Saturday, June 30, 2012

Family Website: 3rd Year Milestone

It's been 3 years since I began this website in 2009.
I have come a long ways.
I had no idea where I would go...
I have shared some much.
I got some respondes.
And came across a few long lost relatives...through this website.
I was looking at my very first post...
I didn't have much to say.
I made some corrections and added what's in red on my first post.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009


In The Beginning...
I thought to start a blog on my family history. I have been searching for over 30 years. But where do I go from here in sharing what I have discovered?
What will I share?

When I first started out I knew very little about my ancestors. I only knew my father, David, mother, Lula and my mother's mother, Mary. There was little data that I knew of them too.

It wasn't until a little after my Grandma Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD passing in 1976 when I became interested in my family tree. I thought when my Grandma Mary died all the information about the family was gone too.

I was so wrong on that. Through the process of time, I came across data and records. I am so thankful to God for the lead. I discovered so much over the years.

Where do I go from here in sharing what I have discovered.
What will I share?

Family History for the Month of JUNE:

Anna Laura WASHINGTON was born on June 13, 1867 to Susan LEACH and William WASHINGTON in St. Joseph, MO. Anna Laura (WASHINGTON) ALLEN - WALTERS was the mother of Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD.

John BLAKEY BLAKLEY was born on June 21, 1871 to Martha SCOTT and Isaac BLAKEY in Woodville MS on Hew Davis Plantation. John had a twin brother named Andrew BLAKEY. Andrew passed along with their mother Martha.

Isaac BLAKEY was stated to be born on  June 30, 1847 or 1845 to Julia and Andrew WHITE in Roanoke, MO. (Isaac was born Fayette, MO (Howard County Missouri)

1st Entry: (June 30, 2009)
S.A.B

This was posted on Saturday, June 30, 2012
I don't know what number entry this is...
(This is post #172 with 121 Scheduled and 43 drafts as of June 30, 2012 and over 10,800 pages viewed.)
My search continues....

I have come across more information from the 1940 Census.
I need to update some of my finding.

There are more  Family History for the Month of JUNE:

Click on  Family Connections...
This is the site where I post some of my updates and finding.

Hope you're having a nice Summer.
We're in a Heat Wave.

It's been in the high 90's and low 100's.
Heat index up to 112 or so.
Stay COOL!

God bless you,
Susan

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Brave Little Kitten

A few years back on June 30th, we had some visitor that came to our door. They heard a very loud noise that sounded like a cat. When the 2nd person said the same thing, we went looking. We heard where the sound came from.

I made my way to the garden. I saw a little kitten on the other side of the fence. The next thing I knew this kitten came through the fence. He was coming at me.

I back up. And picked some thing up so the cat won't get on me. The kitten was determine. He keep coming out at me. He came on the porch. I made my way into the house.

The cat stay was trying to get in the house. He stayed on the porch. My brother said that the kitten will not bother us. The cat still won't leave the porch area.

The next day I went out the door. The kitten was still there. He followed me where I went. I went to feed the dogs. The kitten followed me. As I made my way to the first dog. I told Sister to leave the cat along. The cat keep going to Sister.

Sister started smelling the kitten. I keep telling the cat to get away and Sister to leave the cat alone. Then next thing I noticed the kitten ran into Sister's house.

Sister ran after the kitten. Sister started barking. I tried to pull Sister away from her house. Then Sister went in her house with the kitten.

Indeed I had to pull Sister's chain to get her out of her house. It was amazing that the little kitten was still alive. I took some photos of this rare moments.

Sister was looking at a kitten in her house. The kitten did get away. I thought the little kitty was a goner. After the kitten ran out of the house. He came back to Sister.

The kitten must have had brain relapse. Sister left the cat alone. I was hoping that the kitten wouldn't come back to get the dogs' food.

The kitten followed me back home. He stayed around. My nephew said that the kitten was going around to the dogs. That kitten must be brave.

The next morning the kitten was around. Then the following day no one saw the kitten. We don't know what happened to the little one.

Perhaps one of our neighbors took him in. We couldn't take care of a kitten. We have dogs. Our dogs don't go to well with kittens.

I wondered whatever happened to that kitty. I never thought much of him since that summer. But last year I was coming home from church. I saw a cat coming my way. He kept coming. I told him to get.

