March 2011 Quiz

First, I have changed the format of the quiz. In the past, I posted a question and then the next month I posted the answer and then asked the next question. Since the most recent posts appear at the top of the blog, the answer to the previous month’s question appeared before the question. So, I have changed all the quiz posts so the answer appears in the same post as the question. So, if you want to try to guess the answer, stop when you see "-- ANSWER." Have I over-explained this enough???

To see the answer to last month’s quiz, scroll down to “February 2011 Quiz.”

For March, 2011’s quiz, let’s go back to a family historical first… What distinction can Simeon Pendleton (-3) (1756-1822) and his wife, Tabitha Niles (c 1758-1842) claim?

A. They were the first couple of European descent to be married west of the Mississippi.

B. They were the founders of the American Kennel Club

C. They were the first Pendletons in America to get a divorce.

D. They were the first dairy farmers in Wisconsin Territory.

Check back next month for the answer (which will be added to this post.)

-- ANSWER

I gave a clue to the correct answer in WHEN they lived. We are sometimes blinded by our bias toward thinking that America was founded in the east and that the population gradually moved west. But, remember that the Spanish – also Europeans – had been living west of the Mississippi for years. In fact, Santa Fe, New Mexico was settled in 1607, a decade or so BEFORE the Pilgrims settled Plymouth colony. So, we can rule out they were the first couple to be married west of the Mississippi.

A quick search of the American Kennel Club’s web site informs us that it was founded in 1884. Since they had both already passed away by that time, we can rule that one out.

Another quick search of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website reveals that the dairy industry in Wisconsin did not take hold until the middle of the 19th century. Interestingly, at the time Simeon and Tabitha were alive, Wisconsin was known as “America’s Breadbasket” and about 1/6th of all the wheat grown in America came from Wisconsin. And, although there was no clue to this fact in the quiz, Simeon and Tabitha never lived in Wisconsin. Simeon was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and died in New Berlin, New York. Tabitha, apparently, lived her entire life in Westerly.

So, on 25, Feb 1805, after nearly 30 years of marriage, and 9 children, Simeon and Tabitha were officially divorced; the first Pendleton couple in America to do so. Tabitha later married a man named Perry Bromley. I don’t know if Mr. Bromley had anything to do with the divorce… Could it also have something to do with the fact that Simeon was in New York and Tabitha was in Rhode Island?

By the way, Simeon was a grandson of James Pendleton (-5). This would make him and “Grandpa Roy” Pendleton 1st cousins, 3X removed.

February 2011 Quiz

For February’s quiz, let’s go back a couple generations. In December, 2010, I asked about Grandpa Roy’s father, Beeley Pendleton. As part of the answer to that quiz I stated that Beeley married Catherine Newkirk in 1855 in Darlington, Wisconsin.

When and where was Catherine born?

A) 1835 in Wisconsin
B) 1836 in Pennsylvania
C) 1837 in Illinois

For extra credit, what were her parents’ names?

-- ANSWER

Catherine was born in Independence, Illinois on March 5, 1837. Her parents were Cyrus Newkirk and Catherine Wildermuth.

I am currently working on the Newkirk branch of the tree and have traced that family back to about 1600 in the Netherlands. I have found a lot of interesting information. Who knows, some of it may show up in a future quiz!

Mary Ryan's 102nd

Kathy [Ryan] Meyer (2) passed this picture of her mom, Mary [Pendleton] Ryan (1) along to me. It was taken at her birthday party on December 25, 2010 - Her 102nd!

She had just gotten her first cell phone.

Happy belated birthday, Aunt Mary Ryan! And MANY more.

Service - Noah Zues Gallegos

Noah Gallegos (4), Sandra Jean [Pendleton] Dennis (3), Howard Pendleton (2), Howard Pendleton (1)

January 2, 2011: Noah Zues Gallegos is in the service and currently deployed in Afghanistan.

This information was supplied through an anonymous comment on the blog.

Reading a Genealogy

The format of each record is:

ID. Name (Generation)
Born: Date of Birth, Location (if known)
Died: Date of Death, Location (if known)

Spouse: The other parent of the direct ancestor.

Child: This person's child who was a direct ancestor.

Parents:
Father ID and name: Click the link to go to the record for this person's father.
Mother ID and name: Click the link to go to the record for this person's mother.

Siblings: This person’s brothers and sisters, listed in “best known” birth order.

Other Notes:

Once a parent is listed as “Unknown”, no further entries are made for that parent’s ancestors, although I reserve the appropriate IDs in case I find them later.

A double question mark indicates an unknown name: ?? Jones or Sarah ??.

A single question mark indicates the information is not certain: England?; 1, Jan 1600?

Spellings of last names change frequently, even within a given family. The spelling listed herein is the spelling I found for the given individual, but, any of the others spellings of the last name COULD be correct.

Spellings of first names represent the most common spelling found for this individual. For example: Tunis Newkirk could be Tunis, Teunis, Tuenis, Thunis, Theunis, Thuenis, etc. Any of these spellings COULD be correct.

