Wordless Wednesday: Flirtatious Myrt and the Boys

L to R: Henry W. Smith, Myrtle Maxine Melvin, Roy Browne Shepherd
Somewhere in Kentucky, circa 1927

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"Southern Wildcats" 1930s Kentucky Bluegrass Band

"Southern Wildcats" Kentucky Bluegrass Band circa 1930

This 8 x 10 photo came to me from the collection of my husband's mother, Florence Shepherd. The young man on the bottom right, in the hat, is Roy Browne Shepherd, son of Arthur and Emma (McCreary) Shepherd. Roy became Florence's fourth husband in 1969.

At the bottom left is the handsome Henry W. Smith, son of Milton and Mary J. (Shepherd) Smith and husband of Myrtle Melvin. Henry's mother Mary, was Roy's paternal aunt; his wife Myrtle, was Florence's maternal aunt. While Myrtle is not in the above photo, I am told she often sang for the Southern Wildcats. Henry and Myrtle's relationship is how Florence came to know Roy, however they didn't marry until almost 40 years later. 

Myrtle and Henry married in 1930 and later divorced. A really neat old picture of Henry and Myrtle can be seen at this link:

Wordless Wednesday: 40 Acres And A Mule

I have never been able to find any information on the Southern Wildcats bluegrass band other than what I've learned through my husband's family. I am hoping that someone will land on this page and help me identify more of the band's members. This photo may have been taken as early as 1927. Henry and Roy were both born in Welchburg, Jackson Co., Kentucky, while Myrtle and Florence were from Louisville, so I'm not sure exactly where in Kentucky the Southern Wildcats performed or, for how long.

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Tombstone Tuesday: Quincy and Susan Darling

J. Quincy and Susan (Wilson) Darling
Glen Cove Cemetry, Knightstown, Indiana

John Quincy Darling was the son of Samuel and Beulah (Smith) Darling, my maternal great, great grandparents. Quincy married Susan A. Wilson on April 1, 1896 in Rush Co., Indiana. Susan was the daughter of John J. and Margaret (Sloan) Wilson. 

While their marriage was the first for Quincy, it was Susan's third marriage and the only one that did not end in divorce. She was first married to Jasper N. Kirkpatrick in 1877 with whom she had a daughter, Leila N. Kirkpatrick. Susan's second marriage was to Henry Theodore Schobert in 1885 with whom she had two sons, John William Schobert and Charles Oscar Schobert (Mayor of Hammond, Indiana 1930-1935).

Quincy and Susan were married 45 years before Susan died. They had no children together. Both are buried in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana.

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Sunday's Obituary: Elijah Darling 1915

Elijah and my great grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Runyan were twins, born on May 28, 1859. They were two of 10 children born to Samuel and Beulah (Smith) Darling and the first two to be born in Indiana. They had 5 older siblings that were born in New Jersey. Elijah married Onedia C. Morris, daughter of Hillary and Mary (Keesling) Morris, on August 11, 1884 in Henry Co., Indiana. Elijah and Onedia had 10 children, two daughters died in infancy.

           DEATHS                           
           ELIJAH DARLING.
  [Special to The Daily Courier.]

Death of Elijah Darling
Daily Courier - July 8, 1915

     KENNARD, Ind., July 8.--Elijah 

Darling, age fifty-six years, one of the 

best known residents of Kennard, 

died suddenly from heart trouble to-

day at 1 o'clock p. m. Mr. Darling had 

been picking cherries during the 

morning and had complained of a pain 

in his shoulder. Mrs. Darling was 

bathing his arm with liniment when 

he expired. He is survived by his 

wife and eight children. Howard 

Darling and Mrs. Florence Wilkinson, 

a son and daughter, are residents of 

Newcastle.

     The funeral arrangements have not 

been made.

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Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin and Elizabeth Miller

Benjamin B. Miller

b. 1814  Pennsylvania  -  d.1892  Illinois

Elizabeth [Smith] Miller 

b.1814  Ohio  -  d. 1858  Illinois

married January 14, 1835 in Holmes Co., Ohio

My paternal third great grandparents
buried Post Oak Cemetery, Louden, Fayette Co., Illinois

This stone is, I assume, replacing an old or missing stone and appears to have been put in place by a grandchild, considering the inscription below the names. There are more complete birth and death dates to be found on various family trees but are somewhat suspect because none seem to be sourced. If anyone reading this has that source information I hope you will consider e-mailing me at the g-mail link towards the bottom of this page.

