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Dear Listmembers:
The following is a piece I saw a few years ago on another mailing list.I
have changed a few items here and there. It never fails to make me stop and
think at Christmas time. I always like to send it out at Christmas, sort of
like "Its a Wonderful Life" always plays at Christmas.
WEARY FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
Again, before the Christmas holidays descend upon us in a few days and the
year 2001 rolls around ;
As I write this, no snows have graced our countryside though in the
forecast more frequently now. Christmas Eve perhaps? No matter our ages,
no matter where we live, there is something childlike in us that wants to
rush from the warm bed covers on Christmas morn to be greeted by a coating
of
snow to make the world all safe and pure again.
If we bundle up like our mother told us to, complete with sweater, coat,
scarf, hat, mittens, and boots, maybe we can look outside this Christmas
morning. There is not a sound as we close the door behind us. It's as if
the world were still asleep. The only sound is the whispering of the
winter breeze through the bare trees. We stop and listen and suddenly
realize
that it is the wind we're hearing. It is the whispering sound of voices from
our past - those dear family members we talked to last week, desperately
attempting to explain what life is now like in the town they knew so well.
Their voices are muted but yet clear in your heart. They are arguing
amongst themselves about what all this means. As suddenly as the whispers
wafted through the air, they cease. We glance down in the drifting snow
and there are footprints ... weary footprints in the snow. They are walking
determinedly down the road as if they were on a quest to find something -
anything they might recognize. Almost afraid to take a deep breath in the
cold morning air lest they see the steam escaping through our lips, we
walk as quietly behind them as we can putting our footprints within theirs.
As
they come to the end of the street they stop, uncertain which way to turn.
Slowly, some with a noted limp which we know came from an old Civil War
wound, they proceed They are making their way down town, a long walk in
this frigid air.
Something akin to a gasp is heard from one of the old warriors as he espys
a statue on the courthouse lawn. They make their way to the bronze figure
sheathed in ice and an old man's fingers trace out the wording engraved in
the plaque below. A tear drops from his eye as he traces out his name, his
rank, his outfit! As he looks upward he is taken aback for a moment as he
looks upon his own likeness. "Killed in the line of duty with the Orphan
Brigade." As his shoulders begin to tremble, an old pioneer lady walks
slowly to his side and takes his hand in her. Gnarled in pain, she gives
him the strongest squeeze she can and whispers, "They remembered you
John,they remembered." The tear, now frozen upon the wrinkled cheek is soon
melted by the smile that breaks forth on his face.
A child steps out of the crowd now, a beautiful little girl who had been
stricken in the peak of her childhood with cholera, and she dashes across
the street to an empty lot. "Papa, papa," she cries out excitedly,
"where's
our house." "What happened, Papa?" The group carefully walks across the
street to stand before this gaping hole, each remembering all the
wonderful
things that they had shared there. "Martha, all of our children were born
there and during the big earthquake, all our neighbors took shelter in our
parlor." "Remember when we watched the big circus parade as it passed our
house?"
Another stronger voice is heard now as he stands before a large store. The
lights had been left on all night for Christmas Eve, it's garish neon
lights flashing out "Season's Greetings." Red, white, green and orange
lights flashed off and on around the window as a pudgy Santa Claus rotated
round and round squeaking out a "Ho, Ho, Ho." Mini skirts graced a
blindly staring mannequin; leather jackets draped over the shoulders of a
young
man astride something that looked like a monster in chrome and black. Signs
announced that ear piercing and tattooing were available by appointment
only. The group steps back not believing what they are seeing. They stand
back as if hypnotized by the sight.
Finally, they approach the courthouse. The door is unlocked as if
welcoming them in. They cautiously enter the old oaken door and start
walking down
the hallway. They are greeted with a wall of pictures of the former county
clerks, circuit clerks and lawyers. All of a sudden the age and weariness
seems to be dissipated as they eagerly go from picture to picture
"William,come here!" "Here's your grandfather!" "Why that no good .... he
should never have been elected, fixed the election he did!" Mothers reach
out and
trace the outline of the faces of the famous men who held court in this
building. Memories of trials, precious remembrances of marriage licenses,and
those dreaded taxes. Hearing a noise, the group darts into the
shadows as they watch a well dressed young man hurrying down the hall with a
box
in his left hand with some sort of a handle on it and hear a sound coming
from it saying "you've got mail." He grumbles quite out loud about having
to
leave his family on Christmas Day to handle this drug case. Drug case? Did
he need medicine? Was he a doctor as well as a lawyer? After his passing,
the settlers turn down another familiar hall and come to the Sheriff's
office. Whose pictures are these they wonder? FBI Most Wanted it says.
Murder, non child support, bank robbery? Who are these awful people and
why are their pictures in our courthouse? Has the world gone mad?
Growing weary, the group makes their way back outside. The precious
stillness of the morning has been broken now by sounds of rushing
carriages, strange though they seem. Beeping horns and screeching tires
have broken the solitude of their memories. People were dashing here and
there on their way somewhere. Did they still go to grandmother's house for
turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie on Christmas Day?
