Repost - Where Were You When the World Seemed to End?

Tribute in Light (please take time to view the description and acknowledgement below)*

Today is a day of remembrance, not a day of celebration.  I don't celebrate Pearl Harbor Day.  I remember the tragedy of the day.  Some could argue that we celebrate who we are as America today because the terrorists that struck on this day 11 years ago did win.  They didn't destroy us.  I don't see this day that way though.  I see a day when life changed and when our innocence was shattered.  I see a turning point in my life as a mother, wife and Soldier.  I would see fellow Soldiers deploy and some never come home.  I see a day where our country was altered drastically and suffered a collective loss.  Who did not pray that just one more survivor would be pulled from those the Towers or the Pentagon? Just one more.  That just one survivor would be found among the wreckage in Pennsylvania.  Just one. We lost so many innocent people that day.  There were so many brave acts of courage as well.  I want to remember them, because they should still be with us, but were taken too soon by senseless acts of stupidity and intolerance.  Let us never forget.

(This is a repost from 2011, but is worth sharing again)

September 11th, 2011.  The day the world seemed like it was coming to an end.  Where were you?  Where was I...

I was a Staff Sergeant in the Army.  Stationed with the 25th Infantry Division (L), 125 Military Intelligence Battalion.  We were in the field.  Training exercises.  It's what we did.  My husband was playing single dad with our almost 8 month old son while I played Soldier and got dirty for the week.  At least that was the plan.

The evening of September 10th (Monday) my squad and I got in our vehicles and went out to our site.  It was my first time as a squad leader.  I'll admit I was nervous.  I always wanted to impress.  To show people that I was good at what I did.  It didn't start out well.  It was dark and we were having difficulty finding the site we were supposed to set up at.  It took awhile, but we eventually got there and set up.

I jumped into the back of our "system" after it was set up.  I then proceeded to block all news and music stations that I could find.  Our job was to "Find the Enemy" and I didn't want people distracted and not looking for OPFOR (Opposing Forces).  We were a squad of 4, Newsom, Cash, Jefferson and me.  Newsom was my Assistant Squad Leader and he took first shift.  Jefferson took guard shift.  Cash and I racked out in the back of the chase vehicle (the vehicle that follows our system with all the gear in the back).

Around 4:30am I was woken up by Newsom.  He told me, "Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center and there were fears that other planes may have been hijacked."

I sat up straight and just looked at where his voice came from in the dark.  "What?" I said as I processed the information, although I really didn't need it repeated.  Then I asked, "Did you report it to the TOC (Tactical  Operations Center)?"

"No"

"Do it."  Newsom left and got on the radio.  I got on my cell phone.  I called my husband.  He had already been called by his oldest sister and his unit.  He was watching the news.  It was bad.  There was a lot of confusion in the news.  He was getting our son ready for day care and was taking him in as soon as it opened.  He was needed at work.  It was going to be a long day.  I told him I loved them both and needed to go.  I had to call my aunt and uncle that were living in Hawaii.  My Uncle Jeff's family was from New York.

I called and Uncle Jeff answered.  I could tell I just woke them.  "Turn on your T.V.," I said, "Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center and more may have been hijacked.  We're under attack."  He said he had to go and hung up.  I understood.  He needed to make sure his family was safe.

I got out of the vehicle and went to the system where Newsom was still listening.  I asked him what the TOC said.  He replied that they claimed it was all a part of the exercise.  When that happened however, Cushman, a team leader from one of the other dismounted teams, popped up on the radio with the reply, "Bullshit!" and explained that they intercepted it too and it was a news station reporting.  They were now reporting that another plane hit the Pentagon.  Then one went down somewhere in Pennsylvania.  My home state.  How many more?  That's all I could think of.

Eventually the TOC pulled their heads out of their asses and realized that this was real.  Another platoon member who was back at the TOC had brought a portable T.V. with him.  He was from New York.  Fiorelli was his name.  A good ol' Italian boy from the city.  He turned the portable on just in time to see the first Tower collapse.  I can't imagine what that was like for him.

All four of us were standing in or around our system.  There was no one pulling security.  We just weren't "playing Army" anymore.

