My Genie Angels, So Many Thanks, It Really Takes a Village

Copyright 2020, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

It has been a bit since I have posted anything here.  Something went terribly wrong with my blog late last year and I decided to sit it out and pray something would fix it without my intervention.  Keeping my fingers crossed, that may have happened. I trust you, my readers, will let me know if you cannot view photos or if other weird stuff happens.  Especially if you use a mobile device.  Thanks.

NOWWWWW, on to the important and exciting news I want to share today.

It takes a village and some generous genie angels to be really successful in this sport. I really don't know how one can have data bases with good information and lots of background information without volunteers and genie angels.  They go where I frequently cannot.  I have been so blessed in my years of research to have folks contact me about something I wrote here on Reflections, filling in huge blanks of information and answering my questions.  There is no way to thank them all enough.

Recently, a wonderful gal, SG, contacted me from one of my Find A Grave memorials.  That does not happen very often.  In fact, this may be a first for me, to have someone contact me from Find A Grave.  I am identifying her only as SG for now.  She shared photos and information I would have no other way to gather. Seems her family, way back in the day, and my great-grandparents, Joseph Eugene Bowen and his bride, Minnie Maud Remley Bowen were connected.  Not by marriage, but, by employment.  Joseph hired one of her ancestors to work on his poultry farm.  Her ancestor wrote some letters on the letter head of the Poultry farm, and SG had samples of 2 of those letter heads, one from 1932 and one from 1934. She also mentioned that Joseph would let her ancestor borrow his car.  

SG sent me photos of my great grandparents.  I only had one of Minnie, and that was not the most solid identification ever. In other words, was it really her?  We were reasonably sure, you know, genie sure?  The one SG sent, is of an older Minnie, but, is identified on the back of the photo!  Whooeee.  Here she is about 1932 or so.  Isn't she just the cutest thing ever? 

She also sent several photos of Joseph.  Members of her family were able to identify this as Joseph, identified positively, no doubt in their minds.  

Prior to SG contacting me, I had a grand total of ZERO photos of Joseph.  I had been told he was a "large" man, and indeed, now, I can say he really was a large man.  As far as I know, SG did not share a date of this photo. 

SG also shared that the farm house/poultry farm was eventually sold to two elderly sisters, and that the home burned to the ground in 1950, resulting in both of the sisters dying in the fire.  How very sad is that?  Update:  It is possible that Joseph actually rented the poultry farm from the sisters. The facts are a bit muddy, for now.  But, you know us genie types, we have a tendency to hunt down the truth if at all possible.  After the courthouses open back up - - - we might need to do a bit of snooping to clear this detail up.

I am forever grateful to SG and her family for these photos and the knowledge she shared. "Thank you" is such a short small phrase, and, seriously, it does not relay the gratitude, the emotion, the elation of finally seeing Joseph in photographic form.  It's been a couple of weeks and frankly, I am still stuttering and I am having a difficult time finding fitting words that express my emotions.  I have been researching since 1991, that is nearly 30 years.  Years that I had no idea what Joseph looked like.  Years of searching, wondering, figuring I would never see a photo of him.  And, then, SG emailed me.  From my Find A Grave memorial for Joseph.  It is simply, overwhelming.

Thank you SG, more than I can express.  You are indeed a genie angel.

Like I said - - 

It takes a village - - 

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Effingham County Georiga, A Day of History and Fun

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The Remley clan originally was from Colleton County South Carolina, but, after the Civil War they moved cross the border into Effingham County Georgia.  Eventually one of the daughters, Minnie Maud Remley married into the Bowen clan from Bulloch County Georgia (her hubs was Joseph Eugene Bowen.  I have written about both on Reflections before.

Despite the fact that Man and I had visited Statesboro (Bulloch County) once or twice before, once for at least a week, we had never wandered over to Effingham County.  I decided this trip, this stop, that I would get to Effingham.  In fact, we went twice. Once on a research trip, in which I discovered the library was about to close.  I did manage some research.  On the suggestion of the librarians we contacted the Historic Effingham Society.  Their web page seems to be outta wack at the moment, so, here are two links, one to their Facebook page and one to a recent news article.  You might want to read the news article, as it talks about the day we went to Effingham the second time.

The "old" Effingham County Courthouse.  It is a beauty, for sure!

During the Effingham Festival at the Living History Site they have car shows, see:

The museum was also open, the staff there are wonderful, the displays are well done, and they have a genie library!  Yep, I came away with a few group sheets that will provide me a number of great research hours!  There was a doll show (FAIL, I missed it!  Rats!) Ditto quilt show. Double Rats!

