Jim's Jottings

Caramel Corn

2011-12-12T12:51:00.002-06:00

1 Gallon Popcorn, popped

2 C. Sugar

½ C. Water

¼ C. Butter

½ Tsp. Cream of Tartar

½ Tsp. Baking Soda

In a heavy sauce pan mix sugar, water, butter, cream of tartar. Stir over medium heat until it boils. When it boils do not stir. When the center is a caramel brown color, remove from heat, add soda and stir until dissolved. Pour over popcorn and quickly fold from the side of the bowl and up through the center until popcorn is evenly coated, pour onto cookie sheet to cool. When cool break up the large chunks, and place in a large air tight bowl or canister.

Apple Crisp

2011-12-11T18:31:00.000-06:00

6-8 Medium Granny Smith Apples

¼ C. Sugar

2 T & 2 Tsp. All Purpose Flour

1 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon

¼ Tsp. Ground Nutmeg

Dash of Salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Core and dice apples and place in 9x9” baking pan. In a small bowl mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Sprinkle over apples and stir in until all the apples are generally evenly coated. Set aside. In large bowl thoroughly combine:

1 C. Quick Cooking Rolled Oats

½ C. Flour

¾ C. Brown Sugar

¼ Tsp. Salt

½ Tsp. Cinnamon

½ C. Butter, melted

Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 35 minutes.

7 Layer Bars

2011-12-10T00:36:00.001-06:00

¼ C. Butter

1 C. Graham Cracker Crumbs

1 C. Shredded Coconut

1 C. Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1 C. Butterscotch Chips

1 15 Ounce Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 C. Chopped Nuts

Melt butter in a 9x13x2” baking pan. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over butter. Sprinkle on coconut, chocolate and butterscotch chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk over top. Sprinkle on nuts & press lightly into pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool in pan and then cut into bars.

Lorenzo H. Sales, 2nd Lieutenant, Co. A, 17th Iowa Infantry: Civil War Pension Index Card

2011-07-12T11:21:00.000-05:00

SOURCE: Civil War And Later Veterans Pension Index at Footnote.com

Lorenzo H. Sales, M. D.

2011-07-12T11:16:00.002-05:00

LEON.

LORENZO HARRISON SALES, a resident of Iowa since it became a state, is a descendant of a Mohawk Dutch family, and was born in Ontario county. New York, on the 28th of March, 1819. His parents were Hiram Sales, surveyor and farmer, and Nancy Ann Thorington, his mother being a native of Rutland, Vermont. His maternal great-grandfather was a Phillips, whose ancestry is traced back directly to the Mayflower. He was in the revolutionary army; was taken prisoner, brought as far west as Detroit, Michigan, by the Indians, and kept there several years. At length he made his escape, and after much hardship reached Vermont.

When Lorenzo was three years old the family removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. Young as the boy was, he still recollects the trip down the Alleghany and Ohio rivers on a raft. The scenes on the way were a wonderful novelty to his young eyes, and time fails to obliterate them. After spending one year in Cincinnati his father removed to Troy, Miami county, where he died in 1823, leaving his widow with seven children. There Lorenzo received a common-school education in a log school-house.

In 1834 the family removed to Defiance, where Lorenzo prepared himself for the medical profession, and where he practiced until 1846; removing to Iowa City, Iowa, a few months before it doffed its territorial robes. After practicing in Iowa City a little less than two years he removed to Washington county, continuing his profession in Washington and Richmond villages until 1856, when he removed his family to Leon, Decatur county. While at Richmond he received from President Pierce the appointment of receiver of the United States land office, at Chariton, Lucas county, and was in that position three years, when the office was moved to Des Moines.

Since residing in Leon Dr. Sales has been in a variety of occupations, — practicing medicine a little ; keeping a hotel at sundry times, in all about twelve years; selling drugs; editing a newspaper; dealing in real estate, and acting as county officer, being judge of Decatur county two years. The judge is well known all over the county.

In 1862 he went into the 17th Iowa Infantry as lieutenant, company A, and acting adjutant; served six months and was discharged on account of disability.

In his political principles, the judge has been a life-long democrat.

In August, 1845, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Ann Wartenbe, of Defiance, Ohio, and they have three children. Nancy Ann, the eldest child, is the wife of Lyman W. Forgrave, contractor and builder, of Leon ; Lewis Cass is a printer in Leon, and Frank Knox is a brick mason and resides in Crete, Nebraska. Both sons are unmarried.

SOURCE, The United States Biographical Dictionary And Portrait Gallery Of Eminent And Self Made Men. Iowa Volume, American Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago & New York, 1878, p. 581-2

Death of Lorenzo H. Sales

2011-07-12T11:15:00.000-05:00

We are again called upon to record the death of an early settler of Decatur County. Judge Sales died last Wednesday morning at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. L. W. Forgrave, in Leon, with bright's disease of the kidneys. The deceased was born in Ontario County, New York in 1819 and was 68 years of age. He lived with his parents in Cincinnati Ohio, a short time, when they removed to Defiance county where they resided until 1846, when the family came to Iowa. In 1856 Judge Sales located in Leon where he practiced medicine for some time. He was appointed receiver in the United States land office at Chariton where he remained three years. In 1860 he built the Sales House of which he was manager for many a year. He served as county judge for two years with marked ability and in 1862 enlisted in the 17th Iowa Infantry and soon received the appointment of Lieutenant of Company A. Failing in Health soon compelled his resignation. He drew a pension for disability incurred in the service. The deceased leaves a widow and three children all of whom were present at the time of his death. A man of integrity and ability has fallen and has many old friends among the pioneers of this county will drop a tear to his memory when they hear the sad news of his death.

– Published in The Decatur County Journal, Leon, Iowa, March 16, 1887, bottom of page 1

For A More Accurate Aim

2011-04-19T12:49:00.000-05:00

My sister, Wanda, has these “accuracy devices” hanging on her bathroom wall. The sign above them reads:

ATTENTION MALE OCCUPANTS:

Assistance in aiming is available. If in doubt of your own abilities, please request instructions on use of accuracy devices hanging below.

Thank you,

The Cleaning Crew

Jennie A. Byrd

2011-03-19T02:16:00.000-05:00

JENNIE A.³ BYRD (DANIEL², (--?--)¹), daughter of DANIEL BYRD and RACHEL STRATTON was born 26 Apr 1886 in Missouri, and died 10 Jun 1912 in Salt Creek, Tama County, Iowa. She married (1) JACOB E. HAYES 4 Sep 1898 in the home of Daniel Byrd, Princeton, Mercer Co., MO. He was born Bef. 1877, and died Bef. 15 Jul 1908. She married (2) GEORGE A. STOTELMYER 15 Jul 1908 in Centerville, Appanoose Co., IA, son of EDWARD L. STOTELMYER and ELIZA SMITH. He was born 16 Mar 1885 in Iowa, and died 27 Aug 1914 in Salt Creek, Tama County, Iowa.

More About JENNIE A. BYRD:

Burial: Rector Cem., Salt Creek, Tama Co., IA

Residence: 1905, OsceolaTwsp., Clarke Co., IA

More About JACOB E. HAYES:

Residence: 1905, Osceola Twp., Clarke Co., IA

Marriage Notes for JENNIE BYRD and JACOB HAYES:

At the time of her marriage, Jennie was under the age of 18. Her father, Daniel Byrd, Gave his consent.

More About GEORGE A. STOTELMYER:

Burial: Rector Cem., Salt Creek, Tama Co., IA

Marriage Notes for JENNIE BYRD and GEORGE STOTELMYER:

At the time of their marriage Jennie's marital status was listed as "Widowed."

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2010-11-06T15:10:00.002-05:00

1 C. Shortening

1 ½ C. Brown Sugar, packed

1 Egg, beaten

1 tsp. Baking Soda

½ C. Boiling Water

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 C. Four

1 ½ C. Raisins

3 C. Oatmeal

Preheat oven to 360°. Cream together the shortening and brown sugar. Add egg. Add ½ C. of the flour. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water; gradually pour into the sugar & shortening mixture. Add salt, cinnamon, and the remaining four. Mix until combined, and then add the raisins and lastly the oatmeal. Drop on cookie sheets by teaspoons and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes. Yields approximately 24 cookies.

Pumpkin Bars

2010-10-29T13:33:00.000-05:00

1 C Oil

2 C Sugar

4 Eggs

2 C (1 can) Pumpkin

2 tsp Cinnamon

½ tsp Salt

½ tsp Soda

2 tsp Baking Powder

2 C Flour

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, mix oil, sugar, pumpkin, eggs, salt and cinnamon. Then add flour, soda and baking powder. Pour batter into a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet for 25 minutes. Cool and frost.

Heritage Pumpkin Pie

2010-10-26T13:26:00.002-05:00

1 ½ C (1 can) Pumpkin

1 C Brown Sugar, firmly packed

½ tsp Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger

2 T molasses

3 Eggs, slightly beaten

1 C Evaporated Milk

Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour into 1 unbaked pie shell and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center if the pie comes out clean.

Tonya Dawn (Miller) Dustin

2010-08-21T10:53:00.001-05:00

Written by Wanda (Miller) Draper

I want to take you back in time to so you all can know what Tonya’s family believes were the happiest times in her life.

It all began when 2 sisters married 2 brothers. The eldest couple had 3 children and the youngest couple had 2. This created a close knit 5, 2 boys and 3 girls. The people in town couldn’t keep them all straight, the close knit 5 were often asked which couple they belonged to.

Tonya Dawn or Tawny Dawn as her mother frequently called her was the youngest and the smallest of the 5. However, she took great offense if you mentioned her size. One of her friends from school mentions she was so proud when she received her driver’s license even though her restriction was that she had to drive with a pillow behind her back.

She was amazing as a child. She learned to read very early and her parents were very proud while the rest of us marveled (and of course were probably a little jealous). She did well at kindergarten round-up while Cousin Troy had to be saved by his older sister. Tonya and Troy would spend kindergarten through graduation in the same class.

The close knit 5 were farm kids and were raised as such. The 2 families were more like one. They lived only a mile apart and depending on which way you went were only separated by a gravel road and a corn field or the other way by timber. The walks that would be taken, if only walked by a few, would take 20 minutes from point 1 to point 2. But if Tonya was along it would take an hour because Tonya tended to piddle fart around.

Besides the other kids, Tonya had some furry family members over the years. First there was Augie doggie and then there was Dusty, no mailman was safe when he was around. Then there was the all time favorite cat Ralph and when he was gone there were more Ralph’s that tried to follow in his footsteps. Tonya loved and hugged them all. Of course there were also rabbits for awhile. Tonya was not so happy when she found out they were for eating and not petting.

Then anyone who grew up on a farm ought to be able to remember chicken butchering time. Each member of the close knit 5 viewed this horror in their own special way. Tonya was right on everyone’s heels when we were sent into the weeds to fetch headless chickens that had flopped out of sight
.
Of course the 5 were not alone, there were cousins in town. James, Wanda, Michele, Troy, and Tonya were joined by Bobbie and Robin on the weekends and during the summer.

Many a night was spent camping in the backyard with Michele and Tonya. Most times it was the girls but occasionally the boys joined in. Secrets were shared, idealized childhood dreams were planned out, and of course there were fights. We built forts and dug through the garbage ditch, we swam in the river where Tonya seemed to be so tasty that she ended up with all the leeches. For which, Bobbie and Robin were banned from ever swimming in creek again (don’t tell Pennie we all did it again anyway).

There were also picnics held out in the timber. The town cousins, their parents, the close knit 5, and the 2 sisters who married 2 brothers were all there. Sometimes other extended family members were present. No matter who was there, you could hear Uncle Larry yelling about not dropping hot dogs in the fire or not waving flaming marshmallows around. Tonya joined in the laughter when Cousin Jim took one in the eye.

On the DeLong side of the family other memories circled around the holiday times. Christmas’s spent sitting in a hallway eating our dinner. All 7 suffered together. To this day a family joke still exists, “Go sit in the hallway” is not a sign of bliss.

