Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to all my family- from those close by to those far away and especially those that are no longer with us.  I love you all very much.

"Kreativ Blogger" award

I am so excited to have been given the "Kreativ Blogger" award.  Thank you to Sheri Bush of Family Twigs for visiting my blog and giving this award to me.  Family Twigs can be found at:

http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/

The winner of this award is asked to list seven things about themselves and then pass the award along to seven other bloggers.


Here are somethings you probably don't know about me:

1.  My family is the most important thing in my life.

2.  I am probably too sentimental and tender-hearted.

3.  Our four year old daughter is my pride and joy.  She is so interested in family history and always asks me to tell her "old stories about our family."

4.  I love Georgia football, Atlanta Braves baseball and hate to mop.

5.  I would give most anything to spend some time with my ancestors and have time to really get to know each of them.

6.  My favorite quote is "Most famous people aren't great and most great people aren't famous."

7.  I love everything about living in the South and couldn't imagine ever living anywhere else. 



It is so difficult to limit my picks to 7 other blogs but here are my choices for "Kreativ Blogger" (in no particular order).  Please visit these great blogs when you can.


The Educated Genealogist  http://sherifenley.blogspot.com/

The Dead Librarian  http://thedeadlibrarian.blogspot.com/

100 Years in America  http://100inamerica.blogspot.com/

We Tree  http://wetree.blogspot.com/

Lost Family Treasures  http://lostmementos.blogspot.com/

Old Photos & Genealogy  http://oldphotosblog.blogspot.com/

The Armchair Genealogist  http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com/


Of course another blog I love is my other blog called "My Papa's Book," but I would never nominate myself!  :)  Please check it out if you have a chance:
http://mypapasbook.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Joy

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Joy

As the weather has gotten cooler here in Georgia, my thoughts drift toward Christmas.  58 days until Christmas day- where does the time go?

(That's my daddy on the far left.)

Tombstone Tuesday- Joseph B. York (1830-1914)

Joseph B. York was born 5 November 1830. He was the son of Margaret and Jeremiah York and he grew up in the Persimmon area of Rabun County, Georgia.

Joseph served in the Confederacy with Company E of the 24th Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry. He died on 29 July 1914. He and both his wives are buried at Persimmon Baptist Church Cemetery in Persimmon, Rabun County, GA.

His daughter Adeline York is my great-great-grandmother.

Wordless Wednesday- Luther Thompson and family

My great-grandfather, Luther Thompson was born in Persimmon Valley, Rabun County, Georgia on 23 March 1886.  He was the son of Sidney E. Thompson and his wife Adeline York Thompson, both also born in Rabun County.

This photograph shows Luther with his some of his daughters with his second wife (my great-grandmother), Sellie Clark.  My grandmother, Mary Ann Thompson Ellenburg (born 8 June 1924) is standing on the back left.  Her sisters are standing beside her (from left to right) are Ora (born 22 April 1922), Wilma (born 20 Dec. 1932) and Francis (born 24 Sept. 1936). Luther is holding my father, Lee Ellenburg (born 1 Jan. 1945). I believe this picture was taken around 1948 because my daddy looks to be about 3 years old.

Tombstone Tuesday: What do you do when the tombstone is wrong?

My great-great grandfather’s name was Sidney E. Thompson and he grew up in Persimmon Valley, Rabun County, Georgia. He moved his family to Marble, Cherokee County, North Carolina. His son, Luther Thompson, plus Luther’s wife, Sellie and their family joined Sidney around 1931. Sidney is listed as a founder of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church near Marble.

Sidney’s daughter in law (my great-grandmother) Sellie Clark Thompson died during childbirth in 1936 and Luther moved his children back to Rabun County that fall. Sidney didn’t have any horses and didn’t want to overwork his mules so he would walk from Marble, NC to Tiger in Rabun County, GA to spend time with Luther and his children.

The Thompson family realized Sidney was getting older and arranged the first annual Thompson Family Reunion on 7 August 1838 in Rabun County. Sidney happily attended as it was held in his honor. Many in the community attended to see Sidney although they were not Thompsons. (I have a list of those in attendance published earlier in this blog.) Sidney died in the months following that first reunion. The reunion is still being held each August and I just attended the 71st annual Thompson reunion in Persimmon. Sidney Thompson is buried with his wife, Adeline York Thompson at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.



My problem is: What do you do when the tombstone is wrong?

