Friday, November 25, 2016

Athya, my elf on the shelf

Athya, my elf on the shelf
It’s the day after Thanksgiving so that means Athya (pronounced Ath-ee), my elf on the shelf, made his first appearance of the holiday season this morning. There are no young children in my house and I don’t have grandchildren so he’s not a scout elf reporting back to Santa every night. His only job is to entertain me, and that he does. My boys will make fun of me for this one but I don’t care. Athya is only three years old but I’ve already declared him a family treasure!

Three years ago, I started noticing elf on the shelf photos on Facebook and thought it would be fun to join in. I found my elf at the local Target store. They didn’t have the standard version elf so I bought the plushee version—a blue-eyed boy. They also had girl elves so I bought one for my daughter-in-law, whom she named Lola. Athya and Lola get together sometimes to create a little mischief.

Athya was named to honor my husband’s Scottish ancestry—his grandfather was George Durie Athya, born on June 26, 1892 in Glasgow, Scotland. My little elf keeps me entertained throughout the holiday season and often at other times of the year as well. If it snows in the winter, he comes out to play. He’s traveled to work and Atlanta with me and he’s attended our family Christmas party in Front Royal. I’ve spent hours making clothes for him in the summer months; time in the fall making props and signs for him. My niece in Atlanta even made a sign for him last year. This elf is a lot of work!

Lola and Athya
My family makes fun of my elf but they get into the spirt too. I came home from running errands one December afternoon and my husband had set Athya up with a sleigh and Rudolph and his reindeer friends pulling a load of cinnamon pecans I had made earlier that day. Another time I came home and Athya was sitting on my bed with open pieces of candy and the TV remote. Once I woke up and he was hanging from the living room curtain rod. And another time he was sitting in my chair with my Santa hat on, holding a bottle of wine. My youngest son gave him clothes—a Christmas sweater, a camouflage shirt, and a shirt and sombrero for Cinco de Mayo. Last December, I opened the microwave and there he sat. So, don’t let them fool you, they like him too!

My elf has a blog, Athya the Elf, where I post his photos. He also has a YouTube video—The Christmas Elf made by a special friend of mine. In November 2014, my friend told me about the elf his daughter was hiding from his grandchildren so I told him about my elf. We exchanged a few pictures and then he asked me to send him more. On Christmas eve, he surprised me by sending a link to the video. I gave him a hard time because he mispronounced Athya’s name and called him a girl but I treasure the video. If you watch the video, you’ll hear the names of his grandchildren mentioned. After Christmas, he told me to be prepared to send him more pictures as he wanted to make another video for Christmas 2015. But God had another plan for my friend and he passed away in his sleep last November. That just made the video more special to me.

Athya has lots of fun planned for this holiday season. This little elf brings a lot of joy to my life, so yes indeed, he definitely is a family treasure!

Friday, November 18, 2016

A crewel owl pillow

This owl pillow is more of Daddy’s crewel work. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the circumstances of his giving the artwork to me but I can tell you it wasn’t originally a pillow—it was just a square piece of material with the artwork in the center. The crewel work is very clean and intricate. The entire piece is hand-stitched—Daddy covered every inch by hand. My sister-in-law helped me finish the artwork by turning it into a pillow. My son Chris loved it so I gave it to him after she finished it. Daddy has never seen the final piece but I’m sure he would love it.

Friday, November 11, 2016

George Alexander Merritt Sr. (106-2016)

George Alexander Merritt Sr.*
George Alexander Merritt Sr., son of John C. Merritt and Louisa F. Burke, was born in Greene County, Georgia on November 27, 1862. Together they had six children—Cornelia Mary Merritt, William Charles Merritt, Eugenius J. Merritt, George Alexander Merritt, and two unknown children (the 1900 Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia census enumerator recorded Louisa Merritt as the mother of six children, four of which were living).

My connection to George is very distant—3rd cousin 3x removed of his wife.

On July 8, 1870, George and his family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. The census enumerator recorded George’s age as seven. His father was a farmer; his mother was keeping house.