The thing that I think that Tonya enjoyed the most during her childhood was Michele. Not because of the love she had for her sister but because she loved to see her sister miserable. When Michele was in trouble Tonya was at her happiest. Whether it was Michele being sat on to pull a loose tooth or when they spent the night at Aunt Jan’s and Uncle Larry’s and Michele was forced to eat peas. While Michele was choking and gagging Tonya was giggling and writhing with laughter. Then there was the infamous flyswatter at the Miller home, it didn’t really matter who had it in their hand, someone was getting whacked with it.

Of course Michele got even in a big way. Probably should not talk about such things in public, but let’s just say Michele took a picture regarding Tonya to school for show and tell. I am told Tonya had since destroyed the evidence including the negative.

Along with most all of the other children, Tonya inherited hairy arms. Once upon a time Tonya decided to shave those arms. After her mom scared her by telling her that it would grow back thicker and darker, she gave up shaving her arms.

In her teen years, I have it on good authority that Tonya was one of only three brave souls who actually skipped on Senior Skip Day. Fishing with friends seems kind of mild for all the trouble she could have been in. Her nickname in high school was Tonto, and you know if you receive a nickname it is a sign that many people love you.

I don’t know if Tonya ever figured out that she was the child of people who were well known in the community. Driving around the flag pole at the school was something she got busted for, she said she didn’t know how they found out. In a small town of 750, parents find these things out. Of course the flag pole was not the only driving stunt Tonya did. While spinning donuts in the factory parking lot, she hit a pile of gravel, blew a tire, and had to sneak to Jay’s shop to get it fixed before her parents found out.

And then she grew up. Becoming a mom meant a lot to her. Two beautiful children, Scarlet and Grayson whom she loved without measure. I know she loved her new home it was something she could be proud of and I hope she had the chance to really enjoy it.

And so today we are here to celebrate the smart little girl, who for me never grew up. She will live on in our hearts, in the hearts of her children, and all who knew her. The close knit 5 plus 2 town cousins will never again be the same but we will all honor her in our own special way.

Walter Edward Partridge

2010-05-14T01:53:00.001-05:00

W. E. Partridge, now living retired in Alta, is numbered among the old settlers of Buena Vista county and is one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War. He is a native of England, born in Berkshire, June 3, 1833, a son of James and Anne (Edwards) Partridge, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a mechanic, being a wheelwright by trade, and he also engaged in farming. His family numbered thirteen children, of whom twelve grew to years of maturity.

W. E. Partridge, whose name introduces this review, spent the years of his boyhood and youth in his native land and when fifteen years of age accompanied a brother to the United States. He first located in Maryland and secured work on the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in that state, after which he spent two years working on the canal. He then took up his abode in Pennsylvania and from that state removed to Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 1882 when he came to Buena Vista county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 34, Nokomis township. This was an uncultivated and unimproved tract when it came into his possession but he at once began to develop the land, erected a good house, barns and outbuildings, and now has a well improved and valuable farm property, whereon he made his home for twenty-seven years. He planted a good orchard, which is now in bearing, and beautiful shade trees add to the attractive appearance of the place. In addition to general farming he engaged in raising stock, keeping registered shorthorn cattle and good grades of hogs. In 1908 he removed to Alta and is now living retired.

Mr. Partridge’s private affairs were interrupted at the time of the Civil War when, loyal to the best interest of his country, he enlisted September 9, 1861 at Aurora, Illinois, as a member of Company F, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, joining the regiment at St. Louis. From that city they made their way to Rolla, Missouri, and Mr. Partridge participated in many of the important battles, including Pea Ridge, Perryville, Chickamauga, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and was with Sherman on his march to Atlanta. He was also for four months on duty at New Orleans, his regiment acting as guard to General Sheridan. After a hard service lasting four years and two months he was mustered out at New Orleans and was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois.

When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Partridge returned to Illinois and took up his abode in Kankakee county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, which he operated for sixteen years prior to taking up his abode in Iowa. It was prior to his enlistment for service in the war that Mr. Partridge was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Harriett Cottew, who was likewise born in England, coming to America when but two years of age. Their marriage was celebrated in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1860, and their union has been blessed with ten children: George, who follows farming in Nokomis township; Martha, the wife of William Miller, a farmer of Linn Grove, Iowa; Lizzie, the wife of Charles Reese, of Nokomis township; Charles who follows farming on the hold homstead in Nokomis township; Lincoln, who is engaged in farming in Minnesota; Ida, the wife of G. H. Tutt, a resident of Marathon, Iowa; Kate, the wife of John Sassman, who follows farming near Albert City, this state; Frank, who carries on farming near Marathon; Hugh; and William who died when eighteen months old.

Mr. Partridge gives his political support to the republican party and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He has held some township offices. He keeps in touch with his old army friends through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic at Alta, of which he has served as vice commander. He has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at Alta for several years. His labors have contributed in substantial manner to the development and progress of Buena Vista county and not only as a worthy pioneer settler but also as a loyal defender of the Union cause he is well deserving of mention in this volume. His circle of friends is large and all esteem him for his genuine worth. In 1908 he had the pleasure of visiting his old home in England where he remained from July 12 until the 23rd of August.

SOURCE: Wegerslev, C.H. & Thomas Walpole, Past and Present of Buena Vista County, Iowa, S.J. Clark Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, © 1909, p. 279-280

David Andrew Griffith

2010-05-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

D. A. GRIFFITH - The retired farmers living in Winterset are highly esteemed and contribute not a little to the advancement of the community. Among them is D. A. Griffith, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on the 15th of April, 1841, a son of Isaac and Margaret (Archibald) Griffith, the former born upon the ocean in 1808 while his parents were crossing to this country from Wales and the latter born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1816. Isaac Griffith was a miller and shoemaker and followed those trades in Holmes county, Ohio. In 1843 he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he ran a mill until he removed to Scioto county, that state, which was his home for ten years before his death. He died in 1848 and was survived by his wife for three years.

D. A. Griffith at the usual age entered the city schools of Portsmouth, Ohio, and there laid the foundation of his education. When he was eleven years of age, however, his parents died and he was taken by a family who mistreated him and he accordingly ran away. He became a farm hand and thus provided for his support and was so engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war. On the I5th of April, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry under Captain Dan Parnell. The command rendezvoused at Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Griffith was made first duty sergeant. After being three months with Company C he was transferred to Company D, of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served as sergeant in that command for a year, after which he was made first lieutenant. He was under fire in Virginia, at the battle of Charleston, Maryland, at Bull Run, Antietam, South Mountain, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and the siege of Chattanooga and accompanied Sherman on the memorable march to the sea. He was wounded by a bayonet thrust at South Mountain, Maryland, and lost his hearing at the battle of Antietam, as his regiment was for hours in the midst of eight hundred pieces of artillery. His regiment, which in that engagement lost five hundred men, together with the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, charged the Burnside bridge and took it. Colonel Coleman, who led the charge, fell pierced by seven bullets. Lieutenant Griffith succeeded in capturing some rebel cannon and his record throughout the war proved him a fearless and an able officer. He has a medal presented him by the state of Ohio for continuous and meritorious service. He was mustered out on the 3d of July, 1865, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later in that year removed to Fairfield, Iowa.

In 1870 he came to Madison county and began farming in Jefferson township, where he lived for five years. At the end of that time he removed to Union township and engaged in agricultural pursuits there until 1893. In that year he purchased two hundred acres of land in Douglas township on North river and gave his time and attention to the operation of that farm. He was very successful in all that he attempted, his energy, determination and knowledge of the best methods of agriculture making him one of the leading farmers in his township.

On the 4th of March, 1866, Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Hester E. Miller, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, December 27, 1847, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hillis) [sic] Miller. Her father was born in Germany in 1822 and upon emigrating to this country settled in Cincinnati, where he followed the blacksmith's trade until his health failed. He then removed to Brown county, Ohio, which remained his home until 1865. In that year he migrated westward and settled in Jefferson county, Iowa, near Fairfield. Nine years later he homesteaded land in Buena Vista county, where his death occurred in 1875. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1820, passed away in Buena Vista county in 1904, having survived him for almost three decades.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are the parents of seven children: Anna B. gave her hand in marriage to Elias Van Scoy, of Logan county, Colorado, by whom she has four children. U. Grant, who was born May 7, 1868, died January 20, 1907. Isaac, born on the 5th of September, 1869, is a well-to-do farmer who is married and has three children, David A., Winifred and Hester. Jerome is represented elsewhere in this work. David T., whose birth occurred on the11th of July, 1879, is engaged in the implement business at Van Meter, Iowa. Linnie E., born November11, 1880, passed away February 4, 1890. Robert S. was born on the 16th of October, 1888.

Mr. Griffith is identified with the republican party and has always been as true to the best interests of his country in times of peace as he was when he led his command upon the battlefields of the south. None begrudges him the competence and the leisure which are now his, as they were won by industry and sound judgment.

SOURCE: History of Madison County Iowa and Its People, Volume 2, p. 285-7

NOTE: According to the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, David A. Griffith of Companies D & H, mustered in as a private and out as a sergeant. David A. Griffith is listed on page 148 of J. H. Horton & Solomon Teverbaugh’s A History of the Eleventh Regiment (Ohio Volunteer Infantry) as “an original member; promoted to Sergeant; veteranized, and was left at Chattanooga.”

In Memorium

2010-02-24T13:17:00.005-06:00

My Grandparents

Betty Jean (Osborn) DeLong
November 5, 1930 – February 20, 2010

Darrell Albert DeLong
May 20, 1928 – April 27, 2009

Obituary: Betty Jean (Osborn) DeLong

2010-02-22T09:40:00.001-06:00

Betty Jean DeLong, daughter of Grover Cleveland Osborn and Edna Ann (Low) Osborn was born November 5, 1930 in Murray, Iowa and passed from this life Saturday, February 20, 2010 at her home in Truro, Iowa at 79 years of age.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola; interment will follow in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening at the funeral home.

Betty grew up in the Murray area. She was united in marriage to Darrell Albert DeLong on May 1, 1948 at Peru, IA and six children blessed this union.

Betty was a mother and a homemaker. She worked as a waitress for several years. Her greatest love was her family. She enjoyed playing the piano, dancing, cooking, baking cakes and bread, and making Christmas candy. She loved going to the Iowa State Fair especially to watch her grandchildren show horses, cattle, sheep and swine and she enjoyed hosting the yearly traditional beef & noodle night in memory of Mark Eggman.

Betty was preceded in death by the love of her life of 61 years, her husband Darrell, April 27, 2009. Also proceeding her in death were her parents, Grover and Edna; in-laws, Leonard & Gladys DeLong; great grandson, Tanner Roe Matlage; brothers, Ephraim, Sol and Alvador Osborn; sisters, Clara Carter, Evelyn McCarl, Vina Mitchell, Frances Woods, Mildred Shick and Jessie Coats.

She leaves to cherish her memory; daughter, Janet (Larry) Miller of Murray; daughter, Pennie (Bob) Jubell of Osceola; daughter, Sharon (Bernie) Miller of Murray; son, Lenard (Minda Barr) DeLong of Pleasant Hill; daughter, Deborah (Brian) Brown of New Virginia; daughter, Dara (Steve) Queck of Peru; sister, Fonda Fountain of Seymour; sister-in-law, Dixie Binns of Osceola; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

Memorial contributions may be directed to her family for a memorial to the Clarke County Fair Association to be determined at a later date.

Obituary: Ronald Eugene Cornelison

2010-02-07T14:38:00.003-06:00

Ronald E. Cornelison, 66, of Lorimor, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at his home. A 2 p.m. memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Lorimor Community Building, where the family will greet friends immediately following the service. Burial of the cremated remains will be held at a later date in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Afton. Online condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.ochiltree.com/.

Ronald was born Aug. 30, 1943 in Osceola, the son of Wayne W. and Opal D. (Miller) Cornelison. He attended school in Murray and Truro, and graduated from East Union High School in 1962. Later Ronald joined the U.S. Air Force, where he was a jet mechanic; he was honorably discharged from service in 1966. Ronald Cornelison was married March 28, 1964, to Ruby Irene Bailey in Belton, Mo. Ronald worked as a mechanic and in construction as a heavy equipment operator for various employers. He was also a member of the Lorimor City Council and was recently appointed mayor protem.

Ron is survived by his wife, Ruby of Lorimor; daughter, Renea Cornelison and her husband, Tim Beaty of Prescott; son, Randy Cornelison and his wife, Lisa of Adel; four grandchildren; two step grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Lyle Cornelison of Hagerman, Idaho, and a brother-in-law, George Kelly of Las Vegas, Nev.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Kimberly Kelly.

Memorials in Ronald’s name may be directed to the family.

– Published in The Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa, Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Book Review: This Side of Jordan

2010-02-01T10:46:00.004-06:00

This Side of Jordan
By Monte Schulz

Twelve years after the publication of his first novel, “Down by the River,” Monte Schulz makes his return with his second, “This Side of Jordan,” the first volume of a trilogy about the Jazz age in America.

Set during the summer of 1929, story Schulz’s takes place during the middle of Prohibition, and just before the stock market crash which would later be recognized as the beginning of the great depression. His protagonist, Alvin Pendergast, is a consumptive Illinois farm boy who is at best ambivalent about his life on the farm. Having thus far survived tuberculosis, he lives his life begrudgingly doing chores on his aunt and uncle’s farm. He occasionally escapes the drudgery of his life by going into town to watch, and vicariously participate in, dance marathons. He isn’t necessarily envious of the lives of others, but he longs for a different, more active life for himself.

At one such dance marathon Alvin meets Chester Burke, a smooth talking conman who drives a tan Packard Six. It doesn’t take much for Chester to convince Alvin to leave his life on the farm for a night and come with him across the Mississippi River, for a bite to eat and a stay overnight.

The next day Chester drops Alvin off in Hadleyville, Missouri with instructions to meet him at the bank. When he gets there he is to walk up to the window and hand the teller a note, “My nephew here is come to get his inheritance which is one thousand dollars. Please let him have it.”

Along the way to the bank Alvin meets a dwarf named Rascal, who has escaped from his tyrannical and abusive aunt. After a bit of conversation, Alvin shows the dwarf Chester’s note and Rascal immediately recognizes it for what it is . . . a poorly planned attempt to rob the bank. The dwarf has a better plan and unexpectedly shows up at the bank to help. The Hadleyville bank robbery was beginning of a summer crime spree that would travel across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa and leave several corpses in its wake.

Monte Schulz has done his home work, “This Side of Jordan” is written in the vernacular of “The Jazz Age,” and the dialogue rings true to the era. However the book could stand to be tightened up a bit. There are occasional long and meandering segments of the book which do not serve the needs of the story and should have been shortened or cut entirely from the book.

Son of “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, Monte Schulz has cast three misfits of society to fill the pages of his novel. Alvin, much like his father’s creation, Charlie Brown, doesn’t quite know where he fits in the world, but that’s as far as the comparison will go. As the summer goes on, Alvin realizes that his life on the other side of the river wasn’t exactly what he thought it might be, and just like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” comes to realize “There’s no place like home.”

ISBN 978-1-60699-296-8, Fantagraphics Books, © 2009, Hardcover, 320 pages, $22.99

Layered Lettuce Salad

2010-01-18T10:56:00.000-06:00

1 Head Lattice
1 C. Celery, Diced
4 Eggs, Hard Boiled & Sliced
1 10 oz. Package Frozen Peas
1/2 C. Green Pepper, Diced
1 Sweet Onion, Diced
8 Slices of Bacon, Fried and Diced
2 C. Mayonnaise
2 T. Sugar
4 Oz. Grated Cheddar Cheese

Tear lettuce into bite sized pieces and put in 9 x 13" glass dish. Layer rest of ingredients in order given. Add sugar to Mayonnaise and pour over top like frosting. Top with grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate 8-12 hours.

Our Christmas Tree...

2009-12-03T13:25:00.003-06:00

When I moved in with Gregg, he didn't believe me that it takes me a week to decorate the Christmas tree, now 6 1/2 years later he does.

Step 1: Assemble the tree and string the lights:

Step 2: The Beads and Bows... Gregg thinks I use, a ruler, protractor, compass and a slide rule to do this:

Step 3: The ornaments:

Step 4: Hanging the red and gold glass balls. And the Final Product is below...

Jim & Gregg - Chirstmas 2008

2009-09-29T13:50:00.002-05:00

This was Gregg and I's Christmas picture from last year. It's a bit out of date now, as Gregg has lost over 100 pounds since this picture was taken. If my long term insentive bonus comes in soon we will definitely have a new picture taken.

Cow Pies

2009-09-24T13:41:00.003-05:00

2 C. Granulated Sugar
½ C. Butter
½ C. Milk
1/3 C. Unsweetened Cocoa
2/3 C. Peanut Butter
3 C. Quick Cooking Oats
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Combine Sugar, butter, milk & cocoa in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until misture comes to a rolling boil. Removed from heat & let cool for 1 minute. Add peanut butter, stir to blend, then add oats and vanilla. Mix well. Quickly drop mixture by heaping teaspoons ont wax paper. Let cool completely. Store in a dry place. Yeilds 24 cookies.

In Memorium

2009-09-24T02:06:00.005-05:00

John William Edwards

1929-2009

(Pictured at far right.)

Review: One For The Money

2009-09-06T20:24:00.003-05:00

One For The Money
By Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is an unemployed lingerie buyer from Trenton, New Jersey who is down on her luck. She is short on cash and long on bills, her Miata repossessed, and the furniture in her apartment is as scarce as the food in her refrigerator. Yet she is a woman not without resources, who black mails her perverted, bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, into giving her a temporary try as an apprehension agent. Her assignment: bring in Joe Morelli, a cop on the run who stands accused of shooting an unarmed man.

“There are some men who enter a woman’s life and screw it up forever,” writes Janet Evanovich in the opening sentence of “One For The Money,” the first in her series of Stephanie Plum novels. As a teenager Joe Morelli cavalierly claimed Stephanie’s virginity behind the éclair case of a Trenton bakery and then scribbled the details of their encounter on a restroom wall in Mario’s Sub Shop. The next time she sited him was in the cross hairs of a Buick Hood ornament.

With an old score to settle and a $10,000 pay check for added inspiration Stephanie sets off on the trail of Joe Morelli. She begins to investigate and finds him almost by accident. But Stephanie, who is after all, new to this line of work, cannot bring him in. He insists that Ziggy Kulesza was armed when he shot him even though no gun was found on the body and there is at least one witness who was in the room who can back up his story… the problem: the witness has disappeared and no one know who he is or where he went.

In an effort to bring in her man and her ten thousand dollar pay check Stephanie begins to investigate the shooting herself, and soon finds herself being stalked by none other than Benito Ramirez, Ziggy’s boss and a heavy-weight champion boxer, who uses women as his personal punching bags. To pay the bills Stephanie also takes a couple of other cases, but requires the advice and assistance of Ranger, a fellow apprehension agent, who takes her under his wing and shows her the ropes. Eventually Stephanie and Joe realize that they need each other’s help, and Joe agrees to let Stephanie earn her $10,000 if she helps him unravel the mystery of Ziggy’s missing gun and the missing eye witness.

Janet Evanovich has succeeded in creating a novel of suspense, intrigue, humor and passion. That is not an easy thing to do in the crime fiction genre. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion. Her characters are fully drawn and quite believable, even when their actions are outlandish. Her fast pacing and action filled plot kept me turning the pages and wanting more.

Review: The Elephant Keeper

2009-09-06T13:56:00.002-05:00

The Elephant Keeper: A Novel
By Christopher Nicholson

Tom Page had been given an assignment, to write a history of the elephant. He was not to write a general history of the species, but one elephant in particular, Jenny. Tom was her keeper, and the first third of and the first third of Christopher Nicholson’s novel “The Elephant Keeper” is Tom’s history. The remaining two-thirds of Mr. Nicholson’s novel though quickly grows darker as Jenny, and by extension Tom, is purchased by a series of owners.

Set in the tumultuous late 1700’s of Georgian England, Mr. Nicholson has given his readers only the necessity of what his story requires. There is no mention of King George III or of the American Revolution. In fact, if only because of a scant mention here or there of the date, I dare say that Mr. Nicholson’s readers could have placed his story in almost any century from the 18th to the 21st, as he has created a world, as if within a bubble, where external events have no consequence to the story. Georgian England was on the brink of an identity crisis, but that is not the England of Mr. Nicholson’s novel.

As the remaining two thirds of “The Elephant Keeper” unfold, Tom and Jenny begin to communicate with each other, at first through commands and gestures, and slowly a sort of telepathic communication between the two emerges. Tom has grown to love Jenny, and has convinced himself that Jenny cannot survive without him. He pushes away the only girl who truly loves him to take care of his elephant. Is Tom the keeper of the elephant or is the elephant the keeper of Tom?

I was totally confused by the last chapter of Mr. Nicholson’s novel. I had been jarred by the switch in tone from the first third of the book to the last two-thirds, but nothing prepared me for a 200+ year flash-forward stroll through a museum to find Jenny’s articulated skeleton. Who is the chapter’s narrator? Has Tom somehow survived 200 years? And what purpose does this last chapter serve other than to completely confuse the authors readers?

“The Elephant Keeper” started off well, then grew darker, and ends up bordering on the realm of science fiction and fantasy. In the end I was left confused as to Mr. Nicholson’s purpose and theme of his story, and was left feeling unsatisfied when I finished reading it.

ISBN 978-0061651601, William Morrow, © 2009, Hardcover, 304 pages, $24.99

Amazon Reviewer Helpful Votes

2009-08-31T13:29:00.001-05:00

I picked up 3 more helpful votes for my Amazon.com reviews over the weekend, bringing my total helpful votes for my reviews to 138. My current reviewer ranking is 11,093, but the ranking changes seem to lag a few days behind getting a helpful vote. Including my "Listmania!" lists I have received 150 helpful votes out of a total 177 cast, so I'm at an 85% success rate!

Reading Log

2009-08-25T13:43:00.003-05:00

I guess this falls under the heading of anal retentive... but I've been keeping a log of every book I have read since 2001. It as been a few weeks since I changed servers for my website and I've just now updated & uploaded my Reading Log to the website.

Book Review: Buffalo Lockjaw

2009-08-02T13:25:00.003-05:00

Buffalo Lockjaw: A Novel
By Greg Ames

James Fitzroy is a man on a mission: to kill his mother. He is not a diabolical man, he loves is mother. He’s not an assassin; he doesn’t want her to suffer. He has a vague idea of who he is, his mother does not. Fifty-six year old Ellen Fitzroy, who spent a lifetime researching dementia, now lives in a nursing home, unable to care for herself, suffering from the effects of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

Greg Ames boldly has chosen euthanasia, a difficult topic filled with internal and external conflicts, for his debut novel and set it in the cold winter of Buffalo, New York, a town which seems to have as much of an identity crisis as Ellen.

James arrives at his mother’s bedside just in time to help her celebrate Thanksgiving. His father, who visits Ellen every day and sister show up shortly there after. This isn’t the holiday of James’ childhood. James recognizes what everyone around him fails to see, Ellen is suffering a fate she never wanted to suffer, she wanted to die with dignity and now even that has been taken away from her.

As James wrestles with the idea of helping his mother die, he makes contact with friends of his passed that are stuck in Buffalo, both literally, figuratively, and as a mindset, and as he drives through Buffalo, the past is never as far away as he once thought it was.

I did not find Mr. Ames’ novel “darkly comic” as blurbed on its back cover, but rather a well written, easy read. And that’s about as much as can be said about it. While reading it, I felt a tangential connection to the characters, but I never really got to know them, and in that respect it was unsatisfying, I wanted to dig deeper into these characters. There was no ratcheting up of the plot, aside from Ellen’s life, which as for all intents and purposes already ended; there is nothing at stake for James.

In the novel’s conclusion, Mr. Ames took the easy way out, Ellen is dead, and James did not kill her. It is an anticlimax that left me feeling nothing but the satisfaction of having finished reading the book.

ISBN 978-1-4013-0980-0, Hyperion, © 2009, Trade Paperback, 304 pages, $14.95

Gregg & Dougie

2009-07-26T19:28:00.002-05:00

Gregg and Scarlett @ Scarlett's House

2009-07-26T17:01:00.002-05:00

Website Address Change

2009-07-20T16:52:00.003-05:00

Hello all... the recent downturn in the economy his hit all of us in one way or another. Many of you who read this blog may already know that Gregg has been unemployed since January. Consequently, money is tight, and therefore I have made the very hard decision to move my personal website from a paid (and advertizing free) service to a free service (with advertizements). Therefore, the URL for my personal website has changed to www.jdm1968.webs.com. Please update your bookmarks accordingly.

Also please know that pages on that service are limited to 2o, therefore many things which previously had their own pages on the old site will be moving to this blog, such as recipes and reviews, and I will link to them from there. So you may see a flurry of various postings in the next few weeks as I upload said material to this blog. In the mean time thanks for your patience.

Fantasy Fudge

2009-07-08T13:23:00.001-05:00

3 C. Sugar
¾ C Butter
2/3 C. (5 oz. can) Evaporated Milk
1 12 oz. package Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 7 oz. jar Marshmallow Cream
1 C. Chopped nuts
1 tsp. Vanilla

Combine sugar, butter & milk in 3 quart saucepan, bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 234° stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Add marshmallow cream, nuts & vanilla. Beat until well blended. Pour into a grease 9x13” pan. Cool to room temperature. Cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds.

White Fudge

2009-07-08T13:22:00.000-05:00

1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
4 C. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
12 oz. of white chocolate or white almond bark.
3/4 C. chopped nuts, if desired

Beat cheese, powdered sugar, & vanilla together. Melt almond bark, and add to cream cheese mixture. Mix well, and add nuts if desired. Press into an 8" x 8" buttered pan, cool and cut.

Peanut Brittle

2009-07-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

2 C. Sugar
1 C. Corn Syrup
½ C. Hot Water
1 tsp. Salt
2 C. Raw Peanuts
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
2 T Butter
1 ½ tsp Baking Soda

Bring to boil sugar, corn syrup, hot water & salt. When mixture comes to a full boil add raw peanuts. Cook on medium heat to 310-320°. Take off heat & quickly add vanilla extract & butter. Just stir a couple of seconds and then add baking soda & beat well. Pour onto a well buttered cookie sheet & place in a cold place. When cool break into pieces.

A Noted Character Dies - Margaret French

2009-07-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

With the death of the old colored woman, "Aunt Maggie," last Thursday evening an odd character who has haunted the streets of Leon for years was removed from our midst. Her history has been a strange one. Born a slave on a southern plantation in the ante-bellum days, nurtured as were the colored people of those times, who can wonder that her life has been otherwise than it has.

If all of the dead woman's history was known, what a strange recital of events it would be. "Aunt Maggie" has often told many of our people scraps of her early life, such as she could remember, and from such sources we state the following: "Aunt Maggie" was born on a plantation near Natchez, Miss. It is thought that her first master's name was Robinson. According to Maggie's story, Robinson would have made a fit companion for the cruel Legree of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" fame, for her back bore evidence of brutal whippings in great scars. Long before the war, Maggie's only daughter was separated from her. She related that one of her master's daughters was married to a man named French (presumably Gen. S.B. French of the rebel army) and she was bestowed upon the bride as one of the wedding gifts. About the same time, her daughter was given to another daughter of Robinson, who afterwards went to Europe with her husband, taking the colored girl along. From that time Maggie has been unable to obtain any trace of the lost child.

Nothing is known of Maggie's subsequent history until about the time the union army was marching upon Vicksburg when she allied herself with the army as customary with the negroes when the union soldiers were in the neighborhood of a plantation for any length of time. French was kind to her, however, and she adopted his name.

A mess from Company B, 4th Iowa Infantry, of which George Burton was originally captain, though later promoted to a lieutenant-colonelship, secured Maggie's services as cook. She remained with the regiment until after the battle of Mission Ridge, being present at the battle and also at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, often times acting in the capacity of nurse. After the battle of Mission Ridge, Col. Burton resigned his command and came home to Leon bringing Maggie with him, arriving here in the latter part of l864.

Maggie at once entered the services of the family of John P. Finley. When Dr. Finley went to Des Moines as an examining surgeon the same year, Maggie accompanied the family to that place. In January, l865, Mrs. Finley died from a fever, after which Maggie contracted the disease and was sick some time. The Finley family then came back to Leon, bringing Maggie. She resided with them five years and then started out for herself, purchasing the lot on which her house now stands, just south of the Presbyterian Church, with her savings and aided by Mr. Finley. A small house which had been built for her on Dr. Finley's land was removed to her own lots and later, what now forms the main part of the house, was built.

Mattie's one matrimonial venture was far from a success. She was married to Richard R. Williams, October l, l885. Williams was a mulatto who came here and worked himself into Maggie's affections simply for the purpose of securing her money. He was of a thieving disposition and served in the Ft. Madison Penitentiary two years for house breaking at Garden Grove before he came here to live. After securing all of Maggie's money, said to have been in the neighborhood of $l,000, her savings for years, he deserted her. When last heard from, a few years ago, Williams was serving a sentence of sixteen years in a Texas prison for cattle stealing. Maggie secured a divorce from him almost two years ago.

Maggie's life is well known to every person in Leon. The drink habit fastened itself upon her, more especially the later years of her life. But she never turned a needy person from her door and was kind hearted in this respect to a fault. Her honesty was a marked trait; she was industrious, economical, saving, though far from stingy. Unscrupulous persons often took advantage of her and secured sums of money from her under the guise of loans. She was well known in all the neighboring towns, and a few years ago, all the big events, celebrations and the like, would find Maggie on hand, stylishly dressed, and "cutting a wide swath." She was acquainted with all the traveling men, doing their washing for them, and thus became known over the state.

Her age has always been a matter of conjecture, but it is presumed that it was but a few years less than eighty at the time of her death.

Short funeral services were held at her home Friday, conducted by Rev. Gurley and the remains were interred in the Leon Cemetery. Before her death, Maggie acknowledged waywardness, and expressed her repentance and we have reasons to hope that her future will be brighter than her past.

- Published in the Decatur County Journal, Leon, Iowa, July 8, l897. This article was transcribed by Nancee McMurtrey Seifert and posted on the Decatur County, Iowa Genweb site.

COL. GEORGE BURTON

2009-07-05T20:54:00.001-05:00

Postmaster of Argonia, is what may be termed "a gentleman to the manor born," possessed of more than ordinary intelligence and that courteous bearing which wins for him friends wherever he goes. He comes of substantial Irish ancestry, and was born March 7, 1819, in the city of Dublin, where he spent the first thirteen years of his life. Then, equipped with only a limited education, he started out in the world for himself, embarking as cabin boy on an ocean vessel and from that time until 1842 his life was spent on the water — the sea and lakes. The next four years were occupied at various businesses and in 1846 he entered the volunteer service of the United States during the war with Mexico, being a member of Company G, Fourth Illinois Infantry, under Col. Ed. Baker. He served for one year and returned a Third Sergeant. He and ex-Gov. Richard Oglesby, who was then a Sergeant in Company K, frequently reported together. He served under Gen. Taylor until a part of the army was ordered to join Gen. Scott, and he participated in the battles of Vera Cruz, Natural Bridge, Cerro Gordo and other minor engagements. Later he was under the command of Gen. Shields and under Division Commander, Gen. Twiggs.

Upon retiring from the service Mr. Burton repaired to Tazewell County, Ill., where he operated a sawmill until 1849. Being seized then with an attack of the California gold fever, he set out overland across the plains and worked in the mines until the fall of 1850. In returning home he went down the coast as far as Cape St. Lucas, where the vessel "Louisa Boston" was sunk in the harbor of Mazatlan, and he rode a mule from there to Durango, and finally succeeded in reaching home safely after being chased in Mexico by the Apache Indians. He now resumed sawmilliug and was engaged in the mercantile business for probably two years. He in 1852, crossing the Mississippi, took up his abode in Decatur County, Iowa, where he operated as a general merchant three years and also engaged in farming. He became prominent in local affairs and was County Auditor for three years until the outbreak of the Civil War.

Watching the conflict which ensued with more than ordinary interest, Col. Burton in June, 1861, organized a military company in Leon, Iowa, of which he was elected Captain and which was assigned to the Fourth Iowa Infantry, under command of Col. Dodge. He fought at the battle of Pea Ridge, skirmishing all through Arkansas, was in the fight at Chickasaw Bayou, and then at Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Ga., and Woodville, Ala. On the 2d of May, 1862, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth Iowa Infantry. At the battle of Pea Ridge he was wounded by a canister shot through the left arm, and at Cherokee Station received a sabre cut in the left hand. He resigned his commission April 10,1864, and returning to Iowa resumed the duties of a private citizen.

Col. Burton became well-known in the Hawkeye State and in 1869 was elected Auditor of Decatur County, which office he held three years. Later, for the same length of time he engaged in the livestock business, purchasing cattle in Indian Territory, and selling them in Iowa. In 1875 he settled on a farm near Mayfield, this county, where he sojourned until 1883, coming that year to Argonia and engaging in the mercantile business. He also began speculating considerably. On the 2d of April, 1888, he was appointed to the office of Postmaster, the duties of which have since occupied his time and attention until February 1, 1890.

In 1848, Col. Burton was united in marriage with Miss Jane Waring, who died in 1863, leaving no children. In 1865, the Colonel contracted a second marriage with Miss Martha S. Walton. This lady was born in Ohio and is the daughter of George and Martha Walton who spent their last days in Iowa. Of this union there were no children. Mrs. Burton was a very excellent lady and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Colonel takes an interest in politics, voting the straight Democratic ticket. He is Past Grand in the I. O. O. F., belongs to the Encampment, is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Chapter in Masonry.

The father of our subject was John Burton, a native of Dublin, Ireland, and a manufacturer of cotton cloth. The mother bore the maiden name of Martha Whitehead and she also was born in Dublin. They came to America in 1833, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, and about 1842. removed to Bloomington, Ill. There the mother died in 1835 and the father in 1848. Only two of the five children born to them are living — G. B. and Eliza, now Mrs. Burnes, the latter being a resident of Leroy, McLean County, Ill.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County, Kansas, Chapman Brothers, Chicago, Ill., 1890, p. 177-8

Auntie Bess' 3-Layer No-Bake Candy

2009-06-14T11:38:00.003-05:00

First Layer:

1/2 C. Butter
1/4 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Cocoa
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Egg, Slightly Beaten
2 C. Firmly Crushed Graham Crackers
1 C. Flaked Coconut
1/2 C. Chopped Peacans

Place butter, sugar, cocoa and vanilla in top of double boiler and cook until blended, then add egg and cook 5 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Add crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press into buttered 9" square pan. Cool overnight.

Second Layer:

1/2 C. Butter
3 T. Milk
2. Tsp. Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
2 C. Powdered Sugar

Cream butter until light and fluffy. Mix milk and pudding mix, and add to butter and mix well. Add powdered sugar, gradually, and beat untill smooth. Spread onto first layer and let refrigrate until firm. Best overnight.

Third Layer:

3/4 C. Chocolate Chips
1 T. Butter

In double boiler, melt chocolate chips and butter together. Spread over top of second layer. Cut into 1" squares before chocolate hardens. Refrigerate.

Pepsi Cake

2009-06-13T02:28:00.002-05:00

The Cake:

2 C. Sifted All Purpose Flour
1/2 C. Buttermilk
3 T. Cocoa
2 Eggs, Beaten
2 C. Granulated Sugar
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 Sticks Butter, Melted
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 C. Pepsi Cola
1 1/2 C. Miniature Marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13" pan. Mix flour, sugar & cocoa together in large bowl. Then beat in remaining ingredients except marshmallows, which should be folded in last. Pour into prepared pan and bake 40 minutes. Frost while still warm.

The Frosting:

1/2 C. Butter, Softened
3 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar, Sifted
2 T. Cocoa
1/3 C. Pepsi Cola

Cream butter and sugar, then beat in cocoa. Add Pepsi, peat until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if thicker frosting is desired.

