Kate's Busy Life

My Genealogy Website Is Launched

2011-08-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

My genealogy website for 10 generations of my ancestors is launched: http://www.krsmith.net.

I would appreciate your viewing the website and sharing your feedback with me. This is my first attemp that actually works after 3-4 years. I am very pleased with this attemp. The hosting service: http://www.genealogyhosting.com/ and the excellent support staff were the difference.

I hope you read and enjoy this genealogy website.

My Dad's Name Is Roy!

2011-05-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

The title is a strange way to begin. However, the assumption of Roy as the name for Dad can be and to me is confusing. At birth my father was named Lawrence Oran Smith by his parents.

Dad was the second of five siblings and the middle of three boys. The siblings were (in birth order) Horace Howard Smith, Jewell Fay Smith, Ferman Lester Smith, and Esther Adena Smith. For reasons I have yet to discover, Grandmother Arwood (their mother) called some of her children by their first name and some by their middle name. I knew my aunts and uncles by the following names: Howard, Lester, Jewell, and Dean and my Dad as Roy.

Dad's mother, Lillie Day Smith is the daughter of Joseph Hall Smith and Cordelia Elizabeth Hussey. She was born 19 September 1880, Newton County, Missouri, U.S.A.

Image via Wikipedia

Lillie Day married George Washington Smith (no relation) 14 February 1899, Newton County, Missouri. George Washington is the son of James Madison Smith, and Nancy Jane Baker. George Washington died 7 July 1912, Newton County, Missouri. The ancestors were known for longivity in life. His early death left Lillie Day five active children to feed and care for as well as her many, chickens, geese, fruit orchard, berry patch, a few livestock, and the wheat fields which they leased.

George W. Smith is listed as the head of the household in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Benton Township, District 0117, Newton County, Missouri. Also appearing are the following individuals: Lillie Day Smith, his wife, Howard Smith, son

The family stories are that Dad was large for his age and very strong. These stories claim that because he looked so much like his Uncle Roy he was called Roy. I have never discovered a picture of Uncle Roy so I don't know if their was a family resemblance or just a physical structure resemblance. As soon as he was old enough, he was accustom to working in the fields and with the livestock from dawn to dusk. As he reached his teen years he was able to perform the task for plowing, harvesting, and clearing as well as the older men. During his teen years he would board with his Uncle John Schumacher while he worked on the Schumacher farm all summer long and was very good at controlling the mule teams. When Uncle John purchased his first motorized tractor, he soon taught Dad how to use it properly. That was Dad's duty for the summer; he really enjoyed driving the tractor and learning the mechanics involved. Those skills and the work ethics he learned he carried with him through out his life on this earth.

Note: add links for websites; photos; tags

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_County,_Missouri

Willamette Valley Farms

2010-08-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Just finished a short trip through some of the local farmlands. The skies are still hazy from the Russian smoke but not as dark as yesterday. It is difficult for me to always understand that phenomena. My mission was to pick up our Iris order from Cooley's Iris Gardens and then to stop at Nanemann's on the way home for the last of the apricots for the season and a couples of boxes of berries. Also, I enjoy riding through the Oregon mid valley farmlands this time of year. http://www.travelsalem.com/

The awesome sight are the fields of California Oriental Poppies. Each field is one color: red, yellow or orange. And, each field is in full bloom and waiting for the right time to harvest their seeds for next year sales.

The farmers are buy harvesting their 2nd crop of hay and the bales are stacking up in the fields. I saw trucks waiting to enter the road with 2 piggyback trailers. The vegetable crops are really green in the fields and the have begun to harvest the green beans. The early crop of green beans never materialized this year. The first crop of corn is being harvested and two more harvests should follow.

Image via Wikipedia

I purchased also bought kotata berries http://www.oregon-berries.com/other_berries.cfmand and triple crown blackberries. Two more weeks and the season will be closed. I am doing my part by eating and freezing what I can.

It is 3 days before my birthday and the celebration has begun. I love the entire birthday environment. Gifts or no gifts it really doesn't matter. It is the emphasis and greetings that I enjoy the most. One of my daughter-in laws is taking me to lunch next week and then to view an Art Gallery at the Salem, Oregon Conference Center. It will be a delightful afternoon.

Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, OK

2010-07-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Late Spring 1998 my younger sister and I were in Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit and care for our mother who, at age 84 years, had fallen and broken her hip. We sisters vowed to re-visit some of the sites that were special to us and find some new places too. The first choice was to stop at Swan Lake in one of the Tulsa Parks and enjoy the grace and beauty of the swans who resided there. We were not disappointed; however, I must say the grandeur of the park was not as powerful and beautiful as I remembered.

Another day took us to Gilcrease Art Museum, http://www.gilcrease.org/, where we enjoyed the sites and recalled many of our wonderful memories. Quoting from their Art Education Outreach Program that can be viewed at their web site:

Image via Wikipedia

"Gilcrease believes all students should have the opportunity to participate in programs that foster creative growth. With schools facing multiple budget cuts, arts organizations around the community are stepping up to meet the needs of thriving young artists in the area. That’s why Gilcrease has teamed up with JP Morgan Chase and The Barnett Family Foundation Award for Arts and Humanities to offer full-tuition scholarships for our week-long camp program.

"Applications are available for those who qualify. For more information or to receive an application, please contact the Director of Education/Public Programs at lanette-coppage@utulsa.edu or 918-596-2737."

During our the summers in the 1940s we were both able to participate in the Museum's summer art programs for public school children. We were encouraged by what we learned and achieved while
being surrounded by all that we could see. Often in our guided tours there were many questions that were asked and answered.

Again quoting from the Museum's home page:

"Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum is one of the country's best facilities for the preservation and study of American art and history. The museum's charm, beauty and art collections draw thousands of visitors from around the world to the hills just northwest of downtown Tulsa for a glimpse into the past. Gilcrease Museum houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West. The Museum also offers an unparalleled collection of Native American art and artifacts, as well as historical manuscripts, documents and maps.

"Beyond the extensive Gilcrease collections and exhibits are its beautiful facilities and gardens. Themed gardens have been developed on 23 of the museum's 460 acres."

Our visit brought us much joy. The art, the surroundings, the quiet placed to reflect were as powerful and exquisite as we both remembered. We had so many enjoyable workshops, learning adventures and art experiences there that have stayed with us all of our lives since we left Tulsa. Each of us still enjoy the impact that art, its culture, and the artists bring to us. Quoting from Wiki: "The museum now houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art of the American West as well as a growing collection of art and artifacts from Central and South America. The museum is named for Thomas Gilcrease, an oil man and avid art collector."

Memories do last; they do get better; and if you are fortunate, you can create them again in a different time period. It is a joy to have your life enriched by your own experiences with art.

Image via Wikipedia

Summer Days & Nights

2010-07-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Like so many other places, we have experienced a "peculiar and unusual" Spring and early Summer. Until yesterday the morning temperatures have been below 70 degrees with a soft gentle breeze. This has meant that I, who do not like the heat, the dry wind or the sun can have a pleasant morning working in my garden.

In 1937 while living in Tulsa, Oklahoma my parents began purchasing Iris from Cooley Iris Farm in Salem, Oregon and continued doing so through the end of WW II. My mother purchased Iris from them until the mid 1980s. My husband and I living in Salem, Oregon have bought Iris for our gardens from Cooley's Iris Gardens http://www.cooleysgardens.com/ since 2002. We thank highly of their quality of plants, choice of colors and their wonderful service. Being just a short distance from our home makes it a delightful jaunt to visit the grounds. The beardeed Iris had beautiful, colorful and quite large blooms; however the green leaves and stems were damaged by the winds, the rains and consequently leaf rusts. All of the plants were dug; discarded or kept. Salem now has an organic recycling program so the discarding was quite easily accomplished. The Iris that were kept were washed thorougly, trimmed, dried and dusted with Comet powder to aide in preventing disease. The others were gifted to friends. The re-plants have been in the ground two weeks and we are looking forward to next Spring's blooms.

Our Oriental Lilies are now (4) years old; they have mutated to a common dominant color and their aroma is still pleasant. After their blooms are spent they will be dugged, discarded and new bulbs purchased for planting in the fall.

Our goal this year is to move towards flower beds that are easier to maintain and flowers that are bright and colorful to view.

Our garden gives us a great deal of pleasure. I am contented when I am working in our garden and am aware of the peace and beauty that surround me. Gardening is a great pleasure.

