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.

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.

Monday Madness

Mickey Pickard Crites is still keeping her secrets.
Update from July is that I got a copy's of her death record and guardianship record. The question now is Goodwin or Goodman cemetery? One cemetery was lost to a strip mine.

Mickey's Monday Madness

Mickey Pickard Crites Irwin Clift Jenson.
Mickey Pickard (Crites Irwin Clifft) Jenson b. 26 Mar 1850 d. 19 Jan 1929.
Mickey has been a real puzzle. She was married four times, and out lived all four husbands. Her first husband Thomas Crites is buried in Tulip Cemetery, Greene County, IN. Her second husband Solomon Irwin (don't know where he is buried). Her third husband John Clifft is buried next to his first wife in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Greene County, IN. Her fourth husband John Jenson b. 24 Aug 1851 is buried by his first wife Margaret in Grandview Cemetery, Greene County, Indiana.
Is Mickey a nickname for Mary?
Where is Mickey buried?