"It's bin Laden," I stated.  Something that wouldn't be repeated on the news until later.  Most people in MI knew who Osama bin Laden was, even if we weren't "active" in the intel field. It was no secret that he hated America.  It was no secret that he would do anything within his power to strike at America if given the opportunity.  I had no doubt that it was him.  There was no reply to my statement.  There was none needed.  I guess we all already knew it was probably right.  Knowing doesn't make anything better.

Pentagon Flag **

One of the guys (I can't remember which one) asked me, "What's going to happen?"

"We're going to be pulled back in."  I don't know how I knew that.  Maybe it was because I wanted it to happen.  I needed it to happen.  I wanted to get home to my husband and son.  I was terrified that a military day care would be targeted.  He didn't care who he attacked.  Unrealistic fear?  There are no unrealistic fears to a parent.

I continued, "There are too many people that need to find out how their families are.  I can't imagine them keeping us out here much longer." And then there was the unspoken fact that we were now at war.  Attacked at home and would be needed to defend our home.  We didn't know how bad this was going to get, but we knew everything was about to change.

There was only one set of headphones for the system.  Only one person could listen at once, but we all wanted to be that person.  We did take turns and whoever had the headset would relay any new information to the rest of us.  Eventually my Platoon Sergeant, Stege, came out to the site.  To see how we were doing.  To tell us to break down because we'd be going back in.  No surprise there.  It took several hours before we made it back to the company area.

Our company was in a quad.  Four buildings facing inward.  That's just pretty much how the majority of Schofield Barracks was set up.  When we returned to the quad it was surrounded by triple-strand concertina wire (razor wire) with a guard at each entry point checking IDs.  The entire post was like this.  Not only was the post at 100% ID check, vehicle inspection (complete with looking under each vehicle for bombs), but once you got on post you had to show ID to get into your quad.  If anyone doubted that this was serious, that ended any doubts.

I got home later that evening.  Talked to family and held mine.  We watched the TV until I don't know how late.  My husband worked one of those "active" intel jobs.  I knew he knew stuff.  And I knew he couldn't tell me.  I accepted that.  I understood.  I wouldn't ask.  Didn't really need to.  I mean, how bad is bad?  It already was.

My uncle's family was safe.  My family was safe.  Why then did it seem like none of us were safe and that we all had lost someone dear to us?  Was this how it felt after our innocence was taken at Pearl Harbor?  I was certain it must have been.

I was a Soldier.  I knew we were now at war.  We all knew it.  There was no cheering.  No stupid smack-talk about going out and killing bin Laden.  We all wanted him.  We all wanted to go, but this was an indescribable moment and there was no juvenile posturing like you see today.  No one prays for peace more than the Soldier that has to fight the war and lose their brothers and sisters in arms.

Looking back I find it amazing at how calm and incredibly somber we were.  There were no tears shed from my squad.  It didn't even occur to me to cry.  We were in shock.  Perhaps if we had seen rather than heard what was happening there would have been tears.  There certainly were many since.  There will continue to be many in the years to come.  Osama bin Laden is dead.  This is the first anniversary of the attacks that we can say that.  It damn well took us long enough...but you know what?  It doesn't lessen the pain.

Members of my unit experienced what I can only describe as Divine Intervention on September 11th, although we would not hear of it until later.  My former Platoon Leader, CPT Meyer, had left the military and was working at the World Trade Center. He was one of those insanely hard-core-ranger-tabbed-dudes that would walk 10 miles with a broken leg because it was nothing big.  He'd never go to sick call.  He'd be in a hospital only if forced.  He wasn't at the World Trade Center on September 11th....he was in the hospital.  He was sick and his family made him go.

Writing this post was extremely difficult as I'm sure it was for many who have written posts for today.  I never saw the original footage of the attacks with the newscasters talking.  I saw the sanitized images.  The footage of the images without any human reaction.  Just analysis.  There was something about seeing the video and hearing their reactions that is just so gut-wrenching.  It made it feel as though it had just happened.

The website I watched this video on is a page at the National Archives called "Understanding 9/11".  The video is toward the bottom of the page and they list a chronology and description of the footage you'll watch.  There are broadcasts from Mexico, Japan, Russia, Iraq and Britain as well as the U.S.  A unique international perspective, and you really don't need to understand the different languages.