"This is surely a strange world now," they uniformly say to themselves.
Somehow they don't feel at home here anymore. Their time is past.
To a person, the small group prepares to leave. Suddenly they are jostled by
a crowd who doesn't sense their presence. These new people are rushing
to the steps of the courthouse and gathering in some pre-determined pattern.
The settlers pause, curious as to what is happening. Suddenly
everyone seems to be where they are supposed to be; each is holding a candle
and a book. A man steps out of the crowd and stands before them and
raises his hands. Suddenly, the group's voices break forth into the old
time Christmas carols; Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Song
after song rings forth and the visitors to the times find a place to sit on
benches around them. No one seems to notice that there are a few more
tenors and sopranos singing in the back of the gathering crowd. No one
hears the excited cheer when the visitors recognize someone who is their
great-great-grandchild and praises God that they are singing and not in that
group of strange pictures in the courthouse. They clap and sing,
joining with the heavenly hosts that Christmas morning and now they knew
the answer to their quest. They had been important, each in their own way.
They had helped mold the next generations and some of them were holding in,
honoring the family name. A unanimous shout of victory went up from the
visitors and it was loud enough to stop the singing and cause the crowd
which had gathered to turn around.
"Season's Greetings?" It's "Merry Christmas" They all know they heard
those exact words but strange, all they saw were some weary footprints in
the
snow.
Debbie Jennings
debbiej(a)iquest.net
"Following the footprints through time"
Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD,
VA,CAN,GER,ENG
Owen County,
I am writing in regards to a child that was born in 1868 and died in 1881 or
1882 and I think she died in Owen County. Her parents were John M. Baker and
step mother was Nancy Dalgarn Baker. Nancy Dalgarn's father owned a Hotel in
Owen County called the Dalgarn Hotel. Can you be of help in any way I would
appreciate it.
V. Asay
I'm looking for Any connections to the SKINNER family listed below....Believe
that Clark my be Clark Jr. as I have found a Clark Jr. listed on the Estill
Co.KY tax records for 1825....I have proof of them living in Rockcastle &
Garrard Co.'s KY and Greene Co.IN. and Owen Co.IN....all information is
welcome and I have info to share as well.
1 Clark Skinner 1794 - 1856
.... +Susanna Lucindia ca1820 -
.... 2 Peyton S. Skinner 1831 - 1871
.... 2 William Skinner 1833 -
........ +Arabell
.... 2 Elizabeth J. Skinner 1835 -
........ +Thomas M. Walker 1834 -
.... 2 Mary Skinner 1838 -
........ +David Brock
.... *2nd Husband of Mary Skinner:
........ +William J. Bland 1838 -
.... 2 Sarah Skinner 1839 -
.... 2 James H. Skinner 1843 - 1875
........ +Eliza Goodwin 1837 -
.... 2 John Riley Skinner 1844 - 1912
........ +Rachel Matilda Crockett 1846 -
.... *2nd Wife of John Riley Skinner:
........ +Sarah E. Wilson Robinson 1842 -
.... 2 David J. Skinner 1848 - 1921
........ +Hamey Loruh Livingston 1853 - 1932
.... 2 Malissa F. Skinner 1851 - (Melvina)
Thanks so much,
N.J.Skinner White
VWhite0901(a)aol.com
there is a george carter living on r r 15 brazil indiana in clay county
he might be able to tell you..
On Thu, 14 Dec 2000 12:24:56 -0500 "Dick Carter" <rcar37(a)prodigy.net>
writes:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Can anyone tell me where the "George Carter Corner" is, or was, in the
>Wallace Junction, Quincy, Cloverdale area?? Thanks any help
>appreciated.
>
>
>Dick Carter
>rcar37(a)prodigy.net
>
>
>
>
>==== INOWEN Mailing List ====
>Been out of town? Check with the INOwen county Archives to see what
>you missed.
>http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
>
________________________________________________________________
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I am seeking a relative, or descendant, or child of Mrs. Edith Whitaker,
Widow of Virgil, who, in 1970 lived at the west edge of Stilesville... There
is information that I would like to know, that is very important to me...If
you are a relative, or descendant, or knew Mrs. well, please contact me
privately... Thank you.
Dick Carter
rcar37(a)prodigy.net
Can anyone tell me where the "George Carter Corner" is, or was, in the
Wallace Junction, Quincy, Cloverdale area?? Thanks any help appreciated.
Dick Carter
rcar37(a)prodigy.net
Does anyone know anything about an
Abraham Lemasters that is listed in the 1830 Owen county census?
Debbie Jennings
debbiej(a)iquest.net
"Following the footprints through time"
Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD,
VA,CAN,GER,ENG
I'm trying to find more information about an old town which no longer
exsists in Owen Co.IN....it was called Pleasant Valley. From what I know
about it, it was located some 7 miles south of Spencer.....If anyone has any
bits of info on this little place I would be most interested in learning what
you know.
I do know that John McHaley had a store there --this being 1860's, but
that is about all I know about Pleasant Valley.
