• honeysucklefarm.ok@gmail.com

Category: Uncategorized

Out with the Old and In with the New

Last year was a year of beginnings as you can read about in my December 31, 2011, blog post. If 2011 was a year of beginnings, 2012 was a year of endings. My second grandson nearly died on his third day of life. He spent 6 weeks in the hospital and we did not know if he would make it. God blessed us by giving my grandson life. But when my grandson was six months old, God chose to take my son’s life. It has been a difficult year to say the least. My graduation from OU with my Masters degree was bittersweet. That was a victory I was set to share with my son as his favorite football team was OU and I wanted him there to see me walk across the stage and receive my diploma at the ceremony in May, 2013. My time of traveling with my husband ended when I took a job in October.
All of these events factored into my sporadic blog posts and in a decrease in my genealogy time. So when it was time to write a New Year’s 2013 post I couldn’t even remember the goals I set for myself. Luckily, my goals still survived on the internet and I could go back and review them.
Goal number 1 was a research goal and I wanted to learn more about my great-grandmother’s family. I didn’t learn much other than that my great-grandmother’s mother had a child who died at a very young age. I posted about this child- Anna Hubbard- on the March 25, 2012, blog post. My family members read the blog post, called other family on the West Coast, and got back in touch with me with some information about Anna. I find it comforting to think that at least for a couple of more generations Anna will be remembered.
Goal number 2 was a writing goal to complete and publish a transcription of records local to my county. Shortly after beginning the project I found that the records had already been published. I had searched for them prior to beginning transcription and had not found any that were published. Fortunately, I made the discovery before a lot of work had been done so I abandoned that goal and project. That happened early in the year and I did not take up another writing project other than continuing updates on my blog.
Goal number 3 was an organizational goal and involved scanning in documents that I own in order to preserve them, share them in the future, and also to assist in organizing my records. I made little progress in this area but considering the difficulties faced during the year, I found it acceptable that at least I had transcribed a few records in my blog posts.
Goal number 4 was a sharing goal. I wanted to share family history and research with relatives. I met this goal through my blog, through passing on requested information to other relatives, and through sharing photographs with other family members. I also made a few contacts with new family members this year and I hope to maintain those contacts in the coming year, especially since one of those contacts was made with a family member on my great-grandmother’s side (the one I had hoped to make progress on in 2012).
A goal that was met but not specifically included in the 2011 goals was to make a break-through on my Gibson line. This line has been a brick wall for decades. I’m so happy to announce that I was finally able to make contact with another family researcher. This line was also a brick wall for her. The good news was that the information I had in my possession supplied her with what she needed and the information she had met my needs so we both were able to make a break-through on this line!
Now for the new 2013 goals:
1. To learn more about my Underwood family (Research goal)
2. To make significant progress (perhaps a first draft manuscript) in writing my family history book (Writing goal)
3. To begin scanning in my documents (Organization and Preservation goal)
4. To share some of my family history with others (Sharing goal)
5. To assist others in reaching their goals regardless of whether I get something out of it (Random Acts of Kindness goal)
6. To follow, for as long as I can,We Tree’s 52
Weeks to Better Genealogy(Skills Improvement goal)
This is an increase in the number of goals set compared to last year but I still feel they are reasonable and can be met. I’m looking forward to maintaining this blog and adding information more frequently this year as part of my sharing goal.
Happy New Year to all!

Crazy Days

At the end of last year I posted about my own personal genealogy for the year and goals for 2012. Who could have known how 2012 would start. And I must say- I’m glad I didn’t know then how things would go for the first quarter of 2012. My grandson that was due in February was born with a heart defect. Thank God he is out of the hospital now, but he only just got out last week after spending all but 3 days of his life in a NICU unit. It’s a miracle he is alive and we thank God for giving us more time with this little guy. We spent from February 5 through about March 12 at the hospital with my son and his wife and our grandson, except for a few days when we returned home to take care of other business that had been put off while we were at the hospital.
The great thing about life is that things always change. Our grandson was released from the hospital and we’re now in Arizona- my husband working while I work on a class for my Masters degree and try to get in some genealogy research. While we were at the hospital I was able to access internet and spent a lot of time on Ancestry where I was able to connect with a distant relative who helped me get past one of my brick wall ancestors. There’s nothing like finally making that break-through!
Now that we’re back to a more normal routine, I’m hoping to get back to writing this blog and including actual data you can use in your own research. Good luck in your research and I hope you find something useful here on the blog.
Lisa

