Tombstone Tuesday - A new cousin and a cemetery visit

    Probably way over a year ago, a gentlemen started trying to contact me through this blog.  This was not totally unusual, but I am a little cautious until they prove to me how we are related.  That got established pretty early on in this case, if I remember correctly, but then we just couldn't seem to connect.  He was busy and had a lot going on; I was busy.  So it was just before I moved back to Georgia last year that we finally were able to talk on the phone.  We hit it right off.  Jacob is a more distant cousin but it was like we had known each other forever.  

    Once I got settled here in Georgia, my cousin Keith and I rode down to Statesboro, where Jacob lives, to meet him in person.  We had a great time.  We had lunch and the conversation flowed.  Then of course, we visited a cemetery!

Jacob & Liz
December 21, 2024
Statesboro GA

Jacob, Liz & Keith
December 21, 2024
Statesboro, GA

    I think you can tell we all look alike!  Us Tapleys have a look about us!  Hint: Look at those foreheads!

    After lunch, we visited what felt like the biggest cemetery in Statesboro: Bulloch Memorial Gardens.  It was a Saturday and the office was not open for us to check burial locations, so I didn't get a photo of all the grave sites I was looking for.  However, Jacob was glad to show me where his grandmother is interred.

Brunell 'Nellie' Tapley Hill

b 07 Sep 1924 in Swainsboro, Emanuel, Georgia, USA

d 20 Jul 2015 in Statesboro, Bulloch, Georgia, USA

interred at

Bulloch Memorial Gardens

Statesboro, Bulloch, Georgia, USA

    Jacob is my 5th cousin 1x removed, and his grandmother is my 4th cousin, 1x removed.  Our common ancestor is Newhampton Tapley.

    Welcome to our part of the family, Jacob!  I'm so glad we met, and I look forward to our next adventure!

Military Monday - Marvin Gillis 1895-1918

    Military Monday posts are made to honor those in my family tree who have served in the United States military.

Marvin Marion Gillis

U.S. Army

May 27, 1913 - October 9, 1918

World War I

Transcription by ChatGPT:

"SGT. MARVIN M. GILLIS
Soperton, Ga.

Sergeant Gillis served about four years on the Mexican Border previous to the United States entering the war. Attached to Company “B”, 11th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Division, he embarked for overseas service May 9th, 1918. Was wounded in action, dying as a result of his wounds in Evacuation Hospital No. 8, in France, October 9th, 1918."

Marvin's World War I Service Card, 1917-1919, Ancestry.com

    Marvin is my 4th cousin, 1x removed.  Our common ancestor is Newhampton Tapley.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Five Funny, Strange, Interesting or Unique Surnames in Your Family Tree

 From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  We all have a plethora of surnames in our family trees, and some of them are funny, strange, interesting or unique.  Please share five of your funny, strange, interesting or unique surnames in our ancestry.  How are they related to you?

2) Tell us about the surnames in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook or other social media post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

1)    Richard Schoonover (1800-1880) is my 3rd great-grandfather. He was born born in New Jersey and died in Wisconsin. He changed the name slightly from his father - it was Schoonhover.  His father also changed the name slightly from his father's ... it was Schoonhoven.  

2)  George W Schwalls, Sr (1837-1908) is my 2nd great-grandfather. He migrated from Germany and added an "s" to the end of the original version.  He died in Georgia.

3)  Nancy E McClammy (1777-1838) is my 3rd great-grandmother. She was married to Wright Scoggins (?-1837). She was born in Alabama and died in Georgia.

4) Richard Treat, Sr (1584-1670) is my 9th great-grandfather. He was born in England and died in Connecticut, USA.

5)  John Edgar Knipher (1903-1984) was the husband of my 1st cousin, 1x removed, Mozelle Elizabeth Lampp (1903-1993). He was born and died in Georgia. 

