2022 Prompt - Favorite Photo - Susie Phebe Simmons

2022 Week 3 Prompt - Favorite Photo

Photo of Susie Phebe Simmons – Great Aunt
Nancy Simmons to Paul Simmons to Walter Simmons to half-sister, Susie Phebe Simmons

Susie Phebe Simmons about 1893
Harrisville, Ritchie, West Virginia

My favorite photo must be the one of my great-aunt Susan Phebe Simmons, when she was a small child of about four years. The photo is a favorite because of the sweetness of her smile as she sits on the axle of an old cart. The details in the picture expose her surroundings. From her neatly braided hair to the torn dress that her grandmother probably mended many times tells of a child that was loved and well taken care of despite the social conditions. Her ability to grasp the chicken and hold it for the photo shows her familiarity of being around farm animals. She looks 3-4 years-old and was living with her grandmother and aunt on their farm in Ritchie County, West Virginia. I question who took this picture?

 

Andrew Lincoln Simmons and Susan Lavina Cokeley
Marriage photo July 11, 1889
Susie Phebe Simmons' parents

Susan Phebe "Susie" Simmons was born September 4, 1890, in Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia and named after her grandmothers. Her father was Andrew Lincoln Simmons, and his mother was Phebe (Rexroad) Simmons. Susie’s mother was Susan Lavina Cokeley Simmons, and her mother was Susan (Moats) Cokeley. 

Andrew and Susan (Cokeley) Simmons
Susie Phebe Simmons about 1891

Shortly after Susie had her second birthday, her mother at age 25 dies from peritonitis, complications of miscarriage on the December 19, 1892. After her mother's death she lived with her maternal grandmother, Susan Cokeley, and her aunt Mary Cokeley, who raise her to adulthood.

Tombstone - Susan L. wife of Andrew Simmons
Born Oct 15, 1867 Died Dec 19, 1892

Her father, Andrew, attended West Virginia Wesleyan College in Clarksburg, West Virginia to become a Methodist minister. In 1899, Andrew married his second wife, Elspeth Leeton, my great grandmother. Shortly after their marriage, Andrew and Elspeth departed for Missouri to do missionary work leaving Andrew’s daughter, nine-year-old Susie Simmons, with her grandmother and aunt. 

Susie's half siblings
(Left to right) Walter, my grandfather, Marvin and Bernice
Photo taken about 1907

In the 1900 Ritchie County, West Virginia federal census we find Susie Simmons, at the age of ten, living with her grandmother, Susan Cokeley, age 69, and widowed, and her aunt Mary Cokeley who is forty-nine and single. In the Gainesville, Ozark County, Missouri 1900 federal census, we find Andrew 34 years old, and a minister and Elspeth is 26 years old and has 5-month-old baby girl, Cecil Bernice, who would be Susie's half-sister. Two and a half years later my grandfather, Walter, is born in Missouri on June 4, 1902. In the next ten years, Andrew and Elspeth have another son, Marvin, in Missouri and eventually they move to Illinois where Andrew is a Methodist minister in the Illinois Methodist Conference and their fourth child, James Simmons, is born in 1911.

Susan Phebe "Susie" Simmons
Photo taken about 1910

 Meanwhile back in West Virginia, Susie married her first husband, Wade Hampton Riggs on July 2, 1912, and gives birth to her first child, a daughter Inez Virginia on January 11, 1913. Not sure if Andrew visited Susie during this time but letters show they corresponded regularly. 

Susie Simmons marriage to Wade H. Riggs
July 2, 1912 Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia

Susie loses her maternal grandmother, on May 18, 1915, and her aunt Mary September 4, 1916. Susie had to be overcome with grief since they were her surrogate parents since she was two-years-old. She divorced her husband in 1917 and on November 1, 1917 births twin boys, William Lester, and Willard Kester Simmons. William and Willard’s birth record states that they are illegitimate, and there is no father’s name given. Three years later Susie marries Harmon E. Webb on September 25, 1920, in Harrisville, West Virginia and has two more children: a son Hosea Earl Webb born October 4, 1921, and a daughter Pearl Marie Webb born May 27, 1924.

