My dad knew a bit about BUREACRACY

 I used to believe that my dad was an extremist.  He was active at one point in the organization known as the John Birch Society.  Now, there was a general feeling in the family that while many of my dad's political ideas were further right than we all felt uncomfortable with, we never had any doubt that this Mississippi born and bred Dad was fervent about his love for the United States and its origins.

Later on in my life, but still very much a young wife and mother, I was living away from home and "accidentally" attended an event at the home of fellow church members, not realizing fully their association with the society.  Or at the very least, that is my story and I'm sticking to it!

Many years later, in my "old age", I consider myself to be politically conservative, largely because the Federal Government runs on the wheels of some questionable drivers.  One of those drivers is the tainted, out of control federal bureaucracy that has become behemoth in nature.  For more information, read this article:  https://bloomp.net/articles/six-big-problems-with-federal-bureaucracies.htm

Imperfect men and women on both sides of the congressional isle are not standing up for freedom, and for common sense, these days.  Dad, you would be sad to see it!  (Below: Wiley Benjamin Hill, Jr. with his cousin Ralph Holleman.

 

Letters to Eunice Tucker Hill Hall

• From Lincoln, Nebraska, United States:Date of letter is October 14, 1966, from address 1847 South 9th, Zip Code 68502.  Stamp: 10 Cents Commemorating Independence Hall.  Author of the letter is Eunice's sister, Emma.  (FamilySearch PID =   KWC6-7QT). 

1. • Here is a link, not sure whether it is working or not.  If you have comments about Emma's life, please go to her profile and under "Life Sketch", add those, along with your contact information.  [https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWC6-7QT].  Here is the picture of her house,(Maybe), at Google Maps: 
   

 Body of the Letter:  (Written Friday Afternoon, on October 14, 1966) "Dear Sister Eunice, Your letter and card and money came this morning.  Well, again, your letter went astray for sure, have not heard from you for several weeks.  I destroyed your last letter--I usually do when I answer letters, so I can't remember when it was dated.  I have heard from Annie several times since I had your last letter.  [Annie is another sister of Emma's].  I usually hear from her once a week and she told me that you had some bladder trouble and Ben (Bennie Hill) had gone to Salt Lake.

"I don't know which end to blame with the loss of mail there or here, but I yet get mail that is sent to 920 Rose and 2735 So. 13.  So it seems our service here is very good and you always have your return address on your mail, so this makes the second one that has gone astray.

" I know you do a lot of writing and think you just don't get to it.  I really don't get around (pg. 2) to writing much and don't get many letters.  I have several people I keep in touch with by writing, say 2 or 3 times a year.  But you and Annie are the only ones I write regular and I guess Clara is next.  I had a letter from her this morning.  Well, Eunice, you were over generous to send me $10.00 and I appreciate it very much.  But I have a rather guilty feeling to take it when I think there is others you could have given it to that needed it even more than I, for instance Annie.  I imagine she finds it difficult to make ends meet, financially.   Yes, she wrote me she expected to go to Jackson this week.

"From the way she [Annie] writes, her endurance must be getting very low.  I guess we are all getting pretty well spent.  But we can't expect anything else when we get our ages.  

" I had that I might get able to do a little work now and then, but as yet, I haven't.  [This is page 3] I keep up and moving but I am slowing down and feel if I ever stop, I can't start again.  I seem to fill up the time doing what comes natural.  I had got some materials to refinish an old beat up coffee table and dresser some time ago but never seem to have the ambition to get at it, so yesterday I hold off and started on the table.  It was pretty warm (87) and I got hot working and stooping and squatting and getting in all manner of shapes and positions.  I am all knocked out today with a "catch" in my hip; can hardly get up and down.  I think I taken a little cold also.  I went to bed at 8p.m. last night.  It's turning much cooler today...a bad snow storm in Western part of the state of Wyoming and Colorado [Page 4], but we are not supposed to get any of it, here.

"It's been too warm for comfort.  Now we will probably get it cold.  Our fall season is beautiful in colors.  I have been goin on some tours with the Senior Citizens Club.  I am not a member, but Mrs Chritensen is one of the Hostesses and she invited me.  They charter a bus two two weeks ago and went to Omaha and saw a show, "The Sound of Music" and it was a wonderful show.  Last week we went to the Penn [?] and this week we went to Nebraska City which is probably one of the most interesting places in the state.

