Reunion of the Aged is Well Attended

One of the most interesting article I’ve ever found was a report of the “Reunion of the Aged” in Warren County, Kentucky.  The article named all those attending 75 years and older, including address.  Enjoy the story.

J. Mark Lowe

Reunion of Aged Is Well Attended

The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green KY

Sunday, May  1936

Pages 1 and 12

Moses R. Hancock, 92-year-old Civil War veteran residing on Eighth street, was registered as the oldest man attending the second annual Warren County Old Mens’ Reunion held Saturday in the Court House yard.

Jim Corbin Honored

James A. Corbin, 91 years old, the only other known Civil War veteran residing in Warren county, was the second oldest man present.  He resides at 629 E. Eighth street. Both were members of the Union forces.

George Vincent, 608 Hope street and E.W. Oliphant, Route 2, City, also were registered as 91 years old but a few months younger than Mr. Corbin.  No persons were registered in the 87, 89 and 90 year old age groups, and only one person each was listed in the 83 and 88 year old groups.

The program, under the general supervision of Jesse Russell, Cemetery road resident, opened at 10 o’clock with registration of those present.

Photo:  1925 Bowling Green Kentucky Police Department.  [Courtesy: Kentucky Library]  My Great Uncle Getty Lowe [Back row, 3rd from Left] was a Police Officer for years.  He shared many stories about special events and Chief James A. Corbin, who was mentioned in this article. 

Blind Man Speaks

A welcoming address by Mayor B. S. Rutherford was followed by a talk by John Stagner on the subject, “Accomplishments of the Blind.”  Mr. Stagner was one of the several blind persons of all ages attending the reunion as guests of the old men.  Badly crippled persons also were guests of the old men.

Old songs were rendered by V.P. Cassaday, and old favorite fiddle tunes were rendered by Lem Howell and two accompanists during the closing session of the reunion Saturday afternoon.  John Beck of Smiths Grove and R. K. Glover Route 3, Alvaton, also spoke briefly during the program.

Miss Matt Jackson, centenarian residing on Fairview avenue, was scheduled to attend the program as special guest of honor, but she was unable to attend because of ill health.  W.R. Pearson, county resident whose 93 years made him the oldest man attending the reunion last year, also was absent from the exercises this year.

Approximately 150 city and county residents 75 years old or over attending the program are listed in age groups as follows:

Seventy-five years old - W.L Moore, 308 Main street; G.W. Stamps, Rural Route, City; E.L. Morris, General Delivery, City; K.B. Neely, 435 College street; J.A. Whallin, Anna; Robert Richey, Route 4, City; Jack Evans, Route 3, City; A.G. Cornwell, 122 Portage Railroad; S.A. Witt, Route 5, City; Sam J. Shield, Route 3, City; W.N. Owens, Route 3, City; John McHugh, 818 Center street; Robert Beck, 1354 High street; J.R. Stuart, 628 Eighth street; Charlie Salmon, City; Thompson Smither, Route 1, Rockfield; Ben Forsting, 122 Eighth street; David Stewart, Route 1, Alvaton; J.W. Goodrum, 1123 State street and Jim Howell, City.

Seventy-six years old --- Jesse Russell, Route 2; W.W. Lewis, 1044 Chestnut, J.H. Willoughby, Alvaton, R.A. Davis, Smiths Grove; Joe Owens, Route 5; E.N. Vernon, 1330 Clay; E.W. Edwards, Route 1; W.T. Andrews, 1319 Kenton; A.J. Justice, Alvaton; J.W. Barber, Richardsville; T.J. Willoughby, Route 2; Tom Hendricks, Sunnyside; Aaron Miller, Rockfield; J.R. Ellis, 1112 Chestnut; John D. Phelps, Route 4; Alex Smith, 1040 Chestnut; M.W. Neely, Alvaton; W.A. Lewis Route 6; Barton Pennington, Smiths Grove, Pat Murphy, 712 Scott street and Sam E. Miller, Richardsville.