I'm a disabled veteran of the United States Army, and I'm a hippie-chick to boot.  Crazy combination.  Crazy chick.  Hippie chick or not...I can't listen to Darryl Worley's, "Have You Forgotten?" without tearing up.  Some scars don't heal that easily, and these scars dug at our country deep.  It truly felt like the world was coming to an end that day.

Acknowledgements

(Pictures obtained via the U.S. Air Force Official Website)  

*Tribute in Light - The "Tribute in Light" memorial is in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The two towers of light are composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. This photo was taken from Liberty State Park, N.J., Sept. 11, the five-year anniversary of 9/11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Denise Gould)

**Pentagon Flag - WASHINGTON -- Military members rendered honors as fire and rescue workers unfurled a huge American flag over the side of the Pentagon during rescue and recovery work following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. The attack came at approximately 9:40 a.m. as a hijacked commercial airliner, originating from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport, was flown into the southern side of the building facing Virginia Highway 27. (U.S. Navy photo by Michael W. Pendergrass )

Information presented on AF.mil is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested. 

Chronology of 9/11

[Please note that times do vary by source]

8:01 am - American Airlines Flt 11 takes off from Boston heading to Los Angeles.  There were 92 people on board.

8:14 am - United Airlines Flt 175 takes off from Boston heading to Los Angeles.  There were 65 people on board.

8:21 am - American Airlines Flt 77 takes off from Washington D.C. heading to Los Angeles.  There were 64 people on board.

8:41 am - United Airlines Flt 93 takes off from Newark heading to San Francisco.  There were 40 people on board.

8:46 am - Flt 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center

9:03 am - Flt 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center

9:40 am - Flt 77 crashes into the Pentagon

9:59 am - The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses

10:07 am - Flt 93 crashes into a field in Shanksburg, Pennsylvania

10:15 am - Portion of the Pentagon collapses.  Approximately 200 people died in and around the Pentagon.

10:28 am - The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses

4:00 pm - CNN reports that their are indications that Osama bin Laden is responsible for the attacks.

5:25 pm - Number 7 World Trade Center collapses

8:30 pm - President Bush addresses the nation

Labor in our Family Tree

Coal miners  - Pennsylvania (Luzerne or Carbon County, Pennsylvania)

Be thankful we live today.  The term "labor" certainly isn't what it used to be.  I come from coal miners and teachers.  My husband from farmers mostly, but also cheese makers, woodworkers, and my father-in-law was a truck driver.

To be a coal miner...well, I don't really like thinking about it too much.  Always wondering if your husband and sons come home that night?  If they came home, would they be broken and able to continue working?  I can't imagine sending my young sons off to work in the coal mines, but that's what my ancestors did.  Boys went to work in the mines as soon as they were able.  Girls helped mom raise the babies and do the housework (which was a LOT harder than today).  They had gardens and chickens in their yards to help feed their families.  They made their own clothes and had few tech-gadgets to make their lives easier.

Feeding her birds

I know my ancestors worked hard and hoped that some day their children wouldn't have to work in the mines. Around the turn of the century that started to happen and my grandparents and great aunts and uncles more often became teachers.

One room schoolhouses.  Teaching all grade levels at once, but eventually schools changed and became more what I remember as a child and teenager.  Teaching though is still a thankless job more often than not.  Where would we be without our teachers?  I get emails and comments about my grandfather and what a wonderful teacher  and role model he was (and strict).  I have obituaries that show how much my great aunt achieved in her lifetime and how respected she was (you can read about her here).

My father-in-law, like many truck drivers today spent the week driving and would come home on the weekends to see his family.  His wife took care of their 5 children while he was away.  Sacrifice and a strong and loving family.  He worked for Schneider United.  The "United" meant it was unionized.  Schneider busted that union by hiring new truck drivers that would work for a little more money up front, no pensions and diminished benefits.  They didn't fire the unionized drivers, they merely waited for them to retire.  Now Schneider National stands in its place.  Same company...less security for the drivers and their families.  My father-in-law was able to retire comfortably and when he passed my mother-in-law was able to receive his pension and continue to live well.

