BRANCHES

THIS 'N THAT

2010-01-31T08:54:00.008-05:00

Anna J. (Walsh) Astle and Walter J. Astle, Sr.

Walter Joseph Astle, Sr. was born on February 22, 1888 in Montreal, Canada. He was the son of Thomas Astle, born in Canada and Jane Byrne, born in Ireland. Walter's parents immigrated to the United States when Walter was very young and Walter's younger brother, Thomas Astle, was born in Boston in 1890. Walter's parents also had three daughters but all died in infancy. Walter's parents (his father married a second time to Elizabeth) moved frequently but they always lived in Boston's North End.

The 1910 US Census tells us that Walter was a bookkeeper in a meat market, his brother Thomas worked in a machine shop and his father was a teamster at Boston's Custom House. The 1910 Boston City Directory shows Walter as a butcher in a meat market. (Bookkeeper or butcher, I wonder? Whatever..the family story is that Walter was a butcher as a young man and knew a good piece of meat when he saw one.) The 1912 Boston City Directory shows Walter as a clerk at W. F. Wyman Co., 26 Faneul Hall Market.

On November 5, 1913 Walter married Anna Josephine Walsh. Her parents were Thomas F. Walsh (born: County Galway in Ireland) and Annie Josephine Malone (born: July 25, 1887 in Ireland.) They would go on to have three children: Thomas F. Astle (born: September 1, 1914), Alice M. Astle (born July 14, 1916) and Walter J. Astle, Jr. (born: February 15, 1919).

On his World War I Registration Card dated June 5, 1917 Walter is 29 years old, listed as a naturalized citizen and had served 2 years and 8 months with the 9th Massachusetts Regiment, Infantry. He is described as medium in height and weight, blue eyes, light hair and was not bald (which he did become in later life.)

In the 1920 US Census Walter works a rodman for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Highway Division at the Commonwealth Pier No. and he and his family lived at 89 Topliff St. in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Initially it was difficult to find the Astle family in the 1930 US Census. That's because they were indexed as the Otta family even though the writing clearly said Astle. (This comes under the heading... if you can't find your family, keep looking, they are in the records somewhere under some name or other.)

In the 1947 Boston City Directory, Walter Sr. is listed as a civil engineer with the highway department, son, Thomas F. Astle, is a lawyer at 11 Pemberton Sq. in Boston, and son, Walter Jr. is an office manager in Boston.

Walter Sr. died on October 23, 1959 at the age of 71. His widow Anna received a hand-written note from the Office of the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Congressman John McCormack expressing his family's sympathy for her loss.

Walter's wife Anna Astle died on July 22, 1974 at the age of 87.

Walter's son, Thomas F. Astle, died at the age of 80 on 22 December 1994 leaving wife Susan (Humphrey) Astle and son Thomas R. Astle.

Alice Astle was widowed from James N. Kirby when she died on April 21, 2000 at the age of 84 leaving a son, James N. Kirby.

Walter Astle, Jr. died on March 27, 1960 at the age of 41 of a massive heart attack. He left his wife, Marianne (Collins) Astle and three young sons, John, Robert and Thomas Astle.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Date unknown: Richard E. Burns, John R. Coughlin, Gertrude Kelley, Arthur Humphrey

2 Elizabeth Eddy (born 1678)

4 Michael Sweeney, Eric Pugh, Manly Shonio, Marion (Pierce) DesLauriers

6 Michael Pugh

7 Richard E. Humphrey, Bernadette Gervais

8 Horace Humphrey

9 Patricia Riley

10 Edwin Shonio, Earl W. Davis

11 Hugh Humphrey

13 Patricia Kerr, Opal Grace Mansfield, Mary E. Burns

14 Allen Weatherford, Donald St. Hilaire, Sr., Donald K. Kenneson

15 Anne Humphrey, Walter J. Astle, Jr., Arlene Alice langley

16 Tricia Keville, John Eddy (in 1636)

17 Jacob Rager, Marianne (Collins) Astle

20 Raemon Kirby

22 Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr., Walter J. Astle, Sr., Thomas Astle (b:1888)

25 Lisa Call, Norman W. Kenneson

28 Sophronia Whittemore

SMELLS, TASTES AND FAMILY MEMORIES

What is this you ask? This is about the memories that are brought back when you smell or taste something in particular.

For instance, the smell of a leather baseball glove reminds me of days of warm sun, fresh mowed grass, and baseball in the field behind our house. I had young legs a wicked throwing arm and life was good.

The smell of Old Spice reminds me of my dad.

Baby powder reminds me of my sister, my son, and my grandchildren.

The smell of roses brings back memories of my grandpa Alfred's house with the roses at the doors. Deep red velvet in the front and pink at the back.

Chocolate fudge will always remind me of my mom. Peanut butter cookies, cornbread, chicken and dumplings and orange pineapple ice cream of my Grandma Ada. Apple pie and pork roast of my Nana Esther.

Blackjack gum, Moxie, Old Producto cigar smoke, fresh cucumbers and Bay Rum remind me of my grandpa Alfred. Spruce gum also reminds me of grandpa. It tasted like pine sap and nearly pulled your fillings right out of your teeth.

NEWEST LEAVES ON THE FAMILY TREE

Alexis Gorham, new daughter of Jonathan Gorham and Stacy (St. Hilaire) Gorham.

Judah Keltner, new son of Nathan Keltner and Anna (DesLauriers) Keltner

Madison Humphrey, new daughter of Charles R. Humphrey, Jr. and Terri (Regos) Humphrey

OTHER RECENT FAMILY TREE DISCOVERIES

I thought that Thomas Astle (brother of Walter Sr.) and his wife Gertrude (Higgins) Astle never had any children. I recently discovered that they had two, a boy and a girl. Both children died right after birth.