Finally, keep in mind that there is a LOT of bad data on the sites I have researched. I have found entries in family trees for children who were born before their parents were born; 80 year old women giving birth; people living 120+ years, etc. It is very annoying that so many people just replicate this bad data without question! Generally, once I find a tree that contains what I consider "garbage", I throw out ALL the data from that tree. I have found a few lines that I could trace back more than 12 generations, but the information seems so doubtful that it was not included.

I have done my best to filter out all the bad data and have made notes when I have made assumptions, but, some garbage data may have inadvertently slipped by me. If you see an obvious error or if something looks suspicious, PLEASE let me know: PaulPendleton@Comcast.net.

Service - Ethan Niles

ETHAN NILES (4), Bill Niles (3), Mike Niles (2), Margaret [Pendleton] Niles (1).

29, Dec 2010: Ethan completed his training and was deployed to South Korea last July. As you are likely aware, the situation there is quite tense right now. His family is anxiously looking forward to him being rotated out of the area in June, 2011.

This information was supplied by Chris Niles.

13, May 2010: Ethan is in the army. He is currently receiving advanced training at Fort Lee, VA. He will go on for further training at Fort Leonard Wood later and will likely be deployed this Fall.

This information was supplied by Chris Niles.

January 2011 Quiz

First, I hope you all had a Happy Christmas! Remember to keep me in mind when you are going through your holiday pictures - even if you don't want me to share them on this blog.

Let's all hope that 2011 brings us all peace, joy and prosperity!

For the January quiz, let’s stay in Roy and Sophia’s family. Roy and Sophia raised nine children: Margaret, Mary, Ed, Evelyn, Art, Howard, Ray, Arnie and Joe.

Which one of the following was NOT a nickname of one of their sons?

A) Abe
B) Babe
C) Pinky
D) Rusty

For extra credit, match the nickname to the correct person.

-- ANSWER

“Abe” was Art, “Babe” was Arnie and “Rusty” was Ray, which means that C) Pinky was not a nickname of one of their sons. (However, I believe Grandpa Roy was called Pinky.)

02/25/2011 – Since I posted the answer to this quiz, I have heard from Mary [Pendleton] Ryan (1) that Grandpa Roy, her father, was called “Pink” not “Pinky” as he had a penchant for wearing pink shirts! Who woulda thunk it???

Service - Nate Hanna

NATE HANNA (4), Mark “Mick” Hanna (3), Pat [Nles] Hanna (2), Margaret [Pendleton] Niles (1).

29, Oct 2011: Nate (pictured) has been serving his first tour in Afghanistan.

On October 18th, Nate received serious injuries to his left arm from an RPG attack. He was transported to Germany, and then to Fort Sam Houston in Texas, where he is currently undergoing more surgeries to repair his arm. His injuries are not life threatening now, but he has already had five surgeries and skin grafts. It is unknown what more will need to be done. It could be six months before they know the full extent of the damage to the nerves…the bones will mend (with the plates and pins), but they are worried about the tissue damage.

Nate’s parents, Mick (3) and Cheryl Hanna, would appreciate it if you would keep Nate in your thoughts and wish him a speedy recovery.

This information was supplied by Tammy [Hanna] Woodring.

Service - Jared Hanna

JARED HANNA (4), Greg Hanna (3), Pat [Niles] Hanna (2), Margaret [Pendleton] Niles (1).

29, October 2010: Jared is in the army and is now stationed in El Paso after two tours in Iraq. He should be out of the army within the next year and the hope is that he will not be redeployed to Iraq again.

This information was supplied by Tammy [Hanna] Woodring.

December 2010 Quiz

First, I apologize for the tardiness in this month’s posts. Once again, too much going on!!!

Second, I would like to wish you all the happiest holiday season possible. I’d also like to invite you to share any pictures you might take of your families celebrating the season with the rest of us. E-Mail your digital pictures to me and, if I get enough, I will put up a slide show.

For the December, 2010 quiz, let’s get back to more recent history. You may notice in December’s birthdays, I’ve listed Beeley Blanchford Pendleton’s birthday on the 13th. He was born on Deer Island, New Brunswick in 1824 and died in La Crosse, Wisconsin on 29, Mar 1906. How many different places did he live during his lifetime?

A) 4
B) 6
C) 8

For extra credit, name the places he lived in chronological order.

Check back next month for the answer!

-- ANSWER

Count along with me… He was born in Deer Island, New Brunswick (1.)

From there, he moved to Darlington, Wisconsin (2) where he married Catherine Newkirk on 30, Oct 1855 and where their first son, James, was born in 1856.

In 1858, he and Catherine were living in Blanchardville, Wisconsin (3) where their second son, Isaac, was born.

From there, they moved to Kirksville, Missouri (4) where their first daughter, Florence, was born in 1862. Sadly, Isaac died there in 1862 just shy of his 4th birthday.

By 1864, they were in Blanchard, Wisconsin (5) where their second daughter, Pleasant Emma, was born and where Florence died in 1865.

Finally, by 1867, they were living in La Crosse, Wisconsin (6) where the last four of their children were born: George (1867), Elmaria (Elmira?) (1869 – 1870), Lily (1871) and Roy (1879.)

So, the correct answer is: B) 6.