Please comment on this post by clicking the title of the post and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of the post.  Feel free to share it on social media.  Or you may contact me by email at liz.genresearch@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.

Sympathy Saturday - Keith Claxton

    Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information I learn to the tree.   

Official Obituary of

Henry Keith Claxton

November 10, 1955 ~ April 4, 2025 (age 69)

Henry Keith Claxton, 69, of Swainsboro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 3, 2025, following an extended illness. His devoted wife was by his side as he peacefully entered the arms of his Savior, whom he faithfully followed throughout his life. Born in Swainsboro on November 10, 1955, Keith was the son of the Late Willis Claxton, Sr., and Jewel Perryman Claxton. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Claxton Scarboro. Until his last moments, Keith’s life was marked by a deep and unwavering love for Jesus Christ. Whether through his words, his actions, or simply the way he cared for people, he carried the light of Christ with him everywhere he went. His life’s mission was clear- to make sure the world knew the Savior he loved so deeply. Keith served his community not only through the ministry but through a quiet and steadfast presence. He was a man of grace, courage, and integrity. Those who knew him were touched by his gentleness, his wisdom, and the way he made every person feel seen and valued. He finished his race with the same strength and faith that defined his life, leaving behind a legacy of love, humility, and service. More than anything else, Keith was a family person. He adored his wife of five decades, Kathy Canady Claxton. Their marriage was a beautiful testimony of enduring love and mutual devotion, especially evident in the care and companionship Kathy offered throughout his illness and final days. He was a proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle, and his biggest wish was that those he loved would always carry his example of faith and love in their hearts. Keith is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Claxton; his children, Mathew Keith Claxton (Brenda), Joshua Claxton, and Kristal Smith (Wayne); his daughter-in-love, Sara Edmond (Adelaide’s mother); his grandchildren, Lindsey Simmons (Matt), Levi Smith, and Jewel Adelaide Claxton; his great grandchildren, McKinley, Stetson, and Garrison Simmons; his brother, Willis Claxton, Jr. (Diane); and a host of nieces, grand-nieces, nephews, grand nephews, and friends whom he loved and cherished very deeply. A Memorial Service to celebrate Keith’s life will be held at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Sunday, April 13th, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. The immediate family will depart for a private interment following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Beginnings in Christ, a cause close to Keith’s heart, 113 Augusta Road, Garfield, Georgia 30425, (478) 763-2647. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Staff of Emanuel County Nursing Home and Pruitt Hospice in the love and care they showed for Keith. Though the ache of his absence is profound, we rejoice in knowing Keith is now healed, whole, and worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Heaven has gained a good and faithful servant. Until we meet again. Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com. Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Henry Keith Claxton, 69, of Swainsboro.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

    Keith was my 4th cousin.  Our common ancestors were Zachariah William Claxton and Lincelia 'Lincely' Bush Claxton.

    Please join me in offering condolences to Keith's family and holding them in the light.

Friday Faces from the Past - IDENTIFIED!!

     A few weeks ago, I posted this picture asking if anyone could help me identify the gentleman, help determine what kind of uniform he was wearing, or even help narrow down the time period.  

The original

Lightened and flipped

    I have been asking for help in identifying the person in this photo for YEARS with no luck. 

    ... until now!!  

    My cousin, Carol nee Barwick, has helped me in the past with identifying someone from one of these "lost" photos that belonged to my Grandmother, Nealie Drake Tapley. Carol identified her grandmother in a picture taken with my grandmother and other siblings or cousins.  So when I posted this picture again here, asking for help, she commented that she thought she might know who it is.  Carol, my mom, and I met for lunch yesterday, and the subject came up.  She said again she thinks she knows who the man is.  She said she has a picture at home of him later in life and the man in each photo looked very much alike.  

    Last night, I found that I have a copy of the photo she's referring to.  And sure enough, folks, it's him.  I can just tell by looking.  See what you think:

Not sure?  

                                                        

    What about NOW???