I found Thomas Astle (father of Walter Sr.) in the U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes. They show he was born on December 14, 1866 in the Province of Quebec, Canada. His date of naturalization is June 26, 1899. My next step is to find the actual naturalization record.

The Lowell Sun of November 2, 1945 shows that Prosper DesLauriers (father of Paul DesLauriers)ran for the Lowell, Massachusetts, School Committee.

The Lowell Sun of June 1, 1942 shows that Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr. (my husband) was one of 109 children to receive their First Holy Communion at St. Michael's church on Saturday, May 30.

The Lowell Sun of January 26, 1966 lists my brother,Robert Humphrey, as a band member of Chelmsford Junior High School which entertained the PTA. Our neighbors Tommy Gill and John Wholey are also listed.

The Lowell Sun of May 8, 1945 mentions that Howard E. Humphrey (son of Alfred Humphrey), aviation machinist's mate, first class, has returned home on leave from a tour of duty in the Pacific with the famous Navy Group 80. He is a maintenance man with the unit.

By using old maps and the 1913 Cambridge City Directory, I have been able to locate the place where Thomas F. Walsh had his shoe repair shop at 32 Brattle St. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ruth W. Knight married great, great, uncle Horace Humphrey of Waterbury, Vermont. Her father, John Knight, was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, May 22, 1757. John was one of the many the settlers from Dedham, who in 1780 began to fell the oaks and to build homes for themselves. John held the office of high sheriff of the county. He was also a tollkeeper and his house was beside the turnpike.

I guess that's it for this blog update. If you have information about the family that you would like to share or questions about a particular relative, send me an email at sastle@comcast.net.

Cousin Richard Evirs and I always appreciate any comments or questions.

Memories and Old Books

2009-08-23T14:14:00.005-05:00

9 Edgelawn Ave

When I was in fourth grade my parents built a new house and we moved from our home in the city of Lowell, MA, to our new suburban home in Chelmsford, MA. These are my memories of that home.

MEMORIES OF NUMBER NINE

Remember Edgelawn Avenue where we once grew?

We used to think that the houses were few.

But there were lots of kids on that small cul de sac

More than 50 at one time and that's a fact.

Ice cream trucks that came at dinner

Eating fast made you a winner.

"Ma can I have a quarter or maybe more?"

Then grab the dough and dash out the door.

Run outside and chase that truck

Run a little faster or you're out of luck.

Playing baseball out in the field

Homers over the hill were a really big deal.

Hours were spent hunting the ball

Lost in grass that was always too tall.

Playing outside in summer after dark

"Stay under the streetlight" our parents would bark.

Yell just a little and try to play quiet

Babies already in bed, moms ready to riot.

We'd wait for the bus at the end of the street

In blizzard snow and icy sleet.

Bus driver Smoky let the girls on first

Boys had to wait - ready to burst.

Trumpet lessons for the Wholey boys

Music from what started as noise.

One by one they learned to play

Practicing their scales day after day.

Older kids remember when

There was no route 3, only dense woods then

Cows in the field and hay that was baled

When the wind was right, railroad whistles wailed.

This memory of Edgelawn is from number nine.

It was a great place to grow and these memories are mine.

You were home and have a special place in my heart.

You will always remain a happy part.

BOOKS FROM COUSIN RICHARD

My cousin Richard sent me a few old books that his mother had kept. They are now part of our ever-growing family genealogy collection.

One of these treasures is a schoolbook entitled: The Franklin Fifth Reader by G. S. Hillard, dated 1873. Inside the front cover is the signature of Hattie M. Whittemore of Lowell, MA. It is dated September 9, 1874. It is also signed by her younger sister Ida Whittemore.

Hattie M. Whittemore was Harriet Maria (Whittemore) Humphrey. In my family line she was the mother of Alfred W. Humphrey, the grandmother of Richard E. Humphrey and my great grandmother. Harriet was born on December 18, 1857 in Lowell, MA. She would have been 17 when she signed this book and in eight years she would marry my great grandfather George W. Humphrey. I cannot tell you what a thrill it is to hold this book in my hands and know that she once held in in hers.

There is another very old book entitled: The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This book is signed by Joseph Carter.

This is who I believe Joseph Carter is.

Joseph Carter was born in 1790 and died January 30, 1857 in Enfield, NH. He married Elizabeth Clough. They had a daughter Sarah Ann Carter, born 1827, died 1903. Sarah Carter married George S. Humphrey (b:1827, d:1891) . They had a son, George W. Humphrey (mentioned above). George S. and Sarah lived with George W. and Harriet in Littleton, MA. I believe the book belonged Sarah Carter and was left with the Humphrey family when she died. It then made its way to Ruth (Humphrey) Evirs, to Richard Evirs and then to me. Joseph Carter would be my great, great, great grandfather. Whew!

Another book that cousin Richard sent is: First Lessons in Geography (for beginners), by James Monteith, dated 1868. It may have belonged to family but I cannot prove it.

It does make for interesting reading. For example:

Q. By whom was America discovered?

A. By Columbus; about 380 years ago.

Q. How many states are there?

A. 37.

Q. Which is the largest state?

A. Texas.

Q. Who governed this country about 90 years ago?

A. The King of England.

Q. Who were our first parents?

A. Adam and Eve, who lived in Asia.

Lesson: The people of the United States are famous for their perseverance and inventive genius. A few years ago, people rode in stage-coaches over rough and hilly roads; but now they travel by steamboat or railroad.

Lesson: Here you have a view of the Andes Mountains...Immense and savage birds, called condors, are found here, which have been known to carry off and devour children.

Needless to say, a few things have changed since this book was written.

That's it for this issue of Branches.

Cousin Richard and I welcome family stories, information, photos, etc.

MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 25, 2009

2009-05-25T08:24:00.006-05:00

INTRODUCTION

"To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die." Thomas Campbell

We take time this Memorial Day to honor and remember all of the men and women who have served our country in the past and present. We dedicate this issue of Branches to those in our family. We are proud of their achievements and thank them for their service.

