Exploring Church Info: Where Relatives Gathered

 I’ve been on a row searching through church related information. This blog theme came from something I found in my Great Grandmother Anna Laura (Washington) Walters’ 1947 handwritten obituary. I haven’t really looked into Anna’s church life or other early family members” relationship with the church.

My Great Anna Laura was affiliated with the following churches; the Holsey Chapel, New Hope (Baptist Church) and St. Paul C.M.E Church. I’ve been searching old news papers. I was amazed by the discoveries I came across. (The crop photo is a part of the handwritten obituary of my Great Grandmother Anna.)

As I continue to search obituaries, newspapers and other sources about my family members, I began to see where some may have attended church. Still yet, years later, I can see that there were other relatives who attended the same church. And some of the churches changed their names and didn’t say much about which church was which. Example. The A.M.E. Church. This is confusing.

Where did some relatives worship and became members of a church in St. Joseph, Missouri? Where did some relatives get married? And where were the homecoming celebrations for their loved ones held?

African Methodist. Episcopal (A.M.E.)
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.)
Baptist Missionary Church

Ebenezer Baptist
Ebenezer A.M.E Church
3rd and Antoine
2115 Felix

The A.M.E. Church

The C.M.E. Church

St. Paul C.M.E.
Article about the church moved at 1718 Holman in 1935.
Holsey C.M.E. at 3rd and Robidoux

Hosley Memorial CME
Hosley Temple
Hosley Chapel The original was named after the Rev L. H. Hosley )
Hosley Chapel I.C.M.

New Hope Baptist Church (1884)
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Francis Street Baptist Church.
Francis Baptist Church.
Francis Street Missionary Baptist Church

Trinity Baptist Church established in 1925
Trinity Missionary Baptist Church

Pastors and Reverends of the church.
Rev. Aile J. Johnson, who married my Aunt Sarah Belle
Sarah was my mother’. Lula’s sister.

Rev Thomas A. White, my cousin on my father David’s side

Home Coming Celebrations:
I did discover that there were relatives who didn’t have funeral services at a church. Some were at the funeral home or at the gravesite. And some were are held the home of the departed.

My elven month old Aunt Edna Blakley’s funeral was held at her parents, John’s and Jennie’s home in 1904. My Great Grandfather Robert Louis Lankford / Lankfard’s funeral was at his home in 1919.

Marriages in the Bartlett Family were most likely held at Francis Street Church
The Rev Dr. Emmett M Cohron married Lucy Bartlett and Joshua A. Mossell in 1900. In 1903 he married Myrtle Peyton and William Younger and in 1912, he married. Juanita Bartlett and George Armstrong. And in 1914 he married Lucy Bartlett Mossell and George Gross.

It’s most likely Francis Street Church was where the Bartletts worship.
And more so that’s were funeral services were held.

I believe that I will find more, if I keep searching the newspapers. I have learned something about the people who marriage some of my relatives . Rev Dr. Emmett M. Cohron was a well known. Most likely he knew some of my relatives. I didn’t know that Uncle Aile and my cousin Rev. T. A. White knew each other.

It’s a small world. The more I keep searching, the more I see some connections. I believed that there is more out there. I continue on the quest to discover more my family connections,

Thanks for reading.
Exploring Church Info: Where Relatives Gathered ~ Week 36 In 2022  was posted  posted on September 9, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on word press. and added the In Remembrance to this site. 

In Remembrance of the ...

DADE Family Connections

BARTLETT Family Connections

Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections 


God bless
S.A. Blakley


Week 36 and September’s Theme
Amy Johnson Crow #52Ancestors 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

The theme for Week 36 and September is “Exploration.” Where did your ancestors explore? Who moved around a lot? You could also share records, libraries, or archives that you’ve explored in. Remember, there’s no wrong way to interpret the theme!

Long Lost Family Connections And “The Lost” Ones

  How to see lost in family connections? How to see lost as gain? How lost might be lost? How lost might be found?

Long Lost Relatives:
Relatives who we didn’t know anything about until someone started searching.

I don’t know how many times, I’ve come across long lost relatives as I’m searching for my family connections. It’s exciting find them. Some of us exchange what we know. Some of us keep in touch.

Family Connections Lost
Those family connections who lose contact through the years
(Family connections lost can at times, be found, only if someone reaches out.)

Through time, family connections can drift away with little to no communication. There are cases when the connections are completely lost and maybe broken.

