Pearl Earned It

Well, I went off and gave the beautiful Pearl (Williams) Pointer and the Pointer farm their own blog.  So check it out.  See what life was like back in the early to mid 1900's on a farm in Iowa.

Pearl's Day Books  [ http://pearlsdaybooks.blogspot.com/  ]

Pearl has 2 posts and 4 followers so far.

Image by justmakeit via Flickr

Purple Iowa Sky

The Williams Family Tree

Never, in a million years, did I ever dream that I'd get to see ~truly see~ Pearl's parents & grandparents.  A.O. Williams and his wife, Nancy Catherine Odell, and Jordan Williams and his wife, Julia Ann Shearer. [Not to mention being able to hear a few stories about them.]  There's nothing like looking into the eyes of our ancestors.  To see the faces of those we've searched for ~ for so long.

Apparently, I don't dream big enough.

Tombstone Tuesday - Near Her Sons

Julia Ann (Shearer) Williams

She always had her sons, A.O. and Sim, living with her, and so I wasn't really surprised to find that they rest near her in Collins Cemetery in Collins, Story County, Iowa.  In fact, they are right next to her. 

Sweet Lemonade

I know I've mentioned it before, but it bares repeating.  Don't forget to look between the lines.  You know.  The census lines?  That's where the stories are.  Somewhere between the ages and the places of births is where they are hiding.

Every time I see a household in the census with extended family members residing in it, it gets me to thinking.  [I know.  Uh-oh.]  If there was a nephew living in the household, I think, "Why?  What happened?  What's the story?  I mean, I know there's a story there."  How do I know?  Well, I've lived that story.

Remember my younger brother [of my heart], Patrick, who was also one of my sister's children?  And how the mitochondrial disorder that he was afflicted with and also eventually caused his early death was the same disorder that prevented my sister from raising and taking care of him in the first place?  And how my parents took him in and raised him.  Like their own.  Like our own.  And for all the trials, tribulations, and tears, I wouldn't have had it any other way.  Because at the end of the day, I got a younger brother.  One that I had wanted very much.

Well, my story isn't unlike other people's stories.

Harvey "Harve" Lewis Pointer

Take Harvey Lewis Pointer, my husband's great-grandfather, for example.   "Harve" was Daniel Pointer's youngest child.  And when Harve was about 10 months old, his mother Emma died.  And I guess Daniel felt that along with Harve's 5 older siblings, he wasn't going to be able to take care of little Harve.  So, Emma's brother, John C. Belcher, Jr. and his wife, Mary (Shearer) Belcher [Harve's uncle and aunt], took little Harve in and raised him.  Like their own.  Oh, and Harve gained 2 more siblings, as well ~ 2 sisters.  Minnie Etta and Effie.  Now, I don't know if Minnie Etta and Effie were happy about getting a younger brother like I was.  But got one they did.

Some might call this a tragedy.  But I don't think it qualifies as one.  A speed bump on the road of life?  Possibly.  But I think a detour on the road of life is more accurate.  Not sad or bad, but different.

You see, Harve still lived near his Pointer family ~ his father, brothers, and sisters.  Harve didn't lose a family.  He gained one.  And I find it interesting that Harve didn't even use the Pointer name until he married Pearl in 1906.  He called himself a "Belcher".  That says a lot about his relationship with the Belcher family, I think.  But, hey, don't take my word for it.  Nothing tells a story better than a picture, right?  Well, below are two pictures.  The top one is Harve as an adult with his Pointer siblings.  And the one below is Harve as an adult with his Belcher family.

Daniel and Emma (Belcher) Pointer's children.

BLR: Minnie Etta Belcher, Harve Pointer, Effie Belcher; FLR: John & Mary (Shearer) Belcher

See?  I told you he had 2 families.

And when I look into the eyes of Harve's Belcher sisters ~ Minnie Etta's and Effie's ~ I can honestly say I know a little something about how they felt.  About what their life was like growing up with a younger brother of their hearts.  And I also know it wasn't easy for either family ~ Pointer or Belcher ~ when Harve passed away prematurely at the age of 44 due to an accident.  I know it wasn't easy.

Because you gotta remember.  For all the forms, charts, dates, names, and numbers that we collect about them, our ancestors were just like us.  Flesh and blood.  With both good and bad things happening to them.  They had decisions to make from choices they didn't like.  They had things that they had to do when they didn't want to do them.

