Sepia Saturday: Mitz and Fritz

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt immediately brought to mind a number of photos of girls with their dogs. As a little girl, my mother had a mutt named “Fritz.”

 

My mother is on the right with her dog Fritz.
This was taken in front of her family's store
in Shenandoah, Virginia.

My grandaunt Helen Killeen Parker apparently enjoyed the companionship of several dogs over the years.

Helen’s friends also had dogs.

Lucile and dog
probably Ocean View

Helen did not label many of her photos with names, but this one she did. Lucile. But Lucile who?

In the same photo album was this one of Mitz and Lucile. Mitz? What kind of name is that for a guy?

Mitz and Lucile about 1921

As with most things in my genealogy world, one little curiosity eventually fades from my thoughts only to be replaced by another. Trying to identify Mitz and Lucile was not a priority. Heck, they were probably not even family. Learning more about my dad’s Irish granny and her sisters is always one of several competing priorities. I hoped Aunt Helen’s wedding gifts book would provide clues to the identity of those darn children and lady with a poodle.

 

Cover of Aunt Helen's wedding gifts book

Instead I found this: Mr. and Mrs. Mitz Ollice. Above that listing is Mr. and Mrs. John Ollice.

 

One page from the wedding book

It is no surprise that “Mitz” Ollice is not to be found on Ancestry.com. John Ollice, however, is right there in the right neighborhood, in the right period of time. He was not old enough to be Mitz’s father. Nor were any of the other Ollice boys. While at first the census record appeared to be a deadend, it turns out John and Mitz were brothers, 2 of 6 sons born to Thomas and Alice Trainer Ollice. Mitz was not listed as Mitz; further search revealed that he was William Innis Ollice.

William Innis “Mitz” Ollice was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1899, but by 1900, the Ollice family was settled in Portsmouth, Virginia where Mr. Ollice worked as a machinist in the shipyard. The Ollice family lived on Atlanta Avenue in Portsmouth, just a few streets away from Charleston Avenue where Aunt Helen and her sisters and brother grew up.

A marriage record for William Innis Ollice solved the mystery of Lucile. His bride was Lucile Fritzinger of Norfolk, Virginia.

She was born Lucile V. Fritzinger, daughter of Eli and Mamie Smith Fritzinger. That “V” stood for Veronica OR Virginia, depending on which Ancestry tree you want to believe. Her father was a baker.

The son of a machinist and daughter of a baker growing up in two different cities separated by a river somehow met. Perhaps they met at the popular Ocean View beach where so many of Aunt Helen’s summer photos were taken. In fact, the one of Mitz and Lucile was taken probably a year or two before they married in 1923.

Mitz became a fireman and Lucile a homemaker and mother to four children: William Ronald, Joseph Vincent, Shirley Lucile, and Mary Katherine.

In 1927 when Helen Killeen and Walter Parker married, they received more silver and crystal than anyone today would want. But the Ollices and Fritzingers had a different idea:  bedspreads and dresser scarves.

Hop on your bike or walk your dog over to Sepia Saturday.

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sepia Saturday: Caution - Water Ahead!

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt assures me that when winter comes, spring will not be far behind, and then summer will not be far behind that. Right? I am tired of the cold. Bring on some warmer days!

Children dressed in only a swimsuit and flip-flops with a towel tucked under an arm passed by my house routinely throughout the summer when I was a kid. I would be filled with envy because I knew where they were going.

The Dinky Pool

Today there is a skate park where the pool once was.
image from Google Maps

It was just a small community pool in a park on the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and George Washington Highway in the Cradock neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia. There was no diving board because there was no deep end. It was basically a wading pool. But there was a lifeguard.

My mother never let me go to the Dinky Pool. Never. Why? She feared I would contract polio. Polio was the big scare of the day reaching its peak in the 1950s. My mother was not the only one who thought that polio could spread in a public pool; it was a common view. A little girl in my neighborhood had polio, so I knew it would not be an easy life in iron braces, unable to run, roller skate, and jump rope. I was obedient about staying away from the Dinky Pool even after the Salk and Sabin vaccines were introduced in the early 1960s. Vaccine via sugar cube – what could be better than that? I wish more medicine came on a sugar cube.

