I've noticed that I've only had a few "idle" hours in the past couple of years. That's sad. My goal when I started this blog was to write about my ancestors. I thought taking them on one at a time would be a great way of writing the family history. At the rate I'm going, I'm going to have to live (and have my mind and eyesight) another 120 years. Not happening.
If you've been on social media and in a genealogy group there, sooner or later THE question is going to be asked. I bet you know what I'm going to say, right? Yes, that's the one. "If you could talk with any of your ancestors, which one/ two/three/ five would you like to talk with and why?" I usually just scroll on by. Most people want their brick walls dismantled. Don't we all? How brazen of them. Well, I'm an administrator of one of those social media genealogy groups and a few days ago I asked that same question but with the caveat that the visit could have nothing to do with a brick wall. Hey, these folks were good. They had genuine interests and weren't just looking for an easy way through the wall (although I'm willing to bet copious sums of money borrowed at high interest rates at short term that most would steer the interview in the direction of that wall. I know these people.).
This compound question led me to think. That can be dangerous at times. I thought I'd blog about the five ancestors I'd like to meet and why, while avoiding the proverbial brick wall questions. I thought I'd write it in the form of a letter to you, my future "cousin", "niece", "nephew", "grandchild". Aren't you feeling lucky? Here goes:
Showing posts with label Asbury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asbury. Show all posts
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
So, Who Really Stole the Horse?
John T. Asberry, my 4th great-uncle, was born about 1841. He was the son of Delilah Henry and Jacob Asbury and the grandson of Coleman and Amy Compton Asberry. It is probable that he was born in Pendleton County since his parents were land owners and appeared in the census in Pendleton County each time from the date of their marriage until the death of John's father in 1856. John was one of eleven children that lived to adulthood.
When John's father died, his will provided that each of his minor sons, James Samuel, John, and Robert Franklin, (the only children named in his will) be given a horse and all the necessary accouterments of a horse upon their reaching a majority age. When the Civil War broke out in Kentucky, Sam, John, and Bob all decided to join the Confederacy. Their mother told the John she would buy a horse for him if he could find a suitable one. John found one. It belonged to a neighbor, Henry Austin. The problem was that Henry didn't want to sell.
Jacob Asbury's will on file at the Pendleton County Clerk's office,
Falmouth, KY
Recruiters for the Confederacy were in the area. Among them were my maternal 3-great grandfather, James Jenkins. "Preacher" Jenkins, Bob Asbury*, John Asbery*, David Fogle, Samuel Coleman Lowe, and possibly a few others from the neighborhood "pressed" Henry Austin's horse into the service of the Confederate Army on October 3, 1862.
This case was amended three times, appealed to the Court of Appeals, and many Callensville folks were deposed before the matter of the horse was settled. I particularly like this case since it's the only document that I have found that names all of Jacob Asbury's children and states that they are his children. It also contains a wealth of other genealogical and historical information.
It was originally styled, Henry Austin vs. John Asberry* Petition filed February 9, 1863, by attorneys Swope & Moore. The claim was that on October 3, 1862, John Asbery "forcibly entered the plaintiff's premises, took and carried away, and appropriated to his own use" a bay horse four years old of value $125. It further states that the defendant was a non-resident and in the Confederate Army. It asked for a judgment and attachment of any property owned by John Asbery. John was entitled to a 1/11th share of the farm that his father left to his mother. (I should note here that Henry Austin had previously been in a suit against his neighbors that shared boundaries with him, accusing them of encroachment.)
The first amendment to the case was dated April 25, 1863. The reason: "John Asberry is one of the sons & heirs of Jacob Asberry, of this county, and that Jacob died seized of acreage of one hundred acres." It asked for the attachment of John's 1/11th share.
Depositions were taken and from them, we learn many things. Number One: People see things from different perspectives. Number Two: People lie. Number Three: Maybe people forget. If we dig deeper, we can infer that people had different views on the war. Some may have been afraid their testimony would somehow incriminate them. Some may have harbored ill-will over political positions taken. One thing is for certain, it is hard to get an honest perspective without looking at what the war was doing to those left behind. Whatever people were feeling, seeing, sensing, and such, it is evident that conflicting stories were told. For details on this case, read this post from the Pendleton County Historical & Genealogical Society's Blog, Looking Back, Civil War & Uncivil Neighbors.