Seventy-seven years old --- J.A. Smith, Oakland; W.E. Garrett, 504 First; J.W. Lowe, 218 College; S.W. Kerley, 517 Seventy; H.L. Tibbs, Rockfield; J. E. Blankenship, 508 Park; E.J. Miller, Route 5; J.L. Doty, 344 West Tenth; S. S. Hunt, Route 1; John Ferry, 303 Tenth; M.H. Heffington, Park street, C.D. Johnson, Alvaton; M.K. Wand, 1271 Kentucky; J.H. Ingram, Drake; J.W. Hiff, Route 6, and C.A. Thomas, Oakland.

Seventy-eight years old --- H.S. Hunt, Oakland; T.F. Miller, Richardsville; H.E. Ombenhour, Route 1,; J.C. Sawyer, 401 College; R.W. Meredith, Riverside; J.H. Kington, Alvaton; D.K. Puckett, 825 Broadway; M.E. Yates, Alvaton; W.A. Flora, Sunnyside; Calvin Snell, Route 5,; A.H. Simmons, Route5; L.N. Bumpus, Route5; J.N. Osborne, Route 2; G. H. Wilson, Route 2, W.W. Elrod, Route 4; W.E. Massey, 1123 State; Lige Upton, Richardsville; and B.A. Harmon, Alvaton.

Seventy-nine years old --- Bill Lane, Rotue 2; George W. Glenn, Riverside; R.M. Cornwell, Route 5; W.S. Downey, Route 3; T.W. Thornton, Oakland; Jesse Snyder, Route1; T.A. Robinson, Alvaton; W.W. Stinston, 1257 Magnolia; W. Harlow, Sunnyside; F.J. Miller 1143 State; J.W. Crabb, Bristow; W.B. Hill, 1268 State;  G.W. Woodward, 11621 Clay; Sam Pennington, Oakland; F.M. Burnett, Oakland; and W.A. Padget, 225 Portage railroad.

Eighty years old --- A.W. Brown, Route 2; J.E. Wells, Route 3; W.M. Gresham, Smiths Grove; J.C. Carlock, Boyce; George T. Kelly, Woodburn; J.E. Mercer, 1349 Chestnut; H.B. Hill, Route 3; W.N. Wingfield, Route 1; J.K. Motley, 151 Broadway; W.F. Ennis, Route 5; J.O. Howard, 1027 Payne; and W.T. Crow, 808 Eleventh.

Eighty-one years old --- Pink Cameron, City; J.C. Johnson, 558 State; P.E. Eadens, Route 5; Robert K. Glover, Alvaton; G.W. Butler, Route3; N.P. Lawrence, Route 5; J.D. Wright, Route 3; W.M. Miller, Route 5; Will Rector, City; W.B. Bunch, Route 2; L.C. J. Motley, Smiths Grove; R.G. Miller, Route 5; Virgil Garvin, Route 6; J.O. Beck, Smiths Grove.

Eighty-two years old --- R.D. Goad, route3; J.E. Meadows, Smiths Grove; A. Roemer, 111 West  Fourteenth; J.C. Stone, 614 Fairview; Joe D. Smith, 1123 College; D.W. Howell, 728 State; and J. Tom Williams, Woodburn.

Eighty-three years old --- John Dean, Route 5.

Eighty-four years old --- G.W. Shanks, 1148 Adams; F.J. Kelley, Bristow; W.O. Holland, 325 West Tenth; F.M Howell, route3; and T. J. Hendricks, Smiths Grove.

Eighty-five years old --- C.J. White, Benton; E.R. Beck, Bristow; W.C. Brandon, Route 3; and J.L. Hickman, Route 2.

Eighty-six years old --- A.B. Johns, Smiths Grove; W.D. Ballard, 141 West Fourteenth; John R. Miller, Route1, and G.W. Keller, 1362 Clay.

Eighty-eight years old --- V.M. Cox, 1318 Fourteenth.

Lunch was served at noon in the Court House yard under the supervision of Ennis Harris and a corps of assistants.