And just like them,

No matter how many lemons life serves us,

No matter how sour the situation is that we find ourselves in,

One fact remains the same that time cannot change.

We're just gonna add some sugar, water, and ice to those sour lemons and make sweet lemonade.

Wordless Wednesday - T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Trouble With A Capital "T"

I think Pearl had her hands full with her boys.  [Snort.]  If that ain't trouble, I don't know what is.   What do y'all think?

L-R: Glen (standing), Wayne, Donald, Lester (in back), Forrest, and Harold Pointer.

Tombstone Tuesday: Daniel and Emma (Belcher) Pointer

Daniel and Emmaline "Emma" (Belcher) Pointer are buried in Woodland Cemetery in Iowa Center, Story County, Iowa.  I mentioned yesterday that Daniel was the son of Lemuel and Sarah (Mountz) Pointer, and that Daniel was now off my "bad side" because Great-Aunt Dorothy showed me his [and Emma's] graves and that Great-Uncle Donald shared a photo of Daniel with me.  [Many thanks to the both of them.  These kinds of details add so much to the story.]

Daniel had a total of four wives [which originally helped to put him on my "bad side"].  His first wife was Harriet Johnson and they married in about 1862.  I think.  As far as I can tell, they had only one child together.  A son named John R. Pointer in 1863.  And what happened to Harriet?  I dunno.  That's a good question.  If I had to guess, I'd say she probably died because by the 1870 census, Daniel has married Emmaline Belcher [marriage was 8 Mar 1866 in Iowa], and John R. is listed as his son on this census along with, 2 daughters, Jeanette "Nettie" and Elizabeth.  Now. I say "probably" Harriet died because that would be the logical assumption since her son John R. is living with his dad and his dad's 2nd wife, Emma.  However, until I have some proof of her death, we can't rule out that maybe Daniel was into polygamy or that Harriet ran off with a carny to be in the circus or that Harriet divorced him and left John R.  [Who knows?  It could or could've happened.  I like to keep my options open.]

Daniel and Emma had the following children [as best as I can tell] all born in Iowa:

• Jennette "Nettie" B. was b.abt. 1867
• Anna Elizabeth or Elizabeth Anna, but they called her Annie was b. Jul 1869 [This is the one that married a man by the name of Charles Padelford, then when he died, she married a man by the last name of Ritter, then she moved to California, then Canada, and God knows where else.  She keeps me on my toes.  But I've got some photos of her.  Wait 'till you see her.]
• George Washington was b.4 May 1872 and died in Saskatchewan, Canada [Cuz, why make it easy?  But I've got photos of him, too.]
• William "Bill" was b.abt.1876  [And wait until you hear this man's story and see his photos.  He made the papers.  And not in a good way.]
• Lucille was b. Jun 1879 and died in 1909 in Long Beach, California.
• Harvey "Harve" Lewis Pointer was b. 28 Sep 1882 in Iowa Center, Story Co, IA and died 14 Jan 1927 in Collins, Story Co, IA.  [This is my husband's great-grandfather, and he's got a story, too.  Don't we all?]

Daniel's wife, Emma, died 16 Jun 1884 in Iowa Center, Story Co, IA and was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery [a.k.a. Iowa Center Cemetery].


Daniel went on to marry twice more to first a Lena Sophia Knese 1 Jun 1892, and then married an Elizabeth Gates on 8 Jan 1902 [And, hey, what a coincidence.  That's my and my husband's wedding anniversary, too.  Um.  Just not the "1902" part.  I'm not that old.]  I don't know what happened to these wives of Daniel's, but I'm assuming they died until a better explanation comes along, or until I find the evidence.  [Again, I'm keeping my options open.]  To the best of my knowledge, he did not have any more children with anyone.  [But, who knows?  Maybe he did.  You can never be too sure about ancestors.]   Daniel passed away 12 Nov 1908 in Canbridge, Story Co, IA and was laid to rest next to his 2nd wife Emma.  Below is their shared tombstone and their "Mother" and "Father" place markers.

Daniel & Emma's shared tombstone from Emma's side.

Close up of Daniel's side and...

...Close up of Emma's side.