During much of my youth, I was told the family story of Mathew Jenkins and his father, the Reverend James Jenkins. James did not return to Kentucky to live after the war. The family legend is that he feared "retalliation for the deeds he'd done". His wife stayed in Kentucky near her sons. She refused to join him. Mathew eventually was drafted into the Union Army but not before he was arrested twice by the Provost Marshall on suspicion of being a Rebel. Mathew took the Oath of Allegiance after the first arrest. His second arrest was based on the word of a Union soldier from, and stationed, in Falmouth. This soldier claimed to have knowledge that Mathew was gone from home for five days and had been with the Rebel Army. Were his arrests retaliation for his father's deeds? What "deeds" did James Jenkins commit that caused him to fear retaliation? Maybe, his part in the stolen horse was the "deed". But just what was his part? Most placed him on the porch guarding the door of the house. They all said he ordered his new recruits there but some said he was the one that stole the horse. How much of what was being said in the neighborhood did James know? Did Mathew go to him and tell him Henry Austin suspected James Jenkins stole his horse? Is this what led Mathew to be arrested a second time? Maybe the Reverend feared his wife, since his son had been arrested twice! I think it's plausible that she could have had a cast iron skillett with his name on it, so to speak.
Different folks that were deposed said that John Asberry stole the house, that his brother Robert stole it, and that James Jenkins stole it. Henry Austin's son, James, said he clearly saw John; the moon was bright and they had known each other for years. David Fogle was also there and he saw Jenkins take the horse. He claimed John wasn't there. Now, one of those two lied, wouldn't you say? Why? What was in it for them? Was Fogle lying to protect the Asbury's interest in John's estate? Did James Austin have a bone to pick with John and was this his way of settling a score? Henry Highfill, tavern owner, claimed John spent the night at his place and couldn't have been present when the horse was taken. Did he lie? Was John there all night or just part of the night? How sure was Highfill of John's whereabouts? James Thompson, a neighbor, didn't recognize the horse John Asberry was riding, yet the stolen horse was from the neighborhood. Wouldn't it be hard to not recognize your neighbor's car? I'd think this horse would be compared the same way, after all it was the equivalent of a car. Mary Harrison, another neighbor, claimed to see Robert Asbury in possession of the horse shortly after it was taken. Did Robert and John look alike? Could it have been mistaken identity? Could she have been angry with Robert and this be her way of getting even? Or maybe, could she have been in love with John and not wanted his memory tainted? Or could she have justed wanted her "fifteen minutes of fame"?
In the end, the jury found in favor of Henry Austin. They agreed that John Asberry stole the horse. After all, John made it known he was going to have the horse no matter what. He was seen, in Tennesee, on the horse by the man that originally owned it and had told him he got the horse in Kentucky. Of course, that didn't necessarily mean that he'd stolen it but it looked bad in view of the testimony in the depositions.
Sometimes when I look at the depostitions and replay the family story in my mind, I have doubts. If John stole the horse, why would all those people lie? What other deeds could have been bad enough to keep James Jenkins from returning home if stelaing the horse wasn't the deed? What else was at play? How many of those testifying had Union leanings? How many Confederate leanings? Was politics at the core of the perjuries? Was it a way to turn on your neighbor? To show the Provost Marshall you were on his side? To gain the Marshall's trust?
This case raises more questions than it answers but it does cause one to think beyond the obvious question of 'Who really stole the horse'?
* The Asbury name has many spellings. In this case 'Asbery' seems to be the one used. I've used 'Asberr'y for John many times in this entry.
When John's father died, his will provided that each of his minor sons, James Samuel, John, and Robert Franklin, (the only children named in his will) be given a horse and all the necessary accouterments of a horse upon their reaching a majority age. When the Civil War broke out in Kentucky, Sam, John, and Bob all decided to join the Confederacy. Their mother told the John she would buy a horse for him if he could find a suitable one. John found one. It belonged to a neighbor, Henry Austin. The problem was that Henry didn't want to sell.
Jacob Asbury's will on file at the Pendleton County Clerk's office,
Falmouth, KY
Recruiters for the Confederacy were in the area. Among them were my maternal 3-great grandfather, James Jenkins. "Preacher" Jenkins, Bob Asbury*, John Asbery*, David Fogle, Samuel Coleman Lowe, and possibly a few others from the neighborhood "pressed" Henry Austin's horse into the service of the Confederate Army on October 3, 1862.
