Brandenburg Map, 1757   This map of the electorate of Brandenburg is based on a map by von Gundling (1673-1731), who produced an atlas of the region.  It is a detailed map that includes the post roads, clusters of trees to indicate forests, and notations for cloisters and universities.  It has a beautifully engraved and intricate crest celebrating the Hohenzollern family, the Electors of Brandenburg who were to become the Kings of Prussia beginning with Frederick I in 1701.

Brandenburg Area  A modern outline of the Brandenburg area surrounding Berlin.

Winkelbach  In 1752, William and Anna Brandenburg left their home town of "Winkelbach" in Germany and sailed to America.  William was 30 years old (we do not know Anna's age).

The photo shows Winkelbach's town hall and plaza.  The town's crest is above the front door.  The building is modern and the area has been paved over, but the water well was probably there in 1752.  It was the center of town, where people met to draw water and swap stories.

Winkelbach's population was 69 in 1815, 68 in 1905, 106 in 1950, and 230 in 2009.  One can imagine how small the town was when William and Anna left it in 1752.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin  The gate was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a sign of peace, and was constructed by Karl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791.  It consists of 12 Greek Doric columns, six on each side.  Above the gate is the Quadriga of Victory, consisting of the Goddess of Peace driving a four-horse chariot in triumph.  The gate's design was based on the Propylea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin  A more recent view.  When Berlin was divided, the gate was a checkpoint between the east and west sectors.  Now it's again a main landmark in the heart of the city.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin  On a postage stamp.

Brandenburg Flag

Brandenburg Plate

Brandenburg Ship

Book:  'Aus Nacht zum Licht'  ('From Night to Light') by Elisabeth von Brandenburg.

Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg (1619-1688), "The Great Elector", was the father of King Friedrich I (1657-1713), "Frederick the Great".  The modern era of the Brandenburg-Hohenzollern dynasty is traced to him.

Views:  Portrait 1
            Portrait 2

Coins:  1498
           1640  Georg Wilhelm Brandenburg
           1652  Friedrich Wilhelm Brandenburg
           1689
           1726

Here is a family tree showing the Hohenzollern generations.  Use the free Adobe Reader to view it.

Hohenzollern Family Tree

Here is a source showing the relationship of the royal families of Europe:  You can navigate to any part of the history.  The link below starts with the Brandenburgs in the early 1700s.

Royal Families of Europe

William Henry Brandenburg and his wife Anna (maiden name unknown) sailed to America in 1752 aboard the ship "Two Brothers", landing in Philadelphia.  They settled in the Frederick, Maryland area.

When they arrived in America, William (born 1722) was 30 years of age.

Family tradition holds that William and Anna Brandenburg were accompanied on the voyage to America by a young relative, Mathias Brandenburg (born 1738).  So far, proof that Mathias was with them, and of his relationship to them, has not been found.  He could have been William's younger brother, or perhaps a nephew.  Matthias was about 14.

Male passengers aged 16 and over were required to take the oath of allegiance to their new country.  Here is the list of those who took the oath on 15 September 1752, after arriving on the ship.

Ship 'Two Brothers' Adult Male Passengers

From "Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808" by R. B. Strassburger and W. J. Hinke; (Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1934)

Here are two pages of the signatures of the men who took the oath of allegiance.

William:  Oath of allegiance:  Page 1  2

"Willem Henrich Brandenburger" is on page 2.  His signature is about two-thirds of the way down -- the longest signature on the page.

Here is a close-up of his signature:  Detail

---

Twelve years earlier, Johan Andonges Brandenburg (John Anthony Brandenburg) sailed to America.  He arrived on the ship "Samuel and Elizabeth", docking in Philadelphia in 1740.  He was 29 years of age.

Johan took the oath of allegiance on 30 September 1740.  Here is the page bearing his signature, and a close-up of the signature.

Johan:  Oath of allegiance:  Page

"Johan Andonges Brandenburg" is the fifth signature from the top, right side of the page.  (His signature covers two lines.)

Here is a close-up of his signature:  Detail

---

In 1766, Jacob Brandenburg sailed to America, arriving in Philadelphia on the ship "Sally".  He was 26 years of age.  His relationship to William has not been established.

Jacob took the oath of allegiance on 4 November 1766.  Here is the page bearing his signature, and a close-up of the signature.

Jacob:  Oath of allegiance:  Page

"Jacob Brandenburger" is the last signature on the page.

Here is a close-up of his signature:  Detail

Jacob settled in the Frederick County area of Maryland.