Photos were taken May 31, 2011.

Descendancy Chart

Miller tombstone and me

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Funeral Card Friday: Florence Marie (Smith) Logsdon

Marie Logsdon 1919 - 2000

Marie was the daughter of James Ignatius and Emma Josephine (Ray) Smith. She was the third wife of my husband's father, J. Harvey Logsdon and stepmother to his four children: Anita, Rose, Buddy, and Mike. They were married 38 years when Harvey preceded her in death in 1988. Marie had no children of her own.

Florence Marie (Smith) Logsdon circa 1950s

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Samuel Darling: Temperance Society of Lower Penns Neck, New Jersey

SAMUEL DARLING 1821 - 1891

Samuel Darling was my maternal great great grandfather. He was the son of William and Prissilah Cool (or Priscilla Cole) Darling. Samuel was born in New Jersey where, about the year 1844, he married  Beulah Smith (1827 - 1892) and where 5 of his 10 children were born.  In the 1850 census Samuel, Beulah, and sons William N., Samuel S., and Henry C. are found living in Lower Penn's Neck in Salem county. Samuel and Beulah were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and they moved their family to Henry Co., Indiana sometime before 1860. I have very little information on Samuel in his early life before he moved to Indiana, but recently I was able to add a little to my gleanings when I found him listed as a member of the Lower Penns Neck Temperance Society. (Top of column three)

Salem County Historical Society

In 1850 Samuel's neighbors were Charles B. and Artemisia Newell. Samuel and Beulah named two of their children (William Newell and Artemisia) after this couple so I'm interested in knowing more about their relationship, just good friends or could Artemisia be family? Charles Newell is also listed as a member of the Temperance Society.

Samuel died in Spiceland Township, Henry Co., Indiana on 16 Mar 1891 and is buried there in the Circle Grove Cemetery. Beulah died late the following year at the home of her son Samuel and is also buried in Circle Grove. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Darling Runyan was my maternal great grandmother.

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Amanuensis Monday: Obituary Of Artmezy Darling Luthultz

ARTMEZY DARLING LUTHULTZ

1854 - 1935

About Amanuensis Monday: John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog started a Monday Blog Theme called "Amanuensis Monday". John defines "amanuensis" as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Artmezy Darling Luthultz was the sister of Mary Elizabeth Darling Runyan, my maternal great grandmother. The obituary below was most likely written by her daughter Beulah Eletha Luthultz Thompson.

Artmezy Luthultz

Weep not that her toils are over, 

  Weep not that her race is run, 

God grant, we may rest as calmly 

  When our work, like hers, is done.

Till then we yield with gladness,

  Our Mother to Him to keep,

And rejoice in the sweet assurance

  He giveth His loved ones, sleep.

Artmezy, daughter of Samuel and Beulah Darling, was born in Delaware county, New Jersey, January 8, 1854. When about three years of age she, with her parents, came to Henry county, Indiana, and the remainder of her life has been spent here.  She grew up in an age when opportunities for an education were very limited. She has seen schools outgrow the small log buildings and move into modern structures. She has seen the rough pole roads replaced by pavements; forests cleared and swamps drained.  She was the sixth of a family of thirteen children, all of whom are gone but one brother.  September 30, 1869, she was united in marriage to Uriah Luthultz, and to this union seven children were born, of these one is living.  Mother loved nature and when physically able spent much time out of doors. She believed in God and His dear Son and when about 41 years of age united with the Christian church.  Almost 21 years ago, after hearing the truths taught by the Seventh Day Adventists she joined that church.  During her last illness she often expressed her thankfulness in tender words to those who so willingly cared for her.  Her family and friends have left her one by one, until she was lonely and anxious to go.  She fell asleep April 6, 1935, age 81 years, 2 months and 28 days. She leaves one daughter, Mrs. Charles Thompson. One brother, Quincy Darling, five grandchildren, a number of nephews and nieces and many friends.  A good mother and grandmother, one who sacrificed much during the past years for those nearest her heart.  A good sister, a kind and thoughtful friend and neighbor has left us.  

I've just laid down to rest a while,

  Nay, do not weep, but wear a smile,

I'll rest a while then new life greet

  And I'll take up my work again,

Without the weariness and pain.