The Dinky Pool was not the only place deemed off-limits by my cautious mother. 

Lake Ahoy

Lake Ahoy was likewise on Momma’s list of disgusting places. If it wasn’t the polio thing, then maybe it was the “pee and poop” thing. Everybody I knew LOVED Lake Ahoy. Nobody died from it despite rumors of “things” found floating in the lake. 

Lake Ahoy
Image used by permission
Cradock Alumni & Friends Facebook Group

I was SOMEBODY’s guest ONE time. How I managed to snag permission that one time can only be chalked up to my mother possibly being too embarrassed to say “no” and having to justify her answer to somebody’s parents. She must have crossed her fingers and said an extra prayer for my safety.

Kiddie Pool

On most steamy hot days, our little pool in the backyard offered some relief. We didn’t even mind the grass that built up from all our hopping in and out.

 

My sister Mary Jollette and our friend Rusty

Mary Jollette and friends Debbie and Donna

The Beach

Momma's head, my sister and Dad
Virginia Beach

But then came Tuesday. On Tuesdays, my dad’s day off from work at Sears & Roebuck, we all headed to Virginia Beach. Daddy always went in first to test the waves. We rented a raft from the lifeguard. It was a heavy-weight canvas, sturdy, better than what you could buy in the store. My sister and I would plop ourselves across the raft and hang onto the edges as Daddy dragged us out to sea. When a big wave came, he’d duck under it while hoisting us up just at the crest so we could ride the wave to shore. Sometimes we would be thrown off, tumbling and rolling in the sand. It was scary, but we always went back for more. “Do it again, Daddy. Do it again!”

Wade on over to Sepia Saturday and see who is making a splash this week.

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sepia Saturday: Not Your Cup of Tea?

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt is a familiar scene: a married couple enjoying their afternoon tea in the garden. Tea. In a teacup. So refined. So genteel. But I have to wonder - do people use teacups anymore? In my house, mugs are the receptacle of choice. That seems to be the trend among my family and friends as well.

Teacups, dark pink lemonade glass, china trivet

However, I do have a small teacup collection, not of my making, though. Most of the teacups had belonged to my grandmother, but others came from my grandaunts Violetta Davis Ryan and Velma Davis Woodring. The teacups are displayed in a beautiful pine corner cabinet that had belonged to my great-grandmother Mary Frances Jollett Davis. I must admit, they are quite lovely.

 

Mary Frances's corner cabinet
filled with heirloom china

Demitasse set belonging to my great grandmother
Mary Sudie Eppard Rucker
The cups are marked "Bavaria."

I always thought such delicate teacups were just for show, jewelry for the house, not something one would ever actually drink from.

Then several years ago I attended a meeting in the home of an elderly lady who served tea in a variety of lovely floral teacups that looked much like my grandmother’s.

The thin china kept the tea piping hot - not tongue-scalding hot, mind you, just good and hot. The gentle clink as I rested the cup in the saucer was a pleasant sound that doesn’t come with everyday mugs, that’s for sure. Ah yes, this is the allure of fine china.

Coffee and tea at a meeting today are more likely to be served in a Styrofoam cup. At today’s bridal shower or baby shower, hostesses proudly set out matching paper plates, cups, and napkins coordinated with appropriately colored plastic forks. Pretty enough. But this ol’ dinosaur drags out the Jeanette Shell Pink milk glass snack sets that my family has entertained with for generations.  

 

Shell pink milk glass by Jeanette
Depression glass

I mourn the passing of the fondness for fine china and crystal. Don’t get me started on silver!

Grab a cup of tea and join us at Sepia Saturday.

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

52 Ancestors: What's In a Name?

This week’s theme in the 52 Ancestors challenge is “Favorite Name.” While “Nancy” is not my FAVORITE name, it certainly was a popular name at the time that my 3g grandmother was born. In fact, in the first decade of the 1800s, “Nancy” made the Top 5 list. By the time John and Lucy Frazier welcomed their third child/second daughter, “Nancy” had dropped to #7 in the Top 10. Judging by the 70 women in my database named “Nancy,” the name has continued to be a favorite among my ancestors and relatives.

