These are some of my favorite tidbits of family history odds and ends. The pieces that just make you smile, or think, or laugh, or cry or even ask why?.
Builders of Destiny by Jesse Stuart
They lie, our pioneers, where highways run.
They lie where railroads go and cities stand.
Their brittle bones have been exposed to sun
And wind. Their bones are restless in this land.
What does it matter if their bones do lie
Beneath the turning wheels where millions pass,
Builders and dreamers born to live and die
Like white plum petals on the April grass?
What does it matter if their bones turn stone,
Their flesh be richer dust our plowshares turn,
Builders who made America our own,
Whose blood has fed the roots of grass and fern?
Dreamers and builders of our destiny,
They left their epitaph for all to read;
A land of dream and wealth and energy,
A land where freedom is the greatest greed.
This is my favorite genealogy inspiration.
A fun piece of history for all you Pendleton County Kentucky Cousins! A copy of the 1898 commencement from the Hickory Grove School!
This is another poem I picked up in a box of old papers belonging to Nellie Beyersdoerfer. They are currently in the posession of her daughter Ada.
Nellie Gray
1.
"There's a low green valley
On the old Kentucky shore
Where we whiled many happy hours away
A sitting and a singing
By the little cottage door
Where there lives my darling nellie gray
Chorus
O my poor nellie gray they have
Taken her away that I'll never see
My darling any more
I am sitting by the river
And I am weeping all the day
For she's gone from the old Kentucky shore
2.
When the moon had climb the mts
And the stars were shining too
Then I take my darling Nellie Gray
And we float down the river in
My little red canough while my
Banjo sweetly I would play
3.
One night I went to see her
But she's gone the neighbors say
The white men have bound her
With their chains they have taken
Her to Georgia for to ware her life away
As she toils in the cotton and the cane
4.
My canough is under water
And my banjo is unstrung
I am tired of living any more
My eyes shall look downward And
My songs shall be missing while I
Stay on the old Kentucky shore.
5.
My eyes are getting blinder and I
Cannot see my way hark thers
Somebody knocking at the door
And I hear the angels calling and
I see my Nellie Gray Farwell to the
Old Kentucky shore
second chorus
O my poor nellie gray up in heaven
There they say that theyll never take
You from me any more I am sitting
By the river coming coming coming
The angels clear the way Farwell to
The old Kentucky shore."
Madison Daniels - Gallia County Ohio
Last Will And Testament of Madison Daniels of Porter, Gallia County Ohio Dated January 6, 1913. Filed Aug - 18 - 1913 Morris Tipton Probate Judge.
"The last Will and Testament of Madison Daniels of Porter Ohio in the name of the Benevolent Father of All. I the said Madison Daniels being of sound and disposing mind and memory; considering the uncertainty of life and desiring to make such disposition of my worldly estate as I deem best; Do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament; hereby revoking and annulling any and all former Will or Wills whatsoever by me made.
First I desire all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid as soon as possible after my decease.
Second I desire set apart for my Grandson Thomas Daniels an interest bearing note of fifty dollars, with interest not less than 4%, said note to be secured and held and managed by my son Jesse Daniels, unitl the said Thomas Daniels arrives at the age of twenty-one; Then to be turned over to him with accrued interest,This note to be dated at my death and signed by Jesse Daniels and sureties.
Third I hereby give and bequeath to my son Jesse Daniels my wagon and all farming implements.
Fourth; I desire my wife Mary A. Daniels to have and to hold all the balance of my property both personal and real estate this includes moneys notes and real estate during her life time, and at her death I bequeath to my son Jesse Daniels all of my real estate in the village of Porter O. and also the three acres lying directly west of Porter O. and adjacent thereto.
Fifth, I desire my twenty-acres of land known as the Eblen farm, and twelve acres known as the Dustin farm all of Springfield tp. Gallia Co. O. to be sold at publice sale and the net proceeds to be divided equally among all my children, except my son william Daniels, I desire taken from his share sixty-four dollars and seventy one cents, the same bring to balance a note which I paid for him June 6th 1913."
