Photographs

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March 21, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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I’m counting down to the Michigan Antiquarian Book and Paper Show on April 1st at the Lansing Center. Here’s a previous purchase.

This is Main Street in Rockford, Michigan and the message is written by Mrs. Judson M. Spore (nee Clara Dutton) to Mrs. A. Foster in Harleyburg, Ontario (according to the other side). Mrs. Spore’s husband was the Postmaster and she neatly points out the Post Office on the photo. I am not related to either woman (to the best of my knowledge) but the photo is such a great shot of a city my family has lived in for generations. I used to walk by these buildings almost daily when I lived in town.

Happy hunting,

Jessica

 

March 14, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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In honor of St. Pat’s, here is a view of the resort town and Galway suburb of Salthill in Co. Galway and the edge of Galway Bay taken during a study abroad trip in 1997. It was a beautiful day and an all around lovely trip… but I have no family from there that I’m aware of.

Salthill and Galway Bay from a Ferris Wheel, Summer 1997.

My known Irish ancestors include the Massy family from Rathronan in County Limerick, and the Byrne, Cunningham and Dowdall families who reported themselves from Armagh, in what is now Northern Ireland. I haven’t yet figured out where my Shea line originally hailed from in Ireland.

Ideally, I’d love to take a trip to research these lines.

Happy hunting & Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Jess

 

March 7, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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There’s a great deal of raw artistic talent among the Shea descendants and I often wonder how much of that is a trait passed on or whether it is other influences on the line. This is a drawing said to be by Ellen Cunningham Shea of her son, my great grandfather, Robert James Shea.

The original drawing is on something like cardborad but not canvas. It resides in the collection of my Great Aunt.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

February 29, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

Posted by JessLibrarian under Family Almanac, Photographs | Tags: , , , |
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Tomorrow is the 100th Anniversary of the birth of my Great Aunt Rosie Lee Trotter Johnson. To the best of our knowledge she was oldest child of Harrison and Rhoda (Rogers) Trotter. She married Leroy Johnson in August of 1932 and the couple had nine children.

The digital file is from my father’s collection but the originals were turned in during a call for photos before our last Trotter-Rogers Reunion.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

February 22, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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My grandfather would have been 91 this week.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

February 15, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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I’ve always viewed February as Gran’s month. I‘m sure you’re thrilled but… Love you, Grandma!

This is Gran and her cousin Flora. Gran’s the taller one… I rarely get to say that.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

February 8, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

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Ethel (Shea) and William Johnson61 years ago, tomorrow, my grandparents married in the 1st Congregational Church in Rockford, Michigan, surrounded by family and friends. From Gran’s photo collection.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

February 1, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

Posted by JessLibrarian under Character Studies, Family Almanac, Photographs | Tags: , , |
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Rhoda (Rogers) Trotter & ChildrenThis is my Great Grandmother Rhoda (Rogers) Trotter who would have turned 118 today (or tomorrow—there appears to be some disagreement between the documents and between family members) along with three of her children. Love the glasses! In back is my Grandpa Levie, in the middle is Aunt Lee Ellen (Trotter) Hampton, and on the end is Uncle Graham. Rhoda was the daughter of Pete and Mattie (Martin) Rogers. She married Harrison Trotter in 1911 and was the mother of 14 children. What few pictures I have seen and the stories I have heard make me wish I had met my Grandma (and Papa Monk).She died in 1981.

The digital files are from my father’s collection but the originals were turned in during a call for photos before our last Trotter-Rogers Reunion.

 

January 25, 2012

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

Posted by JessLibrarian under Character Studies, Family Almanac, Photographs | Tags: , , |
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Harriet (Vaughan) Packer This is my 3rd Great Grandmother Harriet (Vaughan) Packer and today is the 186th Anniversary of her birth. Harriet was born in 1826 in England to John and Frances Vaughan. She married Joseph Packer at St. Mary the Virgin at Upchurch, Kent in 1847. The couple had at least seven children: William James, Thomas William Horton, Joseph Malcolm Ross, Sarah Maria, Charles, my 2nd Great Grandfather Cornelius, and their youngest child Albert. In 1871 the whole family immigrated to Canada and my Gran and Aunt June remember being told about Albert being young and active enough that they were afraid he’d go overboard during their journey. They settled first in Hamilton, Ontario near her siblings but moved quickly on to Woodstock, Ontario until the early 1890s when Joseph, Cornelius, Charles, and Albert eventually moved their families to Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Harriet died in Grand Rapids and is buried in Fairplains Cemetery.

This photo is from the collection of my Great Aunt.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

January 19, 2012

Seth Porter of Porter’s Hollow

Posted by JessLibrarian under Character Studies, Photographs | Tags: , |
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Seth Porter, Jr.Update: And now with picture!

Update: Picture will get added in tonight. For some reason I can’t get to at the moment. Thanks, Ariana!

Today is the Anniversary of the birth of my 4th Great Grandfather, Seth Porter. He was born January 19th in 1825 in Rutland County, Vermont to Seth and Rheumina Porter. He came to Michigan with of his brothers Dennis and Harvey in the 1840s and they settled in Kent County. In 1852 he married Rebecca Huntington and they had a family of seven children including my ancestor, George Erwin. Seth was a successful sawyer and miller settling in Edgerton at what became known as Porter’s Hollow. He was a lifelong Spiritualist. He died in 1911.

Happy Hunting,

Jess

 

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