This case was amended three times, appealed to the Court of Appeals, and many Callensville folks were deposed before the matter of the horse was settled. I particularly like this case since it's the only document that I have found that names all of Jacob Asbury's children and states that they are his children. It also contains a wealth of other genealogical and historical information.
It was originally styled, Henry Austin vs. John Asberry* Petition filed February 9, 1863, by attorneys Swope & Moore. The claim was that on October 3, 1862, John Asbery "forcibly entered the plaintiff's premises, took and carried away, and appropriated to his own use" a bay horse four years old of value $125. It further states that the defendant was a non-resident and in the Confederate Army. It asked for a judgment and attachment of any property owned by John Asbery. John was entitled to a 1/11th share of the farm that his father left to his mother. (I should note here that Henry Austin had previously been in a suit against his neighbors that shared boundaries with him, accusing them of encroachment.)
Henry Austin v. John Asberry
The first amendment to the case was dated April 25, 1863. The reason: "John Asberry is one of the sons & heirs of Jacob Asberry, of this county, and that Jacob died seized of acreage of one hundred acres." It asked for the attachment of John's 1/11th share.
Depositions were taken and from them, we learn many things. Number One: People see things from different perspectives. Number Two: People lie. Number Three: Maybe people forget. If we dig deeper, we can infer that people had different views on the war. Some may have been afraid their testimony would somehow incriminate them. Some may have harbored ill-will over political positions taken. One thing is for certain, it is hard to get an honest perspective without looking at what the war was doing to those left behind. Whatever people were feeling, seeing, sensing, and such, it is evident that conflicting stories were told. For details on this case, read this post from the Pendleton County Historical & Genealogical Society's Blog, Looking Back, Civil War & Uncivil Neighbors.
During much of my youth, I was told the family story of Mathew Jenkins and his father, the Reverend James Jenkins. James did not return to Kentucky to live after the war. The family legend is that he feared "retalliation for the deeds he'd done". His wife stayed in Kentucky near her sons. She refused to join him. Mathew eventually was drafted into the Union Army but not before he was arrested twice by the Provost Marshall on suspicion of being a Rebel. Mathew took the Oath of Allegiance after the first arrest. His second arrest was based on the word of a Union soldier from, and stationed, in Falmouth. This soldier claimed to have knowledge that Mathew was gone from home for five days and had been with the Rebel Army. Were his arrests retaliation for his father's deeds? What "deeds" did James Jenkins commit that caused him to fear retaliation? Maybe, his part in the stolen horse was the "deed". But just what was his part? Most placed him on the porch guarding the door of the house. They all said he ordered his new recruits there but some said he was the one that stole the horse. How much of what was being said in the neighborhood did James know? Did Mathew go to him and tell him Henry Austin suspected James Jenkins stole his horse? Is this what led Mathew to be arrested a second time? Maybe the Reverend feared his wife, since his son had been arrested twice! I think it's plausible that she could have had a cast iron skillett with his name on it, so to speak.
Different folks that were deposed said that John Asberry stole the house, that his brother Robert stole it, and that James Jenkins stole it. Henry Austin's son, James, said he clearly saw John; the moon was bright and they had known each other for years. David Fogle was also there and he saw Jenkins take the horse. He claimed John wasn't there. Now, one of those two lied, wouldn't you say? Why? What was in it for them? Was Fogle lying to protect the Asbury's interest in John's estate? Did James Austin have a bone to pick with John and was this his way of settling a score? Henry Highfill, tavern owner, claimed John spent the night at his place and couldn't have been present when the horse was taken. Did he lie? Was John there all night or just part of the night? How sure was Highfill of John's whereabouts? James Thompson, a neighbor, didn't recognize the horse John Asberry was riding, yet the stolen horse was from the neighborhood. Wouldn't it be hard to not recognize your neighbor's car? I'd think this horse would be compared the same way, after all it was the equivalent of a car. Mary Harrison, another neighbor, claimed to see Robert Asbury in possession of the horse shortly after it was taken. Did Robert and John look alike? Could it have been mistaken identity? Could she have been angry with Robert and this be her way of getting even? Or maybe, could she have been in love with John and not wanted his memory tainted? Or could she have justed wanted her "fifteen minutes of fame"?