Nancy Elizabeth Frazier was born on Valentine’s Day in 1811. When she was 23, she “robbed the cradle,” as they say, when she married Burton Shiflett, two years her junior, on December 1, 1834 in Albemarle County. The 1840 census is alphabetized, so it is not possible to get a good sense of the neighborhood they settled in. Since people did not move that often, the 1850 census suggests Burton and Nancy lived among family just as their parents and grandparents had done. Next door were Burton’s brother Madison Shiflett and Nancy’s brother Miley Frazier. All were farmers. Burton’s real estate was valued at $500. Neither he nor Nancy could read or write.

Between 1834 and 1857, Nancy and Burton had 11 children. The first, Ola, was born in 1835, but since she was not in the 1850 census, it is likely that she had died. Two sons, Francis (b. 1844) and Jeremiah (b. 1847), disappeared after the 1860 census.

After 1860, Nancy’s husband Burton was no longer enumerated either. That’s because he was killed by Nancy’s brother Leland Shiflett/Frazier. According to family legend, a fight that concluded with a knife-stabbing began near a moonshine still. Perhaps Leland and Burton argued over spirits, but no one today knows the story behind the story.

At any rate, Nancy was left a widow. In 1870 she was listed as the head of household on a farm worth $600. At home were three daughters and one son, George, who was reportedly “Dumb” and helpless. Fortunately her daughter Lucy and son-in-law James Franklin Jollett were next door. It is likely that James Franklin worked the Shiflett farm.

In 1871, Nancy plus her children and their spouses sold 200 acres for $300 to Nancy’s brother Miley Frazier. Today this tract is part of the Frazier Discovery Trail near the Loft Mountain campground on the Skyline Drive.

Greene County Deed Book ?
Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett to Miley Frazier
21 Dec 1871

This deed Made this twenty first day of December 1871, between Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett of the first and Mily Frazier of the second part all of Greene County Virginia, Witnesseth, that in consideration of three hundred dollars to them in hand paid by said Mily Frazier, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, The said Nancy E. Shiflet, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucie Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflet, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflet, hereby grant unto the said Mily Frazier with general warranty the following real Estate to wit: Two hundred acres more or less, Beginning on Lynches River at Henry Austins corner thence to Burr? Lanes line, thence with said Lanes line to Wyatt Mills' corner thence to Poison Nole? corner thence to pole hill corner thence to the beginning, the above land lies in the county and State aforesaid.
Nancy E. (her x mark) Shiflett
John C. Shiflett
Lucretia (her x mark) Shiflett
James F. Jollett
Lucy Ann Jollett
Nancy F. Shiflett
George Austin Morris
Susan C. Morris
Victoria J. Shiflett
Acknowledged by all parties 21 December 1871 before Greene County J.P. Nath. B. Chapman and J.A. Davis

The absence of Ola, Francis, and Jeremiah on the deed is further indication that they were probably all dead by then. The son George is also not on the deed, but whether he was dead or just not qualified to be on a legal document is not known. However, he was not in the 1880 census. Surely had he been alive, he would have been living with his mother.

In 1880, Nancy was still head of household. Living with her were her son John Conway and two of his children, Dora and Joseph. Enumerated as “Disabled,” John appears on the list of “Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes” as a deaf mute. That did not stop him from fathering children out of wedlock and later remarrying.

At some point, Nancy Elizabeth moved to Rockingham County to live with her daughter Nancy Frances. Nancy Elizabeth died 22 January 1895. She is buried in the cemetery of Pine Grove Church of the Brethren in Lacy Springs, Rockingham County, Virginia.

 

Nancy E. Shiflett
died Jan 22, 1895
83 yrs 11 mo 8 ds

Family of Nancy Elizabeth Frazier and Burton Shiflett

Nancy Elizabeth FRAZIER (14 Feb 1811 Albemarle Co, VA – 22 Jan 1895, Lacey Springs, VA) & Burton SHIFLETT (Circa 1814 - 20 Oct 1866 Greene Co, VA) m. 1 Dec 1834 Albemarle Co, VA. 

1. Ola SHIFLETT (1835 - )
2. Jacob Haskell Shiflett (Circa 1836 Greene Co, VA - Before Oct 1871 ) & Lucretia "Crecie" Jollett(18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, VA - 31 Dec 1911   Rockingham Co, VA)  m. 5 Aug 1858 Page Co, VA

• Mary E. Shiflett (1861 Rockingham Co, VA - Before 1955) & George R. "Herbert" Mayhew (Jul 1847 New York – 1 Jun 1909 McKeesport, PA)  m. 17 March 1879 Page Co, VA
•  Martha F. S. Shiflett (Mar 1863 Rockingham Co, VA - Before 1955) & George W. McCauley (19 Jul 1852 Albemarle Co, VA - 22 Jun 1918 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 8 June 1882 Rockingham Co, VA

3. John Conway "Connie" Shiflett (2 Jun 1840 Greene Co, VA - 9 Feb 1916 Albemarle Co, VA ) & m1) Lucretia Shiflett (Circa 1846 Greene Co, VA - Before Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA) m. 7 Dec 1863 Greene Co, VA ;  m2) Mary D. Shiflett (2 Dec 1849 Greene Co, VA – 8 Jan 1924 Albemarle Co, VA)  m. 22 July 1880 Greene Co, VA

Issue with Lucretia Shiflett

• Eudora A. or Endora Shiflett (1 Jul 1866 Albemarle Co, VA - 28 Dec 1932 Albemarle Co, VA) & John Lewis Gibson (7 Jun 1862 Fluvanna, VA - 7 Jan 1937 Albemarle Co, VA)  m. 18 May 1884 Greene Co, VA
• Joseph Ottobine Shiflett (30 Mar 1868 Greene Co, VA - 1942 Baltimore, MD) & m1) Edie Coleman (1870 - 28 Aug 1906 Greene Co, VA) m. May 1891 Greene Co, VA; m2) Rosa L. Roberts (Jan 1893 Augusta Co, VA – 1955 Baltimore, MD) m. 10 March 1909 Augusta Co, VA           

Issue with Nancy J. Shiflett [not married]

• John Conway Shiflett  Jr. (5 Oct 1877 Albemarle Co, VA - 27 Apr 1947 Charlottesville, VA) & Alice E. Shiflett (1 Aug 1887 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Dec 1973 Charlottesville, VA) m. 11 Oct 1901 Albemarle Co, VA
• Lucy Ann Shiflett (5 Oct 1877 Albemarle Co, VA - 30 Sep 1947 Charlottesville, VA) & Adam Keblinger Wyant (2 Nov 1855 Albemarle Co, VA - 21 Jan 1941 Charlottesville, VA)

Issue with Mary D. Shiflett

• Maude B. Shiflett (27 Apr 1881 Albemarle Co, VA - 31 Oct 1957 Staunton, VA) & George Burruss Shiflett (17 Sep 1872 Albemarle Co, VA - 21 May 1948 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 29 Dec 1904 Albemarle Co, VA
• Wilford Clement Shiflett (5 Apr 1888 - 5 Aug 1961) & Lutitia "Lishie" Morris Sullivan (29 Nov 1885 Greene Co, VA - 27 Dec 1965 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 27 Oct 1921 Greene Co, VA
• Woodford H. Shiflett (20 May 1890 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Feb 1926 Albemarle Co, VA) & Louise LEWIS (21 Aug 1896 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Jul 1964 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 6 March 1916 Albemarle Co, VA

4. Lucy Ann Shiflett (1843 Greene Co, VA - 1884 Greene Co, VA) & James Franklin Jollett (17 Nov 1836 - 3 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA) m. 12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA

• Burton Lewis Jollett (2 Oct 1860 Greene Co, VA – 4 May 1934 Greene Co, VA) & m1) Louisa E. Sullivan (Aug 1862 Greene Co, VA - Before 1900) m. 20 Jan 1881 Greene Co, VA ; m2) Cornelia Morris Sullivan (Nov 1844 Greene Co, VA - 2 Aug 1927 Greene Co, VA)
• Emma Franklin Jollett (1 Feb 1863 Greene Co, VA – 10 Apr 1945 Page Co, VA) & Andrew Jackson Coleman (29 Jul 1858 Greene Co, VA - 4 Oct 1947 Page Co, VA) m. 26 Nov 1880 Greene Co, VA
• Laura Etta Jollett (30 May 1865 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jul 1947 Page Co, VA) & William J. Sullivan (13 Jan 1866 Greene Co, VA - 22 May 1942 Page Co, VA) m. 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, VA
• Leanna Alice Jollett (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, VA – 20 Sep 1936 Albemarle Co, VA) & James Mitchell Knight (9 May 1866 Greene Co, VA - 16 Feb 1942 Greene Co, VA) m. 1 Mar 1885 Greene Co, VA
• Mary Frances Jollett (10 Jan 1870 Greene Co, VA – 22 Feb 1950 Harrisonburg, VA) & Walter Davis (12 Sep 1867 Rockingham Co, VA - 31 Oct 1934 Page Co, VA) m. 11 Feb 1890 Greene Co, VA
• Sarah Catherine Jollett (11 May 1872 Greene Co, VA – 7 Jul 1944 Washington D.C.) & George T. Clift (Sep 1865 Page Co, VA - ) m. 30 Mar 1891 Page Co, VA
• Victoria Elizabeth Jollett (19 Mar 1878 Greene Co, VA – 2 May 1944 Washington D.C.) & Decatur Breeden (15 Sep 1877 Rockingham Co, VA - 27 Sep 1952 Washington D.C.) m. 26 Dec 1901 Page Co, VA
• William Isaac Jollett (Jan 1880 Greene Co, VA – Jul 1903 Newport News, VA)
• Ulysses Finks Jollett (26 Jan 1883 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jan 1931 Baltimore, MD) & Sadie Janiero Lamb (7 Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA - 5 Feb 1961 Fredericksburg, VA) m. 23 Nov 1903 Greene Co, VA

5. Francis M. Shiflett (1844 Greene Co, VA - before 1871)

6. Jeremiah Shiflett (1847 Greene Co, VA - before 1871 )

7. Nancy Frances Shiflett (1850 Greene Co, VA - 2 Mar 1926 Washington, D.C. ) & William Gordon Morris Jr. (Circa 1851 Greene Co, VA – 1891 Greene Co, VA) m. 20 Sept 1872

• William Layton Morris (1874 Greene Co, VA – 3 Feb 1895 Rockingham Co, VA) & Ida Mary Marshall Davis (25 Jun 1869 Rockingham Co, VA – ?) m. 12 Dec 1890 Rockingham Co, VA
• Upshur Morris (1875 Greene Co, VA - 1891 Greene Co, VA)
• Addie Morris (27 Mar 1876 Greene Co, VA - Apr 1901 Rockingham Co, VA) & Henry Armentrout (15 Sep 1854 Rockingham Co, VA - 30 Apr 1941 Rockingham Co, VA) m. 1899 Greene Co, VA
• Lemuel Belvin Morris (16 Dec 1877 Greene Co, VA - 27 Oct 1947 Arlington, VA) & Emma Claudine Bernard (26 Jan 1885 Franklin Co, VA - 25 Apr 1963 Arlington, VA) m. 12 Mar 1906 Rockville, MD
• Marvin Tollie Morris (7 Aug 1878 Greene Co, VA  - 7 Mar 1943 McLean, VA) & Virgie Rhinehart (23 Mar 1885 Rockingham Co, VA - 9 Oct 1962 Arlington, VA)
• Ethel Morris (13 Jul 1881 Greene Co, VA - 1 Jun 1964) & Peter Davis (24 Apr 1865 - 13 Dec 1930 Washington, D.C.) m. 18 Oct 1905 Washington, D.C.
• Vessie Morris (15 Feb 1883 Greene Co, VA - 6 Mar 1950 Fairfax, VA) & Paul E. Rhinehart (16 Apr 1873 Rockingham Co, VA - 7 Jan 1963 Charlottesville, VA) m. 30 Jul 1903 Harrisonburg, VA
• Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Morris (13 Sep 1884 Greene Co, VA - 26 Nov 1975 Albany, NY ) & m1) John R. Payne (15 Jun 1888 Fauquier Co, VA - 7 Jul 1923 Washington, D.C.) m. 19 Sep 1919 Alexandria, VA ; m2) Rex Wills m. 27 Jul 1933 Hagerstown, MD
• Blanche Cornelia Morris (27 Feb 1887 Greene Co, VA - 25 Dec 1968 Falls Church, VA) & Lewon Russell Smith (27 Nov 1880 Fairfax Co, VA - 2 Nov 1971 Fairfax Co, VA) m. 27 Jun 1906 Washington D.C.

