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Thursday, October 6, 2011

I love it when a plan comes together

I'll admit it. I was in love with Face from the A-Team. How could you not love that face? Actually, I first loved him as Starbuck, but that's a story for another time. Despite my love Face, it is Hannibal's quote that best fits my most recent finding: I love it when a plan comes together.

Like most seriously passionate genealogists I tend to not put a lot of stock in written family histories that I come across. This is mostly because they are often unsourced and there is no way to tell the validity of the information. Several years ago I came across one such history written about my Creed family line. It was a fantastic find for me as I am one of the only descendants left of my link to the Creeds, so I have always felt a special bond with this family line. The issue I had with the Creeds is that Joseph M. Creed had eleven children and only eight survived to adulthood...all girls. It sure is hard to track female descendants.

Enter the family history stage left. Written by Armintia Creed Whitlock, the history tells the story of her parents, Joseph M. Creed (1841-1917) and Mary Reece (1846-1927), and their children. It talks about how Joseph and Mary met, discusses a myriad of moves across country and the dates/places of the births of each of their children. It is a wealth of information, but doesn't have any sources. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Armintia didn't know her own history. But without solid facts behind the stories I'm just not sure what is fact and what is faded memory.
Joseph and Mary Creed with their daughters. Back row (l-r) - Armintia, Jessie, Monnie, Mattie and Etta
Front row: Betty, Joseph, Gussie (standing), Mary, and Stella

Here is a portion of the history:

"Jessie was married to Burton Parker and later Henry Kellogg. Also Monnie was later married to Marshall Bausell and Gussie to Earl Kuhn. All the girls raised nice families except Etta who had no children and Mattie who married Dr Maxwell in later years had none. Only three of the girls are now living, January 1, 1966, Mrs. Jessie Kellogg, Mrs. Mattie Maxwell, and Mrs. Gussie Kuhn.

The father, Joe Creed, died at Maramec, Ok March , 1917. The mother, Mary E. Creed died in Colorado, March 1927. They are both buried in Pawnee Cemetery. Stella died in 1904, buried in El Reno, OK. Betty died 1934, buried in Pawnee, OK. Mintia died March 11, 1945, buried in Kaw City, OK. Monnie died December 1963 buried in Fort Worth, TX. Etta died January 17, 1964, buried in Brownsville, Texas."
Some of the Creed sisters and children taken prior to December 1963. Front row (seated) Lois Marsh, Jessie Creed Kellog, Gussie Creed Kuhn. Standing (left to right) Etta Creed Demieville, Bonnie Davis, Monnie Creed Bausell, Mattie Creed Maxwell, Flossie Emmons
I must say: pay dirt! Death dates and locations for all of the hard to trace females of the family. But is it accurate? When I first received the history it was hard to tell. I was not able to travel to Oklahoma and Texas to conduct searches, so I had to accept the information at face value. But the Internet is a glorious place and in the several years since I first received this history many new source documents have been posted online. To include early Oklahoma marriages and Texas death certificates. And I am proud to say that Armintia had it all correct. So often we read to not pay heed to printed history...I love how Armintia proves it all wrong. I love it when a plan comes together!

8 comments:

zelsersk said...

I love that saying and it pops into my head even these days. That is so funny! Heather, I think we have some things in common for sure. I myself do enjoy the personal accounts of who married who and where people lived. While they are not the best sources, they are huge clues as I know you would agree. They certainly point you in the right direction. Clues like that are how my family found the Irish Settlement in Newport, NY.

Unknown said...

Hello there,
I'm really not sure how I found this page, I was looking up Armintia because I'm digging through old family photos as I type. Bonnie Davis was my great grandmother. Her daughter Wanda was my grandmother. I don't know many in my mom's family because I'm a lot younger than my cousins. Good to know there's more family out there!
- Melita

Unknown said...

Aunt Mattie and Aunt Etta and Flossie used to live next door to my family in the late 50s, early 60s in Reno, Nevada. My mother passed away last May and I am in the process of going through her decades of saved letters. There have been quite a few letters from Flossie after those three dear ladies moved back to Ponca City, Oklahoma. I happened to look up Mattie Creed Maxwell online because we have some of her paintings and I was curious if her work was known at all in the art world.
Thanks for having this post and photo on your blog!

Heather Kuhn Roelker said...

Melita-

I'm late in saying so, but it is so nice to hear from family! I have quite a bit of info I can share, please feel free to message me through the blog! Best wishes, Heather

Heather Kuhn Roelker said...

So great to hear from other family! I'm sorry I don't know your name, but I would love to share info. Shoot me a message through the blog and we can chat more. Best of luck!

Unknown said...

Hey Heather,
I'm just seeing your reply because I was telling my aunt Kathy about how I found your blog and showing her the pictures you had on your blog. I'd love to hear info, there's so much I don't know especially about your grandmother's side. I've been finding old pictures while I've been cleaning out my mom's house that I'll show you if you want to see! So glad to have found more family!

Sandy Wade said...

I didn't know Aunt Mattie painted. I would love to see a picture of them. I have a large collection of paintings form other family members that I feel I am just the caregiver for them to ensure they stay in the family.

As long as I can remember Aunt Flossie lived with Aunt Lois and Grandma Bonnie. Interesting info, I appreciate your sharing. So very sorry for the loss of your Mother. Best Wishes!! Sandy Wade (creed cousin)

Heather Kuhn Roelker said...

Melita, I'm sorry to have missed your comment! I would love to share any information you may have, feel free to drop me an email at the "Drop me a Line" link on my homepage!