away on December 29th, 1972, at the age of 90. She outlived her twin sister, Camilla, by just over ten years. 

Of course, I had to enhance and animate the old photograph of Janella and Camilla from 1898 -- they were only sixteen years old when the portrait was taken. Seeing my Great-Great-Grandmother come alive again after 49 years gone. In 2022, she would be 140 years old. Hard to imagine, right? Oh what I wouldn't give to talk with her and learn what her entire life was like, especially her childhood. 

DeAnn "Ann" Conger

My 5x Great-Grandmother DeAnn "Ann" Conger was a surprise to me when I was able to get a bit further back on my Grandma Mina's side of the tree. Her name is interesting to me because MY middle name is DeeAnn. It's said that her name might have possibly be Cynthia DeAnn, and I know she also went by "Anny" on her marriage record. 

She was the daughter of John Conger and Sarah Dorris, at least, I think so anyway. She was certainly born in Indiana about 1803. On December 10th, 1825, in Clay County, Illinois, she married Levi C. Jordan. She was his second wife and I have DNA matches coming through both their marriage and his first one. (Actually the most descendants through the first one, to be honest.) 

Levi died sometime between 1840 and 1850 - likely in St. Francois County, MO or Madison County. In the 1850 census, DeAnn is living with her youngest children in Madison County, MO. By 1860, she's living with her youngest daughter, Esther Jane and her family, in St. Francois County. I believe DeAnn died between 1860 and 1870. 

It is unknown where either of them are buried. Levi C. Jordan fought in the War of 1812 - he was about 20 years old at the time. The Jordan's were rather well known, or at least the sons of Levi Jordan.. read up on Fort Jordan in Illinois sometime. That's my family. 

Fort Jordan Info

I descend through a female line -- Louisa Jordan who married Henry Tucker. But the Jordan boys are very fascinating to learn about. 

Jordan's Fort History

Unfortunately, there are no pictures existing of DeAnn. There is one on Ancestry of Levi Jordan, but I'm not 100% sold that it's him. 

Mary Olive Oatman "Ollie" Raley

The name of my 3x Great-Grandmother always struck me as interesting. I could have understood her name being Mary Olive, but the Olive Oatman part had me stumped for a many years. Her mother's maiden name certainly wasn't Oatman and I had no idea where it came from. 

That was, until I watched the show Hell on Wheels on AMC and learned a character on the show was based on Olive Oatman... I was stunned. This absolutely had to be the character in history that my Ollie Raley was named after. 

Olive Oatman Wikipedia

The real Olive Oatman was born in 1837 - my Ollie was born February 3rd, 1864; she was the daughter of George Washington Raley and Mary Francis Martin. The Raley's were of Catholic religion but I'm not sure the Martin's were. 

I believe that it was the book "Life Among the Indians" that one of Ollie's parents must have read that led them to naming their daughter after Olive Oatman. Matter of fact, Olive Oatman and her brother went around the country on a book tour with the author of the book.. for all I know, George Raley or Mary Martin might have actually MET the real Olive Oatman. 

Anyway -- my ancestor, Ollie, was one of at least ten children (I might be missing some infants that died young.) On October 8th, 1883, at Sacred Heart Church in Saint Vincent, Union County, KY, she married Samuel "Sam" Blandford. They were in the presence of Joseph Alvey and Alice Blandford. 

Ollie and Sam became the parents of at least eight children - one of which being my 2x Grandfather, Martin Allen Blanford. 

Ollie was said to have died at 42 years old on June 16th, 1906... I have, however, found no proof of this. She is also believed to be buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery/Saint Vincent Cemetery. Her husband, Sam, who died ten years later, is also buried here...as are a number of their descendants. 

I have yet to find any type of death ledger or obituary for Ollie. I need to go to the actual church and see if they have a burial record for her. I do know, absolutely, she died between 1903-1910. I do believe she lived all of her life between Waverly and Morganfield in Union County (between those two cities is the general vicinity of Saint Vincent.) 

Unfortunately, I have no photographs of Sam Blandford or Ollie. I know after Ollie's passing, he remarried to Minnie Mullins and had a few more children. Sadly, after Sam's passing, Minnie's life got hard for quite a while. She got behind in money and payments and was evicted from her home at one time or another. Very sad. 

