When I was Young! Tennis Interview

 I may have been a little bit precocious at the age of 15 or 16.  But I didn't let that stop me!  

While Northwest Florida might have been mistaken, back then, for Lower Alabama, there is no doubt that part of this region has since become, a favorite place for vacationers and the "Snowbirds", retirees, and others.  The number of folks in South Okaloosa who "farm" for a living, is tiny, if existing at all.  The pecan "grove" planted by Silas Gibson out in Wright, still stands and I'm pretty sure that was 40-50 years, or more, now, in 2023, ago.  In fact it crosses the highway at the location of the Barbecue Place and thereabouts. 

I was born at Eglin Field (known now as Eglin Air Force Base).  My mother was born in Crestview as was her mother, Alice Settles Givens.  When Mother married Wiley Benjamin Hill, Jr., we lived first in the community of Valparaiso, Florida.  The East Gate of Eglin was within spitting distance.  My dad had purchased some property, there, NOT on the side of the bayou, but across from that.  He  conjured up different "schemes" in order to support the needs of his growing family.  He put all of his savings into two or three primary projects.  My brother and sister might be a better source for this information, but I do know that Ben Hill, my dad, "built" a trailer court; he also bought a HOG, named after his brother, Rudolph.  I was too young to understand that the hog, Rudy, was purchased as an investment and would become at some point, someone's dinner!

Dad also had procured an interest in some apartments in Val-P and with the growth  of Eglin Field 

In 1955, my Dad, began to look for a more rural community; he settled on the Community of Wright.  I recently found some notes that came from the family of Mel and Ann Tennis... folks who had settled in Wright and folks who had become active in Fort Walton Beach doings, as well as the Wright area.  I had visited their home with my Dad, Ben Hill and felt right at home because of the bookcases filled to the "rim" with all kinds of titles!  

I attended, at some point in my history, Choctawhatchee High School in Shalimar, Florida.  I either had an assignment to interview a "famous" person or maybe I just decided to interview a member of the Tennis family.  I would have been age 16.  What follows is my very humble record of the interview.  Mel Tennis had passed away in 1961, I believe.  So the interview was with Bill Tennis, his son, who was living, I believe, with his mother in Wright.  I believe that Bill Tennis was working at local newspaper, The Daily News at this time or perhaps just previous to this 'interview'.

Interview with Bill Tennis, by Margaret M. Hill Harris at the age of 16 (1961-1962)

 1.  Q: We live in a, geographically, large county (Okaloosa, Florida).  What are some of the challenges challenges for that condition? A: The separation is both physical and traditional.  First of all, the south end of the county was created from Santa Rosa county and the north end from Walton County [circa 1915].  There is also something about the five fingers of land with a body of water at each juncture (?)  Each community grew into a fiercely independent unit.  Perhaps it was because of its Scots-Irish heritage?!

2.  Q: What project is your brother, Mel Tennis, Jr. working on at this point in time?  A.: Mel, Jr. is working on gathering our mother's family history.

3.  Q: Who else is assisting in this "family history" project and the history of this land in Wright that your father purchased?  A.  Walt Humphrey is a good appraiser.

4.  Q.  What did your father learn about the contributions of others in developing this area?  A.  Silas Gibson came here to sell land fro the railroad.  He was an ice skating champion in the north and had to convert to roller skating in this warm climate.  He could skate backwards on one foot.  His competitive spirit and talent were tested when he went to DeFuniak Springs to skate and someone stole his skates!

5.  Q.  What have you learned about the old Wright School House?  A.  The roof leaking problem got so bad it couldn't be fixed.  [The Tennis family resided in that "house" during their time in the Wright Community "after the time that it was being used as a school"]. 

6.  Q:  To BE Continued.

7. 

8.  

"CLL" Fall 2022

For My CLL Class at UWF

 Hello, out there!

I've decided to put my references for the current CLL Class on this page at my blog.  Here are some of the internet links that I think might be helpful to you and also some of my personal ideas, too!  You were all very kind at our first meeting to work with me, after a crazy week or two or three...at my home.  

1.  The class itself is aimed at the topic of Genealogy Plus.  We will hit on: reviewing some of the basics of research, plus gathering other types of data which are also key. Photos, letters, maps, and stories can become data that confirms or opens up our family history.

2.  What we really want to know:  Who were they? What role did they play in the history of their lives? Those precious people who worked, struggled, played, and sacrificed that we might exist?!! History was when they lived, where they lived, how they put food on the table and more!  You will want to look at:

• old family recipes?
• the hymns they sung?
• where they went to church, (if they went to church), who was their neighbor, what they did to feed their family, how or if they voted, and other little tidbits.  This photo was taken of a logging group in Wright community, here in this county. (at that time it was Walton county).  I found the photo at a facebook group: What we did in Fort Walton.  Many years later, my brother would become very interested in lumbering and I believe he and my dad built a "mill" somewhere in Okaloosa County.  I had at least one major relative that farmed in Wright, killed pigs, and raised a family.  His son-in-law would go on to become a "driving" force in the civil service of this county (Okaloosa)'s growth.  His name was Julius Walter Martin. 
  
