Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Thanksgiving and Christmas 2020
Thursday, June 4, 2020
4 June 2020Happy Birthday
This was John's 94th birthday party.....in our front yard, "social distancing." Richard Fink, a friend we made through Linda, a retired opera singer, serenaded John, then lead these friends and several neighbors with Happy Birthday song. Truly, a birthday to remember. From left to right: Sharon and Richard Fink, Cynthia & Neal Elden, Judy and John, behind Judy, David Gugino, David, Linda B and Our daughter n law Biddie (sister to Linda) and Joe Bundscho (Linda's husband). In front Nealy and Danica. This group makes up our extended family in Houston. April 30, 2020; Our home in Houston.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Friday, April 3, 2020
3 April 2020 My daughter-in-law posted this on FaceBook today about the affect and effect of Covid-19. A good reference to what is going on nation wide in USA. This is day 22 John and I have "shelter in place." At ages 93 (only 27 days from 94) and 80 we cannot afford to catch this terrible disease. In the last three weeks we have had personal contact with David, Biddie and Jessica (our maid).
Just so I NEVER forget..... April 2, 2020
Work closed through May 4th
Gas price a mile from home was $2.59
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
Work closed through May 4th
Gas price a mile from home was $2.59
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.
Why, you ask, do I write this status?
One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted.
We have so much!
Be thankful. Be grateful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.
Be thankful. Be grateful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.
We are all one! ❤️
Copied from someone else. Copy and share.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Studying....DNA
Some way I moved this post from 1 May 2019 til 20 Mar 2020. AND I can not figure way to correct.
1 May 2019 Another four weeks speeding by. It was a beautiful month, lots of Chamber of Commerce Days.
The month, for me, was mostly filled with Ancestry.com research and learning about DNA as it applies to family research. Ancestry.com introduced two new features to help in research in early March. It is in Beta release now and the software has several glitches. When Ancestry.com acts up, I go to YouTube and review videos explaining DNA. I have not yet accepted Ambrose Holt as my g-g-grandfather but the evidence is building that he is my g-g-g-grandfather. I am getting many DNA matches saying I am kin to cousins who have Ambrose in their tree. Also, Ancestry.com has added a new child to Elisha. I wrote one of the descendants and we are trying to prove or disprove the connection. Lack of marriage records and other documents are slowing us down.
This brings up My Matches: I have a total of 158,353 matches!! This covers ancestors: Holt, Jackson, Jackson (have not found connection), Stalnaker, McCleskey, McLain, White, Jarrett, Shaw, Dodd, Kite/Kight and many more. Of these matches, 7,567 are considered Close and 150,786 are considered Distant.
1 May 2019 Another four weeks speeding by. It was a beautiful month, lots of Chamber of Commerce Days.
The month, for me, was mostly filled with Ancestry.com research and learning about DNA as it applies to family research. Ancestry.com introduced two new features to help in research in early March. It is in Beta release now and the software has several glitches. When Ancestry.com acts up, I go to YouTube and review videos explaining DNA. I have not yet accepted Ambrose Holt as my g-g-grandfather but the evidence is building that he is my g-g-g-grandfather. I am getting many DNA matches saying I am kin to cousins who have Ambrose in their tree. Also, Ancestry.com has added a new child to Elisha. I wrote one of the descendants and we are trying to prove or disprove the connection. Lack of marriage records and other documents are slowing us down.
This brings up My Matches: I have a total of 158,353 matches!! This covers ancestors: Holt, Jackson, Jackson (have not found connection), Stalnaker, McCleskey, McLain, White, Jarrett, Shaw, Dodd, Kite/Kight and many more. Of these matches, 7,567 are considered Close and 150,786 are considered Distant.
Family in WW II
20 March 2020. McCleskeys who served in US Armed Forces during World War II.
Ancestry.com, perhaps, the largest DNA testing company and Genealogical site on-line, today on Facebook, encouraged followers to post a videos about ancestors that served in World War II. My phone would make a video but I do not know how to edit or post, so that is out for me. I do have several in my family that were in WW II and I have deep feelings about their service and sacrifices for the world.
George Sanford McCleskey, was thirty-five years old when he reported to duty in Dec. 1942. He and Margaret Middlebrooks had been married fifteen years with no children.