One hundred loaves of bread for the meal were contributed by the Grocers Baking Company, which is constructing a local bakery at Fourteenth and Adams streets, and other foodstuff was contributed by local merchants.  The Phillips Transfer Company and the Cole Transfer Company transported tables and chairs to and from the Court House yard.

Are Social Media Updates Really New

Are Social Media Updates Really New
J. Mark Lowe

Thousands of folks send tweets and daily updates are posted on Social Media. This phenomenon is really nothing new. Daily activities of citizens were once covered in the daily and weekly newspapers. Consider these musings from the 1917 Nashville [TN] Banner.
Miss Lucy Mae Harned was the hostess at an April Fool party Saturday evening given to compliment her guest. Miss Vesta Lockart of Pembroke, Ky. Besides the honor guest those present were as follows: Misses Loi Hornberger, Elizabeth Barnes, Ethel Gower, Verda Smith, Mattie Pollock, Vera Todd, Josephine White, Ruth Davis, Maggie Farmer, Annie Clay Ogg, and Dorothy Gower. Messrs. Weldon Alley, Wilber Smotherman, Arthur Watson, Bee Lockart, Stanley Gower, A.F. Tilley, Jr., Dewey Morris, Leslie Gower and James Byrd.
Mrs. Thomas Sory entertained Monday evening in honor of Mrs. Emmett Winters, who went to Burgettstown, Pa., this week to reside. Misses Bertha Bourne and Margie Halliburton of near Port Royal were in Nashville this week.
Mrs. Jerry Porter has returned from visiting near Cedar Hill.
Mrs. Wilbert Winsey has returned to Nashville after visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Edwards. Mrs. Hiram Poole was in Springfield this week.
Mrs. Jerry Porter spent the weekend with her aunt, Mrs. J. M. Abshire at Guthrie, Ky.
Misses Florence and Annie May Whitehead visited Mrs. Jeff Rainey en route from Springfield to their home at Turnersville. Miss Verda Smith was in Clarksville this week. Mrs. F. C. Porter visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Robertson at Cedar Hill.
Mrs. George Smith and Miss Nora White were in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Polk Ewing, Miss Maude Ewing, and Miss Mary Hallam of near Hampton Station visited Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Woodruff and Mrs. Leecie Mallory near Adams this week. Miss Mary Lou Gower spent the weekend with Miss Martha Elliott at her home near Sadlersville.
Mrs. E.W. Robertson was in Cedar Hill. Misses Ethel and Dorothy Gower of near Sadlersville spent the weekend with their sister, Mrs. Geo. Smith. Miss Mary Johnson of near Stroudsville was the guest of Mrs. Jeff Rainey. Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Winters left Wednesday for Burgettstown, Pa., where they will reside.
Miss Vesta Lockert of Pembroke, Ky. has returned home after visiting Miss Lucy May Harned. Mrs. R.H. Randolph is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Cheatham Dozier, at her home near Springfield.
Mrs. G.F. Deerington was in Springfield this week. Mr. and Mrs. C.D. McQuary and son, Charles, of Hopkinsville, Ky. are spending the weekend with Mrs. McQuary’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.F. Alsbrook. Mrs. Carie Whitfield of St. Bethlehem is the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Gaines near Port Royal.