Sevilla Catherine French

My 4x Grandmother, Sevilla Catherine French, has always had an interesting first name in my opinion. Sevilla.. it's also spelled Cevilla or Civilla a few times but the most often it's spelled Sevilla. I assume it's pronounced SUH-VILL-UH. 

She was born on May 8th, 1836, in Union County, Kentucky, to Joseph French and Priscilla Bowles. I believe she was one of about six children - possibly more. The French's and the Bowles' were well known Catholic families. 

On December 2nd, 1856, in Union County, Kentucky, (likely in Saint Vincent or Saint Peter's Church) she married William Henry "Joe" McBride. In the 1900 census - she reports they've had 10 children and only 4 are living. One of those four was my 3x Grandmother - Matilda Catherine (McBride) Nally. 

It appears Sevilla lived all of her life in Union County and ultimately died likely in the Waverly area, supposedly, on July 26th, 1908. Again, I've found no death ledger entry, no tombstone in the cemetery, and no obituary. She's said to be buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Waverly. I've been there and I found no tombstone for she or her husband, Joe, who died after her in 1917. 

Unfortunately, once more, I have no photographs of Joe McBride or Sevilla (French) McBride. There is an old photograph that I've seen, but do not have access to now, of my 3x Grandparents - Thomas Sidney Nally and Matilda Catherine McBride. I'd love to have a copy of that but I don't know who to go through to get it. 

Mary Philapine Lawrey

My 3x Grandmother and her entire family has plagued me as a bit of a mysterious enigma for a many years until DNA testing came along. With my DNA, I was able to unravel a bit of it, but with my Mom's DNA, I was able to unravel a bit more. 

I always thought her middle name being Philapine (or a similar spelling to that) was interesting and possibly could have been a family name. I knew already that her parents names were Robert Lawrey and Elizabeth Hill... but their parents, well, that's where the mystery was. 

The last name Lawrey could be spelled A MILLION different ways including: Lawery, Lowrey, Lowery, Lowry, Lawry, Laurie, Laughary, and more. I pieced together through censuses and DNA that Mary Philapine had at least eight siblings. In the 1900 census, Elizabeth (Hill) Lawrey says she has birthed 10 children and only 4 survive. My 3x Grandmother I do not believe was one of those. 

Mary Philapine Lawrey married Benjamin Hardin LaRue on September 3rd, 1867, in Henderson County, KY. They were not Catholic - I don't believe anyway. I know the original LaRue's were French Huguenots. I'm unsure of the Lawrey religion. 

I believe Ben and Mary had at least eleven children but the real number, honestly, has been lost to history. Among their children was my 2x Grandfather - Charles Clarence LaRue. At one time, Charles had his daughter, my Great-Grandmother, Lorene, write into a newspaper for information on his father's side of the family. Apparently once Ben LaRue's parents passed away and he moved away from the area he was raised - he no longer spoke about his family... not his brothers or sisters or their children, so Dad LaRue (my 2x Grandfather) was completely clueless of his LaRue origins. 

The Lawrey's however lived here in Henderson and Evansville, so I believe he probably knew at least a few of them, but probably not all of them. I believe Mary Philapine died sometime between 1880 and 1900, because her husband Benjamin is absolutely widowed by the 1900 census. It is said he died in 1901. It's also said that they are both buried, unmarked, in the Smith Mills Cemetery. This very well could be. I would imagine they're very close to where their son, my 2x Grandfather, is buried with his wife. There is absolutely room there for an unmarked burial. Perhaps they do have a tombstone and it's just not been found/recovered. 

The Lawrey line still remains a bit of an enigma to me, but I've pieced together that I believe my 6x Grandparents might have been John Patrick Lowry III and Dorcas Montgomery. I have DNA matches through them so.. it's a possibility. 

As for where the Philapine name came from... I finally came across Elizabeth (Hill) Lawrey's death certificate. She died in Evansville on February 24th, 1916.. On her death certificate it gives her parents names as John Hill and Philipine Stanfield. The Hill line stumps for me there, but I do believe Philipine was the daughter of Thomas Stanfield and Elizabeth Michaels. Why? Because Thomas' parents were John Stanfield and Phillippina Jones... you guessed it, it's a family name, and I DO have DNA matches through them -- well, Mom does anyway, as they'd be my 7x Grandparents. 

I hope with more time and as more people DNA test, I can get a much clearer idea of my Lawrey, Hill, and Stanfield lines. I wish with time that I could get to know a bit more about Ben LaRue and Mary Philapine Lawrey. There's a number of photographs of their children that appear to have been taken at a studio in about 1900. If they were truly taken in 1900 - Ben would have still been living, but perhaps, he felt like he was too old to be photographed. 

