Happy Birthday DAD

Hi DAD,

Well I hope your day was pleasant. I was able to have a nice conversation with Mother when I called to wish you a nice day on your birthday, (I'll let everyone else try to remember how old you are)! You were attending to your duties at the Family History Center in Oregon City.

I would, however, like to take a moment to remember your birthday, May 7, (shared with Grandma Loe, Anita's {MOM} mother). You mean so much to me and everyone in this family. You are very kind, thoughtful and considerate. You are and have been a great father. I hope to continue to learn by your example. I know Maureen and all the kids and grandkids appreciate you and want to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

We all hope you go make it a wonderful day. We love you DAD, Grandpa and GG Fishes!

Love,

Kevin, Maureen, Jamie, Kim & Kyndal, Jen & Ethyn

The Family of Erin Giandomenico

As mentioned in the previous blog, April is a heavy birthday month for the Giandomenico's, and I wanted to get a few more pictures before you as these are the people who have had a great influence on all of us including the immediate family members themselves. So here are a few more photos of the family and we wish them much success in the years ahead.
RHB

Erin Giandomenico

The Month of April is a birthday month for the Giandomenico family. Today, April 19th is the birthday of the Mother, Erin Brooks Giandomenico. The short bolg is to honor her and her family. Erin was born Aril 19, 1966 in Ft. Collins, Colorado. She married Tony Giandomenico on the 30th of November 1962 in Portland, oregon. They have two children, Seth, born Aril 25, 1989 and Cole, born Aril 6, 1990. Tony's parents are Joseph Giandomenico and Leah Warren. Both Seth and Cole have been involved in Footbal since the early years of their lives and continue today as they leave High Schoola and head for Portland State University.
Erin has been a homemaker and an office assistant as her family grew. Because of the failing health of her husband, Tony, she has been responsible for putting bread on the table. Not however, without the help of bread baking father. We will let the reader calculate her age, but we wish her happy birthday and sucess to all of the family.
RHB

Cynthia Louisa Child

A Brief Sketch of the Life
of
Cynthia Louise Child
By
Her Daughter
Annette Nealson[1]

