Tombstone Tuesday

Two  Markers for My Grand Aunt Jennie Bird Patterson Albin, my Paternal Grandfather's Sister

Photos courtesy of Findagrave.com contributor:

added to memorial by findagrave contributor: Terry Teague on 7/11/2008 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Albin&GSiman=1&GScid=2072&GRid=28197064&

52 Ancestors - #5 Jasper Patterson

I'm participating in Amy Johnson Crow's challenge for geneabloggers called  "Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks".  Amy challenges genealogists to write about one ancestor once a week.  .  #52Ancestors

JASPER PATTERSON

My Grandfather, Jasper Patterson was born in Missouri, on March 12, 1872.  Undoubtedly, he was born in Boone County Missouri since the family was there in the 1870 Census.

1880 Census, Hays County Texas

Since the 1890 Census was destroyed in a 1921 fire, the 20 years between 1880 and 1900 have skimpy information.  Per the 1900 census, he married my Grandmother in 1894 and fathered two children during that time.  I had the pleasure of seeing the family Bible many years ago.  It was in the possession of my Uncle, Greenup Bird Patterson (b 1895 d 1982).  I transcribed the information and copied it onto a family group sheet, but have been unable to find my original transcription for many years.  I lost contact with my Uncle and I'm afraid his third wife may have destroyed the Bible, since his grandson doesn't know what happened to it.

1900 Census, Justice Precint 1, South of Rail Road, San Marcos, Hays, Texas

In this 1900 Census, Jasper, and Katie are living next door (same property?) to his parents Greenup Bird (b 1829 d1905)  and Elizabeth Wigham Patterson (b 1831 d 1907) with their son, Greenup Bird and daughter, Maggie Patterson (b 1897 d 1993).  Jasper and his father Green are both listed as farmers with Green owning his farm and Jasper Renting his.

1910 Census, Granite, Greer, Oklahoma April 20, 1910

By 1910, Jasper and his growing family were living in Granite, Oklahoma.  They must have moved there after Dec 1900 (Daughter Florence was born Dec 17, 1900 in Texas) and before January 1904 when my father was born.  There was a 1901 Land Lottery in Southwest Oklahoma, so that might have been when they moved to Granite.  This is the family's transcription on ancestry.com:

Jasper Patterson	3 [36]
Katie H Patterson	33
Greenup Bird Patterson	14
Maggie Patterson	12
Florence Patterson	9
Melvin D Patterson	6
William C Patterson	4

Jasper is listed as a Blacksmith and working in his Own Shop which he owns Free of a Mortgage.

Two more sons were born to Katie, John Kenneth in Dec 1910, and Jasper in March 1913.  Jasper was born on the 8th, Katie Died on the 16th and Jasper died on March 29th.  Jasper Senior was left with six children to raise.  Greenup was 16 and Maggie was 13 so they could help, but it must have been very difficult.  Jasper actually married again within the year, but that wife also died in 1914.  He never married again.

1920 Census- 1/7/1920 - Oklahoma City living with son, Greenup as Head of household.

In the 1920 Census, Jasper is again working as a blacksmith, but he and his three youngest sons are living with his oldest son, Greenup and his family.

1930 Census 4/7/1930 - Indianapolis with Son-in-law Head of household.

By 1930 the boys are all on their own, and Jasper is living with his daughter Maggie and her family.  The depression is pretty well underway and he is listed as being a Blacksmith at an Iron Foundry, but is listed as not having worked yesterday or last regular working day.

Letter from Melvin to Greenup with info about Jasper.

According to the above letter, written in Jan 1932,  Jasper went to visit/live with his brother Jeff Patterson shortly before he died on Oct 16, 1931.  Jasper was still living there in the 1940 census.

1940 Census - 4/9/1940 Stonewall Texas

I know very little about this time of his life.  We lived half a continent away.  I got to meet him in 1949, however, he was living in a nursing home and he didn't remember my Dad.  Not sure if he knew my Uncle who was his main care person outside of the home.