---

Alexander Heinrich Brandenburg and his wife Anna (maiden name unknown) are another Brandenburg family that came to America.

 Their date and place of arrival are not as yet known.  Two of their children, Barbara Brandenburg (born 1741) and John Conrad Brandenburg (born about 1747) were born in Germany.  A third child, Jacob Brandenburg (born after 1761) was born in Frederick County, Maryland.

---

Our branch of the family is descended from William Henry Brandenburg and his wife Anna, who arrived in 1752.

Their son (also named William Henry) was born 1757/8 in Frederick County, Maryland and married Catherine Bussard.  Our family is descended from their marriage.

William and Anna Brandenburg's family expanded from Frederick County, Maryland into Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

William (the son) served in the Maryland Minute Men during the Revolutionary War, receiving a pension for his service.  He is shown in Frederick County in the first US Federal Census (1790).

Here is a description of home life among the early German settlers of Frederick County, Maryland.

Early Home Life

From "History of Frederick County" by T.J.C. Williams and Folger McKinsey, (L.R. Titsworth & Co., 1910)

Here's a picture of the early Frederick County courthouse, which probably housed some of the birth, marriage, and other records of our family.

Frederick County Courthouse

From "Early Days of Washington, D.C." by Sally Somervell Mackall, (Neale Co., 1899)

Here's a biography of a distant relative, with a reference to one of our own ancestors.

A Brandenburg Biography

From "History of Frederick County" by T.J.C. Williams and Folger McKinsey, (L.R. Titsworth & Co., 1910)

Brandenburg, Kentucky is one of the family's early sites.

Photo.  Early photo of the town, date unknown.

Photo.  More modern photo, date unknown.

Civil War News.  New York Tribune column, 14 Aug 1864.  Confederate "guerrillas" demanded the town's surrender or else it would be burned, with an account of its defense by Home Guards.  Also a report of treachery and murder of captured soldiers from the 140th Illinois Infantry (fortunately our ancestor William T. Shore was in the 112th).

History A link to the history of Brandenburg, Kentucky.

A family letter shows that John Shore came from England to America in April 1832.

So far, an accurate ship's record showing him as a passenger has not been found.

We have found a ship's record in public archives showing a "George Shore" with the same occupation, sailing from the same port and in the same month that John Shore would have sailed.

Here is the Ship's Record.

1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (CSA)

James Owen Gaffney, John Gaffney, and John Fadden served in this regiment.

Illinois Regiment Histories (USA)

Marshall Winn served in the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery.

William T. Shore served in the 112th Illinois Infantry.  He was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, 14 May 1863.

Here is a history of the 112th Illinois Infantry Regiment.

Missouri Home Guard,  25th Missouri Infantry Regiment (USA)

Perry Talbott served as Staff Surgeon, first in the Missouri Home Guard and then in the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry.

At the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee on 6 April 1862 they became the first skirmishers at the start of the battle, with their commander shot dead from the saddle of his horse.  They remained heavily engaged.

Here is their battle flag, a telegram to the U.S. Congress, and a history of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Regiment.

Gaffney Family Home in Ross, Ireland   The home is in the "Townland of Ross", County Meath, Ireland.  Our Gaffney family lived in this home for more than 200 years.  The last family member, Molly Gaffney, lived here until her death in 1979.  This photograph was made by John Brian Gaffney on his visit in 1988.  When he saw the house, it was being used as a storehouse for hay.

Here are more views of the Gaffney home, taken in 2016.   Photos:  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8

Gaffney Headstone in Finnea, Ireland   In 1801 our relative Charles Gaffney was buried in the cemetery at Finnea, County Westmeath, Ireland; his wife Bridget (McEnnerreny) Gaffney is there also.  In 1979 Molly Gaffney was also buried there with her name added to the family's headstone.  The Finnea cemetery is just four miles from the family's Ross home.

Finnea:  Two modern views of the town of Finnea, Ireland.  Photos:  1  2

Gaffney Family  Postmasters.

Father Molloy  References to Gaffney and Fadden families.

Here are two items from our heritage -- an Irish bishop's history, and an English soldier's letter.

In the 1850s, Ireland was rising against English rule.  Major battles took place at Mullingar, County Meath.

In 1850, one of our family was an 11-year old boy, born in Mullingar and living there.  He went on to become a priest in the Church and the bishop of County Meath.

In the same year and at the same place, another of our family was a young soldier in the English infantry at the Mullingar battlefield.  He penned a poignant letter about the battle.