I was surprised to visit Mt. Zion Cemetery to find the tombstone death date states he died in August 1963. I have yet to find proof of an exact death date but know from my grandmother and other Thompson relatives that he died around 1938 and definitely before August of 1939 when they held the second reunion.



Any suggestions as to how I should handle this situation?

Thompson Family members have worked as Blacksmith over the years

My grandmother, Mary Ann Thompson Ellenburg,  had saved this newspaper article about her Thompson family. It was in The Andrews Journal on 29 September 1994.


The Andrews Journal


29 September 1994



Newspaper Article about Gary Thompson: Actual Title of Article Unknown (The title was cut off newspaper clipping)

By Jane Birchfield

Feature Writer



The last known blacksmiths in Andrews were Peg Palmer, so known because of his wooden leg, and Charlie Frasier.



“I remember being in the shop with Charlie back when I was in the third and fourth grades,” said Gary Thompson, who has recently opened a blacksmith shop, Happy Top Anvil, located in the Happy Top section of Andrews.



The Thompson’s blacksmithing trade was brought to Lenoir, North Carolina from Scotland in 1754 by Peter Thompson who, due largely to the demands of the Revolutionary War, set up and ran a highly successful blacksmith shop.



Generations later Gary’s grandfather, John Thompson, left his home in Clayton, GA at age 15 because he was tired of working for his father, Granville, who was as well-known for his black-smithing trade as he was for his moonshine.



Grandfather John settled in Marble where he married Lura King and established his blacksmith shop behind Abernathy’s store, but as horses and wagons gave way to the automobile, the demand for blacksmiths began to wane in the small mountain communities. Gary’s father, Blaine did not take up the trade, but Gary grew up hearing the family stories of the blacksmithing heritage that had been passed down for over 200 years.



“I always had an interest in blacksmithing but never did anything about it,” he said. “Then one day at Tri-County Community College (TCCC) I found out through Human Resources Development (HRD) that there was to be an Apprentice Program at the John Campbell Folk School.”



“I applied and was accepted in a 3-year program. I attended blacksmith classes every week for the first nine months at the Folk School and took classes at TCCC in welding, computer and small business in conjunction with other blacksmithing courses over the next two years.”



Gary produces a variety of craft items, mostly in the Colonial tradition, such as coat racks, trivets, fireplace tools, spatulas, roasting forks, hooks, boot scrapers and candlesticks.



He also makes custom knives with bone and wood handles, some of the Damascus blades themselves being a work of art with their intricately patterned steel and nickel designs.



“I really like architectural hardware, both in Colonial and Gothic styles, like door hinges and thumb latches,” he said. “I would also like to experiment with weathervanes.”



“The pioneer blacksmiths were a vital part of the community because if the item were metal, the blacksmiths made it and repaired it. They operated much as a hardware store and a service center. I don’t see myself as a vital part of a modern community in the same sense, but as a keeper of the blacksmithing tradition.”



Photograph Captions:

1) Great-grandfather Granville Thompson (2nd from left) and his brothers and sister. (Copy of picture included below- My great-great-grandfather, Sidney Thompson is 4th from the left.)

2) Gary Thompson at his shop. (I'm sorry I don't have a copy of this photograph to share.)

New Ellenburg Blog

When I started my first genealogy blog "My Papa's Book," I never imagined how much I would enjoy writing and how many other researchers would contact me about my research.  I've noticed it gets a little confusing for my family to have both sides of my family combined in one big blog- so I will keep "My Papa's Book" for my mother's Chandler line. I have started a new blog for the Ellenburg side of the family.

What should I call the blog about my father's side of the family?  I tried to call it "with all my heart" because that's what my grandmother would say to me every time she told me she loved me but that name was already taken. I thought about my favorite memories of my grandparents and had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few.  The same words kept popping in my mind as possible names.

The first word was "banjo" because I can't see a banjo today without thinking of Grandpapa.  I'm sure he never had any idea that the times he played his banjo for me would make such an impression.

When I think of my grandmother I always remember the quilts she made for me and my sisters and later for my daughter.  I still can taste her perfect biscuits and continue to try to make them myself- they are close but still not as good as her biscuits.  One of my favorite memories of Grandmimi was when my sisters and I went to spend a few days with her and she taught us how to make baby dolls.  We stayed up so late making those three babies and I cherish both the doll and the memories.  Hence the name "Banjos and Baby Dolls." I think it's time to teach my baby girl how to sew her own baby doll.

