52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #8 - Walton Ward Greene

Walton Ward Greene is my second great grandfather on my father's side.  Walton was born on July 28, 1885 in Avon, Wisconsin to George McCoy Greene (1850-1907) and Alice Mattoon (1855-1938).  According to the 1900 Census, Walton was still living in Avon.  On January 11, 1905, Walton married Katherine Viola Keller in Rockford, Illinois.  Walton and Katherine welcomed their first child, my great grandfather Chester Walton in December 1905 (he died in 1967).  They had two other children: Ora Belle (1907-1988) and Georgia Mary (1922-2008).  The 1910 censes has Walton still living in Avon but by the 1920 census, Walton was living in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  By the 1930 and 1940 censuses, Walton was back living in Avon.  After Katherine passed in 1945, Walton remarried Elsie Gustafson on July 27, 1950.  Walton died on November 1, 1968 at the age of 83.

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #7 - Garnet Jane McNeal

Grandma Jane in May 2009.

This is probably the closest relative I am going to do on my blog.  My grandmother would of celebrated her 77th birthday this week.

Garnet Jane McNeal was born on February 18, 1937 in Rockford, Illinois to Kenneth Ralph McNeal (1916-1983) and Garnet Adele Firman (1913-1997).  She always went by her middle name Jane.  Jane was the second of seven children:

• Janet Arlene (1936-2005)
• Karen Maureen (1943-1943)
• Linda Kay (1945-1992)
• Kenneth Richard (1947-1947)
• a brother and sister who are still living.

Jane married A. Dell Carrico (1937-2004) on March 1, 1958 in Rockford, Illinois.  They would have six children, one of them is my mother.

Jane remarried on October 8, 1985 to James Marvel Dempsey (1927-2012).

My grandmother loved to shop at Goodwill, often repurchasing things that she had at one point donated.  She was also known for her cooking and baking.  My grandmother was an expert pie maker making everything from pumpkin to chocolate peanut butter.  Pies tended to out number people at family gatherings because Grandma always wanted to make everyone's favorite pie.  

Grandma passed away on November 16, 2013 in Loves Park, Illinois.  She is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Grandma hated to have her picture taken often flipping the bird or covering her face to avoid the camera.  After her passing we found a bunch of great pictures of her.  This one I bare an uncanny resemblance to her, the picture of myself on the right doesn't really do it justice.

Jane and Janet

My parents wedding in May 1983.

Grandma and Jim in August 1991.

Grandma and her children in August 2009. From Left: Debbie, Karen, Brian, Grandma, David, Barbara, Kenny.

Grandma and the grandchildren in December 2012.  From Left: Ashley holding Scarlett, Derek, Lizzie, Grandma, Myself and Dan in background.  Kenny's children, Michael and Karri and Debbie's son, Dustin are not pictured.

I have for some reason been unable to find my grandmother, her sister Janet and her parents, Garnet and Kenneth in the 1940's census so I am not sure where they were residing in 1940.

Ancestry Profile

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #6 - Charlotte Marie Nachtigall

 Charlotte and Walter

Charlotte Marie Nachtigall was born on November 4, 1908 in Illinois to Herman Fredrec Nachtigall (1866-1934) and Clara Wilhelmina Quist (1873-1926).  By 1910, Charlotte was living in Sycamore, Illinois.  Charlotte was the youngest of six children.  Charlotte married Walter Eric Carlson (1898-1963) on March 21, 1929.  They had four children, three of whom are still living.  One of those children is my grandfather.  By the 1930's census, Charlotte was living in DeKalb where she remained until her death on August 24, 1958 at the age of 49.


Nachtigall Family - Top: Clara. Middle: Alice, Charlotte, Edith. Bottom: Fredrick, Albert, John.

Charlotte is my great grandmother.


Ancestry

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #5 - Tressie Jane Sanders

Tressie Jane Sanders is my great grandmother.  Tressie was born on December 16, 1901 in Mitchell, Cross, Arkansas to Mitchell (d. 1920) and Parthenia Adaline Mitchell (1879-1966).  In 1910 and 1920, Tressie was living in Big Creek, Fulton, Arkansas.  On July 30, 1930 Tressie married Austin Rochester Carrico in Howell County, Missouri.  According to the 1930's census, Tressie was lived in Calico Rock, Izard, Arkansas.  Tressie and Austin welcomed their first child, a son, in 1934 who is still living.  Two years later, Tressie gave birth to another son Joda Mace (1936-2011).  The following year, Tressie and Austin had another son A. Dell (1937-2004; who is my grandfather).   Tressie and Austin would have one more child, a daughter born in 1940.  Tressie died just days after giving birth on December 11, 1940 at the age of 38.  Tressie is buried in Hebron Cemetery in Mitchell, Arkansas.

Ancestry

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #4 - Ada Viola Norman UPDATED

Ada Viola Norman was born in 1889.  Adeline married George Deo Firman and they had five children:

• Garnet Adele (my great grandmother; 1913-1997)
• Ronald G. (1915-1980)
• Charles D. (1919-1994)
• Betty Jane (1926-1994)
• Nina (1928-1994).  

By the time of the 1920 census, she had moved to Detroit, Wayne, Michigan and in the 1930's census they were till in Michigan living in Royal Oak in Oakland County.  Adeline passed away at the age of 45 on January 8, 1935 and was living in Chicago.  Adeline was buried in Tremont.  

*Ada is my 2nd great grandmother - maternal

I originally had thought her parents were Amos Garth Norman and Estella Goewey turns out that is a completely different person named Alta Viola Norman.

Ancestry