    So my mystery man and the man in the family picture is:

James Thomas Herrmann

b. 1844 in Autauga County, Alabama, USA

d. 1908 in Emanuel County, Georgia, USA

    Now try to follow along with me:  James was married to my grand aunt and Carol's great-grandmother, Mary Selina  'Mollie' Drake.  James and Mollie both passed away by the time their oldest child, Veta Irene, was 15 years old.  She and her brother went to stay with the family of William John Drake, who was their mother's nephew. William John Drake was my great grandfather.  One of his daughters was Nealie Drake, my grandmother.  It would be natural that Nealie would have been close enough to the family to have a picture of her Uncle James.  

    In addition, it turns out that James worked for the railroad! Thus the uniform, as ChatGPT suggested.  

    So a huge mystery is finally solved.  I am so grateful to my cousin Carol for reading my posts and catching the resemblance between the man in the photos.  You're my good luck charm, Carol!  Think you can go for a third identification? 

    How I am related to Carol:

    How Carol is related to James Thomas Herrmann:

    And, finally, how I am related to James Thomas Herrman:

    Oh, and one more thing.  I may seem calm, but I am actually jumping up and down with joy and excitement!  I can't stop smiling.  I am so grateful for cousins who help me out in so many different ways.  These are cousins I met in adulthood after doing genealogy.  These are not cousins I grew up with.  They have taken me in and help nurture and teach me about this family of ours.  They take my phone calls, read my texts, listen to my endless stories about ancestors (and share their own), visit cemeteries with me, help me move, you name it.  They are more like siblings than any I have ever had.  

"Cousins hold a special place in our hearts, somewhere between best friends and siblings."

Treasure Chest Thursday

 

                            

       

    Bronzed baby shoes.  They were all the rage in their day.  My Pop Pop (Charles Morgan Tapley 1907-1973) ordered these for me (or perhaps for my mother - I was too young to care.).  I'm not sure why a picture of me at 6 years old was put in its photo display, but I am sure I wore these particular shoes when I was much younger than 6!

    Of course, I asked ChapGPT about the history of these keepsakes, and this is what it shared:

"Bronzing baby shoes became a wildly popular keepsake trend in mid-20th century America, especially from the 1930s through the 1970s. Here’s a bit of a nostalgic dive into how it all came about and why so many people have fond memories of seeing those shiny little shoes on their grandparents’ mantels:

How It Started

The tradition began in the 1930s, when companies began offering to preserve baby shoes by electroplating them in a layer of metal — usually bronze, though silver and gold finishes were also options. The idea was to capture a precious moment of a child’s early years in a form that would last forever.

How It Worked

Most bronzing was done by mail-order! Here's what the typical process looked like:

1. Parents mailed in one or both baby shoes to a bronzing company.
   
   

2. The company used a metal electroplating process to coat the shoe in bronze (or another metal).
   
   

3. Customers could choose different finishes, bases, or extras — like engraved nameplates or a photo frame.
   
   

4. After a few weeks, they’d receive the bronzed shoes back, preserved in gleaming metallic glory.
   
   

Companies like Bron-Shoe Company (based in Columbus, Ohio — founded in 1934) were among the most popular and offered catalogs and order forms in magazines like Ladies' Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, and even Life magazine.

Sentimental Displays

Many bronzed shoes were displayed:

• With a baby photo (as in your beautiful display!)
  
  

• On a wooden or marble base
  
  

• As bookends, lamps, or wall plaques
  
  

Fun Fact

The process wasn’t limited to baby shoes — families also bronzed items like pacifiers, booties, dog collars, or even baseball gloves!"