The Irish lad is Matthew Gaffney.  The English soldier is William Shore.

Probably they never met -- or at most might have had a glimpse of each other.  Neither could have dreamed that someday there would be a family that is related to both of them.

Here you will see the Irish bishop's history in the Church, and the English soldier's letter from the battlefield.

Gaffney and Shore at Mullingar

The letter's handwriting can be hard to read -- a text transcript is provided, made by Debra Tasker.

Here's an 1876 postcard addressed to the "Chief Commissary of Subsistence" in San Antonio, Texas.

The writer is a Lieutenant, 25th Infantry:  "Sir: I have the honor to request to be furnished for use of my office with three (3) blank requisitions for Subsistence stores for sale to Officers &c."

It is marked, "Hold until new form in alphabetical order is recd."

The card was found in items belonging to Jesse Shore (1877-1950).  He was an avid philatelist and so might have kept it as a postage sample.

Front  Back

At least three generations in the family saved postage stamps.

Here are some collected by Margaret Ann (Shore) Roberts (1910-2004).

Stamps:   Some Stamps   Another View

Jesse Perry Shore (1877-1950) started his grandson Joseph Roberts Jr collecting stamps on Joseph's ninth birthday in 1942.  The collection includes First Day Covers (commemorating a stamp's first day of issue).  Here are a few.

Stamps:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19

Honey Recipe

Sugar, water, alum, blush rose petals, red and white clover blossoms.

In Margaret Ann (Shore) Roberts' handwriting, date unknown.

Alfred Thomas Shore sailed from England to America on the ship "Calhoun", landing at New York on May 18, 1858.  He was 23 years of age.

We have cards and letters from him, written to his cousin Louisa Cedelia Shore.  His life is described on the page for "The Shore Family", in our Family Gallery.

We do not know what the voyage might have been like on the "Calhoun" for Alfred Shore and the other passengers in 1858.

Here is a New York court record of a mutiny aboard the same ship, on another crossing seven years later in 1865:

A Ship's Mutiny

News articles from World War II and the Korean War, saved in the family.

 View of news articles

 Panama Canal Zone, 1942

 Panama Canal Zone, 1942

 Europe, February 8, 1945     Detail:  1   2   3   4     Back:  1   2   3   4

 World War II Ending, August 1945   2   3   4

 Korea, Pacific Stars and Stripes   2   3   4

'Dad' (Joseph Roberts) shipped out from San Francisco on 25 March 1939 for assignment to Panama.

Here are two Naval archive photos of the ship "Republic" which took him there.  The ship was built in 1903 and originally was part of the German merchant service.  She was captured for the American merchant service when the countries went to war in 1917.

One photo shows the ship on the high seas; the other is in the Panama Canal.

 

The ship arrived at Panama on 4 April 1939.

Here are letters written in 1939 before departure from San Francisco and after arrival in Panama.

 1939 Letters

It was the family's first separation.  There would be many others.  Five months after their father's arrival in Panama, World War II began in Europe on 1 September 1939.  Letters later in the year reflect the family's hope that it will not last long, and that they may be able to be together again soon.

'Dad' (Joseph Roberts) had been stationed at Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone since April 1939.

Here are two photos showing buildings at Albrook Field during a flood on October 25, 1939.

 Albrook Flood      Albrook Flood

After a year and a half of separation, the family was given permission to join their husband and father in Panama.

'Mom' (Margaret Ann Roberts) took her three children by railway from San Antonio, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina where the family embarked on the "Chateau-Thierry".  The ship departed Charleston on October 15, 1940, sailed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then docked at Cristobal in the Canal Zone on October 17, 1940.

Here is the "Chateau-Thierry".

Here is a telegram sent on October 16, 1940 from 'Dad' in Panama to 'Mom' aboard the ship.

 Telegram

Here is the ship's newspaper for October 17, 1940.  Today in hindsight, we can see the events looming in the world:

  Part One Page  1  2  3  4     Part Two Page  1  2  3  4  5  

The ship was built in 1921.  During World War II she served as a troop carrier, sailing between the USA, Greenland, Europe, and Africa.  She was later converted into a hospital ship, and the photo above from naval archives dates from that time.

The family remained together in Panama from October 1940 until World War II came to the United States with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December 1941.  In January 1942 military dependents were evacuated from Panama and returned to the United States.

