Finding the Old through the New, Tearing Down a Decades-old Brick wall (Final Part)

Thomas was the key. Period. This post will be lengthy, since I will be quoting directly from the document I compiled to submit as a final for a class, but it is worth the read: 

In a last ditch effort before moving on from the research objective of finding Mariah’s death date, perusing Fold 3 yielded a true treasure: the entire pension file for Thomas Randle’s service in the War of 1812: There were 57 pages of beautiful pages, containing a variety of information to shed light on the missing items for Mariah. Also, the researcher learned a wealth of information regarding Thomas Randle too. 

            As the widow of Thomas, she was legally entitled to his pension. From the early pages in this file, particulars about his service were provided. Prior to finding this file, his index card for the War of 1812 Pension Application Files revealed that his service was in Illinois under Captain J. B. Moore for the Illinois Rangers. The certificate for this pension was dated June 26, 1872, two years before Thomas’s death.[1] The pension was “consolidated with widow #15506,” October 25, 1878.[2] Thomas enlisted June 11, 1812, and was discharged on June 25, 1812; he served afterward from July 27, 1812 to October 15, 1812.[3] He enlisted at Fort Russell Illinois Territory; the fort was also the location for his discharge.[4]

            Beyond the information for Thomas’s military service, this Pension File provided details relevant to Mariah, besides receiving pension payments. On Page 11 of the Pension File, there was a document titled “Service Pension, War of 1812, Widow’s Brief,” dated between 1878 and 1879. Henry C. Dean was one of the names on this document, providing proof of identity, based on affidavits provided.[5] Richard Shaffer, Mariah’s son-in-law, wrote up a deposition on Mariah: 

            Case of Randle Maria E.,        

On this 7’aintenth day of April, 1888, at Raymond, County of Montgomery, State of Ills, before me W. H. McGuire, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Richard R. Shaffer, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 59 years I am a farmer. My P.O. is Raymond Montgomery Co Ills.

I was acquainted with Maria E. Randle, a Pensioner of the War of 1812 as the widow of Thomas Randle I knew the pensioner about all my life.

The Pensioner Mariah E. Randle—died Aug. 13^th 1887. I was present at the death. 

Dr. Caldwell of Zanesville, Ills was the attending physician in Pensioners lo* sickness.

At the date of pensioners death She had in cash $178.80. And some personal effects that I think is worth about $8.00. I was offered $5.00 for the personal effect that I thought they were worth a little more.[6]

At last…Mariah’s death date and death place are provided, and this information is almost as detailed as a death certificate. Also, her place of residence was likely with Maria in Raymond. 

            The first time Mariah’s maiden name is mentioned, is on Page 9 of the file: “his wife’s name was Mariah E. Thornhill, to whom he married at Washington Co Ills, on the (?) day of June AD 1826.”[7] A more detailed record of her marriage to Thomas is provided in later pages. On Page 13, the following information is written: 

She further states that she was married to the said Thomas Randle in the county of Washington, and the State of Illinois, on the 2^nd of June A. D. 1825 by one W. C. Ballard, who was a Minister of the Gospel, and that her name before her said marriage was Maria E Dean (nee Thornhill); and she further states that her said first husband had been previously married to Rebecca Brown who died in Madison Co Ill about Jan’y 1825; and she further state that she [declarant] had been previously married to Jonathan Dean who died about Sept 1822 near Princeton Ky—and further that she has not remarried since the death of said Thomas Randle.[8]

This paragraph alone, contains more information than most documents at this point in research. The researcher learns about the marriages and former spouses of both Thomas and Mariah. The difficulty in locating the marriage records becomes evident according to one affidavit provided in the Pension File, provided as Page 15: 

            State of Illinois, Washington County             J. H. F. Reuter, clerk of the county court

And for the county and state aforesaid, do hereby certify that, there is no record of marriage on file in this office prior to the year 1832, and that I have made diligent search for such record of marriages and cannot find the same 

Witness my hand and official seal of the said court at Nashville in said county and state this the 18^th day of Feb’y A.D. 1879

            H. F. Reuter, Co. Clk.[9]

If the county clerk of Washington County, Illinois could not locate the marriage record in 1879, perhaps there was no record filed or it was lost. 