Editor's Note: We have listed the people we know about. We listed them alphabetically by last name rather than by a particular war or service. We have also listed the names of some of their relatives to help you put them in the context of the many families who are part of your family tree. If you know of someone who is not listed here, please send us the information.

ROLE OF HONOR

Astle, Walter J. Sr.
Service: US. Army, 9th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (1916)
Family: Grandfather of Thomas R. Astle

Astle, Thomas F.
Service: World War II, U.S. Army Air Corps
Family: Father of Thomas R. Astle, grandfather of William and Madeleine Astle and first husband of Susan Humphrey Astle.

Blain, Robert F. Jr.
Service: U.S. Navy, 1950s
Family: Son of Christina Shea Blain and nephew of Esther Shea Humphrey.

Burns, Richard
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. K, 6th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts
Family: Great grandfather of Richard Evirs who is the son of Ruth Humphrey Evirs.

Carver, James F.
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. B, 11th Kentucky Infantry
Family: Related to Gwen Davis Humphrey through her grandmother Vallie Vane Shelton Mansfield.

Clough, Theophilus
Service: Revolutionary Ware and French and Indian War, Enfield, New Hampshire
Family: Related to Richard Humphrey through his 2nd great grandmother Elizabeth Clough Carter.

Collins, Charles N.
Service: Civil War, Union. Co. D., 2nd Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry. Died from disease while in the service at age 16.
Family: Son of James and Elizabeth Eddy Collins. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Putnam Eddy.

Collins, Agustus
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. G., 2nd Infantry Regiment Vermont. Died from disease while in the service.
Family: Son of James and Elizabeth Eddy Collins. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Putnam Eddy.

Davis, Charles R.
Service: World War II, U. S. Navy. A naval pilot, he was killed near Charlestown, R.I., during a target practice flight.
Family: Brother of Gwen Davis Humphrey and son of Ada Mansfield Davis Nelson.

Davis, Earl W.
Service: U.S. Navy, 1930s.
Family: Father of Louetta Davis Nicolle and uncle of Gwen Davis Humphrey

Davis, Leonard R.
Service: World War I, U.S. Army, 305th Infantry 77th Division. Saw action in France.
Family: Father of Gwen Davis Humphrey and Charles R. Davis.

Davis, Squire Harper
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. I, 48th Regiment of the Kentucky Infantry
Family: Great grandfather of Gwen Davis Humphrey.

Dery, Toni
Service: U. S. Army, 1990s.
Family: Daughter of Darlene Dery.

DesLauriers, Carol
Service: Massachusetts Army National Guard, 1970s.
Family: Sister of Edward, Paul and Robert DesLauriers and partner of Darlene Dery.

DesLauriers, Edward P.
Service: Korean War, U.S. Air Force
Family: Brother of Robert, Carol and Paul DesLauriers

Eddy, John
Service: French and Indian War. Killed at Crown Point, New York
Family: Son of Zachariah and Mercy Morton Eddy.

Eddy, Joshua
Service: Revolutionary War. A history book tells this story about Joshua Eddy:
"When the difficulties with the mother country commenced, his (Joshua's) father and numerous family became earnest Whigs, resisting the influence of his neighbor, Judge Oliver, who repeatedly dissuaded him, and who said, among other things, 'Great Britain has the power, if not the right to tax America and compel the payment and to subdue us to her will, and if you (Joshua) continue a Whig, you will see your children hung upon the trees of your field, like young lambs in the spring.' Joshua Eddy's answer was, 'boni fide, we will not submit.'"
Family: Son of Zachariah and Mercy Morton Eddy. Third great uncle of Richard Humphrey, brother of Seth, Samuel and Thomas Eddy.

Eddy, Samuel
Service: Revolutionary War
Family: Son of Zachariah and Mercy Morton Eddy. Third great uncle of Richard Humphrey, brother of Seth, Thomas and Joshua

Eddy, Thomas
Service: Revolutionary War and fought at the Battle of Ticonderoga.
Family: Son of Zachariah and Mercy Morton Eddy. Third great grandfather of Richard Humphrey. Susan Humphrey Astle is a proud DAR member with Thomas Eddy as her direct ancestor.

Evirs, Robert
Service: Vietnam. Decorated with Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Family: Husband of Linda Townes Evirs and father of Richard K. Evirs and Sandra Evirs Allen. Son of Richard and Ruth Humphrey Evirs.

Fifield, Samuel
Service: Revolutionary War
Family: Related to the family of Sarah Carter Humphrey who was the great grandmother of Richard Humphrey.

Hughes, Charles F.
Service: U. S. Army, Korean War and Vietnam
Family: Husband of Mary Gretchen Mansfield Hughes

Humphrey, Charles R.
Service: Vietnam, U.S. Navy, Naval Construction Force (Seabees)
Family: Son of Richard and Gwen Davis Humphrey

Humphrey, Charles R. Jr.
Service: Currently service in the U.S. Air Force
Family: Son of Charles R. Humphrey

Humphrey, Charles O.
Service: Civil War, Co. I, 13th Infantry Regiment Vermont.
Family: Third great uncle of Richard Humphrey

Humphrey, David
Service: U.S. Air Force
Family: Grandson of Alfred Humphrey, son of Earl Humphrey.

Humphrey, George S.
Service: Civil War, Union, 9th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
Family: Second great grandfather of Richard Humphrey.

Humphrey, Horace W.
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. H., 26th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts
Family: Second great uncle of Richard Humphrey

Humphrey, Howard E.
Service: World War II, U. S. Navy, served on the USS Ticonderoga
Family: Son of Alfred and Esther Shea Humphrey

Humphrey, Mason W.
Service: Civil War, Union, Bo. B. 5th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire, Killed in action at the Battle of Cold Harbor.
Family: Second great uncle of Richard Humphrey.

