Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Plowman - Hoover Cemetery

Ok, I'm going to give you a two-fer today.  The first one is easy.  The second one, not so much.  I'll explain under the photo.

Henry Plowman

Son of Thomas Plowman and (possibly) Sarah Roach

Husband of Mary Jane Pursley

Hoover Cemetery, Shade, Estill County, Kentucky

This unmarked grave is directly to the right of Henry's.  We do know that Jane died after Henry did in 1898.  Burial habits of that particular time/place tend to find the wife on the right of the husband.  Given this, is this Mary Jane (Pursley) Plowman's grave.  I *believe* so, but can't say with definite proof.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Toys

This week, GeneaBloggers poses the topic:  Week 7: Toys. What was your favorite childhood toy? Is it still being made in some form today?  I seriously doubt it.

While most of my childhood toys were "outside games", I had a few things to do indoors.  There were always books, board games and Barbie dolls.

It had to be seriously cold outside to stay in the house....or I had to be bleeding from the ears.  Ok, not seriously, but you remember that kind of childhood.  If school wasn't in session, the minute breakfast was done, I was out the door.  Came home for lunch and then out the door again.  My father got home from work at 4:25 and we had supper at 4:30 on the dot!  After that, more outside until the dreaded streetlights came on.  We scattered like ripples in a pond the minute the streetlight even looked like it was coming on.  Children ran in every direction because you didn't want your mom on the front porch yelling your name to the neighborhood. 

On those occasions that my playground was bordered by the walls of my bedroom, I would take my Barbies from their case in the closet.  Would they dress in the haute couture of 1970?  Of course not!  MY Barbies had specially made....calico long dresses made by my mother...and even had ric rac!!

Johnny West in his bachelor days

You see, while other little girl's Barbies were dining with Ken on Broadway in New York (this was before Malibu Barbie House so deal with it) or zooming around in a pretend sports car (that looked suspiciously like a shoe box), my Barbie was busy settling the frontier with Johnny West.  Yes, Johnny West.  Scourge of all  things bad in those thrilling days of yester-year.  She'd NEVER be seen with Ken, who'd idea of adventure would be changing his neck scarf!

And the best part?  The very best part?  Johnny West and Barbie (whose name was Barbara for these purposes) traveled in a scale model of a covered wagon.  That's right - carved wheels, bench seat, all the comforts that those early pioneers had.  Well, it would have been covered if Mother and Daddy figured out what to hang the canvas from.  You see, my Daddy could make pretty much whatever he wanted to.  He was a skilled craftsman and handyman.  He also had a wood working lathe, but I don't believe he used it on this.

By the way, Johnny and Barbara West also had a beautiful pair of horses to pull the wagon.  Their harnesses were of the finest leather and had silver buckles and fasteners.

They also had their family and friends about them as they blazed their way into the new frontier.  The same Christmas that Johnny West made his way to our home, Santa also brought along Jaime and Janice West and Geronimo even came along for the adventures.

Yeah, I was a history nerd even back then, but I blame it all on this man.  I know that my 7th great-grand uncle didn't look like this, but *swoon*

So, what was my favorite toy?  Imagination.  Thanks to Mother, Daddy and Daniel Boone.

Tombstone Tuesday - John Will and Ida (Caylor) Hoover - Hoover Cemetery

Down a one lane road on a mountain in Estill County, Kentucky, you'll find my favorite spot in the world - Hoover Cemetery.  On this ridge, you'll find at least 200 (marked and unmarked) family and friends of Daniel and Dianah (McQueen) Hoover.  I've often wondered if Dianah's father, John McQueen, is there himself.  He was born in 1761, died in 1855 and fought in the Revolutionary War.  Just behind the cemetery was the cabin site that the Hoover family, who arrived in Estill County in 1840, called home.  The spring that Dianah drew water to cook and clean still runs.

Under some of the few trees that grow there, you'll find the above headstone.  This is my Great-grand uncle and aunt, John Will and Ida (Caylor) Hoover.

John William Hoover was born 13 Jan 1887 in Estill County, Kentucky, the son of Andrew Jackson "Andy" Hoover and Frances J. "Fannie Plowman.  He died 31 Oct 1967 there in Estill County as well.

Ida (Caylor) Hoover is a bit of a mystery to me.  I admit that I'm intrigued with her, but just haven't had a chance to seriously research her.  The birth date on the stone reads 13 Jan 1887, but there's evidence that she may have been born in May.  The circumstances of her birth are a bit suspect as well, but I'm going to leave that alone for now as well.

Every time I visit this cemetery (and I visit it every time I'm in Estill County...gotta tell the folks, "Hey!"), I visit Uncle John Will and Aunt Ida.  

The headstone, as you can see, was handmade.  A wooden frame was made and concrete poured in.  After it was smoothed out, crushed glass was sprinkled around.  Marbles were used to outline the hand etched name and dates for both of them.

In an area where so many graves went unmarked or marked with just a fieldstone, you can find several variations on the above design.  Rather than let their loved ones go without, they crafted one with their own hands.  And people say that mountain people are without imagination or ability....

The New Phone Book is Here! The New Phone Book is Here!!

It came!!  No, not the phone book.  Well, yeah, the phone book.  I found one dropped off on our front porch.  That's not what I'm excited for though.  Today, I received *drum roll* the application packet from the Board for Certification of Genealogists!

I know that I can do this, but I have to admit that I'm nervous.  This is a big step for me.  It means that what was a hobby, my passion, just got taken up a notch.

I have to admit that my desk was not ready for this to arrive.  I should have everything somewhat organized and the desk clear by tomorrow.  I've set the package to the side so I can finish this work.   What's that I hear?  Snorts?  Cackles?  Gasps?  I know, its amazing.  Did I get a dose of genealogy ritalin?  I think it was that last can of Diet Coke.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Days of Our Genealogy.  I'm sure I'll be here venting.

Who are you and how did you end up in a box of my ancestor's photos?!

According to the back of this photo, this is Harmon Lippel.  I'm scanning old photographs that I inherited from my aunt.  So, I'm looking at this picture and the first thing that pops in my head is "Lippel?!?!  Now that's a surname I've never seen before."  The second thing that I thought was he reminds me of Ray McKinnon's "bonafide" portrayal of Vernon T. Waltrip in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

I searched the censuses on Ancestry and found Harmon in Mulberry Grove, Bond County, Illinois in 1870.  He was living with Alex and Harriett Dixon.  He was living with them in 1880 as well.  I found that Alexander and Harriett were living next to some of my Edwards family.  Then I went to the Illinois State Archives databases to look at the marriage database.  What do you know!  Alex Dixon married Harriett Edwards in Bond County, IL on 11 Dec 1858 in Bond County, IL as recorded in Bond County Marriage Volume A, License 4.  Then I had a duh moment and realized exactly who Harriett was.

Very interesting, Mr. Lippel.  Let's look into you a bit more.

Seems our guy married Emma Lyngby in Fayette County, IL on 26 Feb 1896 (Volume B, License 41).  According to the 1900 and 1910 Censuses, they had at least four children:  Anna, Harold, Ernest and Irene.  There are also two girls listed with the family in 1900 that both have the surname Bone.  They are listed as his daughters, but aren't with them in 1910.  I haven't found them past 1910, but there's an entry on Ancestery that his wife died 24 Feb 1934.

Seems this fine young man appears to only be a family friend.  If he's related closer to you than me, contact me.  I've got a larger, better resolution of this picture for you.