Society Saturday - "Coffee, Tea, or... Girdle Checks?"

Our DAR chapter had a regular meeting today with a guest speaker.

Shari Kelley Worrell was a Stewardess for 35 years with United.  She gave an interesting and entertaining program about her experience as a Stewardess, especially when she started in the 60's.

Some tidbits from her program were:

• Stewardesses had to be between 5'2" and 5'8" tall and 105-118 pounds. 
• They couldn't be married, because the airline didn't want husbands calling if they were late getting home to make dinner.
• Before every flight, they had an "appearance check" to be sure there were no runs in their hosiery, the seams in the hosiery were straight, and that they were wearing their girdle.
• In addition to learning about the planes, the routes, and emergency procedures in "Stew School", they learned the proper way to extinguish a cigarette, and how to gaze into a man's eyes when he helped them put a coat on.
• They had to wear a skirt or dress at all times, even when picking up their paycheck.
• The only times they could wear pants in school was during the emergency preparedness lesson or if they were going bowling.
• It was illegal to serve alcohol when flying over Utah.

She also told us some stories about various passengers she had - both famous and infamous. 

It was a very enjoyable program.

www.ildar.org/chapters/islealacache

Military Monday - Henry Critser

My Fourth War of 1812 Ancestor is Henry Critser.

Henry Critser was born on 8 July 1793 at Harrison Co., (West) Virginia.  His parents were George and Hester (Moore) Critser.  He moved to Warren Co., OH sometime between 1805 (when his father sold his land in VA) and 1812.

On 1 May 1812, Henry volunteered at Dayton, OH as a substitute for his future brother-in-law John Robinson.  He joined Capt. John Sheeets' Company but was taken prisoner by the British on 16 August 1812.  He was released 2 weeks later at Detroit, MI.  A year later, on 1 November 1813, he again volunteered at St. Mary's, OH as a substitute for John Ferrel and served under Capt. Timothy Titus.  He was discharged on 4 March 1814.

Henry returned to Warren Co., OH where he married Abigail Robertson on 15 September 1816.  She was the daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Moore) Robertson - and Henry's cousin.  Abigail was born on 11 November 1787 at Allegany Co., MD, and her family had moved to Warren County in 1797.  Abigail was the widow of Josiah Edwards who died in 1814.  They had four children: Elizabeth Edwards, Joseph Edwards, John Edwards and Nancy Edwards.

Henry and Abigail settled down to a life of farming.  They moved to Decatur Co., IN sometime before 1834 when he bought 80 acres of land there.  Henry also built one of the first mills in that county, in 1838, just south of Milford, IN.

They had three children:
1. William Critser, born 1817 in OH.  He married Sarah Todd.
2. Hester Critser, born 5 November 1818 in OH, and married Thomas Wiley - they are my 3rd-great-grandparents.
3. Henry Robert Critser, born 7 March 1828 at Franklin Co., IN.  He married Lucinda Yeley.

Abigail died on 12 December 1863 at Decatur Co., IN, and is buried in the Milford Cemetery there.

Henry married again, on 18 February 1864 at Decatur Co., IN, to Martha Scontz.  She was born 2 March 1837 at Jefferson Co., IN.  They had one child:
4. George B. McClellan Critzer, born 17 January 1865 at Milford, IN.  He married Elizabeth Barnes.

Henry died on 15 January 1877 at Milford, IN and is buried next to his first wife.

Martha (Scontz) Critser died on 17 December 1924 at Johnson Co., IN

Society Saturday - a tour of Chicago

The National Board meeting of the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America was held in Chicago this week.  Illinois Chapter President, Sheila Aszling, planned a very enjoyable 3 days for the visiting board members; even the weather cooperated.

The meeting began with a "meet and greet" at the hotel.  Ladies traveled from California, Florida, and Maine, as well as points in between.  They relaxed and socialized the first evening.

The second day was full of touring in Chicago.  Ladies (and a few men) boarded a bus for a guided tour of Chicago.   We are all gathered in the hotel lobby.

The tour guide was a retired history teacher and he was quite knowledgeable.  We spent a few hours at the Chicago History Museum, followed by lunch.  One of our stops was a Planetarium Point for a photo op.

Then back on the bus for a driving tour of Chicago and a walking tour of Millenium Park.

No trip to Millenium Park is complete without a picture in the "bean".

Day 3 consisted of the actual business meeting of the Board, followed by a farewell lunch.  All ladies went home tired, after another enjoyable October Board Meeting.  We are looking forward to seeing each other again at General Court in April.

www.nationalsocietydfpa.com

Military Monday - Henry Miller

My third 1812 Ancestor is Henry Miller.

Henry Miller was born on 23 December 1793 in Virginia.  He was the seventh of 14 children born to Peter and Mary (Miller) Miller - yes they were cousins!

Henry was a Private in Capt. John Lantz's Co. 118th Regiment of Viginia Milita from 20 February - 4 March 1815.  He was at the camp in Morgantown, VA where his place of residence was listed as 20 miles distant.  He was discharged at the goor of Blue Ridge near Kingwood.  He received $3.35 pay for his service.

Henry married Rebecca "Betsy" Jackson on 3 June 1817 in Fairmount, Monongalia Co., (West) Virginia.  She was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca "Permelia" (____) Jackson.  She was born 18 January 1795 in Pennsylvania.

