This is Day 26 – LAST DAY – of the A to Z April Challenge. My theme is women with
unusual names although I must cheat now and then or I’ll have a name and no
story.
is for Zenith Hubbell. “Zenith” means the highest point in the path
of a star, the peak, the apex, the culmination.
Appropriate name for the end of the A to Z Challenge, don’t you agree?
Much of Zenith’s life seems rather unremarkable. She was born in 1901 to Flossie Bucklew and
Nelson Hubbell, a clayworker in a factory in Brazil, Indiana. She attended school, and at age 15 she
married Harry Sanders Boes. However, in
three short years she was divorced and back home living with her mother and
working as a telephone operator.
In 1921, Zenith married Lee Roy McDonald, my first cousin
twice removed. (Side note: Lee Roy’s parents were Malvina Davis and
Grattan McDANIEL – I’m wondering when and how McDaniel morphed into McDonald!). They had one son, Lee Roy Jean.
But what interests me about Zenith is that in 1942 she
enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps.
I wonder why. Was
it a burst of patriotism? Was it for pay
and some sense of security? Sigh ~
another question that will probably never be answered.
Zip, Zoom, or Zigzag over to the A to Z April Challenge
Zone for Zillions of Zesty Zingers by Zealous Zanies before they are Zapped.
©
2014, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
I've loved learning more about your family and especially the fascinating women you are related to this month. There are some fantastic names, I've never heard of anyone called Zenith before.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally - and at the opposite end of the alphabet, there are several women named "Aseneth," which is a variation of Zenith. Had I had my act together, I could have started the Challenge with Aseneth and ended with Zenith to come full circle. I hate having a great idea too late!!
DeleteI agree, Zenith is the perfect name to end your AtoZ Challenge Theme. Isn't it funny how knowing the symbolism of a word/name gives it more interest? A lightening bolt is often associated with Zenith...even before Z-TV...maybe your Zenith was Zapped in Indianna on Sept. 11, 1942. You may never know, but Boy Howdy, my Fictitious ZippityDoDa is ZippingOut over the possiblities of a good story based on Zenith's Enlistment Record. Especially if I were a SciFy writer...look at that date...September 11th.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy, for another April of excellent AtoZ Challenge Posts. We made it through!
My Letter'Z'...Quilters Zodiac
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
I noticed that 9-11 date too. But I'll leave the fiction writing to you -- your imagination is much better than mine!
DeleteMaybe we try to live up to our names. For whatever reason she made a difference and that's what is important. Great name for "Z".
ReplyDeletehttp://completelycalifornia.blogspot.com/
I hadn't thought of that. So yeah, Go Zenith!
DeleteAll these mysteries kill me. I need to know the answers! ;)
ReplyDeleteI saw in your response to Sally that there are Aseneths in your family. I know someone from my hometown with that name. I always thought it was pretty.
We're done! Congrats. ☺
So many mysteries -- so little time!
DeleteYes, pat ourselves on the back for finishing the Challenge! Still intact, no less.
Congratulations in completing the A to Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
A to Z AMBASSADOR.
I've loved your series and have enjoyed getting to know the women in your family. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank-ya, ma'am. Many of those gals were new to me too.
DeleteAh, Wendy, I was wondering who would take the cake with the crowning "Z" name. So, it wasn't Zelda after all.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great to know a little more about what happened after Zenith signed up for the Women's Army Corps.?
If only the 1950 census records would come out sooner! If only I had more time to devote to her. If only ....
DeleteCongratulations! You made it through the alphabet. I think you had fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks Colleen. For the most part it was fun. I ran short of time and didn't visit others as much as I would have liked.
DeleteShe sounds so fascinating! And to get divorced back then.. she must have been a strong one!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the Challenge! I look forward to reading whatever you come up with next :)
AJ Lauer
#atozchallenge helper minion
Twitter: @ayjaylauer
There was a huge stigma attached to divorce back then. Thanks for visiting, and come back anytime.
DeleteCongrats on making it to Z! The peak with Zenith! Which also stands for the first TV that I remember in my house as a kid.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents had a Zenith.
DeleteJust found you on the last day of the challenge. I'll have to start over from A. Aseneth is interesting. The first four letters and the same first four of my maiden name. I know of someone named Zenobia. Greek, I believe. My first name is super common.
ReplyDeleteCome check out my A to Z! Jen Hemming and Hawing Again
Love your title -- I'm on my way to visit now.
DeleteSuch a wonderful name! Congratulations on successfully completing the challenge! I look forward to reading your other posts!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty cool name.
DeleteI have enjoyed reading your posts all month (even though I didn't comment on them all).
ReplyDeleteWell Done on a great A-Z.
Sharon
You're so kind.
DeleteHi, Wendy -congratulations on completing the A-Z challenge which I have very much enjoyed following - many fascinating names that I had never heard of before. I thought you might be interested in this name that I come across t in "The Sunday Chronicle" for 26th September 1937 (my husband's birthday)
ReplyDeleteThis quirky item bore the intriguing headline "Zeppelina was Her Stork" and told how Zeppelina, celebrating her 21st birthday, was named after a German Zeppelin which crashed in a field near her home in Essex on the day she was born in 1916. It seemed a bit odd to name a child after enemy action, but at least there was no mention of any casualties from the incident.
I've heard of people naming their babies after the hurricane that was raging at the time of birth, but being named for anything to do with the enemy is a new one for me. I guess Zeppelina can be glad she wasn't named Hitlerina.
DeleteSuch a neat name...
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when everyone wanted to be part of war efforts in their country, at least that's how I understand it from reading and watching historical movies and documentaries. It was sort of like standing up for your family - All for one and one for all type thing.
I've heard that too, but this is the first sign of a woman in my family being in service.
DeleteYou did a great job on your A to Z challenge! What wonderful information you have been able to find. I am so impressed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sista.
DeleteIt is only appropriate that Mr ZIMNOCH should applaud the completion of the A to Z Challenge!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is indeed appropriate! Thanks much!
DeleteCongratulations Wendy!! You've completed the A to Z Challenge! My hat's off to you. I don't know if I could keep up that pace of daily posts.
ReplyDeleteZenith...what an interesting name. I checked my database. I've got some Zilpha's, Zerviah's and even a couple Zenobia's, but no Zenith.
It's both curious and cool that Zenith joined the Women's Army Corp. She would have been about 41 at the time and the record says her Branch code was "Inactive Reserve." I wonder if she stayed in the reserves throughout the war or was ever called to active duty.
I wondered too about the "inactive reserve" and what that meant.
DeleteYou win -- Your Z names are REALLY unusual.
Whew, a popular post! Great work on finishing out this series. Ending on a high note! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Heather -- Thanks for stopping by. You must be catching up on old posts. I'm flattered you came here.
Delete