  Relieved of all that hinders here,

I'll feel a nobler, broader sphere;

  Nay, do not weep, but wear a smile,

(cannot read last line)

Note: In the Salem Co., New Jersey 1850 census Artmezy's parents, Samuel and Beulah Smith Darling, are living next door to Charles and Artemisia Newell. Samuel and Beulah named their first born William Newell Darling and I believe William and his sister Artmezy were both named for this couple. It is not yet known if the couple is related or if they were just close friends and neighbors. I have never seen Artmezy's name spelled "Artemisia" but I feel certain that is the name that was intended.

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Treasure Chest Thursday: The Perks of Blogging

The Geneaperks

Gregory Szarkiewicz's Photographs - FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I just started blogging my genealogy in February of this year and in that time I have received several short pieces of communication via the comments section of my posts from excited distant cousins who had stumbled upon my blog. Unfortunately so far, none of them has left a return e-mail address and I have no way of returning the communication. I can only hope they will come back.

But last week I had a change of fortune when I received a wonderful e-mail from one of my husband's distant half-cousins [who found the e-mail button near the bottom of my blog] and with his permission, I am sharing that letter with all of you!

Subject: Logsdon Ancestry

Date: 8/11/2010 5:22:39 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Lisa:  Several weeks ago it was my good fortune to stumble on to a Web site "Old Stones Undeciphered".   Just by chance I saw this little question:  Who the heck is Alice?  Knowing that Alice McIlvoy was the second wife of William Logsdon, I continued to read your narrative that answered that question.

My name is Joseph Bernard Thompson, most often called Bernard or "Bernie".  I was born 9/28/1934 in Washington County, Kentucky.  My father was William Lloyd Thompson, b. 2/8/1897, d.2/22/1973.  His father was Richard Alexander Thompson who married Mary Jane "Mollie" Smith, b.11/9/1867, d.12/21/1919.  Mollie Smith's grandmother was Nancy Worland, the first wife of William B. Logsdon.  I have been the beneficiary of the work of several other people who have done research on the Logsdons but found quite a bit of information in your postings that I do not have. I did not have the maiden name for Joseph (Blackhead) Logsdon's wife, Eleanor and the info re her parents from Westminster, Md., the latter which you posted 7/24/10.

I have had an interest in my family's ancestry for a number of years but have only begun to work on it in earnest this past year.  I am learning as I go.  It is amazing for me to see how much information you have posted and I am very appreciative of your efforts, not to mention a bit envious of your ability to gather so much from so many sources.

I live in Lexington, Ky  now, am retired and do have some time to devote to "chasing my ancestry".  My wife is also a Thompson and is from Loretto in Marion County. I do get to Washington and Marion Counties on a fairly regular basis.  I did visit the William Logsdon homestead (Horse Shoe Bend Farm) last year.  A Holderman family has owned and lived there for more than 50 years.  According to them, the house is much the same as when originally built.

Obviously I would be receptive to communicating with you regarding the Logsdons although at this point I do not have much to offer. Judging from what you have posted on "Old Stones Undeciphered", you appear to have the capacity to get a lot done, not just in genealogy.

Best regards from Lexington,

Bernard Thompson

Now, I had Bernard's lineage in my data but only down to Mollie, so you can be sure we have much to share. But the real surprise was the fact that Bernard has been to the Horseshoe Bend Farm, a farm I'd never before even considered still existed!! What exciting news! I'm ready to pack up and head for Kentucky the first chance I get!

That's great, I love being "stumbled upon".  And a new genealogist in the makings too....gotta love it!

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Treasure Chest Thursday: Letter From Beulah Darling To Mary Runyan 1892

From Beulah Smith Darling, my maternal great great grandmother to her daughter, my great grandmother Mary Elizabeth Darling Runyan, dated February 20, 1892.

Transcribed:

"Spiceland, Ind.  


                                                                                                   Feb. 20, 1892


Dear daughter,


                   I will now write you a letter. I hav bin sick but am better now. quincy was sick yesterday but he is at wirk today. I have had the grip. the boys received Jessies letters and were both pleased to hear from him.  elijah  florence Is sick she has bin very bad but is now better. Tell Jessie I sold my geece. The brought me $7.50. this is a very nice day and I hafto sit in the house all the time stellie has have you had any bad spell since you went home.
Francis Luthultz and Ida Darling has bin not expected to live but are well now and have gon back to work.
I send my love to all and a kiss for the children . by by


                    Your Mother,
                            Bulah Darling
                                  To
                     Mrs. Mary Runion
                               answer soon
                      and tell how you all are


                Emma black has got a boy it is one weak old to day
                       answer"

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