 

Wordless Wednesday - A Genealogist's Dream

The Maxwell, Story County, Iowa Community Historical Society's Museum

Their family bible collection. *sigh*

© Copyright 2010 Caroline Martin Pointer

Life's Not Fair

Like most parents [I'm sure], I go 'round and 'round with my kids to get them to do their chores.  In fact, right now as I write, my daughter is cleaning out her closet.  Under protest.  With big "sighs".  Rolling her eyes heavenward.  [I have absolutely no idea where she gets that from.]

My son this morning even exclaimed, "This isn't fair!"  That's when I rolled my eyes heavenward, and replied, "I don't care.  Life's not fair.  Get used to it."

I snorted and added, "You don't have any idea what you're talking about.  You have it so easy."  And they do. "I had to pick up my toys, to clean my room, to clear off the table after dinner, to feed and teach the 2 double yellow-headed and 3 double red-headed parrots how to talk,  and to feed and breed the hundreds of parakeets out in the aviary.  Oh, and in the summer time, that was on top of working for both my mom at her pet shop and my dad at his truck and trailer business."

[snort] And my kids complain about cleaning their rooms?  Give me break!

Well, all this reminded of Pearl and Harve Pointer.  You know, the beautiful Pearl (Williams) Pointer?  [She was a looker, wasn't she?]  I've recently been reading her account books, or day books, of the Pointer farm in Iowa from as early as 1918 through the 1940's.  Man, we had nothing on Pearl.  She really worked.  I mean, really worked.

These books are a treasure trove of what a midwest farm was like in the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's, and I can sum it up in just one word: work.

They list all the purchases and all the sales on the farm as well as yearly inventories and loans [both given and received].  From the car they owned in the early 1920's, to the road work performed in and around their farm, to the boys' allowances and pay for work on the farm.  Not to mention, what pastures different animals were placed in.  It's all there.  Below are some of my favorite entries:

Bought:
3 Oct 1922 flour, mittens, oil, thread, meat $4.80
[Just as varied as a Walmart receipt of today.]

10 Oct 1920 Hail Insurance $20.00

5 Oct 1937 hair oil, putty .30
[Gotta slick back Harve's and the boys' hair.]

15 March 1920 buggy top $8.50
25 Jun 1924 buggy tongue $3.00
[Gotta keep the buggy in working order.]

20 Nov 1919 lime, cement, sand $5.18
20 Nov 1919 work on chimney $4.50
20 Nov 1919 Thimbles on chimney $.50
[Um. You mean they didn't just call the chimney repair dude?]

[Speaking on calling...]
3 Dec 1919 telephone rent $5.25

14 Sep 1919 paint for wagon $2.05

20 Sep 1919 weinies and liver $1.05
12 May 1920 plants and bologna $1.50
[There are a lot of entries for "weinies".  Apparently they liked them.  And they're cheap.  And the bologna?  The BEST bologana I've ever had is the bologna that's made in Iowa.  I know.  Iowa's known for its corn, but the bologna is their best-kept secret.]


3 Jan 1922 Lester's suit $5.00
11 Jan 1922 Harold's suit $7.08
9 Nov 1921 Shoes for girls $8.50
9 Nov 1932 Shoes for boys  & hose $5.76
[There are many entries over the years for the kids' clothes, but what stands out are the school clothes and the suits.  And really, nothing's changed about that, has it?  Oh, and I'm pretty sure the hose were for the girls.]


20 Sep 1919 shingles for house $75.70
5 Jun 1923 wallpaper, hats etc. $10.60
15 Feb 1926 lumber for chicken house $53.00
[Um.  I don't see an entry for the labor for the shingle work.  S'pose they put 'em on themselves.  On one page is a listing of room dimensions of the house for wallpaper.  Then wallpaper was purchased here and there after that.  Again, no labor listed anywhere for the wallpaper or for the chicken house.]

8 Feb 1922 Valentine $1.44
[What I wouldn't do to see that Valentine and scan it and share it with y'all...]


29 Jan 1918 bought bull of Franklin's $50

[There are a ton of animal purchases and sales over the years, as you might expect.]