I searched to find some of lost family connections, it see what happened to them.
There were some, I still don’t know. There are (and were cases), I’ve come to discover that they become ill. And there were some who passed.

Lost Information
Information that’s lost through the generations: Information not recorded, no passed down, distorted by whatever reason and or misplaced.

There are records, photos, letters etc. that have been lost through the years. Things that have been past down, maybe misplaced or forgotten. Material lost due to accidents or distorted. We can think that the family history is lost as well. Is there anyone keeping up with their family history?

Then again, we can think that what we are searching for is completely lost.
We don’t know where to search. There may be someone who has done the work that we are searching for. However, if we don’t take the time to search, how we can find anything without looking? We shouldn’t expect others to do everything for us. We should do some searching for ourselves and experience the joy of discovering our family history.

People compile data and so forth. Those things that we haven’t yet discover. Only if we can make the connections with what we think has been lost. This is an adventure.

I had thought that when my Grandmother Mary Anna (Allen) Lankford / Lankfard passed in November of 1975, that all the family history about her was lost. Oh, how wrong I was. The family history is still there.

Even with not knowing who’s who on the family line, we can think that that is lost. Through time, there may be some clues to reveal what was lost. We have to keep looking. I can testify that what I thought was lost, became a miracle in the making. I searched things out, with the help of coarse.

What about “The LOST” Ones who know something about their ancestors?
The sadness thing about “The LOST” Ones…. they can lose interest and or don’t want to know anything else about their family history. They appear to be interested, but are not. Is the family connections being lost or appearing to be lost with the living?

We can keep living in the darkness of our family’s past and not wanting to invest into leaving a legacy for the future generations. Or we can do something about it. We have all the technology to share with our present world that we live in for the future not yet born will be thankful. The choice is up to us.

Don’t let your family connections be lost and forgotten.
Hope that others will have a desire to start and continue to search for their family history.
For those who are searching, keep searching. You might stumble across your family connections.
For those who were adopted or don’t know your family, if you can, take a DNA test.
I hope you will connect with relatives.

I took this photo of a street. It’s a street well traveled by my relatives and ancestors.



Thanks for reading,
Long Lost Family Connections And “The Lost ” Ones: Week 42 In 2022

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on another of my websites. 
I added the In Remembrance:  Family Connections. 

 DADE Family Connections November 
BARTLETT Family Connections 
BLAKEY WHITE Family Connections

God Bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 42 ~
Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café #52Ancestors 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

This week’s theme is “Lost.” As family historians, we deal with a lot of things that are lost or on the verge of it…  memories, records, people…  This week, you could explore something that has been lost or the experience of losing something.

The Wonder Of Mysteries Still Unsolved

 For decades, I’ve been wondering; Who was this Mary Walters listed on the 1910 census with my Great Grandmother Anna Laura and my Grandparents, Leo and Mary Anna? Very little is known about this Mary Walters. What happened to her?

From what I recall, my mother, Lula shared with me about her mother, Mary’s siblings; she had a stepsister and a stepbrother. And about ten years ago, I asked my mother’s sister, Josie what she knew about her mother’s siblings. As far as Aunt Josie heard, her aunt’s name was Bonita Walters and her uncle was Joe Walters.

The first known record of Mary Walters can be found on the 1910 United States Federal Missouri Census in Buchanan County in St. Joseph, Ward 6, District 0078. She was listed as the daughter of Laura Walters. “Mary” was 20 years old.

When I was looking over Laura Walters’ household on the 1910 census, I assumed that the first Mary was Laura ‘s stepdaughter. Because, the other Mary was Laura’s daughter. I noticed that both Marys were 20 years old. I think it would be odd with two daughters with the same name. Mary Lankfard was born on December 21, 1889.

Although, through searching, I began to think. Could the first “Mary” have been Laura’s daughter too? Laura was listed as having three children on that 1910 census and all were listed in her household.. (By the way, Laura was her middle name.. Anna was her first name, Anna’s second husband’ was Thornton Walters.)

A Record of birth of a Walters child in 1907
The child on listed on the 1910 Census.
Birth Record of a child ~ “Bo” Walters colored, gave birth to a male colored at 23rd and Charles. The father’s name wasn’t listed ( Info discovered on Dec 22, 2019.) On the index, there was a B.O. Walters who had a child in 1907. ID #30875 via .St. Joseph, Missouri birth record.

Records of John Walters as Laura Walters’ grandson and not her nephew:
His name was listed once as John WALTERS on the 1920 census with Laura Walters who was listed as his grandmother. John surname was NELSON on the 1910, 1930 1940 and 1950 censuses. And on his tombstone and obituary, his surname is recorded as NELSON.

