December 19, 2012
Here’s one that comes up in conversation more often than it should. But this year was significant because it was the first and last time I was the tallest of this shady lot of cousins. You can’t even really tell in this picture but it was a really big deal at the time. Needless to say every last one of them shot past me not too long after that. The photo was taken at the apartment of my Grandma Ethel and eventual Step-Grandfather Don in Grand Rapids, MI.
Happy holidays and happy hunting!
Jess
December 18, 2012
This is the plot of the family of Harvey K. Bailey in Rockford Cemetery, in Rockford, MI. The stone in the foreground is that of his wife Rachel C. Deer. Today is the 101st anniversary of her death in Algoma Township, MI. She was born in May of 1830 to George and Sara (Labere) Deer and she is the sister of my 5th Great Aunt, Sarah (Deer) Helsel. She married Harvey in Dec of 1864 in Kent County, MI. The couple had at least two children: Austen and Ella May Bailey. I detailed the Deer family back in May.
Happy hunting,
Jessica
December 12, 2012
I’m the product of a two child household so the concept of a Christmas for a family of 10 (8 kids) is a bit foreign. Check out this tree… to my eyes the presents go on forever. This is taken in my grandparents home in Detroit, Michigan during Christmas of 1971.
Happy hunting and happy holidays!
Jess
December 5, 2012
As we head into the holidays I have a collection of Christmas related pics for Wordless Wednesday.
This is a favorite of mine. This was taken in December of ‘77 or ’78. I’m the baby being held my Grandpa Bill. The others are my mom, my aunt, and my older cousin. We’re at my grandparents’ home on Main St. in Rockford, MI for the holidays doing dishes and just being together.
What you can’t see and I only vaguely remember is the risqué wallpaper print.
Happy hunting,
Jess
December 4, 2012
This is the final resting site of my Great Grandmother, Crystal May Porter and my Step-Great-Grandfather Harold Bailey at Blythefield Memory Gardens in Kent County, MI. Grandma Crystal died 44 years ago today, at the age of 55. She was the third child of Charles and Lula (Holden) Porter. She married my Great Grandfather Robert Eugene Johnson on April 13, 1927 and they had four children including my Grandfather, William Eugene Johnson. Crystal and Robert divorced and in 1934 Grandma Crystal married Grandpa Bailey with whom she had one more son.
Happy hunting!
Jess
November 28, 2012
I’m currently working on an article about researching African American roots and spending a lot of time working on that half of my line. And this week’s picture goes along with that. I believe this is a gathering of Yorks and right in the middle on the couch is the baby of the family my grandmother, Elnora (York) Trotter. I’m pretty sure that’s GrandpaLevie to the right of her too. Grandma Trotter is gorgeous! The photo is ca. 1949 and probably taken in Bradley County, Arkansas.
Happy hunting,
Jess
November 27, 2012
These are the headstones of Margaret and Arthur Shea. Maggie was the daughter of Henry and Anna Stormer. She was born in Hanover, Germany. The family moved to America in 1857. She married Daniel Shea in 1876 in New York and their union produced three children—only her son, Charles Arthur, survived her. I suspect she and Daniel divorced. Both she and Charles are laid to rest here in Maple Grove Cemetery in Empire, MI.
Happy hunting,
Jess
November 22, 2012
Given all my technical difficulties (read: user errors) between Monday and Tuesday, I’ll keep this short and try (fingers crossed) to post it on the right day.
Thank you again to all my readers and fellow researchers, as well as the fabulous speakers I’ve been able to learn from this year. I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving!
Photo: Gourd and maize decorations from Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, Michigan, October 2009
November 20, 2012
Last week was the anniversary of my 2nd Great Aunt Ethel Augusta Packer who died just short of her 23th birthday in September of 1900. She carried the name of her Grandmother Augusta (Cory) Massy and in turn is the person my Grandmother was named after. This picture might be her. Of the Packer kids she was the second child with Pearl coming next. Evelyn, the eldest died at 9 months. My Great Grand other Cora wasn’t born until 1892—the year they moved to the United States and this was taken in Woodstock, Ontario. So, I suspect that this is either Ethel or Pearl. Though, to confuse matters Photographers of Ontario notes that Alfred Spinks, the photographer, bought his brother out of the Woodstock Studio in 1894 after the family moved to the US. I may never know which Packer girl this is.
Happy hunting,
Jess
November 20, 2012
This is another find from the Rockford Area Historical Museum.
Today marks 170 years since my 4th Great Grandparents Dr. Charles Morrill Holden and Sarah Ann Skiff married in Reading Center, Yates County, New York. This is an invitation to their 40th anniversary party but they celebrated 56 years of marriage before Charles died in 1898.
Happy hunting,
Jess
Genie Road Trip 