Caroline Elizabeth (Mitchell) Morgan

 On this date, Jan 11 in 1869 Miss Caroline Elizabeth Mitchell was born. Lizzie as she was known as was the 2nd of 11 kids born to Shadrack Robinson (aka S.R.) and Hannah (Rankin) Mitchell in Dandridge, TN. 

The family would move from TN to SW Missouri sometime between 1870-1880 where S R and his sons would become prominent farmers here in Barton County. In 1888, when she was 19 yrs old she would marry George Morgan. George’s mother died in 1874 and his father remarried and relocated first to McDonald Co and finally out to KS. George decided to stay in Barton County and in the 1880 census was a farm laborer for John Bary. 

As stated, George and Lizzie married in 1888. In reality this is when our direct line started farming in Barton County and farm ground is still in the family today. They would go on to have 3 children:

Lottie Adelia Morgan 1889-1948 m. Will Crockett

Arthur (Art) Morgan 1899-1972 m. Alice Pugh

Raymond Morgan 1907-2000 m. Reta Scolfield.

Lizzie (zMitchell) Morgan was Henry’s Great Grandmother. She is buried at the Oakton (aka Oakgrove) Cemetery.

Fleming Smith, A Revolutionary War Hero

Fleming Smith’s grave
Old Mulkey Meeting House Cemetery 

July 4, also known as Independence Day, is a day when we claimed our independence from England. Typically you will see family and friends around the US gather together to barbecue, shoot off fireworks and enjoy each other. This year, 2020, has been a little different with COVID 19 still running rampant, but we did manage to have a small party of family and a few close friends. This year was extra special as the week leading up to Independence Day I started the process of becoming a member of D.A.R., Daughters of the American Revolution, something I’m extremely proud to be a part of. My 5th great grandfather, Fleming Smith was a Private who enlisted while living in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Fleming was the son of Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Fleming, immigrants who were said to have met on the ship on their way to the United States. Thomas, a Baptist minister, and Elizabeth eventually married and thought to have had nine children including Fleming who was born in 1745 in Fairfax County, Virginia. Right before the War five of the brothers including Fleming moved from Bull Run, Virginia to Glenn’s Springs in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Around 1770 Fleming married 20 yr-old Prudence Bland, the daughter of John Bland Jr and Margaret Osborne in Prince William County, Virginia. Family History shows them having seven children including my 4th great grandfather James Smith.

• Dorcas Smith b. 1771
• John Smith b. 1773
• James Smith b. 1777.  **My 4th Great Grandfather**
• Margaret Smith b. 1782
• Samuel Smith b. 1785
• Malinda Smith b. 1786
• Prudence Smith b. 1790

Their first two children were born in Prince William County, Virginia. They then moved to Spartanburg Co where the rest of the kids were born. 

It was while living in Spartanburg County that my 5th great grandfather Fleming Smith first enlisted in Oct 1780. He served as a Private for 3 months under Captains James and Thomas. Next he enlisted in Jan of  1781 for 3 months as a Private again under Captains James and Thomas along with General Pickins. It was then that he participated in the Battle of  Cowpens, an important battle which was a turning point for America in regaining South Carolina from the British. It went down as a win for the Americans. He also fought against the Tories at Bush River. After this he enlisted one last time in September of 1781 in Spartanburg County and served under Captain John Mass. This unit was attached to Elijah Clark’s regiment from Georgia.

In 1802 Fleming and his family moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky. An interesting note is that Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln, served two terms as Constable of Cumberland County 1802-1804. My family has another connection to Abraham Lincoln which can be found in this blog post.

While living in Cumberland County Fleming continued to live in the same home. The county divided and the section he was living in became Monroe County. Prudence would pass away there in 1815 and Fleming eventually went to live with his daughter Dorcas. Fleming continued to receive his war pension til he passed away in 1847 at the age of 102. He is buried in the Old Mulkey Meeting House Cemetery. He had been a founding member of the Old Mulkey Meeting House in Tompkinsville, Kentucky.