No photographs exist of Ben or Mary - but there is a photograph of Elizabeth (Hill) Lawrey with her son and his family. I'm extremely grateful to have that photo. 

Susannah "Susan" Schweitzer

The first name isn't the favorite here - it's the last name. For a long time, I believed my 4x Grandparents were John Byrd and a Susan Sweilzer - that's what all the family trees on Ancestry had. It wasn't until I was really able to sit down and dig, get better at genealogy, and do some DNA until I realized the last name is actually SCHWEITZER. 

The last name is commonly misspelled as Sweilzer, Switzer, and countless others. I knew the Byrd's hailed from Posey County, Indiana, but I wasn't sure of where Susan came from until I looked at censuses. They consistently listed her place of birth as Pennsylvania. Wow. How'd she end up in Posey County, IN? 

I finally came across her death certificate from July 5th, 1902, and learned she was 100 years old. It did confirm she was born in Pennsylvania. It also confirmed the spelling of the last name for me -- Schweitzer, not Sweilzer. That helped a lot. 

The first appearance of Susan that I had was that she married John Byrd in Posey County on March 12th, 1831. They had at least seven children, one of them being my 3x Grandfather, John Byrd. I looked at censuses to see if any other Schweitzer's lived near them and hit a dead end. I turned to DNA and looking into if any other Schweitzer's married in Posey County relatively close to 1831 that could point towards being a sibling to Susan. 

Sure enough, a sister Mary "Polly" Schweitzer married Samuel Davis in Posey Co, on March 24th, 1830. Polly's birth place in census is Ohio. So this is starting to make a little sense that perhaps the Schweitzer family migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio then to Indiana. 

My best information came from something I found in the newspaper once I finally had a Genealogy Bank subscription. 

"Came to this county early in the last century with her husband, one of the pioneers of Posey County. She was from Pennsylvania and her ancestors were prominent in that state in the days of William Penn." I was absolutely FLOORED! So my family were PIONEERS of Posey County, IN? Wow. 

I started scouring mine and especially Mom's DNA matches for Schweitzer's or any variation. I kept hitting the same Schweitzer family from Berks County, Pennsylvania. So I was determined I had to be a descendant of one of their children - the couple being Peter Schweitzer and his wife, Elizabeth Heffelfinger. I had Schweitzer DNA matches AND Heffelfinger DNA matches to my surprise so... one of their sons HAS to be the father. 

I finally researched enough to realize it was Jacob Schweitzer who was their son and had married Elisabeth Hoke, and they'd moved from Berks County, Pennsylvania to Columbiana County, Ohio. Jacob and Elisabeth lived in the 1840's. I'm unsure why their two daughters went into Indiana unless they went to Posey County travelling with friends, other family, with their church/religion.. I don't know. I know my Byrd's didn't come out of Ohio so I highly doubt Susan Schweitzer met John Byrd BEFORE coming to Posey County. I'd love to know how they met. I'd love to ask her why she came to Posey County with her sister, Polly. 

It does seem that some other Schweitzer's came to the Evansville area - they eventually changed the spelling to just plain Switzer. Several are buried in Evansville's more predominantly German cemeteries/areas of cemeteries. They absolutely have to be related to Susan Schweitzer Byrd in one way or another -- probably distant cousins. Evansville and the surrounding area (like Gibson County and the like) attracted lots of German immigrants. That said - I don't believe my Byrd's hailed from Germany. I believe Byrd is an English surname. 

Susan was buried in the Mount Pleasant Baptist Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. If she's buried there - I feel her husband is likely there as well, unless he's buried out on the old family farm or something such as that. 

I really wish an old photograph existed of Susan.. I know the Byrd's were big on family reunions and photographs and the like. But I guess it didn't start until Susan's children and grandchildren. 

Although John and Susan only had at least seven children -- they had many, many grandchildren and by extension, even more Great and Great-Great and so forth Grandchildren. Their descendants populate Posey County and even Henderson County today. 

Shilo Watson

I think we can all say we love the name 'Shilo', mainly because of the dog, Shiloh, from the 1996 film. I loved it even more when I learned I had an ancestor with the name - even if she was a bit of a mystery. 