Humphrey, Richard E.
Service: World War II, U.S. Army Air Corps.
Family: Husband of Gwen Davis Humphrey and father of Susan Humphrey Astle, Charles Humphrey, Robert Humphrey and Jeanne Humphrey St. Hilaire.

Humphrey, Robert P.
Service: U. S. Navy, 1970s
Family: Son of Richard and Gwen Davis Humphrey and husband of Diane MacPherson Humphrey.

Kenneson, Donald K.
Service, World War II, U. S. Army. Killed in action in France.
Family: Related to Paul DesLauriers through his great grandmother Jane Rich DesLauriers.

Kenneson, Frederick A.
Service: World War I, U. S. Navy
Family: Father of Donald, Robert and Frederick Kenneson. Related to Paul DesLauriers through his great grandmother Jane Rich DesLauriers.

Kenneson, Frederick J.
Service: World War II, U. S. Army
Family: Related to Paul DesLauriers through his great aunt Delia DesLauriers Kenneson.

Malone, John
Service: British Army, 31st Regiment of Foot, Service in India 1825-1846
Family: Second great grandfather of Thomas R. Astle and father of Annie Malone Walsh.

Mansfield, Aubra (Al)
Service: U.S. Navy, pre-World War II
Family: Uncle of Gwen Davis Humphrey and brother of Ada Mansfield Davis Nelson.

Nelson, Leo
Service: U.S. Navy, pre-World War II
Family, Husband of Ada Mansfield Davis Nelson

Pugh, Paul Michael
Service: Vietnam
Family: Husband of Harriet Keville Pugh.

Shea, John A.
Service: World War I, Massachusetts 301st Animal Emb Dep VC
Family: Son of Christina McCoy Shea and brother of Esther Shea Humphrey

Shelton, Abraham
Service: Revolution War, Virginia
Family: Related to Gwen Davis Humphrey through her grandmother Valle Vane Shelton Mansfield.

St. Hilaire, Paul G.
Service: World War II, US. Army, saw action in Italy
Family: Father of Donald St. Hilaire.

St. Hilaire, Nicle
Service: U. S. Navy, USS Oak Hill (1999-2003)
Family: Daughter of Donald and Jeanne Humphrey St. Hilaire

Stickney, Abraham
Service: Revolutionary War, Rhode Island service out of Dracut, MA
Family: Related to the family of Harriet Whittemore Humphrey who was the grandmother of Richard Humphrey.

Whittemore, Daniel A
Service: Civil War, Union, Co. A. 6th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts
Family: Related to the family of Harriet Whittemore Humphrey who was the grandmother of Richard Humphrey.

That's it for now. As always cousin Richard and I welcome your comments, stories, photos, etc.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2008

2009-02-22T14:59:00.010-05:00

Sgt. Paul J. DesLauriers, ret.

Born February 22, 1935

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Date unknown: Richard E. Burns, John R. Coughlin, Gertrude Kelley, Arthur Humphrey
4 Michael Sweeney, Eric Pugh, Manly Shonio, Marion (Pierce) DesLauriers
6 Michael Pugh
7 Richard E. Humphrey, Bernadette Gervais
8 Horace Humphrey
9 Patricia Riley
10 Edwin Shonio, Earl W. Davis
11 Hugh Humphrey
13 Patricia Kerr, Opal Grace Mansfield, Mary E. Burns
14 Allen Weatherford, Donald St. Hilaire, Sr., Donald K. Kenneson
15 Anne Humphrey, Walter J. Astle, Jr., Arlene Alice Langley
16 Tricia Keville
17 Jacob Rager, Marianne (Collins) Astle
20 Raemon Kirby
22 Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr., Walter J. Astle, Sr., Thomas Astle (b: 1888)
25 Lisa Call, Norman W. Kenneson
28 Sophronia Whittemore

MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Date unknown: Florance Evirs, Daniel Shea, Prosper Rich
2 Jonathan Morgan, Joel Morgan
3 Richard Burns, Catherine Rankin, Morton Humphrey, Melvie Rager, James Nelson
4 Ronnie Robinson
5 Erin Keville
6 Ralph Slagle
7 Glenn Gaudette, Anna Rand
9 Stacy Baum
10 Annie J. (Malone) Walsh
12 Roger Purvee, Lehman Nelson
13 Mary Weatherford
14 Mary Shelton, Mary Poe, Joseph Shelton
15 Brian Sullivan, Daniel Whittemore
16 Diane Humphrey, Jennifer Humphrey, Quinn Sullivan, Nolan Sullivan, Charles L. Kelley, Dorothy Bovill, Ulysses Simpson Grant Shelton
17 Eudora Weatherford, Zacharia Eddy
19 George Steed
21 Gersham Davis, Lucy Davis
22 Barbara Gaudette
23 Donald St. Hilaire, Jr.
25 Odell Rager
26 Ruby Rager, Nancy Kenneson, Thomas J. Evirs
27 Esther Humphrey, Harry A. Kenneson
28 Thomas Eddy 1756
29 Pearl Kenneson
31 Nancy Eddy, Phillip Gervais, Elizabeth Eddy

SQUIRE HARPER DAVIS

Family Line:
Squire H. Davis to Charles Finis Davis to Leonard R. Davis to Gwendolyn (Davis) Humphrey

He was the son of Gersham Davis and Permilia Whitaker. He was born on May 29, 1845, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. His siblings were: John P. Davis, Ransom Davis, Enos Davis and Lydia Margaret Davis.

In the 1860 U. S. Census he was age 15 and living in Laurel Bluff in Muhlenberg County with with his widowed mother Permilia and siblings Ransom and Lydia.

According to his Civil War pension papers I recently received from the National Archives, Squire joined the Union Army in Princeton, Kentucky, on September 5, 1863. He served as a private in Co. I, 48th Regiment of the Kentucky Infantry under the command of Capt. William Porter. He was honorably discharged at Bowling Green, Kentucky on December 15, 1864.

