#18 of 52...Samuel Groom SR...

Samuel Groom SR,
(1874-1942)
copy of photo sent to me by Marion Schaal

This is my husband's Great Great Grandfather.  My husband's grandma sent me this photo last month and I was very happy to receive it.  He looks quite dapper, doesn't he?

Samuel Groom SR was born 9 April 1874 in Belleville, Illinois to James Groom and Hannah Tate.  James and Hannah had the following known children.

1). William Groom (1865-1939)

2). John Groom (abt 1871-1935)

3). Richard Groom (1872-unknown)

4). Samuel Groom (1874-1942) **my husband's great great grandfather

5). Isaac Groom (abt 1876-1952)

6). Rachel Groom (abt 1877-1933)

7). Alexander Groom (1880-1946)

8). Thomas Groom (1883-1951)

9). Elizabeth Groom (abt 1886-1940)

10). Ann Groom (1887-1925)

Samuel Groom SR married Katherine "Katie" Haas 6 June 1896 in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois. They had the following known children.

1). Viola Groom (1899-1956) **my husbands great grandmother

2). Leona Groom (abt 1902-unknown)

3). Samuel Groom JR. (1903-1956)

4). May Groom (1909-2002)

Samuel Groom followed in his family's footsteps and was a coal miner.

#17 of 52...Martin Dial...Oldest direct male ancestor...

I wrote about the oldest direct female ancestor in the previous post. Now we are going to talk about the oldest male.  I found Martin Dial, my 6th great grandfather and he lived to be 98 years 11 months and 27 days old; almost 99 years old.  

Martin Dial was born 30 Dec 1744 in North Carolina (though some stories say it was England) to Henry Arthur Dial and Isabella May Hastings.  Henry and Isabella had the following known children.

1) Hastings Dial (1732-1809)
2) James Dial (1734-unknown)
3) Martin Dial (1744-1843)

There are ten years between Martin and his next oldest sibling, which usually indicates that there were other children born.  I have not seen any information regarding other siblings, though I would not be surprised if there certainly were more, sisters even.

It is said that Martin Dial served in the Revolutionary War for America while his brothers were indeed Torries.  There have been many stories written about Martin Dial and genealogical books such as "Martin Dial and Related Families" by Hastings Harrison.

Martin married Chrystie Abercrombie in 1775.  They had the following children that I've found.  I am missing many dates for these children.

1) John Hastings Dial (abt 1882-aft 1860)
2)Isaac Dial (1791-1864) ***my 5th great grandfather
3) Jonathan Dial
4) Martin Dial Jr
5) James Dial
6) Hannah Dial
7) William Dial
8) Colvill Dial

There are many, many Dial descendants. Martin passed away in Gray Court, Laurens County, South Carolina on 26 Dec 1843.
Almost 99 years old!

#16 of 52...Claudia Vandora Welch Allen...oldest direct female ancestor

I went through my tree and looked for people that lived the longest lives. I narrowed the list down to ones that I was fairly sure of the accuracy of their correct birth and death dates.  I realized that my Great Great Grandmother Claudia Vandora Welch Allen "Claudie" lived to be 102 years and 25 days old!  She is my ancestor through my mother's paternal grandmother's side.

Claudia Vandora Welch was born 6 Aug 1869 in Henry County, Georgia to John W. Welch and Emily Catherine Allen.  John W and Emily had the following children:

1). Walter Welch (1866-1892)
2). Claudia Vandora Welch (1869-1971) **my 2nd great grandmother
3). Beresford "Ressie" Welch (1872- 1939)
4). Sallie Dovie Welch (1878-1929)
5). John W. Welch (1882-1942)

Claudia married James Christopher Allen 28 March 1886 in Henry County, Georgia.  I'm not sure if he was related to her through her mother or not.  That would be something to investigate since I do not have Emily Cahterine's parent's information.

Claudia and James had 10 known children though in the 1911 census she indicated that she had 11 children with 8 still living.

1). Ector Allen (abt 1889-unknown)
2). Trudie Allen (1892-1975)
3). Walter W. Allen (1894-1971)
4). Linnie Mae Allen (1896-1979)
5.) Clara Allen (1901-1949) *twin
6). William Clarence Allen (1901-1973) *twin
7). Eunice Allen (1904-1968)
8). Emma Lois Allen (1906-1990)  **my great grandmother (I was able to meet her).
9). Sue Allen (1910-bef 1920)
10. Margie Allen (dates unknown)

From census records I've gathered that James Christopher Allen was a farmer and Claudie was the homemaker for her family.  She lived a very long life!
102 years is amazing.
She passed away in Butts County, Georgia 31 Aug 1971, 25 days after her 102nd birthday.  I imagine someone from that branch of the family has photos of her.  I don't know that side very well, but if any of you from that side read this, I'd love a scan of a photo of her and any of the Allen family that you all might have!

Seriously...WHO are her parents?

I'll get caught up with my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks later this week.  I'm behind a bit, but will be back on track by next week!  Right now I want to work on Lou Ella Ledbetter again!  This is one big ol' brick wall that just stares me down and refuses to budge.  


