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It wasn’t easy to pick out a favorite photo. I have so many: my kids at different ages, my wedding photos, reunions, ancestors, and even some of myself as a young child.
I chose the photo of my maternal grandmother, Vesta Christena Wilt, as a young woman – before she was married (probably). Her unruly baby fine wavy hair set in place. A locket on a chain around her neck. Blue eyes looking toward her future.
A photo of a woman of whom I see a bit of myself in the eyes, the same type of hair, and slight smile. A photo I treasure – but my Nana – I treasure her memory even more.
This post was written as part of Week 3 “Favorite Photo” blog prompt of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” For more information please go to https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
(Digital and original photo in possession of Wendy Littrell.)
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Over a decade ago, I received a welcome gift from my cousins – about 5 CDs. On those disks were voices of family members who were no longer living – my maternal grandparents, some paternal aunts and uncles, and my brother. Little did I realize that within a year after I received them, I would add my mom to one who would also be gone. Several years later, it would be my dad.
Back in the 1950s when my parents and older siblings lived in Japan, they would record their “letters” home on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. My grandparents would reciprocate. To hear the details of their days and all that was happening in their world was amazing. To hear my parents’ young voices was sometimes comical.
In the 1960s my dad and his siblings also recorded some of their reunions. I even heard my young self singing “Downtown” as well as a couple of stories that (for this family historian) was exciting to hear! What seemed “normal” was reliving the conflict that some of the Amore family members had with each other or their in-laws!
I am so fortunate that my cousin’s husband took all those reel-to-reel tapes that he had from my brother and convert them to CDs. I may no longer be able to speak to those family members I love, but I can still listen to their voices. Voices that may have been lost but thankfully have been found.
This post is part of the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” blog prompts for Week 2: Favorite Find. For more information please see https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
(Images are courtesy of Pixabay – no attribution required. Collage created on Fotor.)
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On October 15, 1916 a letter was written from Miss Vesta Wilt to Mr Johnson that read:
It has now been six months since I have known you. Am beginning to love you. Is mine returned? I think not. But nevertheless I’m thinking of proposing your hand in marrige. Am telling you as you may think seriously on the matter. Yours as B/4
Two months and nine days later on December 24, 1916 the two wed in Anderson, Indiana. Their marriage was a foundation built on love that lasted beyond their deaths in 1984 and 1985. It lasted due to their commitment not only to each other but to their family, their faith, and to their journey through the military into civilian life. Their legacy has been three out of four children who lived to adulthood who in turn gave life to the couple’s eight grandchildren. In turn that has brought life to 16 great-grandchildren. The great-great-grandchildren presently number 23. And the babies and young children considered great-great-great-grandchildren number 8. The union that the foundation of love of Miss Vesta Wilt and Mr Glen R Johnson have produced a total of 53 descendants.
Vesta and Glen are my maternal grandparents and a couple that all of us who grew up knowing them remember them with fondness, respect, and love.
This post was written from the blog prompt “Foundations” as part of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. For more information on this series please see: https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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MINUTES OF THE
JOHNSON AND SHIVELY REUNION
Organization Aug 16 – 1915
Johnson and Shively reunion organized Aug 16, 1915 at the home of J.L. Johnson 99 Indiana Ave. Anderson, Indiana. Several relatives and minds were invited to this home in honor of J.W. Johnson. “J.L. Johnson’s father”. It being his birthday. He being the oldest of the Johnson family now living.
A great number of relatives responded from all over the state and a general good time was enjoyed by all.
At the noon hour a sumptious dinner was served. This being one of the most important events of the day was enjoyed by both young and old to the fullest extent.
Before departing for their several homes it was decided that we meet yearly and the following officers were duly elected
President J Milton Johnson, Lapel, Ind.
Secretary Frank Shively, Anderson
A motion was made and 2nded to meet the next August at Riverside Park, Anderson, Indiana.
Business being concluded all departed for their homes thinking it a day well spent.
