Fun with Find a Grave: Tom Sawyer

Today's Character Name: Thomas "Tom" Sawyer

Illustration by True Williams (1876)- Photo Courtesy of Wickipedia

~Tom Sawyer is a fictional character created by author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) in his 1876 novel- Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain also featured Tom in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894) and Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896). 

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Pen name: Mark Twain)

B: 30 Nov 1835

D: 21 Apr 1910-- Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery

                          in Elmira, Chemung, New york

There have been many movie adaptations of Tom Saywer in the past. 

In 1930, John Cromwell directed Tom Sawyer where Jackie Coogan portrayed Tom.

John Leslie Coogan (Jackie Coogan)

B: 26 Oct 1914

D: 01 Mar 1984-- Buried in Holy Cross Cemetery 

                          in Culver City, Los Angeles, California

Here's a picture of him when he was a child: 

Later, Jackie Coogan would play Uncle Fester in the Addams Family!

In 1973, MGM did a musical featuring John Orson Whitaker Jr. (Johnny) as Tom Sawyer. 

John Orson Whitaker Jr. (Johnny)

B: 13 Dec 1959 

D: Still Alive

So, how many Thomas "Tom" Sawyers are there on Find a Grave?? 

Thomas Sawyer- 447!

Tom Sawyer- 77!

I wasn't sure which name to pick to research, so I went with someone who would be able Tom's age in the book-- Tom Sawyer in the book would have been born about 1864 because he was 12 years old in the 1876 book, so I chose the only Tom/Thomas sawyer I could find who was born in 1864~

Thomas Williamson Sawyer

B: 24 Jun 1864

D: 21 Jan 1940-- Buried in Hamilton Beeman Cemetery 

                          in Retreat, Navarro, Texas

Thomas Williamson Sawyer was born on 24 Jun 1864 in MacOupin, Illinois. Thomas married Phebie Ellen Bentley (1872-1944) (daughter of Elisha Bentley & Caroline Sawyer) on 11 Nov 1890 and they had 8 Children together! 

U.S. Census Records: 

1910 (28 Apr) (age 45): Justice Precinct 6, Navarro, Texas

Thomas was a farmer living with his wife and 5 children.

1920 (06 Jan) (age 53): Corsicana, Navarro, Texas

Thomas was living on South Seventeenth Street- home was owned. He was a laborer at a refinery and lived with his wife and 5 children.

1930 (07 Apr) (age 64): Corsicana, Navarro, Texas

Thomas was living at 1512 South 15th St.- home was owned and valued at $600. He was a retail grocery merchant, lived with his wife and 3 children. 

Thomas died of Uremia at the age of 75 years old.

A Million Mendenhall's: #42 & #43

Mendenhall #42: Abraham Mendenhall (1766-1833)

Birth:28 Mar 1766 in Mill Creek, New Castle, Delaware

Death: 17 May 1833 in Wilmington, Clinton, Ohio

Relation to Me: My 2nd Cousin, 9x Removed

Parents: Aaron Mendenhall (1729-1813) &

          Mary Woodward (1735-1813

Siblings:

1. No Siblings

Marriage: 14 Jan 1798 in Old Swedes, Wilmington, Delaware

Abraham married Elizabeth Wells (1778-1863)--daughter of Harrison Wells & Hannah VanLeer.

Abraham and Elizabeth had 11 Children:

1. Alina (1798-1856)

2. Eliza (1801-1835)

3. Harrison (1803-1855)

4. Thomas Lovell (1806-1888)

5. James (1808-1853)

6. George Pierce (1810-1835)

7. Madison (1813-1835)

8. William (1815-1906)

9. John (1817-1817)

10. Eli (1819-1882)

11. Hannah Wells (1822-1852)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1800 (age 34): Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware

5 Total Members in Household- No Slaves

~1810 (age 44): Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware

10 Members in Household- No Slaves

~1820 (age 54): Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware

11 Free White Persons, 1 FREE Colored Person- 12 Total- No Slaves

~1830 (age 64): Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware

8 total people- No Slaves

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Mendenhall #43: Abraham Mendenhall (1844-1844)