For many years, I believed Shilo most likely was a daughter of John Tarlton Watson and Betsy English. They have MANY Watson children and many descendants in Henderson County, today... but after my Mom and I did our DNA, things just weren't adding up with her being their child. 

I had many Copeland DNA matches and with time, I came to realize, Shilo was the daughter of Thomas Watson and Rebecca Copeland. She was born in about 1814 in Henderson County, KY. I believe she was the first child of her parents who married here August 5th, 1813. Funny enough, she has a brother named Tarlton, and in fact, it could be a twin brother as his estimated birth year, too, is 1814. 

She had at least ten siblings and it appears her mother had children from the years 1814 through at least 1840. That's QUITE a span of age of the children. For some reason, it appears, that Thomas Watson and Rebecca Copeland left the Henderson area and moved to Graves County, KY, by 1840. Thomas was widowed between 1850-1860. 

I have many DNA matches through Rebecca's parents - Abel Copeland and Sarah Berry. However - Thomas' father is meant to be Peter Watson, born 1764. I believe this is the same Peter Watson that appears in the Henderson County census in 1810. The age is given "45 and over." Peter likely died here between 1810-1820. 

Going back to John Tarlton Watson - he was the son of Robert Watson, born 1757. I ponder if he was a brother of my Peter Watson, born 1764. I know my Peter hailed from North Carolina, and I believe John Tarlton's father, Robert, might have as well. At the very least, Virginia.. and back in those days, Virginia and North Carolina, the difference between the two was quite fickle. Families hopped across the border of the two states for decades and decades. 

Anyway - back to Shilo and her life. On December 20th, 1831, in Henderson County, KY, she married widower Charles Tandy Sandefur. Sometime between I believe 1840 and 1850, the family moved from Henderson County, KY to Hoodsville, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Hoodsville ONLY existed in the 1850 census. It got a post office that year, and its post office was discontinued later that year. Hoodsville is located in Jefferson County, Arkansas, which the county seat of that county is Pine Bluff. 

Now, family legend says that Shilo and Charles both passed away during an accident that occurred while the family was moving back from Hoodsville, AR to Henderson, KY. Supposedly that accident took place on August 23rd, 1852. We know they had at least ten children - one of which being my 3x Grandfather, Philo Hilyer Sandefur. 

I ponder if Philo was named after his mother in a way, her name being Shilo. Their youngest son was named John and he was born in 1850 -- and he, if he was in that accident, survived and didn't die until 1901. Their youngest daughter, born 1847, didn't die until 1874. 

One thing is for sure, Shilo and Charles both disappear between 1850 and 1860, whether they died in an accident between AR and KY or not. One thing is certain: between his two wives, the first being Martha Robards and the second being Shilo Watson -- Charles Tandy Sandefur is the forefather of ALL Sandefur's in Henderson County and the surrounding area today. The man had at least fifteen or sixteen cildren total. 

In the 1850 census, their last name is given as "Stanifer." I have found in my DNA matches that Sandefur can be spelled many different ways - including Stanifer, Standifur, Sandford, etc. 

Once again, like with many of my other ancestors -- no photographs exist.. and sadly, no known burial location exists either. If they truly died in an accident on the road between Hoodsville, AR, and Henderson, KY... somewhere along the journey... then they're likely buried off the side of the road somewhere, or in that area's pauper graveyard. Sad.. but likely true. 

Susan Rebecca Jarrett

Again, this one isn't so much a favorite name or a favorite last name even as much as it is a favorite ancestor in general. Because of Susan Rebecca (Jarrett) Sandefur, I can say I'm related to someone who, might be a controversial figure in history but.. in my eyes, an amazing historical figure -- the outlaw John Jarrett. 

Susan Rebecca was born on April 14th, 1841 in likely Jefferson County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Joshua Jarrett and his second wife, Martha Ann Washburn, who married in that county on March 29th, 1840. 

Joshua had already been married once previous - Mary Elizabeth Dawson on August 11th, 1828, in Nelson County, KY. Together they had at least two sons, Ben, who I believe died young, and then the outlaw, John Marion Jarrett. 

With Martha, it appears they only had one daughter - my 3x Grandmother, Susan. Martha apparently died about two years later, quite possibly in childbirth. Joshua married for the third time after moving to Henderson County, KY, to the widow Julia Harvey (Cheaney) Brooks. 

