Mark Twain has a new book out!

Several years ago I went to Elmira, NY to find the house my mother and her family had lived in. While I was there I had to go and see Mark Twain's grave and his home. I always loved Mark Twain's books and I am sure I have read them all, some a couple of times.

I was so happy when I discovered he has a new one out! A hundred years after his death. How could this happen?

The last years of his life he dictated his autobiography. (side note: he had an affair with the lady who took dictation and typed it up, then he fired her) He wanted to be perfectly honest, yet he didn't want to hurt the feelings of anyone. So he requested that it not be published for a hundred years. As one reporter said, "It is the best marketing scheme ever."

I am certain that Twain could not have imagined that thousands of copies would be pre-ordered on line. I can't wait to get my copy!

A note to genealogists: Twain(Clements) has no direct descendants.

A poem of a cemetery spot

Written by John F. Quinn of Buffalo, New York. Although this is about his auntie it could be about any child.

In a distant cemetery
at the corner of the lot
Lies buried and forgotten,
a little Irish tot.

The site once had a marker
that told a name and date:
Isabell Ryan,
born nineteen eight.

Her father made a cross to show
his little girl his love,
Was Christan born and baptised,
Bless the living God above.

Her family was not well to do
they had no time to choose,
a proper site, she died so fast,
just barely in her twos.

The grave-yard people deemed
the homemade crosses crude,
They tore them down, left Isabel,
in lonely solitude.

It just seems awful tragic
That this little girl should be
away from all the folks she knew,
Her friends and family.

I know she isn't really there
It's just her little bones.
Her soul has traveled far up high
To God's almighty thrones.

And still sometimes I travel there,
Down a dusty road, rutted trail,
There's wild flowers growing around
Birds sing on the rail.

I have a special interest there,
in this story I tell,
For she's my private little Saint,
She's my "Auntie Isabel".

Edith Mae, Hank and Friends Walk Through History

Edith Mae and Hank are on an adventure. They want to tell the stories of their years traveling to discover American's History. The first story is about all the cemeteries they have explored. They have had so much fun. Hank, of course, loves to run around and between the stones. Sometimes he runs toward cemetery critters such as squirrels, rabbits, and ducks. They scattered fast but he only wants to say "Hi."

Edith Mae got a new dress so they went to Sunnyslope Cemetery today. Nobody seemed to noticed, but then most of our friends are underground.

We can't wait to start giving our presentations, and boy!, do we have stories to tell.

Wish us luck!

From My Family Album. Samuel and Jannie Shockey

OBITUARY OF JANNIE (ALLEN) SHOCKEY (Taken from the Onaga (Kansas) Herald, Sept. 19, 1940.) Jannie Shockey, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Allen, was born March 1, 1869 in Winnebago Co., Ill. and passed away at her home in Onaga, Kansas, September 9, 1940, at the age of 71 years, 6 months and 8 days. On May 23, 1883, she united in marriage to Samuel T. Shockey, who passed away October 19, 1935. To this union eleven children were born. Surviving are: Allen Shockey, Mrs. Margaret Perrussel, and Mrs. Philena Holmgren of Onaga, KS; Mrs. Elsie Shaw of Irving, KS ; Hattie Perrussel of Fraser, CO; Mrs. Winnie Baughman of Riverdale, CA; and Samuel Shockey, Jr. of Pacific Beach, CA, also those proceeding her in death: George, Mose and John Shockey and Bessie Ramsey. - Since her marriage, Mrs. Shockey lived on a farm near Wheaton, KS for 34 years and then in Winifred, KS for 20 years and spent her last 4 years in Onaga, KS. after her husband's death. - S!he joined the Baptist church in Wheaton, KS at the age of 9 and changed her letter to the Baptist church in Onaga, KS in March 1940. - She leaves to mourn her passing seven children; one brother, Mose Allen of Winner, SD, who has now reached the age of 97 years; two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Brown of Hamilton, KS and Mrs. Charity Connway of Fostoria, KS; 55 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and a number of other relatives and a host of friends, all of whom have loved her dearly. - Mrs. Shockey lived a good Christian life, and before her death, she wrote the testimony that she was ready to leave her home on earth to met her Master. - Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Baptist Church, conducted by Miss Ruth Campbell. Interment was in the Onaga (KS) Cemetery next to her husband, Samuel Shockey.

Tombstone Tuesday, Lucy and Me

Lucy, the Belguim Shepard to the left, always has to have her nose in everything!! LOL!

This morning we went out on a Find A Grave hunt. We didn't have alot of luck. I have 14 requests and found only 3.

This picture is sending me on another hunt. The grave is for Thomas W. Cook. He died at 30 years old in 1899. I don't know a thing about him. I checked on the regular sites but I guess I need a trip to the library. Lucy won't understand why she can't come with me. After all she found him!

From My Family Album, Fred and Grace Boller

Buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego are my maternal grandparents. Fred and Grace Boller lived a quiet life. They never spoke to me about their life before they came to California in 1947.

A couple of years ago I went to their hometowns in New York. It was a wonderful experience. I went to the homes that they had lived in. I visited the libraries and researched the newspapers. I was even able to speak to a old timer that remembered my grandfather, although the man, now an old man himself, was a little boy at the time. I visited my grandfather's hardware store in Corning, New York.

They raised four children, had 11 grandchildren, with greats and greatgreats coming along at regular intervals. I hope they are looking down and are proud of us.

Before it was History, it was News

This picture was taken at the Corning Public Library in Corning, New York. It was taped near the microfilm reader.

Newspapers are my favorite research source. You may not be able to find the information you want anywhere else. It is most valuable for cemetery search. I have found the obvious: obituaries and information about the people that died, but there are always many stories about the local cemeteries in town. You can piece the information together to create a great cemetery history.