            To provide further information on the marriage since the official record could not be located, witnesses to the ceremony provided affidavits. Unfortunately, Washington C. Ballard had died already, so the first document was penned by his son, Thornhill Ballard: 

            State of Illinois, Washington County

Thornhill Ballard of said county and state being first duly sworn deposes and says that he was at the wedding of Thomas Randle and Maria Dean who were married at the residence of his father, Washington C. Ballard, on the 2^nd day of June 1825 in the county aforesaid, and that said Washington C. Ballard was a minister of the Gospel and celebrated said marriage but hes since departed this life so that his affidavit cannot now be obtained—affiant further deposes and says that the above facts are derived from his own personal knowledge—that his age is 71 years—that his brother Geo. W. Ballard was also present at said marriage—that his (affiants) residence and Post Office address is Beaucoup, Illinois; that he is not interested or concerned in the claim of Maria Randle widow of said Thomas Randle for a pension. He (affiant) also deposes and says that as he is informed and believes no official record of said marriage can now be found in said county for the reason that the records of said county do not show any marriage earlier than the year 1832.[10]

As mentioned by Thornhill in his affidavit, his brother also provided one on Page 22: 

            State of Illinois, Madison County

George W. Ballard of the county and state aforesaid, age 58 years, being duly sworn according to law, poses and says that he was present at the marriage of Thomas Randle and Maria Dean on the 2^nd day of June 1825. That his (affiants) father, Washington C. Ballard now deceased was the officiating clergyman—that, although he (affiant) was only about five years old at that time, he remembers the circumstances well—that the marriage took place in his father’s house and the fact that said Maria Dean at that time resided with his father’s family and that said Thomas Randle on the day of the wedding was so late coming his father and other present became somewhat anxious about the matter—that the affiant also remembers seeing said Randle on that day when he first came in sight on horseback—that Thornhill Ballard and older brother of affiant was also present of said Marriage the he (affiant) has no intent whatever in the claim of said Marie Randle for a pension and is not concerned in its presentation—that he resides near Edwardsvill and his Post Office address is Edwardsvill Madison County Illinois.[11]

This affidavit was the most informative for the circumstances around the marriage. Mariah was living with the Ballards, likely because Washington’s wife may have been Mariah’s older sister (still determining this relationship). Additionally, she may have met Thomas through Washington, since both were ministers of the MEC. Finally, the marriage took place at the Ballard residence.

            After years of puzzling over this puzzle, the answer was through the second husband and stepfather, not even through records that should be located, namely a marriage and a death. Because both of these vital dates and places could not be easily found, it became necessary to reach outward to find what became of Henry’s father and who Mariah’s family was. At last, these objectives have been met, the hypotheses proved or disproved, and a whole new avenue of resources and family members have appeared as the story continues to unravel. 

---

[1] “War of 1812 Pension Files,” digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com : accessed 22 July 2020), pension file for Thomas Randle and his widow, Mariah E. Randle; War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, The National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; Roll RG15-1812PB-Bx2825.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid. this information concerning his military service was provided by Thomas. 

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid. 

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

Finding the Old through the New, Tearing Down a Decades-old Brick wall (Part 4)

Researching the itinerant preacher and his religion became the next step in my quest to discovering more about Henry’s life and upbringing, and locating more information on Mariah. There is a lot to be had from the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC). They kept a pretty decent record, using conference minutes and journals (many of which still survive). Also, there are several histories of Methodism for specific locations, such as Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, etc. 

When it came to researching family members in Illinois, MEC, state, and county histories were indispensable. I learned a lot about Thomas Randle during the process, and how his life choices and work may have impacted Henry and Mariah. Fortunately for me, Thomas Randle was the key to finding what became of Mariah. 

Stay tuned for Part 5, the final post on how Mariah’s tie to her preacher husband helped to break down the 40 year old brick wall.  

Finding the Old through the New, Tearing Down a Decades-old Brick wall (Part 3)

Through the efforts it took to research the Dean line, Harry Fenton Dean was a piece of cake next to his father, Henry C. Dean. Through piecing together his life story, it took learning to research in the following manner:

·      Learning to perform in-depth research in Illinois

·      Using Inter-library loan to obtain books and microfilms

·      Making trips to the Salt Lake Family History Library for special books

·      Doing contextual and supplemental research through newspapers

·      Using a digital microfilm scanner

·      Researching genealogy in 1800s southern Illinois—my new specialty, thanks to this family

·      Using territorial, pre-state records

·      Learning about 19^th century farming communities

·      Using court and probate records (even widow’s relinquishment)

·      Performing research on hypotheses based on indirect and, at times, circumstantial evidence

·      Chasing after elusive cemetery listings

·      Doing research outside of the Big 4, especially Ancestry. It was my comfort zone for too long. Btw, Illinois State Archives and Illinois Digital Archives have some great materials.