Searching the City Directory 1906 and 1907  ~ City Directory in St Joseph, Missouri, USA There was a Mary Walters listed with a Laura Walters at 2223 Charles. I’m not for sure which Mary this was. But, more likely she was the one with the son. Then again where was the other Mary during this time. ? The other Mary was Mary ALLEN who was Anna LAURA’s daughter, from her first husband William Allen. Unfortunately, I haven’t located Mary / Bonita Walters’ birth record.

City Directories 1908 and 1909 ~ There was no Mary Walters listed.

The only information about Mary Walters appears to be on the 1910 census. However, the 1906 and 1907 city directories connects a mother who had a son born in 1907 living with a Laura Walters at the same address. The Walters household was not listed on the 1900 census.

A Mystery Still
I can’t find any trace of Mary Walters or Bonita Walters. What happened to Bonita? She wasn’t listed on the 1920 census or any others. Did she have a different surname? Or did she passed before 1920? It’s possible that she passed. This could explain why John was living with his Grandmother Anna.

I’m lead to believe that the first Mary’s named was Bonita. It’s a mystery to why her name was recorded as Mary. . ~ Wondering if her name was Bonnette WALTER? There is a Bonnette listed in the city 1911 directory. But, still there is the wonder of the surname NELSON. I even searched for a Bonita Nelson and a Mary Nelson. I couldn’t find leads.

I was told a story of who John Nelson’s father was. It could be true. However, I have no evidence of that. I can’t obtain John Nelson’s death certificate due to that I’m not a direct relative. John’s parents were not mentioned in his obituary. This mystery is still mystery.

I still wondered, if Bonita’s mother was Anna Laura. Walters. Anna was listed as Joseph Walters’ mother on two other documents. There is a news article listing Joseph Walters as Leo Lankfard’s brother in law. Then I though this would make Joseph was Mary (Allen) Lankford’s half brother and not stepbrother.

Could it be that Anna raised Bonita as her daughter after Bonita’s father passed in August 1903? Ironically, Anna’s daughter Mary ALLEN took the Walters surname at some point. She married Leo Lankford as Mary WALTERS in April of 1909. They were married in Andrew County Missouri.




I hope someone will discover the names of John Nelson’s parents were. I don’t think John had any children. He had a step daughter, name Gordinna (Parker) Hatton. Yes, she was listed as a Nelson on records.

Additional wonders to this mystery:
Could this Bonita be the Mary Walters who was black, living at 1213 S 15th in 1924 and 1926 in St. Joseph? And there was a David Walters listed at the same address with Mary Walters at 1213 S. 15th. Don’t know if they were married.

There was a Mandy Walters living at 116 Coffee in 1924. Anna LAURA Walters lived at 110 Coffee along with her son Joseph Walters who passed in 1926. This makes me wonder about Mandy. I can’t find leads on her either.

In all, I believe that Anna’s other daughter “Mary” passed and that Anna cared for John. And my Grandmother Mary did carry the Walters name. Perhaps, her father stepfather, Thornton Walters raised Mary Allen as his daughter. So she went by Mary Walters as well. When Thornton passed in 1903, he was listed as the father of three. So was Anna when she passed in 1947, she was a mother of three.

What was her name? Mrs. Mary Walters, Bonita Walters or Bonnette Walter?
The Wonder Of Mysteries Still Unsolved ~ Week 35 In 2022
Thanks for reading.

God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

October In Remembrance: 

Dade Family Connections

Bartlett Family Connections

 Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

The Wonder Of Mysteries Still Unsolved ~ Week 35 In 2022
This was Posted on September 2, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley  added In Remembrance October 2022

Week 35 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Cafe #52Ancestotd 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

Week 35’s theme is “Free Space.” I intended for this to be a week for you to choose whatever you want to write about. (Though that’s true every week!) But also feel free to riff off of the theme — maybe an ancestor who went West for land, going to a family vacation spot, or a bingo-playing ancestor? Have fun with this theme!

The Lankfard Sisters

 Through the decades, I’ve been searching for information on my three great aunts. They were my Grandfather’s Leo’s sister. What have I discovered about them ?

Photo of the LANKFARD Sister’s: from left to right Anna Alice Lula Mae and Isabella V.



The three daughters of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard. The year of the photo is unknown. ( There was another sister who was still born in May of 1893.)

