I have been thinking all week about which will to write about... There was the hotly contested will of John Russell, my 3x great-grandfather, which I recently discovered. Or perhaps the will of someone I was studying for a class, which magically solved my research question? But then I saw the prompt from Amy Johnson Crow, the originator of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, about how my post could also be about someone named "Will," and I knew that was the direction to go. Many people called my great-grandfather, William George Ogilvie, by the name "Honest Will." I always love reading that about him. I never met him - he died four years before I was born. I knew his wife, Ida Jorgensen Ogilvie, and heard her stories many times, but I didn't know as much about him, figuring he was a quiet, stable person who preferred to stay out of the limelight.
He is pictured above with his three sisters (l-r), Julia Reina (seated), Edna Eliza, and Grace Amelia.[4] Will was the oldest of seven children, and his family was raised in Richfield, a small Central Utah town, which his grandfather, George Ogilvie, helped settle. Below, on the left, Will is pictured with his brothers, Oliver Fay (left), and Orin Author (right).[5] His sisters are in the photo to its right, with Edna Eliza (top), Julia Reina (left), Grace Amelia (right), and Delora (bottom).[6] Like most families in this time and place, they were not wealthy, and everyone pitched in with household labor, growing food, and taking jobs where and when they could. They are pictured below in about 1913, prior to the loss of many family members. Will's youngest brother, Oliver, died in 1914, his father in 1917, his sister, Edna, in 1918, and his mother in 1919. Listed left to right: Oliver, Grace, Will, Julia, Orin, Edna, George William, Delora, and Cosmelia "Melia" Ogilvie.[7] I recently read my great-grandpa's autobiography, and honestly, I wish I could just post the whole thing here, because his words tell the story better than I could. Unless noted otherwise, all following information comes from this document.[8] He summed it up this way, "My entire life consisted of hard working conditions." His early adult years consisted of traveling away from home for menial jobs. Just a few examples:
Will worked as a missionary for his church from 1907 to 1910, travelling throughout South Carolina and parts of North Carolina. He worked at harvesting and thrashing grain after his return. He attempted to work at the mine again, but became ill after several months and returned home. He worked at the Elsinore Sugar Factory, processing sugar beets, when he met and married Ida Jorgensen, in 1913. Unfortunately, the sugar mill was only open seasonally, so he had to look for work in the winter/early Spring, such as working for a plaster company. It went on this way for a few years, along with the arrival of his first two sons (photo above is of Will, Ida, and my grandpa, Kendal Morris Ogilvie [9]). In October 1918, Will contracted the Spanish Flu, which led to pneumonia and pleural empyema. He was hospitalized for two months, and did not work for nine months. His household was supported by a network of family, friends and neighbors. During this period his mother died, and his third son was born. He went back to work crushing gypsum for the Jumbo Plaster Company, and spinning sugar for the Elsinore Sugar Company, but his health was never the same after this experience. 1923 brought a big change to the family, when Will started work with American Smelting & Refining Company in Garfield, Utah (a company town that no longer exists), at the Southern end of the Great Salt Lake. He started as a clean up man, eventually working with the electrical generators. By the time he retired in 1950, he was back to sweeping and clean up, and he took on other janitorial jobs here and there after his retirement from the smelter. He and Ida were the parents of nine children (including one adopted son), and hosted several foster children along the way. They sent four sons off to fight in World War II at the same time - all returned home safely. Will wrote that he never learned how to drive, and never owned a car. One story that has really stuck with me was something his wife, Ida, shared in a recording. She said that he once walked all the way over a mountain range, from Richfield to Delta, Utah, to meet her. At some point he wore off the soles of his shoes, so he completed his journey barefoot.[10] Photos above are of Will and with his wife, Ida.[11][12] Will battled ill health throughout his adult life. In addition to his respiratory problems, he suffered several heart attacks - one that knocked him down in the middle of crossing a busy street! He had cataracts, and was nearly blind by the end of his life. He experienced the loss of several family members early on. Despite all this, surrounded by those who loved him, he continued to work hard, holding tight to his faith and his family throughout all of his trials. His children all lived good lives - guided by strong morals. His grandchildren remember him as a gentle, loving person. He died on 26 February 1971 - just two days shy of his 86th birthday - I started writing this post on his 133rd birthday. So Happy Birthday, Great-Grandpa Ogilvie! What a perfect example of "When there's a Will, there's a way." 1. William George Ogilvie, "Autobiography of William George Ogilvie," page 1, digital image at FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/48335817: accessed 28 February 2018); scanned from B. Eileen Ogilvie Ipson and Grant J. Ipson, ed., My Links to Heaven: Courageous Ancestors Stories and Testimonies, self-published, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1993.