Death Notice
1847

Fleming Smith - Prudence Bland

James Smith - Nancy Hughes

Fleming K Smith - Mary (Polly) Hoge

James Zachariah Smith - Sallie Oldham

Gardner Smith - Helen Morgan

Gene Turner - Melba Smith

Larry Immekus - Donna Turner

Henry Morgan - Me, Michelle Morgan

My great grandma Smith and the things that were handed down - week 24

Grandma & Grandpa Smith holding me when
I was 3 months old in 1972

  I’ve mentioned this before, I was extremely lucky to not only have grandparents that were quite involved in my life, but great grandparents as well. I’ve missed several SEVERAL weeks of the #52ancestors52weeks but I’ve been meaning to write this story and it fit perfectly for this weeks them which is “Handed Down”

  Helen Lora Morgan aka Grandma Smith was born to Mary Jane Anderson and E.P. ‘Ted’ Morgan in 1905. She was one of their 6 children born in Newton County, Mo and would live her entire life there. In 1923 she would marry Lewis ‘Garner’ Smith and have 3 girls— Mary Jewell, Louva Joyce, and my grandmother Melva Norene. 

  Grandma and Grandpa Smith were quite special to my mom and I remember visiting their house in Diamond, MO often. When Grandma found out I was marrying a farmer she seemed to be a little worried, especially when she heard we were digging potatoes. I think she remembered what life was like growing up on the farm. Times had changed and thankfully farm life is a little easier than what she remembered. They had purple phlox that grew along their retaining wall along their driveway and when they were in bloom it was beautiful. We would go pick strawberries in their garden and grandpa

Smith would show us his victrola he had in the garage. One of my biggest memories though was her snacks. She would always give you a can of Dr Pepper from her refrigerator and a straw, and then bring out a tin out of the freezer with her famous chocolate chip cookies. They were an absolute favorite of mine!! After she passed away in 1992 we realized that no one had her recipe. We searched everywhere and it couldn’t be found. We even tried different recipes thinking we might get it. My sister had one that was close, but it just seemed to be missing something. About 5-6 months ago I was searching for another relatives recipe and I thought about Grandma Smith. I had a church cookbook from the church she attended that had been given to me as a bridal shower gift. I searched the cookbook and to my surprise and delight I found her recipe. It even said ‘Grandma Helen Smith’ below it. Here I had had this recipe for 28 yrs and didn’t even realize it. This recipe will definitely be

handed on down!! You 

  When my grandparents died they had a sale and I bought a doll quilt. I never remembered seeing it at their house, but thought it was cute and in good shape. Quilts also mean a lot to me. I’ve always

Hazel Grace loves playing with the blanket that was
made for her Mema by Grandma Smith all those years ago

had it sitting out but I don’t think my mom noticed it til about a year ago. To my delight she told me that one Christmas grandpa Smith made them a doll bed and grandma Smith made them a quilt to go with it. She didn’t know what happened to the bed, but this was the quilt. The colors are so bright and vivid that my grandmother must have put it away. My own granddaughter is almost 2. This quilt is a favorite of hers. She loves to wrap her baby up in it and put it to sleep. It was made by her 3rd Great Grandmother and given to her great grandmother and now handed down to her. Grandma Smith passed in 1992, just several months after we were married, but her love continues to keeps on giving!

The two I honor on Memorial Day

This week was Memorial Day here in America. What once started out as a day in honoring those who had lost their life in war has become more of a Kick-Off to summer event. Traditionally people visit and decorate the graves of loved ones while typically volunteers will set out flags on each soldier’s grave in national cemeteries. At our own rural cemetery flags are set out along the road.

The custom of honoring your ancestors by cleaning and decorating their graves is actually an ancient tradition, but the origins of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally known as, is not known. In the United States in the years before the Civil War this would typically take place towards the end of summer and families would often have reunions or at least picnics. After the Civil War America needed a patriotic event to help honor those who died while fighting for what they believed in.