Proof Of The Current State Of Our Education System

2009-05-26T00:54:00.001-05:00

This same message was painted on not only on 1, but 2 walls, inside the enclosure around our neighborhood trash compacter.

For those who might be wondering....

2009-04-10T20:58:00.001-05:00

... A quick post from work to update all who may be concerned... Yes, there was at least 1 tornado to touch down in Murfreesboro this after noon. Most of the damage is on the northwest side of town, I live on the south side of town and am happy to report that we sufferred absolutely no damage, and I even made it to work on time. Gregg of course slept through the whole storm.

A Good Night's Sleep - NOT!

2009-04-03T23:49:00.001-05:00

We have a pillow top mattress. Last night Gregg thought he would flip the mattress as an experiment. It was like sleeping on plywood floating in a pool of jello. Thankfully he has returned the mattress to its natural state of being.

Found: Another Civil War Veteran

2009-03-13T09:23:00.004-05:00

Albert Downer Gleason, born in New York he was the son of Hiram & Caroline (Farnham) Gleason and brother of Isbon & Henry Gleason both of the 96th Illinois Infantry. He enlisted as a private for a term of 1 year, in Co. B, 12th Illinois Infantry on October 1, 1864 in Marengo, Illinois and was mustered in on that same date and place. He was Mustered out by Capt. Guthrie on May 31,1865 at Washington, D.C.

At the time of his enlistment he was a carpenter living in Libertyville, Lake Co., Illinois. He was 30 years old, 5’ 7” tall, and had a fair complexion with black hair and eyes

Corporal Henry Gleason

2009-03-11T12:10:00.001-05:00

Age 24; born in Owego, N. Y.; farmer: enlisted from Libertyville ; was appointed Fifth Corporal at the organization of the Company ; is a brother of Isbon S. Gleason, of same Company ; m. o. with Regiment. Is station agent at Winona Junction. Minn.; address, Box 779. La Crosse, Wis.

SOURCE: Partridge, Charles A., Editor, History of the Ninety-Sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 826 & 912 (photograph)

Isbon S. Gleason

2009-03-10T09:27:00.001-05:00

Age 21 ; born in Owcgo, N. Y.: carpenter and joiner; enlisted from Libertyville ; was detailed in Pioneer Corps at Brentwood, Tenn., April 7, 1863, and transferred to the 1st U. S. Veteran Engineer Regiment Aug. 25, 1864, serving with that command until the close of the war, and being promoted to Corporal Sept. 1, 1864, and to Sergeant Dec. 25, 1864. Is a contractor and builder at Libertyville, Lake County, 111., of which village he has been a Trustee for four years.

SOURCE: Partridge, Charles A., Editor, History of the Ninety-Sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 639 (photograph) & 834

John G. Thrasher

2009-03-09T10:48:00.001-05:00

Age 18; born in Taberg, Oneida County, N. Y ; farmer ; enlisted from Vernon ; died from disease at Shell Mound, Tenn., Dec. 11, 1863. Captain James wrote to his father: "Your son was a noble soldier and a very amiable young man, possessing many good qualities ; he was beloved by all who knew him. The country has lost a good soldier, and his parents a devoted son ; he has died a martyr to his country, and yielded his life a willing sacrifice." His grave is No. 9,360 in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn.

SOURCE: Partridge, Charles A., Editor, History of the Ninety-Sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 839

This Really Sucks!

2009-03-01T09:08:00.002-06:00

And here's what I woke up to at 9 a.m. this morning... A view of our patio...

and a view out our front door looking towards the mail shack...

This Sucks!

2009-03-01T00:02:00.003-06:00

It's two minutes after midnight on March 1st, and in Murfreesboro, Tennessee it's snowing. This is what our patio currently looks like. Of course Gregg is overjoyed.

2008 Best of the Best Award

2009-02-05T09:25:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, during Verizon Wireless’ annual “Kick Off” celebration for 2009 I got a bit of a surprise. Team Clegg mostly sat together in the middle of the room when just before the video presentation, Ruth, Dawn, Lucas and I were called up to the front of the room and given special V.I.P. seating. After the video played we were asked to stand up and face the room as they announced that we were the top 10% performers for LNP. We were then escorted out of the room and presented trophies and given special access to a room full of goodies… cakes, cookies, pastries, etc. After which we returned to the festivities and got a couple of pieces of pizza and a pretzel… I had to call Gregg to tell him not to bother with cooking dinner as I was completely stuffed and remained so for most of the night.

Our Christmas Tree

2008-12-16T13:43:00.001-06:00

The Weather Outside Was Frightful...

2008-12-12T11:38:00.002-06:00

We got a bit of rain, ice and snow here last night, causing its fair share of pandemonium around the call center last night with people wanting to go home and all, and not wanting to actually venture out and drive in it. As a native Iowan, I'm not bothered at all by such weather events when they happen... this is old hat for me. I keep telling people as long as you drive like you've got a brain in your head you will most surely get from where you are to where you want to be... slow and steady wins the race. It might not be as fast as you might like, but that's just the way it is... deal with it and stop whining about it. In any case the great thaw had already begun by the time I got up this morning at 9 o'clock. Above is a picture out our front door, taken just shortly after I got up. It's nice to look at, but aside from the minor snow's we have here in Tennessee I'm very happy that I no longer have to really deal with it, and am just as happy to see it go... Gregg, on the other hand, has never experienced a blizzard and wants to desparately... Been there, done that and have the ticket stub to prove it.

It's Time For A Change

2008-11-04T11:26:00.004-06:00

Today I proudly cast my vote for the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. Had it not been for my vote for Lamar Alexander, I would have voted a straight democratic ticket. The presidency of George W. Bush is a failed presidency. His pre-emptive war policy is a failed war policy. His economic stimulus package did not stimulate the economy. Instead we have seen record drops in the stock market. The Republican Party has lost its way and has been led to the edge of a steep precipice. I at this time cannot, and will not, vote to elect a Republican president, whose base constituency believes that homosexuals are “biological errors,” who don’t believe that gay couples should have the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples (not special rights – the same rights) and who wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade. It’s time for a change. I’m tired of a plain spoken President whose vocabulary includes the phrases “evil doers” and “axis of evil.” I want a President who knows the power of language and knows how it can be used to inspire hope instead of fear. It’s time for a change.

Our Living Room: The New Look

2008-10-20T13:36:00.002-05:00

Okay, after weeks and months of putting it off I finally rolled up my sleaves on Saturday and finished painting the living room. Well, to be more specific, the back wall. It took all of Saturday night & three coats of paint, but at last it is done. Though admittedly, it would have gone faster had I not spilled 1/6 of a gallon of paint on the carpet and had to break out the steam cleaner... you'll notice the carpet underneath and behind Gregg's chair now has a nice red tint to it... oh well... replacing the carpet was next on the adgenda anyway.

Happy Columbus Day!

2008-10-13T13:31:00.003-05:00

Here's hoping you're having a great Colombus Day! However, if you, like me, are the average American working John or Jane, I bet YOU don't get the day off with pay. So tell me, why are we, the American tax paying public, giving our government employees a paid day off? Why is Columbus Day a federal holiday? And why in this time of economic turmoil are we wasting good money after bad by paying government employees NOT to work. I'm a veteran and I don't even get Veteran's Day off with pay!

Queen Mehitable On Her Throne

2008-09-25T13:28:00.002-05:00

Marion A. Hatch: New Information

2008-09-25T11:02:00.001-05:00

MARION ARTHUR HATCH, son of Henry L. Hatch & Lois Stevens, was born 31 Jan 1862 in Madison Co., IA, and died 19 Aug 1938 in Sheldon, Vernon Co., MO. He married MAMIE R. SHEPHERD Abt. 1883, daughter of (--?--) SHEPHERD and SARAH (--?--). She was born Dec 1863 in Pennsylvania.

Children of MARION HATCH and MAMIE SHEPHERD are:

EVELYN HATCH, b. Abt. 1885, Missouri.
CLAUDE HATCH, b. Abt. 1885, Missouri; d. Aft. 19 Aug 1938.
DELLA HATCH, b. Abt. 1890, Missouri.
MAUDE V. HATCH, b. Abt. 1893, Missouri.
MAMIE HATCH, b. Abt. 1892, Missouri.
LOIS HATCH, b. Abt. 1897, Missouri.
(--?--), b. Bef. 1900; d. Bef. 1900.

Free Shipping!!!

2008-09-12T13:40:00.002-05:00

I have always been an admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Prairie School of Architecture, and the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th & early 20th centuries. A few years ago I, along with good friend, Bob Wolff, visited the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, Illinois. I was in Springfield a few weeks ago, but due to the unfortunate timing, I happened to be there the weekend of Barak Obama's announcement of his running mate... that being said I didn't get to do everything that I wanted that weekend.

Over the years I've had my eye on a replica of a sumac pendant lamp designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (not only did he design his houses, he designed everthing within them as well). The original happens to hang in the Dana-Thomas House. The lamp is sold by a Nashville store called Highbrow Furniture. I found it while searching the internet for Frank Lloyd Wright lamps. When I first found it, it was modestly priced at $33,000. Today, it can be yours for a mere $58,000. Highbrow Furniture will even deliver it for free.

Our New Sofa

2008-09-03T11:12:00.004-05:00

On Sunday Gregg and I went to the new Haverty's Furniture store at The Avenue (a new shopping complex that was built on ground where heavy fighting took place during the Battle of Stones River, and has been open for a year now) and ordered a new sofa to replace the black leather behemouth that we had before. Of course the one we both immediately picked out, sitting just inside the front door of the store, was 4 inches too wide to go where we wanted. I had two other choices in mind. Gregg picked this one... it wasn't my first choice, but he likes it, and to be honest the only thing I really dislike about it is the piping.... I wish that it came with piping the same color as the fabric. But it is microsuede and was on sale for $599 I purchased my reading chair from Haverty's last year and am very happy with it, so I'm sure once I finish painting the living room and we get the new carpet down it'll be great!

A Cat Nap...

2008-08-29T13:28:00.002-05:00

I came home from work last night to find Gregg and Kit Cat asleep toghether... aren't they cute!

Found: A New Partridge Family Picture

2008-08-04T10:10:00.009-05:00

Cheryl Shaffer was kind enough to pass along this discovery. It's a picture of my great great grandfather, Walter Edward Partridge with his dog. This picture was probably taken shortly before his death in 1910.

This picture is in the possession of a descendant of Hugh Partridge, Walter's son. In Walter Partridge's will Hugh was given Walter's dog.

Kit Cat

2008-07-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

Please say hello to Kit Cat. The latest addition to the our household. Gregg rescued him from a busy traffic intersection about a month and a half ago. He's definitely a playful kitten. So playful that Gregg ended up in the emergency room a couple of weeks ago with a scratched cornea, and both of us have so many scratches all over our bodies that it looks like we ran through a raspberry thicket.

Baby Cat (a.k.a. Mehitable) didn't take an immediate liking to him. She arched her back, hissed and growled and was just generally in a pissy mood for a couple of weeks, and we weren't entirely for sure if she was goint to adjust. But now they play with each other and chase each other around the house. Of course when she gets tired of him, she justs ambles over to the front door and we let her out so she can have a rest.

Starting A New Schedule

2008-07-07T10:40:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of the 3rd quarter, and since we bid on shifts quarterly, it is also the first day of my new shift. Though it is not really a new shift for me, as just a new start time... I have worked 2nd shift for the better part of the last 17 years, be it at Murray Products, sears.com or Verizon Wireless. For the vast majority of my employment with Verizon Wireless I have worked from 2:30 to 11 p.m. with a 30 minute lunch, which suits me perfectly. However there was only one schedule on our 2nd quarter bid with a 30 minute lunch and that was from 2 to 10:30, thus, moving my schedule up 30 minutes which doesn't seem like a big deal, but I worked that shift for 1 quarter & it totally messed up my daily routine. Instead I chose to take one of the 2:15 to 11 shift with a 45 minute lunch. I really don't want to be there any longer than I absolutely have to, so the 45 minute lunch was preferable to the only other option, 2 to 11 with an hour lunch. By and large that schedule has worked for me, it's given me time to go out and get something to eat, should I want to, and actually have time to eat it. Or if I don't want to eat, it gives me an extra 15 minutes of reading time. Well, when the 3rd quarter shift bid rolled out in May the 30 or 45 minute lunches were no longer an option. The ten 2nd shift schedules were all Monday through Friday, 2 to 11 p.m. and all with hour lunches. So, now I get to leave home at 1:30 in stead of 1:45 or even 2:00. I'm so thrilled... NOT!

