Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Wheelers - Part I

I'm writing my family history story Feb 1-28, 2014 The Family History Writing Challenge


It was June 12th a clear sunny summer day and Rex Wheeler had just returned home from his daily walk in the neighborhood.  This was a community where the Wheeler clan had established deep roots and had lived in the same home for 84 years through five generations.  As Rex walked in the house he couldn’t help but to reminisce about the day Medgar Wiley Evers was assassinated.  Fifty years ago to the date, he thought.  On that day, just like today, Rex walked the same route to the same house. He remembered how the news saddened the community.  It was the first time he had ever seen his mother cry.  He felt like he should have cried too, but he was too angry to pursue his grief, so instead he sat in front of the RCA console and watched the news in silence.

When the NAACP Convention came to the city, he walked in the Freedom March and participated in the rally in Grant Park.  He saw Medgar Evers' widow receive the NAACP Spingarn Medal in her husband's honor on July 4, 1963.  Six weeks later, he participated in the March On Washington.  He was only 16 years old at the time, but his parents encouraged him to go because they knew that he would learn the value of sacrifice.  Rex glanced at the clock in the kitchen as he walked through the dining room on his way to the family room.  As he read the time, 2:27 p.m., his mind was quickly brought back to the present day.  It was Elijah’s time now, a time that Rex often looked forward to.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Surname Saturday - Pritchard


The following information has sources.  If you are a relative or have information about this line of the Pritchard family, please get in touch with me.  I am interested in learning more and willing to share information to help others continue their research.

Storyline:  It's all in a name.

My maternal grandfather is Ernest Lee Pritchard Sr.  He was born 16 March 1901 in McMinn County, Tennessee, USA.  He died on 10 Jan 1975 in Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee, USA.  I have traced his ancestry back three generations:  his father Robert Dodson Pritchard, his grandfather James Pritchard, and his great-grandfather Alfred Pritchard.   Circa 1835, the family migrated from North Carolina to eastern Tennessee.  The family settled in McMinn County, Tennessee circa 1855.


     
Robert Dodson Pritchard
           b. Jan 1862 in McMinn Co., Tennessee, USA
           d. 28 Apr 1924 place unknown
James Pritchard
b. 1836 in Tennessee, USA
d. unknown
Alfred Pritchard 
b. 1805 in North Carolina, USA
d. unknown
The name Pritchard is of Welsh origin and is derived from ap. Richard which means son of Richard.  The name is found in ancient records with various spellings, for example Prichert, Prichart, and Pricherd.  The most common usage in modern times is Pritchard and Prichard, and in my family line they have used both spellings. It is said that the ancient Welsh Pritchards were related to the Pritchards of London who were noble.

Early colonial history of America has shown many Pritchards who have emigrated from Wales, but there is no evidence that any of these individuals are related to my Pritchard family, at least not yet.



Monday, January 27, 2014

My New Blog Introduction ~


 
I am feeling excited about being one of the new Blogs introduced on Geneabloggers., on Saturday, January 25, 2014

The Book of Me, Written By You ... Well It's Not Winter (Prompt 4)




Prompt 4:  The prompt for week 4 is "Favorite Season" and these are the questions.
  • Why?
  • A Happy Memory.
Close your eyes and imagine your favorite season – write down what you see, feel, and hear.


It is not hard to imagine my favorite season when it is one of the coldest winters in Chicago and the city is being called Chi-beria.  Today, it is minus 14 degrees with wind gusts at 40 MPH, and they are suggesting that if you do not have to go outside then don't.  The weatherman is reporting that today Alaska is warmer than Chicago.  With that said, I guess you can tell that winter is not going to be my favorite season.  At least not today.

My favorite season is summer.  That is not to say that I don't like the other three seasons.  I would just prefer to run through them instead of sitting down and enjoying the weather.  There is an energy of life in the summer months that doesn't exist for me during the other seasons.  Let's just say, summer and me just have great chemistry.

My favorite holiday is the 4th of July.  I enjoy the tribute to our country, not to mention, I love the cookouts and fireworks.  The fact that it occurs on a warm summer sunny day is an added bonus.

Summer reminds me of oceans, sunsets, flip flops, sunshine and blue skies, flower gardens, sun-tea, Italian ice, outdoor concerts, movies in the park, carnivals, sun on my face, beaches, bare feet, toes polished, baseball, barbque, road trips, boating, cotton candy, and Frankie Beverly and Maze.  All of them are my favorite things.    

If I close my eyes to visualize summer .... I see an ocean beach under blue skies and billowing clouds with the rays of the sun beaming down on my face.   The warmth of the sun feels so healing and replenishing.  I can smell the salt water and hear the roaring waves of the ocean slamming into land.  I feel the sand between my toes and a slight breeze in the air.  The weight of the climate is light and delicate.  It is a perfect setting for reflection and contemplation.  I feel a sense of contentment, peace, and resolve.  This is what makes summer my favorite season.

Chicago Fireworks