Since starting my genealogy search I have found two great grandfathers who died during the Civil War. Both passing at young ages leaving widows and several children.

Jacob H Reber was my 4X great grandfather. He was born in 1835 in Pennsylvania and married Elizabeth Huff around 1854-1855. They would go on to have 5 children together.

• Zacharias Reber - 1855
• Edward Reber (my 3X great grandfather) - 1857
• Charles Reber - 1859
• Agness Reber - 1860
• Alice Reber - 1861

At the age of 26 Jacob mustered in the L1 Pennsylvania Cal on July 30, 1861. He died in the hospital in Aug of 1864 and is buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Dinwiddie Co, VA. 

In 1870 census I found his 4 oldest children in Chester Springs Soldier’s Orphanage School. These schools were opened up around the state for the children of soldiers who had died, or who had been so badly injured they wouldn’t be able to support their families. This particular school was 45 miles away from where Elizabeth lived. Alice appeared to have not went and I believe she might have barely been to young to go at the time. 

I do want to note that Elizabeth had a child Fred Reber in 1871. On all documentation that is found the father is listed as Jacob Reber even though he had died in 1864.

Jacob Reber - Elizabeth Huff
Edward Reber - LaAnda Boman
Susie Reber - Henry Harrison Strong
Dora Strong - Clebert Turner
Gene Turner - Melva Smith
Donna Turner - Larry Immekus
Me

Jonathan N Phillips was my 3X great grandfather. Jonathan was born in 1827 to Nathan and Hannah Phillips in Tennessee. He married Ms. Susannah “Ann” Smith on Christmas Day of 1850 in Franklin Co Missouri. They would have 3 children...

• Nathan Henry Phillips 1852
• Jesse B Phillips 1857
• Emma Thankful Phillips 1862 (my 2X great grandmother)

Jonathan mustered in with the 26th Missouri VOL infantry at Pacific, Mo in December of 1861. He would die of disease in camp of May 1862 and is buried in Shiloh National Cemetery. Susannah had an interesting story and you can read more about her here.

Jonathan Phillips - Susannah Smith
Emma Phillips - George Reed
Lucy Reed - Frank Immekus
Leo Immekus - Laura Faye “Sally” Clary
Larry Immekus - Donna Turner
Me

My niece, Haidyn Immekus Lee

At this time seventeen years ago I was eagerly awaiting for my niece to be born. My sister Julie who lives in Carthage, MO was past her due date and was heading to the hospital in Joplin, MO due to having contractions. Julie was (and still is) the kind of aunt everyone wants. She’s fun, loving, a confidant, always there whenever you need here, etc. Her home was literally my kids 2nd home some summers. I couldn’t wait to finally get the chance to be that kind of aunt to her child, to make all those wonderful memories. I couldn’t wait to see what she looked like. Would she have red hair like my girls, or would she favor her father who had brown hair and brown eyes. My kids at the time were so excited. Allie was almost 10, Trent almost 8, and Kelsie was a week from turning 3. My sister and I just knew Kels and her would be the best of friends. I had thrown her a baby shower as well as helped her paint and decorate her room. I even wrote a special note to Haidyn above her door so she would always know how much aunt Shell loved her. That night the hospital sent her back home, said it wasn’t time yet.

The next morning, April 20, 2003, was Easter morning. We were getting around to go to church when my ex brother in-law called. Miss Haidyn Immekus Lee had made her appearance. I was beyond thrilled!!! He said she was having a little trouble breathing and had been taken to the NICU but everything was ok. Knowing the kids wouldn’t be allowed to see my sister or Haidyn so I decided to send them with my in-laws to church. I called my Nannie to see if she wanted us to pick her and my Papa up and take them to the hospital with us. My Nannie was quite upset and I figured it was because Haidyn was sent to the NICU. She then says “I can’t believe we lost her” I was shocked and asked her what exactly she meant. She was the one that told me that Haidyn had passed away. I literally fell to my knees and started sobbing. I was in absolute shock. I had the kids run to get Henry who was out doing chores so we could get down there. My parents hadn’t called me because they I was driving and didn’t want me to get the news then. We got down there and I was able to hold my beautiful niece for several minutes and yes, she had a tinge of red hair. My heart was broken. It was as if I had lost my own child so I couldn’t begin to imagine the pain my sister felt. It was later discovered that they should have never sent my sister home the night before. By the time she got to the hospital the next day Haidyn was in distress. My sister had an emergency c-section and Haidyn had swallowed some meconium. When the dr’s were trying to get it out they ended up tearing her lung. She was only with us a few short hours.