In the end, the jury found in favor of Henry Austin. They agreed that John Asberry stole the horse. After all, John made it known he was going to have the horse no matter what. He was seen, in Tennesee, on the horse by the man that originally owned it and had told him he got the horse in Kentucky. Of course, that didn't necessarily mean that he'd stolen it but it looked bad in view of the testimony in the depositions.
Sometimes when I look at the depostitions and replay the family story in my mind, I have doubts. If John stole the horse, why would all those people lie? What other deeds could have been bad enough to keep James Jenkins from returning home if stelaing the horse wasn't the deed? What else was at play? How many of those testifying had Union leanings? How many Confederate leanings? Was politics at the core of the perjuries? Was it a way to turn on your neighbor? To show the Provost Marshall you were on his side? To gain the Marshall's trust?
This case raises more questions than it answers but it does cause one to think beyond the obvious question of 'Who really stole the horse'?
* The Asbury name has many spellings. In this case 'Asbery' seems to be the one used. I've used 'Asberr'y for John many times in this entry.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Grandma Amy Compton Asberry
My 5th great-grandmother, Mary "Amy" Compton Asberry, was born in New Jersey on December 20, 1782. To put her birth into perspective, she was born when New Jersey was still a colony. It became the third state in the new nation a few days before her fifth birthday. Imagine the exciting times her parents lived in and the stories she heard while growing up!
She married Coleman Reed Asberry on 15 Sep. 1803, just short of her 21st birthday, in West Union, Adams County, Ohio. When she arrived in Ohio remains a mystery as does her parentage. My assumption is that she came to Ohio with her parents but I do not know this for a fact. It would seem that her parent's gave consent but a marriage bond apparently has not been found for Amy and Coleman. I intend, one day, to go to West Union and see for myself. This excerpt, from a letter prompted by someone's request for proof of marriage, is offered as proof for now.
Amy and Coleman likely had ten children: Jacob (my direct ancestor), Frances "Franky", Elizabeth, Mary, Amy, Coleman Jr., Nancy, Thomas, Agnes - all proven, except Joseph, (still hoping for proof). According to the oldest child, Jacob's, tombstone, he was born on March 30, 1803, before his parent's marriage. Okay, I know. A lot could be happening here. The marriage date could be wrong.The tombstone could be wrong. The person that took the picture did cut off part of the date. Here's the picture I have of Jacob's tombstone. I used Tombstone Birthday Calculator to compute his birth date.
Amy first appears as the head of household in the 1820 census (name spelled Ammey). She is living in Pendleton County, Kentucky with two males under ten (Coleman & Thomas), three females under ten (Amy, Nancy, and ?), two females 10-15 ( Elizabeth & Mary), one male 10-15 (Joseph), and one male 16-20 (Jacob). She reports herself as being a female 45 and over (she's not quite that old, but I have never found another Amy Asbury raising children by herself regardless of age). There are two people reported as working in Agriculture. My assumption is those two were Joseph and Jacob with Amy "keeping house". Interestingly enough, Agnes, reportedly was born 22 Dec 1822 according to her findagrave.com memorial. An Index on Ancestry.com called, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, supports this date with the year of 1822 as her birth year. So, either the census miscounted (it does say that nine people are living in the household when the tallies add up to ten) or possibly Amy and Coleman had another daughter that died before the next census. With this family, there are often more questions than answers.
Amy and Coleman's marriage, apparently, was troubled. She left Coleman and took her minor children with her. The youngest, Agnes, was two years old. A few years later, Coleman decided to ask for a divorce on the grounds of abandonment. He had found a younger woman to marry, Elizabeth Amery Wheeler, daughter of Ignatius Wheeler. Their divorce was granted in October of 1824.
Transcription of Divorce Decree as found in the E.E. Barton Family Files, Pendleton County Public Library
This was not to be the end of her troubles. Roughly three years after their divorce, an attempt to have their minor children bound to a trade was made by a Brann, an Asbury descendant and likely relative of Coleman.
Elisha was born in Pendleton County on 25 Jan 1828. Tradition in this family says that his father was a lawyer by the last name of Lawler. No evidence supporting this has been found to date.
In 1830, Amy is still living in Pendleton County. She has one male under five (Elisha?), one female 5-9 (Agnes), one female 10-14 (Nancy), and one female 15-19 (Amy).
