September 21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Glynda Faye Carter Tucker

Glynda is the daughter of Ned Jackson Carter and Helen Loeta Padgett. Ned was the son of John Martin Carter, a brother of my great-great-grandmother Adaline Carter Arnold. So Glynda would be my grandmother's (Cleffie) 2nd cousin. That would make her my 2nd cousin twice removed (I think). Glynda has provided a LOT of family history information, particularly about the Carter branch of the family tree. The Carter and Arnold branches of the family tree are intertwined to the point of being inseparable. It was a small community in the Ozark mountains in Arkansas where they all lived, and there was a lot of intermarriage among the handful of families -- Tamsett, Garrett, Reed, etc. (In researching family genealogies in general I have found that to be true in all branches of the family. Life was very different in times past -- multi-generational households, small communities, no modern forms of transportation -- most folks never strayed too many miles from home in their lifetime.) 

Photos: Ned Jackson Carter, Helen Loeta Padgett Carter.

Helen died a few days after Glynda was born. Here is what Glynda has written about her parents:

  John and Amy’s second child was Ned Jackson Carter. He was named for his Grandpa Carter and his Grandpa Tamsett. Ned is my father. He was born in 1909. He married Helen Leota Padgett in 1935. They lived at Hardy, Desha and Banner.  She was not a well person but worked very hard, sewing for people and in church. She miscarried twice. I was born 21 September 1939. She had a very hard labor. She should have been in a hospital and had a caesarean, but she only had a country doctor that did not realize that. She hemorrhaged and died 25 September.  Ned (Ned Jackson Carter) and baby lived with the Padgetts for about five years. Ned married Maxine Qualls Green in 1945. I lived with them some, but mostly with my Padgett grandparents. Maxine had a boy, Elvis, who was about three years old. Ned and Maxine had no children.    

  Ned was a “Jack of all Trades”. He worked at sawmills, did mechanic work, worked for county road department and also worked as salesperson at two different building supply stores. He has been a piano tuner and rebuilds pianos too. In fact, he still does a lot of piano work. He has lived in Banner since 1939. He plays the piano by ear and has played at Mt. Zion Baptist Church for many years. He has been, and is, a great dad.

Photo: Maxine Qualls Green Carter

Here is a picture I took at the 1983 or 1984 Carter/Arnold family reunion. L-R: Ned Jackson Carter, Glynda Faye Carter Tucker, Dalton Dwayne Tucker (Glynda's husband).

And here is a more recent photo of Glynda:

*     *     *

Just as an aside, to illustrate what I was talking about earlier -- Glynda's stepmother, Maxine Qualls Green Carter, had a twin sister named Imogene. Imogene married Elvin Reed. She was his 2nd wife. His first wife was Wilma Arnold (one of 'Uncle George's girls'). Wilma was a 1st cousin to my grandmother Cleffie Hicks Burford. Late in life, Cleffie married Elmer Reed -- Elvin's brother.

Photos: Elvin Reed and Wilma Arnold, Elmer Reed and Opie Arnold (Wilma's sister) 

Photo: Elmer Reed and Cleffie Hicks Burford Reed (1999)

I've always joked about how Grandma met her husband at a family reunion, but... well, now you see why it's perfectly logical. 

(This is what I do for fun.)

September 20

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Twins Daisy and Dennis Leeth 1905

Daisy and Dennis were the children of Rebecca Parker and Leslie Ellis Leeth. 

Rebecca Parker was a sister to my great-grandmother Massie Parker Treat.

Leslie and Rebecca had six children: Dennis and Daisy, Kenneth, Carl, Harold Glendale, and Vera Juanita. Harold Glendale Leeth died at age 2 months from whooping cough.

Photos: Leslie and Rebecca Leeth with daughter Vera Juanita. Dennis, Daisy, Kenneth, and Carl Leeth.

Daisy Leeth married Walter Grooms and they had three children - sons Nelson and Rodney, and a daughter (I haven't been able to find out the daughter's name). Nelson died at age 19 from diabetes and Bright's disease. Walter Grooms died at age 28 of typhoid fever. Daisy married Orla Herman in 1951. Daisy died in 1989 at age 83.

Dennis Leeth married Ona Dell Crabtree in 1928, and they had three daughters - Geraldine, Marvine, and an unnamed daughter who died at birth. Ona Dell died in 1932 at age 23. Dennis married Harriett Smith in 1934 and they had five children - sons Adrian, Leslie, and Charles, and daughters Flora and Sheila. Dennis died in 1945 at age 40.