In the 1850 census, Julia is widowed and has Susan in her household. Joshua apparently died in 1849 here in Henderson County. Susan went on to marry Philo Hilyer Sandefur on February 3rd, 1860, here in Henderson County. In 1862, Philo and Susan go to court and fight Julia for things of Joshua's and some inheritance money it appears. All I could find about it is "P.H. Sandefur vs. Julia H. Priest, administrator of Joshua H. Jarrett, December 1862. No.12587 #209A." 

If I had to take a guess -- I'm going to imagine that Joshua left Julia some things in his will that were only allowed to go to her if she never married again. I've seen many wills worded that way - "I leave this to my widow for as long as she doesn't remarry." Well, Julia re-married to a Priest in 1850. I imagine that made things she received when Joshua died in 1849 null and void. 

Also, it's very possible that Susan only being shy of 9 years old when her father died and Julia being the step-mother, she might have pulled some type of 'Cinderella' act on her and kept her inheritance from her. 

Susan and Philo went on to have, recorded by Susan in 1900, nine children and six of them were still living. Her half-brother, John Jarrett, ended up moving to Missouri "with an Uncle of his" which had to be on his Dawson side, not the Jarrett side, and married Josephine Younger... yes, the sister of the Younger's of the "Younger-James Gang." 

It was always rumored that Jesse James came to Henderson County at one point and hid out at a cave in Robards, KY. You know, I always wondered why. Why come to Henderson? They didn't rob any banks here. The nearest robbery was Russellville, KY. Well, I believe I solved why they came here. It was because of John Jarrett having a half-sister here. 

They might not have shacked up at the Sandefur's house, but I imagine that Susan had a soft spot for her half-brother and she probably helped feed and clothe them, and possibly hide their whereabouts. I'm not even sure historians ever made a connection between John Jarrett and any family here, to be honest with you. 

In fact, it was never known he was here until I came across the marriage license of his daughter, Rosella Edwards Jarrett... she states she was born in Henderson, KY on February 6th, 1875. I don't know just how long they were here... but they were absolutely here. In the 1870 census, the family had "faked their death and left Missouri" a few years prior and ended up in Louisiana. By 1876, they're in California. San Mateo to be exact. 

The Russellville, KY robbery happened on March 20th, 1868 and it is believed John was with them when that robbery took place. I believe it was after this that he "faked his death" in that housefire in Missouri, and then afterward fled to Louisiana. After the heat died down a bit, so to speak, he came to Henderson and had Rosella in 1875. Then headed west. 

John's life and story is a sad one. His wife died. His son I believe died young. And by the time he died in 1906, his daughters wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. John died only nine months after his half-sister Susan, who died here in Henderson on July 16th, 1905. 

Until I made the connection with DNA and records - I'm not sure any other Sandefur descendant had ever made the connection between Susan and John. Hell, most historians to this day firmly believe he and his family died in a housefire in Missouri. Then other historians believe he died in California in the 1890's. Again, he faked his death and fled the area after undoubtedly getting in trouble again. He followed his daughters up to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

I'm unsure if Susan ever heard from John again after Rosella's birth in Henderson in 1875. I wonder if she truly believe he died in the mountains of California in the 1890's.. I wonder if John knew his half-sister died nine months before himself. I wish I could talk to them. 

Susan, it appears, was a beautiful lady. I believe, honestly, when I look at her and the known pictures of John Jarrett - that they must resemble the Jarrett side of their family because I see subtle similarities between them. Susan and Philo are laid to rest in Fernwood Cemetery right next door to where I live. I'm proud to call her an ancestor and wish I knew more about the story of her parents - Joshua and Martha, and especially more about her mysterious outlaw brother, John. 

The Jarrett's were a tough family to figure out via DNA.. it took a lot of work with Mom's DNA to finally figure out just who Joshua Jarrett's parents were. He was the son of John Jarrett Sr and Sophia Margaret Plott, from North Carolina. The family migrated to Kentucky slowly but surely. A lot of Joshua's siblings ended up further into western Kentucky than Joshua himself (landing in Henderson County.)

I made the connection of Joshua being their son because I have a many DNA matches through the grandparents -- Daniel Jarrett and Mary Moyer, and Johannes Platz (Plott) and Margaret Seitz. DNA is a wonderful thing for breaking down brick walls. Slowly but surely. 

Last, but certainly not least Vandalia Delia Gibson, and her mother, Mahala Caroline Busby. 

I thought I'd write about them both -- I've written about Vannie a few times previous but, her mother, Mahala Caroline Busby has such a beautiful name as well. So first I'll talk about Mahala and then work into speaking about Vandalia. 

