On This Day in Family History - May 26

Some of the good memories of my childhood revolve around Memorial Day in Hartford, Michigan. To my recollection, it was sort of an annual town reunion. Everybody who ever lived in Hartford came back to town for the Memorial Day celebration. In preparation, folks went out to the cemeteries and cleaned up their relatives' graves and put out fresh flowers and flags. (Some of the older folks still called it Decoration Day.)

Bob McDonald, Bill Thomas, John Treat

Christie Thomas, decorating the grave of her brother Ray Treat

Christie Thomas and Mabel Treat

These pictures were taken in 1966.

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Cleffie Burford and Wathada Thomas at Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Michigan, May 1993

Wathada at Carvil A Barnett's grave, Thomas Cemetery, Bangor Michigan, May 1993

Cleffie at Christie and Bill Thomas' graves, Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Michigan, May 1993

On This Day in Family History - May 25

Ida Mae Sandefur married Ceilco Weatherford 25 May 1925

Ida Mae (I think she was called "Mae") was the daughter of Nancy Ellen Hicks Sandefur. Nancy Ellen was a sister of my great-grandfather Ulysses Hicks.

Photo: Top Ida Mae and Charlotte Viola Sandefur. Bottom Malisa Hicks and Nancy Ellen Hicks Sandefur (Malisa is Nancy Ellen's mother)

Ida Mae married a man by the name of Ceilco Weatherford in 1925. That's all the information I had about her. So I went to FamilySearch and tried to find out more. I found 2 records. One was the 1940 census, in which Ida Mae is reported to be a widow, with a 4 year old son. I dug around some more and found a death certificate for a Carter Lewis Ceilco Weatherford. He was near the same age as Ida Mae. He died of a gunshot wound -- officially deemed a homicide -- in 1946. On the death certificate his wife is listed as "Gracie." Now, since I've started researching family history I have learned that information gleaned from census takers is not always reliable. So I'm wondering if Ida Mae was not, in fact, a widow in 1940 -- although that's likely what she told the census taker -- but maybe she was divorced, or her husband had left her at that time. I mean, how many Ceilco Weatherfords could there have been in Arkansas? (He was killed in Tennessee, but on the death certificate his residence was listed as Wilson, Arkansas.) Ceilco's full name was Carter Lewis Ceilco Weatherford. Ida Mae's son in the 1940 census is named Carter W. Weatherford. So I'm relatively certain the murdered man was her husband. 

Here is the death certificate for Carter Lewis Ceilco Weatherford

Alan actually found a Carter W. Weatherford II currently living in Arkansas. He would be the right age to be Ida Mae's grandson. I'm tempted to write him and ask if he is related to Ida Mae, and if he knows any more about this story.

On This Day in Family History - May 24

Charles Byrne Lough was born 24 May 1830

Cicily Jane Lough (daughter of Charles Byrne Lough) was born 24 May 1869

Albert Summer Lough (son of Charles Byrne Lough) was born 24 May 1879

I don't have a picture of Charles Byrne Lough. I don't have pictures of Cicily or Albert, either. The photo above is Charles' son John Breeze Lough and family.

The photo below is another of Charles Lough's children -- Juliette, and her husband Albert Lamb.

Charles Byrne Lough was married to Hannah Eliza Phillips in 1852 and they had two children - Peter and Phoebe. Eliza died in 1857. 

Charles married Sarah McKenzie in 1858 and they had 10 children - Robert, Juliette, twins Mosella and Rosabell, James, Cicily, John, George, Albert, and Nicholas. (Kinda makes you thankful for birth control, doesn't it?)

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How are the Loughs related to us?

Remember Nicholas Gibson (son of Colonel John Gibson and Koonay 'Anne' Shikellamy)?

Nicholas Gibson's daughter Prudence married Peter George Lough in 1816. This is the connection between the Lough and Gibson families. 

A couple of generations later, Lora Gibson married Alexander Oscar Burford II. This is the connection between the Gibson and Burford families.

