Ambrotype of John Cawthorn

In a previous post about John W. Cawthorn (found here) I posted an "enhanced version" of an ambrotype picturing John in his Confederate uniform. At first I couldn't figure out whether this old picture I have which is still housed in its original case was an ambrotype or daguerreotype. Luckily I found a website called Tips... for Dating Old Photo's... and boy was it helpful. I now know that what is in my possession is an ambrotype because the picture needs a dark background to show the photo in positive form.

Here is the original photo I scanned into the computer:

This picture shows the frame, and faded condition of the photo.

My "Heritage Pie Chart"

I first stumbled upon the "Heritage Pie Chart" idea on Are You My Cousin?... and found further information on the premises at My Tapley Tree... and its Branches: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. So I thought I would give it a try- first with my 16-great-great-grandparents. I do want to note that because of "bad sentiments" towards two of my great-great-grandparents, no one in the family will tell me their names, but I have been working on my grandmother to get her brother to tell me...so hopefully someday I'll be able to add them in.

First I looked at origin by country

HA! No surprise here... thoroughly American.

So I wanted to see if there was any variety in origin by State:

Family Recipe Friday: Chocolate Chess Pie

This is Uriel Powell's favorite recipe...one for Chocolate chess pie. This recipe was provided by Mary Frances Ellington and if I ever get a chance to make this, I'll add a picture or two.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick Margarine
• 4 tbsp. cocoa
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 small can evaporated milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar and cocoa, add to melted margarine. Stir thoroughly and add other ingredients. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Cook at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Enjoy!

Keeper of history: Uriel Orin Powell

One of the best things about someone who keeps everything... you get to understand them just a little after they have died. My great-grand uncle, Uriel Powell, is a perfect example. Even though he died in 1989, my grandmother still has some things that Uriel kept, pictures and news articles, and just a few years ago I got the opportunity to scan these things to have digital copies. 

Several of the pictures in the slideshow below show Uriel with his sister, Mary Lois Powell (my great grandmother), and with Mary F. Ellington (my grandmother). The newspaper articles show Uriel's intense devotion to stamp collecting, participation in the Halifax-North Hampton American Association of Retired Persons, and 50th-year reunion gathering of the 1931 graduating class of Roanoke Rapids High School. The only thing missing is a picture or two of the African Violets Uriel raised. 

The We Tree Genealogy Blog: Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog. 52 ideas. 52 weeks...

I find that I have worked on this blog for just a few days a month since I began it in May and I have decided to up my posts by using these ideas!

The We Tree Genealogy Blog: Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog. 52 ideas. 52 weeks...: "As quick review of genealogy blogs shows that many bloggers have made resolutions to write more about genealogy in 2009. Yes, you should blo..."

Uriel Orin Powell

One of the reasons I started this blog is because I wanted to make all the old photos, documents, and bible records I had available to others who might be interested. This blog wouldn't have been possible without my great grand uncle, Uriel Orin Powell's collection of records, research, and family photographs. Uriel died about 7 months after I was born, but I've enjoyed looking at everything he collected over the years since I was 15. A lot of what I know about Uriel comes from my grandmother. Uriel was my grandmother's uncle, but he raised her and was more like a father.

Uriel was born 4 Oct 1910 in Rosemary, Halifax Co., North Carolina. At the age of 13 (May 1924) he was baptized at Rosemary Baptist Church. He graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School in 1931. After high school Uriel worked in the Cotton Mill until his house was built, and then he worked in the US Post Office (for 32 and 1/2 years) as a clerk and for 5 years as a substitute carrier.

Uriel's parents were Burton Alexander Powell and Mary Ellen Cawthorn; his siblings were Robert Alexander Powell, Rodney Ray Powell, Mary Lois Powell, and Fannie Paige Powell.

Uriel died of a heart attack 2 July 1989, was cremated, and placed in the back wall of Rosemary Baptist Church.

James Walter Stevens, Jr., casualty WWII

James Walter Stevens, Jr.was born October 1923 in North Carolina to parents James Walter Stevens, Sr. and Essie Thompson Stevens. By the age of 6 James W. Jr. was motherless and lived with his father, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles, and his grandparents, Charles E. Stevens & Katie P. Stevens. On the 23rd March 1943, at the age of 19, James Jr. enlisted. He was a private in Company A, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division and was killed in action in WWII on 19 December 1944. In his less than two years in service James received the purple heart & combat infantryman badge. His death occured in the beginning days of the Battle of the Bulge, and he was buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.