Cynthia Louise Child was the daughter of Myron Barber Child and Emeline Elmer. She was born in Ogden, Utah December 14, 1861. At that time Ogden was called Bingham Fort. Her father homesteaded a tract of land 3 miles south west of Ogden, now called Riverdale where the family moved into a new home. This tract of land included the area from the Weber River west to the hills known as the little flat, then north about ½ mile. At this time, the land was not surveyed, but was described by choosing a land mark upon which all the settlers agreed to. Later on, it was all surveyed using proper methods.
Cynthia Child went to school at a place called “The old Tannery”. This was used for recreation until a school house was built. All her girlhood days were spent in Riverdale. She married Pete Tourval Nealson on October 7, 1889 at Ogden by Charles Midleton. They lived in a rock house located in the rear of Myron Childs home where her first child was born, March 10, 1882, Annette Nealson. When the baby was a few months old, Myron Child gave them one acre of land about one block north of his home. A narrow street was opened up to their home called the Lane. It was here that a home was built. On July 2, 1884, and a second child was born named Asa Laurence Nealson. The house where Asa was born was soon sold and Cynthia and Pete bought a place on the main road next to her mother’s home, Emeline and Myron Child’s home. While a house was being built at this location, she and her family lived in part of her mother’s house where another daughter was born, Emeline Louise, on the 13th of July1886. This daughter lived only a short time and died on 17th of August 1887. A few months later another daughter was born on November 10, 1887 and she was named Polly Edith. By this time, the family was living in their new home. Another son came along, Myron William on 10th of September 1889 also born in the new home. Their new home was rented out and the family moved up the street about one block on the opposite side of the street where another son was born, 18th of July 1891, named Earl Nealson.
About a year later, they moved back into their old home where two new rooms were added and here they seemed to be very comfortable. It was here that two more sons were born, Pete Ray Nealson (6th of May 1893) and Chancy, (14th of June 1895). When Chancy was a little baby, Cynthia and her husband were going to Ogden in a small cart pulled by a horse. The shaves broke loose from the cart and caused it to go over backwards. Pete kept hold of the of the lines which caused the horse to back over Cynthia tearing her dress off of her back by the horse’s shoe. She carried the print of that horseshoe on her back for a long while. She was saved from instant death by a higher power.
On September 7, 1898, Annette was married to Arthur Silas Burnett. It was at this time That Cynthia’s health began to fail. Before this she had always had good health. On 1st of June 1900, twins were born by her, a boy and a girl, Lydia and Lester. Lydia died after 8 hours and Lester died a month later. Cynthia was in a very critical condition throughout that summer. In addition, all the children came down with the measles and Earl had pleurisy and pneumonia. On 19th of August, 1900, Annette’s husband, Arthur Silas Burnett, died leaving her a pregnant widow. Cynthia was very weak and all of this was a sever trial to her and the family. Soon the family got well once more, but in the later part of October, Edith came down with Typhoid fever and she was near death for three weeks. On November 10, 1900, a son was born to Annette. He was named Arthur Silas Burnett. On the same night, Edith passed the crisis and everyone seemed once more on their way to being well again. Cynthia had regained her health for which everyone was very grateful. For Christmas that year, father got the five boys all new suits, hats and shoes and all were very happy. About the 15th of January, Pete heard a noise outside and he got up and went to the door and it was storming and cold. He said he had seen a man standing close under the eaves of the house. He asked him what he wanted but the man did not answer and he invited him inside but the stranger disappeared. Cynthia heard this conversation and asked who he was talking with . All was explained and this happened about midnight. Both went to sleep and Pete said he saw the five boys all dressed in their new clothes going some where, but only four of them had hats on. He related all of this to us the next morning. None of us could understand it. The children all went to school and were all well. At noon time, William came home (this was on Friday) complaining of a bad headache and so he was treated for a cold and put to bed. About dark time, his mother went to call him for the evening meal, but he was unconscious. Doctors were called and he had spinal mingitis. Everthing was done; Elders were called in, but to no avail. He died Sunday evening, January 19th, 1901. Thus, four deaths were in the family over a seven month period.
The family sold out here and moved to Clinton, Utah where they bought ten acres of land. Annette had been left 10 acres to her so the family farmed the 20 acres. The family prospered for four years. The boys were growing up so they needed more land so they sold out and moved to Roy, Utah where they bought 40 acres of land. It was here they built a new home, and it was here Annette remarried (Lovell Edgar Gibson). Soon after, Edith married William Wayne and Laurence married Ella Dullenbar and Earl married Nora Mansfield. Then came the great world war. Ray and Chancey were called to the colors. Ray stayed at Camp Kerney and Chancey went to France. This was a hard blow to Cynthia whose health was failing fast. But, the Lord heard her prayers and both boys were returned safe without a scratch. Shortly after the war, Chancey married Leila Williams. The folks were very comfortable now, only Ray was at home, but, Cynthia’s health continued to fail. She now had 21 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She truly had been a devoted wife and Mother and honest in all her ways, doing her best for home and family. No sacrifice was too great for her children. She died on May 2nd 1922.

A few word about my father, Peter Thorval Nelson:
“Father came to New York from a little town on the coast of Norway. They came with the John Murdock Company to Salt Lake City. They settled in Lehi. His Mother died there. She had married a man by the name of John Murdock whose wife had died and left two sons and a daughter. She (the Mother) had a baby boy by this marriage but the mother died soon after the child’s birth and he is buried in Lehi. (We can get some information likely from the John Murdock Family) My Father was quite certain that the folks were all baptized in Norway. Father lived with Bishop Proctor of the 10th ward in Salt Lake City. Then he lived with Joseph Fife in Riverdale before marrying Cynthia Louise Child.”


[1] Editor’s note: This history was transcribed as written by my grandmother, Annette Nelson Gibson in her own handwriting. She wrote this history on August 23rd 1939, a few months before her husband, Lovell Edgar Gibson died. I am using the name “Nealson”, as this is the way my grandmother spelled her maiden name in the hand written document, even though most of the records spelled her name “Nelson” including her siblings.