New Picture Coming...

2008-07-05T20:57:00.003-05:00

For any one who has gone to my "About Me" page, I apologize, as the picture I have posted there is over 5 years old. Though still representative of me, it is out of date, as I have different glasses and have gained a pound or two since moving to Tennessee. Never fear, this morning I have taken a step to resolving the issue... I went to J. C. Penny's Portrait Studio this morning and had a new picture taken. It'll be about 10 days, before they are ready though, but I promise as soon as I am able I'll get it scanned and replace the one currently there.

Catching Up With Ellsworth Weather

2008-06-28T13:18:00.002-05:00

When I was honorably discharged from the Air Force in June of 1991 I never looked back. My four years in the Air Force wasn’t the happiest time in my life, but I don’t regret it either. I’m very proud of my service, and if I had to do it all over again I would, though I admittedly would do a few things differently.

My nephew Kyle enlisted in the Army last fall. I gave him a few pieces of advice… mostly along the lines of don’t do what I did. Negating basic training, and Tech School I spent my entire enlistment at Ellsworth Air Force Base (near Rapid City, SD) One of the biggest regrets I have is not having kept in touch with any one from my time at Ellsworth.

I call my parents every Sunday afternoon, and last Sunday my Mom told me that Kyle would be coming home around the 4th of July before being deployed to Iraq. I’m incredibly proud of him, and am equally worried and terrified for him at the same time. And that got me thinking about the advise I had given him… make a few close friends, and stay in touch with them. So I thought that maybe it was about time to take some of my own advice.

I sat down in front of my computer, pulled up google, and began putting names in. After about 45 minutes of searching, I found one of my supervisors, Richard Korich, and sent a quick email to him. A couple of days later, he very kindly emailed back, and also forward my email to my former station chief, Matt Ulrich who in turn sent me a very nice email. Matt has set up a website for the unit (Detachment 17, 26th Weather Squadron – it’s a private website so I’ll not link to it here) and he also sent me updates of every one that he has so far heard from.

It’s been a great experience finding, these people who, at the time, were the next best thing to family as I had in my life. I only regret that I didn’t realize it at the time. But now I do, and it’s fun catching up with some of them. I hope to continue doing so, and there’s even talk of a reunion next summer, which come hell or high watter I will definitely be attending.

I'm Still Here...

2008-06-26T12:53:00.002-05:00

I've been posting nearly every day on my Civil War blog, consequently I havent' been posting here as often as I should have. I definitely need to start posting more frequently here and promise to do so very soon... but needless to day I'm still here and check back frequently as "I shall return."

In Memorium...

2008-05-16T23:39:00.002-05:00

Matthew Walter Gehrke
January 19, 1979 – May 16, 2008

To his parents, Carl & Teresa, sisters, and all of the Robshaw family (you have been and always will be my 2nd family), my heartfelt sympathy. I wish I could be there with you during this time of grief.

The Parentage of Darius Rogers

2008-04-10T13:39:00.000-05:00

The exact relationship between Darius Rogers and Richard Higgins Rogers is unknown. Darius is listed in the household of Richard and Tabitha Rogers in the 1850 Federal Census, unfortunately the 1850 census, the first to include names of all household members, did not list the relationship of the people residing within a common dwelling to the head of household. Tabitha Baker can be positively ruled out as the mother of Darius Rogers. Per the 1850 census he was 19 years of age, placing his date of birth about 1831, 2 years before the marriage of Richard H. Rogers to Tabitha Baker on 27 APR 1833. He is not found on any other census after 1850. Further evidence that Tabitha Baker is not the mother of Darius Rogers comes from the 1900 Federal census when she is listed as having had 8 children, if Darius was included as a child of Richard & Tabitha Rogers he would have been the eldest of 9. Therefor, I am forced to make two hypotheses; the first that Darius Rogers may have been the son of a previous marriage between Richard H. Rogers and an as yet unknown woman, thus making Tabitha Baker his 2nd wife and step-mother to Darius. The 2nd is that Darius Rogers is a close relative to Richard H. Rogers, possibly orphaned as a child and raised by Richard & Tabitha Rogers.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful....

2008-03-08T00:31:00.011-06:00

It's the evening of March 7th (or the early morning of March 8th, which ever way you decide to look at it) and outside we are getting our first really truly (oh, Stephen King would kick my ass for that one: "The road to hell is paved with adverbs.") getting our first measurable snow fall since I moved to Tennessee from Iowa 4 1/2 years ago.

We are forecasted to receive between 2 to 4" of snow by 10 a.m. tomorrow (this) morning. By northern standards, not a thing to be worried about... down here, all hell has broken loose, people are stampeding the grocery stores & stocking up on all the necessities under the assumption we are about to experience a post-atomic apocalypse winter.

All evening people in the call center were begging... "Please send us home!" Meanwhile, reports filtered in from loved ones about how treacherous the driving was in Nashville, Franklin and Columbia.

Okay, I realize that measurable snow is not a common thing down here in Tennessee, but come on people. It's not the end of the world. I learned a long time ago winter driving in weather such as this (and much, much worse) that "slow and steady" may not win the race but it will get you home safe and sound.

A Vote For Hillary

2008-02-05T11:10:00.001-06:00

Super Tuesday is here! Have you done your civic duty and voted like every American citizen should? I have, though our polling place is one of the strangest I have ever come across... Wilderness Station # 2 in Barfield Park... it's litterally in the middle of the woods. The electronic voting machines were easy to use, and I'm proud to say that I cast my vote in the Democratic primary for Hillary Clinton.

Though since I have to work, I won't be able to watch the bulk of the coverage as the returns come in, I'll be definitely checking CNN during my breaks & lunch.

An Update....

2008-01-19T01:42:00.000-06:00

I must apologize for not posting sooner. I have a million and one things going on, none of which are probably all that important to whom ever might be reading this but things that keep me busy none-the-less.

I've been spending quite a bit of time working on my other blog, Civil War Notebook, lately. I plan on using it to post the odds and ends of my study of the Civil War. Right now I'm posting letters and articles that were printed in my hometown (Osceola, Iowa) newspaper, The Union Sentinel, during the Civil War. I've also posted a couple of book reviews. Once the weather warms up and I start going to battlefields and other historic sites and museums I plan to post my thoughts and observations and pictures there as well.

Speaking of books, I'm very proud to say that I am already working on book number 4 for the year, which puts me way ahead of my reading schedule. I do like to try to get ahead of the schedule during the cold winter months, because when the weather warms up I tend to be out and about a bit more and therefore have less time to read.

I'm having a complete physical on this coming Tuesday... it is the year of my 40th birthday, so I guess it's time to start keeping a bit better track of my health. I went in last Teusday and had blood drawn and left a urine sample... with a hundred plus odd years of documented family history of diabetis in the family, I'm fairly anxious to get the results of the blood work and lab tests. I have just a touch of high blood pressure, of which my doctor thinks may be brought on by sleep apnia, so I'm going in for a sleep study on the 28th and I'll get the results of that on Feb. 7th.

Setting My 2008 Reading Goal

2007-12-29T23:52:00.000-06:00

I read 26 books during 2006. Last night I finished reading "Chancellorsville" by James Reasoner, therefore closing out the year 2007 having read 27 books, one more than last year. Today I started reading Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" and have already read 1oo of it's 371 trade paperback pages... I doubt that I will finish it any sooner than January 1st, so I will count it as my first book of 2008.

I always start out the year with a goal of reading 52 books (one book a week), but my more realistic goal is to read at least one more book than last year... So, I since read 26 books in 2006, and 27 books in 2007, I plan on reading at least 28 books in 2008.

Holiday Wishes....

2007-12-24T11:32:00.001-06:00

From our house to yours. Wishing you and yours a very very Merry Christmas.

- Jim & Gregg

P. S. For your viewing pleasure, here is our Christmas Tree... when I moved to Tennessee Gregg didn't beleive me that it takes me a week to decorate my tree... he's a beleiver now. Though he accuses me of dragging out the ruler, protractor and compass to decorate it.

A Case Of False Advertising???

2007-11-29T00:50:00.000-06:00

Well, probably not, but... It's fair to say that over my long Thanksgiving weekend off I watched more television than I had for the last 2 months. The reason... yes, I had 4 days off, but I would rather shoot myself in the head than set foot in a store... any store... during those 4 days. Consequently, I stayed home, dug out the Christmas decorations, rearranged the furniture, and put up the Christmas tree and then put everything back in the closet... during which time I generally have the television going just for background noise.

Imagine my delight when I noticed Walmart's intriguing commercials promoting their having more check out lanes open than ever before to handle all of your holiday shopping needs.

Well, I'm leaving for a week long trip home to Iowa after work on Friday evening, so I thought I would stop by Walmart tonight after work to pick up a few things for the trip... I zoomed here and there and back again, criscrossed the store at least twice in 35 minutes - which was pretty damn amazing considering the everything I needed seemed to be in the four corners of the store... but when I got to the front of the store at 11:35 p.m. what to my wondering eyes should appear? Two... that's right two... count them... one.... two.... two checkout lanes were open and a line of about 25 people between them.

Now Murfreesboro isn't some small town that closes down at 5 o'clock on a weeknight... this town supports two Walmart stores and has been trying to build a third in town for the last couple of years... so I ask you, why, Mr. Walmart store manager, is it that you only have 2 checkout lanes open at 11:30 pm on a weeknight in a town the size of this? You're definitely not living up to your advertisements.

In Memorium...

2007-11-03T17:26:00.000-05:00

Tanner Roe Matlage
20 Nov 1991 - 3 Nov 2007

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel. To his parents, my cousin Michele & Mark, and his grandparents, my aunt & uncle, Sheri & Bernie Miller, my thoughts and prayers are with you. My heart is torn, wanting to be there to help, and knowing that I cannot, and that nothing I do or say can do much to help you in this time of need.

Lacking words, I turn to the words Abraham Lincoln, "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost."

Calculating Jonathan Hathaway's Date of Birth

2007-10-25T13:25:00.001-05:00

Jonathan Hathaway was born in 1672 per his gravestone. He died during his 56th year, meaning he was 55 years of age when he died during an epidemic in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on 17 Sep 1727. Subtracting 55 years from 1727 verifies his year of birth as 1672. However, in 1672 the Julian Calendar was in use, meaning that the year started on March 25th & ended on March 24th. The change to the Gregorian calender did not take place until 1752 well after Jonathan's 17 Sep 1727 death. The Julian calendar was in use during Jonathan's entire lifespan... therefore using his age at death as 55 to calculate had possible date of birth he would have been born between 17 Sep 1672 & 24 Mar 1672 per the Julian calendar or bet. 17 Sep 1672 & 24 Mar 1673 per the Gregorian calendar. Incidentally, the Gregorian calendar is still in use today.

Happy Birthday Kyle!

2007-10-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

And yet another HAP-PY BIRTHDAY!!! goes out today to my nephew, Kyle Draper, who is currently going through U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Knox, KY. Kyle, I know this probably isn't the best birthday you've ever had, but I hope you have a good day. Keep your chin up and take it one day at a time. We are all very proud of you and love and miss you very much.

Birthday Wishes....

2007-10-02T12:33:00.001-05:00

Okay, we are in the middle of birthday season... Birthday Greetings go out to my sister, Wanda Draper. She and I are 11 months apart to the day... HAP-PY BIRTHDAY!!! My grandfather, Percy Henry Miller, was also born on this date in 1902 and his wife, Edna (Luce) Miller, better known as Marie, was buried on this date in 1976. Coincidentally, she was a diabetic and had to have both of her legs amputated below the knee, she was in the hospital having her 2nd leg removed on the day of my sister's birth.

