Wellington W. Norman

Wellington Norman was my Great Great Grandfather. He was born March 7, 1857 and died December 26, 1935. He was my Grandmother Helen Norman Edwards Grandfather. He died at Noble Township, Dickinson County, Kansas and is buried at Good Hope Cemetery.

My mother has bedroom furniture that belonged to Wellington and his wife, Loretta.

Wellington Norman was one of the builders of the Wesley Community, which was located one mile east of the Chapman-Upland road on K-18. Here he established a store and post office, originally known as Good Hope, but later changed to Wesley.

Wellington came to Noble Township, Kansas with his parents, John Norman and Lucinda Deeds Norman, in 1872.

Wellington and his wife Loretta took up land in the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 8 and the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 9, Noble Township.

From Jim Norman:

Wellington moved from Ohio to Illinois in 1866.

Moved from Illinois to Kansas in 1872.

Moved to a location near Junction City, Geary Co., KS, on March 19, 1873.

Mary Ann Murphy

October 4th, 1870 is the date Mary Ann Murphy was born. She was one of the nine children of my Great Great Great Grandparents, Asa Harrison Murphy and Margaret Jane Turner Murphy. Five of their children died in childhood. Mary Ann was one day short of her second birthday when she died on October 3rd 1872.

Mary Ann's older brother James Merrit Murphy died in 1861 at the age of one year and nineteen days. Her brother Spencer Turner Murphy died on February 22, 1961 on his first birthday. Mary Ann's brother George D. Murphy died on November 5, 1873 at the age of two years and 9 months, and Mary Ann's sister Clara B. Murphy died on August 10, 1877 at the age of three. All the children were born and died in Wapella, Dewitt County Illinois.

Asa and Margaret moved to Barnard in Lincoln County Kansas in 1880. He died in November 1920 and Margaret died in September 1922. Their remaining four children lived to adulthood.

Here is a time line. Asa and Margaret had two children who lived to adulthood William Riley and Nancy Ellen, then lost James and Spencer, had Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Manford, who lived to adulthood, followed by Mary Ann, George and Clara all who died.

My grandmother Helen, who was born in 1914 remembers the surviving family members. Asa and Margaret's daughter Nancy Ellen was my grandmother's grandmother.

For more information see: http://susanpatton.net/wc02_132.html

George Frank Williams

My Great Great Uncle George Frank Williams, Frank, was born today July 10, 1888 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was my Great Grandmother Della Williams Norman Neher's brother.

Frank's daughter Arlene Deihl was in my Grandmother's high school class. The class, 1932, celebrated annual reunions until recently. Arlene and my grandmother are both 94.

Frank died November 20, 1966.

Frank and his first wife Sophia had a son Carl Theodore who was born the same day and year as my Grandmother. Carl died January 19, 1919 at the age of five.

Obituary:

George F. Williams, 78, a former Chapman resident died Monday night at his home in Junction City. He had been in failing health for several years.

He was born August 10, 1888 in Minneapolis, Minn., and came to Kansas in his early youth. He was married to Sophia Framn. On September 13, 1946 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Cross at Lawrence.

Mr. Williams was a member of the First Christian church in Junction City, and Odd Fellows Lodge in Chapman.

Surviving are three children, Vera Watkins, Junction City; Ivan Williams, Huron, Kan.; and Arlene Diehl of Enterprise; 10 grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Della Neher of Chapman.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. today at the First Christian chuch in Junction City. Burial was in the Bethel cemetery near Detroit.

Dale Leslie Stevenson

Uncle Dale passed away today, July 27, 1999. It was one of the saddest days ever. Dale was deeply loved by his family and missed very much.

Uncle Dale was married to Larry's mother's sister Ruth. They were married August 2, 1947 at Wellsville. Dale and Ruth had two daughters and lived at Lawrence since 1958.

Dale was my father-in-law Jerry's best friend. The two couples spent a lot of time together. When Jerry died it was very hard on Dale.

Obituary:
Dale L. Stevenson, 72, Lawrence died Tuesday, July 27, 1999 at the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. He had been a resident ot Lawrence since 1958.

Mr. Stevenson was a contractor. He retired in 1987. He also formerly owned Stevenson Olds GMC from 1964 to 1971. Prior to moving to Lawrence he owned the Clover Farm Grocery Store in Wellsville. He was a member of the Acacia Lodge #9, AF&AM, Lawrence,a life long member of Dorsey-Liberty Post #14, American Legion, Lawrence, and Mt. Oread Aerie, #309 FOE, Lawrence. In Wellsville he was a member and past Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star.

He was born December 26, 1925 in Ottawa, Kansas the son of Leslie a. and Pearl E. Oswald Stevenson.

He served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII. He married Ruth A. Head, August 2, 1947 in Wellsville, Kansas. She survives of the home. He is also survived by two daughters, Jo Elaine Blevins, Nancy K. Baker both of Lawrence; his father, Leslie Stevenson and step mother Edythe Stevenson, Lawrence; one sister Eloise Kerr, Lawrence; one brother, Raymond Stevenson, Hernando, Florida; and two grandchildren, Dale James and Kelly Diane Baker.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Tolle

Happy Birthday today to Lizzie Tolle Buchmeier, who was Larry's Great Grandmother.

She was born July 19, 1873 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married August Z. Buchmeier on June 9, 1892 at Wellscreek, Kansas. Wellscreek is just south east of Wamego, Kansas. There is nothing there today except an old church and farm houses. We took a little road trip out that way a few years ago and it was quite interesting. Lizzie must have came to Kansas with her parents, Friedrich Tolle and Engel Dreiling Tolle because both are buried at Alma, Kansas.

Lizzie and August had seven children, including Sara Augusta Ida, who was born May 18, 1897 and was Larry's grandmother.

Lizzie died November 12, 1947 at Alma, Kansas and is buried there. She died just 11 months after her husband August who is also buried at Alma. Larry's mother has fond memories of her grandparents.

Happy Birthday Nancy Hoblit Turner

Born July 18, 1821 in Clinton County, Ohio was Nancy Hoblit, who was my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandmother.

She was married April 14, 1836 in McClean, Illinois to Spencer D. Turner. They had twelve children including their oldest, Margaret Jane, who was born January 8, 1838 at Adams, DeWitte County, Illinois.

Nancy died April 20, 1900 at Wapella, Illinois and is buried there.

Nancy and Spencer's photos were sent to me by Pearl Judd Turner who found my website and was kind enough to share her information with me. Pearl is a Great Granddaughter of Margaret Jane.

Spencer Turner

Happy Birthday today to Spencer D. Turner who was my Great Great Great Great Grandfather on my mother's side. He was born May 22, 1816 in Clark, Ohio.

Spencer died April 26, 1896 at Wapella, Illinois at the age of 79. He was married to Nancy Hoblit on April 14, 1836 at McLean, Illinois.

They had 12 children, 7 girls and 5 boys. Their oldest was a daughter, Margaret Jane.

Margaret Jane was my Great Great Grandmother. Margaret and her husband moved to Kansas in 1880 and lived at Bernard, Kansas. I have photos of Margaret and her husband Asa Harrison Murphy.

Margaret and Asa's Daughter, Nancy Ellen married Thomas Burr Williams and their daughter Della Elnora was my Great Grandmother.

Edna Estella Maxwell Edwards

Aunt Edna, who passed away just 10 months ago at age 97 was born today in 1910. She was quite a lady and very much admired. Edna was my grandfather Karl Edwards brother Thornton's wife.

Edna brought PEO into our family. She proposed my grandmother's name for membership 51 years ago. Today my mother, aunt, sister, cousin and I are all members.

When I was in high school Edna and her husband spent the summers working in Yellowstone at one of the stores. They asked if I'd be interested in going along and working there too and I declined. I've always kind of regretted that.

Here's to you Aunt Edna!

Obituary:

Edna Estella Edwards, age 97, of Manhattan, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Meadowlark Hills-Lyle House in Manhattan.

She was born on May 15, 1910, in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of James H. and Jesse I. (Spence) Maxwell.

Mrs. Edwards had been a Manhattan resident since 1922 and was a 1928 graduate of Manhattan High School. Following high school she went on to attend college at Kansas State, in what was then the department of Home Economics, earning her degree in 1932.

Mrs. Edwards was a school teacher for many years and had taught for 9 years in Alta Vista and Chapman grade schools. Later she was a substitute teacher for several years for the Manhattan school district.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and for many years sang in the church choir. Other memberships include Chapter DE of PEO, La Sertoma Club, and the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

On June 7, 1941, in Manhattan, Kansas, she was united in marriage to A. Thorton Edwards. Following her husband’s retirement in 1973, they worked for 16 summers at Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park. Mr. Edwards proceeded her in death on December 24, 2001. She was also proceeded in death by one brother: William Maxwell and one sister: Frances Cilek.

She is survived by two daughters: Annette Kay Huff and her husband Steven of Omaha, Nebraska and Bette Lu Rogers of Queen Creek, Arizona. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Sevrin Huff Praeger, Andrew Huff, Stefanie Huff, Tana Schlund and Amy Hatcher, and eight great grandchildren: Jakson Praeger and Ava Praeger, Cassidy Huff, Samuel Huff, Abigail Huff, Mason Rama-Schlund, Emma Schlund, Esme Hatcher.

Adolf Beeler

February 25, 1913
Death of A. Beeler, Sr.
One of the Well Known Men of the County Passes Away

A. Beeler, Sr., aged 74 years, one of the best known farmers of this county, died last evening at his home west of this city. Mr. Beeler had been sick a short time with pneumonia. He is survived by a wife, G. W. Beeler, of Chicago; Henry Beeler, A. Beeler, Jr., O.C. Beeler, Mrs. Ed Reitz of this city and Mrs Edwards of Wreford, on Friday.

Mr. Beeler had resided in this county for 34 years. He was a hard worker, a prosperous farmer, a man that made the friendship of everyone.

Obituary:
Junction City Union, February 26, 1913
Funeral of A. Beeler

The funeral services of Mr. A. Beeler who died Monday night at his home west of the city after a brief illness will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Beeler home. Rev. Line will be in charge of the ceremony and interment will be made in Highland cemetery.

Adolf Beeler was my Great Great Grandfather. His daughter Hattie was my Great Grandmother Edwards.

Lloyd James Williams

Obituary - Chapman Advertiser, September 26, 1940

Lloyd James Williams was born in Cork, England, February 18, 1847 and departed this life September 21, 1940 at the age of 93 years, 7 month and 3 days.

His parents came to the United States and settled in Illinois while he was still an infant.

At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army and served as a teamster for the duration of the war.

After the war he settled in Grinnell, Iowa where on August 1, 1875 he was united in marriage to Bertha Julie Larson. To this union two children were born, Charles Oliver, who died in infancy and Viola Anna.

After residing in Iowa for a number of years they moved to Pierce, Nebraska. Here he worked as a bridge contractor. The last years of his life were spent in Chapman, Kansas.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his daughter Mrs. Viola Lambert of Lahunga, California; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one brother T.B. Williams of Chapman and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday with the Rev. C. M. Nutter in charge.

The American Legion had charge of graveside services at the Indian Hill Cemetery where interment was made.

Pall bearers were: G. A. Morris, H. E. Leatherman, Perry Frazier, Finley Collier, Wm. Thomas and Glen Osburn.

Lloyd James Williams was my Great Great Great Uncle. Lloyd's brother Thomas was my Great Great Grandfather.

Happy Birthday Today To Two Great Great Uncles

Today, January 30 is the birthday of two of my Great Great Uncles.

Asa Lawrence Asa “Parksy” Park, who was my Great Grandfather Francis Edward "Ed" Park's brother, was born today in 1880. His birth place was McDonough County, Illinois. He died in 1949 and is buried in the Olive Branch Cemetary at White Cloud, Kansas.

On an antique "junking" trip to a flea market at White Cloud, where my Grandfather grew up, we asked at the historical society if there might be any information about the Park family. Turns out the man we asked is a relative! His Grandmother Ada was my Great Grandfather's sister. Ron told me the following about Asa. Ron remembers "Parksy" (Asa) fell dead in the Green Implement Building in downtown White Cloud, Kansas. His coffin was placed in his sister Ada Taylor’s living room. Ron Taylor remembers attending his funeral. Parksy is fondly remembered by many Ron said.

The other Great Great Uncle whose birthday is today is Ernest Earl Norman. Ernest's brother Harry was my Great Grandfather. Ernest was born today in 1886 and his birth place was Dickinson County, Kansas. He was a farmer and my Grandmother pointed out the house where he lived when we went on a genealogy road trip to see where she grew up. He and his wife Katie both died on Christmas Eve in 1960 from Carbon Monoxide poisoning in there home. He and his wife are buried at Good Hope Cemetery in Dickinson Co, Kansas near the community of Wellington.

John Bancroft

John Bancroft, who was one of my 14th Great Grandfathers, died January 24, 1557 in Chellaston, Derbyshire, England. I find that knowing that is incredible! Wow -- 14 generations back!

I have my Uncle Don to thank for this piece of information. He has been kind enough to share his extensive genealogical research with me. I am greatly appreciative. I do not at this point in time have the time to do much research myself and have gathered the information I do have through the kindness of many close and many distant relatives who have been kind enough to share what they know.

My database and website go back only one generation farther to an amazing 15 generations! So what line in my genealogy leads to John Bancroft? I had to look of course. John Bancroft is at the first of the line that ends up with my paternal Grandfather Park, through his mother's ancestors. Fascinating stuff indeed~

John Wesley Willey, Quantrill Raid Survivor - Born Today in 1836

John Wesley was a successful businessman with a stove dealership, but was best known for his flour mills. Several articles were published about his innovations in the fields of flour milling and enriched flour. Milling and Grain News, a trade publication, credited him in 1909 with being the first producer of bolted flour (in 1857) in the state of Kansas.

He enlisted in the army 14 May 1861 as a private in Company D of the 2nd Kansas Infantry, but he served for only three months.

RECOLLECTIONS -- AN EXPERIENCE OF MR. J.W. WILLEY RELATING TO THE LAWRENCE, KANSAS MASSACRE

Capture of SKAGGS Sullivan, Illinois
August 7th, 1913.

On August 21st, 1863 I was living on the Chamber’s place one half mile south of Franklin, Kansas.

On that memorable day I had just gotten up and started after water which was an eighth of a mile distant from the house. I met a man from Franklin who told me that Quantrill had gone to Lawrence and that he, was going to inform the people (I thought he was going to the woods).

At that moment I heard firing at Lawrence and immediately went back to the house told my wife what was going on, took my gun and what ammunition I had and started for Lawrence. On arriving at Franklin, I got a horse and started for the scene of the shooting. When I reached the spot where the cemetery now is I fell in with others who were watching the fray and started for town in company with John and Tom McFarland and By. Gilliland. We were the only ones mounted and about the ravine east of the Spears house we met Skaggs (one of Quantrill’s men) and challenged him. He said that he was a southerner and at that we fired on him; however, without effect, except probably, to slightly wound his horse.

He started to run and we told him that we had made a mistake and got him to follow us and led him past where the men were concealed near the Enos house. At that moment the men stepped out into the road back of him and he saw he was in a trap. Wheeling his horse he forced the animal to jump a high gate and started south, we in pursuit. We were obliged to dismount and open the gate before we could follow. We chased him south half a mile then east to a point south of Sparrcy’s with us in full chase. He started east toward Eudora and as we were getting close to him. At this moment a man appeared on the road ahead of him and stopped him. We came up and took him in charge, taking him back to Lawrence where we met a party of citizens near the Spear’s residence they took our prisoner from us and shot him to death. I believe that he was shot by an Indian. (White Turkey.)

We went on into town and passed through and saw the descruction and the dead and then followed on after Quantrill and his gang. We followed them until about Nine O’Clock when in company with others we camped for the night and returned to Lawrence the next day at about 10A.M.

As far as I am able to learn I am the only survivor of the party who assisted in this capture.
J. W. Willey, Jr.

John Wesley Wiley was my first cousin four times removed. His Aunt Mariamna “Abigail Mariamne” Willey Tuttle was my Great Great Great Grandmother.

Her Son William Lewis Tuttle and his wife moved to Douglas County, Kansas (where I live) on April 2, 1966 to be near John Wesley Willey. William Lewis' brothers Leonard and Dela also came to Kansas shortly after William Lewis and bought farms near Vinland. These young men were proceeded to the area by their uncle John Wesley Willey who settled at Blue Mound in 1857 and built a water powered saw mill on the Wakarusa River. William Lewis' farm stayed in the family until 1952.

Josephine Elizabeth Ludman Fiehler Scott

Josephine Elizabeth Ludman Fiehler Scott was born today, January 20, 1852 in Austria. She died December 3, 1939 at Wellsville Kansas. She was Larry's Great, Great Grandmother and Lucky Dee Fiehler's mother. Larry's Patton aunts and uncles remember her as Grandma Scott.

Josephine immigrated with her parents to Wisconsin Territory, United States in 1855. She married Fredrich E. Fiehler at Rochester, Wisconsin. The date is
unknown.

In 1869 Fredrich and Josephine moved to near LeLoup, Kansas, where his brother John lived. Josephine soon became homesick and they returned to Wisconsin, where their first child, a son, died at birth. They again moved to LeLoup in 1871. During this trip they stopped at Fredrich’s brother Henry’s home in Princeton, Missouri, where Josephine gave birth to Fredrich Edward Fiehler. The Fiehler brothers occupation was reportedly farming and feeding livestock for the Kansas City market at which they were prosperous. Fredrich eventually sold out to brother Henry and the family moved to Wellsville, Kansas.

After the death of Fredrich Fiehler on December 10, 1910 Josephine married Sam Scott.

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Lucky Dee Fiehler

Lucky Dee Fiehler was born June 2, 1895 and died on January 17, 1905 at age nine although one source has his birth year as 1890 which would have made him 15. I don't know much about Lucky except how he died. He died after being kicked by a mule.

Lucky Dee is buried in the Wellsville, Kansas cemetery and I've been to his grave.

Lucky's parents were Fredrich E. Fiehler and Josephine Elizabeth Ludman Fiehler who were Larry's great great grandparents. Lucky Dee was Larry's great great uncle. Besides Lucky Fredrich and Josephine had three other sons and two daughters. One of their daughters Ella Irene was Larry's great grandmother.

Larry's father had a brother named Lucky Lee. I assume he was named after his mother's uncle, Lucky Dee.

More information.

Thomas Burr Williams

Thomas Burr Williams was born May 8, 1950 in Plainfield, Will County, Illinois. He was one of a family of twelve children, of Lloyd Hubble Williams and wife.

Thomas Burr Williams was a veteran of Civil war and National Chief of Staff of the Grand Army and Assistant Adjutant General of Kansas G.A.R.

He was the oldest living resident of Chapman at the time of his death.

His father died when he was 7 years old.

In March of 1864 at age 13 he enlisted in Company H, 140 Ill Volunteers and was rejected because he was too small. The next year at 14 on 3/17/1865 he again enlisted in Col I, 15th Ill. Volunteer Infantry and was sent to Chicago, IL. Besides himself he had four brothers and a step-father in the war. All the brothers returned by their stepfather didn't. He received his honorable discharge 9/16/1865 at Springfield, IL.

He joined the Grand Army of the Republic in Oct. 1884. He was drafted into the office of Junior Vice Commander in 1937, advancing to the Department Commander in 1939, the highest office the department has. In Feb. 1941 he was appointed Chief of Staff on the GAR.

He was united in marriage to Nancy Ellen Murphy, August 4, 1872 at Grinell, Iowa. To this union were born eight children, five daughters and three sons.

He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Minnesota in 1878.

He received his 32 of Masonry in Kansas in 1930.

My mother, Lois Edwards Park, has his walnut dining room table. Thomas’ nickname was “Bub”.

He lived in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas.

Thomas Burr Williams was my great great grandfather and he passed away today, January 14, in 1944. He was 93.

Alice E. Goudey, Children's Book Author

Bio: Alice E. Goudey — Long before ecology became an issue of national concern, Alice E. Goudey was one of its chief advocates. Born on a farm near Junction City, Kansas in 1989, she attended public schools in that city and later studied at the University of Kansas. She taught in a one room country school house where children of all grades were integrated together.

During World War I, Mrs. Goudey married Wayne G. Martin, Jr. and left her teaching position to settle down to a life of domesticity. When her husband entered the service and was forced to leave his position with a publisher of trade magazines, she returned to work as his temporary substitute and thus entered the field of publishing.

In 1929 when the family moved to Bronxville, New York Mrs. Goudey became involved in a number of community activities which led to some political and jounalistic writing. When she later moved to New York City in 1945, Mrs. Goudey resolved to pursue a career of her own. Fundamentally a domestic person, she chose writing as it was a profession which would allow her to remain at home.

She decided that since her main interest had always been in education and her initial experience had been with children, she would write for them. To fulfill that goal, Mrs. Goudey spent a year reading everything she could find about the history of children’s books, critical appraisals of them, award books and her own childhood favorites. With this background, she enrolled in the Workshop for Writing for Children at the New School for Social Research in New York City.

A prolific writer, Mrs. Goudey has written nearly twenty books, two of which have been runners-up for the Caldecott Award. Highly acclaimed by critics and young nature enthusiasts alike, her aim in writing is "to combine a sense of wonder, beauty and appreciation of the world around us without in any way sacrificing scientific accuracy." While Mrs. Goudey’s books deal chiefly with animal life, it is her profound intent that a sympathetic approach toward animals will neccessarily evoke the understanding that "the environment in which they exist must be friendly to their needs -- our streams, our land, and the plants that clothe our land. If we are to conserve any aspect of nature, we must look to the conservation of our total ecology."