I could go on and on, but you see why it took me 8 years to learn research techniques piecemeal and finally find Henry’s full story in time. 

Finding the Old through the New, Tearing Down a Decades-old Brick wall (Part 2)

         The first steps I took in learning about the Dean line, came with hands on experience. I had to learn how to use FamilySearch, census research, newspaper research, locality research, etc. It did not come overnight, but rather line upon line. It was through concerted, often unfruitful efforts that I learned what worked and what didn’t work. Piece by piece, the story of the Deans began to unravel.

         In learning to do genealogy research, I found LDS family history centers as helpful resources. The missionaries were experienced in doing research and participating in finding temple ordinances. Also, the LDS Church had subscriptions to the big research websites, like Ancestry. These were in the days before LDS church members could get partner access through their FamilySearch accounts, so I made lots of library trips to use Ancestry. 

         Within a few weeks, and then what became a few months, the Dean genealogy was coming together. All of the sudden, Harry and Ida Dean’s boys took on more than names and vital information; they took on careers, personalities, family members, and stories that came to life through Google searches and newspapers. The two brothers of B. G.’s that assumed the greatest personalities were Doc and Frankie. I learned that having one prominent individual in the family helps to round out the stories and involvements of others when they talk about their own backgrounds and experiences. Soon, Harry Fenton Dean and Ida Jane (Pepperdine) Dean had their own narratives come to light. 

         From there, it was time to move backward in the tree. 

Hearts Knit (or Rather "Crocheted") Together in Unity...

courtesy: ColourBox Stock Photo

The Beginning...

Oh how I love going to genealogy conferences! Just three years ago, I emailed a user on FamilySearch seeking information on a special ancestor:

Ishmael Phillips

"Dear Kay ----,

Greetings from a distant cousin if you are descended from Ishmael Phillips. My name is Cassandra, and I obtained your email through Familysearch. Brother Phillips is my 4th great grandfather, and an ancestor I have taken deeper interest in doing background research for. Do you by chance have information on him concerning his early years in England right after he joined the Church? I have scoured the Internet, microfilms, and books for the records I now have, but there is very little which covers his years as a new convert. Thank you for any help you can provide in doing research on Brother Phillips,

Sincerely,

Cassandra"

I received the following reply:

"Cassandra, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you...[she proceeds to talk about her family in great detail, not uncommon to genealogists :) ]...When I get feeling better and can take time to look in my records, I would be happy to sent you some information about Ishmael.  You are a generation younger than I...I'll be in touch when I can get over this flu bug...Thank you for getting in touch with me.  It's always fun to find a new cousin!

Kay"

We send more messages back in forth, sharing what knowledge we share on our progenitor, the humble and lovable Ishmael Phillips. We decide to meet at RootsTech in February (2015). Since that time, we have met up at three other genealogy conferences, always referring to Ishmael Phillips and our shared love for our grandfather. 

She treated me to dinner (Feb. 2015)

A Miracle...

When Kay first arrived at RootsTech, she was registered for the entire weekend. In a conference hall packed with 20,000 people, she sat down to take a rest. Being the friendly person she is, she struck up a conversation with a kindly mother sitting nearby. They were talking about their ties to Utah when they discovered something they had in common: they had both been in contact with me! She was the mother of a friend from work, and her son and I worked for the same company at the time! Kay took this as a sign that she was in the right place, and our shared interest in Ishmael was no coincidence. She could trust me with handing over any research work she had done for the past 30 years. 

We met later in her hotel room and she shared this story with me. I was agape...what a miracle! For the next 3 hours, she shared stories, documents, and sentiments on our grandfather, and I came to see and appreciate him in a new light. Our shared love for Ishmael turned our own hearts to each other as cousins. 

If I can say one quality I truly admire in Kay, it is her devotion to her family. She talks often about her children, her in-laws, and her grandchildren, almost like they are my own family instead of distant cousins. She is another great aunt to me rather than a 3rd cousin. She stays valiantly by her ailing husband's side as his health problems continue to worsen each year. It has gotten to the point where she may not be able to return next year if his condition become worse. 

Late in the evening this week, I was reflecting on my friendship with Kay. I thought over all the times she bought lunch or dinner for us. I reflected on her selfless act of giving me ALL of her research findings on our grandfather. What have I given her? Does she have a piece of me to remember me by? A thought entered my head, and I stayed awake until 5:00 a.m. working on the project.

