Ruby Red Flash Souvenir Glass

Helen and Bertha Smith's Ruby Red Flash souvenir glass

A short time after my mother-in-law, Mary Athya Murphy, passed away in 2006, my father-in-law gave these two pieces of Ruby Red Flash souvenir glass to me. He told me that Mary wanted me to have them, I assume because of the work I had done on the Smith family tree, which she had helped me with.

The large cup belonged to Mary’s maternal aunt Helen Margaret Smith. Helen died in 1913 so Mary never knew her. Helen’s cup is 3 ¼ inches tall and 2 ¾ inches wide. As you can see, the top part is smooth red glass while the bottom and handle are clear glass with a decorative heart band. The bottom of the cup has a star pattern. The name “Helen” and the year “1904” are etched on the front side of the cup. Helen would have been 9 years old in 1904.

Bottom view of Bertha's
toothpick holder

The small piece, probably a toothpick holder, belonged to Mary’s mother Bertha Edna Smith Athya. It’s much smaller than Helen’s cup at 2 ¼ inches tall and 2 inches wide. The colors are the same as the cup. The top has a scalloped edge and the bottom has a diamond pattern with a raised dot in the center. The pattern on the bottom of the toothpick holder reminds me of a geometric design I used to make with a Spirograph. The name “Bertha” and the year “1910” are etched on the side. Bertha would have been 12 years old in 1910.

Both the cup and toothpick holder have a few small spots on the red part of the glass but are otherwise in good condition.

My sister once told me these were popular souvenir items sold at traveling fairs during the early 20th century.

Side view of Helen's cup

Bottom view of Helen's cup

Helen Margaret Smith

Bertha Edna Smith

Eulilla May Callaway

Greensboro City Cemetery
Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia

Eulilla May Callaway, daughter of Lemuel Lawrence Callaway Jr. and Julia C. Askew, was born on May 11, 1891, most likely in Greene County, Georgia. Eulilla came from a large family, 14 children in all. Her parents had eight children—Sidney Johnson Callaway, Arthur Howell Callaway, Olivia Callaway, Annie Callaway, Eulilla May Callaway, Ida Ruth Callaway, Samuel Ezequiel Callaway, and Claude Parkis Callaway. Eulilla’s father was a widow when he married her mother and already had six children from his first wife Anna Josephine Mullins—Talula Callaway, Jack Mullins Callaway, Carrie Callaway, Robert Dawson Callaway, Lemuel Kelser Callaway, and Earnest Callaway. Eulilla was the 1st cousin of my step grandmother Eva Askew, my grandpa Carroll H. Lankford’s first wife. We have no common relative.

On June 6, 1900, Eulilla and her family lived in the Hutchinson District of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. Her father was a farmer. Eulilla was enumerated as Lillia. At the age of 9, she was attending school along with her siblings Sidney, Arthur, Olivia, and Annie. She could read and write.

On April 28, 1910, Eulilla and her family lived at Greensboro and Cary Station Roads in Greensboro. She was enumerated as Lilla May. At age 18, she wasn’t working or attending school. Her father was a farmer on a general farm. Just under a month before her 19th birthday, Eulilla died of unknown causes on April 13, 1911, most likely in Greene County, Georgia. She was buried at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro.

Wedding memories

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy

My husband and I celebrated our 37th anniversary this week so I have weddings on my mind. In honor of our anniversary, I thought I’d share memories of my wedding as well as the traditional items my son and daughter-in-law thoughtfully included in their 2013 wedding that honored our family.

When my husband Charlie proposed to me, I didn’t say yes immediately. Instead, I told him that this was a big decision and I needed to think about it. I couldn’t remember how long I made him wait so asked him as I wrote this. He said it was a week. I hope the wait was worth it to him.

Our wedding was for Charlie, not me. I never wanted one. I always felt weddings were a waste of money that would be better spent on setting up a house to live in at the beginning of a new marriage. A wedding also meant I had to be the center of attention and that’s just not me. But he said he was only doing this once and he wanted to do it right. So, the planning began. This was long before the Internet and Pinterest were around so thankfully my roommate Helene was there to guide me. I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without her. We funded the wedding ourselves. I want to say we only spent $1000. My wedding dress was my something borrowed so that saved a lot of money. No fancy wedding photo album—all I have are snapshots and they’re not that clear. We had a live band that played for free—it was my brother-in-law’s band. Most of the money was spent on food that we prepared ourselves … and booze.