On June 8, 1880, George and his parents lived in District 142 of Greene County. At age 18, George was still at school. His father was still farming; his mother was keeping house.

George’s father died in Greene County on February 18, 1886. He was buried at Siloam Cemetery in Siloam, Greene County, Georgia. George, along with his brother William, was named co-executor of his father’s will filed in Greene County. George’s father left him land, a buggy, buggy hire, and a bed.

Beginning in the fall of 1891, George left his home in Greensboro to enter the University of Georgia in Athens to study law. He was a member of the Demosthenian Debating Society. In his response to a University of Georgia alumni survey for a “Centennial Alumni Catalogue” being prepared for the school centennial in June 1901, George wrote “I wore home knitted stockings and paid my board promptly when due.” George graduated in the spring of 1892 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He was admitted to the Georgia bar that same year and started practicing law in Greensboro. A public servant, George served two years on the Greensboro city council, was mayor of Greensboro for one year, and secretary of the Democratic county committee for several years.

On October 6, 1892, George married Lila O. Boswell, daughter of William J. Boswell and Josephine Malone, in Greene County, Georgia. Lila was from Penfield so it’s possible that’s where the ceremony took place. Exactly a year later, on October 6, 1893, Lila gave birth to a daughter they named Lila Boswell Merritt, born in Greene County. George’s life was shattered when nine days later, his wife died on October 15. Lila was buried at Penfield Cemetery in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. She was just 25 years old at the time of her death.


Lila Merritt's tombstone, Penfield Cemetery

On June 13, 1900, a widowed George lived in Greensboro with his widowed mother and six-year-old daughter. He was enumerated as a lawyer.

Thirteen years after the death of his first wife, George married Temperance Estelle Davison, daughter of James McCluney Davison Jr. and Ella Martin Tiller, on June 5, 1906 in Greene County. The Atlanta Georgian reported their marriage on June 8, 1906:
MERRITT-DAVISON. One of the most beautiful weddings which ever occurred in Greensboro, Ga., was that of Miss Temperance Estelle Davison to Colonel George A. Merritt Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Baptist church in that city. Before the ceremony Miss Marie Barnhart sang “Harts and Flowers,” after which the bridal party entered to the strains of Mendelssohn’s wedding march, played by Miss Nellie Hall. The ribbon-bearers, little Misses Norme Little and Sammie Gheesling, with long ribbons of tulle formed an aisle, down which the bridal party walked. First, Miss Kate Evans and Mr. Wade Durham, of Woodville; Miss Carrie Davison and Dr. E. G. Adams, Miss Addie Copelan and Colonel J. P. Brown, Miss Willie May Tappan and Mr. Luther Smith. Then the little flowers girls, Sara Hall and Marion Park, immediately preceded the bride with her matron of honor, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, down the middle aisle, while the maid of honor, Miss Frances Adams, going down the right and the best man, Colonel James Davison, with the groom, down the left aisle. The ceremony was performed by Rev. A. F. O. Kelley. The bridesmaids wore pink and white dresses with pink sashes and white hats and carried arms full of pink and white sweet peas. The matron and maid of honor wore white dresses and hats and carried pink and white sweet peas. The bride’s beautiful wedding gown was of soft white point d’esprit over taffeta, made princesse, with a great deal of hand work on the corsage. Her going-away gown was of gray voll made with an eton coat, which she wore over a lingerie blouse. Mrs. Merritt is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Ella Davison and is greatly admired. Colonel Merritt is one of the best known lawyers in the county and has many friends throughout the state. The young couple left on the afternoon train for Tallulah Falls, where they will spend several weeks. Among the out-of-town guests present were: Mr. Wade Durham, Mrs. William Cartwright, Mrs. R. E. Davison, Mr. Jim Armstrong, Mrs. Floyd, Mr. J. H. Bowles, Mrs. C. C. Davison, Miss Annie Davison, Misses Young, of Woodville; Mrs. J. B. Davison, of Atlanta; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lewis, Misses Annie Lou Tappan, Carrie Merritt, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Merritt, of Siloam; Mr. and Mrs. Genie Merritt, of White Plains; Misses Newsome, Hart, Sibley, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton, of Union Point; Mrs. Charlie Sanders, Mrs. Lelch, Miss Colclough, Miss Calloway, of Penfield.