Mrs. Frances Elrod of Louisville, Ky is the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Alsbrook. Miss Grace Watson visited in Cedar Hill this week.
Rev and Mrs. E.M. Bryant have announced the engagement and approaching marriage April 11 of their sister, Miss Vera Hicks and Mr. Edward Ray of Normandy. Mrs Joseph Kemper will be hostess of the Springfield Music Club Wednesday.
Mesdames Nannie Johnson of Cross Plains and Julinia Barefield of Barren Plains are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Randolph.
Miss Maude Norrod spent the weekend in Memphis. Mrs. John E. Garner and Miss Elizabeth Garner were in Nashville Thursday. Miss Rosa Lou Bell has returned from a visit to Miss Annie Lee Gupton in Nashville. Mr. and Mrs. James Smith , Mr. and Mrs. Charlton Smith, and Mrs. Hayes of Clarksville motored over Monday and were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Will Bell en route to Nashville.
Miss Rebecca Bell has returned from a trip to Miami and St. Petersburg, Fla. and a visit to friends at Rome, Ga. Misses Fannie and Hardin Walton of Cross Plains who have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Simmons have returned to Belmont College, Nashville. Mrs. Ione Lewis Hassel and Miss Martha Hassell have returned from a visit to Nashville.
Mesdames Frank Hollins, Jordan S. Brown, and Jesse E. Peck motored over to Adairville Tuesday. Mrs. James A. Long was the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Mamie D. Long at Ward. Miss Leland Smith spent the weekend with Miss Kate Elam in Nashville. Miss Lellie Bell will spend the weekend with Miss Dorothy Tucker in Nashville. Miss Grace Woodard of Martin College, Pulaski and Frederick Woodard of Helena, Ark., were the weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. T.M. Woodard. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Clinard and Miss Mary Lynn Clinard have returned from a several months stay in St. Petersburg, Fla. and other Southern points.
Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Webb of Nashville have returned. Misses Helen and Leota Tucker have returned from a visit to Nashville. Miss Margaret Lewis of Gallatin is the guest of Miss Elizabeth Clinard. Mrs Lula Williams, Misses Maude Nored, Josephine Allensworth, Mary Matthews, Nora McClelland, Sue Taylor were in Nashville this week attending the Educational meeting.
Hon. and Mrs. Charles H. Love have returned from a visit to Nashville. Mrs. James O. Draughon, after spending two years in Colorado and Arizona in search of health, will return home next week.
Miss Maude Nored has returned from a visit to relatives in Paris. Mrs. Herman Todd and children of Murfreesboro are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Fuqua.
Miss Julia Simmons, who is attending school in Atlanta, is spending the Easter holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Simmons. Mrs. Boss Jackson and Miss Margaret Jackson of Cedar Hill have returned. Source: Nashville Banner, 17 April 1917.