His papers describe him as 5' 5" tall, 113 pounds, grey/blue eyes, light hair, and dark complexion. He could not read or write. His occupation was farmer. He was listed as having developed severe rheumatism as a result of his service.

He married Mary A. Smith on April 9, 1866 in Greenville, Kentucky.

In the 1870 U.S. Census he was listed as living in Greenville, Muhlenberg, Kentucky. He was 24, a farmer and living with his wife Mary, 24, son James 3, and son Charles, age 1.

In 1880 he was living in Meyers, Muhlenberg, Kentucky. He was 34, Mary is 33, and their children James, Charles and Lucy were living with them.

Most of the U.S. Census for 1890 was destroyed in a massive fire and the data is not available.

In 1900 Squire and Mary were living in Huntsville, Butler County, Kentucky. Mary was listed as having given birth to three children and all three were still living. Their sons, James and Charles, lived next door with their families.

In the 1910 U.S. Census Squire was 63 and living in Butler County with his wife Mary who was suddenly three years older than Squire. (This is why census records need to be checked very carefully against primary documents such as birth certificates, etc.)

In the 1920 Census Squire was widowed. His wife died April 9, 1919. Squire was now living with his granddaughter Rosa and her husband Fred Cartwright. I wondered why he lived with his granddaughter. Fred Cartwright signed a affidavit on Dec. 9, 1921, where he stated: "Squire has lived with me for the part of two years. During that time he has suffered with rheumatism all the time. At present he is able to be up and around the home. He does not require an attendant each day but his physical health is such that he is not safe to live alone."

Squire died on November 17, 1924 in Huntsville, Butler County, Kentucky. The cause of death on the death certificate is listed as chronic nephritis.

The death description does not really tell the story. Squire's pension papers give more details.
A notarized affidavit states that on January 9, 1923, Squire had a seizure of the brain rendering him insane and factually helpless and that Squire's mental and physical condition is and will continue attendance of another person.

Why did I write this today? I wrote it because, like most of the people I write about in this blog, Squire H. Davis was just an ordinary man. He was not a war hero or a movie star. He was a young man who served his county during wartime and then went home to be a farmer, husband and father.

To quote Arthur Miller in The Death of A Salesman: "Attention must be paid. He is not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, Attention must finally be paid to such a person."

That's it for now. As always cousin Richard and I welcome your comments, stories, photos, etc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-01T10:16:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year to one and all and we wish you a healthy, prosperous 2009!

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 BIRTHDAYS
1 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 BIRTHDAYS

This 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.

CATCHING UP

2008-09-13T13:46:00.015-05:00

Charles Jefferson Mansfield

September 28, 1879 - May 14, 1940

with wife Valle (Shelton) Mansfield

Children: tall girl in back row, Ada

baby is Ruthel and girl standing between parents is Lola

Lola Berma (Mansfield) (Steed) Lowe
September 10, 1902 - March 25, 1995
Aunt Lola

Thomas F. Astle

"Tom, Tommy, Dad, Husband"

September 1, 1914 - December 22, 2004

This is his graduation picture from Dorchester High School for Boys. He was sixteen.

The Branches blog has been quiet because it has been a very busy few months at work and at home. We're baaaaack......

NEWEST BRANCH ON THE FAMILY TREE

Laurie St. Hilaire married Jeff Lacharite on July 12, 2008 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

We wish them every happiness in their marriage.

HUNTING FOR FAMILY

Searching for family members can be an adventure. For instance, I was looking for my son's great-grandfather, Thomas Astle, and his second wife, Elizabeth, in the 1900 Census. I did searches and could not find them. I knew they lived in the North End of Boston, MA, but they did not turn up in the computer search. I finally went page by page through the hundreds of pages of Census for that section of Boston. I found the whole family under the name of Harkins. Elizabeth's maiden name was Harkins. How they got into the Census under her maiden name is a mystery.

If you need information for 1890, good luck, the U.S. Census was almost totally destroyed in a fire. There are just a few remnants left and naturally they are not the ones my family is in. There are various places to look. I have been using city directories to find people in 1890 and between census years.

There was a family legend that Walter Astle, my son's grandfather, was a civil engineer. He was also said to be a butcher as a young man. All of my information showed Walter as an engineer. When I looked in one of the Boston City Directories he was listed as a butcher. The family legend is true.

OTHER RECENT DISCOVERIES
Charles O. Humphrey of Waterbury, VT, was the Master of the Colbyville Grange.

I found this bit of information in Waton's Vermont Register and Farmers' Almanac for 1879.

Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr. was a John Alden in a fourth grade Thanksgiving play at the Greehalge School in Lowell, MA, in November 1945. He also worked the curtain for the other parts of the performance. A man of many talents.

Thomas Astle and first wife, Jane Byrne, were married in 1886 in Danville, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada. This is just outside Montreal. Their son Walter was born there. I have discovered more about this family recently. After Walter was born, they had a daughter, Eliz Astle. She died at the age of three. They had a second son, Thomas Astle. Their third child was a girl, Jane, and their fourth child was a daughter, Catherine.

We found several of the Purvee family buried in the Maple St. Cemetery in Waterbury, VT. This is interesting because some of the Humphrey family is buried very near them. The story gets more interesting because Thomas Astle of Massachuetts, son of Susan Humphrey Astle, married Jenifer Purvee of Vermont in Vermont in 2001. It was not until three years ago that we found out that our Humphrey family had a history in Waterbury, VT going back to the 1790s. Tom and Jenifer currently live within 20 miles of Waterbury. This part of the family tree has come full circle.

