Genealogy - Sentimental Sunday - No. 59

This is my Dad and his Mom, my Grandma Julia.  Based on when my Dad was born, I would say this photo was taken in late 1920 or early 1921.   

Been thinking about both of them a lot lately.  My Grandma Julia's birthday would have been last Friday - so she's been on my mind. It would have been her 108th birthday.

So, Happy Birthday Grandma... and I love and miss you Dad!

Davis Washington Austin - Sentimental Sunday No. 57

Davis Washington Austin ~ 1827 - 1903

Davis Washington Austin was my 2nd Great Grandfather.  He was the father of my Great Grandmother, Anna Elberta Austin - who I wrote about last week.

Original Certificate of Marriage

D.W. Austin married Amanda Seals in 1847.  They lived in Butler Alabama until they moved to Pensacola, Florida - where he worked at the Naval Yard.  At the outbreak of the Civil War he worked there building ships.

When the war began he organized a company of soldiers to join the fight, with himself as captain. Unfortunately for him (or perhaps very fortunately), the people making the decisions decided he was too valuable to the Southern cause as a ship builder and he was detailed to the Naval Yard building ships for the South. After the war he returned to Butler County.

Reverse side of Marriage Certificate - listing family births

Davis moved to Birmingham in 1871 and remained there until his death in 1903, at the age of 76. He was a contractor and builder, the Jefferson County Corner, a deputy sheriff, the jailer and in his later years engaged in real estate.

Anna Elberta Austin - Sentimental Sunday No. 56

Anna Elberta Austin was my Mom's maternal grandmother; my great grandmother. She died when I was almost four, on August 12th, 1963. She was born on October 30th sometime between 1868 and 1871. She lied about her age her entire life, and even erased her year of birth, and those of the two children before her, in her parents records.

Graduation Photo, circa 1888

Anna Elberta Austin, seated first on left.

I don't personally have a lot of memories of her, because I was so young when she died. But, I do have little glimmers here and there. I do remember she was always very nice to me. And I remember her little black coin purse that she would take out and open up to give me a quarter when she saw me, always saying "Let's see what Danny Bert has in her purse for little Cindy".  (We all called her "Danny Bert". My Mom was the first grandchild and she couldn't say Grandma Elberta; it came out "Danny Bert" and that's what she was called from then on.)

I can tell you is that she was a formidable woman.

** She worked in Washington D.C. for General Pershing.

** She marched with Susan B Anthony for the right to vote.

** She was with the Woman's Temperance League to bring about Prohibition. Although I was recently told by my cousin Nona that she had an ulterior motive for doing so. Her husband was notorious for going on "benders" and leaving her and the kids alone. So, she wanted to bring about a stop to those escapades - and wanted a chance to go around to the bars to try and find him.

I recently visited her grave in Santa Monica, CA. I wanted to pay my respects to her, and document where she is buried.

She was a strong woman, perhaps a little crazy - based on some of the stories I've heard, and a woman that wasn't afraid to speak her mind.  I admire her fortitude of spirit and her willingness to speak up for what she thought was right.  And, as a woman who has the right to vote - I'm thankful for the work that she and so many others did in those days.

Genealogy - Sentimental Sunday No. 50

My Mother's favorite Grandma was her paternal grandmother, Silvia Stone Heslet.  I just discovered these wonderful photo's of "Grandma Stone" taken in 1922 at  a California beach.  The baby is my Mom.

I love how fully clothed the women were at the beach.  Black clothing and hats.  It had to be warm in the sunshine and on the sand. 

This photo was taken in her later years.  My Uncle just sent it to me.  When I saw it I realized that I had a copy of this photo too.  But, I didn't know who it was.  I sure wish my Mom and Dad had been better about writing peoples names on the photo's. 

