Category Archives: Family History

Family History Friday (FHF): Times Were Hard!

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It doesn’t take long
to write down a memory.
Especially if you write them down one memory at a time.
The following is one of the stories my dad told about his dad, my grandpa. It such a simple, but sweet story of sacrifice and love. It is one of my favorite stories about my grandpa. I never knew him. He died when I was five. We lived in Utah, and grandpa lived in Washington State at the time. Since I didn’t know him, I’m grateful my dad wrote the stories down. Now,
we’ll all know him!!
“I had some good memories of Dad and of some of the sacrifices he made for his family. I can remember as a little boy in the late 1930’s, the effects of the depression were still very much apparent. They were hard times, and Dad just made enough money each day to take care of the expenses of the day. There was never any extra, and so each night after work, Dad brought home the groceries that Mom made supper with. In the wintertime, it was especially hard. Dad would have to walk home from work at the cleaning and tailor shop where he worked and stop on the way to get a few groceries. We lived about a mile west of town along Highway 10. I remember as a child, along with some of my brothers and sisters, scratching the ice off the inside of the window so we could see out, and then pressing our noses against the window to see if we could see Dad coming down the highway. Minnesota winters were very cold and when Dad walked in the door he was quite a sight. The cold wind would cause his eyes to water, but because he had groceries in his hands he couldn’t wipe the tears from his eyes and so they would form icicles on his eyelashes. His nose, too, would run and icicles would also hang from his nose.
(This isn’t grandpa, it’s Ernest Shackleton, but notice the frosty beard)

Mom would have her wood stove all fired up to cook one of her wonderful suppers out of the simplest fair. They were difficult times, but I have a lot of fond memories from them.”

I think it is amazing that grandpa had to work each day for the food grandma would prepare for the family to eat that night. My grandparents were strong people. Like I always say….if they can do what they did, I can do what I need to do in my life. I love them, I love grandpa. Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

My Momma!

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My Mom on her wedding day! Beautiful!

Today is my Mom‘s birthday. She has lived a long and amazing life. I asked my grandma once how my mom was as child, and she said she was always a sweet child. I believe that. She has always been a sweet momma. When I was a teenager I had the usual struggles, (I call the teen years, especially jr. high, the arm pit of life.) I remember my mom sitting at the foot of my bed, and listening to me. She would encourage and counsel me. She loved me as I struggled along. She has always been a good listener. Growing up, she was my always there for me. And, as I have become a grown momma myself, she continues to be a source of encouragement and love. I can always count on her to build me up and tell me what an good mom I am.
She is super creative and ambitious. She is a great example to me of getting a lot done. She volunteers in the community and teachs classes about doing your family history. She never stops learning and reading, then sharing it with others. While other people her age have slowed down, she hasn’t. If I live to be at least her age, I have 30 years to contribute to society. To find and complete all of my life missions. I have alot of things I’d still like to do, and she is great example of “doing”! I feel so blessed and thankful to have such a wonderful mother. She is the best mom for me.
Happy Birthday, Momma!!

Family History Friday (FHF): She had 16 Kids! Part 2

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Part 1 –here!
Charity said
she had 15 children.
She told us on the census.  My mom found 14 children by looking at the census records.  We knew for sure that 4 children had been born, and had died as children (I kept wondering if maybe she lost count). My mom and dad went on a trip to the place where Charity lived after she came to America. She lived  in Colorado, in a mining town.

We knew that Samson had died about a year or so after Charity and their children came to America. My mom and dad took the trip because they wanted to see the area and town and hopefully find out something new. It was mostly a ghost town with only a few people living there, in what they called their summer homes. They went to the cemetery to see Samson’s grave and  found it. It was a large beautiful head stone. Charity’s grave was a few rows over, she died much later that Samson. The miracle is…that next to Samson’s grave was a small grave stone with a lamb on top of it. The inscription said, Katie, daughter of Samson and Charity. There she was, the 15th child!! She was only about 2 when she died. She only lived long enough not to show up on a census record. We would still be wondering where the 15th child was, if mom and dad hadn’t taken that trip. I am so glad they did. Remember, I was telling you a while back…use your vacations to travel places your family came from. You may find out something that you didn’t know about them. And you may just have a great time. I love my roots.
Happy Family History Friday!! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): I love to sew!

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I have always loved to sew! In fact, I would say I’m not half bad at it. I took a sewing class in high school and passed with no problem. I just seemed to be a natural. I have made oodles of clothes for my darling little girls (who are now grown up). In fact, it wasn’t until I became an adult that I really understood that I might be pretty good at sewing, because my grandmas were both good at it. Maybe it is in the DNA. My dad’s mom was actually a seamstress. My grandpa owned a taylor shop in Pullman, Washington, and grandma would sew the suits. My mom’s mom use to sew dresses for my mom and her sister. Many pictures of my mom and my aunt growing up, are taken of them wearing outfits my grandma made for them. Knowing that I have a talent that was so much a part of both of my grandma’s lives means so much to me. Sometimes when I’m sitting at the sewing machine I think about them and my heart is full. Full of love and appreciation for them and their lives and talents. See what talents you have that you may share with your ancestors. Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Happy Birthday!!! My Flexy is 19!!!