But, Man and I did wander down and fully enjoyed the Living History site next to the museum.  This is the Seckinger-Bridgers Home, ca 1900.

Inside, the rooms were wonderful, Sony Too and I had a grand time.  The crochet work and quilt, the fireplace, the family photo.  SIGHHH

In another corner, the sewing machine and a rocker.  Sit a spell, have a rest, here is your fan, let's chat - -

Screened in baby crib.

Lovely dining table.

A panoramic of many of the buildings and the visitors, mulling about, learning, sharing, enjoying.

This is a turpentine still, or part of it anyway.  My ancestors in this area were sometimes involved in the production of turpentine.  It is an interesting process, that I am still learning bout.

This was in the Cook House"Kitchen".  Those are some seriously heavy pots, I just cannot imagine having to lift several of those for each meal that was prepared.

The Cook House "Kitchen", in the foreground, the Gnann Summer House, in the background.

What a lovely headboard and bedroom set.  Yes, even a chamber pot.

And, this is what happens when we try to take a photo of the mock Civil War battle and cover our ears at the same time.  Those cannons are loud!  Caught the smoke even tho I could not hold Sony Too still!  LOL

What an enjoyable day at the Effingham Festival.




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Sunday's Stories, 52 Ancestor Weeks, Week # 10, The Remleys and Grants, Part 2

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This is week 10 of my participation Amy Johnson Crow's, once a week challenge to blog about one ancestor a week, tell their story, biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on that one ancestor. More about the challenge can be found at her Blog, No Story Too Small.

Today I am going to talk about my Minnie Maude Remley's (my great-grandmother) parents. Her father was William R. Remley and her mother was Mariah "Maria" Malvirna Grant Remley.  So, this is a twofer week, two ancestors, one post.

William H. Remley was born in South Carolina in December of 1819 or 1820, depending on the source of the date.  Mariah/Maria Malvirna Grant was born Jun 10, 1834 at Walterboro, Colleton County, South Carolina, according to her death certificate. William and Maria were married sometime in 1854 in Colleton County, South Carolina according to a Widow's Application for Civil War Pension she filed.

As a young married couple, they appear on the 1860 census, Post Office Walterborough, St. Bartholomew Parish, District of Colleton, South Carolina. William aged 35, occupation a drover, value of real estate is $500.00, value of personal property is $400.00, birth place South Carolina. Enumerated with him are: Maria aged 26, born South Carolina;  Juabine, 5 year old female, born South Carolina; Madison, 3 year old male, born South Carolina; and Henry one year old male, born South Carolina.

A William H. Remley served in Company R, Captain Senn's Company, Post Guard, South Carolina.  His enlistment date was May 2/3, 1865 and he was paroled in Chester, South Carolina on May 5, 1865, as a private.  There are no Amnesty Papers for South Carolina, for William. Maria, as William's widow, states in her Widow's Pension application in 1910 in Effingham County, Georgia, that William had served in Company B, 3rd South Carolina Cavalry.  She claimed he enlisted in 1862 at Walterboro, South Carolina and that he left his command at Columbia, South Carolina because he was "not able to do duty" due to rheumatism.

The 1870 census, Verdier Township, Colleton County, South Carolina, shows William H. Remley, aged 50, farmer, value of real estate $200.00, value of personal property is $220.00, born in South Carolina. Enumerated with William are Maria, aged 36, keeping house, born South Carolina; Frances J. (female) aged 12, born South Carolina;  Henry J. aged 10, born South Carolina; George W.B. aged 8, born South Carolina; James W. aged 6, born South Carolina; Martha J. aged 4, born South Carolina; and Estell G. aged 1, born South Carolina.

I found a deed recorded in Colleton County, South Carolina, recorded December 12, 1879, from the Sheriff of Colleton County to H. B. H. Langdale, for the consideration of $80.00, covering land owned by W. H. Remley. It would appear that William owed $61.00 "debt", to Eliza Glover, and that Joseph Glover, executor of her estate procured a judgement against William on January 14, 1874.  When William did not pay that judgement the Sheriff offered the land at sale and collected the debt and costs (most likely interest and court costs).

It appears around this time William and Maria moved their entire family to Effingham County Georgia. Maria, William's widow, states in her Widow's Pension application in 1910 in Effingham County, Georgia, that they moved to Georgia in 1875.  William and Maria's son William Hearl's birth is reported as April of 1875 in Georgia.