Miss Anna Alice Lankford was born on Monday, May 31, 1886 in Canton Missouri. At an early young she moved to St. Joseph, with her family around 1888. She attended Bartlett Grammar School and in 1904, she graduated from Bartlett High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was perhaps the first of her 11 siblings to graduate from high school.

Anna went by her middle name Alice most of her life. Miss Annie Alice Lankford married Christopher Columbus Smith on Wednesday, April 12, 1911 in St. Joseph, Missouri. In her lifetime she was a cateress, house keeper, maid, seamstress. She didn’t have children.

On Wednesday. July 13, 1966, Alice became ill and, she was admitted into the hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri. Sadly she passed twelve days later on July 25, 1966 at the age of 80. Anna resided in Canton, Missouri, St. Joseph, Missouri, Denver Colorado, and Kansas City Missouri.

On my search for Anna , she was hard to track down because there were many Alice Anna Smiths and Anna Alice Smiths. It wasn’t until I her death record became public when I found out her death date and her first name.

Photo of Mrs. Christopher Columbus Smith.



This was a cropped photo of Anna Alice Smith in New York with some relatives and friends. The year is unknown. Maybe between the 1940’s and no later than 1963. Three of Anna’s Lankfard brothers were in the photo. Frederick “Fred” , Louis “Add” and Nymadula “Nym” Lankfard.

Photo: Mrs. William Emanuel Madison Sr.



Cropped photo of Lula Madison at her brother, Leo’s home in St. Joseph in Dec 1952. It was the celebration day for the wedding of Leo’s son, Addison to Pearl Smiley.

Miss Lula Mae Lankford was born on Monday, Oct 11, 1875 in Canton Missouri. Her first name spelled Lulu at times. And her surname had been spelled LANGFORD, LANKFORD and LANKFARD as well.

Miss Lula Lankford married William Emanuel Madison on Wednesday. May 27, 1896 in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was 20 and William was 28. From this union came eight children; their first and middle names. Louis Edward, Joshua Randolph, Charlotte M. her, twin, Robert Lankford, William Emanuel Jr. Lula Neal and an unknown Madison child. They all carried the Madison surname.

Lula worked for private family, She was a laundress. In 1936, she was a member of a Republican committee. In 1940 she lead the singing at Ebenezer AME Church during a Christmas program.. In 1941 she did the Missionary Benediction.

One milestone came in 1956. On Sunday, May 27, 1956 , William and Lula celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. They celebrated their anniversary in St. Joseph. Lula was a member of the Ebenezer AME Church. The church was near by where they lived at 106 South 22nd.

Lula made her hone in St. Joseph for 72 years. She passed on Tuesday, Sept 26, 1961 at the age of 85. Her husband William passed seven days before on Wednesday, August 2, 1961. He was 93. They were married 65 years.

Photo was of the future Mrs. Ezekiel Watson Nickerson.



This cropped photo of Isabella as a young woman; more so a teenager.
The year of photo is unknown. She was with her brother, Charles and the family dog.

Miss Isabella V. Lankford was born in September between the years of 1898 or 1900 in St. Joseph, Missouri. However, her birth wasn’t record in the St. Joseph, Missouri birth records. (There was one sibling born after Isabella. That name is unknown.)

Isabella attended Bartlett Grammar School in St Joseph, Missouri. I came across an article listed her with the senior class in a program. I don’t know if she graduated from Bartlett High School in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Isabella moved to Denver, Colorado, perhaps with her parents around 1918. She was listed living in St. Joseph, on the 1920 census. However, she later married Ezekiel Nickerson on Monday, August 16, 1920 in Denver. Isabella was 20 and Ezekiel was 24.

From this union there were nine children: Their first and middle names were Nathan Welcome, Vivian Virginia, Lankford James, Betina “Betty” Q, Robert Eugene, Doris Laverne, Lydia, twins, Freddie and his twin, name unknown.

Some Facts and Thoughts:

As I began searching more on Isabella and her sisters, I came across information about them. Isabella and her sister Anna Alice, (her husband, C.C) came to live with Isabella (and her husband Ezekiel ) around 1934 and 1935. Anna was living in Denver from 1920 up to 1940 are so. Anna’s husband, C.C. was a chef and they traveled.

Anna could have been in Denver to help out with Isabella with her family. Isabella passed on Thursday, September 15, 1938 due to complications to child birth to twins. Isabella and one infant twin were buried in the same coffin. (The other twin Freddie, passed in Fort Worth Texas on Wednesday, April 9, 1941 due to the measles at age  2 years and 7 months. old.

