Google and the Movies -- Georgia O'Keeffe and Adams Extract

We all Google different names; our name, our friends, our enemies and our ancestors.  Along with Google, I am an avid movie fan, and try to imagine my surprise when I Googled two of my distant relatives and saw that movies had recently been made, both shown last year, one on television and one in the theater.

The first was about Georgia O'Keeffe. The movie was made about her life, and it was appropriately titled, "Georgia O'Keeffe" and aired on the Lifetime channel.  I never knew that, until the Google search.  Fortunately for me, I was able to rent the movie from Redbox for $1 and watch the wonderful cast of Joan Allen, Ed Begley Jr., Jeremy Irons and Tyne Daly. The story covered her life, centering on her relationship with her husband. The only genealogy information I gleaned from the movie was how her mother died.  What a thrill to see a movie about my 4th cousin once removed.  A short movie trailer on the movie is on YouTube. I wrote about Georgia in January 2010.


The second name I discovered a movie connection to was, John Anderson Adams, my great-granduncle.  John was originally from Michigan and moved to Beeville, Bee Co., Texas.  In this case, I just googled his name, and up popped a movie called, "Extract" which was released the first week of September 2009,  and it is based a little on his life.  In order to view the movie, I had to obtain it from my local library for free.  I was impressed with the cast of Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Gene Simmons and several others.  It was a comedy, and I'll leave the reviews to the professional critics, and public.  The Adams Extract Company issued a press release at the time the movie opened. Below is part of that release.


"Adams Extract traces it beginnings back to 1888 when John Anderson Adams sold extracts in the harsh Michigan climate. In 1905 he moved his family to Texas. At the time, most vanilla was sold to pharmacies and was often labeled “Do not bake or freeze.” John A. Adams, a pharmacist whose imagination was stirred by his wife’s yearning for a flavoring that wouldn’t bake or freeze out, announced that he could produce a better vanilla than the one his wife was currently using. Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, Adams discovered the formula he wanted. To test this product, his wife whipped up a cake for the family to try. “John, this is the BEST flavoring I have ever used,” she announced. “Well, that’s old man Adams BEST,” he responded. The name stuck. The double-strength extract was sold door-to-door by sons Fred and Don."

Several years ago, I learned of the Adams vanilla history and a lot about John, but this year, something new was added to Google, that being the movie.  It pays to keep checking or, doing a Google Alert.  Speaking of the Alerts, when that option first became available, I did about ten Alerts.  I've cut three, so still use the same seven for several years now.

John Anderson Adams was the brother of Yates Adams, my great-grandfather.  I've written about Yates and his either Suicide or Murder in 1917.  I've often wondered why Yates didn't move to Texas and work with his brother in his successful business of manufacturing Vanilla Extract.

Treasure Chest Thursday -- New Beginnings

My father, as a freshman, on his way to Union College, Schenectady, New York.

1938

Joined the Navy in 1942.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Prescott Park, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Prescott Park
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Website: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark

From the above website, "Prescott Park was created and has been maintained by the terms of the last will and testament of Josie F. Prescott, a life long resident of the City of Portsmouth. It was her wish that a public park, free and accessible to all, be established along the Portsmouth waterfront replacing what had become a run down industrial area of Portsmouth.

The land to be acquired was designated to be along the Piscataqua River between lower State Street and Pickering Street. Once acquired the land was to be given to the City for the use as a public park."

I love this garden, because it's beautifully maintained, is next to the Piscataqua River and feet from the Strawberry Banke Museum (see my blog with photos).

Unfortunately, I can't share more photos of the garden or the waterfront, because they were on another server and were deleted. Below is a map, showing the size and location.

Tombstone Tuesday -- DEWOLF (2 Generations) New York

Stafford Rural Cemetery, Stafford, Batavia Co., New York

The DeWolf Family

Orin J. DeWolf

Born:  March 14, 1830, New York

Died:  1899, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

His wife below.