Jasper with his sons Kenneth, Melvin, and daughter Florence. I'm the youngest of all his grandchildren, standing in front of him.  My Uncle's wife and two daughters are to my right.

Jasper Patterson summer 1949

He remained in the care home and died 29 August 1953.  It was the first and maybe the only time I saw my father cry.

Jasper is buried in Rock Cemetery in Granite, Greer, Oklahoma along with both wives and Jasper Jr.

I have an Orphan Photo of a girl named Francel

Do you know Francel?

Last summer I scanned a lot of photos and found one of my Mother's Orphan photos.  A pretty young lady, identified as Francel.  When I scanned it I identified it with the following caption:

A friend of my mother named Francel.  Probably in Cincinnati or Kentucky -McCreary, Whitley, Pulaski,  counties.  Probably taken between 1925 - 1932.

Francel

I'd love to pass this on to someone in her family.  Any suggestions?

52 Ancestors #4 - Herbert Cain Weddle

I'm participating in Amy Johnson Crow's challenge for geneabloggers called  "Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks".  Amy challenges genealogists to write about one ancestor once a week.  .  #52Ancestors

WEEK 4

HERBERT CAIN WEDDLE

Herbert Cain Weddle was born in Waterloo, Pulaski, Kentucky, USA on the 6th of October 1887.  He was the son of Abraham Lincoln Weddle and his wife, Emily Elizabeth Cain.  Herbert was the oldest of five children and the only son.

This is a family photo taken about 1903.  Abraham Lincoln, Nancy Helen, Herbert Cain, Lida Ellen,  Minnie Pauline, and Emily Elizabeth Cain Weddle.  Minnie Pauline was born in 1901 and she looks to be at least two years old - maybe three.

Herbert's photo taken when he graduated from Medical School - 1911

Note from my Grand Aunt Helen Weddle Harrold  on back of the above photo

Herbert married Verda Mae Strunk on Nov 13, 1911.  Date is found in a transcription of Abraham Lincoln Weddle's Family Bible available at:
 http://therainwatercollection.com/allied-bible.shtml#a

Ancestry.com has Herbert's WWI Draft Registration card filed on June 5, 1917.  He and Verda and Ruth lived in Rim, Bell, Kentucky USA, and he was a Physician for the Indian Creek Coal Company.  Rim doesn't seem to be a locatable community today.  Indian Creek Coal is listed on Ancestry.com as being located at Fourmile, Bell County, Kentucky.


Herbert died August 21, 1926

His death certificate lists Dysentery and Collapse as the cause of death.

The Weddles and Cains seem to have had quite a few Doctors in the family. The attending physician was a Cain and I believe he may have fudged a little on the cause of death. My Mother and Grandmother both told the story that both Herbert and Verda got addicted to Heroin during a Typhoid (may have been Typhus) outbreak. I got the impression that it was at least a contributing factor in his death.

Herbert's Headstone in the Somerset City Cemetery 
Somerset
Pulaski County
Kentucky, USA Photo added by: Cadmus on 10 Apr 2008 at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13660096/herbert-cain-weddle

Post updated August 2023

52 Ancestors - #3 - Verda Mae Strunk, Weddle, Jeffers

Amy Johnson Crow has a new challenge for geneabloggers called Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Amy challenges genealogists to write about one ancestor once a week.   I'm already behind since I had about a two week vacation and kind of forgot about this.

WEEK 3

VERDA MAE STRUNK WEDDLE JEFFERS

My Maternal Grandmother was born 31 August, 1894 in Scott County Tennessee,  The family story was that the house was mostly in Kentucky, but the bedroom she was born in was in Tennessee.  No idea if that was true.