PHOTO: The W.H. Simmons House, Springfield, TN; Miss Julia Simmons, who is attending school in Atlanta, is spending the Easter holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Simmons.

We can use these musings to learn more about our families. Finding the local newspaper or even reports from larger city reports may be useful. Find some 'old' news and keep the story alive.

Thinking About Aunt Grace

Photograph of Grace Meisel Martin and William Lanis Martin - taken in the early 1940s.

Thinking About Aunt Grace
J. Mark Lowe

In anticipation of the release of the 1940 census (www.1940census.archives.gov), I have been thinking about lots of family members that I would like to review. My parents were not yet married in 1940, so they will still be living at home with their parents. My Dad graduated from College High in 1940, but we will save that story for another day. However, since my Dad was one of the oldest grandchildren of James W. and Clara Martin, his Uncle and Aunts spoiled him tremendously. Even after my Dad moved the family from Kentucky to Middle Tennessee, the family would often surprise us at home with the whole wonderful entourage. What wonderful memories I have.
My Mom and Dad both loved so many of those folks, and encouraged us to know all of our family. One of those Great Aunts was Grace Meisel Martin. She was married to my Dad’s Uncle Lan. His full name was William Lanis Martin and he was named for one of his Uncles. Lan and Grace farmed in the Oakland community of Warren County.
Grace Meisel was born the 12th of August 1909[1]. My Dad (J.W.) was born at the end of August and they always celebrated their birthdays together when possible. She was the oldest daughter of Edward Amel and Nora Ellis Vincent Meisel.[2] They lived in the Bee Springs Community of Edmonson County, Kentucky. Aunt Grace loved her siblings. Her sister, Anna, was often included in Martin family gatherings and she was a wonderful storyteller and great teacher. Her baby brother, Charles, was always funny and a great Christian gentleman. He continued to brighten our Martin Reunions with his laughter, stories and warmth until his passing.
Edward Amel Meisel was also born in Edmonson County, Kentucky.[3] His father, Maximillian A. Meisel was born 1850 in Baden,Germany and migrated to the United States about 1871.[4] Max married Anna E. Couran , 1 Jan 1874 in Boston[5], and the family lived near Boston until 1879 when they moved to Edmonson County, Kentucky.[6] Edward was naturalized in the Federal Court in Boston, Massachusetts on 13 November 1877.[4] The three oldest children of Max and Anna were born in Boston: Augustus Maximillian, Charles Paulus, and Isadora.[7] Their younger children, including Edward A., were born in Edmonson County.[2]
For years, I loved visiting with Aunt Grace. She would always tell me that she grew up in Bee Springs. I still remember the day, my folks drove across the ferry and we visited Bee Springs. Grace Meisel Martin was a lively character, who loved people with all her soul. Our visits to her home after Uncle Lan passed often lasted for hours, with Aunt Grace insisting that we stay long enough to eat. We often left her house with magazines, books or other valued objects – all with a connected story.
After my Dad passed in 1989, I often visited Aunt Grace with my mother, Chris. My Mom told me how Aunt Grace and Uncle Lan had welcomed her into the family. They would often go visit for the weekend when they were young newlyweds. This relationship lasted a lifetime. You could always be assured of a bear hug with Aunt Grace.
On one visit after my Dad passed, Aunt Grace encouraged my Mom to stay busy. She said, “Chris, hon, Nothing can fill that hole that J.W. left, but your heart is big enough to fill with more love. Visit those grandchildren, keep working, and travel.” My Mom certainly heeded the words of Aunt Grace . On that particular day, there was a gift of ‘clean’ romance novels, a bundle of Bible Pathway readers, a few magazines, and a selection from the Avon Bottles. I guess I forgot to mention that Aunt Grace collected Avon bottles. She had them lined up on shelves installed across windows, so the light could glow through them. I selected Pontiac, which still stands on the shelf above by the window. Aunt Grace passed from this life in 1992, but her memory is still strong in our hearts. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren discuss her often and she carry some of her same traits: loving, great storytellers, giving, always funny and great cooks. Thanks Aunt Grace for sharing yourself.
[Aunt Grace has a great-grandson named Max.] Here's just a small part of her family recently.

Keep the Story Alive.

Pontiac

[1] Grave marker and family records
[2] 1910, 1920 Census Records, Death Certificate, Oral History
[3] Oral History, 1900 Census, Death Certificate
[4]Naturalization Record, Federal Court, Boston 13 Nov 1877
[5]1874 Register of Marriages in Boston
[6] 1880 Census
[7] Registers of Birth, Boston, Massachusetts

