By Tonia Kendrick on 19 Aug 2010

I’m rounding out the great-grandmother portion of my Women’s Timeline Series with Rachel Louisa Johnson.
1892 – Rachel Louisa was born on August 9, the 7th (and next-to-last) child of Reuben Johnson and Martha Garrett. She was probably born in Fannin County, Georgia; her parents appeared on the census there beginning in 1880.
1909 – On June 27, she . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 17 Aug 2010

William H. “Buddy” Ward was my third great-grandfather. His is the penultimate name I have in the Ward line, so while he is not a brick-wall ancestor, both of his parents are. His death certificate has been a valuable document, confirming some data, providing new information and leading to new documents.
Confirmations
He was a farmer.
His father’s name . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 3 Aug 2010

Benjamin E. Forrester was born 24 Jun 1850 and died 12 Feb 1937 in Fannin County, Georgia. His parents were Coleman Forrester and Anna Carnes. Salina Tucker was his wife. Benjamin is buried at Dial Church of Christ Cemetery in Fannin County.
He was my great-great-great uncle. My great-great-grandmother, Mary Lourania (Forrester) Ward was his youngest sister.
This . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 1 Aug 2010
Births
Annis L. (Stroud) Bailey was born in 1835.
Deaths
James Moore died in 1859.
John Adolphus Whiteside died in 1864.
Coy Johnson died in 1943.
James Henry Johnson died in 1974.
Newton Coleman Ward died in 1974 (my great-grandfather).
I’ve just realized that my great-grandmother’s brother (James Henry Johnson) and husband (Newt Ward) died on the same day. How horrible. This is one . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 17 Jul 2010

This week’s Surname Saturday focuses on my Johnson family line, which begins with my great-grandmother, Rachel Louisa.
Rachel Louisa Johnson was born August 9, 1892 in Fannin County, Georgia. She married Newton Coleman Ward in Fannin County on June 27, 1909. Rachel and Newt lived in Fannin County until 1939, when they moved to Murray County, Georgia. . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 15 Jul 2010

I recently ordered my first SS-5, which is an application for a Social Security Card. This document is available for deceased persons through the Freedom of Information Act. I’ve put off ordering one until now, because it’s a more-expensive document – $27 if you provide the person’s social security number or $29 if you do not. . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 9 Jul 2010
Births
Thomas Hemphill was born in 1746 (my 4th, 5th, and 6th great-grandfather).
His son, Thomas McEntire Hemphill, was born in 1796 (my 3rd and 4th great-grandfather).
Deaths
Hans Kern died in 1692 (currently believed to be my 11th great-grandfather).
Worth Ward died . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 7 Jul 2010
Births
William Patton Hemphill was born in 1843.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis was born in 1851.
Mary Lourania (Forrester) Ward was born in 1864 (my great-great-grandmother).
Carrie L. (Nichols) Roberts was born in 1876.
Deaths
John Searcy died in 1841.
Belvy (Smith) Butler died in 2004.
Military
William Adolphus Whitener enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1899, whereupon he served in the . . . → : CONTINUE READING
By Tonia Kendrick on 12 Jun 2010

Ward is one the surnames for which I can’t go back very far. I only have information on three generations, beyond those still living.
Newton Coleman Ward (1890-1974) – I’ve written several times about Newt, or Pepaw Ward as I call him. He was my great-grandfather and I vaguely remember him from when I was little girl. . . . → : CONTINUE READING