Me and Helene

We randomly selected the date, which turned out to be Charlie’s maternal grandparents wedding date as well. It was also Flag Day. This was appropriate considering Charlie wore his patriotic socks to the wedding (more about that later). The city I live in hangs flags on the telephone poles on our street every Flag Day so over the years I’ve had fun telling our boys they put them up to celebrate our anniversary. In fact, I still say that!

Three days before our wedding, I had to have an emergency root canal. The years of neglecting my teeth caught up with me at the wrong time. That was a lesson learned and I have taken very good care of them since then!

We had a simple ceremony in the neighborhood church my husband attended while growing up. The reception was held at the local fire department hall. Helene, my family, and I had spent Thursday and Friday that week preparing a wedding buffet for the approximately 150 people attending. Friends set the food up during the ceremony.

I had only lived in Virginia for a year so my part of the guest list was small—about 25—my family, my roommate, a friend and her family who I grew up with in Atlanta and who had convinced me to move to Virginia in the first place, and a handful of co-workers. The rest were Charlie’s family and friends.

Me and my Mama

Our niece Michelle was the flower girl. She gave me a “lucky” dime to carry as I walked down the aisle. As time drew near for the wedding to begin, Michelle started getting nervous. I believe we had to bribe her to walk down the aisle herself. She was still the best flower girl ever! Our neighbor’s son Brian was the ring bearer. I remember him telling me that he and I were the two most important people in the wedding. My brother Michael walked me down the aisle.

Left: Me and the best flower girl ever.
Right: Michelle and Brian

My brother Michael and me

Once everyone was seated inside the church, my soon to be brother-in-law Mike sang “Evergreen” and then later in the ceremony he sang the beautiful “Wedding Song” by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame. I heard the song playing on the radio one day while we were planning the wedding and knew I wanted that song. After we said our vows, everyone bowed their heads for a prayer. I remember having my eyes closed, hearing soft music, and thinking “who is playing music during my wedding!” Stupid me didn’t realize that Mike had started quietly playing the guitar as the minister finished the prayer. Once the prayer ended, Mike started singing the song. I still smile when I think about it today. Mike’s performance was beautiful and is a fond memory of my wedding. I just listened to the song and still think it was a good choice.

My brother-in-law Mike

We lit unity candles and I remember Charlie’s hands shaking so much I think the candle almost went out. I can still see us waving our fingers trying to will the flame to keep burning.

After the ceremony, we were driven to the reception by Charlie’s friend Eddie in his classic car.

Mike’s band played during the reception and was a great hit. They were a local favorite so many people already knew and loved them. I distinctly remember the fiddle player standing on top of a table playing the heck out of his fiddle when the band played “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” He brought the house down with his performance.

Mike and part of the band

My co-worker and friend Jan was our bartender. Charlie and his Dad had made a run to Washington, DC to stock the bar. They probably would have been arrested for transporting too much liquor across state lines if they’d been stopped! Charlie told me he was going to ask Mama to dance with him during the reception. Having never seen her dance, I told him that wouldn’t happen. We had a bottle of Cold Duck at the bar and told Jan that was just for Mama to give her a little encouragement. Charlie got his dance.

My friend Jan. We're still friends today.

When it was time to cut the cake, I was so gentle when I fed Charlie his bite. He on the other hand, was not so gentle and shoved the cake into my mouth. I had never heard of such a thing and couldn’t believe he had done that. Of course, now I know it’s just something people do. I don’t like that tradition.

See how gentle I was!

My sister Vanessa caught the bouquet and Charlie’s brother Pat caught the garter. As tradition has it, Pat then had to put the garter on Vanessa. When he took the garter a little higher than Michael felt he should, Michael jumped in and told him that’s high enough! He was smiling when he said it. We all got a kick out of it.

Vanessa caught the bouquet

Pat puts the garter on Vanessa

Charlie and I left the reception in his faded 1965 Mustang trashed by unknown individuals.

All in all, the day was a blur but I have many fond memories. At 37 years, I figured I’d better write them down before I forget some of them!

The wedding party

Us with my family from Georgia

While our families were involved in our wedding, thinking back, I don’t recall putting any thought into including them in ways that my son Chris and his wife Ashley included ours in their 2013 wedding. She and Chris honored our families in three ways which I thought were very touching.

The first thing was my son wearing his Dad’s wedding socks. I blogged about that last year. Click here if you’d like to read that story. Who knows if we’ll have a grandson who would one day buy into this tradition or if the socks will even survive that long. Only time will tell.

The second thing was the clay bowl they made for the ring bearer to carry in the wedding. Ashley found the idea on Pinterest and thought one of Mama’s doilies imprinted in the bowl would be cute. I think she was right. I was happy Mama came to Virginia for the wedding and could see it for herself. Here’s a few pictures of Chris and Ashley making the bowl, one with the ring bearer holding the bowl during the ceremony, and a picture of it on display at the reception.