Hoeing on the Last Row

Hoeing on the Last Row.
J. Mark Lowe

So many times when working on an extended family project, my mind gets tired and tends to wander just prior to finishing the project. Evidently, this is a normal reaction for many of us. My sister-in-law, Connie, told me years ago, that the last row of tobacco was the hardest to hoe. She explained that being that close to the finish line, the 'tiredness' kicked in and one thought they just couldn't finish that last row.
Connie' point has always helped me finish that last row. My clothes dryer stopped working, and although I have repaired the same problem before, I thought this time - I might just buy a new dryer. Another good friend said, "If you fixed it before, why not just fix it again." I ordered the parts ($20) and decided I could fix it this morning.
I pulled the dryer away from the wall and removed the back cover. I removed the dryer vent hose and thought - which relay do I replace first. I noticed that the last time I repaired this dryer, I had only replaced the top relay, so I replaced the top one first. I tested the dryer and it worked.
I replaced the back cover and began to reattach the dryer vent hose. It slipped and I thought, "Maybe, I'll just finish this later." I suddenly thought of my sister-in-law, Connie, and her advice - "...the last row of tobacco is the hardest to hoe." I adjusted the vent and dropped to my knees and tightened the clamp and repositioned the dryer. It worked and I completed two loads of clothes and dried them. What does this have to go with genealogy?
Thanks to Michael Hait, I received a Civil War Pension application packet about my Great-Grandmother Clara Martin. The circumstances of the application showed me a side of my Great-Grandmother that I had forgotten. Her last child was born in 1911. She and my GGF James Wyatt Martin had twelve children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. Just before Christmas 1915, James Wyatt Martin, developed a severe case of appendicitis and died. Leaving a 42-year-old widow with ten children. The oldest son had moved to California, the second son had completed his college training and was on his way to be a missionary in India, and the other children were there on the farm. My GGF James Wyatt Martin had also traded livestock and had completed several Federal contracts to supply mules. Here at his death, the family became totally dependent on the farm income for survival. The pension application was an attempt to obtain relief based on Clara's father who was a Civil War soldier, who died when she was a young child. Unfortunately, she was not eligible for the pension and the application was rejected.
Clara Martin and her children made the farm successful. She raised the remaining 8 children and kept the family on the farm, until she sold the farm and moved to the 'city' in 1948. The family still owns the farm. My father told me many stories about his Grandmother or Granny Martin as he called her. He said she could shimmy up the side of the log corn cribs faster than her boys, and she had the finest split rail fences in southern Kentucky. Her boys were tall, lean and hard-working. Her daughters were just as tough and could sew like a fine seamstress. Granny Martin hoed the last row of tobacco.
When that genealogical question gets tough, think about the families you are researching. Remember their story is true and real - what might help me wrap up this question. As Connie says, "The last row of tobacco is the hardest to hoe, but finishing the row is the most rewarding." Good luck in your attempt to keep the story alive.

Mark


Here's a photo of Granny Martin and her adult children

Remembering 3.5 disks and Genealogy

J. Mark Lowe

I've been sorting through some old files and drawers - sorting and remembering. Although I've been doing genealogy since the early 1960s, I've been a tech geek almost that long. My Dad bought me a modern manual typewriter after I complained to Santa that the Sears Toy Typewriter he brought me couldn't handle the speed I needed.
I owned a Sinclair and a Tandy TRS-80. Once I was able to purchase a cassette tape recorder and cable, I setup a retrieval database for my genealogy and began to load family group information. You can imagine my excitement when they came out with 8" floppy disks and drives that would allow flexibility and data storage. My this time I also had created a bookkeeping system where daily invoices could be entered while adjusting actual inventory.
Smaller and sturdy drives were being discussed. The community thought that the technology would change the way we did genealogy. Instead of printing and copying all those pages, we could mail a 3.5" floppy disk and the whole family would be included. Of course, this was the discussion with the same folks who sat around with a dial-up of 300bps chatting late at night on Prodigy or Compuserve.
There was a discussion of a technology conference focused on genealogy called GenTech. Excitedly, I looked into the conference and saw they were interested in the new interactive genealogical coursework I was creating using HTML. I was thrilled to present my session in Ft. Wayne and talk with other techies. I remember meeting Alan Mann at that conference. Some of the technology sessions were groundbreakings, while others seemed old. We shared our ideas and occasionally there were a few concepts that were more like dreams. There were lots of genealogical software titles then - but most were very simple databases at best.
One of those nights on Compuserve, I met a great genealogist and fellow nerd who had written a genealogical program called Brother's Keeper. His name was John Steed.
I had gone through several versions before this one was released.