Ancestry.com, perhaps, the largest DNA testing company and Genealogical site on-line, today on Facebook, encouraged followers to post a videos about ancestors that served in World War II. My phone would make a video but I do not know how to edit or post, so that is out for me. I do have several in my family that were in WW II and I have deep feelings about their service and sacrifices for the world.
George Sanford McCleskey, was thirty-five years old when he reported to duty in Dec. 1942. He and Margaret Middlebrooks had been married fifteen years with no children.
The modern marvel, The Internet and your favorite search engine can locate much information about Co B, 325th Glider Infantry, 82nd Division. It landed in Normandy D-day plus 1, (7 June 1944). On 16 Aug 1944, The Atlanta Constitution prints information on George stating he is in England recovering from wounds, he received a Purple Heart.
George recovers from his wounds, returns to Co B, and finishes out the War, The company was in The Battle of Bulge and perhpas George was too. He returns home and to The Atlanta Constitution working his entire career as pressman.
Observations and Comments: Uncle George was a man of few words, he did not spend the remainder of his life telling everyone about his war experiences. He had a brother and several nephews that also served, perhaps they exchanged stories and experiences but they are unknown to me. What I have, are memories of WW II movies and how GIs (Government Issue) looked at themselves and interacted. A man of 35 years would immediately be known as "Pops." He would be among the oldest men in the company, but expected to do everything the 18 and 19 year olds did. Sure wished we had first hand information from him, but there is much information on Company B, 325th Glider Infantry on Internet. A good read.
Friday, 20 March 2020. Another Life Changing Experiences. The Coronvirus!
John and I are "Sheltering In Place," a plea from State and National Officials for Old, very young and health compromised persons. When you are 93 and 80 years old, to stay in place is not much different than most days. Yesterday, for the first time, I ordered a few groceries from HEB to be delivered to our home. The two of us are trying to stay independent and not interfere with our children's lives; the virus is doing a good job of that. It is very early into the pandemic to comment, US officials, early on, took the out break in China seriously and started with precautions; states and cities are following suit: local school systems, colleges and universities are closed, a new expression, "social distancing" is enforced, the Stock Market has taken a nose dive; restaurants have only drive through and take out, bars are closed and, if you can, work from home. The airlines and cruise ship industry is critically affected and those who make a good part of their yearly income from "Spring Break" has seen it evaporate. End, Observation #1.
John and I are "Sheltering In Place," a plea from State and National Officials for Old, very young and health compromised persons. When you are 93 and 80 years old, to stay in place is not much different than most days. Yesterday, for the first time, I ordered a few groceries from HEB to be delivered to our home. The two of us are trying to stay independent and not interfere with our children's lives; the virus is doing a good job of that. It is very early into the pandemic to comment, US officials, early on, took the out break in China seriously and started with precautions; states and cities are following suit: local school systems, colleges and universities are closed, a new expression, "social distancing" is enforced, the Stock Market has taken a nose dive; restaurants have only drive through and take out, bars are closed and, if you can, work from home. The airlines and cruise ship industry is critically affected and those who make a good part of their yearly income from "Spring Break" has seen it evaporate. End, Observation #1.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Life Changing Experiences
3 Mar 2020. On my computer desk you will find, of course, computer, then a composition book and a container of mechanical pencils and ballpoint pens. The pencils and pens form a small collection, some of my favorite things. When you research in a state archive and our National Archive you Must use pencil. So that is when I started my collection. The composition book is at the ready to jot down data while working on genealogical interest or any other data I do not want to forget. Recently, I came to the end of the book, thought I'd go through it before filing it away or throwing it away.
Not only am I a genealogist but also publish my findings in Albums using both scrapbooking materials and some digital pages; and of course, lots of photographs, facts and descriptions. I use Quotes and List to enhance my subject(s). The following is an exercise found in one of my scrapbooking magazines: The list is in my composition book.
Life Changing Events:
1. WW II
2. move to 2060 Dodson Dr
3. Daddy going to rehab
4. HS graduation 1957
5. joining US Army college program
6. Graduating University of Georgia, 1961
7.1961-62 US Army Dietetic Internship
8. Marry John A Webb, M.D. 1962; John Jr and David.
9. Chris 1964
10. Scott 1967
11. Maggie 1967
12. The Dante Family
13. Wichita Falls 1978 and Friends: Pete & Ann & Willie Mae Estes; Boyd & Joan Kelley; Jay and Susan Rogers.
14. September 11, 2001
15. Gainesvilles 31 Dec 2008
16. Houston 25 Sept 2017
Over an eighty year span. These 16 points generates millions of memories. One other point could be Travel. Most of that was done with the three couples listed in 13. But our Travels (foreign and USA) surly added to our Life Changing Events.