As for the farmers in our family, well I can only imagine how difficult working on a farm must have been.  I am so not a morning person and I can only imagine having to rise early to tend the crops and animals.

Feeding the chickens

My ancestors (and yours as well, if they held many of these occupations) had something that helped them make ends meet.  Helped them fight for better working conditions and to keep their children out of the dangerous mines.  Had someone to speak for them so they weren't driving truck longer than was safe for them and others on the road.  Someone that made sure that the teachers got the benefits they deserved for the hard work that they did...they had unions.

Labor Day hardly means what it once did.  What it must have meant to our ancestors.  Our ancestors that just wanted an honest day's wage for an honest day's labor.  To be able to live in dignity and raise their families from what was frequently an impoverished and brutally hard life.  Labor Unions fought for:

-Overtime pay

-A tolerable length for the work week and workday

-Minimum wage

-Paid vacation and sick days

-Safety standards

-Child Labor Laws

-Health benefits

-Retirement security

-Unemployment compensation

You would not have had Labor Day if there had not been unions.  Unions pushed for a day to celebrate America's laborers.  States passed laws marking the holiday, but it wasn't until August 28, 1893 that Labor Day became a National holiday.

Schoolhouse from an old family album

The word "union" and "unionized" seems to be the equivalent of a swear word today, but why?  Some unions were corrupt, but it's up to the members to fix that.  Not up to the employers and politicians to bust the unions that help keep our union workers safe and earning a decent wage.

I would not dishonor my ancestors to disparage what is a wonderful part of our American history.  The Labor Union and Labor Day will always be connected.  Even if people sometimes refuse to acknowledge the connection.  Our ancestors changed this country so that their children and grandchildren would be able to live a better life than they did.  Not a life of sloth as many wrongfully think of unionized labor, but an honest day's wage.  An honest day's work.

Today I celebrate Labor Day and my ancestors that helped make working in America better for everyone.  I will keep their hard work and intentions alive and I thank them for their sacrifices so that my life was better than theirs.  May we always be a country that values it's workers.

Sunday's Obituary - Neil Joseph Brown III

Saint Gabriel's cemetery, Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Standard Speaker, April 1968

Neil Brown III was born on February 5, 1914 in Hazleton.  He's one of the many Browns in my family tree. Sadly, the trail ends with his obituary.  I'm still looking for information on his wife since there was no death of death for Dorothy when I took the picture of their tombstone.  I did find an obituary for her sister who passed away on January 25th 2010 at the age of 92 and listing Dorothy as a surviving relative.  Talk about some great longevity in the Gillespie family!

Well, on to the obituary for Neil who was my 1st cousin twice removed.

"Neil Joseph Brown

Neil Joseph Brown, of 644 N. Wyoming St., died at 12:15 a.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Hospital.  He had been ill 10 days.

Born in Hazleton, a son of the late Neil and Bridget (Brown) Brown, he was a lifelong resident of the city.

He was employed at the Hazleton Brick Co. and was a member of St. Gabriel's R.C. Church.

he is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Gllespie [sic], and four children:  Neil J. Brown Jr., Allentown; Dennis, Timothy and Patricia, all at home.

Also surviving are these brothers and sisters:  Mrs. John (Nancy) Harkins, Newark, Del.; Mrs. Eleanor Prosser, Mrs. Clyde (Mary) Barth and James, all of Hazleton; Eugene, Levittown, N.J.; Paul, Meadville; John, Philadelphia; Mrs. Charles (Joan) Cann and Charles, both of this city.

A son, Spec. 5 Michael P. Brown, was killed in action in Vietnam Nov. 26, 1967.

The funeral will be held from the Boyle Funeral Home, 100 S. Wyoming St., at 9 a.m. Wednesday.  Solemn high mass of requiem will be celebrated in St. Gabriel's R.C. Church at 9:30 and interment will be in the parish cemetery.  Friends may call 3 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday."