Susie Simmons marriage to Harmon E. Webb
25 September 1920 in Harrisville, Ritchie, West Virginia

 

Susie lived the next 47 years in Harrisville, West Virginia. She outlived both of her husbands and two of her five children. She helped her daughter, Inez Kelley, run a restaurant in Harrisville for several years but at the age of 80, on May 20, 1971, Susie died at her home in Harrisville. How odd that I started doing family research about 1971. 

Susie P. (Simmons) Webb
Born Sept. 4, 1890 Died May 20, 1971
Harrisville, Ritchie, West Virginia

My father knew very little about his Simmons family since his father, Walter Simmons, died in February 1931 when he was six years old. By the time I discovered his father 's family and all his relation in Harrisville, West Virginia, Aunt Susie and many others had died. Oh, how I would have loved to have met my great aunt, that small child holding the chicken in the picture, and talked to her about her life of 80 years in the rural area of Ritchie County, West Virginia.

2022 Prompt - Favorite Find - William Rice Wilson

Prompt - Favorite Find 

Picture of William Rice Wilson 

My great-great-grandfather 

William Rice Wilson
Summer 2011 - Iliana Genealogist, Volume 47, Issue 2, page 54

I have made amazing family discoveries over the years, but my favorite must be the picture of my great-great-grandfather, William Rice Wilson, in his Civil War uniform. I had researched him for years and knew his siblings, all his children, his two wives, and his involvement in the Civil War. I had one photo of him as an elderly gentleman given to me by a cousin years ago. 

William Rice Wilson 

It was on a research trip to Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne Indiana that I found the picture of William in his Union uniform. I was with the Louisville Genealogical Society researching and one of my goals that week was to learn to use a tool called PERSI to find genealogy articles in historical and genealogical quarterlies and journals. In the periodical, Illiana Genealogist, Volume 47, issue #2, I found an article about William Rice Wilson written by Kenneth Walker, William R. Wilson's great-grandchild, and my 2nd cousin. As I read the article, and to my amazement, there was William in his uniform embedded in the article! I had never seen this photo. 

1st Lt. William Rice Wilson
125th Illinois Infantry Regiment

 I had researched William R. Wilson and knew he was born December 13, 1834, in Guernsey County, Ohio to John and Elizabeth Rice Wilson. He was the oldest of four children and before he had his tenth birthday his father and seven-year-old brother, Christopher Columbus Wilson, had died. At the age of twenty-one, in 1856, William walked about 340 miles from Guernsey County, Ohio to Vermilion County, Illinois where his grandfather, Amos Wilson, had settled. He married Catherine Ellen Deck in Bismarck, Illinois on January 4, 1860, and nine months later October 26, 1860, his son, John Deck Wilson was born. 

William R. Wilson and his wife Catherine Deck

Six months later April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumpter. A year later, in the summer of 1862, President Lincoln called out to Illinois for infantry units and William enlisted in the 125th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry and received the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In my research, I had discovered William's military history but had never found a picture of him in uniform. 

Book by Robert M. Rogers

 The 125th Illinois Infantry organized in Danville, Illinois, and mustered in for three years of service, under the command of Colonel Oscar F. Harmon. By September, the 125th was in Covington, Kentucky in pursuit of Confederate General Braxton Bragg. They were engaged in the Battle of Perryville in Kentucky and then marched to Nashville where they served till the end of June 1863. They moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and, were engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga, the Siege of Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga-Ringgold Champaign. 

On June 27, 1864, the 125th was engaged in a fierce battle at Kenesaw Mountain where Col. O. F. Harmon, who enlisted with William, was killed in action. While on picket duty in March 1864 near McAfee Church in Georgia, William contracted a cold that developed into chronic lung problems and was honorable discharged September 10, 1864. He returned home to Bismarck, Illinois where he has lost everything and due to health issues, William returned to teaching in the Bismarck area. William was immensely proud of his uniform and staunch supporter of the defense of the Union. He served as a Justice of the Peace for several years and was a member of the GAR Post in Georgetown, Illinois. 

William's patriotism is evident as his family expanded. On July 7, 1865, William and Catherine had their second son, who they name William Tecumseh Sherman Wilson, and their third son was born July 22, 1868, and named Ulysses Simpson Grant Wilson. William and Catherine have three more children that are daughters, Cora Elizabeth, my great grandmother, Flora Belle, and Mary Edna. Seven years after the last child is born William's wife, Catherine, and their oldest son, John, died from tuberculosis. William married his second wife, Phebe Ann Elliott, on October 9, 1888, in Covington, Kentucky. Could it be that William admired the city of Covington from his tour of duty in 1862? William and Phebe have a son Donald Harrison Wilson born in Bismarck, on August 31, 1891. 

William R. Wilson and Phoebe Elliott's Marriage Certificate
9th day of October 1888
Covington, Kenton, Kentucky

William and Phebe resided in Newell Township in Vermilion County for about 15 years. Sometime in 1903, William and Phebe purchased a home in Catlin, a small town in the southern part of Vermilion County where they spent the remaining years of William's life. William died August 10, 1918, in the Catlin home and was buried in Rose Cemetery, Bismarck, Illinois. Phebe lived in the home until her health failed in 1939 when she moved to Wisconsin to live with her son. Phebe died May 11, 1939, at the home of her son.  This home is purchased by the Catlin Historical Society and is now a historical museum.

Son, Donald, William and, his wife Phoebe about 1903
House in Catlin, Illinois

In May 2012, I am packing my suitcase to make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris to visit my sister and we planned to leave on June 4th. Mid-May I get a phone call from my cousin Beverly Simmons asking if I could meet her and her father in Danville on May 31 to visit cemeteries and visit cousins. So, on May 30th I drop everything and drive three hours to the Hampton Inn to meet my cousin and Uncle. I called the Catlin Museum and asked if they could pull any family files on my great-great-grandfather, William Rice Wilson. When we arrive at the Museum we walk in the front door and there was the photo of William in full Union uniform. 

Portrait of William Rice Wilson
In the front hallway of the Catlin Historical Museum

My uncle was amazed, to say the least. This was his great-grandfather. The museum had a family folder on William Rice Wilson with letters William wrote during the Civil War. Another great find! 

So, no matter how detailed your research is there seem to be new discoveries and finds around the corner. This is one of my favorite finds! 

Tombstone of William R. Wilson and Phebe A. Wilson
Rose Cemetery, Bismarck, Illinois

 NOTE: In March of 1988, the Catlin Historical Society purchased the house and grounds that William and Phebe Wilson owned from 1903-1939 from the Ingram family.

Catlin Historical Museum
Catlin, Illinois

2022 Prompt - Foundation - 1969 Johnston Family Reunion

 1969 Johnston Reunion

 

JOSEPH JOHNSTON 1821-1888

The foundation of my genealogy quest was a family reunion in 1969. In June, I had just married my childhood sweetheart, Howard Roberson, and had moved to East Lansing, Michigan to start a teaching job. My husband had enrolled at Michigan State University and since there was no housing available on campus, we moved into our cozy mobile home behind Tom’s Party Store. Our first big family gathering to attend, as a newly married couple, was Howard's Johnston family reunion. A tradition was that the family would gather on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. The year 1969 was the 83rd consecutive year the reunion occurred in the small town of Samaria, Michigan.

JOSEPH & HEPZIBAH JOHNSTON'S HOME
in SAMARIA, MICHIGAN

The Joseph Johnston family had moved from Virginia to Samaria in 1886 and held their first reunion that fall. My husband was the fourth generation to attend the Johnston Reunion and here we were attending as the most recently married couple. In the past, the reunion was at the Methodist church but recently due to the growing number of family members they moved across the street to the township hall. Howard and I arrived early with his parents and his three siblings. The small kitchen in the hall was bubbling with women heating and prepping their food as the men were putting up the tables and chairs. Then at noon, after the prayer, family members filled their plates for a Thanksgiving feast. Family members selected their seats as they chatted with aunts, uncles, and cousins. As the newest family member, I was impressed with this Johnston tradition. I had attended a small family reunion as a child in a park in Illinois with my grandmother's family but nothing like the multitude of cousins attending this reunion.