Not only am I a genealogist but also publish my findings in Albums using both scrapbooking materials and some digital pages; and of course, lots of photographs, facts and descriptions. I use Quotes and List to enhance my subject(s). The following is an exercise found in one of my scrapbooking magazines: The list is in my composition book.
Life Changing Events:
1. WW II
2. move to 2060 Dodson Dr
3. Daddy going to rehab
4. HS graduation 1957
5. joining US Army college program
6. Graduating University of Georgia, 1961
7.1961-62 US Army Dietetic Internship
8. Marry John A Webb, M.D. 1962; John Jr and David.
9. Chris 1964
10. Scott 1967
11. Maggie 1967
12. The Dante Family
13. Wichita Falls 1978 and Friends: Pete & Ann & Willie Mae Estes; Boyd & Joan Kelley; Jay and Susan Rogers.
14. September 11, 2001
15. Gainesvilles 31 Dec 2008
16. Houston 25 Sept 2017
Over an eighty year span. These 16 points generates millions of memories. One other point could be Travel. Most of that was done with the three couples listed in 13. But our Travels (foreign and USA) surly added to our Life Changing Events.
Friday, February 28, 2020
Wonderful Digital Frame
28 February 2020 Sitting on my kitchen counter is a new Digital Frame. In this frame are photos of our wedding and photographic history of our 57 years together. We are both enjoying. Thought I'd post a few here:
In the frame are 300 photos. I may add more, these are favorites. The group photo was made Dec 2019, a combination of Webbs and Eldens. A great group that truly appreciate and love each other.
Monday, February 10, 2020
One edition of my DNA Story
10 February 2020 No photo today. Someone on Face Book, on one of the genealogical sites, ask how many DNA matches we have. Thought I'd make a record here as well: I have 178,354 matches; starting with Scott as son and Spencer as grandson; next comes 2 first cousins, Susan and Mike (on my maternal side), none on paternal side. I have 68 matches (counting both sides) that have 100 cMs or higher. Of those 68 only 25 matches have Trees public and large enough to use.
In these close matches I found No genetic surprises. They may be there, but I have not found and no one has sought help. One match has an adopted mother, the daughter is seeking to make contact with family for health reasons.
While counting my shared matches I also counted my First Cousins. My Jackson-Holt grandparents had 6 children that grew to maturity and had children. From these 6 there were 23 grandchildren. Their oldest child, a son, had three wives and a total of 7 children. The second child, a daughter, had 5 children; with the remaining having 4, 3 and 2, 2. Out of the 26 grandchildren, four remain.
From the David and Eunice White McCleskeys (paternal), there were 10 children to live to maturity. My grandfather's first wife died leaving one child. She had 6 children making them Half 1Cs. From my grandmother's children, there were 20 full First Cousins, only five remain and non from the Half Aunt.
My mother had two husbands and 2 children by each. Of the 4, only my full brother and I remain. My grandparents and my mother are a microcosm of how fast DNA can expand and change.
I have been researching my family tree since 1986. When I started it was pencil, paper, microfilm, microfilm readers, books and records in the Georgia Archives and County Court Houses and county historical societies. I was fortunate for I could combine visits with my Mother with research. It was 915 miles one way from my home in Texas to Georgia and her home. She was huge help. As I have aged, it is now fun to research on-line. Family members are so generous and so helpful...those that are interested. Now, after thirty four years, my tree is well researched and most ancestors verified. Still remaining are two great-great grandmothers. One, we do not know her correct sir name and the other, her parents need proving. With time and more DNA testing let's hope we prove more generations. By the age of 10, I was wanting to know who I was and where did my families come from.