To date, I have not been able to locate Amy Compton Asberry in the 1840 census. I cannot find any of her unmarried children as well. I assume they are all together or at least close to each other geographically. At least that makes sense to me. I also get the feeling the family was on the move. Agnes gave birth to a child in 1842 in Missouri. Another daughter, Amy, married in Scotland County, Missouri in 1844. Coleman, Jr. had a child born in Missouri in 1846 and purchased land there in 1848. Lastly, another daughter, Nancy, had a child born in Scotland County, Missouri in 1841.
In 1850, Grandma Amy is living in Miller, Scotland County, Missouri. This is the only time I find her in a census there.
I find this article so enjoyable! It's really nothing like what I always thought a journey of that magnitude would be like. They described it like there was nothing to it! Lots of grass. Good weather for the most part. Amazing. I guess that goes to show that Hollywood can't be trusted. Nancy, her family, and Amy, appear for the first time in California in 1852 state census.
Imagine that! A 69 year old woman going all the way to California at a time when Indians still roamed the plains and were perceived to be a threat! A time when rail travel was limited and certainly wasn't "transcontinental". The monotonous landscape, maybe even walking for several hours, sleeping on the hard ground at night, and always being on the lookout for danger whether from man, beast, or weather, must have been nerve wracking! In the words of J.M. Lowe: "What hardihood! What nerve! What magnificent courage!" I wonder what went through her mind. Did she have doubts? Was she afraid? Did she know what she was going to do when she arrived at her new home? Did she worry about how she would support herself?
I have not located Amy in the 1860 census but did find her in the California state census in 1852. Coleman, Elisha, Nancy, and Agnes all appear in California census for 1860. Her daughter, Amy, has not been located in my research since 1850. I believe she may have died before the 1860 census.
In the 1870 Federal Census, Amy is reported to be 87 years of age and is living in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Charles Owens. They are residing in Vallejo, Sonoma County, California. Their post office is in Petaluma.
Mary "Amy" Compton Asberry died 31 Oct 1870 in Vallejo, Sonoma County, California. She was just a couple of months short of being 88 years old. Her burial location is unknown. A simple notice of her death is all that appeared in the local paper.
Appearing in the Russian River Flag dated 10 November 1870
I can't help but think, in spite of the hardships, she lived her life to the fullest. She marched to the beat of her own drum. She was definitely courageous to leave her husband and raise her children by herself. This was simply not done in those times. She was brave to go to Missouri and then to California, especially at her age. The trips couldn't have been easy on her. I get the feeling from what I can learn about her that she was a strong woman. I look at her life and then at mine and think I have no cause to complain. My life has been easy.
(A special thanks to Paul, a dear friend and my favorite, albeit distant Asbury cousin, in California for the news articles and the marriage record. He saved me so much work! He generosity will not be forgotten.)
She married Coleman Reed Asberry on 15 Sep. 1803, just short of her 21st birthday, in West Union, Adams County, Ohio. When she arrived in Ohio remains a mystery as does her parentage. My assumption is that she came to Ohio with her parents but I do not know this for a fact. It would seem that her parent's gave consent but a marriage bond apparently has not been found for Amy and Coleman. I intend, one day, to go to West Union and see for myself. This excerpt, from a letter prompted by someone's request for proof of marriage, is offered as proof for now.
"We have an entry made which is taken from Elsie Rayburn's collections. These are taken from various sources such as bible records,histories or family records. We can certify as to there being Court records although they are here for the purpose of helping people who are researching links in their family tree genealogical surveys.
Asberry.Coleman and Mary Compton married Sept 15,1803 by Nathan Ellis.
That is all it gives.
Sincerely yours,
A.Bailey
Deputy Clerk"
Amy and Coleman likely had ten children: Jacob (my direct ancestor), Frances "Franky", Elizabeth, Mary, Amy, Coleman Jr., Nancy, Thomas, Agnes - all proven, except Joseph, (still hoping for proof). According to the oldest child, Jacob's, tombstone, he was born on March 30, 1803, before his parent's marriage. Okay, I know. A lot could be happening here. The marriage date could be wrong.The tombstone could be wrong. The person that took the picture did cut off part of the date. Here's the picture I have of Jacob's tombstone. I used Tombstone Birthday Calculator to compute his birth date.
