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It appears that sharing information through a blog has become an effective way to communicate. Well-- at least to modern tech fans. As I travel throughout the country, I hear about great records, tools and techniques that will enhance our research.
I'm hoping to share those thoughts with you via this blog. I hope that you will share your comments regarding my posts. I might also share some of the great stories I hear about family members.
Here's one about Joseph W. Byrns - Speaker of the House of Representative during the FDR administration.
Mrs. B.W. Worley
"The tall, sharp-eyed woman who recalls the difficulty Byrns had remembering the letter “Q” as he learned the alphabet said he was an “affectional, lazy little fellow” when he attended her school in 1875 at the age of six. She was quick to add, however, that he had an inherited gift for study and acquired willingness to work before he was many years older. Later he earned his college tuition by working in the tobacco fields.“Joe Wellie - I always call him that because his full name is Joseph Wellington - was naturally endowed.” Mrs. Worley declared. She said he inherited a love of books from his grandfather and grandmother. The latter, she said, frequently read a book or paper while churning on the farm near Cedar Hill, Tennessee.The little school was near the farm where Byrns spent his boyhood. “We taught the letters to each little newcomer then,” Mrs. Worley said, adding that “I remember well how Joe Wellie kept stalling when he would get to the letter Q.”“One day,” she continued, trying to impress on him the sequence of letters, said: 'Joe Wellie, when you get to that place you must remember q. Now you know what cucumbers are don't you. You've eaten cucumbers and like them. Well, just remember that after the letter P you can recall cucumbers and know that Q with the same sound is the next letter.'
“The next day he was saying his letters to me again and sure enough he stalled again at the same old place. 'Joe Wellie, I said, remember what I told you was nice to eat that would help you to remember the next letter?' Well, the little fellow looked at me with his eyes round with concentration. 'Yes'm,' he said, 'pickles.'”
Until next time - Keep the story alive - Mark