2. B. Eileen Ogilvie Ipson, "Biographical Sketch of George William Ogilvie," digital image at FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/37687372 : accessed 28 February 2018); included in B. Eileen Ogilvie Ipson and Grant J. Ipson, ed., My Links to Heaven: Courageous Ancestors Stories and Testimonies, self-published, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1993. 3. "Not Guilty: The Glenwood Alleged Murder," (Provo, Utah) Territorial Enquirer, 26 March 1886, page 3; Utah Digital Newspapers (https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu : accessed 28 February 2018), search term "Charles Ogilvie." 4. Photo of Ogilvie children, circa 1893, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/4994307 : accessed 28 February 2018). 5. Photo of Ogilvie boys, circa 1903, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8908604 : accessed 28 February 2018). 6. Photo of Ogilvie girls, circa 1903, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8908604 : accessed 28 February 2018). 7. George William Ogilvie Family Photo, circa 1913, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/4994481: accessed 28 February 2018). 8. William George Ogilvie, "Autobiography...," FamilySearch. 9. William George Ogilvie, Ida Jorgensen Ogilvie, and Kendal Morris Ogilvie photo, circa 1915, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1591771 : accessed 28 Feburary 2018). 10. Ida Jorgensen Ogilvie, audio recording of memories of her son, Kendal Morris Ogilvie, circa 1980-1990 (date unknown), digitized copy obtained from Rachel Ogilvie Robison privately held by author in personal collection, 2018, East Lansing, Michigan. 11.William George Ogilvie photo, circa 1945, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8908605 : accessed 28 Feburary 2018). 12. William George Ogilvie and Ida Jorgensen Ogilvie photo, circa 1960, digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1871286 : accessed 28 Feburary 2018).
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You would think that I would be rolling in heirlooms, with my love of family and history, but after years of living outside of Utah, and being so far away, I really don't have a lot of things from my grandparents and their ancestors. Also, my husband and I are fortunate to have all of our parents still living, so they are continuing to enjoy all the "stuff." There is one thing which came to mind for this post, and that is this cabinet: My grandfather, Kendal M. Ogilvie (I've written about him a lot already - he was a great guy who lived through fascinating times! He also loved sharing his story.), built this in his high school shop class in the 1930s. I know - it's a far cry from the shellacked monstrosities most of us think of when we hear "shop class." I adore this piece for its latches and hinges, and the lovely stain he picked.
When I visited my grandparents as a child (and I'll admit, even as an adult), I used to slip away and explore the house. In addition to the quiet, cool basement room that was loaded with books to read, I also liked to go upstairs and visit my aunt's sunny corner room, with the funky Snowbird Ski Resort poster on the wall. I would walk up the stairs, go past a room on the right that was so full of stuff that I did not dare to enter, then past my grandparents' room on the left. With the "washroom" in front of me, I would turn right toward her room. Right there in the hallway, on my right and opposite the built-in linen closet, was this cabinet. It always had a photo of my great-great-grandmother, Letty Rees Allgood, on top, and I would often think about how there was something in her face that reminded me of my aunt. It was a spot full of history, and stories waiting to be told. The cabinet is a little tippy - the base isn't quite deep enough to support its height, but we've found some work-arounds. To my knowledge, it never had glass put in the doors. So I had the glass installed after picking it up from my cousin's house. She lives about an hour away (the two of us Western girls, marooned in Michigan!). After my grandpa died and all the things were being sorted, she had a bedroom set shipped to her from Utah. I asked if the cabinet could hitch a ride, too. I was so glad it worked out! After we said good-bye, and I was driving back toward home, the sun broke through the gloomy mid-Michigan skies and hit my face and arm. Feeling those rays brought the warmest thoughts of the love my grandparents had for us - for all of our family. It brought joyful tears to my eyes. I love having this cabinet in my living room, as a way to honor my grandparents. I have some glassware from my grandma that I store in it, as well as some tea cups that my mom passed on from her grandmother. I also keep the little clay creations that my kids have brought home from art class in elementary school. It has become my little family keepsake corner, and fills my heart with love every time I walk by. I hope everyone enjoyed Valentine's Day this week. My husband was out of town, so I celebrated by getting some rooms painted - thanks, honey! I also bought myself some lovely roses to enjoy this week. I thought of my grandma, Lila Mitchell Ogilvie, when I saw these beauties. Her favorite color was an old-fashioned, dusty rose, and she looked lovely when she wore it. I was so inspired by her love of this color that my childhood room had wallpaper this color. I didn't learn just how deep her love of roses went until my grandparents were in their nineties. That was when I heard more about their long-distance romance during World War II. My grandparents were married on 4 November 1939.[1] Coming out of the Great Depression, money was tight, and they continued living at my grandmother's childhood home while my grandfather finished college. After receiving his commission in the Army ROTC, he served in World War II from 4 May 1942 to 2 February 1946.[2] He carried this photo (below) of my grandma with him all the way across Europe, including England, Normandy, Belgium, Germany, and post-war occupation in Czechoslovakia.