"A week ago yesterday, I had four of the old neighbors in for dinner, and two weeks ago, tomorrow, a cousin of Carl's [Carl was Emma's husband], ttaken me out to a little country town some twenty miles from here where the town and farmers were putting on a parade and dinner and auction for their church.  They called it a fall Festival and they had everything that farmers raise or grow or can make, bake, cook or sew.  We left here at 9:00 a.m. and it was 4:30p.m. when we got home.  I brought home a big watermelon that I payed $2.25 for.  I shared it with Grace, the gal that taken me out.  She bought a bag of turnips, one quilt sold for $150.00.  Loaves of home-made bread sold for as high as $2.50.  Our ward was holding a bake sale and Bazzarr that same day and I stayed up until midnight baking for it.  I heard they taken in $300.00.

"Everywhere you go, you see fields and gardens of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables going to waste.  One friend brought me a pick? of the nicest tomatoes a couple of weeks ago with peppers and cucmbers.  I put up four quarts of tomatoes and am yet eating on them.  I am glad Ben had a good trip to Salt Lake; I don't know if Sonny went.  I had a letter from him [Sonny is Emma's son, I think]...he didn't mention going.  I expect he watched on TV; most people there, do.  They advise them to so there will be room for visitors.  I think I got just about all of it on radio.  I went to bed about 10p.m. and turned on KSL and they were playing recording of it [LDS Conference] and it went on all night and I heard the most of it.

"I am now on the 9th chapter of Kings.  I don't know which is most depressing, to read the current news of the calamities and wickeness of today or that which happened in Biblical times.  Yes, its interesting to see what's next but I am getting a bit anxious to know what it will be like on the others side.  It seems to me like it would be better if Annie Ruth taken Bobby home with her than to leave her own home for so long.  It must be quite a worry on her and no telling how long it will go on.  Well I guess I better sign off and do the days' dishes; its gotten as dark as night; we must be going to get rain or snow.  

"Yesterday, I shopped for groceries, so won't have to get out for a few days, anyway.  How's your neighbor, Mrs Gray and say hello to her for me.  I thought she was a very nice person.  How's your pecan crop this year?  Now if I was down there, I could put in a lot time picking them up.  So I hope this finds you holding your own.  And many thanks for the lovely card and money, but please don't be so generous next time.  It makes me feel guilty when I feel others need and deserve it more.  Much love to all and may the good Lord watch over you.

Sister, Emma 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some facts about Emma Tucker Andra:   

• Born 15 October 1891, in Mississippi.  The 1900 Census of Jasper County, Mississippi shows her as an eight year old living with her family.  On the 26th day of June, the enumerator reported that the head of the household was S.R. Tucker [Samuel Richard Tucker], who was born in South Carolina, along with his mother and father, also being born in South Carolina.  The proclivity of using initials in the South shows up here, with "L.E." Tucker as being the mother of the household.  Letha Ellen was the mother in this family.
• Rosa Tucker is the oldest daughter shown on this census, (birth of Rosa is 1885),but there was another, older sister that is not shown on the census; she has left the home and is already married.   That was Lulu, born 1873.  Another older sister, was born and only lived a few months (Lily Ellen).  Following Rosa, is my own grandmother, Eunice Tucker, born 1887.  Emma, then Annie followed, in 1891 and 1895, respectively.
• There were several sons in the family as well.
• Sarah Ann Lloyd, S.R.'s mother, is also living with the family in this same 1900 Census.
• By 1910, Emma is the oldest child still living at home, at the age of 18.  She is employed at a boarding house.
• IN 1915, Emma marries Carl Andra in Forrest County, Mississippi.
• 1920: Here we see that Emma is living with her husband and his father, Jacob.  Jacob is age 71 and was born in Germany.  Carl is age 41 and was born in Nebraska.  Emma is age 28, so there is an age gap between her and her husband of 13 years.  

There is more about Emma to be researched, but my bedtime is coming up, soon, so for now, I will leave the story.




  

Flowers That Were Popular for Funerals in 1914.

[See] My previous post was based on the funeral home cards that I discovered in a little white box that I took charge of, when my father passed away in 2000, (along with a lot of other family history).

Not sure if I can find out more on Google about Funeral Flowers, but here is a delicate and subtle web site:  http://www.lizleeflowers.com/sympathy.  I wonder if different historic periods called for different flowers?  So, in my great grandfather's funeral card, sent in 1914, the choices that were made...were they in any way, significant of the times?

There were not a lot of cards, but the choices of flowers purchased for this funeral which took place in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, were repeated more than one time.

Gladioli:   This reminds me of my grandmother, Alice Settles.  I have a lovely picture of her holding a "spray" of these flowers.  Mother took a lot of care that her garden would also feature this flower and it became one of my favorites (though I don't have a garden).  