As I went into the yard, the cat kept following me. The cat jump on the fence. I couldn't believe it. He did look like that little kitten I some time ago. I thought that was something. Wonder why the cat came back?

On The Journey...
Brave Little Kitten

It appears that someone took the little kitten in.
He was so friendly.

Thanks for reading.
Blessings,
Susan

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How Did Our Father End Up Here In St. Joe? Happy Father's Day!

Part of a re post from my Xanga site on Sunday, 19 June 2007...
I added the photo in 2012 and added some updates.


Yeah, I did have a GOOD Father's Day. Especially in the House of the LORD, our Father's House. We got to sing the hymnal This Is My Father's World again..(ON FATHER'S DAY). The message was called "The Reckless Father". I received some revelation from that message: "The Reckless Father" (in 2007).

Some of my siblings, their spouses and some of their kids got together on Father's Day.... Some questions arose to how did we get to be, where we are in this city of St Joseph, Missouri.

I was ask this question...

How did our father end up here in St. Joe?
I heard many other cities as to where we (our ancestors lived and )could have lived.
in the towns of Elwood, Kansas (and areas and some went) up along with Omaha, Nebraska.

We could have lived in Yankton, SD. Our father's father, John was planning to bring his wife, Jennie and 7 children up there in the late teens of the last century. (About 1916 - 1917)

Grandpa John Blakey Blakley died before making the trip back to get them. Our Grandma Jennie (Bartlett) Blakley decided to stay in St. Joseph, Missouri. She had siblings and family here.

Actually, our father wanted to live on a farm... The closest "thing of being on a farm" was that we had a lot of chickens in our backyard in the mid to late 1950's ... This was what I was told. This happened well before my time.
David W. Blakley Sr.

Today, (FATHER'S DAY!) is an anniversary for me... June 19, (1994) was my very first Father's Day in church. I was saved. I was a happy girl on that day and ever since than knowing that I have God as my Father God.

I have been thinking... that for those who are in Christ have the honor to addressing God as Father. I know some ...who did not have that honor to call a man in your household, father. But know since we have JESUS, we have God, the Father as our Father God.

But when I received that revelation of God as my Father, it changed me. I have the honor to address God as Father God, forever. I have also been thinking...I am a child of God. God is my Father. That's awesome!

Hope that you Have A WONDERFUL Day!
Staying On The Family History Journey,
Susan

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day Everybody!

Unknown Relatives
Perhaps a father with his family.
His wife, four daughter' and other relative.
Perhaps his grandmother or grandmother in law.
Have A Wonderful Father's Day!
Hope all have all have a Happy Father's Day!

Those who aren't fathers, those who's father has passed on or are'nt with you...
If you are in Christ Jesus, you have a Heavenly Father!
Honor Him as your Father.

Happy Father's Day Abba Father!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Anna Laura (WASHINGTON) Allen Walters And Charlotta (DADE) Lankford












                         I have been thinking about my Great Grand mothers.
Anna (WASHINGTON) Allen Walters
(1867- 1947)
and

Charlotta (Dade) Lankford.
(1851- 1924)
Anna was born on June 13, 1867 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Her parents were William / John  and Susan (LEACH) WASHINGTON.
Anna was the wife of William/ Robert ALLEN and
Thornton WALTERS.

Charlotta was born in 1851 in Missouri.
Her parents were Isaac and Frances (OVINGTON) DADE.
Charlotta was the wife of Robert Louis LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

Over the years I started to look at the two photos above.
The photos don't appear to be the same person. I could be mistaken. 
Both photos are believe to be of Charlotta LANKFORD.

The photo below of Charlotta on the left taken about 1892 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The Robert And Charlotta LANKFORD/ LANKFARD Family

The LANKFORD / LANKFARDSs took photos.
I believe that Anna and her family also posed for photos.
I believe that our ancestors wanted the future generations to see how they look.
That could have been one reason way people pose for photos.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

What About Aunts and Uncles By Marriage? Part: 8 ~>The LYLE Connections: Catherine (STRANGE) Lyle and Carl JONES Sr.