Thanks so much,
N.J.Skinner White
in "Snowy" MI.
Pre-1850 Owen County Marriages:
Andrew Pittman
Nancy Jane Nichols
December 16, 1841
Thos Johnson, M. G.
Dick Carter wrote:
>
> Does anyone have information on Andrew PITTMAN, and early settler of Owen
> County, Indiana... Origin, Parents, Siblings, Wife, and children etc...
> Also, need dates...Thanks.
>
> Dick Carter
> rcar37(a)prodigy.net
>
> ==== INOWEN Mailing List ====
> Contact the listowner at
> debbiej(a)iquest.net
Does anyone have information on Andrew PITTMAN, and early settler of Owen
County, Indiana... Origin, Parents, Siblings, Wife, and children etc...
Also, need dates...Thanks.
Dick Carter
rcar37(a)prodigy.net
Minnie DICKERSON married Isaac SANDERS in Owen Co ca 1895.
All I know about this family is her parents. They were
Edward DICKERSON and Sarah GROMER.
Does any one have further information?
William Alexander and Elanor Thompson were married in Owen Co. 7 Aug 1820.
Can anyone please give me some details of this couple. Would really like to know who her parents were.
Thanks Tom Mitchell
Go to this link to see if any of the lists being upgraded and therefore
shutdown tomorrow from 7AM (PST) to about 10 hours later.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lindv/move3
Debbie Jennings
debbiej(a)iquest.net
"Following the footprints through time"
Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD,
VA,CAN,GER,ENG
<<
Does this ring any bells - I have noticed the Boldons in Owen Co before,
and I wondered if that is not the same family.
>>
Jane,
So far in the BOLDON /BALDWIN research I've done in Owen Co. my line has
come from MD>KY>IN to my knowledge I've never run across any of them
spelled Bolin or any of the spellings you listed. And they have never been
located in NC
N.J.Skinner White
Researching the BALDWIN line of Henry b. 1700 possibly England
I'm trying to find any information on Wm.BOLDON b. Temperance BUSH 6 Mar
1828 in Owen Co.IN.....I believe that they were living in Owen Co. as I found
a Wm.BOLDON listed there, but I have no info on them after that time frame...
There are several BOLDON / BALDWIN families living in Owen Co. by 1830
census....trying to see if this Wm. might be connected to them....They
migrated from Nelson Co.KY to Owen Co......Their father being Thomas BOLDON /
BALDWIN b. ca1770 MD.
There are several BUSH families living on Owen Co., but only one on the
1820 census....Thomas BUSH and his wife Hannah.....think that they had a son
Richard and possibly Temperance might have been their daughter??
Thinking that they might have moved to a neighboring county and hoping
that someone reading this will have some info on them. If anyone has
anything on these lines, please contact me.
Thanks so much,
N.J.Skinner White
in MI.
vwhite0901(a)aol.com
I remember that excerpts from Dr. Minnich's daybook were published in the
Owen County History & Genealogy Society publication. The editor may be
reached at jzolling(a)certc.com. Pam
Norma,
Thank you for asking!
The information on Lewis and Anna (Ooley) Johnson was taken from notes
given to me by my aunt about 10 years ago. I have since found other
information that contradicted the children of Lewis and Anna. I had
just not entered the change into my database! arghhhh.
The Artemist that my aunt mentioned was in error and we later discovered
this problem. So... forget that I mentioned it!
Lewis and Anna had two daughters:
Sarah Ann Johnson and Eliza Ann Johnson
By the way, I am sending this to the mail list in case others have
been following the dialogue.
The book "Fact and Folklore of Owen County" was written by Dixie Kline.
She was living in Spencer, Indiana and, I assume, still is. The book
was published by Western Sun Printing Company, Bloomington, In. I
purchased the book about 10 years ago and have no idea if it is still
available.
I will try to call Dixie to see if I can get some information on
where we might get copies. I'll let you know.
Sorry for the confusion.
Terresa
NHerman462(a)aol.com wrote:
>
> Dear Teressa
> I have been reading the correspondence between you and Dick in ref to Lewis
> David John and his descendants
> I have a question for you about the children of Lewis and Anna Ooley
> Artemis Johnson, Eliza Ann and Sarah Ann. Where did the information come from
> that they had an Artemis? (would that be male or female)?
> (Did not find a stone at Leach for Artemis)
> Most of the OOley researchers have not found this bit of information. . .
>
> In John Ooley's probate records Eliza, Sarah and Lew are mentioned but not
> Artemis.
>
> Another question Where could "Fact and Foklore of Owen County" by Dixie Kline
> be purchased or viewed?
> Are you doing Ok?
> Thanks, Norma Ooley Herman
Still searching for the final resting place of Dr. John W. MAHORNEY, b. 1857,
husband of Martha Ellen FISCUS, b. 1872. John died on March 22, 1892, in
Freedom. No death certificate has been found although three doctors were
called when he was shot-- Dr. Jacob Coble and Dr. Hickam of Spencer and Dr.
A. J. Minnich of Freedom. Would their records be on file anywhere by any
chance?