Ned Cohen Burrell
1917 – 1973
US Army, World War II
Edgar Calhoun “Johnny” Ledford
1954 – 2000
US Navy
Lake Randolph Ledford
1905 – 1980
US Navy, World War II
Thad J. Watson Sr.
1921 – 1944
US Army Air Corps, World War II
May 28, 2012
In Remembrance
April 28, 2012
Four Brick Wall Breakers
Oh, the dreaded brick wall ancestor, the bane of every genealogist’s life! We all have them, those ancestors who refuse to cooperate and instead prefer to lurk just out of reach of our inquisitive minds. Luckily for us (not so much for the lurking ancestors), there are plenty of tricks to help researchers break down those brick walls. Here are four useful techniques:
March 31, 2012
Old Photo Week: Various Stray Pictures
The writing on the back is in pencil. The back is torn across the first word, which looks like it may have been Mama, then the writing continues “& daddy”. Below that, someone (possibly me) wrote very lightly in a different hand “Ruth Ledford”. I believe this photo may instead be of Edith Anderson (Ruth’s sister) and her first husband. Anyone who can clarify, please do so.
March 30, 2012
Old Photo Week: Ruth (Anderson) Ledford
Ruth (Anderson) Ledford with a gentleman who may have been one of her brothers. Under the Black Walnut tree in front of her home.
March 28, 2012
Old Photo Week: An Older Lake Ledford
March 27, 2012
Old Photo Week: A Young Lake Ledford
March 15, 2012
Treasure Chest Thursday: Grampa Anderson’s Chest of Drawers
One summer many moons ago, my grandmother Maw-Maw and I were cleaning out her attic. (This was my maternal grandmother, Ruth Anderson Ledford.) Over in one corner, hidden behind the detritis of several generations, was a chest of drawers. As best as I can remember, it had four drawers and was made entirely of wood, except perhaps for the drawer pulls. It was even held together by wooden pins rather than iron nails.
What was so remarkable about this piece of furniture was not its craftsmanship but the identity of its maker: My grandmother’s paternal grandfather, Robert Alexander Anderson (1857 – 1928). Maw-Maw was not quite seven years old when R. A. died, so this piece was a treasure to her, a reminder of a man she had barely known.
March 14, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Ruth Anderson Ledford
My mother’s mother, Maw-Maw, as a young woman.
October 27, 2011
Maw-Maw’s Gingerbread
Gingerbread was one of my mother’s favorite holiday treats, although she seldom cooked it. I think it reminded her too much of her mother, whose recipe this was. I remember my grandmother cooking gingerbread during the winter, but for some reason, I always recall her serving it with a lemon sauce instead of whipped cream. That could be my own addition to the recipe.
Gingerbread
from Ruth (Anderson) Ledford
2 1/2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. salt
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar (white, granulated)
3 eggs
1 c. light molasses
3/4 c. hot water
Sweetened whipped cream
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease well a 13 x 9 1/2 x 2″ pan. Sift flour with soda, salt, and spices; set aside. In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, and eggs for five minutes with an electric mixer. At low speed, beat in the molasses and hot water. Add the flour mix, beating just until smooth. Turn batter into pan. Bake on the middle rack for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool partially before serving with whipped cream.