My 4x Grandmother, Mahala Caroline Busby, was born in January of 1820 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee. She was one of about seven children born to William L. Busby and Elizabeth Denton. Her parents married here on December 28th, 1813, then moved to Tennessee. Her father, William, died there, but Elizabeth returned and died in Henderson County in 1856. She even has a still existing tombstone. That's a topic for another day. (Actually I think I touched on it in the blog I wrote about my direct maternal line.) 

Mahala married John Gregory Gibson on November 1st, 1841, here in Henderson County. They became the parents of at least thirteen children and lived out the rest of their lives in the Cairo/Corydon areas of Henderson County, KY. Both she and John are buried in the Gibson Cemetery and their tombstones are in desperate need of some TLC with D/2. 

Every child of theirs is in Gibson Cemetery too except for Neosha "Noty" who is buried in Fernwood beside of me. John Gregory Gibson remarried to a woman named Elizabeth on March 16th, 1871. She had previously been married to a 'Young.' I am unsure of Elizabeth's maiden name or where her final resting place is. Probably with her first husband, but, possibly Gibson Cemetery. 

Mahala passed away on November 18th, 1868, and John on November 6th, 1890. Without them, my 3x Grandmother, Vandalia, certainly wouldn't exist. It is unknown what either of them died of as death records didn't really exist back then. Maybe at some point I can dig back in old Henderson newspapers and find an obituary for them. 

Vandalia was born on December 21st, 1856, in the Cairo area of Henderson County (honestly the area that's between Corydon and Cairo.) She went on to marry Henry Oliver Nally on January 28th, 1880, in Old Highland Missionary Baptist Church in Morganfield, Union County, KY. See, the Gibson's were not Catholic, whereas the Nally's were. I believe Vandalia probably became Catholic for Henry after their marriage. That was usually fairly customary back then. 

They had seven children - including two sets of twins, which I've already noted further up in this article when I talked about Mary Janella (Nally) Thompson. 

Vandalia lived out her life bouncing between Cairo, Hitesville, Corydon, and then finally the city of Henderson. She became widowed on December 14th, 1925, and she herself passed away on July 5th, 1949. It's amazing that I've NEVER found a photograph of either of them... I desperately want to know what Vandalia looked like. Dying in 1949, there HAS to be an old black and white photo of her somewhere. I just need the right cousin to come forward with it.

The closest to a photo of Vandalia that I can come is a picture of her twin daughters, and one of her sisters. 

Well - there's probably a few other "favorite ancestors" I might could write about tonight but I think I'll draw a close on this already much longer than anticipated blog. Thank you, as always, for reading my coffee fueled ramblings. 

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 22: Military

 

Joel Gibson is my 6x Great-Grandfather and someone I write about most frequently. I probably know about his military service more so than any other ancestor in my tree. He certainly isn't my only veteran ancestor... certainly not the only one who served in the Revolutionary War but, again, I know the most about his service. 

That's mostly due to there being a good record within the Henderson County courts of when Joel applied for his Revolutionary War pension and he detailed his service record for them which has been transcribed by many people over the years. 

It reads:

On the 26th day of July, 1824, personally appeared in open court, in the County of Henderson at the courthouse in Henderson in the Commonwealth of aforesaid, and on the day aforesaid, Joel Gibson aged seventy five years, resident in the County of Henderson, and district of Kentucky, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows. 

He entered as a private soldier and left it with an honorable discharge. He served in the First North Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel James Moore, and in Captain Henry Dixon's company, and of the continental line; and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof so to diminish it as to come within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property, or securities, or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed and I do swear that I have no property, neither real, nor personal, that my occupation is the cultivation of the soil, and my age and infirmities prevent my being useful in the cultivation of the soil, that the number of my family is nine, myself being obliged to depend on my son, Bailey Gibson, for support. 

Signed, Joel Gibson (X) his mark

On this 25th day of April, 1825, personally appeared in open court, the County Court for said County of Henderson being a court of record, and made so by the laws of the aforesaid state of Kentucky, which created it, Joel Gibson, resident in said County aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of the Congress on the 18th March 1818, and the 1st of May 1820, the he, the said Joel Gibson, enlisted for the term of six months in the year (say 1775), or when hostilities commenced in North Carolina, the date of enlisting, and also of discharge not recollected, papers being lost by fire in the state of North Carolina, in the company commanded by Captain Henry Dixon in the regiment commanded by Colonel James Moore in the line of the State of North Carolina on the North Carolina continental establishment. That he continued to serve in the said Corps until (as above) when he was discharged from the service in Wilmington in the State of North Carolina.