Tombstone Tuesday - Thomas and Leona Dougherty

Thomas and Leona Dougherty nee Ganss, Calvary Cemetery, Drums, PA

When I visited Pennsylvania last summer I went looking for the grave of my great aunt Helen Elizabeth "Betty" Bronsavage.  She was hard to find, but as I searched I took the opportunity to take pictures of tombstones with family names on them.  I don't know if any of them are members of my family though. Most of my family members were buried in Hazleton city's cemeteries and this cemetery was in Drums (close to Hazleton, but no cigar).  We guessed that Helen was buried out there because none of the Catholic cemeteries in the city would want an adulteress and murderer buried there.  In fact she was buried in unconsecrated ground, which has since her burial been consecrated.  Anyway, that was a tangent.  This post is on Thomas and Leona Dougherty after all, and the Dougherty surname is one in my family tree.

Rather than just throwing up the tombstone for Thomas and Leona, I decided to do some quick research.  After all, I'm trying to see if they are any relation...not just someone that shared a surname.  The first place that popped up was the 1940 US Federal Census.  Gosh, I'm loving that it's been indexed (Thanks indexers!).  In 1940 Thomas and Leona was living in Hazleton on Wyoming Street and had two children:  Thomas (Jr), and Conrad.  There was gold in that thar' census (although not for my line)...in the form of a 76 year old gentleman living with them by the name of Conrad Ganss.  Conrad is listed as Thomas' father-in-law.  So now we know (theoretically) that Leona's maiden name was Ganss.

Thomas' tombstone have a military marker for 1941-1945, but I found no enlistment records for him.  I also did not find him in Hazleton in earlier census records and frankly he would have been in his fifties during WWII.  A possibility, but WWI would have been a better fit.  That doesn't mean he wasn't there (or didn't move there after 1930)...and I'll be the first to admit that I only did a cursory search.  If he is one of my Doughertys then he would have (most likely) lived in the Hazleton area.

Leona, was found in other census records and was living in Hazleton with her parents, Conrad and Catherine.  Conrad and Catherine had (at least) eight children:  Rosal, Anna, Conrad, Walter, Catherine, Hilda, Albert, and Leona.  Judging by the 1900 US Federal Census Conrad and Catherine had 2 children (names unknown) that died young.

No connection with my family in this quick search, but that too is information to a genealogist!

Amanuensis Monday - The Alien & Sedition Acts, Part II

Part two of the Alien and Sedition Acts that were enacted in 1798.  This piece of legislation is pretty straightforward (although it may not appear to be with all the "thereofs" and "aforesaids").  

The first and second sections essentially tells us that the President of the United States can order any alien that s/he feels is a threat to the nation to leave the country under penalty of imprisonment and never being able to apply for future citizenship.  The alien can attempt to prove that s/he is not a threat but the decision rests with the President whether to take any arguments into account.

Section three should be of use to many genealogists.  This is where it's stated that the Captains of ships that arrive in port and contain any aliens must provide information on them (lots of great genealogical data, read the section to see all that's included)  to the official at the customs/port authority.  Now my ancestors (yes, all of them) came over several decades after this act, so I wouldn't have had to use any type of port/ship's manifests from this time period, but I would hope that they are out there and available to those of you that would need to search.  There's a pretty hefty fine on the Captain should he not turn in a complete and accurate list.

Section four tells us that violations/crimes regarding this act will be recorded by the circuit/district courts.

Section five states that any alien ordered to leave the United States may take any items/money that belong to him and that anything left behind is still at his disposal.  I'm not sure why, but I love this part. Probably because it shows that they weren't trying to rob someone blind or put them out of the country to claim their property.

With any luck, part three of the Alien and Sedition Acts will follow along next Monday.  Until then, have fun tending those roots!

"CHAP. LVIII. - An Act concerning Aliens. (u)