Isabella’s husband Ezekiel was unable to care for the children. The younger children were cared for by Ezekiel’s sister Ruth Nickerson White who lived e in Fort Worth, Texas. The younger children where listed on the 1940 census in Texas.

Interesting things I’ve discovered about the sisters.

Anna Alice and Isabella were living in Denver and lived in with one another.
Lula and Isabella both had twins.
Isabella was the first sister to passed.
Anna moved back to St. Joseph and was the last of the sister to passed.

R.I.P.
Great Aunt Anna, Great Aunt Lula and Great Aunt Isabella

In Remembrance: 
Dade Family Connections
Bartlett Family Connections

Blakey Blakley Family Connections
WHITE Family Connections

I posted this blog on April 2, 2022  on my other site. ~ Susan Ann Blakley
I added the In Remembrance to this blog for September 2022.

Thanks for reading.
The Lankford Sisters ~ Week 13
God bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 13 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café via facebook #52 Ancestors 52 Weeks
“Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters…” Any families made up of lots of sisters? Now is a great time to tell their story!

Searching For A Character

 I was pondering about the theme” character.” Who were some of the characters in my family connections? The name Mammy “In Gone With The Wind” came to me. But, I wanted to choose a different performer.

Then after a while, I couldn’t think of anyone else. It wasn’t until the next day the name Quitman Fludd the III came to my thinking. Quitman Fludd III was my second cousin, once removed on my father’s mother’s Bartlett side.



Some years ago, while I was searching for information on my Bartlett family connections, I stumbled across a clue. It amazing how one little clue led me to someone and that someone led me to another person then finally that person led me to Quitman’s grandfather., Wade Hampton Peyton Jr.

It was in 2012 or so, when I had a major breakthrough with he name, Myrtle (Peyton) Younger. Her name was leading me to discover more people. At first, all I knew about Myrtle was that she was the granddaughter of Harriett (Hooper) Bartlett who was my father’s grandmother. Then as I searched more on Myrtle, I stumbled across information that she was the sister of Wade Hampton Peyton. Jr. Wade listed Myrtle as a relative on his WWI draft card.

Once I began to search for Wade Peyton Jr., this was when I came across Quitman’s mother and so forth. It was an amazing discovery. What a unique name of Quitman. So, What have I discovered about Quitman?

Quitman Daniel “Danny” Fludd , the third was born on Sunday, February 29, 1948 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the son of Quitman Daniel “Jack” Fludd Jr, and Thomas Sarah (Peyton) Fludd Anderson. Yes, his mother first name was Thomas. She went by Sarah and “Tommie” was her nickname.

Some four years ago, as I began to dig a little deeper, I discovered that Quitman was an singer / actor. He was on Broadway. And recently, as I was working on this blog, I learned more about him that I didn’t know about.

Some of Quitman Fludd III’s career credits Stage and Film He was a “dancer, singer, musical director, lyricist and composer.” chorographer, arranger, song writer and tap dancer.

On the Twentieth Century (Feb 19, 1978 – Mar 18, 1979) Performer: Quitman Fludd III [Porter]
He was a porter and a dancer: On the Twentieth Century : Original Broadway Production [1978]

South Pacific Jones Beach Marine Theatre Production (1969) Hallelujah, Baby! National Tour (1968)

…ProverG.I.Ensemble

Hello, Dolly! (Jan 16, 1964 – Dec 27, 1970)
He was in Hello, Dolly! [Original Broadway Production, 1964] Ensemble (replacement)

Heathen! (May 21, 1972 – May 21, 1972)
Performer: Quitman Fludd III 
[Church Elder, One of the Girls and Boys of Past and Present, Boy in Jail]

Doctor Jazz (Mar 19, 1975 – Mar 22, 1975)
Performer: Quitman Fludd III [Spasm Band Member, Dancer]
Understudy: Quitman Fludd III

Pippin (Oct 23, 1972 – Jun 12, 1977)
He was on standby for Ben Vereen
Leading Player – Replacement

On the Twentieth Century (Jun 09, 1979 – Nov 25, 1979)
Performer: Quitman Fludd III [Porter]

Godspell (Sep 12, 1972 – Aug 05, 1973)
Musical Director: Quitman D. Fludd III

TV credits: appearance on Search For Tomorrow

A Song by Quitman: “Life Is Like A Train”

I googled and found out Quitman D. Fludd III’s obituary information and more career credits.