I came across this article by Anne Gillespie Mitchell, (Ask Ancestry Anne); Ask Ancestry Anne: 5 Tips for Researching the Females in Your Tree -   
I'm going to apply her recommendations to the elusive parents of Ella Ledbetter.
1. Search for her married name in other people’s obituaries.  
I did find this article; a long while ago.
2.  Look at other surnames in the household.

      I have searched The Atlanta Constitution at Newspapers.com and have not found her listed in                       any obituaries other than her son, Samuel T. Bussey, Jr and her brother Eugene Ledbetter.

       Eugene's obit was just an announcement without any family information. 

      A. 28 July 1916  Friday,  "Charges Relatives with Scheme to Secure Savings"
      This article refers to Ella and a charge by Julia Lawrence that a group of Julie's relations were 
      conspiring against her to take her money.  I do not know exactly the relationship between Julia 
      and Ella.  Ella was living in the same household as Julia Lawrence in the 1880 census; with 
      Julia's mother Elizabeth Lawrence. 

     
     I got nothing for this search. I looked at all the census records that contained Ella, starting with
     1880 and the only name that came up was Lawrence in that 1880 census.  
     I can't search for her mother since I have found nothing with her information in it.  

3. Look at neighbors, especially right after the wedding. 
  
    Well, Ella was married in 1886, there is no census in 1890 to look at so nope, not going to help.   Can't         figure out if or where Ella's supposed mother Alice was married; this again doesn't help in this situation. 

4. Look through local and family histories.

    No luck in finding anything that refers to Ella Ledbetter or Elizabeth Lawrence or Alice Mull in any                 location as of yet.  I've contacted a supposed expert in the research of Ledbetter's and nodda.  

5. Check death certificates for all of a woman’s children to see if her maiden name is listed.  

    In this case, I only was able to find the supposed maiden name of Alice Mull by locating Ella's brother           Eugene's death certificate.  Ella's death certificate does not have the maiden name listed of her mother.  

  This article had actually really good tips.  If you are doing regular research these can be very helpful.  I'm just getting no where with my research since it is not normal.  We are dealing with a suspected orphan with no real information about her birth parents nor the actual relationship to the woman she is listed living with in 1880.  Just because she is listed as "grandmother" it does not mean she really was.  

#15 of 52...Letha Hazel Marlow

Letha Hazel Marlow is my great grandmother.  She is my Papaw on my paternal side's mother.
I've always liked the name Letha and if we were to have another daughter I would have championed for her name to include Letha; alas though there will be no more babies for me.

Letha Hazel Marlow was born 1 April 1905 in Walker, Wood County, West Virginia to George Monroe Marlow and Bertha May Day. Her known siblings are:

1). Carl Edward Marlow (1906-1976)
2). Cecil Hardwick Marlow (1909-1984)
3). Infant son Marlow (1912-1912)
4). Justine Marlow (1918-1961)

Letha married Lewis Wade Curran 12 Aug 1922 in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. Lewis had a sister named Letha Curran and she married Letha Marlow's brother Carl Marlow!  So Letha Marlow became Letha Curran and Letha Curran became Letha Marlow and each couples children became double first cousins!

Letha Hazel Marlow and Lewis Wade Curran had the following known children:

1). Leonard Leroy Curran (1922-1922) stillborn
2). Paul Edward Curran (1924-2002)
3). Homer Carl Curran (1925-2001)
4). Lewis Wade Curran JR (still living)
5). Russell C. Curran (1930-2005)
6). Donald Vearl Curran (still living) **this is my Papaw
7). Hazel Marie Curran (1936-2013)

As you can see Letha was a strong woman!  She was the mother to five living boys and one daughter.  Can you imagine all those boys running about?  And then that baby girl?

Grandma Curran, as she is called by our family, had the opportunity to see me when I was but a wee little one.  I do not recall her at all, but they said they took me up to see her in West Virginia.  She passed away 29 Sep 1979; I had just turned 2 years old 11 days prior.  She was 74 years old.  I wish I would have had a chance to get to know her.

#14 of 52...Troy Eugene Waller...My Mawmaw

UPDATED: December 20, 2020; edited spelling errors, to add links, and to add documentation snips. 

I'm back after a wonderful Spring Break road trip and then a subsequent week of illness. Back to my female ancestors.  This week I want to take a look at one of my paternal great-grandmothers.

Troy Eugene Waller.  Yes, that is actually a female name.  She once told me that she was named after the doctor that helped deliver her.  I don't know if that is true or if I heard the story right or not, but the fact is that her name was Troy Eugene, however, I've seen Eugenia as well.  

Troy Eugene Waller was born 2 Dec 1909 in Campbell County, Georgia to Charlie Henry Waller and Ina Myrtle Brown.

