Wordless Wednesday: Irma and Me

Watching the forecast being refined as the mainland United States awaits the arrival of Hurricane Irma is stimulating.  Whether you are in the path or close to the projected path of the largest recorded hurricane in history, the eyes of the country are watching and leaving us all pretty much wordless as we just recently witnessed the arrival of Harvey.

I have only known one Irma in my life and that was my second cousin, once removed.  Irma M WENZEL was the daughter of William Henry WENZEL(1870-1951) and Sadie Emma SIMMONS(1872-1944.)  The WENZEL family had a farm on Wenzel Rd in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA.  I guess I should say it is closer to the Mt Lebanon area.  Anyway, they had a farm and older cousins would relay tales of stopping by and grabbing fruit off the trees, even if they didn't go up to the house to see cousin William and Sadie.  As expected from those who know my heart and roots, both William and Sadie are buried at my family cemetery, the St Clair Cemetery, on Scott Rd in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.

Seeing the name Hurricane Irma brought memories of my Irma back to me.  Irma was born in May 1904 and died in Sept. 1987.  I only met her a couple of times when we would make the trek up to Pittsburgh to see my dad's aunt.  When we would visit, my sweet great-aunt would throw open the doors and tons (or so it seemed to me) of cousins would appear for various dinners.

Irma and her husband, Robert F ALGEO, would be two of the many guests dining on food, family lore and memories of the past.  I remember Irma and Robert well.  Robert was a salesman for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco to you and me) and was considered to be a big joker.  He loved to tease and he loved to tease me.  He told me one time he would give me a nickel if I would get him more tea.  I replied that I thought the Yankees would be big spenders and that didn't qualify as one in my world.  Many roars of laughter erupted that day!

Irma was a typist, played piano and had horses and a big Eskimo type dog.  Sweet Irma.

Robert and Irma had no children.  Her one sister, Margaret Emma WENZEL, did not marry to my knowledge.  So that line is gone.  In fact, I lose track of Margaret after the 1940 census where is still single and living with sister Irma and brother-in-law Robert.

Ahhh, genealogy.  The winds of the past are swirling in my head.  Rest sweetly Irma.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Wordless Wednesday: The Examiner of the Past

Learning about the genealogy of the family and then learning what some of the old folks accomplished during their time has resulted in me learning much more about our country and its early politics.

We all studied the basics in school about bank failures, who was President and what their main accomplishments were, the wars, states rights and so much more we have forgotten.  For me, seeing the early history of our land in context with my family has me digging for more knowledge.

So, on this very cold Wednesday which is also the birth date of President Andrew JACKSON, allow me to sit and read how cousin Condy RAGUET connected with him in the politics of the past.


It gets quite wordy in The Examiner, and Journal of Political Economy; Devoted to the Advancement of the Cause of State Rights and Free Trade edited by RAGUET.  Some of the issues can be read online.  So enjoy!

President Andrew Jackson declares war against South Carolina in 1834

Ah, genealogy. States rights, bank failures and free trade disagreements.  Still in heated discussions after over two hundred years of American history.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Sources:
https://books.google.com/books?id=AftOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA13&dq=andrew+jackson+condy+raguet&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q=simmons&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=AftOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA13&dq=andrew+jackson+condy+raguet&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q=andrew%20jackson&f=false

Wordless Wednesday: The Road to the White House

It's just one of those days.  Sunny with a mild breeze blowing!  It's a great day to sit and reflect on my family's journey for the White House. Yes, the White House.

Over the years, digging up the treasures of the family tales has been fascinating.  Of course, finding the legal evidence to support the tales is even better.  Sometimes, fun facts emerge from the research.

Take, for instance, my dad's bloodline.  Take the history of this great land and look at the government.  Locate the names of my blood who have served this land, either in the White House or as employees who directly served our nation's presidents.  Just last week, it dawned on me that I can document personal connections to 10 United States presidents.  TEN!

Some of these connections can be read about by looking back at old blog entries of mine.  Some of them have yet to be discussed.  Some of these connections were found in the letters of the Presidents, or in the latter four, their website with pictures!

Founders Early Access

Here is just a quick summary of the Presidents we have personally known and served:

George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Buchanan
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin Roosevelt
Harry Truman
Dwight Eisenhower
John Kennedy

And for fun, my parents had dinner with Miss Lillian, Jimmy Carter's mom, when he was running for the office.

As expected, this short list doesn't include any of the public offices my kin have held over the years.  What is probably most interesting is that no one holds any office now.  Gotta think about that one.