The next several days were a blur. As so many people have said, no one should ever have to bury their child. When we went to see her at the funeral home Trent said she looked like a porcelain doll, and she did. A beautiful doll. Poor Kelsie just didn’t understand. She wanted to hold ‘baby Haven’ as she always called her. For months afterwards I would find Kelsie playing, for instance rocking a pretend baby and when I asked her what she was doing she would look at me and just give me that matter of fact look and say “Rocking Baby Haven.” The graveside service held in Carthage, MO was a nice one. I had wrote a letter to her, but didn’t feel like I would be able to read it so my brother was nice enough to do it for me. The last line of my letter, and what was put on her stone is .... I will hold you in my heart til I can hold you in my arms once again.

Some may wonder why I chose to write about her on my genealogy blog and it’s simple. Haidyn might have only been in our life for a few hours, but she will always be a part of our family and I want future generations to know about her, to know how much she was loved, how much it hurt to lose her, and how we will never forget her. I look forward to seeing her again and know she’s up there playing with papa Larry, Nannie and Papa, as well as a host of others.

I will end this with the lyrics of the song “I Believe” by Diamond Rio. Julie and her ex were trying to figure out what song to play and one night on the way home from the hospital I saw a falling star and heard this song. I instantly knew it was the one.

Haidyn, Baby Haven, Haidy, Daisy, never forget how much you are loved and know we look forward to seeing you again!!  Love Aunt Shell

Every now and then,
Soft as breath upon my skin,
I feel you come back again,
And it's like you haven't been,
Gone a moment from my side
Like the tears were never cried
Like the hands of time are holding you and me

And with all my heart I'm sure,
We're closer than we ever were
I don't have to hear or see,
I've got all the proof I need
There are more than angels watching over me
I believe
Oh, I believe

Now when you die your life goes on
It doesn't end here when you're gone
Every soul is filled with light,
It never ends and if I'm right,
Our love can even reach across eternity
I believe
Oh, I believe

Forever, you're a part of me
Forever, in the heart of me
I will hold you even longer if I can
Oh, the people who don't see the most,
Say that I believe in ghosts
If that makes me crazy, then I am,
'Cause I believe

Oh I believe

There are more than angels watching over me
I believe
Oh, I believe

Every now and then,
Soft as breath upon my skin,
I feel you come back again,And I believe

Spotlight #6 Alice (Cole) Morgan

Life at the moment is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I hate to say that I was one of those people who three weeks ago thought this Covid-19 pandemic was being greatly exaggerated. When I started seeing empty shelves in grocery stores, and people scrambling over toilet paper I rolled my eyes and was thankful I lived in rural SW Missouri away from big cities where things like that were happening. Then I walked into my local Walmart and was shocked to find that it was even happening here in our part of the world. I’m blessed that we have a freezer full of meat so I know we will always be ok, but was saddened to see that they were out of so many things. Then I found out our former superintendent had tested positive for it and passed away a few days later. Suddenly things seemed to get a little more real. His wife’s Facebook post were gut wrenching. Today I am taking it more seriously as I’ve seen how quickly it can affect even healthy people. My family (who is growing by 2 more this summer) means a lot to me and I want to take care of myself the best I can.