My aunt said the variety was "old rose" - I haven't been able to find a photo of it, yet... My grandma remained in her father's house for all those years. She worked at the dental office at Fort Douglas, spent time with her family, and waited for her husband to come home.
My grandpa was famous for saying "It will all work out." I have trusted these words more and more as time goes by - and I'm sure my grandma must have, too. 1. "Utah, Select Marriage Index, 1887-1985," database online, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 February 2018), entry for Kendal Morris Ogilvie and Lila Mitchell, 1939, certificate number A083560; citing "Various Utah State Public Record Offices."
2. Utah State Archives and Records Service (Salt Lake City), Military Service Cards, ca. 1898-1975, Reel 093 - Neusmeyer, Kenneth - Otis, Francis, for Kendal M. Ogilvie; database online, "Utah, Military Records, 1861-1970," Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 February 2018); citing Department of Administrative Services, Division of Archives and Records Service, Series 85268, Reel 93.
I found this photo on Find A Grave - I have learned so much from this wonderful, free web site![1] You can also contribute to the site, and help others who are looking for their family. I used it for many years before I could afford an Ancestry account, and found it very valuable and accessible. Take a minute and look up some of your family members - see if they are accounted for, and if their information is correct. If not, make suggestions for edits, and add photos if they are missing - you'll be hooked from there! I've studied Salathiel's daughter, Diana Jane, through her marriage to John Bechtel. They both died in Iowa, but spent about 25 years in Nebraska, where they were married in 1873, and John was a minister for the Church of the United Brethren.[2] I hadn't understood why Jane was in Nebraska until I took a closer look this week. I found homesteading documents for Salathiel on Ancestry, which show that he applied for land as a disabled Civil War veteran.[3] According to his application, the family arrived in April 1871, and their first home there was made of sod. Again, from Find A Grave, Salathiel's obituary reads: Salathael Stanley, father of Mrs. Roy Crom, died last Friday of apoplexy at the home of the latter. Deceased was eighty-three years of age and one of the early settlers in this country. - Nebraska Signal, Geneva, Nebraska, June 8, 1906. Salathiel and his wife, Sarah Ann Hickey, were living in Illinois with eight children when the Civil War broke out.[4] He was 40 years old when he enlisted as a Private in the Union Army in Coles County. He was assigned to Company H in the 79th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 16 July 1863 in Louisville, Kentucky, and it was this disability which qualified him for applying for his land in Nebraska. Apparently it was not severe enough to limit his farming efforts, and I am also happy to report, Salathiel and Sarah Ann had one more child, Amanda Della, in 1864 (the Mrs. Roy Crom mentioned above).[5] I read about the history of the 79th Regiment on The Illinois Civil War Project - it looks like he may have been injured at the Battle of Stones River, Northwest of Murfeesboro, Tennessee, or possibly the Battle of Liberty Gap a few months later (June 1863), Southeast of Murfeesboro. I don't have any Civil War participants in my family history, so I am always curious when one pops up on my husband's side. In this case, I felt like I could understand Salathiel's story better because our family visited the Carnton Plantation battle site, in Franklin, Tennessee, a couple of years ago, while we were visiting my aunt. In fact, the 79th Regiment played a part in the Battle of Franklin. Even though it took place in 1864, after Salathiel was discharged, our visit helped me to envision his experience. By the way, remember the star on his vest? At first I thought he may have been a sheriff in his later years, but context and closer examination lead me to believe that he was photographed wearing a commemorative medal given to him and other Civil War veterans by the Grand Army of the Republic, such as the one pictured here. From what I have learned so far, it seems to me that Salathiel Stanley was definitely one of the good guys. 1. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2018), memorial page for Salathiel (Salathael) Stanley (16 August 1822–1 June 1906), Find A Grave Memorial no. 33011463, citing Chelsea Cemetery, Fillmore County, Nebraska; photo credit Zelda Capehart.