RHB

A Visit to Gig Harbor, Washington

Phyllis Brooks when she graduated from highschool and to the right, her younger sister Vivian before her death on December 21, 2003.

I’ll see if I can express to you, the feelings in my heart after leaving my sister (Feb 9, 2008) that lies helpless in a nursing home in Gig Harbor. First of all, when we arrived (Kathleen, Blake and Anita and I), she was in bed in a darkened room. She was lying there with her eyes open, but seemingly asleep. I knelt down by her very low bed and spoke to her using her name and identifying my self as her big brother. After a few moments, she seemed to focus one eye upon me and a slight grin came upon her countenance. The more I spoke to her the more she seemed to respond and in her way she seemed to recognize me. I told her who the others were that was with me and she seemed likewise to respond to that. As she tried to communicate, she would breakout in an almost laughter as I agreed with what I thought she was trying to say. I tried to remind her of things in the past, I mentioned Steve Warner, and Loren, and others she might remember. I stroked her face and her hair to help her to relax and try not to be concerned as to who were present. She settled down and continued to try and communicate what was on her mind, which we cannot know. However, I got the distinct feeling that she felt that we had forgotten her and she wanted to have our prayers and even to be released from this condition where her spirit seems to be trapped within her mortal body and can’t seem to go back to the one who gave her life. I told myself, as I knelt there that I would not forget her and that I would pray to the God in Heaven that if was His will, she may return into His arms of redeeming love. I have always known her as a good woman and worthy mother and I love her very much. I am ashamed that I have not included her in our daily family and individual prayers. She is not dead, but I guess I have treated her in my actions as if she were dead. I’m sorry about that. How grateful I am for that visit to remind me of her and who she really is. We may all be afflicted at one time or another with bodily and mental afflictions which we must endure well and she has certainly done that. The time for our departure from this life is left up to Him, who is the giver of all life. We will leave it in his hands, but we should pray for her and have faith in our Redeemer, for he is our true and just God and knows us and our condition and he will be mindful of us in all our afflictions. Of this I so testify.

Phyllis Henderson was married to Kenneth Henderson on June 7, 1947. Ken lives in Hawaii and visits the mainland once or twice a year. They have three children, Caig and Brad and a daughter Jan Leland who lives in Lacy, Washington and takes care of her Mother in connection with the nursing home.
Phyllis Henderson lived in Mesa, Arizonia before moving to Gig Harbor to be near her daughter, Jan. This picture was taken before she was admitted to the nursing home and before her health took a swing for the worst.

RHB

What About Them?

In a previous blog, I had mentioned an obsession I had with my family history. I have to admit, it still exists.
MY FAMILY

It seems as though destiny had in its design to bring my father and mother together in 1926. Why would two individuals be attracted to each other with such different backgrounds and family values? I have pondered that question a number of times without an answer. My maternal grand parents had accepted the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and had made covenants with Him and in a large measure they were faithful to that. My paternal grandparents, on the other hand, were at the opposite end of that ideal. Organized religion of any kind was not part of their lives. My grandfather, Francis Harvard Brooks, died 2 years after I was born, therefore, what little I knew of him, I learned after I became an adult from my aunt, Joan. His religion seemed to be that of a gypsy. However, they believed in doing well to their fellow men, being a good neighbor and citizen, and other commonly accepted virtues. My grandmother, Catherine Elizabeth Armstrong, was very predigest against the Mormon Church and seemed to do everything in her power to break up the marriage between my Mother and Father, which finally happened, whether it was because of her doing or due to failing relationship between my parents, is uncertain because all have deceased. During my youth, I had on occasions spent time with my grandmother Brooks and became acquainted with her stern personality. In general, my mother avoided association with the Brooks family because she felt she was greatly disliked because of her religion. As a consequence, my siblings and I grew up around my mother’s parents and her siblings, our aunts and uncles. After I became married, and during a five year period, my family and I lived in the same community where I was born and where my grandmother Brooks and her family lived. Not once during that five year period did I ever think about visiting neither my Grandmother Brooks nor my Aunts (paternal) that lived close by. I suppose that occurred due to the animosity that was exhibited toward my mother by my grandmother Brooks. My family and I moved to Colorado after that time and my grandmother Brooks died while I was far away from the Brooks family and could not attend the funeral.
After my retirement from international work in 1991, I became interested in my family history and had a desire to find out something about my paternal grandparents and great grandparents, i.e., Armstrong’s and Bennett’s. I began to do descendent research on the Bennett’s and the Armstrong’s. I have found most of the descendants of Michael Bennett, my second great grandfather, and with recent discoveries I am locating the descendants of Robert Armstrong, my third great grandfather. When I use the pronoun, “I”, I do not mean that I am the only one involved in these discoveries. My cousin, Barbara Brooks, was instrumental in obtaining much information regarding the Bennett family. I know that the sprit of the Lord has directed me in this work and even though my grandmother Brooks looked upon this work of the Lord with disdain, her ancestors looks down kindly upon what is taking place for them in the temples of our God. So, what about destiny? Was my Mother instrumental in bringing the gospel into the lives of these my ancestors? Those that were living at the time of my parents marriage wanted nothing to do with the Gospel, but what of their ancestors? Here is one of them noted below.