Civil War Opera... A Good Thing?

2007-09-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

Hmmm... Dimitri Rotov in recents posts HERE & HERE on his blog Civil War Bookshelf, seems to be highly enthusiastic about premier Philip Glass' new opera "Appomattox." I wonder what his oppinion is of Frank Wildhorn's Broadway musical of a few years ago, The Civil War.

Birthday Greetings

2007-09-25T12:28:00.000-05:00

I need to send out a couple of big HAPPY BIRTHDAY's to my sister-in-law, Robin Miller & my nephew, Levi Draper, who were both born on this date! I know how old you both are, but fear not, I'll not divulge it to the world.

Happy Anniversary....

2007-09-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

to my sister Wanda & her husband Greg Draper. Today is their 17th Wedding Anniversary. It hardly seems possible that it's been 17 years!

Good Luck Kyle! We Are All Very Proud Of You!

2007-09-17T01:37:00.000-05:00

My oldest nephew, Kyle Draper, ships out to Fort Knox, Kentucky today where for the next 9 weeks he will be receiving his U.S. Army Basic Training. His enlistment in the Army came as a great surprise to me... a week ago yesterday my Mom called to let me know that they were on the road & going to Kyle's going away party and would not be home to get my weekly Sunday afternoon call - she didn't want me to call, get no answer & wonder where they were. "Where's Kyle going?" I asked. "Oh, I thought I told you, he enlisted in the army." Well that's a very short version of the conversation.

After graduating from basic training, he well get to come home for 10 days and then ship out to Maryland for training as a tank repairman - at least as far as I have been told, anyway. Then after that.... is anyone's guess, but we are pretty sure, he will at some time during his enlistement wind up in Iraq.

I am, along with the rest of his family, very proud of him. Where ever he goes, we hope he will be kept from harm's reach, and anxiously wait for his safe return home. If ever he needs anything, I well do everything with in my power, to move heaven & hearth, to make sure he gets what ever it is he needs. And I will always be there, with words of support and encouragement.

Lost Letters Found

2007-09-12T13:52:00.001-05:00

It has been 142 years since the end of the Civil War... and just when you think there could not possibly be any new information there turns up not one, but two caches of previously undiscovered letters. I have just ordered two books that have recently over the last few months been published: Reading the Man: A Portrait of Robert E. Lee Through His Private Letters by Elizabeth Brown Pryor & The Madness of Mary Lincoln byJason Emerson. Both books use newly discovered caches of letters written by Robert E. Lee and Mary Todd Lincoln respectively. The book on Lee has been out for a few months now and the book on Mrs. Lincoln has just been published.

The Civil War is the most written about subject in American History. With litterally millions of titles both in and out of print, one would think after 140+ years the subject would have been exhausted. But each new discovery of original acctounts and letters written during the time opens up the war, the years that preceded it, and those that came after it, to new interpretations. Up to now, we may have thought we know all there is to know about Robert E. Lee and Mary Todd Lincoln, but obviously there are always new discoveries, and new things to learn about them. They are but two people who helped shape America's destiny.

Happy Birthday Brent

2007-09-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

Birthday Greetings to out to my nephew Brent Miller whose birthday it is today.

76 of 128 Ain't Bad

2007-09-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

Last night I received a shipment of a lot of 40 books I won off ebay, thus increasing my collection of The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies During the War of the Rebellion to 76 of the 128 book set. Only 6 books were duplicates of volumes I already own. They are now shelved nicely in our office/library/guest bedroom, but of course now I've displaced my presidential biographies.... looking like I'm going to have to buy another bookshelf... Let the rearranging begin! And now I only have 52 books to go!

11,677... And Still Growing

2007-09-06T01:25:00.000-05:00

I have been doing genealogy for nearly 20 years now, and I just checked the statistics of my Family Tree Maker data base. I have entered 11,677 people, comprising of 55 generations, 4030 marriages and 2,432 surnames. Clovis the Riparian, Frankish King of Cologne, has the earliest birthdate in my database, he was born before 420 a.d. The average life span of the individuals in my data base is 60 years and 6 months.

Happy Birthday!

2007-08-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

To my husbear, Gregg,
with all my love, forever and always,
Hap-py Birthday!

We Are Back

2007-08-06T23:23:00.000-05:00

Hello all! Well, it's a day earlier than we had planned, but Greg and I are back in Murfreesboro. Home sweet home and safe and sound. Instead of breaking the trip up into two days Greg thought he would rather do it in one and get it over with and have 2 days to recover. We left Osceola, IA at 10:45 a.m. this moring and arrived home in Murfreesboro at 10:20 p.m. 11 hours and 35 minutes. Not my best time, but respectible.

Has It Really Been 20 Years?

2007-08-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

In a couple of hours Gregg and I will be heading out for Iowa to attend my 20th Reunion for Murray High School's Class of 1987 on Saturday evening. We will be back in Murfreesboro on Tuesday but both of us are taking Wednesday to recuperate from the trip. I'll have more on the reunion when we get back.

Civil War Talk Radio

2007-08-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

WooHoo!!! The archives of Civil War Talk Radio are back up on line and all programs are now available as mp3 downloads! Huzzah!

Blood Stains On The Floor

2007-07-28T16:18:00.000-05:00

This morning I visited Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN. This was my 4th visit to this historic home. It is arguably the best historic house tour I have ever been on, and yet I have never had the same tour twice. Many of Carntons tour guides are in fact historians, who have spent a lot of time reaching their particular areas of interest. I've been on a general tour of the home, a tour with a women's studies historian and this morning's tour was led by Eric A. Jacobson, who is Carnton's resident military historian.

Before preceeding further, I should explain... Carnton was used as a Confederate field hospital immediately after the horrific Battle of Franklin. After the battle the home was packed with wounded Confederate soldiers. Blood was everywhere, and still evident today are the blood stains under the south windows where the surgeons worked in the best light available.

Mr. Jacobson gave a very gripping account of the battle, filled with intimate details which almost brought the battle to life for many of us. One can never fully imagine the horrors of that night in Franklin, or the days imediately in its aftermath, but Mr. Jacobson came as close as one could possibly get in the very short time in which he had to lead us through the home.

Franklin is a battle of the Civil War which up until very recently has been largely forgotten. However, Carnton has figured prominantly in two works of fiction about the battle: Howard Bahr's The Black Flower and Robert Hicks' Widow of the South both of which are helping draw visitors from not only around the country but around the world.

Mr. Jacobson as also written about the battle in a nonfiction work entitled For Cause For Country - A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin. Many of us who were in the tour group (there were about 30 of us - I think the largest group I have been with going through the house) were so impressed with Mr. Jacobson's tour that we bought his book. The gift shop actually sold all their copies they had on display and they had to get some more from their store room. He was even nice enough to inscribe my copy.

A Week of Magical Reading

2007-07-27T12:54:00.000-05:00

Well,it took me 6 days, but at 11 a.m. this morning I at long last finished it. Gregg and I stood in line for an hour at Books-A-Million last Friday night at midnight to pick up our & Mike's copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and final book in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter saga. And before going to bed at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning I fiished reading the first chapter. It's been a magical week of nearly non-stop action, full of twists and turns, of highs and lows, surprising outcomes and both expected and unexpected deaths. I would not dream of giving away anything in the book for those who have not yet read it. But needless to say, Ms. Rowling does not fail to deliver on what she has promised her loyal readers since turning the first page of the first book.

I'm releived to have finally finished it. Am happy with the ending, and yet somewhat saddend too that the book has now closed the final chapter of Harry Potter, the boy that lived.

Which Civil War General Am I?

2007-07-26T02:33:00.000-05:00

You scored as William T. Sherman, One of the Union's greatest heroes, your capture of Atlanta helped guarantee Lincoln's re-election and the winning of the war. South of the Mason-Dixon, they think you're a monster, but you're really only a *little* crazy...

William T. Sherman

80%

General Nathan Bedford Forrest

70%

General James Longstreet

65%

U.S. Grant

65%

Robert E. Lee

65%

General George McClellan

55%

Stonewall Jackson

50%

General Ambrose Burnside

50%

General Phillip Sheridan

45%

General Jeb Stuart

40%

Which American Civil War General are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Chickamauga

2007-07-22T18:57:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday, I had the honor and pleasure of visiting Chickamauga National Battlefield, just south of Chattanooga, TN in the northwestern corner of Georgia.When I visit battlefields I usually set out with the expectations of seeing and photographing everything, and then once I get there I get overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. And reality slaps me in the face. To be sure, the Chickamauga Battlefield is a very large place, and the Park Service Tour covers the ground where most of the fighting took place, it is only a fraction of the actual battlefield. To see all of what is to be seen in a one day visit, is to say the least next to impossible, let alone to take it all in and understand the enormity and complexity of what happened there.

That being said, it was a throughly enjoyable visit. As always I had done some reading before my visit: "This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga" by Peter Cozzens, which gave a very detailed accounting of the battle. I always like to read up on a battle before visiting the battlefield, so I know what I'm looking at and for when I get there.

And let me say, there's nothing like a battlefield visit to let you know just how out of shape you are. Walking up hills and down hills, and across feilds and over trails in 90 degree heat. I was exhausted... that battlefield kicked my ass and I wasn't even wearing a wool uniform or carrying a rifle. And if that wasn't enough I just had to climb up the 136 steps of Wilder Tower, I thought I was going to die before I reached the top, but what a specatular view of the battlefield.

I was mainly interested in Lytle Hill, which is where my great great Grandfather, Walter Partridge saw action and was wounded. He received a slight wound to the forehead, and it's my theory that he recieved the wound when a runaway wagon hit a tree, knocking a portion of that tree into the rank & file of Company F of the 36th Illinois Infantry.

From History of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois Volunteers, During the War of the Rebellion by L. G. Bennett and Wm. M. Haigh, Chapter 28: “Battle of Chickamauga,” p. 468:

"They were falling on every hand thick and fast, but they formed a good line and moved rapidly to the crest of the hill. This was the ground which the second brigade had tried to hold, and their wounded and dead obstructed the way, while men, horses and artillery were scattered in Great Confusion. One battery wagon swinging round with almost lightning speed struck a dead tree which casused the top to break off, coming down into Company F and striking two men, one of whom was Oscar Hobbs, supposed to be killed, but he afterwards revived."

Also from that same work on page 482: List of Casualties at Chickamauga - Company F.Sergt. Burgo Thompson, head; Sergt. Geo. Neff, hip; Corp. Gunner Gunnerson, shoulder; James H. Hall, died in enemy’s hands, Sep. 22; Ira M. Johnson, neck; Oscar Hobbs, head; Walter E. Partridge, head; William McLary, finger; Chas. Sweetland, captured.

Since Walter Partidge is listed right after Oscar Hobbs and both are listed as having received head wounds, it is my theory that Walter Partridge was the other man that was hit by the tree.

Though I was unable to locate a monument for the 36th Illinois Infantry I did find the mortuary marker for their Brigade Commander, General Lytle.

However I did find monuments for the regiments of my 3rd Great Grandfather, Phillip Delong and his brother John A. DeLong: the 31st and 90th Ohio Infantry, respectively as well as my Great Great Grandfather, Alonzo Luce's regiment, the 19th Illinois Infantry (though he was not in the battle but rather in a hospital in Nashville, TN with Chronic Diahorhea), and also for Battery C, 1st Illinois Light Artilery (the regiment of my 3rd Great Granduncle, James Cottew - though he also was not there as he was discharged on 7 MAR 1863 for a wound received near Nashville, TN the previous November).

After my visit to the battlefield, I had a nice visit with Ron & Ray, a couple of new friends I have made through the internet, and a great supper, and watched a movie with them before heading home exhausted from a long day.

Next up: Lookout Mountain and the Battle for Chattanooga - but not until it's cooler.

The Carter House

2007-06-30T16:10:00.000-05:00

I went to Franklin, Tennessee today and visited The Carter House, which was at the center fo the tragic and bloody 5 hour battle on November 30, 1864.