Betsey E. Adams DeWolf

Born:  November 1830, New York

Died:  February 18, 1906, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Father and mother above.

Their son below.

Charles Freemond DeWolf

Born:  October 1861, New York

Died:  Abt. March 12, 1913, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

and first wife, Rose Kibler.

Born:  1864

Died:  Abt. February 02, 1892, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Betsey E. Adams DeWolf was my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.

Notes:  Photos taken by Claire (O'Donnell) Andrews (my 5th cousin, once removed) and used with permission.

Tombstone Tuesday -- WILDER (New Hampshire)

Old Cemetery, Washington St., Keene, New Hampshire

Able Wilder

Born:  August 11, 1770, Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts

Died:  April 03, 1862, April 03, 1862

Abel Wilder was my 4th great-grandfather.

His Wife,

MARY "Polly" MEAD*

Born:  1777, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died:  July 19, 1813, Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

*From:  Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, NH, Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1886. Pg. 67. "In memory of Mrs. Mary, wife of Abel Wilder, who departed this life July 19, 1813, aged 36 years." I believe over 100 years ago, there was a stone.

"Very Poor and of a Lo Make" Abner Sanger

Unusual title, I know.  The Very Poor and of a Lo Make is a title of a wonderful book that had it's beginnings back in 1774. It is comprised from a set of journals that Abner Sanger kept from 1774-1782 in Keene, New Hampshire and 1791-1794 in Dublin, New Hampshire.  His papers were kept for 44 years, then were passed down from generation to generation until they were put up for auction in 1914.  From Page XI, "The Library of Congress bought the collection of Sanger papers.  Taken to Washington, the pages of the little booklets were cut apart, silked and bound (with the letters from father to son) between hard covers.  The journal was placed in the Manuscript Division."

"Abner Sanger once referred to in a legal proceeding as a man, 'being very poor and of a lo make.'"  When he died, the local newspaper wrote, "Died in this town, Mr. Abner Sanger, aged 83."  It is nice to know that his life is still being read about.

Other than providing valuable insight into the life of a farmer living in Keene and Dublin, New Hampshire for much of his life, there is a nice chronology of his life and some genealogical information. However, Abner didn't write much about his family, but the author incorporated a small three generation genealogy section of the Sanger family and that has helped me tremendously. While I am not directly related to him, I am to his second wife, when Elizabeth "Betsey" Johnson married again in April 01, 1784. Abner and Elizabeth had seven children together.

Buried at Old Cemetery, (Known as Washington St. Cemetery)

Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

His wife, Elizabeth is buried in Dublin, photo below and it is on

 Find-A-Grave.

Source:  Sanger, Abner, Lois  K. Stabler, editor, Very Poor and of a Lo Make: The Journal of Abner Sanger, Pub. for the Historical Soc. of Cheshire County, Portsmouth, NH: 1986.

Recently, (Oct. 2010) I found my flyer for the book, and copied it below.

Follow Friday -- Follow the Surname

When I received the marriage certificate with the big ugly red stamp, and copied off-center I was a little upset. But then I read it. Darn, this wasn't to my liking, my great-grandparents had the same 

surname!

I probably stewed about it, then went on to other things, all the while angry for the mistake.  But, there was no mistake.  A good deal later, I discovered that Charles Clarence Poole and Anna "Annie" Poole were related, they were second cousins once removed!  That discovery made for a quick lineage for Annie, as I only had to add a few lines, then merge her file into her husband's.  Even when I used FamilyTreeMaker to calculate their relationship, they don't show up as husband and wife, but as second cousins once removed.

If you ever come across something like this, you might be luckier than unlucky.  And, don't always assume the certificate is wrong!

Many years later, I now can see the record online at Family Search through their Records Search Pilot option (the link isn't exact for some reason, but the name is #3, so click on that).  If I had waited 13 years, I wouldn't have had to wait for the snail mail, pay for the copy or receive a copy with the red stamp. However, this one is also off center as well.  Can't do anything about that...