 Over the years I knew very little about Catherine LYLE.
As one of Catherine's grandchildren discovered this website.
I began to search more on Catherine. 
Catherine Marie  (STRANGE) LYLE
1932- 1994
Catherine was the daughter of  Elvin STRANG Sr. and
Beatrice (RICHARDSON) STRANGE. 
Catherine was born on Sept 9, 1932 in South Boston, Virginia.
Catherine's siblings were Elvin Jr.  Mary, Annie, James,
Thelma Walter and Beatrice STRANGE.

Catherine Strange married Faris Chilton LYLE.
Faris was the son of Chilton LYLE and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.
Catherine and Faris had 7 children: Tahir, Negia, Amer, Kamal,
Hamid, Benjaimn and Abdel Lyle.

Catherine passed away on Sept 9, 1994 in New York.
She was buried in Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. 
 Catherine's husband Faris passed away on Feb 1, 2008.
 He was buried next to Catherine in The National Cemetery.

I have come across Catherine's lineage on ancestry.com
I don't know much about her children.
I've have come across about three of Catherine's and Faris' grandchildren and one of Catherine's and Faris' in law on facebook.


Carl William JONES
1909 - 1971


Not much is known about Carl Jones.
He was married to Geneva (LYLE) JONES
Geneva was the daughter of Chilton LYLE and
Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.
Carl and Geneva later divorced.
They had children
Carl Jr, Lawrence, Kenneth, Clinton, Marcella, Floyd, and Phillip LYLE.

Perhaps more info will come in the future.
Thanks for reading.
Susan

Friday, June 1, 2012

My Assumption On Who John Blake May Have Been

I was re reading some of the old family letters. Two of my cousin spoke of a John Blake who was a son of Josh or Joshua White. Joshua was the son of Andrew and Julia White.

According to my cousins, Josh White had three daughters and a son named John. Joshua died. John was raised by a large family with the BLAKE surname. The cousins didn't mention about Josh's three daughters.

I  searched the census looking for this John Blake. I believe that I've found him. I saw at least to coincidences. I first notice on the 1910 census that there was a John Blake with wife Arrette. There was a Mattie White listed with them.

This Mattie was born about 1877 in MO. Mattie was a widow. She had 5 children. Only 4 were living at the time the census was taken. However, the children's names were not listed with Mattie.

I searched to back track and to find out who was this Mattie White?. I saw that this Mattie may have been counted twice on the 1910 in Howard County. I came across a Mattie White who was a widow with 5 children with one deceased. She was listed with her 4 children.

I searched records to find out; who was John Blake?  I came across one John who fits the description on what my cousins spoke about. John was raised in a large family. This John was listed on the 1900 census with Louis and Mary Blake. John was Louis' step son.

As I continued to search for John Blake, I saw some similarities. He was the same John listed with Mattie on the 1910 census. John later was divorce some time before 1930. Louis was listed as John's father on the 1920 and 1930 census. Also on the WW II draft Louis was listed as John's father. John was born in 1880.

In my later search, I discovered more about John. I located his death record and pieced together who John Blake could have been. John H. Blakey was born on May 29, 1880 in Fayette, MO. His mother was Mary Anna Johnson or Potte.

Mary was born on Dec 4, 1865 and passed away on April 15, 1918 in Howard County MO. Her parents were Merritt Potte and  Becky Bentley. Mary married Louis Blake in 1885.
John's the father's first name on John's death is a ? It appears to start with the letter J. It appears to James not Louis Blake. John's surname was listed as Blake. Louis was the son of Ceaser and Trusty Blake

Mary had about 12 children: John her first born then Merritt, William, Nellie, Rector, Oscar, George , Frank, Eleanor, Maggie, Corine, (1907 - 1967) and Swetzie Blake.

I'm not for sure if this John had  any children. He was listed with a son named Cortez Jaco, He was born about 1926 in Missouri. and Harold Valentine born about 1927 in MO. Cortez and Harold could have been his nephews. But I'm not for sure.

It appeared that John carried the BLAKE surname through out his life. His surname wasn't BLAKEY. John may have never know that Josh White was his father.

John passed away on Oct 5, 1930 in Hannibal, Missouri. He was listed as a widow and a barber. Nettie Black was the informant on John's death record. I reached for Nettie Black. She was John's sister.

Perhaps some one will come across this website and clarify some things.

Thanks for reading.