8. Susan Clementine "Clem" Shiflett (22 Jun 1851 Greene Co, VA - 29 Dec 1928 Greene Co, VA) & George Austin Morris (6 Apr 1848 Greene Co, VA - 14 Nov 1934 Greene Co, VA)  m. 12 Dec 1870 Greene Co, VA

• Ida Belle Morris (15 Sep 1871 Greene Co, VA - 2 Apr 1917 Greene Co, VA) & George Allen Knight (11 May 1867 Greene Co, VA - 8 Sep 1948 Greene Co, VA) m. 11 Jan 1894 Greene Co, VA
• Francis Monroe Morris (21 Jul 1873 Greene Co, VA - 10 Aug 1936 Albemarle Co, VA)  & Ludelia Morris (6 Oct 1877 Greene Co, VA  - 17 May 1958 Orange Co, VA) m. 28 Dec 1899 Greene Co, VA 
• Leviston Ervin Morris (1 Mar 1874 Greene Co, VA  - 25 Dec 1957 Albemarle Co, VA) & Roberta Ella Morris (17 Mar 1878 Greene Co, VA  - 30 Mar 1958 Greene Co, VA ) m. 28 Dec 1899 Greene Co, VA 
• Altie Zora Morris (2 Dec 1876 Greene Co, VA  - 29 Dec 1954 Vienna, VA ) & Charles Pirkey (19 Dec 1872 Rockingham Co, VA - 2 Jan 1943 Vienna, VA ) m. 23 Dec 1902 Greene Co, VA
• Mary Ann Morris (2 Dec 1878 Greene Co, VA - 18 Jun 1947 Greene Co, VA) & m1) James Charles Sullivan (11 Jul 1875 Greene Co, VA - 21 Mar 1913 Greene Co, VA) m. 19 Sep 1900  Greene Co, VA  ; m2)  Manis Oscar Sullivan (9 Dec 1888 Greene Co, VA - 12 Sep 1961 Fairfax, VA) m. 14 Sep 1915
• John Paul Morris (30 Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - 21 Dec 1916 Greene Co, VA )
• Rhoda Green Morris (17 Nov 1882 Greene Co, VA - 22 Apr 1902 Greene Co, VA)
• Columbus Abell Morris (2 May 1884 Greene Co, VA - 15 Apr 1964 Philadelphia, PA)  & Elizabeth Bessie Collins (16 Aug 1891 Pennsylvania - 11 Nov 1938 Philadelphia, PA) m. 1913
• Sylvester Eddie Morris (22 Feb 1886 Greene Co, VA  - 12 Nov 1967 Charlottesville, VA) & Nettie Jane Morris (28 Apr 1909 Greene Co, VA  - 27 Apr 1978 Greene Co, VA) m. 5 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA 
• Myrtle Nelson Morris (29 Feb 1888 Greene Co, VA - 1 Mar 1970 Gordonsville, VA) & Anna Collier (10 Aug 1886 Greene Co, VA - 31 Jan 1965 Gordonsville, VA) m. 5 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA 
• Willie Lee Morris (27 Feb 1889 Greene Co, VA  - 15 Jul 1918 France) [killed in Battle of the Huns World War I]
• George Washington Morris (Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA - Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA)
• Julia Catherine Morris (2 Apr 1893 Greene Co, VA - 1 Jun 1979 Alexandria, VA) & George Gilmer (10 Aug 1884 Rockingham Co, VA - 8 Sep 1962 Charlottesville, VA) m. 3 Jun 1918 Greene Co, VA 
• Eveline Marie Morris (12 Mar 1895 Greene Co, VA - 26 Jul 1976 Falls Church, VA) & Robert Collier (28 Dec 1889 Greene Co, VA - 5 Jan 1963 Loudoun, VA) m. 22 Jun 1922 Albemarle Co, VA
• Mabel Alice Morris (12 Dec 1897 Greene Co, VA - 27 Jun 1966 Baltimore, MD) & Isaac Jackson Rice (20 Dec 1893 Sistersville, WV - 16 Jun 1965 Ann Arundel, MD)

