Manson
Georgia Confederate Pensions on Ancestry Put to Use
George Preston Birdsong (1841-1905), known as “Pres” to family and friends, is my presumptive great-great-grandfather. He was the scion of a prominent Upson County, Georgia, family. Pres’s father, George Lawrence Forsyth Birdsong (“Larry”), was a sportsman and land owner. Larry also served for a time as Upson County Sheriff. When the Civil War began, Pres enlisted in Company K, 5th …
February 16, 2009 Monday at 6:39 pm
In Memoriam: Lee Chester Manson, 1928-2007
Another Tale of Regret Yesterday was the second anniversary of the death of Lee Chester Manson, my grand-uncle, who lived in Midland, Texas. He was the son of Silas Leroy Manson (1897-1974) and Estelle Thomas (1906-1980). He was the grandson of Otis Manson (1874-1950) and Bettie Sanford (1872-1955). Two years ago, the Midland Reporter-Telegram ran the following obituary: Lee Chester …
January 31, 2009 Saturday at 10:45 pm
Nana’s 100th Anniversary
JESSIE BEATRICE BOWIE 1909-1973 Jessie Beatrice Bowie was my paternal grandmother. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on January 11, 1909. She was the daughter of Elias Bowie, Sr.(1874-1970) and Hattie Bryant (1888-1944). Hattie had been born on the Texas Gulf Coast. After a brief marriage at age 15 and another relationship, she headed for San Antonio with her …
January 10, 2009 Saturday at 5:35 pm
Vote!
I first voted in the 1972 elections; as far as I know, my parents have voted in every election since 1954. But, of course, not all of my ancestors had the right to vote. The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1870, provides: Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied …
November 1, 2008 Saturday at 6:43 pm
Happy 55th Anniversary, Mom & Dad!
My parents celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this weekend. Here’s a recent photo of them, but for a glimpse at their wedding in Houston, Texas, in 1953, see the Carnival post on weddings here. [Updated 7/18/08, 10:15 PDT to add photo. Blogger was having an upload problem earlier. Previous post deleted]
July 19, 2008 Saturday at 5:15 am
A Memorable Visit
In my Jamboree posts the week before last, I alluded to a special mission I had attended to as part of my trip to Southern California. I took part of the time I was there to meet my father’s step-mother. I never knew that my father had a step-mother, as such, until the last few years, or so it seems …
July 12, 2008 Saturday at 11:30 pm
Carnival of Genealogy: Gulf Coast Summer 1962
Right: Craig and The World’s Smartest Sister at the beach in Rockport, Texas, August 1962. As far as I recall, my first time at a beach was in the summer of 1962. Later that year, at age 8, I did my first major writing project. It’s presented here just as it was written 46 years ago, including photographs (the notes …
May 31, 2008 Saturday at 1:51 am
Decoration Day Roll Call
Today, we honor our war dead. If I could, I would be placing decorations on the following family veterans gravesites: Charles Troy Bowie (1915-1945), U.S. Army, Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France. Rene C. Mischeaux (1948-1969), U.S. Army, Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California They both gave “the last full measure of devotion” in service to our nation. While we’re …
May 26, 2008 Monday at 1:32 pm
My FOIA Request Update
A few weeks ago, I used the State Department’s online “FOIA Request Generator” to request the passport files of my grandmother, Jessie Beatrice Bowie (1909-1973). I received an email acknowledgment fairly promptly. Last week, I got the first actual response. Reasonably enough, the Government wants me to show that she either is dead or authorizes me to see her file. …
April 7, 2008 Monday at 4:33 pm
Resources: California Voter Registrations 1900-1968
Ancestry.com has just added California Voter Registrations for the years 1900 to 1968. I tried this out last night. My great-uncle, Carl Edward Manson (1893-1966), was the first family member to migrate to California from Texas before World War II. I found him and his then-wife Mary on the 1940 voter rolls registered at 5820 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Thereafter, …
February 3, 2008 Sunday at 8:30 pm