(Notations in margin: Glen Johnson Aug. 15 – 1915)
Thanks to collaboration with some of my distant Johnson cousins as well as the “key” that was on the back of this photo, I have the names of several of those who attended the first Johnson reunion held at the home of my maternal great-grandparents, John Lafayette and Katie J. (Blazer) Johnson, in Anderson, Indiana on August 16, 1915. The couple are the 2nd and 3rd from the right seated in the front row. My grandfather, Glen Roy Johnson, is next to them on the end. Their 4-year-old foster daughter, Eva, is the girl with the bow in her hair seated in front of Katie (2nd from right on the lawn). The older gentleman (seated bent over) in the center of the front row is my great-great-grandfather James Wilson Johnson.
Johnson-Shively (misspelled in the news article above) denotes the Johnson family and the descendants of Mary “Polly” Johnson who was the sister of my 2nd great-grandfather James Wilson Johnson. Polly married Ulery Shively.
Minutes from all of the reunions (1915-1941) are written in a notebook that my grandfather had kept. Enclosed in it were letters giving reasons about not attending an upcoming reunion. In the back of the book were several pages of names with addresses which has helped me place them within the Johnson family. There were also notations in the margins about who had died, who had married, and the babies born. I feel very blessed that I am able to consult this treasure trove of information when I need.
(Week 1 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.)
(Photograph of reunion in possession of Wendy Littrell)
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Before I say goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020, I want to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the year. And yes, there were good moments!
The Ugly
- The death toll from the pandemic – young, old, infirm, perfectly healthy, and those who were trying to save others.
- The ugliness people displayed toward their fellow human beings – whether it was due to a difference of politics; not agreeing with others about restrictions that came from a worldwide health crisis; racial unrest; or just being without empathy.
- People in residential living due to age, medical issues, dementia or Alzheimer’s and were denied visits and the touch of a loved one.
- People who were unemployed while their bills still needed paid.
- Parents trying to homeschool kids who couldn’t understand why they weren’t in school or couldn’t play with friends. (This ranks in the ugly category because if you’ve ever been a parent with a bored child – or several – it gets really ugly!)
The Bad
- Cancelled plans, trips, vacations, and gatherings.
- Cancelled in-person worship.
- Making a detailed plan for essential errands and remembering the mask, hand sanitizer, and washing hands.
- Getting calls from friends and/or family members who had been exposed and waiting on testing results.
- Indulging in boredom eating.
- Postponed medical treatments and dr. appointments.
- More time on social media and more screen time for the kids (especially when the goal is to have less screen time for them!).
- Higher grocery bills (see: boredom eating).
- High school seniors lost “rite of passage” activities such as proms, a real graduation ceremony at the end of the school year, senior trips, spring sports, and more.
The Good
- Change of focus to what is really important for yourself and household.
- Businesses that changed how their employees worked in order for them to stay home.
- Hordes of people learned new skills: sewing (to make masks); cooking (to avoid restaurants); using technology (in order to work, see family, attend virtual events).
- Places of worship began having virtual worship and people who hadn’t attended in person began attending online.
- The everyday pace of life became slower; longer walks taken; and important people and events weren’t taken for granted anymore.
- People crafted new traditions – drive-by birthday celebrations; new trick or treat ideas; and Zoom family gatherings.
- People who were financially able donated funds to organizations that helped others.
- New hobbies were found; home renovations were accomplished; books were read; and things that had been put off due to time were accomplished.
There were things on the list that touched our family but not all. We are out of the child-rearing years and didn’t have to deal with the school issues. Before the pandemic, I began a job search (with two interviews) but then everything shut down. (That was the last time – back in early March – that I shook hands with anyone.) Without being employed, my day to day life didn’t change much except I thought about what errands I needed to run and plan my grocery list to accommodate 2-3 weeks’ worth of food instead of one.
My husband is a pastor so with his three churches closed all of April, he began giving virtual sermons and weekly devotions. Even after the churches here opened again, he is still virtual for those who don’t feel comfortable getting out. We stopped eating in at restaurants, and instead we get take-out from our neighborhood place four blocks away. While it was warmer and lighter (before the time change), I joined my husband and our dog on long walks through our town.
We did have family time with our out of state daughter and her family who drove up to spend a week plus my sister and her husband who were passing through on their way back to Texas from South Dakota in their RV. Our “local” daughter (90 minutes away) was also able to visit a couple of times. We had a socially distanced and masked visit with my husband’s nephew in our driveway when he was in town.