23 Jan 1918 glasses $6.00
1 Feb 1918 fur coat lined $15.90
18 Feb 1918 organ $6.00
18 Sep 1924 watch repair $1.35
11 Jan 1926 Radio $102.50
[Um. I wonder whose glasses these were ~ those listed above and those pictured here.  It's not clear if the glasses  pictured were Pearl's, but it's suspected.  This farm family was better off than others if they purchased a radio in 1926.  Also, I wonder whose watch was repaired?  The one pictured here was Pearl's daddy's watch [A.O. Williams].

In big handwriting the following was written on page 45:

$191.38 eggs sold in 1920. 374 2/3 number of dozens sold.

Yes, eggs were sold every year, but this was a big egg-producing year for the farm.  [Hm. I wonder who did all that work? *eyes big and round*]


The building and maintenance of the roads to, from, and around the farm were apparently kept up by those who owned the farms.  Listings of the work done and how much it cost exist for every year for the Pointer farm.  Here are a few of the entries for 1923:


Feb 15th & 16th - 1 day digging snow; 1/2 day getting dump boards
Apr 9 - 1/2 day fixing bridge
July 14 - 1/2 day get boards for culverts
July 16 - 1 day putting in culverts
July 17 - 1 day putting in culverts & getting boards
July 18 - 1/2 day putting in culverts
July 30 - 1/2 day putting in culverts


Wow.  Looks like they had more culverts than they thought.  And culvert work sounds like a lotta fun.  And easy too.  [snort]


Here's a much-needed purchase [I'm sure.]:
10 Jul 1937 lemons, ice 50 cents
[I wonder who, um, had to make the lemonade?   Bet that tasted reeeaaal good.]


Well, I'm sure you get the picture.  At least I do.  There was a lot of work to be done back then on a farm, and probably not enough hands to do it with.   I wonder what Pearl said to her kids when they said, "That's not fair.  I don't wanna do any more culvert work."  Yeah, me too.  I'm thinkin' she told 'em something like, "Life's not fair.  Get back out there and get that culvert work done."


[Note: I do believe I will make the Pointer Family Farm Daily Books required reading this summer on our trip up to Iowa for the Pointer Family Reunion ~ from a copy, of course.]

Wordless Wednesday: The Richardson Bros.

Richardson Bros. of Iowa ~ Not Quite Black & White



Are These the Richardson Boys of Story Co., Iowa?
I found this photo postcard with my mother-in-law's photos of her Richardson family [her dad's family].  With the telltale signs of the age of this postcard indicating it was created between 1904 and 1918, I'm fairly certain that these are the Richardson brothers.  [AZO paper as indicated around the stamp area with 4 triangles pointing up in the corners are the telltale signs.]  In the 1910 census my mother-in-law's [Linda Jo's] father ~ Oliver Richardson ~ is just 5 months old on the day the census was taken, 23 May 1910 in Palestine, Story Co., Iowa.  His siblings are as follows:

• Thomas R., 12 yrs old
• Richard M., 10 yrs old
• Martin J., 6 yrs old
• Elmer J. 2 yrs old

These ages seem to be a little younger [but not by much] than the ages of the boys in the photo postcard.


The Great Gatsby
I also looked up their hats, and found that the eldest in the photo, who I think is Thomas, is wearing a newsboy cap [also known as a Gatsby].  Their father, John R. Richardson, came to America from Norway in 1867.  Their mother, Belle T. Weeks, was born in Iowa, but her parents were born in Norway.  I featured them in another Wordless Wednesday post [one that was truly wordless].  I mention this because in Norway, this cap would've been called a "sixpence." [...just a little trivia]  It's worn in this picture kind of "pouffed" up and you can see the points in the crown, indicating this was an 8-panel newsboy hat.  The 3 middle boys in the photo, who I think are Richard, Martin, and Elmer, are wearing what looks like to me low-crown bowler hats.  Both types of hats were worn in the early 20th century. 


The Barn Rocks
I absolutely adore this photo postcard, but I also wish someone had identified these boys for me.  Although, I'm fairly certain they are the Richardson brothers.  Of course, their father, John R. Richardson, had brothers of his own who immigrated with him to Story Co., Iowa and had children of their own.  So, anything's possible.  I love the buggy, the barn, the horse, and those boys.  Whoever they are, they look like a handful, and that, I do know, is "black and white."

Note: This is a submission for the Festival of Postcards Carnival hosted by Evelyn Yvonne Theriault on her blog,   A Canadian Family.  The theme is anything to do with the word "white."