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Well his name isn’t really Flexy. He just asked me to call him that when he was about 5 years old. It has been 19 years today, since he was born. When I had Alex, and they handed him to me, they said, “Here is your baby“. I was quite overwhelmed, because I had a 19 month old baby at home. The first thought I had was…”What was I thinking?” Well, I must have been thinking…”This will be fun!! Let’s have another baby!!” I remember going to the grocery store with Riley in the front of the cart (you know, where I probably shouldn’t have put him), Kelsey in the baby seat and Alex hanging off the front of me in an infant carrier. GOOD TIMES! I only left the house to go somewhere, if I could take my time. People would pass by and say, “You look like a busy, mom.” Honestly, it has been fun. Alex has been such a fun little boy, teenager and young man. He is getting ready to go on an LDS mission and is soooo excited. We’ll let you know where he gets his call when it comes!!
I love this darling boy!!!
Happy Birthday, Alex!!

Family History Friday (FHF): She had 15 Kids!!!!

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My 4th great grandmother’s name is Charity. She is someone I’d really like to meet. She came to America on a ship by herself with ten kids. Her husband Samson had come about a year earlier to find work and a place to live. They were so brave. To leave home by herself and travel with all the kids makes me admire Charity’s tenacity, and her courage. She must have known there would be hardship, challenges and uncertainty. How did she do it? I’m sure life was very difficult in England. They were miners, and it wasn’t unusual for the miner to take one or two of his children to work with him to help bring in more money for the family. They had a big family, so I’m sure they were very lean on what makes life comfortable. Maybe life was so hard that leaving was the only option that would give them a future. At this time in history, I’m sure rumors were everywhere of the jobs, plenty and wealth, that could be found in America. However they came to the decision to leave home, they did, they came to America. She came to America on a ship with 10 kids by herself. What a committed and faithful woman. I’m sure that her children were very helpful and that she could count on them to make the trip as ordinary as possible. I admire Charity and I love her too. I am grateful she made the trip and blessed the lives of some many decendants.
 Charity had 15 children. How do we know? We know because she said told us. You might say, “how could she tell us, when she died in 1916?” She told us, on a census record. An important thing to remember about census records is that, depending on the year of the census, different questions may be asked. On two of the census records, the mother is asked “How many children did you have?” And “how many of them are still living?” The first time the questions are asked is on the 1900 census. Charity said she had 15 children, but only ten children were listed by name. That meant that 5 children were missing. They could either be old enough to be married, or they could have passed away. From this we could tell, those children needed to be found somewhere. But where? Other places to look, include: earlier census records, birth, and death records. We were successful in finding 4 of the missing children. They were born and died in England before she came to America. One was still missing, but her story will be told on the next FHF.
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): A Great Project

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I saw and fell in love with a darling family history project done by Lisa at “tarnished and tattered”  you can see it here. Can you stand it? I absolutely love it! Wouldn’t it be fun to have our homes full of heirlooms, pictures and crafts that are a reminder of our sweet ancesters. I have my Grandma’s hope chest, my grandpa’s harmonica and an old skeleton key, a beautiful vase from my great-great-grandma, and many other items around my home. Go through your stuff, and see what you can come up with to decorate your home. When I see these special items around my home, I think about my ancestors, and how much I love them. It also gives me an opportunity to share stories about that ancestor, when people ask about my decor. What a great way to decorate!! Happy Family History Friday! Thanks Lisa!! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): Happy Birthday Norman!

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It was Norman Rockwell’s birthday on Wednesday,
 and I thought I’d share a darling picture he painted of a family tree. I think my favorite is the pirate at the bottom. He looks a little like Johnny Depp. Don’t you think?
Make a family tree to
display in your home.
If you have young children, have them draw their family and grandparents and great-grandparents on a tree and share it. Who knows, it might be the next family treasure!!
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): Do what you can.

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So it’s Saturday…and I’m just doing my FHF. I’m always pushing myself and you to go, go, go! Not because I want to be annoying, but because I need the motivation. I’m psyching myself and hopefully some of you to do what you can. I know we all live in this hectic world and life happens, but I always want to be doing something every week with family history. I sincerely love my ancesters and want to know them, and want my children to know them. Sometimes you’re pooped. I was pooped yesterday. I am feeling much more energetic today. So my advice to you today is do what you can, but make it a priority. And don’t get frustrated if your not able to do everything you want, all the time. Remember, “slow and steady wins the race”.