Birth: 22 Apr 1844 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Death: 27 Aug 1844 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

        4 Months old

Buried: Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds

        in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Relation to Me: My 4th Cousin, 7x Removed

Parents: William Mendenhall (1815-1906) &

          Sarah Lovell (1818-1899)

Siblings:

1. Mary Frances (1839-1897)

2. Thomas Lovell (1841-1926)

3. Richard Lovell (1845-1921)

4. John (1847-1920)

5. Elizabeth Wells (1850-1918)

6. Sarah Lovell (1853-1900)

7. William Amasa (1856-1889)

8. Hannah Matilda (1858-1931)

Marriage: None- Died Young

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1844 (22 Apr): Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints

Fun with Find a Grave: Sherlock Holmes

I really love this blog idea so far-- I'm really having fun with it. If you, the reader, thinks of a character name that YOU would love to see me research, please comment it and I'll fit it in!! :) 


Today's Character Name: Sherlock Holmes

~Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character created by author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I can't imagine anyone not knowing who Sherlock Holmes is...but in case you don't, you can read about the character Here.

Sherlock Holmes was first a series of 4 novels starting in 1887 and then was developed into 56 short stories by Doyle. 

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle or just Conan Doyle:
B: 22 May 1859
D: 07 Jul 1930-- Buried in All Saints Churchyard
                         in Minstead, New Forest District, Hampshire, England

Since then, there have been many adaptations of the character in a variety of movies and television. 
In 1943, Roy William Neill directed Sherlock Holmes in Washington. Basil Rathbone played Sherlock.

Basil Rathbone:
B: 13 Jun 1892 
D: 21 Jul 1967-- Buried in Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum
                         in Hartsdale, Westchester, New York

 (Same as Judy Garland!)

In 1954, Red Skelton portrayed Holmes in a TV episode titled Sherlock Holmes Satire. 

Red Skelton:
B: 18 Jul 1913
D: 17 Sep 1997--Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park 
                         in Glendale, Los Angeles, California

 (same as L. Frank Baum!)

So how many Sherlock Holmes are there on Find a Grave? 10!
This number surprised me because I was expecting 0. Since I didn't really have anything to go on, I just randomly chose one of these Sherlock's to research:

Sherlock Holmes
B: 13 Oct 1937
D: 27 Feb 2012-- Buried in Farrs Chapel Cemetery 
                          Jamestown, Newton, Texas

Sherlock was born on 13 Oct 1937 in Jasper, Jasper, Texas to John Thomas Holmes (1891-1973) & Lois Dickerson (1901-1980). He was in the Air Force and led a career as a maintenance supervisor with Bayer Chemical. 

In the 1940 US census, Sherlock was 2, he was living with his parents (father was a teacher) and 2 sisters- Johnie Maxine & Lillian Narris. Their home was rented- $10/Mo.

Sherlock married Rita Jean Ozment (1938-2013), daughter of Perry Elvin Ozment & Leola Christine Hall, and they had 4 children. 

A Million Mendenhall's: #40 & #41

Mendenhall #40: Abner Mendenhall Jr. (1807-1850)

Birth: 28 Aug 1807 in Greenwood, Columbia, Pennsylvania

Death: 22 Dec 1850 in California

Relation to Me: My 4th Cousin, 8x Removed

Parents: Abner Mendenhall (1769-1842) &

          Lydia Carleton (1772-1854)

Siblings:

1.Joshua Baily (1794-1872)

2. Thomas Carleton (1796-1883)

3. Mary (1798-1869)

4. Eli (1801-1887)

5. Mark Carleton (1803-1844)

6. Martha (1805-1891)

7. Lydia Carleton (1809-1894)

8. James (1811-1905)

9. Samuel (1816-1895)

Marriage: 01 Mar 1836 in Greenwood, Columbia, PA

Abner Jr. married Martha Jane Manville (1816-1893)-- daughter of Murray Manville & Hannah Jane Wigdon.