ROBERT ARMSTRONG
Now, a word or two about this third great grandfather, Robert Armstrong. From all that I’ve been able to learn, this is as true a story as can be obtained at this time. Robert Armstrong was a native of Ireland of Scotch stock. About 1803 he came to America with three brothers and one sister. He established himself in Berks County, Pennsylvania. One bother, William, went to Louisiana and became a general in the war of 1812. His sister, Mary, married a man by the name of Burnside. Whether or not one of their descendants, Ambrose Burnside, a general in the civil war who later became the governor of Rhode Island is yet to be determined. James, another brother, settled in Virginia and became a prominent planter. The third brother, was pressed into the service of the British army (War of 1812) and was never heard from thereafter.
Robert Armstrong came to Pennsylvania, Berks County, with his wife Ann Potter and their son William born in Ireland 23 July 1800. Upon leaving Berks County and in the process of moving and settling into Eastern Ohio, a second son was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania (1802). His name was James Potter Armstrong, my second great grandfather. By 1805, Robert and his wife Ann had settled in the Goshen Township of Columbiana County, Ohio where a third son, John was born (1805). Robert came to Goshen, Ohio and obtained 165 acres of land (about ¼ of a section) and built a log cabin to raise his family where six more children were born. In 1823, he built a substantial stone house. The stone came from field sandstone and the walls were laid with clay mortar and then painted over with lime. While it was a two story house, the cost of the mason work was only $63. Before the home was built, a road (Pike) was built as a main road to Cleveland which cut the farm in half diagonally. The stone house was built on one side of the road (Pike) where it stood most of the 19th century. Robert came to Goshen as a Quaker (Society of Friends) and in 1826 the “Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting” was established at Damascus, a few miles from Goshen. Most, if not all, of his children married outside of the faith and as such were disciplined by the Monthly Meeting.
In 1810, Goshen was incorporated on September 11. At one of the organizational meetings in 1812, Robert Armstrong and Asa Ware were chosen as “Fence-Viewers”. During the period of 1820 -1825 he served as Treasurer and in 1824 to1825, Robert served as Trustee for the Township. Later his two grandsons would serve as Clerks for that organization.
Ann Potter died in 1826, six years after her last child was born leaving Robert to live in the stone house with his children. Sometime before 1833, James Potter Armstrong, went to West Virginia probably to be with his uncle James and while he was there he married Catharine Taggart on March 3, 1833. He and his family later returned to Ohio and finally settled in Marion County, Ohio where other children were born and raised. James Potter returned to the old farm in time to see his father, Robert, before he died in 1843. Robert’s family remained on the farm which was called “Walnut Grove Farm” for most of the 19th century, the farm being passed from one generation to the next. Future blogs will highlight other generations of Armstrong’s in Ohio.
Almost all of this information came from what family historians call a “Mug Book”. Late nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century mug books are collections of biographical sketches, a curiously rich source for genealogists and historians alike. Typically these books were published only by advance subscription. If a person had the funds to subscribe, he or she (more often he) would have a biographical sketch in the book. For an extra fee, a photograph or sketch would be included. The publishers also might include sketches of presidents and governors. These biographies of the rich and famous helped publishers sell books to buyers who hadn't subscribed—and who weren't included among the sketches. The cost of a subscription varied by location and publisher. A subscription, biographical sketch, and portrait could have cost up to sixty or seventy dollars. The story given above for Robert Armstrong probably came from his grandson Sylvester H. Armstrong who lived in the old stone house when the biography was written. I believe it is reasonably accurate in that the birth dates for all his children were given to the exact day they were born which may mean that they were transcribed from the family bible.