 

SAMARIA METHODIST CHURCH

Another tradition at the reunion was the ritual of cleaning up after dinner. The women jump to their feet and begin to clear the tables, they filled the sink with soap and washed and dried the dishes all while the men pull out the cards, set up their groups of foursomes, and start dealing the cards for a competitive game of Euchre. The young boys grabbed their coats, footballs, basketballs and headed outside to play ball in the park and the girls herded up the younger children and head outdoors to the swing sets.

 

JOSEPH & HEPZIBAH JOHNSTON FAMILY
 (Picture taken after Joseph died)

The next event took place 40-60 minutes later when the women hung up their aprons and gathered in groups around the remaining tables. The room permeated with talk, laughter, men teasing each other over cards played, and children were running in and out to play with all their cousins. About two o'clock, the cards were set down and everyone focused on one family member standing at the head of the room. The Johnston family reunion was called to order by the reunion president. What was this? A big family meeting! Exactly!

 

LEMUEL AND MYRTIE JOHNSTON'S CHILDREN
Heads of families at 1969 Reunion

The meeting started with a roll call and a list made of all who were in attendance. Then the heads of each family listed the births, deaths, and marriages, and the type of work the men of their family were engaged in that year. The secretary read the treasurer's report and a plate for donations passed to pay for the hall. Next was the election of officers for the 1970 reunion. Having never attended a Johnston reunion, I was not sure if it was a tradition to elect the newly wedded or we were just in the wrong place at the right time, but the family elected Howard as reunion president, and they elected me as secretary. Shortly after the meeting was over the men dealt the cards for another competitive game of Euchre and Howard's grandmother sat down next to me with a black three-ring notebook. It was the Johnston reunion's book of minutes from the past years to the present. The black notebook was in my hands for safekeeping until Thanksgiving 1970 when I would record the minutes. What a treasure!

 

Black Three-ringed Reunion notebook

I carried the notebook home to East Lansing and days later showed it to a friend, explaining to her about this family reunion I had attended and how I obtained the notebook. She was impressed and told me she had something I needed to use with the notebook. She ran home and came back with a family pedigree chart and a family group sheet. 

My first pedigree chart - JOHNSTON FAMILY 

Since I had never seen such forms, she explained the forms were to organize family data and that the Johnston reunion notebook contained volumes of family data. Days later I made copies of the forms and started transcribing all the family data onto the various forms. It was the beginning of my heartfelt hobby of genealogy. Little did I know back in the fall of 1969 that I was establishing a foundation for my future family and building a foundation for a lifetime of family research.

Family Group Sheet of JOSEPH & HEPZIBAH JOHNSTON FAMILY

I have made innumerable family discoveries on my husband's family in the past 50 years. Roland Johnston immigrated in the 1840s from County Louth, Ireland with his second wife and four children. His son Joseph Johnston married Hepzibah Chapman in 1845 in Summit County, Ohio, and had twelve children. 

First, very rough, notes on the JOHNSTON FAMILY

Hepzibah's family goes back nine generations to John Howland, a passenger on the Mayflower. Lemuel Johnston, the eighth child of Joseph Johnston, married Myrtie Willard in 1888 and, Myrtie's family dates to Major Simon Willard. Simon was born in 1602 in County Kent, England and, arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634. He is known as one of the founders of Concord, Massachusetts and, fought in King Philip's War. The foundation of my genealogy research was firmly established years ago at that family reunion and 52 years later I continue ardently to work and research to discover and build both Howard’s family tree and mine.

JOHNSTON FAMILY TREE
 starting with Howard's grandmother
HAZEL MYRTIE JOHNSTON