Joseph & Alice (Cole) Morgan

March is winding down but I’m hoping to get in a few more spotlights. March’s #6 spotlight is my 3rd great Aunt, Alice (Cole) Morgan. She was married to Joseph Morgan, the brother of my great great grandfather EP “Ted” Morgan. As our pandemic has been growing I started looking into relatives who might have passed during the huge Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, but did surge again in 1919. While scouring newspapers it was sad seeing the the number of families it affected. Joseph and Alice were one of those families.

Alice was born in October, 1873, the 3rd of 8 children born to David and Flora Cole. Her father was born in Indiana, but he came to Missouri as a young man and settled in SW Missouri. He did a brief stint in the Civil War with the Iowa Infantry Regiment K, but from the 1860 census on he is found in Lawrence and Newton County, Missouri. He was primarily a farmer (stated on all census), but it’s been also noted that he was one of the pioneer preachers in SW Missouri.

Alice married Joseph Morgan on Nov 7, 1897 in Newton Co, Missouri. She was 24 yrs of age and Joseph was 25. Joseph was the son of  Edward Payson Morgan and Margaret (Stinson) Morgan (my 3rd great Grandparents) and was the oldest of 5 children. Searching thru census information is always fun because so many times I see several different family ancestors on the same page. Both sides of my maternal grandparent’s family are pioneer families in Newton, Barry, and Jasper Counties. In 1900 Joseph is down as a blacksmith. In those 1st 3 yrs of marriage they’ve had their first 2 children, a son Ray in 1899 and a daughter Ruth in 1900 who was 3 months old at the time the census was taken. By the 1910 census Joseph has his own store and Alice is down as a clerk. Ray is 11 is down as a farm laborer at their farm. Ruth is 10 and they’ve had 2 more sons Robert 7 and Larry 3. The next several years would see them have several more children Dorothy who was born in 1911 and their baby George born in 1917.

Standing-Glen, Bob, Ray, & Ruth
Seated-Alice, Dorothy, & Joseph holding George
1918

In 1918 the country was in the grips of a Spanish Flu epidemic and unfortunately it would hit Joseph and Alice’s family as little George came down with the flu. His death certificate stated he was seen by a dr from July 20- July 25 when he passed away at home. He had just turned a year old. The picture I have must have been taken shortly before George passed and shows all their children. I’m sure this was a huge loss not only to Alice and Joseph, but to George’s siblings as well.

The 1920 shows the Joseph is now solely farming. The year 1926 was a tough year not only on Joseph and Alice, but on the entire Morgan Family. In January, Alice and Joseph’s  youngest daughter Dorothy who was 14 yrs old came down with influenza. She was thought to be getting better when suddenly she passed. The death was hard on not only the family, but the community as well as she was a member of several  groups such as 4H, an organization my own family is quite involved in. I’ve always heard death comes in 3 and that seemed to be true for the Morgan family. Less than two weeks later Dorothy’s cousin Arthur Anderson who was 26 yrs old and lived close by, accidentally killed himself while grabbing his gun as he was getting into the hog pen. His family had been butchering hogs that day. His death is thought to be almost instantaneous. Arthur’s mother Lucy was Joseph’s (and my great great grandfather EP “Ted” Morgan) sister.  That September Arthur’s married sister, Millie Smith (who was married to my great grandfather Garner Smith’s brother Ray) passed away after a battle with tuberculosis. All of these families lived in the same community, some like Joseph their entire life. His obituary stated that he was born on a farm near Granby, Missouri and lived his entire life within a 1/2 mile radius of that farm. I think of my own family and how tough it was to lose my niece Haidyn that passed away after living only a few short hours.  I can’t imagine had I also lost not one but 2 children that same year. How tough that would be on our entire family. The grief the Morgan Family endured must have been overwhelming. I spotlighted Alice to tie in to what was going on in the country today, but Lucy also lost 2 children and it was in the same year leaving her with only one living child. Were they good friends as well as family?? Lucy’s own husband passed in 1905 and Census show that she never did remarry so she didn’t have a partner to lean on during those tough times. Hopefully they were a good support system for each other along with the rest of the family who lived around them and their church family.