There is a photo of Quitman the III on facebook.
It’s sad that Quitman had a sad ending on Saturday, December 9, 1989.
He was 41 years old. He was loved by God and others.

This blog is In Memory of Quitman Daniel “Danny” Fludd the III.
R.I. P. cousin, Quitman. the III

One of Quitman’s quotes.
“We’re all God’s babies doing the best we can” ~ Quitman Fludd III

My Family DNA Connections:
I have a DNA match with the lineage of Sarah “Sallie” (Bartlett ) Peyton,.
Sallie was the grandmother of Wade H. Peyton Jr. and Myrtle Peyton Miller.
Wade Jr. was the father of Thomas Sarah Peyton Fludd Anderson, Quitman the II’s mother.
My DNA match is on the branch of Myrtle (Peyton) Younger Miller.

Cousins who are performers: .
What characters are they?
“Hawk” in The Wiggles
“Gladys Keller” in The 4400
“Beth” in LIFE AFTER at Goodman Theatre Chicago.

We are all characters to somebody world.
We may never be famous.
But, we are famous characters to those who are around us.

There’s a drama queen in every family.

Thanks for reading
Searching For A Character: Week 28 In 2022
Posted on July 15, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site. 

In Remembrance For August

BARTLETT Family 

Blakey Blakley WHITE Family 

DADE Family

God bless
S.A. Blakley

I took the photo on September 2, 2017.

Week 28: Characters ~
Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café #52Ancestsors 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

Every family has a person who might be described as a “character.” But that’s not the only way you might interpret this theme. What about someone named for a famous character, working through a language that uses characters other than what you’re used to, or deciphering a character on a tombstone? Be creative and have fun! Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.

Brick Walls

I have come across a lot of brick walls on my family connections journey. And I’ve made it through some of them. But still, I have some brick walls I want to conquer.

William Allen was one of my great grandfathers. I have had a brick wall with him for a very long time. I’ve been looking back over what I know about him.

What do I know about William Allen and the people in his life?

On December 24, 1888, Wm. Allen applied for a license in St. Joseph, Missouri to marry a Miss Laura Washington (1867- 1947). George Fermon signed his name as a witness to William Allen’s signature; as Wm. made his mark on the application.

On March 6, 1889, Wm. Allen and Miss Laura Washington were married in St. Joseph, Missouri. They were married by The  Rev Alexander Carl Terrell (1850 – 1922). He was the pastor at the Methodist Church on  311 Antoine in St. Joseph, MO.

Nine months later, on December 21, 1889, William and Anna Laura Allen were blessed with a daughter, Mary Anna Allen. William Allen was listed on my Grandmother, Mary Anna Allen’s birth record. However, Mary’s name wasn’t listed on the record.

Also on Mary’s birth certificate, William was listed as an American at age 28. He was from Georgetown, Missouri. His occupation was a farm hand. Date of returned birth record was January 4, 1890.

William and Anna were living with Anna’s parents at 1801 Mulberry in 1889. This was the place where Mary was born. Mary was Anna Laura’s first child.



I checked the censuses and St. Joseph, City Directories. I can only assume that the black William Allen on the 1880 census was Mary’s father. I’m not for sure that he’s the correct William. I haven’t found a death notice of William’s passing.


 On the 1890 St. Joseph, Missouri city directory, William Allen was listed as a labor residing at Mulberry NE Cor 18th. This was the same address of William Washington Sr. and Susan (Leach) Washington (1835- 1890). They were the parents of Anna Laura Allen. There was a colored William Allen on the 1880 census living in St. Joseph. He was MO born in 1858 in MO. His parents were from Virginia.


On the 1893 St. Joseph’s City directory there is a colored William Allen lived at 510 N 3rd in St. Joseph, Missouri. I lost track of him. Wondering if he was the same William listed on the 1880 MO census in St. Joseph, His parents were from Virginia.

There’s a clue that the William Allen on the 1890 military census lived at 617 Corby. He enlisted in St. Louis MO. on Dec 31, 1889. And was discharged on March of 1893 in Fort Riley Kansas. This Wm. Allen was from Ripley County Missouri. This will could have been the William Allen on the 1882 City Directory living at 6th and 9th Hall and Corby.

On the 1870 and 1880 MO censuses, there was a Wm. Allen listed as mulatto with parents John Allen and Ann (Ramsel) Allen in Clay, Monroe, Missouri. I can’t find more on his parents or siblings listed on the censuses.