DENNIS LEETH OBIT:

 

“My days are like a shadow that declineth;

He weakened my strength,

He shortened my days;

but Thou oh Lord shall endure forever,

for Thou are the same,

and Thy years shall have no end.”

But like the shadow has been the passing away of our loved one.

 

Dennis Leeth son of Leslie & Rebecca Parker Leeth, who was born at Morgantown, Ohio, September 20, 1905, departed this life October 8, 1945, at the age of 40 years and 16 days. In 1928 he was united in marriage to Ona Crabtree. Three daughters were born to this union, one dying in infancy. In 1934 he was again united in marriage to Harriett Smith, to which union 5 children were born. He leaves the loving wife, 4 daughters, Geraldine, Marvine, Flora May, and Sheila, 3 sons, Leslie, Charles David and Adrian; 2 brothers, Kenneth of Spargusville route 1, Carl of Bainbridge route 2; 2 sisters, Mrs. Daisy Grooms, Bainbridge route 2, Mrs. Jeanne Walls, Spargusville route 1; one half-sister, Flossie Leeth, Spargusville route 1, and step-mother, Mrs. Carrie Leeth, Bainbridge.

 

He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend and neighbor. No task was to hard to do for his loved ones, all his time and efforts were for the happiness and comfort of his dear ones. 

 

“A wonderful stream is the River Time,

As it runs through the vale of tears, 

With a faultless rhythm, a musical rhyme

And a broader sweep and a surge sublime,

As it blends with the ocean of years.

There's a magical isle up the River Time,

Where the softest of songs are playing;

There's a cloudless sky, and a tropical clime,

And a tune as sweet as a vesper chime

And the Junes with the roses are straying.

There are hands that are waved at this beautiful shore;

When the mist has lied in air

And we sometimes hear through he restless roar

Sweet voices heard in the days gone before,

When the wind down the river was fair.

And remembered for always is this blessed isle;

All the days of our life till it's night

And when our evening glows with its beautiful smile,

And our eyes are closing in last slumber

While that wonderful isle comes in sight.”

 

Funeral services were held at Morgantown church, conducted by Rev. Ted Mendenhall after which the body was laid to rest in Gardner cemetery. A.M. Gregg was funeral director. 

September 19

Got some things I want to get accomplished today, so this is gonna be a short and relatively pointless post.

On 19 September 1895 America Margaret Mowery married Henry Burst...

So... her married name was AMERICA BURST.

LOL

September 18

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO...

Geraldine Thomas and LeRoy Herman Roberts 1993

This isn't a very good scan, but it's the only picture I have of Jerry and Lee.

Jerry Thomas was the daughter of Mel and Alta Thomas. She was my dad's first cousin, Mel Thomas being the brother of my grandfather Bill Thomas. Mel and Alta also had a son, Roger.

Mel and Alta Thomas with Roger

Jerry Thomas' first husband was Burton Hills

Photo: Jerry and Burt (right) Hills. I don't know the man on the left. I suspect this was Jerry and Burt's wedding, so the man on the left might have been the person who performed the ceremony...?

Jerry and Burt had two children, Susan and Vicki

September 17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

James Edward Leon Garrett 1939-2007

I only have one picture of Leon (that I know of). It's a group photo of him with his mother and siblings.

  James Edward Leon Garrett was the son of Verlie Arnold and her first husband James Everett Garrett. When Leon was born Verlie and Everett were divorced, Verlie had married Everett's brother Ed Garrett, and her sister Mildred had married Everett.

  (The original of this photo has two people in the background whom I suspect are Mildred and her daughter Eva Jane, who would be the same age as Leon. Can't confirm it, though.)

Photo: Ed and Verlie Garrett 1983

I just yesterday found out that Verlie Garrett is still alive, and recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

Photo: Verlie Arnold Garrett (age 100) and her daughter Verletta, March 2021

Photo: Verlie Arnold Garrett and her sister Joan, age 98, March 2021

Thanks to cousin Glynda Carter Tucker for the pictures from Verlie's 100th birthday party!

September 16

MEMORIAL TO...

William George Thomas 1863-1945

William George Thomas was a brother of my great-grandfather Charles Thomas. He operated a barber shop in Watervliet (MI) for over 50 years.