Abner and Martha had 4 Children:

1. Eliza (1837-1867)

2. William Ellis (1837-1847)

3. Ellis Abner (1840-1919)

4. Chester (1843-1844)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1850 (14 Sep) (age 43): Calaversas, Calaveras, California

Miner- Living with 3 other men- James Mendenhall, Harvey Robinson & Norman Underwood.

Abner died at the age of 43 on 22 Dec 1850 in California. I couldn't find anything else about Abner, but the sounds of it- he left his family in PA to find Gold in the West during the Gold Rush and died because of it.

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Mendenhall #41: Abner Lewis Mendenhall (1813-1813)

Birth: 27 Aug 1813 in Concord, Chester, Pennsylvania

Death: Dec 1813 in Concord, Chester, Pennsylvania

Relation to Me: My 3rd Cousin, 9x Removed

Parents: William Mendenhall (1765-1843) &

          Cecilia (Cicely) Lewis (1771-1839)

Siblings:

1. Jane C. (1792-1793)

2. Margaret (1795-1848)

3. Elizabeth (1796-1849)

4. William White (1799-1869)

5. Hannah L. (1802-1866)

6. Mary L. (1807-1884)

7. Phoebe (1808-1858)

8. Robert L. (1811-1889)

9. Anna (1816-1834)

Marriage: Never married- Died Young.

Today in My Family History- Week 35 (a few days late)

Monday, August 24, 2015

A Very Happy Birthday to: 

~My 1st Cousin- a "Living Potchik"-- 29 Years Old

Happy Anniversary to:

~My 1st Cousin and his Wife

Tuesday, August 25, 2015-August 28, 2015

NONE

Friday, August 28, 2015

In Loving Memory- May they Rest in Peace:

~Helen Ruth Seaver (1923-1981)--57 Years Old

My Grandmother

She DIED on August 28, 1981.

~Maria Elisabeth Kluneman (1830-1912)-- 82 Years Old

My 3rd Great Grandmother

She was BORN on August 28, 1830.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Happy Anniversary to:

~Joseph Henry Brinkman & Marie Dorothy Rose

My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed and his Wife.

They were married 29 August 1922 in St. Henry, Mercer, Ohio.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

NONE

Fun with Find a Grave: Dorothy Gale

Fun with Find a Grave!

I love Movies and I love Genealogy so I thought- why not put them together? 

Today's Character Name: Dorothy Gale
~Dorothy Gale is the protagonist in the Wizard of Oz.


The Wizard of Oz was first a novel written by Lyman Frank Baum (L. Frank Baum) in 1900 and named it The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

L. Frank Baum:
B. 15 May 1856
D. 06 May 1919-- Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park
                          Glendale, Los Angeles, California

In 1939, The wizard of Oz became a movie where 16 year old Judy Garland played Dorothy:

Judy Garland:
B. 10 Jun 1922
D. 22 Jun 1969--Buried in Ferncliff Cemetery & Mausoleum
                         Hartsdale, Westchester, New York

So how many Dorothy Gale's are there on Find a Grave??  71! 
(This is searching maiden and married names of "Gale")

In the story, Dorothy was from Kansas, so I thought it would be fun to search if any of these "Dorothy Gale's" were buried in Kansas- there was only 1!

Dorothy J. Gale McKinsey
B. 30 Jul 1936
D. 30 Mar 1971-- Buried in Sutton Cemetery 
                          Baldwin City, Douglas, Kansas


Dorothy was born Dorothy Jean Gale on 30 Jul 1936 in Douglas County, Kansas to Charles H. Gale & Ruth Marquardt. She had at least one sister- Charlene. Dorothy married "unknown" McKinsey on 21 Dec 1954 and they had 2 daughters. McKinsey was the son of Charles Estel McKinsey & Martha Heffley. 

I found only one census record for Dorothy- since she was born in 1936:

11 Apr 1940: Willow Springs, Douglas, Kansas
Daughter; Home was Rented for $12/Mo.; She lived with her Parents (Father was a farmer), her sister Charlene and her Grandfather. 