Asters seemed to be very popular, also (in various colors).







Finally, I discovered the existence of "Horace Reed" or is it "Horace Read " Daisies?  Which are also called "Shasta" daisies! 

To learn more about daisies, access this website:
https://www.almanac.com/plant/shasta-daisies.

What flowers to send to a funeral:  These might include gladioli, snapdragons, lilies, standard chrysanthemums, carnations and roses. Small-scale flowers in mid- to small-size designs are usually used for sending to the home. Only family members who are arranging the funeral should order flowers for the casket.

Funeral Home Cards

Samuel Richard TUCKER:  Maternal grandfather of Wiley Benjamin Hill, the younger.

Born in Sumter, (or "Sumpter"), South Carolina on  23 Jun 1845. 
Died Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Forrest County) at the age of 64, on 17 Mar 1914. 

The only picture that I have of him:

A small white box holds these little cards for Bennie Hill's maternal grandfather, Samuel Richard Tucker.  They are sympathy cards and/or cards telling who sent flowers, etc.

1.  Sympathy: Mrs. Collins and the nurses at Collins Home sent a "spray" with white asters.
2.  "With Sympathy", a spray of pink asters (obtained from Monroe Florist).
3.  A spray of white gladioli from daughters, Rosie, Eunice, and Emma. (Mary's Flower Shop at 318 North Second Street, Phone 33494)---Hattiesburg, Mississippi [I'm assuming].
4.  McMullen's Flower Shop in Monroe, Louisiana; 912 South  Third Street, 36522 (phone); Spray of pink glads.  From the Raymond Ruggs Family.
5.  Collins Convalescent Home; 904 Jackson Street: A spray of ? Pink? gladioli (Mary's Flower Shop).
6.  Spray of White Asters from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mary's Flower Shop.
7.  A spray of white Horace Reed Daisies?  Purchased from Mary's Flower Shop, from Travis Tyner.
8.  Finally, from Mary's Flower Shop, another spray of Horace Reed Daisies from Mr. and Mrs. M. Hatcher.

Tall Tales:  was this something that families did for lack of our modern conveniences?  Read and judge for yourselves.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3PRNjY4zMn8nAQy9K1i5qpqBfOQNOIabGIHVaawMiY/edit?usp=sharing

Do you remember that paper and file folders used to come in the 11 X 14 size?  Yes, and peoople wrote letters by hand, with pencil or pen and using a manual typewriter wasn't a challenge if you had a couple of strong fingers.

Here is the discovery waiting for you if you begin to go through boxes of papers, found in an attic, tucked away in a storage room, a closet, or in an old garage:

• Some of it will be family history stuff; letters, newspaper clippings, and photos.
• Some of it might be genealogy charts in 11 X 14 format, with likewise styled folders.
• Occasionally, you will find notes written on those folders!

Here is what my dad wrote on this folder, 11 X 14, all the way to the bottom of the space: witty sayings that he "coined".  Some of these sayings are gems of wisdom, even.

1.  Enthusiasm is that deeply embedded ingredient in the human being that acts as an antibody to destroy procrastination and pessimism.

2.  If wishes worked, where would the workers "Bee"?

3.  In every family three, there's always a little sap.

4.  Yearly, the IRS puts my filthy lucre through the cleaners.

5.  Don't buy gossip just because it's dirt cheap!

6.  Give a weed an inch and it will take a yard.

7.  While the world has slept, into its bosm, socialism has crept.

8.  Civilization starts and savagery ends when people competently record the names, dates, and places of their ancestors, along with the events that took place during their time line.

9.  If we could find other things as well as we can find fault, we would all be rich.

10.  Latin is a dead language; now it is killing me. (Found scribbled in my dad's sister's old schoolbook).

sa

A House is almost always a home.

In December of 1955, as I remember, my mother and dad moved to the rural community of Wright, Florida.  It was just a few miles away from where we had been living within the city limits of Fort Walton [now known as Fort Walton Beach].  As a child, I had only a vague idea of rural living.  I guess I would have guessed that a "farm" was a place where cows lived.

Lived, past tense.  Dairy cows had lived, just a decade before, on the acreage that my dad purchased.  Large cement cisterns were relics of that time.  There may have been a couple of those in evidence and an old barn graced the property, as well.  A beautiful grove of mature pecan trees dotted the landscape and in the spring, when the clover came up, we got the idea to call our new home "Cloverdale".

It's true that initially, the red blooms and green clover leafs became our playing field, but it didn't take long for us to realize that the bees also liked clover. 