Wordless Wednesday: John & Belle

Wedding Day

Does Time Reveal Mercy?

Wading Through the Photos and Heirlooms
I am defintely not going to say that going through the photos and heirlooms [my husband's family's genealogy jackpot cache] that I discovered at my father-in-laws' house is a chore.  On the contrary, it is absolutely awesome to uncover, to wonder, to research, and to document these rare treasures; for each one has a story behind it.  After all, someone or several "someones" thought so highly about the items that some of them have been kept for over 100 years.  Unfortunately, though, no perfect and detailed journal exists that can reveal their stories...just a vague memory here and a distant fragment of family lore there.  What do we do with these wonderful items that, while they are inanimate, are just brimming with stories to tell, if only they could talk!  I mean, could you imagine what these item's witnessed?   Not only that, but none of the vast family trees can compare [in my opinion] with touching - really touching - our family's history.  Holding it where our ancestor's hands were holding it.    It's one of our tangible connections with our past.  So, I ask again, what do we do when we don't know the story, or it's incomplete and/or vague?  Well, I have some items that have given me mixed signals, and in trying to determine the provenance of one item, I'm pretty sure I have uncovered the identities of two people that I found all alone in a Victorian era photograph album.  You see, sometimes it's not the story behind the name, but sometimes the story may lead you to the name...

The Ladies' Pocketwatch

I have to admit that my eyes like "pretty things".  They are naturally trained to find the "bling", but I am not [by any stretch of the imagination] an expert [not an even an amateur] on antique pocketwatches.  That being said, I was able to find some information to help me with my analysis.   This beautiful ladies' Elgin pocketwatch came in a small white envelope with 2 lines of writing on the envelope.  The first line reads, "Pearl May" and the second line reads, "Dad's Watch".  Not exactly specific, but better than a blank envelope.  Unless, of course, the information is incorrect, or it doesn't pertain to this particular pocketwatch.  As you can tell from the photographs, the pocketwatch has engravings on both sides with the front having a type of floral design around the edge and a blank shield and the back mirroring the front but instead of a shield, it has a bird in flight.  Also, the front "lid" of the casing is broken off, the glass is gone, and it does not run.  The outside of the envelope details a quote of the work that needs to be done to it.

So, Whose Pocketwatch Is This?

Well, that's a good question.  It is thought by my husband's family that the handwriting is from my husband's paternal grandfather, Forest Pointer. Forest's father was Harvey Lewis Pointer, and he was Pearl May's husband.  [Remember, the beautiful lady?]  Harve and Pearl married in 1906.  This is pretty cut and dry, right?  That's what I thought, but how do we know if the writing on the envelope refers to this watch?  How do we know if the identification of the pocketwatch by Forest is correct?  The answer is...we don't.

Identifying the Pocketwatch

I needed to identify the pocketwatch in order to document it correctly.  So, I crossed my fingers and googled "Elgin antique pocketwatches."  I was ever so lucky and I found a site that is "everything to do with Eligin antique pocketwatches" including a database of serial numbers and manufacturer descriptions at http://elginpocketwatches.org/.  [Yup, it was that easy.]  It took me step-by-step in identifying this pocketwatch including correcting me on the placement of the serial number [The number on the inside of the casing is the serial number for the casing.  The timepiece's serial number is located on the inside near the gears.  Just in case you were wondering.]  This is its "official" manufacturer description:

• This "style" was manufactured between 1899-1903;
• There were 3000 manufactured in a "run" and there were 45 runs;

• 15 jewels are located in it.
• It's a pendant model & pendant set.
• Designed for a hunter's case [meaning second hand is 90 degrees to the pendant];
• Has a 3/4 plate
• Has nickel damaskeening [a shiny silver color with patterns and designs that change when watch is moved (on timepiece not casing);
• Beats 5 beats/second;
• This particular timepiece was made about 1903, but probably selling several years after the date of manufacture;
• This particular style was manufactured in low-volumes, 3000/run [compared to a high volume of 10,000-20,000 per run]

Remember the stamping on the casing?  There were some more on the inside casing in the back where you access the actual timepiece's gears and whatnot.  [Yes, that's my technical term. ;)]  Using the same above process, I found information here about the casing's manufacturer.  [Back then, the casing & the timepiece were manufactured separately.]  It's stamped "Keystone Watch Case J.Boss, 14K, Guaranteed 25 years."  I discovered it was a 14k gold-filled case designed by J. Boss.  Boss was the man who received the patent for the gold filled process.  Wow, huh?  Who knew there was so much information that could be determined by a serial number on a pocketwatch? [And who would've guessed I'd be looking for it?]