That brings me to my Ethnicity Estimate. The emphasis on Estimate. Today, I am: 72% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe; 17 % Ireland & Scotland; 7% Germanic Europe; 3% Norway and 1% European Jewish. I have known for a long time that McCleskey is an Irish name and expected my Irish DNA to be higher. When I found that I had a great great grandmother named Stalnaker it was a complete surprise. The Norway percentage is low and in our travels to Ireland I knew about the Norse men coming south, fighting, capturing and mingling with the natives of these areas: Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The Jewish 1 % falls in the +/- of mistake, but it can be correct...or wrong. The Ethnicity Estimates will change as more and more people test. Most people have a hobby or two, some fish, some fly, others enjoy their work so much it fills their time. I have two hobbies; genealogy and crafting. At first it was scrapbooking, now it is making and decorating chipboard boxes ( you can see lots of examples in previous post. With DNA clues, I am hoping to solve my two closets Brick Walls and continue on as far as I can. JMW
In these close matches I found No genetic surprises. They may be there, but I have not found and no one has sought help. One match has an adopted mother, the daughter is seeking to make contact with family for health reasons.
While counting my shared matches I also counted my First Cousins. My Jackson-Holt grandparents had 6 children that grew to maturity and had children. From these 6 there were 23 grandchildren. Their oldest child, a son, had three wives and a total of 7 children. The second child, a daughter, had 5 children; with the remaining having 4, 3 and 2, 2. Out of the 26 grandchildren, four remain.
From the David and Eunice White McCleskeys (paternal), there were 10 children to live to maturity. My grandfather's first wife died leaving one child. She had 6 children making them Half 1Cs. From my grandmother's children, there were 20 full First Cousins, only five remain and non from the Half Aunt.
My mother had two husbands and 2 children by each. Of the 4, only my full brother and I remain. My grandparents and my mother are a microcosm of how fast DNA can expand and change.
I have been researching my family tree since 1986. When I started it was pencil, paper, microfilm, microfilm readers, books and records in the Georgia Archives and County Court Houses and county historical societies. I was fortunate for I could combine visits with my Mother with research. It was 915 miles one way from my home in Texas to Georgia and her home. She was huge help. As I have aged, it is now fun to research on-line. Family members are so generous and so helpful...those that are interested. Now, after thirty four years, my tree is well researched and most ancestors verified. Still remaining are two great-great grandmothers. One, we do not know her correct sir name and the other, her parents need proving. With time and more DNA testing let's hope we prove more generations. By the age of 10, I was wanting to know who I was and where did my families come from.
That brings me to my Ethnicity Estimate. The emphasis on Estimate. Today, I am: 72% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe; 17 % Ireland & Scotland; 7% Germanic Europe; 3% Norway and 1% European Jewish. I have known for a long time that McCleskey is an Irish name and expected my Irish DNA to be higher. When I found that I had a great great grandmother named Stalnaker it was a complete surprise. The Norway percentage is low and in our travels to Ireland I knew about the Norse men coming south, fighting, capturing and mingling with the natives of these areas: Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The Jewish 1 % falls in the +/- of mistake, but it can be correct...or wrong. The Ethnicity Estimates will change as more and more people test. Most people have a hobby or two, some fish, some fly, others enjoy their work so much it fills their time. I have two hobbies; genealogy and crafting. At first it was scrapbooking, now it is making and decorating chipboard boxes ( you can see lots of examples in previous post. With DNA clues, I am hoping to solve my two closets Brick Walls and continue on as far as I can. JMW
Monday, January 27, 2020
Battle Born Anna of Clayton Co, Georgia
27 January 2020
This is my Great Aunt, her story was very popular in our Holt family. I remember meeting her when I was very young. Not until I started researching my family history and networking with others did I learn the other side of this story.
Anna, her younger brother Tom (my grandfather) and the other siblings grew up in Clayton and Fayette counties, GA. If you are familiar with Gone With the Wind. It was that time frame and that very area.
The General in Anna's story was not Sherman but Gen John A Logan of the 15th Corps. His story of Anna's birth was published first on the front page of the National Tribune, (Washington, DC) Jul 10, 1884. by a unnamed doctor that was present and assisted in Anna's birth. Logan was campaigning, to be a candidate on the Democratic ticket for President of US. He was selected as a VP candidate and lost to Grover Cleveland.
Logan came along the road, shortly after her birth and the doctors pressed him into being her God Father. The family was of the Baptist faith and probably knew little about infant christening and perhaps she never knew of the ceremony or of the $5.00 gold piece he left as a gift. The story was secondly printed in a personal history of his life and can be found as "Life and Services. Gen. John A. Logan, as Soldier and Statesman" by George Francis Dawson. 1887. His version can be Searched on-line and you can read the entire article.
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