John Steed was a techie and a genealogist. Once I had Brothers' Keeper, I was really to enter data on every Southerner and a few Yankees who might be related to me. One feature which was especially interesting to me was the Calculate Relationship. You could choose any two people in your database and calculate their relationship based on the data entered. Wow.
Whirrrrr-Ding, Whirrrr-Ding - my cell phone vibrates near my desktop computer. As I check Facebook and Google +, I float over to Ancestry to check a census record. Ahhh, let check those Kentucky Death Certificates and I print one out and save a copy to his data area. It's 2011, and we still have John Steed and lots of other great techies - who bring new tools to my table.
I'm reminded of Ecclesiastes 1:9 which ends with "... there is no new thing under the sun." New tools which help us get to records more quickly and without a trip to the repository. Use the tools, but remember that 3.5" disks did not change the story, nor did the USB drive make understanding the relationship of Mom & 2 daughters, who married three brothers any easier to explain. Genealogy will always require a human component - YOU, and your parents, in-laws, & siblings, etc, etc, etc. Do your part by sharing the past and keeping the story alive.
Thanks to John and all of the great innovators that keep genealogical records & data at my fingertips. See you at RootsTech.

Would You Like a New Nametag?

The first Sunday in July is the date of the Annual Martin Family Reunion in Smiths Grove, Kentucky. For the past twenty years, we have worn nametags that show the years of the Reunions we have attended. At our recent gathering, we had a large number of family members. Several of these had not attended in several years.
We always try to handle the registration in the beginning. The nametags were arranged somewhat alphabetically on a large table beside a registration book. This tall young man walked into the hall and said, "I probably don't have a nametag." Since I have been handling the nametags and registration for more than 20 years, I thought I remembered this young man. I said, "Clay, I think I still have your nametag, but you can have a new nametag if you want."
When this young man was a small boy, we were using pin-back nametags. In order not to hurt the kids, I brought peel and stick nametags for them. Clay was beginning to write and I let him write his name on the nametag. When we collected nametags, I placed Clay's on top of a blank nametag and saved it.
It was at that point that I realized that our nametags carry the story of our reunion from year to year. The other day I asked this question: How important are reunions for creating a sense of family to young people? I now realize that family reunions are what created my interest in genealogy. Family reunions have given me the opportunity to know many of my numbered cousins and those removed. Clay will be graduating from High School next year and may not have realized the connection to his Martin family, but someday He will tell his kids - I wrote my name on that nametag before the year 2000.
That is what Family Reunions are about - they are a connection to something that lasts longer than one person. Thanks, Clay, for reminding me of our purpose - Keeping the Story Alive.

Charleston SC backdrop for National Genealogical Society - pt 1

Kathryn Hopkins and Laine Sutherland, two friends from Tennessee, who traveled to Charleston, SC for the NGS Conference





Charleston SC - National Genealogical Society
Visiting Charleston SC was a great opportunity to renew old friendships, learn about new genealogical resources, and rediscover one of America's great cities. Thanks to the National Genealogical Society for scheduling their annual conference in the Holy City. The Convention Center is actually in North Charleston, but the entire region offers so many restaurants, shops and activities - that focusing on genealogy remained difficult.
The pre-Conference activities included the APG roundtable. The Association of Professional Genealogists hosted the event titled “Looking for Clients in all the Right Places.” The panel consisted of Maureen Taylor, known as the Photo Detective, and author of The Last Muster; Marie Varrelman Melchiori CG, CGL, a renowned Military Records Specialist, Kenyatta D. Berry, current Vice President of APG, also active with several high-profile television projects; and me. There is definitely a move in the genealogical community moving towards more technology and communication. I announced my intent to tweet live during my lectures during the conference.
We discussed how we built our respective businesses, marketing techniques, and how we dealt with new clients. The audience certainly brought many great questions to the table including marketing via Facebook, Groupon, and the web. Thanks to Liesa Healy-Miller for serving as Moderator of the Panel and Beverly Rice for Coordinating the Event.
Buzzy Jackson opened the Conference with her unique blend of humor and storytelling reminding all of us to keep the story alive. The Archivist of the US, David Ferriero discussed the 1940 census and the status of our National Archives.
One of the highlights of the week was the re-emergence of Helen F. M. Leary to the National Conference. Helen has inspired so many genealogists throughout the years. Many of her lectures are available from the North Carolina Genealogical Society. She also edited my favorite genealogical reference - North Carolina Research also available from NCGS.
So much happened throughout the week, that I must ponder and prioritize. More later.