I've joined "Find A Grave"

I have recently joined "Find A Grave" and have started adding tombstone information and photographs for my ancestors' graves. 

Here's the link so that you can check it out!

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&GRid=42936861&MRid=47183954


I have also added a "Find A Grave" search box at the bottom of the main page of this blog that will allow you to view all my "Find A Grave" Submissions.

Wordless Wednesday- The Ellenburg Family

These are my great-great-grandparents, George Washington Ellenburg and Rachel M. Watkins Ellenburg and their children.

Back Row (standing): Dovey, Bessie (my great-grandmother), Luther, Cancie

Front Row: Sibbie, George is holding Susie, Rachel is holding Lewis

This picture was taken around 1910 in the area on the boundary lines of Rabun County, Georgia and Macon County, North Carolina, near the area of Sky Valley, GA . 

Treasure Chest Thursday

For my first "Treasure Chest Thursday," I thought about all my family's treasures. The one thing most important to me, is how I cherish the time we have been able to spend together. I treasure this picture of 4 generations together and know that one day my daughter will cherish this picture together with me, her grandfather and great-grandmother. We miss them both very much.

Wordless Wednesday- Bessie Ellenburg

This is my great-grandmother, Bessie Ellenburg of Rabun County, Georgia. She was born on 4 March 1897 and died on 23 March 1919 in Jackson County, Georgia.

Her son Roy is my paternal grandfather.

Transcribing Help for a busy Genealogist

I am so excited to find this transcription program! I first heard about it when listening to a “Family History: Genealogy Made Easy” Podcast: Episode 40: Why You Need to Blog and How To Do It Part 1


http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/415-family-history



The Transcript software mentioned by Denise Levenick can be found at

http://www.jacobboerema.nl/en/Freeware.htm




I downloaded the free program yesterday and am amazed at how much easier this is. I am currently working on a land deed for my Willis C. Chandler in Greenville County, South Carolina from 7 January 1845 and have been able to transcribe it in about a fourth of the time it would have typically taken me. Now if I had only listened to my father and taken typing in high school- I’d really be able to get these out fast!



The land deeds I am transcribing can be found online at http://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/DirectoryListings/ROD_DirectoryListing/

Desperately Seeking Willis

I am searching for any information that could help me shed light on the parents of Willis C. Chandler born 28 December 1807. South Carolina Census records say that he was born in South Carolina. The first record that I have found shows Willis signing as a witness to a Codicil added to the will of William Devenport (also an ancestor of mine) between January 1840 and July 1842. The Codicil states that Devenport purchased a tract of land from John Kirby and his children were to divide said land equaling among themselves. The 3 witnesses were listed as Lewis H. Shumate, Nimrod Donaldson and Willis Chandler.

On 12 October 1845, he and his wife Leanna Campbell Chandler joined the Fork Shoals Baptist Church in Greenville County, SC. They are listed as “RWD” in the church minutes, which means “received without detail.” No children are mentioned in the church minutes. Leanna Campbell is the daughter of John Richard Campbell and Virginia Jane Barnett.

Willis and Leanna had 3 children. Mary Jane (26 April 1837- 19 May 1884) married Mark L. Davis. Sarah Ann “Annie” (23 April 1841- 1 April 1874) married Frank M. Austin and is buried at Fork Shoals Baptist Church. My great-great-grandfather, Pinckney Lafayette Chandler was born in 29 December 1842 and married Susan Elliotte Vance (granddaughter of the William Devenport I mentioned earlier). Pinckney died on Christmas Day 1868. His only child, my great-grandfather William Vance Chandler was 17 months old.

Willis remained in Greenville County until his death 13 February 1887. He and his wife Leanna are buried at Fork Shoals Baptist Church. She died 15 January 1876. He was active in the church and served a many committees. He appeared as head of household in the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 South Carolina censuses (in the Oaklawn Township) as well as the 1860 Slave Schedule. His name appears in the Greenville County newspaper “The Southern Enterprise” on 8 September 1869 when serving on the grand jury. He appears in the 1843-1844 Greenville City Directory, as a land owner in the Fork Shoals area.