Morton Humphrey, of the Waterbury Humphreys, moved his family to California in the mid-1870s. The San Franciso Call of December 7, 1900 mentions Morton as the foreman of a Coroner's jury in an inquest into the death of a man caused by a train wreck. The paper did not seem impressed with the verdict. Headline: Inquest into the killing of Mahoney develops only the meager verdict that he is dead.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Specific day unknown: Barbara Kenneson, John A. Shea, Marion E. Davis, Willie Kenneson. Abagail Eddy would be 407 this month.

1 Thomas F. Astle

3 Michael Hutchinson, Delia DesLauriers

4. Norman Kenneson, D. Humphrey

5 Abraham Monticue Shelton

6 Lillian DesLauriers, Lloyd Curtis

8 James D. Cartwright

9 Ray M. Moran, David J. Cotter

10 Lola Lowe

11 Florence DesLauriers, Cecelia DesLauriers, Alma Humphrey

14 Richard K. Evirs, Diana D. Joyce, Harold W. Humphrey

16 Robert P. Humphrey, Harold H. Humphrey, George W. Humphrey (Robert's paternal great-grandfather)

17 Thomas H. Shea

21 Mildred W. Sullivan

22 Gail Gaudette

23 Karen K. Sullivan

25 Brooke E. Ruberti, Marjorie Davis

26 Joseph L. Sweeney, Ethan G. Evirs, Mary Davis, Sarah H. Rand

27 Amber J. Mingus

28 Charles Jefferson Mansfield

29 William D. Slayers, Jenny E. Slayers

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

Specific day unknown: Clara Purvee, Thomas F. Walsh, Leander Gates

2 Edmund Hearn, Oscar Pius Nelson

7 William B. Moran

8 Ellen Rand Humphrey

9 Robert Astle

10 John A. Weatherford

11 Arthur DesLauriers

13 Gwen Davis Humphrey, Brent Mingus

14 Thomas Purvee, Virginia Shelton

15 Kathleen Ryan, Louetta Nicolle

16 Earl Davis

17 Daniel Young, Ariana Humphrey

23 Marion Nicolle, Lydia Whittemore

24 Harry K. Kenneson

24 Charles O. Humphrey

26 Charles R. Humphrey, Carson Dooley, Rev. Calvin Moody

27 Harlie Wheeler Humphrey

28 Paul DesLauriers, Jr.

29 Isaac Whittemore

30 Alexander Shelton

As always cousin Richard Evirs and I welcome your comments, suggestions, stories and pictures. If you have information you would like to share, please send it to sastle@comcast.net.

If you have stumbled on this blog while surfing the net, welcome.

MEMORY VS. REALITY

2008-04-26T13:32:00.011-05:00

OUR FAMILY IN MEMORY AND IN REALITY

The family researcher must always be careful to pay attention to the difference between memory and reality.

Case in point. I always get a big kick out of the movie, The Christmas Story. There is a scene in the movie where the main character, a 10-yr old boy, receives a gift from his aunt. The gift is a pink bunny pajama suit. This isn't just pajamas. It is fuzzy suit that completely covers his head, has big floppy ears and two giant bunny feet. He is mortified and does not want to wear it. His parents tell him to try it on and he does. His father calls it a "pink nightmare" and it is.

I always laugh at this scene because I always distinctly remember my brother Charlie wearing just such an outfit when we were kids. It was for Halloween, I think.

This is where memory and reality collide. I was going through some old family photos and came across the picture you see above.

The reality is that it is me in the bunny suit.

Reality hit again when my sister gave me a doll replica of the boy in the movie as a Christmas present. It sits in my breakfront as a constant reminder to check the facts before believing anything, even my own memory.

FAMILY IN THE NEWS

One of the most interesting parts of doing family research is finding new "tidbits" of information that help us paint a clearer picture of our ancestors and their lives. In addition to births, marriages, and deaths, we sometimes find glimpses into the past and how they went about their business of daily living.

Burton H. Humphrey, Sr.

Burton was the son of Charles O. Humphrey and the grandson of Elinas and Nancy Humphrey of Waterbury, VT. He was born in 1868 and he and his family in lived in Barre, VT in the late 1800s. The U.S. Census tells us that he drove an ice cart and was the manager at an ice company.

The Argus and Patriot newspaper was a major source of news for the general area around Waterbury and Barre.

December 12, 1891 tells us: "Burton and his brother Charles went home (to Waterbury) for Thanksgiving day. "

On November 16, 1892 : "George McFarland has sold a half interest in his ice business to B. H.
Humphrey."

On Dec. 14, 1898, same newspaper reported: "Bert Humphrey was thrown from his wagon on South Main street last Friday morning and quite badly shaken up. His nose was broken, a big gash cut in his head and he was otherwise bruised."

Ann Humphrey

Sometimes the news was about a death; but, an obit was sometimes more than just names and dates. Ann Humphrey was the daughter of Elinas and Nancy Humphrey. She was always a little bit of a mystery to us. She never married. The U.S. Census shows her at various times living as an adult with her parents, living with her brother Charles O. Humphrey, and working as a servant in the Fullerton household.

The Waterbury Weavings column in the Argus and Patriot of November 29, 1882 ran the following:

"Miss Ann Humphrey left a line in her room at the hotel Sunday night, saying that she had no home, was not well, her head felt bad, was discouraged and they would find her body in the river near the upper bridge, and another letter to her brother, with directions about her funeral. Monday morning they found her shawl and gloves folded on the bank, then tracks to the edge where she plunged into 12 feet of water. Her body was found a few rods below, in shallow water, frozen to the ice. The deceased was at work in the kitchen of the hotel, and had about $1,000 left her by her father several years ago, which had been used up for her support. She was not very strong."

Ann was 46 when she died. She is buried in the same plot in Hope Cemetery in Waterbury with her mother, father and sister Juliette.

The Telephone Comes to Waterbury

Argus and Patriot, June 6, 1883: "The telephone reached Waterbury last Saturday, but the office was not finally decided on up to Monday morning. An office has been opened in Arms & Haines' store and another is talked of at the corner, perhaps it will be at Evans'drug store. Waterbury can now talk with Montpelier, Barre, Williamstown, Middleses, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren."