He was living in Monongalia County in 1821 when he bought 100 acres of land in Knox Co., OH.  While in Knox County, he served as Justice of the Peace for Berlin Township in 1845.  The 1862 History of Knox county, OH states:  "We can not but commend the character of Henry Miller, Esq., the upright man".

Rebecca died on 20 February 1855 and Henry died on 9 April 1858.  They are buried at the Berlin Cemetery in Knox County Ohio.

 Shortly before his death, Henry applied for bounty land.  The application was granted on 19 April 1859 and his daughter Melvina inherited the land.

Henry and Rebecca had 5 children:

1. Elmina M. Miller, born 24 June 1818 at Fairmont, Monongalia, VA.  She married Jacob Leatherman Baker.
2. Ariana Miller, born 8 September 1819 at Fairmont, Monongalia, VA.  She died 1 July 1835 at Knox Co., OH.
3. Avery Melvin Miller, born 23 December 1821 at Fairmont, Monongalia, VA.  He married Rosanna Heiple.  He was a twin.
4. Melvina E. Miller, born 23 December 1821 at Fairmont, Monongalia, VA.  She married Joseph Thompson McGowan and was my third great-grandmother.
5. Zilpha Miller, born 26 July 1833 at Knox County, OH.  She married William H. Phillips.

Those Places Thursday - Whitehouse School

My mother, Ruth Steinbrecher Ormsby grew up in Whitehouse, Ohio.  Whitehouse is a small village just southwest of Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio.

She went to Whitehouse School and graduated in  1942.  While she recently celebrated at her 70th reunion, the school itself will turn 80 years old on October 5, 2012.

photo from anthonywayneschools.org

My mom was interviewed for the "Maumee Mirror" article about the school anniversary, so I thought I'd interview her a little as well.

She was one of the first students at Whitehouse school, attending 5th grade there the year it opened, and continuing on until she graduated in 1942.  At that time all twelve grades were in the same building and each class was in its own room. 

She tells me that there were 34 students in her graduating class, about 22 of whom had been in the same class throughout all 12 years.  Of those 34 students, 11 are still alive and most get together every September for a class reunion.  They even had a former teacher attend the reunions until she died just before her 100th birthday!

She had daily recess in lower grades and a study hall in high school.  Lunch was a hot meal for 15 cents in the cafeteria.  If students misbehaved, they had to stand in the hall.  If a teacher caught a student chewing gum, they would make the student stand in front of the class with the gum on his nose.

Classes included English (which included public speaking), Various Mathematics, Various Sciences, Latin, Home-economics, Shorthand, Typing and Bookkeeping.  She hated public speaking but loved Latin.  She thought she wanted to be a nurse and Latin was required.  Even though she won district medals for Latin, she decided to focus on practical courses so she work as a secretary when she graduated.

Mom in her prom dress - ordered from the Sears catalog

There was a prom during her junior and senior years.  It was normal to go with your friends, and not with a date.  The prom was held in the school gym.

Graduation was a fairly small ceremony for students and their families in the gymnasium/auditorium.  Mom's parents, younger sister and Aunt Mamie came to hers.  The graduates sat in 3 rows - the first row wore blue gowns, the second row wore white and the third rom wore red.  This was because she graduated in 1942 at the beginning of World War II.

Mom in her blue graduation gown

Graduation parties were unusual, but my mother was treated to an Ice Cream Soda at the Drug Store Soda Fountain - something very special!

I really enjoyed talking to my mother about her school memories.

Senior Portrait

Here is the link to the newspaper article Whitehouse School's 80th Birthday Calls for Celebration, Recollection

Military Monday - John Forester

The second of my War of 1812 Ancestors is John Forester.

He was born in 1775 in Maryland or Pennsylvania.  His name is also spelled Foreacre.  He had a brother William Forester/Foreacre, but I don't know who his parents were.

He married Hannah Adams, probably in Bedford Co., PA.  She was born in PA ca 1782.  They moved to Muskingum County, OH around 1810.

He served in Capt. William Wilson's Co., Collier's Regiment of the Ohio Militia, Major Dawson's Odd Battalion from 29 August -9 Sept 1812 and again from 5 March - 15 August 1814.

In 1820 he received bounty land of 176 acres, and an additional 80 acres in 1856 - all in Muskingum County.

Hannah died on 19 January 1857 at Muskingum County, OH.  John died a few weeks later on 15 February 1857.  They are buried at Roseville Cemetery in Muskingum Co., OH. 

This is the military tombstone for John Foreacre

This is John and Hannah's tombstone

John and Hannah had 6 children:

1. Elijah Forester, born 3 March 1806 at Bedford Co., PA.  He married Ann (Hedges) Decier.

2. Sallie/Sarah Forester, born 7 March 1809.  She married William Rosser.

3. John C. Forester, born 31 October 1810 at Muskingum Co., OH.  He married Mary Ann Stover and is my 3rd great-grandfather.

4. Ann Forester, born ca 1812 at Muskingum Co, OH.  She married Theophilus Eveland.

5. Hannah Forester, born 1816 at Muskingum Co., OH.  She married Samuel Jasper.

6. Mary Forester, born 12 March 1818 at Muskingum Co., OH.  She married David Phillips.