I have been unable to find him in the 1840 census or at any time before witnessing Devenport’s will between 1840 and 1842. I have been in contact with a few of his daughters’ descendants and they have no information on his parents. I have been told that he may be the son (along with Allen, Josiah and sister Rachel) of Henry Chandler, grandson of William Hampton Chandler of Greenville County, SC but have found no proof for my Willis or the others. I have long suspected that he and Allen Chandler may be brothers or first cousins but have no definite proof of that either.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have in determining a family for my Willis. Thank you in advance for your help.

Bertha Lee Cox at age 16

This photograph says "Bertha Lee Cox, age 16" on the back.  I'm so excited to have it labeled but am unsure about who Miss Cox is and how she relates to my family.  She possibly lived in or had family in Habersham County, Georgia, Hall County, Georgia or Greenville County, South Carolina.  If you have any idea, please let me know!

The 1st Thompson Reunion; 7 August 1938

This is a list of people that attended the first Thompson Family Reunion held at the home of Mr. Roy Thompson at Rabun County, Georgia on August 7, 1938. I was told this reunion was held in honor of Sidney E. Thompson, as he was getting older and wanted everyone to get together when he visited Persimmon Valley. He was living in Marble, North Carolina at the time.

He attended this reunion and then died before the second reunion was held the following year. Thank you to Jimmy Thompson for sharing this wonderful list with me.

Gillsville Society Section; The Gainesville Eagle, 6 Oct. 1932

The Gainesville Eagle
Gainesville, Hall County, GA
Thursday, Oct. 6, 1932
Section: Down the Valleys of Hall

Gillsville Route 2

Mr. and Mrs. Ollin Johnson of Columbia, SC visited Mr. and Mrs. Royce Griffin last week.

Mrs. O.D. Buffington returned Saturday after visiting in Atlanta.

Mrs. J.B. Buffington is visiting her daughter, Mrs. George Martin in Gainesville.

Miss Mary Griffin visited Miss Sara Griffin last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Noah Martin spent Wednesday here with home-folks.

Mrs. Payton Tanner visited Mrs. Frank Buffington last week.

There will be prayer services at the home of Mr. Johnie Buffington’s Saturday night, October 8.



Source: The Gainesville Eagle is on microfilm at Hall County Library, Gainesville, GA

Dr. William Vance Chandler & Family, Baldwin, Habersham County, GA

In this photo:

Dr. William Vance "Will" Chandler, his wife Tallulah Christine "Tina" Jones Chandler and their children William Pinckney "Billy" Chandler and Julia Nelle Chandler.

This picture appears to be taken outside their home on Chandler Street in Baldwin, Habersham County, Georgia around 1920. My grandfather Billy was born in April of 1914 and Julia Nelle was born in October of 1917- she looks to be about 2 years old at the time.

Will Chandler was born in Greenville County, South Carolina in 1867. He is the son of Pinckney Lafayette Chandler and Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler, both from Greenville County. Will attended medical school in Chattanooga, Tennessee and moved to Baldwin, Georgia.

His wife Tina Jones was born in Hall County, Georgia. She is the daughter of William Bartley Jones and Matilda Ann Wiley, both from Hall County. Tina taught school before marrying Dr. Chandler.

Will and Tina had 3 children. Mary Christine died as a toddler. My grandfather, Billy Chandler lived until 1995 and his little sister Julia Nelle Chandler Crane died in 1978. The entire family is buried in the Baldwin Cemetery, Baldwin, Georgia.

Tombstone Tuesday- Lee Edward Ellenburg (1945-2006)

Since I am new to blogging, I just found out about the daily themes for genealogy blogs. I decided to start immediately by adding my daddy's tombstone as my first "Tombstone Tuesday" post.

Lee Edward Ellenburg was born on New Year's Day in Rabun County, Georgia on January 1, 1945. He died on December 8, 2006 in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia and is buried in Baldwin Cemetery, Baldwin, Habersham County, Georgia.

Walter Lee Buffington; Co-Founder of Lebanon Church Camp Meetings

Family will erect monument for camp meeting co-founder


http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/21698/






Marriage Certificate for Walter Lee Buffington and Emma E. Lipscomb
Hall County, GA 1879
***After you click on the link, go into the contents section on the left and choose page 308. ***

http://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/countyfilm&CISOPTR=81405&REC=2

Will of Milas Thompson- 1889; Rabun County, GA

Rabun County, GA Wills
Book C (1885-1930)

Page 15

Georgia
Rabun County
To W.S. Long, Ordinary said county
the petition of H.C. Blalock shows that Milas Thompson, late of said county departed this life on the 25th day of December 1890 after having made his last will and testament wherein your petitioner is nominated the executor. Your petitioner produces said will in court prays that the same may be admitted to record upon the proof thereof in common form and that letters testamentary issue to him in terms of the law.
H.C. Blalock
Petitioner


Georgia
Rabun County
I, Milas Thompson, of state and county aforesaid being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament.