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of the act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof, to depart out of the territory of the United States, within such time as shall be expressed in such order, which order shall be served on such alien by delivering him a copy thereof, of leaving the same at his usual abode, and returned to the office of the Secretary of State, by the marshal or other person to whom the same shall be directed.  And in case any alien, so ordered to depart, shall be found at large within the United States after the time limited in such order for his departure, and not having obtained a license from the President to reside therein, or having obtained such license shall not have conformed thereto, every such alien shall, on conviction thereof, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, and shall never after be admitted to become a citizen of the United States.  Provided always, and be it further enacted, that if any alien so ordered to depart shall prove to the satisfaction of the President, by evidence to be taken before such person or persons as the President shall direct, who are for that purpose hereby authorized to administer oaths, that no injury or danger to the United States will arise from suffering such alien to reside therein, the President may grant a license to such alien to remain within the United States for such time as he shall judge proper, and at such place as he may designate.  And the President may also require of such alien to enter into a bond to the United States, in such penal sum as he may direct, with one or more sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the person authorized by the President to take the same, conditioned for the good behavior of such alien during his residence in the United States, and not violating his license, which license the President may revoke, whenever he shall think proper.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, whenever he may deem it necessary for the public safety, to order to be removed out of the territory thereof, any alien who may or shall be in prison in pursuance of this act; and to cause to be arrested and sent out of the United States such of those aliens as shall have been ordered to depart therefrom and shall not have obtained a license as aforesaid, in all cases where, in the opinion of the President, the public safety requires a speedy removal.  And if any alien so removed or sent out of the United States by the President shall voluntarily return thereto, unless by permission of the President of the United States, such alien on conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned so long as, in the opinion of the President, the public safety may require.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That every master or commander of any ship or vessel which shall come into any port of the United States after the first day of July next, shall immediately on his arrival make report in writing to the collector or other chief officer of the customs of such port, of all aliens, if any, on board his vessel specifying their names, age, the place of nativity, the country from which they shall have come, the nation to which they belong and owe allegiance, their occupation and a description of the person, as far as he shall be informed thereof, and on failure, every such master and commander shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars, for the payment whereof on default of such master of commander, such vessel shall also be holden, and may by such collector or other officer of the customs be detained.  And it shall be the duty of such collector or other officer of the customs, forthwith to transmit to the office of the department of state true copies of all such returns.

SEC. 4.  And be it further enacted, That the circuit and district courts of the United States, shall respectively have cognizance of all crimes and offences [sic] against this act.  And all marshals and other officers of the United States are required to execute all precepts and orders of the President of the United States issued in pursuance or by virtue of this act.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for any alien who may be ordered to be removed from the United States, by virtue of this act, to take with him such part of his goods, chattels, or other property, as he may find convenient; and all property left in the United States by any alien, who may be removed, as aforesaid, shall be, and remain subject to his order and disposal, in the same manner as if this act had not been passed.

SEC. 6.  And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force for and during the term of two years from the passing thereof.

APPROVED, June 25, 1798."

Census Saturday - Siamese You Say...

Well, I say you're wrong....but being an indexer for the 1940 US Federal Census is a thankless job sometimes.  Still, when looking up Walter and Elizabeth Bagovich in the newly indexed 1940 census, I just about fell out of my seat laughing when I saw this:

Siamese, eh?  So I'm looking at this going, "Wow, this is either 1) some neat new information, 2) the wrong person, or 3) a transcription error."

So let's take what's behind door number 3 because when I looked at (and zoomed in on) the actual image I could see that under race, the census taker attempted to write in "Lithuanian" instead of the standard letter response (it should have been a "W" in this case).  I can understand why the indexer would have had a difficult time making out what was written.  It's certainly easier for me knowing a bit about their ancestry.

Sadly, there's nowhere for me to submit a correction for their race.  I can actually understand this one.  Can you imagine all those crazies trying to insist that the census taker got it wrong because their couldn't possibly be [insert race here] in their ancestry!  So since the surname was transcribed as "Bagowick" I could submit a correction with a name variation of "Bagovich" and place in the comments block that the race is also transcribed incorrectly and should be Lithuanian. Although the naughty census taker apparently didn't follow the instructions when filling in that bit!

Another error...Walter and Elizabeth weren't born in Pennsylvania.  At least that's family lore (and not yet verified), but previous census records tell me I'm correct (unless they were all wrong!).

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Placing a Face with a Name

I've posted about Aloysius McElwee previously.  I've always wondered what he looked like.  The other week I became acquainted with another cousin in a completely unexpected and delightful way.  I met my (sort-of) cousin, Charles McElwee, by posting and asking questions on my hometown's historical society's Facebook page.  He was such a blessing to have been able to send me a picture of Aloysius to go with the name!  I can't thank him enough!