Friday, August 28, 2020

Martha Church

Martha Church was born in Wetzel County, West Virginia on March 7, 1893. She was one of 13 children—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. Two children, unknown to me but enumerated in the 1910 census, most likely didn’t survive. Martha was my husband’s paternal grandmother’s sister so would be his grand aunt.


Church sisters
Front: Anna and Martha
Back: Jennie and Dessie

On June 9, 1900, seven-year-old Martha and her family lived in the Church District of Wetzel County, West Virginia. Her father was a farmer and her brothers Samuel, James, and Charles were all farm laborers. The census enumerator recorded her mother as having had 11 children, 10 of which were living. 

On April 28, 1910, Martha and her family lived in the Clay District of Wetzel County. At age 17, Martha was not working. She could read and write but was not attending school. Her father was a farmer on a general farm. Her sister Dessie, age 21, still lived at home and worked as a servant for a private family. Her 14-year-old brother Henry was a farm laborer on the home farm. This census record shows that her mother Lucinda was the mother of 13 children, 10 of which were living, so she had apparently had two children that did not survive between 1900 and 1910. Martha’s parents had been married for 32 years. 

Martha married Lester E. McIntire, son of Frederick A. McIntire and Mary E. Hall, in Harrison County, West Virginia on August 14, 1918. Lester was a teamster in an oil field in 1910. His World War I draft registration card tells us that he was 5’ 9” and of medium build. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and was missing a forefinger on his right hand.


Lester McIntire and Martha Church marriage license


I have been unable to find Martha and Lester in the 1920 census, even after hours of searching. Sadly, after just seven years of marriage, Lester died from a brain tumor, with a contributory cause of cardiac dilatation (a disease of the heart muscle), in Smith Springs, Harrison County, West Virginia on December 5, 1925. His twin brother Chester was the informant on his death certificate. Lester was buried at Elkview Cemetery in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia on December 7. He was just 36 years old at the time of his death.

Martha married Lester’s twin brother Chester (Berry) McIntire four and a half years after Lester’s death. The marriage took place in Harrison County, West Virginia on May 12, 1930. Chester was an inch taller than his brother, standing at 5’ 10”. Chester had brown eyes, gray hair, and a ruddy complexion. He was a roofer.


Chester McIntire and Martha (Church) McIntire marriage license



Lester and Chester McIntire
(Image from toniemiliejensen1, familysearch.org)


As far as I can tell, Martha never had children with either Lester or Chester. 

The 1930s was a sad time for Martha and her family. Her brother Samuel died in the Church District of Wetzel County on June 22, 1931, her father Robert died in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia on November 29, 1932, and her mother Lucinda died in Littleton on January 13, 1933. All three were buried at Thomas Chapel Cemetery in Wetzel County.

Martha, a 43-year-old housewife, died of peritonitis at 5:45 a.m. on August 6, 1936 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia. A contributing factor in her death was an infection of the bowels. According to Wikipedia, “peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs.” Her husband Chester was the informant on her death certificate. Dr. D. Leeson of Clarksburg attended to her from July 30 to August 5, 1936. Martha was buried beside Lester at Elkview Cemetery in Clarksburg on August 8. Martha’s second husband Chester lived until 1964. He too was buried at Elk View Cemetery in Clarksburg.




Throughout her married life, Martha’s last name was often spelled McIntyre instead of McIntire.

Martha is a descendent of Henry “Old Hundred” Church for whom the town of Hundred was named.


References

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Friday, August 21, 2020

Military marker and certificate

This coming Monday marks one year since my Daddy passed away so I thought it an appropriate time to post a photo of the military marker recently placed at his grave. I live over 600 miles from Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Georgia so haven’t been back since his funeral but thanks to a kind volunteer from Find A Grave, have this photo of the stone. I’m thankful for the volunteers that support the genealogy community.



When I submitted the marker application to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, I also requested copies of the Presidential Memorial Certificate below for myself and my siblings.



Click on the links below if you’d like to learn what little I know about Daddy’s naval career.

Boot camp graduation, Company 1845, U.S. Navy

Samuel Terrell Lankford, a U.S. Navy Veteran

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Friday, August 14, 2020

Giving back, part 3—1996 Atlanta Olympics

Fay Lankford, 1996

This blog post is the third in a series related to my Mama’s (Fay Lankford) volunteer activities. As long as I can remember, volunteering has been an important part of her life. This series highlights her contributions to serving others and her memories while doing so.