The house itself, featured two stories, an unusual structure in our experience; it hadn't been lived in for a while and felt not at all like a cozy place.  There was no working furnace and northwest Florida can be cold in the winter.  Fortunately, the fireplace provided a temporary solution as we three kids gathered our blankets and with Mother's help, organized a "pallet*" city at night-time.  In less than a week's time, Dad had contracted to have gas heaters put into the walls!



*My grandmother’s house was small but always overflowed with family and guests during the holidays. Us young’uns (grandkids) always slept on and under a pile of quilt “pallets” on the floor, leaving the real beds to the grown ups.

Obituary of Samuel Moses Tucker by "A Friend"

Tucker was my dad's mother's maiden name.  Or said another way, Eunice Hill, my dad's mother, was first (nee') Eunice Tucker.  Her grandfather was Samuel Moses Tucker.  This composition, then, is what a friend of her grandfather's wrote about her grandfather's death.

Obituary for Samuel Moses Tucker

S. M. Tucker was born in Sumter District, South Carolina the 28^th day of March 1820—died the 9^th day of October, 1883, at his residence in Jasper County, Miss.

About the year 1847, he moved from South Carolina to the state of Alabama, where he resided until the year of 1857. Then he moved with his family to Jasper County, Mississippi where he remained until the cold icy hands of death laid his frail body down to sleep until the resurrection morn.

About the year 1867 he attached himself to M.E. Church South [does “M.E.” stand for Methodist Episcopalian?], in which he was a consistent member for three years and desired to live thus the remainder of his days, but being treated in an un-Christian like manner by one of the leading members of his church, he declined to have anything further to do with the church or that member and said he purposed [proposed] to live a retired Christian life which he did, to the best of his ability until the chastening hand of God was laid severely upon him in stiffness and suffering thus he was brought [some words and a line or two of this is not able to be discerned by myself at this time].....and requested many whom he believed to be Christians to pray for him a few days before his death.

He seem to be troubled by his future prospects but on the day preceding his death, he became reconciled to his fate and exclaimed, “All is well”. And with this he left a brighter evidence of his acceptance with God. [I've had to try and re-create some of this and guess at the words I can't read].

The writer of this notice was with him during his last hours, and conversed with him freely, on the topic of religion and he said, “While I love my children, …..[unreadable]....to the will of God.” Those that were present at his death said that he passed away like one falling in a trance. “Oh, how sweet it is to die in the arms of Jesus”.

He leaves behind him a devoted wife and fourteen fond children, and many friends to mourn their loss. But, thanks be to God we sorrow not as those who have not hope, for we have reason to believe that “Our loss is his eternal gain”. (A Friend)

[Transcribed by Margaret Hill Harris on January 25, 2014; this composition is yellowed, bound together with tape and typed.]

Save Every Scrap of Paper?

My dad, my genealogy mentor, kept copies of many of the letters that he typed and wrote by hand.  Back in the day, you could do that by using carbon paper.   

It helped him to keep track of the abundant queries and requests for information that he mailed off; the Post Office was an essential tool for his genealogy research!

From one such copy, I learned something new and significant about my Dad, heretofore unknown.

On the 26th of February, 1978, he was writing a request to a records department in North Carolina.  He had previously visited a repository in Charlotte on a quick trip to Washington D. C.  Inside, he found and requested a photocopy of a will for Edward Givens, one of my mother's progenitors. He collected the copies and got back on the road.

Evidently, my dad was unable to review the packet until he returned home to Fort Walton Beach, for in the letter, he is requesting a photocopy of page 114 in Will Book "C"; this page being the first page of the will for Mr. Givens.  However, in the photocopies obtained previously, this page was for someone named Brevard.

The rest of the will was, indeed, the right file.  Someone at the records department or in the photocopy office had made an error and would need to find the "real" first page, if possible.  My dad sent a self-addressed stamped envelope and a one dollar bill to cover the cost of mailing.  He also complimented the staff at the facility for the fine job of preservation they had done.  At this point, I have yet to go through all my dad's genealogy folders and I'm sure as I continue to review their contents, I will come across this will and perhaps, be able to discover whether the appropriate response to his petition, was in fact, received.

In passing, my father, Wiley Benjamin Hill, writes, "P.S. I had the pleasure of serving in the Air Force at Raleigh-Durham Air Base during World War II."

What?!!  I didn't know that.  This, then, is a meaningful tidbit of my dad's personal history that I can pass along to my posterity.  Nearly fifty years after dad's military service in the Army Air Corps, my son would serve a church mission in the Raleigh area!