Readin’ and ‘riting and ‘rithmetic

The topic for the 17th Edition of Smile for the Camera is School Days. 
Unfortunately, most schools now start in August instead of September.  As a child, I always started school the Wednesday after Labor Day – until I was a senior.  After the Blizzard of 1978, when I was out of school a total of [...]

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And the Genea-Oscar Goes To . . .

The following was written for the Carnival of Genealogy: 66th Edition with the theme, iGene Awards, The Best of the Best!  There are 5 categories and many entries so let’s get down to the nominees and the winners!
Best Picture – Best old family photo that appeared on this blog in 2008.  And the nominees are: [...]

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. . . And My Cousin, Becky!

I posted a few days ago about my new found cousin, Julie Cahill Tarr, of GenBlog. Today my other new found cousin, Becky Wiseman of Kinexxions posted her line back to Richard Treat – our common ancestor.
When I first entered the genea-blogging world back in the early spring, little did I realize that some of [...]

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Look at That Baby Face

Glen Roy Johnson, Jr. being held by his mom (my grandmother), Vesta Wilt Johnson

Genevieve Vesta Johnson (my aunt)

My mom

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Freaky Friday – Halloween Edition

Churches and Halloween – now that brings up an interesting vision doesn’t it?  First let’s explore the history of this festive holiday. Wikipedia and Britannica Online mentions that Halloween has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which is celebrated at the end of the harvest season. The Gaels believed that on that date, [...]

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Past Reunions

Some of my earliest memories involve family reunions – whether they were impromptu gatherings with the local family members on the weekend or planned affairs requiring travel to another city or state.  There were reunions that continued throughout my childhood and reunions that began during my childhood.  Before I came along there had been others.
On [...]

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At Least It Wasn’t Moonshine!

There’s a running joke in my family that my dad’s side of the family are either teetotalers or they drink like a fish.  Apparently a bottle of pimentio extract caused quite a stir back in 1927.

 
I guess that not even this was allowed during Prohibition! 
Background: Stanley Amore was my great-grandfather’s nephew (1st cousin to my grandfather).  [...]

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Lester’s Despair – Part One

My dad remembers his mother’s youngest brother with fondness.  Born Alva Lester House on May 9, 1886 in Coshocton County, Ohio, he was the youngest of James and Frances (Ogan) House’s eight children.  Somewhere along the line, he acquired the nickname of “Doc” even though he went by his middle name, Lester.
 
Lester and Mary Lucy [...]

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Analyzing Naming Patterns

Thanks to Randy over at Genea-Musings, several of the genea-bloggers are flocking to How Many of Me to find out how many people in the United States have our name.  That started me thinking about the naming patterns within my ancestry and family. 
Donna Przecha has an article at Genealogy.com on the Importance of Given Names. [...]

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Disecting Obituaries

Many times when we find an obituary of an ancestor or a member of a collateral family, we skim over the details without really taking it apart.  I will list some obituaries that I have found or that I have copies of and analyze them part by part.
ONE:

Funeral Services for John Lafe Johnson – Full name [...]

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