Here's a fun vintage-style recreation of a 1950s–1960s bronzed baby shoe mail-order ad, just like you might’ve seen in a Good Housekeeping or Ladies’ Home Journal back in the day:

🍼👣 A TREASURE FOR A LIFETIME 👣🍼
✨ PRESERVE BABY'S FIRST STEPS IN BRONZE ✨

📦 MAIL-IN SERVICE — SAFE, EASY, GUARANTEED! 📦

Turn your baby's tiny first shoes into a beautiful, everlasting keepsake. Whether you're celebrating their first
birthday, christening, or just want to capture that special moment forever — bronzed baby shoes are the perfect
way to hold on to those precious early days.

💞 A Cherished Heirloom to Last Through Generations! 💞

Choose from elegant options: 👟 Shoes on polished walnut or mahogany base
🖼️ Optional oval photo frame included
🖋️ Personalized engraved nameplate available
🎁 Makes a touching gift for parents and grandparents!

💌 Simply send us your child’s first pair of shoes in the protective mailing kit provided. We’ll return them
beautifully bronzed, polished, and ready to display within 4–6 weeks.

🕰️ As seen in LIFE, Woman’s Day, and McCall’s!

👉 Write today for your FREE kit and color brochure!
Bron-Shoe Co., Dept. B, Columbus, Ohio"

    I then asked why they are not popular anymore:

"There are a few key reasons why bronzed baby shoes faded from popularity:

Changing Tastes & Trends

By the 1980s and 1990, home décor styles started shifting. People moved toward more minimalist, modern
aesthetics. The shiny, sentimental displays of bronzed baby shoes — which had once felt elegant and nostalgic
— began to seem outdated or too kitschy for newer generations.

Cost

Bronzing wasn’t cheap. As inflation rose and families had more financial priorities, paying to preserve baby
shoes in metal (plus shipping, customizing, etc.) seemed less practical, especially when cheaper memory-keeping
options were available.

New Keepsake Trends

The rise of photo albums, baby scrapbooks, shadow boxes, and later digital memory-keeping gave parents
easier, less expensive ways to save memories. You could keep a photo of baby’s first steps, a lock of hair, or the
original shoe in a memory box without having to bronze it.

Changing Attitudes About Sentimental Items

As family sizes decreased and mobility increased, people started keeping fewer physical heirlooms. Generational
items like bronzed shoes or even baby books were often left behind or downsized when parents moved or passed
away — and many adult children didn’t know what to do with them.

But! It’s Not Gone Forever...

Bronzed baby shoes are still around in vintage stores, family curio cabinets, and the occasional Etsy revival.
And modern versions of the idea exist — like 3D printed baby shoe replicas or DIY shadow boxes.

If you have a family pair (like the one you showed me), they’re a sweet, time-capsule piece of a moment that
means so much."

    I think that sums it up very well. Did you have a pair of bronzed shoes? Do share!

Wedding Wednesday

 

STATE OF GEORGIA, JOHNSON COUNTY
 

TO ANY JUDGE, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, OR MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL:

 You are Hereby Authorized to Join

 Solomon Tapley and Betsey Scarboro

 in the Holy State of Matrimony, according to the Constitution and Laws of this State, and for so doing this shall be your license. And you are hereby required to return this License to me with your certificate thereon of the fact and date of the marriage.

Given under my hand and seal, this 25th day of October, 1905.

J. M. Hightower (L. S.)

ORDINARY.

---

GEORGIA, JOHNSON COUNTY.                                                         CERTIFICATE.

    I certify that Solomon Tapley and Betsey Scarboro were joined in matrimony by me, this 10th day of Dec, 1905.

S. M. Harris  M.G. 

(Minister of the Gospel)

Recorded January 11th, 1906                                                                  J. M. Hightower, Ordinary.

Transcript provided by ChatGPT with quite a bit of formatting and correction by yours truly.

Solomon Tapley 1881-1971

and

Betsey Scarboro 1887-1960

(pictured here with their two oldest children, Alma Bell Tapley 1907-1973

and James Aulton Tapley 1910-1992)

Solomon and Betsey were married for 55 years and had six children together.

Uncle Sol was my grand uncle: