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. 

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY

Almost Wednesday, but thought I would post this anyway.

This is the Red Granite marker for the Patterson family plot in the Rock Cemetery located in Granite, Greer, Oklahoma.

 This is the marker for my Paternal Grandfather's grave.  Jasper born March 12, 1872 and died Aug 29th, 1953. Here is the biography I wrote for findagrave.com:

Jasper Patterson was the son of Greenup Bird Patterson and his wife Elizabeth Wigham Patterson. He grew up as a farmer and is listed on the 1900 census as a farmer in Hays County Texas with his wife Katie Hasson Tadlock. By the 1910 census he was listed as a blacksmith. I remember as a small child visiting Granite Oklahoma and being taken to see a wrought iron gate that he had crafted. His wife Katie died in 1913 from childbirth fever. He married again I'm not sure what her name is but she didn't live long. Jasper raised his kids mostly by himself with the help of family. 1920 census he was living with his oldest son and his wife. In the 1930 census he was living with his oldest daughter and her family in Indianapolis. He was listed as a blacksmith in an iron foundry. But had not worked the day before. (I found an article that referred to the foundry being closed during the depression and resuming production in 1932). 

I met my grandfather in 1949 but he didn't remember my father so don't know much more. I remember my dad getting the phone call telling us he died, but I don't know exact date. A Cousin who went to the funeral told me he was buried in Rock Cemetery.

His children were: Greenup Bird Patterson
Maggie Patterson Ranck
Melvin Davis Patterson
Carter Patterson
Florence Patterson Pendergraft Hildenbrand
John Kenneth E Patterson

[I later requested the photo and got his date of death guess I should re-write the bio]

A side note about the red granite that the town was named for.  I'm happy to have a baseball sized polished ball of this granite that my father had.  Think he must have gotten it when we were there in 1949.  We lived in San Diego County and only got to take a trip back East once with my Dad.  We got to visit with his Brother, Kenneth; Sister, Florence in Oklahoma and Texas; his Sister, Maggie in Indianapolis;  and my Mother's family in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Mississippi.  

As a serious amateur photographer, I have to remember to give credit to findagrave.com contributor, Rita Collvins Mayfield for taking these photos

Sharing Memories: My Second Home - Hi Pass, California

Another surprise photo was a picture of the HiPass  General Store that my parents bought in 1952.   It's not the greatest photo, but you can get the idea.  I'm not sure exactly when they bought it, but I remember as soon as school was out we moved up there that year.  The store included a Post Office - my Dad became Postmaster; a library branch, a gas pump, and living quarters.  It also came with cabins - can't remember whether there were 6 or 8 of them.  At various times we lived in two different ones that were larger than the living quarters.  

There was also an old feed store building to the left of this picture.  I vaguely think we may have sold some feed and hay, but I'm not sure.  This was close to the end of HiPass' life span - not sure when it was removed from the map.  In the early 20th century, it was a popular get away for people from El Centro where it was extremely hot.  With the advent of Air Conditioning in the late 1940's and early 1950's it became economically unfeasable.   It was a fun place to live though.  I loved the horned toads and even the lizards.  I remember coming upon an at least a 4ft long Rattlesnake sunning itself on a wood pile next to the feed store.  That scared me.  I walked away and went to my Mother who told me to go to my Dad.  He was working on the pump up the road and I ran.  I remember my legs quivering after that adrenaline run.  Think the snake crawled under the building - he was gone by the time my Dad got there.

There were lots of life lessons for me to learn in this location.  Our school house was a one room school - one classroom at least - with 11 students.  Our teacher was a widow who had been forced to retire from LaMesa Spring Valley district because of her age.  I think she was 65 yrs.  I liked her a lot.  I was the only student in 4th grade.

We had tenants in some of our cabins.  I remember one woman who I seem to remember helping to teach me to sew.  She was older, on assistance or Social Security, and an alcoholic.   The man I remember was also those three things.  It was my first exposure to Alcoholism.

There was an Indian Reservation fairly close to our town and we had one Indian boy in my school.  Think he was in 7th or 8th grade.  I remember my mother trying to encourage him to stay in school and think she even attempted to get him an interview with the artist Donal Hord, because he was an excellent artist.

 The Indians often tried to buy Alcohol.  It was against the law at that time, and there were quite a few car accidents and sometimes they would be under the influence when they came in the store.

My parents put the property back on the market the next year.  I returned to Bostonia Elementary for 5th Grade.  My Dad had to commute for several months, before the property sold.  Mom and I returned to our home on Hwy 80.  We had rented it out.  I remember some of Mom's things that were stored there walked off with the tenants.  At least they didn't trash the place.

Sharing Memories: My First Home

Sharing Memories: My First Home

I remember my first home fondly.  Actually, it was technically my second home.  My parents purchased the house on nine acres before I was born, but it needed a lot of work.   So, I was told we continued to live in a house on 35th St in San Diego for six weeks after I was born.

This is the view from the Hwy 80 side.  I believe that the Interstate 8 Westbound Lane probably goes straight through this house location.  I remember this front porch as being solid concrete.  This photo looks like wood - so that must have been part of the renovations.  My parent's bedroom and the bathroom were, in the end, facing us.  My bedroom was next to it, and I had to go through their room to the bathroom.  There are two doors onto the porch - one behind the tree opened into the living room, and the one behind the first porch support opened into my parent's bedroom.

This view is looking east.  The living room was a large room in the front part of the house.  I don't remember a porch on this side of the house.  It was all enclosed, and the kitchen was in the back, adjoining the living room.  I do remember the front being elevated like that, and that area was enclosed and used for storage.

This view looks southwest towards the back of the house.  That looks like a wood stove exhaust pipe, but I don't remember a wood stove.  I believe a cement slab was added along the left portion of the building and it was screened in.  There was a door from the kitchen (about where the window was) which entered the screened porch.  There was a hillside not too far back.  They built a lath house most of the length of the left side of the house.  Had a fish pond at the east end of the lath house.   Off to the right and back a couple of 100 ft, we had a chicken house.

This is the way I remember our home.  I would guess this was taken about 1947.  You can see our water tank up the hill directly behind the right side of the home.  The small building to the right was my Brother's Bedroom.  No bathroom.  John was 13 years older than me, and he joined the Navy at 18 years old, so he was gone from home by the time I was six years old.

This is a shot of a Google earth map of where our home was.  The blue line is supposed to represent our property line but is probably way off.  The cut-out in the bottom left was a one-acre parcel we didn't own.  So... it was probably smaller, and the whole thing may not have been quite that wide.   We owned 9 acres, and it really did look like an upside-down Utah.

Found another picture of a home I lived in, but that will be for another day.

A Brick Wall Falls - Hooray!

I've been a member of ancestry.com for many years, but I've never been able to find my mother and my half brother in the 1930 census.   About a week ago I finally found them, listed as Freeman.    Although my Mother said she was married, I was never sure.  She used the father's name on the Birth Certificate and here on the census.  and my brother John is listed as Frank Jr.