Switching Gears

I put the pocketwatch aside [much to my chagrin because I really like the bling...].  Amongst all the photographs, there were 2 in particular that caught my eye.  Why?  Maybe because they were the only 2 studio photographs that were in this beautiful Victorian era celluloid photo album [the album is a story for another time].  Not only were these 2 photographs alone, but they were anonymous as well.  There were no names to be found on or around them.  Let me correct that.  Their names weren't on there, but they did have a studio "stamp" on the front.  It reads "C.W. Bonham, Gering Nebraska".  [Gering is located in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska.]  Now, it's thought by the family that the photo album came from the "Haley" side of the family, which would be my husband's paternal grandmother's family.  If this is correct, then the owner of this very lovely album would've been Lovina Emaline Haley [wife of Daniel Haley and my husband's 2nd great-grandmother who owned the 125-yr old autograph album.]  So, it's thought that the photographs are of the Haley persuasion.  [Not exactly definitive because throughout the generations, people could've changed these photographs around.]  I looked on both sides of the family looking for members who had lived in Nebraska.  There were 2 distinct family members that had lived in Nebraska - both from the "Haley" side. [Yes!]  The first was Emaline's younger brother James Madison Richmond.  I found him and his family living in Dawes County, Nebraska [located in the northwestern area of the state] in 1910 and his age is 47.  The other family member living in Nebraska was Frank Edward Haley the adopted son of Daniel and Lovina Haley.  In 1900, he was single and living in Gabe Rock Pct., Nebraska.  In 1910, it's listed that he'd been married to a woman for 5 yrs by the name of Mercy, and they were living in Rose Pct., Scotts Bluff County, NE.  Between 1910 and 1920, they moved back to Iowa [where Frank Edward was born and where he was raised by Daniel and Lovina].  Now, this puts Edward [the name Frank Edward went by] and his wife Mercy very much near Gering, NE, where these photographs were taken.  I looked up on a Scotts Bluff County map from 1907 on http://www.historicmapworks.com/ and learned that Rose Pct [where they lived in 1910] was near Gering, NE [in fact one district away].  This leads me to believe that these two people in these photographs are Frank Edward and Mercy (Slingbaum) Haley [Mercy is pictured above, and Edward I introduced you to here. ].  Not definitive, I know, but still a strong likelihood.  [Also, please note: I tried looking up information on the photography studio in Gering Nebraska, but was unable to find anything.]

Taking A Closer Look

If you take a closer look at the photograph of who I believe is Mercy Slingbaum Haley, you'll notice that she's wearing a...pendant pocketwatch.  I didn't notice this at first even though I had looked at this photograph several times.  I took a look at it under my magnifying glass, and then I could almost see the design on the pocketwatch.  It looked quite similar to the pocketwatch that I had been examining and documenting, but the pocketwatch is supposed to be from my husband's paternal grandfather line [Pointer], and Mercy is from his paternal grandmother line [Haley].  Of course, this might not be Mercy in this photograph, but no other familial lines [paternal or maternal], that I've been able to find, lived in or near Gering, Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska.  The closest other candidate is Lovina's younger brother James Madison Richmond who lived in Dawes County, Nebraska, so he's a possibility, but due to proximity, I think Edward and Mercy Haley are the better candidates.  I decided to try some digital enhancing of the pocketwatch to see if I could make out the design on the pocketwatch.  [Now,  I have no clue how to properly do this.  In fact, I am below an amateur when it comes to this, but I thought I'd at least try and "fiddle" with it!] Here is what I came up with:

Did Time Discover Mercy?