William was well known for his annual deer hunting 'camp' in Michigan's upper peninsula.

Photo: William Thomas, 2nd from left, at deer camp in U.P.

William married Jeanette 'Nettie' B. Durren in 1890 and they had six children: Don, twins Lottie and Luttie, Etta, Thelma, and Ralph.

Photo: Jeanette 'Nettie' Durren Thomas

I only have pictures of two of their children - Lottie and Luttie

Their children were all born and died in Berrien County, and are buried in Watervliet Cemetery and Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor (MI).

September 15

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO...

John Davidson Arnold and Gracie Belle Webb 1917

I don't have any pictures of John when he was older, and I don't have any pictures of Aunt Gracie when she was younger. And I don't have any pictures of the two of them together.

John Davidson Arnold was the brother of my great-grandmother Annie Arnold Hicks.

Photo: George, Annie, John, Marlie, Etta - children of John Henry and Adaline Carter Arnold.

John Davidson Arnold was a musician (apparently)

Photos: John Arnold playing the fiddle (don't know the other person), John Arnold and guitar.

He was a blacksmith by trade.

John and Gracie had eight children: Burton, Burnis, Alene, Maxine, Lloyd, John Henry, Christene, and Bertha Lee. I have pictures of three of them --

Photos: Irene Hicks holding Burton Arnold, Maxine Arnold Cobb, Christene Arnold Riggs

Burton Arnold died at age 1 1/2 from a childhood disease (typhoid or diphtheria). As far as I know, this is the only existing photograph of him. The pictures of Maxine and Christene I got from the Find a Grave website.

John Davidson Arnold died in 1954 of metastatic prostate cancer. Gracie Arnold died in 1992.

September 14

What I do for fun:

ANNIVERSARY...

Dulcie Mae Jackson married Earl Lavane Nicholson 14 September 1946

I don't have a picture of either of them. Dulcie was the daughter of Etta Lee Arnold and Ben Jackson

Earl Nicholson was the son of Tom and Kizzie Massey Nicholson

According to our family records, 14 September 1946 is the day Dulcie Mae Jackson married Earl Lavane Nicholson. I was able to verify this on the Family Search website.

This is (supposedly) the official Arkansas marriage record. (However, the 'signatures' of Dulcie and Earl are in the same handwriting as whoever wrote the rest of the info on the page.)

According to the Find A Grave website, they were married on 10 November 1943. That date is found on two different memorials for Dulcie -- one of which has her buried in a cemetery in Oregon, and the other has her buried with Earl in Pine Grove cemetery in Arkansas. Those two memorials were put on the website by two different people. Both of them have a photo of her gravestone...

I'm confused....

Dulcie died in Oregon, according to our family records. But was she buried at Pine Grove? Or not?

And did she marry Earl in 1943 (at age 15)? Or 1946 (at age 18)? Their first child was born in 1947, so I'm guessing the September 1946 date is correct.

Earl and Dulcie Mae Nicholson had three children: Carlos, Lynn, and Edith. Carlos died in 2005 in Oregon (according to the Social Security Death Index), Edith died in 2007 in Oregon (I have her obit).

Well, these are the problems that you run into when you start to trace family history. It keeps me busy, and keeps me off the streets, I guess. 

September 13

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO...

Erlene Burford and Arnold Slocum 1941

I only have one picture of the two of them together, in this group photo which also includes Erlene's parents George and Willie Mae Burford, Arnold and Erlene's baby son Larry, Hazel Burford, Raymond and Ruby Burford and their daughter-in-law Mallie. 

Raymond, George, and Hazel are siblings -- children of Alexander Oscar Burford. One of their younger brothers, Lester Burford, was my grandfather. Erlene was his first cousin.

I don't have any other pictures of Arnold Slocum, and this is the only other adult picture I have of Erlene.

Arnold and Erlene Slocum had two children: Larry and Linda Sue.

In this photo I believe the boy 2nd from left (front) is Larry Slocum and the girl 2nd from right (front) is Linda Sue Slocum. The man and woman on the left are George and Willie Mae Burford, parents of Erlene Burford Slocum. They would be Larry and Linda Sue's grandparents. This picture was taken in 1956.

The only other photos I have of their family is this one of Linda Sue Slocum's twin babies Caryl and Daryl Carwell, born in 1967.