History was made when Atlanta won its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and my Mama decided she wanted to be a part of it. With that decision, she joined her fellow Kiwanis Club members and did just that. At the time, Mama was a member of the Shelnutt Golden K Kiwanis Club that met at the Clayton County Senior Center in Jonesboro, Georgia. A member of the Atlanta Olympic Committee came to a Kiwanis meeting to make a call for volunteers. Nine people from their club raised their hands that day—Mama, her
best friend Sue Jester (they did everything together), Elmer Heier, John Letky, his wife Joanne, two other men, a woman, and one other person (she can’t remember their names). 

On January 23, 1996, Mama received a letter from the assistant volunteer coordinator informing her that she, along with three others from her Kiwanis group (Elmer, John, and Joanne), had been chosen to be part of the security team. They were assigned to track and field events for both the team trials and the actual Games. They were issued a large notebook of guidelines and a video titled Making Every Moment Count, and were required to attend Security Officer Basic and Intermediate Courses prior to the Games. Mama and her three fellow team members were measured and fitted for a uniform—shirt, pants, shoes, and a hat. The five other team members were assigned to different venues.

                        

Mama touring the stadium before the Olympics

On May 4, 1996, Mama, Elmer, and several hundred people attended venue orientation at the Olympic Stadium in downtown Atlanta. Once there, they met with management and other team members, and learned about venue operations. The volunteers were given a tour of the stadium, including a walk around the field to become familiar with the stadium. Mama remembers sitting on the pole-vault landing pit during the tour.

Track and field team trials were held at the stadium June 14 – 23. Mama was there every day. Trials included events such as women’s heptathlon (100 hurdles, long jump, and shot put), men’s javelin (qualifying), women’s heptathlon (200 meters), men’s pole vault (qualifying), women’s 100 meters (first round), men’s 100 meters (first round), and women’s 100 hurdles (first round), men’s hammer and long jump (qualifying), men’s discus (final), and men’s decathlon (100 meters and long jump). It also included Special Olympics girls 400 relay (final), Special Olympics boys 400 relay (final), men’s decathlon (shot put and high jump), women’s 100 hurdles (first round), and men’s 110 hurdles (first round). A lot of running and jumping was going on! Mama was assigned to the stadium press floor, standing at the elevator checking passes as the elevator doors opened. If you didn’t have a pass, you weren’t allowed off the elevator. She remembers press being there from all over the world.

Beach volleyball was held at Atlanta Beach in Jonesboro, about 20 miles south of Atlanta. At the time, Atlanta Beach was a recreational facility with a lake for swimming and a sandy beach for playing and picnicking. The Beach was renovated to bring the venue up to speed for the Olympics, including seating for over 12,000. Sue was assigned to drive dignitaries around at the Beach.

Trials were completed by June 28. The Olympic Venue Volunteer Manager sent letters to the volunteers thanking them for their significant contributions thus far and provided details for the Games, including transportation, dress rehearsal tickets, and a carpooling plan.

Elmer and John

Mama managed to fit in her yearly vacation that year, driving to Daytona Beach, Florida on July 13. She came home early though, arriving back in Atlanta on Thursday, July 18. She had to be back—opening ceremony was the next day! On July19, Mama was assigned to the street, checking on people as they arrived at the stadium and giving directions as needed. The remaining days she was assigned to the press floor like she had been during trials. Again, she was at the stadium every day from at least 7 pm until midnight. She remembers it being hot. Atlanta in July? Yes, it definitely would have been hot then.

Mama received meal tickets but didn’t use most of them because they were for McDonald’s, not her favorite. Instead, she took a sandwich from home and picked up a drink at the stadium. Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta so Cokes were everywhere, along with plenty of water. She was given a 15-minute break every day which she spent watching events on the field. Elmer worked on the same floor, but away from the press area. During his breaks, he’d bring Mama candy bars and packs of peanuts.

The Centennial Olympic Park bombing happened on July 27. Normally, Mama and the two men from her team rode to the stadium together. They met at her house and then she drove to a large parking lot behind the United States Penitentiary (a landmark I remember passing daily on my way to work) on what used to be called Confederate Avenue to wait for the Marta buses to pick them up and take them to the stadium. The morning of the 28th, Mama was sitting on the bed getting dressed when she heard reports of the bombing. She and the two men drove to the parking lot as usual to catch the bus, but were put on hold when they arrived. They ended up having to wait two hours while the police swept the stadium before the bus was allowed to leave the parking lot. Although late getting started, Mama was in her assigned position after the police cleared the area.