So, nothing really definitive, but I think the enhancements lend a little credence to my theory that this might be the same pocketwatch.  If it's not, it's one very similar.  Edward and Mercy were married in 1905 and this pocketwatch, remember, was manufactured in 1903, but probably sold several years after that.  However, Harve and Pearl were married in 1906, so the timing is right for this pocketwatch to have been a gift of some kind like a wedding gift, etc. for either woman.  One thing of note is that Edward Haley was raised in Jasper County, Iowa, moved to Nebraska and married there, and he and Mercy moved back to Jasper County, Iowa.  In addition Harve and Pearl Pointer lived in Story County, Iowa.  These are adjoining counties and maybe two similar pocketwatches were purchased at the same place.  However, the only problem is, at that time, Edward was living in Nebraska, but he could have gone home.   Maybe they [Mercy and Pearl] just had similar pendant pocketwatches.  Of course, this particular pocketwatch's "runs" were considered low volume - not high volume.  Basically, I don't know.  What I do know, though, is that I probably wouldn't have spent so much time examining an adopted son's life as much if I hadn't noticed the similarities in pocketwatches.  So, in this respect, time did truly help me find Mercy!

Caroline

[Note: All census information accessed through Heritage Quest Online and Ancestry.com]

Can You Say Genealogical Jackpot?

I Can...
Last night the kids and I [hubby is out-of-town] went to father-in-law's house to eat some incredibly good grub. [Of course, all meals that I don't have to prepare are incredibly good...] Some of my father-in-law's family was in town and eventually all the old family memorabilia came out...I had no clue what's been sitting in my father-in-law's house all this time! [He lives about 10 minutes away from us.] So, can you guess what I'm doing the rest of this week? Yup, scanning, photographing, indentifying, "database-entrying", etc., etc.... Just some of the items in this collection are:

• 125-year old Autograph Album of my hubby's great-grandmother, Pearl Williams;
• A book of Longfellow's poem "Evangeline" belonging to Pearl;
• A collection of Red Man chewing tobacco trading cards featuring American Indian Chiefs;
• One of Pearl's War Ration Books from World War II;
• A matching jewelry box and photo album that made its way to Iowa by covered wagon;
• Pocket Watch belonging to Pearl; and
• A Civil War tin-type picture of one of hubby's great-great-grandfathers' brother who was shot in The Battle of the Wilderness and was imprisoned in Libby Prison, where he died.

So, I'm going to be a little busy for a while. I think I sense some more family stories I get to share [I dunno. Maybe.]...

Caroline

Family Trees and Norwegian Kringla from Iowa

Why Not Norwegian Kringla?
"Honey, can you make some Kringla cookies like my mom and my Grandma used to make?" my husband asked me at Christmas a couple of years ago.  "Sure," I said as I mentally calculated just where I could "fit" that in...You see, I love to bake at Christmas.  I bake tons of cookies [and I really do mean tons].  I also make candy...just like my mom and my Gran used to do.  From our family secret peanut brittle to pralines and beyond...Not to mention pies and whatever else I pick out from my holiday cookbooks that looks pretty [and maybe a little challenging ;) ].  So, why not Norwegian Kringla? ["Why not," indeed!]

Apprenticeship, Anyone?
Do you know what Kringla is...Have you ever tasted it?  It's a very light cookie in the shape of a pretzel - not quite as sweet as sugar cookies, but in the same ballpark.  Anyway, I thought, "How hard could it be?"  [You'd think by now I would've learned to not ask that question.]  HA!  It's extremely hard to make Kringla.  For starters, the dough is runny [and it's supposed to be].  That's all fine and dandy, but then it can be kind of troublesome when trying to roll it in the shape of a snake [a small garden one...you know, the kind you made in kindergarten with clay].  I was a "little" fustrated at this point, as I was trying to do 10 things at once and even though I'd made the dough as cold as possible so that it would be stiff, I had no luck with it, and I had to admit failure at this particular point.  I really hate to lose, but this recipe of Grandma Richardson's had me beat.  I had to tell my hubby, there would be no Kringla for Christmas, and that I was going to have to go to Iowa and apprentice with his Norwegian descendant kinfolk.  He just looked at me and said, "Yeah, right."