2011

Some of the best parts of 2011 relate to my personal family history. At the beginning of 2011, my daughter had just gotten married and shortly thereafter my son married. Before the end of the year, my daughter had a son and my son’s baby will be here in less than 2 months. I took a phenomenal trip to Massachusetts this year and was able to do research on several lines that I don’t normally research. The end result of the trip was a Christmas gift to my parents which included a 20-page book I wrote about our family in Massachusetts.
This year I started blogging about the histories of families in my local area which promptly got derailed by my studies for my Masters degree. I started doing genealogy research on a professional level and am working toward professional certification. And, I started a very large transcription project which I hope will result in publication and be of benefit to those who research in my locale.
That’s a lot of beginnings for one little year!
I took an idea from Amy Coffin’s The We Tree Genealogy Blog at http://wetree.blogspot.com/ to set my goals for 2012. I did add one type of goal to her suggestions- a sharing goal. In 2012, my genealogy goals are:
1. To learn more about my great-grandmother’s family (Edith Hubbard Drake)(Research goal)
2. To publish my current records transcription project (Writing goal)
3. To scan in at least some of my proof documents (B/M/D, census, etc)(Organizing goal)
4. To share some of the family history and research with relatives (Sharing goal)
I expect to do some traveling this year and hope to get in at least one good research trip as well. There are many things I’d like to do and there never seems to be enough time to do all I want. Hopefully having only four major goals this year will allow me to be successful.
Now if I could just pare down my personal goals…
Happy new year to all- may it be the best one yet!
~Lisa at Days of Our Lives Genealogy Blog

Reverend Hildred Ray O’Dell, saint and sinner

The defining moment of Hildred Ray O’DELL’s life was surely the embezzlement charges he faced in 1946. On 27 April 1946, Reverend Hildred O’DELL resigned from pastoring Gospel Tabernacle. The 1941 Polk’s Directory for Springfield, Greene, Missouri, lists Gospel Tabernacle at 933 Franklin Avenue and lists Reverend O’DELL as the pastor there even though he was arrested and transported to Laclede County, Missouri. Perhaps he was transported and charged in Laclede County because that is where the checks were cashed.
In any case, he had pastored Gospel Tabernacle for 9 years prior to resigning on 27 April 1946. That was a Wednesday (although some newspaper accounts reported that he resigned on Friday). On Friday, he cashed a $2,000 check that was supposed to have gone to the church’s general fund. On Saturday, he cashed another $50 check at Lebanon State Savings Bank and that was the last he was seen before his arrest. On Monday, 2 May 1946, the Missouri State Highway Patrol broadcast a pickup order for Reverend O’Dell. His arrest was swift and happened on Sunday, 8 May 1946 in Treece, Cherokee, Kansas. After his arrest, he signed a waiver for extradition and was transported to Laclede County, Missouri, where he was facing not only the embezzlement charges but also some civil attachment suits filed by “indignant members” of the church. Reverend O’DELL posted $25,000 bond and waived his Preliminary Hearing. His trial was set to be heard in the September term of the Circuit Court.
Pastor O’DELL issued a statement through his un-named attorney which said, “I wish for continued progress of the church, and ask former members to have the same faith in me that I have had in them in times past. I also ask them to hold this faith until I have an opportunity to tell my story at my trial.” Unfortunately, I did not locate any information about the trial or the outcome or Pastor O’DELL’s side of the story.
I can imagine scenarios that involved both his innocence and his guilt and I don’t feel he can be judged to be either without knowing all the facts. We are still “innocent until proven guilty” here in this wonderful country. What I do know is that by 18 December 1947, when Reverend O’DELL’s brother, Merritt Mildred, passed away suddenly of a heart attack, Reverend O’DELL was living in Los Angeles, California. At that time his father, Charles O’DELL was still living as were three of his sisters- Imogene O’DELL NORTH, Margaret O’DELL NEAL, and Lela O’DELL JOHNSON. All three sisters were living in near Treece, Cherokee, Kansas, where Merritt lived when he passed away. Based on Merritt’s obituary, I am presuming that their mother, Rose WALTON O’DELL, passed away prior to 18 December 1947. I do know that in 1930 at the time of the census, Rose was still living in Kansas with her husband and some of her children (including Hildred who was 21, single, and working as a Mill Man in a lead mine).
So, I leave Hildred’s case with you, having failed to resolve the issue of his guilt or innocence. I also give the family genealogists a caveat- this is my best guess as to Hildred’s identity based on the evidence available to me and using all available clues as to age, location, etc.
How do you find, jury- guilty or innocent?

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? Or, Don’t Judge a Book By It’s Cover?