Mre. Goudy is now married to Earl S. Goudey, former Chairman of the Science Department in the Bronxville schools and they have several grandchildren. Her interests include reading, gardening, sewing and painting. Residents of Maine, the Goudeys share their interests with children. They share the profound hope that "a better sense of direction, better training in inter-personal relationships and better education in general will enable the children of today to build something better for tomorrow."

For further biographical information on the author see Who's Who of American Women.

Scribner titles by the author: Here Come the Bears!; Here Come the Elephants!; Here Come the Deer!; Here Come the Lions!; Here Come the Beavers!; Here Come the Seals!; Here Come the Raccoons!; Here Come the Bees!; Here Come the Dolphins!; Here Come the Squirles!; Here Come the Cottontails!; Houses From the Sea; The Day We Saw the Sun Come Up; Graywings; Butterfly Time; Red Legs.

Newspaper article: Thursday, December 7, 1967, Searsmont — Mrs. Alice Goudey, a well-known writer of children's books, has recently been honored by being included in the Who's Who of American Women.

Another recent honor is that the University of Minnesota has asked Mrs. Goudey to give two of her manuscripts to the Kerlan Collection for their permanent collection display. They are doing research in the field of children’s books. Selected for this honor were "The Day We Saw The Sun Come Up" and "House By The Sea" runners-up for the Caldecott Award.

Also Mrs. Goudey's "The Sunnyvale Fair" received an award from The Boys Club of America.

These books published by Charles Scribner and Sons, are enchanting reading and beautifully illustrated as are the “Here Come The Beavers,” one of a series of animal and bird stories.

Dr. and Mrs. Earl Goudey, now retired and living in Searsmont find the area and Maine completely restful. Their home, “Winter Brook” overlooking Levenseller Mountain is a beautiful example of colonial architecture. Dr. Goudey was chairman of the Science Department at Bronxville High School, New York, and is currently on teh Board of Selctmen in Searsmont and on the Board of Supervisors of the Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Alice Goudey was my great great aunt. Her brother Aubrey West Edwards was my great grandfather. Alice died today in 1982. I wish I'd had a chance to meet her! In the photo above Alice is on the second row, three from the right. We found the photo at the Geary County Kansas Historical Society by chance.

Today in Our Genealogy

Today marks the anniversay in our family's genealogy of the birth of Amanda Caroline Buchmeier Peters. Amanda was one of Larry's grandmother Sara Augusta Ida Buchmeier Head's sisters. Amanda was born in 1899 at Wellscreek, Kansas which is near Wamego, Kansas. She was a middle child having two older sisters, Emma and Sara, an older brother, Edward, one younger sister, Alma, and two younger brothers, Emil and Herman.

Amanda married William O. “W.O.” “Dutch” Peters on June 9, 1920 and they resided at Manhattan, Kansas. The photo is their wedding photo. Amanda died in 1968.

Other family birthdays today: Ernest Leroy Norman in 1908. Ernest was my great grandfather Harry Norman's brother. He lived west of Junction City, Kansas and died March 28, 1980. Simon Tuttle was born today in 1630. Waunita Blye Barricklow Norman was born today in 1915.

Happy 94th Birthday Helen Mae Norman Edwards

My grandmother, Helen Mae Norman Edwards, is celebrating her 94th birthday today! She says that as far as she knows she's made it to be older than any other member of her family. Her grandfather Thomas Burr Williams died at 93 and at the time of his death was the oldest living resident of Chapman, Kansas.

She was born January 9, 1914 in a stone house at the southern end of her families farm in Dickinson County, Kansas. She attended Wesley School for grades 1-8. She graduated from Dickinson County High School in 1931. When she was younger she played the violin and the piano. She loves to sew; has an amazing “green thumb” (you should she her African Violets); and has made several quilts. She is very active, walks every day, is very involved in her town's Senior Center, drives and still lives in her own home. She is an inspiration indeed!

Other family birthdays today: Carl Theodore Williams, son of my grandmother's uncle George Williams, Carl sadly died January 19, 1919 at age 5. Samuel Tuttle, my first cousin 8 times removed, born in 1659. Catherine Ballinger, one of my 7x great aunts, born in 1765. Catherine's sister Hannah is my 6x great grandmother. Her great grandaughter was Nancy Ellen Turner Williams (my great great grandmother and our birthday girl Helen's grandmother).