She was the daughter of George Washington Strunk and Dille McDonald Strunk and was one of 11 up to 13 Children.  I was sure it was 13, but I only have 11 listed in my tree.  (Hhhmmm.  Wonder if I will find my original notes that I copied from the Family Bible years ago?  Not anytime soon I'm guessing.  Haven't seen them in years, and trying to connect with the current owner of it is difficult.)   Not too surprising that her mother died in 1901 at the age of 43.  

I believe this is her High School Graduation picture 

Top Row: George Ramsey and Ellen Toomey Sievers Middle Row: Elbert Chitwood and Elsey Strunk Ramsey (not sure if they were married when this was taken), Front Row: Cindy Hayes and Verda Strunk Weddle Jeffers.  This was taken about the same time.  

She married my Grandfather, Herbert Cain Weddle in 1911 and my mother was born in July 1912.  Herbert was a busy General Practioner who worked for the coal mines.  He moved around a fair amount mostly in Whitley/McCreary Counties.  My mother said Grandma usually had a girl to help with the housework.  Herbert and Verda lived through some epidemics.. Ruth was an only child for 9 years.  Then her sister Elizabeth (Libby) was born in 1921 and sister Dillie was born in 1925.   Herbert died in Aug 1926 at the age of 38.

Verda had some major health problems after his death and Ruth was sent to a boarding school and Libby and Dillie went to live with Herbert's parents in Mississippi.  After she recovered her health, she moved to Cincinnatti Ohio where she worked for one of the Taft families as a housekeeper (maybe as a Nanny too - I'm not sure).  Some time in early 1930's she married Claude Jeffers.  After some wrangling, Dillie went to live with her and Claude in Dayton Ohio.Her only son, Ray Cecil was born in 1935.  Then in 1937 her youngest daughter, Eleanor was born.  My parents and brother John visited them in 1938 or so.  I remember Mother saying she was shocked to see her Mother carrying a new baby.  Grandma said she had been ashamed to have a baby at her age (43) so hadn't written to tell her about the pregnancy and birth.   

This photo was probably taken in the 1940's but possibly early 1950's

This was probably taken about 1960.  She looks a lot like I remember her the time she stayed with us about 1959.

Verda didn't take good care of her high blood pressure, and I understood that she lost most of her vision because of it.  She fell on ice and broke bones a couple of times.  She was a worrier.  

Her husband, Claude died in 1982, and she died in 1984, a month short of her 90th birthday.

52 Ancestors: #2 MELVIN DAVIS PATTERSON

Again, this is what I wrote on his memorial on findagrave.com:

week 2

MELVIN DAVIS PATTERSON

my father

Melvin is on the left here.  I think these are Army uniforms from probably in the 1920's.

Probably taken about 1933

Front of Decorations Entitlement Card

Decorations Melvin entitled to wear

Melvin's Navy ID card

Back of his ID Card

Gerry and John standing,  Ruth and Melvin Patterson about 1961

Melvin Davis "Pat" Patterson was born January 25, 1904 according to the family Bible. He was born in Granite, Greer, Oklahoma. It was Oklahoma Territory at the time of his birth. His mother, Katie Hasson Tadlock Patterson, died from Childbirth fever in 1913 and the son she bore at that time, Jasper Patterson, Jr. only survived a few weeks. His father, Jasper Patterson, was a blacksmith. 

He joined the army in 1923 (I think) and got a delayed birth certificate. The elderly Doctor listed his birthdate as 1905, and he lived with that on all official documents. His next younger brother was born October 24, 1905; Possible, but not likely for them to be born in the same year. When he was forced to retire about the age of 64 (per birth certificate) the Navy Lawyer he talked to, said the Navy might court martial him if he tried to correct it. Therefore, he had to wait an extra year for Social Security or take a reduced amount.