2. “Useful Life is Ended,” Earlham Echo (Iowa), 6 December 1923, p. 1, col. 4; digital image, search term “John Bechtel,” Community History Archive (http://earlham.advantage-preservation.com/ : accessed 18 October 2017). 3. “U.S., Homestead Records, 1863-1908,” database with images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2018), entry for Salathiel Stanley, 26 September 1878, Beatrice, Nebraska, Application Number 7325, Final Certificate Number 3792; citing National Archives Record Group Title “Records of the Bureau of Land Management, 1685-2006,” Record Group Number 49: Land Entry Case Files: Homestead Final Certificates. 4. 1860 U.S. census, Coles County, Illinois, population schedule, East Oakland Township, p. 5 (penned), dwelling 36, family 36, Selathiel Stanley household; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, roll 171. 5. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2018), memorial page for Amanda Della Stanley Crom (20 July 1864-21 March 1935), Find A Grave Memorial no. 27707057, citing Grasston Union Cemetery, Kanabec County, Minnesota. Now that I am (for the moment, ha ha!) caught up with my 52 Ancestors posts, I wanted to share a little bit about my first experience with the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), which is run by the Utah Genealogical Association. This year it ran 21-26 January. I was fortunate to find an open spot in the class "The Third Coast: Research in the Great Lakes Region," which was offered by Cari Taplin, CG, and Kathryn Lake Hogan, PLCGS. Believe me, the irony of leaving a Great Lakes state for this experience was certainly not lost on me. I'll admit it - I was also looking for a reason to go home. I went early so that I could catch up with my family and get settled in, but you know what Robert Burns says about the best-laid schemes, right? I came down with the flu during my flight - probably somewhere over Nebraska? - and I spent all the extra time resting instead. I was fortunate to be able to join my class on the first day as planned, but was still recovering. It took a high level of concentration to keep up with the fast-paced course - Cari and Kathryn really know how to pack in all the info! French and English colonial history, the War of 1812, shipping and timber industries, native people, church records... on and on! We were also treated to guest lectures by Judy Russell, JC, CG, CGL; David Ouimette, CG, CGL; and John Philip Colletta, PhD, FUGA. By the end of the week I felt much better prepared to serve my adopted state of Michigan, and people with family history on both sides of the Great Lakes. I even learned more about one of my Canadian Loyalist families! The fun didn't stop there! Every day after class there was some kind of event scheduled. One evening we took over the Family History Library (aka Genealogy Mecca), where I made a little progress on some of my research projects. Another evening we went to the Utah State Archives, where not only did I run into an old friend, but also made an excellent find about my great-great-great grandfather George B. Ogilvie (which I'm sure I'll be posting about later). One evening we were generously hosted by AncestryProGenealogists at their downtown SLC office - what a treat!!! The last night was a banquet where all of us who had worked so hard, learning or presenting, celebrated making it through the week!
