Archive | November 2008

On This Day

Nov9
Upon hearing the word Florida, a mental pop-up of snobbish condescending resorts, overly developed west coast beaches and jam-packed tourist attractions comes to mind. However, the Forgotten Coast, as it is often called, is home to the Apalachicola Bay where the long winding river empties into the blue green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and a sleepy little town offers some of the best local seafood known to man. My husband and I road-tripped the 80-mile journey today in the most beautiful sunshine our state has to offer. This time of year, as God tilts the earth on its axis, glistening waters reflect the suns beauty better than at any other time of year. We lazily drifted down deserted old streets in Apalachicola and browsed through unique shops of not-so typical beach and nautical décor. One shop owner’s dog napped atop the checkout counter, rolling over long enough for us to rub his belly, then smiled at us with contentment. The mutt seemed pleased to have us visit for a spell. At the proprietor’s suggestion, we stopped by the Owl Café for a fabulous lunch of fish and chips to the tune of wonderful jazzy music; a respite indeed for any workaholic whose time is ticking away until Monday morning strikes again.

So enjoy our pictures, better than a thousand words, but be assured, being there was better than any picture can tell. If you want to know more about the area, visit http://www.cityofapalachicola.com/

Before the development of railways in the Gulf states, Apalachicola was the third busiest port in the Gulf of Mexico (behind New Orleans and Mobile). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the sponge trade, led by Greek immigrants, was a major industry in the town. Apalachicola is still the home port for a variety of seafood workers, including oyster harvesters and shrimpers. More than 90% of Florida’s oyster production is harvested from Apalachicola Bay. The bay is well protected by St. Vincent Island, Flag, Sand, St. George Island, and Cape St. George Island.

The Forgotten Coast

A view of Apalachicola from the bridge.

A Shrimper’s Life

On This Day in 1859

Nov9
149 Years Ago Today

November 9, 1859 my g-grandaunt
Emily Sutherland was born in Russell Co., VA.
She was the 4th of 11 children born of
Jessee Sutherland & Mahala Kiser.

  • Matilda Sutherland
  • Phoebe Sutherland
  • Mary Polly Sutherland (my g-grandmother)
  • Emily Jane Sutherland (m. Johnston Baxter Kiser)
  • Sarah Sutherland
  • Alabama Sutherland
  • Thomas A. Sutherland
  • Margaret P. Sutherland
  • Joseph Sutherland
  • Samuel Perry Sutherland
  • Daniel Sutherland

      • Thanks to Becky Chafin, a cousin and an avid genealogist in Russell County, I have this picture of the home where Jessee & Mahala reared their children. Two narrow doorways look rather strange on the front. However, the family could slide a section of that front to oneside, thereby enlarging the doorway tremendously. These southern pioneers could hide their horses inside the house during the Civil War to keep the Yankee soldiers from stealing them.

      On This Day in 1882

      Nov8
      126 Years Ago Today
      November 8, 1882
      Hannah J. Davis (my great grandaunt)
      married William “Bill” Addison in Russell Co., VA.
      Happy 5th Anniversary Jill Burkett & Timothy Wayne Boyd

      (Jill is my 3rd cousin, once removed – on the Brooks side of the family)

      Brooks genealogy comes to me from several family sources:
      Shirley Fields
      Kathey Haynes
      Ruby Bradley Brooks (indirectly)
      Thank you,
      sk

      On This Day in 1930

      Nov8
      78 Years Ago Today

      James William Gregory
      November 8, 1930 – December 19, 1930
      3rd cousin, once removed

      When a Little Baby Dies
      From the book “Rhymes Of Childhood'” ©1924
      Edgar Guest

      When a little baby dies
      And the wee form silent lies,
      And the little cheeks seem waxen
      And the little hands are still,
      Then your soul gives way to treason,
      And you cry: “O, God, what reason,
      O, what justice and what mercy
      Have You shown us by Your will?”

      “Oh, there are so many here
      Of the yellow leaf and sere,
      Who are anxious, aye, and ready
      To respond unto Your call;
      Yet You pass them by unheeding,
      And You set our hearts to bleeding!
      Oh how bitterly upon us
      Do Your vaunted mercies fall!

      “Yet some day, in after years,
      When Death’s angel once more nears,
      And the unknown, silent river
      Looms as darkly as a pall,
      You will hear your baby saying,
      “Mamma, come to me, I’m staying
      With my arms outstretched to greet you,
      “And you’ll understand it all.

      On This Day in 1876

      Nov7
      132 Years Ago Today
      November 7, 1876


      Orpha Narcissus Jessee was born in Russell County, VA.