Treasure Chest Thursday -- Mother and Child

Grandmother Sarah Ten Eyck Bishop

with my mother, Jane

Grandmother Marjorie Adams Poole

with my father, John

(above and below)

Both of my parents were born in 1919, mother born in New York City, and father in Evanston, Illinois.  Each was the first child.

Tombstone Tuesday - ELDER JOHN STRONG

Princess Diana and I are 9th great-granddaughters of Elder John Strong.

       

Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts

John Strong

Born:  Abt. 1610, Chard, Somerset, England

Died:  April 14, 1699, Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts

His wife, Abigail Ford

Born:  Abt. October 08, 1619, Bridport, Dorset, England

Died:  July 06, 1688, Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts

A Day at the Library -- Sentimental Sunday

There usually isn't much sentimental about a day at the library, especially since the day was yesterday, but it will be before long.  A day filled with seeing Eric and Henry, Gary B. Roberts, Laura Lee K., helping a genea-blogger, mention of Kathryn Doyle and a crazed man who tried to stop the train I was on.

I went to the New England Historic Genealogical Library (NEHGS), in Boston, yesterday, because I received a letter earlier this week from Laura Lee K. of California stating, "In Boston at NEHGS, researching James Lowrey.  Happened to find your rootsweb genealogy, just after finding John and Elidia in the Barbour VR. Have been reresearching your entries." We corresponded and I knew I just had to meet her.

Upon arriving and the elevator door at NEHGS, out came Eric and Henry (Eric is the director of the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. and Henry is the editor of the NEHGS Register). They were leaving to catch a plane, so no time for hugs or chatting (Eric and I have known each other for over 20 years).  The next person I saw was well-known genealogist Gary Boyd Roberts, he was very happy and excited to be going to the FGS conference in Knoxville next week. I hadn't seen his name as a speaker, so I asked if he was talking, and he said, "no" and that he hadn't been there in a very long time.  So, some of you may see him. (I am privy as to why he is there, and will keep it that way, but you can ask him.)

Meeting Laura Lee, who had been at the Library for an entire week, with her darling, non-genealogist husband, was a real treat. They were attending the NEHGS program called, "Come Home to New England" a program that is held twice in the summer. Laura discovered me through my Roots Web site and wrote me. I had just written about the Lowrey Family Reunion several weeks ago, and it was this family she was working on. Meeting her was like seeing an old friend.  We spent a lot of time together sharing this and that.  I loved that she told her new friends that we were cousins. But most of all was the fact that my blog was the first she had ever read (how can you not get sentimental over that). My blog address is on my Roots Web site. I learned that she had gone to the Jamboree and to Salt Lake City this year, so of course, I was envious. In addition, she knows Kathryn Doyle of the California Genealogical Society. Laura and I will continue to correspond, we share many, many lines which I want to help her with. I was thrilled that somebody can use my genealogy research.

It was a full day, and one of the most fun I've had at a library, perfect in every way.  Until....I took the train from Boston to home.  Half way through the 45 minute ride, a crazy drunk or drugged 20ish person ran down our aisle, out the car and up the steps to the first car, where the engineer was!  The train continued, but we all wondered what was going on. Several conductors came through, and now the train stopped and the guy was brought back, with all the conductors and the engineer. To think he was trying to get to the engineer was rather scary, to say the least.  The guy was seated, and warned that the police would remove him at the next stop.  He continued to rant and rave and we all held our breath, and the passenger again got up, and the train stopped a 2nd time. It ended peacefully, we were all 20 minutes late, and the guy was one lucky person, and not arrested.  Apparently, it is a federal crime (as in air planes), but the conductor made the call to not contact the police.  He said, he thought of the passengers not wanting to be late.

So, can you get all this from the internet?  I don't think so.  But, that being said, I do love the internet. Read  the photo below...that is one day I won't go to the library!