Now that I am home and have had a chance to restore order to my life (and caught up with my blog posts!), I am so glad that I took the big leap and made this experience happen. Not only was I able to finally meet two of my classmates from the online BU course in genealogical research, I also made new friends. I am crossing my fingers that I will be able to attend another SLIG course next year - the biggest challenge will be deciding which one to take! This week's prompt is: "What intriguing find have you made in a census?" Here is a clipping of my paternal grandmother, Lila Mitchell Ogilvie's population census entry. She and her family were enumerated on 16 April 1930, when she was 13 years old.[1] This snapshot in time holds deeper meaning when you understand that this family lost their mother, Eudora Allgood Mitchell, just five months prior, on November 15th, 1929. In addition to Lila's father, Vernon C. Mitchell, the household included her siblings: Howard E. (20), Kenneth C. (18), Eudora (16), Jed N. (10), Louise (6), and Elda L. (4). (Her eldest brother, Vernon R., died tragically in 1920, after being struck by lightning, and her second eldest brother, Leonard R., was married and living nearby in his own household). I grew up hearing from my grandma about how devastating it was to lose her mother at such a young age (Eudora's death from appendicitis coincided with the advent of the Great Depression - just two weeks after Black Tuesday), and how hard she had to work to step into the role that her mother left behind. Her older sister, Dora, told a similar story. What I found surprising about this census was the presence of their grandmother, Lettice "Letty" Rees Allgood in the household - either I never heard, or I had forgotten about this part of the story. She was widowed herself, and had been supporting her family alone since 1909. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Letty to suddenly lose her daughter and, in the wake of her own grief, to step up and take care of her son-in-law and seven grandchildren. Thank you, Letty. Photos: My great-great grandmother, Lettice Rees Allgood, Portrait, and Seated (center) with Children (clockwise from left): Eudora (my great-grandmother), Stanley Thomas, Lester Rees, Ernest Earl, Lettie Florence, and George Harry Allgood (Source: FamilySearch). Another fun fact I learned from this census was that Letty spoke Welsh. She was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1860 and, according to this record (and the article below), she emigrated in 1872. I think it is pretty cool that she retained the language of her home country, so many years later. This record also shows that she was a naturalized citizen. Her entry in the 1920 census, where she was living alone with her youngest son, Harry, records her year of naturalization as 1889 - I have some following up to do![2] I don't know how long Letty stayed with my grandma's family after 1930 - maybe it was only for a short time? My aunt once said that she lived in the house next door. By the 1940 census she was living in the household of her oldest son, Earnest Earl Allgood.[3] This census also reported that she was living in the same place five years earlier, in 1935. I'm posting an article about Letty below - it was written in 1941, three years prior to her death.[4] You can see how her 'onward and upward' attitude served her well through her years - she must have been quite a character! 1. 1930 U.S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Salt Lake City, Enumeration District (ED) 18-47, sheet 18A, p. 68 (stamped), dwelling 146, family 154, Vernon C. Mitchell household; imaged at Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T626, roll 2420.
2. 1920 U.S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Salt Lake City, ED 105, sheet 12B (penned), house 30, Letty Allgood (incorrectly indexed as Lilly Allgood) household; imaged at Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 1866. 3. 1940 U.S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Salt Lake City, ED 30-11, sheet 1A (penned), house 5, Ernest Earl Allgood (incorrectly indexed as Emestearl Allgood) household; imaged at Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T627, roll 4226. 4. Clarence D. Williams, "Early Resident Likes Convenience and Comfort of Modern Life," Salt Lake Telegram (Utah), 22 March 1941, page 13; imaged online, Utah Digital Newspapers (https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu : accessed 4 February 2018). The story goes that William was an illegitimate child - his mother, Ann Wilkinson, was a maid in his grandparents' home. She left shortly after he was born, and he was raised by his grandparents. His father, William, married and had a family, which did not include William. He was determined to leave home as soon as possible, and became a cabin boy at a young age. Eventually he was working on a farm in New York, where he was converted to the LDS faith. He married Sabra Lake in Illinois, and they eventually settled in Harrisville, North of Ogden, Utah, where they raised 15 children. Father Dixon, as he was called, had an extra challenge: one of his feet turned inward at the ankle, so that he walked with a limp from the age of nine. Knowing that he sailed on ships, worked on a farm, and crossed the plains with this disability gives me an added sense of respect and honor for this man. He did not let it slow him down. What I find especially interesting about William is that, like me, he was a dedicated gardener. According to the biographical sketch written about him by granddaughter Electa Skeen Johnson: [2] "William loved the soil. He and his sons planted an orchard just below the hill to the southward. He loved to prune his trees and found joy in their bud and bloom and fruit. How many times as he walked among the trees must he have remembered his experience in the old English apple orchard in his youth. Between the rows of trees in his orchard he planted various kinds of berries. His strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries were the choicest in the valley. There was one row of an unusual variety of fruit, called ground cherries which grew on a low, rambling bush and were most delicious and rare. South of his orchard he planted his garden and on to the south stretched his fields of grain and rich, green meadows." Reading this for the first time made my heart sing. This man loved soil as much as I do! When I look into his eyes in this photograph, knowing his story and the challenges he overcame, I feel a connection with him that is so deep and intangible. It really is hard to explain - but I know that part of me comes from him. I would love to sit down with him to share a meal and talk about our shared successes and failures, preferably in the summertime, so that we could taste the delicious results of his hard labor. 1. "Biography of William Wilkinson Dixon," compilation of biographies by Harvey Dixon, Jr. and Electa Skeen Johnson, in Robert Boyd Jackson, editor, The Family of William Wilkinson Dixon and Sabra Lake Dixon (printed by the editor, 1983), pages 1-3 to 1-5; in personal collection of the author, 2018.