The image at the top of this Blog is an aerial view of the old “Walnut Grove Farm” showing the old stone foundation for the early pioneer home. The highway at the northeaster corner is the “Pike” to Cleveland.

If the reader is interested in viewing how Robert Armstrong is related to the family pedigree, one can go to : http://royalbrooksfamily.pgvhosting.com/ No login is necessary to view the pedigree and other charts

RHB

Kevin Ross Brooks

Granddaughter, Kyndell . Grandson, Ethyn and daughter Jennifer

Kevin in Egypt, Ft. Collins and Marriage to Maureen

Graduation from High School in Corvallis, Oregon

A Red Head

The Family

Kevin Ross Brooks
It was 51 years ago on Jan 12, 1957 that a fiery red headed boy came into the home of Anita Loe and Royal Brooks. He was given an Irish name and the middle name coming from the physician that delivered him. Little known at that time, was one of his fourth great grandfathers was born in Ireland and came to America at the end of the eighteenth century. At the time of his birth, his parents were living on 45th street in Mira Loma California, a small rural community seven miles west of Riverside, California. His father was the Branch President of a small branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in that same community. Professionally, his father was a research engineer working with the Department of Agriculture at the U.S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside having joined the Department upon graduating from Utah State University 4 ½ years previously.

It was during the year of his birth that his father decided to accept a position as a research engineer at a different location within the USDA, i.e., Fort Collins, Colorado. This employment location was situated on the campus of Colorado State University where it was planned to attend the University on a part time basis to earn an advanced degree while continuing to work full time. The move was to become effective, July, 1, 1957. It was here in this community of Fort Collins that Kevin began to grow and develop in his childhood years and become a typical young man full of energy and vitality. It was not too long after moving to Fort Collins, that his sister, Vivian Rae, became ill with a malignant brain tumor and later died in January of 1960. By that time, a younger brother, Randall, had been born (1958). After her death, he had three siblings, David, Shauna, and Randall. Two other siblings (Kathleen and Erin) were to be born in this community before moving again in 1967 to Corvallis, Oregon where his father was appointed Associate Professor of Agriculture Engineering at Oregon State University.
It was here in this community that Kevin grew up as a teenager, became interested in music, and developed other interests. It was during the latter part of his High School years that he fell in love with his present wife Maureen Bennett and they were married 30 April 1977 in a private home in Corvallis, Oregon. On October 24, 1978, their first son, Jamison Royal was born in Corvallis, Oregon. Kevin’s parents moved to Egypt in 1977 and did not return until 1981 soon after which, Kevin and Maureen had twin girls, Jennifer and Kimberly, born on 4 December 1981 in Corvallis, Oregon. Since that time the twins and Jamison have graduated from High School, Jamison has moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, followed by Kimberly. The twins each have a child, Ethyn (29 June 2006) whose mother in Jennifer and Kyndall (2 June 2007) whose mother is Kimberly. Jennifer is living near Portland and raising her son with the help of her parents while Kimberly is raising her daughter in Las Vegas, Nevada. The parents, Kevin and Maureen, live in Donald, Oregon. Maureen works with General Electric Corporation in Portland in their medical records division and Kevin, although unemployed, is searching for the next opportunity.
I have written this brief glimpse into the events in Kevin’s life to honor him on his birthday of January 12, 2008. Perhaps it will give the reader a chance to become better acquainted with him and increase communication with cousins and relatives that share common ancestors. And, maybe he will be inclined to fill in the blanks of his life for his own posterity.
Happy Birthday, Kevin