Dorothy died at the age of 34 on 30 Mar 1971 of cancer (type- unknown). 

A Million Mendenhall's #38 & 39

Mendenhall #38: Abner Mendenhall (1769-1842) 

Birth: 22 Oct 1769 in Kennett, Chester, Pennsylvania

Death: 26 May 1842 in Greenwood, Columbia, Pennsylvania

        72 Years Old

Relation to Me: My 3rd Cousin, 9x Removed

Parents: Samuel Mendenhall (1722-1787) &

          Mary Baily (1737-1787)

Siblings: 

(Abner's father- Samuel married twice)

1.Beulah (1771-1850)

2. Jane (1773-?)

Half-Siblings:

1. Benjamin (1746-1801)

2. Amos (1748-1845)

3. Edith (1750-1833)

4. Jehu (1755-1825)

5. Samuel Jr. (1760-1822)

6. Sarah (1762-?)

Marriage: 28 Nov 1793 in Chester County, PA

Abner married Lydia Carleton (1772-1854)-- daughter of Thomas Carleton & Lydia Gregg. 

Abner and Lydia had 10 Children:

1. Joshua Baily (1794-1872)

2. Thomas Carleton (1796-1883)

3. Mary (1798-1869)

4. Eli (1801-1887)

5. Mark Carleton (1803-1844)

6. Martha (1805-1891)

7. Abner Jr. (1807-1850)

8. Lydia Carleton (1809-1894)

9. James (1811-1905)

10. Samuel (1816-1895)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1793 (28 Nov) (age 24): Kennett, Chester, PA

Marriage with Lydia Carleton- Kennett Meeting House

~1800 (age 31): Catawissa, Northumberland, PA

8 total people in household, no slaves.

~1840 (age 71): Huntington, Luzerne, PA

7 total people, no slaves.

Story from Esther L. Edgerton (granddaughter of Abner):

My father often told me that his father, Abner Mendenhall when a boy, was riding with his father, Samuel Mendenhall, one day, when they met Washington (General George Washington) and his staff some where near a public house. The General made a grave and courteous salutation and was riding on when his attention was caught by the fine horse my great-grandfather rode. Instantly he drew rein and with a bow said: Sir, that is a fine mount you have, will you sell him? No General, came the reply. I bred him myself and have no wish to part with him. Ah so, but then with a pleasant manner yet there be men who would sell the house that had carried them to safety, even to life: and then catching sight of several negro laborers in the field he turned to the boy Abner saying: So you have hoe-heels up here! The boy probably thought he meant Indians for he replied quickly, Oh no General, those are black men who are working in the fields. My grandfather said the great man gave him a keen look that made him think of the eyes of a hawk tho' they were blue and then he smiled and said: Quite right my boy, they are men true enough, and then passed on.

Did any prescience in that whisper to the great chief that before a hundred years had passed the descendants of that boy and the sturdy farmers would stand shoulder to shoulder against the men of his State to prove that those Africans were men?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mendenhall #39: Abner Mendenhall (1810-1851)

Birth: 1810 in Maryland

Death: 1851 in Williamsport, Washington, Maryland

        41 Years Old

Relation to Me: My 5th Cousin, 7x Removed

Parents: Jacob Mendenhall (1780-1860) &

          Barsheba Silver (1778-1859)

Siblings:

1. Francis S. (1807-?)

2. Amos P. (1812-1854)

3. Elijah (1814-?)

4. Mary Ann (1816-?)

5. Samuel (1818-1901)

6. Thomas Farmer (1828-1894)

Marriage: Unknown date.

Abner married Elizabeth Gallaher (1811-1900) and they had 7 Children:

1. Corbin (1835-1860)

2. Mary S. (1837-1906)

3. Anna E. (1841-1877)

4. Hannah Taylor (1843-?)

5. Alice V. (1845-1870)

6. Margaret Emma (1846-?)

7. Georgianna (1847-?)

Residence(s) & Occupation(s):

~1850 (16 Jul) (age 40): District 9, Berkeley, Virginia

Plasterer, Living with Wife and 6 Children.