2. Electa Skeen Johnson, "William Wilkinson Dixon," biographical sketch submitted to Daughters of Utah Pioneers (between 1935-1955); digital format, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/18067004 : accessed 4 February 2018). I know, it's tiny.* Let me read that for you: *Many thanks to the Find A Grave volunteers who created and maintained this memorial page.[1] 105 years old - isn't that amazing? To my knowledge, John Ogilvie is my longest-lived ancestor [by the way, he and Elis had 13 children!]. Longevity runs in my family - in addition to John, on the Ogilvie side, my grandpa, Kendal M. Ogilvie, died at the age of 97. His mother, Ida Jorgensen Ogilvie, was 95, and his wife, Lila Mitchell Ogilvie was 94. In addition to these nonagenarians, I have many other ancestors on both sides of my family who lived into their 70s and 80s, surviving challenges such as pioneer life, the Spanish Flu, or the Great Depression without modern medicine. Let's just say, with this in mind, I have been pacing myself in patient anticipation of my personal longevity. John Ogilvie's story is particularly remarkable. Thanks to this beautiful headstone, we know when he was born (1751), and where he died (Meagher's Grant, Nova Scotia), but we still don't know where he was born. John and his older brother, Peter (who died at a respectable 88 years old), arrived in Nova Scotia as Loyalist refugees from Georgia in 1784.[2] Although not mentioned by name, they were both included (along with their mother and a third sibling), in their father, James Ogelby's, petition for land in St. George's Parish, Georgia in 1759, soon after Georgia became a royal colony in 1852.[3] Peter eventually owned his own land, which was described in his repeated petitions to the British Crown for compensation for all that he lost.[4] Some people have supposed that this family came straight from Scotland, however, considering historical context, they likely arrived from South Carolina, and the family may have been Ulster Scots prior to that (it might be a long time before we get back to Scotland!). Unfortunately, despite what we do know, many details have been lost over time. With it concerning my paternal line - the surname I carry, this sweeping story has held my fascination for decades. Where did we come from? Isn't it amazing how far these two brothers traveled? Why were they Loyalists? How in the world did John manage to live so long? Questions like these are what have inspired me to keep researching this family. I hope to live long enough to learn more about their story! 1. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 January 2018), memorial page for John Ogilvie (1751–20 Nov 1856), Find A Grave Memorial no. 52135878, citing Meagher's Grant Cemetery, Meaghers Grant, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Calcat (contributor 47061806); photo credit Okanagan Researcher or Glenn MacKenzie.