Amy first appears as the head of household in the 1820 census (name spelled Ammey). She is living in Pendleton County, Kentucky with two males under ten (Coleman & Thomas), three females under ten (Amy, Nancy, and ?), two females 10-15 ( Elizabeth & Mary), one male 10-15 (Joseph), and one male 16-20 (Jacob). She reports herself as being a female 45 and over (she's not quite that old, but I have never found another Amy Asbury raising children by herself regardless of age). There are two people reported as working in Agriculture. My assumption is those two were Joseph and Jacob with Amy "keeping house". Interestingly enough, Agnes, reportedly was born 22 Dec 1822 according to her findagrave.com memorial. An Index on Ancestry.com called, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, supports this date with the year of 1822 as her birth year. So, either the census miscounted (it does say that nine people are living in the household when the tallies add up to ten) or possibly Amy and Coleman had another daughter that died before the next census. With this family, there are often more questions than answers.
Amy and Coleman's marriage, apparently, was troubled. She left Coleman and took her minor children with her. The youngest, Agnes, was two years old. A few years later, Coleman decided to ask for a divorce on the grounds of abandonment. He had found a younger woman to marry, Elizabeth Amery Wheeler, daughter of Ignatius Wheeler. Their divorce was granted in October of 1824.
Transcription of Divorce Decree as found in the E.E. Barton Family Files, Pendleton County Public Library
This was not to be the end of her troubles. Roughly three years after their divorce, an attempt to have their minor children bound to a trade was made by a Brann, an Asbury descendant and likely relative of Coleman.
Elisha was born in Pendleton County on 25 Jan 1828. Tradition in this family says that his father was a lawyer by the last name of Lawler. No evidence supporting this has been found to date.
In 1830, Amy is still living in Pendleton County. She has one male under five (Elisha?), one female 5-9 (Agnes), one female 10-14 (Nancy), and one female 15-19 (Amy).
To date, I have not been able to locate Amy Compton Asberry in the 1840 census. I cannot find any of her unmarried children as well. I assume they are all together or at least close to each other geographically. At least that makes sense to me. I also get the feeling the family was on the move. Agnes gave birth to a child in 1842 in Missouri. Another daughter, Amy, married in Scotland County, Missouri in 1844. Coleman, Jr. had a child born in Missouri in 1846 and purchased land there in 1848. Lastly, another daughter, Nancy, had a child born in Scotland County, Missouri in 1841.
In 1850, Grandma Amy is living in Miller, Scotland County, Missouri. This is the only time I find her in a census there.
I find this article so enjoyable! It's really nothing like what I always thought a journey of that magnitude would be like. They described it like there was nothing to it! Lots of grass. Good weather for the most part. Amazing. I guess that goes to show that Hollywood can't be trusted. Nancy, her family, and Amy, appear for the first time in California in 1852 state census.
Imagine that! A 69 year old woman going all the way to California at a time when Indians still roamed the plains and were perceived to be a threat! A time when rail travel was limited and certainly wasn't "transcontinental". The monotonous landscape, maybe even walking for several hours, sleeping on the hard ground at night, and always being on the lookout for danger whether from man, beast, or weather, must have been nerve wracking! In the words of J.M. Lowe: "What hardihood! What nerve! What magnificent courage!" I wonder what went through her mind. Did she have doubts? Was she afraid? Did she know what she was going to do when she arrived at her new home? Did she worry about how she would support herself?
I have not located Amy in the 1860 census but did find her in the California state census in 1852. Coleman, Elisha, Nancy, and Agnes all appear in California census for 1860. Her daughter, Amy, has not been located in my research since 1850. I believe she may have died before the 1860 census.
In the 1870 Federal Census, Amy is reported to be 87 years of age and is living in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Charles Owens. They are residing in Vallejo, Sonoma County, California. Their post office is in Petaluma.
Mary "Amy" Compton Asberry died 31 Oct 1870 in Vallejo, Sonoma County, California. She was just a couple of months short of being 88 years old. Her burial location is unknown. A simple notice of her death is all that appeared in the local paper.
I can't help but think, in spite of the hardships, she lived her life to the fullest. She marched to the beat of her own drum. She was definitely courageous to leave her husband and raise her children by herself. This was simply not done in those times. She was brave to go to Missouri and then to California, especially at her age. The trips couldn't have been easy on her. I get the feeling from what I can learn about her that she was a strong woman. I look at her life and then at mine and think I have no cause to complain. My life has been easy.
(A special thanks to Paul, a dear friend and my favorite, albeit distant Asbury cousin, in California for the news articles and the marriage record. He saved me so much work! He generosity will not be forgotten.)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)