9. Victoria Shiflett (14 Mar 1854 Greene Co, VA - 13 Mar 1926 Greene Co, VA) & Ambrose Vernon (10 Mar 1854 – 29 Aug 1936 Greene Co, VA) m. 26 Dec 1875

• Ira Vernon (11 Dec 1876 Greene Co, VA - 20 Jun 1953 Greene Co, VA)  & Josie Marshall (22 Sep 1876 Rockingham Co, VA - 8 Feb 1961 Greene Co, VA ) m. 27 Jan 1898 Greene Co, VA
• Madie Vernon (14 Jun 1881 Greene Co, VA - ?) & Reinhold Merschel (2 Aug Plaeswitz, Germany - ) m. 26 May 1909 Summit Co, OH
• Charles Marcus Vernon (14 Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - 11 Apr 1959 Staunton, VA) & Flossie Lee Landes (30 Dec 1896 Rockingham Co, VA - 13 Oct 1995 Salisbury, MD)
• John Fleming Vernon (9 Oct 1881 Greene Co, VA - 7 Sep 1937 Charlottesville, VA)
• Lucy Ann Vernon (13 Jun 1884 Greene Co, VA - 3 Feb 1972 Greene Co, VA) & Beauregard George “Buey” Snow (20 May 1877 Greene Co, VA - 7 Apr 1961 Greene Co, VA) m. 23 May 1906 Greene Co, VA

10. George Shiflett (1856 - )

11.  Unnamed Shiflett (1857-1857)

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sepia Saturday: Different Strokes

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt featuring students of Margaret St. Ledger performing “The Dance of the Hours” reminds me of one bitter disappointment from my childhood.

When I was in elementary school, many of my friends began taking ballet lessons. Of course, I wanted to too (tutu - get it? Ha, yeah, I kill me). My mother would have none of it. “That’s just silly,” she kept saying. Silly? She had dance lessons as a child studying tap at the Harman School of Music in Shenandoah, Virginia. Surely she recognized the value of dance lessons.

Despite denying me this enrichment, I managed to get a free lesson as a visitor to my friend’s class at the Cradock Community Center. That day we all learned the five ballet positions. The instructor must have been really good because to this day, I can still do the second position (Google it to fully appreciate my point - it is the dance equivalent of “I can still fit in my earrings”).

When my girls came along, my mother announced, “Oh I can’t wait until we can put them in ballet class!” Who was this woman? What did she do with my mother?

Jordan and Miss Shelly

By the time they were old enough for dance lessons, I had become my mother and was not interested in the recitals and expensive costumes that my friends complained about at their children’s dance schools. 

Fortunately nearby was a dance school with a different philosophy. 

The Dance and Body Shop focused on movement education; rules and precision of BALLET were taught but less emphasized.

Zoe in the middle

Zoe on the right

Jordan (left) and two others performed
for the Junior Woman's Club of Portsmouth.
The girl in the middle was obviously a more accomplished dancer.

At the end of the course, parents were invited not to a recital but to a polished demonstration of skills the girls had developed.

My girls participated for a couple years, but dance was just not their “thing.” They preferred performing on dirt.

 

Jordan and Shawnee

Zoe

Come one, come all! Witness the fine performances of Bloggers Extraordinaire at Sepia Saturday.

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.