      She was the second wife of Wm. “Bill” Brooks, my g-grandfather.
      Orpha was the 6th of 10 children born to
      John Counts Bull Jessee and Margaret “Peggie” Cross.
      In that line, she was my 2nd cousin, 4 times removed.
      1. Susan Helen Jessee
      2. William Robert Jessee
      3. Dora Laura Jessee
      4. Charles Benson Jessee
      5. Asa Jeter Acie Jessee
      6. Orpha Narcissus Jessee
      7. Virthie Jessee
      8. Sally Jessee
      9. Nannie Maryanne Jessee
      10. Andrew J. Jessee

        On This Day in 1983

        Nov7
        HAPPY BIRTHDAY
        CHRISTA


        25 Years Ago Today
        November 7, 1983

        Christa Danielle was born in Ohio
        to Larry C. Buckland & Gloria Sturgess.

        I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

        Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
        Psalm 139:14

        On This Day in 1862

        Nov6

        146 Years Ago Today
        November 6, 1862
        Martha Steele & Thompson Edward Gregory
        were married in Bland County, VA. Thom was my 2nd g-granduncle,
        the 14th of 15 children born to John K. & Elizabeth H. C. Gregory.
        (siblings listed in a previous post this week)
        Thom was the father of at least 12 children.
        1. Emma E. Gregory
        2. George R. Gregory
        3. Ella L. Gregory
        4. Perlina Belle Gregory
        5. Samuel W. Gregory
        6. Martha J. Gregory
        7. Mary N. Gregory
        8. Obed E. Gregory
        9. Grover Cleveland Gregory
        10. Edward S. Gregory
        11. Dorothy Gregory (mother Lucy Hawley, 2nd wife)
        12. Ruth Gregory (mother Lucy Hawley)

        ——————————————–

        120 Years Ago Today
        Mollie E. Harmon November 6, 1888 – June 29, 1889
        She was the grandniece of Thompson Gregory.
        She rests in the Whitley-Peery Cemetery, Riverside Dr, N. Tazewell, VA
        ————————
        My GREGORY genealogy comes from a very generous cousin who shared her research with me. Thank you Janet Harless Peters.

        On This Day in 1830

        Nov5
        178 Years Ago Today
        November 5, 1830
        Abraham Kiser was born to
        Joseph Kiser, Jr. & Mary Polly Childers.
        He was the 10th of 12 children, and my 2nd g-granduncle.
        1. Warren Kiser
        2. Margaret Elizabeth Kiser
        3. James S. “Bell Clapper” Kiser
        4. Dicie Kiser
        5. Ephriam Mayfield Kiser
        6. Mary Polly Kiser
        7. Simeon Kiser, Sr.
        8. Joseph Kiser
        9. Noah S. Kiser
        10. Abraham Kiser
        11. Mahala Kiser (my gg-grandmother)
        12. Matilda Kiser

        ————————————————————

        136 Years Ago Today
        November 5, 1872
        Margaret Smith, my 1st cousin, 3 times removed,
        married Andrew Keith.

        She was the daughter of John Smith & Nancy “Big Nance” Sutherland

        On This Day in 1771

        Nov5

        237 Years Ago Today

        on November 5, 1771 in St. James, Goochland Co., VA
        Hannah Letcher, my 4th great grandmother, was born the oldest of 9 children to John Letcher and Mary Davidson Houston .

        1. Hannah Letcher
        2. James Letcher
        3. Stephen Giles Letcher
        4. William Houston Letcher
        5. John Letcher, Jr.
        6. Isaac Anderson Letcher
        7. Mary Polly Letcher
        8. Sarah ” Sallie” Letcher
        9. Ann Letcher
        —————————————–

        151 Years Ago Today
        November 5, 1857
        Richard Shadrack Gregory, my 2nd great granduncle, married
        Julia Ann Higgenbothan in Tazewell County, VA.
        Richard was the 9th of 15 children born to
        John Keatts Gregory and Elizabeth Holland Corder.
        1. Daniel Parham Gregory (my gg-grandfather)
        2. Lewis Corder Gregory
        3. William Lowery Gregory
        4. Perlina Ledford Gregory
        5. John Henry Gregory
        6. Permelia Clement Gregory
        7. Martha Tucker Gregory
        8. Mary Clay Gregory
        9. Richard Shadrack Gregory
        10. Nancy Reeves Gregory
        11. Elizabeth Holland Gregory
        12. Franklin Clemons Gregory
        13. James Madison Gregory
        14. Thompson Edward Gregory
        15. Doctor Clauton Gregory

        Election Day

        Nov4
        CHOOSE LIFE

        Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
        you formed me in my mother’s womb.
        I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
        Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
        I worship in adoration—what a creation!
        You know me inside and out,you know every bone in my body;
        You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
        how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
        Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
        all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
        The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
        Psalm 139
        ——————————-
        Aaron Boynton Kiser was born 128 Years Ago Today in 1880.
        Aaron was my 2nd cousin, twice removed.