Rev. Calvin Moody

Argus and Patriot, September 10, 1879: "Rev. Calvin Moody, son of George Moody (note: husband of Lucia Eddy Moody, niece of Nancy Eddy Humphrey) a graduate of Middlebury College, now at the Theological Institute at Andover, Mass., supplied the Congregational pulpit Sunday and preached an able sermon. "

Argus and Patriot, May 25, 1881: "Rev. Calvin E. Moody, a native of Waterbury, preaching a very acceptable sermon from the text, :Strive to enter in at the strait gate,". Mr. Moody has been preaching about two years, and is at present supplying a pulpit at Center Harbor, New Hampshire, the old and longest know summer resort on Lake Winnipisseogee (sic.), at the north-western end."

Charles O. Humphrey

Argus and Patriot, June 27, 1894: "Charles O. Humphrey, after a long and painful illness, died at his house near the Center last Wednesday. He was a soldier in the late war, a member of Co. I, 13 Vt Vols, and held the rank of Corporal when honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was a member of Edwin Dillingham Post, Grand Army of the Republic and a respected citizen, whose decease will be sincerely mourned by his family and many friends. Mr. Humphrey was 53 years old and leaves a wife and six children. "

Horace Humphrey

Argus and Patriot, July 20, 1881: "C. C. Warren has bought for $250, it is reported a chestnut gelding 16 hands high and weighing about 1,000 pounds of Horace Humphrey, keeper of the poor farm." (Note: this is interesting because we never knew that Horace ran the Waterbury poor farm. It is even more interesting to note that a man named Ira Humphrey took over the running of the poor farm after Horace. We cannot find a family relationship between the two; but, you can bet that we will keep looking. Seems like a big coincidence.)

Ira Humphrey

Argus and Patriot, March 19, 1884: "Ira Humphrey, who is in charge of the town farm, is reported to have been married at Brookfield a week ago last Sunday, to Miss Ida Shonio of Duxbury." (Note: this is interesting because we have family who married into the same Shonio family.")

Argus and Patriot, November 8, 1899: "Divorces Granted, Ida Humphrey, Waterbury, vs. Ira Humphrey; intolerable severity."

LATE APRIL BIRTHDAYS

20 Jennifer Humphrey, Joseph Corbonara

21 Sabina Walsh McDonnell, Rachel Roadcap

22 David H. Salyers, Gretchen Evirs, Edward Purvee

24 Jenifer Purvee, Brent Mingus

25 Nicole St. Hilaire

26 Phyllis Purvee

27 Kenneth Humphrey, Kenneth Clark

30 Shelton Silverman, Kristine Frankel, Ashley Morgan

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Date unknown: Thomas Jefferson Mansfield, William Evirs, Squire Harper Davis, Orissis DesLauriers.

1 Susan T. Robinson, Irene (Humphrey) Kelley, Susan Tolle

3 Caitlin Purvee

4 Vera Shonio, Rosa Davis

6 Celina DesLauriers, Alma Humphrey

7 Ralph Humphrey, William Rand

8 Ashley Frankel, Lucia Eddy, Thomas Rand

9 Aimee (St. Hilaire) Hutchinson, Nettie Everett Humphrey

10 Maura McNamara

11 Ryan Robinson, Mark Huse Moody

12 Nicholas Mansfield

14 Howard E. Humphrey

17 William Eddy (221 years old today!)

18 Kaithlin Corbonara

20 Chloe Nelson

21 David Vine, Gayle Brewer

22 Edith Nelson, Pamella Nelson

25 Scott Mansfield, Charles Carroll Humphrey

26 Clifford Shonio, Robert Kenneson

27 Francis Rand Humphrey

30 Donna Morgan, Jennifer Turcotte

31 Prosper DesLauriers

NEWEST LEAVES ON OUR FAMILY TREE

Asher John Keltner born February 7, 2008, 8 lbs, 1oz. Parents: Nathan and Anna Keltner.

Jake Paul Pugh born March 11, 2008, 6lbs, 14 oz. Parents: Eric and Wendy Pugh.

OTHER RECENT DISCOVERIES

1. Marriage record for Thomas Astle and Jane Byrne, June 15, 1886 in Angelican-Danville in Canada.

2. Lowell Sun, 1942: First Communion announcement for 109 children at St. Michael's church in Lowell, MA. Among those listed: Paul J. DesLauriers.

3. U.S. IRS Tax Assessment List, 1862, Waterbury, VT. William Humphrey, a one horse wagon worth $75.00 was taxed $1.00.

4. Charles O. Humphrey and Mason Humphrey of Waterbury, listed as part of the junior class of Barre Academy in 1857.

5. Charles O. Humphrey listed as a male member of the Classical Department of People's Academy in Morrisville, VT.

6. Ann M. Humphrey, brother Morton, his wife Ellen, and sister Juliette listed as parishioners of the First Congregational Church, Waterbury, in 1868.

7. Morton Humphrey listed as as a parishioner of Bethany Church, Montpelier, in 1876.

Cousin Richard Evirs and I welcome your comments, suggestions, stories and pictures. If you have information you would like to share, please send it to sastle@comcast.net.

Names, Voters and Why Do This?

2008-02-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

Richard Everett Humphrey held by his grandmother Christina (McCoy) Shea

He was born on February 7, 1921 and died May 2, 1992.

He was called Richard, Dick, Rich, Poppy, Grandpa, and brother.