By all accounts, it was a beautiful wedding. The following year, 1907, George and Estelle welcomed a son they named George Alexander Merritt Jr.

George announced his candidacy for the legislature on March 4, 1910. The Athens Banner noted him on March 5 as “one of Greene’s most prominent lawyers …”

George’s wife Estelle died suddenly in Greensboro on September 24, 1912. She was buried at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro. The Atlanta Constitution ran a death notice on September 25, 1912:
Mortuary—Mrs. G. A. Merritt, Greensboro. Greensboro, Ga., September 24.-(Special.) Mrs. George Merritt, wife of Colonel G. A. Merritt, prominent lawyer and member of the state legislature, died very suddenly at her home here this morning. Mrs. Merritt was one of the most popular young matrons of the city. She is survived by her husband, one young son, her mother, Mrs. Sarah Davison; one brother, Colonel James Davison, of Greensboro; and one sister, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, of Chattanooga, Tenn. The funeral will take place from the Methodist church, of which she was a devoted member, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment at City cemetery.
Although the news article doesn’t mention a daughter, I believe Estelle probably died in childbirth as her tombstone reads:
Temperance Estelle Davison
Wife of George Alexander Merritt
Mar. 19, 1879
Sept. 24, 1912
And Their Infant Daughter
Estelle Merritt and daughter's tombstone, Greensboro City Cemetery

George was elected Ordinary of Greene County on January 23, 1913. The Atlanta Constitution reported on the election on January 24, 1913:
Col. Merritt Elected Ordinary of Greene, Greensboro, Ga., January 23.-(Special.)—The special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Judge James H. McWhorter occurred Tuesday. There was very little interest taken in the election, there being a light vote case over the county. Colonel George Merritt received the most votes and will be Greene's next ordinary. Mr. Merritt has twice represented this district in the legislature and is very popular here. His friends are congratulating him on his election to this office.
Sadly, three years later George took his own life on January 13, 1916. The Athens Banner reported his death on January 14:
Took Own Life—Ordinary of Greene County Died Yesterday Morning By His Own Hand (Special to the Banner.) Greensboro, Ga., Jan. 13.—George A. Merritt, ordinary of Greene county and prominent lawyer, killed himself at 7 o’clock this morning with a shotgun. The load entered near the heart. He served in the Georgia legislature terms of 1913–14. He leaves one daughter, Miss Lila Merritt, who is a teacher in the public school at Albany, Ga., and one son, George A. Merritt, Jr. Mr. Merritt appeared among friends as usual yesterday and no reason at this time can be assigned for his act.
The Atlanta Constitution reported his death on January 14 as well:
G. A. Merritt, Prominent Greene County Official, Ex-Legislator, Suicides, Greensboro, Ga., January—(Special.)—Hon. George A. Merritt, ordinary of Greene county, killed himself this morning at 7 o’clock at the home of his cousin, Mrs. Ava Young, with whom he resided. He used a shotgun, placing it against his heart. The load went entirely through his body. He was breathing his last when his cousin, who heard the report of a gun, went in to investigate. No cause is assigned for the rash deed except that he possibly brooded over his financial condition until his mind became unbalanced. Mr. Merritt was 54 years old, and was a man of sterling qualities, beloved by all who knew him. He was one of the most prominent attorneys in the legislature in 1913–14. His mother, who is 86 years old, is completely prostrated by the shock. A gloom is cast over the entire community. Besides his mother, Mr. Merritt is survived by a sister, Mrs. Tappan, of McRae, Ga.; a brother, Charles Merritt; a daughter, Miss Lila, who is a teacher in the public schools at Albany, Ga., and a son, George A. Merritt, Jr. 
A casket and vault were purchased from McCommons-Thompson-Boswell Company for $35 each on January 14. George was buried at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro. George’s tombstone was engraved with a birth year of 1861, however, he recorded his birth year as 1862 in the University of Georgia alumni survey for their “Centennial Alumni Catalogue” in 1901. Census records also indicate his birth year was 1862.