The family returned aboard the USAT Shawnee.  Here are two pictures of the ship:

  

The ship was built in 1926.  She served as a troop carrier during World War II.  Still early in the war in January 1942, family accommodations were still good, as suggested by these menus:

  

Here is a page from the Shawnee's passenger list: Page   Zoom

The page is hard to read.  The 'zoom' is clearer.  The family is shown on lines 12-15:

Margaret   age 31
Joseph   age 8
James   age 5
Carol   age 3

The page shows the family embarking on the Shawnee on January 14, 1942 from Cristobal, Canal Zone, landing at New Orleans on January 17.  Their destination is the home of Margaret's parents, Jesse and Anna Shore, at 716 Denver Blvd., San Antonio, Texas.

Here is Margaret Ann Roberts's record of the 1940 trip to Panama and 1942 return.  She wrote this in a 1993 letter to her son, James Roberts:

Envelope        Pages  1   2

  3   4   5   6

'Mom' (Margaret Ann Roberts) and the children remained in San Antonio, Texas while 'Dad' (Joseph Roberts) was reassigned to Dutch Guiana (Surinam), South America supporting antisea and antisubmarine surveillance for the Panama Canal.

'Dad' (Joseph Roberts) received orders on 5 April 1950 for assignment to Japan.

Here are two Naval archive photos of the ship "General D. E. Aultman" which took him there.

 

Here is his certificate for crossing the International Date Line.

 Golden Dragon

Less than two months after he arrived in Japan, the Korean war began.  Military dependent travel was stopped to the war theatre, and the family endured another year and a half of separation.  They were finally joined together in Japan in December 1951.

In his service there early in the Korean war, his airbase was able to celebrate a Thanksgiving dinner.  It included a moving tribute to those in battle.

Here is their Thanksgiving dinner dedication and menu.

 Page  1  2

Our family traveled on this ship, the "J. C. Breckinridge", to Japan in November-December 1951.

 

The ship's card was given to our family when we boarded in San Francisco.  The photo from naval archives shows the ship docking at Yokohama in 1952.

'Mom' (Margaret Ann Roberts) took her four children by railway from San Antonio, Texas to San Francisco, California where the family embarked on this ship.  The ship left San Francisco on November 27, 1951 and sailed to Yokohama, Japan in 10 days.

Here are covers of two booklets introducing military family newcomers to Japanese life and culture.

 Book  1  2

Photos from the voyage:

Leaving San Francisco -- November 27, 1951
San Francisco Bay
Golden Gate Bridge
Ship's Wake
Arriving Yokohama
Arriving Tokyo -- December 1951
Tokyo -- Parliament Building

Scenes from Japan:

Tokyo -- Spring 1952
Pony Cart -- Ueno Park
Passersby
Cherry Blossoms
Emperor's Birthday -- April 1952
Our Neighbors' Children
Our Neighbors' Children and Cheryl Sue Roberts
Cheryl Sue Roberts -- Hibiya Park
Margaret Ann and Cheryl Sue Roberts, Rear Garden of Family Home, Winter 1951-52
Cheryl Sue and Carole Ann Roberts, Rear Garden of Family Home, Spring 1952
Carole Ann Roberts, Spring 1952
Cheryl Sue Roberts, Spring 1952
Carole Ann Roberts, Cheryl Sue Roberts, Margaret Ann Roberts -- Hibiya Park Orchid Garden

More photos of our family in Japan are on the Gallery page for Joseph and Margaret Ann Roberts.

. . . Here is the outline of a 1952 tour of Tokyo:   Tokyo Tour

. . . And here is a 10 Yen note, souvenir of Japan:   Front  Back

Brought back by Jesse P. Shore after his service in The Philippines during the Spanish-American War.  The date on the Work Permit is 7 (or 9) March 1898.

Bamboo Holder  Work Permit
Sword  Detail
Machete  Detail
Toothed Weapon  Detail

   Quilt

Louisa's Obituary (1931) mentions:

"... This was about the time of the Civil war.  One of her enterprises was that of making quilts, which she sold to help raise funds for the war.  One of these quilts is now in the possession of her family."

Louisa Cedelia (Shore) Winn gave this quilt to her nephew, Jesse Perry Shore.  He gave it to his daughter Jessie Kathryn (Shore) Kollenberg, who gave it to her niece Jean (May) Roberts.

Here are some books that were passed down through generations in the family to Margaret Ann (Shore) Roberts (1910-2004).

  Photos   1  2  3

The oldest book "Glories of Mary" belonged to her grandfather James Owen Gaffney (1839-1912) in Refugio, Texas.