Item first. I give bequeath and devise to my son George H. Thompson the following property to wit: Part of lot No. 25 x 26 in the first district of Rabun County, and bounded as follows commencing on a whiteoak near the river, thence east to top of mountain, thence the top of mountain on a conditional line north of east to the original line thence the original line next to the river, thence down the river to beginning corner, free from all charge or limitation whatever to his own proper use benefit and behoof.

Item second. I give bequeath and devise to my son Sidney E. Thompson the following property to wit: Part of lot of land No. 25 in the first district Rabun County and state aforesaid containing one hundred acres more or less and bounded as follows. commencing on a whiteoak near the river on east side thence down the river to a small branch and corner over a locus stake, thence up the branch south of east district to conditional line between Thompson and Blalock thence the top of mountain on said conditional line to the high top thence west to beginning corner free from all charge or limitation benefit and behoof

Page 16
Item third. I give bequeath and devise to my son Granvil E. Thompson the following property to wit: Parts of lots of land Nos. 25 & 26 in the first district of County and state aforesaid and containing one hundred acres more or less and bounded as follows: commencing at the river on original line between Milas Thompson and George H. Thompson, thence down the river to first big branch, thence up the branch to a marked beech, just our side of the fence due west to original line east to beginning corner at the river, free from all charge or limitation whatever to his own proper use benefit and behoof.

Item fourth. I give to my sons James W. Thompson and Robert L. Thompson the following property to wit: Parts of lots of land Nos. 25 & 26 in first district of County and state aforesaid and containing four hundred thirty five acres more or less and bounded as follows: commencing at southwest corner of No. 26 thence west to the corner, thence North on original line to conditional line between Thompson and Blalock, thence conditional line to Locus stake where it strikes the portion set off to Sidney E. Thompson as described above, thence north west down the branch to river, thence up the river to the big branch on west side of river, thence up said branch to a marked beech just out side of the fence. Thence due west to original line, thence south to the corner, free from all charge except the said James W. Thompson and Robert L. Thompson are to maintain and take care of me during my natural life, to their own proper use benefit and behoof.

Item fifth. I give to my two daughters Sary E. Nichols and Martha Maryann Blalock to have fifty dollars each, which is to be paid in equal portions by each of the above named boys that is to say George H. Thompson is to pay ten dollars to each of the above named girls, Granvil E. Thompson ten dollars to each of the above named girls, and Sidney E. Thompson ten dollars to each of the above named girls and James W. Thompson, Robert L. Thompson each to pay to each of the above named girls ten dollars each when the said James W. and Robert L. Thompson reach their majority.

Page 17
Item sixth. I hereby constitute and appoint my friend Howell C. Blalock Executor of this my last will and testament
This first day of January 1889.
Milas Thompson

Signed declared and published by Milas Thompson in the presence of the subscribers who subscribe our names here in the presence of each other, he signing in our presence, and we signing in his presence.
G.W. Holder
Cicero Blalock
Howel C. Blalock
NP & JP

Georgia
Rabun County
I, Cicero Blalock, do swear that I as well as G.W. Holden, and Howel C. Blalock saw the within named Milas Thompson sign and publish the within paper as his last will and testament that I subscribed the same as a witness thereto at the special __ and request of the said Milas Thompson and in his presence as did also G.W. Holden and Howel C. Blalock; that the said Milas Thompson signed the same freely and voluntarily and was at the time of such signing of sound and disposed mind and memory.
Cicero Blalock
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 16th day of Nov. 1891.
W.S. Lang,
Ordinary

Upon the foregoing affidavit of Cicero Blalock, one of the subscribing witnesses to the within will Milas Thompson, deceased, it is ordered by the court that said will be admitted to record as satisfactorily proven in common form; and it is further ordered that letters testamentary issue to H.C. Blalock the executor named in said will upon his taking and subscribing the oath? required by law. This Dec. 7th 1891.

W.S. Lang,
Ordinary


***Transcriber’s note- No spelling corrections have been made.