Postcard of the Federal Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia (unknown 1920, public domain)
Postcard of the Federal Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia
Unknown 1920, public domain


Mama got a prime assignment for closing ceremonies on August 4—on the field right by the Olympic flagpole. She stood beside the opening where the athletes and entertainment entered the field. Mama remained on the field the entire time. With no real assignment that day, she was able to watch everything as it happened. She remembers the Olympic flag being lowered at the end of the Games and the extinguishing of the flame. Andrew Young was the only famous person she remembers seeing.

Closing ceremonies

After the games ended, Mama received a certificate “in recognition of and appreciation for your contribution to the success of the Games of the XXVI Olympiad” signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee and William “Billy” Porter Payne, President and CEO of the Atlanta Olympic Committee. The Atlanta Olympic Committee held a party for the volunteers at Centennial Olympic Park after the Olympics ended. She remembers they served hot dogs, chips, and drinks. She still has a Swatch watch they gave to the volunteers, although it no longer works. I know the days were tiring for Mama but she loved every minute of it. My husband, sons, and I spent the week in Atlanta during the Olympics. We usually stayed with Mama but that year stayed with Daddy since we knew she wouldn’t be home most of the time. What little we saw of her, she looked tired. 

Celebrating after the Olympics

Guidebooks and Swatch watch given to volunteers

In Part 4, I’ll tell you about Mama’s work with the Kiwanis. If you missed my post about her support to the Red Cross during the Oregon and California fires of 2002, you can read that here. Her first mission with the Red Cross was during the North Carolina floods. You can read that post here. 


References

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Friday, August 7, 2020

George Hugh Arthur

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

George Hugh Arthur, son of William Arthur and Martha “Patsy” Bryant, was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on March 5, 1852. George had at least six siblings—William Arthur Jr., Mary Arthur, Sarah Arthur, James Arthur, Susan Arthur, and Mark Arthur.

My connection is a stretch but there is one. George is the paternal grandfather of husband of niece of husband of 1st great grand aunt. We have no common relative. The great grand aunt is Lillie “Della” Lankford, sister of my great grandmother, Alice Beman Lankford Callaway. It’s complicated so here’s how he traces to Della: Lillie Della Lankford > her husband Hayden Edgar George Sr. > his father Raleigh David George > his son James England George > his daughter Mary Lou George > her husband George Hugh Arthur Sr. > his father William Henry Arthur > his father George Hugh Arthur.

For the most part, George grew up without a mother. Not listed in the 1860 record with the family, she apparently died sometime between his birth and before the census was taken. On June 12, 1860, seven-year-old George lived with his father and siblings in Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His father was a farmer with a personal estate valued at $200. George’s brother William worked as farmer alongside their father. Susan, Mark, and George were all three attending school.

George’s father apparently died sometime between 1864 and 1870. He was enumerated in the census for re-organizing the Georgia militia but was not with the family when the census taker visited their home in Maxeys on June 13,1870. Sister Sarah, at age 25, found herself the head of the household, assisted by sister Mary in keeping the house. Sister Susan and 16-year-old George were not working while brother Mark worked as a farm laborer, the only person in the home working. 

At the age of 18, George celebrated the new year in 1871 by marrying Mary Caroline S. Johnson, daughter of John S. Johnson and Caroline Eleanor Hogg, in Greene County, Georgia. George and Mary had 10 children together—Mattie Ellen Arthur, Anna Belle Arthur, William Henry Arthur, Bessie E. Arthur, Julia Agnes Arthur, John Gordon Arthur, Maggie Love Arthur, Mamie Arthur, Georgia Lucile Arthur, and one unknown child.

George Arthur and Mary Johnson marriage certificate


On June 8, 1880, George and his family lived in the 138th district of Greene County, Georgia. He earned a living as a farmer. George and Mary had three children at this point—Mattie, Anna, and William. His widowed mother-in-law lived with the family so helped with the children.

