DECEMBER
I couldn't resist showing you this Christmas picture of myself (Sue Humphrey Astle) and my brother Charles Humphrey. (Needless to say, many moons have passed since this was taken.) I remember this cowgirl (or is that cow person?) outfit very clearly and how excited I was to get it for Christmas. Here I am plotting ways to get my brother off the horse so I can ride it.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS1 Richard Evirs, Silas Wilson
3 Margot Vine, Johnnie Davis
4 William Callum Astle
5 Elias Keville
6 Laurie St. Hilaire, Harry Kenneson, Thomas Keville
8 Stacy St. Hilaire, Kate Calista Humphrey
9 Sharon Nelson
10 Ardell Rager
12 Jennifer Hearn, Elish Rand
13 Carol Monroe
15 Seanna Vine, Joannah Davis
18 Harriet Whittemore
19 Lauvena Udoxy Whitaker, Camilla Whitaker
20 Angelea Tolle, Benjamin Clark
22 Charlene Bialk
23 Marth McCoy, Molly Humphrey, Ramson Davis
25 John Astle
26 Gardner Kenneson
28 Robert Roadcap
29 Kenneth Humphrey
30 James Burns
31 Linda Evirs, Sara Poe
JANUARY BIRTHDAYSThis is a picture of Charles Finis Davis and Lura (Adkins) Davis. Charles was born 28 January 1868 in Kentucky and died 23 Jan 1944 in Illinois. He was the son of Squire Harper Davis and Mary Hunt. At different times of his life he made his living as a farmer, coal miner and teacher.
1 Mitchell Rich, Ida Weatherford, Arthur Humphrey, Burton Humphrey
3 Erwin Shonio, Margaret Evirs
4 Richard G. Evirs, Richard Burns
6 Harriet Evirs
7 Howard "Cotton" Davis
9 Frederick A. Kenneson
11 Ellen Burns
13 Martin Weatherford
14 Malvina Gervais Humphrey. Charles C. Humphrey
17 Pearl Davis
18 Solomon Davis, Eugune & Irene Weatherford
21 Linda Kelley, Maureen Kelley
22 Ida LaForge
23 William Whitaker, Lettitia Poe
26 Melanie Lynn Day
28 Patricia Humphrey, Charles Finis Davis, Burnis Shelton, Mary Gretchen Mansfield
29 Juliette Humphrey, Kevin Graham
NEWEST LEAF ON THE FAMILY TREE
Madeleine Lola Daryl Astle, born October 24 in Burlington, Vermont. She is a beautiful, little princess and my first grand daughter.
It is an interesting coincidence that she was born on the same day 170 years ago as Charles Orville Humphrey of Waterbury, Vermont. He was born October 24, 1838.
MEMORIES FROM GWEN DAVIS HUMPHREY
Every now and then I ask my 84-year-old mom questions about her life. Sometimes I ask her to write a few paragraphs about a particular subject. You've read her responses in previous blogs. Other times I just ask random questions. Here are a few of her most recent answers.
1. What kind of games did you play growing up?
I played Hop Scotch, Hide and Seek (we were allowed to play under the street lights in the summer after it got dark), Skip Rope, Jacks, and Bounce the Ball (We usually had rhymes we would recite while bouncing the ball.)
2. What was your favorite toy?
I played with dolls a lot when I was very little, or with puppies, we always seemed to have puppies around the house. When I was about 12 I got a bicycle and it was my most favorite thing. I wanted it so long.
3. Did you have to do chores?
I had to do the dishes when I was a kid. I hated to wash the oatmeal pan because it would always stick. I didn't think it was fair because I didn't even like oatmeal. I still don't like it.
4. Do you remember any fads or hairstyles from your youth?
We wore saddle shoes, sweaters and skirts. Snoods were popular for hairdos and pompadours. Long hair, very few people had short hair except in the 1920's and I was still very young then. When I was very small, I always had a dutch boy haircut.
5. Did you have heroes?
My heroes were unusual, no movie stars or singers. I admired FDR, my aunt, Lola, and my brother, Charles.
6. Did you have any pets?
I had some baby ducks when I was small. My dad always had dogs but they were hunting dogs, not pets.
7. Who was the oldest relative that you remember as a child?
My grandfather Charles Mansfield was the oldest relative I knew. He lived near us and he owned a pet store at one time with monkeys, birds and parrots. When I was small he and my mother would always have a stand at the County Fair. One time it was a hamburger stand and I also remember he had a snow cone machine at the fair. I loved that because I always looked forward to the fair each year because when they were there, I was there too.
The next questions are on a more serious note. For your great, great, great grandchildren.
1. What was the best piece of advice you ever got? Who gave it to you?
My mother taught me when I was little. She would talk to me about different things and what was important, how to act, my manners, etc. I learned by watching and listening. I guess life experience has taught me a lot too.
2. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my family, my kids, grand kids and great grand kids. They are mine and their father's greatest accomplishments.
3. What is the one thing you want people to remember about you?
I guess the one thing I would want my family and friends to remember about me is that I have always been loyal.
OTHER RECENT FAMILY TREE DISCOVERIES
Pearl Davis of Drakesboro, Kentucky: Her actual birth date from the Kentucky Birth Index.
George S. Humphrey of Waterbury, Vermont and Littleton, Massachusetts: Listing from the National Archives saying that his headstone had been provided by the government for deceased Union Civil War Veterans.
Charles Orville Humphrey sold 130 acres of wood and pasture land in Waterbury, Vermont, for $700. Argus and Patriot newspaper, Waterbury, Vermont, 04 September 1873.
A family history story about Jesse Davis and Charity Hunt, great grandparents of Charles Finis Davis. Found in the Times Argus, Central City, Kentucky, 23 December 1954.
Thank you to Ruth Anne Morris of Middletown, NJ, who kindly sent me some information and research suggestions on the Eddy family.
Marriage record of Aubra (Al) R. Mansfield and Margaret Joan Wallin. Married 13 April 1949 in Cook County, Illinois. Found in the Cook County Marriage Index , 1930-1960.
Marriage record of Grace W. Mansfield and Karl Schadler. Married 17 May 1948 in Cook County, Illinois. Found in the Cook County Marriage Index, 1930-1960.
Nancy Eddy Humphrey. Death notice in the Vermont Chronicle, 22 October 1861.
In Waterbury, October 6, Mrs. Nancy Humphrey, wife of Mrs Elimus (sic) Humphrey aged 64 years. Mrs. H. had been a member of the Congregational Church more than 20 years and her last days were cheered with the hope of a blessed immortality.
Prosper Rich (of the DesLauriers family) was elected as vice-president of the newly formed St. Albans Union of bricklayers, plasters, and masons. St. Albans Daily Messenger (Vermont), 19 February 1907.
As always cousin Richard and I welcome your comments, suggestions, stories and photographs. If you have information you would like to share, please send it to sastle@comcast.net.
If you have stumbled onto this blog while surfing the net, welcome.