Had an excellant tour guide by the name of Thomas who gave us a very colorful and informative tour of the house and grounds, going so far at one point in to tour outside the house pointing to various places, giving the rank and unit of a soldier who died on "X" spot. Including a soldier from Walter Partridge's regiment, the 36th Illinois Infantry.

Thomas also told us the story of the 27 people, the Carter family, servants, and neighbors, who took refuge from the boiling hell of the battle in the basement of the house, as well as a story relating to the father of World War II general Douglas MacArthur. And lastly the story of the Carter's son, Captian Todd Carter who made his first return home after marching off to war 3 1/2 years earlier only to be mortally wounded within sight of the house he was born in and in which he would die 2 days later surrounded by his sorrowful family.

This was the second time I have visited The Carter House. I don't remember much from the first tour, but Thomas certainly made my second visit a memorable one. I was going to compliment him after I was finished walking the grounds of the house, but a man in the tour group that went into the house immediately after my tour was finished had a medical emergency.... while in the gift shop the only thing I heard was "He doen't look good and needs to get to a hospital." So I didn't get to tell Thomas how very much I enjoyed the tour.

Confederate Decoration Day

2007-06-03T13:32:00.000-05:00

Jefferson Finnis Davis, son of Samuel Emory Davis & Jane Cook, & the first and only President of the Confederate States of America, was born 3 JUN 1808 in Fairfiew, Kentucky making today his 199th birthday.

Today is also Confederate Decoration Day, here in Tennessee, which chose Davis' birthday to honor its Confederate Soldiers.

My great great grandfather, Walter Edward Partridge, was also born on this date in 1833 in Sparsholt, Berkshire, England. Walter, a veteran of the Union Army in the American Civil War was a private in Compay F, 36th Illinois Infantry. I wonder if he knew he shared the same birthday with the Confederate president?

Click HERE to read Walter E. Partridge's obituary (which is in error regarding his date of birth).

Studying Tennessee's Civil War Battles & Battlefields

2007-05-30T12:41:00.000-05:00

This year I decided to study Tennessee's Civil War battles & battlefields. Though I moved to Murfreesboro in August of 2003 and have been to Stones River National Battlefield on countless occasions, and also Carnton Plantation & The Carter House in Franklin (about 45 minutes from here), regretfully I've done little studying of these battles, and have not ventured to any of Tennessee's other Civil War sites. So this year I decided to study & visit as many Tennesse Civil War sites as possible.

My method of study is this. First I read a book relating to the battle & battlefield in question. Next, I visit the battlefield in question. Doing some basic reading before visiting the battlefield is a great help, giving you a basic understanding of the battle and events that occurred on the field. Also it helps you pinpoint places or sites that you want to be sure to see during your battlfield tour... don't always count on the park services tour guides to highlight everything you might want to see. I take my digital camera with me & it is loaded with a 1 gigabite memory card which can hold 1100 4MB pictures and I take pictures of everthing.

I usually purchase a book relating to the battle from the park's gift shop and in the first blank page in the front of the book I inscribe my name, the date and the place I purchased the book. For example when I visited Shiloh earlier this year I purchase, O. Edward Cunningham's book, Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862, and in the front I wrote: "James D. Miller, Purchased at Shiloh National Military Park 21 APR 2007."

Then upon my return home from the battlefield, I read another book (usually the one I've just purchased), and combind with the knowledge from the first book, my battlefield visit and my pictures, I gain a greater understanding of the events that unfolded there.

As you can guess, Shiloh was the battlefield first on my list this year, and by my studies, I have gained a deeper appreciation for what happened there, as previously I only had a basic knowledge of it's highlights. I am planning on going back sometime in the near future, but I have my sites set next on Fort Donelson. I have just finished reading Kendall D. Gott's Where the South Lost the War: An Analysis of the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson Campaign, February 1862, and am planning a visit to the fort/battlefield, weather permitting on Saturday. I say weather permitting because each of the Tennessee sites are within a 3 hour drive from here and if I get up to get ready to go and the weather is nasty, then I'll just postpone the trip until the weather is better.

Next on my list is Chicamauga & Chattanooga. And since I'll need to read a book for each of those battles I'm not planning that trip until some time in mid-July.

My List of 317...

2007-05-28T01:49:00.001-05:00

Have you ever returned home from a trip to a bookstore only to find out that the book you just purchased you already own? Let me tell you it's happened to me more than a couple of times and I find it damn frustrating. A trip the the book store should be fun, not frought with self-debate about wether or not you have a particular volume in your library. A couple of weeks ago I started a project to end those debates with myself. Well my latest project won't entirely fix this problem, unless you take it with you to the book store, but it does make it easier for me (and more importantly those shopping for me - and you know who you are...) to see what exactly is in my library. I have just finished cataloging all 317 volumes in my library of Civil War Nonfiction and have posted it on the Civil War page of my website. Before, people were terrified to buy me any Civil War book at all because they were afraid that it would already be in my library (which has happened -sorry Gregg), but now any one who wants to can quickly go to my website and find out if I have it or not. It's a win/win situation for all... especially me! And when I was all finished I even found a duplicate of "Phantom Army of the Civil War" which I didn't even know I had.

Two More Civil War Veterans Uncovered

2007-05-02T10:40:00.002-05:00

A couple of days ago I was researching my great great great granduncle, John G. Thrasher, son of Allen & Eloisa Matilda (Savery) Thrasher. He was born on 18 Jul 1844 in Annsville, Onieda Co., NY. He was enlisted by Isaac L. Clark at Waukegan, IL into Company G of the 96th Illinois Infantry on 12 AUG 1862 for a term of 3 years and was mustered in on 6 Sep 1862 in Rockford, IL. At the time of his enlistment he was 5' 9 1/2" tall, resided at Vernon, Lake Co., IL and listed his occupation as a farmer. He died of disease on 11 Dec 1863 in Shell Mound, TN, and is buried in Plot L 9360, Chattagooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN.

John's sister, Angelina "Anna" Thrasher (my great great great grandmother) married Marcus S. Gleason, and while I was researching the Roster of Co. G of the 96th Illinois Infantry I noticed 2 soldiers, Henry Gleason & Isbon Gleason, and thought "hmmm... Thrasher & Gleason in the same company & regiment... I wonder...." so I checked them out and sure enough they are brothers, sons of Hiram & Caroline (Farnham) Gleason, and first cousins to my great great great grandfather, Marcus S. Gleason.

So Now I've added two more names to my ever growing list of Civil War Veterans in the family:

Isbon Slosson Gleason was born 23 Dec 1839 in Owego, NY. On 15 Aug 1862 he was enlisted in Co. G, 96th Illinois Infantry at Waukegan, IL by Isaac L. Clark and on 6 Sep 1862 he was mustered in at Rockford, IL for a term of 3 years With a rank of Private. He transferred out of the 96th to Co. A, 1st U.S. Veteran Volunteer Engineers. At the time of his enlistment in the 96th Illinois Infantry he was a carpenter and resided at Libertyville, Lake Co., IL

Henry Gleason was born 3 Feb 1838 in Owego, NY. On 2 Aug 1862 Isaac L. Clark enlisted him into Company G., 96th Illinois Infantry at Waukegan,IL for a term of 3 years. He was mustered in as a private on 6 Sep 1862 at Rockford, IL and mustered out Camp Harker, TN on 10 Jun 1865 with the rank of corporal. He was 5' 10" tall, had blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. At the time of his enlistement in 1862 he was a farmer residing at Libertyville, Lake Co., IL

Time Warped to 1955 At Shiloh

2007-04-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday visited Shiloh National Military Park. I'd spent the last two weeks studying up on the battle by reading Larry J. Daniel's book, "Shiloh, The Battle that Changed the Civil War." Since it was my first visit I decided that the park's Visitor Center would be my first stop so I could watch their orientation film.

After a 2 hour & 4o minute drive I arrived at the Shiloh Visitor Center at 10 a.m. right as the film was about to start and was quickly ushered back to the auditorium. Well, auditorium is a bit of a stretch... it was a large room with several rows of folding chairs and a large projection type telivision sitting on a raised platform. Okay, Shiloh is one of the older battlefield parks, I thought, I can deal with this. However, when the film started I was stunned. The orientation film on the Battle of Shiloh, had been produced in 1955 and is the oldest running film in the National Park System. To the park rangers & staff of Shiloh, this shouldn't be something you are proud of.

The film is an abomination. The film quality is poor, every frame of it looks as though it were a 52 year old film... it was discolored, it was dark, it was grainy, and there was always a yellow tint in the lower right portion of the film. The acting (using the term very loosely) was poor, but the costuming and make-ip was ghastly. It litterally looked like the hair and make-up team (if there even was one) had taken swatches of carpet and glued them to the actor's faces. It reminded me of a badly colorized D. W. Griffith silent movie with 1950's narration and score. It was laughable. When the movie came on it was all I could do not to burst out loud with laughter.

Now, I know the National Park Service budget is tight, but I beg of you. Please, in the name of all that is holy.... Please... Please... Please... produce a new orientation film that doesn't make the audience feel as if they have just been sent back to their 1955 American History high school class room.

After the 25 minute film was over, I went back out to the main hall of the Visitor Center to see that a group of Boy Scouts were there and waiting their turn to watch the film. What a pity, I thought to myself, that they should be condemed to watch such a sad introduction to the first cataclysmic battle of the Civil War. The veterans and the men who died on the field do not deserve to be remembered in such a way. And then I thought to myself, this park must get a lot of foreign tourists as well. What must be running through their minds while watching the film? Would they understand what happened on the fields just outside the front door? Would they care? What a disgrace that the current park visitors can't see a short, accurate, and modern film that treats the events of April 6th & 7th, 1862 with the dignity they deserve.

I want those 25 minutes of my life back... they would have been better spent on the battlefield itself.

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T11:14:00.000-06:00

To all my friends and family, but especially those back home in Iowa, goes my wish of a Happy Thanksgiving! I love & miss you all very much. I wish I could be there with you all on this holiday about family and friends, but I'm spending the day at home cooking for our family and friends here in Tennessee.

Those of you who know me will be shocked to know that my Christmas tree is not yet up... I usually put the tree up the Friday before Thanksgiving, then Saturday the lights, Sunday put on the beads and bows, then the ornaments on Monday, and finally I finish out Tuesday and Wednesday putting on the red and gold glass balls and then plug it in Thanksgiving evening.

But since we are hosting Thanksgiving this year, I wanted to keep the two holidays looking least like each other, so we are, at least for the time being sans tree. When all the guests have departed this evening then the furniture will be moved and the tree will go up.

And since I am a multiple Mayflower descendant, I'll close with a quote from William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation: "Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea, in some sort to our whole nation."

Living With Lincoln

2006-09-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

I guess you could say I've been on an Abraham Lincoln benge lately... as I have spent much of the last 5 weeks reading about him.

I started my oddesy through the life of Lincoln on August 13th by reading James Swanson's Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. For those of you who thought you knew something of the Lincoln assassination, I would definitely recomend this book... ever wondered whate ever became of the Lincoln's guests, Miss Harris & Major Rathburn? Or how about Boston Corbet the killer of John Wilkes Booth? I guarantee what you will discover of what happened to these people after the great events of their lives will truely make you want to stand up and slap your high school history teacher and scream at him/her "Why didn't you tell us this in history class?"

I devoured Mr. Swanson's book relatively quickly... I finished it on August 19th. I then continued on with my reading on Abraham Lincoln with Doris Kearns Goodwin's large tome, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which took me all of 3 whole weeks to read, and have, today, just finished. Ms. Goodwin has succeeded at creating something more than just a biography or a social/political historical text. She paints an intimate portrait of Abraham Lincoln through his relationships with his rivals for the 1860 presidential election who he later chose to assemble as his cabinet.

There are a couple of other books I have yet to read, David Herbert Donald's Lincoln and and Jean H. Baker's, Mary Todd Lincoln, which I will read hopefully before the end of the year, but first I need a break - from nonfiction - a break from the Civil War - so I'm going to switch gears and read Carolyn Parkhurst's Lost and Found.