The year 1895 was a sad one for the family with the death of one of the children. Little Mamie, birthdate unknown, was in April. The Oglethorpe Echo published two news articles about her death. The first story ran on April 26 and read:
We were sorry to hear of the death of the child of G. H. Arthur last Tuesday morning. We extend our sympathy to the family.
The second story ran on May 3, 1895 and included her name, which was important since she does not show up in any census records. This story read:
We take this method in behalf of the people along the river to extend our sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Arthur and brothers and sisters in the death of sweet little Mamie. Yes, indeed she was a sweet and lovely child.
On June 7, 1900, George and his family lived in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. George and Mary had been married for 28 years. George was a farmer who could read and write. The census enumerated noted that Mary had given birth to 10 children, 8 of which were living. Their son William also worked as a farmer, probably assisting George. Julia, John, and Maggie were attending school. George’s 79-year-old mother-in-law Caroline still lived with the family.

On April 16, 1910, George and his family lived in the Falling Creek neighborhood of Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. George had given up farming and was now a keeper in a boarding house. George and Mary only had girls left at home now—Mattie, Anna, Bessie, Maggie, and Lucile. Daughter Bessie was a dressmaker, working out of their home. Five boarders lived in the home, all men. One man was a house contractor, one a carpenter, a third was a school teacher, a fourth a department store salesman, and the fifth was a bookkeeper for a dry goods store. They ranged in age from 38 to 19 years of age. Tragedy stuck George’s family on October 20, 1915 with the sudden death of his wife. The Oglethorpe Echo reported her death on October 22:
Announcement of the sudden death of Mrs. George Arthur, of Maxeys, Wednesday was indeed sad news to her many friends over the county. She was in apparently her usual health up until a few hours before her end came when she was taken with something like acute indigestion. She was a woman beloved by all who knew her, a true Christian, a true wife and a fond mother. She is survived by her husband and eight children. Her remains were laid to rest at Bairds church, of which she was a member, yesterday.
On January 3, 1920, George and his family still lived in the Falling Creek neighborhood of Maxeys. A widowed George still had a houseful in his home with six of his grown children living with him. George was also still a keeping of a boarding house and have five boarders living there as well. His son John worked as a department store salesman, however, none of the girls at home worked. The boarders worked as a saleswoman in a department store, a salesman of general merchandise, a dentist, a bank cashier, and an assistant cashier in a bank. 

George died suddenly on September 20, 1924 in Maxeys. The Oglethorpe Echo reported the news of his death on September 26, 1924:
Our little town (Maxeys) was again brought to sadness last Saturday morning at 8 o’clock by the sudden death of Mr. George H. Arthur. He had been in declining health for some weeks but he was about his daily duties Saturday morning, expressing himself as feeling better. He went up town, did some buying for the boarding house and ongoing home and delivering the purchase and coming into the back porch was seized, falling to the floor and in a minute was dead. His death ends a long and useful life. He was in his seventy third year; was raised and lived in this community all his life and had the utmost respect of everybody who knew him. For sixteen years he had been running a boarding house here. His wife preceded him to the grave three years ago. His body was tenderly put away at the Bairdstown cemetery Sunday afternoon after services by Rev Carswell. His children who yet remain are Mrs. N. J. Burgess, Henry and John, Misses Mattie, Annie, Bessie and Lucille. 
George was buried beside his wife at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown.

References
  • Death of Child of G. H. Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, April 26, 1895.
  • Death of George H. Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, September 26, 1924.
  • Death of Mamie Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, May 3, 1895.
  • Death of Mrs. George Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, October 22, 1915.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 11 July 2020), memorial page for George Hugh Arthur (5 Mar 1852–20 Sep 1924), Find a Grave Memorial no. 47256075, citing Bairdstown Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Burgess Donnelly (contributor 47214861).
  • George H Arthur, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
  • George H. Arthur Sr., Oglethorpe County, Georgia Deaths, 1919-98.
  • George Hugh Arthur Sr. Standard Certificate of Death no. 28225, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
  • Georgia Marriages to 1850, William Arthur to Patsy Bryant, July 27, 1840.
  • Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Denise Murphy.
  • U.S. Federal Census, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. 1900.
  • U.S. Federal Census, District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
  • U.S. Federal Census, Division 66, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1850.
  • U.S. Federal Census, Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. 1910, 1920.
  • U.S. Federal Census, Georgia Militia District 228, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
  • U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1870.
  • William Arthur, 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia.
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