A book "Garden of the Soul" was a Christmas 1892 gift from Reverend Mother De Pazzie to James Francis Xavier Gaffney (1880-1945) in Refugio, Texas.

Several Bibles and religious books belonged to Margaret Camille (Gaffney) Finegan (1877-1971) and her husband James Aloysius Finegan (1873-1955).  Margaret Ann Roberts cared for her elderly aunt Camille in her later years.

A schoolbook "Ave Maria Reader" was the third-grade reader for Margaret Ann's son Joseph Roberts at St. Gerard's school, San Antonio, Texas.

A book "Texas History Movies", a cartoon history of Texas, belonged to Margaret Ann's father Jesse Perry Shore (1877-1950).  It was an informative and easy read, a delight for learning about history in the Shore family home.

Here are some limericks written by Jesse Perry Shore (1877-1950).

  Limericks   Front  Back

In Limericks 5 and 11, a girl who has "It" suggests the image of Clara Bow as "The 'It' Girl", reflecting on the progress women were making in society during the early 1920s.

Here are pictures from the scrapbook of Jesse's daughter, Margaret Ann Shore, when she was about 14 years old (1924).

    They show two of the era's ladies with "It".

Here is an advertising card for a Corpus Christi, Texas barbecue place.  It probably dates from the 1930s or 1940s.

Front   Back

In 1841 John Shore bought 82 acres in La Fayette, Stark County, Illinois.  John and Mary Ann (Brandenburg) Shore reared their family there.

Four children:  Althea (1840-1842), Sarah (1842-1876), Louisa (1844-1931), William (1846-1898).

Four grandchildren:  Winfred (1869-1886), Cora (1871-1873), Albertus (1874-1928), Jesse (1877-1950).

John Shore died there on 7 March 1861.

Mary Ann remarried to Richard C. Baker on 1 January 1862.

William's first wife Cora (Dick) Shore died there on 2 September 1871.  She was the mother of Winfred (b.1869) and Cora (b.1871).

William's second wife Ianthe (Talbott) Shore lived in Stark County after they were married in Nodaway County, Missouri.  She was the mother of Albertus (b.1874) and Jesse Shore (b.1877), both born in Stark County.  Ianthe died on 1 February 1880 and is buried in the Talbott family cemetery in Nodaway County, Missouri.

The details can be found on our Family Gallery pages.

Probably there are birth, marriage, death records, deeds, wills, and other documents in the Stark County courthouse that can be found for our heritage.

Photo:  Stark County Courthouse

Here are More Photos of Stark County.

Here are two excerpts from an 1887 history of Stark County:

Stark County:  Incentives for Marriage

Stark County:  Roles of Pioneer Women

La Fayette, Stark County, Illinois is still a small village, population 227 (US Census, year 2000).

John Shore and Mary Ann (Brandenburg) Shore purchased 82 acres of land at La Fayette in 1841.  They reared three children to adulthood there (another daughter died in infancy, in 1842).

John Shore died in 1861.  Mary Ann (Brandenburg) Shore remarried in 1862 to Richard C. Baker.  She died in 1892.

John, Mary Ann, and two of their children are buried in the La Fayette Cemetery, about 1/2 mile west of La Fayette village.  Aerial photos and a view of the grounds are shown below.

Aerial Photos:  1  2  3

Wyoming, Stark County, Illinois was the home of Marshall Winn and Louisa Cedelia (Shore) Winn after their marriage in 1869.  Jesse Shore came to live with them in 1880 as a child of less than three years of age, and he was reared to his adulthood there.

Here is a map of the area, with some snapshots from around the turn of the century.

Map

Photos:  1  2  3

Arkoe, Nodaway County, Missouri is still a small town, population 58 (US Census, year 2000).

It is part of White Cloud Township, where Perry Hoshor Talbott and Belle (McFarland) Talbott settled about 1854.

Ianthe Talbott was born at the family's home in White Cloud Township, about 1856.  She and William Thomas Shore were married near here in Maryville on 3 Oct 1873.

In 1874 Doctor Talbott, together with Scott Snively, laid out the town of Arkoe on a part of the Talbott lands, giving access to a railroad line and a station in the town.

He mapped and named a 'Talbott' street, 'Belle' street for his wife, and 'Olive' street for their first child Olivia (she was called 'Olive' in the family's home).

The Talbott family's cemetery is on lands that were part of the Talbott farm.

Here are a map and some images of the town.

Map

About 1909:  1  2  3

Aerial Photos:  1  2  3

Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri is the area where William Thomas Shore lived from about 1890 to his death on 18 Oct 1898.  Military pension records are directed to him there.