Unfortunately I don't really know anything about Grandma Stone.  Looking at the photo above - I think she has kind eyes.  I know how much my Mom loved her.  She had very happy memories of playing at her house.  And, she treasured a china luncheon set that had belonged to her.  The set belongs to me now, and I treasure it too.

Genealogy - Sentimental Sunday No. 44

This is my maternal Grandfather with my Mom. He was born in 1894.

My memories of him are good ones. He lived about 2 hours away from us when I was growing up. We would visit a couple of times per year. Every time we visited we would go out to dinner at various local restaurants. In the 1970's there weren't a lot of really fabulous choices in Hemet. I recall a couple of his favorites, and we always went to dinner quite early. Usually around 4pm. I remember that he enjoyed a cocktail before dinner and his favorite was a Brandy Alexander.

My Grandma Mary passed away in the late 1960's, and Grandpa never remarried. When he moved out of their home into a mobile home park down the street - he was quite popular with all the widows. Several times a few of them would come to visit him while we were there. At the time I didn't think anything of it. Now, I look back at how they would all fuss over him and it makes me giggle. Today I understand what a commodity an older gentleman is with the widows.

Grandpa was in World War I. Here is a photo of him with some of his unit. He is in the middle. My Uncle told me that only two men from his unit returned from the war. So sad.

Grandpa and my Grandma Maurine were my mom's parents. They divorced when my Mom was very young. However, this photo that I found, dated in 1930, indicates that perhaps they tried to reconcile at one point. Alas, it didn't work out. She ultimately married another man - and he married my Grandma Mary in the mid '30s.

Grandpa died in the early '80s. I miss our visits and early bird dinners with him. One of my prized possessions is a cherry-wood breakfront hutch. It belonged to Grandpa for many years. I treasure it and think of him when I look at it. When I open a drawer or door on it, I remember that these handles and this wood was touched by his hands as well. It brings me comfort to know that I can pass this on to my son and he will have something that belonged to his Great Grandfather. And, while a 15 year old boy doesn't find interest in this today - I hope that someday he will appreciate the history.

Genealogy - Sentimental Sunday No. 43

1856 - 1948

This is my Great Grandfather, Lewis B. Heslet. The more I research my family tree - the more gems I uncover.

My Uncle told me that Lewis was a blacksmith. He's looking for a photo to send me of Lewis in his blacksmith shop. I can't wait!

While googling some of my ancestors names I discovered that Lewis had applied for a patent and was approved in 1911. The patent was for a machine which sharpened plow shares. Here is an excerpt of the patent:

This invention relates to machines for sharpening plow shares, and it has for its object to produce a machine of this class of simple and efficient construction in which the plow share, after being adjusted in position for operation, may be automatically ground or sharpened without further attention on the part of the operator.

I don't know how successful the machine was, or how long it may have been in operation. More research on my part is needed. But, I was pretty excited to find this piece of information. The more tidbits I discover about my ancestors - the more excited I am to continue researching.

Genealogy - Sentimental Sunday No. 40

I've been neglecting my blog lately. Both of my blogs in fact! I've had my head stuck in Ancestry.com for the past couple of weeks. I'm researching my family and scanning old family photos. I've come across quite a few photos that don't have any names written on them - and I have NO idea who they are. Frustrating. I am the oldest generation in my family - with the exception of my cousin. However, she doesn't know anything about my Dad's family, only my Mom's. (She's my Mom's First Cousin).

This is my Great Grandmother, Delia Bailey. She was my paternal Grandfather's Mom. I don't know too much about her yet. I do have some information about her father, Elihu Bailey. For instance, he was involved in the organization of the Republican Party in 1856.

This is her first husband, my Grandfathers father, Allen Porter. Really don't know ANYTHING about him. Having a terrible time trying to find out when he died - or even what happened to him really. On the back of this photo someone wrote in 1920 - missing for 27 or 28 years. That was pretty shortly after their third son, my grandfather, was born. I don't know the year that either of these photos was taken. Anyone have an educated guess?