After two hours of sleep, I readied for day 3 of the genealogy conference, grabbing my wares and my gift for Kay I made my way to classes. I presented Kay with a crocheted doll of Ishmael Phillips. The love and affection in her eyes was indescribable, it chokes me with emotion now just sharing the experience. 

I love you Kay, I keep you in my prayers. May we meet again soon! I thank God you are a part of my life and share a love for Ishmael only his descendents can appreciate. 

The Chain Letter that Solved a Family Mystery

As many know, I have placed intense focus on one branch of the family for the past five years I have been doing genealogy: the Deans. I was thinking back today on the item that gave me the hammer to begin breaking through brick walls for this seemingly impenetrable line and shocked myself with the realization: it was an 80 year old chain letter! That’s right, a culturally superstitious piece of junk mail kept by my great-grandfather was the key to unlocking one branch of the family.

                How, may you ask, is a useless piece of paper valuable to genealogy research? I will begin with where I encountered the “treasure” to answer this anomaly in research tools. Back in 2010, I had the idea to hit up Mom about getting copies of the family letters she had transcribed many years before. These letters were few of the extant records our family possessed of the Dean line, as B.G. wasn’t a stellar record keeper. Most letters were written by his mother, Ida, and B.G. himself.

Courtesy of Playbuzz

                I have referred to these quaint letters several times to look for research angles. One day, I was traipsing into the domain of looking for B.G.’s brothers, something caught my eye—a letter from his brother Tom! Tom, the third oldest child born to Harry F. and Ida J. Dean, wrote to Ida in 1928 from Manchester, Ohio. The letter is signed “Tom & A.” Obviously, Uncle Tom, or “Doc” as he was widely known, had a companion whose name was signed as “A.”

                Finally having a lead on one of the now unknown family members mentioned in the letters by initial only, I had a mystery for my very novice brain to solve: Who was this mysterious “A”? I pored over the letters several times, even hitting up the internet for help, but alas, my limited expertise at the time hindered my ability to figure out who she was.

                Then I recalled seeing a list of names in a chain letter forwarded in 1934 to B.G. The transcribed text reads as such:

In God we Trust Who Supplies our Needs. “Prosperity Circle”

Mrs. Leona Wagoner, Oklahoma City Okla.

Mrs. Anna Ketchum, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mrs. Nell Montgomery, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mrs. Anna Kaufruan(?), El Paso, Texas

Mrs. Aletha Dean, Hot Springs, Ark.

This chain was started by Box 43 an American Colonel and has a definite purpose. Copy the above omitting the first name and add yours, and send to five friends whom you wish to prosper. It must be mailed within twenty-four hours after receiving.

Mrs. Sanford received $5000

Mrs. Guines $1000

Mrs. Cluasy broke the chain and lost all she had. The chain has a definite purpose to all who copy the words and will find prosperity nine days after mailing. Please don’t brake the chain.

Courtesy of Buzzfeed

Her name popped out on the page when I scanned over it more closely than I had before: Mrs. Aletha Dean. The letter had been addressed to Tom in Hot Springs and had her name listed. Bingo! Finally had a searchable piece of the puzzle. The rest was smooth sailing from there when I had a legible name to put into Google. From that chain letter, I have learned so much more about the Dean line through researching Tom’s and Alethea’s lives in the public records.

                So the moral of the story is this: One man’s junk mail is another woman’s genealogical treasure. So if you inherited the papers of your grandmother or other aged relative and something seems worthless, look it over carefully before you consider throwing it out.

Cousin to Cousin and Heart to Heart

My first job is in a kitchen

Too often in these modern times, young adults are too busy with their own lives to make room for slower-paced tasks. I am most certainly speaking for myself when I make this claim. I work two jobs and fill my spare time with research, blogging, socializing, and similar activities. Even as a genealogist, I often prefer the fast-paced, forward-moving methods to the pain-staking and slow-paced ones that I save for an occasional Saturday or Sunday.

            Recently, an event took place that got me rethinking my preference for the fast-paced methodology. As it is February, most people interested in genealogy know of RootsTech, a major conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah this time each year. My opportunity finally came as I registered for the 2015 event. Rootstech facilitated a meeting I arranged with a cousin I had been corresponding with for about a month already.

Ishmael Phillips

            Our common ancestor is my fourth-great grandfather, Ishmael Foote Phillips. After looking over the files in my computer I had been gathering sporadically over the past three years, I concluded that Ishmael’s early years in England were severely under-researched. I then reached out online to relatives who knew or had more information and one cousin responded with more exuberance than I anticipated.