Photo: Lora Gibson and Alexander Oscar Burford II

On This Day in Family History -- May 23

Colonel John Gibson was born 23 May 1740

There are as many different stories of John Gibson's life as there are writers to tell them. Sorting out fact from fiction would be nigh onto impossible. He is the father of Nicholas Gibson, the great-great-grandfather of my great-grandmother Lora Gibson Burford. John Gibson was married to the daughter of Chief Shikellamy of the Oneida tribe of native Americans. Her Indian name was Koonay, and she was called Anne. She was killed in the Yellow Creek massacre in 1774. John and Anne had at least three children, one of whom was Nicholas. There are many conflicting stories of what happened to Nicholas and the other children in the massacre. 

Here are some of the more well-documented facts about John Gibson (from his FindAGrave memorial):

He was the Indiana Territorial Governor. Gibson was made the Indian agent at Pittsburgh to represent the interests of Virginia, in 1775, was elected the Colonel of the 6th Virginia and commanded a regiment during battles in the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he was a merchant, a member of Pennsylvania's constitutional convention in 1790, a judge in Allegheny County, (1791-1800) and Major General in command of the State Militia. In 1800, President John Adams appointed him Secretary of the Indiana Territory, serving until 1816. During that time, he was also appointed acting Indiana Territorial Governor, serving (1812-13) and then he returned to his position as Secretary of the Indiana Territory and continued in office until Indiana achieved statehood. After completing his term in Indiana government, he retired to private life in Pennsylvania, until his death at age 81.

John Gibson died 16 April 1822. His second wife, also named Ann, is buried beside him in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They had a daughter named Jane, who, with her husband, is also buried near them. 

On the FamilySearch website, the LDS family tree traces the lineage of the Gibson family all the way back to Adam's daddy -- GOD. (I kid you not.) Well, from what I have heard about those Gibsons, I'm not really too surprised about that. It's the Gibson/Burford branch of the family tree that contains both bipolar disorder and psychic abilities. The few of their descendants that I've personally met give me a pretty clear picture of the larger-than-life character traits that run through the Gibson lineage.

We have a distant cousin -- a descendant of Stephen Gibson -- who has written a couple of self-published books about the Gibson family history. His name is Henry Cummings, aka Captain Hank. (He is a riverboat captain.) 

Here are his books:

On This Day in Family History - May 22

 Robert Neil Burford was born 22 May 1941

Uncle Bob is my mother's brother.

My mom and her siblings always managed to be born on the same day as one of their aunts. They had 10 aunts -- 5 on their mother's side (Cleffie) and 5 on their dad's side (Lester).

Bob was born on Aunt Ruby's birthday.

Ruby was Cleffie's sister.

Morris was born on Aunt Evalee's birthday.

Evalee was Cleffie's sister.

My mother (Wathada) was born on Aunt Judy's birthday.

Judy was Lester's sister.

Uncle Ron was the youngest of the 4 siblings. He wasn't born on the birthday of any of their aunts. He was born on (well, almost -- actually the day before) Wathada's 8th birthday. He was her birthday present. That's an undisputed fact in our family. He was her baby, and that's all there was to it. They were very close all his life. (He died young, in a car accident.)  

On This Day in Family History - May 21

Ellen R McOmber Thomas was born 21 May 1829

Ellen was the wife of Uriah Baker Thomas

Uriah and Ellen were the parents of Walter, Orr, George, Luna, and Myra

The only one of those that I have a picture of is George Theodore Thomas

He was a lawyer, a judge in Huron County, Ohio, and a representative in the state legislature, serving part of that time as Speaker of the House.

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30 August 1920

George Theodore Thomas 

Probate Judge of Huron county, son of Uri B. Thomas and Ellen (McOmber). Thomas, was born in Greenwich township, Huron county, Ohio, September 11, 1856. He attended school for some time at Oberlin College and Buchtel College at Akron; then studied law and admitted to practice February 2 1886. He was the mayor of the village of Greenwich, 1883 to 1885, and about the same time held the office of township clerk, member of the board of education, and secretary of the Greenwich Land and Building Association. In November 1886, he began the practice of law at Norwalk. In 1890 he was elected Probate Judge, and was re-elected in 1893. He is a fluent speaker and is often called upon to make public addresses. Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Emma J. Miller, of Fairfield township, this county, April 10, 1880, and they have one child, Alton Orr Thomas.