The 1880 census, Effingham County, Georgia shows William H. aged 60, farmer born in South Carolina, parents both born South Carolina; Mariah M. aged 45, wife, born South Carolina, parents both born South Carolina;  Madison, daughter, aged 22, born South Carolina; Henry J.P., son, aged 20, born South Carolina; George W.B., son, aged 18, born South Carolina; James W., son, aged 16, born South Carolina; Martha M., daughter aged 14, born South Carolina;  Estelle G., daughter, aged 11, born South Carolina; Rosa E., daughter, aged 9, born South Carolina; Isabelle D., daughter, aged 7, born South Carolina.  Also enumerated were William H., son, aged 5 born in Georgia; and Susan G., daughter, aged 2 born in Georgia.

There is a deed from Sarah Perrie to William H. Remley, dated December 24, 1883 for 100 acres recorded in Effingham County, Georgia.

Mariah petitioned the court of Effingham County Georgia in 1894 to have 40 acres of land set aside for a homestead because her husband William H. Remley was "aged and infirm by reason of chronic diseases of Rheumatism, asthma and disease of the intestines".  She petitioned the court because "her husband refuses to apply for setting apart of a homestead of realty out of his lands and for exception of his personalty under the laws now of force in this state".  The plat approved by the court was actually for 39 acres.  The court case required that a list of his "personalty" or list of property included: One bay mare, small, 4 years old, worth $50.00; one black horse, medium sized, about 12 to 15 years old, worth $50.00; 7 head of cows and yearlings, worth about $35.00; 10 hogs, overall value $10.00; 1 open black buggy, value of $20.00; one iron axle barn cart valued at $5.00; household items, such as 3 chairs, 1 book case, 2 bedsteads and bedding and 1 small bureau were valued at $19.00; a White sewing machine in bad condition was valued at $10.00; 3 saddles, two of which are considered riding saddles were valued at $11.00; 4 hoes and 4 plows (and one stick?) were valued at $3.00; 2 sets plow and ??? gear, valued at $2.00 and finally, one shot gun and fixtures was valued at $8.00.  His total personal estate was valued at $221.00.  The case lists two creditors, Ben Wamock of Savannah and Dr. H. E. Archer of Grayton, Georgia.

As a result of this petition, we find in Effingham County probate records:

Georgia Effingham County

Office of Ordinary of

said County:

To A.K. Powers, County Surveyor of said county.

You are hereby reauired to enter on the lands of Wm. H. Remley lying in said county containing forty acres more or less and lay off for a homestead for Mariah M. Remley and her family either the whole, or so much of said lands as will not exceed in value the sum of Thirteen hundred and seventy nine (1379) Dollars, and make a plat thereof.  And you are hereby further ordered to make return thereof, and the value of the land so platted for homestead, under oath to my office on or by the 3rd day of September 1894, this 21st day of August 1894.

Allen N. Kieffer(?)

Ordinary

Mariah's homestead contained 39 acres:

William died in March of 1900 in Effingham County, Georgia.  No death record has been discovered. His burial place has not been discovered.

Mariah was found enumerated on the 1900 U.S. Census of Effingham County, Georgia in the household of her son James W.:  Mariah, mother, born June 1837 (or could be 1834, original record hard to read), age 65, widow, one child, which survives, born South Carolina, both parents born South Carolina, housekeeper.

Mariah was enumerated in the 1910 U.S. census of 12th Militia District, Effingham County, Georgia with her son James H. Remley, she is shown as 75 years of age, a widow, 11 children, 9 of whom survive, born South Carolina, both parents born South Carolina

Maria died Jan 13, 1920 at Egypt, Effingham County, Georgia per her death certificate.  It is interesting to note that the death certificate does not state her place of interment and I have not discovered it.  Despite several searches by volunteers living in the area, we have not found evidence of her burial at the Mizpah Cemetery as her obituary claims.

Mariah's obituary reads:

     "The death angel claimed Mrs. M. M. Remley on the 13th inst, and her remains were laid to rest the following day at Mizpah cemetery, the funeral services being conducted by the Pastor, Rev. S.W. Brown. A great many friends and relatives attended the funeral.

     She left to mourn her loss nine children, twenty-five grand children and sixteen great grand children, besides many relatives and friends.

     Mrs. Remley was born at Waltoboro, S.C., June 30th, 1834, joined the Methodist church in early life, and in 1875 moved her membership to Mizpah church.  She remained faithful to her Lord until He called her home.  Her husband preceded her to the grave about twenty years ago, and two of her children also went before.