We all have at least one moment in our lives where we made a bad decision.  We did something we wish we hadn't- made a decision, took an action, whatever it might be.  Or we feel we made the right decision/action but the consequences and resulting reactions were far from what we intended or wanted.  Unfortunately in life, a do-over is rare.  Having said that, I present to you this week's transcription.
The Tri-State Tribune
PIcher, Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Thursday, May 9, 1946
[Article title has been cut off on my copy]
Rev. Hildred R. O'Dell of Lebanon, MO., charged with embezzlement of funds from the Gospel tabernacle, his former pastorate, is in the Laclede county jail after his arrest at Treece, Kans., Monday.
The 45-year-old minister was arrested by Sheriff M. S. Harley and Deputy Sheriff Art Bray, who had picked up an order from the Kansas State highway patrol.  He signed a waiver of extradition and was taken to Joplin, where Sheriff Eldridge Simmons of Laclede county took him into custody.
O'Dell is charged with having withdrawn $2,000 in funds from a Lebanon bank April 26, the same day he resigned as pastor of the 30 member congregation where he had served for nine years.
This week we'll take a look at Reverend Hildred R. O'Dell as well as the law enforcement officers- M. S. Harley, Art Bray, and Eldridge Simmons. 

H. O. GREEN, 1891-1959, Patriot, Barber, City Councilman

We’re wrapping up this week’s City Council participants with H. O. GREEN who was sworn in as a new Picher City Councilman in May, 1946 (see Monday’s blog entry for the newspaper transcription). The final two participants that were named were Dr. H. C. HUNTLEY and Mr. NEEL. I have been unable to identify these two men.

Henry Oscar GREEN (aka H. O. and Oscar) and his twin brother, James Arthur (aka J. A. and Arthur), owned a barber shop in Picher. They both served in WWI. They were born in 7 February 1891 in Booneville, Logan, Arkansas, to Henry Augustus and Matilda Jane McNERLIN GREEN. Their siblings included Thelma A., John B., Annie M., Cordia V., Marvin I., Rosa “Rose” Ella, and Casper Taylor.

In 1900 and 1910, both boys lived with their parents in Logan County, Arkansas. Then WWI came. It is unknown whether the brothers served in the same unit or same places together. J. A. was a Private in the Army. I was unable to find H. O.’s rank. J. A.’s WWI Draft Registration card gave his home address as Booneville, Logan, Arkansas in 1917/1918. He listed himself as single and a farmer and stated he had no one depending on him for support. I was unable to locate a WWI Draft Registration card for H. O..

However much time the two of them spent together before the war, after the war was different. In 1920 H. O. (going by Oscar) was in Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma, living on Choctaw or Chickasaw Avenue. He lived in the home of Mary B. SALES as a boarder and he was single. Mary’s son and the other boarder in the home were both barbers. It would seem that this is where H. O. learned his trade as a barber. No occupation was listed for him on the census record. J. A. was living next to his parents in Logan County, Arkansas, and working as a farmer. He, too, was single.

Whatever happened to separate them, they were living close to each other again in 1921 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, where J. A. (going by the name Arthur) married Lottie Corley on 10 August 1921. A couple of years later, H. O. marred Edna PIERSON on 25 December 1923. H. O. and Edna listed their residences as Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma, but the marriage record was filed in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. So the assumption is that when they married, they also moved from Sequoyah County to Ottawa County.

J. A. and Lottie must have followed then or shortly after because by 1930 J.A. was living in Picher and H. O. was living in nearby Quapaw, Ottawa, Oklahoma. In 1930, H. O. listed his occupation as barber and stated he was working at a barber shop. He and Edna had two children- Billy Ann who had just turned 4 at the time of the census and Bobby (a son) who was a month shy of turning 3. Both children were born in Oklahoma. J. A. listed the same occupational information (barber working at a barber shop) and he and Lottie had one girl, Joyce, born in Oklahoma. J. A. was living on the 600 block of River Street. H. O.’s address was not specified on the census record.

As with the WWI Draft Registration cards, I could only find one of the brothers’ WWII Draft Registration cards. Henry Oscar GREEN was residing at 427 Emily in Picher, Oklahoma, in 1942. He stated he received mail at 218 South Connell Avenue in Picher. This was also the address he gave for his barber shop. He listed his nearest relative as his brother, J. A. GREEN, who lived in Picher at that time. The card describes H. O. as being 5’9, weighing 205 pounds, and having brown eyes and brown hair and a light complexion.

The next we hear of H. O., he was being sworn in as a new City Councilman in Picher in May, 1946. According to a family history found online, H. O. had a second marriage to a woman named Grace and he passed away on 11 November 1959 in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma. J. A. passed away on 30 December 1983 in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma.