That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any state, except North Carolina; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application: his being totally unlettered, neither able to read or write, and failing for two years, after strenuous application to get any one to undertake it for him; that he also served three months at the siege of Ninety Six (in South Carolina, May 22nd, - June 19th, 1781) with a forage wagon, under General McCastle, wagon master General, and in pursuance of the act of the 1st of May 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part therefore, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; that my occupation has been the tiling of ground, but through old age and bodily infirmities, I have been rendered totally incapable of following agricultural pursuits; that I have no wife, and my children being all married and gone from me, am obliged to depend for support on my son, Bailey Gibson, who has a numerous family of small children to support that since the 18th of March 1818, no change has been made in my property. 

Schedule of Joel's property: Three pewter plates and perhaps some old knives and forks. 

Joel Gibson (X) His mark.

It is most interesting to note that General Henry Dixon's family ended up coming to Henderson County, Kentucky, as well. His son, Wynne Dixon, married Rebecca Hart -- and they were parents of Archibald Dixon, who became a Senator of Kentucky. Their other son, Henry Dixon, married Mary Johnston and then Rhoda Hart and they have many living descendants here in Henderson County, KY, today. It's also interesting to note that Rebecca Hart was a niece of famous Benjamin Hart and Nancy (Morgan) Hart, and Rhoda Hart was their granddaughter. 

Here in Henderson we have a monument dedicated to our Revolutionary War ancestors and it's on the corner of 1st and Main St beside our courthouse. I'll share some photographs of the names on the stone. 

This is the back of the stone that reads the names of Lt. Turner Anderson, Joseph Cabell Jr, Abraham Hatchett, Nancy (Morgan) Hart, Capt. Blackman Moseley Sr, John Hart, Lewis Rouse, Lt. John Harrison, Dr. Joseph Savage, Srgt. John Hughes, Capt. Obadiah Smith, Thomas Smith Sr, and Srgt. William Walker Jr.

This is the side of the monument which reads, Lt. Col. Charles V. Clay, Thomas Baker, Edward Baldwin, Jacob Barnett, Michael Book, William Brown, Joseph Butler, Maston Clay, James M. Edwards, William Frazier, Taliaferro Grigsby, Peter H. Mathews, John Moss, John Ramsey, Michael Sprinkle, Josiah Stone, George A. Sugg, Jacob Upp, and Samuel Williams. 

This is not the best photograph of the front (taken from Google), I need to get downtown and get a new photo of the front (because I can't find mine) but the names read: General Samuel Hopkins, Col. Wynn Dixon, Col. Nathaniel Powell, Col. John Cannon, Col. William Marshall, Col. Gabriel Green, Capt. John Furna Cannon, Major John Holloway, Isham Sellers, John Martin, Edward Davis Bennett, and Joel Gibson. 

The way I understand it -- Henderson has a rich history of Revolutionary War soldiers coming here probably partly because of the town being founded by General Samuel Hopkins (word of mouth, ya know?) and partly because of land grants given to the soldiers after the war. That's what I've always been told, at least. It's really not a far cry to say that our town truly was founded by Revolutionary War veterans -- but then again, pretty much every able bodied man from probably 15 or 16 years of age through upwards of 60 fought for their country if they had the chance back then. That's why a lot of us who've done our family tree back that far -- we've found sometimes upwards of 20 to 30 ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War alone. Some of these men, if they were young enough and served in the Rev. War, then they served a few decades later during the War of 1812. 

In a future blog - I might take you through the genealogy/family history of each man listed on this Revolutionary War monument because I'm pretty sure I've got at least 90% of them in my Ancestry tree currently. Each one of them still have descendants alive and well in this town -- even if they don't know it! 

It's fascinating to think these men have descendants that pass by this monument every single day and they have no idea that their Great-Great-Great some-odd Grandpa is listed on it. That's why I feel like Henderson's rich history should be taught in our schools... so many Powell's, Dixon's, Gibson's, Hughes', Holloway's, Sellers', Hart's, etc... they don't know their family legacy and it makes me so sad...and so upset. 

Let me promise you, Joel... I certainly will never forget you or let you be forgotten!