His son Albertus Arthur Shore had settled there, marrying Sallie Brady and rearing their daughter, Edna Shore.

Here is a postcard of the town's college from around 1910.  This building was erected after the first one burned in 1892.  W.T. Shore might have seen the original landmark building on the site.

Photo

The two Gaffney brothers, Charles and Owen, immigrated from Ireland before 1839 and settled originally in Texas.  Owen remained in Texas, while Charles moved to Connecticut around 1850.

Charles married Ann Mulligan in 1854, and their family grew and prospered in the New Britain, Connecticut area.  The family became prominent there as merchants, attorneys, and state and federal judges.

Here are some early views of New Britain.

1888 Blizzard    All shoveling done by hand.
1900 West Main Street
1907 Downtown    With a clothesline between buildings at the right.
1912 Main Street

John Shore was born in Warminster in 1802.  He arrived in America in 1832 and married Mary Ann Brandenburg at Erie County, Ohio in 1838.

Here are three engravings of Warminster (about 1841) and a photo of the town (about 1910).

1841 Engravings:  1  2  3
1910 Town

Here are two views of the High Street market place, 1880 and 2010.

1880  2010

Here is the Warminster Tax Roll of 1644.  Look up the land definitions:  'capital messuage', 'carucate', and 'virgate'.  Tax was payable to the Crown in the reign of Charles I (he was beheaded five years later).

1644 Tax Roll

Joseph Roberts (1901-1952) was born as Fred Lee Poff on March 3, 1901 in Roanoke, Virginia.

On a military record, as Joseph Roberts he claimed to have been orphaned at the death of his mother (1907) and father (1909), and attended Miami Military Institute in Germantown, Ohio from 1908 to 1920.

No family items have been found showing that he attended the school.  Here are some photographs from public records.

Click to 'zoom':

   
 
     

These views date from about 1905.  Probably life there was much the same when he entered the school in 1908.

The daily schedule has been recorded:

6:00           Reveille
6:30           Inspection
6:45           Breakfast
7:50           Chapel
8:00-11:30    Classes
11:35          Calisthenics
12:00          Dinner
1:00-3:00     Classes
3:10           Drill
4:15           Sports
5:30           Call to quarters
5:45           Dress parade
6:00           Supper
7:00           Call to quarters
7:00-9:00     Reading and study
9:30           Taps

On Saturday evenings, each cadet was required to write a letter to his family.

On Sunday mornings, the cadets would assemble in formation.  They would march as a unit to attend one of the five churches in town.

Here is a 1912 edition of the school's magazine.  Click to 'zoom':  

During the 1930s Great Depression the military school closed.

It became a summer camp for a local church, until the camp was closed.

Click to 'zoom':

The buildings were abandoned and fell into disrepair.

Click to 'zoom':

     
 
   

In 2015 it was demolished.  Here are photographs taken before and after the demolition.

Click to 'zoom':

 

Finding a family's roots necessarily takes one to cemetery lookups.

Headstone inscriptions found there often make one pause, awhile, in thought.

They speak to the fragility and precious value of life.  Even after so many years, they remind us of the love within families.

Here are several.  They are probably not related to our family, but were only discovered during research.

Still, their messages touch our hearts.

Headstone:  Roberts Child   'Our Darling Boy' ... May 24, 1915 - May 24, 1916

Headstone:  Inscription   'She was a kind and affectionate wife, a fond mother and a friend to all.'

These words are the same as those on the headstone of Cora Mary Shore, first wife of William Thomas Shore.  Cora died in 1871, at age 18, two weeks after giving birth to their daughter.

Here is  Cora's Headstone.  It has the same words.

Cora's stone is weathered, faded and not easy to read.  At the top it has 'Farewell', with clasped hands.  At the bottom it has the same inscription as the other stone's, above.

The woman memorialized on the other headstone is not related to our family.  Her grave and Cora's are hundreds of miles apart.  Apparently those words were often used in remembrance of a dear family member.

Here's the kind of personal account that makes a family's heritage so real.

It isn't related to our family at all -- it's just an example.

It shows what life was like in rural Missouri during the time our family lived there.

It also shows what a Missouri census taker had to do to record the 1900 US Federal census.

Our own family has relatives in the Missouri 1860 and 1870 census, and they lived in rural communities.  Judging from what it was like in 1900, the census taker's job must have been just as difficult to do in 1860 and 1870.

Link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mobarry/data/webb1.htm