Finally, sometime after WWII, this photo was snapped that includes H. O. Green. He seemed to be very active in his community later in his life. One thing I noted about the photo is that it lists H. O. as “Chaplin”. I am uncertain whether that pertains to his position within the VFW or his position during his military service. This would be one avenue of research that interested family members could pursue. This photo was found at www.cardinkids.com which is an excellent resource about people in the Picher-Cardin, Oklahoma area.

Thank you, H. O. and J. A. GREEN for your service to the American people.

Archie L. Hise, Patriot and City Councilman

1913 was possibly the most difficult of Archie Hise’s life. Possibly. On 15 February 1913, Archie’s brother Charles was in an “unavoidable” automobile accident and died as a result. Just two months later, on 16 April 1913, Archie’s father passed away due to heart disease. Within a few years, Archie entered the military. I imagine there wasn’t a more difficult time in Archie’s life than the decade between 1910-1920.
Archie Lee Hise was born in in February 1895 in Brooklyne, Missouri to Isaac and Sarah Jane THOMPSON HISE. (Brooklyne, Missouri, is possibly Brooklyn, Harrison, Missouri. One family tree gives the birthdate 14 October 1894 and another family tree gives a birthdate of 14 February 1894 with a birthplace of Webb City, Jasper, Missouri, but I am uncertain where they are getting their information. I believe the more accurate date is the date given on the 1900 census which occurred just 5 years after his birth. I am also using the birthplace listed on Archie’s Draft Card registration as opposed to the unsourced family histories.) His siblings were Alice A., Charles, Ethel, Roxy, Cleo (a girl), Irene, Bruce, and Gladys. Everyone in the family was born in Missouri except Isaac, who was born in Tennessee.
The family (mom, dad, and all children from Alice to Cleo) lived in Joplin Ward 1, Jasper, Missouri, in 1900. The lived somewhere between 1503 and 1426 Hill Street. Isaac was a teamster and Charles was a laborer. By 1910, the family had moved to Webb City Ward 4, Jasper, Missouri. They lived on Devon Street which was classified as “mining land”. Isaac was still working as a teamster and Alice and Chas were no longer living in the home. The family had increased by three children- Irene, Bruce, and Gladys.
On 15 February 1913, Archie’s brother Charles was in an “unavoidable” automobile accident and died as a result. Just two months later, on 16 April 1913, Archie’s father passed away due to heart disease. Their mother Sarah, provided the information on Charles’ death certificate. She gave Charles’ birthplace as Green[e] County, Missouri, and his birthdate as 10 May 1884. She stated that the family lived in Webb City, Jasper, Missouri. Charles was about 3 months away from celebrating his 29th birthday. He was single at the time of his death. He is buried at Carterville Cemetery in Missouri. Archie’s sister, Alice A. HISE PORTER, provided the information on her father’s death certificate. She stated that Isaac was born 8 October 1849 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was able to provide Isaac’s father’s name (Jim HISE) but not his birthplace or any information about Isaac’s mother. Charles’ death certificate: http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1913/1913_00005855.PDF. Isaac’s death certificate: http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1913/1913_00013721.PDF.
In 1917-1918, Archie completed his WWI Draft Registration Card. He gave his birthdate as 14 October 1894 and his birthplace as Brooklyne, Missouri. At this time, he was living at East 2nd Street in Webb City, Jasper, Missouri. He stated that his usual occupation was as a mechanic but that he was unemployed at that time. He was single and stated his family consisted of his mother, brother, and three sisters. He stated he had previous military experience as a Private in the militia for one year in the state of Missouri. His physical description is “tall, slender, brown hair, brown eyes”.
In 1920, Archie has his own family- his wife, Nora GOFF HISE. They are living at 910 East 9th Street in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri. Archie is working as a mechanic and Nora is a homemaker. Although Nora is listed as Archie’s wife in 1920, the only marriage record I could find was dated 17 June 1922 in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. (Archie’s sister Gladys was also listed as having married in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, on 2 March 1925.) http://www1.odcr.com/results.php#/results.php?Order=4&PHPSESSID=7s9v8leu6ak877vj3nhc26ioe1&Page=0
Archie’s WWII Draft Registration Card was completed in 1942. At that time he lived at 311 North Treece Street, Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma. He gives his birthdate as 17 November 1894 and birthplace as Springfield, Greene, Missouri. He states he is unemployed and lists his sister as his contact person – Gladys Velcher at 420 North Netta Street, Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma. He is described as being 5’9 and weighing 165 pounds. He had brown eyes, gray hair and a light complexion. He must have grayed early since he lists his age as only 48 years old.
The last piece of information I can find about Archie is the newspaper article transcribed on Monday’s blog entry where we find him being sworn in as a Picher City Councilman. This swearing-in happened in May, 1946. The unsourced family histories referenced earlier in this post give Archie’s death date prior to 1946. However, there are several discrepancies between the unsourced family histories so any information would need to be documented and verified by anyone researching the Hise family.
By all accounts, Archie lived a normal life. A mechanic who took his civic duties seriously with service to both the nation (military) and his town (Picher City Council). A man who lived through a rough year in 1913 with the loss of two close family members.
Let this post be a “thank you” to Archie for his sacrifices to maintain my freedoms.