George Merritt's tombstone, Greensboro City Cemetery

I’ve noticed in several news articles that George was listed as a Colonel yet when he submitted the University of Georgia alumni survey, he responded “none” to the line requesting dates of military service, name of commands, and office held.

George was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.


* Photo of George A. Merritt is from Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and ... edited by Allen Daniel Candler, Clement Anselm Evans

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Mary Daisy Davison (105-2016)

Baird's Baptist Church, Bairdstown, Georgia
Bairdstown Cemetery, located in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, is the cemetery where my paternal grandparents, several uncles, and an aunt are buried. It’s a beautiful, well-kept cemetery near Baird’s Baptist Church. Daddy’s sister lived just down the road from the cemetery so we’d always stop by when we visited her and take a walk through the graves. I remember Daddy telling me one time that we were related to many of the people buried there, although he didn’t know how. It’s been a while, but several times on my yearly trips home to Atlanta, my husband, Daddy, and I took a day trip to Greene and Oglethorpe Counties to visit the many cemeteries to document my research. Daddy enjoyed these trips and would spend the day telling us stories about his childhood there. My boys were young at the time and had no desire to walk the cemeteries with us so I always made sure they had new Gameboy games to play with and then I would bribe them. Yes, I said bribe! I told both if they would behave all day while we made the rounds to the cemeteries I would give each of them $25 at the end of the day. But, if they acted out, the deal was off. I had to pay up every time and it was worth every penny! I enjoyed these day trips immensely and we always made it a point to stop by Bairdstown Cemetery. By then, the walks took on new meaning because I had started to connect the dots from my family to the people buried there. I found that Daddy was right—we in fact had many collateral connections there. This blog post is about one of those connections—Mary Daisy Davison. A relationship calculator tells me that she and I are 3rd cousins, 3x removed with our nearest common relatives being Robert L. Hobbs Sr. (1754–1845) and Mary Marion Caldwell (1759–1853). They were my 5th great-grandparents.

Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Georgia
Mary Daisy Davison, daughter of Col. Joseph Davison and Susan C. Briscoe, was born in Greene County, Georgia on December 22, 1874. She was the oldest child of seven—Mary Daisy Davison, Joseph Briscoe Davison, Sarah Elizabeth Davison, Ralph C. Davison, Evelyn C. Davison, and two infant children (sex unknown). She went by Daisy.

On June 14, 1880, five-year-old Daisy and her family lived in the 138th District of Greene County, Georgia. She was enumerated as Mary D. Davison. Her father was the postmaster; her mother was a housekeeper. There were three servants living in the home with them—Eliza Bearer (age 22, cook), Henry Towns (age 30, laborer), and Jordon Raiden (age 60, laborer). 

Daisy’s life was cut short in 1887 when she came down with dysentery. At the age of 12, she died in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia on May 4, 1887. The Atlanta Constitution reported her death that same day: 
Death of Miss Daisie Davison. Woodville, Ga., May 4.—[Special—Colonel and Mrs. James Davison lost their elder daughter, Miss Daisy, aged about thirteen years this morning, at 4 o’clock, with dysentery. The funeral services will take place at their residence tomorrow at 9 o’clock, conducted by Rev. M. W. Arnold, of Harwood, Ga., after which her remains will be taken to Bairdstown, Ga., for interment.
Davison plot, Bairdstown Cemetery

Daisy is buried in the Davison family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery. Her tombstone reads: 
IN MEMORY OF
MARY DAISY DAVISON.
BORN DECEMBER 22, 1874.
DIED MAY 4, 1887.
SWEET BE THY SLEEP
UNTILL HE WHO RENT
THE GRAVE.
SHALL COME FOR THEE.
AND ON THY CHEEK
THE BLUSH IMPRINT OF
IMMORTALITY.

Daisy's tombstone