            This wonderful lady was a God-send to my present plight. While we were corresponding I had already been conducting background research on the time period Ishmael Phillips spent in England after being baptized into the early Mormon Church. (For more on this story, check out my post on finding his baptism.) Over time, we became more than correspondents with a similar interest in a distant grandfather. Our shared appreciation and love for this man was only the starting point.

            On the Sunday following RootsTech, I arranged to meet with my cousin in her hotel room. What I got from that visit was more than I had bargained for. Not only did she share the findings of her 32-years worth of research, she also told me stories about how she found the information, and she told me about her own family. We truly had a heart-to-heart that many relatives should have with their own family members more often than they do.

            Not only did I find a cousin to stay in touch with, her experiences help me to appreciate more the antiquated methods of research. I too have done my share of scanning microfilms and digging through dusty old manuscripts in archives, but this was her main form of research. The information she had to show was the results of hours of true archive and library hunting. Her interest would envelop more than Ishmael, but she also took interest in his own family: his brothers and sisters, his parents and grandparents. As a result, she has compiled significant information for the American descendants of the Phillips on their British ancestors.

            To my cousin and people like her who labor so diligently in putting together the information she has, I say thank you. I will treasure the information you have shared and use it to add to my own. you also help me to better plan research in the future. From your cousin, God bless you. 

She treated me to dinner

Family Discovery Day-My First Genealogy Conference

At last, my dream came true. After three years of hearing about the experiences of others at RootsTech, I finally had the opportunity to attend. I was late in registering, so all labs were full, but I signed up for the Family Discovery Day to ensure myself a place and at least one day to spend at the Salt Palace. And what a day!

            I pride myself on being an extrovert, but even I was feeling overwhelmed from crowds and noise. The congested Convention Center boasted around 20,000 attendees, and among them the fan-base of Utah’s own David Archuleta.

            Overall, the experience was well worth the trip. It was my first time riding the train, for one. Also, the messages given by LDS leaders were nice to listen to. Church leaders encourage youth and young adults to not only prepare as many names for temple work as they perform ordinances for, but also to help others with this challenge. Also, they shared success stories of youth and young adults in performing the work for their deceased ancestors. 

            The real treat of attending RootsTech was visiting the Expo Hall. I saw many old and current associates among the booths, and learned more about online programs available for training people to become certified genealogists. I felt like my time here was well rewarded. 

We ran into one of our fellow Mocavo employees at the booth for Find My Past

BYU Family History Library employees and volunteers, past and present.

Part of the David Archuleta fan base

Friday's Faces from the Past: The Last of the Medicine Showmen

This post is dedicated to my 2nd Great Uncle, T. F. "Doc" Dean.

Raised in a family of seven boys, this character "was as gay as the clothes he wore."

This man only knew a life of travel and adventure (for at least the first 50 years or so). His father Harry F. Dean moved the family around between Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and eventually Colorado and Utah.

When he reached his later teen years, the adventurous Doc signed on with the Army, getting his first stint overseas. After returning to the States from the Philippines, Doc adopted a true life of travel, becoming a performer for the next 30 years. He did everything that involved a stage or tent; he performed in such acts as Vaudeville, showboats, burlesque, and he even ran his own medicine show.

During his years on the road, he met and married his wife Alethea. In the 1920s, they adopted a boy, Robert, who also performed with the family.

Doc would be on the road until World War II broke out. By this point his family settled down in Blytheville, Arkansas, where he and "Mama" would spend their remaining years. Attempting to register for the old man's draft, he was rejected and chose to sell War Bonds at home instead. With a knack for showmanship and winning over large crowds, Doc sold around $16 million in War Bonds, gaining recognition from Henry Morgenthau, Jr. and old FDR himself.

During his retired years, Doc ran a gas station, participated in local minstrels, sold real estate, and even became constable. He passed away in 1967 at a Scout Meeting, doing something he loved dearly.

Although not one of the most prominent showmen of his time, he did make a name for himself in the Midwest and South. He was one of the stalwart Docs who ran his show  until they fizzled out during the 1930s and 1940s. His name Doc stuck with him throughout his life and is still used today.


My favorite Doc Dean quote: "When God made the earth, He made it 70 per cent water and I think by that He meant for me to hunt and fish 70 per cent of the time."