Ring bearer bowl

The third thing was Ashley’s “something borrowed.” She asked me if I had something she might use for this traditional wedding piece so I pulled several items out of my jewelry box to see it something fit the bill. She picked my mother-in-law Mary’s 1929 mercury dime to pin on her garter. The dime had been wrapped in silver and had a loop at the top so it could be worn as a necklace, something Mary often did when she dressed up. The dime was special to Mary as she was born in 1929. I’m sure she would have loved the young woman her grandson picked for his bride and would have been honored to have loaned the dime to Ashley to use as her something borrowed as she walked down the aisle. But now looking back, if I’d remembered the dime my flower girl gave me to carry in my wedding, I would have asked Ashley if she too wanted to carry it in her wedding. Interesting that she picked my mother-in-law’s dime. That should have been a hint to me. I consider that a missed opportunity!

James Benton Church

James Benton Church, son of Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy, was born December 12, 1882 in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia. He was the 3rd child of 11—George Church, Samuel C. Church, James Benton Church, Jennie F. Church, Anna B. Church, Dessie Church, Charles Cleveland Church, Martha Church, William Henry Church, Donald Roy Church, and Presley Church. James was my husband’s grand uncle.

James’ brother George died sometime between 1880 and 1900 but I’ve been unable to find any record of his death.

On June 9, 1900, James and his family lived in the Church District of Wetzel County. His father was a farmer. At age 16, James worked as a farm laborer. Samuel and Charlie were also farm laborers. His mother was enumerated as the mother of 11 children, 10 of which were living. Samuel, James, and Charles were helping work the farm.

On May 29, 1904, James married Louisa Virginia (Jennie) Kiger, daughter of Nicholas Kiger and Martha Elizabeth Watson. The marriage was performed at her parents’ home in Littleton by James Vanhorn, Minister of the M.E. Church. James already had a connection to Jennie—his brother Samuel married her sister, Rhoda M. Kiger, in 1901. Together James and Jennie had two children—Mary Lucile Church and Sue Ella Church. Mary was born on March 5, 1905; Sue was born on October 14, 1908. Both of their daughters were born in Wetzel County.

On April 28, 1910, James, Jennie, and their daughters lived on Sugar Run Road in the Center District of Wetzel County. James and Jennie had been married for seven years. James was “working out” as a laborer. Both he and Jennie could read and write.

James registered for the World War I draft on September 12, 1918. His permanent address was 1 Glover Gap in Marion, West Virginia. James was a self-employed farmer. He was of medium height and slender build, had blue eyes, and light brown hair.

Marriage License, Wetzel County, West Virginia

On January 7, 1920, James and Jennie lived in the Church District of Wetzel County. James’ brother Samuel and his family lived next door. James was a farmer on a general farm. Daughters Mary (age 14) and Ella (age 11) were attending school and could read and write.

On April 3, 1926, daughter Mary married Armond Tustin, son of Doctor Columbus Tustin and Elizabeth Bessie Hart, in Mannington, Marion County, West Virginia.

On April 16, 1930, James and Jennie were still living in the Church District of Wetzel County. His brother Samuel and his family lived two doors away. James owned his home which included a radio. James was a laborer at Manufacturers Light and Heat Gas Company.

The 1930s was a hard decade for the Church family. On June 22, 1931, James’ brother Samuel died at age 50 in the Church District of Wetzel County. His father Robert died on November 29, 1932 in Littleton of an organic heart lesion contributed by a blocked left coronary artery. He lost his mother Lucinda on January 13, 1933 (in Littleton). All three were buried at Thomas Chapel Church Cemetery in Wetzel County. James’ sister Martha Church McIntire died in Clarksburg on August 6, 1936. She was buried at Elkview Cemetery in Clarksburg beside her two husbands, twin brothers Lester and Chester McIntire.

On April 30, 1940, James and Jennie lived alone in the Church District of Wetzel County. Both had an 8th grade education. James was a laborer for a gas company. They had been living in this house since at least 1935. Thanksgiving Day that year (November 21) would have been a sad one for James as his sister Dessie died at home in Littleton on November 20 after suffering from stomach cancer. She was only 51 years old and left five children behind—the youngest my father-in-law at 12 years old. Dessie was laid to rest with her parents in the front row at the base of the hill at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Wetzel County.