There is no doubt that life was tougher 100 yrs ago, much more so than today. As I said before, there weren’t any therapist and I know just from doing genealogy that a lot of times things like this weren’t even discussed. I hope that Alice and Lucy at least had that one person they could talk to, someone to share their sadness with so that sadness didn’t turn into bitterness. It would be hard to go thru life with that black cloud continually overhead, but keeping those kind of emotions buried could possibly do just that. Both women lived around the Pepsin Community their entire married lives. Alice’s obit said she had lived in the area for 52 years, moving there from Carthage. Lucy lived around their her entire life, marrying a local boy Harry Anderson. Both are buried in the Powers Cemetery in Newton Co, Missouri.

The following pieces were in the Neosho Daily News from 1926. Sadly I could find nothing on the death of George at all. 

** Side Note ... Lucy and her brother EP “Ted” married siblings Mary Jane & Harry Anderson
** 2nd side Note ... Lucy and EP’s Sister Helen Florence married Alice’s brother William. 

Spotlight #5 - Maude “LuLu” (Pfander) Budd

Claude Budd & Maude “LuLu” Pfander

I’m continuing my spotlight on women this March for Women’s History month. This blog post I’ve decided to spotlight Maude “LuLu” (Pfander) Budd, my husband Henry’s great grandmother. I remember seeing her in her wedding picture the first time and thinking they made such a striking couple and that she was absolutely beautiful.

Maude “LuLu” Pfander was born in November of 1888 to William E Pfander and Orelia (Evans)Pfander. I’m assuming she was born in either Jasper or Barton county as that’s where the extended family lived, but I don’t know that for a fact. She was the 4th of 5 kids and the only girl. I have to wonder if her brothers were the over protective type or if maybe she was a bit spoiled being the only girl.

LuLu Pfander as a child 

LuLu married Claude C Budd in 1916. The paper said they married at the parsonage in the Nashville community, Barton Co Missouri, in front of a large crowd. They would settle down and live in the Blue community, Barton Co, MO. The 1920 census showed them living in a household with Claude’s mother Mary, and his 2 siblings Phillip and Violet. Claude was shown as being a farmer, a profession he would have the rest of his life.

June 1917 would see the couple welcome their first child, a girl named Lena Avis. Unfortunately she would pass away approximately 5 weeks later in August. I know 100 years ago it was more common to lose a child, but I’m sure it wasn’t any easier on the the parents. I’m sure the grief would be overwhelming at times and there would be no support systems in place like there is today.

In 1918 they were blessed with another daughter, Edith Budd, my husband Henry’s grandmother. They would go on to have to have 2 more sons, Claude “Melvin” in1925, and Merle Rex in 1928. Merle’s nickname was “Buck” and he was born on Nov 25, 1928. Unfortunately shortly after his birth LuLu came down influenza which happened to be going around. Three days after Christmas on Dec 28 LuLu passed away. Her death left Claude a widow with 3 small children including one a so that was barely a month old. An obit from the Lamar, MO paper said:
:

SAD DEATH OF YOUNG MOTHER -----

Mrs. Claude Budd, who with her husband lived in the south part of Northfork township, just across the road from the Blue Schoolhouse, died at 9 o'clock, Friday evening. She contracted the flu, which developed into a fatal case of pneumonia. Mrs. Budd's death in most tragic and heart-breaking. She leaves her young husband with a tiny babe, five weeks old, and with two other little children, four and six years old.
Lamar Democrat, 3 Jan 1929

In a news clipping from around 2 weeks later said he had moved in with his mother though she was quite old being almost 80 yrs old. My husband’s grandmother Edith was 10 yrs old at the time and believe a lot of responsibility was put on her shoulders at a young age. It would be tough on a child to lose their mom at a young age. Having adult type responsibilities like taking care of your siblings would make it even tougher to grieve for your mother.

Obit from Jasper paper

Maude “LuLu” Pfander m Claude Budd
Edith Budd m Ray Arnold
Linda Arnold m Richard Morgan
Henry Morgan m Michelle Immekus (me)