Love,

Dad

Beaumont Jason Brooks

Birthday Dinner, Cake and Gifts

This Blog will serve as an update on Beaumont Jason Brooks and his family as seen by his grandparents. Next April his wife Nickole will bring forth a fourth son. We all look forward to that occasion and wish her well. If any of my Blog authors would like to add to this birthday greeting and honor please feel free to comment and add your favorite pictures.



Beau and his two sons Camden and Brenden at the family Christmas Party





Alexander Brooks receiving a gift from Santa at the Family Christmas Party

Beau (in the background) working with his Father, David, on wall finishing at his home.

Our subject is 32 years old today. As grandparents we are visiting him from Oregon . He is being honored at a birthday party at his residence in Riverdale, Utah; not far from where my grandparents lived and held similar family gatherings more than 100 years ago. Our subject is refinishing a family room where more room will be available for the family. The vital information of our subject can be found at royalbrooksfamily.pgvhosting.com provided you are a subscriber to the Brooks Family Genealogy. We have had the great fortune of visiting here in Utah over these holidays where we have become greater acquainted with the Brooks Families.

Happy Birthday, Beau

Your Grandpa Brooks

An Obsession

Tecumseh

Location of the Armstrong Farm

An Obsession

It is very interesting to me that Family History as a subject of study affects people in various ways. I believe that most of the readers of this BLOG have only a passive interest in their family history or maybe not at all. I know that providing for your family, temporally and spiritually, attending to church callings, and attending to friends and neighbors are truly time consuming aspects of life, but nevertheless, essential. But for me, the study and activity of family history seems to consume me in ways I cannot explain. It is not that I have nothing else to do, because I have many obsessive interests. Temple work, church assignments, bread baking, clock restoration and now vegan cooking, anyone of which, could consume my time totally. But, I can’t seem to lay family history aside.

A Bit of History

My recent discovery of the parents of James Potter Armstrong (second great grandfather), Robert Armstrong, has produced a level of joy and excitement that I have not felt in the recent past. I guess it can be compared to the discovery of the James Potter Armstrong families many years ago. Robert had nine children and I haven’t been able to finish counting the grandchildren and great grandchildren. For each of his children, I have a designated a notebook and as I go down the list from the oldest to the youngest, they are being filled with facts and information about each one and their families. Of course, James Potter Armstrong, being my direct ancestor, has many filled notebooks in my den regarding his family and descendants.
Robert and his wife, Ann, came to Ohio about 1805 with two sons born in Pennsylvania and settled on 165 acres, which he purchased in Mahoning County, Ohio, the Township being Goshen. The county seat is Youngstown, Ohio. This county is on the eastern edge of Ohio close to the Ohio River. In 1805, the county was called Columbiana and it truly was on the edge of the frontier. His privations and sacrifices in building a home on the frontier will probably never be known. Not many miles to the west, Tecumseh, was on the war path with the whites that were brave enough to expand the frontier further. Robert was elected to become one of the Trustees’ for Goshen and later became their Treasurer. His wife, Ann Potter, died in 1826 and then Robert died in 1843 at the age of nearly 80 years.
One of his son’s, James Potter Armstrong, whom he brought with him from Pennsylvania was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania (1801) and then in 1833 he was married to Mary Catharine Taggart in Randolph County, Virginia. I drew the conclusion that entire family came to Virginia from Pennsylvania; however, I never could find any evidence to the contrary until now. Now, it appears that Robert’s son, James Potter Armstrong, most likely, went to Virginia after becoming of sufficient age in Ohio, traveled to Virginia probably with an uncle and there married. James Potter Armstrong , wanting to be part of the family in Ohio and perhaps inherit part of the family farm, returned to Ohio after his marriage and after having several children along the way, arrived back in Mahoning County in 1850. It was at that time that his grandfather, James Potter, gave him a farm in Marion County, a number of counties to the west of Mahoning where he died in 1874.