Journey to Ishmael Phillips' Past (Part 1)--Looking for an LDS Baptism in 1800s England

In recent weeks, I have undertaken a major project that guarantees me months and months of research: writing a biography on Ishmael Phillips. The first fact I have sought to uncover was proving that my 4th Great Grandfather was indeed baptized into the LDS Church by then Mormon Apostle Wilford Woodruff on May 29, 1840. I have found several family histories claiming Elder Woodruff was Ishmael's baptizer, but I wanted more solid proof. Taking the information I already have, I sought to dig deeper on this matter.

Since Wilford Woodruff was a major figure in early LDS history, his records would be easily accessible for me being in a location with a major LDS repository. With Elder Woodruff being a prolific journal writer in his day, that is the first place I went. I only met with slight disappointment as I found a short entry for the date Brother Phillips was baptized for. The entry read:

"We met at the Creek & I Baptized 2 & Elder Richards Confirmed them & walked to Shucknell Hill. After meeting I Baptized 3, one a preacher on the plan. We Confirmed them & ordained one priest Benjamin Williams making 5 Baptized and Confirmed."

This gave me slight hope though. Shucknell Hill was in fact a location that Ishmael is associated with in some of his early church records. Deciding not to give up right here, I pressed on. 

A wonderful feature of the FamilySearch website that many people take for granted is the Family History Library Catalog. When you type "Familysearch.org" into the URL, you come up with the home view:

Under the "Search" link, you will find "Catalog." Click here and it takes you directly to the Family History Library Catalog:

You can change the way you want to browse the catalog, but in this instance I will use location--I normally like to start out basic and narrow down to specifics, so when researching England, I will start by looking at the records under the county. Choosing "Herefordshire, England," I will then be directed to a page of categorized links  associated with Herefordshire. Looking under the Category "Church Records," I see a microfilm I have access to, "Wilford Woodruff's Baptism Record, 1840."

Eager to view this microfilm, I confirm that the library indeed has it--which it does! Looking through it, I start looking at the baptisms performed in April, working forward. When I reach May 29, I saw for myself from a photographed version of a primary source, the proof of Ishmael's baptism I was seeking. Look for yourself on May 29, his name is with another, identifying the two individuals that Wilford Woodruff wrote in his own words that he baptized at the location he provided already:

Thanks to modern technology and the ease of finding available resources, I am one step closer to writing Ishmael's biography. I now have a more concrete date, place, and name to attach to an important event in his life, his baptism into the LDS Church. Miracles happen when you persist. If you do not know how to find something though, do not be afraid to ask for help or to try other avenues. 

Now I can say with irrefutable evidence that my 4th great grandfather Ishmael Phillips was baptized by the hand of Apostle Wilford Woodruff, who would later become the 4th president of the LDS Church. 

Grandma's Cunning Prank

Yet again, the stories and anecdotes unfold as I peruse over my great aunt's narratives. While reading about my great-great grandfather, I encountered this little gem as told by my great aunt:

"William made homemade 'Brew...' From this following story I get the impression that Grandma...didn't appreciate this very much. When William would leave to go to work—Ida put SALT into the mixture—she said the first time this happened it was by accident—but then she kept putting salt in the mixture every time William would make it...William blamed the failed brew on water and finally stopped making any. Can’t you just imagine Ida smiling in the background? Sounds like quite an ingenious lady."

Score:
Wife: 1

Husband: 0

Grandpa's Scandalous Purchase...Anecdote of the Day

Ah, the joy in finding small gems in the family histories you read through. I was amused to find the following anecdote as I was typing up my GG-Grandma Ella's history. The story centers on Ella and her husband David, lending a dash of color to the more pious members of my family tree.

So the tale goes as follows, told by the daughters of Ella and David:

"David, already in Oakland, had bought a rooming house (or Boarding House) and Ella was going to operate it. We stayed at the campground, and the next day Ella, David and I went to see the property David had bought. As we were going through the building Ella got VERY ANGRY..., and she took hold of Maud’s hand and started hurrying them along—cautioning Maud not to touch any of the walls, the doorknobs, or the bannister, and Maud realized Ella was VERY UPSET. Ella wanted us out of the building!!! And out of Oakland as soon as possible!!! I didn't know until years later that the property David had bought was...a house of ill repute, or whatever they called them in those days!..."

"...I have often wondered if my Dad had known about that house all along?? I don’t know how Mother found out what kind of a house it was—maybe the ‘tenants’ were still there? When she told me about it later, she...was very adamant about not telling me any of the details.”

Lesson of the day? Investigate your property before settling on a deal. And let your wife be part of the decision.