I just call him my dad and I miss him every day.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Date unknown: John R. Coughlin, Gertrude Kelley, Arthur Humphrey

4 Michael Sweeney, Eric Pugh, Manly Shonio

6 Michael Pugh

7 Richard Humphrey

8 Horace Humphrey

9 Patricia Riley

10 Edwin Shonio, Earl W. Davis

11 Hugh Humphrey

13 Patricia Kerr, Opal Grace Mansfield

14 Allen Weatherford, Donald St. Hilaire, Sr., Donald K. Kenneson

15 Ann Humphrey, Walter Astle, Jr.

16 Tricia Keville

17 Jacob Rager

22 Paul DesLauriers, Thomas Astle b: 1888

25 Lisa Call

28 Sophronia Whittemore

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Date unknown: Annie Walsh, Florence Evirs, Daniel Shea, Prosper Rich

2 Jonathan Morgan, Joel Morgan

3 Catherine Rankin, Morton Humphrey, Melvie Rager, James Nelson

4 Ronnie Robinson

5 Erin Keville

6 Ralph Slagle

7 Glenn Gaudette, Anna Rand

9 Stacy Baum

10 Barbara Baum

12 Roger Purvee, Lehman Nelson

13 Mary Weatherford

14 Mary Shelton, Mary Poe, Joseph Shelton

15 Brian Sullivan, Daniel Whittemore

16 Diane Humphrey, Jennifer Humphrey, Quinn Sullivan, Charles L. Kelley, Dorothy Bovill, Ulysses Simpson Grant Shelton

17 Eudora Weatherford, Zachariah Eddy

19 George Steed

21 Gersham Davis

22 Barbara Gaudette

23 Donald St. Hilaire, Jr.

25 Odell Rager

26 Ruby Rager, Nancy Kenneson, Thomas J. Evirs

27 Esther Humphrey, Harry A. Kenneson

29 Pearl Kenneson

31 Phillip Gervais, Elizabeth Eddy (211 this month)

ELECTION TIME

Recently the California Voter Registration lists became available on the internet. Since we are all being bombarded by election advertising, I decided to look for some of our relatives. I found some of our Humphrey relatives in the Oakland/Sacramento lists. It was quite interesting for one family.

In 1912 Arthur Humphrey (son of Morton, grandson of Elinas and Nancy Humphrey of Vermont) was listed as a Republican, his wife Mollie as a Democrat and his mother Ellen (Rand) Humphrey as a Prohibitionist. That must have made for some lively political conversations around the dinner table. Then again.....maybe not.

SURNAME MEANINGS AND ORIGINS

The following short information pieces were taken from the Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press.

Astle: habitional name from a place in Cheshire called Astle, from Old English east hill.

Burns: Scottish and northern English topographic name for someone who lived by a stream or streams.

Davis: Southern English: patronymic from David.

DesLauriers: French: topographic name for someone living among laurels, It is frequently a secondary surname in Canada.

Eddy: English (Devon) from the Middle English personal name Edwy, composed of the elements of prosperity, fortune and war.

Humphrey: English: from the Old French personal name Humfrey, introduced to Britain by the Normans.

Hutchinson: Northern English, patronymic from the medieval personal name Hutchin, a pet form of Hugh.

Kelley: Irish, Scottish, and English: variant spelling of Kelly.

Kenneson: Probably Scottish, a variant spelling of Kenison. Variant of Cunieson, meaning the son of Conan.

Keville: English, habitational name for someone from a place called Keevil in Wiltshire, probably from Old English, hollow, woodland clearing.

Malone: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic, descendant of the devotee of Saint John. Numerous in County Clare.

Mansfield: English; habitational name from a place in Nottinghamshire.

McCoy: Irish (Limerick) ancient personal name meaning fire.

McIntosh: Scottish: son of the chief

MacPherson: Scottish: Anglicized for of Gaelic Mac an Phearsain, son of the parson. It is also established in Northern Ireland.

St. Hilaire: French: habitational name from any of the numerous places of this name in France and Belgium, which take their name from a religious dedication to St. Hilarius.

Rager: Habitational name for somone from either of two places called Ragen: in Tyrol, Austria and East Prussia, Germany.

Shea: Irish: reduced for of O'Shea, Anglicized for of Gaelic, fine or fortune.

WHY DO THIS?

My personal reasons are many. I hunt for members of the family because it is interesting and fun. I want to know where I came from and who I came from. I want to know what my family's role was in building this country. I want to acknowledge their hard work and sacrafice. I want to be able to pass this information along to the members of our family who are not yet born.

I have renewed old family friendships and begun new ones. Some are relatives and some are just helpful people who are also searching for their people. For example, it was about 5:00 p.m. and the sun was setting as we (mother, husband and me) were in Illinois looking at a memorial dedicated to members of the armed services who had lost their lives in WWII. My mother's brother's name was on the memorial. While we were admiring the sculpture in front of the memorial, two other women came to look at the statue. One of them turned out to be the daughter of the artist who sculpted the statue. It was an opportunity for my mother to tell her how much the statue meant to her family.

We have tramped through cemeteries searching for gravestones ("Did you bring the binoculars and the boots?"), looked for old home foundations in empty fields ("I think that empty hole looks like a old cellar!"), spent the day inside a town hall vault in Vermont, and stood in awe in front of the gravestone of our fallen Civil War great, great uncle at Cold Harbor in Virginia.

I have gone into a coal mine to try to understand, even just a little, what it was like to be my grandfather, a coal miner from Kentucky who worked in a cold, damp, dark mine. I have toured the cotton mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, to better understand my grandmother who worked there. I have read books on the great influenza epidemic of 1917 to get a picture of what my grandfather might have experienced and felt when he lost his young wife and brother at that time.

One final thought. When I leave this earth for the final time, I hope that I will meet my long ago relatives. I would like be able to call them by name and know something about them. I know one thing for sure. When I meet my great, great, great grandfather Elinas Humphrey, I will finally get to ask him what his father's name was. Then I will rest in peace.

As always, cousin Richard Evirs and I welcome your comments, suggestions, stories and pictures. If you have a family story that you would like to share, please send it to sastle@comcast.net