M is for Mossie and Maude

Way back in the beginning of my family history research, I ran across the names Mossie and Maude. I thought the names were a little strange but then, my name is Ann Eliese so I guess I shouldn't throw stones. Anyway, the more I researched, the more I found Mossie and Maud in use.

For example, this is one picture I used before.

My Great Uncle Victor and my 1st Cousin, 1 time removed, Roy Hatfield. Since I find that confusing, Roy is the son of my grandfather's sister. Anyway, the two girls in the background are Mossie and Maude Cope.

This is where I need to pay attention because the Mossie and Maude in this picture are the daughters of Bobbie Cope, who is the daughter of my grandfather's sister.

Then there are these pictures.

As far as I can tell... this is Mossie Cope, Maud Conard, Roy Hatfield, Maude Cope and Esther Snodgrass. The only one not related is Maud Conard and I'm not really sure of that.

These are the same five people on the "punt". This is the way they crossed the Clinch River. I'm not sure what was on the north side but there are quite a few pictures of this transportation being used by different members of the family. They must have been pretty good at it because all of them appear dry in the photos.

So now you see the two Maude's so here's the other Mossie.

Victor Rhea, brother to my grandfather, his wife Cornie, mentioned in the "K" post, and their daughters, Mossie, Opal and Jewel. Mossie is the wife of Jack Livesay, mentioned in the "L" post and the mother of Sheldon.

It may be typical of many of the older generations to reuse or share names but it is difficult to track when the names are the same. I remember when I was just starting out before I understood that my family was out to make this really difficult. Now that I know their fondness for doing the same name over and over again, I am no longer confused. I think it's because they have become more than names and to me, real people who stories I need to tell. So to the Mossie's and Maude's in my family, I know who you really are!

L is for Livesay

Sheldon Livesay is my 2nd cousin. He is the director of an outreach ministry in Rogersville, Tennesse that feeds not only souls but the bodies of so many in the three surrounding counties. Of One Accord Ministry is actually much more and is doing a great job. However, Sheldon is also the recipient of a box of photos left in his Aunt Jewelle's basement that lead to even more family history connections. I can't even imagine where we would be without his amazing discovery.

Sheldon, Rogersville, Tennessee, 2014

Sheldon is the son of Mossie Rhea and Jack Livesay shown below.

Mossie is the daughter for Victor Rhea who is the brother of my grandfather. William. In the picture below, my grandpa is back row, left and Victor is back row, right. 

I am proud to say that I am related to Sheldon. After visiting Tennessee and seeing his work in person, I realize that he is one of those people who saw a need and took it on. It has made me more giving in my own community. Twice blessed here, Sheldon's ministry has made me a better person and vintage family photos appeared out of thin air to make my genealogy infinitely more interesting.   

I is for Ira Gardner

In a box in the basement, Sheldon Livesay, my 2nd cousin, found a treasure trove of photos that belonged to his Aunt Jewelle. Jewelle Brown was the daughter of Victor and Cornie Rhea. Sheldon not only scanned all the photos but if they had any kind of writing, he added that also. We have only been able to identify about half of the people and there are several of us working on it. 

This child is identified as Ira Gardner. My tree does not have anyone by that name and it does not come up in the letters written by my Great Grandmother. However, Jewelle kept it so it was meaningful for her. 

The picture was found in Rogersville, Tennessee. 

Cute baby, I hope someone will claim him. 

H is for Hutson, King and Queen

Much of my understanding of the family history comes from five letters my great grandmother sent to my grandparents in 1918 and 1919. The little snippets in the letters gave me a better understanding of the family and the community they lived in.

In one of the letters she talks about King Hutson.

"King Hutson paid 3900 for that piece of land after Ans Mathis had bought a strip next to him for 500 dollars, making that piece cost 4400. King Huston let Samps, Henry and Levi Hutson have it."

Well, that's was about as clear as mud but as I got further into the history, names started popping up. I still can't identify Ans Mathis but the Mathis family does appear on the census so I'll have to make a concentrated effort to track him down. Samps, Henry and Levi are King's children.

Alice and Amanda (Back L to R) Queen Elizabeth  and King Samuel (Front)

King Samuel Hutson was the youngest of four children. When I first ran across his name, I was intrigued. Who names their child King Samuel? Then I ran across something else showing he had a sister named Queen Elizabeth. This was before I knew that King was the father of Cornie, who married my great uncle Victor. I thought I had the name Cornie wrong because there are so many misspelling in genealogy but that was her name.

I don't know when King died but he is the older man shown in the picture below.

Queen Elizabeth Hutson married George Washington Perry and moved to Indian County in Oklahoma. 

Queen Elizabeth Perry about 1900 in Oklahoma

Queenie died in 1939 at the age of 88. The other two sisters, Amanda and Alice lived well into their 80's and never married.

The Hutson family is no longer strange to me but in the beginning of my foray into genealogy, it was a mystery. Today, they are just part of the family although I would like to know more. Fortunately, their great grandchildren are cousins I know well, so maybe it's time to start pushing them for information. 

First photo

Many of the photos come from Sheldon Livesay. He is my 2nd cousin and I had the opportunity to meet him last years when my cousin Patty and I made a trip to Tennessee to find our roots. Sheldon runs "Of One Accord Ministry" where they provide food and outreach services for people in Hancock and Hawkins Counties. We were blessed to be able to see this program in action.

Sheldon found a treasure trove of photos in his basement which he posted on his website and copied for Patty and I. I will be adding a lot of his pictures but I am starting with my favorite of all the Rhea family photos.

William Rhea (my grandfather) in the back row, Washington Floyd Rhea, and Victor Edwin Rhea (Sheldon's grandfather). 

In the front, Lily Bower Rhea, Martha Jane (McCollum) Rhea, my great grandmother, Luvena Rhea and John Rhea (Washington Floyd's oldest son). 

I use all names in my research because some of them don't go by their given names. My grandfather was "Will". Washington Floyd was called "Floyd". Victor. Lillie, Luvena, and John were called by their first names. My great grandmother went by "Jane". The photo was taken about 1908 at the Martha Jane Rhea home in Sneedville, Tennessee.