Just before our state closed down in March, I had recently taken my sewing machine to be serviced. A week after I picked it up, I decided to try my hand at making masks. That went so well that I decided to start making quilts. I finished seven this year and gifted to all our grandchildren.
The historical society where I serve on the board remained closed a month longer in the spring than normal, but we were blessed to still receive donations, grants, and new members. All my organization meetings – except for the historical society board meetings – were cancelled. The church women’s group at two of the churches my husband pastors did have some meetings – socially distanced and masked – but that soon became harder to do this fall.
Christmas was markedly different for us. It is the first time in 39 years that I haven’t had family or children around for the holiday. For us it was quiet but we still enjoyed our traditional Tex-Mex feast.
I online shopped much more than I ever have! We ordered dog food, books for husband’s course of study classes, Christmas gifts shipped to the recipient (instead of here so I could wrap), items from my daughter’s online store, fabric, and kitchen items. I used Walmart grocery pick-up for the first time in November (our local store doesn’t do it) which meant over 40 miles to the pick-up store.
We have friends who tested positive, and a friend recently passed away. There is immense sadness when I learn of another death of a friend’s spouse or relative.
As I turn the page from 2020 to 2021, I want to wish you a Happy New Year and best wishes that moving forward, things will get better!
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Today marks 12 years since I started this genealogy blog! There have been some months that I’ve published posts quite often and some years I haven’t posted very much. My last post on this blog was back on August 1st of last year.
That doesn’t mean I have slowed down in my family history research. As is known to happen, real life events had to come before blogging. Last fall, a new baby was born into the family – our third granddaughter! That prompted a trip out of state for me. That all happened right after our grandson left for Army Basic Training – he is a National Guardsman. After returning from being with family, circumstances prompted my husband and I to move in to the parsonage in town and leave the farm. It took several trips with the pick-up truck moving our furniture and other boxes plus what could be stuffed in my vehicle. Finally, toward the end of October, we were fully moved in.
Soon, it was time to head to our grandson’s basic training graduation. The trip was long so we split it into 2 days’ of travel. Did I mention that Missouri was getting snow as we left home and drove? Our daughter was with us and our son, my grandson’s uncle, met us at our destination. We had a great two days of Family Day events and then graduation.
Not too long after arriving back home, the holidays were upon us which meant grocery shopping and cooking. As soon as Thanksgiving was over, it was time to decorate and shop for Christmas. Our grandson was able to get a two week holiday block leave from his advanced training so he flew home for Christmas. And of course – we had snow in and around the time he was home – which kept up through early January.
The snow and ice prompted me to stay at home. Why get out if I didn’t have to? Again, real life happened – this time not only was one of our vehicles out of commission and the pick-up truck needed brakes, but my car decided it was feeling left out so it was out. A new transmission and several other necessary mechanical work, and it was back in running order. That was after the truck was in the shop.
Just when I thought, I’d be able to finally get out – the stay-at-home-order was given. So, now my pastor husband is a televangelist! Facebook Live sermons is how he gets his church service out each Sunday now.
And what was I supposed to be doing today? Helping our historical society host the county’s bicentennial event – Pioneer Day – at the museum. Many volunteers were signed up to help; different events throughout the museum and outside were to be held ; and a new exhibit was going to be unveiled. All of this is still planned – just now it will be in July.
Since my first few months of the year was spent pretty much “at home” – being socially distant and contained inside is nothing new. I do miss being able to just go to the store without thinking about it – or spending twenty minutes sanitizing after I leave the store, before I touch my car, after I put my groceries in, before I touch my car again, after I put groceries away, and then washing my hands and sanitizing where my grocery bags had sat. In the last three weeks, I’ve managed to limit my exposure to being at Walmart just once each week.
I learned how to sew face masks – thank goodness I had my sewing machine fixed and tuned up just before all this happened. Originally, I was going to work on my first quilt. Today, I finished a granny square quilt top and seven masks. Just as I was about done with the eighth mask, my sewing machine needle broke. I now have to wait until I’m able to get back to the store next week!
In between all of this, I have been working on family history. I’ve had a break through of sorts on my paternal great-grandfather. I’ve been watching some fascinating webinars – especially on land records.
It’s been a fantastic twelve years blogging, and I hope I can keep it up for several more years because it has been cousin bait!
By the way – get your census turned in!
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