After the army (6 years I believe) he became a printer (he may have apprenticed before the army. In 1920 census age 15 he was a delivery boy for a printing co.) I believe he was in the infantry. A few years later he joined the Navy. He retired in 1947 with 25 years service (including army service) as a Chief Petty Officer - Printer. He married Ruth Lucille Weddle, in 1933 and defacto adopted her son, John Franklin Freeman. He owned a couple of printing businesses in San Diego County and ended his working career at the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper. He was a linotype operator for them, and the advent of computerized technology caused his early retirement.

He lost Ruth to Cancer in 1965. He continued to live on Dunbar Lane in El Cajon area (actually rural area closer to Alpine). He grew fruits and vegetables on his 3 acres. A lifelong smoker, he ended up with Emphysema and Osteoporosis and Heart problems. He died in 1985 after several years of poor health.

He was survived by his son John F Patterson, daughter Geraldine Ruth Patterson Humes, son-in-law Cecil Humes and Grandsons; Patrick R Humes, Christopher S Humes, and Gregory K. Humes.

Melvin sometime in the late 70's or early 80's

The Beard didn't last too long - I never saw him in it.

Melvin D. Patterson: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) - December 7, 1985

Deceased Name: Melvin D. Patterson

Services for Melvin D. Patterson, 80, of El Cajon, will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Greenwood Mortuary, with entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum. He died Wednesday in a hospital.
Mr. Patterson, a native of Oklahoma, lived in the county 52 years and had worked as a newspaper Linotype operator.
Survivors include a son, John of El Cajon; a daughter, Geraldine Humes of Santa Rosa, Calif.; a sister, Maggie Ranck of Indiana; a brother, Kenneth of Oklahoma; and three grandchildren.
Edition: 1,2
Page: A-6
Copyright 1985 Union Tribune Publishing Co. 

Above info was originally posted on findagrave.com located here: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11309542

Here is a link to a Memorial page on fold3.com:  http://www.fold3.com/page/93080733_melvin_davis_patterson_born_1905/

If you have Ancestry.com you can find him on my Public tree:  http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/129303/person/-2118544739?pgNum=1

Melvin's Crypt at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego.
Photo courtesy of findagrave.com contributor:  Angel Kirstin's Mommy 

52 Ancestors: #1 RUTH LUCILLE WEDDLE PATTERSON

Well, starting off the New Year I'm crazily going to try to participate in a new Weekly Meme (I wonder where that started and what it really means).  The Challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.  

Since I have personal challenges in the next three weeks, I'm going to start with reposting a couple of things that are already out on the web.

WEEK 1

RUTH LUCILLE WEDDLE PATTERSON

My Mother at my Wedding. She was in the hospital by the time I came back from the honeymoon. Her cancer had returned and she died the next July.

Uterine Cancer discovered Jan 1962 - surgery and radiation. I was Married June 1964 and she died July 1965.

Ruth Weddle about the time she married my Dad

Ruth Weddle as a child

Ruth Lucille Weddle was born in Pine Knot Kentucky to Dr. Herbert Cain Weddle and his wife, Verda Mae Strunk Weddle. Her father died in 1926, which caused health problems for Verda and Ruth and her sisters were separated, at least for awhile.

She married (or not - I don't know) and had my brother, John Franklin Freeman. John was later de facto adopted by my father Melvin Davis Patterson after their marriage in the 1930's. They lived in Oahu, Hawaii from 1933 to 1937. They then came to San Diego County, California, where they lived for the rest of their lives. 

Ruth had some nurses training, and she and her mother moved to Cincinnati where Ruth worked in a hospital. In San Diego she occasionally worked as a Practical Nurse. Ruth liked to write and wrote a local newspaper column for awhile. She then joined The National League of American Pen Women. 

In January, 1962, Ruth was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. After surgery and radiation, she was cancer free for two years before it recurred. She lost her battle in July 1965 just before her 53rd birthday. She was survived by her husband, son, daughter, Geraldine Ruth Patterson Humes, her sisters, Libby Weddle Bedford, Dillie Weddle Sanders, Eleanor Jeffers Arthur and brother, Ray Cecil Jeffers.