Hackett's of Iowa
Yes, my husband was born in Iowa [but he got to Texas as soon as he could].  He's been here since he was in 5th grade, and he's assimilated nicely.  However, all his kinfolk settled in Iowa and were farmers [hard to believe, huh?].  Above I have some of my husband's mothers in his family [his mom will be in a separate post with my mom next.]  In the top middle is Grandma Richardson, a.ka. Neva Virene (Hackett) Richardson.  She and her family are in the next picture to the right.  Her father on the left was Raymond Clifford Hackett and her mother was Neva Jane Long on the right.  Grandma Richardson is in the middle with her two sisters Ila and Myrna.  The picture directly below is a very "motherly" picture...Great-Grandma Long sitting down with her three daughters behind her.  The next picture to the left is Grandma Richardson with her children and husband [my hubby's mom is on the far right].

Where the Kringla Secret Lies...
In the top left is a wedding picture of John R. Richardson and Belle T. Weeks, Grandma Richardson's in-laws, and this is the Norwegian connection [and where the Kringla recipe secret probably comes from].  It's kind of nice to put a face to the family that has stumped me with a cookie recipe [of all things]!  Be that as it may, I love this picture...it's so cool [for those of us who like old photographs].  When I began to research the Richardson family, I never in a million years would've thought that it had already been researched.  This line of my husband's has been traced back to the mid-1500's in Norway and Scotland.  A few brave Scottish souls sailed the frigid waters to Norway.  This is so cool and I am not jealous that it's traced back that far.  Nope, not at all.  [Well maybe just a little.  O.K., a lot].  The bright side is that I married into it, and it's mine now...[ha!]

One Good-Looking Grandma
The bottom left is my husband's Grandma Pointer, Myrtle Elaine Haley in both of the pictures.  Her family descends from Irish immigrants, Patrick Haley and Bridget Foley who settled in Vermont.  In the older picture from the 1970's I think she is one good-lookin' grandma!

Happy Mother's Day Great-Grandma Long, Great-Grandma Richardson, Grandma Richardson, and Grandma Pointer!

Caroline

My Gran's Southern Hash

The term, "hard times" has been tossed around lately, and I don't think that everyone knows what it means exactly. I'm not talking about politics or the market, though. While those are important for the "why", I'm talking about the "how." How did it affect the everyday family?

Just what did it mean to the everyday family?

I can still remember interviewing my Gran (my grandmother on my mom's side) for my family tree project my senior year in high school. I remember asking her, "how was life 'way back then'?" [My interviewing prowess showing even then! lol] While my technique obviously needed work, I think, in this case, it may have have been the right approach. Her answer was so clear and simple, but powerful. She replied," Dear," [my Gran always started a story with "Dear,..."] "during the war, we would wait in line on 'meat' day with our ration books." [Huh?]

Since we were sitting at the dinner table with full tummies and my mom in the kitchen doing the dishes, her reply caught me offguard. As a friend of mine likes to say, "I just don't have a slot for that." I couldn't compute that statement.

She went on to explain about rationing books and not having enough meat to go around during World War II. They were allowed only so much meat [and other goods] per week per person. Could you imagine - in this day and age in America - standing in line with your neighbors every week with your ration coupon books clutched in your hands in order to receive your ration of food items for the week for your family? [And to think I complain about having to go to the store...]

I also now understand my Gran's recipe for Southern hash. You see, my husband & I disagree on what hash really is. He was born in Iowa, but got to Texas as fast as he could, and I am a Texan, born and raised. [Hey, y'all!] Whenever my Gran would visit, she'd make hash at the end of the week, which consisted of all [and I do mean all] the leftovers in the fridge and homemade biscuits. And everytime I make it for my family, my husband always says that it isn't really hash, but a stew concoction of sorts. He says that real hash is made with corned beef and potatoes and served for breakfast. [Well, my Gran's Gran was 100% Irish, and I know what corned beef is. It's what you eat with cabbage on St. Patty's Day] To be fair, though, I have had corned beef hash, and it makes a wonderful breakfast. O.K., so there's 2 types of hash: Southern and not-Southern [but my Gran's hash is the real one - at least for me...]

While I make Gran's Southern Hash for my family [and "stew" for my husband] out of nostalgia and comfort [and yes, sometimes out of laziness - I really hate going to the store], my Gran made it out of necessity in order to feed the mouths of 8 growing children. My Gran's story about "hard times" during World War II is similar to a lot of other people's stories who went through it.

They scraped.

They saved.

They made "do" with what they had.

They hunkered down. [Texas-speak]

They worked long and hard to put food on the table for their families.

That's their family story.

It's my Gran's family story.

And it's my family story, too...

Caroline