This is a family portrait (circa 1891, taken in Geneva, Nebraska) of my 2nd-great grandfather, George Franklin Pierce Wilson and his family. Back row (left to right) Dollie Elizabeth Wilson, age 12, Charles Issac Wilson, 16, Clara Etta Wilson (my great-grandmother), 15. Seated in front (left to right) George Franklin Pierce Wilson, 38, Clarence Cornelius Wilson, 11, Nancy Minerva Lightbody Wilson, 38.
One of my most cherished possessions is a child-sized ring and bracelet that my grandfather gave me when I was merely a baby, over 56 years ago. They are both so tiny and 
precious. Made from silver with small little turquoise stones embedded. We were his first granddaughters and he wanted to mark the occasion appropriately. I am sure that I was only able to wear them for a short time as I was growing up. My mother had kept these mementos until she finally gave both my sister and I our individual set of jewelry.
This picture is the first time my grandfather saw my sister and I. It was also when 
he gave us our rings and bracelets. Now before you start leaving comments…yes, I am a twin. I believe in this picture I am the one looking up at my grandfather. (At least that’s what my mother told me!) My sister is 2 minutes older than I am. When asked “What’s it like to be a twin?”; my response is always the same, “What’s it like NOT to be?”
Curtis Issac Jackson (1751-1829) is my 5th great grandfather on my mother’s side.
Transcribed from the New Garden M.M. Minutes 1754-1800, Friends Historical Collection, Hege Library, Gilford College, Greensboro, NC
At our Monthly meeting held at New Garden the 30th of the 9th mo 1775. The representatives being call’d appear’d.
Curtis Jackson and Ruth Beales appeared at the meeting and declared their intention of taking each other in marriage. Uriah Carson and Thomas Jessop is appointed to enquire into the young Man’s life, and conversation, clear’d of marriage engagements with others, and what else may be needful, and make report to the next Meeting.
At our Monthly Meeting at New Garden the 25th of the 11th month 1775. The respresentatives being call’d they appear’d.
One of the friends appointed to attend the marriage of Curtis Jackson with Ruth Beals, reports it was orderly accomplish’d and brought the Marriage Certificate: the other sent the same account.
Whereas Curtis Jackson Son of Samuel Jackson of Surry County North Carolina and Ruth Beales Daughter of Bowater Beales of the same place, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several Monthly Meetings of the people called Quakers held at New Garden in Guilford County according to the good order used among them and nothing appearing were left to their Liberty to accomplish their marriage according to good order the which they did at a meeting of Said People at Toms Creek in Surry County and before many witnesses 12 of those names are here inserted to wit.
Phoebe Sumner StangemanStanley
Hannah Hiatt Michal Huff
Miriam Carr Caleb Sumner
Kezia Mills Joseph Hiatt
Mary Cook Thomas Cook
Elizabeth Mills Thomas Jessup
C.C. (Clarence Cornelius) Wilson, Jr. was my 1 cousin 2X removed.
Partial transcription from the Savannah Reporter, July 4, 1930 (Savannah, Missouri)
“Youth Killed Wednesday Morning
Great Western 5 a.m. Passenger Saw Him Sitting on Track Below Sanatorium.
Funeral services for C.C. Wilson, Jr., whose body was found by the Great Western train crew Wednesday morning, were held yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Breit Funeral Home with Rev. B.L. Holcomb, pastor of the M.E. Church South, in charge. Burial was in the Savannah cemetery…
…The family, the coroner and all are at a loss to know why he was sitting on the track after daylight, as the train reaches Savannah at 4:49. The 6 o’clock interurban would have taken him home in another hour and there was no freight for him to catch to go to his home at Industrial City. Besides he had never been known to do this. He has been working with his father at stone and concrete work, especially foundation work. His father had told him they were not going to work Wednesday and there was no reason for him to hurry home. Heretofore when he missed the car he had been going to the home of his associate workman, young Wampler, and remaining until morning.
The passenger train which struck him does not stop at Savannah. He and his father had been working on the foundation at the Bunse farm near Cosby and also the concrete foundation for Mr. Willoughby at Rochester. If C.C. had started to walk before 1 o’clock down the track he would have been home before 5 o’clock but there would have been no reason in his going alone down the track and his habit of being careful with his best clothes and having money sufficiently he would not start home to walk along nine miles at that time of night. Undertaker Briet says there was no evidence whatever of there being any intoxicating liquor about the body. The family say emphatically that C.C. never was a sound sleeper…
…This biography was read at the service yesterday:
C.C. Wilson, second son of Clarence C. and Daisy M. Wilson, was born in Savannah August 10, 1912, and died in Savannah July 2, 1930, aged 17 years, 10 months and 22 days. He had spent practically all his life in Savannah and attended the Savannah school. He was of exemplary habits and was industrious and fair in all his dealings and well liked by all who know him. He is survived by his father and mother, four brothers, Paul R., Earle, Jewell and Eugene; two sisters, Dorothy Norene and Carol Evelyn, his grandfather J.M. Rogers, and a number of uncles and aunts and other relatives.”