2. Leonard H. Smith, Jr., and Norma H. Smith, compilers, Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Volume 1, page 190, column 2, entries for Ogilvie, John and Ogilvie, Peter, Genealogical Publishing Company (Baltimore, Maryland), 1992-1994; indexed digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 February 2018). 3. Surveyor General, Survey Records, Colonial Plats and Warrants, RG 3-3-56, CWPOglesbyJames01a/01b/02a, James Ogleby (incorrectly indexed as Oglesby), St. George's Parish, 1759, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia; database with images, GeorgiaVault (vault.georgiaarchives.org : accessed 1 February 2018). 4. American Loyalist Claims, Series II, class AO 13, piece 025, Memorial for Peter Oglevie; The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England; indexed digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 February 2018). Question: How do you torture a family historian? Answer: Ask them to pick a favorite photo! But seriously, this challenge was really hard! I love them all! I think photography is the reason why I have spent so much of my life thinking about the passage of time... how it is linear and why we can't go back. How the people in those old black & white photos experienced their surroundings and their sense of time in the same way that I do now. The only way to capture our own experience it is to take a picture, or make a recording. This may not slow time down, or allow us to go back, but it does allow a return trip through our memories, or, for those who were never there, a brief glimpse into the past. I have to admit that I spent way too much time on this challenge. I have been in and out of my genealogy files, the photos on my computer, and even the Facebook pages of my siblings looking for just the right photo. There were several contenders! I finally went with the one which brings me to tearful laughing every time I look at it. Behold: I can't tell you how much I love my siblings. My aunt says that we were like a pile of puppies back in the day, which is pretty spot on. We had a great time growing up, and, as you can see, we are still game for a little fun. The original photo was taken around Christmas in 1983, just a few months after we moved from Texas to Utah. We were in our basement, sitting on what we called "the lion rug" which was a giant, stuffed, lion-shaped patchwork pillow (note the various colors of shag - beautiful!), which my mom made. My brother and I were wearing knitted slippers made by a woman named "Grandma Aamodt," who was my dad's uncle's mother-in-law. I didn't realize it then, but my time as the tallest sibling was already ticking.
I was able to be home with my family the winter of 2013, so we decided to recreate the photo, 30 years later. Ha! We had so much fun with the recreation - just that photo alone brings back great memories. I'm the shortest one now, by far - my "baby" brother is now 6'5"! I'm grateful that my parents took so many photos of us while we were growing up. Knowing how much their photos have impacted my life helps me to remember to stop and take pictures of my own children. Who knows what they will be recreating 30 years from now?! I've decided to give the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge a try... deep breath! I have really enjoyed reading posts by others who are participating, so now that the challenge is at Week 2, I figured "better late than never!" I think it will be a great way to kick off this blog by sharing some really excellent family stories with all of you. The first week's assignment is to start with yourself. At this point in my life, it's hard to know which direction to go... forward in time, or back? Do I talk about being 100% descended from Utah pioneers? Do I start with me as a baby, as the first child of my parents? Do I tell you the good old days with my three siblings? Or do I move forward in time, sharing details about myself as a young adult, and my professional pursuits? Or marrying my handsome husband? I spend most of my time parenting my two children, who are now 13 and 9 - should I delve into that? Ultimately, I've focused on my journey as a genealogist, which unites all of these facets of my life. I have been fascinated by family history ever since I was assigned to interview my grandfather for an 8th grade social studies assignment. This powerful experience forged an unbreakable bond between us, and was the reason why he asked me to speak about his life at his funeral, decades later. I loved listening to tape recordings of my great-grandmother (his mother), recalling her adventurous childhood in Mexico. Whenever I visited my maternal grandparents, I would sneak into their sun-soaked library and paw through biographical sketches, surrounded by the smell of old paper. I remember hand-typing pedigree charts and family group sheets as a teenager, and the thrill of transferring this information onto my first genealogy computer program. These experiences shaped me, and inspired me to study history at Smith College, including a year of study abroad at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. I even thought about becoming a genealogist straight out of college, but didn't think I was old enough for anyone to take me seriously. I decided to shelve my interest and focused on my other loves, growing plants, and nurturing my community. I loved living in Salt Lake City after college, and it continues to hold my heart. I knew that I had roots there, but it is only since I moved to Michigan that I have learned how deep those roots reached. One of my great-great-great-grandfathers worked on the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple, and several other buildings in the city. My great-grandparents owned a house in the same neighborhood where I once lived. Another great-great-great-grandfather quarried red sandstone from Red Butte Canyon, where I led nature walks for children during my time at Red Butte Garden. Raising my two children has brought renewed interest in sharing and preserving family stories for the next generation. I began researching my husband's family history, which is fascinating and so different than my own, and then circled back around again to my family - only this time I have been able to see birth, marriage and death records in their original form. The advances in technology which have been made in recent years have greatly enriched my research and made it a whole new experience. Gone are the days of the typewriter! The ability to virtually follow migration paths with mapping tools, and to view and share original documents like census records, vital records, photographs and land records is so very exciting to me, and don't even get me started on DNA! It has been an incredible journey so far, and I am still only just beginning. |
AuthorI'm Ginger Ogilvie, and I am absolutely, hopelessly hooked on genealogy! Archives
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