Drafts of Future Postings

2009-10-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Quilting with Grandmother Arwood
Train Ride with Aunt Jewell - Tulsa, OK to Joplin, MO
Quail Hunting with Dad - Newton County, Missouri
Circus Comes to Tulsa, OK
Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, OK

Circus Comes to Tulsa, OK

2009-10-27T18:44:00.001-07:00

Memories of the circus coming to my home town, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Original Photo: National Geographic Traveler, January-February 2009 issue. Name of photographer is not available. I contacted the magazine several times but had no response.

The children sitting on the curb are representative of my size and age when Dad and I began watch the rail cars unload the circus. The elephants were always the first off because they were the ones that raised the tent poles and raised the tents.

Every year our plan was to arrive at the Tulsa Train Depot before the circus began to unload the cars. It was an active, exciting time inside the depot and intensified as we hurried down the stairs to the railroad tracks and the many circus cars.

Saturday Excursions with My Dad - continued

2009-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Our journey continued as we moved from downtown to the hills north of town. We visited Dad's friends who were his guides and teachers in gardening. They would discuss all the various forms for raising flowers and plants. Dad would learn about propagating, dividing, separating, cuttings and seedlings. When the friends began to know me I could get up really close and watch what they were showing him and even ask questions. I really tried to absorb all of the information. I could tell these were really important skills to learn.

In case you had an idea that I was close to being extra good, please discount that idea. I got called for running on the damp rocks and sidewalks; for talking way too much; for interrupting others and just being too excited. But I loved every minute of the time spent with these gardening friends and mentors of my Dad.

Some of his friends had greenhouses attached to their house; a few even had real glass greenhouses with the semi-frosted glass windows that cranked in and out. I got to prowl through all of them. I am still waiting for my first greenhouse but it looks like that will have to happen in the next life.

Other friends had houses on the hills in the woods that were very interesting too. There would be interesting rock gardens with pretty petite flowers, ferns and other green plants. There would be rocks and water falls and sometimes little fishes. There was no way we could create that at our home with our flat land. But still I enjoyed seeing their gardens and how they kept changing from week to week.

Sometimes I would leave with a tiny starter to plant in my garden. Sometimes I would leave with a plant ready to bloom that could be put in my garden. Sometimes my prize possession would be a few flowers for my Mom. And, sometimes I just had a terrific time with my Dad's friends who were willing to teach me and send me on the path to gardening. Even today, I love to sit in my garden and share the beauty of what we have planted and the world surrounding us. A year ago we had Mike build planter boxes that are two feet high and surround the perimeter of our back yard. It is located on the West and gets the full blast of the afternoon sun as well as the cold and wet winds from the North and the South. It is okay. Our Iris and our Oriental Lilies as well as the Rudbeckia plants do really well and we enjoy all of them.

Today I still find gardening good for the body and great for the soul.

Saturday Excursions with My Dad - part one

2009-10-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Beginning about 1937, on Saturday mornings I wanted to go with Dad when he pulled out his car keys. Many times I got my wish. After breakfast we would take off on his errands. Usually, he would make his rounds by the hospitals before heading down town. That meant stops at the Hillcrest Memorial Hospital and St. John's Hospital. Sometimes we would also visit the VA hospital.

Hillcrest Memorial Hospital - about 1930

St. John's Hosptial - about 1930

Children were not allowed in hospitals as visitors. I would stay in the car and play with my toys or color in my books.

Afterwards, we would continue downtown to the Medical Arts Building where Dad had an office. I was fascinated by the mail chute which was a glass chute with brass fittings and located between the two elevators. You could drop a letter in the slot and it would free fall to the brass postal box on the main floor where the postman would collect the letters to send them on their way. Many times I would mail the letter and try to beat it to the drop box by using the elevator. I was never successful.

After Dad checked his office we would venture down to the coffee shop on the first floor which was great with me. I am allowed to sit at the counter very close to the Soda Bar. There I can watch the preparation for a "real" Cherry Coke using the coca-cola syrup, the soda water, and real cherry syrup. Then, it is topped off with a large maraschino cherry and a spoonful of whipped sweet cream. This drink is far better than anything in a glass bottle. Sometimes, I would get a piece of whole wheat toast to go with it.