new.Familysearch.org

After, the new familysearch comes on line for your Temple District you will have the opportunity to go online and select deceased family members and provide them with the saving ordinances if they are needed and you so desire. This new procedure will simplify that process from an 18 step process to 5 simple steps and it can be done from your home computer. Most of you are familiar with my PhP Ged View site where one can contribute and correct information which seems to be incorrect based upon documented evidence. The new familysearch will allow you to see your own family group, ancestors and descendants and make corrections in a similar way. The problem with the new familysearch is that you cannot download the information that is there to your computer, as can be done on the PhpGed View. Each one of you will be in the new familysearch data base whether you contributed your genealogy to be published at the church site (familysearch) or not. If you did not contribute any of your 4 generation pedigree charts as requested years ago, your family group will be in the new familsearch anyway because it will be generated from church records, but the tree maybe small. I hope that you will have a desire to become more active in bringing your family and my family records to a more acceptable form.
If you can’t become active in your own family history work, then try to become a volunteer as an indexer for familysearch. You’ll be greatly blessed! Anytime contributed to indexing will help the cause of family history immensely and it can be done from your home.

Final Thoughts

Now, if you are not bored out of your minds, let me share a thought with you that have come to me in recent weeks. Our ancestors who have passed to the other side, most of whom we have never met, know us far better than we know them. They have a stake in what we do and the choices we make because, whether you believe it or not, our actions will impact their salvation. I don’t believe that we can ever say, ”well, it is all done”. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that those who have been waiting on the other side for the saving ordinances to come to them had a great influence upon the work that I have been doing. I have been led and I have discovered records, not because of my own intelligence, but because of their influence. We sometimes call this influence “the spirit of Elijah”, but it is far more than that. The few years I’ve spent in working to find our deceased family members is but a pittance compared to the time they have been waiting. If they are more acquainted with us than we with them, should we not become better acquainted with them?
I guess one point I would like to clarify, is that I have been judgmental in thinking that all should be as interested in family history as I. Yes, some may be, but what I have done has been for my enjoyment and for their salvation, not for yours. However, I hope it will be of value to you and a convenience. In addition, I hope this BLOG will be of interest and for your benefit as well as mine. For those who want to take advantage of the genealogy site PhPGed View, I may ask you to begin to share in the costs. Your comments on this BLOG and others will be of interest to me and perhaps we can make it more beneficial for all concerned. I find it interesting that not a single reader has commented on any recent BLOGS. Come on! You can do better than that!
RHB

Robert Armstrong, Father of James Potter Armstrong

Found At Last

In a recent blog, September 2007, I indicated that there may be a connection between the Robert Armstrong and his brother Alexander Armstrong (Upper Paxtang Township of Lancaster County) with the Armstrong clan that is part of our family where James Potter Armstrong (1802 – 1874) being the earliest progenitor that I was aware. I have been searching for over a decade for his parents expending significant resources and energy. However, the above Robert Armstrong mentioned above and in the previous Blog is not what this Blog is about. There may be a connection between the two Roberts, i.e. the one previosly mentioned and the one that I am writing about on this Blog, but it is of little concern for now.