  
  
  
  

3.  How do we begin the historical journey? We utilize" #1 Research" (dates, places, names, events), so that we can find out more and hopefully recover photos and other great "stuff".  

I hope what I have to offer will help you accomplish that goal and more, give you a feeling, some compassion, maybe, that everyone deserves to be remembered, (some more than others), that our "roots" are able to grow and reach out to a younger generation.

Links and More.  Case # 1: 

Photo and more:  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KN14-Z13

Fannie Mae Lewis: Why do I care?  

She was married to Mr. Lewis, my relative.  Loyd/Lloyd Lewis was my

great granduncle on my bio-dad's "Tree".  What can I learn from findagrave, the census, death certificates?  But that is for another day!  I'm pretty sure you get the idea.  What role did women play back then?  Did they learn to read and write so they could read their Bibles?  

I learned that her name is "Trannie Mae" Halbrooks LEWIS.  At Findagrave.com:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63335561/trannie-mae-lewis

We don't automatically take everything at this website as "gospel" truth but we analyze and test the data and add it to /her/our story!

 

 

Clues and resources for writing you family story

What and Why: Journeling

I used to do that.  The LiveJournal thing.  Keeping a diary.  Writing my own story.  Etc.

What made me think of that, I wonder?!!  For one thing, I'm teaching a class at the Center for Lifelong Learning and I think this article will be helpful.

 

In October of 2021, I made a short trip to Arizona to finally celebrate my granddaughter's marriage in 2020.  We had to wait for a while for this joyous occasion because of the Covid challenge.  While there, I took the opportunity to visit several family members.  The reception was super nice and some of my extended family were present.  The photo above is me and my daughter.  Those are her grandchildren!  I am still waiting on the reception photos, as I have not figured out how to get my phone pics (not really very good photos on my part), from the phone to the computer, to include here!

Writing Your Family History #1

 

What are some reasons that would initiate and propel you to writing your family history? 

What is your motivation?  

What challenges or feelings would make such a project unattractive, impractical, or painful for you to do so?

1.

2.

3.

Discovery Day

 Just located more of my bio-dad's history!  Yippee!  The Winters family rediscovered in: guess where?!! Etowah Heritage Museum!

 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-4000

Library holds manuscript collections, books, periodicals, maps, newspapers, audiovisual materials, and more than 20,000 photographs on subjects such as southeastern Native Americans, American wars, African American history, the state of Alabama, northeast Alabama, and Etowah 

Actually, I discovered this particular line of the Winters family first at FamilySearch.org, which in turn had marriage certificates and the like!

Telling a Story with the Census at Hand

Census of 1880 (U.S. Federal Census) for:

1.  Jeremiah EDGE:  He is head of the household at age 54 and making a living as a farmer in Alabama.  This source "Household Record" is found at familysearch.org.  He was born in Alabama, but this record indicates that his father was born in Massachusetts.  His mother was born in Alabama.

2.  Elizabeth:  Wife of Jeremiah, she is also age 54; she was born in Georgia.  Her father was born in South Carolina and her mother in Georgia.   Housework is her job!

3.   James Edge is the oldest living child in this 1880 period.  He is age 21 and was born in Florida.  He works on the farm.

4.  Brother of James Edge: Jessie Edge: Jessie is age 19 in 1880.  He was born in Florida.  Jessie helped his dad and brother working at homestead's farm.

5.  Eliza Jane Edge:  daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth, she is age17 and was born in Florida.

6.  Elizabeth Edge: age 15.  She was born in Florida.

7.  Sally Edge: age 12 in 1880 and she was born in Florida.

8.  Tommy Edge: age 7 was born in Florida.  Beside his name, instead of being listed as a child of Jeremiah and Elizabeth, the census indicates "OTHER".  Curious.  What was his relationship to Jeremiah and Elizabeth?!  Looking at other census records may reveal the answer?!

This census place was: Precinct 9, Walton County, Florida.  The FamilySearch Library Film # is 1254132.  The NARA Film # is T9-0132 and the Page Number is 480C.

Now!  How to put this information in story format; 

• We have the facts, but remind yourself, always, that the information on any document is only as accurate as the folks who are giving the information (answering questions, etc.) and as the person who is recording the info.💁❓ 
  
• Research the place details.  https://www.americantowns.com/walton-county-fl/maps/ 
• Look for photos.  Read historical info about Walton County, Florida in 1880 or "back in the day".  If you have never been to the Southern States, look for books or publications via your local library or seek information (further resources) at familysearch.org. (example): 
  
  
• Take a look at the census page before and after (some folks advise checking more than just one page before and after); is that surname repeated?  Are other relatives living nearby to that original household? 
• Can you think of other ways to turn your documents into a story?
• 18 suggestions:  https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/18-writing-tips-tell-stories/