A Memorial to Grandpa Crites

This week I was given a gift from my Aunt Oneta Noel, who died four years ago. This gift came to me by way of a tattered, yellowed newspaper article that was tucked away in an old letter that my mother had.
Mother said, "I have something that I was supposed to give you from Aunt Oneta." "She wanted you to have this. She wrote your name on it." "I found it today as I was going through some old letters." "I am sorry that I didn't give it to you before." "She must have wanted you to have it because she knew that you were interested in genealogy and family history."
I looked it over and read:
The Evening World, Bloomfield, Indiana
October 27, 1976, page 3, columns 1-6.
In Memoriam
Charles Bernice Crites
Today would have been our Dad’s eighty-first birthday. “Bucky” Baker would have baked him a birthday cake and the group from the Owensburg Baptist Church would have helped him to celebrate, along with all the other residents of the Bloomfield Nursing Center, who have birthdays in the month of October. Each one of his four children and their families would have helped him to have a happy day as best we could, but God in His perfect omniscience changed our plans and on September 8, Dad suffered a heart attack and we took him from the Nursing Center to the Greene County Hospital where at about five in the afternoon of September 14, he went Home where time is not counted by years and no one ever grows old.
If it had been possible for Dad to have chosen to spent this eighty-first birthday with whomever he chose, he’d have selected to have spent it with his wife, who left this earth on January 12, 1975, for they had been married over fifty-six years and no matter how hard we tried we never could fill the loneliness he felt for our Mother.
Charles Bernice Crites, the oldest child of William Armstead Crites and Della Luiza Calvert Crites, was born in Greene County and except for the time her served as a soldier in World War I was never away from Greene County. He was a farmer and often left his fields to assist a neighbor in doctoring a sick animal for he had a real love for veterinary work, which he continued doing until he was no longer physically able to make his calls. This was the reason for his familiar title and for his being remembered by many as “Doc” Crites.
He had also served as Highland Township road superintendent, had worked at Crane Ammunition Depot, and was trustee of the Calvertville General Baptist Church where as a youth he was converted, baptized, and remained a member until his death.
Death separates us but it does not erase so many, many dear memories Bernice will be remembered as a good neighbor. He had a genuine love for people and especially for children. This rewarded him the last months of his life when so many, many neighbors and acquaintances stopped at Room 16 to greet him. The family thanks each one of you.
His sister, Lorene Noel, and brothers, Tilman and Harold, will ever remember their times growing up together, how he played the Big-Brother Role well; how he loved and cared for the teams.
We children will remember Dads a strict disciplinarian who taught us, and practiced before us, to: owe no man a cent, make your word your bond, and vote a straight ticket. Dad loved music and at different times sang in quartets. He often entertained his nieces, nephews and grandchildren by playing the fiddle and French harp. He had a special knack for writing poetry and for impersonating, and each one close to him had been given a nickname all his own. It is not our intent to imply that our Dad was perfect, for we know he wasn’t, but we would write an ode to him as a good dad and to remind all who read this to take advantage of the precious time you have your parents with you, for just two years ago, today, all our family met on Main Street to celebrate a birthday, not once realizing it would be our last family gathering.
Besides the four children, one sister and two brothers, Bernice is survived by his daughter-in-law, Wilda Crites, and his two sons-in-law, Don Sheets and Marion Noel; by eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Rex Reid; a brother, Russell; a grandson, Brad; and his wife, Ona Hunter Crites.
We want to thank all the Special People of the Nursing Center who made his life as easy as possible for the last twenty-one months. How we wish some of you could have known him as he was before his health failed him. A special note of gratitude goes out to dear Charley Thomas who was an understanding neighbor to the resident in Room 16 when he needed him so much; to Wayne Sparks who used patience beyond duty to comply with wishes that were sometimes impossible; to two Phyllises and to two Marys that were especially kind; to Myrtle and Anna who knew him before and understand with a different insight; and to Wanda Johnson, who actually shed tears as she assured him she’d take care of things for him. You are all a rare breed!
Thanks also to each one who sent flowers and cards. We appreciate everything; especially the Calvertville Missionary and the Union Valley Church for the food and coming and helping out.
Harwood, Oneta, Mable and Mary.

The Hunter Family in Scotland and England

The Hunter family is of royal descent from Edward I, King of England, through his second son, Edmund, Earl of Kent, whose daughter, Lady Joan Plantagenet, was the wife of Thomas, Lord Holland. Her great-great-granddaughter, Princess Jane Stuart, became the wife of George Gordon, Second Earl of Huntly and Lord Chancellor. Their daughter, Lady Isabel Gordon, was married to William Hay, third Earl of Erroll. Their great-grandson, Andrew Hay, became the seventh Earl. By his wife, Lady Agnes Sinclair, daughter of the fourth Earl of Caithness, he had a son, Hon. Sir George Hay, of Killour, who married Elizabette, daughter of Sir Patrick Cheyne, of Esselmont. Their daughter, Anne, became the wife of William Moray of Abercairney, who died in 1642. Their son, Robert Moray, was knighted by Charles I. His daughter, Anne, married David Graham, of Fintry, ninth Earl in descent from William Graham of Kincardine and the Lady, Mary Stuart. Their daughter, Amelia Graham became the wife of Alexander Hunter, of Blackness, Co. Forfer, in 1741. From the book Hunter Family Records, by J. Montgomery Seaver, 1929, page C of the Introduction.