-- "Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," George T Thomas, 1920

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Thomas, Hon. George T., one of Huron county's most distinguished sons, a staunch republican and a good citizen, passed away at his home in Norwalk, August 30, 1920, lacking but twelve days of attaining his 64th birthday. He was born in Greenwich township, September 11, 1856, the son of Uri Baker and Ellen (MacOmber) Thomas. His mother died in his early youth, but his stepmother, Myra (Stowe) Thomas, was a woman of exceptional mental faculties and to her he owed many of his early impressions. After completing his education, he taught school for a time and in 1882 was elected mayor of Greenwich, which first brought him into prominence. He married Miss Emma J. Miller, of North Fairfield, who with a son, Alton O. Thomas, survived him. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and moved to Norwalk, the county seat, in 1887. In 1891 he was elected probate judge and re-elected in 1894, serving six years. In 1899 he was elected representative from Huron county and was twice re-elected, serving three terms. He was made Speaker of the House January, 1904, serving two years. He was an able lawyer, a brilliant orator, a popular official, a kind husband and father and an honored and respected citizen at home and abroad. Funeral services were conducted at the house by Rev. I. Spanton, Akron, and Rev. F. C. Holbrook, Norwalk; the burial was in Woodlawn cemetery.

The following resolutions were adopted by the Huron county Bar Association on the death of Hon. Geo. T. Thomas: 

Whereas, we members of the Huron County Bar Association have learned that death has claimed one of our members, Honorable George T. Thomas, we do hereby express our profound sorrow; realizing that in his passing the legal profession has lost an able and worthy member, and the state one of its finest types of citizenship.

Judge Thomas was essentially a product of Huron county. Born in Greenwich township in 1856 he passed through all the wholesome stages that county boys undergo. He was always intellectually inclined, and early established a reputation as a fluent and forcible debater in the lyceums and contests that flourished a generation or two ago, and did much to educate men for public and civic leadership. He used all opportunities for study, and had the advantage of higher education at Oberlin and Buchtel colleges. He taught school successfully, and after due preparation was admitted to the bar.

His political rise was rapid and honorable. Mayor of Greenwich, two terms as probate judge of Huron county, member of the Ohio legislature, and speaker of the lower house, mark the chief points of his notable political career, and all of these positions he served with honor, efficiency, ability and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was an able orator, devoted to his party and its success, and for more than a generation was one of its leaders.

At the bar Judge Thomas was likewise successful. For 22 years he was the partner of J. R. McKnight, occupying the same law offices in Norwalk during that period. His practice was varied, but he handled all matters intrusted to him with great care and fidelity, and his legal ability was recognized by all with whom he came in contact. Only those who knew him best know of his high ideals, his scrupulous honesty, his kindliness and devotion to his clients, his courtesy and fairness to the courts and to opposing counsel.

Early in his career Judge Thomas was married to Miss Emma J. Miller, and to them was born one son, Alton O., who survived him. To them he has been a devoted husband and father, whose loss is irreparable.

A good and upright lawyer, successful in business affairs, a trusted and able political leader and public servant, a patriotic and enterprising citizen, a man of high character, beloved by all who knew him, and a fine gentleman of the old school, Judge Thomas has gone to his reward. He will be missed in many circles, but in none more than by his brothers at the bar, who will ever bear him in respectful and kindly remembrance.

J. R. McKnight, A. E. Rowley and G. Ray Craig, Committee of the Huron Bar Association.

An impressive event took place in the House of the Ohio General Assembly at 5:30 p.m. Monday January 17, 1920, when Representative Taylor of Huron county presented resolutions on the death of the Hon. George T. Thomas, former speaker of the house. After Mr. Taylor read the resolutions, all members stood for one full minute with bowed heads to show their respect for the late speaker, and then after passing the resolutions, the house adjourned till 1:30 Tuesday afternoon: 

Whereas, The House of Representatives of the 84th General Assembly has heard with profound sorrow and regret of the death of the Honorable George T. Thomas member from Huron county, in the 74th, 75th and 76th General Assemblies, and Speaker of the House in the 76th General Assembly of the State of Ohio; and

Whereas, In his death the people of his county have lost a true and sincere friend and neighbor, and the state of Ohio an honest, wise and patriotic citizen, faithful to his duties in both public and private life, his friends only numbered by his large acquaintance, all of whom testify to his firmness of character and splendid citizenship; therefore,

Resolved, That in the death of the Honorable George T. Thomas we mourn the loss of a sincere and fearless servant of the people, whose memory we cherish because of his stainless record, and the entire state may justly join in this tribute to his memory.