Want to relive some of these connections?

http://whispersofgenealogypast.blogspot.com/2017/02/friends-friday-uh-mr-president-appoint.html
http://whispersofgenealogypast.blogspot.com/2017/02/wordless-wednesday-eating-with-president.html
http://whispersofgenealogypast.blogspot.com/2016/07/thankful-thursday-vallandigham.html

Perhaps, it's time to revisit some of these connections and see what more is popping up!  I expect to jot down some thoughts about John Adams and our connection there soon.

Ahh, genealogy.  One little, two little, ten big Presidents! Sit back, and just enjoy the words of the past.

Update:  Now evidence has upped the number.  Add the following personal connections to:
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Ronald Reagan

©2017  AS Eldredge

Sources:

http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/default.xqy?keys=FOEA-search-1&mode=TOC

Wordless Wednesday: Enlist in 1812, March Here, March There, Get Free Government Land!

Reading pension files for the Americans who volunteered for the War of 1812 can be rather boring.  That is, if they can even be found.

While looking for any pension of the "St Clair Boys" who enlisted in October 1812 in the Pittsburgh area, I find myself scratching my head.  I have found four records of pensions for these men who served under Captain James Torbett.

I only found two of them that can be searched at Fold3.  Those two are David JEWELL and Thomas M HENRY.  JEWELL's file has nothing to say, other than he was there.

Thomas M HENRY's file only gave a couple of clues to follow, but the real eye opening, mouth dropping moment was the description he gave of the service.

"Marched to Meadville, PA.  was put into Brig Gen Tunnehill's Brigade at that place. remained there for some three or four weeks and then marched to Black Rock remained there until about 18th of December 1812 when we were disbanded and returned to Pittsburgh PA. where I received my discharge in April 1813. received two Land Warrants under Act granting land of Soldiers of 1812."

Ahh, genealogy.  March a little.  Sing a little.  Get free land.  Why did only four men of the 33 listed in the roster apply?  Perhaps they didn't think marching was really soldiering?  I am wordless.

Sources:
United State War of 1812, Index to Pension Application Files, 1812-1910. Familysearch.org
Pension of Thomas M Henry, Fold3.com

©2016 ASEldredge

Wordless Wednesday: The Death of Aunt Jemima

While looking around for a family obit, I stumbled across this obituary for a still famous lady, Mrs Nancy Green, aka Aunt Jemima.

This was located in The Pittsburgh Press dated September 10, 1923.  Enjoy.

Ahh, genealogy. Pancakes, anyone?

©2016 ASEldredge

Wordless Wednesday: Love Delivered on D-Day

For the last thirty years I have really not liked this week.  For this week is the week when I laid my gentle giant to rest.  Each year, I sit quietly and mourn the loss that rocked my young world.  It's amazing that the tears still readily spring to my eyes as I relive this week over and over.

The stories of D-Day have always moved my soul to remember and to pray for our fallen military men.  What bravery they displayed on what had to be the most fearful day of their lives, and the day many would perish.  Can you imagine the the scene and how intense the smell of fear had to have been?

My dad was not at Normandy on that fateful day some 72 years ago.  Instead, he was busy fighting in the Pacific.

My dad did perish on the anniversary of D-Day.  For me, that is fitting as he was truly a brave patriotic man who had followed in the footsteps of love and loyalty his ancestors displayed as they fought for this great country.

Some 12 years ago, it was my honor to organize a family reunion at what I like to call my family cemetery, the St Clair Cemetery, in Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.  It was a beautiful day as descendants came from around the country to honor two of our fallen American Revolution ancestors.  Speeches were given, flags flew in the gentle breeze, hymns were sung, a 21 gun salute was fired, and Taps was heard as we all stopped to thank all brave men and women who have served America.

Around that time, the gent in charge of the cemetery asked permission to remove some overgrown daylilly plants from one of my family plots.  I gave permission but asked him to wait until I had time to take some for myself and any other family member who wanted a living remembrance of the past.  We dug those plants up and sent them to the south and out to the west to be planted, in addition to those plants which would stay in Pittsburgh.

This week, on D-Day, as I was feeling so very blue, I happened to walk outside.  I saw one beautiful bloom on my St Clair daylilly.  It was standing tall with its beautiful pale peach color and it stopped me in my tracks.

I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful site that screamed out the words Faith, Belief, Loyalty and Love.  My head reverberated with these thoughts as I stood wordless and thirstily absorbed the undying love from my family members who have gone before me.

The next morning I went to take a picture of the beautiful flower.  It was gone.  Not wilted, but gone.  The message sent to me from beyond the grave on D-Day stays.  Faith, Belief, Loyalty and Love.

Ahh, genealogy.  Love lives and the past speaks leaving me wordless.

©2016 ASEldredge