James Benton Church and his wife Louisa Virginia (Jennie) Kiger

James registered for the World War II draft in 1942. He lived in Hundred, Wetzel County, West Virginia but his mailing address was Burton, West Virginia. At age 59, he was still working at the Manufacturers Light and Heat Gas Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His telephone exchange was Rose Line.

On May 31, 1949, James’ daughter Sue Ella married Edward P. Brethold, son of Henry D. Brethold and Katherine A. Schurr, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This was a second marriage for Sue. She had previously been married to a Mr. Smith, first name and date of marriage unknown. Sometime between the time James registered for the World War II draft and his daughter Sue’s marriage, they moved to Lisbon, Ohio.

The Church family decline continued in the 1950s. James’ brother Charles died in Littleton on April 12, 1955. He was buried at Anderson-Bethel Cemetery there in Littleton. His sister Anna died of occlusive arterial disease at Weston State Hospital in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia on March 29, 1959. She was buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Clarksburg. Another sister Jennie died of a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerosis on February 26, 1963 at Weston State Hospital in Weston. She was buried beside her parents at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

James’ wife Jennie died in Ohio on February 3, 1968. She was buried at Hope Cemetery in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio. Daughter Sue Ella was named executrix of the estate. A year and a half later, James died at North Columbiana County Community Hospital in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio on August 9, 1969. He was buried with his wife Jennie at Hope Cemetery. Sue Ella was named executrix of his estate as well. James’ estate of household goods, antiques and old items, and tools and miscellaneous was sold at public auction on May 9, 1970.

Gravestone photo by BMK, Find A Grave member #47156952

My father-in-law often spoke of his aunts Jennie and Anna and uncles Charlie, Henry, Donald, and Presley but I don’t recall him ever mentioning James. Neither does my husband.

James is a descendent of Henry “Old Hundred” Church for whom the town of Hundred, West Virginia is named.

Ethel Odell Jones

Ethel Odell Jones

Ethel Odell Jones, daughter of Benjamin Franklyn Jones and Susan Ann Palmer, was born in Georgia, most likely Walton County, on October 7, 1906. She was the second child of four—Troy C. Jones, Ethel Odell Jones, Cleo Idus Jones, and Edna Jones. Ethel would be my 3rd cousin, 1x removed. Our nearest common relatives are Henry P. Jones and Sarah Lightfoot Vickers.

On April 28, 1910, Ethel and her family lived in the Broken Arrow District of Walton County, Georgia. Her parents had been married for eight years and had two children, both of which were living. Her father was a farmer on a general farm. They lived next door to her uncle Sylvanus Jones and his wife Myrtle Estell (Whitley) Jones. Her paternal grandparents James Darlyn Jones and Josephine F. (Webb) Jones lived next door to Sylvanus.

On February 8, 1920, Ethel and her family lived at Grayson and New Hope Roads in the Bay Creek District of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Ethel could read and write. Her father was a farmer on a general farm and her brother Troy was a farm laborer on a home farm.

According to another Jones family researcher, Cleo remembers standing with Ethel near the creek in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia looking at Double Springs Church which they attended when she was 10 years old (about 1924). Ethel started crying and told Cleo she wanted to have the song “Lord, I’m Coming Home” sung at her funeral.

About 1925, Ethel married Madison (Matt) Fincher Moss, son of John William Harrison Moss and Mary Frances Shepherd. I haven’t been able to find a marriage record for Ethel and Madison but assume they were married in Walton or Gwinnett County. Together they had two children—Frances Odell Moss and William Julius Moss. Their daughter Frances was born about 1926 and son Julius was born on December 14, 1928.

Ethel Jones Moss, daughter Frances, and husband Madison Moss

Late December 1928, Ethel came down with pneumonia. She saw a doctor on December 30 but died at home in Monroe on New Year’s Day 1929. Ethel was buried on January 2 at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Between, Walton County, Georgia. The Jones family researcher that told me the story about the song Ethel wanted sung at her funeral also told me Cleo didn’t mention that conversation to family members when Ethel died. She didn’t think they would believe at child her age.

A young mother of two, one of them three weeks old, Ethel was just 23 years old at the time of her death. Ethel must have sensed that she was going to die. I’ve been told that during her brief illness, Ethel told her husband she wanted Cleo to raise her two children. Four years after her death, Madison married Ethel’s sister Cleo and they went on to have 11 children. Madison and Cleo raised Frances. Julius was raised by Ethel’s parents (his grandparents) Benjamin and Susan Jones. The census enumerator found Julius living with them in both 1930 and 1940.

The death date on Ethel’s tombstone reads December 29, 1928, not January 1, 1929 as recorded on her death certificate.

New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery
Between, Walton County, Georgia