William Allen and Anna Laura Washington were married. I wonder if they divorced?
Anna Laura Walters was listed as the widow of Thornton Walters in 1898.
I haven’t located their marriage record.
I haven’t found a Laura Allen or Anna Allen as a widow of William Allen

The brick wall on William Allen still remains.
I hope to stumble across some clues, someday.
In the mean time, I’m waiting.

July In Remembrance: 
Dade Family Connections

July In Remembrance: 
Bartlett Family Connections
    
July In Remembrance: 
 Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

Thanks for reading
Week 15 (Apr. 12-18): Brick Wall

God bless you
S.A. Blakley

 Brick Walls 

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site. 

Week 15: Brick Wall ~ Generations Café via facebook

Brick walls—we all have them. This would be a good week to write down what you know about your brick wall problem. (Sometimes just writing about it can help!) You could write about an ancestor who used to be a brick wall. Or get creative—maybe an ancestor who was a bricklayer? Feel free to share your links and stories in the comments.

Reminiscing~~~~Unique Things Part 5

Friday, 19 January 2007


Reminiscing~~~~Unique Things Part 5

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Kindegarnter 7th Grader 8th Grader Senior

Mark Twain Truman Middle School Central High

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Here are Seven plus Unique Things About Myself and others. I thought to share with you. Happy reading...I have others ideas about blogging as I was reminiscing this week.

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1. I have a unique mark or scar right between my eyes. I always imagined myself as an Indian girl from India. [I have some American Indian blood in me]. My mother told me how I got this mark between my eyes. It was a result from a rock thrown at me.

Actually it was two rocks. There is a scar on my left temple too. The mark between my eyes happen before the Kindegarnten picture was taken. [I was five in that photo.]

2. One Spring or summer... between 1970 - 72... I almost cut out one of my fingers. There are two fingers on my right hand that are almost the same length. [This might be a future blog to share.]

3. I was a patrol girl during my sixth grade year at Mark Twain. As I was on duty one day a student heard me talking. He said that he always thought that I could not talk. I was very shy in my early years.

4. I won a Wacky Award during my eighth grade year at Truman Middle School. I received an award for being "The Quietest Person"in my eight grade class. I still got that award around here somewhere along with my grade school report cards.

5. I became the 18th member in my family to graduate from Central High School. 15 brothers and two sisters graduated before me.

6. On the day that I graduated there was an article on the front page of the local newspaper with my parents and I. It was about our family's historical moment.

7. I was the only person in my senior class who did not miss a day of school in four years. I received an award for that. [There were 445 of us that received our diplomats.] Actually I missed a half day which was credited as a full day.

One of my sisters and I went to South Dakota to visit some cousins about our family history. [This might be a future blog too.] Also If any of you graduated from Central from the years 1956, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, and 1982, our mother saw you gradate too.

This concludes my reminiscing of my public school years. Yeah, I had many styles of clothing. I even had varies kinds of Afro's. One of my niece's saw the photos that I have of myself from my seventh grade year through my junior year in high school. My Afro appeared to grow each year. I was a senior in high school when I got my first perm...I did it for my senior picture. I have fun reminiscing.