Be it further resolved: That we extend to his family and friends our deep and lasting sympathy and condolence, and express our appreciation of his high and spotless character and those noble qualities which made him a useful and honorable member of the House of Representatives.

Be it further resolved, That as a further evidence of our respect to his memory this resolution be adopted by the House and spread upon the Journal and that a copy of the same be engrossed and transmitted to the family of the deceased.

Be it further resolved: That out of respect to the memory of the Honorable George T. Thomas, this House do now adjourn.

On This Day in History - May 20

 Christopher Keith Carrigan was born 20 May 1980

That was quite a day...

Photos: 7AM, 7PM

Reminds me of a song... "It was long ago and far away, the world was younger than today..."

Here's the highlights reel...

Well, there's more. Lots more. But it's hard to find a stopping place, so ...

The End

On This Day in Family History - May 19

 Catherine Belle Treat (Aunt Belle) died 19 May 1962

Photo: Chris and Bill, Bob McDonald, Aunt Belle

This picture was taken in Aunt Belle's house.

Bob McDonald was the husband of Aunt Belle's daughter, Faun. We usually stayed with Faun and Bob whenever I went to Ohio with Grandma and Grandpa. Aunt Faun and I had the same birthday, and we always sent each other a birthday card every year.

This postcard was in a box full of postcards from various members of the Thomas family. This one was written by my grandmother, Christie Treat Thomas. Belle Treat was her aunt.

"We stayed all nite here the 21th Madge's John's & us when Aunt Belle died... was buried Tues May 22 '62"

Photo L-R: Faun, Bob, Mabel, Bill, Chris, John, Madge

John and Madge (mentioned in the postcard) were Christie's brother and sister. Mabel was John's wife. Faun was Aunt Belle's daughter, and Bob McDonald was her husband. This picture was taken in 1970.

Photo: Bill, Aunt Belle, Chris

I don't know for sure when this picture was taken. It seems like I remember being told that Aunt Belle was in a nursing home before she died. I also remember Grandma telling me that Aunt Belle had to have her hair cut -- for the first time in her life -- when she was in the nursing home, because it was giving her headaches. 

I remember going to see Aunt Belle at her house at least once. I usually went with Grandma and Grandpa every summer to visit Grandma's relatives in Ohio. I was 7 years old when Aunt Belle died, and I did not go with them on the trip when they went to her funeral. 

On This Day in Family History - May 18

Mabel Gertrude Myers Treat was born 18 May 1900

Mabel was the wife of John Dallas Treat.

John was the brother of my grandmother Christie Treat Thomas.

John and Mabel had one child - a son, Jack

Photo: John & Mabel, Jack & Joanie (Jack's wife), Chris & Bill Thomas

This was John & Mabel's 25th anniversary. 

Below is the same picture, tagged with the names of all the people. They include Mabel's mother and father, and Mabel's brother (I don't know his name) and his wife. Also, my grandparents, my dad (he was 15 years old), my dad's brother Bernarde and his wife Eileen. The picture also includes John Treat's parents - Marcus and Massie, sister Madge and her husband Leonard Till and their son and daughter. John and Mabel's son Jack is on the far right.

John Treat died 14 January 1986. Mabel died 03 January 1987. They are buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Michigan

On This Day in Family History - May 17

 Jesse Burton Burns married Elizabeth Angeline Wylie 17 May 1865

I think I posted about these same people not long ago, but since then I've fallen into a rabbit hole with these Burns relatives... ancestors of the Hicks branch of the family tree. (Through John Henry Hicks' wife Malisa Burns - my great-great-grandmother.)

Photo: Angeline and Jesse Burns

Photo: John Henry and Malisa Burns Hicks

I just discovered that many of the Burns ancestors are buried right here in Alabama. So I'm trying to track down as many of them as I can so Alan and I can go try to find the cemeteries where they are buried and find their graves. (Between FindAGrave and FamilySearch websites, there is an overwhelming amount of information to sift through.)