Frank POOLE, politician and used car salesman, 1940’s Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma

This week we’ve learned about Picher’s Mayor L. VOYLES and City Councilman Ed DOBBINS (1946). Today we’re going to talk about Picher’s City Councilman #2, Frank POOLE. I believe Frank was the son of James Franklin and Willie Helen KNIGHT POOLE. He was born 15 November 1913 in Midland, Sebastian, Arkansas. He had five half-siblings: Delbert Sherman “Dee” POOLE, Eula Edna POOLE, Pleasant “Pleas” POOLE, Sr., Mazie Belle POOLE, and Gussie Dorene “Johnie” POOLE. He had four full-blood siblings: Helen Dorene “Dimple” Poole, Lorraine Doris Poole, George James Poole, and John Harold Poole.
In 1920, the family was living in Jim Fork, Sebastian, Arkansas. The family consisted of James and Willie, Willie’s son Elbert DENSON from her previous marriage to James Monroe DENSON, and James and Willie’s children- Willie H. (a daughter), James F. Jr. (our Frank POOLE), and Lorine (Lorraine). Willie H. (the daughter), James F. Jr., and Lorine were all born in Arkansas.
In 1924, the family can be placed in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma, where James and Willie’s son- John Harold- was born.
In 1927, Frank POOLE is listed and pictured in the Joplimo – the Joplin High School Yearbook (Joplin, Jasper, Missouri). He took part in the Boy’s Glee Club and is pictured both with his class as well as with the Glee Club.
By 1930, the family had moved to Spring Valley, Cherokee, Kansas. The family in 1930 included James Sr., Willie H. (the mother), James F. Jr., Lorraine, George J., and J. Harold. James Jr. and Lorraine were born in Arkansas and George and J. Harold were born in Oklahoma. In 1930 the family was living next to Pleasant POOLE’s family. Pleasant was James Sr.’s son from his previous marriage to Alise “Ada” Catherine JONES.
Family history posted on the internet states that James F. POOLE, Jr.’s first wife was Thelma PEEVY. No other information about Thelma is given and I have not found any information about her in my own research. The family history spoken of here can be found at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/a/l/Juanita-Callahan/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0027.html.
On 17 December 1938, James F. Jr. (now going by “Frank Clyde POOLE”) married Vera Maxine MARTIN. Both Frank and Vera lived in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma, at that time. A notation verifying the marriage can be found at http://www1.odcr.com/detail.php?Case=058-ML%20%202000428&County=058-.
We can place the family in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma, in 1943 due to the high school graduation of Harold J. POOLE. (See paragraph below)
The next piece of information found about Frank comes from an article in the 22 August 1945 issue of The Joplin Globe newspaper. The article states that Frank’s brother, Private First Class Harold J. POOLE, had returned home from overseas having received a medical discharge from the Army after a war injury that resulted in the loss of his foot. The article stated that Frank lived at East F Street (presumably in Joplin, Jasper, Missouri) at that time. The article verifies his mother as Helen POOLE “of Blue Mound”. The article also states that Harold graduated from Picher High School in 1943.
In regard to occupation, the online family history states that Frank worked in the mines in “the early days” and later became a car dealer and salesman in the Miami, Ottawa, Oklahoma, area. Frank also had a dealership in Picher for at least 14 years. He started the used car lot in 1946 and was still operating it in 1960, per ads in the Picher school yearbooks. The car lot was located on Connelly Avenue in Picher. During this time, he married his third wife, Naomi E. CHAMBERS MARSHALL. They were married on 20 June 1951 in Benton County, Arkansas. At that time, Naomi was living in Picher and Frank listed his residence as Miami, Ottawa, Oklahoma.
I have found several different death dates for Frank, but none about which I feel confident enough to pass on in this blog. Additional information about extended family includes the death certificate of Frank Clyde’s half-brother Pleasant POOLE at http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1958/1958_00022037.PDF. The informant was Frank Clyde’s half-brother Delbert S. POOLE. Their father is listed on the death certificate as Frank POOLE. Their mother is “unknown”.

Have no product in the cart!