     The children now living are H.P. and J.W. Remley of Egypt, Mrs. J.P.. Nettles of Tusculum, W.B. Remley of Graham, Ga., Rosa McGreog of 203 Jones East, W.H. Remley of 579 Barnard St., Savannah, Mrs. H.R. Franklin of Waycross, Mrs. J. E. Bowen and Mrs. Marion Blanton of Ridgeville, Ga, all of whom were present at the funeral except W.B. Remley.

     Mrs. Remley was very considerate of those about her, and she was also very patient.  My her children imitate her.

     Is life worth living?  It depends upon your believing.  If it ends with this short span, then is man no better than the beasts that perish.  But a loftier hope we cherish.

     Life out of death is written wide, across life's pages on every side; we cannot think as ended our dear dead ........

     With room is.......and fear; love laughs at thought..ending then or here.  God would lack meaning if this world were all, and this short life but one long funeral.

     God is, Christ loves, Christ lives; and by His own returning gives the pleasure of immortality. The first fruit, He and we, the harvest of victory, the life beyond shall this life far transcend, and death is the beginning, not the end.         A Friend"

Wish list, keeping it basic:  Discover place of burial for both.  Photo of William would be sweet.  I have one photo of Maria, if I were greedy, more photos would be nice, ok, I am greedy, PHOTOS!!  Adding a layer on the wish list, adding some subtance:  Revisit land records of Effingham County, can I determine more about Mariah's story by following any deeds I could find?

* Additional source data can be obtained by contacting me, see the right hand column for a yahoo email address.

** 52 Ancestors Weeks Button courtesy of Amy Johnson Crow.

*** I use many resources to research, FamilySearch.org is a free site.  Ancestry.com is a pay site for which I pay, no discounts, etc.  None of these sites have asked me to review them, or use them.  See my Disclaimers page for further details.

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Sunday's Stories, 52 Ancestor Weeks, Week # 9, The Remleys and Grants, Part 1

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This is week 9 of my participation Amy Johnson Crow's, once a week challenge to blog about one ancestor a week, tell their story, biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on that one ancestor. More about the challenge can be found at her Blog, No Story Too Small.

Today I am going to talk about my great-grandmother, Minnie Maude Remley.

Some of the facts:  Minnie Maude Remley was born about 1875 in Walterboro, Colleton County, South Carolina, even her death certificate does not show her birth date, just giving her age as 71 years.

Minnie died November 26, 1948 at Richmond Cedar Works, Norfolk County, Virginia.  Her death certificate states the remains were sent to Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.  We believe she is buried with her sister's family at the St. Andrews Cemetery, Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia.  There is no headstone, but, Jeannette Austin, compiler of the work, "30,638 Burials in Georgia" listed Minnie and her husband, Joseph E.Bowen as having been buried in that cemetery.

I know very little more than the bare facts about Minnie.  No stories were passed down and I have discovered nothing more than she was a mother, wife, lived, died.

Minnie's obituary was located in the Wednesday, November 27, 1946 issue of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia:
     "Mrs. Minnie Maude Bowen, 71, died at her residence, Richmond Cedar Works, Norfolk County, yesterday at 3 a.m. after an illness of five years.
     A native of Walterboro, S.C., she lived in this section 21 years and was a member of Oak Grove Methodist Church.
     She is survived by her husband, Joseph E. Bowen; a son, H. E. Bowen, of Norfolk County, a grandchild, and several sisters and brothers.
     The body was removed to the Francis A. Gay Funeral Home, South Norfolk, and will be forwarded this afternoon to the Gibson and Hart Funeral Home, Brunswick, Ga., where services will be held Friday afternoon.  Interment will be in the family plot at Brunswick."

I cannot even be 100% sure that the photo I have of her, which was so graciously shared by a Remley cousin, is actually Minnie.  We believe it is, however - -

I do have her family bible, here is where she recorded the births of her children. Only Hayden lived to marry and have a son of his own.  It should be noted that the handwriting on the three pages of records is the same.  I have no idea, however, if it is actually her handwriting.  I have nothing else of hers to compare it to.  The bible is the only thing that I do have that was hers.

Wish list for Minnie:

Verification that the photo I have, is in reality, Minnie.

Additional records, church, newspaper, civil, land, anything.




* Additional source data can be obtained by contacting me, see the right hand column for a yahoo email address.

** 52 Ancestors Weeks Button courtesy of Amy Johnson Crow.

*** I use many resources to research, FamilySearch.org is a free site.  Ancestry.com is a pay site for which I pay, no discounts, etc.  None of these sites have asked me to review them, or use them.  See my Disclaimers page for further details.