Needham Stephens was my 2nd great grandfather on my Mom’s side. He has been my brick wall for a very long time! I remember hearing my grandmother talk about him and how he died in the Civil War. According to my grandmother, when his wife went to get his pension, she was asked how to spell the name Stephens. She did not know how to read or write so she picked the biblical spelling of Stephens. I have often wondered if this might be the reason for my brick wall…but I have tried other spelling as well! Any help would be appreciated…below is the information I currently have on him.
Needham Stephens was born in 1812 in North Carolina, USA. He died in 1869 in Batesville, Independence, Arkansas, USA. When he was 40, He married Margaret I. Jones,daughter of William E Jones and Altha Leoner, on 11 Apr 1852 in Lafayette, Arkansas, USA.
He lived in Carouse, Hempstead, Arkansas in 1860.
Needham Stephens and Margaret I. Jones had the following children:
The Coffeyville Daily Journal, Wednesday Evening, November 24, 1920
“Miss Ruth Fuller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Fuller of Coffeyville, formerly living north of Chetopa where the bride was at times our Pleasant Valley correspondent, was united in marriage to Mr. Charles Pyatt, formerly one of the well and favorably known young men of this community. While we have no particulars, we understand the groom has been employed in Texas and that they will make their home there. The bride is a very attractive young woman, a graduate of our city schools, and popular with all. The groom is a young man of good character and habits. The Clipper, with their hosts of friends, joins in extending felicitations.”
This is a transcript of the wedding announcement for my paternal grandparents. Ruth Frankie Fuller was born in 1900 in Omaha, Nebraska. She moved to Labette County, Kansas somewhere between 1910 and 1915. Charles Alfred Pyatt was born in 1896 in Springfield, Missouri. He moved to Labette County, Kansas prior to 1910. They were married in Coffeyville and as the announcement states, they moved to Texas. Unfortunately the marriage did not last. They had one son (my father) and were divorced in 1935.
Newly-weds This is one of the few pictures of my grandparents together. Sadly, my grandmother destroyed most of the pictures of the two of them together after the divorce.
My father passed away July 13, 2010. He was a veteran from WWII. He sacrificed a lot for his country. He was 17 years old when he enlisted. He lied about his age to get into the Army. He didn’t join the army to go to war; but the war caught up with him. He joined to be able to play his tuba in the Army Band…very plain, very simple. Plus, by joining the Army he could get paid for what he loved to do – playing his tuba. My father was in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked in 1941. He was on the Bataan Death March. He was a POW for 4 years.
When he passed away we had him buried at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. He received a moving and touching military funeral. We knew it would be six months before his official headstone would be placed. Unfortunately none of my family lives in California. As the family historian I had tried several avenues to try to obtain pictures of his headstone. I did not have much success. Until I was reading another blog recently that mentioned that Find A Grave had photo request volunteers who take the time to go to local cemeteries and take pictures. I put in a request and the very next day I received photos. This was shortly after Christmas and the photographer was able to get a photo with the wreaths that are placed on each veterans headstone. My family was thrilled to receive these photos. I have now registered at find-a-grave and have become one of those volunteers myself. I know what it meant to me to have these photos; I hope to “pay it forward” soon!
It was 3 years ago today that my mom died. I think about and miss her each and every day. She was quite an amazing person. She bucked all the trends as we were growing up. She initially started college with the intent on being a Doctor. Then, as so often happens, she met my Dad. After having five children, and when I was just starting the 1st grade, she started working. What a shock went through the neighborhood! A working mom – rarely heard of in those days. She continued working and started classes at University of Colorado, Boulder. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology. She worked at a local hospital. She was even named Medical Technologist of the year! We moved around a lot when I was young…part of my Dad’s job. My mom would get things organized, houses sold, new houses found and purchased, moving done, kids enrolled at school, etc. She continued working and again went back to school, Sarah Lawrence College, and received her Master’s Degree in Human Genetics. She became a Genetic Counselor for people with high-risk pregnancies. She worked until she retired many years ago. She spent her last few years enjoying life, her dogs, working out to stay in shape, and any time she could get with her family. She was an inspiration. We talked every day on the phone…mainly about trivial things. I sure miss those calls. Find myself picking up the phone to call her all the time…missing her a lot – especially today.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
I created this video and it was played at her funeral, January 10, 2009.
“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.” Teaching children values and giving them the opportunity to excel is essential to good parenting. However, I feel I must also provide my children (and myself) insight into the ones who came before us: our ancestors whose lives and stories have shaped us into who we are. This is my journey; these are their stories…
Life under the thinking tree
Louise Mabey
A genealogical site devoted to the history of the DeKorn and Zuidweg families of Kalamazoo and the Mulder family of Caledonia
Fun With Genealogy
Writerly ways for Family Historians and Storytellers
This WordPress.com site is Pacific War era information
Gleanings from my father Glen S. Player's ephemera from Seattle school reunions. He graduated WQA 1932 and QAHS 1936.
Family history from the Western District of Victoria, Australia
Kathi O'Neill Genealogy 