The Hunter Martyrs

John Foxes’ Book of Martyrs tells the story of two Hunter Brothers, William and Robert Hunter.
William Hunter, (d. 1555), was a Weaver's apprentice and martyr. William Hunter refused to attend mass in London in 1553; he returned home to Brentwood, Essex. He was denounced to Thomas Wood, the vicar of South Weald, for reading scriptures in English. He was examined by Wood, who denounced William Hunter to Anthony Browne. Hunter was brought before Browne and interrogated; Hunter was then sent to Bonner by Browne. William Hunter was examined by Bonner and condemned. Hunter was detained by Bonner for nine months, during which time the bishop tried both harsh and lenient treatment to persuade him to recant. Hunter was examined by Bishop Bonner on 8 February 1555; he was condemned by Bishop Bonner on 9 February 1555. William Hunter was then condemned by Bishop Bonner. William Hunter was sent to Brentwood to be burned. Hunter refused pressure at his execution to recant and died constantly on 26 March 1555. Hunter wrote a short letter to his mother shortly before his martyrdom.
Robert Hunter, Brother of William Hunter, supplied Foxe with the account of his brother's martyrdom. Robert Hunter was imprisoned in the stocks and interrogated by Anthony Browne. Robert Hunter witnessed his brother's condemnation on 9 February 1555. At his brother's execution, Robert refused to attempt to persuade William to recant; instead he encouraged him. William at the stake gave Robert his Psalter.
From: http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/apparatus/person_glossaryL.html John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs .

Update Grandma's Bible

Grandma's Bible has been transcribed and indexed. It has been given to the ACPL and will be part of the Bible records for Allen County, Indiana!

Happy 25th Birthday To Our Son!

We have both celebrated this day for 25 years. One quarter of a century.

9,125 days. Many of the days I remember his first day at school, learning to ride a bike, and the day he learned to play the guitar. There are days that you remember too. Some days we remember together, his graduation from High School, and the day of his birth.

We share a precious bond of motherhood to our son, yours through birth, mine through adoption.

Happy 25th Birthday to our son!

Thank you Lisa.

Mickey Pickard

Sometimes genealogists are like farmers planting seeds and waiting for the harvest. We leave postings on message boards, and then we wait and see what happens. Will we get a response, or not? Mickey Pickard and her son Charles have been a puzzle. But the seeds were planted and here is latest news on great grandmother Mickey Pickard.
Posting on message board:
Looking for Mickey Pickard b 1842 & her son, Charles Crites b 1874 in Greene Co, IN to Thomas & Mickey (Pickard) Crites. 1900 US Census shows Mickey (Crites) married to Solomon Irwin with the Crites children. A later Census (1910?) shows Mickey Crites living with her son Charles Crites. Family member says, "Charles married a cousin, moved out west, and was never heard from again." (This Charles Crites is not the one b 1895 to William Crites.) Supplemental Marriage Record for John & Mickey Jenson show Mickey's birthday as March 27, 1850.
From my Family Tree Records:
MICKEY ANNA PICKARD (WILLIAMA, HENRYB PACKARD, WILLIAMC, WILLIAM HENRYD PICKARD, NICHOLASE, BARTHOLOMEWF, BARTHOLOMEWG, ROBERTH, JOHNI, ROBERTJ, JOHNK) was born 27 Mar 1850 in Greene County, Indiana, and died 19 Jan 1929 in Greene County, Indiana1. She married (1) THOMAS CRITES 07 Mar 1867 in Greene County, Indiana, son of WILLIAM CRITES and MARY DORROUGH. He was born 15 Sep 1844 in Perry (or Wayne County), Ashland, Ohio2, and died 15 Jul 1876 in Greene County, Indiana. She married (2) SOLOMON IRWIN 23 Sep 1877 in Greene County, Indiana3. He was born 1810 in Kentucky, and died Aft. 1900. She married (3) JOHN J. CLIFFT 22 Oct 1893 in Greene County, Indiana4, son of THOMAS CLIFFT and MELINDA JONES. He was born 22 Feb 1837 in KY. She married (4) JOHN JENSON 04 Apr 1901 in Greene County, Indiana, son of DAVID JENSON and MARY JOHNSON. He was born 24 Aug 1851 in Germany.
Just this week:
Sue Wilcox of the Greene County Historical Society was able to borrow the Myers Funeral Home record books, and found information on my great grandmother Mickey Pickard.
Mickey is buried in the Goodwin Cemetery in Highland Twp according to this book. She is listed as the w/o John Genson, place of death was at residence in Worthington, a Dr. Johnson was attending physician. Mickey Anna was born 3-27-1850, the d/o William Pickard b. OH and Mary Hodges, b. OH. , she was a housekeeper, date of death, Jan 19, 1929. The funeral was scheduled for Jan 21, 1929 at 2 p.m. Funeral service was at the residence. Rev. Chastain was Methodist I think. The total for the funeral was $161.75, can you imagine. Her casket was manufactured at Batesville, a Memphis 6/3 Silver gray hinge cap. The cost of the casket was $125, dress $22.50, hose $1.25 and the underwear was $1.00, and the charge went to her husband John Genson.

Grandpa's Fiddle

Grandpa's instrument was not a violin it was a fiddle. Fiddles he said were for playing lively fun music for family and friends not the chamber kind of music. We loved to hear him play and often asked him to play for us. We would gather around him and listen until grandma said, "Enough those children need to get to bed." Then we would ask him to just play one more song, of course he would play another one for us.
The music we grew up on was old fashion country music, ballads and hymns. When the family got together at grandma and grandpa's the old tattered hymnals would be gotten out of the bookcase and real singing would begin. They would sing songs that would make everyone smile and sing along. Grandpa would get out the fiddle and play along. Now they call it improvising, then we just called it fiddling.