Martha Ellen Settle, my 2nd great-grandmother, was born 7 October 1849 to Edward Horace Settle and Parthenia Thurmond in Edgefield, South Carolina. Her mother died when she was 7 years old and, by 1860, her father had left the state, leaving Martha and her three younger siblings with their maternal grandmother, Eleanor DeLaughter Thurmond. Martha … Continue reading Mistaken
Bettye DuPre, my grandma, was born and raised in Abbeville, South Carolina. She graduated from Abbeville High School in 1938. The above pictures are of her graduating class and an individual portrait taken for the occasion. I love seeing the small size of the class all gathered at the front door of the school. I … Continue reading Abbeville High Class of 1938
At some point in college, I discovered these two photos. I was tickled by their similarities: both of them sitting in offices looking directly at the camera with their dark hair, high foreheads, and young faces. I had copies made, framed them together, and displayed it on my dresser. It also shows a glimpse at … Continue reading Like Father, Like Son
On a recent trip to the National Archives, I was able to look at the widow and minors' pension applications filed by my 2nd great-grandmother, her siblings, and their mother. Augusta Roth Eigenmann was only two years old when her father, Johann Adam Roth, died. This left Augusta's mother, Eleanora Wissig Roth, a widow with … Continue reading Application Denied
As a bachelor, my dad was stationed in Stuttgart and then Nuremberg, Germany, with the U.S. Army. While there, his mom and sister came for a visit. They traveled to several places including Neuschwanstein Castle. The castle is built on a rugged hill above a village. There are scenic paths, bridges, and waterfalls around the castle. … Continue reading The Bridge to Somewhere Else
I have a sister. My mom and dad each have two. Lots of my ancestors had sisters, lots of them were sisters. Two of my 4th great-grandmothers were sisters to each other and they had eight more sisters. As I thought about this theme, I thought about my relationship with my sister and how much … Continue reading Sisters, Sisters
On 23 November 1788, Mary Elizabeth Eve was the fourth child born to Oswell Eve and Aphra Ann Pritchard. She joined three older sisters and would be followed by six more sisters and five brothers, including John Pritchard Eve, who was born 24 June 1800. He was the 11th child and the last one born … Continue reading My Brother is My Son-in-law
Heart Genealogy 