Troy was the second child, oldest daughter of the couple.  Other known children are:

1). William Henry Waller (1908-1986)
2). Troy Eugene Waller (1909-1991)
3). Bobby Gladys Waller (1911-1980)
4). Estelle Waller (1913-1942)
5). Lois Waller (1916-1979)
6). Clara May Waller (1917-1995)
7). Josie Lee Waller (1920-1995)
8). Herbert Albert Waller (1922-1995)
9). Ina Myrtle Waller (1924-1997)

That's 7 girls and 2 boys if you are keeping track. Troy's father Charlie was involved in moon-shining during Prohibition.  I will tell that story one day but not today. Troy helped with the younger children when her father was incarcerated and her mother had to go to work to support the family.

Troy married John Henry Waller (he's related somehow, but I have not pieced together the relationship as of yet) sometime before 1928. He was 17 years older than her. She moved to Alabama with him where he was a brick layer.  She gave birth to a daughter named Cora.  In 1929, John was killed in an accident at the work-site where he was employed.  Troy was a widow with an infant daughter at the age of 20.

 

The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) 10 Oct 1929, Thur Page 3, Accessed Dec 20, 2020

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) · 10 Oct 1929, Thu · Page 26 Downloaded on Dec 20, 2020

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) , Fri 11 Oct 1929,•  Page 32 Downloaded on Dec 20, 2020

Below is Troy E. Waller listed in the 1930 Census.  Along with Troy is daughter Cora and "cousin" Louise.  It is my understanding that Louise is her cousin as well as her step-daughter.  Louise's father was Troy's deceased husband, John Henry Waller. 

Year: 1930; Census Place: Militia District 1348, Fulton, Georgia; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0162; FHL microfilm: 2340093; Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
Original data:United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. [accessed Dec 20, 2020]

Troy married John Colvin Bussey 17 Aug 1934 in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia.  He too was 17 years older than her.  Together they had two children.  John Bussey also adopted Troy's daughter Cora as his own.

• Cora Mae Waller Bussey (1928-2017)
• Ella Alice Bussey (still living)  **my grandmother
• Colvin Troy Bussey (still living)

Troy Eugene Waller and John Colvin Bussey
photo owned by Alice Bussey Curran

My Mawmaw was a tough lady.  I knew her and she made a huge impression on me. I have many, many memories of her that I cherish.  She lived in Fulton County, Georgia not far from the Federal Prison and the Lakewood Fairgrounds.  When I was little, around 4 or 5 I spent the night with her and she took me on my first bus ride.  We caught the bus right up from her house and went to Candler Drug Store for ice cream.  She was proud of me, telling everyone I was her great-granddaughter.

She passed away 2 Oct 1991.  The time leading up to her death was trying.  Alzheimer's Disease is devastating for everyone involved.

#13 of 52...Shirley Lucille Ivey

Shirley Lucille Ivey was my maternal grandmother.  I never got the opportunity to know her.  I was born in Sept and she passed the following Feb.  I grew up referring to her as Grandmother Shirley.

Shirley was born in Cleborne, Alabama to Robert E. Lee Ivey and Tishie Stapler. I'm named for Tishie sort-of.  My middle name is Latisha because Mama said "Sarah Tishie is just way too country".  My mama always called them Papa and Granny.  Robert E. Lee and Tishie had the following known children:

1).  Fred V. Ivey (1926-1981)
2).  John William Ivey (1926-1969)
3).  Charles Mayern Ivey (1930--)
4).  Leonard W Ivey (1934-1972)
5).  Shirley Lucille Ivey (1936-1978) **my maternal grandmother
6).  Robert Ivey (1938-)
7).  Gene Ivey (1941-)
8).  Imagene Ivey  (living) twin to Gene
9).  Carolyn Sue Ivey (living)
10). Mary Alice Ivey (unknown-passed in childhood)

Shirely Lucille Ivey & Berney Jack Thomason, SR
28 Feb 1954
Wedding Day

Shirley married my grandfather Berney Jack Thomason SR on 28 Feb 1954 in Porterdale, Newton County, Georgia.  They had the following children.

1).   Berney Jack Thomason (1955-2003)
2).   Donna Jane Thomason (1957-2006) My mama
3).  Janet Elaine Thomason  (living)
4).  Beverly June Thomason (living)
5).  Julie Shirlene Thomason (living)

My grandmother Shirley was a stay at home mother most of her life, but did spend time working in a school cafeteria for a while.

She's one of the women I wonder about.  I didn't have the opportunity to know her.  My other grandmother spent some time with her when Shirley was ill with cancer and taking treatments.  My Nana tells me that she made a good pot roast and that she enjoyed eating french bread with cheese slices.  Grandmother Shirley was a beautiful woman.  She had beautiful eyes and long hair.  She was ordinary in that she didn't hold a fantastic position as a career nor did she go to fantastic locations; but she was special and vitally important!  Without her there would not be a me.  She was important to her family; her children.  Even though through out history we mostly hear about the extraordinary, the ordinary are the ones that actually perpetuate our world; make our lives worth living day to day.

Jane Thomason Curran (my mother), Shirley Ivey Thomason, Janet Thomason