The owners of the coffee shop are Stan & Ida Snodgrass. We would visit with them and catch up on their family news. Dad would move to other tables to visit with all of his friends. After a couple of cigarettes, we were on our way for the rest of our tour.

Note: the postcards are copied from
http://www.familyoldphotos.com/5c/OKcoll/tulsa.htm

Time Passes Quickly

2009-10-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Again, I have an urge to write. It has been a very rough year for both my husband and myself. Our physical efforts and desires do not keep up with our interests and ideas.

The recovery from back surgery was speedy and the results are very good. For a while I even was standing as straight as a board. How wonderful and exciting. I have not been able to increase my upper body strength fast enough and so by mid summer slumping was trying hard to take over. I attribute a lot to my body recovering from being away from the Remicade infusions and have to restart that association.

However, there were early mornings that were enjoyable and I could sit in the garden and rejoice in all its glory. The iris blooms were as large as my hands when they were spread as wide as they could be stretched. It is a joy for me to sit there and work (piddle) with my flowers. I love to clean and clear the debris from around each clump. I talk with them and enjoy their colors and perfume. Our back yard is beautiful. In June the iris were gone but the yard was full of blooming Rudbeckia and enormous Oriental Lilies. Frank has done a remarkable job on our grass and we thoroughly enjoy the results that it brings to the view. As the weather got warmer and than, hotter, I moved back inside until mid September.

Working frequently in September we have the yard in great shape for the Fall rains and colder weather that will be here after Thanksgiving. The iris are trimmed to about 6 inches so they will be well prepared to brave the winter storms, especially the strong northern winds. The same is true for the day lilies. Frank has cleared the daffodils and tulips of their dead stalks. We dressed them with some Fall fertilizer and they are tucked under a layer of mulch for the winter. Hopefully it is enough that they will not try to bloom too early.

With regrets we have canceled our Fall cruise to the southern Caribbean islands. Physically I was not able to make the trip even if we stayed aboard the ship the entire time. We were both disappointed but we have plenty here that we enjoy doing together within our own home. It has been difficult preparing meals everyday but I am getting stronger and hopefully that will change. We have many interests and readings we want to continue plus we enjoy being with each other. There are many days that there just isn't enough time. We fall into bed and then start all over the next day.

We miss each of you and wished we were closer; but, for this time, that is the way it is. Just want you to know that you are often in our prayers and our thoughts.

Health and Exercise

2008-09-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am doing well with eliminating some of my medicine that I have been on for years. By the end of September I hope to be off of the prednisone. We have reduced my sulindac to 1 1/2 200 mg tablets per day. The Rheumatologist did increase my Remicade infusions to 600 mlg every 5 weeks because it has started running out before time for the next infusion.

Friday and Saturday of last week and Monday of this week I have walked a mile each day. This is very unusual for me. Except for the muscles being tired and me too, I am beginning to feel better. My PT assures me that if I continue that I will be able to loose 30 pounds by Spring. Usually I stop walking after the first day but I'm determined to keep it up this time. The PT told me I was over the worst today; keep it up and be consistent.

I'll keep you posted.

Busy Weeks in Our Garden

2008-09-15T20:34:00.001-07:00

To offset the dry and hot winds during August and early September, Frank has kept a constant hand on the hose to besure the flowers and the grass had enough. Usually, he was out early in the moring before breakfast. Then, about mid morning he would move the hoses around and stay with it until lunch time. His system has really paid off. Our grass is pretty, lush and green.

Our tomatoes are another story. We have had days of very cool temperatures and nights in the mid forties, neither of which the tomatoes are fond of. All spring and summer have been very hard on the tomatotes. Now, they are about the size of a tennis ball and somewhere between light green, white or a blush tinge. When they finally do ripen they are okay but not the good tasting ones that we are accustomed to having each summer.

Frank and I have begun cuting back the perrenials and day lilies getting them ready for Fall and Winter. He dugged, divided and re-planted the daffodils so they are busy getting ready for next Spring. We do have some tulips coming the middle of October to plant for Spring also. Frank is also preparing the bed for our vegetables for next year with compost and manuer so the bed will be ready for planting next year. The work is never done. But, we enjoy the results.

We both love are year and enjoy having the flowers in all the different colors from early Spring to late Fall.