Have A Good Friday!

~~~"Susie"~~~
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A man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God. --C. S. Lewis

Reminiscing~~~My Time Line Public School Years Part 4

Friday, 19 January 2007


Reminiscing~~~My Time Line Public School Years Part 4

I have put together some interesting things about my schooling years. I was hoping that I would have found my report cards from grade school. I used my memory on the names of my teachers and spellings. I found my Kindergarten group photo.

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In 1968 I entered Kindergarten at Mark Twain Elementary. There were 42 of us in the afternoon class photo. I had a cousin and there were twins brothers as my classmates. [There were about half of my classmates I could not place.] Our teacher was Miss B. Wise. [She was the youngest teacher that taught me.] Special note: I had four brothers and a sister attending school while I was in kindergarten. We had some cousins going to school with us.

Below are the Grades and a little bit that I can recall. I added some updates.

1st I don't recall very much about the first grade. However I did have to repeat. I was told by my siblings that this would happen. [This was the only grade that I know I don't have my report cards. I have all the others.] One thing that I do recall...having a band aid on my head one time. I played rough when I was growing up. [My knees have scar on them.] I was a tom boy. Teachers names were Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Espy.


2nd I got to learn how to write "fancy"...I think we call it "cursive writing". I was in a group called the "Motor Mouse Reading Group". When we had to draw a picture of our mothers for Mother's Day, the teacher told the other kids to take out their pink crayon. She told me to use the brown crayon ....to color my mother's face....Back then I did not know why. I was not thinking about color. I just wanted to color. Our teacher's name was Mrs. May. She had been teaching a long while. [I could say that she was the oldest teacher that taught me in grade school.]


3rd I recall standing outside the hallway by my third grade classroom. I had drawn a picture of my mother. I had to ease the eyelashes off my mother's eyelids. I drew this picture for Mother's Day. The teacher told me that I could not have eyelashes on my mother's eyelids. [The eyelashes were in the right place on the eyes.] Our teacher's name was Mrs. Buneau.


4th We had a "play" in class. I like the play so much that I copied it...in my own handwriting ... word by word. One day my teacher found my copy in my desk. My very first time I went to the "Big" office was when I had to go get permission to ride my bike to school. I did pass the test. That year kids kept letting the air out of my tires so I had to stop riding my bike to school. Our teacher's name was Mrs. B. Ashworth.[ Sometimes she would play ball with us during playtime.]


5th I missed about two weeks of school. I was sick. I don't recall what I had ...chicken pot or whatever. I got to write a letter to a "famous person". I choose a movie star /model who had the same name as mine...well somewhat... her last name spelled different. [Special note: This model wrote me back. I got to meet this actress/model while she was in town in March of 1992.] Our teacher's name was Miss J. Jones. She had a twin sister.


6th I was a patrol girl. As our reward for being on patrol, we got to go to a Royals' game in K.C. MO...that was my very first one. I graduated from the six grade. We had a graduation ceremony. We wore paper caps on our heads. I remember my Kindergarten teacher taking some of us outside so that she could take pictures. We were the ones who she taught. Our teacher's name was Mrs. J. Gibson. [She said that I was one of her favorite students.]

7th I entered into Truman Middle School. I missed registration. Yeah, I registered late. One of my brother's taught math there. Another one of my brother was in the eighth grade. I was challenged to take spanish and french classes. That year my whole family gathered together for the news paper. We appeared in the news paper on January 6, 1977. It's been 30 years.

8th I was ending my Middle School years. I notice yesterday that I was one chosen to be in "tiger country" section in our year book. We were Truman Tigers. Some of my teachers wrote in my year book that I should talk more. They said that I was a good student.

9th I entered into Central High School. There were two other brothers there. One a senior and the other a sophomore. We had another brother who taught social studies there. [This was the start for me to take french classes... I did for 4 years. I got a B every year. English was another story. I don't know why I did better in french.] Also we had a nephew who lived with us. This nephew told some of his friends that I was his niece. This nephew was with us for three years. He graduated in K.C. his senior year in 1982.

10th I was introduced to black history in my geometry. I wrote a paper on Benjamin Bannecker [1731- 1806.] He calculated the first ever survey for the Federal District which is know as Washington D.C. He did other inventions too. I got my first job "shackling" corn for the summer. I was the only girl there. There were four of my brothers with me.

11th I made a trip to Yankton S.D. to visit some of our cousins to learn more about our family history. I did not go to the junior or senior proms. I did not have a date.


12th In 1982 I had all determination to complete my senior year to became the 18th member in my family to graduate from Central High. [2007 is my 25th anniversary on May 27th. I will have to find Portia T. We can have our 25th reunion. We did not go to our 20th so we met at church on Friday. Portia is the only member that I know at WOLC that I went to school with. She and I go back to Truman Middle School "days".] It's rare that I come across my former classmates from grade school through high school years. There is a former classmate who once was my sister in law.

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I though to share this timeline with you first before I share the unique things. As I look back now I know that God was with me during my early life and my schooling years. I was very shy and I had trouble hearing. [This started in elementary school.] I grew in... what I grew in . I did not have a lot of friends. I did not go to a lot parties. I did not listen to a lot of music. I could not hear the words to the songs. As for when we read out loud in class, I could not hear where we were at times when it came time for me to read. At times I did not know. I felt lost.
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At first I was not going to share what I shared with you. I thought about it. I took a step of faith. All that I have been through has been experiences in life. I know where I have been and I got an idea on where I am headed. With the grace of God on my side I can keep on keeping on. I keep pressing forward.

I will keep on reminiscing on some other things. I like to thank of all you that made a comment or two... Thanks for reading my journal.... It's good to look back at things once in a while. But not to stay there. I just wanted to share this with you guys... No matter where you have been or what you have been through you can keep on keeping on. We got Jesus walking along with us on this journey called life. ~~~~~"Susie"~~~