I am overwhelmed with joy to announce that the parents of James Potter Armstrong have been found. All of the research that I have been doing over these past few years has not been in vain. (This photo is of James Potter Armstrong with is Wife, Catharine Taggart)
The father of James Potter Armstrong is Robert Armstrong from Ireland and his mother is Ann Potter. That may not be surprising to some, but the evidence seems to be convincing. The evidence found supports the answers to questions pondered over many years as to why James Potter Armstrong, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania went to Virginia where he married Mary Catharine Taggart and then traveled to eastern Ohio where he finally settled (see Blog 2006).
The gathering of the pieces to this ancestral puzzle is a true demonstration of how the spirit of Elijah and the Holy Ghost directs one as one earnestly seeks to identify ancestors. I will attempt to refer to only a few of the pieces that brought about the final conclusion and the end result. Of course, there is no end until we reach Adam, but as we are able to connect the various generations together the joy experienced is truly unspeakable. The previous Blogs and the unpublished research reports in my file tell the complete story, but here are a few of the details.
In a report that I wrote in January of 2001, one of the research findings was that a Robert Armstrong, aged between 70 and 80 years was living with a female person, aged between 20 and 30 years in Goshen Township during the census enumeration of 1840. Three other Armstrong families were living in close proximity to him, Joel, John and William at the same time. The William household had two families living together as evidenced by the ages of family members. The conclusion was drawn at that time, that Robert was living with a daughter and that James Potter Armstrong’s family was living with William and his family. Further, it was concluded that John and Joel were probably related to Robert and most likely he was their father. Ten years later, James Potter Armstrong and his family is enumerated for the first time in Goshen Township in 1850. At this time, Joel, John and James Potter Armstrong were all living in Goshen Township, but Robert and William were not to be found on any census records for that year nor for any subsequent censuses.
In a Blog dated July 2006, titled “Direction”, a book was mentioned and a page was quoted describing an Armstrong family that came from Ireland, settled in Pennsylvania for a time then moved and settled in eastern Ohio. That person was described as Robert Armstrong and gave the names of several of his descendants, one of which was Joel. This find produced a great deal of excitement and encouragement toward making a connection with James Potter Armstrong, my second great grandfather. Was James Potter Armstrong a brother to Joel Armstrong?
In a recent trip to the Family History Library in Salt lake City, March 26, 2007,research resulted in finding the Wills of Joel and John Armstrong. Heirs were mentioned with relationships all of which was very helpful. However, nothing could be found concerning a Robert Armstrong. In a subsequent visit to the Family History Library in September, 2007 in connection with attending sealing and wedding ceremonies of family members as noted in the most recent Blogs, The connection among all of the Armstrong’s that I have been studying was found. On this particular occasion, I had viewed several microfilms, for wills, land records, etc, but without finding anything significant. Finally, I decided to browse the book section on the third floor where county histories may be found and well as other books and documents pertaining to localities. A set of three volumes caught my eye, titled “History of Youngstown and The Mahoning Valley, Ohio”. I picked up volume three and turned to the biographical section and found Sylvester H. Armstrong. I had previously copied and read Sylvester’s biography in the book purchased mentioned in the Blog above and so I didn’t think much about it but decided to make a copy anyway. Since it was time to meet the others and go to lunch, I hurriedly made the copy and put it with my research papers on the first floor. On returning from lunch, I began to read closely what I had copied. To my great amazement and joy, Robert Armstrong’s family was described in detail including all of his children, their birth dates and when they died. Included in the children list was James Armstrong, born November 11, 1802. Here was what I had been working and praying to find for these past many years. The joy that filled my bosom was unspeakable
The reader will have to go to my PhpGedView to see the family groups as soon as I can put them al together.

RHB

Bear Lake Family Gathering and 58th Anniversary

Athe end of every rainbow is a pot of Gold
These are the GOLD

Beau and Nickole Brooks

Charlet and Benjamin

Charlet & Chris

Clock test Stands

Geoff and Kylene Brooks

Geoff and Taunya Brooks

Happy Anniversary Anita and Roy (58 years)

Happy Birthday Nickole and Happy Anniversary, Anita

It doesn't work

Kylene and Anita


What a memorable occasion to be with David's children and their grandchildren at Bear lake, Utah. We drove up from Ogden saturday morning, Sep 1, 2007 to dave and Taunya's mountain retreat to relax for the weekend. We were overjoyed as children and grandchildren arrived to become requainted and become familiar with their lives. David and Taunya are both very gracious hosts, giving up their beds, providing delicious meals, even to a vegan. Here are a few pictires of our associations. Clock test stands were made using Dave's wood working shop, a clock belonging to Geoff and Ky was worked on without success and must be returned to the shop in Charbonneau. It was a great week end and memories will last a life time and thereafter.

RHB