Training for Family & Church History Support Missionaries

2008-09-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

It has been over 30 days since I drafted my first entries. Finding enough hours in the days is very difficult. Here is what I have been doing in the month of August.

Support Missionary Training

Most of my free time has been spent in Training for Family & Church History Support Missionaries. The lessons are 1 1/2 to 2 hours long 4 nights a week. Also, there are several lab sessions during the daytime, interactive videos to view 2 times per week, and slide presentations of lessons to view and study. I have learned so much in these weeks about serving as support missionary by answering telephone and e-mail inquiries; finding an answer to the questions or problems submitted and then conveying the information to the patron along with the documentation to goes with the solution. Frank has been concerned about how difficult this would be for me to handle health wise. But so far, I have done okay.

I thoroughly enjoy family history research and the compilation of the information into a family history genealogical program. It has been amazing what I have discovered these past 12 years about my ancestors.

Our Church has devoted a tremendous amount of resources in persons, technology, training and money to be able to offer this service world wide to any who call with no charge to them. I've been fascinated learning skills in the advanced technology that we will use to help us in this service. Our supervisor taught the first several lessons from New Zealand. Now our Trainer is teaching from North Carolina. There are 21 persons in the August Group which includes the two mentioned trainers and their 4 assistant trainers. The rest of us are divided in to four team for each of the trainer assistants.

These past two weeks we have been practicing replying to e-mail inquiries. These next two weeks we will practice answering telephone calls. Then, sometime after October first we will begin our live trainer under a new Mission Leader and the assistant Team Leader.

But first, Frank and I will stop and go on our fall cruise from Los Angeles, California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Mazatlan, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and return to Los Angeles. We are looking forward to the 7 nights aboard ship.

It is a wonderful like Frank and I are living right now. I send my love to all.

Support Missionary Training - August 4-8, 2008

2008-08-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Kate's Busy Life

2008-08-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

It is the Extras in my life that bring me such joy, happiness, peace, excitement, tears and laughs. These Extras I have identified are (not in any particular order) Gardening, Family History Research, Ocean Cruising, Music, Reading, Internet Lessons, and Floral Arrangements. Just this past weekend I have resurrected my old skills learned in breaking bread. What a joy one adventure can add to our lives!! The other items that take a chunk of time are (1) managing my health care and working 25 to 30 hours per week in accounting. I am quickly learning an updated version of time management and working toward improving in that area. My plan is to share some of these activities and events with you during the weeks in the future.

I realize that some of you will not be interested in any of these Extras or only interested in some of them at different times in your life. No worry. I just want to stay in touch with you and keep our connections open. Please send me your comments and we will see what develops during the long summer nights.

Love to all

Kate, Sis, Mom, Katrina and who knows what else.

Moments During This Week

2008-08-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

1. Research for Esther Adena Smith

Contacted the Regional Administration Office for the Salvation Army searching for a possible death date for Aunt Dean.

Name: Esther Adena Smith
Date of birth: 12 February 1912
Newton County, Missouri, USA
Date of death: After August 1998

Parents: George Washington Smith and Lillie Day Smith

Possible Last Names: Anderson or Cooper
Probable Grave Location: Floral Haven Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma

2. Land Allotments for Cherokees

Spoke with and then e-mailed NARA Southwest Archives, Ft. Worth, Texas for copies of land allotments awarded to Lucy Dial Riley Cole, Minnie Viola Riley Stokes, and Nora Addie Stokes.

3. Cherokee Expulsion from Georgia

Also inquired for information concerning land surrendered with personal inventory due to the expulsion from Lumpkin County, Georgia for Catherine Ward, James Ward, John Ward, and Joseph Keaton.

4. Information for Old Settlers

Inquired if information was available for those who appear on the Old Settlers Payroll 1891.

Kate's Busy Life

My Genealogy Website Is Launched

My Dad's Name Is Roy!

Willamette Valley Farms

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Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, OK

Summer Days & Nights

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Drafts of Future Postings

Circus Comes to Tulsa, OK

Saturday Excursions with My Dad - continued

Saturday Excursions with My Dad - part one

Time Passes Quickly

Health and Exercise

Busy Weeks in Our Garden

Training for Family & Church History Support Missionaries

Support Missionary Training - August 4-8, 2008

Introduction to Kate's Busy Life

Moments During This Week